The Unreleased Project, Pt. 2

Todd Terry’s work can be hard to find a way into for the uninitiated, as there is an implausible volume of compilations and mixes and a distinct lack of definitive artist albums. But if you want to cut right to the very heart of his appeal, go for the Unreleased Project releases, originally churned out on white label vinyl or in the most rudimentary of sleeves in seven volumes from 1992 to 1995. These were essentially offcuts from his production and remix work. They were perhaps rougher dubs than he could get away with putting on official releases, but show exactly where his genius lay: in delivering fast-cut samples and house loops with huge bass tones and joyous momentum, with no thought for anything but groove. On Vol 2 you can hear samples of First Choice, P.M. Dawn and a hundred other bits of dance and hip hop culture, with exhortations to “bring it back” or “feel it,” whipcrack sound effects and above all those funky loops powering through without ever letting up.