For the first of a new permanent feature on Subsoil Blog, we’re introducing you to three records which are in dire need of a repress.
As much as I can appreciate the “limited” “hand numbered” white label culture, these three records are just regular releases, really good ones at that, which aren’t available anymore apart from on discogs, where the asking price leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth.
Perlon has set the standard in represses for me. Zip seems keen on regularly repressing his releases, as long as there’s sufficient demand of course. A quick browse through discogs reveals the most expensive Perlon to be Soulphiction’s Bust Me at an asking price of about 30 pounds. According to the comments, a repress is imminent. Perlon’s previous represses (see 13, 16, 17 & 22 for a few randomly chosen examples) ingeniously come in greyscale, rather than the full colour design of the first pressing. This preserves a sense of exclusivity for those who were on the ball and bought the record when it first came out. In this way, Perlon rewards its keener fans, while providing its newer fans with the means to buy their back catalogue.
The following three releases are in my mind in desperate need of a repress. All over the internet people are begging for it, and unfortunately, opportunistic discogs sellers are demanding a price about 7 times what it would have cost them in the first place.
#1: Saine – Drifter EP (Must Have Records) Discogs Price: £35-£50
Just a fantastic record. If someone comes to you, shrugs their shoulders and says “What is Deep House?” Play them this record. The title track is a masterpiece in arrangement. Fragments of a groove in the bassline come in and out, as do snares, giving the impression that the track is constantly moving and evolving. Saine’s limited use of vocals and snatches of melody outside the lead groove create a richly textured track which takes your mind to all sorts of places while keeping your feet firmly rooted to the dancefloor.
The A side finishes off with Buccaneer’s Den, an atmospheric slow jam sort of tune that would be the soundtrack of my harem/pleasure dome. All 3 and a half minutes on loop. The B side opens up with Smyles, which does the same thing as Drifter, but sounds a bit more frantic with a more complex beat at the fore of the track. Halfway through the track a real funky slap bass bassline comes in, giving the track a wonderful sense of improvisation and freedom. The EP finishes off with Medium Grind, another jazzy sort of house track based around a short blue chord progression.
2. Slowhouse – Three (Slowhouse Recordings) Discogs Price: £50-£295
The best of all three Slowhouse releases from the unnamed Swiss duo. And also ridiculously expensive on Discogs. A1 is a relatively straightforward kick snare sort of track with a great groove to go with it. Its a lot more than that however, with every element of the track fine tuned to perfection. This would work really well within a set with its irresistible groove and beat which commands your feet to dance. A2 is a slower and more cerebral cut. It’s got a real sense of suspension in the background synths. If I was skydiving, I’d want to be listening to this.
The B side is what really blows my mind. It seems to have been made with dancefloors in mind. B1 sounds like it’s come out of Detroit with that indomitable beat and more of those deep synths which are about as far from cheesey synths as you can get. B2, however, is pretty much alone worth spending 50 pounds on the EP. if I had 50 pounds that is. The simple yet so effective beat, a 4/4 with an added skip every few bars is joined by vocal fragments and terrific overlapping melodics. This is a real good times tune, and trust me, it destroys a dancefloor. I’ve heard it pitched up and it sounds just as good, if not better.
See the Discogs link above for a playlist of all 4 tracks.
3. Andres – Moments In Life (Mahogani Music) Discogs Price: £30-£50
Probably my favourite Andres release. And that’s saying a lot from the man who’s responsible for Skate This Way, Hart Plaza, New For U and Take Off to name only a few tracks. It’s got that amazing style that sits very comfortably somewhere in between House and Hip Hop, which no one else seems to be capable of reproducing.
The title track just puts a smile on my face and a swing in my step everytime I hear it. Have a listen and you should understand why.
I went to an RBMA lecture session in Bristol at the start of the summer with Andres. Asked him about a repress and he replied “I’m a get on Kenny for that.” So whether or not this sees a repress is very much down to Moodymann.
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