Shinji - In Colour (Cold Busted)

Australian rhythm-twister Shinji refers to his music as “eclectic hip hop instrumentals with no regard for genre or tempo” and promises that he’ll “flip even the most obscure samples into soulful beats.” This modus operandi is evident in his debut long-player for the Cold Busted label, In Colour. Twelve captivating beat constructions reveal the breadth of Shinji’s record collection and the absence of stylistic boundaries. This makes for an impeccably cool listen, working both for the beat-heads and in the headphones.

Highlights include the chunky soul groover “For Some Reason,” the spacey Spanish-flavored guitars and percussion of “Pioneer,” “Menace” and its evocative electronic treatments and drum breaks, and the delicious ‘70s soundtrack funk of “Grand Mash.” There’s something juicy for any discerning listener within Shinji’s inventive sample concoctions. In Colour, loud and clear.

Ohmega Watts (Ubiquity Records) – “An eclectic blend of styles with a hip hop backbone. Right up my alley.”
Mister T. (Cold Busted) – “You can hear so many colors on this one. Excellent beats and vibes combined with amazing synths.”
DJ BMF (Eighth Dimension) – “Cool sampladelic jazz biz. Dig it!”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) – “Stunning beats and rhythms.”
ALTZ (Altzmusica) – “Nice exotic hip hop.”
Floored Capri (Kane FM) – “One of the most exciting artists on the Cold Busted label at the moment.”
Igor Marijuan (Ibiza Sonica FM) – “Awesome release, as usual.”
DJ Jazzy L (Jazzy Lounge Radio) – “We’re talking jazzy cuts and funky grooves. My kind of album.”
Found Sounds (DJ Magazine) – “Solid instrumental beats. Nice artwork too!”
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel, Sydney) – “Absolutely fantastic set of tracks. Love the dreamy jazz vibes on these.”

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

Mariana Cañadas - Love The Journey (Joe Silva Remixes) [Purespace Recordings]

The soulful voice of Mariana Cañadas makes another appearance on Purespace Recordings, combined with the unique electronic stylings of veteran house music producer Joe Silva. Mariana made a strong appearance on Silva’s 2016 album Memory Fade, contributing a rich spectrum of vocal textures on two memorable tracks, “Surrender” and “Gonna Leave U”.

Now she’s back, adding her freestyle artistry to “Love The Journey”. The original is slated to appear on Mariana’s upcoming solo debut album. But today Purespace presents three inspired Joe Silva reworks of the R&B original.

First up, the Main Mix falls squarely in the classic, funky house vibe that Silva is known for. With his signature chord stabs, funky percussion lines, and vocal treatments, the music almost flies at you with uplifting, spiraling chords of jazzy goodness, wrapping Mariana’s positive-message lyrics in love-charged vibrations. Playful and fun, this mix would sit equally well at a poolside lounge event or a peak time house night.

Next is Joe’s Deeper Mix. The tempo is slower, the kick lighter, with a hypnotic monotone bass line and sultry velvet chords elevating a vocoded Mariana performance to an almost spiritual level. The track expertly builds to a beautiful climax of shimmering delights. Drenched with light and a sincere hopefulness, this sound is an antidote to today’s challenging modernity.

And then there’s Joe’s Darker Mix. Silva goes in a slightly moody, more dramatic direction with his final remix. Adding a persistent bass progression that juxtaposes Mariana’s voice in a new light, Silva exploits new vocals not found on the other mixes. Rising and falling pitches perpetually pan from side to side, leaving the listener just a bit on edge, while silky string pads plow out the chord progression. In the ensuing break things take a more percussive, harder tone.

Rise Ashen (Balanced Records) – “Very nice. Feeling the deep mix a lot. Nice summer tune.”
Ollie Blackmore (Soul Heaven) – “SUPERB! Thanks for sending it through, can’t wait to play this out.”
Blueshift (Nurvous Records) – “Great chill vibes. The main mix is hittin’ for me.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) – “A love villed variety of beats!”
Pete Williams (Natural Rhythm) – “Woo! This is awesome. Joe’s Main Mix is for me.”
Wilbour Craddock (Groovewest) – “The main mix has such a complex, full sound with a great mix of vocal and instrumental to play in any house set.”
Bart / Soulfulbros (Soul District Radio Show) – “Nice soulful vocal, and a great voice.”
Sole Notes Of House (Online magazine) – “This tunes is infectious, with that bounce around product and honey-sweet vocals of Mariana that make you Love The Journey.”
Distant People (Soul Elements Radio show) – “Vocals are so lovely, what a feel!”
Dean Serafini (Frisky Rhythms) – “All mixes are excellent, as are the vocals. I’ll likely use Joe’s Main Mix in my shows.”

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

Hawke - WarPeace (2018 Remixes) [Hardkiss Music]

The 2018 remixes of Hawke’s single “WarPeace” dig further into a world of dance floor possibilities. New York’s DJ Onionz provides a haunting melodic excursion into techno realms with his Savagely Angelic Mix, while the Curious Yellow Mix by Gavin Hardkiss takes an airy gypset approach with minimal afro percussion and flying synth flourishes.

In 2017, Hardkiss Music released remixes of “WarPeace” included a version by Desert Hearts founder Lee Reynolds which is available on limited leopard jellyfish vinyl at www.hardkiss.org

Hawke was created by Gavin Hardkiss as a series of sound clashes, musical experiments, and collaborations that steer off the path of convention. In 2017, the Hawke album Love in Stars was released through a crowdfunding campaign on PledgeMusic. It runs riot through indie dance, deep house, ambient, and funk modalities. While paying homage to artists like The Stone Roses, The KLF, Bonobo, and MGMT, it manages to weave a story of its own.

Nick Warren (Hope Recordings) – “2 sparklingly good mixes.”
Rory Hoy (Super Hi-Fi Recordings) – “The Onionz Remix is really good! Peace wins.”
Eelke Kleijn (DAYS like NIGHTS) – “The Curious Yellow Remix is great.”
DJ P-REZ (Not So Fast Records) – “Nice one! Both cuts are super spacey, and I love that.”
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing) – “These remixes of WarPeace just keep getting better and better.”
Eric Medina (The Deep End) – “Digging the Onionz version. Going to test it out!”
Jeannie Hopper (WBAI FM) – “Yeah! Decades of Hawke … keep them coming. Onionz is on fire!”
Chris Smith (Om Records) – “Both mixes are deep, unique and doing it for me.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT Radio Show) – “EPIC … hard to choose between the two, both are gems.”
DJ Di Costa (MoodyLushious Influences show) – “Really intriguing release. Will most likely try both versions, but on first impression the Curious Yellow remix will get further support action.”

Available Now From: Juno Download, Spotify, Apple Music, And Deezer.

Rory Hoy - Flamingo at the Disco (Super Hi-Fi Recordings)

Rory Hoy returns to Super Hi-Fi Recordings with “Flamingo In The Disco”, a delirious dance floor number that draws heavily from the age of disco and classic summertime radio sounds. With an unstoppable beat, groovy synth riffs, funky blasts of horns and guitar, and uplifting vocals, “Flamingo In The Disco” could easily summon the specter of a shining disco ball in the darkest of rooms.

A stellar set of remixes have been beamed down from All Good Funk Alliance, Trotter, Ursula 1000, and the mysterious Mr. Moozit. AGFA accomplish the uber-groovy with a sleek version that twists the original elements into a future-tinged affair. Trotter adds some meaty breaks to the disco, while Ursula 1000 gives the cut a classic-sounding Arthur Baker-ish treatment. Meanwhile, Mr. Moozit debuts with a skippy house mix complete with rousing piano chords and punchy cut-ups of the vocals. What ‘cha gonna do, flamingo?

Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) – “I like both the funk bass of the AGFA remix and the 80's Italo Funk on the Ursula 1000 version. Hot stuff.”
Chris Massey (Paper Recordings) – “Love the flavors from Ursula 1000 here.”
Lenny Fontana (Ministry of Sound) – “Mr. Moozit makes a funky disco remix!”
Distant People (Soul Elements Radio Show) – “Super cool disco. This is the kind of track that fills the floor.”
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing) – “Great summer tune.”
Curtiss Logan (Jersey Soul) – “This is an awesome package, great job by Rory! Full support on this release.”
SimonG (Volcano Radio) – “Super slinky sounds.”
Daryl Dee (The Chewb Radio) – “Wicked package. All of the mixes give different vibes.”
Chango (101.5 FM KTKE) – “This track is fantastic, but the AGFA remix really brings the funk to 11.”
Dean Serafini (Frisky Rhythms) – “Every single mix works for me. I love the disco and 80’s groove flavors on the first 4 mixes, but the Mr. Moozit Remix with those bounding keys is my pick!”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, Traxsource, Apple Music, And Spotify.