Don't be
fooled by Spellacey's lower profle: amongst those who know, the Melbourne-based
New Zealander is widely regarded as a seriously dusty fngered digger, capable
of unearthing and championing ridiculously good records from all four corners
of the globe. He sells some of these exceptional fnds through his Crown Ruler
online store, though there are many more that he keeps hidden from the
public.From synth-laden Zambian reggae and sumptuous orchestral Afro-soul, to
humid Trinidadian boogie and horizontal Italian jazz-funk, Spellacey offers a
whirlwind trip through the most kaleidoscopic and exotic parts of his epic
collection.As you'd expect from a man who has traveled the world hunting down
records, the majority of the 15 tracks will be unknown to all but a handful of
similarly minded crate diggers. In fact, some are so obscure that you'll
struggle to fnd any mention of them at all online. This could be your only
chance to own the boogie-era reggae-disco brilliance of Le Banda De Martin's Mi
Dueno' and the tear-jerking Afro-soul shuffe of Kosmik 3's I'm Gonna Pack'
(here featured in exclusive Jeremy Spellacey re-edit form). Spacetalk Records'
frst compilation, Beauty, offered listeners the chance to take a trip through
the record collection of noted Parisian crate-digger and DJ Jeremy Underground.
It was a runaway success, so the label has decided to repeat the exercise. This
time, though, they've turned to a lesser-known hunter of rare and obscure
records, namely Crown Ruler Records co-founder Jeremy Spellacey. Spellacey has
previously shied away from sharing the secrets of his extensive record
collection. Crown Ruler Sound, then, is a rare treat: a gloriously colourful,
sun-baked compilation of tropical treats from Africa, the Caribbean and beyond,
hand-picked by the man who helped license this year's most essential reissue,
the South African boogie brilliance that is Focus's Zulu.Highlights come thick
and fast, from the frst note to the last. Check, for example, the wild P-funk
of Acayouman's Funk Around', the dancing marimbas and undulating grooves of
Feladey's Forest Music' and the impeccable South African jazz-funk of Stimela's
sought-after 1983 debut single, I Love You'.Other notable highlights include
Ezy & Isaac's spellbinding 1977 cut Let Your Body Move (Oba Balu Balu)',
seemingly the missing link between Rotary Connection, Fela Kuta and soundscape
disco, Devon Russell's inspired reggae-soul cover of Curtis Mayfeld's Move on
Up', and Mike Fabulous' Wang East', a sublime chunk of summery lectro-reggae
from Spellacey's native New Zealand. We could go on, but we don't want to spoil
all the surprises. Suffce to say, Crown Ruler Sound will surprise and entertain
you in equal measure.
