A little later than normal (due in part to the recent power failure in NYC!)(well, it’s a good excuse to use, isn’t it?!) are the August 2003 Dance Charts. So, before something else happens, here’s what’s in the charts:

For this first track, I was going to make a joke along the lines of “something happened on the way to …….”, but I couldn’t really think of anything witty. So instead, I’ll just tell you that Deborah Cox’s “Something Happened On The Way To Heaven” is firmly on top of the charts this month. The main mix is the “Valentin Club Mix” which just has sound of NYC written all over it. Pretty much NYC song of the summer for me. Cool catchy lyrics (you can’t run, and you can’t hide!) which you literally can’t escape from since this track is everywhere! Also check out Nic Mercy’s Epic Anthem. I’m not sure why none of Deb’s trax ever made it big in Europe, given how radio-friendly her stuff is. Anyway, the track is taken from her “Remixed” album which is out now. Check out Deb’s homepage here.

Next up is one of my fave tracks from the past 4 years, out again in a refreshed format. Breathing by Rank 1 brings some new lyrics and an updated sound to their track “Airwave” – it’s NICE! 🙂 And talking of fresh tracks, “As The Rush Comes” by Motorcycle is just the dogs. If I only had my MG again I am sure I would be cruising around with this on in the background – somehow it doesn’t have the same effect on the subway! A slower track with a great baseline and strong female vocals – cool in the hot summer sun!

At number 4 is a very commercial pop/dance track – Lucy Carr – This Is Goodbye (Kenny Hayes Club Mix). It’s the follow-up to her last single “Missing You” which featured in the dance chart late last year. Check out Lucy’s homepage here. Out enjoying the sun and feeling laid back? Then check out Double Dee – Shinning (Original Mix) – it’s been out on promo for a while but may be getting a release soon. It’s a nice laid-back summer choon.

I’ve added some International flavour to this month’s chart by including a track in Turkish (Uzak by Tarkan) which reminds me of my trip to Turkey this summer, and one in Italian (Vivo Per Lei – The Sicilians) – as always, I’m pleased to hear any good tips for tracks in whatever language, so please mail me.

That’s about all for the August Chart – next month’s will be a smaller chart, but I will try and publish it around 9 September. Stay chooned! 🙂

As you’ll see from the July 2003 Dance Chart, Astral have taken joint top position with their awesome, uplifting dance track “Now And Forever”.

This week I got an e-mail from Chris and Stephen McHugh – two of the three Astral band members – and so I have some more information about this awesome track!

Astral was formed back in 1998, by British brothers Stephen and Christopher McHugh – originally under the name Tempest. They subsequently teamed up with another member, Andrew Bush, and built themselves up as dance and trance act. In 2002, they worked closly with Jon Paul Campbell of The Time Frequency and they came up with the awesome “Now And Forever”. The track was originally released on promo during the autumn of 2002, and it made number one on the October promo chart.

It took some time, but the track was finally released as a retail/commercial single in May 2003, and also appears on two of the best-selling summer dance compilations, Summer 2003 Clubbers Guide (Ministry of Sound) and Clubland III.

So who is the talent that provides those strong, awesome vocals? Well, that would be Debbie Millar of The Time Frequency. She’s also done the vocals for Nexus’ amazing Trance Anthem: The Sound of Goodbye (a different version of the track by Perpetuous Dreamer).

Anyway, if you want to listen to a sample of Now And Forever, click here.

And to find out more about Stephen, Chris and Andrew, check out their fantastic website at www.astral-music.co.uk

Deepest Blue – Deepest Blue finally got a UK release on Monday on Data Records, and it’s still one of my fave tracks of the moment. The vocals come from singer/songwriter Joel Edwards, and production is done by Matti Schwartz who used to work with Massive Attack.

It’s just a perfect summertime track – at the bar, or in the car. The CD also features mixes by Electrique Boutique and Lee Cabrera/Steven Lee.

Click here for the video.And here are the lyrics:

The sun will always shine on you
You turn my ocean deepest blue
I never hide my thoughts from you
You’re my deepest blue

If mother nature ever chose the name
I’m sure that she would chose the same
I never hide my thoughts from you
You’re my deepest blue

Am I dreaming now
Walking on the moon
And I don’t know how to read you baby
Every time I try to move closer

Am I dreaming now
Walking on the moon
And I don’t know how to read you baby
Every time I try to move closer

We’ve only got this time to prove
That together we can make it through
I’ll never hide my thoughts from you
You’re my deepest blue

If temptration ever came my way
I know the words I’d alway say
I’ll never hide my love from you
You’re my deepest blue

Am I dreaming now
Walking on the moon
And I don’t know how to read you baby
Every time I try to move closer

Am I dreaming now
Walking on the moon
And I don’t know how to read you baby
Every time I try to move closer

Am I dreaming now
Walking on the moon
And I don’t know how to read you baby
Every time I try to move closer

Am I dreaming now
Walking on the moon
And I don’t know how to read you baby
Every time I try to move closer
Every time I try to move closer

SUMMER CHOON 2003!!

The July 2003 dance chart is out at last – sorry the delay! There’s been a whole swarm of summer releases over the past few weeks, and this month’s chart features the usual varied mix of vocal trance and house – in fact there’s a lot of great vocal house out right now as you’ll discover below.

I couldn’t choose between Deepest Blue and Astral for the top spot, so they get joint honours for pole position. Deepest Blue – Deepest Blue is just a very catchy vocal track which makes the most awesome use of the baseline sample from Imagination’s “Just An Illusion”. It’s a CHOON! It’s released on DATA Records in the UK on Monday 21st July. Equally as good, but more of an uplifting anthem is Astral – Now And Forever. Strong female vocals (Can you hear me calling thru the night?) and an awesome build-up make this joint top of the chart. Not sure if it will get a commercial release, but you’ll find it on several compilations that are out right now! ANTHEM!

OK – now there’s a lot of decent quality vocal house out right now – Intenso Project Feat. Laura Jaye – Your Music is a great example of such a track that has summer choon written all over it. The track was released in the UK on Monday 14th July. Catchy, funky – noice! Also check out Jason Nevins Presents U.K.N.Y. – I’m In Heaven – it features a sample of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” – again a great summertime vibe. If you’re getting into all this great stuff, then you’ll also like Dutch Feat Crystal Waters – My Time (The Scumfrog Dub), Shakedown – Drowsy With Hope (K-Klass Ultra Vocal Remix) and Moloko – Forever More (FKEK Vocal Mix Edit).

ATB is back with a brand new album and single. I Don’t Wanna Stop has the classic sound of ATB, but also throws in some great vocals and catchy piano hook. Not sure about the video – it’s set in a awesome apartment – but why does ATB look so miserable?!

Unless you’re hiding under a brick, you must have heard Benny Benassi – Satisfaction. “Push me and then just touch me, till I can get my satisfaction”. I didn’t like this one to start with, but it’s just so simple/annoying that it’s infectious. Check the video out too!

Finally check out the other summer dance tracks like Dannii’s Don’t Wanna Lose This Groove which feature’s a sample of Madonna’s Get Into The Groove, Telepopmusik’s Breathe (think lying by the pool in the hot summer sun!) and Tiga – Hot In Herre – a funky alternative version of Nelly’s track.

More new tracks next month – the complete July 2003 chart can be found here

OK – I’ve started off the summer video chart, since summer is well and truely here at last. Two of the videos in the chart feature “puppets” – don’t know the reason for this sudden fascination in puppets, but still.

Our first puppet vid is by Yomanda – You’re Free – a cover of Ultra Nate’s track in the mid-90’s. This one features a doll that goes out clubbing and hooks up with these other dolls. Quite funny – but a great choon! Next up is Tiga – Hot In Herre. I saw this track being played to death on MTV Dance, so I’m kind of addicted to it. It’s a cover of Nelly’s Hot In Herre but it’s got a very different vibe to it – and again it features a puppet dancing around.

Telepopmusik – Breathe tops the chart ‘cos it’s just an awesome summer track – it reminds me of lying by the pool soaking up the sun – just like the people in this video.

I’m totally into Dannii – Don’t Wanna Lose This Groove right now – again I kept hearing it on UK radio. It samples Madonna’s Get Into The Groove – but it’s just a hot track!

Babes and powertools! What an awesome combination for a video! Benny Benassi – Satisfaction seems to be big on both sides of the Atlantic right now – this video features some babes in Bikini’s showing off power tools. Can’t argue with that!

I’ve always been a fan of Auroa, although I’m not sure that their attempts to move away from dance, and more to the accoustic scene was that great a decision. Still, Aurora – Sleeping Satellite is a cool track – a cover of Tasmin Archer’s song from the early 90’s.

Finally, there’s Moloko – Forever More. This isn’t my fave mix of the track, but you’ll still get the general idea.

More new videos coming soon – click here for the Summer 2003 chart.