Picks of the Week

DJN Project and Duo Deep "Have a nice day" (Baldeloox Records CD Promo)

"Have a nice day" is an uplifting production by the DJN Project and Duo Deep (Scott Watson and Brizey) that is lifted from the forthcoming "Baldeloox and 3 Beers" album. It is a deep affair featuring sweet male vocals alongside lovely chords and horns over a bumpy groove that is guaranteed to keep the crowd movin'. The dub drops the vocals while adding some great funky flavors to give the track an even groovier vibe.

Picks of the Week

Jonny Montana presents Claude Bain "Seasons" (Camio Records CD Promo)

On "Seasons", Jonny Montana teams up with Toronto soul singer Claude Bain to present a magnificent production full of soul. The mid tempo original is a soul-funk tinged, laidback affair on an old-school tip that is beautifully instrumentated, with a lovely guitar, sweet synths and great jazzy keys and sax accompanying the passionate vocals by Claude Bain. The Dolls Combers up the tempo for a funkier affair that keeps things soulful while giving the track a lovely retro touch. Melchyor A combines the main parts of the original with one of his relentless funk soaked grooves, while Soulchild goes deeper on his percussion loaded interpretation.

Picks of the Week

Various "The Jaffa Music EP" (Jaffa Music Records CD Promo)

Jaffa Music present this wonderful EP perfect for the summer with its uplifting vibes. Its an eight track selection of past and upcoming releases kicked off with "Gotcha" by Rachel Claudio. The 'Nassau Remix' is a fiercely stormin', funk drenched affair featuring wicked keys and classic strings alongside passionate vocals, while the 'Deep Inc Discofied Mix' goes deeper and relaxes the vibe for a groovier take on a Disco tinged tip, with a beautiful piano accompanying the vocals. Next is the Dolls Combers' 'Intergalactic Mix' of "Miscommunicate" by Rachel Claudio & Nicolas Vautier, a soulful interpretation that is beautiful instrumentated, with the keys and chords giving it a timeless outer-space-jazz touch. "These times" by Soul Harmonics & Rachel Claudio is included in the 'Edmund Remix', a funk soaked rework featuring captivating synth hooks that together with the infective vocals create a mesmerizing feel. The other (previously released) tracks in the package are: Rachel Claudio "Freedom" (Raw Artistic Soul Remix), Rachel Claudio & Nicolas Vautier "Miscommunicate" (Yass Main Remix), Nicolas Vautier featuring Blick "Sala" (Ralf Gum GoGo Vocal Remix) and (Dom Navarra Latin Instrumental).

Welcome to Volume 6 of our new format called Short Reviews on Spirit of House. Enjoy this fresh'n'deep selection of house...

Picks of the Week

Exclusive Preview: BSC featuring Andre "Eu soul" (Grooveland Music CD-R)

Grooveland Music follow up the worldwide success of Tarek's "Desabafo" with another banger by the Brazilian Soul Crew (Edground, Claudio Mansur, Alexandre Zee) titled "Eu soul" which is guaranteed to become an instant classic, featuring a heartfelt vocal courtesy of Andre. The original is on a deep laidback tip, with phat keys and synth chords accompanying the vocals while the resistless groove is guaranteed to keep your feet movin'. Various slammin' remixes are included, with Abicah Soul adding his trademark warm and deep, percussive touch to the track, while Anto Vitale is spicing the vibe up with a raw'n'gritty bassline, jazzy keys and spacey synth chords. Next is Dave Lynam who turns the track into a heavily thumpin' tech-soul affair that goes as deep as it gets, followed by Hernan Cronner who smoothes the vibe down for a ten minute plus journey into mellow jazzy deepness. Lastly Bradford James and Trinidadian Deep team up for a hypnotic afro-tribal interpretation. There is word that remixes by BSC, Daniel D, Eddie Valdez, Fernando Ribeiro, Jarrier Modrow, RyB and Tarek will follow in another package.

Picks of the Week

Stacey Mallory featuring Gerideau "Changes" (Iwanai Music Records CD Promo)

In May 2007, we gave you an exclusive preview of this uplifting production by Stacey Mallory which now has been picked up by Iwanai Music who release it complete with brand new remixes. "Changes" features a marvelous vocal by the legendary Gerideau over a deep'n'smooth backing groove that is enriched with a lovely piano, lush keys and great strings. The 'Underground Mix' toughens things up, taking it straight to way deeper grounds, with moody keys leading the way for the soulful vocals. On remix duty we have Fanatix and 83 West who both deliver awesome interpretations. Fanatix rework the track into a fierce, funk soaking garage gem that is spiced with phat keys and chords while 83 West smooth the vibe down a bit for a deep and laidback journey into melodious vibes.

Picks of the Week

Panevino & O-Jam "Contigo O Sin Ti" (Panevino Music Records CD Promo)

With "Contigo O Sin Ti", Panevino presents the perfect vibes for the summer, combining a hot and sexy spanish vocal courtesy of O-Jam with a smooth yet fierce groove that is enriched with wonderful jazzy keys and masterly performed vibraphone, altogether creating an uplifting feeling. The hypnotic, dub-alike 'PV Sin Ti In Space Mix' toughens things up for an electrofied feel perfect for peak time play, while Alix Alvarez contributes a laidback yet deeply rumblin' interpretation featuring wonderful synth chords and an even deeper, mesmerizing dub that puts the synth chords center stage to the package.

Welcome to Volume 5 of our new format called Short Reviews on Spirit of House. Enjoy this deep, partly instrumental mixshow that will take you on a hypnotic journey...

Picks of the Week

Ananda Project featuring Heather Johnson "Let love fly" (Joe Claussell Remix)(NiteGroove Records CD Promo)

The magnificent "Let love fly" by Ananda Project gets a majestic reworking by the one and only Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell who turns out an eleven minute epic masterpiece. The angelic voice of Heather Johnson combined with Joe's unique and incomparable orchestration and arrangement are a match made in heaven, resulting in an unrivaled journey through spiritual house grooves. The 'Simulacrum Dub' with its added funky flavors is creating a mesmerizing vibe that won't let loose.

Picks of the Week

MD X-Spress "God made me phunky" (Remixes)(Defected Records CD Promo)

Mike Dunn's "God made me phunky" is one of those tunes that has stayed a DJ's favorite since its initial release back in 1994. And with this phat remix package (that also includes the original in re-mastered format), this track is guaranteed to continue its success. Harry 'Choo Choo' Romero turns the track into a resistless tribal house stomper with old-skool chords, while Aaron Ross & Alix Alvarez team up for a lush deep house interpretation. Izmabad (aka Simbad and Karizma) stray true to the original while infusing the track with the trademark Karizma sound (and with vocal and dubs included, its an invitation to get creative). Groove Assassin is jackin' up things on his reworking, while the 'Unreleased Remix' is on an old-school deep house tip.

Picks of the Week

Darryl D'Bonneau "Say you're gonna stay" (JellyBean Soul Records CD Promo)

After the success of the Scott Wozniak remixes of "Revenge", Jellybean Soul dig out another Darryl D'Bonneau classic from their vaults: "Say you're gonna stay", a fabulous soulful gem from 1995 featuring heartfelt vocals that got the remix treatment from heavyweights DJ Meme and JoVonn. DJ Meme delivers a feel-good interpretation featuring a gorgeous piano and classic strings that together with the smoothly stormin' groove create an uplifting feeling, while JoVonn goes as deep as it gets and turns out an absolutely relentless gem that is all about the vocals and incredible keys (check the dub which features additional freaky keys that are guaranteed to give you the thrill). As a special treat, the original version is included as well. Watch out for the forthcoming "Remixed & Reimagined" album featuring many more of Darryl D'Bonneau's classic songs reworked.