When talking about sought after records in House music, Chris Gray's "Sweetness You Bring" which was first released through his own "Deep4life" imprint in 2000 will definitely come up as a golden grail every now and then. After enquiring about this release SAFT and the artist got the idea to re-issue this classic together with two alternative versions plus a "Crue" remix. The outcome is a solid 12".
DaM-FunK brings his Architecture Trilogy on Saft to a close with a fantastic final EP. The series started in 2016, included the second volume in 2018, and now wraps up with a double 12" packed with heat from the legendary Californian beatmaker.
DaM-FunK has been in a class of one since first emerging in 2008. He's a definitive Stones Throw Records artist, musician and vocalist, boss of GlydeZone Recordings, a sometime Snoop Dogg collaborator and prolific producer of tens of EPs, 14 albums and a timeless entry to the DJ-kicks series. What he doesn't know about boogie, g-funk and synth-pop isn't worth knowing, and this final Architecture EP is another doozy.
The gorgeous 'Grow' immediately sinks you into a hazy house vibe. Lo-fi beats and farsighted chords melt your heart and lock you in a gentle groove. 'Night Kruise' lays down a classic DaM-FunK bassline then builds it up with melancholic keys and lowslung funk that is simply irresistible, then 'Think' ups the pace with a punchy but still deep house groove, heat-damaged chords and a clipped bass phrase that makes you move.
The seductive sounds continue through the balmy 'Feel' in which you can almost see palm trees and burnt orange Cali skies as the low riding groove skates along in lovably low key fashion. 'Sun Gospel' is a perfectly rough edge MPC workout with busy keys, scruffy kicks and bright boogie all jostling for your attention, and 'Shine' closes with a prickly boom-bap, knotted bassline and epic prog-guitar riffs that ring out into a latenight sky.
Architecture III is another heart aching, humid and feel-good house EP from the one and only DaM-FunK.
For the latter half of 2016 SAFT is proud to announce a release by the one and only funketeer and Pasadena based connoisseur of the true underground funk-music ''DaM Funk''. The trans atlantic collaboration between the Canary Islands based label and DaM FunK resulted in ''Architecture''. A 3 track limited -500 copies- slice of otherworldly synths, drum machines and percussive grooves that showcase the true west coast sound of modern funk. ''Break Out'' A1 is a true spaced out cut, completed with intrusive snares. Hazy melodies and vocal like rompler sounds that cut throughout. ''Hazy Stomp'' is a 21st century boogie dream that utilizes a funked out bassline that shifts and slides throughout the song and determines the atmosphere. Hazy chords and additional percussion make for a beautifully orchestrated tune that will linger through people's minds for a long time. ''Your House'' B2 is a very conceptual piece of work that combines the famous and classic Bass sound of Chicago with an almost singing bell sound and frantic melodious pads and blips that cause for a break out piece of euphoria to close down this versatile EP that SAFT is so proud to publish.
SAFT10 is a boogie infused record by Grodno Based producer 'Four Walls'.
Seemingly effortless the Belorussian newcomer to the SAFT family knits up an ecstatic wash of synths, pads and modish drum patterns. The opening track 'Limits' takes one into orbit with it's psychedelic synth sequences and moody rhodes. The track begins to ride half way which caters for an euphoric vibe in any setting, club and at home. The A side follow up continues in a more positive fashion on Electronic Side. Bright rhodes are alternating with sublime synth sounds and advanced drum programming.
SAFT Regular 'Paula King 'joins' Four Walls' on the summertime hymne, 'Time To Shine'. This is a true house track with positive vibrations, reminiscent of some early 2000 Garage anthems. Chicagan of Rush Hour fame 'Vincent Floyd' twists things round on the B2. His rework for 'Time To Shine' revolves around characteristics but lush synth work that tempers the euphoric mood of the original and gives it some bite.
SAFT is proud to present the official re-issue of the 1986 Joan Bibiloni Band classic 'The Boogie'. The vocals by Deborah Carter still sound as relevant and uplifting as ever. The sought after guitar licks of Bibiloni have appealed to a lot of generations ever since he started making name for himself in the early eighties. While in recent times some of the more experimental work has been re-issued and compiled through some respected labels, the dancefloor classic 'The Boogie' still remains the pinnacle of the guitarist more dancefloor oriented work.
In this re-release package you can find an original version (A1), that is exactly the same as on the 7" that first appeared through Bibiloni's own Blau imprint in 86'. Also on the A side, an extended DJ-friendly version that spans just over five minutes is present.
For the flipside, Norwegian dancefloor expert DJ Sotofett has crafted a surreal dub tainted experience from the original which spans over 13 minutes and touches a lot of ground. Whilst starting with a percussive intro, Sotofett uses a lot of FX and dub style delays to work slowely towards an intense dancefloor experience. Around eight minutes some grandiose synth work is being introduced while the dub elements keep on singing. DJ Sotofett's version is called Ultra Vires Dub for a reason.
a1. Joan Bibiloni Band - The Boogie
a2. Joan Bibiloni Band - The Boogie (Extended Version)
b1. Joan Bibiloni Band - The Boogie (DJ Sotofett's Ultra Vires Dub) (Dj Sotofett remix)
With Adryiano and Kastil on production duties for their Loskober alias (which first emerged through Soul Notes in 2013) the 15th SAFT release has some serious sounds on it.
Apart from the two originals this time around the label has acquired remixes from the likes of 'Keita Sano' and Berlin based Australian 'Andy Hart'. Ranked 38th is a slab of tough disco tainted sample house with tight drums and a catchy phrase to highlight the dance floor nature of the opening track.
For the sophomore track Japan native Keita Sano rewords the title track in an original fashion using the main elements while layering this with outlandish percussion and elevating FX.
On the B side we find the modern classic sounds of 'Lake Michigan'. This is a piece of dance floor oriented music in the vain of the much appreciated sounds from the motor city heydays. Touching pads collide beautifully with the spacious bassline and the courageous drum work.
For the B2 position, Berlin based 'Andy Hart' cleverly reworks the sounds of 'Lake Michigan' to a more contemporary house track without losing the central focus of the appealing bassline.
Saft welcomes 'Nortasun' to it's expanding roster of artists. With not too much info being available about the artist, the music should do the talking. 'Nortasun' comes up with a sample drenched EP that consists out of swell basslines, mind expanding chords and outlandish percussion works. ''Untitled 1'' opens up with a carefully placed disco sample that hovers over the rhythms very nicely. The percussion section and the ascending chords serve the overal ambiance while Nortasun plays with the extended loop pattern that maintains of interest. ''Untitled 2'' serves as a very deep but functional voyage into tribal territory. A vary of percussion sets in and smartly exchanges tones with FX cuts. On the B side ''Fudge Fingas'' debuts on SAFT with an atmospheric beast of a remix for ''Untitled 1'' that constantly grows and cleverly uses vocal cuts that change up the original atmosphere and makes the overall a very broad work of house music. The Stevie Wonder like clava hit + piano solo's that come in when the remix progresses are all in courtesy of the Edinburghian producer himself.
Taylor Freels has built quite a strong catalog over the years. His work under his Urulu moniker, is widely regarded as top quality deep house and 'The Banshee EP' continues in this fashion. The title track has a dreamlike atmosphere to it. 'The Banshee' is a work that will strike a chord with lovers of the ocean-influenced sounds and hazy atmospheres. A strong presence of strings and dubby sounds, create a certain laidback mood that is perfect for sun drenched days in the park. Chicagoan producer "Garrett David" builds on the hazy atmospheres of the original, while adding some melodic elements to his remix of 'The Banshee' where he cleverly shifts between scales and different moods.
'Quadrant Beat' is a warm track that is built around warm chords and fashionable drum sounds. Again, Urulu makes sure to weave some outgoing dub elements into this b-side opening track. 'Romance Track' is most likely one of the Berlin based producer's most melodic works to date. Beautifully executed piano hits flow together seemingly easy over a sturdy rhythm that serves as the track's backbone. "The Banshee EP" is a work of lush deep house and an excellent addition to both Urulu's repertoire and the SAFT label catalog.