2003 "In Da Mix" Newsletter

December 28, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠34

JAPAN’s CORNER with Nik Weston
Gilles Peterson is responsible for the latest collection of Shibuya Jazz Classics series on Solid Records with Trio Issue on CD and there’s a limited edition 7'' vinyl single at the moment with two tracks : “Early Summer“ by Ryo Fukui Trio (awesome !) and Irene Kral with a cover version of “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' on the flip. Other bullets on the album include “Nowin“ by Masuru Imada, Dee Dee Bridgewater's “Love From The Sun“ & “Little B“ + “Tokyo“ by Richie Beirach. I won’t go through the whole tracklisting but you get the general idea and if you have a remote interest in jazz then, I'd say go and buy as your ears will thank you !

Village Again Records continue to release great albums in Japan, often by UK or non japanese artists.There's material from Break Reform, Seek, Directions, Sandboy and Galera, either out recently or to come in the not too distant future on the label.

Incognito have finally had their remixes released and I've seen a few copies floating around London town… Dimitri from Paris, Danny Krivit, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Toshio Matsuura, Yukihiro Fukutomi and Little Big Bee are all represented, so search out.

Recent guests to Tokyo have included Trevor Jackson, Mark De Clive-Lowe featuring Bembe Segue, Jori Hulkkonen, Freq Nasty and The Roots. Meanwhile in London, Sleepwalker from Tokyo ripped up the Jazz Cafe with four days of performance warming up for the legendary Pharoah Saunders here for two nights I was lucky enough to DJ & spin a jazzzzz set. The Sleepwalker 4 piece band, lead by Hajime Yoshizawa, had come to London after they'd done some gigs in Europe including Croatia and Austria. I’ve put some stock of their recent album in some London shops… For the vinyl, check Soulbrother in Putney (www.soulbrother.com) and Sounds Of The Universe just off Berwick Street in London's Soho (0207 494 2004) or www.vinyl-junkies.co.uk. There are also limited quantities of the Japan only CD in Soulbrother & Sounds Of The Universe.

The killer new Bakura 12'' in a fetching purple swifty sleeve (a project of Domu & Marin) is out on Especial now and in all the usual London shops. Check all of the above record emporiums as well as Record Room, Picadilly in Manchester, Store Records in Sheffield, If Records, Release The Groove, Disque in Islington, Dragon etc etc. There will be a new Sleepwalker album in 2004 preceeded by a single featuring Pharoah Saunders. Also soon, two new releases (mid january 2004) of Da Lata and Jazztronik both on vinyl 12“ on the Especial Distribution arm. Both are essential club floor pressure......

Nathan Haines tells me his Japan tour has now been put off to work on projects back in his home country New Zealand, but I'll be venturing over for a DJ tour myself in january, taking in Miyazaki & Kumamoto as well as several dates in Tokyo promoting my japanese compilation, Sakura Aural Bliss album & 4 track EP. Listen to snippets here (http://www.kriztal.com/catalog/enlarge.asp?id=31). It’s a USA CD release but is also available in Japan (or through www.dustygroove.com) and Timewarp in the UK have picked up the vinyl EP for european distribution, so it’s soon to be out.

Fat Jon (the Ohio rapper/producer from the 5 Deez) released an instrumental hipity hop album that only came out in Japan so far. Exceptional Records (www.exceptionalrecords.co.uk) is to release the aformentioned in february preceeded by a single remixed by Swell Session (Gonkyburg's finest ! ) for a massive floorfiller inna disco boogie showdown stylee.

This is the last Japan column till 2004, so I'll see you all next year !

Peace,
NW

Playlists

FSB TENNERZ
PATCHWORKS Immo EP (Q-Tape)
BLAZE featuring JOI CARDWELL Found Love (King Street)
BROTHER Love Vissicitude (Kif Records)
STEAL VYBE Elements (Diaspora Recordings)
IVAN IACOBUCCI featuring BLACK SHAMPU I’m Leavin’ - Main Mix (King Street)
SARA DEVINE Take Me Home - MAW Mixes (white)
SUN & SOUL SHADES featurring MAHJONG & ARAMANSA Goldmine (DNH Records)
MEITZ Zwakalani - S.U.M.O. Rebounce (INFRACom !)
FRANCK BIYONG & THE AFROLECTRIC ORKESTRA featuring MELISSA JAMES We Shall Overcome (Hot Casa Records).
ARNOLD JARVIS Love Of My Life (West End)

NIK WESTON’S JAPAN CORNER TOP 10
RYO FUKUI TRIO Early Summer (Solid)
CYBOPHONIA Vostok Jazz (Hipnologie/CD)
BAKURA Veya Veya/Thinking About (Especial)
JAZZTRONIK Dance With Me Dub/Samurai (Especial Distribution)
DA LATA Change (Especial Distribution)
DJ MITSU THE BEATS Right Here (Planet Groove)
KAYO ISHU Living Scat (Solid/CD)
ELECTRIC SHEEP Naked Moon (Quality)
INCOGNITO Who Needs Love - Remixes 3 X 12“ (Poney Canyon)
MURO Vinyl Drifter (Incredible)

December 21, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠33

NU GROOVE (SOUL, JAZZ, BREAKS + MORE…)
Is Paris burnin’ ? One definitely has the right to put out the question as some of the local heroes set fire to the dancefloors… Such as the Versatile clan which, followin’ the footsteps of the sumptuous I:Cube’s 3 album, multiplies the blows of glares. Whereas "Can You Deal With That", the impressive meeting at the borders of hip hop with Rza (of Wu Tang) has been just remixed by Cris Prolific from Kemit Sources ; the aforementioned also working in close relation with Gilb'R on a hip hop album project with a kept secret international casting, about which we’ll definitely keep you posted as time comes…

Let us cross the British Channel to lean on another exceptional opus, Squire For Hire ; in other words, Nathan Haines’s second effort on Chilli Funk. Produced by the godfather of West London, Phil Asher and all his team under the Restless Soul guise (Marc De Clive-Lowe, Mike Patto, Chris Franck, etc) with the vocal help of Marlena Shaw, Rich Medina and Vanessa Freeman. A real masterpiece that’s a real tour de force from the ever active hailing out of the London soulful scene. Moreover, it profits from excellent remixes in 12” format carried out by Ashley Beedle. Meanwhile, in the same singing and spiritual spirit, we have some radiant news from the Papa Records stable, such as - to remain definitely in the same family - the Phil Asher ‘s remix of “Butterflies” by Reel People or the new Seiji’s work entering the afro-latin coloured universe under the Oreja’s belt, entiteld "Mañana Por La Manana".

Bugz In The Attic do not have of cease to disseminate their sulfurous productions and others remixes here and there, as shown by their leaping reinterpretation of the "Rainfall" by Nitin Sawhney or that epic and animated of Gene Harris entitled "Losalamitos- Latinfunklovesong". A true essential piece, to be a part of a straightforwardly fabulous album to appear later this winter on Blue Note, including some new 4Hero’s involvement on Horace Silver’s "Won't You Open Up Your Senses"). The latest, also awaited on 4Hero’s Lifestyle compilation for Harmless, alongside true pearls of soul like Rick Holmes’s "Remember To Remember" or the Stevie Wonder’s written "I Love Every Little Thing About You" for Syreeta Wright. Our dear 4Hero brothers, who are like always and forever omniscient. While waiting for the imminent release of their album of remixes, you can catch’em on the recent Astor Piazzolla’s collection of revamps alongside former Young Disciples & Galliano headz - Demus & Rob Gallagher - 2 Banks Of 4, whose new LP - Three Streets Worlds on Red Egyptian label - is a model of grace and natural elegance between jazz, folk, afro-funk and broken beat.

News of last minute, the large wizard of Detroit which one names Theo Parrish looks set to drop his new album on Sound Signature. An implying project of many musicians hailing from the Motor City which should come out under The Rotating Assembly moniker. A voyage without return in the depths of the deep groove. Theo which after a new appearance of anthology at Plastic People club in London at the end of september, finally made his debut behind some french desks (at Le Rex Club in Paris) for the absolute happiness of his fans, within the Detroit Beatdown framework (cf.the compilation of the same name on Third Ear). An essential event devoted to this UK label with the x-tra participations of Norm Talley and Eddie "Flashin'" Fowlkes on October 23, provided to us on a silver plate by the excellent Serge Nicolas and his team of Paradise Massage. An organization which, after rare artists like Titonton Duvante or the R-Tyme in the past months, offered us again what is to be taken as some of the best coming from Michigan’s capital. Cheers to them!

Lastly, a discographic proof of some Detroit spirit in Paris on Project Records, the french young deep techno/soul of reference label, which, after some deep latin house escapade provided by 4siders, catches our attention with an obscure producer named Stephen Brown. Nothing here but some scottish equivalent to Maurizio, from which dubby, minimal and hypnotic techno marks are also to be found on seminal imrints like Transmat. Not to mention the soon to be released comp from the Project camp full of more than promising artists. Watch this space !

Playlists

IRIE'S NU GROOVE HOT 10
RICK HOLMES Remember To Remember (Harmless)
ROY AYERS Reaching The Highest Pleasure (BBE)
DKD Super Amazing (2000 Black)
UMOD "Tromboline" (CD-R)
GENE HARRIS Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong - B.I.T.A Remix (Blue Note)
Sa-Ra ? (?)
MICHELLE LAWSON I Just Wanna Say - Domu Remix (Mercury)
L'AROYE ? (Faces/CD-R)
CAPITOL A Funkboy (2000 Black)
STEPHEN BROWN Planet Waves (Project)

MFSB TENNERZ
PATCHWORKS Immo EP (Q-Tape)
BLAZE featuring JOI CARDWELL Found Love (King Street)
BROTHER Love Vissicitude (Kif Records)
STEAL VYBE Elements (Diaspora Recordings)
IVAN IACOBUCCI featuring BLACK SHAMPU I'm Leavin' - Main Mix (King Street)
SARA DEVINE Take Me Home - MAW Mixes (white)
SUN & SOUL SHADES featurring MAHJONG & ARAMANSA Goldmine (DNH Records)
MEITZ Zwakalani - S.U.M.O. Rebounce (INFRACom !)
FRANCK BIYONG & THE AFROLECTRIC ORKESTRA featuring MELISSA JAMES We Shall Overcome (Hot Casa Records).
ARNOLD JARVIS Love Of My Life (West End)

NIK WESTON'S JAPAN CORNER TOP 10
RYO FUKUI TRIO Early Summer (Solid)
CYBOPHONIA Vostok Jazz (Hipnologie/CD)
BAKURA Veya Veya/Thinking About (Especial)
JAZZTRONIK Dance With Me Dub/Samurai (Especial Distribution)
DA LATA Change (Especial Distribution)
DJ MITSU THE BEATS Right Here (Planet Groove)
KAYO ISHU Living Scat (Solid/CD)
ELECTRIC SHEEP Naked Moon (Quality)
INCOGNITO Who Needs Love - Remixes 3 X 12" (Poney Canyon)
MURO Vinyl Drifter (Incredible)

December 14, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠32

HOUSE, GARAGE & OTHER ILLICIT GROOVES…
Needless to specify that THE WORD and some aural accompaniement were made to be the perfect combination for helping us to reach our inner vibes. This being the key to explain why and how music can be so important to us, should it be individually speaking but also globally, leading sometimes to gather while taken by the same kind of emotions and we’ve got quite a few on display this week for you…

Arnold Jarvis ? Eurgh… You may think there’s no use to talk about him any more in this column right now, as he had a recent single of the week over there - the very first on our recently created section (cf. week ≠ 48) - but wait a minute ! He’s got another release, this time on Madhouse label. A cut called “Music Is My Friend“ which has a nice and cool atmospheric swing along as remixed by Daphonic (nuttin’ to do wit’ the parisian record store of the name, although ending with an S !), although I very much prefer the original version by Kerri Chandler with its typical organ line inherited from gospel.

Pursuing this trip inside the deepest side of the NY scene with “Be Yourself“, the blatant new single to be taken from the awaited LifeBeat Benefit Compilation, Blaze presents Underground Dance Artists For Life’s Keep Hope Alive album featuring Joi Cardwell, flirting with absolute PU-RI-TY. In other words, our third “single of the week“ (King Street). Meanwhile, “Found Love“ seeing the West End’s pair on a downtempo tip, should see the light any time now on their own label.

Also good news from the Frankie Feliciano’s camp is the relaunch of his own label (Ricanstruction) with a first release, the cool & classy “My Joy“ under the Nulife guise, starring Kenny Bobien on vocals + the launch of a website simply called www.ricanstruction.com. Welcome on line !

Other things where you’re sure to find some real musicianship and aural excitement are Nick Jones & Kalim Shabazz‘s works and their new 12“, “Celebrate Life“ (under their Moments Of Life moniker), is no exception, melting numerous organic elements over some pulsating rhythm. Meanwhile, the dub version (my favourite in fact) brings us into some more sublte atmospheric territory (Wave Music).

Well, well, have to say that I haven’t really being convinced by Mondo Grosso’s latest called “BLZ“ and its rather uninspired flamenco flava. This said, Bob Sinclar saves this with an old school funk elements addiction including what has to be taken as a short reminder of Positive Force’s “We Got The Funk“ anthem. Cleverly done ! (King Street).

Going up North to Canada with Nick Holder’s famous DNH Records label. A place where you not only find discoïd extrapolations but also the bulk of absolute musicianship, as delivered by Sun & Soul Shades featuring Mahjong & Aramansa on the jazzy soulful brokenish “Goldmine“. Pfwaouw ! To say the least about this production appearently coming from Italy.

Not that many releases on UK label, Diaspora Recordings, but regularly something to feed your appetite, as demonstrated by Steal Vybe with their eponym EP, delivering some cool’N’fluid soulful jazzy touch on the four tracks on display, thus with a very intimate feel and a slice of melancholy as shown on “Elements“ on the flipside.

Can’t help myself remembering George Benson’s classic “The World Is A Ghetto“ while having a listen to the wonda-ful re-edits of “What You Doing To This Girl ?“ by Los Jugaderos on Junior Boy’s own. The A-side majesticaly retouched by Norman Jay, although my heart goes for the B-side which is the result of an old collaboration between Ashley Beedle and Phil Asher, both on abstract post-discoïd feel. You’d rather get this shit !

Quite far away from this although as effective on the floors is the abstract afro repetitive “Downtown“ from Freedom Soundz, aka Alex Attias & Vanessa Freeman, particularly recommended if you’re into experimental pulsative stuff (Nepenta). Should you be a regular customer to In Da Mix, Meitz’s name then can’t be unknown to you. Well, this versatile Hamburg based producer is back in full effect with the afro/broken “Zwakalani“, one of the strongest cuts to be taken from his debut-LP on INFRACom ! The aforementioned, delivered with some additional reworks from Stockholm’s heroes, S.U.M.O. with a lot on offer here and most definitely on their festive Rebounce version.

Ya think I’ve finished with you ? No way, as the french scene has many things on display. Starting with what is to be taken as our fourth single of the week (click on our section of the name next wednesday), we’re going baaaack to da roots with the classic afro “We Shall Overcome“ by Franck Biyong & The Afrolectric Orkestra featuring Melissa James (Hot Casa Records).

Everyone knowing a bit about Franck Roger should have noticed his influences behind the desks. Could this be that he’s the only one doing interesting deep house music in France at the moment ? Another answer to be given while listening to his latest 3 tracker on Versatile, hailing from Chicago flavas alla Larry Heard (on “There Was A Child“) to the vibrant “Vera Cruz“ tinged with some plaintive jazzy saxophone line, provided by Loik Gayot.

Remember what the brits used to call the nu house, refering to the now defunct Nuphonic label with acts like Faze Action at their very beginning ? Looks like there’s very much in common on Cachasa’s 4th release. A cut called “Voodoo Child“ by Mana Soaio, especially on it’s B-side mix led by a psychedelic dubbed guitar line. Guaranteed effects on da floors, as for the infamous jazzy phonk “Love Vissicitude“ by Brother on Kif Records, establishing once more this label amongst the finest quality music purveyors in France.

A bit more weird is “Bang The Box“ by Lanoiraude with its drop of electro jazz funk feel, from the EP of the same name (Initial Cuts). Meanwhile, the heat gets to its highest stage on Rinôçérôse’s latest, “Music Kills Me“. Either on its revamp by The Rapture, mixing new wave kind of vocal interpretation over a loop taken from the evergreen CeCe Rogers “Someday“’s piano line. Or should it be on its rocky Radio Edit, ready to take the floors by storm with its ZZ Top kind of heavy rock guitar line (V2).

So time now to wish you merry x-mas and a happy nu year as this is the very last section of the genre for 2K3, leaving you in the weeks to come successively with Irie then Nik Weston with the assurance of finding some other sparse beats.

Peace,
MFSB

Playlists

IRIE’S NU GROOVE HOT 10
RICK HOLMES Remember To Remember (Harmless)
ROY AYERS Reaching The Highest Pleasure (BBE)
DKD Super Amazing (2000 Black)
UMOD “Tromboline” (CD-R)
GENE HARRIS Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong - B.I.T.A Remix (Blue Note)
Sa-Ra ? (?)
MICHELLE LAWSON I Just Wanna Say - Domu Remix (Mercury)
L’AROYE ? (Faces/CD-R)
CAPITOL A Funkboy (2000 Black)
STEPHEN BROWN Planet Waves (Project)

MFSB TENNERZ
PATCHWORKS Immo EP (Q-Tape)
BLAZE featuring JOI CARDWELL Found Love (King Street)
BROTHER Love Vissicitude (Kif Records)
STEAL VYBE Elements (Diaspora Recordings)
IVAN IACOBUCCI featuring BLACK SHAMPU I’m Leavin’ - Main Mix (King Street)
SARA DEVINE Take Me Home - MAW Mixes (white)
SUN & SOUL SHADES featurring MAHJONG & ARAMANSA Goldmine (DNH Records)
MEITZ Zwakalani - S.U.M.O. Rebounce (INFRACom !)
FRANCK BIYONG & THE AFROLECTRIC ORKESTRA featuring MELISSA JAMES We Shall Overcome (Hot Casa Records).
ARNOLD JARVIS Love Of My Life (West End)

NIK WESTON’S JAPAN CORNER TOP 10
RYO FUKUI TRIO Early Summer (Solid)
CYBOPHONIA Vostok Jazz (Hipnologie/CD)
BAKURA Veya Veya/Thinking About (Especial)
JAZZTRONIK Dance With Me Dub/Samurai (Especial Distribution)
DA LATA Change (Especial Distribution)
DJ MITSU THE BEATS Right Here (Planet Groove)
KAYO ISHU Living Scat (Solid/CD)
ELECTRIC SHEEP Naked Moon (Quality)
INCOGNITO Who Needs Love - Remixes 3 X 12“ (Poney Canyon)
MURO Vinyl Drifter (Incredible)

December 7, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠31

Asian people like to say that what is true today won’t be necessary the same the day after and I don’t see how we could say they’re wrong, as nothing stays the same at the end of the day, doesn’t it ?

Had a conversation two weeks ago with Kenny Dope as he was in Paris for the promotion of his 4thcoming comp for Pure and this re-assured me about the fact that I’m not the only one to question myself about the future and the how about the passion we both share in common here. Anyway, as famous late french humorist, Coluche said : Should it be a problem, there’s always a solution, and if there’s no solution, it means that there’s no problem…

We’re focussing on the future and the future looks like being definitely on internet, said Kenny, and this is exactly what we’re working on at IDM HQ with the conception and the progressive building of our site that should be fully operational in the days to come, already thinking about opening new sections (see our first selection of playlists above), but also increasing the power of IDM network while incorporating new members on our ever growing family.

Got a new bunch of albums this week, starting with the release Stateside via Moonshine of your very devoted’s latest effort. A double-CD mix called Bargrooves - Espace Privé on Seamless Recordings where I share the duties with label boss, Ben Sowton (himself on CD1) and here’s what been said about this here and there. “The entire first CD is filled with amazing house grooves that are quite funky and almost poppy.“ Meanwhile “CD2 is quite happy and funky“, being “the perfect album for a night of martinis.... chocolate ones“ Or “Let it take you on a worldwide journey of Bar cruises in your own space. Totally Deep - Funky and you cannot sit still“ (CD1). And “perfect chillout with sophistication. Jazzy - sultry - and it feels like the music is massaging you after a heavy night out !“ (CD2). A collection featuring tracks from Miguel Migs, Afro Mystik and Physics, burt also Norman Talley, Rise Ashen and Kathy Brown, to name but a few. (more info : www.seamlessrecordings.co.uk)

No doubt, the IDM people have definitely a lot on offer as our London pal, Nik Weston has also a new selection of his own, this being on a slightly different territory, with the atmospheric Sakura Aural Bliss. Also the opportunity to have a better view of what our distinguished correspondant is into (cf. his monthly editorial about the very latest coming out of the japanese scene) finding tracks from local heroes Takayushi Shinashi, United Future Organization, Calm, Sunaga T-Experience, Chari Chari and Yukihiro Fukutomi amongst others. A wonderful piece indeed that transports you from ambient cool hip hop beats to latin jazz with a very soft touch (Kriztal Entertainment). (more info : www.kriztal.com)

Kenny Dope awaited with a new mix on Pure Compilation 2 next january, Louie Vega’s just preceeded him with what to me looks like da absolute cocktail of the year. A double CD called Soulheaven - London_Ibiza where you find this other master at work in full effect, mixing some of the best tunes around, from Soul Central to Georg Levin, Reel People, Rasmus Faber, Glenn Underground and DJ Gregory, melted with some timeless classics like Earth People’s “Dance“, Donnie’s “Cloud 9“, Ràul Midon’s “Cerca De Mi“ and BeBe Winans’s “Thank You“. Definitely a true gem and our first reference on our newly created “album of the month“ section ! (more info : www.conceptmusic.com / www.soul-heaven.com / www.mawrecords.com / www.zoomanagement.com)

Another (house) CD mix is On The Rocks vol.2 just released on Chez Music. For those who may not know Chez Music is the label of Tahiti born and Paris raised Neil Aline, being one of the very rare frenchmen to be established in NYC. Following the footsteps of pioneering François K whom he regularly works with, doing common parties in Miami during the WMC, Aline has been fortunate enough to put his hands on two real standards while giving birth to Chez ; one of the two being Jon Cutler’s “It’s Yours“ on everyone’s lips soon after its promo release. Well doin’ the do on the DJ’s camp is a thing and havin’ a wider audience is another one, more especially in America was dance music is totally out of radio airing as opposed to Europe even though it could be much better. And when you target another audience apart from the DJ’s, you have to find the appropriate format, which means forget about the vinyl as no one has got turntables anymore home. So what you get there is something on both worlds, showing the skills of a very good and subtle DJ’s (I still remember his set alongside Jon Cutler at the Limielight exactly a year ago) and having his label’s repertoire available for you and I. The mix is atmopsheric and the tunes show the potential of versatility, being not only danceable, but also listenable on other circumstances, while chillin’ at home or drivin’ on a highway, featuring cuts from Miguel Migs, Bibi, Mateo & Matos, Matthias Heilbronn and many others. Well done, monsieur ! (more info : www.chezmusic.com)

Sonar Kollektiv, which is the brainchild of Berlin’s famous Jazzanova and cohorts, delivers another corker with canadian songstress Deyampert’s debut entitlteld Shapes & Colours and this is exactly what happens while havin’a a listen to the twelve tracks of this collection. A mixture a soulful/folky songs interprated in a way that reminds somehow Des’ree’s style ; this, melted with cool and thin jazz & broken beat vibes and sometimes a drop of melancholy. Hmmm ! as notoriously shown on the vibrant “Release“, sounding like aural eden amongst many others on display here. (more info : www.sokarkollektiv.de)

The next step brings us in the very depth of the britsh countryside where The Rurals are hailing from. Never found yourself like being caught by the magnificience of a landscape whatever the season is ? Well, if a sunset in the famous San Antonio Bay listening to some Cafe del Mar aural beauty is something not to be missed, that’s about the same in Devonshire where this duet have set up their studio. Pretty well known for their sensuous house, here they come deeper witrh some pals in some groovy downtempo area with the same sense of balance on a travel called Songs Of The Soul Soother - The Pëng Fables vol.1 (Pêng Records). And guess it’s a trully autumnal effort, seing us appreciating to chill at home while waiting for some better days to put our noses outside. Oooh, I love dis ! (more info : www.peng.co.uk )

Long time I hadn’t seen Xavier who owns parisian famous hip hop/R&B store, Sound Record and it was a real pleasure, not only coz’ he’s cool but also as there’s always something he knows that’s gonna blow your mind ; the thing in question for me being at the time a collection named Djinji Brown presents Uncle Junior’s Friday Fish Fry (The Market) on B’klyn label Uncle Junior Records. Could have easily been a soundtrack to a film which I would describe as the OST to the current life of die hard lovers in search of the groove as you all probably know that once like this you don’t give a f*** of the genre knowing that what you’re searching is in the final result. Well, that’s undoubtly the case of this piece of wax varying from reggae to abstract hip hop via afro/latin, funk, soul + broken to the center of the groove featuring tracks from Mongo Santamaria to Agent K, Gregory Isaacs, Peven Everett, DJ Spinna & Shaun Escoffery, Brass Construction and Djinji Brown himself. Gotta have dis shit folks, I swear. (more info : www.sevenheads.com)

Some of you may well have heard of Jazzinho in a recent past. A group who caused quite a stir on the brasileiro nu jazz atmospheric fdield with a couple of 12 inches. Well, here comes the band again around songstress Guida de Palma with the help of Da Lata’s producer, Chris Franck on his eponym debut-LP. Needless to say that if the liaison with brasilian folklore is definitely around and hopefully, it’s more than a simple new reading of yesteryear with very much on offer, prooving once more the fact that wherever you are, there’s also sunshine somewhere in this world (Ecco.Chamber). (more info : www.eccochamber.com )

Trends are everywhere and language is no exception should it be english, freench, spanish or whatever, with those words and expressions that appear all of a sudden before disappearing as quickly a few weeks/months later. Remember amongst others that famous “ballistic“ hailing from UK. Well, Da Lata is nothing but its equivalent in portuguese american (well brasilian), although this band comes from London, symbolising this latin british scene with groups like Saõ Benitez, Los Ladrones and some others. So what to expect with this new chapter called Serious ? Well, much more eclectism than before. Deliberately african on the single of the same name featuring Bembe Segue, running around some cool broken funk vibes on “Reeling“ sung by Jhelisa Anderson prior to “Firefly“ on a higher step. Not to mention the delicate “Distracted Minds“ on a cool afro bassa tip, nor the killing “Nuts“ twisting afro fdunk groove and brasilian elements with a dubby perspective. An effort that, like its predecessors, has definitely its moments (Palm Beats). (More info : www.palmpicture.com )

Ending up this selection with some contemplative aural beauty coming from France. Some ambient stuff that you might get while chillin’ at some underground spots in Ibiza like Las Dalhias or Kumharras when DJ’s like Pathaan are spinning. Even though, this band has some dub influences (as shown on a cuts like “Gringo“ or “High-Techological Society“, Aïzell shows his skills for wandering on ethno abstract areas ; this giving a real introspective feel to this first effort called Concerning Monospaces (Slalom Music) (more info : www.slalom-music.com)

More to come in the near future with the release of Memories, an album from obviously disbanded french pair, Nova Nova, with unreleased cuts, only vinyl released ones and new mixes + a few newies, sounding like a true eden for those who like the atmospheric vibes at their best (F-Com), the new issue of Jazz In The House serie, achieving its 12th effort on Slip’N’Slide and two absolute monsters on King Street/Nitegrooves. One being a live version of Kerri Chandler’s Trionisphere album recorded at Club Yellow in Tokyo ; the other being the new CD-mix from Ron Trent called Abstract Afro Journey. In other words, get yourselves ready for some more investments in the near future.

Peace,
MFSB

Playlists

IN DA MIX “ALBUMS“ TENNERZ
NOVA NOVA Tones Ibid - album version (F-Com/promo)*
MONGO SANTAMARIA O Mi Shango (Uncle Junior Records) **
PASSION DANCE ORCHESTRA Worlds (Theme) (Needs Music)
AIZELL High-Technological Society
DA LATA Nuts - album version (Palm Beats)
JOHN PLAYS SPECIAL So Familiar (Pêng)***
GROOVEMAN SPOT Voyage The Sky (Kriztal) ††
DEYAMPERT Release - album version (Sonar Kollektiv)
JAZZINHO Astral - album version (Ecco.Chamber)
GERARDO FRISINA - album version (Schema/promo)

* from the forthcoming Memories album, awaited mid-january 2004
** from V/A : Djinji Brown presents Uncle Junior’s Friday Fish Fry (The Market)
*** from Songs Of The Soul Soother album
† from Needs (Not Wants) A Compilation (Needs Music)
†† from V/A : Sakura Aural Bliss CD & 4 track vinyl sampler

November 23, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠30

Remember back in the days what decided me to come to you like this each week. Was just sitting in front of my screen like I am doing right now, facing a white page that I was supposed to fill in with topics from the last WMC for one of the mags I’m writing for.
Just let you imagine how it can be, while back to your day II day like in some rainy spot at the time surrounded by people who don’t have the foggiest idea about the music you love, after a week in the so called Sunshine State with some chaps that you consider as true brothers ! Well, you almost feel like an orphan telling yourself “what the hell am I doin’ there ?“

Been a scribe for almost 15 years and will have spent the double next year behind the desks but can say that I still feel the same kind of emotion while discovering some music that blows my mind.
I just feel like I have to find some way to spread the feeling so that people can get into it and there are numerous, should this be a review, during a DJ set or on a compilation. Well, doin’ nothing else than what people are supposed to expect from someone to whom infos are sent, don’t I ? And I guess I’ll keep on doin’ like this until I donb’t feel any more thirst from what passionates me, although I’m very much conscient about the fact that I can’t do this alone. Guess this is why I have decided to go further while finding another way to display these infos on the Net. But also because I’ve ended getting borred with an increasing amount of people complaining about the fact that nothing was happening, although they didn’t do anything themselves on their own.

So let’s talk frankly. Don’t really know how long this critical situation we’re living is going to last but one thing is for sure and that’s the key to this issue, we simply can’t keep on like this, seing more and more faces amongst us disappear month after month.
Can’t help myself going back to this conversation I’ve had with Josh Milan and Kevin Hedge (the Blaze guys) during the Sunslice Festival last summer in Toulon. We was talking about the existence of true talents in the house scene, although they’re not recognized on a wider scale where the crowd see their expectations being fed up mainly with prefabricated toys. So what’s the point ? Unity by any means necessary, which significates getting rid of our individualistic reflexes and gather our forces in order to create a global network that will give us the capacity to show what we’re really into on a global range, remembering the fact as 80’s funk band Shannon said that “we’re stronger together “.

How are we able to do it ? This I dunno, but the amount of feedback tthat we’ll get from you should give an idea of what could be expected in the near feature ; the main question being : are we gonna be able to do it ? So what each of us has to do is quite simple. Sit back, relax, take a breathe and ask yourself what is to be done for a better future in the community. Got already some idea ? Well, they are more than welcome, should you send us directly an e-mail or go to our site (www.indamixworldwide.com) and drop us a line before we get back to you on a forthcoming issue with a compilation of your reactions.
You can also start while providing us with your current top 10, the infos and flyers regarding your gigs or the addresses of people you know who might be interested in receiving In Da Mix, sending some personal statements any time, creating links with your websites. In other words displaying eveything that you may find necessary for a better understanding of what you’re doing.
Last but not least, we could also think about some possible common action when physically close to each other during the next Winter Music Conference. This might seem utopia as most of the great ideas for some of us but once again, life is nothing but what we make of it… Peace,
MFSB

IN DA MIX “30“ TENNERZ
Mc FADDEN & WHITEHEAD Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now (PIR)
MARVIN GAYE What’s Going On (Motown)
JEAN CARN Don’t Let it Go To Your Head (PIR)
THE ISLEY BROTHERS Fight The Power (Tneck)
CECE ROGERS All Join’ Hands (EastWest)
SHANNON Stronger Together (Mirage)
PHASE II Reachin’ (Movin)
STEVIE WONDER Higher Ground (Motown)
G.U. & CEI-BEI House Music Will Never Die (Cajual)
INCOGNITO Always There (Talkin’Loud)

Your reactions and infos (press statements and playlists) to be e-mailed to INDAMIXWORLDWIDE@aol.com and your material (test pressings, vinyl, 12", LP, CD, CDR) to be sent to the following address :
Frederic 'MFSB' Messent
98, rue de Paris
F-94220 Charenton
France

This week's playlists come courtesy of

ROBERTO DE CARLO (Purple Music Inc . - Switzerland)
DEEP BROS. & DAWN TALLMAN Go Deep - Ralf GUM & CrisP Mixes (Gogo Music)
CAN 7 What 2 Do (Album)
HOMECOOKIN Do What You Wanna - Richard Earnshaw Mix (Soulfuric)
MICHELLE WEEKS & DAWN TALLMANN Joyfull Noise - Luis & Raffa Main Mixes (Equal)
MAMA RAZZI Show Me Love- Richard Earnshaw Mix (SuSu Records)
BELITA WOODS & LEROY BURGES Best Of Me - Sir Piers Mix (Basement Boys)
UNIVERSAL LOVE Ritmo da Rua - Brian Tappert Mix (Soulfuric)
S.U.M.O. Samba Consumo - CrisP Mix (Flamingo Discos)
ORANGE MUSE Keep The Funk Alive - Jazz 'N' Groove Mix (Soulfuric)
MARTIN SOLVEIG Rockin Music (Mixture/test)

ANDREW JERVIS (Ubiquity Records/KUSF 90,3, San Francisco)
2 BANKS OF 4 Three Street Worlds (Red Egyptian Jazz)
DA LATA Serious (Palm Beats)
JOHN ARNOLD Neighborhood Science (Ubiquity)
TATA VASQUEZ Suite Guaracho - Beatfanatic Remix (Counterpoint)
Andreas Saag Latin Lesson (SLS)
P'TAAH Baltimore Oriole (CDR)
JOHNNY DARKOS Supreme Love (GAMM)
TRÜBY TRIO Universal Love -Remix (Compost)
ASHEN & WALKER Music In My Life - Sambastate Club Dub (Fossilfuel)
JEANNIE TRACY Trippin' On The Sound (LuvN'Haight)

DAN MELA (StreetVibes Recordings, Milano)
ALEX TRAX & DJ THANNOTHE Underbed Session Vol. 1 (Siesta music)
ANANDA PROJECT Morning Light LP (NiteGrooves)
BENSONO Running -The Amalgamation Of Soundz Mix (Back)
RAW DEAL Blues For Brothers George Jackson (Straight Ahead)
BRAN VAN 3000 featuring CURTIS MAYFIELD Astounded (Bombay)
CALM Sketch On Banana Paper (Disorient)
CEASE & SEKKLE ?
DA LATA Serious - Seiji Mix (Palm Beats)
DEMARKUS LEWIS Less in Love (Brique Rouge)
DIBADA*La Luna/Facing You Slowly/Hipnoflava (Fluid Ounce)

SIDEWINDER (Fenetik Records, Glasgow)
TY Wait A Minute - Dwele Remix (Big Dada)
NATURE'S PLAN Somewhere Beyond - Main Mix (Far Out)
DWAYNE MORGAN Everything - Yam Who Re-Work (Counter Point)
JOL Moody Aow LP (April)
NICOLA CONTE meets ALDEMARO ROMERO Tema De La Onda (Deja Vu)
ONLY DEEP Planet Freak (Freerange)
SHAUN ESCOFFERY Into The Blue - Mark De Clive-Lowe Mix (Oyster)
PREFUSE 73 Robot Snares Got No Cadence Or Balance (Warp)
HUGH MASEKELA Mama - Metro Area Birthday Dub (Verve)
FENOMENON Lucy Said - Landslide Mix (Hifi Terapi)

RAINER TRÜBY (Freiburg-Im-Bresgau)
BAKURA Thinking About (Especial)
SINBAD Peaktime (Key)
JOHN BELTRAN Candela (Ubiquity)
TRÜBY TRIO Make A Move - S.U.M.O. Rebounce (Compost)
ONLY CHILD Find A Way - Yam Who Remix (Grand Central)
AZTEC MYSTIC Aguila - The Fix Mix (UR)
FRESH BAND Come Back Lover (Are'n Be)
INVERSE CINEMATICS Shot The Pianist Part 2 (Fluid Ounce)
ENNIO MORRICONE Le Fotografie - Gerd Remix (Compost)
PERRY HEMUS Rhodesmode - Freefall Mix (Woodland)

IN DA MIX is available on the following websites :
www.kingstreetsounds.com (New York, USA)
www.beatdownsounds.com (Detroit, USA)
www.upskirtrecords.com (Roachford, USA / San Antonio, SPAIN / London, UK)
www.deeprhythms.com (Helsinki, FINLAND)
www.subgroundfm.net (Stuttgart, GERMANY)
www.spiritofhouse.com (Zurich, SWITERLAND)
www.deephousemafia.org (Vienna, AUSTRIA)
www.houseconnection.net (Milano, ITALY)
www.house-wives.net (Roma, ITALY)
www.codamag.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.daphonics.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.rotaxdisk.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.ssohmusic.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.mixturestereo.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.drum-bass.net (Strasbourg, FRANCE)
www.ambassade-club.com (Lyon, FRANCE)
www.deepsoundsradioshow.com (Toulouse, FRANCE)
www.limelight-records.fr (Cannes, FRANCE) *

and soon to come on
www.friendsNYC.com (New York, USA)
www.vinyl-junkies.co.uk (London, UK)
www.westparkunit.de (Cologne, GERMANY)
www.trinitysoul.com (Edinburgh, SCOTLAND)
www.betinos.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.sounds-up.com (Paris/FRANCE)
www.12inch.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.ghettotrax.com (Nantes, FRANCE)

* forwarding IDM to the members of its mailing list

November 16, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠29

JAPAN’S CORNER by NIK WESTON
Tokyo has been very busy of late as they've just had this Tokyo Crossover Jazz festival organised by Shuya Okino (kyoto Jazz Massive) which took place at the end of october between 31.10.2003 & 02.11.2003. Line ups included lives from Jazztronik, Raphael Sebbag and Sleepwalker, but also contributions from Yukihiro Fukutomi, Shuya & Yoshihiro Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive), Tsuyoshi Sato (Rockakongs), Patrick Forge, Phil Asher (Restless Soul), Calm, Jazzysport Crew (Masaya Fantasista, Wassupski, Naoki Nishida & DJ Mitsu The Beats…). More info : www.tokyocrossoverjazzfestival.jp

As for other stuff ? Well, both Koop and Hird have been on tour here and there are several releases which have caught my eyes’N’ears. I think two of the four Incognito 12“s are out commercially now, that are both great (kyoto Jazz Masive and Yukihiro Fukutomi mixes on there). The two others are to follow soon including Danny Krivit and Dimitri from Paris mixes). Soul Sauce who put both the Earth, Wind & Fire and Jacksons packages together have released the second Racla 12'' with former UFO, Toshio Matsuura and Soul Sauce mixes on it .Speaking of E,W &F, there's a new japanese only single with Sunaga T mixes of “Never“ which is jazzy as is a Fukutomi collaboration with Yukimi Nagano for a single on a new label called Raindog. Fukutomi has also done an exclusive track for italian label Head to Toe called ''It’s Just'' and remixed Don Carlos for a stonking anthem called ''Take Me Higher'' with Michelle Weeks on vocals. Should be out Stateside very soon on Irma Unlimited.

There's a great new single by D.O.I. on experimental label Revirth which starts off with beats slipping into a beautiful mellow keys workout at the half way stage.Turns my legs to jelly every time… Speaking of wobblyness, check out the B-side to the Koop single on Michael Reinboths exellent German label , Compost. Has an awesome version of Carmen Lundy's ''Never Let You Go'' with Yukimi Nagano on vocals. Spoke to Gilles Peterson about it in Marseille and he's a die hard Carmen Lundy fan. Me ? I love it but there again… How can you not get the shakes when you hear Yukimi's voice on anything ? She also happens to turn up on the new Hird and Similou singles on swedish label DNM. Peterson is in love with the melancholic “Fading Blues“ track on Hird’s B –side, which her golden tonsils grace upon…
DJ Kent & KZA release their debut album as Force of Nature through Exceptional Records on 17.11.2003 and it’s AWESOME ! Check it : more styles represented on the album than London Fashion week and deserves to be investigated. More info : www.exceptionalrecords.co.uk

Ex-Compost artist Victor Davies is now signed to Columbia in Japan and so far pre sold 40,000 units of his new album. The vinyl edition of the album is only being sold in Japan and pressed up on his own Afro Gigolo imprint. Self promotion time I guess.

Sakura Aural Bliss is my latest Japanese compilation this time on USA Label Kriztal and includes material from Calm, Yukihiro Fukutomi, United Future Organisation, Chari Chari, Sunaga T + an array of underground japanese artists. Check this link for soundbites : www.kriztal.com/catalog/enlarge.asp?id=31
There will be a limited four track vinyl sampler being pressed up soon, with all four tracks taken from the album having never commercially available on vinyl before.

Especial Records have a new Bakura (Domu & Marin)single released in early december on their Osaka label. Sleepwalker, also on the label will be coming to London in early December 1,2,3,4 to play support to the saxophone legend, Pharoah Saunders. More info : www.jazzcafe.co.uk Prior to the band coming over to UK they also play on 29.11.2003 as a part of a japanese event in Graz,Vienna with DJ’s from Kyoto Jazz Massive, UFO plus Chari Chari , Juzu etc......takes place Ort Les Viperes - Lenkail 8010 Graz. Entry is 10 €.

JAPAN CORNER HOT 10
DJ MITSU THE BEATS featuring DWELE Right Here (Planet Groove)
BAKURA Veya Veya/Thinking About (Especial)
VARIOUS Sakura Aural Bliss 4 Track Sampler (Kriztal)
ELECTRIC Sheep -Naked Noon (Quality/HMV)
DON CARLOS featuring MICHELLE WEEKS Take Me Higher - Yukihiro Fukutomi Remix (Irma Unlimited)
D.O.I. Audible EP 2 (Revirth)
SEXOPHONE Fade Portrait (Music Conception)
VARIOUS Feel Between The Line (Music Conception)
FORCE OF NATURE LP (Exceptional)

Wanna hear more Japanese material ? Then why not check the 2 hour radio show ''forwardsbackwards'' I do alongside the mighty Nigel Prankster on www.milkaudio.com. New show posted every 2 weeks on the site and we have a special show playing those japanese bits you may have difficulty in hearing outside of the land of the rising sun as well as music from around the world on a boogie, jazz, funk, hipty hop & nu beats tip. The show is available for syndication and currently also available on right-on fm in France & www.quantumlounge.net in Australia !

IN DA MIX TENNERZ
SOUL CENTRAL Strigs Of Life - The Danny Krivit Re-edits (Whistle Bump)
IVAN IACOBUCCI featuring BLACK SHAMPU I’m Leavin’ - Main Mix (King Street)
INFINITY featuring MALIK Back 2 Chicago (King Street)
SARA DEVINE Take Me Home - MAW Mixes (white)
AZTEC MYSTIC Aguila - The Fix Mix, by ORLANDO VOORN (UR)
MARIAH CAREY Heart Break -Version 940 (white)
Charivari - Malik’s Remix (white)
GLENN UNDERGROUND Trust (Vocal) (Large)
DA LATA Serious (Palm Beats)
GERARDO FRISINA Inviolation - Album Version (Schema/promo)

This week's playlists come courtesy of

NICOLA CONTE (Schema Records, Milano)
NICOLA CONTE Nefertiti (Schema/CDR)
GERARDO FRISINA Intenso (Schema)
HIRD I Love You My Friend EP (DNM)
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA Vuelvo Al Sur - Koop Remix (Milan)
DOCTOR ABSTRACT Struck On Jazz (Schema)
SPIRITUAL SOUTH Green Gold (Afro Art)
ROSALIA DE SOUZA Zona Sul - Raw Deal Remix (Schema/CDR)
BRUNO E Dada - Remix (Sambaloco)
INVERSE CINEMATICS Shot The Pianist (Fluid Ounce)
FERNANDA PORTO Jeito Novo - Nicola Conte Remix (Sambaloco/CDR)

CUKI (Soul Seduction, Vienna)
PEVEN EVERETT Kissing Game/Puerto Rico (Kindred Spirits)
JEFF BRADSHAW featuring GLENN LEWIS Beyond The Stars (Hidden Beach)
YAZIKO Hip Hip, Chin Chin (Artcore)
V/A : INSIDE SCANDINAVIA LP (Raw Fusion/CDR)
DA LATA Serious (Palm Beats)
DANI SICILIANO Likes LP (!K7/CDR)
ENNIO MORRICONE Ritratto d'Autore - Moonstarr Remix (Compost)
RUSTIC HUT Fathead Paranoia (PTR)
MADDSLINKY featuring Mr J Calling Out (Askew/CDR)

NICO DE CEGLIA (Presslab Records/RIN/Radio 1, London)
THE RAPTURE Sister Saviour - DFA Remix (Vertigo)
FREELAND Supernatural Thing (Marine Parade)
LICK: THE FROG VS BIGHAIR Lick The Frog (U-Freqs)
ILS MUSIC - Evil Nine Remix (Marine Parade)
MISSY ZEZE & PRESSLABOYS EFX (SAW)
UNKLE In A State - DFA Remix (Mo' Wax)
BURNZ BROTHERZ Machine (Thrust)
FRANCESCO FARFA Universal Love (Ocean Trax)
FUNK D'VOID Emotional Content (Soma)
LAMB Wonder - Dead Guys Remix (Mercury)

RUSH HOUR (Amsterdam)
V/A : SUN RA DEDICATION - THE MYTH LIVES ON LP (Kindred Spirits)
ROY AYERS Searching - The Africa 70 Version/Brand New Feeling (Rapster)
MARK de CLIVE-LOWE Relax...Unwind (MAW)
IRIDITE PRODUCTIONS Electron Music (Iridite)
V/A : CHORD CONTROL (Technoir Audio)
LOVE AND SALT Un tour du monde (Tamara)
RECLOOSE Us vs Us- Kid Sublime Remix (Rush Hour)
MONOLAKE Momentum LP (Monolake)
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST I C U (Doin' It) (Violator/Jive)
JAYLIB Champion Sound LP (Stones Throw)

S.U.M.O. (Stockholm)
OWUSU & GREEN Never More (Naked)
4SIDERS Sol y Mas (Project)
JEFF MALULEKE Mambo (House Afrika)
TROUBLE MEN In the Air/Underground (Kif)
WAGON COOKIN Mar - Trüby Trio Remix (Debaile/Appetizers)
PHARELL Frontin - Yam Who Remix (Yam)
ROD BAKSTEEN Stolen Soul (test)
PEPE BRADOCK & MICHELLE WEEKS Distorted Echoes (Kif)
HENRIK SCHWARZ Welcome to Sunday Music (Sunday Music)
URSULA 1000 Samba 1000 - Rob Mello Remix (ESL)

* forwarding IDM to the members of its mailing list

November 9, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠28

Can't help myself beginning this column without expressing my best wishes for a quick recovery to Sundiata OM, after I've been said by our Beatdown Sound common brothers that he'd been sick for a while. So, guess you know what you have to do, uncle : make it happen, make it f****** right ! This leading us straight to the the Detroit scene and the real pleasure that was ours to see Theo Parrish, Eddie 'Flashin' Fowlkes and Norman Talley behind the desks at Le Rex in Paris two weeks ago, delivering nothing but the groove in its full spectrum. This with some special props to the Paradise Massage crew for making this possible.

Much has been said this year about Dwele and Amp Fiddler (check out his recent work alongside Grand Central's Only Child on "U Bring Me Vibes"), as they definitely have contributed to give a new breathe of fresh air, not only on the soul scene, but also on a city - theirs -that is best known for its prestigious past when it comes to talk about the aforementioned genre. But wait a minute, as they're not the only ones…
Can't help myself remembering the DEMF 2001. I was standing by one of the numerous stages there with Sundiata OM when I saw a guy who really took my head off. I was like : Waouw ! Who's this man ? Sundi said to me : Malik… (Malik Alston). He eventually introduced me to him and we've ended up crossing our paths regularly here and there, in Miami and Detroit ; him providing me each time with various works of his, from acoustic ambient to afro kinda stuff via minimal grooves. This, with the same hi-quality…
Also remember that Large nite in Miami where I've been spinning this year. Came to the other room right after my set where I gave a hook to Dennis (Ferrer), then Roy Davis Jr took his place for an impressive mix session. All of a sudden, he played what to me sounded like an instant anthem. A cut called "Back 2 Chicago" that at the time was one of his most recent productions, awaited sometime during the year on King Street as he explained to me. The good thing is that the 12" in question has just been officially released last week, under the name of Infinity and guess who's featuring : everyone but our Malik, showing his impressive talents, not only vocally speaking, but also in terms of musical arrangements (keys, flute) ! And if that was not enough, Alston is also a good producer (check out his recent "Caterpillar EP" on Third Ear), and a soon to be searched for remixer, judging by the quality of the rework he's done on the classic "Charivari" song that has recently appeared one a one-sided white label…
Detroit again in its deepest part, with UR and another sparkling gem called "Aguila" as remixed on its B-side by Orlando Voorn on a very "Jaguar"-ish vein. Meanwhile the famous "Jaguar" itself reappears on a cover version by japanese outfit A Hundred Birds, although I have to admit that I very much prefer "So Eye On" on the flipside for its cinematic jazz funk feel 'alla' Faze Action (Wave).
As for the Windy City's concern, one of its best ambassadors, Glenn Underground delivers what makes his debut on Large with the smooth and soulful "Trust" over some spoken word and, no doubt, this should be another unmissable piece for those who're into moody stuff. The same having to be said about the fluid "Reach Inside - Journey 2" from Ron Trent and Richard Brooks on the Jazzflight Unlimited label, in a vein that should please the Needs fans (check out most definitely the B-side mix).

Kerri Chandler makes a new appearance on Large with the second installment of "Street Musiq" and guess what… our man also goes to some deep & moody territory with the soulful and vibrant "Things I See" opening this 4-tracker before doing a cover of Larry Heard's anthemic "Can U Feel It ?" on a quite original and surprising way. Not to mention the soulful'N'groovy "It Will Come To Pass" with it's kinda George Benson's "Give Me The Night" flava. Meanwhile Dennis Ferrer and Jerome Sydenham join forces for some subtlly progressive work on "Sandcastles". One of the two references awaited on Ibadan's 10" imprint with Slam Mode's newie, "Usoni" on a tech housey tip.
Searching for some back to the ol'times soundz ? Bobby Konders sees some of his classics like "Poem", "Nervous Acid" and "Future" re-released on a white label simply called… Nu Groove. True music will f****** NE-VER die !

Much has again to be said about MAW as the guys look like being everywhere at the same time. Louie (Vega) with a double-CD called Soul Heaven that is simply unavoidable ; more to read about this on our forthcoming albums section (SuSu). Kenny (Dope) with the second installment of France's Pure compilation awaited next january. Remixwise, the nuyorican pair deliver another chef d'œuvre of their own for Sara Devine with "Take Me Home" carrying all their trademarks (white). Not to mention the numerous releases on their labels, beginning with german blue-eyed soul revelation, Georg Levin with the… MAW remixes of "(I Got) Somebody New" featuring Clara Hill (MAW). Meanwhile, UK radio jock, Andy Ward and Paul Timothy aka Soul Central get some recognition Stateside with the release of "My Wow" on Kenlou.

Funny how we can react at times while checking out the latest newies here or there. You come to listen to a tune and you pass on it as it doesn't feel to fully fit your expectations. Then, all of a sudden, you listen to it on different circumstances and instantly feel that you have to have it… That's exactly what happened although I dunno why regarding Ambrosia's "That's How Much I Love You" produced by Big Moses on Shelter. This said I'm pretty sure that this has happened at least once to all of you, hasn't it ? And if you're into this typical NYC vocal house stuff, you might also check out Ja'Nel's new cut called "My Groove" and most likely its B-side with one remix from da same Big M on Jellybean Soul.
Ending up this female vocal tip with a new jewel from Mariah Carey, "Heart Break", with its brilliant mixes done by none others than the DFA people (white).

"Pe-tup, pup-pup ! Pe-tup, pup-pup… Have to admit how I've ended up getting tired with with loads of these stuff based on calypso kinda paterns and this could also occur to most of the recent works from the respected Dr Bob Jones if he hadn't his particular music skills. Another exemple being given with his latest "It's About Time" featuring Snowboy (Chillifunk). If in this tip, don't hesitate any longer facing Da Lata's new 12", as the group has gone for some genuine afro thang on "Serious", the first cut to be taken from their new album (Palm Beats). Meanwhile, on a more experimental tip, the latest Diaspora release - "One Life To Live" by Key Of Soul - is a serious mixture of soulful funk broken beat ready to provoke a real devastation on the dancefloors.
Closing this issue ≠ 28 the way we've opened it with a(nother) killer cut that brings us back to Detroit as it's a cover version of the classic Rhythm Is Rhythm's "Strings Of Life" by the much sought after Soul Central with the help of Re-edits specialist, Danny Krivit (WhistleBump)…
Peace,
MFSB

IN DA MIX TENNERZ
INFINITY featuring MALIK Back 2 Chicago (King Street)
MARIAH CAREY Heart Break -Version 940 (white)
SOUL CENTRAL Strigs Of Life - The Danny Krivit Re-edits (Whistle Bump)
KERRI CHANDLER It Will Come To Pass (Large)
SARA DIVINE Take Me Home - MAW Mixes (white)
Charivari - Malik’s Remix (white)
ONLY CHILD featuring AMP FIDDLER U Bring Me Vibes - Original Edit (Grand Central)
GLENN UNDERGROUND Trust (Vocal) (Large)
Aguila - The Fix Mix, by ORLANDO VOORN (UR)
KEY OF SOUL One Life To Live (Diaspora)

Your reactions and infos (press statements and playlists) to be e-mailed to twistdavibe@aol.com and your material (test pressings, vinyl, 12", LP, CD, CDR) to be sent for reviews to the following address :

Frederic 'MFSB' Messent
98, rue de Paris
F-94220 Charenton
France

This week's playlists come courtesy of

AUDIOWHORES (Manchester, UK)
SOUL CENTRAL Strings Of Life - Danny Krivit Edit (WhistleBump)
REEL PEOPLE featuring DYANNA FEARON Butterflies - Restless Soul Mix (Papa)
CARLOS SANCHEZ MOVEMENT III featuring LORENZO TYLER Spirit Of The Dance (Slaag)
MOBIEN MASTER PROJECT Get Away With It (Vicious Grooves)
GEORGE LEVIN (I Got) Somebody New - MAW Remix (MAW Records)
RITMO DA RUA Universal Love (Soulfuric)
LEMAR 50/50 - Kings Of Soul Mix (Sony)
WIKKAMEN Just That Way (Knee Deep)
WORD OF MOUTH Love Is Supernatural (White)
MAIN INGREDIENTS Lean On Me (CDR)

DJ BOOL (Jerk House Connection, Toulon)
STEPHANIE COOKE I Never Told You (King Street)
MICHELLE WEEKS Movin' On - Pepe Pradock's Mix (KIF Records)
PEVEN EVERETT presents BILLIE JEWEL Puerto Rico (Kindred Spirits)
NATHAN HAINES featuring LYRIC L Doot dude - Ashley Beedle's Remix (Chillifunk)
KEITH THOMPSON I Found Lovin (Hysteria)
BARBARA WALKER Saved Me - Louis Benedetti's Mix (Soulshine)
AMBROSIA That's How Much I Love You (Shelter)
SOLAR HOUSE Heaven ( Large)
GROOVE COLLECTIVE Whatchugot - Sax Mix (Giant Step/Reprise)
URSULA RUCKER Release - Lil’ Louie Vega Mix (!K7)

MATTHIAS HEILBRONN (NYC)
ELLA FITZGERALD Slap That Bass - Miguel Migs Remix (Verve)
PHUTURISTIX featuring JENNA G Beautiful- Bugz In The Attic Remix (Hospital)
TROUBLE MEN featuring COLONEL ABRAMS Hurt My Feelings (Kif)
DEEPSWING featuring CHANCE Freedom Part 2 - Funky Snippet Mix (Generate Music)
ARCHIE Shepp Blues For Brother George Jackson - Mondo Grosso Remix (CDR)
ANN NESBY Shelter (Remix) (God's House Records)
DJ GREGORY Don't Know Malendro (Faya Combo)
BURNIN BURNT (Bootleg)
DIMITRI FROM PARIS featuring OMAR Strong Stuff (For Real) - Matty Remix (Unreleased)
NATHAN HAYNES Doot Dude - Ashley Beedle Remix (Chillifunk)

DAVE STORM (The Clinic radioshow/Ceremony Records,Tallin)
LOS COSTUREROS Quero Mais - Jorge Manyana Remix (Mariachi)
MAFIZIKOLO Morena - Kenny Dope Mixes (MAW)
SOULGROUND featuring CONCHA BUIKA We Play House (Stereo Cool)
MOOD 2 SWING Can't Get Away - Rulers Of The Deep Dub (Defected)
TROUBLE MEN Wild Pitch (Kif)
MARTIN SOLVEIG Rockin Music (Mixture)
JULIUS PAPP Drum de Voodoo (Neo Disco)
SHABOOM Totally - David Morales Vocal (Shaboom America)
JOEY MUSAPHIA Love Will Find A Way - Pound Boys Mixes (Refunkt)
RITMO DA RUA Universal Love - Brian Tappert Remixes (Soulfuric)

VINYL JUNKIES (London)
DONNIE Rocketship - Quentin Harris Mix (Giant Step/Motown)
WAGON COOKIN Mar - Remixes p.t2 (MAW Mixes/Promo) (Appetizers)
MALIK ALSTON Detroit Beatdown Sessions : Caterpillar EP (Third Ear)
DANIEL PAUL Love Is In The House (Cabinet)
BROWN BROTHERS I Love Every Move/Shaky Ground (Real Thing)
JAYLIB Champion Sound (Stones Throw)
BIG MOSES featuring AMBROSIA That’s How Much I Love You (Shelter)
ROBERTA FLACK & DONNIE HATHAWAY Le Pamplemousse/Back Together Again/Gimme What You Got (Jazz Funk)
VARIOUS Disc O Lypso (Island Series/Trans Air)
PEPE BRADOCK & MICHELLE WEEKS Distorted Echoes (Kif)

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November 2, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠27

Looks like summer - should it be even indian - has definitely come to an end on this side of the planet as last week-end saw us droppin' an hour on our watches. This meaning that we have to get ourselves prepared for short, cold and rainy daze and wait for quite a while B4 the sun is back…
Can't help myself thinking already about next march and our traditional gathering on the sunny shores of Florida that stands for most of us as the starting point of a new year with its inevitable cohort of hopes. Or shall I say a resurrection ? Anyway, that's the way life goes. Could always complain about the forecast, but what would be heat without cold and vice versa ? Probably the same as a landscape without relief, a life without ups & downs, or some music without contrasts…

If there's anything that stands as a trademark in terms of contrast, it's definitely dZihan & Kamien's touch, as this talented austro-german pair likes to melt its oriental influences with funk, jazz and house. This giving some weird and original results as shown live last year when they brought some twenty musicians including percussionists Sammy Figueroa and Misirli Ahmet + a whole bunch of people from Istanbul for the launch gig of their second LP. The show was definitely u-nique, full of that spirit hailing from a city (Vienna) where arts déco find their whole signification. Something that's finally recaptured today with the release of dZihan & Kamien Orchestra Live in Vienna album on their own label (Couch Records).
We stay in Austria's main city where an english man has definitely found his niche, working for Soul Seduction (the sister company to famous record shop Black Market), DJing here and there and being one of the most reliable observers over there. His name, Alan Brown, also name under the Cuki guise when he spins. A guy acting as a real traveller who, for the second time, has brought us a collection of awesome atmospheric tunes from all over the world. Could well be the response to the Cafe del Mar serie at its best. By the way, it's entitled Destination : Out II and most definitely worth to check out, including tracks from Stateless, Meitz, Bobby Hughes Corporation, Moonstarr, Slope and Jazzinho amongst others (Ecco.Chamber).
Meanwhile, on the same label the ≠ 8 in the Playground serie has been given to the much sought after Cuica (remember their recent remixes for Trüby Trio and Tantan). A pair consisting of former Atlas Records associate, Pete Herbert and italian broken beat twister based in London, Simone Seritella also known under the Big Bang moniker after a first LP released on Far Out Recordings. So what to expect there ? Nothing but a classy mix of what stands as the ultimate in terms of progressive groove smartly assembled by the aforementioned.

Smooth, sensuous and vibrant is the Re:Jazz (re:mix) collection on INFRACom! label, a revamp of the album of the same name released last year. Involved here are remixers such as Nicola Conte (a definite favourite on this column), Akufen, doin' a subtlissime mix of jazz and minimalistic electro elements on what stands as one of this album's masterpieces ("Mental Strength" featuring vocalist Chrstine Maisonneuve) ; not to mention RAS, Dublex Inc., The Society or Bugge Wesseltoft's contributions, that make it a(nother) true must have.
We stay on the remix tip with Charles Webster's newie on Peacefrog. An album called Remixed On The 24th July where the californian sees a part of his repertoire updated by a whole bunch of rpatended groove trascenders including The Detroit Escaltor Co, the unavaluable Pépé Bradock, Ian'O Brien, United Future Organization, Jimpster, Herbert and Theo Parrish to name but a few.

On some opposite side or shall we say perspective, french trumpeteer, Pascal Ohsé aka Soel, goes back to da roots on a recent first offering called Memento (Warner-Jazz). But what are these roots ? Surely the same as most of us here, from jazz to soul via funk, poetry and the likes ; the references hailing from Isaac Hayes to Barry White, from Curtis Mayfield to Creative Source giving a true rare groove Blaxploitation feel to this worth to check out work. Oh, by the way, maybe not useless to give you the name of its producer : Ludovic Navarre or, if you prefer, St Germain…

Ibiza, or Ibeefa as most of the Brits call it, is definitely not what's shown on their press. At least out of the summer, when their hords of drunk hooligans are still home !!! Ibiza, like most of the mediterranean, islands carries a rich history made of migrational movements throughout the centuries. This added to the beauty of its landscapes is for much into the inspiration of numerous artists. Should they live away like Phil Mison and DJ Pathaan or here like Jose Padilla, Bruno del Mar or Lennart Krarup, the guy doin' the Ibizarre serie. Spanish guitarist, Paco Fernandez is definitely another one. Introduced to these chill-out shores by Padilla himself, he delivers now his first album, Sal Y Sol, and shouldn't have difficulties to reach the hearts of the ones to whom iberic/atmospheric vibes have any meaning, although it sometimes wanders to some easy listening feel (Edel/Warner)…

We mentioned the release of Rise Ashen's debut on his own label a while ago. Well the guy is back on the blocks, this time as a DJ/compiler on Refuel 1, giving us the very best of a florishing canadian scene. Check out amongst others his own works with Trevor Walker under their owns names or the BAW Collective moniker, but also Miguel Graça aka Soulnotmind and Fred Everything on a spectrum that covers everything from afro ethnic to dub and atmospheric house (Fossifuel).

Into these cool spatial groovy atmospheres alla Ron Trent/Anthony Nicholson/Franck Roger & the likes ? Well, there's everything you might be lookin' 4 on Needs LP. A compilation rather than a studio album simply called Needs (Not Wants). A Compilation that recaptures the best of what this german trio has done since its first appaerance in 1999. An essential collection, believe it (Needs Music)…

Moods & Grooves ! Familiar to dis, hey ? This is exactly what characterizes Meitz's debut. An album called Vertikal (don't ask me why), where you find everything to feed your apetite, not only in terms of progressive groove but also in terms of atmospheres, sometimes cinemartic. Hailing from Hamburg, Volker Meitz is no new comer at all (remember his classic "(Mayibuye I) Africa" on Sonar Kollektiv ?) and shows his extreme versatility here, melting some twisted beats with various influences between Africa and West Indies, from jazz/funk to broken beat over some vibrant melodies, for what (to me) stands as this autumn's sh** ! No need to say more except bye as it's now time to leave…
Peace,
MFSB

Last but not least, just received a new contribution from our Japan Corner's don, Nik Weston. Not his column, but something that's gonna give you a better view about what he's into. Well, you've guessed it, it's nothing but some auditive excitements regrouped onto a compilation called Sakura Aural Bliss on Kriztal Enetrtainment label. More info : www.kriztal.com

IN DA MIX (album)TENNERZ
MEITZ Zwakalani (INFRACom!)
BAW Collective Nubeings (Fossifuel)*
RE;JAZZ Mental Strength - Akufen interpretation featuring CHRISTINE MAISONNEUVE (INFRACom!)
PASSION DANCE ORCHESTRA Worlds (Theme) (Needs)**
CAI Tears In Your Eyes (Ecco.Chamber)***
LUDOVIC NAVARRE aka ST GERMAIN presents SOEL Black Woman (Warner-Jazz)
dZIHAN & KAMIEN ORCHESTRA Before (Couch Records)
NANAMI TOGARASHI Orange Feel (Ecco.Chamber) ****
CHARLES WEBSTER Butterfly - Flight Of The Butterfly Mix by Theo Parrish (Peacefrog)
PACO FERNANDEZ Halcon Vuela (Edel/Warner)
* : from Refuel 1
** : from Needs (Not Wants) A Compilation
** : from Destination : Out II
*** : from Playground vol.8

Your reactions and infos (press statements and playlists) to be e-mailed to twistdavibe@aol.com and your material (test pressings, vinyl, 12", LP, CD, CDR) to be sent to the following address :
Frederic 'MFSB' Messent
98, rue de Paris
F-94220 Charenton
France

This week's playlists come courtesy of

NICOLA CONTE (Schema Records, Milano)
MEIRELLES E OS COPA 5 Quintessencia (Philips)
EDISON MACHADO Miragem (CBS)
VICTOR ASSIS BRASIL Naquela Base (Forma)
BOSSA TRES Imprevisto (Forma)
TEMA TRES Tema Tres (Atonal)
GINGA TRIO Ginga (Chantecler)
BOSSA JAZZ 3 Outra Vez (Decca)
QUARTETO DE SABA Noa Noa (Audiofidelity)
THEO Vim De Santana (Chantecler)
COMJUNTO SOM 4 Consolacao (Continental)

LEO CUENCA (Radio FG, Paris)
RITMO DA RUA Universal Love - Brian Tappert Reconstruction (Soufuric Deep)
GROOVE JUNKIES Present INDEYA Oh Lord (Morehouse)
BELITA WOODS & LEROY BURGESS Best Of Me - Sir Piers Remix (Basement Boys)
T.KOLAI Zouk - Restless Soul Remix (Chillifunk)
MAFIKIZOLO Morena - Kenny Dope Remixes (MAW)
SOUTHERN DIVIDE Ate O Amanhecer (Device)
POUND BOYS feauring LISA MILLET Closer (Look At You)
DJ DISCIPLE Satisfied - Garage City Side (Catch 22)
LEFUNKEN featuring TYRAH Do Right (Eclectic)
RASMUS FABER featuring EMILY Mc EWAN Ever After (Fairplane)

DJ COSMO (Bitches Brew, London)
REEL PEOPLE featuring DYANNA FEARON Butterflies - Restless Soul Mix (Papa)
AZTEC MYSTIC Aquila (UR)
JINADU Turning The Tide (Bitches Brew)
NXS Sleepers - Kuniyuki's Phantasm Remix (Natural Resource)
JERSEY STREET ALLSTARS Burnin' (Electric Chair)
ROZZ NASH More To Love (Liquid Sound Lounge)
RHYTHM SLAVES You (Grab)
FREAKY AFRONAUGHT Can You Hear Me - Demarkus Lewis Remix (Fair Park)
GEORG LEVIN In Your Car - Spinna Remix (Sonar Kollektiv)
ADAM BEYER Ignition Key - Aril Brikha remix (True Soul)

LUIS RADIO (Equal Records, Roma)
ALISON DAVID Dreams Come True (AD)
ARETHA FRANKLIN The Only Thing Missin' (Arista)
DONNIE Cloud 9- Remixes (Giant Step)
INTENSE & THE VOICE OF 6TH AVENUE You Gotta Believe (white)
DJ PIERRE & B-CREW Peacemaker (Yo-Ltd)
RASMUS FABER presents.APOLLO vs. MELLO Divided-United (white)
ASHANTI I Found Love - Remix (white)
INDIA ARIE When Love Came In (white)
MARTIN SOLVEIG Rockin' Music (Mixture)
DARRYL D.BONNEAU What Is (Equal)

MAGNUS ZINGMARK (KOOP, Stockholm)
KOOP Modal Mile - Two Banks Of 4 Remix (Compost)
ASTRUD GILBERTO Here's That Rainy Day - Koop Remix (Verve)
JEFF MILLS The Other Side EP (Axis)
JJ JOHNSON Pense à moi (RCA)
JOHNNY DARKOS Supreme Love (GAMM)
ARIL BRIKHA Simplicity (Three Tracks)
CARI LEKEBUSH Snackan (DJUPT)
COS Populi
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA Vuelvo Al Sur - Koop Remix (Chicooligans)
Anything That's Not "Nu Jazz"

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October 26, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠26

Looks like Nik Weston has definitely not been been able to fix it this week (his Japan's corner column) as originally scheduled, due to too many activities at the time. This leaving our Nu Groove man Irie, doin' the do alone and he has much on offer…

Ooops, by the way, if there's any nite you intend go to this evening, you'd rather check out our Detroit brothers, Eddie Flashin' Fowlkes, Theo Parrish and Norm Talley's halt in Paris for a Beatdown Sounds party at Le Rex…

NU GROOVE (SOUL, JAZZ, BREAKS, BROKEN BEATS+ MORE…)
Like last week's issue, let's start the dance with some (more) goodies from France, as shown amongst others by Gilb'R's label Versatile ready to deliver two new LP's from Chateauflight (I:Cube + the aforementioned) and Kirk Degiorgio as well as 12" from british techno friend Future Beat Alliance and our man of the moment, Franck Roger…
Another promising producer from the Straight Up roaster is DJ Roy away from the latest this time to focus on a wild jazz funk project with his uncle, saxophonist Stéphane Bédrossian, under the cabalistic avatar of Atsilut. While their friends Shade Of Soul are finishing some new remix work on "Come Closer" for The Visualistics on Erik Rug's label, Maine Recordings. Lanoiraude seing his latest work to be delivered with an additional relifting from Belgium's supreme, Fabrice Lig, himself with his new album, Roots Of The Future, now available on Raygun via Cyber. Finally, get ready for some serious dope from L'Aroye and Romain Caillard awaited any time now on Faces label

London is busy as always. As the incredible Seiji (Bugz In The Attic's secret weapon) keeps unleashing remixes without being too redundant. Should it be for the afro-futurist man from Strasbourg, Steppah Huntah with "Walk This Step" on Compost as for the electropical combo consisting of Chris Frank and Patrick Forge aka Da Lata on the first offshot from their album, Serious, on Palm Pictures. London where heroes can rise out of the vibrant underground in a split second, like Ear Dis for instance. A geezer that humbly created a broken ragga serenade entitled "Big Up Da Girl", released by popular demand as they say, after some circulation on CDR !

What would be a Nu Groove sheet without a line about 4Hero ? A tea without its drop of milk, the San Antonio Bay without sunset !
With numerous reissues of classics from the early daze on their original label Reinforced (runnin’ since 1989 !) as well as their best remixes gathered on a fabulous compilation to come, they’re for ever and ever in full effect. And watch out in da future for… Dego on his side with the super amazing concept DKD (associated to Kaidi Tatham and Daz I Kue) finally announced for january, preceeded by the furious "Future Rage", has also found time to work on Nutmeg's LP (for Neroli), with Alex Attias (aka Plutonia), and has collaborated with Philadelphia’s very own Capitol A, not forgetting the mesmerising vocal presence of Bembe Segue amongst others. Meanwhile Marc Mac in his own time and space has drawn more and more in his Visioneers retro-futuristic vision, and put his magic hands on a nice little cover of Marvin Gaye by UK singer Allen Hoist entitled "In Her City Blues", before working on a long overdue due deep techno EP under the Nu Era moniker…

A little look to the Far East, although it's Nik's job, leads us to japanese combo Jazzy Sport Kru. DJ Mitsu The Beats with his New Awakening album on Planet Groove. An outstanding achievement from the delicious R&Bish "Right Here" (with a cute sample from Gary Bartz, starring Dwele himself) to "Do Right" with some movin' spoken word delivered by the mighty Rich Medina, via the broken nonchalant "Music Mate".

Let's cross the Atlantic to end up this selection and acclaim one of this autumn's headliners as the beautiful Erykah Badu adds her own contribution to the Motown legacy in the third millennium with Worldwide Underground. A sublime collection of female sensuality, from the hypnotic “I Want You’ to the sublime reprise of "Think Twice" (heavy weight composition by Donald Byrd and the Mizell brothers, a quite popular one now after the reinterpretations by Jaydee and Detroit Experiment)… In other words, leaving you with the best, til' next time !
IRIE

NU GROOVE HOT 10
JAYLIB featuring TALIB KWELI That Raw Shit (Stones Throw)
ERYKAH BADU Think Twice (Motown)
THE VISUALISTICS Come Closer - Shade Of Soul Remix (Maine)
TITONTON Hentaï (Bitasweet)
EAR DIS Big Up Da Girl (?)
L’AROYE Hiraki & Iglizious (Faces)
ATSILUT Saro's Theme (Straight Up)
DA LATA Serious - Seiji Remix (Palm Pictures)
DKD Super Amazing (2000 Black/Bitasweet)
CHARLES EARLAND Leaving This Planet - Yam Who Remix (?)

IN DA MIX TENNERZ
INFINITY featuring MALIK Back To Chicago (King Street/CDR)
LEFUNKEN featuring TYRAH Do Right - Eclectic Original (ECR)
RE:JAZZ Mental Strength - Akufen Interpretation featuring CHRISTINE MAISONEUVE (INFRACom!/CD)*
THE SOULPLANET JAZZ ENSEMBLE Is It The Way (U) (Soulplanet)
MAXINE INNISS I Appreciate (Jellybean)
ALTOM MILLER Deep In My Soul (Peacefrog/CD)**
RAW COLLECTIVE Nu Beings (Fossifuel)
TANTAN Dopesnotfunkae - Cuica Remix (Head 2 Toe)
MAFIKIZOLO Morena - Kenny Dope Main Mix (MAW)
* from (Re:Mix) album
** from Stories From Bohemia album

Frederic 'MFSB' Messent
98, rue de Paris
F-94220 Charenton
France

Playlists of the week come courtesy of :

BNX (Zimpala, Bordeaux)
PEPE BRADOCK featuring MICHELE WEEKS Set Me Free (Kif)
ZIMPALA Can't Fall Asleep - Yuksek On Plonk Remix (Platinum)
HENRIK SCHWARZ Chicago (Moodmusic)
4 SIDERS Sol Y Mas (Project)
JOHN BELTRAN Kissed By The Sun (Ubiquity)
COLLAGE SINGERS Uni, Tule Silma Peale ! (Hyper)
ROY AYERS Lost Tapes (Track N°12) (BBE)
ETHEL BEATTY I Know U Care (Unomelodic)
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA Milongo Del Angel - Two Banks Of 4 Remix (Chicooligan)
URSULA RUCKER Release - Louie Vega Remix (!K7)

DJ SPIDER (Plein Gaz Productions, Lyon)
ZUCO 103 Brazil 2000 - Nutropic Remix (CDR)
RAMSEY LEWIS - Mr Scruff Remix (Verve)
MAGA BO Tudo Bem (Tru Thoughts)
PHARRELL featuring Jay-Z Frontin' (Arista)
NUTROPIC featuring Fernanda Porto Leva E Traz (CDR)
MAX SEDLEY Happy (Schema)
TRUBY TRIO JALEO - Original & Remix (Compost)
THE ROOM ALL STARS Anger (Sony-Japan)
KOOP Remixes - featuring NICOLA CONTE & CARLITO (JCR)
AYRO & SZYMANSKI Drink - Remixes (Omoa Music)

RICHARD E (Solar Apple Quarktette, London)
SOLAR APPLE QUARKTETTE Solar Bossa/Summer Love ad2231 (Further Out)
SPIRITUAL SOUTH Green Gold (Afro Art)
BREAK REFORM Ghosts/What Do You Do (Abstract Blue)
MITCHELL & DEWBURY Beyond The Rains - Remixes (Mumo)
MAGA BO Tudo Bem/Tanto Faz (Tru Thoughts)
D'NELL Time 2 Say/Abstract Blue (Furious Styles)
FENOMENON Lucy Said (HiFi Terapi)
THE AMALGAMATION OF SOUNDZ DAF EP (Shadow Cryptic)
DIGITAL MIDGETS We Always Have Been (Cookshop)
UNFORSCENE New World Disorder LP (Kudos)

GERD (4lux, Rotterdam)
BAKURA Veya Veya (Especial/CDR)
STEVE AZARRA In For Deep - Duplex Remix (Fortek/CDR)
SPACEK Stars - King Britt Remix (!K7)
INCOGNITO Can't Get You Ou Of My Head (Dome)
IZZI DUNN Out Of My Hands (Fireworx)
FLOWRIDERS Different Spaces (4lux/test)
KABUKI featuring CLEVELAND WATKISS After The Fire (Sonar Kollektiv)
MARCUS ENOCHSON featuring E-MAN I Am The Road - Bugz In The Attic Remix (MAW/CDR)
SIRIUS MO Synthie (Sonar Kollektiv)
HEAVENLY SOCIAL State Of Mind & Just Me - Remixes (4lux/test)

RALF GUM (GoGo Music & Airport Club, Würzburg)
DEEP BROS featuring DAWN TALLMAN Go Deep (GoGo Music)
URSULA RUCKER Release (!K7)
TERRI WALKER Drawing Board (Def Soul)
MANZEL It’s Over Now (Dopebrother)
INAYA DAY meetz RALF GUM What I like (CDR)
H FOUNDATION Tonight (Soma)
VICTOR DAVIES Morena (white)
ALEXKID Come With Me - Album Mix (F-Ccom)
NATHAN HAINES Doot Dude (Chillifunk)
LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES The Venezuelan Zinga Son Vol. 1 (Long Lost Brother )

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October 19, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠25

Dancetracks' owner, Stefan Prescott recently pointed out that fact that there were tons of goodies around and he's bloody damned right ! Will this quality music have the exposure it deserves ? That's another story, as the media themselves seem to go more and more for the commercial M.O.R. kinda stuff. Good examples in France as illustrated by RadioFG that has recently tunned into the R&B field, leaving less and less space to DJ's such as Deep or the Cheers team. Not to mention Radio Nova that looks like left in the middle of nowhere… Hopefully this doesn't seen to affect the local artists/producers as not only the quality but also the volume of new releases are definitely around these times.

"Sacrés Français"
Much has been said about DJ Gregory's "Elle" since this year's WMC in Miami and more should definitely be said with its re-release on Defected with the contribution of 'Little' Louie Vega behind the desks, as shown on the Criola Remix where Anane adds some cabo verdan vocals. Meanwhile, Martin Solveig may well be the next one with "Rocking Music", a phonky song built on some calypsoid beats before opening to a rock guitar solo (Mixture). Far more melancholic is "I'm In Love", the latest work from Pascal Rioux & Mr Day on Rotax, but the big shit on this label is without a doubt the soon to follow "Golden Days" with its infectious remix from King Britt (watch this space !).

Loads of activities around Betino's Record Shop and its associated labels (Straight Up and BRS). Playin' 4 The City havin just released a best of CD has also a nu piece of wax. Entitled "Caught Up", the A-side is a smooth and soulful song featuring Marilyn David, when the other side brings us into some abstract afro/phonkjazz territory. Sun Orchestra featuring Karl The Voice's newie - "Love Symphony" - should reach your attention if you're into the delicate and sensual atmospheres, either on the original, quite intimate, or the remixes by Needs that have given it a more energetic feel with a bit of afro/brazilian patterns. Meanwhile, half of Sun Orcxhestra duet, Franck Roger seems to have fallen into some post disco/funk trip with the old schooly "It's That Man", when his labelmate DJ Roy (under the name of Atsilut) has gone for some pure jazz/funk experimentation on "Saro's Theme").

Created by David Duriez and Llorca, Brique Rouge has also much on offer. You'd better check out the housey "Surprise Me" from Miss Me featuring Jiney & Mizzy (remixed by the second of the boys). And, most importantly, Cartoon's "First To Break EP", containing the magnificient and subtle "Time : Change". Also worth to have an ear at is "Les oiseaux gazouillent", the B-side of "The Keyfunk EP" by W.U.M.M. Some work that should please the ones into those percussions lines "alla" Joe Claussell (Chocoflash). Osunlade follows Matos's path, doing the remixes for Antillas singer Roland Brival on "Sakitayo", givin'it a new dimension, soulful and magnetic, most particularly on the Club Mix (Isma'a). Meanwhile, a good word has also to be said about Qalomota & Rufuss's "Gotta Make A Move On" as we may find a bit of everything on the various mixes (Qalomota).

Everyone knowing a bit about politics should have heard at least once about Strasbourg as it's the home to EEC's Parliament. This said, this city facing the german boarder has a real burgeoing scene as illustrated both by Steppah Hunta and Nutropic, both of'em on the nu jazz tip. The first on Compost with the darky "Walk This Way", slightly enlighted by Seiji's reworks. The second, associated to brazilian songstrees Fernanda Porto on "Leva E Traz" delivered with a drum & bass version and a much cooler nu bossa one (Comet).

"Strangers in the night"
If the ones quoted therafter may be considered as strangers or foreigners (at least on a french perspective), most of them are definitely deep on our minds and hearts. A good illustration being the much in demand DJ Spinna who, with his friend Shaun Escoffery, sees "Music In Me" being wonderfully revamped by Blaze (Wonderwax/BBE). Frankly speaking, Mafikizolo's "Morena" was something of light in its original version. Something which is not the case anymore with the new versions brought by Kenny Dope, givin'it a more genuine african feel (MAW). Remember this recent "Keys Of Life" by Jaqué, not that far way from MAW's work, produced by Marlon D and George Menna on Jellybean ? Well the aformentioned come back behind the desks, spreading their aerial and soulful touch that already stands like a trademark on "I Appreciate" for Maxine Inniss.
Never thought about givin'up in such an environment ? Yes you probably have, as your devoted, telling yourself that there's nothing we can do for change… And then, all of a sudden, you get to listen to something givin'you the feeling that there's nothing like what you're leaving. It's exactly what I felt while listening to the aptly named "Do Right" by Lefunken featuring Tyrah on a deep'n'groovy soul tip (ECR).

Would like to deeply thank my italian new partner and friend, Davide Maffei at www.houseconnection.net for sending me a promo copy of the wonderful "Is This The Way (U)" by The Soulplanet Jazz Ensemble. A f****** bad deep house jazz phonky tune that sounds like eden both on its instrumental and vocal versions (Soulplanet). Belive me, you gotta get this one by any means necessary… Remember Mateo & Matos's "Celebrate Life" back in da daze ? Well, it looks like their infectious bassline has somehow been recaptured on Blakkat featuring Aswan's "The Right Place" and the funk feel is as efficient (Shaboom). Slightly different with a softer approach is Stateless's "Leave Me Now", refuelled by Swell Session on Freerange and also Siji's soulful "Feelsike" co-written by Osunlade (BBE).

Solid Groove delivers a weird mixture of atmospheric jazz/(broken) breakbeat on the 3'Stylin' EP (Loungin' Recordings). Sister label to Irma, Head 2 Toe, completes the experimental tip with no less than three releases. First is "Dopesnotfunkae" by Tantan with a Cuica remix, an explosive ambient/phonk track laid on a bed of thin percussions. Second is Tweak presents Sharon Harris, pushing the limits of an ambient soulful broken beat with "Generations", while Total Science gives us a good piece of ambient'N'deep via "Bookworm". Spanish outfit Big Black Beat going to some more conventional ethnic thing with the arabo-balearic "De SAM Para Las Flores" (RS). And that should be it for this issue ≠ 25. Getting back 2 U in two weeks as next one is both Irie and Nik Weston's turn in charge of the editorial.
Peace,
MFSB

IN DA MIX (DOUBLE) TENNERZ
INFINITY featuring MALIK Back To Chicago (King Street/CDR)
RAW COLLECTIVE Nu Beings (Fossifuel)
THE SOULPLANET JAZZ ENSEMBLE Is It The Way (U) (Soulplanet)
GIANLUCA PIGHI Trumpeetah (Chillifunk)
LEFUNKEN featuring TYRAH Do Right - Eclectic Original (ECR)
THE DINING ROOMS Flamenco Sketches - Nicola Conte New Rhumba Version (Schema)
TANTAN Dopesnotfunkae - Cuica Remix (Head 2 Toe)
DJ SPINNA featuring SHAUN ESCOFFERY Music In Me - Shrine Vocal Mix (Wonderwax)
MAXINE INNISS I Appreciate (Jellybean)
DJ GREGORY Elle - Criola Remix (Defected)
BLAKKAT featuring ASWAN The Right Place - Blaksoul Mix (Shaboom)
TWEAK poresents SHARON HARRIS Generations - Original Mix (Head 2 Toe)
TOTAL SCIENCE Bookworm (Head 2 Toe)
TASTY HOAGIES presents THE MOFO ORCHESTRA Do The Bumblebug (white)
MAFIKIZOLO Morena - Kenny Dope Main Mix (MAW)
SUN ORCHESTRA featuring KARL THE VOICE Love Symphony - Needs Main Mix (Straight Up)
VERTENTE Chuva - Original Mix (Far Out)
MARTIN SOLVEIG Rocking Music (Mixture)
OREJA Mañana Por La Mañana (Papa Records)
SPIRITUAL SOUTH Green Gold - 24 Karat Jazz Rub (Afro Art)

Frederic 'MFSB' Messent
98, rue de Paris
F-94220 Charenton
France

Playlists of the week come courtesy of :

CRUSHO (Q-tape /Paris)
DUDLEY PERKINS : A lil' Light (Stones Throw)
METAL FINGERS PRESENTS..Special Herbs 4, 5, 6 (Shaman Work Recordings)
MANZEL : It's Over Now - MAW Remix (Dope Brothers)
PHARELL WILLIAMS Frontin' (Star Track)
PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS Roadbeaters (Puts Records)
SHADE OF SOUL Give In To Me - 4 Hero Mix (Sunny Side/test)
ANDRES Salvador De Bahia 1&2 (Mahagony)
BYRDIE GREEN Return Of The Prodigal Son (Jazzman)
JAY DEE Crushin' (yeeeeeah!) (Mummy)
THEO PARRISH Ugly Edit 5 (white)

CUKI (Soul Seduction, Vienna)
ROY AYERS Virgin Ubiquity (BBE/CDR)
QUANT featuring ERNESTO TRYING - Gerd & Original Mixes (Ecco.Chamber/CDR)
RECLOOSE featuring J. CRAYFORD Paepulsariki (Kindred Spirits/CDR)
PERRY HEMUS Rhodesmode (Woodland/CDR)
DEYAMPERT Shapes And Colors (Sonar Kollektiv/CDR)
ARTHUR VERCAI LP (Luv'n'Haight)
ONLY CHILD featuring AMP FIDDLER Find A Way - Yam Who Mix (Grand Central/CDR)
RE:JAZZ Re:mix (INFRACom!! (CDR)
NICOLA CONTE meets ALDEMARO ROMERO Teme De La Onda - (Deja Vu/CDR)
GERARDO FRISINA Hi Note LP (Schema/CDR)

DEEPHOUSEMAFIA.ORG (Vienna)
GALAXY 2 GALAXY High Tech Jazz - Remix (UR)
GEORG LEVIN You Know What You Want - DJ Spinna Remix (Sonarkollektiv)
MEITZ Vertikal LP (INFRACom!)
DONNIE Cloud 9 - DJ Spinna Remix (Giant Step)
ROLAND BRIVAL Sakitayo - Osunlade Remixes (Isma´a)
SOULSTATION You - DJ Spinna Remix (Westend)
NEXT EVIDENCE The One (Faya Combo)
PHARELL Frontin' - Yam Who Rework (Yam Who)
HARLEY & MUSCLE featuring ROBERT OWENS Inside Your Love (Bumpin City)
ALEXKID Mint LP (F Com)

DAVIDE MAFFEI (Houseconnection.net, Milano)
STEPHANIE COOKE I Never Told You (King Street)
MAXINE INNISS I Appreciate (Jellybean)
DONNIE Cloud 9 - Quentin Harris Remix (Giant Step)
BELITA WOODS & LEROY BURGESS Best Of Me (Basement Boys)
TERRY WALKER Drawing Board - Jay's Remix (Def Soul)
NATHAN HAINES featuring LYRIC L Doot Dude - Ashley Beedle Remixes (Chillifunk)
AMBROSIA That's How Much I Love You (Shelter)
LUIS RADIO & DARRYL D'BONNEAU What is (Equal)
BARBARA WALKER Saved Me (Soulshine)
THE SOULPLANET JAZZ ENSEMBLE Is It The Way (U) (Soulplanet)

MOONSTARR (Bruckbeat Radio, Toronto)
DETROIT EMERALDS You Want It You Got It (Westbound)
GIL SCOTT HERON & BRIAN JACKSON Feel Together (Arista)
MAD LIB Mystic Bounce (Blue Note)
DIMLITE Synonym4 (Afewamoungothers)
STARFIGHTERZ 4 Flavours Of A Two Sided Story - Pt. 1 (Delsin)
YOTOKO Wet Ink LP (DELSIN)
MU featuring CHAIR GIRL Let's Get Sick (Tigersushi)
RANDOM FACTOR LIMITED What I Need - Remix (20:20 Vision)
STOCKHOLM CYCLO Tree Shaker (Raw Fusion)
EINGO vs SOUNDS OF THE FUTURE - Tonka Remix (Bingo Beats)

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October 12, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠24

2K3 flyes week after week, month after month, to bring us into its ultimate third. One may think about its finishing festivities - some of us already do - but judging by what we're going to talk this week, it's not even autumn but summer time ; at least, indian summer time ! In other words, get ready for some (more) sunny vibes…

Can't remember heats like those we've had during the summer this year, but an extreme could fairly well lead us to another one this winter, if you see what I mean. So if there's anytime to go for some more hot stuff, it's right now, as epitomized by the recent Abstract Latin Lounge collection, number 3 in its genre on Nitegrooves. If half of the vinyl EP part 1 isn't necessarly what we might expect on the latin field, the second one should reach the fans' hearts and minds with the classy "Las Luces Del Norte" from Los Ladrones. While, on a more jazz/funk downtempo ibizenco tip, we also have the stunning "Sunshine" from What's Happening, back on offer ten years after its original release, and this is pure silk.

Somewhere between guys like Joe Claussell and Frankie Valentine is Antonio Ocasio, a nuyorican who explores the numerous sides of his inspiration, going this time to some afro/jazz caribbean feel, associated to vocalist Def Räädu on the sensuous "Eesti" that looks like a tribute to Estonia (Tribal Winds). On the opposite side of the map is Argentina, a country that gave birth to tango and its absolute king, Astor Piazzolla. Well, the man in question who inspired Gotan Project amongst others, sees his repertoire being revamped and the least we can say about the first single is that the rework of "El Viaje" by 4Hero has probably a more cinematic feel. Meanwhile, swedish outfit, Koop, maintains a more original atmosphere on "Vuelvo Al Sur" built on a soft boogie jazz rhythm (Chicooligan).

Thievery Corporation's 18th Street Lounge is definitely a place to stop if you happen to go to D.C. (Washington), as is their label in terms of cool audio vibes. This being proven once more on Ursula 1000's latest single. A cut called "Samba 1000" that, despite its title, turns into a cool bossa feel as relifted by Italia's maestro, Nicola Conte. Far Out Recordings gives us another slice of beauty called "Chuva" by Vertente. There, you have to options. Either stay on the A-side and its sensuous cool bossa feel, or go to the flipside where the ubiquitious Seiji has added some rhythm and subtle beats. Nevertheless, have to say that the must of this latin issue is none other than The Dining Rooms ' latest. A tune called "Flamenco Sketches" that stands like a diving in the very depth of some ritmo suave, with the help of the inevitable Nicola Conte. Meanwhile the group himself provides us with some solid groove with his phonky remix of "Astro Black" (Schema Records).

Don't usually talk that much about real jazz in this column, but after all what is jazz if not some space for all kinds of improvisations. Into it for a while ? Well, check out Doctor Abstract's "Struck On Jazz" on that same label and go for some boogie oogie !!! Funny how those tifosi bring us back to the souvenir of a classy past, should it be in terms of harmony as well as vocal arrangements. Another proof is given by The Easy Access Orchestra with their subtle "Las Chicas" as retouched by King Kooba. Not to mention the Flying Fish's remix on a more rhythmed experimentation (Irma). In love with bossa/jazz house ? Well, Thomas Deschamps & Fred Gien aka 4 Siders have everything you may search for on both sides of the cool and classy "Sol y Mas" (Project Recordings)

If there's anything to pick from the Solar Apple Quarktette debut, it's the eclectic Nova Bossa Mix of "Solar Bossa", melt with a bit of weird elements (Further Out Recordings). A reminder of afro horn feel, a bit of percussions from Brazil over some calypso broken beat twisted with a bit of craziness… Get ready for the Spiritual South era. This London pair being touted as some of the most exciting nu comers by the likes of Gilles Peterson, Rainer Trüby et al with the aformentioned called "Green Gold", although I tend to prefer the 24 Karat Jazz Rub" mix on the B-side, more percussive and minimalistic (Afro Art). In love with cuban songs ? twisted with a bit of calypso (Papa Records). Meanwhile champion of this caribbean rhythm, DJ Gregory sees his Maimi classic - "Elle" - revamped in some very sensuous way by 'Little' Louie Vega with the help of Anane providing us with cape verdian spoken words (Defected) and a nice piece to say adios (goodbye) and see you next wee (hasta la semana proxima).

Paz (Peace),
MFSB

IN DA MIX (LATIN) TENNERZ
THE DINING ROOMS Flamenco Sketches - Nicola Conte New Rhumba Version (Schema)
VERTENTE Chuva - Original Mix (Far Out)
GIANLUCA PIGHI Trumpeetah (Chillifunk)
WHAT'S HAPPENING Sunshine (NiteGrooves)
OREJA Manana Por La Manana (Papa Records)
IVE MENDES Natural High - Sumo Rebounce Mix (Mr Bongo)
DJ GREGORY Elle - Criola Remix (Defected)
URSULA 1000 Samba 1000 - Nicola Conte Warm Waves Version (ESL)
THE EASY ACCESS ORCHESTRA Las Chicas - King Kooba Remix (Irma On Canvas)
SPIRITUAL SOUTH Green Gold - 24 Karat Jazz Rub (Afro Art)

Frederic 'MFSB' Messent
98, rue de Paris
F-94220 Charenton
France

Playlists of the week come courtesy of :

DJ ADN (Movin' Records / Avignon)
DJ SPINNA The Wonder Of Steve (Harmless)
URSULA RUCKER Release - 'Little' Louie Vega Remix (!K7)
NUBIAN MINDZ featuring KJ Need To Know (Irma)
ANANDA PROJECT Secret (King Street)
MUDDYLOOP Love Me - Dub (Dessous)
TREVOR LOVEYS Elevate Your Mind (Freerange)
STEPHANIE COOKE I Never Told You - Nulife Ricanstruction Vocal Mix (King Street)
SICANIA SOUL Starlite - Sicania Soul Vocal (Irma)
DJ PUFO Mon Amor - Pufo's Deep Vibes Mix (Device)
THE AZTEC MYSTIC Aguila (UR)

JOHN KONG (Do Right! Music, Movement / Toronto)
DJ SERIOUS The Battle (Do Right! / Headless Heros/Test)
TWO BANKS OF FOUR Banks Of The Nile (Red Egyptian Jazz)
FIVE DEEZ It's About Time - Moonstarr Mix (CDR)
NICK HOLDER featuring SACHA On My Mind (NRK)
CIRCLE RESEARCH Bridging The Gap (CDR)
JAGUAR That's Your Problem Baby (Freestyle)
BASIC SOUL UNIT Whateva (Do Right!/Test)
DINING ROOMS Fightin' 4 Rebirth - JK's Midnight Mood Mix (Schema)
B.A.W. COLLECTIVE Don't Stop" (Do Right!/Test)
LEFTIES SOUL CONNECTION Doin' The Thing (MPM)

GWEN MAZE (Dialect / Paris)
ALEXKID Don’t Hide It (featuring LISSETTE ALEA) (F Com)
FYM Brother Cosmic (Telegraph)
GWEN MAZE featuring KOVA REA - Selectorama RP (Dialect)
TEKEL Sac d’os (Optical Recordings)
BEN MONO Plastik Passion - John Tejada Remix (Compost)
ROBBIE HARDKISS Everything Is Changing - Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix (Classic)
TERRY Choose Your Position (Robsoul)
APOLL FHU : 85,7 Watt (Morris Audio)
CUIDAD FELIZ U’re So Nice - Russ Gabriel Remix (Silver Network)
BIG HAIR Arseholes (UFO 8- U-freqs)

JOEY MUSAPHIA (Refunkt Records / London)
JOEY MUSAPHIA featuring Rita Campbell Love Will Find - Mixes (Refunkt)
UNIVERSAL LOVE Ritmo De Rua (Soulfuric)
RASMUS FABER Ever After (Farplane)
SYKE & SUGARSTARR Ticket 2 Ride (Casa Rosso)
LISA MILLETT Closer (Look At You)
FORCE featuring DARRYL D'BONNEAU I Came Back (Milo)
THE MANNEKINS Revolution (White Label)
BACKROOM SOUNDS Furious Funk - W Of M Mix (Sounds Like Soul)
SOULEDZ You Can't Hide - Axwell Mix (SuSu)
SOUTHERN DIVIDE Ate O Amanhecer (Device)

NIK WESTON (Mukatsuku Promotions/In Da Mix / London)
ELECTRIC SHEEP Naked Moon/HM (Quality)
TY Upwards LP( Big Dadda)
MOFO ORCHESTRA Do The Bumble Bug (Tasty Hoagies)
MARK RONSON Ooh Wee (East West)
ENNIO MORRICONE Remixes ≠ 1 LP (Compost)
KENJI SUZUKI Hajime Yoshizawa Mix (Uutwo)
REEL PEOPLE Butterflies (Papa Records)
JON ARNOLD Neibourhood Science (Ubiquity)
ONDA NUEVA REMIX PROJECT with NICOLA CONTE & GERARDO FRISINA (Deja Vu)
SPIRITUAL SOUTHGreen Gold (Afro Art)

IN DA MIX is available on the following websites :
www.kingstreetsounds.com (New York, USA)
www.beatdownsounds.com (Detroit, USA)
www.upskirtrecords.com (Roachford, USA / San Antonio, SPAIN / London, UK)
www.deeprhythms.com (Helsinki, FINLAND)
www.subgroundfm.net (Stuttgart, GERMANY)
www.spiritofhouse.com (Zurich, SWITERLAND)
www.deephousemafia.org (Vienna, AUSTRIA)
www.houseconnection.net (Milano, ITALY)
www.codamag.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.daphonics.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.rotaxdisk.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.ssohmusic.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.mixturestereo.com (Paris, FRANCE)
www.drum-bass.net (Strasbourg, FRANCE)
www.ambassade-club.com (Lyon, FRANCE)
www.deepsoundsradioshow.com (Toulouse, FRANCE)
www.limelight-records.fr (Cannes, FRANCE) *

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October 5, 2003

It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠23

Just managed to get my hands for the first time behind the desks at Cargo in London on 09/20 and would like to thank Rollercone for the invite, as well as his percussionnist for his impressive work during the whole nite, not to mention the crowd for being so receptive at the time. Really good vibes indeed in this monthly residency called Suburb. This short trip to London givin'me the opportunity to record shoppin' prior to the gig and find some good plates here and there…

Time to get funky…
Funny how things have appeared to go for some time now. We might say deeper and groovier as if there was a need for some genuine vibes after all these DJ toolsalike tracks that we've had for the past decade, and we could (also) say thank you to all of those - should it be the ones who've made their names in the broken beat area or those considered as true masters in terms or re-editing - who, by their works, have revived our search for some good seminal grooves. Is it time (again) to get funky ? This, we shall see, even though good music (and true happiness for the lovers) is definitely around the bent…

Remember Carol Williams and the Vanguard label ? Well, it seems like the "pair" resurfaces today via the re-issue of "Can't Get Away" some 20 years after its original release. For those who may not know, the aforementioned song is nothing but one of the five (including Sharon Redd's "Beat The Street") that producer Darryl Payne managed to have at the same time in the Bilboard's 'Black Singles' chart. Will it follow the same path today ? Dunno neither but this one-sided release with a Ray 'Pinky' Velasquez remix smells good that ol'disco daze period, reminding us these flavors that were around at the time with labels like West End Records…

Remember last week, Irie, our Nu Groove selector, was revealing some info to please the true music lovers with some unreleased material from Roy Ayers that should be given a bith by BBE in the near future ! Well, the vibraphone maestro is here again, accompanying the legendary acid jazz combo JTQ (James Taylor Quartet) on the post-disco funk'n'jazzy "Get Down To The Floor (Can You Feel It ?"), not to mention some true 70's B-side (Freestyle). Meanwhile, brit-soul singer, Kenny Thomas, resurfaces alongide Souledz on a cover version of David Joseph's classic "You Can't Hide Your Love" (SuSu). Also woth to mention, a white label calld "Dance 4 Free" by Thugg, built with some elements (this wah wah rhythm guitar line amongst others) that remind somehow Mystic Merlin's classic "Can't Give You Up". This added to the not to be missed Tasty Hoagies presents… where both sides - respectively by Paul Baron and The Mofo Orchestra - are other exemples of what club music was in the seventies, say for instance at the Loft. Tracks that, no doubt, should reach Dimitri from Paris's nterest…

Ten years later (at the beginning of the nineties), New Jersey and its famous club (The Zanzibar) was touted as the center of the world by european A&R making their shopping over there. We was talking about the… New Jersey Sound at the time and one of the favourite tunes was Earth People's "Dance". Well, the other good thing is that this Pal Joey's classic gets an official re-release on Cabaret after being notoriously sampled by MAW on one of their remixes of Black Magic's "Dance (Do That Thing)" and baddly bootlegged over these last years, and this stays today as a true must have.

Another ten years and we're nowhere else than today at Clubshelter with his resident, Timmy Regisford, signing according to what we've been said the house remix of "Fallin'" by R&B diva Alicia Keys. A quite strange construction that we could divide into two ≠ parts, from a relatively hard perspective at the beginning to some smoother approach after the break (white).

Moods & Grooves…
Frankie Feliciano delivers some piece of sultry midtempo soul vibes, remixing Stephanie Cooke's "I Never Told You (You could Stay)" (King Street). On a smoother abstract touch, Solu Music gives us the caribbean atmospheric and intimate "Marcello" from A Night At Barracuda EP ; a true gem for the ones in search of some sunset soundtrack (Solu Music).

Under My Skin definitely stands as another label to watch. Check out their newest release under the form of the smooth afro jazzy "Speaking In Tongues" by Nikos melting musicians comming from various universes. Meanwhile Afterhours' regular signee, Daniel Spencer goes for some deep soul vibes, assisted by vocalist, Downtown (sounding somehow like Marvin Gaye) on "Butterfly" (Chez). Out of Baltimore Oji's partner DJ Pope aka b-Soul has a true soul jazz monster classy song. Simply entitled Love" with the help of singer Sheila Ford, its brings us into some scatt territory on a feel between 'Little' Louie Vega and Blaze 's "Elements Of Life" concept (Poji Records). Up to further North with this nu 12" from Chicagoan vet, Boo Williams, called "Virtual Vaults" under the Moon Man moniker, containing the introspective "73rd & Lowe Street" on some afro/calypso driven patterns (Moods & Grooves). And the same thing ought to be said about Canadian rising star Rise Ashen (a true name to follow if you've never heard of him so far), this time associated to Trevor Walker on the afro/phonky vocoderised "Music Is My Life". And if that wasn't enuff, this 12" is delivered with the insame "Nu Beings" by RAW Collective on the B-side. A tune that melts in a terrific and subtle way afro, dub and soul elements (Fossifuel). Ending up this issue 23 with some good news regarding the forthcoming release on King Street of one of the last WMC's tunes. A monstrous groove called "Back To Chicago" born from the collaboration between Roy Davis Jr and Detroit genuine newcomer Malik (Alston) under the name of Infinity and this one should rock the
floors.

Peace ya'all,
MFSB

IN DA MIX TENNERZ
INFINITY featuring MALIK Back To Chicago (King Street/CDR)
ALISON DAVID Dreams Come True (Goya)
TASTY HOAGIES presents THE MOFO ORCHESTRA Do The Bumblebug (white)
SOULSTATION You (West End)
RAW COLLECTIVE Nu Beings (Fossifuel)
B-SOUL featuring SHEILA FORD Love - B-sOUL's Live Music Jam (Poji)
STEPHANIE COOKE I Never Told You (You Could Stay) - Ricanstruction Vocal Mix (King Street)
RIVER PLATE SAMBA ORCHESTRA Congo - Sao Benitez Cut (Mr Bongo)
IVE MENDES Natural High - Sumo Rebounce Mix (Mr Bongo)
SOLID GROOVE 3-Stylin'EP (Lounging Records)

Frederic 'MFSB' Messent
98, rue de Paris
F-94220 Charenton
France

Playlists of the week come courtesy of :

CLAUDE MONNET (Penso Positivo / Paris)
DJ GREGORY You Know Melendro (Faya Combo)
CLAUDE MONNET presents MONICA NOGUEIRA Infancia Magica (SSOH/CDR)
ALISON DAVID DREAM COME TRUE - Afronaught Mix (Goya Music)
DONNIE Cloud 9 - Remixes (Giant Step)
LOUIS VEGA Nico’s Song/Africa Brazil (Vega Records)
DJ GREGORY Elle - MAW Remixes (Faya Combo/CDR)
ROY AYER presents SYLVIA STRIPLIN Give Me Your Love - Album (Uno Melodic Records)
CHOZEN 2 feat MAZEN Get On Up (Do It Right)