By continuing your navigation on this website, you accept the use of cookies for statistical purposes.

El Michels Affair

Return To The 37th Chamber

Big Crown Records (BC017-LP C)

1x Vinyl LP Album

Release date: Apr 13, 2017, US

The wait is over, Return To The 37th Chamber is El Michels Affair’s highly anticipated follow up to 2009’s underground cult classic Enter the 37th Chamber. Churning out classic records since then for the likes of Lee Fields, The Arcs, The Shacks, and many more, it is clear that EMA’s signature sound is stronger and sharper than ever.


This time, in addition to re-interpreting the Wu compositions for a live band, EMA pays homage to the production and sonic fog that makes a RZA beat so recognizable. Producer and bandleader Leon Michels recorded the album completely analog, sometimes hitting six generations of tape before it was ready for mixing, giving the Return to The 37th Chamber its own hazy sound. Adding to the unique fidelity, the record is laced with psychedelic flourishes, “John Carpenter” synths, heavy metal guitars, triumphant horns, and traditional Chinese instruments that make up for the lack of the Wu’s superlative vocals. From start to finish it’s a dark trip that walks the line between RZA’s timeless hip-hop aesthetic and the cinematic soul EMA has become known for.


El Michels Affair tackles some classics like 4th Chamber and Wu Tang Aint Nuthin to Fuck Wit, as well as some deeper cuts like Ol Dirty Bastard’s Snakes, Raekwon’s Verbal Intercourse, and Shaolin Brew, Wu-Tang’s contribution to the St. Ide’s Hip Hop endorsement campaign from 1994. This time El Michels brings some of the Big Crown family along for the ride. Lee Fields handles vocal duties on Snakes and is joined by Shannon Wise of The Shacks for their version of Tearz, which pays as much homage to the Wendy Rene sample as it does to the Wu-Tang Clan. Lady Wray makes an appearance on the cover of Method Man’s hit, All I Need, lending her vocal prowess to what gave the Wu one of their biggest hits of all time. Interspersed throughout the record are some original interludes that are like the “rug that ties the room together,” giving Return To The 37th Chamber a cinematic narrative that makes it a proper El Michels Affair record and not just a collection of covers.

A1

4th Chamber

A2

Iron Man

A3

Shaolin Brew

A4

Pork Chop Express

A5

Snakes

A6

Drums For Sale

A7

Shadow Boxing

B1

Sipped Up

B2

Tearz

B3

Verbal Intercourse

B4

Wu-Tang Clan Aint Nuthing Ta F' Wit

B5

All I Need

B6

The End (Eat My Vocals)

El Michels Affair - Return To The 37th Chamber | Big Crown Records (BC017-LP C) - main
El Michels Affair - Return To The 37th Chamber | Big Crown Records (BC017-LP C) - 1El Michels Affair - Return To The 37th Chamber | Big Crown Records (BC017-LP C) - 2El Michels Affair - Return To The 37th Chamber | Big Crown Records (BC017-LP C) - 3El Michels Affair - Return To The 37th Chamber | Big Crown Records (BC017-LP C) - 4
27€
Add to basket

*Taxes included, shipping price excluded

Add to wantlist