Musica: House music all spring long

It has been building for a while but it seems to have happened. Good ol' funky heavenly melodic soulful disco music is back in a big way and a few new key releases are eading the way.

4hero: The best might come first! "Play with the Changes" is out next week in the UK. From the couple of songs I've heard, it is yet another stunner. Some will be disappointed that their old drum'n'bass roots have mostly gone by the wayside but the new album, their first in six years, seems to deepen their ongoing exploration of the golden age of 70's soul. For the record, I still can't listen to their remake of Minnie Riperton's "Les Fleur" without getting goosebumps! Let's hope they tour the United States down the line. Past hightlights: "Escape That," "Loveless," "Star Chasers"

Tracey Thorn: While Ben Watt has struck gold with his Buzzin' Fly imprint and on the DJ circuit, his Everything But the Girl partner-in-crime Tracey Thorn resurfaces with her first solo album ever (titled "Out in the Woods" and out in March on Astralwerks in the US) after mostly gracing other bands' singles with her magnificent voice. First single "It's All True" looks back at the mid-80's NY house sound (with an amazing Martin Buttrich mix making the rounds). There is also a song about gay kids getting bullied in school called "A to Z" and a remake of the Pet Shop Boys "King's Cross" which should keep the gay press happy. Past highlights: Massive Attack's "Protection," "Five Fanthoms," "Before Today (Live)," "Walking Wounded," Deep Dish's "Future of the Future," "Rollercoaster," "Driving"

Quentin Harris: Bringing the Detroit sound into the 21st century, out DJ/producer/remixer of the moment Quentin Harris (pictured above) has already released his "No Politics" CD in Japan (not sure if and when it will be released states side). "Who?" you say? Well, he's remixed Mariah and Beyonice already, among others, and has a banging new mix/unmixed compilation of some of his productions inaugurating a new NRK records series called "Coast2Coast." He also has a bonafide classic or two under his belt ("Let's Be Young" among them) but the future seems wide open. For one thing he's got the amazing (and out) Joi Cardwell singing again on "What It Feels Like." He also has an equally legendary Byron Stingily on "Hate Won't Change Me." Quentin, who has made a living in NYC as of late, is also known for his involvement in local HIV prevention initiatives among gay men of color.

Karizma: Back in September we were lucky to catch Karizma out at Prospect Park when he performed at Li'l Ray's Clubhouse Jamboree (check him drop the Johnny Dangerous mix of Jazmina's "Let the Rain Come Down" with her vocals gliding over Frankie Knuckle's all-time classic "Tears"). If Quentin Harris brings Detroit back, Karizma is all about the Baltimore house sound. You might have heard "4 the Love" before, now he's releasing a full album, "A Mind of Its Own" on r2 Records.

Peven Everett: Detroit, Baltimore, can Chicago be next? You already know how I feel about Peven Everett but, as we told you, following the success of "Stuck," Peven is set to release what will probably be his most successful production thanks to the push that Defected's Soul Heaven imprint will probably give his new full-length: "Power Soul" will be out in the UK next week as well (snippets of all songs available at that link). Can't wait for it!

Mr. V: Last but not least, wussup New York! So aparently Mr. V (representing Loisaida, as we Naw Yorkers call Manhattan's Lower East Side) has already released his "Welcome Home" album. Hm, so how come I can't find a CD copy anywhere in this city? Sounds like one big great party going by its first single "Da Bump" (produced by Alix Alvarez and featuring the groovilicious Ms. Patty) and a live performance of "Put Your Drink Down."

That Chicago house sound: Peven Everett's new album

Ok, I am officially, unadulteratedly, devotedly "a fan."

Earlier this year I thought that Peven Everett had literally come out of nowhere to take over the house music scene with his playful, joyful, syncopated and funky track "Stuck." I spent weeks trying to get the "you... got... me... in... your... pow-wah, I can't decide... which... way, I'm STUCK" chorus and the additional layered scattery vocal hooks, whoa's, huh's, a-ha's, and com'on y'all's that made it such a distinctive track. No wonder the UK's powerhouse Defected picked it up for their Soul Heaven imprint and released it back in April!

Turns out though that Peven actually had a multi-album history (well, ok, a two-album history, including Studio Confessions and Latest Craze, Part. 1) and has a background that includes jazz and classical music schooling which explains his intricate melodic wit.

Well, ad one more record to the turntable: A couple of weeks ago I went over to pick up Ms. Jody Watley's new (and, sad to say, disappointing) CD and lo and behold my heart skipped a beat when I saw a brand new Peven Everett CD on display called Easy Livin' (on the independent Unified Records). The ten tracks here are more subdued and not as immediately catchy as "Love This Way," "Latest Craze" or "See Saw" (all from Latest Craze). It is also darker with formerly subdued themes of longing and desire threatening to take over the beats. The gorgeous "Don't You" is a sultry love letter to a woman on the verge of rejecting a man, "Steady Now" is an insistent plea for stability in a relationship and the title track asks a girl to let things flow after an initial meeting.

Over at Everett's myspace page, there's mention of an non-authorized "representative" making the rounds and in March he told the Chicago Sun-Times "There is such a lack of respect from companies to musicians. They don't understand that they need to work with the musicians, not that the musicians are working for them. It's with, not for" so perhaps some of these professional tensions color the mood of the new album.

Then again, maybe not. Everett tells the Sun Times that this is a "therapeutic" CD targeted specifically at 'power women:' "It's about their style of winding down... It is for women, but when women hear it, I want them to understand men." Hm, ok? It's still a stunner.

Stunning too that the biggest hit of his career, "Stuck," is also not on the CD (though I'm not sure it fits within the conceptual angle of this album). I initially had wondered if the track might have been kept from this set due to whatever contract Everett signed with Defected (yes, I think about these things way too much), but the Sun Times indicates something more intriguing might be at play: Apparently this the first of two Everett releases this year!

The next one will be called "Power Soul" and be, not surprisingly, on Defected (Everett says that it combines "elements of speed rock with soul music" and is "geared for people who like faster stuff, but who still want to be soulful").

That the Sun Times column on which the interview ran is one generally devoted to hip-hop, shows how difficult it is to categorize, much less find outlets for this type of music in the United States. Even in dance music circles, DJ Tiesto-type trance techno crap is what gets trumpeted and promoted big time. Let's hope there is some room for the Peven Everetts of this world to conquer at the very least some parts of the universe.

Groove is in the heart: Peven Everett's "Stuck"

Defected's "Soul Heaven" imprint has picked up the hottest house track out there right now and has released it as a 6-track maxi-single. The track in question? "Stuck" by Peven Everett.

Download mix samples here or buy it at the Soul Heaven link above (while it reaches these shores). It's also on the recently released "Defected in the House: Miami 2006" mixed triple-decker.

This is the kind of track that makes you stop and say "whoah!" and try to figure out where it came from. Funny thing is that Peven has been at it for years! Check out his last two CD's (as well as hear samples from tracks) at Amazon.com.

So check it out and sing it!

...you ...got ...me (well)...in your ...pow...ah
I ...can't de-cide which ...way ...I'm (what?)
...STUCK! (stuck?) wooh! (aha aha!)...

Just a classic, classic track.

In the meantime, you can also check out Peven's website which has info about his previous releases and doesn't seem to have been updated in a while. Though you can still check out some of his amzazing previous tracks.

• UPDATE: That Chicago house sound: Peven Everett's new album (Aug. 25, 2006)