Thomas - Sexed Up (Whiskey Pickle)

Copenhagen, Denmark isn’t the first nation that comes to mind when contemplating summer, so it was of some shock to Whiskey Pickle when they stumbled upon the demo for "Sexed Up" from Thomas Erichsen, a Dane who simply goes by his no-frills first name, Thomas. Having already created steady waves with his disco outfit DATO and its eponymous record label, Erichsen’s debut solo outing continues the surge while epitomizing summertime. Breezy chords, silky arpeggios, and bittersweet strings make "Sexed Up" the soundtrack to an Ibizan sunset.

Tapped for remixes are San Francisco based duo Brother In Arms (J Boogie and Deejay Theory) plus Whiskey Pickle administrators RiCHARD.GEAR and Johnny Blackouts. Brother in Arms step up first, turning the tempo down with their Bay Area version. Strong R&B flavors permeate as the pair’s exquisite production chops shine beautifully in this modern take on classic Balearic. RiCHARD.GEAR comes through next with a stripped down house remix that channels vintage NYC flair whilst shuffling along with a confident bounce. Not to be outdone, Johnny Blackouts slides in just under the gun with his oozing, quicksand-paced, bass-laden remix. Utilizing a myriad of found samples and field recordings, the soothing sounds of children at play seeps in on top of a laid back 808 groove.

Simon Lee (Faze Action) - “Yeah, nice work! I’m liking the RiCHARD.GEAR remix.”
Tensnake - “The original is nice deep disco tune.”
Ursula 1000 - “Future summer yacht vibes galore.”
Robbie Hardkiss (Hardkiss Music / Siesta Records) - “Love it!”
All Good Funk Alliance - “This is dope … I’m loving the Brothers in Arms and Johnny Blackouts remixes.”
Sleazy McQueen (Whiskey Disco) - “Yeah, I’m totally digging it!”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - “Brilliant summer terrace vibes … love it!”
Pete Moss (Recline Records) - “I’m feeling the RiCHARD.GEAR remix … nice one.”
Tom Lown (Savoir Faire / Lost My Dog) - “The original is a glorious piece of work.”
Andreas Kinzl (Aromabar / INFRACom!) - “Balearic feelings!”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings / Fabric) - “Wicked stuff again from Whiskey Pickle. I’m really digging the original most here with its wicked deep and rolling beats, but I’m also digging the housey vibe of RiCHARD.GEAR’s mix and the ultra-sunset groove on Johnny Blackout’s mix. Top release all round.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Cool, laid back tempo … this sounds like summer around a pool. Very smooth and uplifting.”
Vincent Kwok - “Great summery vibes!”
Sarah Favouritizm - “Classy … feels lovely. Nice for the beach!”
Velanche (Velanche’s Playtime radio show) - “The original is really groovy and funky and the Johnny Blackouts remix is mellow and deep. I dig them both.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “Another high point from Whiskey Pickle. The deep disco summer sound of the original is captivates the senses.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “An amazing laid back, sun-drenched and soul oozing gem.”

Available now from Juno Download and iTunes.

RiCHARD.GEAR - Strange Magick (bodytalk)

RiCHARD.GEAR steps up to the plate for the bodytalk label’s second release with his new “Strange Magick" / "Be Free" single. RiCHARD.GEAR is the moniker of Austin born-and- bred DJ / producer Davey Schacherl. He is a longtime staple of the city’s underground club scene, having been active at many residencies and parties throughout the last ten years, most recently as a member of the Machine Discotheque DJ crew and party collective. Davey is also the manager for Whiskey Pickle, a label created at the onset of 2009 which has seen much success with their eclectic catalog of releases.

The release kicks off with the banging track “Strange Magick.” A feel-good floor filler with a house party vibe, it features a swinging beat, energetic vocal stabs, and sirens that are sure to stir up a mean ruckus. The punchy bass line sets the tone for the track with classic layered chord hits and a lush synth lead that ties it all together with both style and grace.

The second track, “Be Free,” takes on a more club-oriented atmosphere, employing creeping chord stabs and a headstrong bass line that eventually make way for the synth- laden breakdown. A pitched-down vocal reminds the listener that being yourself is the way to absolute freedom.

The mighty George Horn (Acryl Music, DeepWit) is tagged with remix duties for “Strange Magick.” George takes the original to a deeper realm of class and sophistication, where detailed chord work and precise production turn the track into an enchanting and melodic voyage.

Last, but not least, is the remix of “Be Free,” marking the debut of the mysterious production DJ duo M.I.J.A.S.. The track is reinterpreted into a raw, stripped-down techno jam with a massive kick drum and a morphing acid bass line that couple to form a dirty, jacking groove. Deep, reverberating chords complement the other pieces throughout, giving the track an extra element of unrestrained energy.

Ursula 1000 - “Hot!”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco / Dalston Superstore) - “Pretty cool.”
Vanilla Ace - “Big support for RiCHARD.GEAR!”
Robbie Hardkiss - “Cool sound here.”
Da Funk (Acryl Music / Pacha) - “George Horn’s take on here is nice.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) - “The George Horn remix is winning for me right now … tasty!”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Loads going on in this really developed journey.”
JP Soul (Roam Recordings) - “Nice grooves. I like the deepness and flow of the George Horn remix.”
Daniel Poli (Suspect Package / Distant Strangers) - “The M.I.J.A.S. remix sounds cool.”
Myxzlplix (Subdivisions Global Radio) - “‘Strange Magic’k keeps it groovin’ for me. Nice and easy and slightly sleazy.”
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - “The M.I.J.A.S. remix is massive. Love it.”
Joan Ribas (Ibiza Soulstice / Cafe del Mar) - “Excellent grooves for the floor.”
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - “‘Strange Magick’ is a beautiful track, and George Horn’s remix of it is stellar!”

Available now from Beatport.

The Owl & Finch - Keep It Up EP (Whiskey Pickle Records)

Whiskey Pickle Records heads for the sky with their first international signing: Sydney, Australia’s The Owl & Finch. The Keep It Up EP is the debut artist release from this pair of high-flying, disco aficionados and is anything but ‘for the birds.’ With several cuts on Dave Allison’s Editorial Records, The Owl has topped the disco charts of Traxsource and Stompy with his solo re-edit work. Here he offers his precise engineering skills to the equation, while Finch supplies the live bass and guitar grooves in “Keep It Up,” a summertime, dance floor blazer that’s sure to earn spins from their native homelands to the shores of Ibiza. The b-side, “Found Another,” features somber, melancholic piano stabs and soulful, lamenting vocal hooks with an undeniably Balearic bass line.

Handling the remixes are Whiskey Pickle regulars Johnny Blackouts, Zack Highwire, and RiCHARD.GEAR. Johnny’s Found a MILF version twists the island vibes into an epic, acidic dub odyssey, perfect for that rude awakening at sunrise by the sea-donkey you thought was a mermaid. RiCHARD.GEAR takes the titular tune into Italo territories of synthesizer madness while the Highwire version of “Keep It Up” is a tense, percussive breakbeat affair. The accompanying Highwire remix of “Found Another” finds the tune plunged into deep, moody realms with a brooding bass line that’s gonna rattle cabinets and keep dancing feet on the floors.

Peter Kruder (Kruder & Dorfmeister) - “I like the originals. The Johnny Blackouts mix and Zach Highwire’s remix of ‘Keep It Up’ are cool as well.”
Psychemagik - “Sweet as … supporting.”
Ilya Santana - “‘Keep It Up’ is a solid boogie track. This one’s for me.”
Gavin Hardkiss (Hawke) - “I’m all over this. Great vibe.”
Tensnake - “I like both versions of ‘Keep It Up.’”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “I quite dig the cosmic soul vibe of ‘Found Another.’ It’s nice that Johnny Blackouts makes it even more cosmic. Also enjoying RiCHARD.GEAR’s take on ‘Keep It Up.’ A solid release here.”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “Yes … great!”
Spettro - “The RiCHARD.GEAR remix takes it for me! Solid work here.”
Joan Ribas (Cafe del Mar) - “Great, groovy tunes.”
Stereo 77 (Research Deluxe) - “I’m loving the Johnny Blackouts remix … this will fit perfectly in my sets.”
Hippie Torrales - “‘Keep It Up’ has got a great disco feel.”
Christos Kedras (Kapa Music) - “Really nice package. ‘Keep It Up’ is superb with its funky riffs and Zack Highwire does a great job giving it a bit more floor ‘oomph.’ In the bag.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “A great selection of vibes here. Both Zack Highwire versions are great, but the original ‘Keep It Up’ is the pick for me. Great vibes.”
Jaysoul (S:R Soundsystem) - “Johnny Blackouts’ psychedelic twist take on Found Another is in the pocket!”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “The original mix of ‘Keep it up’ is the one … funky as well and smooth yet utterly infectious.”
Simon Lister (People Get Real) - “‘Found Another’ is so good … 101% gonna get people moving!”
Richard Hardcastle (All Out War / Solid State) - “Good collection. I like the real guitar and bass combo on the main track but Johnny Blackouts edges it for me on his atmospheric rework. Really nice.”

Available now from Juno Download and Traxsource.

RiCHARD.GEAR - A Feelin' (Whiskey Pickle)

Clocking in at just over a year since his last release, native Austinite and Whiskey Pickle label manager RiCHARD.GEAR drops a slice of blissed-out space disco mixed with a housier stomp in “A Feelin’”. The cut features a hot, almost ‘Yacht Rock-ish’ guitar loop and a rolling bass line over a four-on-the-floor rhythm, confidently chugging along before diving head first into a deep, filtered breakdown that builds to a spiraling, arpeggiated crescendo. The remixes are stacked high with additional Austin-based talent to round out the package. Up first, Off Da Clock increases the energy by flipping and chopping samples into rhythmic oblivion over a thick, popping bass line. On the flip side, Andres Aguirre goes the cosmic route, gracing the listener with a groovy, mid-tempo version that warps the original into the perfect soundtrack for an opium den discotheque. Whiskey Pickle stalwart Daniel Allen then wraps up the release with a trippy excursion into psychedelic breakbeats that seems to filter Meat Beat Manifesto through the label’s sonic lens. Solid stuff throughout … give this a go!

Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “So much fun!”
Kruse & Nuernberg - “Nice stuff … original mix is great. Andres Aguirre’s remix is cool, too.”
Lipstick Disco - “Lovely EP. The original is smooth and funky, really enjoy the jacked up Off Da Clock remix, and equally the smooth Andres Aguirre remix.”
Ant Plate (Rhythm Plate / YSE) - “Nice Benson chop, all at a nice tempo.”
Moodymanc - “Great vibe … all about the original for me.”
Stereo 77 - “I like the cosmic feel of the Andres Aguirre remix.”
Dave Mayer (Strictly Rhythm) - “Nice groove on the original.”
Vincent Kwok - “Pretty cool release … the Off Da Clock remix is hot!”
Joan Ribas (Ibiza Soulstice / Cafe Del Mar) - “Great, groovy thang!”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Wicked release! It’s tough to pick a favourite here … I’m torn between the original and the Andres Aguirre remix, but in all honesty they all work as individual cuts in their own right. Top stuff.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “The groovy ‘old school’ inspired original is the one.”
Andy Wilson (Ibiza Sonica FM) - “I like the vibe of the original but the Andres Aguirre remix is the one for Ibiza.”
Deadbeat Disco Radio Show - “The original has a good horse riding groove for keeping those tired legs going. The Air Liquide styling on the Daniel Allen remix is very nice, as well.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.