For those of you interested in extensive reviews, long time IDMW.com partner/friend, Zurich-based Spiritofhouse.com head Michael Fossati comes along with his weekly selection of ultimate goodies. Gruezi Mein Herr !
The pieces of music thereafter are taken from the weekly Fresh Grooves mix series as conceived by Michael Fossati.
All your promos to be sent to :
Michael Fossati P.O. Box 9403 – CH 8036 ZÜRICH (SCHWEIZ)
Picks of the week
BLVD EAST & LOUIE 'LOU' GORBEA "A Journey Into..." (Coco Soul 12")
After the successful release of "Luv 4 Money" on Vega Records, Blvd East & Louie 'Lou' Gorbea return with "A Journey Into..." featuring Osualdo 'Bembesito' Lora on vocals over a percussion loaded afro-latin backing track that has a funky vibe to it, coming complete with wonderful horns and laminar keys. The 'Organ Mix' on the flipside smoothes things down, featuring an outstanding organ by Christian Perez over a deepened groove. A brilliant track once you hear it in its full glory that is spreading an irresistible feeling.
Other reviews
SIJI "Irinajo" (Sole Channel Music 12")
This mellow afro house track is produced by Alix Alvarez and includes Puerto Rican styled overtones over a laidback bumpin' groove on the original version, while the accompanying dub is pure deepness, being based on a percussion driven, deeply rumblin' groove that creates an irresistible vibe. Osunlade gives it the Yoruba Soul treatment with an added string backing that adds a subtler feeling to the track.
DWELE "I Think I Love U" (Serge Negri Remix)(CD-R)
In its original form, "I Think I Love U" is soulful r&b at its best, being lifted from Dwele's just released longplayer "Some Kinda...". This downtempo song is reworked for the dancefloor by Serge Negri whose interpretation is very tasty, keeping the smooth vibe of the original alive, by adding a mellow thumpin' groove, jazzy xylophone and warm melodic keys to it, creating a laidback vibe.
ANTHONY NICHOLSON "Celestial Journey" (Infinite Audio 12")
Infinite Audio follow up their debut release "Tribes Of Chant" with this deeply layered production by Anthony Nicholson. "Celestial Journey" is a spiritual house composition with an afrocentric groove as playground for wonderful jazzy keys and sweet percussion that give the track a lush feeling. The dub version takes it deeper, focussing on the groove, bringing the tribal rhythms to full effect.
ROY DAVIS JR. "Love's Light" (Live Guitar Remix) / KOKOLO AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA "Mister Sinister" (Word Of Mouth Remix)(Jamayka 12")
Two of Jamayka Records previous releases get a welcome reworking here. Word of Mouth (aka Graham from the Audiowhores) looks after "Mister Sinister" by Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra and turns it into an irresistible funked-up afro house groover that comes complete with a superb sax line. Roy Davis Jr. takes his "Love's Light" track and enriches it with a live guitar courtesy of Jimmy Deer that replaces the horn line of the original version.
RAUL MIDON "State Of Mind" (Marco Rizzo Re-Edit)(CD-R)
"State Of Mind" is an acoustic track featuring just the marvellous voice and guitar play by Raul Midon in its original form. Marco Rizzo reworks it for the dancefloors by using a broken beat groove underneath the wonderful vocal, harmonizing perfectly with the acoustic guitar. An eclectic interpretation of a wonderful song.
SCOTT WOZNIAK "Soho Sessions EP" (Large 12")
Scott Wozniak, one of New York City's house veterans, delivers this phat three tracker titled "Soho Sessions EP". "Feelin' The Music" is a discofied peak hour track (just can't remember what disco classic is used here) that features a catchy female vocal hook over a chunky feel-good groove. The title track "Soho Sessions" is a jazzy late nite houser featuring great keyboard work, while "Gotcha Movin'" features vocoded vocals over a soulfully thumpin' groove.
ANDRE HARRIS "Get Down Africa" (Large 12")
Andre Harris makes his Large debut with this organic house groover. The main mix features a soaring trumpet over the funked-up groove that is layered with jazzy keys, horns and male vocal snippets. Both the 'House Mix' and 'Dub Mix' are straighter jazzy version featuring a lovely rhodes solo, with the latter having a late night feeling to it.
JADA "If You Should Ever Be Lonely" / "Change Your Mind" (12" Vocal)(CodeRed 12")
Produced by DJ Spen & the MuthaFunkaz, "If You Should Ever Be Lonely" is an uplifting production based on a deeply stompin' groove that is enriched with jazzy melodic keys and a lovely guitar, with Jada providing a sensual vocal performance. The 'Vocal Dub' toughens things up, replacing the keys and only using the chorus from the vocals, while the 'Hump Mix' strips all of the vocals. "Change Your Mind" is produced by DJ Karizma and is a smoothly' stompin' affair featuring a soulful vocal performance by Jada together with melodic keys.
GIATTINO "Released Pressure" (Hardsoul Pressings CD Promo)
After the very impressive first release "Bounson", Hardsoul Pressings present the follow up "Released Pressure" by Giattino, reworked by Hardsoul into an infectious latinesque track based on a fierce groove that is enhanced with powerful percussion and irresistible keys alongside a lovely string section. Gregor Salto provides the remix, changing the groove and keys, keeping the energy and vibe of the track alive. As a bonus, the 'Hardsoul String Overture' is included in the package.
Classic Review
SABRYNAAH POPE "It Works For Me" (KingStreet 2x12", 1993)
Sadly, Sabrynaah Pope passed away on September 24. She was the featured artist on my classic house recordings, including "It Works For Me", one of the earliest releases on King Street, produced by Blaze and released over two separate 12" including mixes by Blaze, Nick Jones and Victor Simonelli.
INTERVIEW
