This week's funk releases reviewed

EL MICHELS AFFAIR

Enter the 37th Chamber Fat Beats****

When RZA went to work recording the Wu-Tang Clan's debut album, he leaned heavily on soul samples and dusty grooves to create a blend of eerie moods and hazy sonics on Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). In some ways, New York City new-funk collective El Michels Affair subscribe to that notion on their homage to the Clan. After all, the originals from The Charmels and The JBs – which caught RZA's ear in the first place – would have featured a band at full pelt. Yet Leon Michels and friends don't simply do the easy thing and rehash the samples lick for lick. Instead, they concentrate as much on what was going on between the notes. As both Bring the Ruckusand C.R.E.A.M.show, this sees them using subtle, slight shifts and sounds to enhance a deeply soulful drag. www.truthandsoul records.com

Download tracks: C.R.E.A.M., Shimmy Shimmy Ya