THE TIME THIEF Vrooooooom! That's the sound of Redtenbacher’s Funkestra roaring into the station with a new album, The Time Thief. The engine on this baby is Stefan Redtenbacher, composer and bassist extraordinaire, whose precision with the beat keeps the whole well-oiled machine turning on a dime. Other bands might set up the groove then call it a day. Not so the Funkestra. Listen carefully, and you’ll hear what makes the group so interesting: underneath the smooth chassis bristles an exuberant machinery of sounds, textures, and tempi. There are the eccentric little buzzes, boings, and springs of “Walkin Struttin Strollin,” and the unexpectedly festive horns of “Funkie Moon.” “Lil’ John Wayne” gallops along like a cowboy – a really funky cowboy – headed west. In the hilarious “Buttnaked in Moldova” (yes, really), a muted wah-wah trumpet embarks on a tipsy stroll through the neighborhood. Our hero wanders drunkenly down the echoing alleys of organ notes, joined progressively by more and more instruments. By the end, you’ll want to strip down in Moldova, too. My favorite track, however, might be “2048.” A super-funky intro segues into a ‘seventies “Love Boat” interlude, suave and smooth, then catapults forward again into propulsive funk. No sooner have you broken a sweat when the door opens, in slinks that smooth sax again, and next thing you know, you’re waiting for Barry White in the Jacuzzi. It’s a delightful melange of sounds, moods, and eras, less time thief than time traveler. If this is a harbinger of the world in 2048 – witty, diverse, open-minded, with funk and groove for all – I’m feeling a bit more hopeful about the future. (Juliet Eastland, independent writer, USA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stefan Redtenbacher remains the consummate bass master, not forgetting his sizable talents as a writer, producer and arranger. While his technique and taste are impeccable, it’s his mighty groove capabilities and strengths as a bandleader that really shine on the Funkestra’s latest album. In fact, it’s these latter qualities that make The Time Thief a real joy to listen to, marking it out as a real ‘band’ record and not just a vehicle for some OTT bass chops. Having ploughed themselves a deep funk furrow on 2015's Dr Hypenstein, the group have matured into a superslick funk machine that run riot with a whole world of syncopated grooves. Be it the vintage horn-honking strut of opener ‘Guilty’ or the electro head charge of ‘Funkie Moon’ – this is fantastic wall-to-wall funk. Bottling some of their slamming live energy, The Time Thief bounces along with hip-shaking ease without losing sight of a good tune or a powerful groove. While some funk bands labour under their influences, Redtenbacher’s Funkestra have used some deeply embedded ingredients to produce an album that’s dripping with slinky riffs and smooth new grooves. (Nick Wells, editor of iBass Magazine, UK)