THROWBACK THURSDAY: Josh Wink – Liquid Summer (1994)

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Ovum Recordings, the Philadelphia-based label created by Josh Wink and King Britt, and for its latest release, the Higher States of Consciousness artist has lined up something special.

OVUM 303 (see what they did there?) is a digital collection of 25 classic releases from the quarter century since the label’s foundation, featuring close to 70 epic tracks and remixes.

And while there’s a hint of ‘pricey limited edition box set’ about the announcement, this is a release with a difference – you can pay WHAT YOU WANT for the full collection of tracks, with all proceeds going towards The Philly POPS school programme, aimed at improving the musical education of Philadelphia’s young-uns.

As Wink put it on his Instagram page, a few days ago, this release, and the anniversary of the label, are a “celebration of all of you reading this: the concert goers, musicians, friends, and free spirits that continue to push this scene forward.”

Now that’s a holiday season gesture we can get behind.

OVUM 303 is available via Josh Wink’s Bandcamp page – click here for more information and to purchase.

For this week’s Throwback Thursday, therefore, there’s no better track to turn to than the debut release on Ovum, 1994’s Liquid Summer.

Packaged with a label that (we think) pays homage to the fabled ‘golden record’ on he Voyager spacecraft, Liquid Summer is a slow-building tech-funk stormer, with a lush string-led breakdown about six minutes in. Pure, uncut, Philly bliss.

The track is perhaps better known for its appearance on Dave Angel’s X-Mix the following year, which was subtitled ‘Beyond the Heavens’… quite apt if you ask us.

And yes, it is available as part of the OVUM 303 release. Keep up the good work, Josh! 🙂