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March is the month when record companies awake from their winter hibernation and things start to warm up in the music industry in preparation for the year to come. This spring there's plenty of quality house music for those who smile at the smell of freshly pressed wax. Here are some highlights of the best of what's forthcoming for the vinyl addicts. DJ Linus has been rockin' tables since 1989 and once again shows himself equally adept at production. His "Soul Penetration" EP (DM Compose) is one of this month's better funky imports, as is the French "Mind Games" (Serial) package from another DJ, Didier Sinclar. Domestically, Detroit has birthed a new label, Moods & Grooves, helmed by Mike Grant. Starting things off for the imprint is the busy Alton Miller with the classy "Song Of The Drum" EP, while Grant's "It's A Detroit Thing" is set for an April pressing. Also from Michigan is L.A. Williams' Chisel logo. Doing the biz right now is Terrence Parker's mini LP, "Strong Songs", featuring 4 tracks from his November '98 Intangible CD-only "Studio Sessions Vol. 1" album, plus two new ones; and the onesided "Rainstick" twelve from the label's head is laying down a more progressive vibe. Out next on the label are releases from KJG and the German Broadcasters. Balihu's Danny Wang unveils 3 new tracks on his "Mechanical Birds" EP on Environ, including a mix from the imprint's major domo, Morgan Geist. It's groovy goodness, sorta like an "I Feel Love"-era Moroder slowed down and funked up. Getting fluid with the filters in New Jersey are DJ Mike LaBirt with "Tribal Grooves Vol 1" on his New Generation and The Sons Of Soul's "You Got Me Going" on J. Goodwill's Soul Society under Blaze's Joint Ventures umbrella. On New York's Sub Urban, DJ Cosmo drops her debut release in Ch'i featuring Alison Crockett's "Loneliness". Crockett (of King Britt's Sylk 130) lends her pipes while Sandy Rivera and Minty Jones get to work on the remixes. High caliber action from start to finish. California's Dubtribe Sound System have been paying their proverbial dues on the live circuit and it shows in their solid "Bryant Street" album (Jive Electro). Flipping from deep house to latin, spoken to sung vocals (both male and female, of course), this is bound to be Dubtribe's year for major recognition. "El Regalo De Amor" has already been released on Chicago's Guidance; Dubtribe's Imperial Dub imprint will split the release of 5 more singles from the album with Jive Electro; out first is "Breeze" on Imperial Dub. Detroit's Planet E kindly compiles Common Factor's EPs for the label in 1998 and tosses in 3 new tracks for the release of the "Dreams Of Elsewhere" album for CD buyers (a vinyl version with different mixes may be pressed later), while Chicago's Real Estate unveils the "Chicago: 1999 Future House Society Vol. 2" compilation. Featured are the label's Tim Baker and Phoenix along with DJ Jes, DJ Jacq, and pioneers DJ Fast Eddie and Tyree. UK releases to pick up are Chaser's "Game On!" album on Soma (more excellent work from Nigel Hayes and Lars Sandberg), and the "Altered Slates" album (Disorient), which brings together Atmosfear's classics from the disco era remixed by Masters At Work, Dimitri, Ben Mitchell, Si Begg, Manasseh, and Francois K. Good to be able to get a groove on to these pieces once again. Moving into the more techy side of house, grab Antonelli Electr's "I Don't Want Nobody Else But You" (DM Italic)--don't worry, it's not a Black Box-style vocal track--and Heiko Laux's "Souldancer" (DM Kurbel), plus Tom Churchill's "Your Move" (Headspace), definitely one of my favorite soulful UK releases thus far in '99. Fans of Sweden's The Persuader (Jesper Dahlback) will be happy to hear his "Stockholm" full length for Svek includes 6 new tracks along with previously material, while another album of note is DJ La Monde's "Mono Undoing" on the German Monoid. Cognition Audioworks March 1999 House Top 15: 1. Mike Grant--"It's A Detroit Thing" EP (US Moods & Grooves test)
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