Adam Pickrell feat. Daniel Hardaway - Reach Suite (Harmonious Discord)

Last fall, Harmonious Discord put together a collection of songs for its yearly sampler, showcasing many of the artists scheduled for releases in the next year. One of the tracks, "Reach Suite" by Adam Pickrell, strongly resonated with listeners. Harmonious Discord is excited to showcase this deep vocal-driven masterpiece with this new single, along with some fresh remixes taking it to new heights.

Adam Pickrell has been a largely silent orchestrator of modern house music since the early '90s. Known for his acumen on the ivories, Adam first appeared on record shelves with his keyboard work on the classic Clockwork remix of Home & Garden featuring Colette’s “Find Your Love”. This ushered in an era of releases of top contenders in the house music realm including collaborations with artists like Demarkus Lewis, Halo, Brett Johnson, and JT Donaldson -- all featuring Adam as a contributor the more complex music pieces. After many years as a collaborator, Adam founded the musical group White Lotus Society which had many breakthrough releases including a smash hit, “Space Cadillac”. In 2014, Adam finds himself deep in studio projects that showcase his masterful understanding of melodic construction. Thus, "Reach Suite" is a prayer set to a soundtrack taking the listener into a bed of comfortable resolve.

The remixes shine light on some of the more subversive aspects of the piece with a menagerie of stunning arrangements that cover the spectrum. Pezzner contributed to Harmonious Discord in 2003 when his collaboration with Bob Hansen under the name Jacob London first started to achieve widespread recognition. Since then, Pezzner has developed a sound that is unmistakable and ever-evolving. With recent releases on Crosstown Rebels and his ridiculously amazing EP on Systematic he is not showing any signs of slowing down. Pezzner returns to the label more than eleven years later with a deep juke-inspired classic house rework. The ever-present audio manipulation in Pezzner’s remix produces a stuttered dance party that lifts the listener into an ecstatic state of floatation. Next up, subversive technophile Henry Chow steps in to take over late night responsibilities turning the melodic original into a late night growling monster. 909-style drums and rising pads quickly escalate the ominous nature of this late night ride. Harmonious Discord's resident slow-burner John Walker rounds out the single with a remix that builds on the foundations of the original in an upbeat take that highlights some of its best elements.

Tensnake - “Great Pezzner remix.”
Nick Holder - “I’m diggin’ it.”
Dubfire - “Pezzner’s remix for me.”
Three (Hallucienda) - “Nice package, but I’m feeling the old school space techno of Henry Chow's remix the most.”
Daniel Bortz - “John Walker remix of ‘Reach Suite’ sounds cool.”
Randall Jones (Audio Therapy / Baroque) - “Dope release! All three tracks are bombs with Henry Chow’s coming out as my favorite.”
Spettro (Extended Play) - “Digging the Pezzner remix … deep and lush, his signature sound!”
Nick Warren (Hope Recordings / Way Out West) - “Love the original and Henry Chow’s mix.”
Phonogenic (Moodmusic / Turbo) - “Quality outing here … standouts for me being the Pezzner Remix and John Walker's spacey lovemaking anthem take on the original.”
Adam Warped (Whiskey Pickle Records / Strange Days) - “Diggin' the John Walker Remix.”
Manuel Sahagun (Candy Music / Drop Music) - “Peznner remix is the bomb!”
DJ Jazzy L (WNUR FM, Chicago) - “I love the steady groove of John Walker's remix.”
The Zars - “Pezzner's remix sounds wonderfully crazy.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “Henry Chow Remix is a truly tantalizing late night gem.”
Leigh Morgan (Urban Torque) - “I love Pezzner’s take, it reminds me a little bit of St. Germain …”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - "Yes, a masterpiece. Emotional, beautiful, magic … a delightful deep house release."
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - “Gorgeous stash of mixes here - something for all occasions … highly addictive throughout!”

Available now from Beatport.

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Sleight Of Hands - Valhalla / Huh! (Green Gorilla Lounge)

The Green Gorilla Lounge crew have been big movers and shakers on the San Francisco underground scene since the mid-'90s. The label born from these bay area party hustlers is now relaunching after a five year hiatus. The occasion is met by Sleight Of Hands, the rising collaboration between DJ M3 and Phil Collis. Already responsible for a prominent single on Smoke N' Mirrors, remixes for Om Records, and much more, the duo have been consistently working crowds on the club and festival circuit. It comes as no surprise that their new single for GGL has been heavily road tested as well as 'playa approved' at gigs like the Disco Knights camp at Burning Man.

Sleight Of Hands' "Valhalla" and "Huh!" are just the type of bass-y, deep house, acid fusion cuts perfect for the diverse and open-minded west coast party goers. Both tracks are playfully twisted, constantly evolving to never end up at the same place they began. "Valhalla" is a post-apocalyptic stormer. Intermingling acid currents wind their way through heavy metallic chords, punchy bass, and reverberating chants. A constant ping lets listeners know not all is lost, even amongst the swirl of alarming sounds. "Huh!" is a lighter piece, but it keeps much of the same energy, this time diffused with bold fun. Constant wavy organ stabs in a call-and-response with more determined rhythmic variations start the track off innocently enough. Soon a breakdown introduces a rumbling, sub-dependent bass groove on overdrive and, eventually, guttural acid lines. Familiar but sparingly used diva vocals lend just the right amount of attitude to the track.

Sleight Of Hands deliver a decidedly proper welcome back for the Green Gorilla Lounge label.

Nick Warren - "This is mega! I love it."
Pezzner - "It's party time!"
Gavin Hardkiss (Hawke) - "Dopeness."
Thee Cool Cats (Get Physical / Nurvous) - "Nice one … 'Valhalla' is hot."
Randall Jones (Audio Therapy / Baroque) - "These tracks are dope! I like both … I'm gonna put them in rotation on this current Asia tour."
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - "This is pretty hot."
Vanilla Ace - "'Huh!' is dope."
Inland Knights - "'Huh!' is in the box for sure."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "A smooth and funky bump here … I like the tension and build up."
Tee Cardaci (Low Down Grooves / Sine Qua Non) - "Having spent many a night under the disco ball at Green Gorilla parties, I'm glad to see the label is back. Great release!"
DJ Craig C (Peace Bisquit / Pound Boys) - "Hot sh&t! I love how different this is. Both tracks are gonna get played … I mean, rocked!"
Al Bradley (3am Recordings / Fabric) - "Wicked bassy grooves here, particularly on 'Valhalla' … awesome and powerful stuff."
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - "It's like being back in Golden and Kinetic Acid House … Terry Farley would love this tune."
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) - "'Valhalla' is already an anthem for my future sets. Massive!"

Available now from Beatport.

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Luke Mandala - Forward (Uniting Souls Music)

Uniting Souls deliver the goods on their new fall offering "Forward", an original single release by Pacific Northwest wunderkind Luke Mandala, featuring a remix by deep house guru Pete Moss. Luke has made serious waves in the past with releases on the likes of Booka Shade Music, Innerflight, Desert Trax, and his own Activated Recordings imprint. His Infinite EP on Addictech Records is particularly renowned, having reached #1 on many charts and remaining one of the more popular releases on that label. His latest release on Uniting Souls adds more fuel to the fire.

Luke's original is cutting-edge, progressive tech house that gradually builds to a crescendo of acid-tinged synths and ethereal strings, peaking, releasing, and dropping back into a menacing bass riff. The vocals are emotively pitched, layered, and chopped before delivering a full release of "motioning you forward." It's a moment well worth the wait. Next, Pete Moss' rework takes a different route with hazy, deep pads that envelop the extended vocals, molding both into a whole body bass line with a smooth, late night vibe. It's a sound which the Philly-based veteran is known to be a master of.

Tensnake - “Nice EP”
Robert Owens - “The Pete Moss dub is a cool track.”
Giom - “This is ace! I love the original mix.”
Daniel Bortz - “Will play for sure.”
Luna City Express (Moon Harbour / Enliven Music) - “I love both mixes of forward!”
Nick Warren (Hope Recordings / Way Out West) - “Lovely mix from Pete Moss.”
Larry Fives (Inland Knights / Drop Music) - “‘Forward’ is a great track … nice and dirty.”
Jay West (Candy Music) - "Right in time for the weekend! Nice stuff."
Distant People (SSRadio / Foliage) - “Cool, subtle vibe on Pete Moss’ dub of ‘Forward.’ The bass is lush … very deep.”
Chris Fortier (Fade / Mindwarp) - “Can't miss with this Pete Moss remix, love it.”
Carlos Sanchez (La Vie En Rose / Supernature) - “Great release! Both are dope.”
Randall Jones (Audio Therapy / Baroque) - “Pete Moss’ remix sounds buttery.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - "Beautiful, original sounds on both the original and remix. Full support to a great release on a brilliant label."
Slok (My Favorite Robot / One Records) - “Electro slap bass line … great original mix! Also the remix is very tasty.”
Alexander East (Planet East / SSRadio) - “Love it!”
Strakes (Kahua Music / Lost My Dog Records) - “Pete Moss' dub has a great, deep flow to it.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings / Fabric) - “Both are really strong here. The original is deep and powerful, while Pete Moss’ more low-down, bassy groove is really excellent … top release all round.”

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

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Reverse Commuter - Exposure (Hallucienda)

Exposure is the long-awaited debut album from Reverse Commuter, a project of the multi-faceted Los Angeles-based producer Kenneth James Gibson. Featuring collaborations as well as solo productions, this kaleidoscopic set of songs gives a bird’s eye view into the influences and techniques that make Gibson’s music a special experience. Reverse Commuter joins [a]pendics.shuffle and the band Bell Gardens – among other pseudonymous projects – as distinctive musical activities of Kenneth Gibson, with Reverse Commuter showcasing an adventurous and song-focused electronic music sound. From the first track, the subdued and haunting “Take It”, the design becomes clear … Exposure presents a sonic world that exists to get inside one’s skin. Kelly Johnston affirms this with her alluring vocal contribution to two of the album’s more evocative tracks: “Still Voice Convincing” and “Icarus”. Exposure’s seduction completely takes over on “Whispers In”, featuring Douglas J. McCarthy (Nitzer Ebb, Recoil) providing a masterful vocal performance over Gibson’s pulsating, otherworldly soundscape and rhythm. The full nine tracks complete the spell, an audio conjuration that holds the listener within an entrancing web. As Kelly Johnston states on Exposure’s third track, “Do you see it? Do you feel through it?”

Asadinho - "This is really very special. Organic, natural, yet modern in so many ways. A sure sign that we're in for some serious treats on Hallucienda."
Mazi (Audio Soul Project) - "Some beautiful tracks here. After several listens the ones that will work for my set should present themselves."
DJ Tennis - "'Exposure' … that's the track."
Chris Fortier - "Big. I have been killing the 'Icarus' track and love so many others on the album, too."
Terry Francis (Fabric / Wiggle) - "I like all of these!"
Lee Curtiss - "Sounds good! Nice and smooth, building grooves."
Behrouz - "Great package … amazing! Full support."
Clint Stewart (Second State / Safeword) - "Always a good moment to see new stuff from Reverse Commuter and even better on the Hallucienda label. Love this whole package and will play all of them somewhere at some point."
Nick Warren - "Great album from Kenneth, wicked sounds!"
Derek Plaslaiko - "'Icarus', 'Suction Suction', and 'Give Me Once (24 hours a day)' are what I would play out but the whole album sounds like a nice listen."
Tronik Youth (Nein Records / Back-Yard Recordings) - "'Whispers In' for me … good stuff."
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit) - "Unique, dark, deep, and powerful … a really nice feel."
Myxzlplix (Subdivisions Global Radio Show) - "I love the consistency of each track. As a big fan of Nitzer Ebb, I am really glad to hear Douglas J. McCarthy on 'Whispers In'."
Al Bradley (3am Recordings / Fabric) - "A really stunning collection of beats … something for all palettes, with deep, electronic, and club vibes all catered for in excellent style. The whole release is exceptional."
Mathias Schaffhäuser (Ware Records / Groove Magazine) - "Like XTC used to say: 'This is POP, yeah yeaheaheah.....' I really like the album and its variety and courage."

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.

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