This was one of the first appearances of rising Detroit producer Marcellus “Malik” Pittman, who produced this record along with Theo in September of 1999. He later collaborated with Theo again for “Brain Collaboration” on the recently reissued album Parallel Dimensions. He’s also a member of The Rotating Assembly, and now a prominent member of 3 Chairs with Theo, Moodymann and Rick Wilhite. For me the standout here is Side A’s “Night Of the Sagittarius,” a slab of raw dirty Detroit style funk that reveals Pittman‘s influence in the loud Trax-style drums. The Chicago influence here is massive. On the flip, “Selectors Theme” is a deep roller and “African Roots” makes one imagine those shining Detroit towers on a Nigerian landscape. 1999/2000 was a transition period in Theo‘s sound as it became less low-fi in some aspects, and this is one of those records on which he was grasping for something new. They hit with a second EP on Track Mode a few years later; both have been repressed and are also available as a pack. Both recommended!

• 2019repress
• black vinyl pressing
• music label: Sound Signature 2019

reviewed by Gamall Rude Movements 08/2006