Album Review: Larry Levan – Genius of Time

Seen by some as the greatest DJ of all time, Larry Levan’s influence on music still continues to this day. Born Lawrence Philpot in in 1954, Levan would grow up to Resident at one of the most influential clubs in New York ‘The Paradise Garage’ and forge a unique sound quickly becoming a name to watch out for due to his highly acclaimed work on tracks and remixes. His music would also be praised as being the earliest definition of what is now known as garage, stripping down the disco, simplifying the tracks and taking you on a journey.

‘Genius of time’ celebrates his, well….genius. A walk through the heat and smoke of a late night at the Paradise Garage and beyond, Man Fridays ‘Love Honey, Love Heartache’ (A Larry Levan Mix) is a perfect example of what we’re talking about here, a simpler approach to the original that grooves and builds effortlessly, a timeless track which still turns heads. Gwen Guthrie ‘Seventh Heaven’ (Levan Mix) is another stand out for me with heavenly vocal layers (no pun intended) that trips out mid way through becoming slightly disorientating only to rise back up into the luscious groove

Remixer, producer and pioneering DJ ‘Genius Of Time’ puts together a great collection of his work that shows why Larry Levan will remain a talking point through the history of club culture and dance music.

Out Now on Universal Music

CD1

1          NYC Peech Boys          ‘Life Is Something Special (Special Edition)’

2          Syreeta                         ‘Can’t Shake Your Love (Larry Levan Mix)’

3          Gwen Guthrie                ‘Padlock (Larry Levan Mix)’

4          Man Friday                    ‘Love Honey, Love Heartache (A Larry Levan Mix)’

5          Merc & Monk                ‘Carried Away (Larry Levan Remix)’

6          Dee Dee Bridgewater     ‘Bad For Me (Larry Levan Mix)’

7          Bert Reid                      ‘Groovin’ With You (Vocal, Levan Edit)’

8          Tramaine                       ‘The Rock (Garage Vocal Version)’

9          Man Friday                    ‘Groove (Larry’s Yaw)’

10         Jimmy Ross                  ‘First True Love Affair (Larry Levan Remix)’

11         Gwen Guthrie                ‘Seventh Heaven (Levan Mix)’

CD2

1          David Joseph               ‘You Can’t Hide Your Love (Larry Levan Mix)’

2          Grace Jones                 ‘Feel Up (Larry Levan Mix)’

3          Gwen Guthrie                ‘It Should Have Been You (Larry Levan Mix)’

4          Loose Joints                 ‘Tell Me (Today) (Larry Levan Mix)’

5          Esther Williams             ‘I’ll Be Your Pleasure (Larry Levan Mix)’

6          Man Friday                    ‘Real Love (The Paradise Garage Mix)’

7          Central Line                   ‘Walking Into Sunshine (Special Mix)’

8          Jeffrey Osborne            ‘Plane Love (Specially Remixed Version – Larry Levan Remix)’

9          Gwen Guthrie                ‘Peanut Butter (Long Vocal) Larry Levan Remix)’

10         Smokey Robinson         ‘And I Don’t Love You (Instrumental Dub)’

11         Peech Boys                  ‘Don’t Make Me Wait (Extended Version)’