SMOOVE Vinyl & CDs

Review: Multitrack Reworks is a new label that will be putting out limited edition, hand-stamped white label 12"s that are made from reworked tunes that have been constructed from the original multitracks. Kicking off the first one is the queen of soul that is Chaka Khan and a version of 'Clouds' with nice loose drums, big string builds and a silky vocal. Flip it over and you will find a brilliantly dynamic and funky new take on the most classic Grace Jones jam, 'Slave To The Rhythm.' It's packed with plenty of rich instrumental licks, a flamboyant sense of melody and of course Grace's own seductive voice.

Review: Smoove's Wack Records is back with another sure shot 7" of boom bap hip-hop goodness, as the seasoned producer serves up a killer flip of Craig Mack's classic 'Flavour In Your Ear'. There's some serious weight to this version - a real neck-snapper with some big band sass thrown in for good measure. On the B-side, Frezidante steps up with a bold re-imagining of Eric B & Rakim's 'Technique', working some 70s soul tones into the mix to provide you with another party-starting anthem, no questions asked.

Review: FF45 welcomes Smoove back for his third edits release, and this one surely won't disappoint: The Pharcyde reign over a beefed-up JB break - what's not to like? - while an instrumental and some bonus bits for DJs abound on the flip, making for a more measured listen in contrast to the more vocally immediate, on-the-beat A.

Review: Since launching the series in 2021, Smoove has served up a quintet of 'Multitrack Edits' EPs. As the title suggests, each sees the North-East-based DJ/producer deliver his takes on classic funk, soul, disco and boogie cuts using the multi-track tapes. This sixth volume in the series features two more tidy revisions. On side A he does a brilliant job in stretching out and building up a version of funk favourite 'Brothers on the Slide', layering up various instruments in turn before unleashing the backing vocals and, eventually, lead vocals. On the reverse, Smoove does a terrific job lightly tightening up and extending Sly Stone fave 'It's a Family Affair', adding a touch of hip-hop swing to the legendary musician's groove while showcasing some of the instrumental flourishes buried in the original 1970s mix.

Review: Veteran Newcastle-based producer Johnathan Watson aka Smoove is back with the third instalment in the Multitrack Reworks, a new series that will be putting out limited edition, hand-stamped white label 12's that are made from reworked tunes constructed from the original multitracks. This one features the deep down and dirty P-funk of A-side cut 'Deep', while over on the flip Watson lends his Midas touch to a solid reconstruction of a certain deep funk classic by Slave, as well as a spruced up soul classic for all the heads out there on 'Superman'.

Review: Smoove returns with his label Wack Records and delivers two killer cuts straight from the heart of Motown. Utilizing original multitrakcs from the home of Rick James and The Supremes, Smoove gets his swirv on and delivers two uptempo hip-hop bangers, curveball-tinged with the instrumental backings of Motown. On the A, 'Empty World', we hear an attention-grabbing Nas mashup ('Life's A Bitch'), while the aforementioned artists are equally as well fused on the much more positive B-side.

Review: Smoove's latest LP, the retro-modern funk take that is First Class, is primed for a spacious yet packed dancefloor. Smoove's deft emulatory production skills are once again put on full display, collecting vocal samples and original backing tracks from genres like funk, jazz, soul and hip-hop to produce something to the tune of 15 or so remixes. Bustling interpretations of Kraak & Smaak, Una Mas Trio, and Brenda Boykin render this a headsy yet unpretentious dance dazzler.