UK disco specialist Joey Negro selects a grip of rare electro for Z Records. Before hip-hop became a permanently MC-focused music, DJs & producers were the star of the show. Inspired by Afrika Bambaataa and, indirectly, Kraftwerk, Bronx heavyweights Mantronix and Man Parrish racked up hit records that emphasized electrified sounds and accentuated syncopation. Somewhere along the line, though, Marley Marl mistakenly discovered the unlimited possibilities of the SP-1200 sampler, and electro (yes, electro, not electro) was relegated to a niche subgenre, inadvertently inspiring its purveyors to push the boundaries and explore imaginative sci-fi and Afro-Futurist themes. A Personal Selection Of Electro Classics demonstrates the wide breadth of the genre, from the street soul of Aleem, vocoder funk of Dwayne Omarr and G-Force, to The Russell Brothers' boogie-down block party rap. Throw in Paul Hardcastle's sophisticated dollar-bin gem "Rainforest" for good measure and you have a complete blueprint for the sound that laid the foundation for second-wave heroes Alden Tyrell, Aux 88, Drexciya and DJ Stingray. With many of these original 12-inch singles going for over $200 on the second hand market, this comp is a no-brainer for anyone looking to fill some gaps in their robot-soul crate. Gatefold sleeve includes extensive liner notes by Joey Negro and Greg Wilson. Recommended.

• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Z Records 2017

reviewed by peanut dust 03/2017