The brilliantly named Funke and the Two Tone Baby is the alter ego of one-man band Daniel Turnbull. His weapons? His voice, a particularly dexterous octopus-worth of instruments and a stompbox. His sound? Pretty darn good.
Using subtly-integrated recorded loops, Turnbull creates energetic blues numbers with attitude. Squalls of harmonica, murky guitar licks and primal, stomping beats combine into a vivid backdrop for songs of love, loss and tribulation, sung in the world-weary voice of the tough yet sensitive troubador. But don't go thinking that Funke and the Two Tone Baby is an over-earnest homage to Americana – Turnbull's idiosyncratic voice and production touches are a reminder that his is a very 21st century take on this oldest (and some might say over-subscribed) of genres.
While Turnbull's voice might occasionally be a little too mannered for some tastes, it's undeniable that his songs effectively capture the throaty thrill of the blues. From the harmonica-driven strut of “Darkest of Days” to the pained high emotion of “Now You See Me”, there is plenty of musical skill and emotional range to savour here, and you sense that Turnbull would be as home on some Deep South porch as he would be tearing up your local pubs and street corners, which gives the music a refreshing integrity. Definitely one to watch out for.
Review by Stefan Mohamed
Contact Funke and the Two Tone Baby!
funkeandthetwotonebaby@gmail.com
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