Freshly Squeezed Vol.6

1. Blue Dream Lover - Elke
2. Never Ending - Jesse Rose
3. Nothing To Worry About - Peter Bjorn and John
4. Quicksand (Chateau Marmont Remix) - La Roux
5. The Day (We Fell In Love) (Todd Edwards' Liturgical Mix) - Appaloosa
6. Kilometer (A-Trak Remix) - Sebastien Tellier
7. Daniel - Bat For Lashes
8. I'm Not Alone - Calvin Harris
9. Paris Is Burning - Ladyhawke
10. Sleepyhead - Passion Pit
11. Hipster Girl (Radio Mix) - Larry Tee
12. Silver Cruiser - Royksopp
13. Daylight - Matt & Kim
14. Early Bird - Joris Voorn
15. 11pm (Instrumental Ocean Mix) - Pete Marvelous
16. El Padrino - Groove Armada

17. Heading South - David Morley

Freshly Squeezed Vol.5

1.  Causation  -  Shen

2.  Against All Odds  -  Chase & Status

3.  Rickshaw  -  Flying Lotus

4.  Lay Me Down  -  Cyndi Lauper

5.  Fragment Two (The First Picture) (Jesse Rose Mix)  -  Julee Cruise

6.  Squeeze Me  -  Kraak And Smaak

7.  Running  -  Chase & Status

8.  So Many Ways  -  Gelka

9.  I Have A Vision (Todd Edwards' Enlightened Vocal Mix)  -  Roy Davis Jr. 

10. Pipes N Sneakers (Manuel Tur & Dplay Remix)  -  Jay Shepheard

11. Pacific State (Afterlife Remix)  -  Doman & Gooding

12. We All  -  L.A.O.S.

13. Apollo-Gize (Fred Falke Remix)  -  Digitalism

14. Devil'S Water (Reprise)  -  Rennie Foster

FS5 is perhaps the most eclectic compilation in the Freshly Squeezed series so far. It starts out with a track that is exactly not Freshly Squeezed (as it was originally released in December 2006.), but it has had a resurgence of late and therefore finds itself as the first track on FS5, setting the tone for what's to come. Those fantastic vocals you hear are by Kinnie Star.

Chase & Status are best known as a drum & bass group but with two tracks on GS5 they have demonstrated that they clearly have some serious talent outside their special genre. "Against All Odds" is a wonderful throwback track with a great drum track and excellent production value.

Rickshaw by Flying Lotus (Steven Eillison), out of Winnetka, California, is one of the many brilliant tracks on his second album, Los Angeles, on Warp Records. 

As mentioned briefly on FS4, Cyndi Lauper is making a comeback. The track "Lay Me Down" was written and produced by (Andreas) Kleerup from Sweden who incidentally was also responsible for Robyn's comeback earlier last year with the track "With Every Heartbeat".

Jesse Rose puts his touch on Julee Cruise with the track Fragment Two (The First Picture). This is the second of the tracks on FS5 that could be considered not so Freshly Squeezed , but deserves a listing due to the new round of remixes that has breathed new life into this track. 

"Squeeze Me" by Kraak and Smaak, out of Leiden in Holland (isn't that weird??), puts a similar formula to work here that we previously heard from Chase & Status; add one part funky drummer and one part 60's style R&B lyrics. Just goes to show, the formula still works, as Gnarls Barkley showed us a couple of years ago.

To contrast their previous track on FS5, Chase & Status provides us with an 80's style electro track. Completely different to "Against All Odds" but equally brilliant.

Gelka emerges from Hungary by it's two main members Sandor Domotor and Csaba Kurti giving us some smooth down-temp tracks off their latest album "Less Is More". "So Many Ways" is the one that stand out and features vocals by Ghana-born singer Sena.

Roy Davis Jr. stems from the birth-place of house music, Chicago, and has been immersed in the scene since the late 80's, releasing lots of fantastic material over the years. He is best known for the massive house hit "Gabriel" which was released on XL-Recordings back in the 90's. On "I Have A Vision" Roy teams up with Erin Martin who provides the vocals, and Todd Edwards who puts his classic, quirky and highly recognizable sound.

Pipes N Sneakers by Jay Shepheard gets the french house treatment by the German duo Manuel Tur & Dplay on the Swiss label Compost Black.

Track #11 is in fact a remake of the massive classic "Pacific State" by 808 State, released in 1989. Although it doesn't really hold a candle to the original it's nice to relive the past and this track does a good job at creating an appropriate tribute.

"We All" from L.A.O.S. demonstrates that there is some brilliant drum & bass coming out Finland. D&B fanatics enjoy!!

Fred Falke puts his touches on yet another track, this time it's "Apollo-Gize" by Digitalism, a German dance-punk duo, with Postal Service-esque vocals. The fat bass guitar courtesy of Fred Falke, as some of you will know is his trademark of sorts.

We slow it right down with Rennie Foster's Reprise version of "Devil'S Water", a very angelic sounding tribute to perhaps vodka or gin or some other sort of "evil" beverage. Cheers!!

Album cover to come.

Freshly Squeezed Vol.4

1.  Here I Am (featuring Lisa Shaw)  -  Fred Everything

2.  Paris (Aeroplane Mix)  -  Friendly Fires

3.  S.U.S. (Save Ur Soul)  -  M.I.A. x Blaqstarr

4.  Williams Blood (Aeroplane Mix)  -  Grace Jones

5.  A Few Good Days (Tom Middleton Deep Mix)  -  The Orange Lights

6.  The Sad Piano (Charles Webster Remix)  -  Justin Martin

7.  See The Light (Calvin Harris Remix)  -  The Hours

8.  I'm in Love With A German Film Star (Gui Boratto Mix)  - Sam Taylor Wood & PSB

9.  Sunshyne (Adam Shaw's Reshyne Remix)  -  James Talk & Ridney

10. Natural High (Dino Lenny Classic Rave Mix)  -  Michael Woods

11. Twice (Aaron Jerome Remix)  -  Little Dragon

FS4 is one of the best yet, filled with wonderful tracks that will move and inspire you. Lisa Shaw kicks it off with her wonderful voice this time teaming up with Fred Everything, real name, Frederic Blais, out of Quebec.

One of the best and more sultry tracks on FS4 has to be Paris by Friendly Fires, out of Hertfordshire, UK. Incidentally they were just signed by my old partner-label XL-Recordings.

Next up is a track that was first introduced to me by the Godfather of Freshly Squeezed, Mr. Andrew Howes, S.U.S. by MIA and Blaqstarr, brilliant.

#4 on FS4 has to be one of the big comebacks of this year (along with Cyndi Lauper although you'll have to wait til FS5 comes out for more on that). It's another smooth mesmerizing track that will keep you playing it over and over.  Welcome back Grace!!

Tom Middleton helps pick up the pace on The Orange Lights' "A Few Good Days".  A fairly simple track that hits all the right notes with great vocals by Jason Hart.

Justin Martin keeps it going with a fabulous track that has a wonderful house beat infused with a touch of ska. Some piano's and other background samples helps smooth it out giving you a feeling of speeding down the tracks in a train. Charles Webster puts his own personal touches on this one for that extra edge.

The Calvin Harris Remix of "See The Light" by The Hours has received quite a bit of air and club play in the UK for a few months now but that doesn't take a away from this brilliant track. It's been on constant replay in my car since October. For the more traditionalists among you.....don't worry, those weird sounds will grow on you....embrace it, love it.

The Pet Shop Boys has a dancefloor comeback by teaming up with Sam Taylor-Wood. Gui Boratto puts his touches on this one.

James Talk & Ridney gives us a taste of some fantastic classic house sounds with Sunshyne. Adam Shaw put his mittens on this one to help you transport yourself back into an old warehouse in Brixton circa 1989. Awesome!!

The classic house sounds continue courtesy of Michael Woods, this time in the form of a few fantabulous piano chords....and only the good ones, but you have to wait for them...they are few and far between. Perhaps they sound good because it brings us back to 1988 and Innercity's "Good Life".

As usual we slow it down on the last track and this time it's a little gem called "Twice" by Little Dragon, a band out of my home town of Gothenburg, Sweden. The glorious vocals are by Yukimi Nagano who's voice you may very well recognize if you are familiar with another Swedish band called Koop (made famous for their intricate use of incorporating classic jazz samples into their productions). This version of Twice is electrified by Aaron Jerome out of south London, but make sure to check out the original version as well which is just as brilliant as the remix.

Album cover to follow.

Freshly Squeezed Vol.3

1. Cross the Dancefloor (Lifelike Remix)  -  Treasure Fingers

2. Nowhere(I Can Go)  -  Clara Hill & AtJazz

3. Beeper (feat. Kid Sister)  -  Count and Sinden

4. Dream On (New Version No Silence)  -  Christian Falk, Robyn & Ola Salo

5. Guinea Pig  -  Ben Watt

6. I Remember  - Deadmau5 & Kaskade

7. Day 'N' Nite (Crookers Remix)  -  Kid Cudi

8. Love The Way You Move (Stonebridge Mix)  -  I-Jah

9. Angel Love  -  Samantha James

10. Not Alone (Deadmau5 Remix)  -  Gianlucca Motta

11. Stargirl  -  Mike Monday

12. After (AtJazz Remix)  -  dZihan & Kamien

13. Listen To The Drums  -  Outlines

FS3 is filled with a little bit of everything but it all kicks off with Treasure Fingers' (real name Ashley Jones out of Atlanta, Georgia) "Cross The Dancefloor". Originally released about 18 months ago, this track, which was his first release under the Treasure Fingers name, has steadily been getting increased play all over the globe. A strong resurgence occurred once he was picked up by the Fools Gold label earlier this year. Getting signed got the original track a slight makeover with new remixes being added, in particular, the one featured here by Likelike (French house producer Laurent Ash). This remix retains all the good stuff of the original and adds a slight edginess. You'll play it over and over, no doubt.

If you are looking to create a cool lounge feel in your living room nothing would complement it better than this soothing track by AtJazz with the sonorous vocals by Clara Hill, one of the top female vocalists along side Lisa Shaw and Samantha James (who happen to be featured further on in this compilation).

Beeper (featuring Kid Sister, out of Chicago) completely destroys the soothing mood with a "speed garage" sound straight out of 1998. It works well though, and Count and Sinden, out of the UK, do a good job at creating an infectious club track sure enough to stir up the dancefloor.

Robyn (out of Sweden and former fame thru her track "Show Me Love", released in 1997) is back in full effect in case you didn't know it. She first reappeared on the scene earlier this year with a reworked track of Snoop Dogg's track "Sensual Seduction" called "Sensual Eruption". Here she is again with a the reworked track "Dream On" courtesy of some help from her fellow countrymen Ola Salo and Christian Falk. Awesome stuff.

Another blast from the past to perhaps some of you is Ben Watt (formerly of Everything But The Girl). He set up his own label, Buzzin Fly, back in 2003 and this is some of the great stuff that has emerged under that new label. The production value is top notch as always with a solid groove, interesting sounds and great vocals.

Deadmau5, first introduced to you on FS1, is back with another track this time teaming up with San Francisco based Ryan Raddon, with vocals by Haley Gibb. The teaming up of Kaskade and Deadmau5 were bound to happen considering the similarity of their sounds and this track just proves that it was meant to be.

Next up is a label-mate to Treasure Fingers at Fools Gold, Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi out of Cleveland) is pretty new on the scene but that hasn't stopped him from dropping som fat tracks. In particular "Day 'N' Nite", here remixed by Crookers (Bot and Phra) based in Italy. They add a harder electro-feel with some yet-again "speed garage" bass influences. Please make sure to check out the original track by Kid Cudi as it is mind-blowingly cool and quite mellow.

Love The Way You Move by I-Jah is remixed here by StoneBridge (Sten Hallstrom, who coincidentally remixed the club version of "Show Me Love" that brought the aforementioned Robyn to fame in 1997). This is a straight-up house/club track with everything you could desire in something that makes you move.

One of my favorite girls in LA has to be Samantha James and here she is with one of her latest tracks "Angel Love". Nothing else needs to be said, just listen. 

"Not Alone" is yet another track touched by Deadmau5, but originally written and performed by Gianlucca Motta with vocals by Molly. 

Mike Monday's (a fellow Alumni at Oxford) latest album "Songs Without Words" is his second album but he has been a permanent fixture in the scene for well over 10 years now. FS3 seems to prove that the music industry is indeed a small insular world as Mike's lastest album is being released by OM Records where Ryan Raddon (Kaskade) is Director for A&R as his day job. The track Stargirl is simple and complex at the same time managing to peel away at the layers of sounds and instruments creating something wonderful.

AtJazz make their second appearance on FS3, this time as remix agents for dZihan & Kamien. Similar lounge feel as before but with a deeper flavor introducing various interesting international elements, this time sans vocals.

Although "Listen To The Drums" is definitely not Freshly Squeezed, as it was recorded in Paris in 2006, it was rediscovered amongst my vinyl connection so let's just call this one Unfreshly Resqueezed. Recorded in a studio in the Parisian Cligancourt district the sounds and influences are quite obvious but no less wonderful.

Barracuda welcomes Sarah Levy

Barracuda Recordings is proud to welcome Sarah Levy to the family. An exceptionally strong singer-songwriter in her own right, Sarah will be working closely with in-house producer Pete Marvelous on a number of collaborations during the course of 2009. The Marvelous Levy productions should be nothing less than amazing so stay tuned for new information regarding the progress and subsequent releases.

Freshly Squeezed Vol.2

1.  Next Of Kin  -  Surkin

2.  Killing For Love (Beatfanatic Remix)  -  Jose Gonzalez

3.  Mouth (Pepe Bradock's Remix For Friends)  -  Iz & Diz

4.  Paper Chase  -  Clara Hill & Vikter Duplaix

5.  Want Me Like Water (Abacus Remix)  -  Furry Phreaks

6.  Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre) (Pepe Bradock Wider Mix)  -  Gotan Project

7.  Use Me  -  Alex Gopher, Demon & Wuz

8.  Starstrings (Vocal Version)  -  Jody Wisternoff

9.  Lonely Times (Unai Remiks)  -  SoulTek

10.  La Ritournelle (Remix)  -  Sebastien Tellier

11.  Celluloid Hypnotic  -  Spylab

About this compilation:

Conceived for the summer season it has a light airy lounge-feel to it with lots of French representation in Surkin (Benoit Heitz), Julien Auger (Pepe Bradock), Alex Gopher and the beautiful piano on Sebastien Tellier's "La Ritournelle". 

Tracks that stand out on this compilation have to include the Beatfanatic Remix of my fellow countryman Jose Gonzalez' "Killing For Love".....an awesomely clean track with a fantastic piano and Jose's soothing voice. 

Vikter Duplaix pulls off another great upbeat single with "Paper Chase" this time teaming up with Clara Hill to induce some further sensuality to this track about new lovers wanting more time together. Marvelous. 

Directly following is another track of desperation, love and longing. The wonderful vocals on the track by Furry Phreaks (real name Charles Webster out of the UK) are by Terra Deva and the remix by Abacus takes it to that next level. The ultimate suave martini lounge track.

Next up, Gotan Project serves up a combination of old and new Parisian sounds, you'll love it or hate it, but keep an open mind. On a proper club sound system the bassline will blow your mind. An appreciation for the accordion may be needed.

"Use Me" are all the lyrics you'll get on this next track, a collaboration between Alex Gopher, Demon and Wuz. Excellent use of samples from 4-5 classic disco tracks from the 70's. Can you hear them?

Some of you may know Jody Wisternoff better through his collaboration with my friend Nick Warren under the name Way Out West, who released a mind blowing album called "Away From the Maddening Crowds" back in 1997. "Starstrings" brings back some of those old sounds in more of downtempo way. Still brilliant and this time with some catchy vocals. Great production.

The heaviest electro-track on this compilation, Unai, mellows out SoulTek's (Steve Hitchell out of Chicago) "Lonely Times" infusing it with a mellow bassline and a few channels of arpeggiators to round it off.

Aside from Jose Gonzalez' "Killing For Love", "La Ritournelle" by Sebastien Tellier is probably one of my favorite tracks on this compilation. Beautiful strings and a great mellow piano riff is the backbone to this airy track, with another message of love and longing (am I sensing a theme here??).

The compilation is rounded out by Spylab and their mysterious sounds, this time with a track called "Celluloid Hypnotic".

Remember to always enjoy your music Freshly Squeezed and Naturally Unmixed. Cheers.

Freshly Squeezed Vol.1

1.  Black & Gold  -  Sam Sparro

2.  Don't Stop  -  Brazilian Girls

3.  Dirty Bob  -  Marlow

4.  You Make Me Feel (Extended Vocal Club Mix)  -  Alphabeat & Sam Paganini

5.  Get Innocuous (Soulwax Remix)  -  LCD Soundsystem

6.  Tomorrow  -  Ladytron

7.  And The Living Is Easy (The Dynamics Remix)  -  Guts

8.  Twilight's Last Gleaming  -  High Contrast

9.  Swing Me Like A Hip Hop Song (feat. Emma)  -  Deadbeats

10.  Alone With You  -  Deadmau5

11.  In Love  -  Ross Couch

12.  Dream  -  Moodfood

About this compilation:

Originally conceived in March of 2008 some of the tracks have come and gone on the top dance and electronic charts, most notably Black and Gold by Sam Sparro, an Australian, who exploded onto the scene with this addictive electro-bass track with strong vocals. The track hit number #2 on the UK's single chart in April. Other notables include LCD Soundsystem which got some well-deserved attention by being featured on some of the North American TV ads for Grand Theft Auto IV. Props to Deadmau5 as well who has gained a great of deal attention this year with his unique electro-house, the young producer from Toronto, has followed in the footsteps of Richie Hawtin, Tiga and Hatiras by kicking down the doors in Europe.