InDaMix Newsletters for 2003.
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
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)
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