- Thawing from the cult fame carbonite and emerging with a meditated sophomore release, Wanna Be Your Man is the LA funk aficionado Prophet's measured new album. It's one steeped in the artist’s long experience and balanced by futuristic invigoration of old ideals. Backed by MNDSGN, the mainstay producer and a tailor of forward thinking beats, it reaches across the generational divide separating the two respective parties, and forms a party, in both senses of the world, in the middle between them. Melding together of charismatic, distinct vocals and shuffling, head bopping, and gorgeous instrumentals is only too natural.
Prophet exults bottomless and implausible amounts of infectious personality, flexes his keenly honed ear for refined, syrupy hooks, and does so all in front of a PowerPoint presentation where the only content is the phrase “HAVE A GOOD TIME” definitely in those caps, on every slide with star wipe transitions. In behind this, MNDSGN diligently paints backgrounds emblazed with subtle nods to boogie for his faithful funk friend to perform in front of. Each songs here is knowingly opening itself up to be spun during a Boiler Room session, something not unknown by Prophet - his last record was a holy grail for many a DJ. Popping electric bass on Ooo Wee Yeah juts out as awkwardly as the player’s thumb but is swallowed as the rhythm section booms, and comes back as a cheeky peaking of its high end cuts through the mix. Prophet delivers a near spoken word performance and a gospel, three word refrain. During Really Turn Me On, he rides as smoothly as the car he name drops over the deceptively simple key palpitations, bringing his devoted adoration through in a comfortable position in his register, quaintly offset by the backing-vocals in the chorus. Vocal versatility is a strength which he has no qualms about making an exhibition of. On Right On Time, pulled from his first release as is Tonight, and Really Turn Me On, he operates in disco appropriate falsetto. As the record rounds out, the two final tracks harbour instantly catchy musical highlights: with the penultimate tune there's bulging bass lines that interplay with offbeat keys and jackhammering guitars, and the finale is locked into a smoke tight rhythmic groove you want to loop forever. MNDSGN interjects his easily identifiable spaced out vocals towards the ends, tightening the bond between the two artists. In stark contrast to the quirky opener, this bouncing closer acts as a flawless send off.
As a whole, Wanna Be Your Man, has a to be expected old head on its shoulders, enough so that these songs have a pointed direction and intrinsic flair, but this old dog could do to learn a few more new tricks: there's only so hungry you can be for these endless sermons of joy, commited to disc. Really though it's no harm, no foul: songs new and revisited stream together under the gentle guiding hand of MNDSGN, only adding to Prophet’s immaculate talent. Being an unbridled mission statement of shameless fun, I hope to high heavens that the next release by this wizard in yellow comes well before another 34 years pass. Obviously, if need be, I’ll wait with bated breath but god, please don’t make me wait that long. I’ve a taste, and now I only want more.
- Matt Lynch.