Artist: Black Van Title: Yearning Label: DFA US Genre: Disco/Nu Disco, Funky/Club House Format: 12″, Digital Buy From:Juno Records, Juno Download
Black Van is the collaboration between two of dance music’s most prolific producers and remixers, Kris Menace and KoweSix. “Yearning” is their debut track together and will showcase their combined love of dance music when it sees release on DFA Records this week.
Kris Menace is best known for his anthemic “Discopolis” as well as for his idiosyncratic remixes for the likes of Underworld, Depeche Mode, Air, Royksopp and of course, LCD Soundsytem, for whom he remixed “North American Scum”. James Murphy was a particular fan of this remix, so much so that he has remained in contact with Kris ever since, ultimately leading to DFA’s signing of “Yearning”. KoweSix, meanwhile, is one half of the Hamburg based duo, Moonbootica, who has two studio albums, five compilations and over fifty remixes of acts such as Adam Freeland and Junkie XL under his belt.
“Yearning” is the beginning of the journey for the pair. An album is on the way but for now we have this track which effortlessly combines the past with the future. This disco twisted house track storms along with real vigour right from the beginning, its 4/4 beat and relentless bass joined by shimmering keys that wash across the entire track. Only faltering once, the tune is then built back up and beyond.
The single remix comes from Emperor Machine who delivers an eight minute long, mind bending fusion of disco, psychedelia, funk and electro. Its percussion and intense rhythm make it the full throttled, evil twin of the original cut.
James Curd has beaten his own path from cult indie band Greenskeepers (a favourite of John Peel) to a respected DJ and beat-merchant over the last few years. His new EP In With The Old, In With The New shows off the range of styles that the Chicago-born producer has got under his belt. We chased him down to find out what tunes are floating his musical boat so far in 2010, and he admits it wasn’t an easy choice.
Episode 2 of our Funky House Podcast series continues with tastemakers Implicit & Suneel from FunkyHouseMusic.com taking us on a winter-lush journey of the past month’s deeper organic gems and peak-hour weapons.
Artist: James Curd Title: In With The Old, In With The New Label: Greenskeepers Genre: Funky House/Club House Format: Digital Buy From:Juno Download
Exclusive to Juno, here are four tracks from Chicago-born producer James Curd. Having beaten his own path from cult indie band Greenskeepers (a favourite of John Peel), he’s made a name for himself as a DJ and beat-merchant over the last few years. In With The Old… shows off the range of styles that Curd’s got under his belt.
Anyone who was partial to his 2009 DFA single “We Just Won’t Stop” will love “Party Over Here”, a house tune anchored by a jazzy piano and brushes, with some clarinet reminiscent of vintage Mr Scruff. It seems like Mr Curd has been rifling through some pretty vintage records looking for samples, as the trad jazz vibe spills over onto “Be My Baby”, which breaks into a 50’s doo-wop vocal loop, similar to “The Wiseguys Start The Commotion”, over a classy house beat.
“Can You Get It” is a heavier, synth-disco odyssey that doesn’t lose any of its funkiness under the vocoders and big hard riffs. “Got To Have” is even bigger, complete with face-melting distortion in the vein of Justice’s “Let There Be Light”. Peppered with live drum fills and a guitar solo (remember those?), it’s truly stadium-sized.
For the uninitiated, Diplo is a Philadelphia-based DJ with a penchant for baile funk and Miami Bass. He runs his own hugely successful label Mad Decent and is one half of dancehall duo Major Lazer – in other words, a hugely talented (and busy) man. The ubiquitous Major Lazer debut LP Guns Don’t Kill People, Lazers Do was the ultimate soundtrack of summer 2009, well received by both critics and dancefloors. Juno Plus quizzed Diplo about his favourite tunes from what has been a hectic 12 months…
Our new Funky House Podcast series kicks off with Implicit & Suneel from FunkyHouseMusic.com hand selecting and mixing down the past month’s essential new releases.
In celebration of the FWD/Rinse takeover at matter this Friday (November 20) we’ve got a free download of the N-Type vs Youngsta set recorded at the Greenwich superclub back in July.
Artist: Attacca Pesante feat. Shae Soul Title: Make It Funky For Me Label: Digital Soundboy Genre: Funky/Club House Format: Digital Buy From: Juno Download
Word on the street is that Shy FX has signed the South London tripartite collective, Attacca Pesante, to his illustrious Digital Soundboy label. The question on your lips, no doubt, is why?
Well, Make It Funky For Me, feat. Shae Soul (think sexy, soulful vocals over deliciously, dirty beats) is one of those delectably “funky” tracks with an infectious groove and echoes of R&B, soul, jungle, house and garage. Which, of course, means it is just crying out for a remix, and Shy FX & Benny Page, Rusko, and Roqwell & I Sancho oblige, with some smashing re-licks, bringing out the fresh-faced jungle and dubstep-infused flavours, with a pumping rave-tastic house version too.
It’s already received widespread support from Mistajam, Annie Mac and the 1xtra DJs, and will no doubt be a hit with any discerning dance music fan too.
Artist: Duck Sauce Title: aNYway Label: Ministry of Sound Genre: Funky/ Club House Format: Digital, 12”, CD single Buy From:Juno Records, Juno Download
At its worst, disco-house can be an excuse to take a run-of-the-mill dance track, throw in a few disco samples and just hope that the large marketing budget elbows it onto the local ‘dance’ radio station’s playlist. At its best, disco-house can reinvigorate a forgotten classic, exposing its glory to an all new generation of music aficionados.
Bringing together the talents of Canadian tastemaker and Fools Gold label boss DJ A-Trak with legendary New Yorker Armand Van Helden, “Duck Sauce” comfortably fits into the latter definition.
With its clever sampling of the main riff and vocal hook from Final Edition’s 1979 “I Can Do It (Anyway You Want)” and use of production techniques that firmly cemented French House Music in the nation’s conscience a decade ago, “Duck Sauce” provides a seriously funky nostalgia trip on two levels.
