Where to begin with the funky enigma that is Darondo? You probably clicked the "more info" button for one of two reasons: either you know Darondo's "Didn't I" as the lead-off slow-burner from Gilles Peterson's recent Gilles Peterson Digs America comp, or you saw the dude on the cover -- the one who looks like a pensive, iced-out Screamin' Jay Hawkins -- and just had to know who it was. No matter what the reason, you've just lucked out, for Darondo has got to be one of the most unexpected and pleasant musical surprises of the past few years. An underground legend in the Bay Area, Darondo was recently tracked down by Ubiquity Records. Not only did he give them permission to reissue some of his classic recordings, but he also went into the studio and recorded additional vocals for some of his unfinished works. Darondo's got range, too: you get a little bit of everything from his broad pallette, from hard funk to smooth soul joints. 9 cuts in all, in a pic sleeve which features the man himself on the front and details the entire saga of Darondo on the back.

reviewed by the mgmnt