2020 marks two decades since the Bamboos, Australia’s premier deep funk combo, first made an impression in their home city of Melbourne. The Lance Ferguson-helmed outfit have been busy in the studio this year cooking up some suitably celebratory music to mark their 20th birthday, with this must-check “45” the latest missive to hit the streets. A-side ‘Hard Up’ is a typically raw and heavy affair, with regular vocalist Kylie Audist excelling herself over a typically tight-but-loose blend of hazy horns, Hammond motifs, crunchy drums and flash-fried guitar licks. Just as impressive is B-side ‘Ride on Time’, a surprise – but genuinely killer – heavy funk translation of Black Box’s 1989 piano house favourite of the same name.
– Juno Records