The C.O.C.O. Sound [KLP138]

Chris and Olivia, City of Olympia, that is C.O.C.O. The C.O.C.O. Sound, harder to define. Chris Sutton is also known for his work as bass player in Dub Narcotic Sound System. In C.O.C.O. he plays the drums, with Olivia on the bass. This is their second album, and it continues their heavy emphasis on the dance quotient in music, exploring different sides of the funk. Using the bare minimum, stripping it down to the bass and drums, breaking it down to it’s essence, but being fully soulful and melodic at the same time. It is a sound refined, yet garagey. A mix of Stax southern soul and the Headcoats; a sound equally influenced by the Gories, ESG, & Trouble Funk. Their high energy live shows always have the dance floor crowded. Olympia’s C.O.C.O. sneaked up on me recently when the group’s eponymous CD was being played over the sound system of a local bar. It was booty-licious: what I had initially tapped my toes to and then dismissed as a fun, somewhat silly two-piece (drum, bass, pret