Review: We're now up to a 15th transmission on the EEE label from whoever the EEE artist is or are. Each one offers killer tech house material designed to get a floor bouncing but also hooked in with some smart samples. To kick off here, it's Suzanne Vega's silky and soulful tones that add soft edges to the razor-sharp tech drums and perc of 'Track 1.' It's fun and functional in equal measure. 'Track 2' is a succulent jazz house groove with instantly recognisible sax melodies and surging drums. The third and final piece of this irresistible puzzle is 'Track 3', another accomplished and effective house sound that has all the right ingredients to cut through and make its mark.
Review: Irie Ites is a French label that is back with two more reggae heavyweights and frequent musical sparring partners in the form of Eek-A-Mouse and King Kong. They tackle a relic of the 'Murderer/Hot Milk' rhythm, a production that will take you back to the 80s reggae sound in an instant. 'Musical Ambassador' comes first and is a happy-go-lucky sound with some slow, dubby drums and lazy hits as well as stylised vocals, while the flip from King Kong, 'Money Could A Buy' fleshes it out with more reverb and natty guitar riffs that hang in the air above the cavernous low end.
Review: EBY is an acid house artist who has more than made his mark over the years. 40 years, to be exact, and to mark that rather notable occasion he is back with a special release on Foxbam Inc called ACID Thing and it comes in various different formats. This is a grey vinyl version that celebrates the classic acid sound while infusing it with a modern twist and plenty of big basslines, squelchy synths, and potent rhythms. The standout 'Acidanus' includes MC Soph who made her debut on Acid Indigestion Pt4 at just eight years old and now returns at 25. The EP also features a remix of 'Eggtrip' by renowned Belgian producer Outlander who you will likely remember from his iconic cut 'Vamp.'
Review: To make it to 40 years in any job is a fine achievement, but to do it in the fast-paced world of electronic music is even more rare. But that is exactly what EBY has done - he has been turning out acid house jams for four full decades now and to celebrate the milestone has put together a special release on Foxbam Inc called "it's an ACID thing" and it comes in various different formats. This one is a black and grey splattered 12" limited to just 100 copies. It features the ragga vocals and crushing beats of 'Bun Da Acid', the brilliantly gurgling 303 lines and ice-cold drums of 'Acidanus" (feat Soap MC) and the darker and more moody vibes of 'Eggtrip'. An Outlander Eggs & Shells remix shuts down in style.
Review: FOXBAM INC is back to build on the momentum of their first EP with a second one that packs a mighty punch. This one kicks off with EBY, who this year has been cooking up acid for 40 years and here offers the warped low ends and garage-techno power of 'Goldtooth'. Foxtrot vs Ma Bla then mashes up old school samples with earth-shattering bass on 'Deep Down Inside' and bRz vs Stije is a double-time hard techno stomper with warped synths and twisted bass that is inspired by and named after ISCO, a concept from Einstein's general theory of relativity that makes predictions about the dynamics of black holes.
Review: Swedish label Borft has been digging in its archives again to assemble another volume of what it sees as its most classic cuts. And we don't disagree with these, which are taken from releases that originally landed between 1998 and 1999. Egglady's- 'Prinsessan Och Agget 1' is well-swung and deftly dubbed out with lovely analogue drum sounds cutting through. Nikolas Rowland's 'Headspin' is another smooth one with molten chords and a firm low-end drive. 'Puffy Nipples' from Kord is a wonky number with an unhinged charm and stomping groove that will stand out in any set while Crinan closes with the classy and raw house, dub and tech fusion that is 'Suit 61'.
Review: The Egyptian Lover's 2021 album 1986 was a widely-hailed blast of electro funk perfection from a true lifer - is there anyone other than Greg Broussard you would trust to bring the heat with an 808 and not much else? Now one of the album's standout cuts, 'Lose Control', is getting the single treatment with an extended mix which lets Jamie Jupiter and Brian Ellis' bonus musical contributions to the track take off in full flight. As a bonus treat on the flip, we get the sparkling new joint 'Vocoder Jam', ensuring you have two sides of raw electro heat from one of the sound's true originators.
Review: Miami's Dancefloor Records, founded by British expat Jeffery Collins, looked to the growing club sounds emanating from Chicago and NYC and this series of reissues on Emotional Rescue concentrates on the label's early releases. From 1991 originally, Eighth Ray is said to be a project by a group of musician friends who went on to release under various pseudonyms. 'Axis Of Love' is the zeitgeist of a golden era in Italo house sounds, emotional and uplifting to the max. Over on the flip, the spaced-out and bumpin' NYC house influence on '8th Ray' has a sound that many modern producers try to emulate - massive bassline on this one so be warned!
Review: Leipzig-based Eira Haul takes his tech house sound forward with a fine outing on genre-specialists RAND Muzik here. 'Pocari Sweat' manages to combine the stuff, compelling drums of tech with more balmy and silky synths that bring great dynamics to the groove. It's spaced out and pacey then 'Tectona' kicks on with some bouncing bass and kick combos, sci-fi motifs and smart vocals worked in to bring the soul. 'Root Synergy' zips along with a sense of cosmic space travel that can easily get you locked in and zoned out and then 'Beach Haze' shuts down with a more heady, deep vibe, tropical synth details and a steamy atmosphere for late-night back rooms.
Review: This is the debut single from Ekowmania's upcoming album Dr. Afrodub. Ekowmania, aka Ekow Alabi Savage, hails from Ghana and is the percussionist for KabuKabu and a longstanding collaborator with Jimi Tenor as well as being a founding member of one of Germany's earliest Afro-reggae bands. Titled 'Kwame Nkrumah,' it is a grand roots and reggae track produced by Jimi Tenor with tight horns, driving drums, and a compelling vocal performance supported by a majestic choir. The B-side presents a DJ Sotofett Mix, focusing on vocals, choir, and horns for a powerful choral rendition.
Review: Madrid via Cuba musical gang El Combo Batanga have finally dropped this new double-sider 7". It was teased by the early reals sou the a-side which brings plenty of dance floor filing heat with 'El Que La Rompe La Paga'. It's packed with samba shuffle, expressive horn work and results, and relentless keys work designed to get the ass moving. On the flip is 'Toca La Campana' which is a little less dense but not less rhythmic in the way it sways to and fro with fiery Spanish vocals and funk riffs.
Review: Aniara's output has always been brilliantly designed for club deployment but could never really be considered as mere tools. The artists who appear on the Swedish imprint have a cultured sound and a knack for crafting maximum impact from minimal elements. Enter Mattias El Masouri who does just that with the sublime 'Time Dilation In Ultraviolet'. It's a hypnotic deep house cut with real drive that's down to the deft broken kick drum patterns, pulsing synth and heady pads that swirl above. 'Inre Dimension' is a 13-minute plus sonic daydream with paddy drums, drumming pads and perfectly airy hi-hats that anchor you in the heart and now as your mind wanders.
Review: El Michels Affair returns with a new two-track release that showcases his continued excellence as both a producer and musician. The A-side, 'Mr Brew,' opens with a menacing intro before evolving into a spacious tune masterfully balancing tension and release. Gentle guitars, strings, flutes and brass weave over a heavy drum track to make for a bright and immersive landscape. On the B-side, 'Kodak' is a lesson in space and arrangement with mellow drums and beautiful instrumentation setting the perfect mood. EMA's trademark restraint ensures the vibe remains the focal point while delivering a perfectly crafted sound that never overwhelms.
Review: Longstanding New York troupe El Michels Affair bite down on 2017 with two on-point left-sided soul jams. "Tearz" is a biggie, not least because it features Lee Fields and The Shacks. A warm, organ groove with loose breaks and drops into pure harmonic bliss, it's another spellbinding affair from the Wu-approved crew. "Verbal Intercourse" takes more of a slinkier, subtle approach with clipped horns spitting an insistent hook over sparse, twanging instrumental elements. Stunning, as always.
Review: Cinematic soul legend El Michels Affair has written a superb album Glorious Game which is due for release later in spring. Before that full-length with Roots co-founder and lyricist Black Thought - which is a meditation on the state of the hip-hop scene in the early 2020s - we get this taster single from it. 'Glorious Game' as you would expect as all the lush instrumentation and dark soul sounds you'd expect from this artist by now with the added extra of some superbly thought-provoking mic work. 'Grateful' is another heart-wrenching and alluring sound that more than gets us excited for the full length.
Review: NuNorthern Soul's 2021 Record Store Day offering is something of a treat. It's a fresh reissue of an impossible-to-find promo 45 first issued to promote Flamenco legend El Turronero's 1980 disco album, EL Hondo. It features two tracks that have long been regular features in the sets of many dusty-fingered Balearic selectors, especially globe-trotting cult leader DJ Harvey. On the A-side you'll find the cosmic, driving, synth-laden brilliance of 'Las Penas (La Cana) - a genuine "everything but the kitchen sink" affair topped off by El Turronero's distinctive vocals - while the more exotic 'Si Yo Volviera Al Nacer', where synths and Sitars accompany the Flamenco-disco grooves, resides on the flip.
Review: It's a match made in Balearic heaven. Ela Minus, Colombia-born, Brooklyn-based artist, best known for building synths, placing agitational statements between her carefully woven ambient melodies and her Acts Of Rebellion album, meets fellow New Yorker DJ Python, he of the hypnotic dembow stylings, for a bumper value-packed six track EP. Ghostly vocals float across stark beats and sometime gloomy, sometime edgy but cheery dayglo musical textures on the three vocal versions, and there are three instrumentals for those who prefer their grooves that way.
Review: Following a surprisingly extended hiatus of three years, the admirable Earthly Measures imprint is ready to unleash the fourth volume in their Earthly Tapes series. This time round, they've not only chosen to showcase the work of more female artists, but also producers and musicians with "native roots connected to five countries in South America and Europe". Musically, it furthers the label's "electronica plus nature" ethos, flitting between deliciously dubbed-out ambient chuggers (Manu Ela), Latin-tinged slow motion dub disco (Barda), percussion-rich wooziness (Shigara), locked-in low-slung house hypnotism (Sahale & Samarana), tropical house sunshine (Carla Velenti) and chugging Balearic dreaminess (NoN Project).
Review: After successfully showcasing his wares via EPs on GAMM, Razor N Tape and Barefoot Beats, fast-rising re-editor Elado pitches up on Bonfido Disques for the very first time. The resultant 12" contains some of his most interesting re-edits yet, with Elado cunningly opting for eccentric and oddball source material. 'Deepy Mango' sounds like a cross between proto-house, post-punk synth-pop and Kwaito - and that's a great thing in our book - while 'Space Lokum' is a throbbing revision of what sounds like a North African electro-disco obscurity (an Arab take on the Giorgio Moroder sound, basically). Over on the flip, 'Massi Tobi' is a boogie-era tropical disco gem from the Francosphere given a subtle makeover. In a word: excellent!
Review: Antal has already been dropping the worldly beats on this EP which is a fine stamp of approval for Israeli DJ and collector Elado. This marks his debut on the label having won plenty of fans for his offering on Eddie C's cult Red Motorbike. The music take its cues from all over the planet - Africa, India and the Middle East - and brims with disco joy, funk richness and plenty of earthly soul. 'Big Baba' is a classy party starter with good time feels, 'Gulab Jamun' is a foreign language acid laced love song and 'Blame' is synth heavy disco funk.
Review: Israeli DJ and collector Elado is back on New York City's Razor N Tape with some more rare edit action. On the A-side of Elado Edits Part 2 we have the sweltering Latin vibes of 'Big Baba' followed by the low slung affair that is 'Disco Hummus'. Over on the flip, there's an awesome disco cover of The Beatles on 'Sun' and one more late night dancefloor heater in the form of 'Simba'.
Review: Andreas Gehm of Cologne returns with more lo-fi and nasty acid techno for brilliant Dutch imprint Panzerkreuz and it's everything that you'd expect from this eccentric fellow. They're all sure to please in their rusty and hissing glory but it's probably "Track 3" which is out favourite where Gehm proclaims through a helium induced voice "Im a freak, you're a freak.. we're all freaks!" and if you're still reading this, he's most probably right. Highly recommended!
So Many Ways (Cherrystones Electric So Far I edit) (5:20)
So Many Ways (Cherrystones Slow Many Ways rework) (6:36)
Review: This marks a first ever reissue of this cult-status punk-funk, no wave electro post-punk fusion 45 from 1979. It's by post-Wayne County Electric Chairs and has been produced by David Cunningam and now expanded to 12". The first tune 'So Many Ways' has Val Haller on lead vocals and sounded at the time very different from anything else the band had done. A hypnotic, sure charged groove that still sounds years ahead of its time. 'J'attends Les Marines' is a rework of 'Waiting For The Marines' from the Things Your Mother album but with some added dub and experimental flourishes. Two versions of 'So Many Ways' then close out this fine curio.
Review: Illegal Alien continues its 16th anniversary celebrations here with another volume, the fifth, of its limited edition Illegal Alien XVI series. Across all eight volumes once they are out there will be a total of 44 exclusive tracks and 46 great artists all tracing the evolution of techno over the last decade and a half. This edition is a superb one that fins plenty of innovation in techno, from the paranoid and warped synth energy of DJ Shufflemaster's 'Bizarre' to the tightly woven and intricate synth layers of Urban Groove's 'Aftertouch' via Unkle Fon's dry, stepped back techno funker 'Violet.'
Review: Satya deals in a certain brand of deep house that is dreamy and organic. It's perfect for the cosier dancefloors out there, the more heady crowds who don't need big drops and samples to get their musical thrills. If you are one of those people then get your ears around this superb new various artists 12". YokoO & Zone+ offer one of the standouts with 'Once I Had It"]' which pairs subtly swirling pads with cuddly deep drum loops. Hermanez has his kickstand with a little more weight but they are no less hypnotic, while Moya (US) brings some enchanting strings and yawning vocals to 'Meliora' and Electricano keeps it nice and warm and liquid with the supple loops of 'Universal Language.'
Review: Believe In Records is a division of MixCult Records and this new EP is an extraordinary one that unites two broken-beat heavyweights, Electrosoul System and Dawn Razor. Drum & bass legend Electrosoul System channels his vast expertise in broken-beat rhythms, while Dawn Razor adds a distinct mutant edge to the tracks. The release is elevated by an on-point remix from the talented context, aka Dissident, who seals the deal on this dynamic, destruction four tacker which is perfect for every moment of the night with its unique, bass-driven sound.
Review: Merman is a brand-new label from Spain bringing some searing techno heat. This debut 12" is a fierce four-track with different arts taking care of each aural assault, starting with Elektrabel. 'Sernafet' is a manic mix of loopy snares and pulsing synths, metallic drum sounds and sweeping filters. SPIDJ brings a little more heavyweight techno funk to 'Fuerza Analogica' and Akenaton then gets raw, dark and dirty with the industrial menace of 'Cambio De Actitud.' The Zenobit3 shuts down with some spritely electro-tinged techno on 'Milikis Suffering'.
Review: Mushroom Pillow is on a proud and so far successful mission to bring back Latin American music from the 60s-80s via its Relatin project. it's all about mixing up the traditional and the modern and putting fresh spins on what went before. Many of the originals they look to have gone unnoticed the first time round and that's the case here as Franc Moody adds his own twist to Elia & Elizabeth's 'Alegria.' His remix is a sympathetic one that gets the hips swinging over fat and funky disco bass and beneath the sunny Latin vocals. He strips them away on the instrumental version on the flip.
Review: The Brazil 45 series from Mr Bongo bursts through the picture with yet another rocking 7" fire starter by two vintage pop greats - we have to say, their format simply works. First up is Elis Regina, a Brazilian singer who released a countless pop records back in the '60s, and "Ye Me Le" is a soft, seductive Brazilian soul warmer complete with blasting trumpets and that inimitable South American percussion swagger. Turkey's Senay features on the flip with "En Buyuk Sansin Yasiyor Olman", an incandescent lover's ballad that makes a welcome change to the more widely heard Turkish psych sound of the '70s.
Alton Ellis & The Flames With Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - "Rock Steady" (2:38)
Phyllis Dillon With Tommy McCook & The Supersonics - "Rocking Time" (2:50)
Review: If you're on the hunt for Jamaican classics from the 1960s, you could do worse than copping this double-header from the combined talents of Alton Ellis, vocal group the Flames, Phyllis Dillon and the era's most prolific backing band, Tommy Cook and the Supersonics. On side A you'll find 'Rock Steady', a hugely influential rocksteady gem that features Ellis' encouraging us to dance atop a weighty, horn-heavy riddim track. Over on the flip Phyllis Dillon takes over lead vocal duties on another Treasure Isle gem from '67, 'Rocking Time'. This one is even more club-ready, with McCook's cheerful horn arrangements catching the ear.
Bobby Ellis & Val Bennett Mazuies - "The Arabian Sound Of Reggae" (3:18)
Owen Gray - "It's Time For Love" (3:21)
Review: This red hot double sided 7" 'It's Time For Love' / 'The Arabian Sound Of Reggae' is a classic joint from 1975. Japan's Dub Store has licensed a reissue here that makes it affordable again to all. Bobby Ellis & Val Bennett Mazuies join forces first up on 'The Arabian Sound Of Reggae' make for a nice roots roller with hypnotic melodies layered up over the earthy drums. On the flip is Owen Grey's 'It's Time For Love' which is another gem. Both tunes were produced by Bunny Lee and bring that timeless roots sound.
Review: The on-point Burning Sounds is a treasure trove for proper dub and lovers rock delights from years gone by. They have been digging in the vaults again and come up with a new 12" which they have pressed on nice heavyweight wax, and the sounds more than deserve that. Hortense Ellis and General Roy's 'Give Thanks' is a crucial rhythm with lazy chords and guitars, DIY percussive sounds and deft little keys with a yearning vocal up top. Lawes Rockers is responsible for the flipside version and as you may expect it's dubbed out and reverb-heavy.
Review: The Liquidator Music crew have been putting out classic Jamaican rhythms ice the mid-cities and still goes strong. This is an all new one from Jamaican act Roy Ellis who sings over his backing band, Cosmic Shuffing, from Switzerland. They are acclaimed in ska and rock steady circles for good reason and help bring these tunes to life. 'Shine Your Light On Me' is an easy going roller with lo-fi drums and dusty riffs that hook you in while Ellis does his work up top. 'Merry-Go-Round' then cuts loose on a summery and swirling vibe with conversational lead trumpets and natty chords.
Review: Tom Ellis has always worked away in his own little world, crafting immersive electronic music with lush synths, plenty of his own pensive piano playing and a blend of influences from deep house to minimal. His next outing is on the Onysia label and showcases his deft touch across four jams, starting with the jazzy minimal dancer that is 'Moving Target'. 'Grounded' has more propulsive drums but still a lightness of touch that makes it arty and heady then 'Next Year' and 'Process Trust' shut down with cosmic twists.
Review: Ever since their first record launched on Futuristica Music, back in 2008, Emanative have been quietly shaping the contemporary jazz-dance landscape - an achievement for which they are rarely accredited to. Hopefully, we can change some of those misconceptions by telling you just how special this new EP for Jazz45 is sounding! The opening "New Day" features the soulful vocals of Ahu over a rolling, breaks-centric groove with plenty of melodic quirks and, of course, the unstoppable euphoric power of the flute; the flipside's instrumental allows you to get even closer to the music constructed by Emanative, which is undoubtedly the outfit's long-running forte.
A Dam Will Always Divide (Lew E Asks The Dust remix) (7:55)
Review: This remix EP invites Young Marco, Minor Science, Ineffekt and Tornado Wallace to offer up their own reworks of Avalon Emerson's recent works. First up is 'Karaoke Song' (Ineffekt's Two Day version) which is shuffling, dense and club-inspired rhythms, then comes Young Marco's rework of 'Entombed In Ice' which is lit up with bright and bubbly arps, while Minor Science keeps it dusty and mid-tempo but heavy with his rework and Lew E closes out with a psychedelic trance-techno flip of 'A Dam Will Always Divide.'
Review: A new school roots tune from Bruges, Belgium that draws on a rich heritage of reggae and dub and adds some fresh modern twists. The vocalist Emma delivers a nice and airy, breezy vocal that floats up top over the rumbling rhythm and fine production by Dub Traveller. It's got plenty of natty chords, organic percussive textures and neat melodies and on the flipside, Dub Traveller & Roots Explosion hook up for 'Free Dub' which is a cavernous dub with lots of room for you to get lost in as you marvel at the studio desk magic unfolding around you.
Review: Andrew Meecham is one of the most widely respected figures in the Births underground music. He is a synth wizard who never repeats himself but has always managed to maintain a wigged out, psychedelic sound coughed in disco but with hints of acid, house and synth. This frankly bloody brilliant new single is another one packed with colour, tooting arps, cosmic rays, chugging bass and lush textures that is so vibrant and vivid you want to bath in it. Both an extended vocal mix and instrumental are included and both are faultless.
Review: Disco lovers Leng enlist enduring disco wizard and studio genius The Emperor Machine for a big new single here that was made alongside Severine Mouletin. It comes as two versions on this new 12", with the extended vocal going fist. It's a steamy and tropical bit of disco with feathery, whispered and seductive French language vocals over squelchy synth bass and hip swinging claps. Cosmic twinges finish it in style and on the flip side it gets a little more wild and tropical. An eco-system of synth daubs and neon colours bring the groove to life in a more interplanetary way.
Review: Dutch label Fontoyard is back and doing what it does best early in this new year, and that is serving up fresh rhythms from some of reggae's best talents. This one is the sound of T Gibbs in collaboration with Empress Ahavah who is responsible for writing the original tune. It is a superb stepping riddim that is perfectly driven by a heavy bassline. Up top, like all the most crucial dub, is a mystical melody that captivates the imagination, and some silky smooth vocals. Flip it over and T Gibbs offers up a nice and tasteful dub that dials things back to the inviting low end.
Review: Backatcha is on a superb run of releases right now with top tunes from Leonie and Learoy Green dropping around the same time as this stepping street soul gem from En to End. This is primo boogie from the late 80s now landing on 45rpm for the very first time. It's been taken from the tape archives of London singer-producer Tony Shand and kicks off with the vocal version of 'Nothing's Happening'. His rather deadpan vocal has an aloof kind of allure next to the squelchy bass and glowing keys. The instrumental strips it away to allow the retro production to shine.
Money Talks (Sean P Special mix - instrumental) (5:58)
Are You Gonna Be (instrumental) (4:27)
Review: 'Money Talks' by En to End is a street and soul disco classic from the end of the 80s. It's a real favourite here at Juno HQ and so whenever it reappears we're glad to see it. Right now Backatcha Records has got two versions available with a yellow label edition and this straight black label edition with slightly different versions. The tunes stand up, however, they are presented - two delightful slices of dance floor action with oodles of romantic vibes. 'Money Talks' (Sean P Special mix) is doused in vocal harmonies and glowing keys and on the back is the deeper, more sentimental 'Are You Gonna Be' with instrumentals of both on the flip side.
I Still Love You (feat Intrigue - instrumental) (4:50)
Review: En-To-End's 'Money Talks' is an old school street soul classic from the late 80s. It's been reissued before by Backatcha Records but is an ever-green anthem so is also welcome back. This version comes with a yellow label on limited 12". And so to the tunes - 'Money Talks' is a low-slung groove with spoke-sung vocals and lush chord work. Also included is the brilliant drum work of 'I Still Love You' with its r&b vocals and irresistible groove. Instrumentals of each feature on the flip but the vocal versions really are the ones.
Review: Newcomers Energy MC2 are exactly the sort of ensemble needed by the supremely funky Soul Junction imprint. The label have done a great job in continuously finding new, raw talent in the soul game, and these dudes know the score. "If You Break It" features the voice of Vincent Bonham, and it's a veritable lovers tune, made for dance floor antics and Saturday night romance, whereas "Other Side Of The Mirror" is more of a soulful abstraction, a gorgeous little ballad led by the delicate, majestic vocals of Arnell Carmichael. Oh, boy...
Review: Innes taps into many different niches for inspiration for this new house EP on Housewax out of Germany. 'Let Me Love' is part deep house cut, part late-night lullaby and part jazzy escape. The dreamy vocals bring the heat next to rickety beats then 'Move Back' is a smoky and driving number with raw beats that hark back to early Chicago. 'Ring It' brings me more smart vocal samples and humid chord work to nice analogue drums and 'Sensations' closes out with pitched-up vocals and heavy, thudding house kicks. It's physical but packed with emotion and brings a different kind of energy to the club.
Take This (feat Margongon - Birdsmakingmachine remix) (7:25)
Review: Swiss-French label Miniclic Records builds on the momentum of its first outing with another cultured EP, this time from Enzo Leep. He shows his knack for crafting kinetic grooves on the quick, tight tech opener 'Ultra Girl 'Elastic 140 Vision' which has all sorts of great and unusual sound designs. 'Forest 2.0' is grittier and more dark then 'Take This' (feat Margongon) is experimental in its blend of blues guitar smudges, female vocals and minimal drums. A minimalist Birdsmakingmachine remix brings more dance floor heft to what is a beguiling original.
Review: Mr Bongo has already reissued a swathe of classic albums and singles from legendary hip-hop duo EPMD, whose place in the pantheon of rap greats has long been assured. Here they continue to mine the duo's catalogue, delivering a new edition of the pair's 1987 debut single (which, it should be noted, has long been hard to find on "45"). 'It's My Thing' remains a classic hip-hop club cut, with flowing rhymes rising above a backing track rich in raw drum machine hits, aquatic p-funk bass and sampled snatches of a smooth, disco-era soul number. Flipside 'You're a Customer' is a more sparse and stripped back affair, with slightly faster-paced raps riding stuttering beats and a squelchy synth bassline.
Review: An original 7" of this gem will cost you upwards of 100 quid so Know How are doing us all a favour here. As EPMD, Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith were a red hot duo who served up many quintessential rap gems. "So Watcha Sayin'" is taken from their second album "Unfinished Business", imbued with scratching by DJ Scratch, deeply buried chords and of course a slick verse that is pure old school. While flipside "You Gots To Chill" has some fresh vocoder work, dusty drum loops and body popping bass, the a-side takes all the glory here.
Review: Mr Bongo's EPMD reissue series continues with a fresh pressing of one of the NYC duo's most significant and best-loved singles, 1988's 'You Gots To Chill'. Predating much of the West Coast G-funk material that later covered similar sonic ground, it sees the duo delivering some of their rap verses over a beat crafted from samples of Zapp's P-funk classic 'More Bounce To The Ounce' and Kool & The Gang party classic 'Jungle Boogie'. This time round, it comes backed by another EPMD classic from the same period: the mid-tempo, JB's-sampling head-nodder that is 'Let The Funk Flow'. That's never appeared on a single before, making this "45" even more desirable.
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