My Neighbour Is - Moon's Reflection On A Quiet Lake (Cold Busted)

The stunningly prolific Manchester-based beat-monger My Neighbour Is has returned to the Cold Busted label for his eighth album of head nodding delights. Elegantly titled Moon’s Reflection On A Quiet Lake, this set of funky dance floor nuggets showcases the producer’s acumen for punchy, rolling rhythms, smooth melodic textures, and cleverly woven sample tapestries. Some highlights from this delectable downtempo buffet include “The Gas Lamp” with its night cruising funk, the jazzy organ-fueled stroll of “Abstract Paranoia”, “Little Friendly Ghost”’s spacey synth lead lines, and the evocative, wistful feel of “These Moments”. Moon’s Reflection On A Quiet Lake is perhaps the most accomplished effort yet from My Neighbour Is, evidencing an innovative producer on the rise.

Opolopo - "Nice!"
Kid Loco - "Really cool downtempo tracks."
The Reflex (G.A.M.M. / Basic Fingers) - "Quality beats!"
Ben Mono (Undertones Gang / Plant Music) - "Huge tracks … will certainly play these."
Rory Hoy (Howlin' Records / Super Hi-Fi) - "Amazing release … definitely supporting this!"
Belabouche (Midnight Riot / DiscoDat) - "Lovely and hypnotic music."
Anthony Mansfield (Roam Recordings / Hector Works) - "'Flash Mob' for me! Perfect for some summer time river ravin'."
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - "Fantastic songs and a killer album."
Mr. Bristow (Subtek / Tru:Funk) - "Some really cool soulful joints here."
Bruno From Ibiza (Ibiza Global Radio) - "Cool stuff to play on the beach!"
MadameFLY (mmRadio / BeatConcious) - "Sleek, infectious tracks full of deeper moments crafted for dance floor bumpin'."
Doc Proof (Funkanomics / FM4) - "Gives me chills … great work, dope beats."
Adrian Lugo (WEFT 90.1 FM) - "Another slab of quality instrumental hip hop from the Cold Busted crew. Tight drums, funky synths, hypnotic grooves."
Robert Lochmann (Jazzmadass Radio Show) - "Finger lickin' good!"

Available now from Bandcamp, Beatport, iTunes, and Spotify.

Mr Echo - Born To Be Blue (Cold Busted)

Cold Busted is pleased to present Born To Be Blue, a funky solo album from Mr Echo of Greek hip hop duo Q Funktion. Not that Mr Echo is totally on his own here … Born To Be Blue still features many collaborators, from Cold Busted regulars like Jenova 7, Es-K, My Neighbour Is, and mister T., to new names for the label such as Mononome, Padma Purana, and King Shi. Throughout the album there's a common thread of downbeat American music styles, but it's heavily frayed and pulled tight across world music influences. At times -- such as on album highlights "Moonchild", "Chrysanthemum", and "Nothing Gonna Change" -- Mr Echo finds himself pulling off Moby-level sampling, but in his own foggier and more heady way. Steadily creeping into the mood, the blues is ever present among the beats. Mr Echo and his Cold Busted companions have outdone themselves with this cohesive, but diverse, collaboration-filled album.

Cold Busted is pleased to present Born To Be Blue, a funky solo album from Mr Echo of Greek hip hop duo Q Funktion. Not that Mr Echo is totally on his own here … Born To Be Blue still features many collaborators, from Cold Busted regulars like Jenova 7, Es-K, My Neighbour Is, and mister T., to new names for the label such as Mononome, Padma Purana, and King Shi. Throughout the album there's a common thread of downbeat American music styles, but it's heavily frayed and pulled tight across world music influences with moodiness borrowed from the blues. Mr Echo and his Cold Busted companions have outdone themselves with a cohesive, but diverse, collaboration-filled album.

Kid Loco - "Great downtempo tracks."
Mark Farina - "I like these!"
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - "Pretty amazing. I haven't really heard this sort of hippie breakbeat sound since the early '90s. It's wonderful to hear this headspace again."
Nickodemus (Turntables on the Hudson) - "A very nice release! Good, moody sampling and cracking beats."
Abicah Soul - "I love it."
Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s) - "I love this album! It's hard to chose a favorite."
Jaymz Nylon (Nylon Trax) - "Great cinematic album … an amazing listening experience."
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - "Love it! Mr Echo is definitely one to keep an eye on."
Phat Phil Cooper (NuNorthern Soul) - "Lovely stuff … proper chilled vibes."
Mojo Rising (Cold Busted / F.A.M.I.L.Y.) - "Auditory bliss. All these hit that sweet spot."
Ross Wakefield (Part-Time Heroes / Hideout Sessions) - "Some tidy beats in here!"
DJ Doubles (Freestyle Fusion) - "A very nice, melancholic and chilled-out trip into the unknown."
DJ Tomas (Google Play / Umoja HiFi) - "Like the best releases from Ninja Tune, MoWax, Cup of Tea, and other respected downtempo imprints, this album impresses with its consistency and production quality."
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - "Stunning … simple as that, people."
Myxzlplix (Subdivisions Global) - "I love these tracks. Excellent soul and downtempo vibes."

Available now from Beatport, iTunes, and the Cold Busted shop.

Koka Mass Jazz - Smile (Cold Busted)

Koka Mass Jazz is the solo-project-turned-party from Konstantin Katsarski. Katarski is a sound designer, musician, songwriter, composer, producer, and engineer -- he does it all -- based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Konstantin could remain a solo artist, but after creating the concept of Koka Mass Jazz in 2013 a band of musicians quickly became involved. Their sound is that of a drunken funk brigade … fun and full of embellishments. Listeners can expect this talented group's work to cover styles ranging across funky breaks, nu jazz, funk, soul, and even a bit of afro-beat. Much of the music and arrangement of the songs are composed by Katarski while the lyrics are written by Denitsa Georgieva.

Their first single release, "Smile”, made its way onto Cold Busted's Bust Free compilation, also serving as the first single from their forthcoming album Groovy Jam Shoes. The original shines bright enough to get anybody out of their shell -- it's a true, feel good funk party starter. For this follow-up, Cold Busted has pulled from its collective family of producers to provide an eclectic, beat-heavy remix package as only their roster could.

The young, prodigious Belgium-based talent Poldoore twists and squeezes "Smile" out into a model nu-disco affair with cut up vocals for added energy. In the hands of the Green Street the song is somehow made even funkier with extra drum rolls and only the best bass line bits. mister T. steps up to the plate with the release's most club-friendly remix … the Athens transplant gives it some serious Greece with a sleazy electro drum break and lead synth. Diving deep into that Cold Busted downtempo sound the world has come to know and love, Manchester's My Neighbour Is packs things into a condensed form while the Polish producer LoopMaffia extends the original elements out in his subtle, and slightly psychedelic, Moonsoul Dub. To wrap up the single, label boss Vitamin D delivers a more linear Re-Edit alongside an instrumental version of the remix from Green Street.

Kid Loco - "Great original track, and superb remixes."
Fort Knox Five - "Loving the jazzy breakbeats! I'm digging the mister T. remix and the original."
All Good Funk Alliance - "Wow, all these remixes are really dope … nice, jazzy, soul vibes all over the fu--king place."
Shantisan (Salted Soul / One Note Samba) - "It's not easy to select a favorite remix here … a nice bundle from start to finish."
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp) - "A very good remix package. I like the remixes by My Neighbour is, Vitamin D, and Poldoore."
tOtALcULt (Cult Music / NuFunk) - "Wow, tough job picking a favorite version. The original is super funky, and the remixers all bring something special to the party. Another strong release."
Flashbaxx - "Nice, diverse remixes. I like the Poldoore remix … it reminds me of the good old Thomas Bangalter days."
Lebrosk (Mixmag) - "I'm loving the chilled vibes on the Poldoore remix!"
Neil Bopperson (Wah Wah 45s / Le Mellotron) - "Loopmaffia's Moonsoul Dub is nice."
DJ Chewy (Alphabeatsoup) - "The original version of this is such a good tune … great vocal in particular. The remixes turn it into a banger, especially Poldoore's disco lick and Green Street's more b-boy breaker."
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) - "Great rockin' vocal funk ... yeah. Moving!"
Aja Allsop (Ketch-A-Vibe Radio Show) - "Eclectic … full of energy and funk with a gritty bounce."
Clairvo (Tilos Radio, Hungary) - "Each remix has its place during a DJ gig. The originality shines through this release."

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop (Bandcamp).

My Neighbour Is - Buddha Fly (Cold Busted)

The prolific Manchester-based artist known as Robot Needs Oil has been found covertly recording downtempo, reggae, and hip hop fueled beats under the curious name of My Neighbour Is. Buddha Fly is the latest album for the Cold Busted label under this moniker and it serves as an immersive downtempo / hip-hop hybrid. Half pitched-up and pungently stringy, half laid-back and enveloped by a smoky haze, the album could be the soundtrack to a fable … and a funky fable, at that. This split sees the release's ten tracks teeter on the edge of trip-hop at times while flirting with antique sounds from days gone by at others. Anyone looking for an out-of-body experience traveling partner will find their match in Buddha Fly.

Nightmares On Wax - “Nice selection of tracks.”
Kid Loco - "'No 1' is a really great old skool beats track."
DJ Moneyshot (Solid Steel Radio / NinjaTune) - “Boom bap bidness … gonna put ‘No 1’ at the head of the crates for sure.”
Ohmega Watts (Ubiquity Records / Lo-Fi) - “I really dig this record! It takes me back to the mid-late '90s … yet, with a twist of the modern beat era. It in no way sounds dated, but, as all good music, remains timeless. Pleasant surprise!”
Inland Knights - “More top jams from Cold Busted.”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - “Perfect funky downtempo beats … as good as Nightmares on Wax and all the other big names from the ‘90s … full support.”
Minus 8 (Compost / Stereo Deluxe) - “Nice downtempo with a slight exotica touch.”
Mojo Rising (Journees Music / F.A.M.I.L.Y.) - “Excellent work all the way around … hard to pick a favorite, but those Asian strings in ‘Buddha Fly’…”
Dima Studitsky(Headz.FM / Compost) - “Great album … in the best tradition of classic downtempo.”
DJ Tomas (Friday Night Session / Google Play) - “Damn, the flute on ‘Wah Love’ is a fantastic accent to an already great arrangement. Each of these tracks shines in their own way and the drum programming absolutely snaps and cracks … a very thorough production.”
Robin Parris (Parris & Vanucci / Dancefloor Outlaws) - “Another solid selection of lazy Sunday beach beats.”
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio) - “Love the album … this sort of jazzy, instrumental hip-hop is perfect.”
Mark Reynolds (Just Chillin Podcast) - “Hypnotic, sexy, and smooth … soundtrack to the summer (well, the southern hemisphere at least)!”
Amrisha Prashar (IAMRISHA / Radio 79 New Delhi) - “Laid-back smokey vibes … feeling this … especially ‘French Toasts'.”
riccicomoto (Ibiza Global Radio) - “Very nice tunes with soul and a movie ambience … begs a deeper listen!”
David Bassin (KUSF / Space Invader Radio) - “A bundle of boss beats!”
Clive Craske (RadioReverb, UK) - "A wonderfully laid back album, worthy of The Big Chill in its heyday. Becoming deeper from the outset, until we get to the title track of meditative excellence."
Lemar Soulflower (Soul Deep NYC) - "Top notch party rockers and cinematic soundscapes. Definitely a release not to be missed."
Clairvo (Tilos Radio FM90.3) - “Essential … nothing less than essential!"

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