If anyone notices something missing, please email superbill81@hotmail.com.
Funki Porcini quotes his first release as a track on this album. I have yet to find information on it.
Rating = ? out of 10
Before James Bradell took on the moniker Funki Porcini, he released work as one half of a duo, 9 Lazy 9. The other half of 9 Lazy 9 was Keir Fraser, who still gets together with Funki sometimes to work on new music.
This single is the earliest full release by Bradell that I know of. The b-side is The Herb.
Rating = ? out of 10
The tracks are Monk's Dream, No.2, Black Jesus and Brothers of the Red. These can all be found on 9 Lazy 9's albums.
Rating = 7 out of 10
9 Lazy 9's first album. Pretty good stuff, overall. It has been criticised for being too varied by some, but a jazz and hiphop theme runs throughout the album. Basically this is an album of breaks, with jazz over the top, nothing too artistic. There are plenty of good moments.
This is the most similar album to Hed Phone Sex. The best tracks are 5am and The Herb.
Rating = 7 out of 10
Not to be confused with the single of the same name, this was 9 Lazy 9's second album, released shortly after their first. It is not quite as good, but it is worth listening to, with more of the same mix of jazz and hiphop. Electric Lazyland feels more dated than it's predecessor.
Rating = 6 out of 10
James Bradell's first release as Funki Porcini. This includes the Hed Phone Sex track Long Road and a b-side, Circle Line. Circle Line uses the same basic loops as Poseathon from the first album. Both of these songs are worth having; they are both available on the compilation, If Ya Can't Stand Da Beatz, Git Outta Da Kitchen on Shadow records.
Rating = 7 out of 10
Funki Porcini - Hed Phone Sex
Album - Released May 1995 on Ninja Tune.
Funki Porcini's first album, and a true classic. The best tracks are Dubble and Poseathon, but the album has many more high points.
The album starts with A Word of Vice, a weird, short but sweet monologue by a nymphomaniac, but the next track sets the tone for the rest of the album - lazy slow rhythms and an atmospheric mix of harmonies and voice samples.
Porn samples are a theme throughout the album, but were dropped for the later albums, perhaps due to unpopularity.
Hed Phone Sex was released as 3 different versions - the CD version, the 2LP vinyl version with extra tracks, and a release by Shadow Records with the CD version and a bonus remix CD. There was also a cassette on Ninja Tune, which was probably the same as the CD version.
Rating = 8 out of 10
An early Ninja Tune single. ZEN 1227 has the same title, but does not include the Funki Porcini remix, or the Blapps! (aka London Funk Allstars) remix. Thanks to FlunkinHenri for telling me about this record.
Rating = ? out of 10
Dubble deserved release as a single, and the b-side, the Organ Swell remix, is alright. This single won an award for ^CHECK^. The remix can also be found on the Ninja Tune 10th anniversary Xen Cuts compilation.
Rating = 6 out of 10
For this album, Funki Porcini remixed Mama 6 by Journeyman, a track which has been released many times in different forms.
Rating = 4 out of 5 (All Music Guide)
Funki Porcini - King Ashabanapal's Big Pink Inflatable / King Ashabanapal mixes
CD and 12 inch single - Released Sept. 1995 on Ninja Tune.
A single based on King Ashabanapal from the Hed Phone Sex album. Some of the tracks can be found elsewhere, in particular on the US Hed Phone Sex bonus CD, but King Ashabanapal (Part 0.75) is a track I have not seen anywhere else.
Thanks to Simon Stokes for info on this record.
Rating = ? out of 10
These two tracks also appeared on the Hed Phone Sex US re-release bonus disk, and Hyde Park is on the Love, Pussycats and Carwrecks 1996 album.
Rating = ? out of 10
Funki Porcini - Hed Phone Sex with bonus disk
Album - Released Nov. 14, 1995 on Shadow.
Shadow records released Hed Phone Sex about 6 months after Ninja Tune, plus a bonus disk. The track listing of the bonus disk is:
1. King Ashabanapal (Digidub Mix) 2. 26 West 17th Street 3. Suck Acid, Pearl And Dean 4. Let Me Look At You 5. Hyde Park 6. Tales Of One Speed 7. King Ashabanapal (Plaid Mix) 8. Farewell Alice
BenAbstrakt has provided a couple of song reviews:
"The Plaid mix is a cool warped-out electro number. Lots of buzzing and whirling sound effects with a groovy dance beat and a little sinister sounding synth line. Dillinja remix: Vocals from the original mix are echoed over the original drum break and sax. Moves into a wicked rolling amen workout with some dangerous sub-bass. Absolutely monster!!"
Rating = 8 out of 10
Includes Skit and 3 remixes of Electric Lazyland, including one by Journeyman.
Rating = ? out of 10
Purr - Float On
Vinyl single - released on Ntone, about 1995.
James Bradell (with a DJ called N4Eric, aka Toona) released this single as a side project to Funki Porcini. I have also heard rumours that the duo released material under the name Dupont.
There are three tracks on this record, and one was written by Porcini alone. If you want more information, click on the link below.
Thanks to Mr Fitz for telling me about this record, and thanks also to Simon Stokes for some extra info on this record and the scans.
Rating = 7 out of 10 (Mr Fitz)
Funki Porcini - Love, Pussycats and Carwrecks
Album - Released June 17, 1996 on Ninja Tune.
This is definetely a disappointment after Hed Phone Sex. It has a few good songs, with a jazzy feel, but you can't help thinking that he ran out of ideas and just played tinny breakbeats over and over for fifty minutes.
The music is often played at a high tempo, and in my opinion, it suffers due to this. It is like an irreverent gabba album at times, or a jazz album recorded at 33 1/3 and played at 78, to paraphrase Charles M. Schulz. Also, there is little in the way of memorable melody. The album occasionally seems to consist of rythmless percussion and little else.
However, some people love this album, so don't just take my word for it.
Rating = 4 out of 10
A rare and unneccessary EP, featuring only the songs Groover, 12 Points off your licence, Theme music for Nothing, and The Last Song, all from the album. However, these are the best songs from the album, so I shall give it a higher rating.
Rating = 6 out of 10
A remix album featuring one track from Funki Porcini, entitled Guiding Star (Funki Porcini remix). Here's what Simon Stokes has to say about it:
"The original album tracks were heavily dub-influenced and although the Funki Porcini remix of "Guiding Star" maintains that laid-back tempo, it has more of a trip-hop feel with the sound of footsteps at the beginning of the track gradually merging with the underlying drumline.
The addition of some jazzy brass, plus a female vocal sample at the end of the track telling us that "everything seemed so perfect, you know?" makes this mix worth seeking out for those "chill-out" evenings."
Strangely, this song sounds exactly like the opening track of Funki's second album (the mp3 does anyway), so it is probably not worth getting this album just for that track.
Rating = ? out of 10
The Mike Flowers Pops meets Aphex Twin - Freebase
Single - Released July 29, 1996.
Funki's track on this single has been called Freebass (Cocaine Donut). Also featured is Luke Vibert and Aphex Twin.
There are seven tracks, so this could be classified as an EP or a single, I suppose. Funki's track quite good, but I'm not a big fan of Mike Flowers at all (is anybody?).
Rating = ? out of 10
In general I have not included Funki's compilation appearances unless the music was unavailable elsewhere, but here I will make an exception because I feel some people may be interested. Anyway, this 4-track single also includes Up, Bustle and Out, Coldcut, and DJ Food, and Porcini's track is Venus, from the album Love, Pussycats and Carwrecks.
Rating = ? out of 10
Funki Porcini - Carwreck EP
CD and 12 inch EP.
This is a good single. The Wagon Christ mix is OK, but the Squarepusher mix is really good. Squarepusher was a good choice for making this remix, and it is a great atmospheric drum and bass track. The Fly is another good track, actually better than Carwreck, in my humble opinion, as it has a solid beat and a good hook.
On the subject of carwrecks, Funki has mentioned in interviews he has been in a few crashes, including once where his car flipped over five times. This explains why many of his music titles mention accidents (there is a track on Hed Phone Sex called Motorway Accident, for example).
Tracks: Wagon Chirst mix, Original mix, Squarepusher mix, The Fly.
Rating = 7 out of 10
Now deleted, but the tracks can be found on the 2000 Zombie EP. This was released on Sideburn, the dance inprint of Crippled Dick, who later released Zombie. The songs are remixes of Jerry van Rooyen songs taken from his album, At 250 Miles Per Hour.
There is not a great deal of difference between the remixes and the originals - you can listen to the Jerry van Rooyen album at amazon.com. Still though, the songs are well worth having.
Rating = 8 out of 10
Funki's return to grace came in the form of this EP. Absolutely no less than a classic! This is what Love, Pussycats and Carwrecks should have been - the music is similar to that album's, but is much better quality.
OK, so the last track is a bit silly (it consists only of Battle of Britain style voice samples), but that does not matter at all. You may have guessed that the artwork for this record is formed from photographs of listeners, who sent the photos to Ninja Tune after a request by Funki in the liner notes for the Love, Pussycats... album.
Rating = 9 out of 10
Pierre Henry and Michel Columbier - Metamorphose Messe Pour Le Temps Present
Released 1997 on Mercury.
This is a French remix album, including remixes by Fatboy Slim, William Orbit and Coldcut. The original piece, Messe Pour Le Temps Present, was released in the sixties to accompany ballet music. It was twelve minutes long, but the remix album is album length.
Funki Porcini remixed Jericho Jerk, and it's not really a fantastic song, however the album as a whole is well worth having.
Recently, this was rereleased, with a few extra tracks, with the title Psyche Rock Sessions.
Rating = 8 out of 10
Freezone, vol. 4: Dangerous Lullabies
Released Jul 15, 1997.
This various artist album features tracks from many good artists including Basement Jaxx and Thievery Corporation. Funki Porcini has written the track Trip To Nowhere for this compilation, and like all the other tracks it is exclusive to the album.
Rating = ? out of 10
This record features the Funki Porcini remix of the track Cradle Your Soul. The remix is on the single Made on Earth, but it is presumably not on the album, also called Made on Earth.
Barbara Gogan is an Irish singer, Zazou is a French producer. For more information, click here
Thanks to Flunkinhenri and JDM for helping with info on this record.
Rating = ? out of 10
The b-side of this EP is Villian - Funki Porcini remix. Thanks to Flunkinhenri again for telling me about this record.
Rating = ? out of 10
Funki Porcini collaborates with Cujo on the track Z Cars - Supaintendadude remix. Cujo (now known as Amon Tobin, of course) has a few other tracks on this album.
Rating = 4 out of 5 (All Music Guide)
Funki Porcini - Rockit Soul
12 inch and CD single - Released Feb. 1999 on Ninja Tune.
Rockit Soul is one of the best tracks on The Ultimately Empty Million Pounds, and this single also has two other tracks, Fly and Teenage Hardon. For completeness, the song samples Rock 'N' Soul Music by Country Joe and the Fish.
Rating = 5 out of 10 (good tracks, but bad value for money).
Funki Porcini - The Ultimately Empty Million Pounds
Album - Released March 29th 1999 on Ninja Tune.
Another cracking album, this one sees Funki following another new musical direction. This album is partly fashionable 70s kitsch, and has a good mix of fast and slow tracks. There are some very good songs on this album, with only a couple of filler songs, ie English Country Music. Look at ninjatune.net for some videos for this album.
I can not find any copyright information anywhere on the CD or liner notes. Does anyone know whether this means that the CD can be copied freely, or if it is there somewhere and I need an eye test? Please tell me.
Compared to Hed Phone Sex, Funki Porcini said in interviews that this album would be more melodic, but I can't see the difference. However, this is the more varied, fun album of the two.
Rating = 8 out of 10
Funki Porcini - The Ultimately Empty Million Pounds Japanese release
This Japanese version includes three bonus tracks - Teenage Hardon, Endless and Classic M.F - and some new artwork. Teenage Hardon and Endless can be found on the Rockit Soul single above.
Rating = ? out of 10
Funki includes Surge, from the Carmen..... EP, and River of Smack, which is the same as the track River, from Ultimately Empty (thanks JDM).
Rating = ? out of 10
Various Artists - Endlessnessism
Released May 26, 1998 on Dot Records.
Funki Porcini wrote a five and a half minute track, Crashism, for this compilation. The compilation has a novel concept - each track (except the first) is a remix of the previous track.
Each track is remixed by a different artist, and I do not know about any of them except for Porcini. Most of them are from the Swedish label, Dot.
Rating = 4.5 out of 5 (All Music Guide)
I am not sure where to get this remix, probably I suppose on a single of the same name. The original can be found on the album Le Petit Nabib by Le Tone, released 1999. BenAbstrakt says:
"This one's a Hed Phone Sex style chill out tune. Quirky sound effects and mellow jazz over downtempo breaks."
Rating = ? out of 10
Various Artists - Soundclash Present Undo
Double CD/Triple LP featuring Funki Porcini mix - Released 2nd August 1999
This one evaded me for quite a while, but this is a compilation, with the 2nd CD being a 53 minute mix by Funki Porcini. I think the vinyl was limited to about 500 copies. This is all I know at the present.
Rating = ? out of 10
This EP is worthy of interest to Funki Porcini fans due to a remix track on this album, When Sorrows Came: Funki Porcini's Toxic Hammond. It contains five other tracks, all remixes of just two songs, When Sorrows Came and Lemon Incest. The Toxic Lounge version of Lemon Incest is itself a remix of a 1984 French record, that caused a scandal when initially released.
Toxic Lounge are from Vienna and are little known outside of Austria, so this EP may be difficult to find.
Rating = 9 out of 10
Funki Porcini - Zombie
EP - Released 2000 on Crippled Dick Hot Wax.
Crippled Dick Hot Wax is a German label specialising in things like horror film music and other weird stuff. Zombie contains 2 new tracks, Flesheater Boulevard and Fulci On The Rocks, inspired by the film Zombie Flesheaters. It also includes three tracks from the deleted 12 inch, Funki Porcini vs Jerry van Rooyen. The best track is track 3, Great Train Robbery.
Jerry van Rooyen is some ageing Dutch person who made various film music, and some of his music can be found on Crippled Dick. Funki Porcini also worked on horror film music in his early days.
If you can not find this, try HMV (in the UK), which is where I got my copy.
Rating = 6 out of 10; thevibes.net CD of the week for 2-9 Apr, 2000.
Various Ninja Tune artists - Xen Cuts
4 LPs or 3 CDs - Released 2000 on Ninja Tune.
Released to celebrate Ninja Tune's tenth anniversary, this includes two Funki Porcini tracks - Dubble (Organ Swell Remix), which can also be found on the 1995 Dubble single, and Big Sea, which will be on Fast Asleep, the new album. It is not to be confused with the Cinematic Orchestra song , Ode to the Big Sea.
Rating = ? out of 10
Funki Porcini - The Great Drive By
12 inch vinyl only - released 24 October, 2001 on Ninja Tune.
The Great Drive By is a pretty weird song to be released as a single. One side includes the album version, followed by a very similar remix by Funki Porcini himself. This side is very simple, experimental and ambient rather than exciting.
The other side includes 2 remixes. Bent's mix is excellent, with a mellow beat and inventive use of the original's chord pattern. The Flying Fish mix is drum and bass, good if you like the style.
The video is here.
Rating = 7 out of 10
The new album is complete! It will be released soon. It's working title, "Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be Funki Porcini", has now been changed to Fast Asleep. Apparently track 2 was released on the Xen Cuts compilation. The track list is:
1. What Are You Looking At
2. The Big Sea
3. We're Out of Here
4. 50,000 Ft Freefall
5. Sleepy
6. The Great Drive By
7. Last Night Over Norway
8. New Dope
9. 16 Megatons
10. Tokyosaka Train
11. Terminal C3 UK
12. Weow
13. Offshore Birmingham
14. Back Home
Rating = ??? out of 10