Oxen Butcher - EP One (Muskox Records)

Muskox Records dig deeper into the Cheltenham, UK, scene with this exciting release by fresh producer duo Oxen Butcher. Their EP One for the label follows the pair's debut release, "Just Stay", which gained much exposure through BBC Introducing. With another release due on deep house giants Enormous Tunes' new imprint Enormous Chill in early 2016, Oxen Butcher appear to be on the cusp of a promising musical career. The emotive and finely produced sounds on EP One only further this impression.

The EP opens with "On The Cards" which captivates through a moody and relaxed house feel intertwined with a dreamily exotic vocal melody. The gentle piano melodies and deep bass are reflective and calming, serving to transport the dance floor to a warm, nostalgic place. "Inhale Exhale" follows, adding a tad more low-end drive to the release. Lush, enveloping pads, magical synth lines, and a hint of Rhodes piano give this one a special late night appeal. The percussive "Leave It All" closes the release with confidence, featuring a catchy, effected male vocal, a skippy rhythmic base, and the duo's signature lovely piano tones.

Phunk Investigation - "Good release … our favorite track is 'On The Cards'."
Larry Tee - "Beautiful!"
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - "Smooth deep tunes with a haunting vibe 'Leave It All' is a banging track a real stunner."
KP London (FEEL Radio Show) - "I'm very much in love with this EP."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "So beautiful … three absolute weapons here. 'Inhale Exhale' is so memorable right from the first listen."
Jon Manley (hOUSEwORX Radio Show) - "Haunting deep house from Oxen Butcher … all are sublime."
Brian Bacchus (Summit Sessions Radio Show) - "'On the Cards' is the favorite but 'Leave It All' is captivating as well. Great melodic sounds throughout the whole release."
SimonG (Deep South Audio) - "Smooth deepness all the way … lovely."
Cheets (Global Dance Sessions Radio Show) - "Gorgeous work!"
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing Radio Show) - "Creative deep house with indie dance flavors … I love it."
Tariq Ziyad (Nu Urban ERA) - "I've been supporting this fantastic EP for a good month or so … standout house music. Excellent."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Alistair Albrecht - Late Night (Muskox Records)

Muskox Records label boss Alistair Albrecht has impressively stepped up to the plate with the imprint's newest single, "Late Night". Alistair's impressive discography and experience 'in the trenches' show through in this impeccable deep house production, lovingly crafted with layers of melody and emotion. Featuring a smooth, jazzy interplay between piano and trumpet, the track's deep bass bounce and crisp rhythms guide the dance floor on a distinctive, musical journey. The cut has already made its debut on Nicky Romero's radio show, been re-edited by Bob Sinclair, and supported by Nick Warren, Mousse T, Goldfish, Mastiksoul, and Sonny Fodera. Now the chance has arrived to hear what the hype is about.

For the remixes, Alistair has first enlisted his good friend and Dutch DJ legend Dennis Christopher (Spinnin' Records) who delivers a lush and dubby treatment that is both ready for the beach as well as an after-hours underground affair. Sleek and sophisticated, Dennis's remix features a subtle female vocal and flowing synths, and effectively highlights repeated riffs from the original's trumpet. The second rework comes from new Muskox signings Svenson Music & To.ne who use more of the original's elements, but in a gorgeous 'chill out' context. A galloping hi-hat pattern guides the rhythm while building layers of electronic textures envelope the piano and horn parts. All in all, these tracks make for a brilliant, well-rounded single and another 'feather in the cap' for Muskox Records and Alistair Albrecht.

Nick Holder - "I'm digging this!"
Glenn Underground - "Nice grooves here."
Abicah Soul - "This is hot."
Gene Farris - "Good stuff!"
Robert Owens - "Nice tracks!"
Marques Wyatt - "I'm feeling this!"
Aki Bergen & Richter - "Nice remix by Dennis Christopher."
Claudio Coccoluto - "Great music."
Kai Alcé - "The Svenson & TO.NE mix is hot!"
Booker T. (Kings Of Soul / Liquid Sessions) - "Wicked vibes … full support."
Craig Whitfield (The HHA / Restless Soul) - "I really like this joint … very slick! I bet it sounds great on a big system at about 5 AM."
DJ Pope (Poji Records) - "The original mix is the one!"
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "All three are very nice here. I think the slightly deeper feel of the Dennis Christopher remix is the one which stands out, but to be fair all are great."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "Hands down one of the best records I have had the pleasure of receiving this year. The Jazz elements are brilliantly executed, matched with a standard of production that leaves you staggered. Damn good!"
Jon Manley (hOUSEwORX Radio Show) - "I'm liking the sultry, jazzy grooves on the Svenson Music & To.ne remix."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "A truly refreshing and eclectic deep house production."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Other2Sides - Loving Me Wrong (Muskox Records)

Muskox Records once again reaches into its hometown talent pool for the latest single from Other2Sides, the smooth and emotive "Loving Me Wrong". Hailing from Cheltenham, UK, Other2Sides is personified by a British house music sound that is nostalgic and bouncy with many of the characteristics of garage and the current bass scene. "Loving Me Wrong" is no exception … short, hypnotic organ chords, a crisp rhythm track, and the repeated vocal motif drive the track forward into a gorgeous, melodic breakdown sure to plunge the dance floor into a lost-in-the-music moment. This is underground house music at its best. After remixing Other2Sides' previous "Back Then" single, the Berlin-via-Venezuela producer Fernan Dust has a second go at Cheltenham's finest. Dust's version of "Loving Me Wrong" fully reimagines the track into a sparse and moody after hours affair featuring engaging percussive repetitions, snatches of organ, and echoey synth riffs. The vocal phases in and out as if tuning in from a long distance broadcast, giving the track an otherworldly feel. "Loving Me Wrong" is yet another exceptional single from Other2Sides and Muskox Records.

Tensnake - "I'm loving the breakdown."
Sebastian Davidson (Nightbird Music) - "Nice release … support!"
Toomy Disco (Kitsuné / Under The Shade) - "Cool vibes here. Really feeling the deep sense."
Vanilla Ace - "Cool sounds!"
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - "Lovely stuff … the original is great. Muskox always brings it!"
Mr. V. (Sole Channel Music NYC) - "Nice!"
Chris Fortier (Fade) - "The Fernan Dust remix is the one for me."
Tom Lown (Lucky Sun Recordings) - "This is great! Crisp deepness with a lovely breakdown."
DJ Craig C (Pound Boys) - "Nice single. I like the original the best but Fernan Dust's mix also has a nice vibe to it."
Hippie Torrales - "Nice Fernan Dust remix."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "A gorgeous slice of old school inspired garage."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "Classy stuff. I love the crystal clear production on the original mix. The remix is a cracker, too, with those big stabs that cut through mix."
Tariq Ziyad (Nu Urban ERA / Planet Rave) - "Absolutely gorgeous organ-led tech-house goodness. I've been listening to this over and over again!"
Jon Manley (hOUSEwORX) - "Deep, smooth, warm chords and a catchy vocal hook … nice groover, this."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Other2Sides - Hooked Up (Muskox Records)

Cheltenham local boy Other2Sides is back on hometown label Muskox with his unique blend of UK garage and house. After the massive success of his last release, "Back Then", supported by Roger Sanchez, David Vendetta, Stonebridge, Freemasons, and many more, he has done it again with a fantastic slice of classic house on "Hooked Up." The original has a chunky, rolling tech groove, playful old-school house chords, and plenty of percussive rim shots creating complex, exciting rhythms. Chopped up diva vocals and cool NY-accented chitter chatter balance each other out, switching back-and-forth between energetic and deeper tones. The package includes two equally great remixes from forthcoming Muskox artists Agei, with a darker tech feel, and Yoba, with a housier club vibe. Dig in.

Tensnake - "The original is nice and deep."
Motorcitysoul (Cocoon / Stir15) - "All three mixes are top notch … difficult to pick the best."
Fabricio Peçanha (Moodmusic / Definition Records) - "Stunning!"
Randall Jones (Audio Therapy / Baroque) - "That Agei remix is the bomb."
Moodymanc (20/20 Vision) - "I like the vibe of the original, though the remixes are nice, too."
Tom Lown (Savoir Faire) - "I like it! Refreshing deepness."
Vanilla Ace - "The original mix is nice."
Lorenzo al Dino (7th District Inc. / Royal Plastic) - "Solidly produced … a kickin', deep track."
Pete Williams (Natural Rhythm) - "Nice classic garage sound. The original of 'Hooked' is the one."
Alkalino (Estimativa / Audaz Recordings) - "The Yoba remix is my favorite."
Soul Minority - "Great release … nice deepness!"
Pat Lezizmo (Conya Records / Karmaloft) - "The original mix is the one for me … I'm digging the atmosphere. It feels like spring is coming!"
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "The original has my attention … dreamy, moody and deep. I'm also feeling the Yoba remix for late night twists."
Bogdan Taran (Dance Box Radio Show) - "I like this tune very much … it's melodic, it has groove, it's underground and has vocal hooks."
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences) - "The original and the Yoba remix are just so sweet. A really fine piece of true deep house music."
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - "A classic house sound on a lush synth playground … an ecstatic mood."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "What a beautiful and groovy slice of late night bliss."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.