Milan-based Groovin Recordings continue to resurrect lost gems from Chicago’s Very Own aka Glenn Underground out of the abyss of Discogs purgatory with C.V.O. Elements, originally released on Guidance Recordings in 1997. One of a small handful of truly great Guidance releases, C.V.O. Elements is exemplary of the sort of sophisticated house musack G.U. was churning out around this time done to perfection, and the gospel-inspired soulfulness and pitched-up sine leads suggest a certain kinship to the HD trunk music The Legendary Traxster was cooking up in half-speed for Twista and Do Or Die on the other side of town around this time (maybe we’re reaching). A side cuts “G&S Motion” and “Concrete Level Jazz” are rife with jazzy guitar licks and deep Rhodes chords, but flip it over to see where your money is really going; “7th & Rhodes” and “Head Of House” are two of the finest slices of jazzy house ever put to record, each with their own all-star bassline, no-bullshit rhythms for your feet and life-affirming keyboard solos for your soul. Official 2018 repress, recommended.

• originally released in 1997
• official 2018 repress
• music label: Groovin Recordings 2018

reviewed by st. louis' very own 01/2019