Publication: Blues & Soul [UK]
Date: October 10-23, 1995
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Title: The Gold Experience Review
Reviewed By: Staff

At times the sex crazed pimp-preacher on acid delivering a sermon of screaming, charged rock/funk the exact contents of which remains only clear to the speaker himself, and at others the delicate, sensitive falsettoed soulful elfin crooner touching a chord with tuneful melodies and vocal dexterity.

Whatever guise Prince or rather TAFKAP chooses to take, his voice carries a unique energy in a world of samey formularised grooves and risks. Musically, as ever he can be a bit hit and miss. Most of these songs are a couple of years old at least and have been performed at shows in the UK and the States. Personally I liked the opener "P Control" for its sheer craziness, an x-rated "Atomic Dog" -like freaky slice of rap/funk with Prince falsettoing the chorus. Any track called "Pussy Control" with these lyrics is sure to raise eyebrows but I'm sure that's the whole idea.

"Endorphinemachine" is spirited stadium rock/funk with TAFKAP screaming himself silly. Certainly not to the taste of melodic ears as neither is raucos, rolling chunk of rock/pop "Dolphin", where the little man sings such easily understandable lines as "If I came back as a dolphin". "We March" is chanted rock/funk about civil rights whilst "Shhh" is a bolstered live version of the sultry ballad written for Tevin Campbell on his last album.

"Now" is fairly standard bassy Princely throwaway funk with tired chants - "Freaks on the floor" - throughout. Noisy.

A man noted for his penchant for things of a freaky persuasion, "319" is old style Prince - synthesized rock/funk - over which he delivers a freaky tale in falsetto about a porn photo shoot. Similarly, "Billy Jack Bitch" sounds like it could have been dusted and taken out of the vaults as it's more vintage,"Delirious" era-like good time pop/funk.

Undoubtedly, though, with the exception of the brilliant "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World", which makes an earlier appearance, the best two songs are saved 'til last. The single "I Hate U" is an out and out mid tempo/ballad soul stirrer, with Prince assuming a delicate falsetto to handle the strong melodic whilst the band lay down the track in classic soul revue style. There's a custumary double entendre comic gospel/preacher spoken segment in the middle before the guitars and the kitchen sink turn the cut into overkill. Unfortunate. "Gold" is destined to be a classic. Simple piano chords, church organ and vocal delays are Prince's tried and trusted tools on songs like this (remember the intro to Let's Go Crazy) before the whole thing heads into an anthemic, rousing blast of rock/pop/soul reverence. Great song.

Now approaching the big 40, TAFKAP shows no real signs of slowing down or changing his principle interests of sex, music, dance, romance. The heavy sarcasm and comic streak is stronger than ever. The music, generally, hardly ranks amongst his best or more commercial works but when he's on point there's still no catching him.

(Rating:7/10)