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by DJ Alex T
Welcome to another edition of Lost Soul. This month there's a
lot of interesting stuff going on. It seems some producers are
trying to revive a more soulful sound, because since the last
four or five years Garage music split itself in too many uninspiring
categories. This thing is still happening today but some producers
such as Norma Jean Bell, Frankie Feliciano, Julien Jabre and others
have always understood that if you produce a good deep garage
track, there's no place for drum rolls, filtered stuff or cheesy
elements that can be heard all over the place. Unfortunately,
there are still many vocals that uses these formulas. In the early
90's, if you listened to vocal tracks, there were barely hard
elements that were found in techno music (of course I'm not speaking
of the acid-house music, but of the NYC-New-Jersey sound). If
you listened to some Kerri Chandler, Burrell or Jovonn 12", it
was soulful from beginning to end! Nowadays, it seems like the
intro is hard, then you got the vocal part which is often not
so good and then everything gets repetitive, filtered and filled
with drum rolls and voice effects. So to all you garage producers:
STOP trying to incorporate harder elements into your music. The
hard DJs don't like garage vocals because they're too smooth,
so they won't buy it and many true garage DJs won't buy it either
because it just SUCKS! I don't want to write down any names, but
to all of you trying to destroy a music that was once extremely
moody and soulful, what's the matter? Is it the money to make
or is it hard to stay creative???
If you need examples for a good vocal production, check this
one: "Happy People" by Kathy Brown (Easy Street
Test Pressing). There's no information on the label, so we don't
really know who produced this essential garage anthem. I heard
that Blaze were behind this bomb, but nothing is confirmed. In
fact it could easily be a Blaze production. The song is highly
soulful, it takes you straight up into a hypnotic classic garage
vybe, with smooth keys and soft horns plus the beautiful voice
of Kathy Brown: tears are just dropping from your eyes! The first
mix on the a-side is the best - with a splendid intro. If someone
would ask me what garage music is, I would play him this song.
It has influences from the 70's, the early New-York garage sound
and the early 90's raw flava. So don't sleep on this one because
it will be a true underground house classic. To see Easy Street
back in form brings a big smile on my face since this label was
crucial in the development of the New York and New Jersey sound.
Just remember songs such as "You don't Know" (Serious Intention)
or "Ma Foom Bey" (Cultural Vybe) and also all of their early 90's
releases from Smack and Blaze. So that's a good surprise to see
Easy Street back with a strong 12" that shows the world that they're
still one of the best garage labels!
Another surprise this month is that Strictly Rhythm is going
back to their roots for two releases! After releasing crap 12"s
since the last five years, they come with two 12"s that are good,
but just average. First, E-Smoove goes gospel on "So Glad" (Love
Journey feat. Latanza Waters) which is senseless hard at the
beginning, with drum rolls and everything ya want baby! After
two minutes, a smooth piano with soft but strong keys introduce
Latanza Waters. This is where I start the record. I don't want
no hard shit in my garage music, right? Anyway, if you are into
gospel house check it out.
Next we got Hardrive back in form. I'm sure
everyone can remember the crossover hit "Deep Inside" back in
1993. This time, it surely won't be crossover, and this Little
Louie Vega production is more on a deep jazzy journey. "Never
Forget (When You Touch Me)" has a sweet floaty vocal line over
an electric guitar that does remind me a bit of some Santana vybe.
It's good but not ground shaking. There's also an E.P. coming
out in the summer with 5 songs, just like the first one.
Now, if you want to hear the perfect raw garage sound, you must
get this one: "Supernatural" (Pandamonium). It's a Norma Jean
Bell and K. Hand production with a strong and truly sensitive
soulful vocal performance done by Billy Lo.
This song is just PERFECT, allright. If you missed the 90-94 era
when Kerri Chandler did is KCYC project, Jovonn and all that stuff,
this 12" captures all these elements: a ruff beat (which do not
mean HARD HOUSE), a strong loud bassline, some minimal deep keys
and smooth vocals that touch your soul. If you lately dug out
all the French vocal stuff by Playin' 4 The City or Sven Love
and Catalan FC, grab this jewel as soon as possible. This will
be the best record of the summer and surely one of the best this
year. Much respect to Norma Jean Bell and K. Hand for keepin'
it real. You can also catch Norma Jean Bell and K. Hand on "I'm
Gonna Get You" by Sharon Jones (Pandamonium),
which is another strong vocal production, and there's also a deep
loungy remix by the very unpredictable Kenny Dixon Jr. (Moodymann).
It's deep and slammin'. Deep keys, Norma Jean Bell's smooth sax
attack and some crazy samples coming out of nowhere. Speaking
of this genius and his mad samples, be sure to catch "Shades Of
Jae" (KDJ) for a full length Moodymann intense experience.
On a jazzy house type, be sure to pick the Masters At Work remixes
of "Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai which I'm not
sure if they are available on Work yet, but look up for the bootleg,
there's a lot floating around. Lenny Fontana also has something
going on on Estereo out of London under the name of Black
Sun. "Spread Love" is a good jazz-house fusion that makes
you happy with its soft vocals and a beautiful guitar solo. Speaking
of jazzy stuff, my God is and will always be Frankie
Feliciano. Since his Gigolo Supreme stuff, I feel like this
guy should be respected as much as Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
Just listen to the original mixes of "Gigolo Supreme" on Nervous
Chill and you'll have to agree with me. Now he's back on a beautiful
project named Boogalu with the indescribable
"A Place In The Sun" (MAW). Deep keys, sweet trumpet, this one
brings you to soul heaven. No need to say more, just listen to
it. As for "One Note Samba", I don't know. Loops are not my things
and I'd rather listen to the original "The World Is A Ghetto"
by George Benson...
Mr. Feliciano can also be found on a 95 North
project: "Unbelievable" with vocalist Heather Rose. Unfortunately,
we are only left with a dub from Feliciano, but that's still a
good one. You can also check the original 95 North mixes. It seems
like Doug Smith and Richard Payton are finding their way back
to their roots. You can also check their too good to be true remixes
of "Celebration" from Blak Beat Niks (Large). For me this is another
most exciting project of the summer. The "Ruff House Dub" is perfect
for an intense night, but the best mix is the "Basement Culture
Remix". It's been so long since I last heard something so deep
and mellow. Big up to 95 North for this very precious piece of
wax. Also, don't forget the Blak Beat Niks
"Club Jazz Mix" which is extremely good, too. One word: Essential.
Nite Grooves brings us the "Abstract Afro Lounge 2" with a strong
Blaze and Palmer Brown
magic song: "More Than Gold". Blaze's jazzy beat flows perfectly
over Afro poetry from Mr. Brown. You can also find the remastered
original version of "Ashewo Ara" by Kabbala on this compilation.
And there's also a wicked unreleased mix of "Kote Moun Yo" (DJ
Hiro feat. Masabumi Kikuchi). Ron Trent has
a thing out on Peace Frog and let me tell you, that's the best
thing he did since "Ncameu" back in 1997. "In The Spirit" is an
epic adventure in the land of deepness. The mix is named "The
Full Experience" and that's truly what it is. Of course, it has
that typical Ron Trent sound but this time he pushed it further
with a nice guitar solo and male and female vocals that give some
warmth to your heart. Try it and feel the experience.
Following this deep road, be sure to get the amazing "Time E.P."
by Julien Jabre (Basic). There's no more need
to write that French know what to do when it comes to house music.
Maybe some of you remember Mr. Jabre's "Jungle E.P." which was
out in January. It was slammin', right? Well, forget that 12"
because your life will be changing while you listen to the deeper
than deep "That Day" (Yo MG, you gotta pick up this treasure!).
On the vocal side of things, be sure to grab Mateo
& Matos' cover of "The Real Thing" (Glasgow Underground) from
Stevie Wonder. The Kings of Tomorrow "Classic mix" is the best
one with a sweet vocal, a jazzy guitar and a soft beat which is
pretty surprising coming from KOT. DJ Spen is back with his Jasper
Street Company crew with a slammin' heavy gospel song "God
Helps Those Who Help Themselves". If you like Jasper Street Company,
you know what to do. Louis Benedetti is making
more sweet music with his strong remixes for "Across The Land
(Spread Love)" (Soulshine,) a Deep Swing production. One of my
favorite singers is back on a strong soul jam coming out of Switzerland.
Michael Watford sings another of his crazy
love songs here. Produced by Jamie Lewis, "The New Jersey Club
Mix" of "For You" (Purple Music) is all that. Su
Su Bobien is also doing her thing with M.A.S. Collective and
Ce Ce Rogers on "Joy" (Airplane) while Brothers
of Peace are getting intense with Marc Sir Dane on "Just As
Long" (Natural Wonders). Check out the "Sir Dane Sermon Mix" for
a strong garage vocal adventure. French producers Catalan FC &
Sven Love are making more noise with a wonderful vocalist named
Nicole Graham, but the best mix were made
by an US producer: Terry Hunter of UBQ. The
"UBQ Vinyl Soul House Mix" of "Private Number" (Virgin) just slams
with it's deep keys and live bass.
Going from Paris to Chicago with UBQ, we met Roy
Davis Jr. on a deep beautiful vocal song "God Of Israel" on
AfterHours, which usually sucks big time with releases by Razor
& Guido. Anyway, this one is as good as "Gabriel" so you better
run to it. Baltimore crew DJ Pope and DJ
Oji have a strong vocal thing going on with Una on Look at
You Records. "Yearnin' For Your Love" is kinda weird for a vocal
song (never heard keys like these) but that's what makes this
12" so special: it sounds like nothing we are hearing right now.
Check it out. So that's about it for this month. As you saw there's
a lot of good releases out right now, so let's hope that it will
keep going on that way. Have a nice summer!
Big ups to: Mr. O, BVDUB my soul brotha, DJ Skillz (check out
his wicked Web site with slammin' mixes at: http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/anthrax/762/pg2.html,
Brian, Theory, Norma Jean Bell & K. Hand for their wonderful works!,
95 North, Frankie Feliciano, Julien Jabre, Carl Brown, the entire
UF crew, Stephanie (love ya girl), and everybody who are still
feeling real soulful vybes. Remember, no sell out in our music...
Alex T Hype Chart
- Billy Lo "Supernatural" Pandamonium
- Blak Beat Niks "Celebration" Large
- Frankie Feliciano presents Boogalu "A Place In The Sun" MAW
- Stephane Malca "Next To You (LP)" Pro-Zak Trax
- Kathy Brown "Happy People" Easy Street Test Pressing
- Julien Jabre "That Day" Basic
- Joe Claussell "Je Ka Jo" Ibadan
- Roy Davis Jr. "God Of Israel" Afterhours
- Jamie Lewis feat. Michael Watford "For You" Purple Music
- Mateo & Matos "The Real Thing" Glasgow Underground
- Ron Trent "In The Spirit" Peacefrog
- Jamiroquai "Canned Heat (MAW)" White Label
- Moodymann "Shades Of Jae" KDJ
- Catalan FC & Sven Love Catalan feat. Nicole Graham "Private
Number" Virgin
- Sharon Jones "I'm Gonna
Get Ya" Pandamonium
- Platinum Doll "Believe In A Brighter Day" Suburban
- Abstract Afro Lounge 2 Nite Grooves
- Blue 6 "Music And Wine" Naked Music
- Deep Swing presents Toney Jones "Across The Land (Spread Love)"
Soulshine
- Brothers Of Peace feat. Marc Sir Dane "Just As Long" Natural
Wonders
Alex T
September 1999
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