Sharevari
Song by A Number of Names
"A Number of Names" was a group of musicians from Detroit founded by Paul Lesley, Roderick Simpson, and Sterling Jones. They formed the group in the early '80s.
Influenced by "Moscow Discow" an early Italo Disco hit from the Belgium band Telex and Kraftwerk's "Home Computer." They composed "Sharevari," alongside the Cybotron track "Alleys Of Your Mind," which is one of the first tracks produced by the artists from Detroit that will generate the Techno genre.
They named the track "Sharevari" after a series of a local club night, which was carrying a name after a French clothing label "Charevari." The Sharevari nightclub soon became the club to be seen in, with guests competing for the trendiest outfit.
The track was initially released on "Capriccio Records" in 1981, and through the years, it had been remixed and reissued on various US, UK, and German record labels. The EP was mastered and pressed at – Nashville Matrix.
The production on this one is truly unique for the time. The reason why this piece is called the first Proto-Techno track is primarily because of the instrument priority. The general rule in 50's and 60's Rock music, later Italo, is that the Snare drum's sound is mixed to be the loudest instrument. You can't say that for this one! Giving priority to the Kick drum was a step forward in the creative approach of developing a new genre.
At the beginning of the song, you can hear the membrane vibration in the kick drum, and it is evident that they recorded the kick drum live, edited it manually, cut and glued the tape, and then processed it in the mix.
This is a creamy, smooth funky piece, and no matter the fresh approach and different instrument priority, it has that Electro-funk / Italo Disco vibe.
Live spacious claps, shaky hi-hats, trembling Disco bass, and distant melancholic synths combined to create a wobbly dancefloor banger.
"Sharevari" is a song about the chic, progressive Detroit club scene.
It's a truly mesmerizing piece and one that summarizes the vision and approach of a generation caught in the booming time of electronic instruments, which goes a long way to explaining why it remains such a timeless classic. The original record is pricey nowadays, and it can go up to $400, although there has been a recent repress on Capriccio Records in 2017.
Listen to this one, let it grow on you, and you'll love it. It's a beautiful composition and a crucial piece of Electronic music history.