This is one hell of a voyage of (re)discovery whether you can see the flashing lights that transform the kitchen's laminated lino setup into a dancefloor inferno or not.
Showcasing a truly essential selection from the gorgeous and groundbreaking 'Philly soul sound, this double album does the genre such full justice that spontaneous combustion suddenly becomes a distinct possibility.
I for one didn't write a single word until I had danced my way right through this infectious and dizzyingly compulsive record. There can't be many more direct pathways to euphoria than this one: indeed you'll find your feet casting their vote before you've had a split-second to think about your assessment
Dimitri has cast aside his considerable DJ skills for the opening half of this double release, but his 13 selections are arguably just as impressive.
Disc 1 of 'Get Down' (yes of course there's a vinyl double album version of this awesome release) is chronology as well as an odyssey that boasts an all-star cast. It isn't a collection of rarities; there are names and numbers here that should be familiar to anyone over a certain age, yet even the hardened soul/funk devotees are sure to be bowled over by this timely reminder of just how awesome the production job was.
Beginning with the first of two cuts from iconic Philly hero Teddy Pendergrass - there are also a hat-trick of offerings from Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. 'ËœBad Luck' is quite simply epic, epic, epic - the sheer hugeness of the sound reaches effortlessly beyond the parameters of its 7 and a half minute length thanks in the main to its stunning string arrangement.
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Entering the realms of funk, Philly Devotions tune 'Hurt So Bad' should strike a chord with the majority, but whether the strange familiarity counts for not as deja vu, again, the track's vast sound still has the power to wow the listener, as does the awesome string-loaded John Davis /Monster Orchestra classic 'ËœNight And Day', with it's relentless succession of key changes and deep-set vocal hooks.
Bongo-driven, whistle blast T.J.M. funk cornerstone 'I Don't Need No Music' (To make me daa-aa-a-nce!) is a true groundbreaker that draws upon seemingly endless reserves of energy in order to quickly hit and then maintain impossibly dizzy heights. 'Make Me Dance' implores the repeated hookline as it bridges the chasm beteween here and the insanity that lies on the other side of the disco inferno.
Whether your natural tastes allow for seventies soul/funk sounds or not, you shouldn't need to search your own soul in order to find the necessary approval. Indeed, unconditional love should be an instinctive reaction
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