Repress!

After more than two decades of creating good times on dancefloors from Europe to his home base in Atlanta, Kai Alce of NDATL announces the upcoming release of Playing In The Sandbox. The three-song release on Fast FWD (John Beltran, Ron Trent, HT Zero) is the first of three samplers that will be available in spring 2014. Alce skillfully applies his distinctive blend of classic house with a touch of tech to a remix of the first track, “Into Your Story.” Originally produced by accomplished musician Sandman, and Fast FWD founder Riverside, Jeremy Ellis (aka Ayro) is featured on vocals and Stefan Ringer on keyboard. Ellis wrote the lyrics, and steps from behind the controls to sing with a certain calm -- in defiance of the catchy tale he spins about attraction during and after the dance. In fact, vocals play a big part in Playing In The Sandbox. House pioneer Roy Davis Jr. (Phuture, Ubiquity Records) gives us “Get Up,” and here the spoken vocals are provided by XL. He directs the dancefloor like some of the best old-school house tracks: “Get up, now shake … don’t stop … now, house!” The synthesizer melody lined with horns and hand claps add to the throwback feel. A steady groove continues, with horns propelling the track and an echo toward the end that drives the sound deeper, closing things out with rhythmic tribal drums. Sandman and Riverside team up again for “Don’t Say Nuthin.” The track kicks off with a preview of J. Noize’s rhymes to come -- listeners hear “don’t say nuthin about it” like an MC doing a mic check. Combined with a heavy, slow bottom thump, you may consider it a solidly hip-hop experience. But then Zapp-style vocals, guitar riffs and soft keys kick in to mellow out the sound and take it in a direction that’s more like riding out on a Sunday afternoon than tearing the club up. Listeners won’t regret Playing In The Sandbox. After all, life is best when there’s a musical backdrop to enjoy.