Ransel - Phoenix (Beatservice Records)

Beatservice Records presents the latest single from Øivind Sjøvoll's recently birthed Ransel moniker, the talented artist taking time out from his familiar Kohib project to craft the powerfully atmospheric brooder, "Phoenix."

Sjøvoll launched the Ransel project in 2022 as an outlet for his more club-focused productions, maintaining his immaculate production aesthetic while constructing subtly new sounds with a kinetic charge at their core. Having released a dazzling body of work on some of the underground's most revered labels as Kohib, he's long been a key feature in Beatervice Record's roundly compelling roster. His latest material is just as engaging as one comes to expect from this unique musical voice.

"Phoenix" launches with gorgeously evocative chords simmering over a percussive rhythm. Effortlessly building as the arrangement unfolds, haunting motifs and dubbed-out delays meander across the panorama, with sinister bass notes and grainy synth textures adding tension before the seductive groove resolves into a pulsating heads-down strut.

Deep, vivid, and gently poignant in tone, this is sublime work once again from Sjøvoll, his Ransel alter-ego demonstrating another string to his creative bow.

Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Loving the effortlessly cool vibes here. A treat to drift away to.”
Chris Simmonds (Cross Section Music) – “Super chilled. Will support.”
Merlyn Martin (Baker Street Recordings) – “This is a very solid release.”
Jamie Topham (Summer Soulstice) – “Silky production and late night vibes.”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) – “STUNNING! A must for the show this month. Love me some hangdrum.”
Simon Kirk (Proton Radio) – “A real treasure here. Beautiful chords and those delicate, thoughtful melodies fill me with joy.”

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

Polygon Rainbow - Approaching Eternity (Harmonious Discord)

On the heels of radiantly hot remixes of Patchen and KiloWatts for Harmonious Discord comes the episodic journey into the vibrant color palette of the multi-format artist and creative Polygon Rainbow. Hailing high from the pacific northwest, Christopher Bourland’s Polygon Rainbow project fuses an extra-dimensional visual world with the same rich textures baked into an audio selection that resides somewhere between electronica homages and futuristic synth/vaporwave excursions. This five-track project shows the broad mastery of melodic spaces this symmetrical, angular-visioned hero has under his control.

"Approaching Eternity" sweeps the listener away with rich pad textures and dulcet melodics. Transforming and evolving with manipulated vocoder trills and rising arpeggiations, the selection forges right to the steps of eternity. "Inner Workings of External Processes" is a Commodore computer concerto wrapped in a lovely blanket of lo-fi texture. Late 80’s bass lines and tightly programmed drums deliver a nostalgic warmth worth consuming. "Reconstructing Corrupt Memories" retains these warm feelings with fun excursions into stringed and bowed instruments, all with a cascading polyphony of synth layers. "Unraveling the Code" amps up the energy with a rinsed-out, melody-forward selection that grows into a precisely crafted drum and bass banger with dancing bass tones. Lastly is the disenchanted lullaby, "Conversations with the Void." Laden with seductive synth pillars and progressive pitch and frequency excursion, this closer implants in your brain for the long stay, whispering: “can you hear me.”

Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) – “I really love this. Very refreshing and connecting.”
Hector Rodriguez (Underscore Recordings) – “Really interesting release! Enjoyed the variety of tracks and sound palettes for each.”
DJ Firefly (WRCT 88.3 FM Pittsburgh) – “Infused with plenty of synths and amazing creativity!”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Futuristic, fabulous deep electronica.. Approaching Eternity stands out for me. Magic!”
Jon Fugler (XLNT radio show) – “Some real gems here - Reconstructing Corrupt Memories just edging it in a strong field of wonky delights.”
DJ Nova (Rodon FM 95) – “It all builds to a contemporary electronic blend where electronica, synthwave and chillwave which transmits a beautiful today's future soundscape.”

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

Smok - The Source (Viva Recordings)

Smok’s latest release on Viva Recordings brings us an arctic blast of deepness. The Finnish producer has had a slew of success recently on labels like unquantize, Atjazz Record Company, and his collective’s Youth Control label. "The Source" is a chilling soundtrack well suited for the winter months, with ethereal swirls and floating, haunting strings that accompany a steady, pulsing bassline.

Austin based (and Harmonious Discord Recordings label boss) PointBender teams up with the Viva crew for his first time on remix duties for the label on the flip side, lending a slightly more melodic and spaced out flavor to the remix. Keyboard stabs that sound like they are something alien, along with longer, drawn out peaks and and valleys make this remix the journey cut on this single. Whichever mix you like, just buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Steve ‘Griffo’ Griffiths (Fluid radio show) – “It’s hard to decide on a fave, but the original mix is slightly ahead at this moment (but subject to change).”
Nick Warren (The Soundgarden) – “The original is very good.”
Wil Russell (Pop Out and Play) – “Pointbender gets first place for remix duties here. Nice switching about and a shuffly shaker makes it a good little groove.”
Tony H (Late Night Munchies) – “It’s the PointBender remix for me.”
Joe Silva (Purespace) – “Beautiful sounds and just that edge of darkness. Well done.”
Simon Kirk (Proton Radio) – “Beautifully deep work from PointBender. A real delight.”

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

Nash La Musica - Go Deeper ft. Vox (Nash La Musica Remix) [Issa'min]

Back in 2016 in Witbank (South Africa), local DJ, producer and musician Nash La Musica was dropping some tasteful tracks and remixes on a well-known local music podcast which was connecting with the wider Witbank music scene. Another local Dj and vocalist, Vox, (who has since sadly passed away) reached out to Nash La Musica via WhatsApp and they became acquainted.

What happened from there is a bit of magic. Based on a true story while Vox was DJ’ing one night, he sent Nash La Musica his spoken word vocals surrounding the events on the dance floor one night in 2009. Nash added his musical touch, and the resulting "Go Deeper" was born.

Utilizing minimal but impactful production using the standard kick, clap, hi hats, chords and a mad tube bass, "Go Deeper", which was never released, has been called up from the vaults to finally see the light of day. It’s sure to be the next classic from the stellar issa’min imprint. Go Deeper!

Sumsuch (Colour & Pitch) – “Love this. Straight in the mix for this month’s show.”
Lee Jones / Country Gents (Buslife) – “I absolutely love this.”
Jean Jérome (Kut ‘N’ Paste) – “A very good track. I’ll play it soon on my radio show.”
Jon Barnes (Pandora) – “Great track, and love the backstory.”
Miguel Garji (Deepfusion Radio Show) – “Support as always for Nash on Balearica music.”
Steve ‘Griffo’ Griffiths (Subspace Radio) – “Took me a few listens to get this one. Quirky deep houser that has the shades of Marshal Jefferson and Noosa Heads.”

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