This weeks record comes from the much-celebrated label Sol Power Sound. This is Sol Power All-Star’s fifth instalment on their label. Deep Sang, Meistro and DJ stylus head the culturally diverse label. The incredibly gifted trio have been grafting and making serious movements in the underground hip-hop, Latin and house scene. Their passion for everything Afro was the clincher to their innovative relationship. The heterogeneous sounds the guys perform ranges from samba, afro-beat all the way to electronic. The real enchantment is their capability to merge these cultured sounds with a modern groove. In 2015 the label was launched which was accompanied by their first release, ‘Plaza Bolivar’. The year after saw them achieve more success, releasing Tom of Brooklyn’s ‘Theme Song' and their best work to date ‘Djidjo Vide’. The best way to describe the label is by citing their own explanation to their approach to music. The trio denote that their way is “A sweaty, exhilarating party experience that connects beats from Cuban roots to the beaches of Rio to the discos of Lagos. Three obsessive crate diggers and veteran party rockers team up with a master percussionist to destroy dance floors and release music that moves them”. This citation is most certainly prevalent with Aroop Roy’s 'Tembandumba (vocal mix)'.
Aroop Roy is a London based producer and is the latest member of the Sol-Power family. Roy has produced many records since his debut in 2007 on Freestyle Records. He has worked with many illustrious labels such as GAMM, Basic Fingers and House Of Disco Records, which demonstrates that he is no novice when it comes to production. 'Rising Tides’ is truly a masterful release but it’s the vocal mix of ‘Tembandumba’ which enthuses the eardrums. The track starts off with a beautifully epic vocal by Totó la Momposina an eminent singer from Columbia, who in 2006 was presented with the WOMEX lifetime achievement award and in 2013 was awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The track then seamlessly progresses into a suspenseful drum pattern and then climaxes into an effervescent bass line. However it’s the talented synth work, fluctuating rhythms and mouth-watering filters exhibited by Roy that makes the vocal mix the exemplary track on this record .
The whole EP is truly a delight to experience. Definitely a selection for the cultured foot stompers!
4.5/5
Buy: Vinyl
Words by Max J