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

First of all, a welcome to the new amongst you whose addresses are now included on this weekly mailing. As this column goes on its fourth issue, let us focus as promised earlier on the french stuff that has to be remained as the best around the last WMC' although everyone may not have necessarly crossed the Ocean for this occasion.

Despite the fact that some of us didn't come for some reason, loads of froggies have shown their faces under the sun this year… Should it be behind the desks like Dimitri from Paris, DJ Gregory, DJ Deep, and some others including your devoted (thanks again to Sammy Figueroa for bringing his percussions to play with me during my set for King Street). Should it be to purvey us with some nu material (see thereafter), or simply to strenghten their links with the scene, like DJ Bool who's organizing the (second edition of) Sunslice Festival this summer in Toulon.

The palm would have to be given this year to a DJ Gregory in full effect. Not content with providing a lighting relifting of John Ciafone's "Everyday" on Boombastic, he also has another killer under the name of "Elle" to be released soon on his own label (Faya Combo). Not talking about further collaborations with Masters At Work to be issued in a very near future. Much has been heard on a more mainstream vein about David Guetta these last months and much has been said in Miami about his recent extrapolation of David Bowie's classic "Heroes". No news so far about an official release date of this tune, but no doubt that he is positionned amongst the most serious contenders facing Bob Sinclar to become n°1 in the clubs (at least, here in France). Unless Master H finishes up putting everyone on his side with his stomping phonky/disco/housey debut LP — Thirteen — due to hit the streets in june On Soma Records, as suggest cutz like "Mayflower", "Magic K", "C'est la vie" or most definitely the title track of this album.

Lyon (center of France) is not only one of the main places in terms of french gastronomie. Its also the birthtown of smart pair Pascal Rioux & Mr Day and their label (Rotax). A duet known for various extra works on Glasgow Underground and Guidance Recordings, preparing the release of his (already) third album. Well, the two gus have managed to include a good surprise on it under the form of "Golden Days", revamped by Philly don, King Britt. On the same kinda (deep) tip, Sun Orchestra is also a name to be much followed. No news so far about the release date of an ol' classic of theirs – "Running" – that François K has managed to licence on his label months ago with some remix activity except the fact that we heard that he should finally retouched by Matthias Heilbronn and not Frankie Feliciano as for some times announced. At least some brand new material from the boys should appear very soon on french label Straight Up with a remix of german maestros, Needs (watch dis space). And if that was not enough, these two Sun Orchestra boys have both seperately projects worth to check out. One being Jerome Batistelli via his parallel project under the name of Shade Of Soul (with Eric Pierre) and a monstruous nu choon called "Give It To Me" and a remix by 4Hero that looks like being one of their best to date (Shade Of Soul). Meanwhile Franck Roger (the other half of Sun Orchestra) has many to offer in the forthcoming weeks, should it be on Needs Music or on Dino & Terry's label, Clashback. Not to forget, the launching of Julien Jabre's new label – Elias – with the release of his own "Paixaõ" and, for the latin vibes aficionados, Bibi's latest, "Zum Zum" on Chez Music. Also worth to check out, the two Basenotic latest releases, from Allen & Manoo + the volume 5 of the Back Up series and, on a more abstract pumping vein, Lanoiraude's newie, "Self Control/JJ Scenario", on Missive. Last but not least, the aptly named Buona Modulazione album by Canvas that seems like a potential corker for the amateurs of mood 2 chill kinda vibes on new parisian label, Nacopajaz.

On the compilation front, let's come back to the recent and brilliant The Disco-Tech of… Julien Jabre, melting various vibes from Herbie Hancock's classic "Stars In Your Eyes" to the stunning Somore "I Refuse", also including the original version of much touted "Bring U Up" by Romanthony + some emotive cinematic and chill out sequences and many more worth to listen (Yellow Productions). Sorry to be not as positive regarding The Four Seasons Of Ibadan compilation. Not to say at all that the material is bad, on the contrary. But the quality of it deserved a far better rendition than the one that has been given by DJ Yellow with what happens to be a very conventional mix, if not to say M.O.R. ! Nothing finally here compared to the brillant selection made by Gwen entitled Gwen Deep Sensations on M10.

Let's finish this with some fresh news, beginning with Troublemakers on the process of signing a multi-album deal with the french reprezentation of Blue Note, a remixed album of Playin' 4 The City awaited on Straight Up for the summer, prior to a real debut-LP later on and also the release of DJ Rork's Soldiers Of Twilight album on Serial Recordings, probably for the beginning of the autumn. Also worth pointing out is the return of François K for a weekly rendez-vous (on Monday) in Manhattan, called Deep Space @ Cielo (more info on www.deepspacenyc.com). As well as the appearance of Fred Portet's Deepsounds radio show starting these days on the net (www.djlealisa.com) for the ones being into real deep vibes ; not talking about soundsup.com. Or, to a slightly wider extend swiss site, spiritofhouse.com that stands as a true reference, by the likes of Michael Fossati. Welcome on board !

MFSB

IN DA MIX (FRENCH) TENNERZ
SHADE OF SOUL Give It To Me – 4Hero Remix (Sunny Side/CDR)
JOHN CIAFONE Everyday – DJ Gregory Remix (Boombastic/promo)
MASTER H Thirteen (Soma/CDR)
PASCAL RIOUX & MR DAY Golden Days – King Britt Remix (Rotax/CDR)
FRANCK ROGER Ekobah (Needs/CDR)
THE DISCO-TECH OF… JULIEN JABRE Compilation (Yellow Productions)
DJ GREGORY Elle – (Faya Combo/promo)
JULIEN JABRE Paixaõ (Elias/promo)
ALLEN & MANOO The Good Reason – Main Mix (Basenotic)
CANVAS Buona Modulazione LP (Nacopajaz/CDR)

Errata : Dwele's debut-LP on Virgin will be released worldwide on MAY 20 and not in APR as previously said