My kind of Friday

It's Friday, it's summer, it's sunny as hell and it's amazing. You have 2 choices: you can either continue with your work, get back home in the afternoon, eat, rest, go for a quick drink at night and hurry in bed for a good night sleep or you can add up cruisin' tunes to your day starting right now and keep it unreal.

My wicked tunes for today:

GQ-Lies (Theo Parish Re-Edit)
Bassline to die for.

 

DeeJMD - Unexpected
You can always french it up.
(free download here)

Disko Cream - Right now
Not later. Right now.

Jazzy Jens - I want you
 Hell yeah.

Breakbot - Break of dawn (DFP boogie dawn mix)
Unfailing, kickass combination.
(free download here)

Disco Ball Stars - Knock me out (Deep&Disco edit)
Are you knocked out yet?

Le Frank 'O - Keep on gettin' down
Nothing to add here.

Whatever you do, dress it up with music. And feel it.

tracks' info:
-GQ - Lies (Theo Parish Re-Edit)
Ugly edits Vol.7
Ugly edits 2004

-DeeJMD - Unexpected
Disco Motion Records 2012

-Disko Cream - Right now
2012

-Jazzy Jens - I want you
Basic Fingers 2012

-Breakbot - Break of dawn (DFP boogie dawn mix)
Ed Banger Records 2013

-Disco Ball Stars - Knock me out (Deep&Disco edit)
Disco Ball Stars Vol. 1 
Disco Deviance 2012 

-Le Frank 'O - Keep on gettin' down
M M-M Gold 1978 
 

The Prodigy experience

photo by John Ryan

About 100 years ago (May 27, 1995), I attended my first concert ever. I was so excited that I was gonna see Prodigy live, that it didn’t matter to me that I had exams the next day, early in the morning. Contrary to my teachers’ advice to sleep early, eat light, get some rest and avoid tension and excitement, I decided to go to the concert and live one of the most intense nights of my life till then, sleep only for 5 hours and have a bomb-dinner with full-extra suvlaki and fries. The concert may have never been completed because of the rocks thrown on stage by people outside the theatre (just as the band began performing the hit of the time "No good (start the dance)" and everybody was in delirium), but I sure had the time of my life and managed to excel the next day in my exams.

I was thinking about that night recently and I realized it's been exactly 18 years since that day. Although I won't often select Prodigy in my playlist nowadays, I decided to pay a tribute to the band, with my favorite tracks and the samples they used. It doesn’t matter that we may be older now and that we’d rarely choose to listen to Prodigy instead of a sunny nu-disco tune. We’ll always love every piece that made us who we are today and it’s also a good chance to listen to sounds that inspired one of the greatest bands in the history of… rave (If you ‘ve used and experienced this word more than once in your life, join the club of the proud old-timers).

"Wind it up" is one of my favorites (My God, I can't believe how rave I used to be...). It samples Don Carlos & Anthony Johnson - Equal Rights. A roots reggae track that was released 7 years earlier.

The guitar riff from "Voodoo people" comes from Nirvana - Very Ape, although it is said that the Prodigy actually played the riff instead of sampling it. In this track (and in many others) they sample at least 5 tracks - you can see the whole process here worked in Ableton by the Ukranian Dj and producer Jim Pavloff.

The track that was interrupted by the stones thrown at the people and the band during the concert, "No good (start the dance)" -and that made Prodigy known to even our grandmothers- sampled Kelly Charles - You 're no good for me. Prodigy are weird, aren't they? I mean I love the song, but I can't quite picture Liam Howlett being inspired by it.

They sure had a thing for reggae music. "Out of space", one of their also well-known tracks, samples the Max Romeo - Chase the devil track, which was released in 1976, but became widely known after Prodigy sampled it.

If you remember "Fire" with the futuristic clip that brings the "Terminator" back in mind, then maybe you 'll know that the source of inspiration of this track is the homonymous psychedelic rock track of Arthur Brown which was released in 1968.

The adorable line "Charly says always tell your mummy before you go off somewhere" from a 1973 animated cartoon series appears in the "Charly" track (Charley also says "never go anywhere with men or ladies you don't know" but who listens to Charley?). You can even hear the cat meow, but Prodigy apparently got sued for this.

Among my favorite tracks is also "3 kilos" which samples Bernard Purdie's "Good livin' (good lovin')", while another track from the same artist is also sampled in "Poison", which uses the drumbeat from "Heavy soul slinger" and also from the Winston's legendary "Amen Brother" (if you don't know about the "Amen break" you really should).

Last but not least, I'm quite fond of the "Mindfields" track from the "Fat of the land" album, which samples the tune at 0:48 from "Hip's Trip" and the John Barry Orchestra (ost "The man with the golden gun").

To sum up, these dudes (Howlett especially) took samples from funk, soul, reggae, psychedelic rock, cartoon tv series and James Bond soundtracks. Time for our wtf? face.

tracks' info:
Prodigy
-Wind it up (The Prodigy Experience 1992)
-Voodoo people (Music for the jilted generation 1994)
-No good (start the dance) (Music for the jilted generation 1994)
-Out of space (The Prodigy experience 1992)
-Fire (The prodigy experience 1992)
-Charly (The prodigy experience 1992)
-3 kilos (Music for the jilted generation 1994)
-Poison (Music for the jilted generation 1994)
-Mindfields (The Fat of the Land 1997)
 XL Recordings 

others
-Don Carlos & Anthony Johnson - Equal rights
Rasta Brothers
Dancefloor 1985

-Nirvana - Very Ape
In Utero
Geffen Records 1993

-Kelly Charles -You're no good for me 
London Records 1987

-Max Romeo & the Upsetters - Chase the devil 
War ina Babylon
Black Ark Studios 1976

-Arthur Brown - Fire 
The crazy world of Arthur Brown 
Track Record 1968

-Bernard Purdie - Good livin' (good lovin')
Soul is... pretty Purdie
Philips 1972

-Bernard Purdie - Heavy soul slinger
Soul is... pretty Purdie
Philips 1972

-The Winstons - Amen Brother
Color him father
Metromedia Records 1969

-John Barry Orchestra - Hip's Trip
The man with the golden gun ost
EMI 1974

Batman is Chic

Je me sens un peu française aujourd'hui. No, I don't mean I'd like to drink wine and eat foie gras (yak) or quiche lorraine, but I certainly feel up to getting through this Monday with a bit of filter-loving, disco-inspired french house music.

First track I played let Batman in. Lebatman is an Italian producer with a french touch, whose track "Le Batman!" started playing first thing in the morning. I love the main sample -keep reading or listening, you'll find out- but I also adore the Stargard - Wear it out sample which pops up and makes you think, you know, till you figure out what this sound reminds you of, remember the title and finally congratulate yourself for not having lost it yet after years of burnt brain cells.

One thing led to another and then I started playing the Alpha Snail remix of the same track (Alpha Snail is a 20-year-old producer from Chicago. In case you didn't get it, the guy is 20 years old). While it was bringing sheer pleasure to my ears, it reminded me of a track I used to utterly adore in the late 90s: Fafa Monteco - Bells Compressor. Inevitably, it came next on my playlist and then I decided to pay my respects to the track that gave life to all of the above (and several other remixes and edits like Dirty House Crew - Groovin', Todd Terje's edit, the Dimitri from Paris version, etc.)

Respect.

You can download for free the Lebatman track here and his other tracks here. 

tracks' info:
-Lebatman - Le Batman!
2009

-Lebatman - Le Batman! (Alpha Snail remix)
2011

-Fafa Monteco - Bells Compressor
Danse avec les loups
Black Jack 1999

-Chic - I want your love
C'est Chic
Atlantic Records 1978

Sample it to death

If you have a bang-up base material, your chances to fail in your way of using it are about 30%, while the other 70% promises some kind of success. It is possible, though, that your base material is still corking good and you manage not only to stick to the 70%, but also to use it in a way that your outcome can send you to hell and back. Three times.

I have an example of a situation like that. Let's take it from my beginning.

DJ EQ - Come on girl
I first listened to this track about 3 years ago in the Groove Delivery Sessions of Agent Stereo. Frenchy and all. I spent the whole summer of 2010 with it in my playlist and it kept coming back to me, until I found some other versions that step-by-step led me to the root. Listen to it here.

The Glue - Real good lovin'
I fell in love with the intro when I listened to it back in 2011. Had a more contemporary sound, slower tempo and the main synth melody immediately brought me back to mind the DJ EQ track. Listen to it here.

DeeJMD - Midnight cruise
Sounds more like DJ EQ's version with the french house feeling giving me the goosebumps all over again. This sucker reached my headphones towards the end of 2012, as I was searching soundcloud's shit. Listen to it here (with a free download).

And then it occured to me: who are all these people sampling?

Dope base material or what?

tracks' info:
-DJ EQ - Come on girl
Exquise Records 2009

-The Glue - Real good lovin'
I love you... but I've chosen disco EP
Kolour LTD 2011

-DeeJMD - Midnight cruise
Midnight cruise EP
Disco Motion Records 2012

-Aurra - You & me tonight
10 Records 1986

Car-less: the benefits

I’m almost 40 days without a car – I’m getting it back, God knows in what condition, in a few days, having seriously experienced the "two weeks" line from the "Money Pit" all this time (but instead of "two weeks", the line I got in repetition was "next week" or "in a couple of days").

by Vashta-Nerada91

Through this month+, I walked and walked and WALKED, I saved money from gas, I didn’t get stuck in traffic inside this flaming box among hasty drivers inside other flaming boxes who have lost all their hearing ability from the constant sound of their horn and I spent more time at home (I think) than usual. That gave me the opportunity to do a little bit more music searching and find some really good stuff out there (some fresh, some older) – which I would have found anyway, but maybe later (it was meant to be, I’m sure). And because what good is anything if you can’t share it –and hopefully engender the same enthusiasm you had to others- I’m placing my favorite findings below. Can't wait to get my car back and listen to all of them in a volume that could wake up the prawns from "District 9" at their home base.

Midnight Lab Band - Time waits for no man

Keith Mansfield - Crash Course (waian re-edit) free download

Ks French - Can't have your cake (Ks french edit)

Ks French - Angel Pocket (Ks French edit) free download (hurry)

Fingerman - The happy track 

Fraicheur - Promise your love free download

Ash Reynolds - What's missing free download

Evelyn Thomas - Heartless (The Owl's slomo disco dub)

Willie Beaver - Party times (Dope Beasts freebie edit)

and of course the whole EP from Disco B and Nicko Marineli (which I have already mentioned) which constis of:
Heartless
Bar K
French bomb
Serena must dance

tracks' info:
-Midnight Lab Band - Time waits for no man
white label
Names you can trust 2009

-Keith Mansfield - Crash Course (waian re-edit)
Strut Records 2013

-Ks French - Can't have your cake (Ks French edit)
2013

-Ks French - Angel Pocket (Ks French edit)
2013

-Fingerman - The happy track
Disko Selectors 2nd Anniversary (free compilation)
Disko! collective 2013

-Fraicheur - Promise your love
2013

-Ash Reynolds - What's missing
2013

-Evelyn Thoms - Heartless (The Owl's slomo disco dub)
2011

-Willie Beaver - Party time (Dope Beasts freebie edit)
2013

-Disco B & Nicko Marineli
Late Night Boogie EP
Los Grandes Records 2013 

Soft parade to the other side

The distinctive sound of The Doors is now silent and on its way to meet again with the band's powerful voice that's been mute since 1971. So long Ray.

The Serres late night wonder

As Monday sucks bad for everyone, I thought I’d share with you something that could light up your day – assuming that a Monday can actually be lit up. It’s a radio show hosted by Disco B and Dino Tziara on rodonfm95, sharing music that ranges from disco to funk, soul and many many MANY edits that are usually just brought into this world sounding fresh and mixed together.

Here you can find the soundcloud page of the show, where among the sets, edits etc., you can listen to the first release of Disco B with Nicko Marineli (Late Night Boogie EP), consisting of 4 awesome tracks - with "Heartless" as my personal favorite (sampling Evelyn Thomas - Heartless). Here you can listen to their shows to get the gist and if you prefer the live experience, tune in every Wednesday 23.00-1.00 (GMT+3) on rodonfm.net.

Time for my confession: apart from the fact that the music is really cracking (really. trust me), I’m also proud for this show as it is put together by fellow Greeks, from the city of Serres, in northern Greece. You can understand how exciting it can be -at least for me-, when most of the music selectors out there suck (remember, I’m getting old and weird), to find a show that absolutely suits my taste in music, from two people that are a few km away (ok, not a few, more like 600).

If you don’t mind the Greek (I know it sounds weird to everyone except for the Greeks, but give it a chance), check it out and share it with the world out there. Maybe you 'll make someone's Monday (or Wednesday) too.

Way to go guys. Proud. 

radio show: late night sessions
presented by Disco B & Dino Tziara, every Wednesday 23.00-1.00 (GMT+3) on rodonfm.net

Held on too long

Clap ya handz for this guy.

RIP Romanthony.

tracks' info:
-Romanthony - Hold on
Black Male Records 1994
Roulé 1999

-Daft Punk feat. Romanthony - Too long
Discovery 
Virgin 2001

-Daft Punk feat. Romanthony - One more time
Discovery 
Virgin 2001

-Romanthony & DJ Predator - Clap ya handz
Instinctual
Glasgow Underground 1999

Woman deconstruction

It seems (and sounds) that what a woman means and what she needs are two different things (ok, so far that's not exactly brand new information). The thing is that the second is being inspired by the first. Before you make your wtf? face, Freddie Joachim has something to say about a woman's needs.

 

Donny Hathaway has his own point of view about what a woman really means and if I judge by the comments below the video (e.g. "If he were still alive, let's just say I would be chasing him") he's right on.

Hathaway's song never made it to the "Extension of a man" album back in 1973, but Roberta Flack (with whom he counts multiple duets) released it in 1978 (with more of a groovy feeling, but if you ask me, Donny's version sounds more complete -at least for those of us who don't yawn with a little bit more romance). About 27 years after his death in 1979, it was released in a compilation with previously unreleased tracks by Atlantic artists. Freddie Joachim obviously felt inspired by this tune and came up with a contemporary view on the woman's needs.

If you like Freddie Joachim's sound, check out his soundcloud page here (personal favorite these last days: "To remind us" feat. Miles Bonny) and here you can download for free his "Dust" EP with "What a woman really needs" in it. If Hathaway is more like your kind of guy, search for the 4CD box set "Someday we'll all be free" (2010) with remastered recordings from this full of soul artist, along with previously unreleased tracks.

tracks' info:
-Donny Hathaway - What a woman really means
Various – Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Brothers 
Atlantic 2006

-Freddie Joachim - What a woman really needs
Dust EP
Mellow Orange Music 2010

Stansfield revival

I have a challenge for you. Do you remember Lisa Stansfield in the early 90s, in her sexiest self ever till then, lying in some all green grassland or something, with a green dude covered in leaves coming out of nowhere and touching her as she is singing? Naked? If you do, then “Time will make you mine” must ring a bell. Congratulations.

I, on the other hand, would never have brought this song up in the surface of my mind, as it was well hidden in that place in my head where many forgotten songs hide from me –along with names, events, the place I put my keys... That was until 2 days ago, when I heard a brilliant edit of this song which made me time-travel and remember the sucker. The “guilty” producer is Karim who has done a really great job on the track and I must admit that in the past 2 days it’s been on the top of my playlist (I even have a favorite part).

Click here if you want to listen to it and make it yours with a free download.

Now that I think of it, it could stand as pick-up line:

What time is it? Time to make you mine.

Nahh.. Lame.

tracks' info:
-Lisa Stansfield - Time to make you mine (original version)
Real Love
Arista 1992

-Lisa Stansfield - Time to make you mine (K's deep into you dub)
2013

Shutdown the world and press play

photo by Rebecca Ulm

In succession to my previous post and for those of you who didn’t watch Greg Wilson’s point of view on listening to music, I’ d like to share some of my thoughts with you and consequently some music that supports these thoughts.

Most people use music as their background in their activities, which means that they push the play button and instantly Barry White or Janis Joplin or whoever they wish appears and keeps them company while they’re cooking, writing, talking on the phone, working, driving, playing with the dog, with the kids, making pancakes (ok I’ll stop right about here, you got the point). That is a quite good way to ensure that you’ll have someone like Barry White "hang out" with you as you wait for the chicken to be done, but chances are you won't really listen to him because you won't pay attention to him (how the heck can you do that?). Along with him, you also won’t get the different instruments, the notes, the feeling, the backing vocals, you won’t be able to imagine what was on the mind of the person who wrote a song at that specific point and you won’t distinguish the potential of a voice or the musicality of a piano or a guitar and you won’t discover that little sound that makes a certain part of a certain track unique. That' s all because you don't pay attention. And although you might have heard a song 100 times the past weeks and even though you might think it’s your favorite, if you choose to play it like this, you haven’t really listened to it, you just like it as you like the guy or the chick staring at you from across the room in a party. Once you get to know him/her you either realize that they’re 1000 times better than what you expected and fall helplessly in love with them or they ‘re just one more personification of something you ‘ll get bored the next week and you won't even remember in 5 months. You don’t know the guy, you don’t know the song. They both need your attention.

My friends usually "mock" me cause in the songs, tunes, tracks that I love I have my favorite parts which I repeat over and over again, resulting to be kind of annoying for the others – and at some point of infinity annoying for myself also. This happens to me because in these parts I find a tune, a melody, an instrument, a vocal, a bass sound or whatever that speaks to me – and if it told me that I were Spiderman, I would honestly start climbing the walls of the house -with my fluffy slippers. That (not the spiderman thing) wouldn’t happen if I listened to the songs while I was changing the toilet paper or surfing the web for a cupcake recipe. So I suggest to those who haven’t given a real chance to music yet –any kind of music, the music that appeals to them- to put on some headphones, press play and really listen. After all, you owe it to Barry -or whoever you choose to "hang out" with you.

I selected some tracks below, off the top of my head, which have about a billion parts each that could easily give me a heart attack. Maybe they ‘ll make no difference to you, maybe they will. You won’t know until you l-i-s-t-e-n. Well?

The Crusaders - Spiral

Gil Scott Heron - The bottle

Logg - I know you will (JM After Session M&M mix)

Black Ivory - Mainline

Kwick - Nightlife

Joe Bataan - What good is a castle

Alice Russell - All over now

The Doors - When the music's over

Bobby Womack & Wilton Felder - Inherit the wind

tracks' info:
-The Crusaderes - Spiral 
Those Southern knights
MCA Records 1979

-Gil Scott-Heron - The bottle
Winter in America (with Brian Jackson)
Strata-East 1974

-Logg - I know you will (original version)
Logg 
Salsoul Records 1981

John Morales After Session M&M mix
from the compilation "John Morales – The M&M Mixes: NYC Underground Disco Anthems + Previously Un-Released Exclusive Salsoul Mixes"
BBE 2009 

-Black Ivory - Mainline
Hangin' Heavy
Buddah Records 1979

-Kwick - Nightlife
To the point
EMI 1981

-Joe Bataan - What good is a castle
Afrofilipino 
Salsoul Records 1975

-Alice Russell - All over now
My favourite letters
Tru Thoughts 2005

-The Doors - When the music's over
Strange Days
Elektra Records 1967

-Bobby Womack & Wilton Felder - Inherit the wind
 Inherit the wind
MCA Records 1980 

How do you listen to music?

Greg Wilson is one of my favorite djs/producers and I was lucky enough to watch/listen to him live in Athens about 3 or 4 years ago. I don’t easily enjoy music out there in bars in the last years -perhaps I’m getting old and weird I don’t know, although I seriously think it’s not all my fault– but that night I remember dancing and smiling like a retard with just 1 drink – yeap. that was a first for me.

In this interview by James Thirkettle for the documentary “How do you listen to music?”, amongst other things he’s talking about how listening to music can differ depending on how we practice that, while he’s referring to his own experiences when it comes to the appreciation of music.

"...The great thing about music is that it has the power to continually surprise you, if you allow it to do that…"

And that's why, my friends, background music is forbidden. You 'll understand when you watch that video.

If you want to get to know Greg Wilson a little bit better, here you can check out his blog (which is updated all the time), here you can explore his soundcloud page (where -trust me- you'll find loads of music, you 'll be able to download for free tunes that are mind blowing and you 'll probably need hours to be sure that you haven't missed anything). Also, you can search for his compilations Credit to the Edit Vol 1&2 (Tirk Records)

Below you 'll find 3 of my favorite Greg Wilson edits and my favorite set, some free for download.

1gnition - Secret Sunday lover (gw edit)
Brenda Taylor - You can't have your cake and eat it too (gw edit)
Boz Scaggs - Lowdown (gw edit) free download

Essential mix for bbc radio (2009) free download

tracks' info:
-1gnition - Secret Sunday lover (ssl greg wilson edit)
Credit to the edit vol. 2
Tirk 2009

-Brenda Taylor - You can't have your cake and eat it too (gw edit)
Credit to the edit vol.1
Tirk 2005

-Boz Scaggs - Lowdown (gw edit)
GW Ruff Edits series 2008 (limited)

Pitched Melba

When I first heard Melba Moore’s "You stepped into my life" I loved it so, that I was singing “you stepped into my life and I’m oh so happy” referring to Melba (ok no, but I was close). -Then I found out that the original version belonged to the Bee Gees, but this one couldn't leave me tickled pink.

The second track that I can –with difficulty, I’ll tell you that- spot and pick out as one of my Melba-favorites is "Mind up tonight". First of all I get serious chills with the bass (honest. I have a thing for bass) and the funky guitar along with Melba’ s singing really do enhance my situation. Second, I found it from the beginning a quite proper material for a contemporary edit and then the "voices" started: “Oh my God, what if someone had tickled this amazing tune?”

God didn't answer me, but Tiger & Woods did when they released the "Banana balls" EP this January. The EP consists of 2 tracks and 2 bonuses (one for each), which are all brilliant - although I do prefer a bit more the basic tracks from their bonus versions.

Apart from that, there's also Chip Chabralle's version which caught my eye - actually my ear -, with a bit more energetic beat and more use of the vocals, so you get to pick your favorite.

I don't know if Melba approves of all these (hopefully she does), but I surely do. With bells on.

Here you can find a snippet of the "Banana balls" EP and here you can check out "Pitch" which is Tiger & Woods's version of "Mind up tonight". Almost 8 minutes of awesomeness.

Here you can listen to Chip's Re Up and there. Now you can have fun.

tracks' info:
-Melba Moore - Mind up tonight 
The other side of the rainbow
Capitol Records 1982

-Tiger&Woods - Pitch
Banana balls
Editainment 2013

-Melba Moore - Mind up tonight (Chip's Re Up)


 

Italians do it well

With Kano being one of the first pioneer groups to give italo-disco substance, you can’t but just trust the Italians – at least as far as italo-disco and pizza/spaghetti is concerned. And as “seek and you shall find” is one of the few inalienable truths in life, I had no choice but to keep searching for Italian grooves that would lead my music hard drives and my music collection one step further and closer completion – sense that we can never conquer, but there’s no harm in trying.

As you go back in the early ‘80s you can find tunes that can either leave you standing and staring at the wall with amazement as they are, in their original versions, or give the new producers food for samples and edits that will have the same effect (leave you standing and staring at the wall blah blah blah). One of the tunes which I recently discovered and definitely dazed me is Korja - My mind.

Although the Italian accent is even more obvious than Meg Ryan’s botox (kinda makes me laugh at some points I must admit), this track is A-1, it has the italian groove without sticking so much to the hard lines of italo-disco and while you ‘re at it, try to find the instrumental version, free of the heavy "r"s and "s"s. I'm on a search hunt too, I' ve only listened to it once, online.

One last thing about this track is that it's written by a woman, Kynsha (along with the collaboration of the Italian producer Michele Violante -Jago, Rainbow Team etc.-). Girl power!

track info: 
Korja - My mind
Flop Record 1981

Get Lucky with some help

Contrary to those who wore down the play button and hurt their index finger while pressing repeat to "Get Lucky", I think I’m gonna go with those who find the new single of Daft Punk kinda… humdrum (there I’ve said it).

Daft Punk have given tracks to the electronic music history that are pure diamonds ("Revolution 909", "High life", "Too long", "Burnin’", "Fresh", "Digital love" -for the hopelessly romantic- and loads of others) and make their new one seem just a mushy tune that can easily fit into a summer soundtrack cd, somewhere between… I don’t know... other boring tracks that make an average background mixtape – with background being the unwelcome key word here.

Another thing that colors this track in grey shades, as far as I’m concerned, is Pharrell Williams. He isn’t really in the list of  artists and musicians that are compatible to my ears and music background – although the Cassius - "Eye water" track had really got me going back in those days – don’t know why, don’t ask me. To be honest and fair, though, I don’t see myself liking this song more with another vocalist, so I won’t blame it on Pharrell.

All of the above made me start tracking down other versions that would be more satisfying - although it's still kinda early. In this search, I found that the Lifelike remix comes way closer to the Daft Punk sound we know and love, can fit just as well in a summer mood mixtape and most importantly slips away from the background sense, climbing up into the ears with more energy. It’s more in the Daft Punk spirit and I believe will make the disappointed ones slightly smile with nostalgia.

Enough with the words. Here you can find the Lifelike remix and here you can give another chance to the original version (Daft Punk and Nile Rodgers deserve it). I’ ll give one too. 

track info: Daft Punk - Get lucky (Lifelike remix)

Bonus: If you’re one of those who absolutely, utterly and completely loved “Too long” from the Discovery album, maybe you’ll find the version of D33P interesting. Listen or download it for free here.

Summerish Black Seeds

The sun sensation spreads all over your body, your eyes are closed behind the sunglasses, the extra cool coffee with ice is well-protected under the shadow of the umbrella and this song is on the repeat, along with the sound of tiny waves reaching the shore.

Ok, now you can wake up. Good thing is you can press play as many times as you like to the Black Seeds and this amazing, summerish, soul-infused track and choose a different scenery each time - I think I'll stick to the beach though.

track info: 
Black Seeds - Love me now
Dust and dirt
Proville Records 2012
http://theblackseeds.com/dustanddirt/  

Ready, set, groove!

If you 're into soul music, you search for rare grooves, you reach ecstasy with voices like that of Willie Hutch, Minnie Riperton, Betty Wright and so on (I could go on for the next 2 hours at least) or you just look for the perfect soundtrack to... seduce your significant other, I believe I'm about to make your day - or night.

Rare grooves and modern soul flavours is a weekly radio show presented by Paul Collins on solar radio and if my memory doesn't play tricks on me, it's been over 3 years since I randomly found out about it on the internet.

Paul Collins does a really great job selecting and presenting grooves that are not only rare, but can root deeply into your soul -and your player. As if that's not enough, he also avoids doing the "trick" that most radio producers do, playing the same 5 tunes over and over again on each show. He carefully selects tracks that haven't been heard previously and although the infinity of music can't be doubted, you can imagine how hard it can be to constantly dig for tracks that you haven't played before, that are rare, 3-4 minutes long (tops) and at the same time that can make a 2 hours long show leave you bowled over.

Through "Rare grooves and modern soul flavours" I' ve found and loved songs like Elvin Spencer's - "Lift this hurt", Love & friendship - "Firefly", Emmett Garner jr - "So much better", Tomorrow's men - Who's that lady" and lots lots lots of others, while I do have my own personal favorite show which goes back in June 2010 (you can listen to it here).

Now that your speakers have got soul, I think I'm gonna pay my respects to Paul Collins - something I should have done years ago.

Thank you Mr. Collins, whoever you are.

radio show: Rare grooves and modern soul flavours
presented by Paul Collins, every Wednesday 20.00-22.00 GMT on Solar radio