- Raw, jacking and soulful sounds from a Chicago producer in his teenage years in the late '80s.
- 20 years ago, as the wider world was starting to pay serious attention to an artist named Theo Parrish, he put out the 1987 EP. On it was a track called "China Trax" by LeRon Carson, a remarkable Chicago producer who would never appear on any other label.
As Parrish rose in popularity, his label Sound Signature became a buy-on-sight concern for serious house heads, at a time when most house music had become almost mainstream. The fascination with Parrish could be taken as a reflection of audiences yearning for authenticity—some kernel of truth—in a rapidly commercializing society. This meant, inevitably, that an air of mystery enveloped the little-known LeRon Carson, though his kinship with Parrish's production and DJ style was obvious (and tantalizing). This was ramped up by a smattering of releases over the following years. Red Lightbulb Theory '87-'88, engineered by Omar-S, was a particular standout.
Sadly, Carson passed away in 2016. I remember it distinctly, because the RIPs were coming in on social media from some of the house music OGs. It's a shame that he never got to see the release of his superb debut album, Under The Conditions, most of it recorded in the '80s with what is now 30 year-old technology—and only the gear that a working class youth could afford. The production techniques are primitive by today's standards, but the depth of emotion cannot be discounted. These tracks are equal to any of the holy grails of boutique Chicago house, those records that are coveted by canny record diggers.
Under The Conditions sounds like the pinnacle of what lo-fi house producers tried to accomplish a few years ago. Carson carved forward-thinking house anthems with limited equipment and only rudimentary syncing of electronic instruments. The title track is a slow burn with a simple bassline that treks into near-acid territory. For the first time we hear Carson lean into a more disco sound on "Baby Said To Me," with a diva vocal sample over a rolling house beat and some well-timed breaks sliced in. "72nd & Oglesby" takes us back into slam dancing land with MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech on top.
There's more soul sampling in "Say It," whose off-time drum programming gives it that quintessential golden age of house feel. "8th & Luella" has some Fingers-esque organ to jazz it up, and it feels like something of a cover of another Chicago classic (which was common practice in those early days).
This music is straight from the source—the source being Chicago under Presidents Reagan and Bush, a precarious time to be young and Black in America. The music is a reflection of how parties were not only heard, but also felt in the physical sense. Gritty in-your-face music to jack to, with traces of Ron Hardy and The Hot Mix 5. There were countless teens that had a front row seat to house music's evolution in Chicago's South Side, and many tried their hand at becoming part of the fledgling scene.
Carson was one of those teens, one of many who never saw any fame or fortune yet still dedicated themselves to a musical revolution that would change popular culture. Younger artists could take a page from this unsung hero's book. Putting in the time and not caring about hype is how a lot of timeless art is created, art that can reach across generations. Everyone is under all kinds of different and difficult conditions, but if you put in the work, it can pay off in the long run. You never know who might take notice or who you might inspire, like a young Theo Parrish, who thankfully brought this wonderful music to the masses.
TracklistA1 Under The Conditions
A2 72nd & Oglesby
B1 88th & Luella
B2 Runaway Train Trax
C1 Baby Said To Me
C2 Bismarck Nite
D1 Say It
D2 Determination Practice