1999. The jazzy detroit masta… Needs no more. This will always go off.

Moodyman - Shades Of Jae

Takura

For its 225th release Freerange welcomes this exciting Austrian producer who goes by the name Demuja, you already know him if you follow closely LYO. His "Mary Janes Theory" record caused something of a stir when it came out at the start of the year on his fledgling vinyl-only label Muja. Taking his inspiration from classic deep house but with a rough and raw approach, Demuja sit proudly alongside the likes of Ross From Friends, Mall Grab or Rimbaudian riding the new wave of fresh, contemporary house.
On his Freerange debut, the Move EP offers up four original tracks, each with their own distinct flavour. Opening the release we have title track "Move" spring into action with simple Rhodes chords floating across a crisp, driving up-tempo groove showing off the deeper side to Demuja. Next up "B.o.o.m" offers us a simple yet captivating, dancefloor-focused affair with a lone, repeating piano stab hooking us into the action. Flipping over we have "Into My Brain" which brings some acid-tinged Italo vibes and a jacking beat to proceedings whilst the closing track "Turn Me On" cuts up a much-loved Paradise Garage classic for a warm, soul-infused slice of classic, bumpy house music.

LISTEN ON YOUTUBE

PREMIERE : Demuja - Turn Me On

"2 Puerto Ricans, A Black Man And A Dominican" was a short-lived house-music group featuring David Morales and Robert Clivillés (Puerto Ricans), David Cole (Black), and Chep Nuñez (Dominican). In 1987, it scored a hit in dance clubs with its debut song, "Do it Properly," the only release on Grooveline Records. The single was released in the UK on the London Records label; it entered the UK singles chart on 13 June 1987, and reached a peak of number 47, remaining in the chart for 4 weeks. Clivillés and Cole recorded in 1988 a sequel called "So Many Ways (Do It Properly Part II)" with the Brat Pack on Vendetta/A&M Records. "Do It Properly" was covered again by vocalist Deborah Cooper, who worked with C+C, in 1999 for The Collaboration.

2 Puerto Ricans A Blackman And A Dominican - Do It Properly [Morales-Clivillés-Cole-Nuñez]

This Was Belgium 1987-89 - 2 hours of New Beat favourites

New Beat was born and initially exploded in 1987, went supernova (in Belgium) in 1988 and then the formula morphed a bit and was declared dead in 1989. It was slow and initially all about the atmosphere with industrial strength beats - the main form of rhythmic propulsion being the pounding kick and heavy snare. It was often mainly instrumental and when there was lyrical content it often became more about slogans and giving commands - "Move Your Ass And Feel The Beat!", "Let There Be Brightness!", "Shout Out Loud!". While not really New Beat, it's no surprise Technotronic's "Pump Up Jam" was produced by a crew who had produced a ton of New Beat gems.

In 1989 one of New Beat's founders, Marc Grouls said "New Beat is atmosphere, beats, no lyrics, and sure as hell not commercial!!!!!" But, it was already too late. A zillion bandwagon jumpers had diluted the music and flooded the market with too many sub standard 12" singles. New Beat temple, the legendary Boccaccio nightclub, in Destelbergen, near Ghent, had been closed down and it looked like it was all over, but really, it was just the beginning. New Beat morphed into Hard Beat (many of the tracks on this mix are from the Hard Beat era) which quickly morphed into Belgian Rave, which was huge and hugely influential in the UK and is an often overlooked part of the DNA of UK Hardcore, and all that came after. Then from Ghent, R&S Records established itself as thee European Techno label and a huge wave of incredible Techno records emanated from it and many other mighty Belgian labels, but that is another story. 

New Beat arrived just as I first started DJing and I played a lot of it in my DJ sets and built up connections with several of the leading Belgian labels who would send me 12" singles so I had records nobody else here had any idea even existed. I would compile New Beat charts for the music paper The NME which may have given the impression there was a thriving New Beat scene in Scotland. The reality was very different; people here, many of whom would embrace the rave just a little while later never really took to it in a big way.

This mix is comprised of many of my personal favourites that I have loved since they came out (and two I missed at the time and only heard later). I think the tracks have aged like a fine wine, often sounding as good if not better today as they did then. There is definitely a faint whiff of fromage and a big dollop of stoopid in several of these tracks. Of course, it is not all about the cheese and many of these adhere to the "atmosphere, beats, no lyrics, and sure as hell not commercial" rule mentioned above. Some of the best programmed 303 Acid basslines ever made can be heard here along with transcendental hypno synths and those Belgian beats going on and on....! Slow and low, from under 100bpm up to 116, New Beat doesn't chug, it swings in a very distinct way. If you get to see any videos of Belgian clubs of the era, the way people moved to this music is incredible and so different to any dancing we see today.

Many of these tracks are made by the same people under various aliases, which will perhaps be audibly evident. Most of the names have been forgotten, if they were ever even known outside their native Belgium at all, but all are legends to me. 

This mix isn't any kind of attempt to tell the story of New Beat but rather a mix 33 of my favourite 12" singles from that era showing many of the various strains of the New Beat and Hard Beat sound. A lot of love went into this and I hope someone somewhere discovers this music for the first time and falls in love with it as I did way back when. This was Belgium!

This Was Belgium 1987-89 - 2 hours of New Beat favourites

"Colin was playing Hip Hop before House & Techno existed. He’s been a pioneering force in UK Techno since the 80s & was one of the founding meters of the legendary Kiss FM. His DJ & production skills are par excellent & his consistency on the decks is inspirations. Add to this that Colin is one of the loveliest people I’ve ever met. He’s humble, warm & always sports the most infectious smile. I love Colin Dale." —Mr.C

To download go to freqstream.com

FreqStream

MCL7: Mr.C Loves... Colin Dale

Label owner Imanol delivers this diverse EP with influences from 90s House, Jazz, Funk, Disco and even a bit of Acid. Side A is packed with top collaborations. Fløste with energetic and emotive vocals in 'Might B OK', Andrés Juli contributing with a funky organic bass for 'Hard Funk' followed by Panko funkier remix of 'Acid n°4'. Side B contains an instrumental version of 'Might B OK' ending with 'Acid n°4' ready to rock the dancefloor at 124bpm plus a hard kick that will make you move to the beat.

Artist: @groovimanol
Remix: @pankoba
Title: ACID N°4 
Label: @ureguay
Release: 19/11/2020
Purchase: https://ureguay.bandcamp.com/

𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙚 :  Imanol - ACID N°4 (Panko Mix)

Recorded at home (Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland) from original vinyl on Technics 1200 Mk2 turntables. 
Any crackles on the sound are thrown in for free (life has surface noise).
Over 200 minutes of back to back dance classics, one take, no post production, no monkey business. 
All credit to the originators of these amazing tracks.

The New Dance Sound of Lockdown Leith

Original vinyl. One take. No post production. 
2 turntables
1 mixer
30 year old plastic.

The New Dance Sound of Lockdown Leith

The Vinyl Dance Mix

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