Ransel - Love Is In The Air (Beatservice Records)

Ransel is back on Beatservice Records with his latest studio offering, aiming directly for the floor via the off-kilter dynamism of "Love Is In The Air."

Øivind A Sjøvoll has been on a non-stop roll since launching the Ransel project — an outlet for the music occupying the more dance-oriented corners of his wildly diverse repertoire. The Norwegian artist's production range is nothing short of staggering, and, while his previous Ransel releases have certainly lived up to the kinetically-charged manifesto, his latest piece is among the most club-focused to date.

Driven by a sturdy four-on-the-floor rhythm, "Love Is In The Air" bursts out of the blocks with undulating synth chords cascading over bumping bass as alien textures add to the late-night mood. Stripped, hypnotic, and deviant in tone, the immaculately formed groove is designed with dancers firmly in mind.

Yet more stunning material here from Ransel, further enhancing the already glowing reputation of this ultra-talented production don.

Peter Kruder (Kruder & Dorfmeister) – “A great tune, thank you.”
PillowTalk (PillowTalk Music) – “Really great dance-floor vibe with steady swung beats and bouncy base. Full support.”
Jon Wesley (Music Goes On Radio Show) – “This is an excellent funky tune. Love that bassline.”
Sandro Bianchi (Ibiza Sonica) – “In love with this one!”
Dean Facer (Resident Advisor) – “Feeling this right from the start!”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Uniquely original in every way. A real stand out record.”

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

Miguel Scott & BluShift - Broken Layers (Viva Recordings)

Over the last year or so, the Viva Recordings team has been getting to know Miguel Scott, a talented producer from Johannesburg, South Africa. After many conversations and a few listening sessions, it was apparent that "Broken Layers" was just what the label needed. This release is packed with jazz & broken beat vibes, and is co written by BluShift, also from Johannesburg. You can also catch Miguel on labels like Nervous, Moiss Music Black, and his own Afrinative Soul imprint. Don’t sleep on this one.

Jason Merle (4E&A Records) – “Those drums are clutch. Beautiful, organic sounds all around. In the bag.”
Juan Moreno (1 Life Records) – “Nice broken beat track. So classy.”
Deli-G (The Touch) – “Pure fire on this release.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House web zine) – “A truly glamorous slice of jazz house bliss.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “5 Stars for this amazing record. Absolutely love it.”
Clive Craske (RadioReverb) – “Loving the dexterous jazz piano, funky and driving broken beats and Thereminny synth wibbling. Ace.”

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

Col Lawton - Little Closer / Music Showed Me Love (The Remixes) [Uniting Souls Music]

Hot on the heels of Col Lawton's original single for "Little Closer" and "Music Showed Me Love," renowned Pacific Northwest house collective Uniting Souls has issued a top notch remixed follow-up. Col is a founder of Deep Fix Recordings and for releases with the likes of King Street Sounds, Atjazz Record Company, and Salted Music. Col's warm and deep house music sonics have moved dancefloors for a while, and his productions lend themselves nicely to fantastic remixes like the ones found on this single.

Liz Somes — who recently won the Future Talent Award from the Pete Tong DJ Academy — is first on the remix podium, grabbing "Little Closer" and adding a dose a smooth spaciousness. A techy bass line, echoed key pads, panned percussion, and added vocal phrases from Katty Heath give this remix bonus shine. Next up, Sen-Sei & Stranger Danger drop their Left Coast Deep Groover mix of "Music Showed Me Love." Sen-Sei's delicious keyboard riffs accompany a driving 4-on-the-floor beat and layers constructed from the original vocals and track elements. Superb stuff. Then Uniting Souls mainstay Jon Lee tackles "Music Showed Me Love" with a stripped-down version that gets extra deep and moody. The vocal is delivered in snippets as a techno rhythm, strangely effected synth lines, and ambient pads build the formidable vibe to a powerful breakdown. Proper nightclub jams throughout!

Mr. V (Sole Channel Music) – “Solid house music. Thanks guys!”
Wesley Holmes (Flammable) – “Damn! Great follow up to the original. Very versatile remix package! each mix can be played in different times throughout the night. Will play.”
Takamasa Owaki (Cactus Experience) – “Great work! Full support.”
Jason Merle (4E&A Records) – “Great release. All 3 tracks are good and offer enough variety to make it a necessity in the bag.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit of House webzine) – “A classy late night groover.”
Black Mighty Wax (Gru Radio) – “That kind of House I like to play.”

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

monotropa. - Distancia (Tremulant)

The Seattle-based artist monotropa. returns to the Tremulant label to once again explore deep sensations and cosmic vibrations through musical expression. The Distancia EP executes this through three textural tracks that combine elements of house, techno, and ambient atmosphere. Remixes from El Mundo, Wesley Holmes, and Slow Shadow go even further into distant territory.

"Distancia" starts the EP with a floor-ready pulse, flowing with synthetic chord hits and arpeggiated gyrations over a steady four-on-the-floor ride. A cinematic breakdown envelopes the cut with shining melody and impulsive drama. This is followed by "Torrente"which ultilizes tones resembling the gentle rings of a thumb-piano as its backbone. Buzzing synth bass, ominous drones, and flashes of percussion rise and fall with expansive depth. "Lavar" is more laid back though no less layered or spacious than anything else on Distancia. A processed guitar-like riff hypnotically riffs on top of chord pads and a mid-tempo house beat, all giving the feel of a transcendent moment on the way.

El Mundo (Quetame Records) supplies the first remix with a version of the title track It's a bouncy trip through exotic places and faraway fauna, where jungle sounds abound as a tribal rhythm carries the cut through strobe-lit valleys. Seattle house music veteran Wesley Holmes next tackles "Lavar," offering a decidedly west coast flavored take that's atmospheric, psychedelic, and perfect for afterhours dancefloors. The EP closes out with a rework of "Lavar" by Slow Shadow, a nom-de-plume of Tremulant's Joe Bellingham. It's an acid-tinged downtempo treatment, enhanced by a pair of distinctive vocal contributions. Vibes for days and days.

Danny Ward (Well Cut Records) – “Really loving El Mundo's percussive take here thanks... will definitely be playing!”
Juan Moreno (Sounds Black Recordings) – “The perfect track to drive the dancefloor.”
Andreas Kinzl (Aromabar) – “Artful and stylish works.”
Al Mackenzie (1BTN Radio) – “The Wesley Holmes mix is right up my street.”
Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) – “Some great tracks here, will support.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT Radio Show / Fluke) – “The originals all have some masterful moments in both the writing and production - quite beautiful. El Mundo remix sounding excellent here too.”

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