This week In the Spotlight, we have some hot album relases:
Jihad Muhammad "No way back" (Chi Town Mix)(Iwanai Music Records CD Promo)
Jihad Muhammad is reviving the twenty year old classic from Adonis with this wonderful interpretation that gives a whole new dimension to the track. While the 1986 original is all about early Chicago House, this new interpretation is on a laidback jazzy tip featuring incredible xylophone and organ solos alongside melodic keys that are layered over a smoothly thumpin' groove reminiscent of the timeless original. This is a fantastic update of the Adonis classic that is spreading an uplifting and relaxing feeling through the wonderful instrumentation.
Mr. A.L.I.'s J.A.M. Sessions "Simple" (Philosophie Music Records CD Promo)
Jere McAllister of Mr. A.L.I. and Carla Prather collaborate for "Simple", a soulful and sweet house production that is based on a percussion enriched, smoothly stompin' groove and deep bassline that get topped with sexy vocals from Carla Prather and warm melodic keys, spreading a laidback vibe. Jere McAllister and DJ Jaycee team up for the remixes that come on a deeper vibe, featuring marvellous keys that together with the vocals give the song a harmonic and uplifting feeling.
Voices of 6th Avenue "Man in the mirror" (AceBeat Records CD Promo)
Ricky Nelson "Happy man" (AceBeat Records CD Promo)
As reported earlier this year, Ace Beat Records have opened their Download Music Store where you can buy titles from their back catalogue as well as new music. "Man in the mirror" by Voices of 6th Avenue, a choir founded by 'Ace' Mungin and listing artists and producers such as Charvoni, Intense, Cassio Ware, Kenny Bobien, Eddie Stockley and others, is gospel house at is best. The featured singers are providing an inspirational vocal performance over a soulfully instrumented, New Jersey styled garage production, creating an uplifting and emotional feeling. On "Happy man", Ricky Nelson presents himself with a sensual combination of gospel and r&b styled vocals over a laidback groovin' backing track that features a wonderful instrumentation, spreading a mellow and uplifting vibe.
Antonio Ocasio featuring Annette Taylor "No difference" (deepaGrooves Records CD Promo)
deepaGrooves are going deep with their latest release that is produced by Antonio Ocasio and features a hint of sultry female vocals courtesy of Annette Taylor. "No difference" features various layers of percussion and drums together with an outstanding organ solo, a deep bubbling bassline and wicked keys, creating an uplifting and spiritual feeling. The BLVD East interpretation gives the track an irresistible feeling that takes you on a journey into deep house music with its deeply rumbling groove and the fantastic keys and organ ride.
SUMO featuring Clarisse Muvemba "Nini" (HEYA Hifi CD Promo)
"Nini" is the second single from the forthcoming SUMO longplayer "The danceband" (to be released in May). The song features Clarisse Muvemba on vocals who sings in Lingala (spoken in Kongo) on this disco edged afro house production that features two incredible hot guitar hooks alongside stompin', afro styled beats. The vibe of the song is absolutely irresistible, making your feet move as soon as you hear it. Claude Monnet is responsible for the remix, turning the song into a spectular disco monster that grows and grows through its entirety - think of Donna Summer's "I feel love" (Patrick Cowley remix) and you know what kind of intensity to expect. Also included is the bonus track "Bo ningisa", a tribal afro house stomper with heavy bass and wicked percussions that is slightly on a tougher edge.
Jamie Lewis featuring Michael Watford "It's over" (Purple Music Records CD Promo)
It's unbelievable how time is moving, but it has been a full seven years since Jamie Lewis and Michael Watford teamed up on "For you". Now they unite again for "It's over", a stormin' track with a deeply rumblin' bassline and wicked keys and strings, and then there is the the incomparable Michael Watford who provides an outstanding vocal performance. All of this is resulting in an absolutely irresistible track where the dub mixes take it deeper, adding a true underground flavor to it. To be available only as limited edition release on Purple Music, but this will not be the end of the story...
Byron Stingily & Kimara Lovelace "About our love" (Home Records CD Promo)
The new year is only a couple of weeks old, but we already have a contender for anthem of the year. "About our love" is a blazing duet featuring two legendary vocalists in the house scene: Byron Stingily and Kimara Lovelace who deliver an emotional performance. The release features mixes by Ron Carroll who comes up with an uplifting and smoothly stompin' peak time vocal, while 83 West give it a deep underground-ish feeling on their thumpin' dub that features wicked stellar keys. Will Rodriguez (Reel Soul) goes for a deeply stormin', truly soulful take that features some 80's flavors coupled with cosmic keys and a jazzy piano, creating an absolutely irresistible vibe. "About our love" will keep you singing and dancing all night long.
Fuzion presents Arnold Jarvis "Justified love" (Fuzion Records CD Promo)
What a way for George Mena and Franke Estevez to open up the new year!! "Justified love" features the incredible voice of Arnold Jarvis and is the follow up to their successful collaboration on "Beautiful love" released on Diaspora Records in 2004. With "Justified love", George Mena & Franke Estevez deliver an oustanding production that features an emotional and soulful vocal performance by Arnold Jarvis over a smoothly stormin' groove that is augmented with orchestral elements and harmonic keys, creating an irresistible vibe that won't get out of your head. Instrumental and a heavily groovin' dub version are also included in this release that should be placed on top of your shopping list.
Moses McClean featuring Rob Burns "Share love" (SoulStar Records CD Promo)
Mitch Moses and Vince McClean return with "Share love" that features singer Rob Burns who turns out an uplifting vocal performance. The original version is based around a fierce and deeply stompin' groove that is enriched with wicked keys. Kicking off the remixes is Brent Laurence who takes it deep on his take, using a bass-heavy groove and laminar keys to create a moody late nite vibe, while Italy's Harley & Muscle go for a subtle interpretation that is full of soulful vibes. Lastly there is the remix by Suges that is a powered up affair perfect for peaktime play with its phat groove.
Exclusive Preview: Soul Basics "City lite" (Unsigned CD-R)
Soul Basics is a production team from the UK, their music is based around jazz and soulful orientated sounds, with some tech and latin flavors. Out of the available tracks, we've choosen "City lite" for a review, a fantastic jazz house track featuring a great instrumentation and arrangement that comes in two flavors. The 'Calypsoul Mix' is driven by sweet percussion and a smooth groove that make this version the choice for late nite and early morning play, while the 'NY Groove' is based on a stompin' groove and features additional keys, creating a more powerful vibe suitable for any other occasion. At this time, their productions are unsiged, but it is only a matter of time until they get picked up by a label.
Feet & Leo Cuenca "Something going on" (Feet Records CD Promo)
The french duo of Feet & Leo Cuenca present a beauty with "Something going on" that features a marvellous vocal performance by Sophie Delila. "Something going on" is based on a powerful funked-up groove, having a latinesque jazzy feeling to it, with a touch of disco flavors shining trough. The 'Bossa Mix' beats the expectations its name creates, spreading a fantastic laidback vibe on a true bossa nova tip, featuring additional vocals. The dub uses a tougher groove underneath the latin instrumentation, letting the guitar take the center spot and do the talk.
Studio Apartment featuring Terrance Downs "We are lonely" (KingStreet Records 12")
Japan's Studio Apartment team up with Terrance Downs, the vocalist from Ananda Project, for the beautiful "We are lonely". In its original form, it features deep & silky lyrics over smoothly stormin' latin beats and beautiful piano riffs that together with sweet percussion create an irresistible soulful vibe, with spoken words adding an extra kick to the song. Quentin Harris is responsible for the remixes that that use organic tribal beats and his trademark synth and organ chords on the vocal version while the dub is on a darker vibe, giving the song a tougher dimension.
Boulevard featuring Kristin Berardi "Free your mind" (Phuture Sole Records CD Promo)
It has been quiet around Phuture Sole Records for some time, but with "Free your mind" they return with a big bang (to be released in early 2006). Produced by Andrew Whitehouse and David Prescott, this wonderful song features an outstanding vocal performance by Kristin Berardi, and it comes in a pleasant variety of offerings. The original version is on a mellow, almost chill-out tip, spreading a laidback feeling through the smooth groove, sweet percussion, warm laminar keys and jazzy brass. Todd Gardner provides the 'Certified Organik Mix' which is a wonderful interpretation giving the song a soulful garage outfit that is creating an uplifting vibe, while DJ Freestyle (aka Colin Russell) reworks the song into a deeply rumblin' and groovy affair that keeps the laidback vibe of the original alive. A song to stay in your mind for a long time coming.
JoVonn "Do Your Dance Projcect" (UK Basic Records CD Promo)
Four their fourth release, UK Basic have commissioned legendary producer JoVonn who turns out two outstanding productions that keep it real and come on a true soulful underground vibe. "Anybody" is based on a fiercely rumblin' groove and is enriched with laminar keys and a wicked male vocal, with a jazzy xylophone coming in later in the track. "Djoon" makes uses of a stompin' groove that is topped with a rolling acidic bassline and wicked keys that gives the song a retro vibe reminiscent of older JoVonn productions. Both tracks are spreading an irresistible feeling and should not be missed
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Stacey Mallory has been featured regularly here on Spirit of House with his production, of which many have gained a Pick of the Week spot . |
Now he started his own 4 Real label where he will release his productions, with the first two releases made available this week. Watch out for the release of hidden gems on this label in the near future.
