The Forecast has endly got back to some more decent level for the season, this meaning hotter temperatures under a rising sun giving the feeling of some pre-holidays period in most of our minds, meanwhile the release schedule should be lowered for some time. As countdown is definitely on before we leave for summer break, MFSB delivers a complementary selection of grooves ready to set their marks on their appliances for recognition in the weeks to come...

IN DA MIX (HOUSE, GARAGE & OTHER ILLICIT GROOVES)

Although we'd been expecting some better climatic conditions for quite a while over there, here in Western Europe, gotta say that these 30 something Celsius are a bit of too much while (still) currently working and doesn't help to keep on being concentrated on what we're doing. Well, guess that it's nothing here but the summer appeal and some well deserved break after all these weeks/months of hyperactivity. And, frankly speaking there's nothing to really complain about if not the fact that we'd already like to be there, wouldn't you ?

By the time you're gonna read this some of the MAW promo which had been around during the Winter Music Conference should be out, incl. Franck Roger & Chris Wonder debut for Kenlou and the unmissable "Love Is On The Way" by Louie Vega featuring Blaze on Vega Records which has been amongst our favourite 12" in Miami. I clearly said "should" as some promo copies are already around although no official info has reached us so far despite many enquiries thus making us wonder if there's any PR service at MAW's HQ !!! Also finally or soon to be available are the Chillifunk newies from Verna Francis to Vanessa Freeman and Nathan Haines featuring Guida de Palma and they're all worth the mention (and the wait). Not to talk about label headz Dr Bob Jones and Lofty's recent collection of prods and collabs called Movin On about which we're gonna talk more deeply on our forthcoming album issue.

Very much in that afro latin jazzy summer vein is DJ Jorj newie aptly called "Till I see The Sun" on Curious label, carrying lush key arrangements and sensuous scatted vocal parts. In the same, vein gotta have a listen to Kings Of Spin newie on Jellybean and most particularily the Cuban influenced Endless Summer" on its original version. And the same has to be said, although in some different environment about Black Mamba (aka DJ Pap) featuring Sarudzayi's Africa" and its various versions displaying nothing but the depth from Naked Soul's original to Pico De Callo and Ken Carjaval's ones (Smooth Agent Records).

If there's any good new label around, better watch out Primal Groove Records, a NY based unit being the brainchild of DJ producers Franke Estevez & Anthony Zalez. Composed and produced by the latest with the help of Rosa Lopez writing the lyrics, the subtle "I Know You Love Me" by Danielle (their second release after Dee Holloway's "Say It" may well put her singer on the map the way "Tell Me All About it" did it for Treena Rose on Jellybean. In other words, everything but la classe ! Treena Rose's producer, George Mena goes solo and instrumental under the Mena Keys guise with a new 3 tracker on Jellybean Soul, exploring some intimate side of deep latin jazz groove. Definitely got to have an ear at his "Bone Delicious" cut with its instant friendly feel. Ron Trent's friend/partner Richard Brooks adding his own imput to this cool jazzy intermezzo with the sensuous "Whole Life" on Chroduroy.

If into the deep grooves at their best, Quentin Harris no surprinsingly drops the soulful "Traveling" with the help of singer Cordell McClary for Space Kat label. A cool but phat groove tinged with fragments of African beats producing that sort of appeal that people like Stevie Wonder and Omar provided us with in the past. Very much love this remix package of Soul Fuzion featuring Vee's "I've Got Rhythm", Kenny Dope giving it a more soulful friendly feel with its vocal tones alla Marvin Gaye (Dope On Wax). Fall Out EPOD leaves his series of R&B tunes remixes, delivering the Afro-tinged M'Bifo made of East African tribal chant mixed with a drop of tech influenced short snippets. Thangz look like going back'n'fourth as brilliantly demonstrated by UK outfit Reel People when, while remixing Hardsoul featuring Ron Carroll's classic "Back Together", add some soulful R&B feel to it (ITH).

Although everyone's left with his own definition of good music, there's no big risk affirming that the good music is the one that survives the time as subsequently demonstrated by the big amount of remixes, re-edits iof not simply edits around. As a matter of fact, we would say that legends don't die seing their works revamped as time goes, from a generation to another. Late French poet, Serge Gainsbourg (quoted as an absolute reference by Coldcut and many of those who've gone into the so called trip hop area) gets his classic "Requiem pour un con" reedited on Le Smoke Disques, meanwhile being priced an approx €-15 amount although originally issue decades ago ! Weird bits and bops dropped by Pepe Bradock on his remix activities for 70's soul diva Candi Staton on her eponym 3 tracker for Honest Jon's which was single of the week last week on Mancunian record shop Piccadilly Records (piccadillyrecords.com).

Long time no seen early Chicago house  producer, Marshall Jefferson so inspired. Being given the re-edit treatment of Salsoul classics "Love Sensation" and "Dr Love" respectively by Loleatta Holloway and First Choice, he's litterally shining with the latest, delivering an instrumental version of theirs with arrangements quite reminiscent of of his Ten City period or vice versa… Remember BlueBoy's classic "Sandman" back in the mid 90's on Guidance ? Guess you would while listening to the original version version by Undisputed Truth in 1979 given a new life on the  Moxie # 5 package under the "Undisputable" title dubbed with Made In USA's "Melodies" which would become a Ron Hardy's classic back in the days. More Made In USA on the 4th Moonstew label offering with a Re-edit of  "Shake Your Body" – the fliptune to their "Melodies" mentioned earlier on dubbed with of Prince's much sought after "Forever In My Life" sung in a sort of Marvin Gaye's way. Pushing us straight into some psychedelic disco/funk area is the infectious "Disco Fly" by William Stuckey on IVA considered as an all time favourite by Afrika Bambaataa and Kenny Dope. The latest 12" on Dave Lee and Sean P Better Days imprint feature 3 new and obscure disco, funk and soul re-edits worth the check including the opener "It's All Over Your Face" which might pretty well have influenced Jellybean Benitez while producing "Love Will Save The Day" for Whitney Houston in 1988. Back to today's jams are The Soul Disciple opening the accounts for thre new Raw Fusion/GAMM related label Soundscape out of Stockholm. Their "Planet Earth (Make It Equal)" is an absolute disco fused midtempo beauty, meanwhile hip hop/funk "Boom Banging" on the flipside is based on Mike T's funk classic " Do It Anyway You Want It" released some 20 years ago.

True soul never dies. Peace yall, MFSB

IN DA MIX TENNERZ
DANIELLE I Know You Love Me (Primal Groove Records)
THE SOUL DISCIPLE Planet Earth (Make It Equal) (Soundscape)
MENA KEYS Bone Delicious (Jellybean Soul)
HARDSOUL featuring RON CARROLL Back Together – Reel People Club Mix (ITH)
MOXIE # 5 Undisputed (Moxie)
KING OF SPIN Endless Summer (Jellybean)
FIRST CHOICE Dr Love – Marshall Jefferson Re-edit (Salsoul)
QUENTIN HARRIS presents CORDELL McCLARY Traveling (Space Kat)
ORIGINAL DISCO TED It's All Over Your Face (Better Days)
SOUL FUZION featuring VEE I've Got Rhythm – Kenny Dope Remix (Dope On Wax)