The Ritual - Letting Go (Wind Horse Records)

Wind Horse Records' 'east meets west' aesthetic fuels its latest release, as the India-based deep house imprint presents the newly formed London duo The Ritual. Made up of seasoned producer Matt Prehn (of Large Music, i! Records, Different Attitudes, and his own label, Oh So Coy) and vocalist / producer Dee Griffin (Large Music, Different Attitudes), The Ritual aims to be a creative ensemble working to push the boundaries of deep house. Serving as the pair's debut release, "Letting Go" certainly sets this stage with its shimmering floor appeal. Crisp, groovy rhythms and flowing, filtered chords provide the base of the track, while warm pad swells, melodic plucks, and dreamy found sounds embellish its journey. The result is a mesmerizing after-hours moment, suited for the deepest of DJs and the most underground of nightclubs.

A quartet of distinctive remixes send "Letting Go" floating off in new directions. Glasgow's JFunc is first, producing a tough version that rolls with deep bass, spacious hits, and a masterfully constructed build. Kartech, coming of his recent "Larrisa" single for Wind Horse, follows with a beguiling remix, drawing the listener into its luscious breakdown soundscape filled with expressive sound design. Next, Priyesh Patil, also no stranger to fans of the Wind Horse label, delivers a dream-like revision that features rhythmically intertwining elements and splashes of echo effects throughout. Farhan Rehman then closes out this trio of Indian remixers, powering his version with warm sub-bass, hypnotic synth sequences, and smooth layers of pads. All these remixes show a melodic acumen, giving "Letting Go", as a whole, much more depth than the usual house music single. It's yet another tour de force for Wind Horse Records.

Gene Farris - "Deeeep!"
Nick Warren - "Priyesh Patil and JFunc remixes for me."
Marques Wyatt - "Tight flow!"
Pete Moss - "I'm loving the JFunc remix."
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - "Lovely smooth vibes throughout."
Dave Mayer (Strictly Rhythm / Hardsoul) - "I love the little hook in the original!"
Phunktastike (Undertones Gang) - "Sweet!"
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "All are top class here and the original is a cracking warm groove. My pick is the synth-led Farhan Rehman remix … I'm really loving the flow there."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "Funky and infectious sounds … I love the feel to this. It has real charm and just rolls."
Vincent Kwok - "Great deep techy house!"
Eric Davenport (Guesthouse) - "Solid set of deep dubby house tracks. Easy to fit in and out of any set."
Jay Zimmermann (Block.FM / Red Melon) - "Beautiful effects, sonic elements, and pads. The JFunc and Priyesh Patil Remixes are the bomb … midnight / early AM vibes. I love the shimmery breakdowns."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "It's always exciting to see a new Wind Horse release. This is such a beautiful collection of interpretations … it just has that real classy house sensibility that makes for great tracks now and in many years to come."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes. 

Kartech - Larrisa (Wind Horse Records)

Wind Horse Records is pleased to unveil "Larrisa", its second release from the New Delhi-based artist Kartech. Born as Thakur Kartik, Kartech is an innovative mix engineer and producer who is known in the Indian house music scene for walking his own path and playing by his own rules. His musical background, technical knowledge, and talent as a DJ have done their part in influencing the Wind Horse sound over the years. On "Larrisa", Kartech is joined by a quartet of acclaimed remixers: India-based producers Llewellyn Hilt and Aaryan as well as Alvaro Hylander and City Soul Project from Europe.

"Larrisa", which made its first appearance on the Wind Horse Five Year Anniversary Sampler, is a groovy deep house track characterized by crisp rhythms, reverb-soaked synth hits, and a rumbling bass line riding alongside calming, melodic chords. These are split apart to a moving effect in a particularly gorgeous mid-track breakdown. The single's b-side, "Never Know How", takes things darker and into the psychedelic zone, presenting a bit of twisted percussion and an exciting interplay between a massive bass synth and Kartech's signature chord-play. This cut really comes alive.

The esteemed team of remixers tackle "Larrisa" with diverse and DJ-ready interpretations. Prolific Denmark-via-Spain producer Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) presents a hypnotic version that pulses and booms as it draws one in, while UK duo City Soul Project (City Soul Recordings) turn up the swing and add some soulful vocal hits for a cool rework that only loosely references the original. Representing the Indian side of the Wind Horse family, Llewellyn Hilt delivers a sparser but much spacier remix of "Larrisa" that is introduced with a piercing kick drum, while Aaryan's version boasts bin-shaking sub-bass and intricate layers of percussion, memorably completing this club-primed package.

Kartech's "Larrisa" continues Wind Horse Records' forward momentum, having just eclipsed five years of high quality releases. With fine Indian talent as well as global inspirations on board, "Larrisa" sets the tone for the label's exceptional place in the deep house ecosystem.

Nick Warren - "Lovely release … all mixes are excellent."
Toomy Disco (Kitsuné / Under The Shade) - "Superb EP! These deep vibes are making me dance."
Inland Knights - "I'm digging the Alvaro Hylander remix."
Vanilla Ace - "The City Soul Project remix for me."
Motorcitysoul (Cocoon) - "The Alvaro Hylander remix is super sexy."
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - "The original of 'Larrisa' … all the way baby! Aaryan's remix is tidy, too."
SlanG (Spring Tube / Movement) - "'Never Know How' is the one for me."
Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart / DCSTrax) - "Alvaro Hylander's remix for me … very tasty."
Vincent Kwok - "This is great deep house."
Dave Mayer (Strictly Rhythm / Hardsoul) - "I love 'Larrisa'! Great remixes, too."
Pathaan (Globetronica) - "Super release!"
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "Superb stuff … it's difficult to pick one over another here as all are strong. A great pack all round, as to be expected from Wind Horse."
Jamie Topham (CDPool) - "A class original cut and a welcome return for Wind Horse and Kartech. A cool set of mixes on offer, but it's the City Soul Project guys who take the honours from me on this occasion."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "Wicked wicked remix by City Soul Project."
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - "The deep, mellow, and ethereal sound of Alvaro Hylander remix is really solid."
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences) - "Flawless release. Both original productions are stunning. As for the remixes of 'Larissa', I think this quartet of remixers has outdone itself - ace work."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Various Artists - 5 Year Anniversary Sampler (Wind Horse Records)

Wind Horse Records’ evolution on the world stage never fails to captivate. The label has helped develop India’s many talented resources for export to the outside world while pioneering the deep house movement in its own country with releases, parties, and ground-breaking collaborations. Inspired by his own travels and life on three different continents (South Asia, Europe, and North America), Hamza is the guiding light behind Wind Horse. Hamza’s musical mission has been to seamlessly merge floor-driving house music styles with a reverent helping of more traditional south Asian influences.

Under his vision the label has reached its most important release to date and a comprehensive representation of their progress, the 5 Year Anniversary Sampler. Not just a showcase for the label, the compilation also celebrates the success of Indian producers in achieving a cocktail of world sounds without fully assimilating, keeping with the common thread of a culture that has so much history and such a rich musical heritage. The artists are honoring the same aesthetic and passion as their elders have in their classical, traditional forms of music – the same medium and feel, but with different paints and processes. These are exactly the sort of intangibles that raise labels above the foray of an over-run market place of commodities for sale and grants camps the staying power and weight of a true cultural force.

In five years the label has gone beyond even their highest expectations to reach the level they’re at today. To celebrate, Wind Horse Records has gathered from their full range of music. They go from worldly, in a collaboration of Hamza with celebrated international Danish jazz pianist Niels Ian Doky and renowned Tibetan vocalist Yunchen Lhamo, to other-worldly, with Yidam’s new analog techno alias 5volts; from soulful, in working with DeepWit artist Alvaro Hylander to include the fine track “Change”, to soul-escaping, in the hypnotically deep and atmospheric qualities of Priyesh Patel’s productions; from the ambient “Lonesome Train” by Vinayak A to the ambiance of far out beats by Aman Anand and Soulspace. Staple Wind Horse artists like Kartech and Audio Units are joined by the debut of Mumbai producer Farhan Rahman and the Bangalore-based southern India transplant Stalvart John to hammer in the foundations of the label: a distinctly Indian sound naturally swallowed in deep, tech-house stylings and a knack for harboring an established crew while always introducing new talent.

It’s easy to feel like Wind Horse Records has been blessed in their ability to release music from such a wide range of artists from all corners of the globe, with some folk tale-like stories to prove it. Decidedly capturing and presenting the label’s growth on the 5 Year Anniversary Sampler, supporters and new fans alike can feel confident that there’s even more on the horizon for the next five.

Laurent Garnier - "Some superb tracks in here … great release."
Nick Warren - "Wonderful album from a label to be proud of."
Nick Holder - "Dope!"
Pablo Bolivar (AvantRoots) - "This is very nice."
Jose Marquez (Tribe Records / Djoon Experience) - "Great release with a wide variety of sounds to fill the needs of the dance floor."
Massimiliano Pagliara (Live At Robert Johnson) - "Nice compilation."
Adam Collins (Euphoria Records / Omni A.M.) - "This is a really beautiful collection of music. 'Enlightenment' is unreal. So magical."
Ejaz Ahamed (Pacha Dubai / Disclosure UK) - "I love this release … it's the bomb!"
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "This compilation demonstrates the variety of the label and is a superb collection of high quality beats. Always a pleasure to listen to and play out."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Beautiful music. I look forward to giving these many more listens."
Ivan Garci (Great Stuff / Deepwit) - "Fantastic tracks here … I love it."
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences) - "Outstanding package. I'm loving the layers and the depth of this entire release. I'm truly enchanted."
Robert Lochmann (Jazzmadass Radio Show) - "This is the sound of the beach in summer 2015."
Jean Jérome (Radio FG) - "Just fantastic … well done."

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Kartech - House Shift (Wind Horse Records)

Following two previous compilation tracks under his Kartech moniker on Wind Horse Records, Thakur Kartik is now primed to release his debut EP, House Shift. The label is excited to showcase this out-of-the-box deep house producer and mix engineer who has already done much to help shape the Wind Horse sound with his technical knowledge and musical background. Kartech has also proven himself as a talented DJ on the New Delhi scene, and fits right into the Wind Horse Records family as the label continues to push the promising new house music talent of India.

Kartech provides two melodic and provocative deep tech originals for the release. “House Shift” has slight psychedelic accordion-like flurries over warm keys and echoing stabs, all propelled by a rubbery bass line. Light touches of dub effects round the track off nicely. Still undoubtedly deep, “Saturn's Solution” rings true within its minimal electronic groove. A jacking snare cuts through the ebb of synthesizers as the track travels through unchartered sci-fi territory.

Wind Horse enlists three familiar names from the label’s roster to compliment “House Shift” with remixes, a tough task as the original is already impressive. Label owner Hamza gets loopy with the melodies, embellishing the low end through the reverberating vibrations of a fat bass guitar riff. House music soldier Steve Conlan also goes for the funky bass, even further testing the elasticity of the original with plenty of movement. Hailing out of Mumbai with a promisingly mature sound, Priyesh Patil provides the bounciest of the remixes with the use of short, impactful notes, all while maintaining an impressive atmosphere – the Wind Horse signature.

Djuma Soundsystem (Get Physical / Toolroom) - “Quality from India!”
Fabricio Peçanha (Moodmusic / Definition Records) - “Stunning!”
Pete Moss - “Great release. I really like the Priyesh Patil remix.”
Chris Udoh (Tigerhook) - “Every Wind Horse release has been a burner. This one’s just as hot!”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “A really excellent selection of grooves here. ‘Saturn’s Solution’ in particular is superb … I love the effects flowing through the rhythms.”
Tyler Stadius - “Sweet, warm grooves. It’s tough to choose a favorite.”
Matt Prehn (Oh So Coy Recordings) - “Damn! ‘Saturn’s Solution’ is frikken’ bad ass! Love it to bits! Very clever musically. The Priyesh Patil mix is also very good.”
Vincent Kwok - “Great deep house!”
Phonatics (Housesession Records) - “So much goodness in this release!”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “A fresh, funky feel … strong summer sounds.”
Kenny Substance (Pure Substance / Redflux) - “Another good release from Wind Horse. Both originals are wicked and the remixes are solid, too.”
Kadabra (House Hookup Radio Show) - “Really nice textures, especially ‘Saturn’s Solution’. Just all around great bass lines. Very warm.”
Dean Serafini (JJazproJect) - “Excellent work. Hamza’s mix stands out above the others a little but all sound pretty tasty to me.”
Jamie Topham (CDPool) - “Another great Wind Horse release. Quality productions all round with Priyesh Patil just nicking the remix honors for me.”
Niksa Dragolin (Eurostar Radio, Croatia) - “Wind Horse are starting to open up new frontiers in deep house … this is the latest example.”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.