vbnd: scum funk
Francisco Espregueira
vbnd is a bassist and producer hailing from Canada now releasing his sophomore project via DeepMatter. Scum Funk, that follows Daughter of The Sun, is a very interesting take on jazz and neo soul music textures, showcasing the complexity of the genres and its alluring effects. Taking in equally from D’Angelo or Snarky Puppy, vbnd leads a groove-heavy affair that has the collaboration of the talented The Soulmate Collective. The production is on point and the basslines are creamy and hypnotic.
Scum Funk features gritty bass arrangements supporting zesty keys and syncopated drums, which create a solid backbone for luxurious saxophone melodies, and breezy vocals. The album’s heartfelt aura is illustrated in its name, embodying the idea of “rowdy dudes playing nice-sounding jazz, funk, and lovely neo-soul songs”. A truly impressive body of work, Scum Funk documents vbnd’s progression of the past two years, growing mastery of groove, texture, and grit & illustrating a strong and intriguing artistic identity. Available on vinyl, don’t sleep on this one - another brilliant release from DeepMatter.