It’s 1978, late on a November Night. The rain roars in Chicago as you stand on the sidewalk with some of your pals outside the underground music venue by the name of the Warehouse. You can hear the faint sounds of Disco and House inside, helmed by the legendary Frankie Knuckles. Even though the Cold War continues to escalate, the failure of the Détente Policies leads to increased tension in Europe, and the 1970’s energy crisis caused by petroleum shortages is at its peak, you are still able to find solace in these crowded clubs with people who are similarly looking to escape.
By the late 1970s, most U.S. cities had thriving disco club scenes, and DJs would mix dance records at clubs such as Studio 54 in New York City, and the aforementioned Warehouse. Discothèque-goers often wore expensive, extravagant sexy fashions. There was also a thriving drug subculture in the disco scene, particularly for drugs that would enhance the experience of dancing to the loud music and the flashing lights, such as cocaine and Quaaludes, the latter being so common in disco subculture that they were nicknamed “disco biscuits”. Disco clubs were also associated with promiscuity as a reflection of the sexual revolution of this era in popular history. In a time marked by uncertainty, Disco with its repetitious motifs, stability, and ability of self-expression became a way of escape for not just the disenfranchised, but the public as a whole.
Now let’s snapback to today. ImBN and Katala, two artists hailing from Chile (though ImBN currently lives in France) take that disco sound with its elaborate strings, talk-boxes, uppy synths, and funky percussion, and merge it with the hard-hitting 808’s and style of Trap and Hip Hop. The song starts with the listener at a distance, much like you would outside that club in the 70’s. Then it walks you in and proceeds to dance with you as the 808’s make their presence known.
The song then transitions to a softer, more contemplative sound. Reflecting where it has been and taking time to allow us some space to relax. It becomes slightly more somber at this point, as if longing for days gone by, however, it never truly becomes sad. A nostalgia sets in as the synth horns and strings play on over the Reese bassline and time fades away.
Ultimately ImBN and Katala provide a unique take on retro that eerily feels so familiar, yet far away. As someone who never experienced the 70’s, it makes me wish I could have.
Connect with ImBN:
https://twitter.com/ImBN
https://soundcloud.com/imbn
https://www.instagram.com/imbnmusic
Connect with Katala:
https://www.facebook.com/katalabeats
https://twitter.com/katalabeats
https://soundcloud.com/katalabeats
https://www.instagram.com/katalabeats
The Music Blender:
https://twitter.com/music_blender
https://soundcloud.com/the_music_blender
https://www.instagram.com/themusicblender
https://www.themusicblender.com
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