2007-12-16
Ophir Kutiel took me by surprise when he chose to put on his debut show in Paris. On the other hand, it's the only reasonable choice for such a sexy, elegant and hazy album such as the one he had just released. Paris is definitely more right for him then Tel Aviv
Ophir (aka
Kutiman), has been running around for five years now. Between projects (Bikini, Funknstien) and countries. Last year, he came back from Jamaica, and spent the winter time writing an album, which is, in a way, his response to his return to Israel. Suitable for a winter album, he surrounds us with worm deep sounds, leading us into the night, right into our beds, and onto a world of dreamy thoughts.
In his debut album, Kutiman stands for the first time, alone on the front of the stage. He has full charge of all the controls. And by that I mean literally. Except for maybe the brass section, all instruments are written and played by Kutiman himself, with a little help of some friends who drop by for support.
Kutiman inspires from a long heritage of black funk seventies music. The slow sexy beats, the wah wah pedal. All along he's not afraid to spice it up with electronic influences and an occasional flirt with the more psychedelic regions. Throughout the album he plays on all fields flawlessly.
The opening track, or tracks like "No reason for you", "Losing it" and "I just want to make love to you", are just an example for the difference between someone that plays a certain musical style, and someone who understands a musical style. Ophir manages to steer all those different sub genres and moods into a skillful jam. As well as he managed to work his way with all different singers, pouring their vocals into his own pure intention. taking them aside from their usual musical context and gives them new meaning.
Even though there are names like Mc Karolina, and Sabo, or even the fact the Kuti's name was attached to artists like Damien Marley, one should not mistake this album as a mainstream album. Kutiman's material is a different brand of funk. Not a one time radio hit, or a trend. This is a concept mood album, tight, interesting and hypnotic.
For 53 minuets, Kutiman welcomes you not into a small room with aromatic candles, but into a soft lounge, with fancy pillows made out of silk, smoke rings that slowly diffuse into the air and a various of sexual fantasies coming true.
Roy Povarchik
