Album Review: The Cactus Channel - Haptics

Let's not beat around the bush here. Haptics sounds like it has been ripped straight from the golden age of porn soundtracks – this despite the band's incredibly young age. The entire album perfectly encapsulates that funk sound of the 1970s that became so well associated with the seedier side of cinema back in the day. Brimming with deep, pronounced bass riffs that anchor each song seamlessly throughout the album, smooth-as-butter sax solos and drumming tighter than a hipster's skinny jeans, Haptics is quite simply a near-perfect funk album.

At a time when every Tom, Dick and Harry seems to be attempting to revive older styles of music (how many Morrissey clones will we be subjected to?), The Cactus Channel have delved into an area of the past that has been largely untouched in recent years. Their endeavour to modernise the funk genre has resulted in a rich cluster of solid, compelling instrumental pieces. With the stirring chords of an organ interlaced with fast-paced, fat drumbeats and velvety horns, opening track Emanuel Ciccolini is a delightful listen, and a good indication of the standard of the album. Another strong feature of Haptics is the interchanging positions instrumentally within each song. The album fails to become stagnant because the band is unafraid to experiment and shift. Under The Birdcage is dominated by the sax, whilst in Derty D's Thang the impressive bass riff tends to take precedent.

Having just completed high school a year ago, the members of The Cactus Channel have shown incredible maturity and skill within Haptics. Refreshing and upbeat, the album delivers a musical sensibility far beyond the age of its members.