Be Kind With You

Here is another original. Enjoy!

Feel

I'm having a big experimental ambient chill moment closing out the year as I'm beginning for feel much more daring and confident with original work. However, this one is not entirely so, I added Hiroshi Yoshimura's first ten minutes of his amazing work "Green"as a background. Still sounds good to me. Enjoy the chill!

Fig Leaf

Photo: Jack Rivas "Venaditos Nicas" February 2018

Happy Holidays from Disco Monk. Thank you for being such a great audience all these past years and hope for many more to come. Now let's talk music. Here is a brand new song I composed titled "Fig Leaf". My confidence is peaking as far as putting total original work.  This is the "I'don't remember anything about the '80s remix" to throw in some irony.  Inspired by "80s Ambient and Prince. This is the "I don't remember anything about the '80s remix" to throw in some irony. I think it has great potential. Enjoy!

Dirty Cash

Here are a couple of takes on The Adventures of Stevie V's "Dirty Cash" with Manuel Gottsching's classic E-2 E-4 and other surprises. Enjoy

Teary

This is all original work.  Enjoy

Disco Photography: Ride The White Horse and the Gaiety Theater

The Gaiety Theater, Time Square 1995

Keep it warm because I like it....Hot....never let it Stop! Here is something that will keep you warm. A Disco Monk rework of this monster Dance Classic from Laid Back. Oh and the photograph is from one of my favorite haunts in Manhattan of yore. The Gaiety Theater located in Time Square was the chicest place to hang out at some point. A palace of menses, hard-ons with a runway and the famous mylar curtain! 

Flowers

Here is a longish but nice exploration of mid 90's Bilingual phase Pet Shop Boys B-Side " How I Learned to Hate Rock'nRoll which btw they don't hate it. Neil Tennant was in character when he wrote it so get a grip.  It's some wild surprises such as James Brown and of course Arnamd Van Helden's late early 2000s party anthem "Flowers".  Enjoy!

Why Don't We Live Together

.....Baby why don't we live together.... I just been re-discovering Pet Shop Boys on vinyl and it has re-energized some great parts that I failed to hear on their other plethora of different format releases. Not to mentioned that Neil Tennant's book recent release of 100 Lyrics and a Poem has brought forth his amazing lyric writing and put these songs into a different orbit.  This synth pop crooner This one is a total ironic ode to Madonna's "Into The Groove and as matter of fact was actually written with her in mind.  So here "Why Don't We Live Together" gets the Disco Monk treatment with two versions a dramatic  and twisted string version and another more sync piano focused.  Enjoy!

Fall Mix 2018 Part 1 & 2

Enjoy:

He Is

Here I'm doing my take on spiritual house with some new agey elements from Cluster and Brian Eno and Boy George flirtations with Krishna on top of Copyright's  "He Is". Enjoy

Make You Happy

Musique mystique mystique....Making you happy with some minimal house to the max remixing Master's C&J's "Makes You Happy"

Devotion On My Mind

Photo taken this past February at Poneloya beach in Nicaragua

"Devotion" as in I want to give you devotion. Here I'm serving you a couple of different versions of this gorgeous classic falsetto from Byron Stingily during his Ten City reign with one of my all time favorite house breaks taken from the flawless outro from Pet Shop Boys "Always on my Mind" from their house infused classic "Introspective" which by the way, I just happened to get he newly pressed vinyl release and  I must say it sounds incredible. Then I did some pretty decent string orchestration along with some synth riffs.  I was actually so impressed with them that I ended up doing another version totally stripped of beats adding some Indian tabla and making a totally ambient meditative version.  Enjoy!

On My Mind:

Rent

I think at this point I will probably end up remixing the entire Pet Shop Boys catalogue considering how extensive it is probably not but they always uplift with their unique and smart pop sensibility. they always bring me home.  I was a total Pet Head last night so here are two gems. Their sublime "Rent" and their B side classic "It Must Be Obvious". Enjoy

Read My Lips

Here is new one using a Danny Tenaglia release titled "Read My Lips" and mixed it with George Harrison's epic call to a higher power "My Sweet Lord" and some spoken word by yours truly. Enjoy!

Touched the Sky

So I met this wonderful sweet man and yes he is world famous Argentinian porn actor Cristian Sam.  A gorgeous man inside and out. We had great time together and shared some wonderful stories which blossomed into a great friendship. I have never met someone with that type of "career" and quickly  learned that they are just like us and it's just a job.  I must tell you this was a total exercise in self control being in such close presence of hotness...lol.  Anyhow, he was visiting New York City on vacation and needles to say we had a great time and saw a lot of each other.  So I was inspired and remixed this great house banger  called "Touched the Sky" featuring Mia Tuttavilla on vocals and produced by Dennis Ferrer . The song is featured on the House Masters series.  I  slowed it and added some other elements which turned the song into something else. Perhaps a bit darker and needy.  Hope you enjoy it!

Also, if you want to hear a longer version go to my Soundcloud page and you can here the full freak remix.

You Don't Know

Here is a different take on this amazing 1984 house classic by Serious Intention's: "You Don't Know" I slowed down the pitch and added some other crazy sound effects. Enjoy!

Face it

Lately I have been more aggressive in putting my voice on top of some of these loops.  I have some poetry that I have written a while back and have been tweaking here and there and finally I'm getting the confidence to make them as spoke word. Here is one using a loop from Master C&J's "Face It". I also did some remixing as well by adding some choir.

Enjoy

Happy Birthday Sylvester!

Happy Birthday Sylvester. You were always mighty real! 

Primordial: Angel

I write poetry sometimes and started o entertain the idea of using some of these poems and implement them on some the mixes. So I went ahead and recorded some of them and started thinking how I could incorporate in the remix. I went to see Detroit Techno pioneer Carl Craig play music at Elsewhere this past Friday.  I've always liked his sound and some of the stuff he put our under different aliases are amazing, such as Paperclip People's "Throw". "Sandstorm" and "Angel" are another amazing ones and it provided  some great background beats for this poem I wrote titled "Primordial", it's about individuality, visual existence, shapes and the infinite. Pretty deep stuff...lol.  

Here are two different mixes. Enjoy!

Disco Flyer: The Red Parrot

Here is a new series of postings titled Disco Flyer. It will feature some interesting flyers and other ephemera inspired by them. Enjoy!

Running Up That....

I've always wanted to work with Kate Bush's  "Running Up That Hill". It's one of those truly beautiful and brutally honest love song's every written, totally multi layered in every way. So here is the outcome, Some glitches here and there but not so terrible and keeping with the integrity of the original I decided to elongate some breaks and added some strings for added drama. Enjoy!

 

Aretha Franklin Tribute

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Our Lady of Soul has left this plane and as we mourn her leaving we reflect on her incredible legacy and her warmth. I was fortunate to be in her presence twice while working at Le Grenouille restaurant during the late '90s . She would come in for an early dinner before the rush with an entourage of about 10 beautifully dressed young African American men and she would always pay in cash. I was so star struck to be in her presence and even managed to get her autograph!

She has left us a huge legacy of beautiful music that became part of our psyche and also some great dance floor anthems such as "Jump To It", "Deeper Love" and "Freeway Of Love" and many others. I mean how could you not dance to RESPECT? She has been sampled to death, my favorite one being The 49rs "Touch Me".  Here is a remix tribute of her 1970's rendition of People. Enjoy

Disco Photography: Sylevester

Sylvester in Golden Gate Park Fayette Hauser

Amazing spirit!

This Is How We Walk On The Moon

Here is different take on Arthur Russell's "This Is How We Walk On the Moon"  where I took a section and elongated adding some strings and bells and mixed with Sandy Mercer's "You Are My Love" for to glorious disco proportions. If the disco version is not your cup of tea, I'm including the first part which is slightly different and shorter. The cover art is '60s Mod Model Peggy Muffitt. Enjoy

Mid-Summer Mix 2018

Happy Saturday. Here is the mid-summer mix 2018.  Featuring:Ceybil, Arthur Russell, Fela Kuti, Big Mama Thornton, Drake, Michael Jackson, Begyndelsen På En Ny Begyndelse, Mothafunk, K.T. Brooks Enjoy

Big Mama Thornton

Inspired and current mood here is ‎ Blues by Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog and Down Home Shakedown.

Voguing Rites

Here is some new stuff featuring, The Daou, Dorian Corey and the cast of Paris is Burning, Nicolas Peyrac's "Rite".  Pure ballroom voguing extravaganza! Enjoy!

Great sample for this coming Sunday

Body & Soul

Sunday Church. Can't Wait!

Gather with our eclectic tribal family under the sun

for an epic anniversary outdoor celebration!

On July 22nd, NYC’s Legendary Sunday afternoon party

is joining forces with The Brooklyn Mirage, adorned by

thousands of tropical plants to whisk you away to an

out-of-body musical journey that will elevate your soul.

After The Love

What do we do after the love is gone? What a disgrace this president has been!  On top of that, I've been feeling a bit down in my heart and mind for reasons of my own making of course.  I know I will get through this and get back up, however, as usually music saved my life.  I first intended to rework "Love So Special" by Ceybil but due to copyright issues I couldn't release it and post it on Soundcloud.  No worries,  I will release it as part of the Summer 18 mix which  is coming up soon. Anyway, tt's OK because the next one in line made it first. This house oddity was created by icon Boy George during his Jesus Loves You period where he went rave and house at the same time while creating a sort of new persona by producing and collaborating rather than inserting himself as the sole creator of this project. The result was interesting and obviously it's all over the place yet indeed it worked here specially with  a favorite from this era "After The Love" pays respects to house and with a little bit acid house as well. Don't you just love him! Anyhow, this is my attempt to emphasize my favorite breaks with some strings added by yours truly and taking to it the next level by infusing Indeep's "Last Night A DJ Save My Life (Acapella)" which ironically that was when Boy George  officially went DJ on us saving his and our lives. Enjoy! 

I Believe

A nude, and egg and Man Ray- Acrylic on Canvas - Jack Rivas

Here is another remix. I've been dusting off some of the old vinyl and have been rediscovering some cool Strictly Rhythm stuff. Thi one is taken from Scram's "I Believe".  Enjoy!

Malamente

I just discovered this powerful young lady from Spain Rosalia Vila from Baix Llobregat. At only 25 years young, this lady sounds ancient with such a powerful voice captivating the spirit of Spanish's Flamenco music with a touch of Bjork and Beyonce. Here is a remix from "Malamente" from her new upcoming 2018 release El Mal Querer. She is going be huge! So. lately, I've been devouring Grace Jones incredibly passionate "This Is Life" from her 2008 release Hurricane.   I have been remixing this powerful song as well but felt it needed a new twist  by adding "Malamente" with the help of Miss Vanjie. Enjoy it!

Disco Photography: Sound Factory: Like This Mix

Sound Factory, NYC 1994

Here is a mix I did a while back and don't know why I never posted it. It has some interesting transitions featuring the likes of Akwaaba, Blaze feat. Palmer Brown, ESG, Innervision feat. Melonie Daniels, Celeda, A Guy Called Gerald, Cocteau Twins (Glamjack remixed), Common Sense, Jakki, Jaydee, Jesto Funk and Kim Sims.  Enjoy!
 

Moody

Current mood about this sad state of this country and the world. Humans C'mon....like this!

Happy Pride

by far the best float today. Party on!

Trans Trans Trans Europe Express, Try Me Try Me Try Me

June is all about being all inclusive and unpredictable! Here is Kraftwerk's classic "Trans Europe Express" going into "Metal On Metal" with Ms. Ross "Love Hangover" on vocals segueing into Donna Summer's "Try Me" and feature the  sounds of  the birds of Clinton Hill.  Twenty-five minutes of madness. Enjoy!

Upside Down

Pride it's all about celebrating and embracing diversity of all kinds. Here is a new take on the epic "Upside Down" by Ms. Ross.  I was inspired by the house sounds I heard at  Cafe Lafitte in Exile in New Orleans during early '90s. By far my favorite gay bar ever! Enjoy

Check out he edit also: Check out he edit also:

Move Out My Way: Happy Pride Week!

Here is some great house! Enjoy

Jail Bate

Going full on Chicago house here with Ben May's "Jail Bait". This is true house music from 1987 on Sunset Records. I remixed by adding some synths and extended the intro part. Enjoy!

Vajra (Monk's '90s O Cry Drama Remix)

Here is new one! Vajra (Monk's '90s I Cry Drama Remix). It's inspired by a new discovery from the '80s called Shadowfax. It's a beautiful LP  filled with some great guitar, eastern and jazz influences. I focused on this great song called Vajra. I've been wanting to do some intense guitar with bells and cosmic elements over 90's house. The basic loop is taken from a break from Bass is Base "I Cry" (Crying Dub Mix)

Shadowfax

Also, in true '90s House inspired I started to hear Robin S "Show Me Love" in it so I slathered it up with it. Enjoy!

Cheryl Lynn - Shake It Up Tonight (Columbia Records 1981)

Here is a great one to get you in the weekend mood. Enjoy

Cosmico

Here are a couple of new releases titled Cosmico. Mostly original work here except from some parts from Ultra Nate "Free" and  some "Slave To The Rhythm" by Grace Jones who just turned 70! Bless this amazing woman!. Enjoy

Happy Birthday Keith Haring

Keith Haring and Larry Levan at the Garage

Happy Birthday to a very sweet man I never had the pleasure of knowing but feel very connected. You inspire me to be in the moment, give to to community and the love for art! and not to mention dance music! He would have been 60 today! Here is song that makes me think of him. Enjoy and happy weekend!

Love Honey, Love Heartache - Love Saves the Day!

here is a rework of this timeless classic. Enjoy!

Go Bang Revisited

Here is are some re-edited takes put together over some proto house beats.  All the versions of Go Bang are one of my most fabulously weird dance song ever. There is so much texture and beautiful layers just like the art work here. Conceived by Arthur Russell under the Dinosaur L alias Go Bang  became  a Loft classic. The story goes that when Russell went up to Mancuso to play it. At first it cleared the dance floor.  He then proceeded to play it again an hour later and every hour and by midnight the whole dance floor went nuts specially during the Lola Blank's part ....Bang go-bang-bang go-bang-go, Go bang bang bang go-bang it back” So here is my homage to it. Totally broken down taking only the  Julius Eastman section with Lola Blanks. I'm pretty happy with it specially it's rawness and I mean it in a good way. I also remixed Francois K epic treatment with ok results. Enjoy!

Perfume Garden with Dinosaur L

Here is newbie. I'm liking the sound of Perfume Garden lately. It's cherry picking time. Mixed by yours truly with some Arthur Russell doing Dinosaur L. Enjoy!

NIte Life

....in the nightlife aha...that's where I want to be... sings Kim English on this mid '90's House Classic in collaboration with Masters At Work.  It has been reworked a bit but  the overall spirit of the song remains the same. Enjoy

Miserablism

I've always loved this B-Side ode to teen negativity and cynicism by Pet Shop Boys! It was revamped nicely by Moby in 2003 with his electro mix and featured on their Pop Art Greatest Hits. This one gets the Pacific Coliseum treatment which is a nice new chill techno sound I'm liking. Also this mix features some spoken word the the great Ghandi and some Vedic chanting by Ravi Shankar and George Harrison. Yes, a lot going on here. Btw, play it loud, for some reason I can't get the sound to go up. Enjoy!

Dancefloor

I'm loving the new Tracey Thorn new "Record".  Specially "Dance Floor" where she is serving us some nostalgia for the dance floors evoking peak time dancing to  Bowie's "Golden Years", Chic's "Good Times", Evelyn Champange King's "Shame" and Shannon's epic dance floor shaker "Let The Music Play".  Naturally I remixed adding Let The Music Play for full effect. Enjoy!

Psychological Conquest

Here is a very cinematic take on Pet Shop Boys underrated "Psychological" from their 2006 release of Fundamental using dialogue from the late Greta Garbo and Charles Boyer from the movie Conquest. Enjoy!

And here is the less cinematic version without them making it a straight forward remix. Enjoy!
 

City Country City

Inspired by David Mancuso's Loft parties here is a take on one of the most densely sweet breaks on the dance floor ever. "City Country City" by War. The first remix is a very housified take on it  and the other one is a longer more meditative and reflective take. Enjoy!