Posts from — November 2009

Released: 09/11/2009

What an exquisite piece of balearic bliss! I am absolutely in love with Rocha’s debut single “Hands of love (fingers of sand), a record that was recently released on the brand new label International Feel Recordings. If you loved House of House’s “Rushing to paradise” you will adore this one.

The fingers of the artist gently sweeps through the ivory of the piano and interacts with a slow spaced out disco groove to create a monster of a tune. With that description of the soundscape, there is no surprise to see legendary disco producer and dj Harvey coming up with a remix. He dubs it down and adds a sweet layer of sweet, funky bongo percussion. There are rumors saying he actually signed on to do three releases on the label, so keep your eye out in the coming months.

Another hot producer, Reverso 68, takes the original into progressive territory, adding some electro elements, yet not leaving its disco foundation.  There are also remixes from Gatto Frittos and Mugwump.

Listen on YouTube | Juno Records | Soul Seduction |

Released: 1973/2009

Jon Lucien captures the essence of romance. His rich and expressive voice are a perfect channel for poetic tales of devotion, trust, hope, harmony and spirituality. The atmosphere is just right, drawing inspiration from rhythm and blues, jazz, caribbean beats (he was born on the island of Tortola – the largest of the British Virgin Islands) and Brazillian bossa to create his own unique blend soul.

These two cuts are finally to be found on on 45! Two huge Jon Lucien cuts, “Searching For The Inner Self” and “Would You Believe In Me”.

What a track “Searching for the inner self” is! It rose to prominence when Gilles Peterson dug the crates and included it in his Digs America compilation back in 2005. The b-side, “Would you believe in me“, is taken from the longplayer “Rashida” and is, as the main cut, a slow groove with Lucien’s majestic voice supported with the right amounts of horns and classic drumbreaks.

Fat City | Official Site |

I am constantly caring about your musical education. I search for new music every single day, it being online, in magazines, in record stores, in my friends record collections or on the radio (fortunately my friends still got record collections).

Today I thought I’d share some of the radio shows that I listen to regularly. Obviously, BBC is a great place to start.

• Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio One
• Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show on BBC 6 Music
• John Peel Sessions
• The Essential Mix with Pete Tong on BBC Radio One
• Dom Servini’s Unherd radio show (Wah Wah 45s) is broadcasted every monday between 9-12 (UK time), and you can also listen online.
• Wah Wah 45s are also one of many interesting djs/labels broadcasting on Zamurai FM.

There are also a great number of podcasts available through iTunes – “Gilles Peterson Worldwide”, “Jus like Music”, Roger Sanchez’s “Release yourself” podcast and “Defected in The House” being some of my favorites.

Released: 22/09/2009

Florence & The Machine took the UK festival circuit by storm this year, before moving on to conquer the rest of the world. Despite the name – it’s all about the charismatic redhead Florence Welch. Her lucid voice first caught the attention of the BBC and she hasn’t turned back since.

As for The Machine, it’s a flexible beast. It can go right down to Florence and a drum kit or a piano, but right now it’s a seven-piece band including long-term collaborators Rob Ackroyd (guitar), Chris Hayden (drums), Isabella Summers (keyboards) and Tom Monger (harp). Live, Florence and The Machine become an entirely different beast. No two performances are ever alike – as I witnessed at this years Lovebox festival.

“Rabbit heart” was the third single from the best selling debut album “Lungs”. The original version of the single is a powerful piece of vocal indie music, bearing some resemblance to what a female version of The Flaming Lips would have sounded on “The soft bulletin”. Harps and strings, break beat drums, haunting vocals and lucid piano make up some of the many aspects of this multi layered monster.

Jamie T’s Lionheart remix changes the drums to a slightly off, wandering beat, and focusing on the magnificent piano chords, before it builds the pace with a simple, yet so effective old school breakbeat. It is a close race between the two remixes. But in the end it is the magnificent Leo Zero remix that does it for me. The slow disco beat and accompanying drums and the main piano chords builds in with slow pace before it almost unnoticeably changes into dream territory by layering more elements before it slows down and then builds again.

Florence also did a decent cover version of Candi Statons wonderful “You got the love”. It was never released as a single but an unofficial white label with the UK garage inspired remix from The XX has recently found its way to the market - I just can’t get enough of it.

Official site | MySpace | Juno Records |