Picks of the Week
Miguel Migs "Those things" (Salted Music Records CD Promo)
"Those things" is the title track from Miguel Migs new artist album, featuring the lovely Lisa Shaw on vocals. On this track, Miguel Migs delivers a slammin' blend of dirty funky house grooves with electrofied flavors, while Lisa Shaw provides a passionate vocal to it. On the dub, the vocals are stripped down to let the music do the talking. Scott Wozniak comes up with stompin' reworking that features wicked snyths and organs that give it a classic NYC tip, while Simon Grey reworks the track into an old school disco-funk monster that is masterly instrumentated and arranged.
More Reviews
Exclusive Review: Dajae "Mary don't you weap" (Phil Hooton Remix)(Endulge Records CD-R)
Since the house reworking of Aretha Franklin's "Mary don't you weap" by Grand High Priest saw the light of day last year around the Winter Music Conference, many more remixes have been doing the rounds, but this one here by Phil Hooton by far is the most inspirational and passionate one, with the gospel vocals - here performed by the one and only Dajae - being accompanied by a marvellous jazzy instrumentation that is placed over a deeply thumpin' backing groove. Simply said, this is the best house interpretation to date.
Exclusive Review: Alex Dimitri & Dieghito featuring Michael Watford "As" (Vox Organo)(SoundMen on Wax Records CD-R)
Alex Dimitri together with keyboarder Dieghito take on Michael Watford's cover of Stevie Wonder's "As" that was released by SoundMen on Wax back in 1998. It's all about the incomparable voice of Michael Watford and the outstanding organ work by Dieghito here that make this interpretation an outstanding gospel house tune, with the deeply rumblin' groove giving it an irresistible feeling.
Spiritual Blessings "100 Years in full effect" (Gotta Keep Faith Records CD Promo)
The original version of this track features wicked synths and organ rides over a deep funktified groove that is creating a relentless vibe on the dancefloor Domenico Navarra's interpretation takes the track to a deeper level, giving it a laidback feeling by using sweet percussion and warm melodic keys alongside spoken words (which are provided by Domenico Navarra himself) over a deeply rumblin' groove. Georg Neufeld comes up with a dub that is built around a deep tribal beat and features moody keys.
Soularis "Back together" (SunSoaked Mix)(SunSoaked Records CD Promo)
The next release on SunSoaked will be a cover of the timeless Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack classic "Back together". Produced by Soularis and with vocals supplied by Pete Simpson and Mandy Edge, the release will come complete with remixes by MoD, DJ Meme and 11AM. The 'SunSoaked Mix' found its way to our desk already, being a groovy affair that is spreading an uplifting feeling through the passionate vocals and organic instrumentation.
Eliane Elias "Secrets" (DFA Remix)(CD-R)
"Segredos (Secrets)" is taken from Eliane Elias longplayer "Around the city" (released in autumn of last year). The original is a mellow, organic affair on a downtempo tip that is spreading a laidback feeling. DFA take this beautiful song to the dancefloor by adding a smooth, yet deeply storming groove and wonderful keys to it, while preserving the organic vibe and keeping it laidback.
DJ Circle featuring Nicole Tyler "Forbidden fruit" (SoulFunk Digital Records CD Promo)
While SoulFunk Digital's last release "Don't get confused" by Steven Stone feauturing Sybille is still rockin' the dancefloors, the label presents the next bomb courtesy of german producer DJ Circle who teams up with vocalist Nicole Tyler for "Forbidden fruit", a fiercely stormin' funktified track featuring a sweet and unplifting vocal by Nicole Tyler alongside catchy keys and a lovely saxophone. Lots of mixes to choose from, including a sexy acapella and a dub by Danny Clark that is all about wicked synths and a dirty groove.
Exclusive Review: Lloyd "Get it shawty" (Dada's Shawty Banger Mix)(CD-R)
"Get it shawty" is the second single taken from Lloyd's "Street love" album that got released just a couple of weeks ago, featuirng fellow Atlanta artist Young Joc. "Get it shawty" is a catchy r&b song that has given a house makeover by Richard 'Slick Dada' Lopez who uses a kickin' beat on a slightly techy edge as base for the sweet vocals and melodic keys, with the result being a feel-good dancefloor thumper.
Exclusive Review: Filta Freqz "Dr. Feelgood" (CD-R)
Hot on the heels of their "WMC 2007 Sampler" comes some fresh material from Filta Freqz (aka Simon Cortez and Marco Manrique), of which we've choosen "Dr. Feelgood" for a review. "Dr. Feelgood" is a feel good track built around a deeply stormin bassline groove, with catchy keys and female vocal samples sitting on top that together with some wicked effects give the track an irresistible underground-ish vibe.
Hanna Hais "Bel amant" (Atal Records CD Promo)
The Matthias Heilbronn produced "Bel amant" is taken from Hanna Hais' longplayer " Rosa nova" and features Albert 'Sterling' Menendez on keys, Michael 'Ciro' Cirincione on guitars and Gene Perez on bass (all three session players for Masters at Work) who add their magic touch to this wonderful song that features an inspirational vocal performance by Hanna Hais. The main mixes are by Matthias Heilbronn himself who lets the music and vocals create a summery vib, while. Thomas Naim provides the 'Tom (&Joy) Mix', a broken beat styled and funky flavored affair on a laidback tip perfect for chilling.
Ronnie Ron "The Rapture EP" (Rapture Trax Records CD-R)
Ronnie Ron continues to deliver true underground house vibes with his latest offering "The Rapture EP". All three tracks on this EP are raw and as deep as it gets, and they come spiced with tasty old-school flavors that will make you beg for more - classy hypnotic grooves that will take you on a journey into real underground house. Phil Hooton remixes to follow soon.
Clarisse Muvemba "Roses" / "Time is now" (HEYA HiFi CD Promo)
This is the first solo release for Clarisse Muvemba (who was the featured artists on the previous HEYA HiFi releases "Lovebeat" and "Nini"). Both "Roses" and "Time is now" are a fresh blend of electronic sounds and jazzy flavors on a midtempo tip, with Clarisse Muvemba's voice adding a magic touch to it. Bangana transform "Roses" for the dancefloor by bringing it upbeat and dropping most of the vocals, letting the electronic rhythms and synths create a hypnotic vibe.