Picks of the Week
Tanja Dankner "Will I ever" (Jamie Lewis Remix)(Purple Music Records CD Promo)
This track was released back in 2000 and is originally produced by Stefan Raab, a very successfull german TV showmaster. Jamie Lewis licensed the track for his label and gives it a lovely reworking that will rock the dancefloors with its smoothly stompin' beat, funky bassline, wicked guitar riff and jazzy piano that harmonise perfectly with the sweet vocals by Tanja Dankner. The dub is all about the funky elements, giving the guitar riff lots of place to grow.
More Reviews
Mr. V "Jus dance" (Vega Records 12")
"Jus dance" features spoken words over a bumpin' four-to-the-floor groove with funky beats, topped with simple yet effective keys and a jazzy rhodes solo in the 'Sole Channel Mix'. The 'Cosmic Ritual Dub' by Alix Alvarez gets more minimnal with a touch of raggae, featuring less of the vocals and a more urgent bassline, spreading a hypnotic feeling.
Queen Latifah "Hard times" (Airex Groove Quickmix)(CD-R)
"Hard times" is taken from the longplayer "Dana Owens Album" where rap/hip-hop artist Queen Latifah (Dana Owens is her birth name) interprets jazz classics and r&b favorites. It has been given a reworking for the dancefloor by Eric Wikman of Deepswing that keeps the jazz and orchestral vibes of the original alive, with a wicked groove and clever effects added to make it a feel-good dancefloor stomper.
First Choice "Smarty pants" (Philly Soul Records CD Promo)
"Smarty pants" dates back to 1973 and has been looked after by RedSoul aka Dave Wareing. For the lovers of classic philly-disco, there is a lovely re-edit featuring the full vocals. The 'Groove Mix' takes the song directly to the dancefloors with a fierce and driving groove added unerneath the original instrumentation, with just the chorus of the vocals used. There is also an instrumental take of this version included. Finally there is the 'Philly Thumper' which combines the classic vibes with a thumpin' groove, added effects and a spoken word message.
Juke Joint & Shawn Benson "Whisper" (Look-At-You Records CD Promo)
Juke Joint are DJ Dealer and DJ Sense who team up with singer Shawn Benson who already sang on the previous Look-At-You hits releases "Chains" and "Affection". They present "Whisper", a production that will take you back to the 80's with its raw Chicgao styled beats, keyboards and an arrangement reminiscent of those early days of house music. While the vocal will have you singing along, the dub builds the groove around a percolating organ and the funky bassline.
Stacey Mallory "What is housemusic..." (CD-R)
New Jersey based producer Stacey Mallory sees his production "Love power" released on Bumpin' City Records this week with "Afrikan soul" coming soon on Iwanai Music Records, but he did not sleep in the meantime and produced "What is housemusic...", a simple and deep track driven by a percussion loaded tribalistic groove added with with wicked keys and a spoken word message on the 'Main Mix' while the 'Soulful Mix' smoothes things down with a jazzy organ ride. A remix by DJ Pope is in the works as you read these lines.
DJ Spen featuring Vonita White "My devotion" (Devotion Records 12")
Vonita White emerges from the legendary group Jasper Street Company and is the featured vocalist on this latest DJ Spen production. "My devotion" is spreading an uplifting feeling through the passionate vocal over the funky and vibrating bassline, that is added with drums and bells reminiscent of the old skool era, melodic keys and a jazzy piano line coming in towards the end of the song.
Deborah Bond "This is me" / Julius Papp faturing D'Layna "Dame mas" (The NeoDisco Remixes)(NeoDisco Records 12")
NeoDisco present a hot double-tracker here. "This is me" by Deborah Bond is produced by Aaron Evans and is remixed by Julius Papp who delivers a deep and sultry number utilizing the smooth and sexy vocal performance together with deep chords and a buttery flute. "Dame mas" has been previously released and gets a new life with new mixes by Julius Papp himself, taken the track deep with fat drums, shimery chords and D'Layna's spoken words on top.
Seminal Grooves "Keep me up" (deVICE Records CD Promo)
deVICE Records are back for 2005 with "Keep me up" by Seminal Grooves, an uplifting funky gem. The vocal version features a perky rhodes riff together with chunky drums and a deep bassline as base for the sultry vocals and jazzy saxophone solo. The 'Bass Funk Dub' toughens things up while using just snippets from the vocals, giving it a more groove based feel. The 'Tribal Distraction Dub' adds additional percussive elements, making it perfect for peak hour play. Also included is a 'Reprise' which features a lovely intro.
Seawind Project featuring Emily McEwan "Free (Part 2)" (Knee Deep USA Records CD Promo)
Part two features slamming mixes by Knee Deep that will rock any dancefloor with their storming groove, old school piano hook, tight drums, breakdowns and the uplifting vocal by Emily McEwan. The dub features extra spoken vocal parts, also available as an acapella that is included on this release. Rasmus Faber has increased the latin vibe by adding some brazilian drums in his 'Latin Journey Mix'.
MOD presents Family Jam "Cocktail chant" (Purple Music Tracks Records CD Promo)
Swiss producer and DJ Juan Sunshine presents this lovely track titled "Cocktail chant". With its bouncey and laidback groove, coupled with a funky bassline and both warm melodic and jazzy keys, this track is perfect for afterhours play. The dub heats things up with tougher beats and catchy keys, creating a more irresistible vibe.
Pepe Link featuring Malcolm 'Molly' Duncan "Kalakuta" (MoreHouse Records CD Promo)
"Kalakuta" is Pepe Link's first project for MoreHouse Records. He presents a tribute to the legendary african sax player Fela Kuti that features Malcolm 'Molly' Ducan (from the legendary funk outfit Average White Band) on saxophone. "Kalakuta" is a driving afro-house production full of percussion and african chants that together with the sax solo creates an irresistible vibe. On the dub, Pepe Link teams up with Kiko Navarro as Ma-Yorkins. They strip off the vocals, replace the afro-styled beats with straight 4/4 beats and add extra keys and a funky guitar riff.
Omar S / Shadow Ray "Oasis" (FXHE Records CD)
Omar S has been putting out a couple of great white labels last year that have been getting a great respone although only being available in limited quantities. Now he teams up with Shadow Ray for a full album release. "Oasis" consists of thirteen tracks, three of them being interludes. This album will be categorized ad deep tech house, and this is not wrong as the music is created by using mostly electronic equipment with a few vocals here and there, and it does have a techy edge to it. But Omar S and Shadow Ray prove this does not mean that there is no soul in the music. As a matter of fact, this album is soulful as the tracks are full of melodic sounds and grooves, spreading a deep and sweet vibe.
Classic Reviews
Mary J. Blige "Mary jane (all night long)" (Bottom Dollar Mixes)(MCA Records 12" Promo, 1995)
Bottom Dollar with probably their best remix ever, giving this Mary Jane Girls cover version a stompin' house reworking with a brilliant piano line.