So here's what I've been into recently...mostly on the Latin breakbeat
house tip.
Fwiw, the UK Garage sections at the record stores have gone from
nonexistent to actually having their own little area in some of the
stores. It's still really hard to find UK Garage vinyl in the US though.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Newer purchases
Afro Elements "The 'Chocolat' EP" (Vinyl Cuts/Internal Bass Records)
Vinyl Cuts has put out a lot of great 12" this year, many with the steady
hand of Mr. Gone in the mix. I think I have the "New Jazz Hustlers" 12"
somewhere on Vinyl Cuts. Basically great jazz funk without much in the way
of intrusive vocals. Funky guitars, real instruments for the most part,
and a tad slower BPMs than the standard house fare, not downtempo
necessarily. Great stuff though...
Afro Medusa "Pasilda" (Vendetta Records, VENMX 287)
I'm not too familiar with Blanco y Negro as a label but I'm under the
impression that I'll like a lot of what they put out. This is pretty Latin
house with good builds and some good instrumentation. With 3 different
mixes, you should be able to find one to fit your set.
http://www.blancoynegro.com
Day One "Waiting for a Break" (Melankolic)
My vote for 12" that you probably slept on...Day One is an
Virgin/Astralwerks/Melankolic artist that is kinda
downtempo-rock-ish. There's 2 Groove Armada remixes on here, but the
groovy one is the "Big Tent Dub." It definitely has that GA club remix
feel, which I'm a fan of. It's not that fast of a song, and not that
intricate of a mix, but it keeps you moving and keeps a smile on your
face. Put this one on and imagine yourself at Twilo on a Wednesday for a
Groove Armada residency night....
Ian Pooley "900 Degrees" (V2 Music, 2000)
This is the official 12" release of "900 Degrees" which was out on a white
label promo a few months ago. This one has the original mix as well as the
"1000 Degrees - And Rising" mix as well as the "Cool Down Mix." Ian
Pooley's new album has so many strong Latin house singles on it- it's
really a fun album reminiscent of the summer. I wish they would put out
"Balmes" on a 12" and remix it...
Mandalay "Not Seventeen" (V2 Music)
I'm not familiar with the original artist's sound. I have to admit I
bought this 12" for the Tom Middleton remixes, but depending on if you got
the promo or the official 12", you also get an Attica Blues remix as well
as a Futureshock remix. I love the Tom Middleton "Cosmos" remix- it's got
some unobtrusive filtered female vocals (Kirsty Hankshaw?) and rolls along
gently with the house beat behind it.
MJ Cole "Sincere" (Talkin Loud/Mercury)
This track is another one that EVERYONE loves, but I stalled on it
originally because I had bought the first 12" and when this second one came
out with the Jazzanova and Naked Music remixes, I didn't realize that the
second one was much better than the first! 'Nuff said- it's on turntables
everywhere and it's great- especially if you love Jazzanova and Miguel Migs
like I do.
Negrocan "Cada Vez" Remixes (Pimento Music)
This is a 12" with NEW remixes by Avant Garde and CJ Love. Production is
by the guy who did the original production, Grant Nelson. Vocals by
Lilliana Chachin, of course. If you liked the original single, and many,
many people did, then you might like these remixes too. Desmond, I bought
you a second copy since I know you love this track so much.
New Phunk Theory "twilight/little green dub" (Forensic, FOR-010)
Driving yet groovy, both sides of this 12" are pretty minimal but with
enough melodic flourishes to keep my interest. Definitely nightclub
music. I feel like I own some other 12" from these guys but their website
is down.
http://www.forensicrecords.co.uk
Muki "I Don't Want To Know" (Mantra)
I have to admit I was brought in by the promise of the Mr. Scruff remix- in
the trip-hop vein. There's two other mixes that are more house oriented
that I like too. I know I've heard this famous song before with the
refrain "I don't want to know about evil, only want to know 'bout love" but
I can't figure out if it's a remix or a sample or what.
http://www.mantrarecordings.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Older releases:
(I'm still catching up with my house music collection in that I'm buying
older stuff that working DJs already probably own.)
Afro Celt Sound System "Release" (Realworld/Virgin)
This one is the 12" that has the remixes by MAW and Rollo of
Faithless. The MAW remixes caught my ear- classic MAW beats backed
against the unforgettable Irish vocals of Iarla O'Lionard. I think there
might be a Kenny Dope remix as well. Anyone know?
Isolee "Beau mot plage" (Classic Music, licensed from Playhouse/Ongako)
The Latin house remix of "Beau mot plage" is the "Freeform Reform Parts I &
II" version. The original track is pretty tech-y and there's a Jeff
Mills-ish remix on the original 12" that isn't my cup of tea. Definitely
look for the "Freeford Reform remix" and you'll be set :)
Masters at Work "Brazilian Beat" (Mr. Bongo, MRB 12005)
This is on one of the popular Mr. Bongo compilations, Brazilian Beats I
think, but with remixes by Kenny Dope and MAW. Again, Lilliana Chachin
provides the vocals- I wonder how prolific this woman is?
Mr. Hermano "Vasco Da Gama" (Disorient/Mr. Bongo, Sushi 18)
I own the Kevin Yost remixes of "Corcovada" by Mr. Hermano on Disorient and
that's been a popular record, so I naturally grooved to this newer
release. Disorient calls themselves a "breakbeat house" label and I think
that's pretty descriptive of the sound that I like. This would be Latin
break house- but however you classify it, it's a fun sound and is sure to
get bodies movin'!
http://www.mrbongo.com/disorient
Negrocan "Cada Vez" (Kontor, 2000)
This is the ubiquitous Latin house track that so many people have loved
this year all over the dance music world. It really is a great track that
gets everyone dancing. I picked this one up at Clear Music in SF where I
think they had 30 copies (!) of it left. So if you're visiting SF, do
yourself a favor and save yourself an afternoon to go crate diggin' at
Clear- their selection was great!
A Man Called Adam "Duende Dubs #2" (Other Records, 1999) Mixes by Tom
Middleton
I buy anything by Tom Middleton basically on the spot. His mix album on
Mixmag "A Jedi's Night Out" was a complete revelation for me and since then
I've been a big fan. This is an older release of remixes of _The Calling_
"Stay With Me" and "Music So Clear." Both are fun clubby tracks but "Stay
With Me" is definitely the one I'll spin out. I know I have this track
somewhere else in my collection on CD.
web info on Tom Middleton and Global Communication
http://imusic.com/showcase/club/globalcommunication.html
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=B44926
Caron Banez's review from last year...
http://www.cmd.uu.se/AcidJazz/Backup/1999-Apr/0300.html
Gabriel Rene with Nicole Weisberg "Don't You Cry" (OM Records)
I already own this on 12" but it's one of my favorites and I wanted a
second copy to mix with in the event that I want to do a longer mix. It's
one of those songs that I'm so in love with that I'm worried about playing
it to death.
It's cool buying anything from OM when you're in San Francisco. The
cashier at Amoeba said to me, "Oh, you're picking up Gabe's record?" as if
everyone in SF knew of it and how good it is.
Yukihiro Fukitomi "Brasilia 2000 EP" (Nite Grooves)
Fukitomi, like this label Nite Grooves, is kind of hit-or-miss with
me. This is jazzy, Brazilian instrumentals over a driving house
beat. Some great guitar and keyboard work for sure- not the most stand out
tracks though. But I don't necessarily like everything that Fukitomi does
nor everything on NG. Watch out for duds on this label.
Other stuff:
Clubbed to Death #2 (Mowax MW037R)
I had to pick this up because I only have the single on CD. For those who
don't know this famous piece of electronic music, it was one of the pivotal
songs in The Matrix soundtrack. This is the second piece of what I guess
is the 2 disc 12" release. This has the "Kurayamino Variation" as well as
remixes by Peshay, Carl Craig and the "Totally Waxed Remix." I'm not sure
if this was new or not (I doubt it) but I bought it as new and am happy :)
That's all for now folks!
Gen
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