If you have been following Seamless Recordings' Bargrooves (Taste and
Tastemaker) series, then you know that you are going to hear two key
elements: a great selection of house music, and a purely excellent mix
of those selections. On this new double CD compilation entitled
Bargrooves: Cosmopolitan, Ben Sowton creates yet another
flawlessly-mixed myriad of groovy house music. The difference between
this collection and the previous Bargrooves blends is that this one is
noticeably quite a bit deeper.
With that being said, Ben begins his mix (CD1) with the sexy vocals
and sax work of Mettle Music's El Mar (House Dub) and follows with the
deep funk-bumpy sounds of Ad Finem's Joy. Beyond that, groovy
percussion and solo laden tracks such as Why Must You (Souldoubt),
Under Your Spell (Candy Apple), Saxed Up (Knights of the Round
Tables), Nothing Like Jazz (Andy Holder), and Dangerous Frequencies
(The Coffee Kids) move the album along nicely. Next To Me (Fred
Everything), Feels So Right (Shik Stylko & Virginia), and In Love
(Ross Couch) feature a bit of funky-jazzed electric bass, guitar, and
electric piano for flair. This Time from High Spies featuring Latrice
Barnett even throws a little Latin spice at us from amidst the funk.
Featured guest artist Rollercone (Patrick Duvoisin) spotlights his mix
on the next Disc (CD2), and beginning with the strange recording of an
out-of-towner harassing a local taxi driver concerning her final
destination. Rollercone's style of selection is obviously deeper and
more lounge-oriented than what would be expected in this series.
Nonetheless, his mixes are absolutely flawless and most-enjoyable to
say the least. From the funky clav and piano/synth work on Playin' 4
the City's Basement Funk and Hanna Hais' Parfum Chic, to the "deeper
than thou" grooves of Verna Francis and Louie Vega, the compilation is
completely ridden with Afro-Cuban/Latin percussion. Ron Trent's Space
is the Place and the Rollercone mix of Illusion push the mix even
deeper into the tribal rhythms of Rollercone's own percussive world.
Also featured are works from Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Sumo, Reel
People featuring Angela Johnson, Patchworks, and Orestt Partridge.
Both CDs are expertly selected and mixed, but it is completely
apparent that Rollercone's performance is not to be missed. I look
forward to hearing future productions and mixes from Patrick.
