Donna Summer – I Feel Love (1977)

A sad day today with the passing of Donna Summer. I have previously posted her sublime “Working the Midnight Shift” here.

However, this is the all time classic. One of the most influential records of all time; techno, house and all that follows is being invented here. The genius of Giorgio Moroder keeps the pulse going and Donna’s vocals soar ….

The original 12″ version; the Patrick Cowley 15 minute remixed opus and then a live cut …

Virgo Four – In The Valley (1984-1990)

Previously unreleased track by one of the all time great artists of the Chicago House era.

Conclusive proof of the influence of Kraftwerk on US dance music of the 1980s and 1990s.

Forget the historical references and wallow – deep house perfection.

Never tire of this!

Carlo Lio – Stuck in a Dream (2011)

Friday night. What better than some relentless techno/house monotony to get the weekend rolling.

Heard this for the first time at 5:10pm today and it’s on the blog before 8pm!

Simple but effective. And relentless.

I have found that playing this at ear splitting volume with the bass up high is likely to achieve optimum listening. First, my neighbours, and, now, the police appear to disagree …. See you in court buddy.

Carlo Lio is Canadian. This is a good thing. Like Neil Young and Arcade Fire and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

 

Solomun – Something We All Adore (2011)

Hey, okay! One for the “kids” ….

My discovery of Beatport over Christmas has turned up quite a few new “all time” favourites. Check here and here for recent posts.

Here’s another. Simple bass and drum machine with a killer sample as if from the halcyon days of Trax Records/DJ International/Chicago House late 80s heaven. Admirably relentless.

Afficionados will spot that the sample is Tupac Shakur (2Pac) from his “Fortune and Fame” interview (no, me neither).

Martin Zeyss – Next To You (Maya Jane Coles Remix) (2011)

Since discovering Beatport at the tail end of last year (check here), I’ve been getting back up to speed with the wonderful world of Deep House.

Originating in the classic Trax/DJ International world of Chicago in the late 1980s (with Marshall Jefferson and Larry Heard as the godfathers) , there are now a bewildering number of releases every week.

To be frank, the technology has made it too simple for incompetent purveyors of formulaic nonsense to release their noodlings. In the world of t’internet, trying to sort out the wheat from the chaff is ever harder.

Beatport is a great help in identifying the good stuff and here is a classic example. Martin Zeyss is the latest in a long line of classic German producers and Maya Jane Coles is one of the hottest remixers of current times. A killer tune.

Minnie Riperton – Inside My Love (Thomas Sonora Edit) (2011)

Just reposted, Marshall Jefferson’s “Time Marches On” from 1987 is one of the founding documents of “deep house” and one of the greatest records of all time - check here for conclusive proof.

Deep House remains one of the loves of my life and this track retains the affection.

A sublime deep house remix/edit of the Minnie Riperton classic from her “Adventures in Paradise” LP of 1975. The original is a wonderful record but this remix just soars.

Ms Riperton is best known for her wonderful “Lovin’ You” single; less well known is that she died of breast cancer aged 31 in 1979.

Prepare to wallow in genius …. and dance.

Minnie Riperton – Inside My Love (Thomas Sonora Edit) – Free Download by Kolorit Records

Infiniti – Moon Beam (1996)

Juan Atkins is one of the great names of Techno.

Operating first under the Cybotron alias in the early to mid 1980s he was an early electro pioneer.

In the late 1980s, operating as Model 500, he released some of the seminal tracks of the Detroit techno scene at its peak.

My the mid 1990s, he was melding Detroit techno with glitchy electronica and elements of deep Chicago House.

Love this track. A classic, understated slice of chill out bliss (or something)

One for the early hours methinks. Mind you, I’ll be asleep.

Jungle Wonz – Time Marches On (1987)

Marshall Jefferson was one of the towering geniuses of Chicago House and one of the founding fathers of the perfect “deep house” genre. Recording under many monikers (though not, surprisingly, Monica), Marshall Jefferson laid down some of my favourite tracks of all time (also posted here).

Released in 1987 on the stupendous Trax Records label, Mr Jefferson adopted the persona of Jungle Wonz and released one of the finest House records of the decade. Wonderfully relentless, unbelievably simple production – a classic proof that less equals more.

Never tire of this.

Kenny Larkin – Chasers (1995)

Classic “second generation” Detroit techno from former USAAF serviceman and, err, stand up comedian, Kenny Larkin. (The “first generation” involving luminaries such as Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Juan Atkins, etc). 

Having released classic tracks such as “War of the Worlds” under the Dark Comedy moniker, Mr Larkin went on to release the wonderful Azimuth LP on Warp Records in 1i994.

This track is taken from the fantastic Art of Dance “Exhibits” LP from mid 1995. Reassuringly relentless techno.

Sleazy D – I’ve Lost Control (1986)

Friday night.

Head back 25 years to 1986 and to one of the crowning glories of the Chicago House era.

Almost everything on Trax Records or DJ International Records is worth tracking down but this is a real stand out.

More than 10 minutes of intense, relentless mayhem by Marshall Jefferson in his very rare guise of Sleazy D. No real tune, the simplest drum machine, a mechanik vocal – a record that should never end.

I’m not sure it is possible to play this record too loud. Go on, have a go.