Review by Matthew Crick
The great thing about the often unpredictability of our musical compass, as well as being unrelenting record diggers, bordering on the clinically obsessed, is that no matter who or what is our influence – new and old – we will always find our very own piece of paradise within that sound.
However, the idea of euphonic tranquillity is of course different to the next persons, which is how it should be, unless talking about the disco equivalent of a petrol head, then our tastes and outlook are equal, and off into the sunset we happily go.
Two people who certainly share this compulsion are Ruben & Ra. Behind their veil of anonymity they talk openly of their numerous inspirations, ranging from Quincy Jones to Chaz & Dave, with the end results, and there’s a healthy back catalogue to date, all being administered through their own label Retrospective (Rayko and Fil Lavin are also part of the family). Covert yes, slack – hell no.
Next up for the West London-based duo is One Night At The Disco, their fourth EP and the label’s seventh, a reincarnation of their four choice disco records between 1980 and 1985. And what a selection.
‘When I’m Feelin’’ generously dips its toe into the 1980 seminal hit ‘Can’t Fake The Feeling’ by Geraldine Hunt, but wisely resists jumping in head first by preserving the tempo and key vocals, while adding a little more depth and groove. A year on, and Ned Doheny’s drifty number ‘To Prove My Love’ is wonderfully retouched and energised in ‘My Love’.
Next up is a free gift, ‘Everybody Loves Good Music’ is testament to both 1983 and Dayton’s ‘The Sound of Music’, stepping up the pace and breeze of the original, without losing any of the soulful mettle. Skip to 1984 and you’re accosted by the boogiefied remnants of Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown’s belter ‘Moment Of My Life’ in the nocturnal jam ‘All Night’, completing a rather impeccable display of how to truly make the most of your influences. Nab a free download of this track HERE
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