Buy / Stream: ffm.to/something-cool

Returning to Exploited for another bite of the cherry, Italian duo gizA djs are back.
‘Something Cool’ blends elements of indie dance and nu disco in its loose, warm feel, with a dash of Italo disco attitude to boot. ‘80s synth pulses set the tone over live percussion and subtle bass, before a sultry male vocal adds more retro feel to the proceedings. Classic disco hi-hats drop in as the vocal switches from English to seductive Italian and big synth chords filter into focus. A sweet arpeggiated lead line thrusts into play as a Daft Punk-esque electric bassline funks away below. An unexpectedly wonky breakdown builds tension, setting us up for a colourful finale where the key elements morph and modulate in a beautiful fusion.

‘Rogue One’ is more of a brooding, atmospheric house affair, but one that comes with dashes of funk. Tribal percussion intersperses a turgid bass groove as mystical trumpet loops tease in and out of the mix. A discofied guitar lick bolsters an infectious, mysterious plucked melody, and imperceptibly the track builds intensity to a crescendo with eerie pads, heady reverbs, ride cymbals, urgent vocal chants and judicious use of FX.

Artist: gizA djs
Release: Something Cool
Label: Exploited Club
Cat: EXP118
LC: 96788
Publisher: Exploited Ghetto Music Publishing
Beatport Pre-order: 22.07.2022
Releasedate Beatport & Streaming: 29.07.2022
Releasedate Global Download: 12.08.2022

Something Cool

Buy / Stream

gizA djs - Something Cool | Exploited Club

gizA djs - Something Cool (Instrumental Mix) | Exploited Club

Buy / Stream: ffm.to/dancing-you-and-me

NEAT return to Exploited with what might just be their strongest EP to date.

The title track features Swedish talent Storken, who has released on Running Back, and channels beautiful ‘80s Balearic vibes into its skippy house template. ‘80s electro bass funk leads the charge while wonky tape delays massage guitar chords and female vocal cuts into the distance. Bubbling synths subtly augment the central pillars of the track. The blissed-out breakdown makes for a stunning ambient / chillout interlude, allowing this glorious track to breathe and stretch out its arms.

‘What’s Up D?’ continues the retro theme, with diva house vocals cut up and set by turns against jaunty chime chords and a warped, nagging, pitch-bending synth hook. The ‘90s house percussion shuffles away with tinges of techno in its clap patterns and soft ride cymbals, while rubbery bass pulsates beneath. It’s a lean, punchy workout that flits between euphoria and heads-down intensity.

‘You Know What My Love’ rounds off the EP in beautiful style. The most gentle of the three tracks, its combination of stuttering vocal cut-ups, spine-tingling chord delays and succinct yet driving beat make for a dreamy experience. The breakdown is a stunning affair, where soaring pads float atop sensual melody and hypnotic FX, sunsets and lapping waves invoked by its heavenly sounds.

Artist: NEAT
Release: Dancing You And Me
Label: Exploited
Cat: EXPDIGITAL233
LC: 15799
Publisher: Exploited Ghetto Music Publishing
Beatport Pre-order: 29.07.2022
Releasedate Beatport & Streaming: 05.08.2022
Releasedate Global Download: 19.08.2022

Dancing You And Me

You Know What My Love

NEAT - You Know What My Love | Exploited

Long overdue we welcome @love-over-entropy back on Lossless. Michel’s Antipodes EP is slightly different than what you’d expect from him without sacrificing his deep and hypnotic trademark sound. Typically a Love over Entropy release would be full of little details, tiny rhythmical changes, plenty of automation and small breaks but this one is different hence the name Antipode. Draw a line from any place on Earth through the center of the Earth and its diametrically opposite would be its antipode. Do you still follow? Good!

Antipode I (My Discotom is bigger than yours) grows from the same seed as the original but reminds more of early Chicago house grooves and adds a spaced-out Discotom that beautifully guides through its 6:35. Endless groove. 

Artwork and Design by Paul Putzar - pp-p.co/ 


Links:
facebook.com/love.over.entropy
instagram.com/love.over.entropy/

Antipodes EP

Love Over Entropy - Antipode I (My discotom is bigger than yours)

Out now on Crosstown Rebels: lnk.to/_CRMLP049

The release of Crosstown Rebels’ SPIRITS compilation is always a bastion moment for the label. The first edition came to prominence in 2017 and we’ve been graced with an annual compilation ever since, showcasing a consistent habit to champion established artists and breakthrough ones alike. Now, Crosstown Rebels’ lauded SPIRITS series will see the light of day once more in June, with the release of SPIRITS V.

“Compiling the Spirits compilations and sourcing the artists that create the artwork for the sleeves is one of my favourite annual jobs for Crosstown. I get to sift through all the best music being sent to me and find a way to make a cohesive one stop shop full of underground battle weapons and future club hits whilst also setting the tone for the sound of the label in any given year. Spirits V is one of the strongest of the series”. Damian Lazarus

NYC-native Layla Benitez leads proceedings with Fides, a progressive leaning, introspective number that retains an inherent danceability throughout. It kicks off the compilation with a driving energy, one that’s perfectly matched by Trabajar - the Crosstown Rebels debut of recent Hot Creations inductee Mr.Diamond. 

A techy-inspired cut, punchy four-four drum patterns create a distinctive late-night feel, as UK-talent Denney soon arrives with Kill The Soundboy. Showcasing the groove-laced house sound with which he’s become best known, the near seven-minute piece is sure to light up many a club setting this year, paving the way for Talk To Me. It’s a collaborative venture between Munich-based artist ASK:ME and El Muerto, with Soulfoot featuring on vocals. Retaining a vintage Detroit style, the fast-paced tempo creates a natural excitement before Romanian-born mainstay GruuvElement’s gifts us the minimal-toned Boom Room.

Building with tribal-like percussion and salsa-inspired instrumentals, it’s a playful excursion into dance music’s outer realms, paving the way for young Peruvian producer Chinonegro with My Moment. Whether it be the pluck of a guitar string or a jazzy trumpet solo, there’s an inherent authenticity to the six-minute piece, as a mid track breakdown gives way to whispering hats and a rhythmic underlying backbone.

The penultimate offering comes from French-born, London-based regular Maglia, who serves up the shamanic Rayiys. The chirping of birds reside atop an ever-changing bassline, leaving us open and ready for the VA’s closing saga: Thanks Moon, by Spain’s I AM JAS. A heady combination of beautiful lyrical contributions combine with softly moving electronic elements, to leave us in a state of calm, inward reflection. Rounding off proceedings on a note of quietude, it reminds us of the final moments in clubland, transporting our psyche to sunrise, fond memories and everything in between.

Over a period of nineteen years, Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels has evolved into a world-renowned institution, garnering global audiences thanks to a consistent schedule of quality releases. In years since it’s earliest beginnings, the likes of Maceo Plex, Art Department, Seth Troxler, Ali Love, Mathew Jonson, Pier Bucci, Acid Pauli, Dennis Kurtel, Francesca Lombardo, Glimpse, Aphrohead, Fur Coat and a plethora of other figureheads have all found their home on the label.

The roster is international, showcasing how Crosstown has shaped a truly global scene. Releases are born in different continents by artists who hail from different countries, resulting in a sound that resonates worldwide. Perhaps most-pivotal to the label’s success is its musical output: no part is governed by boundary or genre. It’s underpinned by a truly eclectic sound, one that reflects the diversity of Damian’s love for music itself. An album from drum and bass icon DJ Krust here, a maiden LP from Audiojack there... traversing genres has been Damian’s forte for decades - and Crosstown epitomises that as a result.

Various Artists

Rayiys

Maglia - Rayiys

Out now on Rekids: lnk.to/REKIDS205

Mona Yim debuts on Rekids with ‘Gotta Do This, Gurl’, featuring remixes from Radio Slave.

Born and raised between Singapore and Germany and now based in Berlin, Mona Yim spent time bouncing between the clubs of London, Berlin, and Paris while honing her craft, culminating in a recent remix for DJ Seinfeld’s ‘Tell Me One More Time’ on Ninja Tune. Now readying her debut solo release on Rekids, Mona Yim delivers two dreamy house cuts for the imprint, backed with a pair of remixes from label-boss Radio Slave.

Leading the release, ‘Gotta Do This, Gurl’ brings crispy, bouncing drums alongside moody pads and subtle vocal chops, building up to an emotive breakdown. Radio Slave beefs up the drum patterns with breakbeats for his remix, adding additional atmospheric FX to existing melodic elements for a chunky, driving track. 

‘Dots Obsession’ sees floaty percussion, gentle synth work and vocals working in tandem to craft a soft yet evocative house jam. Injecting a pumping 4/4 pattern alongside elements of the original, Radio Slave’s interpretation brings the energy levels up with pitch-perfect dub FX and swirling synthesis.

Luke Hess

The Way

Mona Yim - Dots Obsession (Radio Slave Remix)

'In May 2020 Cocoon Recordings released the third album of Harald Björk. With the club scene on Covid-hold , tours canceled and all of our favorite DJ’s locked up at home… not the optimal conditions to release an album on a nr.1 world wide club empire as Cocoon. How ever we decided not to let a virus kill our beloved culture, as Mr. Sven Väth put it „I would like to share with you the album of Harald Björk… which has soothed me and I hope will also give you a soundtrack for these uneasy days“. It felt right to release it.

The release was shrinked from a thought of vinyl box to a digital release with future plans on vinyl. However covid decided to stay and time went. The queue at the vinyl factories didn’t make the process easier… But at one point the dream factory of Kranglan Broadcast decided, enough! , the world has to keep on dreaming. And what is a better way to embrace dreams then to release a vinyl full of dreamers, groundbreaking in their corners of the electronic umbrella. Dreamers doing their thing not even looking at the norm or what’s the recent hype.'

Follow: @haraldbjork

Drifting

Premiere: Harald Björk - Medan Du Sov [Kranglan Broadcast]

Every time / Jamapiano _-__1modz

Machine Soul

Anton Ishutin Feat Ange - Let you go

3 - Blossom (The Drifter Beat Remix)

Shir Khan started Exploited in 2007. Exploited Rec now plays host to some wide-ranging and innovative electronic talent - including Adana Twins, Claptone, Budakid, Joyce Muniz, James Curd, Shir Khan (to name a few) - and its artists have been receiving numerous supportive spins from the likes of Solomun, Pete Tong, Soul Clap, Wolf&Lamb, Azari&III, Jesse Rose, Axel Boman and A-Trak.
This is serious dance music at it's most cutting edge with all the juice to really get you going. It's totally contemporary, innovative and has a chunky dirty feel. "Exploited" take you on an invigorating roller coaster ride back to your youth when you first listened to dance music with all the thrills and spills you so enjoyed about clubbing. It's heavy, exciting and special.
'"Exploited Records" is a seamless melting pot of varied styles that simply can't fail to please even the most discerning ears. Highlights here are plentyful. Not to be missed at any cost.' (Clash)
'Musical hybrids are truly the flavour of today, but few have managed to capture the atmosphere of an unpredictable microcosm of a night out on a recordlabel - until now. Shir Khan's label "Exploited" bottles the zeitgeist's giddy thrills with plenty of style and substance. This is dance music hybridism in all its most glorious forms, and Shir Khan is an expert at making square pegs fit round holes.' (DJ-Mag)
'"Exploited Records" boss Shir Khan has been gaining a lot of acclaim recently, and deservedly so - as he has shown us the high quality, diversity and forward-thinking nature of his label. Engaging, riveting and diverse.' (Data Transmission)