Ursula 1000 - Kinda' Kinky (20th Anniversary Remix) [Insect Queen Music]

Let’s set the time machine back 20 years to 2002. New York’s Ursula 1000 (AKA Alex Gimeno), DJ/producer/multi-instrumentalist, started working on his sophomore album after the success of his debut, The Now Sound of Ursula 1000. His steady diet of ’90s lounge revivalism, UK big beat, German club pop, European library music, spy soundtracks, and Japanese Shibuya-Kei sharpened his skills in producing his own take on this melting pot of retro grooves and futuristic electronic beats.

This vision would be more fully realized for this new album. Ursula 1000 had an idea of a travelogue collection of songs, every track like a new stamp on a passport. For the opener, he originally had iconic model Verushka in mind for vocals. Locking her in became elusive and so he had a re-think. Swinging ’60s London. Groovy mod scenery. He needed a fun voice for this. Enter Rebecca Mader, who at the time was an up-and-coming model and actress, later to star in the hit series Lost and Once Upon a Time. A mutual friend connected them and she nailed the perfect cheeky, sex kitten delivery!

Inspired by the 1966 film Lord Love a Duck, featuring Tuesday Weld — where her character goes sweater shopping and runs through a laundry list of exotic color schemes — we riffed on that idea and made it our own kaleidoscopic palette. This song had it all: sitars, Hammond organ (performed beautifully by Brother Cleve of neo-lounge act Combustible Edison), big beat drums, and some acid house tweaks to make it into a nice retro/future cocktail.

Originally released on Thievery Corporation’s 18th Street Lounge label and now on Ursula 1000’s own Insect Queen Music imprint, this song would be called “Kinda Kinky” — as would the album on which it was featured. Ursula 1000 was able to score world-renowned contemporary artist Shag to design the cover in his distinctive space-age bachelor pad style.

For the 20th anniversary of the release of "Kinda Kinky," Ursula 1000 decided to revisit this classic cut and give it a re-rinse, adding some tasty flavors of today but keeping its original kitschy vibe. For the flip, we have the one and only breakbeat legend A.Skillz transforming “Kinda’ Kinky” into a funky, disco house groove monster. An unadulterated sonic delight!

Steve / Fort Knox Five (Fort Knox Recordings) – “Congrats on the anniversary! Seems like just yesterday when we were just foolish young DJs making the scene. Love the repackage and updated mix and the A.Skillz remix is a surprise bonus. Top notch today like it was top notch back in the day! Need this 45 for the collection to be complete.”
Soul of Man (Finger Lickin’ Records) – “Great release and A.Skillz puts a rocket up it too!”
Tal M. Klein (Aniligital Music) – “A great remix of one of my favorite Ursula 1000 staples. I like the A.Skillz sendup as well!”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music Radio Show) – “I like the new mixes of this big classic.”
Bruno From Ibiza (Ibiza Global Radio) – “Ursula’s remix is amazing.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT radio show) – “100% smiles guaranteed - sometimes it’s easy to forget dance music should be fun - outstanding remix and with the dubs you are really just spoiling us.”

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

Also available from: Juno Records on 7” Vinyl.

Joe Silva - Solstice (Purespace Recordings)

Winnipeg-based producer Joe Silva is no stranger to alert electronic music aficionados, releasing through his Purespace imprint since 1995 and contributing to the likes of Viva!, Nordic Trax, and Stickman. Silva specializes in an organic approach to synthetic sounds resulting in music that’s consistently warm, forward-looking, and groovy. New sounds from Joe Silva are always a cause for celebration, both on and off the dance floor.

"Solstice" is a punchy late-night treat, touching down within the Venn Diagram connecting techno, deep house, and tech-house. A tight bass-and-rhythm track gives nightclub speakers a workout as spacious chords, percussive hits, and lush atmospherics enter and exit the fray. An electronic piano appears, offering jazzy riffs before an effects-filled breakdown lifts the track skyward. A snazzy Dub version is also provided, giving DJs a sparse but flowing mix that's a tad techier and more than suitable for dark rooms needing moody vibes.

Mazi (Fresh Meat Records) – “The original hit me right away. Really clean and warm production. Like how the arrangement evolves.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “I’m all over this!”
Wilbour Craddock (Groovewest) – “Exactly what I expect from Joe and Purespace, a deep, driving house track with complexity to differentiate from the mundane releases of the week.”
Finest Wear (Colour and Pitch) – “Going deep with the Dub.”
Hippie Torrales (Cyberjamz Radio) – “Nice heavy flow to this.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Delicious, chunky, deep. Brilliant House music.”

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

Juan Hoerni ft. Chezere - When You Smile (Cha Cha Project Recordings)

Juan Hoerni, the acclaimed and prolific Los Angeles-based soulful house music producer, reunites with vocalist Chezere for the uplifting floor-mover "When You Smile." Released on Juan's Cha Cha Project Recordings imprint, "When You Smile" melds crisp, disco drums, rousing keyboard riffs and chords, and an electrifying vocal performance from Chezere, drawing upon her history as vocalist with Urban Species (among many others). It's pure house music magic, available here in its original mix as well as a Wet Mix, giving Chezere voice some warehouse flavor.

The legendary DJ Spen (Basement Boys) joins the equally renowned Reelsoul (Sole Channel Music, MN2S) for a classy collaborative remix that demands hands in the air and feet on the dancefloor. Tight beats, string lines, vibraphone keys, and a dose of deep house bounce compliment Chezere's vocals with sultry sophistication. This one's ready to bring the soulful fire, from dimly lit lounges to sweaty nightclubs worldwide.

Soulfuledge (Quantize) – “Classy mix from DJ Spen & Reelsoul. I’ll be playing this for sure.”
Pat Bedeau (Bedfunk) – “Loving this, great job from DJ Spen & Reelsoul. In the box.”
Luis Machuca (Friskybeat Records) – “Great release. I’m gonna enjoy playing this at the club.”
Mike Solus (Housemasters Radio) – “Super stuff from Juan & Chezere.”
DJ Lolly (Freek FM) – “Solid soulful house tune and lovely vibes.”
Dean Serafini (Frisky Rhythms) – “Top class, the vocals hit the spot nicely and the Reelsoul & DJ Spen mixes are stellar!”

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

Legs 11 - This Is Your Home (Beatservice Records)

Legs 11 was formed when Sigmund Floyd, of Palace of Pleasure fame, joined forces with Torstein Dyrnes from the now defunct Playstation duo Tøyen, and mysterious bedroom musician Nils Tveten. During a karaoke-fuelled haze in the seedy parts of Oslo, they discovered a shared love of synth-pop, post-punk, new wave, and house music. Drawing on these influences, the band has created a diverse musical universe, ranging from dark repetitive guitar-driven tracks, via infectious pop gems, to deep yet melodic dancefloor-orientated grooves. In 2017 they were joined by multi-instrumentalist Audun Severin Eftevåg, providing the final piece of the Legs 11 puzzle.

"This Is Your Home" is a choice banger provided to the Beatservice label, laying out the quartet's floor-happy basement groove. It's gritty and real, featuring a steady kick drum bop and the right amount of deep house swing. Cool post-punk style vocals statements ride on top as staccato pads and pulsing bass movements drive the motion. The real treat comes in the last third as an effected saxophone motif dramatically introduces a snaking melody, sending the cut into the late-night bliss zone.

DJ H4L 9000 (Excuse Me? Club) – “Quite the additive tune.”
Redstickman (The Ambient Mafia) – “Tribal Chugger, love it.”
FineCutBodies (Chi Recordings) – “Love the unique production.”
Sean Johnston (History Clock) – “Utter insanity!”
Hober Mallow (Mighty Reel) – “Strange but cool, really like this one. Love how it bubbles and squelches away.”
Jon Wesley (Insomniac) – “I really weird mid tempo stuff like this, so it’s right up my alley. Perfect for afterhours jams.”

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