Bugz In The Attic - 'Back In The Dog House' (Nuture/V2) Released 24/07/06

The eight members of Bugz In The Attic have perhaps purposely scheduled the release of their new album at the height of the summer. Their style of music, sun drenched soul funk, is a perfect compliment to the hottest season of the year.  Bugz this time have attempted to showcase not just their talent but to try and unearth some new talent with some unknown collaborators. This means they’ve worked hard to incorporate female vocals from the likes of Bembe Segue and Michelle Escoffery to layer on top of all the funk and electronic beats on offer. This approach is a bold and occasionally brilliant move as Segue especially steps up to add superb vocals which give the album a perfect kick off.

The pounding b-boy drums which continue from the introduction into ‘Move Aside’ are a classic way to create an early atmosphere to the album. There’s assertion in the vocals as the track progresses and an instantly up tempo beat is formed.  ‘I’m Gonna Letcha’ with its funky electronic beats continues the pace and quality of the opening tracks. Another big asset to the album is the soulful interludes and instrumentals.  ‘Once twice’ evokes Blackalicious style backing music before the gentle female harmony creates a groove of its own. Later on the bongo led ‘Doghouse’ acts as the perfect pickup after the disappointing ‘Redhanded’, a patchy needlessly profanity laden track.

The real highlights are the opening tracks and ‘Consequences’. The latter is a funky high tempo song with slick beats punching away in the background.  The vocals and harmonies too combine well together to create a good example of the Bugz at their best. A final criticism however is that the album is somewhat one-dimensional. It feels like one continuous track at points with the aforementioned untapped talent all merging to sound like one. The vocals are often similar despite different contributors and the album doesn’t really break away noticeably from the speed it sets at the start.  There is enough innovation and clever beat crossovers to ensure this album isn’t mired by its failures but it does feel too similar too often. 

It is a little disappointing that with eight minds in unison here they couldn’t break free from a general theme throughout and let some of the individuality of the bands members be released.