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.

My Neighbour Is - Metaphysical Juicer (Cold Busted)

The prolific Manchester-based artist known as Robot Needs Oil has been found covertly recording downtempo and hip hop fueled beats under the curious name of My Neighbour Is. His recent album for Cold Busted under this moniker, Fish & Chips, showcased an affection for ‘90s flavored instrumental hip hop and jazzy beats. Not one to take a break (no pun intended), My Neighbour Is has already unveiled an even newer album, this time focusing on his love of dub, reggae, and a solid skankin’ rhythm. Metaphysical Juicer includes sixteen tracks influenced by the likes of Mad Professor, Zion Train, and Asian Dub Foundation as filtered through the My Neighbour Is studio eyeglass. Horns, dubby guitars, dancehall beats, and patois toasts fill these authentic sounding tracks, exposing the obvious respect and inspiration that this genre brings to My Neighbour Is. Get ready to fire up the sound system and enjoy these crucial new tunes from Cold Busted and My Neighbour Is.

Kid Loco - “Great tracks for the summer.”
Dogu (Ancient Astronauts) - “Wow, I love this. Tight modern reggae vibes with dope beats and deep skanks. Nuff respect!”
Gavin Hardkiss (Hawke) - “Just what I needed … island breaks.”
Danny Ward (Dubble D / Moodymanc) - “Vibin’ … loving these! Proper stuff!”
Tim “Love” Lee (Tummy Touch) - “Yup … will support these for sure.”
Inland Knights - “Great selection of tracks … love it.”
Ben Mono - “Lovely stuff!”
Danny Massure - “More great stuff from Cold Busted, currently my favorite label! Great reggae vibes.”
LTJ X-Perience - “Killer release … I love it!”
Stereo 77 - “5 out of 5 … and add 5 more stars! This is great dub.”
Quincy Jointz - “Yeah, this is absolutely my style. Well done.”
DJ T-Bird (Los Chicos Altos) - “I was just speaking to a Spanish friend about the Jamaican influence on Manchester music … this is a PERFECT example. I love the way these tracks keep the ‘body-moving’ aspect of dub reggae.”
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) - “Bam! The fire is burning strong! My Neighbour Is surprises with a another burner in a different genre. King styles!”
Andy Wilson (Ibiza Sonica FM / Balearica) - “Some good riddims here and clever choice of vocal samples … needs to be played loud!”
Deadbeat Disco Radio Show - “Awesomeness abounds from the hands of Greg here, again showing his ability to drop bombs in a multitude of styles. The whole collection is one for the sunshine … superb stuff a’gwaaaaaan.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch-a-Vibe Radio Show) - “Open your windows and wind up the stereo to max!”

Available now from Beatport.

Mohear - Weird (Electunes)

Dipping deeper into the inspiring pool of Italo-disco, electric disco pop-rock combo Mohear is happy to reveal their latest sonic endeavor, the moody but tasty “Weird” on the Electunes label. Led by the icy vocals of Miss Sophie, “Weird” slinks and shimmies as if sneaking through a dark alley, its steady drum beat and synthesized arpeggiations cautiously leading the way. The song itself is appealingly retro, as if time traveling from the post-punk ’80s, but filtered though recent cosmic excursions. In fact, Mohear mastermind DJ Enne has played alongside the Italian cosmic pioneers Baldelli and Beppe Loda back in 1983 and one can certainly hear some of these influences in this production. Italian producer Brioski supplies a pair of remixes, with the first riding on a synthetic pulse accented by handy percussion flourishes. Brioski’s Bonus Mix shakes a bit more, with an added techno influence flavoring its mid-tempo groove. The digital release of “Weird” also features the original ‘pop’ version and a remix from the rising Robot Needs Oil, who adds blasts of wah-wah guitar and horn stabs among the synths and string glides, recalling a vintage Trevor Horn dance production. As a bonus, Manchester’s Kid Machine has remixed Mohear’s previous single “Go Away,” displaying a pop-Italo influence mixed with some dark ‘EBM’ elements that fit right in with “Weird.” Kid Machine’s remix will be exclusive to the vinyl release which is hand-numbered and limited to 500 copies. Prime time stuff here from Electunes and Mohear, suitable for retronauts and futuristas alike.

Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “The Brioski Bonus Mix is wonderful … I can’t wait to play it!”
Nick Warren - “A fabulous mix from Robot Needs Oil.”
Pete Herbert - “Oh, yes … I’m loving this. The Robot Needs Oil and Brioski mixes for me.”
Justin Robertson - “Some great stuff on here!”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “I like the Robot Needs Oil remix, and the original is pretty nice, too.”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “Great stuff from Mohear as always!”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “The Robot Needs Oil Remix is a brilliant pop moment … this one’s stuck in my head. The Brioski mixes are fly, as well. Nice one.”
Dr. Dunks (Still Going) - “Awesome!”
Alexander Robotnick - “The Brioski Bonus Mix for me.”
Hardway Bros - “This is 100% disco dynamite!”
Minus 8 (Compost, Stereo Deluxe) - “Nice ’80s Italo-disco style tunes! All mixes are good in my opinion. Cool!”
Ben Mono - “Loving the Brioski Bonus Mix!”
Makossa & Megablast - “Solid stuff!”
mikeBurns (Disco Devil, Phönix Project) - “I’m really tripping out on that Brioski Bonus Mix … love it!”
Da Wiseguy (RTE Pulse, Ireland) - “Wikkid nu-disco-esque goodness!”
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - “Both the Brioski and Kid Machine remixes are amazing, but I’m loving everything here.”
Simon Lister (People Get Real) - “Cold wave, cool wave … like!”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “The Kid Machine remix makes me feel like I’m back in Via Mecenate and dancing to Roberto Zanetti’s stuff in the year 1983.”
Black Alley (In Control Radio Show) - “The Brioski remix is where new wave meets nu-disco in an irresistible way.”

Available now from Juno Download and Traxsource.