Review:
James Mason has never been the most celebrated of electro and boogie musicians. Possibly best known as part of Prelude-signed electro/hip-hop/synth-disco crew Wuf Ticket (makers of the brilliantly silly "Ya Mama"), Mason released just one solo album, 1977's disco era Rhythm of Life, before finding greater acclaim with his synthesizer/rap crew. Yet two of his productions, previously unreleased at the time of their creation, have recently gone on to become proto-house classics. According to Mason's sleeve notes on the belated 1996 release of "Nightgruv" and "I Want Your Love", he recorded them both in 1984 in a bid to secure a contract to make a new album. They were turned down and sat gathering dust for 12 years before finding a home on Mighty Fine Records (and later reissue specialists Soul Brother Records). Since then, both - and in particular, the better-known "I Want Your Love" - have earned a reputation amongst boogie, garage and disco-heads as two pioneering works. It's fitting, then, that Rush Hour have decided to give them another re-release - highly recommended.