Dancetones

Rip It Up, Issue 173, 1 December 1991, Page 35

Dancetones

With the festive season now upon us, and summer just around the corner, this batch of new release 12” s are the ones to ask for when it comes to filling stockings this Christmas.

YASMIN ‘Sacrifice’ (US Geffen) 121bpm : s Yasmin returns with a strong follow. up to her debut hit ‘Wanna Dance’ with a slice of 70s style garage: Remixed by man of the moment Steve Hurley, this is typical of all his mixes, with ifs jazzy keyboard and sampled vocal stabs. Available in five mixes, with the silky 70s mix sounding best. MC BUZZ B ‘Never Change’ (UK Polydor) (119bpm) : Available on promo six months ago, this finally gets commercial release now that the prominent Bruce Hornsby samples of The Way It Is’ have been cleared. This is Buzz B’ first release through a major label, having previously been signed o independents and this commercial outing should be his first UK hit. A strong lyrical message and a great dance floor beat. Excellent. RODEO JONES ‘Get Wise’ (UK A&M) (120bpm) This track didn't quite get the attention it deserved when first released six months ago, so A&M are giving it another push with these Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley and E-Smoove remixes. Both remixes outshine the original 12" version with Hurley’s Bumpin’ mix proving the killer. Jayne Tretton delivers a powerful vocal . performance, and this great house record puts the Brits up with anything coming out of the States, even though they needed the ID boys from Chicago to give it some kick. MDJ MAD ‘Respect’ (UK Cool Tempo) (124bpm) : I've been playing this off a promo for a while now, and this Aretha Franklin sampled hip-house bounder really shakes the dancefloor. Probably originating from ltaly or Belgium the rap is actually quite good and the beast kicks like a mule. This would suit any DJ with a conservative dancefloor. UNLIMITED ‘Get Ready For This’ (UK PWL) (124bpm) Currently selling by the truckload in the UK, this chart crossover hit for the PWL team is techno in origin, but highly commercial at the same time. If anyone remembers ‘Jack To The Sound Of The

Underground’ by HITHOUSE from a few years back, this is the 1991 equivalent. The only upsetting fact about this single is that KYLIE sings over it on the B-side of her new single! HUNTER HAYES ‘lt’s Not Over’ (US COLUMBIA) (118bpm) This is the first time | have heard of Hunter Hayes but | suspect from the “pure quality of this song and his wonderful voice, that he has been around the ..... soul scene for quite some time. This record is a pure joy o listen to, a disco record for the 90s with every element of dance music that was great about the 70s. Fans of the O'Jays and the Temptations could hunt this one down with a vengeance. Uplifting. BASSHEADS ‘ls There Anybody Out There’ (UK Deconstruction) (120 bpm) Soon to be released here locally by EMI, this techno smash is currently top ten in the UK. Mixing acid sounds with ltalian house breaks and AFRIKA BAMBAATA samples from his last | single, this will probably be too 5 progressive for your average NZ clubgoer but I'm playing to to death anyway. Awesome. : SIMONE ‘My Family Depends On Me’ (US Strictly Rhythm) (119bpm) The last few Strictly Rhythm releases have been quite disappointing from what is supposed to be New York's hottest label, but this perfect slice of garage makes up for everything. This track sounds like it has been lifted from Crystal Waters' album, and should be as big as ‘Gypsy Woman' with its trademark organ type keyboards, thumping drumbeat and strong female vocal. As good as anything produced by the Basement Boys. CONGRESS ‘4O Miles* (UK Inner Rhythm) (123bpm) - : Currently in big demand in Auckland, this UK club smash is the first release on Outer Rhythm’s new subsidiary label. This debuted at number one on the Music Week Dance 12" sales chart and is my fave rave record for the month. Similar in style to COLA BOY's ‘Seven Ways To Love’, this Italian style piano bounder features a beautiful sparse female vocal that will put dance floors in a frenzy. Ten out of ten.

MESSIAH ‘There Is No Law” (UK Kickin) (132 bpm) Clockin in at a massive 132 bpm, this techno stormer is a full on screaming, siren prodded, thumping raver guaranteed to clear any suburban nightclub dancefloor. According fo the

sampled lyrics in the year 1999, gangs will control the cities and there will be no law. Not surprising if music like this is still around. Available in Extended mix, rap edit and includes the instantly massive ‘ls Anyone Still Alive’ on the flip. Techno track of the year. APACHE INDIAN ‘Chok There’ (UK Jetstar (100 bpm)

The best raggamuffin track I've heard this year was ‘Move Over Indid’, the debut single from Asian born Apache Indian. But this follow up 12" is even better. The song has no real chorus, with only the continually chanted ‘Chok There!’ as a hook. - Available in original, hip hop and instrumental mixes. | dont normally like too much raggamuffin but this is essential. ‘ : ALTERN B “Activ 8 EP’ (UK Network) (128bpm) Currently in the international Top Five, this “Top one, nice one, get

sorted” prodded acidic pounding raver contains some familiar vocal samples and tons of crowd noise for maximum effect. Lots of variation in rhythm and sampling make this a track to play right to the end. Kickin. HIGHER GROUND ‘“Sugar’ (UK Cool Tempo) ‘ A great end of the night crooner and a worthwhile cover version of Mtume’s hit from a few years back. Produced by the magic Mike Percy and Tim Lever for One World Productions. Available now locally through EML. IF YOU BUY ANY RECORD THIS XMAS MAKE SURE IT IS: Out of all the great dance singles this year it would be impossible to choose one. Instead, | would have to say that any of the Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley productions from this year have been nothing short of incredible. The man

who brought us ‘Jack Your Body’ and the JM Silk project a few years back is now the most in-demand producer in the world (with David Morales and Frankie Knuckles) — so much so he has even prodyced the new PAULA ABDUL and BANANARAMA singles and made them sound good!! He now owns his own Chicago label ID Records, and I'm sure we will have a lot more from him in 1992. Meantime, 1991 has been the year of Steve Hurley. Steve “Silk” Hurley productions for 1991: JOMANDA ‘Got A Love For You' (UK Giant) D'BORA ‘Dream About You’ (US Smash) SHAY JONES ‘Are You Gonna Be There’ (US ID) YASMIN ‘Sacrifice’ (US Geffen) RODEO JONES ‘Get Wise’ (UK A&M)

M-DOC ‘Are U Wid I’ (US Smash) KIM SIMS ‘Too Blind To See It’ (US Atlantic) BANANARAMA Trippin On Your Love' (US Polygram) CRYSTAL WATERS ‘Gypsy Woman’ (UK AZM) CRYSTAL WATERS ‘Makin Happy'(UK AZM) : PAUL VARNEY ‘lf Only | Knew’ (UK White Label) CLUBLAND ‘Hold On’ (Swedish B-Tech) SIMPLY RED ‘Something Got Me Started’ (US East West) ! DANNI MINOGUE ‘Baby Love’ (UK MCA) DSK ‘What Would We Do’ (UK Polygram) - ; JAMIE PRINCIPLE “You're All I've Waited For’ (US SMASH) PRINCE ‘Get Off (US Paisley Park) GRANT ‘SAMPLE GEE’ KEARNEY