HALL & OATES 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: After the relative commercial un-success of their debut Whole Oats, Hall & Oates relocated to the Big Apple to record 1973's Abandoned Luncheonette, marking the start of their New York chapter, which perhaps artistically expressed their own debutant dismay. Produced by Arif Mardin, and in a rightly disgruntled fashion, the duo sought to distance themselves from commercial formulae, honing a unique sound that would later prove non-fungible. Keeping close to the pair's American roots, Mardin played a crucial role, and under his guidance, H&O would call the production process a vital learning experience. The second side of the record is notable for its guitarist Chris Bond's Beatles-inspired ideas, which he would later express as a regretful choice, as it deviated substantially from H&O's vision. But this is an overall "magical" record, as expressed by the duo themselves.

Review: You can probably work out what's going on here from the title: a superb collection of reworked Hall & Oates classics inna reggae style. They are the fine work of Black Market Dub who likes to reimagine classic sounds through a 70s Jamaican lens. The techniques used throughout are superbly authentic with hissing hi-hats, lazy tumbling beats and snaking baselines. The vocals remain in their original, often polished, falsetto style and extra horns are added for a lush sunny impact. Great fun, but also great quality.