*Compilation of the Month*
In The Beginning...A Compilation of Early Works
Jose Nunez & Harry "Choo-Choo" Romero
Gossip
Anyone familiar with the goings-on over at Subliminal Records and the Dronez crew should know two-thirds of its players. Yes, Choo-Choo and Nunez did have a history before they hooked up with Erick Morillo, which is probably why he recognized their talent. Here Gossip Records has put together some of their early works for your pleasure and it’s an interesting collection that can still rock today’s clubs. With cuts like “The Doo Dance,” “Mama Love,” “Velvet,” “Feel It” and more, this most essential collection should not be missed.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Never Gonna Come Back Down”
BT
Nettwerk America
Featuring two phat mixes by Eric Kupper and Timo Maas, “Come Back Down” takes us into the world of one of dance music’s consummate musicians. Kupper captures that element on his mix, which is a straight-forward, 130-BPM house piece that comes in with a tribal-like groove and sinister bassline. Vocalist M. Doughty adds a unique, almost bizarre spoken word/singing vocal performance that gives this cut an edgy, slightly off-centered feel. Maas’ mix is little more on the left with unusual breaks and effects. It’s a little different, but you can’t help but move to
this cut.
– Phil Turnipseed

Live @ Webster Hall NYC
DJ Taucher
Webster Hall Records
Germany’s own DJ Taucher puts together a blistering set of deep, hard trance at one of Manhattan’s most popular clubs. Captured live, he mixes up hot cuts like Mission Control’s “Standby,” DJ Discover and Zone X’s “End of Days,” Rainbow Warrior’s “Take It Away” and Sector 5’s “Armageddon,” Twelve tough tracks give you an up-close experience of Webster Hall’s Friday night parties.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Do It To Me”
Brutal Bill
Subculture
It doesn’t get too much harder in trance when we’re speaking of Brutal Bill. His productions have been busting speakers for years and his latest project offers another deep, blistering musical assault. Featuring four very capable mixes, “Do It To Me” cranks hard and steady. Full of wild synths, long snare rolls and filtered groove, this one’s wicked.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Wind Chime”
Mimosa
Deep Touch
South Florida’s Deep Touch label continues to put out quality deep-house grooves with just about every release and this one’s a perfect example. With four mixes that will most certainly fall into the smooth-house category, the production on all four shares a lush fusion of jazzy chords, delicious basslines and percolating beats. The “String Mix” looks like the pick here with a harder, slightly minimal vibe. “Wind Chime” will be a nice little addition to any deep house set.
– Phil Turnipseed

Colors
Circulation
Circulation Records
This two-CD set from English duo Circulation mixes up gorgeously groovy deep house (CD 1) with tougher, tricky, more tech-y moments (CD 2). Offering up track titles named after different colors – if they keep that up, they’ll run out soon – Circulation doesn’t stay in one place with its sound, which at times defies simple description. (Check the minimalistic, kickin’ “Scarlet,” I swear.) Call it what you will, Colours offers some of the best underground flavors you’ll hear this year.
– Jim Tremayne

"Most Girls"
Pink
LaFace
After the success of “There You Go,” Pink looks to continue her upward climb with this cute R&B gem. Produced by Babyface, the production is a chunky, soulful groove that is a worthy follow-up. Radio should eat this one up and Pink sounds excellent.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Silence”
Delerium feat. Sarah McLachlan
Nettwerk America
In what amounts to a Euro-heavy trance piece, “Silence” soars with luscious strings, perky chords and a light, yet determined groove. There’s an almost ambient effect to this and McLachlan’s stirring vocals add a dramatic lift to the whole production. An excellent experience.
– Phil Turnipseed

“When I Fall In Love”
Ronnie Taylor
Full Blast
Producers Mikey D and Vinny Venom team up to deliver a hot vocal-house song that brings it on strong with a steady bassline and very creative, but not overdone synthesizer tracks. With two separate club mixes and a radio edit, the 12-inch has that twice-a-night groove to it. The “Mikey D Club Mix,” a spicy house-style anthem, doesn’t let up on the energy right from the opening note. The “Venom 3 a.m. House Mix” takes the best parts of the first club mix and drives it straight to the underground – the serious beat and the power driven vocals bring this mix right in your face. – Michael Taylor

2 Sides II A Book
Wyclef Jean The Eclectic
Columbia
The Eclectic is right. The extraordinary Wyclef Jean returns with his sophomore effort and once again drops a dancefloor smorgasbord of hip-hop, R&B, beat-boxed and jazzed-out grooves that’s sure to cross many barriers. With “Kenny Rogers-Pharoahe Monch Plate” already getting attention, this album promises to be one of the more talked-about full lengths this year. Check other hot cuts like “911” (featuring Mary J. Blige), “Runaway” (with Earth, Wind and Fire), “Something About Mary” and “It Doesn’t Matter” (featuring WWF’s The Rock). Socially conscious and sonically fun for DJs, 2 Sides should play long into 2001.
– Phil Turnipseed

“4Shure”
Groove Theory
Columbia
Bryce Wilson and his brainchild Groove Theory once again drop a minimal R&B piece that has that feel-good vibe to it. With the departure of Amel Larrieux to a solo career, many thought the Groove was over, but songstress Makeda Davis has stepped in and continued right where Larrieux left off. “4 Shure” is a soulful, midtempo piece with an engaging hook and a solid production that should be a favorite on radio.
– Phil Turnipseed

“Never Be The Same Again”
Melanie C
Virgin
With some kick-ass production from Plasmic Honey and a hook that you won’t forget, this cut from the former Spice Girl should ignite dancefloors everywhere. Easily Plasmic Honey’s best work to date, the mix is packed with great energy. Well-written and catchy. – Joe Bermudez

“You Are The One”
VLA
Captain
From Canada comes this fresh freestyle tune from a vocal trio that takes their leads over a variety of drum stabs, acidic riffs and bold synth statements. Remixer Echotest takes the vibe into a deeper, underground-house realm with a West Coast feel. Tempting. 132 BPM. For more info, contact (416) 633-1372.
– Peter A. Colón

“Music”
Madonna
Maverick
The Diva returns with this astounding first single off her new forthcoming album. The album version is a funky breakbeat floorfiller in itself, but check the remixes done by Victor Calderone, who works an anthemic, hard 12-minute dance marathon. Hex Hector also does his thing with a nice progressive mix, while Deep Dsh gets down with a little darker feel. All the remixes are incredible and Madonna’s back on the dancefloor in a big way.
– Shawn Christopher

Veronica
Veronica
Jellybean
A collection of her very best singles, some DJ-favorite mixes and a few promo-only cuts, Veronica’s latest offers fine moments from remixers like Johnny Vicious, Hex Hector and Razor & Guido. Including faves like “I’m In Love,” “Someone To Hold,” “No One But You” and “Rise,” this best-of compilation is a must for pop-oriented dance jocks.
– Michael Taylor

“More Than Life ”
Jana
Curb
I am so feeling the “DJ Escape Club Mix.” Packed with cute keyboard stabs and a very fun breakdown, Escape easily turns this one out. Expect to hear this mix all over the circuit. Then there is also a DJ Scribble & Anthony Acid “More Than Club Mix” that is much harder. The drum loop is driving and, with Michael Nigro on the keyboards, it doesn’t take long for this to really kick. – Joe Bermudez

“Love Supreme”
JS-16
Playland/Priority
Jaako “JS-16” Salovaara follows up his international smash “Stomp To My Beat” with this highly motivated, tightly packed power puncher. As the intoxicating groove grabs hold, an unnamed female vocalist sends the tune into the stratosphere with a sparky presentation that only further highlights the track’s aggressive, breakbeat flavor. Lovely! 131.9 BPM.
– Peter A. Colón

“Sunshine (When I Dance With You)”
Infinity feat. Duane Harden
Strictly Rhythm
Duane Harden shines on this memorable, sampled house anthem, as remixers Kinky Roland, the Harlem Hustlers and Raoul Luciano take turns applying their personal touches to John Kato’s original production. While all the mixes capture the essence of Kato’s initial retro-house vision, they also manage to bring out the tune’s many ecstatic nuances. Very nice. 131.9 BPM.
– Peter A. Colón

“Dance With Me”
Debelah Morgan
Atlantic Records
I don’t know how they do it, but Jonathan Peters and Tony Coluccio are out of control. Each mix just keeps getting better. The “JP Underground Mix” slams! A nice, long intro extends, a drum loop hits you like a freight train, then the riff kicks in. From there, Debelah launches and the place erupts. This mix may be too intense for some, so there is also a “JP Sound Factory Mix,” which has the same build-up and mix-out, but calms down in the middle and utilizes the actual lyrics instead of a few samples. Still, both mixes are amazing.
– Joe Bermudez

“Airwave”
Rank I
Tommy Boy
A huge record in Ibiza and, in due time, it will be here as well thanks to some amazing remixes. On “Junior’s Marathon Airwaves Remix,” Vasquez adds a vocal from China and uses a sharp breakbeat keyboard stab that will definitely wake you up. The fave mix here is the “Rank 1 vs. Dutch Force Remix,” which is equally powerful and beautiful.
– Joe Bermudez

“True Love”
Aquanote
Naked Music
“True Love” Aquanote Naked Music For deep grooves, this label can do no wrong. Miguel Migs turns out a deep-house masterpiece with some wickedly soulful basslines and an outstanding male vocal. The “Speakeasy Vocal” is jazzy and very artistic with some nicely placed violins. All four mixes on this
12-inch are sensational.
– Shawn Christopher