Work Hard
Various Artists
Empire State/Eightball
Empire State presents us with a continuous mix of progressive house music as mixed by DJ Jerome Farley. His selection of floor-shaking grooves includes a Junior Vasquez remix of Major North’s mind-altering, time bender “Annihilate” and a T-Total remix of Hong King Trash’s tribal anthem “Down The River.” Also, check out the electro-flavored “Activate” by That Kid Chris and DJ Mada and “Evolution” by Mike Mayo.
For more information, call (800) 699-6343
– Peter A. Colón


“Big Love”
Pete Heller
Subliminal
After playing in the clubs for weeks as an underground import, Pete Heller’s magnificent “Big Love” finally gets a big American release compliments of Subliminal. “Big Love” also gets a nice reworking by the Dronez crew. Keeping true to the original mix, the Dronez Dub adds some splashy effects, percussion reverb hits, and soulful breakdowns. Throw in some nice ad-libs by Octahvia and this new remix is working. And for those who can’t get enough of that filtered groove on the original, it’s on the flipside.
– Phil Turnipseed



Testify
M People
Epic
After an overlong absence, U.K. hitmakers M People return with a much anticipated new full length that’s chock-full of potential hits and remixed versions of old ones. Radio/club jam “Dreaming” is already garnering plenty of attention, but the R&B flava of the title cut, the commercial coolness of “Angel St.,” (a re-released) “Search For A Hero,” and “Fantasy Island” should give this collection real staying power. Tough new mixes of “Moving On Up,” “Colour My Life,” and “How Can I Love You More” are also included. Outstanding.
– Phil Turnipseed


“Come”
Martha Wash
Logic
Wash’s latest single is over-the-top bangin’ affair that features two fierce mixes by Hex Hector. His “Maximum Mix” is sure to set dancefloors on fire. (There’s also a “Minimum Mix” – go figure.) Along with an inspired vocal performance, “Come” adds up to another dancefloor hit.
– Phil Turnipseed


“I Dream”
Waldo’s People
RCA (Canada)
For a generous helping of crowd-moving, progressive dance, give this tasty Canadian import a spin. Waldo’s heart-thumping beats and sweet synthesizer arrangement will grab your senses while the sing song-melody takes control of your body. A welcome cut to any club set. 134 BPM.
For more information
contact (416) 586-0022.
– Peter A. Colón


“Dreaming”
Ruff Driverz Presents Arrola
Tommy Boy Silver
This hot single offers a twisty combination of American dance and Euro energy with a dash Spanish subtlety. Producers Carter and Brown ride a beat-heavy rhythm track into a tunnel of billowy basslines, spicy acoustic guitar licks, synth stabs and carefully placed bi-lingual vocal snips from Katherine Ellis. Meanwhile, remixer Eddie Baez takes the project underground with his hard house beats and progressive keyboard phrasing.
A sleeper. 136 BPM.
– Peter A. Colón


Frontiers EP
Mateo & Matos
Large
Skip across this four-song EP and you’ll find a couple house gems on the smooth tip. “It’s Alright” fits that bill, but offers more than the regular kick. Fellow A-side track “In My Soul” works as a deep underground grinder that latches onto the dancer’s groove. On the flip, “Dark Side” works a deep, deep jazzy environment. The EP’s standout, however, has to be “Groove 4 You,” which serves up a whopping rhythm that meshes a disco-era bassline with a fluid, tinkling piano figure.
Perfect stuff.
– Jim Tremayne


“Gotta Believe”
Urban Soul feat. Shawnee Taylor
King Street
This vibey garage-house offering gives a cool understated approach on its “Extended Mix.” A smooth, subtle bassline and light percussion work highlight this mix. There’s also a harder, piano-laced “Oriental Dub” that will give DJs something to work. Roland Clarke, of course, leads the vocal charge, but Shawnee Taylor gives a spirited performance doing the chorus ands ad lib work.
Not bad.
– Phil Turnipseed



“Sipping Ginger Ale”
Sherry Christian
Endorfun
With its cute catchy vocal hook, clubby track, and inspired performance, this bouncy new single that has all the makings of a pop hit. Christian’s vocal style recalls Madonna, but offers more depth. “The Non-Stop Radio Edit” should be pop pleaser, while “Chop n’ Chan’s Remix” will bang the party for club heads.
– Phil Turnipseed


“Gopher (Mambo)”
Yma Sumac
The Right Stuff/Capitol
Fitted with a cha-cha/mambo beat, this “Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix” is a hilarious masterpiece of B-movie campiness. Everything from the underlying vintage organ chords to the highly contagious acid line to the wonderfully dramatic Ricky Ricardo-like “huh” make this cut a winner.
It’ll put a smile on your face.
119 BPM.
– Peter A. Colón



“Hold On”
José Nunez feat. Octahvia
Subliminal
Loaded with soulful mixes, this is a brilliant double pack from Subliminal. First, Jazz-n-Groove gives us an infectious bassline and a smoothed-out disco feel on their mix, then Nunez, label chief Erick Morillo and fellow Constipated Monkey Harry “Choo Choo” Romero drop even tougher mixes that are sure to rock your dancefloor.
Very solid.
For info call (201) 866-5340.
– Shawn Christopher


“Sweet 2Gether’ b/w “The Promise”
Dave Lalla pres. The First Contact
Narcotic
This two-track gem is on point, especially “Sweet 2Gether.” It’s a smooth house cut that showcases a low-end piano hook, which carries the groove along in a hypnotic way. With sparse vocals and a slinky keyboard hit added for texture, this will be a DJ’s choice. On the flip, “The Promise” gets a little busier, yet still has subtle coolness in its approach. More sparse vocals and some phat percussion programming round out this nice track.
– Phil Turnipseed


“Slippin’ Into Darkness 1999”
War vs. Armand
Armed
Armand Van Helden drops his pounding hard-house take on War’s otherwise funky, Latin-flavored hit from 1973. With its acidic breaks, muted siren effects and otherworldly vocal sample – the cut’s only connection to original – it’s “Witch Doktor” gone retro. As the title implies, this one’s dark and stubbornly kickin’.
One mix available on single-sided vinyl.
– Jim Tremayne


“2 Tons”
Natural Elements
Tommy Boy Black Label
“2 Tons” rocks a funky backbeat that flows like an old-school BDP track, but adds a twist. The rhymes arrive swiftly as the background dramatics include a hypnotic bell/chime sequence and a slick synth patch.
A heavy hue of hip hop flavor. 95 BPM.
– Peter A. Colón


“Livin’ La Vida Loca”
Ricky Martin
Columbia
Columbia pulls out the stops with this scorching double-packed thriller from Latin sensation Ricky Martin. Featuring remixes by Pablo Flores, Scissorhands, and Trackmasters, Martin looks to cross all barriers with his breakout smash. Flores and take the house journey with busy percussion grooves and deep sexy breakdowns. There’s even a pumping Spanglish mix. But Trackmasters adds an interesting downtempo mix, which features Fat Joe and Big Pun. Martin throws in some cool vocals on a surprisingly effective R&B mix.
– Phil Turnipseed


“Bla Bla Bla” b/w “Voyage”
Gigi D’Agostino
Media (Italy)
Atmospheric B-side “Voyage” flexes a sinister groove that builds with muscular precision. Gothic, but not goofy, “Voyage” will scramble late-night sensibilities and probably frighten a few children. The more regulation houser “Bla Bla Bla” bounces in an Armandish “Spin Spin Sugar” vein, but the bassline/hi-hat combo kicks just as fierce.
An import worth digging out of the racks.
– Jim Tremayne


“We Are In The Dark”
Plasmic Honey
Jellybean
A deep progressive journey that’s hard, dark and somewhat sinister. Long breaks, a spoken-word male vocal, and crazy strings all provide great moments. Two mixes here seem capable of bringing this track club success – the epic “Lights Out Mix” and the beat-infested “Xtasy Dub” are bangin’ from start to finish. Another strong effort from Plasmic Honey.
– Phil Turnipseed


Shades of Green EP
Filthy Rich
Hipbone
On this great EP, check out the uplifting male vocal on “Automated People,” which features a bouncy bassline and whistle-like filtered loops. The heavy percussion track “Many Years Ago” kicks nicely as well, while “Do It Again” and “Listen” both offer that funky disco feel that’s so popular now. Anything on Shades of Green should make for very easy mixing into any set.
For info call (212) 932-2867.
– Shawn Christopher


“Feel It...Dance”
Trauma feat. Willie Ninja
Cutting
Chop n’ Chan – Steve “Chip Chop” Gonzalez and John “JMC” Chan – provide the spikes on this new progressive house pounder, while Willie Ninja adds mood with a sinister spoken-word vocal. Of the four mixes, “Willie’s After Hours Mix,” which borrows a great bassline sample, should shake some butts on the dancefloor. For the harder sound, check out the “Escuelita Ha Mix.” Work it, baby!
– Phil Turnipseed