Step aside Chromeo, there's a new neo-funk duo in town in the form of the suave Tuxedo. Tuxedo is a collaboration between two musicians from mildly different urban backgrounds but both with American caucasian skin. Although Mayer Hawthorne developed a flirtatious and charming personality with his smooth and retro blue eyed soul influenced by Motown, funk and quiet storm acts such as Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, he always had an early fascination with hip-hop inspired by his musical father. This realization is only partially hard in the backing of certain tracks like in the Snoop Dogg duet Can't Stop from How Do You Do. What's on the other hand, Jake One is a producer with a background drenched in underground hip hop and old skool beats but has hinted at a crush on soul music on tracks such as The Truth from White Van Music. So Tuxedo is not only an amalgamation but possibly a secret dream for both parties. 

 

The irrestiably danceable lead single Do It is an extension of an prelude heard of Mayer Hawthorne's slightly pretentious and Pharrell-co-produced third album Where Does This Door Go and is the perfect example of how the duo have interwoven ideas. There's the soulful voice, over-layered harmonies, pillow talk and funky-groove of Hawthorne's guitars backed by a hip-hop community spirit of clapping and cheering from One's musical background. The clapping is an element used throughout the album on other tracks such as R U Ready and Watch The Dance to get the listener's hips moving.

 

Yet the third element of squeaky synths that envision a futuristic disco and started to be introduced in Hawthorne's more experimental last solo album, places their sound in the same electrofunk genre as Canadians Chromeo. It's impossible not to compare the two. There are numerous similarities between the two bands. They both mix new and vintage sounds, possess suggestive album covers (in the case of Tuxedo's album cover, are they dancing or fornicating?), a fun sense of partying and dancing and have lyrics generally focused on wooing the opposite sex with their chat up lines.

 

An example of Tuxedo's cheeky attempt at courting is: "I work all week to make ends meet but I want to get in the sheets and I wanna feel the heat." from Get You Home, which is slightly more misognitic than we normally expect from Hawthorne and gentleman dressed in fancy suits.

 

Although the album's purpose is to provoke optimistic movement with Nile Rodgers/Chic groove, there is still room for Hawthorne's sensual soul side in The Commodores-esque Two Wrongs. It's mellow and harmonic with perfectly authentic lyrics including the stereotypical "babys" and analysis of love idioms but contains the same subtle friendly synths heard on the rest of the album and an additional sponteanous rock guitar solo. There is also space for progressive-disco instrumentation a kin to Daft Punk and Todd Terje on Tuxedo Groove which completes a fun and entertaining experience.

 

Looking for new nostalgic disco funk and tired of the over-promotion of Mark Ronson's Uptown Funk? Look no further than Tuxedo. Just remember to suit up though.

 

Best Songs: Do It, Number One, Two Wrongs