DJ Enne - Shades Of House (Karmaloft Music)

Karmaloft Music is pleased to present a new ten track album from DJ Enne, a prolific musician and mastermind of Italo-inspired electro-disco-rock band Mohear. His solo releases have made their way onto labels like Compost and Permanent Vacation, but this comes as no surprise considering his close relationship to the Italian cosmic pioneers Baldelli and Beppe Loda. He spent much of the '80s absorbed in the afro-funky-cosmic-disco sound -- the reoccurring hyphen-bridged music descriptors reflective of his genre-bending tastes and, also, his fourth album: Shades Of House.

A collection of wide ranged house and (classic style) electro tracks with handmade, funky bass lines and soulful, cheerful hooks, Shades Of House was recorded in Enne's home-base of Munich with the sounds pretty much all played by the multi-instrumentalist himself. Opening with "Break Me", the album gets off to a romanticized and arpeggiated Italo disco-ish start, particularly potent in the delayed piano chords and step-it-up bass. Pulsing and tribal, "Congolia" features a foreboding bell and the complex rhythm of African hand drums sounding straight out of the Congo. "Pink Souls" marks a shift as the album's hauntingly cosmic number, full of drama and accented by spoken word. The pitch perfect, lush house of "Song For Kezia" eventually evolves into "Strings Of Life"-like piano ecstasy. A hefty slice of krautrock, "Allein" features German singer Jens Poenitsch with lyrics in his native tongue. These are just some of the highlights … with half the album already accounting for such an array of different styles, experiencing it in full will leave no doubt of Enne's knack for taking on any shade of house he sees fit.

Johnwaynes (Cécille Records / Compost) - "'Song For Krezia' is the one for me … well done!"
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - "Quel energy! I love this."
Vanilla Ace (OFF Recordings) - "'C Minor In My House' … that's for me."
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - "Lots of great tracks here . Very very nice sound."
Hardway Bros (A Love From Outer Space) - "'Song For Krezia' is a killer."
DJ Tonka (Tonka Tunes) - "'Congolia' is a sure player! Kinda tribal-meets-Doppelwipper-style tech-house. Me like!"
Aromabar (INFRACom!) - "Funky, deep, old school … on the spot!"
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "Yes, this is a simply superb collection of beats … a real example of how to make 'proper' house music, in all its glory."
Pat Lezizmo (Conya Records) - "Such a nice collection of tunes. 'Song For Kezia' is the highlight for me … great groove and that nice organ melody."
Richard Hardcastle (Solid State / All Out War) - "Distinctive and well-produced vocals in 'Allein' and 'Pink Souls' make those two stand out in a solid lineup … but all tracks very good, indeed."
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) - "Retro feel but with a clear and solid production."
Logan Fisher (Haules Baules) - "A versatile and always entertaining album. DJ Enne doesn't put a foot wrong throughout. Great release."

Available now from Beatport, iTunes, and Juno Download

Moodprint - Moodprint (Cold Busted)

Cold Busted takes a step outside what one might expect from the label with a new self-titled release from Moodprint. Then again, it's really nothing unusual from a label that's never ever easy to pin. Taken in the context of beats with complex rhythms and samples derived from soul, funk, and the like, Moodprint fits right in; they just approach things from a more futuristic slant. An innovative crossover between electronic, hip-hop, bass, funk, and ambient sounds, this project brings to mind the dominant Soulection Crew, who've already made note of them with the release of Moodprint's D'Angelo bootleg. The Belgian duo's other home has been Tangram Records and their work has gotten support from LeFtO, 22tracks, Up High Collective, and international radio stations in the form of airplay.

Made up of nine tracks, Moodprint's eponymous album is syrupy. Bright melodies, heavily sweetened synths, well-sourced vocals, and no-stone-left-unturned rhythms make it a treat to digest. Opener "Storyboard" quickly sets the pace with a folk-like -- but totally electronic -- neuroticism. "Prophet" follows with intergalactic funk swagger, only hitting the brakes for dramatic effect. The subdued maturity showed on the elegant, future R&B / hip-hop cut "Flash" is a particularly shining moment for the release. "'96 JuKnow!" and "McElove" are bubbly and emphatically chord-heavy, tip-toeing towards the beloved early post-garage work of Mount Kimbie. By the end, an impression is made as Moodprint embraces and cements their name in sound.

Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music) - "Fresh, groovy, soulful … a dope release."
Lo Tide (Organik Recordings) - "Superb set of downbeat grooves and vocal slices. So many lush soundscapes you can just drift away …"
Minus 8 (Compost / Stereo Deluxe) - "Sounds fresh and very modern."
Danny Massure (Spring Strut / Ticklejunk) - "Tasty textures and sexy vibes."
Shantisan (Salted Soul / One Note Samba) - "Nice and intelligent downbeats."
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - "This is curiously modern."
Feodor AllRight (AMDJS Radio Show, Russia) - "Pure bliss!"
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) - "Absorbs your soul … so, so good."
Velanche (Club 91 Radio Show) - "A really good selection of chilled beats … great stuff!"
DJ Tomas (ForwardEver / Umoja HiFi) - "Innovative beat production … great twists and turns. Headphone friendly but some good tracks for the club, too."
Lemar Soulflower (Soul Deep NYC) - "Futuristic left of center beat-crafting that really grooves."
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - "This is excellent … it turns the page to the label’s future."
Robert Lochmann (Jazzmadass Radio Show, Germany) - "Top notch nu-breed electro-funk. No weakness in the freakiness. The guys learnt their lessons well."

Available now from Beatport and The Cold Busted Shop.

Bai-ee - How Deep (audioJazz Music)

Bai-ee is a DJ / producer with past releases on labels like Farris Wheel, Smooth Agent, and Poontin Records. Since his last solo release in 2012 he’s been working under two notable monikers. As Secret Studio he debuted on SS Records and saw major play by Maceo Plex, Matrixxman, Justin Long, and Mike Servito. Under his group project audioJazz he put out three notable 12” releases in 2014, drawing high marks from Oscar McMillan, Distant People, Diz, Marquess Wyatt, Tyree Cooper, and Mr. V.

Entering 2015 with his first solo release in three years, Bai-ee steps out on the audioJazz Music label with a stripped down house track that gets straight to the essence of deep. It's a smooth sounding original with classic elements and one heart throbbing question: “how deep is your love?” For those not seeking any answers, an instrumental is included. Joining the release as a remixer, Johnny Fiasco delivers a refreshing, synth soaked update, both modern and wondrously ambient, providing dance floors with house vibes suitable for any time of night. To be commercially released as a vinyl-only 300 pressing limited run, this is material that those with a deep love for putting the needle to the groove will appreciate.

Tyree Cooper (Chicago Vinyl Records / Groove Baby) - "I'm loving the original mix. I will definitely bang it in the early morning slot."
Brett Johnson - "Nice tracks … it's hard to pick which one I like the best."
Hollis P Monroe - "Johnny Fiasco is doing it for me here."
Abicah Soul - "Nice!"
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "I love the warm groove. Timeless sound."
Jask - "Very nice. The Johnny Fiasco remix is banging."
Henri Kohn (Conya / Clubstar) - "I'm digging all the mixes. Nice."
Benji Candelario - "Smoking! Great groove."
Richard Earnshaw (Spiritchaser / Duffnote Recordings) - "Thumbs up from me!"
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / Mega Jawns) - "Mr Fiasco's version just made me all warm and fuzzy inside. Gorgeous!"
Mr. Jones (Disclosure Project) - "Awesome release. Really love all mixes of this."
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "Wicked stuff. I'm really digging the low flow on the original and the bumpy bass groove on Johnny's version. All-round awesomeness."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "Full of deepness for your mind. I love that traveling bass line."
SimonG (Deep South Audio) - "Smoking deep cutz. I will be using these in my sunrise sets."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "Glamorous slice of utterly melodious late night goodness."
Eddy Spirit (Spirit Crew / Janga Radio) - "Modern and melodic at the same time, and easy on the ears for the finer palates. You shouldn't let this one get away if you love and understand true house music!"

Available on vinyl 12" from Crosstalk, Juno Records, and other fine record shops.

Braulio Motus - Bodyrock (Handmade Recordings)

San Francisco house music imprint Handmade Recordings turns to label familiar Braulio Motus once again for a new EP in the form of Bodyrock. Braulio is a Filipino-born transplant to the New York and San Francisco rave scenes. Settling in NYC, his productions have found their way onto other labels like Agua Y Sed, White Island, and Honeywax. First on the EP, vocalist Devi Genuone of Oakland, California, lends her nuanced singing and sweet lyrical sentiments to "Till Next" which Braulio goes on to mold as a bass-driven house music piece with just the slightest electro tinge … he uses minor touches to accent an otherwise deep affair. Favoring a nastier, acid-rounded approach, fellow New York production project Destronauts transform "Till Next" with a snarling but smooth and melodic techno take. Aiming more clearly for the '80s electro sound this time around, "Bodyrock" is a funky slice of dance floor business which Spaniard Ato Rodriguez builds out extensively, even switching up the bass riff at the midway mark, slipping the vibe into something much more comfortable. "Eastern Blue Bird" follows in much the same vein as the previous offerings, but with a somewhat dreamy flavor as it staggers along. Finally, the release finishes with an instrumental of the electrified club banger "Prolly On The Molly", a gritty track for the turn up crowd. Be on the look-out for a vocal version of this last track, featuring Bronx rapper Hu$tle Hendrix delivering hard rhymes to match the tongue-in-cheek title.

Tensnake - "That 'Bodyrock' remix by Ato Rodriguez is nice."
SlanG (Spring Tube / Movement) - "The Braulio Motus mix of 'Till Next' is the one here … pretty good old school sound and a nice vocal."
Phonatics (Housesession Records) - "Vibing this."
Matt Prehn (Oh So Coy / Large Music) - "Braulio Motus's remix is the one for me - good bass line and a sleazy vibe."
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - "The Destronauts Warehouse Mix of 'Till Next' is magic. Love it."
Deron Delgado (Stompy) - "The Braulio Motus mix of 'Till Next' is dope!"
Cadatta (DeepWit / Etoka) - "I like the Destronauts remix … it reminds me of good times from the past."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "A quirky and jacking sound … I like the groove to this."
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "Great stuff here. From the originals it's 'Eastern Blue Bird' which is the winner, but overall I'm digging Ato Rodriguez's remix of 'Bodyrock' the most. Wicked."
Jero Nougues (Savoir Faire Musique / DeepClass Records) -"Brilliant release. Overall it sounds really good … powerful bass lines and deep synths."
Ben Gomori (Data Transmission) - "Lovely remix from Braulio Motus on 'Till Next' … very smooth."
Radha Kotliarsky (The EDM Network) - "Massive release."
Velanche (Club 91 Radio Show) - "Some pretty solid beats from remixes to originals."
Neil McCall (Spandex Sessions Radio Show) - "Awesome underground sounds."

Available now from Beatport and Juno Download.