Classic Track: Arnold Jarvis - Inspiration

In 1994 Kerri 'Kaoz' Chandler teamed up with singer/songwriter Arnold Jarvis ‎to produce one of house music's true masterpieces. 'Inspiration' is the perfect song and sung with so much soul and angst it makes the vast majority of modern vocal house sound like childs-play. The music production alongside it was fittingly low key - a simple, raw groove and piano sequence.

The original version will be known to most but the first release of 'Inspiration' also had this version, the Basapella, which stripped the kick drum out of the arrangement.

Kerri 'Kaoz' Chandler presents Arnold Jarvis ‎- Inspiration (Bassapella)


http://www.arnoldjarvis.com
http://www.kerrichandler.com

Classic Track: Subspecies - From Da East

The mid 90s were a magic era for sinister, dark drum grooves. Armand Van Helden had a knack for it and this 1996 gem produced with Junior Sanchez on Strictly Rhythm Records was a great example.

Subspecies - From Da East (East Coast Mix)

Dance albums you should own #5

In part 5 of dance albums you should own we swerve to another iconic rave act and visit a French house legend in its early days.

I:Cube - Picnic Attack (1997)

I:Cube may be a big name in quirky, understated house nowadays but it's been over 15 years since the first I:Cube outing. It is one of French producer Nicholas Chaix's alter ego's in addition to his Château Flight moniker. He rose to fame initially after Daft Punk's amazing remix of Disco Cubism, which features on this album. The album rides a fine line between the dance floor style of Daft Punk and the more random, jazzy style of Pepe Bradock etc. Stand-out tracks outside of 'Disco Cubism' include the massive title track 'Picnic Attack', the spacey breaks of 'Strange Wax', the before-its-time minimal prog '11 Novembre' and 'Mighty Atom-Sub Aqua' which is a more jazz bar style jammy groove.

Key moments on Youtube: 'Picnic Attack'  / Disco Cubism' (Daft Punk Mix)

Altern 8 - Full On.. Mask Hysteria (1992)

A few years earlier over in the UK two artists known as Altern 8 were already making brilliant music and jumping about in boiler-suits wearing filter masks. From the first track, 'Move Me Body', it's pretty clear this is a manic album. Through 'Infiltrate 202', 'Hypnotic St8', 'Activ 8' and more this is vintage rave of the highest quality. Many of Altern 8's records were global hits and in the UK they attracted plenty of media attention for their unofficial parties during the period when the Criminal Justice Bill was being drafted to prevent such gatherings.

No surprises though, this album is one of the benchmarks for old school breaks, cheeky sampling and funky hardcore music (even if some of it sounds rather cartoon-ish nowdays)

Key moments on Youtube: 'Infiltrate 202'  / 'Hypnotic St8'

Dance albums you really should own #2

Following from March's dance albums you really should own post here are two more gems which make for truly great listening. One at the cocktail party end of things and the other a bona fide early rave classic (don't let that put you off - it rocks).

Dimitri From Paris - De-Luxe House of Funk (1997)

Everyone has heard of Dimitri From Paris' Playboy Mansion compilations but THIS is where he hit the big time in his style of house. None of his other mixes really come close to the soul and funk contained here. It's full of gems like his exclusive remixes of Brand New Heavies and Bjork plus early classics from Bob Sinclar before he was a superstar, Ray Mang, Teddy G and Morning Kids (Daniel Wang) - all arranged in a sleazy groove which is still my benchmark for cocktail party house.

Key moment: Dimitri's mix of Bjork 'Isobel' - regarded by some as the best ever remix of a Bjork track. Youtube: Isobel (Dim's Enchanted Forest)

Eon - Void Dweller (1992)

You couldn't get more different to Dimitri than Eon. The brainchild of Ian Loveday & J Saul Kane (aka Depth Charge) this was brilliant early rave with a spacey and often dark twist. A few of the tracks famously sample David Lynch's cult sci-fi film Dune,  'Spice' being the most obvious and 'Fear: The Mindkiller' joining it as two iconic pieces of rave history. The album also had its deeper moments too with the hypnotic 'Infinity' and 'A Kind Of Living'. Eon can be forgiven for the quite cheesy 'Basket Case' here because overall the album is a classic and also one of the first ever to be signed to a major record label - opening a lot of doors for others later on.

Key moments: 'Fear: The Mindkiller' -  a defining moment of the rave era. Youtube Fear: The Mindkiller

Dance albums you really should own #1

I got a "list 10 albums you love" invite on Facebook recently and it made me think how many amazing albums and compilations I've loved over the years. I thought I'd share a couple with you every month.

Nuyorican Soul - Nuyorican Soul (1996)
The number of people into funky/vocal house who don't know this album is astounding considering it could make an argument to be in the top 10 electronic albums since 1990. Masters At Work aka 'Little' Louie Vega and Kenny Dope brought live elements on-board and some A-league contributors for this Nuyorican Soul album - Jocelyn Brown, India, Roy Ayers and George Benson. It is a masterpiece, one which MAW haven't been able to top since. 

Key moments: 'I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun', 'It's Alright, I Feel It' 

Youtube: It's Alright, I Feel It

Jeff Mills - Live At The Liquid Room, Tokyo (1996)

At the opposite end of the spectrum is this - one of the nastiest, grittiest mixes you'll ever hear. It represents exactly what Detroit techno legend Jeff Mills is like live - because it was recorded live. It may be a little sloppy by the perfect protools mix standards of today but the energy which comes out of this mix is beyond compare. Crowd noises are audible in the segues as Mills doubles-up on tracks, flanging and crossfading them to raise the tension about as high as it can go. Covering a massive 38 tracks in 67 minutes and for much of the time playing on three decks Mills' mix was the mix which introduced many people to the Detroit style of DJing. Features: The Advent, DJ Funk, Surgeon, Claude Young etc.

Put simply, this should be required listening for all DJs before they're allowed to set foot in a club booth. 

Key Moments: The whole thing.

Youtube: Live At The Liquid Room (Part 1)