“Shrimp!”
Mr. Scruff
Ninja Tune
A wacky, jazzy number, “Shrimp!” pushes the wah-wah factor to the limit, but rarely lets go of its head-bobbin’ groove. Can be fit into several types of DJ boxes from the Giant Step/rare groove geezer to the tasteful, yet unpredictable househead. The B-side breaks down into dubland and offers bonus beats. This one’ll grow on you.
– Jim Tremayne

“Come With Us”
The Chemical Brothers
Astralwerks
The Brothers Chem once again deliver the goods on their latest single. The booty-shakin’ “Fatboy Slim Mix” works best for my dancefloor. Dirty bass sounds, funky guitars and lots of sampling make this yet another addition to the massive stable of hits for Norman Cook.
– Joe Bermudez

“Vapour Trail”
b/w “Give It to the People”
Elite Force
Whole9Yards
Side A’s “Vapour Trail” drops a straight-up, nasty funk workout – ballsy breaks with techy overtones and a whopping breakdown. The flipside’s “Give It to the People” punches in with a wobbly 4/4, then accelerates into an effect-filled ride for your life.
– Jim Tremayne

“Brighter Day”
RH Factor
Ultra Records
Attention: House fans across North America. Here’s what you have been waiting for – an energizing song with soulful sounds and vocals to hit your pulse in a big way. The 12-inch includes a taste for everyone’s appetite, including the “Bagz and Cruz Remixes” and the “Old School Mixes.” Hot.
– Mikey D. Merola

“Been Around The World”
Tina Novak
Arista
Novak’s cool little single gets some big-time remixes courtesy of Maurice Joshua, Ron Carroll and Andy & The Lamboy – and yes, all three come through with some very tight mixes. First off, we love Joshua’s bouncy “NuSoul Mix,” which is just that, a soulful garage-house groove that’s smooth and sexy. The background vocals really shine here. Fellow Chicagoan Ron Carroll offers his “RC Groove Nu World Dub,” which has a lot of those same soulful garage vibes, but with a little bit more underground flavor. Meanwhile, “Andy & The Lamboy’s Club Mix” and “Circuit Dub Mix” offer a mainstream vibe, a delicious bassline along with some nice synth work. Both mixes will get love in the big-room clubs, but the real star here is the fresh vocal style of Novak. She is the real deal.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Backstabber”
DJ Feelgood
Moonshine Red
A stomping techno monster that breaks down with a clever snippet of “Rapper’s Delight.” Relentless and a tad funky, “Backstabber” is a possible rave crowd pleaser.
– Jim Tremayne

Resolution
Anthony Pappa
System Recordings
This two-CD, 24-track mix comp offers over two hours of dark, deep, progressive house and everything in between. Top tunes on CD1 include Revolt’s mood-setting “Relax,” plus Lexicon Avenue’s “Why R U Here” and Space Manoeuvres’ “Stage One.” CD2 hits on a more tribal level and includes hot tracks like Deep Amok’s “Darkness,” Satoshi Tomiie’s remix of Interflow’s “Story Reel” and Tilt’s “Headstrong.” On each side, Pappa delivers a convincing set.
– Duanny Medrano

“Happiness Is Free”
Ouda
Naked Music
Produced by Michael- angelo L’Acqua, Gregg Fine and Rene Arsenault, this record screams sexy. With seductive vocals over tempting percussion and mouth-watering bass grooves, this is urban soul at its finest. Sophisticated, alluring and absolutely scrumptious. 
– Joe Bermudez

“Touch The Sky”
29 Palms
4 Play Records
This record will grow on you. Pete Lorimer accomplishes the trick by combining a house groove with a trance melody for a result that is out of this world. The thumping “Chocolate Puma”-like bassline drives the track, while you find yourself lost in the straightforward piano and string arrangements. A great track.
– Joe Bermudez

“The Sound Of Goodbye”
Perpetuous Dreamer
Nervous Records
This wonderful cut began as an instrumental track produced by trance legend Armin van Buuren. But he hooked up with F2F Productions and added the warm voice of Elles De Graaf, and the new version works a sharper melody and an emotional vocal – it’s a beautiful song. The flipside’s “Robbie Rivera Fierce Mix” slows the tempo down to give DJs a dark, after-hours track with his patented tribal beats and haunting synths. Both versions are anthemic and will rock the house.
– Joe Bermudez

“Tribal Function”
Angel Moraes
… Records
The longtime New York-based DJ/producer returns with a rugged tribal-house piece that shows the man has real staying power. Using his signature epic style that effortlessly blends different sounds, Moraes has concocted a rollicking track that’s both hypnotic and pounding. It’s not much in the way of vocals (also his style), but there’s plenty of underground enjoyment. Though slightly on the repetitious side, the cut is still working. Also Side A’s “High On Afro Mix” will find a home in the harder, more progressive-oriented clubs.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Make Up Your Mind”
Swayzak feat.
Clair Dietrich
!K7
Fresh off the release of the excellent Groovetechnology V1.3 mix comp, the Swayzak boys offer a tasty glimpse of their upcoming full-length. On the original mix, Dietrich’s almost blithe vocal flows easily over a percolating, techy production, while the “Slight Return” version gets somewhat edgier. The B-side’s “Ikea” offers a satisfying slice of stomping tech-house – busy bassline plus scintillating drum pattern equals hip-swaying groove.
– Jim Tremayne

“Hungry”
Kosheen
Kinetic
“Satoshi Tomiie’s Vocal Mix” builds with a regulation stomp and eases into a woofer-bouncing progressive journey – complete with eerie effects, ticky-tack percussive elements and Sian Evans’ stout vocals. Tomiie’s otherworldly B-side dub may work better for full-on prog heads, though.
– Jim Tremayne

The Circuit Party 7
Tracy Young
SPG Music
When she’s not remixing A-list artists or spinning private parties for Madonna and Ricky Martin, Miami’s Tracy Young finds herself headlining many of today’s prominent circuit parties. This two-disc set lets you take the party home with you without having to deal with coat check or overpriced bottles of water. It features some of today’s biggest club hits from Iio and Kim English, plus underground favorites from Xzique and Corvin Dalek all mixed flawlessly with sparkle and liveliness. A must have.
– Joe Bermudez

“One Step Too Far”
Faithless feat. Dido
Arista
No need to go any further than the “Alex Neri Club Vocal” on this one. It’s a top-notch club track that features a dark bassline, subtle sound effects and, of course, Dido’s haunting vocals. The Neri mix is an epic 9:22 of pure underground flavor and should be the DJs’ pick. We’re also feeling the “Absolute Beginner’s Mix,” which is more on the deep tech/deep trance vibe, sort of a stripped-down version of the Neri mix but with a more rugged feel. Both mixes do justice to what is already a very good track.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Fresh from Yard”
Beenie Man & Lil’ Kim
Virgin
Beenie and Kim get down and dirty on this perky R&B/dancehall number that has that sweet downtempo flavor to it. Over a very minimal track with a phat bassline, Kim’s raspy delivery works perfectly with Beenie’s ragga style. The whole production’s got a funky feel that radio should love. Check out the B-Side’s “other” single with Beenie and Lady Saw on the rugged “Bossman” – another hip-hop/dancehall combo destined for big things.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Shifter”
Timo Maas feat.
MC Chickaboo
Kinetic
A buzzy, wobbly funker from the wonderful Loud album, “Shifter” is typical Timo, which is to say it’s fairly irresistible. You can’t go wrong with the “Full Vocal Mix,” but, for those so inclined, the B-side’s “Scanty Mix” gives up on the funk a bit and heads into a more tribal-house direction, complete with an ecstatic breakdown.
– Jim Tremayne

“Why Don’t We Fall in Love”
Amerie
Columbia
Amerie’s lush new gem has been getting lots of radio love lately and with good reason – it’s a beautiful mid-tempo cut that showcases some superior vocal arrangement tailor-made for today’s R&B audience. Written and produced by Rich Harrison, this is a cut that the ladies will immediately identify with. Amerie’s vocals are heartfelt and soulful – and that’s the real selling point here.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Love Will Return”
Allison Crockett
Decibel
There’s a lot to like about this cut, especially when it comes to the vocals. Crockett displays a classic soulful style that one can find in a lot of the recent big-time, vocal-house tracks. A real vocalist knows exactly how not to go overboard and Crocket gives an understated yet effective performance. We’re feeling “The Undah-Dub’s Classic Club Mix” with its back-to-church, piano-driven groove. “C&M’s Frisco Mix” also gets our vote with its tough drum intro and deep-house groove. Not to be outdone is the filter-driven, disco-house appeal of DJ John Julius Knight’s “Cosmic Dub.” All three mixes give Decibel a lot to be proud of – an excellent track.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Free Your Mind”
Celeda
*69
Another life-affirming vocal-house monster from Celeda, who never seems to miss. The E-Smoove-produced “Free Your Mind” offers a steady, big-room build then breaks down with more tweaky moments. Airmale’s B-side mix hits more tribal and descends a bit into proggy territory. If you’re looking for another classic, full-throated Celeda hip-shaker, here it is.
– Jim Tremayne

“All Over Me”
Aphrodite feat. Barrington Levy
V2
Freq Nasty’s mix spills Levy’s ragga vocals over a pumping breakbeat and blasts out with some wickedly warped effects and a sub-challenging bassline – pretty massive. Jimmy T’s “Beanie Remix” tackles the two-step crowd with its rubbery bassline and propulsive beat. Party-rockin’ stuff.
– Jim Tremayne