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Tracklisting for Philadelphia Weekly Mix 1

Pure Love (Aphreme's Smooth mix) - Scott Langley 
Total Control (DJ MFR Bonus Dub) - New Mondo 
Boom Boom Bye (Jazzy Eyewear Remix) - Matt Prehn 
Essence (Original Mix) - Filtered Boogie  
Look What (J&M Brothers Remix) - Javi Lopez 
Good Girl (Bully Mix) - Kellylee Evans/Phil Marwood

Tracklisting for Philadelphia Weekly Mix 2

 Darren DuVall – “Between the Streets EP” – Musical Missionary 

A purely ingenious use of sampling to create a groove, Darren takes the percussion of a ping pong rally and uses it as the back beat to set his track, “Between the Streets” into its down tempo funk. A beautiful ride, set low in your driver’s seat, with reverbed pianos and a warm bass line; it’s a track made for cruising or just lounging’. “Everyone’s Groove” is a more laid back break beat track, one with some conga, piano, and guitar accents; definitely one to get your head nodding’. “Freedom in an Urban Cell” moves up the tempo and starts off to a chill 4/4 house beat, non aggressive, with a dubbed out bass with angelic vocal snippets to tantalize the ears. Mid track it switches gears and gets a little dirty by moving to a funky break, with some staccato action on that vocal to add to the funkiness, and later transitioning back to the deep house groove. “Slow”, establishes itself as an oxymoron in this package, as it’s the fastest tempo track on the release. It has a ‘big room’ feel to its percussion and drum programming, yet keeps the vibe deep with its use of lush synths, and spacious sounding effects. I’m a fan of purchasing EP’s that are the full package, and getting the most out of my money when buying music. Darren DuVall definitely delivers a full array of genres with an utterly pleasing quality sound with each track on this EP. So whether you are looking for tracks to chill to, dance in your towel in your bedroom, or DJ to a club, you will be a happy customer.

Filtered Boogie – “Essence” – Chillin’ Music

 This 3 track EP from DJ Rob Slac’s, Florida based Chillin’ Music is set forth to see itself played in a bunch of varied DJs’ sets this year. Always dishing out the smooth and funky house, ‘Essence’ is another release to add to the shelf entitled ‘success.’ In the original mix, expect to move to a phat synth bass, and cleverly placed disco-esqe shooting star sounds. On the remix, Mr. Pablo Bolivar delivers a deeper and darker side. With a more progressive feel, this mix stays deep, and is more of a head trip than anything. Tommy Largo gives his shake on things too. Chunking it up a bit, harder kicks, and some more emphasis on the drum fills gives his mix a more jackin’ vibe, using some of the same aspects as the original to keep the flow moving right along. With support from world renowned DJs like Mark Farina, and DJ Harri from Glasgow’s Sub Club, I’m sure that at sometime this fall, if you make it to a funky house night, you will be shaking your stuff to one of these mixes.

Javi Lopez – “Look What EP” – Onethirty Records

 This is a 7 track EP, and a remix package in its own. Javi’s ‘Look What,’ a seriously moody and beat-y tech house track, gets reworked by a few folks. Asad Rizvi stays deep adding some bobbling bass, and uses a weird telephone ringing noise and creates a solid sound and drive. It’s a big mixing track. Onur Ozman turns out a more of a clubby feel, with its filtered stabs and drum rolls, while the J&M Brothers remix is a bit more defined, simple in its construction, but has a bigger feel to it. It’s the perfect track to either keep the groove moving, or to use to build up a set to take it in the next direction, when the next direction is up or forward…absolutely the most powerful of the remixes, and the one you would hear this DJ playing out. “Seque” is my other favorite on this release. It sounds the fullest in its darker production, and keeps you listening to where it moves to next. “Will Take You” stays deep, but throws some aggressive synth stabs at you, waking you up with its rumblings. With this being my first introduction to music from both Javi Lopez and Onethirty Records, my interest is definitely piqued, and am looking forward to hearing more from both parties.

Kellylee Evans/Phil Marwood – “Good Girl” – Soundtrack Recordings

 From our northern neighbors, comes an alluring piece of vocal house. Canadian based Soundtrack Recordings dishes out a lovely and sweet 2 track EP as their 10 release. With in the ‘Deep Mix,” Kellylee’s vocals are accompanied with a bouncy drum pattern, sweet sounding pads, and a solid, driving bass. It’s a delicate marriage of her vocals and a precisely used echo effect to accentuate the song’s message. Load up the “Bully Mix” and be ready to experience a bit more ‘oomph’ in the production. Heavier kicks, a mix of dry and reverbed vocals exchange places in the hook, and a tad of an old school vibe with a dirty 303 riding under it all. Kellylee’s vocals are welcoming, and never overwhelming. A clean production throughout, and a positive message delivered. I can see either mix of “Good Girl’ played to a ‘crossover’ crowd, and no doubt could hear this on a late night radio mix show. 

 
Mew Mondo – “Total Control – Remixes” – Transport Recordings

 On this EP, “Total Control’ gets reworked solidly 4 different ways. San Francisco’s Transport Recordings has a flair for doing things proper; with a mix of all things funky and emanating SF’s club vibe through their releases. Haldo & Mascaro (Rome) provide both a vocal mix and dub club versions, full of phat synth bass sounds, twangy guitar riffs, and percolating congas. Label partner, DJ MFR, dips into the remix action too, giving us his ‘Dub’ version. It’s a heavier and more driving production, technically broken down and spread out more than the Haldo & Mascaro mixes; yet never losing that club bounce essence. The surprise treat on this release is from producer, LEFT. A deep tech house production, with focus on the simplicities of the perfectly placed vocal drop, heavy bass, smooth chords, and a lush array of echoed pads; reminiscent of Art of Noise’s sound effects. The talents of Morrison’s vocals make each of these mixes stand out, and make each mix become memorable. Thanks again Transport for doing what you do best!

Scott Langley – “Pure Love” – Broken Records US

 This 6 track EP on Jesse Saunders’ US label, Broken Records is a luscious collection of lounge, deep, jazzy, and club/radio house. DJ Aphreme drops the sultry stroked jazz guitar over his mellow house rhythms, smooth accentuating strings, and rides the Rhodes alongside Mel Tidy’s sweet vocals. Any lounge DJ would be smart to keep this gem on hand. Didier Vanelli’s Jazz Rockin’ remix pumps up tempo, and goes straight for the funky guitar. Vanelli definitely aimed for the dance floor in this production, and with the heavy bass, it’s sure to shake some sub woofers. Want to rock a long intro; mix his dub in before you slap people’s hind sides with his vocal mix... always a winner. Lucius Lowe’s remix sound’s the most ‘radio friendly’ of the package, and it being the shortest mix still does the job in delivering a quality dance song, which I’m sure will get some good airplay overseas (not much radio in the US really plays GOOD House music like this). Also included in this release is a harder hitting tech track from Steve Cole, doing something different than the rest of the remixers, for a more minimal edge in your mix, Cole’s remix will suit you just fine.

Dave Allison – “That Sensation” – Warmth

 Kinjo Music label owner, Dave Allison knows how to get his groove on. Having gained recognition for his productions for a huge list of top DJs around the globe, it was time for him to share the wealth! Brooklyn based Warmth Records was the recipient, and they got a wonderful package indeed. The title track, “That Sensation” is a warbled bass driven deep house monster. Quirky and fuzzy soundscapes and samples, with flourishing low end madness makes for a tech house DJ’s dream. His second track on the EP, ‘Y’All See’ changes pace with some bouncy and simple bass drops, tosses in some crazy effects with his vocal sample, and still keeps it smooth with the floating pads. My favorite, and what I believe to be the stand out track of the bunch, is Philadelphia’s tech guru, Sean Thomas. It’s something about how Sean knows how to get the bass to rumble your insides, and keep things moving with the slightest of changes in the quaint sounds and samples he chooses to showcase. After taking a break for a while, Warmth Records comes back with an absolute show of strength in this forward thinking EP.

DJ Sneak & DJ Soydan – “The Latin Kardes EP” – Yakuza

 If you are a House DJ, then you probably own many tracks from Chicago’s DJ Sneak. His tracks have always been solid, and known for their driving beats, and Latin influence. DJ Soydan is a new producer to me, as I’ve only collected his tracks over the past year and a half or so, but, just like DJ Sneak, his tracks have become powerhouse tunes in my arsenal of music. These two phenomenal producers mesh their styles together for ‘The Latin Kardes EP” and work out 4 booming’ house beasts. ‘Fiesta Loca’ samples funky Latin percussion, with a jackin’ 4/4, and is a definite big room party builder. “Baba’ again rocks a big jackin’ beat, with some flashy filtered chopped up vocals, alongside some swirly keys; BIG room funky jazz! Ready for some horns?! “Corazon” has it! Trumpets galore! They chop up a brass band like no other, and even drop the traditional song in the middle…who wants to get their salsa on? ‘Ata’ pounds at your chest with its heard hitting kicks, and low octave, rolling piano riff. Yakuza has successfully provided this DJ with some new heat!

Jay West – “Call the Boss” – Lost My Dog 

In the past 4 years, Jay West has had an awesome opportunity to have his productions played world wide by internet radio DJs and high ranking, world traveling DJs. He always puts forth a piece of production with solid foundations. He has a familiar feel he expresses in each of his tracks, and you know a Jay West track when you hear it in a DJ set. His latest release through Ian Straker’s Lost My Dog label is another notch in the belt of accomplishments.  In the original mix of “Call the Boss’ you’ll enjoy his arpeggiated synths, stabbing over his percussion and booming kicks. “We’ve been playing over the last hour…get sweaty, ya know,’ echoes over his flowing track, adding to the delightful rhythms. Other remixes that delve into the squelch, techy side of things can be found in Julio’s ‘Japanese mix” and the ‘Roland Nights mix’, however, my two favorite are the ‘Peckos Play’ mix, and the ‘Neighbour Remix.’ You get two different sides of the coin with these remixes. Peckos’s mix stays deep, lush, uplifting, and just damn pretty throughout the whole mix, with the use of pads and melodic chords. And heading the other direction, the Neighbour mix has harder and fuller kicks, a wider soundscape, and a pop feel to it, but never gets cheesy; it becomes more complex in the sound and sample drops as you progress through the production. Creative guitar licks, layered under freaked out filters, crossing over with some 80’s sounding synth jabs makes for an awakening bit of tech funk. 

 Matt Prehn – “We’re All Funky” – Headtunes Recordings

 When you think of House Music, usually the first thing that pops in your head is either Chicago, or New York City. Boston is not a city that would roll off the lips at first, but now it shall! “We’re All Funky” is the 8^th release off of Boston based, Headtunes Recordings, and they’ve put together 4 tracks of fun and funky house. Matt Prehn, hailing from Cape Town South Africa, throws down some scratch samples, bubbling bass, and some funky percussion, while keeping the bounce at a maximum. “Boom Boom Bye” is built around a BIG bass, some great funky guitar riffs, and looped chords of Rhodes keys. The stand out mix on this release comes from Miami’s Jazzy Eyewear. Jazzy is on the east coast, yet a majority of his productions sound like the early funky house that was founded in west coast producers, but with a new breath of this decades wants and need for funky house. His remix of “Boom Boom Bye” has intelligent progression through the production, using reverb in all the right places, and has pleasant transitions from lighter floating sounds to the jazz horns and funky guitars. The remix could find its home in an upbeat, upscale lounge, or in a deeper house dance floor. Headtunes has put together a package that definitely has put the funk into some deep house.

 Hakan Lidbo – “Atombomb EP” – Depth Recordings 

DJ Brandon Plank’s Depth Recordings is a befitting name for his catalog of mind controlling music. With his 9^th release, Brandon has accepted a project from Hakan Lidbo, and man who has put out a devastating amount of productions in his beat making career. When checking out his MySpace page, it will take you at least 5 minutes to scroll down the screen and read about all of the amazing labels, and artists he’s worked with. Known for his obscure style, and original sounds that he morphs into dub, house, glitch, techno, and tech, on his latest release “AtomBomb” provides yet another fantastic array of his creativity. ‘Atombomb’ is six and half minutes of dark and deep tech, echoing with trippy percussion, and a flanged out vocal. Brandon Plank’s remix acts as an expansion of Lidbo’s production, keeping it flowing into a different ethereal plane. “My Tidy Bedroom” feels more like being embraced by a warm subwoofers hug, and your back being slowly rubbed with low end synths. “Viewpoint Blue” is a mix of dub, and glitch style tech house; however, its bass and kick are reversed and inverted! I’ve yet to hear a production that is this clever in sound manipulation. But the heaviest hitter in this release is definitely “Monster.” If you could imagine a creature made out of keyboards, speaker cables, and speakers, what do you think the noises would be like if it tried to communicate with you? This is the answer! Depth, keep doing what you do!

DJ Dennis

Selekta Recordings

Philadelphia

Promo submissions for review consideration; email SelektaRecordings@Gmail.com