Anyhow, this album is damned good. With this album, The Bobby Hughes Experience displays quite a versatile range within this genre. This genre being funky organ music. This album is highly evocative of the sounds being pumped out in the early and mid 70's by groovesters like Isaac Hayes and Herbie Hancock- maybe even Richard "Groove" Holmes and Gene Harris. The Bobby Hughes Experience shares the same jazz roots influences, yet manages to contemporize the sound enough (through fairly conventional London Acid Jazz means) to where you're not too shocked that Fusa Riot was released in 1999 instead of 1972.

The versatility that I spoke of at the beginning of the last paragraph, but didn't quite get around to explaining may be found by listening to "My French Brother" which is a pretty straight- yet somewhat ethereal- jazz funk stomp (not a march), followed by a listening of "Sambartica" which is a fairly sophisticated and frenzied track with a slight Latin tinge to it.

Even though the focus of this album is the organ, throughout Fusa Riot The Bobby Hughes Experience uses very low key trumpets and perfectly played flutes. It does not go unnoticed. It must be noted that the flute, when used correctly, is one the most sweetly funky instruments in the musical arsenal. Listen around and you will hear that I am right.

Basically, Fusa Riot is a funky good time. It's not to heavily groovy as to be oppressive if you are not fully prepared, nor is it light enough to be fluff. "Enough" and "fluff" rhyme, so you can take that to the bank, mister. Fusa Riot can be played about anywhere, anytime and can be enjoyed by about anyone. At any rate, it isn't likely to offend the ears of the uncool.

For those of you who don't know the difference between a Fender Rhodes and a Hammond organ, well, I feel sorry for you. You are one of the uncool. If you are one of these poor saps, I suggest you pick up this album and educate yourselves. Here is a basic primer in Organs 101 (easy, sleazy): the Fender Rhodes is what was used in the Taxi theme song. It is the keyboard that Ray Charles (the blind guy, you knucklehead) is playing in "The Blues Brothers". It has a cool and electricish tone. The Hammond is what you think of when you think "electric organ". It is what both Jimmy Smith and the Allman Brothers use. It is one of the most versatile instruments known to man. The Hammond sounds all good and organy (it just might be distilled funk in sonic format), while the Rhodes produces a more focused and cool tone. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. And that's one to grow on.

What amazes me to no end about this album, and in fact the Bobby Hughes Experience themselves, is that they're a bunch of Norwegians. It's not what you would expect from a bunch of Vikings. I guess this album did sort of rape and pillage my ears...no wait, it left me extremely satisfied. And the judge told me that's not what being "sacked by a horde" is all about. How am I supposed to know that? Who am I- the Pope?

Fusa Riot is a full blown battle between the Hammond Organ and the Fender Rhodes. There are no casualties. There is no winner. Except the listener. Go get it. Chop chop.