Bryan Ford - Hands (Revolutionary Music)

Bryan Ford continues what’s set to be a productive 2014 for Revolutionary Music with a new EP, titled Hands. With the name of this release in part a statement of intent, Bryan’s output relies heavily on live instrumentation rather than samples — hands on, if you will. One should expect nothing less from Ford, a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and remixer … basically an all-around studio wizard based in Chicago.

The release begins with the lush organic groove of “Downtown Drifter" and becomes progressively more raw and electronic with "Someday" and the title track. Ford’s guitar lead and solo ooze with raw emotion over analog synths and an infectious bass line on the opener. "Someday" and "Hands" both feature Ford’s drumming chops and the familiar sound of his Moog Voyager. His style is unique and vibrant in a way that’s indicative of his multi-instrumentalist background and thoughtful songwriting capabilities. Fans of RJD2, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Bonobo, and Shlomo have another artist to follow.

Kid Loco - “Great tracks and beats.”
Andreas Kinzl (Aromabar / INFRACom!) - “A deep fusion sound for old school cosmic headz.”
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - “A perfect headphone listen.”
Kubatko (Beyond Belief / Quazi Delict) - “This release really stands out … I haven’t heard anything like this recently.”
Irregular Disco Workers (Disco Volante) - “A really interesting fusion beetween electronic and real instruments.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - “Very funky with a lovely vibe throughout.”
Phat Phil Cooper (NuNorthern Soul) - “Perfect beachside grooves.”
DJ Derek Jones (Soular Grooves Radio) - “This stuff is amazing! What is this kid up to? These tracks are so refreshing and just not same old same old.”
Deadbeat Disco Radio Show - “Stands out a mile from all the computer s@#t. Thoroughly enjoyable.”
Pathaan (Globetronica) - “Awesome!”
DJ Tomas (Google Play / ForwardEver) - “Very cool downtempo tracks … reminds me a little of Slide Five or Nightmares on Wax – same heavy and vibey quality to the arrangements. Nice work!”
Clairvo (Tilos Radio, Hungary) - “Yeah, I’m diggin’ the musical hand trace of Bryan Ford!”
MadameFLY (mmRadio / Beatmixing.com) - “Suddenly it’s the golden age of downtempo again. This is a treat!”

Available now from Beatport.

Max Ferrante feat. Heidi Vogel - Hold My Hand (Fresh Cream Records)

“Hold My Hand” is the new single on Italy’s Fresh Cream Records, produced by the Rome-based Max Ferrante and featuring the magnificent vocals of Heidi Vogel. This is Max’s second offering for the Fresh Cream label, and Heidi is a vocalist of much renown, loaning her voice to past releases from the likes of Cinematic Orchestra, Ananda Project, IG Culture, and Liquid People. “Hold My Hand” is a pulsating builder of a house music track, with blissful layers of pads and rhythm complimenting the vocal. A squelchy, filtered synth line enters at the breakdown and completely takes the song to a new place, guiding the dance floor along the way. A trio of remixes is led by the label’s own Marco Rea and Ru.DiJ, collaborating on a version that is flavored with key work by Frankie Mancuso. It’s more of an uplifting, melodic, peak time affair adding balance to the underground vibe of the original. A couple more talented Italian producers follow, with a deep, bass-fueled mix by James Gutierrez and a somewhat spacier version from Luca Cucchetti touching on tech-house elements. It’s a well-paced vocal house single from Fresh Cream, sure to please DJs of many different stripes.

Graeme Park - “Delicious vocal.”
Robert Owens - “The Luca Cucchetti remix … cool track!”
Claudio Coccoluto - “Nice tracks.”
Benji Candelario - “‘Hold My Hand’ … good tune.”
DJ MFR (Transport Recordings) - “Bella!”
Phonatics (Housesession Records) - “This is brilliant!”
Edground (Grooveland Music) - “Amazing sound. I’m loving the vibe and the vocals.”
Vincent Kwok - “Great tracks!”
DJ Therry (Jerk House Connection) - “Great voice … I love it. Full support.”
Igor Marijuan (Ibiza Sonica FM) - “Loving it all!”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “The bounce to James Gutierrez remix is a real smooth instant mover … subtle sounds and rocking bass.”
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - “The vocals on this track are stellar … Heidi is in fine form. The melodic Marco Rea & Ru.DiJ mix is a serious stand-out.”
Eddy Spirit Spirit Crew / Janga Radio) - “I’m having a hard time deciding which track to pick as a favorite. They are all equally brilliant in their own way.”
Cherokee (Cherry Global Radio Show, Australia) - “Excellent! I love Heidi Vogel and the remixes are all great!”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download

My Neighbour Is - Running of the Bulls (Cold Busted)

The prolific Manchester-based artist known as Robot Needs Oil has been found covertly recording downtempo and hip hop-fueled beats under the curious name of My Neighbour Is. There has been no stopping him under this guise and he is now on his fourth album for the Cold Busted label in just about a year’s time. Running of the Bulls may be downtempo, but it’s split between high intensity beats and laid-back grooves - a refined blend of a funk, blues, and rock. From its more soothing side, the album delivers some great highlights like the wonderfully vocal “It Shakes & It’s Alright” with its hip horns, sax, and harmonica and the organ heavy jam of “Jaguar Paw”. The title track is another early favorite, this time pulling from the more energetic half of the release with playful claps, charging drum beats, and relentless rhythmic guitar riffs. Indeed, Running of the Bulls will have people dancing and grooving like they’re dodging horns.

Kid Loco - “Super groovy and top beats.”
DJ Moneyshot (The Allergies / Solid Steel Radio) - “Woah! Heavy on the breaks and samples … I love that sh@t. Props to you and the people that live next door.”
All Good Funk Alliance - “This is really good. Loving the organic-breaks-funk.”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - “Another killer release by My Neighbour Is … yeah!”
Inland Knights (Drop Music) - “More hot jams from Cold Busted!”
Flashbaxx - “Another load of funky bullets for the dance floor!”
Stickybuds (Goodgroove Records) - “These are so funky and wicked.”
Simon Hodge (BBC6 Music) - “Well impressed. One very funky piece of work!”
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - “Dope! Cold Busted strikes again.”
Double-D (Funky Fresh Hip Hop Show, Germany) - “Yeah … more dope funk tunes from My Neighbour Is!”
Diesler (A LIttle Something Radio Show, UK) - “Quite a power packed fist of fun!”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show, UK) - “As one expects from My Neighbour Is, funky as f**k!”
Shantisan (Salted Soul / One Note Samba) - “These are some really dirty funky beats!”
Clairvo (Tilos Radio FM90.3, Hungary) - “Awesome production on each trackI There are so many great releases on Cold Busted recently.”
Laurent N. (House Nation Radio, France) - “Another nice Cold Busted release with a old school sound. Great stuff.”
Mojo Rising (Cold Busted / F.A.M.I.L.Y.) - “Everything this guy touches is gold! I’m loving these thick breakbeats. The funk oozes outta these joints!”
Sandro Bianchi (Ibiza Sonica) - “I really love this label, this artist, and this magic album … outstanding!”
Dado Funky Poetz (Radio Monte Carlo) - “Back to the roots … hot hot hot!”

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop.

13 Crew - Scratch Bunker (Thai Dust Black)

German turntablism label Thai Dust Black reaches across the border into Tri-City, Poland, for a release from 13 Crew. Since the collective was formed in 2002, the crew has shifted around with the current make-up consisting of O2ld, Lolo, and Wojak. Years in the making, Scratch Bunker marks their debut album and is full of scratch-heavy, turtnablist-crafted productions with features from Lower Entrance, Dr Nico, Slyther, and Owca. Dig in because each cut is an onslaught of samples, repurposing bits from emcees of the past and pieces pulled from stranger, not easily identifiable sources. These skillful DJs highlight their handiwork across beats ranging from funk and soul to hip-hop and downtempo. Bombs away!

DJ Moneyshot (Solid Steel Radio / NinjaTune) - “Cosmic cuts and killer beats. You can’t get fresher than this!”
J Kid Stretch - “Awesome skills!”
DJ Chicken George - “Ah Yeah! Cuts are on point!”
DJ Yoda - “Nice stuff.”
Basement Freaks - “The dopest!”
Trotter (Royal Soul) - “‘Rock The Party’ is the one … big up!”
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - “Dope EP. It reminds me so much of classic Ninja Tune, Switchstance, and Cup of Tea Records.”
Doc Proof (Funkanomics) - “Dope scratches … I love it!”
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) - “Yeah … some real hip hop right here. Very skillful and super fresh!”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - “Beats-a-plenty … this seriously kicks!”
Benge (Sex Fly Radio Show) - “It’s nice to hear turntable stuff with flavor. It’s been a long time.”
SimonG (Deep South Audio) - “Smoking! Summer BBQ session ahead … some serious decknology in action.”

Available now from Beatport.