Sean “Hardway Bros” Johnston has hooked up with Rekids, for his latest musical missive, Murky. The track’s title is a tip of the hat to the Miami, Florida, house sound of Oscar Gaetan and Ralph Falcon. In the early 1990s, these two friends founded the legendary Murk record label and produced a strikingly unique, stripped back and bass heavy, string of hits, under aliases such as Liberty City, Interceptor, and The Funky Green Dogs From Outer Space. The name of Sean’s new single might also be a nod to its slightly sleazy nature.

A provocative, pounding 4 / 4 piece it features the vocal interplay of a pair of protagonists. The first is a deep, demonic, growl, a la Chicago’s Bam Bam, seductively suggesting “Come follow me.” The second is a modern, emancipated, horny, femme fatale, played by Beth Cassidy, daughter of Section 25’s Larry and Jenny, and member of Sea Fever – who are made up of musicians who’ve played / toured with New Order, Johnny Marr, and Beth’s parents band. After letting you know that she’s most definitely the boss, Beth spells out her requests / desires: “P.L.E.A.S.E. me”, “B.E.G. me.” While certainly “subversive”, the song has its sights set on rocking big rooms, and throbs, pumps, mixes up Miami and Italo influences, and soundclash SFX. Flashing back to mid-90s prog, and unafraid to use drum rolls and anthem pianos to get its job done.

There’s a Coral Way Dub – which refers to another of Oscar and Ralph’s pseudonyms, Coral Way Chiefs – and also a Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve Re-Animation. Richard Norris and Erol Alkan dropping the tempo to a slower skip / shuffle, and adding bongos and a serious, sorta acidic b-line. Creating a weird, oddball, Balearic vibe, while bathing the tune in dub techno details borrowed from Richard’s skanking Oracle Sound project.

Hardway Bros’ Murky can be ordered directly from Rekids.