ISSUE # 23
(June / July / August & September 2003)

BRINGIN’ THE FREESTYLE (CD medley) FREESTYLE PRODUCTIONS / DISTORTION MEDIA  [USA]

Score: 4 stars 

This medley from Tim Spinnin’ Schommer was out at the end of the last year but it passed completely unnoticed. This is sad to say but if this CD sneaked out, it’s due to the distributor which didn’t believe enough in this excellent medley. In my opinion, it’s the big reason for this lack of celebrity that should normally have profited this new production from the most famous Freestyle Windy City’s DJ.

What a waste! 

Anyway, those who got this megamix did appreciate once again the professionalism of Tim Schommer. He has already distinguished himself in the past with the medley series “B96 Mixmaster throwdown series”, with “DMA Freestyle flava vol.3” and “DMA Dance best of Freestyle file vol.1”.

But it’s in 1997 that he got a fantastic personal success with his own CD “Freestyle boom vol.1” which gave him the possibility to enlarge his fame, especially outside the Chicago area.

“Bringin’ the Freestyle” re-uses the winning formula of “Freestyle boom vol.1”. He offers you a multitude of Old School Freestyle classics (more than 50 hits, this time!), in a record time of 61 minutes!!! A few tracks have only been sampled while others have been put in exergue (he played them longer). It’s extremely well remixed and also superbly edited. 

This new medley from Tim Schommer should inevitably become a reference as far as Freestyle megamixes are concerned.

COLLAGE: “Dreaming” (CD single) ZYX MUSIC  [Germany]

Score: No stars 

In Germany, many people consider this production as Freestyle. Really! Why not?

Those who will find the courage to listen to this new “musical horror” from Adam Marano could have some doubts as for the Freestyle genre proposed in these versions. 

Adam Marano mixes a Jungle rhythm beat to some Progressive Freestyle / Breakbeat sounds. His voice “a la Eiffel 65” presents no interest and the keys which are supposed to form the melody and the rhythm are absolutely insignificant and pointless. 

In our days, who wants to listen to this kind of insipid and boring single?!?

No one. 

Unfortunately, Adam Marano doesn’t manage to compensate his serious lack of creativity and he doesn’t know what to do to make himself look ridiculous.

He must have hit rock bottom to propose such a bad production.

CHRISSY I-EECE: “I don’t mind chasing you” (Promo CD single) E.L.I. RECORDS  [USA]

Score: 3 stars 

This song was released at the same time as “You and me”, but the musical register of this track is nevertheless totally different. This time, Chrissy I-eece went to a more New School Freestyle orientation. The beat is slower and jerky, and it mixes sounds and percussions (Congas) which are more commons to some styles as Salsa or Merengue than to Freestyle, but however that harmonize very well with New School Freestyle. It’s very original. 

Once more, she sings divinely well, and she seems to have a big pleasure interpreting this song in English and also in Spanish. 

This single is a real treat to listen to, but two versions are not sufficient at all.

CHRISSY I-EECE: “You & me” (Promo CD single) E.L.I. RECORDS  [USA]

Score: 4 stars 

The Freestylers who really enjoy the Old School sound of the 80’s should be really happy and surprised by her new single. Surprised! because Chrissy still possesses this formidable and powerful voice that made her style and popularity. And happy! because you seldom listen to such a good Old School Freestyle production that allows a superb and incisive rhythm beat, a beautiful melody and a catchy chorus. The vocal backups are also thrilling. All those elements participate hugely to this successful result. 

Too bad that this CD only contains 2 versions (Radio + Club). A dub, an instrumental version, an acapella and two supplementary mixes would be more than welcome! Only two versions for this incredible single, it’s very incomprehensible! 

Honestly, for a larger audience the re-release (with a new packaging) is recommended for the good of this magnificent single.

EVOLUTION OF DANCE! (CD Compilation --Limited edition--) BIGTIME! ENTERTAINMENT  [USA]

Score: 4 stars 

At least! It was time…I have been waiting ages for such an excellent Freestyle compilation!

Who am I supposed to thank?

Edwin Ramos!

Okay.

So Edwin, thank you so much for this jewel of Freestyle. 

Produced by Edwin Ramos Jr. and distributed on his new label “Bigtime! Entertainment”, this CD should enchant many Freestylers whatever their own musical preferences (Old School & New School, Freestyle ballads). You can thank Edwin Ramos for the beautiful job done on this compilation because he seriously took his work as producer. After you’ve listened to each production you will confirm my words.

There is a bunch of captivating and sparkling titles as “When’s it all gonna end?” by Ashley (certainly one of her excellent songs), “Gimme just 1 night” by Nina Martinez (undeniably the best track on this CD), “Sometimes” by Aby (great production from Giuseppe D and beautiful vocal performance by the ex-member of TKA), “Praying 4 an angel” (a very beautiful reprise of the Freestyle hit from Rochelle). I also really enjoyed the song “Someday” by Omar Denis.

In a more restful style, you will also appreciate the nice Freestyle ballads “I need 2 know” by Angel Mena & “Day to night” by Ayna. The track “a la The Underdog Project” from Fred Nice is not bad either, it is very convincing and lively. 

The titles which have appealed to me less (but I don’t hate them) are “Love’s not that easy” by Manny (the vocals are a bit weakish) and Gloria Gaynor’s remake “I will survive” by Regla Garcia.

As far as concern the non-Freestyle tracks, Tito Puente Jr.’s single is really likeable and pleasant, it marries a R&B style to some Latin sonorities (the use of the guitar is judicious). The ballad from Edwin Vazquez “La Flor” is fair, and his style too common. Even if he still has a beautiful voice, I prefer hearing him in Freestyle. I’m sure you still have on your mind his excellent Freestyle hit “Something never meant” (on Cutting Records) under his artist’s name Eddie Vazz and the Midi Boyz. As for the Merengue “El chiqui chi” by New Steelo (Jose Escobales & Omar Caquillas) it’s not my cup of tea (musically speaking!) but the style is funny! 

If after all these laudatory terms I didn’t give you the envy to buy this compilation, I have to confess, I don’t know what to do! 

Once again, a big thank to Edwin Ramos and to all the artists involved on this project. Very good job guys!

FREESTYLE 80’S (CD compilation) MNF RECORDS / ZYX MUSIC  [Germany]

Score: 1 star 

This compilation is dedicated (for most of the tracks) to Pop/New Wave/Dance genres from the 80’s which are re-interpreted by some German artists & groups. 

This CD contains 14 titles + 3 bonus tracks (short versions of 2 medleys as “Cutmaster, famous Freestyle cuts” and also a shot version of the Anthony Norris’s megamix). The titles available on this CD are considered as “Freestyle interpretation” of some hits as known as “Baker street” by Gerry Rafferty, “Enjoy the silence” by Depeche Mode, “Smalltown boy” by Bronski Beat, Spin me round” by Dead Or Alive, “Tell it to my heart” by Taylor Dayne, “Cecilia” by Simon & Garfunkel, “Laura non cé” by Nek…to name a few. All the tracks have been redone, but they don’t appear interesting and sound the same in their musical construction. Most of them are composed of a Planet Rock beat, and the keys and melodies are differing only from time to time.

Only 2 tracks escaped to this rule: “Hand’s cuff” by Sun Beat, is a Rap track including the melody of “I.O.U.” by Freeez and “Pack Jam” by Freestyle Project is an Electro Freestyle jam including vocoders. All those references will certainly give you an idea of what they tried to do…without success!

What is disagreeable and exasperating, beyond the fact that many productions are terrible, is that the label didn’t hesitate to include on this CD some songs that are already available on other compilations distributed by…by…by MNF Records, of course! To flood the market with the same titles is not serious and respectful; you risk drowning yourself alone. The customers are not naïve, don’t count on them to throw you up a lifebuoy when the ship capsizes!

FREESTYLE PROJECT: “I’m your dance instructor” / “Da Crazy Freestyler” / “Megamix part 1 & 2” [short versions] (CD single) MNF RECORDS / ZYX MUSIC  [Germany]

Score: 1 star 

It’s now a fact, the producers and the authors of Freestyle Project (Steven Maverick / Franz Merwald) turn in circle. This single “I’m your dance instructor” proposes vocoders mixed to Rose O’Neill’s voice which only repeats over and over the same thing “Bang the beat”, “Hey hey hey DJ, rock me baby”. I won’t forget to talk about their never-ending keys that became year after year their registered trademark. It’s always the same thing. There is no originality especially if you listen again to the old Freestyle Project’s singles. A taste of déjà vu!!! 

Listen to me, you Freestyle Project, you risk not being the Dance instructor of anyone anymore. Your style starts to become poverty-stricken.  

Beware, apathy watches you out! 

End of instruction…

FREESTYLE PROJECT: “Welcome 2 electric city” (CD album) MNF RECORDS / ZYX MUSIC  [Germany]

Score: 1 star 

What really got on my nerves with this fourth album is the lack of new titles. 

After all, only the tracks “Baby baby baby” (2 different versions), “Don’t stop 2 body rock”, “Pack jam”, the remixed version of “Music for my soul”, “Megamix Part 2” and “The Freestyle megamix” (which gathers the remixes by Freestyle Project for other artistes) are not on the other albums. You also have to know that most titles are already available in maxi singles or on other compilations/medleys from the label MNF Records.

To push the comparison a little bit too far, the titles “Rock your body” & “Get on da floor” [extended mixes] are on the album “Free Styling” (1998) while “Music for my soul” [vocoders mix] & “Megamix part 1” [short cut] are on the album “From old 2 new School” (2001).

But the weirdest part are the last 3 titles that I haven’t referenced yet…and there, you have to carefully follow what I will write in the next lines: “Time don’t fool” & “Do whatever you want” are on the album “Spinning da wheels” (2002), but recently I noticed that those same 2 titles were on Bubble J.’s album “The century of Freestyle” (2003). Whereas “True love” was on Bubble J.’s album before featuring on this one from Freestyle Project “Welcome 2 Electric city”. Yes I know, you can’t make head, and I understand you! 

To sum up, what is presented as an album is only a modest and common compilation! And in fact, all this jumble, is in reality very simple: the man behind Freestyle Project and Bubble J. is the same guy, Steven Maverick. 

If you want a critic on their music (a thing that I won’t do because I am fed up talking about the same thing!), I invite you to consult the old critics I wrote in the precedent issues. That will avoid me a useless repetition. 

Sorry but the electricity of their city seriously misses power, the electric current resolutely doesn’t pass throughout the fan that I was. To tell you the truth, we didn’t go far from the “musical blackout”.

JOEY SANTANA: “You are the one for me” (Promo CD single) E.L.I. RECORDS  [USA]

Score: 3 stars 

One year and half before we were able to see the release of this song on CD single!?! WOW!!! But we will forgive the label for this long awaiting because this is the kind of tracks which is a big pleasure to listen to. 

Even if it’s the first single (hope it won’t be the last!) from Joey Santana, we feel all the vocal maturity and the passion of Joey for his work. Yep, to be singer, it’s a real work for those who already have forgotten!

Written by Miguel A. Caldero and Joey Santana, this song (re) plunges you with delectation into the Old School Freestyle genre. The style is fast and very rhythmic. That is due to the formidable energy and the rapidity with which Joey sings. He possesses a great and powerful voice. The “other” responsible is the very lively and fast melody that is as warm as the way he sings. The rhythm beat amplifies agreeably this sensation of rhythm. He didn’t give us time to get our breath back, and it’s really great! 

We can be only impatient to wait for his next single, which I hope, will be in the same musical register and as good as this one. A not to be missed single.

KINGS & QUEENS OF FREESTYLE PRESENTS: Best of Stevie B – Then and now (DVD)  URBAN WORKS ENTERTAINMENT / PHAT JOYNTZ / VENTURA DISTRIBUTION  [USA]

Score: 4 stars 

For this first DVD dedicated to a Freestyle artist, it’s Stevie B who got the honors.

It will permit you to share 45 minutes of the professional life of Stevie B since his beginnings. This DVD proposes a few extracts of his concerts (backstage, preparations and repetitions, meetings with fans), some extracts of his videos, a rare TV intervention (a live performance + interview for the Golden record of the album “In my eyes”) but also some interviews of Stevie B; his words and answers are interesting and informative. 

Technically, this DVD possesses a good image quality, the transfer of some videos (original masters or VHS) on DVD support is correct, the beginning credits and the numerous visual interstices in 3D, which punctuate the documentary, are successful. The only flaw is to have opted for the Mono sound and not for Dolby stereo (or even 5.1!).

As for the bonus material, you will discover in their integrality six videos: “Spring love”, “Because I love you”, “I wanna be the one”, “Dreaming of love”, “You are the one” and “Pump that body”.  

This DVD is obviously indispensable for those who adore this unique artist who performs around 100 concerts per year and sold over 35 millions of records in all around the world since his first steps in music.

KINGS & QUEENS OF FREESTYLE PRESENTS: VOL.1 (DVD) URBAN WORKS ENTERTAINMENT / PHAT JOYNTZ / VENTURA DISTRIBUTION  [USA]

Score: 3 stars 

This is certainly one of the events of the year 2003. Imagine, a DVD (the first in its category) entirely dedicated to Freestyle music; the artists and the fans that will be in seventh heaven! 

For volume 1, Galley Alexander (your host) and Phat Joyntz have centered their report on one group and four artists from East Coast, all native from the New York City boroughs. The Cover Girls open the festivities (17’19), then Coro (11’53), then Shannon (13’25), then George Lamond (15’37) and Lisette Melendez (17’10) concludes the documentary. During 1H18, you will have access to some interviews and extracts of videos of the interviewees, especially for Shannon and George Lamond. But also a few extracts of concerts, of recording studio or of sets of videos as for Coro. This profusion of images and reports is interrupted by the interventions of artists and producers as well-known, respected and talented as Andy Panda, Sal Abbatiello, Cynthia, Judy Torres, Lil Suzy, Artie Rodriguez, Carlos Berrios & Chris Barbosa.  

On a technical point of view, we will regret that this DVD doesn’t offer Dolby stereo. In Mono system it gives a confined sound, it’s necessary sometimes to prick up your ears to understand what the interviewees say. We can also notice that the sound and the image unhook from time to time, thankfully, it’s during the presentation credits of each artist. And why is the interview of Shannon sometimes in Black & White and not in color?

We hope for the next volumes that the Phat Joyntz team will propose the integrality of some videos as bonus materials (as for Stevie B’s DVD), and why not a short making of on the last volume of this series to see the un-used rushes and to see how this series of reports/interviews has been prepared! 

Except for a couple of technical mistakes, this DVD proposes an exciting journey in the world of Freestyle, as you’ve never seen before. It would be stupid to miss it!

LATIN NATION: “Angels in the sky” (CD album --Limited edition--) NU STYLE RECORDS  [USA]

Score: 1 star 

We can’t evoke the Latin Nation band without emotion after everything that happened to this group those last years. Indeed, Alex Zunica’s two brothers passed away in 2000 (for Luis) and in 2001 (for Cesar).

This first album was the best manner to perpetuate the memory of these 2 “angels in the sky”. 

I would love to talk about this album in more respectful and flattering terms, but what deeply disappointed me is the vocal insufficiency of Alex Zunica. He is irregular and he sings out of tune. He was at ease when he was surrounded vocally by his brothers or other singers. It’s really disappointing because most of the tracks are very interesting and possess some splendid melodies and an exciting rhythm beat, as for instance the songs “Dreams I have”, “Emptyness”, “Dreams do come true”, “I wanna B with u”, “If you knew”, “Only cries” and “Fantasy”. But my favorite song is “Nunca”, under the name of Lanation. What a terrific track!

With a more relentless work on his voice, his album could be one of the events of the year. It’s really frustrating, really!

ORIGINAL STYLAZ: “Let’s move (the haunted house of rock)” / Break it up” (CD single --Limited edition--) FON-KY RECORDS / DANCE STREET / ZYX MUSIC  [Germany]

Score: No stars

It’s not because you want to surf on the Electro Freestyle wave that you will succeed in making it, you also need to have talent and originality. This is not the case of Original Stylaz, and when you wear this name it’s not well seen.

This CD is destined to the Freestylers who enjoy groups as Flying Steps or Bomfunk Mcs…Unfortunately, “Let’s move (the haunted house of rock)” is closest from the calamitous musical style of Mr. Bass featuring Streetstyler (a.k.a. Adam Marano). Also, the melody and keys are a kind of free inspiration of the superb title from Whodini “Haunted house of rock” (1983). But once again it’s a complete failure and musically it’s very poor.

As for the bonus track “Break it up”, it proposes a genre in the same line as Freestyle Project for the robot voice (vocodorized) and for the style it will be the one from Flying Steps. It’s not successful either!

Original Stylaz won’t take the good wave (of success), but they risk taking a surfboard (of indifference) in their faces. This group will take a tumble!!!

THE ROC PROJECT FEAT. TINA ARENA: “Never (past tense)” (CD single) TOMMY BOY SILVER LABEL  [USA]

Score: 1 star

One thing is sure, compared to the exciting Trancey/Housey mixes by DJ Tiësto (which are not available on this CD), the Dance mixes are not really captivating.

For instance, on this CD, personally, I would love to listen to, the great “DJ Tiësto remix”. But the producers and the label decided differently…regrettable! 

Let’s linger on the two Johnny Budz’s versions. Over two mixes (“Breaks radio edit” & “Johnny Budz breaks mix”), he offers a style oscillating between Breakbeat (if we talk about the Rhythm beat) and Freestyle (if we talk about the sound and the style which emerge from the Euro Freestyle keys). The final result is extremely dull and not very thrilling. The style of the keys is vulgar (not very well worked in my opinion) which makes think to a poor and ordinary fair Freestyle production from Germany for instance. The melody and the rhythm of the Breakbeat beat are not very lively and original, a bit boring especially after a length of 6’46. 

Luckily, we have the splendid voice of Tina Arena, if not, we could expect the worse. 

It would be desirable for his next remixes that Johnny Budz proposes us a more refined and less common product. A more creative and inspired mind will be more than welcome too!

My Top 5

(12” & CD singles)

1] Nu Image: “I’ll always love you” (Multi Edit) Aria Records / Micmac records [USA]

2] Nina Martinez : “Gimme just 1 night” Bigtime! Entertainment [USA]

3] Chrissy I-eece: “You & me” E.L.I. Records [USA]

4] Joey Santana: “You are the one for me” E.L.I. Records

5] Aby: “Sometimes” Bigtime! Entertainment [USA]

My Top 5

(Compilations & medleys)

1] Evolution of dance (compilation) Big Time! Entertainment [USA]

2] Bringin’ the Freestyle (medley) Freestyle Productions / Distortion Media [USA]

4] Bad Boy Joe Presents The Best Of Freestyle Megamix vol.3 (medley) What If Productions LLC [USA]

4] NONE

5] NONE

My Top 5

(Albums)

1] Aby: “The Greatest hits” Empire Music Werks / Hot JWP Music [USA]

2] Christina Marie: “Turn the lights down low” Vazram Records [USA]

3] Sharyn Maceren: “Always dreamin’” Planet Hype [USA]

4] Lil Suzy: “The greatest hits” Empire Music Werks / Hot JWP Music / BMG Music [USA]

[5] Ceres: “Deep from my heart” Flic Flac Records / DMG / Sony Music [Germany]