Buy / Stream: ffm.to/black-hawks-of-panama-hurts

Did someone order a piano banger? Black Hawks Of Panama debuts on Exploited with an absolute monster in the form of ‘Hurts’ that’s set to get pulses racing and fists pumping skyward, ready for the Ibiza season.

Supremely chunky ‘90s house beats with a gently distorted techno undertone pummel away underneath the phat bassline whose tone is perfectly balanced between weight and melodic overtones. Piano chords bang a jaunty, rave-influenced hook, and Bisi’s sweet vocals provide a sensual, soulful counterpoint. Little else is needed to make this track thump hard except subtle sustained strings and big cymbal crashes, and there’s an instrumental available which cuts to the meat of the track.

And who is Bisi? She’s better known as British actress Victoria Ekanoye, a woman of many talents who featured on Black Hawks’ previous single on Future Disco ‘Mercer Street’. She starred in the West End musical ‘The Lion King’, toured the US with ‘The Blues Brothers’ and fronted the show as Mistress of Ceremonies at both the London and New York infamous nightspot ‘The Box’. She takes her influences from blues, jazz, Stax-era soul and trip-hop.

“Our mutual friend Lisa Forshaw had worked as a PR for Victoria whilst she was on the nation's most popular TV show” says Black Hawks Of Panama. “Lisa got in touch with me and explained I should work with Victoria. Immediately I was struck with vocal range but also her presence as a performer. So I hired a commercial recording studio in Manchester as we didn’t know each other then and we agreed 'Feel For You' would be a great track to do as it’s a joint favourite! Although I didn’t want a carbon copy of the Chaka classic—I don’t see the point in that—I wanted something more lowdown and sultry! After a great first session we discussed Bowie, Prince and Patti Labelle, so it was pretty clear from this point this was going to work out well!!”

The Mancunian producer behind the track took his name from an inspirational time spent in Panama City and its surrounding rainforests. Born to parents who both had influential roles in the Manchester music scene of the 1970s and 80s, he has spent time living in Ibiza and DJed under another name for many years. Black Hawks of Panama is a project that’s going from strength to strength, and this hot new single looks set to break down yet more doors for him.

Artist: Black Hawks of Panama
Release: Hurts Feat. Bisi
Label: Exploited Club
Cat: EXP117
LC: 96788
Publisher: Exploited Ghetto Music Publishing
Beatport Pre-order: 17.06.2022
Releasedate Beatport & Streaming: 24.06.2022
Releasedate Global Download: 08.07.2022

Hurts

Buy / Stream

Black Hawks Of Panama - Hurts Feat. Bisi | Exploited Club

Buy / Stream: https://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

NEAT Feat. Storken - Dancing You And Me | Exploited

Pre-order: https://ffm.to/pnr004

Copenhagen’s @PromNightcph & @Brynjolfur join forces for their second collaborative effort. The two-track EP ‘Freakfunk’ brings uplifting
arpeggios, no-nonsense basslines & nostalgic rhythms into 2021.
‘Hot Mix’ serves you gleaming synth stabs & hard-hitting basslines.

More exclusive music

Premiere: Prom Night & Brynjolfur 'Freakfunk (Hot Mix)'

Buy / Stream: ffm.to/take-me-back

Mancunian musician, DJ and artist Danny Ward dons his 'Moodymanc' hat to work vocals he recorded with legendary vocalist and old friend Diane Charlemagne (Goldie, Moby, High Contrast, London Elektricity) to produce a poignant EP of retro futurist deep and soulful music. In his own words:
"I had always known Diane as one of the 'older' musicians and artists we all looked up to when growing up in Manchester. We became fast friends and partners in mischief when working and touring together with Urban Cookie Collective when 'The Key The Secret' became an accidental hit (a semi guilty secret!). When I started my solo production career as 'Dubble D' Di was always a mentor and collaborator, taking time out from working with the likes of Goldie (Inner City Life) and touring and recording with Moby to record with me and also to work on our 2020 Soundsystem project, singing live and recording our cover and homage to the timeless Frankie Knuckles anthem 'Your Love'. We remained close up to her untimely loss in 2015 which, for me as so many, hit really hard.
It was on the tail end of one of these sessions that we recorded the vocals for 'Take Me Back' over some beats I had been working on at the time. They had been sitting on a hard drive, being revisited from time to time without anything solid coming together until lockdown, when the spirit and sentiment of the lyrics seemed to resonate so much on both a personal and global level, and inspiration hit in a big way!
The original mix harks back to soulful breaks and broken beat times but (hopefully) with a forward thinking and futuristic outlook. I revisited the vocal once more when I'd done this to do some deeper versions, with a little more space. It's a release that has a lot of personal meaning and emotion for me. I sincerely hope that you enjoy it."

Artist: Moodymanc
Release: Take Me Back
Label: Exploited
Cat: EXPDIGITAL236
LC: 15799
Publisher: Exploited Ghetto Music Publishing
Beatport Pre-order: 16.9.22
Releasedate Beatport & Streaming: 23.09.22
Releasedate Global Download: 07.10.2

Take Me Back

Take Me Back (Dubble Deep Vocal Mix)

Moodymanc Feat. Diane Charlemagne - Take Me Back (Dubble Deep Vocal Mix) | Exploited

Buy / Stream: ffm.to/chemical-take

Defected resident and True Romance producer Inda Jani teams up with fellow Buenos Aires talent Manuel Sahagun for a classy couple of house belters on Exploited.

"Even though we started working together since 2019, it was during the lockdown when we explored different sounds going from dancefloor tunes like deep-funky house to more indie/crossover electronic songs” says Manuel. “In the past months we started playing with some new synths in the studio and that's how these tracks "Chemical Take" and "Checker Out" were born. Exploited was always a label we were interested in and we are very happy to be part of the gang."

‘Chemical Take’ bounces along with a rubbery bassline counter-weighed by a dazzling, descending synth scale arpeggio and some infectious woodblock rhythms. Whirring FX risers in the breakdown and subtle filtering make the breakdowns dizzyingly intense places to be, pulling focus before the phat bottom end slams back into life. Pulsing synth chords add another dimension of colour, making for a track that’s succinct yet powerful and will help a set change gears effortlessly.

‘Checker Out’ starts with a little hip-hop flavour in its snappy breakbeat and delayed vocals, edging into the wonkier ends of deep house with a little of that West Coast Om Records flavour as bugged-out synths wobble and pulse against each other in polyrhythmic fashion. The wonky breakdowns come across like a funky robot malfunctioning, allowing that wobbly bottom end maximum impact when it hits back in. Muted techy chord stabs give the track its final layer as subtle ride splashes add a dash of energy.

Artist: Inda Jani & Manuel Sahagun
Release: Chemical Take
Label: Exploited Club
Cat: EXP121
LC: 96788
Publisher: Exploited Ghetto Music Publishing
Beatport Pre-order: 30.09.22
Releasedate Beatport & Streaming: 07.10.22
Releasedate Global Download: 21.10.22

Chemical Take

Checker Out

Inda Jani & Manuel Sahagun - Checker Out | Exploited Club

Download/Stream >> https://fanlink.to/ignorance-is-bliss

Portugese/Italian artist Vhyce returns to Street Tracks with the impressive three track EP, ‘Ignorance Is Bliss’. Having graced the label with the ‘Far From Reality’ EP in April 2021, this exciting producer follows up with a trio of ethereal and infectious house tracks.

Breezy and rich in analogue sounds, Vhyce’s Italian roots can be heard in the Italo-disco inspired composition of all three cuts on the EP, as luscious synth melodies and chunky arpeggiated basslines are a common thread here, with every track being a sure-fire winner.

Having already released for esteemed labels like Pets Recordings, Sincopat, Monaberry, Future Disco and Boogie Angst, Vhyce is certainly making good progress in a busy and cluttered scene and is most definitely an artist to watch over the coming months.

Download/Stream

Vhyce - No Reason [clip]

Vhyce - Ignorance Is Bliss [clip]

Stream & Buy: https://true-romance-records.lnk.to/HipShakinMamaEP

https://www.instagram.com/trueromancerec
https://www.instagram.com/claus_casper
https://www.instagram.com/gerdjansonofficial

Real disco fans will love the sample that found its way into the new disco/indie dance banger by DJ and producer Claus Casper. But that's not all there is to say about this track: Even after 30 years in the game, Claus Casper keeps crafting new versions from old songs or creating originals that won't just shake your mama's hips.

"Hip Shakin Mama" comes as a piano dub mix by everbody's all-time favorite Gerd Janson. You can imagine Janson letting loose on the piano when hearing this remix. This EP is fun, it's a hip shaker, and it's one you won't soon forget.

Hip Shakin Mama

Claus Casper - Hip Shakin Mama

Buy : https://ffm.to/dirt141

Steve Mill - Love Attack EP - Dirt Crew Recordings
https://soundcloud.com/steve-mill
https://soundcloud.com/lorenzrhode

Release : 14.10.2022 

Track list:
A1 - Love Attack
A2 - Make Me Feel Ft. Tee Amara
B1 - Next to You
B2 - Love Attack (Lorenz Rhode Remix)
Digi Only - Love Attack (Lorenz Rhode Remix - Instrumental)

Release Info:
Back from a hot summer we are presenting you this great new release by Steve Mill who truly captures the sun and warmth in these new jams for us. The Greek born artist who lives between Berlin and Thessaloniki just released his “The Mistake EP” on Tensnake’s own True Romance label where we could already hear his soulful and groovey disco infused sound.

The opener “Love Attack” is a real “good times” tune with catchy vocal snips and a bad ass funky arpeggio bass line topped with spaced out strings and pads, this one reminds us a lot of Krystal Klear material and our own Lorenz Rhode. Saying that, we of course could not think of anyone better than him to take on this tune and drawing the inspiration to create his own super funked up version! As always all parts are played and recorded live in his Cologne studio with the same hot summer vibes on this one as well! You can find the vox version on vinyl and an instrumental as bonus digital track to get your party really started. On repeat!

“Make Me Feel” featuring the Berlin based vocalist Tee Amara has disco flavors all over it and is just an irresistible house tune, majestic and soulful. Followed by the slow and developing “Next to You” that’s steadily building towards a crescendo “heaven” gem, much in the tradition of disco edits from back in the 80’s. It reminded us a lot of our old Ben La Desh records we put out some good 10 years ago. Maybe this one is our personal fave, for sure a tune you could drop on any floor: disco, electro or house.

Get in the groove with Steve and Lorenz and let us surprise you with a truly funky, groovey and above all positive vibes only release to reminiscent the summer time. Enjoy!

All tracks have been mastered by Salz Mastering in Cologne. 
Photography & Art by Break 3000.

Love Attack EP

Buy Vinyl & Digital

Steve Mill | Love Attack | Dirt Crew Recordings

Svalbard

FRD286

Buy on Traxsource

Matt Masters - Worlds Collide [Freerange Records] (96Kbps)

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)