February 29, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠43
JAPAN CORNER by Nippon Nik (Weston)
Konishi wa !
I came back from Japan almost a month ago and I just missed 2 Banks of Four who did a few gigs at The Blue Note supported by some DJ called Gilles Peterson. Who is he ? Speaking of Gilles he's bang into the recent "Samurai" track by Ryota Nozaki on Especial Distribution (a sub division of Especial and not the label itself) as Jazztronik.It weighs in at a hefty 12 minutes (Ryota ! Go on a bloody editing course !! ) but none the less it's his own version of broken beat. This ain't West London though... Dis is da West Tokyo innit ?! Danny Krivit has also been caining it and Peter Kruder called me at the weekend searching for a copy (I kid you not....). More copies are coming to london soon so keep your eyes peeled. as ever this Japanese stuff is always in short supply. The other Especial Distribution 12" is of course ''Change'' from Da Lata which, despite the distinct luke warm reaction initially, has also been flying off the shelves…
Jazztronik is one of the busiest men in Tokyo of late. He's also just released a 11 track CD album on Tokuma. There's also another 3 track 12'' single with a decent samba version of ''Esta Com Voce''. Seek ! The most exciting Japanese record of the week award went to Jafrosax (a project of Yukihiro Fukutomi) for their second single on Raindog Records. The first release had the dolcet tones of Yukimi Nagano (Koop/Stateless/Similou/Swell Session) on vocals but single 2 has Philadelphia's finest, Vikter Duplaix ! Not only that it's a Jazztronik reedit !! Killer jazz a la Sleepwalker also turned up on a 12'' in the shape of Dazai Yuri Sextet. Juergen from Jazzanova tells me he absolutely loves this EP, and too right too, it's a killer dancefloor jazz !
Been a long time since anything has ventured out of the Brasil Nights label but we get three 12''s... Two of these releases are relevant... Brasil Nights vol 4 kicks in with a gorgeous Rhodes midtempo shuffler called... er... ''Rhodes Song'' which I'm told from my man in Sweden is a cover version but for the life of me I'm not sure who did the original. Any ideas people as there's no credits on the label ?? The other 12'' on Brasil Nights label to think about is Gats TKB Show. Shame really as 3 of the versions have Gats singing in Japanese which kinda puts a damper on any of us outside of Japan who dig this kind of stuff musically. Never mind though... Toshio Matsuura (ex-United Future Organization ) consistent as ever with his remixes saves the day with a bumpin latinish floorfiller with hardly any vocal and on a big system this works well...
DJ Mitsu the Beats who's still riding on the sucess of his "New Awakening" album is busy in the studio doing mixes etc. He's just completed a Blue Note compilation and a Scott Jakoby remix and there's even a soon to come Restless Soul mix on ''Away''.
I managed to cram in 7 DJ gigs in 10 days in Japan in Kumamoto, Miyazaki & Tokyo and was lucky enough to spin with Calm, Grooveman Spot, Watusi, Soul Sauce crew, Yukihiro Fukutomi & hook up with Little Big Bee (Eitetsu Takamiya ) whilst I was there who told me that last year was Flower Records best yet and he also managed to play me his fresh & fantastic remix of ''Fly Away'' by Magic Number that will eventually come out on Stereo Deluxe Records from Nurnberg.
Yukihiro Fukutomi completed ''It's Just'' for Italian imprint Head To Toe which should be released soon.Also check out his ''Second Sight'' remix that's out on the Re Jazz Re Mixed compilation.
Nu Jabes - the production & hip hop collective from Tokyo - look likely to sign a deal with London's mighty Exceptional Records very soon and Fat Jon from Ohio whose instrumental album ''Lightweight Heavy '' that originally came out on Tokyo label, Dimid will also see a european release onthe same label (exceptionalrecords.co.uk) in the next month or so.
Da Lata were over in Tokyo playing some live gigs which were well received and other people around about now include... Theo Parish, Mark Farina, Michael Reinboth & The Five Deez. Guests to come in March include J Magik at Yellow, Joey Beltran & Mateo n Matos.
For those of you buggin me about the Sakura Aural Bliss 4 track vinyl Japanese sampler....The first press sold out in less than 2 weeks so the label Kriztal tell me they plan to re press in the next month or so......kriztal.com
There's a relatively new website that's started selling some illusive Japanese 12's of the nu jazz & electronic tip. He gets fresh stuff in on a monthly basis (and lot of the japanese stuff he doesnt list on his site so ask him to send you a list ) so if there's something you are after including the Especial material, then you should drop him your wants list and see what he can find... therecordroom.co.uk. Tell him Nippon Nik sent you !! Also you should check out the Forwardsbackwards show on milkaudio.com as Nigel Prankster & myself are always playing a few Japanese beauties from a show to another. Show 017 was a Japanese special !! Meanwhile the samurai.fm show called Nippon & Speedy Express that Dom Sevini & myself are doing is broadcast from Tokyo and is on demand so you don't have to get up in the middle of the night to listen to it !
February 22, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠42
Disco ? Who said disco ? Looks like that disco revival we've mentioned already a while ago has still a few weeks/months for further developments, as Nu Groove columnist, Irie, confirms on the start of his latest selection.
The disco revival looks like definitely on ! As Californian label Stones Throw (Madlib, Peanut Butter Wolf and Egon) demonstrates while launching yet again a new subsidiary, Soul Cal, devoted to disco, funk, boogie and other soulful dance musics.
After having contributed to the discovery of jewels in psychedelic jazz(Galt Mac Dermot), in funk (Ernie & The Top Notes) or also in old school hip-hop (Percee P), the true archeologists of this thing called groove present a new eternal treasure: a 12’ from the splendid Luther Davis Group that demonstrates brilliantly how disco may be other than those crap tunes alla Benoît Poelvoorde's "Alexandrie, Alexandra" with its remix by Bob Sinclar. But this is not the first in the genre and probably nor the last neither and, to say the truth, I very much prefer what a certain Paul Raymond has done with hisgreat edits sur as Alexander Robotnik on the second release on Yellow Productions sub-label, Art Of Disco…
Lucky us these days as there are always more to encounter in terms of great sounds, even though we have to get back in the days, as former NYC's A One Records team member Lord Funk has done, releasing a wicked edit of "Don't Stop" by a relatively unknown group called South Bronx on white label. In the same rootsy and futuristic spirit we already raved a few months back about, a new project under the duffel coat at Blue Note. So after a remarkable ensemble of remixes by Madlib called Shades Of Blue, it’s now time for some of the best remixers on this blue planet to deliver their revisitations of this prestigious soul and jazz catalogue. From Bobby Hutcherson (by Jaydee or Kenny Dope) to Horace Silver (his elegant "Won’t You Open Up Your Senses " being magnified by 4Hero), Gene Harris (with "Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong" à la Bugz In The Attic) and also Eddy Gale's "Song Of Will" twisted up by Jazzanova to name but a few. A brilliant project put together by none other than Pedro Winter from Headbangers Entertainement who also happens to be known as Daft Punk’s manager…
This brings us to Paris with our man Franck Roger running all kinds of (good) things these times. Following the stunning "Mascarade" 12’ on Versatile, he looks like planning a proper global invasion with tons of effective weapons, from the discoish "It's That Man" on BRS to a new tune with Nicolas Gautier for Canadian pair, Dino & Terry's label. Not to mention this major accomplishment that sees him being the first French producer to have some material awaited on the Masters At Work family of labels, alongside vocalist Chris Wonder. Those two being also responsible of the sublime "If I" on Sunny Side label with some broken beat additional remix from Shade of Soul. Finally news has come that our Franck should also be (alongside one of the two Cheers parties residents, Greg Gauthier) on board for the second volume of remixed material of US singer Allen Hoist. Meanwhile, volume 1 hat just hit the racks of our favourite record shops with an exquisite cover of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues" retouched by Marc Mac from 4Hero). A tune that Allen has recently sung live at a recent Groovement night (at Paris Le Rex club, with residents Eva Gardner and Gilles Peterson).
As for ending up this column, fresh from London, the UK release of IG Culture ‘s last baby under the NSM alias (ex- New Sector Movements) is announced at the beginning next month. Keep ya posted !
IRIE
Playlists
DJ ADN (totally-soulful.com/indamixworldwide.com - Avignon, France.)
AMP FIDDLER Possibilities - Ron Trent Remix (Genuine)
HABITAT LOUNGE Rio Blues (DNH)
AUDIO MONTAGE The Drakness (Freerange)
JAMES DUNCAN Time Like This (Le Systeme)
LUKE VIBERT Let's Dance & Freak (Rephlex)
ROUZBEH DELAVARI Inner Structure (Deep)
BAKURA Thinkin' About - Domu Remix (Especial)
MALIK ALSTON Caterpillar EP (Third Ear)
PATCHWORKS Corn Bread - Sylvester Over Classic Mix (Q-Tape)
ONDA Waiting For Your Love - François K. Dub (Wave/promo)
DJ BNX (Zimpala, indamixworldwide.com - Bordeaux, France)
SKIP JACKSON & THE NATURAL EXPERIENCE MicroWave Boogie (Catamount) KLASICK Happy Dayz (Perfect Toy)
JUST ONE Love 2 Love (Neroli)
Mr De Whonleeone (Electrofunk)
HODGES,JAMES,SMITH & CRAWFORD Nobody (Mpingo)
SEBASTIEN TELLIER La ritournelle (Source)
TOCO Instalaçao Do Samba - club & original (Schema)
ZIMPALA Pas même le cri d’un oiseau (4lux)
ROY AYERS Oh What A Lonely Feeling (BBE)
SKALPEL 1958 (Ninja Tune)
IRIE (indamixworldwide.com/Coda Magazine - Paris, France)
LACE Can't Play Around Larry Levan ghost dub (Atlantic)
THEO Parrish Rotating Assembly Melt (Sound Signature)
FRANK ROGER & CHRIS WONDER If I (Sunny Side)
FRANK ROGER & CHRIS WONDER ? (Kenlou)
UMOD Puffin Dance (Sonar Kollektiv).
NE GROVE Jaded (Pure Filth)
TCHOK & DEDE SAINT PRIX ? (CD-R)
JAZZ LIBERATORZ feat. DECLAIME ? (CD-R)
L'AROYE ? (Faces CDR)
BAYARD LANCASTER ? (Isma'a/CD-R)
MFSB (indamixworldwide.com/Coda Magazine - Paris, France)
REEL PEOPLE featuring VANESSA FREEMAN The Light - Copyright Remix (Papa/promo)
BRENT LAURENCE featuring LATRICE BARNETT Build Up Back Up (Celebrity/promo)
GF vs THE EMOTIONS Don't Want To Lose Your Love (GF)
SCOTT WOZNIAK featuring ALY WORTH Wake Up My Life - 83 West Mix (Distant)
LATHUN featuring INDIA ARIE When Love Come In (Fall out)
MAW featuring INDIA To Be In Love - Knee Deep Remix (Defected)
JERK HOUSE CONNECTION New York Stylee - The Offsetters Remix (Saarinen)
CANDY APPLE featuring IFE My Dreams - Original (Design Recordings)
BLAK BEAT NIKS The Sun Will Shine - Simon Grey Remix (Slip’N’Slide/promo)
NIKOS City Of Angels - Blue Bossa Mix (Under My Skin)
NUTROPIC (Comet Records/indamixworldwide.com - Strasbourg, France)
ROY AYERS Virgin Ubiquity - album (BBE)
AMP FIDDLER Dreamin (Genuine)
THE DINING ROOMS EP 3 Phunky (Schema)
S. TONE INC presents TOCO Instalaçao Do Samba (Schema)
PATRICIA MARX E O Meu Amor Vi Passar - Bruno E Mix (Trama)
ALLEN HOIST Inner City Blues - 4Hero Remix (Soulution)
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST I See You Don't (Copicat)
MINUS 8 White & Runaway - New Vocal Version, Big Bang & Tweak Remixes (Compost)
FJR Collection album Vol. 1 - From The Vaults And Funky Juices Records
(Funky Juice Records)
unknown Song For Letta - Groove Mix (white)
MICHAEL PROCTER (Mychan Records/indamixworldwide.com - Las Vegas, USA)
MICHAEL PROCTER Fall Down (Soulfuric)
EAST 57TH ST. Saturday (AM:PM)
SARAH WASHINGTON Heaven (AM:PM)
MICHAEL PROCTER Love Don't Live (Soulfuric)
LOVE TRIBE Stand Up (AM:PM)
FUTURE FORCE What You Want (AM:PM)
MONE Movin (Strictly Rhythm)
DONNA WASHINGTON He Is The Light (?)
BARBARA TUCKER I Get Lifted (Strictly Rhythm)
MICHAEL PROCTER Paradise (Purple Music)
NIK WESTON (Mukatsuku PR, indamixworldwide.com - London, UK)
5 CORNERS QUINTET Devil Kicks/Three Corners (Ricki Tick)
LIZ FIELDS When I See Love/Say The Word-Mixes (Unisex)
VARIOUS Brasil Nights vol 4 (BLJ)
GENE HARRIS Los Alamitos Latinfunklovesong (Blue Note)
MANUVERS Supernatural Tangents (Counterflow)
GATS TKB SHOW Remixes 2 (BLJ)
KENKOU Everlasting Dreams/Frosty Air (Music Conception)
COUNT BASS D Real Music v's Bulls (Authentic Vinyl)
STUDIO APARTMENT Proud Bridge (Flower)
GALARUDE Water Road Bump (Locarno)
February 15, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠41
Tons of (extremely good) newies around the bent at this period of the year… Is this that the (independant) record industry doesn't feel anymore (or can't currently feel) the need to wait for the Winter Music Conference ? Could it be that there's even better to expect over there ??? Elements of response within three weeks in Miami…
Just as we thought this might be the end, looks like it's exactly the contrary that happens... Of Course, there are still bags of craos around, but the first weeks of this new year show some encouraging signs of a better tomorrow qualitywise, should the ones responsable for this get the exposure and the recognition they trully deserve.
I guess it is each of us's duty to do whatever we can to reach this goal and forget about all these selfish attitudes that are for a big part in the misunderstanding if not the taking of no further interest in music that we love on a wider scale…
Enuff of this enterprise of progressive destruction brought to us day after day on the headlines… Enuff of this typical syrup delivered to us right after by the entertainment industry as a sort of antidote. Let ourselves go back to the basic elements of life : truth, love and respect instead of fake, hate and compromising… Let's wake up and fight for the preservation of the values we believe in. Let's get our energies together to give the best support to the ones we appreciate the actions of. Let's behave like men instead of hiding ourselves behind usual characters' suits. Differently said, let's be ourselves.
Starting this selection with the cool, NYC collective Onda's debut-single, "Waiting For Your Love" is another sweet delight that François K's label champions now and then, following the footsteps of Blue 6 then Solu Music featuring Kimblee, melting sensuous vocal and atmospheric rhythm line over a funk dubbed 4X4 beat driven groove. Classic would argue some of you but so classy. Meanwhile Wave Music brings us another piece of sh… to watch out with the shriny "To Motherland" from native Nigerian but San Fran-based, Said. A cut looking set to put the dancefloors on fire with its afrobeat feel, reminding a bit of Mutabaruka's classic "Dis Poem'. Julius Papp giving an answer to this although on a much different level with the afrojazzyphonk "Bole Bentu" featuring singer Samba Ngo (Large). Meanwhile, Swedish pair, Physics delivers the good for the nu bossa fans with the fluid and scatted "Downtown Rio" on that same label.
Looks like we're definitely back on the rollin' basslines kind of driven tunes with those dubbed keyboard or guitar rhythm lines inherited from the disco era, as notoriously demonstrated by a series of tunes that have recently been or are currently elected amongst our faves of the week. From Scott Wozniak's "Wake Up My Life", most particularly on its B-side remixed by Peter Primioni & Tyrone Solomon, the 83 West label founders (Distant) to Reel People's "The Light" revamped by Copyright (Papa Records) or The Emotions' classic "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love" resurrected from the likes of mysterious GF aka Groove Finder. And that's about the same concerning our current single of the week, "Build Up, Back Up" by Brent Laurence featuring Latrice Barnett (Celebrity). Not to mention Whitney Houston's "Love Will Save The Day", brilliantly covered by Jaqué on Jellybean.
Some solid and consistant work indeed from all of the aforementioned as Philly-based band, Soul Dhamma with the phonkjazzy "If We Could Fly" remixed by Dennis Ferrer with the addiction of guitarist, Tony Brown givin' a real + to it (King Street). Stayin' on that kind of jazzy tip with Nikos's newie, "City Of Angels" and that sort of typically Californian breathin' treatment, most notoriously on the Blue Bossa Mix. A cut that could easily have found its niche on Naked Music label, although not so polished in terms of sound treatment giving it a sort of street soul house feel (Under My Skin).
This month sees the return of Chicago's soul lites, Blak Beat Niks with the aptly named "The Sun Will Shine" and its re-release this time on Slip'N'Slide with additional treatment from Knee Deep's pal, Simon Grey. Good work as usual on the original version perfumed with some latin jazz flavours, Grey adding a drop of x-tra enrgy as well as some sparse and hypnotic keys to it. Meanwhile Purple Music man, Jamie Lewis has managed to provide us with some more from the latest (on his own this time) featuring vocalist, Abby Joyce on the phonky and enlighting "Prophecy" ; although with some more inclination for the instrumental version, not that far away from some MAW works. And the loop is to be completed with Knee Deep's rework of… MAW's classic, "To Be In Love" giving it a club treament although with much subltety on the A-side while adding latin jazz keys on it and re-editing the bassline (Defected). Slightly different is the third instalment of Grant Nelson's "Ethnicity Series" with its old school hypnotic/progressive feel, destined to provoke some serious dancefloor devastation (Swing City). Also straight at the boarder is Nocturnal Groove label's new release, "Lola's Theme" by Shapeshifters with its disco filtered effects lookin' lilke a cleverly done path between those two periods. Yes dear, looks like the Brits are definitely on da blocks these days, twisting the influences like no one at the moment, thus giving a drop of freshness that was much needed. Another illustration being given by Justin Canton & Martin Lodge aka Candy Apple on the phonky 'My Dreams' featuring Ife's plaintive vocals (most notoriously on its original mix put back to the B-side). A cut hailing from London UDM Record Store's recently launched label, Design Recordings.
Leavin' you for now with some of Toulon's Sunslice Festival people and the second release from DJ Bool's Jerk House Connection on Saarinen Records : the jazzy spoken wordish "New York Stylee" as remixed on a jazzy minimalistic way by The Offsetters.
MFSB
Playlists
DJ ADN (totally-soulful.com/indamixworldwide.com - Avignon, France.)
AMP FIDDLER Possibilities - Ron Trent Remix (Genuine)
HABITAT LOUNGE Rio Blues (DNH)
AUDIO MONTAGE The Drakness (Freerange)
JAMES DUNCAN Time Like This (Le Systeme)
LUKE VIBERT Let's Dance & Freak (Rephlex)
ROUZBEH DELAVARI Inner Structure (Deep)
BAKURA Thinkin' About - Domu Remix (Especial)
MALIK ALSTON Caterpillar EP (Third Ear)
PATCHWORKS Corn Bread - Sylvester Over Classic Mix (Q-Tape)
ONDA Waiting For Your Love - François K. Dub (Wave/promo)
DJ BNX (Zimpala, indamixworldwide.com - Bordeaux, France)
SKIP JACKSON & THE NATURAL EXPERIENCE MicroWave Boogie (Catamount) KLASICK Happy Dayz (Perfect Toy)
JUST ONE Love 2 Love (Neroli)
Mr De Whonleeone (Electrofunk)
HODGES,JAMES,SMITH & CRAWFORD Nobody (Mpingo)
SEBASTIEN TELLIER La ritournelle (Source)
TOCO Instalaçao Do Samba - club & original (Schema)
ZIMPALA Pas même le cri d’un oiseau (4lux)
ROY AYERS Oh What A Lonely Feeling (BBE)
SKALPEL 1958 (Ninja Tune)
IRIE (indamixworldwide.com/Coda Magazine - Paris, France)
LACE Can't Play Around - Larry Levan Ghost Dub (Atlantic)
THEO PARRISH Rotating Assembly Melt (Sound Signature)
SHADE OF SOUL featuring MARYLIN DAVID ? (Twisted Funk/CD-R)
FRANK ROGER & CHRIS WONDER ? (Kenlou /CD-R)
UMOD Puffin Dance (Sonar Kollektiv)
NE GROVE Jaded (Pure Filth)
TCHOK & DEDE SAINT PRIX ? (CD-R)
JAZZ LIBERATORZ featuring. DECLAIME ? (CD-R)
L'AROYE La Bomba (Face/ CD-R)
BAYARD LANCASTER ? (Isma'a/ CD-R)
MFSB (indamixworldwide.com/Coda Magazine - Paris, France)
REEL PEOPLE featuring VANESSA FREEMAN The Light - Copyright Remix (Papa/promo)
BRENT LAURENCE featuring LATRICE BARNETT Build Up Back Up (Celebrity/promo)
GF vs THE EMOTIONS Don't Want To Lose Your Love (GF)
SCOTT WOZNIAK featuring ALY WORTH Wake Up My Life - 83 West Mix (Distant)
LATHUN featuring INDIA ARIE When Love Come In (Fall out)
MAW featuring INDIA To Be In Love - Knee Deep Remix (Defected)
JERK HOUSE CONNECTION New York Stylee - The Offsetters Remix (Saarinen)
CANDY APPLE featuring IFE My Dreams - Original (Design Recordings)
BLAK BEAT NIKS The Sun Will Shine - Simon Grey Remix (Slip’N’Slide/promo)
NIKOS City Of Angels - Blue Bossa Mix (Under My Skin)
NUTROPIC (Comet Records/indamixworldwide.com - Strasbourg, France)
ROY AYERS Virgin Ubiquity - album (BBE)
AMP FIDDLER Dreamin (Genuine)
THE DINING ROOMS EP 3 Phunky (Schema)
S. TONE INC presents TOCO Instalaçao Do Samba (Schema)
PATRICIA MARX E O Meu Amor Vi Passar - Bruno E Mix (Trama)
ALLEN HOIST Inner City Blues - 4Hero Remix (Soulution)
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST I See You Don't (Copicat)
MINUS 8 White & Runaway - New Vocal Version, Big Bang & Tweak Remixes (Compost)
FJR Collection album Vol. 1 - From The Vaults And Funky Juices Records
(Funky Juice Records)
unknown Song For Letta - Groove Mix (white)
MICHAEL PROCTER (Mychan Records/indamixworldwide.com - Las Vegas, USA)
MICHAEL PROCTER Fall Down (Soulfuric)
EAST 57TH ST. Saturday (AM:PM)
SARAH WASHINGTON Heaven (AM:PM)
MICHAEL PROCTER Love Don't Live (Soulfuric)
LOVE TRIBE Stand Up (AM:PM)
FUTURE FORCE What You Want (AM:PM)
MONE Movin (Strictly Rhythm)
DONNA WASHINGTON He Is The Light (?)
BARBARA TUCKER I Get Lifted (Strictly Rhythm)
MICHAEL PROCTER Paradise (Purple Music)
NIK WESTON (Mukatsuku PR, indamixworldwide.com - London, UK)
5 CORNERS QUINTET Devil Kicks/Three Corners (Ricki Tick)
LIZ FIELDS When I See Love/Say The Word-Mixes (Unisex)
VARIOUS Brasil Nights vol 4 (BLJ)
GENE HARRIS Los Alamitos Latinfunklovesong (Blue Note)
MANUVERS Supernatural Tangents (Counterflow)
GATS TKB SHOW Remixes 2 (BLJ)
KENKOU Everlasting Dreams/Frosty Air (Music Conception)
COUNT BASS D Real Music v's Bulls (Authentic Vinyl)
STUDIO APARTMENT Proud Bridge (Flower)
GALARUDE Water Road Bump (Locarno)
February 8, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠40
Crisis, what crisis ? Michael Reinboth was bloody damned right (cf. our Compost Records label profile). The situation may not be the best in terms of record sales for certain people, but the quality is definitely there and isn't that what counts at the end of the day ?
Music and women (to me) have in common the fact that they can put you at first listen/sight upside down and I guess this is what makes them so U-nique. Music creates pictures and pictures suggests music and it's exactly what to expect while discovering Bliss's offering (Quite Letters) from the very first second til its absolute end. Everything at the right place and the right moment to guarantee you an instant transportation to the very depth of beauty, on this exquisite blend of motley elements inherited from a vast variety of cultures. An album made by undeniable travellers who've obviously done like a global shopping bringing here pieces of classic, there, afro/oriental percussions if not cinematic atmospheres mixed with lush pieces of blue eyed soul. Not too surprised to have seen the music of this Danish outfit being picked up by Ibiza Café del Mar selector, Bruno. Not to mention the name of Kenneth Bager's label that fully speaks for itself.
Also hailing from Danemark although UK-based, keyboardist, Perry Hemus made recently quite a stirr with the sensuous "Rhodesmode", the title track from his debut-LP on the typical groove circuit receiving a great support Gilles Peterson, Rainer Trüby and France's DJ Spider to name but a few. Depth, brilliance, groove and sometimes a real dance appeal, balancing between melancholic and cool festive (latin) vibes, Hemus, accompanied by vocalist, Lizzy Parks explores the various sides of intimacy, providing what is exactly expected from a music lover's point of view, in that same vein as what Mitchell & Dewburry, MAW aka Nuyorican Soul, Incognito & the likes have done in the past (more info : wwodlandrecords.com).
Just arrived in Australia where he's touring these days, Norwegian head of Jazzland Records, Bugge Wesseltoft delivers another of his special recipee under the New Conception Of Jazz banner, untitled Film Ing. Funny if not incredible how this talented keyboardist is able to tickle your mind from almost anything (alone in front of his piano) to a full band, having the right sense of what is to be put here and what's to be avoided there. For sure, it's jazzy, but it's also intimately electronic, ambient and even classical at some time, thus with a minimalistic perspective leading us to what has to be taken as a unique universe on its own. Checking track one, three (featuring saxman, Joshua Redman and the following one featuring the divine Dhafer Yousssef should be a good sample of what to expect here. In other words, nothing but the good and the diversity (more info : jazzland.no)
D'ya like te move it ? Yes I guess y'all do. If there's any dance albums around ya'd betta check Funk D'Void's newie. Volume Freak - that's it title - has got everything to make you trance your ass off and screw your head til crazeness. This is what I would call intelligent music at a rarely reached level carrying out aerial atmospheres over fierce basslines, hypnotic rhythm lines & sparse beats, with the x-tra help of Mark Bell and Martin Linqvist adding their voices here & there. Something that should provide Lars Sandberg with a place into this year's serious contenders on the dancefloors, should some big DJ names have the good idea to put their hands and ears on this big banger (more info : somarecords.com)
The groove is much cooler while at the start of Vikter Duplaix's Singles LP but don't forget about this classic "Never trust a pretty face" hook as one time King Britt's partner (under the Scuba guise) has (again) very much more on offer on this collection of remixes. Our guy, gifted with his typical voice tone, does what he wants, where he wants and when he wants, going from R&B to house and breakbeat with a unique way of twisting the flavours, electronically speaking. No folks, looks like you won't be able to pass on this neither although your shopping cart looks already quite full now while listening to this state of incredible versatility (more info : k7records.com) and this is not finished !
Philly & Detroit look like living a simultaneous revival nowadays, said to me King Britt as he was in Paris last year,commenting about the flourishing scenes of those two cities know for their glorious contributions in terms of soul. Multi-musician, Amp Fiddler, who made quite an impressive live appearance at last year's edition of Movement (formerly known as the DEMF), has just dropped his first solo effort - Waltz Of A Ghetto Fly - and, in the meantime, a pure jewell on what's called the nu soul arena. Expect some positive lyrics blended with political ones going from bluesey ballads to cool R&B swing, with a drop of P-funk/hip hoppish influences, if not rare grooves 'alla' Roy Ayers (on "Superficial") or Marvin Gaye somehow. (more info : thegenuinearticle.net).
Remember the late Barry White saying to me some ten years ago that whatever the music you do, you have to make sure that it carries your ID, in other words a formula so that people can recognize who it's coming from. A kind of reflection that totally applies to sr Roy Ayers (see our Woprd Up section for a full interview) who sees some of his music recorded from 1976 til 81 getting a release today on the Virgin Ubiquity album. Well, needless to say that if songs like "We Live In Brooklyn" or "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" are your cup of tea, the content of this collection should have a certain appeal, like notoriously shown on the opening track. This is suave, this is groovy and jazzy and most of all unique on its genre (more info : bbemusic.com).
No doubt, there's a lot in common between US and french hip hop, having on one side all these commercial clichés and on the other one the genuine dope. Parisian hip hopper, DJ Cam has undoubtly put his shoes on the second category since day 1. Guess that his former employers at Sony where he was signed so far will have something to regret, as our man releases today what is probably his best offering so far. He knows how to be vibrant ("6 Sense"), phat ("Premier", "Don Dada") clever ("Espionage" featuring Guru) and terribly phonky ("Love Junkee" featuring Cameo & J Dilla). Nice shot indeed (more info : inflamable.com).
Yes, I know, you're gonna tell me : for f*** sake, stop it ! It's too much when reading what comes hereafter. Not an album nor a double, but a triple one !!! Comparable in terms of format as to what The Southport Weekender has become throughout the years… One of da biiiiig ones in terms of events worldwide and what we have here are three mixed CD's from three of the most significant faces in their respective genres. Gilles Peterson on an old school latiny jazz tip, Joey Negro melting disco and house and Miguel 'Migs' rollin' on some phonkyjazz vibes ; the three of them delivering original and accurate selections, where you find everything from Freddie Hubbard to Har-You Percussion Group, Cameo, DJ Pufo, Soul Providers, Mood II Swing, Sunburst Band, Mass Syndicate and many others (more info : susurecords.com).
In search of some chill after such an amount of (various grooves) ? Care of the titles as you may sometimes be surprised. It's exactly what's happening on the 6th installment of the Your Lounge Your Music serie from dutch jocks/selector, Alfred Bos aka Enrico Riva, embarking us on a really versatile travel on this double-CD full of good surprises, varying from latin jazz to atmospheric house. Want a drink with THE one of your dreams ? You got the music (more info : www.news.be). Datsit, til next.
MFSB
IN DA MIX # 40 TENNERZ
GIL SCOTT-HERON & BRIAN JACKSON Home Is Where The Hatred Is - from V/A: SOUTHPORT WEEKENDER (suSU)
FUNK D'VOID Emotional Content (Soma)
BUGGE WESSELTOFT NEW CONCEPTION OF JAZZ Skog (Jazzland)
AMP FIDDLER Superficial (Genuine)
B-FLOOR Meu Amor (Café) - from V/A: YOUR LOUNGE YOUR MUSIC 6 (NEWS)
VIKTER DUPLAIX City Spirits (!K7)
DJ CAM featuring CAMEO & DJ Dilla Love Junkee - J Dilla Remix (Inflamable)
PERRY HEMUS From A Closer point Of View (Woodland Records)
ROY AYERS Brand New Feeling (BBE)
BLISS Dunia (Music For Dreams)
Playlists
DJ ADN
BLACK MAN Black Trip (Black Label)
JAMES DUNCAN Times Like This (Le Systeme)
FRANCK ROGER Masquarade (Versatile)
SOUL CENTRAL Strings Of Life - Danny K's Re-edit (WhistleBump)
ATLANTIC FUSION Man From Atlantic (Front Room)
MEITZ / BISSUS BEASTLY Geisha (Crippled Dick Hot Wax)
KAI ALCE M7 (Mahogani)
THE ELASTIC BAND Sunny (Rainy City)
AZTEC MYSTIC Aguila (UR)
IRFANE Just A Little Lovin' (white)
DJ BNX
KERRI CHANDLER Povertry (Large)
KLASICK Happy Dayz (Perfect Toy)
JOHN BELTRAN Candela (Ubiquity)
BLISSOM & ASHEN Carchaser (Spot)
CHATEAU FLIGHT The Rise & Fall Of Babylon (Rhythmix)
ROY AYERS Baby Doll (BBE)
NATURE'S PLAN Somewhere Beyond (Far Out)
FLOWRIDERS Different Spaces (4Lux)
CAI Tears In Her Eyes (Out Of The Loop)
GERARDO FRISINA Inviolation (Schema)
IRIE
ROY AYERS Mystic River (BBE)
ROTATING ASSEMBLY Orchestra Hall (Sound Signature)
NE-GROVE new LP (Pure Filth)
UMOD Wake Up (Sonar Kollektiv/ CD-R)
TITONTON & L’AROYE ? (CD-R)
DKD Brighter Day (2000 Black/ Bitasweet)
IG CULTURE Space Is The Place (Kindred Spirits)
DOMU Disco EP (Neroli)
COUSIN COCKROACH & SHOXX My Hi-fi (Archive)
NEW SECTOR MOVEMENTS Sho You Right (Virgin)
MFSB
LATHUN featuring INDIA ARIE When Love Come In (Fall out)
SCOTT WOZNIAK Wake Up My Life (Distant Music)
LOUIE VEGA featuring RAUL MIDON A Better Day - album version (Vega Records)
PATCHWORKS Immo (Q-Tape)
BLAZE featuring JOI CARDWELL Be Yourself (King Street)
KENNY CARJAVAL presents JOHN PIERCE My Words (Phuture Sole)
DURON TARIK 1 INTENSE I Am (83 West)
MONICA NOGUEIRA Infancia Magica (CD-R)
ROY AYERS Baby Doll (BBE)
BLAK BEAT NIKS The Sun Will Shine - Simon Gray Remix (Slip’N’Slide)
NIK WESTON
JAZZTRONIK Samurai/Dance With Me (Especial Distribution)
DA LATA Change/Petropolis (Especial Distribution)
V/A: SAKURA AURAL BLISS (Kriztal)
QUANT Trying/Chills N Thrills (Ecco.Chamber)
ROBB SCOTT Fallin (Sunshine)
COLORBLIND Nu Swingz/Superzoom (Plein Gaz)
FREEDOM SOUNDZ featuring VANESSA FREEMAN Get It Right (People) BAKURA Veya,Veya/Thinking About (Especial)
DJ CAM Various (Inflamable)
RYO FUKUI TRIO Early Summer (Solid)
NUTROPIC
BAKURA Veya Veya (Especial)
FRITZ PAUER Terra Samba - Soulpatrol Mix (MPS/Universal)
MITCHELL & DEWBURY Beyond The Rain (Mumo)
ALLEN HOIST Inner City Blues - 4Hero Remix (Soulution)
V/A : A JOURNEY TO THE DAWN (Temposphere)
SPIRITUAL SOUTH Green Gold (Afro Art)
INCOGNITO Stone Gold Heart/Cada Dia - Soul Bossa Trio & Yukihiro
Fukotomi Remixes (Pony Canyon)
PAUL MURPHY The Trip (Afro Art/CD-R)
THE BEATCONDUCTOR Balanco (GAMM)
TEDDY PENDERGRASS Take In Your Arms Tonight (PIR)
February 1, 2004
It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX ISSUE≠39
Everything has to be done for everyone to feel like a star, should it just be for five minutes, said Paris's Le Palace founder, the late Fabrice Emaer back in the days, explaining his philosophy while leading what has to be remembered as one of the best clubs in the world at the time and so far ! And needless to say that music had a major role in this affair, thus added to a bigger aural diversity, should it be in the clubs as well as on air. Could we recapture this atmosphere ? This I dunno as times have changed,although I'd like to say that it's rather a matter of spirit having in mind nothing but the fact that music, as a universal language, has the power to unite us under the same belt : emotion !
Emotions, or rather The Emotions, as it's exactly who we're talking about with the revamp of their "I Don't Wanna Loose Your Love" classic. A song that resurfaces some 28 years after its original release on Columbia Records, done on a genuine spirit and in an obvious classy way over a phat bassline by UK's appearently new name, Groove Finder (GF)
Is this one of these numerous bootlegs circulating around ? No infoso far, as this was sent to me on CD-R like the following one : "The Player", a mythic tune from Philly's most wanted First Choice, bringing me back to these stunning vibes that got me straight behind the desks in the mid-seventies. A simple listen to this cool groove, its sensuous vocal arrangements and its orchestration should give you a better idea of where I'm deeply coming from (Philly Grooves).
Producers at the time really had an instant identifiable sound and this is no doubt how they began having such a proeminent role like say Nile Rodgers and the late Bernard Edwards aka Chic. Yes maties, you'll recognize what made their trademark while listening to "Luck My Boots", a housey revamp of Sister Sledge's "I'm Thinking Of You" with their typical rhythm guitar and bass lines (white). And the same would have no surprisingly to be said about Kool & The Gang, becoming club icons when reaching the second step of their carreer with the help of producer, Eumir Deodato and contribution from vocalist, James 'JT' Taylor. This giving an impressive collection of smash hits like "Ladies' Night", "Celebration", "Steppin' Out" and many others including "Straight" Head" in 1983 on a quite fast rhythm for the period that has permitted it to be slightly relifted the way it is today on a white label that has just seen the light.
Although there was no real format at the time - this also being for a major part in the versatility that has marked this period - we was able to create at least short series of coherent tunes like for instance Chic's "Good Times" and its famous "Rappers' Delight" response given by Sugarhill Gang, followed by Vaughan Mason's "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll" and Kurtis Blow's "The Break". The later seing his "Xmas Rappin'" recently ressurected by Seamus Hadji (white). The same period -1982 - also saw the release of what has to be remembered as one of the biggest hits of James Ingram : the famous "Yah Mo Be There" produced by The Dude himself (Quincy Jones) with the vocal contribution of former Doobie Brothers' front man, Michael McDonald. You have now the full story about this in its twenties classic which has just reappeared on our environnement, as reworked by Grant Nelson (white). A bit easy though, I would tend to add about these two ones and, to a wider extend, regarding the awful treatment made to ABC's "Who Wants To Be A Zillionaire" by Johnny Hates Jazz (white) flirting with cliches of all kinds, not to mention the absolute sacrilege made, while touching Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing", turning it into a midtempo while adding a 4X4 beat on it ! This making me say once more how we may, as usual, expect the best as well as the worst from the Brits…
On a more temporary field, jazz/funk mastermind, Roy Ayers sees the third cut - "Sugar" - to be taken from his new album remixed by UK's disco Don, Joey Negro and the result is definitely nothing to write home about, being very flat and common compared to the recent "Baby Doll" (BBE) or the work that he's done on "Backfired" for Masters At Work featuring India" (MAW), speaking of which "To Be In Love" has received what should soon to be considered as the best work so far from german duet, Knee Deep injecting fluid jazzy elements on this umpteenth pack of remixes (Defected). A (last) comment that equaly applies to "Hardrive 2004" - another MAW original production - slightly retouched over a strange but hypnotic bassline (white).
Lucky enuff to have had a listen to another future standard in perspective hailing from the likes of what already stands as the relay in England : on one hand, Reel People featuring Vanessa Freeman with the aptly named "The Light" and on the other, the very much in demand, Sam Holt and Gavin 'Face' Mills, aka Copyright, providing us with a sheer post-discoïd beauty (Papa/CD-R). Look out when it comes…
Playlists
DJ ADN
BLACK MAN Black Trip (Black Label)
JAMES DUNCAN Times Like This (Le Systeme)
FRANCK ROGER Masquarade (Versatile)
SOUL CENTRAL Strings Of Life - Danny K's Re-edit (WhistleBump)
ATLANTIC FUSION Man From Atlantic (Front Room)
MEITZ / BISSUS BEASTLY Geisha (Crippled Dick Hot Wax)
KAI ALCE M7 (Mahogani)
THE ELASTIC BAND Sunny (Rainy City)
AZTEC MYSTIC Aguila (UR)
IRFANE Just A Little Lovin' (white)
DJ BNX
KERRI CHANDLER Povertry (Large)
KLASICK Happy Dayz (Perfect Toy)
JOHN BELTRAN Candela (Ubiquity)
BLISSOM & ASHEN Carchaser (Spot)
CHATEAU FLIGHT The Rise & Fall Of Babylon (Rhythmix)
ROY AYERS Baby Doll (BBE)
NATURE'S PLAN Somewhere Beyond (Far Out)
FLOWRIDERS Different Spaces (4Lux)
CAI Tears In Her Eyes (Out Of The Loop)
GERARDO FRISINA Inviolation (Schema)
IRIE
ROY AYERS Mystic River (BBE)
ROTATING ASSEMBLY Orchestra Hall (Sound Signature)
NE-GROVE new LP (Pure Filth)
UMOD Wake Up (Sonar Kollektiv/ CD-R)
TITONTON & L’AROYE ? (CD-R)
DKD Brighter Day (2000 Black/ Bitasweet)
IG CULTURE Space Is The Place (Kindred Spirits)
DOMU Disco EP (Neroli)
COUSIN COCKROACH & SHOXX My Hi-fi (Archive)
NEW SECTOR MOVEMENTS Sho You Right (Virgin)
MFSB
LATHUN featuring INDIA ARIE When Love Come In (Fall out)
SCOTT WOZNIAK Wake Up My Life (Distant Music)
LOUIE VEGA featuring RAUL MIDON A Better Day - album version (Vega Records)
PATCHWORKS Immo (Q-Tape)
BLAZE featuring JOI CARDWELL Be Yourself (King Street)
KENNY CARJAVAL presents JOHN PIERCE My Words (Phuture Sole)
DURON TARIK 1 INTENSE I Am (83 West)
MONICA NOGUEIRA Infancia Magica (CD-R)
ROY AYERS Baby Doll (BBE)
BLAK BEAT NIKS The Sun Will Shine - Simon Gray Remix (Slip’N’Slide)
NIK WESTON
JAZZTRONIK Samurai/Dance With Me (Especial Distribution)
DA LATA Change/Petropolis (Especial Distribution)
V/A: SAKURA AURAL BLISS (Kriztal)
QUANT Trying/Chills N Thrills (Ecco.Chamber)
ROBB SCOTT Fallin (Sunshine)
COLORBLIND Nu Swingz/Superzoom (Plein Gaz)
FREEDOM SOUNDZ featuring VANESSA FREEMAN Get It Right (People) BAKURA Veya,Veya/Thinking About (Especial)
DJ CAM Various (Inflamable)
RYO FUKUI TRIO Early Summer (Solid)
NUTROPIC
BAKURA Veya Veya (Especial)
FRITZ PAUER Terra Samba - Soulpatrol Mix (MPS/Universal)
MITCHELL & DEWBURY Beyond The Rain (Mumo)
ALLEN HOIST Inner City Blues - 4Hero Remix (Soulution)
V/A : A JOURNEY TO THE DAWN (Temposphere)
SPIRITUAL SOUTH Green Gold (Afro Art)
INCOGNITO Stone Gold Heart/Cada Dia - Soul Bossa Trio & Yukihiro
Fukotomi Remixes (Pony Canyon)
PAUL MURPHY The Trip (Afro Art/CD-R)
THE BEATCONDUCTOR Balanco (GAMM)
TEDDY PENDERGRASS Take In Your Arms Tonight (PIR)