- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
The Kolai Krew "Take it back" (Thaisoul Music Records CD Promo)
DJ and producer Jask is kicking off his brand new label Thaisoul with this production by The Kolai Krew (Nicolas Laget & Taha Elroubi) that has been released back in late 2003 as part of "EPiology Vol. 2" on Sahara Records. "Take it back" is bringing back the music from the disco era with its combination of oldschool disco, funk, soul and jazz grooves that get topped with Maria Rochelle's sultry vocals and freestyle vibes by MC Krayola. The result is a ultra cool flashback of the past that will make your feet move with its uplifting feeling. Don't miss to check the bonus 'Tribut Shout Out DJ Tool' and the 'DJ Tool-A-Pella' that pay tribute to the DJ community. Jask remixes will be available soon.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Kerri Chandler "Large 100" (Large Records 12")
Chicago's leading house label Large Recrods are celebrating their 100th release with two outstanding tracks by legendary producer Kerri Chandler who - without any doubt - delivers something special. "Return 2 acid" is a hypnotic track with phat beats and keys, where the 808 acid line is creating an irresistible feeling, bringing back memories of the acid era of house. The flip features "Planet sonic", an electro cut influenced by Afrika Bambaataa lengendary "Planet rock". A release that couldn't be more appropriate to celebrate 12 years in the business and 100 classic releases.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
The Reese Project featuring Paul Randolph "This means that" (SuSu Records CD Promo)
In 2002, Paul Randolph promoted this beautiful track at the Winter Music Conference, but it took more than three years for it to get a full release. suSU Records picked it up and combine the original mixes with brand new ones from Bobby & Steve & James Ratcliff. The original vocal is on a soulful tip with a bumpy groove with a classy piano solo and a bubbling live bass, while the original vocal dub is on a moody vibe. The remixes turn it into a soulful garage song, coming in two different flavas: the 'Urban Groove Full Vocal' comes with wicked keys over a smoothly stompin' groove, while the 'Vocal Sax Mix' is on a more mellow vibe, featuring a lovely saxophone.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell "Un.Chained Rhythums Part 1" (Sacred Rhythm Music Records 12" Promo)
Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell "Un.Chained Rhythums Part 2" (Sacred Rhythm Music Records 12" Promo)
Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell returns in a big way with this two limited 12" on his new label Sacred Rhythm Music, availably only as expensive Japan import but it is worth the money you've got to pay for it. It's all about spiritual vibes here, featuring all live instrumentation, ranging from melodic chill out tracks over hypnotic drum grooves to the two standout tracks "Mafungo" and "Maringa". "Mafungo" is an incredible percussion driven track featuring an outstanding saxophone with male chants, while "Maringa" features a wonderful jazzy piano line over a deeply stormin', smooth percussive groove. There will be a US release of "Mafungo" coming soon with more releases to follow.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Cassio Ware with Working Underneath "Grows and grows" (Haus'Flor Records CD Promo)
Working Underneath return with "Grows and grows" that features the incomparable vocal talents of Cassio Ware. This project comes in four different flavors, kicked off by the 'jEzus bAkflip Hi-Tech Mix', an uptempo affair for peaktime play based on a thumpin' groove with sharp drums and techy keys. Next is the 'Underneath Mix', a deep house interpretation in classic New Jersey style spreading a warm feeling. The 'Miss-Me Mix' features a sexy spoken word vocal over a deep, percussively stormin' groove featuring melodic keys. Finally, the 'Grimy Blue Skies Mix' comes with laminar keys and jazzy piano over a smoothly stompin' groove, spreading an irresistible vibe. A great package with something for everyones taste.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Exclusive Preview: Stacey Mallory "My rhythm" (CD-R)
While "What is housemusic..." will be released on Jellybean Soul Records soon, Stacey Mallory has the next bomb ready to drop. "My rhythm" is a wicked instrumental track based on a deeply rumblin' bassline, phat beats and sweet percussion. On top of it are jazzy keys, an organ solo and a fantastic piano line that create an irresistible feeling. This is one of those rare tracks with a groove that won't get out of your head for a long time to come.
Jon Cutler & Michael Watford "Watcha gonna do" (MN2S Records CD Promo)
New York based DJ and producer Jon Cutler delivers a killer vocal production that took this years Winter Music Conference in a storm whenever it got played. Featuring the legendary Michael Watford on vocals, "Watcha gonna do" comes with a raw edge in its original form that is a fierce yet smooth stomper featuring melodic keys and a wonderful vocal. Reel Soul rework it into a deeply thumpin' groover with laidback keys that lets the soulful vibe take center stage, while Kings of Soul accentuate the bass and add some sweet guitar licks and a magical flute, creating a funkier interpretation.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
The Shadow Kings featuring David Walker "Soul music" (Undo Records 12" Promo)
Undo Records bless us with a truly soulful release courtesy of The Shadow Kings and featured vocalist David Walker. The original take is spreading an organic live feeling through the instrumentation that includes guitar and saxophone together with a deep and funky bassline, with the passionate lead and background vocals creating an incredible feeling. Richard Earnshaw's interpretation makes just subtle changes to it by adding a jazzy piano line and a smoothly stompin' groove, while the Native New Yorkers use a deeply stormin' groove together with melodic keys and a wicked guitar riff.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Exclusive Preview Scott Grooves "Journey Collection Part One" (Studio of Scott Grooves Records CD Promo)
Scott Grooves, who has been regularly featured on this website over the past few years with his fantastic productions, will release the long awaited longplayer "Journey Collection" this year, divided in two parts: part one focusses on instrumental productions, while part two will be all about vocals. Part one features six track, kicking off with "The journey", a percussion driven track with strings and spheric keys that create an anthemic feeling. Next is "Moog sensation", a deeply stompin' track featuring spaced out keys together with an outstanding moog solo. "Riddum" features wicked piano lines over a percussivley bumpin' groove with phat drums, while "Room to breath" is a thirteen minute extravaganza taking you on a journey into deep house grooves with warm keys over a deeply stormin' groove, creating a harmonic vibe. "Lights out" is a lovely track featuirng spacey keys over a deeply rumblin' groove, while the closing track "Old skool" smoothes things down, featuring a wonderful jazzy piano line over an old school styled groove that features jazz-funk flavors, bringing back memories of the disco era. Don't miss to check out Scott Grooves own music show where he takes you on a ride through various styles of black music.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
MAESTRO, a feature documentary 4 years in the making, tells the story of how a group of people found refuge and a call for life outside the mainstream, what evolved was a scene that set the ground work for what was to come in dance music culture worldwide, a rare insight into the secret underground world.
It’s the first time this story is told in a motion Picture, included in the film are pioneer dance music DJs and producers, "founding fathers", its center being Larry Levan, as well as high-profile DJs of today.
It vividly portrays the world that spawned today's dance music from 2-step, to the eclectic sounds of tribal, to pop artists. Parties from Ibiza to Philly, all are influenced by the quintessential elements that made New York City's Paradise Garage and The Loft such a powerful cultural force in people's lives.
DJs Larry Levan, (Paradise Garage) and David Mancuso, (The Loft), continue to be revered today as the leaders of dance music culture worldwid. This seminal movement - encompassing dancers, patrons, artists, DJs, sound designers, and more - gave birth to DJ pioneers in the film and contemporary dance club parties across the globe.
MAESTRO, with a personal and candid approach, shows the true history of the people through a realistic creative aesthetic. Tracing the underground's dance origin, Maestro brings out a real understanding of this intense lifestyle, and the lives they lived and died for. It is far from mere nostalgia, this film is like the music and experiences it chronicles.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Dino and Terry "Music EP" (Crash Records 12")
Dino and Terry Demopoulos return in fine form with the "Music EP" that features the two tracks "Music" and "Liberty". "Music" is as deep as it gets, featuring a deeply rumblin' groove that is topped with a spoken word message by Kingdom and melodic chords, with a jazzy piano line coming in half way through. The dub mixes replace the chords and piano with jazzy keys and stripps the vocals. "Liberty" is on a sligthly rougher edge, featuring a deeply stormin' groove and jazzy xylophone together with spheric keys. Both tracks take you on a journey into deep house music.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Jihad Muhammad featuring Carolyn Victorian "Reflections" (UK Basic Records CD Promo)
New Jersey based producer Jihad Muhammad is going from strength to strength at the moment with his releases, and now he unleashes another bomb for new label UK Basic in form of "Reflections", a marvellous deep house track that is based on an irresistibly bouncin' groove that features infectious vocal hooks from Carolyn Victorian together with a jazzy instrumentation that includes piano and saxophone. Toronto's John Kumahara is currently working on a remix that will be included on the vinyl release.
SUMO featuring Rigas "Tribute" / "Factory" (HEYA HIFI Records CD Promo)
After kicking off their HEYA HIFI imprint with a selection of their best remixes, SUMO return with two fresh productions, both featuring an electrifying spoken word performance by Rigas. "Tribute" is best described as a homage to the classic jazz band sound, being driven by an incredible piano bassline that gets topped with a wicked horn section and fantastic saxophone solo along the spoken words, creating an irresistible vibe. On the second track "Factory" SUMO enter a different territory, creating a rhythmic affair based on seriously bouncin' beats and featuring spoken words together with wicked keys with a spacey edge that give the track a bit of a techy edge.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Jessica Williams "Faith, friendship & love" (Paradax Records CD Promo)
Paradax Records is one of those small labels that can do no wrong, each and every one of their releases is dope. Their latest offering "Faith, friendship & love" features the soulful voice of Jessica Williams and continues this tradition. The 'Main Mix' by Aaron Arce is driven by an ultra funky bassline and features laminar keys together with sweet percussion, creating a funky house jam. Soulato take the track really deep on their dub, adding a wicked organ line to it. Lars Behrenroth provices both a vocal and dub, giving it a slight techy edge but always keeping it soulful. For an eletrofied interpretation, check the Frankie Medina remix, while Teddy Q's reworking is a funktified, percussive groover. The last mix is courtesy of Artie G. Dorian who delivers a stormin' affair with wicked keys. An oustanding package that should not be missed!