White Mink: Black Cotton is subtitled 'Electro Swing vs. Speakeasy Jazz' and that about sums it up. The double CD presents the very best of this 'new' genre with both a retrospective trawl through rare Cotton Club-style tracks on one CD (remastered from original 78's apparently), pitted alongside modern remixes and 20/30's influenced dance floor fillers on the other.
It was compiled by London DJs Nick Hollywood - for years the power behind famous London scene-maker, Club Montepulciano and now head of Brighton label Freshly Squeezed - and El Nino & Lady Kamakaze of the famous Black Cotton and (award winning) Lady Luck clubs. Between them these guys obviously know a thing or two about rocking a vintage flavored dance floor and it really shows. Both CD's are tastefully and seamlessly blended.
But I'm making it all sound very dry and academic. The music here actually feels very fresh and new. Despite the age! Both albums, although very different, bounce along with joie de vivre and are thoroughly uplifting. Black Cotton - for all that this may seem a era familiar from countless old White-Tie-Top-Hat-and-Tails type CD's, actually uncovers some raunchy, early R&B type gems that are amazing, while White Mink, as you would expect adds weight, a modern twist and some cracking electronic production to the mix.
Overall this is a great, sexy, beautifully packaged, party record and I love it!