Things always come to an end and summer break makes no exception. This meaning that it has become time to go back to work for most of us. What a hectic time we've had over these last days, putting the things back in order and the final touches to new ones. Get ready for an explosive week in terms of editorial content from us with our first post-summer break Single Of The Week marking the long awaited return of Chicago luminary Chez Damier. A 10inch which, being entitled "The Gathering Vol.1" symbolizes what is to be expected on Louie Vega's EOL forthcoming Extensions album (see our interview with him) awaited sometime next month with the help of an impressive array of luminaries such as Glenn Underground, Frankie Feliciano, and DJ Gregory to name but a few. Not to mention Joe Claussell and inevitable Blaze (speaking of which we're having a profile of their West End Records label). Meanwhile, MFSB gets back in action with a new selection of current finest pieces of wax. Welcome to our issue # 63...

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

Hey folks, more than happy to be back on board for this first post-summer break editorial of the likes. Needless to add that this issue # 63 is to be sunny flavas oriented with with not only not to be missed cool & festive vibes, but also because subsequent temperatures have finally reached us on this side of the Pond. Anyway, nothing too surprising when noticing that it's still summertime, although most of us are back on our desks…

Never e-z to get the things back in order after quite a long summer break. Nevertheless, as you may have already heard, this period has been quite prolific in terms of thinking about new ideas then meet new people and, as a result, bring you new things.

Been around spinning a few times here or there and the least I could say is that, according to some of my pals, the crowd was quite missing in France, from Sunslice Festival 3rd edition in Toulon to many clubs and bars which could have hoped some bigger audience to come like Villa La Grange when they decided to have Kerri Chandler for the second time within a couple of month period on July 13. Well, guess we have to say that consistancy in terms of airing the good tunes is hardly missed these days on the too rare supposedly dedicated radio stations (Nova and RadioFG) which, at the end of the day, doesn't help the things grow in this territory. France being on top of that the only country in the world where (almost) everything looks like dead during the summer break period, as opposed to other territories where people keep on putting out good stuff in the meantime. This meaning that we're supposed to go thru a sort of recovery time after the break B4  being back in full effect.

What was then (during the summer) and what is now ? Who cares at the end of the day as a good piece of music will always be good even though being reviewed prior to or after its release date; a fact that we all would end up forgetting in this instant consumption society we're living in nowadays. This said, time to give life to this opening column of the likes for our brand new season and what a better choice than the subtle and blatant "Fly" recently released on Phuture Soul with 280 West sharing the duties with Diamond Temple and its fluid keyboard part about which BeBe & CeCe Winans had no doubt a major influence with their marvelous "Heaven" released on Capitol back at the end of the eighties.

Quite a while no heard about any new material from Chez Damier. Well the good news is that our man has not only one but two new 10" packages. First is that "Go" track that you, as regulars, may have had a pre-release listen on our home page since the beginning of August. A cool breezin' organic cut (our current Single Of The Week) that he and The Cru have recorded. The B-side – a remix of "Warfare" - being a pure slice of electronic groove in the vein of those repetitive Detroit kinda workz. Meanwhile, a vol.2 of the likes is awaited for an official release within a month. Most definitely a cool 2 tracker featuring the phonky "2 Or More" on a nice jazzy swingalong and the equally smooth "Rock Paradise" on some jazzy R&B kind of tip not to dissimilar to the memorable "Love X Love" by George Benson.

Larry Heard has many times thought about retiring. Would have been damnedly a shame, judging by his newie "When Summer Comes" under the Loosefingers moniker, quite close to those wonderful plaintive vibes that he's issued some 12 years ago on his Introducing album for MCA. A song dubbed with a double track B-side seing our man (friend) exploring quite different directions with the acidic… "Acid Bounce" and "Transmission X" (Alleviated). In if love with weird grooves and atmospheres, then you should have a careful listening to the 3 Chairs 3XLP on MRKT Chairs Publishing. Some of you may remember a first 12" released last year that we've talked to you about on these pages while back from DEMF'2003. Well, gotta say that is about the same vein, twisting repetitive funk over soul snippets on a very DIY way, which may be easily understood due to the fact that it's coming from Detroit and more precisely from that association made of Malik Pittman, Rick Wihite, Kenny Dixon Jr and Theo Parrish, no less with a subsequent result from such a reunion. Tons of jewels with magnetic moods in there indeed from the quite intimate "Blackbone Waltz" to the equally unmissable "Dance Of Nubia" and the edit of "I Wonder Why". No doubt, a true cherry on da cake.

Staying in the Motor City with our good ol' Alton… Miller delivering another slice of definitely suggested groove with "Choose To Believe" featuring the distinctive voice of Sky as remixed by Sweet Abraham on a very rocky way, thus providing us an absolute dancefloor killer. Not to mention the ultratmospheric "My Life" which is definitely not baaaad neither (Deeper Soul Recordings).

If into those festive tunes alla One 51 "Si Weka" which was one amongst of our favourite this summer here at IDMW.com, then Soul Creation "Coboaman" featuring Geebah Swaray should firmly stands on the first position on your want list on quite a vibrant afrosoul vein. Meanwhile, this Jersey production team follow up, "It's Your Life" vs Gmena featuring Tyrah J goes to a different although as soulful, classy way (Soul Groove). as One 51 do on their own label with vocalist Heidi Vogel on their deep'N jazzy"Bring Me To Your Life". Back to that afro vein we mentioned a bit earlier are Copyright with "Zamdeya" from "The Afro EP" with its catchy jazzy sax solo on their eponym label. Equally saxy is Marlon D's newie on Ricanstruction Called "The UC Anthem". A straight 4X4 beat over a phat bassline and electroish keyboards effects that reminds somehow some previous work from Mike Dunn. A package including some remix contribution from Alix Alvarez and Mr V on their Sole Channel moniker. Got to opportunity to have a bit more of Marlon D via his remixes of EMan "Slangin" tune which appeared a while ago on his Bang The Party compilation. There, the Underground Collective man displays his typical organ playin' over a spanish guitar and some percussive beats, meanwhile Tedd Patterson goes for a more primar direction around the giant man's scatt (Jellybean Soul). Released a few weeks later (by the end of last month) on the same label is "Think It Over", a cut originally produced by disco vet Michael Zager sung by soul diva Jennifer Holiday with a stomping contribution from DFA producer Darryl James., to feed the appetite of vocal classic fans. In the meantime and back to the Ricanstruction label, Fernando Soares presents Outra Nota featuring Raylema Rosas has some extra summer vibes on offer with the friendly "Quero Amar" on a sort of bossaish temper + extra (classy) remixes from Frankie Feliciano himself.

More Brazilian flavoured is the sensual "Estacao Verao" from Sabrina Malheiros with delicate reworks from Kenny Dope, taken from the 10th Anniversary comp that Far Out Recordings label is ready to put out within a few days and man, it's so sensual. Although a bit more phonky with some familiar bassline, Jerome Sydenham & Kerri Chandler drop their new collab, Candela, driving their traditional afrolatin jazzy trademark (Ibadan). Sun decidedly shines on Kerri's works nowadays as brilliantly demonstrated on his double pack of remixes for "Power Of One" by Rose. Another true gem, really (United). Meanwhile Chicago diva Kim English gets another remix from Jon Cutler on her friendly "C'est la vie" 12" awaited for an official release on suSu label  on Oct.4th. A package that'll be followed by Afro Angel "Magic" 2 weeks later. A classy soulful phonky cut receiving the midas touch of former Driza Bone member Vince Garcia on his G&G Remix  but also Bob Povey aka Alliance DC on a less coventional way somehow. Guess by the way that you also should like Solu Music featuring Kai Martin's new 12 called "This Time" which, although delivered with remixes from Jask remains at its very best on its original form (Solu Music).

Gotta say that I very much appreciate Plej latest 12" called "Lay Of The Land" released a week ago. A sort of cool intimate electronic based tchoon on its original form being added the plaintive vocals of Jonathan Backelie (also known under the Ernesto moniker). Then we would have the Jimpster's version and its phat rhythm/bassline hook being for much in its indeniable beauty (Exceptional). Goin' a few steps higher rhythmically speaking with The Plastic Avengers remix of "Silent Fools" by Joseph Malik. Well, if into some dark lectrophunk mood, you'd rather go for thi 1st class killer exactly embodying what we like to call the illicit grooves on this column (Compost). A comment that would also apply to Parov Stelar "Move On EP" seing this Austrian rising force doing abstract jazzified electronic work on the title track with an epic drop of blues and blips, before receiving a housey treatment by C Rock/Stir 15. In the meantime, an award should urgently been given to the aforementioned who, on the B-side, reaches Nirvana whilst providing us with the brilliantissime atmospheric'N jazzy "Look Behind" with the help of singer Anita Riegler (Etage Noir). Aie, aie, aie, amigos, rather check dis out folks : full album to be released next November ! Also have a big beat of that (or this) on Nubian Mindz latest 12" featuring KJ. "Afrika Dub" on the A-side is, as suggested on its title, a furious piece of trancey house melted with afro phonky dub fragments that, no doubt, should find its niche at François K. nites @ NYC Cielo (if it hasn't already !). "Northern Lights" on the flipside exploring some mo' atmospheric side.

A bit of pop appeal indeed on the Pasta Boys rework of Kaleidoscopio "Você Me Appareceu" tinged with a drop of filter, followed by some more phonky approach by DJ Eden, both worth to listen, meanwhile the flipside incl. the original version is very much so so (Irma). And also a particular mention to Krause's friendly relifting of "Sararà" by 12 Fingers featuring Viviane Cruz on the same label, as to "Two" by i-Deep featuring Elen Nascimento which could well get the interest of those into intimate loungy beats. Ciao amici, MFSB

IN DA MIX # 63 TENNERZ

PAROV STELAR featuring ANITA RIEGLER Look Behind (Etage Noir)
3 CHAIRS I Wonder Why – album version (MRKT Chairs Publishing)
CHEZ DAMIER & THE URBAN CRU Go (Atal)
280 WEST featuring DIAMOND TEMPLE Fly (Phuture Soul)
CLAUDE MONNET presents MONICA NOGUEIRA Eu Vou Levar – DJ Gregory Mix
BLAZE Astrology – Album Version (Papa Records)
ALTON MILLER featuring SKY Choose To Believe – Sweet Abraham's Raw Jack (Deeper Soul)
LOOSEFINGERS When Summer Comes (Alleviated Music)
PLEJ Lay Of The Land – Jimpster's Vocal Version (Exceptional)
NUBIAN MINDZ featuring KJ Afrika Dub (Unlimited Irma)