HopeStreet Recordings and Zillanova are proud to present a brand new vocal soul 45 starring two of Melbourne’s finest: Cisco Tavares and Jess Harlen. Two very distinct sides showcase the amazing talents of these two guest vocalists as well as the production and songwriting skills of HopeStreet impresarios Bob Knob and Tom Martin and the heavy duty sounds of The Zillanova Rhythm Combination.

On the A side – Cisco sings Suicide. Sweet, sweet sadness shimmers over low slung syncopation and builds to a climactic peak before dropping back to the whisper from which it came. It’s a story of collective rather than individual suicide. Something to tap our toes to while we watch the human race run headlong for self destruction. Do we care? Sure. Enough to change our ways? It seems unlikely. What’s Going On? You might ask, as Marvin once did. Truth is no one knows, or has, or will.

On the flip, Maori/Australian mistress of neo soul magic Jess Harlen gets down but plays it cool over a rocky rhythm track that owes as much to Led Zeppelin as it does to the Meters. The Time It Takes is a song about that moment in a relationship when one person has given all they can and still doesn’t know where they stand. Ouch. It’s a familiar story but delivered with the unshakeable conviction we’ve come to expect from Miss Harlen, the old tale takes on new life.

Zillanova is a studio based project led by bassist and producer Bob Knob. The Zillanova Rhythm Combination, the mighty rhythm section behind hiphoppers Illzilla and Bollywood heart starters The Bombay Royale are joined by reggae don Jake Savona on organ, San Lazaro’s Sebastian Orellana on percussion and The Bombay Royale horn section. Recorded and mixed by Bob Knob and Tristan Ludowyk at the Hope Street Studios in Brunswick, this record is a family affair for the HopeStreet crew. Many hands make light work apparently, but this record is super heavy regardless.

Buy Vinyl/Digital

Zillanova - Suicide (feat. Cisco Tavares)

buy here:
https://www.junodownload.com/products/umbo-balatz-groove-on/1536177-02/

Umbo & Balatz feat Jaksa Jordes - Groove on

The Make It Funky Radio show runs from 2pm to 4pm UK time every Sunday. Details below. Join us for some laid back Sunday funkiness:
https://www.facebook.com/events/992116821310581/

hello strangers. It's been a while...

I've finally found some time and inspiration (long flights...) to immerse myself in some music and, like it or not, this is the result :-)

It's a blend of Joe Simon's immense Soul/Gospel epic "My Special Prayer" (a personal favourite), beefed up with layers of beats from J.C. Davis, The Mad Lads and Tom Scott, topped with a healthy dose of Guru and friends from Gang Starr's DWYCK and finished with some tasty scratching from the legendary DJ Premier.

Download will be available for a few days on soundcloud so grab it while you can...

A straight Make It Funky edit of "My Special Prayer" will be joining this very soon on soundcloud (basically the same but without the rapping). Watch this space...

James DB - My Special Prayer To DWYCK (Make It Funky Re-Edit)

HOTSUMMERSWAY 2- DJ EMENENCE

buy here:
https://www.junodownload.com/products/umbo-balatz-pump-it/1335290-02/

Umbo & Balatz - Pump it

Made You Funky - Steve Jones

Sure Shot (Remix) - Ross Go

Taken from the 3rd Mr Bird album, released on the Vital force label, now available again digitally exclusively from Mr Bird's Bandcamp!

https://mrbird.bandcamp.com/album/bird-bird-bird

Plus wicked remix by Savages Y Suefo here (+ 2 other great remixes from other tracks from the album by Isac Ace and Joe Revell):

https://mrbird.bandcamp.com/album/mr-bird-bird-bird-bird-album-remix-e-p

Bird Bird Bird

Buy LP

Cenora Com Noz

Lots of new music from me in the last couple of days and plenty more to come !

This rework of Wilson Pickett's Engine Number 9 took on a great funky beat and works all so well together, enjoy ! x :-)

https://www.facebook.com/pecoebreakzlinkz
https://www.facebook.com/Breakzlinkz
https://www.facebook.com/Oldbreaksmixes

https://soundcloud.com/pecoe
https://soundcloud.com/breakzlinkz1
https://soundcloud.com/oldbreaksmixes

Pecoe - Engine Number Nine

Buy on Juno: https://www.junodownload.com/products/oldchap-whats-the-use/4015816-02/

Oldchap: https://soundcloud.com/oldchap-2
Slightly Transformed: https://soundcloud.com/slightlytransformed

PREMIERE: Oldchap - Watching You

Free Download via: https://hypeddit.com/track/tqdwze

Free Download

Cheater Man (JR.Dynamites Midnight Creeper Edit) # Skip the 30sec intro #

Steve Bird AKA Mr Bird is a musician, producer & DJ, based in Lisbon, Portugal, for 15 years now. Mr Bird has released 4 albums and many other digital releases, including the album 'Low-Fi Classics' which was released by BBE Music in July 2014. A collaboration with singer Greg Blackman, it received strong support from radio and DJs worldwide, including Craig Charles on his Funk and Soul Show, and tracks from the album have recently been remixed by Tom Moulton and Ashley Beedle and released on vinyl with the Ramrock Blue label.


In 2013, he released the 3rd Mr Bird LP, imaginatively titled "Bird Bird Bird" on the Vital Force label. He also released two 7" singles on Resense Records and Lisboa Records with Portuguese producer Dedy Dread, as well as 5 vinyl releases on the Heavy Duty Booty label and several digital releases on his own 'Fat Bird Sounds' label.


in 2001 & 2007 Mr Bird released 2 instrumental hip-hop albums on the Brighton based labels 'Hertz Recordings' and 'Frequent Soundz.'

Back in 2001 he was invited to record a session for DJ John Peel at the BBC Maida Vale Studios, which was broadcast twice in 2002.
Mr Bird is currently in demand as a re-mixer, having remixed over 100 artists & bands including Daytoner, Karthala 72, Lee Fields, Dalindeo, Renegades of Jazz, Captain Planet, Savages, Odyssey and many more. He is currently working on several new musical projects, singers & collaborators world-wide. 

For more info, DJ Bookings, licensing or Remixes please contact: 

mrbirdproductions@hotmail.com 

What the press have said about Mr Bird: 

"inescapably funky, this comes highly recommended." 5/5 (dmcworld.net)

"Modern breakbeat Soul" 
(Monkeyboxing.com)

"Essential eclecticism" 
(Knowledge Magazine) 

"Warm Jazz riffs and funky sensations" 
(Qool DJ Marv)

"Super-fly funky breakbeat instrumental, with growling P-funk bass mantled by hazy, hypnotic samplescapes" 
(DJ Mag)

"Blends live drums with squelchy bass and supplies ‘nuff jazz attitude in the process."
(The Crack Magazine)

"Well crafted mix of eclectic hip-hop jazziness" 
(Wax Magazine)