JOCELYN BROWN レコード& CD

Review: Big Marquis Hawkes cranks up the expectation for his forthcoming debut album, Social Housing, with this 12" that features one of the stand out tracks. As one of THE voices of house music, Jocelyn Brown fairly stamps her mark on "I'm So Glad" with the skippy, classicist US-style production from Hawkes clearly paying homage to some of the classics she's previously made so special. The lead club mix is about as punchy as a house track you can want, whilst the flip features a dub take from Hawkes that allow him further room to pay homage to the US house sound whilst fans of redlining acid bangers will delight in the closing "Satisfied Raw Mix".

Review: Junior Jack is almost as old as house music itself, as is the mighty Defected label. These two giants now come together for a massive new single that would be the toast of Ibiza, if this summer were to happen as normal. First up, Riva Starr brings a big hearted remix that is based on pumping beats and big gospel chords, while Michael Gray also goes big, emotion and heart on sleeve with his version. After a vocal from Junior Jack that has a train track groove, Ferreck Dawn strips things back and makes the drums bang that bit more.

Review: For the latest instalment in his ongoing Diguma Edits series, Japanese "King of Diggin'" DJ Muro has taken his scalpel to Karisma's 'Got You Dancing', a turn-of-the '80s gem featuring lead vocals from Jocelyn Brown that was first released by Peter Brown's cult disco label Sounds of the Universe. The real bomb on this edition is the full vocal version, where Brown's typically strong and soulful singing rises above slick boogie bass, colourful synth sounds, funk guitar licks and unfussy drums. That said, the dub style instrumental edit is really rather good too, with Muro wisely making more room for echoing vocal snippets, instrumental breakdowns and extended percussion passages.

Review: Jocelyn Brown will also be one of the most recognisable voices in soul and disco and here she gets called upon by Raven aka Elliot Roscoff. He is a legend in the music game who has played a key role in turbo-hits by artists like Philipp Glass, Grover Washington Jr., Jan Akkerman, Jesse Green, Candi Staton, Peggy Lee and many more. He also signed plenty of the early disco hits to the iconic West End label and keeps on serving up the tunes that make dance floors go wild. This one is a real stepper, with silky bass, colourful synths and a heart aching diva vocal that soars and soars.