Review: MDA Grooves - Universo Positivo Remixed EP (Kai Alcé, JKriv, Sean McCabe and Medlar) (Universo Positivo Records)

For over 40 yeas (already), MDA - Mundo de Aventuras - have been melded urban club with Latin and Afro styles into modern Dance music so let's get 4 of today's top groovesters to rework some of their best tracks from Universo Positivo's catalog!

You'll know the name Universo Positivo as founder, Joseph Salvador who set up the label/Amsterdam club scene in the 1990s mostly on back of his own productions whilst the first release was by Orlando Voorn and Amp Fiddler (RIP)!  And now, regular readers will recognise the movers of dance, Kai Alcé, JKriv, Sean McCabe and Medlar as a current day 'Gang of Four' remixers picked out for this the game of Twister (Ed. see the cover artwork?)

Kai Alce, (last seen HERE on the NDATL Remix of 'What You Came Here For') who is seen as a "most influential architect" of deep house kicks off extending 'Sonido Latino' into jazzy-soul vibra-cool a la Roy Ayers' raceway/lounge.

Sean McCabe is another never too far from a remix (for the past 20 years) so he knows a sandy samba shuffle for 'Ipanema Jazz' (Ed. hardly on the beach as he's based in Bristol!) as keys/synths and trumpet battle it out out on a cuíca rub(dub).

Talking of UK samba, Medlar is another producer far from the beach in his South London studio (perhaps Rotherhithe pier is the closest) but he does love an Island and a remix (see HERE) and he revolves 'U R The Revolution' into the mainroom 'hands in the air' retro-house banger (Ed. this is not a 'clean' edit).

But standing on top in his usual educational way is co-founder of Razor-N-Tape, JKriv who might be based in Brooklyn but seems capable of turning any sound into fun-loving disco heaven like his version of 'Caparica Sunset' which will get anyone on a upbeat (also check out the recent 'Reel Ones' EP HERE).

Expect to hear these tracks all summer long.

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDR: https://bfan.link/universo-positivo-remixed

Artist:  MDA Grooves - Various
Title: Universo Positivo Remixed EP (Kai Alcé, JKriv, Sean McCabe and Medlar)
Release date: 29th May, 2026
Label : Universo Positivo
Catalog Number : UP029
Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Orlando Voorn & Han Litz - What I Love (Universo Positivo)

Being a signed up member of the jazzdance Flute Gang outta Detroit, this is 'What I Love' that's already 'the' track of 2025 : Orlando Voorn & Han Litz, we salute you (already).

It may be only January, but Orlando Voorn with Amsterdam's Han Hitz have managed to filter Herbie Mann's Discothèque with the Mizzel Brothers with a some Laws family (check out Ludivine Issambourg's 'Above The Laws' - see review HERE) with 'What I Love'.

Thankfully the cover art is not in the Mr Mann somewhat dodgy 'shirt off' arena but you'll want to get over excited with the Soulfood Mix that's moves it into a Roy Ayres Chicago synth-funk edit which is shirt ripping.

Clearly Han can put himself in a multitude of style as a composer/arranger and one of the  founders of Kindred Spirits Ensemble (set up in memory of John Coltrane in what would have been his 80th year). Not only that,he's worked wiht Jazzanova, Osunlade and Louie Vega to name just a few, and you can hear much of this inflence in 'Composers'.   And that gets down and dirty with a downtempo mix.

Whilst it's sad to note that the Kindred Spirit label was disbanded only last month (although it was at its peak with Build An Ark, Adrian Young, Sun Ra, Theo Parrish, Jneiro Jare, Rich Medina some 10-15 years ago), the combination of Voorn and Litz are 'new' kindred spirits and I must say the PR is absolutely spot on: "This is toe tapping, head nodding business from Voorn, with the mesmerizing jazzy funk flute from Han Litz providing the cherry on top! Lovingly crafted to captivate and elevate the soul. Whether you're a DJ, or a dancer you will appreciate its deadly grooves, percussive layers, jazz energies, and plenty of Orlando’s luscious and meditative loops. Add in the smooth vocals and gorgeous flute, and we have yet another unique release from a true maverick of the scene."

MUST HAVE!

Artist: Orlando Voorn & Han Litz
Title: What I Love
Release date: 17th January, 2025
Label : Universo Positivo
Catalog Number :
Format:  Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp LINK Music | UNIVERSO POSITIVO RECORDS