MICHAEL GRAY Vinilo y CD

Review: Jamie Odell aka. Jimpster has more than earned his decorations as a progressive house producer and musical facilitator of cosmic renown; now the Freerange and Delusions Of Grandeur label owner crops up for an incandescent remix of Michael Gray and Tatiana Owens' 'Ivy'. One of the central disco-funk gallantries featured on Gray's recently released 'Optimism' EP - on which Owens brings a wassailing alto performance against stinger string hits and spattered drum layers - Jimpster's version is softer and comparatively metrical, measuring its time through carefully controlled delays and French touch nods.

Review: Michael Grey is a London-based house talent who finally unveils his long awaited album, Optimism. This double-gatefold beauty on Optimism is a timeless listen that takes in myriad house styles. There are sample heavy mid-tempo rollers like 'Fly Away' as well as blissed out vocal cuts for loved up floors like 'You Got To Remember', sophisticated disco-tinged cuts like 'Where Do We Go From Here' and feel good summer anthems such as 'Don't Want Anybody'. What unifies them all is the high class produciton and lavish quality of the most uplifting music.

Review: 20 years ago now, Michael Gray secured what you can rightly say was a global and monumental crossover dance hit when he dropped 'The Weekend' in 2004. To mark its 20th anniversary and as part of this year's Record Store Day celebrations, it is making its way, for the first time ever, to a limited edition coloured vinyl 7". This one comes with the celebrated original sleeve artwork and that's not all, because it also includes a previously unreleased 7-inch Version from Gray himself: titled the 'Sultra 7' mix, it comes with live strings and a lush ambient feel that makes this even more essential.

Review: What would it be like to be invincible? An ecstatic funky house climax from the dream team of music-maker Michael Gray and singer Tatiana Owens, new one 'Invincible' channels the pure excitement of real love and connection, lyrically equating that excitement to feeling as if nothing could slow us down. Speaking of "common love" and "every day and every day", this is an unstoppable single, with its impenetrable march forward backed up by piano chords, stabbing string hits and punchy fills. Don't miss the B-side 'You Got To Remember', nor the live performed version on YouTube!

Review: The esteemed Michael Gray is back once again with his superb house sounds, this time on Sultra with 'Save Me.' An extended mix of the title cut opens up and is the sort of glorious crossover anthem that will unique any crowd with its clean and soulful vocals, pristine sax notes and swooning strings, all married to a breezy and effortlessly catchy groove. After the dub version comes 'Ivy' which is another accessible, heart-swelling and radio friendly house sound that harks back to the proper songwriting days of yore, then 'Season High' closes with a bright synth one that twists and turns next to celebratory chords and singalong vocals.