It's not a problem that I can't fix, coz' I can do it… IN DA MIX

The 2003 Sunslice edition is now definitely behind us, leaving local fans in Toulon with that kind of feeling that only orphans feel in their minds. In other words, time always fly too quickly when speakin' about da goods thangz in life. This second edition of what seems like the only (deep) house festival in the world gave us without a single doubt another good amount of enlightening sensations. The first of it being the real brotherhood existing between the various actors that gave its substance to the event, most of them showing a real pleasure to have the opportunity of being together once more and collaborate with each other. This, at the end of the day, being nothing else than the true spirit of soul

If any event symbolizes this famous motto according to what house music is a nation, its undoubtly Sunslice, those who gave birth to it and those who've made it the way it is. A rendez-vous of people who've known each other for quite a while and appreciate each other, not only artistically speaking, but also because of their respective personalities wherever they're coming from, should it be US, France or Cuba, with the obvious aim of giving pleasure to the crowd. Well, you've guessed it, Sunslice is more of a new festival, it's a spirit of a what stands as a real family, the essence of soul… They did it last year with a memorable impromptu live gathering three DJ's (Kerri Chandler, Dennis Ferrer + your ace), three cuban percusssionists and a sax player, and they've redone it this year, starring almost the same line up (Kerri, Dennis and DJ Deep) and three cuban musicians including a keyboardist, a flutist and a percussionist) with the same effect, proving that soul has definitely no colour. A true spirit of share that was almost the same regarding the other guests (myself, JoVonn, and DJ Titou, a relatively new name definetely to follow. Not mentionning the numerous face 2 faces behind the desks for the after parties at Le Bar À Thym, while, as an extra, Sunslice entered the history of house while greeting Blaze for the first time ever in Europe !

This second edition of Sunslice is now over, leavin' already space in the heads of the promoters for numerous questions regarding the future. The first of'em being its line up for 2004. Will the line up have to be totally renewed as some people say in order to create the surprise ? Or should it be kept in its main lines in order to have the assurance of maintaining that family spirit unique in its genre, this providing gigs that easily stand the comparizon with the Masters At Work parties in Miami ? Unless it's going to be a bit of everything ? Keep you posted as time goes on.

Long time we haven't spoken only about da french scene and there's reaaly a lot to say about it as quality is definitely there. Remember Shade Of Soul's with its remix of "Give It To Me" by 4Hero, touted as one of the most brilliant post production from the london pair ? Well, this was probably not enuff for enthusiasming the company that was supposed to distribute it there as they refused it. Don't ask me why but if so I would tell you that the aforementioned company is probably more into that electro clash sound that has polluted our dancefloors for a while… Things look far better for Franck Roger who happens to be the partner of one member of Shade Of Soul (under the name of Sun Orchestra)… Well, our Franck who has a whole bunch of new productions awaited after the holidays season, has a serious killer entitled "Liquid" on BRS that should rock da floors interested in Ron Trent and Needs productions. Need I say more ? For those who've missed something from Playin'4 The City, Straight Up label releases a 12" collection on a CD format, including some of the best tracks ever released by Olivier Portal's outfit. And Tropism releases the remix EP of "Backshop"", including Franck Roger and Llorca's contributions with a little preference for the latest.

Remember this word we had about Rotax label head of, Pascal Rioux, back from Miami ? Well the now parisian guy who's got a wonderful remix of "Golden Days" by King Britt on his shelves and a new album on the pipeline has decided to modify most of its content for an autumn release. Watch this space in september as he's going 2 B back in action with three 12" releases… This, leading us to Lyon, his former hometown, with a lot of nu stuff on offer. Another guy we've talked about at the time is L'Ambassade's resident DJ, Manoo who scored a nice debut with Allen on Basenotic three months ago (cf. "The Good Reason"). Well, da man is also involved as one third of Rodamaal, a french/portuguese production team who's made the buzz on Ben Watt's label, Buzzin'Fly with "Musica Feliz" and a featuring of singer, Nicinha. Meanwhile, Klement Bonelli & Rochdee who've signed on Basement Boys britsih based label, Elephunk, provide us the melancholic "Nocturne" over some calypso beats, makin' a nice combination. Also to be followed from the same city is Bruno Hovarts aka Patchworks. A guy that not only has a nu jazz LP, MJA, under the name of Metropolitan Jazz Affair, but also various productions on different labels. One of the best ones being "Sugar" with an Amp Fiddler remix on chicagoan label, Still Music.

We'll end up this issue the way we've opened it, going back to Toulon, With Sunslice's A&R, DJ Bool and his outfit, Jerk House Connection who's new 12, "Each & Every Day" featuring vocalist Akran is soon to be available on official release (Saarinen Records), prior to "New York Stylee" with an awesome remix of the Offsetters. These two guys havin' two productions soon to be released on JoVonn's label and Claude Monnet's one. Not 2 bad, isn't it ?

Get back 2 U next week with with both Irie's Nu Groove column and Nik Weston's latest selection from the japanese scene.

Peace, MFSB

IN DA MIX TENNERZ

FRANCK ROGER Liquid (BRS)

NORMAN TALLEY Change — Mike Huckaby Remix (Third Ear)

NEEDS Dark World (Needs Music)

BLAZE Found Love (CDR)

RODAMAAL featuring NICINHA Musica Feliz (Buzzin' Fly)

JERK HOUSE CONNECTION featuring Akram Each & Every Day (Saarinen)

KLEMENT & ROCHDEE Nocturne (Elephunk)

PATCHWORKS Sugar — Amp Fiddler Remix (CDR)

AGENT K Rideaway — Mixes (Giant Step)

BLACK SCIENCE ORCHESTRA New Jersey Deep — Re-edit (JBO)

Your reactions and infos (press statements and playlists) to be e-mailed to twistdavibe@aol.com and your material (test pressings, vinyl, 12", LP, CD, CDR) to be sent to the following address :

Frederic 'MFSB' Messent

98, rue de Paris

F-94220 Charenton

France

Playlists of the week come courtesy of In Da Mix Ibizenco partner, Gripper from Upskirt Records, current In Da Mix n°1, Franck Roger, DJ Gregyro one half of French Riviera pair, The Offsetters that opened the nite for DJ Deep, Kerri Chandler and Dennis Ferrer @ Sunslice Festival, South East record shop (Movin Records) owner and new producer, DJ ADN, german broadcaster and last year compiler for INFRACom!, Michael Ruetten, who's upposed to have nu material soon on Compost and austrian outfit, Aromabar's spinner, DJ Scott.

GRIPPER (UPSKIRT RECORDS)

ESPERANZA featuring CAROLYN PUNTER Saved/Part of Me (Gotsoul)

??? No One — Basement Boys Mixes (white)

HUGO MADRID Sol Afrique (Upskirt/promo)

S.U.M.O Samba Consumo (Flamingo Disco/promo)

DJ MAGAL Carma Vision ­— Ebar remix (Blue m recordings)

SOUL MAGIC Soul Magic (white)

YASS featuring JAY Give Me A Sign (SSOH)

DJ Romain Comanche (Metro Trax)

BRENT LAWRENCE + MAUREEN PARKER Do For Me (Sound Consortium)

YOGI WILLENBURG You Got Me — Chris Lumm Mix (Transport/promo)

FRANCK ROGER

RAUL MIDON Better Day (Vega Records/Avex-Japan)

LOUIE VEGA Mozalounge (Vega Records/Avex-Japan)

INCOGNITO On The Road — Danny Krivit Edit (Ibadan)

SAO BENITEZ Congo (Mr Bongo)

DOM UM ROMAO Ponteio (Mr Bongo)

FRANCK ROGER Ekobah (Needs Music/CDR)

AMBROSIA That's How Much I Love You (CDR)

DINO & TERRY featuring RAYON Peace Of Mind (Crash/promo)

NEEDS Inner Glow (Needs Music)

BRIAN??? (NTC Records/ bootlegg)

DJ GREGYRO (THE OFFSETTERS)

INCOGNITO On The Road —_Danny Krivitt Re-Edit (Ibadan)

BLAZE We are one (King Street)

FRANCK ROGER feauring Chris Wonder If I (Sunny Side)

.JERK HOUSE CONNECTION New York Style — Offsetters Remix (Saarinen Records/CDR)

MARKUS ENOCHSON Feeling You (MAW)

KIM ENGLISH Love That Jazz (Nervous)

RODAMAAL Musica Feliz (Buzzin Fly)

GREG GAUTHIER & TONY L featuring SABRYNAAH POPE Someone For You — Main Mix (Kif)

RON TRENT & CHEZ DAMIER Don't Try (KMS)

JASPER STREET COMPANY Joy (God's House)

DJ ADN (MOVIN RECORDS, AVIGNON/FRANCE)

ROY HARGROVE The RH Factor (Verve)

THE SOULGUARDIANS Deep South (Move On Records/CDR)

T KOLAI Congo (Chilli Funk/test)

HARLEY & MUSCLE featuring ROBERT OWENS - Inside Your Love — Main Vox Mix (Bumpin' City)

SPIRO PROJECTO featuring DEREK HUNTSMAN Your Love Won't Let Me Wait — Raph Dumas Remix (Lace)

OSCAR - Parisian Soul (Denote)

NATHAN HAINES featuring MARLENA SHAW Squire For Hire (Chilli Funk)

SCHMOOV Spirits — Darkside Dub (Winding Road)

DJ MAGAL Carma Vision — DJ Ebar Remix (Bluëm)

MANZEL It's Over Now — MAW Mix (Dopebrother)

MICHAEL RUETTEN (SOUL PATROL ON RADIOX / FRANKFURT)

HENRY MANCINI Butterfly (Talkin Loud)

ONLY CHILD featuring AMP FIDDLER U Bring Me Vibes — DJ DSL Mix (Grand Central/test)

PEPE BRADOCK 4 (Atavisme)

THE DINING ROOMS Fluxus — Cinematic Orchestra Remix (Schema)

AZYMUTH Carambola — Mark Pritchard Remix (Far Out)

CLYDE ALEXANDER featuring CAPITAL A Serve It Up (Mantis/white)

SIDEWINDER Less Than Effortless — Soulpatrol Afrolicious Mix (acetate)

FELA KUTI & EGYPT 80 Beasts Of No Nation (white)

PRESSURE DROP Everything Will Be Alright (One Eye)

JACKIE MITTOO Summer Breeze (Souljazz)

DJ SCOTT (AROMABAR)

RED ASTAIRE Follow Me (Gamm)

SHARON ANDERSON Heard It All Before — QSO Remix (Rebutz)

MO`HORIZONS Gonna Be — Remixes (Stereo Deluxe)

KOSMA Effatholar City (INFRACom!)

SONIC SURFER feauring EDWINA BLUSH Pieces (Spinning Wheel)

REEL PEOPLE featuring JAG Second Guess — Shrine Dub (Papa Records)

RAPHAEL SAADIQ Skyy, Can You Feel It (Universal)

MAX SEDGLEY Happy (Irma On Canavas)

MEGABLAST Creation — Album (Stereo Deluxe)

PRESSURE DROP You Are Mine — A.Freeland RemIx (One Eye)