Picks of the Week

The BackRoom featuring Kimara Lovelace "Here I am" (Soul Groove Records 12")

"Here I am" is one of those songs that has a melody that won't get out of your heard for a long, long time to come, courtesy of the production team of Backroom Productions. The music is based around an irresistible groove and features a delightful George Benson like guitar, warm melodic chords and sweet percussion, creating an infectious vibe. Add the wonderful and passionate vocal performance by Kimara Lovelace, and you've got a soulful and timeless garage production, perfect for the summer season ahead.
 

WMC Preview: Michelle Weeks "Be thankful" (Purple Music Records 12" Test Pressing)

In 2002, Jamie Lewis and his Purple Music family brought us "The light", in 2005 they bring us "Be thankful". It has the same energy that made "The light" one of the standout tunes three years ago, with Michelle Weeks proving why she is undoubtly one of house music greatest. It's the irresistible piano together with the unmistakable vocal that are layed over a fiercely stormming groove on this track that will conquer the attention of everyone who hear this track. Simply irresistible.
 

WMC Preview: Nikos featuring Nita "Let's stay together" (Under My Skin Records CD Promo)

For his latest release on Under My Skin Records , DJ and producer Nikos has choosen to do a cover version of one of his all time favorite songs: "Let's stay together" by Al Green, a timeless soul classic. With the help of a gifted group of musicians who provide the live instrumentation including sax, flute, bass, drums and percussion, this new interpretation brings the soul directly to the dancefloors with its smooth vibe and an electrifying vocal performance by Nita Hutton whose voice is soulful and breezy, giving the song an inspirational and passionate feeling.

Picks of the Week

Exclusive Preview: Milesart Orchestra "Better Times EP" (Ibiza Soulstice Music CD Promo)

Ibiza Soulstice Music is the brand new label by Joan Ribas Ferrer. The first release is a four track EP by the Milesart Orchestra featuring music inspired by 70's soul, jazz and funk grooves. "Something coloured" comes with a stompin' beat, deeply funkin' bassline (think of "Papa was a rolling stone") and sweet melodies on top. "Funkoff (deep love to Isa)" is a fantastic afterhours track based around a deeply stormin' groove and features a jazzy instrumentation together with a funky guitar. "Gotta make you move" starts with a lovely intro before the drivin' groove kicks in and the jazzy saxophone, funky guitar and soulful vocals create an irresistible feeling. Lastly we've got the title track "Better times", a midtempo groover spreading a laidback feeling through the jazz-funk vibes.
 

King Britt presents Scuba featuring Lizz Fields "Our time" (Slip'N'Slide Records CD Promo)

Slip'N'Slide Records have just started a new compilation series called "Jazzmental" with King Britt presenting the first selection that includes his own production "Our time" which features r&b singer Lizz Fields. She delivers a soulful vocal performance over a deep bassline and piano driven groove added with sweet percussion, strings and melodic keys on the 'Funke Mix' while the 'Sunrise Mix' is stripped of the beats and percussion. The remix included is courtesy of Mikale Nordgren under his Tiger Stripes moniker and comes with smoothly stompin beats, superb flute and afro elements added to the original instrumentation, giving the track an irresistible feeling.

Picks of the Week

Sara Devine "Special" (Vega Records 12")

After her underground smash "Take me home" thanks to the Masters at Work remixes, Sara Devine is back with Louie Vega remixes of the sultry neo-soul gem "Special". Louie Vega delivers uplifting reworkings featuring a riffing guitar, sweet percussion and melodic chords to create a grooving house take that has an an acoustic edge that comes to full effect on the isntrumental 'Roots Dub'.
 

Steal Vybe "Musical Journeys EP" (Steal Vybe Music Records 12" Test Pressing)

The third release for Steal Vybe Music is a triumphant return as they present a fantastic EP that kicks off with "Love's song" that features songstress Stephanie Renee and hypnotic keys over a driving groove, creating an irresistible vibe. "Love's song (the other story)" is the second part, being on a broken beat tip and spreading a jazzy vibe through the warm and orchestral melodies. "Relief" comes with spoken words over a deeply stompin' groove that features some heavy drum patterns and is topped with a jazzy piano line and spacey keys. Finally "Vibrations" is a sweet bossa/brazil house track with lush keys, layered vocals and unique melodies creating a laidback feeling, perfect to chill.

Picks of the Week

Blaze "My beat" (Sumo Remix)(HEYA HIFI CD Promo)

This is the first release for S.U.M.O.'s own label HEYA HIFI that is taken from the forthcoming album "Rebounces". S.U.M.O. take on the Blaze classic "My beat" that features Palmer Brown's preaching lyrics and turn it into an afro beat work out featuring brand new instrumentation including horn section, organ, afro guitar and sweet percussion. The 'Rebounce' version creates an irresistible afro house vibe with Palmer Brown's unmistakable vocal performance while the dub stripps the vocals and features additonal instrumentation instead, enforcing the afro vibe.
 

Raw Artistic Soul "Kana EP" (GoGo Music Records CD Promo)

After the fantastic "One Cultural Groove EP", Raw Artistic Soul are back with another chapter of inspiring music. The title track of the EP, "Kana" (available in both vocal and dub versions) features the voice of Laygwan Sharkie who sings in the native Zimbabwian language over a smooth yet powerful afro house beat that is topped with melodic keys and a lovely jazzy flute. "Bathanga vibes" features Migrant Souls aka Lyygwan Sharkie & Metaphysics and is inspired by 'Bathanga Jive', a traditional dance of miners of Zimbabwe. Can7 delivers an uplifting interpretation coming with infectious melodies and an irresistible groove, creating a feel-good anthem. Finally there is "Flores para ti", a latin tinged production featuring a broken-beat styled, percussion loaded groove and jazzy vocal ad-libs together with Rafael Cortes on guitar. With this second outstanding EP, I can't wait to hear the forthcoming album "What about love".

Picks of the Week

Various "The New Breed EP" (POJI Records 12")

POJI Records keep it real with this extremly hot three track EP that kicks off with "My latin woman" by Sueno Soul featuring Gosando Music which they licensed from Newlite Records for this release.  It is an uplifting latin house track with a bouncey groove, guitar and male spoken words creating an irresistible groove you can't resist dancing to. Next up is "People need people" by Pixel, a laidback production featuring soulful female vocals over a mellow groove with smoothly stompin' beats, topped with spacey keys giving the song a melodic vibe. DJ Pope & Jason Din team up as DenPo and deliver the magical "Oobaye oobaye", coming with african chants over a percussively bumpin' beat, added with jazzy keys and an organ line, creating an absolutely irresistible vibe.