IDM MEMORIES (DEC 97)

A f…… while ago, isn’t it ? Was just back from New York where I’d spent a week by a good friend of mine (she’ll recognize herself !) working for Wave Music. Had a record bag full of goodies brought from Dancetracks + a few reports about the local scene, including the full story about what to me stands as one of the best vocal tunes so far — this bootleg called "Can You See The Light" — from his never officially credited author (Walter L. Robinson III) on one hand and the one who remixed it, Sandy Rivera, aka one half of K.O.T.

We’ll never know the final word about this story, except the fact that both of the guys will each get 50% of the royalties, while seing this monster tune included one of of the Body & Soul compilations. Another corker damned right to mention at the time was Kenny Bobien’s "Why We Sing". Probably one of his best songs so far release on the transient Equip Records label. A cut that I heard for the first time from Louie Vega as he was spinning at Brian Tollin & Lancelot’s Problem Child parties. Meanwhile Byron Stingily, whom Bobien worked for as a chorist under the Ten City banner, was havin’ his "Sing A Song" double-packed on Manifesto with remixes from Joey Negro, Mousse T and 187 Lockdown ; the latest on a typical speed garage tip at the time. As gospelly influenced was also Club Artists United’s "Sweet Chariot" with its various remixes from Booker T, Soul Creation, Tuff Jam then Kerri Chandler as licensed by Nervous, from UK’s Nicky Trax’s former label.

This end of 1997 also saw the return of former Nu Groove label house purveyors, Burrell Brothers for a one off — the explosive "All Night" on King Street under the B.B.E. moniker. Meanwhile, R&B 80’s superstar, Alexander O’Neal was to have a short return with "Let’s Get Together" as remixed by Michi Lange. His well known partner and Peppermint Jam label’s head of, Mousse T having one of the biggest seller at the moment : the memorable "Horny" as first delivered on its intrumental pictured disc version (white)

Also quite active, legendary Colonel Abrams was having three different releases at the period. . The first aptly entitled "Life’s Full Of Music" as the result of a collaboration with swiss boys, House Of Correction (World View/EMI). The second, magnificiently covering D-Train’s anthemic "You’re The One For Me" with remixes from M+S, Tuff Jam and Sonic Soul (Sonic Soul). The third one, "Heartbreaker", on his own label (Colonel Records).

Expected to spin the month after alongside DJ Deep at Le Rex in Paris (remember his defunct Legends sessions !) Frankie Feliciano was droppin’ a huge tune on his Ricanstruction label with "Keep Reachin’" from Halo featuring Carole Sylvain which, today, still reminds a classic. Baltimore, pioneering production team, Basement Boys, were also actively on the blocks with the famous Jasper Street Company’s "Solid Groove", featuring what really seemed to be like a gospel choir on vocals (Basement Boys) for what was also a serious soulful contender at the time.

UK label Slip’N’Slide attempted to push Amira on a wider scale while delivering her classic "My Desire" to VC Recordings. Alas, like often on such a case, the K-Klass remix never reached the heights of the original version produced by Blaze. Not to mention Simone’s classic "My Family Depends On Me", badly damaged with its unpersonal progressive remixes by George Acosta (Strictly Rhythm). Nevertheless, some female vocals were quite worth to mention at the time, from Laeticia Favor’s debut-single, "The Love Will Make Everything Alright", produced by srs Ron Trent & Anthony Nicholson (Clairaudience) to the bright "Reach From The Sky" produced by Lenny Fontana for Angee Blake, delivered with some additional retouch from B.O.P. (Free Bass).

Good music is undoubtly timeless as what to me is Fiat Mistura with his one and only "Abyssus EP" to date. A piece of wax released on Spiritual Life, including the atmospheric and vibrant "Europa", not to dissmilar from Larry Heard’s touch on its title track. Meanwhile, Dance 2000, announced at the time like supposed to be the very last LP from the aforementioned was doin’ the buzz at Dancetracks, on limited edition before its official release in Europe (Distance). Another one who’d later find his niche on King Street’s Afro Abstract Jazz Lounge Series was "All True African" from Basil, one of the rare ambassadors of Haiti in NYC with the respected Jephte Guillaume, whom he’d worked with for a period. Ending up this first IDM Re-edit to date with the fluid and breathin’ "Harmonies" from Nick Jones with its subtle reminiscences from the anthemic O’Jays’s "Message In The Music" (NiteGrooves). And, of course it is…

KENNY BOBIEN Why We Sing (Equip)

BASIL All True (African) (King Street)

FIAT MISTURA Europa (Spiritual Life)

ANGEE BLAKE Reach For The Sky (Free Bass)

HALO featuring CAROLE SYLVAIN Keep Reachin’ (Ricanstruction)

DJ SPEN presents JASPER STREET COMPANY Solid Groove (Basement Boys)

NICK JONES Harmonies (NiteGrooves)

ALEXANDER O’NEAL Let’s Get Together (Groove Society)

MOUSSE T Horny — picture disc (white)

BACKROOM PRODUCTIONS Trouble (Flatline)