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Fort Knox Five: Radio Free DC

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Dirty bass lines and toe-tapping organs unite to give Fort Knox Five’s Radio Free DC universal appeal.

Editorial

Release date: 3 February 2009 (Inertia)
Independent rap and funk beats have been getting a huge push of late, thanks to the work of local 'taste' radio stations, like Triple J, supporting hip hop that comes from the heart rather than the ego. Fort Knox Five, a collective who've been flying the freak flag over in the USA, bring their international flavour to Australian summer at just the right time.

Sounding equal parts Grandmaster Flash and Tower of Power, this quintet specialise in the kind of old-school party jams that work perfectly in the club or the backyard. Intent on reviving the spirit of James Brown for the next generation, many cuts are punctuated by the same kind of raw screams that made the man a legend. Take the blistering track Funk 4 Peace, which offers a pretty much dead-on impression of the Godfather of Soul, while introducing foreign elements like scratching and sampling to update the vintage goodness.

Whether they're actually playing the dirty bass lines and toe-tapping organs or simply manipulating the sound, these guys know how to get the party grooving, without letting their DJ tendencies overshadow the tunes. The recording sounds warm and organic, an admirable feat considering how many weird instruments they drop into the mix (Indian sitar, anyone?) and the proliferation of guests dropping by to spit some rhymes. Chances are you have no idea who Mustafa Akbar or Asheru are, but no matter, just sit back and enjoy what is ultimately a multicultural street fair on wax. Whether its funk, reggae, dub, bossa or pretty much anything that you wish you heard more of on Video Hits, Fort Knox Five have you covered.

Tracks:
1. RFDC: A Place Called Fort Knox
2. Insight (feat. Asheru)
3. Funk 4 Peace (feat. Mustafa Akbar)
4. How To Start A Band (feat. Ian Svenonius)
5. Sao Funky (Parts 1 & 2) (feat. Javier Miranda)
6. The FK Strut
7. RFDC: Calling All Stations
8. The Party Pushers (feat. Mustafa Akbar)
9. Killa Soundboy (feat. Sleepy Wonder and Zeebo)
10. The Wonder Strikes Again (feat. Sleepy Wonder)
11. The Spirit Of '75 (feat. Mustafa Akbar)
12. RFDC: The Power Of Fivev 13. Papa Was Stoned
14. Uptown Tricks (feat. Mustafa Akbar)
15. Not Gonna Take It (feat. Rootz)
16. RFDC: Signing Off