Kristine W - So Close To Me (Part 1)

The first package of remixes of her new single were released yesterday. Oscar G, Subgroover, Todd Terry, and Tony Moran with Joe Carrano provide the remixes. Oscar G's mixes have a funky old school flavor to them. The analog loop running throughout it that is also heard in the Subgroover and Todd Terry mixes, and the Latin percussion elements are a nice touch. Subgroover's mix is a bit more mainstream, but it has that late 90s filter disco sound that was really popular for a time. Todd Terry's smoother, chilled mix is delightful. Tony Moran with Joe Carrano, on their first remix together deliver a big room, Eurohouse mix with a big trancey synth riff. A percapella and synthapella of their mixes are included as well which showcase additional dimensions of their main mix. Overall, every mix is really well done, though the Todd Terry and Tony Moran with Joe Carrano ones end up being the best of the bunch.

Listen to all of the remixes here:


Purchase the digital single here (iTunes), here (Amazon), here (Juno), or here (Beatport) [DJ friendly lossless files available at Juno and Beatport]

Grade: A

Kristine W. - New and Number Ones Club Mixes Part 2

This is the second volume of the New and Number Ones album featuring some brand new remixes as well as some previously unreleased rare ones.

Here is a track by track overview of the digital edition (the CD edition does not include track 11, however "So Close To Me" is supposed to be released as single very soon):

1. Lovin' You (Soul Seekers Club Mix)
This brand new funky electro-disco rework of the hit maintains much of the melody that is characteristic of the original. It's really well-done.

2. Happiness (Twilight Club Mix)
This darker take on the song from The Power Of Music is delightful.

3. Love Come Home (Kristine W. & Frankie Pharoah vs. Bitrocka Epic Duet Mix)
The edit of this appeared on the first volume of this album. This is so uplifting and pretty.

4. Everything That I Got (Offer Nissim's Tel Aviv Mix)
This mix was released a short time after the initial remix packages had been made available. This one could be thought of as an entirely new track as it centered around some spoken parts and ad libs instead of the verses and chorus.

5. Clubland (Junior Vasquez Big Horns Club Mix)
This was done around the time of the Thunderpuss mixes and the original however this was not released properly. It has circulated on the internet, but now it's finally here in great quality. This is a festive horn-laden mix with select elements of Royal Party's "Can You Party" and Lil Louis' "The Conversation" in it.

6. Sometimes Like Butterflies (Simon Langford and Soul Seekers Summer Club Mix)
This gorgeous cover of the Donna Summer b-side appeared on the first volume of this album, however, it gets extended and a little harder here.

7. Stand in Love (Stonebridge Alternate Radio Mix)
A slightly different version of this was released a few years ago for sale through the now closed Perfect Beat digital store when they had a large number of rare and unreleased Kristine material. Stonebridge's treatment makes it more uptempo.

8. Shower the People (Welcome & Joe Carrano Vegas Nightclub Mix)
The full version of this remix was made available as a bonus download with the purchase of the "Everything That I Got" CD maxi from Kristine's website last year. The midtempo was made over into a lush disco/house floorfiller.

9. Sweet Mercy Me (Junior Vasquez Icon Club Mix)
This was also made available as part of the Perfect Beat digital release of the unreleased material, however, this is a much clearer, restored version than the one released before. This had been at the top of many collectors' wishlists for almost 15 years and it was worth the wait. This mix is quite the club anthem.

10. Wonder of It All (Joe Carrano Progressive Club Mix)
The previously unreleased mix is far more anthemic than any of the previously released mixes. This is easily one of the many highlights of this album

11. So Close to Me (Tony Moran Destination Mixshow Mix)
This brand new mix by Tony Moran and Joe Carrano is in a trancey, big room style. It ends up being more chill than anthemic as the beats could have been a little harder.

Overall, this is a solid collection of tracks as it includes some of the rarest mixes and they have been beautifully remastered.

Grade: A

Kristine W - Everything That I Got (Offer Nissim and Mr. Black Mix)

Several months after peaking at #2 on the Billboard Dance chart, this remix by Offer Nissim and Mr. Black has finally been made available to stream. This dub-styled mix centers around some of the spoken parts and a few vocal samples. It's an energetic mix that would get the crowd hyped up. It ends up being one of the best mixes of the song. It's a shame the mix never came out.

Listen to the mix here:


Grade: A

Kristine W - One More Try

Her 2nd number one hit from the mid 90s has been given new life in this special video about how so much help is needed for those affected by superstorm Sandy. Please take the time to view the video and donate to some of the organizations mentioned in the end credits if you haven't done so already.

Tony Moran - Sugarhouse Divas

Weeks after releasing a collection of songs from his recent podcast comes another one dedicated to showcasing a number of the dancefloor divas he has worked with recently and in the past. Nearly all the songs are radio edits with just a couple being mixshow length. Several new tracks including "Shine On 2012", "I Give In", "Heartbeat", "Alegria Anthem", and "Over The Rainbow" accompany the older and classic songs. "Shine On 2012" features original vocalist Cindy Mizelle. The new version is an uplifting circuit anthem. "I Give In" is another vocal anthem that had remained unreleased for at least a couple of years. The hard production calls to mind the earlier track "Rock Into Your Soul" which featured Lisa Lisa. The rousing "Heartbeat" appeared on the last collection, however this is a mixshow edit. "Alegria Anthem" is the hands-in-the-air track generally for the Alegria parties. "Over The Rainbow" is indeed a partial remake of the Judy Garland song. It is produced in the style of Tony's early 2000s mixes. Overall, this is a solid collection.

Tracklisting:

# Title	Artists
1. Shine On	Tony Moran, Cindy Mizelle
2. If I Was Your Boyfriend	Tony Moran, Anastacia
3. Live You All Over	Tony Moran, Deborah Cooper
4. Walk Away	Tony Moran, Kristine W
5. You Are	Tony Moran, Frenchie Davis
6. Rising	Tony Moran, Elizabeth Withers
7. Freedom	Tony Moran, Nicki Richards
8. Keep Your Body Workin'	Tony Moran, Martha Wash
9. I Give In	Tony Moran, Orion
10. La Musica	Tony Moran, Michelle Weeks, Trey Lorenz
11. Destination	Tony Moran, Ultra Naté
12. Heartbeat	Tony Moran, Diva Convention
13. Tenderness	Tony Moran, Deborah Cox
14. Sensation	Tony Moran, Orion
15. Alegria Anthem	Tony Moran, Zhana Saunders
16. Get Down	Tony Moran, Katherine Russell
17. Over the Rainbow	Tony Moran, Lilias White, Nicki Richards

Listen to clips and buy the release here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Kristine W - Everything That I Got

This is the latest single from the veteran Dance diva. The song is sassy and festive, recalling some of her earlier songs such as "Clubland", however, it lacks the excitement of her earlier work. Vocally she sounds great though. Bimbo Jones, Stonebridge, Subgroover, and Twisted Dee provide the remixes this time around. Bimbo Jones' mixes are straight-forward mainstream ones. Stonebridge's organ-driven mixes are surprisingly hard-hitting. Subgroover's are string-driven with a hint of electro. Twisted Dee's mix is the most anthemic of the bunch. Overall, Twisted Dee and Stonebridge deliver the best mixes of the bunch. It must be noted that the club mix and dub versions are very short (the longest version on the package is 6:23).

-The digital single is available for purchase here (iTunes)
-The CD maxi is available for purchase from Kristine's website here (purchase includes a free download of a previously unreleased remix of "Shower The People" by Welcome)

Grade: B+

Kristine W - Don't Wanna Think

This song originally appeared on Kristine's 1996 album Land Of The Living. It was to be a single and a number of remixes were completed however they were never properly commercially released until now. A couple of the versions had leaked online throughout the years. The wait is over as Champion has made them available for purchase. There are remixes by Sister Bliss, Rollo, Our Tribe, Kerri Chandler, and Junior Vasquez. Kristine absolutely shines on this underrated gem that finally sees a proper release. Most of the mixes are in the mid 90s circuit house style capturing the variety of sounds that were around at the time. Sister Bliss and Rollo's mixes are harder while Our Tribe softens things. Kerri Chandler's mixes are in a deep house vein. Junior Vasquez's mixes are every bit the anthem as one could expect from him and Fred Jorio from around that time. Only his Factory mix appears on this release while the slightly different Club mix still remains unreleased. Overall, all the mixes are excellent with the Junior Vasquez, Sister Bliss, and Our Tribe main vocal mixes being the picks of the bunch if one had to choose.

Listen to clips and purchase the mixes (both MP3s and WAVs are available):
Kristine W - Don't Wanna Think - Traxsource.com - Download Underground House and Electronic Music in WAV and MP3 format

Hopefully there are many more unreleased gems in the pipeline.

Grade: A+

Tony Moran - The Event Unmixed Total Collection 2012

The double disc compilation containing mostly brand new material was originally released in 2007 along with a modified digital edition the following year. This special unmixed edition includes 41 tracks comprised of full length versions of most of the songs that appeared on both compilations plus some alternate versions, radio edits, dubs, and some previously unreleased tracks.

Some of the highlights include the alternate mix of Kristine W's "Walk Away" that is far more hard-hitting and anthemic than the well-known original version. The full length version and alternate mixes of Nicki Richards' "Freedom" are lovely as well. The previously unavailable 10 minute Altar mix of "La Fiesta (Relive Your Kiss)" featuring vocals by Kara Dioguardi is a floorburner. The original version of that song appeared on one of Tony's compilations over a decade ago.

Overall, this is an excellent collection at a great price.

Purchase it at Amazon | iTunes

Grade: A