Various Artists - Impossible EP, Chapter 4 (Rebus Records)

The Impossible series of EPs is a place for artists and producers in the Proceed and Rebus Records families to stretch out a bit and try some new sounds. If a track doesn’t quite sonically fit on an artist’s EP on those labels but still has the quality and dance floor appeal that demands to be heard then this is the place for it. The Impossible EP, Chapter 4 solidifies the series as a fixture, once again gathering five tracks from some shining Italian producers for another showcase on the Rebus Records sub-label, named after popular nightclub of the same name.

Proceed’s proprietor, DJ / producer Haldo (who has also released cuts through Transport Recordings, Conya, and Adaptation Music), re-touches a silky-smooth, low-slung groove by fellow Rebus club resident Giuseppe Mancuso on "I'm Back", guiding the producer towards his first introduction to the label side of the club and proving disco never dies. In completely different form and showcasing another lush sound, Haldo's original "Sleepin' Travel" features a squelchy, full-bodied bass line with deep combinations of piano stabs and revolving synth crescendos. Continuing the bass's theme, Italian veteran Fabrizio Marra (Musoul, Liberate) turns in a storming diva house number titled "Lola" that captures the glamor of a NY ballroom with the edginess of a warehouse. Proceed and Rebus label regular DJ E-Ro then creates a spacious and dubby late night atmosphere for "My Friend", where infectious hand percussion, dramatic strings, and vocals urge for the dancing to never end. Another name familiar to both imprints, Odo Makes A Smile, delivers in similar fashion on "Flashback To The Past", but this time with more urgency packed into a techno format and featuring an arpeggiated, Italo-style melodic breakdown.

Taken together, the release proves that the Impossible series' charm has yet to wear off.

Jask - "Top notch tracks!"
Graeme Park - "An intriguingly seductive selection of appealing, deep, chunky grooves."
Gene Hunt (Rush Hour / Dope Wax) - "Nice project … I'm digging the vibes."
Dave Mayer (Strictly Rhythm / Hardsoul) - "Giuseppe Mancuso's cut is perfect for the upcoming summer season at my beach residency."
Natural Rhythm - "I love the variety on this one. Haldo's 'Sleepin' Travel' is classic deepness."
Giom - "Cool tracks."
Abicah Soul - "Fabrizio Marra's 'Lola' is my taste!"
Mauricio Aviles (Movido / Loveslap!) - "I'm really liking the variation in deep house genres of this EP. A little sumthin' sumthin' for beginning, middle, or peak of your sets."
Marques Wyatt - "Tight beats."
Richard Earnshaw (Spiritchaser / Duffnote) - "Decent stuff throughout."
Dutchican Soul - "A really nice and diverse package … I will be supporting this."
Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart / DCSTrax) - "Some very tasty dance music here. Great work."
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - "A really beautiful collection of tracks here … right up my alley."
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - "Proper feel-good deep house on Haldo's 'Sleepin' Travel'."
Eddy Spirit (Spirit Crew / Janga Radio) - "Another brilliant release from this Italian label … it's distinguishable for its catchy and penetrating groove. The EP's sound never becomes banal like a lot that you hear nowadays. A piece that you shouldn't miss."
Greg Fenton (Magazine Sixty / DMC Magazine) - "Good track here from Haldo."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "Simply groovylicious."
Dean Serafini (JJazproJect) - "Some serious heat in this lot."

Available now from Traxsource.

Friscia & Lamboy - Ha Ha Ha (Rebus Records)

Aldo “Haldo” Carpanzano has been the resident DJ for the past twenty years at one of the most important clubs in Southern Italy, Rebus Disconight. It’s at this club that he’s played host of some of the more important DJs on the soulful house scene, including Little Louie Vega, Tony Humphries, Ralphi Rosario, Victor Simonelli, and many more. Inspired by Rebus Disconight and Haldo’s sonic adventures at the club comes the label Rebus Records. The label’s fifth release comes courtesy of NYC duo Friscia & Lamboy, presenting the inventive house music cut “Ha Ha Ha.” The pair is comprised of Glenn Friscia, eleven year veteran of one of the highest rated radio mix shows in the the USA, and Frank Lamboy, a classically trained keyboardist who has produced and remixed the likes of Michelle Weeks, Joi Cardwell, and Gina G. “Ha Ha Ha” is a high-charged dance track with some potent, churning rhythms and an effective vocal sample hook that inspires the track’s name. This one’s tailor-made for the rowdiest of nightclubs, certain to be a huge dance floor moment when strategically programmed into the DJ’s set.

The aforementioned Haldo leads a trio of remixers with his Dirty Floor Mix. A pulsing electronic bass line pushes the flow while Haldo’s trademark warm chords and shimmering pads are joined by a smooth saxophone riff and rhythmically placed sample hits of the vocal. Next, Proceed Records remixing veteran Odo Makes A Smile delivers a moody, Italo-influenced take on “Ha Ha Ha” that is characterized by rolling arpeggiations, dramatic breakdowns, and big synth sounds. Finally DJ E-Ro, another name familiar to Proceed and Rebus label fans, strips things down a tad with a booming version featuring a metallic percussion line, a swirling synth solo, and a chorus of handclaps to help inspire the dance floor.

Chuck Love - “This one will cause a commotion. Nice deep ride with bumpy bass, and clangy hits. Dirty floor means dirty feets!”
DJ Disciple - “I like the Haldo’s Dirty Floor Remix.”
Grant Nelson - “In the bag for sure!”
Vincent Kwok - “I really like the Odo Makes A Smile remix!”
DJ Memê (Soulfuric / Defected) - “Yes!”
Guy Garrett (DMC) - “Sounding fresh and cutting the crowd in the club for sure … a perfect summer gem.”
Charles Spencer (Galaxy Group) - “Nice release … the Odo Makes A Smile remix is groovy.”
Hippie Torrales - “Nice solid groove.”
Alan Powell (The Midnight Mix Radio Show) - “Wow … the jazz tip on Haldo’s mix is pure heat. I’m giving this mix a 10 out of 10!”
Gordon Murray (Billboard Magazine) - “A great track and remixes.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “Haldo’s uber-cool melodious workout is the one.”
Fabrizio Marra (Ibiza Global Radio) - “DJ E-Ro’s mix rocks the dance floor … I love this deep tech vibe.”
Aldrin (Zouk Club) - “A nice, warm groove here from Haldo.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Working a nice blend of soulful and tougher house sounds … I like this.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “Haldo’s Dirty Floor Remix is the one here … a strong deep sax-driven house monster.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Haldo & Fabrizio Marra feat. Kaysee - Have It All (Proceed Records)

Italy’s Haldo and his Proceed Records imprint return with “Have It All,” a rousing collaboration with Fabrizio Marra (Musoul, Liberate) and wonderful vocalist Kaysee. The track is presented here in eight versions, with Fabrizio opening the proceedings with his Smooth Mix, featuring warm piano, expressive percussion, and a solid low end wrapped around Kaysee’s echoey vocal. Haldo’s own Different Mix then gets on the groovy side with its electric piano, stereo panned wah-wah guitar hits, and deep disco rhythm. Other remixes in this packed package include a seductive late night treatment from Lewis Ferrier (Reelgroove, Baldeelox), the Soulful Sunshine Mix and beat-less Reprise from Dubai’s Simon “Schooly" Phillips (AKA Soulful Session), an aptly named Back To Disco mix from DJ E-Ro, the mid-tempo Italo-influenced groove of Proceed’s own Odo Makes A Smile, and a deep, soulful version from Rome’s Max Scatti (Baseofunk, Tony Records). Once again, it’s a terrific set of slick vocal house from the always on point Proceed Records.

Chuck Love - “Really nice vocals on this one! Great mixes all around. Soulful Sunshine mix will heat up Tamarindo Sunset.”
Vincent Kwok - “The Lewis Ferrier mix is the one for me. Kaysee’s vocals are top notch as usual.”
Mousse T - “Nice one!”
Franky Boissy - “Great remixes and a nice vocal. I love the bass lines.”
Sista Stroke (5Magazine) - “I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear something that’s not entirely saturated in samples. Excellent!”
Antonio Ocasio (Shelter, Ibadan) - “What a dope jam! Now this is a SONG. This is first time I’ve ever given a 5 star rating. I can see myself playing this out for years to come.”
Beppe Gioia (Garage Family) - “Deep as I like!”
Hippie Torrales - “A real nice tune.”
Groove Junkies - “Nice little soulful nugget.”
Jules Little (Global Dancefloor Radio) - “Disco delicious!”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “The old skool inspired remix by DJ E-Ro is the one for me … funky, soulful and full of positive energy. It’s one to set the floor on fire.”

Available now from Juno Download and Traxsource.

Haldo + Melanie Estella - Shout It Out (Proceed Records)

Italian house music label Proceed Records, founded by renowned DJ/producer Haldo, is pleased to announce its latest release, the collaboration of Haldo with vocalist Melanie Estella on the track “Shout It Out.” With a CV filled with tracks for labels such as Transport Recordings, Conya, and Adaptation Music (in addition to his own labels) and remixes for heavyweights like Tony Humphries and Victor Simonelli, Haldo is no stranger to producing deep and soulful house music. Melanie is no stranger to singing it, either … she’s toured Europe accompanying DJs as a featured vocalist, providing on-stage melodies for the likes of Bob Sinclair. Haldo’s original “Shout It Out” is a sexy and driving late night production featuring a tight, bouncing bass, a tingling chord progression, and the somewhat gospel-flavored vocal performance of Melanie Estella. House music at its finest here.

There’s a plethora of fine remixes in the package, touching on many diverse house music styles and ready to fit into a variety of late night situations. Haldo supplies his own Different Mix, with a crisper take on the original that gives a bit more sonic space to the vocal. Pete Dow, formerly of Harley & Muscle, is up next up with a tight mix featuring deep, techy elements well-suited for the after hours. Fabrizio Marra then unveils a gorgeous broken beat rework with warm keys and intricate rhythms that intimately hug the vocal. Frequent Haldo collaborator DJ E-RO (also known as Ettore Rossi) adds a bit of dark, electro house flavor to “Shout It Out” with a bit of Italo-influenced synth action. Odo Makes A Smile is next, following his recent remixes of Haldo’s “Faraway” and “Higher Ground” with this epic, electronic version filled with captivating textures within its progressive arrangement. A dubby deep house version from Portuguese DJ Miguel Mancha adds yet another stylistic flavor to the pack. Finally, Swiss DJ Steven Stone provides a solid remix of “Shout It Out” that harks back to an early 90’s house music sound. Excellent tracks from Italy, and another choice release from Proceed Records.

Roy Davis Jr. - “Shout it out! The original works for me.”
DJ Memê - “Excellent!”
Leo Portela - “Great song! Soulful house like this is always welcome.”
Abicah Soul - “Love it.”
Vincent Kwok - “This is a great soulful release.”
Mr.V - “The original mix is the one for me.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Bright, breezy vocals and a good powerful feeling. All mixes here are quality. Full support.”
Hippie Torrales - “Nice tune. Well done.”
Eddy Spirit - “Soaring vocals, pumpin’ bassline and kick, and the lush keyboards all combine to give this song a superfine flavour! Definitely a must have for any vocal dance jock.”
Booker T. (Kings Of Soul) - “Wicked mixes … feeling this.”
Souldynamic - “Nice project! The Pete Dow mix is hot!”
Richard Earnshaw (Duffnote) - “Nice vibe.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “In love with the deep West Coast style of Haldo’s Different Mix and the latin, broken beat feel of Fabrizio Marra’s mix.”
Soulfulbros - “Wow, what a soulful pack. All the cutz are great.”
Jeannie Hopper (Liquid Sound Lounge) - “Gorgeous vocal house … yes! All mixes work.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “Stellar remix by Fabrizio Marra of this gorgeous production. It’s one of the best broken beat affairs we’ve heard in a long time.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.