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Fun-Da-Mental -A Philosophy of Nothing-

Review By Shaun Histed-Todd – The Snuff Monkey Show

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Having been a long time follower of Aki Nawaz and the musical genius he creates with Fun-Da-Mental “A Philosophy of Nothing” is the bands long awaited sixth album, never shy of delving into new grounds and cultural styles this album certainly doesn’t disappoint.

The opening track “Remote Control” reminds us that the band still has its footing in the punk grounds. A stomping angry sound, buzz guitar riffs with Aki joined on vocals by Shamil Khan (The Kaliphz) rapping. It’s a great opener that beckons you to want more. And more is what we get as “Oh Hell, No Worry” hit’s the speakers with another pumping beat we are and vocals driven by Eslam Jawaad and Mandy Bell taking control of the chorus, wonderful stuff.

Track three gives us all a surprise and Fun-Da-Mental present us with their first ever cover as they give us their rendition of The Temptations “Ball of Confusion” with Otis Coulter a young talented vocalist taking over the mic. This is a song that is relevant just as much today as it was in the seventies. A catchy tune in its original form, Fun-Da-Mental have brought the tune bang up to date and even catchier, it just refuses to leave the skull after hearing.

We are also given a track that brings Aki back collaborating with his past as he teams up with Buzz Burrows from Southern Death Cult, for an anti war anthem “War Again”

Next we have Sufi Butterfly with an acoustic guitar track overlaid with Shamil Khan, back on vocals, the lyrics are a call for us to think for ourselves and to question what we are told instead of floating idly accepting everything the media and our leaders sell us. To see through the lies and the media propaganda as they sell us in to perpetual war “Bombing em and bombing em and bombing em again”

When we get to the seventh track, it’s at this point we are treated to a truly different side from the band, as they delve into the grounds of Celtic folk with Scottish Folk artist Alasdair Roberts on “Colour of Rain”. It’s a beautiful constructed song which confronts prejudice that we all encounter. Whether it’s towards the poor, the ill, another culture or as in the line “This is for the broken man lying across the sea” is an ode to the deaths of immigrants and refugees where small mindedness stigmatises against their plight. The song also forces us to think about our society’s driven desire to compete to be number one.

“Leave a Bird to Eat” leads into further new grounds as the band give us some Blues in Fun-Da-mental style with Tim Whelan on vocals. Then we get to the title track of the album “Broken Bones – A Philosophy of Nothing” with discordant drum and percussions, sinister insectiod soundscape overlapped with the soft and ethereal voice of Tamanna Kalhar. This is a haunting track and I feel there is a lot pain being expressed here. Maybe it’s personal pain or maybe it a collective pain to a cruel world that surrounds us. Or is it Aki’s pain with extremist’s distorting religion to their own ideals, bring condemnation and judgement on the true faithful innocents “Tired of your tribal allegiances, so superficial and untrue” It’s a Haunting, Angry, Passionate and an Emotive song.
“Man gotta do what a man got to do” Set to a simple rhythmic beat of beeps and tones where we have Aki reciting a tale from the view of a journalist eager to enhance his career, twisting the truth to form sensationalist headlines. They don’t care whose lives they destroy as long as it gets them up the next step on the ladder.  The line “Ok the guy is innocent but don’t like his faith and culture” Sums up lazy xenophobic journalists that fuel hate for their ego’s and careers.

“A Philosophy of Nothing “is a remarkable and intelligently written album as we have come to expect from FDM. The lyrics are intelligent some of them may not be as obvious with their messages as other songs and a number of interpretations maybe drawn from them, but they get you to think and question what’s going on in the world around us. The Album calls for us to wake up from the apathy our governments and leaders relish in keeping us in, to speak up and be counted and heard.
Unlike previous albums this steps away from the multicultural beats and rhythms we have come to expect from this band, but it’s a progress forward exploring new cultural styles with finesse proving they are not afraid to tread new ground, not to linger in the past.

There are songs here that are a lot softer to what we have had from previous FDM albums but their lyrical content hard and passionate. We are reminded that punk rock doesn’t have to be hard and aggressive in sound or always in your face. But a soft letter can be like an iron first!

Aki has as always chosen his musicians well and the pure intelligent creativity this album has been crafted to makes it a high recommendation for anyone’s music collection.  I can honestly say there is not a weak track on here. This is Fun-Da-Mental and you will be “Playing em and Playing em and Playing em again”

I had the pleasure of Aki joining me for an interview on The Snuff Monkey Show.
This is a two part interview,
Part One took place on Sunday 6 September and can be heard below.

Part Two will broadcast here on Wicked Spins Radio
Sunday 13 September 6pm UK – 10am PST and 1pm EST US times
Join the >>Facebook invite <<

Part 1 -The Snuff Monkey Show 6-9-15 Interview with Aki Nawaz of Fun-Da-Mental – Southern Death Cult by Snuff Monkey on Mixcloud