Since the early 80s, Kon and Amir have spent much time rummaging through
countless record crates for forgotten soul, funk and jazz gems. Having
already established the successful On Track series, they’ve now started Off
Track to work their way through New York’s five boroughs, starting with The
Bronx. To their credit, little if any has appeared anywhere else and much is
top quality, edited into a seamless stretch. Each present 14 tracks, Kon
starting with uplifting fatback funkers like Garden Of Eden’s Everybody’s On
A Trip before hitting the disco with names like Masterforce, S.t.u.d Band
and Quest, Le Stim’s disco tribute to Muhammad Ali particularly monumental.
Amir kicks off with the street funk of Pat Britt’s Herman’s Corner and
Horselmat’s Right On before heading into latin and deepest jazz stratas with
excursions like the London Jazz Quartet’s Destroy The Nihilistic Picnic.
Some of these gems may have rotted in a crate forever. Not so much a
compilation more a public service.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
