JJ Whitefield & Igor Zhukovsky
Two Tales For the Mind vol. 2

Otis Stacks is a collaboration between Michael Munch (aka JustMike), a producer from Denmark, and Elias Wallace a singer songwriter from Pasadena, California. The music is analog synth based soul with undertones of the hip-hop culture that both grew up in.Otis Stacks sound was conceived out of JustMike’s growing collection of vintage analog synths. As he collected old analog synthesizers, he experimented with new sounds and created a sparse soulful sound. During a tour through the French Alps with Elias and the Danish band Dafuniks, Elias and JustMike recorded a song that later would became “Fashion Drunk”, the first single off of their EP The Break Up. After hearing the sound that they both came up with they formed Otis Stacks and wrote and recorded songs in Nice, Montpellier, and Paris, while touring France.Otis Stacks use of analog synth sounds and Rhodes piano give it a distinct sparse sound. It is soulful and hearkening back to an older more pure time in music before over processing and auto tune dominated the approach. Elias adds thoughtful, emotional lyrics and strong melodies to the mix. It all works together to create meaningful songs that explore loss, pain, and longing in the sometimes vacuous and hedonistic nature of the music world.

Sometimes there’s a huge talent out there and you desperately want the whole universe to discover it. That’s pretty much the story of Parisian label Chuwanaga with young French artist Koji Ono, composer and producer of these four precisely crafted gems, recording everything by himself. Brilliantly mixed by Greita from Disques Flegon, his first EP Incognito is the product of a lot of influences, from Metro Area vibes to the original Britfunk sound. With an inner sense of elegance in the arrangements - something we may link to his Japanese heritage? - The whole EP brings musicality back on the dancefloor. We believe this could be the beginning of a great story for this talented musician, Koji Ono emerging from the incognito shadow to the whole light of the world. Don’t miss out!

Few years before the international hit “Uptown Top Ranking”, made with his friend Donna, Althea Forrest recorded “Hey Mister” for famous producer (and singer) Derrick Harriott.Mid 1970's, Derrick Harriott is the best reggae-soul producer in Jamaica. He's made tons of US soul cover with Jamaican artists. “Hey Mister” was recorded at Federal studios (Tuff Gong nowadays) and didn't get an international audience, not even in Jamaica, probably because it was not a cover!For the first time since 1976, “Hey Mister” is now available on a Maxi vinyl 12'' to offer the best sound quality. Thanks to Derrick Harriott's master tapes and to the original artwork, now you can play this tune in the perfect condition.

Following the acclaimed first album of Al Sunny released in 2017, Favorite Recordings proudly presents this single remix package of “Open Up Your Eyes”.Al Sunny is a young composer emerging from the French soul music scene. Soon after learning the guitar, he started composing and became involved in numerous projects and collaborations. He quickly discovered deep inside himself the music that he truly loves, inspired by artists such as Tim Maia, America, Al Green, and Al Jarreau. During his studies he met musicians including Florian Pellissier, and it's then thanks to Florian that he met Pascal Rioux, founder and A&R of Favorite Recordings. Together they produced Time To Decide, a first album acclaimed by many tastemakers and gaining a solid success in Japan.One of the highlights of the LP was the track “Open Up Your Eyes”, which disclosed the premise of Al Sunny music style, infused with Blue-Eyed-Soul, Pop and Folk. Also tainted with a funky dancefloor color, “Open Up Your Eyes” was a perfect match to build a nice remixes package for DJs. On the A side, Bruno “Patchworks” Hovart delivers again a hot Soulful/Disco version of the song with his famous touch. As for the B side, Favorite Recordings asked the Canadian producer Jex Opolis (Good Timin’ Records), with a Disco style slightly more oriented in Electronic and House vibes.

** Available exclusively at The Pusher **Contemporary DIY Street Soul, New Jack, Electro Funk studio project from Parisian DJ Raphaël Top-Secret & Antoine Kogut (Syracuse).For lovers of Loose Ends, Larry Heard, Mad Professor, Strafe or Sade. This EP includes two smash-hit A-side remixes by LA and Vancouver underground celebrities Benedek and Pender Street Steppers (PPU / Mood Hut) that sound like 1986 or 1992 !Original versions are found on the B-side with “Give It Up”, a smooth and romantic 112 bpm G-Funk jam that is the perfect track for your drive to the coast, while “The Way They Do …”, a 98 bpm dreamy electronic AOR indie-pop dubby, will take you to an island.Using original vintage gear as the TR-808, Emulator II, DX-7 and Rhodes, electric guitar, studio bass arrangements, the release shows sophisticated skills in the production stages, while being a very refreshing pop and dance release.A stunning debut for the Cachette label !

Favorite Recordings and Charles Maurice proudly present the 5th edition of the AOR Global Sounds compilations series: 8 rare and hidden tracks, produced between 1977 and 1984 in various parts of the world. Started in 2015, the AOR Global Sounds series was born from the will of Charles Maurice (aka Pascal Rioux) to share his longtime love for the AOR and WestCoast movement and highlight its influence for many artists in the late 70s and early 80s. In this 5th volume, he selected again highly forgotten productions, deeply infused with Disco and Soul flavors. Half of the compilation’s tracklist is naturally coming from the US, homeland of this music style, while the other half is made of productions from all over the globe, from France or United Kingdom to Venezuela. And for most of these beautiful songs, it came from artists and bands rather unknown and often released as private press. Often, these records will have a special story, sometimes they’re just part of the universal quest of finding true love. Nonetheless, they all carry a wide range of emotions magnified by the music. For example, “Don’t Take It Away” by Westside is as a love song about a new relationship, recorded in Minnesota and mastered on Sunset Bld. (Hollywood) by Bernie Grundman, who worked on Thriller – funny thing, the original LP is a picture-disc, which was still quite rare back in the days because the singer saw one from Mickael Jackson when visiting the studio. “Til’ Mornin’ Comes”, the only release by The Ferry Brothers, is also a love song, recorded in NYC with notably Gwen Guthrie, Vivian Cherry & Patti Austin singing as backup vocalists. On “What Its Meant To Me”, Jonathon Hansen remembers with emotion the good times spent with the members of his band including the vocalist he was in love with. On “J’Irai Squatter Ton Cœur”, Didier Makaga better-known as a French Boogie & Pop singer, arranger & composer, sings a charming declaration of love on a heavy and groovy eighties production. “You Never Know” by Rhapsody, recorded in Connecticut, sounds more like an East coast fusion of Soul and Jazz-Funk à la James Mason. “What You Do To Me” by Sugar Cane was highlighted on a Pittsburgh Rock Radio compilation: listening to this smooth ballad with its amazing Moog synth break will lift your soul. “Kailua” by Venezuelan Jazz-Funk band Esperanto, is a song about Hawaii which evocates bucolic dreamy nights facing the ocean, a typical AOR vibe. Finally, “I Need You” from Mark Williamson is a blue-eyed soul UK groover ending on a four-on-the-floor climax!And we could detail stories but our guessing is the best way to learn more about all these gems is to listen to the compilation, fully remastered from originals, and whether your preference is for vinyl or CD formats.