Syntax Erik - Don't Wanna Dance EP - Beatservice Records

Syntax Erik is Raymond Hansen, originally from Tromsø, Norway, now living in Oslo. He has been releasing music under various aliases from 1997, first as K.Y.D, then as a part of the duo Kyd & Kango. 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.

Syntax Erik is presently on a roll with a series of fantastic EPs for Beatservice Records. 2015’s EPs, Keep It Deep and I Can Feel You, were met with wide acclaim from the likes of Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space), Terry Francis, Pete Herbert, Flash Atkins (Paper Recordings), and Robert Owens. Now Erik busts forth with the Don’t Wanna Dance EP, the third in the series. This time, the tracks are more focused to the four-on-the-floor side of deep house but with Syntax Erik’s distinctively funky touch. The title track is propelled by old school embellishments, a high-hat heavy drum loop, and some serious acid. The key breakdown adds some unexpected loveliness. “Love Jail” grabs the dance floor with its swinging, jackin’ beat, buzzy synth bass, and melodic arpeggiations and pads. Things get a bit moody on “Back On Track” which builds masterfully using bright layers of synths and keys. As a bonus, veteran producer Doc L. Junior (Music For Freaks, Paper Recordings) rounds out the EP with a more floor-heavy treatment of “Don’t Wanna Dance”, which he lovingly refers to as his Horror Dub.

Severino (HorseMeatDisco) – “Yes! Great Doc L. Junior remix of Don’t Wanna Dance.”
Gavin Hardkiss (Hawke) - “I love Eric’s sound. +++”
Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) – “Lovely.”
Phonogenic (Turbo / Cocoon) – “With Syntax Erik you don't know what you're getting but the getting is always good. And weird.”
Rory Hoy (Howlin’ Records) – “Nice acid house vibes.”
Andy Riley (Toka Project / Drop Music) – “Love Jail is cool.”
Iron Curtis (Hudd Traxx / Mule Electronic) – “Title track sounds huge!”
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing – WCRT 88.3 FM) – “Nice chunky acid grooves!”
Zach Van Lue (107.7 FM – The End) – “Damn, this is filthy.”
Deep South Audio (Volcano Radio) – “Nice twisted jacked out beats. The Doc L mix is a winner.”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, iTunes, Junodownload, And Spotify.

Funky Destination - Funkadelic Stereo Adventures (Cold Busted)

Funky Destination is an exciting retro-styled funk project formed by Vladimir Sivc, also known as Mr. Louie. Hailing from the town of Osijek in eastern Croatia, early on Louie honed his guitar skills and started developing the funk foundation that would guide his sound. A move across Croatia to near the Adriatic Sea introduced Louie to new friends and encounters with turntables and DJ’ing. All of this came together to create Funky Destination, a full-on ‘party time’ project fusing live, organic instrumentation alongside classic-sounding beats, sending the dance floor into a nostalgic frenzy.

Funkadelic Stereo Adventures is the latest Funky Destination album for Cold Busted and it fulfills on the evocative title’s promise. The set includes ten blazing tunes that bubble with choppy, wah-wah guitar, swinging drums and percussion, delicious horns and bass lines, and, occasionally, stirring vocals of the soulful persuasion. The album’s opener, “The Ocean Of My Mind”, is a prime example … lovely island-influenced vocals, disco strings, latin-influenced horns, and booming drums all combine for some serious heat. Other highlights include the ’70s soundtrack-worthy “Sweet Of Love”, the hip hop flavor of “The Game Of Shades”, and the gritty high speed chase of “Where Are The Blues Brothers”. Groove no further … you’ve reached your destination.

Kid Loco (Flor / Tromolo Records) – “Yes, please! Funky as hell, this is dope.”
Robert Jan Meyer (Compost / Stereo Deluxe) – “Funky with a slight Barry White touch.”
Tom Strauch (Ancient Astronauts) – “Very nice, love the raw funk vibe here!”
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show / Radio X) – “Yep, here we go! Dope FUNKY Styles!”
Belabouche (Midnight Riot / DiscoDat) – “Really cool!”
Rory Hoy (Howlin' Records / Super Hi-Fi) - “This is such a good release - I'm so honored to have had this record sent to me!”
Marc Lacasse (sHIFT Radio on UMFM 101.5) – “Phenomenal sweet soul and jazzed up grooves everywhere.”
Morphosis (The Hong Kong Ping Pong Club) – “Superbly funky!”
SimonG (Volcano Radio / Ofm) – “Oh yeah baby, this is gold. Cold Busted on the money!”
Jamie Topham (CD Pool | JT Music Media Man) – “This is the kind of quality release Cold Busted has built their reputation on ... full on & funky, absolutely love this sampler!”

Available Now from: Bandcamp, Beatport, iTunes, and Spotify.

Delusions of Grandeur B-Sides (Hardkiss Music)

“It’s a rare and dangerous sensation to cup an atomic bomb in your hands.” - Terry Matthew

Originally released on vinyl only, these three tracks were B-sides of singles that appeared on the 1995 classic Hardkiss double album Delusions of Grandeur. If Delusions… was the bomb, then these three moody remixes are some radioactive fallout from that initial blast of electronic dance music creativity.

“Raincry” by God Within was Scott Hardkiss’ breakthrough single. It began with a tribal chant sample in a small garage in Twin Peaks, San Francisco. Within the year, that chant was being dropped by DJs all around the world. This mix has a slower burn than the A-side, but all the epic emotion and drama.

“3 Moods in a Gurple Pardon” is Robbie Hardkiss’ remix of Gavin Hardkiss’ first single as Hawke. Here, the unique tech / break / house meditation “3 Nudes in a Purple Garden” gets funked up with latin percussion and a stomping bass line added to the ethereal melodies of the original.

“Steal From The Rich” is also a Robbie remix. This one is a slowed down, funked up reworking of God Within’s “The Phoenix.” Recorded in Nottingham at DIY Studios, this DC Go-Go inspired mix is quite the departure from the big, banging mixes on the original single by Rabbit in the Moon and Scott Hardkiss.

Tommie Sunshine (Brooklyn Fire / Ultra) – “This is the definitive sound of SF 90's Rave. Very happy to have these on hand!”
Chris Fortier (Fade) – “Can’t miss classics….”
Nick Warren (Hope Recordings / Way Out West) – “Sounding as ace as ever!”
Vanilla Ace - “Nice one!”
Duserock (Sleeper Cell / EMDM) – “You can't go wrong here.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “Raincry is one of my all-time favourites and this version does not disappoint.”
Christian Martin (Dirtybird) – “Stone cold classic.”
Pepe Link (Pacha Mallorca) – “Raincry is awesome, love it!”
Liquid Todd (Sirius XM Radio / BPM) – “Hawke rules!”
Leigh Morgan (Urban Torque Transmissions Syndicated Radio Show) – “Raincry still sounds perfect after all this time.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle radio show) – “These are fantastic. There is little that hasn't been said in praise of the Hardkiss sound - utterly unique and timeless is what it means to me and these carry on their story beautifully. 10/10”

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

Zona - Time (Remixes) (70x7 Records)

Zona is an eclectic house music combo comprised of Dimitri Craven and Jerry Andrews, based in Los Angeles. The duo pushes a 'live' deep house style and has had previous acclaimed releases on Good For You Records, Kapa, and House Tribe Records. Zona focuses on the soulful and inspirational facets of house music, collaborating with a number of talented vocalists and players to realize their finely textured sound. 70x7 Records is the pair's own label, and recently issued the full length album Peace, Love and Understanding to much worldwide acclaim. "Time", featuring vocalist Valerie Moise, is the latest single from the album and is featured here with a quartet of fantastic remixes.

Respected house music veterans Eric Kupper & Lenny RX turn in a brilliant and moving version that displays their production prowess. Starting simple with a kick, snare, and syncopated bass line, the mix introduces the lovely vocal and quickly fills with layers of chords, pad washes, and dubby effects. Exceptional stuff. Mikey V, of L.A.'s Hawt Music collective, drops a high quality remix tailor-made for the underground, surrounding the vocal line with skippy beats, pulsing chords, and an all-around uplifting and deep vibe. Santa Monica's Agent Blak mixes up the rhythms for a punchy Broken Mix, and Reda Briki brings a deep, late night 'playa' feel with his LDN Switch Remix. Overall, it's a varied and distinct package that never lets go of Zona's core composition and Valerie Moise's seductive voice.

Tony Humphries - “Nice original track and remixes.”
Lenny Fontana - “I love the underground vibe … very cool.”
Gene Farris - “Good stuff!”
Terrence Parker - “I love the Lenny RX & Eric Kupper mix!”
Tyree Cooper - “Dope remixes!”
Beppe Gioia (Garage Family) - “The Mikey V remix … deep.”
Master Kev - “A great remix from Lenny RX & Eric Kupper!”
Alexander East (Planet East) - “I love all the mixes.”
DJ Craig C (The Other One) - “I’m loving the original and Lenny RX & Eric Kupper nailed the remix.”
Vincent Kwok - “Great stuff.”
Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart / DCSTrax) - “Feeling the Lenny RX & Eric Kupper mix … very tasty.”
Distant People (Foliage / Seamless) - “I love this feel … so effective but captures a house mood that really resonates with me.”
Richie Roberts (The Dance Factory, BBC) - “I now have to completely reorganize this week’s radio show as this will now be The Dance Factory's ‘Future Force’ track … an absolutely amazing remix.”

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