Monte Hilleman - Winter Blues / Soul Music (Vino Recordings)

8DPromo · Monte Hilleman - Winter Blues / Soul Music (Vino Recordings)

Monte Hilleman has waved the flag for soulful house music long before the 2003 launch of his Minneapolis-based label Vino Recordings. The label’s catalog of releases — including some of the earliest releases by Chuck Love — celebrates the deeper, funkier, and vocal-laced side of the house music genre. Monte’s latest is an uplifting double A-side single with meaning and message. “Winter Blues (MLK Day Edit)” features a snapping, groovy drum track, a sub-bass bounce, and vibrant pads guiding the track to the dancefloor. Over the top are the wise words of Martin Luther King, Jr., urging the listener towards hope and light in the face of hate and fear: “… the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” The flip side brings “Soul Music,” delving into heavy disco vibes with a cosmic touch. Cool rhythm patterns, a punchy bass, and swirling pads are accented with an infectious, effected vocal phrase.

With this release, Vino pays tribute to the themes of freedom of expression, social justice. and protest inherent in house music since its beginning. 100% of the proceeds from this single will benefit Du Nord Foundation. Du Nord Craft Spirits is a black-owned distillery in Minneapolis that was damaged following the murder of George Floyd. They rebuilt through community support, and now Du Nord Craft Spirits is returning the favor with this foundation, aiding other black and brown-owned businesses needing help.

Tyler Stadius (Deepsite) – “Good tracks here. Soul Music is my pick.”
Jaymz Nylon (Nylon Recordings) “You can’t go wrong with the presence of our ancestors.”
DJ P-REZ (Not So Fast Records) – “Dope release. Tracks like Winter Blues are so important these days, and need to be played.”
Griffo (Freak Da Funk show) – “Soul Music is my fave here. Big and bouncy house music!”
Mike Solus (Housemasters Radio) – “I dig this. Deeeeep!”
Deepshizzol (MyHouse YourHouse Radio) – “Soul Music is very different. Proper rush material.”
DJ Jazzy L (Jazzy Lounge Radio) – “The thunderous beat combined with the message has me hooked.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Such a great feel on Winter Blues. Full support.”
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel) – “Soul Music is superb. Lovely and infectious stuff. I’ll fit it in to the radio show here.”
Richard Hardcastle (All Out War Radio Show) – “Quality deepness with a message. Great stuff!”

Available Now From: Traxsource, And Beatport.

Jeff Swiff - Jeff Swiff EP (Vino Recordings)

Vino Recordings celebrates 16 years in operation and its Minneapolis scene with a double A-side release from Jeff Swiff. Jeff’s label with Christian James, Nicewon Recordings, which specializes in prime-time ‘no-coast’ house music sounds, and his seven-year-strong club night House Proud confirm Swiff’s dedication to the genre. His style is focused on the bouncing, ‘phat’ sound of house, evidenced by these two spot-on, driving dance floor stompers with unmistakable Midwest vibes. “Some Type Uh Way” shakes and rolls with delicious, jazzy keys, a crisp, swinging rhythm track, and a dreamy female vocal that pops in and out. “Wun Type Uh Way” presents a deeper and chunkier take, with pulsing, filtered loops and percussive disco vibes suitable for the latest of late nights. Vino delivers the goods once again.

Dutchican Soul (Strictly Rhythm) – “What a groove! Love this vibe.”
Tyree Cooper (Chicago Vinyl Records) – “I’m lovin’ it! I will surely play this until the needle jumps across my Serato vinyl.”
Gene Hunt (Rush Hour) – “I dig this a lot.”
Booker T. (Kings Of Soul) – “Big tune! Will support.”
KJ (Integrity Recordings) – “Really feeling the jazz vibe.”
Mike Solus (Housemasters Radio) – “Both cuts are dope. Supporting.”
Bart (Soulfulbros) (Soul District Radio Show) – “Jazzy and swingy like we love.”
Curtiss Logan (Jersey Soul / Cyberjamz Radio) – “Nice release. I like Some Type Uh Way.”
Ken Liu (Broad Street Bait & Tackle) – “Excellent! Love these vibes, thanks. Psyched to play these.”
Lee Jones / Country Gents (Buslife) – “Both of these tracks are superb. The Wun suits me best and will definitely get used on the air and at gigs.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, iTunes / Apple Music, And Spotify.

Chuck Love - Illusion / Slip N Slide Horns (Vino Recordings)

Minneapolis house music label Vino Recordings welcomes Chuck Love back to the fold with a spicy two track release highlighting his distinct, soulful sound laced with outstanding musicianship. Chuck Love needs little introduction, first appearing on Vino with the Take Me EP in 2004 and following this with appearances on the likes of Om Records, Salted Music, and his own Love Network. With “Illusion” Chuck offers a tale of love gone awry over a smooth disco-flavored production featuring a killer analog synth bass and string stabs that drip with emotion. “Slip N Slide Horns” is also Chuck Love at his best, complete with an in-your-face flute solo and late night, dubbed-out trumpet licks. Chuck’s vocals are top notch on both tracks, but instrumentals are also available in this single for the deeper dance floors. Prime stuff here from Vino Recordings and Chuck Love … dig in!

Husky (Random Soul) - “It’s nice to hear Chuck on his soulful tip. These are great chill-axing tunes, perfect for any lounge-house session.”
Eric Kupper - “‘Illusion’ is lovely.”
Shane Johnson (Fish Go Deep) - “‘Slip N Slide Horns’ is very tasty … a catchy little vocal groove that paves the way for a lovely, melodic arrangement.”
Jay West - “Nice and soulful … I’m diggin’.”
Mousse T. - “I love this.”
Nick Holder - “Fresh release … ‘Slip N Slide Horns’ is nuts!”
Graeme Park - “‘Illusion’ is very appealing.”
Robert Owens - “These are all great tracks.”
Richard Earnshaw (Spiritchaser) - “‘Slip N Slide Horns’ is a cool jam!”
CJ Mackintosh - “’Illusion is nice!”
Groove Junkies - “A very solid offering from the Minneapolis kid!”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “‘Illusion’ brings that bass and I love that hook!”
Rick Preston - “Beautiful!”
Sista Stroke (5Magazine) - “So organic, original, and f**king welcome to my ears! Chuck’s the mainstay .. period.”
Mauricio Aviles (Movido, Loveslap!) - “Nice. I’ve had ‘Slip N Slide Horns’ bouncing in my head from the first listen. Really catchy!”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “It’s next to impossible to choose between these two gorgeous productions.”
Malik Fulsoul (Image Radio, UK) - “Big groove, tight drums, and nice horn section … supporting!”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM 95, Greece) - “The coolest soulful house release of the year so far. Magic tunes with disco influences, smooth and elegant percussion, and acid jazz vibes.”

Available now from Traxsource and Juno Download.

Monte Hilleman - Father's Day Pride (Vino Recordings)

Minneapolis-based Vino Recordings present another superb, smooth, and funky house music single, this time courtesy of label don Monte Hilleman. “Father’s Day Pride” was written on Father’s Day 2011 and carries the sounds and emotions emanating from a proud papa. Monte recruited the incredibly talented keyboard skills of Mr. Brian Nielsen and the sax chops of longtime Minneapolis jazz wizard Walter Chancellor, Jr. to embellish his inspiration. The original Club Mix features a lovely dose of piano, synth leads, and saxophone over a soulful house rhythm and deep, bumping bass. The Dub Mix takes things in a spacier direction with added percussion, and filtered lead line, and elements of the original’s instrumentation dubbed out for maximum electric bliss. Prime after hours fare.

A quintet of remixers, all hailing from Minneapolis, also get behind “Father’s Day Pride” with a varied and high quality set of reinterpretations. First up is the incomparable Chuck Love who delivers a mix that, as he says, “sits where the drinks get expensive.” Chuck sets snatches of the original’s instrumentation over a potent groove and a warm low end. Some jazzier breakdowns spice things up, but the track never strays from its soulful foundation. This is followed by the duo of Havens + Hart (Stranjjur, Sleazy Deep) who provide a stripped down version with a looser tempo and a bit of a nu-disco feel. An added vocal line enhances the deep, melancholy vibe that should mesh perfectly with late night affairs. Next up is Jason Heinrichs (Aphrodisio, Revival) who takes the track’s gentle instrumentation and counters it with a tough Chicago-influenced beats and a bouncing bass line. The result is a solid prime-time stomper. The fourth remix of the pack comes from Overnight Sensations, the new project from Minneapolis DJ Alex Jarvis. A throbbing, drum-heavy mix with building, deep flourishes, the Overnight Sensations mix will sound big and bold coming out of night club speakers. Last up is Jason Heinrichs again, this time in collaboration with producer Leon Lilke as Snagglepuss to offer a change of pace to “Father’s Day Pride.” This mix takes on a progressive, electro-influenced vibe with Italo elements and dramatic breakdowns while deftly maintaining some of the instrumentation and melodies from the original. WIth all of this, “Father Day’s Pride” reveals a hefty package, with styles and sounds that should find a fan in dance music DJs of all stripes.

CJ Mackintosh - “Monte’s Club Mix is working!”
Jask - “Monte’s Dub and Havens+Hart mixes are my faves of the bunch. Nice work!”
Abicah Soul - “Proper funky house tune for the floor. Chuck Love’s remix is tops.”
Marques Wyatt - “Tight!”
Vincent Kwok - “I’m really feeling the Havens + Hart mix. Funky bass line!”
Bryan Jones (Control Recordings) - “Chuck Love kills it.”
Doc Link - “Monte’s Club Mix is on fire!”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “I love the live feel to this. The sax is fantastic, the bass just keeps pushing. Serious!”
Swift (DJN Project) - “Monte’s a f**ken beast. That’s a dope track, dude.”
Jamie Topham (CDPool) - “Quality instrumental release with something for everyone in the house arena. On a personal level it’s Chuck Love’s version that does me proud.”
Groove Assassin - “Great stuff from Monte! Loving his club mix … dope package!”
Alex Dimitri South Soul - “Lovely stuff. Support!”
Christos Kedras (Kapa Music) - “Nice package with lots of variety. I’m feeling the Overnight Sensations mix the most, liking the groove.”
DJ Craig C (Pound Boys) - “A couple of wicked mixes here via Havens and Hart and Snagglepuss!”
Spiritual Blessings (Gotta Keep Faith Records) - “Very nice. The piano and Moog are madly fine in Monte’s Club mix. Other highlights are Heinrich’s Blissed Out Dub, very deep bass indeed, and the Overnight Sensations Deep Groove Mix.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “A phenomenal slice of jazz-house guaranteed to make you yearn for more … this is sheer musical bliss.”
Stefan Popovic (DiscoTone Radio Show) - “This is amazing! Jazz in the house baby - just what we need.”

Additional support from Mousse T., Robert Owens, Nick Holder, DJ EMan, Groove Junkies, Booker T. (Kings Of Soul), Daz-I-Kue, DJ Pope, Fabio Tosti, and Edground.

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.