Screw lists - happy new year!

I used to work for a music magazine here in Athens several years ago, writing mostly album reviews. These last days before the year's end, we would always publish our top tunes and we were all asked to make a list with our favorite tracks and albums of the year, counting downwards from 20 to 1. Sometimes we would make lists with our favorite albums and tracks of all times. The horror! Most of the times I didn't have 20 favorite albums for one year (I rarely enjoy one whole album and not just a couple of tracks from it) and I had to fill the list with things that I could definitely live without. And of course the numbering was totally random -except for number 1. Maybe.

This whole thing stroke me yesterday as I realized I was seeing lists spreading everywhere all over the internet. That moment I also perceived that this past month has been nothing but lists. Well, don't expect to see any lists of that kind in soundigger today. I'm just gonna say goodbye to 2013 without knowing exactly which track or album was my favorite one this year, coz I adored a huge amount of tunes equally. And I'm definitely not gonna make a list about what I wanna change this year -if I can't remember it, then it's not worth changing. The only list I'm gonna make is for the super-market supplies, which has no countdown on it.



Happy new year everyone! Spread love and screw the lists!

track's info: 
Lyn Collins - Take me as I am (Disco Tech Edit)
2013

To pitch or not to pitch

Although on Sundays I usually take things slower, at my own relaxing and comfy pace, today I think I have a thing for this +pitched version of Vaneese & Carolyn's "Goodbye song".

Apparently, some dude decided to share his own pace with the world and groove some of us up, even on a lazy Sunday morning -where it takes time to even move your hand to catch the phone and call a friend to ask what the hell happened last night and your head is about to explode. Now a nice, inspired, clean and funked-up edit of this could give these last days of the year a proper boost and send them away with fine tunes.

track's info:
Vaneese&Carolyn - Goodbye song
Polydor 1978

Take me to the circus

We've seen deep&disco before (here and here) and we've seen Heion before (here) as well. But we've never seen them together. This is what they sound like when combined.



In the middle of winter and it feels like mid-summer. Thank you guys.

track's info: 
Heion - Circus (JKriv remix)
So much soul (remixed part 1)
Our Nights Recordings 2013

Who's a Christmas person?

There's a Xmas track that doesn't make me hurl, doesn't involve high-pitched, synchronized kids' voices, has nothing to do with Christmas carols and does not involve the oh-my-god-take-me-now triangle sound from hell.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind Christmas. It's the jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way (to hell) thing that I would like to vanish. And I prefer Otis Redding to keep me musical company, whose version of this '47 tune is my favorite. 

Have a good time y'all.
Eat like there's no tomorrow and select beautiful -for your soul- sounds.

track's info:
-Otis Redding - Merry Christmas baby
Atlantic 1968

Classic L.A.

L.A. isn't all about glamour and show-off. Ok, maybe it is, but it seems that they can also make good music out there, fact proved by Classixx this time, several months ago, when they released their Hanging Gardens album. Michael David and Tyler Blake (formerly known as Young Americans) is the classic -oh, the irony- case of childhood friends who shared the same passion for music and instead of letting it go to waste, they formed a duo together and said "now we're gonna blow you away, world!" (I just made that up, but wouldn't it be cool if they had actually said it?).

Anyway, what happened to me these days is that I appreciated this album once again, while I was listening to it as I was driving (everything has to pass the driving test: if I don't eager to listen to something when driving, it's of no actual importance for me). And the second appreciation test, gave me these favorites. 

When I listen to piano in dance tracks, I get a very intense old-skool feeling and then all my wrinkles disappear and I'm 18 again. Really.

My kinda sound, my kinda beat, my kinda everything (Hot Toddy "tickled" this one, listen here)

This one is an outsider for me. I mean, if my favorite tracks were kids, they wouldn't normally play with this one. But once they get to know it, they 'll never let it go.

tracks' info:
-Classix - Dominoes
-Classix - Supernature
-Classix - Hanging Gardens

all from the album Hanging Gardens
Innovative Leisure Records 2013

Dreamin' on a disco train to begin with

From a dude born in the early '80s, in France, with influences that include Derrick May, Moodymann and Joe Claussell and with recent activity in the music production, I wouldn't expect anything less than this awe-inspiring disco train right here.

And this day-dreamin' track.

And this mind-boggling tune I probaby should have begun with.

Mathieu Clé (aka Closed Paradise) really knows his way on the 4/4.

tracks' info:
-Mathieu Clé - Disco train
2011

-Mathieu Clé - Dreamin'
55 Dreams in Oahu
Melodram Recordings 2011

-Mathieu Clé - To begin with
Midnight love
Apersonal Music 2011

Burn motherfucker, burn

When I get crazy over a track, I usually wait a little bit till I get over it to the point that I can make a decent post on the blog about it, without sounding like a psychopath (not doin’ a great job at it sometimes though. Damn enthusiasm!)

It’s been 2 days since I pressed play to this sucker right here for the first time. And it's still on the repeat mode. I take little breaks with other stuff and then I get burnt up all over again.



Just released from Dj Butcher's Chopshop Music, a first-class tune from Jayl Funk and sdjp, sampling the "Love fever" track by Gayle Adams.

Result: Two days, man!

*check out the whole Chopshop release here

tracks' info:
-Jayl Funk & sdjp - Burn it up
Sweet Ill Riding Funk
The Chopshop Music 2013

-Gayl Adams - Love fever 
Love fever
Prelude Records 1982

Mayday, mayday: tornado on the way

Whether it's Tornado Wallace or Lewie Day is of no actual importance. This dude rocks as he proves to be a real music chameleon jumping from deep groove to techno, being minimalistic yet grand at the same time and a true musician, playing piano, saxophone, drums and guitar.

This is my favorite.

And guess what, he's Australian too.

*check out his soundcloud page here.

track's info:
-Lewie Day - Soma kinda man
Melbourne Deepcast #1
Melbourne Deepcast 2011 

Groovin' backwards

If you loved this one

and this one

and this one

then you must adore this one

The beat is working after all...

tracks' info: 
-DJ Tonka - Feel
Force Inc. US 1995

-Fafa Monteco - To the rhythm
Cockatoo Club
Black Jack 1999

-Euro Funk - Everybody's dancing
Eargasm 1981

-Jimmy Ross - First true love affair
First true love affair
Full Time Records 1981

Stretched brothers

Vins seemed to have liked this Isley Brothers gem so much that he stretched it out and powered it up a little, so as to have a bit more to enjoy.



Jammin' tune in an extended version, aiming to make you grin a bit longer, offered with a free download, for slo-mo situations.

Bottom line? Stretching is good.

(*you can find the whole EP that includes this track here). 

tracks' info:
-The Isley Brothers - Footsteps in the Dark (Vins edit)
Everything's an edit anyway
Audio Parallax Records 2011 

original track
-The Isley Brothers - Footsteps in the Dark 
Go for your guns
T-Neck 1977

Spiced-up O'Jays

In 1976 the beloved O'Jays dropped a Message in the Music which included the "Darlin' Darlin' baby" track for the hopelessly romantic (and -let's face it- kinda mushy ones) out there. More than 30 years later, this sweet tune fell in the hands of JKriv, who did some work on it and came up with this.



I think I'll stick with this one for now, turn the volume up a little and honor the sound of the O'Jays, with a little spice of the nowadays. And then I'm gonna go with this one, a favorite track from Alan Dixon's dubby point of view.



And then I'll probably smile like the corny bastard that I am.

tracks' info:
-The O'Jays - Darlin' darlin' baby
Message in the music
Philadelphia Internation Records 1976

-The O'Jays - Darlin' darlin' baby (Deep&Disco re-work)
Philadelphia International: the re-edits
Harmless 2012

-The O'Jays - I love music (Alan Dixon Dub) 
2010

Mexican boogie

It's quite a certainty that when you hear "Mexico" your mind goes to Mariachi or maybe Carlos Santana, but surely not to nu disco or electro boogie sounds. Well, bazinga! Joseph Terruel, born and raised in Mexico, left all these guitarrón and violins aside and made his own contemporary music. Not that there's anything wrong with folk, but we prefer to have him on the nu disco side of music, making inspired releases like those he's already made in Bust A Dub, In the Woods and Thirteen Classics. A couple of days ago, I also found this wicked tune on his soundcloud page.



Bazinga it is!

track's info:
Joseph Terruel
Joy to be
Hotbox boogie 2013

Keep it cozy

Gloomy Sundays need love, coziness and good music -and some good food would be nice. But even if it wasn't that kind of Sunday today, I would still press play an infinite amount of times to this Magnetic Soul piece of awesomeness.



I leave it to your hands. Enjoy your day.

*if you haven't already, check out the whole album here.

track's info: 
Magnetic Soul - In your hands
Weapons Test
Dab Hand 2013

Eastern groove

In the past 100 posts of this blog, we've discovered and listened to music from around the world, from artists and producers spread around the globe, putting notes and loops together for us to bang our heads, sway, share with our loved ones, create memories with, feel. Artists/producers from the United States to Greece and from Sweden to Australia. But I believe we've never had any references to the land of the rising sun (as I've said before, my memory ability sucks, so I might be talking bullshit here, but I strongly get the feeling that Japanese artists haven't been hosted in here yet. Till now that is.)

Rondenion is one of my beloved ones from the Eastern world, making hypnotic, jazzy, groovy, deep sounds that reach the other end of the world, since 2005. My first clue was a re-edit he has done on DIT - Let's start dancin', while the "Beautiful memory" track finished me off. And then came Mr. Hirofumi Goto's debut album and blew me away. Especially this one (which my ears tell me that samples Deodato - Keep on moving).


Bass, bass, bass, damn it!
Thank you, Rondenion.

track's info:
-Rondenion - Moon Sniper (feat. Shigeo Nakano)
Luster Grand Hotel
Rοundabout Sounds/Plug Research 2013

Always #1

Do you remember Alkalino? He was hanging around somewhere in this post along with the Four Tops, ltj experience and Greg Henderson, doin' some re-work on Gwen McCrae's Funky Sensation. This October he had his Anarchic Cutz release, including his point of view on one of my favorite tracks from Gene Chandler.



The original track gave birth to numerous releases (like this one from Dave Clarke, this one from Groovemaster K. & 88-Keys , this from Agent Stereo and who knows how many others) and it's nice to see that it can still inspire and give food for... production to the talented out there.

And the funny thing is it never actually reached #1 -but it's a '79er.

tracks' info:
-Alkalino - Number 1
Anarchic Cutz
Audaz 2013

-Gene Chandler - When you're #1
When you're #1
20th Century Fox Records 1979

Faraway so close

I have a seriously fucked-up memory, so I only remember the Frankee More and Cactus Channel posts referring to fresh Australian artists in this blog (find them here and here). But as I browse through sounds, I find there are more and more serious stuff going on Down Under on the side of music we know and love. One more from the faraway continent.



Nice work from Rabble on "Need you forever", only 3 days old on soundcloud. Can't get enough of the hip hop beats, Lou Rawls' deep vocals (the man who released over 50 albums from the '60s till the '00s), the looping, the melody that kicks ass, the filters, the loving lyrics, the key changes. Smoochy!

tracks' info:
-Rabble - Right now
2013

-Lou Rawls - Need you forever
All things in time
Philadelphia International Records 1976

Friday night fever

I think I'm gonna burn a few brain cells with this one today. Join in.



A 78 edits re-work on "Sing it low" by Ann C. Sheridan with a free download and a disco feeling. Make good use of it.

tracks' info:
-78 Edits - Sing it low (78 Edits extended re-work)
2012

-Ann C. Sheridan - Sing it low
RCA Victor 1977

Deep roots

Whatever you're doing this moment is not important. Leave it. Close your eyes. You are now travelling in time, back in 1988. And do you know who's with you on this time travel? Mr. Fingers, along with the company of Robert Owens and Ron Wilson. Which means that you have the whole Fingers Inc. with you. Lucky bastard.

Maybe the legendary "Can you feel it?" is the well-known and acclaimed hymn of deep house, which we all know, love and have stories of delirium to share with it playin' through the speakers of a club, but this one feels smoother, more introvert and cozy right now. And it suits this time-travel exploring the deep sound roots perfectly.

Ok, open up your eyes now and sink back into work. Different kind of deep. Sorry.

track's info:
Fingers Inc. - So glad 
Another side
Jack Trax 1988

Good girls' turn

Bad girls have always been hot for the guys -beloved Donna Summer damn well gave them a proper boost with her toot toot beep beep hit- but I believe it's time for the good girls to be appreciated too. Lillo Thomas surely made his attempt in 1983 with "(You're a) good girl", which gave Shit Hot Soundsystem food for edit. And he came up with this cruisin' tune.



This week can't fail after this. Download it for free and share it with a good girl out there. Or a bad one.

tracks' info:
-Shit Hot Soundsystem - Good Girl (Shit Hot Sounsystem edit)
2013

-Lillo Thomas - (You're a) good girl
Let me be yours
Capitol Records 1983

That's the right Attitude

Don’t know what it is these days, but there’s been a lotta diggin’ in the oldies. There’s a good chance the gloomy weather brings out this past-appreciation, nostalgic, mushy feeling in me, but it feels like a really constructive journey. And look what I found.

Attitude was an '80s group brought to life by David Frank and Mic Murphy from The System, with just one album in their palmarès, "Pump up nation". The "Love me tonight" track only made it to #90 of the R&B chart in the summer of '83 -when my playmobil was the only valuable thing in this world- but I've said it before and I'll say it again: who cares about the charts?

So glad about this journey of mine these days. You gotta go back in music to purely appreciate it today. (Wow. If no one’s ever said it before, I’ll take the credit for this, thank you).

track's info: 
Attitude - Love me tonight 
Pump Up Nation
Atlantic 1983

Let's talk about women

How do you like this?

I personally love it, but at the same time I can understand how some people may need it to be somewhat more intense, more rhythmic, more alive. Frenic took care of that.

Trip hop sound on a sentimental track that turns everything to a man's point of view. From "A woman needs a good man" we go to "Money ain't no women". Wait, it ain't over.

Kill Emil from Pad Trio had something to add to all of these. And he did.

Man, what a build-up that was!

*You can download for free Frenic's version here and Kill Emil's point of view here.

tracks' info:
-The Three Degrees - A woman needs a good man
The Three Degrees
Philadelphia International Records 1973

-Frenic - Money ain't no women
Present and Correct
Dusted Wax Kingdom 2012

-Frenic - Money ain't no women (Kill Emil Remix)
2013

Soul to the people

It’s been a long time since the last time we shared a set, so there you go. Rare sound with a lotta soul, that's gonna lead off this week.



You know, sometimes I wish there wasn’t any rare soul. I wish nothing was rare about soul. I wish soul was everywhere and all around, everyone felt it in their bone and we all lived happily ever after. Any chance this could happen sometime soon?

The rare side of the '80s

The '80s can be many things, depending on where you choose to grab 'em. They can be both Boy George and Mötley Crüe, Madonna and Van Halen, Michael Cretu and Whitesnake, Michael Jackson and Public Enemy, Prince and Run-D.M.C, Billy Joel and Def Leppard, Tina Turner and Duran Duran, Talking Heads and Simply Red, David Bowie and New Order, Pointer Sisters and Sonic Youth -oh my god this could go on forever.

So far so good, but the '80s can also be this

and this

and this

 and this

This could go on forever as well. Only in this case you'll have to dig a little bit deeper.

tracks' info: 
-Raw Silk - Just in time & space
West End Records 1983 

-Kwick - Nightlife
To the point
EMI America 1981

-Khemistry - Who's fooling who
Khemistry
Columbia 1982

-Gwen McCrae - Keep the fire burnin'
On my way
Atlantic 1982

Mr. Murphy did it again

We've seen Claremont 56 again recently in the Paqua post, but I must admit I'm kinda hooked on this label these past few weeks. Those of you who did your diggin' must have discovered numerous tunes-to-die-for in Claremont 56's soundcloud page. I have too, that's why it makes it difficult for me to pinpoint just one, but this is what I believe fits today's mood perfectly.



Smooth, melodic, bittersweet and totally autumn-ish. Mudd & Pollard (with the over-busy Paul Murphy hiding behind this project as well, along with Kevin Pollard) had a really soothing inspiration here and Claremont 56 released beautiful music once again.

track's info:
Mudd&Pollard - Mawson's walk
Claremont 56 2013  

Whispering love

The Whispers seem to have been spreading love since 1969. It's amazing how much and how intensly they refer to it and how many songs they have to embrace it - even Lionel Richie could scratch his head with embarassement facing all this love. The thing is I don't really care for love songs in the sense of romantic ballads with lyrics that make the teenagers around the world hug their pillow and start crying to the thought of their crush. But I do care for love songs that have pure soul and funk love up a little bit. And the Whispers know how to bring it on.

"It's a love thing"

Ok, put in 2013 all people see is funny moustaches, odd stylistic choices and droll choreography, but the track kicks ass.

"Fell in love last night (at the disco)"

No disco, no love.

"Keep on lovin' me" 

The choreography keeps on getting better and better - I enjoy it, really.

"Don't take your love"

This is how you can beg someone not to take his/her love away and still look cool. 

"Creation of love"

Good for the soul.

*Bonus: My favorite one from The Whispers on the hands of Ruben&Ra is offered with a free download (as long as you pay with a tweet or a fb post). Grab it here.

tracks' info:
The Whispers
-It's a love thing
Imagination
Solar 1980

-Fell in love last night (at the disco)
Open up your love
Soul Train 1977

-Keep on lovin' me
Love for love
Solar 1983

-Don't take your love
Bingo
Janus Records 1974

-Creation of love
Planets of life
Janus Records 1973

*bonus
The Whispers - It's a love thing (Ruben & Ra Furry lover edit)
Ruben & Ra Retrospective 2013

The Esc track

I would have never guessed this is of Russian origin, but then again why not?



Klar & PF is a creative, Russian duo consisted of Kirill Larionov and Bulat Iskhakov who are into the nu disco sound - their soundcloud page can convince you of that and keep you captive for hours. This is a VIP mix on their Escape track featuring Patrick Baker, offered generously with a free download. Let me know if you can easily escape this.

track's info: 
Klar & PF feat. Patrick Baker - Escape (VIP Mix)
Glam Jam Artists 2013

Move on up

Midweek and movin' on. Why not do it with some decent music?



A slowjam with a free download ready to take you by the hand and roll you down to Friday. Take a look at Disco Motion Records' releases here and check out the rest of Hot Sand's uplifting inspiration right here. It smells like disco.

track's info:
Hot Sand - Move (original mix) 
Disco Motion Records 2013

Not such a perfect day

Another important musician gone. Good thing is he left us walks on the wild side, perfect days, Sunday mornings and loads of music to remember him by.

Goodbye good man, Lou.

Winter tides

I usually hate facebook. Actually, I don’t hate facebook, I hate the way it is used by all the attention-seekers out there, who I’m sure have their issues for desperately trying to get everyone’s attention and I can’t really blame them - but I’m only a human so I can mock them, right?

Anyway, apart from them, who are being eliminated almost automatically each time a ridiculously boring comment or photo is uploaded, facebook can be a really useful tool as far as music is concerned. That is only if the rest of your friends and the groups you join are decent and have matching taste in music with you.

The track below caught my eye -and consequently my ear- the other day from the Let’s play house group, and has seriously haunted my speakers the past three days with its deep, dark and kinda tristful sound. It’s from Medlar’s debut album "Sleep" (which you can listen to here).

For a moment there I thought my facebook news feed had a little shine. It was nice.

track's info:
Medlar - Tides
Sleep
Wolf Music Recordings 2013

Houston, we have a problem

I believe I’m dealing with a surreal situation this very moment. Before I begin describing, I’d like to state that there may be months, MONTHS till we get a decent event around here, as we're surrounded by all the mainstream bullshit going on all the time.

I’ve heard Gramatik was coming to Athens about two months ago and I’ve been preparing myself ever since, that I’ll be attending an indoors event most likely to give us the chills after a long time – I’m an old bitch, these things need preparation.

Now that we’ve entered the final countdown to Sunday 27 October 2013, I see a post from a friend on facebook that Tiger&Woods are on their way here too. So I’m thinking “Wow. Something’s wrong”. Wanna know the wrong part? They’re all on October 27.

Good one.

Gramatik's latest tune (with a free download)



Tiger&Woods's latest tune 



On the same day? Really?

tracks' info:
-Gramatik - Obviously
The age of reason
Lowtemp 2013

-Tiger&Woods - Golden bear
Golden Bear EP
Editainment 2013

It all ends well

A couple of days ago, Editors Kutz released the second volume of disco edits and reworks VA- Editors Kutz Vol.2 in which you'll find hot versions of mostly disco classics from the point of view of Fingerman, Late Night Tuff Guy, Get Down Edits and other loved ones - you will understand how the index finger can become possessed and find its way to the play button on its own as soon as you check out the producers involved.

As I was having my regular buzz with what reached my ears, BOOM! Awe-inspiring sample that was on the tip of my tongue, but I knew I couldn't possibly remember and put together in words at that moment - second most annoying thing after being hungry and having only water and beer on the fridge. I'm referring to the Ed Wizard & Disco Double Dee - Love ya track, which almost gave me a heart attack that day.

Thank god - or my memory for that matter - the damn sample was singled out of my long-term memory info as soon as I stopped tryin' to remember. And as I was driving, it all came to me. Hot Bush. Hot Bush goddamnit!

                                       

*if you're sure you've seen/heard this a couple of months ago, it might be from the Killer boogie post.

track's info:
-Hot Bush - L.O.V.E.F.U.S.E
Hot Bush
APA Records 1980

LP's info: 
-VA-Editors Kutz Vol.2.
Editors Kutz 2013 

Two sides of a late train

Paul Murphy is in London. Quinn Luke is in New York. Along with Alex Searle, Patrick Dawes and Patrick Wood they've formed Paqua, a trans-Atlantic meeting of musicians, which I accidentally came across the other day as I was browsing through sounds. After repeating their last 12'' release ("Late train") a considerable amount of times that could easily send me to the doctor's office, I gave myself a pat in the back for the discovery, took a note so that I wouldn't neglect sharing it and here it is.



The groovy side of the train.



And the mellow side of it - I must say I loved this one teeny-tiny bit more.

As I was doing my regular search on the group, I found myself smiling after reading on the label's soundcloud page: "Claremont 56 is an independent label dedicated to releasing beautiful music". Simple as that.

tracks' info: 
-Paqua - Late train
Late train
Claremont 56 2013

-Paqua - We are what we are
Late train
Claremont 56 2013

Funked up tune

Sax delirium, colorful trombone, funky rhythm, soothin' vocals and last but not least joy, joy, joy.

This track is on fire. How couldn't it be when a band called Pleasure presents a music piece called Joyous (and the producer is Wayne Henderson). It counts 36 years of life (released back in 1977), but can still fit perfectly on a Friday mood in a messed up year like 2013. And can still bring you joy, can't it?

*I believe you'll feel the same way about Kon's remix from Gold Finger (sublabel of Basic Fingers). You ain't gonna get away that easily today. You have to make everything joyous. It's an order.

tracks' info:
-Pleasure - Joyous
Joyous
Fantasy 1977

-Treasure - Joyous (Kon re-mix)
Gold Finger 2013

Repeat after Mr.Z

As you get older (and wiser hopefully), you know how rare it gets to listen to decent music that you love out there, from djs that not only know what they’re doing, but also don’t just select all the hits for the chicks to sway and try to maybe teach something to the audience, pass on a sound that is worth passing on to others and share what’s in their heart in the form of notes and melodies. Since I’m well aware of the fact that a monkey who can cook is less unusual than a dj’s selections that can spin your head wondering “what just happened?”, I couldn’t but appreciate the first time I listened to Mr.Z's sounds somewhere in Athens not so long ago (no, this ain’t a “once upon a time story”).

After diggin’ a little bit about him, it didn’t take me long to find out that he’s a vinyl lover, a rare-tunes collector, a web-radio broadcaster, a committed music blogger, a well-educated dj and recently a producer, since his new album has just been released from B-Otherside records. To cut a long story short, Mr. Z isn’ t just another dj who digs faders and raises his hands above the crowd as if he’s going to bless the "humble" beneath him. He’s revolved his whole life around music in a plain and pure way. And this calls for a warm-hearted applause. Clap-clap Mr.Z.

I'll help you get to know him.

New album in town: “Epanalipsi” (Repetition). Spread the news and tell us about it, how did you put it together, what you love about it, what would you like others to love...
Mr.Z: As far as the emotional part of the album is concerned, it is the result of the need I had to let it all out, good and bad stuff that I kept inside and made me tremble through the past year. On the practical side, this album was already complete as a concept, since all 16 tracks constitute a strong-funny-wild-crazy and melancholic story with a beginning and an end. “Epanalipsi” was created between Athens and Lefkada, including sounds that have to do with these two places. I guess what I love about it is the honesty of the things it deals with as well as the honesty of the things that created it. Well, you‘ll be the judge in the end.

How would you characterize its sound?
Mr.Z: I don’t think you can categorize it. My love for several music genres with the same sense made me "complicate" the final result. So you’ll be able to listen to music with a taste of ‘60s and ‘70s cinema, bossa nova, spoken word, beats with lotta reverb, '70s groove, atmospheric pop and lots of playful stuff.

A music discovery (album, track or artist) that made you give yourself a thumbs up for finding it.
Mr.Z: I’ve got lots of them, but I’ll tell you about the first one that comes to my mind. It’s the greek 45rpm Christos and Nasia – “Proti fora” (“First time”). An awesome and unique piece of the erotic/cinematic genre, almost a sexadelica greek track. Music for the sunset along with prose. Totally unknown and beautiful!

Do you share every nice tune that comes in your way or do you keep some for you and your loved ones?
Mr.Z: I share everything. One by one.

Lamest line you‘ve ever heard while djing.
Mr.Z: “Can you play something more… danceable?”

Favorite fresh producer.
Mr.Z: Ta – ku.

The tune that sends your finger to the repeat button these days.
Mr.Z: “Detroit part 1'' by Shigeto.

*Check out Mr.Z's brand new release here and here, take a look at his blog here and catch his tunes every Monday (18:00-20:00 GMT +2) at paranoise webradio. Oh, and wish him luck with his new exciting stuff.

info:
Mr.Z - Epanalipsi
B-Otherside Records 2013

To the Sisters

photo by Matteo Scordino

Doesn't it sometimes feel like there are some favorite tracks so awesome that nothing bad can come out of them, no matter how many years after their original release one decides to edit, remix or do whatever to them? And what's even more amazing is that there are top-notch groups that you seriously can't lose if you try to mess with their tracks. One of these groups is the beloved Sister Sledge. Sadly, the edit that caused me to dig up the Sisters' legacy once again recently is no longer available on soundcloud (it was a french house take on "Reach your peak"), but it gave me a chance to realize that these sisters (Debbie Sledge 1954, Joni Sledge 1956, Kim Sledge 1957 and Kathy Sledge 1958 -man their parents were on fire) along with Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards, Narada Michael Walden and their other associates left absolute gems to the music history and these gems gave birth to other, contemporary gems and the deal is still on and will probably go on forever.

Below you 'll find some of these smashing tunes and their offsprings. The list is long, so I'll deal with the loved ones. But the list is still long.

-Reach your peak gave birth to Gredits - Sister peak. And I still can't get over both of them.
-You fooled around was sampled in Le Knight Club - Boogie Shell. If you were into disco-house towards the end of the '90s, you 're probably cryin' right now. There-there.
-Pretty baby is still a Pretty baby. If you 're pretty, you 're pretty.
-Lost in music was reworked by Disco Tech who gave us this. You can still get lost, can't you?
-He's the greatest dancer in tune with Disco dancin'. Are you crying again?
-Il Macquillage lady proved to be quite Aerodynamic.
-Thinking of you gave Eclipse the inspiration for "Makes me love you". Pure and sweet.
-All American girls and All American Disco. Spot the similarities.
-One more time has nothing to do with Daft Punk. It's the source of inspiration for "My feeling".

I may be missing something here, but I'm sure you got the picture. And you 're smiling right now.

tracks' info: 

Sister Sledge	Others
-Reach your peak  Love somebody today Cotillion 198	-Gredits - Sister Peak Basic Fingers 2012
-You fooled around Love somebody today Cotillion 1980	-Le Knight Club - Boogie Shell Crydamoure 1999
-Pretty baby Love somebody today Cotillion 1980   -Lost in music We are family Cotillion 1979 -He's the greatest dancer We are family Cotillion 1979 -Il Macquillage lady The Sisters Cotillion 1982 -Thinking of you We are family Cotillion 1979 -All American Girls All American Girls Cotillion 1981 -One more time  We are family Cotillion 1979	-Pretty baby (Parish Unreleased edit) 2011    -Lost in muzik (Disco Tech) DT Edits Volume 1 DiscoDat Records 2013  -Smokin' beats - Disco dancin'  Legato Records 1996 -Daft Punk - Aerodynamic Discovery Virgin 2001  -Eclipse - Makes me love you Azuli 1999 -Jem Atkins - All American disco Havana Records 1998 -Junior Jack - My feeling Play it again Sam 1999

Summer break

Not much to tell here. Gredits, Basic Fingers, house, summer groove, disco feeling, makes you wanna picture yourself with your bathing suit, having a permanent salty taste on your lips, somewhere where the ocean is ahead of you and the sense of autumn is held captive and inactive in your brain.

Good thing it's a summer day today. Off we go.

track's info:
Gredit - SMG
Basic Fingers  2011

Don't talk just dance

I have a weird situation here. I absolutely love the sound of this Chilly tune, I like the "self-ruling" main guitar, the intense synth sounds, the electric melody, the kinda dark atmosphere and I find that it drags you out of your chair the first few seconds.

What I don't like is the vocals - and that's a far from standard situation for me. It's like one of those times when a person talks and talks and talks and you try to concentrate on making him/her shut up without actually saying so, but it all goes down the drain. It's not that it has that many vocals, it's just that... why? However, I can still close my eyes and have my regular trip to this - likely to experience air pockets on the way though.

track's info:
-Chilly - Dance with me
For your love
Polydor 1978

Call the doctor

Doctor Boogie is the only kind of doctor women wouldn't mind making an appointment with.

With a master's degree in Soul & Boogie and a Ph.D from the school of Love, Doctor Boogie spreads lovin' and boogie with Don Downing's voice since 1978. About a year ago, Fingerman and Ramsey Hercules wrote their own prescription on this track. Find it here, download it for free and let the doctor do his thing -promise it won't hurt.

tracks' info:
-Don Downing - Doctor Boogie
Doctor Boogie
Roadshow 1978

-Don Downing - Doctor Boogie (Ramsey Hercules & Fingerman edit)
2012

Keziah in town

I've got some good news and some bad news. Good news: Last night Keziah Jones was in town for the 1st Nigerian Festival in Athens. Bad news: We only enjoyed him for 3 songs, because of the rain. Good news: We saw artists from Nigeria like Adedeji Adetayo and the well-known and really warm-hearted Greek-Nigerian MC Yinka (just found out he's a neighbor). Bad news: It was the first cold day of autumn and we froze our asses off. Good news: There was nigerian kitchen for us to indulge in. Bad news: The waiting line was expanding from here to eternity.

With these mixed feelings and a runny nose, I 'm stuck wondering today what it would be like to listen to this live yesterday, one of my favorite tracks ever from Keziah - who, I must say, moves like hell.

For now I'll just have to wait for his new album "Captain Rugged", which is about to drop worldwide on November and in the meanwhile I'll hang on a few memories from last night. Like this one with Keziah singing Bob.

tracks' info:
-Keziah Jones - Where's life
Blufunk is a fact
Delabel 1992

-Bob Marley & the Wailers - War, performed by Keziah Jones
Rastaman Vibration
Island 1976

When Sabbath met daytime disco

Those who would sell their souls to the devil for Black Sabbath will probably loathe this one (good thing is that there's little chance they would hang around here, so we 'll hopefully have no victims).



This may be a huge surprise for you, but I ain't a Black Sabbath fan (talkin' about surprise or what). I've always paid my respects to Planet Caravan though, lovin' it from the first till the last note, either from Sabbath or Pantera, but I must say I would never have imagined it to be laying on the hands of Poolside, a duo that's more into the disco side of music. And you know how excited I get when things I can't imagine happen in music.

Check it out, download it for free if you want and give it a chance, even if you headbang to Sabbath every chance you get. Ozzy won't mind.

track's info:
Black Sabbath - Planet Caravan (Poolside rework)
2013

Back to the future

What does Evelyn King have to do with Alexandre Louvré and Pleasurelove? I don't know if these guys were still peeing their pants or were adults when she released "I'm in love" in the early '80s, but I do know that they respectfully turned it into a contemporary sound and brought it back to our ears from their point of view.

 

This is the source of inspiration. Synth sounds, disco beat and Evelyn's voice were enough to make this a hit in 3 different charts in the US - but who cares about the charts anyway? Good thing producer Theodore T. Life heard her voice as she was cleaning the office in Philadelphia International Records and gave her a chance. Otherwise, this would be a blank page.

About 30 years later, this producer from Tijuana (and one of my favorite fresh producers) gave this track the kiss of life and made some of those who loved it back then, smile with nostalgia.

And then this came along. Pleasurelove finished the business and everyone lived happily ever after.

tracks' info:
-Evelyn King - I'm in love
I'm in love
RCA 1981 

-Alexandre Louvré - Talking about you
2011

-Alexandre Louvré - Talking about you (Pleasurelove remix)
2011

Surrender day

Well, what can I say? "Surrender" seems to be fitting the day perfectly.

With Lamont Dozier behind the production of this and the formation of the group, it could only turn out to be a powerful gem. That's one of the reasons why Evil Stereo took it to the surgeon table and turned it into "Sarva" (perhaps you have a recollection of this from the Son of a beach post).

Who knew...

track's info:
Zingara - I surrender
Zingara 
Wheel Records 1981

This Norman ain't Psycho

Either as Norman Giscombe jr or as Junior Giscombe (or Junior), he has been giving us tunes to chill, sing or dance to. For about thirty years now.

"Mama used to say"

"Take your time, don't rush to get old, take it in your stride, live your life". Smart mama.

"Hot up and heated"

Is it me or is it hot in here?

"Get up and dance"

Try not to, if you can.

tracks' info:
-Junior - Mama used to say
Ji 
Mercury 1982

-Norman Giscombe Jr - Hot up and heated
Get up and dance 
Pressure Records 1981

-Norman Giscombe Jr - Get up and dance
Get up and dance 
Pressure Records 1981