Various Artists - Wind Horse Sampler 5 (Wind Horse Records)

India's Wind Horse Records has unveiled its latest artist compilation focusing on the emerging talent that orbits around the label's sphere. Internationally recognized as a tastemaker of sophisticated deep house styles, often with an exotic worldly twist, Wind Horse and its samplers are often looked to for the discovery of exciting new producers by DJs and punters alike. This latest collection will be no exception as eleven high quality tracks are presented, showcasing the dynamic, well-produced electronic sound that this ambitious label excels at.

Contributions from familiar names from previous Wind Horse releases – such as Soulspace, Vinayak^A, Stalvart John, JFunc, Hamza, and 5volts – confidently sit alongside tracks by newer additions to the roster. Jay Pei, Leon Russell, Doktor Daniel, EJAZ, Subandrio, and Tatsama all give shimmering contributions that provide their introductions to followers of the label.

The swirling deep house of Jay Pei's "Michigan" and Tatsama's "June Bug" accompany techier entries like 5Volts' expansive "Cemani" and EJAZ & Subandrio's "Before the Storm", showing the breadth of the sampler. New tracks by recurring Wind Horse artists – such as Hamza's spacey and thumping "Indigo Activation" and Stalwart John's hypnotic "It's Just A Matter Of Time" – join gems from the catalog that may have been overlooked. Vinayak^A's "Pleading To Be Forgiven" and the ROH remix of Soulspace's "C'est La Vie" are two past Wind Horse highlights that certainly deserve a second listen. Glasgow's JFunc appears as one of the only non-Indian producers on the compilation with the lush and flowing "Ek Sien n' Ses". Doktor Daniel's funky "Prime" and Leon Russell's tough "Reform" round out the sampler … two more cool cuts from seasoned Indian DJs, now ready to infiltrate the world.

With five samplers now under its belt and a wealth of promising music-makers within its family, Wind Horse Records continues the path of being a consistent source of deep house discoveries. Stay tuned to this refreshing New Delhi-based imprint to hear the sonic treasures it has yet to uncover.

Nick Holder - "Dope!"
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - "A smooth-as-silk selection from a brilliant label. Lovely!"
Aki Bergen & Richter (Neurotraxx Recordings) - "Nice one."
Denite (Diynamic / Get Physical) - "5volts' 'Cemani' is the one for me."
Marques Wyatt - "Solid!"
Sean Danke (Affin / Dialtone) - "The JFunc track sounds phat. Nice compilation."
Ivan Garci (Vlosfer Records / Deepwit) - "Great tracks here … I love it."
DJ Harri (Sub Club) - "Lots to like here … full support."
Tom Lown (Lucky Sun Recordings) - "A brilliant compilation with some cool tracks … my favorite is 'Ek Sien n'Ses' by JFunc. I love the way it builds … solid, deep, and driving stuff."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Excellent release, as expected. There are a couple here I'll play out soon."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "Rarely if ever does something this good come in such quantity … truly extraordinary sonic talent. An amazing release once again from this unique label."
Ornette (Radial Blur Radio Show) - "All sorts of awesome all over this sampler. Wind Horse Records is very consistently good!"
Sean-Michael Yoder (Ibiza Voice) - "These Wind Horse samplers are always pure quality."
Matthias Kirsch (JazzRadio 106.8 FM, Berlin) - "Exhilarating, uplifting deep house with twists and turns. Pure delight."
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - "Wow … Wind Horse hits a home run. Spot on vibes … brilliantly deep."

Available now from Beatport, Traxsource, and iTunes.

Various Artists - 5 Year Anniversary Sampler (Wind Horse Records)

Wind Horse Records’ evolution on the world stage never fails to captivate. The label has helped develop India’s many talented resources for export to the outside world while pioneering the deep house movement in its own country with releases, parties, and ground-breaking collaborations. Inspired by his own travels and life on three different continents (South Asia, Europe, and North America), Hamza is the guiding light behind Wind Horse. Hamza’s musical mission has been to seamlessly merge floor-driving house music styles with a reverent helping of more traditional south Asian influences.

Under his vision the label has reached its most important release to date and a comprehensive representation of their progress, the 5 Year Anniversary Sampler. Not just a showcase for the label, the compilation also celebrates the success of Indian producers in achieving a cocktail of world sounds without fully assimilating, keeping with the common thread of a culture that has so much history and such a rich musical heritage. The artists are honoring the same aesthetic and passion as their elders have in their classical, traditional forms of music – the same medium and feel, but with different paints and processes. These are exactly the sort of intangibles that raise labels above the foray of an over-run market place of commodities for sale and grants camps the staying power and weight of a true cultural force.

In five years the label has gone beyond even their highest expectations to reach the level they’re at today. To celebrate, Wind Horse Records has gathered from their full range of music. They go from worldly, in a collaboration of Hamza with celebrated international Danish jazz pianist Niels Ian Doky and renowned Tibetan vocalist Yunchen Lhamo, to other-worldly, with Yidam’s new analog techno alias 5volts; from soulful, in working with DeepWit artist Alvaro Hylander to include the fine track “Change”, to soul-escaping, in the hypnotically deep and atmospheric qualities of Priyesh Patel’s productions; from the ambient “Lonesome Train” by Vinayak A to the ambiance of far out beats by Aman Anand and Soulspace. Staple Wind Horse artists like Kartech and Audio Units are joined by the debut of Mumbai producer Farhan Rahman and the Bangalore-based southern India transplant Stalvart John to hammer in the foundations of the label: a distinctly Indian sound naturally swallowed in deep, tech-house stylings and a knack for harboring an established crew while always introducing new talent.

It’s easy to feel like Wind Horse Records has been blessed in their ability to release music from such a wide range of artists from all corners of the globe, with some folk tale-like stories to prove it. Decidedly capturing and presenting the label’s growth on the 5 Year Anniversary Sampler, supporters and new fans alike can feel confident that there’s even more on the horizon for the next five.

Laurent Garnier - "Some superb tracks in here … great release."
Nick Warren - "Wonderful album from a label to be proud of."
Nick Holder - "Dope!"
Pablo Bolivar (AvantRoots) - "This is very nice."
Jose Marquez (Tribe Records / Djoon Experience) - "Great release with a wide variety of sounds to fill the needs of the dance floor."
Massimiliano Pagliara (Live At Robert Johnson) - "Nice compilation."
Adam Collins (Euphoria Records / Omni A.M.) - "This is a really beautiful collection of music. 'Enlightenment' is unreal. So magical."
Ejaz Ahamed (Pacha Dubai / Disclosure UK) - "I love this release … it's the bomb!"
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "This compilation demonstrates the variety of the label and is a superb collection of high quality beats. Always a pleasure to listen to and play out."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Beautiful music. I look forward to giving these many more listens."
Ivan Garci (Great Stuff / Deepwit) - "Fantastic tracks here … I love it."
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences) - "Outstanding package. I'm loving the layers and the depth of this entire release. I'm truly enchanted."
Robert Lochmann (Jazzmadass Radio Show) - "This is the sound of the beach in summer 2015."
Jean Jérome (Radio FG) - "Just fantastic … well done."

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.