King Mono - Bump In The Night (Tummy Touch)

King Mono is the band / production duo of Little Shalimar (né Torbitt Schwartz) and Jeremy Wilms. The two met doing time in the rhythm section of the legendary afrobeat unit Antibalas. In the early 2000s they founded the sophisticated disco-soul machine Chin Chin who put out two records on the now defunct Definitive Jux record label. Combining elements of funk, RnB, house, dance hall, hip hop, and '70s big beat rock, King Mono’s sound should be welcomed by fans of other genre bending futurists like Pharrell Williams and Little Dragon.

Their debut album, Bump In The Night, is set to make its mark on Tummy Touch and features vocals from RnB breakout singer Jesse Boykins III. The album embraces their quirky electronic impulses, modern programming, and psychedelic mushrooms, crafted from a collection of vintage analogue synths and portable drum machines. King Mono gave a taste of their sound with last year’s Straight to VHS EP that picked up steam on Bandcamp and through magazines like FACT and Okayplayer.

Other than the implicative album title, the idea of nighttime as a space to do things that you wouldn’t do during the day lends itself to the experimental and loose “anything goes” vibe of the producers' output. Instrumental tracks like “Big Bass Drum” have an overarching dark, heady vibe that seems more suited a for a solo night drive. Touching more on a song-based structure, "Ointment" skips along in a light and breezy be-bop fashion with fat guitars providing a resonating low end. Organs and keys reign supreme on "Infamous Van" while suggestive lyrics take the listener on a ride through simpler adolescent times. But don't try and relegate this one to the backseat … it needs more room than that.

“Pet Peeves” is Shalimar’s take on a sound inspired by Missy Elliott and Timbaland's mid-2000s collaborations, buoyed by Boykin’s raw vocals -- RnB with cutting edge production and enough style to carry itself into pop territory. It gets a completely new lease on life from Sunrise Highway, the trio of Tim Wagner, Amy Douglas, and Nick Chacona, each with their own strong New York City pedigrees. Atmospheric, sophisticated, broad, layered, and evolving are all accurate descriptors of their work which lies somewhere between Italo-disco and the best of '80s songwriting.

If these peculiar tracks are anything to go off of for the album, then listeners might expect to stumble across some brighter moments of enjoyment on this strange trip through the dark.

Kid Loco - "F%^king great."
Tensnake - "That Sunrise Highway remix of 'Pet Peeves' is top."
Vanilla Ace - "Very funky it's like NERD meets Funkadelic."
Kraak & Smaak - "We like it!"
All Good Funk Alliance - "Nice. This is like Outkast meets Beck. All of these songs are dope."
Ivan Smagghe (It's A Fine Line) - "I love 'Ointment'."
Ilya Santana (Eskimo Recordings) - "That Sunrise Highway remix is very special … nice version."
Roy Dank (Beg to Differ / Wurst Music Co.) - "Cool vibes!"
Telonius (Gomma) - "Tummy Touch is one of my favorite labels … great album!"
Walter Jones (DFA / Under the Shade) - "I love the quirky vibe … nice release."
Robert Lochmann (The Jazzmadass Radioshow) - "A cool, fun, and mysterious sound."
Matt Haze (More SF / Slayers Club) - "It's like Pharrell on mushrooms. 'Pet Peeves' will be great for the warm weather."
Diesler (A Little Something) - "Loving the Sunrise Highway remix -- oh yessss!"
DJ Doubles (Freestyle Fusion) - "An intricate combo of catchy melodies with a feel-good pop mentality … this makes me happy!"

Available now from Juno Download, Amazon, and iTunes.

Raw - Hutchinson's Project Vol 2 (Them On The Hill)

The '90s DJ collective turned record label from Sheffield Them On The Hill returns to the fray with the second installment of Raw's Hutchinson's Project series. The series pays tribute to Raw's given name (Steven Hutchinson) and sonically reflects the classic house and disco sounds that influence him.

Previously known as DJ Raw (he has stepped away from the decks and dropped the ‘DJ’ part), Raw is a longtime staple of Sheffield’s dance music scene, starting his career on local community radio playing a mix of UK and US house in the '80s. In 1997 Raw collaborated with Callum Wordsworth as Digital Boogie, releasing tunes for DIY Discs, Funknose, and Candy Records. Also, Raw worked with fellow Sheffield DJ / producer Groove Assassin as Vibes Inc., contributing seminal tunes for labels like Glasgow Underground, 4th Floor, Transport, and Black Vinyl Records.

Hutchinson's Project Vol 2 builds upon the percussion-friendly, broken beat, disco-infused house of its predecessor. "Latin Jazz" delivers a beat down of tribal rhythms before bringing to bat a smooth, drawn-out bass line and thin but melodic synths. Weaving in and out, a female vocal hook demands "all you've got" and expounds on the title of the track. A bright and breezy affair, "Stabbed" features rubbery, oscillating chords and equally uplifting percussion with subdued snare rolls, lovely hand percussion, and snappy claps. As if that wasn't enough, it's topped off with cool whispery vocals, urging the listener even further towards letting go with an echo of "come on." The release is rounded off by a rhythmically scattered and melodically revolving deep cut in "Related To The Blues". The voice of a late, great, and indistinguishable poet provides thought-provoking spoken word lecturing on the blues.

Chris Duckenfield (Swag) - "A true Sheffield inspiration … I'm so glad to hear these tunes."
Graeme Park - "'Latin Jazz' is absolutely bloody superb!"
Todd Edwards - "I love the vibe."
Inland Knights - "'Related To The Blues' is wicked!"
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - "Raw and ruff!"
Groove Assassin (Pacha / Defected) - "Hot grooves yet again from Sheffield's finest!"
DJ Craig C (Pound Boys) - "Nice throwback vibe on this one! 'Stabbed' reminds me of late nights in the early '90s."
Pete Williams (Natural Rhythm) - "I'm digging this for sure. 'Stabbed' is the one for me."
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "I like the retro sound to this … a real breezy uplifting house feel."
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / BBE) - "Chunky classic sounds here. I will give 'em a spin!"
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - "I'm digging the Nervous Records / MAW feel of 'Latin Jazz'."
Phat Phil Cooper (Nu Northern Soul) - "Ace … lovely vibes."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "Truly eclectic and enchanting."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "Wonderful, wonderful house music … 'Latin Jazz' will have people coming to your side needing to know what it is."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Other2Sides - Hooked Up (Muskox Records)

Cheltenham local boy Other2Sides is back on hometown label Muskox with his unique blend of UK garage and house. After the massive success of his last release, "Back Then", supported by Roger Sanchez, David Vendetta, Stonebridge, Freemasons, and many more, he has done it again with a fantastic slice of classic house on "Hooked Up." The original has a chunky, rolling tech groove, playful old-school house chords, and plenty of percussive rim shots creating complex, exciting rhythms. Chopped up diva vocals and cool NY-accented chitter chatter balance each other out, switching back-and-forth between energetic and deeper tones. The package includes two equally great remixes from forthcoming Muskox artists Agei, with a darker tech feel, and Yoba, with a housier club vibe. Dig in.

Tensnake - "The original is nice and deep."
Motorcitysoul (Cocoon / Stir15) - "All three mixes are top notch … difficult to pick the best."
Fabricio Peçanha (Moodmusic / Definition Records) - "Stunning!"
Randall Jones (Audio Therapy / Baroque) - "That Agei remix is the bomb."
Moodymanc (20/20 Vision) - "I like the vibe of the original, though the remixes are nice, too."
Tom Lown (Savoir Faire) - "I like it! Refreshing deepness."
Vanilla Ace - "The original mix is nice."
Lorenzo al Dino (7th District Inc. / Royal Plastic) - "Solidly produced … a kickin', deep track."
Pete Williams (Natural Rhythm) - "Nice classic garage sound. The original of 'Hooked' is the one."
Alkalino (Estimativa / Audaz Recordings) - "The Yoba remix is my favorite."
Soul Minority - "Great release … nice deepness!"
Pat Lezizmo (Conya Records / Karmaloft) - "The original mix is the one for me … I'm digging the atmosphere. It feels like spring is coming!"
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "The original has my attention … dreamy, moody and deep. I'm also feeling the Yoba remix for late night twists."
Bogdan Taran (Dance Box Radio Show) - "I like this tune very much … it's melodic, it has groove, it's underground and has vocal hooks."
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences) - "The original and the Yoba remix are just so sweet. A really fine piece of true deep house music."
DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - "A classic house sound on a lush synth playground … an ecstatic mood."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "What a beautiful and groovy slice of late night bliss."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Syntax Erik - Keep It Deep EP (Beatservice Records)

Beatservice is pleased to welcome back Syntax Erik, an artist who first appeared on the label over a decade ago. Real name Raymond Hansen, the producer is originally from Tromsø, but now lives in Oslo. In 1997 he released his debut EP as K.Y.D with a string of twelve inches following in 2000 / 2001 as a part of the duo Kyd & Kango (collected on the High Above CD on Beatservice). First donning the name Syntax Erik in 2002, Hansen released an EP with Rune Lindbæk's Romklang label and remixed the likes of Mari Boine, Anneli Drecker, Flunk, and The Familiar under this moniker. Over the years he has maintained steady production efforts with personal tracks, many for his own pleasure.

Now Syntax Erik has opened up his vault for a string of new releases on the Beatservice label. The Keep It Deep EP marks the first, with three housey tracks that feature hints of deep house, a touch of TB-303 acid, and a dash of dub elements. The title track is underwater deepness with washed out, sonar-like synths that maintain a steady ping on the radar throughout. "Hello My Name Is Raymond" is a neurotic number with extended chords and a powerfully gritty bass line, giving way to acid in the latter half of the song. The grooviest cut of the EP, "Sexual Innuendo", creates a sly, dislocated landscape with wavering vocal stylings and '80s synths -- any fans of Hot Chip will find lots to like on this one. Finishing things out, fellow Beatservice artist Kohib turns in a smashing remix of "Hello My Name Is Raymond" with tongue-in-cheek Tromsø-techno style.

Rune Lindbæk - "Excellent!"
David Pher (Crosstown Rebels / Gruuv) - "Nice EP … the Kohib remix is cool."
Giom - "Nicely done."
Thee Cool Cats (Cuff / Get Physical) - "I'm grooving to this … solid EP!"
Walker Barnard (Vakant / Dumb Unit) - "Very tasty … I'll try these out tonight."
Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space) - "'Hello My Name Is Raymond' is the one."
Vanilla Ace - "These are some cool sounds."
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - "All of these tracks are great."
Daniel Bortz (Suol / Pastamusik) - "Cool one."
Diz (Iz & Diz / Visual) - "Hot business all the way 'round!"
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch / BBE) - "Wonderful deep sounds."
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - "Really top class deep and intricate vibes … wicked stuff. These remind me of Svek and similar labels of high quality."
Alkalino - "These are great and I'll be playing them tonight."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Some juicy acid in Kohib's remix."
Flash Atkins (PaperRecordings) - "Kohob does the do do do!"
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - "Filthy bass groove, tight drums, and a solid flow."
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences) - "Very classy work on this EP. The originals showcase a perfect balance between acid and deep house at their finest shapes."
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - "Both 'Keep It Deep' and 'Hello My Name Is Raymond' are sure-fire floor fillers."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.