Jay Daniel – Broken Knowz

I, I remember the last time I saw snow. The very last time, 8 years ago. It blew in, unexpected, Dec 26. No sign of it in daylight, but gusts blew the shutters after sundown. I recline, house all tucked in. Spin my slabs of wax. But a flash at the curtain catches my eye. Paranoid I arise, exit my den to inspect the house. No other flash of lights, but I peek through the glass of the yard door. All white. Thick, white, icy snow. An inch on everything. Blowing, blustering, pelting, I'm in the yard embracing this unexpected delight. But the tinge of unease that rose me remains, borne out by another flash. Lightning. Icy blizzardy lightning. It flickeres, the cold wind blowing snow in my face. Wind chimes plinking against each other. And then another strike, quite near now. Vivid white flash and crack. And rumble. The quiet of the snow obscuring all sound but the overwhelming roll of thunder. Hearing the sound wave rolling away into the storm. Hearing it roll for miles. Ice in my hair and down my collar. I, I remember the last time I saw snow. I remember. I remember vividly. It still rolls over me in my dreams. The last time I saw snow, and the first time I saw what the new planet had in store for is.

This album came highly recommended to me via a music friend/producer/fellow crate-digger. He said it was his favourite record of 2016, which says a lot. Upon first listen, I thought it was a solid record. But after listening to it months later – I was hooked! There's something hypnotic about this record (safe to say it's the percussion). I was able to buy a copy off Ninja Tune's label site as the artist's Bandcamp was all sold out. So happy to own this on wax! The standout is easily 'Paradise Valley', but my personal favourite is 'Squeaky Maya' for it's sublime re-work of Soul II Soul's 'Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)', which has a lot of nostalgia as it's featured in the Belly OST, and probably the reason he sampled it in the first place. Check out this Detroiter's Boiler Room while you're at it.

One of those albums that will be played in many years to come and still sound fresh, so many highlights.

Just copped for $15 brand spanking new this past weekend at Trinosophes in Eastern Market (Detroit baby!) They said Jay had personally brought copies to sell! They have a few more at a great rate so if you're in town then buy local! So proud of this next generation of Detroit artists. This is my funky entry point into the deep house world. Also Boolin' is like, so nasty.

Does anybody else have a problem with the labels being heavily off centre on record 1? The labels on both sides A & B are so out of alignment that they render the last track on both sides unplayable as they partly cover the grooves.

love this release. boolin is one hell of a track despite how short it is.