Looks like the (house) scene is to get our asses off in the days to come as it did last week end clubwise in NYC, Chicago or London with much of the promos we've championned here over the last weeks ready for an official release, from Treena Rose to Ultra Naté and the much awaited Copyright rework of MAW's "I Can't Get No Sleep" featuring India to name but just a few. Welcome to what is our issue # 50…

IN DA MIX (HOUSE, GARAGE & OTHER ILLICIT GROOVES)

Who said house music was dead ??? Although many things remind to be done, this first third of the year has brought us a hudge amount of goodies an dit hopefully looks that it's not finished. Meanwhile NYC looks like back on the blocks clubwise with an increasing amount of not to be missed parties (see our agenda section). Not to mention some exciting events to come, from the next Southport Weekender to Santa Lucia Jazz Festival and the Detroit Movement all due to happen next month…

What ever happened to the wonderful Tapis Rouge's "Emballa" remixed by Louie Jega featuring Jaffa ??? A cut said to be released by the middle of next month with a distribution by PP Sales outside North America. No really heard a bloody word about this. Looks like the promo campaign around it has failed on both sides of the Atlantic so far as we haven't heard much of it on the DJ playlists. A big shame at the end of the day as this rework deserves far more than that, folks (more info : cirquedusoleil.com). This, by the way, having added to the current jewels provided by the MAW clan, should it be that new collab between Louie Vega and Blaze called "Love Is On The Way" awaited on Vega Records or the revamp of their famous "I Can't Get No Sleep" by UK pair Copyright released in a fortnight on the newly formed Defected imprint ITH.

Remember talking to you about a brand new approach from Yam Who leavin' their downtempo usual atmospheres for some more groovy kinda stuff. Well, looks like the track in question, Damn!'s "Leaving This Planet" has received a pretty good welcome from a lot of DJ's worldwide, taking us into some afro vintage soul/jazz territories (Raw Fusion). Have to say it's about the same regarding RSL's "Wesley Music" although released even earlier, melting gospel and latin jazz/funk big band elements, featuring a Danny Krivit Edit (Giant Step).

Also talked pretty much about Alan Smithee these last weeks. Well our bootlegger of the moment is back on action, following his wonderful rework of Natalie Cole's "Tell Me All About It" with Basha's "1 Note" and what definitely looks like a (bossa) revamp of a ol' song by Polish singer Basia (Trzetrzelewska) (remember her days with Matt Bianco ???) and the funny thing is that the famous pair is to resurface next month with a new album after nearly fifteen years of silence (white). On that same old school vein (and you'll soon know what I'm talking about" is the first single to be taken from The Sunburst Band soon to be released new LP. A cut called "Fly Away" which could have pretty much taken from Earth, Wind & Fire's repertoire back in the days although being an original creation from UK disco don, Joey Negro and his pals (Z Records).

What da hell happens to N°6 ? Looks like there's some more. Following Patrick McGohann's TV adventures as The Prisoner back in the seventies is the new installment of the Ferrer & Sydenham's "Sandcastles" series. A cut called "Timbuktu – Pan-African Electro Dub" made of trancey techno approach melted with afro tribal minimalistic elements (Ibadan). Meanwhile Dennis Ferrer who's currently working on his debut-album goes solo to remix S.U.M.O.'s "Stay" on Sfere providing us with the infamous afro-latin jazzy "Stay" around an instant keys/strings hook (Sfere). S.U.M.O. themselves brilliantly retouching Lonesome Echo's newie "Sprit Of Drums" featuring vet poet Mutabaruka for those in search of Afro-beat. In search of some good ol' Afro-house classic ? UK label Black Vinyl have just had the good idea to re-release the unmissable "Roots" by Tedd Patterson (no doubt his best cut to date) alongside that Groove Assassins "House Fantasy" which is another not to be missed classic from yesteryear on their Re:cuts vol.4 series.

Looks like the bootleggers tend to labellize their works today. The latest one being Rotgut Records with some unoffical rework of "Jagged Edge" for R&B diva Alicia Keys and it works bloody damn well. So question : what da f*** are these A&R guys working for the majors doing??? In the meantime, Stevie Wonder sees two of his songs re-released. On under his own name called "Paradise" using a 4X4 beat line which, although not too bad, doesn't bring that much new on Poolboy (appearently another one of those bootleg labels around) ; the other one being awfuly retouched by German pair, Kneep Deep on their own (white). Better leaving you one some more positive topics with a song that a friend of mine told me about. A cut called "Sentimento" by Simon Airston on Mainline melting some brzilian jazz influences over a 4X4 beat looking like a possible most wanted tune in the near future. Ate logo, MFSB

IN DA MIX #50 TENNERZ
MAW featuring INDIA I Can't Get No Sleep – Copyright Remix (ITH)
ALICIA KEYS Jagged Edge – MuthaFunkin' Keys Remix (white)
TAPIS ROUGE Emballa – Louie Vega featuring Jaffa Remixes (Cirque du Soleil)
S.U.M.O. Stay – DF's Carnival Dub (Sfere)
N°6 Timbuktu – Pan-African Electro Dub (Ibadan)
DAMN! Leavin This Planet - Yam Who Remix (Raw Fusion)
BASHA 1 Note – Cmaw Dub (white)
LONESOME ECHO PRODUCTION featuring MUTABARUKA Sprit Of Drums – Rebounce (Disorient)
SIMON AIRSTON Sentimento (Mainline)
THE SUNBURST BAND Fly Away (Z Records)