Buscrates - Control Center (Black Vinyl)

It’s been a steady process of growth and a long time coming to arrive at this sophomore full- length for the man known in his native Steel City and beyond as producer/keyboardist/DJ Buscrates, and every minute of it can be heard and felt on these ten funky and highly evocative tracks. The finely-honed balancing act between vintage-80s-synth goodness and neck-snapping 90s boom bap, all coated with just the right amount of soulful melodic sensibility never falters at any point on the album. For a more specific comparison, think Manzel's Midnight Theme LP updated for these strange times we're in seems to fit the bill, especially on tracks like "Prisms," "Floating In The Wind" and "Early Morning." This is the funky instrumental mood music you desperately need right now whether you realize it or not, and Buscrates is here to serve it up. "Buckin'" is prominent among the many highlights of the Pittsburgh producer’s album, strongly evoking the likes of Paul Hardcastle, Atmosfear and the Art Of Noise while simultaneously paying homage to the funk/R&B roots of Detroit techno pioneers like Juan Atkins and Derrick May. The album's sonic journey culminates in "On My Way," the only vocal track on the album and which features Soraya Watti's lovely vocals. One can easily imagine this track on the playlist of NY's WBLS in the early 80s. Soraya's smooth and soulful tones prove to be the perfect addition and act as a kind of sexy ghost in the Buscrates machine. The album as a whole feels like nothing so much as an updated, postmodern version of the kinds of sleek, funky grooves oozing through your Cadillac's 8- track deck circa 1972.