- Maurice Fulton works his boogie magic on the debut album from Sheffield artist Danae.
- Low-key is almost an understatement when it comes to modern-day funk master Maurice Fulton. The Baltimore-raised, UK-based producer has cemented himself in dance music history but has never cared to be in the public eye. His method is to focus on the music and let the art speak for itself. Notoriously wary of interviews, his hesitancy towards self promotion means that you have to be really tuned-in to know what he's doing next. Lately, he's let some light in on his own terms. Over the course of the pandemic he started streaming DJ sets from his home studio on Twitch, usually multiple times a week without any advance notice. Besides these impromptu mixes, there have been substantial updates to his BubbleTease Communications Bandcamp, where Fulton has been uploading past (and often acclaimed) projects while quietly putting out new material.
Fulton has been based in Sheffield for quite some time, and often collaborates with local artists, like Danae, whose debut album Good Fruit is a phenomenal piece of modern funk. She seems to be a relatively unknown artist but may have provided backing vocals on some recent BubbleTease productions, considering she's thanked in the liner notes for Fulton's BOOF album Rebirth Of Gerberdaisy. You can feel a warm familiarity between the artists, as Danae's lyrics, songwriting and performances slot perfectly into Fulton's productions.
"All I Imagine" starts off the album with a downtempo and minimalist R&B approach. It's striking how much Fulton can make himself sound like a full four-piece funk band, as Danae's sultry vocals give us the first taste of her modern UK soul style. The four-to-the-floor beats kick in on "Black Girl Magic," a disco stomper complete with slap-bass and a ridiculously dope cowbell breakdown. Tropical percussion with chanting vocals give "Life Under The Sun" heavy Afro-caribbean vibes, evoking a summery, joyous feeling.
Even though there's an instantly recognizable Fulton sound palette—a deep yet lighthearted, techy funk with liberal use of swing and triplets—he never confines himself to a particular genre. Good Fruit's flow is enthralling as Fulton's musical methods play out in waves. "Dope-a-licious" has an old school hip-hop beat which steers Danae into adopting something of a '90s delivery while "Im Done" is a captivating, if somewhat abrasive, mix of trip-hop, jazz and glitch. "Flowers In The Garden" and "Eternal (Demo Mix)" are more in line with the standard deep house template, but are still refreshing thanks to the interplay between Danae's voice and Fulton's expert drum programming.
The best tracks have an obvious crossover potential. "Concrete Rose" features '90s breakbeat influence creeping in over a gospel sermon with additional vocals from Mim Suleiman, while "Bout To Catch A Case," with a funky acid bassline and engaging storytelling from Danae, is worthy of commercial radio play (if mainstream radio cared). The title track sounds like a modern day P-funk song. Lower in tempo but stacked with sounds and a thick, liquidy bassline, it has a funky edge aimed somewhere other than the dance floor.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," sums up where Maurice Fulton is at right now. Straddling a fine line between boogie-funk slap bass and acid techno madness is a feat that few could manage, yet he has truly mastered. His signature tricks—like the vocal stutter and beat repeat—make their usual appearances, but somehow it never feels cliché. It helps that Danae's voice has a depth and range, rich in a post-jazz style, that suits the producer to a tee. The Maurice Fulton formula still gets fantastic results, as nearly three decades of work can attest to, and he's usually keen to repeat collaborations. Hopefully this is the first of many and Danae will be a regular in the BubbleTease universe for years to come.
Tracklist01. All I Imagine
02. Black Girl Magic
03. Life Under The Sun
04. Bout To Catch A Case
05. Good Fruit
06. Dope-a-licious
07. Flowers In The Garden
08. Concrete Rose
09. Im Done
10. Eternal (Demo Mix)