WMC'2004 (-21). Expect the unexpectable, as IDMW.com team is getting ready to bring you the very best in terms of coverage from The Winter Music Conference. What is to be happening over there ? This, we shall see. Meanwhile, MFSB brings you the latest out of a scene that has rarely looked so exciting…

IN DA MIX # 41 (HOUSE, GARAGE & OTHER ILLICIT GROOVES)

Tons of (extremely good) newies around the bent at this period of the year… Is this that the (independant) record industry doesn't feel anymore (or can't currently feel) the need to wait for the Winter Music Conference ? Could it be that there's even better to expect over there ??? Elements of response within three weeks in Miami…

Just as we thought this might be the end, looks like it's exactly the contrary that happens... Of Course, there are still bags of craos around, but the first weeks of this new year show some encouraging signs of a better tomorrow qualitywise, should the ones responsable for this get the exposure and the recognition they trully deserve.

I guess it is each of us's duty to do whatever we can to reach this goal and forget about all these selfish attitudes that are for a big part in the misunderstanding if not the taking of no further interest in music that we love on a wider scale…

Enuff of this enterprise of progressive destruction brought to us day after day on the headlines… Enuff of this typical syrup delivered to us right after by the entertainment industry as a sort of antidote. Let ourselves go back to the basic elements of life : truth, love and respect instead of fake, hate and compromising… Let's wake up and fight for the preservation of the values we believe in. Let's get our energies together to give the best support to the ones we appreciate the actions of. Let's behave like men instead of hiding ourselves behind usual characters' suits. Differently said, let's be ourselves.

Starting this selection with the cool, NYC collective Onda's debut-single, "Waiting For Your Love" is another sweet delight that François K's label champions now and then, following the footsteps of Blue 6 then Solu Music featuring Kimblee, melting sensuous vocal and atmospheric rhythm line over a funk dubbed 4X4 beat driven groove. Classic would argue some of you but so classy. Meanwhile Wave Music brings us another piece of sh… to watch out with the shriny "To Motherland" from native Nigerian but San Fran-based, Said. A cut looking set to put the dancefloors on fire with its afrobeat feel, reminding a bit of Mutabaruka's classic "Dis Poem'. Julius Papp giving an answer to this although on a much different level with the afrojazzyphonk "Bole Bentu" featuring singer Samba Ngo (Large). Meanwhile, Swedish pair, Physics delivers the good for the nu bossa fans with the fluid and scatted "Downtown Rio" on that same label.

Looks like we're definitely back on the rollin' basslines kind of driven tunes with those dubbed keyboard or guitar rhythm lines inherited from the disco era, as notoriously demonstrated by a series of tunes that have recently been or are currently elected amongst our faves of the week. From Scott Wozniak's "Wake Up My Life", most particularly on its B-side remixed by Peter Primioni & Tyrone Solomon, the 83 West label founders (Distant) to Reel People's "The Light" revamped by Copyright (Papa Records) or The Emotions' classic "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love" resurrected from the likes of mysterious GF aka Groove Finder. And that's about the same concerning our current single of the week, "Build Up, Back Up" by Brent Laurence featuring Latrice Barnett (Celebrity). Not to mention Whitney Houston's "Love Will Save The Day", brilliantly covered by Jaqué on Jellybean.

Some solid and consistant work indeed from all of the aforementioned as Philly-based band, Soul Dhamma with the phonkjazzy "If We Could Fly" remixed by Dennis Ferrer with the addiction of guitarist, Tony Brown givin' a real + to it (King Street). Stayin' on that kind of jazzy tip with Nikos's newie, "City Of Angels" and that sort of typically Californian breathin' treatment, most notoriously on the Blue Bossa Mix. A cut that could easily have found its niche on Naked Music label, although not so polished in terms of sound treatment giving it a sort of street soul house feel (Under My Skin).

This month sees the return of Chicago's soul lites, Blak Beat Niks with the aptly named "The Sun Will Shine" and its re-release this time on Slip'N'Slide with additional treatment from Knee Deep's pal, Simon Grey. Good work as usual on the original version perfumed with some latin jazz flavours, Grey adding a drop of x-tra enrgy as well as some sparse and hypnotic keys to it. Meanwhile Purple Music man, Jamie Lewis has managed to provide us with some more from the latest (on his own this time) featuring vocalist, Abby Joyce on the phonky and enlighting "Prophecy" ; although with some more inclination for the instrumental version, not that far away from some MAW works. And the loop is to be completed with Knee Deep's rework of… MAW's classic, "To Be In Love" giving it a club treament although with much subltety on the A-side while adding latin jazz keys on it and re-editing the bassline (Defected). Slightly different is the third instalment of Grant Nelson's "Ethnicity Series" with its old school hypnotic/progressive feel, destined to provoke some serious dancefloor devastation (Swing City). Also straight at the boarder is Nocturnal Groove label's new release, "Lola's Theme" by Shapeshifters with its disco filtered effects lookin' lilke a cleverly done path between those two periods. Yes dear, looks like the Brits are definitely on da blocks these days, twisting the influences like no one at the moment, thus giving a drop of freshness that was much needed. Another illustration being given by Justin Canton & Martin Lodge aka Candy Apple on the phonky 'My Dreams' featuring Ife's plaintive vocals (most notoriously on its original mix put back to the B-side). A cut hailing from London UDM Record Store's recently launched label, Design Recordings.

Leavin' you for now with some of Toulon's Sunslice Festival people and the second release from DJ Bool's Jerk House Connection on Saarinen Records : the jazzy spoken wordish "New York Stylee" as remixed on a jazzy minimalistic way by The Offsetters.

MFSB