Picks of the Week
Tiger Stripes featuring Simone Moreno "Vem sambar" (Look-At-You Records CD Promo)
Swedens Mikael Nordgren aka Tiger Stripes presents an absolutely fierce debut release for Look-At-You Records, featuring female singer Simone Moreno. "Ver sambar" is an uplifting, latinesque production spreading a feel good vibe that features a live string section together with funky elements and melodic keys that create an irresistible feeling on the dancefloor through the feel-good rhythms and powerful vocal performance.
Abicah Soul featuring Cei-Bei "Love is just a call away" (Jellybean Soul Records 12")
Glenn Underground is on a roll at the moment and releases the wonderful "Love is just a call away" under his Abicah Soul guise. Featuring the sweet and soulful voice of Curtis Harman aka Cei-Bei, "Love is just a call away" is a smooth yet fierce groover based on deeply groovin' percussion and spheric keys giving the song a cosmic edge. With Cei-Bei's wonderful vocal performance on top, this is subtle house music with a heartfelt spirituality.
More Reviews
Osunlade "The fifth dimension" (NiteGrooves Records 12")
His debut for NiteGrooves sees Osunlade keeping his hot streak alive with an instrumental production featuring cosmic synths over a thick rhythmic track with a tribalish groove and live percussion. On the 'Main Mix', the cosmic synths dominate the track almost in the entire length while the flipside features a stripped down beats version that is a great DJ tool to play around with.
Steal Vybe featuring Rich Medina "Spiritual life" (SpaceKat Records 12")
Steal Vybe team up with philly poet Rich Medina who provides a spoken word vocal over a percussion driven, deep rumbling house groove featuring live bass, lovely guitar and jazzy flute. The 'Main Mix' has a true spiritual vibe to it while the '2nd Healing' version uses a heavier four-to-the-floor beat and gives the jazzy flute more place to grow.
Exclusive Preview: DSF "Afro dew" (Demo Mix)(CD-R)
We're proud to present you this exclusive preview by producer DSF that hopefully will soon appear in your local record store. This track has a real afro house vibe to it, based on a deeply rumbling groove that is added with percussion, stellar keys and a wicked organ ride. "Afro dew" has irresistible written all over it.
Underground Dance Artists United for Life featuring Joi Cardwell "Be yourself" (Remixes)(KingStreet Records 12")
Lifted from the magnificent "Keep hope alive" album, "Be yourself" was orginally released back in 2003 and just got rereleased with brand new mixes by japanese outfit Agora Rhythm giving the track a trippy, outer-space feeling with techy keys and moody drums. Also included is the original, as of yet unreleased, version produced by Blaze.
Kierra 'Kiki' Sheard "You don't know" (DFA Remix)(FallOut Records 12")
DFA aka Darryl James & Fred McFarlane take on rising star Kierra 'Kiki' Sheard and rework her "You don't know" for the dancefloor by adding a laidback four-to-the-floor groove coming your way on a stompin' tip, featuring a fantastic jazzy piano solo.
Cassio Ware "Hot baby - go go dancer" (Slaag Records 12")
Slaag Records and Black House Funky Soul Records presenting a great collaboration here with the remixes of Cassio Ware's "Hot baby - go go dancer". The song was originally released in 2000 and is back here featuring a wicked organ that together with the vocals and piano is spreading a true gospel feeling. Also included as a bonus is "I'ts getting hot in here", originally out on the now legendary Movin' Records.
DJ Jeroenski featuring Lex Empress "My one love" (Refunkt Records CD Promo)
Righteous "Soul clappin'" / "The DJ plays" (Refunkt Trax Records CD Promo)
Refunkt Records are back for 2005 with fresh releases on both of their labels. First we have "My one love" produced by DJ Jeroenski and featuring vocalist Lex Empress. This is a funked-up houser based on a fiercely thumpin' groove that is added with a funky bassline, catchy piano and melodic keys that together with the soulful vocals create a feel-good vibe. On the Refunkt Trax imprint is a two track EP by canadian producers Righteous. "Soul clappin'" is on a funky tip and features a deep rumblin' bassline, spoken words, disco-ish strings and nice breakdowns and effects. "The DJ plays" is on a more progressive tip, coming with a tribal groove and techy keys.
Exclusive Preview: Billy vs. Jasfunk "My soul" (CD-R)
"My soul" is produced by Enrico Mantini hailing from Italy. In its original version, it is a laidback track with a smoothly bumpin' groove and wonderful saxophone solo and jazzy keys on top. The 'Billy Mix' adds a stompin' 4/4 beat and guitar to the track, turning into a peaktime stomper while the 'Enrico Mantini Funk Shot' also uses the extra guitar, but combines it with a funked up groove.
Classic Reviews
Kenny Dope "Total kaos" (Strictly Rhythm Records 12", 1994)
Four classic tracks produded by Kenny 'Dope' Gonzales with a helping hand by Mike Delgado on "It's a ill groove".