As a lover of quality, classic house, real soul and deeper disco music, Mancunian producer Trus’me has been in his element in the musical climate of recent years. He makes deep, classy, hazy, warm 4/4 music that takes in elements of all the aforementioned, focusing on subtlety and a production style that embraces the old way of doing things rather than slaving over the newest technologies and most futuristic sounds. After making a steady rep for himself via his labels Prime Numbers and D3K (and his hometown’s legendary Fat City label), remixes for LCD Soundsystem and Compost Records followed, and he’s become a firm favourite with everyone from Gilles Peterson to Deetron to Cassy in the process.
His love and encyclopaedic knowledge for the heritage of house music and its forebears made him an ideal choice for this week’s Desert Island Disco. Soul and coconuts – what more do you need?
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
The first Marvin Gaye album credited as produced solely by the artist himself,
What's Going On is a unified concept album consisting of nine songs, most of which lead into the next. It has also been categorised as a song cycle, since the album ends on a reprise to the album's opening theme. Little quote for you there. This LP is what got me into music, when I say music I'm talking about the real deal. This is the blueprint for me when producing an LP of my own. It's interesting to know that this was his thirteenth solo LP - proof in the pudding that with practice brings perfection.
Gil Scott Heron - Real Eyes Every track is just so good - real soul music, deep, meaningful and timeless. No matter how many times I check this LP, I never become tired of placing the needle back at the beginning again. If you don't own this one, then make sure you add this to your collection - you won't be sorry. Plus it's been sampled to death – it will be a matter of seconds before you go “ahh…
that's where it's from”.
Moodymann - Mahogany Brown Utter classic. A bit of everything that is good with electronic music for me. It's the one I play the most sat at home, not so much in the club. Definitely an influence on me, in my style of production of course. Most people draw on his previous LP's, but this one never leaves the coffee table in my house.
Jay Dee - Welcome to Detroit Has to be the number one influence in my whole ethos to music - the production style, the looseness and feel. Can't stress enough how many times I have played this LP around and around and around. I'm sure there are many other producers out there that will say the same thing: “he was the one you who did it for me”. A producer’s producer.
Jamiroquai - Emergency On Planet Earth Don't care what anybody says, this is an amazing piece of music. It's what got me into what people would suggest is the real McCoy. I still come back to this and it still sounds as fresh to me as it did back then. This is a true pop LP that made soul music cool again - what can you hate about that?
Bernard Wright - Nard Boogie one of my fave styles of music - can't get enough of it right now. This has to be the best of the best. Every track is solid from start to finish. I can put this on and just start moving you know…every time it never fails to move me. If you never stepped into the world of boogie then start here and you will have commenced your search at the top.
Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life Do I really need to explain this one? Now I know everything I have picked in this list is soul more or less and I love other stuff too, but these all have to be there first. You can't miss this one either - how can you? For me it’s one of the best pieces of music ever made. I don't know anybody who doesn't like this LP…do you?
Trus’me plays alongside a huge line-up at fabric’s On & On Bank Holiday Special this Saturday 1st May (through ‘til Monday 3rd), with Sasha, Carl Craig, Reboot (live) and Seth Troxler just a handful of the names on the bill. Full details at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108851459148981