Rosie (Original Mix)
San Francisco made Allen French has been programming dance sets under various monikers for the better part of the last decade, and that type of deep, personal club experience has clearly attached itself to his brief, but sophisticated catalog. While only releasing original music as Allen French for the past year plus, the now L.A. based producer wields a sound that would take most artists a much longer time to develop; fusing the kind of classic house soul and energy that was heard in Chicago’s mid-80’s Warehouse years, with a sprinkled air of contemporary edge to forge a sonic palate completely his own. The latest from French and first release on the aptly named French Press Records, “Rosie”, takes its listener on a fervid arc as its foundation is gradually built upon the usual house layers of thumping kick-drums, scuzzy synth builds and rolling bass, but is lifted further through its live instrumental elements including stabbing bongos and a flitting flute hook. That vocal should sound pretty familiar as well, taken from Alan Lomax’s original prison tune “Rosie”, and while we honestly never could’ve pictured that timeless vocal taken to the dance hall, Allen French pulls it off effortlessly. Just beautiful stuff really. But rather than read about, do yourself a solid and listen to “Rosie” above.
