Dig Deep

Covers of three Fela Kuti tunes show that this funk-world ensemble's heart lies in the tough, often horn-driven Afro-beat that dominates this set. But founder/drummer Dave Watts, the only Motet member to play on all these tracks, digs deeper — as the title implies — to expand the band's sound, in particular toward Kraftwerk-styled techno at times, also pushing into spacy areas that will likely be a bit alienating to some longtime fans. Elements of prog rock also appear, specifically in "Guru," making Watts' drums sound synthesized and steering the approach to the more nebulous jam territory that groups such as Particle have perfected for years. Much of this disc, though, is based in the percussive Afro-funk that has previously been the Motet's forte. Originals such as the brass-propelled "New Old" and "Mighty" mine that field as well as in the past. Watts and company also target '70s P-Funk on "Push," with squiggly synths and thumping bass on one of the album's few vocal selections. It's an interesting side road but is hampered by trite lyrics with a meandering melody that never gels, fading out when the groove finally gets going. The title track also steers into synth dance mode with just the hint of worldbeat and syncopated horns to bring it down to earth. Still, the most successful cuts are the Fela covers, even if the blips, bloops, and programmed drums of "Expensive S**t" that kick off the song are pretty far from what Kuti originally had in mind. The opening "Kalakuta Show" and "Roforofo Fight" are ten minutes of what the Motet does best as they take these Fela tunes and zap them with contemporary energy. A decade into their career, Watts and the Motet are looking to stretch and modernize the group's sound. While not all of Dig Deep works, especially when drummer Watts insists on shifting his beats to the electronic realm, it's clear he's attempting to widen the Motet's boundaries while keeping one foot lodged in the past.