Back catalogue: Broken Beat/Nu Jazz

Review: All has been quiet at Wildheart Recordings since label founders Theo Parrish and Tony Allen inaugurated proceedings with the soulful double drop of Day Like This, which is understandable given their respective touring schedules. Out of nowhere a second release arrives and finds Wildheart looking back but still being forward thinking with a timely reappraisal of a West Coast gem from A Race Of Angels. The recording alias of Yeofi Andoh, A Race of Angels will be familiar to Gifted & Blessed fans for their Steoples work together and his fragile vocal talents is on full display with "Just Begin". Initially released as part of the ArtDontSleep Presents... From L.A. With Love compilation back in 2007, "Just Begin" is a classy slice of minimal songwriting and gets further blessed by a B Side rework featuring the collective talents of Theo, Dego and Akwasi Mensah.

Review: At first glance, the pairing of Forest Hill resident Andrew Ashong and Sound Signature boss Theo Parrish would seem strange. But the duo have worked together previously with the Ghanaian born vocalist (and supposed owner of a vinyl collection that would make most record shops look like a car boot sale) lending his soulful tones to Parrish's excellent nine minute plus translation of the Hot Chip and Spiritualised affiliated About Group. Whereas that collaboration was more about Ashong's voice being just one element of a production that was undoubtedly Parrish, the three tracks present on the Flowers EP look to showcase what a talent the Londoner is. Those trademark dust filled stacatto rhythms are present in the opening title track, but they never swamp Ashong's killer vocal delivery, while "Take It Slow" is bonafide D funk of the highest order. After the brutal, divisive nature of Theo's kung fu experimentalism on the Any Other Styles EP, these three tracks show him in a wholly new light and hopefully Parrish and Ashong will be making much more music together.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


There's always a sense of reverent elation around a new drop from Theo Parrish, and he's not disappointing on this latest joint. Reports suggest this is the precursor to a new album, and there's a classic feel to this track that hints at very exciting times ahead. Parrish's sparks shine oh-so bright when he's sparring with the right vocalist, and Maurissa Rose seems to be giving him the right inspiration on "This Is For You". He's created the kind of understated soul statement that inhabits some of his most treasured albums, using a raw and simple drum machine backing to achingly beautiful key refrains that melt around Rose's voice on the vocal A side, and give rise to a sublime instrumental version on the flip.

Review: There's always a sense of reverent elation around a new drop from Theo Parrish, and he's not disappointing on this latest joint. Reports suggest this is the precursor to a new album, and there's a classic feel to this track that hints at very exciting times ahead. Parrish's sparks shine oh-so bright when he's sparring with the right vocalist, and Maurissa Rose seems to be giving him the right inspiration on "This Is For You". He's created the kind of understated soul statement that inhabits some of his most treasured albums, using a raw and simple drum machine backing to achingly beautiful key refrains that melt around Rose's voice on the vocal A side, and give rise to a sublime instrumental version on the flip.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Record has light surface marks/smudges, but otherwise in perfect working order***


There's always a sense of reverent elation around a new drop from Theo Parrish, and he's not disappointing on this latest joint. Reports suggest this is the precursor to a new album, and there's a classic feel to this track that hints at very exciting times ahead. Parrish's sparks shine oh-so bright when he's sparring with the right vocalist, and Maurissa Rose seems to be giving him the right inspiration on "This Is For You". He's created the kind of understated soul statement that inhabits some of his most treasured albums, using a raw and simple drum machine backing to achingly beautiful key refrains that melt around Rose's voice on the vocal A side, and give rise to a sublime instrumental version on the flip.

Review: On his latest expansive double-pack, Theo Parrish has decided to dip into his epic back catalogue. The four featured tracks are taken from two sought-after, hard to find EPs released in 1997 and 2001 respectively. Opener 'Smile' is arguably one of the Detroiter's most magnificent musical moments of all time: an epic slab of drowsy Motor City deep house built around idiosyncratic drum programming, ultra-deep chords, toasty bass and an effects-laden vocal snippet. 'Lost Keys' is a breezier and looser affair marked out by Latin style piano motifs, jazzy house beats and tactile bass, while 'Dreamer's Blues' is a languid, percussion-and-electric piano rich number that tends towards the hazy and jazzy. Finally, 'Lost Angel' is an ultra-deep affair whose spacey chords seem to stretch out eternity.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight tear and creasing to corner of outer sleeve, but otherwise in excellent condition***


On his latest expansive double-pack, Theo Parrish has decided to dip into his epic back catalogue. The four featured tracks are taken from two sought-after, hard to find EPs released in 1997 and 2001 respectively. Opener 'Smile' is arguably one of the Detroiter's most magnificent musical moments of all time: an epic slab of drowsy Motor City deep house built around idiosyncratic drum programming, ultra-deep chords, toasty bass and an effects-laden vocal snippet. 'Lost Keys' is a breezier and looser affair marked out by Latin style piano motifs, jazzy house beats and tactile bass, while 'Dreamer's Blues' is a languid, percussion-and-electric piano rich number that tends towards the hazy and jazzy. Finally, 'Lost Angel' is an ultra-deep affair whose spacey chords seem to stretch out eternity.

Review: Laid-back Theo Parrish classic from 1999 repressed on Sound Signature.

Review: Theo Parrish lays down a marker for a long overdue fifth album, apparently due out later this year, with the sublime Footwork 12". Named in reference to the dance as opposed to the breakneck offshoot of Ghetto House, "Footwork" is a sublime slab of Theo with many of his trademark production touches. Think lightly brushed percussion, meandering bassline that juts out with an odd funk, and subtle yet sumptuous musical touches, all topped off by a gruff "let me see your footwork baby" croon. Those Theo fans out there that like the man to get a bit rugged will be all over "Tympanic Warfare" too, where off the grid polyrhythms cannon around the channels, augmented by an ugly bassline and dexterous keys.

Review: Detroit innovator and singular soundsmith Theo Parrish returns with a new EP which we're told is his response to "stagnation and nonmovement" either physiologically, mentally or physically. 'Positive Mental Attitude Solves All' is up first and is a tribute to the late great funk-father Amp Fiddler. It's a typically deep cut with dusty drums and irregular, scruffy percussive lines layered in next to diffuse synth warmth and soulful melodies. 'Traffic Jams' plays with similar signature themes and is sure to loosen up mind, body and soul. Another standout bit of work from the venerable Motor City man.

Review: The Sound Signature boss teams up with broken beat don IG Culture to kick off Theo Parrish Month here at Juno (we've got a load more 12"s on the way from the deep house don, but more on that later). The result is "Traffic", a cavalcade of stuttering, raw drum programming, frenzied snares, jazzy horns, junkyard percussion and a truly voluminous, stomach churning bassline. It's a proper house wigout, and one that Theo's been rinsing in his DJ sets for a while now. One sided stamped white label business. Check it.

Review: Honest Jon's continued endeavours to choose the interesting remix artists to tackle the high BPM joys of their Shangaan Electro compilation sees them turn to that venerable Detroit magician and erstwhile Wu Tang Clan member Theo Parrish. The Sound Signature boss comes through with a masterful thirteen minute plus rewiring of Mancingelani's "Vana Vasesi" which retains the thunderous tempo and brilliantly chaotic rhythms yet instils the track with a woozy, intoxicating swing via the twisting synth waves. Complementing this, iconic German producer Burnt Friedman turns in a remix of "Ntombi Ya Mugaza" by Zinja Hlungwani which is far less frenetic but no less enjoyable, flipping the track in a dub wise style with off kilter drum programming, spine tingling keys and staggered vocal affectations.

Review: That man Theo Parrish pops up with another buy-on-sight release, this time a remake of Tullio De Piscopo's "Stop Bajon" on Italian label Archive. It's a shuffling, undulating jaunt and in true Parrish style, the track is sprawled unhurriedly over 16 minutes worth of wax. Flip over for Isoul8 & Mark De Clive-Lowe's version of the same track, which comes in on a more intergalactic discoid tip. A worthy investment for any Parrish completist, and one we suspect won't remain on the shelves for long.

Review: Sound Signature's latest release is an all-star crew affair, with an impressive cast list of vocalists, musicians and producers joining main man Theo Parrish in the studio. He's at the controls on the sublime A-side mix, a jazzy affair where layered twinkling electric piano motifs, spacey chords, jazz-funk riffs and sumptuous deep house grooves combine on a fearlessly loose and organic dancefloor workout. On the flipside friend of the family Dego offers his interpretation, adding even more warmth and some tasty additional hand percussion parts whilst wisely utilizing most of the original version's intricate musical elements.

Review: Sound Signature launches Special Versions with new takes on "This Is For You" by Theo Parrish (with Maurissa Rose) + "Ain't No Need" by The Unit.

Review: Theo Parrish's "Gentrified Love" series hits its fourth instalment with two stunning extensions/takes. First up is a powerful expansion of "Leave The Funk To Us". First spotted on the second edition of the series, it's now full length with the golden touch of Amp Fiddler. "Be Like Me", meanwhile, takes Paul Randolph & Kathy Kosins' Brownswood Bubbler to a whole new cosmos with lavish twists and cleverly subverted layers. Yet another precision trip from Parrish.

Review: Theo Parrish and Tony Allen together on a record? What a combo! Fusing the souls of Detroit and Laos, the unlikely but neatly fitting duo has created two absolutely beautiful soul workouts here. "Day Like This" is a staccato soul roller with emphatic swooping drums, sultry washed-out vocals and big warm organs. "Feel Loved" is a jazzier, more upbeat affair. Again the drums sit at the very forefront of the mix while the rest of the rich, warm instrumentation fits in around them in a soft, dreamy state. The debut release on Theo's new Wildheart label, expect more goodies like this very very soon.