Review: Rahaan Presents The Ones - The Ones (BBE Music)

You'll be a hard soul not to be moved by the disco funk of 'We Are The Ones' as it's a stonking loco of a track - and it's not the only one!

We remember the 3 track EP from last year, 'We Are The Ones', 'Fire' and 'Forever' (see review HERE) and new there's a further 7 funky drenched soul on the double LP release. 

As regular readers know with like a bit North African influence, fusion and jazzy vibes so  the melange of 'City Rain Supreme' takes the Michael White 'The X Factor' gold medal for this year.

Other tracks are more a mix of soul n' house like the Balearic  'What You Are To Me' and the inner city 'Toy Boy' before reaching 'The Promised Land'.  And then off to the beach with the sixties surf-twang of 'Star Seed' before getting Stevie Clavinet funky with 'Manifest Into Movement'

This is a fantastic album mix of Rahaan's Chicago house roots to his residency at Buddha Lounge along with musicians Todd Swope (electric guitar), Carnell Newbill (bass) and Kenny Anderson, ex-Ohio Players horn section.

This is The Ones you need.

Artist: Rahaan Presents The Ones 

Release date: 20th September, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE733 2xLP / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Rahaan Presents The Ones - We Are The Ones / Fire / Forever EP (BBE Music)

Chicago is special by more than location as DJ Rahaan prooves with this EP as he's got together some top musicians to they called themselves The Ones and you'll also be thinking that they are/we are The Ones.

If you can imagine a post-Prince/EWF/Gabriels (aren't they just everywhere after Glastonbury) in the form of Marcus J. Austin (lead vocals), Nancy Clayton (backing vocals), Carnell C. Newbill (aka Spike Rebel (keyboards and backing vocals) Todd Swope (guitar), and Lou Terry (bass).

The 'We Are The Ones' is so well put together as Rahaan's production skills we're aided by Kenny Anderson (Slave/Ohio Players) that makes it sounds Tower Of Power and a fast march to the dancefloor.

'Fire' going to get them cookin' as it's the Afro-funk of a Osibsa with Dele Sosimi keys from the Fela school.

The track 'Forever' is more JazzFM/Keni Burke/80s soulftime synth-funk-house as Carnell takes the lead vocals and it equally shows how talented these guys are; BBE clearly didn't need long to sign 'em up as their potential is obvious to all.

And if this EP doesn't spoil you enough there's and extended version of 'We Are The Ones' and the great extended instrumental so you really are spoilt for choice.

Artist: Rahaan Presents The Ones 

Title: We Are The Ones / Fire / Forever EP

Release date: 14th July, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE773 12" / Digital / Bandcamp