United Recordings

Situation are back with us again at United, bringing with them some warming smooth house music to ease out those late winter blues and kick spring time off with a smile!

‘Bring Your Love Back’ is an easy groover of a lounge style house track that gives out nothing but that sunshine feeling, which is a safe bet to make you think about getting your love back to a dance floor in warmer climates!

The sunsine aura that emits from the original is enhanced in the Poolside Mix, a beatless version that utilises those bouncy stabs from the synth to give you that ultimate poolside vibe – cocktail in hand.

The Dom Thompson Dub remix comes at you with a slightly more beefed up version of original, a solid bass line gives more inclination towards throwing those shapes on the dance floor with that full bodied vocal, beautifully shaped into the mix to keep your smile as big as the synths that surround it.

Buy LCD
 £

Based in the Netherlands Electronic Bodyguards are Robin “JAYDEE” Albers and French producer Ricoslide. The Electronic Bodyguards are all about smooth sensual sounds, rhythms and emotive songs. Following on from their eponymously titled album from 2012 we re-present of the albums cooler cuts, “You Can’t Stop Me Know”.

With the Electronic Bodyguards project Jaydee explores his downtempo side of his musical psyche. However there is many strings to this mans bow… Robin is actually also the producer of probably one of the best known House anthems ever. “Plastic Dreams”. Mixing in his house sensibilties the “Jaydee” remixe is a perfect combination of chilled house groove and jazzy downtempo chic. Backing up the release is the original track. Reminding us all of the slickness of the unique sound of the pairing …Electro-chill / deep-lounge / electronic downtempo at its finest.

Buy LCD
 £

Eren Erdol is a jazz producer based out of Istanbul. His professional music career began after he started playing drums at a young age, a skill that took him across the continent as a live player as well as a session musician. Like many, his aspirations turned to production after years of work with prominent engineers and studios. 
In July 2011, Erdol completed his first EP “Late Night Dreams”.

A year later and Eren has honed his craft further and found his way to United Recordings. We present a double A-Side single featuring the tracks ‘Alone In Brugge’ and ‘Addicted’. As you can imagine, both tracks are lead predominantly by strong rhythmic content. ‘Alone In Brugge’ is steered by a elastic backbone of Jazz grooves, bold piano chops and warm bass tones. It’s complex and layered with saxophone solo and synth under-currents to complete a sound that we can only describer as ‘augmented live Jazz’.

‘Addicted’ continues in a similar vein, but the harmonic content is all more dissonant, creating an ebb and flow of stasis in the keys that ring out over the swung beats. The production is some of the best we’ve heard. Enjoy!

Buy LCD
 £

After a string of records for the likes of Nang and Cyclo Records plus their own imprint, Collective Situation arrive on United Recordings for a sumptuous 6 track EP of smokey vocal house titled ‘Midnight’.

The title track sounds effortless in its execution, an enviable blend of wispy vocal phrases from Lauren Rimell, restrained chords and sturdy low end. As the name suggests, it’s the perfect edit for those late-night intimate club sessions.

Griffen provides the first of 5 mixes. It’s a funky, complex rendition, doffing it’s cap to broken beat with some strong switch-ups and excellent drum work. Next up we have the Space Coast dub, bringing that laid back summer vibe to an otherwise twilight-orientated release. Watch out for the otherworldly synth motifs!

The package is complete with an instrumental of the original and a sneaky little original B-side titled ‘Feel Like A Queen’. It’s an altogether cheekier affair with some playful but equally as effective vocals from Rimell accompanied by some peak-time crushed disco funk. the keys are fire on this one!

Buy LCD
 £

Hailing from Ulyanovsk, Russia, Alik Faeshanov a.k.a Audio Luxury has mastered the art of crisp, clean disco-fused productions. His stunning two-track single for United recordings is, in our eyes (and ears), up there with some of the finest electronic downtempo music available.

‘Flying Notes’ is a exercise in mood programming, it’s momentum is lead by a fluctuating arpeggio, a relatively simple device, but it’s the way he incorporates it with the other elements that has us won. bounding chords and synthesizer flourishes light up the mix, help strong by a smooth, crisp drum beat. It’s a joy on headphones and speakers alike.

‘Think About You’ utilises a similar palette of sound but the structure has more bounce and funk. The feeling is enhanced by the chicken-grease guitar picks and delayed fluted phrases that entwine around the beat.

Expect more from this talented Russian on United in the near future!

Buy LCD
 £

Sunharbour are a London based collective of 14 musicians based around guitarist and producer Simon Kusnierek. Their varied sounds mixes organic jazz grooves, an onboard string section, acoustic-guitar based song based sensibilities and layers of intricate musicianship. Vocals are provided by a Tnisha Johnson, Rachel Huggins, Nancy J Brown & Junior Williams.

As you would expect from a 14 member pool of influences the Sunharbour sound is wide and expansive. The music is downtempo and grown up…. part Zero 7 sheen, part Penguin Café presence, part trip-hop groove, part summer beat movie soundtrack but all focused around a core of great songs.

Opening things up is “Ain’t All That” a wandering excursion into summer days, uplifting strings and Nick Drake guitars. “Mind Echoes” trips into melancholy territory with London based Junior Williams delivering a finely mood setting vocal over fluid grooves and triphop beats . Insurgence is all about the building of musical tension via jazzier, musical textures. “Welcome Home” juxtaposes programmed beats and bass with free flowing chamber orchestra string washes.
Recent single, “Wisdom” creates a haunting and poignant pause in the record before ‘Sailing’ mixes in some earthy picked-guitar and mellow synth-lines to create a summers day Penguin-Café style soundtrack. “Anticipation” returns to summer days this time with Tnisha pairing with Spanish guitar and themes. “Mirrors” takes the album down a darker, haunting crescent.

With ‘A Spark’ Junior once again takes on the lead vocal duty, to deploy his breathy, soulful swinging presence to bear. “Strange” mixes in swinging beats, Celtic strings and moody brass stabs. The record finishes off with the darkly brilliant “The Night” and the forlorn “Alone”.

Their debut album has been years in the making but resulting record (which was recorded at Abbey Road) was definitely worth the wait.

Buy LCD
 £

Polar Rundfunk is a new Danish electronic duo made of the strong minds and great talent of Christian Rønn & Berry Sode.
Christian Rønn (AKA Ganga) is primarily known for his down tempo productions that are featured on more than 100 compilations worldwide. Berry Sode is the owner and producer at Zyberbird. Here for their follow up release for United they are joined by the massively talented Annemarie Zimakoff (herself an acknowledged underground artist on the Danish songwriter stage).

The release opens up with the haunting and poignant “A Human Heart”. This soaring and uplifting song showcases Annemaries voice to fine effect. High notes and Kate Bush styled high notes are presented with aplomb. Christian and Berry are also on fine form with some spot on instrumentation and fine chord sequences.

Double A side track “Slip Through My Fingers” adds a touch of darkness to the release. Its part Zero 7 but also part Portishead trip hop. Chilled downtempo music but just a hint of menace. The lyric talks of haunting obsession and the beats and distorted synths back up the theme.

Polar Rundfunks way of working is the proof of a brave new world where bands form and develop their songs mainly by collaborating on the Internet. The times of band rehearsals in dirty garages may have long gone, but the recipe of Annemarie’s bittersweet voice and Christians and Berry’s beats and sounds that cooks up a magic dream world – is as old as the universe, and still works remarkably well.

Buy LCD
 £

Dimitry Raschepkin is a Russian based guitarist in the John Williams mould. For his debut release on United we present his airy and sunwashed “Diamond”. As soon as you hear the chilled vibes, masterful fretwork and laid back melody it instantly makes you drop down a gear or two and see the world through relaxed eyes. The fine original with keyboards and textures is backed with an acoustic only performance.

Buy LCD
 £

Sunharbour are a London based collective of 14 musicians based around guitarist and producer Simon Kusnierek. Their varied sounds mixes organic jazz grooves, chilled sounds and an onboard string section.

As a taster for their imminent album on United, we bring you the haunting single ‘Wisdom’. The emotive, breathy and spin-chilling vocal performance is provided by London based Jazz Bailey.

‘Wisdom’ brings together some earthy picked guitar, subtle flute lines and tone-setting chamber strings to create a thoughtful and uplifting piece of music. In our eyes, it’s one of the highlight of the forthcoming album.

Also in the package we release a trio of fine remixes. First up is downtempo overlord Chris Coco (of BBC Radio 1, Blue Room and Melodica Radio show fame). He mixes things up by replacing the organic textures with leftfield synth stabs and quirky drums programming.

Dom Thompson is next up. Dom is part of the London based Situation collective. He shakes things down for a jazzier feel, keeping the strings and vocals but adding rhodes keys and a looser groove.

Finally we are off to Turkey for a nu-disco re-rub from Science Frontiers. It’s one for the dance floor, taking snippets of the vocal and energizing them into a slo-mo disco epic (with a smattering of Middle Eastern flavor).

Stay tuned for the debut album from Sunharbour “Out To Sea” shortly on United.

Buy LCD
 £

Gracing our sunkissed shores once more hear at United Beach are the smooth slick sounds of Netherlands based Electronic Bodyguards, AKA Robin “JAYDEE” Albers and French producer Ricoslide. The Electronic Bodyguards is all about smooth sensual sounds, rhythms and emotive songs.

The original “All I wanna Do” was always one of the more upbeat tracks from their fine debut album but for the second single we have cranked it up another notch or two in the remix department. Its summer, its Ibiza, clubbing is in the air.

First up the man himself “Jaydee” tweaks the knobs and turns in his own remix. Focusing more on the floor the motorik beat takes the groove on a more angular spin. Next up it’s a detour to Paris with newcomers Venice Beach taking building a fine disco house groove. As ever making a good play on the vocal hook line.

Next its North to Norway where Hugh Jazz (aka Michael Kuliani) heads straight for the Hed Kandi beach disco jugular. Finally its off to the US for a low slung, sleazy house groove from Sleazy McQueen. The original rounds off the 5 tracker package.

Sit back, relax and let the bodyguards safely accompany you to your nearest sun blessed disco terrace.

Buy LCD
 £

Polar Rundfunk is a new Danish electronic duo made of the strong minds and great talent of Christian Rønn & Berry Sode.
Christian Rønn (AKA Ganga) is primarily known for his down tempo productions that are featured on more than 100 compilations worldwide. Berry Sode is the owner and producer at Zyberbird. On their first release for United they are joined by the massively talented Annemarie Zimakoff (herself an acknowledged underground artist on the Danish songwriter stage).

The EP’s lead track “Dreaming About You” is a spine-tingling excursion into laid back beats, stunning song craft and moon-washed grooves.
We present the haunting original and edits as well as for those Hed Kandi house moments on the beach a 4/4 house excursion from Drrtyhazes’s Matthew Mofrees MJM project. The EP is rounded off with the equally emotive “Deal With Stars”.

Polar Rundfunks way of working is the proof of a brave new world where bands form and develop their songs mainly by collaborating on the Internet. The times of band rehearsals in dirty garages may have long gone, but the recipe of Annemarie’s bittersweet young girly voice and Christians and Berry’s beats and sounds that cooks up a magic dream world – is as old as the universe, and still works remarkably well.

Buy Limited CD
 £

Charm and Strange are Tom Scott and Harry Purser, one coming a formal jazz/classical background, the other a valve/analogue hardcase. They make music the hard way: capturing performances rather sequencing on computers. Using an arsenal of vintage gear, the duo mix up John Carpenter synths, lush orchestral arrangements and New-Wave beats. The sound is melodic, multilayered, raw and live. With an output spanning dark techno and acoustic/classic reworkings of trance classics, Charm and Strange are the perfect addition to the United roster.

Buy Limited CD
 £

Based in the Netherlands Electronic Bodyguards are Robin “JAYDEE” Albers and French producer Ricoslide. The Electronic Bodyguards is all about smooth sensual sounds, rhythms and emotive songs.

While Jaydee explores his downtempo side with the Electronic Bodyguards project, he is actually also the producer of probably one of the best known House anthems ever. “Plastic Dreams”. Ricoslide also has an uptempo past having made several electro dub records and playing keyboards in several reggae bands. Together these influence meld and the temperature falls through the floor to a chilled frozen quotient. Their music has been described as Electro-chill, deep-lounge or electronic downtempo. After 2 years and 15 tracks the resulting album is upon us and proudly being released here at United Recordings.

This album reveals an unexpected variation of sounds and styles. Whilst electronics feature heavy in the back bone of most tracks it also crammed full of classical instrumentation and free form performances. You can also here elements of dub, electro and jazz. Album opener and recent single “Are U 4 Real” is a perfect touchstone for the sound of the album; jazzy rhodes, smooth sax, silky vocals and George Benson-eque jazz guitar.

Sit back, relax and let the bodyguards safely accompany you on a sonic journey….

Buy CD Album
 £