Trans-Era Express

Trans-Eara Express
Afrika Bambaataa Electro Funk Breakdown

by Don Allred
December 8 - 14, 1999 Issue 49

Afrika Bambaataa
Electro Funk Breakdown
DMC

Movies have been made of my memories. Not mine alone, but sometimes they feel
that heavy, that concrete. Which is why I get gut satisfaction seeing them
cut up, tastily reassembled. And why I'm enjoying the totally unexpected (and
well-edited) return of Afrika Bambaataa on his new nonretro Gary Glitter/Evel
Knievel/Steve "Tapehead" Reich-mixing DJ disc. Once again, I believe in the
Future. Or at least that things (even the soundtrack of our lives, yas!) can really change,

 even if/as they settle down
again—each stage is a setup for the next. But so what, 'cause he's got me
listening to each vivid detail (sound-blocs themselves made up of restless-textured
characteristics sporting the latest characters . . . Call these "voices," those
"instruments," break 'em down even more and you won't be quite wrong, or
right—together they complete the beat). I know they're gonna leave me, but can't
complain, cos I'm in the flow, in the know, in the (consumer foodchain) groove.
Each sound, and each space between, is an actor, directed by Bam (who nowadays sweeps
through city-sonic soul spaces with a nice new non-"Hell Below"-charred broom—aw,
heck). Each sound-actor gets its turn, its chance to change, and maybe even dazzle,
on its stage, its turning page. Which = quitting while you're ahead, before you
and your listeners are tired. Hey, Bamvolution's not "progress," Frosty, but
don't sweat it. Right (about) now, our time-lapse Electro Guide will
drop back into the track (say, "2 Kool 4 Skool"), and shake a mellow
snowstorm in your Steady State Big-Bang ying-yang. 

(see also : Paranoid Pleasures )

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