Review: Tom Noble Presents... 'House Of Spirits' (Razor-N-Tape)

Tom Noble Presents... 'House Of Spirits' is coming out just at the right time to make that big dancefloor impact; it can't be faulted.

Razor-N-Tape were founded by Aaron Dae ad JKriv and If you haven't come across the label yet, imagine them as the Brooklyn base of the "disco" trinity of Rocksteady Disco (Detroit) and Toy Tonics (Munich) who all started out serving the dancefloor at about the same time, these guys.

In fact, the label is having its 12th anniversary celebrations and this release is the cherry on the proverbial cake as 'House Of Spirits' has taken Tom Noble the best part of 15 years to produce!.  

And don't get the idea that this guy is just a bit lazy about this, he's crammed a history of disco into this release as well as running the label/shop 'Super Elevation' (also based in Brooklyn) plus releasing records on other label including Tim Sweeney's Beats In Space (god, I used to love Tim's WNYU shows).

So whilst the cover is like a cross between a Deep Purple/Dimtri From Paris mash up with Playboy magazine, the music is fantastic.   If you haven't heard recent singles 'Please Take Me There' and 'Times Are Changing' (this one also had a Harvey Sutherland remix), you've already got the idea of the classic golden era funky disco Tom's able to produce.

In fact, I'd go further 'Love Trip' is a like Arthur Russell's tribute to 'Miss You' (how cool it that?) whilst 'Holding On' gets the strings out for what sounds very early Brit-jazz-funk mixed with gospel house. the smoocher 'Diamond Girl' is a touch cheesy but that's what it was like at Room At The Top, Gossips and Oscars (insert your own favourite 80s club).

It's not that there's lots of disco misappropriation going on, the sum really adds up to more than the parts and whether it's Patrick Adams, Mizell Brothers or Nile Rodgters, Tom having decades of club music knowledge (Ed. the word 'Musicologist' is banned on YATM) has made these tracks as cool and as club friendly as if they'd come out at any time in the past 40 years; 'Times Are Changing' being proof that times ain't.but 'Times Running Out' is perhaps a warning to us all (not forgetting Brit-jazz-funk crossed the pond with Rod Temperton!) whilst the heavy synth chugging track, 'Moving Away' (arguably the best track) is the the "Hello" to playing the album again.

P.S. Update, 'Love Trip' is arguably the best track as Gilles Peterson played 'Love Trip' on his BBC 6 Music Show 'Prime Cuts' show 26.10.24 "Yes, excellent new music from Tom Noble album [his] new record with 'House Of Spirits on the brilliant always Razor-N-Tape on November 22nd"

Artist: Tom Noble Presents...

Title: House Of Spirits

Release date: 22nd November, 2024

Label : Razor-N-Tape.

Catalog Number : TBC

Format :  Digital - House of Spirits / Bandcamp