Classic Track: Streetlife - Love Breakdown

Chicago producer Mark Picchiotti ruled vocal house music for a while in the 90s with the various monikers he recorded under including The Absolute and Future Force. He remixed everyone from Madonna to Paula Abdul but it was his more underground releases on TRIBAL America which really showed his skills.

It may sound somewhat skippy and odd in the current scene but, make no mistake, this record schredded many a dance floor around the world.

Streetlife featuring Dana Stovall - Love Breakdown (Original Club Mix)


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Dance albums you really should own #3

Part 3 of dance albums you really should own. One direct from Manchester and the other a world away from New York's iconic Sound Factory nightclub at the peak of its popularity.

M People - Northern Soul (1991)

Though M-People's cool was tarnished somewhat by their more poptastic material on the albums which followed this one, they started out with the best intentions and struck gold with some quality music. It was mostly a meshing of live-element funk/soul inspired music and club grooves created under the direction of Mike Pickering (the "M"). Famous for being resident DJ at the Haçienda nightclub in Manchester and A&R guy at Deconstruction Recs (responsible for signing Black Box) he hit gold almost immediately with the epic 'How Can I Love You More?'. It featured the vocals of Heather Small who soon became the centrepiece of M-People. 'Someday' and 'Colour My Life' were also popular singles from the album and which were given the big-name DJ remix treatment which earned them tons of club play. At the other end of the spectrum was 'Kiss it Better', a standout track from the album - a melding of peppy guitars, a slow 4/4 groove and Small's amazing vocals which resulted in a summer vibe which still sounds great 20 years on.

Key moments > Youtube: How Can I Love You More (live on TOTP, 1991) and 'Someday' (Sasha's Master Mix) - A feelgood remix of the era.

Junior Vasquez - This Is The Sound Of Tribal UK - Live at the Sound Factory (1994)

Straight up, this is the mix that sealed my fate as a tribal house lover! To me it is one of the finest mix CDs of all time and evidence of the brilliance of Junior Vasquez in the mid 90s when he was probably the most revered DJ on the planet. Released during his legendary residency at the Sound Factory, NYC it covers the ethnic side of house (tribal doh!) from the darkest to the most camp - all of which were on the Tribal America/UK label. The greatness of the mix is down to the dozens of amazing records which came out on the label and Vasquez's skilled use of fades, delays and juxtaposition. Danny Tenaglia's 'Bottom Heavy' and the Fire Island remix of Junior's own global gay anthem 'Get Your Hands Off My Man' were on show for the first time anywhere on this mix, making the limited edition vinyl pack extremely sought-after. Also making a showing was The Daou with Vanessa Daou's infamous haunting vocals, Eric Kupper as K-Scope, Pato Banton remixed by The Orb and Roger Sanchez and more. When someone mentions "tribal house" this is the benchmark.

Key moments > Youtube: The Daou 'Are You Satisfied' - the unmistakable vocals of Vanessa Daou made this a dance floor bomb. Kiwi Dreams 'Y?' - hilariously camp and quirky.

Vocalist Dihann Moore - Artist Spotlight

A singer who featured on a couple of key tracks in the mid 90s in my record crate has just popped up again with a new release so I thought I'd give props to a vocal artist who has a one in a million talent: Dihann Moore.

When Tribal America was the label to be associated with in dance music Dihann Moore featured on what I still think is one of the best examples of soulful vocal house you'll ever hear - Fallout Shelter's 'What Do You Want?' When this record came out I played my copy so many times I wore it out and had to track down a second. It also featured on the vinyl release of 'The Sound Of Tribal UK Volume 2' in exclusive percapella form which didn't leave my record crate in over a decade (I'll record it off when I get a chance!!!).

Moore also featured (although uncredited) on the 90s club anthem Alcatraz 'Giv Me Luv'. 'Giv Me Luv' was one of Deep Dish's Yoshitoshi Records' biggest early releases and it also helped skyrocket Alcatraz producer Victor Imbres' career to bigger things. They even appeared on UKs Top Of The Pops to perform the track. Moore also featured on other notable Imbres productions, 'Fire' and 'You Can Do Anything', and Sandy Rivera's Soul Vision 'Don't Hold Back'.

Moore's background comes from involvement in gospel chiors in Washington DC, USA, and many years involved in various R&B and soul bands in DC and New York.

To my surprise I discovered a new release by Moore on Kolonki Records from Italy/Russia. It's called 'Let's Keep Our Love Alive' and was produced by Itialian producer Phil R. It reminds of the classic era of vocal house before blatant hands-in-the-air big tunes steamrolled the finesse of a great garage track. Her vocals are as strong as ever - sultry, soulful and top notch.

Her solo discography isn't massive by any means given how long she's been recording but she's popped up on quite a few really quality releases as vocalist over the years. Check out some of her new songs at her website Dihann Moore myspace page. You might enjoy her style.

Tribal Records Release Their Back Catalog

Select releases from the Tribal Records back-catalog have become available digitally for the first time ever.

I never thought the day would come but one of the most influential record labels from the 1990s, the legendary Tribal America, has arrived in the digital era at Beatport.com through Twisted Records. If you are a fan of classy house music from the golden era of house music then make sure you check them out.

The past couple of days have seen the addition of some of the most loved of all Tribal Records releases. Check out the early Deep Dish for some quality deep house at the new Tribal Records at Beatport.

Tribal back catalog items added in the last week include:

Deep Dish pres Cass De X "Elastic Reality" ("Deep Dish Does X" is possibly one of the finest house records ever made)
The Daou "Are You Satisfied" (Vanessa Daou's sultry vocals never sounded so good before)
The Absolute "There Will Come A Day" (check out the Black Lozenge mix - WOW!)
Deep Dish pres Prana "The Dream"
Deep Dish pres Quench "High Frequency"

In addition to these they've also got rare material available including:

Danny Tenaglia "Bottom Heavy" and "Hard & Soul" LP
Kiwi Dreams "Y" and "Eye 2 Eye"
Eric Kupper "From the Deep" LP
Undergound Sound of Lisbon "So Get Up"

Many more are in the list for re-issue in the near future. Finally you can own these classics without having to record your worn-out old vinyl.

Check out the Tribal Records myspace for more info.

Deep Dish classics George FM show - 27 Feb

Sharam from Deep Dish played in Auckland on 1st March. He mixed up a storm to a couple of hundred Thursday night party goers. To promote the event I played a guest show on George FM radio - a Deep Dish classics mix. I almost forgot just how many amazing tunes DD did which rocked in the 90s.

George FM Tracklist:
Deep Dish - Sexy Dance (Tribal America)
Global Communications - The Deep (Deep Dish Pump mix) (Dedicated)
Depeche Mode - Free Love (Deep Dish vocal) (Mute)
Deep Dish - Stranded in Dub (BT vs DD Edit 2) (DD Recs)
Dished Out Bums - A Glass of Chianti (Yoshitoshi)
Deep Dish - Wear The Hat (Tribal America)
Satori - Satori (XS Funk-in-yo-ass remix) (Yoshitoshi)
-Ads-
Elastic Reality - Cassa De X (Deep Dish Does X) (Tribal)
Deep Dish pres Prana - The Dream (Sharam's Deep Dish Dreamscape) (Tribal)
Watergate - Lonely Winter (Sharam's Blue dub) (DD Recs)
Deep Dish pres Quench - High Frequency (Danny's Ballroom edit) (Tribal)
Naomi Daniel - Feel The Fire (DD Burning remix) (DD Recs)
Adam F - Music in My Mind (DD Twister dub) (F-Jams)
-Ads-
Chocolate City - Love Songs (Bomb the Whitehouse mix) (Tribal)
NYDC - Up In This House (Tribal)
Everything But The Girl - Wrong (Deep Dish dub) (Virgin)
Olive - Miracle (DD miracle of dub) (RCA)
-Ads-
Deep Dish - After Hours (Tribal)
Deep Dish - Sex is Cool (Tribal)
Ashley Beedle - Revolutions in Dub (Deep Dish Jumping At The Factory Bar mix 1) (Narcotic)
E-N - The Horn Ride (Deep Dish On Some Good Crack rmx) (Tribal)
Alcatraz - Give me Luv (Deep Dish 11th Hour Remix) (AM:PM)

I wish I'd recorded it!! DOH!