Actually, toward the end of this record, as the kick and bass become a lot fuller, you don't have to listen too carefully to hear some low-end distortion. In fact I quite like that. It does make me wonder whether this piece was recorded at least partly to mic. Certainly the ambience has a depth and natural diffuseness which you get when you put a mic in the room and say to the guys "just play". 'Rusty Waters' is a floaty piece which stays just on the right side of house for me, despite it being played by a full band. The vocals, although not very audible (another sign that this could be 'live') are sweet and sad-sounding. The build of the whole thing from Warren Harris' solo bass licks to the mid-paced thumping close is exquisite whilst somehow remaining modest, unpolished (remember?) and understated in that good ole' Detroit way. Please go and hear it.
There is a certain formula how this guys get the Bass and the overall sound of the Signature Sounds series so thick . The Bass mooves from the speakers thru the walls of a flat so easy that the neighbours are likely to complain ; Same goes for Amp Fiddler , Moodyman and especially the Three Chairs series ; all stuff by Rick Wilhithe , Theo Parrish , Moodyman, Marcellus Whitmann and the others involved in these outstanding deep records got this unmistakable richness of volume . There must be a secret in the production process and the mastering in Detroit . Rusty Waters arrangements and the composition are flawless . The Rotating Assembly EP is a collaberation of 5 musicians including M. Whitmann and Theo Parrish . Awseome - this one gets better with each round = a real grower .