“King’s Ballad is a celebration of creativity and uniqueness, things that are necessary to a meaningful life expression. It’s about being yourself,” Georgia Anne Muldrow.
Slicing pop n’lock-friendly funk with gospel and gracious soul Georgia Anne Muldrow is shining as a true West Coast original. The seeds of early experimental releases are now blossoming as her trademark scattershot beats and adventurous deep jazz melodies have grown to become the backbone for fully crafted songs.
Left to her own devices on Kings Ballad, she has come up with what her partner (MC and producer Dudley Perkins) describes as her most “pop” record to date. If only all pop was this free-spirited and barefaced.
With aspirations to be a modern-day Quincy Jones, Muldrow is truly a renaissance musician. She is always looking to take her craft to a higher ground. She channels her unstoppable creativity into music that is commercially viable but does not lose sight of her essence as an artist who challenges the norm.
tracklisting:
1. Indeed
2. Doobie Down
3. Simple Advice
4. Kings Ballad
5. R.I.P
6. Thrones
7. Summer Love
8. Shang-A-Lang
9. The Ooh Wee Show
10. Can’t Stand Yo Love
11. To The Stage
12. March For Africa
13. Chocolate Reign
14. Baby Dee
15. Live
16. Room Punk!
17. Thatch
18. Industrial Bap
19. Morena Del Ray
Premonition – Definitely in a class of it’s own, this groovy, soulful, cosmic dance oddity by premonition has the sound that gains all the attention on the dance floor. A perfect introduction setting the tone for what’s to come on the rest of this compilation. Only a handful of tracks from this release are believed to exist and ironically, it walked right through our doors on a summer day a few years ago.
Loveship – Hailing from the Southside of Chicago’s Cash Ear record label, this modern style dancer masterpiece by Loveship has it all. From an uplifting chorus with added seasoning from Angie Ditto on vocals, to the deep rippling bassline from the band section. This one seems to never end. The band consisted of 3 guys and some females, a proper blend of talent put together to turn out a fantastic dance floor cut such as this one. Retrieved from a box of dusty albums sitting next to furnace in a basement on the east side and finally reaching a proper home to the ears of deserving listeners.
Larry Houston – We found our first copies of this record 12years ago sitting in the bins of a local record store on the north side amongst a bunch of 80’s commercial dance twelve-inches. In those days, gems like this would go undiscovered for months until we came along. This stomping crossover disco record has the word “classic” written all over it. But, in the days of low budgets for promotion, it remained underground till years later.
Lajohn & Sheela – We were surveying a few storage units in the west suburbs of the city, which contained the remains of a popular large Westside bar that was popping from the late 60’s to early 80’s. Amongst it we found, posters, bar stools, cooking equipment, speakers, a Bozak mixer and more. After moving along to the next unit, we found about 10,000+ records and in the 3rd storage unit and an additional 3000+ records. Buried within lied this nice mellow boogie tune. Year’s later after tracking down Lajohn, who is now a police officer, we obtained other copies. An extraordinary tune of its time and definitely a dance floor hit in our eyes.
Yohon - At the height of the E.T. phenomenon, there many tracks made with the theme. A little after we met and teamed up, we visited a good friend and now deceased dealer here in Chicago named Art Morales. He was very well known amongst 45 collectors. This day he had found a load of 70’s & 80’s dance singles. Being that we were probably the only guys in the city buying large loads of dance twelve’s at the time; he turned them over to us. Amongst many rare gems on this skid was this marvelous warm early 80’s dance track. Listening to it literally puts you into a cosmic dream. Most people back then would have played it and said “Naaa”, we said “yeahhh”. This was a time when hardly anyone would appreciate the sound a record like this had to offer. Luckily, it made it into the right hands.
Billy Hinton – This group of talented musician at the time headed by 25yo Billy Hinton, and consisting two younger siblings 19yo Curtis and 17yo Beverly, combined to form the group Beige in the 70’s to 80’s. They bought aboard Maxine Gardner (introduced to them by Terry Marshall Of Maxx Traxx) to lay down the vocals. A fine job they did with this Chicago soulful dance groove with the primary arrangment being done by Keith Henderson Also Of Maxx Traxx. Billy did a fine job putting everyone together on this production. We obtained the first copies of this record from a now long gone distributor from the South East Side.
Maxx Traxx – Formally known as the 70’s Soul group Third Rail, this artist re-invented themselves to roll out a dance tune with a cutting edge sound. Sharp, cutting, and screaming synths throughout along with a blanket of joyous male vocals. We have many memories of getting together down in Mikes basement where we would jam it on regularly. It’s a true Peabody anthem of sorts. Amazing how in today’s time, a record that wouldn’t even sell at $7 would weigh in current times at over $300 Dollars. But with today’s global interest, it’s to be expected from a record of this caliber.
Sidney Thomas – This release was Obtained from a former musician Larry of a Chicago based record label. While sitting down having a chat, he said “musicians would literally swap each others material and pass it along as a primitive style of networking to get a buzz going amongst the Chicago natives”. Look, Let’s Make Love is a really feel good track that was released on the Chicago based east side independent label, Parallel Records. It’s a galloping disco tune with female vocals that will seduce and gain all men’s attention on the dance floor. “See if you like it”.
Billilian Express – Yet another discovery amongst a rodent infested basement on the West side. Ever played a 45 that was off center a little bit? Well this one sounds similar but the track was designed that way. It defines the raw soulful experimentation where musicians totally went against the grain to try something new. Disco Nights is a really groovy ride with strong blaring horn re-enforcement. A real dance floor blaster brought to you by Likes Of Larry Henderson, a figurehead and key producer on Chicago’s underground soul scene.
Martin Dumas – This one is yet another rare find amongst the more obvious of records coming thru the shop. Attitude, belief, and determination give new definition to the term “Spiritual” with plenty of groove power packed behind it. This track definitely is a down tempo soulful track that will have you assured that good things are bound to happen, and it has “Anthem” written all over it as well. Get ready for 10 minutes of pure bliss.
Ghalib Ghallab – This selection was recorded at the Chicago Bulls Jazz Club In The City’s Lincoln Park Area On The North side. The club was literally underground in a basement with a smoky dark culture with paintings along the wall. Ghallab was a Southside native attending Chicago’s Harlan High School. He had a natural knack for keyboards and played with ambient energy. His style spanned across many genres of music, from soul to classical. Recorded in 1981, this rare groove by Ghallab has a theme we all can relate to. A really good summer song with a fantastic sax solo from Dr. Edwin Daugherty.
Expo – While checking out a record collection at a home in the Southside’s Pullman district, this guy brings out a few boxes of Lp’s that had obviously been picked through. We asked him, “Do you have any other records that have not been seen?” He returns from a guest bedroom and replies, “I found these while cleaning up a couple months ago”. Turns out, the records belong to his brother from New York who had stayed with him for a short time in the 80’s. The very odd thing is that the 45’s we’re all in sleeves and in immaculate shape, much different than the Lp’s he had just previously showed us. Amongst the selection of mostly independent 45’s was this unique spin. Another independent early 80’s boogie bomb tune from a Local group named Expo. A very bright and moving track with the vocals being laid down by J. Elliot Robinson. This inspirational track quickly became one of our dance floor favorites.
Gregory James – This oddity on the Kelli-Arts label later fell along the way side to the labels more popular group, Magnum Force. This group was a collaboration between 2 Guys, Gregory Bibb and James Norris. A very smooth and sophisticated disco release with warm horns, nice keys, and excellent complimentary female vocals. The break goes into a groove that has a soulful trance like element to it. We had this record in the shop from time to time, and it fell on the deaf ears and went neglected for the most part. Maybe it wasn’t played loud enough. However, we always loved it. Now if anyone goes to retrieve this tune other than this compilation, they’re most likely going to have to pay from this point on.
Carmen Amez – Classic soap opera disco but arranged right! Here’s the story -We were in a warehouse in the Midwest around 11 years ago. We were in separate areas going through skids of vinyl, Mike yells out from the other side “I Bet This One’s Tight”. He broke out the portable player and dropped the needle on the disc. We both started laughing. A very common reaction when we found what we called a “Cut”. This one turned out to be a fantastic disco track with a break that will leave you mouth hanging open to the floor.
Tomorrow’s People – This maximum disco/funk head nodder from the Stage Productions label is very sought after on the collector’s scene at this moment. Our gift to you! The band consisting of 6 brothers got together to conceive this awesome masterpiece “Open Soul”. Seven minutes of deep funky basslines, screaming vocals, and fantastic instrument solos will leave you mesmerized. The original track on the Rare 6 Track Lp is timed at around 20 Minutes (One Entire Side Only). We’ve shortened it here to save space on this comp, and of course to give the collectors something to dig for. Don’t worry; this 7min version will do more than wet your whistle.
The Moore Brothers (Debut 1st Release) – One day all is going as normal in the shop. Then, an elderly lady shows up with a box of Gospel LP’s, mostly Savoy label stuff and some various others. Literally, right in the middle of the box we were going through, there was a solid white cardboard sleeve. We immediately pulled it out and inside turned out to be acetate titled, “The Moore Brothers”. Being that Chicago had many “Moore’s” we really didn’t have the confidence in finding the makers of the material. So by initiating some hard work and bouncing from person to person, we found Mr. Moore right here in Chicago. He informed us that the acetate in our possession was the “only existing copy” of the recording, which originally belonged to their former manager. He stated again “We did some 45’s but this one was never made it to press, the original tape was destroyed by accident after we recorded it”. After playing the track for him, he added, “Wow, I never heard this after we recorded it”. He’s positive that this acetate we possess is the only existing copy in the world. So there you have it, from the Peabody Archives To You Ears. We’ve restored the disc to the best of our abilities. Enjoy!
Pick Of The Liter – Over repetition is something most music lovers agree is a pet peeve. This selection is most likely the exception to the rule, and on the dance floor, it will bring a phenomenal response. This intense rare 70’s disco treasure under the production of Lonnie Givens is definitely one that sends you runnin though a wall, to get to the disco, to hear it! Plenty of percussion, synthesizers, keys, and screaming voices make up this track. A Fairly simple make-up, but it definitely has a mind blowing sound.
Esquires – The make-up of this northern Chicago region release by the esquires is the answer to the title, “What is good music”. A Percussive drum section, with smooth warm layovers of synths and harmony amongst the vocals, which is reminiscent of the doo-wop era sound. A grossly underrated track for the great sound that it consumes. Success was halted after marketing and promotion came to an unexpected stop. We still find copies of this from time to time but in today’s growing popularity of collecting independent media, it won’t last for long.
Synergy – While going through the basement of a former record store some 8 years ago, we obtained our first copies of this disco-funk rarity made by a husband and wife team. This south-side couple along with some musicians conceived this pumping disco track. It literally winds up at the beginning then it’s off to the party. An overly amplified synthesizer is heard busting in and out of the track, which adds more definition. This title is pretty much to the point of extinction and is yet another long time favourite of ours
Brighter Side Of Darkness – Lennie Lacour collaborated with this Chicago Group to add a Disco Ball to the Magic Touch Arsenal. Although the label had a moderate sized catalog for an independent label. Scarce demand prevented many of the titles from earning the status “Successful”. This up-tempo runner caught our ear as an exceptional dance floor piece. We found the first copies around 9 years ago. We played hooky from our 9-5 jobs to check out a collection at a residence in K-Town. We showed up at the front porch, introduced ourselves, and the guy tells us, “One Minute”, he went back inside and came out with 2 boxes of records a couple of smaller box 45’s. He had 10 copies of this and some other various releases from the label.
Fantasie – Our first copy of this production was obtained from the basement of a drug store (formally a record shop years earlier) on the south side. At an earlier time in Chicago, it was not uncommon to see records amongst a loaf of bread and some cough syrup. Back in the days records were very plentiful in most businesses, until cd’s took their place. Many people over look tons of great records because they simply didn’t let the track play long enough. In the Case of The Composer, It starts as classical piano and ends with the sound of a circus themed soundtrack. What’s in between is what we describe as “The Sound”.
Cheryl Berdell – We had recently had our outdoor overhead sign installed and were inside doing construction preparing for our grand opening. A guy knocks on the door and ask, “Are you guys open?” we replied “No”. Noticing he had a box of vinyl, we let him in to take a look, which brought us this selection – More classic soap opera disco done right! By the make-up of this selection, it would make a fantastic climax but an even better closing track that will leave everyone wanting more. The sound of the sixties and seventies has never been so sought after as at the present moment. You could even argue that modern music just isn’t good enough. As evidence consider this: contemporary producers and artists are often looking back to get inspired (insert staggering number of examples here) so you can safely say that even in this digital age the beating heart of modern R&B and hip-hop is still vintage soul, funk and jazz.
tracklisting:
CD1:
1. Premonition – Your Love Is In The Pocket
2. Loveship – Love So New
3. Larry Houston – Promise (Instrumental)
4. LaJohn & Sheela – Too Far Gone
5. Yohon – B.T. (Boogie Terrestrial)
6. Billy Hinton – A Challenge
7. Maxx Traxx – Don’t Touch It
8. On Stage – Hooked On Your Love
9. Sidney Thomas – Look Let’s Make Love
10. Bilalian Express – Disco Nights
11. Martin L. Dumas – Attitude, Belief & Determination
12. Ghalib Ghallab – School Days [Mr. Peabody’s Edit]
CD2:
1. Expo – Road To Sunshine
2. Gregory James – Happy Baby
3. Carmen Amez – Never Gonna Fall In Love Again
4. Tomorrow’s People – Open Soul
5. The Moore Brothers – Bass Come Back
6. Lonnie Givens – Runnin’ To A Disco [Mr. Peabody's Edit]
7. Esquires – What Good Is Music
8. Synergy feat. Donnell Pitman – Can You Feel It
9. Brighter Side Of Darkness – The Disco Ball
10. Fantasie – The Composer [Mr. Peabody's Edit]
11. Cheryl Berdell – Fall In Love
12. Cold T – Funky Preacher [Mr. Peabody's Edit]
We’ve seen this story in music time and time again. Al Kent – the ambitious producer who spent his life’s earnings making his dream project. The project was the Million Dollar Orchestra, an army of musicians whose sole mission was to complete a fully orchestrated Disco LP born in Al’s mind and inspired by the lost sounds of classic ’70s material much in the vein of the Salsoul Orchestra or MFSB. The MDO LP achieved just that. The music was rich with lush strings, thick brass sections and filled out with arrangements of epic Disco proportions. The LP was magnificent, however much like history has also shown us time and time again; this ambitious project left the producer completely spent, both emotionally and financially.
As we all know any producer worth his salt rises from the ashes and always comes back, usually with a newer stripped down sound and condensed studio budget. This is Al Kent’s rise from the ashes that sees him coming at us full throttle even with his bruises and broken bones. This is part of the natural cycle we’ve seen before in Disco history. Private press Disco records sell for hundreds of dollars on ebay because of the mixture of raw energy that is harnessed in one studio take and the underfunding involved creates a distinct sound on those vinyl platters that can’t be replicated. That is unless of course like Al Kent, you record much of your new secretive LP in your bedroom hence using a lot less musicians than you did last time around and then complete the rest of the project in a fully analog studio called “The Barn”.
Al dug out some old tracks he’d been working on previously. Some were half finished, others were little more than ideas, and a few were demos he’d put together for the Million Dollar Orchestra. He got some musicians back together to record a few bits and put these nine new tracks together. It didn’t take as long as MDO, but then he didn’t record a brass or string section this time. However the tunes do focus on neck snapping drum breaks, heavy boogie bass lines, the bottom heavy aspects of Disco, or as I like to think of it – the underbelly of real independent Disco. It was all mixed at The Barn again, “because that desk and reel to reel tape is just too nice.”
On the technical side, the difference between digital and analog especially in the right hands is night and day. When it goes through a proper desk where all the effects and all the reverbs etc, are real, it makes a massive difference. It throws up all sorts of challenges which on a computer would be fixed in seconds with some preset. It takes a lot of time and thought to do this using more traditional methods but it’s worth it when it works out.
The finished mixes were bounced to tape – i.e. played back through the mixing desk to a reel to reel machine then recorded back to the computer via valve compressors and other gizmos. That process just pulls everything together and the tape adds a certain something – a warmth that’s totally missing in digital recording.
On the creative side Al thought that an album of all up tempo tracks that were primarily DJ friendly didn’t make for a particularly interesting album, except to DJs. He wanted to find a way to make it more interesting for the general public to listen to as well. The LP starts off with a banger and track tempos vary from fired up dancers to mid tempo hustles and down tempo steppers, all the while woven through recordings of lost DJ interviews, commercial advertisements for old Discos, and even revisits the Disco Sucks riot in Chicago’s Comiskey ball park over the course of the LP. Al expropriates the Disco Sucks chants and even including it in one of the tunes. The phrase “Disco’s Revenge” immediately comes to mind. Don’t forget Al got his start as a soul boy and the star tune of this LP may even just be the vocal anthem “Come Back Home” featuring Tyrone Taylor on vocals. This is a welcome addition to Al’s discography and brings his sounds full circle.
This independent Disco LP is woven from the mind of a true Disco aficionado (some may even say Disco obsessive) using both real history and new sounds to create a modern disco fantasy for all to enjoy on their headphones or on the dance floors. It is with great honor that I introduce Al Kent’s latest burner of a Disco LP: SECRET SOUNDS – So turn up that stereo or put on your best outfit for the discothèque, and get down-get down…
tracklisting:
01 I Like It
02 Come Back Home
03 Get Get Get Down Down
04 Disco Sex
05 Get Funky
06 Mint Minus
07 Reverb Is Your Friend
08 Strung Out
09 Tenner Rap
DJ Spinna is something of an anomaly in music. A humbling example of what it takes to truly succeed within the framework of multiple fields: a steadfast work ethic, an obsessively extensive vinyl library and the willingness to pursue the full extents of his roots (Funk, Soul and Jazz), foundation (Hip-Hop) and future (Electronic/Dance music) with no restraints.
A cornerstone of Hip-Hop’s late 90’s indie-uprise, DJ Spinna made much of his first impression on listeners as the musical background of his group The Jigmastas (having released an impressive slew of 12″ singles on his then self-run label Beyond Real during this time) as well as providing the canvas for an array of that era’s lyrical giants. As an emcee in New York City, if you didn’t have a Spinna production under your belt, well, you just hadn’t accomplished all there was to accomplish. Everyone from Mos Def, Talib Kweli to Pharaohe Monch boasted Spinna beats to prove their worth to the scene. At the height of indie-kingpin Rawkus Records heyday, Spinna was in demand, also churning out timeless classics of the era from the likes of J-Live, Mr. Complex and The Polyrhythm Addicts (his all-too-brief collabo-group with Apani B., Shaabam Sadeeq and Complex).
As collaborative production work flooded his studio, from hip-hop legends like Sadat X & Grand Puba (Brand Nubian), Masta Ace and Guru (Gangstarr) to even The Jungle Brothers. Yet, while his stock as a the go-to producer rose so did his value as a key, if not crucial, remixer. At the time reworking hits for the major-label likes of De La Soul (« Stakes is High ») Das EFX and MC Eiht.
Turning heads throughout the industry, Spinna’s sonics soon infiltrated numerous genres. Tapped by everyone from George Michael to Mary J. Blige to Motown Records (for his brilliant Michael Jackson homage to « We’re Almost There »). It’s here his production presence would flourish greatly, as Spinna would go on to revive and revise Soulful marvels like Donald Byrd Eddie Kendricks, Betty Carter, Roy Ayers and Al Jarreau. Always relevant to the current, Spinna has taken to new mixes for the J Dilla bred Platinum Pied Pipers and Bay Area songstress Goapele as with the well respected Les Nubian. Though it goes without saying that one of the more memorable mixes goes to his monumental version of Shawn Escoffery’s « Days Like This ». In turn, catapulting Spinna into his now stately, touted presence in the dance music scene. Which made the transition to BBE Records smooth as ever, for his landmark solo production album « Here To There ». It also spawned another record label, Spinna’s own, Wonderwax. A home for his soulful dance classics, the imprint came to fruition in 2003, and has seen memorable releases from contemporaries such as Rich Medina, Lady Alma, Blaze, The Free Radikalz and Selan.
With so much studio work, it’s a marvel Spinna travels as much as he does. The constant, globe-trotting performances he’s become equally famed for have brought the DJ as far as Iceland, Australia, and South Africa as well as countless jaunts through England, Europe and the U.S. Not to forget, his hugely successful tours of Japan, where Spinna is held in the highest regard throughout the country for his craft in music. Not always the lone crowd-controller, Spinna’s collaborated on stage alongside contemporary luminaries like Gilles Peterson, Jazzanova, Joe Claussell, Bugz In The Attic, Osunlade, Jazzy Jeff, Kenny Dope, Keb Darge, DJ Scratch (EPMD), DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist. He’s a true showman – versatile as ever.
Yet nothing compares to his celebrated Stevie Wonder inspired WONDER-Full– DJ-performances (aside friend and contributor Bobbito Garcia). Garnering overwhelming fanfare each occasion done – whether NYC, LA, San Francisco, Japan or beyond – if a WONDER-Full– event is booked at a club you can put money on a line around the block and thousands of Stevie Wonder admirers rocking the house. And while he’s gained so much attention and accolade for his tributes to Stevie, Spinna is not incapable of doing the same for any other pivotal forefather. Visit New York City any given month and find a number of Spinna themed throw-downs in the city’s esteemed venues – each as memorable as the last.
Its true that there are other likeminded DJ/Producers in the world comparable to DJ Spinna, but for the most part, they choose a genre and master it. Ask them to flip another variety with the same intense knowledge and sleek-savvy and you’ll be hard pressed to find someone that’ll do it to Spinna’s extent.
tracklisting:
CD 01 – Mixed by DJ Spinna
01 South Bronx – The Bottom Line
02 Foxy – Tena’s Song
03 T.J Swan – And You Know That (Dub)
04 Chemise – She Can’t Love You (Original 12” Mix)
05 Mtume – So You Wanna Be A Star
06 Final Edition – Betcha Can’t Love Just One (Can’t keep Running Away)
07 Masurrati and Huey Harris – Super Duper Lovin, Don’t Stop
08 Community People -Education Wrap (Dj Spinna Edit)
09 War – The World Is A Ghetto (Special US Disco Mix)
10 Ronnie Dyson – All Over Your Face (Special J&M Mix)
11 Stargaze -You Can’t Have It
12 Jan Leslie Holmes – I’m Your Superman – (Dj Spinna ReFREAK)
13 Slyck – Love It (Or Beat The Bush)
14 Modern Romance -Salsa Rhapsody
15 Melody Stewart – Get Down, Get Down
16 Captain Rapp – Bad Times (I Can’t Stand It) (Part 2)
CD 2 – Unmixed, Compiled by DJ Spinna
01 South Bronx – The Bottom Line
02 Foxy – Tena’s Song
03 T.J Swan – And You Know That (Dub)
04 Chemise – She Can’t Love You (Original 12” Mix)
05 Mtume – So You Wanna Be A Star
06 Final Edition – Betcha Can’t Love Just One (Can’t Keep Running Away)
07 War -The World Is A Ghetto (Special US Disco Mix)
08 Ronnie Dyson – All Over Your Face
09 Stargaze – You Can’t Have It
10 Jan Leslie Holmes – I’m Your Superman
11 Modern Romance -Salsa Rhapsody
12 Melody Stewart – Get Down, Get Down
Pins and Digits features guests spots from some of New Zealand’s most talented musicians including Jonathan Crayford, Paul Dyne, Lewis McCallum, Jeremy Toy (opensouls), John Bell, Isaac Aesili, Steph Brown and stand out tracks from the fresh vocal talents of Mara TK (Electric Wire Hustle) and Parks (Ladi6). The Waikato Times has described the album as staying “true to the funk, never losing the groove through brilliant down tempo compositions.” Pins & Digits is being released in Japan next month by Wonderful Noise featuring a stunning remix of “Falling Down” by DJ Mitsu the Beats.
Julien’s first release, the Phantom Limbo EP introduced Julien as a producer and served as a platform for him to showcase his sizable percussion and production skills. Lead single ‘Maddingos’ was nominated for a bnet award 2007, and remains a local anthem for DJs. Stylistically Pins and Digits combines the big bass, brass and beats aesthetic of the Phantom Limbo EP with futuristic keyboards and synthesised sounds.
Since his selection for the Red Bull Music Academy in Rome in 2004 Julien has been working with international artists and forging his own unique sound as a producer. Julien spent two weeks in Cologne in 2007 where he recorded, collaborated and co-produced with legendary musicians and producers including the Mizell brothers (Motown/ Jackson 5, Donald Byrd, Bobbi Humphrey), Om’mas Keith (Sa- Ra), Steve Spacek, Mark Pritchard (Harmonic 313), Andreya Triana, Black Spade , Theo Parrish , Roman Rosic, Skymark and Sophie Loizou.
tracklisting:
01 Steel Legs 11
02 Layer ft. Mara TK
03 Board Forge [Interlude]
04 Incredulous
05 Deaky
06 Stained Glass Fresh Frozen ft. Mara TK
07 Conglomerates
08 Fallin’ Down ft. Parks
09 Behind The Forage
10 Toothnail [Reprise]
11 The Jung And The Fine
12 New New Zealand
13 Spirits
14 Stained Glass Fresh Frozen ft. Mara TK (Submariner Mix)
Comfort Fit’s masterpiece long player “Polyshufflez” goes into the second round with fourteen impressive and unique re-interpretations by Laurent Garnier, Domu, Opolopo, Atjazz, Boom Clap Bachelors, Robot Koch, Jay Scarlett and more brilliant artists.
Techno superstar Laurent Garnier produces his first remix since more than four years for this release, turning Comfort Fit’s “Ask the Devil” into a stunningly hypnotizing club anthem of more than 11 minutes play time. Needless to say, his remix is already receiving fantastic feedback from Carl Craig and other international A-list DJs.
UK house don Atjazz (Innervisions/Sonar Kollektiv) also remixes Comfort Fit’s “Ask the Devil” featuring the bestselling book author Howard Marks, philosophizing about God, the Devil and the smoke inbetween.
Further dancefloor crashing remixes come from Comfort Fit himself, Sweden’s finest funkateer Opolopo (Especial/Tokyo Dawn Records), Germany’s house newcomer Jacob Korn (Running Back/Permanent Vacation), global bass buccaneer Tim Turbo from Berlin and finally a very special remix from UK breakbeat guru Domu (Treble O/Tru Thoughts). He recently announced his retirement from the music business to the shock of the worldwide music scene, but we hope this won’t be his last output.
Further serious headnodders are contributed by Jay Scarlett, best known for his work with Spacek and the Beat Dimensions compilations, Death Star Lazer Trooper Robot Koch (Robots Don’t Sleep), who’s been releasing on Tokyo Dawn Records since the late 90s under different monikers, Singing Statues (aka Jack High, Ghostly International) and Germany’s up and coming Hip-Hop producer fLako (Kwatro). Denmark’s finest Boom Clap Bachelors, whom you may know from Gilles Peterson or Jazzanova compilations, also join the show. And last but not least Portformat, who has just released his well received debut album ‘The Repeat Factor‘ featuring Dudley Perkins, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Gajah, Blaktroniks and more on Tokyo Dawn Records (TDR09-002).
Time to get polyshuffled again!
Tokyo Dawn Records is the name of a fine little music unit established 1997 by Marc Wallowy and friends. Having strong roots in the early netaudio scene, they’ve been releasing music on the internet since 1997, prioritizing open-source music, web 2.0 communities and online music-distribution a decade before most record labels realized how the digital music revolution can positively affect their creative work. During the last three years TDR took a break as personal projects needed more time, but the passion to work on the Tokyo Dawn idea lasted, so Marc Wallowy and Fabien Schivre knocked on open doors for the TDR comeback summer 2009.
We stand for futuristic & soulful music highlights – dirty soulclaps since 1997!
New mixes from the Galaxy Group’s latest single, ‘Out Of Control’, featuring the soulful vocals of songstress Carla Prather juxtapose to Capitol A’s near-hip-house rhymes.
Much to choose from including a quartet from Domu (aka Dominic Stanton) whose sublime shuffling restylings really open this up to the Hed Kandi generation and are guaranteed to be an integral part of the soundtrack to pool parties, beach soirees and Miami bliss; his Dub Mix in particular allowing the easy-on-the-ear vocal to smooth the senses and wash away the stresses and strains of everyday life. The 1200 Warriors offer a chunkier version that adds UK garage undertones to their sparser arrangement built around a funky bassline that’s the epitome of cool.
Tracklisting:
01. Galaxy Group – Out Of Control (1200 Warriors Remix)
02. Galaxy Group – Out Of Control (Domu Bruk Instrumental)
03. Galaxy Group – Out Of Control (Domu Bruk Remix)
04. Galaxy Group – Out Of Control (Domu House Dub)
05. Galaxy Group – Out Of Control (Domu House Version)
06. Galaxy Group – Out Of Control (1200 Warriors Instrumental)
The “Farside 1.0 EP” is a 12inch teaser for the first upcoming Label CD Compilation “Farside 1.0” of the Farside Vinyl Edition. The EP features 4 unreleased trax/versions from the Farside family including Herb LF, Matt Flores, Henry L & Westpark Unit.
Henry L might be one of the upcoming heroes in deep house heaven. With his moniker Henree & him being part of the project Triad, he already took over the drum & bass world. Farside Records is proud to release another of Henry L´s sexy house tunes. “Pause” twinkles over to Detroit, is ass kicking cool and keeps things funky and soulful. Check out the bassline. Brilliant! The Marcus Worgull Remix of Henry L´s latest Farside release has been picked by Steve Bug for his recent compilation.
Westpark Unit´s “Feel This! (Dub)” is another example of jeep house from Herb LF & Ingo Sänger and might soonest be described as detroitish tech funk. Anyway, should be a buzz on the floors, not just on the deeper ones. Dope!
Herb LF teams up with incredible singer Elina Monova and presents a deep house monster dub of “Set Me Free”, one of their first tunes ever recorded. See how this explodes on the dancefloor and watch out for music from Herb & Elina in the future. The downbeat version of this tune will be a highlight on the forthcoming “Farside 1.0” CD Compilation.
Last, but not least Matt Flores reworked his dancehall inspired “Nice Day” tune that was already released on Farside Records a while ago. Matt took the beautiful Singer Jay vocals & harmonies strictly back to its original rockers roots. Without any doubt this “Nice Day Rockers Dub” is an awesome example for dubby house at its best. The CD will feature a King Tubby alike radio rockers version. Bless!
Tracklisting:
A1. Henry L – Pause
A2. Westpark Unit – Feel This! (Dub)
B1. Herb LF w/ Elina Monova – Set Me Free (Dub)
B2. Matt Flores – Nice Day feat. Singer Jay (Rockers Dub)
Shooting to Sirius and beyond, the intense and intergalactic slowmotion grooves of Portformat finally hit space! NASA-compatible Hip Hop Funkadelica is what to expect on Portformat’s debut album released into orbit, musically combining space themes of the 70s with the golden moments of 90s R’n'B.
R’n'B shooting stars such as Georgia Anne Muldrow, Shuanise and Suzi Analogue shine on Portformat’s beats from his Repeat Factory. Rappers such as Madlib-vocalist Dudley Perkins, Blaktroniks, Obey The Altar Native, Bless1, Gajah and Thesaurus Rex also join the ride. The album was even mixed by Comfort Fit for an extra galactic boom!
tracklisting:
1. Knock Knock (feat. Bless1)
2. U Gotta Find (feat. Shuanise)
3. Purple Planet
4. Mothership (feat. Dudley Perkins & Georgia Anne Muldrow)
5. Provide Everything (feat. Obey The Altar Native & Denone)
6. Thunder and Lightning
7. Fairy Child (feat. Shuanise)
8. Bionic Arms
9. The Myth (feat. Caits Meissner & Yarrow Lutz)
10. Everything U Change (feat. Obey The Altar Native)
11. 37 Degrees
12. It’s On (feat. Blaktroniks)
13. Put Your Love To The Test (feat. Joe Kickass)
14. Life Water (feat. Thesaurus Rex)
15. For The Hungry Cats
16. U$ (feat. Suzi Analogue)
17. So Thankful (feat. Gajah & Olmeca)
Funky fuzzy psychedelic tracks from 60s and 70s Nigeria, Iran, Turkey, Russia, South Korean and other exotic countries.
Egon helped out with the licensing of some tracks for this album, the definitive survey for students of the global phenomenon of psychedelic funk music, covering the “golden years” of the movement, from approximately 1967 until 1980.
tracklisting:
1. Husnu Ozkartal Orkestrasi – ‘Su Derenin Sulari’
2. Kukumbas – ‘Respect’
3. Mulatu Astatke – ‘Alemiye’ (feat. Belaynesh Wubante / Assegedetch Asfaw)
4. Kim Sun – ‘The Man Who Must Leave’
5. Petalouda – ‘What You Can Do In Your Life’
6. Mehr Pooya – ‘Doe Pajereh’ / ‘Ghabilehe Leili’
7. Staff Carpenborg And The Electric Corona – ‘All Men Shall Be Brothers Of Ludwig’
8. The Group – ‘The Feed-back’
9. Armando Sciascia – ‘Circuito Chiuso’
10. Wadih Essafi – ‘Aandak Baharia Ya Rayess’
11. Omar Khorshid – ‘Rakset El Fadaa’
12. Metin H. Alatli – ‘Mevlana Boyle Dede’
13. George Garanian With The Melodiya Jazz Ensemble – ‘The Big Search’
14. Eskaton – ‘Dagon’
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