Mike Dunn re-launches pivotal Dance Mutha label – Mixmag
by June 15, 2024The first release of the regenerated imprint lands next month
Mike Dunn has re-launched his label Dance Mutha.
Its regeneration will see the seminal Chicago artist share previously unreleased and new tracks from himself alongside other names – yet TBA – in house, techno and acid, stimulated by his discovery of a plethora of ‘lost’ unreleased masters from the ’80s and early ’90s.
Read this next: Chicago legend Mike Dunn readies to release first album in 27 years
The first release ‘Tracks From The Beginning Vol.1’ therefore uses this motivation as a springboard. Set for release on July 5, it boasts three tracks with hypnotic lashings of acid throughout.
’43:31′ opens the affair with a prickly texture foregrounding raw analogous drums, whilst its hits shape the track up to be a stripped back warehouse pumper before ‘Acid Feet (Phaze 1)’ brings the rugged drums to life through yet more acid and intriguing synth patterns. ‘Time Machine’ closes things off with an ode to the earliest days of acid house, as its wobbly 303s meander around the sharpest hits. You can check out snippets of each track here.
“35 years later Dance Mutha Records is back!” Dunn tells Mixmag. “I came across a vault of tapes and DATs of recordings I thought would be interesting to get out into the world. Foundation Jack Tracks, showcasing the early acid/Chicago house sound, with unreleased tracks by Armando, K’Alexi aka KA Posse, Hugo H and myself and others. We’re going to be releasing these with edits by some other classic producers and look at releasing some new tracks by the new kids on the block, across acid, house and techno…”
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‘Tracks From The Beginning Vol.1’ epitomises Mike Dunn’s famous raw, stripped back style, which cemented him as one of the key artists innovating during the 1980s. With iconic house music anthems including ‘Dance You Mutha’ and ‘God Made Me Phunky’ under his belt and having founded acid labels Warehouse Records and Muzique Records, the re-launch of Dance Mutha promises to offer more where that came from.
You can pre-order ‘Tracks From The Beginning Vol.1’ now here.
Niamh Ingram is Mixmag’s Weekend Editor, follow her on Instagram
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