by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

The math term “quantic” means “a rational integral homogenous function of two or more variables,” which is a fancy way of saying “two (or more) great tastes that taste great together.” In the case of Brighton’s 22-year-old Tru Thoughts artist Will Holland, aka Quantic, the variables include vintage dancefloor jazz, dirty funk, boogaloo and hip hop, with a little samba and house in there too. It all adds up to some tasty U.K. neo-funk—he’s tight with Ninja Tune’s Mr. Scruff and Bonobo, for instance, which should help you place him on the musical map.

Since we’re talking math, it should be noted that for Holland, the prime number is seven, as in seven-inch records. Few crate-diggers really pursue the little platters any more. Oldham does, and puts them out too. “I’ve been pretty obsessed with sevens since an early age. I’ve been buying funk seven-inches since I was 16—there were some northern-soul collectors by where I grew up.

“I think the great thing about sevens is that they are so compact but can contain such a powerful sound. They’re pretty much the loudest music format. As soon as you put a funk seven on the platter, it’s like a switch. I’ve always liked to put out sevens as they are so basic in this media-product age. They’re pretty faceless. You don’t have a video or sleeve to sell the single, just a two-colour label and what’s on the record. I think it’s the best way to do things, the raw way.”

Holland’s first joint was the Breakin’ Bread seven-inch “We Got Soul” in 2000, which got a fair bit of attention, including spins on air by the legendary John Peel. Seven became 12 as two Quantic LPs followed, the second being the awesome Apricot Morning this past summer. I challenge anyone to slap it on and stand still while it plays. Holland handled the lion’s share of the work, but there are some sweet contributions from rap crew Aspects, singer Alice Russell and Holland’s own sisters Lucy and Beth. “My sisters are talented and play a lot of instruments so it seemed stupid not to include them in some songs. I have to thank them for the work they put in, and also for putting up with constant noise in the house all the time!”

The noise never stops, not when one’s as busy as Holland. He’s currently doing Quantic Live (“a nine-piece performing tracks from both Quantic LPs”), the Quantic Soul Orchestra (“a 10-piece doing raw, 1969-style funk with breaks galore,” album due out in February) and the Limp Twins. “That I do with my house-mate Russell Porter. It’s best described as ’70s-style vocal psychedelic hip hop.”

What’s really cool about Quantic is how Holland can work a fairly familiar style, itself cobbled together from almost antique source material, and still have it come out sounding fresh, exciting and far beyond the closed loop of retro. Hinting at what to expect from his J set at the Goods party this weekend, Holland drops a few names—“Troublemakers, anything on Daptone, Colorblind, DJ Format. I feel Soulive are pushing things at the moment, and talking of travelling away from retro self-reference, there’s the amazing Red, Hot + Riot Fela Kuti AIDS awareness LP. I’m really fond of Afro-beat—the new Tony Allen LP is great too.” :

With Scott C and Andy Williams at the Goods at
la Sala Rossa on Saturday, Nov. 23, 10:30pm, $8

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