Picks of the Week

John Beltran presents Nostalgic "Going Home EP" (Groovia Sound Project Records 12")

John Beltran follows up last years impressive EP (that includes the marvellous "Especially" featuring John Arnold) with the "Going home EP" that is another blessing for the music enthusiast. Detroit is famous for electronic music but has much more to offer like this new release of techno veteran John Beltran that takes the electronic genre to new heights - soulful grooves with influences from other music styles characterise this release. There is the poetic "Placid angels" featuring female spoken words and a melodic instrumentation, or we have "Going home", a laidback track with majestic keys over a smooth groove. For yet another evolvement, check "Sweet soul" which is drenched with latin rhythms and features a lovely clarinet solo. Lastly there is "Detroit moments", a melancholic track with dazzling melodies that creates its own athmosphere. Listen to it and enjoy the musical explorations.

Picks of the Week

The Beard featuring Amma "Call me" (ReelGroove Records CD Promo)

ReelGroove Records is the brand new label by Greg Dorban whose debut release is "Call me" by The Beard which unfortunately did not get the attention it deserves when it was first released on NY Soul back in august 2004. The original version is an uplifting production with a warm melodic instrumentation that features a seductive vocal performance by Amma, while the accompanying dub strips the vocal down to create a more laidback groove. The first of the brand new mixes is courtesy of Groove Assassin who delivers a smooth yet powerful reworking that features a wonderful instrumentation including a great guitar solo. Sueno Soul provide the second reworking that comes on a jazz-funky tip, giving the song cool laidback feeling.
 

Y-Man & Yenza featuring C King "Smile" (Remixes)(UK Basic Records CD Promo)

Swedish trio Y-Man, Yenza and Charlie King are the writers of this wonderful song, with Charlie King being the featured singer. Responsible for the mixes are Kenny Carvajal who blesses us with another one of his musical masterpieces that will take you on a journey into soulful house music - just listen to it and you know what I'm talking about. The other mixes are courtesy of John Kumahara who turns the song into a deeply storming affair with spacey keys courtesy of Martino that give these mixes a unique touch.

Picks of the Week

Exclusive Review: Riverside Soul featuring De'Monica "Not the one" (Part One)(Vino Records CD Promo)

It has almost been a year since the last release on Vino Records, but gladly they now return with "Not the one" by Riverside Soul featuring singer De'Monica. This is part one featuring label head Monte Hilleman's mixes, part two will follow in a few weeks. "Not the one" is a beautiful organic production with a true live feel that is build around a funky bouncin' groove that is enriched with a deep bassline, lovely guitar and magnificent keys alongside sensitive vocals by De'Monica, with a great saxophone coming in later. The dub version is a great addition to the vocal, giving extra room to the instrumentation.
 

Picks of the Week

Andy Holder featuring Carl Stanley & Lone Catalysts "Uncivilised people" (Nuwavonic Records CD Promo)

After various releases and remixes for such prominent labels as Soulfuric, deVICE and Soulfunk Digital, Andy Holder launches his own label Nuwavonic Records which will be digital only for the moment (promos will be available through Traxsource). For the first release "Uncivilised people", Andy Holder teams up with hip-hop vocalist J. Sands (of the Lone Catalysts) performing the spoken word vocals and jazz musician Carl Stanley contributing saxophone and rhodes solos. The original version is spreading a feel-good vibe, bringing the vocals and jazzy instrumentation to full effect, with the 'Prime Time Dub' taking the track to the next level by firing things up. The 'Inner City Vocal Mix' takes the track to deeper grounds using a deeply stormin' groove and melodic keys, while the 'Inner City Dub Mix' offers an intensified, even deeper variation. Lastly there is Carl Stanley's 'Spirit Mix', a soulful reworking that lets the beautiful instrumentation create an uplifting vibe.