Various Artists - Code Red Summer Vibes Sampler 2008

Code Red have bought out their Summer Vibes sampler, and the phrase immediately conjures up images of luscious sounds and solid grooves in the sunshine.

They waste no time getting us into the summer frame of mind, serving up DJ Spen & The Muthafunkaz feat Ann Nesby and It’s So Easy. Let me tell you, that girl can sing! She belts out a gorgeous vocal that just pulls you in and funks you out, with a meandering electric piano melody. This is a dynamic tune steered to the soulful/gospel side of house.

No sooner had Ann’s vocal dissipated into the ether than we had another vocalist, Sheila Ford, teling us that Life’s So Much Better. This is another tune that chugs along with a funky vibe and smooth touch. It builds in the same style of early acid house, but it keeps a modern sound and would sit happily mixed with any of today’s big tracks.

Code Red let me down with Thommy Davis Mars Needs Women. While maintaining an acid groove and introducing organ stabs, the track really does not take you anywhere and disappears into a haze of nothingness. That theme is continued by Jovonn and Take A Chance. Again, the tune seems out of step with the first two tracks. Minimal, soft and tame, it doesn’t really inspire you. Perhaps Code Red can be forgiven for their mistakes because of the final track on the sampler…

Teddy Douglas & Margaret Grace deliver Whatcha Gonna Do, and considering this tune has been mashing it up at Pacha in Ibiza, it really tried my patience having to listen to the first four tracks on this CD knowing this was coming! Driving timbale rhythms, sambesque in its delivery. You cannot help but blow your whistle, parp your horn or whatever else takes your fancy when a verifiable tune is dropped. The drums fade out and you get an almost surreal Tarantino-type guitar.

If you can get your hands on this sampler I suggest you snap it up. The glory of a Code Red summer is here, and all I can say is ‘bring on the sun!’

You need to be logged in to add comments... Login Now

There are 0 user comments