Picks of the Week
SUMO featuring Clarisse Muvemba "Lovebeat" (HEYA Hifi CD Promo)
"Lovebeat" is taken from SUMO's brilliant album "The danceband" and features a magnificent vocal performance by Clarisse Muvemba. The groove on the main version is nothing than just resistless, enriched with wonderful keys and a vocal performance that adds a touch of jazz to the song. Innocent Sorcerers rework the song into a soulful piano driven broken beat groover, while Karizma adds his trademark beats and some wicked keys to create a deep and moody dub. SUMO themselves deliver an outstanding dub that takes you back to the good old days of disco, being full of percussive elements and effects, with the keys adding the flavours of the new millenium. Not to be missed.
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Gotta featuring Last Spirit "Dreaming" (GOTTA Records CD-R)
Behind Gotta is Philippe Arcostanzo who works as keyboarder, composer, arranger and remixer. His latest project "Dreaming" features Last Spirit who provides a passionate vocal performance over a funkily groovin' backing groove that is enriched with a wicked guitar and wonderful keys that altogether create an uplifting feeling.
Ralf GUM featuring Beate S. Lech "Warrior" (GoGo Music Records CD Promo)
While Raw Artistic Soul's "Oya O" is still topping charts all over the world, GoGo Music unleash their next bomb, this time by label head Ralf Gum. "Warrior" features jazz singer Beate S. Lech who delivers an amazing passionate vocal performance on this beautiful production. Ralf Gum & Cris P deliver a smooth and laidback house version that is full of delicious musical moments. Sugarbeat reconstruct the song into a wonderful broken beat affair that is full of unky flavors, while Raw Artistic Soul bless us with two groovy funktified dubs (one of them will only be available as digital donwload) are are absolutely resistless.
Tiger Stripes featuring Kerri Chandler "Rain" (Large Records 12" / Digital Download)
Mikael Nordgen (aka Tiger Stripes) teams up with Kerri Chandler for "Rain song" which features vocals performed by Whales. The main mix is on a laidback tip, featuring sweet percussion and beautiful live horns alongside soaring vocals over a smooth house groove. The two dub mixes venture into the deep house territory, using moody keys and a deeply thumpin' groove to create an underground vibe. Digital Downloads available at Dancetracks Digital.
Vick Lavender of Mr. ALI "Vida" (Unified Records CD Promo)
Vick Lavender (of Mr. ALI fame) is about to release a solo album titled "Diaspora's Den" soon on Unified, with "Vida" being the first single lifted from the album. "Vida" is a wonderful song perfect for late nite play, captivating with a beautiful instrumentation (including an out of this world organ solo). Check it out and let yourself be taken on a journey into mellow house grooves.
CloudKickers featuring Marcus "Bring on the night" (Newlite Muzik Records CD Promo)
Newlite Muzik have some goodies ready to drop soon, with "Bring on the night" by the CloudKlickers being their next 12" release. Featuring a soulful vocal performance by Marcus, "Bring on the night" in its original form is a stormin' house track that has crossover potential as it features rock elements, especially the heavy guitars used make it appeal to a wider audience - if you're not instantly into it, give it another listen. Rocco delivers a great remix that takes the track to the deep house territory by using a deeply rumblin' groove and wicked laminar keys.
Andy Holder featuring Erik Dillard "Everybody dance" (Nuwavonic Records CD Promo)
When you've had such a successful debut release as it is the case with "Uncivilised people" for Nuwavonic Records, it is gonna be tough to follow up on it. But with "Everybody dance" they do not dissapoint as Andy Holder presents a great production that is set to rock the dancefloors. Featuring the soulful vocals of Erik Dillard and Carl Stanley on saxophone, "Everybody dance" is a feel good anthem that is spreading an uplifting feeling, coming your way in various flavors to choose from. Whether you prefer it powerful for peaktime, a bit smoother and laidback for late nite play, or you like some broken beat action - its all inlcuded in this release, giving you the freedom to choose what best fits the situation.
Riverside Soul featuring De'Monica "Not the one" (Part Two)(Vino Records CD Promo)
This Monte Hillemann prodction occupied the "Pick of the Week" spot in early september when we got our hands on part one. Now part two brings us brand new, fabulous interpretations of the song courtesy of Chuck Love, Bryan Gerrard and David Drone. Chuck Love's interpretation is of pure class, combining elements from jazz with a smooth house groove to create an organic, laidback feeling on the dancefloor. Bryan Gerrard delivers a groovy dub version that is spreading an irresistible vibe through its bouncey feeling and the wicked keys, while David Drone goes for a thumpin' dub enriched with a lovely guitar solo and great spacey keys.
Markus Enochson with James Ingram "Day and night" (Sonar Kollektiv Records 12" / Digital Download)
One of the standout tracks from Markus Enochson's longplayer "Night game" has been given a full 12" release which includes a Alix Alvarez remix. "Day and night" features the incomparable James Ingram on vocals who has been topping the charts since the 80's with both his solo projects as well as duets with the likes of Patti Austin, Barry White and many more. The original version (as featured on the album) uses a classic house groove as base that gives it a timeless feel, with tech-soul keys accompanying the incredible voccal performance. The remix is courtesy of man of the moment Alix Alvarez who uses a resistless deeply stormin' groove and marvellous chords that harmonise perfectly with the vocals to create an irresistible vibe. Digital Downloads available at Dancetracks Digital.
DJ Circle "Sundance" (Remixes)(TriCircle Records CD Promo)
The title track of the debut release on TriCircle Records gets the remix treatment from Andy Lee under his Central Avenue moniker. These mixes take this highly acclaimed funky house track to another level, firing it up with stronger beats, rolling bassline and wicked piano chords that give it an irresistivle feeling. The dub is a bit more stripped down, spreading an even more intensified vibe on the dancefloor.
Linda Clifford "How long" (Davidson Ospina Remix)(RGP Music Group CD Promo)
The legendary diva Linda Clifford is about to return with the brand new single "How long" which will include remixes by Davidson Ospina who comes up with a groovy interpretation that is driving from the beginning to the end thanks to the deep and fierce groove that is enriched with marvellous keys that harmonise perfectly with the unmistakable vocals by Linda Clifford. The dub is spicing things up with the keys put centerstage.
2 Brothers Of Soul featuring Daren James Bell "Thank you Jesus" (Mutated Music Records CD Promo)
Hot spanish duo 2 Brothers of Sound present the follow up to their smash "Holiday". It is titled "Thank you Jesus" and features the talents of Daren James Bell who delivers an inspirational vocal performance that turns this into a preacher house anthem. The original is on a driving peaktime tip, with their own remix turning it into an electro house thumper. Stereo Mutants provide two remixes: the first one takes the song to deeper grounds, using some old-school acid elements and driving beats, while the second one is spreading a laidback feeling through the smooth groove and warm melodic keys.
Staf presents Dirtyworx "Despierta" (SP Records Digital Download)
The first release for this new label comes courtesy of swedish producer team Dirtyworx (aka M. Johansson, C. Castillo and R. Asareh). Their release is titled "Despierta" and is built around a funky-n-sexy rhythm, with catchy keys making this a peaktime favorite. Staffan Thorsell provides the remixes, with his 'Funky Club Mix' keeping the energy of the original while giving it a slightly more soulful touch, while his 'Unreleased Mix' adds some additional keys to add some laidback flavors to it. Digital Downloads available at Dancetracks Digital.
Nina Simone "Turn me on" (Tony Humphries Dub Vox)(from "Remixed & Reimagined" on Sony Legacy Records 2x12" Promo/CD)
The "Nina Simone - Remixed & Reimagined" project features 13 reworked classics by the likes of Tony Humphries, Francois K, Coldcut, Nickodemus and Groovefinder to name just a few. While most lf them are on a downtempo tip, Tony Humphries' dub of "Turn me on" turns the song int a deeply rumblin' underground affair with wicked keys over a stormin groove and cleverly arranged vocals. There is a complete package of Tony Humphries remixes available (including wonderful laidback vocal interpretations with an orchestral touch), but for the moment it looks as if they will never get an offiicial release.