Freerange Records are thrilled to announce the arrival of Crackazat's latest long-player, the scintillatingly soulful and jazz-enriched masterpiece, 'Evergreen'. There can be few artists to have emerged in the last decade or so who've made a more indelible mark on the deep house universe than producer, Ben Jacobs, better known as Crackazat. The accomplished musician's effervescent productions routinely hit the sweet spot between elemental dancefloor fire and cerebral musicality – thanks to a propulsive sound combining influences of jazz, house, garage, funk, hip hop, Latin, neo-soul (and far beyond). While he's already forged an instantly recognisable sonic palette all of his own, new album 'Evergreen' represents his most accomplished work to date. Making his full vocal debut while introducing a new level of songwriting prowess to his long-established dancefloor credentials, this is the complete Crackazat. Composed during – and undoubtedly informed by – these trying times, 'Evergreen' explores themes of adversity and gratitude, arriving as both a masterclass in contemplative songwriting and a celebration of musical influences. Elegantly bridging the gap between the soulful house underground and jazz-flecked crossover realms – inhabited by the likes of Jacob Collier, Thundercat, Tom Misch, and Jordan Rakei – the album echoes of a time where jazz-funk sensibilities and popular appeal were not mutually exclusive. Few artists boast the musical aptitude or creative vision to attempt such a bold fusion of styles, and thanks to its exceptional execution and irresistible appeal, 'Evergreen' is primed to introduce Crackazat's sound to an entirely new audience. More

One of Freerange’s longest standing artists Manuel Tur serves up another brilliant release in the form of Love Me Well. Someone who needs very little by way of introduction, Manuel has been honing his craft for nigh on two decades with a discography which includes some of the most influential labels and associations in electronic music. Running Back, Innervisions, DFA, Ovum, Objektivity, Mule, Drumpoet, Permanent Vacation, Andhim, André Hommen, Tensnake, Shit Robot, Tale Of Us, Ane Brun… you get the idea. Manuel continues to be in demand as a producer and remixer and remains relevant thanks to his golden ears, precision engineering and Midas touch. For his tenth Freerange release (not including his three LP’s!) he delivers a diverse three track EP which spans the house spectrum from the deep, emotive late night mood of the title track through sublime, delicate and hauntingly beautiful Paperasse and rounding off with the driving, acidic, minimal disco groove of Touch Move. Proper job! More

Freerange Records are happy to present the first of two EP’s taken from Crackazat’s forthcoming long-player, ‘Evergreen’. Featuring a stunning remix from Chicago house innovator, Ron Trent, the jazz-soaked EP serves as a tantalising preview of the tour de force that will soon follow. Few artists have made a more powerful impact on the deep house universe over the last decade than producer, Ben Jacobs, better known as Crackazat. Consistently striking the sweet spot between dancefloor heat and cerebral musicality, his unique take on the house sound elegantly incorporates elements of jazz, garage, funk, hip hop, Latin, neo-soul, and beyond. Eagerly awaited album ‘Evergreen’ sees Jacobs soar far beyond the confines of his existing catalogue, incorporating a whole new level of songwriting prowess while making his full vocal debut. Bridging the gap between the soulful house underground and jazz- inspired crossover realms, 'Evergreen' is Crackazat’s most accomplished work to date and unquestionably primed to further enhance his already glittering reputation. Blending the purest forms of deep house with authentic jazz sensibilities, EP opener 'Beacon Of Light' bursts with themes of positivity and gratitude. The virtuoso instrumentation endows the track with a distinctly live feel, while Jacobs’ inspired vocal charges the track with soul-rich sentiment. Intelligently crafted to bring the heat in all-manner of settings, its floor-focused beats and compelling arrangement combine to affect maximum impact whether played in the clubs, bars, or on the airwaves. Next up, deep house luminary Ron Trent steps in with his awe-inspiring take on Crackazat’s modern jazz ballad, ‘Simple Things’. Trent needs little in the way of introduction, a bonafide Chicago house legend whose spiritually-infused sound is unmistakably his own and never fails to mesmerise. Lifting elements of the Robert Glasper-inspired original while spacing out the stirring falsetto vocal, Trent stretches the track into a meandering deep house epic. Voyaging through waves of Latin percussion, ethereal piano keys, and psychedelic synth sweeps, Trent takes us on a profoundly affecting dancefloor journey as only he can. Next to arrive is Crackazat’s ‘Maritime Dub’ take on ‘Beacon Of Light’. Evolving over skippy house drums and thick bass, chords rise in to caress the looped and filtered vocal, periodically opening up into the full chorus line to add shimmer to the heads-down house bump. Aimed squarely at moving dancefloors while delicately tripped-out, this simmering groove sure to hit home with fans of the trademark Crackazat sonic. Finally, the LP’s title track 'Evergreen’ launches with a sprightly jazz swing before dusty drums add weight to the sophisticated instrumentation. Here we find Jacobs presenting jazz and house as a single entity, with carefully orchestrated wind instruments, keys and mallets dancing over an improvised walking bass line, as the distant vocal elevates the track far into the stratosphere. More

Jimpster’s lockdown LP was made throughout 2020 and finally sees the light of day at the end of February 2022 having been delayed around 6 months due to the ongoing vinyl pressing hold ups. Birdhouse is the revered producers seventh full length LP and can be considered a full circle as he takes a step away from the dance floor to revisit his early inspirations of jazz, 70’s fusion, library music, ambient and sample-based downtempo electronica. With its soulful touches, vocal and live musician features and trademark warm Jimpster production, we also think it could be his most accomplished and accessible yet. More

It’s been a busy year for Jimpster, with his Soul Spectral and This Thing (with Rich Medina) EP’s both being amongst the best received and highest selling releases of his to date. He has also added his touch to The Sunburst Band, Soichi Terada, Feiertag, Baiana System, The Secret and Retromigration in the form of some massive remixes to boot, as well as having just released an Anthology spanning 4 vinyl. To help celebrate 25 years of Freerange and Jimpster we wanted to invite some of Jamie’s personal favourites to dig through the vaults and give their own spin on his sound. Kicking things off we have Oakland’s Space Ghost taking on One ft Casamena bring his deft, musical touch to the track complete with layers of digital synths, punchy bass and vintage drum machine groove. Next up it’s Detroit’s own Jon Dixon of Timeline and Galaxy 2 Galaxy fame. The student of Mike Banks and long-term Underground Resistance cohort turns Smile For A While into a late night, piano driven, fusion masterpiece with all that Detroit sonic trickery we know and love so much. LA duo Aaron Paar and Dave Fogg aka Teflon Dons released a slew of incredible 12’s in the mid- late 90’s before almost completely disappearing for most of the 00’s. Thankfully things are reactivated and we’re so happy to have them bring a tough, jacking, bass-heavy warehouse workout to the package. Atlanta’s Kai Alce is someone we’ve hoped to have contribute to Freerange for some time and finally it happened. Bags of smooth and soulful deepness drive Jimpster’s Inside The Loop in a classic direction with Wurli pads and Moogy solo all adding to that vintage sound. Man of the moment Kareem Ali takes the baton as he reworks Bought To Bare into a Balearic beauty worthy of playing during the most perfect sunset. If you’re a fan of Kareem Ali you’ll know the magic he brings and why he’s been hotly tipped as RA’s breakthrough artist of the month and included in Pitchfork’s best releases of 2020. More

The world of dance music 25 years ago was a very different place from the one we now inhabit. Rave had transitioned through Hardcore into Drum & Bass whilst UK Garage was brewing nicely and the UK pop charts were full of underground dance records. Meanwhile, the likes of Mo Wax, Ninjatune and Compost were pushing away from the dancefloors, introducing blunted beats, jazz-fusion sonics and a whole new movement to electronic music. It was into this atmosphere that Freerange was born, a UK label that reaches its quarter-century this year. At the helm over the last 25 years has been the partnership of childhood friends Tom Roberts and Jamie ‘Jimpster’ Odell. It’s been a long and eventful journey, from an era of 56k modems, faxed reaction reports and when DJs still bought actual records, Freerange has weathered many storms and sailed through some of the most revolutionary changes to hit the music industry. Through those 25 years, and like the proverbial comforting sound of Bob Ross’ voice, Jimpster’s own music and those artists he releases through the label remain a constantly reliable, not to mention dance floor-smashing presence through the ups and downs of the house music continuum. This Anthology brings together some of Jimpster’s finest productions across two double pack vinyl LPs from the preceding two and a half decades, showcasing his detailed approach to production and proving why he continues to thrive in the current scene, continuing to be held in high regard by many of the founding fathers of house music and young up and coming producers alike. TRACK LISTING: A1. Dangly Panther, A2. Seventh Wave, B1. Sleeper, B2. Can't Stop Loving, C1. One (feat. Casa Mena), C2. English Rose, D1. Curve, D2. Don't Push It More

As the dancefloor continues to be out of bounds you can rely on Freerange to bring you house music which runs that little bit deeper and more soulful, lifting spirits during these darker times. Following hot on the heels of Laroye’s Be The Change, the label offer another heartwarming release, this time from Brooklyn-based artist Greg Paulus. Perhaps better known as one half of No Regular Play, Greg has appeared on labels as diverse as Soul Clap, Let’s Play House, Ghostly International and Kompakt. For the City Movements EP Greg has delivered three brilliant originals which showcase his talents as a trumpet player, vocalist and producer. Opener Breezy Point comes correct with Greg’s vocals coming to the fore backed by a crunchy house groove, a solid, analogue bassline and simmering Moog synths. Flipping over we have Do You Love Me? co-produced with fellow Brooklyn artist Taylor Bense, and which takes a jazzier approach with Greg’s filtering trumpet arrangements adding a warm, organic depth to the track whilst the Prince-inspired house groove keeps the funk factor running high. Closing out the release we have Mr. Lee’s Trophy Theme in which Greg and co-producer Teddy Stuart reimagine the scene as a certain film director arrives to receive his latest award. There’s plenty of attitude, a hint of sleaze and a dash of humour but above all else we have bags of soul emanating from within the layers of warm pads, Wurli chords, trumpet lines and hooky vocal. TRACK LISTING: A. Breezy Point, B1. Do You Love Me?, B2. Mr. Lee’s Trophy Theme
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With his One EP still getting love from the likes of Spinna, Jamie 3:26, Joey Negro, Osunlade and many more, Jimpster strikes back with another release to lift spirits during these unprecedented times. Produced during the first few weeks of the worldwide lockdown, it was his intention to spread a message of positivity and optimism which can be felt on title track Smile For A While. The overall mood of the track has a slightly ambiguous yet heartening tonality, with a filtered looping vocal sample taking centre stage whilst piano lines and analogue arpeggios layer up adding depth and texture. The subtle and seductive groove will draw you in and its warmth and soul will make sure you smile for a while. Flipping over we have Echoes In My Head which takes a more percussive approach based around a rolling bassline and crunchy live hihats. Taking a slightly darker route, Echoes In My Head feels like Jimpster has successfully managed to get all his influences to meld together perfectly to form something cohesive and substantial. His love of 90’s ‘intelligent techno’, On-U sound, early US house, ambient, all going in the melting pot and forming a track which we’re sure will be something of a secret weapon for many DJ’s. Just the kind of track that can completely hypnotise a discerning dance-floor during the hazy hours. Closing out the three track EP we have the Head In The Clouds Mix, which is an alternate version of Echoes In My Head which heads in a more soulful direction. Piano chords and a bending bassline grab your attention whilst a percussion-heavy groove and dubby elements create space and depth to draw you in and ensure you get lost in its heady confines. TRACK LISTING: A. Smile For A While, B1. Echoes In My Head, B2. Echoes In My Head (Head In The Clouds Mix)
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Coming next on Freerange we’re very happy to announce our first Argentinian artist to the label, the highly talented DJ and producer Manuel Sahagun. Manuel has been putting out house music since the early 2000’s and has released tunes on Berlin’s Tooman, UK’s Drop, and Detroit’s Kolour as well as remixing Warren ‘Hanna’ Harris, Robert Owens and Patrick Chardronnet. He brings a freshness and eclecticism to his productions that fits in perfectly with the Freerange ethos of forward-thinking house music loaded with warmth and a touch of soul. the ‘Closest Star’ EP is a superb four-tracker that draws on diverse influences to great effect, and is one of the most original, yet floor-friendly sounding collections of music we’ve heard for a while. More

Sometimes it takes a while before you finally get the chance to seize your moment. DJ and producer Matt Masters has been working for Freerange for around 15 years, presenting their radio show as well as polishing Jimpster’s hi-hats, washing Manuel Tur’s MIDI files and ensuring that all Freerange releases adhere to EU regulations regarding deepness and houseyness. Here we present you with the sampler of his debut long player ‘Never Ending Nights’. Featuring four highlights from the eleven tracks of precisely engineered house and electronica, the LP sampler is a high-quality, pristine project, as befitting someone who has worked for so long at one of house music’s most revered imprints. Matt is proof that dedication pays off: he’s been asking Jimpster if he can put out an album literally every day for the last decade and a half and the Freerange label boss has finally capitulated, going a step further to executively produce the LP. Aside from a couple of carefully crafted downtempo tracks, ’Never Ending Nights’ is dance floor targeted but achieves the ultimate goal of the dance music album, possessing enough musicality and interesting production touches to stand up to home listening too. Matt has also thoughtfully included one track that can be used as a DJ incantation to summon up a horde of sentient headphones to do your bidding. Perhaps because of the protracted nature of the album’s production, there’s an unhurried confidence to many of these tracks, almost a swagger; big riffs slowly reveal themselves as epic chords unfurl beneath steadily ticking percussion, the assured, contemporary production providing an audio snap-shot of where UK deep house is at in 2019. More

Hugo Mari, formerly known as Books, has been receiving a lot of welldeserved love of late, and for good reason. Even though the London-based producer has been delivering respected dance-floor cuts and Edits on labels such as Omena, XVI and Sound Of Speed, his most recent release on Detroit Swindles’ Heist has really helped put him on the map. Having remixed Dele Sosimi and been remixed by Laurence Guy and Kai Alce, Hugo is moving in the right circles and it’s only a matter of time before he really gets the recognition he deserves. His debut EP for Freerange is aptly titled Unalloyed Pleasure and consists of three originals that will give you and the dance floor just that. The lead track manages to meld slamming kicks, distorted bassline, deep, cinematic strings, disco hats and cut up spoken word into something fresh and unique. Raise It Up sees Hugo go full on euphoric disco mode with an uplifting slice of sun-drenched soul just perfect for the summer months ahead. Lush Philly strings and vocal sample bring a classic vibe and catchy hook to the party. Closing out this brilliant EP we have Just A Memory, a jazzier and more pensive slice of deep house music with upright bassline and familiar Rhodes sample taking centre-stage. Snippets of vocal float in and out of focus whilst the rolling, percussive groove brings an immersive energy that locks you in to it’s seductive mood. More

It’s been five years since we had Manuel Tur grace us with a solo release on Freerange. In that time he and studio partner Adrian Hoffmann have been busy igniting dance floors with their side projects Clavis and Amberoom for labels such as Innervisions, Ovum, TAU and Freerange as well as remix and production work for artists like Andhim, André Hommen, Tensnake, Shit Robot, Tale Of Us, Ane Brun, Larse and Asobitai. Manuel continues to push his sound forward on three original tracks which make up the Organic Reach EP. On the lead track Astrakan he has crafted a sublime slice of deepness centred around a driving groove, building layers of chiming chords and a perfect bassline. Sitting somewhere between Motorbass/Super Discount, DJ Q/early Nuphonic and Steve Reich this track looks set to cast it’s majestic spell on those whose idea of a banging tune isn’t confined to obligatory 8 bar kick drum dropouts and white noise risers! On Hold Your Hand Manuel coming up with another masterpiece of deep, emotive, widescreen atmospherics with organic percussion, pulsing bass and jazz vocal refrain adding to the dramatic late-night mood. Finally, Organic Reach closes the EP in a dark and heavier style with experimental textures, time stretched fills and mutant sonic explorations making for what must be Manuel Tur’s most ‘techno’ production for Freerange to date. More

It’s taken a mere 12 years to get Simbad back on Freerange for his follow up to the 2006 Solar System release under his Mowgly moniker. Not that he’s been scratching around looking for inspiration in that time.... the London based producer and DJ is one of the most prolific artists in the scene having notched up countless EP’s edits, remixes and behind-the-scenes production work for labels like Apron, G.A.M.M. Faces, Hyperdub, Atjazz & Brownswood. His association with Gilles Peterson and Worldwide runs deep, hosting regular shows on WWFM as well as traversing the globe delivering his unique and eclectic sets from Africa to South Korea and beyond. Collaboration plays a huge part in Simbad’s musical output and for his new release for Freerange he teams up with South African vocalist Brian Temba, whose previous release together Come Join In dropped on Hi:Rise back in 2011. In it’s original form Take My Hand is a sublime, forward-looking deep and soulful house track based around a filtering symphonic string loop, low-slung groove and heart-felt vocal. Simbad has created a very London-centric vibe but with a French touch and Detroit sensibilities, drawing from house heroes such as Parrish and Bradock, joining the dots and creating a fresh masterpiece in the process. Next up we have Jimpster on the remix, picking up the BPM’s slightly and loading up on his trademark deep stabs, sub-bass and spacious FX adding just enough dance-floor bump whilst leaving the vocal placed firmly at the core. On the flip side we have two SMBD Zulu Edits which replace the more spartan groove of the original with some driving Afro percussion. The first version keeps the vocal intact, the second version goes balls deep into dub territory, closing out this amazing release with an instrumental pushing the strings and hypnotic groove front and centre. More

Vienna-based producer Sam Irl popped up on our radar a couple of years ago following stellar releases on Jazz & Milk, but honestly we should have been paying far closer attention as this guy has been making the best crunchy, MPC-driven jazz-infused House music dating right back to 2006. EP’s for S3A’s Sampling As An Art and collaborative projects with Patrick Pulsinger and Dusty have won him fans including Gilles Peterson (leading to a release on Brownswood), Mr Scruff and Session Victim amongst many others. His live sets have also seen him perform at the hallowed grounds of Panorama Bar and Sonar Festival. For his debut EP here on Freerange Sam has delivered four tracks which perfectly showcase his production skills and knowledge of what makes a dance floor tick, kicking off with title track Rain Technique. Quirky keys and a playful groove help build a warm and charming vibe, light and bouncy yet deep and driving enough to get your dance on to. Trust follows with loping, lopsided percussion forming the basis of the groove, sparse Rhodes pads punctuating the beat and adding just the right musical element to the mix without cluttering the beats or compromising the sense of space. Flipping over we have All That’s Left which sees Sam utilising his trusted TR606 for some lovely snappy snares and sizzling hihats. Chiming arpeggios join the repeating chord riff creating another simple yet uplifting and playful mood which can’t fail to get under your skin. Closing the EP we have a wonky, shuffling house track which once again shows Sam proving less is more, sampling his key elements into the MPC and jamming out the arrangement in a live and improvised way which brings a fresh, somewhat naive appeal to the production. More

Massiande has become one of the most captivating talents South America has produced for authentic House music. An artist of multicultural roots, he was born in 1988 in Santiago, Chile, has lived most of his life to the side of US American people, has Dutch family heritage and his name derives from a Sierra Leone dialect. All of these global influences have had a great effect in the way he perceives and lives music. Growing up as a profound and dedicated fan of Soul, Jazz and Disco; discovering House, a genre that connected these genres' roots with electronic experimentation, was a life turning point. Inspired by the same Chicago spirit, in 2015 the release of "Stand", through the prestigious MOS Recordings, represented a step further in his career as a producer, finding its place on the crates of DJs as diverse as Patrice Scott, Voiski, Apparat or Honey Soundsystem. These days, Massiande brings a deeper and mature House sound which is reaching a wider audience, with his conceptual "Freedom" EP through UK's Phonica Records and the landmark "Yesterday, Today, Forever" EP on Jimpster's Freerange, while also revealing a consistent variety of skills on a fully dancefloor-oriented EP for Hercules & Love Affair's Mr. Intl imprint. More

It seems like the Italians are well and truly taking over here at Freerange these days. Following hot on the heels of releases from Stefano Ritteri and Bugsy we now present you with a brilliant three tracker from Rome-based producer Whitesquare. Known for previous releases on 2020 Vision and Toy Tonics Whitesquare has switched up his sound a little to delve deeper into the world of Afro-inspired electronic house which fits perfectly on Freerange and should appeal to fans of Hyenah, Rancido and the Keinemusik crew. Title track Traces To Nowhere sets the tone, taking it's roots from the precision sonics and reduced approach of Berlin minimalism but infused with a warm, organic sound palette, resulting in a deep and atmospheric track which is powerful yet understated. Flipping over we have Understand, another hypnotic mood-setter which utilises a repeating vocal, percussion fills and a killer sub bass to create a track which places all the emphasis on the paired-back groove and subtle detail. Rounding off the EP we have Suivre, a conga-heavy drum tool which mashes up live jazz drumming with a driving kick and echoing vocal to great effect. The sense of space makes this one a winner for changing things up in the mix and sounds fearsome on a big system. Three lovingly crafted tracks which bridge the gap between Berlin and Johannesburg, bringing a fresh yet appealing sound to please dance floors worldwide. More

Bugsy hails from Milan where he is resident and co-host of the brilliant Take It Easy club night which brings many of the finest house DJ's to the city and remains packed week in and week out. With his featured producers Astroloop at his side Bugsy has come up with a quality debut loaded with fat, low-slung deep beats and Detroit-inspired grooves for Freerange entitled the Svegsy EP. The lead track sets the mood with mid-tempo loping beats that have 'Freerange' written all over them. We can't get enough of the simple yet satisfying warm-up vibe which oozes from this track. Understated, warm and relaxed yet with a bump and grunt which calls you to the dancefloor. A2 is a track entitled New Vision where we find a straighter groove underpinned by a restless, pulsing, analogue bass and shifting block chords. With it's heads down attitude and simple, rolling arrangement this is Jimpster's personal favourite for banging on a big system. Flip over for the aptly titled Ghost Song. Here we get off-kilter vocals and fleeting glimpses of a melody which then disappear into the ether. All in all a slightly surreal yet groove-heavy track which has a charm of it's own. Rounding off the EP we have Chicago house legend Boo Williams on the remix of Ghost Song, where he takes a minimal approach with a hint of acid but keeping his soulful touch. Enjoy! More

time to welcome another newcomer to Freerange with a brilliant debut that has already been gaining a lot of interest from early spins. Stefano Ritteri should be a familiar name to many, having dropped several well- received releases on key labels such as Pets, Rockets & Ponies and Get Physical as well as his own monthly Rinse France radio show. A producer in the old school sense, he has the ability and desire to flip from deep, emotive and down tempo jams to the most impactful, high energy floor fillers, all with a deft touch and unique and experimental spin. The Italian producer, now relocated to London, has a studio chock full of vintage synths and hardware outboard which keep him inspired and ensure his output sounds fresher and fatter than most, as can be heard on this excellent two-tracker entitled A Different Happiness EP. The title track is a spaced out, percussion-heavy jam which takes a minimal approach but wins hearts and minds with an ear-worm of a melody that gets gets you hooked in from the start. Snippets of spoken word add to the intense atmosphere making this one of those sure-fire, perennial tracks which can work in a variety of sets and still guaranteed to make an impact and stand out in the crowd. Flip over for Pocket Melody, another simple yet effective and inventive track which sees Stefano letting loose on his synths and coming up with some warped Zawinul-inspired vibes in the process. The playful melody snakes around in an improvised way whilst the dubby drums and classic analogue machine beats ensure everyone stays locked into it's hypnotic groove. Definitely a producer to watch for us and we're sure Stefano is on track to continue making some amazing music. We hope you love this as much as we do! More