Off to New York... look forward to another post on Saturday.
But for today, I give you a track from one of the finer deep house producers coming from Europe, Amsterdam's Makam. Amazing how he gets a perfect sort of Kerri Chandler feel down here, propulsive yet high, laid-back but forever hustling.
And if you're in the five boroughs, come out to this great show on Friday! Obviously, all of these people are the shit, and all of them are friends. Escape the cold to dance in the heat of a smelly Williamsburg basement!
TEENGIRL FANTASY —– homecoming show! :::: Blondes :::::: Light Asylum | MONSTER ISLAND BASEMENT | 128 River St @ Metropolitan Ave | Williamsburg, Brooklyn L-Bedford, G-Metropolitan, JM-Marcy | 8pm | all ages | $7
Trying to make my way to see Kerri Chandler this evening at Mighty, and as a result, have been revisiting some of my favorite KC and KC-related tracks from his recent output. So, without further ado, here's a little run-down with some tracks for your listening pleasure.
First up is his 2006 soulful collaboration with Monique Bingham, "In the Morning." With his trademark lush synths and crisp hi-hats, Chandler sexes it up in a dialogue with his lover. Bingham provides the female voice in the track, with some nice disembodied sustains. Best part of the track is definitely when KC intones, "I'm so...fucking...into you." Damn, what a sexy piece of house this is!
Next is among his more well-known recent joints, "I Think of You," with its excellent early Nu Groove-influenced bassline, nice organic synths, and some true lovesick vocals. It's really this latter element that makes the track, allowing for a smoothness that recalls Arnold Jarvis, among others. A great track that everyone should be rocking.
Finally, a Tiger Stripes track featuring Chandler on some seriously soulful vocals, backing up a track with an unavoidably awesome Afrobeat influence that falls somewhere between the two famous members of the Kuti clan. Great organs, some disgustingly tight brass, and polyrhythms abound in "Rain Song." Along with a clear, jazz fusion guitar line, this is one of those tracks that people may hate on, but mostly because they're jealous that they didn't write it. TIP!
So, before this post begins, I'd just like to mention that I've been posting sporadically because I am driving across the United States. Sometimes, at the end of the day, I just want to eat some food, drink a beer and pass out. I hope you can forgive me. (By the way, I'm moving to San Francisco, so if you're there, send me an e-mail! We'll hang).
Today, a classic Earth People track remixed by our man Kerri Chandler. The original of "Dance" uses Chic samples (from "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah")) for its chorus, and so in a sense, this is reworking of more than one track. Chandler's 124.5 bpm mix is truly grooving, with nicely-padded kicks, a bouncing bass, and a sax line that might be one of the more infectious of recent memory. With nice hi-frequency synths riding over much of the track and secondary percussion that maintains the funk, it's hard to go wrong here.
Today, a bit of a departure from what I've been posting recently. In 2006, Booka Shade released the acclaimed Movements record, which launched them into the heights of the electro-house scene. "In White Rooms" is most certainly one of the better cuts of the album, but like much of the record's other tracks, its slick production makes it a bit...well, soulless.
Thus, when Stockholm-based Kornel created a remix/mash of "In White Rooms" and Corona's "Rhythm of the Night," it was a bit of a godsend-- an astounding piece of electro-house paired with one of the best eurodance tunes to come out of the nineties. Booka Shade's track became a thing of soul, with its peaks punctuated by Giovanna Bersola's excellently-sampled vocals. Thus, despite the fact that my love for Booka Shade has waned, I believe "White Night" to be one of the nicest hard-to-find electro-house tracks kicking about. It also can destroy early-hours dancefloors, getting people pumped up for more hard-hitting tracks.
Next up, one of the more truly groovy, jazzy tracks that Kerri Chandler has ever produced. "Relax Have Another Spliff" appeared on two compilations in the early 2000's, and it is almost certain that it has been playing in chillout rooms all over since then. With soft synth progressions throughout, saxophone solo bits, and a super-smooth guitar section, the 123-bpm track bridges the gap between chillout/lounge and deep house without the waiting-room atmosphere that so much loungey stuff has going for it. Indeed, the track makes the listener want to relax, have another spliff, and enjoy the day. Another winner from the king of New Jersey house!
Also, here is a recent interview with Mr. Chandler from dayrobber, a pretty fascinating site with lots of video content relating to techno, old and new.
Tomorrow, a truly lush spring mix from the likes of Vince Watson.
Please respect the artists discussed in the blog by buying their releases, seeing them perform their craft, or finding your own way to support them. Any tracks posted here are for reviewing purposes only! If you would like a piece removed, email here.
If you would like to purchase mp3's, I urge you to go here or here. If you're addicted to that vinyl crack, then I'd go here or here.
