Funny how things may go at some time… The House Music Awards have just been attributed last week and you know what ? Shapeshifters 'Lola's Theme' which stands as the Essential Selection Track Of The Year happened to be our Single Of The Week during the Winter Music Conference ! Will we do the same next year ? We shall see. As for the immediate, we're in good company with Dennis Ferrer taking the center stage this week for his first drop on Defected and Dutch pair Born To Funk (Interview) who had the former Single Of The Week here on IDMW.Com. Ooops by the way, don't forget to caste your votes for the best of 2004 (see our forum) for our special issue to be online on the very last week of the year.

IN DA MIX (House, Garage & Other Illicit Grooves)

Another bunch of definitive quality delicatessen on display this week, from Dennis Ferrer (our Single Of The Week) to the seminal Jungle Wonz's as revamped by Danny Krivit with the confirmation of a growing link between house & R&B as demonstrated by Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Tamia, Brandy & the likes seing their material reworked by people such as Tyrone Francis, Quentin Harris, DJ Spinna and Sir Piers amongst others. As if R&B had to become danceable like back in the days.

Our very first props this week going directly to Jazzy Jeff, although it's not time to talk about albums for his work and selection on his Soulheaven comp for Defected, displaying a vast array of timeless classics such as Booker T & The MG's "Melting Pot", Kool & The Gang's "Open Sesame", The O' Jays' quintessential "Now That We Found Love" as redone by reggae outfit Third World, Bohannon's "Let's Start The Dance", the late Barry White's "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness" and many others. Quite refreshing as well as a definitive testimony reassuring about the power of timeless made music. A thang that many current producers would be very much inspired to have in mind when on their way for some recording session !!!

Freshly sacred as the label of the year at the HMA last week, Defected add a new corker on their belt with the infectious "Hit It Off/Jero", a double tracker dispalying the versatility of Dennis Ferrer scoring the Single Of The Week here on IDMW.Com. So I guess that U know what you have 2 do. Buy this ! And also gotta do the same with the revamp of Jungle Wonz's classic " Bird In A Guilded Cage" seing Danny Krivit adding much drama emphasis to it (Skylax).

A quick look back in the days (let's say the early 80's) reminds us how R&B was to the period what dance music is nowadays although being far much diversified. As West End Records co-founder Mel Cheren said, we somehow used to talk about danceable R&B. Well, 20 years after, it looks like a new cycle is about to begin - although there's always been some connection between R&B and house (thanks to Johnny D keepin' the vibe alive with his A&Ring activities at Atlantic Records in NYC) -  with more and more translations from a genre to another. Look at what happened to Alicia Keys for instance as recently noticed by our Swiss partner Michael Fossati of spiritofhouse.com. But also Tamia with her recent "Still" delivered on a seducive double pack featuring the remixing talents of DJ Spinna, Johnick, E-Smoove and DFA (Atlantic). If regular to those pages, you may remember our interview with mysterious Canadian bootleggers Alan Smithee best remembered for their work on Natalie Cole's "Tell Me All About It". Well, the good thing for them is that they'd been officially commissionned by Atlantic to relift a Brandy's song. Never understood what happened since although it would seem that they've ended up releasing the song in question – "About Our Love" on their own, judging by the presence of a CMAW dub of theirs as a part of the Pico de Gallo remixes recently released on Chicago Smooth label and it's really worth to check it out.

Not that easy as opposed to put one's hand on the very best out of the numerous remix packages of Jill Scott's "Golden", most of them being whites. Although you might have a listen to the smooth and jazzy approaches delivered on Philly label, I definitely would recommand you the Redsoul Remix, the good deal being that on board is also their revamp of Erykah Badu's "I Want You", which makes it quite an estimable investment. This year 2K4 should also be remembered for Prince's return in full effect under his own guise. I can't remember if that stunning track called "Digital Garden" was part of his latest LP as I ain't got the aformentioned next to me. This said, the song in question has received a smooth revamp on some deep phonky tip by Adam Goldstone and also deserves full attention (white).

Much talked already about Alison Crockett's "Crossroads", should it be by the likes of Nik Weston or Michael Fossati and I can't really know what I could add to what our people have already said except the fact that it definitely looks like some of the most delicate reworks DJ Spinna has ever done so far (Wah Wah 45s). Long time no heard about Sarah Jane Morris. Most remembered for her "Dream On Baby" reworked by Ron Trent on Irma a couple of years ago, the exquisite lady is back on the same label with the vibrant "It's Jesus I Love" as relifted by Max Sedgley adding much drama to this piece of atmospheric phonky breakbeat. One of our faves this week, nooooo doubt ! On her way to release her awaited debut LP by the beginning of 2005, UK songstress Verna Francis has a new single – "Look" – delivred with remixes from NoTenshun and fast growing name Franck Roger with a very smooth soul jazzy approach (Chillifunk) and stay tuned as our man has tons of goodies under his belt to be relased in the weeks/months to come. On a quite different tip is the remix package of John Consemulder's "Rewind To Sart" courtesy of John Tejada & Pirahnahead to be released any day now. Gotta say that should they be deepfunklectrified or on a more organic broken beatish jazz/funk vein, they perfectly fit to the lady's sweet voice (Moods & Grooves).

Don't expect anything to get you oops upside your head while listenig to "Takin' U Back" by James Ratcliff presents Urban Groove featuring Tommy Blaize although this conventional approach has a definitive friendly & classy laidback vibe to feed the expectations of the more soulful fans of you (suSu). And the same comment oughtta be done regarding Phil Hooton featuring Testament's "King Of Kings" on a gospelly house vein. Quite classic in terms of approach although seducive on both Original and Terry Hunter's mixes (suSu). Slightly deeper is Jaymz Nylon featuring Edwin Soto's "You Gotta Love" deserving a careful listen if searching for some vibrant atmosphere over a cool beat (RH).

2004 also sees the return of Manchester pioneer A Guy Called Gerald with a new LP awaited by the beginning of next month on K7! Quite unpredictable, our man and long time friend opens his "First Try EP" with… "First Try", quite reminiscent of the period that saw him working alongside 808 State back at the end of the 80's, the rest being far more abstract and experimental.

We loved Intuit's album released earlier this year and we love their current Remix EP and more particularly the soulful jazz'n' phonky "Planet Birth" featuring legendary singer Andy Bey, as retouched by Trüby Trio. Also included are the already classic "O Preguiçoso" delivered in some acoustic version as well as "Peace Of Mind", an infectious piece of lightly lectrified soul funk by the likes of Raw Deal. In other words a very good investment on its whole (Compost). On the same label, Beanfield look like in love with contrasts with their "Birds & Bees EP" having the noisy lectrified  "Birds & Bees" dubbed with the smooth & delicate "Tides" retouched this time by Soulpatrol.

If wondering why Nutropic who are listed amongst our editorial team members haven't dropped a single line so far, the reason is quite simple. The boys have been working on numerous projects here and there - not to mention the current recording of their awaited debut-LP – the latest of which being a couple of seducive reworks for Tony Allen and Zuco 103 put together on the same package on Comet Records and their famous update of Letta M'Bulu "Banoyi" classic under the Afro Jazz Pioneers which we've had a bit more than 6 months ago as a Single Of The Week on CD-R and it's been really worth the wait (Early Records). In search for some Afro-beat ? Well Jamayka Records have a killer called "Mister Sinister" by the likes of Kokolo Afro Beat Orchestra served with effective mixes of Faze Action and dis sh** is another pure slice of dope.

If into the abstract latin jazzy kind of vibes then no doubt Jeremias Santiago "Keyzzz"'s 4 U and more precisely it's B-side featuring the nu bossaey "San Juan Soul" and the housey "Latin Woman" (Jellybean Soul).

See ya ! Peace, MFSB

IDM TENNERZ

SARAH JANE MORRIS It's Jesus I Love - Max Sedgley Remix (Irma)

JUNGLE WONZ Bird In A Guilded Cage - Danny Krivit Reedit (Skylax)

JOHN CONSEMULDER Rewind To Start – Pirahnahead Remix (Moods & Grooves/test)

DIGITAL GARDEN – Adam Goldstone Vocal Remix (white)

ALISON CROCKETT Crossroads – DJ Spinna Remix (Wah Wah 45s)

BRANDY About Our Love – CMAW Dub (Chicago Smooth)

DENNIS FERRER Hit It Off (Defected)

JEREMIAS SANTIAGO San Juan Soul

TAMIA Still – DFA Remix (Atlantic)

KOKOLO AFRO BEAT ORCHESTRA Mister Sinister – Faze Action Vocal Remix (Jamayka)