There’s most likely a time – as a piece of music – for everything. So rather than fillin’ you up with some endless list of everything (and God knows how we’ve been provided with newies over the last couple of weeks), we’ve put ourselves into the skin of a selector awaited to deliver vibes regarding the different periods of the day. The second chapter in the series exploring grooves destined to bring progressively to the heat of the night…
WMC’08 – SOUTH BEACH JAMMERZ
10.30pm. The ideal moment to be given some appetizers as a starter to a nite that promises to be long. The best spots bein’ those spaces where bein’ assured of findin’ a friendly atmosphere. Could well a little club, but most likely a lounge at some hotel welcoming an event for the occasion or – icing on the cake – an outdoor party.
Life bein’ none other but a succession of different moods, states of mind; well, briefly said, periods, let’s get back where our so called Poolside Sunsetters left, with the deep percussive Latin-influenced ‘What About You’ which I’ve been sent a while ago already although with official release date by the times droppin’ those lines… One of those infectious cool jams enlightened with aerial keys and subtly produced/arranged by deepaGrooves – could this be label head, Brian??? – with a stunning vocal performance by the likes of Christine Vandrilis. It obviously took some time for Mustafa’s latest ‘Vem Eu Estou Fervendo’ to be made available. Now you ain’t got more excuses and no need tellin’ you how the wait was worth. Our man givin’ another display of his talent, but also One51 at the remix duties droppin’ a whole bunch of different elements inherited from both Afro/Brazilian music, jazz and electronic beats (Stalwart).
A jewel speakin’ of which One51 could pretty well fall in love with is Cookie Monsterz ‘Your Love’ on Tempogroove. A pure aural jazzy bliss tinged with Latin flavours from the keys to the flute over a slammin’ rhythm part somehow reminder of the memorable ‘Si Weka’ by… One51!!! Taken from their own ‘Bridge & Divide EP’, the latest deliver an ultratmospheric rework of ‘So High’ by the likes of Sole Unity resulting in a smooth blend of deep synth lines, jazzy keys and vocoderised vocal parts over a cool phonky broken beat flavored groove. And if this wasn’t enuff there’s also the gorgeous ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ courtesy of Orekid addin’ extra value to the package (One51 Recordings). Japanese champion of Latin fueled vibes, Yukihiro Fukutomi delivers a shining and much inspiring broken beat influenced reworking of Marseille-based outfit Neo’s ‘Smile’ as a part of their recently released A Night In Marseille EP on prolific label TriCircle Soul.
Definitely a Latin flavor as well as you may guess on Eddie Nicholas’s latest ‘Got To Find Bossa’ on Mantree with a clear preference for the spacey minimalistic ‘Bossa Vocal Mix’. Currently doin’ waves with a # 1 position on Stompy.com is U-Ness featuring Robina ‘A Tu Lado’ taken from the impressive Miami 08 Soulheat Sampler EP with the potential to make its way as well on the bigger rooms with the same comment to be made in regards to ‘Vivir La Vida’ by Coronabros featuring Victor Carrillo on an obvious festive vein.
Be they Spanish, Greek, Turkish, Italian or whoever, the Mediterranean people have undoubtedly an innate sense of atmospherism inherited from one of the richest historical past in the world, able to suggest emotions and images like no others. And this is most likely where is to be found Beppe Gioia with the somehow melancholic ‘Milo’ on Unified Records sounding like the aural translation of those incredible sunsets by the sea right before the arrival of Winter. Tons of nuggets embedded on Justin Imperiale’s new album titled Stereophonic. At its cover artwork perfectly suggest, it’s definitely everything but those warm sunny vibes destined to heat up the bodies & souls of those unlucky of us currently stuck into a depressive season which seems like never ending. Anyway, the opening cut – ‘Cabana Theme’ gives a brilliant display as to what expect all along this album. A subtle arrangement/production work ; the track in question sounding like a blatant answer to both Faze Action and Idjut Boys back in the daze while melting… Latin fragrances and awesome synth lines with dub effects over a bossa-driven circular bassline (Cabana Recordings).
There’s an undeniable old school flava on Carolyn Harding’s newie titled ‘Beautiful Feelin’’. Yes, you’ve got it straight. How not to think of Sister Sledge’s classic ‘We Are Family’??? But, wait a minute… This is not one of those countless impersonations delivered by many of those falsely considered as today’s heroes (I guess they’ll recognize themselves !!!) but the work of one of the most proeminent producers back in the disco/funk daze. Ladies & gents, no one else but the one who’s heavily contributed to put B.T. Express, Brass Construction, Skyy and a whole bunch of other acts on the map: Randy Muller (Plaza Records/Advance). Hard as well not to make a step back into the seventies when havin’ a listen to Fabio Genito’s ‘Funkaffair’ under his Jazzaffair guise. Almost everything is said on the choice of both his moniker and the title of this composite jam melting aerial jazzy keys, Latin percussions and Afro/tribal chants over a funk bassline inherited from Vincent Montana’s arranged ‘The Message’ for MFSB (the group!!!) and later on Salsoul Orchestra’s ‘Oooh I Love It). Utopia Boston’s head DJ Bruno adds his name to those who’ve recently launched their own imprints, enroling city pals long time activists The Shadow Kings on his very first label release. A cut called ‘Soul-4-Real’ which stands as a brilliant piece of feel good post-disco/jazz over an infectious funky bassline with, here again, an obvious link with Vincent Montana Jr’s countless explorations.
‘Que Tal America?’, remember this??? Dunno boutcha, but Brit househeads Filta Freqz obviously do addin’ a typical moved forward touch on their newie called ‘Better Days’ which sounds like an extrapolation of the Two Man Sound’s classic of the name.
If regular to those pages since (almost) day one, you then might remember us presenting a nice cut by the likes of the so called Aid To The Soulless which unfortunately never saw officially the day back then. Well this collective being the brainchild of our man Julius the Mad Thinker is to have justice paid with the release of ‘I’ll Do’ featuring Jon Pierce on newly launched Bordeaux-based RMA label. A classically done piece of groove which should please those of you geared towards the deep & jazzy soulful side of the things. Somehow surprising at first listen are the patterns used by the Doll Combers most likely on the introduction of their reinterpretation of Ananda Project’s ‘Stalk You’ although remaining true to what’s made the reputation of Chris Brann’s band (the depth!) and eventually adding fluidity and therefore more space to the initial harmonies (King Street). There are many ways to express depth, as shown by Detroit-based musician/producer Pirahnahead alongside Diviniti on the synth-led ‘Music’ displayin’ a cool breath of lectrobleepy effects over aerial vocal parts. And in the mean time, the opportunity to remember the late Ron Murphy who mastered this piece soon before passin’ (Whasdat). Obviously back in shining form is NJ-based producer Todd Gardner who, not only ready to make waves under his Djed guise with upcoming female singer Gynisse Way, looks set to put Kimara Lovelace back to the forefront with the solid although subtly arranged ‘These Times’ (King Street).
Can’t resist spreadin’ the word, right after havin’ been sent the next pearl to be released on Ocha Records by label head Carlos Mena himself. And you know what? My mind got like WAOW! Taken from Tamara Wellons album awaited later in the year with remixes by Abicah Soul and Lars Behrenroth to be mastered next week, I’ve been left so far with the vibrant rework of Jihad Muhammad with its synth line slightly reminiscent of Fingers Inc’s ‘Can You Feeel It’ and gorgeous keys addin’ much to the emphasis to the interpretation of the lady. Remember where you’ve heard this first!!! Much respect (& love) to my man Dwayne Taylor and his California-based label Paradax label who, despite following a low release schedule, always manages to come with the very best prior at the approach of the Conference. This year bein’ no exception with Jessica Williams’s newie called ‘Mingle With The Night’ where is to be found a bit of everything depending on your tastes from a mix to another, our preference going to both the Estranjeros Mix (a pure soulful phonky delite) and Aaron Arce on a more bumpin’ vein.
Temperature progressively climbing with NYC’s Devotion host Ruben Mancias at the command of the rumblin’ ‘Let It Rain (Ko Ma Ro)’ showin’ another facet of our beloved Wunmi. A cleverly conceived song around a hook which stands as instant with subtle arrangements, as notoriously delivered by both Mancias and one half of Fuzion, George Mena on their joint remix (Devotion). Another not to be missed affair for the lovers of phonky vibes is the 4X4 driven ‘Joy’ by Jazzloungerz featuring Maxyne Ryan with our favor going to the Filin Brake Funky Infect Remix (Reelgroove). Quite on the run at the mo’ are both Italian pair the Souldynamic and female singer Nicole Tyler teamin’ up on the bumpin’ deep & soulful ‘Meant To Be’ with our preference goin’ for the original version (Sunsoaked)
The word of conclusion as far as this selection is concerned left to Turkish maestro Doruk Ozlen adding a cinematic emphasis to the bouncing ‘Primitive Future’ by the likes of Julius Papp alongside Tonee Green deliverin’ the word, taken from the Soulfuric WMC’08 Sampler. (MFSB)
INTERVIEW
