Niwin, hailing from Oslo, Norway, brings a refreshing and refined touch to the European deep-house scene. His music captures the essence of this genre with its smooth and polished sound, combining intricate percussion, rhythmic drums, and captivating chords. The result is a sophisticated and elegant musical experience.
Peacey’s debut album ‘Play It By Ear’ is available worldwide on all digital platforms.
It might be his debut album, yet Peacey’s “Play It By Ear” is a body of work crafted as though by a scholar. And where better for this work to emerge from than Derby, UK’s Atjazz Record Company, a label with a rich heritage and many strings to its bow?
This eclectic sonic journal catalogues the evolution of Peacey, documenting his interactions with, and influences from, some of dance music’s notable players. It’s an album that will attract discerning ears and open minds; minds attuned to a multitude of genres as it visits Hip Hop, Nu-Soul, House, Garage, Boogie and Fusion.
As well as the expanse of influences it draws on, “Play It By Ear” presents its distinctive characteristics: accomplished songwriting, skilful production and heartfelt performances from all. The clear drive to propel dance music is evident throughout. Not only are the songwriting and performances legendary, but the whole album drips with rich production, thanks to the use of vintage mics, classic synths, Rhodes Piano and plenty of live instrumentation.
During the profound journey of creating this album, Peacey contemplates how the primary motivation for this work stemmed from a need to find solace from deep emotional upheavals he experienced. “This album will never be finished, but I’ve learnt to let go. And what better way than to start writing and exploring your emotions through songs?” mused Peacey.
The listening experience begins with the eponymously named ‘Play It By Ear’. Like an orchestra tuning its instruments, the mood is set and the production ethic established; the horns are introduced and emotions are ramped. We now embark on our first vocal track: ‘Love in the Forest feat. OVEOUS’ is street poetry exploring the merits of love, bringing along the essence of New York. Peacey is then joined by labelmates Clyde and Atjazz for ‘Hold Me Back’. Co-written and sung by Clyde, it’s an organic yet polished bumpy dancefloor cut, topped and tailed with horns by Toronto-based Octavio N. Santos. It’s also his album debut single, so watch this space!
The album features outstanding vocal talents and Rona Ray is but one. She performs over Peacey’s infectious mid-pace hook for ‘Playground’, another of the album’s singles. Vanessa Hidary’s masterful and sometimes manic spoken word performance is complemented by live percussion that drives the mood of ‘Culture Bandit’. If the drums of ‘Falling Down’ don’t make your day, then the soulfully delivered vocals of labelmate Sarai Jazz will. Relaxed? Well, don’t lose your focus because Sabrina Chyld ushers in another wonderful 4×4 tune, and her soulful delivery yearns us to ‘Find a Way’.
‘Dear Uncle Tim’ pays homage to the inspiration behind this album. This man introduced a young Peacey to electronic music! So sit back and absorb the ethos that radiates from this incredibly expressive piece of music. Although the album is drawing to its close, it’s still ‘Runnin’, thanks once more to Sabrina Chyld. What a vocal, and what a bassline. And over the next offering, lush percussive layers and synths invite Emilie Chick to lay her smooth vocal tone delivery over ‘Don’t Send Us Back’?
No.3 in a series of sample packs for those producers who like that one-shot approach to producing modern music. Easy to drop into any DAW Sampler or channel and ready to work into your productions right away. This pack concentrates on the original deep house sound of the late 1990s / early 2000s where deep warm & fuzzy 7th & 9th chords were the emotional core of the scene’s sound. Deep Kicks with that 40hz bump, soft hats, sharp cymbals and additional percussion loops help to get the ball rolling. Look out for the 5 Starter Block Beats from Atjazz too, these can be mixed and matched in their tempo range to create your very own beat textures.
What do you get?
• 386.6mb (297mb Zipped
• 297.3mb
• 269 Files
• 21x Additional Loops Percussion to add to your productions (120bpm)
• 84x Chords (Major / Minor 7ths & 9ths)
• 22 Drum High (Hats / Cymbals)
• 24x Drum Low (Kicks)
• 28x Drum Mid (Snares / Claps, Clicks & Percussion)
• 12x Notes (High House Strings & Tubular Log Bass Notes)
• 5x Starter Block Beats inc. Stems (120bpm & 90bpm – 40 Files Total)
• 17x Starter Block Modular Sequences (Short Sequences to get you started)
• 3x Textures & Overalys (Cassette Noise & Vinyl Fudge)
• 18x Transitions & Effects (Analogue space effects & Reverse Sweeps)
It’s always a very exciting time when we have great tunes remixed and re-loved by our musical heroes, Craig Smith is someone we all look to for quality and definition, his remix is subtle and beautifully deep and is the perfect partner to the original version.
After an amazing festival season, with DJ after DJ dropping Abel’s last output ‘CAN’T LET YOU GO (FEAT. RONA RAY)’, we’ve some exciting development to disclose. We’re elated to announce that two of our favourite remixers have joined the ‘COSMIC LAW‘ lineup and will be remixing Abel’s ‘JAZZ IN THE ROOM’.
Although no introduction is needed, for the second time on the label, we’re more than stoked to welcome back the mighty ‘JIMPSTER’ on remix detail. ‘JIMPSTER’ does what only he can do, and he loads us with an outstanding arrangement and re-composition of Abel’s original. With layers almost impossible to unpeel, the groove is locked down tight. This rendition will undoubtedly become a mainstay for the true deep-house heads.
To enhance this offering further, our very own ‘PEACEY‘ steps up to the mixing desks. We’re incredibly proud of his almost untouchable quality of work, and this time ‘PEACEY’ turns out a brilliant remix-dub which builds gently, yet demonstrates total direction throughout.
Enjoy the ride folks! There’s “JAZZ IN THE ROOM”!
If you savour house music with a pedigree, then you should follow this man’s music. Steve Butler has driven more motorway miles and DJed more club nights and festivals than is humanely possible, it seems. From honing his craft through initial nights in London back in the 80s to rubbing shoulders with pretty much all of House Music’s greats along his journey, Steve is now in a time and space to uplift the culture and pass forward his years’ of accrued wisdom. Abel, his outstanding house project, is contributing its forthcoming new album, ‘Cosmic Law’.
Check Abel Radio on Spotify ► Here
Born and raised in London, Steve’s relationship with House Music was fostered through his catching the ‘collectors’ bug’. Then, through progressing to his first residency, Raid at Limelights in London’s West End. This was back in ‘88, but within two years, he’d soon be playing at an array of big-name nights including Back to Basics, Moneypennies, Ministry of Sound, Venus, Sanky Soap, Splendid, Full Circle, Arena and more. But as his name and unbounded energy had clearly ‘crushed it’ in the UK, he seized opportunities to take his talent overseas and went on to beguile crowds in Ibiza, France and Greece. Italy’s Milan, Turin, Verona and Rome were hot favourites, and he also extended his reach as far as Australia and the US. The early 90s saw crowds in Newcastle captivated by Steve’s sets at Shindig and Sugarshack before he moved to the city’s Choice. He’d then deliver a full season of Soul Heaven and Southport Weekender nights at Ibiza’s Pinup club where he’d play alongside a multitude of key players. Little Louie Vega, Kenny Dope Gonzalez, MAW, Kerri Chandler, Phil Asher, Timmy Regisford, Barbara Tucker and Byron Stingily were just some. Through a hugely successful ten years of Cool Note and a string of other residencies, Steve had the Newcastle scene locked down, and he’d subsequently take the Cool Note brand across the UK.
It was through his regular slots at the legendary Southport Weekender and its Croatian sister event, Suncebeat, where he’d ride out over 20 years of outstanding appearances. It’s also at Suncebeat where he’d meet Atjazz, his label manager and mentor. “His influence was pivotal in my transition to a deeper sound, which previously focused on a purely Soulful House vibe”, reminisced Steve.
As a producer, Steve began in 1992 with Future Vision, whose single ‘Release The Keys/Unlock The Dub’ was followed by a string of Denko releases. His production skills were shaped by working with Ann-Marie Smith, Lance Ellington, DJ Professor and The 49ers, as well as through collaborations with Jo Mills, Rich Thair and A New Funky Generation. 2017 saw the birth of Abel, Steve’s sophisticated, forward-thinking production ensemble, contributing the ‘Rough or Smooth’ LP through Atjazz Record Company that same year.
As Steve takes the Abel moniker to higher levels of songwriting and production, the new album, ‘Cosmic Law’, conveys Deep House and Latin energies and influences, complemented by superb live instrumentation and hugely talented vocalists. Add the production and musicianship capabilities of Atjazz, whose eponymous-named Atjazz Record Company provides a loving home and springboard to this amazing project, and the new album is here! ‘Cosmic Law’ can now be experienced through all leading streaming and download sites.
Photos by Ade Smilez
Can’t Let You Go featuring Rona Ray’ is the first single lifted from the ‘COSMIC LAW’ album. It showcases the earthy vocals of the talented Rona Ray and features a beautiful Rhodes piano line driving a somewhat melancholy vibe. Rona’s voice dances around the hook as she delivers a wonderful performance.
Her vocals paint an emotional picture, especially when she gives us the title of the song. It’s a bracing performance and a heart-stopping breakdown closes this gem. Abel’s ‘Can’t Let You Go featuring Rona Ray’.
Pure uplifting piano-house bliss! Ben’s second ARCo release, PRELUDE IN E, comes dressed in classic-house attire and demonstrates a broad depth of knowledge of the genre.
Back-up remix detail comes courtesy of MAKE A DANCE, taking us in a slightly more ‘techy’ direction, infusing pushy snares reminiscent of recent afro-house stylings. Their dub does what it says on the tin and adopts a faster tempo pulling and pushing in and out to create a very clubby affair.
A very strong remix from KEENE completes the package: more beautiful deep-house sounds that hold tightly to the groove. A brilliant and much-needed nod to a genre we all continue to love!
You can call him Mr OFFBeat!
Xabier Garayalde: He’s 50% of KYODAI and 50% of WAGON COOKING, but solo, he’s 100% super producer!
This is a brand new project from Xabier or ‘Javi’, pronounced ‘Habi’, under his new guise ‘Mr OFFBeat’. It draws on his multi-instrumentalist talents and incorporates his brilliantly talented pops for saxophone backup.
‘Zezen’ is a colourful wash of styles from house and disco to jazz and broken beat, but it retains a solid musical core for those who like their dance-floor music a little more ‘chin rubby’. Javier is a true don, having been part of the scene for over 20 years and going strong.
Abel’s Sophomore album ‘Cosmic Law’ is now available for Pre-order at Bandcamp.
There’s a rich sense of heritage to be gained by listening to ‘Cosmic Law’. It’s the new album on Atjazz Record Company from Abel, the distinctly polished house project from renowned DJ and producer, Steve Butler. From catching the house bug in the late 80s as a devout collector, his DJ career went from strength to strength. It saw him perform across some of the UK’s most prestigious nights, not to mention internationally.