El Michels Affair – 24 Hr Sports (Instrumentals)

Vinyl 12"

Big Crown Records presents the instrumental edition of El Michels Affair’s 2025 album 24 Hr Sports, stripping away the vocal features to place the exceptional musicianship and production of Leon Michels firmly in the spotlight. Without the contributions of Clairo, Norah Jones, Florence Adooni, Shintaro Sakamoto and the album’s various vocalists and choirs, the compositions take on a new character, revealing even more of the intricate arrangements, textures and grooves beneath.

Michels plays an extensive range of instruments throughout the album, joined by a formidable cast of musicians including Homer Steinweiss, Nick Movshon, Dave Guy, Marco Benevento and Hether. The record even features a saxophone solo from the late jazz legend Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

From cinematic soul and psychedelic funk to jazz, gospel and richly orchestrated grooves, 24 Hr Sports – Instrumentals highlights the craftsmanship at the heart of El Michels Affair. With the vocals removed, Michels’ distinctive production and the ensemble’s outstanding musicianship come to the fore, offering a fresh perspective on one of the group’s most ambitious recordings.