Picks of the Week

From time to time, you hear a piece of music that blows you away, like "Papago Morning" by Joe DiPadova did when I first heard it. A very organic prodcution based on a funky foundation with the rest of the instrumentation adding a unique flavor to it, a wonderful combination of various styles of music, always sounding live and being full of emotion.

Steal Vybe present "It's Real" featuring Stepanie Renee that is spreading an infectious organic vibe with a funky edge and melodic keys that serves as playground for the soulful vocals. Joey Negro is spicing it up on his mixes, with the dub having a west cost flavor to it.
Other Reviews

"Let Is Show" is a brand new production from Nikos that will be released in the near future on traxsource.com  as a part of the "Black Athena EP" that will also include "My Crooked Soul" reviewed a couple of weeks ago. It features upcoming singer Sonja Moore and is a warm and melodic production full of soul, based on a deeply stompin' beat, featuring a laidback guitar together with wicked keys. Jihad Muhammad's "Melt in U" got remixed by Mr. V. who is taking it to a whole new direction, giving it a much more laidback outing that lets the track grow and grow.
The Worlds Most Beautiful deliver two great remixes of "It's Around" by DJ Ino featuring sublime vocals by Yolanda Molina, creating an uplifting and fresh vibe with a jazzy edge. The team of Matthew Bandy & Jake Childs are behind "Feel it" that features the vocal talent of Derek Mayo. This is a sultry deep house production with the dub being a lush and blissful excursion into afterhours territory.

JoVonn returns with the phat three track "Catch that feeling EP" that brings you soulful underground grooves. The title track features singer KT Brooks and is spreading an uplifting feeling, while "Perks" is pure underground with spoken words and "Sanctuary" is an instrumental afterhours journey.

Franck Roger hits hard with "Jeware", a multilayered production topped with an African chant that will make you think of those great releases on Spiritual Life Records, spreading a similar vibe. "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter" by Thievery Corporation see the participation of Talking Heads singer David Byrne. The track delivers an intoxicating Afro-beat rhythm with distinct vocals and a cool horn section. Louie Vega signs a luscious extended version with added funky ingredients, while the Thievery Corporationremix uses a kickin' 4/4 beat to create a tribalish feeling.
The original version of Jazztronik's "Madrugada" has a percussive, Latin piano driven feel to it, with an extra touch of flamenco. Louie Vega is responsible for the remix, giving the song a laidback four-to-the-floor feeling with a thumpin' beat. "This Love" by Halo & Side Street Players featuring Maya Sykes comes with a melody that won't get out of your head for a long time, creating an irresistible vibe. "My Devotion" by DJ Spen featuring Vonita White is reworked by Craig C into powerful yet smooth funky stomper that allows the raw vocals from parts to take center stage and add an uplifting feeling to the song.

The saga continues with another hot remix of a Cerrone classic. This time, Jamie Lewis takes on the 1979 "Not Too Shabby", an ultra cool funky disco jam on a midtempo tip. The club mix transforms it into a fierce disco house stomper that maintains the original vibe while the dub is a wicked combination of the classic funky elements with electro keys.

Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) spiritofhouse.com