Pure Essence – Wake Up/ Third Rock

Soul Cal reissue two mega rare soul funk tracks unearthed by DJ Shadow

The Pure Essence was a previously unknown Cincinnati, Ohio ensemble until collectors Dante Carfagna and DJ Shadow turned up two copies of the bandís supremely rare 45 ìWake Upî. They have played their two copies the world over, and have made the soul and funk scenes flip. Soul-Cal has edited together parts 1 and 2 of ìWake Upî and paired it with another Pure Essence song from the same year ñ ìThird Rock.î The huge talent in the band is evident from the opening drum break of ìWake Upî ñ four bars of airtight hi hats, kicks and snares lead the way into the overdriven space bass of the verse. On ìThird Rock,î the lead singerís vocal stylings suggest a Sly Stone influenceÖ