Aristofreeks feat Kathy Sledge - Keep It Movin'

This release has been getting the attention of DJs and clubbers alike during the last few months. It features the vocals of the legendary Kathy Sledge (of Disco and R&B group Sister Sledge). It is a rousing, uplifting track. The main versions are in a funky Disco/House direction. There are additional remixes by C-Rod, DJ Ting, Eric Kupper, John Rizzo, Mike Rizzo, Ranny, Razor N Guido, Serving Ovahness, Stingray, and The Degenerates. Every single mix brings something special to the table. The highlights include the Eric Kupper, Razor N Guido, and Serving Ovahness mixes. Eric Kupper delivers a Def Mix era throwback mix with lush pianos. Razor N Guido's darker mixes also utilize an organ-based hook that is further highlighted in their Duhb. Serving Ovahness delivers both a solo and collaboration mix with Alexander which make this into a peak hour circuit anthem.

Grade: A+

Sweet Rains & Reina - Forever (Remixes)

Dance Diva Reina (of "Find Another Woman", "No One's Gonna Change You", and "Miss The Way" fame) teams up with Sweet Rains on this brand new single. It is a lovely song that will work perfectly in the clubs and on radio. The main version is a nice balance between the Electro of today and the melodic House of the 90s. Additional remixes are by Nick Harvey, Nukage, Ranny, and Serving Ovahness. Nick Harvey's big room mixes are uplifting and pretty, but they still pack a punch with the hard beats. Nukage's hard Electro take works, but the aggressive chainsaw synths aren't the best match for Reina's beautiful vocals. Ranny's mix is more suited for peak hour with its tribal production. Serving Ovahness delivers a mix that is a good middle ground between peak hour and full blown anthem. Overall, the original, Nick Harvey, and Serving Ovahness ones are the best of the bunch.

Purchase the remix EP here on iTunes

Grade: A

Ranny feat. Deepa Soul - Feva (Remixes)

This collaboration of tribal producer/DJ Ranny and soulful singer Deepa Soul (of "Nowhere Love" and "As I Am" fame) has already been doing very well on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. Deepa Soul's vocals soar over the synthy big room production of the original versions. There are nearly a dozen additional remixes by Carlos Gomix, Deep Influence, E-Thunder, Gustavo Scorpio, Henriq Moraes & Ranlusy Louis Mor, John Rizzo, and Karim Cato & Raffa Vergara. Nearly all of the mixes are variations of the circuit and big room styles with the exception of the Disco/Funky House Shplank mix. Of the circuit mixes, the Deep Influence one is the best of the bunch along with the original Ranny mix.

Purchase the mixes here and here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Jamie J. Sanchez featuring Ria Spencer - Lift Me Up

2010 is still shaping up to be the year that the diva anthem returned! "Lift Me Up" is a positive song with a light spiritual aspect (it can be interpreted in a religious way as well much in the way of Vernessa Mitchell and Sabrina Johnston's work). Singer Ria Spencer's vocals are quite lovely. Jamie J. Sanchez's main version is circuit-oriented with a touch of electro. Ranny and Bryan Reyes's mix is a bit harder. Manny Lehman's is really hard and big room-oriented. Ria's vocals work a lot better on this particular version. All versions are good, but Manny's really shines.

Purchase the digital single here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A

Jipsta - I Want Your Sex

This is the Chicago-based rapper's followup to last year's club hit "Middle Of The Dancefloor." This is a cover of the popular George Michael song. Instead of singing the song, Jipsta speaks/raps it instead. As a club track, this sort of delivery of the lyrics actually works.

The main version by Mike Rizzo has a gritty, sleazy feel which is appropriate given the content of the song. Alexander & Mark VDH take the song in a darker, tribal direction. Manny Lehman's is much harder and more tribal. The After 6 mix is a bit more afterhours-ish and is quite minimal. Oscar Velazquez, Ranny, and Edson Pride's are all tribal in nature as well. Twisted Dee's is surprisingly lighter than all of the other mixes. It could be played during peak hour, but also during other times.

It's good that the package is quite extensive, There is not as much variety as there could have been. The Mike Rizzo mix is the real gem of the release. It's just right. Twisted Dee's is a close second.

Listen to the George Michael original here (YouTube)
Listen to the Jipsta version here (MySpace)

Grade: A-

Jipsta - Middle Of The Dancefloor

There have been only a few openly gay rappers that have made a lasting impression. Having been recording for just a little while, Jipsta is finally getting the attention he deserves. His current single "Middle Of The Dancefloor" could very well be the song that gets him properly introduced to the world. The lyrics talk about enjoying a night of clubbing and all that goes with that. Although the concept may be simple, the lyrics are really intelligent and witty. Compared to most rap songs out now, the lyrics actually make sense. No weird gibberish or strange words that require a dictionary to decipher.

This one is ready for the nightclubs with nearly half a dozen remixes. This song translates very well into club mixes. Edson Pride's mix is a hard, tribal stomper. Diva Nation's mix is Euro Hi NRG/Circuit bliss. The synths are spectacular. Mike Cruz and Micky Friedman's dub does not use all of the vocals, however, it has just enough vocals.. Oscar Velazquez's is a bit more minimal. Ranny's mix is very drummy and driving. Dena Cucci's mix has all these ups and downs in it that make it feel like a rollercoaster. It has a classic circuit feel with the beats and the riff that appears throughout.

Overall, the remix package is very solid. A CD single with the mixes can be purchased here.

There is also a special mashup version of this on Jipsta's MySpace that uses the infamous "Calabria" instrumental. It works quite well.

Grade: A

Rachel Panay - Repeat Performance

This is the followup to last year's "It's Got To Be Love", from 2006's Back To Love. This track made an appearance on a couple of WMC and label samplers prior to the album's release. Now it has become a single. There had been some buzz about this one by fans who had taken a liking to it. This song is not about a proper theater performance. It's about, well another kind of performance. The song's steamy lyrics are very well-written and don't feel vulgar the way some other songs in this vein have been. Produced by Guido Osorio, the song is a hard, thundering anthem. Additional remixes by Monster Taxi, Trypsin, Twisted Dee, Ranny and more will take this release to the top of DJs' playlists. The single is to be released on April 22. Preview some of the mixes at Rachel's MySpace. The album version can be purchased from most digital retailers right now.

Grade: A+(Clever, sexy and hot!)