- Athens Of The North reissue great-sounding but mega-rare funk and soul. The label scored something of a cult hit last year with Bielo's "You Can Win." It wasn't a record that bothered the charts, but certain kinds of DJs played it to death. Listen to Floating Points and Four Tet's final set from Plastic People and you can hear 200 people singing along to it word for word. The label's latest offering is another obscurity of the highest quality. "Lihue" is a 1979 album cut from Hawaiian singer Nohelani Cypriano. Apparently it took three years to convince Nohelani, who still performs today, to agree to the re-release. It was worth the wait.
The song features an unusual mix of spaced-out boogie, tropical birdcalls and sweet soul vocals, a concoction that fans of balmy Balearic vibes will surely appreciate. Unless you're a hardcore digger this song will almost certainly be new to you. Even if you know it, you'll probably welcome the chance to own a copy for less than a $100. The flip is even more obscure. "Playing With Fire" is taken from Nohelani's second album. It has a Euro disco sound not unlike a Moroder movie soundtrack, but there's a funky edge that makes it stand out from the blander end of '80s pop. It doesn't quite match the sweetness of "Lihue" but it has a sleazy charm that's hard not to dig.
TracklistA1 Lihue
B1 Playing With Fire