A Man Called Adam’s song, Estelle, debuted in 1994, on Jose Padilla’s first vinyl Cafe del Mar compilation (1). There it sipped a sunset cocktail (2) alongside music from Underworld, Leftfield and Sabres Of Paradise. A sort of samba, bongos, congas, kalimba and a sweet field recorded dialogue snippet accompany Sally Rodgers’ poem to the power of love (3). Clipped electric keys and warm, warm synthetic swells carry the track, while jazzman and Loose Tube, Eddie Parker provides the main flute melody and Steve Jones knocks out a brilliant piano solo.

Estelle has now been dusted off, digitally, and reissued in a package that contains a multitude of mixes. There’s the original, an instrumental, a 7” Edit, and an Extended version – the latter with a pumped percussion intro for DJs to slot easily into. The duo’s own Censer remix is built around a heavily orchestrated rare groove sample (4), machined beats and bass. Turning the number into an `80s boogie-influenced bit of future fusion.

AMCA’s spars Sensory Productions – aka Rob Mello and Zaki D – supply a further three takes (5). Originally released on vinyl in 1996, their I Feel It Everywhere cuts up elements from the OG – including Sally – over a proto-UK Garage groove. Muted keys softening the skipping snares, high-hats and hefty kick. Super similar to the then contemporary stuff on cutting edge US imprints, such as Cajual and Prescription, It’s the kind of thing that you’d hear in the early AM at the Ministry Of Sound. Peering out of oblivion but still far too high to go home. Luv An’ I Feel It is a really nice 909-driven street soul shake, with huge speaker blowing bottom end. Luv… Reprise is a beautiful almost beatless take.

Estelle fills my mind with pictures of quiet beaches, sunshine, blue skies and local children at play. Transporting me, instantly, to secluded, unspoiled spots. Flashing me back to quality care-free moments, when the past was for now forgotten and the future unwritten. Specifically buzzing with memories of kids quizzing me, two and half decades ago, when I escaped to the Caribbean and India as the life I’d been living came apart. I’d been planning on a shot of solitude but their smiling, constant, curious inquisitions forced me to open up and try to be a little less uptight. The para South Londoner in me was sure they had someone back home casing my joint. Every time I hear it, Estelle summons this sensation of letting go, which has got to be some sort of magic, right?

A Man Called Adam’s Estelle can be ordered directly from Bandcamp.

NOTES
(1) As opposed to his legendary series of homemade mixtapes.
(2) A Chocolate Milk & Brandy?
(3) This now feels incredibly idealistic in a world seemingly increasingly driven by hate and spite.
(4) Anyone else hear, start humming, Strawberry Letter 23?
(5) Under a variety of aliases, all through the 1990s, Rob and Zaki released music on their own imprint, Luxury Service, AMCA’s Other and Blackmarket’s Azuli. Zaki worked at Blackmarket, while Rob later hooked up with Classic and Crosstown Rebels, and then became a member of Mr. Beedle’s Black Science Orchestra.