Mystery boys THE MAJNOONS last appeared on W&H back in the mists of 2005 in a different guise. Back then, at least one of their number was involved in a project called ALH, whose 'Hoppers & Fledgelings' made ears prick up round W&H Towers.
Five years later and they're back, funkier and more fantastic than before with a limited edition 7” release on heavyweight vinyl and relatively scant information, which is fine as sometimes too many preconceived ideas can often get in the way.
So what's the deal? Well, 'Mono Mono' is hot and funky with a gritty undertow of bass, though its' also light on its' feet. It's gripping, call'n'response gear, flying in the face of fashion and inhabiting its' own inimitable headspace. It reminds me fondly of funk-based forebears like APB, the Gang of Four and Talking Heads at their poly rhythmic best.
B-side, 'Boudoir', actually betters it for me. A song that most definitely needs to turn its' red light on, it's seamy, voyeuristic stuff, which – musically – mines an even deeper seam of urban funk and could almost make the cut on Talking Heads' 'Remain In Light'. The clammy, 'peep-show' vocal is seedily effective, as is the temptation-bound chant of “I like the things they all say you shouldn't do” which features strongly. It's an X-rated gem which comes out of nowhere the way Happy Mondays' great 'Bummed' once did and is truly tantalising.
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The Majnoons, then, are a real pleasure to succumb to. If you need a record to take on a hedonistic weekend in Amsterdam, I think you've just stumbled on it.
dlc Records official site
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