Name: El Michels Affair - Return To The 37th Chamber (LP)
Brand: big crown records
SKU: LP-BCR-017
Availability: InStock

El Michels Affair - Return To The 37th Chamber (LP)

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Album Information

Product: Vinyl LP

Artist: El Michels Affair
Album: Return to the 37th Chamber

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 tons more, it is clear that EMA's signature sound is stronger & 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 6 generations of tape before it was ready for mixing, giving the Return to The 37th Chamber it’s 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. The vinyl version of Return To The 37th Chamber is presented with 4 different hand painted covers. The originals were painted on two sewn together flour sacks in Accra, Ghana by Heavy J and Stoger, two artists who are legends in the Ghanaian Mobile Cinema scene and regular contributors to the Deadly Prey Gallery’s collection in Chicago. From the music to the presentation, this album is a perfect example of what can only be achieved through diversity. The end result is as much a kaleidoscope of influences and multiculturalism as the city it was recorded in. El Michels Affair is once again, “sounding out the city” that raised them, pulling elements of art and culture from across the country and around the globe to create an album truly unique in it’s own right.

Return Policy / FAQ

FAQ

When will my order ship?

Our team is working hard to get all orders shipping as quickly as possible and we expect all orders to ship within 5-10 business days after order. You will receive a tracking number in your e-mail when it ships. We apologize for any delays and appreciate your patience & support. Note, we are a small business and we do not have a large staff - it takes us a little bit to process orders depending on what else is going on with releases, music creation, and business.

What about pre-orders?

We fully anticipate pre-orders to ship on or before the date posted on the product page. Please make sure you check the release date before purchasing to avoid any miscommunication. If you are ordering multiple items, all items will ship together on the latest release date, when all products are available. If you’d like to receive items as they become available, please order the items separately.

Who can I talk to about my order?

Before you reach out, please check your order & product pages to make sure all the items in your order are available. In a group order, all items will ship with the latest release date when all the products are available. If you have a question about a damaged order, changing order information or cancelling an order, you can send an e-mail to info@mellomusicgroup.com. Please include your order number so we can best understand the problem and help you.

Canada, EU & UK Orders:

Any VAT Taxes imposed by your country are your responsibility to pay upon receipt. Each country has it's own import rules so please be familiar with your country's rules prior to ordering. We can not cancel orders due to unexpected tarifs - sadly the political domain is out of our control. If tarifs are imposed after an order is placed we are not able to cancel the order. Sadly, many international orders that are not picked up - due to tariffs - are destroyed and we are unable to refund them. For clarity: There are no refunds on returned orders not accepted by the customer because of tariffs.

RETURN POLICY

Returns & Exchanges

Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns or exchanges on non-damaged music or clothing items at this time.

Damaged Items

If you receive a damaged item, please send an e-mail to info@mellomusicgroup.com with a photo or video of the damage to help us understand the problem and address any potential issues with future orders. If the product is still in stock, we will replace the damaged item. If it is sold out, we will work with you to either return your money or send you a comparable item.

We can not refund or exchange orders because of split vinyl sides. We have strict quality control both coming into and out of our warehouse and we use the most secure packaging available to get LPs to you safely and in the highest quality. Unfortunately, split vinyl sides can happen if shipping companies aren't careful with your product and that risk should be considered before purchasing.

Unclaimed Packages

Lost packages are usually the result of entering an address incorrectly, moving before the item arrives, etc. When this happens, we will reach out and e-mail you to verify your address and resend your package. If we don’t hear back after 14 days, we will refund your order.