At the beginning of the year two-time Grammy nominated Chicago house music pioneer Felix Da Housecat launched Founders of Filth, a label whose musical manifesto thumbs its nose in the face of rules. Felix has always marched to his own beat, pioneering the electroclash movement to collaborating with dub legend Lee “Scratch” Perry on 2015’s Narrative of Thee Blast Illusion.
Founders of Filth Vol. 3, which is Felix’s third EP of the year, finds the iconoclast collaborating once again with fellow Chi-town luminary Jamie Principle and Montreal DJ/producer Clarian (both artists appeared on his debut Vol. 1). Felix channels his electroclash roots in partnership with Clarian on the bawdy “Energy” featuring Agata. The recipe isn’t necessarily new — girl provocatively talking/singing over a grinding electro groove — but it works like a charm. “They Just Want 2 B U” with Clarian and Principle is a synth-based dance-pop delight. It’s built on soft pads, echoed vocals and blippy melodies.
For the EP’s closing track Felix dons his Aphrohead moniker for a funky finale, “Color of Rayy.” The techiest track on the release is hard and driving, featuring Felix’s Prince-like spoken-word vocals over a rollicking musical bed.
Founders of Filth Vol. 3 dovetails Felix’s past with the present and allows him to successfully close out a year of reinvention on a high note.
