Throwback soul singer Mayer Hawthorne and hip-hop producer Jake One have come together as Tuxedo, an earnest love letter to uptempo 80s R&B, funk and late disco sounds. It’s the kind of vibe Chromeo have been milking for some time, but whereas they often play up the campy elements for laughs, Tuxedo are much more serious and authentic. Not only do they sound scarily close to the types of records they’re referencing, but they also execute that music with consistently high quality.
This era of dance music has enjoyed a resurgence of interest recently, so it’s the perfect time for Tuxedo to unveil such a shamelessly retro project. And they have the benefit of historical distance, allowing them to focus on the aspects of the genre that have aged best. Anyone who’s spent time digging through crates of dusty vinyl would be thrilled to find 12 previously unheard boogie songs that stand up this well, so does it matter that they weren’t actually produced in 1983?
Top track: Roll Along
