hip-hop collaborative to unveil new disc in style at Club Ioka

Each repeated listen to “Flush,” the new release from TVP Records, enhances appreciation of its comic funk and soulful hip-hop musicology. Most of the CD’s 19 tracks, performed mainly by various members of The Head and The Press Project, have a retro R&B porn-show vibe, complemented by humorous lyrics and pop culture references. And, with an entourage of talented and creative instrumentalists, the sonic quality is equally compelling.

The creators of “Flush” will hold a CD release and fashion show at Club Ioka in Exeter on Friday, Nov. 14, from 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $10 and anyone who orders in advance will receive a free copy of the CD.

Part Sly Stone and Parliament Funkadelic, part Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, part R. Kelly and Gangstarr, the music on “Flush” pays tribute to the genres of soul and hip-hop with contemporary takes on 1970s fare. It may take a couple of listens to grow on you, and certain tracks are stronger than others, but overall, the disc is too much fun to dismiss. 

Founded by Scott “Sir Buck” Ruffner in Minneapolis in 1996, TVP Records moved its operation to the Seacoast five years ago. When Ruffner’s long-time friend and collaborator Eric “Big Fuzz” Gregoire moved back to the area from New York, the two decided to take a risk on introducing hip-hop to a local scene dominated primarily by singer-songwriters and jazz musicians. The two comprise the foundation of The Head, with Fuzz on guitar and Buck on beats, keys, percussion and vocals.

Ruffner and Gregoire were pleased to discover that they were not the only artists manufacturing beats on the Seacoast. When they heard The Press Project and linked up with bassist Roland “Ro Diggs” Nicol, a new hip-hop collaborative was born.

After a couple of joint shows between The Head and The Press, the bands rolled into the studio. Band members interact liberally on “Flush,” with The Press Project’s trio of MCs (Brian “B. Cap” Capobianchi, Alex “The Journalist” Beguin and Patrick “The Face of Fate” Joyce) often sitting in with The Head or rapping their own mixes.

Other performers include The Head’s Gwen “Gia3” Leathers on vocals; Seth “Weeteman” Weete on guitar; and Jeff “Junge Wilde” DeBlois on synth, as well as The Press Project’s Jay Trikakis on drums; Jim Dozen on guitar; and Chris Klaxton on keys. There’s also Crystal Smith on vocals; Dan Shure on keys and Ian Jones on guitar; plus solo artist Genevieve Goings on vocals.

From the opening track, “Filthy,” the compilation establishes a sultry R&B-funk sound, with a tongue-in-cheek kinkiness that echoes the days of disco. B. Cap spits out a torrent of lascivious lyrics on the second track, “Solid Gold,” segueing between similes with brisk rhymes. “I make her sweat like monsoons in Tibet, even better you bet, and we ain’t even met yet,” he raps, paving the way for the raunchy refrain, “I don’t know, what you been told, but this lump of shit is some solid gold.”

A stunningly funky oriental-sounding string riff emerges near the beginning of the third track, “Every Time,” but the beat turns more psychedelic and experimental in the following song, “Heatherbabe.” The next tune, one of two performed by The Pharos, features a smooth, jazzy sound from the trio of Dozet on guitar, Shure on keys and Nicol on bass.

The title track is among the disc’s more humorous numbers, with B. Cap singing a scathing chorus: “You’re not fuckin’ pretty, I don’t know if you know that. This ain’t your fuckin’ city, I think it’s time that you know that. You’re style’s fuckin’ shitty, it’s obvious that you stole that. You’re not fuckin’ pretty, and I can tell that you care.” 

Ruffner authored some of the album’s other comical songs, including The Head’s “Drunk Funk,” in which he struggles to decide between a Jager Bomb, a glass of Dom and countless other alcoholic beverages.

The album ends with the anonymously authored “Rising Sun,” a trippy instrumental bit that sets the sun on well over an hour of music. For more information on the album, visit www.tvprecords.com.

The event at Club Ioka begins with a cocktail hour at 8 p.m. The fashion show will feature models sporting clothing by Sexy Skins, Lunachics, Ablaze, Top Drawer and Distinctive Knitwear by Vasilka. Musicians will perform live cuts from the CD.
“This type of event really does represent our music better than any other available format on the Seacoast music scene,” Ruffner said in an e-mail. “We’re definitely not a bar band, but we do make original party music that touches on social issues and keeps a close eye on American pop culture.”  
 
Tickets to the show can be purchased from any of the participating merchants or by visiting www.iokaentertainment.com/flush. Club Ioka is at 55 Water St., Exeter.