JOE C + ANDY MCALLISTER

Earlier this year GROUND LEVEL welcomed JOE C to the family, with his debut single Skunky alongside a remix from Rebel Sketchy. Joe’s back for his second release, “Rubber Band” and this time it’s backed up with a remix from label-boss Andy McAllister.

The original is a disco-funk breaks monster where Joe uses a rasping lead line to grind out the funkiest of licks, backed up by lashings of funky percussion and fat beats. On the virtual flip Andy introduces an almost euphoric chord sequence in the break, juxtaposed by a wall of bass when the beats kick back in and snippets of Joe’s funky lead line and chopped up vocals.

Grab it on beatport.

Joe also has this bootleg of the Beastie Boys classic, “Body Movin” that’s built on the original above. Grab it below. It’s free!

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Joe C Links:
Joe C on SoundCloud
Joe C on twitter
Joe C on Facebook

Ground Level Links:
GroundLevelBreaks.com
Ground Level on SoundCloud
Ground Level on twitter
Ground Level on facebook

JALAPENO FUNK VOL. 4

So last week we previewed a cut from the latest compilation from the super funky JALAPENO RECORDS. It was but a dash of spice and for that I apologize. We’ve just been handed the full album and I can honestly say, this really excites me.

Initially, looking at the track list and contributing artists made me drool a little. Hearing all 15 tunes had my mouth watering like a stray dog at a taco stand. The fine folks of Jalapeno have themselves a smorgasbord of talent on the label so it’s no wonder then, the artists involved in the project are a veritable who’s-who of funk and bass.

Grab the album from Juno.

Volume 4 opens with an exclusive from DJ Moneyshot titled “Mellowdip Park” which summons the souls of DJ Shadow and early Ninja Tune material.

Basement Freaks get things hot with some spicy funk. If I’m hearing correctly they sample the Night Rider theme.

Stream: Basement Freaks - Hit the Flame

Basement Freaks have a pair of tunes on the comp. The other, remixed by Ursula 1000, mirrors the 80s flair and refracts it with a load of bass.

The Beekeepers keep things rolling with their banger. The track is about a year old but Mystro’s toasting still sounds fresh.

Parris & Vanucci funkify some classic Michael Jackson which calls people to get down on the floor. The tune is pure sex in my mind so if dancefloors aren’t an option for the day or evening, you might consider getting horizontal on your living room carpet or elsewhere.

Stream: Parris & Vanucci - Get Down on the Floor

Another album exclusive from Tom Drummond “Keep It Moving” urges you to do just that.

Another track exclusive to this comp comes from from Kraak & Smaak, which has one of the biggest basslines in the release.

If it’s funk you’re after, the exclusive from Featurecast should smash any craving with it’s big strings and rhythm guitar.

Stream: Featurecast - Evil Eye (feat. Greg Blackman)

The Crazy P remix of “Something Special” by Max Sedgley has been a go-to track of mine since it’s release. Here we have an update coming from Neighbour. To be expected from one of Vancouver’s finests, the remix is washed in some of the richest low end – it’s thick and creamy and quite frankly, I can’t wait to drop this, despite being two years old.

Stream: Max Sedgley - Something Special (Neighbour Remix)

Neighbour’s second remix on the comp is a colab with Elan B. Together they combine their flair for disco for yet another sexy tune.

There are a few more tracks on the compilation but I’m about spent so I’ll leave you with two more. The album is drawn to a close in fine breakbeat style by Bristol Bass don Parker.

Finally though, if you missed it, here’s a free track from DJ Moneyshot with what’s sure to please a few feet.

Oh, and here’s a stellar mix featuring all the tracks above.

SABRINA JOHNSTON + TIEFSCHWARTZ

CHAMPION RECORDS took a journey into their vaults and came back with this summer jam. It’s house music  for the sun. How could you not want to hear this on a patio, beach, etc.

The Tiefschwartz vocal mix is pure house heaven, with a classic 4/4 and funk fillers complementing Sabrina’s vocals perfectly. The dub on the other hand gets chopped up, layered nicely with live bass noodling.

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Links:
championrecords.co.uk
Champion Records on SoundCloud
Champion Records on twitter
Champion Records on facebook

HANNAH WANTS + KARIN PARK

It’s weird how some things work out. A few days ago I heard some tunes from Birmingham’s HANNAH WANTS and absolutely loved some of her tunes. Later that same day we received a promo from her, well a remix she did anyway. She gave KARIN PARK‘s new single a house makeover, scrubbing it deep enough to hollow out those cavernous pores.

“Restless” was released through State Of The Eye Recordings on May 21st, with her debut album “Highwire Poetry” on May 28th.

What you should really be after though is some of Hannah Wants’ originals. Not many have been released but I imagine that’s about to change.

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Hanna Wants Links:
hannawants.com
Hanna Wants on SoundCloud
Hanna Wants on twitter
Hanna Wants on facebook

Karin Park Links:
karinpark.com
Karin Park on twitter
Karin Park on facebook

Alexander Fog Presents We Are Darkstar Vol. 1

I have been sitting on this in my inbox for far too long, and apologize to the tech-heads out there. Darkstar and sister label TMR have been increasingly part of my arsenal in the last year or so, releasing quality dark tunes with frightening regularity. Their tunes are getting regular attention from major techno players – they are definitely a label to pay attention to. Video preview the release HERE - 

The major tune for me on this release is Michael Deep’s Want 2 (original mix), a moody and dark deep track that you can’t help but groove to. This is an essential tune for late-evening outdoor sets, grooving as the sun fades on the horizon in the warm air.

All of the tunes are solid, but other stand outs include Miguel Katas and Andrew500 Float (original mix) and Michael Deep Tokio (Alexander Fog 5am Remix). The full compilation is available to preview on Soundcloud.

The full tracklist for the EP is
1. Alexander Fog – The Lost Gate (Original Mix)
2. Michael Deep – Want 2 (Original Mix)
3. Mindhacker – Cupcake Confession (Original Mix)
4. Justin Jay – Stockholm Syndrome (Original Mix)
5. Maxim Lany – Laube (Original Mix)
6. Oddvar – Well Shaked Mix (Original Mix)
7. Miguel Katas & Andrew500 – Float (Original Mix)
8. Andrea Mattioli & Danilo Cris – Melody – (Original Mix)
9. Michael Deep – Tokio (Alexander Fog 5AM Remix)
10. Justin Jay – Stockholm Syndrome (Alexander Fog Remix)

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Links:
Darkstar on Soundcloud
Darkstar Website
Darkstar on Beatport

JUSTIN MARTIN – GHETTOS & GARDENS

To say I’m a fan of electronic dance music (although I do deplore the term EDM) is a colossal understatement. and this blog started as an outlet to share my affection. The very casual, part-time affair has grown since the first post in the summer of 2006 and with that growth came moderate success – purely due to the artists, producers, labels, and tunes featured on these pages. The blog evolved into a cog of a small portion of the music industry such that we receive an unmanageable number of emails – a figurative shit-tonne of submissions – so I normally don’t post material that’s not sent our way. I’d like to take a break from industry tonight, go back to the roots as it were, to focus on one album we didn’t receive any promo for.

Ladies and gentlemen (but probably mostly gentlemen), here is JUSTIN MARTIN’s Ghettos & Gardens.

The first time I heard JUSTIN MARTIN was back in 2006. The Martin Brothers (Justin and Christian) released The Martin Brothers EP on DIRTYBIRD – I fell in love with the a-side of this EP. To this day, “Stoopit” is probably my favourite and most often played tune. I’ve been following the likes of The Martin Brothers since.

On with it then.

Justin Martin’s latest Ghettos & Gardens dropped on Dirtybird earlier this week. As the title hints at, the entire album explores a dichotomy between melody and wumph. The opening track, “Hood Rich” starts with a brief booty rap cut into some ethereal strings, which build to a deep kick and subtle break. It’s followed up with a bassline so emotive it nearly brings tears to the eyes.

The second track, which also happens to be the second single, “Don’t Go” continues the trend. Although one might argue there is considerably less wumph, it still pounds albeit with a heart full of melancholy. “Butterflies” is considerably more gentle with its electro funk but manages to remain thick and chunky enough to stop the flow of water. “Molokini” follows a similar pattern except it progresses into a paralyzing dancefloor bomb.

The extended intro of the title track sweeps into a solid 4/4 before a crescendo of filters, then crashes into the  big bass known to Dirtybird. This tune is big and the basslines are even bigger. One would think the repeated themes of beauty and power would grow tiresome, yet it’s done with diversity. Track after track is full of these gracious builds and jaw-dropping sonics. Justin Martin takes Goldie’s classic, “Kemistry” into territories where most bass hounds would hide with their tails between their legs. “Ruff Stuff” elogantly layers bass and beauty. Then there’s “Riding Spaceships,” a cosmic journey into Miami bass with Leroy Peppers (yes, that’s Christian).

Grab the album from beatport or snag some additional swag from bandcamp.

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Justin Martin Links:
Justin Martin on SoundCloud
Justin Martin on twitter
Justin Martin on facebook

Dirtybird Links:
dirtybirdrecords.com
Dirtybird on SoundCloud
Dirtybird on twitter
Dirtybird on facebook

BASEMENT FREAKS

I’m playing a little bit of musical connect the dots with the last few posts. Blah, blah, blah, you don’t care. What you want to know is BASEMENT FREAKS have a super deluxe single with enough funk and bass to swing you into tomorrow. Here then is a snippet of their latest offering, fully equipped with some choice snoop samples built on a classic P Funk sample.


Buy from Bandcamp

We won’t leave you hangin. Here are a couple of freebees bridging from the Basement Freaks Remixed comp – an absolute necessity for those embracing the ghetto and the funk.

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Links:
Basement Freaks on SoundCloud
Basement Freaks on twitter
Basement Freaks on facebook