• Alphonse-riddims

Alphonse - Same For Me / Junior Fairplay Remix

(Emotional) Especial

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Killerrrr drum machine dub-house / junglist trip from the elusive Alphonse -

Let's face it, there's a lot of tepid shit out there at the moment, a lot of lazy reproductions  or references of genres that had already revolutionised current music many moons ago... That's not to say that there isn't also a whole load of innovation happening in the mids of the internet overdose, but either way, this overflow of pastiche style regenerations makes it all the more impressive when you hear the record that just stands out as honest, humble and full of feeling, not begging for hype or itching to latch on to a bandwagon before it passes again.

And although this record is very timely in terms of it's stylistic crossover (drum machines / 90's rave culture)
This disc, apparently salvaged from a reel-to-reel out of the hands of the producer gone missing, stands out as very authentic in approach and delivery.
It's a slow house chugger at first, 808 claps and kicks taking turns to feed the pace, whilst fizzing electronics occupy the void space that is later to be filled with all the rave euphoria and late-hours melancholy we could ask for.

Once the tapes were salvaged, the label claims that they were handed over to 'Alphonse's kid'  'Junior Fairplay' who snips into the reels in a tasteful way. Same For Me is driven by subtle edits that feel as organic as the switching of faders on Prince Jammy or Tubby's mixing desk - in fact we could bet a few quid on some slider action being involved in the production process here... In fact there's a whole lot of dub-induced aesthetic going down, from the wide, overdriven bassline through to the generous tape-echo on the vocal and flute atmospherics.

It's exactly this unexpectedly loose and unrestrained attitude that lends 'Same For Me' such a joyous, rewarding listening (and dancing!) experience from start to finish.

From the understated drum machine workouts on the A Side, right through to the harmonious flute and breakbeat choppage that takes things into higher heights for the final part of this two-track emission, this is a bit of a gem, a versatile club disc and a very pleasurable home listen too -
letting the stylus drift from the topside right through to to the inner circle of the second cut is worth the ride, 100%.

It's probably best that you just drop this into your cart and enjoy the wax the way it was intended:
on the turntable, spinning.

We'll sign out with the label's press release here too, it makes for a good read:

"Especial welcomes one Alphonse to the label. A true missing in action, last seen
by his crew dancing atop a bus, here literally forced him to give up the tape of
Same For Me. A peane to his life? Possi bly. Mixing techno beats and (proto)
rave breaks, all under his own unique and heartfelt message. Discovered on the outskirts of Letchlade, down the bottom of an abandoned traveller site in a
delapidated caravan with just the clothes he was in, while clutching an armful of reel-to-reels
masters, a pack of 20 B&H and 1 can of Strongbow, Alphonse's story is one of party obsessive
gone AWOL.
Mumbling periodically, words deciphered and names dropped. Frome, Stroud and whisper it,
Castlemorton, led to rehabitlation, a bath, shave and slowly enticing his musical knowledge
to share.
With a few scraps appearing here and there, including a micro(dot) of disco editing knowhow
given, here though he finally is able to share his experiences by looking back through making
music of the future.
Same For Me starts with Sterns intent, all hats, kick and fx to the max, a Fantazia of
expression, before toms and 808 snap and the sermon begins. But wait, where is the bass?
Boom! Subs squeeze ribs while flute lifts minds skywards. "A valuable tool in life.
Concentrate on something makes you happy..."
To bring this in to fold, the Junior family member is given the tapes to show what he can do.
The most subtle start lulls you in to a sense of is that it? There must be more. Building.
Building. Break and...hands to the Sunrise. "...Thank you. Same For Me. Same For Me."

Same For Me



Same For Me (Junior Fairplay Remix)