Review: Fouk feat. Debórah Bond – Loving At First Sight (Reel People Music)

Needless to say, some folks will say "Fouk me!" when they first hear this, and they'd me right - its the equivalent of love at first sight.

Need to catch up with Reel People Music after 'Dance With Me', the Ezel Remixes of Mothers Favorite Child & Saeeda Wright's top track (see review HERE) and this a winner from those Fouk brothers (double Dutch you might say) who clearly are in love with the vocals of US R&B star Debórah Bond.

The instrumental version is a urgent UKG synth house shuffle that wants to make you fall in love with the vocal mix all over again.

Ready for all those big tune summer festival sets; you'll be lovin' this.

Artist: Fouk feat. Debórah Bond 

Title: Loving At First Sight 

Release date: 9th August, 2024

Label : Reel People Music

Catalog Number : RPM120

Format:  Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Mothers Favorite Child & Saeeda Wright – Dance For Me (Ezel Remixes) (Reel People Music)

If you were excited to here Mothers Favorite Child's last release, wait 'til you here Ezel's remixes of 'Dance For Me'!

You'll recall Mothers Favorite Child & Robin S on 'Tonight' as remixed by Opolopo (see review HERE) and you might be thinking, Saeeda Wright and Ezel aren't as well known as the last release - well forget that as this is even better!

But if you're after some name dropping, Ms Wright did work with Prince whilst Ezel is the Dominican Republic's version of Opolopo as he's done loads of remixes and run his own soulful house label, Bayacou Records for decades .

'Dance For Me' really bounces away in a 80s soulful synth way (to the fore on the crackin' instrumental version with the big organ and bubblin' bassline) and Saeeda's vocals on the original and edit versions: put all three together and that's neally 20 minutes of boogie to dance to.

This is the third in the series so far, the first being another with Saeeda that perhaps was too overtly a tribute to Prince, 'Purple Funk' again with Opolopo remixes but then we all miss Prince (RIP).

Mothers Favorite Child (aka Paris Toon) is clearly got his finger on the soul-funk pulse of Brooklyn so looking forward to more from him very soon. 

Artist: Mothers Favorite Child & Saeeda Wright 

Title: Dance For Me (Ezel Remixes)

Release date: 10th November, 2023

Label : Reel People Music

Catalog Number : RPM120 / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Reel People feat. Angela Johnson – Can’t Stop (Michael Gray Remixes) (Reel People Music)

Michael Gray seems to be really busy at the moment with his DJing. radio shows, his own productions and remixes but he's found time to go back, way back to re-work 'Can't Stop', Reel People's anthem featuring Angela Johnson; it's like he can't wait for the weekend to begin.

And it's going to be a long weekend as there's five remix versions; even the radio edit is 4 minutes long!  In addition to the original remix and radio edits, there's a reprise, dub and instrumental versions.

The original was released 20 years ago with remixes by Dennis Ferrer and the next year, Kenny Dope's 4 track remix 12" was released so Mr. Gray is in exalted company with his own remix release.

A Gilles Peterson favourite back in the day for its house-nu-jazz-funk vibe, Gray's still in that area but with his Defected/Glitterbox leanings to the fore.

Whether it's the original or this remix, we're No. 1 dancefloor/boat party 'Can't Stop' excited as together we can fly!

PS. Don't forget Reel People's latest album from early this year, 'Love2' (see review HERE)

Artist:Reel People feat. Angela Johnson 

Title: Can’t Stop (Michael Gray Remixes) 

Release date: 27th October, 2023

Label : Reel People Music

Catalog Number : RPM117 / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Atjazz & Shea Soul - Home (Reel People Music)

As all fans of Atjazz know, there's never going to be a moment when a new release from him or Atjazz Record Company isn't going to be of the highest quality; so why should his latest collaboration with Shea Soul be any different?

No reason at all, equally as mesmorizing as the recent release on Atjazz's label by Mr OFFBeat (see review HERE) but here on Reel People Music it's got that throbbing soul sound that's perfectly captured by Shea Soul; I'll even forgive the "Na, Naa, Nana, Naa, Naaahs".

As origin, radio edit and instrumental versions it'll get you on the dancefloor in a end of summer last hurrah before you get safely home.

PS. Don't forget the label only just released this killer by Mothers Favorite Child and the legendary Robin S called 'Tonight' as remixed by Opolopo - see review HERE)

Artist: Atjazz & Shea Soul 

Title: Home

Release date: 29th September, 2023

Label : Reel People Music
 

Catalog Number : RPM113 Digital / Bandcamp

Review: Mothers Favorite Child & Robin S - Tonight (Opolopo Remixes) (Reel People Music)

Reel People love Mothers Favorite Child and 'Tonight' is with 'the' Robin S and it's remixed by 'the' Opolopo: sounds like tonight's the night.

Robin S (aka Robin Stone) has been a vocalist on numerous hits since her debut back in 1992 and Opolopo who's been remixing and editing for over 20 years including last years' 'Sunshine' featuring Angela Johnson on the same label as this one (the Atjazz remix as featured on the compilation, Soulful, Deep & Dope Ibiza 2023 - see review HERE).

And whilst we love an instrumental at YATM, when you're instrument is as good as Ms. Stone's, we say, you should keep it in ('house', you could even add)

There no suprise that Opolopo prides himself with the quantity and quality of his productions and be prepared for his next album with is coming out as a joint project with the previouslly mentioned Angela Johnson.

P.S. by coincidence, Defective Records are showing the video of Robin S on Top Of The Pops "30 years ago... Unbelievable performance"; 'Show Me Now' [1973] 

Artist: Mothers Favorite Child & Robin S 

Title: Tonight (Opolopo Remixes)

Release date: 11th August, 2023

Label : Reel People Music

Catalog Number : RPM119 / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Various - Soulful Deep & Dope Ibiza 2023 (Reel People Music)

If you're going to, are at or coming back from Soulful Deep & Dope Ibiza this summer, here's the compilation soundtrack with 20 big tunes of Soulful Deep & Dope Ibiza 2023! 

This is such a good of a tracklisting, it's like Reel People have been reading YATM!  We've got Risk Assssment featuring Monica Blaire with the vocal mix of 'It's Not right But It's OK' (see review HERE), Technoir's 'Techtube' (Turbojazz & Sean McCabe Remixes) (see review HERE), Thakzin & Ray T's 'Don't Let Me See' (Jimpster Remix) (see review HERE), the 'tribute' to Prince, the Opolopo remix of 'Purple Funk' by Mothers' Favourite Child and Saeeda Wright and Reel People themselves (see review HERE) with their favourite guests including Angela Johnson, Muhsinah and Vanessa Freeman.

As a collection of originals and remixes (check these guys, Sir LSG & The Bless, Tony Momrelle Louie Vega, Dennis Ferrer plus Soulful Deep & Dope regulars DJ Spinna, Scott Diaz, Osunade, Atjazz, Emmaculate and many more) you're going to be hard pressed to find a better or deeper collection to sort out your summer party celebrations (from white isle to Inverness).

It's so packed with quality it's very hard to pick out some favourites, but here's trio that haven't been mentiond above: The Layabout's remix of 'Free' by legendary Stephanie Mills (blimey, apparently she was Dorothy in the original "The Whiz"), the 'Beautiful' by Mood II Swing featuring Lea-Lorien and 'Packing For Chicago' by Zo! featuring Muhsinah [again] with the Terrt Hunter Remix.

So whilst you're packing for Ibiza, make for you pack this and have a great time.

Artist:Various Artists

Title: Soulful Deep & Dope Ibiza 2023 (Reel People Music)

Release date: 28th July, 2023

Label : Reel People Music

Catalog Number : RPMDC020 / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Reel People - Love2 (Reel People Music)

If you're thinking, Reel People, what happened to them?  Well don't because this new album is like nothing has happened to them over the 20 years since their debut album except that they are even better now!

Hard to believe I know but lets reel off who has joined the trio of soul/jazz/house legends Oli Lazarus, Mike Patto and Toni Economides on this ten track album; Raheem DeVaughn, Muhsinah, Chantae Cann, Michael Champion, Paula, Jill Rock Jones, Eric Roberson and Arrested Development’s Speech.

If we go back to Gilles Peterson's Golden era V1.0 (pre-BBC 6 Music, No iPlayer, very early Internet, Etc...), you'd see Reel People regularly on his Radio 1 late night show tracklisting and their 12s would be in all the trendy London records shops with the sleeves showing who all the 'guest' singers are like Vanessa Freeman, Angela Johnson and even flautist Nathan Haines.

So there's been a big buzz about this especially as the single, 'Everything’s So Crazy' featuring Jill Rock Jones is so good low slung beach beats with Jones proving orange is the new black.  But before that, Eric 'Erro' Roberson (who, back in 2004 shared a Gilles Peterson Worldwide Exclusives 10" with much missed TY - RIP) shows he's still serious soulful on 'Save A Lil Lov' which has enough synth bump to be the next single.

And you could say that of lots of the other tracks here, 'If I Was Your Man' (feat. Michael Champion), 'Deja Vu (featuring Raheeem DeVaughn; yep! that's Grammy nominated Raheeem) and 'Dance In Her Eyes' (feat. Chantae Cann & Dayne Jordan).  Sounding very Jazz FM / Solar Radio "bringing you soul, jazz, funk, soulful house, R&B and so much more". 

And on that subject, Speech gets out his inner Incognito / Brand New Heavies on 'I Never Knew' (massive at Southport Weekender I hear: that Peterson still gets all the best tunes early - be prepared for his We Out There Festival later this year) and you can match that with 'Something New' with Muhsinah on a bossa tip that's been beautifully produced (a favourtie of DJ Andy 'Delectabeats' Garvey).

Atlanta-based singer Paula gets on two tracks, the downtempo 'Vibe' and 'Fly' that are beyond love; "Love2" you might say.

There is no denying that this is fantastically crafted with great vocal performances and musicianship which will be playing on repeat.  I predict, this'll be massive worldwide as it feels like deja vu all over again.  

Artist: Reel People
Title: Love2
Release date: 24th March, 2023
Label : Reel People Music
Catalog Number : RPMCD008 / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

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