FUNK FROM ABERDEEN

Band: APB.

Personnel: Iain Slater, vocals, bass, guitar; Glenn Roberts, guitar; George Cheyne, drums; Mike Craighead, percussion; Neil Innes, keyboards; Bruce Clark, bass.

History: Formed in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1980 by Slater, Roberts and Cheyne, the funk-oriented APB (the young Scots learned the American police terminology all-points bulletin from “Kojak”) has enjoyed more success in the New York club scene than in Britain. Originally more punky than funky, the group signed to the tiny independent Oily Records and released its first single, a bit of undistinguished blast called “Chain Reaction.” Between that single and the next, though, the group began listening to huge doses of George Clinton and his Parliament-Funkadelic groups. APB’s next single, “Shoot You Down” was a great modern dance song, and copies of the obscure single found their way into the hands of New York dance club deejays who made it an underground smash. Since then the group has become a staple on the dance charts with eight singles, two EPs and two albums. Their most recent LP is “Cure for the Blues” on the American independent Link Records.

Sound: With their Scottish origins and their inclination toward funky dance music, it’s tempting to compare APB to the Average White Band. But this tough little group is not merely mimicking black soul music; it’s applying it to its own pop/punk sensibilities. While the rhythms may feature classic James Brown-like percolations, the guitars are still raucous and punky, while Slater’s lilting voice is melodic rather than dark and gritty. Deliberately imageless and determinedly independent, APB delivers a mix of R&B;, pop and post-punk that’s funky but sweet.

Shows: Thursday at UC San Diego (with Human League), Friday at both the Palace (with Dave Edmunds) and the Scream Club.