“No More Drama”
Mary J. Blige
MCA
Modern R&B’s greatest diva delivers one of 2002’s most thrilling dancefloor anthems – with the help of Thunderpuss, of course. The radio version starts off in its original hip-hop-flavored form and builds up, through an echoing array of synth orchestration, to a tribal-edged killer that’ll rock your soul. The “Thunderpuss Club Anthem” and dub go way over the top. – Mikey D. Merola

“Will I?”
Ian Van Dahl
Robbins Entertainment
Featuring the colossal vocals of Annemie Coenen, this track offers a few remixes for every DJ’s appetite. The extended mix offers light, 140-BPM kicks, sweeping synth strings and a dazzling bass line. The “Dee Dee Remix” pushes the intense touch of the familiar club banger “Forever” and includes heavier Virus-oriented keyboard sounds. The Hemstock-Jennings and Lange remixes all have a harder, deeper, more underground feel for peak-hour delight. – Mikey D. Merola

“Ready”
Charles Webster
Statra Recordings
On this double 12-inch, Webster and remixers Tommy Musto, Ron Trent and Cassady offer a slew of remixes that cater to the smooth jazz-house vibe. Terra Deva’s vocals are sexy and angelic and give this song some real soul. All the mixes are on-point with Trent’s deep, subliminal mix being a highlight. Very much in the Trent mode, this mix has a jazzy feel to it with excellent piano work, a dark bass groove and very mellow vibe. The “Cassady Dub” has a little more jump to it, but with the lush keyboard work it never gets too crazy. – Phil Turnipseed

“Innocence”
Distance
Niche Blue
This epic cut features drawn-out deep-house vibes highlighted by great synth work, way-cool chord changes and just the right amount of bounce to get the crowd jumping. Amanda Thompson drops some sweet ad-libs on the vocal and original mixes, but they are so sparse that the vocals are mere background filler. It’s all about the music here and maybe it’s time you checked out Niche. – Phil Turnipseed

“Log On”
Elephant Man
Greensleeves
This hot-buttered island groove has been a major hit overseas and threatens to make some serious noise here. Dropping a bouncy reggae beat, including a delicious string hook, it’s very much in the dancehall mode and Elephant delivers his signature dirty vocal style. We love the operatic intro, which breaks into the groove. For more traditional clubheads, there’s the wicked “U.K. Garage Mix.” – Phil Turnipseed

Free EP
Planet BEN
Flying Rhino
Sheer trance at its best, “Free” is a classic example of BEN’s freeze-frame technique: beats and stabs fall effortlessly into place and it builds up perfectly and creates a kind of timeless shuffle while sitting nicely in the mix. “Reperaturbedüftig” (bless you) is a pounding, pacey mover with a huge breakdown that gives way to a balanced, escalating finale. – Damion Brown

“Been So Long”
Kim English
Hysteria
English sings her heart out on this incredible remake of the Anita Baker classic. Wamdue’s Chris Brann is on the mix working a hypnotic baseline with gentle percussion and piano-laden melodies that will make you heart melt. A classy late-night, deep-house piece for sure. – Shawn Christopher

“Wake Up”
Beki
Logic/BMG
With a distinct vocal that’ll impact listeners in a big way, Beki’s “Wake Up” – produced by New York hitmaker Guido – should stick on your turntables for some time. The 12-inch features a thumping dub from Guido and hot remix from Johnny Vicious that offers gorgeous cascading keys. – Mikey D. Merola

“Flying To Be Free”
Urban Soul feat. Roland Clark
King Street
Clark turns it out with his soulful vocal and Todd Gee takes the mix to another level as he works in some Vocoder effects. This is a great vocal record full of funky basslines, massive tribal kicks, savvy keys and tons of energy. A definite crowd-worker. – Shawn Christopher

“Fantasize”
Rob Mello feat. Cecile
Classic
This sexy new offering reworks the classic rhythm track of Laidback’s “White Horse.” Very much a fusion of electro and house music, “Fantasize” also shows off Cecile’s dreamy vocal style, which mixes singing and spoken-word. Cute synths hit throughout, but the “White Horse” rhythm track carries the cut and gives it staying power. – Phil Turnipseed

“A Song for The Lonely”
Cher
Warner Bros.
The radio and main mixes are all about keyboard-textured sounds and down-to-earth grooves, but Cher’s distinctive vocals are worked to perfection by the Mindtrap remix team – Jason Ojeda & Motomo 315. If you favor tribal, cutting-edge tracks, check out the “Mindtrap Deep Club Mix,” an 11-minute journey that boasts great keyboards and kick drums that alternate between fierceness and subtlety – their best mix yet. – Mikey D. Merola   

“In Your Eyes”
Kylie Minogue
EMI-Australia
Saeed & Palash decided not to make this dripping, sultry song into a standard tribal epic. Instead, they added a slow, wandering bassline, a sprinkling of sexy sounds, and let the strong melody and Kylie’s luscious delivery make the track. And they do – “In Your Eyes” is a femme version of BPT’s “Moody,” the kind of track that brings your floor to fever pitch simply by making people grind on each other. And the outro is perfect for mixing in a bomb right after to seal the deal. – Kerri L. Mason