June 27, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠60
A quick look at the calendar shows us that we've entered a brand new season on this North Hemispere of the globe. This meaning that one half of 2004 is already behind us and that time has come for another selection of albums. Not to mention that summer break is just around the bent. What's your destination, what are you going to do, where will you spin, what are your favourite tunes of the season ? You have an extra week (til Jul.1st) to drop us your answers if you wish, knowing that your postcards will be more than welcome on board as you return home… Welcome to our issue # 60...
Hopefully, free time is the supposed definitition to be given when breaks are coming. No need to rush anymore then simply find the best way to appreciate life the way it goes with the minimum amount of plans and let ourselves go while chillin' and let our minds & boddies wander here or there. This is exactly what we've got on this very last selection of biggies B4 summer holidays. Got a couple of celebrations of people going on their 20's including London activists Bobby & Steve (Laviniere) and Chicago house early daze label, Trax. Some atmospheric vibes coming from Scandinavia by the likes of Illumination and Fenomenon, meanwhile African diva Zap Mama drops a new collection of sweeties + other good stuff around. Not to mention a brand new selection of Japanese bits and bops by our very own Nik Weston and a welcome return album from reggae legends Toots & The Maytals.
Where was you at 20 years ago ? Chicago based label, Trax was in the process of giving birth to a new era alongside its DJ International opponent in what would become house music. Mixed by Maurice Joshua and Paul Johnson, Trax Records : The 20th Anniversary Collection brings us back to the memory of those early days with names that would become legends. Robert Owens, Adonis, Mr Fingers, Mr Lee, Farley JackMaster Funk, Maurice, Ralphi Rosario, Frankie Knuckles vs Marshall Jefferson, Liz Torres, Jungle Wonz, Kool Rock Steady… Names are definitely speaking for themselves in the evolution of house, should it be deep, acid or mixed with hip hop. A true piece of history gathered on this triple CD pack (traxhouse.com ).
Responsible of the memorable Southport Weekender CD triple pack, Dutch label suSu celebrates 20 years in the business from Bobby & Steve. Based in London, the Laviniere Brs. (being in the UK capital what the Cheers guy are in Paris) Made their reputation while being true activists in the Black dance groove era since day 1 in… 1984, while promoting events (cf. the Soul Heaven Parties but also Garage City amongst many others), producing and launching their own labels. Their Past, Present & Future collection is made of 2 CD's, the first one dedicated to disco incl. cuts from Teddy Pendergrass, Fat Larry's Band, Diana Ross, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Young & Company, the Jones Girls and former One Way vocalist, Alicia Myers to name but a few. Meanwhile, the second half of this package (dedicated to house) displays anthems and currents pieces from Ten City, Blaze, Incognito, Kevin Saunderson (with one of their remixes), Terry Hunter, Masters At Work and Kim English amongst others.
When UK vet DJ Dr Bob Jones and former Flying Records collaborator Lofty started to collaborate 7 years ago, they probably didn't know they would give birth to one of the most respected labels worlwide (Chillifunk). Their motto ? Most definitely : the more I get, the more I want, taken from their cover version of Teddy Pendergrass of the likes under their East West Connection being at the epicenter of their search for quality music, as demonstrated by their numerous collaborations gathered on this Movin On collection with people like Ultra Naté, Sandy Mill, Snowboy, DJ Oji & Una, Jody Watley and Daniel Vacchio dubbed with an extra CD mix by Liquid people. A package worth to invest on (chillifunk.com).
A bunch of miles up North drive us to Scotland, the homebase of Compost artist Joseph Malik, dropping his new LP called Aquarius Songs. Here (again) quality stands as the best answer facing the current situation of the record industry. The opening song which also happens to be the title track of this new effort has those bluesy frangrances which you may find in some Marvin Gaye's works, this making it an essential piece of music to add to your favourites of the likes. And the same ought to be said about the grooving and moody "Dream Dancer" whereas Malik would place some falsetto tones. Elsewhere "Believe And See" sounds more like an in yer face funk based concept. Parts also worth to mention include the bluesy "Casualties Of War" and the organic "Race Relations" (compost-records.com).
Facing the costs of Scotland is Norway an dits ever boiling (modern) scene with people like Mari Boine, Nils Peter Molvaer, Eivind Aerset and the likes around Jazzland label leader Bugge Wesseltoft. All of them + Lamb, Society London and Frost receiving the remix treatment from Oslo pair Per Martinsen and Nick Sillitoe also known under the Illumination guise. Their treatment of Mari Boine "Gula Gula" song which would be a part of some previous Cafe del Mar volume is quite illustrative of what to expect here : a modern atmospheric groovy downtempo approach which stands as their trademark with the addiction of a revamp of their essential "Cry Me A River" song (jazzlandrec.com).
Also hailing from Norway (Stavanger) are Kjetil 'Kay' Ingelbretsen and Havard 'Hobie' Rosenberg aka Fenomenon which you may remember of whenever you was a Nuphonic fan at the time. Two people who would also have various production works incl. some for Naked Music singer Lisa Shaw. Well their Hourglass debut LP show them in fuill effect twisting upbeat broken beat with soulful vocals, cool 80's references and a bit of pop appeal as shown on their lightning "Lucy Said" opener. "Space Continuum" is no doubt an ideal piece of moody midtempo groove with cinematic flavas to transport you to the place of your vacations, as is the horizontal "Hypersleep" a bit further on. Elsewhere, we also have the smooth and poppy broken-ish "Trouble Takes Flight" as well as an intimate cover version of Tears For Fears classic "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and an interesting delivery under the form of the syncopated "Restless". All on all, an interesting effort (beatservice.no).
We're keeping on this world tour down South to Holland where Floris hails from. A guy who's already started to make some noise on his name with his intimate atmospheres made of vibrant melodies and cool grooves, blending electronic effects and organic sounds at their very best this with the addiction of selected vocalists. Expect there something inbetween dZihan & Kamien and Zero 7 with oustanding moments like the opener "You & I", "Depending On You", the most memorable "Day After", the dark appealing "Sart Up" and the vibrant ending "Drunk On Life". If, by any kind of chance, you happen to attend Floris's live at De Instuif - Wijk Am Zee on June 27 at at Roskilde on Jul. 04, you'll then have a better idea of what we're talking about (unitedrecordings.com).
Half Zairian and Belgian singer Marie Daulne, aka Zap Mama delivers another sample of her vibrant talent with her aptly named Ancestry In Progress new album, infected with hip hop/nu soul African tinged flavours with the help of Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, Common, Lady Alma, Bahamadia, and ?uestlove. Gotta check out "Sweet Melody", "Bandy Bandy", "Show Me The Way", "Miss Q'N", "Yaku" and the jungly "Ca varie Marie" which are absolute gems on their respective spectrums, not to mention "Alright" and the shining "Zap Bébés" (luakabop.com).
Ending up this very last selection B4 summer break with a wink to reggae vet Toots (Hibbert) and his Maytals partners. A group that was already around some 4 decades ago. They would drop us timeless classics such as "True Love Is Hard To Find", "Reggae Got Soul", "Funky Kingston" and many others from their long time period with Island and the good news is that those dope tunes are on board this new adventure totally reconstructed with the participation of guesst such as Bonnie Raitt, Bootsy Collins or Ken Boothe & Marci Griffiths and it's the case all of the tunes gathered on this effort, from Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, The Skatallites and Ben Harper to name but a few who, by this, have shown how much they love this Jamaican band. And guess what, they're not the only ones (v2records.com). Trully love you folks,
MFSB
IDM Album Tracks TENNERZ
JOSEPH MALIK Aquarius Song - from Aquarius Songs (Compost)
ZAP MAMA Sweet Melody - from Ancestry In Progress (Luaka Bop)
TOOTS & THE MAYTALS Funky Kingston - from True Love (V2)
FLORIS Day After - from Drunk On Life (United Recordings)
FENOMENON Space Continuum - from Hourglass (Beatservice)
INTERNS vs DJ OJI & UNA Soul Underground (Fly With Me) - from Dr BOB JONES & Lofty : Moving On (Chillifunk)
ROBERT OWENS Bring Down The Walls from Tracks Records : The 20th Anniversary Collection (Trax)
UNITED FUTURE ORGANIZATION Listen Love/Osunlade Mix - from Exceptionally Remixed (Exceptional)
BUGGE WESSELTOFT Existence/Chiluminati Mix - ILLUMINATION : from The Chiluminati Remix (Jazzland)
ALICIA MYERS I Want To Thank You - from BOBBY & STEVE : Past, Present & Future (A 20th Anniversary) (suSU)
June 20, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠59
IN DA MIX (HOUSE, GARAGE & OTHER ILLICIT GROOVES)
Although we'd been expecting some better climatic conditions for quite a while over there, here in Western Europe, gotta say that these 30 something Celsius are a bit of too much while (still) currently working and doesn't help to keep on being concentrated on what we're doing. Well, guess that it's nothing here but the summer appeal and some well deserved break after all these weeks/months of hyperactivity. And, frankly speaking there's nothing to really complain about if not the fact that we'd already like to be there, wouldn't you?
By the time you're gonna read this some of the MAW promo which had been around during the Winter Music Conference should be out, incl. Franck Roger & Chris Wonder debut for Kenlou and the unmissable "Love Is On The Way" by Louie Vega featuring Blaze on Vega Records which has been amongst our favourite 12" in Miami. I clearly said "should" as some promo copies are already around although no official info has reached us so far despite many enquiries thus making us wonder if there's any PR service at MAW's HQ !!! Also finally or soon to be available are the Chillifunk newies from Verna Francis to Vanessa Freeman and Nathan Haines featuring Guida de Palma and they're all worth the mention (and the wait). Not to talk about label headz Dr Bob Jones and Lofty's recent collection of prods and collabs called Movin On about which we're gonna talk more deeply on our forthcoming album issue.
Very much in that afro latin jazzy summer vein is DJ Jorj newie aptly called "Till I see The Sun" on Curious label, carrying lush key arrangements and sensuous scatted vocal parts. In the same, vein gotta have a listen to Kings Of Spin newie on Jellybean and most particularily the Cuban influenced Endless Summer" on its original version. And the same has to be said, although in some different environment about Black Mamba (aka DJ Pap) featuring Sarudzayi's Africa" and its various versions displaying nothing but the depth from Naked Soul's original to Pico De Callo and Ken Carjaval's ones (Smooth Agent Records).
If there's any good new label around, better watch out Primal Groove Records, a NY based unit being the brainchild of DJ producers Franke Estevez & Anthony Zalez. Composed and produced by the latest with the help of Rosa Lopez writing the lyrics, the subtle "I Know You Love Me" by Danielle (their second release after Dee Holloway's "Say It" may well put her singer on the map the way "Tell Me All About it" did it for Treena Rose on Jellybean. In other words, everything but la classe ! Treena Rose's producer, George Mena goes solo and instrumental under the Mena Keys guise with a new 3 tracker on Jellybean Soul, exploring some intimate side of deep latin jazz groove. Definitely got to have an ear at his "Bone Delicious" cut with its instant friendly feel. Ron Trent's friend/partner Richard Brooks adding his own imput to this cool jazzy intermezzo with the sensuous "Whole Life" on Chroduroy.
If into the deep grooves at their best, Quentin Harris no surprinsingly drops the soulful "Traveling" with the help of singer Cordell McClary for Space Kat label. A cool but phat groove tinged with fragments of African beats producing that sort of appeal that people like Stevie Wonder and Omar provided us with in the past. Very much love this remix package of Soul Fuzion featuring Vee's "I've Got Rhythm", Kenny Dope giving it a more soulful friendly feel with its vocal tones alla Marvin Gaye (Dope On Wax). Fall Out EPOD leaves his series of R&B tunes remixes, delivering the Afro-tinged M'Bifo made of East African tribal chant mixed with a drop of tech influenced short snippets. Thangz look like going back'n'fourth as brilliantly demonstrated by UK outfit Reel People when, while remixing Hardsoul featuring Ron Carroll's classic "Back Together", add some soulful R&B feel to it (ITH).
Although everyone's left with his own definition of good music, there's no big risk affirming that the good music is the one that survives the time as subsequently demonstrated by the big amount of remixes, re-edits iof not simply edits around. As a matter of fact, we would say that legends don't die seing their works revamped as time goes, from a generation to another. Late French poet, Serge Gainsbourg (quoted as an absolute reference by Coldcut and many of those who've gone into the so called trip hop area) gets his classic "Requiem pour un con" reedited on Le Smoke Disques, meanwhile being priced an approx €-15 amount although originally issue decades ago ! Weird bits and bops dropped by Pepe Bradock on his remix activities for 70's soul diva Candi Staton on her eponym 3 tracker for Honest Jon's which was single of the week last week on Mancunian record shop Piccadilly Records (piccadillyrecords.com).
Long time no seen early Chicago house producer, Marshall Jefferson so inspired. Being given the re-edit treatment of Salsoul classics "Love Sensation" and "Dr Love" respectively by Loleatta Holloway and First Choice, he's litterally shining with the latest, delivering an instrumental version of theirs with arrangements quite reminiscent of of his Ten City period or vice versa… Remember BlueBoy's classic "Sandman" back in the mid 90's on Guidance ? Guess you would while listening to the original version version by Undisputed Truth in 1979 given a new life on the Moxie # 5 package under the "Undisputable" title dubbed with Made In USA's "Melodies" which would become a Ron Hardy's classic back in the days. More Made In USA on the 4th Moonstew label offering with a Re-edit of "Shake Your Body" - the fliptune to their "Melodies" mentioned earlier on dubbed with of Prince's much sought after "Forever In My Life" sung in a sort of Marvin Gaye's way. Pushing us straight into some psychedelic disco/funk area is the infectious "Disco Fly" by William Stuckey on IVA considered as an all time favourite by Afrika Bambaataa and Kenny Dope. The latest 12" on Dave Lee and Sean P Better Days imprint feature 3 new and obscure disco, funk and soul re-edits worth the check including the opener "It's All Over Your Face" which might pretty well have influenced Jellybean Benitez while producing "Love Will Save The Day" for Whitney Houston in 1988. Back to today's jams are The Soul Disciple opening the accounts for thre new Raw Fusion/GAMM related label Soundscape out of Stockholm. Their "Planet Earth (Make It Equal)" is an absolute disco fused midtempo beauty, meanwhile hip hop/funk "Boom Banging" on the flipside is based on Mike T's funk classic " Do It Anyway You Want It" released some 20 years ago.
True soul never dies. Peace yall, MFSB
IN DA MIX TENNERZ
DANIELLE I Know You Love Me (Primal Groove Records)
THE SOUL DISCIPLE Planet Earth (Make It Equal) (Soundscape)
MENA KEYS Bone Delicious (Jellybean Soul)
HARDSOUL featuring RON CARROLL Back Together - Reel People Club Mix (ITH)
MOXIE # 5 Undisputed (Moxie)
KING OF SPIN Endless Summer (Jellybean)
FIRST CHOICE Dr Love - Marshall Jefferson Re-edit (Salsoul)
QUENTIN HARRIS presents CORDELL McCLARY Traveling (Space Kat)
ORIGINAL DISCO TED It's All Over Your Face (Better Days)
SOUL FUZION featuring VEE I've Got Rhythm - Kenny Dope Remix (Dope On Wax)
June 13, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠58
What an ironical situation we're living nowadays ! While quality music has never been so predominant for quite some time, the scene looks like generally more and more withdrawn on itself from a month to another. This leaving us feeling more and more difficult to get the right infos at the right time. A situation that both Nik Weston and MFSB have comments on to various degrees on what is to be our issue #58
London based IDMW.com detective Nik Weston, leaves the Japanese scene for a while to take us on a ride to his hometown. The current problems that the record industry is facing nowadays are about the same as everywhere else in this part of the world as are the responses given by the local scene with lots of quality stuff around.
LONDON LOWDOWN by Nik Weston
With several distribution companies and record stores having gone down in the last 6 months it's a trying time here in old London town so its with deep joy (and signs of relief) that I'm happy to report that at least on the release front there's no letting up on new releases.
One concern is that bootlegs and mash ups seem to be outselling official releases which appears to be a little worrying in the current climate of things. Certain 12's sell exceedingly well but often it's a case of familar tunes and remixes doing the units rather than home grown product itself.The recent Danny Krivit remix of ''Strings of Life'' has done 18,500 units so far but in general releases on the nu jazz/broken beat scene are doing from 800- 2000 units....
Freerange Records who've now re located to Essex have new albums from Shurikan (Way Points) & Squareone coming out in late summer. There's also a Jimpster remix album containing a selection of reworks and Jimpster himself has remixed Fred Everything's ''This Is Not A Club Song'' for 20:20 vision. He takes the midtempo track into a soulful & jazzy broken beat mix. There's also a mysterious Marco De Souza track called ''Quartetto'' which sounds like it might be a cheeky brazilian house mix.
Zero DB and Fluid Once main man, Chris Vogadoo has moved to Barcelona but he's still busy with the label. He's remixed Rosalia De Souza for Schema and has releases from Innocent Scorcerers (5 track EP) and Nery Bauer plus a hip hop project from Boiler Room Collective.
Based in North London's Crouch End, Wah Wah label re-release Espen Horne's "Magnetica" with a Raw Deal mix plus tracks from Uptown Fellaz from Hungary on a 7'' followed by a remix 12'' (Hint & Aaron Jerome on the remix).There's also DJ Spinna mix on Alison Crockett's ''Crossroads'' out in September.
Out of the Goya stable is the long awaited Bembe Segue cover of the Norman Connors classic ''Mother Of The Future'' plus the IG Culture produced Quango Project with ''Rock It Tonite'' with Eska on vocals. Flipside features Lain (ex Nu Colours) with a track called ''Call n' Say ''.
Izzi Dunn has a new single ''Out Of My Hands'' with Kaidi Tatham as Agent K for a boogie mix. Goya also hook up with a joint presentation from Mukatsuku & Especial in Japan to release a series of European Edition 12's previously only released in Japan. 1st 12'' is a 4 tracker from Hajime Yoshizawa with the in demand ''Endless Bow'' track remixed here by Jimpster & Fauna Flash.
On Diaspora, there's soon to be singles from Arnold Jarvis, Nicky Lawrence (remixed by Next Evidence) & Directions and Swedish label Hollow finally put out the Ernesto's album also through Goya Distribution in West London (goyamusic.com).
Domu continues to have his fingers in as many pies.His Umod project dropped mid June on Sonar Kollektiv, he has ''Worldwide'' on Loungin, a release as Yotoko on Emoticom for a 4 track EP called ''Bullet Time'' in a kinda Carl Craig ish breaky techno piece and another Rima release ''Present Sense''. There's a Neroli EP and a CD with 8 or 9 tracks out in September.
On the drum n bass front, there's no one that quite does it like Hospital Records.They have a new outfit called Q Project in August with an EP entitled '' Living Beaker'' which the label described as ''Todd Edwards meets hardcore !'' There's a single from Nation 2 Nation which is deep n Photek like, a new High Contrast single and album around August time and a new track from Logistics (Nu Tones lil brother). Meanwhile, Cyantific have another single which is penciled in for October.
Exceptional Records after their amazing Fat Jon 'Lightweight Heavy' album release a two CD(one of remixes and one of originals) compilation Exceptionally Remixed which is a selection of some of the remixes from the catalogue with respecaible artists like Susumu Yokota, United Future Organisation, Fat Jon, Plej, Force Of Nature being remixed by Jimpster, Spiritual South, Quantic, Moonstarr, Bugz In The Attic, Osunlade, Kyoto Jazz Massive & Akufen exceptionalrecords.co.uk
That's it for now… Despite the downturn in record sales, there's still killer music being made and sold in vinyl format and although shop sales are also down, the internet business has picked up ten fold. There's great websites from the following which you should definetly check out if your local stores can't find that ellusive 12'' from the UK you are after...
piccadillyrecords.com,therecordroom.com,www.ifmusic.co.uk and www.gemm.com till the next time !
Peace & Positivity
NW
SYSTEM OF SURVIVAL
How couldn't it be even harder for the underground when the whole record industry is in trouble ?, said Compost Records CEO Michael Reinboth in these pages. How keeping faith with the hope of a better future in today's instant consumption society and even how finding a way to survive when obvious talent looks like so much underrated as compared to those marketed products we're fronted with on a global scale ? Could it be that we're definitely condamned to be under the power of uniformisation ? Let's never forget that each of us has the possibility to say NO to this…
Although Jeff Mills said to me back in the days that "the Stevie Wonder of electro wasn't born to date" (let us get back to this a little bit later on), "music has never looked so good for quite a while", says DJ Oji and this is nothing but some true evidence, judging but the amount of good releases around. And what is this at the end of the day if not the best response which might be given facing today's situation ? In other words, both of them are right on their own and if you have any doubt in mind, please feel free to go out in the streets and ask people here or there if not to sing at least give you the titles of three songs that have appeared from the so called electronic techno/house field since the early days… Ask them then what or who they may remember from say the 80's if not the 70's and you'll see a whole bunch of people from Barry White to Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye or Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and many others you'll find references to when asking today's generations of musicians about their influences. This said, don't get us wrong as our current purpose is not to say that nothing happened these last 20 years, but the fact is that what happened has finally never reached any global audience apart from some basic fans. And I guess this has also a lot to do in today's situation. I mean : how could you possibly blame people being not aware of what's currently happening when basically not even aware of what you're doing, not to say of your own existence ???
Once again, as a reputed intermediary, we've already come to people in the circuit asking them for having an interview, reviewing some new tunes of them or simply having the release date of their new material and our requests didn't get any answer… So simply imagine what can be people's situation while litteraly wandering in front of this awful amount of weekly releases which, for them, would seem like anonymous as compared to the pop acts around ! No way for them to get their hands on some of your material if not clearly advised but some friends of their who would know… And I'm not even talking about this whole bunch of test pressings, promo copies, acetates, dubplates, DAT's or CD-R's which, at some recent time, would have solely been made for the reputed prescriptors.
As a matter of fact, some labels have decided to slow down their release schedule in order to secure some time for doing their promotion work like Chillifunk for instance or Slip'N'Slide. "There's absolutely no need for putting out a 12" every week if you don't promote it properly", says Kicking Records CEO, Peter Harris. "It's not good for the artists and if it's not good for them, it's not good for us neither coz' they would feel like we haven't done our job." And that's about the same for us, here at IDMW.com, while providing you with the infos we get from here or there.
We would figure out what may feed the curiosity of our readers while displaying selected infos, from the simple reference to a tune of interest to the biggest interview we may sort out with the one(s) who's/'ve done it while creating a sort of hierarchical pecking. And this is exactly what we're expecting from the record industry on the basis of what we're into.
Of course, we can't and won't deny the fact that numerous people are applying to have their names on the mailing lists and that the shipping costs are awfully expensive - an average amount of $7,80 for a simple 12" from US to Europe, not to mention the cost of the enveloppe + for the one who's gonna post it ! - but, as once again written here during the Winter Music Conference : who is it best given a record ? The one who might play it anonymously on a DJ set or the one who might give details about it while reviewing it ??? In other words, are house music and the likes destined to mostly remain a DJ to DJ thang or try to benefit from some extra support ? Both of them, I would say, if aiming to reach a wider audience and find a way to assure its survival, knowing that the basic fans who happen to be the basic purveyors of incomes show every day signs of their need to be (well) informed.
MFSB
June 6, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠57
What a week we've had, giving you a taster of what German outfit Intuit are, but also DJ Oji for his debut on West End Records, not to mention Kerri Chandler prior to his French tour and it's far from being all in the weeks to come, but shuuuuush as the surprise has to be maintained alive for kicking. And it's about the same regarding the various projects we're working on which should see the day in the weeks/months to come. At least, our French speaking readers will be provided with their own version of IDMW.com starting from September and our online record shop should also be fully operational at this date. Not to mention some compilation projects that MFSB is currently putting shapes to. As for now, time for house with another selection of some of the best tunes around...
IN DA MIX (HOUSE, GARAGE & OTHER ILLICIT GROOVES)
Well, well, well, what is this that we have around the bent this week ?!? Summer looks like being around and there are obvious signs of people displaying the usual clichés with the sole aim of seing their tunes overplayed in the usual touristic places (Bee-fa amongst others !) and frankly speaking, it sucks once more…
You defnitiely know how we don't like spending our time devoting ourselves at displaying bad reviews. However, it's always the same kind o' sh** each year at the same period with an inflation of mediocre people around who, ironically, end up making themselves a name (and the Bucks that come with) while putting out e-z stuff reputedly destined to the masses with the support of a bunch of corresponding media in search of selling more paper. What I'd be tempted to call demagogy if not corruption to a certain extend. Those same records that are currently on display at the home pages of the usual record stores. All on all, an economy on its whole. This said, no name dropping needed as the people concerned will easily recognize themselves, should they have a bit of honesty. Hopefully, we've got a couple of cuts worth to mention on the other hand by the likes of those who've firmly decided to stay true to their beliefs…
Florida based producer Louis Benedetti comes up with another corker on his Soulshine Recordings label with the release of the new BLVD East 12", "It"s Your Life". Got to get your hands on it, should you be into the Fall Out sound by the likes of say Quentin Harris ; vocalist K.T. Brooks adding much to this with his interpretation not that far away from Stevie Wonder's style. Another name to watch out carefully is no doubt Alix Alvarez, going one step higher while providing some serious shiny jazzy groove background for R&B songstress Alicia Keys on "Feelin' Me Feelin' You" (white). Same comments apply to Dandruff Truckers who with their latest "Badu" may well score some potential anthem, providing us with an infectious phat phonky vocal groove enlighted by an instant Horns riff (white). Meanwhile Chiocagoan Ron Carroll adds a bit of Afro horns on his jazzy & soulful "Come Together" (Bumpin City). Also worth to mention is the association between Atlanta based DJ Kemit (he of Kemeticjust duo) and Roland Clarke on the positive and joyful jazzyphonkysoulful "Song In May" (King Street).
No less than 3 new references to be added to the Fall Out label repertoire these last days and, as you may expect, those well advised people bring us some extra goodies, starting with Kem-'s "Love Calls". A tune which Shelter resident Timmy Regisford has much supported these last weeks, following the foosteps of the equally unmissable "When Love Came Down" by (officially) Motown label mate Lathun, this with the addiction of Floetry doin' the background. The two other ones bringing Joe's "More More" back to life in a very seducive way with a Darryl James's remix and Maxwell's "No One" remixed by Roy Davis Jr with a re-edit from K. Asia to a lesser extend. If into those reliftings of R&B tunes, you may well get a careful listen to Beyonce's "Me Myself And" delicately retouched by Candy Apple (white), meanwhile R. Kelly's revamp of "Happy People" - sorry no info about the one(s) who's/ve done this as it's a white label - is nuttin' but some extra cheesy stuff around, so no need to go any further on this. Much better, on this vocal series is Force featuring Darryl D'Bonneau's "I Came Back" with its nice swingalong 4X4 concept on Milo which should reach the hearts of Cheers and Soul Heaven parties fans. And the same oughtta be said about the classy "Join Me" with its cool jazz/phonk moody line by Swiss young producer John Lucas making his debut alongside Canadian vocalist Tylene sounding like Randy Crawford (Purple Music).
In search of some sharper beats ? Calum Walker and his Solar House outfit give us the very best with the energizing phonky "Everything Changes" enlighted by a cool sax riff (Large). Meanwhile, our Swedish brothers, S.U.M.O. go Brazil with the spoken scatted "Supra Sumo" on Soulfuric Trax sounding like a potential summer hit. Also gotta be careful about Ian Carey's latest works incl. the Afrophonky filtered "Circulo Dos Chiffres" that he has relifted for Right On Brothers featuring Charles Gore (Elan Rouge) and the easy but killing cover version of D.C. Larue's disco classic"Cathedrals" for Bobby Bianco + Mikki Motto called "3AM" on Defected, both sure to have instant appeal on the Ibizenco dancefloors in the weeks to come.
Around at the most underground parties last March in Miami, Anthony Nicholson's new cut "Don't Stop" featuring Ugochi is also finally available and it was (as well) worth the wait ; our USG man providing us with a deep plaintive phonky corker (Circular Motion). You, on this side European side of the globe may well have heard about Diviniti (and her "Find A Way" tune) who Danny Krivit has managed to have her performing at one of his 718 Sessions rendez-vous. Well, the good news is that the aforementioned is also now fully available at local record shops here, giving us the opportunity to discover a true talent female team hailing from Detroit with PirahnaHead doing the production of this classy/ic song on DJ Minx's Women On Wax Recordings label. And if that wasn't enough, we may catch those same PirahnaHead behind the latest Moods & Grooves release incl. the brilliant "Poem 4 A Last one", merging conscious sopken words over a deep minimal Afrojazzyphonk groove. As deep and on that same kind of Afro rhythm mood, would suggest you to have a listen to the breezin' "Mi Vida Samba" by Julio Villa taken from the "Urban Excursions Vol. 01 EP" with its lush caribbean jazzy key arrangements (Magnify Music). Also very well inspired you gotta be if managing to have a listen to Crusho's "Traffic Jam EP" on Parisian label, Q-Tape and more particularily the funky soulful Someone To Love" featuring Marilyn David, having that somehow disco funk laid back alla Roy Ayers.
Looks like Johnny D & Nicky P good ol' Henry Street label is finally back in town with the aptly named "Heavens Piano" from Eltingville Project. A cool plaintive atmospheric deep jazzy house cut over subtle percussions sounding half way between Larry Heard's touch and some Spiritual Life approaches. Meanwhile, Slam Mode goes further deep on some Afro deep tribal exploration dubbed with a drop of Latin American flute on "Obyyah" (Ibadan). Osunlade delivering the vibrant and plaintive 'Year Of The Monkey" (Yoruba). Get ready for some serious dope on the so called soulful/world tip as Belgo/Zairian singer Marie Daulne aka Zap Mama has a stunning new album, Ancestry In Progress with a bunch of presitigious guests incl. Talib Kweli, Common, ?uestlove, Bahamadia and Lady Alma. Not to mention Erykah Badu sharing the duties on her current "Bandy Bandy" single. A moody cooltempo song turned into a surprising hypnotic ragga groove by the likes of Detroit mogul Carl Craig (Luaka Bop/Giant Step). Not so many releases to date on London based Location Recordings label, but the quality is always one way or another around. This time they welcome young producer Tominaga making his debut with "Words We Say", a cool jazzy phonky groove melting spoken words and Anglo-Brazilian vocals by Sanya (of the dZihan & Kamien posse) with a stunning piano performance by David Higgins over layered tablas. Something that should easily find its niche while chillin' at some sunny place this summer. MFSB
IN DA MIX #57 TENNERZ
BLVD EAST featuring K.T. BROOKS It's Your Life (Soulshine Recordings)
DANDRUFF TRUCKERS Badu (white)
KEM- Love Calls (Fall Out)
ANTHONY NICHOLSON presents UGOCHI Don't Stop (Circular Motions)
CRUSHO Someone To Love (Q-Tape)
ALICIA KEYS Feelin' Me Feelin' You - Alix Alvarez Mix (white)
PIRAHNAHEAD presents SOULCHESTRA Poem 4 A Last One (Moods & Grooves)
SOLAR HOUSE Everything Changes (Large)
ZAP MAMA featuring ERYKAH BADU Bandy Bandy - Carl Craig Mix (Luaka Bop/Giant Step)
DIVINITI Find A Way (Women On Wax)