Big & Funky

Alex Kenji, Frederico Scavo - Just 4 You
Buy on Beatport | Listen on YouTube
Released by Hotfingers in August 2011

I really hope this sound will make a comeback soon, 'cause I've greatly missed these kind of tracks with a nice warm summery mood instantly making you feel good. Just 4 You features a vocal hook, a funky bassline and big breakdowns – the party is guaranteed. Mad love to Kenji and Scavo for this track!

Kosmetique - III (Kaspar Kochker Remix)
Buy on Beatport | Listen on YouTube
Released by Stardust Records in October 2011
The second big funky house banger comes from Stardust Records. Here we (of course) also have a very funky bassline, but this time instead of just a vocal melody there's also an sax and a funky guitar! The kick drum and drumwork too might seem a bit annoying first, but once they blend in the mix with all other elements the track starts working very nicely.



P.S. Fun fact: these tracks are almost equally long!

Shine Fish Knows His House

Shine Fish vs. Lisa Millett - I'll Be Good (Bootleg Remake)
Released in February 2011 | Listen on YouTube

Shine Fish vs. Marc Evans - The Way You Love Me (Bootleg Remake)
Released in November 2008 | Listen on YouTube

I present to you: two of the tightest remakes (or more like remixes though) of these house classics by Finnish house mastermind Shine Fish. You can instantly hear that this guy knows his percussion. The drum sets are very coherent and firmly complement the overall groove. Secondly you'll hear that this guy also knows a thing or two about making groovy basslines. In both tracks my favourite moment is when the bass comes in, really gluing the track together. There are plenty more tracks by Shine Fish than just these, check out the links at the bottom of the post.

Shine Fish has been busting out feel-good house tracks since 2007, although at a rather varying (and mostly sparse) density. Unfortunately, the last year or so has been very quiet, but on the brighter side, we still have all his earlier productions which don't tend to wear out easily.

I regularly wonder why this dude isn't already world-famous. Shine Fish's talent is obvious to everyone who has heard his work and I'm yet to hear a track by him that I don't love. On the other hand, his still modest popularity also offers an upside: all of this tracks are free.




Shine Fish @ SoundCloud
Shine Fish @ Mikseri.net (Finnish music portal)
Shine Fish @ klubitus.org (Finnish clubbing site)

Serial Thriller

Serial Thrilla - Hit The Club
Buy on Beatport | Listen on YouTube
Originally Released in April 2011 by Tasty Recordings

Serial Thrilla - Its Your Turn
Buy on Beatport | Listen on YouTube
Originally Released in November 2009 by Tasty Recordings

Tasty Recording's Serial Thrilla just released their first album/compilation "Dance To It" a couple months back featuring many of Serial Thrilla's tracks from the past years. These two are the ones I hadn't heard of before, but all of the tracks are worth checking out nonetheless.

Serial Thrilla have always been loyal to their style: a sampled disco loop with vocals repeating the name of track and a nice and funky set of percussion. And these tracks do not come short of this description. Put on the music and get discotized!

Took A Sip Of Something Poison

Foster The People - Helena Beat (Kreap's Disco Fiasco Mix)

Kreap @ SoundCloud / Facebook

Kreap is such a don. I'm always religiously waiting for a new track from this Melbourne-based producer as he never fails to deliver the funk with his sexy disco gems.

This track is no different. Kreap takes the vocal from Foster The People's indie pop anthem and builds an awesome French House meets Nu Disco track around it. Groovy drums, filtered samples and a hook that very cleverly pays homage to Duck Sauce, what more can you ask for?

He also just released a brilliant new original track on Homebreakin, stream it here and go get it on Juno.

Forever

Sonny Fodera – Forever
Buy on Beatport / Juno Download / Traxsource
Released by Beatdown in February 2010

I don't know how I missed this back in early 2010 when it was released, because this release is funkin' awesome! But better late than never, I present to you: Sonny Fodera's 4-track EP "Forever". Every track is as funky as it gets, I mean listen to those damn basslines!

"Bringing It Back" is the deepest track on this release. It features a very soulful and uplifting vibes solo, which really takes the track on to the next level. "Forever" is a vocal-loop-driven funkster with perhaps the funkiest bassline on the EP. My favourite, "Take Her Home", dominates with its catchy (some might say "groovy") bassline, a really nice set of drums and a great guitar riff, that Sonny saved for the last minutes of the song. Finally, the EP ends with "Near To Me": a very soulful track with beautiful rhodes and female vocals by Alyson Joyce – just the way I like my soulful house.

1. Bringing It Back // YouTube
2. Forever // YouTube
3. Take Her Home // YouTube
4. Near To Me (feat. Alyson Joyce) // YouTube

When Canadians Go French

Mix Chopin - I'm Gonna Get You
Buy on Beatport | Listen on YouTube
Released by Shiny Disco Club in June 2011

"I'm gonna get you, I'm gonna get you, baby." This has been worming around in my ear for quite some time now.

Master of the basslines, Canadian Mix Chopin, never fails to deliver french house bombs. This track is at least as beautiful as the girl in the cover and at least as summery as that beach.

Midnight Marauders - Nowhere Fast
Download on SoundCloud | Listen on YouTube
Midnight Marauders @ SoundCloud / Facebook

This producer duo from Canada describe their style as electro-funk, and this track truly fulfils that portrayal. This banger could be classified as house with a french touch peppered with big sample-chops and funky synth-work. It's a shame that they're not better known (at least not on SoundCloud) but I'm sure they'll pick up speed fast as they've just recently started releasing their productions on the site – for free. There's no good excuse for not downloading this track.

Some Wattie a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Wattie Green - Fly Away
Buy on Beatport / Juno Download | Listen on YouTube
Released by Coyote Cuts Recordings in May 2011

Another instant Wattie Green classic with his trademark funky fat drumwork and enchanting jazzy piano melodies. I've had this on repeat for some time now and it's still far from getting old. That bass riff in the breakdown at 3:46 makes me infinitely happy every time I hear it.

Wattie Green - It's That Soul
Buy on Beatport / Juno Download | Listen on YouTube
Released by TriCircle Recordings in September 2011


As a bonus I present to you one more solid Wattie Green banger. Released just last month this track is still very fresh (although "Fly Away" can't be blamed of old age either). "It's That Soul" is a bit deeper in style than "Fly Away" but don't let that bother you, I promise you won't be disappointed in any way.

Go get 'em!

Soulful Injection

Groove Junkies - In The Zone (Dave Doyle Remix)
Buy on Beatport | Listen on YouTube
Released by Morehouse Records in February 2011

I've got two very funky soulful remixes for you today. First one is Dave Doyle's remix of "In The Zone" by Groove Junkies. With a funky yet soulful bass-line, joyful mood and soft rhodes this smooth jam is definitely worth getting for every soulful house enthusiast.

Grant Nelson feat. Cathy Battistessa - Black Water (Rob Hayes Remix)
Buy on Beatport | Listen on YouTube
Released by Swing City Records in July 2011


Next up is this tune with – if possible – an even funkier bass-line. This one also has more disco than the previous and is spiced up with extremely nice female vocals. Released just a couple months back, it's still a very fresh track. Enjoy!