November 28, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠73
Say what ? Could it be that you still haven't voted for the best of 2K4 ??? Well it's still time doing it using the Polls page on our forum section…
US young producer Alix Alvarez has made quite some noise this year and is no doubt amongst the most talented faces to have appeared recently. Is he to be your favourite out of 2004 ? This we shall see. At least, he's our fave this week answering our Q's (Interview). Meanwhile, on the opposite corner is a heavyweight champion who needs no introduction. Probably the #1 in his genre since day 1 some… 25 years ago. Ladies & gents : Prince, scoring our Single of The Week with his famous "Digital Garden" as relifted by Adam Goldstone on some white label. Regarding our Album Of The Month to be online tomorrow, it's none other than Jazzy Jeff with his In The House delivery for Soulheaven on Defected and believe this, it could well be the comp of the year ! As for our current issue, it's definitely as groovy by the likes of JM Irie with his Nu Groove column. We know you're gonna dig this…
NU GROOVE (SOUL, JAZZ, BREAKS, BROKEN BEATS+ MORE…)
It's with big sadness that we've been told about the sudden collapse of Old Dirty Bastard aka Dirt McGirt aka Baby Jesus aka Russel Jones, other known as founding member of the Wu Tang Clan a bit more than a week ago. This furious rapper with unequaled charisma & noisy blues, although facing numerous problems with the justice, was working on his forthcoming album project at Jay Z and Damon Dash Roc-A- Fella label's studio. He'll be remembered for ever in the heart of those into hardcore hip hop ! May he endly rest in peace. This said ODB's production (the amount of which remaining unknown at the present time) should inspire many new generations of rappers, from Brooklyn to Paris… Starting with Versailles based Fuzati, exquisite vocalist of le Klub Des Loosers, whose first LP has just been released on Record Makers (Air's label). If not the psychotic Parisians TTC whose new piece of plastic on Big Dada is as arty as dirty ! Who by the way has said that art was made to chock the upper classes ?
We've Been Said That TTC'd reached the cult status in Japan. Well, surely not as much as those 2 Nippon groove Yakuzas better known as Kyoto Jazz Massive. The Okino bros are currently celebrating the 10th B-day of their much sought after Especial Records label with an exquisite series of EP's full of delicate goodies such as Restless Soul featuring Rasiyah "Time To Fly" (seing Phil Asher back in full effect after a sort of sabbatical year) Afronaught featuring Alison David "Now Or Never" (already looking like a future hit at the Co-Op nites!),Face "No Fear" (another wonder by the likes of Dego/4Hero) and Marcus Enochson featuring Ingela Olsson "Listen 4 It". Vol.2 features Domu "Taking Flight", Dego & Kaidi Tatham "Come With Me. And #3 has Kyoto Jazz Massive themselves on board with "Endless Flight (12" Edit)", Lars Bartkuhn "First Friendship" and Reel People featuring Vanessa Freeman "Tomorrow Never Comes.
The latest are also making their come back as classy as usual on their own Papa Records label with a new seasonnal gem called avec la classe qui les "The Rain". Could it be all those marvels hailing from UK find life because of the rain pushing our British neighbours to try to find some better time in their studios ? See Dominic Stanton for instance, equally on board on the KJM comp. Domu, that genious breakologist whop remains one amongst the most prolific producers at the present time whatever the genre maybe ; that one touted by some people as a sort of Miles Davis within the broken beat area, can do everything good, should it be house, techno, broken, disco, beatdown ou hip hop. From a moniker to another, he manages to extend the width of his expression, should it as as a post-producer for Unforseen on Wah Wah 45, Pianorama on Obliqsound or for Break Reform. Not to mention his works with Shifty under the Yokoto on Neroli (following his superb "Discotheque EP"). I wonder when this guy's sleeping… And if you ain't got the time to see him behind the desk, let me invite you to come along on Dec.11 at le Nouveau Casino, rue Oberkampf à Paris where he's awaited to spin for the RPM collective/ rootspeople.com alongside Tony Nwachuku (ex-Attica Blues/Nepenta), Landslide (Hospital) and yours trully. A bon entendeur, salut ! IRIE
J’M IRIE’S NU GROOVE HOT 10
AFRONAUGHT featuring ALISON DAVID Now Or Never (Especial)
ANTHONY HAMILTON Lucille - Theo Parrish ugly edit 9 (Ugly Edits)
JERU DA DAMAJA featuring LIL’ DAP “Don’t Get It Twisted” (Tygereye)
MOS DEF Modern Marvel (Geffen)
VISIONEERS Roll A Small One (For The Ride) (Omniverse)
MAGIC NUMBER ? - Domu Hip Hop Mix (CD-R)
REEL PEOPLE The Rain (Papa)
PLATINUM PIED PIPERS Saturday Night (Ubiquity)
THE REBIRTH Evil Vibrations (Ubiquity)
CYBERWORKS Funk Cluster (Twisted Funk)
November 21, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠72
Hey folks how R U doin' ? Tons of things as usual here on IDMW.Com, starting with that big grouped conversation we've managed to have with Ultra Naté, Arnold Jarvis and Joi Cardwell as part of the Underground Dance Artists United For Life awaited for a couple of performances today in New York City as a support to the release of the Keep Hope Alive album on King Street. 12"wise, we welcome back US singer Sarah Jane Morris scoring our Single Of The Week with "It's Jesus I Love" as relifted by Max Sedgley. Meanwhile our editorial team is ready to welcome a new member by the likes of UK multi facetted Sarah Foote and more to come in the near future on both our International and French versions. As for this precise moment, it's your time to deliver the infos while answering to the Q's thereafter either while dropping us an e-mail or using our forum.
WHATIZDISDATWE'RE ABOUT ?
Yaow. Time to make ourselves here at IDMW.Com a better idea of who our community is about. 2004 is progressively coming to an end from a week to another and it's your turn folks to let us know what you're really into while simply answering the Q's thereafter. All your responses to be compiled on a special issue to be online on the very last week of next December. Thank you for clicking on one of the following options out of our 2004 data basis or making your own choice when stated : http://www.indamixworldwide.com/html/forum14.html
The single of the year
Born To Funk "Di Bamba" (Spinning/Kneep Deep US)
Shapeshifters Lola's Theme (Nocturnal Groove)
Louie Vega featuring Blaze Love Is On The Way (Vega Records)
Treena Rose Tell Me All About It (Jellybean Soul)
RSL The Mast (Love Will Be Strong) (Players)
Other
The album of the year (free choice)
The event of the year (free choice)
The producer of the year
Blaze
DJ Gregory
DJ Spinna
Jazzanova
Louie Vega
Other
The upcoming producer of the year
Alix Alvarez
DJ Oji
Quentin Harris
Patchworks
Franck Roger
Other
The post-producer of the year
Alix Alvarez
DFA
DJ Spinna
Quentin Harris
Sir Piers
Other
The DJ of the year
Kerri Chandler
Joe Claussell
DJ Gregory
Kenny Dope
Louie Vega
Other
The upcoming DJ talent of the year
DJ Yannick (Needs)
Quentin Harris
Jojoflores
Julius the madthinker
Franck Roger
Other
The label of the year
Compost
Defected
MAW
Schema Records
West End
Other
The upcoming label of the year
Diaspora Recordings
GoGo Music
Jellybean Soul
Soulfuric Deep
Space Kat
Other
Your best souvenir (free choice)
What to be first reminded in 2K4 (free choice)
Your wish for 2005 (free choice)
What do you expect from IDMW.Com ?
What would you like to be added on our pages ?
On your marks !
November 14, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠71
Funny how things may go at some time… The House Music Awards have just been attributed last week and you know what ? Shapeshifters 'Lola's Theme' which stands as the Essential Selection Track Of The Year happened to be our Single Of The Week during the Winter Music Conference ! Will we do the same next year ? We shall see. As for the immediate, we're in good company with Dennis Ferrer taking the center stage this week for his first drop on Defected and Dutch pair Born To Funk (Interview) who had the former Single Of The Week here on IDMW.Com. Ooops by the way, don't forget to caste your votes for the best of 2004 (see our forum) for our special issue to be online on the very last week of the year.
IN DA MIX (House, Garage & Other Illicit Grooves)
Another bunch of definitive quality delicatessen on display this week, from Dennis Ferrer (our Single Of The Week) to the seminal Jungle Wonz's as revamped by Danny Krivit with the confirmation of a growing link between house & R&B as demonstrated by Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Tamia, Brandy & the likes seing their material reworked by people such as Tyrone Francis, Quentin Harris, DJ Spinna and Sir Piers amongst others. As if R&B had to become danceable like back in the days.
Our very first props this week going directly to Jazzy Jeff, although it's not time to talk about albums for his work and selection on his Soulheaven comp for Defected, displaying a vast array of timeless classics such as Booker T & The MG's "Melting Pot", Kool & The Gang's "Open Sesame", The O' Jays' quintessential "Now That We Found Love" as redone by reggae outfit Third World, Bohannon's "Let's Start The Dance", the late Barry White's "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness" and many others. Quite refreshing as well as a definitive testimony reassuring about the power of timeless made music. A thang that many current producers would be very much inspired to have in mind when on their way for some recording session !!!
Freshly sacred as the label of the year at the HMA last week, Defected add a new corker on their belt with the infectious "Hit It Off/Jero", a double tracker dispalying the versatility of Dennis Ferrer scoring the Single Of The Week here on IDMW.Com. So I guess that U know what you have 2 do. Buy this ! And also gotta do the same with the revamp of Jungle Wonz's classic " Bird In A Guilded Cage" seing Danny Krivit adding much drama emphasis to it (Skylax).
A quick look back in the days (let's say the early 80's) reminds us how R&B was to the period what dance music is nowadays although being far much diversified. As West End Records co-founder Mel Cheren said, we somehow used to talk about danceable R&B. Well, 20 years after, it looks like a new cycle is about to begin - although there's always been some connection between R&B and house (thanks to Johnny D keepin' the vibe alive with his A&Ring activities at Atlantic Records in NYC) - with more and more translations from a genre to another. Look at what happened to Alicia Keys for instance as recently noticed by our Swiss partner Michael Fossati of spiritofhouse.com. But also Tamia with her recent "Still" delivered on a seducive double pack featuring the remixing talents of DJ Spinna, Johnick, E-Smoove and DFA (Atlantic). If regular to those pages, you may remember our interview with mysterious Canadian bootleggers Alan Smithee best remembered for their work on Natalie Cole's "Tell Me All About It". Well, the good thing for them is that they'd been officially commissionned by Atlantic to relift a Brandy's song. Never understood what happened since although it would seem that they've ended up releasing the song in question - "About Our Love" on their own, judging by the presence of a CMAW dub of theirs as a part of the Pico de Gallo remixes recently released on Chicago Smooth label and it's really worth to check it out.
Not that easy as opposed to put one's hand on the very best out of the numerous remix packages of Jill Scott's "Golden", most of them being whites. Although you might have a listen to the smooth and jazzy approaches delivered on Philly label, I definitely would recommand you the Redsoul Remix, the good deal being that on board is also their revamp of Erykah Badu's "I Want You", which makes it quite an estimable investment. This year 2K4 should also be remembered for Prince's return in full effect under his own guise. I can't remember if that stunning track called "Digital Garden" was part of his latest LP as I ain't got the aformentioned next to me. This said, the song in question has received a smooth revamp on some deep phonky tip by Adam Goldstone and also deserves full attention (white).
Much talked already about Alison Crockett's "Crossroads", should it be by the likes of Nik Weston or Michael Fossati and I can't really know what I could add to what our people have already said except the fact that it definitely looks like some of the most delicate reworks DJ Spinna has ever done so far (Wah Wah 45s). Long time no heard about Sarah Jane Morris. Most remembered for her "Dream On Baby" reworked by Ron Trent on Irma a couple of years ago, the exquisite lady is back on the same label with the vibrant "It's Jesus I Love" as relifted by Max Sedgley adding much drama to this piece of atmospheric phonky breakbeat. One of our faves this week, nooooo doubt ! On her way to release her awaited debut LP by the beginning of 2005, UK songstress Verna Francis has a new single - "Look" - delivred with remixes from NoTenshun and fast growing name Franck Roger with a very smooth soul jazzy approach (Chillifunk) and stay tuned as our man has tons of goodies under his belt to be relased in the weeks/months to come. On a quite different tip is the remix package of John Consemulder's "Rewind To Sart" courtesy of John Tejada & Pirahnahead to be released any day now. Gotta say that should they be deepfunklectrified or on a more organic broken beatish jazz/funk vein, they perfectly fit to the lady's sweet voice (Moods & Grooves).
Don't expect anything to get you oops upside your head while listenig to "Takin' U Back" by James Ratcliff presents Urban Groove featuring Tommy Blaize although this conventional approach has a definitive friendly & classy laidback vibe to feed the expectations of the more soulful fans of you (suSu). And the same comment oughtta be done regarding Phil Hooton featuring Testament's "King Of Kings" on a gospelly house vein. Quite classic in terms of approach although seducive on both Original and Terry Hunter's mixes (suSu). Slightly deeper is Jaymz Nylon featuring Edwin Soto's "You Gotta Love" deserving a careful listen if searching for some vibrant atmosphere over a cool beat (RH).
2004 also sees the return of Manchester pioneer A Guy Called Gerald with a new LP awaited by the beginning of next month on K7! Quite unpredictable, our man and long time friend opens his "First Try EP" with… "First Try", quite reminiscent of the period that saw him working alongside 808 State back at the end of the 80's, the rest being far more abstract and experimental.
We loved Intuit's album released earlier this year and we love their current Remix EP and more particularly the soulful jazz'n' phonky "Planet Birth" featuring legendary singer Andy Bey, as retouched by Trüby Trio. Also included are the already classic "O Preguiçoso" delivered in some acoustic version as well as "Peace Of Mind", an infectious piece of lightly lectrified soul funk by the likes of Raw Deal. In other words a very good investment on its whole (Compost). On the same label, Beanfield look like in love with contrasts with their "Birds & Bees EP" having the noisy lectrified "Birds & Bees" dubbed with the smooth & delicate "Tides" retouched this time by Soulpatrol.
If wondering why Nutropic who are listed amongst our editorial team members haven't dropped a single line so far, the reason is quite simple. The boys have been working on numerous projects here and there - not to mention the current recording of their awaited debut-LP - the latest of which being a couple of seducive reworks for Tony Allen and Zuco 103 put together on the same package on Comet Records and their famous update of Letta M'Bulu "Banoyi" classic under the Afro Jazz Pioneers which we've had a bit more than 6 months ago as a Single Of The Week on CD-R and it's been really worth the wait (Early Records). In search for some Afro-beat ? Well Jamayka Records have a killer called "Mister Sinister" by the likes of Kokolo Afro Beat Orchestra served with effective mixes of Faze Action and dis sh** is another pure slice of dope.
If into the abstract latin jazzy kind of vibes then no doubt Jeremias Santiago "Keyzzz"'s 4 U and more precisely it's B-side featuring the nu bossaey "San Juan Soul" and the housey "Latin Woman" (Jellybean Soul).
See ya ! Peace, MFSB
IDM TENNERZ
SARAH JANE MORRIS It's Jesus I Love - Max Sedgley Remix (Irma)
JUNGLE WONZ Bird In A Guilded Cage - Danny Krivit Reedit (Skylax)
JOHN CONSEMULDER Rewind To Start - Pirahnahead Remix (Moods & Grooves/test)
DIGITAL GARDEN - Adam Goldstone Vocal Remix (white)
ALISON CROCKETT Crossroads - DJ Spinna Remix (Wah Wah 45s)
BRANDY About Our Love - CMAW Dub (Chicago Smooth)
DENNIS FERRER Hit It Off (Defected)
JEREMIAS SANTIAGO San Juan Soul
TAMIA Still - DFA Remix (Atlantic)
KOKOLO AFRO BEAT ORCHESTRA Mister Sinister - Faze Action Vocal Remix (Jamayka)
November 7, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠70
Continental Europeans as generally called in UK making a sort of hat trick on IDMW.Com. Who would have predicted such a situation a few months ago ? Well,it pretty much looks like this is it right now on our columns, from German Lars Bartkuhn scoring our Album Of The Month to Austrian new comer Parov Stelar (Interview) and the much sought after Dutch pair Born To Funk with the Single Of The Week… As for the site's concern, get ready for much more in the forthcoming weeks as our 1st B-Day gift repaying you for your fidelity…
INDAMIXWORLDWIDE.COM GOES 1
No specific column this week. Not that there's nothing to review, but because time has come to speak for once about ourselves. You may wonder why. Well, simply because this month marks our first Anniversary in full effect !
As a matter of fact, I would like to thank first all of those who've actively helped to make us who we are today. This means my partner in crime, Jean-Jérôme Lebel who's put the technical shapes to IDMW.Com, but also the ones who've graced us with their editorial contribution (Nik Weston, Michael Procter, JM Irie, DJ ADN and more to come in the near future). Not to mention our webpartners around the globe and of course you, our beloved readers whose ever growing amount of visits allow us to start this second year with a strong basis.
our enthusiastic feedback is the true key pushing us on our will to increase the performances of our activities day after day, not only in terms of content with new names, columns and versions, as recently shown with the launch of our French version, but also in terms of circulation on the site trying to make it the most fluid as we can.
This said, if the first try has been scored, it now needs to be transformed, getting us in the obligation to put the shapes to a more approriate structure to be fully operational by the beginning of 2005 with a bigger server and the launch of extra activities as a complement to what we're already doing, those about which you'll be posted about as time goes.
As you may have noticed, IDMW.Com is, as opposed to many other experiences, the result of a spontaneous initiative by the likes of a bunch of independant people displaying the fruit of their common passion within a world where there's not that much space for alternative and the reward of which so far is the pleasure you feel finding the most acurate infos on the site.
Needless to say then that your commitment in spreading the word about what we're doing to your pals or dropping the infos about what you're doing on our forum (playlists, dates, feedback, thoughts or enquiries) is to be taken as the best sign of support we may get from you.
Peace & thanks to all of you.
Frederic 'MFSB' Messent, editor