found the single a few years ago and it i didn't know about it but thought it was interesting and i really like the original version the most until i listened to kirk degiorgio version. "3ree (a means to be)" is a loose remake of james mason's discotinged jazz-funker "free" from '77 but it's redone to a whole new set of beats. tony nwachukwu and charlie "d'afro" williams uses a really dirty version of the tommy roe "sweet pea" break and also used the horns from tyrone washington's "submission".
this flip is done quite well but what kirk degiorgio was to focus on mason's composition instead as attica blues only borrowed the lyrics and a version of the bassline. degiorgio also used the "sweet pea" break but it's more powerful and the shuffled hihats and groove mason's track is implied with chaotic mess of drums that is heard.
gene torres' original bassline is replayed synthetically with effects and it fits with the metallic haze that the track brings out. as with the vocals at hand degiorgio decided to a mix of talkbox and vocoder and an affected synthesizer to play the vocal melody and fact is that i love it. it all sounds very retro-futuristic and to use a cliché term, it sounds detroit although not as in techno but more like the funk and space music. detroit as in what the electrifying mojo used to play, if the testimony of all the detroit artists living at those times comes true.
i wouldn't know hence i'm more reluctant to even use the term since my idea from it comes from interviews of stacey pullen, dj t-1000, alan oldham & kenny dixon jr to name a few. i understand that i could easily draw the link to space rock as that's more of an european thing and all the parties involved at making the song (degiorgio & attica blues) are british, however as one is always mentioned in the same terms as detroit. you know what? this isn't detroit music, it's space music and it's awesome.
listen here (youtube)
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