esteban_morientes / Reviews

Zena Dejonay - I've Got To Find A Way - Apr 04, 2009
Theres not much info out there about this artist or this track and it seems to be the only thing she ever did. Anyhow, her semi-kinda-half-assed vocals are pretty cool and the producer did some really nice vocal work in post-production. Nu disco fans flip the record for a Metro Area-stylee laidback dubby disco workout with Tony Valor pushing all the right buttons. Or pitch it down and turn up the bass for a Dimitri from Paris after hours nugget.

Rubber Room - Taliban Discotheque - Mar 05, 2009
"Taliban Discotheque" is a rerub of the impossible to find "El Fen", which is the B-side of "Yemma", a 12" from 1976, both sung by the deceased Kabyle folk singer Aït Meslayene who was forced by his manager to make a disco record. This is a complete unknown but outstanding 6/5 track, with an incredibly strong bassline, great percussion and a chorus youre not likely to forget after you heard it once. With a dodgy early eighties cosmic compilation being the only exception, this track never got edited, bootlegged or compiled before, a rare exception seen the recent edit madness and the simple fact this is such a strong track. I suppose every single disco track must be re-edited by now, as you cant dig any deeper than this. As El Fen is probably the hardest record in his genre to track down, this 12" is a huge relief for deep digging disco and cosmic heads. Essential stuff!

A. Mislayene* - Yémma / El Fen - May 28, 2008
Ammi Mislayenne was a Kabyle traditional singer who moved to Paris to try his luck. He was driven by an Algerian manager who pushed him to make a "disco" album, a new trend at that time!

The bassist (from who I got this email from) was called one day by two Kabyle friends for this recording. Upon his arrival they were playing guitar and singing the backing vocals. "Yemma Yemma" was the main title and the song handles about the love of Ammi for this mother...

The recording found place in a studio near Paris, with an American drummer from the funk group "Ice".

The bassist still lives in Paris and is still playing electric bass, but mostly acoustic double bass, in jazz music and also with an artist from Cameroun called "Nya Soleil".

Ms Sharon Ridley* - Changes - Mar 22, 2007
Probably one of the best soul tunes ever written... Wonderful soulful mid-pacer with Ms Ridleys staggering vocal ability shown off to perfection. This is one of those tracks that just gets better and better as it progresses, sucking you in completely. A song about hope and pain, anyone who has ever fallen out of love will get this. A favourite at the Garage!

Suzy Andrews - Suzy Andrews - Dec 30, 2006
Great cover LP on which NDW-classics get a more electro-touched rework. Andrews versions are cooler and more restrained, but classy and more suitable for dancefloor use.

Four Below Zero - My Baby's Got E.S.P. - Aug 18, 2006
A Patrick Adams signed, philly-styled uplifting northern soul disco rarity with Four Top-esque harmonious vocals and the intricate string figures that were to become Patricks trademark.

Ozo - Anambra - Aug 12, 2006
Hypnotizing, classic slow (80-90 BPM) and moody african-chant style recording that was David Mancusos closing favourite and massive with DJ Sasha at the heart of his anthemic early 90s DJ sets!

Tina Turner - I Can't Stand The Rain/Let's Pretend We're Married - May 18, 2006
Originally performed by one of the songs co-writers, Ann Peebles, Tina Turner gives this soul classic a slow, vibrant and cosmic feeling. Nice sunset stuff.

Bobby Patterson - Groove Me - Apr 06, 2006
Bobby Patterson appears on numerous 60s and 70s 45ers, but this is the only 12" he ever released under his own name.

"Groove Me" is a fat funk stomper. Imagine an obscure funk band playing in a New Orleans cellar, stirred up by the shouting, dancing and handclapping audience, and youre pretty close. "Groove Me Some Mo" is even heavier, with a slapping bass over the repetitive "Groove Me" mantra.

Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do For Love / Down For The 3rd. Time - Feb 11, 2006
A beautiful and timeless soul classic, fits perfect every hip hop or after hour set.

Plastic Bertrand - Tout Petit La Planète - Jan 30, 2006
A song to dance on with moonboots, leg warmers and headphones on. French vocodered italo with extraterrestial lyrics doesnt get any better than this!

Gloria Jones - My Bad Boy's Comin' Home / Tainted Love - Jan 08, 2006
This is definitely one of the finest northern soul stompers in music history, and a killer vocal performance by Gloria Jones. Forget Soft Cell, thé version was recorded twenty years earlier. 6/5 rated record!

Rolling Stones, The - Ultra Rare 12" Mixes - Dec 21, 2005
"Too Much Blood" right is destabalising, rich, rock, electro, disco, it has heavy basslines, weird vocals, voodoo rhythms everything a dj needs to let explode the place. Wonderf******ful!!

Landlord (2) Featuring Dex Danclair - I Like It - Dec 11, 2005
I dont know who came first, this blokes or Inner City. But their piano riffs are very similar. This classic can without a doubt be compared with Good Life, with that difference that you rarely hear this record on an evening out. This is one of that very early house records who stood the test of time.

Frank Wilson - Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) / Sweeter As The Days Go By - Nov 21, 2005
The Holy Grail of Northern Soul was recorded back in 1965 on Motown. The story goes that after recording it Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, ordered Frank to concentrate on writing rather than singing. The record never saw the light of day, because Gordy commanded to destroy all promo copies.

In 1977 Tom Dieperro, a Motown historian who worked for them in the mid 70s, found a surviving copy and later Simon Soussan discovered it while perusing Toms record collection. Simon recognised this as being a perfect record for the northern soul scene where rarity was an integral part of the DJs attraction. Northern soul djs were constantly seeking new records that nobody else had. They even covered up the labels and changed the artist name to prevent other DJs tracking down the same title.

So, Franks one single, ended up getting credited to Eddie Foster, it became a huge hit in the scene, and it wasnt until 1978 that the truth was discovered. The one known copy changed hands for increasingly high prices, whilst a second copy was discovered in 1990. In 1996 the record was bought by Kenny Burrel for 15.000 pounds - making it the most expensive record ever.

Frank Wilson - Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) - Nov 20, 2005
This record was recorded back in 1965 on Motown. The story goes that after recording it Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, ordered Frank to concentrate on writing rather than singing. The record never saw the light of day, because Gordy commanded to destroy all promo copies.

In 1977 Tom Dieperro, a Motown historian who worked for them in the mid 70s, found a surviving copy and later Simon Soussan discovered it while perusing Toms record collection. Simon recognised this as being a perfect record for the northern soul scene where rarity was an integral part of the DJs attraction. Northern soul djs were constantly seeking new records that nobody else had. They even covered up the labels and changed the artist name to prevent other DJs tracking down the same title.

So, Franks one single, ended up getting credited to Eddie Foster, it became a huge hit in the scene, and it wasnt until 1978 that the truth was discovered. The one known copy changed hands for increasingly high prices, whilst a second copy was discovered in 1990. In 1996 the record was bought by Kenny Burrel for 15.000 pounds - making it the most expensive record ever.

Josma - Voices In Los Angeles (Remix) - Oct 23, 2005
A record I searched for almost a year. Great latin house and an infecteous guitar over a great live ambiance. The girls love this!

AC/DC - Live - Oct 06, 2005
Quintessential live CD. If you want to buy just óne AC/DC record, then let it be this monster. Pure energy from the first till the last second, no weaktime, only peaktime.
The songs are all, without any exception, far better then on their studio albums.
Let there be rock!

Ramp (3) - Come Into Knowledge - Aug 31, 2005
One of those massively popular LPs for soul & raregroove lovers, produced by Roy Ayers, with at least four huge tracks including their great version of Sunshine. Daylight was also sampled by TCQ on Bonita Applebum.

Cage, The - Do What You Wanna Do - May 17, 2005
John Luongo did a hell of a remix job here. Compared to the original, this is even rawer, funkier and deeper. Especially the bridge is pure electro/disco madness. If you liked T-Connections original, you certainly gonna like this one!

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