Ninja Splits with Instinct/Shadow, Hits America

Dance ARTISTS & MUSIC Ninja Splits With Instinct/Shadow, Hits America

N INJA ACTION: If you have not yet by Julio Iglesias. He even dabbles in wanting to hear more. broadened your musical horizon to hi -NRG froth on the Serial Diva By the by, we hear that Jellybean include the genre- bending fodder of twirler "Keep Hope Alive." Versatil- has just inked a deal with Karel, one the U.K.'s deliciously experimental 6Kce. ity is a good thing. Keep it up, man. of our fave hi -NRG divas. The flam- Ninja Tune Records, the time to do TRAX Speaking of Soul Solution, that boyant, falsetto- voiced artist should so has come. The indie is expanding production team is inching closer to be entering the studio to cut his first its base of operation by opening by Larry Flick the top of the club heap. When we single with the label within seconds. offices in Montreal and New York. went to press, the members of that Liquid Groove Records doesn't put Having enjoyed a solid relationship team were in a New York studio, out a lot of records. But when it does, with Instinct /Shadow Records for the for this to be one of the first mega adding club flavor to "Step By Step," you can usually count on top -quality past year or so, the companies have dancefloor hits of '97 when remixes Whitney Houston's first single from music with a nifty twist or two. "Love amicably split, though Instinct /Shad- by Sanchez and Mousse T. begin cir- the soundtrack to "The Preacher's Conquers All" by Third Person (aka ow will retain the rights to all Ninja culating in late December. It's so Wife," as well as "Young Hearts Run Scott Wozniak) is a slick blend of Tune releases they've released up to good to have him back in action. Free," Kym Mazelle's contribution organ -grinding house and gospel - this point. Clivilles is also returning to the to the "Romeo & Juliet" soundtrack. pop. Charming, to be sure, and Following the lead of labels like public eye after taking a year to Very nice. refreshing in that the temptation to GLAMA Boys. Gay /Lesbian Ameri- Ultra Records (see story, page 1), the recharge his creative battery and put Sasha and Brothers In Rhythm use a storming choir is bypassed in can Music Awards (GLAMA) board label is smartly aiming to reduce its his business affairs in order. With are logging a considerable amount of favor of restrained backing vocals member and media adviser Craig need for out-of -label licensing with "Robi -Rob's Clubworld," he aims to time in the studio together in recent that underline the lead without over- Karpel, left, and Miami music entrepre- simultaneous releases in the States make a strong statement of his abili- weeks. Among the several projects in powering it. A dream for DJs hungry neur Jeffrey Newman are seen cele- and the U.K. The first project to ben- ty to hold his own minus his late part- progress is "Careful," a single front- for a strong, song- driven jam to spin. brating the success of the first GLAMA efit from this move will be "Car - ner, David Cole, who died of compli- ed by Scottish rock vixen Horse. And those who refuse to let go of presentation at New York's Webster wreck," an EP of gems pulled from cations related to spinal meningitis Look for this yummer on the fab their dub mentality are offered an Hall last month. Organized by Michael Funki Porcini's brilliant opus "Love, last year. "It's important to me that Stress Records in the U.K. instrumental by Wozniak with assis- Mitchell and Tom McCormack, the Pussycats & Carwrecks." Due later people in this industry understand tance from the cool Mike Delgado. event honored the leading acts of the this month, it features two wonder- that I wasn't simply the 'business' ALL YOU CAN EAT: Dubtribe DeConstruction U.K. act Lionrock queer music scene, spanning the pop, fully tripped -out drum'n'bass remix- mind of C +C Music Factory," he flower children Sunshine and Moon- is back on the front lines with "Pro- dance, and rock genres. Among the es from Wagon Christ (aka Luke says. "David and I both brought a lot beam are adding to their daily mis- ject Now," a limited- edition four -track artists recognized were the late Vibert) and the Squarepusher (aka of credible music to the table." sion of making clubland a little more EP that whets the appetite for an Michael Callen and Guardian -EMI's Tom Jenkinson), along with a previ- Part of his effort to properly prove positive by forming Imperial Dub album that is promised for early next Catie Curtis. ously unreleased midtempo break - his creative chops is the formation of Recordings, an indie designed to year. Currently doing gigs around beat jam. the C +C Music Group, an indie label showcase experimental and wholly London with the Chemical Broth- There are so many other goodies that will provide a forum for his uplifting rhythms. The San Francis- ers, the act joins the growing legion on the Ninja agenda. Perhaps most underground musings, as well as co label's first offering is "Unifica- of underground heads drawing a line true source of "alternative" music. intriguing is Russian hip -hop rene- those of a posse of producers and tion" by Doctor Dub, a new act com- connecting breakbeats, trance, and That is, until the pop masses discov- gade DJ Vadim, who has just com- performers that include Ricky Cre- prising Sunshine, Moonbeam, and DJ rock -further fueling our longtime er bands like Lionrock and turn them pleted "USSR Repertoire," a collec- spo. The first release, which has yet Doc Martin. The track's overall vibe belief that dance music is the only into the stars they should be. tion of quirky and richly textured to be confirmed, should be out in is soulfully smooth and trance -lean- downtempo tracks that, we believe, January. ing, with the occasional rattle of are the prototype for future jeep disco percussion and fluttering sax trends. Stateside punters will get a BOOGIE WONDERLAND: A few lines. There's something unusually Manden Hill On Road To Success chance to sample Vadim's refreshing weeks ago, we were remiss in noting soothing and almost spiritually heal- turntable style during his first U.S. Hex Hector's collaborative contribu- ing about the groove. Yet, the track is BY SHAWNEE SMITH push it deserved, so we decided to concert tour early next year. tion to Soul Solution's slammin' aggressive enough to keep peak -hour bring it [to the States] and do it right." Pioneering alterna -club clique remix of "Un -break My Heart" by floors full and moving. Odd, eh? Well, NEW YORK -For drivers battling With Stepping Stone at the helm, Coldcut will end a lengthy break Toni Braxton. Yeah, we're slightly sometimes you shouldn't question but bumper -to- bumper traffic on the Cross Marden Hill put together new mixes of from recording during the first quar- red -faced at the mistake. But we're simply give in to unexplainable plea- Bronx Expressway in New York, find- the "Up In Smoke" titles, added five ter of '97 with an as-yet -untitled new also pleased to use it as an opportu- sure. Can't wait to experience what ing the Harlem River Drive can be a new songs, and changed the track album. It will be preceded Nov. 26 nity to prop Hector for his own con- this team comes up with next. godsend. Sloping roads, a view of Yan- order. "Since samples don't have to be with "Boot The System & Atomic sistently strong studio output lately. New York's King Street Records kee Stadium, and sparse traffic can cleared in the U.K.," says Patterson, Moog," a 12- incher containing flashy He injects tribal -house force into the cashes in on the recent No. 1 success calm the most tense driver. "Harlem "we had them write some stuff over remixes by Wagon Christ, the forthcoming "When Boy Meets Girl" of Sandy B.'s Champion hit "Make River Drive," a new single by U.K. and wound up getting more material." Herbaliser, and acid jazz troupe Red by Total, as well as into "El Choclo" The World Go 'Round" by reissuing band Marden Hill, aurally captures the A prerelease CD of "Hijacked" was Snapper. her previously underappreciated mood with a blend of acid jazz and shipped to club DJs and radio pro- Finally, stay tuned for the stateside Urban Soul duet "Back Together." funk -plus an grammers launch of Ninja Tune's rightly Spruced up with remixes by German ample dose of across the stylis- revered Stealth club parties, which Billboard upstart Boris Dlugosch, Crispin J. fire -engine sirens tic board in mid - will start hitting selected venues Glover, Hiroshi W., and Davidson and car horns. September. "We around the U.S. in January. 'Tis HOT Ospina, the track is ripe for the kind "We've never haven't really gonna be a Ninja kind of year ... and of attention it deserved the first time been to the picked a genre," we couldn't be happier. After all, around. Adding to its energy is word States," says band says Patterson. what smart diva can live on house and that Sony U.K. has licensed "Back member Pete "We just feel hi -NRG music alone? NOVEMBER 16. 1996 Together" for worldwide consump- Moss, "but our that it's really tion. This current action is all well music sort of good music that ON THE UPSWING: After far too CLUB PLAY and good, but Sandy needs an oppor- helps you shift MARDEN HILL people need to long an absence from clubland's cen- 1. BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME SUZANN RYE tunity to make a full -length album. Is reality. We take hear, so we're -stage spotlight, veteran belter ARIOLA a label out willing to creative risks and leave a little bit to putting [the CD] out with stickers ter 2. DE LA CASA E.K.O. MOONSHINE MUSIC there there Jay Williams is making up for lost 3. NEVER MISS THE WATER CHAKA KHAN commit beyond a single here and spontaneity." denoting the songs we think each sta- time with an armful of promising REPRISE there? "Harlem River Drive" enjoyed pop- tion would be interested in." 4. YOU CAN DO IT (BABY) NUYORICAN new recordings. SOUL FEAT. GEORGE BENSON GIANT STEP The house -heavy Jellybean ularity in Europe when it was released The members of Marden Hill don't First, he can be heard wailing all 5. TIME IS UP CB MILTON BYTE IMPORT Recordings inches closer to the pop on Marden Hill's 1995 collection "Up feel pressed to pigeonhole their music over the inspiring "I Live" on Robert arena with "Set Me Free" by Deep In Smoke." The group is aiming to either. "It's a big market in America," Clivilles' current Columbia package, Six. Producer /songwriter Brinsley breathe new life into the single, which says Moss. "People are interested in a MAXI-SINGLES SALES "Robi -Rob's Clubworld," which will Evans utilizes the pop skills he dis- is featured on "Hijacked," the stateside lot of different stuff. Financially, it wisely be the set's second single. 1. INDESTRUCTIBLE REIGN H played on his former A &M act version of "Up In Smoke" that will be could be great, but it's also nice for RECORDINGS Next month, he appears on the Roger 2. IN THE SPRINGTIME OF HIS VOODOO Uncanny Alliance, dressing singer released Dec. 21 on the Santa Monica, people to hear your music and have it Sanchez -helmed "House Of One" TORI AMOS ATLANTIC Onita Boone in perky disco beats Calif. -based Stepping Stone Record- give them pleasure. Music is supposed 3. WORD IZ LIFE POOR RIGHTEOUS collection, showing his gospel roots TEACHERS PROFILE and an instantly memorable melody. ings. to be a sort of cultural excharìge." on the booming "Spirit Lift You Up." 4. DO YOU THINK ABOUT US TOTAL BAD BOY Newcomer DJ Strobe adds his two "The truth is that the version of this The group is scheduled to visit the Williams' spiritual nature will also 5. JACKAL SO GOOD JACKAL THE BEAR UNION pennies to the pot with potent album that was out in the U.K. wasn't States for the first time as part of a be in full bloom on "Testify," a barn - Breakouts: Titles with future chart potential, remixes that range from kinky handled well," says MacEwen Patter- promo tour to select cities early next burner that he wrote with Brian based on club play or sales reported this week. trance to Euro -NRG. A highly son, director of promotion and publici- year. A more extensive tour will be Tappert and Mark Pomerty. Watch charged collaboration that leaves ya ty at Stepping Stone. "It didn't get the arranged pending the album's success.

BILLBOARD NOVEMBER 16, 1996 27