- In six short years, Eglo Records has established itself as London's foremost purveyor of modern soul. Alexander Nut's label introduced the world to Fatima and Funkineven. It's pressed stunning alter-ego funk from Marcus Intalex and Gabriel Reyes-Whittaker. And with Floating Points' 2012 Shadows EP, it even made one of its co-founders a global star. Although Eglo's May bank holiday showcase didn't mark any particular anniversary, the lineup captured the label's ethos to date, joining the dots between soulful luminaries of the past, present and future.
Arriving at Corsica Studios just before midnight, I soon realised the only downside to a bill so rich with Eglo talent: I was never going to be able to hear all of it. Switzerland's Sassy J opened to a small crowd, moving through a variety of records with a grace and subtlety that belied her youthful looks. Broken beat pioneers Dego and Kaidi Tatham followed with a series of 2000Black bombs, including one so potent I was forced to to abandon any tenuous air of nonchalance and go ask for an ID behind the decks. "It's a Kaidi demo," Dego replied with a knowing smile, "unreleased mate."
Henry Wu and K15 warmed Room 2 up with a well-received blend of hip-hop and garage, of which Ordinary People's "Baby You Make My Heart Sing" was a particular highlight. New Sound Signature signing Ge-ology then treated the floor to the kind of rich house cuts that have marked his upcoming LP on Theo Parrish's label as potentially one of 2015's best. There was barely time to catch Alexander Nut and Benny Blanco shut Room 1, though the refreshingly mixed crowd seemed to be enjoying themselves whenever I popped across for a beer. Having to miss so much was a little frustrating, though given the poor shape of London's current nightlife scene, too much talent in one club is a good problem to have.