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- Written by: Mike Fossati
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The deep soulful "Jones in my bones" features excellent vocals by Darnell Kendricks alongside Gene King's trademark warm keys and chords over a percussively bumpin' groove, altogether creating an exciting feel you can't resist to dance to. The 'Shines Dub' gets hypnotic thanks to lush synths and a relentlessly stormin' groove, while the 'Stalker Dub' is a vigorous stompin' affair oozing with slick melodies. |
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- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Tortured Soul "In my fantasy" (Tortured Soul Records CD Promo)
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"In my fantasy" is the latest single release lifted from Tortured Soul's highly acclaimed long player "Did you miss" me, coming your way as a tasty package full of excellent interpretations. DJ Spinna pulls out all the stops and blesses us with an eclectic remix as only he can do, taking his signature sound to the next level. Jask serves a dreamy rework that is all about beautiful atmospheric sounds, while Tom Moulton turns back the clock of time with his classic remix. Ezel goes deep and laidback on his take, followed by Tortured Soul's own JKriv and Ethan White who round the package off with their distinctive styles. Not to be missed. |
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** Exclusive Preview **Here we've got an excellent remix package of Vick Lavender's marvelous "Another girl" which impressed us first time around with outstanding vocals by David Glenn and a masterly orchestration. Man of the moment Jose Carretas gets smooth as silk on his interpretations, combining the vocals with celestial keys and chords and a mellow yet captivating backing. Next are Vick Lavender's wonderful 'All Soul' mixes that keep the musical bliss of the original versions alive while turning the heat up with an intensified yet still soulful groove. Another Sophisticado release not to be missed. |
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Picks of the Week
Pepita Project featuring Paris Brightledge "The way we were" (Pep Sounds Records CD Promo)
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Pepita Project's "The way we were" will take you back in time thanks to emotional vocals by Paris Brightlege (the legendary voice on the timeless "It's all right" by Sterling Void), atmospheric synth melodies and an old school flavored groove which altogether spread a gorgeous laidback vibe. Wayne Gardiner delivers a deep and groovy remix full of exquisite keys and chords, while Tomson & Benedict turn out a ruthless dance floor bomb with their deep mesmerizing remixes that are somewhat reminiscent of the unmistakable Marc Kinchen sound. |
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The almighty DJ Spinna has put together an eclectic collection of soul/funk/disco "Post Disco Club Jams", and I have to admit I'm not familiar with many of them, but on the other hand isn't it amazing to see how much quality music has been released back in the day? Thanks to DJ Spinna and BBE Records, many of these past and almost forgotten gems are now available again, making this an essential compilation to own unless you're among those who own the original releases. The first CD is a continuous DJ mix by DJ Spinna, while the second CD includes twelve rare unmixed gems. To make things even better, the digital downloads feature bonus tracks, including exclusive DJ Spinna remixes of "I'm your superman" by Jan Leslie Holmes. Highly recommended. |
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- Written by: Mike Fossati
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** Exclusive Preview ** Brazil's Grooveland Music label won't give us any rest as they drop another bomb in form of Matthew Bandy's "Goin' nowhere", a wonderful production featuring deeply felt vocals by Johnathan Houston over an exquisite musical backing oozing with sweet funky flavas. Limestone relaxes the vibe for a dreamy journey, while Guy Robin is firing things up on his groovy jazz-funk fueled take. Next is Hernan Cronner's tasty deep interpretation full of lush melodies, followed by a sweeter than sweet remix by Luife making you yearning for more. Completing the package is Douglas Marques' smooth remix which combines the vocals with sublime keys. |
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Andy Compton follows up his smash hit "Above the sky" with the deep house jewel "I don't want to see the sun" where he joins forces with Kafele and Sofia Loren Coffee. The original is spreading an incredible laidback feeling through the jazzy instrumentation and the outstanding vocals, taken to the next level by Ralf GUM who uses a smooth yet fierce percussive groove, fender rhodes, organ and sweet guitar to create a contaminous feel. The Rurals contribute a sweet deep house remix that adds a luxurious organic touch to the track. |
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- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Jose Carretas featuring Dani "Take your time" (Tribe Records CD Promo)
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Tribe Records are going from strength to strength, with their latest release "Take your time" by Jose Carretas being no exception. "Take your time" is a glamorous song featuring delicious keys and passionate vocals by Dani Bates over a funk drenched backing driven by heavy beats and a massive bassline. Zepherin Saint injects the song with his unique deep percussive sounds and gentle synth melodies, while Raw Artistic Soul go hypnotic on their deeply stormin' remix, with their dub versions further intensifying the vibe by adding a dark twist. |
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- Written by: Mike Fossati
As I mentioned a few weeks back, I'm struggling getting all the reviews done due to lots of things going on at the moment, so this one will be rather short...
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- Written by: Mike Fossati
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Much could be said about this album and the legacy of M&M - and John Morales in particular; for example I could choose a "best of the best" of the over 650 mixes they did, or we could list a "who is who" of the artists they remixed during their illustrious career. But I prefer to keep it simple and short: this album lets you experience what dance music was all about in the 80's, it brings back memories from what probably was the heyday for dance music. You get two CD's full of previously unreleased exclusive mixes by John Morales, one half of the legendary M&M team (his partner Sergio Munzibai sadly passed away in 1991). CD one is all about "NYC Underground Disco Anthems" - think of "All over your face" by Ronnie Dyson, "I want you (all tonight)" by Curtis Hairston or "Weekend" by Class Action featuring Chris Wiltshire to just mention three out of the ten included tracks. Then there is CD two featuring nine "Exclusive Salsoul Mixes", including such gems as "Ain't no mountain high enough" by Inner Life, "Lay it on the line" by Logg or "Because of you" by Skyy. |
In other words, this timeless compilation gives you a history lesson in dance music by one of the most influential remix pioneers. This is a true highlight standing out of the bulk of new releases dropping each week, clearly this is the "Album of the Year" for me, and most definitely this is one of the best releases in years that brings back the sound that helped build and define what dance music is all about these days. And for sure it makes me go down to the basement and dig out some classic records, something I haven't done for a long long time...
For the vinyl collectors, there will be a limited triple vinyl version of this release (1'000 copies only). And the digital releases are likely to feature bonus tracks such as a celestial 17 minute version of "Ain't no mountain high enough".
Don't miss to check out John Morales website, there are some goodies to discover there. For the full track list of the 2xCD release, click on "read more".
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- Written by: Mike Fossati
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** Exclusive Preview ** "All I can do" is scheduled for a release in 2010, and it will be part of Michele McCain's full length album currently in the works, involving Gene Leone and Benjamin Kristof Rakun who also are behind this wonderful song. Michele McCain impresses with a fabulous vocal performance, with the Brazilian Soul Crew giving the song an uplifting feel good vibe on their mixes featuring jazzy piano and phat synth chords over a percussion driven backing. Andy Ward's vocal version is an irresistibly thumpin' affair fueled with enchanting keys and chords, with his dub powering up the vibe for ruthless peak time action. More mixes to follow, including one by John Mateo. |
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** Exclusive Preview ** We are proud to present you this exclusive likely not to be released before February 2010. The original version by Tim McAllister features sultry vocals by Weysa Dya alongside infectious chords over a deeply stormin' groove, with the 'Dance Mix' being a mesmeric alteration of the original that turns the heat up. Mark Di Meo and Tony Loreto team up for a wonderfully instrumentated, laidback yet contaminous set of remixes that includes vocal, stripped down vocal and instrumental versions. Next, Mark Di Meo and Soul Oasis join forces for an uplifting Latin flavored dub rework. Finally we have Vick Lavender's summery 'Sophisticado Mix', a funk oozing, percussion enriched interpretation with a jazzy touch that is spreading a laidback feeling. |