#loopmaffia

"Scram" by Loopmaffia

Koka Mass Jazz is the solo-project-turned-party from Konstantin Katsarski. Katarski is a sound designer, musician, songwriter, composer, producer, and engineer -- he does it all -- based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Konstantin could remain a solo artist, but after creating the concept of Koka Mass Jazz in 2013 a band of musicians quickly became involved. Their sound is that of a drunken funk brigade … fun and full of embellishments. Listeners can expect this talented group's work to cover styles ranging across funky breaks, nu jazz, funk, soul, and even a bit of afro-beat. Much of the music and arrangement of the songs are composed by Katarski while the lyrics are written by Denitsa Georgieva.

Their first single release, "Smile”, made its way onto Cold Busted's Bust Free compilation, also serving as the first single from their forthcoming album Groovy Jam Shoes. The original shines bright enough to get anybody out of their shell -- it's a true, feel good funk party starter. For this follow-up, Cold Busted has pulled from its collective family of producers to provide an eclectic, beat-heavy remix package as only their roster could.

The young, prodigious Belgium-based talent Poldoore twists and squeezes "Smile" out into a model nu-disco affair with cut up vocals for added energy. In the hands of the Green Street the song is somehow made even funkier with extra drum rolls and only the best bass line bits. mister T. steps up to the plate with the release's most club-friendly remix … the Athens transplant gives it some serious Greece with a sleazy electro drum break and lead synth. Diving deep into that Cold Busted downtempo sound the world has come to know and love, Manchester's My Neighbour Is packs things into a condensed form while the Polish producer LoopMaffia extends the original elements out in his subtle, and slightly psychedelic, Moonsoul Dub. To wrap up the single, label boss Vitamin D delivers a more linear Re-Edit alongside an instrumental version of the remix from Green Street.

Kid Loco - "Great original track, and superb remixes." Fort Knox Five - "Loving the jazzy breakbeats! I'm digging the mister T. remix and the original." All Good Funk Alliance - "Wow, all these remixes are really dope … nice, jazzy, soul vibes all over the fu--king place." Shantisan (Salted Soul / One Note Samba) - "It's not easy to select a favorite remix here … a nice bundle from start to finish." Quincy Jointz (Timewarp) - "A very good remix package. I like the remixes by My Neighbour is, Vitamin D, and Poldoore." tOtALcULt (Cult Music / NuFunk) - "Wow, tough job picking a favorite version. The original is super funky, and the remixers all bring something special to the party. Another strong release." Flashbaxx - "Nice, diverse remixes. I like the Poldoore remix … it reminds me of the good old Thomas Bangalter days." Lebrosk (Mixmag) - "I'm loving the chilled vibes on the Poldoore remix!" Neil Bopperson (Wah Wah 45s / Le Mellotron) - "Loopmaffia's Moonsoul Dub is nice." DJ Chewy (Alphabeatsoup) - "The original version of this is such a good tune … great vocal in particular. The remixes turn it into a banger, especially Poldoore's disco lick and Green Street's more b-boy breaker." Double-D (Funky Fresh Radio Show) - "Great rockin' vocal funk ... yeah. Moving!" Aja Allsop (Ketch-A-Vibe Radio Show) - "Eclectic … full of energy and funk with a gritty bounce." Clairvo (Tilos Radio, Hungary) - "Each remix has its place during a DJ gig. The originality shines through this release."

Just over a year after his last golden-funk full length for the Cold Busted label, Poland's purveyor of old school beats -- the intriguingly named LoopMaffia -- is back. Inspired by the likes of DJ Premier and Pete Rock, LoopMaffia began working with sampled beats in the late ‘90s and soon was an instrumental member of Polish hip hop group Rap Kulminacja. After the group split up, LoopMaffia went back into the lab and ’back … back into time’ by finding new inspiration in the rhythms and sounds of classic funk, R&B, and soul. A regular fixture on the Cold Busted Bust Free series, as well as responsible for the Street Bangerz Volume 7 and FunkISH albums for the label, LoopMaffia brings his newest body of work, Letters From, into focus. He gets a boost from friends Toni Pereze and DJ Flovcut plus blood brother My Neighbour Is on the first and final cuts. Showcasing more of a classic-meets-contemporary blend on previous efforts, this album is all about bending ideas in a way that points towards the future. There's still some familiar, vintage sounds, but LoopMaffia plays with their malleability more this time around. Letters From is at its most exciting when the synths are put into overdrive, as on the boundary blurring nu-funk of "Future In The Past", "Funk On Water", and "The Rain Bringer". Further exploration into these new territories is also pervasive throughout the other cuts: from sublime strolls in the park, to evocative saxophone story telling, to the Spanish horn tango and gothically guttural outliers.

Opolopo - “I’m feeling ‘Future In The Past'!” All Good Funk Alliance - “Dope beats … I’m loving this.” Dogu (Ancient Astronauts / Switchstance) - "Good vibes right here … love the warm grooves." Flashbaxx (BaxxBeatMusic) - “Really nice beat science going on here. I love the heavy swing in combination with the ‘real’ funky drums … nice tools for DJ'ing.” Stickybuds (Goodgroove Records / Baffin Island Beat Brigade) - “Always cool stuff from these guys!” Robin Parris (Parris & Vanucci / Dancefloor Outlaws) - “A fine selection of low slung, smokey basement beats. ‘Night Cruisin’ is the stand out track for me.” Basement Freaks (Goodgroove / SunsetSoul) - “Soulful jams.” tOtALcULt (Cult Music / NuFunk.net) - “Sublime, beautifully funky material … coming at it from a unique direction … just my cup of tea.” Shantisan (Salted Soul) - “Beautiful album!” Brandon Bass (Hub City Music / Mile High Sessions) - “Hot as expected … nice work!” Raoul Lambert (We Play House Recordings) - “I really like that ‘Chasing Sun’ jam.” DJ Rahdu (BamaLoveSoul) - “Jazzy and nice.” Black Mighty Wax (Irma Records) - “Absolutely super … I’ll play all cuts, but ‘The Rain Bringer’ is an emotional experience for serious listeners.” Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show, UK) - “Heavy, grinding funk that is absolutely brilliant stuff.” DJ Doubles (Urgent FM, Belgium) - “Great stuff … loving the diversity!” Marc Lacasse (sHIFT Radio / Jackhouse) - “Lots of sick, cut up and jazzy jams tossed in to funky effect … and some cinematic orchestration, too.” Adrian Lugo (WEFT 90.1 FM, Illinois) - “Quality downtempo beats to make sure you recall the smokey days of summer.”

Mr. Anonimous by LoopMaffia Track 17/24 Album: We Got It In Nature. Vol. 1

LoopMaffia - Funky Shit