Faces, places, near and far. Hubert Laws’ Family LP is pretty widely available, but this promo-only 12-inch version of the title track is a certified jazz-funk holy grail. It’s been getting a lot of love from Gilles Peterson, Spinna, Josey Rebelle and more over the years, and often fetches around $200 so an official repress is more than welcome at this point. After a gorgeous opening segment, Hubert’s immaculate flute and lush strings give way to sis Debra Laws’ dry, angelic vocals and a humongous rubberband bassline that rule for the next seven minutes, joined by the occasional brass section and rhodes lick. Listening back now and I’m realizing this might be the cleanest mixdown I’ve ever heard in my life; they just don’t make em like this anymore. Official repress cut nice and loud at 45RPM, includes mono version on the flip for all you one-dimensional freaks out there. Recommended.

• official repress
• 45 rpm
• includes stereo + mono version
• music label: Columbia 2018

reviewed by edward james almost 06/2018