The Discotizer runs a very nice blog dedicated to funky and soulful House music. Like me, he regularly posts DJ sets and writes about good music. I really like his enthusiasm about House music, and his DJ sets are really worth listening.

Here is one for you to check out what I am talking about.

Discotizer started DJing out of disappointment with the local club scene.

“It’s funny that you hear funky and soulful House music more often in boutiques than in clubs. Here in Cologne, it’s actually hard to find clubs where you can hear that sound.”

We discussed this issue for a while, but couldn’t really come up with a convincing explanation. A lot of people like funky House music, and labels like Hed Kandi are very successful with their CD compilations. However, there seems to be a mismatch between what people like to hear and what DJs play in clubs.

“I was born in Bulgaria, and I occasionally visit friends and family there. Funky and soulful House is much easier to find there than it is in Cologne. Too many DJs here just keep playing annoying Minimal and Electro sounds. I never wanted to be a DJ, but I think I can do better than many DJs that I have heard so far.”

So is this just a local thing after all? I don’t know, but I can certainly relate to Discotizers mission for more soul and deepness in current dance music.

Tracklist:

1. Manyus and Dario Guida – Fever
2. Trouble Men – Do It
3. Glaubitz & Roc – Sunshine Day 2002 (Sgt. Slick 2002 Mix)
4. Soul Avengerz – Dancing In My Sleep
5. Full Intention pres. Deep Down – Give Me Your Love
6. Stone & Heller – San Francisco ’99 (Milk & Sugar Extended Mix)
7. Bran Van 3000 – Astounded (Eric Kupper Extended Mix)
8. Thomas Bangalter & Bob Sinclar – Gym Tonic
9. Armand Sarkowski – I Love It
10. Richard Grey – Is A Friend Of Mine
11. DJ EQ – Got Feelin’ (Original Mix)
12. Voodoo Chilli – Get On Down (Original Mix)
13. Voodoo Chilli – Check Out Our Groove (Herve Club Edit)
14. Black & White Brothers – Put Your Hands Up (DJ Disciple Vanguard Dub)
15. Conga Squad – Learn To Phonk
16. Czr and Ito – Bringing The Funk
17. Basement Jaxx – Do Your Thing (Jaxx Club Remix)
18. Michelle Weeks – Don’t Give Up (Baffled’s Midnight Mix)
19. Da Hoodfellas – Peep The Technique (Hustle & Flow Chi-Town Peepin Remix)
20. Stacy Kidd – Street Jazz (Original Mix)
21. Fabio Bacchini – Funk Is The Message
22. Cassius – Cassius ’99 (Fabio Bacchini 2009 Re-Tweaked Mix)
23. Cricco Castelli – Life Is Changing (Original)
24. One-T – Music Is The One-T Odc (Denis The Menace Club Mix)

Here’s a little warm-up for the weekend: A pumpin’, pushin’ and ass-kickin’ mix full of House music. I included both remixes of classics as well as a few fresh tracks. Enjoy!

Tracklist:

1. Strip Steve – Breakin’
2. Olaf Basoski – NGOM
3. 45th Street – Adrenalin
4. Gimbal&Sinan – Take Off
5. Roger Prinz – Freak Like (Ron Paul Mix)
6. Urban Shakedown & Micky Finn – Some Justice (Super Mal Remix)
7. Soul Of Man – Dirty Waltzer (Trouble Soup!! Remix)
8. Slyde – We Love It
9. The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name (Soul Seekerz Dirty Dub Vox Mix)
10. Mihell – Don’t Mean Shit
11. Powers That Be – Planet Rock

Then there’s “Some Justice” by Urban Shakedown & Mickey Finn. If you listen to the original, it might be a little hard to understand what’s so great about this track. However, this particular style (Breakbeat House / early UK Hardcore / Oldschool Breaks) was pretty popular in the early 90s and also got me hooked to electronic music. I am still glad that there is a more recent remix though – I guess it’s a “you had to be there”-thing.

There are also a few fresh tracks in here, such as the awesome “Dancin’” by Strip Steve or “Take Off” by a fabulous newcomer duo called Gimbal&Sinan . I really like their productions for being very playful and well-produced, and I think they have a lot of potential.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paxsimius/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0