- Body High has gradually grown from Samo Sound Boy and Jerome LOL's pet project into one of LA's most promising young labels. Their output so far has been remarkably diverse, ranging from Jersey club (courtesy of Todd Edwards) to whatever the hell it is Floyd Campbell makes. Following the 2013 Body High Fall Tour Compilation EP, which featured the likes of DJ Pierre, Juan Atkins and Anthony Shakir, the crew release Work Vol.1, their first full-length and their biggest statement yet.
Work Vol. 1 isn't the Chicago-baiting affair its title seems to imply, though there is a bit of that, too. The emphasis is on house music, but of a skewed variety, reflected through the prism of US club music in all its forms. Myrryrs makes stuttering jack tracks, while Pipes delivers the regrettably Benassi-esque "Let's Get Closer." Grown Folk ditch their trance glowsticks for straight-up Windy City homage on "Freak Dis." Boss man Samo comes out on top with his acid ballad "Your Love" and a collaboration with Floyd Campbell, "Give Up," where chunky Linn drums compete with synths and doo-wop vocals.
The collection's more out-there moments are strong as well. DJ Funeral's ballroom-esque "Shutterbug" is a collage of flashing camera sounds and snapping drums—predictable, but still fun. Cedaa turns in the befuddling "Kawasaki," which twists Baltimore club through his trademark nervous twitchiness. Label co-founder Jerome LOL is more subdued than ever on "Alma," which has searing leads but stubbornly stays in slow-burn mode.
Work Vol.1 explores a lot of different styles, which makes for a nice snapshot of an LA community that both fetishizes and deviates from dance music's history. The collection does an excellent job of capturing the label's strengths, pitting retro workouts against more inventive forms.
Tracklist01. Jerome LOL - Alma
02. Samo Sound Boy and Floyd Campbell - Give Up
03. Matpat - Feel Your Body
04. Pipes - Let's Get Closer
05. Grown Folk - Freak Dis
06. Samo Sound Boy - Your Love
07. Floyd Campbell - Stretch
08. Myrryrs - Intro Theme
09. Cedaa - Kawasaki
10. DJ Funeral - Shutterbug
11. Myrryrs - Memphis