Jean Jacques Smoothie - Sleeping in the Flowerbeds

Following the 2025 release of a brand new 'Dubwise' version of his hit single '2People', Jean Jacques Smoothie presents his debut album 'Sleeping In The Flowerbeds' on Colour and Pitch.

"Back in COVID times I made a promise to myself that I would finish the debut album I began in 2000 by the time I was 50" says Smoothie.  "I set to work resurrecting old projects from the hard drive and updating songs I'd already released through various means.  Like so many musicians in lockdown I used the time to hone my skills and find my sound for who I am now. I kept that promise to myself (more or less) and it has taken me another couple of years to find the right home for it and make sure it's really ready.  This year is 25 years since that journey began!"

25 years since he burst onto the global scene with the original, Minnie Riperton-sampling 2001 club smash '2People', Jean Jacques Smoothie (aka Steve Robson) has steadily continued to produce, remix and DJ from his base in Cardiff, Wales. He first connected with tiny UK imprint in 2016 with a remix of Tim Tonal's 'Light My Way', following up with a remix of label founder Sumsuch & Will Brock's 'There Comes A Time' in 2022. It was exciting to hear Smoothie was sitting on an unreleased album after all these years, and 'Sleeping In The Flowerbeds' does not disappoint.

Opening with the Dubwise mix of '2People', the track that started it all, the album quickly moves into slinky Deep House territory with the pristine club warm-up 'Alpine Morning'. Title track 'Sleeping In The Flowerbeds' is a delightfully quirky downtempo acid workout with subtle arcade game feels, while 'Deep Down' moves onto the dancefloor with a stabby, chord-led groove. Featuring a bluesey guitar and vocal performance from long time collaborator Rohan Tarry, 'Heavy Lifting' weaves together familiar, seemingly disparate, musical threads into something quite new. Reuniting with the voice of '2People', Tara Busch, 'Over The Edge' brings uplifting piano and bass grooves together with a soaring vocal performance, dubbed out to perfection. Also featuring Rohan Tarry, 'Cowgirl' takes a fun ride through the sparkly, wide open plains of psychedelic electronic Country, while 'Night Jet' takes us soaring through clear, starlit skies (but will sound just as good if we're only driving home from the office). Closing out the album, 'Success For Dummies' cheekily hands down a little self-help advice we can all enjoy while shaking a leg.

'Sleeping in the Flowerbeds' is out now. Buy / stream it HERE.

Andrew Emil, Glass Slipper, Claude Young - Incidental Introspection

Andrew Emil and Glass Slipper join forces with Claude Young for timeless and soulful EP ‘Incidental Introspection', issued on Colour and Pitch.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Colour and Pitch is delighted to welcome back to the label Austin duo Glass Slipper (Lisa Cork-Twiss and Brad Eller) and Chicago producer Andrew Emil, alongside a label debut from an all-time musical hero of ours, Detroit’s own Claude Young Jr.

Ranging from 80’s-tinged boogie to House, ‘Incidental Introspection’ cooks up a truly singular, timeless fusion for 2024 and beyond. Slinky mid-tempo opener ‘Fade Out’ summons up retro Miami beach feels, while Lisa’s stunning vocal deals with the very modern issue of social media burnout.

‘Dancefloor Paramour’ keeps the grooves languid, while Lisa’s layered and reverb-drenched vocal summons up a dream-like and fleeting late-night encounter. Instrumental House cut ‘Unclaimed Restraint’ rolls effortlessly with a fat bass-line and dreamy classic chords.

Crushed, off-kilter drums and sparse chords introduce ‘God Only Knows’, before Lisa’s voice expresses both personal and universal existential questions like a mournful gospel confessional. Finally, Brad re-imagines ‘Dancefloor Paramour’ as a slick Disco House number, somewhat reminiscent of classic early Crazy P or Ray Mang productions.

“This EP was finished right before Covid hit in 2020 but feels timeless and I’m so excited to have it finally see the light of day” says Lisa Cork-Twiss. Andrew Emil continues: "Claude and I had been friends for some years through our work together creating sample packs, content, videos and editorial during my days directing the digital category at Reverb. We wrote all the track skeletons during a weekend in 2019 when Claude was staying with me in Chicago, and I finished up the tracks before I sent them off to Brad and Lisa of Glass Slipper to check out. They really loved three of them, and right away recorded their contributions and sent them back. I mixed them down and they added their remix, and there this project was.” Brad concludes: “The base tracks Andrew and Claude created were very inspiring, and Lisa never ceases to amaze me with her songwriting. I feel very lucky to be a part of this talented cohort.”

STREAM OR DOWNLOAD THE EP

Release Date: April 5th 2024.

Aiby & The Noise - Velvet Hearts EP

Following the success of last year’s single ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ on Colour and Pitch, earning them them A-list DJ support across the globe, Barcelona duo Aiby & The Noise return with new mini EP ‘Velvet Hearts’. Since their last appearance on our little label, the synth-obsessed pairing of Vanessa Aiby & Garcy Noise have been very busy perfecting their live set, as well as finding themselves subjects of a 4-page feature and interview for DJ Mag (Spain).

 Title track ‘Velvet Hearts’ is a delightfully retro slice of languid, analogue-sounding deep electro. Calling to mind all the best things about 80’s beats and synths, the track has warm, positive vibe, perfect for summer time lounging. ‘The Truth’ is a smooth deep house groover with old-school synth strings, dreamy keys and a compact but powerful bassline driving things along. Poetic spoken words remind us of “the truth the dead know” and remind us to “live now”. This mini EP feels very much alive, and we hope you enjoy this fantastic pair of tracks from a duo on the rise.

iTunes: http://geni.us/VelvetHearts
Traxsource: http://www.traxsource.com/title/624573/velvet-hearts
Beatport: https://www.beatport.com/release/velvet-hearts/1770876
Juno: http://www.junodownload.com/products/velvet-hearts/3101713-02/

"Loving The Truth. Excellent track. big support." Ashley Beedle

"Lost in the 80’s synth pop and early house sound ''Velvet Hearts'' has the power to ''win'' from its first turns…" DJ Nova

"Lovely" Jazzy M

"Nice electronic deepness! Full support!" Adam Warped

"Enjoyable!" Marcia Carr (MiSoul)