El Michels Affair - Enter The 37th Chamber

Consider this a reclamation of all that hip-hop looted from funk's greatest beats. Organist and drummer Leon Michels has slowly worked his way from being a member of the Meter-inspired outfit, The Mighty Imperials, to taking over wayward Brooklyn funk label Soul Fire, and reviving into its current dynamite status as Truth & Soul Records. Building his original band from session musicians moonlighting from the Dap-Kings, Budos Band and Antibalas, El Michels Affair's reputation eventually lead to an invitation to accompany Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon for a promotional concert. Every fire needs a spark, and that collaboration has spawned Enter The 37th Chamber- an instrumental soul examination of the RZA's gritty production. As moodily ominous as it is skillfully funky, El Michels Affair shade the strings and keys of "Duel Of The Iron Mic" in minor notes, the drums on "Cherchez La Ghost" crisply replicate the sampled original, and the blaring horns and children choral singing on "Shimmy Shimmy" is pure genius. A must for any respectable, true Wu fan. Throw up your double-Us.