The winner of the audience prize is Kafele! He receives a money prize, the opportunity to record an exclusive track with Colonel Red and his remix will be also featured on TDR’s next ‘Heart’ compilation. The Dagger DX remix received the second highest ammount of votes and has therefore found a new home on TDR’s next ‘Boogie’ compilation. Last but not least, the jury prize of the remix contest goes to Bon.Q.Band. Their remix will be released on Colonel Red’s forthcoming 10-year-anniversairy album to be released this summer. All remixes are still available for free download below. Thank you to all participants once again – we were blown away by the high quality of so many of the remixes!

Colonel Red adds: “This competition was a real tough one! With some of the most colourful & diverse remixes from some of the most open minded modern fusion producers out here to date! And although the competition has reached its end, the awareness for some new and upcoming sounds has just started, making us proud to have ignited such an opportunity, not just for the producers who were involved, but for us as the listeners, as we are now able to continue to join the dots for some fantastic music to come, for this also, we are sincerely thankful!”

Download remix contest finalists!

Download Top 10 ‘Rain A Fall’ Remixes (320kbps / 100MB / free download)

Amalia – All The Funk I Need (Original Version)

All Amalia Remix Contest Finalists

To determine the winner of the remix contest, we asked our Facebook followers to choose their favourite remix and it was the eerie downbeat version of Italian turntable producer B. Kun which received the most votes by our listeners.

As winner of the remix contest he receives a symbolic money prize of 250 € and will be highlighted on the next TDR compilation besides artists such as Colonel Red, Rachel Claudio, Marc Mac, Erik Rico and Diana Krall. Carlos and Blessy who came in second and third will both receive premium ‘light’ accounts at Soundcloud.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the remix action once again!

Download top 10 remixes in one ZIP (320kbps free DL)

30 years later in Atlanta, Stan is one of the many Americans whose life was permanently changed by this art form. The music has changed, arguably for the worst, and its original fans have too. They now have families, bills and the day to day responsibilities that come with adulthood. These once ravenous fans are now finding themselves moving away from today’s rap music towards other more ‘grown’ genres, but Stan never stopped honing his craft. During what was the darkest time he had ever known, he even found therapy in music. He linked with UK broken beat legend Daz-I-Kue and began to create pieces for himself, mainly pep talks. Stan, realizing he wasn’t suffering alone, thought this music might motivate others to ‘Get Up Move’. Daz-I-Kue’s world class soundscapes coupled with Stan’s freaky flow made for a happy marriage. Additional production by German duo Soulparlor and Atlanta’s own Rahgroove sealed the deal on this breath of fresh air. And who couldn’t use some fresh air? It’s been a long time coming. In the early days he was told it was a fad and as an adult they say he’s too old. Well… welcome the oldest new jack to the longest running fad… son, brother, husband, father and emcee, Stan ‘Steam’ Smith.

A force of nature…breathe in AMALIA.

With a massive appetite for all tingz that make people dance and fly, this versatile voice varying from a lamb to a lion ignited her spark for muze as she sang up against windows, in garbage cans, down stair wells, and on the loo! Bouncing with it, playing with the reverberation in a room, AMALIA began creating her own melodies and interpretive dance moves as a baby. Her source of inspiration being her father’s extensive soul & jazz record collection and a multitude of books filled with activism and art! She eagerly asked her family if she could enroll into writing and music classes, only to find her explosive energy could not be schooled at a ‘conventional’ school. By the tender age of 14, Amalia was session singing, writing tv jingles, and literally blowing up speakers at charity shows!

“To watch Amalia perform is to see passion personified. Her spirit and creativity ooze out of every thrust and hip gyration; her powerful voice indicates a talent that is both instinctive and unique…” – Honey Jam Toronto

Many purple moons and bands later, her deep desire to explore the planet forced her to move to Europe. Her musical connection with OPOLOPO was far too great to be ignored. The pair had been doing the internet shuffle for years and developing a devoted underground following with their collaborations. Leaving Vancouver equipped with a mic, a Canadian Juno nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Artist, and a Best Electronic Artist Award for her involvement in band SEKOYA, she was soon touring Tokyo, Berlin, London, Warsaw, Shanghai, Lausanne and formulating with other music visionaries Atjazz, Domu, AD Bourke, Son Of Kick, Grems, Probe Dms, Altered Natives, B.Bravo, Teeko, & Afronaut of Bugz in the Attic.

“AMALIA channels a young Chaka roller skating with Opolopo on Saturn’s rings. This album will be in my speakers for years!” – Exchange Bureau Music Detroit

As protagonists of the international broken beat scene since more than 15 years, the three look back on over two dozen single releases, fully booked club residencies all over Europe, music scores for Mercedes-Benz and MTV, successful remixes for James Brown, Juan Aktins and so much more.

After the release of their special TDR album ‘Evoluzion’ they’re already in the middle of producing a followup album featuring Blu James, Colonel Red, Joy Rose, Stan Smith, Lady Alma, Lyric L, Erik Rico and many more. Watch this space!

In an atmosphere of racial unrest that had him ‘locked up’ at the age of 15, he emerged inspired by the rich music culture he grew up with and combined with Rastafarian philosophy saw a young rude boy Redz sporting a natty Afro as he began to develop his craft. His first experience of the industry ‘and flying’ was being whisked off to the US in business class in the 90′s on a major record deal whirlwind and extensive radio tour. A far cry from a later complete reinvention as an independent artist building from the ground up and producing his own debut Colonel Red album ‘Blue Eye Blak’ at the turn of the new millenium.

Since then, Colonel Red has worked with and written for such artists as Maurice White, Lenny White, Alex Acuna, Amp Fidler, Keith Sweat, Teddy Pendergrass, Anita Baker, Jerry Hey & the Seawind Orchestra, Shara Nelso, Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam, Sandra St.Victor, IG Culture, Bugz in the Attic, Ursula Rucker, Tony Allen, Dwight Trible, The Last Poets, Brian Jackson and many more soul legends.

‘Keep Walkin’, Colonel Red’s new TDR album, resonates with the rich influences and experiences of his heritage, yet still speaks with honest humility of familiar themes of faith, hope and love, that captures the essence of the contradictions and challenges that come to many of us, making the most of our lives, living our dreams and finding love in a society that has us under pressure.

“Vindahl – Serendipity”, the first album project to be released under his real name has been his secret heart project for more than four years now. Musical influences as diverse as Talking Heads, Trevor Horn and Prince shimmer through, complemented by lyrics often based on themes of duality.

Swede:art already had a great start to 2010 after participating at Red Bull Music Academy and coproducing with Hudson Mohawke, Tokimonsta and others. Summer 2010 saw his highly anticipated debut album Emotional Colors drop on Tokyo Dawn Records including special guest appearances from Blaktroniks, Comfort Fit, Pursuit Grooves, Stray and more. Remixes of the sucessful ‘Emotional Colors’ album soon followed, featuring remixes by Andreas Saag (Swell Session), Kidkanevil, Waxolutionists, Tokimonsta, B. Bravo, Aroop Roy, Matt Flores and many more. Swede:art’s new releases 2011 are something you can really look forward to!

Techno superstar Laurent Garnier and UK house don Atjazz (Innervisions/Sonar Kollektiv) remixed Comfort Fit’s “Ask the Devil” featuring the bestselling book author Howard Marks, philosophizing about God, the Devil and the smoke inbetween.

Further dancefloor crashing remixes come from Comfort Fit himself, Sweden’s finest funkateer Opolopo, Germany’s house newcomer Jacob Korn (Running Back/Permanent Vacation), global bass buccaneer Tim Turbo from Berlin and finally a very special remix from UK breakbeat guru Domu (Treble O/Tru Thoughts). He recently announced his retirement from the music business to the shock of the worldwide music scene, but we hope this won’t be his last output.

More headnodders are contributed by Jay Scarlett, best known for his work with Spacek and the Beat Dimensions compilations, Death Star Lazer Trooper Robot Koch, brilliant beat-maker Swede:art (new album on TDR 2010!) Singing Statues (aka Jack High, Ghostly International) and Germany’s up and coming hip hop producer fLako. Denmark’s finest Boom Clap Bachelors and last but not least Portformat, who has just released his well received debut album ‘The Repeat Factor’ (TDR09-002) featuring Dudley Perkins, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Gajah, Blaktroniks and more.

Out now!

Grab it here: iTunes | Amazon | Juno | Digital Tunes

Total running time: 72:04 min

NASA-compatible Hip Hop Funkadelica is what to expect on Portformat’s debut album released into orbit, musically combining space themes of the 70s with the golden moments of 90s R’n'B.

R’n'B shooting stars such as Georgia Anne Muldrow, Shuanise and Suzi Analogue shine on Portformat’s beats from his Repeat Factory. Rappers such as Madlib-vocalist Dudley Perkins, Blaktroniks, Obey The Altar Native, Bless1, Gajah and Thesaurus Rex also join the ride. The album was even mixed by Comfort Fit for an extra galactic boom!

Grab it here: iTunes | Amazon | Juno | Digital Tunes

Starting out with overdubbing on cassette decks with a Casio VL Tone toy keyboard in his early teens, to constructing soundscapes on synths, beat boxes and computers, Peter Major aka Opolopo is one of Scandinavia’s most extraordinary producers.

Born in Zirc, Hungary he spent the early part of his creative development touring with a keyboardist father and listening to fusion and electronic records. Artists like Herbie Hancock, Jeff Lorber, Earth Wind & Fire, Quincy Jones, Jean-Michel Jarre, Isao Tomita, and Kraftwerk helped feed his ingenuity.

Equipped with keyboards, vocoder and modern technology Opolopo plays from London to Tokyo, as a one man band, with jazz ensemble Expansions, or with primary collaborator Amalia Miz Fuze Townsend, who also just released her new album ‘Art Slave’ via TDR.

His music spans over a decade on labels such as JVC Japan, Om Records, Warner Brothers, Tru Thughts, Sony/BMG, Swedish Brandy and Especial Records. Collaboration highlights include the legendary Dazz Band, Dudley Perkins, Craig David, Mr. V, Lanu, Simon Grey, Mpho Skeef, Eska, Sacha Williamson and more. His bootleg remixes of Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Erykah Badu also built a frenzy with soul music connoisseurs worldwide.

Three new Opolopo albums focussing on 80s electro funk and classic house music have just been released via TDR, heavily solidifying his reputation as a world class conductor of modern dance music.

Artists like Howard Marks (best known for his worldwide bestseller book ‘Mr Nice’), Blaktroniks, Wallis Bird, Gajah, Anita Tijoux, Naboobia and Caitlin Meissner collaborated with Comfort Fit to create this opus magnum of modern mind music.

So don’t miss this future classic if you happen to like dirty soul claps, monster basslines, organic dubs and growling synth annihilations. Order your oversize collector’s edition CD here (strictly limited to 100 copies!) or check your favourite mp3 shop!

i-Tunes | Amazon | Juno | Digital Tunes

Wisely using music codes of genres such as hiphop, dubstep and techno as a mere comic template, Comfort Fit has inspired hip hop and techno artists around the world with his heavy beat techniques. Besides his numerous remix requests, even major brands have discovered his outstanding production skills and request his music for advertisements regularly.

For an introduction to Portformat’s sound we warmly recommend his highly successful debut album ‘The Repeat Factor’ and previous remixes released on Tokyo Dawn Records. Chances are high you’ll be the next one to get addicted to his soulful and hypnotic future hip hop grooves.

These Fifteen unique tracks are perfectly in line with the Practice Avoiding Mistakes compilation we released two years before. You know: Dirty clapping Soul, Hip-Hop and finest House music from the hottest producers around.

You can stream the full release here, but we currently can’t offer any download of this release, sorry!

Like the best mixtapes this thing plays strongly as a whole – no matter if it’s about classic Jazz impressions (‘Miles of Smiles’), Theo Parrish references (‘Take a Look’), Hip Hop bouncers (‘True Form’, ‘Hairy Crushed Nuts’, ‘The Hunt’), scarily deep intergalactic grooves (‘Planetary Picknick’) or love themes (‘She Knows Me Now’), all the album tracks are locked together closely and must be seen as a whole.

Skipping through this album is not allowed. ‘Forget and Remember’ is more than just beat fodder for your next mixtape, “it’s a very personal diary of mine. I feel music is my natural form of expression, not words”, as Comfort Fit says. “It is very important for me to escape from the noise pollution of the cities and from the media hypes going on. I’d rather create my own”.

Eat This Raw.

All vinyl and CDs sold out quickly, it can be difficult to grab one these days. That’s why we finally decided to make your life easier: The compilation is now available for free, download and spread the love!

Blaktroniks is an electro-boogie-robot-soul-funk-hop project from Oakland, California. The group is formed by Edd Dee Pee and X-Ray. After collaborating and touring with Tokyo Dawn Records since over ten years, they are finally preparing their first long player for the label.