Luke Una Presents É Soul Cultura, Vol. 2

by Luke Una

Overview

Satisfying as it was, E Soul Cultura was also tantalizing in its nanoscopic unmixed sampling of the varied collection possessed by Luke Una, a North of England DJ legend -- Sheffield, Manchester, the world -- nearing 40 years behind the decks. It wasn't presented upon release in 2022 as the first in a series, so the arrival of a second volume barely a year later was a pleasant surprise, a positive development for lovers of eclectic compilations -- an increasingly uncommon format in the age of streaming playlists. As with the first volume, tracks date as far back as the early '70s with representation from almost every subsequent decade, and there's no intent on Luke's part to "show off," since tracks worth pocket change alternate with those that fetch triple-digit sums, and material more recently reissued is almost as common as genuine obscurities. Each track on Luke Una Presents E Soul Cultura, Vol. 2 is in some way fascinating, and most of them are far beyond mere deep-digging curiosities. The best of the less-rare selections is Real Thing's "Children of the Ghetto." Excerpted from a medley off the Liverpool soul group's 1977 album, it's a gorgeously sorrowful/hopeful ballad Luke identified as "up there with anything the Americans have done." (Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey might agree -- he covered it on Chinese Wall.) Another B-side comes from Yargo. The stuttering drums at the start of their "Marimba" sound like a lead-in to a cover of A Certain Ratio's "Knife Slits Water," but the track casts a spell headier than that of their fellow Mancunians. It's undoubtable that no other set will compile recordings by both a moonlighting member of Electric Light Orchestra (Michael de Albuquerque's delightfully bent "We May Be Cattle But We've All Got Names") and private-pressed soul singers (the audacious Avis, who covers Minnie Riperton's "Baby, This Love I Have" with surprising finesse). Swiss prog rockers Pyranha seem equally inspired by Neil Young and Michal Urbaniak, and why not? Other tunes come from Guadeloupe, Japan, Brazil, and New York with styles as disparate as their geographic locations. For those unfamiliar with Luke, it might take a listen to a few of the DJ's sets to understand where the man is coming from, but the variety and sequencing of the tracks do make a kind of sense. Not much exposure will leave the impression that Luke clearly doesn't have the shrugging "there are two kinds of music" philosophy, given that he's wildly descriptive about his selections in explaining what makes them special. He's so enthusiastic and persuasive that a listener might question their ears when a selection doesn't resonate. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	06/30/2023
Label:	MR BONGO
UPC:	7119691289526

Tracks

1. Children of the Ghetto  -  Real Thing
2. Baby, This Love I Have  -  Avis
3. Lost Children  - Veronica Mickie
4. Storm [Arp Duppy Chip Mix]  -  Rare Silk
5. Shove Piggy Shove  -  LFO
6. D.E. 108  -  Bach Revolution
7. Bangalore Whispers  - Andi Otto
8. We May Be Cattle But We've All Got Names  - Michael De Albuquerque
9. Clepsydre  -  Pyranha
10. Marimba  -  Yargo
11. Play a Sweet Rhythm on Them Drums  - Okyerema Asante  -  Plunky
12. Giffin [Taken Re-Edit Speechless Dub Mix]  -  Mister Scruff
13. In Essense  -  Isis
14. Malibu Nites  - Frank Hatchett

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Luke Una   Primary Artist
Okyerema Asante   Primary Artist
Michael De Albuquerque   Primary Artist
Andi Otto   Primary Artist
LFO   Primary Artist
Veronica Mickie   Primary Artist
Frank Hatchett   Primary Artist
Rare Silk   Primary Artist
The Real Thing   Primary Artist
Mr. Scruff   Primary Artist
Yargo   Primary Artist
Unnayanaa   Primary Artist
Isis   Primary Artist
Irfan Rainy   Primary Artist
Avis   Primary Artist
Pyranha   Primary Artist
The Bach Revolution   Primary Artist
Plunky   Featured Artist