Releases / Ralf GUM - “Uniting Music”

Germany’s prime Deephouse-DJ/Producer, soulful activist and GOGO Music head honcho, Ralf GUM unveils his long awaited debut masterpiece album titled “Uniting Music”. Composing a continuous piece of music, seamless and blended into a luscious tapestry of soulful, afro-latin, house and jazz inspired textures, Ralf showcases his ability to create wonderful original songs. With each song intertwining with another, he’s pushing the boundaries well beyond the traditional DJ mix sense! Seeming almost like one beautiful track, “Uniting Music” contains it all from really pretty dreamy tracks, real groovin’ live deals and late night slices of hypnotic house too. Ralf has culled together some of the most in-demand acclaimed vocalists of different scenes including Inaya Day (who recorded with artists such as Missy Elliott, Michael Jackson, Queen Latifah and gained the “best female vocalist” title at the “House Music Awards“), Beate S. Lech aka “Beady Belle” (who toured with Jamie Cullum), Monique Bingham (who worked with Kerri Chandler, Quentin Harris, Studio Apartment), Wunmi (who was featured by Masters At Work, Osunlade, Raw Artistic Soul), Hanna Hais (who released on Defected, ATAL, Distance) and Diamondancer (who worked with Jimpster), as well as discovering new and upcoming vocal talents such as Mike Avery (Chicago), Rachel Claudio (Jaffa Music, Paris) and Dennis Legree (NYC/Cologne). After creating the album-concept with CrisP he finally he spiced up the record with guest performances of some of Germany’s top-musicians including the Raw Artistic Soul Brass Section or Oliver Leicht on flute.

The hallmark of Ralf’s sound is the perfect harmony between delicate voices singing meaningful lyrics and wicked underground beats with innovative percussion, consistently conjuring up irresistible magic grooves every time he emerges from his studio. This makes him one of the most authentic musical forces and his album “Uniting Music” a creative testament to a classy purveyor of all things soulful.

Ralf GUM has constantly put out timeless music since GOGO Music’s inception in 2001 and has managed to set an incredibly high standard with each release, which is reflected by the countless great reviews in press and other media. Aside of releasing Raw Artistic Soul since day one, other stellar acts including Ursula Rucker, Karizma, Michael Procter, SUMO or Alix Alvarez have worked for his label. Having gained support from the worldwide DJ elite, GOGO Music has earned the title of one of Germany’s most prestigious soulful dance labels and was called “one of the hottest imprints around” by the “Blues & Soul” magazine in 2005. Harmony, Soul and Groove are the key elements of Ralf’s typical sound. Having been producing since 1993, later teaming up with CrisP in 1997, where together they released cuts on very famous labels like Peppermint Jam, Compose, Tommy Boy and Milk & Sugar, as well as remixes for InfraCom!, Sole Music, Oyster Music and many others. Ralf as well has delivered many brilliant singles on his own GOGO Music label to great acclaim and the two singles already taken from “Uniting Music”, “Warrior” feat. famous Norwegian jazz vocalist Beate S. Lech (Remixes by Sugar Beat & Raw Artistic Soul) and “Easy” feat. Inaya Day (remixed by Raw Artistic Soul) have gained the support from the likes of Osunlade, Aaron Ross or Franck Roger. The stunning new single due for commercial release in February 08 featuring NYC Diva, Monique Bingham “Kissing Strangers”, with remixes from Frankie Feliciano and Raw Artistic Soul is receiving amazing feedback, including ‘Pick Of The Week’ on Spiritofhouse.com, an instant number 1 spot on Traxsource.com and is supported by the whole house-DJ elite including Tony Humphries, Grant Nelson, Marlon D, Mr V and countless more. Future singles planned are “All This Love For You” feat. Diamondancer with remixes coming from Rocco (Rodamaal) and the Jinks take over the remix controls on “If No Harm” feat. Rachel Claudio - both releases forthcoming for Spring 2008.

During his career Ralf has compiled and mixed various CD-Compilations including in 2004 “Arrival Vol I” (Air Recordings) together with Howard Donald (Take That) for which they toured together all over Germany and in 2005 “Studio - the finest in lounge and house music” (CKP). In 2005 he launched the first in the GOGO Music label compilation series, “GO!” including gems of the first 3 years from the GOGO releases and following in 2006 “GO!! Vol. 2“. With both albums he was receiving great critical acclaim. In addition he has just released a digital only “10 Years Anniversary Remix Compilation” with CrisP featuring nuggets from their remix repertoire including “Giorgio Moroder -What A Feeling”, “Hacienda - Sabor”, “Billie Ray Martin Feat. Ann Peebles - 18 Carat Garbage” and many more!

Since Ralf`s DJ career started in 1990 he always stayed true to his passion for cool and diverse house music. He’s graced the decks at more than 250 German and international spots. With his sensual DJ-sets he earned the unfailing respect of fellow colleagues and the dedication of his faithful fans. Next to his steady travelling for gigs all around Ralf to date plays at 3 spots regularly. In 1998 the “Airport” (Wuerzburg /Germany) got the living-room for his interpretation of house. Since then he has captured the crowd with his sessions every Friday night and played alongside with artists like DJ Gregory, Martin Solveig, Lenny Fontana, Mousse T or DJ Pippi, to name just a few. Since 2006 he holds a residency at Stuttgart’s “Climax” and since end of 2007, Frankfurt’s new in-location “APT“ is a regular station for him. For 5 years Ralf has been hosting his bi-weekly night at "Studio-Lounge" (Wuerzburg), which was dubbed the “deepest and most soulful event of Germany” in the German Subculture magazine. In addition Ralf hosts annual GOGO Music Parties at the WMC, Miami. With star studded DJ line-ups, these parties are normally the talk of South Beach!

Turning his DJ skills to the airwaves, in 2003 Ralf launched the GOGO Music radio show, a weekly show from Ralf, including other DJs of the GOGO Music family and broadcasted by 25 stations around the globe today!

Ralf’s always kept passionate to experiment with his productions how to uplift the senses high and tickle the imagination with deep emotions. Now his creativity and curiosity helped him to deliver an album, which is encapsulating his spirit and which is delivering a very personal vision of music without challenging the work already done.

Click for German Pressinfo (pdf - 80 kb)

Tracklist Ralf GUM - Unting Music - GOCD 005:

01 Warrior featuring Beate S. Lech
02 Kissing Strangers featuring Monique Bingham
03 Elle featuring Hanna Haïs
04 Parachute featuring Oliver Leicht
05 Brother Like No Other featuring Wunmi
06 Searching featuring Mike Avery
07 Baby Let Me featuring Dennis Legree
08 Parabatu
09 Easy featuring Inaya Day
10 If No Harm featuring Rachel Claudio
11 All This Love For You featuring Diamondancer

Enjoy the music…

PRESS REACTIONS AND REVIEWS:

DJVox.com (Italy)
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Ralf has always been one of those people who truly does believe in not only the mixture of various styles of music together with the outcome being a very knowing blend of class and culture but also a person who strongly needs to bring his music to a big number of people from all over the planet in an effort to spread his very own feelgood music factor to the masses... This album in my opinion does just that! 11 tracks that have musical tentacles that spread out and touch various styles and influences on a global scale. Helped along by such illustrious guests as Beate S. Lech, Monique Bingham, Hanna Hais, Oliver Leicht, Wunmi, Mike Avery, Dennis Legree, Inaya Day, Rachel Claudio and Diamondancer this really is one great piece of work. Well done my friend! by David Colkett

SpiritofHouse.com
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Ralf GUM and his GOGO Music imprint are known and beloved for the variety and mixture of styles on both their productions and releases. Now finally Ralf Gum unveils his long awaited debut artist album titled "Uniting Music" that brings together some of the most in-demand vocal artists such as Monique Bingham, Wunmi, Inaya Day, Diamondancer, Hanna Hais and Beate S. Lech as well as new talents in form of Rachel Claudio or Mike Avery to create a unique blend of soulful dance music coming your way as a deliciously arranged and mixed continuous play album, melting influences from soul, afro-latin, jazz, house and more, with guest musicians such as flute player Oliver Leicht and Raw Artistic Soul Brass Section adding their unique touch to the project.A total of eleven tracks are featured on the album, all taking you on such a delightful journey of masterly performed vocals, dreamy melodies, groovy beats and hypnotic late night rhythms you'd wish it would never end, with the only imaginable option to be to listen to the album over and over again. Without any doubt: what we've said last week about Fanatix' long player applies for this one too: one of the best albums in a long, long time, one that has timeless classic stamped all over it. by Michael Fossati

Various Sites
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Germany's Ralf GUM has been creating heavenly house music for a number of years and this album is a culmination of his work. Blissful vocal efforts with guest lyricists make up the majority of this album and these are joined by a couple of striding instrumentals. Live drums are a particularly favourite of GUM and his direct production style means that a number of his musical efforts evoke memories of cuts by DJ Gregory. Winners include Warrior, which is a gorgeous broken house effort featuring Beate S. Lech of Beady Belle fame, the Monique Bingham blessed Kissing Stangers and a flute laced instrumental dream entitled Parachute. This is musical treat from GUM confirms him as a talented house disciple, which steers clear of the over-smooth trap that many soul-kissed house creators fall into. by Jon Freer

GScene (UK)
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Also keeps my ears happy this month is some fuck off decent house from Ralf Gum. His debut longplayer ‘Uniting Music’ on GoGo Music is delicious, delicious, delicious. A right stunner this will make your Spring.

Housepage.net (Italy)
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Germany's top Deep-house/Soulful producer Ralf GUM pleases us with his long awaited debut album. "Uniting music" is a fantastic soulful/deep house masterpiece, the 11 hot tracks are filled with warm jazzy, latin-house and soul elements that creates an irresistible and infectious vibe from the beginning to the end. All the latest Ralf's releases are included in the album, as well as some brand new tracks and remixes. All the tracks would deserve a mention from my point of view, and some of my favourite gems includes "Kissing strangers" feat. Monique Bingham, "If no harm" feat. Rachel Claudio, "Warrior" feat. Beate S. Lech, the sweet and intense "Baby let me" feat. Dennis Legree, the fresh "Parabatu", the classic "Easy" feat. Inaya Day and the new single "All this love for you" feat. Diamondancer. This is one of the best albums I heard this year. by Franco Martinelli

Remix Mag (USA)
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Uplifting, if familiar, house intimacy
GUM’s soulful, gracefully steady house music shows that Germany knows how to move trendy taste-making bars and open terraces. The veteran DJ’s deluxe clubbing is capped by the luxury tonsils of Monique Bingham (“Kissing Strangers”) and Inaya Day (“Easy”). Though “All This Love For You” and “Searching” inject some sweat, GUM knows the accepted standards of such a genre number percussion, rolling bass, Latin tang and being aware of its own impeccable, elegantly-keyed posture. A welcomingly cool breeze for sticky summer nights, even if you probably know its every flutter. by Matt Oliver

Blues & Soul (UK)
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Germany’s soulful don unleashes his debut album crammed full of quality grooves and high class vocals. After some excellent initial outings for other labels, Ralf GUM launched GOGO Music in 2001, GOGO Music and ever the imprint has been a hot-bed for soulful house ever since. In fact, its surprising it’s taken this long for a solo LP to surface form the German producer, though after a couple listens the wait is confirmed as worth it. The recent big hitters such as Kissing Strangers and All This Love For You are naturally included as are some unreleased gems, but surprisingly a couple of the from the early GOGO years don’t make the final cut. However that shouldn’t detract from what is a very solid LP and one which should only increase Mr GUM’s standing. by Curtis Zack

textura.org
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I won't pretend to be the world's foremost authority on deep house and am therefore fully prepared to be told by genre experts that Ralf GUM's Uniting Music is a stereotypical example of the genre that paves little new ground. Even so, while admittedly there's no shortage of “freedom” chants, to these ears the uninterrupted, hour-long collection (also the German DJ and GOGO head's full-length debut) offers a goodly share of listening pleasures, and GUM proves himself adept at weaving soul, funk, Latin, and, of course, house into an infectious and harmonious tapestry. The joyous spirit that courses throughout Uniting Music's material pulls the listener in even more, and an impressive cast of soulful singers (Norwegian jazz vocalist Beate S. Lech, Monique Bingham, Wunmi, Mike Avery, Dennis Legree, Inaya Day, Rachel Claudio) doesn't hurt GUM's cause either. There's much to enjoy: GUM warms the house pulse “Warrior” with Rhodes sparkle and silky vocals, after which potent vocal hooks and creamy flute playing boost the driving Latin-funk of “Kissing Strangers.” The upward escalation of “Elle” at times feels almost gyroscopic, as does the streamlined jazz-house of “Parachute” which also grants Oliver Leicht's flute skills a well-earned spotlight. Bolstered by horns and rolling bass lines, “Baby Let Me” strides with a forceful skip that flows into the even more steaming “Parabatu” (also the album's sole instrumental) while “If No Harm” gets a nice boost from a slow-motion synth theme that surfaces near its end. Diamondancer's monotone voiceover in the closer “All This Love for You” proves to be as inviting as the song's nimble house skip, and one cottons to the spirit of her message too (“House music, I love you”). Anyone looking for downtrodden melancholy better look elsewhere ‘cos Uniting Music traffics in jubilation from start to finish.

5 Chicago
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Ralf GUM surpasses the norm in House Music with this non-electric, non-digital, eleven track album release. Uniting Music is probably one of the best smooth House albums I've heard in awhile. Only one track on the album made me really want to dance - "All This Love For You" - but the music theory and creativity are great. Ralf holds back on nothing with this sultry sounding, soulful mix of song creations. The positive vibe and feel take you to another place if you are listening from a Deep House groove perspective. The CD quality and composition carry weight and prove that all of the years that Ralf has put into the industry has paid off. With a stunning showcase cast of artists such as Beate S. Lech, Wunmi, Diamondancer, Hanna Hais, Inaya Day and Monique Bingham, many of the selections are headbobbers, including "Brother Like No Other", "Warrior" and "All This Love For You". "Kissing Strangers" is tactfully put together as well. This continuous play album has many influences, pulling from jazz, soul, afro, and some Latin house. Ralf's choice of using great percussion and live instruments gives his music a personal touch, something missing in most commercial House Music today. by Will Wilson

OurHouseMag.com
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5/5 …issue 008

Faizemusic.com
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Essnetial album!

Some Ralf GUM - Uniting Music - GOCD 005 reactions:

:: "I have to say 'Uniting Music' is probably one of the best albums I have heard in a long long time! Perfectly mixed, great rhythm and structure and the music is just out of this world. I was decorating my house and played it no less than 10 times!! Favourite cuts so far: Parachute, Brother Like No Other, Warrior .......... I absolutely love 'All this love for you' and of course, Kissing Strangers. Amazing collaborations, amazing music, one amazing album. Expect nothing less of Ralf - the best label this side of the Atlantic!" Myles Chalmers (Naked Soul, UK)

:: "The album is stunning!!!! I knew it was going to be a great release!" Arnold Derksen (Art-D-Fact, Netherlands)

:: "What a brilliant idea for an album! Didn't know what to think about first, but
after listening to it, it all made sense. Outstanding work by germanys finest deep and soulful house producer. I am very sure this has definately got to be the best album this year and it'll probably not leave my stereo for a very,very long time. Big up Ralf! 11/10!" Roed Svensk (Reelgroove Rec, MoD Rec, various)

:: "The album is killer" Nicholas Vautier (Jaffa Records, Paris)

:: "Congratz on the album release! The way it's put together is just amazing. Takes you on a journey. Been listening to it all week." Dalminjo (Oslo, Norwegia)

:: "Really enjoying your new album, getting lots of play on the stereo at home!" Blair Stafford (Straight Up. Australia)

Warrior feat. Beate S. Lech
Kissing Strangers feat. Monique Bingham
Elle feat. Hanna Hais
Parachute feat. Oliver Leicht
Brother Like No Other feat. Wunmi
Searching feat. Mike Avery
Baby Let Me feat. Dennis Legree
Parabatu
Easy feat. Inaya Day
If No Harm feat. Rachel Claudio
All This Love For You feat. Diamondancer