Helena May’s full length record ‘Funkalicious’ is a delightful spread of modern commercial pop that excels in the collaborations throughout the album and also the individualised expression that May brings out. If the title itself doesn’t give it away, Funkalicious is a brave piece of funk driven pop music. Each tune has so much swagger and enthusiasm that you’re constantly head banging and dancing around to each minute melody simply because of how continually energetic and expressive they are. The tracks also flow seamlessly into one another with expert arrangement.
The irresistible funk of ‘When Do I Do It?’ slowly gives room to ‘Diamond 101’ which starts to veer into something far more rock inspired with the electric guitar taking a more central role and May’s own vocal performance becoming more powerful and direct. There’s not a dull moment to be had on this record, hooking you from the word go and never really allowing for moments of lull.
Helena May’s put a lot of herself into this record, drawing from personal experiences and relationships to put mind to paper. It has consciously placed voice memos throughout the record that show personal moments of challenge, self-doubt, life-changes, toxic relationships and heartbreak. In many ways, the frolic and fun that the sound of the record has almost plays as a shield to make the actual content, which is far more intimate and personal, that much more digestible for the listener.
A pop album down exquisitely well from back to front, ‘Funkalicious’ is just loaded with what it sets out to deliver on. It hits all the right numbers and has almost every other track being one you’ll be replaying again and again in your head.