After hours grooving…
Kraftwerk – Ruckzuck
If ever there was a piece of music makes me want a time machine this baby is it. Pure sonic genius and a groove to last forever. Perfect Psychedelic intro.
Quando Quango – Love Tempo
This is so ahead of its time, the dynamics and friendly nature are infectious and gets the after, after, after party going anytime! try it!
Superkids – Tragedy
Interestingly this record actually saved my life as a kid, I could 100% relate to the words. New York reached a kid with issues in England and saved him, original NYC hip hop always had a good message.
Conroy Smith – Original Sound
I love dub and computer reggae. This sound is a highlight that speaks volumes in all things sound system and space echo!
John Holt – Ali Baba
I am surprised that not many people know this when played. It’s from 1969 and is so damn HAPPY! And pretty darn cool… Bassline!
Phase 2 – Reachin
One of a few house records included for utter positivity and hope. No matter where I am in the world, there is no bad place if I hear this track. A healing record if ever there was one.
Aphex Twin – Analogue Bubblebath
This Aphex release reminds me of music I was tinkering with back in 1988 apart from I wasn’t good or maybe popular enough to find a label to release it. When this vinyl came my way ages before I thought you little winker THAT is my tune isn’t it! Nope! Its just Brilliant to have eager ambition and this tune gives it by the ton.
Aleems ft Leroy Burgess – Release Yourself
This is sheer audio love and if I could marry the delay on Leroys junior tones I would. This is ecstasy in all things 80s from the synths, fx, arrangements, and mix down. Buy it, love it or we no friend no more! 😉
Newcleus – Automan
A band that many are aware of and Cosmo D is still at it. The lyrics and arpeggio go so well and when the Roland TR808 drums kick in, I just wanna start poppin’ and lockin’. Yeah Graff and B Boys, its in!!!
Not Forgotten – Leftfield (Original Mix)
The Reason for including this record is how wonderfully it shows the uplifting freedom and innocence in music and vibe felt by all warring factions during the blossoming years of what is now retrospectively called the summer of love.
Affie Yusuf – Rebirth (Superfreq)
Long time house and acid innovator Affie Yusuf is next up on Superfreq with a dazzling pair of tracks that come complete with typically excellent remixes from label boss Mr.C and Superfreq regulars Indigo Kidz. Affie Yusuf has long been producing cutting edge house and acid both solo and as part of House of 909 and Traffik with Trevor Loveys. On this new EP he takes inspiration from his experiences of original warehouse and basement parties in England and Chicago back in the day and litters tracks with subtle references to that fact, including “cow bells and chimes that are representative of power cuts and auto announcements that would suddenly get played over the music!”
Up first is ‘Afterborn’, a raw and mechanical house jam with rusty sounding hi hats, warehouse effects and a gripping melody pattern that screams to be played loud in a big black space. There are subtle shades of the Windy City buried deep within the original and these provide some of the direction for Mr.C’s stellar remix. His version is more elastic and rubbery, with spraying synths searching the track’s horizon and hiccupping melodies bringing a sense of late night funk.
Next up, the devilish ‘Nighthawker’ is as predatory as it sounds. Sparking drum hits sound beautifully unaffected and textured and lazy synths ride up and down in the background. It’s a nicely loose bit of work that will have people shaking their limbs just as freely. For the final cut, Affie and Mr.C join forces under their Indigo Kidz moniker and tweak things only subtly in their visceral remix of ‘Nighthawker’, unthreading the drums so they wheel even more freely and marrying them to coarse, piled up claps. The raw house vibes that pervade this EP are imbued with plenty of nocturnal naughtiness and a true sense of tension and make for excellent listening once again from the irrepressible Superfreq.
Affie Yusuf – Rebirth on Superfreq out March 3rd