Mystik Mike - Arcobaleno (Kozmik Hype Recordings)

Toronto’s Kozmik Hype Recordings returns with veteran DJ Mystik Mike for “Arcobaleno,” a new single in the label’s distinctive house music style. A mainstay on the Toronto scene, Mystik Mike has been spreading the house message since the ’90s as a DJ, club owner, and radio show host. With “Acrobaleno,” Mike delivers a solid groove with squeaky clean accents. The bulk of the cut is built around a big bass sound, an arpeggiated synth, and shuffling percussion. Pitched up vocals are teased out before coming in proper with the breakdown.

Keeping it mostly a Toronto affair, remixes come from fellow veteran Canadian DJs Paul Stickman, Darren Marshall, Nick Theos, and Steve Venom. The lone regional outlier is the young Geneva, Switzerland-based Falcord with his pulsing pad remix. The two mixes from Paul Stickman (Stickman Records, Aquarius Recordings) both slowly evolve to mesmerizing effect. Steve Venom and Darren Marshall focus on driving bass lines and tech-inspired chops, but with completely different end results. Nick Theos creates the trackiest of the lot with devastating highs and hypnotic use of the original’s synths.

Tensnake - “Some nice remixes in here.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “A strong vocal part and I like the shift in chords … nice tension. The breakdown is hot.”
DJ Style (Knob Records) - “Great release.”
Tyler Stadius - “Good ones!”
Kadabra (House Hookup / 5Magazine) - “All solid house cuts. Nick Theos’s mix bangs, and the beat has that old school Moody Records / H-Foundation feel to it. I also love Darren Marshall’s rolling funk take on it.”
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - “Paul Stickman’s 4 Da Headz Mix does it for me!”
DJ MTS (Progress Radio Show) - “This is the best pack I’ve received in a while! All the mixes are hot … big, quality EP.”
Affie Yusuf (Superfreq / I Love Acid) - “Paul Stickman’s mix is one underground-as-hell tune!”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “A very smart selection of mixes here; the original is a cracker, but overall for me it’s the Paul Stickman 4 Da Headz Remix which is the standout … a wicked mood-setter to up the ante in the sets. Cool as fooooook!”
Mark Mac (The Sound Collective) - “A top main room track … every mix sounds great.”
Bogdan Taran (Dance Box) - “The Nick Theos and Paul Stickman remixes sound classy.”
Michael Stukes (Mystic Vybes) - “A serious secret weapon.”
QuestionmarQ (Vision Collective / Red FM) - “I’m really liking the bouncy vibe of the Steve Venom remix … also feeling Paul Stickman’s 4 Da Headz Mix. Quality.”
DJ Lolly (Freek FM / Ruff Diamond) - “I’m loving the original and the Darren Marshall remix.”
Velanche (Velanche’s Playtime Radio Show) - “The Nick Theos is mad deep … that’s the one for me.”

Part 1 and Part 2 now available from Beatport.

Mystik Mike feat. Lena Mar - There's No Escape (Kozmik Hype Recordings)

Toronto’s Kozmik Hype Recordings cuts loose with “There’s No Escape,” a new single in the label’s classic house music style from veteran DJ Mystik Mike. A mainstay on the Toronto scene, Mystik Mike has been spreading the house message since the ’90s as a DJ, club owner, and radio show host. On “There’s No Escape,” Mike enlisted Toronto club diva Lena Mar to provide vocals for a dubby, synth lead-driven house music stomper. Charged with energy, this late night construction is sure to be the peak track of many DJ sets with its wild key lines and echoed vocal hits over an insistent four-on-the-floor rhythm. A pair of hot remixes come courtesy of fellow Toronto mainstays Steve Venom and Darren Marshall. Steve’s hypnotic version builds and rises around a filtered, repeating synth riff, while Darren’s mix channels a bit of ’90s west coast flavor for an after hours treat.

Abicah Soul - “Nice.”
Hippie Torrales - “I’m feeling this tune. Nice energy.”
Marques Wyatt - “Tight.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “A sure-fire late night crowd pleaser.”
Lorenzo al Dino (7th District) - “Solid burner!”
Jevne (Onethirty Recordings) - “Darren Marshall’s remix is pretty dope.”
Russell Deeks (This Is Why We Dance) - “Liking this, especially the Steve Venom remix.”
Stefan Popovic (DiscoTone Radio Show) - “Darren Marshall’s remix is rocketing. That hypnotizing loop is able to set the sky on fire.”
Bruno Lepretre (Ibiza Global Radio) - “Cool funky house vibe.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “The keys are burning on this one. Steve Venom’s deep and hypnotic remix is the one for me here … a late night stormer.”

Available now from Traxsource and Beatport.