Paul Gafni & Joe Bellingham - Geodesic (Tremulant)

Paul Gafni had been a fan of Joe Bellingham's downtempo music in Seattle for years and decided to collaborate with him. They worked on a couple of remixes for Joe's Hug Records release and the Tremulant label. Eventually, the pair decided to create an original together. With Joe on bass and percussion, Paul providing guitar, keys, and vocals, and Diana Ratsamee adding an extra layer of beauty, "Geodesic" was born.

"Geodesic" rides on a downtempo four-on-the-floor rhythm, populated with dubby echoes, ambient-flavored synth layers, moody guitar lines, and somewhat meditative vocals. The cut is chill but not motionless — there's a danceable vibe throughout ready for DJs to deploy in just the right sets. Michael Manahan answers the call with the Find a Way Through Hypnosis Mix, raising the tempo while maintaining maximum atmosphere. Woofer-vibrating bass, pulsing pads, and arpeggiated synth runs mix elegantly with the original elements. The second remix, from Chilean DJ/producer Ahau brings out a gentle guitar part over repeating bell-like tones. The beats and vibe build steadily as the male and female vocals play off each other, transmitting near-spiritual imagery through the magic of sound.

 

Trent Banks / Citrus Age (Reflect) – “Moody grooves with great textures.”
Enne (Electunes) – “Really nice stuff, cheers.”
Juan Moreno (1 Life Records) – “Perfect for the warm up.”
DJ Morpheus (Lysergic Factory radio show) “I like all three tracks here. Lovely!”
Dr. Best (Radio Z 95.8 Neurnberg) – “Nice release. Michael Manahan’s remix and the original are my faves.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT Radio Show) – “Sublime & thoroughly enjoyable.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Juno Download, Apple Music, And Spotify.

Michael Manahan - Broke The Time Clock (Uniting Souls Music)

Seattle's Uniting Souls Music welcomes back Michael Manahan to the fold with his rapturous new single Broke The Time Clock. Manahan has been active in the northwest US scene for over twenty years, co-founding the Oracle Gatherings and producing the Cascadia NW Arts & Music Festival, two well-established North American dance music events. his first single for Uniting Souls, "Regulate The Deep," introduced many dancefloors to his flavor of deep house — and this latest cut will undoubtedly expand this audience.

"Broke The Time Clock" swirls with gated chords, synth builds, an angelic vocal calling from deep in the track, and bass-heavy rhythms. The vibe is spacey and cosmic, accentuated by a futuristic vocoder breakdown. On the remix side, Florida's Atnarko (Infiltr8:Celebr8) delivers a version that begins hypnotically, with percussive chimes and pulsing pads implying the passing of the moments. A chunky rhythm pushes the vibe in motion as sonic layers and trippy treatments shimmer in the mix. Jamie Schwabl (Wulfpack, Hunt & Gather) pulls things even deeper with an evocative minimal rerub that features amazing sound design and atmosphere. And the duo of Jordan Strong & Knoe1, no strangers to Uniting Souls, have the final say with a remix that draws on the fabled West Coast Sound and puts their distinctive spin on it. These tunes are ready for immediate late night deployment!

Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “This is a really special release. I will be playing this.”
Brian Busto (Serious Soul) – “The Atnarko remix – Wow!”
Anthony Pappa (Bedrock) – “Really cool EP. The Original Mix is for me.”
KJ (Integrity Records) – “Emotive.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “I wasn’t expecting this, very cool indeed.”
Patrick Balzat (Radio Studio ONE) – “Nice remixes. Nice vibe. Nice beats.”
Sandro Bianchi (Ibiza Sonica) – “Brilliant original, and hat trick with the remixes!”

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

Jordan Strong - Shine Down (Uniting Souls Music)

Jordan Strong returns to Uniting Souls Music for the slinky after-hours ride of “Shine Down.” Hot on the heels of “The Tribe, The Hive,” the previous USM release from the Los Angeles-based DJ/producer, “Shine Down” is a hearty dose of flowing deep house mixed with a captivating touch of Italo disco. Simmering pads and spacey vocoder action lay over a prominent bass line and punchy rhythm kit. Echoed handclaps, disco toms, and cool electronic piano chords add to the track’s dance-floor appeal. It’s potent stuff.

The remixes are varied and equally cool. L.A.’s SAAND (Dilate, Sol Selectas) creates a psychedelic interpretation that wouldn’t be out of place in the dark backroom of a late-90s Bay Area underground party. Pacific northwest veteran Michael Manahan (Hunt & Gather) delivers a crisp, insistent take that reveals layers and cosmic vibrations throughout its runtime. Lee Houser (Proper Slap, Filter Music) — the Seattle duo of John Lee and Simon Houser — remodel “Shine Down” into a lush and hypnotic slice of classic deep house. And then Jordan Strong returns with his Beachcomber Remix, offering a bigger sound accented by a rousing 80s-style guitar solo. Another stacked, quality release from Uniting Souls.

DJ EMan (Liberate Recordings) – “Michael’s mix is fire!”
Nick Warren (Hope Recordings) – “A great track. Loving the SAAND remix as well.”
Dutchican Soul (Strictly Rhythm) – “Dope remixes. I will be playing this.”
Alkalino (Audaz Recordings) – “The original and SAAND remixes for me.”
Michael Sarafini (Gramaphone Records) – “Nice work by Lee Houser and Jordan on the Beachcomber remix.”
Lars Behrenroth (DSOH radio show) – “Nice package here. Diggin’ the Michael Manahan remix.”
Mark Mac (Sounds Collective) – “Love this one fellas. Cheers!”
Snooba (Radio Panik) – “Meditative and introspective.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “Every track is from the top draw! Brilliant.”
Dr. Best (Radio Z Nuremberg) - “A superb release from Jordan Strong! Love the original version and the remixes by Saand, Michael Manahan and Lee Houser.”

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

Various Artists - Winter Sampler: 20 Year Compilation (Uniting Souls Music)

Twenty years of Uniting Souls! The Seattle institution – collective, events promoter, and record label – celebrates an impressive two decades since formation with a compilation showcasing some of the crew's strongest contributors. Across top notch eight cuts, the Winter Sampler: 20 Year Compilation delivers the deep, underground beats that Uniting Souls is known for.

Michael Manahan (Hunt & Gather) starts off the sampler with the groovy "Center Peace," featuring evocative vocals from Tamika Jackson which alternates between sung and spoken phrases. Spacey pads and sharp chords drive things along nicely. Long-time Uniting Souls denizen Tokita (Night Grooves) then unleashes "Jazzcid" which funks up the proceedings. Its delicious nods to the old school are irresistible. "Everyday" comes courtesy of Jeromy Nail (Innerflight Music), dropping intricate beat programming, bouncing sub bass, and a slinky dance floor vibe. DJ duo Lee Houser (Tilted Records) contributes two cuts, with "Art of State" exhibiting a classic, psychedelic west coast deep house flavor. The pair's "Don't Even Know Me" then gets remixed by veteran Uniting Souls DJ Jordan Strong who sublimely places the cut right in the middle of an underground basement party at 4 AM. Reno, Nevada, DJs Sulli & 5657 are up next, delivering some particularly chunky beats and a ton of late night atmosphere. Live electronic trio, renowned & much-loved in the Pacific Northwest festival community, Madly In Dub lend an exotic flair with "Suenos Verdes," and Jordan Strong returns to close out the compilation with the deep, percussive, and dark "Picture In The Sky," a collaboration with Shonja.

Winter Sampler: 20 Year Compilation serves as a brilliant 'state of the nation' for Uniting Souls and its family. The label and collective is as strong as ever, and there's no sign of slowing down. Seattle's house music underground is in good hands.

Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart) – “I’m feeling Tokita’s Jazzcid, nice work.”
Doc Martin (Sublevel) – “Nice one guys!”
Lorenzo al Dino (7th District Inc. / Radio One Ibiza) – “Solid package of tracks. Well Done.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “Congrats on two decades guys, great stash of music!”
KJ (Integrity Recordings) – “Real tight. Sweet.”
Jon Lee (Tilted Records) – “Fantastic release! Great representation of NW sounds.”
Blueshift (Madhouse Records / Nurvous) – “Great tracks here. Will be supporting a bunch of them.”
DJ P-Rez (Not So Fast Records) – “This whole compilation is sick!”
Randall Jones (Audio Therapy / Baroque) – “Killer comp. Lots of great music here. My favorites are Jazzcid and Picture in the Sky. Will play on the radio show.”
Black Alley (In Control Radio Show) – “Strong compilation. Will be played on my upcoming show. Congrats to 20 years!”

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