Ursula 1000 - Movin' To The Sound (Insect Queen Music)

Ursula 1000 is the alter ego of Alex Gimeno, a producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist based in Brooklyn, New York. He has released eight albums and mix sessions that take listeners on a retro-futuristic journey of exotic grooves and electronic disco funk. He has performed in over 30 countries, collaborated with notable artists such as Fred Schneider of The B52s, Lady Bunny, and Puddles Pity Party, and has had his music featured in various TV shows, ads, and even the Olympics.

Now Ursula 1000 pulls out his dusty smiley face shirt from the closet and goes full-on 303 acid house squelch and jacking 808 grooves for this new single. "Movin' 2 The Sound" showcases Ursula 1000's signature exotic dreaminess, with elements of acid house, throbbing sequencers, and pumping hip-house action. The Berlin-based duo Acid Jerks provided the first remix, taking the acid house business to peak-time bliss. Meanwhile, Fort Knox Five, a leading force in the international funk and breaks scene, focused on electro vibes and b-boy action. Finally, Red Laser Records duo Il Bosco & Metrodome, also known as DJ Absolutely Shit, cranked up the bass, bleeps, and breaks to 11, bringing rave-ready, time-stretching, day-glo dancefloor destruction. This whole single's a trip!

Tyler Stadius (Deepen) – “Yeah, love this! Never get tired of good acid.”
Frank Peisker (Bureau45 Agency) – “Killer! The dancefloor will be on fire with this retro electro smasher with a modern twist.”
Psycho-Jones (Kater Blau) – “This is Ursula 2023. Love it very much.”
Shan Frenzie (2SER FM) – “Love the funk edge on the acid grooves.”
BMD (XLNT) – “As expected, Fort Knox 5 have nailed it. Great remix.”
Steve ‘Griffo’ Griffiths (Subspace Radio Show) – “As a big fan of Acid Jerks, I was stoked to receive this. Muscular acid house vibes that transport me back to 86.”

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

Darwin Chamber - Love's The Meditation EP (Rong Music)

After an extended disco nap, your friends at Rong Music have awoken from their slumber just in time to celebrate the 20th year of doing that Rong thing. How to celebrate? The only way they know how: put out a bunch of new music, unearth some weirdo classics, and DANCE.

This first new release of the anniversary party spotlights some bangers for the club, rave, ride, warehouse, the playa, or home disco. It features Darwin Chamber, the alter ego of Mark Greenfield. This legend of the early Rave scene has been making tracks for more than 30 years. Pioneering the West Coast Rave breakbeat and trip-hop sound, he got his start just like many, learning his craft on a cheap keyboard at a friend’s house and then taking his music to the streets. He’s done 100’s of shows from underground raves to The House of Blues, released music on Moonshine and Sony, and was one of the first dance acts to embrace the digital revolution.

The title track, "Love’s the Meditation," is a classy piece of melodic acid funk (?@$!wtf whatever that means), with an epic extended mix by Rong's fearless leader, DJ Spun. And there's a DJ Spun instrumental rub of Darwin Chamber's "Sugar, Sex, Magic" which one can easily imagine being embraced by the cool crop of newer techno DJs. The EP closes out with two potent Darwin Chamber originals, "Do You Feel the Love" and "303 and Me." Both have a classic acid HOUSE vibe that is the type of thing to elicit squeals of joy from the Rong camp. Enjoy!

Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Loving this. Reach for the lasers!”
DJ H4L 9000 (Volumens Festival) – “Incredible EP! Killer & fresh tracks.”
Alien Tom (native Alien) – “Darwin Chamber. Um, yeah!”
Rory Hoy (Howlin’ Records) – “Do You Feel The Love is a banger!”
Jon Freer (Freer Sounds) – “It’s always paty time with Rong!”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Fantastic breaks throughout. DJ Spun’s mix of Love is the Meditation takes the honours for me.”

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

Black Sjuan - How 2 Dance In The Dark (Assylum Effort Records)

Black Sjuan is probably the most notorious ghost producer in Chicago. Whether or not dance floors realize it, they’ve already heard his sound. Black Sjuan’s Assylum Effort has evolved from a boutique production house to a full-on Chicago house label, pushing a classic sound while injecting it with something unique and new.

Black Sjuan’s latest EP, How 2 Dance In The Dark, is meant as a musical diary of a DJ’s struggle to remain level during the ‘dance music depression’ of the pandemic. Says Black Sjuan, “Though I usually do a more jazzy and funky type sound, my contact with the outside world during the past year has been virtual. So I gave it tech-flavored sound.”

The EP opens with “4 the Free,” rousing the floor with a churning Chicago house rhythm along with pad stabs and percussive vocal drops. “Micro Dose” executes an old-school acid feel, perfectly suited for after-hours peak time in secret warehouse locations. Then “Keep It Movin’” is an ode to the Eric Kupper / Wayne Gardner style ethereal house tracks of the ‘90s. Rising arpeggiations and bright chords help spread dreamy good vibes through the speakers. The final track, “Space and Time,” is Black Sjuan’s ‘Metaphonic’ remix of an original by Nephertiti Amen. Lovely vocals and tribal four-on-the-floor deepness make this evocative track a cut above the rest.

Mr. V (Sole Channel Music) – “Interesting sounds I can dig.”
Tony H (Late Night Munchies) – “Space and Time is dope!”
Lee Jones (Country Gents) – “4 The Free really rocks. Fab track!”
DJ P-REZ (Not So Fast Records) – “This is a solid release.”
Geoffrey C (Edgemix Productions) – “All of these tracks are insane!”
Andrew Emil (Glenview Records) – “Solid! Keep it Movin & Space and Time are the ones for me.”
Dj Deelay (Underground Sessions) – “This EP is ace! Full of unique vibes which alert the ears.”
Joey Silvero (Soul Elements Radio Show) – “Rolling, bouncing house vibes. I like this one.”
DJ Hal (EQ Magazine) – “Nice & moody late night grooves.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, Bandcamp, And Spotify.

P-REZ - Envision EP (Not So Fast Records)

The latest from Not So Fast Records is here and ready to take over dance floors at supersonic speeds. The Envision EP comes from the Fresno, California, mover and shaker Steve Perez, aka P-REZ. With releases on the likes of Denied Music, Whiskey Pickle, and Bounce House, P-REZ returns to his own Not So Fast imprint to lay down more of his potent grooves. Transmitting a funky sound driven by quirky 303-acid action, it’s the type of prime time sound celebrated at P-REZ’s Frisky event, now in its 15th consecutive year of house music hijinks.

“Feel It” opens up the proceedings with a killer rhythm track, a deep, bouncing bass line, strategically placed acid flourishes, and soulful vocal drops. It’s got energy to go. “So Crazy” follows with definite after-hours appeal, intro’ing with a sparse but funky drum track and repeating spoken vocals dipped in reverb. Midway through the acid takes the track in new directions. Lauro Martins (CZ, Audiophile Deep) also contributes a remix for “So Crazy,” bringing the vibe even deeper into underground territories. “That 303” does what it says on the tin, propelled by its acid bass and lead lines alongside trippy percussion effects. P-Rez takes the mic on this one, delivering a cool, rhythmic spoken bit that praises the acid in the house. Four crucial tracks … don’t sleep on the Envision EP!

Dutchican Soul (Strictly Rhythm) – “Dope beats! Nice deep vibe.”
Louis Huges (6th Sense Music) – “That 303 is a bit of peak time madness, isn’t it? So Crazy is also a cool track.”
Lee Guthrie (Click Therapy) – “Feel It is the track for me here.”
Vanilla Ace (Toolroom) – “That 303 stands out.”
Andrew Emil (Broadway & Wilson) – “This is a dope release!”
Richie Hartness (Untitled Music) – “Quality quirkiness.”
Jay Hill (Superfreq) – “Feeling the Lauro Martins Remix.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Sometimes all you need is a 303, and that is exactly what we have here. Ace!”
Salvatore Logicfusion (Deepinradio) – “The Lauro Martins Remix is so cool!”
Wilbour Craddock (Groovewest) – “Fantastic late night bubbler with a hint of acid and a spacey vocal hook. This is ready for prime time.”

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