- We all miss things. Me? I miss more than most. I'm not sure what I was doing in 2002 when Marvin Belton's "Bleed to Be Free" came out, but listening to it in 2009, I'm certain it wasn't all that important. I can assure you that in 2016, though, that I'll still be listening to it. The track is effortless, spare house music that features Marvin Belton's effortless, spare vocals. Belton comes from the old school, eschewing melisma for straightforward charms. He never gets too hysterical, never too angry. He sings as though beamed in from 1968—a soul singer that's found himself in a dance music world. Coupled with Scott Ferguson's lithe touch—the beat's bump is light, there's little bass to speak of and a piano leads the way—and you've got yourself an unimpeachable classic.
Need a B-side? You shouldn't. But Keith Kemp and Scott Ferguson nonetheless reported for duty on "Feelin' Good" and turned in a smooth dub of the original that uses heavily reverbed piano chords to provide padding to the conga-laden beat. The same goes for Ferguson's solo joint afterward. Nowadays guys like Jus-Ed and DJ Qu bang this sort of true school deep house out on a regular basis. And they probably were doing it in 2002 as well. Apparently I was somewhere else back then. Luckily, I'm hearing it now for the first time. If you're the same as me, I'd heartily recommend it. If not, why didn't you tell me about this sooner?
Tracklist A1 Bleed To Be Free
B1 Feelin' Good (KNS Dub)
B2 Feelin' Good (SF Dub)