“Something To Smile About”
Malawi Rocks feat. Dihanne Moore
King Street
King Street This sexy deep-house cut features an inspired performance by Moore, who has the stuff to hold her own among today’s top club divas. Francois K provides two top-notch mixes, including the “Main Club Mix” and the absolutely killer “Dub Mix,” which goes deep with a moody atmospheric synth hook. DJs are already on this mix. The main mix offers an upfront groove that will work well in the commercial clubs. Wicked.
Phil Turnipseed

"Keep The Party Jumpin"
Jeanie Tracy
AM
A club-friendly party player with enough catchiness to take it to the mainstream, “Keep the Party” finds Tracy offering powerful and smooth vocals over an energetic score. Full of high intensity and peak-hour passion, this cut’s a full-blown floor thumper. DJs will be please to find a deeper, harder, late-night dub and a mix-show edit to boot. 132 BPM. For more information, call 415-206-9118.
Peter A. Colon

"Deep Down"
Richard Grey pres. House Republic
Subliminal
French producer Richard Grey serves up two mixes of aggressive, effect-filled house. The “Bizaroid Mix” bangs along crisply and is anchored by a sharp female vocal, while “The Deep Deep Mix” goes subterrain. Its crazy, filtered piano should sizzle some heads. An underground pounder.
Jim Tremayne

"Moving Cities"
Faze Action
F-111/Warner

At its best, Faze Action offers a coalescence of clubland’s more musical elements. The trippy, tribal “Mas” percolates with a salacious grind, edgy guitar riffs and spicy vocal stabs. The righteous strings of the Afro-disco “Got To Find a Way” work for the body and soul. And “Space Disco” finds the dancer’s groove in a few measures. However, at its worst, Moving Cities leans toward New Age waft (“Isis”) or, worse, NFL Films theme music (title cut). Still, DJs leaning toward worldly, ethereal beats with soulful, organic underpinnings should find Moving Cities plenty moving.
Jim Tremayne

"Sunshine"
Gabrielle
Go Beat
A deliciously soulful and lively new house jam that enjoys a stunning vocal performance by Gabrielle. The four mixes here are highlighted by Frankie Knuckles’ “Mambo Sunset Reprise,” a gorgeous house groove with a heavy 4/4 kick. Also, the sensuous R&B-leaning “K-Gee Mix” should find a home on urban radio.
Phil Turnipseed

*Compilation of the Month*
Soul Train: The Dance Years 1976-79
Various Artists
Rhino
“Soul Train” – need I say more? One of America’s longest running music dance shows pays tribute to its celebrated past with this outstanding collection of classics – all done by the artists that made Soul Train what it is today. And this compilation is no joke with tracks like “Dazz” by Brick, “Car Wash” by Rose Royce, “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry, “Best of My Love” by The Emotions, “Disco Nights” by GQ, “Good Times” by Chic, and “Got To Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn – the list goes on. We’re talking over 50 classics here and it just doesn’t get any better. This is a collection that retro club jocks and mobile DJs cannot afford to miss.
Phil Turnipseed

"We’ll Never Stop Living This Way"
Westbam
Mute

Can’t get enough electro beats? Check this bellyful of recent Euro hits from Germany’s Westbam, who serves them up like steaming plates of wienerschnitzel. With the sharp minimalism of Kraftwerk and the taut-funk of Afrika Bambaataa (who cameos on the intergalactic “Agharta, the City of Shamballa”), Westbam creates a martial-beat theme park of Teutonic grooves via The Bronx. Whether he goes deep and spacey (the ultra-moody “Die Dunkelsequenz”), poppy (new single, the crunching “Beatbox Rocker”) or big-and-bouncy (the breakin’ “Wanna Get My Smurf On”), Westbam never loses sight of the floor. Achtung, baby.
Jim Tremayne

"That Sound"
Michael Moog
Strictly Rhythm
Get ready for a fresh new sound that will be a shot in the arm for dance music as producer Michael Moog gets down on this fierce breakbeat-styled disco house track. Taking a sample from the Spinners classic “I’ll Be Around” and manipulating it into a phat hook, Moog sets up what will surely be a club smash – it’s really that good. Look out for the remixes. If they’re anything like the original, they should be off the hook.
Phil Turnipseed

"Listen Up"
The Party People
AV8
Just when everyone thought they had DJ/producer Robbie Rivera pegged (all progressive, no soul), the man drops a bomb that will surprise the naysayers. This phat soulful disco house groove is definitely a change for him. Working a cool, rolling bassline and some stunning female vocals, Rivera kicks a furious filter-lined beat. Love those disco strings as well. Very well done and a pleasant surprise from Rivera.
Phil Turnipseed

"All Around the World"
Soul Solution feat. Carolyn Harding
Jellybean
This new double-pack 12-inch jam is a hard-hitting housefest that features some delicious remixes by Soul Solution, Boris & Beck, and Keith Litman – and all are on point. Litman’s “KLM Vocal” and “KLM Dub” are probably the standouts here. Both mixes feature a funky progressive house approach with lots of busy percussion, a wide-open style that’s not too hard on the brain, but offers just enough pump to move the crowd. Soul Solution’s “Club Vocal” is more on that traditional garage style that has been the duo’s trademark. Harding, of course, gives a spirited performance. A hot one.
Phil Turnipseed

"Encore (Ooh Ooh Yeah Yeah)"
Sugarbabies
Tommy Boy Silver
This compelling mix of hard-house and progressive sounds rides an intoxicating groove and offers an anthemic and soulful vocal presentation by Murial Fowler. Also check out the filtered and discofied remixes by Peter Presta and Robbie Rivera, which are sure to please. Sweet. 130 BPM. For more information, contact 212-388-8395.
Peter A. Colon

"Something to Smile About"
Malawi Rocks feat. Dihanne Moore
King Street Sounds
A phat, deep-house female vocal record excellently produced by Body & Soul DJ Francois K, who uses a funky bassline mixed with some tricky keys in the break to form that classic house sound. The dub offers us something not-so-classic, as Francois serves us with somewhat of a funky tech-house jam complete with some very haunting sounds. For info, call (212) 594-3737
Shawn Christopher

"Love Is the Healer"
Donna Summer
Epic

Seventies disco queen Summer continues her latest onslaught in the club world with a wicked new jam that picks up where “I Will Go With You” left off. Set off by four enthusiastic mixes, “Love Is the Healer” is another dancefloor winner. Mixes not to miss include the “Sussex House Club Vocal” and Eric Kupper’s “I Feel Healed Mix.” The “Sussex” mix offers up a phat bottom-heavy groove with a bit of a disco feel to it, while Kupper borrows from Summer’s classic “I Feel Love” and alters it into a frenzied NRG house gem – absolutely gorgeous.
Phil Turnipseed

"River Of Dreams"
Matt Bianco
Jellybean
After the success of the club hit “Sunshine Day,” Matt Bianco (stage name for partners Mark Reilly and Mark Fisher) is back on the scene with another punchy dance ditty. Sporting an energetic flair and Euro-flavored twist, “River of Dreams” offers remixes that run from retro disco to Hi-NRG. The Drama Kidz’ club reworking stands out as my mix of choice, while Danny Sullivan and Kemist transform the tune into an after-hours journey. Their bouncy, back-alley beats, stinging string stabs and smoky basslines add a touch of New York mood and attitude. 136 BPM. For more information, contact 212-777-5678.
Peter A. Colon