FELIX DA HOUSECAT
He Was King (Nettwerk)
For every album he does, Felix Da Housecat chooses an aspect of
musical history, or a particular artist, to focus on. For He Was
King -- Felix's tenth album, if you include compilations -- it's Prince, an
artist Felix has emulated in past compositions. Though each track here
takes something from a different Prince album, He Was King is not
derivative; it is simply informed by Prince. Felix puts his own
electro-tinged, drum machine-driven pop, robotic-vocaled stamp on
everything. Something about the high-pitched, breathy vocals of singer
Nese Djouma gives He Was King a touch of French dance. This is
particularly pronounced on "Do Not Try This at Home," where one almost
feels compelled to project a French accent on the minimal beat pattern,
while shrill vocals balance the electronic growls of impressive belching
basslines on "Machine." Like all Felix albums, He Was King has great
ideas, but only works one song at a time -- very loud, in a club setting.
Lily Moayeri
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