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

Following the steps of MFSB last week, it's now time for Irie and Nik Weston to get back into action regarding what's supposed to be the more futuristic side of the groove…

NU GROOVE (SOUL, JAZZ, BROKEN BEAT + MORE…)

A monumental discovery under the form of some absolutely never heard before tunes produced by Roy Ayers has just been by BBE's honcho, Pete. Absolute lost classics, these tracks were abandoned on the dusty shelves of Stigma studios, from the Uno Melodic Records vaults, label of the incomparable king of vibraphone in the golden age of jazz-funk between 76 and 81. And if you were not lucky enough to hear the six songs played in July by Gilles Peterson on his worldwide radio show, then you’ll have to wait till next January to be able to purchase this treasure.

No doubt, this will be a real pain in the ass to follow the steps of such a legend for the following producers. ‘Cause time are changing indeed. From now on, we seem to all live staring at MTV, like domestic robots under the influence of the mechanic beats of Neptunes.aka NERD and their boss, the malicious Pharell Williams. Impossible to escape from them as their domination on the business is total these days, going full spectrum from Britney Spears to Old Dirty Bastard ! The latter ‘s return as Dirt McGirt which makes one of the strongest moments of the unstoppable The Clones, new compilation from Star Trak (Neptunes’label). A super production ranging from grandiose to grandiloquent, with also Busta Rhymes on the bill as well as the irresistible "Frontin’", the first single signed by Pharell in person, doin' a duet with Jay Z… A huge hit that also passed the choc treatment of the most acclaimed remixer of 2003. A guy named Yam Who, enigmatic star behind the stars who simply happens to be a discreet member of the famous Soho 2^nd hand record shop, Reckless, named Andy. So please don’t blame him if you see him a bit sleepy behind his counter, as he must spend a lot of sleepless nights in the studio with all the works that get his revamping treatment these days. From Raphaël Saadiq to N’Dambi, The Roots, Dwele, Common, Dwayne Morgan, Little Brother and some others…

In a lesser extend, let's mention parisian duet, Shade Of Soul with the release of the brilliant "Give In To Me" featuring Marylin David, while, on the flipside, we get the much sought after remix done by Marc Mac (4 Hero) with the help of Hopper (drums) and Somatik (bass). A masterpiece in his original version, due to appear on Patrick Forge’s Trust The DJ compilation. And hopefully on Phuturistic Dancin’ 2 selected by Afronaught and the whole Bugz In The Attic clique (awaited on Bitasweet, sometimes in the future).

One of the Bugz’s most powerful strikers is still the ever prolific Paul 'Seiji' Dolby aka Oreja on Papa and Far Out. Also on Far Out, Daz-I-Kue’s remix of Marcos Valle) is a pure slice of Brazilian bliss. Joe Davis’s label still representin’ the very best of electropical flavours with awesome tunes like "Somewhere Beyond" by Nature’s Plan. A project which sees the likes of Carleen Anderson (remember “Les Fleur” by 4 Hero), the rhythmic section of Azymuth (the everlasting samba funk combo who remains on top of their game since the70’s) under the direction of the one and only… Marc Mac (4 Hero). Not to mention the stunning "Some Think Electronik EP", third release of the almighty Twisted Funk imprint where the ubiquitous Marc Mac puts back his techno mask as Nu Era.

And finally great news from the french capital as my favourite French DJ, Gilb'R (from Versatile) gets a new radio show on RadioFG (Parisian house & techno radio) on Monday nights from midnight to one o clock (also programmed on www.radiofg.com for those who don't get the station. And I would also recommend DJ Deep, one of the very best in soulful house & garage, on Thursday nights from 11 till midnight. While, of course, keep checking 4 Hero’s seminal R-solution shows amongst others on www.nuwaveradio.co.uk. IRIE

NU GROOVE HOT 10

ROY AYERS Reaching The Highest Pleasure (BBE)

shade of soul featuring marylin david Give In To Me (Sunny Side)

UMOD Tromboline (CDR)

L’AROYE Hiraki & Iglizious (Faces/CDR)

Peven everett The Kissing Game (Kindred Spirits)

nu era Ringstone Round (Twisted Funk)

Nathan Haines The Last Dance (Make It Good) (Chillifunk)

Dwayne morgan Everything — Yam Who Remix (Counterpoint)

Rain people featuring marcus begg Tripping On Your Love (Osiris)

franck roger & Gilb’R Mascarade (Versatile)

JAPAN CORNER by NIK WESTON

Konichi wa kiddies.....

Well ...it seems that international guests are flooding thick & fast to the land of the rising sun. Guests that have ''just been'' include John Beltran, Mark Farina, Juan Atkins, Joe Clausell, Dave Seaman, Danny Howells, Sven Väth, Ron Trent, Junior Vasquez, Pete Heller and Mateo & Matos.

Drum & Bass head hocho's, London Elektricity staged 2 killer live shows with the award winning High Contrast in DJ support —the main gig was at Liquid in Tokyo followed by one at JB's in Nagoya . Mr Scruff was over to do a few dates to support Verve Remix 2 album launch party and Mad Lib was here with Peanut Butter Wolf to play at Club Air. Derrick Carter tore down Liquid for a mammoth 7 hours set that had people talking about the event for weeks after.

Patrick Forge ( Da Lata) was DJ support to Calm's Live show at the Garden Hall venue in Tokyo and other English personna to grace these shores included Chicken Lips with Depth Charge at Liquid,

Keb Darge at Club Fai, Anthony Papa, Chemical Brothers, Unkle with Ian Brown (who've just unleashed a new album through Island Records), Orin from Bugz in the Attic on tour with Jürgen from Jazzanova alongside his label protege George Levin who's recent Spinna mix of '"In My Car'' has been causing lots of noise… Spinna incidently was here with Bobbito recently doing their '"(stevie)Wonder" full event at Yellow and Luke Solomon was sighted in the area for at least a month ! One of the most memorable events a few weeks back was when Ayro from Detroit was doing his live thang at Module in Tokyo. Kenji Hasegawa was rocking '"I Feel Love'" and Ayro mimiked the bassline and caused a storm and tore the roof off !

Radio 1 main man ,Gilles Peterson has one of his busiest summers so far, collecting global air miles aplenty and Japan wasnt left off the tick list either as Gilles flew into town with events sponsored by Gauloises. He did some gigs nationwide here this time joined by Two Banks Of Four and Toshio Matsuura (ex ufo) who incidently has recently seen his killer mix of a Shaun Escoffrey track released.

On the release front..... Japanese outfit Force Of Nature have a new single "A Dark Nebula" remixed by Moonstar through Exceptional and theres a killer Blaze mix forthcoming on Disorient recordings on 'Sweet Dream' from Yasushi Ide's Lonesome Echo Production outfit. Incognito have not one but four remixed singles coming out in Japan only including exclusive mixes & dubs from Dimitri from Paris, Yukihiro Fukutomi, Soul Bossa Trio, Kyoto Jazz Massive & Little Big Bee etc as well as ''an official'' release of part 2 of ''Follow the Road'' Danny Krivit Re edit''.

Makoto recently finished his 'Human Elements' longplayer for LTJ Bukem's Good Looking imprint and Pentagon... Japan's other leading drum n bass unit release a UK single on Nu Directions label called "Get On". On the jazzy hip hop front yo gotta check out DJ Mitsu The Beats album on new Tokyo label, Planet Groove. Guests like Dwele, Lady Alma, Mark De Clive-Lowe, Rich Medina & Little Brother make this an extra special album that deserves your fullest attention. London based DJ /Producer Tatsuki (DJ Afro) is part of danish collective Blue Foundation but also of Japanese experimental breaks trio Whakhakha made up of DJ Klock & DJ Baku. Their first EP, sold out in less than a week, was on already web site auctions for 4 times the original cost within 10 days !!!

Any (more) news on the Japanese music scene ??? email me !

nik@mukatsuku-pr.fsnet.co.uk

Playlists of the week come courtesy of :

MORPHEUS (Radio Nova, Radio Campus / Bruxelles)

MINIMAL COMPACT There Is Always Now — from The Remixes Album(Crammed/CDR)

KV 5 You Know This (Prolifica)

CARL CRAIG Tres Demented (Planet E)

ONLY CHILD featuring AMP FIDDLER U Bring Me Vibes — DJ DSL #2 Remix (Grand Central)

DOLPHIN BOY-Gateaux Youth(Tummy Touch)

URSULA RUCKER Release (!K7)

WILLIS Paper & Stone — Brooks Paper Cuts Remix (679 Records)

ALEXKID Mint (F..Com)

EASY ACCESS ORCHESTRA Las Chicas — King Kooba & Flying Fish Remixes (irma)

BRETT JOHNSON Selected Moments From The Nu House (Seasons)

DAVIDE M (www.houseconnection.net / Milano)

BELITA WOODS & LEROY BURGESS Best Of Me (Basement Boys)

FRESH & LOW Bodypoppin EP (White)

KING BRITT featuring IVANA SANTILLI :SuperNatural — Next Evidence Remix (BBE)

ALIX ALVAREZ Relfections (Dancetracks)

STEPHANIE COOKE Stay — Nulife Ricanstruction Mix (King Street)

KERRY CHANDLER Yellow (King Street)

KENNY CARVAJAL My Words _ Instrumental Edit (Phuture Sole/CDR)

THE RHYTHM SLAVES Make It Work — Shawn Ward Remix (Elevation)

SIJI Feels Lke — Osunlade Remix (BBE)

UNVERSAL LOVE Ritmo Da Rua — Original + Re-edit (Streetvibes/Soulfuric)

DJ RORK (Soldiers Of Twilight, Serial Records / Paris)

KERRI CHANDLER Trionisphere VI (King Street)

NICK HOLDER feauring JEMENI No More Dating DJ's (NRK)

SOLDIERS OF TWILIGHT City Life (Serial/Test)

MIGUEL GRAÇA Symptom ( Lose Control) (Manali)

ARETHA FRANKLIN The Only Thing Missin' — Blaze Vocal Mix (Arista) SOULSTATION You — DJ Spinna Mix (West End)

MARTIN SOLVEIG Rocking Music (Mixture Recs (Promo)

KING BRITT featuring IVANA SANTTILLI Super Star — Next Evidence Remix (BBE)

TAJA SEVELLE Sympathy For The Devil (Basement Boys)

HARRY ROMERO featuring ROBERT OWENS I Go Back — Masters At Work Remix (Subliminal)

KLEMENT BONELLI (Elephunk / Lyon)

TAJA SEVELLE Sympathy For The Devil (Basement Boys)

PHARRELL featuring JAY-Z Frontin — DJ Karizma Remix (Kohesive Prod/CDR)

DJ GREGORY Don 't Know Malendro (Faya Combo)

DJ KARIZMA & TAON One Moment (Kohesive Prod/CDR)

HARRY ROMEROfeaturing ROBERT OWENS I Go Back — TeeLou Unrealeased Remix + Accapella (Sub/In House/ CDR)

MARTIN SOLVEIG Rocking Music (Mixture)

KLEMENT BONELLI & ROCHDEE Nocturne (Elephunk)

AMY HELM Own Way Home — Alix Alvarez Remix (HipBone)

MAW Body — Josh Wink Deep Journey (MAW Electronic)

HARRY ROMERO Bambossa 5 (CDR)

ROCHDEE (Elephunk / Lyon)

STEPHANIE COOK If I had — Spinna Mix (King Street)

MARK GRANT Hey You (OM)

HEATHER HEADLEY I Wish I Wasn't (White)

HARDSOUL & RON CARROLL Back together (Soulfuric)

DJ GREGORY Don't know Malendro (Faya Combo)

AZTEC MYSTIC Aguila (UR)

KLEMENT BONELLI & ROCHDEE Kletrochnik (CDR)

PHARRELL & JAY-Z Frontin — DJ Karizma Kohesive Prod unreleased (CDR)

GLENN UNDERGROUND Hum Along (Basement Boys)

JASPER STREET COMPANY He's Alright (Gods House)