|
Funk
don't die. It only multiply. And, if you don't believe (which
means you've been living under a rock-deluded rock for the past
five decades), just listen to this latest project from musician/producer/recording
engineer, Mike Kohler. As Track & Field, Kohler puts the
soul into lounge, giving dedicated head nodders something funky
to which to listen. Spanning the soulful jazz timescape between
Richard "Groove" Holmes and John Medeski, tripping
along the line between jazz and dance music, Track and Field
is an experience worth having. Kohler uses a real, live bass
(wonder of wonders!) and juicy Hammond grooves to insert the
organic into his samples, loops, bleeps and bloops. Yet, every
song has a boogie-in-your-bones, good-time feel, as though Jimmy
Smith and Wes Montgomery left the junk joint, changed their names
to Kruder and Dorfmeister, and grooved the hipster, Manhattan
clubs. Kohler has a funky-good-time vision and spirit that is
well-deserving of the tradition he emulates. The funk most definitely
lives on.
- Bill Campbell - www.ink19.com
If ever an album were to mimic the hip, funky rhythms of Black
Grape and previous incarnation The Happy Mondays though pure
instrumentalism, then NYC-based Track & Field's debut album
In Seach Ofwould hold the gold medal many times over. Mike Kohler,
the versatile, well-traveled and well-versed musician is the
brains & brain behind this little studio piece of production
magic. Mixing in perfect combination in-the-round loops, samples,
guitars, swaths of spacey synthesizers, vocoded voices, and a
barrage of Hammond organ hammering, Kohler plans out a neatly
designed arrangement of music that chills, ebbs, flows, and vibes
to the absolute delight of the listener. Perhaps by some element
of chance that good 'ole Sean Ryder will catch wind of the amazing
sounds of Kohler and his Track & Field project and lend his
vocals to a track or two in remix form.
- Alkemist - www.digitalartifact.org
Track & Field struts along to the kind of rubbery bass funky
fills and rolling organs you'd expect to hear in an all 7"
set by dj shadow or cut chemist. this is the kind of down tempo,
street corner break beat that ninja tunes are made of. blending
undulating jive with light computer cut-ups. for fans of: the
beastie boys, money mark, mo wax records.
- Tony Ware, mixer magazine
Is it live or is it electronic? how about both? new york's Track
& Field is the latest project from longtime session musician
and recording engineer mike kohler who has played with johnny
cash, wilco, jewel parlor james and lou reed. track & field
is an enjoyable and relaxed-and-sometimes quirky-collection of
old school instrumental funk and soul (often sounding like early,
funk sampling hip hop), bufeted by the rich sounding hammond
organ, thwappy bass and tough drum breaks. while far from a pioneering
effort (several tracks sound strangely similar to the beastie
boy's fatback funk instrumentals from check your head III communication),
it's still a worthy release to check out, especially the finger
snapping off-kilter rhythms of life below sea level.
- Tim Pratt, xlr8r magazine
|
|
Track & Field
In Search Of...
Track and Field
is the latest creation of East Village based musician, producer
& recording engineer Mike Kohler. Kohler made his debut at
age 10, playing drums in a "punk" band at a
high school dance. Ever since, he has lent his talents on drums
and guitar to various projects, opening for the likes of Johnny
Cash, Wilco and Lou Reed. With Track and Field, the funky instrumental
is king. The project blends the use of electronic samples and
computer technology with the aural richness of acoustic instruments
and the undulating vibe of the Hammond organ. The result is pure
listening enjoyment.
Try it, you'll like it.
CD track
list:
CR.008.CD
01. Fade Into
It
02. Bufo Marinus
03. Double Happiness
04. Plant Life
05. Food of the Gods
06. Cosmic Colors
07. Life Below Sea Level
08. Cut and Paste
09. Myrmecology
10. Sundazed
Vinyl track
list:
CR.020
Side A:
01. Fade Into It
02. Double Happiness
Side B:
03. Life Below Sea Level
04. Sundazed
|
