Tropicall - I Just Can't Stop (Tree Sixty One)

Summer chasers with one foot in Brazil and the other in Barcelona, the Tree Sixty One label is pleased to present a new EP and highlight a couple of shifts. The artwork on the cover is a fresh look for them and the sounds contained within likewise incorporate a new style for Brazilian duo Tropicall, comprised of Ariel Haller and Fabio PSK who each have over two decades of production experience. Hoping to glorify the old and new school essence of disco, funk, and house music, the label's aim is to provide a mix of classic and traditional soulful house blended with the most modern deep and garage takes on the sound. So far feedback has been solid, gaining support and play from house legends like Kerri Chandler, Danny Krivit, Tyree Cooper, and more. The I Just Can't Stop EP with Tropicall featuring singers Bárbara Nay and Sabrina C is also sure to hit the mark.

The title track contains instantly familiar vocals and piano stabs that harken back to the good ol' days while the rubbery bass line is in tune with the most forward sounds of today. In much the same ivory light, Bárbara Nay's diva vocals on "Nightlife" are accompanied by classic pianos and a show-stealing bass display with responsive layered chords that share its slightly old school edge. "Sambahouse" is a serious percussive workout, as to be expected, making full use of Brazilian rhythms and once again giving way to a hybrid low end that also serves as a lead. Taking a darker turn, "Getaway" makes use of some rougher stylistic elements often found in the grimier corners of the UK. Sabrina C's vocals are embellished and would not sound out of place in a pop song, but -- make no mistakes about it -- this one is headed straight for the underground clubs. Overall the release looks to the past while making forward progress, a tug of war in which the DJs and clubgoers will both win.

Graeme Park - "Highly appealing."
Lenny Fontana (Ministry Of Sound / Kult) - "I like the cool MK feel with the vocal cut ups. This will work in my deeper sets."
Tyree Cooper - "Good late night music!"
Vincent Kwok - "Great tracks!"
Marques Wyatt - "Good vibes."
DJ Craig C (Pound Boys) - "Holy hotness … I love the vibe on this one."
Hippie Torrales - "Funky grooves."
Davidson Ospina - "Great summer tunes."
Leo Portela (PMB / Soulstar) - "Very well done!"
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "A filthy bounce on this … I like the retro feel and the rock solid drums."
Soulfulbros - "Very nice EP. All the cuts are great and different, but with a connecting deep atmosphere with great vibe."
Chris Soulplate (Soulplate Records) - "Tidy production on 'Getaway' … I'm feeling this groove."
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - "Four party monsters, all in old school directions. The Batucada storm of 'Sambahouse' is ready for crazy nights on both hemispheres!"
Tariq Ziyad (New Urban ERA) - "This is so good. The pianos, bass, timeless house sounds … what a great release!"
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "A spellbinding slice of old school-inspired underground house."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Trulz & Robin presents: Robomatic - Mpc 101 (Cymasonic Recordings)

The Cymasonic Recordings label has gotten its hands on a textbook specimen of the old school electro sound with the Mpc 101 EP. The six track mini-LP is the undertaking of Robomatic, a moniker assumed for this project by Robin C, also one half of Trulz & Robin and Dance Disorder. At a time when much of dance music is being degraded and repurposed for a younger generation mostly unaware of their roots, this 'electro-romantic' homage to the true sound proves a necessary addition to the dialogue: electro said in confidence.

Highlights like "Nya drömmar," "Bleep," and "Elven" take listeners back to a purer time that even predates techno, while worshipping the same seemingly alien electro-pop influences of Kraftwerk, the distinguisher being that it has more to do with early electronic experimentations in hip-hop and funk. The best thing about the electronic culture is that the lines have always been a bit blurred, bleeding over any perceived borders. This is how Cymasonic finds itself releasing in such a classic American style -- but produced by Scandinavians -- and the planet continues to spin 'round.

Colin Dale (Abstrakt Dance) - “A knockout! I love this EP. Excellent electro sounds … all killer, no filler.”
Nick Warren - “Brilliant. A return to electro is long needed.”
Tim Paris (Marketing Music / My Favorite Robot) - “This is REALLY my thing! Great EP.”
Gavin Hardkiss (Hawke / Hardkiss Music) - “Bleepy goodness … love it.”
Dr. Motte (PRAXXIZ) - “A 10 out of 10 killer release!”
Stacey Pullen - “This is cool.”
Phonogenic (Moodmusic / Turbo) - “‘Bleep’ is bang on.”
Alkalino (Estimativa / Audaz Recordings) - “Cool retro electro vibes … I dig them all.”
Baby G (Dance Disorder / BPitch Records) - “Amazing!”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “I love these … they’re great fun.”
Tyler Stadius - “I love these tripped out, spacey, hypnotic tracks. It’s hard to find tunes like these.”
Adam Collins (Euphoria Records / Omni A.M.) - “Solid acid! This is so dope … I’m going to be playing this at a dirty after hours tonight.”
Tee Cardaci (Low Down Grooves / Sine Qua Non) - “This sh%t is HOT … perfect for some late night excursions!”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Andre Pulfer - Frontline (Deft Touch Records)

The third release for the budding Deft Touch Records label comes from young Swiss producer Andre Pulfer. The two track single has a surprisingly well-rooted sound for being the output of a 21-year-old. Though inspired by house music from the ‘old school,’ “Frontline” and “Physical” don’t come off as dated or overly referential … they’re simply characteristic of house music in one if its more effective forms: raw. Floated by a big organ sound, “Frontline” is unapologetically feel good with its energetic vocal parts and precision cut closed hat rhythms. On “Physical,” the percussion and vocals take much the same cue, but the bass comes from a fatter heads-down place, giving the track an undeniable groove. Control center audio snippets bring ‘Houston, we have a problem’ character and humor to the track.

A young producer and label walk into a bar … there’s no joke here folks, strictly dance floor business.

DJ Schwa (Shades of Gray) - “Both tracks are cool!”
Claudio Coccoluto - “Groovin’ and rollin’.”
Abicah Soul - “Love both tracks.”
Hippie Torrales - “Nice and deep.”
Carlo Gambino (Midnight Social Recordings) - “Lovely! Great groove from the off … love the vox stabs and that’s a bass line to cause some damage.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) - “Solid brace of tracks here … I will give both a spin, for sure.”
Booker T. (Kings Of Soul / Liquid Sessions) - “Wicked tunes.”
Guy Vercruysse (Furniture Crew) - “Yes! A great pumping vibe with a smooth, deep house flow. Big ups!”
Shane Johnson (Fish Go Deep) - “I like the edgy vibe on both tracks. I’ll play ‘Frontline.’”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Dirty and funky … raw, serious house.”
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - “‘Physical’ could do some damage on the floor when played at the right time.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Cracking bass-led vibes here. Both are strong, but ‘Physical’ has a wicked raw feel to it … really nice.”
Russell Deeks (This Is Why We Dance) - “Very solid house vibes.”
LavaLava (Subcity Radio, Glasgow) - “Really enjoying ‘Frontline,’ especially the hard, raw sounding percussion and chopped vocals.”
Sandro Bianchi (Ibiza Sonica) - “Body shakers!”
DJ Lolly (Freek FM) - “Both are proper dance floor tracks … will support!”
Michael Stukes (Mystic Vybes) - “It’s house, baby!”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Myles Bigelow - Abstract Forte EP (Deep Culture Music)

About Deep Culture Music and Myles Bigelow:
Vancouver’s Deep Culture Music is pleased to present the latest release from Myles Bigelow, the Abstract Forte EP. Myles has an extensive and dynamic musical background, and is not only a talented DJ and producer but also a vocalist and world-renowned percussionist. As a percussionist Myles toured the world with Latin Grammy winning artists Orlando “Maraca” Valle and the Alex Cuba Band, as well as sharing the stage with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Earth Wind & Fire, and Heracio “El Negro” Hernandez. He formed Deep Culture Music with Luis Machuca to further his interest in rhythm, combining it with soulful New York and Chicago bred styles of house music. In addition, Myles has previously released tracks on Pure Funk, Future Elements, and NeoSoul, the latter being the home to “Believe,” his recent collaboration with Julius Papp and vocalist Deborah Bond.

About Myles Bigelow’s Abstract Forte EP:
Myles Bigelow’s latest EP, Abstract Forte, was influenced by his father who is an abstract artist, teaching Myles the concept of automatism, meaning detached awareness as if observing. This is an approach to image making practiced by the surrealists and adopted by the abstract expressionists as a mandate for unrestricted expression. Applied to music, it allows for the free association of sounds arranged in a coherent manner that reflects a deeper, more profound experience. On the Abstract Forte EP, Myles surrendered to the untapped potential of his sound gear restricted by nothing but the limits of his own creativity. Samples were approached as a palette of colours applied with no regard for the risk of mistakes. Abstractionism offers a way to break through the restraints of conventional thinking exposing a panorama of untapped possibilities. In this case the uncensored results sound like combinations of deep funky, moody, techy, spacey grooves. The feel is refreshingly an old school warehouse feel, harking back to when the music was new and there were less ‘rules’ in making house music. More importantly, these grooves were made to bang! “Expressionism,” “Primal Urge,” and “Do It For The Juice” … one can count on these tracks shaking up the dance floor with authority.

Doc Martin - “Deep left coast stuff, just the way we like it!”
Marques Wyatt - “Dope!”
Master Kev - “‘Expressionism’ is a tight track … will definitely support.”
Abicah Soul - “‘Do It For The Juice’ is the dope one for me.”
Robert Owens - “Great tracks.”
Ant Plate (Rhythm Plate / YSE) - “‘Expressionism’ is quirky in a good way, but ‘Do It For The Juice’ … baby!”
Hippie Torrales - “Nice grooves.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “There’s a cool warehouse sound to ‘Primal Urge’ … the rumbling low end is really nice.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “This release is full of raw spirit and old school power. It is magic the way that Myles connects all these keys, elements, and vocal samples from the early days under the umbrella of today’s house experience.”
Bruce Tantum (Time Out NY) - “Loving this one … old-school vibes with a modern edge. Hot!”
Russell Deeks (This Is Why We Dance) - “Solid deeper house vibes.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “Fresh, inspiring use of samples makes ‘Primal Urge’ a wicked old school track not to be missed.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.