Featured DJ Chart: Jee Day (DFA)
You have to applaud DFA’s penchant for putting out release after release of killer material with little or no fanfare. Their latest effort is no different, calling on the production talents of Jee Day, yet another alias for NYC scene fixture Dennis ‘DJ’ McNany. McNany has turned knobs for The Rapture, worked on early DFA releases, dropped remixes of Panthers and Ghostape as Run Roc as well as overseeing Run Roc records and performing tour keyboard duties for The Juan Maclean.
From the moment “Like A Child” commences this impressive CV translates perfectly. Referencing the early pop moments of Madonna, McNany crafts a raw hypnotic 909 groove that positively thumps through the reverberating vocals from Jee Young Sim. McNany takes over vocal duties for the sprawling elastic EBM thump of his Run Roc dub that is spread across the B Side. Sim’s vocals also resonate with cavernous aplomb through the slo mo throwback electro of “Snake Bite”. It’s a superb EP, and one we wanted to celebrate by asking Dennis to talk us through his top tunes for the month. Enjoy…
1. Mushrooms Project – Tropikal Mushrooms (original) (Under The Shade)
“Perfect warm up for something big at an outdoor party on a summer afternoon in the city…with a walk the night vibe. Nice.”
2. Kid Creole & The Coconuts – Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy (Soul Makanik Bounty Girls edit) (Strut)
“Such an easy, loose feel with an amazing horn arrangement…classic New York. 99 and Ze Records are a huge inspiration. This is a great edit.”
3. Faze Action – In The Light Of A Miracle (Electric Minds)
“Arthur Russell could do no wrong in my book. Nice to hear this jam safe in translation courtesy of Faze Action, delivering again. Positively melancholy.”
4. Midnight Magic – Beam Me Up (The Loving Hand Remix) (Permanent Vacation Germany)
“Hard to chart just one version of this song. All mixes and original are insane…this is the summer jam for me. The vocal is so strong and even without the vocal this version shines with the loving hand treatment.”
5. Jee Day – Snake Bite (DFA US)
“Slow and slinky. Down and dirty.”
6. SKISM (NYC) – Crossover (DMC Edit) (Statra US)
“A project of mine that came out last year on Statra. Me, my friend Dave and the 303.”
7. BassFort – Dixtrit (Freerange)
“Fierce piano workout from BassFort. Love it.”
8. Maurice Fulton presents Up – Revenge Of The Orange (Bubble Tease Communications)
“I’m a big fan of Maurice Fulton. The weirder the better…and more percussion please.”
9. Peter Gordon/ The Love Of Life Orchestra – Another Heartbreak/Don’t Don’t redux (DFA US)
“Untouchable.”
10. Bubble Club – Violet Morning Moon (Needwant)
“Both sides of this 12″ are great. Dr. Eric Dunks adds a superb remix on the B Side. Another epic summer number.”
Photo credit: Michael Vadino