- Merle is a one-time alias used by Merwyn Sanders, who's better known as a co-founder of Virgo Four. His 2000 (And We're Still Here) 12-inch was originally released on Christabel Records at the end of 1999, with four tracks of disco-flecked, good-times house music. Now, Chicago label Stripped & Chewed's long-awaited reissue features a bonus track ("Beautiful") and a slightly altered version of "Fannie Likes 2 Dance" (now titled "Mimi Likes 2 Dance"). Where the title and lyrics of the original referenced a lady with whom Sanders was romantically involved at the time, the reissue version is a touching tribute to his wife.
In affixing a soulful vocal hook to scuffed hi-hats and a simple guitar riff, Sanders fumbles a bit with his half-baked title track. "You Make Me Laugh" comes off sounding polished in contrast, its playful bounce offset by organ keys and a repeated horn sample. Rounding out the A-side, "Forever Yours" has a little more bite. Combining Chic-esque guitar licks with a rolling bassline and swung percussion, it's sincere and genuinely funky. The previously unreleased "Beautiful" is aimed at DJs with a taste for deep, retro-leaning house. Airy pads join a punchy rhythm track, and the result holds its own next to the originals.
It's fair to say that "Mimi Likes 2 Dance" has lost some of its lo-fi charm, especially for those familiar with the track's first incarnation. The glossy sheen of re-recorded vocals is an awkward fit with the rough-hewn instrumental, not to mention the unnecessary xylophone line tacked on later. Aside from these grievances, however, it's an exceptional piece, a tender slice of vintage house with the structure and sensibilities of a disco classic.
TracklistA1 2000 (And We're Still Here)
A2 You Make Me Laugh
A3 Forever Yours
B1 Mimi Likes 2 Dance
B2 Beautiful