Richenel: La Diferencia Vinyl 12″ Richenel

Another audible gem dug up from obscurity from Music From Memory! The Amsterdam-based label never disappoints and once again they pull out some magic from the depths in the form of an obscure 80’s cassette from Dutch artist Richenel. La Diferencia was originally released on cult Amsterdam label Fetisj in 1982. Obviously the O.G. tape is dumb rare, and MFM takes it a step further seeking out alternate takes from Richenel’s personal copy for this reissue. Not only that, they managed to score a couple unreleased compositions that didn’t make the Fetisj tape and finally see the light on this first ever vinyl pressing! More details from the label: “Studying set and costume design whilst making a name for himself as a singer and performer in Amsterdam’s underground clubs, Richenel played with several disco acts and cultivated an extravagant cross-gender stage persona before connecting with members of the local label. Hooking up through their time together at the Rietveld art academy in Amsterdam, Fetisj was an experimental multi media collective which revolved around a loose mix of various young artists and musicians. Having developed a house band with artists going by a number of different pseudonyms the label set up their own small makeshift studio and would produce and sell the cassettes through their distribution network and at events across the city. Recorded amongst the turmoiled punk and squatter scene of Amsterdam against a backdrop of drugs and social unrest, the La Diferencia sessions reflect a unique mix of punk aesthetics with a synthesized “bedroom” funkiness. A somewhat illustrious figure in Dutch pop history with his flamboyant appearance as well as having one of the more exceptional male voices to come out of the country, Richenel would go on to record a number of successful albums and hit singles in the Netherlands and beyond. This largely unknown album on Fetisj however, seems to embody the spirit of another time; a particularly unique and richly creative moment in Amsterdam’s musical and cultural history and one that is deserving of a much wider audience.” Recommended.

• music label: Music From Memory 2017

reviewed by Tofu Van 05/2017