Deniz Reno - Sometimes / Blue Eyes (Lucky Sun Recordings)

Lucky Sun Recordings presents the lovely vocals of Deniz Reno for the label’s eighth release, containing the smooth deep house wonders “Sometimes” and “Blue Eyes”. The Canadian singer has found her voice on big releases for the likes of Armada Records and Black Hole Recordings, and has now stepped into the realm of stylish deepness led by the guiding hand of Lucky Sun. London’s Tom Lown produces as Lucky Sun and wraps Reno in a sophisticated soulful sound in his versions of both tracks, with the US west coast deep house sound of the 2000s as an influence. “Sometimes” features a more direct four-on-the-floor and upfront vocal, giving the late night house music lounges some serious ear candy. “Blue Eyes” has more of a downtempo edge, but with exquisitely lush and melodic layers that would soothe any savage beast. Sub Orchestra, the project of Israel-via-Moscow producer Yuliya, also ambitiously tackles the tracks, offering a more pared-down deep house feel filled with crisp rhythms, swirly pads, and warm accompaniment to Deniz Reno’s melodies. Lucky Sun Recordings and Deniz Reno are here to breathe some warmth into everyone’s winter.

Dean Serafini (JJazproJect) – “Both tracks are amazing. Fabulous vocals and gorgeous deep vibes.”
Blacksoul (Blacksoul Music) – “This is beautiful! Great vocals, great music.”
Billie Ray Martin (Disco Activisto Records) – “Loving all of these songs. This release works on every level.”
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) – “Stylish and sophisticated, so … I like it!”
Abicah Soul (Abicah Soul Recordings) – “Proper lounging and chilled.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House Web Zine) – “Smooth n’ sensual house. Sure to cast a spell on you.”
Lorenzo al Dino (Royal Plastic / Jockey Club Ibiza) – “Deep and smooth, the right tracks for the beach club!”
Graeme Park (The Graeme Park Radio Show) – “Delicious!”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “Impossible to pick a favorite track! Simply superb. Exquisite vocals matched by an exquisite house groove and production that is nothing but pure quality. More please!”
Jon Manley (hOUSEwORX – weekly radio show) – “Stunningly good release from Deniz Reno. Fabulous voice and crisp mixes. Top marks!”

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

Tonepushers - Windmill (Purespace Recordings)

Purespace Recordings prepares another EP from the Canadian Tonepushers duo of Joe Silva and Ali Khan. Individually the two have released on labels like Stickman, Viva!, Cocoon, and Fabric London, growing as international forces to be reckoned with and developing their own live performance styles to present their respective bodies of work. Branching off into other areas of writing, Khan's ethereal and ambient sensibilities have also made for successful forays into video game soundtracking.

Combined, Tonepushers blend funky tech house with atmospheric techno, nomadically exploring a twisted electronic terrain. Since 2004 the long-standing producers have mixed and matched their abilities, uniquely tailoring their live sets together with lush presentations across the energy spectrum. Their latest lab experiment in chemistry results in the dubby techno call-and-response of "Windmill". Whereas usually vocals are dubbed in a hynpotic and calming way, here they sound anxious and lost. In the first remix, Lucid Flow label owner and Berlin techno guru Nadja Lind swishes the chords and effects of the original around until it's chilled to her liking, adding perfect percussive cues like rim shots and more driving, linear hats, seemingly minor touches that wind up making a huge difference.

Two fellow Winnipeg artists finish off the release in their own remixes; Robert Alexander removes most of the low end resonance in favor of a grittier mid-range, propelled by a drum machine groove, while Viktor Dudley's debut effort ends things as the most hard to place cut, distinguishing his remix with the helicopter-blade-like beat-slicing of a layered kick from the higher cut off range. Dudley must have taken the "Windmill" title to heart.

Purespace and the Tonepushers deliver a warehouse willing, industrial inclined, dub devoted, and techno tendentious exhibition.

Terry Francis - "The Nadja Lind remix is for me … cool."
Malbetrieb (Klopfgeist / Paradigm) - "Nice!"
Larry Tee (Carnage Music) - "I love it!"
Daniel Bortz (Suol / Pastamusik) - "This is a cool one."
DJ Harri (Sub Club) - "I'm loving the Nadja Lind remix."
Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart / DCSTrax) - "I'm feeling the original … a stunning sound for the floor."
Chris Fortier (Fade) - "Good stuff."
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) - "I love the Nadja Lind remix, and the breakdown on Robert Alexander's remix is bleakly beautiful. Very good."
Vegard / Of Norway (Connaisseur Recordings) - "I don't know if Dunno if Viktor Dudley is a genius or just mad … and that's what I love about it! What a bold remix."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "I love the original and the dark driving remix from Nadja Lind."
Alinep (Asia Music / UB Radio) - "I'm liking Robert Alexander's mix here … trippy."
Taigo Onez (The Essence Radio Show) - "Viktor Dudley comes with it on the remix … quality!"
Simon Kirk (Simon Kirk Radio Show) - "Very tasty release. I love the original and the Robert Alexander remix … futuristic and right up my street."
Tariq Ziyad (New Urban ERA) - "Techno at its finest … love it."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Joe Silva - Memory Fade (Purespace Recordings)

Purespace Recordings jumps into action with Memory Fade, a superb full album from veteran Canadian producer Joe Silva, also known as one half of tech-house duo Tonepushers. Nine years since his first LP, Joe has spent the time between on collaborations, film soundtracks, remixes, and live shows. With much of his attention given to the latter, all the tracks on his new Memory Fade album were distilled from music originally written for performing. The release splits the difference on lush vocal house and deep, stripped back techno, with distinctive outliers providing additional range.

Hailing from Winnipeg, Joe Silva began writing music as a teenager. Combined with his obsession for electronics, he eventually discovered the strange world of synthesizers and it was love at first sight. Releasing under the name They Never Sleep in 1987, his first EP was in the vein of 'new wave.' It wasn't until a stint of early '90s clubbing in Europe that he cemented his love for house music and he hasn't looked back since. His productions have found their way onto labels like Stickman, Viva!, Guesthouse, and Nordic Trax. He's also stepped into composing roles, scoring seven feature films and dozens of shorts, documentaries, and commercials.

Opening up with a sultry yet chunky piano gem in "Far Away", Joe wastes no time in reestablishing himself, and highlighting the lovely voice of Sherry St. Germain. "Sanctuary" follows, shaded in total cool with jazzy scat-style singing from Helen White, accompanied by the keys to match. Gears shift as "Gonna Leave U" displays an uncanny mastery of deep house's best qualities: deep chords, body shattering lows, and Mariana's emotionally charged vocals driving the majority of the track. But it's the space-creating, hypnotic dub effects, rhythmic guitars, and stabs that really send things spiraling over the top. Tapping into a heavier and more complex techno sound, "Memory Fade" winds its way to a halt at times, maximizing on its tension building momentum. With over half the album left to discover, there's no shortage of nuances to be uncovered or things to like about Silva's return to the long player format on Memory Fade.

Rich Medina - "Lovely."
Quentin Harris - "'Far Away' is perfect! An excellent production. The whole album is also beautifully mastered. Big."
Opolopo (Tokyo Dawn Records / Local Talk) - "Some nice bumpy cuts in here."
Giom - "'Far Way' … a nicely made track."
Tyree Cooper - "I'm really feeling this album. Nice stuff."
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - "A great compilation of sounds and spaces. I'm really digging 'Far Away'."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Classy diverse collection. Definitely not the 'same old' here. Well done."
Deli G (Future Sound Of House) - "All tracks have that 'something' … top release."
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences) - "A flawless work from Joe Silva. A rare gem … I'm stunned by the sophistication of the offered music material here."
Alan Powell (The Midnight Mix) - "A very nice cross section of tracks from the soulful 'Far Away' to the deeper house cuts of 'California' and 'Gonna leave You'."
Myxzlplix (Subdivisions Global) - "A fluid, comprehensive album that maintains its integrity throughout. I love the hints of '90s NY house, but in a modern vein."
Andrew Duke (Cognition Audioworks) - "I can't get enough of Joe Silva. This is great."
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - "Top vibes! Deep jazzed down quality … a stunner."
Rob Warner (Ibiza Voice) - "Lovely tech-infused deep sounds here."
Lipstick Disco - "Lovely soulful vibes."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "A wicked release loaded with nothing but dance floor bombs."

Available now from Beatport.

Tonepushers - World Reboot EP (Purespace Recordings)

After an extended hiatus, Purespace Recordings is back with a sizzling five track EP. The late '90s label has revived itself -- after over a decade and a half in suspended animation -- on the work of Canadian duo Joe Silva and Ali Khan, together known as Tonepushers. Individually the two have released on labels like Stickman, Viva!, Cocoon, and Fabric London, growing as international forces to be reckoned with and developing their own live performance styles to present their respective bodies of work. Branching off into other areas of writing, Khan's ethereal and ambient sensibilities have also made for successful forays into video game soundtracking.

Combined, Tonepushers blend funky tech house with atmospheric techno, nomadically exploring a twisted tech-house terrain. Since 2004 the long-standing producers have mixed and matched their abilities, uniquely tailoring their live sets together with lush presentations across the energy spectrum. The result of their chemistry is front and center on the World Reboot EP, a collection which can't seem to hide from either of its parts. Each cut sees deep, immersive soundscapes laid over a groove-oriented backbone, likely to leave dance floors wandering between space and time in both body and mind.

Peter Kruder (Kruder & Dorfmeister / G-Stone) - "Trippy stuff here and i like that. 'Fossils' and 'New York' are my faves."
Nick Warren (Hope Recordings / Way Out West) - "Great to see the label back again. Quality music from Tonepushers."
Stacey Pullen - "This is cool."
Tensnake - "The deeper tracks on here are nice."
Anthony Pappa (Red Light District / Bedrock) - "Cool EP. My favorite track here is 'Fossils'."
Phonogenic (Moodmusic / Turbo) - "'World Reboot' is very cool indeed."
Hollis P Monroe (Renaissance Infinity) - "'New York', 'World Reboot', and 'LFO Waveshaper' are all great."
Pablo Bolivar (AvantRoots / Seven Villas) - "Great … deep … I'm feeling it!"
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Love this release. Sonic monsters! Can't wait to play 'Fossils' and 'LFO Waveshaper' out."
John Norman (KMS Records / UNT Records) - "Beautiful tunes. 'New York' is top for me."
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - "Warm, deep house sound … eclectic and perfect for the winter season. 'Dear Jim' seems to be my favorite … raw electronic funk."
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - "Abstract beats and warm bass gives this release an added edge."
Lyand (Elastic Beatz) - "I love the amazing vibe in 'Dear Jim' and the underground feeling in 'New York'. Dope release!"
DJ Morpheus (Lysergic Factory) - "Superb production all in all … it's ace! I like all the tracks in here."

Available now from Bandcamp.