Track Listing:
Revelation In Black Light {B Worrell} 2:24
Flex {B Worrell, James Sumbi, Bill Laswell, Mike Small, G Clinton} 6:03
Time Was (Events in the Elsewhere)
{B Worrell, G Clinton, B Laswell, W Collins} 7:20
Blood Secrets {B Worrell} 6:47
Dissinfordollars {B Worrell, G Clinton, W Collins} 6:30
The Vision {B Worrell, J Sumbi, M Small, B Laswell} 8:03
Won't Go Away {B Worrell, M Small, B Laswell} 5:56
X-Factor {B Worrell, Maceo Parker} 11:51
Disappearance {B Worrell} :51
Personnel:
"Revelation in Black Light"
Harpsichord: Bernie Worrell
Material Strings: Arranged by Bernie Worrell
"Flex"
Organ, Mini Moog: Bernie Worrell
Guitar: Bootsy Collins
Sax: Maceo Parker
Trombone: Fred Wesley
Loops: Bill Laswell
Beats: Bill Laswell, Darryl Mack
Vocals: James Sumbi (All & All), Mike G, George Clinton,
Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper
"Time Was"
Organ, Synth, Mini Moog, Melodica: Bernie Worrell
Cowbells: Aiyb Dieng
Samples: Bill Laswell
Vocals: Bernie Worrell, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins,
Gary Cooper, Debra Barsha
"Blood Secrets"
Organ: Bernie Worrell
Alto Sax: Maceo Parker
Drums: Tony Williams
"Dissinfordollars"
Synth, Clavinet, Mini Moog: Bernie Worrell
Guitar: Bootsy Collins
Alto Sax: Maceo Parker
Trombone: Fred Wesley
Drum Loop: Sly Dunbar
Chatan: Aiyb Dieng
Sound Effects: Bill Laswell
Vocals: George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Gary Cooper
"The Vision"
Clavinet, Synth, Electric Piano: Bernie Worrell
Acoustic Bass: Bootsy Collins
Alto Sax: Maceo Parker
Trombone: Fred Wesley
Drum Loop: Sly Dunbar
Talking Drums, Chaton, Cowbells: Aiyb Dieng
Vocals: James Sumbi, Mike G
"Won't Go Away"
Synth, Clavinet, Mini Moog: Bernie Worrell
Material Strings: Arranged by Bernie Worrell
Guitar: Bootsy Collins
Loops: Bill Laswell
Vocals: Mike G, George Clinton, Gary Cooper
"X-Factor"
Organ: Bernie Worrell
Flute, Alto Sax: Maceo Parker
Drums: Tony Williams
"Disappearance"
Material Strings: Arranged by Bernie Worrell
Producer, Arranger: Bill Laswell, Bernie Worrell
Rating: RC: ****1/2
Comments:RC: This is a truly brilliant album, probably the best P.Funk album released between 1983-95. There were a number of bold experiments on here that worked out extremely well. Bill Laswell does an excellent job of mixing and matching talent on here, bringing in clever rappers Mike G and James Sumbi, monstrous drummer Tony Williams, and percussionist supreme Aiyb Deng. Perhaps he deserves the most credit for bringing George Clinton in to work with Bernie and Bootsy once again; when these three work together, it's magic. Musically, this album completely succeeds in fusing funk, jazz, hip-hop and classical music into something coherent, interesting and unique. Bernie is the mastermind behind it all, effortlessly floating from style to style, showing his skill at the most delicate of musical forms, and then funking it up like a maniac. Clinton brings in all sorts of wacky lyrical concepts, with hook after interesting hook. Bootsy stays in the background a bit more, though he has his moments on guitar and standup bass (!). Although this album is very funky and danceable at certain points, it is also extremely dense and may require a few listens to get into completely, but it's worth it.
"Revelation..." is a majestic harpsichord piece, establishing a theme and feel to the album. "Flex" is an excellent funk/hip-hop piece. Clinton's lyrical chants are among his best, with the memorable 'Let the shakin` begin right here/You be standing in the epicenter'. The horn bursts from Fred & Maceo are the perfect balancer for the loop track, Bernie's keys are smoking here, as he takes several brief solos. "Time Was" is one of the most inspired uses of a sample that I've ever heard. Using his own "Aqua Boogie", he creates an interesting concoction, playing new keyboard parts over it as Deng increases the heat with a funky cowbell. The lyrics, echoing Clinton's "Martial Law", are also excellent. "Blood Secrets" is a jazzy instrumental, weaving in Tony Williams' astounding drumming, the ever-funky Maceo blowing his sax, and Bernie holding it all together. "Dissinfordollars" is another funk/hip-hop masterpiece which happily features 'Worrell-Clinton-Collins' as its writing credit. Bernie's clavinet is truly ultra-funky here, with Bootsy providing guitar flavor, chanking away. George's singing and vocals are some of his best, slipping in a bit of the unreleased song "Niggerish" in, with the line 'suck my dick and make it puke' amusingly slowed down to unrecognizability. "The Vision" has a mellow acid-jazz flavor, with restrained rapping and excellent acoustic bass from Bootsy. "Won't Go Away" is a funky and tuneful piece, with a classical feel over the beats. Bootsy plays some graceful guitar. "X-Factor" is a jazz epic, starting with a breathy Maceo flute solo, continuing with more amazing play from drummer Tony Williams, and Bernie once again soloing and holding it all together. This piece holds your attention throughout its considerable length. "Disappearance" is a graceful closing piece, echoing back to the first song.
This album is in print and should be easy to find. The cover features an interesting collage.