West Coast mainstay maverick Dave Aju launches his anticipated new label Elbow Grease with this timelessly sublime dance floor trip, dripping with outer space soul and deep ocean floor sonics. "X17", a reference to the hypothetical particle and Fifth Force discovery, is equal parts warm and cold, ruff and smooth, as a raw Detroit Electro-schooled rhythm base plows through various known musical barriers, adorned with worldly percussion hits, moving synth pads, and subtle jazz motifs. The generously unfolding "Main Mix" is accompanied by both a potent "Rhythm Dub" stripped back for maximum impact, and a beatless high "Viiibe" version offering a more immersive listen and alternative options for adventurous DJs to mix as they feel - a fine intro to the Elbow Grease credo. More

Tracklist:
A1 - Love In Zero Gravity
B1 - Aubergine Dream
B2 - Gatadu

Short info:
West Coast mainstay Dave Aju continues with his own varied style and pace, coming correct once again on Circus Company
with a truly special three-tracker of straight up dance floor bombs. This San Francisco DJ/producer is a master sampler, groove
innovator and jazz influenced artist who has been with this label for ten years. In that time, he has turned out plenty of timeless
LPs and EPs that have earned him a deserving reputation as a truly cultured craftsman.
Just in time for the warm summer months ahead, these pieces are fit for maximum daytime, nighttime, and after-hours pleasure
respectively. The releas kicks off with title track ‘Love In Zero Gravity’, one of those raw undefinable Dave Aju grooves, loaded
with soul and unique musicality. It builds in bass-heavy intensity, bright epic bursts and ecstatic waves like we've never heard
from him before. Next up the voodoo stylings continue on ‘Aubergine Dream’ but in a much deeper mode, where ultra-sweaty
basement funk collides with the darkest shades of purple imaginable, all laced-up with otherworldly lysergic lines. Finally,
‘Gatadu’ rounds things out with pure class, a bouncing robust house cut done-up with generous helpings of live percussion, rich
textures, and Aju's velvety vox - the perfect recipe to keep dancing long into Sunday's sun rays, all smiles and sing-a-long vibes
for the real heads and lovers. This is another superb offering from one of dance music’s most fascinating artists. More

Tracklist:
A1: Low Dive A2: Always Never B1: Sides B2: Tell Her Why
Short info:
The maverick maestro from the Bay Dave Aju is back with his Circus family here with an incredible
new release. Based on stripped-down hardware sessions rocking just a Roland TR-909 and SH-101,
Aju once again proves that no sound set need be limited in itself and along with the addition of one
microphone for his inimitable soulful voice, creates one of his strongest and most imaginative releases
to date, the 10101 EP.
A multiple homage to the 101 freeway that spans his native Golden State and the numeric classic
analog boxes used vs digital binary to process them, the four rich tracks offer the best of both worlds
and cover all the bases of Mr Aju's musical multiverse. "Low Dive" starts things on a deep heads-down
dance floor tip where rising synth lines soar over a blast of shuffling drums and percussion for a rocksolid
DJs delight. "Always Never" comes next with pure Aju magic, equal parts song and track, an ear
worm of a chorus, and full of sunny West Coast electro influences all the way through. On the flip
"Sides" may very well be one of Aju's most intense transmissions ever, with a sublime and seemingly
endless build-up of dark pads, driving, shifting rhythms, and voodoo vocals that will detonate many a
peak-hour sound system guaranteed. Aju then tastefully finishes with the cool psychedelic mid-tempo
bump of "Tell Her Why" which harks back to his hip-hop roots and wraps up the vibe and elements of
the whole EP perfectly. Welcome back with a bang brother Aju! More

S12" with black sleeve, 150g Vinyl

Tracklist:
A1. Find a Lover , A2. Freeez
AA1. Freeez - (SoulPhiction Re-Rub), AA2. Givin it Dub

Shortinfo:
Dave Aju's, The Freee Lover EP has landed as the 1st new artist release on the newly re-launched MFF and setting the benchmark for the label.
With a huge worldwide fan base and instinctual passion for delivering fresh sounding quality material, the name Dave Aju has become synonymous with originality and diversity.
The Freee Lover EP offers 3 original tracks from Aju and an amazing remix from Germany's SoulPhiction.
Find A Lover & Givin It Dub are 2 signature Aju cuts, deep and soulful tech house featuring original vocals and just the right amount of jack.
Freeeze takes route firmly in the leftfield. A discordant downtempo number, with muted jazzy chords and twisted grooves, a sure fire track for sunrise dance floors.
To top off the package, SoulPhiction inject some peak time energy back into Freeeze, offering a beautifully produced, perc lead tech roller. More

Barcode: 827170553064 Release : 15.12.14
Tracklist: A1 - Dave Aju - Psylica feat. Qzen (Henrik Schwarz remix) A2 - Dave Aju - Nu Threads (Freaksnuthreadsspeakeasy remix) B1 - Dave Aju - Vins Noirs (Awanto3 remix)- ISRC: FR-2T0-14-00045
Short info:
The rugged, noirish soul of Dave Aju's third album Black Frames is still lingering in our minds months after it dropped, and as you well know by now we at Circus Company can never get enough of the San Francisco man's honey-coated voice. As such, we once again reached out to dear friends and like-minded souls within the house and techno community to deliver three reinterpretations of the man's distinctive sound for a fresh dancefloor perspective. Henrik Schwarz is a force to be reckoned with in the world of rich, emotive and masterfully produced house music, and his reputation as a remixer and editor extraordinaire is well founded. His approach to the romantic sway of "Psylica" is nothing short of astounding, underpinning the sizzling chemistry of Dave and Qzen's vocals with playful bassline throb, plucked string elegance and just the right amount of freakiness. In the world of leftfield grooves we inhabit, Freaks have been vital figures all the way back to the early days of Classic, and so the input of Justin Harris and Luke Solomon makes perfect sense on this reworking of "Nu Threads". With a rock-solid rhythm section given the necessary kink by a playful low-end and some tuba-like blasts, the mischievous pair whip up an upbeat party-starter that sets the original elements simmering amongst a delightfully modern confection of prime-time house music. The B-side is given over to a thirteen-minute epic by the rapidly-rising Rush Hour mainstay Awanto3, and he seizes the opportunity to pile on the tension with a machine-driven reworking of "Vins Noirs" that builds fervently towards total rave-fuelled abandon. The rhythmic pressure may stay high throughout, but there's plenty of dusty soul rubbed into the joints to keep things warm before a thrilling crescendo of old-skool stabs blasts the track into the stratosphere.
Each and every one of these remixes is a dancefloor killer, but in between the pumped-up energy of them bubbles the imagination and inventiveness that Circus Company lives for. It's no less than the music of Dave Aju deserves, and it's just the kind of originality the dancefloor needs.
More

UPC: 827170517066 Rel date 16.6.2014
Tracklist 2x12": A1. Nu Threads A2. Nobody Knows B1. Clean St. B2. Law C1. Vins Noirs C2. Bee's Birth D1. Psylica (feat. Qzen) D2. When We Drift
Info:
'Black Frames' is a creation from two major life transitions for Dave Aju, namely the end of a long-term relationship combined with a move away from his home town of San Francisco. Punctuated with philosophical statements and political punches, the former MC proves he isn't afraid to use his voice and production skills to unite music and passion with his latest album on Circus Company.
The outer rhythms of deep-rooted electronic music form the backbone of 'Black Frames', while its veins are filled with the red­-hot attitude of hip­hop, outerspace soul, and forthright lyrical content. A remarkable variety of songs covering topics such as personal relationships ('Psylica'), cultural issues ('Race on Haight') and global government actions ('Law') rock alongside bass­-centered dancefloor bombs like 'Nu Threads' and 'Clean St'. Through its body, Aju also tips his hat to 60s psych rock, early 70s fusion, and the soft undertones of blues as can be felt in the Magnum Opus of 'Vins Noirs' with it's full choir finale, the wildly fun and uptempo 'Bee's Birth' and the reflective close of 'When We Drift'.
With a decade of releases under his belt and remixes for the likes of Nicolas Jaar, JT Donaldson and Herbert, San Francisco Bay Area native Marc Barrite AKA Dave Aju is a true maverick of the electronic music scene and 'Black Frames' is a proper follow-up, both a literal nod to the classic 60s/70s artwork that hung in his home studio, and a bold statement toward that rare place where breaking a sweat and breaking the rules come together.
Aju's distinctive voice, a fixture in his production and live performances, has proven to have a life of its own. His formative years added stripes to his coat as an MC in the underground hip-hop scene, paying off in consequent vocal contributions for fellow artists like dOP and Tiefschwarz and an ongoing collaboration with fellow Circus Company artist Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts as lead vocalist for The Side Effects band.
Aju's third album features collaborations with close friends and hometown heroes of the San Francisco scene including SF native sister Qzen, who lends vocals for the back ­and ­forth duet of 'Psylica', while SF/ Chicago masterclass act DJ Tyrel Williams teams up to 'get our shit together' on 'Nobody Knows'. Once again, Dave Aju takes us on a personal journey set to the groove of a damn good party.
More

UPC: 827170125421 Rel date 16.6. 2014
Tracklist CD: 1. Race On Haight 2. Nu Threads 3. Clean St. 4. Nobody Knows 5. Vins Noirs 6. Psylica (feat. Qzen) 7. Law 8. Bee's Birth 9. When We Drift
infos:
'Black Frames' is a creation from two major life transitions for Dave Aju, namely the end of a long-term relationship combined with a move away from his home town of San Francisco. Punctuated with philosophical statements and political punches, the former MC proves he isn't afraid to use his voice and production skills to unite music and passion with his latest album on Circus Company. The outer rhythms of deep-rooted electronic music form the backbone of 'Black Frames', while its veins are filled with the red­-hot attitude hip­hop, outerspace soul, and forthright lyrical content. A remarkable variety of songs covering topics such as personal relationships ('Psylica'), cultural issues ('Race on Haight') and global government actions ('Law') rock alongside bass­-centered dancefloor bombs like 'Nu Threads' and 'Clean St'. Through its body, Aju also tips his hat to 60s psych rock, early 70s fusion, and the soft undertones of blues as can be felt in the Magnum Opus of 'Vins Noirs' with it's full choir finale, the wildly fun and uptempo 'Bee's Birth' and the reflective close of 'When We Drift'. With a decade of releases under his belt and remixes for the likes of Nicolas Jaar, JT Donaldson and Herbert, San Francisco Bay Area native Marc Barrite AKA Dave Aju is a true maverick of the electronic music scene and 'Black Frames' is a proper follow-up, both a literal nod to the classic 60s/70s artwork that hung in his home studio, and a bold statement toward that rare place where breaking a sweat and breaking the rules come together. Aju's distinctive voice, a fixture in his production and live performances, has proven to have a life of its own. His formative years added stripes to his coat as an MC in the underground hip-hop scene, paying off in consequent vocal contributions for fellow artists like dOP and Tiefschwarz and an ongoing collaboration with fellow Circus Company artist Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts as lead vocalist for The Side Effects band. Aju's third album features collaborations with close friends and hometown heroes of the San Francisco scene including SF native sister Qzen, who lends vocals for the back ­and ­forth duet of 'Psylica', while SF/ Chicago masterclass act DJ Tyrel Williams teams up to 'get our shit together' on 'Nobody Knows'. Once again, Dave Aju takes us on a personal journey set to the groove of a damn good party.
More

Barcode: 827170516168 Release : 30.09.13
Tracklist: A - Maybeso B - Inmahed
Our West Coast brother from another mother Dave Aju has been a vital part of the Circus Company troupe since the early days of the label, due in no small part to his combination of flamboyant style and hefty funk. For all the experimental qualities in Aju's music there is an equal amount of hip hop swagger and heartfelt soul, and when you filter those elements through a house music template you get close to a perfect definition of the tastes that drive our label. After the stunning diversity of last year's Heirlooms LP, it is an unbridled pleasure to welcome Mr. Aju back for a focused two-track release that finds the San Franciscan enchanter summoning up his finest deep house powers. As ever, there is a wistful, sunkissed quality to the music contained within this record, as Blue Note keys wrap themselves around the nagging beats, side-stepping the frantic urgency of so much 'dance' music to focus on easy going attitude that encourages a more sensual kind of body movement. Aside from the rhythmic alchemy Dave Aju whips up in his creative cauldron, it will always be the adventurous use of his voice that announces his inimitable sonic identity, and that's no different here. From the pitched down surreality of his tones on "Maybeso" with its hopeful lyrical refrain, to the catchy rapping-singing alternation that runs through "Inmahed", Aju's voice is his music and his music is his voice, the two perfectly intertwined like no-one else could step to. Satisfying every craving we have for soul and boogie in the fresh, exciting house music we want to share with the world, we'll never tire of Dave Aju and his freaky ways. When his offerings so perfectly balance the desire to listen to engaging sounds and the need to get our groove on, how could we ever ask for more? More

Repress!

Coming in blazing-hot off the heels of their very welcome reunion set for the recent
Glossolalia LP, Dave Aju & The Invisible Art Trio are apparently out for no mercy here on
their potent Elbow Grease debut for the label’s third offering. “Next 2 You” was a deep
jam session-based composition started overseas some 8+ years back in an earlier
incarnation, with the raw-edged flavors and voodoo feels of the OG underground era
and has now been unearthed and blessed for pure dancefloor detonation by the everelusive
LA-based musical squad.
The A-side Original Mix is yet again an extended multi-layered sonic voyage of driving
vibe-led hypnosis, loaded with rising modal chants, fiery free jazz horns, otherworldly
percussion literally orbiting around a solid throbbing 909 framework, and grinding lowend
funk pulsations via a sub-octave 303 acid line woven in at the core of the piece.
The generous EG release recipe also gives us the lethally mixable, wetted-up, and
straight to the percussive point B1 Stripped Dub version, as well as an endlessly
unfolding beatless Reprise on the B2 primed for any DJ set moment in need of
mesmerizing impactful bliss on the flip.
The trio states this work was inspired by various concepts from the sci-fi futurism of
VanderMeer’s Annhilation, field research on ancient Incan rituals, and of course the
cosmic lineage of core spiritual jazz astral travelers such as our recently earth-departed
Pharoah, along with respectful nods to the master teachers from the D. “Next 2 You”
indeed. More

West Coast mainstay maverick Dave Aju launches his anticipated new label Elbow Grease with this timelessly sublime dance floor trip, dripping with outer space soul and deep ocean floor sonics. "X17", a reference to the hypothetical particle and Fifth Force discovery, is equal parts warm and cold, ruff and smooth, as a raw Detroit Electro-schooled rhythm base plows through various known musical barriers, adorned with worldly percussion hits, moving synth pads, and subtle jazz motifs. The generously unfolding "Main Mix" is accompanied by both a potent "Rhythm Dub" stripped back for maximum impact, and a beatless high "Viiibe" version offering a more immersive listen and alternative options for adventurous DJs to mix as they feel - a fine intro to the Elbow Grease credo. More