Still Music is proud to present “Analog Aquarium”, the debut album by legendary Detroit house producer Rick “The Godson” Wilhite. Rick is a longtime member of Detroit’s dance music scene, dating back to his time working at Buy Rite records, one of the epicenters of Detroit’s 1980’s techno music explosion. More recently, his own record shop Vibes New and Rare Music has achieved revered status amongst those in the know, acting as the heart and soul of deep dance music in the city. Rick is also responsible for throwing countless parties in Detroit, helping to develop the house sound that the city is known for, and to build connections to DJs from other cities like Chicago that have proved invaluable over the years. His love for music and records has led to a DJing career that has spanned many genres, though it is his take on deep house music that has led him to international acclaim. Drawing from Detroit’s history of soul, jazz, disco, house, and techno, Rick’s productions weave these sometimes disparate elements into a beautiful, cohesive whole that remains distinctly his own, just as he does with the records he plays in his DJ sets. Working with Theo Parrish, Keny Dixon Jr., and Malik Pittman on the 3 Chairs project has grown Rick’s reputation even greater. With many classic 12” releases under his own name that have been absolutely beaten to death by DJs worldwide, it is now time for Rick to leave his mark on a wider audience with his debut solo album. While it is undoubtedly HIS album, “Analog Aquarium” allows Rick to explore all sides of his musical abilities with the assistance of some of his most trusted allies. The record kicks off with a hot, jazzy vocal track in collaboration with Osunlade, Theo Parrish, and Billy Love, the Jacksons’ referencing “Blame It On The Boogie”. While this tune conjures up images of the California sun, the next cut, “Dark Walking”, sees Rick team up with fellow 3 Chair Malik Pittman to explore the deep, nasty underbelly of the 313 with menacing synth bass and warm jazz chords. The two part jam “Muzic Gonna Save The World” is a loose, stomping string-heavy romp, bringing to mind Pharoah Sanders if the synthesizer and sampler had been his instruments of choice. “Sunshine Pt. 2” starts off pleasant enough with rolling percussion and Rick’s own voice intoning, “Sunshine”, but those vibes are soon belied by the ominous strings and bells that transform the track entirely. One of the tracks from Rick’s first outing on Still Music is revisited on “City Bar Opening (Basement Mix)”, taking the already raw feeling to an even higher level. “Deep Horizons” begins with frenetic percussion that is eventually whittled down to a soulful groove before building the intensity back up. Rick’s famous late-night sampled grooves reappear on “In The Rain”, with Billy Love vibing up the place with his heart-felt vocals. On “Cosmic Jungle” and “Cosmic Soup”, Rick explores outer and inner space with tripped-out sci-fi effects but without sacrificing the soul that makes his productions so personal. All in all, a fitting full-length for such a diverse musician. Still Music is based in Chicago, IL, and is the brainchild of Jerome Derradji. Now in its seventh year, Still Music has been instrumental in the worldwide proliferation of some of America’s freshest underground dance music. From raw disco to beautiful, refined techno, and stopping at every tempo and mood between and beyond, Still Music and its sublabels Past Due and Love For Music (also known as Stilove4music) have found room to include artists both established and new, releasing what can only be described as GOOD music.
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