For my final track of the week for 2014, I’m going to look right back to the start of the year when my favourite 12″ of the last 12 months dropped, from Bent Backs Records out of the Bretagne district in France.
This previously unknown label (this is their first release) originally come from a city called Rennes (they now reside in New York I believe), which has a heavy last dozen years of rub-a-dub history. The most well-known outfit from Rennes, Legal Shot Sound System, is a top European sound, label and crew. Last time I visited I was informed that there were eight or more sound systems operating, a whole heap of producers, and dozens of selectors in a city of merely 200,000 people. So I was not surprised to find that this mecca of rub-a-dub business has produced another deadly product like this.
The A-side of this 12″ features, dancehall godfather Johnny Osbourne, in fine form 35 years on from his breakthrough Studio One “Truth and Rights” album, still riding riddims with energetic ease with his tune “Can’t Take the Pressure”.
But it’s the B-side of this lovely picture sleeve encased maxi single that leaves most reeling for a pull up. The much lesser known Devon “Bobo Saw” Clarke comes down cool and deadly with his Waterhouse style delivery of “Hanging In Deh”. This is over the punchy digi roots riddim by a pair called D&H and RealCY, on a relick of Sir Tommy’s Musical Shot.
With a mix of dynamic lyrical flow and a unique delivery from a singjay who can chat and sing with consummate ease, coupled with the rich musicality of the riddim, this obscure flip side is a must own and has been championed accordingly by many top sounds globally.
Find it encased in a beautiful hand drawn sleeve by Mael Butin, with the artists on the front and some interesting info on the back, at any well-known online or physical record shop. For your listening pleasure, find it on Bent Backs SoundCloud.
More info:
Bent Backs Records on SoundCloud
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