Gomi & Lea Lorien - Hold On

Veteran producer Gomi teams up with singer Lea Lorien (of David Morales "How Would U Feel" fame) on this new release. The soulful track recalls early 90s House. Despite the throwback sound, it sounds very current as well. Every aspect of the production is incredible. Lea Lorien delivers another stunning vocal. With the right promotional push, this has the potential to be a big hit in the clubs and on Dance radio.

Listen to the main version here:


Purchase the song here (TraxSource)

Grade: A

Antigen feat Andrea Martin - So What

Antigen is a collaboration of House heavyweights Gomi and Hani. This song originally came out in 2005, however, some brand new mixes have been completed. The 2005 versions have been remastered. They are delightful throwbacks to the heyday of Disco from the orchestra to the bassline to Andrea Martin's warm, divatastic vocals. The new Extra Sauce mixes are deeper and softer. They lose much of the Disco flavor of the earlier versions. These are great as well. 

Purchase all the mixes here (Beatport)

Grade: A

Gomi and Don Philip - It's A Good Thing (Remixes)

Don Philip was most notably an early duet partner of Britney Spears on her first album. After parting ways with the major label he was signed to, he released several albums independently. He auditioned on the 2nd season of X-Factor, however, it didn't go quite as planned.

"It's A Good Thing" was quietly released earlier this year. He teams up with longtime producer/programmer/DJ Gomi for this song. Don's vocals are quite good. Despite the simple lyrics, they are good. The uptempo song could easily be on Pop radio right now if were to be worked there. There are some club-oriented remixes by Gomi with Rasjek and Yasuo Yamada. The Gomi with Rasjek mix is more mainstream. It is just as suitable for radio as it is for the clubs. The Gomi with Yasuo Yamada one is harder. Overall, every version is great.

Purchase the digital single here:
-Original Amazon
-Gomi with Rasjek mixes Amazon | Beatport

-Gomi with Yasuo Yamada Amazon | Beatport

(these versions are available at nearly all digital music stores)

Grade: A

Audio Assembly feat. Paul Mahos & New Life Crisis

This is the latest original track from red hot production trio Audio Assembly (aka Joel Dickinson, John Michael DiSpirito, and Billy Waters) featuring the vocal talents of Paul Mahos of Rock band New Life Crisis. New Life Crisis is best known for their song "Daylight", which was remixed for the dancefloor by Tony Moran. On "Sway", Mahos delivers a rousing glam rock vocal that would make Freddie Mercury proud had he still been with us. There are remixes by Audio Assembly, Gomi, and Nick Harvey. Audio Assembly's mix is long and hard with dark synth stabs. Gomi's mix is trancey and hard. The production is so pretty with or without the vocals. Nick Harvey's mix has tons of blinding synths coupled with hard beats. All 3 have done a kickass job on their respective mixes. This is an excellent release.

Listen to clips and purchase the release here (Beatport)



 Grade: A+

Raven O - Hold On To Faith

Multi-talented performer Raven O's latest single "Hold On To Faith" is a piano-driven inspirational song. It is very much in the vein of Kim English, Vernessa Mitchell, and Sabrina Johnston's brand of club-oriented Gospel music. Produced by Gomi, the main version features positive lyrics and uplifting choir harmonies. Raven plus the choir make for an irresistible combination. Audio Assembly really take this one to church with their anthemic remix treatment. Every aspect of the remix production is excellent.

-Purchase the original mixes here (Amazon)
-Purchase the Audio Assembly mixes here (Amazon)
(Beatport has these as well)

Grade: A+

Cashetta - The Winner Takes It All

This is another remake of the oft-remade ABBA classic. Renowned stage performer Cashetta takes on this song, giving it a dark, melancholy feel. The production on Gomi's remix plays up that darker aspect as well. The energetic, Eurodance-sounding production is really lush and complements the vocals. This isn't the best cover of the song, however, it is worth checking out.

-View the music video here (YouTube)
-Purchase the digital single here (DJ Download)

Grade: B

Jay Williams - Could This Be Love

Best known for the songs "Sweat", "Look Me Up, and "Testify" during the 90's, Jay Williams is back with a new song entitled "Could This Be Love." He doesn't stray too far from the introspective and uplifting songs he has become known for. Jay's vocals are great as usual. The main Classic versions are indeed very classic sounding. They could easily pass for something from the 90's during the heyday of classic, soulful house. Gomi maintains a similar vibe throughout his mix, as do the 1200 Warriors on their slightly minimal mix. On the three different JW mixes, the sound is a little tougher on the Vintage Soul mix, more tribal, circuit-oriented on the Tribal House mix, and full on dance/rock hybrid on the Electro Headbanger mix. Overall, there's a little something for everyone. The Classic and Gomi versions are standouts.

Purchase the CD maxi at Perfect Beat, digital single at Amazon

Check him out on his website

Grade: A-

DJ Escape - Global Groove: Dance

This is his latest mixed CD for Centaur Records. It is filled with a number of productions that he did with fellow collaborators Dom capello, Tony Coluccio and Johnny Vicious. The significant majority of the songs and remixes on the comp have not been released in any form previously.

The energy of the entire set does not let up until it is over. There are some ebbs and flows and changes in the intensity, but it just keeps getting harder and more frenetic. Most of the songs are vocal oriented. Some standouts include the two Sunshine Anderson cuts that both begin and end the set. "Force Of Nature" was given a very limited release on a 12" a couple years ago. Those two tracks are highly underrated. Other highlights of the mix are "Bad, Bad Boy" (which was recently released as a single), "Love Sets You Free", "Sweat", and "Give It On Up." All of the songs chosen for the set are great though.

The compilation will be released in physical form on April 14, 2009. It is available digitally at SoundPost already.

Tracklisting:
01. Sunshine Anderson - Problems (DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious Mix)
02. Erin Stevenson - Sweat (DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious Mix)
03. Salme Dahlstrom - C'mon Y'all (Tribal Injection Low End Mix)
04. Rivera & Schmitz - I Want Candy (Lee Schmitz & Oliver Schmitz Mix)
05. DJ Timbo & Friends - Go Go Girl (Twisted Dee Mix)
06. Edson Pride - Sweet Dreams (Original Mix)
07. DJ Escape & Eddie Baez - Give It On Up (Original Mix)
08. Charlotte - Skin (DJ Escape 2009 Mix)
09. The Perry Twins featuring Niki Haris - Bad, Bad Boy (DJ Escape & Dom Capello Mix)
10. Mena Heaven - Open Up Your Mind (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Mix)
11. Charlie featuring Pablito Drum - Love Sets You Free (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Club Mix)
12. DJ Gomi featuring Yasmeen - Glad I Found You (Soulstice Mix)
13. Sunshine Anderson - Force Of Nature (DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious Mix)

Grade: A

Ari Gold - Human

Dance/R&B/Pop singer Ari Gold's latest single is a partial cover of The Human League's song of the same name. The main version is a nice R&B/Pop track. Ari's voice is really great on this one. In usual fashion, there are plenty of remixes and alternate versions of this. Gomi's R&B Mix is very similar to the original. Skinner's Black President Mix is in a similar vein as well, however it is much more uptempo. The Dr. Brooks, Gomi, Lost Daze, and Mendy mixes are all funky house-oriented. All are quite good. There is an additional R&B-oriented mix by Steve Skinner which contains samples from "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby and the Range. It's the same set of samples that were used in 2Pac's "Changes." The samples fit in perfectly. It's the first track on Ari's MySpace Music Player right now ("The Human Way It Is").

Watch the eye-catching video here (YouTube)

Buy the CD maxi single here (Perfect Beat). Amazon.com and Best Buy will be selling it online on March 3 and February 24, respectively.

Grade: A