Brownout - Homenage (2007)

Named one of Austin, Texas' 'Best Live Acts' by the Austin Chronicle, Brownout perform the nastiest Latin funk music around today. This band of "party rocking legends" was resurrected from the same tequila soaked border town explosion that originated the highly acclaimed Latin powerhouse Grupo Fantasma. Fresh from the worldwide release of their first 7" single on the UK's prestigious Freestyle Records, the band has made waves internationally amongst DJ's, tastemakers and good music fans alike. Brownout is an 8 piece ensemble complete with 2 guitars, bass, no nonsense Latin percussion and the "Best Horn Section" 2 years in a row at the Austin Music Awards. Throwback but not copycat retro, their music is timeless and honest, keeping the spirit of 70s afro-latin and funk music alive while honoring their South Texas roots. "Homenaje," Spanish for homage, is the debut album release from the Grupo Fantasma side-project (who recently supported none other than Prince on his recent UK tour) and gives more than a mere nod to late '70s Latin-funk acts like Joe Bataan and Santana. From the Fela Kuti style Afro-beat of "Con El Brownout" and "Chema's Contraband" to the smoldering neo-soul of "You Already Are" and the incendiary cover of Manu Dibango's 'African Battle', the nearly all-instrumental album avoids stagnation by switching gears rapidly between tracks. "Homenaje" vacillates between the languid groove of songs such as "They Should Know," which sounds like a forgotten track from the Beastie Boys' "Check Your Head" and powerful crowd-movers like the CD's title track. Built upon a familiar piano montuno and the deft percussion of drummer Johnny Lopez and conga player Sweet Lou, "Homenaje" echoes the funkiest material of the output of the Fania label in the 70s and the gorgeous "You Already Are" channels Carlos Santana into a brooding funk masterpeice. Melding these influences into an original diasporic sound is the album's triumph.