Defected Records

DJ Quentin – Mythical Groove – Sondela

Three sizzling tracks from this relatively new artist ignites the airwaves with a combination of hot-wired cool and emotional soulfulness. Bayethe, teases you with staccato synth lines that soon evolve into something altogether more musical as atmospheric piano chords alongside mournful strings are heightened by the addition of cool percussion, plus a biting kick drum, resulting in the arrangement quietly propelling itself skyward. In ways many Gumbawelele continues that same theme although is perhaps more traditionally uplifting in the process, leaving Mythical Groove to supply a tougher more intense rendition which again touches upon heart and soul.

Release: September 16
Buy listen https://sondela.lnk.to/SONDE017D
https://www.facebook.com/djquentinsa
https://www.facebook.com/Sondela-Recordings-108220767348954/

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Miguel Migs – Midnight Memories (Remixes) – Soulfuric Deep

Seems like a long time since I reviewed a record by Miguel Migs, not so long by Jimpster who remixes this late night gem beautifully capturing the essence of hard, smoky funk in all its resplendent glory. The edge is likewise carved by the retention of the sampled voice talking about the matter at hand echoing sentiments which will chime with most as the drums, bass and smouldering keys all work their indelible magic. Complimented by Miguel Migs own Moody Touch Rework which transforms the original tempo while adding hot sauce to the grooves this new version provocatively simmers with anticipation.

Release: November 5

buy / listen https://www.traxsource.com/title/1689460/midnight-memories
buy https://soulfuric-recordings.bandcamp.com/album/midnight-memories-remixes

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Avant Garde – Perpetuity – Faith

You could write a wealth of words to celebrate Rheji Burrell’s contribution to music as part of The Burrell Brothers. Equally you could press play and listen. In ways this is exactly what I expected to hear. Maybe exactly what I wanted to hear from him. Four pieces of House Music plain and simple, just as god intended. Each highlights the rhythmic purpose of drums and bass, each excites notation with deft, soulful intent as vocals dance alongside a selection of uncomplicated yet purely focused elements. Perpetuity 1, works best for me because those organ chords ignite a series of memories not easily forgotten and a feeling that this music is important beyond a simple succession of notes.

Release: September 24
Buy https://lnk.to/FPerpetuity
https://www.faith.london

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Heller & Farley Project – Ultra Flava (Remixes) – Defected Records

This was all over 1995 from Frankie Knuckles at The Sound Factory Bar to just about everyone else. And while it’s easy to cite tired nostalgia when it comes to remixing signature records from the past in this particular case Darius Syrossian has achieved something special in retaining the originals pulsating essence, yet making it feel contemporary. The addition of the warm wash of pads, fresh drums alongside the hot buzz of stabs solves the vexed question of how you update something so uniquely recognisable without losing what made it so notable in the first place. David Penn approaches from another angle with funkier bass, beats and a jazzier flair complimenting the trademark cowbells as an excitable, piano-punctuated breakdown will transport your emotions to other places.

Release: May 1

buy https://www.traxsource.com/title/1331764/ultra-flava

Explore the records history: https://defected.com/news/post/the-story-of-ultra-flava

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Debbie Jacobs – Don’t You Want My Love – Glitterbox Recordings

I’ve always loved the charged Hi-Energy of this Disco (dare I say, Classic) release from 1979. Big, bold syncopation drives the sizzling intensity of this number all the way as Jacobs delightful vocals ignite the airwaves. A chorus full of melody hits you as every drop of emotion of squeezed till the pips squeak. A re-edit courtesy of the legend that is Dimitri From Paris breathes a fresh take of it all but either way, a thing of beauty.

Release: Vinyl. November 3

https://glitterboxrecordings.bandcamp.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4OOTxT6RpQ

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The Glitz featuring Fadila – Hook Up – DFTD

Excellent new single from the Berlin duo sees brutal electronics transform into almost beautiful notation as brooding possibilities reveal themselves as sleazy temptations. Words remain important here as Fadila’s devilish vocal delivery impacts all the more while the sounds bump and grind below creating tense, gritty atmosphere’s to play with. Alternatively, try the Stripped Back Version which probes via the bassline aided by a dazzling array of effects and cleverly calculated arrangement.

Release: August 11
https://www.beatport.com/release/hook-up/2078863
https://www.facebook.com/2theglitz
http://defected.com

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Billie – Nobody’s Business – 4 To The Floor Records

Revisiting rather than reviving this often overlooked number from the past is always refreshing to experience. That and the fact that the original 1986 version remains intact testifying to the strength of the song plus its vocal delivery, alongside the proud production by other vital figures in House history: Boyd Jarvis and Timmy Regisford, while not to forget the essential tag line ‘Mastered by Herbie Powers’. Nobody’s Business was a 1920s blues standard by Porter Grainger and while Boyd Jarvis lifted the refrain and changing some of the lyrics its essence still reverberates from then to now. Typifying the ‘Garage’ sound of the period which was subsequently exported to the UK a couple of years later via now classic compilations the track boasts all of those hallmarks loud and proud: from the rolling drum machines to the soaring soulfully charged vocals – just close your eyes and who knows where your imagination could end up.

Release: July 28

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Csye_ZC1AY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0AIdxGPVYs

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Ralphi Rosario – Wanna Give It Up – Glitterbox Recordings

The thing with House Music and its ability to connect with your past is something that will always remain. This, being one of very many, great productions from Ralphi Rosario is a case in point and now receives fresh fuel to revitalise your imagination. I’ll cut straight to the chase as Légo’s Dub from the original release remains as brutally beautiful as always, rocking the bassline and of course Linda Clifford’s achingly, rousing vocals. However, back to the new versions and Dr Packer’s Disco inflected rhythms add a sense of soulful occasion to the affair, while Full Intention retain the same essence although add eighties keys plus punchy handclaps to suit the occasion. Leaving the aptly titled Jamie 3:26 Disco Party version to do precisely that care of a series of funky chops and a shuffling fusion of drums. Class Act.

Release: July 12

http://ralphirosario.com
http://glitterboxibiza.com

http://www.juno.co.uk/products/ralphi-with-linda-wanna-give-it-up/654702-01/

Lego’s Dub from the original release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJIRMrxh1rc

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Reviews:139

Single of the Week

Vince Watson
Déjà vu EP
Poker Flat Recordings

In the course of celebrating a 20 plus years history the label releases this excellent number from Vince Watson. The title track ticks all the right buttons with emotive chords underpinning a relatively restrained Acid bassline and comes complete with a lush breakdown that sets the pulse racing. And to highlight just how effective it all is Déjà vu also features a Beatless and Ambient Mix which both accentuate the track’s sensual nature, with the radiant ambience of the later feeling particularity rewarding care of the well placed piano motif. Illusion, meanwhile provides a tougher affair for the dancefloor with hissing hi-hats accompanied by a more intense array of punchy keys, while label founder Josh Wink’s funky percussion led remix aims high with pounding musicality reaching an eventual deeper climax on what is undoubtedly a first rate version.

www.vincewatson.co.uk
www.ovumrecordings.com

https://soundcloud.com/vincewatson/sets/vince-watson-deja-vu-ep-ovum

Little By Little
Bang The Box EP
Defected Records

Great title (of course) and reflects the banging nature of House Music with this irresistible workout from the Frenchman. Bang The Box, features taught, explosive bass lines plus the chopped-up vocals of the same name and then proceeds to twist them all together delivering highly flammable material. Second track, ‘Stress’ applies nastier bass to pumping drums along with wobbly synths and once again comes up smiling. Simple yet deadly.

Release: January 19

https://soundcloud.com/defectedrecords/sets/little-by-little-bang-the-box-ep-edits-1

Roland Appel
Zeus
Inside Out Records

An explosive sonically charged barrage from Roland Appel has the title track feel every bit as great as that sounds with dark bass and beats, weird synths and Acid attitude all combining most conveniently into a sizzling collage of sounds. The funkier, Da Cat follows with heavier bass accompanied by sometimes warmer, sometimes harsher keys that are all high on impact and lend the track its distinctive, notably edgy flavour.

Release: January 26

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roland-Appel/123904200961246?sk=timeline

https://soundcloud.com/insideoutrec/sets/zeus-ep

Monoblok&PSLKTR
Relapse EP
Meant Records

Love this from Monoblok&PSLKTR who defiantly throw the rule book out of the window while delivering an icily cool production complete with addictive deadpan vocals and unsettling synthesizers. Relapse, even features a rocky guitar, live action bass and is most effective via the excellent original mix. Remixes come from a pulsating Rework version, and the sizzling electronics of My Favorite Robot. Next, Walking Disaster supplies another great original with further cool vocals alongside sassy keyboards and decadent 80’s attitude. Arnaud Rebotini’s remix of the same completes with a more robust version beefing it all up nicely.

https://www.facebook.com/MonoblokPslktr

https://soundcloud.com/meant/sets/monoblokpslktr-relapse-ep-meant021

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Reviews:110

Adriatique
Midnight Walking EP
Culprit

adWhat better way to introduce to 2014 than another superlative release via Culprit. Indecently one of my favourite labels but none-the-less this tastefully brooding epic bears all the hallmarks required right down from the teasing, haunting synthesizers to the breathy, psychedelic vocals delivered by Name One. An effective Dub version follows feeling strangely brighter minus the voice, as second track Rolling Stone completes with more twisted electronics and heavily treated vocals sizzling their way across the airwaves.

release: January 27

https://www.facebook.com/adriatiqueofficial
https://twitter.com/adriatiquemusic
https://www.facebook.com/CulpritLA

https://soundcloud.com/culpritla/cp041-adriatique-midnight

Rick Wade
Sweet life EP
FINA Records

Rick WadeVeteran Detroit and Harmonie Park main-man Rick Wade gets set to release his soulfully charged grooves on Northern imprint FINA. The title track as the name suggests positively drips with emotion as strings accompanied by poignant, minor chords all feel timelessly free in amongst the easy drums. Remixes come from a techier, Mr Beatnick and a perky Tom Taylor & Simon Morell version that ups the tempo and intensity for those late night moments. The Chateau, proceeds with further inescapable funkiness alongside celebratory rhythms galore to satisfy both the historian and dancer care of the well placed sample. Jazz Militia, then takes a tougher stance as deeper beats and bass offset the filtered string infused grooves all over again.

release: vinyl January 31/ digital February 14

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rick-Wade/42735184215
https://www.facebook.com/FINAREC

https://soundcloud.com/fina-records/sets/fina014-rick-wade-sweet-life

David Herrero
Bad Day EP
Defected Records

davidDavid Herrero’s instant party-time slammer neatly fuses a classic Chicago bassline together with insistent hi-hats and hook-line vocal edits plus 80’s styled chords to great effect. The arrangement doesn’t pull any punches either, aimed squarely at dancefloor action with its sassy breakdowns all producing a rush of feeling. Indeed, I Like That Feel continues the concept albeit on a deeper tip with more old-school punctuating vocals and synths. O’Clock, then finally calls time amidst a blaze of fiery Todd Terry-esque snares and a cool, rolling bass all of which tellingly links the past to the future.

release: January 20

http://www.davidherrero.info
https://www.facebook.com/davidherrerodj
http://defected.com

https://soundcloud.com/defectedrecords/sets/david-herrero-bad-day-ep-edits

 

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