ダブの魔法を操るIdjut BoysのDan Tylerと、国内のパーティーでも絶大な信頼を得る再構築の名手Nick The Recordが共鳴。70年代キューバの秘宝を、中毒的なサイケ・ファンクへと変貌させた決定盤。

90年代初頭のIdjut Boys結成以来、ダブのエッセンスをディスコに注入した独自の音響学で世界を席巻してきたDan Tyler。そして、日本でも「Life Force」のレジデントとしてお馴染みであり、希少音源の再定義において右に出る者はいないNick The Record。この両名によるプロジェクト「Record Mission」が、Mr Bongoのアーカイブから70年代キューバの宝石を選び抜き、現代のダンスフロアで真価を発揮するツールへとリメイクした。

A面は、1970年代のキューバ音楽を牽引したJuan Pablo Torresの楽曲に焦点を当てる。「Cacao」ではスペーシーなシンセと深いダブ・エコーを幾重にも重ね、ヴォーカルのスカットと打楽器の熱狂を最大限に引き出した。続く「Pastel En Descarga」は、サイケ・ラテン・ファンクに強烈なディレイとドラマチックな展開を加え、骨太なコズミック・ファンクへと変貌させている。

B面では、Nick The Recordが長年温めていたGrupo Los Yoyi「Paco La Calle」のエディットを大幅にアップデート。オリジナルを倍以上の長さに引き延ばし、さらにDanによる新たなシンセ・ラインを注入したことで、サイケデリックな旋律とパーカッションが渦巻く、フロアを沸点へと導く強力なウェポンへと仕上がった。

奥行きのある空間表現と、低域の力強い押し出しが、当時のキューバ産音源に新たな生命を吹き込んでいる。

A1. Juan Pablo Torres - Cacao (Dan Tyler NAD Bulto version)
A2. Juan Pablo Torres Y Algo Nuevo - Pastel En Descarga (Dan Tyler NAD Pepino Versión)
B1. Grupo Los Yoyi - Paco La Calle (Nick The Record re-edit)

Good friends and Record Mission co-captains, Dan Tyler (one half of the Idjut Boys) and Nick The Record, take the reins for the third volume of the Mr Bongo Edits 12" series. With previous editions coming courtesy of Danny Krivit and Luke Una, Dan and Nick set their sights on a hand-picked selection of iconic ‘70s Cuban recordings for this three-track cosmic whirlwind. Across the A side, Dan picks out two Juan Pablo Torres tracks, with Nick taking on Grupo Los Yoyi on the B. Tweaking, extending and reworking the recordings with a dose of extra magic they remould the tracks to fit the sounds and structure of today’s dancefloors. 

Having formed the Idjut Boys in the early ‘90s, Dan and Conrad McDonnell have crafted a dubbed-out, disco-tinged style that permeates their countless productions, remixes and DJ sets. Speaking of the two tracks Dan has chosen to rework for this EP he mentions, “Having been caught under an avalanche of good music from Mr Bongo, I took it upon myself to extend and add effects to a couple of the fantastic tracks from the Juan Pablo Torres LPs they recently re-issued. Just for disco jockey and barn dance use.”

First, Dan looks to Cuban maestro Juan Pablo Torres’ 1978 album 'Algo Nuevo', taking one of the standout tracks ‘Cacao’ and giving it more space to breathe. Teasing out the scatting vocal line and percussive climax that nods to George Kranz's ’83 electronic disco anthem 'Din Daa Daa', whilst adding more cosmic tripped-out synths and space echoed dubs, Dan builds the tension to fine effect. This track sounds immense on a big club system and the swirling synths felt like they were lifting the ceiling off when we played it at the amazing La Paloma ballroom in Barcelona. 

Dan then turns his attention to Torres’ 1977 'Super Son' album, giving the psych-Latin-funk track 'Pastel En Descarga' a dub makeover. Rich in delay and drama, whilst maintaining and extending the breakers funk intro, he juices it up into a punchy, no-nonsense, cosmic-funk delight. 

On the B side, Tangent co-founder, long-standing Life Force resident and seasoned rework master, Nick The Record, revisits an edit that he originally constructed in 2009. Clocking in at over double the length of the original cut, Nick’s edit of Grupo Los Yoyi’s 1977 cut 'Paco La Calle', is made with dancers firmly in mind. This secret weapon builds and simmers, with the drums and percussion pushing and pulling before the psychedelic synth lines return in a sweltering fashion. In this new 2025 version, Dan is drafted in to work some brilliant new synth lines into the mix.