Incognito: More Tales Remixed

Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick’s Incognito has always been equal parts R&B, soul and funky beats throughout its 30 years. The British band has legions of fans in the dance and concert realms as well, and it appears this remixed CD of Incognito’s latest studio album is a shout-out to the gyrating masses. More Tales Remixed offers an international cast of DJs spinning and cutting up new house tunes.

There’s disco, dub, Latin, and just about everything else as re-honed by Dimitri and DJ Meme, Tortured Soul, Simon Grey, Mark De Clive-Lowe, Yam Who? and Ski Oakenfull, among others. There’s a retro 1980s synthesized groove to Tortured Soul’s “Love, Joy Understanding,” while Yam Who?’s “Freedom to Love” revisits Bluey and the band’s early jazz-funk roots. DJ Day’s “I Come Alive (Rimshots and Basses),” meanwhile, combines ’70s in-your-face soul-funk with scratches, wah-wah effects and some delicious vocalese.

Remixes are nothing new, of course, as many established artists, most notably Bebel Gilberto, have their stuff fiddled with almost immediately after the official release date. As far as More Tales goes, pick the remix over the original.

Originally Published April 1, 2009