British-based multi-cultural group formed in August ’91 for London’s annual Notting Hill Carnival, drawing on Indian, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-American musical forms but highly politicized, often with a distinctive Islamic or civil rights twist. Initial line-up consisted of Bad-Sha Lallaman and Aki Nawaz (properly Haq Qureshi) who went under the stage name of Propa-Gandhi, Man-Tharoo (who later went under the name of Goldfinger) and DJ Obeah (who would be replaced by Dave Watts). The least convincing colour on their style palette would be rap; their originality lies in their manipulation of soundbite and sample. Often witty, they mix samples of the classical instruments, the metamorphosed motif of the train whistle from the Hindi film Pakeezah, Pakistani village music and filmi (Indian film music), all woven into a patterns of flavours. They are also influenced by the spirit of punk.
By now Fun-Da-Mental comprised Amir Ali (lyrics), Aki Nawaz (music), Inder Matharu (lyrics/percussion), Dave Watts (additional samples) and Count Dubulah (bass/guitar). Lallaman and Goldfinger left August ’93, replaced by MC Mushtaq and Hot Dog Dennis. They marked their arrival in style with a debut double album Seize The Time ’94 on Beggar’s Banquet/Nation, as well as a new stage name for Watts, now working as Impi-D.