Tom Appl - Downtown (Karmaloft Music)

Karmaloft Music keeps up the summer pace with a new release from Munich-based sound engineer Tom Appl. Tom’s career as a DJ dates back to the early ’90s with the sounds of tech, deep, and melody-infused house music. As a producer he has previously created productions and remixes under the pseudonym Fruitroom. Two originals, “Downtown" and "Klichi,” make up his new effort with remixes from Bes & Meret, Enne, Matthias Freudmann, and Christos Fourkis.

Tom Appl combines old world gipsy style with carnival flair, all adding up with a balearic effect. It’s a blend of guitar plucking, castanets, metallic chimes, and a festive lead organ with folk style vocals delivered as a higher pitched croon. “Klichi” also feels fit for the White Isle, but the growl of its heavily distorted bass and the nerve rattling sensations of its melodic keys lend it a more after-hours appeal. The first to remix “Downtown” are Bes & Meret, two DJs also from Munich whose productions have contributed to some impressive compilations, one such being Café del Mar. They straighten out the track’s groove, providing for more drive. Dresden’s Matthias Freudmann, Munich transplant Enne, and Greek native Christos Fourkis each harden the original around the edges with more club- friendly approaches. Enne, a prolific musician and member of Mohear, with his solo releases finding a home on labels like Compost and Permanent Vacation, is a definitive highlight with a heavy house shuffle on the hats and snare placed over the top of a deep, menacing acid bass line. There’s plenty to choose from on this release for a variety of different nightclub contexts.

Vincent Kwok (Eight-Fifteen / Transport Recordings) - “Great remix from Mathias Freudmann.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Good selection of vibes and solid beats here … I’m really digging the original ‘Downtown’ and the Christos Fourkis remix. ‘Klichi’ is also superb.”
Pete Williams (Natural Rhythm) - “‘Downtown’ has a very unique and infectious sound. My favorite is the Bes & Meret remix.”
Pat Lezizmo (Conya Records) - “‘Klichi’ is just my cup of tea … such a powerful track. Loving it!”
Fine Cut Bodies (Chi Recordings) - “Some nice vibes here.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “The Mathias Freudmann remix is just slammin’ … the bass knocks you about nicely.”
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences) - “Beautiful and at the same time a pretty twisted release. I must say that Tom Appl has done a very intriguing job on these tracks. Enne’s Garage Remix and then Christos Fourkis’s one are my favorites but I’m quite sure I’d use the other tracks here, too.”
Kosta (Vibe FM, Romania) - “I haven’t heard of Tom Appl previously, but his work comes as a nice surprise. Good remixes, too … the Bes & Meret mix is the cherry on top.”
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - “The Mathias Freudmann remix takes this track track to another level. There’s a great summer feel to this deep, driving stunner. Tune!”
Dado Funky Poetz (Radio Monte Carlo) - “A possible hit!”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

mister T. - Funk Around the Sun (Cold Busted)

Athens, Greece DJ and producer mister T. has readied another ace album for the Cold Busted label — the appropriately titled Funk Around the Sun LP — and this one is sure to be in heavy rotation. mister T. is a master of instrumental, soulful, and upbeat dance floor funk, and this album further solidifies this fact. Retro party sounds get the beat-down with a playful attitude in twelve funk-tastic tracks, just in time for summer. It’s hard to pick highlights, but here’s a few: “Mo Style" has powerful vocals from the ’60s era that some may find familiar, but reimagined over funky breaks with rhythmic guitar licks, brassy horns, and soul organs. The horn section comes further front-and-center over the drum spatter of "Dig This,” with the addition of humor through a sparingly used vocal sample. Then, in the style of swing, “The Usual" is set to have people twirling about the dance floor in dramatic arms flailing, feet kicking fashion. Delicious stuff, primed and ready for the dancehall.

Kid Loco - “Simple + Groovy + Tasty = Great.”
DJ Moneyshot (Solid Steel Radio / NinjaTune) - “Solid, son. I pity the fool that can’t get down to a mister T. beat.”
Mark Farina (Mushroom Jazz) - “Great!”
Fort Knox Five - “This is some beefed up retro-funk bizness!”
Ursula 1000 - “Dope!”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - “‘Mo Style’ is one of the best nu-funk tunes of 2014 so far. Love it.”
Moodymanc (2020 Vision) - “I’m feelin’ the funk!”
Danny Massure (Spring Strut) - “Funky … very nice!”
Simon Hodge (BBC6 Funk & Soul Show) - “Very fresh and funky. Another good addition to his excellent body of work.”
Phat Phil Cooper (NuNorthernSoul) - “A great party package.”
Basement Freaks - “Fresh!”
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) - “Smoothy groovy downbeat funk … I dig this, it’s rocking fresh!”
Mojo Rising (Cold Busted / F.A.M.I.L.Y.) - “The funk master from Athens strikes again!”
Adam Warped (Whiskey Pickle / Machine Discotheque) - “Gorgeous grooves here … a boogie buffet!”
Niksa Dragolin (Eurostar Radio, Croatia) - “This is really funky with a flavored disco feel … wow.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - “Groovy vibes throughout this wonderful album!”
DJ Tomas (Friday Night Session) - “Very nice and consistent production with the right nuances. The funk is rising.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “The breaks, the the funk, the disco, the jazz, the swing are connected here under the sun.”

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop.

Lamliki - Never Give Up (Karmaloft Music)

Barcelona-based producer Lamliki delivers two strong summertime shakers for Karmaloft Music. Alongside the deep house foundation, Lamliki’s soul and jazz influences are recognizable in “Never Give Up.” A bass line that just feels right sets the stage for jazzy electric organ stabs and guitar licks, answered by a soft saxophone riff. Ananada's vocal chops top the song off with an undeniably catchy appeal. Munich-based audio engineer Tom Appl gives the bass more roundness and adds dramatic string orchestration amongst other minor touches that make all the difference in his remix. Matthias Freudmann from Dresden follows with his take on the track, increasing energy, tempo, and intensity as a result. “Try To Believe,” Lamliki’s second original offering, features a ’90s organ pulse and, once again, infectious vocal repetition. These tunes should find themselves at home at beach bars, terraces, and the like with party season in full swing.

Nick Holder - “Fire!”
Hippie Torrales - “Nice, deep mix from Tom Appl.”
Sean Dimitrie (Bombay Records) - “I love the warm rubber sounding kick on the first mix. and the dirt in the Matthias Freudmann remix.”
Pat Lezizmo (Conya Records / Smooth Agent) - “I’m really digging that jacking feel on Tom Appl’s remix. Good music!”
DJ Enne (Electunes / Nang) - “Cool stuff.”
Fine Cut Bodies (Chi Recordings) - “Nice deep rolling house music!”
DJ Therry (Jerk House Connection) - “Great EP … full support.”
Mauricio Aviles (Movido / Loveslap!) - “‘Never Give Up’ is a cool. moody chugger.”
DJ Morpheus (Lysergic Factory) - “The Tom Appl remix of ‘Never Give Up’ is top notch … truly excellent!”
Louis Hughes (6th Sense Music) - “Quality deep beats here with a nice old school feel but forward thinking at the same time … if that makes sense!”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “Deep, groovy, and sexy.”
Velanche (Velanche’s Playtime) - “I’m digging the electro-groovy vibe of the EP; good club music.”
SimonG (Deep South Audio, New Zealand) - “There’s a lovely warm old school vibe to these sounds.”
Jean Jérome (Radio FG / Kut ‘N’ Paste) - “A nice and cool adventure through the deep house sound.”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Various Artists - Impossible EP #3 (Rebus Records)

The Impossible series of EPs is a place for artists and producers in the Proceed Records family to stretch out a bit and try some new sounds. If a track doesn’t quite sonically fit on an artist’s EP on Proceed but still has the quality and dance floor appeal that demands to be heard then this is the place for it. Thus the third in a series, the Impossible EP #3, gathers five tracks from some of Proceed’s shining Italian producers, this time showcasing them on the Rebus Records sub-label.

Proceed’s proprietor, DJ / producer Haldo, who has also released cuts through Transport Recordings, Conya, and Adaptation Music, is represented by his pure and joyous house Deepfunkmix of “Rebus’funk.” A sure-shot bass line is guided by wonderfully atmospheric pads, key stabs, and synth accents with reverberating disco strings cutting through the layers. Haldo’s touch can also be heard in his additional keyboards on the EP’s contribution from Fabio Mazzei, a talented new deep house producer from Catanzaro. ”Just Me Again Down Here" is a hypnotic trip with growling bass and vocals that playfully question the listener. Having participated on the second edition of the Impossible EP projects, Fuscobeat & Magrini are welcomed back with “Green Afrika.” The track is a tribal floor-filler with flavorful, deep chords by Haldo once again. Tuscany-based Tony Barbato first started DJ’ing throughout Italy in the late ’90s enjoying production success and gigs at venues like the Parisian Djoon club. His work on “Love Is Endless" gives retro inspirations from past decades new life in a modern, big room context. Finally, Odo Makes A Smile compliments the package with his vision, commanding deep house vibes out of otherwise minimal techno elements in “Not Too Bad.”

Claudio Coccoluto - “Nice package!”
Richard Earnshaw (Spiritchaser / Duffnote) - “Tony Barbato’ s ‘Love Is Endless’ … very nice!”
Henri Kohn (Conya / Clubstar) - “Cool EP … all tracks have quality!”
Hippie Torrales - “Great EP package.”
Master Kev (Underground Collective) - “Nice! I will definitely play these.”
Nick Holder - “Dope!”
Tyree Cooper - “Nice stuff.”
Deli G (The Touch / Future Sound Of House) - “Every cut on this EP is rocking.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “A truly eclectic EP, with Fabio Mazzei’s wicked deep house gem ‘Just Me Again Down Here’’ bringing memories from back in the day.”
Mauricio Aviles (Movido / Loveslap!) - “Dope EP! A little something for everyone.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “There’s something very cool about this one … I’m into it. Haldo’s ‘Rebus’funk’ particularly doing it for me.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “Fuscobeat & Magrini’s ‘Green Afrika’ is probably one of the most uplifting house tracks I’ve heard in 2014 so far.”
Dean Serafini (JJazproJect) - “Haldo’s ‘Rebus’funk’ and Fabio Mazzei’s ‘Just Me Again’ work best for me but I can see myself making use of all five tracks. A nice varied package of well produced deep and funky vibes.”
Michael Stukes (Mystic Vybes Radio Show) - “Some serious grooves on this baby, here!”

Available now from Traxsource.