Dam-Funk dropped Toeachizown nearly three and a half years ago, long enough for the galaxy of artists inspired by him to do their own re-interpretations of the modern funk sound. You can hear the influence in everyone from Tuxedo to Toro y Moi, to Tyler, the Creator and Onra. Inspiration is a tough thing to pin down. One man’s swag dracula is another man’s soulful re-working. Everything is subjective except for the fact that Dam was the first one to bring these chords out of hibernation, stick them in the sunlight, and watch them glow.
Out of all the people to put their own spin on modern-funk, Turquoise Summers might be the closest kinsman to the original. Dam calls him his cousin and it’s obvious that they both have an affinity for iridescent keyboards, muscular drums, boogie funk, and all things celestial. I’m reasonably sure Turquoise is from LA, but his Twitter bio claims he’s from “where the hills meet the clouds.” So I presume Chino? OC and “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” references aside, Turquoise’s first full length is here. Fittingly titled, A Touch of Turquoise, it’s largely instrumental funk that splits the difference between the clouds and the cement. If you’re doing the physics, that would make it the hoverboard of modern funk records. It cruises at a cool altitude, not too intense, not too calm, but never passive. Analog grooves with a 21st century twist. This is just right. Streaming it below the jump would be the wise decision.
