Dday One - Journal | Extended (The Content Label)

Dday One’s Journal project originated as a limited self released CD-R sold exclusively at his live shows. The project consisted of four fully sample-based compositions created solely with a hardware sampler and a turntable. Soon after its release and due to broader demand The Content Label reissued the Journal EP in digital and CD format. Now Dday One revisits the project with a ten track extended version entitled Journal | Extended. The release features remastered versions of the original four tracks accompanied by six previously unreleased cuts.

The tracks on Journal | Extended date from the same period, as the prolific Dday One was realizing a spectrum of sample-based experiments. Influenced by personal entries from Dday One’s studio journals (one of which is pictured in the cover art), the music shows the producer constructing new sonic possibilities within his unique style. Flipped beats and layered samples abound, placed in compelling arrangements that affirm Dday One’s pensive attention to detail. Tracks like “Heiwa”, evoking the melancholia of a traveller’s search for inner truth, “Meaning”, characterized by otherworldly tones and textures, and “Rhythm Section”, with its playful introduction to the cut’s instrumentation elements, are just a few highlights of this skillful selection.

Jon Fugler (XLNT radio show / Fluke) – “Quite bonkers, with is no bad thing. Always heartwarming to hear something that breaks a few rules.”
Poldoore (Cold Busted) – “Loving the rawness of the drums and the sample section. Definitely bouncing to these grooves.”
DJ Firefly (WRCT 88.3 FM – Pittsburgh) – “Super clever and creative – love it!”
Belabouche (Midnight Riot) – “Wow, this is amazing.”
Renegades Of Jazz (Agogo Records) – “Been a Dday One fan since the first release. Still love his unique, melancholic sound.”
Graham Mandroules (Catalyst Recordings) – “Love the moody soundscapes.”
Stickybuds (Goodgroove Records) - “Cool stuff. Sounds like old Shadow.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) – “It’s epic and eclectic. I love it.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “Dday really knows a thing or two about sampling and production. Every track is so evocative. I lost all track of time listening to this promo.”
Jamie Topham (CD Pool / Summer Soulstice) – “Nice mix of downtempo beats, classical styles & jazz vibes. Soundtracks for some lazy Summer Sundays.”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, Juno Download, iTunes, AND Spotify.

Suff Sakoor feat. Anna Marie Johnson - Rise Up (Pretty Chief Records)

West Sussex label Pretty Chief Records was founded in 2016 by Richard Whitworth to focus on soulful and funky house music with top notch production and live elements. The debut single is the driving “Rise Up” by Suff Sakoor and vocalist Anna Marie Johnson. No stranger to the game, Suff Sakoor is part of the Mange Le Funk collective, comprised of all of the artists and remixers showcased on this release, and co-writer of the classic cut “I Still Want You”. A late night jam session created the foundation for “Rise Up”, with chiming staccato Rhodes piano chords, a steady bass line, and punchy four-on-the-floor rhythms combining for an exceptional club track. Enter Anne Marie Johnson, whose amazing vocals (with lyrics written by Richard Whitworth) send “Rise Up” into the stratosphere. The mixes include a soulful late night warehouse treatment from Kaled F, some proper drum n’ bass vibes courtesy of Holotype, and hype peak time versions from Beathaven and Spinner. With more releases from the Pretty Chief label imminent, “Rise Up” enthusiastically primes the pump for what’s to come.

Lenny Fontana (Ministry of Sound) – “Kaled F Mix is a very cool track. Will support.”
Gene Hunt (Rush Hour) – “Sexy.”
Distant People / Joey Silvero (Soul Elements Radio Show) – “Strong mix from Kaled F. Feel good sound and raw old school beats. It has all the elements I like.”
DJ Craig C (Peace Bisquit) – “Love the vocal. There’s a great variety on the mixes, but the Original is the one for me.”
Craig Stewart (Montana & Stewart) – “Feelin’ the original. Very tasty.”
DJ Reeplee (Souvent Records) – “Excellent release. My favorite mixes are the original and Beathaven mixes. Full support!”
Edground (Grooveland Music) – “Nice soulful vibes. Perfect for my shows.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House web zine) – “A beautiful soul & funk drenched summer gem.”
Indy Lopez (D&S / Club Beatz radio shows) – “Perfect match with my radio show.”
Richie Roberts (The Dance Factory on BBC) – “Really great set of mixes, something for everyone here, but for me the original is pure class.”

Available Now From: Traxsource, Beatport, iTunes, AND Spotify.

Ivaylo - Manga (Bogota Records)

Oslo’s Bogota Records finds Ivaylo mining deep house with the Manga EP. “Magnatronic” ascends a slow build from minimal drums to washes of warm synth, while the re-work by Arildo adds slow-burning percussive strains to the original. “Nectar” balances dark bass with hi-hat strains, while the Danny Kotz remix amplifies the original with driving locomotion. Throughout, the production swims in the deep end of the house pool without feeling dark, and manages a palatial dive into sonic atmospherics while maintaining an afterhours dancefloor vibe.

Ivaylo hails from Bulgaria, where he explored jazz before diving into electronic genres. As Bulgaria shook off the last of its communist sensibilities and became a republic, Ivaylo took to the beaches of his hometown in Varna and fell in love with the deep house sound floating over from the States. He went on to perform everywhere from London to Moscow before settling in Oslo, where he established Bogota Records in 2014.

Vanilla Ace (OFF Recordings) – “Nice chilled vibes.”
Atish (Desert Hearts) – “Deep and groovy.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “Lovely lovely work. High fives all around!”
Pete Williams (Natural Rhythm) – “Arildo's Remix is a deep slow burner. Will support.”
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) – “So many good tracks and versions in here! Lovely release all around.”
Olle Abstract (Fisk & Vilt) – “Great release. I really like Arildo’s bouncy remix of Magnatronic.”
Jarle Bråthen (Full Pupp) – “Great release! Nectar (Danny Kotz Remix) is the favorite. Will play out.”
Deron Delgado (Paradise / Dirtybird) – “Lovely. Both versions of Nectar are great.”
Jon Manley (hOUSEwORX) – “Love the original mix of Magnatronic. Sultry deep house vibes.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Yes! This is superb. Arildo’s remix of Magnatronic is my favorite with that killer hypnotic vibe. Classy.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, iTunes, And Spotify.

Zona - Move On feat. Angelina Sol (70x7 Records)

Zona’s Move On channels the empowerment of disco queens Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer and Chaka Khan on the latest 70x7 Records release. The Los Angeles-based production duo of Dimitri Craven and Jerry Andrews collaborate with Angelina Sol, who sings of being fed up with a cheating man on the infectious disco house original, while Agent Blak’s re-work plunders deep house with the pirate’s booty sensibility of Jolly Roger and Juwan Rates returns to a classic house sound. Agent Blak’s version hosts slow build ascension to explosive beats and smart production with percussive strains, while Juwan Rates deepens the slow build anticipation in the introduction, sampling old school house samples culminating in a dancefloor banger. Taken together, the three tracks are a soulful romp through house music—whether of the disco, deep, or classic variety.

Ashley Beedle (Back to the World Records) – “Infectious house – loving the quirky riff on the Juwan Rates Remix.”
Booker T. (Kings of Soul) – “Cool vibes, will support.”
DEL (5 Magazine / Shelter NY) – “This makes me want to Move On … to the floor!”
Graeme Park (The Graeme Park Radio Show) – “I Love it!”
Jaymz Nylon (Nylon Recordings) – “The world needs more of this! All tracks will be supported.”
Hard Ton (Toy Tonics) – “Loving the 90’s vibe of the Juwan Rates Remix.”
Mucho Soul (Mucho Soul Show) – “The Original Mix is the strongest for me.”
Marco (Radio 105 – Italy) – “I like this. Good vibes for the summer.”
Curtiss Logan (Jersey Soul) – “I like this release, it has the makings of a future classic.”
Tariq Ziyad (Dark Horse) – “Can’t get enough of this. Real pure and proper house music.”
Jorge Font (Audio nights radio show) – “Excellent EP, and a really good Agent Blak Remix.”

Available Now From: Traxsource, Beatport, iTunes, And Spotify.