P-REZ - Envision EP (Not So Fast Records)

The latest from Not So Fast Records is here and ready to take over dance floors at supersonic speeds. The Envision EP comes from the Fresno, California, mover and shaker Steve Perez, aka P-REZ. With releases on the likes of Denied Music, Whiskey Pickle, and Bounce House, P-REZ returns to his own Not So Fast imprint to lay down more of his potent grooves. Transmitting a funky sound driven by quirky 303-acid action, it’s the type of prime time sound celebrated at P-REZ’s Frisky event, now in its 15th consecutive year of house music hijinks.

“Feel It” opens up the proceedings with a killer rhythm track, a deep, bouncing bass line, strategically placed acid flourishes, and soulful vocal drops. It’s got energy to go. “So Crazy” follows with definite after-hours appeal, intro’ing with a sparse but funky drum track and repeating spoken vocals dipped in reverb. Midway through the acid takes the track in new directions. Lauro Martins (CZ, Audiophile Deep) also contributes a remix for “So Crazy,” bringing the vibe even deeper into underground territories. “That 303” does what it says on the tin, propelled by its acid bass and lead lines alongside trippy percussion effects. P-Rez takes the mic on this one, delivering a cool, rhythmic spoken bit that praises the acid in the house. Four crucial tracks … don’t sleep on the Envision EP!

Dutchican Soul (Strictly Rhythm) – “Dope beats! Nice deep vibe.”
Louis Huges (6th Sense Music) – “That 303 is a bit of peak time madness, isn’t it? So Crazy is also a cool track.”
Lee Guthrie (Click Therapy) – “Feel It is the track for me here.”
Vanilla Ace (Toolroom) – “That 303 stands out.”
Andrew Emil (Broadway & Wilson) – “This is a dope release!”
Richie Hartness (Untitled Music) – “Quality quirkiness.”
Jay Hill (Superfreq) – “Feeling the Lauro Martins Remix.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Sometimes all you need is a 303, and that is exactly what we have here. Ace!”
Salvatore Logicfusion (Deepinradio) – “The Lauro Martins Remix is so cool!”
Wilbour Craddock (Groovewest) – “Fantastic late night bubbler with a hint of acid and a spacey vocal hook. This is ready for prime time.”

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

P-REZ - Night Sweats EP (Not So Fast Records)

Fresno, California’s P-REZ has been steadily making waves and honing his funky sound through releases on the likes of Bounce House, Whiskey Pickle, Household Digital, and Blunted Funk, and with his monthly party Frisky which has run for eleven groovy years. Now P-REZ (known to some as Steve Perez) leaps forward into the acid zone with the Night Sweats EP, released on his own Not So Fast Records imprint. Featuring four high-charged original cuts, this EP is a sonic energy drink for any club-goer within listening range. “Alive” opens the release, and owes a bit of debt to Beat Street and like-minded classics. The rhythms are crisp and the bass line bouncy, and the cut builds nicely with energetic vocal drops and stereo effects. “Astronaut Juice” follows, filled with plenty of tripped-out elements and cool percussion floating above its solid four-on-the-floor. This one’s got prime time underground warehouse flavor. The EP closes with two massive acid tracks, the first being the aptly named “Because Acid”. Driving old school drum machine beats, totally effective voice snippets, and a big 303 line power this one right onto the dance floor. Finally, “The Shed” recalls early UK acid house with its hypnotic bass pulse, spoken vocal grabs, and echo effects. The 303, of course, again plays a prominent role, giving this cut unmistakable after-hours appeal.

DJ Jazzy L (Jazzy Lounge Radio) – “Whoa! Alive is super funky!”
Eric Davenport (Guesthouse) – “This might be my favorite EP released in 2016!”
Hippie Torrales (Cyberjamz Radio) – “Digging this!”
Snooba (Radio Panik) – “Because Acid is infectious!”
DJ Solveg (O.X.O Records) – “Excellent release!”
Enne (Electunes) - “Alive is really good.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Love it! The Shed is a weapon. Powerful.”
Kenny Substance (Pure Substance) – “Alive & The Shed are really cool.”
Jorge Font (AUDIO nights radio show) – “Acid!”
Tariq Ziyad (Planet Rave) – “This is outstanding! More of this please, every track goes in!”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, iTunes, And Spotify.

DJ Naz - Solid EP (Not So Fast Records)

California funky house imprint Not So Fast Records returns with a quartet of club-primed house cuts from DJ Naz, collected as the Solid EP. DJ Naz is an established mover-and-shaker of the San Francisco scene, as part owner of In House Records – a beloved and much-missed shop that satisfied many of the city’s vinyl addicts – and co-founder of the Not So Fast label. “Wha Project” sets the tone with a commanding four-on-the-floor beat making way for filtered, psychedelic hats and squelchy synth stabs. It’s a tracky and highly mixable affair that should find a home in many DJs’ tool kits. “Tech Feed” follows, adding an ominous, deep atmosphere with processed vocal snippets and a subtle but funky bounce. Acidic 303-like staccatos and heavy rhythms propel “Acid HeadZ”, aiming squarely for the most intense underground dance floors. “Mountain Woods” closes out the EP with its tight groove, pulsing bass, and spaced-out synth work. Together these tracks make for a tasty bento box of crucial club beats … indeed a ‘Solid’ house music delivery from DJ Naz and Not So Fast Records.

Hector Moralez (Minority Musid / Fries & Bridges) – “Awesome stuff, thanks. I’ll be playing these.”
Lee Guthrie (Click Therapy / Wiggle) – “Tech Feed is for me on here.”
DJ EMan (Liberate Recordings) – “I can use all of these.”
Dean Facer (Resident Advisor / OurHouse Magazine) – “Very nice release.”
Tone Rangole (Household Digital) – “Nice deep funky tech grooves on this EP!”
DJ Craig C (Peace Bisquit) – “Some wicked late night stuff here!”
Iain Rejekt (Rejekt Music / Space Ibiza) – “Tech Feed & Acid Heads are both doing it for me!”
HighTower (JELEWA.de) – “Nice EP, full support for all tracks.”
Tripíque (Whiskey Pickle) – “Lotsa good stuff here, will give it a spin.”
Tariq Ziyad (Planet Rave / Dark Horse) – “I love house music, and LOVE this EP! Full support.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, iTunes, AND Spotify.

Lauro Martins - Open Doors EP (Not So Fast Records)

Northern California label Not So Fast Records bounces back with a slammin' new release from the Brazilian-born / Golden State-raised Lauro Martins. His Open Doors EP transmits his dark, pounding house music sound out of unsuspecting speakers and confidently onto underground dance floors. Using an array of music hardware – from vintage to new-school synthesizers and drum machines – Lauro has created a trio of gritty, rough-at-the-edges tracks that bristle with tech house energy and deep house grooviness. "Creep & Crawl", "1991", and the EP's title track all convey peak after-hours moments, serving as effective set-builders for tough and tight DJ sessions. NSF label boss Naz and Voluptuous Records' own EZO contribute compelling remixes, offering psychedelic effects and meaty bass lines to augment the originals. It's time to get down.

DJ Heather - "Nice EP!"
Gene Farris - "Good stuff."
Jason Hodges - "'Open Doors' is dope!"
Lupe Fuentes (Inhouse Records) - "Nice!"
Onionz - "The EZO remix of 'Open Doors' is nuclear!"
J-Dub (Farris Wheel) - "Solid transitional little bangers to keep the floor bouncing."
Golf Clap (Country Club Disco / Simma Blac) - "'Creep & Crawl' is a dope track."
Spettro (Get Physical) - "Nice groove on 'Open Doors'."
Martin Villeneuve (Hotfingers / Jungle Funk) - "Nice one!"
Jon Manley (hOUSEwORX Radio Show) - "Banging EP from Lauro Martins … '1991' is the bizzness!"
Greg Eversoul (Elektek / Evasive) - "Nice, bouncing tracks."
Louis Hughes (6th Sense Music) - "A nice solid release here … proper underground house music!"
Harry Avers (Noice!) - "'1991' is great … tools galore on this EP."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "Superb EP. The Ezo remix is a bit special with a seriously dark break. Overall, I love the way the EP is aimed at those darker rooms but I can see these working for loads of DJs everywhere."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.