Koro-Koro / It’s My Life 12”

No Smoke’s ‘Koro Koro’ is one such record. Undoubtedly an anthem. A classic. A game-changer. It’s one of those records that spread across the world on its release and in its subsequent life thereafter. Literally caned by any DJ worth his salt in 1989 and beyond, this storming, eerie and driving tribal house monster was a huge hit. Licensed and re-released time and time again, and still causing havoc on dance floors in 2018, ‘Koro Koro’ ushered in a new style of Afrocentric house music, something new, unique and timeless. To inaugurate this incredible reissue series we have original Warriors Dance engineer and studio wizard, Ian Tregoning’s special 2018 ‘rewire’ of the track, a faithfully updated, stripped back and reimagined version whose lithe, minimal, streamlined and spatial lines catapult this London warehouse classic deep deep into the future. A truly special remix created specially for this project.

B-side ‘It’s My Life’ is perhaps a little less ‘known’ than ‘Koro Koro’ but it is just as deadly. Mining a different sonic furrow to the A-side this 1991 breakbeat/hip-house hybrid absolutely pummels a sound-system (in the best way). The original version saw MC Watts Noize dropping bars of wisdom about making his way in an ever confusing world across a backdrop of chopped up breaks, deep sub-bass rumbles and euphoric, angelic synth pads. The special version featured on this 12″ sampler is the infamous (almost) instrumental re-edit from Beautiful Swimmer Max-D. This is the first time this version has ever been made available, having only been out there in the world as a much obsessed over Youtube upload and as one of the highlights of Beautiful Swimmers 2015 Trilogy Tapes mixtape. Super heavy, it will undoubtedly whet the appetites of those who’ve been screaming for a physical release.