in my box

Scroll down for John's recommended tracks.

Sections include his essential new tunes, Soulful and latin house, Uplifting US house, John's trusted tracks, and hyperlinks to recommended websites.

The discerning reader will note that not all the tracks on here are just signed. They're not all on acetate. There are a few, but John firmly acknowledges excellent music whether it's brand new, or whether is still takes the roof off after 5 years in circulation. Very much in keeping with the Defected ethos, " it is about making that dance floor jump! " This section is all about the music.

Funky House archive - up to 2004

Faithless - Miss U less, See you more
On Cheeky records out November 2004,  the Beginerz Remix is already number one in the Buzz Chart and high in the Coolcuts Chart thanks to support from Tong, Fanciulli and Digweed. Taken from their number one album “No roots” this features LSK on vocals alongside Maxi Jazz of course. Tasty.

Audiowhores - For Real
Circulating on the soulful house scene is a true tear jerker of a track with mixes from Audiowhore providing the main vocal outing and Groove Assassin adding a Latin twist with sumpuous electric guitar George Benson style. Down tempo, deep bass, tender vocals and a beautiful chord sequence. Hellishly sexy. www.audiowhores.net

Mambana - Libre
Produced by Axwell on Soulfuric Trax. Great vocals by Isabel Fructuoso but I’m giving main vocal mix a miss and using the Axwell Essence Dub which retains the main vocal hook and strips out the verses, leaving the bones of a classic Soulfuric gem. Sunshine just pouring from the speakers, you’re right there at Bora Bora under the Palms… Truly anthemic.

NV - Pega La Vuelta
Out on Hedonism records and available from Uptown in Soho, this slice of Latin house features a very original interpretation from Can 7. It’s the Knee Deep mix however that is doing it for me with a fantastic plodding breakdown held together by building brass and a sexy little Spanish vocal loop.

Jeremy Sylvester presents Socafrica - Hot
Another anthem from Azuli Silver. Summer Summer Summer. Sky high energy from the vocal and full carnivalesque, steel drum laced tribal beats. Rocking.

Copyright feat Shovell - Bulo
Out of Soulfuric Trax USA, the Afro Disco Mix is just massive. All the funk and soul you expect of Copyright and Soulfuric deep recordings with Shovell on vocals and percussion giving this release an incredible chant hook.

Mini Coola presents - Space Jam
Words hardly do justice to the naturally euphoric mood this track is capable of inducing. The sumptuous Eddie Hernandez mix is truly Latin gold dust very much on the Soulfuric tip. Jazz organ chords and trademark electric piano flourishes stylise this piece. Having said that, the huge desirability of this record for me stems from the Richard Earnshaw rework on the label side. Slightly more up-tempo, the introductory break has a simply breathtaking combination of strings, Imogen Ryall’s spoken word and Latin chorus hook. This is one of a rare breed of tracks that you must listen to over and over, and over and over. It gets the goose bump stamp of approval. Visit www.duffnote.com . Copies are very limited but you may be able to get one through Uptown on D’Arblay Street, Soho. www.uptownrecords.com

Ron Carroll - Come into my life
Produced by the inimitable Richard Grey, this funky-as slate on G High Recordings out of Paris has to be listed here. A synth driven hook forms the basis of the “Bit dated mix” whilst the original mix on the flipside borders on huge proportions when played to a discerning crowd. Ron’s sounding as soulful as ever, whilst a slightly filtered bassy disco loop keeps things nice and dirty.

Pearn and Campbell - Reach
Championed by The Dreem Team on their late Sunday night Radio One show, ( the last remaining decent funky house show on R1 ), this is the fourteenth release on London based label essence. Vocals from Rita Campbell compliment Jon Pearn’s production which shines through in the Original Dub mix. Snappy kicks and a gloriously simple but addictive synthy hook. Stonebridge are twiddling the knobs on the other two mixes, of which the main club mix showcasing Rita’s vocals, is the stronger.

Monkey Bars - Pass you by feat Luisa Bonilla
Subliminal’s 111 th release and they just keep on coming. This hugely desirable track taken from the forthcoming album “Food-eating Food” is written and produced by Doron Orenstein and Gabriel d Vine. Both the Clover Club Mix and Clover Dub are being used out as strong individual tracks. The dreamy club version features an excellent vocal hooked around a beautiful chord progression. The dub breaks this down to a chopped up loop over an electro bassline that really works. www.subliminalrecords.com

Louie Vega presents Anane
Taken from the full length LP, Elements of Life, this gorgeous picture disc features the sumptious Nos Vida which is a lavish Latin excursion on the A side. Flip over, and DJ Gregory tweaks out a discofied mix of the incredibly sexy Mon Amour. www.mawrecords.com

Orange Muse - Keep the funk alive
Jazz N Groove have produced a superb mix of this track out of the US on SoulFuric Deep, but it's the Soul Avengerz Keeping the Funk Dub mix that is lifting the roof. Chris B on vocals in a Tyree Cooper stylee and just a fantastic, funky hook. Front of the box.

Berlita Woods / Leroy Burgess - Best of me
Picked up this in Underground Solushn in Edinburgh on Basement Boys records US House at it's finest. I had this beauty in my hand ready to play as my first record at Soul Heaven at Ministry of Sound in August but Samba la Casa dropped it as their last record just as I was taking my copy from it's sleeve. Great minds think alike, eh?

Boca Grande - Push
Although the original mix is quality, the Hotjammin' mix is a stand out track for me. I opened my set with this in the back room at Taste in Edinburgh and what a reaction! Dirty, relentless, jazz saxophone riff with a killer breakdown.. tom toms and hammond organ a go go... and when the second sax kicks in with the harmony.... wow. For me this is as much a peak time record as any vocal anthem.

House and Garden - The Secret
Not sure where this gem originated but it's slow at 126bpm, and grinds away for over 9 blissful minutes. Apart from what appear to be Barry White and James Ingram samples, there's no indication of who is responible for either the lead male or female backing vocals. Pure musical sex though. Just one of the most sensual pieces of house I've found in some time.

Sexy vocal house pre Summer 2003

Copyright - Late at night
With vocals and lyrics by London diva Lisa Millet, and production from Sam Holt, Scotti De La Hoya and Gavin Mills, this epic Soulfuric anthem reaches the spots that so many miss. The smiles on everyone's faces in Studio 33 as viewed from the DJ booth when Kenny Carpenter played this said it all.

The Players feat Stephen Granville - One
Produced by Brian Allen and Beto Cohen, this is the fourth release from Kensington based London label Vocal Records. Due to be released globally this summer, One is a joyous, feel-good houser with wide appeal to both dedicated Soulfuric heads and your Saturday night Samanthas and Geralds. Stephen Granville delivers an admirable vocal on the club mix whilst the stripped down, mid tempo, Electro Dub toughens things up nicely. The filtered dubby vocals may be starting to sound a little dated to some but if they ain’t broke, they don’t need fixing. Full support on the dancefloors please kids. www.vocalrecords.co.uk

Mark Knight feat Johnnie Fiori - Tonight
Circulating on promo during August 03 amongst those in the know at present, finally managed to source this from Plastic Fantastic on Drury lane. For the last few weeks, this has been topping the Dreem Teem's chart on Radio One and there's a strong element of the deep, bass heavy, Tuff Jam style early UK garage kick to this. Very sexy and very funky. Not destined for a major commercial release but absolutely essential for the discerning house heads.

Dutch featuring Crystal Waters - My Time
On OXYD records out of Milan, Italy - picked up in Ibiza - but in surprisingly short supply in the UK until it's commercial release September 03 - this uplifting beauty is just excellent. The Scumfrog's extended vocal remix is the one being played out most and was getting regular plays from Lucci at Bar M and DJ Gee at Bora Bora Summer 2003.

Double Dee - Shining
Released back in July 2003, this is the same Double Dee responsible for the Italian house piano classic Found Love in the early 90s which resurfaced to anthemic proportions in that very special of years for house music, 1996. Featuring Danny Losito on vocals, the new package on Positiva embraces a range of different styles, although the stand out versions are the beautifully melodic original and the much dirtier Scumfrog remix. Feel the sunshine.

House Music EP - 8 Miles High
The copy I was using was given to me in Belgium, having come straight from Felix Da House Cat in Chicago only 24 hours earlier. The EP features 4 tracks. So High, Deepest and Chill, but it's the title track House Music that is going to drop on the dancefloors. Featuring Felix Da House Cat, Jeven Jackson, Vince Lawrence and Farley "Jackmaster" Funk. Deep sounding chords, old skool kick drums and the above vocalists talking about the spirit of house music from Chicago. Tasty? Yes. Self indulgent? Why not. Check out http://www.kingstreetsounds.com

Stylophonic - Soul Reply
Tom Middleton's Cosmos Vox mix doing the business on this filtered, synthy, electro sounding number. Out through EMI on 5 May 2003, this will be getting aired with some regularity. Also featured in this section was the Stylophonic track Da Symphony. Taken from the new album Man Music Technology out on Prolifica recordings, this is filthy, dubby, Italian synth funk at its very best. The walking bassline is reminscent of Stevie Wonder's classic I Wish and the whole production cannot fail to get heads nodding. The album from which its taken is, itself, a compilation of musical ideas more colourful than a browse round a Dolce and Gabanna swimwear section.

Ramie & EBAR ft Bianca Dino - Push the Air
Given to me at the Opium Garden in Miami, this is new generation deep, trippy - almost acid - house out of Sifted Recordings New York. The EBAR mix rolls and twists along with Bianca's vocals giving it a seductive Ursula Rucker vibe. Excellent. Find it at http://waakorecords.com  Released April 2003.

Groove Junkies feat Diane Carter - Don't Cha Give Up
Given to me in Miami by MoreHouse Records Los Angeles CA, we found ourselves feeling this one and spun it at the fairwind during the Winter Music Conference. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Diane's vocals suit this oh so soulful production perfectly. It's almost difficult to put a date on this production as elements of it hark back to the kind of house that Danny Rampling was putting out on the LGDP in 1996, and that's no bad thing. Timeless funky-ass house.

Richard Earnshaw - Joyride

Another indulgent release from Soulfuric Deep. Beautiful chords, electric piano jazz riff, and silky vocals from Imogen Ryall. A ray of bright sunshine from the speakers!  www.soulfuric.com

George Morel feat Sictha - I wish

Picked this up on Groove On Records in Miami although it's now available in the UK. Written by none other than Barbara Tucker and of course George Morel, the Groovie Club Mix hits the mark at all fine soulful establishments! Florida in the house. Email info@grooveon-music.com

Rich Vibes - I believe

Featuring the powerful, husky voice of Bruce Bap's, the Soul Power mix has all key elements present, and an infectious filtered brassy backing through the bridge. Real nice. On KAA Records out of France email kaaprod@libertysurf.fr

Round again - Positively Lonely

Written and produced by Jethro and Venetia, this chunky slice of deep house doesn't venture too far from it's line, but certainly catches you on it's way. Emma Browning on the vocals. Pear Music UK.

MindInfluence - The Best Part
Produced by MindInfluence presents The Solid Gold Playaz, this was doing the rounds at almost every party at the Miami WMC, the Copyright Mix of this is jazz influenced house at it's very best. A modern classic on Soulfuric Trax USA.

Bah Samba - And it's Beautiful
From the self titled LP, Bah Samba on Estereo, the original version of this comes with Jon Cutler's mixes. Alice Russell's gorgeous vocals stir up a veritable feast of summer vibes. Lush.

Mambana - No Reason / Part II
The gorgeous Axwell vocal mix on Peer Music is a personal favourite from summer 02. Not least because it's a reminder of lazing with friends on the loungers at Bora Bora with a cold San Miguel chatting to Mike Manumission under the hot afternoon sun, but simply because it's a fantasic record. Part II on Soulfuric features similarly gorgeous production with mixes from DJ Meri and Jazz-N-Groove. Their Soulfuric Dub definitely sets the pace. Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden and mixed by Brian Tappert.

Mondo Grosso - Star Suite
The Shelter vocal mix features fantastic orchestration, a very Ursula Rucker-esque narrative to the lyrics, and an incredibly uplifting syncopated chorus that stays with you, long after. Epic.

Ben Watts - Where is Love?
Otherwise known as simply Watts - Lazy Dog as it says on the white label from the man behind the club Lazy Dog, expect a retro theme with powerful male vocals reminiscent of Arnold Jarvis. Although out in Nov 02, this was played by literally every soulful party at the WMC 2003.

Manguera - Don't worry
Sexy disco hook produced by Jose Nunez and featuring soulful vocals from Octahvia. Fantastic sax solo. Subliminal USA.

Everything But The Girl - Corcovado
The inimitable Knee Deep's Classic Club Mix is hard to fault. Ben Watt's vocal re-edit features those familiar tones applied to a sultry Brazillian sounding melody that doesn't disappoint. Virgin promo.

Tognarelli & Tomei Presents
Soundset - Give it up
Picked this up on Tanga Records in Barcelona. The Original Mix is a stunning track, almost to the point of being formulaic with it's massive break and builds. On the flip, the T&T remixes are deep, dark house at it's best.

Sunscreem - Perfect Motion
Another oldie but a goodie on Five am records. Even before listening to this, I resigned myself to the fact that it's never going to compare with the original, which is the very definition of a club classic. Surprisingly however, Valentine and Morsley pull off a handsome mid tempo mix with a few nice elements of the original still in there.

The energetic house work out

Gipsy - Gipsy
Finally out in limited UK circulation on UMM, this track was one of THE anthems heard at Bora Bora, Ibiza summer 2003, when it was out on German white label. Very French sounding, flitered, anthemic track. Massive.

High Aspirations feat Siam - Can’t take it away
It’s always good if there’s an interesting story associated with discovering a track or hearing it for the first time. In this case, I was introduced to the track’s producer, T-Money, whilst it was being spun in the VIP lounge rooms of Café De Paris. Far more memorable than standing shoulder to shoulder like sardines at the decks in HMV. The 12” includes three mixes but it’s the T-Money and C-Pone Black and Beautiful Dub that stands out here. Very, very dirty house with, dare I say, elements harking back to the kinky house productions of circa 1995, then being caned by the superstar likes of Jon Pleased and Boy George. There’s a fresh twist on this though and it’s infectious, sometimes filtered, bassline carries the dub vocals nicely. Released by Most Valuable Productions out of London, check out the site www.mvpmusic.co.uk. Get on it.

Boogie Pimps - Somebody to Love
The main mix being caned on MTV day and night is an admirable rework and the release on Data Records spans no fewer than 3 separate 12s. It’s the DJ Flex Executive Remix that is the stand out arrangement for me though. All the key vocal elements with a Junior Jack Thrill me / Daft Punk Burning style treatment that lifts this track to peak time status in grand style.

Spiller - Sola / Smoke
Very limited release on Nano records out of Venice Italy. Smoke is just a b side to the main club mix of Sola which is just massive. First heard at Cream Amnesia, when Steve Mac followed me on the decks. Loopy, disco, French sounding house at it's roof lifting finest! www.nano-rec.com

M-Gee Can't let go
Incredibly funky mixes out on Swing City of this track written by Grant Nelson and Matt Schwartz. Peak time!

BBT vs. PTB - Funky Planet
Resurfacing in the recent Defected in the House compilation, this monster produced by Seamus Haji with Roland Clarke on vocals is simply storming, goose bump enticing, filtered house to raise any roof in my opinion. The first listen just left me breathless.

Richard Grey - Better than Stronger
Picked this one up in Ibiza on an EP called Richard Grey Jaquin's Unreleased Project. Out of Paris, France on Royal Flush Records, this dirty house monster is pure mayhem and doesn't disappoint. Perfect fodder for sampling over and creating a peak time plateau from which to take it almost anywhere.

Antoine Clamaran - Classika
Very much on the same page as the Richard Grey track just mentioned, this EP entitled Univers EP part 3 has two new productions with Classika being the stand out track for me. Storming, filtered disco like they do best in Miami...

Erick Morillo, Harry Romero and Jose Nunez
feat Jessica Eve - Dancin'
Something of an important record as this is the 100th release from one of my favourite labels, Subliminal. Erick played this at Subliminal Sessions at Pacha, Eivissa town the week of Pacha's 30th anniversary and the reaction on the floor said it all. Remixed for 2003 taking a very dark, tribal journey with Jessica laying over some incredible spoken words. Quality.

U'nique featuring Angie Brown - Reach
Co-produced by Vezio Bacci and Brian Allen, this is a cracking track with crossover potential. There's no shortage of massive vocals from chart topping 90s house diva, my girl Angie, a bold, brassy flavour and guitar disco riffs. A real floor filler tried and tested April 03. Check out www.vocalrecords.co.uk

Static Revenger - Long Time
Picked up in Miami from Mixed Signal Records, Static Revenger ( Happy People ) are back with this big room, happy, 70s rock EP. The Original mix is a tried and tested disco anthem formula but it rocked the Belgian crowd at the Louise gallery on 29 March. check out http://mixedsignalrecords.com

Soho - Good Times / Hidden Sun EP
Produced by Junior Jack, who was kind enough to donate me his copy, this double A side on Noisetraxx records just oozes class. Not the trademark pumping style but a gem of a 12". email noisetraxx@pias.com

Bent - Magic Love
Out on Sport / Ministry of Sound Recordings, Magic Love is taken from the forthcoming album The Everlasting Blink. Remixers West London Deep have produced an incredible mid-late set mix that utilises the gorgeous vocal and a dark bassline. On the other 12", the mellow Black Magic Vocal Mix comes courtesy of established DJ and all round decent bloke, Ashley Beedle - who's had a busy 2002 with his remix name being associated to Kosheen, The Streets and Coloursound.

Junior Senior - Move your feet
Under the spotlight here is one half of the 2 x 12" promo set, that features remixes from Kurtis Mantronik and Krafty Kuts. Kurtis's mix is a bassy electro-house / disco pastiche using the vocal from the main extended mix. The track for me though is the Krafty Kuts version which is a bass-heavy filtered outing that really grabs the attention. Bad. Another track listed as a hot new tip here six weeks before smashing the UK's music scene. Mercury Records. Check out www.juniorsenior.com

Moony - Acrobats ( looking for balance )
The voice of Italian singer songwriter Monica Bragato, aka Moony, is already known for the track Point of View with DB Boulevard last year which reached Number 3 in the UK and was one of the biggest hits of 2002 across Europe. This follow up double pack mail out comes with some seriously sexy mixes from T&F Moltosugo and Tommy Vee but it's the Andrea T Mendoza club mix that's doing it for me. Kid Creme on Shakedown style bassline and all core elements of the vocal intact, with some tasty loops, this is front of the box this month. Out this week on Eternal Records.

Who Da Funk? Ft. Terra Deva - Sting Me Red
Out on Cream Recordings, this follow up to Shiny Disco Balls has been heard since July 2002 but finally got a UK release February 2003. Terra Deva delivered an explosive performance of this in the Subliminal Arena at Creamfields August 2002 and even back then, everyone knew the song. Massive.

Kid Creme - Hypnotizing
Just one of the most energetic tracks of last Summer in Ibiza, with a killer bassline. Essential. Blanco y Negroe Music S.A Italy. Eventually made it to a UK release in March 2003 and hit the UK charts May 2003. Great remixes but the original was best. So there.

Richard F - Down and Dirty
With a title like that, it's difficult to resist picking it off the shelf. Fierce! Subliminal USA.

Alison Limerick - Where Love Lives
Back round again and still moving dancefloors with the old classic vocals beefed up, courtesy of Kidstuff on the mix. Top notch. Did an event with Alison earlier this month and she's still sounding fantastic! Arista Promo.

Feela - Sweet Temptation
Out on Azuli Summer 2002, the Bini and Martini Club Mix is simply awesome. Soaring vocal over a truly thundering deep house record. The neighbours love it. Honest.

Always in the box

Junior Jack - e samba
In circulation since February 03 and on import in the UK since the beginning of June 2003, this built huge hype over the summer. Brazilian tribal rhythms and vocals with the trademark JJ bassline is presented with such simplicity and yet thunderous effect. An anthem in the making and undoubtedly one of THE tracks of the season. Featured on this site 7 months before it's official UK release on 15 September 03.

DJ Touche and Pepe - Good Looking
Another beauty from under the Subliminal rafters, this track takes it's backbone from U look fantastic by Junior Jack vs Richard Grey ( Royal Flush records USA 2000 ) with the bass from funky disco heaven.

Powerhouse feat Duane Harden - What you need
One of Defected's earliest hits back in 1999 and undeniably one of the greatest big room house anthems. Mixes came from Full Intention, Richard F and Lenny Fontana, each one a memorable rework with Duane's explosive vocals.

Holloway & Co - I'll do anything to make you mine
Out on INCredible in 1999, I first heard the Futureshock Main Mix of this on one of Danny Rampling's Love Groove Dance Party Dutch Disco mixes. To this day, someone always asks "what's this track?"! Just timeless, pumping disco house.

Junior Jack - Thrill me
Forget the vocal version and the numerous attempts at remakes, the original white of this is an all time anthem. When this first circulated, it was nigh on impossible to get a copy but those first plays out were something else...

Anthony White - Love me tonight
If all else fails, this is a track I consider to be a personal classic. Dating back to 1994, and first featured on John Digweed's Journeys by DJ album of the same year, this is early 90s house that sounds as fresh today as nine years ago. Released on Stress records in association with Underground Music Movement, the mixes include Way Out West and the epic orchestrations of the Jimmy Gomez mixes. Avid readers will note that this entry was up on the site here almost 2 years before Shapeshifters made the hook "I'm a different person.... since you came into my life" as recognised as it is now with their track Lola's Theme!

Related hyperlinks

www.subliminalrecords.com

http://www.defected.co.uk

www.southportweekender.co.uk

www.moneypennys.com

www.esparadis.com

www.cream.co.uk

www.estereo-recordings.com

www.bent-world.com

The car

Angie Stone - Stone Love This album sampler is loaded with fine melodic, thoughtful tracks. The most continuous-repeat-worthy of which would have to be the infectious “U-Haul” and the remarkably gorgeous “Come Home”. Check www.angiestoneonline.com

back to top