Not one but two Yuu Udagawa releases in one month and 'Beat Sculpture comes with a Coflo remix!
Following on from the 'Golden Glow' EP (see review HERE), I know you'll be impressed with the lead track 'Beats Sculpture' but wait 'till you here the Coflo remix - you'll recall his Kerrier Collective 'Life Wants To Live' remix, see review HERE - but what's going on in San Francisco? The original isn't exactly industrial but it seems to have hit some Carl Craig Detroit machine workx!
Both tracks are great and expect all the big head DJs to have it in their set lists for the summer.
The house tradition of gospel music is at the top of the glitter ball with Bakermat and 'Grace Note,' out on Big Top Amsterdam; well it is Sunday!
You may recall that late last year, Bakermat (along with AMANZI, Ampersounds, Fred Falke, Zen Freeman) were saving their souls with a back to my Donna Summer disco roots track 'Save My Soul'. And before the Dutch DJ/Producer released 'Praise Break' including our favourite horn and string drenched disco-umpah Soulchaser remix.
Well, after that success why wouldn't he return to the table for more gospel house inspriation for 'Grace Note'. The lead track 'House Is The Religion', depending on your point of view, may have some blasphemy in the lyrics (Ed. check out today's BBC Radio 4 programme and you might think who can throw the first stone) compared to the worshipful 'Life' as remixed by Ron Carroll, "legend on the scene" - see interview with Tom Lilly HERE (and Best of 2024 Disco Express reviw HERE)
And talking about ireverant, 'Say You Wanna Be' is full on gospell choir and then we go a bit Hacienda-retro with FM sax solo, did someone say "Baker-Steet-mat?" ('Without Ya') but all is forgiven with 'Work It Out' - Sister Act in the gym!
There used to be a club called 'Halo' in a former church and 'Grace Note' gets that vibe spot on, like they say, the aim is for a "great night at a club, festival - or church, for that matter. Pure joy, unity, and transcendence." Nailed it.
Artist: Bakermat Title: Grace Note Release date: 31st January, 2025 Label : Big Top Amsterdam Catalog Number :WP3053 Format: Vinyl [Feb 07, 2025]/ Digital / Bandcamp
Once in a while a tune turns into a classic; even more rarely you know a tune has classic status from the very first play. This is one of those occasions.
Make no mistake Mr Bird and Greg Blackman – with the aid of two genuine masters of the remix, Tom Moulton and Ashley Beedle – have crafted something very special indeed. “Over Again” is simply beautiful, a gentle masterpiece that oozes soul and Summer; if it was any more honeyed the bees would have claimed it back by now...
The original “Lo-fi Classics” version, previously available on digital from BBE, is genuinely great in itself (and always has been) but the Tom Moulton and Ashley Beedle reworks take it to an even higher level. It’s a matter of personal taste which one works the best for you (I love ‘em both!), but if it’s the Tom Moulton version you’re after, you’d best be quick – it’s vinyl only, and there are only 200 of them out there.
So – terrific song, great production / vocals and top notch reworks from the man who invented the art of the remix, and the man who’s done as much as anyone to redefine it. Sounds like an absolute monster to me.