TONE CONTROL – Illusion (Theo Parrish Remix)

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King Theo has landed! You can bet 12 years ago when WOLF Music started the label, they never thought they’d be welcoming certified royalty Theo Parrish to lay down a remix on a release. And what better track for Theo to work his magic on, than the deep depths of  Tone Control’s 2008 classic – ‘Illusion’.

Buttery, soulful deepness, ‘Illusion’ has it all, hitting you right in that soft spot – pure eyes closed business. Late night, early morning, peak time, take your pick. It was an instant classic when it was released, with Theo regularly drawing for it at his legendary Plastic People residency.

Now sit the man Theo down in the studio with the stems for a track he clearly loves and what do you get? A slice of Theo genius no doubt. His ‘SS Translation’ clocks in at nearly 10 minutes, building, twisting, and turning in a way only Theo knows how. Restructuring and re-layering the elements to squeeze every last drop of emotion out of Tone Control’s track, Theo’s delectable bass synth playing, at times haunting keys and fresh drum programming give a rawness and punch to the cut that channel that inner Theo spirit in style.

Flip it to find Tone Control’s mix of ‘Illusion’, Simon Finnegan and Marcus Harris’ biggest hit that’s still played today by the likes of Kyle Hall, Jay Daniel and Kerri Chandler. In fact, who better to talk this track up than Kerri himself, with a quote from back in the day:

 “…It is one of my favorite songs. Even the way the song is put together is honestly what house is all about for me. It’s got every element I love in one song, dope bass line, a different deep vocal, the sounds are hot (drums, even the way he made them swing, that Rhodes) all of it… Everyone I play it for they freak out about it.”

All in all, this 12 is a must-have for those that like to get down! Listen / Buy here via Phonica – out 13/5/22

We spoke to the team behind this project just before release day…

Please introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, we’re Simon Finnegan and Marcus Harris from Tone Control.

When did you first release Illusion?

We first released “Illusion” in 2008, on our own label, Tone Control Music. The music and lyrics are written by us, Simon and Marcus. The vocals are performed by James B. Coleman – we recorded them in our then living room-studio at our flat on Pentonville Road in King Cross. The Rhodes are played by Andy Badderly. The siren on the second chorus appears courtesy of Islington Police.

Who was playing it back in the day? How did it become such a cult classic?

It was played by loads of DJs. The original 12” represented a few UK producers, and each mix had its place. Our mix, the original, was picked up by Kerri Chandler, Tony Humphries and later, Theo Parrish.

How did it feel when you found out Kerri Chandler loved it?

Simon: I was at Southport Weekender, dancing in the Power House (a room for ~2,500 people) at about 6am, when Kerri played it. It blew my mind. I ran around telling everyone, “its our track”!

Marcus: I was in bed and received a very early morning call from an excited Simon telling me the good news.  I was chuffed as I love Kerri Chandler’s music.

So Theo Parrish played it at Plastic People. Were you ever there when he played it?

Simon: Yep, a few times. We used to go there regularly for his residency – as it really was the best club, and had great sound. In fact, I was there the night Marcus met his wife… and their eldest son is called, Theo!

Marcus: All true! Theo was indeed playing the night I met my wife.  Simon had persuaded me to come out and I am now very glad he did!

How did you hook up with the Wolf Boys?

Simon: I met Matt and Stu around 2004 at Southport Weekender – I remember giving them demos and mixes on cd – as you did back then. In fact Matt helped me get one of our projects on to an early digital download store, and I regularly listened to Stu’s mixes that he posted on the Southport Forum – we had a similar liking for a broad range of styles.

How did you make the Theo Remix happen?

Simon: It’s been really nice, working with Stu and Matt – We were discussing potential remixers, and I mentioned that Theo used to play it regularly, so Stu reached out to him… the rest is history

What did you think when you first heard his mix?

Well, we’re big fans, so the first thought was, “this is classic Theo!” While also being chuffed that he kept and highlighted some nice parts from the original, while adding his own jazzy keys…

If you didn’t get Theo Parrish to remix it, who else would you have got to do it?

We both love the Detroit and Atlanta sounds. We discussed producers like Kai Alce, Stefan Ringer, Kemit. From the UK, artists like K15, Dego.

What does Tone Control have in the pipeline?

After several years hiatus for kids, bereavement and life, we’ve been back in the studio recording again. With a growing collection of instrumentals, we have some sessions lined up with James B. Coleman and other musicians and vocalists we’re fans of, so keep ’em peeled for more Tone Control sounds.

WOLF MUSIC PRESENT TONE CONTROL’S CULT CLASSIC ‘ILLUSION’ REMIXED BY THEO PARRISH RELEASED 13TH MAY.



DJ Rocca, Chris Coco, Danielle Moore – Your Sunshine

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DJ Rocca and Chris Coco continue their quest to define their version of music to play at an imaginary Discoteca. Here they team up with Danielle Moore, the singer for Crazy P, for a hazy, summery mid tempo groove that takes you off to an unspecified, loved-up sunshine state. There’s an album of dub house electro afro disco tracks that’s coming later in the year. The duo also plan to set up a few real life CocoRocca Discoteca events in summer 2022. An essential double pack of deep, dreamy rhythm and melody, equally at home at the beach or the club. Buy via Bandcamp (see link below to listen / buy) and all good online services.

Lady Blackbird – Lost and Looking (Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy Cosmodelica Remix)

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Foundation Music is a project between seasoned A&R man Ross Allen, and long-time collaborator Andy Thompson. Going back to the 80s, they met when Andy sold Ross records out of Holborn’s City Sounds. With a shared love of Black Music of all persuasions, these twisted soul boys bring their wide-ranging skills and contacts to the table, seeking out hidden artists and tracks that lurk about in the fringes.

Foundation has presented some killer releases over the last year from London’s Bruise, KDA, Baltimore’s DJ Oji, with more gold in the pipeline from Crooked Man, Greg Foat, and New Jersey’s Foremost Poets. Lady Blackbird is the LA based chanteuse, born Marley Munroe who took the radio airwaves by storm last year. Once in a blue moon a singer comes along that stops you in your tracks, Lady Blackbird is one such talent. This force of nature released her debut single on Foundation, with remixes that followed by jazz and house heavyweights Bruise, Greg Foat, Ashley Beedle, KDA, Calibre, and face of the moment Emma Jean Thackery.

Dubbed by Gilles Peterson “the Grace Jones of jazz”, her album Black Acid Soul dropped in September 2021. Lady Blackbird has received glowing reviews in The Guardian and in the New York Times. A headline act at Gilles Peterson’s We Out Here festival last summer, she performed live on Jools Holland, and played London’s 100 Club, with her much anticipated Round House date planned for this month. ‘Lost and Looking’ is a cover of Sam Cooke’s sparsely arranged original, where Lady Blackbird builds the track with her haunting vocal that floats over percussion-less bass, and sparkling piano notes performed by Deron Johnson. On this version Foundation Music bring onboard Classic Album Sunday’s originator, co-founder of the Lucky Cloud System parties, presenter of Worldwide FM’s Cosmodelica & Balearic Breakfast, and David Mancuso protégé, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy. This connoisseur of sound recently showcased her remix chops on Roisin Murphy’s incendiary single ‘Murphy’s Law. The much respected selector this time turns in her ‘Cosmodelica Remix’, where ‘Lost and Looking’ is muscled up for the dancefloor, with demon bassline, funk fuelled bass guitar, and cosmic acid lines. There’s also a dub for those who prefer a more stripped down but equally pumping affair.

Out now via Beatport

Diogo Strausz – Emancipação Extended EP

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Following on last year’s standout 7” release from Diogo Strausz, Razor-N-Tape now reveals the incredible extended mixes of the original pair of tunes, along with a strikingly beautiful remix of the title track by the inimitable Ron Trent. Originally conceived by the Brazilian producer to be long form songs that showcased the deep musicianship of Strausz and his cohorts, extended organ and piano solos and instrumentation now stretch out in all their jazzy glory across one side of a heavyweight 180g 12”. On the the A-side, Ron Trent takes Emancipação positively interstellar, with added instrumentation and mounting percussion that builds toward a soulful and hypnotic peak, the way only he can do!

Shipping out on or around January 14, 2022 – Buy / Listen here

The Nearest Faraway Place got a chance to talk to Diogo about this superb new collaboration recently…

Please introduce yourself to our readers..

Hello, my name is Diogo Strausz. Originally I’m from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil but I used to live in Paris until last year. Today I’m based between Paris and São Paulo.

What are you up to today?

Today I’m studying the best way to back up my live set setup. I deeply wish I had something less boring to share with the NFP readers.

Talk us through your new release a little..

We’re releasing Ron Trent’s remix of my track Emancipação, it’s an honour to be remixed by this legendary guy. Along with that we are including the extended versions of my tracks ‘Emancipação’ and ‘50 anos em 5’ in the EP which is coming out in Vinyl on ‘Razor N Tape’ by my good friends Aaron Dae and JKriv.

Is there a process of production that you follow when making a new track?

Most songs I wrote came unexpectedly when I was distracted. So, I keep my ideas recorded on my phone for developing them later. Also, I normally try to separate the kinds of decisions I have to make, if I need to get into the mindset of creating, developing an existing draft or doing sound design, mixing etc…

Who would you love to see playing this track?

I would love to see it in one of Ron’s sets.

Where is the best place to listen to it?

I think it will be better appreciated on the dancefloor

What was the last piece of kit that you bought?

I recently bought a Poly D. Really amazed by what it can do.

If someone wanted to get to know your taste, what album should they listen to?

Azymuth – Light as a Feather

What advice would you give to other young producers in the studio?

We’ve been asked to perform many tasks in the studio compared to older generations. My advice is to do one at the time!

What have you got coming up in 2022?

Apart from this release, I have some new music coming out in April. Also, my live set is up and running. Ready for venues and clubs. Looking forward to crossing paths with the readers of NFP on the dancefloors.

Dark Emerald EP – APOENA

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Freerange are about to release a new EP from Apoena, the Brazilian DJ and producer, now based in Berlin is known for his deep, raw, underground house and techno tracks have appeared on cult labels such as Jus Ed’s Underground Quality, Rawax and Batti Batti with regular supporters including Delano Smith, Laurent Garnier and Agoria to name a few.


On the Dark Emerald EP we are treated to three tracks of hypnotic club grooves which swing from the minimal, chunky bounce of lead track Must Go Deeper, through the rolling, filtered mood of Mind and winding down with the immersive, late night Detroit-inspired sounds of Dark Emerald. Apoena’s production skills mean these tracks sound punchy and BIG on a nice system, creating just the kind of
heads-down, locked-on atmosphere the deep and discerning dance floor desires.

Listen & buy via Bandcamp link below – pre-order now – released 14/1/22

We got a chance to talk to Apoena about this new project, here’s our interview:

Tell us about the Dark Emerald EP a little..

I guess many producers will identify with me when I say giving titles to tracks is among the most difficult part of electronic Music production, period. Specially if you make hundreds of tracks like I do. It’s crazy to find titles. Sometimes it takes me years literally. This track was called for long time “Verde Escuro”, that means dark green in Portuguese. Because I always had a feeling about the colour green with this one. Then I started to think about a dark green rocky raw gem. So, I looked up what gem would actually be green. So, it became Dark Emerald.

Is there a process of production that you follow when making a new track?

Not really. Composing is in my nature. During my life I composed for several different styles of music. It is something I do without effort. It’s more like from time to time I need to work through energies/emotions trough making tracks. It’s a way I deal with being alive. I just need to direct my emotions somewhere, trying to empty myself of them. I sit in the studio with no idea what I will do. Sometimes I have like a tempo I wanna keep, but I can’t absolutely control the results. It can be moody deep house in the end, or a distorted electro cut or techno track.

Who would you love to see playing this track and where is the best place to listen to it?

Well, there are so many DJs I respect but the longer I know about them the more I care about them! I have the biggest respect for the guys that were already making the good stuff when I started in 1999 and until today they are making good music. Freerange boss Jimpster is an example of that. And I have actually been blessed to see many of my favorite artists playing my tracks. It’s clear in my music that I love the Detroit sound. Delano Smith, Luke Hess, Derrick May, all those guys I’ve heard my music on their sets. But nowadays I guess what would really make me happy would be if I can connect to younger DJs and a wider audience. It’s easy to respect the underground for those who know it for long time, but I also worry if we are being able to reinspire the deep house crowd.

What was the last piece of music that you bought?

There is so much but I’ll highlight the old “Nick Holder – Da Sambafrique”. I heard it on Jazz FM Radio I listen to in Berlin and was really excited as I was thinking “what is that again”? “I know that”. Then eventually I remembered. I knew it so well without ever having the record. Just because I listened to it so much in my satellite records cart all those years ago. Well now I finally own it!

If someone wanted to get to know your taste, what album should they listen to?

I need to say 2: “Glenn Underground – Lounge Excursions” and “Ben Sims – Smoke and Mirrors”. I love both House and Techno.

What advice would you give to other producers in the studio?

Maybe go easy with the progressive stuff? Hehe..

What have you got going on in 2022?

This will be the year I’ll reissue Allnite Music in digital with some exclusive tracks too. The label has been a vinyl only imprint so far but now I’m growing more interested the digital platforms.

GROUND PLANE AERIAL – CHAMPAGNE TEST EP

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Copenhagen-based musical adventurer Ground Plane Aerial returns with the latest instalment under his recently birthed moniker – Returning with the second outing on his freshly birthed label Theorama Records.

The Champagne Test EP is a solid testimony to the dawn of a reinvigorated dance scene in his homestead

Ground Plane Aerial is the latest incarnation of the mysterious man behind the highly regarded Paxton Fettel project. With countless releases under his belt on much respected labels – including Delusions Of Grandeur, Kolour LTD, Apersonal, and regular home Greta Cottage Workshop – the new nom de plume is an exciting new vessel from where he intends to advance his odyssey into house-inspired jazz-funk futurism. Fresh from inspired releases and remixes on Apparel Music and Tensnake’s True Romance.

Swirling acidlines and funky bass guitar dominates the airspace as the 909 ensures a solid foundation to an enigmatic “champagne sparkle” space trip. 

Delicate swirls of silver clouds orbit a core of funk-laden motifs on the dreamy yet driving force which is “Later Bloomer”- Warm as an Egyptian summer night.

RELEASED: 24TH OCTOBER – Listen & Buy via Juno here…

Don’t Run Away – Quinn Lamont Luke fka Bing Ji Ling

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Quinn Lamont Luke is back from lockdown with one of the tracks of the year, ‘Don’t Run Away‘ on his own label El Triangulo. A timeless slice of deep house Balearic soul with a hint of Larry Heard / Mr Fingers in it’s DNA. If you’ve enjoyed Quinn’s work with Cantoma and Paqua then you’re going to love this, it’s an essential Summer soundtrack with tough, chugging drums and dreamy synths topped off with the artist formerly known as Bing Ji Ling’s soulful melancholic vocal. File in your collection alongside the Mancuso Loft classics that inspired it.

Out on the 9/7/21 buy via Bandcamp, listen in the player below…

Peaceful Revolution EP – Simbad

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Simbad makes a return to Freerange following last year’s brilliant Take My Hand EP featuring South African vocalist Brian Temba with Peaceful Revolution, a top quality deep house four tracker.

Now based predominantly in Cape Town, the French Londoner producer and DJ is one of
the most prolific artists in the scene having notched up countless EP’s,
remixes and production work for labels like Apron, G.A.M.M. Faces,
Hyperdub, Atjazz, BBE & 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 Asia and beyond.

Featuring South African upcoming producer Zito Mowa & vocalist
Lwandile Zulu who brings a raw and impassioned energy to the deep and
soulful mood, this tune was recorded in support of the troubled events
from the past few months and inspired by by the work of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Next up we have a track entitled Let Go which could quite easily be the
lead track of the EP if they weren’t all as good as each other! This is
late night emotive house music at its most sublime. Drop this at the
right time and watch the floor come together in collective bliss.

Flip over for SMBD’s Shaolin Dub remix of Peaceful Revolution which pushes
the original to the outer limits of the audio spectrum. Sub-sonic low end
rumbles sitting in contrast to the ghost like whispers, glitches and
industrial noises that pierce the ethereal pads.

Closing out this special release we find the unassumingly titled Soulful
Jam, a low-slung groove which sees Simbad going heavy on fizzing analogue
synths with a serene synth solo takin centre stage amongst the lush
chords.

EP release date: 22 January 2021 – Buy via Bandcamp on vinyl & digital

North Satellite – A Rising Sign

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North Satellite is a new project from Eugene Tambourine, he’s working with the maestro Darshan Jesrani, who’s on mixing duties on this release on his new label, Startree. This four tracker is sprinkled with some of Darshan’s special Metro Area depth and soul, it’s sultry, late night, slo-mo dance music. Proper after hours e-soul of the highest calibre, have a listen and get your hands on the vinyl via Juno sharpish…

Leonidas & Hobbes, ‘Aranath’ EP

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Leonidas & Hobbes make a timely return with ‘Aranath‘ EP, 3 years after ‘Web Of Intrigue’ (from 3rd EP Rags Of Time) was voted No1 in Bill Brewster’s 2017 DJ History poll.  Delivering a follow-up to many people’s 2017 summer anthem has been something of a protracted process, not least due to Covid and the 400 miles between us.  

A cracking package that is being launched as a Kickstarter project with loads of lovely merch and extras to enjoy, get behind it here.

Aranath features the hugely talented multi-instrumentalist Riad Abji and his virtuoso cello & tanpura raga, which inspired us to create 4 mixes, combining Riad’s eastern lament with classic house and ambient techno. The release is complemented by the tropical flavours of ‘Into It’ and ‘Out Of It’. The previously unreleased ambient mix of ‘Web of Intrigue’ (digital-only bonus track) from ‘Rags of Time’ rounds off what can certainly be described as a ‘deep’ release.

The sleeve art was inspired by an Indian painting from the 19th Century and created over the course of many obsessive evenings at the height of lockdown (as was some of the audio). Needless to say, the whole project has helped to keep us both sane through these crazy months.

A limited edition vinyl record will be pressed up, featuring our signature in the run-out groove/dead wax, in a full colour sleeve with 3mm spine, shrink-wrapped (PLUS download code, including 3 bonus tracks – NB This includes an 8 min ‘Edit’ of ‘Aranath’ (Original Mix).