Blacktronic Science
| Blacktronic Science | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1993 | |||
| Genre | Funk | |||
| Length | 55:57 | |||
| Label | Gramavision | |||
| Producer | Bernie Worrell, Bill Laswell | |||
| Bernie Worrell chronology | ||||
| ||||
Blacktronic Science is the third solo album by the former Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell.[1][2] The album was released by Gramavision Records in 1993.[3]
Production
[edit]The album was produced by Worrell and Bill Laswell.[4] It is a P-Funk reunion of sorts, as it contains guest appearances by George Clinton, bassist Bootsy Collins, trombonist Fred Wesley, singer Gary "Mudbone" Cooper, and saxophonist Maceo Parker.[5][6] Tony Williams played drums on some of the tracks.[7] Sly Dunbar provided the drum loop for "Dissinfordollars".[8]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Chicago Tribune | [3] |
| The Indianapolis Star | [6] |
| The Philadelphia Inquirer | [10] |
| USA Today | [5] |
USA Today deemed the album an "ambitious, wildly eclectic project."[5] The Austin American-Statesman noted that it finds Worrell "extending the Mothership Connection into the hip-hop age, while a couple of string-laden chamber cuts reflect his classical training."[11]
The Philadelphia Inquirer determined that "Worrell seems to be expanding the definition of funk by juxtaposing it with other traditions ... 'Revelation in Black Light' features [Worrell] playing some lyrical harpsichord with an overlay of strings that has an almost baroque feel to it."[10] The Oregonian wrote that Worrell "uses hip hop and '60s jazz organ stylings as two elements in his alchemical new masterpiece."[12]
Track listing
[edit]- "Revelation In Black Light" (Worrell) 2:24
- "Flex" (Worrell, James Sumbi, Bill Laswell, Mike Small, George Clinton) 6:03
- "Time Was (Events in the Elsewhere)" (Worrell, George Clinton, Bill Laswell, Bootsy Collins) 7:20
- "Blood Secrets" (Worrell) 6:47
- "Dissinfordollars" (Worrell, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins) 6:30
- "The Vision" (Worrell, James Sumbi, Mike Small, Bill Laswell) 8:03
- "Won't Go Away" (Worrell, Mike Small, Bill Laswell) 5:56
- "X-Factor" (Worrell, Maceo Parker) 11:51
- "Disappearance" (Worrell) 0:51
Personnel
[edit]"Revelation in Black Light"
- Harpsichord: Bernie Worrell
- Material Strings: Arranged by Bernie Worrell
"Flex"
- Organ, Mini Moog: Bernie Worrell
- Guitar: Bootsy Collins
- Saxophone: Maceo Parker
- Trombone: Fred Wesley
- Loops: Bill Laswell
- Beats: Bill Laswell, Darryl Mack
- Vocals: James Sumbi aka J-Sumbi (All & All and Freestyle Fellowship), Mike G, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper
"Time Was"
- Organ, Synthesizer, Mini Moog, Melodica: Bernie Worrell
- Cowbells: Aïyb Dieng
- Samples: Bill Laswell
- Vocals: Bernie Worrell, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper, Debra Barsha
"Blood Secrets"
- Organ: Bernie Worrell
- Alto Saxophone: Maceo Parker
- Drums: Tony Williams
"Dissinfordollars"
- Synthesizer, Clavinet, Mini Moog: Bernie Worrell
- Guitar: Bootsy Collins
- Alto Saxophone: Maceo Parker
- Trombone: Fred Wesley
- Drum Loop: Sly Dunbar
- Chatan: Aĩyb Dieng
- Sound Effects: Bill Laswell
- Vocals: George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper
"The Vision"
- Clavinet, Synthesizer, Electric Piano: Bernie Worrell
- Acoustic Bass: Bootsy Collins
- Alto Saxophone: Maceo Parker
- Trombone: Fred Wesley
- Drum Loop: Sly Dunbar
- Talking Drums, Chaton, Cowbells: Aiyb Dieng
- Vocals: James Sumbi, Mike G
"Won't Go Away"
- Synthesizer, Clavinet, Mini Moog: Bernie Worrell
- Material Strings: Arranged by Bernie Worrell
- Guitar: Bootsy Collins
- Loops: Bill Laswell
- Vocals: Mike G, George Clinton, Gary Cooper
"X-Factor"
- Organ: Bernie Worrell
- Flute, Alto Saxophone: Maceo Parker
- Drums: Tony Williams
"Disappearance"
- Material Strings-arranged by Bernie Worrell
Conducted by Karl Berger
References
[edit]- ^ Matos, Michaelangelo (June 25, 2016). "10 Definitive Bernie Worrell Moments". Billboard.
- ^ Rideout, Ernie (January 15, 2011). "Keyboard Presents Synth Gods". Berklee Press – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Kot, Greg (3 June 1993). "Bernie Worrell Blacktronic Science". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ "Album reviews — Blacktronic Science by Bernie Worrell". Billboard. 105 (16): 52. Apr 17, 1993.
- ^ a b c Jones IV, James T. (20 Apr 1993). "Bernie Worrell, Blacktronic Science". USA Today. p. 8D.
- ^ a b Ford, Lynn Dean (21 May 1993). "Bernie Worrell 'Blacktronic Science'". The Indianapolis Star. p. D13.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (23 Apr 1993). "THE J.B. HORNS, BERNIE WORRELL". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 10.
- ^ Greenman, Ben (May 12, 1993). "Blinded by Science - Update that periodic table: A new element's just in, and it's named Bootium". Music. Miami New Times.
- ^ Blacktronic Science at AllMusic
- ^ a b Stark, Karl (11 May 1993). "BERNIE WORRELL Blacktronic Science". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E7.
- ^ McLeese, Don (22 Apr 1993). "Bernie Worrell. Blacktronic Science". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 5.
- ^ Hughley, Marty (June 27, 1993). "But the traffic at the jazz/hip-hop intersection is getting heavy...". The Oregonian. p. E1.
