Freeez - Mariposa

Buy the 12" vinyl below:

Continuing to shine a light on John Rocca & co’s pioneering early 80s music, Far Out proudly presents the first ever 12” release of Freeez’s monster brit-funk classic “Mariposa”, along with the equally heavy and hard to find 12” mix of “Alone”.

The limited Mariposa/Alone 12” release follows Far Out’s reissues of Freeez’s first two 12” single releases “Keep In Touch” and “Stay/ Hot Footing it”, which saw support from Kenny Dope, Greg Wilson, Gilles Peterson, Shuya Okino and Harvey Sutherland.

Slightly more refined, but no less groovy and mysterious, “Mariposa” and “Alone” are the pinnacle of the sound Rocca and Peter Maas began developing in an East London basement in the early 80s.

Released on Freeez’s debut album Southern Freeez in 1980, “Mariposa '' is fearsomely funky, high-tempo, melodic jazz-funk featuring Paul Morgan’s lighting drum fills, Peter Maas’s slapping and popping, Andy Stennett’s top-drawer keys and John Rocca’s percussion and otherworldly Spanish vocals. Pure dance-floor body music, “Mariposa” typified the group’s feel-good sound and has torn up club floors throughout the 80s and beyond.

With the same core line-up, with the exception of new drummer; Light Of The World’s Everton McCalla, ”Alone”, originally released as the B-side to Freeez’s “One to One” single in 1982, is a cool, heady boogie stepper, and this elusive extended 12” mix is a no brainer for any discerning jazz/funk boogie jock.

In the mid-80s Rocca would go onto craft underground cult classics like ‘Melodies of Love’ and ‘India’ as Pink Rhythm, before foraying into the world of electro, collaborating with legendary US producer Arthur Baker.

Limited to 1000 units worldwide, Freeez’s Mariposa/Alone will be released by Far Out Recordings on 12” vinyl on the 16th September 2022.
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[groovejunkiediva]

Stands the test of time and is a nice slice of jazzfunk that sounds fresh enough to slay the floor today

[markkeegan]

As I recall, the mainstream music press pretty much maligned Jazz-Funk back in the day. Well, in my humble opinion it's held up a lot better than much of the dreary Indie music they championed at the time.

[melissaba]

I just hear this on evening wgn news when its over until they start again at 9pm.