Mystik Mike - Arcobaleno (Kozmik Hype Recordings)

Toronto’s Kozmik Hype Recordings returns with veteran DJ Mystik Mike for “Arcobaleno,” a new single in the label’s distinctive house music style. A mainstay on the Toronto scene, Mystik Mike has been spreading the house message since the ’90s as a DJ, club owner, and radio show host. With “Acrobaleno,” Mike delivers a solid groove with squeaky clean accents. The bulk of the cut is built around a big bass sound, an arpeggiated synth, and shuffling percussion. Pitched up vocals are teased out before coming in proper with the breakdown.

Keeping it mostly a Toronto affair, remixes come from fellow veteran Canadian DJs Paul Stickman, Darren Marshall, Nick Theos, and Steve Venom. The lone regional outlier is the young Geneva, Switzerland-based Falcord with his pulsing pad remix. The two mixes from Paul Stickman (Stickman Records, Aquarius Recordings) both slowly evolve to mesmerizing effect. Steve Venom and Darren Marshall focus on driving bass lines and tech-inspired chops, but with completely different end results. Nick Theos creates the trackiest of the lot with devastating highs and hypnotic use of the original’s synths.

Tensnake - “Some nice remixes in here.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “A strong vocal part and I like the shift in chords … nice tension. The breakdown is hot.”
DJ Style (Knob Records) - “Great release.”
Tyler Stadius - “Good ones!”
Kadabra (House Hookup / 5Magazine) - “All solid house cuts. Nick Theos’s mix bangs, and the beat has that old school Moody Records / H-Foundation feel to it. I also love Darren Marshall’s rolling funk take on it.”
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - “Paul Stickman’s 4 Da Headz Mix does it for me!”
DJ MTS (Progress Radio Show) - “This is the best pack I’ve received in a while! All the mixes are hot … big, quality EP.”
Affie Yusuf (Superfreq / I Love Acid) - “Paul Stickman’s mix is one underground-as-hell tune!”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “A very smart selection of mixes here; the original is a cracker, but overall for me it’s the Paul Stickman 4 Da Headz Remix which is the standout … a wicked mood-setter to up the ante in the sets. Cool as fooooook!”
Mark Mac (The Sound Collective) - “A top main room track … every mix sounds great.”
Bogdan Taran (Dance Box) - “The Nick Theos and Paul Stickman remixes sound classy.”
Michael Stukes (Mystic Vybes) - “A serious secret weapon.”
QuestionmarQ (Vision Collective / Red FM) - “I’m really liking the bouncy vibe of the Steve Venom remix … also feeling Paul Stickman’s 4 Da Headz Mix. Quality.”
DJ Lolly (Freek FM / Ruff Diamond) - “I’m loving the original and the Darren Marshall remix.”
Velanche (Velanche’s Playtime Radio Show) - “The Nick Theos is mad deep … that’s the one for me.”

Part 1 and Part 2 now available from Beatport.

Falcord feat. Joy - Ocean Of Love (Kozmik Hype Recordings)

Toronto’s Kozmik Hype Recordings label reaches out to Geneva, Switzerland to snatch up a young DJ / producer by the name of Falcord and his latest house music excursion, the evocative “Ocean Of Love.” Falcord has been on the Geneva scene since his teenage years, having the distinction of being the youngest resident DJ the be hired on Switzerland’s national Radio One. His education in music blossomed, discovering an affinity for classic funk and soul which will be explored on his upcoming Nautilia album, a tribute to Bob James’ seminal Nautilus. For Kozmik Hype, Falcord collaborated with the wonderful vocalist Joy for an uplifting, uptempo house number titled “Ocean Of Love.” The rhythm is high-charged to accomdate its latin-tinged bass line and expressive flourishes, countered by dreamy, swirling pads and appealing snatches of melody. Once Joy’s voice appears the song enters a whole new world, as her voice is effected spaciously adding to the cut’s already otherworldly atmosphere. “Ocean Of Love” is a definite dance floor winner, courtesy of the rising Falcord and Kozmik Hype Recordings.

Marques Wyatt - “Tight!”
Robert Owens - “That’s a cool track.”
Justin Harris (Freaks) - “I like this a lot.”
Leo Portela (PMB, Soulstar) - “Nice, chilled out house music … full of love!”
Vincent Kwok - “Funky track!”
Nick Holder - “Cool … I will play this!”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Rolling funk … I love the build up and the driving bass. Dreamy sounds here.”
Benji Candelario - “Cool tune!”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “Summer 2013 warm up tune! Smooth club-tastic afro-latin tune ready to be played under bright sun rays.”
Delmar Browne (BK Basement) - “It’s a pleasure hearing buried treasure from beneath the sand!”
Dean Serafini (JJazproJect) - “The bassline is so captivating and works well with the vibe. Joy’s vocals are sweet. Very nice indeed.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “Uplifting, sensual, infectious … a possible anthem for the summer.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.