- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Blaze "My beat" (Sumo Remix)(HEYA HIFI CD Promo)
This is the first release for S.U.M.O.'s own label HEYA HIFI that is taken from the forthcoming album "Rebounces". S.U.M.O. take on the Blaze classic "My beat" that features Palmer Brown's preaching lyrics and turn it into an afro beat work out featuring brand new instrumentation including horn section, organ, afro guitar and sweet percussion. The 'Rebounce' version creates an irresistible afro house vibe with Palmer Brown's unmistakable vocal performance while the dub stripps the vocals and features additonal instrumentation instead, enforcing the afro vibe.
Raw Artistic Soul "Kana EP" (GoGo Music Records CD Promo)
After the fantastic "One Cultural Groove EP", Raw Artistic Soul are back with another chapter of inspiring music. The title track of the EP, "Kana" (available in both vocal and dub versions) features the voice of Laygwan Sharkie who sings in the native Zimbabwian language over a smooth yet powerful afro house beat that is topped with melodic keys and a lovely jazzy flute. "Bathanga vibes" features Migrant Souls aka Lyygwan Sharkie & Metaphysics and is inspired by 'Bathanga Jive', a traditional dance of miners of Zimbabwe. Can7 delivers an uplifting interpretation coming with infectious melodies and an irresistible groove, creating a feel-good anthem. Finally there is "Flores para ti", a latin tinged production featuring a broken-beat styled, percussion loaded groove and jazzy vocal ad-libs together with Rafael Cortes on guitar. With this second outstanding EP, I can't wait to hear the forthcoming album "What about love".
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Sara Devine "Special" (Vega Records 12")
After her underground smash "Take me home" thanks to the Masters at Work remixes, Sara Devine is back with Louie Vega remixes of the sultry neo-soul gem "Special". Louie Vega delivers uplifting reworkings featuring a riffing guitar, sweet percussion and melodic chords to create a grooving house take that has an an acoustic edge that comes to full effect on the isntrumental 'Roots Dub'.
Steal Vybe "Musical Journeys EP" (Steal Vybe Music Records 12" Test Pressing)
The third release for Steal Vybe Music is a triumphant return as they present a fantastic EP that kicks off with "Love's song" that features songstress Stephanie Renee and hypnotic keys over a driving groove, creating an irresistible vibe. "Love's song (the other story)" is the second part, being on a broken beat tip and spreading a jazzy vibe through the warm and orchestral melodies. "Relief" comes with spoken words over a deeply stompin' groove that features some heavy drum patterns and is topped with a jazzy piano line and spacey keys. Finally "Vibrations" is a sweet bossa/brazil house track with lush keys, layered vocals and unique melodies creating a laidback feeling, perfect to chill.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Exclusive Preview: Milesart Orchestra "Better Times EP" (Ibiza Soulstice Music CD Promo)
Ibiza Soulstice Music is the brand new label by Joan Ribas Ferrer. The first release is a four track EP by the Milesart Orchestra featuring music inspired by 70's soul, jazz and funk grooves. "Something coloured" comes with a stompin' beat, deeply funkin' bassline (think of "Papa was a rolling stone") and sweet melodies on top. "Funkoff (deep love to Isa)" is a fantastic afterhours track based around a deeply stormin' groove and features a jazzy instrumentation together with a funky guitar. "Gotta make you move" starts with a lovely intro before the drivin' groove kicks in and the jazzy saxophone, funky guitar and soulful vocals create an irresistible feeling. Lastly we've got the title track "Better times", a midtempo groover spreading a laidback feeling through the jazz-funk vibes.
King Britt presents Scuba featuring Lizz Fields "Our time" (Slip'N'Slide Records CD Promo)
Slip'N'Slide Records have just started a new compilation series called "Jazzmental" with King Britt presenting the first selection that includes his own production "Our time" which features r&b singer Lizz Fields. She delivers a soulful vocal performance over a deep bassline and piano driven groove added with sweet percussion, strings and melodic keys on the 'Funke Mix' while the 'Sunrise Mix' is stripped of the beats and percussion. The remix included is courtesy of Mikale Nordgren under his Tiger Stripes moniker and comes with smoothly stompin beats, superb flute and afro elements added to the original instrumentation, giving the track an irresistible feeling.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
The BackRoom featuring Kimara Lovelace "Here I am" (Soul Groove Records 12")
"Here I am" is one of those songs that has a melody that won't get out of your heard for a long, long time to come, courtesy of the production team of Backroom Productions. The music is based around an irresistible groove and features a delightful George Benson like guitar, warm melodic chords and sweet percussion, creating an infectious vibe. Add the wonderful and passionate vocal performance by Kimara Lovelace, and you've got a soulful and timeless garage production, perfect for the summer season ahead.
WMC Preview: Michelle Weeks "Be thankful" (Purple Music Records 12" Test Pressing)
In 2002, Jamie Lewis and his Purple Music family brought us "The light", in 2005 they bring us "Be thankful". It has the same energy that made "The light" one of the standout tunes three years ago, with Michelle Weeks proving why she is undoubtly one of house music greatest. It's the irresistible piano together with the unmistakable vocal that are layed over a fiercely stormming groove on this track that will conquer the attention of everyone who hear this track. Simply irresistible.
WMC Preview: Nikos featuring Nita "Let's stay together" (Under My Skin Records CD Promo)
For his latest release on Under My Skin Records , DJ and producer Nikos has choosen to do a cover version of one of his all time favorite songs: "Let's stay together" by Al Green, a timeless soul classic. With the help of a gifted group of musicians who provide the live instrumentation including sax, flute, bass, drums and percussion, this new interpretation brings the soul directly to the dancefloors with its smooth vibe and an electrifying vocal performance by Nita Hutton whose voice is soulful and breezy, giving the song an inspirational and passionate feeling.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
The WMC 2005 Picks
John Kumahara featuring Martino "Paradise in the Sahara" (Kenny Carvajal Remix)(Iwanai Records CD Promo)
This was the first release back in june 2003 for Iwanai Music that now returns with a simply fantastic reworking by Kenny Carvajal who takes the track to a higher ground, expanding the organ and keys provided by Martino to a new dimension, with the pulsating percussion underlining the late nite vibe of this production. The original version will also be included on the release.
Gene Douglas featuring David Walker "Almost heaven" (Almost Heaven Records 12" Test Pressing)
David Walker has worked as background voice for Mariah Carey, and here he teams up with Gene Douglas for a wonderful production. The original is on a classic vibe with a laidback feeling to it, featuring warm melodies over a mellow groove. Simon Grey takes it to a different territory on his mix, turning the song into a jazzy broken beat track, while Noel Pix is adding more punch to it with a sweet pumpin' groove. Frank Wichmann & Gary Lanziere take it to the underground on their tribal groove driven, electro-ish dub version. Finally Sebastian Wunder delivers a deep house groove with warm melodic sounds.
Blaze featuring Ultra Naté "Wonderful place" (Remixes)(SuSu Records CD Promo)
What a strong remix package SuSu have prepared for this great song featuring the wonderful Ultra Naté. Bobby & Steve together with James Ratcliff give it a soulful makeover with smooth percussion, lovely jazzy flute and groovy beats. Fanatix give it a deeper edge on their take, with phat beats and spaced-out keys. Their dub takes it even deeper and has an underground vibe to it. H&H come up with a bumpier affair with a funky bassline, cool guitar and disco-ish strings, adding a feel-good vibe to the song.
Kenny Carvajal featuring Swaylo "You remind me" (Phuture Sole Records CD Promo)
After giving Kenny Carvajal a five star rating for his remix on "Paradise in the Sahara", we have to admire his production skills. On "You remind me", he teams up with singer Consuela 'Swaylo' Ivy for a timeless production, with a vocal performance full of passion, coming striaght from the soul. The music is based on a smooth groove and comes complete with a marvellous jazzy piano and guitar solo that together with the melodic chords create a wonderful feeling.
Jully Black "Stay the night" (83 West Remix)(Universal Records CD Promo)
Canadian singer Jully Black will soon be dropping her debut album. "Stay the night" is the first single lifted, coming complete with a remix by 83 West taking the song straight to the dancefloor with sharp beats, a deeply rumblin' bassline and spheric keys that get accompanied by jazzy keys, giving the song a late night vibe.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Raw Artistic Soul "What about love" (GoGo Music Records CD Promo)
 |
After releasing two oustanding EPs, the debut album from percussionist, producer and remixer Phil Kullmann and his fourteen singers and musicians strong Raw Artistic Soul collective is here. It covers contemporary grooves from all over the world, combining sounds from various cultures including spanish, yoruban, shona, bemba and english. The album continues what the EPs started by bringing you lush percussive rhythms, beautiful voices and warm music soundscapes.
Phil Kullmann shows his versatility on this longplayer, with new elements and influences to be discovered on each song, letting his Raw Artistic Soul Collective express their musical skills and the love for music. Words can't really describe what a treat this is, but simply said with this album you've got a masterpiece in your hand. Watch out for the third EP coming soon including "Felipes dubstyle" and S.U.M.O. remixes of the title track "What about love". |
Stephanie Mills "Free" (Louie Vega Mixes)(Expansion Records 12" Promo)
These Louie Vega mixes of "Free" are simply outstanding with the irresistible vibe they are spreading, featuring the incomparable voice of Stephanie Mills and a wonderful instrumentation including sweet percussion, lovely strings and guitar together with wicked keys. And with great and versatile set of mixes included (vocal, acapella, instrumental, dub), two copies are needed for mixing them back to back. Essential tune, one not to be missed.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Doctor M "Park Jam" (Dancers DelightSeries)(Needs Records One-Sided 12")
Behind Doctor M is Needs' very own Marek Bartkuhn who presents this fantastic production that cleverly injects parts of the Montana Sextett classic "Who needs enemies" to create a boogie-esque disco-house extravaganza that features a funky groove, crunchy beats, bubbling bassline, spheric keys and hot guitar licks. The result is an absolutely outstanding track with reminisces to the good old days of disco that will make your feet move.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Kenny Bobien "Set them free" (SoundMen on Wax Records 2x12" Promo)
We haven't heard from SoundMen on Wax in a while, but now they are back with fantastic Jephte Guillaume remixes of Kenny Bobien's "Set them free", a beautiful cover version of this timeless Sting written song. Jephte Guillaume takes the song to a whole new level with afro beats giving a smooth tribal edge to the song, percussion, melodic keys that create warm melodies and a jazzy saxophone, everything perfectly underlining Kenny Bobien's unsmistakable voice. There is a wonderful instrumental version featuring just the chorus and the marvellous saxophone solo that will take you on a journey. Also included are bonus beats, acapella and an alternate vocal version that got stripped of the beats.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Kenny Carvajal featuring Carla Prather "First time" (Crash Records CD Promo)
Chicago based Kenny Carvajal has established himself both a producer and remixer over the past two years, and he is responsible for two of this years highlights from the Winter Music Conference. With "First time", Kenny Carvajal has another original production ready to conquer the hearts of soulful house music lovers. "First time" features the wonderful voice of Carla Prather who delivers an outstanding emotional performance over an irresistible groove that is added with a lovely guitar and exceptional organ ride alongside laminar keys and a deeply groovin' bassline, the result being a timeless piece of soulful dance music not to be missed.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Marlon D "Love is key" (Jellybean Soul Records CD Promo)
 |
Marlon D has been around in the New York club scene for a long time, starting as a promoter and DJ before stepping into production. Today he is running both his own Underground Collective nights and Underground Collective record label, and he is responsible for some classics of recent years: "Keys of life" and "Love will save the day" by Jaque, "I appreciate" by Maxine Inniss and "The UC anthem". The recently released "Affection", a taster for the album, got radio airplay and reviews worldwide and has entered several global dance charts.
Now the time has come for Marlon D to release his debut album on Jellybean Records, run by the legendary John 'Jellybean' Benitez. Featuring some of the hottest singers in the house community today - Stephanie Renne, Caroline Peppers and J.R. Morrison - this album will further strengthen Marlond D's reputation for being a versatile producer of soulful house music. It includes instrumental tracks as well as vocal productions featuring the sweet and soulful voices of aforementioned artists, all of them including great keys and grooves destined to rock the dancefloors. "Love is key" is a brilliant varied debut album not to be missed that will be released both on CD and vinyl. Also watch out for the 83 West remix of "Affection" to be released soon on 12". |
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Blaze presents Underground Dance Artists United for Life "Keep Hope Alive" (SuSu Records 2x12" Test Pressing)
Already released in Japan and the USA, this wonderful album now gets a UK release on SuSu Records. The double-pack vinyl sampler comes complete with exclusive remixes and brand new tracks alongside the in demand Dennis Ferrer remix of "Most precious love" featuring Barbara Tucker. "Not far away" and "What makes the world go round" are new productions, the later featuring the soulful voice of Stephanie Cooke, both being on a laidback and mellow vibe, featuring the unmistakable Blaze sound. "Spread love" featuring Byron Stingily is featured in a brand new and slammin' Will Milton remix, whle "Hiya luv" featuring Kenny Bobien is remixed by Phil 'The Medicine Man' Hooten and "A wonderful place" featuring Barbara Tucker is included here in the 'Bobby & Steve & James Ratcliff Afro Remix'. The package gets completed with the original version of "Be yourself" featturing Joi Cardwell and the 'Roots Vocal Mix' of the title track featuring Dawn Tallmann.
- Details
- Written by: Mike Fossati
Picks of the Week
Exclusive Review: John Legend "Ordinary people" (Original Drum Remix)(CD-R)
Exclusive Review: Mario "Let me love you" (Original Drum Remix)(CD-R)
Original Drum Productions have been handing out a showreel featuring snippets of their recent work at this years "Winter Music Conference", including these two songs. "Ordinary people" by John Legend has been remixed many times already by the likes of Karizma, Jihad Muhammad and 83 West, but this reworking is my favorite so far. It is based on smoothly stompin groove and features melodic keys that harmonise perfectly with the reminiscent piano of the r&b original. Mario's current smash "Let me love" gets a new interpretation in two different flavors. The 'Bes Scroll' mixes use deeply stompin' beats together with a wicked set of keys and xylophone solo to create an irresistible vibe, while the 'Shetshet File' mixes feature a jazzy piano alongside melodic chords over a fierce groove, creating an intense feeling.
Raw Artistic Soul "What about love EP" (GoGo Music Records CD Promo)
Raw Artistic Soul follow up the release of their longplayer "What about love" with another hot EP including the album title track and "Felipes dubstyle". "What about love" features Mirta Junco Wambrug on vocals and is included here in an infectious, funktified extended version. S.U.M.O are responsible for the remixes, creating an irresistible groove featuring afro-styled beats and drums, guitar and slammin' keys on their rebounce, while the dub gets electronic with tough keys. "Felipes dubstyle", a driving track featuring rhodes and brass stabs over kicking beats, is included here in an extended version.