New release!
Format: 12"
Cat: C 56056
Released: 04 Nov 16
Genre: Disco/Nu-Disco
"Let Me Rock You"
(Claremont 56) UK
2016
Well over a decade has passed since the birth of Dedication, Mikey Yamada and Felix Dickinson’s collaborative band.
The project was born way back in 2005, during one of Dickinson’s frequent DJing trips to the Far East. While staying in Japan, the Cynic Records boss found himself in Yamada’s studio, alongside new friend Tsuyoshi Kosuga (a bassist and guitarist most famous for his work as part of Cro-Magnon /JazzySport), and carpenter-turned-keyboard wizard Botch Takahashi. The name Dedication was borrowed from the clothing brand Yamada had been developing for some time.
Felix took the recording of that first session back to the UK, where Kyle Chandler (his partner in Foolish and Sly) added some vocals. That track, ‘It’s A Dedication’ was released on Cutting Edge in Japan the following year.
Since then, Dedication material has slipped out frustratingly infrequently, a reflection of the occasional nature of their recording sessions. Aside from a high profile – and well received – 12” on DFA in 2014 (“I Ain’t Gonna Tell You”, which was backed with a scorching rework by DJ Kaos), the outfit’s output has been limited to a handful of tracks on hard-to-find compilations.
Here, two of those in-demand compilation cuts appear on 12” for the first time, via Claremont 56, the long-running label operated by Dickinson’s old friend Paul “Mudd” Murphy.
On the A you’ll find the sublime “Let Me Rock You”, a track that first emerged on Jason Kincade’s Mangiami collection from GOLF CHANNEL a tribute to the legendary NYC bar-turned-midweek party venue of the same name. Tactile, groovy and emotion-rich, the track sounds like a long lost, late ‘80s remix by Frankie Knuckles – perhaps the Godfather of House’s legendary reworks of Womack & Womack’s “Missing Persons Bureau”, and Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody” – with Botch’s fluid piano solos recalling the similarly superb work of Satoshi Tomie. It’s little less than a dreamy, wide-eyed dancefloor hug.
On the flip you’ll find “Pito Deep”, a track named after a deep underwater trench that was recorded after Dedication’s band members swapped instruments. Powered by a headline-grabbing synth bassline, tidal guitar flourishes, crunchy Clav lines and spacey synth solos, the track has been in demand since it first appeared on Mule Music’s CD-only The Definitive Japanese Scene compilation way back in 2009. Finally, this winding chunk of deep disco brilliance has finally made it to wax.
Dedication
Dedication is an on going collaboration of Japanese musicians and Western singers brought together by producer and DJ Felix Dickinson(CYNIC/UK) and Japanese artist Mikey Varot Yamada(JAZZY SPORT/CINEMA CARAVAN)
They met at Japanese legendary underground party "LIFE FORCE" in mid 90's . Every time Felix went to DJ in Japan, he would go down to Kamakura, record some more tracks and bring them back to England where he managed to recruit some of his favorite singers to collaborate on the project.
met Tsuyoshi Kosuga from Cro-Magnon(JAZZY SPORT/JAPAN)back in 2007 while playing together in Tokyo. The following week, while staying in Kamakura with their mutual friend Mikey Yamada, Felix heard some music that Tsyoshi had been recording at Mikey’s studio with Botch. He loved what they were doing, and wanted to do a remix, but was unable to work on the tracks as they had just been recorded as a stereo mix. The following night Felix recorded a new session with them, this was bought back to England where Kyle Chandler (Felix’s co-writer from Foolish and Sly) sang on it, this track was ‘It’s A Dedication’. For the next few years, every time Felix went to DJ in Japan, he would go down to Kamakura, record some more tracks and bring them back to England where he managed to recruit some of his favorite singers to collaborate on the project.
Profile
***CONTACT****
Discography
"Let Me Rock You"
Mangiami - La Compliation
(Golf Channel Recordings) USA
2015
"PITO DEEP"
THE DEFINITIVE JAPANESE SCENE
(MULE MUSIQ) JAPAN
2009
"I Ain't Gonna Tell You"
(DFA Records) USA
2014
"The Sundance EP"
(CYNIC RECORDS) UK
2007
"Its A DEDICATION"
LIFE FORCE 2
(CuttingEdge/AVEX) JAPAN
2006