1. 21st/24th/25th STREET - People Come Together/Gotta Be Big/Needing - Rumour has it that all these tracks are actually by Illicit, but, because they're built around samples that would be difficult, not to mention, expensive to clear, they've been released as white labels (ie. bootlegs). "People Come Together" is a mash-up of "Give Me Luv" by Alactraz and a sample of Madonna from "Music". "Gotta Be Big" lays the classic Tori Amos phrase over Heller & Farley's "Ultra Flava". "Needing" is built around a sample of a sample. David Morales used "My First Mistake" by The Chi-Lites (a Paradise Garage classic and one my all-time favorites) to create his monster hit "Needing U". 25th Street work the groove hard and seem to add a bit more of the original. Although all these tracks are based on familiar music, they're amazingly fresh and new. Absolutely bloody brilliant!!!
2. DAVE ARMSTRONG - Make Your Move (Antoine Clamaran/Olav Basoski) - Following along in the same vein, Dave Armstrong takes an old Pointer Sisters' track and turns in a lovely little filtered house track. Antoine Clamaran turns it into a blazing club monster.
3. ROSABEL featuring JEANIE TRACY - Cha Cha Heels (Rosabel/Ralphi Rosario/Tony Moran & Warren Rigg) - Sounding a little like "Dive In The Pool", this track borders on the uber-cheese. If that doesn't bother you, this thing will drive you nuts. Energy up the wazoo. Produced by Rosabel (Ralphi Rosario & DJ Abel), their version really works the latin feel. Ralphi's mix (my favorite) is a little more disco sounding. Tony Moran & Warren Rigg's slightly more tribal mix reworks the accapella to create a vocal hook similar to "Everybody Salsa" by Modern Romance. Then they add a cool (or annoying, depending on your point of view) guitar-like synth hook that adds a different feel. Could burn out quickly but will probably be the track of Pride this year.
4. DAVID GUETTA - Just A Little More Love (Original/Wally Lopez) - A very catchy filtered house track in it's original form, Wally Lopez takes it up a notch by adding some ominous synth work. Getting serious buzz.
5. KID CREME - Doin' My Own Thing - Funky, groovy house. You can't help but bob your head to this thing. Let's you get in touch with your inner soul brother (or sister). Love it!
6. BRITNEY SPEARS - Everytime (Scumfrog) - The Scumfrog mixes his signature hard beats with a very trippy synth treatment. Ms Spears vocals are pretty and poinant. Nice. Very nice.
7. FRANKIE KNUCKLES - Bac N Da Day (Cleptomaniacs) - One of the people who created the whole house music scene, Frankie Knuckles reminisces about the old days. A cool, jazzy feel-good track. Cred for days!
8. DJ POPE featuring INAYA DAY - He's My Music - Hands-in-the-air filtered house gem. Inaya Day works it! So does the dub.
9. THE COORS - Summer Sunshine (Mike Rizzo) - That cute little family four-some from Ireland are back with a very catchy little tune. Mike Rizzo turns in a classic commercial anthem mix that borrows the synth line from Darude's "Sandstorm" and then re-interprets it. An excellent job all around.
10. STACY BURKET - Love Me Right - New on Peter Rauhofer's Star 69 label, Stacy Burket works his magic once again. Diva vocals over a dark, throbbing groove. Serious.
