Atlantic Starr – Freak-A-Ristic (Special Dance Mix) (320 kbps)

Probably among the best 12″s I’ve bought among the recent history. Straight connections to modern R&B cuts like Justin Timberlake’s Lovestoned etc. I’d like to hear a modern version of this. Dig it.

With a couple of rarities (Kerim Khan, Phil Steele), exclusive track (Topless), essentials (Holy Ghost!, Ali Love) and all-time personal favorites (Laid Back, Seymour Bits, Roy Davis Jr) I’m quite comfortable with this new live dj mix. Electro soul satisfaction guaranteed.

DOWNLOAD

(320 kbps)

Tracklist
01. Laid Back – Bakerman
02. Toecutter – Best Party Ever (Fight Facilities Edit)
03. Roy Davis Jr. – Dance Shake
04. George Clinton – Erotic City (Sasso Re-Edit)
05. Muddyloop – We Play, You Move
06. Seymour Bits – All Alone
07. 50 & 50 Brothers – Redman
08. Topless – Vamos A Bailar
09. Ali Love – Diminishing Returns (Extended Version)
10. Kerim Khan – Seaside Rendezvous (Seaside-Dub)
11. Holy Ghost! – I Will Come Back
12. Phil Steele – Video Love (12″ Remix)

Mix of the Week #15

Marcel King – Reach For Love (320k)

This is what happened yesterday. I was walking home, mi belly full after late lunch, my thoughts deeply on difficulties of life. And there it was, near the sidewalk, down this little bank. Something round and black sticking out of the snow. Had to get down immediately, and within few steps there I was: kneedeep in snow with this 12″ in my hands. Quickly to home and some trusty ole AM Record Cleaner consumed. So here we go.

This song appears to have been a definite floorfiller at the legendary Hacienda club in Manchester, Great Britain – hence – a party banger? I’m starting to get fixated on extending the meaning of this bit pointless term. Current view seems to be too limited. Anyways few of the producers involved with this song would be some dudes called Donald Johnson (known from A Certain Ratio) and Bernard Sumner (of New Order). Below some juicy details on how this song came onto being.

Rumour has it that New Order’s manager, Rob Gretton (a huge northern soul fan himself), found his hero Marcel sleeping homeless in the back of a car. Enthusiastically, Marcel was asked to make the record which was produced by the Bernard Sumner/ Donald Johnson, Be Music/ Dojo music axis, giving it an electronic based powerful rhythm and bass line riff possibly influenced by Giorgio Moroder with its repetitive and demanding sequencing. The song is certainly a precursor to the rock/dance crossover genre.

The vocal range and control on ‘Reach For Love’ was exceptionally high level, both from a technical and emotional stand. The record was perhaps too intense for daytime airplay but was certainly one of the great lost hits of the 1980s. It’s incredibly baffling how nobody has ever covered the song since.
- http://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/review/1851

The b-side Dub Version is also nice. No kick drum at all, some synthbass flourishes, guitar and synth licks here and there. Snare and claps plus conga/bongo percussion running through the whole 7 minutes and 39 seconds. And the vocals of course, in style of dub mixes familiar from lots of 80s songs, cut up from time to time, delayed and reverbed. Definitely a Dj tool – to be so worked out like a m*****f***ker.

Whoever it was, being maybe bit frustrated, maybe even a frustrated dj, thinking: “F**k it, to hell with this 12″, NOBODY LISTENS TO THIS 80S SHIT!” – my sincere thanks go there. Made my day, especially as Marcel King’s advice is mostly the sorta everyone likes to hear from family & friends sometimes. Or from a vinyl record.

Dynamic Breakers – Dynamic (Total Control) (320 kbps)

Ever wondered how Bob James’ Nautilus would sound were it done in old school electro style? Dynamic Breaker’s Dynamic (Total Control) totally mimicks Nautilus’ bassline. This is also analogous to what Newcleus and other similar type of electrogroups did that time: not-so-great raps but orthodox electro-funk beats.

The track is produced by Newcleus (Chilly B and Cozmo D). No credits, no compensation and they were even cheated out of writer’s credit and royalties for it. The idea was that Dynamic would rap but actually the rapping is done by other rap crew called Total Control (Dynamike, Frankie Dee and d.j Johnny Juice).

Dynamic Breakers were actually part of larger crew called Dynamic Rockers. It is the Dynamic Breakers that you see in the documentary Style Wars b-boying against Rock Steady Crew. Though latter is regarded as a premier b-boy group, it was the Dynamic Breakers that gained more popularity appearing in movies like “Delivery Boys” (some real old school cheese) and “The Exterminator”.

Sources:
OldSchoolHipHop.com
Jam-On Productions

Change – Oh What A Feeling (Paul Hardcastle Remix) (320k)

Soon no snow in Rovaniemi. That’ll take maybe a bit over one month.