Disco Deception

Approfondimenti

The insatiable British producer Mike Pelanconi continues his journey into the past. After having released a dub version of the Last Poets’ album Understand What Black Is for their fiftieth anniversary in 2019, this time he has tasked himself with tackling soul and R&B icons (not exactly disco like the title suggests) with five reggae covers accompanied almost exclusively by Shniece McMenamin who has worked alongside Prince Fatty on the project since the end of the 2000s. The record opens with Take Me as I Am, written in 1973 by Lyn Collins, one of the stars of James Brown’s People Records label, featuring the great voice of MC Horseman. Next up is 90% of Me Is You by Gwen McGrae (1974), Love Me Right, the soundtrack to the film Mr Rock and Roll by Charles Dubin (1957), sang by LaVern Baker, Eddie Cooley & The Dimples Fever (1956) and You Got What You Wanted by Ike & Tina Turner (1969). A trip through time which reminds us, like the singing of Toots and his Maytals in 1976, that reggae is never better than when it is infused with a bit of soul. © Smaël Bouaci/Qobuz