SWL #31: Lazercrotch, "Wassup Dawg Don't It"

 

All right, first things first, have you ever heard of a better moniker than Lazercrotch? I'm not sure I have. John Murphy is the Portland skweee artist that bears that name and Gemini Air Systems marks his first release for Field Hymns. What is skwee you ask? Wikipedia calls it a genre of electronic music that “combines simple synth/chiptune leads and basslines with funk, R&B or soul-like rhythms”, but in practice I’d describe Murphy’s work here as the lovechild of Kraftwerk and DAM-FUNK—mixing vintage synths with funk and hip-hop beats to render a record of stunning minimalist electroswank (it’s a word...now). The first track of the record, "Wassup Dawg Don’t It", is the perfect introduction to the chill contained therein, and if you like what you hear you can pick up the limited edition tape over at the Field Hymn bandcamp. Also Poisonous Gases, who co-released the cassette, has apparently been putting out a ton of fine skweee since 2009, so check them out as well for still more goodness.