Back to Mine with X-Press 2

The dons of the late night sounds. Classic…








01. Jordan GCZ – Lushlyfe Slap 
“Emotive & dynamic electronics from one half of JUJU & Jordash – a mini masterpiece.

02. David Sylvian and Ryuchi Sakamoto – Forbidden Colours
Vocal version of the theme from Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence. Such an individual voice. Love this.

03. Royal Jesters – I Just Fell For You 
Beautiful quality crossover soul with Chicano flair.

04. Grace Jones – La Vie En Rose
One of the first Balearic records that I owned. I wanted to go to Amnesia so badly and finally made it the year after they put the roof on.

05. Rufus & Chaka Khan – Destiny
Taken from the Street Player LP. Chaka completely kills it on this! A must.

06. Isaac Hayes – Ike’s Mood
First heard this via the sample in MC Shy D’s Yes Yes Y’all about 30 years ago.

07. Stanley Cowell – Trying To Find A Way
One of my favourite Strata East LPs where Glenda Barnes vocal just soars and the synths work their magic.

08. Nightmares On Wax – Nights Introlude
I remember a time in the late 80s early 90s when every house you ended up at after the party, had a copy of the album this was lifted from. Massively borrowing from Quincy Jones but still amazing and still sounding fresh.

09. Jan Hammer – Don’t You Know 
“A Balearic bomb – electronic jazz/soul from the Czech composer”

10. Bobby Humphrey – Harlem River Drive
Had to put something jazzy in. This has it all. Just a beautiful piece of music.

X-Press 2 – Sintara (Skint)
This July legendary production duo X-Press 2 present their latest musical offering in the shape of the this new two track single which includes a collaboration with Mutiny. Skint Records has a long and fruitful relationship with the duo of Rocky and Diesel AKA XPress 2. Fifteen years, three LPs, a barrage of singles and a chart topping collaboration with Talking Heads’ David Byrne are among the highlights of this musical marriage. X-Press 2’s musical pedigree dates back even further, to their early releases on Junior Boys Own over 20 years ago and Rocky & Diesel have been DJ’ing and making music together since the UK’s acid house heyday of the late 80’s. All in all they have a wealth of experience and an understanding of electronic music that still burns bright in their current productions. Now the pair return with two new cuts showcasing the duo as we know them best. Recent XPress 2 singles have seen a return to a more strip backed club sound and they continue in that vein here with the superb ‘Sintara’ and ‘Testify’. The release opens with the former, a collaboration with veteran house duo Mutiny, it’s a direct cut with stomping floor toms and brisk hats opening up, before a graceful and hypnotic melody kicks in as the track grows in urgency and drama. Piano loop driven ‘Testify’ is a dancefloor ready groove holding plenty of suspense and a catchy bass riff and sees the X-Press 2 boys tap into some of their old school influences for a sure fire winner. X-Press 2 have been helping shape the landscape of dance music for a generation yet this latest opus shows they are as relevant now as they ever have been.

X-Press 2’s ‘Sintara’ will be available from 17th July 2015 on Skint Records.