By: Joseph VanBuren
Rating: 8/11

If a Gordon Voidwell song just came on in the bar or club, you’d probably think it was a lost classic from the 70’s or 80’s, or at least a remix of such a tune. With deep synth-and-bass grooves and drum-machine dance beats, Voidwell’s tracks invoke the feel good vibes of the era in which funk just began evolving into electro and hip hop. But these are new songs; original compositions from a man who obviously wants to bring an old school sensibility to today’s indie scene. “Vertigo on Cloud 9” is both dreamy and catchy, mixing soft chords and falsetto melodies with a laid back yet danceable rhythm. Songs like “Ivy League Circus” and “Paradise’s Parody” could be straight out of the catalog of George Clinton or The Gap Band. The 70’s funk influence is prominent and quite infectious. The overall tone of Voidwell’s music is one of partying and having fun, but that’s not to say he isn’t a serious songwriter with something to say. On “White Friends,” he addresses racial issues and speaks of the prejudice that still exists, even though he’s “got some white friends who claim they’re color-blind.” Still, he delivers this message over his signature funk-hop sound and with an upbeat tone, which are bound to catch most listeners’ attention way before the lyrics do. In the end, Gordon Voidwell’s most notable ability remains creating the perfect music for a retro dance club.