BIG CROWN
El Michels Affair - 24 Hr Sports El Michels Affair
'24 Hr Sports' was inspired by the fashion and graphic design of ‘80s & ‘90s Sports Illustrated magazines, MF DOOM’s 'Special Herbs' albums, the sample sources used on them, and gospel music a la Pastor T.L. Barrett.
The sum of those influences with Michels’ impeccable creative touch prove to be the recipe for an instant classic that will surely be one of the most heralded releases of 2025.
The album opener, “Drum Line”, is an anthemic, uplifting tune with marching band drumming and thundering brass arrangements that command undivided attention and set the tone for what’s to come. '24 Hr Sports' sees a significant departure from the largely instrumental music of the El Michels Affair catalogue with a roster of vocal features that manages to mirror the undefinable genre of his music.
The first one on the album is “Mágica” which features Brazil’s Rogê. He takes the already pumping energy of the track over the top with his fútbol inspired lyrics. Moving from Brazil to Ghana, “Say Goodbye” features Florence Adooni who touts her individuality with an effortless swag jumping between Frafra and English, telling it like it is in the earworm chorus, “never gonna nd a girl like me...”. Labelmate and world renowned trumpeter from The Roots, Dave Guy joins the ‘70s groove of “Oakley’s Car Wash” with his distinct horn lines before the track switches lanes, closing with a dubby outro.
From raucous to serene, “Anticipate” featuring Clairo picks up on the musical synergy between her and Leon that created 2024’s Charm album. Clairo rides signature EMA arrangements perfectly as she pines for an unattainable love over the band’s airtight instrumentation. “Eastside” is a song that could soundtrack a sunrise over the ocean, putting Leon’s tasteful use of space and arrangement on a pedestal. By way of Japan, The Suginami Children’s Choir join in on the lush “Clean The Line” singing a song about the moon, the sun, and birds. Next, “Cortex” kicks in the door with gritty distorted guitars and thundering drums that puts a moment of pure cinematic intensity in the middle of the album. Leon himself handles lead vocals on “Shining,” a song about looking for a friend to share the joys of a sunny day with.
The universally adored Shintaro Sakamoto is featured on “Indifference”, a swanky tune built on bouncing basslines and flute chops. Shintaro uses the arrangements to go from singing to speaking, musing over a fleeting love. The Grammy winning duo of Norah Jones and Michels reunite on “Carry Me Away” with Jones' honeyed vocals soaring over a track that is hard to place but easy to love. Leon leans into El Michels Affair territory on the tune that sounds decidedly different from the Norah Jones records he has produced. “Take My Hand” puts gospel influence front and center with the Fabulous Rainbow Singers choir on the chorus and a saxophone solo from the late great Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
“Open Season”, a mid tempo, piano driven number with group vocals chanting “we want the gold, we want the gold...” could soundtrack a slow motion highlight reel, while the aptly titled album closer, “Victory Lap”, is a dreamy, euphoric wind-down worthy of the record that just finished.
Track List
1. Drumline
2. Mágica feat. Rogê
3. 24 Hr Sports Theme No. 1
4. Say Goodbye feat. Florence Adooni
5. Oakley’s Car Wash feat. Dave Guy
6. Anticipate feat. Clairo
7. Eastside
8. Clean The Line
Side B
1. Cortex
2. Shining
3. 24 Hr Sports Theme No. 2
4. Indifference feat. Shintaro Sakamoto
5. Carry Me Away feat. Norah Jones
6. Take My Hand
7. feat. Rahsaan Roland Kirk
8. Open Season
9. Victory Lap
Pickup available at Cambridge
Usually ready in 24 hours. Unless it's a Pre-Order
Product information
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Relevant Record Café,
260 Mill Road
Cambridge,
CB1 3NF.
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Faulty Products
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Once we receive your record, it will be tested by a member of staff in store.
If your record is deemed as faulty, you will be entitled to a refund, swap or store credit (to the same value as your initial purchase).
If this record is not deemed as faulty, we will not cover any additional postage and packaging costs incurred by either you or us, and we will not be able to offer you a refund, store credit or swap.
Basically, please be absolutely certain the record you have purchased is faulty before following the returns procedure. If possible, we suggest testing the record on different turntables and weighting the tone arm differently.
Steepletone and Crosley Record Players
After having several “faulty” records returned to us (that in actuality had nothing wrong with them), we cannot guarantee that any records we sell will play correctly Crosley or Steepletone branded record players.