Moodymann – Sinner EP (2019)

Let’s just make this clear up-front: ‘I’ll Provide’, the lead-track on the most anticipated new House/Techno release of this summer, Moodymann’s “Sinner”, took me by surprise. As with everything from the mysterious Moodymann (aka Kenny Dixon Jr.), we should expect the unexpected. The slick techno-groove hits hard, with a sound clearly inspired by the Purple King from Minneapolis. It’s a massive electro-funk wave of sound with a unique synth-pop element that hints at the purple one while remaining true to techno rhythms. It’s one of the strongest and most unique tracks yet from an artist still functioning at the peak of his creativity.

Detroit-based House and Techno musician Moodymann has a legendary reputation as a huge fan of Prince, of course. Not only has he played a very special, invitation-only tribute show at Paisley Park, but his personal home in Detroit is a living museum of the man, with purple curtains that flap outside the windows like a call to the faithful.

With the lead track’s techno-pop still spinning in our heads, the real heart of the project begins to unfolds. Simply put, its the finest collection of deep-groove house music that you’re likely to hear this year. Not because it’s traditional- it’s clearly not. As a complete original and articulator of The Detroit Sound, he is building on the foundation of house and techno he helped to construct, yet Moodymann is fearlessly taking his music to new directions.

The surreal space-disco of ‘If I Gave U My Love‘ is full of tasty electric piano segments and a rolling old-school bass on the long outro. The crisp and punchy sound of ‘Deeper Shadow’ again subtly shows the iconic roots of Dixon’s musical localization in Detroit. It’s like an update of 1983’s Electrifying Mojo-vibe. And to understand the inspiration of Moodymann’s genius, you must remember this important segment of Detroit’s not-so-distant music history.

Charles Johnson was The Electrifying Mojo, a Detroit-based DJ and radio personality. But he was much more than that if you were a teenager growing up in Southeastern Michigan in the 80s, because Mojo took his audience on a musical journey. His positive messages gave hope to young people during a time when so many people were giving up on the city. It was a gathering of all those that believed in the city. During those hours together, we were all members of the Midnight Funk Association. Now flash your head-lights on and off.

Mixing early techno and acid-house together with the music of the B-52s and Kraftwerk, Mojo would also play hours of Prince. Unique remixes and deep album tracks, music you couldn’t hear anyplace else. The iconic Moodymann manages to capture that same spark on his KDJ Record Label and on his EP Sinner specifically. It’s a great way of enjoying the hot summer of 2019 via the inspiration of the early and mid 80s.

Inspired by his original passion for music, Kenny Dixon Jr. has created another great innovative forward-step for his own art and the great city that he loves.

Moodymann’s releases are all about your level of passion, or maybe just a matter of being in the right place. The original five track vinyl edition was sold as a limited edition double 12“ at a BBQ hosted by Moodymann for $10 during Detroit’s Movement Festival in May 2019. A few selected Detroit record shops also received a few copies, and that was it. If you lived far from Detroit and weren’t one of those fortunate scene-makers, there was little chance to buy a physical copy, except if you were willing to pay horrendous prices on Discogs or Ebay.

You could still go with the digital version of ‘Sinner’ on Bandcamp: without the title track but adding ‘Got Me Coming Back Rite Now’, which was on the 12“ ‘Pitch Black City Reunion’. You also get a live version of ‘I Got Werk’ and a new track, ‘Downtown’.

But now the good news: ‘Sinner’ is getting a very limited regular 2×12″ release- out now! Good luck!

by Shawn Ciavattone