DJ Donna Summer - Raw EP

Just as 2006 belonged to electro, 2007 and 2008 to dubstep, and 2009 to bassline, so too will 2010 belong to UK Funky. So what better way to kick off the year in funky (even though it's March, for fuck's sake) than to review DJ Donna Summer's first release on Nightshifters in 2 years?

I wouldn't say I'm a convert yet, but the possibilities within the genre have been opened up to me. Tracks like 'Wood' remind me of the old glitchy records that tigerbeat6 used to put out back in the day. The percussion-oriented tracks seem to allow for more irregular time signatures, which is encouraging, but the RnB element that never seems to die still exists in funky. Which is gay.

You can always rely on Donna Summer to do something exciting with a genre or style of music. Hopefully, the jungle element will come to the fore and BPMs will go up again. He's bagged a good bunch of producers for remix duties as well: Noise Floor Crew and Hostage deliver as expected, and Bok Bok delivers what some are describing as his best tune yet, but Sonido Del Principe are the surprising little gem with a Cumbia-inspired take on Funky.

Stand out tracks: Raw, Wood, Fighter
Download: DJ Donna Summer - Fighter

Title: Raw (NS013)
Artist: DJ Donna Summer
Out now on Nightshifters

Grab it at: Beatport, iTunes, Juno Download

DJ Donna Summer - Raw EP

"Nightshifters label head Jason Forrest is back with a vengeance as DJ Donna Summer! Hot off his Pitchfork-approved remix for The Arcade Fire, he’s here to shake asses and (gasp!) even make you think a little bit. 'Raw', his first EP for Nightshifters and first release in 2 years, is filled with syncopated drums, far-out bass, and hybridized house organs to take you well into the next morning.

The title track “Raw” is an expansive bass tune with enough sexual innuendo to keep a nun awake for a week and 'Fighter' an explosive house-dubstep 1-2 punch that will surly call for many rewinds. 'Back' is caught between deep house organs and a touch UK Breaks, whereas 'King' uses Forrest’s Star6 iPhone app to shred police sirens over a driven beat. But it is the surprise last minute addition “Wood” that really pushes the boundaries between dubstep, house, and proto-Jungle! Save it for your year-end lists!

And then we have our remixes! Emerging UK star Bok Bok delivers what we think is his finest tune to date with a remix of 'King', which builds from an organic organ melody to a massive crescendo. Sonido Del Principe surprises with a deep, raw Cumbia mix that is sure to turn heads, and the Noise Floor Crew from Chicago go deepest with the lowest bass line we’ve yet to hear. Lastly our Scottish hero Hostage shows up in fine form fresh from his live BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix with Annie Mac."

You can grab a copy at Beatport, iTunes and Juno.

Download: DJ Donna Summer - Raw :: DJ Donna Summer - Back (Yobkiss Remake)