Sultra レコード& CD

Review: Jamie Odell aka. Jimpster has more than earned his decorations as a progressive house producer and musical facilitator of cosmic renown; now the Freerange and Delusions Of Grandeur label owner crops up for an incandescent remix of Michael Gray and Tatiana Owens' 'Ivy'. One of the central disco-funk gallantries featured on Gray's recently released 'Optimism' EP - on which Owens brings a wassailing alto performance against stinger string hits and spattered drum layers - Jimpster's version is softer and comparatively metrical, measuring its time through carefully controlled delays and French touch nods.

Review: The esteemed Michael Gray is back once again with his superb house sounds, this time on Sultra with 'Save Me.' An extended mix of the title cut opens up and is the sort of glorious crossover anthem that will unique any crowd with its clean and soulful vocals, pristine sax notes and swooning strings, all married to a breezy and effortlessly catchy groove. After the dub version comes 'Ivy' which is another accessible, heart-swelling and radio friendly house sound that harks back to the proper songwriting days of yore, then 'Season High' closes with a bright synth one that twists and turns next to celebratory chords and singalong vocals.

Review: For the latest missive on his Sultra label, long-serving British house producer Michael Gray has offered a double dose of delight. On the A-side, you'll find two versions of his latest collaboration with vocalist Tatiana Owens, 'Season High'. First Charlie Price delivers his 'Space Odyssey remix', a hybrid nu-disco/deep house roller full of warmth, soul and intergalactic electronics, before Risk Assessment slaps down an organic disco-house take rich in sweeping strings and jaunty piano stabs. Over on the B-side we get two versions of Antonello Ferrari's 'Music Is Life' - Gray's typically punchy, fluid and hands-aloft interpretation, which foregrounds Sulene Fleming's gorgeous vocals, and Ferrari's own organic disco-house interpretation (a mix full of sultry strings, bouncy beats and mood-enhancing vocals).

Review: Jamiroquai always had a unique sound that sat somewhere between pop, house, disco, funk and cosmic delight. His great singles were always ripe for remixing and few do it better than house man Michael Gray. Here he tackles the evergreen 'Space Cowboy' with a Good Vibe Zone - extended mix that layers in some nice funky, soulful drums and lavish cosmic melodies that make it perfect for cultured clubs. On the flip of this new 12" from Sultra is a dub mix that is a little more playful and party starting. Both tunes are sure to raise the roof.

Review: What more needs to be said about this timeless disco hit? A staple of DJ sets by everyone from Derrick May and Laurent Garnier to James Murphy, this Harvey Fuqua and Patrick Cowley production from 1979 is a truly timeless classic whose spirit still lives to this day on modern dancefloors. Here we are treated to a rework by Britain's undisputed king of funky house Michael Gray (Full Intention) on his Sultra label. With full respect to the original, Gray's rework injects some dancefloor dynamics for the modern sound system. You even get a bonus instrumental "Dub Mix" on the flip!