Let’s Get “PHUNKED UP!” [Album Review]
Young and ambitious, Jordy Buijs, or better known as Dr Phunk, has seriously proved himself over the past year. Beginning his career in the Jump scene, the doctor moved on to conquer bigger and better things when he set his sights on the Freestyle movement in 2015. Now, one year later he’s celebrating the release of his debut album, which is set to not only change his career but change the face of Freestyle.
Titled “Phunked Up,” (honestly, there’s no other title for it) this little bundle of joy arrived into the arms of the Hard Dance scene just week, and I decided to crank it loud at Alive At Night headquarters and try my luck!
Released on Foolish Records, first up I absolutely love the cover of the album as it resonates with the general vibe around Dr Phunk’s music – light-hearted, fun and packed with party vibes. For those who know the doctor personally, it’s no secret that he’s a bit of a cheeky cunt, meaning that this entire album is the embodiment of what he stands for, musically and personally.
Time to get Phunky!
The album kicks off with the distinct voice of FERAL is KINKY; you know, the chick who did the vocals for Endymion and The Viper’s “Raging In A Dancehall.” “Can’t Resist” addition is the perfect ingredient to comprise a solid dance-floor thumper and the perfect opening to the album. Followed up by “Get Up,” these vocals may sound familiar to the majority of listeners – perhaps you’ve heard them before in Zatox and TNT’s track “Intensity.” Nonetheless, it’s a damn solid track with extremely heavy kicks and vivacious energy. In fact, coming from Jump/Tek, I’m extremely impressed with just how much Phunk has developed his sound and production quality. Big ups to you Phunky, and keep those quality beats coming!
The following track is… Wait for it… “LIT AS FUCK.” Somebody had to say it. “L.I.T” isn’t your typical Freestyle banger with sweet vocals and an EDM-based melody. This number is seriously fresh and appears to derive influences from various genres before building up to a harder, raw climax. Don’t be fooled with its initial simple structure – things get heavy and escalate before you can even say “Lit AF.”
Next up is a collaboration with the king Paul Elstak and JeBroer titled “Kind van de Duivel” and I can already foresee it exploding on the Pussy Lounge stage. Capturing more of a sing-a-long ambience, I have to admit that this track isn’t my favourite, but it’s still catchy as hell! The only shame here is my poor understanding of the Dutch language.
After trap-influenced banger “Narcotics,” is another collaboration and this time it’s with The Prophet! This Scantraxx head honcho is certainly one of Hard Dance’s most diverse artists; he can conquer anything from emotional melodies to raw floor-fillers and light-hearted Freestyle numbers and in “Like That” we’re treated to both producers’ strong suits.
“B.T.F.U” took me a couple of listens to enjoy, but I got there eventually. At first, the flute melody seemed bizarre and combined with the eerie break, this track unleashed a cage of butterflies in my stomach. After hearing “B.T.F.U” the second time I understood it a little better and formed a deeper appreciation for the experimental elements and odd chords in it.
Up next is “Came 2 Party,” made alongside Zany. To be honest, this track was far too simple for my usual taste, however I can appreciate the damage it’d do on the dance-floor. Must I add that Freestyle is predominantly about the party vibes, so in that case, these two nailed it!
Following up are two solo tracks “Deadliest Sound” and “Vigorous,” which both shed light on just how impressive Dr Phunk is! Seriously, compared to his earlier tracks, the productions on his new album are on a whole other level and it’s heart-warming to see how he’s thrived once the concept of genres was eliminated. If you like a striking balance between monstrous kicks and uplifting melodies, then both of these solos are worth laying your hands on.
What happens when one of Freestyle’s most anticipated new names sets foot in Dr Phunk’s studio? Well, magic that manifests in the form of a track named “See The Sky.” This one is all about heavy, thumping kicks, a non-stop energy and a groovy melody that’s jacked up with big-room influences.
Continuing on, we have some Trap-gone-Hardstyle vibes with “My World,” featuring Alee, which just so happens to be one of my favourites from the album! The thing I love about “My World” is that it’s hard, energetic and addictive, but has that extra addition of spice from the cheeky and spontaneous Trap breaks.
‘Phunked Up’ is undoubtedly a 360 degree view of the harder styles as listeners are treated to endless diversity that spreads across the vast spectrum. There’s something for everyone within this bundle of music, even the critical raw Hardstyle fans who will find themselves rocking out to “Reckless.” Produced alongside Minus Is More veteran Luna, this track is no less than massive as Phunk proves that he can even master the darker sounds.
Alright, as we come to the conclusion of the album, I realised I hadn’t picked a favourite yet! But I was in luck, because “Set Me Free” made me feel an intense rush of liberation! I am in LOVE with this track; it’s uplifting, fresh and even contains a few cheeky euphoric kickrolls. This track also stood out to me because of the lack of vocals; I’m not a huge fan of the typical “put your hands in the air” or “everybody fucking jump” lyrics, so good going to Phunky for leaving this masterpiece the way it is.
As the cherry on top of a very satisfying cake, Phunk has cranked up the BPM and set his sights on no less than female Hardcore superstar Korsakoff. Their collaboration “Secret Alliance” is nothing short of impressive and yet another fresh addition to both artists discographies. I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the uplifting, yet slightly sentimental melody and when you combine it with those penetrating kicks you suddenly have the full package!
And… Did he Phunk shit up?!
To answer simply; yes, he fucking did. ‘Phunked Up’ was a refreshing breeze that the Hard Dance scene was in dire need of. Forget genres, forget boxes and forget playing it safe – Dr Phunk has proven that you don’t need to belong to a certain sound to be a great producer. I’m not going to lie, I was hesitant at first to listen to this album, mainly because I thought I’d be listening to a handful of Freestyle floor-fillers that all sound the same, however Dr Phunk managed to surprise me in more ways than one. So, for those thrill seekers looking for something out of the ordinary, I suggest you have a listen to ‘Phunked Up!’
Finally, big congratulations to Jordy for the release of this album and we look forward to hearing what’s in store for you in the future.