Incarnations strike again with a fine batch of reworks of tracks off of the mesmerising “With All Due Respect” album. For starters, Lexx turns love ballad “Let Love Find You” into a haunting Balearic Jan Hammered beauty, keeping Bing Ji Ling’s vocals and adding some Nyabinghi drumming and spectral synths. Space Ranger then take the uplifting “Hindi Ko Alam” to jacking disco territory while sprinkling their cosmic dust all over it, and Kare Frisvold & Rune Lindbæk manage to transform the contemplative “Sunset On Punta Paloma” into a psychedelic dancefloor affair.

The digital bonus track is delivered by Pepe Link, who delivers exactly what he promises in the title of his rerub: slow-mo Balearic disco for “Let Love Find You”.

Also check out the previous remixes by Ilya Santana, Wareika and Rayko!

Artist info:

Incarnations are Daniel Collás (Embassy Sound Productions, The Phenomenal Handclap Band), Bing Ji Ling (Q&A, Tommy Guerrero, The Phenomenal Handclap Band) and Bart Davenport (Honeycut), three kindred spirits who one fine day decided to record an album together. They did so in a family-run studio in Tarifa, on the south coast of Spain, and ten days later they came out with nine shiny little gems on the crossroads of yacht-rock, Balearic and singer-songwriter pop, collected on “With All Due Respect”, an album that has gathered wicked reviews.

Buy Punta Paloma EP on the Lovemonk Shop.

Incarnations are back with an overwhelming 12″, just in time for the summer.

Remix action comes from Ilya Santana and his trademark SpaceDiscoPop, Wareika bringing the deepness and Rayko offering a shot of synth-driven discoid eighties.

“Meet Me At Midnight” is an exquisite hand-crafted pop piece, where you can clearly hear echoes of America (the band, not the continent), among many other things. It has summer written all over it and allow us to say that is the kind of song that makes you a better person.

Ilya Santana takes the original and drives it deep into space, without losing its amazing pop feel. Wareika take over “Make You Mine” and bring it deeper than deep, close to Maurizio, in a superb remix. And last but not least, Madrid’s own edit maestro Rayko shows us his powerful approach to the song getting the most out of his synth collection!

Buy Meet Me At Midnight 12″ at the Lovemonk Shop.

The nom de plume of one Quinn Luke, Bing Ji Ling is a NYC–based producer/musician with a rich legacy of work behind and in front of him. Having co-produced, written, recorded and performed two full length records, an EP, and a slew of singles (not to mention numerous collaborations and remixes), Luke thought the time was right to work with outside producers for the first time. Produced by Embassy Sound Productions (Sean Marquand and Daniel Collas, the men behind Phenomenal Handclap Band), the forthcoming LP, Shadow to Shine, is an infectious concoction of Soul, Pop and Psychedelia full of summer jams destined for heavy rotation. Featuring members of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Scissor Sisters, Antibalas and Phenomenal Handclap Band, Shadow to Shine is a work of stunning, soulful talent, marking the finest chapter in Luke’s already accomplished career.

The Background
As a member of the Phenomenal Handclap Band, Luke has toured the World supporting acts such as Franz Ferdinand, Simian Mobile Disco, and the Gossip, as well as playing festivals such as O2 Wireless, Latitude (U.K.), Field Day (Australia) and BBK Live (Spain). As Coppa, a duo comprised of Luke and legendary crate-digging haven Chris Veltri (of Groove Merchant), Luke has also produced a series of 12-inch singles that have earned the praise of Space Disco tastemakers Prins Thomas and Todd Terje. As Q&A (formerly Expanding Head Band), a duo with Tussle songwriter Alexis Georgopoulos Luke has releases on DFA Records, Smalltown Supersound, and Lo Recordings. Luke is also a constant member of legendary skater-cum-musician Tommy Guerrero’s group, who regularly wow crowds at various international festivals such as Fuji Rock Festival (Japan).

Bing Ji Ling
Named for the Chinese words for Ice Cream (Luke spent a year in Shanghai and became fluent in Mandarin during his residency), as Bing Ji Ling Luke has released two full-length albums, an EP and numerous singles. Last year’s single, “Home”, culled from his EP June Degrees in December – featured remixes by Tokyo Black Star, Phenomenal Handclap Band, and Blackjoy. The track has received significant support, most notably from David Mancuso at his legendary party “The Loft.” A Japan only compilation of Luke’s work to date was released in the Fall of 2009. Luke toured Japan, U.S. and Europe to promote June Degrees in December, including PS-1 Warm Up Music Series in New York City and SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX. Over the past few years, Luke has also played venerable hot–spots such as Bowery Ballroom and Knitting Factory (NYC), Viper Room (LA), the Warfield (SF) and Liquid Room (Tokyo). The albums include contributions from No Doubt’s drummer Adrian Young and Luke’s right-hand man Merkely. Press interest has led to coverage in Pitchfork, XLR8R, Swindle, and ReUp Magazine.

The New LP
In 2005, Luke relocated from San Francisco to New York. With the move, came a renewed sense of purpose. After releasing the EP June Degrees In December, which found Luke bringing his taste for yacht rock and 80s R&B to the fore, he decided to work with outside producers for the first time. In the Fall of 2008, with Marquand and Collas at the controls, Luke set about trying something he’d never done: write songs and let the producers guide the direction each song would take. The results speak for themselves: a brilliant, effervescent album that showcases undeniable pop singles, brilliant arrangements and the breadth of a classic long–playing album.

Two minutes into the album’s infectious opening track “Move On”, you can tell this is something special. Recalling classic Motown in a way that would make Mark Ronson jealous, the song opens up with a dubbed–out flute solo breakdown. Meanwhile, the classic fuzztones and acoustic strum of “Bye Bye” recalls the oft–overlooked 70′s work by Arthur Lee’s Love. The swagger soul of “Hold Tight” showcases Luke’s vocal acrobatics, his pitch–perfect falsetto showing impressive range. Meanwhile, the gentle lilt of “Sunshine Love” shows Luke isn’t just a rocker, he’s a lover too.

Luke has the kind of melodic sensibility most would kill for. Which says nothing of his musical chops and taste for vintage instruments. Utilizing a small arsenal of gear that includes: A Fender Rhodes piano, analog synthesizers, all manner of percussion and bass, drums and guitar, Luke coaxes a warm, familiar sound that sounds fresh.

The latter–half of the album finds Luke opening things up. The breezy “Hypnotized” maybe the album’s deep cut, a brilliantly arranged gem which draws on Bill Withers and Shuggie Otis – with a sly wink to the Beatles – again showcasing Luke’s knack for catchy, memorable vocal hooks and producers’ Marquand & Collas inventive arrangements. Somewhere, Burt Bacharach is smiling. “Some Things Never Change” is a lovely ballad, combining baroque Pop with classic LA Pop. As usual, Luke has a knack for a chorus that won’t leave your mind. Closer “Where Am I Gonna Go” is a lovely, acoustic track that suggests a Hendrix ballad as written by Erlend Øye – filtered through an echo chamber – it brings the album down gently to an intimate close.

Unquestionably Shadow to Shine is Luke’s shining moment to date. It’s the kind of album – like all great Pop music – that etches itself into you: The work of a great songwriter, great musicians and great producers pursuing something together.

Buy Shadow To Shine at the Lovemonk Shop.

Traversing with an understated technical assuredness, the ambitious shapes of Steely Dan, the popping lounge funk of McDonald era Doobie Brothers, the sweet mourning of the Stylistics and Delfonics, and the exquisite song-craft and flawless harmonising of CSNY, Daniel Collás (The Phenomenal Handclap Band), Bart Davenport and Bing Ji Ling have recorded an absolute darling of an album under the name Incarnations.

Daniel Collás, Quinn Luke (Bing Ji Ling) and Bart Davenport, three friends with enough musical guises, side-projects, collaborations and production jobs to fill the annual itinerary of your average musician twice over. When three CVs like these get together on a regular basis, it’s only logical they speculate and hypothecate on the possibility of an album together. But, how to make those congested diaries synchronise? Bart lives in Oakland and Quinn and Daniel are in New York, all three of them are on tour for the better part of the year.

One sunny day in Madrid, Spain, a plan was hatched and a proposal was made.

Lovemonk, a small, eclectic and affable Spanish label, dangled the carrot that clinched the deal; ‘find two weeks between gigs/productions/recordings and head down to this little place we know in Tarifa, Southern Spain’. A family-run studio, in a house 5 minutes from a wild beach and a short ferry ride from the coast of Africa; the perfect ambience for the fleeting melody and sultry grooves of the Incarnations debut album, “With All Due Respect”.

Arriving with bits and bobs of half-songs, grooves and melodies, Daniel, Quinn and Bart, sketched and improvised their way to the most intensely evocative songs you’ll hear this year.  Traversing with an understated technical assuredness, the ambitious shapes of Steely Dan, the popping lounge funk of McDonald era Doobie Brothers, the sweet mourning of the Stylistics and Delfonics, and the exquisite song-craft and flawless harmonising of CSNY.

Punctuated by a day trip across the water to Tangiers, all 9 songs were written and recorded inside a fortnight in October 2009 and laid to rest while our protagonists jetted off to their respective diary appointments. Whether it was the beach, the soft weather, the fact that you can smell Africa from the studio, the home cooked Spanish food or the relaxed environment of the recording room, when the band returned to the songs at a New York studio earlier this year, they found an album as fresh and resonant as the moment it came into being. Quickly mixed down with no over-dubs or re-records, “With All Due Respect” captures the combined gifts of Tarifa and the three very talented friends that paid a visit.

Incarnations are:
Daniel Collás: DJ, drummer, organist, and one half of production team Embassy Sound Productions, the minds behind The Phenomenal Handclap Band. Plays – drums, percussion, organ and synthesizers.
Bart Davenport: Collaborator with Greyboy, General Elektriks and The Phenomenal Handclap Band; Singer-songwriter with The Loved Ones, The Kinetics and Honeycut, and most recently a touring member of the Kings Of Convenience. Plays – guitar, bass and vocals.
Quinn Luke a.ka. Bing Ji Ling: Part of The Phenomenal Handclap Band, one half of DFA recording artists Q&A and long time member of Tommy Guerrero’s band; Solo artist on labels Ubiquity and Lovemonk among others. Plays – guitars, keyboards, vocals

The band are named after Encarnación “Nini” Sagrista, owner of the recording studio in Tarifa, who housed and fed them during their stay.

Buy With All Due Respect at the Lovemonk Shop.

The opening track of Incarnations’ forthcoming debut album “With All Due Respect” is a sun-drenched Balearic bomb if ever there was one. Handsome threesome Daniel Collás, Quinn Luke aka (Bing Ji Ling) and Bart Davenport soaked up al the good vibes of the Tarifa studio on the south-coast of Spain, just in front of Africa, where the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet, and transformed them into little over three-and-a-half minutes of pure loving goodness, reminiscent of the 70s west coast sounds among many other things.

On remix duties we have Christian Prommer and Alex “Jazzanova” Barck taking the track into the late night territory with an epic deep-house stormer, while Bing Ji Ling makes those lazy sofa surfers get up and boogie with a strong NY flavour while the sun is setting.

Pressed on delicious 180 grams vinyl and stuck in a silk-screen printed sleeve, “Make You Mine” is quite the 12” to get your hands on this autumn!

Buy Make You Mine 12″ at the Lovemonk Shop.

Incredibly enough, between sessions and gigs with The Phenomenal Handclap Band, all-round good guy Bing Ji Ling found the time to record this gorgeous slab of yacht-rock called “Sunshine Love”. And it couldn’t have come at a better time, what with springtime being here and all – a time for birds, bees, sunshine and sweet sweet love.
Ray Mang (the man, the myth) was called upon for remix duties and he turned it into a mouth-watering slo-mo disco track. Oh, baby.

Background info:
Bing Ji Ling is actually Quinn Luke, long-time funk soul brother with a special place in his heart for nearly nekkid girls and all things Prince, Stevie and Earth Wind And Fire. Apart from releasing beautiful records as a solo artist he is also a member of Tommy Guerrero’s posse and of The Phenomenal Handclap Band, with whom he has been causing a bit of a ruckus over the last twelve months or so releasing singles and an album on Tummy Touch, Gomma, Truth & Soul, Friendly Fire and of course Lovemonk.

Buy Sunshine Love at the Lovemonk Shop.

Lovemonk is a small record label from the Malasaña borough of Madrid. It may sound like the biggest cliché in the history of popular music, but there is not one particular label that can be used to describe Lovemonk’s sound. Indeed, many different labels can be and have been used, and all of them are valid at some point. If there is one word that sums it all up, it’s – hold tight, another cliché alert! – “eclectic”. That, and “sunny”.

But what better way to explain than to release a label compilation that says it all? Enter “Los Discos Buenos Suenan Mejor” (“Good Records Sound Better”), a CD that travels many roads – progressive disco-rock by the ever so surprising The Phenomenal Handclap Band, Latin boogie by the Grammy-winning Los Amigos Invisibles, folkie Russian Red singing to the dancefloor with Nelue, a bomb track previously unreleased on CD by The Right Ons, Makala doing ragtime-hop, a boogaloo by The Gigoletto Brass Band, the Flaming Groovies classic “Shake Some Action” soulified by Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents, New Orleans grooves by Speak Low, carioca-funk by Open Foraina, groovy folk by Bing Ji Ling, deep funk by Chip Wickham and of course the label’s classics such as Gecko Turner, Pajaro Sunrise and Martín Buscaglia, the latter with a preview of his upcoming album!

And all this comes in a marvellous digi-pack with beautiful artwork by Polish designer Animiwiesasz.

Enjoy the ride!

Tracklisting
01. Open Foraina feat. Jack Quiñonez – Fala Tanto
02. Bing Ji Ling – Home
03. Soul Vigilantes feat. Xan Blacq – Under Water
04. Los Amigos Invisibles – Plastic Woman
05. Nelue feat. Russian Red – Deconstructed
06. The Phenomenal Handclap Band – 15 to 20
07. Gecko Turner – 45,000$ (Guapapasea) (Afrodisiac Soundsystem Remix)
08. Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents – Shake Some Action
09. Pajaro Sunrise – Perfect
10. Martín Buscaglia – Jaula de Motos
11. Speak Low – Black Used Shoes
12. The Right Ons – Hey Yeah!
13. Chip Wickham – Feelin’ Alright (Instrumental)
14. Makala – Cartoon Tune
15. The Gigoletto Brass Band – Boogalow

Buy Los Discos Buenos Suenan Mejor at the Lovemonk Shop.