My Neighbour Is - Ska-Kan-Ka (Cold Busted)

The prolific Manchester-based artist known as Robot Needs Oil has been found covertly recording downtempo, reggae, and hip hop fueled beats under the curious name of My Neighbour Is. His latest release for Cold Busted under this moniker, Ska-Kan-Ka, places his love of dub, reggae, and a solid skankin’ rhythm on display once again, much like his previous Metaphysical Juicer album on the label. There is a noticeable difference this time in that the songs have less dancehall and dub appeal, forgoing these reggae influences for a more strictly roots approach -- and even incorporating a slight balearic feel at times -- but still totally party rockin' in a ska-like fashion. Essentially this is island calypso meets American funk in a lighthearted blend … because it's done by a Brit, of course! It's just another day in the backyard of My Neighbour Is. He's blessed up his downtempo, hip hop breaks styling with an obvious level of respect and inspiration awarded towards the Jamaican sound.

Kid Loco - “A cool record for the summer.”
Doc Martin - “Rude boy!”
Tim “Love” Lee (Tummy Touch) - “This is great.”
Inland Knights - “Love it. ‘Ganja Day’ is my favorite but they’re all great.”
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show / Radio X) - “Summer time is reggae time and here we go with that crazy neighbour … so much style.”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - “This album is awesome. I dig all the tunes.”
Makossa (Makossa & Megablast / Luv Lite Recordings) - “Nice, solid vibes.”
Silenta (Roca Records) - “Massive! Deep! Warm bass all around. The dub / reggae sound at its best.”
Ben Mono (Undertones Gang / Plant Music) - “Lovely. I’ll definitely play some of these tunes.”
DJ Kid Stretch (Warriorz Records / Goodgroove) - “Summer vibes all around!”
Minus 8 (Compost) - “Wonderful, positive, and danceable reggae … just great!”
Djouls (Paris DJs / T.I.M.E.C.) - “Loving this … it sounds great!”
Jamie Topham (CDPool) - “Some cool carnival essentials.”
Diesler (A LIttle Something Radio) - “Great release from a really impressive label. A must-buy for fans of all things of a dubby nature.”
SimonG (Deep South Audio, New Zealand) - “This is timeless. Reminds me of a sunny session in the avalon field at Glastonbury.”
Deadbeat Disco Radio Show - “Mint! Really solid beats here. I’m always up for a bit of ska-influenced grooving! ‘Dub It’ is a cracker, but the whole selection is quality.”
DJ Chewy (Alphabeatsoup Blog) - “Cracking mix of roots, dibby and skanky sounds … it’s hard to pick between ‘Ganja Day’ and ‘Szynkwas’.”
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - “The tracks are killer across this album. There’s a killer dub vibe that permeates the entire release, and a clear love of the source material.”

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop.

La Rose - 26 (Sound Vessel Records)

Sound Vessel Records is a label out of San Diego, California, but with a global scope. Their new release features Marvin La Rose, an artist from the Netherlands, and remixers hailing from Romania, Spain, Hungary, and America. Titled "26," the single is a deep, swirling, progressive effort from Marvin, operating under the nom de plume La Rose. Wavering synths create an immersive experience through a heady atmosphere, only interrupted by brooding vocal chops.

Starting off the remixes, Addex is a Bucharest-based artist of many aliases for sounds ranging from relaxing downtempo lounge to minimalistic tech house, delivering a back-to-basics deep house remix for this single. Spaniard Ivan Garci enters straight into his rework with a massive sub kick, indicative of things to come as he basses up the track while maintaining the moody background elements of the original. Hungarian artists SpecDub and D.M.P, or Laszlo Szunyogh and Reisz Róbert respectively, both employ minimal tech touches, but with SpecDub offering a more driving, punchy kick-propelled remix while D.M.P touches on a more laid-back and scattered groove. Finally, Brooklyn's Jaymz Nylon repurposes "26" in his renowned Afrotech style, really letting the distorted low end synth shine within the playful patter of shakers and wooden percussive instruments that substitute for claps. La Rose and company have delivered a journey of spacey, tech- accented house for Sound Vessel.

Anthony Pappa (Red Light District / Bedrock) - “The best mix is the original mix and l will support it.”
Randall Jones (Audio Therapy / Baroque) - “The SpecDub remix sounds good. I will give it rotation this weekend for sure.”
Tom Lown (Savoir Faire / Lost My Dog) - “I’m particularly digging the Ivan Garci remix with its simple / minimal and deep feel.”
Hippie Torrales - “Nice and deep.”
Richie Hartness (untitled music) - “Splendid stuff … great atmospheric excellence.”
Dr. Motte (PRAXXIZ) - “Very deep tunes here.”
Atnarko (Noir / infiltr8:Celebr8) - “Nice, swirly house music.”
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - “Some of my favorite artists all together in one release. Fantastic. So much deepness and groove all at once.”
Toki Fuko (DP–6 Records / Manuscript Records) - “Perfect. Smooth and groovy.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Nicely done grooves. The SpecDub version is the one which I’m feeling the most … it adds some bump to the vibe.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - “The original and Ivan Garci mixes for me … dreamy!”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Pure deepness … atmospheric vibe. Great for festival action in dark tents.”
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - “A solid release. I like the Jaymz Nylon remix.”
Tom Conrad (Adaptation Music) - “The Ivan Garci mix stands out for me. A great set opener.”
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - “Wow, what a stunning tune … and with Addex, DMP, and Ivan Garci doing remix duties you can’t go wrong. Cracking track and amazing remixes.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “A sure-fire late night weapon.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “I love it. A dreamy release on the deep side of house with some eclectic edges. My favorite is Jaymz Nylon’s remix, offering his ‘afro-tech’ spirit and the result is excellent.”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Pedro Costa - Tania EP (Multiple Recordings)

Multiple Recordings introduces fresh talent with Pedro Costa's first EP for the label. Pedro is a rising producer from Portugal who set out in the late noughties to perfect his DJ'ing and productions. Not cutting corners has lead to much professional success for him. With an output spread out across labels, Pedro has recorded and remixed for imprints like Plastik Galaxy, Cancun Records, and Crosstech Records. His Tania EP for Multiple Recordings features tight, percussive deep house with slightly 'tech' grooves. "High People" includes a spaced-out bass line, building pads, and vocals that capture the hazy club vibe so well. On "Tania", the drums and low end are more straightforward, leaving an undeniable impulse to dance. Once again ascending pads and murky vocals provide the track a nothing-but-the-basics feeling. These elements done right in Pedro Costa's hands make for a sonically satisfying single.

Thomas White (Natural Rhythm) - “Maybe nothing but the basics, but they are ‘the right’ basics. ‘High People’ is chugging love warfare. ‘Tania’ is lovely underwater bliss. Love the drum textures on both. Great minimal production. Full support of this EP.”
Hippie Torrales - “Real sweet deep groove.”
Robert Owens - “Cool tracks!”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - “Lovely … warm … deepness!”
Fine Cut Bodies (Biscuit Real / Chi Recordings) - “A nice and deep ’90s vibe.”
Alfa Romero (Freak n’ Chic / Ministry Of Sound) - “‘Tania’ is the one for me. Love the groove.”
Vincent Kwok (Eight-Fifteen / Transport) - “Great deep tracks.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Subtle and deep … something to take you away.”
DJ Lolly (Freek FM / Ruff Diamond) - “A nice, rolling deep tracks with a mellow vibe. I like them very much.”
Louis Hughes (6th Sense Music) - “A pair of well groovy tracks here.”
Marc Lacasse (Urbnet / sHIFT Radio) - “The vocal got me right away … deep and sultry, just right for the end of summer. This is fine.”
Tee Cardaci (Low Down Grooves / Sine Qua Non) - “Proper deepness … nice release!”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “A glamorous slice of late night house oozing with beautiful seductive melodies.”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

Various Artists - Talking About EP (Fresh Cream Records)

Fresh Cream Records continues an ambitious pace with their fifteenth release, the Talking About EP. It's a diverse compilation, quite varied in sound, featuring the talents of Ru.DiJ, Max Ferrante, Achille Lombardi, and vocalist D'Layna.

Kicking things off, Ru.DiJ constructs "You Can Do It", a driving tech-influenced track perfect for the terrace and with just the right touch of house piano chords. It also features the empowering diva vocals of D'Layna. Producer Ru.DiJ grew up where Italian club culture was born, in the famous Riccione township, while D'Layna has made her name as a vocalist and songwriter with a focus on uplifting the spirits of club revelers. She's done so on collaborations with some of the world's most renowned DJs, a list that includes Sandy Rivera (KOT), Julius Papp, and Oscar P.

Doing as the Romans do, Max Ferrante divides and conquers this EP with two roles as both solo producer and vocal provider. Max has, over a decade, worked as a DJ at some of Italy's best clubs, playing alongside top house artists like David Morales and Dennis Ferrer. Working alone on "LoL", he lays down a funky bass line accompanied by softer guitar plucks and deep, melodic keys. It winds up with a lighthearted Parisian beach summer getaway feel. Together with Simil Masiano, Max shows his vocal side on "Amazing." The track features a pep-in-the-step vibe sure to make dancers flood the boogie zone.

To finish the EP, Achille Lombardi introduces the most eclectic sounds of the release. The Castrovillari born son of a radio announcer credits his father with helping spark his exploration of music. Somehow, it's all culminated in "Maria". Tribal in a folk sense, the song stomps along beneath vocal chants with hard to place string instruments, finding its energy in high pitched pings.

Hippie Torrales - “Nice package.”
Fabio Tosti (Music Plan / Transport Recordings) - “‘You Can Do It’ is the song for me. Nice, deep atmosphere.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “I like the vocal samples, the beats are crisp, and the groove is rolling.”
Sam Hopkins (AccuRadio, Chicago) - “‘LoL’ is an instant classic – I love the novel sample – and ‘Amazing’ lives up to its name.”
Tony Powell (Bounce Muzik) - “I’m really digging D’Layna’s vocals on ‘You Can Do It’. But the standout out is the disco-house Philly-style of ‘LoL’. So much fun!”
Black Alley (In Control Radio Show) - “Achille Lombardi’s track ‘Maria’ is tripped-out in a really nice way.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - “An amazing and truly eclectic EP sure to rock the floor.”
DJ Phil T (DJ Times) - “‘You Can Do It’ and ‘LoL’ are hot.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “The deep house sound of Max Ferrante’s ‘‘LoL’’ is the one for me … impressive bass line, warm and laid back guitar, total Mediterranean chill.”
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - “A couple of gems on this release. The Fresh Mix of Ru.DiJ feat. D’Layna’s ‘You Can Do It’ is a deep and funky hit.”
Pierre Ravan (KaRavan) - “Great EP. Simil Masiano’s ‘Amazing’ has a lovely beat and gritty bass line.”
DJ Deep Index (107.4 BOP FM, Australia) - “The Ru.DiJ feat. D’Layna track is gold. An awesome track … in my set you go!”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.