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.

Various Artists - Impossible EP #2 (Proceed Records Digital)

Proceed Digital is the offshoot imprint of Italian house music label Proceed Records, established as a place for the label’s artists and producers to stretch out a bit and try some new sounds. If a track doesn’t quite sonically fit on an artist’s EP on Proceed but still has the quality and dance floor appeal that demands to be heard then this is the place for it. Thus Proceed Digital presents the second in a series, the Impossible EP #2, gathering four tracks from some of Proceed’s shining Italian producers and giving them a proper home on one fantastic house music release.

Proceed’s proprietor, DJ / producer Haldo, who has also released cuts through Transport Recordings, Conya, and Adaptation Music, is represented by his dreamy “A Short Trip.” A gentle piano melody and warm keys lead into an evocative synth solo, all buoyed by a solid four-on-the-floor rhythm. This one’s primed for the summer poolside. Fuscobeat & Magrini, the duo of Marco Magrini and Simone Fusco, follow with the deep and pulsing “Deep Lover,” incorporating sharp strings, hefty chords, and a swirling breakdown into one effective track. Odo Makes A Smile, who should be no stranger to fans of Proceed through his many remixes, contributes “Morena,” showing the more electronic side of the label’s roster. Italo-style bass, big stabs, and a whimsical vocal sample that appears midway all make appearances in his slinky, musical track. Rounding out the EP is Fabrizio Marra (Musoul, Liberate) whose “Shake It” offers a dose of floor appeal with solid percussion, dubbed out effects, a sparingly used soulful vocal, and a driving bass line. These four tracks are here just in time to do funky damage on summertime dance floors.

Glenn Underground - “Haldo’s ‘A Short Trip’ is dope song … very true to the sound and era.”
Graeme Park - “Lovely!”
CJ Mackintosh - “Nice EP … I like Haldo’s track.”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “‘Shake It’ is a superb slice of dubby, retro-styled house music.”
Vincent Kwok - “Another great release from Proceed.”
Dave Mayer (Strictly Rhythm / Hardsoul) - “Very cool tunes!”
Nick Holder - “I’m digging this!”
Grant Nelson - “Very tasty!”
Hippie Torrales - “Great package … I can use everything here.”
Christos Kedras - “Nice package. Haldo and Fabrizio Marra take the trophy … will support!”
SumSuch (Colour and Pitch / Deepwit) - “Some nice chilled stuff. ‘Morena’ is the stand out track for me … perfect for a sunny afternoon session.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Cracking EP. All four cuts have a real charm, but in particular I’m feeling ‘Shake It’ and ‘Morena,’ the latter which is a superb deep house boogie jam.”
Norbert Borchers (House Sound of Hamburg) - “Just wonderful … all of them!”
Gareth Morgan (Blues & Soul Magazine) - “I really like ‘A Short Trip’ … very balearic feeling and summery. My favourite track by far though is ‘Morena’ … that filtered piano breakdown at 3:28 made the hairs on my arms stand up.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “Four beautiful, uplifting tracks that should send shockwaves across the floor.”

Available now from Juno Download and Traxsource.

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.