Secret Stash

As DJs/vinyl junkies, records are our poison and digging is our way of administering it. Wherever we go, local or overseas, our quest for rare grooves often leads us to flea markets to record stores from uptown to downtown. Every time we walk past a record store, the urge to dig for records often bludgeons our willpower into submission and if we do start digging, basically, we are like kids in a candy store.

Of course, we do not always have the opportunity to go overseas and the small market here, does not always give us the satisfaction which we thirst for. Thankfully, there is the internet. We scour the nooks and crannies of the world wide web, to satisfy our vinyl fetish. At times, we might even have to pay a premium price for a rare record. It is all worthwhile because nothing beats holding a record in your hands and definitely, the sound quality is like no other.

So, I came across Minnesota-based record label, Secret Stash Records. Basically, they search for rare (I mean, really rare) grooves, compile it and release the LP. Although, they do not have much releases under their label so far, but I am intrigued with what they had to offer. I purchased three LPs which they released.

'Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue' is, as its name implies, is a reggae cover of Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue', which was the idea of NYU music professor, Jeremy Taylor, in 1981. However, Jeremy Taylor's demise, shortly after the idea was conceived, put the whole project on indefinite hiatus. In 2009, Secret Stash Records got to know about the project and worked with the Taylor estate and the project was finally completed.

The story behind 'Soviet Funk' Volumes 1 & 2, is pretty interesting. Pavel Sysoyev was an employee of the then USSR state-controlled media and he ran a recording studio, meant to create content for the state media. Between 1971 to 1976, he had often brought his friends in, for late night recording sessions. Through these late night sessions, the classically-trained musicians created their own funk style.

Secret Stash Records - Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue



Secret Stash Records - Soviet Funk Volume 1



Secret Stash Records - Soviet Funk Volume 2



I am keeping my eye on what Secret Stash Records might release next and I am pretty excited about it. As we all like to put it, support the real music and buy it eh!

If you are interested, do check out Secret Stash Records aye. = )