In the wake of the hugely successful anthem “Baby” – complete with iconic sample from one of R&B’s leading voices, Ashanti – Manchester’s frontrunner, Aitch, returns to the limelight with yet another single accentuated with a sample from a popular song. Although this time, the source is a bit closer to home.
Almost 35 years ago now, the sonic profile of Manchester was wholly different to today. In 1989 specifically, The Stone Roses had just released their debut full-length self-titled album after substantial success with their breakout single and subsequent EP “Sally Cinnamon”. The Roses’ album was spearheaded by a groovy, atmospheric and almost breakbeat sounding single “Fools Gold”, a track which would go on to soundtrack a generation of culture explosions throughout the city. Fast forward 35 years and the echoes of this anthem are starting to reverberate around the city once more. Yet this time, in the form of a rap song, “1989” by Manchester’s star boy Aitch.
In this everchanging climate that we call the music industry, trends are rife. A certain trend seems particularly prevalent at the moment revolves around chopping, flipping and remixing a sample of a popular song from yesteryear and modernising it. Granted, this is a technique that not always yielded successful results, but Aitch nailed this one! Ian Browns legendary hook acts as the swirling clouds, Reni’s snappy snares sound like the rain synonymous with the City and Aitch’s witty lyricism break the lines between the layers like cracks of lightening.
What your left with at the end of listening to this track, if it’s not a massive smile on your face, is a brief glance into Manchester’s sonic footprint. The song represents a marrying of two genres from different cultures, styles and eras that both have one thing in common; an unmistakable passion for Manchester the people that inhabit our City.
