Surprise Chef take on Minoru Muraoka’s 1970 Japanese breakbeat classic ‘The Positive and the Negative’
UK’s Mr Bongo label has recently released a remarkable new 7inch, featuring a brilliant new rendition of Minoru Muraoka’s Japanese folkloric-rooted breakbeat classic “The Positive and the Negative” by cinematic instrumental soul band Surprise Chef. If that wasn’t enough, the double A-side single also includes a Mr Bongo edit of the original gem.
The track was originally featured on Muraoka’s essential 1970 Bamboo album, which Mr Bongo also reissued back in 2019. Being heavily influenced by the track, Surprise Chef decided to pay tribute to it by doing their own reinterpretation. Recorded at Karate Boogaloo’s attic studio with Henry Jenkins at the controls and Hudson Whitlock on percussion, the Melbourne band does an incredible job of incorporating their own signature sound into the piece without losing the foundation of the original. They replace the Japanese instruments shakuhachi and koto with synths and guitars, however maintain the overall breakbeat psychedelic vibe throughout.
Overall, a great new “must-own” double A-side single that respectfully pays homage to Muraoka’s masterpiece.
Surprise Chef / Minoru Muraoka — ‘The Positive and the Negative’ 7″
(Mr Bongo)
A SIDE: Surprise Chef — “The Positive and the Negative”
B SIDE: Minoru Muraoka — “The Positive and the Negative (Mr Bongo 7″ Edit)”
