Release info
After spending most of 2020 putting music out on respected labels like Far Out Recordings, Sonar Kollektiv and Oye Black Label, Croatian producer Jan Kincl is kick starting 2021 with a 4-track EP featuring a remix from Atlanta-based house don Kai Alcé. The record's coming out in March for Save The Groove, a sublabel of a long-running Neapolitan label Frole Records, who's artist roster includes Gari Romalis, Norm Talley, Todd Teddy, Rick Wade, Orlando Voorn and many more.
The EP is titled "It's Been A While" and consists of three original pieces; Jan's solo produced "Love's So Far Away", two featuring a French keyboard player Regis Kattie - "Day By Day" and "Just Stay (Dub)", and "Just Stay (Kai Alcé Remix)".
A1 "Love's So Far Away" is a direct peak time club track drawing a lot of its influences from the raw and dirty side of Detroit house music. A2 "Day By Day" sits somewhere on the cross section between deep house, broken beat and jazz, with Regis Kattie's beautiful Rhodes melody woven throughout the track. B1 "Just Stay (Kai Alcé Remix)" is a masterful reinterpretation of "Just Stay", which transforms the otherwise more laidback original into a driving 3am house tune. B2 "Just Stay (Dub)" is best described as a connecting point between A1 and A2. Jan's raw house groove juxtaposed with a deep and subtle jazz feel coming from the hands of Regis Kattie.
Media
Played on Dublab (Los Angeles, US), NTS (UK), and Worldwide FM (London, UK).
Bluesy house with dreamy keyboards (Resident Advisor)
"The original dub version of "Just Stay" on Croatian artist Jan Kincl's new EP is a laid-back disco house fusion blessed with some cool-blue electric piano from French keyboardist Regis Kattie. In Kai Alcé's hands, it grows a firmer backbone but keeps its chill: there's a pep in its step with a deliciously syncopated drum pattern, while Kattie's keyboard trades off with breezy strings, mournful horns and leisurely synth leads. The retro touch connects the classic house proclivities of Naples' Frole Records—the parent label of Save The Groove—with the traditions of Chicago, Detroit and Alce's current home of Atlanta, traditions that the American has become a standard-bearer for. House doesn't get much smoother than this." Andrew Ryce, 2021
The best new singles this week (Patrizio Cavaliere for Juno Daily)
"Croatian artist Jan Kincl brings his thoroughly enjoyable take on four/four rhythms to Frole Records offshoot, Save The Groove, joining forces with frequent collaborator Regis Kattie on ‘It’s Been A While’. Add to this a remix from Atlanta-based deep house guru, Kai Alce, and it becomes increasingly apparent that this is an EP entirely deserving of careful consideration. For those not yet initiated, DJ, producer and live performer Kincl has enjoyed a fruitful few years since his releases first began appearing in the racks.
Since emerging in and around 2016, his music has found a home on ultra-credible labels including Sonar Kollektiv, BBE, and Far Out Recordings, while his CYCLE music production company is considered a jewel in the subcultural crown of his native Zagreb. ‘It’s Been A While’ launches via the hyper-infectious throes of the Donald Byrd-inspired ‘Love’s So Far Away’. Here, swirling piano licks endlessly loop and mutate as hypnotic vocal chops saunter over the rugged house groove, ebbing and flowing over a slick arrangement that’s sure to keep the dancers on their collective toes. Next, the altogether gentler ‘Day By Day’ sees melancholy chords floating over a bed of sizzling drums and dreamy bass notes, beautifully combining for a moment of rear-room reflection.
On the reverse, main man Kai Alce steps up to show everyone exactly what time it is, serving a kinetically-charged drum track that powerfully drives the celestial chords and atmospheric horns of ‘Just Stay’ across an exercise in less-is-more production. Finally, completing an emotionally rich EP, we find the dub version of ‘Just Stay’, where the evocative chords are supported by growling bass as the gently distorted drum track steers the tempo. One for the deep house heads, this is yet more tantelising work from the Kincl/Kattie collective."
Exclusive Premiere: Jan Kincl & Regis Kattie “Just Stay” Kai Alcé Remix (Music Is My Sanctuary)
"After spending most of 2020 putting music out on respected labels like Far Out Recordings, Sonar Kollektiv and Oye Black Label, Croatian producer Jan Kincl is kick starting 2021 with a 4-track EP featuring a remix from Atlanta-based house don Kai Alcé. The record’s coming out in March for Save The Groove, a sublabel of a long-running Neapolitan label Frole Records, who’s artist roster includes Gari Romalis, Norm Talley, Todd Teddy, Rick Wade, Orlando Voorn and many more. The EP is titled “It’s Been A While” and consists of three original pieces; Jan’s solo produced “Love’s So Far Away”, two featuring a French keyboard player Regis Kattie – “Day By Day” and “Just Stay (Dub)”, and “Just Stay (Kai Alcé Remix)”. B1 “Just Stay (Kai Alcé Remix)” is a masterful reinterpretation of “Just Stay”, which transforms the otherwise more laidback original into a driving 3am house tune." 2021
DJ support
Alex Attias (CH) - "Great vibes all over."
Alessandro Crimi (Switzerland) - "Some proper deep detroitish house vibes here - love it!"
Alex Barck/Jazzanova (Berlin, DE) - "Lovely release from lovely people."
Carlos Nilmmns (FRA) - "A1 Is Ace."
Claude Young (Detroit, USA) - "Love the Kai Alce Remix! What a great release!!!"
DJ TLR (NL), Giovanni Damico (ITA) - "Great music fellas, full support!"
Jimpster (UK) - "Great sounding release! Kai's mix is nice and sweet but I think it's the slightly rougher crunchy dub of Just Stay that I'm digging most."
Lay-Far (Russia) - "Soulful, groovy and rough!"
Lefto (BE) - "Great stuff."
Len Faki (Berlin, DE) - "Lovely EP, Love's So Far Away sticks out for me thnx!"
Michael Leuffen (Groove Mag/NTS, Berlin) - "Thats the soul I missed since long.... deep workouts!"
Mike Grant (Detroit, US) - "Nice tracks, good choice w/Kai for the remix."
Moxie (UK) - "Diggin the Kai Alcé Remix, thanks!"
Orlando Voorn (Georgia, US) - "Nice EP digging the Kai Alce mix & Dub."
Perseus Traxx (UK) - "I really enjoyed hearing this, with it's warm and relaxed vibe."
Rainer Trüby (DE) - "Quality all the way....like the Kai Alce mix too."
Reggie Dokes (Atlanta, US) - "Love's So Far Away is definitely one I will play. That soulful deepness that reminds me alot of the earlier Theo Parrish productions. Next I have to go with the smooth and sultry Kai Alce Remix of Just Stay."
Robert Owens (Chicago, US) - "Nice tracks."
Santiago Salazar (Los Angeles, UK) - "Great release with a dope Remix by Kai Alcé!"
Sergio Bifeis (Electrónica & Roll, Madrid) - "Love all EP. Pure Deep House sound with classic essence."
All tracks produced by Jan Kincl at Cycle Studio Zagreb. A1 Edited and arranged by Jan Kincl at Cycle Studio Zagreb. Inspired by Donald Byrd and Larry Mizell. A2 Written by Jan Kincl & Regis Kattie. Keyboards by Regis Kattie. Arranged by Jan Kincl. B1 additional production and mix by Kai Alcé. Brass performed by Zvonimir Bajevic. B2 Written by Jan Kincl & Regis Kattie. Keyboards by Regis Kattie. Arranged by Jan Kincl. All tracks except B1 mixed by Igor Fabris at Fabris Audio Berlin. Mastered at Audio Lab Italy.