BUY VINYL/DIGITAL: https://risque-iii.bandcamp.com/album/essence-of-a-dream
Dark Entries is again presenting an essential classic: the Chicago house anthem Essence of a Dream, by Risqué III. K’Alexi Shelby’s illustrious career has included releases on legendary labels such as Trax, DJ International, and Transmat, as well as collaborations with high profile artists such as Marshall Jefferson and Pet Shop Boys. But his musical journey began at the young age of 12, when he befriended Ron Hardy and Frankie Knuckles while frequenting the Music Box and Warehouse. In high school, he began to write songs and hone his poetic craft. “I recognized I had a gift to say what I was thinking. I would study Prince and Marvin Gaye, figure out what they meant and put my spin on it. The power of the word. I was writing love notes for all my boys in high school and making a killing. I would know what to say and what they should do.” 
In 1987, Shelby’s first solo release, Risqué III’s “Essence of a Dream” b/w “Risqué Madness,” was to be cemented in Chicago dance history. He was accompanied in the studio by his cousin and production mentor, Mr. Lee. The track’s effortlessly propulsive house rhythms (courtesy of the Roland TR-727, TR-707, and TR-909), salsa-inflected bassline, and oneiric strings fuse magnificently with K’Alexi’s steamy, Prince-esque verse. Due to tight studio schedule times, his vocals were almost omitted. Says Shelby: “The session was coming to an end and I said I wanted to put the vocals on there. They said, ‘We got no time unless you can get your vocals right in one take’. I said, ‘Let it rip’ and went into the vocal booth...they just stood there with their mouths open. The look on their faces was priceless.” The B-side’s “Risqué Madness” is a tribute to Ron Hardy, DJ at the Music Box and one of K’Alexi’s formative influences. The track opens with Shelby’s processed voice announcing "I'd like to talk to you about escape. Let me take you away, away to a place where rhythm is life, and life is a never ending sound." This introduction captures how he felt dancing to disco every week at the Music Box. Hardy was known for playing an edit of Kikrokos’ “Life is a Jungle,” in which he looped the track’s lysergic breakdown. Shelby utilizes the same delirious loop but builds upon it with additional percussion, melodies, samples from Hardy favorite “Let No Man Put Asunder” by First Choice, and manipulated vocals taken from The Madam’s “The Sensuous Black Woman”, a recording used often in early Chicago house DJ sets and recordings. Both sides of this record perfectly reflect the spirit of Chicago house music.
Essence of a Dream has been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios. The sleeve was designed by Eloise Leigh, and features a never-before-seen photo of a teenage Shelby taken at his high school, with a bold font evoking 80’s house music covers. Also included is a postcard with lyrics, an additional photo from the same session as the cover artwork, and liner notes from Shelby.

Essence Of A Dream

Risqué III - Essence Of A Dream CLIPS

Alone (Paradise Version) [Don Carlos].mp3

Para Mytho Disco

Prana & Passione

Label: KDJ ‎– KDJ 6
Format: Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM 
Country: US
Released: 1996
Genre: Electronic
Style: House

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Mastered At National Sound Corporation

Track samples: Chic - I Want Your Love. 


Moodymann - I Can't Kick This Feeling When It Hits (1996)

If We Try

If We Try (feat. Joi Cardwell) (Ambient Vocal Mix)

Players Theme

I Feel Good

01. 'Born To' by Jesca Hoop [taken from the new album 'The House That Jack Built, out now on Jesca Hoop Curuja]
02. 'Jealousy And Lies' by Julian Jonah [taken from the compilation album 'Richard Sen Presents… THIS AINT CHICAGO - The Underground Sound Of UK House & Acid 1987-1991, out now on Strut]
03. 'That's A Pretty Good Love' by Laura B & The Moonlighters [taken from the compilation album 'Snowboy Presents … New Vintage Vol. 1', out now on BBE Records]
04. 'I Call This Home' by Saint Saviour [taken from the album 'Union', out now via Surface Area]
05. 'Truth Is' by Levellers [taken from the album 'Static On The Airwaves', out now via On The Fiddle Recordings] 
06. 'Uniqorns (Quiet Village Remix)' by Ronny & Renzo [taken from the album 'Too High To Move: The Quiet Village Remixes', out now via Pyramids Of Mars]
07. 'In The Morning' by Soulsavers [taken from the new album 'The Light The Dead See', out now on V2/COOP] 


02.  Jealousy And Lies - Julian Jonah

Phlipper EP

Vizzi Vazzi

@DemiRiquisimo is returning to his in-house imprint, Semi Delicious, with his second EP and ready to pick up where he left off with the aptly titled ‘Mysterious EP’, dropping today (3rd May 2019). The only vinyl release imprint saw his first EP lock in huge support from names like Optimo, Rex The Dog, Horse Meat Disco, Theo Kottis, Skream, Loods, Auntie Flo, Simian Mobile Disco and Tensnake, and even a coveted premiere on BBC Radio 1 by Pete Tong himself, while this one did not fail to get the attention of the infamous BBC1 “Danny Howard” claiming that he knew little about Demi but quite literally he would have played all the four tracks after receiving this EP in his inbox.

Opening with Pa De Chevaux, the chugging Bootsy Collins-style topline bass works in harmony with the vocal sample to create something so deliciously funky that you’ll still be moving long after the track ends. Fans of A Lifetime On The Hips are in for a treat on A2 as Certified revives the former’s stomping 4/4 kick and delivers one of the naughtiest modulated acid-arp basslines to ever grace the dancefloor. Enter lush chords, dreamy vocal sampling and wonderfully pacey hi-hats, and you’ve got one of the EP’s strongest tracks.

On the B-side, the quality doesn’t let up and you’re reminded that each track could easily be the lead. The title track, Mysterious, is a clear follow-up to Sarong Song with the perfect combination of acid basslines, 808 kicks and an array of live strings, organs, and horns mixed in to pack plenty of punch. Tagine Machine leads with an afro-centric percussive intro before delving into the depths of tough, synth-laden electro-disco. Inspired by a trip to Morocco and the sights and sounds that the souks of Marrakesh are filled with, Tagine Machine reflects the breadth of Demi’s musical inspiration. Bringing together elements of acid, disco, house and everything in-between, Demi Riquísimo once again demonstrates why he’s quickly becoming one of the most exciting talents on the scene.

Release Date - 03/05/19

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfM5lEfNWWU&t=139s

SInchi Blog: https://www.sinchi-collective.com/premiere-demi-riquisimo-tagine-machine-semi-delicious/

If We Try (feat. Joi Cardwell) (Ambient Vocal Mix)

Lectroluv, Fred Jorio, Joi Cardwell