Continuing to shine a light on John Rocca & co.'s pioneering early 80s music, Far Out proudly presents the first ever 12" release of Freeez's monster brit-funk classic "Mariposa", along with the equally heavy and hard to find 12" mix of "Alone".
The limitedMariposa/Alone12" release follows Far Out's reissues of Freeez's first two 12" single releases "Keep In Touch" and "Stay/ Hot Footing it", which saw support from Kenny Dope, Greg Wilson, Gilles Peterson, Shuya Okino and Harvey Sutherland.
Slightly more refined, but no less groovy and mysterious, "Mariposa" and "Alone" are the pinnacle of the sound Rocca and Peter Maas began developing in an East London basement in the early 80s.
Released on Freeez's debut albumSouthern Freeezin 1980, "Mariposa '' is fearsomely funky, high-tempo, melodic jazz-funk featuring Paul Morgan's lighting drum fills, Peter Maas's slapping and popping, Andy Stennett's top-drawer keys and John Rocca's percussion and otherworldly Spanish vocals. Pure dance-floor body music, "Mariposa" typified the group's feel-good sound and has torn up club floors throughout the 80s and beyond.
With the same core line-up, with the exception of new drummer; Light Of The World's Everton McCalla, "Alone", originally released as the B-side to Freeez's "One to One" single in 1982, is a cool, heady boogie stepper, and this elusive extended 12" mix is a no brainer for any discerning jazz/funk boogie jock.
In the mid-80s Rocca would go onto craft underground cult classics like 'Melodies of Love' and 'India' as Pink Rhythm, before foraying into the world of electro, collaborating with legendary US producer Arthur Baker.
