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

Well, well, well, sorry for those of you who may have been disturbed by the reception of last week's edition a few times in a raw. At least, could say that this is better than receiving nothing but if that wasn't enough, it's some uncorrected version that has been sent, due to computer problems.

This meaning that there was some incomprehensive piece left, like the one about this release from Oreja with the cuban sung "Mañana Por La Mañana" over some calypso beats : our deepest excuses to the group and the label.

On the good news front, another website has just entered the IDM network — house-wives.net — meanwhile, the IDM site should appear soon on the web. More to follow very soon…

Dancetracks' owner, Stefan Prescott recently pointed out that fact that there were tons of goodies around and he's bloody damned right ! Will this quality music have the exposure it deserves ? That's another story, as the media themselves seem to go more and more for the commercial M.O.R. kinda stuff. Good examples in France as illustrated by RadioFG that has recently tunned into the R&B field, leaving less and less space to DJ's such as Deep or the Cheers team. Not to mention Radio Nova that looks like left in the middle of nowhere… Hopefully this doesn't seen to affect the local artists/producers as not only the quality but also the volume of new releases are definitely around these times.

"Sacrés Français"

Much has been said about DJ Gregory's "Elle" since this year's WMC in Miami and more should definitely be said with its re-release on Defected with the contribution of 'Little' Louie Vega behind the desks, as shown on the Criola Remix where Anane adds some cabo verdan vocals. Meanwhile, Martin Solveig may well be the next one with "Rocking Music", a phonky song built on some calypsoid beats before opening to a rock guitar solo (Mixture). Far more melancholic is "I'm In Love", the latest work from Pascal Rioux & Mr Day on Rotax, but the big shit on this label is without a doubt the soon to follow "Golden Days" with its infectious remix from King Britt (watch this space !).

Loads of activities around Betino's Record Shop and its associated labels (Straight Up and BRS). Playin' 4 The City havin just released a best of CD has also a nu piece of wax. Entitled "Caught Up", the A-side is a smooth and soulful song featuring Marilyn David, when the other side brings us into some abstract afro/phonkjazz territory. Sun Orchestra featuring Karl The Voice's newie — "Love Symphony" — should reach your attention if you're into the delicate and sensual atmospheres, either on the original, quite intimate, or the remixes by Needs that have given it a more energetic feel with a bit of afro/brazilian patterns. Meanwhile, half of Sun Orcxhestra duet, Franck Roger seems to have fallen into some post disco/funk trip with the old schooly "It's That Man", when his labelmate DJ Roy (under the name of Atsilut) has gone for some pure jazz/funk experimentation on "Saro's Theme").

Created by David Duriez and Llorca, Brique Rouge has also much on offer. You'd better check out the housey "Surprise Me" from Miss Me featuring Jiney & Mizzy (remixed by the second of the boys). And, most importantly, Cartoon's "First To Break EP", containing the magnificient and subtle "Time : Change". Also worth to have an ear at is "Les oiseaux gazouillent", the B-side of "The Keyfunk EP" by W.U.M.M. Some work that should please the ones into those percussions lines "alla" Joe Claussell (Chocoflash). Osunlade follows Matos's path, doing the remixes for Antillas singer Roland Brival on "Sakitayo", givin'it a new dimension, soulful and magnetic, most particularly on the Club Mix (Isma'a). Meanwhile, a good word has also to be said about Qalomota & Rufuss's "Gotta Make A Move On" as we may find a bit of everything on the various mixes (Qalomota).

Everyone knowing a bit about politics should have heard at least once about Strasbourg as it's the home to EEC's Parliament. This said, this city facing the german boarder has a real burgeoing scene as illustrated both by Steppah Hunta and Nutropic, both of'em on the nu jazz tip. The first on Compost with the darky "Walk This Way", slightly enlighted by Seiji's reworks. The second, associated to brazilian songstrees Fernanda Porto on "Leva E Traz" delivered with a drum & bass version and a much cooler nu bossa one (Comet).

"Strangers in the night"

If the ones quoted therafter may be considered as strangers or foreigners (at least on a french perspective), most of them are definitely deep on our minds and hearts. A good illustration being the much in demand DJ Spinna who, with his friend Shaun Escoffery, sees "Music In Me" being wonderfully revamped by Blaze (Wonderwax/BBE). Frankly speaking, Mafikizolo's "Morena" was something of light in its original version. Something which is not the case anymore with the new versions brought by Kenny Dope, givin'it a more genuine african feel (MAW). Remember this recent "Keys Of Life" by Jaqué, not that far way from MAW's work, produced by Marlon D and George Menna on Jellybean ? Well the aformentioned come back behind the desks, spreading their aerial and soulful touch that already stands like a trademark on "I Appreciate" for Inniss.

Never thought about givin'up in such an environment ? Yes you probably have, as your devoted, telling yourself that there's nothing we can do for change… And then, all of a sudden, you get to listen to something givin'you the feeling that there's nothing like what you're leaving. It's exactly what I felt while listening to the aptly named "Do Right" by Lefunken featuring Tyrah on a deep'n'groovy soul tip (ECR).

Would like to deeply thank my italian new partner and friend, Davide Maffei at www.houseconnection.net for sending me a promo copy of the wonderful "Is This The Way (U)" by The Soulplanet Jazz Ensemble. A f****** bad deep house jazz phonky tune that sounds like eden both on its instrumental and vocal versions (Soulplanet). Belive me, you gotta get this one by any means necessary… Remember Mateo & Matos's "Celebrate Life" back in da daze ? Well, it looks like their infectious bassline has somehow been recaptured on Blakkat featuring Aswan's "The Right Place" and the funk feel is as efficient (Shaboom). Slightly different with a softer approach is Stateless's "Leave Me Now", refuelled by Swell Session on Freerange and also Siji's soulful "Feelsike" co-written by Osunlade (BBE).

Solid Groove delivers a weird mixture of atmospheric jazz/(broken) breakbeat on the 3'Stylin' EP (Loungin' Recordings). Sister label to Irma, Head 2 Toe, completes the experimental tip with no less than three releases. First is "Dopesnotfunkae" by Tantan with a Cuica remix, an explosive ambient/phonk track laid on a bed of thin percussions. Second is Tweak presents Sharon Harris, pushing the limits of an ambient soulful broken beat with "Generations", while Total Science gives us a good piece of ambient'N'deep via "Bookworm". Spanish outfit Big Black Beat going to some more conventional ethnic thing with the arabo-balearic "De SAM Para Las Flores" (RS). And that should be it for this issue ≠ 25. Getting back 2 U in two weeks as next one is both Irie and Nik Weston's turn in charge of the editorial.

Peace,

MFSB

IN DA MIX (DOUBLE) TENNERZ

INFINITY featuring MALIK Back To Chicago (King Street/CDR)

RAW COLLECTIVE Nu Beings (Fossifuel)

THE SOULPLANET JAZZ ENSEMBLE Is It The Way (U) (Soulplanet)

GIANLUCA PIGHI Trumpeetah (Chillifunk)

LEFUNKEN featuring TYRAH Do Right — Eclectic Original (ECR)

THE DINING ROOMS Flamenco Sketches — Nicola Conte New Rhumba Version (Schema)

TANTAN Dopesnotfunkae — Cuica Remix (Head 2 Toe)

DJ SPINNA featuring SHAUN ESCOFFERY Music In Me — Shrine Vocal Mix (Wonderwax)

MAXINE INNISS I Appreciate (Jellybean)

DJ GREGORY Elle — Criola Remix (Defected)

BLAKKAT featuring ASWAN The Right Place — Blaksoul Mix (Shaboom)

TWEAK poresents SHARON HARRIS Generations — Original Mix (Head 2 Toe)

TOTAL SCIENCE Bookworm (Head 2 Toe)

TASTY HOAGIES presents THE MOFO ORCHESTRA Do The Bumblebug (white)

MAFIKIZOLO Morena — Kenny Dope Main Mix (MAW)

SUN ORCHESTRA featuring KARL THE VOICE Love Symphony — Needs Main Mix (Straight Up)

VERTENTE Chuva — Original Mix (Far Out)

MARTIN SOLVEIG Rocking Music (Mixture)

OREJA Mañana Por La Mañana (Papa Records)

SPIRITUAL SOUTH Green Gold — 24 Karat Jazz Rub (Afro Art)

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 for reviews to the following address :

Frederic 'MFSB' Messent

98, rue de Paris

F-94220 Charenton

France

Playlists of the week come courtesy of :

CRUSHO (Q-tape /Paris)

DUDLEY PERKINS : A lil' Light (Stones Throw)

METAL FINGERS PRESENTS..Special Herbs 4, 5, 6 (Shaman Work Recordings)

MANZEL : It's Over Now — MAW Remix (Dope Brothers)

PHARELL WILLIAMS Frontin' (Star Track)

PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS Roadbeaters (Puts Records)

SHADE OF SOUL Give In To Me — 4 Hero Mix (Sunny Side/test)

ANDRES Salvador De Bahia 1&2 (Mahagony)

BYRDIE GREEN Return Of The Prodigal Son (Jazzman)

JAY DEE Crushin' (yeeeeeah!) (Mummy)

THEO PARRISH Ugly Edit 5 (white)

CUKI (Soul Seduction, Vienna)

ROY AYERS Virgin Ubiquity (BBE/CDR)

QUANT featuring ERNESTO TRYING — Gerd & Original Mixes (Ecco.Chamber/CDR)

RECLOOSE featuring J. CRAYFORD Paepulsariki (Kindred Spirits/CDR)

PERRY HEMUS Rhodesmode (Woodland/CDR)

DEYAMPERT Shapes And Colors (Sonar Kollektiv/CDR)

ARTHUR VERCAI LP (Luv'n'Haight)

ONLY CHILD featuring AMP FIDDLER Find A Way — Yam Who Mix (Grand Central/CDR)

RE:JAZZ Re:mix (INFRACom!! (CDR)

NICOLA CONTE meets ALDEMARO ROMERO Teme De La Onda — (Deja Vu/CDR)

GERARDO FRISINA Hi Note LP (Schema/CDR)

DEEPHOUSEMAFIA.ORG (Vienna)

GALAXY 2 GALAXY High Tech Jazz — Remix (UR)

GEORG LEVIN You Know What You Want — DJ Spinna Remix (Sonarkollektiv)

MEITZ Vertikal LP (INFRACom!)

DONNIE Cloud 9 — DJ Spinna Remix (Giant Step)

ROLAND BRIVAL Sakitayo — Osunlade Remixes (Isma´a)

SOULSTATION You — DJ Spinna Remix (Westend)

NEXT EVIDENCE The One (Faya Combo)

PHARELL Frontin' — Yam Who Rework (Yam Who)

HARLEY & MUSCLE featuring ROBERT OWENS Inside Your Love (Bumpin City)

ALEXKID Mint LP (F Com)

DAVIDE MAFFEI (Houseconnection.net, Milano)

STEPHANIE COOKE I Never Told You (King Street)

MAXINE INNISS I Appreciate (Jellybean)

DONNIE Cloud 9 — Quentin Harris Remix (Giant Step)

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

TERRY WALKER Drawing Board — Jay's Remix (Def Soul)

NATHAN HAINES featuring LYRIC L Doot Dude — Ashley Beedle Remixes (Chillifunk)

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

LUIS RADIO & DARRYL D'BONNEAU What is (Equal)

BARBARA WALKER Saved Me (Soulshine)

THE SOULPLANET JAZZ ENSEMBLE Is It The Way (U) (Soulplanet)

MOONSTARR (Bruckbeat Radio, Toronto)

DETROIT EMERALDS You Want It You Got It (Westbound)

GIL SCOTT HERON & BRIAN JACKSON Feel Together (Arista)

MAD LIB Mystic Bounce (Blue Note)

DIMLITE Synonym4 (Afewamoungothers)

STARFIGHTERZ 4 Flavours Of A Two Sided Story - Pt. 1 (Delsin)

YOTOKO Wet Ink LP (DELSIN)

MU featuring CHAIR GIRL Let's Get Sick (Tigersushi)

RANDOM FACTOR LIMITED What I Need — Remix (20:20 Vision)

STOCKHOLM CYCLO Tree Shaker (Raw Fusion)