All Good Funk Alliance feat. Swamburger - Raised On Ten (Super Hi-Fi Recordings)

Eight years after Social Comment, the acclaimed collaborative album from All Good Funk Alliance and Swamburger, the two forces of beat-nature have joined up once again for the rousing 6-track EP Raised on Ten. All Good Funk Alliance consists of Frank Cueto (Vested Soul) and Rusty Belicek (Late Night Workshop), a production duo that's always ready to let the rhythm hit 'em. Swamburger is an MC's MC, one-half of the duo Mugs and Pockets, and previously of Solillaquists of Sound, who is never at a loss for crafty lyrical wordplay. Raised on Ten delivers a delicious stew of bass, breakbeats, and potent rhymes in an old-school style that'll thrill a diverse menagerie of DJs and listeners. It's boom bap to the max.

The tone is set from the start with "That's Deep," a full-on display of DC-flavored go-go beatology, devastating bass drops, rollicking piano riffs, and Swamburger getting his point across in the funkiest manner. "Face The Polls" furthers the groovy mayhem, complete with the staccato stabs and growling bass bits that All Good Funk Alliance is known for. There are also a couple of slower, pensive cuts, like the evocative and spacious "Nursery Rhymes." These nostalgic moments bring home one inspiration for the EP — Swamburger and Frank both lost their mothers during the recording of Raised on Ten, and the release's title is indeed a reference Swam's mom.

The entire EP is captivating, both for its musical and lyrical prowess. Whether grooving on a packed-out dancefloor, cruising on a sunny afternoon, or chilling at home with the ones you treasure, Raised on Ten will shoot vibes straight into the heart as well as the hips.

DJ Moneyshot (The Allergies) – “Killer big beats and bassline business, buddies. Love the block party back and forth rhymes of the opener. Phat tracks, front to back, jack.”
Ursula 1000 (Insect Queen Music) – “TIGHT! Bringing to mind classic Ugly Duckling/Jurassic 5 vibes. Poppin’!”
Soul of Man (Finger Lickin’ Records) – “Superdooperfantastico!”
Double-D (Radio X) – “BURNIN HOT!”
Quincy Jointz (Timewarp Music Radio Show) – “Super release, all winners. So good to see AGFA back with Swamburger.”
DJ Clairvo (Tilos Radio, Budapest) – “Each tune has its place. Full support to every tune of this release! Tight drums, fat bass-lines, cutting-edge sound and marvelous vocals.”

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

Tony H - Passion / Source of Love (Uniting Souls Music)

Seattle's newly appointed Party Citizen is Tony H (Space Yacht, Late Night Munchies), and he's ready to launch forth with a new double A-side single on Uniting Souls Music. The label's on a tear with twelve consecutive Beatport top 10 chartbusters, with this release deservedly rounding out the even dozen. "Passion" drives with potent house music electricity, complete with chunky drums, a low rolling bassline, and a rhythmically spoken vocal. This one thumps, and it's sure to be a late-night staple. Flip the virtual wax for "Source of Love," which takes things down into moodier realms while still delivering tight, speaker-rattling, deep house vibes. Give in to these beats.

Brandon Bass (Hub City Music Group) – “Absolutely the best thing to grace my inbox in a long time. Great deep and dark drummy tracks. Reminds me of SF gigs back in the day. Love it!”
Tokita (Large Music) – “Both tracks are FIRE! Nice work Tony.”
Wilbour Craddock (Groovewest) – “This double A side is a true double A side, with two fantastic tracks of pure house for the late night crowd.”
Mason Rothert (Below Zero Radio Show) – “Passion is the jam!”
DJ P-REZ (The Session Worldwide) – “Both of these tracks are dope!”
Snooba (Radio Panik) – “100% dynamite. Infectious!”

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

Joe Bellingham & Diana Ratsamee - Oil In The Water (Tremulant)

The Tremulant label returns with a stunning collaboration between Diana Ratsamee, a Seattle-based DJ, musician and curator known for the eclectic taste displayed on her Eastern Echoes radio show on KEXP and label don Joe Bellingham. Oil In The Water is an expressive mid-tempo indie-electronic composition with exotic instrumentation from Joe and impassioned vocals by Diana. Layers of guitar and synth pads create a lush and psychedelic sound pool that'll lend a heavy atmosphere wherever the track is played. Also featured on the track is Paul Gafni, a frequent collaborator with Joe, who will helm the next label release. A remix by Tremulant's monotropa. builds on the original's melodic flavor, adding an ominous bass growl and a techier vibe. Rascal Rae is next, with a version propelling the sound through a live-sounding breakbeat and shimmering synthesizer textures. Closing the release is a remix byNiki Sadeki (Quetame Records), who twists and turns "Oil In The Water" into a deep, techno-inspired cruiser, ready-made for dark and smokey dancefloors. Tremulant delivers again.

Juan Moreno (1 Life Records) – “Nice Rascal Rae Remix. Perfect for the dancefloor.”
Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Original mix only chosen as the best as it was the genesis for this outstanding record. Fantastic instrumention, vocal, and production. 10/10.”
Steve ‘Griffo’ Griffiths (Fluid Radio Show) – “Niki Sadeki’s remix is my favorite version on this EP, I’ll be using this in my sets.”
DJ Clairvo (Tilos Radio, Budapest) – “What an EP! It's rare nowadays to have world music elements being handled in such music environments. All those jazzy downbeat influences make this one outstanding.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) – “Love the darker sonic landscap of the monotropa. Remix. Stunning.”
Jon Wesley (Music Goes On Radio Show) – “I love the original and the Rascal Rae Remix. Love the chorus. I’ll definitely play it.”

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

Boblebad - Drømmeknuser (Beatservice Records)

Boblebad is back, serving six vividly imaginative tracks on the brilliantly varied Drømmeknuser LP.

Under his familiar Boblebad moniker, Ulf Moen Denneche has released genre-surfing sounds on some of the esoteric underground's most revered labels, gliding through breezy Balearic realms into floor-focused deep house and proudly uncompromising electronica along the way. An artist in every sense of the word, the Beatservice Records regular combines his music production talent with inspired work as a painter and visual artist. Drømmeknuser finds him in spectacular form, delivering a selection of far-reaching jams that are sure to find homes in the playlists of even the most demanding selectors.

The title track expertly sets the tone as it blends light with shadow, with playful lead melodies and agile synth-led counterpoints gorgeously entwined over deviant bass and crisp four-on-the-floor machine drums. Next, the sinister bass of "Dallasburger" subtly shifts the mood, with off-world chords and futurist melodics floating over stripped drums and carefully placed percussion.

"Slapp Av" sees blissful chord progressions and carefree lead synth joyously combine over sturdy bass and shuffling rhythms, its life-affirming energy enhanced by gently psychedelic sensibilities as the arrangement effortlessly ebbs and flows. "Raske Briller" continues the evolving journey, with good time harmonics and astrally charged melodies cascading over crunching house drums and sub-rooted bass as the bewitching groove unfolds.

"Bar Bakke" pitches evocative textures over brooding bass as precise rhythms guide the melodies, discreetly melancholy yet simmering with hope as delicate guitar lines weave between alien synth harmonies. Finally, the haunting tones of "Veiarbeid" complete a beguiling set, with freakish synth motifs meandering across pulsing rhythms as off-kilter chords and growling bass add weight to the tripped-out melodics.

Vibrant, expansive and produced to perfection, this is breathtaking work from the one they call Boblebad.

Jon Fugler (Fluke) – “Some lovely hints of the late 80’s here. Making me miss the Summer.”
Juan Moreno (1 Life Records) – “A nice EP here. Perfect for the warm up.”
Jon Kennedy (Radio 1 Prague) – “Quite lovely gear. Will drop one of these in my radio shows.”
Rory Hoy (Super Hi-Fi) – “Really fun 1980’s vibes here. Thanks!”
Simon Kirk (Proton Radio) – “So much to love here. Beautiful, uplifting, and very engaging music.”
Bruce Tantum (DJ Mag) – “Loving all of these. Very vibey house with a nice patina of weirdness.”

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