All posts by Galaxians

10 Of Our Favourite John Morales Remixes And Productions

Born in the Bronx, New York, John Morales made his name as an editor, remixer and producer, and as a DJ at clubs such as Studio 54, Limelight and Stardust Ballroom.

For a large part of his early career Morales worked alongside Sergio Munzibai, and utilising their heritage (Morales is of Puerto Rican descent) they distinguished themselves with their Latin percussion-heavy arrangements and remixes, known collectively as the M&M Mixes.

Here we present 10 of our favourite Morales remixes and productions. Enjoy.

1. Barely Breaking Even  – UNIVERSAL ROBOT BAND (Moonglow Records 1982)

Where else to begin than with a song many regard as Morales’ masterpiece. It’s hard to disagree with that opinion because it’s just so damn good, from the outrageous bass guitar (pushed right up front in the mix) to the way the instrumentation and orchestration weave in and out, building and dropping. Add to that an incredible vocal from Leroy Burgess and jaw-dropping musicianship from his fellow LOGG band members, it’s a collaboration made in heaven.

Before I heard this song I wouldn’t have thought it possible that an 11-minute jam with a drummer playing barely anything more than a kick drum could be so funky and satisfying.

2. Nice and Soft (Uptown Version) – WISH ft. LA-RITA GASKIN (Perspective 1981)

Another post-disco Morales gem that is just New York through and through, from the sultry keys at the beginning to that squelching synth bass line. There are a few versions of this and being a drummer I do generally prefer the ‘drummier’ version with it’s crazy fills and syncopated snare hits, but this Morales mix is certainly no slouch and does include some of those busier drum parts in the breakdown.

New York producer and songwriter Greg Carmichael (famed for his collaborations with Patrick Adams and Leroy Burgess) also appears here on arranging duties.

3. Saturday Night, Sunday Morning – THELMA HOUSTON (Universal UMC 2014)

It’s a shame this remix was a CD-only release as I hate CDs and would pretty much kill to have this on a 12. Hey ho. One of Morales’ recent treatments in which he really ramps up the kick sound and polishes the production so it shimmers with a really clarity and crispness. Aside from the technical elements it’s just such a soulful song and a super-tasteful treatment, and quite frankly once it’s kicked in I never want it to end.

One of Morales’ great talents is the way he considers the space and uses everything in the composition to get the maximum impact out of the orchestration and the individual parts.  Listen to the way he allows the string section to sing on its own for parts of the song, maximising the emotional effect. Stunning.

4. I’m Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair) – INNER LIFE (Prelude 1979)

Where to start. Difficult to accurately describe my feelings for this song in a couple of paragraphs but I’ll give it a shot.

People often talk about disco being dead by 1979. Not so. Disco simply went back underground where it nurtured its roots once more, to give us incredible songs such as this.  From the heart-wrenching vocal by Jocelyn Brown (and those “ah-ah-ah-ah, caught up!” backing voices) to the lush strings and sweet chord changes, it really is a thing of beauty and there’s always plenty of whistling and hollering from the dance floor whenever I play it out. Morales also produced the full album of the same name.

5. Do You Wanna Lover (Club Mix) – HOT BOX (Polydor 1983)

Dodgy name aside, this banger from 1983 displays all the percussive hallmarks of a Morales production: layers of agogo bells and cowbells over drum machine beats and a seriously wicked breakdown where you hear nothing except drums and percussion. I’m a sucker for live acoustic percussion over sequenced classic drum machine sounds, particularly the Linn Drum kick and snare.

This one has a vibe reminiscent of The System’s ‘You Are In My System’ and is a great example of the early electro / proto-house sound that got kids breakdancing all over the damn place.

6. Breakin Down (Sugar Samba) (JM After-Session M&M Mix) – JULIA & COMPANY (Columbia 1983)

Staying with 1983 here’s a somewhat lighter but no less potent jam with a really swinging Latin vibe and some great drum programming (those triplet tom rolls!). One of the things I love about this is that even though it’s a really busy arrangement at times it’s never not funky. It has a fun and joyful air but it still feels raw somehow. Sits nicely in a DJ set next to Teena Marie, too.

7. Lay It On The Line (After-Session M&M Mix) – LOGG (Salsoul 1981)

I could probably make a favourite list of Morales mixes that feature Leroy Burgess and his LOGG compadres as there’s so many great ones.

This one is a strong contender for numero uno, because it actually improves on the original (sorry, Leroy!) in two ways. Firstly, it absolutely rejoices in all the individual voices and elements of the composition, and I don’t know about you but I want to hear those elements, one by one, until everything is pumping away. It’s just so satisfying. Secondly, it takes a more polite original version and bumps the rhythm and bass guitars right up to maximum effect, making it twice as funky. It’s a bonafide boogie bomb.

8. Down For Double (After-Session M&M Mix) – CUBIE BURKE (Rissa Chrissa 1983)

This was Cubie’s only solo effort (he spent most of his career as a professional dancer) but it’s made the cut here simply because it’s a fine example of boogie and of Morales clean, tight remixing approach. It’s a low-key affair for sure, and not quite as developed as some of his reworks but it has a classy vibe and great groove, especially in the brilliantly-phrased bass guitar part. Recorded at Blank Studios by the legendary Bob Blank.

9. Once Is Not Enough (Dub Mix) – LEON LOVE (Still Rising 1984)

1984 was a good year in the post-disco, pre-house club landscape. Take Rocker’s Revenge’ dub/electro/proto-house masterpiece ‘Walking On Sunshine’ which for me embodies the experimental nature and musical joy of that period. When you listen to it you hear disco, garage, electro, house, all in one song. This Morales dub mix from the same year shares some of the same characteristics and I think I prefer it to the a-side.

10. You And I Together – BRENDA GOOCH (Salsoul 1981)

A new discovery for me and while it isn’t in the league of Morales’ well-known classic mixes I wanted to include something slightly more obscure because we’ve all heard ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ and ‘Hooked On Your Love’ a hundred times, right? Of course there’s a reason why those remixes are so highly regarded, but just for the sake of curiosity and interest I thought I’d end on this one.

Really feeling the intro here, in particular the repeating ‘flats in Dagenham’ snare drum and tom fill, the descending piano motif, and the unexpected but altogether soulful chord changes.

 

 

10 Larry Levan Mixes, Remixes And Productions To Celebrate His 65th Birthday

In honour of Larry Levan’s 65th birthday we’ve put together a selection of some of our favourites from his catalogue of mixes, remixes and productions. Of course there are countless articles, blogs, and playlists celebrating the maestro’s work, so although this is nothing new we think his legacy is worth celebrating and returning to again and again.

Choosing just ten songs is really quite a stretch as there are so many classics, but we hope we’ve added at least one or two songs here that you might be less familiar with.

Enjoy. Matt.

1. Don’t Tell Me – CENTRAL LINE (Mercury 1981)

Fair to say that the b-side ‘Walking Into Sunshine’ is the more well- known Levan remix from this particular 12 but for me the a-side is the one. You could argue that by Levan’s standards this is a fairly conservative, less dubby remix but it still has his signature all over it. Some of his arranging ideas could sometimes appear slightly random – percussion tracks starting in odd places within a phrase, instruments or effects leaping out of the speakers when you least expect etc – but for me that’s all part of the appeal. Listen to the hand percussion part here and you’ll see what I mean.

2. Seventh Heaven – GWEN GUTHRIE (Island 1985)

An obvious choice for sure, but it has to be in this list. Quite simply a benchmark for so many reasons, not least because of the personnel involved – Gwen Guthrie and the Compass Point All Stars team of Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Wally Badarou, and Darryl Thompson – but also because it showcases just how experimental and creative Levan was. Listen to those delayed claps leaping out of the mix and the way he turns a pretty smooth production (check the original mix) into something entirely more raw and druggy.  It’s one of those mixes that when you hear it for the first time it’s like nothing you’ve ever heard before. And that bass guitar, OMG.

3. First True Love Affair – JIMMY ROSS (RFC 1981)

Another well-trodden path I know, but it’s a path that always leads to joy so it’s worth a revisit. There’s no doubt about the super-soulful chorus and general great vibe of the whole song but for me it’s all about that breakdown. The reverb-drenched synth line just amps up the character and takes things to a new place for a while before everything snaps back in.

4. I Got My Mind Made Up – INSTANT FUNK (Salsoul 1978)

I read somewhere that Larry’s remix of this Instant Funk banger is regarded in some circles as the greatest 12″ remix of all time. It’s a bold claim and I’m not sure I even think I agree with the idea that there has to be a ‘greatest mix’, but aside from that there’s little about this remix I can say that hasn’t been said already. It’s just SO funky from start to finish and I probably play it out just a bit too often, but I can’t help myself.

5. Need Somebody New – JAMAICA GIRLS (Sleeping Bag 1983)

A fairly recent discovery for me but I wanted to include it here because I’ve been enjoying it a lot and it’s another example of an unmistakable Levan intro; the way the sounds are introduced into the arrangement and how certain sounds are drenched in delay or saturated to the point where the sound almost starts to break up. I often wonder if some of the techniques he employed were to recreate sounds he was hearing when he was under the influence mixing records in the club.

6. Diamond Ring – BILLY NICHOLS (West End 1980)

Okay, so this could be a bit of a stretch because it’s difficult to say with any degree of certainty exactly what level of involvement Levan had in this, but it’s here all the same. Discogs classifies this under the sub-heading ‘Writing & Arrangement’ and the record lists Levan as ‘Music Consultant’, so it’s anyone’s guess. Tune is a total banger though and it definitely displays more than a mere sprinkle of Levan magic in my view.

7. A.I.E – LA COMPAGNIE CREOLE (Pardonnez-nous 2019)

Another recent discovery (unreleased prior to this year) and arguably a much more understated treatment than we might be used to hearing from Monsieur Levan. You could even say it’s quite smooth and polished, two words you wouldn’t normally use to describe one of Larry’s reworks. It has a lovely groove and is the perfect early evening summer vibe for a rooftop party before things get dark and messy inside the club.

8. Bodyshine – INSTANT FUNK (Salsoul 1979)

Levan always had a knack of making a sexy song seem even sexier. Maybe it’s the way his creative flow and personality combined to bring out even more soul and sass from a tune. People often speak about his magnetic character and wild spontaneity, and his ability to squeeze even more emotional impact out of a song. I think you can add to that his ability to make a song feel more lithe and twice as sensual.

9. Double Cross – FIRST CHOICE (Salsoul 1979)

A song which will forever remind me of the Release Yourself parties hosted by Pat McCusker, Henry Hobson and myself at Wharf Chambers in Leeds from 2012 to 2017. Just a guaranteed floor filler and definitely one of Levan’s most muscular remixes. A banger, pure and simple. One of my favourite characteristics of his remixes is the way he just pushes those kick drum and bass guitar faders right up. G’wan!

10. Can’t Play Around – LACE (Atlantic, RFC 1982)

I’ve often heard people talk about 1982 as the best year for boogie. I’m not sure about that but I am sure that Levan’s mix of this Lace song should definitely be included in any best of 1982 list. For me, Levan produced some of his finest work during the post-disco period (though you could also argue that most of his work is from that period anyway!) when dance music dug deep into it’s own underground again and became even more experimental. Larry was definitely spearheading that movement with his raw, train-of-thought creativity and unique approach, not just to his remixes but his live sets too.

GALAXIANS @ Hebden Bridge Trades Club 30.08.19

We’re excited to announce our headline show at Hebden Bridge Trades Club on 30th August, supported by Mealtime.

Friday 30th August
Galaxians + Mealtime + Country Club DJs
£8/£10 [+10% booking fee]
Doors open 8pm

“A night to remember with amazing live electronic disco-funk-house magicians Galaxians who have been making waves nationwide since the release of their debut album ‘Let The Rhythm In’ with special guests the Manchester 6 piece synthclash band Mealtime and Country Club DJs. Highly recommended!”

Tickets available here: https://thetradesclub.com/events/galaxians?fbclid=IwAR0rfqErj4YBEAld3-o2tAbfWW5eAYlO0oRxAOFbzp_3ZNiGHF_7XhqWiVY

OUR NEW MIX IS NOW ON MIXCLOUD

I’m on mix duties again this month and it’s been difficult to select just a small amount of music from recent buys as there’s been a lot of good stuff out recently (ensuring empty pockets but a well-stocked record bag). Here’s some of my favourite songs of the moment, bursting with summer vibes.
– Matt

SHAKTI // Rainbows (Subway 1987)
RENE & ANGELA // I Love You More (Frankie Rodriquez Long Vocal Edit) (Capitol 1981)
KLEER // Open Your Mind (Atlantic 1979)
CHAKA KHAN // I Know You, I Live You (Tony Humphries Remix) (Warner Bros 1989)
BRIAN POWER // Falling Back In Love (Instrumental) (Soulhouse 2019)
JOE NEGRO vs. HORSE MEAT DISCO // Candidate For Love (Horse Meat Disco Mix) (Strut 2014)
TERRY HUNTER Featuring BARBARA TUCKER // Holding On (Club Mix) (T’s Box 2019)
PEGGY GOU // Han Pan (Gudu 2019)
JUNGLE BY NIGHT // Spending Week (Ron Trent Remix) (New Dawn 2019)
PRINCE // 17 Days (Zach Witness Version) (Witness 2019)
SOUL REDUCTIONS // Got 2 Be Loved (Take Away 2017)

Matt Speaks To Pink Wafer in Sheffield Ahead Of Galaxians’ Live Appearance

“It’s hard not be affected by the live energy of Galaxians. Blending dense rhythmic synths, live and sampled drums, and insanely powerful vocals, Galaxians – preferably in some sweaty underground venue – are a band you need to open your heart to and experience.” PINK WAFER

Read the full interview here:

Open Your Heart To Galaxians’ Ecstatic Electronic Funk

 

GALAXIANS Support NYC Legends ESG On Their Final Ever UK Shows in March 2019

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be sharing the stage with NYC No Wave legends ESG on their final ever UK shows on 1 and 2 March 2019. Read on…..

ESG began life when the mother of the Scroggins sisters, afraid of the life of crime and drugs that awaited them on the streets of 70s Bronx, NY, presented her daughters with some basic instruments and encouraged them to make music together to keep them busy. What followed was, quite simply, a musical revolution.

The Scroggins sisters’ unique sound as Emerald Sapphire & Gold, or ESG, immediately spread right across Europe, with Tony Wilson’s FACTORY records releasing their debut EP in 1981. They played the opening night of the Hacienda nightclub, and their live shows have never been anything short of absolutely phenomenal.

They were welcomed into New York’s post-punk and no wave scene but in the end they’d prove more influential than most of their peers. Their style—funky and minimalist with a punkish sense of urgency—would become a key influence on house and the dancey side of indie rock (think LCD Soundsystem and DFA).

This exclusive UK is a rare opportunity to catch one of the most important DIY acts of all time in their native environment, the live stage.

01.03.19 LONDON The Jazz Cafe

Tickets: https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/esg-jazz-cafe-tickets/8863515?pl=JC

02.03.19 LEEDS Brudenell Social Club

Tickets: http://www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk/whats-on/esg1/