Karizma: Tech This Out Pt.1 (Atjazz, Yoruba Soul) Vinyl 12"

I swear it wasn’t more than two months ago I was staring at Karizma’s Kaytonik EP on ’scogs, sulking at the lack of copies for sale in the States (miss me with that €22 EU shipping), dreaming of one day playing “Tech This Out” on wax. I imagine it’s what Basic Channel would sound like if they had soul… droning, atmospheric, soaked in echo, but sensitive to the needs of the body and the heart. This is one of those records that just never gets repressed, sorta like Theo’s Smile, or any of Pepe Bradock’s older 12”s that aren't Burning - it’s not a banger, people aren’t petitioning the label, it’s not even the most in-demand Karizma tune (not even in the top 5). But never say never: someone up there pulling the strings has a soft spot for “Tech This Out Pt. 1” (> “Tech This Out Pt. 2”), and we’ve been blessed with this import repress including two new remixes (supposedly for UK RSD? Weird but we’ll take it). Karizma had a very good year; one of his tracks was included in a Google commercial (google it, you’ve heard it), so this is sorta him throwing a bone to the deep house dorks. The remixes (which honestly, we didn’t really need) are subtle, respectful takes on the original if you ever get sick and tired of it; Atjazz (the man we have to thank for this reissue) lends a little extra percussion and notches up the reverb on the pads, while Yoruba Soul (aka Osunlade) stretches the pads out even further, adding some spacey rhodes chords and synth vamps plus some simple vocals for good measure. Recommended.

• music label: Atjazz Record Company 2018

reviewed by edward james almost 04/2018