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link to the cd shop that had the best prize at the time of writing this reviewCD OF THE WEEK (August 2000) :

PRAGA KHAN "Mutant Funk"
(2000, Antler-Subway, FG3315Ltd)

Songs (Click the -icons for some small realaudio-samples)

1. The Power of the Flower
2. Love
3. Meditation
4. Keep The Dream Alive
5. Pittsburgh Angel
6. Sayonara Greetings
7. Dreamcatcher
8. Turn Me On
9. Northern Lights
10. The Moon
11. Immortal Sin
12. Eyeless in El Paso

If you're lucky, you can still find the "limited" version with an extra cd containing:
1. The Power of The Flower (Junkie XL remix)
2. Lonely (The Program Remix)
3. Luv U Still (Dave Angel Remix)
4. Breakfast in Vegas (Hard Rock with C.S.J.)
5. Trippin' On Music
6. Breakfast in Vegas (video)
7. Lonely (video)
8. Visions & Imaginations (video)
9. The Power of the Flower (video)
10. My Mind is My Enemy (Live in Providence, USA)
and a "Mutant" screensaver

Written & Arranged by Oliver Adams & Praga Khan (except 12, with Carl S. Johanson)
Musicians:
- Praga Khan (vocals & keyboards)
- Olivier Adams (drums)
- Erhan Kurkun (guitars)
- Hans X (bass)
- Ester (vocals & dancer)

Produced by Praga Khan & Oliver Adams
Artwork : Topfloor

 

My opinion

"Hats off", is what i'd say to Praga Khan. Quite an accomplishment, what they're doing (insert here a refrain that is beginning to get quite boring on how in god's name it is possible that a group with such a status in the States is so underrated over here). That recognition obviously is a fact nowadays in our country, or how else would you qualify a band that can present their album on the roof of VTM, becomes 2nd in the album charts right after the release, is being spinned ad nauseaum by Studio Brussels and did more than their share of the honours as headliner of the first day of the rained-down Werchter-festival. Recognizition has happend, os again : "Hats Off".
However : Three songs ... counting again ... yes only three songs on Mutant Funk sustain the impression that Praga Khan is an exciting band. They are called "Love", "The Power of the Flower" and "Sayonara Greetings". The first for it's really deep lyrics (vb. A rock guitar, a candy barr, CD Rom, Atom Bomb, Silverwear, Teddy bear, Rocking chair, rasta hair, Superman, Peter Pan, U.F.O., Radio, Excorcists, Paper Clips, Bubble gum and laser guns ... but all you need is love : some thought went into this!), the second for its drive and nice psychedelic touch, and the third for the memories of days-gone-by that it stirs (Bowie in a Sisters of Mercy song in a Killing Joke sauce by an EBM band).
Everything else on Mutant Funk is trying very hard to be very pleasant audio-filling. Muzak for the techno generation. Of course the beat doesn't halt, and there are enough studio tricks in it to make a magician envious .. but a strong melody, a grain of excitement or emotion, or just something that keeps you from dozing away ... nowhere to be found.
So instead of "Hats Off", Praga Khan threw their hat at it (in dutch the expression "throw your hat at it" means "try casually, without giving it a lot of effort"). What saves the day for this release is that it comes with a second CD that's chockfull of video's and remixes of the best songs of "21st century skin", a record that does justify the current status of Praga Khan in this here Low Countries.

And your opinion?
Did I get it all wrong, or was I spot-on ? Do you want to share your opinion about this cd ? Send it in, and I'll put it up here !

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This Album in the Press

- TEEK-magazine : "The "mutated funk" of Maurice Engelen and Oliver Adams is, despite its psychedelic popinfluences, only half-and-half convincing. The dancejunk that has Underworld on his cd-shelf won't get a thrill out of this."
- Dirk Steenhaut in Metro (De Morgen) : "On Mutant Funk he mixes techno with rock, combines electronische machines with guitars and winks at Bowie, Fad Gadget and Depeche Mode. Stirring, but fortunately not overstrained".
- Stijn Lauwers in De Standaard : "... a surprsing roadmovie-soundtrack with psychedelische songs ... (from which) you could easily extract at lease six potential singles. "Meditation" stands the comparison with the best of Underworld doorstaan and the Sisters Of Mercy-pastiche "Sayonara greetings'' seems like it was taken from David Bowie's Tin Machine."
- webzine 6Bears "Olivier Adams... nous déverse ici 12 partitions qui mettront vos lecteurs de CD à dure contribution. Entre un son proche des Cure sur "Sayonara Greetings", plus Pet Shop Boys avec "Meditation" ou encore de l'acid house bien pulsée comme sur "The Moon","Mutant funk " fera certainement les belles nuits de toutes les raves dignes de ce nom aussi bien en Belgique que partout ailleurs."
- Out Soon (Café Cool): "'Mutant Funk' is a stong successor to '21st Century Skin': we get joyous electro-house such as 'The Power Of The Flower' or 'Turn Me On', next to more subtle work such as 'Dreamcatcher'. Moments of elektronic self-reflection next to well-aimed floorfillers."
- SvS in Rif-Raf : "Does it surprise you that we don't get excited at all about "Mutant Funk", an album on which Praga Khan does what Underworld did better on their far from brilliant last album. Is it pretentious to state that their elektronic sounds sound outdated? Don't think so, or can't you expect some evolution by a band?"

Did you see a good (or bad) review of this album ? Tell me about it !

 

Where to buy this CD ?

You can order this CD from a number of locations (prices researched for the limited edition double CD on August 16, 2000, but nothing guarantees they still are the same when you read this).

Shop
Price of the CD
Shipping + other expenses
Total
Direct Link
Frontstage
829
0
829 Bef.
Frontstage
Azur
832
0
832 Bef.
Proxis
804
0
804 Bef.
Proxis
Atrecordings
---
3$
---
Netbeat
---
3,51€
---

The lowest price is in yellow, the highest in red. This price comparison doesn't take things into account like deduction of shipping expenses when ordering more than 1 cd, bonus points, differences in guarantees ... Shipping prices are those for customers in Belgium.

Have you seen this record elsewhere on the net, do you own an online-CD-shop with Belgian products in it, or if there's something wrong with my calculations : let me know.

 

More about this group :

- Official website = www.pragakhan.com
- Attempt at a Praga Khan bio in the Belgian Pop & Rock Archives
- Mail the band : praga@antler-subway.be
- Interview with Oliver & Maurice on Mutant Funk
- Management + booking : Michlen Tour Control, fax +32(0)14,425,001, Mail info@tourcontrol.com. Site www.tourcontrol.com

 
 

 

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