Vanilla - Pointbreak (Cold Busted)

Vanilla’s beats are anything but. This master of rhythm and sample construction hails from the UK, crafting tracks with distinction and funkiness that reveal an assortment of flavors. Vanilla’s Bandcamp-released albums have garnered hundreds of thousands of downloads and earned him a wide-ranging fanbase. And his appearance on Cold Busted’s Only On Vinyl 2 LP helped fuel its ‘instant sell-out’ status. Now, Vanilla reveals Pointbreak, his debut EP for Cold Busted that brings together all the elements that confirm this rising producer as a true artist of beats. It’s also the latest installment of the Jet Set series, showcasing sonic travels to exciting, soothing places.

“Pointbreak” opens the EP with syncopated keys over a strutting rhythm, conveying the listener’s arrival to an ultra-hip, neon-splattered hotel lobby. The leisure vibes continue with “Surfin' Summer,” a soundtrack for cocktails on the beach while watching the boogie boards go by. “Remember” combines a phat break with loungey bossa nova, a reassuring timewarp to simpler days. The EP closes with “Breeze,” finishing things on a jazzy, quiet storm tip that would make Lonnie Liston Smith swoon. Don’t hesitate — transport yourself to Pointbreak.

Soul of Man (Finger Lickin’ Records) – “Surfin’ Summer and Breeze conjure up great images of the holidays we never had. Nice tight beats and atmospheric temptations.”
Ohmega Watts (Ubiquity Records) – “Vanilla always comes correct with fly tracks from mellow to 80’s based flips.”
Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) – “A pleasant “Breeze” caresses my ears.”
Brandon Bass (Hub City Music) – “Breeze could easily be a classic West Coast Hip Hop instrumental. Great job.”
Dj Halabi (Dj Halabi) – “A breeze of fresh air. Vanilla has brought together a perfect release to usher in the Summer vibe.”
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel) – “Playful and joyful sounds. Big thumbs up here, really enjoying this.”
Andy Wilson (Ibiza Sonica FM) – “Cool sunshine vibes. Will sound great on the beach in Ibiza.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT radio show) – “Always a pleasure to hear a wonky take on a classic style. Makes me want to take a trip to the the Cote d’Azure for a lost weekend. Lovely.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) – “An outstanding EP, with “Breeze” as the standout track.”
Floored Capri (Kane FM) – “Get ready to be transported to a secret hideaway, on a beach somewhere, with and epic swell.”

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

Ill Sugi - Warp Haze (Cold Busted)

Cold Busted reaches out to the Tokyo massive and welcomes Ill Sugi to the label’s global roster. A Tokyo DJ since 2006, Ill Sugi has released beats on URBNET, Radio Juicy, and Jazzy Sport and collaborated with the likes of Bugseed and San Francisco’s Dregs One. Now Ill Sugi presents Warp Haze, a heady 17 track album for Cold Busted that displays the many chill boom-bap moods of this talented producer.

The opening track — “Call Me Nasty” — sets the tone with a spring reverb drenched drum track, electric piano chords, and echoed vocals dropping in and out. “Night Boat,” another highlight, is more upfront but still retaining the dreamy, laid back hip hop feel that this producer excels at. Sharp rhythmic sounds serve as accents, an eccentric touch that shows Ill Sugi’s unique take on this sound. Ill Sugi also embarks on a few notable collaborations: “Pretty Shadows” features Budamunk (formerly of Delicious Vinyl act BudaStyles), Brrwd artsy Yagi guests on the whimsical “Old Man,” and the closing “After The Rain” includes a contribution from IWYMI INTNl alumnus Tajima Hal. Throughout, the beats and cuts are evocative and innovative, comprised of unexpected textures and rare-sourced samples. Warp Haze will leave you clamoring for more.

Mr. Bristow (Funk Blasters) – “Dusty crate digger vibes – nice work!”
Afrika Islam (Zulu Nation) – “Lo Fi chill 2021 … works great for me.”
Rory Hoy (Super Hi-Fi) – “I LOVE THIS! Amazing.”
Floored Capri (Kane FM) – “Dusty, jazzy, phunked up & low slung vibes. Big holla from the Kane FM camp.”
Rolf Aeschimann (Openbroadcast Radio) – “Solid jazzy Hip-Hop tracks.”
Quincy Jointz (Ibiza Global Radio) – “Solid beats and production.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT radio show) – “Interesting selection, nicely smoked.”
Crate Invader (Point Blank FM London) – “The whole LP is dope, but After The Rain is extra special fire.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “Laid back and very chilled indeed. Brilliant album.”
misterG (Green Arrow Radio Show) – “I think there is a path to the future, and this could be the very soundtrack for it.”

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

Jordan Strong & Tony H feat. Ramiro - Be See Seek (Uniting Souls Music)

Over the past two decades, Uniting Souls founder Ramiro has become known, in the words of the Seattle Weekly, as "an inextinguishable accelerant of Seattle's house community.” He celebrates this by closing out 2020 with label veterans Jordan Strong and Tony H for “Be See Seek.” This rousing deep house track is a call to rise above the fray of these trying times. As the rhythms mesmerize, Ramiro repeats an inspiring mantra: “Be the light, see the love, seek connection, invite unity, feel peace, embrace freedom, and share the gift.” Meanwhile, Jordan and Tony provide tough, crisp production with a distinctive west coast flavor. Hand percussion, dubbed out effects, a guiding bass line, and sparse synth melodies round out this driving cut.

Jordan and Tony also deliver the Sunset Tech Mix and the Acid Unity Mix, both giving sublime variations on the original, hinted at stylistically in their mix titles. Then, for a quartet of remixers, Uniting Souls scoured the west coast for talent. Vancouver’s Sean Dimitrie (Bombay Records) offers a spacey and deep version that with cool keys and hypnotic bell-like tones. There’s a bass-heavy stomper from California’s Knoe1 (Rong Music) and a punchy prime-time tech take from George JJ Flores. The single closes with a remixed version by Seattle’s DYR, increasing the dubbiness for a late-night deep house excursion. As always, Uniting Souls keeps it real.

Tyler Stadius (Deepsite) – “All slick mixes here. Big one!”
Brett Starr (Cosmic Gems Records) – “Very nice spectrum from some great West Coast Talent. That acid is fresh to death, but the JJ Flores mix has the classic vibes I need.”
Lorenzo al Dino (Jockey Club Ibiza) – “Solid project with well done remixes.”
DJ P-REZ (Not So Fast Records) – “I’d give it 5 stars for the acid track alone, but every mix here is dope!”
Tom Lown (Lucky Sun Recordings) – “Sean Dimitrie’s Rub is the one for me. Proper vibes.”
DJ Harri (Subclub) – “Lovely stuff. I’m digging these, will play and support.”
Jean Jérome (Kut ‘N’ Paste) – “Smooth & Deep like I love to play!”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “Really liking this one. Super mixes.”
Steve ‘Griffo’ Griffiths (Fluid Radio Show) – “Difficult to decide on a favorite from this quality EP, but the DYR and Unifying Acid House Dub are standing out.”
Marcia Carr (Mi-Soul Radio) – “Sean Dimitries Rub does the job, and that Know1 Unity Dub too!”

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

Bobby Breezy & Col Lawton - Low & Dirty (Viva Recordings)

Hailing from Newcastle upon Tyne, Col Lawton is one of house music’s producers-of-the-moment with cuts for the likes of King Street, Atjazz Music, Salted Music, and many more doing damage on the Traxsource charts. Bobby Breezy is a deep house staple with his long-running Native Soul Recordings imprint and productions also appearing on the likes of King Street. These two skilled DJ/producers have teamed together for a rousing new single on Viva Recordings titled “Low & Dirty.”

Starting with a tight rhythm track as a call-to-the-dancefloor, “Low & Dirty” unfolds with whisks of percussion hisses and shimmering staccato chords. The stereo field comes alive with spoken vocal drops, organ riffs, and dubbed out vibes. A deep, funky bass line keeps things rolling as the tracks moves through its dramatic breakdown to a satisfying climax. “Low & Dirty” will do the business, whether in a DJ mix, in the nightclub, or boomin’ in the headphones.

Mr. V (Sole Channel Music) – “Love it guys! Deepness on 100.”
Tommy D Funk (Good For You Records) – “Col Lawton never ever disappoints.”
Pat Lezizmo (Conya Records) – “Yes! This is the good stuff.”
Tom Lown (Lucky Sun Recordings) – “Nice. It’s got that classic deep house sound.”
Rob Paine (Worship Recordings) – “Super funky good vibes.”
Jake Beautyman (FUMP) – “Top work on the lowend of this track.”
George JJ Flores (Sol Sundaze) – “Very clean. I’m feeling this!”
DJ Firefly (Couch Dancing) – “Very hypnotic. Love the percussion.”
Wibour Craddock (Groovewest) – “Pure bumpity bump goodness.”
Jon Manley (hOUSEwORX) – “Lovely deep groove with a great dub-esque vibe running throughout. Feeling this.”

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