"In the beginning, there was Jack, and Jack had a Groove". And so through this hypnotic slice of electronic gloss begins a mythical, almost Biblical, interpretation on the genesis of the classic House feeling and House music in general. 'Can You Feel It' is House at its most classic, most revered, an essential record to consider when backtracking the origins of body-gyrating, mind-expanding recordings of the twentieth century.
What does it takes to experience a memorable moment in your life? Larry Heard gave the crowds a unique gift through the 1986 released timeless House classic 'Can You Feel It', based on elegant rhythm patterns and deep, futuristic synth hypnosis. 'Can You Feel It' stands for its Aesthetic perspective and also for bringing the intense listener to the years to come, just like an outstanding Future Soul piece would do. As a natural consequence, it would influence hundreds of Electronic Music heads since them from several genres, including House, Techno, Drum n' Bass, among many others. The first pressing of that gem got a so huge feedback that it crossed the Atlantic Ocean to become a Standard not only for the House Music genre, but for quality Electronic Music Worldwide. This explendid acclaimance gave 'Can You Feel It' countless other releases, notably the 1988 versions with Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech and Chuck Roberts "My House" Acappella, on Desire & Jack Trax, both considered timeless too. It was also included a little more than a decade later on the 'WARP 10+1 Influences' compilation, as a testimonial that it stood the test of time.
Review by ncwSep 12, 2005(edited over 4 years ago)
Everyone speaks so highly of "Can You Feel It?" and sure, its a classic old house track, but for me "Washing Machine" is the true Larry Heard masterpiece. Four and a half minutes of jarring, uncompromising acid madness, incredibly ahead of its time. Its terse drum machine stutters are direct precursors to detroit techno, and at a time when it was so easy to use a 303 to create music, and things started to become very samey, it stands out as fresh, original and highly infectious.
Review by chilstaDec 31, 2004(edited over 4 years ago)
Can You Feel It is a seminal house tune, and one that got played at most of the early acid house parties in and around London that I frequented. The thing to do back then in '88 was to drop Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech over the top, this is where the idea for "My House" came from. The Martin Luther King speech was normally dropped off the B Side of a UK 12" that was out at the time by The MLK Project. Can you feel it?