Fresh from remixing Grammy-award nominee Adele, Xenomania signing Gabriella Cilmi and MOBO-winner Nate James, Michael Woods is back with ‘Natural High’ released 9 March through new label Diffused Music.

Featuring P Diddy and Michael Jackson collaborator Inaya Day, ‘Natural High’ has already garnered a raft of support from Radio 1 and Kiss, bagging itself a #1 UK club chart smash in the process.

The Out Of Office ‘Full Vocal Remix’ is stripped down, oozing Inaya’s soulful vocals over skidding synths before the infectious piano riff erupts. Mickey Slim’s re-rub bubbles over low-slung broken beats, before Dino Lenny’s ‘Classic Rave Remix’ snowballs into an infectious monster of dazzling piano riffs. Lee Haslam’s mix is a dense sound clash of echoing vocals, relentless bass and twitchy bleeps, whilst Ant Brookes’ remix fizzes around hypnotic bass and laser-gun klaxons. Mickey Slim’s second offering closes the package, with scratchy analogue feedback spearing gloopy acid grooves.

Michael’s Out of Office alter ego has already been championed by Radio 1’s Pete Tong as ‘set to be major,’ naming ‘Hands Up’ an ‘Essential New Tune.’ He’s received consistent backing from Roger Sanchez’s internationally syndicated ‘Release Yourself’ radio show and picked up support from #1 house DJ David Guetta. 2008 also saw him rock Gatecrasher Summer Soundsytem and DJ alongside Soulwax, Jonathan Ulysses and Bodyrox.

It was whilst being classically trained at Pimlico’s Trinity College of Music that Michael discovered house music and began some rather reckless extra-curricular activities, mainly breaking into the school music rooms at lunch, where, like coveted treasure, lay an ancient Apple Mac and Korg M1 upon which Michael would blast out warped electronic odysseys.

Initially breaking into the scene as Warrior and landing himself a top 20 UK and #1 club chart smash with the eponymous track, Michael’s sophomore release, ‘Voodoo,’ enjoyed similar success and led to a string of collaborations, including 2003’s hook-up with Judge Jules and vocalist sister Marcella Woods on ‘Beautiful.’

Early ’09 will also see Out of Office up the ante; first, a collaboration with The Original on ‘90s anthem ‘I Luv U Baby,’ and then ‘Insatiable’ featuring sister Marcella.

“It’s time to concentrate on myself now,” he says. “With Diffused, I want to explore all genres, mixing whatever sounds I uncover and being totally fearless. There’s no other way.”

Related posts:

1. Michael Jackson to play 02 Arena in London
2. Michael Jackson has died after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest.
3. Michael Fakesch – single & album on the way
4. Michael Jackson dance video game coming to all major gaming platforms
5. High Tech Soul – The Creation Of Techno Music