It’s a long time we haven’t heard from Israeli Avi Elman (aka UPZ) and his label soWHAT. The new release comes on January 14th: South Africa’s Qness with vocals of Malehloka sung in Zulu language with a chilled beautiful soulful affair named “Uzongilinda” which means “You will wait for me” in Zulu. Story tells that it was first heard by Avi Elman on Qness’s MySpace and immediately picked up for his label. The package includes 15 (omg) tracks with remixes from UPZ himself (very nice soulful), Abicah Soul (also unexpectedly soulful), and a bunch of deeper ones: from Rancido (Dutch), Euan Mitchell (British), and Sbonza, Infinite Boys, Mindlo (all three from SA as well).

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

»»» Get previews, more info and buy at Traxsource.com.

UK countryside based :) Peng Records’ own and The Rurals’ part Andy Compton delivers his soulful deep grooves on Ralf Gum’s GoGo Music: released on January 8th, “I Don’t Want To See The Sun” is a collaboration with a great trumpeter, composer and producer Kafele (yes we know Ralf’s addiction to Africa) and Sofia Loren Coffee on the vocals. Original and Rurals mixes are seductively moody and delicate, and Ralf Gum remix drags things a bit into deeper affair.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

»»» Get previews, more info and buy at Traxsource.com.

I would really consider South African Shane D as one of The 2009 House Discovery. Another great production from him came on December 1st on Look At You: so funky cover for 1982 Odyssey’s “Inside Out” featuring lovely Donna Hidalgo. Supplemented with Lucius Lowe and Anthony Weeling mixes, it is all traditionally about Classic Main Mix and D’s Refunked Dub.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

»»» Get previews, more info and buy at Traxsource.com.

When you’re sittin’ on your own
And you feel the city life surround you…

South African Shane D is very productive and the real candidate for “2009 new star”. His recent single came out on Denmark Soulmagic camp on November 9th and is a amusing cover version of the old trance anthem “Silence” by Delirium. With Kerry Wood on the vocals, the Main Mix is kinda chunky, but Soulmagic Mix is stock and soulfully good, as well as D’s Broken Soul Dub.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

»»» Get previews, more info and buy at Traxsource.com.

South Africa is believed to be the best place on Earth for soulful house heads. One of the local heroes, Durban based DJ, producer and remixer Shane D is on scene since 1993. Debuted with “La Musica” on 2Delicious in 2008, he also has won Soul Candi Remix Competition with his remix of Ananda Project’s “Let Love Fly“, had releases on labels like Soulfuric, remixed John Julius Knight, Roland Clark, Luis Radio & Raffa, and already has coming tracks signed with Look At You Records as well as Soulmagic (both to be reviewed very soon). Catch his mixes on podOmatic.

Today we’re talking about The ReFunked EP, out on SoulHeat on September 25th. With 3 original tracks full of funky bassline and hooky synths, Shane D is our new hero!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

»»» Get previews, more info and buy at Traxsource.com.

Canadian crew of Adam “Suges” Sugar and Martino Lozej, after releasing their last year’s Sugestramentals EP now reap remixes from all over the world. Originally nicely instrumented and easy “Someone Else” with vox of Limore gets deeper touches from South African crew from Bass Breaks & Beats Records: C.9ine, Liquideep, Bossruu, Nomarema and Mr FM all go deepy techy preserving original soulful vocals. Out on August 21st on Canadian Soulstream Rec.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

»»» Get previews, more info and buy at Traxsource.com.