Jenova 7 & Eddie Shinn - A Cosmic Safari (Cold Busted)

The Cold Busted label showcases their international bona fides with a collaborative album involving two producers separated by a half-world's distance. From one side of the globe comes Jenova 7, known to friends as Michael J. Sirois, a multimedia artist from Boston and a member of trip-hop trio Wax Triptych (with Mononome and Mr. Moods). Then all the way over in Ulyanovsk, Russia is the young producer Eddie Shinn, author of the acclaimed Cold Busted debut The Plastic Jam as well as The Third Is Not Superfluous, his album in cahoots with Step. Now, A Cosmic Safari takes this international concept and launches it skyward … the album's songs take place in an intergalactic sound-space. There's "Flying Cabs", which envisions a future that's funky and bright, with hip hop beats, chiming Rhodes piano, squelchy synth lines, and trippy guitar riffs. A "Cosmic Girl" is encountered, loose and free, with an '80s style rhythm embellished by cowbell percussion and floating melodies. "Intergalactic Noir" could signal a new eponymous genre, displaying a distinctive drum beat underneath funky flutes, cool keys, and the sound of space pals getting down. These are just three of A Cosmic Safari's eleven tracks, and Jenova 7 & Eddie Shinn have delivered a full set that is out of this world.

Kid Loco - "Great piece of work."
All Good Funk Alliance - "Dope stuff as always. 'Cosmic Girl' and 'Flying Cabs' both got that bump … so tight."
Belabouche (Midnight Riot / DiscoDat) - "Good solid tunes … will play!"
Inland Knights - "This is sounding sweet."
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp) - "Damn … groovy and fresh. I dig it."
Mason Rothert (Below Zero Radio Show) - “Love this vibe!”
Jon Fugler (Fluke / XLNT Radio Show) - "'Neon Garden' is a little gem, very easy on the ear and with shades of the late, great Mike Kandel, which is no bad thing."
DJ Love (Stellar Music) - "I like the abstract feel … the beats are inventive and unique."
Zac Love (Belmar Sol) - "Well done. Genre-pushing space beats that keep the listener interested from front to back."
Adam Warped (Whiskey Pickle / Strange Days) - "I'm definitely feeling the funky cosmic weirdness."
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) - "Rockin' fresh."
Marc Lacasse (sHIFT Radio Show) - "Cosmic and moody futuristic funk surrounds each track with a positive vibe."
Clairvo (Tilos Radio, Hungary) - "The proper amount of hip-hop, proper amount of experimentalism, proper amount of soul … this EP has got a unique balance to it."
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - "Totally fills the need for the cosmic wanting!"

Available from Beatport, Juno Download, iTunes, and Bandcamp

Eddie Shinn - The Plastic Jam (Cold Busted)

The go-to label for funky downtempo bliss, Cold Busted, uses their platform once again to release music from a mysterious artist in a distant locale. Returning with The Plastic Jam, his third album on the label, Eddie Shinn is a 20 year old producer from Ulyanovsk, Russia and that's all we really know about the artist - besides the fact that he can turn out some dope cuts. The new album comes with some choice collaborations with the likes of fellow Cold Busted artist mister T. and Quincy Jointz, a German nu-funk machine.

Highlights abound on The Plastic Jam. Kicking things off with a countdown to a broken beat barrage on "Get Down", the funky organs and rhythmic guitars are in full effect from the start. Opening a "Box of Happiness" next, the hand percussion and horns on this track make this jam cypher arena ready. However, questions arise as to why Eddie Shinn and Quincy Jointz would title a track "Boring". It doesn't make much sense until the tongue-in-cheek humor of the vocal sample comes in mocking anybody who would want the party to stop as 'bor-ing!' It features a laid-back vibe for certain, but there's more than enough action that, were the listener to blink, they might miss a step. Finally, the "Bad Man" collaboration with mister T. really lets the bass guitar loose as one would expect with a descriptor like 'bad' … it's got the type of low end that makes fellas make a face and ladies shake their waist. "Witch Doctor" and "Is More Than Ready" just prove that there's more funkiness than one can shake a stick at when dealing with Eddie Shinn and Cold Busted.

Mark Farina - “I dig it!”
DJ Moneyshot (Solid Steel Radio / NinjaTune) - “Very strong nodders - should come with a free neck brace - and very positive to see beat-makers on the downtempo tip.”
tOtALcULt (Cult Music) - “Superb … a real touch of funky class!”
Danny Ward (Dubble D / Moodymanc) - “I like ‘Boring’, Eddie Shinn's collaboration with Quincy Jointz.”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp) - “All killer tunes. Funky downbeats at their best.”
Renegades Of Jazz (Agogo Records) - “Fresh, funkin' downtempo gems … I will spin them a lot. ‘Get Down’ and ‘Box Of Happiness’ are my favorites.”
Mojo Rising (Cold Busted / F.A.M.I.L.Y.) - “'Boring' is anything but with a sublime bossa rhythm that ramps up into a heavier beat. Diggin' the whole release …”
Marc Lacasse (sHIFT Radio / Urbnet) - “A collection of slick beats and cool soul joints all in one.”
Robin Parris (Parris & Vanucci / Dancefloor Outlaws) - “Funky and phat … ‘Get Down’, ‘Box Of Happiness’, and ‘Is More Than Ready’ will get spins from me!”
Bill Brewster (DJHistory.com) - “‘Get Down’ is outstanding.”
DJ Kid Stretch (Warriorz Records / Goodgroove) - “Groovy and funky … nice one!”
xyddhartha (Digital Gathering Radio Show, New Delhi) - “It can't get any better!”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “There will be no excuse for nu-funk lovers to not like this … more dope, heavy funk hip-hop-don’t-stop dusted grooves by Eddie Shinn.”
Andy Wilson (Ibiza Sonica FM) - “‘Bad Man’ is nice and funky … some good head-nodders here.”
Niksa Dragolin (Eurostar Radio, Croatia) - "Reminds me of some Beastie Boys tunes … so great, a very cool release."
DJ Russo (Analog Space / Higher Sound) “Rare that every track on an EP is killer … this is one case.”

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop.

Eddie Shinn - The Sketches Of Scratches (Cold Busted)

A label many downtempo fans are familiar with, Cold Busted is back with a new album, using their standing to release music from a mysterious artist from a distant locale. The Sketches Of Scratches album is the second release on the label for Eddie Shinn, a 20 year old artist from Ulyanovsk, Russia. That’s about all the information available on the young producer and that’s okay because the music can speak for itself. The mantra for this release is dusty downtempo cuts with so much soul and melodic application of the ‘scratches’ hinted at in the title.

The album contains many highlights. Classy pianos, keys, and brass with plenty of drum rolls, make the breezy “Disco Stu” a great sign of what’s to come. A sort of funk fusion, “Far and Away” is much more cut up with bursts of beat repeats and some great use of samples and sound effects. “Dead Night" features a lazy, low-down disco vibe with stuttering vocal bits. Coming through with an infectious breakbeat and party ready cheers, “Look Like” could beckon even the most discerning dancers to get up and get down. “Work All Night And All Day” and “Next Point” both use horns to differing effect, while at the same time continuing to carry the tone of the album. Eddie Shinn’s The Sketches Of Scratches puts Ulyanovsk solidly on the Cold Busted map, seducing global headz with its infectious ‘Volga beats.’

Mark Farina - “I like ‘em.“
Kid Loco - ”Super cool. I love it.“
All Good Funk Alliance - ”Solid release!“
Dogu (Ancient Astronauts) - ”Some good vibes on this one.“
Inland Knights - ”Cool grooves … liking this a lot.“
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - ”Wow, what a dope downtempo release. Wanting more!“
Irregular Disco Workers - ”Elegant beats for cool club nights.“
DJ Dialect (Public Transit Recordings) - ”Nice beats … some dope head-nodders.“
The Orator (High On Beats / Mushpost Radio) - ”Cold Busted never fails to deliver.“
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show, Germany) - ”Such a great variety of beats and samples.“
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - ”Dusted downtempo funk under the umbrella of instrumental hip hop … totally soul-inspired with elements even from the sunshine era of reggae. This album is great.“
DJ BMF (Eighth Dimension / Phat N’ Jazzy) - ”I’m really diggin’ this! Very warm and jazzy!”
Deadbeat Disco Radio Show - “Ace grooves aplenty … a thoroughly awesome slab of funk.”
Niksa Dragolin (Eurostar Radio, Croatia) - “Cold Busted always delivers massive beats and insane heavy bangers.”
Danuta Kurkowski (Acid Ted music blog) - “Mellow, funky and sweet rhythms! Loved it!”

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop.