Athens Of The North Schallplatten & CDs

Review: The second LP on Athens Of The North (Edinburgh) this month is an unreleased soul LP from the American band Coast To Coast, who only released two singles between 1982 - 1983. Core members Mark Beiner and Ben Iverson were involved with acts such as 'The Hornets, Nue Dey Express and Crown Heights Affair in the early '70's. Other band members consisted of Joe Crowley, Carl (Woody Wood) Morton and Jimmy Johnson. Woody and Jimmy used to play together in the early days of seminal rap outfit Run DMC in St. Albans, Queens. Worth a listen for the soothing soul power of 'Paila Marie' alone.

Review: It's always a buzz to see a new Athens of the North 7" drop onto our shelves. This first drop of the year comes from label regulars Coast to Coast who had their unreleased and self-titled soul album reissued here back in October 2021. It is the opening track from that glorious record that gets its own pressing on 45 rpm here with an instrumental on the flip. The original from core members Mark Beiner and Ben Iverson, 'Love Is The Same' has glorious vocal falsettos and super sweet rhythms that bring feel-good vibes like no other.

Review: Athens of the North has got a couple of belters landing this month (to be honest, when do they ever serve up anything else?). The sone is a modern soul delight by Mark Beiner and his co-writer Ben Iverson, and the subject is Beiner's ex-girlfriend. It is a superb floater that carries you up above the dance floor with its lush horns and crooning vocals, while the flipside is much more raw. 'Crack (instrumental)' is a proto-hip hop beat with early electro stylings and some old school rap bars to add even more flavour. Two very different but equally great jams.