Mojo Rising - Moving Forward (Cold Busted)

Moving Forward, the latest album from Los Angeles DJ / producer Mojo Rising, also pleasantly looks to the recent past just a bit … harking back to the heyday of downtempo music as heard on fabled imprints like Mo'Wax, Pork, and Cup Of Tea. The Cold Busted label, today's premier ambassador of smoked-out funky grooves, has given Mojo Rising the platform to release this outstanding set of fourteen tracks, each presenting a vibe at times spacey, sometimes hazy, and always downright funky. Moving Forward is an album of highlights, such as the lush and emotive breakbeat-fueled title track, the heavy boom-bap swing of "Jazzy Vapors", and the digital future funk of "MindFAQ". Special guests provide cool collaboration, including Little Planet, World View, Alex Hudish, and fellow Cold Busted artist Jenova 7. Throughout the sound is distinctive and fleshed-out, expertly mixing these dusty beats with modern production techniques. It becomes clear that if, at first, the cuts seem a throwback to downtempo's prime, Mojo Rising indeed updates the genre, Moving Forward towards a funky rhythm resurgence.

Kid Loco - "Great stuff and strong beats."
Mark Farina - "Good stuff!"
All Good Funk Alliance - "Digging 'Jazzy Vapors' … nice jam."
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp) - "Top notch release … all winners."
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - "Lovely head travel …"
Danny Massure (Spring Strut / Ticklejunk) - "Super tasty! Funky and dreamy downtempo, perfect for summer."
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - "Really lovely stuff here."
Hippie Torrales - "Great release … some real nice tunes."
Scrimshire (Wah Wah 45s) - "I'm really enjoying this … will be playing 'In The Pocket' for a bit."
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - "Funky stuff right here!"
Belmar Sol - "Ridiculous jazzy downtempo flavor. Mojo Rising has really killed it on this second LP!"
Morphosis (The Hong Kong Ping Pong Club) - "Straight-up good vibes throughout … I love the dirty funk of 'MindFAQ'."
Jamie Topham (CDPool) - "Some cool, twisted vibes going on … electro funk to jazz fusion and beyond."
DJ Tomas (ForwardEver) - "These beats positively snap! Just the right touch of Mo' Wax / Cup O Tea vibes, and up-to-date beatsmanship."

Available now from The Cold Busted Bandcamp Shop, Beatport, and iTunes.

DJ Pippi & Sandro S - Fatal (Cold Busted)

Italian by name, German by trade, and with a career forged by Ibiza, DJ Pippi once again has hooked up with Sandro S, the name behind one of Italy's top house labels, CibiCaldi Recordings. Together, along with a short vocal feature by Laurance B, they have created a vibe-laden, breezy and jazzy cut for Cold Busted. Chilled, but not lacking in groove, "Fatal" is a rhythmic and classy killer with impeccable timing, landing during a summer where much of the world's attention is focused on Brazil. Using bells, shakers, and a hiccup of vocal chants, a tinge of samba gives way to the refined cool of a balearic touch, both reflective of paradise settings.

Moving on to the remixes, Green Street are three production minded friends that host the Str8 Busted Podcast out of the southeastern United States. Their Dub ups the funk with more prominent guitars and the introduction of a wailing organ melody and stabs. Mojo Rising hails from a Los Angeles rave DJ background, having taken that initial spark and channeled it into academia in order to grow as a downtempo and trip-hop producer. He adds smooth, rhythmic glitches, more booming -- but deep -- bass, and an angelic vocal hymn to the breakdown. Finally, Polish Cold Busted fam LoopMaffia takes a complete departure from the original heading towards experimental electronica with mutating synths, hard-to-place percussive elements, and strange voices fitting of the 'Grim Void' remix title. An included instrumental of the original rounds off another hot Cold Busted release sure to kickstart an idyllic summer.

Bill Brewster (djhistory.com) - “I really like the original and the Green Street dub.”
Basement Freaks (Goodgroove / SunsetSoul) - “Cool … I like the quica!”
Kid Loco - “The Green Street dub … nice one!”
Jask - “This is very nice.”
All Good Funk Alliance - “Cool jam … and I’m loving the remixes.”
Inland Knights - “Love it!”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - “All good, it’s hard to choose a favorite. I think the Green Street dub is the one for my DJ sets but I also dig the spaced-out version by LoopMaffia.”
Robin Parris (Parris & Vanucci / Dancefloor Outlaws) - “The Green Street dub sounds like the ghost of Morcheeba’s ‘Big Calm’. Cool for hot, lazy summer evenings.”
Pathaan (Globetronica) - “Groovy!”
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) - “Great vibes for the summer!”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - “I like the original’s pulsating rhythm and driving bass.”
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - “The LoopMaffia remix is a solid left field number.”
Clairvo (Tilos Radio, Hungary) - “Each song here has its own character, and all will get played!”
Niksa Dragolin (Eurostar Radio, Croatia) - “Very hot stuff. I love the original tune … it’s perfect for what I’m playing at beach parties. Yeahhh!”
Roger Cowell (The Joint Sessions, Barcelona) - “Very nice. I’m going for the original version for this summer’s beach party sessions … it will fit in perfectly, with the Brazilian vibes.”

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop.

Mojo Rising - On the Horizon (Cold Busted)

Los Angeles DJ / producer Mojo Rising has returned to the Cold Busted label with a diverse and funky new album titled On The Horizon. A key player in California’s dance scene since 1992, DJ Mojo (as he goes by when behind the decks) is known for eclectic sets that span downtempo, drum n’ bass, breakbeat and house. He has the distinction of having held residency at three of Los Angeles’ most beloved underground gatherings - What? Afterhours, F.A.M.I.L.Y, and Insomniac (which now organizes the epic EDC festival) - and DJ’ed at the memorable Organic ’96 festival alongside the Orb, Underworld, and the Chemical Brothers. With On The Horizon, Mojo Rising leaves little left to desire offering a full album of savory slow burners that should satisfy funk freaks and beat heads the world over. Awash with pleasant idiosyncrasies and plenty of bouncy, soulful breaks, tracks like “Boom Boom Martini,” “Bumpy Ride,” and “Caravan” easily stand out as favorites. Mojo has also collaborated with Cold Busted label mate mister T. - still riding a wave of praise for his LP Play It Loud - on the latin-flavored “Just Listening.” Whether recouping from a decadent night on the town or just getting ready to hit the club, this spotless manifesto of modern downtempo tunes will add a splash of class to any occasion … there’s no going wrong here.

All Good Funk Alliance - “Real beats always win. This is funky and fresh, buddies. We’re digging it here at the AGFA headquarters, for shanky.”
Kid Loco - “Great tracks … this is a pretty cool album.”
Quincy Jointz - “Nice downbeat sounds. I love it.”
LTJ X-Perience - “Super funk!”
Stereo 77 - “Cold Busted is quickly becoming a favorite label for me and this album is a perfect example why.”
Danny Ward (Dubble D / Moodymanc) - “The funk is in full effect!”
Basement Freaks - “Simply dope.”
Danny Massure (Spring Strut ) - “Nice, chilled out, jazzy downtempo.”
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) - “Yes! Every track is so groovy … eclectic sets are coming.”
DJ Kid Stretch - “Heavy bass lines all over! Dope!”
Aja Allsop (Ketch-a-Vibe Radio Show, UK) - “Funky, jazzy, diverse, and wonderful!”
Mark Reynolds (Just Chillin Radio Show, Australia) - “Flitting between retro cool and modern funk effortlessly, this is a great release.”
Styles Davis - “Another solid release from Cold Busted! A great blend of funk, soul, and solid beats. This is great for the DJs but good for just listening too.”
Marc Lacasse (Urbnet) - “All fantastic, soul-inspiring sounds … soundtrack material for sure. I dig this moody style.”
Javi Frias (Sound Dimension Radio Show, Spain) - “Very nice soulful, jazzy stuff … plenty of summer vibes. I really like it!”
Clairvo (Jazz Drive Radio Show) - “Full of ideas and creative soundscapes! Cold Busted knows again where to turn to.”

Available now from Beatport.