Miami 2007 (P)Reviews

Details: Created: Saturday, 17 March 2007 16:03; Written by Mike Fossati

Miami Sure Shots

I could give you a prediction of tunes I believe will be big at this years Winter Music Conference in Miami, but with so much great music flying onto my desk the last couple of days, I'm having a hard time picking two or three out of the bunch. So I decided to let you be the judge - read the reviews and listen to the mixes and make up your own mind. More fresh tunes to follow shortly after the conference.

Also expect a special report on the South African House Music scene with a special mixshow showcasing their style.

Michael 'Spirit of House' Fossati

Reviews March 16, 2007

Details: Created: Friday, 16 March 2007 18:38; Written by Mike Fossati

Picks of the Week

HiFi Mike "Hollywood" (Purple Music Records CD Promo)

It took some time (nearly exactly four years) since the now classic "Stereo flavas" has been reviewed here on Spirit of House. Now HiFi Mike returns with "Hollywood" featuirng a soulful female vocal courtesy of Betty Vale (aka Betty Emanuelle). Jamie Lewis is responsible for the mixes, delivering two different sets: the 'Beverly Hills' mixes are on a laidback vibe, featuring a warm and melodic instrumentation including a lovely piano and great horns, while the 'Rodeo Drive' mixes take it to a deeper level, giving it a darker edge with a hypnotic piano and moody chords leading the way.

Reviews March 11, 2007

Details: Created: Saturday, 10 March 2007 17:48; Written by Mike Fossati

Picks of the Week

Exclusive Preview: Anto Vitale "Theorema del Faya" (Vocal Mixes)(Tea Party Music Records CD Promo)

The vocal versions are finally here, taking this inspirational track to the next level. The 'Original Vocal' of this afro-carribean flavored production enhances the laidback vibes of the wonderful instrumentation with a sweet and soulful male vocal by Alex Senna. Ian Friday's 'Tea Party Vocal' is a magnificent interpretation that turns the track into a steadily groovin' affair, with wicked keys accompanying the anthemic vocal. The 12" vinyl will include the vocal versions, while the instrumental will only be available as digital download.

Reviews March 4, 2007

Details: Created: Saturday, 03 March 2007 15:00; Written by Mike Fossati

Picks of the Week

Simon Grey featuring Robbie Smith "Together" (Ceremony Records CD Promo)

It has been some time since we've heard from Simon Grey on these pages, but with "Together" he returns in a huge way. "Together" is a truly organic production featuring a marvellous live jazz-funk instrumentation and fantastic emotional vocal courtesy of Robbie Smith, with the arrangement of the song being top-notch, featuring great breakdowns and builds. Label head Dave Storm is responsible for the beautifully edited dub version that is a great choice to the main vocal version.

Reviews February 25, 2007

Details: Created: Saturday, 24 February 2007 15:48; Written by Mike Fossati

Picks of the Week

The Shadowkings "So beautiful" (SoulFunk Digital Records CD Promo)

The Shadowkings return in a gigantic way with "So beautiful" which will take dancefloors by storm thanks to the infectious groove that is nothing than absolutely relentless, with the catchy keys and passionate vocal performance furhter intensifying the vibe, then towards the end additional keys take the track to an even more fierce level. The 'Utopa Broken Beat' mixes give the track are more relaxed and laidback feeling with their smoothened groove and wonderful keys, with phat breakdowns built into the track that will get the crowed into a frenzy.

Reviews February 18, 2007

Details: Created: Saturday, 17 February 2007 15:07; Written by Mike Fossati

Picks of the Week

Paris Brigthledge "Searchin'" (USB Records CD)

The vocalist of the legendary house classic "It's alright" by Sterling Void returns with the wonderful "Searchin'" which brings back memories of the early days of house music with its classic piano and string arrangement over a deep, funk flavored groove, while Paris Brightledge lends his passionate vocals to the song. The instrumental is all abou the incredible piano and strings, while the acapella lets you enjoy the unmistakable voice of Paris Brightledge. A release not to be missed.

Blaze "Breathe" (2007 Remixes)(Slip'N'Slide Records CD Promo)

After his massive remixes of Tiger Stripes' "Missing you", Mr. V is again on remix duty for Slip'N'Slide, this time reworking the inspirational Blaze classic "Breathe". He adds his distinctive sound including off-the-hook keys and a wicked rap to the song while keeping the vibe of the original alive. With vocal, instrumental, beats and keyapella mixes to choose from, there is something for everyone. Kiko Navarro's re-edit subtly updates the original version by adding some extra spice, while Liquid People presents Danism rework the song into a more laidback and groovy, jazz-funk flavored affair. Lastly there is the unreleased Ashley Beedle Dub included.

Reviews February 11, 2007

Details: Created: Saturday, 10 February 2007 15:49; Written by Mike Fossati

Picks of the Week

Soul Kitchen "Just friends" (Elation Records CD Promo)

Behind Soul Kitchen are Scott Mochar and Scott Wilson who present "Just friends" on scottish label Elation Records. Their 'Soulful Edit' is a laidback, funk flavored house track featuring sexy male vocal alongside jazzy keys and a saxophone solo. The 'Maz Lunden Ibiza' mix adds a rougher beat and balearic vibes to the song, giving it a summery feel, while Greg Kozo intensifyes the funky flavors and uses thumpin' beats on his take. Fabio Bacchini's remix is on an old school disco-funk tip, bringing memories of this golden era back. For his second remix he teams up with Patrick L to deliver a wicked funky house reworking. A great package offering something for everyone.

In the Spotlight: Shuya Okino "United Legends" (Geneon Japan Records CD)

Details: Created: Saturday, 03 February 2007 16:55; Written by Mike Fossati

Shuya Okino is probably best known as one of the two brothers out of the highly respected Kyoto Jazz Massive collective (before he was a member of both Mondo Grosso and Cosmic Village). "United legends" is his debut solo album where he brings together a veritable who is who of top producers and vocalists from musical genres such as nu-jazz, broken-beat and house. For the soulful house heads, there is "Shine" featuring Diviniti and produced by DJ Kawasaki, "If it is love" featuring Clara Hill and produced by Priahnahead - but the highlight is with no doubt the twelve minute anthem "Love is key" featuring Josh Milan (from Blaze) which is produced by Phil Asher (Restless Soul). Highly recommended.

Reviews February 4, 2007

Details: Created: Saturday, 03 February 2007 15:04; Written by Mike Fossati

Picks of the Week

Soularis "Change the world "(SunSoaked Records CD Promo)

SunSoaked is the brand new label by Soularis that premieres with the uplifting "Change the world" by Soularis, with vocals courtesy of Pete Simpson. The original is a mellow and laidback production featuring a wonderful instrumentation including a magnificent guitar solo alonsgside Pete Simpson's soulful voice. Soularis 'Sun Soaked Mix' is a fierce yet smooth affair with warm melodic keys, while the 'Soularis Dub' is pumping things up. Groove Assassin delivers probably his best remix to date, a deep and soulful interpretation that is absolutely resistless, while the Central Avenue remix keeps on grooving and grooving in a smooth yet fierce way. "Change the world" is an incredibly catchy song full of feel good vibes with an anthemic chorus that will catch you with the first listen.

Reviews January 28, 2007

Details: Created: Saturday, 27 January 2007 16:09; Written by Mike Fossati

Picks of the Week

Yass "He reigns" (Purple Music Records CD Promo)

Paris based DJ and producer Yass follows up last years massive "I believe" with "He reigns", a slammin' production featuring an inspirational gospel vocal by Leslie O'Smith over a relentless groove, with the background vocals and organ chords intensifying the gospel vibe. The dub stripps most of the vocals, letting the groove, chords and background chants create an incredibly intense vibe you can't resist to dance to. The 'Innersoul Badyard Dub' uses a fiercely stompin' beat and electrofied keys to give the track a deeper, underground-ish vibe.

Reviews January 21, 2007

Details: Created: Saturday, 20 January 2007 14:44; Written by Mike Fossati

Picks of the Week

Inner Sense "First Vibes EP" (Nineties Records 12")

Henri Fontaine aka Inner Sense presents the wonderful "First Vibes EP" that features three tracks that will take you back in time. It's all about glorious deep house grooves and marvellous keys here that create an irresistible and uplifting feeling, with each of the three tracks spreading a true old school feeling that will bring back memories of the early days of house music while giving us the chance relive those almost forgotten moments on the dancefloor.

Reviews January 14, 2007

Details: Created: Saturday, 13 January 2007 15:06; Written by Mike Fossati

Picks of the Week

Tiger Stripes "Kayoko" (ProgCity Deep Records CD Promo)

We gave you a first glimpse on "Kayoko" in our WMC 2006 Update in April 2006, now this magic track by Mikael Nordgren aka Tiger Stripes is getting a full release with new mixes courtesy of Kiko Navarro. Mikael Nordgren's orginal version is a deeply stormin' affair, built around afro beats and percussion elements, featuring wicked spaced-out keys on top that together with the vocal samples create an irresistible vibe. Kiko Navarro provides a whole bunch of remixes that take the track to the next level, with a relentless tribal beat leading the way for the percussion and throbbing bassline, with a magnificent synth in tribute to Laurent Garnier being featured on the vinyl only 'Tribute to LG Remix' (the other mixes by Kiko Navarro will be available in digital format only, together with an alternate remix by Mark Joyce).

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