Juan Hoerni & Jimmy Deer - Hot For You EP (Cha Cha Project Recordings)

Los Angeles-based soulful house label Cha Cha Project Recordings has revealed a fabulous four track EP filled with funk, deep house, and disco vibes. The Hot For You EP spotlights the collaboration of two talented producers – Juan Hoerni and Jimmy Deer – and a trio of lovely vocalists. Juan Hoerni is the proprietor of Cha Cha Project Recordings, and has guided the label through releases and remixes by the likes of DJ Spinna, Mateo and Matos, and Ron Trent. He also released an acclaimed artist album, Move Mountains, at the close of 2013. Jimmy Deer is a seasoned musician and producer known for working with major artists like Seal and India.Arie as well as creating multiple top charting remixes for Roy Davis Jr. Together the duo have assembled an exquisite selection displaying accomplished musicianship, arrangements, and vocal performances. The title track and "Twisted", both featuring the voice of Chezere, deliver a heavy disco vibe and great use of piano, guitar, saxophone, and strings. "See You In The Dark" has a deeper, spacier vibe with the wistful vocal of Shybat casting a spell on the dance floor. "Unstoppable" puts the listener back on the disco-funk train with Jackie Wilson acting as conductor, singing the soulful melodic hooks while a jazzy organ plays on. The Hot For You EP showcases the musical possibilities of house music, with Cha Cha Project Recordings leading the way.

Julius Papp - "Great sounding disco-fied jams!"
Master Kev - "Excellent disco vibes."
Sebastian Davidson - "What a fresh bunch of tunes! Funky, happy, and top quality."
Hippie Torrales - "Digging 'See You In The Dark'."
Tyree Cooper - "'See You In The Dark' and 'Unstoppable' are really good tracks … I'll play them."
Vincent Kwok - "Hot! I'm liking the disco vibes of 'Twisted'."
Richie Roberts (The Dance Factory, BBC Radio) - "This EP is fantastic … a brilliant and eclectic mix of funk, disco, soul, and house. Wonderful."
Marcia Carr (Mi-Soul Radio / Ladyz) - "Deep in the ethos of effervescent genre these fabulous cuts are gutsy and hit hard … impressive."
Stefan Popovic (DiscoTone Radio Show) - "Essential EP! The rebirth of disco funk wrapped into a deep house sound."
BTO Spider (High Sprits Radio Show) - "Fierce and funky vocal action … nice."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "Loaded with four masterly orchestrated productions pushing the boundaries of house music … refreshing and inspiring."
Tariq Ziyad (Nu Urban ERA) - "One of the best EPs I've heard in 2016. You just can't beat real soulful house music."

Available now from Traxsource.

Forlove - Missing Persons (Roam Recordings)

Forlove is San Francisco's Jasper Speicher, the latest addition to the Roam Recordings family. Specializing in deeply authentic and retro-touched music for physically dancing while mentally drifting away, Jasper conceived Forlove as a solo project after time spent playing in a number of Bay Area bands. In fact, his Missing Persons EP is the debut release for Forlove, despite its confident and distinctly otherworldly sound. The title track sets the tone with squelchy synths and dramatic sections playing the line between twisted and lovely. "Deep Eyes" brings on '80s influences in structure and style, and includes splashes of tasteful vocals from Forlove himself. The slinky deep house feel of "Softshell Hard" follows, featuring some clever change-ups and bass bounces, while "Iraklia" is a spacier number that feels like a secret sonic treasure pulled from an underground cave. Forlove fits right in with the Roam Recordings roster and the always compelling San Francisco sound … it's ready for spins.

Jamie Jones (Hot Creations) - "This sounds cool."
Gemini Brothers (Skint / Nein) - "'Deep Eyes' is a damn great track. Fantastic release … just fantastic."
Massimiliano Pagliara (Live At Robert Johnson) - "Groovy acidic tunes."
Larry Tee - "Nice ones!"
Rune Lindbæk (Drum Island) - "'Deep Eyes' is the one for me."
Nadia (Phantasy Sound) - "Yes … cool stuff."
Hardway Bros (A Love From Outer Space) - "I like 'Deep Eyes' a lot."
Chris Massey (Paper Recordings / Electriks) - "Lovely sounding druggy, hypnotic vibes."
Scheibosan (Shanti Roots) - "'Missing Persons' is super … trippy sound."
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) - "Brilliant!"
DJ Tomas (Google Play / ForwardEver) - "This comes correct with the early UK, Detroit, and SF tech influences."
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel Radio Show) - "Great late night tunes. I love that Arpy change-up on 'Iraklia'."
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing Radio Show) - "Very unique and creative … great bass sounds, too!"
Richard Hardcastle (Solid State / All Out War) - "Excellent EP. I love all four tracks with the opening squelches of 'Missing Persons' placing it ahead by a nose."
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) - "This is staggering. 'Deep Eyes' is killer … what a release!"

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, and iTunes.

Bystander & Give In - Echo Beach West EP (Rock It Science Laboratories)

Rock It Science Labs continues to showcase its strengths with the Echo Beach West EP, a collaborative effort from two of the young label's flagship members: Los Angeles-based artists Bystander and Give In. Since taking on the Bystander moniker, Sean Patrick has applied his veteran DJ and producer background for Hallucienda, Adjunct, and Shaboom – labels all headed by established workhorses in electronic music. In 2013 Sean came on board with RIS Labs and this is the first of many musical contributions from him in addition to his work behind the scenes. Give In is a DJ, producer, singer-songwriter, and engineer who applies his trade to many sides of the industry outside of his artistry. He initially made a mark as Origami in San Francisco’s early-2000s underground scene through releases on labels like Drop Music and Fabric London. His project Give In has seen massive support including a release on Dirtybird Records which followed his RIS Labs debut.

The Echo Beach West EP epitomizes the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts – albeit they are clearly some well-oiled ones. Intricate, deep, dark, driving soundscapes are developed with an extraordinary attention to detail. "Feeling For The Edges" sees Bystander make his vocal debut with a somber ode to things left unsaid, done atop a rich bed of minimalist percussion, warm bass, analog arpeggios, twisted chords, and haunting tones. "Stay Down" opens with big kick drums and droning chords that lead to a conversation between bass line and melody, eventually making way for Give In's poignant lyrical embellishment. Instrumental mixes of each track wrap up this stellar release.

Clint Stewart (Second State / Safeword) - "I'm digging 'Feeling For The Edges'. Nice and moody for early mornings or late nights."
Jamie Jones (Hot Creations) - "This sounds cool."
Larry Tee - "I love 'Feeling For The Edges'!"
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - "Yes … pretty cool vibe."
[a]pendics.shuffle (Adjunct / Hallucienda) - "Nice … the 'Feeling For The Edges' instrumental is the one for me."
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) - "'Stay Down' is tidy!"
Haris Custovic (Laus Music) - "Very melodic and driving."
Recess (Shameless) - "I love having both instrumentals and vocal versions. Both are solid tracks. I'm going to give 'Stay Down' a spin on the rooftop tonight."
Mke Swells (SoundScape / Make It New) - "'Stay Down' is hauntingly beautiful. Love it, so good."
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing Radio Show) - "Each track on this EP is more like a journey than a song … oh, the places you'll go!"
Brian Bacchus (Summit Sessions Radio Show) - "Absolutely excellent release. Not often would I give a release 5-out-of-5 stars, but this one is deserving."

Available now from Beatport, Juno Download, iTunes, and Spotify.

Demarkus Lewis - Self Is Steam (Viva Recordings)

With a multi-page discography of releases dating back over 15 years, Demarkus Lewis is one of the hardest working men in house music, regularly adding to his diverse string of underground floor fillers. Mastering many house styles, Demarkus has released tech-house bombs on Nervous Records, soulful nuggets on Kingstreet Soundz, hypnotizing afro-rhythms on Slip n Slide, and everything in-between on his own Grin Music imprint. Now Viva Recordings is pleased to bring Demarkus to the label family with his latest top notch groover: "Self Is Steam".

On "Self Is Steam" Demarkus showcases his ability to keep things deep while simultaneously transmitting peak time energy. This cut has all the essential elements … swinging drums that tilt towards the jackin' side, tough, repetitive organ chords, an evocative spoken sample, and a pensive yet stimulating vibe. Demarkus also provides the Stripped Dub Mix which plays with the original's textures and vocal drops, and the Deez UGT Rinse Mix, adding a low, bouncing bass line and a more pronounced forward motion drive. Demarkus Lewis, always on point.

Christian Martin (Dirtybird) - "Both the main mix and dub are so sick."
Phil Weeks (Robsoul) - "Hard to pick a favorite … all good here."
Johnny Fiasco - "Solid!"
Tyree Cooper - "Really cool stuff as always from Demarkus Lewis."
Pete Moss - "Beautiful release! My favorite is the Deez UGT Rinse Mix."
Chris Fortier (Fade) - "The dub is super."
Chemars (Ginkgo Music) - "Good stuff … will support."
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite / Dialtone Records) - "Good ones as always from Demarkus Lewis. Tight and right for the dance floor."
DJ Mash (Mixmag / Cosmic Disco) - "Lovely deepness from Demarkus, as expected … three useful tracks here!"
Tommy D Funk (Good For You Records / DJ Times) - "Dope! My mate Demarkus Lewis never seems to fail."
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House) - "A glamorous slice of utterly tantalizing deepness."
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel Radio Show, Australia) - "Lush, beautiful grooves and that beat is incredible. Have been buying Demarkus's music since the early days."
Jon Manley (hOUSEwORX radio show) - "Top producer Demarkus Lewis, bringing some top drawer beats on Viva. Deep with hint of jackin' goodness."

Available now from Beatport, Traxsource, iTunes, and Spotify.