Review: Serendipitous that a duo comprising two artists named Justice and Mercy should come together. With the 'Concrete Jungle' EP first emerging in 1992, under the name 'Mixed Concrete' on the pioneering White House Records label, this is no less one of those records whose ongoing reputation by and large matches its quality. It's no surprise that it should be so lauded; we expert listeners can really tell the extra care and attention poured into it, with which it continually anoints itself. Lead track 'Soothe My Soul' is especially great, having been made infamous, for the way in which its otherwise run-of-the-mill breaks-chuggage opening finds itself dashed into oblivion by a momentous breakdown, of howling pitched-up vocals and legato stringed, bowed caelum. Such a heavenly breakdown is an essential feature of the breakbeat / rave uplifter form, in many cases otherwise unfairly passed over. Then the polysynths and backing peals of 'Doin' What You're Doin'' command an almost equal sheen, with the track featuring the clearest-as-day instance of a "hey hey!" jungle sample as we've ever heard. The closer 'Experience' is just as divine, seeming to transcend its initial breakdance sample-looper with yet another quarter-noted, dove-winged eclat elapsing over time.
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