21/02/2025
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A bridge from the past to the future, a tribute to a best mate, a kickass EP - Monkey Magic is all three
Chris Reed and Paul Radley formed Monkey Boots more than a decade ago to showcase a new sound, somewhere between their beloved deep house and the nascent nu-disco and edit scene.
Characterised by solid grooves, smooth builds, smart sampling and devastating hooks, Monkey Boots’ early releases were championed by the likes of Greg Wilson. It was Wilson who re-edited their breakthrough single Whitworth Strut, a musical love letter to the glory days of Manchester’s legendary Hacienda Club.
With new tracks underway, Paul passed away in 2022. Chris took a long time to figure out whether it was right to see their work through. After consulting - and securing the support of - Paul’s family, he decided it was.
This release captures some of their best work together (with a fresh twist) before that all-new material comes to Grass Green.
Monkey Magic contains their two most celebrated tracks, Whitworth Strut and Impossible Need, with a new edit of the former.
Whitworth Strut is a baggy broadside of loping conga beats, low-slung disco bass and reverb-drenched synths. It’s groovy, saucer-eyed fare that climaxes with a slowly-filtered anthemic riff.
Impossible Need mines an even more percussive vein, with a classic deep house bass sound (IYKYK) driving the bottom end and a plaintive yet powerful male vocal soaring above. Melodic and moody, this is maximum Monkey Boots.
The new take on Whitworth Strut (the 2025 Hour Party People Version) leads the EP and leans even further into its inspiration, with a sample that ageing Hacienda regulars and keen students of the “Madchester” scene alike will recognise immediately.
While primarily a re-edit, there are other pieces of fresh sonic trickery too: “Paul was a restless innovator,” says Chris. “He was always playing with new sounds, trying new ways of doing things. I felt I had to try adding some new bits to complement what was there because that’s what he would have done. I hope I’ve done him proud.”
Monkey Magic is the latest release from the Natural Rhythms family of labels, which also includes Electric Orange, Red Snapper and Black Sands. All take their names from Aotearoa-New Zealand's beautiful environment. In the case of Grass Green it’s the lush vegetation that covers much of the country.
A bridge from the past to the future, a tribute to a best mate, a kickass EP - Monkey Magic is all three Chris Reed and Paul Radley formed Monkey Boots more than a decade ago to showcase a new sound,
