Deckshark’s darling, DJ’s DJ – Danilo Plessow, the one-man Motor City Drum Ensemble, is of the most well-informed people of the worldwide circuit of well-informed people. Not only must he have magic abilities when it comes to predicting the impact of obscure funk records on Discogs, he also comes with genuinely good intentions, which makes the Dutchman by choice and cosmopolitan even more special. Before opening Dekmantel’s latest compilation series »Selectors«, including eight tracks that were lost or almost impossible to get, he is now re-releasing a twenty years old Split-12“ between City People (Irfan Hussain and Franco Ze) and 20 Below (Hussain solo, who is still active, by the way) on his very own label MCDE. Newly mastered, the artwork updated discreetly – no frills. For ten minutes, Hussain and Ze are preaching the gospel of the New Yorker Paradise Garage with the a-side’s »It’s All In The Groove«. Rattling percussions, funky bass lines, distorted chords. In short: Deep house in its most puristic (top-)shape, a blast from the past, giving the finger to the current beatport charts. It’s all in the groove, indeed. On the b-side, Hussain is taking over with »A Lil‘ Tribute To The Moody Black Keys«, a track which Plessow rightly smuggled onto »Selectors 001«, too. Spongy guitar chords are whirling over a thumping groove, a bassline is jazzing up and down with such an urgency that it might even convince Kerri Chandler to make meaningful records again. »Jus‘ Nite Groovin‘« is going for edgy kicks and a bassline that seems to have taken one too many refills of loft’s MDMA-punch. It’s a shuffling, discoid dreamer and its five minutes appear almost too short. This music grasps at eternity, nothing but deep, deep eternity. Thankfully, Plessow is making sure that this kind of eternity won’t be forgotten – in the end, he has nothing but good (if not the best) intentions. Decksharks and DJs everywhere are bowing their heads in humility and gratefulness – and so will the dancefloors.
Various Artists
John Gómez & Nick the Record present »Tangent«
Mr Bongo