Es-K & Loupo - Symbiosis (Cold Busted)

Transmitting crucial beats from Burlington, the Vermont-based producers Es-K and Loupo have crafted a smooth, introspective long-player for the Cold Busted label titled Symbiosis. Holland-born Es-K (Essential Knowledge) is known for his monthly Spontaneous Grooves series (where a collection of tracks are created in one sitting) and his vital 2016 album Passages. Fellow VT rhythm-wrangler Loupo is also on the rise, with a recent album on the Melody Soul label named Good Company. This new collaborative release, Symbiosis, is a brilliant meeting-of-the-minds, blending the styles of these two talents over the course of ten tracks. The result is deep and meaningful as well as groovy and ‘headz approved,’ showcasing the duo’s penchant for envelope pushing in terms of atmosphere, melody, and rhythm.

From the opening chords of “Aqua” – reminiscent of expansive works from the likes of Lonnie Linston Smith – Symbiosis sets itself apart in the realm of beat-conscious production projects. Sparkling Rhodes piano, a winding jazz bass line, and an overall pensive vibe lead midway into a funky drum part, which almost seems curiously added as an afterthought. The fusion-istic instrumentation and understated, downbeat rhythm flavor continue throughout Symbiosis, shining on cool cuts like “Road To”, the tough, slow motion stepper “Gavel”, “TwoTone” with its jerky beats and film noir attitude, and “CooLit”’s cosmic quiet storm meditation. Es-K and Loupo are onto something unique and special, and Symbiosis lays out their fruit of their sonic exploration for all to enjoy.

Monk-One (Names You Can Trust / Wax Poetics) – “A Very well-crafted downtempo full length. Overall flow and musicality is on point.”
Kid Loco (Flor) – “Quite smooth and good.”
Adam Warped (Whiskey Pickle) – “Lovely spaced out dopeness!”
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) – “Very nice late-night headphone grooves.”
DJ Nartak (Nightflight & Klassik Lounge shows) – “Excellent stuff. Musically advanced, nice laid back vibes.”
The Funk Hunters (Westwood Recordings) – “This is LUSH! Love it.”
DJ T-Bird (Los Chicos Altos) – “Laid back bump for rooftops & bars.”
Cyprien Rose (Houz-Motik blog) – “Relaxed to the max, good summer vibes.”
Ket Shah / Mucho Soul (Mucho Soul Radio Show) – “This is very good!”
DJ Friction (Bodymovin) – “Real tasty beats & instrumentals. I dig it a lot.”
Eric Tchaikovsky (Night Light Sound System) – “Fantastic Release. All of the tracks are brilliant.”

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

Camilla Luna - Lost & Found (Cymasonic)

Digging through the archives of one of its most enigmatic artistic figures, Cymasonic have stumbled across an album that’s been hiding in plain sight for the last eleven years. Camilla Luna’s Lost & Found, is exactly as the title suggests, a collection of musical rarities, reimagined in an album where Cymasonic have breathed new life to these undiscovered gems. It features some of the last work Camilla Luna and production partner BHLB might create together, and something of a ‘rescue mission’ for the label, who feared that these tracks might get lost permanently like so many before them, unless they intervened.

Lost & Found is a body of work that consolidates the past, the present, and the future for Camilla Luna as one artistic entity. The shy, reclusive singer catalogues eleven years worth of songs and ideas into a singular body of work with the help of the anonymous BHLB, a mysterious entity in his own right. Re-imagining these scattered moments in a single album has given them a distinct voice in this new context, the tracks finding an unlikely contemporary relationship to each other.

Camilla Luna’s raspy, enigmatic vocals bite and tear at lyrics flirting with concepts of love, friendship, and the realities of a life as a musician, with the technical intent of jazz and the passion of R&B. Finding a happy equilibrium somewhere between Erykah Badu and TLC’s T-Boz, Camilla’s vocals on Lost & Found engage at a literal level, where she draws you into the murky nether world of BHLB’s music. Bold, creeping synth movements orchestrated around restrained beats find that perfect balance between contrast and harmony with Luna’s vocals defining a sound for the creative duo’s extensive career together.

More on Camilla:

Camilla Luna is the versatile voice behind some of the most significant EPs and singles from the Norwegian clubbing world with releases on the likes of Bpitch Control, Eskimo, Bogota, and Cymawax. Born Camilla Molvær Vazquez she is a Norwegian/Uruguayan songstress who was later dubbed Luna, in the Charrúa way by her Uruguayan father. Traversing the worlds of soul, jazz, and R&B through a singular artistic identity, she works comfortably within electronic soundscapes with her strong natural Latin influences often coming to the fore. Hers is a sound that errs on the side of raw, futuristic, wonky, and bumpy with clear references to ’80s funk and hip hop.

Camilla has worked closely with producer BHLB aka Baz (Streetology Studios) since 2006, and although they brought 2016’s seminal Open Up EP to the world, their work together has remained largely hidden with many gems still awaiting release. Some of her previous Camilla’s previous efforts include music on WahWah 45s, People Love Music, and Echorek Records, and she continues to work with established artists like Trulz & Robin, Usmev, and Arildo. Camilla Luna is singular voice for Norwegian club music and beyond.

Azaxx (Tru Thoughts) – “Amazing voice and very inspired musical layout. One of the most exiting things I've heard recently.”
Mr. Bristow (Subtek / Detox) – “Excellent. Really soulful.”
Kid Loco (Flor) – “Great mood. Red Handed is amazing!”
Rory Hoy (Howlin’ Records) – “Amazing album. Reminds me of Macy Gray and Erykah Badu.”
DJ Wash (Funk The System) – “Listened to 2 tracks and that was enough to say that this release is fire!”
Andy (Scandanavian Soul) – “Deep, sensual beats and tones draw you in like a light in the woods. Dark yet hauntingly infectious.”
Simon Harrison (Basic Soul radio show) – “It's been a long time coming but I'm glad Camilla & Baz are back! Lovely vocals and proper heavy weight beats.”
MadameFLY (mmRadio) – “Amazing collection. The ‘sultry’ is on overdrive and this is amazing.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “I’ve listened to this about 4 times now and it gets more enjoyable with each listen.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT radio show / Fluke) – “Weirdly wonderful & strangely hypnotic. I’m really enjoying this.”

Available Now From Bandcamp, Juno Download, iTunes, And Spotify.

Kenny Summit & Nino Bellemo - Moving Forward (Viva Recordings)

No strangers to house music, Kenny Summit and Nino Bellemo team up to bring you Moving Forward, a rhythmic, chunky bass line groover that is sure to ignite dance floors around the globe. Both with roots in the New York and Los Angeles house sounds, Kenny and Nino join the Viva Recordings family for their first time, bringing some serious soul on board for tune that is sure to keep you moving forward.

Giom (Supremus Records) – “This is excellent, love it!”
Richie Roberts (The Dance Factory on BBC) – “Absolute fire. This is the best thing I’ve heard this month.”
Soulfuledge (King Street) – “Deep, chuggy goodness … yep, I’m in with this!”
Ollie Blackmore (Soul Heaven) – “Deep, chunky, and contains that funky edge.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “Love it! Murderous bassline.”
Jaymz Nylon (Nylon Recordings) – “A funky lil’ gem.”
Curtiss Logan (Jersey Soul) – “Hot release, full support.”
Marcia Carr (Mi-Soul Radio) – “Fierce rulin’ goodness, this is big!”
Randall Jones (Audio Therapy) – “This joint is red hot to the touch. I’m gonna play this a lot.”
Marc Lacasse (sHIFT Radio) – “Chalk full of chunky goodness indeed. Reminds me of the track on The Get Down.”

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

Jeromy Nail - Cinétique / Rise (Innerflight Music)

Innerflight Music set sail from their Northwest enclave of Seattle with Jeromy Nail at the helm, along with a talented set of remixers on deck, including Jay Tripwire, Spon.10.80 (aka Rhines), and Zacharia with the “Cinétique / Rise” EP. Jeromy Nail anchored the West Coast house music scene with Uniting Souls Music beginning in the early 2000s. His seminal sets can be heard at legendary Flammable Sundays (the West Coast’s longest running house weekly, now twenty years strong) and various underground parties in the Seattle area. With releases and remixes for the likes of Viva Recordings, Build It Records, Bomb Recordings, Prison Entertainment, Radda Records, and Uniting Souls, Jeromy has been busy on the scene.

Cruise director Jeromy Nail sets forth with the well-named “Rise,” a deftly produced number whose tension mounts in synth washes to explosive percussive techno that’s sure to incite all to rise and get on the dancefloor. “Cinétique” is a late-night foray into polyrhythmic tech-house with buoyant pads, keys, and minimal vocals.

Tech-house maven Jay Tripwire remixes “Rise,” laying bare the original with minimal tech and driving bass for a late-night romp. Spon.10.80 brings a progressive flavor to “Rise” with acid-inspired percussion offset by stomping low frequencies. Zacharia of 360 BPM fame follows with a hypnotic, slow-burning remix of “Cinétique.” Taken together, the “Cinétique / Rise” EP is a cruise through both placid and roiling waters of late-night revelry.

Pezzner (Freerange) – “Cinematic, full gorgeous house tunes here throughout.”
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite) – “Big Sound. Looking forward to playing Rise soon.”
Nick Warren (Hope Recordings) – “Rise is great!”
DJ Harri (Sub Club) – “Jay Tripwire’s Remix is for me.”
Enne (Electunes) – “SPON.10.80 Remix is for me.”
Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Rise Extended Mix is my favorite, with all of the tracks coming a close second. Lovely selection.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “Rise is the one!”
Jamie Kidd (BYC Music) – “Rise Original and Tripwire mixes bring it.”
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing) – “This is SO catchy. Love it!”
Nedj (The Electronic Underground Radio Show) – “You can totally immerse yourself in every track on this release. The whole thing feels authentic.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Juno Download, iTunes, And Spotify.