Though originally bicoastal, Naked Music Recordings has come to define a generally West Coast house sound, emphasizing live, jazzy instrumentation, organic, driving bass lines, and deep soul vocals. For the label's releases, designer/illustrator Stuart Patterson captured a retro/contemporary urban visual flair that has become a (now often-imitated) Naked Music signature, with bold, colorful graphics of naked women in sexy, lounged-out poses.
Miguel Migs could be considered the unofficial ambassador of the Naked Music sound. Originally going by the name Petalpusher, Migs released tracks that shaped and defined his deep, soulful sound--like the infectious "Breaking It Down" and "Rely On Me," as well the DJ mix Nude Dimensions, Vol. 1. Migs started out playing lead guitar in a groove-oriented band, but has now reached a point in his career that most DJ/producers aspire to in textbook fashion. Aside from constant touring, he's done remixes for mainstream artists such as Macy Gray, Britney Spears, and Lionel Ritchie. Though some of his core fans might be disappointed, how in the hell could you not be happy for the guy? Electronic music is one of the few realms where underground artists can find work on such a commercial level and still maintain most of their integrity.
Miguel Migs recently released his awaited full-length debut, Colorful You, which explores a wider range of beats than the usual pulsing house 4/4. The standouts are the collaborations with Mig's not-so-secret weapon, vocalist/songwriter Lisa Shaw. Tracks like "Think It Over" and "Days of Color" emphasize how much stronger the songs are when the two are paired together. Overall, this is a solid release: the perfect mood enhancer for a breezy drive down the 101. NICOLAE WHITE
Miguel Migs w/John Lemmon and Wesley Holmes Sat Dec 14 at Re-bar, 114 Howell St, 233-9873, 9 pm-3 am, 21+, $15.
