The Oscillators represent for Seattle funk with self-titled album
Representing Seattle Funk, The Oscillators’ debut album is deep, raw and energetic. Led by drummer Olli Klomp, the line up features members of The Polyrhythmics, Rippin’ Chicken, the Pulsations, Lucky Brown, the Trueloves, 45th Street Brass, The S.G.’s, and more… REAL, DEEP FUNK WITH A PSYCHEDELIC NUDGE.
More than a band, The Oscillators is an experimental recording collaboration that turned out swimmingly.
Our gauge was this: “Do we like it?” No agenda or goal. The main mode being simply; create what we like out of thin air. Yet the air was heavy therefore create what we like out of thick air. Magical, gravy-thick air. Molecules, olli’cules. Alchemically thick. Apparently, we needed to sample something out-of-the-ordinary… the process is called, stackin- phat. Minimal gear, maximum vibe. In fact, this process and this gear would make most educated sound engineers cringe, but the players know.
Pushing the tape…yes, tape! 4 track to be exact, pushing the tape to it’s edge. First, stack two drum tracks. bounce them to one primal track. Sometimes one drummer, sometimes two; “a great drumbeat already contains melody.” This is your first layer of phat. Generally, unless the muse says otherwise, you wanna bring in your bass player next, gently caress guidance and encouragement (maybe a beer or a hit a grass), then he or she can stack the next layer of phat. The next few layers are where things really take off. Maybe it’s guitar then horns, maybe keys. Maybe just horns. Whatever the tune calls for. Whatever the muse “calls” for. Everyone stacking is simultaneously inspired, while hindered, by the previous layer; “constricted genius” works of magic from thin/thick air.
Most of the time the players weren’t in the same room at the same time, and in some cases, haven’t seen each other in years, but it sounds like a family and feels like a band. Create what we like.
The natural unfolding of this creation was affirming, in that the process of creation proved most relevant. An expression of faith and appreciation of the experiMENTAL process with no preparation for something else. Beyond fortunate for the allowance of time. “Never underestimate the power of positive thought”
‘The Oscillators’ out on LP / Digital on June 30th via Tramp Records
