Miguel Scott & BluShift - Broken Layers (Viva Recordings)

Over the last year or so, the Viva Recordings team has been getting to know Miguel Scott, a talented producer from Johannesburg, South Africa. After many conversations and a few listening sessions, it was apparent that "Broken Layers" was just what the label needed. This release is packed with jazz & broken beat vibes, and is co written by BluShift, also from Johannesburg. You can also catch Miguel on labels like Nervous, Moiss Music Black, and his own Afrinative Soul imprint. Don’t sleep on this one.

Jason Merle (4E&A Records) – “Those drums are clutch. Beautiful, organic sounds all around. In the bag.”
Juan Moreno (1 Life Records) – “Nice broken beat track. So classy.”
Deli-G (The Touch) – “Pure fire on this release.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House web zine) – “A truly glamorous slice of jazz house bliss.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “5 Stars for this amazing record. Absolutely love it.”
Clive Craske (RadioReverb) – “Loving the dexterous jazz piano, funky and driving broken beats and Thereminny synth wibbling. Ace.”

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

Glass Slipper - Land of Love (Harmonious Discord)

Occupying the airwaves with soulful technology is Austin-based duo Glass Slipper. Glass Slipper is a vocal house music project from Lisa Cork-Twiss and Brad Eller. Lisa is known as a former member of Real McCoy and Brad is a respected vet of the SF Bay Area scene. Their project merges classic soul with forward thinking instrumentation and thought-provoking messages critical of the times. Recently, Glass Slipper has seen a string of releases on house staples like Sole Channel, Puro Music, Colour and Pitch, Subplot, and Midnight Riot. When a studio video passed the desk at Harmonious Discord headquarters the label immediately ‘fell in’ with “Land of Love.” To compliment this special selection, remixes were chosen courtesy of musical cosmonaut KiloWatts and deep dub designer Hubb.

“Land of Love” is a journey laden in lush pads, funky square-wave bass lines, and vocal textures taunting and leading the listener forward. Cascaded drips of melody roll over the sonic environment like water as a building intensity is translated through the evolving bass patterns. The Dub offers a slightly altered shade with tech-leaning drum arrangements and subtle vocal effect trails. KiloWatts provides a vibey broken beat interpretation with finely crafted fills. Pleasant arpeggiations dance around funky bass constructions while melodic density rises upward, ultimately leading to a layer cake of synthesizer tension. Early morning duties are offered by Hubb with his 5am love, featuring hints of guitar and piano setting the vocal components adrift in a sea of warmth.

Jaymz Nylon (Nylon Recordings) – “Glass Slipper never disappoints.”
Andrew Emil (Glenview Records) – “Totally fantastic single! Great work here. Gorgeous.”
Lee Jones / Country Gents (Buslife) – “Original and KiloWatts versions are sublime. This is special guys.”
Taigo Onez (Bang Le’ Dex) – “This is truly beautiful. Such a wonderful release.”
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) – “Killer release folks. Solid tunes, big respect.”
Louis Hughes (6th Sense Music) – “The Dub and Instrumental are lovely pieces of house music.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House Web Zine) – “Verily dreamful and truly enchanting.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “The KiloWatts Wonderland Remix is beautiful.”
Andrew Duke (Andrew Duke In The Mix) – “Great package. The original is my fave.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM 95) – “This is my new deep house love, it’s Dub and Instrumental bend soundscapes, with synth-laden and bouncy grooves.”

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

Zona - Time (Remixes) (70x7 Records)

Zona is an eclectic house music combo comprised of Dimitri Craven and Jerry Andrews, based in Los Angeles. The duo pushes a 'live' deep house style and has had previous acclaimed releases on Good For You Records, Kapa, and House Tribe Records. Zona focuses on the soulful and inspirational facets of house music, collaborating with a number of talented vocalists and players to realize their finely textured sound. 70x7 Records is the pair's own label, and recently issued the full length album Peace, Love and Understanding to much worldwide acclaim. "Time", featuring vocalist Valerie Moise, is the latest single from the album and is featured here with a quartet of fantastic remixes.

Respected house music veterans Eric Kupper & Lenny RX turn in a brilliant and moving version that displays their production prowess. Starting simple with a kick, snare, and syncopated bass line, the mix introduces the lovely vocal and quickly fills with layers of chords, pad washes, and dubby effects. Exceptional stuff. Mikey V, of L.A.'s Hawt Music collective, drops a high quality remix tailor-made for the underground, surrounding the vocal line with skippy beats, pulsing chords, and an all-around uplifting and deep vibe. Santa Monica's Agent Blak mixes up the rhythms for a punchy Broken Mix, and Reda Briki brings a deep, late night 'playa' feel with his LDN Switch Remix. Overall, it's a varied and distinct package that never lets go of Zona's core composition and Valerie Moise's seductive voice.

Tony Humphries - “Nice original track and remixes.”
Lenny Fontana - “I love the underground vibe … very cool.”
Gene Farris - “Good stuff!”
Terrence Parker - “I love the Lenny RX & Eric Kupper mix!”
Tyree Cooper - “Dope remixes!”
Beppe Gioia (Garage Family) - “The Mikey V remix … deep.”
Master Kev - “A great remix from Lenny RX & Eric Kupper!”
Alexander East (Planet East) - “I love all the mixes.”
DJ Craig C (The Other One) - “I’m loving the original and Lenny RX & Eric Kupper nailed the remix.”
Vincent Kwok - “Great stuff.”
Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart / DCSTrax) - “Feeling the Lenny RX & Eric Kupper mix … very tasty.”
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - “I love this feel … so effective but captures a house mood that really resonates with me.”
Richie Roberts (The Dance Factory, BBC) - “I now have to completely reorganize this week’s radio show as this will now be The Dance Factory's ‘Future Force’ track … an absolutely amazing remix.”

Available now from:Beatport, Traxsource, iTunes and Spotify.

DJ Pippi & Sandro S - Fatal (Cold Busted)

Italian by name, German by trade, and with a career forged by Ibiza, DJ Pippi once again has hooked up with Sandro S, the name behind one of Italy's top house labels, CibiCaldi Recordings. Together, along with a short vocal feature by Laurance B, they have created a vibe-laden, breezy and jazzy cut for Cold Busted. Chilled, but not lacking in groove, "Fatal" is a rhythmic and classy killer with impeccable timing, landing during a summer where much of the world's attention is focused on Brazil. Using bells, shakers, and a hiccup of vocal chants, a tinge of samba gives way to the refined cool of a balearic touch, both reflective of paradise settings.

Moving on to the remixes, Green Street are three production minded friends that host the Str8 Busted Podcast out of the southeastern United States. Their Dub ups the funk with more prominent guitars and the introduction of a wailing organ melody and stabs. Mojo Rising hails from a Los Angeles rave DJ background, having taken that initial spark and channeled it into academia in order to grow as a downtempo and trip-hop producer. He adds smooth, rhythmic glitches, more booming -- but deep -- bass, and an angelic vocal hymn to the breakdown. Finally, Polish Cold Busted fam LoopMaffia takes a complete departure from the original heading towards experimental electronica with mutating synths, hard-to-place percussive elements, and strange voices fitting of the 'Grim Void' remix title. An included instrumental of the original rounds off another hot Cold Busted release sure to kickstart an idyllic summer.

Bill Brewster (djhistory.com) - “I really like the original and the Green Street dub.”
Basement Freaks (Goodgroove / SunsetSoul) - “Cool … I like the quica!”
Kid Loco - “The Green Street dub … nice one!”
Jask - “This is very nice.”
All Good Funk Alliance - “Cool jam … and I’m loving the remixes.”
Inland Knights - “Love it!”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - “All good, it’s hard to choose a favorite. I think the Green Street dub is the one for my DJ sets but I also dig the spaced-out version by LoopMaffia.”
Robin Parris (Parris & Vanucci / Dancefloor Outlaws) - “The Green Street dub sounds like the ghost of Morcheeba’s ‘Big Calm’. Cool for hot, lazy summer evenings.”
Pathaan (Globetronica) - “Groovy!”
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) - “Great vibes for the summer!”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - “I like the original’s pulsating rhythm and driving bass.”
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - “The LoopMaffia remix is a solid left field number.”
Clairvo (Tilos Radio, Hungary) - “Each song here has its own character, and all will get played!”
Niksa Dragolin (Eurostar Radio, Croatia) - “Very hot stuff. I love the original tune … it’s perfect for what I’m playing at beach parties. Yeahhh!”
Roger Cowell (The Joint Sessions, Barcelona) - “Very nice. I’m going for the original version for this summer’s beach party sessions … it will fit in perfectly, with the Brazilian vibes.”

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop.