‘Riding With The Ratman’ is in the rubber funk tradition of big beats bouncing along with the emergency services’ sirens on the streets of NYC, LA, DC, Boston, Philly, Detroit, Chicago etc. Let’s be clear, neither he or I are saying all these great cities have a rat infestation problem but he’s picked up a couple of spoken word samples explaining: “They says rats don’t have any bones…” and “…every night the rats come out of the basement.” The kid’s voice has a strange accent that is intriguing and, on a biological note, rats definitely have bones. Ultimately the guitar, clavinet and those funky drums pound us into submission.

Talking of which, the Hectic view is ‘Theme For A Latter-day Lothario’ should have been longer and on the a-side. With the aid of the silky vocals of Rogiérs (he of ‘50 Ways To Leave Your Lover’ off the Platinum Pied Piper album Triple P that so impressed Fly’s editor) this is sexy soul at its most intimidating. “Do you want to come inside?”, you bet I do “…and sit on the couch.” You would not refuse her. Racey stuff.

Expect to hear these drop at his forthcoming gigs (26 May: Club 54, St Peter Port, Guernsey and 27 May: Soxan, Copyright Club, London) as we continue to look forward to the launch of the album, My Life At 33 (isn’t that a great title) and a much longer version (be it a remix or otherwise) of ‘Theme For A Latter-day Lothario’.

Check out his myspace site (see links below) which currently features ‘Riding With The Ratman’ and tracks from the last 12”, ‘Watch The Tables Turn’/’Live Wired’.

Reviewed: Dr. Rubberfunk - Riding With The Ratman (GPS Recordings) Cat. No. GPS.007 Release date: 12 Jun 2006
Tracklisting:
A. Riding With The Ratman
B. Theme For A Latter-day Lothario feat. Rogiérs

Links:
www.funkydown.com - Latest Radio 6 Mix
www.myspace.com/drrubberfunk
www.soxan.co.uk
“Lothario was a character in Nicholas Rowe’s 1703 play The Fair Penitent, who seduces and betrays the female lead. The name has come to mean any lecherous individual, especially male.” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothario