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Diggin Deeper

Welcome to the first column of Diggin Deeper wherein I shall attempt to bring you the latest releases from the dance music canon. As the titles of these pages suggests, I'll be trying to seek that little bit further for those gems that get overlooked simply because they don't fit in with what is supposed to be the latest thing. My coverage will not be limited to the UK alone, but I'm sure Cambridge's finer record emporiums will aid you in your quest for that elusive Nepalese import! Anyway, on with the music.
Song of the moment has to be L'ill Louis's Clap Your Hands (Go Discs). Sexy lyrics combined with an infectious dancefloor groove never fail to get me going. Mix to savour is, Louis's own Tambourine Mix where all manner of studio trickery is employed to devastating effect. PFM, Etienne de Crecy and DJQ all weigh in with their own versions. Excellent stuff. US House don on a UK label Part Two comes in the form of Ray Davis Jnr's magical Gabrielle (XL), Long an anthem world-wide on Chicago's Large Records, it comes out domestic with Tuff Jam and basement Jaxx remakes. It is the original that shines through though, all plaintive vocals and wishful horns. Quite beautiful. In the all-time classic remixed for '97 mould come two other standout releases. Hardfloor Apperience (Eye Q) and Sueño Latino - Sueño Latino (Distinctive). Needless to say, the A&R men have been busy with their cheque books enlisting an array of remixers. Having ploughed through the myriad of mixes, the originals are the best. Small footnote required though - distinctive have had the vision to include Derrick May's legendary remix of Sueño Latino on one of the 12's. Miss this and regret it forever.
'Real' house heads should get to grips with New Century Soul, Lunar Jazz(Low pressing), Glissandro Brothers, Man on the World (German Stir) and Braxton Holmes and Devvey B's wonderfully - titled Adventures of a Full-Figured Woman (Black Vinyl). If you like it deep and funky, all three are amongst the cream of the crop right hour. Other releases to be on the look out for are the gloriously diverse Easter Bay EP and Laj & Quakerman's Brief Encounters EP (fiasco). The Easter Bay EP (Easter Bay) takes in house, boogie and jazz funk influences to create a deliciously diverse 5 tracker. Those scamsters Laj & Quakerman serve up a house-not-house sorta thing that comes with Diggin' Deeper seal of approval. Two 12"s that take the so called 'live house' phenomenon to it's logical conclusion are Frankie Valentine's Criminal Kiss on Auto Extension and Street Corner's Symphony's Condomonium [sic] (white label). Real instrument (and lots of them) make both releases a connoisseurs delight.
Queen of blue-eyed soul, Lisa Stansfield, isn't a name that would usually feature among these pages yet when remixed by one Ian O'Brien she aquires must-have status. O'Brien's breezy tech-house style akin to much of 'Mad' Mike Banks of Underground Resistance's work, really comes alive in hiss version of The Line (BMG), Lisa's new single. Ian's own single That was Now (Pacific) is another essential purchase. Believe me, this guy is talented. Carl Cox's new label Ultimate Trax sees its first release in the form of Trevor Rochliffe and Blake Baxter's Visions of You. Driving old-school techno is the order of the day, with Blake doing his usual breathy muttering bit over the top. Catchy stuff. Taking things down a notch or two brings us to the sublime DJ Bigfoot EP on new Birmingham label Covert. Hello sounds like Maurizio and the Masters at Work jamming in outer space whilst the Surgeon's take brings minimal to another level. Very, very good. On the subject of Maurizio, the elusive German count unleashes another Burial Mix in the shape of Rhythm and Sound's What a Mistry. Perhaps the closest he's got to that authentic mid 70's Jamaican dub sound so far. Truly inspirational.
Moving further leftfield, how can we forget Aphex Twin's new release Come to Daddy. Needless to say it's odd stuff, yet fans will not be disappointed. Out now on Warp. Andrew Weatherall and Keith Tenniswood strike back with fresh Two Lone Swordsmen mixes of Primal Scream's Stuka (Creation). As is often the case with the swordsmen, a few plays are required before the whole thing makes sense. Well worth the effort though. The duo also complete some wonderfully tripped out mixes of French outfit The Money-Penny Projects Clarisse-C on Neophonic. The original shines through for me, however, with some deliciously lush harp arrangements. Harp Hop anyone? Staying with the Gallic efforts, do not miss Air's simply sublime Le Soleil Est Près Du Moi (Source Lab). Featuring super-retro sounds that somehow manage to sound bang-up-to date, this EP is so good the world seems a perfect place for about 20 minutes. Seek out at all costs. Mustn't forget soon to come releases on the same label, Bob Sinclair/Motorbass L'Epreuve Du Temps (La Funk Mob Remix). This is well produced, original and oh -so very funky. Tracks like this justify the hype surrounding what's coming out of France at the moment. Over in the good old US of A, DJ Shadow is back with a vengeance with his latest single for Mo'Wax, High Noon. Up-tempo, ultra funky beats team up with some 60's sound track vibes creating one serious groove. Another corker from Josh Davies. Quick mention for the first release from Nathan Gregory's new Giant 45 label. Artist in question is World of Apples, better known as Soma's Maas. Perfect for lazy days and post-club sessions, this is another one for the chiller's shopping list. Picking up the pace, on to what's new in drum n' bass. If you haven't got Dillinja/Lemon D's mighty doubleheader Acid Track/One Out of Many (Pain) drop everything and head for the nearest vinyl stockist. Massive for what seems like forever on dubplate, they've finally got around to releasing it to the public. Genre-defying, both tracks are both stone cold classics. Another man with an ear for that elusive timeless sound, Rob Haigh, better known as Omni Trio, delivers his new 12' sanctuary for moving shadow. All his trademark sounds are there together with that familiar 'haunted' feel. Nice to see the Funky Technicians get a remix too. Be on the lookout also for Rob's forthcoming album, Skeleton Keys. Other single releases to check out are Carlito Fall Bound (Creative Source) and Nu Yorcian Soul I am the Black Gold of the Sun (Talkin Loud). For disciples of jazzy jungle, look no further than these two devastating 12"s. James Carlitos comes on all Latin, whilst Dego and Mark transform the Nu Yoricans cover of the Rotary Connection classic into something really special. Van Helden and Masters at Work mixes in there for the househeads. Keep 'em peeled also for 4 Hero's new EP on Talkin Loud. Pure 21st Century Soul. Lastly a mention for LTJ Bukem's second Earth compilation on Good Looking. Featuring many of the new bloods on the deeper side, this is well worth a look in. Highlight for me is the inclusion of DJ Crystal's awesome Mind Games, out on vinyl at long, long last.
On to long players now. On a house tip, there are several LPs out now or imminent. Basement Jaxx finally commit their singles to one CD (Atlantic Jaxx). Essential for anyone interested in the advanced house sound that the Jaxx have been delighting us with over the last couple of years or so. Containing all their hits, this cannot fail to delight. Their Scottish cousins, Musique Tropique deliver their autumn 'collection' (Glasgow Underground). If wistful, dreamy chill-out house music is your bag, you need this. The same can be said about Paper Recording's first foray into album territory with Those Norwegians' Karminsky Park. Expect a whole load of tasteful disco-inflected house from these Norwegian chaps. Two of dance music's pioneers weigh in this month with new projects. K-Alexi Shelby, Chicago house legend, unleashes his Losing Control LP (Nepenta). Some funky business here for sure. Over in Detroit, Kevin 'Master Reece' Saunderson selects some of his favourite house and techno cuts and throws down a fierce X-mix for the Austrian label, K7. Irrepressible stuff! The KLF, everyone's favourite art-terrorists/multi-media types are back with the grandiosely titled Waiting for the Rights of Mu (Echo Beach). A rather solemn ambient affair but well worth a look all the same.
And finally, Joyce, Brazil's leading chanteuse, has a best of set unleashed by Mr Bongo round about now entitled Essential Joyce 1970-1996. If you don' know Joyce's work this is the ideal place to start as it contains all her greatest hits. Like all great jazz singers, her work touches on a great number of influences from psychedelia through to folk, ensuring never a dull moment for the listener. Beautifully packaged, they don't come much better than this. Well, that's it for now. I hope some of this keeps you entertained through October.

Josh Wheeler.

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These pages first created 12/10/97 Last Modified 15/1/98