Essential 90's house repressed! The African Dream is a collaborative project between veteran house producers Lee Rodriguez & Steve John Craden and their 1994 self-titled double LP is a highly sought-after piece for house and dance music heads. You used to have to be seriously lucky in the bins (or have deep pockets) to get it in the past, but thankfully the album finally gets its first proper reissue (remastered for maximum bump!) so you can enjoy this rare document of timeless house music. Check "All The Same Family" for a sure shot of sample-heavy house, representing the spectrum of 90's NYC club culture in a single track, while "Makin' A Living" smooths it out, taking you deeper with that killer "Heaven And Hell" sample. Other highlights include the jazzy swing of "Your In My Soul," the grooving "Jazz Impressions," and the uplifting "African Spirits." Recommended.

• music label: Eightball 1994 / 2014

reviewed by Milk Man 10/2014