Private Funktion is the third studio album from the daddy's of the lounge-hop scene - Skeewiff. Since the release of their first album the label they founded has gone from strength to strength featuring releases from scene shakers Kraak & Smaak, Fort Knox Five, & IKON and now the original kings of the cocktail beat are back to show the pretenders to the throne how to do it martini style.
Elliot Ireland and Alex Rizzo have both grown up with the dance music scene but their releases as Skeewiff have always looked beyond the bleeps and squelches that rock most floors. Their music takes a firm glance in the rearview mirror towards Northern Soul and mod classics for inspiration, providing the perfect antidote to the banging sound of club main rooms. Had enough of the headliner in the main room ? Head for that hoedown in the back room where all the goodlooking girls and boys are hanging out drinking cocktails. And that's where Skeewiff is playing.
The album features a few collaborations, with Triumph Stag featuring the keyboard talents of Alan "The Hawk" Hawkshaw. The Skeewiff guys hooked up with the hammond legend a few years back and produced an album for him on his label. Alan - the man behind some of the most memorable keyboard lines in music history (think Mohawks - Champ) was only too happy to return the favour for the guys.
They also teamed up with Jalapeno label boss Trevor Mac to produce a remake of Man of Constant Sorrow. Elliot, Alex & Trevor DJ together as the Skeewiff Soundsystem and the track originally came about as a live mix dropping the accapella from the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack over some Skeewiff beats.
It ended up being a highlight of the show and the guys went into the studio together to produce their own version of the track. A few talks with several lawyers later and the legal version made it on to the album.
Love Power features the sugar sweet vocals of Charlise Rookwood, a long time member of the Jalapeno family and as well known now for her toasting with Killa Kela as she is for her vocal performances on tracks like this and previous Skeewiff hits like Nitty Gritty.
Wet Your Beak is an ode to the joys of drinking and features a thirties boogie woogie pianoman telling the world why he likes his vice so much. Skeewiff would like to take this opportunity to point out that excessive binge drinking is neither big nor clever although it can occasionally be very funny. Another Martini anyone?
Ruby's Revenge allows Skeewiff's eastern leanings to come to the fore with chunky sitar breaks providing the backdrop while Soul Bossanova is a faithful and respectful update of the Quincy Jones classic.
Skeewiff have always been firm favourites of the TV ad agencies (possibly because those guys spend the majority of their working lives in bars) and last year they provided the soundtrack to Nike's Euro 2004 campaign. Little Spot of Soul from this album may also seem a little familiar as an earlier incarnation of the track featured in a VW Ad.
Whether you choose a pub, bar, juicer, boozer, cocktail joint or hotel lobby you can be sure that in 2006 this album is going to be playing in any of the fruitier establishments you choose as your watering hole.
Skeewiff - the retropolitan sound of swinging london