The recent surge of interest in local funk has created wave after wave of groove purveyors and party bands, but among the current scene, Iris May Tango have stood out since their inception, offering a mixed-bag sound that blends funk and rap and soul music into a unique and fun night out.

The six-piece IMT features slinky grooves, artful raps and a playful sense of humor, mostly evinced through the lyrics and personality of its lead singer, known the world over simply as Chatty.

In that time-honored tradition for recent local bands, the group has elected to ignore the apathy of the recording industry at large and put together a self-produced, self-released debut album that’s a veritable postcard of what it’s like to live in New Orleans and to spend your nights hanging out at Iris May Tango gigs at the Dragon’s Den, the Dream Palace, Tipitina’s and the like.

The difference here is that Let ‘Em Have It is definitely not one of those rushed, shoestring, on-the-fly, “we’ve only got money for six hours in the studio to cut as many songs as possible” affairs. The versions of the songs heard here actually grow and expand on their live counterparts, with carefully-added textures and sharp, concise production bringing out the best in each tune.

“Shine” features an easy groove that would no doubt make Sly Stone smile, while “Spyder” is a piece of brisk funk. “We Do Take It Easy” hits the nail on the head, offering a complete glimpse of what the band is all about. It’s a good foot forward and the good thing is, it’s only the beginning.