Psy-Fi

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?
Instrumental Latin and Afro-Latin funk alternating between slow and uptempo numbers.

2. What did you think of the opening track?
Slow instrumental Afro-Latin funk groove with a playful nod to Earth Wind and Fire.

3. What did you think of the next track?
Much more upbeat instrumental Latin-funk.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
N/A

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
Yes. I liked the 70's vibe they were giving off in homage to some of their Latin and Afro-Latin funk musical influences.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it?
Stayed the same throughout.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
N/A

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
Yes. Nothing here I didn't enjoy listening to.

9. What did you think of the production?
Very good.

10. Did you know of this artiste prior to listening to the album, and if so, did that foreknowledge colour your perception of this album?
Yes, I knew of them before this album. They primarily record and perform as "Grupo Fantasma" and Brownout is what they call themselves when they want to record and tour with a slightly different approach and sound to their music. They also record and tour under the name "Brown Sabbath" doing horn-infused covers of Black Sabbath songs.
They also used to play with Prince on various occasions as his backing band.

11. Is this, generally, the kind of music you listen to or not?
Yes. Funk is always on my musical menu.

12. Assuming you listened to the album more than once, on repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
I loved it from the start. Repeated listens haven't changed my opinion of it one way or another.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
Don't have a single favorite but I do lean more towards tracks like "Brown Wind and Fire," "Con el Brownout No Se Juega,"Laredo 77," and "You Already Are."
"Barretta" sounded like it could've been featured on the 70's American TV show of the same name.

14. And the one you liked least?
None of them stood out as being dislikeable to me.

15. If the album in question is a debut, did that fact allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?
No. While it is the debut album for this band under the "Brownout" name, it is actually their fourth studio album.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing more from this artiste, if you have not heard any of their other material?
Have already heard everything they've done and am always looking forward to hearing more from them in the future.

17. Were you surprised by your reaction - positive or negative - to the album?
No. It was at least as good as what I was expecting to hear from them.

18. Did the album end well?
Yes. The last track "Chafa Khan" was not one of the standout tracks on the album for me but I thought it fit in well for the ending.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
No. I think it's fine just as it is.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
Yes, I thought it hung together very well.

9/10

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