Hercules and Love Affair

While a preview of what's in store from Andrew Butler's Hercules and Love Affair has hit the internet, it's great to see that his house leanings have become a mainstay. Their debut is a serious keeper with sounds that conjure up the most amazing disco bass lines, the modernist angular synth stabs of Yaz, Erasure, Arthur Russell and 80's house beats from Chicago and even Detroit Techno. Bringing in a colorful cast of vocalist, including Antony Hegarty, makes the collective mix more intriguing. It's a great synthesis of history and 4/4 rhythms. There are dub instrumentals, a little homage to George Kranz's "Din Daa Daa" in the form of "True False/Fake Real" and "You Belong" pays tribute to Kevin Saunderson/Inner City's "Good Life". There are references to the old DEF Mix productions of 80's House Dons, David Morales and Frankie Knuckles. None of this has fallen on deaf ears as Knuckles and Saunderson have returned the favor by remixing singles "You Belong" and "Blind".  Just like the community it soundtracks (which is beyond race, gender and sexual preference), it's a true love letter to House music in all it's forms and the House Heads who have nurtured and continue to support it.