Out now in very limited quantity, the 4th installment in the Private Release series by SF’s Public Release. 40 Thieves Presents is a collection of 3 edits and 1 original, compiled by 40 Thieves. Chiming in on the action is none other than close friend and SF DJ extraordinaire, Conor, with his brilliant extension of one of disco’s more famous divas on one of her lesser known jams. You may have caught him alongside the 40’s a few years ago on the Promo Only - Rong All-Stars 12″. They’re obviously happy to be reunited 
Coming soon…our 5th album installment brought to you by good friends EO and Kenneth, aka MONIKER. They make chunky analog house music using drum machines, vintage synths, the occasional vocal bit, and an old fashioned mixer. It’s the kinda stuff you’d likely hear out on the back patio at the club 5 hours after last call, when the first rays of sun appear and things start getting weird. That’s why it was a perfect fit for the Pacific Sound crew, who invited them to perform at one of their seasonal Sunset parties on Treasure Island last year. We’ve got the ‘board-tape’ and it sure do sound nice! It’s been mastered and spliced into a nice gapless mix for all to enjoy and the esteemed wonder-artist Clay Meador of Solid Bump Records provided us with a breathtaking piece of coverart.
We call it MONIKER “Live at Sunset, SF”. Street date is June 6th, 2011 worldwide.
Moniker is choreographed insanity. Moniker is from San Francisco. Moniker is feisty improvisation. Moniker is original. Moniker will remind you of Mr. Fingers, Two Lone Swordsman and Reflective Records. Moniker is the sound of substance. Moniker is the name of the group. Moniker was recorded through outboard hardware at Anthracite Studios. Moniker is friendly. Moniker is dangerous. Moniker digs you. Moniker is drum machines, vintage analogue synthesizers and the occasional vocal bit. Moniker’s potential is limitless. Moniker is Emilio Orlandi and Kenneth Scott. Moniker is much more than that.
SHMEP19 - MONIKER - Deep Space Vacation EP
Out now.
“Who the f$%k is this guy?” is a comment we often hear about Tad Wily, sometimes known as Matt Kuderski. And the answer is always the same.. we don’t know and does it matter? When his music hits our inbox it makes the sound of a Bootsy plunk. We’ve never heard his voice without a vocoder, chorus or delay. He is the king of reverb. The undisputed champion of modern day, slung-out, make you wanna roller skate on tequila dance floor funk so honestly, we can only hope he’s good to his mom.
As for the tunes.. Juno says it best “the three tracks here offer a deliciously dubbed-out fusion of original disco synths, P Funk chops and proto-house grooves, all wrapped up in the sort of unashamedly joyous production that would have oh-so-serious deep housers crying into their achingly fashionable hats. “Tape Love” itself is a riotously heavy slab of P Funk revivalism, while “Lonely Night” fuses the lo-slung bass of classic Chicken Lips with sparkling nu-disco synths. Best of all, though, is “Jack Gone South”, a vibrant Paradise Garage throwdown that sounds like a jam between D Train and Frankie Knuckles.”
This marks his 2nd release release with Smash Hit and as many to top the charts. We said it the first time and we’ll say it again.. watch-this-dude.
it only gets better with age… TAD WILY - Tape Love EP.
To the untrained eye the name Marbeya Sound may slip right by. For those paying close attention to the progression of oddball dance and the evolution of oversexed disco, over the past year Marbeya has come to embody the latest crop of talented and hungry producers referencing the past but nonetheless ushering in new and exciting sounds. With a flurry of releases for quality labels the world over, a sound we absolutely love, we’re super excited to have them on Smash Hit Music Co.
From their split home base in Mexico City’s Condesa District and The Mission, San Francisco, Marbeya tunes into distant galaxies and transcodes ancient forms of communication into futuristic audible magic. Their influences range from house to IDM and of course disco, infusing them all to constantly push the boundries forward. Organic drum programming, lazy tempos, psychedilic guitar licks and lots of synths are the palate of choice. The result commands the same reverence one might feel for Cerrone or Moroder when played along side them. It’s music that moves your emotions and your ass.
Our remixer, Sare Havlicek, had a big year in 2010 with an amazing vocal album for Tirk sister- label, Nang, followed by a string of well received remixes. Sare’s formula isn’t a formula at all. Well-crafted songs, flawless production and an ear for music that makes people smile is really his secret. His remix of Paseo por Dhoa sees him aim toward the hardwood, adding more punch to the drums and bass, a few rhythmic compliments all while staying true to the original song and instrumentation. It’s not a matter of which mix to play… it’s a matter of when to play which mix!
It is with profound pleasure that we announce the release of our latest long player, James Curd Presents Ziggy Franklin- No Need To Fight About It.
If the name Ziggy rings a bell, it’s because the two met years ago on the set of a movie that lead to Ziggy grabbing a “hosted-by” roll on the Greenskeepers seminal LP, The Ziggy Franklin Radio Show. This time around, Ziggy takes mainstage, and you might find yourself wondering, “How have I never heard of this guy before?” Somewhere between The Talking Heads and Thompson Twins, SPACE and Cerrone, it just seems to effortlessly fit right in there with everything we love.
And you can look forward to hearing Ziggy at your local dance party soon enough- thanks to an amazing group of remixers who are hard at work putting their own sounds and styles all over tracks from the LP.
In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the album!
Coming November 9, 2010 to fine retailers everywhere, the next installment from the mighty Mr. James Curd of Greenskeepers. “Though All This Stuff” feat JDUB on the mic, sets the time machine to the very early eighties… when hip hop was just a twinkle in mama disco’s eye… before you had a pager and before there was gangster…it was just a dance party, yall.
We’ve added a remix from Tad Wily. It’s super tight.
There’s an instrumental and another original from James, “Live Forever”, with a big groove and a funky beat.
James’ current DJ chart for Juno Records can be found here, and don’t tell anyone, but they’re pre-releasing the ep this Tuesday 10/26. Shhhhhh
A few weeks ago, we checked our mailbox and to our delight was a demo from James of the new material recently completed with his long time friend and collaborator, Ziggy Franklin. When we popped the cassette in it was love at first listen, and it wasn’t long after that we were on the phone with Mr. Curd sealing the deal. So it is with great honor and excitement that we introduce you to this new found superpower of a combo.
Many of you of course know James from his years at the helm of the Greenskeepers. Recent days have seen James becoming more familiar with his sleazier side, and we mean that in the best possible way. As a soloist he’s been busy making boogie rap EP’s and we’re also pleased as pie to have one of those in store for this Fall on Smash Hit in addition to the Ziggy Franklin project.
Passion Marketing and Hob Nob Wines have teamed up to offer the Ziggy song, “I Never Knew” as a free download ahead of it’s official street date in September. Watch this space for more info soon..
The album is tentatively scheduled for worldwide release November 2010.
photo by Chris Savas / 1983 / Danceteria / “Jam Hot”
When Nina Hagen sang “AM/PM, Pyramid, Roxy, Mudd Club, Danceteria” in her 1983 classic “New York New York” she could have been describing Johnny Dynell’s work week, as he played at them all, beginning at the seminal Mudd Club in 1980. Throughout the 80s he continued to DJ and record on Atlantic Records, collaborating with Arthur Baker, Malcolm McLaren, Larry Levan, Peter Rauhofer, Eric Kupper and David Morales. Dynell ended the decade in London recording the cult Voguing classic “Elements Of Vogue”.
In 1990 Johnny and his wife Chi Chi Valenti opened their own nightclub Jackie 60, an influential underground party that ran for the entire decade, and evolved into the full-time Meat Market venue Mother. Upon the club’s closing in late 2000, Dynell found his way back to his first love - spinning – and began writing dance music again, including the Pink Martini hit “Una Notte a Napoli”. As 2010 began, Johnny was DJing, remixing for artists including the B-52’s and Sia, and writing new material.
photo by Nick Egan
In 1983, while spinning at Danceteria, producer KENTON NIX (Heartbeat, Funky Sensation) and fellow DJ MARK KAMINS (who had just produced Madonna’s debut single) collaborated on Johnny’s first record JAM HOT. This quirky, infectious ditty about Graffiti kids and breakdancers was a radio breakout, cult classic and Dynell’s first outing as a songwriter/artist. Its refrain “Tank, Fly Boss, Walk, Jam, Nitty Gritty / Talkin’ ’bout the boys from the big bad city / this is Jam Hot” has been sampled in dozens of songs worldwide. In 2009 the term “Jam Hot” made it into the Urban Dictionary.
THE BIG THROWDOWN was Johnny’s followup to JAM HOT, produced by the same team at the same iconic studio BLANK TAPES. Throwdown’s gospel-apolylyptic lyrics and sound reflect a 1983 New York City, teetering on bankruptcy. This era of financial ruin was a Golden Age of creativity for downtown NYC, launching hundreds of niche genres, scenes and performers, including Dynell.
Now, SMASH HIT MUSIC CO assembles a dream roster of remixers and producers for the JOHNNY DYNELL JAM HOT/ BIG THROWDOWN REMIX PROJECT: TENSNAKE, 40 THIEVES, PETER RAUHOFER, MARK KAMINS, CLOUDED VISION, ELIJA RUDMAN and of course, Johnny.
johnnydynell.com
Purchase on Stompy
You may never have heard of Return To Sender if it wasn’t for the art of the remix. We originally discovered this cool little song on a garage rock album by these youngsters from Utah, and were blown away when we found the wacky dialect was made up on the spot when they recorded the track. It screamed to be reworked, we knew the label and lots of other awesome people, and what you have here is the result. Remixes by Canyons, Anthony Mansfield and Ruffy & Tuffy…Out this week exclusively on Junodownload.com and 4/27 at fine retailers everywhere.
