(Tracklisting Below)
Whilst snowed in late on Saturday night I was just thinking about some of the timeless deep house tracks which stand the test of time: one of those reflective, end of year evenings, contemplating house productions that have moved me on dancefloors late at night time and time again, around the world over the years.
So I dug a handful of them out & hit record!
There’s so many to choose from – and whilst most of the ones selected here are well known within the scene, I like to think that’s because they have deservedly become well known because dj’s, dancers and listeners around the world have connected with them and repeatedly wanted to hear them. I wasn’t digging for the most underground tracks (deep house heads will know most of these tracks) but simply a few of the ones that have been pivotal, stand the test of time and have been influential for me personally.
I think it’s safe to say that every one of these producers and artists have a genuine love and passion for their music and I think this comes through when listening to their creations: they’re not just churning out lowest common denominator music for the masses. Although it’s house it’s got a soul. A feeling. Emotion.
Good music will always be good music – irrelevant of age and who has (or hasn’t) played or charted it.
On listening back, there’s lots of tracks based around keys in this selection. I guess being bought up on the likes of Roy Ayers, Joe Sample & Jimmy Smith left a formative appreciation for musicality and melody which has always stuck within the scope of contemporary house music (and other forms of modern music).
Thanks for stopping by. I’ve enjoyed laying these down for you. I haven’t listened to some of them for years and years.
If you like any of the tracks then please leave a comment and feel free to share the music – keep it alive 😉
OFFERINGS:
We open with the young talent of Francesco Tristano on the piano. Carl Craig pays homage by allowing the keys to do the talking. This is how Francesco plays naturally. I’ve seen him live and he can perform playing like this for hours. Often less is more – definitely in this case!
The Fingers-esque Jump & Prance is an old school favourite with it’s soft bounce as is the melodious hook on Deep Dish’s The Dream – a late night anthem on many a floor.
Pepe Bradock’s haunting Deep Burnt (which samples the strings from Freddie Hubbard’s Little Sunflower) has been a staple deep house gem for nearly a decade whilst one of my favourite producers Marlon D adds an extra top line element to Larry Heard’s classic ‘Can You Feel It’ chords, rejuvenating the track for 2010.
DJ Rork’s rework of Sunday Showers keeps it musical with a touch of sun drenched Carribean flavours before an old Blaze classic, Moonwalk where Josh & Kevin do their thing – delivering a spacey analogue lead ride over a simple rolling bass, warm chords and skippy beats.
France’s DJ Gregory gets two slices represented in the form of the emotional Attend & Elle, whilst it wouldn’t be complete without a choice cut from Kerri Chandler. Track 1 from the Atmosphere EP still sounds incredible to this day and is Mr 6:23 at his finest, keeping it simple, tracky & atmospheric with his tight beats.
Deep Dish’s early outings on Tribal are to this day some of the finest examples of deep house. The chords on Casa De X are sublime, whilst Love Songs (with it’s epic Sax Intro) is an old favourite on floors globally.
Glenn Underground drops a lovely cut in the form of Rize with Daisy Villa’s subtle vocal tease and the bubbling bass on Alex Palmer’s ‘I Feel It’ hitting the spot over the warm chords and stripped down vocal hook.
Joe Claussel adds his Sacred Rhythm musical goodness (that he’s so well known for) giving us a nice lugarpella that bridges the gap into Karizma’s ‘The Power’. This is a tribute to our creator, a moving track which he told me he made in a single session one night when inspired, giving thanks for life!
I throw in the late night dub of The Drop – the second part of a track I made with Rich Hanson & Dana Byrd from New York which I was proud to hear played on the systems at Southport Weekender. I’d lost my copy of the demo until a few weeks ago – I found it in a mates’ CD wallet. Lol. Happy to have a copy again and enjoyed listening to it after a few a years.
We round off with the beautiful Kenny Dixon Jnr re-edit of Larry Heard’s ‘Another Night’. Beautiful, deep, emotive house with soul. If you’ve heard this dropped in an underground club late at night you’ll know just how good this sounds when in the zone. Perfect!
1. The Melody – Francesco Tristano (Carl Craig Beatless Mix) (Infiné IF2010)
2. Jump & Prance – Dreamhouse (Cabaret CAB015)
3. The Dream – Deep Dish presents Prana (Tribal America Y58260)
4. Deep Burnt – Pepe Bradock & Grand Brules Choir (Kif KIFSA008)
5. Heavens Saxaphone – Marlon D (Underground Collective UC007)
6. Sunday Showers (DJ Rork Rework) – Kentphonik feat Khensy (Stalwart STAL012)
7. Moonwalk – Blaze (FPR1001)
8. Attend 1 – DJ Gregory (Kitsuné – Kitsun003)
9. Track 1 – Kerri Chandler (Shelter – SHL1004)
10. Elle (Frankie Feliciano Main Mix) – DJ Gregory (Faya Combo – FC005)
11. Casa De X (Deep Dish Does X Mix) – Deep Dish (Tribal UK)
12. Casa De X (Night After Reality Mix) – Deep Dish (Tribal UK)
13. Chocolate City (Love Songs) – Deep Dish Recordings (DDR005)
14. Rize (Rize Again CVO Mix) – Glenn Underground & Daisy Villa (Need 2 Soul – N2S006)
15. I Feel It – Alex Palmer
16. Lugar Precioso (Lufarpella) – Juzu a.k.a. Moochy Joaquin Joe Claussel Sacred Rhythm Remix (Sacred Rhythm Music SRM252)
17. The Power – Karizma (Black Vinyl Records BVR12015)
18. The Drop (Late Night Re-Rub) – Ben Brophy, Rich Hanson & Dana Byrd
19. Another Night (Kenny Dixon Jnr Re-Edit) – Larry Heard (Trackmode TM035)
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to listen.
If you like any of the tracks then please leave a comment and feel free to share the music – keep it alive for the artists, musicians, clubs & DJ’s 😉
With gratitude & respect
Ben Brophy
benbrophy@mac.com
(Massive thanks to both Jagga, Jamie & The VSP Collective (on.fb.me/VerySoulfulProductions), Matty S, Alex & all at www.DeepVibes.co.uk and also to Michael Ruetten from SoulSearching Radio for picking up, sharing & syndicating this blend. If you haven’t checked out Michael’s archived shows and you like music with soul….head on over to www.mixcloud.com/soulsearching_michaelruetten)
