Dumpstaphunk make a convincing case that party music can rattle the bones and brighten the mind. Keyboardist Ivan Neville, son of Aaron, takes after his uncle Art Neville’s band The Meters with this group. Cousin Ian Neville, who happens to be Art Neville’s son, joins on guitar and, in an unorthodox decision even for funk music, two bass players are simultaneously unleashed atop Nikki Glaspie’s ferocious drumming and vocals. Album-wide, they communicate positive vibrations through dance numbers. The opener, “Dance to the Truth,” states the manifesto amid a harmonized riff on the basses. “Dirty Word,” with Ani DiFranco on vocals, rides its syncopated heart through degrees of nastiness. The dual basses make each song deeper and denser. Outrageously, yet another bass—courtesy of Flea—plays on their cover of Betty Davis’ “If I’m in Luck.” This wouldn’t be Crescent City funk without crucial guests and the stutter shuffle beat on drums. Art Neville and Trombone Shorty contribute to “Raise The House,” a perfect Carnival tune that ends the record with an exhilarating bang.
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