JayCeeL - Back To Disco EP (Artefact Records)

For its latest release, Macedonian house music label Artefact Records looks to Copenhagen and up-and-coming Danish producer JayCeeL. Born Johnni Christensen, JayCeeL started seriously exploring house music production just a few years ago after time spent working on edits and experimenting with different production styles. His tracks were placed online and impressed those who heard, being quickly snatched up by the likes of Loving Records and Lantus Recordings for JayCeeL’s previous EP releases. Artefact has now stepped into the fray, giving JayCeeL his debut release for the label in the form of the Back To Disco EP. As the title implies, the EP shows JayCeeL’s affinity for disco sounds as the tracks all display proper feel-good, late night party vibes. “Back To Disco" is a slinky mid-tempo disco groover, with snappy breaks, soaring strings, and overlaid vocal bits that welcome the summertime. "What’s It Gonna Be" is house music in a classic style, mixing a repeated male vocal motif over a driving bass line as lush pads and piano samples ride on top of rolling four-on-the-floor beats. JayCeeL also provides "The Sea Of Time,” a cut easily at home in deep house, disco, and soulful house circles. Gentle electric piano chords and emotive strings add melody over the handclap beats as a few choice soulful vocal bits lift the track to something truly special. The EP also includes a couple of remix interpretations of “Back To Disco” by some of Artefact’s in-house talent. Freaky Funk, a regular contributor to the Artefact catalog, tackles “Back To Disco” with an uplifting version that places the track squarely among prime time club fare. Next up is Macedonian producer Pavle Vasiljevic making his Artefact debut with his Go Deeper mix of “Back To Disco.” Pavle’s version features expressive keys and vocal hits over a punchy rhythm section, solidly building in just the right places. These five cuts make up another fine set from Artefact Records featuring promising artists that definitely shouldn’t be ignored. 

Marques Wyatt - “Tight!”
CJ Mackintosh - “I love ‘The Sea Of Time.’”
Giom (Lost My Dog) - “The Pavle Vasiljevic remix is for me.”
Graeme Park - “Lovely!”
John Mateo (Mateo & Matos) - “Yeah! Liking this.”
Groove Assassin - “‘Back to Disco’ and ’ The Sea of Time’ are both really nice. Supporting these!”
Fine Cut Bodies - “Love the disco vibes mixed with modern groovy house.”
Christos Kedras (Kapa Music) - “Wow, this EP is powerful. I’m feeling the original ‘Back To Disco’ and also ‘What’s It Gonna Be.’ They will both get love from me.”
Bruce Tantum (TimeOut NY) - “Really loving all of these - and ‘The Sea of Time’ is a total gem! Lovely work all around.”
Norbert Borchers (House Sound Of Hamburg) - “Sweet disco house vibes … yes, I love this sh*t!”
Fresh 27 (The Future Is Fresh Radio Show) - “Loving all the original mixes but I think ‘What’s It Gonna Be’ just wins out. Full support!”
Joe Castillo (Deep Twisted Roots Radio Show) - “Nice and smooth updated disco. Great work.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “The laidback ‘The Sea Of Time’ is the one thanks to smooth rhythms, luscious keys, and cool vocal snippets.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “All three originals are outstanding here - real quality in the vibes and an ‘authentic disco’ feel, rather than the usual filtered / wah-wah guitar type disco fodder, which isn’t really disco at all! ‘Back To Disco’ is stunning, like it was found in a vault from the Paradise Garage, wicked. The remixes are cool too, Pavle doing the business with his deeper groove, but both are great. Top EP all round!”

Also supported by Robert Owens, EMan, Horse Meat Disco, Groove Junkies, Murray Richardson, Vincent Kwok, Benji Candelario, Tommy Largo, Nico De Ceglia, DJ Harri (Sub Club), Blacksoul, DJ Linus, Manuel Sahagun, and Doc Link.

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Freaky Funk - No One EP (Artefact Records) →

Nikola Jovicevic aka Freaky Funk is an essential part of Montenegro electronic scene, with his name attached to almost every big event in country. His talent and love for music helped make him a proud member of two very important clubbing organizations in region: AfterBeach Parties Montenegro and RetroActive DJ team with his friend DJ Proximus. Freaky Funk is known for DJ’ing quality tech- and funky house all over the Montenegro seaside, as well as winning the Exit Festival DJ Competition which granted him a spot on the Exit Dance Arena Stage, playing one of the biggest festivals in Europe alongside some of its biggest DJs. His first EP for Macedonia’s Artefact label was the Just Visiting EP which was well received in international house music circles. Now Freaky Funk follows that release with a new collection of tracks within the No One EP. These four original tracks showcase Freak Funk’s trademark of deep, funky sounds alongside bouncy basslines and superbly blended vocal bits. High production skills and a strong musical flare are on evidence here, offering top cuts aimed directly for the dancefloor but still suitable for casual, home listening. Touches of disco and classic underground flavors seal the deal, making for an EP that should fit like a glove in most house music DJ’s playlists.`

Marques Wyatt (Vanguard) - “Diggin’ this.”
Jason Hodges - “Nice party tracks!”
Davidson Ospina - “Funky! Great quality house music.”
DJ Nutritious (Brooklyn Shakedown) - “These are four really exciting tracks. Groovy disco funk in a bubbling silky form; tactfully rockin that thin line between elating ladies and helping the gents boogie down. Composition and production-wise, all four songs ride that subtle nuance that have made some classics exactly that.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Funky festive vibes here. ‘No One’ is very smooth indeed.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House blog) - “Yeah! Uplifting and as funky as it gets - four sure-fire floor anthems.”
Al Bradley (3AM Recordings) - “All four cuts are strong here, each one showing a real knack for dancefloor sensibilities. The one for me is the deeper vibe of ‘Like You,’ really wicked deep-tech grooves.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport