Review: Uraz Kurt - Hip Hip Uraz (Soulab)

Soulab returns to a full album by one of its latest new rotation artist, this time coming from Turkish producer Uraz Kurt.  This full length album is called  'Hip Hip Uraz' as it's very fair to say once you listen to the eighteen tracks featured in this interesting long player.  This album is definitely an arsenal of good grooves and songs, most of which are in Hip Hop and R'n'b sounds with a couple of house influenced here and there. If you want house listen to Beach Dance and Big Fun, this last cover version of Detroit's Inner City smash hit back in the eighties. Another cover version in this album is but this time in hip hop nu-soul grooves is 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine' and as in Big Fun singer Cagri Ultay does another amazing job. All I can say is to do not sleep on this because the Uraz Kurt's Hip Hip is an art of groove inspired  by past soul, funk, and new wave sounds produced and put together in a modern method.

www.soulab.com

Review: various artists - Funky Party 2 (Soulab)

Soulab after a few months releases its second instalment of the compilation Funky Party, a melting pot of great funky grooves coming from a bunch of talented funk soul brother producers, heading the new school.  These names are paramount with the French Soulab label; Uptown Funk Empire, Cool Million, Los Charly's Orchestra, Fatback 4Way, Confection from Australia, Uraz Kurt from Istanbul, and a brilliant newcomer from  France: Moonshoes.  Some of these names are part of Soulab artists rotation since years, while others have joined the label in the recent months. These production teams are also backed by a dream team of vocalists: The Maestros  Rotimo Soul, The Supa Soul Brotha Del of the Neutronics, Don Dolla, the Divas Cagri Ultay, Me'lisa Morgan, Diane Marsh and Janice and Ange in the thirteen tracks featured in this compilation. As is usual to all Soulab compilation Funky Party 2 while coming from new school artists looks at funk music from its various sound identified by many in decades; from the seventies, eighties, to the nineties with a twist of modern tech thrown in noticeable by those with good ears.  It's absolutely essential modern Funk business on Funky Party 2 again in its second instalment.

www.soulab.com

Review: various artists - The Soul Revolution 3 (Soulab)

Soulab continues in its strategy of the last months and continues to bring a series of innovative not only for the DJ but also great to listen compilations, all with a different theme to them and exploring soul and funk in its diverse forms.  This time around Soulab presents The Soul Revolution 3, a thirteen track unmixed compilation coming from twelve different artists all from the French label stable.  This compilation follows this second instalment issued past June 2012, so if you are into this you might as well check that out.  The Soul Revolution 3 as the name says explores soul in its various sub genres its has transformed into in the last years.   A transformation which is musically speaking a making of over a century.  You can listen to for example Weeland and The Soul Collectives 'Push You Back' and you are into modern Rnb territory. While Slow Motion Replay 'Terminal Station' takes into Latin inspired vibes.  For more funk house grooves check the Uptown Funk Empire here with two tracks, the more pumped dub remix of Allen Hoist 'With Love', and the broken beat 'Feel this Groove' by Sir Gloves. Uraz Kurt 'Remeber the Light'  gives a new meaning to modern soul with its electronic vibe mixed with sounds coming from life instruments.  Soulab does it again with a great compilation of quality music, that's about it.      

www.soulab.com  

Review: various artists - Funky Party (Soulab)

How can you unite the past with the present and make it look like a straight line.  This is bascially the compilation Funky Party from the French label Soulab. This latest Soulab thirteen tracks compilation unites the past from artists like Tom Moulton, Leroy Burgress, and Eugene Wilde to new school names as Uptown Funk Empire, Cool Million, and Los Charly Orchestra and half a dozen others in between.  Its impressive to see new bands as these mentioned last who make music which sounds similar prototype house of the early eighties with huge tribute to the sounds played at the Paradise Garage, Zanzibar etc.  The so called begining years in the big apple of this period being the aftermath of disco and the start of a new era.  Funky Party is definitly a must have for those interested in the roots of dance, and house.  Funky Party also is a compilation reminding that there is no future without a knowledge of the past and how house and dance music came to be what it is today!   

www.soulab.com

Review: various artists - Soul's Back Again And Again!!! (Soulab)

After making a very hot December month with two releases, Soulab starts 2013 presenting this new compilation which looks to its past, from not so long ago as the Uraz Kurt tune which was released in December 2012, or more back in time as the tracks from Uptown Funk Empire.  Soul's Back Again And Again is a thirteen tune compilation from various artists from around the globe, and part of the Soulab artist rotation.  Soul's Back is a series of compilation with two predecessors released first in 2008, and Soul's Back Again issued in 2011. The artists featured in Back Again and Again are; Uptown Funk Empire three tunes, Allen Hoist and Slow Motion Replay both with two tracks, Uraz Kurt, Weeland and The Urban Soul Collective, Isaac Aesili, Various Artists, Dan Electro, and Giuseppe Storniolo these having one track each.  The tunes are all of a soul influence, with a different variation of theme which goes from broken beat, down tempo, funk, hip-hop, house, jazz, and latin influences.  This makes Soul's Back Again and Again not only a DJ use compilation but also for the good listeners being it lounging or driving.

www.soulab.com     

Review: Uraz Kurt - Five Smoking Turkish Grooves (Soulab)

Uraz Kurt is a Turkish producer who after debuting on French label Soulab in Uptown Funk Empire on remix duties on the just released 'The Remix Strikes Back' this time sets up record straight with his extended player titled 'Five Smoking Turkish Grooves'.  As it is easy to note the title says it all on the number of tunes you find in this release, that is five, and the nature of them all being of a laid back groove with a Nu-soul inspiration.  Opening the dances in this release is the very soul 'Voice of your Heart'  featuring the excellent voice of Cagri Ultay.  A down tempo soul which musically speaking makes you think of years gone by.  This one is followed by the excellent 'Missed Connect' more on a Nu-Soul and featuring a very modern electronic inspired groove.  Third track in the 'Istanbul Funk Interlude' Jazz funk mixed with Asian atmospheres for just over two minutes.  The next track is my preferred of this extended player 'She Doesn't Wanna See' a broken rhythm Jazz house stormer with very well laid floating chords and vocals.  'One More Idea' is the more big room dance with a funky house rhythm and bass line merging into jazz funk influences later on. 

www.soulab.com 

Review: Uptown Funk Empire - The Remix Strikes Back (Soulab)

Uptown Funk Empire presents this interesting remix package from the acclaimed 2009 released funk and soul infected album The Empire Strikes Back.  The Remix Strikes Back is the title of this new pack which features a total of eighteen remixes of the tracks; 'N.O.W', 'Boogie', 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now', and 'You've Got to Have Freedom'.  Some remixes in this new collection have already appeared previously in seperate releases as those from The SOS, The Gemini Bros, and some of the remixes featured in the single issue the past Spring of 'N.O.W'.  The remixes from Uraz Kurt are new, he gives his touch to three of the tracks, all minus Boogie.  The remixes made to 'N.O.W.' are actually my favorite here, with two interesting reworks from Patchwork already released last Spring and I do not know how I missed it, to the spacey African rhythms of Staro45.  Other interesting remixes are the Teemid Re-edit of 'Boogie', and Uraz Kurt remix of 'Nothing Gonna Us Now'.

www.soulab.com