Disco ? Who said disco ? Looks like that
disco revival we've mentioned already a while ago has still a few weeks/months
for further developments, as Nu Groove columnist, Irie, confirms on the
start of his latest selection.
The disco revival
looks like definitely on ! As Californian label Stones Throw (Madlib, Peanut
Butter Wolf and Egon) demonstrates while launching yet again a new
subsidiary, Soul Cal, devoted to disco, funk, boogie and other soulful dance
musics.
After having contributed to the discovery
of jewels in psychedelic jazz(Galt Mac Dermot), in funk (Ernie & The
Top Notes) or also in old school hip-hop (Percee P), the true
archeologists of this thing called groove present a new eternal treasure: a 12’
from the splendid Luther Davis Group that demonstrates brilliantly how
disco may be other than those crap tunes alla Benoît Poelvoorde's
"Alexandrie, Alexandra" with its remix by Bob Sinclar. But this is not
the first in the genre and probably nor the last neither and, to say the truth,
I very much prefer what a certain Paul Raymond has done with hisgreat
edits sur as Alexander Robotnik on the second release on Yellow
Productions sub-label, Art Of Disco…
Lucky us these days as there are always
more to encounter in terms of great sounds, even though we have to get back in
the days, as former NYC's A One Records team member Lord Funk has done,
releasing a wicked edit of "Don't Stop" by a relatively unknown group called
South Bronx on white label. In the same rootsy and futuristic spirit we
already raved a few months back about, a new project under the duffel coat at
Blue Note. So after a remarkable ensemble of remixes by Madlib called
Shades Of Blue, it’s now time for some of the best remixers on this blue
planet to deliver their revisitations of this prestigious soul and jazz
catalogue. From Bobby Hutcherson (by Jaydee or Kenny Dope)
to Horace Silver (his elegant "Won’t You Open Up Your Senses " being
magnified by 4Hero), Gene Harris (with "Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong"
à la Bugz In The Attic) and also Eddy Gale's "Song Of Will"
twisted up by Jazzanova to name but a few. A brilliant project put
together by none other than Pedro Winter from Headbangers Entertainement
who also happens to be known as Daft Punk’s manager…
INTERVIEW
This brings us to
Paris with our man Franck Roger running all kinds of (good) things these
times. Following the stunning "Mascarade" 12’ on Versatile, he looks like
planning a proper global invasion with tons of effective weapons, from the
discoish "It's That Man" on BRS to a new tune with Nicolas Gautier for
Canadian pair, Dino & Terry's label. Not to mention this major
accomplishment that sees him being the first French producer to have some
material awaited on the Masters At Work family of labels, alongside
vocalist Chris Wonder. Those two being also responsible of the sublime
"If I" on Sunny Side label with some broken beat additional remix from Shade
of Soul. Finally news has come that our Franck should also be (alongside one
of the two Cheers parties residents, Greg Gauthier) on board for the
second volume of remixed material of US singer Allen Hoist. Meanwhile,
volume 1 hat just hit the racks of our favourite record shops with an exquisite
cover of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues" retouched by Marc Mac
from 4Hero). A tune that Allen has recently sung 
