DJ Pan (a.k.a. Martyn) has everyone talking, and this 12″ on Flight‘s new label signifies why. The title track, reminiscent of Jonny L, brings future funk-it‘s as bouncy as it is quirky. The flip, “Deepwoood,” rolls much deeper with an underwater feeling.
The Chapter Us Vs. Them
The Chapter-rapper Verbal E. and producer 3Sixty-makes a Windy City to Sin City connection that results in unpretentious hip-hop. Silky vibes and spry percussion pepper “…I Do Despise,” a treatise on intricacies of the N word, and somber chords propel “Akhill Hill,” a scorned lover diatribe. No groundbreaking topics are tackled, but thought provoking joints, able lyricism, and minimal soap box posturing make The Chapter‘s live band rap accessible to everyone.
David Borsu Reminiscent EP
Belgian multi-instrumentalist and programmer Borsu (whose debut CD drops in September) knows the art of song arrangement. This EP practically charts jazz music‘s progression from sultry ‘60s-style modal (“Late Night Swing”) to swingin‘ early ‘70s jazz-funk on “Reminiscent” (think Funk Inc or Blackbirds) through modern acid jazz/broken fusions (“East Beaumont”) and even some Afro-Latin jazz-house (“Coltrance”). This will stay put in DJ crates for decades to come.
Marvin Gaye I Want You (Bling47 re-edit)
Wow, all I can say is…Marvin would have been proud. Beyond incredible! It‘s almost sacrilegious to touch such a timeless masterpiece but you can tell every new element was done with such care and works so well. It‘s definitely Marvin with that Detroit bump. Funky!
Steve Spacek Dollar (J-Dilla Mix)
Steve Spacek‘s innovative vocals over a Dilla beat are guaranteed fire. Imagine taking the original Philly sound on a trip to Detroit, then escaping to London but decide to let the track marinate in the heat of the Los Angeles sun. I‘m talking Billy Paul on steroids. Gritty soul, classic heat!
Gabin Mr. Freedom
If you were having cocktails in a smoky Latin jazz club, watching beautiful people dance, Gabin‘s Mr. Freedom would be the soundtrack for the evening. The Italian duo‘s latest endeavor is an uptempo recording that combines blues and Latin rhythms with a Sergio Mendes-like-charm. Songs like “Into My Soul,” “Midnight Café,” and “It‘s Gonna Be” are groovy, rhythmic, and surprisingly soulful, making Mr. Freedom a refreshing departure from the recent onslaught of mechanical sounding party records.
I:Cube Chicago Sur Seine
I:Cube is a chameleon from Paris who merges modern electronics with retro dance, and blurs the boundaries between house, techno, ‘80s music, and broken beat. That eclecticism is on display on here, illustrated by an analog synth-saturated ode to early Chicago house. With its churning retro keys and flying hi-hats, “Sur Seine” could snare errant Goths or haute fashionistas alike. “Tokyo Uno” indulges in languid Miami Vice-era dance hues, while appropriately employing Yellow Magic Orchestra melodies.
Stranger You + Me
Holed up in Sacramento at audio engineering school, Deep Fuzz/Barfly main man Ben Cook still had time to launch a new label and alias. The original is disco-tastic, but Paul Murphy‘s (Mudd) stoned and hazy 115bpm rub of “You + Me” is the late-summer winner here. Sideways sliding synths, reversed and reverberating melodies and slow, chugging analog beats lumber westward in a sunset-heated march.
Duoteque You Know All About Drugs
Personally, I know nothing about drugs, so when this record arrived at my door I was very interested to find out what it was all about. It turns out that there are these little pill things that people take and it makes them go nuts when they hear heavy, heavy basslines and dark, brooding beats set against fucked up chugging drum sounds. I‘m happy I learnt something from this fresh killer track.
Jaumetic Lagrimal (Inaki Marin Remix)
At a recent new music seminar, loosely based on the peace talks at Camp David, it was decided that this track would be the important record that brings together the warring factions of trance, techno, house, and electro. The controversial “Road to Acid-House” peace plan was duly signed and this track was played at the grand ceremony celebrations. The future looks bright for the underground.
