Album of the Week: Rick Wilhite presents Vibes New & Rare Music

Album of the Week: Rick Wilhite presents Vibes New & Rare Music

17 September, 2010 | 7.05AM

• Written by: Beatportal
• Filed under: Music News: album of the week, kyle hall, moodymann, rick wilhite, rush hour, the godson, theo parrish

We usually reserve the Album of the Week spot for “artist albums"—that is, the work of a single producer or group—but this week we turn our attention to a compilation: Rush Hour’s Vibes New & Rare Music.

Named after the Detroit record store run by Rick Wilhite (aka the Godson), Vibes New & Rare showcases new and exclusive material from Wilhite’s friends and peers. Alongside established (even legendary) figures like Theo Parrish, Sherard Ingram’s Urban Tribe, Kenny Dixon Jr. (aka Moodymann) and Glenn Underground, you’ll find up-and-comers like Kyle Hall and other relatively unfamiliar names (Raybone, Derwin Hall). What they all share in common is an approach to Midwestern house and techno that’s classic without getting mired in tradition.

Many of these tracks sound like they could have been recorded at any point in the past decade and a half—in the best way. They don’t play at being soulful; they take “soul” as a point of departure for some truly out-there grooves. A world away from the pristine, sample-CD-based productions of so much contemporary deep house, these artists aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, with plenty of grit and discord underlying even the sweetest chord progression.

Simply put, anyone into old-school-yet-adventurous house and techno needs to check this out. You’ll find audio clips of all 14 tracks after the jump.

Theo Parrish, “When I’m Gone”

The one and only Theo Parrish truly outdoes himself on “When I’m Gone,” which pairs vaguely atonal string quartet passages with fragmented jazz drumming, guitar licks and blues vox without ever feeling scattered or heavy-handed.

Glenn Underground, “Ninja”

One of the few non-Detroiters of the bunch, Chicago’s Glenn Underground lays down a bed of sampled (or synthetic?) strings on “Ninja,” whipping up a creamy jazz-funk odyssey with pitch-bent synth leads and deft drum programming.

Ricardo Miranda, “Urbanism”

Chicago’s Ricardo Miranda (aka Yonurican) has been active since at least the mid ‘00s, recording for labels like Vega, Trippin, and Jellybean Soul; his “Urbanism” reminds me a little bit of Planet E’s Ibex for the way it massages jazz elements into lush, chord-heavy house.

Urban Tribe, “D2000 (The Godson Remix)”

Way back in 1998, Urban Tribe (in this instance, Sherard Ingram, Kenny Dixon Jr., and Carl Craig) dropped “D2000,” a classic slab of mid-tempo funk, on Mo Wax. To be honest, I don’t hear much of the original in Wilhite’s remix, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a lovely example of jazzy house. Once again, the synth leads rule the day.

Kyle Hall & the Godson, “Microburst”

The hotly tipped youngster Kyle Hall teams up with Wilhite for one of the album’s most distinctive tracks, a sci-fi grind littered with surgical sample stutter.

The Godson, “Analog Love”

Wilhite digs into First Choice’s 1973 recording of “Love and Happiness,” laying out spare Rhodes and vocals over skeletal drum-machine rattle and ominous bass bump for another album highlight.

Marcellus Pittman, “In Due Time”

Marcellus Pittman—a member of 3 Chairs, alongside Wilhite, Parrish, and KDJ, and a player in Parrish’s collective the Rotating Assembly—gets abstract with moody, meandering keyboard lines.

Kyle Hall, “After Fall”

On another of the comp’s most distinctive tracks, Hall whips up high drama using a single disco lick, a handful of effects, and a galloping drum pattern—very FXHE, to these ears.

Urban Tribe, “My First Mistake”

The full Urban Tribe lineup (Ingram, Craig, KDJ, and Anthony “Shake” Shakir") do what they do best on this seven-and-a-half-minute number. A loosey-goosey groove, gritty analog tones, and just the right amount of dissonance to keep you on your toes.

Vincent Halliburton, “Something I Feel”

Another of the relative unknowns on the comp, Vincent Halliburton has turned up on Ferrispark a couple of times over the years, but he hasn’t left much of a paper trail beyond that. If he’s got more tracks under his belt like “Something I Feel,” I suspect he’ll be beefing up his discography very soon.

Marc King, “Can U Feel It”

Vocal heads are going to get goosebumps from this one. You’ve gotta give Wilhite major credit for unearthing so many talented unknowns.

Derwyn Hall, “Kaleidoscope”

Hang onto your bass bins! The album’s most experimental cut, this lo-fi banger from Mixmode Recordings’ Derwyn Hall takes after Omar S’s torn-woofer hijinks.

Raybone & TJ, “Gone”

I have no idea who either of these guys are, but “Gone” is an easygoing, downbeat house number with a squirrelly synth bass that reminds me of old Recloose.

Raybone & the Godson, “Nova 2”

One of the album’s non-CD cuts, “Nova 2” makes for an excellent way to close things out, with a no-nonsense groove, an energetic funk bassline, and inspired synth flourishes. Wrapping up elements of the ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s, it’s a timeless sounding track that also perfectly sums up the house vibe of 2010.

• (2) Comments
• (2241) Views
• Get Vibes New & Rare Music on Beatport