“Wasn’t The Only”
b/w “Stay Here”
Sahara
Armed
Featuring a filtered, disco-house groove that works a classic-rock sample (we’ll let you guess), this Armand Van Helden cut has all the makings. The sample, of course, is worked to perfection inside a tight vocal-led production. And speaking of vocals, newcomer Tekitha shows real promise with a silky light style that’s most enjoyable. “Stay There” has a more tribal-house influence with ambient chords and a busy percussion loop. Again, Tekitha’s angelic approach is the pleasant surprise here.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Blackwater”
Octave One
430 West
This is basically a techno record so you may have to pitch it down a little, but don’t let that scare you ’cause this is the bomb! The bassline is extremely severe and all over the place with strong relentless keys to match. The vocal is incredible and catchy.
– Shawn Christopher

“Treat Me Right”
Kim English
Nervous
John Cutler gets serious with a sweet and infectious vibe on two crisp classic house mixes that are, simply put, on the money. The “Cutler Dub” delivers a penetrating bassline that rolls under a sensuous guitar-like synth, with some cool vocal snippets. The “Cutler Remix” on the other hand keeps things more vocally formatted, but never loses that wicked vibe. English, as always, is in fine form as she gives a vintage performance.
– Phil Turnipseed

Glasgow Underground pres. Explorations in Chill
Various Artists
Glasgow Underground
Loaded with gorgeous cuts that bop and flow, instead of burble and waft, Explorations in Chill moves somewhat more than, say, Air’s landmark Moon Safari – but the material is no less memorable. Sweet, warm, feels like 7 a.m. Top tunes: Rose Smith’s “Life Changes” and “First Time Alive,” and Neon Heights feat. Zed J’s “16 Again.”
– Jim Tremayne

“Loving the Alien”
Scumfrog vs. Bowie
Positiva
Roger Sanchez protégé Jesse Houk finally drops a follow-up to last year’s Stones-sampling “We Love You.” Not as good as his debut, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had here. Check the “8 Days, 7 Hours” mix, minus Bowie’s vocal, with its dirty acid bassline. Tasty.
– Nathan Brown

“It’s Love (Trippin’)”
Andrea Brown
Groovilicious
This cut is already shaping up to be one of 2002’s big tracks. Vocalist Andrea Brown is the driving force on this wicked new cut that also features a bassline to die for. It doesn’t hurt that R&B superstar Jill Scott penned the lyrics, but it’s Brown who brings the words to life with authority. Of the five mixes, we love the “Goldtrix Club,” the dub, and “The Flatlines Wacarla Vocal Mix” – a deep-tech progressive workout with a sizzling percussion program and dubby grooves.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Walk Away”
Hakan Libdo
Estereo
Libdo returns to us in fine form with this ever-so-fierce cut. The original R&B mix is something that radio would do well to check out, but the real drama begins with the epic “Vision Vocal Remix.” Dropping a straight deep-tech groove, the production is simple, but it suddenly becomes something much, much more when vocalist Paula Lobos delivers her stirring lyrics. We’re also feeling that bouncy dub with its tribal drums.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Blame”
Sono
Groovilicious
Nothing like a deep, pulsating bassline underneath some minimal chords to get your head bobbing. Sono, coming off the delicious “Keep Control,” drops another winner on us with this pumped-up deep-tech vocal gem. Hearing that minimal groove and bassline, we’ve got some real quality stuff here. Terry Lee Brown, Jr., contributes a sexy, down-and-dirty deep-tech mix as only he can. A sweet and soulful piece that features his trademark style.
– Phil Turnipseed

“5 A.M.”
Deep Night Noise feat. Shawnee Taylor
Subliminal
What makes this cut so cool is a constant, sexy-ass chord that just rides throughout the “After Hours Vocal Mix.” It glides along on top of a minimal house groove and boasts a boomin’ bassline. There are some cool early R&B synth hits as well as sweet piano work. Vocalist Taylor gives a confident performance as she teases us with her obvious range. The “5 A.M. Dub” has a more percussion-heavy approach with the piano work being expanded considerably.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Stars”
Full Intention
Dtension
Full Intention puts in full gear with this heavy-handed house piece. It’s soulful and full-bodied with a richly soulful vocal performance by Shena, who gave us last year’s bangin’ “I’ll Be Waiting.” The arrangement is definitely soulful house with a nice radio-friendly vocal hook. Both the main and dub mixes by Full Intention feature a fierce bassline.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Awakening”
François K. feat. Barbarab Mendes
Wave Music
This is a beautiful deep, jazzy house masterpiece with hypnotizing Brazilian vocals by Barbara Mendes. François combines soft melodic keys, wicked building percussion and stunning strings for a Bossa-flavored instant classic. There’s also a brilliant percapella/DJ Tool, which includes some pretty stomping tribal beats.   
– Shawn Christopher

“Clear” b/w “Brainwashed”
Airmale
*69
Producers Peter Rauhofer and Rainer Potosching get all drummed up on this progressive tribal house offering. Adding a growling bass, some choppy synth hits and a haunting spoken word vocal, the combination becomes a dark underground creation. Side B’s “Brainwashed” has a more industrial progressive house feel with a woofer-busting synth bass that will definitely wake up the neighbors. Looking for a peak hour track? Look no further.
– Phil Turnipseed

“You Don’t Have To Call”
Usher
Arista
Arista finally drops the dance remixes of Usher’s R&B smash – and they do not disappoint. First up is Ernie Lake’s “Lake Night Ext. Vox,” which works some electro-type synths and a bouncy percussion groove that goes very minimal and then gets busy as hell. We love the way the rhythm breaks down when the verse comes in. But the overall production has a sexy deep-house overtone to it. Pete Avila’s “Organic Club Mix,” on the other hand, is bottom-heavy with a driving rhythm. Both mixes definitely enhance this track to the utmost.
– Phil Turnipseed