Rush Hour Holland レコード& CD

Review: During the early 1980s, Kenneth 'Sumy' Sumter attempted to become Surinam's answer to Prince. While not wholly successful, he did record one killer album, 1983's Tryin To Survive. The original Galaxy Inc release of that album became something of a must-have for electrofunk and P-funk collectors, leading to a vinyl reissue on Rush Hour last year. That, too, flew off record shop shelves, so now the Dutch label has made it available on CD for the first time. Deliciously cheap sounding - it was made on a shoestring budget, after all - but brilliantly funky and soulful, Tryin To Survive remains a triumph of eccentric P-funk - all Roger Troutman posturing, slick Prince vocals, starry electronics and thickset synth basslines.

Review: Back in 2012, Rush Hour boss Antal Heitlager put together a sublime collection of obscure Surinamese disco and boogie for sister label Kindred Spirits. Four years on, and with assistance from Thomas Gesthuizen, he presents the follow-up, Surinam Funk Force. Predictably, it's another fine set full of surprise gems and barely-known classics. While some tracks sound authentically American (see the deep and harmonious brilliance of Steve Watson's "Born To Boogie", and Surinam scene stalwart Sumy's eccentric, synth-laden "The Funky 'G' (Only Comes At Night)", some of the most potent cuts lean more heavily on traditional Surinamese music. In this camp you'll find the thrilling funk of Explosion's "Wakka Mang", and the off-kilter tropical disco-funk of Ronald Snijders' "Kaseko Attack".