The album kicks off with the sumptuous and soulful “Sour Town.” It’s followed by “#2,” a high-octane funk groove that boasts imaginative synth work and blazing horn lines. The funk is relentless on this smokin’ cut. The funkalicious “Still Waiting” is a full-on sonic feast. The infectious groove has a stellar horn arrangement, tight drumming and some dope changes.
Next up is “Dr. Drake,” a powerhouse funk jam filled with fat bass, dizzying horn lines and wicked guitar licks. There’s definitely some Prince flavor permeating this hard-hitting funk track.
“Dew Like Me” is a smooth, laid-back groove. The track features some superb playing from the horn section, and the band drops some flute into the mix to enhance the groove’s chill vibe. PHO keeps things on a mellow note on “Responsibility,” a top-notch track heightened by the band’s flawless playing and a smoldering guitar solo.
The majestic “Tomorrow In Texas” is an album highlight. The track has sort of a cinematic flow and showcases the band members’ strong compositional skills. Everything is on point here: the musicianship, the arrangement, etc. It’s just a brilliant cut and very inventive.
“Pop Top” is a potent groove that features some incredible guitar and keyboard work, as well as a splendid horn arrangement. “South 2nd” is one badass track; it boasts some super-funky bass work and a hot trumpet solo.
“Face” is a stone-cold funk jam with some cool psychedelic flourishes and jazzy changeups. Also, the drumming is tremendous on this cut. The album closes out with the high-energy, horn-driven “Famous Waves.”
This album is a very impressive sophomore effort. It’s consistently good and doesn't have a single weak track. The album was produced by John Davis and PHO. It was recorded in Cannon Falls, Minnesota at the legendary Pachyderm Studio where Nirvana recorded their final album, In Utero. The special guest musicians featured on two are Kirk Johnson from Prince’s New Power Generation on percussion and Sten Johnson on trombone.
The members of PHO are Luke Ibach (bass), Arthur "LA" Buckner (drums), Spencer Christensen (guitar), Patrick Horigan (keys), Lukas Skrove (trumpet and flugelhorn), Joe Paris (guitar) and Aaron Levin (tenor sax and flute). Former PHO member Demetrius Mabry, who was still a member during the recording of two, played drums on the album while Buckner played percussion.
Formed in 2013, PHO have taken the music world by storm with their dynamic funk sound, impeccable musicianship and thrilling live performances. The young funk outfit has captured the attention of legions of funk lovers, including Minneapolis' most celebrated musician—Prince. In the winter of 2016, the late music legend caught one of PHO’s live performances on Youtube and was very impressed. This led to an invite to open for funk master Larry Graham and Graham Central Station at the fabled Paisley Park complex in Chanhassen, Minnesota. PHO’s sterling performance at Paisley Park prompted Prince to post the following tweet to the band: “Come back anytime. Just Holla.” The Purple One’s blessing has helped open up many great new opportunities for the band.
PHO are currently one of the hottest rising young bands on the modern funk scene; the band has a dedicated following that continues to grow each day, and they have played with acclaimed funk outfits such as The Motet, Dopapod, Dam-Funk, Dumpstaphunk, among many others.
Some of PHO’s influences include James Brown, Slave, Jimi Hendrix, The Time, Lettuce, P-Funk, Fela Kuti, Sly Stone, and of course, His Royal Badness. The band brings a fresh new energy to the funk game; they’re charting out their own path but never losing sight of the classic funk traditions that provide the foundation of their music— and cultivating their new “Minneapolis Sound” in the process.
Check out PHO's website for tour dates, music releases and other info.
"Dr. Drake"
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