Mr Fingers - Introduction

I first stumbled across this album at my then girlfriend's sister's house in Stockholm. I was looking for something to listen to while they caught up and was very surprised to see Mr Fingers in among the Groove Armada and Air. The words Larry Heard didn't mean anything to her and apparently it belonged to an old boyfriend. She didn't understand my excitement. Larry's crystal keys and Robert Owens soothing soul now just sound like Sweden to me - clean design, clean living, smooth and untroubled.

Mr Fingers - Alright - Introduction - 1992
Mr Fingers - We Can Work It Out - Introduction - 1992
Mr Fingers - On A Corner Called Jazz - Introduction - 1992

The Real Thing

You don't need me to tell you that Stevie Wonder is a genius. And a Stevie Wonder song performed by Sergio Mendes is a match made in heaven - and that's what you get with The Real Thing - just a great tune. So great, in fact, that Mateo & Matos plundered it not once, but twice - using a killer riff as the base of In The Mood following their more straight forward vocal house cover.

Sergio Mendes - The Real Thing - Sergio Mendes & The New Brazil '77 - 1977
Mateo & Matos - In The Mood - New York Rhythms Volume Two - 1998
Mateo & Matos - The Real Thing - The Many Shades Of... - 1999

Gimme Shelter

Nobody likes house any more. It gets a bad press. It's considered white van music. I don't care. Good house is good music. Here are four of the best.

Blak Beatniks - I'll Be There (Kerri Chandler Mix)
Alex & Rai - 4 The Love Of You
Mateo & Matos - Don't Ever Stop Loving
Masters At Work - To Be In Love

Paperclip People - The Secret Tapes of Dr. Eich

I love Carl Craig
He loves Carl Craig
She loves Carl Craig
We love Carl Craig
You love Carl Craig
They love Carl Craig

Released together as an album OVER 10 (TEN) YEARS AGO.

Paperclip People - Throw
Paperclip People - The Climax
Paperclip People - Clear and Present

Inner City - Paradise

Another piece of shameless nostalgia. This was one of the first tapes I ever bought. A pocket money purchase from Woolworths on Portobello Road. We'd just had the 'second summer of love' although I didn't know at the time. Paris Gray was HOT and I was too young. Who was this 'Jack' anyway? I spent my time listening to Kiss when it was still pirate with endless plays of I Feel Love, and complaining that my Mum wouldn't buy me a pair of Air Max . I've been making up for that ever since on nike-id.com. We all know and love Big Fun and Good Life, and you don't need me to tell you that it was the perfect, most accessible, feel good blend of Detroit Techno & Chicago House for the masses. But beyond those masterpieces, there were other slices of pure, unadulterated big life good fun, presented for you here in easily digestible MP3.

Inner City - Do You Love What You Feel
Inner City - Set Your Body Free
Inner City - And I Do

As a special bonus, I've also included an extended 7 min 40 version of Big Fun. Watch out for the 'piano' that opens about 4:10.

Inner City - Big Fun (Extended)

Aril Brikha

Iranian-Swedish music on Transmat. Warm, lush, enveloping synths. Worm-like bass. Cassio percussion. Tight Tight. This is how electronic music should be. Made with soul. Taken from one of my all-time favourite albums: Deeparture in Time.

Aril Brikha - Otill
Aril Brikha - Setting Sun

Two Lone Swordsmen - Spin Desire

An epic. Some giant caravan slithering its way like a caterpillar through a moonlit desert. It’s all tin pots, scrapes and muffled horns with heavily reverbed wind and stars. But it’s the bowed cello-effect bass that gives it its sliding, shuffling, persistently hypnotic groove. Deep electrohousetechno. Released on the relatively under-the-radar Stockwell Steppas EP in ‘97. 10 years old, but still fresh like lime sorbet. One Lone Swordsman is Andy Weatherall – the man whose production wizardry turned Screamadelica into a genre-busting hit.

Two Lone Swordsmen - Spin Desire

Roy Davis Jr - Michael

While I'm not a member of the God squad, it has to be said that religion has inspired some great music. Roy Davis Jr has a thing for it with song titles including Heavenly Father, Melodies from Heaven, Got 2 Get 2 Heaven and Join His Kingdom. He's especially fond of his archangels:
Gabriel (featuring Peven Everett on vocals) was a massive hit in the mid 90s - you couldn't walk into any high street shop in the UK at the time without hearing it.
Michael, a bit less brooding, is soulful house and sweet sweet music.
Where's Raphael?

Roy Davis Jr - Michael
Roy Davis Jr featuring Peven Everett - Gabriel (Live Garage Mix)