[Jimmy Dread]

Best Ever House & Techno Album Round 1:

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Another Side by Fingers, Inc

Nominated by Norman Bates

[Skinny]

Been listening and re-listening to albums over the last few days and taking notes as I go. This is one of the tightest matchups in the first round.

Notes on Another Side:

Effortlessly flits between cool, laidback, Sade-esque R'n'B and more forceful house bangers that form the basis of what we know to be that mildly acidic, deep Chicago sound; both vocalists here are extremely complementary, with Owens' variety being anchored by Wilson's deep, smooth bass; managing to forge something this organic out of synths and drum machines (especially those without the technical capabilities of the ones produced today) is extremely impressive; despite Heard's innate sense of control and subtlety - of knowing when to hold back and keep things skeletal - there's raw emotion pouring out of every moment here, at times really exaggerating that link between the club and the church, wherein house music approaches something close to euphoric gospel ('A Love of My Own' being a prime example); not a dud here, and a sheer joy to listen to for the entire 90 minutes.

Notes on Padlock:

Love how seamless it all is; the Sly & Robbie rhythm section and liberal use of echo give the whole thing a dubby feel, but the summery synth lines and tight disco guitar licks keep everything light and airy - it's a really interesting juxtaposition; I'm naturally predisposed to love this sort of shit, and there are so many euphoric moments (love it when a teaspoon of acoustic piano creeps in); Gwen Guthrie doesn't have the same force of personality of Chaka, or even somebody like Evelyn King, which means her vocals have a fairly functional feel, but it's a minor gripe; can't help but feel overall, though, that there's something oddly soulless about this (which is neither a positive nor a negative, by the way).

Overall, I prefer Another Side, but both are excellent and neither deserves to go out at this stage.
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2021 in full effect. Come drop me some recs. Y'all know what I like.

[Norman Bates]

I was gonna everything that Skinny said about Fingers Inc., but less well; have yet to listen to Gwen Guthrie, which is what I'll be doing presently.

[Jimmy Dread]

First match-up of the tourney and the first of a few killers, in every sense.

I'd never heard Padlock until Gabe's last-minute switch just prior to the First Round draw. The only Gwen Guthrie track I'd had any prior knowledge of was Ain't Nothing Going On But The Rent, and whilst I've owned a compy of Larry Levan's Salsoul mixes for donkey's years I'd never investigated further. Well, Jah bless my total ignorance, because this album is totally fantastic - mutant disco set to a syncopated 4-on-the-floor beat, a Sly and Robbie rhythm section and a restrained sense of excess reminiscent of the best of the Salsoul era. Peanut Butter is the one here - all hand-claps and slap bass, I'd get up right now and bust some shapes if I hadn't overdone it last night playing footie.

I've only heard smatterings of Another Side over the years and will give the whole 90 minutes a spin before casting my vote, but this tournament has already found me a gem and there's still another 31 match-ups to go. Bless up dee bee zee...
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'Reggae' & t'ing
Folk 'n Stuff
SHAMELESS RECORD DEALER PLUG

[Norman Bates]

[Hayden]

Another Side gets my vote. Wasn't terribly big on Padlock.
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Doubles & Conch

[Rhyner]

Padlock gets my vote. I liked it quite a bit more than Another Side, even though neither album really did that much for me. Probably the biggest thing that killed Another Side for me was its length. Waaay too long if you ask me.

[Graeme2]

I really liked that fingers album the first time I heard it but since not so much. Yes it's a bit long and one of the reasons I voted for gwen over fingers is probably one reason why others didn't, the vocal. Gwen is much more to my tastes than the upfront styles on Another Side which really wears thin with me by the end. I don't think Guthrie comes across cold, she just sounds effortless, cool and laid back which suits the levan treatments perfectly. Fingers inc is fine, abviously the music is good but I just feel the Guthrie one more. And it's a good length. Been playing that levan genius of time a bit recently so in the mood for his stuff anyways.

[Jimmy Dread]

It's been ridiculously tough to choose between these two, and it's a shame Another Side is going out so early in the competition. In the end my vote was academic:

Lock up yrr fingers, Padlock's going through 7-5
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'Reggae' & t'ing
Folk 'n Stuff
SHAMELESS RECORD DEALER PLUG

[undefined]

I could've been happy with either outcome here. Surprised my pick won though! A shame about Another Side. One of the most uniquely soulful acid house records, and a strong contender for my favorite project involving Mr. Fingers (the other contender also being in this tourney, funnily enough). This Gwen Guthrie/Larry Levan joint here has a special place in my heart though. Levan's production is remarkable on this one (particularly the presumably dub-influenced title-track) in how he manages to really epitomize the idea of garage house by simply moving around the pieces of disco and boogie (and adding in some spices) until an entirely distinct genre has come into fruition. Guthrie's singing isn't exactly showy or technically impressive by any means, but it is brilliantly functional within this context; it's distinct enough to provide a real sense of vocal personality, but malleable enough that it feels just as at home within a purely plainly disco track as it does within one of Levan's more experimental excursions. Not to mention this thing flows immaculately. Perfect sequencing. And ahhh the bass on peanut butter. And the literally everything on the title track omg...
god I love this release