Ivaylo - Manga (Bogota Records)

Oslo’s Bogota Records finds Ivaylo mining deep house with the Manga EP. “Magnatronic” ascends a slow build from minimal drums to washes of warm synth, while the re-work by Arildo adds slow-burning percussive strains to the original. “Nectar” balances dark bass with hi-hat strains, while the Danny Kotz remix amplifies the original with driving locomotion. Throughout, the production swims in the deep end of the house pool without feeling dark, and manages a palatial dive into sonic atmospherics while maintaining an afterhours dancefloor vibe.

Ivaylo hails from Bulgaria, where he explored jazz before diving into electronic genres. As Bulgaria shook off the last of its communist sensibilities and became a republic, Ivaylo took to the beaches of his hometown in Varna and fell in love with the deep house sound floating over from the States. He went on to perform everywhere from London to Moscow before settling in Oslo, where he established Bogota Records in 2014.

Vanilla Ace (OFF Recordings) – “Nice chilled vibes.”
Atish (Desert Hearts) – “Deep and groovy.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “Lovely lovely work. High fives all around!”
Pete Williams (Natural Rhythm) – “Arildo's Remix is a deep slow burner. Will support.”
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) – “So many good tracks and versions in here! Lovely release all around.”
Olle Abstract (Fisk & Vilt) – “Great release. I really like Arildo’s bouncy remix of Magnatronic.”
Jarle Bråthen (Full Pupp) – “Great release! Nectar (Danny Kotz Remix) is the favorite. Will play out.”
Deron Delgado (Paradise / Dirtybird) – “Lovely. Both versions of Nectar are great.”
Jon Manley (hOUSEwORX) – “Love the original mix of Magnatronic. Sultry deep house vibes.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Yes! This is superb. Arildo’s remix of Magnatronic is my favorite with that killer hypnotic vibe. Classy.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, iTunes, And Spotify.

Ivaylo - Future Past (The Remixes) (Bogota Records)

Norwegian deep house label Bogota Records considers Ivaylo's Future Past (The Remixes) the end of 'phase one.' The label has issued six fantastic releases, making some serious waves in the house music community with its signature lush, dreamy, rhythmic sound. This seventh issue from Bogota returns to the output of flagship artist Ivaylo, the Bulgaria-born DJ based in Oslo. Future Past (The Remixes) is notable, as the title unintentionally hints, in that it draws upon label tracks from previous releases, giving them new remixed interpretations laying out the direction of the label. An impressive cadre of house music talent from around the world is on board to supply these remixes, making this an essential release.

Let's delve right into it. Dalminjo (Limestone Recordings, Papa Records) offers a sophisticated remix of "Forgotten", featuring pleasant string lines and lovely tuned percussion. Famed Philadelphian Pete Moss (Ovum Records) brings a funky tech-house aesthetic to "Outlands", with a solid bass and drum interplay perfectly tailored for the dance floor. Legendary Chicago house music don Johnny Fiasco (Klassik Fiasco) lays on the heavy swing for his interpretation of "Weight", and takes things well into the deep zone with splashes of chiming pads and a touch of vocoder. Out of Bulgaria comes Ivaylo's mates, the duo Sound Solutions (Adultempo Specialists) who blend swirling arpeggiations and ominous echoed synth stabs into their revision of "Shine". Demarkus Lewis (Grin Music), the tall Texas house music veteran, slaps on some tough rhythms, some 303-ish lines, and a pulsing low end for a particularly beefy version of "Disquis". Last, but certainly not least, Jay Tripwire (Tonality, Poker Flat) provides an evocative, sublimely building remix of "Cellar", featuring clanging percussion, liquidy found sounds, filtered chords, and the hypnotic drum-play he's known for.

Bogota Records knows the past, and repeating quality like this in the future is a foregone conclusion. Stay tuned to hear what other gems the label and Ivaylo have in store …

Doc Martin - "Some cool stuff here!"
Nick Holder - "This EP is fire!"
DJ MFR (Transport Recordings) - "Great tracks … full support from me!"
DJ Tonka (Tonka Tunes / Southern Fried) - "The Dalminjo and Johnny Fiasco mixes for me. True house music!"
Jaymz Nylon - "Dalminjo's remix of 'Forgotten' is actually most memorable."
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - "One of my favorite labels out there. This is a stunning remix album with top notch remixers … it doesn't get better than this."
Sebastian Davidson - "Ten out of ten!"
Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart / DCSTrax) - "A super collection of dance music. Brilliant."
The Disclosure Project - "A good collection of remixers on this package. Johnny Fiasco's bumpy remix wins for us here."
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - "A truly astounding package here remixed by six of the very finest producers in house music. I'd be hard pressed to choose a finer dream team right now."
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "A strong selection here from a variety of top players. Pete Moss, Johnny Fiasco, and Jay Tripwire all stand out with their interpretations, with Demarkus Lewis also adding a wicked groove on his remix. Solid all round really."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "Filthy and funky. I like the little acid twists in Demarkus Lewis's mix … heavy sound."

Available now from Beatport, Traxsource, and iTunes.

Various Artists - Glad i Dag EP (Cymasonic)

Cymasonic celebrate the 'happy days' of summer with Glad i Dag, an exciting various artists collection showcasing the label's hard-working stalwarts. With roots in both Barcelona and Oslo, Cymasonic and its vinyl-only offshoot Cymawax transmit a truly trans-European attitude alongside a globally representative deep techno sound. This ethos is in full view with the opening track "Don't Give Up" by Trulz & Robin side-project Robomatic. It's a pulsating, beatless electronic track that lies somewhere between prime Detroit moments and evocative Blade Runner shimmers. Rising Norway-via-Bulgaria producer Ivaylo brings the beats and bleeps into play with "Hazel", a groovy house track with heaps of bass perfectly suited for late night vibrations. Newcomer Fede Zerdan, who recently made his second appearance with a well-received 12" on Cymawax, is next to land in the zone with "RPS-SET" … dubby textures and oozing synthesizers build steadily over some tough rhythms. Finally, Trulz & Robin contribute the eleven minute "Glad i Dag (Frosk Edit)", a hypnotic, churning techno composition with evolving layers of melody and a joyful, rhythmic bounce. It's a mind-blowing set from Cymasonic, confirming the healthy state of the label on the occasion of its ninth release.

Nick Warren - "All of these tracks are great!"
Peter Kruder - "I dig the Trulz & Robin tune … I will play that."
Mazi (Audio Soul Project / Fresh Meat) - "I like Ivaylo's 'Hazel' … the keys in the second half really grab your attention."
Tensnake - "Cool EP."
Larry Tee - "Nice stuff here."
Stacey Pullen - "This is cool."
Dr. Motte (PRAXXIZ) - "Funky and deep techno with a great, original spirit."
Anthony Pappa - "Cool release … my favorite is Fede Zerdan' s 'RPS-SET'."
Massimiliano Pagliara (Live At Robert Johnson) - "Nice tunes!"
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - "The epic edit of 'Glad i Dag' is my pick but everything here is cool."
Taigo Onez (The Essence Radio Show) - "Cymasonic has become a favorite label of mine … quality music that I can trust to be proper underground."
Tom Conrad (Adaptation Music) - "Great track from Ivaylo … I'm also loving Trulz & Robin's 'Glad i Dag' with its tight and intelligent production."
Tariq Ziyad (New Urban ERA music blog) - "It doesn't get any better than this. Diversity, great sounds … a joy to these ears."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "Each track is distinctive in style and all deliver wonderful results. 'Glad i Dag' is stunning … its Detroit feel makes it stand out and will sound immense in a room."
Andrew Duke (Cognition Audioworks) - "Cymasonic have another winner on their hands."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Ivaylo - Future Past (Bogota Records)

After many collaborative projects for his Bogota Records label, Ivaylo turns in a solo performance in the form of six originals on Future Past. A Bulgarian native based in Oslo, Ivaylo has an equally distinguishable sound. It's lush and full of funk by way of deep house with modern disco subtleties. The EP's tracks capture Ivaylo's ability to interweave these different styles. Highlights include "Forgotten", featuring a disco percussion groove and deep orchestration with a slinky bass line; "Shine", which showcases heads-down house with an electrifying ebb and flow; and "Cellar", chugging along with determined funkiness, even wafting through airy harp sounds. Future Past is a release sure to satisfy those who like their music blended, not merely shaken or stirred.

Hollis P Monroe - “‘Shine’ and ‘Cellar’ are gems … sweet release.”
Pete Moss - “Great project here! Very reminiscent of the old Prescription records I love so much … excellent work!”
Colin Dale (Abstrakt Dance) - "All really cool tracks … I really dig this EP."
Chris Todd (Crazy P / Hot Toddy) - “This is a fine sounding EP. Nice balance of old and new production and the sampled disco drum loops work really nice.”
Alton Miller (Peacefrog / Swank Society) - “Good EP! ‘Shine’ is the one for me.”
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings / Balance Alliance) - “Elegance, groove, strength, and classic are some of the words that run through my head when listening to this mini album. Hard to pick a favorite here … just count on me playing and supporting them all.”
Craig Whitfield (The HHA / Restless Soul) - "Great house music, made for a time and a place, and made for a purpose."
Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart / DCSTrax) - “Stunning dance music … I love it.”
Distant People (SSRadio / Foliage) - “Seriously provoking music … it's so tough to choose, but I love the ‘Forgotten’ cut on this.”
Shane Johnson (Fish Go Deep / Red FM) - “Very tasty EP … solid grooves, strong melodies, and very well produced … ‘Forgotten’, ‘Weight’, and ‘Disquis’ for me.”
Matt Prehn (Oh So Coy / Large Music) - “‘Shine’ is doing it for me … love that hypnotic mood, great work!”
QJ (Sound Solutions / Omega 3) - “I love Ivaylo’s style … groovy, deeply, intelligent vibes as usual. ‘Forgotten’ and ‘Weight’ are amazing.”
Tom Conrad (Adaptation Music / SSRadio) - “Very tough to single out one of these tracks as they are all excellent. Ivaylo is without a doubt one of my favorite producers and incredibly consistent at creating quality, timeless music.”
Deron Delgado (Paradise / Stompy) - “The low-slung deep and disco vibes of ‘Forgotten’ and ‘Outlands’ are right up my alley!”
Leigh Morgan (Urban Torque) - “I’m very much enjoying this release … high quality throughout all the tracks … heavily groove-based and excellent stuff.”
SimonG (Deep South Audio) - “Impressive sound … I’ve been smashing the past five releases on this label … one of my underground favorites. ‘Outlands’ has a lovely rich electro bass.”
Mark Mac (Stafford FM / Shed FM) - “Ivaylo brings in a belter here. Deep beats meet ’70s funk, blended and produced perfectly … quality release.”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.