Through its intro and interludes, Bodywash offers only traces of the stumbling drums, disintegrating keyboards, and other sunbeam-gazing-through-dust-particles soundtrack elements heard on Yawn Zen. Almost completely disconnected from the lo-fi, vaguely psychedelic hip-hop of the producer's 2014 album debut for Stones Throw, this is Ringgo Ancheta's spin on modern funk, assisted by instrumentation from the likes of
Swarvy (bass), Keith Askey (guitar), and Kiefer Shackelford (keyboards). It tends to be more atmospheric and less energized than the output of
Dâm-Funk, but the inspiration of Ancheta's labelmate is unmistakable through all the lively keyboard work, chunky basslines that prance and prod, and adroit drum programming. In affable cool-cat style, Ancheta sings on the majority of the tracks, mixing it up between expressing tender affection and offering stress-relieving counsel. He seems to be almost as much of a freak for post-disco R&B as
Dâm-Funk and Stones Throw head
Peanut Butter Wolf. There are echoes of Leon Sylvers III, James Mtume,
Dazz Band's Bobby Harris, and the early/mid-'80s work of other producers in here. "Use Ya Mnd (Twentyfourseven)," one of the highlights, sounds like a cover of something from pianist
Bernard Wright's
Funky Beat, surprisingly effective combination of analog and digital components and all. ~ Andy Kellman