Funky House Recommendations June 2010

Review: The Disco Biscuits EP sees five more jackin' beauties from the musical mind of Adelaide-born Dj and producer Fodera. The heavily filtered sound of the title track is reminscent of Bangalter and Van Helden in their pomp, as a cheeky cinematic sample gets chopped up over a relentless disco beat. 'Drive In' is just as essential, mixing old jazz samples with dusted looped vocals to work up a storming house gem akni to vintage Basement Jaxx. A dub is on hand for the jazzier floors. 'Hold On' keeps the party going with some deep and driving organ stabs, while 'Let It Roll' is hip house meets disco with a rap that work a treat paired with the discofied beats.

Review: Having coaxed greats like Roy Ayres and Gwen Guthrie into the studio to collaborate, German producer Ferry Ultra has done it again by guiding Northern Soul legend Ann Sexton into the booth on "Rising Up". His album mix keeps faithful to the brassy and organic sounds of classic Northern Soul, but with enough sequenced beats in it to pack a punch. Atjazz sparkles on the remix, aiming it squarely at the floor with minimal clear-as-crystal kicks and some spacey atmospheric pads. South African Trancemicsoul also goes on a deep soulful adventure with Sexton's vocals, as does Soul Minority who superbly brings out the yearning in the singer's voice.

Review: Bringing back the Tim Deluxe classic in all it's Latin house glory, newly formed Italian group APDW (made up of producer's Matteo Esse and Sant) hit hard with their version of "Just Won't Do". Keeping the brilliantly nagging trumpet line from the original, APDW flesh it out over their radio and vocal edits into a beast of a track that's both huge but also keeps the subtle and sultry flavour of the original. Mowgli adds an extra trumpet specially recorded for the mix, while ATFC and Warren Clarke team up to bring a Baltimore meets soca swing to the drums. Paul Jackson goes the other way and gives the tune a fully tech'd out beat and a gloriously long build-up.