As per, Mike and Alex give us a little run through the prime cuts of sound that are dangling from the Tribe Records racks, ripe for your consumption.
(You can next see shop owner Simon Scott play at his event Future Daze on November 18, in a b2b session with Mark Turner).
Funkadelic – Reworked By Detroiters [Westbound Records]
Alex: “What’s not to love about this LP? Given how expensive US imports have been in recent times, 3 records for 24 quid represents a real bargain, especially when you consider how many seminal Detroit artists have contributed to it.Highlights include an absolutely magical dub mix from BMG of the psychedelic masterpiece ‘Maggot Brain’, and a very accomplished remix of ‘Cosmic Slop’ like only Moodymann knows how. It’s also great to see other artists such as Claude Young Jnr and Underground Resistance move away from their usual techno productions to take on a much more considered approach instead of banging it out. This hints at a real respect for the legacy of Funkadelic, which is mirrored in the fact Theo Parrish and Carl Craig withheld their remixes for the album as they felt they hadn’t done the band justice. Essential for anyone who is into music from Detroit.”
Nummer – Détente Aux Enfers [Nummer Music]
Alex: “French duo Nummer have been working hard on a new LP for Going Good, and on the basis of this EP it should be excellent. Both tracks are impeccably produced, with wicked drum programming that has a real swing to it. ‘Track De Relaxtion’ is a broken techno track with heads down drums and dreamy ambient chords that wouldn’t sound out of place on Ilian Tape, whilst the flip side ‘Work It’ sounds like it’s been pulled straight from a Hessle Audio DJ set. Epic synths and relentless drums make for a peak time banger that’s sure to get the floor moving. I’d recommend for house and techno DJs alike as a tool to change moods or purely to switch up from the usual 4×4 kick patterns that often make DJ sets feels a bit stale.”
rRoxymore – Thoughts Of An Introvert Part 1 [Don’t Be Afraid]
Alex: “I really feel like rRoxymore has come into her own on this EP. Having been known for making pummeling oddball techno tracks that have seen heavy support from the likes of Ben UFO and Objekt, she has delved into more melodic and restrained territory with this EP for the prolific house and techno label Don’t Be Afraid. rRoxymore seems to have nailed a much more refined aesthetic, whilst still maintaining the excellent sound design that makes her tracks a treat to play out. ‘Thoughts of an Introvert’ is a lovely slow introspective house track with a real sense of groove and melody, whilst Mycetozoa is a throwback to her earlier productions with alien synths and peculiar noises layered over a tough drum workout. But on this EP rRoxymore really excels on ‘Prodrome’ – a foreboding house track which chugs along whilst an apocalyptic vocal sample warns of an impending doomsday, a real sign of the times!”
Professor Rhythm – Bafana Bafana [Awesome Tapes From Africa]
Mike: “This is a really tasty, dancefloor ready LP full of mid-nineties South African kwaito and was produced by Thami Mdluli, a.k.a Professor Rhythm. Have patience as you skip through this to check the tracks. Some of it is reminiscent of the dance-pop of the era, but the basslines of ‘Bafana Bafana’, ‘Kancane Kancane’, as well as the lyrics of ‘Leave Me Alone’ make this release another essential one from the label. It’s an intuitive choice by label boss Brian Shimkovitz, this will sit nicely alongside previous reissues on the label – such as Penny Penny, Ata Kak and DJ Katapila. The Professor is a veteran of chart-toppers Taboo and CJB, and was an in-demand producer of the likes of Sox and Sensations.”
Okay Temiz, Johnny Dyani – Witchdoctor’s Son [Matsuli]
Mike: “Just beautiful music. Continuing along the South Africa theme, the Matsuli label is the most reliable source for jazz music from the country. On this LP the visionary Turkish percussionist, Okay Temiz, meets the South African bassist, Johnny Dyani. The pair were introduced by Don Cherry in 1969 when Dyani moved to Sweden after the break-up of The Blue Notes. They worked together regularly over the next decade and joined with Cherry in the Eternal Ethnic Music trio. This amazing LP was recorded in Istanbul in 1976 and is split on either side of the vinyl between Turkish music and South African-oriented music. The previously unpublished photos to accompany the music are ace too. Matsuli have done a great job as usual. This reissue will find favour with world music fans, as well as jazz enthusiasts.”