Keb Darge is renowned as the crate-digger supreme whose compilations present
unspeakably rare records of such high quality you wonder why they aren’t up
there with the usual revered classics. His latest batch spotlights the P&P
labels group started by legendary producers Patrick Adams and Peter Brown in
1976 after they’d hit big with the seminal Atmosphere Strut as Cloud One.
For 12 years, P&P brought pure funk, soul and disco up from the ghettos,
often in limited pressings which would soon disappear never to be seen again
popping up on e-bay at three-figures prices. Suss’d, having already
liberated much of the legendary Salsoul catalogue, started its P&P reissue
programme last year with selections from Danny Krivitt and Kenny Dope. Keb
steams in and comes up with a murderously great set. CD1 presents ultra-rare
funk from the late 60s-early 70s from names including Henry Brooks [whose
‘Mini-Skirt’ out-JBs Mr Brown], Sons Of Darkness, Ella Hamilton, Soul
Severes and the Sentimental Souls. The tracks course with raw energy with
wah-wah assaults worthy of Hendrix. CD2 takes it to the disco between
1974-80 with names like Dream Lovers, Tony Aiken & Futura 2000, Eddy Cheba
and the drugged-up holler of Little Scotty’s Going To A Disco Tonight. A
magnificent venture.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
