When the Summer arrives, I immediately conjure up images of sunny beaches, garden parties and, more than anything, uplifting house music. The combination naturally goes hand in hand!

So you can imagine my delight when the annual collaboration between Fierce Angels and Es Vive arrives - Es Vive Ibiza 2008 - mixing up the finest house music with that Summer vibe in the hottest and sexiest venue on the White Isle.

Es Vive Ibiza 2008 conforms to the typical pattern we’re already used to - three discs all covering three different moods. The first CD is the chillout mix, second warming up in the Base Bar and third creating the full-on club atmosphere at the Smirnoff Experience Bar.

Es Vive Ibiza 2008 is crammed full with massive house tunes from the likes of Shapeshifters, Freemasons, Moto Blanco, Axwell, Stonebridge and Wawa among others. There are also some fantastic remixes of classics from the likes of X-Press 2 with David Byrne, Gusto and Hagenaar and Albrecht to name but a few walks down Memory Lane.

Some of my personal favourites that you may not have heard yet include Yoav’s “Club Thing” - a beautifully crafted piece from an upcoming South African artist - and the Wideboys remix of K-Klass‘ “Getting Ready“. It certainly has been the year of Portsmouth’s finest producers!

Track Listing

CD 1 - Poolside Chill @ Es Vive

1. Seventeen Evergreen - Andromedan Dream Of An Octaroon (Corker Conboy Mix)
2. Les Adams ft Alexis - Tell Me
3. James Bright ft Rachel Lloyd - Someday
4. Peyton - Falling (EK’s Poolside Mix)
5. Eric Kupper presents Clique ft Robina - Reasons (EK’s Poolside Mix)
6. Parov Stelar ft Miss Anita Riegler - Tell Me (Original Mix)
7. Hilton FM ft Claudia - Easy Living
8. Camille Jones - Someday
9. Hey Negrita - Sunlight Hits Your Eyes
10. The Winston Giles Orchestra - Happiness
11. Liquid Sunshine ft Brooke Supple - Summertime (Chris Coco Mix)
12. Laidback - People (Banzai Republic vs. Trentemoller Mix)
13. City Reverb - Seventy Three (Senor Cornu Remix)
14. Yoav - Club Thing
15. Sebastien Tellier - L’Amour Et La Violence
16. Zak Radak & The Lovely Laura - Travel Through Time (Theme From Es Vive)

CD 2 - Evening @ Base Bar

1. Sam Sparro - 21st Century Life (Steve Mac Remix)
2. X-Press 2 ft David Byrne - Lazy (Moto Blanco Mix)
3. Freemasons ft Katherine Ellis - When You Touch Me (Original Club Mix)
4. Funkerman - Speed Up (ATFC’s 0-60 Extended Mix)
5. K-Klass - Getting Ready (Wideboys Miami Mix)
6. Whelan & Di Scala - Never Let Go (12” Mix)
7. Gusto - Disco’s Revenge (Freemasons Club Mix)
8. Ultra Vibes - DJ (Dub Mix)
9. Eighteen ft Stephanie Mills - Rush On Me (Alex Gaudino Remix)
10. Prok & Fitch present Salome de Bahia - Outro Lugar (Original Vocal Mix)
11. Hagenaar and Albrecht - What Would We Do (Original Mix)
12. Tikaro, J. Louis & Ferran ft Clarence - Shine On Me (Original Mix)
13. StoneBridge & Wawa - Let It Go (StoneBridge Mix)

CD 3 - Afterhours @ The Smirnoff Experience Bar

1. Mark Knight & Funkagenda - Man With The Red Face (Original Club Mix)
2. Satoshi Tomiie - Solar Wind (DJ Yellow’s Intermission Remix)
3. Axwell - Submariner (Original Mix)
4. Pryda - Europa
5. The Shapeshifters - Chime (Original 12” Mix)
6. Out Of Office - Insatiable (Dub Mix)
7. Reza - Live Again (Steve Haines & Lil’ Joey Remix)
8. Kam Denny & Paul Zala - Sunday School (Original Mix)
9. Kris Menace & Spooky - Stereophonic
10. Alan Braxe ft Killa Kela & Fallon - Nightwatcher (Show Me) (Tony Senghore’s Night Vision Version)
11. Meck ft Dino - So Strong (Vandalism Remix)
12. The Potbelleez - Don’t Hold Back (Original Mix)
13. Dirty South - The End (Dirty South Mix)

I highly suggest you buy yourself a copy of Es Vive Ibiza 2008. It’s only available on CD (still no digital downloads from Fierce Angels) but you can order from Play or Amazon.com or you could just pop on down to your local HMV.

The way things are going, it must be true - the future is Fierce.

Over the last few years while I’ve been producing the One Phat DJ Podcast, I’ve been fortunate enough to find some great friends in featured artists, DJs and producers. If you’ve ever got to read through the comments for the podcast, some familiar names might crop up now and then too. One such act that have been heavily featured over recent years are an act who go by the name of The Bassmonkeys. Not one to shy away from an opportunity to promote one of my favourite acts, I managed to get some time with the boys for a quick interview…

1. Si
   

   To start off, tell us a bit about how you three met.

2. Dale
   

   Danny was DJing in a club in Norwich and I was a regular punter. We started chatting and instantly clicked. I promised to give him a call to do some studio time together but never did (sorry Danny!). About three years later, I bumped into him in WH Smiths reading the same music mags as myself. We started chatting again and arranged, once again, to make some tunes together. Again it never happened! (sorry Danny again!) Then a year or two later, fate brought us together once more and we realised we were obviously destined to work together - and now we do! Mike and Danny have known each other for yonks – Mike is Danny’s DJing partner so it was a natural step to bring Mike into the “Monkey’s Den”.

3. Si
   

   What got you all in to house music production and DJing? Is there anyone who inspires you?

4. Dale
   

   When I was younger, I was a bit of a nerd and used to like making my own computer games. I did the programming, graphics and music. It didn’t take me long to realise that the music was my favourite part so I eventually stopped programming all together and just spent my time making tunes! I used a tracker program on the Amiga computer called ‘Med’. My music style is inspired by the early 90s piano house, the trance scene of the later 90s and now the funky house and electro scenes. My favourite artists at the moment are Axwell, Freemasons, Ian Carey, Shapeshifters and Steve Angello.

5. Mike
   

   I first got into house music through listening to Mr. Tong on Radio 1’s Essential Selection, and taught myself to mix on some really dodgy cheapo decks. I managed to blag a gig in 1994 at some illegal do, and from that got myself a weekly residency in the house club in Norwich, Manhattans, playing alongside such guests as Judge Jules, Boy George, Sonique, Brothers In Rhythm etc…

6. Si
   

   You also produce under the name of “Liquid Nation“ which tends to have a “tougher“ sound to the Bassmonkeys. Is it safe to say you have a diverse taste in music?

7. Dale
   

   All three of us love dance music but all prefer slightly different shades of it. I prefer the commercial side, Danny the “true” funky stuff and Mike the slightly tougher electronic sounds. Our tracks and DJ sets are a blend of all those aspects, some tracks leaning further one way than the other. We just create what we like and what takes our fancy at the time! We’ve got different aliases for other peoples benefit really, rather than our own.

8. Si
   

   So, last year was quite a busy year for you - what was your personal highlight?

9. Dale
   

   Getting to Number 1 in the UK Dance Charts with our Soulshaker friends, the Fierce Angels gig at the Egg London was a top night out and our DJ set at Skegness’ “Big Reunion” was good fun! The year was jam packed with small but significant highlights.

10. Mike
    

    Playing at “Big Reunion” and hearing “The Answer” on Kiss and Radio 1 (Woo!)

11. Si
    

    The Bassmonkeys were also taken under the wing of Fierce Angels last year. What’s it like working with the team and Mark Doyle?

12. Dale
    

    One word to sum up Mark Doyle…. LEGEND. We love him!

13. Si
    

    Your massive track “The Answer“ with Naomi Marsh (one of my personal favourites) has been doing the circuits for nearly two years now but there is still no official release. Any idea when we can expect to see it on the shelves?

14. Mark Doyle (intercepting)
    

    [We're] actually just in the midst of putting this album [Fierce Disco 2] to bed and, afterwards, we’ll sort out a release date… possibly with bonus track “Here’s Where The Story Ends“.

15. Si
    

    Are there any artists or producers you’d love to work with?

16. Dale
    

    [I] would love to work with Axwell or Freemasons - they are the producers who I would most like to steal their tricks and techniques from! (laughs)

17. Mike
    

    Freemasons, Moto Blanco, Hott 22, Vandalism!

18. Si
    

    What are your plans for the rest of the year? Are you touring in the Summer?

19. Dale
    

    No tour planned, although we’re hoping to get out to a few places warm this year. For the moment, it is just heads down in the studio.

20. Si
    

    Finally, have you got any exclusive news you can share with us?

21. Dale
    

    I’m sure there must be something… hmmmm… no, sorry - can not think of anything!

You can support the Bassmonkeys by downloading their music from legal MP3 download stores like DJ Download, Traxsource and Beatport or even get the new Fierce Disco 2 compilation from Fierce Angels which features their latest collaboration with Naomi Marsh “Here’s Where The Story Ends” and their funky remixes of Tony Moran’s “Work It Out” and The Allstars Collective “All About The Music“.

Last week, I was banging on about the new face of Fierce Angel and the celebratory party to coincide with the relaunch. You may have also noticed a “little” mention of the associated album release too. Well, come Monday 18th February, that album will be on the shelves and available in all it’s glory.

It’s time for the release of “A Little Fierce II“.

Classed as a “sampler”, this astonishing collection includes 15 of Mark Doyle’s favoured fierce house anthems from the last year, as well as some new tracks to expect to hear throughout 2008.

The album includes some monster tracks that I have already put the One Phat Approval on, including the Wideboy’s “Bomb The Secret” (featured in the Best Of 2007, Pt 2 - Crescendo), “Love Is The Music” from FR & Jenny (featured in Inevitably Vocal), the Bassmonkey’s remix of Bonnie Bailey’s “Kingdom Of Pretty” (also in Inevitably Vocal) and “Rush On Me” by Eighteen and Stephanie Mills (featured in Two Be In Love).

That’s just four of them so you can imagine the quality to expect from the remaining tracks…

1. Wamdue Project - Forgiveness (Suite I & II)
2. Bonnie Bailey - Kingdom Of Pretty (Bassmonkeys Mix)
3. Loveshy - AM To PM (Wideboys Club Mix)
4. Eighteen ft Stephanie Mills - Rush On Me (Moto Blanco Mix)
5. Audio-fraud ft Peyton - Ride Like The Wind (Moto Blanco Mix)
6. Marco Denmark ft Casey Barnes - Tiny Dancer (Moto Blanco Mix)
7. Cahill ft Nikki Belle - Trippin’ On You (Extended Mix)
8. Robbie Rivera - One Eye Shut (E-Squire Mix)
9. Mike Di Scala - Turn My Life Around (Original Mix)
10. Ian Oliver ft Shantel - Bucovina (Clubovina Mix)
11. R.I.O. - De Janeiro (Piano Mix)
12. Elek-tro Junkies - Don’t Hold Back On Me (12″ Mix)
13. Wideboys ft Clare Evers - Bomb The Secret (Meck Remix)
14. Milk & Sugar pres MS2 - Stay Around (Club Mix)
15. FR ft Jenny - Love Is The Music (Gospel Mix)

A brief look over those tracks certainly seem to have a bit of a biased towards the likes of Miki Moto, Bobby Blanco and the Wideboys. This just goes to show what a busy year they had in 2007 and the quality they were producing. Some might argue quantity does not necessarily equal quality but, in my opinion, these guys have certainly found their sounds and made sure they have got that across in all their productions. If it’s a winning formula, why change it? I, for one, won’t be complaining if they keep tracks like these coming in 2008!

Fierce Angel samplers have a tendency to only appear on the shelves of limited record shops so if you’re out and about, be sure to head towards the larger superstores like HMV and Zavvi. Alternatively, you could just order a copy from an online store such as Amazon (International or UK), Play, HMV, Zavvi or Juno. For just £4.99 (about $10USD at today’s exchange rate), you’re getting a great deal out of your pennies.

Go! Buy… and be a little fierce too.

Let’s set the scene a little here:

For those who have followed the likes of Hed Kandi and Fierce Angels, you are bound to be familiar with the amazing artwork of Jason Brooks. His illustrations have become illustrious with the funky house music scene, not only creating a strong impression on the music industry but also defining one of the most iconic artistic styles of the last ten years. His work has graced the covers of the majority of the Hed Kandi series and the last two years of Fierce Angel compilations when he followed Mark Doyle into his next big venture having split ways with the HK brand.

Late last year though saw the end of the partnership between Mark Doyle and Jason Brooks. Jason was offered a huge opportunity back with Hed Kandi and did what any sensible businessman would do - he wrapped up his last few projects with Fierce Angel, packed up his illustration tools and returned to the brand which made his name.

This was a perfect opportunity for Mark to experiment though. Rather than dwell on the fact Jason had left, Mark decided it was a golden opportunity to recreate the Fierce Angel brand and create something for the new era of house music. It was time for “out with the old and in with the new”…

It might take a little while to adjust to the new branding and look of Fierce Angel but, after seeing it for a week or so, I have got used to it. As I told Mark last week, it has a certain “mature” air about it, quite a powerful message and all this in relatively simple symbol. This is just my opinion and there is bound to be some criticism from others. I may also be swung by my biased point of view of Fierce Angel - after all, I just want Fierce Angel to continue producing quality compilations and events for the foreseeable future.

To celebrate the new branding and the next release “A Little Angel 2“, Fierce Angel will be hosting a massive party at The Island in London on Saturday 9th February, starting at 11pm and going through the night. It is sure to be an amazing night so I suggest you get yourself a ticket straight away and head along. Full details are available on the Fierce Angels website and you might also be interested in joining the official Fierce Angel Facebook group (if you’re that way inclined).