quick audio picks: 123
Nice crispy pressing of this track from D's "Voodoo" album, featuring Roy Hargrove on trumpet and Charlie Hunter on guitar, if I'm not mistaken. Not really sure what's so "Spanish(1)" about it (the hand drumming?), but this is an overlooked D'Angelo coolout...
expand review moment that should be requisite material for anybody playing brunches, outdoor patios and such. This record also includes a live version(2) of Roy Ayres' "Running" and a cover of "Make It Funky(3)" by Jeff Bradshaw and Bilal (jury's still out on that one). -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 1234
This EP nails the '70s Loft/Gallery vibe with a couple of classic soul disco tracks from Labelle. "What Can I Do For you(1)" is a monster, the bassline just drills into your skull and this subtle and masterful edit gives it maximum...
expand review play. "Messin' With My Mind(2)" is on the flip (you weren't expecting "Lady Marmalade," were you?), alongside a "bonus beat" edit of the tune's drum breakdown and vocal chant. Now that's value. The Staple Singers "Respect Yourself(3)" and "This World(4)," two cuts I don't particularly like, are also included - beware of slight distortion on the latter. -Monk
quick audio picks: 123
"Notice Me(1)" in this incarnation is the eight-and-a-half minute "Notice The House Mix" of the big freestyle hit from 1988, which was originally pressed on Fever. A very understated mix for Clivilles and Cole (better known as C&C Music Factory), it's kinda...
expand review reminiscent of "Break for Love." The two-note analog bass line, claps, and dubbed out vocals are sure to get old-school house heads wriggling on the floor, and the organ solo in the last third of the record is worth letting it play out for. The "Dub Mix(2)" is a Jellybean Benitez-style edit of the freestyle version with less cheese than the full vocal mix. (For those not familiar with freestyle, it's a New York/ Florida latino dance music style – think Shannon, Lisa Lisa & Stevie B. If that doesn't do anything for you, think throwback Night at the Roxy.) On the flipside, "A Little Piano (3)" and "What You Need" are jazzy house classics, both early nineties productions by Italy's Soft House Company. -ayres
quick audio picks: 123
One for all the Bjork fans. The most random things end up on nyc black labels and here's 2 cuts from the Sugarcubes remix album that came out in the early 90s. I've actually been passively trying to track this down for...
expand review a while (I think these mixes were only released on promo vinyl). The pick here is the classy house version of "Leash Called Love(1)," remixed by Tony Humphries. The added piano loops are brilliant... now if they'd only edited out the annoying Einar vocals (ed's note: that's the dude in the Sugarcubes who always pops in right when you're really getting into the sweet Bjork vocals, ruining many a teen-Pete chubb session). There's also a second harder remix of the track, but that damn Einar chimes in from the beginning. B-side treats here are a rare vocal dub version of "Back to Life(2)" with an alternate dark dance beat, and another house classic, No Limit's "Koro Koro (Black is Black)(3)." -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 12
The last year has seen a resurgence of interest in the history of dance edits like Danny Krivit's extended re-works of MFSB's "Love Is The Message" and JB's "Funky Drummer," and cut & paste joints like Double D & Steinski's "Lesson" -...
expand review check the excellent article in Grand Slam No.1 if you wanna geek out. Some of the most sought-after pieces of the genre are the six volumes of the Big Apple Productions "Genius At Work" series. The b-side is what drew us to this particular volume. Its an obscure Pal Joey' re-edit of MFSB's "Love Is The Message(1)," which throws some nice 808 claps & rhythmbox nastiness under this NYC dance classic. On the flip, "Genius At Work(Vol. 4)(2)" is a little more on the early house/dance tip than some of the others in the series. It utilizes the "I'll House You" and "Big Fun" beats as the foundation for assloads of vocal clips and snippets (some of which are little naughty, word to the delicate flowers out there) from sources as diverse as Gwen McRae singing "took my love away" (from "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent"), to Al Pacino in Scarface exclaiming "hokay!" The overall effect is dope cut-up madness that puts house right smack next to hip-hop (where it belongs, godammit). A really really good record. -Language
quick audio picks: 1
Baltimore's Whatnauts started their musical career in the early 70s, dropping three sought after full lengths on the Stang label (Introducing the Whatnauts is the most desirable). For the rest of that decade, their output sputtered, releasing scattering singles. But in 1982,...
expand review the group hit it big with "Help Is On The Way(1)." The 12" sold close to 100,000 copies, and later secured a place in hip-hop history as the sample source for De La's "Ring Ring Ring." This reissue is a faithful reproduction of the original, complete with matching labels and the instrumental b-side. Excellent sound. -the mgmnt
indepth
