Cheers! The glasses clink together for a toast! That’s right, my friend Jok and me really enjoyed it when Paul Breitner, the German team striker during the 70’s, wrote in Bild (without any kind of sparing) an article that was rather critical concerning the ‘over evaluation’ by the press regarding Michael Ballack and we both thought: we are not the only ones then! As far as Breitner is concerned, 30 years ago the Bundersleague had less sponsors but more quality and soul, so: a Ballack would have had much less a chance in playing in the National team or even being the boss of Bayern. The very same Bayern, a few weeks after offering 40.000.000 Euros for renewing the contract, only got the kind of answer by Ballack like ‘maybe I will think about it a bit’: ‘maybe in Madrid or even London I can get more’… The Munich society first of all took this answer without too much fuss and then bought the Paraguay national player Dos Santos who, apart from costing less than Ballack, surely has a much bigger heart and heap loads of soul. Now, without talking even further about ‘Ballack the player’, the thing that wasn’t that elegant was the ‘Man Ballack’. He will probably get a record amount from the sponsors and the new (maybe) team but he will never be a Vorbild (which means Model in German), an example to follow! Something that is, instead, Paolo Maldini, somebody as rich – or even richer – than Ballack, who is truly attached to his team for whom he is a standard bearer, a true Vorbild for all the young who follow football as well as his colleagues at AC Milan and others. Maldini has decided to finish his career in the Milan team and not take up some of the big offers that have come his way from other international teams. Money is of course important but before that there is passion, heart and faithfulness. Values that remain in time and make unforgettable players. In today’s society with its wild progression, running after ever higher profits without any true values there are still some who believe in the clear cut passion of football. In the end this is what makes a true footballer. Talking about clear pleasures and values, on the Web of Device there is written: ‘in an industry flooded with disposable music comes a beacon of light for the lovers of soulful house music’. And it is with this positive spirit that I will start pointing out this months releases starting off with the already announced in December HUGH HEFFNER with Dance 2 Disco (on Housesession Records) with new added remixes by the Tune Brothers (Vocal & Dub), Raul Rincon & Jochen Pash. Amongst other things the cover work is also lovely (apart from the production) of Like A 69 also from PASH but this time along with MONTANA. Here we should point out 2 electro remixes by Martin Eyerer and Normen Flaskamp. From nearby Switzerland there should in the meantime have been released officially the promo of DIRECT DISCO with Join The Disco Ride (on Purple Traxx) that will be great for all those lovers of the unforgettable Barry White. On Purple also is ONE TOUCH Feat. S. HECTRO with a nice mix by Benny Pecoraio. Lorenzo Aldino from 7th District sent me a beautiful promo with the sensational Twisted Soul Injection mix by Raul Moros of LENELL BROWN with Relax, really a great piece of work! Please allow me also to mention my own work on the remixes of Wait by DEEP RULES (white label), a project on which there has been the participation of John Julius Knight aka JJK and the Midnite Fellas. More harder and progressive is the Armistice EP Vol. 1 by LARS BEHRENROTH from which, literally driving me crazy, is For Peace. Even if it has been released for some time here in Germany I would like to once again underline the commercial quality of the H-Man remix of Pretty Little Angel by MOONBOOTICA (on Moonboutique). Look who’s back! TYREE COOPER pays us a visit, this time along with SHIK STYLKO with the really catchy Rock With You on Real Basic. For all of those out there who like to shake their arses with a bit of electro thinking it is something new I would recommend that you buy a certain Bible and put it away safely somewhere: in fact released is a box set by KRAFTWERK (on EMI) containing roughly 40 tracks on 2 CD’s + DVD’s + a Book… This way they will understand exactly where a good 90% of today’s producers of this genre have been inspired. That’s all for this month, see you in February. Keep well. Servus.