Picks of the Week
Andy Holder featuring Carl Stanley & Lone Catalysts "Uncivilised people" (Nuwavonic Records CD Promo)
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After various releases and remixes for such prominent labels as Soulfuric, deVICE and Soulfunk Digital, Andy Holder launches his own label Nuwavonic Records which will be digital only for the moment (promos will be available through Traxsource). For the first release "Uncivilised people", Andy Holder teams up with hip-hop vocalist J. Sands (of the Lone Catalysts) performing the spoken word vocals and jazz musician Carl Stanley contributing saxophone and rhodes solos. The original version is spreading a feel-good vibe, bringing the vocals and jazzy instrumentation to full effect, with the 'Prime Time Dub' taking the track to the next level by firing things up. The 'Inner City Vocal Mix' takes the track to deeper grounds using a deeply stormin' groove and melodic keys, while the 'Inner City Dub Mix' offers an intensified, even deeper variation. Lastly there is Carl Stanley's 'Spirit Mix', a soulful reworking that lets the beautiful instrumentation create an uplifting vibe. |
More Reviews
Exclusive Preview: OMAR-S "The maker" (FXHE Records CD Promo)
OMAR-S aka Alex O. Smith presents a mellow production with reminisces of the undeniable distinctive electronic sounds of Detroit, featuring warm melodic keys alongside emotinal female vocals over deeply thumpin' beats that altogether create a laidback feeling.
Jafrosax featuring Yukimi "Drawn 2 U" (Studio Apartment Remix)(Pantone Records Digital Download)
Taken from Jafrosax' longplayer "New standard of the future", the Dimitri from Paris favorite "Drawn 2 U" gets a beautiful reworking by japanese outfit Studio Apartment who turn the song into a driving bossa house tune with sweet percussion and dreamy keys, with Yukimi delivering an outstanding vocal performance that highlights why she has been dubbed the Billie Holiday of the modern era. Digital download of this song and the longplayer available at Dancetracks Digital.
Bruce Jeffers "Watergate" (4 Real Records CD Promo)
After blessing us with "Transitions", Bruce Jeffers presents another brilliant production with "Watergate" that is kicking off with a funkily thumpin' groove before a lovely rhodes melody comes in that gets accompanied by wonderful piano solo shortly after, with an irresistible kick being added as well that people on the dancefloor just can't resist dancing to.
Alicia "P.O.W." (Restricted Access)
Filsonik is stepping into the game of remixing r&b for the soulful dancefloors, here taking on a poetic spoken word by Alicia Keys titled "P.O.W." that he is underlaying with a funky house rhythm that consists of percussive funky beats and a bouncing bassline that together with the wicked keys create a hypnotic feeling.
Three Kings featuring Jaygun & Bashy "Shake dat booty" (Remixes)(Soul Heaven Records Digital Download)
"Shake dat booty" was the premier release for Coco Machete Records back in 2002 and has been picked up by Soul Heaven who present a great remix package. Wahoo deliver a fierce afro fuesed hip-house interpretation with cool keys and a great break. Their dub stripps the vocal for most parts, letting the beats and keys do the talk. Alix Alvarez' reworking is on a deeply bumpin' tip using phat beats and wicked keys. Limited digital download promos available at Dancetracks Digital.
Exclusive Preview: Feet featuring Simon Grey & Yuanist Woods "Hard to say" (Feet Productions CD-R)
Feet Procutions follow up the magnificent "Cool Summer EP" with another wonderful release titled "Hard so say" that features Simon Grey on moog bass and D6 clavinet, while Yuanist Woods is the lead vocalist. The one version of "Hard to say" available at the moment is a fantastic funky house production flavored with disco influences where Simon Grey pulls out all the stops on the instrumentation, while Yuanist Woods adds an inredible vocal performance to the song. Can't wait to hear the full package.
Various "Holographic Summer 2006 Sampler Part I" (Holographic Records 12")
This summer EP by belgian label Holographic features four productions from DJ, composer, producer and remixer Olivier Abbeloos who is also known as Conga Squad, C-Mos, Cloud 9, Dynetic, Bio-Nic and Gold Bumpers."Lift off" is a pumped up track with electronic keys over a stompin' groove, perfect for peaktime play, while "Stereo vibes" is a monster disco-house track bringing back memories from the disco era. Next up is "I wanna get high", a tribalish track with spacey keys and disco-samples. Lastly there is the driving "Get up" that is enriched with wicked keys and a summery piano line.
Classic Reviews
Mutiny featuring Mary Joy "Bliss" (MAW Records 12"/Digital Download, 1999)
Black Masses "Wonderful person" (MAW Records 12"/Digital Donwload, 1998)
In the late 90's, 'Little' Louie Vega and Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez released some fantastic vocal productions on their MAW label. In 1998, they picked up "Wonderful person" by Black Masses from UK based Tom Tom Records and turned out a wonderful reworking. One year later, they unleashed their timeless interpreation of "Bliss" by Mutiny feautring Mary Joy. Digital downloads of both "Bliss" and "Wonderful person" are available at Dancetracks Digital.