Right on time for the upcoming Winter Music Conference, Groovia Sound Project have a wicked release by Ayro (aka Jeremy Ellis) ready that first will be available on limited edition vinyl only, with a digital release following later. "Bounce" on its original form is a wonderful broken beat flavored track featuring outstanding vocals alongside phat spaced-out keys that make this something special. DJ Spinna delivers one of his trademark deeper-than-deep interpretations which is absolutely irresistible with its fierce stormin' groove and the marvelous keys that accompany the vocals.

 

 

This classic release by Shazz (aka Didier Delesalle) is now available on digital format, making this timeless and essential release from 1996 available for those who missed the original 2x12" release (for the collectors out there, try to get your hands on the limited yellow vinyl release). Featuring a marvelous piano play by Alexandre Destrez, this is true old school masterpiece. Digital Downloads available at Dancetracks Digital.

 

TriCircle Soul offer a beautiful soulful release here that should not be missed, offering two wonderful songs by French keyboardist and producer Neo. "Smile" features an outstanding vocal courtesy of Rudy Wilburn over a timeless jazz/funk soaking groove. Yukihiro Fukutomi reworks the song into a marvelous broken beat affair that oozes soul and jazz flavors. "A night In Marseille" is a piece of pure nu jazz on its original form that is given a deeply stormin' reworking by Soul Monky who keeps things soulful and jazzy.

 

Finally this masterpiece is to become available to everyone. Thanks to the nice people at AudioGroove Records who picked it up and will release it soon. We love it since we heard it for the first time (just see our review from last year which is just below), and we still feel the same love for it when we listen and play it out these days.

Original review from July 29, 2007: This timeless gospel house production by Phil Hooton and Rob 'Da Noize' Temple is considered by the Spirit of House office as one of the tunes of 2007 so far (it was a former "Pick of the Week" on May 27), and with a brand new vocal version featuring masterly performed vocals by Felicia, Rob 'Da Noize' and Diamond Temple, this wonderfully orchestrated song gets even more inspiring, taking you on an uplifting and spiritual journey into house music.

 

Dwele's "Hold On" gets another beautiful makeover courtesy of Soulmekanikz who use a deep yet smoothly thumpin' groove as playground for the man's soulful vocals that are accompanied by magnificent keys and chords, altogether creating a warm and uplifting vibe perfect for the soulful dancefloors.

 

Danism continue to put out resistless music for the dancefloor, this time teaming up with legendary singer Kenny Bobien who provides a heartfelt, uplifting vocal on this soulful production which features wicked keys over a smooth and deep backing groove. The dub takes things deeper and replaces the vocals with additional synths to give it more of an underground feel. Groove Assassin drops a masterly crafted reworking that takes the song to the next level with its wonderful keys and its groovy vibe that is absolutely fierce. For all the DJ’s out there, the acapella is included as well.

 

After successfully collaborating with Bahar on "I Can't Believe", Costa Martinez gives her a round 2 on his new production where she supplies a sultry vocal performance over a deeply groovin' backdrop topped with wicked chords. Together with Edo Daavina, Martinez gets all groovy and funky on the 'Funky Dub', while Da Funk go funky as well on their dub, but with a dirtier edge. Lastly Spiritual Blessings come up with a smooth and deep reworking full of warm and jazzy melodies that create a laidback feeling.

 

After the splendid "When I fall" by Lez, Keith Thompson brings us another South African house gem courtesy of DJ Sai titled "Thoughts Of Life", a deeply groovin' track featuring wicked keys that creates an intense, absolutely irresistible feeling which inspired Keith Thompson to write full lyrics takin’ the track to the next level. Thompson also delivers a deeper, slightly dark reworking of the track (coming your way in vocal, instrumental and dub versions) that are perfect for late night/early morning play.

 

Soularis team up with Kenny Thomas - one of best British soulful singers ever – on a soulful masterpiece. The original is all about the funk dripping groove with Thomas outstanding vocals being taken to deeper grounds on the 'SunSoaked Mix' that keeps that groovy vibe alive. Deepswing provide a jazz/funk soaked interpretation that keeps on stompin' from beginning to the end while never leaving the soulful territory. Lastly Central Avenue fire things up on their take that features wicked chords and phat electrofied synths over a fiercely stormin' groove.

 

Luca Ciotoli & Stefano De Magistris under their Souldynamic disguise open up 2008 for Duffnote Records with a beauty. "Gonna Fly" features a sultry vocal performance by Nicole Tyler over a smoothly groovin', masterly orchestrated backing that oozes with soul through the superb keys and chords. The 'Alternative Mix' is a nice alteration of the original with a few classy tweaks here and there. MoD take it to way deeper grounds, turning the track into a peak time favorite with catchy synths leading the way, while Richard Earnshaw gets raw and dirty on his sexy take that features wicked harmonica and organ play over a deeply groovin' beat.

 

Donna Summer finally returns with a new album soon - and the first single to be lifted from it got remixed by Matthias 'Matty' Heilbronn into a soulful gem that will take dancefloors by storm with its smooth yet fierce groove enriched with sweet percussion and wicked keys and chords that perfectly harmonize with Summer's incomparable vocals.

 

SofiTone Records give a rebirth to their second release under the form of this wonderful remix package. First up are the Dolls Combers who come up with a beautifully orchestrated reworking that lets Star's vocals shine, with the fierce yet smooth funk flavored groove and the jazzy elements creating a laidback vibe. Doruk Ozlen is slowing things down and goes a bit deeper to create a marvelous mellow interpretation perfect for chillin'. Lastly there is Didier Vanelli who serves a reprise version on a classic old school tip that will make you dreaming.

 

The legendary SubUrban Records started to make their back catalogue available in digital format, and thankfully one of their biggest releases, the massive house anthem "It's Gonna Be Alright (Help Is On The Way)" produced by Mike Delgado and Matthias Heilbronn with lyrics courtesy of Ceybil Jeffries and James Preston on keys, is one of the chosen release, coming your way in ten versions that include the original mixes as well as the Boris Dlugosch & Mousse T. remixes. Digital Downloads available at Dancetracks Digital.

 

Massive double header here of up and rising star Tony Loreto. The "Tony Loreto EP" features his take on the beautiful "Meaning of love" by Andy Tamashi where he delivers a wonderful reworking, with a jazzy piano and great dreamy keys accompanying the sultry vocals of Victoria T to create a laidback groover. The EP also includes an instrumental of this remix as well as the instrumental of his recent Heather Headley remix. Then there is his take on Mary J Blige's "Take Me As I Am" that brings the song straight to the soulful dancefloors with its smooth'n'deep groove and warm melodic keys.

 

Here we go with an exclusive that is set to drop in April on Gene King's Shines label. Joe DiPadova and Shea Marshall take on "I Can't Pretend" which features a sexy female vocal by Sacha, here combined with a deeply thumpin' beat enriched with sweet percussion, wicked synths and phat chords that together with the vocals create a deep house classic. The second remix gets even deeper, using wonderful laminar keys to give it a more laidback feeling.

 

The mighty Alex Dimitri taking on one of Michael Jackson's often overlooked classics - "P.Y.T." - and delivers two great reworkings. The first underlays the 1982 original with a funktified backing groove that gives the song a fierce feeling, with the second using the 2008 version (which features guest star Will.I.Am) and the same backing groove, resulting in a slightly tougher affair.

 

Sounds of Subway are pushing hard at the moment with yet another great release courtesy of Rob Hayes titled "Loungin'" to be released soon, coming in two slammin' remixes by label head Darren Campbell. First up is his 'Way Back Mix' that brings back memories of the early days of house with its old school groove and jackin' sound. The 'Back in 96 Mix' goes slightly deeper, with warm melodic chords making it a choice tip for late night play.

 

"Colors" must have been THE track from the Winter Music Conference 2007 that inspired DJ's to play it with an acapella on top - now almost one year later, the official vocal version is ready to drop, complete with a massive remix package. Featured vocalist is Geneive Allen who provides a soulful and sexy vocal on top of the already classic backing track. DJ Fopp reworks it into a deeply rumblin' affair with wicked chords leading the way, while Vincent Valler comes up with a classic old school flavored vocal version with a killer piano hook. Samir Maslo gets deep and gritty on his slightly techy dub, while Luca Cassani delivers a rather minimal dub that creates a hypnotic vibe. Lastly there is Christian Hornbostel's massively stompin', tribal beat driven reworking included in the package.

 

The original version of "Seven Day Fool" (it's a cover of the Etta James classic) can be found on Jully Black's current Revive LP. Joe DiPadova together with Shea Marshall takes the song straight to the soulful dancefloors, with their reworking staying true to the original, perfectly combining a smooth house groove with the passionate vocals and jazzy orchestration of the original.

 

Robert Nimmo teams up with Robina again to follow up their successful collaboration on "Fight The Feeling" with "Closer", a beautiful production built around a smoothly stompin' beat enriched with jazzy keys, melodic chords, a lovely guitar and sexy vocals by Robina that altogether create a groovin' vibe on a laidback tip.