What an amazing path Berlin DJ/producer/proprietor of Gomma and Toy Tonics Records Mathias “Munk” Modica has been on over the past year. During this time he’s turned heads globally with his infectious pop/disco/house gem “Southern Moon,” a sparkling collaboration featuring New York City vocalist Lizzie Paige, and he’s released his highly acclaimed second artist album, Chanson 3000, on Gomma.
This month Munk returns with a vengeance with various interpretations of “Cartoon” featuring vocals from Mona Lazette, a red-hot cut from Chanson 3000.
On his Cartoon Remixes EP, Munk enlisted choice remixes by Mike Simonetti of Italians Do It Better, German techno icon Patrick Pulsinger and rising stars COEO.
Always investigating and searching out quality new music, we asked Munk to wax poetic about some of his current favorite songs. He was happy to oblige.
Munk’s Cartoon Remixes EP is out now on Gomma.
1. Voyage Recordings
I like this label. Voyage is a small label from Melbourne where there has always has been a vibrant scene with people who have a big knowledge of the past but are very forward-thinking. Lots of big stylers over there. Voyage Recordings’ last release was the Harvey Sutherland EP, a super analogue house bomb. But these new acts are on the same level.
2. Kai Alcé feat Rico & Kafele Bandele / “Take A Chance” (incl. Larry Heard Remixes)
We like Kai Alcé a lot at Gomma office. He also just did a remix for my upcoming Munk single. He’s got that late ’90s jazzy vibe without being cheesy. There is a lot of soul and deepness but not that cheesy, sexless deepness like in so much of the boring deep house of today. This has another kind of deepness — the black soul deepness. I prefer this one.
3. Alixander III feat. Kim E and Gingy – “(She’s So) Young”
Alixander III is the man who created Azari & III. Now Azari is history — they split up and Alixander came up with a first solo EP on Toy Tonics Records. This EP makes me crazy. It’s techno, it’s funk, it’s so sleazy and can cause big damage on dance floors.
4. Church of SoMa EP – Spring Theory 2014
I like Avalon Emerson. She mixes up things that you would not expect in a house set. It flows. It’s fresh, and it has a stong connection to that type of ’90s era dance music that I like such as Ballistic Brothers, Ashley Beedle and Nuphonic.
5. Nachtbraker – YIWYA EP w/ Borrowed Identity remix
Nachtbraker is cool. With releases on Heist recordings and Dirt Crew, he’s starting to have quite a buzz. I like the Rhodes and the warm beats. I hope house music will develop more in this sensual direction because I am very tired of the usual deep house cheapness all around us. We call it yoga techno — the melancholic elevator music that has become an invasion all around us. Nachtbraker is different and still melancholic.