2019

Esencia is proud to present Forgotten Ones, the new album from London based quintet Culross Close. The album opens with ‘Fractured’, a cosmic musing carried delicately by electric piano and decorated with a synthesized dalliance. The album then cruises into ‘Forgotten Ones’, a spiritual made potent by their choral-esque vocals by far their most accomplished piece to date.‘Acceptance’ finds the quintet in familiar hip-hop territory, carving out a top tier groove with a recurring piano motif of the highest order. Their vocals, this time more chant than choral makes for a brilliant 5-minute mantra.‘Mood’ is a stark contrast to anything else on the album, an acidic and rugged illustration of the group’s present state. ‘The Tiniest Lights Still Shine’ is a syncopated excursion in 5/4 time. With an electrifying percussion solo, this will be the song that finds its way onto the dance-floor. ‘Healing’ is a percussion heavy journey, draped in synthesizers and style, embodying elements of 70’s fusion and bossa-nova, a perfect closer to the album.1 x LP Full Colour Sleeve, shrinkwrapped

Release no. 1 on Rapscallion brings 3 ridiculous broken reworks that are sure to raise an eyebrow or two.We’re not being told who in particular is responsible for such goodness here but rest assured an accomplished veteran must be at the helm for sure...Kicking things off is A Dis Yah Secret Friend - A Secret Friend of messrs Asher and Forge at the legendary Inspiration Information nights. A proto broken sound, at a point where Sir Paul was playing with the influences, instruments, melodies...definitely an important piece in fusion history. Kaidi's 'Dis Yah On I Love' provides the beat.First up on the flip is Find a Way. Take two different versions of Stanley Cowells I’m Trying to Find a Way/ Trying to Find a Way (Both as deserving of an edit as the other), add a bus load of bottom end, beautifully layered percussion and a jazz mash up it is then! A Dingwall’s classic in its origin guise, and a future classic in it’s reworked (clouseau-esque) Rapscallion disguise.Little Rudeboy closes things…Originally out in ’84, only 1 minute at 32 seconds in length and strewn with proto Brazilian boogie synthesizers boogie vibes, a rework/edit of this has been a long time coming. Paired with the Cosmosis broken classic and a surefire dance floor stormer is upon us…Clever stuff indeed !

Launched in 2018 with two first EPs, Broken District continues to explore alternative music styles with the third instalment of its VA series.The label’s territory here expands to Jazz & Soul-influenced electronic music landscapes, with productions from Turbojazz, Setwun, Leon Revol, Duktus and the label’s co-founders Jus Jam and Momla.

Soul Clap launch their new club music imprint with the duo's first EP of 2019. Two party tested instrumentals filled with that signature electronic funk ready to work any freaky dancefloor.Jupiter Crush takes us on a ride around the moons of the gas planet, sound tracked by the sounds of Roland's Jupiter 8 over a broken-beat house groove. While Natural Bliss brings us back to earth, with warm percussion setting a gentle mood, before evolving into a feel-good, disco influenced house joint.Everybody's Freaky Under Nature's Kingdom.

Two heavy afro disco funk covers of Fatback Band classics. Recorded between Colombia & NYC. Features ex Fela & Egypt 80 band member Kaleta on vocals and guitar, as well as full horn section, lots of live percussion and expert production by Bosq.

Straight Outta…Belpaese, a label fast becoming a go-to for those curiously catchy, exotic edits.

The fourth release on LA’s Pleasure of Love “Pleasure of Edits” series features west coast talent Air Zaïre on editorial duties.The desert drive opener “Midnight Sun” finds a hypnotic groove with woodwind leads and acoustic guitar on a cosmic journey through daytime disco.The A2, “Canguelo Perro,” struts through a Paraguayan groove with a sweet saturated guitar hook that sticks with you in the best possible way.The B side features an off kilter synth bass and pad heavy 80s Japanese flip in “Shojo Showdown” with crunchy effects and chugging arps leading the way.Closing out the record is “South of Sunset,” a euphoric looping strings party starter, an instant classic at the Hollywood weekly party.