Keine Moniker - I'm A Freak (Whiskey Pickle)

Austin transplant Lonnie Burnside aka Keine Moniker swoops in with his debut release for resident dance crusaders, Whiskey Pickle Records. “I’m A Freak” injects a deep and brooding edge not typical of the local imprint, yet keeping with the label’s eclectic and varied tastes.

A chunky bass line and some spooky synth work carry the original cut like a dark horse, riding through the night in search of freaky happenings and freakier company … it’s a freaky, freaky scene, man. Schizophrenic Texan Jake Childs takes a break from the shadowy recesses to snuff out some studio time and offer a truly spine shattering remix. This version could be the soundtrack to Buffalo Bill’s infamous ‘tuck’ scene from Silence of the Lambs had it been shot in a night club versus a fleshy sweatshop.

The flipside showcases a bit of East Coast flavor coupled with some West Coast sounds via a collection of soulful individuals. St. Petersburg, Florida locals No Soul To Sell & Ratzenboeck twist the original into an 808-laden, melancholic masterpiece that features the devilish stylings of Ratzenboeck’s golden fiddle. Bay Area boogieman Blue Soul graces the hallowed grounds of Whiskey Pickle once again with his first appearance on the label since 2009. His time-warped Electrofreq Remix is a fitting addition that pays homage to the freaky progenitors of the electro sound.

Oh, you need a FREAK? Whiskey Pickle’s got ‘em right here!

Ursula 1000 - “H.O.T.”
Alexander Robotnick - “Good!”
Mould (Con+ainer / Tiefblau Records) - “The Jake Childs Remix is epic! And the No Soul To Sell & Ratzenboeck remix is also very trippy.”
Spettro (Crosstown Rebels / Team Records) - “The Jake Childs mix all the way for me. The Blue Soul remix is also very well done.”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “A very good sound!”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Get in there! Every track is awesome and, despite being four versions of one track, it sounds like an EP of all different cuts. Wicked stuff .”
Irregular Disco Workers (Disco Volante) - “The original mix is a real dance floor stomper!”
Manuel Sahagun (Candy Music / Drop Music) - “Freaky release!”
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - “The No Soul To Sell & Ratzenboeck remix is very cool. I like the cinematic feel of it.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Twisted and rough … I like it.”
Velanche (Velanche’s Playtime Radio Show) - “I like Blue Soul’s ‘Electrofreq’ Remix … funky and very ’80s.”
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - “The No Soul To Sell & Ratzenboeck remix is stellar - the string are beautiful and add a layer of complexity to the tune - and Blue Soul’s stripped down, dark electro mix is dope!”
SimonG (Deep South Audio, New Zealand) - “Tight sounds … Jake Childs turns in a perfect mix for the dance floor.”
[sic] (Balls Deep / Fnoob Radio) - “Great original track with good energy and enough drum delays to last a lifetime! The Jake Childs remix gives a slightly darker edge which works really well.”
DJ Lolly (Freek FM / Ruff Diamond) - “Loving the energy of the Blue Soul remix … makes me want to do some popping!”

Available now from Beatport and iTunes.

Kohib - La Grave (Beatservice Records)

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, and later as a club organizer. He released his debut album, Make Fire, in 2010, with the digital only remix-compilation Make Fire – The Remixes released late 2011. He has also done remixes for artists like Volta Cab (Lost Paradise Recordings), Mari Boine (Universal Music) and Flunk (Beatservice Records).

In 2012, Kohib launched an EP series focusing on club-oriented tracks. The first, the Solar Day EP, was released in 2012, and the universally acclaimed follow-up, the Tirakan EP, a collaboration with renowned ‘Sami’ singer Mari Boine, was released in 2013. Now, the ‘dance trilogy’ is finally completed with the La Grave EP, due for release at the end of April 2014.

The La Grave EP opens with the title track, featuring cool syncopated house rhythms mixed with layers of moody, arctic ambience. “The Little Giant” follows, deeper and darker, with a steady four-on-the-floor beat, techno handclaps, pensive soundscapes, and shades of disco-dancing bushmen. The final track, “Percalaise,” nods heavily to fellow Norwegian Bjørn Torske’s epic classic “Jeg vil være søppelmann” with its percussion overdrive. But while the Torske’s track morphs into dirty disco, “Percalaise” moves more into bubbly techno / house grooves. These three tracks offer a distinctive take on electronic dance floor sounds, seamlessly merging disco, house, and techno elements into Kohib’s unique style. DJs looking for a club-pleasing twist to their sets, take note.

Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “Beautiful!”
Sleazy McQueen - “I dig those percussion vibes!”
DJ Rocca (Ajello / Supersonic Lovers) - “‘Percalaisse’ is ACE!”
Mugwump (Kompakt / Throne of Blood) - “Nice EP! ‘La Grave’ is mega.”
Chris Fortier - “Nice.”
Q-Burns Abstract Message - “I’m quite into the cinematic feel and gentle melancholia of ‘La Grave.’”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “This is GREAT … all fab!”
ALTZ (Altzmusica / DFA) - “2014 rave rhythm machine … I like it.”
Irregular Disco Workers - “‘La Grave’ and ‘The Little Giant’ are really amazing tracks.”
Nick Holder - “I’m digging it!”
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - “Subtle and smoothly done.”
ed2000 (Tresor / Solar Lounge) - “Dream-atic tunes. I love the percussion elements and the overall vibe.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Wicked stuff here – three tracks which are all totally usable. ‘La Grave’ and ‘The Little Giant’ are both brilliant, deeper rolling grooves.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “‘Percalaise’ is a slamming percussion-driven track, great for large systems.”
DJ Tomas (Friday Night Session / Google Play) - “Funky sleek house with its own distinct character. A solid release.”
Brewster Brigham (Kiss FM, Australia) - “Kohib does it again! Crazy beats and beautiful bass lines the f@#k with the dance floor. Love love love it.”
Adam Warped (Whiskey Pickle) - “All killer and no filler … stoked to play these tonight!”

Available now from Beatport and iTunes.

Miss Mee - Back To My Beat (Patsada Records)

Patsada Records, a house music label specializing in jackin’ sounds, is pleased to present a new single from Miss Mee. The Belgian artist has spent more than a decade in the music industry with work gracing labels like Robsoul Recordings and attracting remixers like DJ Sneak and Phil Weeks for her Patsada releases. With soulful, funky house roots inspired by the revered NYC, Chicago, and San Francisco house scenes this comes as no surprise. Keeping that in mind, “Back To My Beat” twists these influences together and squeezes out an islander-themed groove full of off-kilter shuffle and spiced up with ragga-rap vocals. This after hours funk is also left standalone on the included Instrumental version. Both offer something sure to nice up the dancehall.

DJ Sneak - “Superb work.”
Andrew Macari (Greenhouse / Tastie) - “A really solid vibe … I’m definitely gonna play this jam!”
Tyree Cooper - “Nice stuff!”
DJ Mes (Guesthouse) - “This is ILL! Love it.”
Tommy Largo (Lost My Dog / Kolour) - “Dope groove!”
Thomas White (Natural Rhythm) - “Always good to hear some funky Miss Me beats!”
Alkalino - “I really like both tracks … will be played.”
DK Watts (Short Bus Kids / Bounce House) - “Some tough beats … I’m digging the percussion on this.”
Camouflage (ChicagoHouse FM) - “Great vibe and tight beats … I love it!”
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - “Great, strong beats.”
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - “I dig the off-kilter synth work and the ragga vocals … dope tune!”
Kadabra (The House Hookup Radio Show) - “Banging! Blunt smokers of the world better add this to the playlist!”
[sic] (Balls Deep / mu-sic) - “Great bouncy bass line and catchy riff. The vocals add a great edge, too.”
Louis Hughes (6th Sense Music) - “Proper jackin’ funky vibes. Miss Mee always delivers. This is simply my type of track!”
Phuturelabs (Radio Magnetic, Glasgow) - “Roller!”
Niksa Dragolin (Eurostar Radio, Croatia) - “This will be a sure anthem for the summer madness … funkzzz up!”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Lo Creed - Hope (Cold Busted)

The prolific Cold Busted label reaches into Athens, Greece to expose the funky sound of Apollo Neopoulos, also known as Lo Creed. He debuts his style of ‘Mediterranean hop’ on the eleven track album titled Hope, showcasing funky flavorings, punchy beats, and gritty instrumentation. Highlights include the late night strut of “Stay United,” the sensual bedtime funk of “Remind,” “Join The L.U.V. Club” with its lush strings and piano over crisp drums, and the album’s title track with its appealing bounce and layers of sampled freshness. It will quickly become evident that Lo Creed’s Hope is indeed ‘dope’ … grab hold and get down. 

Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - “Damn cool. I love this mixture of disco, slow house grooves, and the hip hop touch.”
Basement Freaks - “Yeah … this sounds fresh.”
Ohmega Watts - “Diggin’ the down- to mid-tempo vibe of the joints here. I especially dig ‘Remind’ and I will definitely be giving that special play=out attention.”
Doc Proof (Funkanomics) - “I totally love these dope beats.”
Phat Phil Cooper - “Nice package. I love the beat workout on ‘Remind.’”
Irregular Disco Workers - “Style as always with this package … sun and summer is coming!”
Danny Massure (Spring Strut) - “Sexy grooves!”
All Good Funk Alliance - “It’s a toss up between ‘Stay United’ and ‘Remind.’ Both are excellent.”
Nutritious (SpinSpinNYC) - “A bit of genius behind the wheels here. I love it.”
Robin Parris (Parris & Vanucci / Dancefloor Outlaws) - “Cold Busted brings it non-stop! Such quality beats.”
Flashbaxx - “Very nice cut ‘n’ paste beat science stuff flavored with old school ‘70s funk-soul vibes. It’s like Cut Chemist traveling on the Love Boat and watching ‘Rocky’ in his cabin.“
Hippie Torrales - ”Slammin’ downtempo grooves.”
Fingerman (Disco Deviant) - “Really nice vibes here. Loving the classic cut up work on ‘Remind.’ Lovely stuff.”
DJ BMF (Eighth Dimension / Phat N’ Jazzy) - “Awesome! Cold Busted is quickly becoming my favorite label.”
DJ Nartak (Nightflight / Klassik Lounge) - “Sun-flavoured funkiness shines through finely arranged grooves. Cool.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - “I’m loving the rework of Patrice Rushen’s ‘Remind Me!’”
Brandon Bass (Hub City Music) - “Perfect spring time jams!”
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) - “Easy and lovely … some minimal funk in here. Smoothy groovy!”

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop.