House Is A Feeling

No particular order.

1. Break SL-Laguna Seca (Philpot)

Some of you might remember I included Break SL’s “Flow” in my top 30 for 2007, and so it’s good he’s finally back with a new four track EP. This will be on limited green transparent vinyl, with just 500 copies. I especially love the title track here, a seriously heavyweight piece of Chicago house with that very musical feel you might expect. (NB: I use the word musical neutrally here!)

2.  Losoul-West Side Horn (Playhouse)

About 7 years ago, when I first was getting seriously into dance music, I can remember I would mostly use Soulseek to get tunes. I didn’t have decks at the time and when I’d read about a producer, old or new, I’d try and find their stuff online. It wasn’t right I suppose, but I’ve spent plenty of money, time and energy since, and I never illegally download anymore. It was a really good way to pique my interest when I had no money, and that’s why I find it hard to totally condemn illegal downloading.

I remember around 5 or 6 years ago I heard something by Losoul. I looked him up on Discogs and somebody had said “when you see Losoul on a record, you buy it, simple as that”. I’ve followed that advice quite frequently since. I don’t think everything Peter Kremeier does is perfect but he has made a lot of great records. He’s also quite versatile. I can remember him releasing this at the height of that gothy European house sound and it fitted in really well.

All that brings us to “West Side Horn”. This is not as mindblowing as “Open Door” or “You Know”, but it is a sharp acid track that’s really good to lay under other records. It’s got a great rhythm and is very subtle. I almost cringe when I hear a 303 noise these days, because so often it means shoddy retrospection, but Kremeier makes that familiar burbling sound seem fresh here.

3. Floppy Sounds-Entertainment (Dub) (Wave Music)

I got this via a Jamie Jones chart on Beatport. He’s recently done a chart of mostly old records, and it’s interesting to hear his picks and how they relate to now. I always tend to like his charts so should probably check out a mix. Anyone ever hear that Get Lost CD he did?

As for the track, it sounds very prescient doesn’t it? It has the same arid and crisp feel of so much current house music, and even the Basic Channel influence.  If anyone has any similar recommendations I’d love to hear them. Was this a popular sound in 1997?

4. Marshall Jefferson-Mushrooms (Salt City Orchestra Mix) (Soap)

Here’s another old one, which is a total classic for many of you I’m sure.

I remember hearing “Mushrooms” first on this CD which I must dig out next time I’m back in Dublin. Recently a remix by Justin Martin came out, which I thought was pretty crap, but it did remind me of the track so it had a use! There aren’t many records that will make you feel as woozy as this does.  It’s the ultimate summer record and always seemed like a tune that should be played outdoors to me. Is it Ibiza’s diminishing influence that has led to the demise of this sort of sun drenched house music? Berlin is chilly.

“Mushrooms” has got that smokey heat you feel in good dub music, but a swing that’s totally house. And then there’s the vocal which I find as amusing as it is intense.

5. Mara Trax-Let Goose (Oslo)

And something new to end this mini-chart! This one comes with a story.

I interviewed the hiphop act Gangstarr a long time ago. After about 5 minutes the phone broke, I could hear them but they couldn’t hear me, so they began screaming “get your fucking Irish ass back on the line”. They were nice though. The reason I bring them up now is that all they talked about was “funk” and “the funk”. It was extremely boring, even though they were friendly.

The interview was enough to put me off the word “funk” for life. Except now this Mara Trax record may have “the funk”. After I did the Gangstarr interview, I found the stuff they said seemed to keep recurring elsewhere, for years. For example, DJ Premier said something like “most music today is microwaveable, and ready in 5 minutes, but our shit is marinaded”. I mean, how many times have you heard that kind of comment since? That kind of comment is microwaveable. Plus what is it about funk and food that go together? Deep fried funk etc?

Is it cos fat beats=fat dudes? I have no idea, though Mara Trax is two women. As much as it pains my microwaveable white ass to say it, this Mara Trax EP is FUNKY. Hell it’s almost “phat”. It’s not microwaveable and has been suitably marinaded. But since it’s a record and the method in which it’s cooked does not affect your physical well being, and never will, you have no cause to care!

And that concludes this week’s mini-chart. Now over to you guys.