Emapea - Zoning Out Volume 1 (Cold Busted)

Emapea, the renowned beat-maker from Poland, burst upon the scene with multiple compilation appearances on Cold Busted, an inclusion on Mark Farina’s Mushroom Jazz 8, and his stunning debut album Seeds, Roots & Fruits. Fans and headz worldwide have been clamoring for a follow-up, but all Emapea wanted to do was just ‘zone out.’ And that’s what happened, with the release of Emapea’s twenty song album Zoning Out, Volume 1.

Emapea’s cuts are meant for the listener to get lost in – but they’re not only for chilling, or when deep in thought, but also for getting in that crucial head-nod zone, like when the DJ drops the dopest beat. Expertly crafted and sequenced, the album presents a boom-bap journey that’s dreamy and spacey while remaining tough and jazzy. “Check It Out” exemplifies the mood with its smooth drums, chiming keys, subtle sax riffs, and hip hop shout-outs. The vibe expands on “Motion”, adding an exotic, worldly flavor to the seductively loping rhythm. And “Classy” features a smokey saloon piano melody that cruises smugly out of jeep-beat speakers. This track was recently featured on a limited postcard record, mailed surreptitiously to lucky Emapea supporters.

Zoning Out, Volume 1 defines Emapea as an artist to watch on the international beat scene. Pay attention as Volume 2 will be continuing the journey in later months.

Mr. Bristow (Subtek / Detox) – “Some really nice joints on this – great work!”
Danny Ward (Moodymanc) – “Lovely, gritty deep beats.”
Rusty (Funk Weapons / All Good Funk Alliance) – “Nice groove here. Love the laidback feel and piano plonks. Reminds me of something Mo-Wax would have dropped back in the day.”
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) – “Crackles like fire!”
Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) – “I’ll be headphone vibing this all day!”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) – “Stunning jazzy beats. I cannot find a weak track on here.”
Laurent N. (House Nation Radio) – “Beautiful release with TOP stuff from Emapea.”
Yogi Haughton (DJ Magazine) – “This is great. Good for bars and early sessions.”
Eric Tchaikovsky (Night Light Sound System Radio Show) – “Love from the first note.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show – Perth) – “Brilliant release from Emapea, this has me totally zoned out. Can't get bored listening to smooth production and mellow but banging beats like this. Looking forward to part 2!”

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

DJ Sulli & 5657 - I Know My Future (Innerflight Music)

Veteran west coast house music DJ/producers Sean Sullivan and Cody Nasir, teaming up under the name DJ Sulli & 5657, return to Innerflight for the new single “I Know My Future,” featuring remixes from Ralph Falcon (Murk) and Pezzner.

DJ Sulli has a long history in the west coast house scene, inspired by such bay area legends as DJ Spun and Wicked crew DJs Thomas and Jeno. His Amfibius label was a definite player on the scene, releasing vinyl singles from the likes of Jay Tripwire, Alexander East, and Rick Preston. Sulli’s production activities have found him collaborating with 5657, a prominent DJ from the Lake Tahoe/Reno scene. Together they’ve combined Sulli’s ‘soul-tech’ sound with 5657’s funkier leanings for a fresh dance-floor house music style.

Propelled by a spacious vocal line, “I Know My Future” bursts out of the speakers with a powerful groove and a deep sensibility, providing the perfect soundtrack for late night house music gatherings. Miami’s Ralph Falcon delivers a re-rub of the track complete with a playful drum arrangement, menacing synth stabs to underscore the vocal hook, and a crisp but dark vibe. Acclaimed deep house virtuoso Pezzner rounds out the release with his gyrating rendition. A gnarly, modulated synth bass expertly draws in the dance floor, as Pezzner’s adept rhythm programming propels the vocal hook to new heights. All three versions are accompanied by instrumentals or dubs, adding up to another stellar pack from the Innerflight camp.

Chris Fortier (Fade / Mindwarp) – “Great release. Awesome Pezzner and Ralph Falcon mixes.”
Tyler Stadius (Deepsite) – “Loving the Pezzner Bonus Dub.”
Edground (Grooveland Music) – “This is a DOPE release.”
Shane Johnson (Fish Go Deep) – “Both Pezzner remixes are working very well here. Loving that elastic bassline.”
Billy Butler (D3EP Radio Network) – “Original dub sounds superb!”
Jon Lee (Tilted Records) – “Cool release. Ralph Falcon instrumental for me.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “Simply Splendid!”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Absolutely killer basslines across these mixes. Massive!”
Curtis Logan (Jersey Soul) – “Loving this release, love the Raspy vocal on this. Full support. Great job Ralph Falcon & Pezzner.”
Kid Hops (Expansions – KEXP) – “Tough EP! Loving the original, the Pezzner remix, and the dub mix of the original. I look forward to playing these cuts out in the clubs and on my KEXP radio shows. Tuff tunes! Love 'em!”

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

Anatoly Ice - Still Searching (Anatoly Ice / Symphonic Distribution)

Still Searching is the new album from Anatoly Ice, a Moscow-based DJ who combines a shared love of hip hop, breakbeats, funk, and soul into his musical stew. A love crate digging for rare 45s, obscure rhythms from around the world, and crucial, head-nodding beats fuels Anatoly as he pilots his Funk and Beyond parties and radio show – running for more than ten years – and a distinctive production style. Still Searching transmits this in spades, delivering 17 cool cuts running the gamut from instrumental hip hop, live improvisations, abstract soundscapes, and four key tracks featuring singer, poet, and flute player Iskra.

The album opens with the funky “Happy My Love,” feeling like a jazz-funk radio staple from the ’70s. Iskra’s lovely, soulful vocals are in Russian, adding to the track’s unique vibe. Other highlights include the soaring “Now Is The Time,” “Church” with its chunky drum part and gritty instrumentation, the spaghetti-trip hop style of “My Mind At Play,” and “Real Woman” with its bluesy technique and dope scratches. Anatoly Ice has hit gold with Still Searching, proving he’s a true player on the global beat-maker scene.

Double-D (Radio X) – “Yo – deep down raw soul over there.”
Ben Mono (Undertones Gang) – “Great and outstanding release.”
Danny Masure (Spring Strut) – “Fantastic funky soul with a boom-bap twist.”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music Radio Show) – Some wicked beats. My favorite is ‘I Know The Way’. Damn funky tune!”
Piiit (Septante Sept) – “Russian Soul? Wtf? Excellent!”
David Bassin (Freefall weekly radio show) – “Meaty and beaty!”
Andreas Kinzl (Aromabar) – “Strong stuff with attitude.”
DJ Soulist (What The Funk) – “Love the mood of this. Soulful beats here!”
Igor Marijuan (Ibiza Sonica FM) – “Amazing release. 5 stars.”
Diesler (A Little Something Radio) – “Sublime grooves from the Moscow maestro.”
DJ Fonetik (Ghettobazaar blog) – “I know the way is great with it’s Russian vocals. It takes me back to old Eastern pop songs and soundtracks.”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, Beatport, iTunes / Apple Music, And Spotify.

Luke Mandala - Ignite / NewFangled Slang (Uniting Souls Music)

Uniting Souls Music returns in force with Luke Mandala’s “Ignite” and “NewFangled Slang,” the hundred and hundred and first tracks to be released on the label. The release showcases Mandala’s masterful ability to marry crisp, thoughtful production with explosive rhythms igniting the dancefloor in festive unity, much as the Uniting Souls movement itself. Mandala’s production speaks to the heart and flows through inspiring and intense emotive movements, as if flying through the cosmos or the deepest primal caves with a focus on play, inspiration, and unification. The prolific producer has released music on Traum, Selador, Tulipa, Desert Trax, Merkaba Music, Addictech, and Booka Shade Music imprints.

“Ignite” hosts a turbo-charged rollicking percussive intro giving way to creamy synth swells layered in polyrhythmic complexity. Cerebral sounds are rendered corporeal in their ability to incite both goosebumps and gyrating movement—a perfect track to host the first sun rays breaking the horizon following an all-night outdoor desert party. The explosive anthem is followed by b-side “NewFangled Slang,” whose slow percussive build gives way to brute force synth and spacey vocals. This two-track wonder marries the cerebral and corporeal in festivity, and is sure to set ablaze dancefloors from San Francisco to Saigon.

Nick Warren (The Soundgarden) – “Ignite is outstanding. Great track.”
Adam Collins (Euphoria Records / Omni A.M.) – “Nice sounds by Luke, creating a unique production style. Super strong release, and a nice statement.”
Tony H (Late Night Munchies / Viva Recordings) – “NewFangled Slang for me. Lovin’ it!”
Pointbender (Guidance / Harmonious Discord) – “I’ve really enjoyed Luke’s stuff lately. Great release.”
Jamie Kidd (Thoughtless Music / BYC Music) –“Heaters!”
Jon Lee (Tilted Records) – “Excellent release. Support!”
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing) – “Very creative and driving. Love it.”
Harry Avers (NOICE! Show on proton radio) – “A solid project from this emerging artist.”
DJ Morpheus (Lysergic Factory Radio Show) – “Mad and hypno. Exctiting tracks in here, this is wonderful stuff. I dig it!”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “These are powerful! An absolute 10/10. Love that vocal on New Fangled Slang.”

Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, iTunes / Apple Music, And Spotify.