DJ Enne - Shades Of House (Karmaloft Music)

Karmaloft Music is pleased to present a new ten track album from DJ Enne, a prolific musician and mastermind of Italo-inspired electro-disco-rock band Mohear. His solo releases have made their way onto labels like Compost and Permanent Vacation, but this comes as no surprise considering his close relationship to the Italian cosmic pioneers Baldelli and Beppe Loda. He spent much of the '80s absorbed in the afro-funky-cosmic-disco sound -- the reoccurring hyphen-bridged music descriptors reflective of his genre-bending tastes and, also, his fourth album: Shades Of House.

A collection of wide ranged house and (classic style) electro tracks with handmade, funky bass lines and soulful, cheerful hooks, Shades Of House was recorded in Enne's home-base of Munich with the sounds pretty much all played by the multi-instrumentalist himself. Opening with "Break Me", the album gets off to a romanticized and arpeggiated Italo disco-ish start, particularly potent in the delayed piano chords and step-it-up bass. Pulsing and tribal, "Congolia" features a foreboding bell and the complex rhythm of African hand drums sounding straight out of the Congo. "Pink Souls" marks a shift as the album's hauntingly cosmic number, full of drama and accented by spoken word. The pitch perfect, lush house of "Song For Kezia" eventually evolves into "Strings Of Life"-like piano ecstasy. A hefty slice of krautrock, "Allein" features German singer Jens Poenitsch with lyrics in his native tongue. These are just some of the highlights … with half the album already accounting for such an array of different styles, experiencing it in full will leave no doubt of Enne's knack for taking on any shade of house he sees fit.

Johnwaynes (Cécille Records / Compost) - "'Song For Krezia' is the one for me … well done!"
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - "Quel energy! I love this."
Vanilla Ace (OFF Recordings) - "'C Minor In My House' … that's for me."
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - "Lots of great tracks here . Very very nice sound."
Hardway Bros (A Love From Outer Space) - "'Song For Krezia' is a killer."
DJ Tonka (Tonka Tunes) - "'Congolia' is a sure player! Kinda tribal-meets-Doppelwipper-style tech-house. Me like!"
Aromabar (INFRACom!) - "Funky, deep, old school … on the spot!"
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "Yes, this is a simply superb collection of beats … a real example of how to make 'proper' house music, in all its glory."
Pat Lezizmo (Conya Records) - "Such a nice collection of tunes. 'Song For Kezia' is the highlight for me … great groove and that nice organ melody."
Richard Hardcastle (Solid State / All Out War) - "Distinctive and well-produced vocals in 'Allein' and 'Pink Souls' make those two stand out in a solid lineup … but all tracks very good, indeed."
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - "Retro feel but with a clear and solid production."
Logan Fisher (Haules Baules) - "A versatile and always entertaining album. DJ Enne doesn't put a foot wrong throughout. Great release."

Available now from Beatport, iTunes, and Juno Download

Mohear - Gadgets (Electunes)

The Italo-inspired electro-disco-rock combo Mohear are known to craft a catchy song that captures retro styles and updates them for a new sound that’s relevant today. “Gadgets” is their new single for Austria’s Electunes label, and is taken from the band’s recently release album Baby. It’s driven by characterfully cool vocals from Miss Sophie lamenting how attached we have become as digital captives living in a world overrun by electronic devices. Echoing pads, synths, and a bass line travel straight to funky-town with crescendoing electric organs and guitars taking control of the breakdown.

The remixes for “Gadgets” are many and varied, with something here for most DJs of wide-reaching tastes. With previous releases on Compost, Russian producer Sportloto turns in the first version, starting off with an arpeggiated synth straight out of the Chicago house’s most raw days, before introducing an organ bass riff and later spiraling into acid trippy-ness. The percussion is perfect with plenty of shuffling hats, drum flares, stacked claps, and a xylophone castanet combo that mimics the sequencing of the main synth. The Garage Remix from Mohear member DJ Enne follows with a fidgety bass sound, soulful keys, and plenty of percussive groove. The Irregular Disco Workers, made up of Italian producers Gregorio Assandri and Andrea Frittella, use plenty of guitar foreplay to warm things up before escalating into an all-enveloping rave bass line with a definite Chi warehouse feel. They also incorporate subtle acid sparks for the extra touch of heat to their remix. Viennese trio Struboskop tease out the vocals more than the other remixes, even pitching them down for some interesting interplay. They provide a more low slung and cosmic atmosphere with most of the instruments combining for a rhythmically layered track. As if the bongos on the Nu Gadget Remix don’t give it right away, Dansoul is a Brazilian house producer, but with sleazy nu-disco temperament as evidenced by the ’80s synths and very structured kick snare exchange. In a refreshing change of tempo, Berliner Sebastian Zangar, aka Databoy78, goes ‘dub’ with deep, echoing pad and stabs. Even with its many short, staccato notes, Zangar’s effects create a wondrous atmosphere.

DJ Rocca (Ajello / Supersonic Lovers) - “Great original track and superb remix collection … every remix is great. Full support!”
Space Ranger (Lovemonk / Grande Buffo) - “The Sportloto Acid Gadgets Mix is very cool. Reminds me a little bit of ‘Baby Wants To Ride.’”
Saulty (Downtown Party Network) - “The Sportloto remix is sick! I like the Irregular Disco Workers as well.”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “The Dansoul Nu Gadget Remix is a pretty fun track. I like the original, too.”
Tensnake - “Great pack!”
Johnwaynes (cecille/ Compost) - “The Databoy78 remix is the one for me.”
Sean Johnston (Hardway Bros / A Love From Outer Space) - “Once again, Electunes, great stuff!”
Andreas Kinzl (Aromabar / INFRACom!) - “A very useful bundle of remixes.”
Markus Schneider (The Robot Scientists / Emerald and Doreen) - “Love the driving bass lines … a very good package!”
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - “The Irregular Disco Workers and Struboskop versions will work very well in my sets.”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “The Sportloto Acid Gadgets Mix is epic, but I also really like the Databoy78 mix.”
Christos Kedras (Kapa Music / Beat Philosophy Radio Show) - “The Dansoul remix does it for me … glitchy nu-disco vibe with nice bounce on the groove.”
DJ Sabo (Sol*Selectas / Mo’Glo’ Radio Show) - “That Databoy78 is so deep!”
Jamie Topham (CDPool) - “An eclectic batch of mixes on offer for this. Enne’s Garage Remix is my personal fave. I also like the acidic sound of the Irregular Disco Workers and Dansoul’s funky nu-disco rub.”
Velanche (Velanche’s Playtime Radio Show) - “Plenty of good remixes here … I dig it.”
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - “The Irregular Disco Workers always deliver. Great remix.”
Andrew Duke (Andrew Duke In The Mix Radio Show) - “The first three remixes (Sportloto, Enne, and Irregular Disco Workers) are superb. It’s going to be a challenge deciding which version to play out first.”

Available now from Juno Download and iTunes.

Kitt Bang & Enne - SOUL PREACHER EP (Electunes)

Young gun Kitt Bang became a famous Munich resident DJ over the past ten years, most notably for his sets at Zombocombo freak-theater. The old dog Enne has spun and produced records for nearly thirty years. He’s created and remixed tracks for labels like Compost, Permanent Vacation, Nang, and Tirk. Enne is also a member of the acclaimed Electunes band Mohear. The combination of these two DJs should probably result in a generation clash. But, instead, they’re creating cool sounds that touch on the ‘retro’ while bringing in the ‘new’ for a decidedly timeless dance music style. Their dance music is funky and weird, born from plenty of hours of sessions utilizing classic, analog gear like those of Moog infamy. It’s a step beyond the usual nu-disco glut … quality sounds from qualified sound-makers.

The SOUL PREACHER EP features three snazzy original tracks, opening with the beat-tastic “Be Careful.” This cut is hardly as cautious as its title might convey, with heavy bass lines, thick analog synth work, and a vocal recalling the ‘Electronic Body Music’ glory days. A funky breakdown with electric piano and bongo percussion is unexpected but adds to the delicious caliber on display here. Deep house territory is breached with “I Got the Word” which also reveals the origin of the EP’s title. Uplifting pianos, high strings, swingy beats, and the ‘soul preacher’ vocal combine for a confident, soulful detour. “The Bush” follows, further showing the diversity of this duo with its jumpy, bluesy rhythm, ageless organ riffs, and a spoken vocal taken right out of swampland. Also, “Be Careful” gets a special remix from the Munich-based Bartellow (keyboardist in the band Pollyester). A driving four-on-the-floor replaces the original’s vintage-sounding breaks, and the track throbs and snakes along a late night path, enhanced by ultra-low bass and synthy stabs and melodic lines. Four cool cuts … another winner from Electunes.

Tensnake - “Somewhere between house and disco, this four tracker makes me smile over and over.”
Da Sunlounge - “I like! Refreshing stuff.”
Kid Loco - “‘I Got The Word’ and ‘The Bush’ are ace.”
Diz (Vizual, Classic) - “Chunky with a wiggle!”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “Pretty cool.”
Toomy Disco - “‘I Got The Word’ … house banger!”
Flash Atkins (Paper Recordings) - “I love ‘Be Careful’ which is right up my street and ‘The Bush’ is sweeeeeeet.”
Sleazy McQueen - “I’m into ‘I Got The Word’ … yeah!”
Irregular Disco Workers - “Really excellent tracks from house to indie sounds. Full support.”
mikeBurns (Disco Devil) - “‘I Got the Word’ is a total winner. Love it!”
Bruce Tantum (Time Out NY) - “Loving all of these, but ‘I Got the Word’ is freakin’ fab! Can’t wait to play that one at some outdoor party this spring or summer.”
Niksa Dragolin (Eurostar Radio, Croatia) - “A great mix of old and new with a twisted funky disco touch. Hmmm … seems I like it!”
Acid Ted (music blog) - “Downright funky in the sun.”
Phuturelabs (music blog) - “Sounding great! I want to play this on a big sound system soon!”
Deadbeat Disco (Radio Show, UK) - “Some very quirky deepness going down right here. ‘Be Careful’ in its original form is the pick for us; love that break and change in vibe midway through … very smart indeed. ‘The Bush’ is also cool for a more varied groove.”

Available now from Juno Download and Traxsource.

Mohear - Weird (Electunes)

Dipping deeper into the inspiring pool of Italo-disco, electric disco pop-rock combo Mohear is happy to reveal their latest sonic endeavor, the moody but tasty “Weird” on the Electunes label. Led by the icy vocals of Miss Sophie, “Weird” slinks and shimmies as if sneaking through a dark alley, its steady drum beat and synthesized arpeggiations cautiously leading the way. The song itself is appealingly retro, as if time traveling from the post-punk ’80s, but filtered though recent cosmic excursions. In fact, Mohear mastermind DJ Enne has played alongside the Italian cosmic pioneers Baldelli and Beppe Loda back in 1983 and one can certainly hear some of these influences in this production. Italian producer Brioski supplies a pair of remixes, with the first riding on a synthetic pulse accented by handy percussion flourishes. Brioski’s Bonus Mix shakes a bit more, with an added techno influence flavoring its mid-tempo groove. The digital release of “Weird” also features the original ‘pop’ version and a remix from the rising Robot Needs Oil, who adds blasts of wah-wah guitar and horn stabs among the synths and string glides, recalling a vintage Trevor Horn dance production. As a bonus, Manchester’s Kid Machine has remixed Mohear’s previous single “Go Away,” displaying a pop-Italo influence mixed with some dark ‘EBM’ elements that fit right in with “Weird.” Kid Machine’s remix will be exclusive to the vinyl release which is hand-numbered and limited to 500 copies. Prime time stuff here from Electunes and Mohear, suitable for retronauts and futuristas alike.

Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “The Brioski Bonus Mix is wonderful … I can’t wait to play it!”
Nick Warren - “A fabulous mix from Robot Needs Oil.”
Pete Herbert - “Oh, yes … I’m loving this. The Robot Needs Oil and Brioski mixes for me.”
Justin Robertson - “Some great stuff on here!”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “I like the Robot Needs Oil remix, and the original is pretty nice, too.”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “Great stuff from Mohear as always!”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “The Robot Needs Oil Remix is a brilliant pop moment … this one’s stuck in my head. The Brioski mixes are fly, as well. Nice one.”
Dr. Dunks (Still Going) - “Awesome!”
Alexander Robotnick - “The Brioski Bonus Mix for me.”
Hardway Bros - “This is 100% disco dynamite!”
Minus 8 (Compost, Stereo Deluxe) - “Nice ’80s Italo-disco style tunes! All mixes are good in my opinion. Cool!”
Ben Mono - “Loving the Brioski Bonus Mix!”
Makossa & Megablast - “Solid stuff!”
mikeBurns (Disco Devil, Phönix Project) - “I’m really tripping out on that Brioski Bonus Mix … love it!”
Da Wiseguy (RTE Pulse, Ireland) - “Wikkid nu-disco-esque goodness!”
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - “Both the Brioski and Kid Machine remixes are amazing, but I’m loving everything here.”
Simon Lister (People Get Real) - “Cold wave, cool wave … like!”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “The Kid Machine remix makes me feel like I’m back in Via Mecenate and dancing to Roberto Zanetti’s stuff in the year 1983.”
Black Alley (In Control Radio Show) - “The Brioski remix is where new wave meets nu-disco in an irresistible way.”

Available now from Juno Download and Traxsource.