KiloWatts & PointBender - Western Wolf Remixes (Harmonious Discord)

Last summer Harmonious Discord released a rare vinyl feature highlighting two long-time label creators, KiloWatts and PointBender. The EP featured deep, cerebral journeys like “Circling the Crown”, pulsating nighttime anthems like “Western Wolf’, and low-swung cross-over classics like "Swangert." For this release, the two producers enlisted the brainpower of close friends, returning artists, and consistent innovators to help celebrate 20 years of the label.

Included in this set is the return of house music legend Demarkus Lewis. Demarkus remixed Morgan Page on Harmonious Discord in 2004 and his applied skills to this project produced two fantastic flavors of "Western Wolf," ripe with bumping movement. Behind The Sky boss and genre-bending force, Bluetech applies his deep knowledge and context to deliver a beautifully evolving masterpiece. Berlin’s Noah Pred explores innovative angles of bio-mechanical feedback with a beautifully growing, often organic feeling re-imagining.

The project starts off with a musically elevated remix of “Swangert”. Bluetech sets free the dithered musical undertones with modulated synth patterns that dance romantically by and through each other. The vocal treatment enters cosmic terrain while the subtle bass jamming keeps a funk focus flowing. Next up is the Deez Puppy Chow Mix of "Western Wolf" which tames the elements of the original into a body-moving selection prime for rocking big-sound speakers. The remix reaches peak-time tension with the introduction of expertly crafted acid lines. The following Deez Acid Free Remix delivers the same energy without the frontal acid line, but more emphasis on rising effects patterns that maintain the level of insanity. Our final guide into the deep crevices of a-cult warehouse worship is the Acid Reign Remix by Noah Pred. Pred doesn’t hesitate to get into melodically complex corners from the start and leaves plenty of room for sonic expansion as his synthesizer elements embody a mind of their own. A true embodiment of Harmonious Discord's 20-year celebration is perfectly captured in this high-powered collection.

Colin Dale (Abstrakt Dance Records) – “A solid EP with some really cool sounds.”
Anthony Pappa (Bedrock) – “Noah Pred’s Acid Reign remix is cool.”
Rory Hoy (Howlin’ Records) – “I really like the Bluetech remix. Funky stuff!”
Scheibosan (Shanti Roots) – “I like the acid on Deez Puppy Chow Mix.”
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) – “An intriguing release.”
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing) – “Great new takes on some excellent originals.”
Simon Kirk (Proton Radio) – “Powerful remixes. Truly forward thinking music.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Bandcamp, Apple Music, And Spotify.

jdn - Night EP (Harmonious Discord)

Returning to the fold with a wonderful array of carefully prepared sounds, Harmonious Discord founder JD Northrup presents the Night EP under his jdn project name. Previously releasing on the label under his moniker Chakaharta, he developed a reputation for blending modern electronics with natural rhythms and synthetic elements. Releases like “Cactus Girl” and his album The Plant were standout additions to the Harmonious Discord catalog.

Northrup’s jdn project encompasses the same balance of synthetic and natural elements but with an enhanced concentration on hardware based workflow. The entire EP was constructed in the box using various synthesizers and drum machines to program eccentric dance grooves, spanning many moods with a common thread of psychedelic flair and technical precision. It grows from a very subdued intro into freakish floor fillers like “Talk is Cheap.” Each number captures the same sci-fi sense of unchartered territory and discovery that was so prevalent in early house and techno, albeit with a deep, modern tint.

Harmonious Discord contributor and artist Patchen Preston joins in on the experiment, offering up a chunky rendition of the tune “C5”. Also taking part is the versatile Evan Marc aka Bluetech, one of Northrup’s favorite producers. His remix of “Night Groove” is stratospheric in nature with floating arpeggiations and bouncing percussion.

The Night EP explores sounds and arrangements from the subdued to the straightforward, cracking the code between boundaries and demanding the attention of anyone seeking to unleash more esoteric sounds upon the world.

Nick Warren - “Lovely deepness and groovy goodness.”
Danny Howells (Dig Deeper) - “Solid EP … will get stuck in.”
Nick Holder (DNH Records) - “This is dope!”
C-Rock (stir15 / Cocoon) - “Nice moods.”
Stacey Pullen - “This is cool.”
Tom Lown (Savoir Faire / Lost My Dog) - “‘Aeolian Intro’ has a real lushness that I like.”
Tyree Cooper - “Nice stuff.”
Thugfucker (Life and Death / Visionquest) - “Dreamy stuff … I look forward to trying it out.”
Pedro Goya (Troia Rec) - “What a nice surprise! jdn has serious skills … I really enjoy his rhythm sections and musical ideas.”
Rafael Moraes (Nomumbah / Yoruba) - “‘Night Groove’ is the bomb!”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “I am really into ‘Aeolian Intro’ and ‘Night Groove’ … these really are my vibe.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) - “Smooth and delectable late night moods here.”
Tyler Stadius - “These are tasty! I’ll try a few for certain.”
Martin Villeneuve (Hotfingers / Jungle Funk) - “Great deep stuff.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Cool selection of beats here, all fusing hypnotic sounds with some great percussion.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Moody and deep throughout … great feel here.”
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences) - “These tracks possess a great amount of mysticism, deep and dark shaded beauty, and a seriously twisted but intelligent vibe.”
RJ Pickens (FloorControl Radio Show) - “Digging this EP! The deeper sounds with a slightly more uptempo feel = a very nice balance.”
Niksa Dragolin (Eurostar Radio, Croatia) - “Like the trees moved from the wind, this deepness is soft and relaxing with the beat always present. I like it.”

Available now from Beatport.

Luke Mandala - Cheeky Much? EP (Innerflight Music)

Seattle’s Innerflight Music presents the latest release from prolific Oregon-based DJ/producer Luke Mandala, the quizzically titled Cheeky Much? EP. Luke has been making serious waves with releases on the likes of Booka Shade Music, Desert Trax, and his own Activated Recordings imprint. His Infinite EP on Addictech Records is particularly renowned, having reached #1 on many charts and remaining one of the more popular releases on the label. On the Cheeky Much? EP Luke presents four diverse original tracks led by “Teradactyl Smack-Down,” a collaboration with Australian producer Kriece (20/20 Vision, Kindred Sounds). This cut certainly sets the tone with its solid low-end slink and crisp electronic percussion anchoring the sounds of swelling synthesizers on the edge of chaos. Luke follows, on his own, with “Cheeky Waggish” which expertly blends smooth tech-house rhythms with acidic synth lines and squelches. “Too Much Fun” takes things a tad deeper within the tech-zone, but Luke’s psychedelic production touches remain in pocket. And “Universal Innocents” reaches into a different sphere entirely, presenting a downtempo chill-out track with sparkling melodies and appropriately trippy moments. The EP also contains a pair of remixes, with Vancouver’s Phil Western delivering an uptempo yet darker treatment of “Cheeky Waggish,” and Evan Marc (also known as Bluetech) providing a bouncy and evocative tech-house version of “Too Much Fun.” Innerflight Music continues to bypass boundaries with this exciting package from Luke Mandala … top tunes abound.

Alexander Robotnick - “‘Cheeky Waggish’ rolls!”
[a]pendics.shuffle - “I’m digging quite a bit of this release … the originals and the remix of ‘Too Much Fun’ do it for me.”
Audiojack - “This sounds tasty … will try in the clubs.”
Malbetrieb (Klopfgeist) - “Nice remix from Evan Marc.”
Tyler Stadius - “I like the twisted sounds here.”
DJ Harri (Sub Club) - “The Evan Marc mix is great.”
Eric Davenport - “Super funky sh*t … one of the year’s best so far.”
Rootfellen (Kult Music / Spring Tube) - “Amazing release!”
Dick Diamonds (Extended Play / 530Techno) - “I love the originals on this … very impressed.”
Deepinradio - “Distorted variations … futuristic!”
Paul Sparkes (Decibel Radio) - “Clever production … tripped out!”
SimonG (Deep South Audio, New Zealand) - “I’m gigging this west coast nu skool flavored EP … been getting my ear around this sound at the festivals in New Zealand this summer.”
Jochen Saelens (Moustache Music) - “‘Too Much Fun (Evan Marc Remix)’ is an exciting tune … I like the synth melody in combination with its clean percussion. ‘Universal Innocents’ is a track I would certainly play in an downtempo DJ set; good bassline, simple but dreamy melody. The baby voice sample gives the track a sweet touch.”

Available now from Beatport and Amazon.