SMOOVE Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Smoove props up his rep as a highly consistent big beat, funk and disco crossover producer with a freight-class shipment of 'Heavy Goods'. Somersaulting out from his Geordie soul group Smoove & Turrell - on top of his sought-after multi-track vinyl re-edits, as well as his remixing prowess across hip-hop, soul, and funk - this Jalapeno Records follow-up continues Smoove's recent favourite postal theme. Indeed, the postal system is what keeps us afloat (and cue the boundless irony of Royal Mail's latest sale to a Czech billionaire, the name of whose LLC is, apropos of online music retail, "EP Group"). Betty Black & The Family Fortune, Emma Noble, Kraak & Smaak, Izo FitzRoy, The High & Mighty, and Bahama Soul Club, all are all loaned Smoove's Pygmalion hand, honing a musing work of art from many a die-cut classic. Whirlwind D's 'Labels', Izo Fitzroy's 'Blind Faith' and TGH Collective's 'Higher Collective' are special versions too. Assuming you didn't already know the songs in question, you really wouldn't be able to tell the edit jobs from the originals. Mint condition!

Review: Smoove return with another finely tuned pair of edits, once again diving deep into the archives of Slave and reshaping their grooves with his signature touch. 'Blown' builds around heavy slabs of funk, expertly reconstructed and laced with Pharrell's unmistakable vocals, creating something that feels both timeless and refreshingly modern. The flip leans into a looser, more stripped-back groove, channelling a daisy-age hip-hop feel with crisp drums and effortless swing. It's another standout in the Wack series, reinforcing Smoove's knack for bridging eras while keeping the funk and hip-hop connection as vital as ever.

Review: While the Reflex was the first to forge a career out of multi-track re-editing (which would have been called remixing back in the disco era, since you are rearranging using the original parts), plenty of producers have followed in his footsteps in recent times - not least popular disco and funk party-starter Smoove. Here he serves up a ninth instalment in his excellent 'Multitrack Reworks' series. On side A he does a stellar job in reinventing Depeche Mode's 'Enjoy The Silence' as a squelchy, synths-and-slap-bass sporting mid-tempo disco anthem, complete with spine-tingling vocal breakdowns. He opens side B with a stripped-back, dubbed-out take on Al Green classic 'Let's Stay Together', smartly emphasising the bittersweet beauty of the original version's orchestral accompaniment, before delivering a sweet, head-nodding take on the Emotions' 'Blind Alley'.

Review: Jonathan Watson aka Smoove sees his version of "one of the greatest posse cuts of all time" - or so say reissuers Wack Records - re-pressed for the masses to hear. One half of the British funk and hip-hop edits duo Smoove & Turrell, the former of the two made, but never released, this wicked remix of Heavy D & The Boyz's 'Don't Curse' sometime in the late 2000s. Now released as though it were an official posse cut, it comes backed by a flip of Kool G's 'Rich & Famous', equally bouncy and decadent as they come.

Review: Smoove returns with another addition to his renowned Multitrack Rework series, offering a stripped-down bass and drums workout to open, with a seven-minute version of 'Engine Number 9'. The flipside sees him take on a classic with an extended reworking of 'Got To Be Real', starting with an open drum intro before breaking down the brass arrangements and highlighting the impeccable vocal harmonies. As usual, Smoove's deep understanding of groove and arrangement shines through, making this a must for anyone who appreciates his masterful touch on the funkier side of reworks.

Review: Smoove works his magic once again on Multitrack Reworks Volume 7, delivering standout edits of classic tracks. The Temptations' 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone' gets a refreshing update with crisp drums, rich vocal harmonies, and majestic orchestral breakdowns. On the flip side, Rufus Thomas' 'Do the Funky Penguin' shines with exposed drums and extended guitar riffs, adding new layers of groove. As an extra treat, Smoove presents his extended version of The Magic Disco Machine's 'Scratchin',' revealing a seriously funky bass line and pounding drums. With regular support from Craig Charles on BBC6 Music, this release is hailed as Smoove's best Multitrack Rework yet, offering a fresh take on timeless classics.

Review: Smoove returns with his label Wack Records and delivers two killer cuts straight from the heart of Motown. Utilizing original multitrakcs from the home of Rick James and The Supremes, Smoove gets his swirv on and delivers two uptempo hip-hop bangers, curveball-tinged with the instrumental backings of Motown. On the A, 'Empty World', we hear an attention-grabbing Nas mashup ('Life's A Bitch'), while the aforementioned artists are equally as well fused on the much more positive B-side.

Review: Since launching the series in 2021, Smoove has served up a quintet of 'Multitrack Edits' EPs. As the title suggests, each sees the North-East-based DJ/producer deliver his takes on classic funk, soul, disco and boogie cuts using the multi-track tapes. This sixth volume in the series features two more tidy revisions. On side A he does a brilliant job in stretching out and building up a version of funk favourite 'Brothers on the Slide', layering up various instruments in turn before unleashing the backing vocals and, eventually, lead vocals. On the reverse, Smoove does a terrific job lightly tightening up and extending Sly Stone fave 'It's a Family Affair', adding a touch of hip-hop swing to the legendary musician's groove while showcasing some of the instrumental flourishes buried in the original 1970s mix.

Review: Smoove's latest LP, the retro-modern funk take that is First Class, is primed for a spacious yet packed dancefloor. Smoove's deft emulatory production skills are once again put on full display, collecting vocal samples and original backing tracks from genres like funk, jazz, soul and hip-hop to produce something to the tune of 15 or so remixes. Bustling interpretations of Kraak & Smaak, Una Mas Trio, and Brenda Boykin render this a headsy yet unpretentious dance dazzler.

Review: SMOOVE's Multitrack Reworks Volume 5 on Multitrack Reworks once more offers up a masterclass in the art of the remix, presenting two re-interpretations of classic soul and disco grooves respectively. Smoove's deft and sonically honest remixing skills are on full display here, and his existing fans are sure to be delighted by his characteristic warm 'walloping' sound, not to mention crisp-clear drums and a deft use of the stereo field for additional (yet newly-added) instrumentation.

Review: Smoove is one half of the legendary edit duo Smoove and Turell from Northern England. He goes it alone here on the fourth volume of his Multitack Reworks series with two slices of the kind of grooves that we know and love and him for. A-side 'Live' and flip track 'Egypt' are both prime cuts of timeless funk with driving drum breaks and plenty of catchy and hooky melodic motifs. These limited edition, hand-stamped white label 12"s always do damage on the dancefloor so are well worth picking up.

Review: Veteran Newcastle-based producer Johnathan Watson aka Smoove is back with the third instalment in the Multitrack Reworks, a new series that will be putting out limited edition, hand-stamped white label 12's that are made from reworked tunes constructed from the original multitracks. This one features the deep down and dirty P-funk of A-side cut 'Deep', while over on the flip Watson lends his Midas touch to a solid reconstruction of a certain deep funk classic by Slave, as well as a spruced up soul classic for all the heads out there on 'Superman'.