Explodes Across the Nation

The mysterious and oddly named JD & the Evil's Dynamite Band offer a fresh new sound for the funk revival label Soul Fire, laying down a mind-bending psychedelic funk groove that — unlike some of the label's other acts — isn't immediately beholden to any one influence. Loads of wah-wah guitars, plus some choppy organ and echoing flute, are the main parts of their sound; there are also some incomprehensible background voices on several cuts which add to the overall atmosphere, including sinister whispers on the free-form percussion jam "The Evil D's." The background noises on the two-part "Everglades" conjure up images of a foreboding swamp at night, while other tracks feature a Meters influence filtered through the lens of, ahem, altered perception. If you're looking for dark, heavy, primal funk, this is a cut below labelmates the Whitefield Brothers' In the Raw, but as a mind trip unto itself, it creates a pretty effective atmosphere — more spacy and creepy than wild'n'crazy, insinuating itself gradually. Overall, an intriguing debut that the group will hopefully build upon.