june 21.2002
M USIC
............. w .............
Mix and match
V erve R emixed
Vanmrs Artists • Verve
Music Group
his has got to he one
of the most in
genious ideas ever
floated by a greedy
record company executive desperate to cash in
on songs that otherwise would he locked away
in a vault collecting dust. Verve Music invited
the world’s most talented DJs and producers to
tinker with their original landmark recordings
and create all-new classics.
I predict this cool disc only will increase
in popularity as the weather heats up.
It’s appropriate, then, that it includes Sarah
Vaughan’s “Sum m ertim e,” reworked by
U FO into a chilling, atmospheric
mind-melter.
Obviously, these turntable titans are lucky
to have such great source material to reinter
pret. Among the other vocalists on the disc
are Carmen McRae, Shirley Horn and Ella
Fitzgerald.
N ina Sim one appears twice with “Feelin’
G ood (Joe Claussell R em ix)’’ and “See-Line
Woman (Masters at Work R em ix).” Billie
Holiday also does double duty: “Strange
Fruit (Tricky/ Tool R em ix)” becomes a hyp
notic trance, while “Don’t Explain (dZihan
&. Kamien R em ix)” puts her silky voice in
front of a percussive hackbeat.
Without a doubt, the best track is Rae &
Christian’s bouncy update o f Dinah Wash
ington’s “Is You Is or Is You A in ’t My Baby?”
It’s enough to make me want to delve into
her catalog and discover what I’ve been
missing out on all these years.
Compilations cure dance fever
by J im
U ltimate A fterhours
DJ E scape V ol . 2
Various Artists • Groovili-
cious Music
with
ihatta life DJ
Escape must live.
This 23-year-old
not only gets to spin tunes at some of the
world’s best clubs, he also has a full-time
scouting gig at indie dance label Groovili-
cious Music.
As if that’s not enough, he has great taste,
too. Ultimate Afterhours contains 15 strong
tracks, many by artists he personally signed to
the label.
The C D is packed with 77 minutes of
music guaranteed to keep any party pump
ing. Highlights include “N o More G am es”
by Laid featuring Derek Conyer, “The More
I Love You” by MFF featuring Andrea Mar
tin and “Caught U p” by DJ Disciple featur
ing Mia C ox.
My favorite selection is the trippy
“Wonderland” by the Psychedelic Waltons
featuring Roisin Murphy. Upon further
investigation I realized 1 was drawn to this
track for a good reason: It was co-produced by
Nellee Hooper, the mastermind behind some
of Madonna, Sinead O ’Connor and Soul II
Soul’s greatest hits.
Looking for
a partner?
f
So are we. Embers, Fish Grotto, Boxxes and the Brig,
Red Cap Garage, Panorama, Scandals and Silverado
are looking for partners to help us raise funds for
Esther's Pantry and Our House of Portland. Our
establishments, along with Just Out and Coors Light,
will be teaming up from now until July 15th to make
a donation to organizations serving and caring for
people living with AIDS. So come visit us, bring your
friends, enjoy yourself and support Esther's Pantry
and Our House of Portland.
“Groovejet (If This A in’t Love)” by DJ
Spiller reminds me of every disco classic from
my childhood. And Sarah McLachlan’s “Sweet
Surrender” is transported to new heights with
an epic, space-age remix.
R adosta
P artly G roove : T he
W hite P arty
Various Artists • Centaur
Entertainment
P arty T ime 2002
Various Artists • Groovili-
cious Music
*
J§ 11 it takes is one song
to render certain
i compilations essen
tial. For Party Time 2002,
that track is “Come on Down," quite possibly
my all-time favorite dance ditty.
You see, this brilliant creation combines
two powerful elements: the voice of disco
diva Crystal Waters (“ 100% Pure Love") and
the theme to The Price Is Right (the best
game show ever). It sounds cheesy— and it
kinda is— but the hook is undeniable.
Throughout the giddy five-minute track,
Crystal beckons her lover to “party with
me...shake it loose and let it go.” It never fails
to cheer me up.
Fortunately, the other 26 tracks on this
two-disc collection are equally addictive. DJ
Escape again demonstrates his fine taste by dig
ging up obscure songs that are sure to become
dance-floor favorites.
Live Element’s clever “Be Free” -takes a
Belinda Carlisle sample and layers it over a
groovy rhythm. “Drink to Get Drunk” by Differ
ent Gear v.s. Sia— a melancholy rumination on
alcoholism— is a surprisingly poignant choice for
a collection filled with otherwise shallow songs.
rh e song that makes
this C D essential is
“Break 4 Love,”
which is credited to Peter Rauhofer + The Pet
Shop Boys = The Collaboration. The remixer
and my favorite queer duo come together to
create the intense, urgent centerpiece of DJ
David Knapp’s latest compilation.
The other standout track is a revved-up
version of “And I’m Telling You I’m Not
G oing.” Rosabel manages to breathe new life
into the Dreamgirls show tune without
detracting from Jennifer Holliday’s soaring
vocals.
The C D is dedicated to Graham Berke
ley, one of the gay victims o f the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks. T h at might help explain
the inclusion of Full Intention’s ultra-
patriotic yet groovy “I Love Am erica,”
which features snippets of speeches from
President John F. Kennedy and the Rev.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Knapp also includes a couple of innovative
remakes to round out the collection. Daphne
Rubin-Vega of Broadway’s Rent gives Elton
John’s “Rocket Man” a gender-bending twist,
and Sir Ivan covers John Lennon’s timely
peace anthem “Imagine.” J H
OPENS
The
PH ANTON
oftfie
O PERA
Tickets also on sale at Portland Opera (1515 SW/Monisoii), all
Ticketmaster outlets, or online at broadwayacrossamertta.com
Groups (20f): (503) 241-1407.
J IK * *
KELLER AUDITORIUM. Portland
Portland Opera Presents Broadway in Portland
www thephantomoftheopera.com
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