“Movin’ On”
Debbie Pender
TommyBoy Silver
Pender’s savvy and soulful vocals flow gracefully over the smooth and silky instrumentation laid down by the Blaze duo of Kevin Hedge and Josh Milan. Here, the two weave together an assortment of Chic-eseque electric guitar riffs and classic organ chords with a rich, deep bassline and a progressive percussion track. In doing so, they craft a contemporary house tune that has the viability to compete on the commercial radio level, while maintaining underground credibility. A dancefloor mover. 128 BPM. For more information, contact (212) 388-8453.

“Totally Fabu”
Marina
MRK
There’s energy abounding on this propulsive new dance cut. Already making noise in some clubs, “Totally Fabu” features four wicked mixes that should rock any house. Richie Santana’s slammin’ mix is an uptempo, 132-BPM workout that is progressive and tough. The pick here is the “Lil’ Big Dub,” a deep house groove featuring plenty of crazy percussion effects. It’s
slammin’. Of course, Marina soulful vocals bring
together what amounts to a radio-ready gem.
– Phil Turnipseed

Sonic Overload
Bass Mekanik
Pandisc
The Bass Mekanik, Florida’s premier pioneer of bass music, drops his latest project to us in the form of a double disc CD set that meshes together the bone-crushing lows of the genre with various forms of dance music, including trip hop, drum-n-bass, freestyle and breakbeat. The first CD offers an ensemble of 13 dance tracks including the acidic, knob-twister “Industrial Noiz,” electronic bass hybrid “Can U Hear Me,” and classic booty shaker “Rok Dis Joint” – all feature non-stop dancefloor energy. The second set is the ultimate SPL and car-audio test disc ever assembled featuring the lowest, loudest yet cleanest sounding bass you’ll hear. For a full range of dance sounds, sweeps and tweaks, pick up this double CD set and experience the Sonic Overload for yourself. For more information contact: (213) 466-5141.

“Nothing To Offer”
Robbie Rivera
Subliminal
This progressive house gem is a study in how to rock a crowd. Nice hard percussion grooves, a deep “wavey” bass, a wailing female vocal sample and … well, you get the picture – it’s relentless with beats non-stop. All sorts of flange sounds fly in and out. The two mixes are burnin’. My pick is “Robbie’s Filtering the Groove Mix,” but “Not Just a Dub” will also find a home on your turntable. – Phil Turnipseed

“Forgive & Forget”
G-Force feat. Cleon
Waako
With a filtered bassline deep enough to say “shhhh” and a minimalistic melody sporting the catchiness of Funky Green Dogs’ now-classic “Fired Up,” Waako could have yet another hit on their hands in the form of this funky house floor filler.
The song’s syncopated rhythms and grooves – along with
the echo of its bottomless snares – will creep up on you and leave you wanting more. A surefire dancefloor winner and what
more could you ask for? 132 BPM.
For more information, contact: (212) 944-2590.
– Peter A. Colon

“Movin' On"
Danny Tenaglia
Twisted
As fine a pure dance album as you’re likely to find in 1998. Certainly more diva-heavy than most DJ Danny fans are used to hearing in his bangin’ hard sets, Tourism nonetheless drops blazing vocal tracks like “Turn Me On” (with Liz Torres) and soon-to-be-classic “Music is the Answer” (with Celeda). Of course, the chart-topping floorburner “Elements” is here which, along with “Roots (The Sound of the Drum)” (with Darrell Martin) and “Read My Lips” (with Lula), provides plenty of deep underground vibe. Throw in the simple, but percolating groove on “The Better Days” (with Cevin Fisher) and Jo-Jo Americo’s bitch-track sendup
of Front 242’s “Headhunter” and there’s something for
everyone. Also available in four-pack vinyl.
– Jim Tremayne

“Mind Playin’ (Energy Buzz)”
Calle & Rizzo
Jellybean Recordings
“Mind Playin’” starts off as an easygoing trip on the senses and gradually builds itself into an exciting crescendo of beats and buzzes. The abrasiveness of the abstract sounds that come and go adds just the right amount of dancefloor spark to the package and fuels the pounding percussion into a frenzy. Casual house hysteria wrapped in a blanket of controlled insanity. Give me two! 129 BPM. For more information contact (212) 777-5678.
– Peter A. Colon

Have A Nice Decade:
The ’70s Pop Culture Box Various Artists
Rhino
Though I’m not about to join the Polyester Preservation Society or whatever they call it, I’ll certainly admit that this seven-CD set demonstrates that ’70s pop cheese wasn’t all of the Limburger variety. In addition to those cuts from the guilty-pleasure, one-hit-wonder zone (Edison Lighthouse’s “Love Grows [Where My Rosemary Goes],” The Honey Cone’s “Want Ads,” Freda Payne “Band of Gold”), there’s plenty dance fodder for DJs on the mobile or retro club tip. Early decade pop-soul from Jackson 5 (“ABC”), mid-’70s heavy funk from Parliament (“Tear the Roof Off the Sucker”), and percolating pure disco from the likes of Vickie Sue Robinson (“Turn the Beat Around”) and Sister Sledge (“We Are Family”) make this 160-song collection a sure shot for clubs or most any mobile setting. (Drop “Shining Star” or “Brick House” at a reunion party and it’ll be tough for the thirtysomethings not to think of Little League and growing hair in certain places.) Plus, a fact-filled and colorful 92-page booklet brings you back to the dubious decade of Watergate, leisure suits, The Fonz and pet rocks. DJs will find that Rhino’s Have A Nice Decade: The ’70s Pop Culture Box is an investment worth every penny.
– Jim Tremayne

Club 69 Future Mix 1
Peter Rauhofer
Twisted
What can we say about Mr. Rauhofer? Everywhere a DJ turns there he is – and with good reason. Almost all of his remixes are the bomb and he seems to have a permanent residence atop most dance charts. For a shining example as to why, just check this mix CD compilation of some of his greatest remixes. With remixes for artists such as Funky Green Dogs (“Fired Up!”), Danny Tenaglia (“ohno”), Brainbug (“Nightmare”), Boris Dlugosch (“Hold Your Head Up High”) and many more, Rauhofer displays a range of work that’s made him a mixer of choice for many DJs.
It’s an outstanding collection. If you already have most these mixes, perhaps the best reason to pick up this collection – which is also available in abbreviated form on double vinyl – is his
deep, dark and transcendent mix of Depeche Mode’s “It’s No Good,” a version previously commercially unavailable. Hear the sound of New York via Vienna.
-Phil Turnipseed

“Cruel Summer”
Ace of Base
Arista
Pop-oriented jocks will find this Ace of Base cut (a cover of the Bananarama hit) fulfilling. Seems like a natural fit and it works. Produced by Cutfather and Joe, the track gets an updated sound, but still remains true to the original. The Aces bring a pleasant vocal style and this one could duplicate the success of the original. A pleasant surprise.
– Phil Turnipseed