Oded Nir - Indoor Life (Suntree Records)

Almost five years after the success of his acclaimed LP, Rooftop Conversations, the immensely talented bassist and multi-instrumentalist Oded Nir returns with a captivating and dreamlike new album. Indoor Life is a sonic exploration, seamlessly blending elements of jazz, trip-hop, funk, soul, and downtempo gems. The result is a transformative musical journey that invites listeners into realms of self-reflection and dreams.

Highlighting this album are extraordinary collaborations with Grammy award-winning Jamiroquai's legendary drummer, Derrick McKenzie. Together with Oded, McKenzie co-wrote and produced the mesmerizing track "Alive," featuring the soulful vocals of his daughter, Jenner McKenzie. Derrick's production prowess also shines on "Late Bloomer," a disco-infused easy-listening tune, and "Hot Mess," where his live, powerful drums take center stage.

Adding to the supergroup dynamic is Matt Johnson, another member of Jamiroquai, who lends his keyboard magic to Oded's funky track "Hot Mess." Tel Aviv-based vocalist Meital De Razon graces the soulful and romantic "Come Back," while India-born vocalist Sandhya Sanjana contributes to the meditative early morning track "Sunrise."

The late Paris/Amsterdam DJ producer Benjamin Ellery lends his French spoken word voice to "Film Noir," infusing the track with a trip-hop allure. Local Amsterdam musician and Oded's band member Thijs Van Den Geest collaborates on the fantastic "Sababa Dub," a smoothly rolling groove. The title track, "Indoor Life," evokes feelings of nostalgia and love. At the same time, the album concludes with a re-edited 2023 version of Oded's 2011 hit "Into Your Heart," featuring Dutch vocalist Gia Mellish.

Indoor Life has already seen the release of five singles, earning acclaim from FM radio stations worldwide and securing placements in major Spotify playlists. Prepare to be transported by the enchanting sounds of Oded Nir's Indoor Life album.

Enne (Electunes) – “A really good album. Gonna play some of these for sure.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House web zine) – “Truly glorious and eclectic.”
Sandro Bianchi (Ibiza Sonica) – “This album is a gem.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) – “An outstanding project!”
Michael Moebus (Back To Funk Radio Show) – “Nice bass work & funk-leaning sensibility.”
Jon Wesley (Music Goes On Radio Show) – “This is an outstanding LP. Excellent music and production. I’ll enjoy playing all of these tunes.”

Available Now From: Traxsource, Juno Download, Beatport, And Spotify.

Mind over MIDI - Control (Beatservice Records)

Electronic music maestro Mind Over MIDI makes a welcome return to Beatservice Records, presenting 11 immersive tracks on the breathtaking new album, Control.

Hailing from Kristiansund on the northwest coast of Norway, Helge Tømmervåg has been crafting scintillating electronic sounds since the early '80s. His earliest work recorded under the now-familiar Mind Over MIDI moniker arrived in the early '90s. A long-standing affiliation with Beatservice extends as far back as 1995, when — following a few compilation entries — he first signed for the imprint. Helge has released scores of highly regarded and stylistically uncompromising sounds over the years, appearing on labels including Silent Seasons, Diametric, Hibernate, Whitelabrecs, ROHS! Lontano Series and via his own Berserk Fabrik. After releasing five albums on Beatservice, he took an extended hiatus from the label back in 2005, but happily returned to the fold in 2020 with the acclaimed Gimsøy, Lofoten EP1 and EP2.

Control sees Mind Over MIDI back in long-playing action, with his sixth album for Beatservice proving every bit as mesmerizing as those which preceded it. Arriving like a crisp Arctic sunrise, the collection begins with the icy swells of "Fragile", with dramatic pads stealthily morphing over stripped machine drums and sub-rooted bass to provide the most tantalizing of openers.

"Denial" marks an incremental increase in energy levels, with captivating synth textures gorgeously blended over gently rolling rhythms and growling bass to form a powerfully cinematic soundscape. Stein Bjercke provides his distinctive vocal gravity on the track "Control", the music brooding with ominous intensity as wintry waves crash against frosty moonlit shores.

The evocative tones continue into "Regret", where intricate synth threads are precisely woven across a bed of broken drums as phasing pads arrive like a shimmering mist to envelop the delicate tapestry. Next, we effortlessly glide into the dreamlike textures and sparkling rhythms of "Absence", with its opiate harmonics and slowly evolving melodies gracefully emerging through the brisk northern haze.

Stein Bjercke once again enters the stage on the captivating swirls of "Disappear", his timeless vocal echoing into the infinite oneness as metallic drones hover over sparse drums for a profoundly atmospheric inward journey. Evoking a striking sense of mystery, the haunting synth melodies of "Forgotten" bewitch as they sail over gyrating drums for a faintly jarring moment of unflinching reflection.

Augmenting the introspection, the aerial drift of "Surrender" languidly pulses across unfamiliar landscapes, as undulating pads rise over hypnotic drums and low-pitched drones. Submerging still deeper, the dubbed-out topography of "Let It Go" sees Oddman's indelible vocal aching with sincerity as his solemn lyrics permeate the darkened horizon.

The shimmering arpeggios of "Close" steadily morph through breathy harmonics for a soul-soothing interlude, before the closing track "Vanish" caps a beguiling album in suitably esoteric style. Here, fizzing cymbals guide shadowy melodies across a pre-dawn panorama, remaining almost out of sight as secretive synth harmonies whisper into the distance.

This enthralling collection is nothing less than a tour de force from Mind Over MIDI. Ethereal yet powerfully dense, the morphing sonics are equipped with enough force to permeate the sternest of souls as they echo through and beyond the psycho-spiritual abyss.

Charles Leonard Corcho (Selekta Chang) – “Nice and ambient. I like ‘Let It Go’ with the vocal styling of Oddman.”
Eric Shans (3Bridge Records) – “Deep & hypnotic. Nice stuff. Reminiscent of some early 90s ambient which I love.”
Spaceotter (Camp Conception) – “Disappear is really something special. An actual worthy vocal, a rich elder male voice so gorgeously blended into a track. Just breathtaking...I'm smitten.”
Tim Angrave (The Chillout Lounge Mix) – “Difficult to choose a favorite track. A stunning release.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle radio show) – “A deep and richly textured album. I can see some of these being used as openers. Wonderful.”
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel) – “More amazing music from Beatservice. Deep in a rainy week here in Sydney and this is a perfect soundscape for that. Will support on upcoming shows here. Always a joy to hear such deep spaced out and emotive sounds.”

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

Citronade (A Martin Denev Project) - Hopenotica (Issa'min)

The Hopenotica EP brings five new tracks of groovy chill-out bliss from Bali-by-way-of-Bulgaria producer Martin Denev, courtesy of his evocative Citronade project. As the previous Citronade EP, Ezeh, drew upon South East Asian influences, Hopenotica brings in flavors of North Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. It's a delicious stew specially made for early doors, the classiest of lounges, and delirious back-to-mine stereo sessions.

"Desert Cat" epitomizes the sound with exotic flutes, funky guitar, and spacious atmospheres traveling over a midtempo four-on-the-floor beat. The title track introduces an impeccable bass line hook right up front, guiding layers of sparkling sound-flourishes and a crisp drum machine groove. A subtle, laid-back disco vibe permeates "Cruizinho," joined by some seriously lovely piano playing. "Sandy Toes" meshes a rhythmic island vibe with dream-time treatments and subdued, jazzy keyboard riffs. The Hopenotica EP finishes with "May and June," feeling like an '80s funk/R&B jam swirled through the Ibizan blender — uplifting, synthy, and filled with a healthy dose of sunshine magic.

Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Hitting all the right poolside notes with this splendid summer selection. May and June definitely winning the extra cherry and mini umbrella for me.”
Still Rob G (Om Records) – “Desert Cat is super nice. Also digging Cruizinho and Sandy Toes.”
Andreas Kinzl (Aromabar) – “Perfect vibes for the sundowner.”
Dr. Best (Radio Z, Neuremberg) – “Nice summer vibes from Citronade.”
DJ Morpheus (Lysergic Factory radio show) – “Very nice loungey stuff. I dig Desert Cat and May and June the most.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “What a stunning release. Love every bit of this. #playlisted”.

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

UNA - It's OK (The Movement Tribe Goes Dubbing) [Cool Jewel Records]

The past couple years have brought UNA inspiration and time to think, write, create. As UNA searches for breaks in the clouds and embrace the changes that have taken place, they are hopeful. With this hope UNA brings you The Movement Tribe's Goes Dubbing remix of "It's OK," UNA's second single from their forthcoming album The Look in Their Eyes.

Veteran DJ and current 'life ninja' Jacob Okino Benson heads up The Movement Tribe, producing a bass-prone version of "It's OK" that fuses UNA's jazz-inflected female vocal with a downtempo dub pulse. Cool percussive flourishes, reverb splash, shimmering effects, and sparse, ringing keys combine into an atmospheric treat that's as sonically potent as it is evocative. This vibe is a heartbeat.

Velanche (Soul Dust Productions) – “Cool, dark and sublime. Digging it.”
Piiit (So Watt) – “Perfect chill vibes. Beautiful voice.”
Kid Loco (Flor) – “This is pretty cool.”
Snooba (Radio Panik) – “Poetic minimalism.”
Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Really rather beautiful.”
misterG (Green Arrow Radio Show) – “Love UNA in every shape, color or form.”

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