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If you were listening closely to Gilles Peterson’s interview with ESG the other week, you’ll know that if they hadn’t supported A Certain Ratio at a Factory night in New York, Tony Wilson may never have spotted ESP’s influence on ‘dance’ music.

Of course, ACR’s back catalogue has undergone the usual repackaging and remix processes that all the other influential bands of the time underwent. But along with ESG, they have been championed by Soul Jazz Records as the forerunners of post-punk-funk. This EP contains a new track (their first for 10 years!). ‘Way To Escape’ sounds like they’ve never been away and even if it’s not their very best, it’s good to have them back. So with ACR getting a second wind, this EP is more about the artists featured on Relish that you’ve not come across before.

David Gilmour Girls sound particularly off-putting to me but are in fact a couple of Dutchmen (Robin van der Kaa and Jasper Uhl) who are one half of Oil (on tour with The Rapture!). Their big hit has been ‘Crackhouswarmingparty’ and it’s clear from ‘Tar And Feather’ that the idea is to have some fun.

More modern day funk comes in the form of Don Cash from Canada. While DFA Records were keen to sign him up, Relish got in first but the one that caught my ear is Franz & Shape’s mash with NOJA, ‘The Man Who Paid Before’.

With a compilation mix retrospective by Headman (star of this week’s OneWeekToLive) and a Franz & Shape album to come out soon, Relish Recordings are a label to watch out for.

Reviewed: Various — Compilation E.P. (Relish Records) Cat. No.82876701811 Release date: 4th December 2006
Tracklisting:
A1. A Certain Ratio — Way To Escape (3:53)
A2. David Gilmour Girls — Tar & Feather (6:42)
B1. Franz & Shape vs. N.O.J.A.- The Man Who Paid Before (6:25)
B2. Don Cash — Don’t Crash (4:06)

Links:
www.relishrecordings.net
www.acrmcr.com
www.souljazzrecords.co.uk
Gilles Peterson :: 23th November tracklisting :: ESG in conversation