Picks of the Week
Melba Moore "My heart belongs to you" (SoulFuric Records CD Promo)
The legendary disco diva Melba Moore ("You stepped into my life" is probably her most famous classic) returns to the scene with the Ron Carroll produced "My heart belongs to you", a track that has been huge since it premiered at this years Winter Music Conference in Miami. Ron Carroll's 'BMC Vocal Classical' is an uplifting affair featuring Melba Moore's intense and passionate vocals over a poweful Chicago style track. Jon Cutler reworks into a smoothly stompin' deep house groove that is driven by an irresistible piano line you can't stop to dance to, while Polish duo WaWa heat things up for peak time on the dub that is fueled with extra ingredients to rock the crowd.
More Reviews
Osunlade "Macaco" / Atelewo "New day" (Remixes)(Yoruba Records 12")
Osunlade presents an ultra hot two tracker of fresh remixes on his own Yoruba imprint. His own track "Macaco" gets reworked by Blackman Bano into a deep and spiritual groover, featuirng wonderful laminiar keys over a smoothly thumpin' groove. Quentin Harris takes on Atelewo's "New day", adding his unique trademark beats and keys together with an oustanding organ line that give it a tougher edge, by keeping a true afro vibe in it.
Tokyo Black Star featuring Yurai "Rainbow" / "Fantastique voyage" (Deeply Rooted House Records 12")
Previously only to be found in Japan, it is now widely available thanks to DJ Deep who licensed it for his Deeply Rooted House label. Produced by Alex from Tokyo & Isao Kumano, this 12" features the sweet voccals of Yurai. Both "Rainbow" and "Fantastique voyage" are on a latenite tip featuring warm organic chords together with a deep electronic bassline and trippy keys, creating an athmospheric feeling.
Kerri Chandler "Sunset" / "So let the wind come" (NiteGrooves Records 12")
After destryoing the dancefloors with "Bar a thym" (of which remixed version will be out on NRK Records soon), Kerri Chandler follows it up with "Sunset", a deep track being all about an impulsive groove that is driven by a bad-ass bassline, featuring wicked strings and drum additions. "So let the wind come" on the flip is a pumpy banger featuring a filtered disco loop, making this suitable in peak hour play to let the crowd go wild.
Blaze "Here with me" (LifeLine Records 12")
"Here with me" is an immaculate production by the ever busy Blaze, not being as 'housey' as most of their other productions, instead coming extremly relaxed and elegant, featuring sweet latin percussion and other embellishments, creating a journey into soulful dance music.
Quentin Harris featuring Robert Owens "Always" (Home Records 12")
Quentin Harris teams up with legendary DJ, producer and singer Robert Owens for "Always", where Quentin Harris provides the music in his incomparable style, with Robert Owens showcasing his unlimited vocal capabilities. Remixes are courtesy of Trackheads (aka Nick Holder & Kaje) and Reel Soul who give it a deep and soulful re-rub.
DJ Mike LaBirt & Kimara Lovelace "Time after time" (New Generation Records 12")
New Jersey producer DJ Mike LaBirt teams up with singer Kimara Lovelace for a garage cover version of the Cindy Lauper classic "Time after time". His 'Soulful New Jersey House Mix' is a melodic affair with warm keys over a mellow groove, while his 'Original Universal Club Mix' is the one for commercial radio. Larry P. Rauson Jr. provides the 'Luxury Mix', a percussively bumpin' laidback groover with a lovely instrumentation, while the 'Track Factory Vocal Dub Mix' by Ricci Melillo is for the underground, with beats reminiscent of the Raze classic "Break 4 love" and spheric keys.
Roy Ayers "Remixed - Sampler Part 2" (BBE Records 2x12" Promo)
This is the second 2x12" sampler as teaser for the forthcoming Roy Ayers album, this time including reworkings of various songs by many different producers. For the soulful house headz, the Osunlade mixes of "Tarzan" are the choice picks, combining the jazz-funk vibes of Roy Ayers with one of those magnificent laidback grooves only Osunlade is capable of doing. Jeremy Newall provides a 'Late Night Rub' of "Third time", coming your way as a midtempo groover in a classic disco outfit. Beside that, Aloe Blaco takes on "Liquid love", Platinum Pied Pipers take on "Funk in the hole", The Amalgamation of Soundz take on "Sunehine" and Nicolay takes on "Funk in the hole".
Louie Vega featuring Raul Midon "Cerca de mi" (Wagoon Cookin' Remix)(Love Monk Records 12")
Spanish label Love Monk commissioned Wagon Cookin' to remix Louie Vega's "Cerca de mi" which features the incredible Raul Midon. The 'Contigo Mix' is an organic and soulful house revision featuring a fat jazz bass, timbales and funky beats, while the other two mixes included on this 12" come your way in a broken beat style, with the 'Club' being on a smooth latin tip while the 'Dub' toughens things up.
RedSoul & Mark Mondragon "Deep & low" (Look-At-You Records CD Promo)
Manchester's David Wareing aka RedSoul teams up with singer Mark Mondragon for "Deep & low", a soulful production featuring a lovely funky guitar together with sweet keys, warm melodic keys and an infectious vocal performance. While the vocal version is all about the delightful soulful vibes, the dub version is a simpler affair with a driving groove, making this a guaranteed winner on the dancefloor.
Camelle Hinds "Time to come home" (Smokin' Beats Remix)(Smokin' Beats Records CD Promo)
"Time to come home" is a wicked soul tune lifted from Camelle Hinds longplayer "Vibe alive" that was released in 1999 on Expansion Records. Smokin' Beats have given it a house treatment, delivering an uplifting interpretation based on a rollin' funky bassline and deeply stompin' beats that are added with wicked keys. The two dubs (vocal and instrumental) add an electro flava to the song and enhance the funky vibes.
Classic Reviews
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince "Summertime" (Jive Records 12", 1991)
Summer might be over, so let the music bring us summer back in form of this smooth rap classic from the early 90's featuring a young Will Smith (aka The Fresh Prince - remember the "Fresh Prince from Bel Air" series?).