'Life:styles' is a brand new series from the respected Harmless label.
To date, the imprint has built its reputation with regular compilations choc full of old school funk, soul and Latin Jazz, but this series differs in that it allows known producers and stalwarts free range to air their personal influences.
Not the most original idea in the world perhaps, but as always it's about how well the idea is executed rather than how unique it is.
Choosing creatively restless and musically erudite duo Dego McFarlane and Mark Mac (otherwise known as 4 Hero) to inaugurate the series could be considered a good start.
The duo's influences are notoriously broad and considered, and any compilation put together by them will cause ripples of excitement throughout many a scene. Indeed, lovers of 4 Hero's diversity and musical eclecticism won't be disappointed with this selection of hot classics and rarities.
Gary Bartz's potent homage to the power of music, 'Music Is My Sanctuary', has long been a favourite with soul headz across the globe and starts the collection here with a beautiful bang.
Ever unpredictable, 4 Hero immediately drop the opening uptempo mood into a deep, funky trench ploughed by Rick Holme's poignant pro-black anthem 'Remember To Remember'.
The vibe continues to drop and glide from there onwards, never settling into any one groove but managing still to paint a cohesive and mellifluous picture.
One minute we're shuffling to Pleasure's Sun-Ra-esque afro-cosmic get together 'Jammin' With Pleasure'; the next we're kicking back to Rotary Connection's evergreen 'Black Gold Of The Sun'; One minute Ramsey Lewis' gorgeous version of 'Les Fleur' (a tune exquisitely covered by 4 Hero themselves on their Creating Patterns LP) is filling us with euphoria, the next we're pouting funkily of Debbie Taylor's 'No Ifs, Ands Or Buts'.
Like 4 Hero's own music, this comp is a journey through the sultry and the sexy, the profound and the plain ole pretty. If you dig funky music with a heart and a message, this will certainly light your ebony fire.
