Review: Andrew Sant ft. Pauline Taylor - Into The Wild (F*CLR Records)

As climate change brings Seasonal storms to our shores,  F*CLR release 'Into The Wild' by Andrew Sant and Pauline "Let This Be A Prayer" Taylor.

We know Mr Sant can spot a  collaboration in the making as recent outings include 'Love Honor Respect; ft. Kameelah Waheed (see review HERE) and the Bon Voyage x Andrew Sant 'High Power 2023 Rework EP' (see review HERE).  As we approach the party season, he excels with this one as Ms. Taylor adds something of the spiritual as they venture 'Into The Wind' of house.

There's an instrumental to go with it but it's the vocal version that pulls you in, reminding me a little of Cynda's 'The Power' (Ashley Beedle House For Real Vocal Mix) so perhaps those North Street West tricksters will have an extended remix for us.

Talking of Mr Beedle, if you were lucky enough to tune into 1BTN's Ashley Beedle Day featuring Mrs Ramrock aka Jo Wallace or want to 'Listen Again' [links HERE], don't forget the Go Fund Me page LINK for this legend of so many scenes.

PS. TONIGHT: Ministry Of Sound, London.....'Dance For Ashley' has eclipsed Ashley's (and everyone's) wildest expectations - to say that the dance community has rallied round to support Ashley is an understatement. There will be tickets on the door at £25 https://ra.co/events/2031138

Artist:Andrew Sant ft. Pauline Taylor
Title: Into The Wild
Release date: 29th November, 2024
Label: F*CLR Music
Cat. No: FCLR036
Format: Bandcamp / Digital

Review: CJ Cooper - Live Love Give ft. Robert Owens (F*CLR Records)

I can't imagine how many records/tracks Robert Owens has appeared on but what you can be 100% sure about is that when you see his name, you're guaranteed that his performance is superb.

Not only that, because of his pre-eminence as 'the voice of house music', he's got a lot of reputation to uphold.  So when CJ Cooper, [deep breath] the Radio Show host - D3EP.com, producer, remixer and DJ at Festivals and clubs including LGBT+ favourite, The Eagle Taven, alongside Horse Meat Disco, presented Owens with the track 'Live Love Give' to consider, the pair of them knew that this is an anthem for the summer soul-house vibes all around the world; Inverness to Ibiza, 'Frisco to Disco, etc. And so did F*CLR for that matter.

'Live Love Give' is getting lots of radio airtime but you know that the YATM office likes a dub and there's an instrumental too! Big keys and space synths, it's like a modern day Lonnie Liston Smith ready to expand your mind and dancing feet.

Forever we love you Robert and I shudder to think how good a North Street West remix would be; but that's (possibly) for another day - in the meantime, Live, Love, Give.

Artist: CJ Cooper feat. Robert Owens

Title: Live Love Give

Release date: 28th July, 2023

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : FCLR025

Format :  Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Descendants ft. Mazen Bedwei - Telling Lies (The Remixes EP) (F*CLR Records)

Are you ready for more 'Telling Lies'?

You will be when I tell you that 'The Remixes EP' not only has the North Street West team (better known to their friends and family as Ashley Beedle, Darren Morris and Jo Wallace) but also a Dan Tenor-City and Laroye version as a NYC Dub!

For those that recall Dan Tenor City's 12" on BBE, 'Oba' it will come as no surprise this  remix partnership with Laroye (Freerange, Local Talk, If It Ain't Jazz and more) is deep house, jazz-funk, disco-boogie dub and "we can see what they've done to me".  The big strings, the atmospheric semi-Italo piano, hot organ and the vocals with that element of echo makes it just mesmersizing.

Fans of Ramrock Records and F*CLR will know that the North Street West remix pose can match that and they've done a vocal, a 'Step Up' Dub and included an instrumental version.  I defy you not to love 'em all but the instrumental really gets those strings in a Detroit position ready for the organ, synth and horn stabs. Brilliant!

I don't think that we went overboard with out review of the original release of this one (see review HERE) but the only way to get full satisfaction is to get both the original and the remix packages: they'll drive you crazy with love for all the tracks and you definitely won't be able to take 'em away from me.

Did someone say, "Hectic Extension"?

Artist: The Descendants ft. Mazen Bedwei 

Title: Telling Lies Remixes EP

Release date: 24th March, 2023

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : FCLR Digital / Bandcamp

Review: The Descendants ft. Mazen Bedwei - Telling Lies (F*CLR Records)

The Descendants 'Telling Lies' featuring the vocals of Mazen Bedwei on F*CLR Records is so good! And I'm not lying.

When I said, "lets have more from F*CLR [pronounced F.Star.Clear]" when reviewing Wearing Shoes' EP, 'Never Pretend' (review HERE), I didn't think we'd hear so quickly or with such a different sound!

'Telling Lies' is full-on with big strings (as if we're going to go disco), post Italo-piano, a little bit of dubby echo and massive soulful vocals that's as good as any UK club scene from Acid Jazz onwards. 

In fact, this is so good the instrumental version will kill you with the strings alone; if you're lying by a pool at sunset, you'll get ya boogie bathers on when the DJ plays this one for some deep end action.

The name, The Decendants, comes from the fact that this a a family affair with Johnny 'Primed' Cooper, his son Matt & Jeff Cooper.  All have been involved with music for a long time; from Incognito to Outside (D'n'B) to Mazen being on tour with Leroy Hudson.

You might think that this would tend to be derivative but F*CLR those thoughts and get busy with this.  

And rumour has it that some monster remixes are on there way so prepare yourself with these original versions.

Artist: The Descendants ft. Mazen Bedwei 

Title: Telling Lies EP

Release date: 10th March, 2023

Label : F*CLR Music .

Catalog Number : FCLR017 Digital / Bandcamp