Track Listing

1. Intro
2. I Believe In You
3. Dreamin’
4. Superficial
5. Possibilities
6. Soul Divine
7. You Played Me
8. Eye To Eye
9. Love & War
10. If You Can’t Get Me Off Your Mind
11. Unconditional Eyes
12. This Is How
13. Waltz Of A Ghetto Fly

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #57778 in Music
• Released on: 2004-01-26
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
With Waltz of the Ghetto Fly's cunning cover picture, you'd think that Amp Fiddler was the latest young talent on the block. He is in fact a Detroit funk veteran and former keyboard player for George Clinton's P-Funk. But age makes no difference to what's going on here. In fact his experience has added immeasurably to what could have been just another laid-back funk album. All the usual elements are in place (funky wah guitar? check. Pre-programmed beats and modern funk albums? check), but the upside is that the production (deft brushstrokes of vintage synth and well-spaced open sound) make it come alive. The bonus is Amp's voice; going from Prince-style multi-tracked harmonies to a Sly Stone distorted drawl (and that's simply in the space of one song), he has every nuance down pat. Whether this covers up for the vaguely one-dimensional tunes--from the innovative but chart-friendly "Superficial" to the downright dull title track--is another matter, but the same argument was levelled at Shuggie Otis' Inspiration Information, now rightly hailed as a masterpiece. Either way, one suspects this album could enjoy the same status before long. --Thom Allott

CD Description
Though 2004's WALTZ OF A GHETTO FLY is Amp Fiddler's first solo album, the keyboardist/producer/singer has been workingin the wings of the industry since the 1980s. Fiddler has backed Prince, P-Funk, and the Brand New Heavies, among others, and has contributed his talents to a string of electronica and house club hits. The flavors of Fiddler's previous associations are distilled to a smooth, mellow perfection on his debut, with subtle electro beats, a healthy dose of contemporary R&B, and plenty of moody, down-tempo funk and soul.
If the album's title and the psychedelic cover art weren'tclue enough, the drowsy funk of "If You Can't Get Me Off Your Mind", which channels late-period Sly Stone, proves the stylistic allegiances here are clearly to the '70s. Even given his contemporary production, house-music riffs, and neo-soul flourishes ("Soul Divine"), Fiddler's true touchstones are Sly and Stevie Wonder, with loungey grooves and funky, seductive vocals gracing even the most dance-oriented tracks ("Superficial"). Fiddler's roots show, but his ability to update these sounds with such skill and finesse makes WALTZ OF AGHETTO FLY one of the most enjoyable soul releases of the year.

Customer Reviews

It took a while...
... and then it sunk in - this really is a good album.

On the first listen I was a little disappointed as it sounded like another album of r'n'b, funk and soul tracks with nothing to make it stand out from the crowd.

However after a few more listens the style and the layers of the music began to sink in and soon I found myself singing along even when it wasnt playing.

Top quality music and great to just chill and unwind to.

Quality Vibes
I bought this album after being introduced to the sounds of Mr Fiddler himself through Gilles Peterson and on the dancefloor at Electric Chair, Manchester.
What an album! It's great to hear a fresh approach to the delightful sounds of soul, funk and RnB.
Amp Fiddler's excellent vocal and his masterful keyboard playing really make this album. This guy had had plenty of experience with collaborations with George Clinton, Prince, Only Child, Brand New Heavies, Carl Craig - to mention a few!

Check out Eye to Eye - in my opinon the best track on the album. An excellent laid back, groovy song with a catchy bass riff.

Buy this album and you will not be dissapointed.

Class-Act !!
All reviewers of this album have mentioned Sly/Mayfield/Clinton et al & rightly so. The guys musical pedigree is second to none and for a debut album this is full of potential and marks Amp fiddler as an artist for the future ... A Class Act in the making !! Buy now or jump on the bandwagon later !!!!