SunPalace

Britain’s SunPalace were a forward-thinking electronic jam-funk duo featuring multi-instrumentalists Mike Collins and Keith O’Connell. The group’s early sides became staples of the ’80s club scene and were later sampled by dance and hip-hop artists. Formed in 1981, SunPalace came together after Collins and O’Connell began rooming together upon moving to London. As they were neither singers nor drummers, they focused on utilizing various synthesizers, guitars, and drum machines to craft their instrumental jazz and funk-influenced tracks. Originally calling themselves Rude Note, they changed their name to SunPalace per their label’s request after signing to Passion Records in 1983. That same year, they released the single “Winning,” backed by “Rude Movements.” The release eventually caught the attention of various club DJs, including New York’s David Mancuso, who began spinning it regularly at his famed Loft party. Despite their cult following, Collins and O’Connell eventually moved away from their work as SunPalace. However, they remained active in the music business, with O’Connell taking on session work and Collins moving into soundtrack recording and productions with such luminaries as Ryuichi Sakamoto, Mitch Easter, and others. In 2016, U.K. label BBE released the SunPalace anthology Raw Movements/Rude Movements, featuring the group’s original tracks alongside previously unreleased demos. ~ Matt Collar