The Empresarios ignite 2012 by dropping an EP of red-hot remixes of their four track Bestia EP. Busy in the studio working on new material and hitting the stage on a regular basis, including the prestigious Kennedy Center, the Empresarios are on course for another phenomenal year. Even while honing their live band and experimenting with live instrumentation the Empresarios never forget about the dance floor aficionados and the DJs, who are the target of this release.
The Empresarios called on four different producers to bring their signature sounds and styles to Fort Knox Recordings. First up is J. Boogie conjuring up a deep digital cumbia reworking of Cumbia Salvaje, the tempo is up and the bass is booming! This will be a crowd favorite for sure. The man of the moment, Bobby C Sound TV, has created a Nu-Disco remix of Bailando that is just unstoppable; this guy is on fire. Dutch producer Solo Moderna has turned Sentimiento into a one-of-a-kind tropical bass anthem from another planet. Rounding out the EP is Stereo 77′s ‘Ricanstruction’ of Bestia, turning it into bass-heavy Latin House that oozes that Miami vibe.
The All Good Funk Alliance are no strangers to Fort Knox Recordings. The two musical geniuses behind AGFA are some of our closest compatriots. They have been releasing music and remixing with us since the beginning. They appeared on the first two Fort Knox releases, the Foundations EP with Got the Funk, and on Dodge City Rockers with their blazing remix of the title track. Their expertise in all aspects of musical production have helped them create a signature sound that always relies on expert drum and percussion programming, space aged synth sounds, and big bouncy bass lines. Frank Cueto and Rusty Belicek are the masterminds behind the Alliance and they have built a solid reputation for creating a definitive catalog of tracks that are always funky, fun and fresh.
At Fort Knox, we could not be prouder to have been selected by Frank and Rusty to unleash the latest AGFA EP called ‘Rhythm & FX’ featuring a handful of new funk weapons for DJs to drop on dancefloors worldwide. This EP will fit into any DJ’s crate that like to explore the multi-genres of funk breaks and Nu Disco. To start things off, the All Good Funk Alliance launch a future funk assault with ‘Rhythm & FX.’ On ‘Move Yo Body’, AGFA picks up the tempo with some sci-fi breaks for the intergalactic body rocking crew. AGFA then takes things uptown with ‘So Smooth’, where they show their deeper love of late night breaks. To round out the EP, the All Good Funk Alliance enlisted three funky headz from the south of Germany, a.k.a. Funkanomics, to rattle the speakers with their heavy bass version of ‘Rhythm & FX.’ As always with AGFA, their tunes will appeal to large audiences. From B-Boys & B-Girls to the biggest house DJs, from high profile advertising creative directors to TV show music supervisors, and of course to anyone who likes to rock the funky beats.
This is the debut EP laying the groundwork leading up to the release of the the brand new AGFA full length album, Jacks of All Trades, coming out this May on Fort Knox Recordings. To celebrate this inaugural release on Fort Knox Recordings we are excited to offer you a free download from the AGFA vaults, an exclusive unreleased tune “Sound Plus Matter.” Simply click the “Get It Now” button below, enter your email address and a download link will be sent to you. Stay tuned for more news soon…..
COUNTDOWN… THREE…Swirling, Psychedelic Pop vocals and mythical lyrics delivered on a fragile skewer? Check! TWO… Pulsing backbeats and guru-level production? Check! ONE… An epic tale of music that was too ahead of its time that it was almost lost to eternity? Check! We have LIFTOFF!
Fort Knox Recordings presents “Sunday Morning Airplay” the debut album from Liftoff. On this new record, Liftoff takes flight on a blissed-out journey drenched in acid-soaked melodies and 808 beats. Escape into the void and join them on their infinite quest for endless summers and higher states. Featuring 13 songs for the new flower power generation, Liftoff invites you to sing along to their psychedelic campfire songs amidst strawberry fields and marshmeadows.
Guitar/Singer/Songwriter Steven Albert (Fort Knox Five and Thunderball collaborator) leads the band with vocal pipes so tender and true they send one’s astral projection straight to the year the music died. Coupled with the haunting harmonies of Johnna Raskin (aka Miss Johnna M of Thunderball and Speedy Consuela) you’d swear they were a brother/sister act, if not even Mamas and Papas! But that’s just the icing. The cake is layer upon layer of textures, lo-fi samples, drum loops, acoustic instruments & sound effects, played, produced and mixed by the inimitable Steve Raskin (of Fort Knox Five and Thunderball) who for this album seems to have been working on a higher plane. Throw in Rob Myers (Fort Knox Five, Thievery Corporation, Thunderball, See-I and International Velvet) for a little mood filtering, string strumming and the obligatory Sitar riff and you have a recipe for one heady trip.
Interestingly, this is an album that almost never was! All of the tracks were started with such innocence, daring and musical curiosity that little attention was paid to data protection. Drives were lost, entire systems were wiped, in some cases nothing but a stereo mix remains of an entire recording session! The songs were built, dreamt and tracked in the dawn of the new millenium, and finally realized this year. The result is nothing less than Fort Knox Recordings’ very own “Smile.”
So light up and tune in to “Sunday Morning Airplay” and lose yourself in the dreamy lo-fi glow of Liftoff.
This Thursday is Liftoff’s Album release party where they will be performing songs from their new album “Sunday Morning Airplay”
Fort Knox Five and Thunderball will also DJ before and after the performance!
Tracklisting:
The Sweet Life Society – Bam Bam
Louis Armstrong – Jeepers Creepers (Fort Knox Five Remix)
Fred Astaire – Putting on the Ritz (Club Des Belugas Remix)
Fab Samperi – In the River
Mohinder Kaur Bhamra – Ni Aae Na Vilayat Kurlay
Iam Der Kuppe – M’siou Rigolitch
Jaan Pehechaan Ho (DC’s Finest Edit) – Fort Knox Five vs Mohammed Rafi
See-I – Haterz 24/7 (Fort Knox Five Remix)
The Leisure Allstars – Friday Night featuring Lady Chann (Mr Benn Remix)
Jstar – Moneybomb
Hidden Riddim – Now You Know the Name (Basement Freaks Remix)
Jpod the Beat Chef – Slapstick
See-I – Soul Universe (MustBeat Crew and Nynfus Corp Remix)
Fort Knox Recordings presents the See-I Remix Compilation, thirteen brilliant remixes of original See-I tracks from their June 2011 debut album. Loved by fans, lauded by the press and popular with radio outlets around the world, the See-I debut album has been a phenomenal success. The track “Haterz 24/7” was licensed to the newly released NBA 2K12 video game by 2K Sports. See-I defined their signature funk n’ soul reggae vibe on the original tracks and these remixes take them a step further with the hottest dance floor sounds.
For this project, some of the mightiest producers and remixers from around the world were enlisted to rework their favorite See-I tracks. Subatomic Sound and Omegaman both took See-I deeper into dub reggae. The Knight Riderz and Turntable Dubbers & Sebski reworked tracks into forward thinking bass music and dubstep. Fort Knox Five added their signature funk sound, as did the Funk Hunters. The inimitable Drumagick brought some cutting-edge, booming drum’n’bass. The Ancient Astronauts provide a laid-back beat jam – as they do best. JPOD threw down some of the drizzliest glitch hop beats ever heard! Clayton & Fulcrum provide early morning house vibes while the Mustbeat Crew & Nynfus Corporation add some tasty ghetto funk. True to form, J-Roc throws down a bass heavy party banger. To close out the compiliation, Holmes Ives drops a spaced out, dub odyssey for the heads.
This group of remixes is truly a global compilation, with remixers coming from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hungary and the USA. Each bringing their own unique sound and vibe. The end result is an unparalleled compilation of remixes sure to please.
Longtime collaborators and label heads, Fort Knox Five flex their fine-tuned skills on ‘Haterz 24/7’ giving it driving beats, heavy basslines and a mother load of blips and beats. Just the right recipe for a piece of futuristic funk! JPOD the Beat Chef – the man of the moment – turns ‘How We Do’ into a true remix masterpiece. Glitch-hop to the max! Crisp beats, huge bass and a great vocal reworking make this an instant dancefloor an- them. The Knight Riderz remix of ‘Blow Up’ struts right up to the cutting edge of modern music. This is ragga funk from the future: heavy bass that is meant to be played loud and proud. Finishing up the release is Brazilian drum ‘n bass duo Drumagick and their massive remix of ‘Soul Hit Man,’ a d ‘n b party monster that’s sure to get a rewind, See-I’s vocals and horns seem to just float over the heavy beats and deep bass lines, making this a one of a kind tune.
These 4 remixes have been selected from the upcoming 13 song SEE-I Remixed Compilation (FKX044) due out worldwide on November 22nd, 2011. Featuring remixes by Omegaman, Subatomic Sound, Ancient Astronauts, Fort Knox Five, Drumagick, and more.
Pop Matters previews the new album and premieres Nappy Riddem’s Fall Mixtape.
Here’s what they’ve said about the mix:
“Nappy Riddem has graciously given us a truly bangin’ mixtape with their funked of versions of classic tunes by Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Zap Mama, Kanye West, and more, as well as their own song “Angle It”.
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