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

3 in 1

First heard of Keep Schtum through the Late Night Sessions. After having my regular goggle of surprise and enthusiasm, I spent a considerable amount of time browsing through this dude's sounds, getting a pretty good idea why Greg Wilson supports him, why he's got thousands of followers in soundcloud and why I goggled in the first place. For now, I 'll just give you 3 reasons to goggle too.



This is his widely-played track. Coming from my all-time favorite Odyssey and their homonymous 1980 track, "Hang together". And with a free download situation.



My basic idea was to present an all free-downloads post from the talented Irish, but I couldn't possibly leave the Whispers-inspired out. Enjoy anyway.



His unfinished symphony alive and kickin'. A Slow Train journey you never want to end.

*I'd strongly suggest to consider the above sounds as a trigger that will make you turn Michael McKenna's soundcloud page upside down, exploring and listening to sounds with a volume that allows you to really get the music - but at the same time keep you outta trouble with the neighbours. 

tracks' info: 
-Keep Schtum - Hang together (Keep Schtum re-edit) 
Keep Schtum 2008

-Keep Schtum - Can't do without love
2013

-Keep Schtum - Slow train
2013

Easy like Sunday morning

While I was listening to Woolfy vs Projections - Absynth, fitting it perfectly on a cloudy Sunday morning, I remembered this one.



It was supposed to come out 7-8 years ago, but it seems like the inspiration of Projections (Simon James -WoolfY- and Dan Hastie) is still being held captive. Whatever the case may be, I believe it stands a better chance of making you smile on a gloomy morning. And if it doesn't at first, wait till the synth sound towards the end of the track. My oh my.

track's info:
Woolfy vs Projections - Hit on you
2012

Defected hope

It's a weird period in time for the whole world, with ramshackle and collapsing being the keywords characterizing just about everything. Some could see it coming, some couldn't, some still can't.

Whatever you do, never lose your hope. It will keep you up, straight and able to fight for what is worth fighting for. For everyone's sake.

track's info:
Guti - Hope
Hope EP 
Defected 2013

Over - Not Over

During her forties she felt so tired, she committed suicide. Before the period in her life that caused her to end it and spread grief to her fans, she managed to leave a legacy of 10 albums and numerous loved songs to many people, having collaborations with The Whispers, the Four Tops, while she insisted that she didn't wanna change the world - I'm not sure I believe her though. Phyllis Hyman that is, a beloved singer, songwriter and actress. And when you leave a legacy, people are bound to pass it on, honor it, respect it and sometimes maybe update it in a way that younger generations will be able to get to know it. That's what Australian Frankee More did with her song "Some way", (offering also a free download).



Which very well proves that nothing is over, even when everything points out it is.
  
tracks' info:
-Phyllis Hyman - Some Way
You Know How To Love Me
Arista 1979

-Frankee More - It's not over
2013

Outta the fish bowl

It hasn't been that long since the first time a Sivel Beats tune made its way through my playlist -I believe the first one was the "Dream", clearly sampling Etta James - At last in an oh-my-god contemporary version. As you can imagine, that soothing, scratchy, rhythm-filled sound can't get away from me that easily, so this morning I checked out this talented French beatmaker and sound miracle-worker again. And look what I found.



A fish bowl full of gold, only a few hours uploaded and shared.
You 're gonna love this.
Trust me.

track's info:
Sivel Beats - Fish bowl
2013

A mind is a terrible thing to mess up

Up until yesterday, my favorite Lenny Williams track was "Choosing you".

Not anymore.
Lenny, you mind "messer".

*not to mention the ltj experience version of this gem (which is actually what led me to the original one), that is utterly and completely mind-blowing (find it here). How the hell have I missed this all this time?

tracks' info:
-Lenny Williams - Choosing you
Choosing you
ABC Records 1977

-Lenny Williams - Messing with my mind
Let's do it today 
MCA Records 1980

-Ltj experience - Keep yourself together (ltj edit re-work)
Small World Disco 2012

Always ahead

From the time I woke up this morning till now, this song is playing through my speakers on and on, in turn with the original version (Aretha Franklin's - One step ahead).

There have been many remixes and edits of this track (and many unfortunate ones), but this one manages to take it off and take you along with it. And Marvin Gaye's voice on "What's going on" couldn't possibly fit better along with Aretha's soothing tone. Really enjoyin' it. Way to go Featurecast. Definitely one step ahead.

track's info:
Aretha Franklin - One step ahead (featurecast re-edit)
2009

Jammin' down under

Let me know if this sounds odd to you: a bunch of youngsters in Australia, all born during the '90s -which means that they are all in their early twenties right now- have secretly managed to escape the synthetic reality of Lady Gaga and of all these popular -in their peak- artists that have a tremendous effect on these ages and do their own thing. That is a ten-piece band that works on a kind of music that makes you scratch your head with a silly, surprised look when you find out about their actual age. Soul-funk music with a '70s aroma. "Soul music for the after hours, for the solitary dancers and the lonely hearts" as they characterize their own sound. Sounds weird to you? Maybe, but it's one of those cases that make you smile from your heart out to your mouth. I can't even begin to tell you how much I loooove hearing about these stuff and this kind of people. Infinite thumbs up. I'll keep my thumb up till it hurts.



This is their new album that was just released from Hope Street Recordings.

And this is them. Jammin' in one of their best.

info:
-The Cactus Channel - Wooden Boy LP
Hope Street Recordings 2013

-The Cactus Channel - Pepper Snake 
Hope Street Recordings 2011

Loop from cantaloupe

photo by The unnamed

Back in the '60s, Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe island” would make everyone sway - even the non-jazzers who would finally attempt to give a real chance to something other than rock'n'roll.

About thirty years later, during the '90s, we all had our moment at some point in time with “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” by those weird jazz-rappers Us3, who –in case you were wondering- are still active, having a discography that expands from 1993 till 2011.

A couple of days ago, this tune vibrated my speakers once again, quite different this time, but closer to my kinda thing. Jay Loot from the Loot djs, whose parties would often find me somewhere around enjoying good music during the mid-00s (I remember I first caught Martin Brew's "Galactico" in one of their parties, having my regular stroke), had quite an inspiration on this jazzy composition and transformed it into a contemporary sound with bass that kicks ass and a beat that doesn’t let you stand still. The 1.24 in duration is kind of a turnoff I must say, but I bet there‘ll be an endless version sometime soon, that will save us from straining our index finger clicking on repeat 1000 times per minute.



While you 're hanging around on Jay Loot's soundcloud page, don't miss out on the Loot djs mixtape. Top-notch.

tracks' info: 
-Herbie Hancock - Cantaloupe island
Empyrean Isles
Blue Note Records 1964

-Us3 - Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)
Hand on the torch
Blue Note Records 1993

-Jay Loot - Cantaloot Groove
2013

To Fridays gone bad

Act 1: You 're staring at the tv, but you 're not really watching something. You 're just bored to get off the couch, the bed or your pathetic ass-shaped seat on the chair and start getting ready for tonight. You turn off the tv and press play to ltj experience with a slothful move. Suddenly, you 're dealing with the miracle: the detachment of your ass from the chair/couch/bed. The rest is easy: get dressed, *poof*.



Act 2: You have your first drink. Dj sucks bad. You have a second drink. Dj sucks bad. You have a third drink. Dj sucks bad. You have a vision: Dj knows what he's doin' and he's spinnin' some Gwen McCrae. You have an eargasm by accident, while the real dj is actually playing Rihanna Del Ray Gaga something. Somebody's got some explaining to do.



Act 3: Your ass is back in that ass-print of your chair all happy and perfectly fitted - someday it will be fit as well. You promised. This Friday night may have gone to waste, but your music is always there for you. Now hug him/her and start dreamin'.



Any resemblance to real persons, or Fridays, is purely coincidental. Really.

tracks' info:
-The Four Tops - Show must go on (Ltj rework)
2013

-Gwen McCrae - Funky Sensation (Alkalino rework)
2013

-Greg Henderson - Dreamin' 
Greyhound Record Productions 1982

Breakbot's take on Breakbot

On grounds of music company I must say that Breakbot is my best friend and I love it when he "brings" Ruckazoid along. This summer I took both of them with me to the Greek islands, as the "You should know" EP released in July, rightfully won a place in my playlist.



I love the voluminous figure of Thibaut Berland on the sketch - looks like the bullyboy at school who stares at your sandwich so hard, making you leave it aside for him with no second thought -, I felt kinda nostalgic with the Swiss remix - had a bit oldskool aroma, don't you think? - I turned goggle-eyed with the low-pitched vocals in Le Family Club remix, but what I adored the most was the alternate take. Breakbot's take on his own track. Well, if Breakbot can't touch Breakbot with the best possible results, then who can?
  
tracks' info:
Breakbot feat. Ruckazoid - You should know remixes
You should know EP
Ed Banger 2013

Manic Monday's loss

What stars well doesn't necessarily end that way as well, but there's no harm in tryin' to welcome this week and month with some good music to soothe the gloomy Monday and make it treat us better. It's not a standard, but I usually find myself attaining that goal whenever I go back to sounds I 've known and loved for years - at least that's what I feel like doing right now. Join in.

It's almost ridiculously optimistic, but you gotta have that sometimes. The Soulvation Army band to the rescue. Dance people!

                                             

Man-to-man advice by Ray Parker Jr. Oh well, screw the advice and listen to the damn music! You might also want to check out and download for free the micamino retouch. One more way to love a woman.

I don't care if it's Brotherly Love or Chestnut Brothers. Sure thing is that Al and Tyrone Chestnut wrote and produced a slaphappy track which makes me smile. Thumbs up for Grover Washington Jr. and his sax. Some of you might be interested in a more up-tempo, danceable version by Dean "Sunshine" Smith, which you can find here. 

There's a slight chance you won't see the light just yet and on a Monday, but Chew do their best so that you 'll have your chance. 

Are you there yet?

You 're on your own now. Keep it up as it suits you. Oh, and have the nicest possible week. And month.

tracks' info:
-The Soulvation Army Band feat. Flora Wilson - Dancing on a daydream
Soulvation Army 1974

-Raydio - More than one way to love a woman
Rock On
Arista 1979

-Brotherly Love - Whole lotta you in me
Robinson & Son Records 1990

-Chew - See the light
See the light
Capitol Records 1983

-Michelle Lamb - Natural High
Hooked on your love
Dealers Choice