Veteran beat producer Regal needs no introduction, but I’ll give him one anyway. Original founding member of seminal UK underground 90s acts The Wiseguys and Bronx Dogs, Regal has returned to the competitive arena with his debut solo album Loop Dreams. The final single to drop from the LP is the single The Mack.

A Blaxploitation party jam, The Mack is given a workover from Tru Thoughts maestro Flevans, and newcomer Lack of Afro. Sydney production whizz Edseven also pushes the buttons on a version. Flevens’ smooth remix is the standout here, with an emphasis on the brass and the cocktail quality beats. Lack of Afro focuses on toughening up the beats and ramping up the bass. Edseven slows down the tempo and shakes up the samples. Regal’s club mix has the old-school “the mack” sample upfront and is sure to rock the card table.

Regal has been chilling out in Australia for a long hiatus, remixing some Aussie acts and finding his new sound. Encompassing his hip hop roots with a fresh batch of dusty breaks, this new sound relies heavily on a blend of Funk-Fusion samples, a dash of psychedelica, deep grooves and a touch of the avant-garde. Part homage to the brilliance of the 70’s Jazz-Fusion scene, this reflects his major inspiration of late.

Regal has supported the likes of Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Sharon Jones, DJ Krush and Roots Manuva in his DJ shows. He has remixed the likes of Jungle Brothers, Primal Scream, The Sugarhill Gang, and 1200 Techniques. Regal tours nationally in April/May 2008 for his final Oz/NZ tour before returning to London so get on this soul train before it leaves for good.