Now-Again launches New York funk/soul researcher and archivist David Griffith’s Orivious Records with a masterpiece: the sole document of a lost and unlikely teenage “sweet-funk” collaboration between Rochester, NY vocalists The Darling Dears and backing band Funky Heavy. Originally issued in 1972, the record never made it beyond city’s west side. Today, this rare and exquisite blend of fragile female harmony atop an unexpected bed of raw, plodding funk commands four figures at auction when it appears in its original form.
The juxtaposition of the falsetto (?) vocals against the slow deep funk background on this is incredible.
Very rare very secrete Squadda B digi-single with Sea Things that I completely missed last year. Pretty similar to what Squadda/MAz did with Friendzone.
I like the original version better, but this is notable as one of Clams’ most regular productions. Bouncy drums, pleasant soft horns – this is good stuff but it feels somewhat removed from the ambient meltdowns and occasional slaps that Clams made his name on. Then again, by the same token it could also be used as an argument for his versatility, which he hasn’t shown too much of so far (except for this, which has unfortunately vanished from the netz).
Anything new from Adrian Younge & Venice Dawn is welcome around these parts. “It’s Me” is the first single from their upcoming Something About April album. Just like their previous releases, this is some righteous psychedelic deep soul.
Both Menahan Street Band and El Michels Affair are long overdue for new albums. The instrumental versions of My World and No Time For Dreaming were great and I’m glad they were released, but that’s not quite the same. This new single helps a bit though.
Red Apples 45 continues their excellent Pianos In The Projects series, this time pairing Ray West’s production with the talents of the late Party Arty. Your enjoyment of this will hinge entirely on your tolerance of Arty’s voice, as the guy was maybe the gruffest and graveliest of all gruff gravel voiced rappers. If you can deal with that, you’re good.
The two streams below are the two vocal tracks featured on this single, there are also two short instrumental interludes.
STREAM: Party Arty & Ray West – Red Keys, Black Piano
STREAM: Party Arty & Ray West – Up On The Ave Ft AG
