Paradise refound

>> New Jersey duo Slam Mode's sample-free dream-strumentals

by PETER LIGHTBURN

If the rising sun could have a soundtrack, DJs Michael Cole and Angel Rodriguez have come pretty close to providing it. These two New Jerseyites go under the moniker Slam Mode and have amassed a gorgeous portfolio of Paradise-Garage-influenced house "dream-strumentals." Their approach to wax lends to their mystique. Rodriguez sums it up in a most grandiose fashion: "We follow no formula or standard rules. Our hearts and the natural environment are the main ingredients that cause us to materialize true cerebral compositions." Dig it?

When things weren't going right with their U.K. distributor Flying Records, they looked to an old chum to showcase their lush, introspective material--NYC dynamo producer/DJ Joe Claussell. "Angel and I have been friends with Joe Claussell for many years," says Cole. "We were some of the first people buying records from Joe at New York's Dance Tracks. He always assured us that once he established his label Spiritual Life Music, he wanted to put out some of our material. We released two EPs on the label so far, Fiat Mistura and Distant Sun, and will be releasing an album shortly entitled Uhuru."

One interesting facet of their work is their eschewing of samples and disco loops. "Most music," says Cole, "that is built on samples and loops does not stand the test of time. To Angel and I, making music from scratch is more exiting and challenging than taking something that has already been done."

Aside from studio endeavours, they have been in demand as turntable titans, spinning at hot NYC rug-cutting sessions like Bang the Party, guesting for Garage 416 in Toronto, and criss-crossing the globe to play Moscow (Club Propaganda) and Helsinki (Club Ferma). Citing inspiration from the some of the most venerable names in New York's soulful club-music underground--Larry Levan, Tee Scott, Timmy Regisford, Joe Claussel and Tony Humpries--Slam Mode display a far-reaching musical palette. "We are into different genres," says Cole. "We play anything from drum & bass and Latin to Afro Beat and jazz. We try to cover as much as we can"

At Jello's Therapy, with Jojoflores, tonight, Thursday, Feb. 1, 10pm, $8