Picks of the Week
Kenny Bobien "Set them free" (Rocco Remixes)(Soundmen On Wax Records CD Promo)
Kenny Bobien did the cover of this classing Sting song for his album "Blessed - A Gospel Dance Theory" back in 2000, and it has been a favorite with many DJs since then thanks to the spirituality the song is spreading through the incomparable voice of Kenny Bobien. Now Rocco takes on the song, taking things as deep as it gets, with the wonderful chords intensifying the spiritual nature of the track. Its pure magic, taking you on a joyous journey into spiritual house music that you wish would never end.
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Dave Marcus "7 unlimited" / "Freeze" (DeepHaven Music Records CD Promo)
Here we've got something a little different from what you usually hear on Spirit of House, but this release is so beautiful it needed to get a proper review. Both "7 unlimited" and "Freeze" are on a down tempo tip, they are perfect for loungin' our chillin' with their soulful warm jazzy sounds oozing summery vibes - close your eyes and think of sitting at the beach on a warm summer night, its the perfect sound for those cold winter times. We need more of this...
Marcelo Cruz "Obatala" (Deep'N'Sound Records CD Promo)
With "Obatala", Marcelo Cruz presents a spiritual house track built around a deeply groovin' percussion enriched groove that is topped with spheric chords, melodic keys and a lovely flute that altogether create an uplifting feeling. Joe Rizla provides a wonderful rendition that keeps the flavors of the original alive while giving the track more of a spaced-out feeling, with the wicked chords creating an intense vibe.
Exclusive Preview: Alicia Keys "Butterflies" (Jason B Remix)(CD-R)
Exclusive Preview: Jill Scott "My love" (Jason B Remix)(CD-R)
Jason B is blessing us with two wonderful interpretations here. First is "Butterflies", taken from Alicia Keys 2001 long player "A Song in Minor", and it is just here singing and playing piano on this wonderful acoustic song. Jason B adds a smooth yet fierce, percussion enriched groove and wicked chords to it that take the song straight to the soulful dance floors. Next is Jill Scott's "My love", taken from her current long player "The Real Thing: Words And Sounds Vol. 3", a marvelous neo-soul production that looses non of its magic in Jason B's reworking that turns the song into soulful house masterpiece built around a deep resistless groove.
Patrick Green "Flor del mar" (The Pashaa Rerubs)(Sofitone Records CD Promo)
Sofitone Records unleash slammin' new mixes of their massive debut release from that features sexy vocals courtesy of Ebony Diaz. Patrick Green himself provides two fresh mixes, with his 'Main Mix' being a fierce funktified affair built around a deeply rumblin' groove that lets the wonderful tenor sax courtesy of Ray Romar and the sexy vocals shine, while 'Pats Rerub' relaxes things for a groovy laidback vibe that keeps things on a deep and funky side. Ryan Mishkin delivers a massive dub perfect for peak time play with its wicked synths, while Damien Lee Ah Yen contributes one of his incredibly deep 'Trinidadian Deep' remixes to the package that he is renowned for.
DragonFly "All the way" (Sole Channel Music Records CD Promo)
On "All the way", Mr. V and Will 'ReelSoul' Rodriguez team up with DragonFly (aka Serena Calo) who provides a sweet and sexy vocal performance on this beautiful production that comes in a variety of mixes, all keeping things soulful. Whether it is the deep and laidback 'SOLE Channel Main Mix' or the kickin' '5 Beats Main Mix' which features wicked synths, its all about soulful and groovy vibes on this package that also features useful dubs and instrumental versions.
Exclusive Preview: Jaheim "Never" (Darryl James Vocal Remix)(CD-R)
The beautiful slow jam "Never" is the first single from Jaheim's forthcoming album "Making of a Man" (expected for a late 2007 release) which has been reworked by none other than Darryl James who gives it a soulful makeover featuring melodic keys and a lovely guitar that harmonize perfectly with the passionate vocals by Jaheim, all nicely arranged over a smooth yet fierce backing
Exclusive Preview: Dwele "Hold on" (PowderSoul Remix)(CD-R)
There have been quite a few fantastic remixes by PowderSoul over the past few month, for instance Karl Frierson's "10 minutes" which got a review here on Spirit of House a couple of weeks ago. The latest addition is their take on Dwele's "Hold on" (lifted from the 2003 album "Subject"), a beautiful soul production transformed for the dance floors by adding a soulfully thumpin' house beat that goes along nicely with the outstanding vocal by Dwele.
Exclusive Preview: Prince "Chelsea Rodgers" (Alex Dimitri South Soul Re-Touch)(CD-R)
"Chelsea Rodgers" is probably the most dance orientated track on Prince' current album "Planet Earth", it's a beautiful fusion of funk and disco featuring a husky female voice alongside Prince unmistakable voice and masterly horns and trumpets. Alex Dimitri takes the track to the next level by adding a fierce, deeply stormin' beat underneath the disco-funk flavors to let it groove from the beginning to the end, always spreading a feel good vibe on the dance floor.
Soulfood featuring Deby "My fantasy" (AX Music Records CD Promo)
After blessing us throughout the summer with the lovely "Beach Music" series, AX Music Records return with a lovely production titled "My fantasy" courtesy of Soulfood and Deby who provides a sultry vocal performance that is accompanied by great jazzy keys, all nicely arranged over a smoothly stormin', funk spiced backing groove. The 'Club Mix' strips part of the vocals to let the keys to the talk, while the 'Dub Mix' takes the track to deeper grounds. Completing the package is the 'Campari Mix', a beautiful reprise version.
Rasmir "It's time" (Mantree Records CD Promo)
Rasmir is following up the bangin' "Fertility" with the retrospective "It's time", a track resurrecting the past way back to Disco, with the funk fused groove that is somewhat reminiscent of the George Kranz classic "Din daa daa" creating an intense old-school flavored vibe that is aggravated by wicked keys and catchy vocals. Two equally slammin' mixes are included in the package, both inviting you to take the crowd 'back in time'.