XL Middleton released his modern funk LP “Tap Water” on October 30th, and took over Dublab for a few hours to play cuts from the album as well as a slew of other treats, alongside fellow MoFunk Records artists Moniquea & Diamond Ortiz. XL was joined on the tables by MoFunk Records co-founder Eddy Funkster (Funkmosphere) and DJ Ghost (Spectrum Records).
“Tap Water” is XL Middleton’s first full-length LP in the modern funk mode. As with his previous single releases such as “Keep It Funkin” & “Press Play” (with Zackey Force Funk & Eddy Funkster), Middleton seeks to continue building on the links between 80’s boogie funk & 90’s g-funk, drawing heavily from both wells to create a fresh new sound that pays homage to its blueprints while continuing to progress and innovate at the same time.
For the most part, the songs on “Tap Water” avoid the instrumental-only ethos of much of today’s funk, instead opting for more traditional song structures, resulting in music with easily relatable content. Whether it’s a love song (“I’m Ready”), a lust song (“Psychic”), speaking out on the disposable, trend-obsessed culture of the modern day (“Do Me Like That”), or simply declaring his funk dominance (“Bumpin’”), “Tap Water” is a well-rounded album designed to appeal to anyone from the most discerning funkologist to the more casual purveyor of all things on the one.
MIX: DOWNLOAD
DJ Ghost:
Raw Silk – Just In Time
Vera Brown & Rich Girls – Too Much Too Fast
Radiance – You’re My Number 1
Lamont Dozier – Shout About It (Instrumental)
First Light – Daybreak
The Horne Section – Lady Shine
XL Middleton:
Catch – Amnesia
One Way – Set It Out
The 8th Day – Hot on the Wheels of Love
Catch – Get on Freak
Mason – Livin’ on the Edge
Kiddo – She’s Got the Body
W.A.G.B Band – I Can get You Over
DJ Ghost:
Richard Jon Smith – Love Is What I’m After
Kano – Dance School
Freeez – One To One
Sunfire – Never Too Late For Your Lovin’
Bryan Loren – For Tonight
Voyage – I Love You Dancer (Instrumental)
XL Middleton:
Brian Ellis – Babe You Make me Feel So Good
XL Middleton – Can’t Help the Way I Feel
E.Live feat. Chesta Blake – Do Me Like That
Pink Fink – Frightened Love
XL Middleton – Sunset on Sunset
Hideki Saijo – Madness
Fingerprintz – The Beat Escape
DJ Ghost
Ago – For You
Bernice Watkins – Let’s Call It A Day
Ron Richardson – Ooh Wee Babe
D-Train – D-Train Dub (Ghost on the cuts)
Melba Moore – Your Sweet Lovin’
XL Middleton:
ABC – How To Be a Zillionaire
Landscape – Manhattan Boogie Woogie
Autumn – I Say You Hello
Can-Dee – Lucky Day
Alvin Fields – Lucky Number Seven
XL Middleton – You know it’s True