Egyptian Lover put out Back From The Tomb, his sixth full-length album, back in 1994, then went dark for about a decade. The Lover had (almost) always put out his music on his own label Egyptian Empire Records, and the label too was mostly quiet for that entire period. Then in 2006 he re-emerged, an 808 phoenix rising from the ashes of the late 80s and early 90s, a sensuous reminder of better times, an glorious anachronism to the era of house parties. And he did so with a double album called Platinum Pyramids.
I was quite shocked to find an unopened copy of Platinum Pyramids on a recent trip to New York City in, of all places, Rough Trade’s used store (aka Rough Trade Downstairs). How did it get here? Oddly enough, the guy running the used section wasn’t entirely sure either. See, I pulled it from a box on the counter intended for “higher priced” used records, though the price was hardly extravagant, and dude tracked me down about ten minutes later. “Do you know what that record is?” he asked, genuinely curious. So I explained, as best I could (record nerd to record nerd), the legend of The Lover and his 808 that fills the dance floor and makes the girly’s knees get weak. I told him I was surprised to stumble upon it, having never found The Lover in the wild. “Yeah, I don’t know man, I just found it in a box in the back.” Indeed. Well, my lucky day, friend.
Platinum Pyramids is exactly what I expected it to be – 808 beats with sexy-ish lyrics and vocals, music to get funky by. I’ve been infatuated with The Lover ever since being turned onto him by my friend Ingvar, and Platinum Pyramids just reinforces my lust for his beats. Is he the king of the 808? He legit might be, though the softest bass-drum-shaped-spot in my heart will always be reserved for Sir Mix-A-Lot’s Swass (The 808 kick drum / Makes the girlies get dumb). But The Lover is right there alongside Mix, all bouncing beast and slippery hi-hats.