Various Artists - Miami WMC Sampler 2013 (Release Musiq)

Asheville’s ambitious tech-house label Release Musiq showcase their current roster and some new collaborators with their Miami WMC Sampler 2013. Twelve tracks are included, encompassing the different textures in the club-ready Release Musiq oeuvre, featuring many unheard cuts amongst a few recent ‘best of’ moments. Cuban-born Luis Armando, whose tribal-tinged Futuro EP is presently making waves, leads with three tracks, including the tough, swirling “Peaks,” a remix of “Globatron” by Mitch Major (Adapt Recordings, Suka), and Dathan and Kri‘s Stripped Out Bass rework of “Nico’s Dream,” Luis’ collaboration with Nicodemus Roth. Amir Abbasi, the prolific Atlanta-based producer, DJ, and video artist, is represented by “Bipolar Robot, which gets a superb, floor-filling remix from Medway (Hooj Choons). Release Musiq’s J-Hecht is on board for the slinky and spacey deep tech-house track ”Nothing in this World,“ and a chuggy remix from Piltdown Sound (Bleepsequence, Subsensory Recordings) of Astervoid’s ”Moral Inheratives” rounds out this impressive package. These are just the highlights … dig in and have a listen to what Release Musiq has in store for global dance floors. 

Tyler Stadius - “Great package of late night goods.”
Chris Udoh (Tigerhook) - “Impressive release … chock full of cuts.”
Will SumSuch (DeepWit / Etoka) - “Some nice bits here … tasty!”
Brent Nicholls (Matinee London) - “Fantastic collection of tech-flavoured deep house tunes. Medway’s mix of ‘Bipolar Robot’ really stands out while the ‘pump up the volume’ inspired ‘Nico’s Dream’ is a real peak timer.”
Summer (Tulipa Recordings) - “This sounds great.”
DJ Style (Knob Records) - “‘Globatron (Mitch Major Remix)’ … hot tune.”
DJ Aldrin (Zouk Club) - “The Medway remix is on point!”
Velanche (Urban Landscapes) - “Some of these tracks must have banged the floors in Miami! Good stuff.”
Merlyn Martin (Subdivisions Global Radio Show) - “I’m digging the Detroit-vibed ‘Moral Inheratives.’”
DJ Phil T (DJ Times) - “The J-Hecht and Astervoid tracks are my definite picks … love ’em.”
DJ Deep Index (BOP FM, New Zealand) - “Amazing bunch of tracks, just up my alley!”
QuestionmarQ (Red FM, Ireland) - “Great music here, from the body shaking bass of ‘Nothing in this World’ to the twisted brilliance of Medway’s mix of ‘Bipolar Robot’ … but my favorite is the techno-influenced ‘Moral Inheratives (Piltdown Sound Remix).’”

Available now from Beatport.

Various Artists - Occupy The Gruv (Release Musiq)

J-Hecht, who has previously been heard on Release Musiq as well as Onionz’ Electrik Soul label. displays his funky style with a straight-forward groover titled “Realized.” The rhythm section pulls off some tight, hip-shaking house music with a punchy bass line and a potent four-on-the-floor drive. Expressive vocal cut-ups and hits follow the rhythm adding a simmering excitement to the track. On top of all this is an effected synth melody, bursting in and out of the mix with modulated echoes and splashes of reverb.

The house music assault continues with “Occupy The Gruv" from Luis Armando. Luis previously made a splash on Release Musiq with his “I See U” single, and fans of that effort will definitely not be disappointed by this latest nightclub monster. A solid house rhythm track leads the way while strange, atmospheric sounds float around in the background for a trippy effect. As the cut builds, the sliding bass line pushes the speakers towards an eerie breakdown. A mysterious voice asks, “What do we want?" before everything kicks back in for a floor-filling resolution.

Luis Armando returns for the final track, joined by Conrad Greggor under the Armando & Greggor banner. Conrad is a DJ who came to the east coast via Seattle, and his influence deftly compliments Luis’ production in the track “DjSmiles.” The psychedelic touches typical of Armando’s work are here, placed upon a shuffling house groove and some glimmering synth pads. The track builds effortlessly, with stereo-drifting vocal hits and an uplifting chord motif building in volume throughout.

Occupy The Gruv! Enjoy this tasty ‘state of the label’ message from Release Muaiq, and be ready for a busy 2012 schedule from the label and its assorted, talented artists.

Orde Meikle (Slam) - “Straight into the crate!”
Jota Wagner (Colors Sound System) - “‘Realized’ and ‘Occupy The Gruv’ are two bombs! great EP.”
Onionz - “Hot!”
DK Watts (Short Bus Kids) - “I’m liking ‘DJsmiles.’ The vocal hooks me in, and the bassline and the way this track grooves works well.”
Lorenzo al Dino (7th District) - “Luis Armando rules the package!”
Rafy Nieves (Cyberbiotics Syndicated Radio Show) - “I love the fusion between atmospheric sounds and a punchy bass in ‘Realized.’”
Bogdan Taran (Dance Box) - “‘Occupy the Gruv’  is quite deep and techy enough, but at the same time not as obvious as many of the other tech house tunes around.”
Velanche (Urban Landscapes Radioshow) - “If this music best represents the label, then I’m looking forward to hearing more. Solid house sounds with some oomph!” 

Available Now From Juno Download and Beatport