TURNTABLE LAB

the lab review

Lo Recordings presents Back to Black, and no it's not a compilation of tracks by rock legends AC/DC but a fascinating collection of black music from the 60's and 70's that reflects the political and musical radicalism that lies at the heart of so much of the most important music of the 20th Century. Compiled by legendary London crate digger Steve Picton and released in conjunction with the Rich Mix exhibition at The Whitechapel Gallery in London, the Back to Black album features music which has not received widespread recognition, bringing to the fore artists who are lesser known but whose work has not only musical but political and social significance. Very few of the selected tracks have been re-released since the time of their production. Beautifully packaged in a striking gold slipcase with solid black cd case, the album features a superb selection of music from the R&B of The Lost Generation, the classic dub of King Tubby, the cosmic jazz of Andy Bey, the resonant Brit Funk of Cymande to authentic gangland street rhythms from the late 1950's. 13 tracks in all.

reviewed by label review 06/02/2009