Barabass & The Happy Few - Tumba Rumba (Happy Few Records)

Barabass & The Happy Few was a musical collective from Bergen, Norway. Now defunct, the band consisted of a standard DJ-keyboard-drums-bass-guitar line-up, but they could easily be fronted by a bluegrass-guitarist one moment and a jazz trumpet player the next. Barabass & The Happy Few’s aim was to make instrumental music where humor goes along with improvisation, while keeping things funky and focused on the dance floor, especially in their wild live shows.

Happy Few Records has been reissuing the rare, original EPs, with Arizona and Madagascar delighting fans new and old over the last few months. Now Beatservice has released the third and final of the original EPs, Tumba Rumba. Originally released on vinyl in 2002, Tumba Rumba continues the eclectic approach and adds funkier elements. The title track showcases this with its wildly mesmerizing electric bass, cut-up beats, and stereo-swirling synth lines. “Fonk” is a mid-tempo excursion led by a pulsing synth bass and a theremin-like melody. “Luca Rossi,” which also appears on the band’s 2004 album Rali Rei, is another funk stomper, already receiving tons of play on streaming platforms. The EP closes with the breakbeat frenzy of “Dødt Nebb,” complete with cool vinyl scratching, spacey melodies, and another fantastic bass line.

Rory Hoy (Super Hi-Fi) – “Really strong release with plenty of funk.”
Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Another lovely and bizarre offering. Very inventive and thoroughly enjoyable.”
Chris Massey (Paper Recordings) – “All killer! I love ‘Dodt Nebb’.“
Andreas Kinzl (Aromabar) – “Jazzin’ vibes 4 the floor.”
Clairvo (Tilos Radio FM 90.3) – “I’m loving this superb downtempo funk!”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) – “An inspired EP.”
Patrick Balzat (BXFM / Vibration) – “Very funky, how I love it. Perfect weapon for my radio show.”
Ulf Engelmayer (StadtRadio Göttingen) – “Funk the Fjord!”
Holger Menzel (The Funky Photographer Radio Show) – “Luca Rossi is a fantastic tune. I think it will be a massive dancefloor stomper!”
Crate Invader (Point Blank FM, London) – “All are great tracks, Tumba Rumba just edges it. Still sounding relevant which is a testament to the original production.”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, And Google Play.

Nick Hanzo - Last Day, Miracle! (forTunea)

The never-at-rest fortunea label digs deeper into the Viennese scene to uncover a new EP from city denizen Nick Hanzo. In addition to his appearance on the fortunea 10 compilation, Nick has been active with Austrian club night Schmusesalon, the audio-visual collective Wiener Endorphine, and his own Belly Dance Services with his partner in crime and collaborator, Yaman. The evocatively titled Last Day, Miracle! EP is his full debut for fortunea and fits right in with four tracks of deep and unique sounds. “20:45” opens the EP with magical tones suitable for casting a spell on the dance floor. Jazzy keys and analog pads synergize with crisp rhythms in beautiful harmony. “Caroline” goes deeper with its ghostly vocal, splashes of guitar, and steady mid-tempo bump. “Your So, …” features layers of Rhodes riffs over snappy beats and vocal teases throughout. The EP closes with the title track, loosening a cut-up Chicago feel, and interspersed with curious breakdowns and moonlit samples. Indeed, it’s another top release from the reliable fortunea crew.

Dutchican Soul (Salted Music) – “Wow! Fresh sounds. I love the vibe on all of these.”
Mark Mac (The Sounds Collective) – “Very cool release guys, top vibes.”
Joey Silvero / Distant People (Seamless) – “The sound here is just fantastic. The contrast of the drums, chords and general feel is something else.”
Chris Udoh (Tigerhook) – “Nice vibe on this one.”
Billy Butler (247 House Records) – “These are really nice, carefully shaped tunes.”
Steve ‘Griffo’ Griffiths (Freak Da Funk) – “A tasty Viennese whirl of an EP.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “Quality house music that’s easy on the ears, heavy on the vibe.”
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing) – “Love the jazzy vibes!”
Sparatikness (Synkotik) – “Sooooo Freaking Goooood!”
Pat Lezizmo (Conya Records) – “There is a nice overall vibe to this EP. Nice production, warm smooth atmosphere, and well produced.”

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

Axion117 - MCHD (Cold Busted)

Japanese beat-master Axion117 returns to Cold Busted with the action-packed 17 track MCHD. A worthy follow-up to 2016’s One Thousand Horizon, the album further establishes Axion117 as a formidable sample-samurai, cutting and slashing beats and phrases in a finely-tuned frenzy. The cuts that make up MCHD are varied and expressive, revealing jazzy beat structures, chopped-up melodic motifs, and buttery vibes that can be spread for days. Included in the album are the sublimely uplifting “Up Rising,” the latin-tinged “Dara Pa” and its bouncing kick drum, “Remaking Vibes” with its smoked-out, lounge feel, and the mesmerizing mellow-ish boom-bap of “SIB” As a whole, the album feels like an exclusive crate-digging session led by Axion177. There’s much to explore within MCHD’s 17 tracks. Dig deep!

Andreas Kinzl (Aromabar) – “Love the Brazillian killers.”
Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) – “Nice jazzy vibes.”
Found Sounds (DJ Magazine) – “A solid selection of beats and pieces.”
Snooba (Radio Panik) – “Trippy soul & nice vibes … as usual!”
Crate Invader (Point Blank FM London) – “Beautiful, atmospheric beats. I love it.”
Aroto (Instrumental Hip-hop radio) – “Excellent record. Warm tone and jazzy vibes.”
Vangelis Vlavianos (Radio producer) – “Loving the jazzy Latin sounds. Interesting work.”
Floored Capri (Solid downtempo vibes. Sharp as a Samurai sword.”
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel) – “Supreme beat making, absolutely love it. It’s really hard to pick a favorite here.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) – “This is a wonderfully eclectic masterpiece incorporating all my favorite musical genres.”

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

Linnea Dale & Of Norway - Wait For The Morning (Of Norway Versions) [Beatservice Records]

Oslo-based duo Of Norway — comprised of Vegard Wolf Dyvik and Christian Steenstrup — have made a name for themselves through countless DJ and live gigs and a healthy discography on the esteemed Connaisseur Recordings. And Linnea Dale is a rising Norwegian singer, known as a popular contestant on Idol Norway before releasing a pair of solo albums on Warner Music Norway. Linnea has guested as vocalist on Of Norway’s recordings.

Linnea has a new album released in November 2018, and it’s an opportunity to work again with the talented production duo Of Norway. The previous collaboration, Of Norway’s remix of Linnea’s “High Hopes,” created waves when it came out last May. This new song, “Wait For The Morning,” also gets the Of Norway treatment with similarly spectacular results. The remix is built around a dark techno throb, heavy on the low end and sonically inviting. The entry of Linnea’s vocal comes as a ray of sunshine in the track, illuminating the production as deep and evocative. A steady build and a rising arpeggiated synth line further cement this tune as an after-hours DJ staple. An instrumental and a radio edit are also included.

Eelke Kleijn (DAYS like NIGHTS) – “Vocal version is excellent!”
DJ H4L 9000 (Excuse Me? Club) – “Epic instrumental version.”
Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) – “Vegard always does a top-notch job.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “Stunning! Support is a no-brainer.”
Marco Valvekens (Trendy FM) – “More like this please!”
Sasha (Last Night On Earth) – “Of Norway always deliver.”
Harry Avers (NOICE! Radio show) – “The full version is absolutely stunning.”
Duserock (Duserock) – “This is great!”
Indy Lopez (D&S) – “Wow! I can only say I LOVE it.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM 95) – “Impressive follow up to ‘’High hopes’’. These deeper Of Norway versions are offering a mysterious lightless journey into further reaches of deep house where elements of synth-laden deep techno and semi-trance surround you. Industrial rhythms merge to form a harmonious whole after Linnea’s vocals.”

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