*Compilation of The Month*
Digital Soul Sessions Vol. 3
Kerri Chandler
Large Records
Kerri Chandler has been producing outstanding House music since the early years and his latest double-pack clearly shows his skills at their finest. It’s a six-track E.P. that gives us everything from wicked Brazilian rhythms in “Digital Brazil,” deep jazzy grooves on “Are You Going With Me?” and brilliant smoothed-out vocal pieces like “Midnight City Blues.” Another Chandler masterpiece.
– Shawn Christopher

"Crazy Love "
MJ Cole
Island
New Jersey-based house maven Todd Edwards turns Cole’s hook-filled two-stepper into an irresistible late-night club stomper. Elisabeth Troy’s sweet vocal carries both Edwards’ “Underground Main Mix” and Cole’s original effort. Of course, Edwards’ “Discofied 2000 Vocal” and “Dub” mixes push the ultra-funky bass in your face – perfect for filter freaks. Both the original and Edwards’ “Main Mix” effort will heat up any dancefloor.
– Jim Tremayne

"Mine To Give"
Photek feat. Robert Owens
Astralwerks
This raw, heavy-hitting male vocal track from the legendary Robert Owens himself features monstrous remixes from David Morales and Satoshi Tomiie. Morales’ “World Style” mix really stands out with a rip-roaring, dark bassline, luscious drum programming and haunting key stabs. It’ll keep them screaming for more. The other remixes range from deep and energetic to happy and soulful. This is a relentless dancefloor worker and there’s something for everyone here. Check it!
– Shawn Christopher

"What Comes Around Comes Around"
GTS feat. Loleatta Holloway
King Street
On “Junior’s Underworld Mix,” Holloway drops a monster diva performance over Vasquez’s pumping, progressive track. Hands in the air? Yes. Also on Side A, “Junior’s Lectrobeats” go deep and tribal and reveal programmer Fred Jorio’s signature fingerprints. Mind Trap’s “Vocal Mix” pushes a more percussive flow, while their “Feel It Dub” percolates just as well, but heads in a more blessed-out, progressive direction. “Listen to Loleatta” on this affirming disco-revenge tune.
– Jim Tremayne

"I Wanna Be With You"
Chocolate Puma
Dot Dot Dot Records
The record that everybody’s looking for finally has come to the U.S., complete with a batch of new remixes. The original mix hails from Holland and is a raw, hard-edged track that almost sounds dated due to its lack of filters. One of the most unique records of the moment, it offers a tough soul vocal, ultra deep bass-lines, and really tight drum programming. The domestic release includes an edit from Boston’s Darren Friedman, who keeps the integrity of the track, but breaks it down in the middle to a hip-hop sort of feel. Then there is DJ Escape’s hot club mix, which takes the track to a whole new level. With some added keyboards and vocal stabs, this mix gives the track a big room sound that is sure to rock any dancefloor.
– Joe Bermudez

Discovery
Daft Punk
Virgin
Though not a tremendous departure from the filter-filled approach to “Homework,” Daft Punk’s latest is in some ways better – certainly if your tastes run toward good pop songs. As “One More Time” continues to storm dancefloors worldwide and turn crossover listeners onto the talents of Romanthony, club DJs should peep “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” a heavily Vocoded, electro stomper, and radio would be foolish to ignore the Buggles-gone-techno confection of “Digital Love.” (Of course, radio seems to have no problem being foolish.) This more-than-solid second helping of filter disco gems keeps it simple and, at times, is just perfect.
– Jim Tremayne

"Beats, Vol. 2"
Harry "Choo-Choo" Romero
Subliminal
A bomb. An unrelenting hard-house groove carries the “Cricket Mix” until a heavy, filtered vocal takes Prince’s “Controversy” lyric to a newer, grittier level. (“I just can’t believe what people say…”) Brilliant and bangin’. The flipside kicks eight tight “Locked” grooves – some funky, some deep, dark or tribal – plus a “Cricket Mix” a cappella.
– Jim Tremayne

"Stand Up"
Thunderpuss feat. Latanza Winters
Tommy Boy Silver
Hot on the heels of their chart-topping record, “Papa’s Got A Brand New Pig Bag,” the hitmaking remix/production team of Chris Cox and Barry Harris has dropped another club winner. Originally done as a holiday remix to thank all the DJs for their support, “Stand Up” finds the duo taking the instrumental from an overseas production they had done for TRF’s “Silver and Gold” and placing vocals from Love Tribe’s dance classic “Stand Up” over it. DJs instantly embraced the song so much that, even as a bootleg, it charted, prompting Tommy Boy to sign it and quickly release it – complete with a dub and soulful mix from E-Smoove. Another great club hit from Thunderpuss.
– Joe Bermudez

"Pleasure"
Mandel Turner
Captivating
This chunky new house single features four rugged mixes that definitely hit on the deep-house tip – bottom-heavy with deep gruff baselines and laced with a harmonic vocal hook. Of the four mixes available, we’re definitely feeling the minimal taste of the “Automagic Superdub” and the filtered uplifting vibe of the “Freedom Sound Underground.” Check that crazy synth loop on the latter mix – wild. A definite floorfiller.
– Phil Turnipseed

"Harmonizer"
Jose Nunez
Sondos/Subliminal
Heavy progressive chords and deep, dark, big-room beats flavor this whopper. The original mix reeks of Twilo – seriously stompy with a massive breakdown. The “Sondos Dub” gets deeper and strips down the vibe, but not the pace. Bass-heavy and swinging, the dub drags a strong undertow and offers a bite toward the end of the track.
– Jim Tremayne

"He Loves You Not"
Dream
Bad Boy
Now that this girl group has already hit the pop charts, Grammy-winning remixer Hex Hector makes “He Loves U Not” ready to take on clubland. The “HQ2 Club Mix” is well structured with tribal beats, wondearful keyboards and sharp lyrics to boot. Hector completely transforms a once-cute pop song into a fierce club anthem. His work on this cut is a DJ’s dream come true.
– Joe Bermudez

"Late Night"
Floppy Sounds
Wave Music
The “Faux Real Mix” of Rob Rives’ minimal groover punches along with tweaky synth stabs and a hyperactive kick drum. As the groove turns over, more layers are revealed for hypnotic effect, then after the breakdown all techy hell breaks loose. Definitely a “Late Night” affair. Kicking more of a locked-down 127-BPM groove, the “Dissonant Dub” pulsates that transition-record vibe until, like the flipside, it breaks into multi-percussive mayhem. An underground delight.
– Jim Tremayne