Retro Rhythms Vol 6

The latest in the Retro Rhythms series features a series of oldies which have either been covered, remixed or re-edited tastefully. Several of these are prone to get me singing along gleefully whenever I hear them; (probably best for all involved that no one else hears my own vocals instead of the artists').



INXS - Need You Tonight (Conan Liquid Reel to Reel Re-Edit)
Chanelle - One Man (Michael Gray Extended Remix)
Champagne - My Love Is Right (Mike and Tess Edit 4 Mix)
Kathy Brown - Boogie Oogie Oogie (Booker T Vocal Mix)
Ann Nesby - Can I Get A Witness (Mousse T´s Garage Mix)
Lenny Fontana presents Andricka Hall - I'll Give You Love (Jazz-N-Groove Club Mix)
Jinny - Keep Warm (Sgt Slick ReCut)
Kym Sims - Too Blind To See It (Ridney & Richard Earnshaw Extended Rework)
Drizabone - Real Love (Dr Packer Remix)
Mantronix feat. Wondress - Take Your Time (Dr Packer Remix)
B.B. & Q. Band - On The Beat (Michael Gray Dub Mix)
D-Train - Keep On (Michael Gray Dub Mix)
Ashford & Simpson - Found A Cure (Sgt Slick's Discotizer ReCut)
Bobby D'Ambrosio ft Michelle Weeks - Moment of My Life (JN Dubwise Re-Organ-ization)

Gravitational Attraction

After a three month break, I've finally managed to find a free hour or two to put together a new mix show.
This show was conceived about 2 months ago but I never actually got round to recording it. It starts off a little poppy from Armand Van Helden (with a twist) before delving into a blend of soulful and deeper grooves and finishing with some funk fuelled fun from Z Records at the very end.



Tracklist:

Armand Van Helden - Hear My Name (Sgt Slick's Borderline ReCut)
Risk Assessment - Love Attraction (Original Mix)
Michael Gray ft Sian-Lee - Gravity (Extended Mix)
DJ Funky T ft Lorry Hunter - Sweetest Of All (Gianni Junior Remix)
Lenny Fontana - Reachin The Top (Club Mix)
Belman feat. Troy Denari - Need Your Luv (Extended Mix)
Soulmekanikz ft Hannah Khemoh - Hold You To It (Extended Mix)
Danny J Lewis ft Mike City - Flirty (Wez Whynt Remix)
Vick Lavender ft Justin Dillard - Time & Time Again (Jimpster Remix)
Col Lawton & FederFunk ft Becka - Love Me Right (N.W.N. Remix)
Tony Touch ft Jaidene Veda - Kiss Like This (Mr. V Sole Channel Remix)
Peter Mac ft Earl W. Green - Distant Lovers (DJ Spen & Reelsoul Remix)
Foreal People - Tango Hustle (Dave Lee Latican Hustle)

Venus Rising

The journey starts in 2003 with a beauty from Blvd East with the late KT Brooks on vocals before jumping straight into 2026 for a few tracks from Lenny Fontana, Maysa & Michelle Shellers. Groove Junkies and Opolopo revisit their 2018 collaboration "We Rise" complete with exquisite vocals from Solara before the groove blends into a classic from Jasper Street Co with Frankie Knuckles on the remix. The second half gets underway with "The Mood" taken from Change's 2025 long player "Embrace" before delving into the heady days of 1989 to 1991 for four tried and tested gems from back in THE day.



Blvd East ft KT Brooks - It's Your Life (FTL Dub)
Lenny Fontana - Stay With Me All Night (Club Mix)
Maysa - I Don't Mind (DJ Spen & Reelsoul Traxsource Exclusive Remix)
Michelle Shellers - Rise (DJ Spen & Thommy Davis Vocal Reproduction)
Groove Junkies, Opolopo & Solara - We Rise (OPOLOPO No More Lies Vocal)
Jasper Street Co. - Fly Away (Frankie Knuckles Remix)
Change ft Tanya Michelle Smith - The Mood (Figo Sound & JL Remix)
Kariya - Let Me Love You For Tonight
Victoria Wilson James - Through (Classic Club Mix)
Nomad ft. MC Mikee Freedom - (I Wanna Give You) Devotion
Don Pablo's Animals - Venus (The Piano Mix)

Flashback 1998

Lenny Fontana presents Andricka Hall - I'll Give You Love [Soulshine Recordings]

Here's another track that used to feature regularly in my sets. Released back in 1998 on Louis Benedetti's label Soulshine Recordings, "I'll Give You Love" is a hands in the air anthem with a turbo-charged groove. Lenny Fontana's "Anthem Vocal Mix" is a driven by a combination of keys and driving uptempo rhythms. My weapon of choice though was the "Jazz-n-Groove Club Mix" complete with booming bassline and bounding rhythms. The infectious yet edgy keyboard arrangement that typified the JnG sound of Marc Pomeroy and Brian Tappert is very much in evidence both on their vocal and dub versions. Still brilliant 23 years on with the full suite of mixes available on Traxsource.

Track Review

Lenny Fontana & D Train - Raise Your Hands (John Morales Mixes)[Karmic Power Records]

Three years on from the initial release and with numerous remixes in between then and now, Lenny Fontana & D Train's collaboration from 2015 "Raise Your Hands" gets the John Morales M&M treatment with excellent results. For those who don't recall, the song is built on the legacy of D Train's own classic composition "Music" and is a proper hands in the air style track that's aimed to get you on the floor and singing along. Of all the remixes to date, these are the ones that stick closest to the original vibe. M&M mixes over the years have rarely strayed too far from the initial concept, choosing instead to re-interpret for the sort of floors John packs out every week on his travels all over the world. There's an extended intro, the bass feels a little beefier and the rhythms roll a little more than the original mix but other than that it's a highly tasteful retouch rather than reconstructive surgery. Available now on Traxsource and many other digital platforms.

Reviewed by Dean Serafini