Time’s flying as ever with, as announced on our previous Issue, a new delivery of not to be missed goodies aptly designed to heat our hearts, bodies & souls during the Summer, be they vocal, abstract, banging and eventually chilling. Welcome to this already 10th installment of our fortnightly rendez-vous…
One word if you allow me before goin’ any further as to remain true to my reputation of being someone who’s never minced words…Quite ironical to see to see how the dematerialization of media has to some extend made the things harder for us – the reputedly observers – to be provided with the infos… the music in order to simply do our job at the most acurate time. And although I may understand the fear of some people to have their sales potential ruined because of eventual illegal sharing, I guess I’ll never stand the attitude of a handful of those who, being addressed messages, never give a single answer. Quite a curious conception of PRing I would be tempted to say, if not civility within a scene which has been suffering from a lack of visibility for an eternity despite the existence of real talents deserving far more than what’s offered to them nowadays. Anyway, understand this whoever will… Time to focus on (far) more positive sides and God (hopefully) knows how there are many…
Summer has never seemed so close and it’s definitively perceptible musically speakin’ with countless cool, friendly, inspiring, atmospheric vibes comin’ out at the moment. As if there was A need for both intimacy and more elaborated productions as opposed to the reputedly festive gang banging stuff destined to fill the biggest floors of the world, beginning with Beefa (Ooops, sorry… Ibiza)!
Definitely far from the aforementioned is Gabriele Poso’s new offering on Yoruba. A 4 tracker consisting in as many remixes of his From The Genuine World album released 3 months ago with our favorite being the smooth & sensous ‘Afrika’ as subtly redesigned by Ezel over a bossa-influenced groove enlightened by aerial synth parts. Rhythm is definitely not (only) a matter of beats. There’s something of both the Naked Music label and Sade on the subtle arrangements delivered by Vincent Valler on his Main Mix of Funktrain featuring Nica Brooke’s aptly titled ‘Sweetly’ sounding like a magnificient blend of atmospheric soul with a slice of pop feel such as championed by Everything But The Girl back in the day (Reelgroove). No matter what or how… The Brits have never reached higher… peaks than when being left with the opportunity to fully express who they are, as brilliantly demonstrated during the acid jazz/rare groove/Brit-soul era from the end of the eighties til the middle of the nineties with Kenny Thomas adding his name to the list back then… And the story to repeat itself nowadays with ‘Sunshine Girl’, an absolute fresh song as reworked by UK DJ/remixer Phil Hooton designing a subtly arranged jazzy environment for much on the ‘friendliness’ of this seducing cool swing (Soul-Fi).
Embedding that soul freshness on their repertoire since day 1 Stateside are without a single doubt Tortured Soul with ‘Your Dream Is My Dream’ taken from their third album to be released after the festive period being NO exception… Distant Music man Jon Cutler adding what it takes to make this a not to be missed affair and definitive alltime classic (Coco Soul). UK band Reel People alongside front man Darien givin’ the aforementioned their clue with the old school sounding ‘Upside’ as retouched by Karizma, somehow reminding of Jamiroquai’s works (Papa Records). Meanwhile Ian Friday goes the opposite way givin’ a subtle NYC flavoured tessiture to the vibrant ‘Broken Dreams’ by the likes of UK collective Ceramic featuring Aisling Stephenson (NYC Soul). Jellybean Soul adding two new episodes to their impressive series of must haves with the brilliant ‘The Lover That You Are’ as remixed by George Mena & Marlon D for Pulse with Antoinette Robertson’s vocal performance somehow reminding of Chaka Khan and Darryl D’Bonneau’s ‘Miracles’ as bumpingly revamped by Jon Cutler…
I guess this may sound far from realistic, but can’t help myself wishin’ good music to be played in big rooms as opposed to the usual flow of seeminglike crap displayed here and there year after year for so long!!! The boiling hot ‘Lover Forevermore Amen’ by Bobby D’Ambrosio alongside female singer Kelli Sae sounding like quite an appropriate choice for the occasion. It’s inspiring, it’s groovy, it’s enlightening, and (of course) it’s definitely entertaining with our preference going to both the sultry Osio Club Mix and the epic B&E’s Save Our Soul Dub (Soulfuric). Meanwhile Dutch pair Roog & Greg aka Hardsoul give a trancey feel to ‘Nothing Better Than Your Lovin’ by the likes of T.J. Cases featuring Natalie Broomes currently causin’ some serious devastation in the clubs (Hardsoul Pressings) with the tribalish ‘Empire Of Africa’ by DJ Romain which we’ve welcomed as our Single Of The Week during the Miami Conf’ deserving a careful listen (Nu Faze)…
Not many are those inclined to vary the pleasures and as a result display a real versatility. Thanks if I may say so to the formats diktat, and props due to Chicago wizard Abicah Soul (Project) for not missing an occasion to show the various sides as to who he is from a release to another with the infamous Part 2 Peak Mix of his eponym cut takin’ us to some deep jazzy tech-influenced frenzy (Abicah Soul Records). We made room for Joe Flame’s ‘Love Is Blind’ on the last issue of TSIDM as a part of his substancial recent efforts. Here we go again this time with the deep and abstract ‘Night Lights’ displaying that plaintive emphasis which would be for much on Larry Heard’s reputation along the years (D#Sharp).
It’s jazzy, it’s groovy, it’s chillin’ it’s soulful and (of course) it’s definitely vibin’. Well it’s pretty much what made the signature of another Chicago hi-lite playin’ keys like no other. His name? GU equally known as Glenn Underground with the exquisite ‘Adore You’ featuring female singer Roxy delivered in two absolute not to be missed versions (Strictly Jaz Unit). Hard not to establish some parental link with the aforementioned while listening to hyperactive Scott Wozniak’s gorgeous ‘Love & Life’, here as well on a deep’n’jazzy sort of plaintive tip over a circular bassline (Refresh). And this series of abstract deep vibes to go further way with NYC-based producer Cassady Locke droppin’ the organ-led ‘1968’ over an Afro-beat influenced rhythm (Esho).
It’s deep, it’s abstract, it’s atmospheric, it’s hypnotizing and (no doubt) it’s definitely devastating with chances to put the Ibiza dancefloors on fire. It’s title? ‘Dancing Strings’ with reminiscences of Sueño Latino’s eponym classic and Soul Central’s… ‘Strings Of Life’ to be credited to vet producer Wayne Gardiner (CIMA). Kerri Chandler sort of going back to da roots with the old school deep acidic vocoderized ‘Fortran’ standing as the absolute piece of choice out of his recent Computer Games LP on French Deeply House Rooted label. Putting an end to our rendez-vous with another subtle blend courtesy of Terry Hunter givin’ a Giorgio Moroder-ish deeplectrodisco tip tinged with jazzy and funky vibes on his fascinating remix of Leonard Part Sixx’s ‘Strobelight Revival’ (T’s Box).
That’s it from us now. Back to you in a fortnight… With usual thanks to spiritofhouse.com and udmshow.com for givin’ extra exposure to this column… Peace y’all. MFSB
TraxsourceINDAMIX TENNERZ
FUNKTRAIN featuring NICA BROOKE
Sounding like an unlikely blend of Naked Soul, Sade and EBTG…
TORTURED SOUL
The US ambassadors of soul delivering another alltime classic…
ABICAH SOUL PROJECT
Transportation guaranteed on this deep jazzy-tech trip!
GABRIELE POSO
Your sweetness is my weakness…
LEONARD PART SIXX
A fascinating trip to the epicenter of the groove, melting jazzy & funky elements over over deeplectrodisco vibes…
KENNY THOMAS
Brit-soul at its absolute peak…
CERAMIC featuring AISLING STEPHENSON
A subtle breathe on it makin’ those typical NYC flavas so unique…
BOBBY D’AMBROSIO featuring KELLI SAE
Could it be that this is the new ‘Promised Land’???
REEL PEOPLE featuring DARIEN
Karizma delivering the perfect Brit-soul environment for his distinguished UK pals…
KERRI CHANDLER
The Kaoz man going back 2 da roots with this old school Casio-ish acidic vocoderized jam…
INDAMIXWORLDWIDE.COM: Only the best, No time for the rest!
INTERVIEW
