Marvin by The Rutan

The Rutan’s first release of 2025 sees him align himself with another icon of 20th century black music - Marvin Gaye.

The EP opens with Marvin explaining how his empathy for humanity has affected him - the ups and downs of being a troubled soul - and how he expresses his feelings through music.

In keeping with The Rutan’s other releases, aspects of Marvin’s life are woven throughout the EP to add depth and meaning to the grooves. It’s all part of the cathartic experience of making music for this producer.

The first track is a pared back remake of Inner City Blues. The vocal is almost acapella at times. A simple, jazzy refrain shuffles into a gentle 4/4 head-nodder.

‘Brother’ seems like it is going to be a straightforward re-edit of What’s Going On before Marvin’s vocal gives way to a female vocal singing it in Japanese - the sort of left field twist to be expected on these EPs.

Another stand-out track is ‘Want Me’. The Rutan gives I Want You the full deep house treatment - it’s reminiscent of a late-90s, Guidance-style cut. Proper heads-down deepness.

The EP closes out with Bird Song, a reworking of Marvin’s space oddity - A Funky Space Reincarnation. The Rutan replaces the loose disco-funk and adds some chuggy acid squelch.

Words by Duncan Peetoom.

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