This EP pays homage to a special and relatively untold time when Asian and Western producers collaborated to bridge musical cultures on the dance floor and when British Asian youths were finding their own space at daytime raves. It is in part a tribute to Bhangra innovator Manjeet Kondal, who passed away late last year, and part a tribute to the forgotten yet scintillating confluence of acid house and dub music with late 80s and early 90s Bhangra, now highly sought after as long out of print 12”s.
Kondal, a founding member and percussionist of the legendary band Alaap, left to pursue his solo career as a vocalist. He helped broaden the Bhangra sound by incorporating elements of dub and house into Punjabi folk and traditional instrumentation. His first album, ‘Holle Holle’ became a household hit, and it is from there that the originals for this package are taken.
The famously deep digging and eclectic selector that is Manchester’s Ninja Tune regular Mr. Scruff remixes Kondal’s proto-house banger ‘Ishkaan De Mamle’. He first became a fan of Turbotito & Ragz after their label’s superb Naya Beat Volume 1 release and doesn’t disappoint here with a sublime acid house-inspired take with the most infectious and bounciest of basslines. He also serves up an Instrumental Dub and Vocal Strip Down that twists the original into subtly different moods. Says Scruff of the record “I first heard the original version it in the early 1990’s, and hearing it on the Naya Beat compilation reminded me how good it was. I emailed Naya Beat to compliment them on the compilation, and they asked me if I would like to do a remix. When I received the multitrack and listened to the bass & drums in isolation, it sounded very much like a late 1980s Chicago House tune, so I used that as a starting point.”
Next up, Turbotito & Ragz deliver a dub tribute that works with Kondal’s vocal stems from an assortment of tracks from ‘Holle Holle’. It’s a compelling and vibrant sound with exotic instrumentals and dubbed-out low ends, all held together by hooky Punjabi vocals. It also comes as a Lovey Dubby Dub version.
With dance music now coming full circle and South Asian DJs increasingly regular faces on the mainstream festival, club, and underground circuit, this release is a fitting and timely modern tribute to the pioneers that came before.
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Tracklist
01 Ishkaan De Mamle (Mr. Scruff Remix)
02 Pyaar
03 Ishkaan De Mamle (Mr. Scruff Instrumental Dub)
04 Pyaar (Lovey Dubby Dub)
05 Ishkaan De Mamle (Mr. Scruff Vocal Strip Down)
06 Ishkaan De Mamle (Mr. Scruff Radio Edit)
07 Pyaar (Radio Edit)
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