ARTIST: The Shift
TITLE: Modified Times
LABEL: Blunted Funk
GENRE: Electronic
BITRATE: 188kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 1h 02m total
RELEASE DATE: 2007-00-00
RIP DATE: 2007-05-23
Track List
----------
1. Minor Times 1:58
2. Minus Man 5:37
3. Soulville (Modified) 4:48
4. Green Means Go 6:23
5. Mason Jar 6:43
6. You Don't Know 5:57
7. Crusin' 6:08
8. Butter (Synthetic) 4:19
9. No Accessories 5:16
10. Never Enough 4:58
11. Come Down 4:36
12. Play All Mode 6:11
Release Notes:
THE SHIFT combines electronic and jazz instrumentation over driving
house-inspired beats, and funky downtempo rhythms. Starting in 2001 as an
experimental live/dj act, this Brooklyn group has since evolved into a full
six-piece live act. With multiple international releases and an active live
schedule, The Shift is establishing itself as one of the truly next-level acts
in New York City.
House DJ Scottie B and local producer Chris Tempas used the name, The Shift,
during their four-year tenure hosting the "Arts & Sciences" event at Galapagos
in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It began with DJs, and progressed with Tempas and
Scottie adding computers and live percussion to the mix. Soon, local musicians
began to take notice and started sitting in. With a totally unique set list at
each show, the roster changed with each performance as well - at one point
consisting of twelve performers. The source tracks of these events were released
originally as the "Rejective Shift EP", later re-released on iTunes as the
"Orange LP" in 2003. At this time the duo also released a single on vinyl; "Soco
& Cheese / Big Pimpin'" was dubbed as "delicious house grooves alongside an
empowering bass-funk." More success on wax followed when DJ Magazine (UK)
labeled them "stalwarts" for their "jacking, chord-driven 'White Light'."
It was during this phase that the Shift acquired its third member, guitarist
Brian Fegan. Fegan helped establish a consistent identity for The Shift,
solidifying the live act into a cohesive group. By 2004, The Shift had
established a lineup; adding sax player Michael Devillis, bassist Jeff Angell
and vocalist Rhiannon. During the next few years, The Shift was featured at a
series of high-profile live events, including two-to-four-thousand attendance
events at the D.U.M.B.O. Lunatarium, art openings at The Wonderland, a prime
spot at the famed Second Sunrise Festival and multiple venues in Manhattan
[Vibe, Anatomy], Brooklyn [Sputnik, Publik House], and elsewhere on the east
coast.
That year, the first of the full band's vinyl releases began to receive critical
acclaim across the boards. "Soulville" was described as "laid-back, with
midtempo beats and a live-sounding feel that fans of Eighteenth Street Lounge
Music should dig." (URB Magazine) Later in 2005, The Shift released their fourth
single "Cruisn'", on Blunted Funk Recordings; "...that funky soulful house thing
they do so well." (DJ Times Magazine) Featuring "utterly amazing" (DJ Times)
remixes by John Larner, Scottie B and Tempas, the record sold out in a matter of
weeks. XLR8R Magazine described the release as "sax and Rhodes keyboard
flourishes over their scissor-clipped vocals and deep-dipping bass
throbs...cruise to this."
Both of these funky dance tunes appear on their first LP, "Modified Times",
along with a number of other Shift fan-favorites. One of their groovy downtempo
cuts, "Come Down", has recently been licensed to appear in the feature film, 5
Up, 2 Down, due for release in 2006. Other artists appearing on the soundtrack
are Citizen Cope, Morley, Alchemist and a score by John Swihart (Napolean
Dynamite). This and other more laid-back songs round out The Shift's "Modified
Times" - an eclectic album for the ages. Take a listen.