Roy Davis Jr. feat. Robert Owens - Slide (Mile End Records)

Mile End Records is pleased to present their latest release, “Slide,” which is a collaboration between two undisputed legends of house music: Roy Davis Jr. and Robert Owens. The song marks the first single off Roy’s upcoming full length album for Mile End Records - Destroy and Rebuild - due worldwide later this year. Roy Davis Jr. is known globally for his anthemic catalog of soulful, Chicago-style house with R&B influences. Robert Owens’ voice is recognizable on countless house music classics including the seminal “I’ll Be Your Friend.” Needless to say this meeting of the minds makes perfect sense.

While “Slide” seems predestined to move dance floors, the excitement is in how it accomplishes its magic. A slight acid bass line shimmies away layered in with deep, shifting pads and a short, reverberating stab that creates an upswing in the groove. Robert Owens sings in the way that only he can, with a slight echo effect leaving lingering trails and creating continuity between multiple vocal parts. Introduced by the onset of piano keys towards the end of the song, the heated singing turns to cool talking.

What would this release be without more heavy hitters on remix duties? A fellow Chicagoan with a lengthy history dating back to the ’80s, DJ Skull really gives the track an authentic rawness exemplified by that classic era. While based in the UK, Luke Solomon (Classic Music Company) at some point was certainly bit by the Chicago bug, evidenced by his longtime label collaboration with the Windy City’s Derrick Carter. Luke really works out the drums in his remix and adds off-kilter bleeps with string like filtered acid sounds. Moving on to one of Canada’s top talents, Andy Roberts (Mixed Signals Music) also reinvents the track’s drums, but chooses organs, chimes, and a more hardy bass over the others’ 303 sounds. Berkshire’s James Blakstar John is up next and holds his own with active, filtered key sounds taking the forefront along with some playful vocal rearrangement.

Roy Davis Jr. and Robert Owens have attracted an all-star cast on Mile End Records that would make it hard for anyone to just let this package slide.

Graeme Park - “Love Roy, love Robert, love this. Yes!”
Doc Martin - “There are some very good mixes here … all have something to offer. Support!”
Tom Findlay (Groove Armada) - “Luke Solomon’s on fire … I love this mix.”
Abicah Soul - “I love this tune. The remixes are great.”
Gene Hunt (Rush Hour / Dope Wax) - “Nice … I’m digging this.”
Claudio Coccoluto - “Real deep music.”
Fabrice Lig (Motech / Fine Art) - “Wow … I love the DJ Skull remix! Its atmosphere and funk … superb!”
Andy Compton (The Rurals) - “Great stuff!”
CJ Mackintosh - “The original mix for me … deep.”
Julius Papp - “I’m digging the James Blakstar John remix.”
Mark Farina - “I like it!”
Lars Behrenroth (Deeper Shades of House) - “Andy Roberts’ mix sounds nice.”
Nacho Marco - “Tune!”
Shane Johnson (Fish Go Deep) - “Nice range of remixes but it’s the original that stands out for me. The groove and vocal build beautifully right to the end.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) - “Gorgeous stuff here … I’m really liking the priginal and Andy Roberts versions, and that’s a great vocal as ever from Mr. Owens.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Cool remixes across the board, but it’s all about the original for me …great pace, wicked bass groove, and the unmistakable vox which still take me back to hearing ‘Tears’ at the Hacienda in my youth.”
Willy Sanjuan (House Kingdom Radio Show) - “No words … simply amazing.”
Andrew Duke (In The Mix) - “Two legends indeed. This is superb stuff. Will definitely be playing this out.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “The dee’n’thrilling old school inspired rhythms together with the unrivaled vocals of Robert Owens are guaranteed to put a spell on you.”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Gramme - Remix EP #1 (Tummy Touch Records)

After more than a decade of silence – no gigs, no music, no nothing – Gramme return with their debut album Fascination on Tummy Touch Records. The cult around the band and their lone release, the Pre-Release EP, continued to grow as the likes of James Murphy and Trevor Jackson began name-checking them. Then in 2011 some mysterious 12“ bootlegs of ”Like U” began to appear, with edits by Joe Goddard of Hot Chip, and a few months later self-released white labels begin to circulate with new Gramme material. Those recent EP’s have gone on to form Fascination, the first full studio album by Gramme, ten years in the making. Hot on the heels of the album release are remixes of the tracks by various pals and fans of the band. Fiery versions of already incendiary material make up Remix EP #1 which features the production pyrotechnics of Luke Solomon, 2 Bears (featuring the aforementioned Joe Goddard), Filey Selassie, and Headman / Robi Insinna. The mixes retain the disco-punk flavor of Gramme’s original masterpieces while joyfully hurling them into uncharted dance floor territory. Four tracks not to be missed, primed and ready to ignite.

Tom Findlay (Groove Armada / Lovebox) - “The 2 Bears remix is great, and Luke Solomon’s has plenty of swing.”
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “Amazing music.”
Atnarko - “The 2 Bears remix of ‘Too High’ is awesome … support!”
Tensnake - “What a remix pack, only great names on it. Headman’s acid take is my favourite.”
Gavin Hardkiss (Hawke) - “Solid rocking mixes all round … I’ll enjoy playing all of them.”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “I dig the Headman mix because of its crazy disco feel, but Luke Solomon’s acid mix and the 2 Bears house mix are equally likely to find their way to the dance floor. Plus, that Filey Selassie mix is bananas.”
The Magician - “The 2 Bears remix is great … I’ll play it for sure!”
Danny Ashenden (C90s / Earl Grey) - “All the remixes are awesome … rare!”
Sleazy McQueen - “Totally!”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “Wow, what a package for such an amazing band. All mixes are on fire.”
Ray Mang - “Solid release!”
Ant Plate (Rhythm Plate / YSE) - “Heavy beats! I really like thump of Filey Selassie and his remix, but I think its Luke Solomon’s bleepy acidic mix that does the trick for me.”
Flash Atkins (Paper Recordings) - “Love the Headman mix’s boogie juice!”
UnaBombers - “Very strong. Hard to call but the 2 Bears mix is standing out right now. Nice!”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “The Filey Selassie mix is amazing!”
Bill Brewster (djhistory.com) - “I really like the Headman mix out of all of them … Luke Solomon’s mix is nice, too.”

Available now from Beatport and The Tummy Touch Store.