Mural - Shake It Up EP (New Human Music)

Erik Brown, also known as as graphic artist FRISK, unveils the moniker Mural and catapults onto the electronic music stage with his latest creation, the Shake It Up EP, released under the innovative new label New Human Music. Brown, a mainstay in the San Francisco music scene has been dazzling the Bay Area with underground DJ sets since the early 2000s. His unique ability to weave intricate grooves using an arsenal of gear is evident in this latest offering. As he prepares to relocate his studio to Thailand in 2024, his impressive discography continues to expand with this new venture into New Human Music's revolutionary ethos.

The EP, a succinct yet impactful trio of tracks, kicks off with "Shake It Up," a robust house music anthem designed for an energized underground. It's a masterful blend of crisp rhythms, pulsating synthesizers, ethereal string pads, and vibrant vocal stabs that create an irresistible auditory invitation. Following this is "Shake and Dub," a more minimalist dub version of its predecessor. This track strips back the layers to spotlight rhythmic drums, a groove-laden bassline, and '80s-flavored synth tones and effects. And then“Love Will Find A Way” combines Moroder-ized synth patterns with an uplifting vocal hook. Together, these songs exemplify Mural's prowess in crafting tunes that resonate with the eclectic and dynamic spirit of New Human Music, a label that celebrates artistic transformation and the seamless fusion of genres like New Techno, Retro Disco, and House Music.

Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “I absolutely love this. Every track is a gem.”
Juan Moreno (1 Life Records) – “Nice track, perfect for the sun.”
Ewan Pearson (Kompakt) – “I’m liking both of these tracks a lot.”
Jon Wesley (Insomniac) – “Great tunes. I like them all. Shake It Up really works, can’t wait to play it.”
Brian Busto (Serious Soul) – “Shake It Up is fire. Will be playing this one a lot.”
Steve ‘Griffo’ Griffiths (Fluid Radio Shows) – “A very groovy EP! Shake and Dub is the one for me.”

Available Now From: Traxsource, Juno Download, Apple Music, And Spotify.

Vested Soul - Love Trap (Super Hi-Fi Recordings)

The eclectically electric Vested Soul strike again with another double A-side single of sleekly designed slinky deep house. The party starts with "Love Trap," a down-and-dirty lovemaking anthem that features bubbling arpeggiations, cooing vocal phrases, and a glittering sonic sphere in the shape of a giant disco ball. Thomas Blondet (Rhythm & Culture) lays down some smooth magic on the remix, amassing a massive bass line that'll levitate dancers at least two generous inches off the dancefloor.

Flip the digital wax for "Set Piece," opening in a contemplative mood with popping percussion and swirly pads. Once the bass and filtered chord stabs hit, it's off to the boogie zone. There's a definite bounce per ounce in Vested Soul's groove cooler. Nu-disco legend and the Insect Queen man himself Ursula 1000 grabs "Set Piece" by the sleeve and rearranges its outfit in a new fashion. And that fashion draws upon synth-pop of the '80s, funky house of the '90s, and the sublime punchiness of modern times. It's a cornucopia of delicious vibes, all coming strong from Vested Soul and friends.

Richard Dorfmeister (Kruder & Dorfmeister) – “Top Summer tune!”
Rusty (All Good Funk Alliance) – “Loving these late night rippers. Will be playting them for sure.”
Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Pretty sure the sound of summer is in there somewhere - something I fully endorse - lovely.”
Bruce Tantum (DJ Mag) – “Nicely chilled house, perfect for the hot-weather months - loving both originals and both remixes.”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music Radio Show) – “Hot release. All tunes and versions are winners, it’s hard to choose a favorite.”
Karem Gokmen (Dubmission) – “Originals are top notch, and both remixes are rather complimentary to the originals - a proper double single!”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, Beatport, Apple Music, And Spotify.

ThrillHammer - Heavenly Spheres (Finely Tuned)

After rollicking singles for the likes of Hardkiss Music and Paper Recordings, San Francisco's ThrillHammer — AKA the duo of Duserock and Coltorious — confront the "Music of the Spheres." The tune is based on an ancient philosophical puzzle: why don't the heavenly bodies, such as stars and planets, make sounds as they travel through the sky? Aristotle believed that we hear it as infants, but as adults, we tune it out. How can we listen to the music of the spheres?

Duserock produced the track and handed it over to Coltorious for some of his lyrical flavor. The final song features rousing piano chords, a beefy four-on-the-floor rhythm, and Coltorious's distinctive voice joined by layers of harmonizing overdubs. Steve Cobby (Fila Brazillia) brings the tune into his shed to create a glorious lounge-inspired version with all-new instrumentation. Next up, Adam Warped (Whiskey Pickle) offers a dramatically uplifting instrumental re-rub that wouldn't be out of place floating over the Ibizan surf. And then Jason Peters (Roam Recordings) jostles a peak-time warehouse banger from the original, giving "Music of the Spheres" a shot at inspiring heavenly gyrations on the dance floor. Get into these galactic motions!

Rory Hoy (Howlin’ Records) – “The Cobby Mix is incredible. Love it!”
Redstickman (The Ambient Mafia) – “Love the deep and proggy elements on the Warped Remix. Good stuff.”
Jon Fugler (Fluke) - “I can honestly say that these tracks have made my day.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Heavenly indeed! Warped Remix is brimming with positive vibes. Love it.”
Shan Frenzie (2SER FM) – “Lovely deep dancefloor vibes.”
Jon Wesley (Music Goes On Radio Show) – “I like the original and the Jason Peters Remix. Great vocal too.”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, Beatport, Juno Download, And Spotify.

Legs 11 - Welcome Home (Beatservice Records)

Oslo-based four-piece Legs 11 return to Beatservice Records with their third studio album, serving seven beguiling tracks on the delightfully off-kilter Welcome Home.

Comprising of deviant players Sigmund Floyd, Torstein Dyrnes, Nils Tveten, and Audun Severin Eftevåg, Legs 11 have been Beatservice mainstays since making their label debut back in 2016. Fusing a disparate blend of esoteric sounds that include synth-pop, post-punk, new wave, house, and more, the quartet journey from the murkiest depths into the pop-leaning stratosphere, taking in all manner of mind-altering detours along the way. Throughout their production journey, they've reveled in the unexpected, and Welcome Home masterfully continues this aberrant trajectory.

Kicking things off in an energetic mood, the new wave swagger of "Flawless Logistics" dives deep into late-night rave abandon, Unhinged vocals and throbbing synth bass drive the cut through a futurist landscape of stripped rhythms and sinister tones before an atmospheric sax solo rises in to augment the searing lyrical message. Casting a critical eye on consumer-driven culture and mercenary musical forms, the vital composition is at once an unmissable social commentary and an irresistibly floor-filling groove.

Next, the glistening synths and sing-along vocals of "Coup" saunter over bouncing bass notes and crisp machine drums. Acid licks rise in to add thrust to the club-primed groove while brooding pads and sultry spoken words meander through the sonic space. Elegantly sashaying into post-punk swirls, the hallucinatory swagger of "Sax Consensual" bursts with theatrics. Seductively dart across the hyper-atmospheric backing track of pointed instrumentation, with glassy synths and fizzing drums joined by an evocative sax solo to vividly conjure late-night moods.

"Into The Darkness" bubbles with sinister intent, as striking bass and stripped rhythms charge through nocturnal synths, the serrated vocals purposefully projecting through the powerfully vivid subterranean mist. Maintaining the floor-focused tempo, "This Is Your Home" sees sleazy vocals soar across an alien landscape. Distorted toms drive the groove as mysterious swirls and metallic textures fizz across the off-world horizon. Growling bass arrives alongside a searing sax lead as the endlessly-morphing rhythm undulates and evolves.

"The Crawley Within" sees darkly suggestive vocals enveloped by ominous synths and snarling acid licks, the determined rhythm steering the sparsely-woven instrumentation across alien topography as sensual whispers permeate the groove as the music undulates to an aberrant climax. Finally, completing a strikingly coherent collection, "fuckboi" brims with attitude, with unhinged synths joined by growling rhythm guitar as the erotically-charged vocals project the steamiest of post-club invitations.

This is an entirely unique work from Legs 11. Deviant, potent, and fiercely energetic, each track is propulsive enough to ignite dancefloors while embodied with more than enough profundity for headphone immersion. Utterly compelling.

Psycho-Jones (Kater Blau) – “Wow! I love it.”
De Fantastiske To (Paper Recordings) – “Digging these. ‘This Is Your Home’ is insane!”
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) – “Reminds me of those good old years.”
DJ H4L 9000 (Excuse Me? Club) – “Great album. It’s too difficult to choose a favorite. The spirit of the 80’s but with a contemporary view.”
Wazac Martin (FM4) – “Relaxed & Elegant.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT radio show) – “I love the way these guys have no intention of drawing within the lines. Great to listen to, that’s the bottom line.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Bandcamp, Apple Music, And Spotify.