Jordan Strong - Shine Down (Uniting Souls Music)

Jordan Strong returns to Uniting Souls Music for the slinky after-hours ride of “Shine Down.” Hot on the heels of “The Tribe, The Hive,” the previous USM release from the Los Angeles-based DJ/producer, “Shine Down” is a hearty dose of flowing deep house mixed with a captivating touch of Italo disco. Simmering pads and spacey vocoder action lay over a prominent bass line and punchy rhythm kit. Echoed handclaps, disco toms, and cool electronic piano chords add to the track’s dance-floor appeal. It’s potent stuff.

The remixes are varied and equally cool. L.A.’s SAAND (Dilate, Sol Selectas) creates a psychedelic interpretation that wouldn’t be out of place in the dark backroom of a late-90s Bay Area underground party. Pacific northwest veteran Michael Manahan (Hunt & Gather) delivers a crisp, insistent take that reveals layers and cosmic vibrations throughout its runtime. Lee Houser (Proper Slap, Filter Music) — the Seattle duo of John Lee and Simon Houser — remodel “Shine Down” into a lush and hypnotic slice of classic deep house. And then Jordan Strong returns with his Beachcomber Remix, offering a bigger sound accented by a rousing 80s-style guitar solo. Another stacked, quality release from Uniting Souls.

DJ EMan (Liberate Recordings) – “Michael’s mix is fire!”
Nick Warren (Hope Recordings) – “A great track. Loving the SAAND remix as well.”
Dutchican Soul (Strictly Rhythm) – “Dope remixes. I will be playing this.”
Alkalino (Audaz Recordings) – “The original and SAAND remixes for me.”
Michael Sarafini (Gramaphone Records) – “Nice work by Lee Houser and Jordan on the Beachcomber remix.”
Lars Behrenroth (DSOH radio show) – “Nice package here. Diggin’ the Michael Manahan remix.”
Mark Mac (Sounds Collective) – “Love this one fellas. Cheers!”
Snooba (Radio Panik) – “Meditative and introspective.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “Every track is from the top draw! Brilliant.”
Dr. Best (Radio Z Nuremberg) - “A superb release from Jordan Strong! Love the original version and the remixes by Saand, Michael Manahan and Lee Houser.”

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

Various Artists - Winter Sampler: 20 Year Compilation (Uniting Souls Music)

Twenty years of Uniting Souls! The Seattle institution – collective, events promoter, and record label – celebrates an impressive two decades since formation with a compilation showcasing some of the crew's strongest contributors. Across top notch eight cuts, the Winter Sampler: 20 Year Compilation delivers the deep, underground beats that Uniting Souls is known for.

Michael Manahan (Hunt & Gather) starts off the sampler with the groovy "Center Peace," featuring evocative vocals from Tamika Jackson which alternates between sung and spoken phrases. Spacey pads and sharp chords drive things along nicely. Long-time Uniting Souls denizen Tokita (Night Grooves) then unleashes "Jazzcid" which funks up the proceedings. Its delicious nods to the old school are irresistible. "Everyday" comes courtesy of Jeromy Nail (Innerflight Music), dropping intricate beat programming, bouncing sub bass, and a slinky dance floor vibe. DJ duo Lee Houser (Tilted Records) contributes two cuts, with "Art of State" exhibiting a classic, psychedelic west coast deep house flavor. The pair's "Don't Even Know Me" then gets remixed by veteran Uniting Souls DJ Jordan Strong who sublimely places the cut right in the middle of an underground basement party at 4 AM. Reno, Nevada, DJs Sulli & 5657 are up next, delivering some particularly chunky beats and a ton of late night atmosphere. Live electronic trio, renowned & much-loved in the Pacific Northwest festival community, Madly In Dub lend an exotic flair with "Suenos Verdes," and Jordan Strong returns to close out the compilation with the deep, percussive, and dark "Picture In The Sky," a collaboration with Shonja.

Winter Sampler: 20 Year Compilation serves as a brilliant 'state of the nation' for Uniting Souls and its family. The label and collective is as strong as ever, and there's no sign of slowing down. Seattle's house music underground is in good hands.

Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart) – “I’m feeling Tokita’s Jazzcid, nice work.”
Doc Martin (Sublevel) – “Nice one guys!”
Lorenzo al Dino (7th District Inc. / Radio One Ibiza) – “Solid package of tracks. Well Done.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “Congrats on two decades guys, great stash of music!”
KJ (Integrity Recordings) – “Real tight. Sweet.”
Jon Lee (Tilted Records) – “Fantastic release! Great representation of NW sounds.”
Blueshift (Madhouse Records / Nurvous) – “Great tracks here. Will be supporting a bunch of them.”
DJ P-Rez (Not So Fast Records) – “This whole compilation is sick!”
Randall Jones (Audio Therapy / Baroque) – “Killer comp. Lots of great music here. My favorites are Jazzcid and Picture in the Sky. Will play on the radio show.”
Black Alley (In Control Radio Show) – “Strong compilation. Will be played on my upcoming show. Congrats to 20 years!”

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

Lee Houser - Seattle Sessions, Vol. 3 (Uniting Souls Music)

Uniting Souls Music continues its focus on Seattle's long-standing electronic music scene with a stellar new release from Lee Houser. This may seem to be the name of a single person, but it's actually a 'wonder-twin-powers-activate' type scenario consisting of two of the city's more established players. On one side is Jon Lee, who for two decades has influenced Seattle's house music scene through involvement with area record shops, venues, and the storied Tilted Records label. On the other is Simon Houser, known for spending an abundant time in the studio when not DJ'ing across town. Together, as Lee Houser, the pair have releases on a potpourri of underground labels including Proper Slap, KRecordings, and Filter Music.

With the third installment of Uniting Souls' Seattle Sessions series, Lee Houser delivers two formidable late night deep house tracks primed and ready for dance floor elevation. "You Too" begins with a hypnotic bell-like synth pattern and a subdued, repeating pad over a solid four-on-the-floor beat. The track confidently builds as a punchy low end and a helping of psychedelic sounds lead into a dramatic but tasteful breakdown. It's a delicious combination well-suited for after hours adventures. "Don't Even Know" is next, and it's a more laid-back and heady deep house affair. Calming chords are juxtaposed by a commanding bass line and a mysterious vocal snippet while a pizzicato synth line supplies an exotic melody that adds to the wayfaring feel of the track.

Diz (Iz & Diz / Visual) - "Sexy."
Pablo Bolivar - "I'm feeling 'You Too' … nice vibe."
Chris Fortier (Fade) - "This sounds good!"
Vanilla Ace - "Nice one."
Greg Eversoul (Elektek / Evasive) - "Solid!"
Gabe Alexander (SAFE Music / Colectivo Futuro) - "Heady, trippy tunes … I like it."
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - "Both tracks are nice."
Tee Cardaci (Low Down Grooves / Sine Qua Non) - "Another solid release from the Uniting Souls camp … big tunes!"
Deepshizzol (MyHouse-YourHouse Radio) - "'You Too' is definitely a cracking early doors track … nice."
Adam Warped (Whiskey Pickle / Strange Days) - "I like the laid back appeal of 'Don’t Even Know'."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "'You Too' is a great track … I love that big bass line."
Tariq Ziyad (Nu Urban ERA) - "Dayuuum! This is good … full support."
Sandro Bianchi (Ibiza Sonica Radio) - "I'm really in love with this!"

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, iTunes, and Spotify.