From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-03-29 22:45:07
Jon Freer’s Reviews 29th March 2005.
Single action:
Red Medicine feat The GQ – Let The Music Play (White)
Recloose feat Joe Dukie – Dust (Peacefrog)
Blaze Pres Underground Dance Artists For Life feat Barbara Tucker – Most Precious Love (Defected)
Rickey Calloway – Tell Me Parts 1+2 (Kay-Dee)
Harris & Orr – Spread Love (Kay-Dee)
Johnny King & The Fatback Band – Peace, Love Not War (Kay-Dee)
The Dap-Kings – Nervous Like Me (Kay-Dee)
Kemdi – Still A Dancer (Alix Alvarez RMXS) (Coco Soul)
Delgui feat Colonel Red – It’s Gonna Be Alright (4 Lux)
Verna Francis – Twilight (Blackbeard RMXS) (Chillifunk)
Thanks to Greg Wilson, Lily at Peacefrog, Doug at Sainted PR, Toni T at Defected, Kenny Dope, Nicole at Kay-Dee, Sean and Michael at Coco Machete, Nik Weston and Lofty, Bob Jones & Gavin at Chillifunk for these…
Red Medicine feat The GQ – Let The Music Play (White)
Cat No: REDMED001. Promo.
Early 80s electro pioneer Greg Wilson has revisited Shannon’s timeless “Let The Music Play”, and the result is a pair of awesome sonic reconstitutions that retain the innocence of the original, but give Shannon’s warbles a more weighty backdrop. The ‘Club Mix’ sees steady beats, furtive congas and a passionate bass team up behind the vocals that a recall a night when love was discovered on the dancefloor. The ‘Dub Mix’ concentrates on the power of the trembling bass and steppin’ beats.
Recloose feat Joe Dukie – Dust (Peacefrog)
Cat No: PFG063. Release Date: 25th April 2005.
This contagious jazz assed wiggler has been shaking butts left right and centre for a good long while, so its good to see Peacefrog do the honourable thing and finally get round to releasing the said record. Friendly guitars, infectious saxes and amusing keys all leave their mark, with the bravado-rich lurving vocals capping off the track splendidly. The ‘Demo’ version is naturally a slightly less polished affair, where laughing saxes and a funked out guitar do their dance.
Blaze Pres Underground Dance Artists For Life feat Barbara Tucker – Most Precious Love (Defected)
Cat No: DFT097. Release Date: April 2005
The most prominent face in UK House reaches its century of releases (despite the cat no. reading DFT097) with an outstanding slice of gospel House. It’s all about ‘DF’s Future 3000 Mix’, where arresting keys, wide-eyed strings, propelling synths and God-found vocals combine in a mind-blowing manner. Copyright’s ‘Spiritual Club Mix’ doesn’t particularly invoke visions of the Lord, but the projecting synths, unstoppable bass action and content vocals produce another floor-filing version of the track. Franck Roger’s remix is closest to the original Blaze image of the track, courtesy of light-footed beats, graceful ‘jazz’ keys and ecstatic vocals. Martin Solveig’s re-edit is a slightly toughened reformation of Dennis’ mix, with an intense bass, shiny stabbing synths and a bright-eyed flute. Whether this crosses over from the dancefloor to the chart it remains to be seen, but “Most Precious Love” oozes floor-packing appeal.
Rickey Calloway – Tell Me Parts 1+2 (Kay-Dee)
Cat No: KD-004. Promo.
Kenny Dope has got together with Rickey Calloway on this incredibly raw sounding, real funk outing. ‘Part 1’ sees brass literally scream their hearts out, alongside insistent guitars and vocals from a feller intent on finding out where he stands regarding love. ‘Part 2’ will have those heads nodding, hips swinging and feet dancing, thanks to the track’s hot stepping drums, displaying guitars and committed vocals.
Harris & Orr – Spread Love (Kay-Dee)
Cat No: KD-1203. Available Now.
Sounding as fresh as the day they were originally committed to vinyl in the mid 70s, these couple of tracks from Harris & Orr have a magical vibe that will light up the world. “Spread Love” is about doing exactly that, with beautiful keys, Scott-Heron type vocals and pushy drums giving out the affection. “Opened My Eyes To The World” sees a life-changing experience recalled over teary keys and devoted guitars.
Johnny King & The Fatback Band – Peace, Love Not War (Kay-Dee)
Cat No: KD-1202. Available Now.
Production magician and all round music lover Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez has reconstructed a track whose sentiments are still as relevant to listeners today as they were to their original audience in the 1970s. Kenny Dope’s ‘Extended Mix’ of “Peace, Love Not War” sees a smudgy bass, on toes shuffling beats and helpful brass back the positive vocals. His instrumental lets forceful brass, optimistic strings and loveable keys do their thing. Great stuff.
The Dap-Kings – Nervous Like Me (Kay-Dee)
Cat No: KD-003. Available Now.
Dapper Bosco Man has a wonderful name, and the music he’s laid down with Kenny Dope is pretty special, too. A familiar, unrefined bass kicks off proceedings before grandiose brass and standing firm beats enter the fray, later on the brass and beats go mental. Flip for a solemn drum mission with avid cymbal tingles.
Kemdi – Still A Dancer (Alix Alvarez RMXS) (Coco Soul)
Cat No: CCS-004. Available Now.
The Machete’s sweeter and more well to do little sister returns with a pair of remixes of Kemdi’s “Still A Dancer” that eclipse the original version. Alix Alvarez’s vocal revision places buttery chords, cushioned beats and sadness-tinged keys behind vocals steeped in melancholia. His ‘Sole Channel Dub’ is a minimal journey, with dependable keys and backbone providing percussion.
Delgui feat Colonel Red – It’s Gonna Be Alright (4 Lux)
Release Date: May 2nd 2005.
The Colonel puts Delgui through their paces on an upbeat broken number that will have them bouncing up and down at the Co-op, Eyes Down and beyond…Red reassures that everything will be all right on the original, to a backing provided by a mad horn-bass and fighting beats. Gerd’s 4Lux mix finds the beats a little plumper and the bass a little more active. The Stereo Twins overhauls are a bit more housey, but their pushy keys and self-assured beats don’t provide a sparkling backdrop for Mr. Red.
Verna Francis – Twilight (Blackbeard RMXS) (Chillifunk)
Cat No: 12CF074. Available Now.
The hairy booty kings return for another fun swashbuckling adventure. Their vocal reshape of “Twilight” sees a scowling blunted bass and wincing strings do the damage, whilst their instrumental sees the stoned to the eyeballs bassline lead the charge. “Never To Late” has Verna displaying her availability over protruding guitars and jabbering brass, with the instrumental version being a retro-sounding brass banquet.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
*Website: www.mosoul.co.uk.
*Freelance journalist.
Publications include -
Keep On Magazine
Blues & Soul Magazine
XLR8R Magazine
City Life Magazine
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littleplanet.net
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skansen.no
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