Ali Love - Perfect Picture (CRM135)

Frontman, songwriter, musician and straight up entertainer, the inimitable Ali Love has many sides. Aboard a non­-stop thrill ride as part of Infinity Ink and Hot Natured throughout 2012/2013, the dust was only beginning to settle when Ali Love dropped his third solo album ‘P.U.M.P.’ on Crosstown Rebels at the height of summer. Described by Mixmag as “his best work to date” P.U.M.P is the pinnacle of Ali’s life long journey through broad spectrum of music styles. An album that conveys the building blocks for one of the most distinctive voices in UK dance music, Ali’s refusal to stay in his box has produced a piece of work that’s the perfect antidote for modern day ‘track’ culture. ´P.U.M.P.´ spans psychedelic house, cosmic disco and soulful downtempo all with the common thread of Ali’s golden vocals. One of the standout tracks from this cult summer album is next single ‘Perfect Picture’, an uplifting flash back to rave swagger with flashes of old school breaks. Original dubstepper Skream, crossover star Route 94 and close collaborator Luca Cazal alongside Dubka all offer up their distinct interpretations to the psychedelic mixing pot.

     Skream’s epic rework of ‘Perfect Picture’ is a spiralling bass driven strings spectacular taking Ali’s voice to a haunting level. Having been a pioneer in the Croydon dubstep scene and now a BBC Radio host and tastemaker, the unstoppable Ollie ‘Skream’ Jones brings his unbridled energy to this emotive raw driving house cut to cinematic effect.

      Luca Cazal is one quarter of the formidable Hot Natured and one half of Infinity Ink with Ali Love. With a long­-running relationship with Ali in both life and music and a solo alias on the rise, Luca was a natural choice of remixer. Here with ex Cazals band mate Dubka, ‘Perfect Picture’ is given a stripped back techy framework with warping synth patterns for a late night trip.

     Getting named one of Rinse FM’s artists to watch in 2014, Route 94’s rise to prominence has been rapid. Championed by BBC radio tastemakers, appearing at festivals worldwide and producing a track for Katy B’s latest album as well as vocal anthem My Love feat. Jess Glynne (both via Rinse), Route 94’s twist on ‘Perfect Picture’ is another bona fide bomb with a killer build up, heavy low­-end and bleep filled hypnotic groove.

      Ali Love’s last seven releases, whether with Hot Natured, Infinity Ink or as solo artist, were all Radio One Essential New Tunes. Third solo album P.U.M.P was produced and co­-written alongside Steve Dub (Chemical Brothers / Primal Scream) and Mark Ralph (Hot Natured / Hot Chip) and gained accolades across the board from tastemakers and media alike, a tour de force of “sumptuous summer sounds” (DJ Mag) and “willfully weird” and “rarely less than entertaining” (ResidentAdvisor). Ali will be taking the album live on tour in the not too distant future.

• Label: Crosstown Rebels
• Cat no: CRM135
• Web: www.crosstownrebels.com
• Distribution: !K7 / Above Board
• Released: Mon Nov 10th, 2014

LINK TO THE TRACKS

Luca Cazal - Mariri (CRM129)

To listen to Luca Cazal describe his forthcoming EP; his first solo offering after being involved in some of the biggest and most profile releases of recent times, including Infinity Ink, Luca C & Brigante, Invisible Cities and of course global mega outfit Hot Natured, is to eavesdrop on a producer breaking through with a singular vision, taking aim directly at the dance floor.

"With my first EP I wanted to show different sides of my musical output, whilst keeping to the spectrum of club music" says Luca. With a vault of various studio projects to his name, Luca embarks on a quest of self-discovery with his first solo release on Crosstown Rebels. "I seem to have found myself involved with so many different projects in recent times so with my EP it was liberating to be left to roam free." he continues.

Title track Mariri is a voyage of tightly programmed classic tech-house that reaches its apex amongst its echoing eerie vocals. Indeed the vocal started life as a field recording made by Luca in Peru, a constant inspiration in his work. The bare murky beats of the EP's lead track are remixed by Detroit mainstay Stacey Pullen with further rasps of raw production.

Continuing to hover on the edge of techno, the analogue offering "The Bullfrog", co-produced with Hot Creations new talent Mark Jenkyns, projects the EP further onto the dark dance floor.

Ending with his collaboration with BL_NK SP_C_S, Luca adds the perfect tone to the passion filled vocals, that expertly wraps this exciting and varied EP.

Where there is little doubt that Luca Cazal's past productions helped forge his musical foundation, this EP of elegant simplicity, strengthens not only the freewheeling spirit of the scene's leading independent label, but is the perfect showcase for the rapidly emerging Luca Cazal.

Due for release: 11th August 2014

Tracklist:
- Mariri
- Mariri (Stacey Pullen Remix)
- The Bullfrog (Feat. Mark Jenkyns)
- Memory Man (Feat. BL-NK SP_C_S)

LINK TO THE TRACKS

Francesca Lombardo - What To Do (CRM115)

Fast-­rising Rebel queen Francesca Lombardo is back on Crosstown with her seductive new single ‘What To Do’ featuring remixes from Infinity Ink, Matrixxman and a Luca Cazal Dub. Showcasing Francesca’s undeniable raw talent and pure, fluid vocal flair, ‘What To Do’ is another example of the producer’s sublime song composition in an electronic framework. The sultry mood evoked by Francesca’s voice wraps around the infectious melody as spooky ethereal tones rise and fall with the subtly driving groove. Infinity Ink strip down the elements with mechanical precision, injecting some darker bass and a more solid kick. Matrixxman revels in the twilight zone and delivers an alternative trippy tapestry of jagged synth stabs and melodic bleeps with only waves of the vocal. Luca Cazal’s Dub is a perfect late night builder with added sonic textures.


Francesca Lombardo has rapidly become one exceptionally in­demand lady on the scene. Fully inaugurated into the Rebels camp, the Italian London based DJ/producer and classically trained vocalist released her first two highly acclaimed ‘Changes’ and ‘Eyes Of Nature’ EPs on Crosstown Rebels and is gearing up for a debut album release on the label next year plus a much coveted appearance on the Rebel Heart stage at Burning Man 2013. Francesca also recently debuted in the Boiler Room with a magical live set, coming soon.

 Infinity Ink is London/Ibiza based duo Ali Love and Luca C (the latter of which delivers the dub for this package). Infinity Ink have been taking over dancefloors and the air waves under various guises, delivering last year’s summer anthem ‘Infinity’ on Crosstown Rebels and also ‘Benediction’ and‘Reverse Skydiving’ as part of super house group Hot Natured.

Charles McCloud Duff aka Matrixxman is purportedly a man trapped in a realm of unending 3D avatars roaming lost amongst dystopian digital wastelands. Matrixxman´s debut EP ‘The XX Files’ received critical acclaim from Pitchfork, The Fader, Spin and Fact Magazine while garnering support from the likes of Damian Lazarus, Jeff Mills, Josh Wink, Boris of Ostgut Ton, Trevino and Dubfire. His own imprint Soo Wavey is a purveyor of brutally futuristic interpretations of classic WBMX era Chicago house and Detroit techno.

• Label: Crosstown Rebels
• Cat no: CRM115
• Web: www.crosstownrebels.com
• Distribution: Above Board
• Released: Mon Sep 23rd, 2013

Tracklist:

1. What To Do

2. What To Do (Infinity Ink Remix)

3. What To Do (Matrixxman Remix)

4. What To Do (Luca Cazal Dub)

LINK TO THE TRACKS