THIS IS NOW, THAT WAS THEN…

IDM MEMORIES (JAN 99)

Funny how time flyes. No less than five years already which, at the end of the day is nothing but half of a decade, isn’t it ? And finally not to sure while being asked if yourself would be ready to tell me without the sign of hesitation what the hell you was doin’ at the time apart from recovering after the traditionnal x-mas turkey…

This first month of 99 almost seems to me like hailing from another life, although many of those we’re talkin’ about in these columns were already around. I could simply tell you that, as a die hard Joe Claussell’s fan, I couldn’t help myself to have a cautious hear when discovering Antonio Ocasio’s new works, speaking of which “Celebration Of Life“ was to me a true model of sensual atmospheric afro latin house (Tribal Winds). Something not too dissimilar from “Muselife“ which was the debut solo single of one time DJ Deep partner, Julien Jabre who’d been there obviously influenced by Carlos Sanchez’s “Love & Respect“ as remixed by Joe Claussell (Basic). Not to mention UK’s fine purveyor of the genre, Frankie Valentine with the delightful “Exctinctions“ on Estereo.

We was also talking about what was a divorce between Ron Trent and Anthony Nicholson at the time, while dropping one of their last remixes together (aka USG) for “So Special“ from Moise Laporte featuring Dania on II:07 Records. Nicholson eventually doin’ his solo debut later on with the aerial and subtly percussive “Brazil Minus 6“ on his Native Elements new concept, delivered with a François K.'s remix on the flip (Clairaudience).

Although Nik Weston wasn't a part of the gang, we had another correspondant talking about the Japanese scene on Coda Magazine at the time, Alex from Tokyo, who provided your very devoted with regular bunches of goodies. Amongst them, Visual's "It's Time", a Boyd Jarvis production featuring falsetto vocalist Tyrone Martin (Life Line), not to mention "Mystical Journeys" from Lenny Fontana's Galaxy People, melting jazz atmospheric vibes and afro percussions on what was his trademark at the period. Already worth to mention, these collaborations between DJ Mitsouro & Teruo. Either on the M.T. aka Bayaka guise with "Spherical", an atmospheric midtempo right in the middle between those characteristic Spiritual Life label vibes and that so called nu-house spirit from Faze Action (Life Line). Or simply Bayaka (on Flower Records) successively with "Sunset/Freedom", a four tracker EP hailing from George Benson's kind of guitar play over some afro percussions to minimal afro-beat. Not to mention the moody "Spanish Storm" reminding this Joe Claussell/Jephté Guillaume collaboration on the Trip Do Brazil compilation (cf. "Agora E Su Tempo". This added to Crue-l Grand Orchestra's remix of "Make Me Crazy" by Little Big Bee on that same kind of tip.

If the best is only remembered as time goes, one of the best tunes to appear at the time was the official release of Jii Hoo's (in fact : Jori Hulkkonen) "Let Me Luv You" something like a year after its appearance on a white label. A funky cut that caused quite a stirr at Body & Soul, built over a Willie Hutch sample that needed to be cleared ; this added with two good reliftings from Dr Bob Jones & Lofty + Blak Beat Niks on Pan. We also had some mo'remixes on the inevitable "Tout est bleu" from Ame Strong, this time by Attaboy (a bit poppy though) and, most remembered, François K. (Artight). Meanwhile, on a more clubby vein, Chicagoan, Steve 'Silk' Hurley was giving what's needed to Karen Ramirez's "If We Try", givin'it these Voices Of Life neo disco kind of flava (Manifesto). DJ Romain & Matt Keys leavin' us with a sort of extrapolation of The O'Jays classic "I Love Music" on their "Sax Attack EP" (Kult).

IDM RE-EDITS 01/99 TENNERZ

ISOLEE Beau Mot Plage (Playhouse)

DADDY's FAVOURITE I Feel Good Things For You – Kevin Yost Mix (Solemusic/Go Beat)

DJ DEEP & OLIVIER PORTAL present THE FUNK FORCE PROJECT (Straight Up)

BAYAKA Sunset/Freedom (Flower)

ANTONIO Celebration Of Life (Tribal Winds)

JII HOO Let Me Luv You (Pan)

SADE Haunt Me – Remix (Get)

PETER FUNK MC 2 - Kevin Yost Remix (I! Records)

OODWORKS On It (Session Recordings)

VISUAL It's You (Life Time)