Madou Kouyate - Nindjougou EP (Wind Horse Records)

Wind Horse Records presents a stunning EP with an international touch — an ode to the influence of ethnic global music on the Indian electronic music scene. Madou Kouyate, an extremely talented singer and songwriter from Mali, delivers a 6-tracker that also features Indian producers Hamza Rahimtula and Unnayanna on remix duties.

“Nindjougou” kicks things off, a beautiful song that sparks warmth and speaks to the soul. The tune features Madou’s incredible vocals, delightfully layered with ethnic strings and percussion. “Nindjougou” has an almost folk music feel with an addictive melody filled with uplifting emotion and supported by ethereal stabs.

On the remixes, Hamza keeps things clean and groovy, using elements of the title track judiciously to craft a beachside dance-floor burner. This remix springs to life with a piano stab, giving it a Chicago-house-meets-Africa vibe that retains the flavor of the original while standing out on its own. Unnanyanna’s remix is also special as the afro-house exponent gives “Nindjougou” the acid treatment. The rework also features samples from a xylophone that adds an Asian vibe while a deep, bouncy bass line brings the funk.

Madou Kouyate’s next original track — “Souleymane Sangare” — is more upbeat with a simple yet effective drum pattern coupled with raspy percussions. The song builds with effortless ease, accompanied by buoyant pads that offer the required aural ambiance. Once again it’s Madou’s vocals that stand-out and really take this tune to the next level.

The second of the remixes from the effervescent Hamza is positively breath-taking. The veteran DJ’s incredible ear leads him to produce a track that screams ‘Detroit’ and ‘Disco’ at the same time. It’s a reflection of the influences that have helped shape his music. Cosmic pads accompany a bass guitar riff that will get feet moving, making for a mix to throw down at peak-time or to warm up floor. Rounding out the release is an extended version of “Souleymane Sangare” that can be defined as ‘made for the club’.

Rise Ashen (Balanced Records) – “I’m really feelin’ this.”
Mr. V (Sole Channel Music) – “I love this package guys!”
Alexander East (Planet East) – “The whole EP is banging!”
Chris Udoh (Tigerhook) – “Beautiful work.”
Pete Williams (Natural Rhythm) – “Love all the flavors on this one.”
Jose Marquez (Tribe Records) – “Yes! Great release with great mixes for all occasions.”
Norbert Borchers (House Sound Of Hamburg) – “The Hamza Afro Disco Mix of Souleymane Sangare is very cool!”
Damian Charles (Pointblank FM) – “Unnayanaa mix is killer!”
Marcia Carr (Mi-Soul Radio) – “Impressive set of mixes, this single is beautiful.”
Dean Serafini (Frisky Rhythms) – “Both tracks are excellent, Unnayanaa Remix of Nindjougou hitting the post nicely as is the Hamza Afro Disco Mix of Souleymane Sangare. Impressive!”

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

Zone+ & Usif - Laya (Wind Horse Records)

Helmed by Hamza, New Delhi’s Wind Horse Records returns with “Laya,” a collaboration between Zone+ & Usif from Bahrain (the biggest House Music export from the Middle East). Following separate releases on Day I Dream, Underyourskin Records, and Sol Selectas, Zone+ & Usif collaborated on releases for Akumandra/Underyourskin and Talavera Records before collaborating on “Laya”

“Laya” is another in the impressive Wind Horse roster seamlessly melding house music rhythms, traditional instrumentation from Indian and other world music in superlative production standards. The title track is a meandering jaunt through lush soundscapes, deep grooves, percussive and hypnotic house. Haunting flute, keys, and pads weave contemplative strains throughout. “Aria” is a slappy late-night affair with driving bass sounding sonar depths and building slowly with unexpected vocals and polyrhythmic treatments, mounting new surprise midway through the nearly 10-minute opus. Give “Laya” a spin, and be prepared for transport to a globe-spanning ride suited to dancefloors everywhere.

Kenny Substance (Redflux) – “Two nicely done originals.”
Nick Warren (The Soundgarden) – “Both tracks are really cool.”
Fer Ferrari (Deepclass Records) – “Aria is the one for me. Nice.”
Chang (Chang Bang) – “Laya is smokin’. I love the mystical vibe and flute.”
Bob Duskis (Six Degrees Records) – “Love both tracks but ‘Aria’ is particularly beautiful.”
Aryan Sharma (Dimension Radio) – “I really like how ‘Laya’ flows.”
Ejaz Ahamed (Global Mission / Proton Radio) – “These guys are on fire lately. Great EP.”
SimonG / Deep South Audio (Volcano Radio) – “Both tunes are ripe for my deep house sets … Lovely.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) – “Really strong, warm vibes here. Aria stood out on the initial listen, but both have real quality running through them.”
Black Alley (In Control Radio Show) – “Beautiful soundscapes take you on a journey through the Middle East and Asia. Cool stuff!”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, iTunes, And Spotify.

Sid Vaga - Na Na Ye / Manouche (Wonderwheel Recordings)

NYC (via Paris) based DJ and producer Sid Vaga returns to Nickodemus’ Wonderwheel Recordings with another 12“ full of exotic deep house vibes sure to light up dance floors everywhere. It’s an impressive follow-up to his genuinely well-received ”Brazuca“ single from earlier in the year. On the A side, Sid delivers ”Na Na Ye“, a driving cut with a pulsing bass line and hypnotic African chant that pushes the tune forward before getting flipped into a percussive section alongside deep and subtle synths. On the flip ”Manouche“ can be found, a late night house tune with psychedelic Balkan guitars and swirling Gypsy vocal samples punctuating the track. Rounding out the single, Valencian producer Oscar Barila (Plastic City, Kling Klong) gives ”Manouche” a truly funky remix with a squelchy ’80s ‘new wave’ style bass line, thumping house beat, and irresistible synth work coming together for a real after hours nightclub workout.

Nick Warren - “Oscar Barila’s remix for me.”
Doc Link - “Solid! Will be working this one in.”
Ohmega Watts - “The single pulsates with flavor! It’s a toss up between ‘Manouche’ and the remix. The original fuels the fire for that follow up HEATER mix.”
Sleazy McQueen - “I dig all three tracks here.”
Phat Phil Cooper - “Good dance floor material.”
Abicah Soul - “Oscar Barila’s remix is my pick.”
All Good Funk Alliance - “Nice moves!”
Mike Gill (Wolf + Lamb) - “Loving ‘Na Na Ye’ … great track.”
Jaymz Nylon - “The sound quality here is amazing!”
Giom - “Liking Oscar Barila’s remix.”
DJ MFR (Transport Recordings) - “Nice package. I like all the mixes. Full support on this one.”
Moodymanc - “‘Na Na Ye’ definitely for me!”
Beppe Gioia (Garage Family) - “‘Manouche’ … this track’s got good energy!”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “Funky remix … I like it!”
Danny Massure (Sprint Strut) - “Sweet deep afro house vibes!”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Rolling sound, a real bounce to this.”
Rob Warner (Ibiza Voice) - “Wicked, jammy grooves. Loving the original of ‘Manouche.’”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “Different yet uber-cool and sexy. ‘Na Na Ye’ is the standout track for me.”

Available now from Juno Download and Beatport.

Kohib feat. Mari Boine - Tirakan / One Hundred Of Them (Beatservice Records)

For this latest release from Norwegian imprint Beatservice Records and rising producer Kohib, the artist is joined by celebrated Norwegian Sami vocalist Mari Boine. Hailing from the far north of Norway, Boine is known for embracing the musical history of her indigenous arctic heritage, most famously on the Gula Gula album release in 1990 on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label. Mari Boine has made steps into electronic music with two ‘remixed’ albums, the first containing the popular Chilluminati mix of “Gula Gula” which was licensed to the Cafe Del Mar series. The second album of remixes, 2008’s It Ain’t Necessarily Evil, included Kohib remixing a version of “On Fells Of The North.” Kohib’s remix made Mari Boine a mutual fan, and the two had planned an imminent collaboration. Finally, tight schedules coincided and a studio session commenced. The result is two superb tracks found on this single, “Tirakan” and “One Hundred Of Them.”

“Tirakan” features Kohib’s trademark icy mid-tempo groove, accentuated by expansive synths, a bold bass line, and dreamy dance floor textures. Mari Boine’s evocative vocal floats beautifully on top, adding extra depth and gravitas to an already deep affair. The combination is magical. This is followed by “One Hundred Of Them,” opening with a syncopated synth pattern before the slinky four-on-the-floor takes hold. Here Boine’s vocal line is at its most exotic and worldly, seeming to deliver invocations as the music builds and coalesces into a cosmic delerium. Kohib and Mari Boine play off each other with washes of tension and dynamics creating a bit of sonic drama that discerning listeners will cherish. It’s definitely not a run-of-the-mill dance floor track.

Kohib, AKA Øivind Sjøvoll from Sortland in the north of Norway, has been an important part of the club-scene in the town of Tromsø since 1997, first as a DJ, later as a club organizer. In 1998 he started the legendary club Yaz’n with a few friends. It was Norway’s smallest club, but famous for its sweaty funk nights. Øivind had his musical debut with the band Parliavox in 2001, mixing funk and jazz with electronica/house elements. He started his solo electronica production in 2003, and had his recording debut with the track “Truger” on the Prima Norsk 3 compilation in 2005. Kohib is the name of Øivind’s mostly instrumental electronica / house / dub project which performs live in collaboration with Simen Justdal from TANK design on the visual side. Kohib released his debut album Make Fire in 2010 on Beatservice. After the release of the album, several friends from the Norwegian electronic scene were asked to create reinterpretations of tracks from the album which resulted in the well-received Make FIre - The Remixes collection. Kohib’s also known for his recent and acclaimed Solar Day EP, his prior release on Beatservice Records.

Djuma Soundsystem - “Lovely tune, fantastic vocals!”
Dave Seaman - “Wicked vibes.”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “An icy triumph, this. The upward crawl of ‘Tirakan’ is fascinating, and Mari Boine’s vocals make it even more so. ‘One Hundred Of Them’ and its dark build is impossible to ignore as well.”
Ilya Santana - “Love it. Super slow burning madness!”
Jim Stanton (Horse Meat Disco) - “‘Tirakan’ is superb … the drama! ‘One Hundred Of Them’ is solid, as well.”
OOFT! - “Really feeling both tracks. Excellent work!”
Psychemagik - “Loving the blissed out Balearic vibes of both tracks, and feeling the deep ethnic vocal on ‘Tirakan’.”
Irregular Disco Workers - “Both are beautiful, slowed down and epic disco tracks.”
Rune Lindbæk - “Djækelsk bra!”
Bruce Tantum (TimeOut NY) - “Really loving ‘Tirakan’ - it’s a truly beautiful track.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Wow, this is amazing! Both cuts will definitely sit in my slower, deeper sets. Outstanding.”
Will SumSuch - “‘Tirakan’ is the one for me. It’s an incredibly haunting and emotive piece. Already got me thinking of how I might build a mix around it!”
QuestionmarQ (Red FM, Ireland) - “Brilliantly haunting.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “With Mari Boine’s extremely emotional voice, the slow burning ‘Tirakan’’ sounds like the definition of the north pole’s exoticism.”

Additional support from Luciano, Sleazy McQueen, Makossa & Megablast, Gavin Hardkiss, Jota Wagner (Colors Sound System), Hardway Bros, Space Ranger, Stereo 77, Dr. Dunks (Still Going), Omid 16B, Andrew Grant, and Nacho Marco.

Available now from Juno Download, Beatport, and Amazon.