Funk is a genre that’s never truly died, though definitely not as prominent in the mainstream as it used to be. Rather, its manifested itself in various shapes, either through disco, or the rise of dance-pop in the mid 2010’s, but regardless its essence has remained in music since its inception in the early 60’s.

However, there are many groups that have been adamantly exuding the sweat and groove of funk at its core, and The Motet have always been an important name in the genre’s survival in its purest form. With the release of their newest single, And The Beat Goes On, the group takes a step back in time to show its appreciation for classic funk from the 70s and 80s in the most fun way possible.

The song will hypnotize you into the groove in one way or another – whether that’s a slow nod following the rhythm, or very on-time foot tapping. The falsetto vocal delivery instantly brought me back to the golden years of Earth ,Wind, and Fire, just as they emerged from the massive success that was That’s The Way of the World. In fact, everything in this song screams Earth, Wind, and Fire, down to the groove, the melodies, the delivery, and especially the tone. The kind of floaty production paired with steel-tight instrumentation has this very particular feel of dark funk that Earth, Wind, and Fire had mastered back in the old days. There are definite nods to other funk anthems, such as Prince, Michael Jackson, James Brown (as always, with The Motet), and The Temptations. The experimentation with various old school synths is what makes this song especially interesting, which is what gives this tune such a distinct 80’s vibe. The authenticity and dedication to the sound is very admirable, and the product as a whole is one groove-filled song that could easily be compared directly, in quality and sound, to songs like Shining Star.

The Motet always find a way to bring back the beauty of old school funk without ever depending on the nostalgia, and this song is no exception. It’s an exceptional track that plays with the kind of production trick and funky riffs that one would expect from the greatest funk and disco tracks we know. And The Beat Goes On will be on repeat for me for a while, that much I’m sure, and, thanks to the fun I had listening to this song, I’m already itching to listen to That’s The Way of the World again.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.