Sundays are meant to be laxy, carefree, loving and soul refreshing. Don't ruin them doing what everyone else does. Live them uniquely and with the proper music. I'm going deep for today. Feel free to join in.
There’s probably little chance that you ‘re into nu-disco and disco-house music and you haven’t heard something from Basic Fingers, but just to be sure I decided to list my top 5 (+1) from a label that I believe was one of my favorites the whole past year and definitely worths your attention.
Funny thing is that while I was searching through the label’s soundcloud the other day, I found 2-3 really loved tracks that sent me dozens of times to dangerously raise the volume button, that I didn't even know they were released from Basic Fingers. Talkin' 'bout true love. Seriously.
Gredits - Sister peak: If I begin to describe the feeling I get from this track, I 'll probably get a stroke and I wouldn't want that right before vacation.
Well, I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed for this label.
tracks' info (all released by Basic Fingers): -ChangED- Jamaican girl 2011
-Kon & the gang - Get it together 2012 -Meli'sa Morgan - Fool's paradise (Koko Re-Edit) 2013 -Gredits - Sister peak 2012 -Sir Own - Hooked (Kon's Nite Time Remix) 2012 -Jazzy Jens - I want you 2012
I have a thing for bass. Especially when it's slappy.
Slap in the face or what?
This track is part of a very long (more than 30 tracks), but awe-inspiring filter-lovin' LP, "Worlds apart" by Vostok-1: a spanish project, with a russian name that grooves on french house. Creative mix-up, don't you think?
It's also part of an amazing one-month old compilation of nu-disco and disco-house tunes, some more frenchy than others, entitled Paradisco Vol. 1 and released by Emincé De Musique. If you don't find favorites in this comp, then there's something that's not quite right about you searching through this blog.
All of the above, available for free download. Clicks on fire!
track's info: -Vostok-1 - Depth of the Cosmos Worlds apart 2013
Raise your hands if you ‘re up for some diggin’ into the '80s funk, disco music, back in the time when vinyls and cassettes ruled the world, your outfits from that period would win the first prize in an '80s-themed party today and you would die if your hair looked a bit more ridiculous.
These ain’t new discoveries, these ain't hits, but surely are favorites and most of them come instantly to my mind if I think '80s funk-boogie-disco. Even though I didn't catch these tunes at their time - I was more into the Smurfs hits back then - I really do appreciate them nowadays and share them with those who are likely to appreciate them too.
-Heartbreaker (1983)
They surely don't deserve it, but heartbreakers have one more song. A kick-ass song.
-Watching you (1980)
Thumbs up for the funk, thumbs up for the vocals, thumbs up for compliments to women.
-Are you lonely (1983)
I’ll dare to state that I love Karim’s version a teeny-tiny bit more, but I totally pay my respects to the source of inspiration.
-Dreamin' (1982)
I don’t know much about Greg Henderson, I don’t know why these kind of gems don't come out today, I don’t know why people choose bullshit over these top-notch tunes, but I know this: funky guitar can do the trick.
Seems like french producers can't stop to amaze me and leave a smile on my face, almost every freaking time I discover a tune from their hands.
This one puts me in a fairy tale mode, with daisies and pixies all over the place and I have to say that its innocent melody and relaxing beat really creates the perfect scenery, even if you 're in the bus, burning up in about 45ºC and the dude next to you definitely ain't no fairy and smells like a cow's ass. Mr. Troy deserves a warm pat in the back for this refreshing tune and the free download he offers and a huge thumbs up for another favorite of mine: Fever. - if you 're scratching your head, wondering "what just happened?", George Benson's "Love X Love" (from his legendary "Give me the night" album) just happened. In Mr. Troy's imagination. tracks' info: -Mr. Troy - Raindance Part 3 - Exo 2013
It ain’t funky, it ain’t disco, it ain’t electronic, it’s the odd one out in this blog so far, it’s mushy, it’s filled with clichés (he saw the light in her eyes blah blah blah), it was written in 15 minutes (Ritalin effects) and even Todd Rundgren doesn’t like it much – I think he actually hates it, but doesn’t want to admit it coz it's one of his hits.
*shrug* I love it.
What can I say, bittersweet melody is my thing.
Don’t judge me.
track's info: -Todd Rundgren - I saw the light Something/Anything? Bearsville 1972
Is it me or is every tune that I catch these days full of sea breeze? Well, even if it is just me (most likely), Ash Reynolds did a great job putting his imagination and Gerald Alston's "Getting back into love" down with Ableton Live – between you and me, I knew this guy would make it in my top list, the minute I listened to "What have we got to lose" for the first time and started turning up the volume slowly, with a suspicious, yet sparky look in my eye – sorry, eyes.
A little bit of digging in his bandpage or soundcloud can guarantee you wonderful stuff, some free for download –like the gem above– others available to buy and support the artist (don’t neglect doing that for new producers whenever you can). One of my personal favorites: 4U which you can find in his 4U EP released back in March, sampling Change - You are my melody.
There it is again. That sea breeze.
tracks' info: -Gerald Alston - Getting back into love Open invitation Motown 1990
-Ash Reynolds - What have we got to lose 2012
-Ash Reynolds - Don't stop my mind 2013
-Ash Reynolds - 4U 4U EP Dobara 2013
-Change - You are my melody Change of heart Atlantic 1984
Get off your chair (that assprint on the seat can’t get any bigger), grab your bathing suit (even if it’s baggy and 100 years old), leave those four fucking, depressing walls behind (and paint them sometime for fuck’s sake), give your pc a chance to rest and turn it off (it's been months since the last time you actually clicked "turn off") and fill your usb stick/player/whatever with music that will make your heart fly around inside your body. Now shut the door behind you, kidnap your loved one or ones and spot the most crowded, loud and trendy beach near you. Found it? Pass it over. Somewhere near that, there must be a small bay only for you, your party and your music. Go from coast to coast and you ’ll find it. Sure thing.
(Doesn't it make absolute sense that René & Angela are involved in the production of this?)
tracks' info: Plush - Coast to coast Plush RCA Victor 1982
Isn't it nice when all the others are sleeping, when the lights are off for everyone else, to be the one that gives the night another sense and meaning, other than that of snoring? To listen to your music in absolute peace, to share words or melodies with people you love, to share yourself, to live your dreams instead of dreaming them for a couple of minutes with your eyes closed -or to bang your mate like there's no tomorrow? I think it is. And these two seem to share this point of view. Well, what do you know...
Ks French was a random discovery a couple of months ago. One of the edits that caught my ears by surprise was this one, inspired from the Mary Jane Girls - All night long. Perfect for a night ride - and with a free download available as well.
Summer night's breeze is a terrible thing to waste. Don't do it. tracks' info: -All night long (Yazid Le Voyageur edit) 2013
-All night (Ks French'75 edit) 2013
original tracks: -Aurra - You & me tonight 10 Records 1986 -Mary Jane Girls - All night long Mary Jane Girls Motown 1983
It didn't take more than two high-school buddies, big love for house music (french house especially) and a joined force of inspiration for this new EP to be brought into this world. The Camaro kids undoubtedly share a vacation feeling through their new sounds and I believe I already have a favorite.
Thank you guys for the summerish tunes and the free downloads. You definitely have a place in my vacation usb stick.
track's info: Camaro kids - One two three Vacation EP Champagne Records 2013
I'm in the mood for some good, old-fashioned, mind-blowing, pure and full with soul house music today. I wasn't sure which set to pick out so as to share with you, so I selected the one that feels closer to my feeling right now, this very moment, from all the things I heard the past hours.
Hope it suits you too. I'm already downloading it from Dj Cool B.'s soundcloud and it will be today's soundtrack to and from the beach. Bleep-bleep!
In my early teens I wasn't very fond of concerts and live gigs. The reason was that I found the songs I loved perfect the way they were and I didn't want to have to hear them altered in a live version, where the voice wouldn't give 100% of its potentiality, where the crowd would clap their hands rhythmically (I still hate that in most occasions) and where the whole rhythm section would be even slightly different from what I had loved before. I could slap me in the face right now for this absurd point of view, but I was young. I didn't know.
If I could ever catch this live, I would certainly have one sheer moment of happiness.
I would probably lose consciousness to this one.
I can't quite get how this miracle could come out of the original "Sparks", but I can imagine the faces of the people in the crowd when they first heard it live.
The vocals are essential in this one. And the live version kicks ass.
This ain't the end of the road. This is the beginning of a new one.
Well, what can I say? People change after all.
tracks' info: (all live versions of:)
-Faze Action - Kariba Moving Cities Nuphonic 1999
-Stardust - Music sounds better with you Roulé 1998
-Röyksopp - Sparks Melody A.M. Wall of Sound 2001
-Parov Stellar - A night in Torino A night in Torino EP Etage Noir Recordings 2005
-Quantic Soul Orhestra feat. Alice Russell - End of the road Tru Thoughts 2006
(Check out Late Night Tuff Guy's soundcloud page here and his blog here or the Midnight City soundcloud here where you can also download for free the awesomeness above).
set's info: Live recording of Late Night Tuff Guy at Midnight City, Amsterdam.
It may be absolutely pointless, but sometimes when I listen to music I try to figure out which instrument is more important for the well-being of my ears. Can't seem to be able to decide on that, at least not in a permanent basis. I can't imagine a track without a kickin' bassline, but I can't help but fallin' for a few piano chords or sax inspirations, especially when they magically match the rest of the track. It's like bass is my mate, but I 'm secretely having an affair with the saxophone and can just as easily fall for a mellow guitar riff, a smooth piano part or a sexy drum beat. Kinda slutty, I know. That's why I chose saxophone - for today...
Some sax favorites off the top of my head.
Brad Shitt - Casbah breakdown
The ultimate goose bump
Wilton Felder (feat. Bobby Womack) - Inherit the wind (The revenge rework)
Sexy sax
Skingz - Just for your love
This love is pretty saxy
Danny Hybrid & the Nufunk Allstars - Green Groove (Part 1 &2)
Part 1: sax and part 2: piano. What more can I ask for?
Jask presents the Thaisoul Orchestra - Jack's theme
Don't faint just yet
Physics - 7 a.m. sessions
Standard for an early a.m. situation
St. Germain - Rose Rouge
Along with the trumpet, it can kill you
tracks' info: -Brad Shitt - Casbah breakdown Better Days Records 2009 -Wilton Felder (feat. Bobby Womack) - Inherit the wind (The revenge rework) L.E.S.S. Productions 2008 -Skingz - Just for your love Just for your love EP 2009
-Danny Hybrid & the Nufunk Allstars - Green Groove (Part 1 &2) A wild mad Nufunk Records 2006 -Jask presents the Thaisoul Orchestra - Jack's theme Soulfuric Deep 2000
