El Michels Affair - Enter the 37th Chamber & Return To The 37th Chamber (2009 & 2017) [CD Rip]

With one foot in the Analog past and eyes firmly set on the future, El Michel's Affair are among the leaders of a resurgent funk &soul movement from New York City. Led by saxophonist/organist Leon Michel's and producer/engineer Jeff Silverman, El Michels Affair began as a loose collaboration of soul session men (including members of top-sellers Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, The Budos Band, and Antibalas), releasing an acclaimed 2005 debut on their burgeoning label Truth & Soul (also the moniker for the duo as a production team). The buzz generated from that album led to Toyota (!) inviting them to do some promotional shows backing Wu-Tang Clan members, which led to more Wu-Tang gigs, which in turn led to a contract with Fatbeats Records to do an album of instrumental Wu-Tang covers and interpretations.

The wait is over, Return To The 37th Chamber is El Michels Affair's highly anticipated follow up to 2009's underground cult classic Enter the 37th Chamber. Churning out classic records since then for the likes of Lee Fields, The Arcs, The Shacks, and tons more, it is clear that EMA's signature sound is stronger & sharper than ever. This time, in addition to re-interpreting the Wu compositions for a live band, EMA pays homage to the production and sonic fog that makes a RZA beat so recognizable. Producer and bandleader Leon Michels recorded the album completely analog, sometimes hitting 6 generations of tape before it was ready for mixing, giving the Return to The 37th Chamber it s own hazy sound. Adding to the unique fidelity, the record is laced with psychedelic flourishes, John Carpenter synths, heavy metal guitars, triumphant horns, and traditional Chinese instruments that make up for the lack of the Wu's superlative vocals. From start to finish it's a dark trip that walks the line between RZA's timeless hip-hop aesthetic and the cinematic soul EMA has become known for. El Michels Affair tackles some classics like 4th Chamber and Wu Tang Ain't Nuthin to Fuck Wit, as well as some deeper cuts like Ol Dirty Bastard's Snakes, Raekwon's Verbal Intercourse, and Shaolin Brew, Wu-Tang's contribution to the St. Ide's Hip Hop endorsement campaign from 1994. This time El Michels brings some of the Big Crown family along for the ride. Lee Fields handles vocal duties on Snakes and is joined by Shannon Wise of The Shacks for their version of Tearz, which pays as much homage to the Wendy Rene sample as it does to the Wu-Tang Clan. Lady Wray makes an appearance on the cover of Method Man's hit, All I Need, lending her vocal prowess to what gave the Wu one of their biggest hits of all time. Interspersed throughout the record are some original interludes that are like the rug that ties the room together, giving Return To The 37th Chamber a cinematic narrative that makes it a proper El Michels Affair record and not just a collection of covers. From the music to the presentation, this album is a perfect example of what can only be achieved through diversity. The end result is as much a kaleidoscope of influences and multiculturalism as the city it was recorded in. El Michels Affair is once again, sounding out the city that raised them, pulling elements of art and culture from across the country and around the globe to create an album truly unique in its own right.