Search "purpose+confidence" 5 Items

Open Space is proud to present our first ever full-length LP by LA’s newest 3-man band, Puli. Some words from our dear friend Matt McDermott below: In recent years, a cadre of musicians from the east side of Los Angeles have reestablished the city of angels as the first city of Balearica. Alex Ho’s “Move Through It” followed in the lumbering footsteps of Project Sandro’s “Blazer.” Now, there’s a new landmark for the floating west coast sound. Swirling, the first album from LA supergroup Puli. If you’ve got your ear to the ground you know the names involved here. Drummer and producer Damon Palermo’s pedigree stretches back a good 15 years or so, starting off with dub punks Mi Ami. Phil Cho is one of the busiest DJs, musicians and advocates for the deep stuff in LA, throwing legendary hillside parties under the Third Place banner. John Jones, the preternaturally talented guitarist and electronic tinkerer, records as AV Moves, is a key member of the Suzanne Kraft and Baba Stiltz live configurations and plays in The Trilogy Tapes-affiliated act Geo Rip. But this listing of personnel and credentials puts too fine a point on it. Puli are three close friends who go to parties, DJ and get tacos together, repairing to their Chinatown studio a few times a week and coming out with remarkably textured, idiosyncratic downtempo jams. Building off the solid foundation of their 7-inch of heavyweight dubs for Melbourne’s Constant Delay, Swirling is an exploration of new horizons in chill out. “Ramona” acts a statement of purpose—with halftime/double-time dub-tinged rhythms, hazy yet bright synth motifs and atmospheric guitar from Jones, not terribly far from the expansive approach of Japanese dub aesthetes Pecker. “Cloudy,” meanwhile, is a sort of deconstructed and bittersweet Balearic pop featuring Cho’s ethereal vocals. “Bongo Springs” is steppers’ house not far from close LA peer Benedek or the Mood Hut crew up north. But what truly sets this record apart is the space and layers in the production—while it’s nominally an electronic record, Puli is a band that has slowly crafted these songs in the rehearsal space. “Havana Jam” cruises along a sliding roundwound bass guitar take with dubby chords and textural guitars. Palermo’s hand drums and live percussion enmesh perfectly with icy pads on “Leech Seed Dub.” Cho is back on the mic for the gorgeous closer, “C.S.B.”, underpinned by breakbeat and trunk-rattling sub bass. Puli doesn’t sound like anyone else, and is ultimately reflective of the city itself. Listening to Swirling feels like navigating a warren of side streets in the eternal sunshine. Take the drive and dive.

Arn4l2 (pronouced arn-al-dos) aka Arnaldo Berdugo is a producer and DJ from Cartagena, Colombia. He grew up surrounded by music, namely the vinyl treasures that his grandfather accumulated as director of a local radio station in San Estanislao de Kotska, Bolívar, a Colombian Caribbean town with a large Afro-descendant population. In his productions, Arn4l2 combines Colombian musical traditions such as Bullerengue, Chalupa and Tambora with electronic elements such as synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines, resulting in a unique sound that reflects his own, strongly Africaninfluenced Caribbean vision. Galletas Calientes is proud to release his first solo project on vinyl: a collection of 5 upbeat tunes for the floor, blending Congolese soukous, Colombian Bullerengue, Nigerian highlife, Caribbean soca, and House; with a uniquely distinctive, progressive and psychedelic touch. His Colombian, Caribbean and African roots have been shaping this young producer’s personality as an artist and a human being, and the distinguished style he has developed over the years is definitely the result of all these influences. “Caribe” is the third volume of Galletas Calientes Records “Colombian Singles Series”, a series with a purpose of awakening interest in modern Colombian electronic music.

Celebrating 25 years as a recording artist and 15 years of his label Lazy Days Recordings, Fred Everything teams up with House Legend Robert Owens on ‘I’ll Take You In’. The track was recorded late last year when Robert was invited to perform with Fred in Montreal during a special event by Phil Collins (the artist not the singer!). The event was related to the art installation Bring Down The Walls, which examined racial injustice and the prison industrial complex in the US and Canada, through the unconventional lens of house music. Robert Owens needs no introduction of course, being the voice behind so many House Classics such as ‘I’ll Be Your Friend’, ‘Mystery of Love’ and of course ‘Bring Down The Walls’. The song was written the night before the studio session after meeting with Fred for the first time. ‘When I meet you, If I meet you, I’ll take you in. You become. Family’ It all came together naturally and has all the elements of a modern House Classic. Bouncy beats, rich chords and a driven bassline but most important : a song with a positive message and purpose deeply rooted in the tradition of this music we call House. On top of the Classic mix, there are 2 Btdw (Bring Down The Walls) versions, more stripped down, inspired by the event that made it possible. The choice of Remixer was easy, calling on one of his best friend and longest collaborator Martin ‘Atjazz’ Iveson who also collaborated with Robert in the past. Off the heels of his recent #1 remix of St-Germain ‘Rose Rouge’, he brought is A-Game incorporating a latin vibe with a quirk, thanks to his modulars and Moogs rig. Atjazz can do no wrong when it’s time to rework a nice song. A true master with a unique vision and dedication to sound.

Like a fine wine which matures each year Samosa Records steps into 2020 with a beautifully rounded fuller flavour release in the shape of Funk Purpose Vol. 3. In the same way as its predecessors the label has assembled an impressive team of heavy hitting producers to create an eight track EP which will surely cause serious mischief on dancefloors across the globe. As per Vol. 2 the release will be split into two separate four track 12”s which will be released a week apart.
Introducing the first 12” are Irish producers Get Down Edits. Their track ‘Coming At Ya’ sees a new electronic tinged direction for the label. Still harnessing bags of funk and soul it has a decidedly peak-time edge. This is a track which will perfectly fit for a wide range of rooms from straight up house floors courtesy of the frenetic kick to more adventurous disco floors. A golden start!
Next up and one of a raft of supremely talented Mexican producers who have deservedly broken through recently is Monsieur Van Pratt. His track 'U.F.O.' sounds like a 70’s space odyssey re-imagined for the 2020 dancefloor. Wonderfully laconic, its lazy funk draws you in beautifully.
Souldynamic harnesses a powerful but velvety smooth 70’s diva vocal on ‘Better’. Dripping in soul, its smooth strings add a wonderful warmth. Engaging and fulfilling it’s another peak-time moment.
Closing out the first 12” co-label boss De Gama is on familiar percussive ground. This is a producer who took 2019 by storm and if ‘Groove On’ is anything to go by 2020 had better watch out too. Hypnotic organs, bags of layered percussion and ass shakin’ breakdowns all come together for a track which will be a long-time DJ weapon.
First up on the second 12” is well loved Italian producer Moplen who keeps the percussion going strong with ‘Ain't No Dub About It’. Laser Synths, huge basslines and wonderfully expressive synths all combine with a monster funk guitar for a classic groove. Another 70’s-esque masterpiece as glanced through the sharp focus of the 2020 dancefloor lens.
German duo SoulBrigada are up next. Taking things down a couple of notches BPM wise with ‘Gonna Do’ they have created a lazy engaging groove which will see many a dancefloor off into a heaving mass.
Yet another Mexican Connection who came storming through the ranks in 2019 The Funk District is up next with ‘Anywhere You Like’. It’s got a decidedly Tequila soaked tinge to it. Packed with guitars, flutes and hypnotic vocal loops it’s another beautifully imagined slice of left-field disco.
Finally closing out the EP is Italy's DJ Rocca an artist so prolific in 2019 we were unsure where he managed to sneak a few hours of sleep in. Thankfully he also keeps the quality sky-high and so it is with ‘Da Lion Groove’. This one is a funk fuelled disco groove which is heavy on the brass licks and with enough energy to keep everyone dancing until the sure-fire arrival of Funk Purpose Vol. 4.
With a series this brilliant we can’t wait!