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

Back 2 the 12 inch front after last week's selection dedicated to the long formats, with a new box of goodies to share. Yes folks, although many people tend to talk about crisis here and there, quality music is still around the bent, as demonstrates this week's edition.

Can't help myself beginning this column without expressing my best wishes for a quick recovery to Sundiata OM, after I've been said by our Beatdown Sound common brothers that he'd been sick for a while. So, guess you know what you have to do, uncle : make it happen, make it f****** right ! This leading us straight to the the Detroit scene and the real pleasure that was ours to see Theo Parrish, Eddie 'Flashin' Fowlkes and Norman Talley behind the desks at Le Rex in Paris two weeks ago, delivering nothing but the groove in its full spectrum. This with some special props to the Paradise Massage crew for making this possible.

Much has been said this year about Dwele and Amp Fiddler (check out his recent work alongside Grand Central's Only Child on "U Bring Me Vibes"), as they definitely have contributed to give a new breathe of fresh air, not only on the soul scene, but also on a city — theirs —that is best known for its prestigious past when it comes to talk about the aforementioned genre. But wait a minute, as they're not the only ones…

Can't help myself remembering the DEMF 2001. I was standing by one of the numerous stages there with Sundiata OM when I saw a guy who really took my head off. I was like : Waouw ! Who's this man ? Sundi said to me : Malik… (Malik Alston). He eventually introduced me to him and we've ended up crossing our paths regularly here and there, in Miami and Detroit ; him providing me each time with various works of his, from acoustic ambient to afro kinda stuff via minimal grooves. This, with the same hi-quality…

Also remember that Large nite in Miami where I've been spinning this year. Came to the other room right after my set where I gave a hook to Dennis (Ferrer), then Roy Davis Jr took his place for an impressive mix session. All of a sudden, he played what to me sounded like an instant anthem. A cut called "Back 2 Chicago" that at the time was one of his most recent productions, awaited sometime during the year on King Street as he explained to me. The good thing is that the 12" in question has just been officially released last week, under the name of Infinity and guess who's featuring : everyone but our Malik, showing his impressive talents, not only vocally speaking, but also in terms of musical arrangements (keys, flute) ! And if that was not enough, Alston is also a good producer (check out his recent "Caterpillar EP" on Third Ear), and a soon to be searched for remixer, judging by the quality of the rework he's done on the classic "Charivari" song that has recently appeared one a one-sided white label…

Detroit again in its deepest part, with UR and another sparkling gem called "Aguila" as remixed on its B-side by Orlando Voorn on a very "Jaguar"-ish vein. Meanwhile the famous "Jaguar" itself reappears on a cover version by japanese outfit A Hundred Birds, although I have to admit that I very much prefer "So Eye On" on the flipside for its cinematic jazz funk feel 'alla' Faze Action (Wave).

As for the Windy City's concern, one of its best ambassadors, Glenn Underground delivers what makes his debut on Large with the smooth and soulful "Trust" over some spoken word and, no doubt, this should be another unmissable piece for those who're into moody stuff. The same having to be said about the fluid "Reach Inside — Journey 2" from Ron Trent and Richard Brooks on the Jazzflight Unlimited label, in a vein that should please the Needs fans (check out most definitely the B-side mix).

Kerri Chandler makes a new appearance on Large with the second installment of "Street Musiq" and guess what… our man also goes to some deep & moody territory with the soulful and vibrant "Things I See" opening this 4-tracker before doing a cover of Larry Heard's anthemic "Can U Feel It ?" on a quite original and surprising way. Not to mention the soulful'N'groovy "It Will Come To Pass" with it's kinda George Benson's "Give Me The Night" flava. Meanwhile Dennis Ferrer and Jerome Sydenham join forces for some subtlly progressive work on "Sandcastles". One of the two references awaited on Ibadan's 10" imprint with Slam Mode's newie, "Usoni" on a tech housey tip.

Searching for some back to the ol'times soundz ? Bobby Konders sees some of his classics like "Poem", "Nervous Acid" and "Future" re-released on a white label simply called… Nu Groove. True music will f****** NE-VER die !

Much has again to be said about MAW as the guys look like being everywhere at the same time. Louie (Vega) with a double-CD called Soul Heaven that is simply unavoidable ; more to read about this on our forthcoming albums section (SuSu). Kenny (Dope) with the second installment of France's Pure compilation awaited next january. Remixwise, the nuyorican pair deliver another chef d'œuvre of their own for Sara Devine with "Take Me Home" carrying all their trademarks (white). Not to mention the numerous releases on their labels, beginning with german blue-eyed soul revelation, Georg Levin with the… MAW remixes of "(I Got) Somebody New" featuring Clara Hill (MAW). Meanwhile, UK radio jock, Andy Ward and Paul Timothy aka Soul Central get some recognition Stateside with the release of "My Wow" on Kenlou.

Funny how we can react at times while checking out the latest newies here or there. You come to listen to a tune and you pass on it as it doesn't feel to fully fit your expectations. Then, all of a sudden, you listen to it on different circumstances and instantly feel that you have to have it… That's exactly what happened although I dunno why regarding Ambrosia's "That's How Much I Love You" produced by Big Moses on Shelter. This said I'm pretty sure that this has happened at least once to all of you, hasn't it ? And if you're into this typical NYC vocal house stuff, you might also check out Ja'Nel's new cut called "My Groove" and most likely its B-side with one remix from da same Big M on Jellybean Soul.

Ending up this female vocal tip with a new jewel from Mariah Carey, "Heart Break", with its brilliant mixes done by none others than the DFA people (white).

"Pe-tup, pup-pup ! Pe-tup, pup-pup… Have to admit how I've ended up getting tired with with loads of these stuff based on calypso kinda paterns and this could also occur to most of the recent works from the respected Dr Bob Jones if he hadn't his particular music skills. Another exemple being given with his latest "It's About Time" featuring Snowboy (Chillifunk). If in this tip, don't hesitate any longer facing Da Lata's new 12", as the group has gone for some genuine afro thang on "Serious", the first cut to be taken from their new album (Palm Beats). Meanwhile, on a more experimental tip, the latest Diaspora release — "One Life To Live" by Key Of Soul — is a serious mixture of soulful funk broken beat ready to provoke a real devastation on the dancefloors.

Closing this issue ≠ 28 the way we've opened it with a(nother) killer cut that brings us back to Detroit as it's a cover version of the classic Rhythm Is Rhythm's "Strings Of Life" by the much sought after Soul Central with the help of Re-edits specialist, Danny Krivit (WhistleBump)…

Peace,

MFSB

IN DA MIX TENNERZ

INFINITY featuring MALIK Back 2 Chicago (King Street)

MARIAH CAREY Heart Break —Version 940 (white)

SOUL CENTRAL Strigs Of Life — The Danny Krivit Re-edits (Whistle Bump)

KERRI CHANDLER It Will Come To Pass (Large)

SARA DIVINE Take Me Home — MAW Mixes (white)

Charivari — Malik’s Remix (white)

ONLY CHILD featuring AMP FIDDLER U Bring Me Vibes — Original Edit (Grand Central)

GLENN UNDERGROUND Trust (Vocal) (Large)

Aguila — The Fix Mix, by ORLANDO VOORN (UR)

KEY OF SOUL One Life To Live (Diaspora)

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

This week's playlists come courtesy of

AUDIOWHORES (Manchester, UK)

SOUL CENTRAL Strings Of Life — Danny Krivit Edit (WhistleBump)

REEL PEOPLE featuring DYANNA FEARON Butterflies — Restless Soul Mix (Papa)

CARLOS SANCHEZ MOVEMENT III featuring LORENZO TYLER Spirit Of The Dance (Slaag)

MOBIEN MASTER PROJECT Get Away With It (Vicious Grooves)

GEORGE LEVIN (I Got) Somebody New — MAW Remix (MAW Records)

RITMO DA RUA Universal Love (Soulfuric)

LEMAR 50/50 — Kings Of Soul Mix (Sony)

WIKKAMEN Just That Way (Knee Deep)

WORD OF MOUTH Love Is Supernatural (White)

MAIN INGREDIENTS Lean On Me (CDR)

DJ BOOL (Jerk House Connection, Toulon)

STEPHANIE COOKE I Never Told You (King Street)

MICHELLE WEEKS Movin' On — Pepe Pradock's Mix (KIF Records)

PEVEN EVERETT presents BILLIE JEWEL Puerto Rico (Kindred Spirits)

NATHAN HAINES featuring LYRIC L Doot dude — Ashley Beedle's Remix (Chillifunk)

KEITH THOMPSON I Found Lovin (Hysteria)

BARBARA WALKER Saved Me — Louis Benedetti's Mix (Soulshine)

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

SOLAR HOUSE Heaven ( Large)

GROOVE COLLECTIVE Whatchugot — Sax Mix (Giant Step/Reprise)

URSULA RUCKER Release — Lil’ Louie Vega Mix (!K7)

MATTHIAS HEILBRONN (NYC)

ELLA FITZGERALD Slap That Bass — Miguel Migs Remix (Verve)

PHUTURISTIX featuring JENNA G Beautiful— Bugz In The Attic Remix (Hospital)

TROUBLE MEN featuring COLONEL ABRAMS Hurt My Feelings (Kif)

DEEPSWING featuring CHANCE Freedom Part 2 — Funky Snippet Mix (Generate Music)

ARCHIE Shepp Blues For Brother George Jackson — Mondo Grosso Remix (CDR)

ANN NESBY Shelter (Remix) (God's House Records)

DJ GREGORY Don't Know Malendro (Faya Combo)

BURNIN BURNT (Bootleg)

DIMITRI FROM PARIS featuring OMAR Strong Stuff (For Real) — Matty Remix (Unreleased)

NATHAN HAYNES Doot Dude — Ashley Beedle Remix (Chillifunk)

DAVE STORM (The Clinic radioshow/Ceremony Records,Tallin)

LOS COSTUREROS Quero Mais — Jorge Manyana Remix (Mariachi)

MAFIZIKOLO Morena — Kenny Dope Mixes (MAW)

SOULGROUND featuring CONCHA BUIKA We Play House (Stereo Cool)

MOOD 2 SWING Can't Get Away — Rulers Of The Deep Dub (Defected)

TROUBLE MEN Wild Pitch (Kif)

MARTIN SOLVEIG Rockin Music (Mixture)

JULIUS PAPP Drum de Voodoo (Neo Disco)

SHABOOM Totally — David Morales Vocal (Shaboom America)

JOEY MUSAPHIA Love Will Find A Way — Pound Boys Mixes (Refunkt)

RITMO DA RUA Universal Love — Brian Tappert Remixes (Soulfuric)

VINYL JUNKIES (London)

DONNIE Rocketship — Quentin Harris Mix (Giant Step/Motown)

WAGON COOKIN Mar — Remixes p.t2 (MAW Mixes/Promo) (Appetizers)

MALIK ALSTON Detroit Beatdown Sessions : Caterpillar EP (Third Ear)

DANIEL PAUL Love Is In The House (Cabinet)

BROWN BROTHERS I Love Every Move/Shaky Ground (Real Thing)

JAYLIB Champion Sound (Stones Throw)

BIG MOSES featuring AMBROSIA That’s How Much I Love You (Shelter)

ROBERTA FLACK & DONNIE HATHAWAY Le Pamplemousse/Back Together Again/Gimme What You Got (Jazz Funk)

VARIOUS Disc O Lypso (Island Series/Trans Air)

PEPE BRADOCK & MICHELLE WEEKS Distorted Echoes (Kif)