It's been so hectic for past few weeks, I'm just now catching up with a bunch of stuff that I've wanted to post. I got a chance to kick back today and relax, which got the creative writing juices flowing.

First, I want to apologize to DJ Phenix, because a few weeks ago the Queens native reached out to let me know about his new EP, Rebirth of the Phenix on East Gate Records. I've wanted to post, but I needed to sit down and really take a listen to his new music to give it its proper due. Today, I had the chance to do just that.

Rebirth is a marked shift for Phenix, transitioning from an edgier sound to a more soulful, groovy and smooth musical experince. He told me that he'd taken a break from music for a bit and one can listen to past tracks alongside Rebirth on Beatport to see why this is an aptly named new direction for the prolific producer.

The perfectly titled, "NYC Track" brings all the best elements of what's great about New York's house music movement over the past 20-years. A jazzy horn over a swing beat with moody organ is perfectly executed and brings back memories of the good'ol days when labels like Strictly Rhythm, Eightball, Nervous, King Street, Maxi and Nu Groove dominated house music.

On "Dub Thang," Phenix revisits the popular filtered disco genre that's been filling dance floors since U.K.'s Defected Records and Erick Morillo's Subliminal label grew the genre into a mainstream dance music force. A straight-ahead floor filler, this track holds no surprises but offers DJs a groovy, mid-tempo thumper with female vocal sample ("It's a love thang…") that's a perfectly slotted prelude to peak hour jams.

I don't have MP3 samples for you to check out, but you can find and listen to both of these tracks by searching for DJ Phenix at Beatport.com, iTunes and Xpressbeats.com. 

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