March 1999There is a good chance that you could be reading this column on the beach or by the pool in South Beach during Winter Music Conference '99. If you happen to be one of the well-seasoned veterans of the music industry, do yourself a favor, sometime during the conference try to reach out to at least one of the wide-eyed neophytes in your midst. I can't think of anything more fulfilling to take home with you than the knowledge that you were able to encourage or impart some of your knowledge and experience to one of our next generation. I can still remember some of those first few encounters with various people in the music industry many, many years ago and my gratitude and admiration for those generous men and women has stayed with me till this day. On the other hand, if you are an aspiring "music industry type," don't stay on the sidelines, get involved. Attend panels. If you are at a panel ask questions and make statements. If you are at a panel and it seems remedial, you probably have something to give to that group. Do not be hesitant to approach label reps, artists, or "big name" DJs -- they wouldn't be at the conference if they didn't expect to give a little. It's been quite a while since we've seen SATOSHI TOMIIE's name up front on a release. "Darkness" on the UK's INCredible label has Tomeii teamed up with ROBERT OWENS on vocals (it's great to hear these two together again) and with CEVIN FISHER adding his mastery on production. This is all that you might expect from this power trio; great sultry, moody lyrics, fantastic keyboards, and programming with infectious turn-of-the-millennium tribal rhythms. This release harkens back to "March" by The Look (aka Danny Teneglia). I wouldn't be at all surprised if this isn't one of the key conference tracks this year."(YOU GOT ME) BURNIN' UP" on Tommy Boy Silver Label is yet another peak-hour scorcher for CEVIN FISHER featuring Loleatta Holloway. Initially you may think that the use of "Love Sensation" is a bit timeworn (we all remember Black Box "Ride On Time"), however Mr. Fisher takes a nice piece of this classic and freshens it up with a very 1999 approach, using unique disco stabs and weird filters on everything. There has yet to be a voice more powerful on the dancefloor. If there has ever been any group that deserves proper club recognition MOLOKO is one that is long overdue. Their new release "Sing It Back" on Echo UK should definitely turn the tide. It was originally out about six months ago with Herbert mixes. Now in this incarnation Todd Terry turns in a truly out of character presentation. First of all his mix clocks in at 9:02, with about three minutes of intro, a rarity to say the least for Mr. Terry. The song's sexy, uplifting lyrics are delivered by Roisin Murphy in a jazzy/dreamy way that is always an interesting blend when the production is geared to peak anthem territory. The whole piece follows through with various levels of builds and quirky, workable breaks that will keep the dancefloor mesmerized for the full nine minutes. You'll be hooked by Terry's novel bass filters that come off like a spaced-out didgeridoo. It's refreshing to hear Todd add more of his imagination to the production instead of his standard formula. On this first disc there is also a bangin' breaks mix by Dope Smugglaz and a french-flavored mix by band member Mark Brydon. Disc two presents us with mixes from Boris Dlugosh with Michael Lange and by Booker T. They both tender mixes that are finely crafted and have a much safer, commercial quality. Let's hope that Warner Brothers doesn't drag their feet getting this one out domestically. They worked so hard to break the previous releases, this one is guaranteed. While we're on the subject of club remixes on "real bands" the new GARBAGE "When I Grow Up," pulled from their mega-successful album "Version 2.0" on Mushroom UK, has been put in the talented hands of Danny Teneglia. It is really satisfying to have such a exceptional club track wrapped around a great original rock track with all respect intact. Shirley Manson's voice is powerfully pristine and the lyrics really enable her talents to shine through; "when I grow up I'll be stable, when I grow up I turn the tables," but for now she is "on a cruise to freak you out." The full vocal version is certainly the one to feature, but if you can't handle vocals there's the "golden shower dub" that easily stands on its own. This is Teneglia in top form and not one to miss. Let's hope Almo Records rushes to get this one out domestically. Garbage is on tour through Europe as you read this, with the aforementioned Moloko opening. Unfortunately when Garbage's tour reaches our shore they will be supported by Alainis Moressette. One more "real band" remix I want to briefly mention is a white label called "Psycho Killer" -- it is who you think it is, THE TALKING HEADS. It was done by a well-known British DJ who has a fascination with the group and is known to work them into his set. This is an obvious homage by a fan, but what the heck it is a Discocaine-styled, wicked club track that works and will delight any sort of dance floor. While I'm dwelling in the past, there are two more that really need mentioning. With the release of a "best of" package from 80s heartthrobs DURAN DURAN there has been a cornucopia of remixes spread across three discs of one of their biggest chestnuts, "Girls on Film" on Capitol. There's a version from the "headzy" Attica Blues and a Tin Tin Out mix that's sort of tweaky with a very grungy, dirty bass line running through it. Tall Paul pisses on the project with a generic "trade" loop. The most successful submission is from SALT TANK. This group, who have been best known for grandiose "Sasha/Digweed" epic productions, bring out an unexpected nouveau French rendition. Although the full vocal mix is really one to relish, vocal-shy punters could really work the dub into any progressive house set. The way Salt Tank deconstructed this song creates a very modern, "funky-fresh" result. INNER CITY did a very apt job of dominating a lot of the music scene of the late 80s. Now, duo Kevin Saunderson and Paris Grey, have re-recorded their biggest hit "Good Life" and it has been reborn as "Buena Vida" on KMS/P.I.A.S., Belgium. There are three amazing mixes. The first is what may well be considered the first in the upcoming crop of baleric summer bombs, the "Summer Fiesta Mix" by Tony Onyx. Opening with a dramatic, acoustic flamenco guitar and an initial chorus sung in Spanish, this version takes off into almost trance territory and never lets you down. The vocal is complete here but the attitude is very different from the original. The Nu Birth vocal mix stays the most true to the mood and hooks of the original 80s offering, but using the new hard step house approach. Way Out West really turns it out with one of their classic atmospheric-infused, phat & funky breakbeat outings with lush chords, rolling flanged break-downs and cut-ups. These boys literally re-create this song and definitely make it their own. There may be a good number of the current, young club population that will be unaware of this solid classic, so get this in your set now. Saunderson released the Onyx mix as a one-sided record on his own label, KMS, here in the States. There is a new Californian label that everyone will want to experience, DUV Records from Los Angeles (www.twentytwelve.com). The first two releases from the label are drenched with a refinement and savoir faire that is usually only found in the most masterful veterans rather than freshmen. The first release by TWENTY TWELVE (aka Nick Rapattoni) "Grand A.M. EP" consumes the new funky-french-fashion and throws it back-at-us with a new, twisted, west coast re-interpretation. "Grand A.M." takes just a nuance of disco-strings and stabs them in and out of a thick rolling bassline, then adds an odd sort of old school synth line that percolates in and around. It is all bound together with a very catchy, minimal Detroit-tech sort of rhythm. There are clusters of peculiar, almost intelligible, vocal sampling that really mess with your head. The flip, "Ecstatic," is a breakbeat fest, with a very phat and dirty bassline that is remarkably rubbery and is stretched and pulled to the maximum with prodding vocoder samples. For a little contrast, some light keyboard stabs interrupt from time to time. TOOF (aka Gabriel Vine and Doron Orenstein) are the other artists to debut on the new label with their "Enamel EP." Both tracks here are an excellent up-front, funky tech-house venture. "Squishy" is smooth and vibe-y. Its house groove could be compared to one of the Primative releases or Terry Lee Brown Jr. It's complemented with some nicely-placed vocal samples. The flip, "Jackson Pi," has the basic essence and structure of "Squishy" with the addition of some loops of "old skool" Rhodes piano chords and jazzy tenor sax riffs -- beautiful. Watch for these guys during the conference, they will be promoting these two and another one from Twenty Twelve "Licorice Pizza EP." I'll be reviewing it my next column. I want to add "props" to DUV Records for the exemplary design in packaging. These guys understand attention to detail from the fine engineering on the music, perfect mastering and an extremely full, deep pressing. They even answered my e-mail request for more info within the hour. In a similar vein BEN SIMS presents us with "Loops Volume 1" on a new UK label called Hardgroove. Nestle this one with Sims's two Killabite projects, all being massive, mad house looping excursions. There are four slammin' tracks here but the stand-out is Sims's monstrous take on Todd Terry's classic, "Bango." The track frantically cuts in and drops out with the cut & paste, interweaving the bongo breaks with the familiar piano synth washes. PURE SCIENCE presents their fourth release "Balanced EP" on the up and coming UK label P.S. Communications. If you picked up on the previous installments this one will be a most welcome addition. With each successive release Pure Science adds new definitions to the "traxx" genre. All four tracks on this EP are equally strong with the common denominator being extremely potent rhythm patterns. No two tracks here are alike. There are very soulful, tech-funky passages, "just enough" vocal sampling and a whole bag full of unique tricks. Pure Science would be right at home with Circulation, Primative or Sense. Speaking of SENSE, they release their first CD format "Refresh Your Senses, Volume 1," a label discography comprised of the label's first six EPs. If you are familiar with these fantastic records you'll know that they encompasses music from the most recent hard-bangin' tech-house to the eccentric, headzy early endeavors. As a whole this project ends up being a rather unexpected and interesting voyage. Kellog's isn't the only company from Grand Rapids, Michigan with tasty, crispy products. Just out on KIKOMAN's Deep Fried label is DIETRICH SCHOENEMANN "Crasher EP." What we have here are four tracks that confidently champion the minimalist Detroit techno sound. The first track is classic Detroit, with an updated flavor that should help propel the sound into the new millennium. Psycho drum-drops plow through numerous loopy layers creating a soundscape whipped throughout with an extra heavy dose of phasing. The next track has crisp metallic chops and stabs that are twisted around a subsonic, grungy bassline. The third track is a minimal, skippy, almost tech-house affair that layers synth chord melodies that pierce through a rubbery bassline that binds everything tightly together. One of the very best vocal records of 1998 was the exquisite "Innerside" by SHAZZ on Yellow (France). Even if originally you didn't get engrossed with this record as much as everyone else did, the new "Innerside Unreleased Blaze Mix" may do it for you. The main mix is BLAZE at their absolute best. This is an instrumental version that replaces Ken Norris's consummate vocals with a equally impeccable piano. This accomplished musician (Shazz?) manipulates those "black & whites" so skillfully that you will swear that you can hear this piano sing. On the flip is a kind of very downtempo reprise version and Ken Norris's incredible full acappella. BIG MUFF's highly anticipated follow-up to "Pornstar," "Feel What You Know" is finally out on Maxi. This is certainly going to be a pivotal release for this act. This is how vocal club music should be made, everybody please take notes. First you begin with a well-constructed beautiful piece of music (Itaal Shur). Second someone (Itaal Shur) writes emotional yet thought-provoking lyrics. Third someone (Lisa Shaw) with a great, stylish voice sings the song. Fourth you get people in post-production (Kerri Chandler/Smith & Mighty/Bob Sinclar) who have been around the block and know how to shake their asses. Then of course is fifth you have a savvy label (Maxi) enable the first four parts. Such simple directions, it makes you wonder why every record isn't as beautifully created. While you are in Miami please keep your eye peeled for our own David Harness; he will have something very special for you. DAVID HARNESS featuring the SAN FRANCISCO OUTLET "Get it Together" on Universe Sounds will be on test and ready to go. This is a slice of classic soulful garage that has the incomparable Winnie & Roman (RWJ) on vocals. This is a song that gives you that old school "singin' it live & lovin' it" experience. Let's all "get it together" and go to church with this fabulous freshman outing. Send review material to: |