BUSCRATES Vinyl & CDs

Review: Through persistent questioning and doubting, Socrates challenged the norms and mores of his local Athens; through persistent flipping and releasing, BusCrates bucks the established trends and staid sounds of his local Pittsburgh. The synth wonder and beatmaker shares two new ones onto breakout translucent vinyl here, enlisting singer Anda for an embodied song on 'Drift', whilst DJ Epik joins on production duties. Meanwhile, 'Serenity' persists on the inverse side as an instrumental Minimoog meditation session.

Review: Steel City electro-funk wizard BusCrates shows that not only American counterparts like Dam Funk can lay down seductive funk smoochers with his second full-length album, Control Center. Soraya Watti is on hand to provide smooth and soulful tones on 'On My Way', the only track with a voice, and its beautifully downbeat gem that harks back to classic Erykah Badu tunes from days gone by. Elsewhere there are whimsical synth laced daydreams like 'Four Track Mind' and sax-led slow motion funk wigglers like 'Prisms'. It's a gorgeous album for both background play and up front listens.