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Here comes the Tekno Section utlimate double pack with a selecta of New Skool abd Oldschool artists from Mem Pamal or Ixi to Ochoa Oby One and more....
A superb double EP with full vibes !

The annual Bonkers Music compilation returns, delivering another round of high-energy bangers. This year, the release explores a slightly evolved musical style while staying true to its signature sound. Celebrating its sixth edition, “Year VI” will be available on 12” vinyl, accompanied by a few exciting surprises.

A1. Neskeh’s “106 Cabrel” revolves around a melodic yet hypnotically repetitive lead sequence, crafted to evoke a trance-like state on the dance floor and radiate positive energy. The foundation of big, punchy kicks and a robust bassline gives it a quintessential club vibe.

A percussive break in the middle shifts the mood entirely, paying homage to Goa rhythms and shamanic rituals, immersing listeners in a more primal atmosphere. The drop reignites the momentum, enhanced by the warm tones of the beloved Minilogue, adding an almost epic dimension to the journey.

A2. Berlin’s Mike Sacchetti and Madrid’s David Meyer unite on “Agria Pachanga,” a dance energy piece that pulses with percussive drive and a subtle touch of Latin identity.

Acid-inspired arrangements swirl around classic drum machine sounds. The syncopated rhythms and pumping basslines push the track towards an agitated club atmosphere, building this song into a bold declaration of fiesta.

A3. Two friends from Guadalajara, Mexico, Leonor & Ludviq, now living in different European cities, (Barcelona & Lyon) join forces to bring you Capybara Trance, This electrifying track combines dark, driving energy with intricately sequenced melodies, a hard-hitting chugging bassline, and the unique touch of capybara-inspired sounds. Anchored by a commanding kick drum that sets an unrelenting tempo.

B1. “Nebula” is a deep, atmospheric journey through cosmic sounds and pulsating rhythms. The track blends hypnotic melodies with dark synthetic textures, evoking a sense of drifting through endless galaxies. With a strong groove and intricate arrangements, it delivers energy that fits perfectly in both morning sets and more conceptual playlists. The collaboration between Radial Gaze, Ducati Flux, and Persona RS captures the spirit of exploration, creating a versatile track that can be the highlight of any set

B2. Intruso hailing from Bogota, now based in Barcelona brings “Somos Acido” this track draws inspiration from the early 2000’s House and Trance, capturing the nostalgia and emotional resonance of his first experiences with electronic music as a child. A driving Acid bassline injects dynamic energy, making it perfectly suited for the dance floor.

B3. Argentinian born, Australia based producer Poulper teams up with Mexican maestro Hugo Vallejo to kick off this intergalactic adventure. This track weaves together acid-laced elements and an infectious rhythm, layered with haunting post-dark vocals that narrate the fiery, cosmic tale of love burning in the vast expanse of space. A bold and immersive journey into the unknown, perfect for this stellar compilation.

Tuskegee returns with serious intent and a fresh club weapon from a recognised statesman of house music, Junior Sanchez. Having written and collaborated with artists including Daft Punk, Armand Van Helden, Todd Terry, and Roger Sanchez, ‘Bitch U Could Neva’ pairs Sanchez with vocalist and songwriter Dave Giles II, riding high himself following link-ups with Honey Dijon, Mike Dunn, and a producer on Beyonce’s anthemic ‘Cozy’.

‘Bitch U Could Neva’ is a powerful, instantaneous trip back into the underground style and attitude shared between both artists, reflecting the vibe of Sanchez’s rise to success in the halcyon days of New York nineties clubbing, alongside Giles II’s own youth in the Chicago creative scene. Living up to the attitude of its title, ‘Bitch U Could Neva’ bumps with peak-time energy, jackhammer drums and chopped-up vocals never undermining its fundamental sensuality, an increasingly rare link between true, authentic dancefloors past and present.

The pair then look to London for a confident, stripped-back take from prestigious record collector and curator GIDEON. The founder of dance music institutions Adonis and Glastonbury’s infamous Block 9 goes deep to find the track’s potential as a minimal, vogue-adjacent house workout, scattered with telephone dial tones and an upfront disclosure; “Bitch, I’m serving.”

Back across the Atlantic, Physical Therapy and Michael Mangan team up under their Fatherhood project to give ‘Bitch U Could Neva’ a seriously bouncy redress, winding tight drums atop a rubbery bassline and paying their own Twilo and Tunnel-era tributes with cut-up vocals and an ecstatic onslaught of rave stabs.

The Dandy Warhols - 'Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia' jetzt als Reissue auf Vinyl!

Das Kultalbum der Dandy Warhols vereint Psychedelic-Rock, Alternative-Pop und entspannten Indie-Vibe. Mit Hits wie 'Bohemian Like You', dem hypnotischen 'Godless' und der treibenden Energie von 'Get Off' ist es ein Soundtrack voller Attitüde und lässigem Charme. Jetzt als 2LP auf transparent-blauem Vinyl, bringt diese Neuauflage frischen Glanz in einen modernen Klassiker. Ein Must-have für Fans von 90s-Alternative und darüber hinaus!

- Ltd. Col. 2LP: (Transparent Blue Vinyl)

Selador’s Magic Black Plastic series returns with our seventh instalment and this one is all about one of our most treasured artists here at Selador, the one and only Danny Howells.

Long time friend of the label, DJ extraordinaire and one of the nicest guys in the business, Danny has been flexing his production muscle again much more frequently over the last 12 months and we’re delighted to be hosting two brand new tracks from him on this vinyl release.

The lead track ‘Powershow’ features here as a ‘vinyl only’ version, a 12+ minute extravaganza of authentic house vibes. Oozing class and quality from every groove. Just beautiful.

Following in its considerable slipstream like a season wingman, for the first time on vinyl, comes Danny’s first release for the label from 2018, one of our best selling digital releases, the classic ‘Earthlings X’, still sounding as fresh as the day it was made.

And finally, another fresh for 2025 Production, the majestic ‘Stereodrama’ picks up the pace for a driving, rumbunctious workout, that once again has Danny’s stamp written all over it.

Three absolute pearlers then from a man who can.

Get’ em down ya!

"Oh! Gunquit Are a British band known for their energetic blend of rock, surf, and garage music, with a touch of psychobilly and punk influences. Formed in the mid-2010s, the band is recognized for their vibrant, high-octane performances and a distinctive sound that mixes vintage rock 'n' roll with modern edge. Their music typically features catchy melodies, reverb-drenched guitars, and a retro aesthetic that appeals to fans of both classic and contemporary garage rock.

The band's lineup has changed over time, but the central core of the group created by Tina Swasey (Vocals) & Simon Wild (Guitar) have remained a constant & they've maintained a reputation for being a fun and electrifying act on stage. Their tracks often tell stories with a quirky, humorous touch while keeping a raw, rebellious vibe. Their most notable releases include songs like ""Dance like F*ck"" and ""So Long Sucker"", and they’ve earned a solid following for their ability to merge catchy pop hooks with a gritty, lo-fi sound. Oh! Gunquit has performed in various venues, European Tours and major Festivals, building a loyal fan base in the UK, Europe and beyond."

BEATALISTICS, the soulful South-German Drum & Bass label, run by Enea and MC Fava, is celebrating its 100th release. ONEHUNDRED reflects on almost one and a half decades of label back catalogue with a 29 tunes strong 'best of' various artists digital compilation. Included are also 6 brand new tunes which are packed on a vinyl sampler In addition. Featured is orchestral DnB pioneer KEENO who puts his magic hands of 'Sarah', taken off FAVA's Destiny EP with Smote & Becca Jane Grey and rounds up the meaningful song with his cinematic trademark sound . FAVA also adds some decent chants to COMMAND STRANGE'S 'Kindness Flow, a positive and uplifting liquid roller that is going to make your soul smile for sure. Long time label friend PAUL SG, head honcho of the brilliant soul driven Austrian imprint Jazzsticks delivers one of his signature amen break soul-rollers with 'Pale White Boy'. Label boss ENEA can't be missed on here and literally delivers the 'Heat' with his contribution. Beatalistics sticks to the label philosophy and supports local talents and important label representatives DAVA and MOJOMAN.'Pictures' delivers dancefloor vibes with a deep bassline and strong vocal arrangement and proves that Dava is one to watch out for in the near future. MOJOMAN maintains a desire to dance with the hypnotizing 'Pillers of Nah', following his unmistakably melodic and hymnal style.

Repress!


10 Year anniversary - Green vinyl

'Coups Et Blessures' is the debut 7" EP from Paris Oi! band RIXE. The four track EP harks back to the glory years of Bologna's finest NABAT mixed with the classic 80's French Oi! sound via RAS or L'INFANTERIE SAUVAGE and a heavy BLITZ vibe. The sound is rough, direct and angry and driven by a distorted bass and a vocalist that chews on glass for fun. Like the now defunct CRIMINAL DAMAGE and newbies Pittsburgh's NO TIME and Brest's SYNDROME 81, RIXE are the new voice of a Generation.

Blank Code is a Detroit, USA techno outfit that have released music by artists like Bas Mooy, Mike Parker, Brian Sanhaji, DJ Hyperactive, Drumcell, and many more.

The newest Blank Code release is Decoder with his 'Distant Beings' EP, a fellow American from Dallas who has gained many devoted supporters from having releases on Jeff Mills' Axis Records, Amotik Records, TWR72's Float, Edit Select Records, Molecular Recordings, and Science Cult, amongst others.

Beginning with "Missing Sector," a dystopian and airy soundscape of captivating rattlesnake hisses and muted tones of melody and suspense amidst a stuttering kick pattern.

"Strange Interaction" follows with an abstract approach overall, but using a solid, rhythmic beat as a pulsing constant. Static crackles create mesmerising textures and light tom drums are met with wandering waves of analogue whispers and skipping hats.

"Farther" introduces deep and looping modular frequencies that dance around in a sci-fi aesthetic. This sublimely hypnotic track has an ethereal quality of patience and draws influence from dubby and atmospheric styling.

Finishing with "Elevation," it instantly has an experimental vibe that seems mysterious and menacing. Cyclical mid tones create a sonic suction before phasing pulses add even more tension to this esoteric adventure.

Olof Dreijer signals a return to the dancefloor with the 'Rosa Rugosa EP', presented via UK label Hessle Audio. Lead track 'Rosa Rugosa' combines dreamy vibes and rubbery sounds with Olof's signature ear-worm synthlines, sitting comfortably alongside the label's extensive catalogue with a bassline that tears and splinters on the verge of breaking apart. Picked by Pitchfork as their 'Best New Track', it's found its way into the tracklists of some of the most respected and adventurous DJs throughout the Summer.

Complementing the title track, 'Camelia' dials up the emotional intensity with gliding leads soaring throughout the breakdown while 'Cassia' completes the EP with painterly splashes of colourful pads and gentle hand claps keeping the pulse. From his club focused work as Oni Ayhun, to his membership of the Swedish electronic pop group The Knife, Olof's music has always found ways to expand our ideas of what's possible in both instrumental electronic and pop music production, with an approach that is as inclusive and colourful as it is experimental.

AFIN returns to Frank Music with round 3! Alexander Franz is back on the sampler, delivering another fierce pack of tracks for the dancefloor. First up is "Disko Inferno", a peak-time-power-disco-house (PTPDH) banger that lives up to its name, igniting the energy. Next, "The Beloved" brings a groovy vibe, perfect for those with dancing feet and open hearts. Rounding out the release is "Body Rock", a track that gets your body moving, featuring a special vocal announcement that adds extra flavor. Once again, Birbs and Planties delivers solid gold basslines, locking in the rhythm.
Get ready for non-stop movement as AFIN delivers the goods. This one’s vinyl-only, so don’t wait—snag your copy and let’s make this spring real fun.

Amber Run is a British indie rock band from Nottingham. The band have released three albums and four EPs. They played Reading and Leeds festivals, enjoyed national radio support and had a strong press reaction: "Their vast sound has Coldplay stadium ambitions" (Independent); "Epic tunes that sound destined for arenas" (Daily Star); and "Incredibly effective" (The Sun).

Amber Run recorded their debut album throughout January and February 2014 with Sam Winfield and Brit Award-winning record producer Mike Crossey, who previously produced albums for Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, Twenty One Pilots, Walk the Moon, Foals, Keane, Jake Bugg and Yungblud. With Noah’s Mumford & Sons-like vocal melodies and the wisps of Bastille’s fist-pumping pop on single “Just My Soul Responding”, Amber Run maintains a legitimising rockstar edge.

There are comparisons with Coldplay on the single “I Found”, while the title track has London Grammar’s mellow trip-hop vibes.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of 5 AM, Music On Vinyl in cooperation with Amber Run and Sony Music present a limited, individually numbered 10th anniversary edition on yellow & black marbled vinyl. The package includes an insert with lyrics.

Limited edition of 500 copies.

Hard Top assembles the previously unreleased 1975 recordings of legendary South African saxophonist Kippie Moketsi (also spelled Moeketsi). The 2LP vinyl edition is presented in a gatefold sleeve featuring artwork by Mafa Ngwenya and comes from As-Shams Archive on the heels of the Tete Mbambisa's previously unreleased African Day album in 2024.

By 1975, at the age of 50, saxophonist Kippie Moketsi had already earned his stripes as a South African jazz figurehead. His tenure with the Jazz Epistles and the cast of the "South African Jazz Opera" King Kong in the late-1950s had not only marked his own rise to fame but also seen him help catalyse the ambitions of a younger generation of iconic artists who would go on to become the defining figures of modern South African jazz. While he didn't enjoy the same international attention as his protégés Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Abdullah Ibrahim, his humble and challenging career on the local jazz scene until his death in 1983 saw him forge an enduring legacy.

Owing to the efforts of record producer Rashid Vally, Kippie Moketsi's journey through the 1970s is beautifully documented, most notably on the albums Dollar Brand + 3 (1973), Tshona! (1975) and Blue Stompin' (1977), in which he shares the spotlight with Abdullah Ibrahim, Pat Matshikiza and Hal Singer respectively. As a featured performer on Soul of the City's Diagonal Street (1975) and Dennis Maple's Our Boys are Doing It (1977), Moketsi is seen embracing the popular orientations of South African jazz in 1970s but, having come up in the 1940s and 1950s, he never forgot his roots as a dedicated admirer and scholar of traditional American jazz.

While Moketsi did write some memorable compositions, it was in the role of interpreter that he shone most brightly. With its title derived from a good-natured nickname that nodded to Moketsi's elder status by way of his receding hairline, Hard Top is a covers album that looks back in time to the era of rhythm and blues while also indulging 1970s pop and funk with a decidedly South African vibe. Officially joining Kippie Moketsi's catalogue 50 years after it was recorded, Hard Top provides an opportunity to celebrate the multiple dimensions of a South African jazz legend and reflect on the unwavering support of his fan, producer and friend Rashid Vally, who passed away in December 2024.

It's not often that a solo Dwarde tune appears haha, so when it does, it needs to be jumped on with quickness! Piper was in a folder of tracks he sent me last year and it was my favourite of the bunch. I was really into it and thought that the vibes of it were spot on, I knew I had to have it for Future Retro London & I'm glad he let me have it.

On the flip side, DJ Chromz (who I collaborated with on FR024) turns in a wicked version of Piper, adding a bit more ruffness to the original and spinning it in a more gritty fashion, accompanying the a side nicely.

Philoxenia Records boss man Luigi Di Venere continues to blur the boundaries between traditional genres with a new EP that takes its inspirational cues from the multidimensional nature of sound waves. The title reflects the depth and motion captured in the EP's stunning artwork by CGI duo muzzin+samiri while the opener is a tribute to early 90s Frankfurt EBM. 'By Means Of Music' is a more funky vibe with New Beat undertones and real warmth. 'Got Momentum' brings a French house edge and on the flip, Cromby transforms' Got Momentum' into a euphoric UK peak-time anthem, and Cycle_2 reimagine 'By Means Of Music' as a psychedelic techno trip.

Seminal Afro-dub album "Dr. Afrodub" by Ghanaian Ekowmania aka Ekow Alabi Savage. The drummer, percussionist and singer who's played with Jimi Tenor & Kabukabu for more than 20 years explores the fields of classic Roots Reggae, Afro and Dub as well as uptempo modern African rhythms and ballads. This Jimi Tenor produced album is an expansion of Ekowmania's tribute song to Kwame Nkrumah (which is also released as 7" with different versions) and Tenor's electronic loops, which they developed into a full album in guitar player Lauri Kallio's country side studio in Kiikala, Finland. The album kicks off with a very heavy, club-ready and UK reggae-styled album mix of "Kwame Nkrumah", following up with 200% intensity on the voodooesque rhythm explosions of "Twerk Your Mind", then taking a 360 degree turn with the smoothness and laidback vibes of "Kiikala Reggae". Throughout its 9 cuts "Dr. Afrodub" always approach the balance of beautiful song writing and intensity in rhythm and melody, visiting the excellent and classically crafted 70's Roots tune "Dub Souljah", the upfront & tempo-fueled "Lagos Heavy" and ending with DJ Sotofett's mix of the albums ballad "Me Know".

CUT WITH EXCELLENCE BY TIMMION CUTTING LAB IN HELSINKI FINLAND.

Art Of Tones returns to GAMM after the success of his '3 Woman EP' with the '3 Men EP', an record where the male vocals come into focus.

We're starting off with 'International Truth', a huge soulful and uplifting disco/soul jam with big vocals and a large dose of feel-good vibes...a proper peak-time tune!

The B-side offers a rework of a rare and much sought after afro-disco cut and an amazing rework of one of those Stevie Wonder under-the-radar tracks that most of us probably have overlooked.

Edinburgh-based three-piece funk band High Fade are set to release their debut album 'Life’s Too Fast'.

Capturing the raw, on-stage energy that has been the driving force behind High Fade’s meteoric rise was never going to be easy, but that’s exactly what Harry, Oli and Calvin set out to do with a clear creative vision to record their album live at the iconic RAK Studios in London.

'We recorded in RAK Studios, with the desk built for the Rolling Stones in ‘76, with the same cigarette burns still on the faders. It instantly had a vibe of raw energy and liveliness to it that matched the way we wanted to record - live.' – Calvin

The result? 'Life’s Too Fast' – a blistering 10-track debut from one of the UK’s most exciting bands that manages to deliver the same tight, groove-laden funk rock that has put the group on the radars of Jack Black, Cypress Hill and Rage Against the Machine’s Brad Wilk, has seen them tour with The Cat Empire, and tick off iconic venues including Glastonbury, Jazz Cafe, and Boomtown Festival.

'We decided to record the album live rather than through the normal single track overdubbed method – we felt this would help to fully convey the band’s power, sound and energy across to the listener! More like we’re playing a gig and having it recorded – it was a tough process, but we went about it in the best way for both us and the audience, to ensure they’re getting the most authentic High Fade sound and experience possible.' – Oli

Having spent much of the last three years on the road seeing to a punishing tour schedule, 'Life’s Too Fast' is a chance for the band to stop and take stock, to reflect on their whirlwind success, and create an artistic milestone that demonstrates who High Fade are today. 'It’s the most accurate representation of what High Fade is, what we sound like, and who we are' explains Harry. Telling a clear story that matches their own experiences over the last few years, the album is a snapshot taken by a band who are accelerating towards real success and recognition.

'I’m glad we finally have a body of work that we’re proud of and feels like a collection of songs that nicely represents where we are right now. It’s organised chaos and shows that we like to play, but can also write a catchy tune.' – Calvin

Launching into proceedings with the effortlessly uplifting 'Take Me To The Floor', every track is a demonstration of the band’s technical prowess and broad sonic palette. A forward-facing selection of completely original material, the album also gave the band the opportunity to re-imagine fan-favourite 'Sharpen Up' as a stripped-back cut that reflects the band’s current lineup.

'Honestly, I kinda feel like I could explode with excitement about getting it out for everyone in the world to hear because it has been a long time in the making! A culmination of what all the singles have been working towards! I guess the album represents us and the direction we’re taking the music, it represents us as a trio and the gel that is High Fade.' – Oli

First-ever vinyl release of the instrumentals! RSD25

Groove to the sounds of the Free Nationals like never before! Their self-titled album, Free Nationals, is finally getting an exclusive instrumental vinyl release. Fans can experience the full sonic landscape of their signature funk, soul, and R&B fusion with no distractions—just pure, smooth vibes and great music.

Pressed on 180g heavyweight black vinyl, this limited edition release offers pristine audio quality that showcases the musicianship and craftsmanship behind the album’s beloved soundscapes. Whether you’re a fan of their work with Anderson .Paak or just a lover of rhythm and soul, this release is a collector’s dream—an essential for DJs, audiophiles, and anyone who craves the instrumental heartbeat of this incredible record.

MESSA, die 2024 ihr zehnjähriges Bestehen feiern, machen mit ihrem majestätischen vierten Album The Spin einen weiteren Schritt in Richtung Legendenstatus. Das Album nimmt seine Hörer mit auf eine atemberaubende Reise über den weiten Himmel ihrer kreativen Vorstellungskraft und über eine fesselnde Landschaft aus Stimmungen, Wendungen und Stilen. Basierend auf dem eklektischen, von der Band selbst definierten "Scarlet Doom"-Sound, erhebt sich The Spin, fällt, grübelt, beißt, tröstet und zerstört, während es sowohl mit instinktiver Magie als auch mit obsessiver, konzertierter harter Arbeit erklingt. Nachdem MESSA den Underground mit einem Triptychon von zunehmend unverwechselbaren und wundersamen Alben - Belfry (2016), Feast For Water (2018) und Close (2022) - zum Glühen gebracht haben, sind sie hörbar für die sprichwörtlich große Liga gerüstet.Die Vielseitigkeit von Messa war schon immer ein Faktor ihres Erfolgs; ihr charakteristischer "Scarlet Doom"-Sound absorbiert Einflüsse aus Jazz und Blues, Punk und Prog, Black Metal und Dark Ambient, aber ihre rastlose Experimentierfreudigkeit hat außerordentlich glatte und sichere Ergebnisse. The Spin" enthält ein weiteres neues Element, das in typischer Weise einen 80er-Jahre-Gothic-Rock-Vibe einfließen lässt. "Wir wiederholen uns nicht gerne und versuchen ständig, eine neue Sprache zu finden, um uns auszudrücken - ohne unsere Identität zu verlieren", betont die Band. "Diesmal haben wir uns auf ein Gebiet begeben, das wir noch nie zuvor erkundet haben, nämlich das Jahrzehnt der 1980er Jahre. Wir sind uns bewusst, dass viele Bands vor uns sich von dieser Ära inspirieren ließen, aber wir haben uns entschieden, unvorsichtig zu sein und uns davon zu lösen. Vor allem, weil wir uns darauf einlassen und hinterfragen, was wir tun. Wir sind sowieso kein Teil der 'dunklen Szene'. Der Einfluss für diese Platte geht eher auf den frühen Goth Rock/Dark Wave zurück als auf die späteren Ausläufer des Genres." Neben Sisters Of Mercy und Virgin Prunes nennt die Band Platten von Killing Joke, Mercyful Fate, Jimmy Page, Journey, The Sound, Boy Harsher und Vangelis als wichtige Einflussfaktoren für die Entstehung von The Spin.Verkaufsargumente/Treiber (Karriere-Highlights/Fakten/Marketing-Infos):- Massive Underground-Fangemeinde in Europa und Nordamerika - Ausgiebige Tourneen in Europa und Nordamerika- Auftritte auf allen wichtigen Festivals wie Hellfest, Roadburn, DesertFest, Northwest Terror Fest, Motorcultor, Brutal Assault u.v.m. - Release Show von "The Spin" auf dem Roadburn Festival (NL), wo das Album in voller Länge gespielt wurde. - Das letzte Album "Close" hat ca. 2,3 Millionen Streams auf Spotify erreicht.

MESSA, die 2024 ihr zehnjähriges Bestehen feiern, machen mit ihrem majestätischen vierten Album The Spin einen weiteren Schritt in Richtung Legendenstatus. Das Album nimmt seine Hörer mit auf eine atemberaubende Reise über den weiten Himmel ihrer kreativen Vorstellungskraft und über eine fesselnde Landschaft aus Stimmungen, Wendungen und Stilen. Basierend auf dem eklektischen, von der Band selbst definierten "Scarlet Doom"-Sound, erhebt sich The Spin, fällt, grübelt, beißt, tröstet und zerstört, während es sowohl mit instinktiver Magie als auch mit obsessiver, konzertierter harter Arbeit erklingt. Nachdem MESSA den Underground mit einem Triptychon von zunehmend unverwechselbaren und wundersamen Alben - Belfry (2016), Feast For Water (2018) und Close (2022) - zum Glühen gebracht haben, sind sie hörbar für die sprichwörtlich große Liga gerüstet.Die Vielseitigkeit von Messa war schon immer ein Faktor ihres Erfolgs; ihr charakteristischer "Scarlet Doom"-Sound absorbiert Einflüsse aus Jazz und Blues, Punk und Prog, Black Metal und Dark Ambient, aber ihre rastlose Experimentierfreudigkeit hat außerordentlich glatte und sichere Ergebnisse. The Spin" enthält ein weiteres neues Element, das in typischer Weise einen 80er-Jahre-Gothic-Rock-Vibe einfließen lässt. "Wir wiederholen uns nicht gerne und versuchen ständig, eine neue Sprache zu finden, um uns auszudrücken - ohne unsere Identität zu verlieren", betont die Band. "Diesmal haben wir uns auf ein Gebiet begeben, das wir noch nie zuvor erkundet haben, nämlich das Jahrzehnt der 1980er Jahre. Wir sind uns bewusst, dass viele Bands vor uns sich von dieser Ära inspirieren ließen, aber wir haben uns entschieden, unvorsichtig zu sein und uns davon zu lösen. Vor allem, weil wir uns darauf einlassen und hinterfragen, was wir tun. Wir sind sowieso kein Teil der 'dunklen Szene'. Der Einfluss für diese Platte geht eher auf den frühen Goth Rock/Dark Wave zurück als auf die späteren Ausläufer des Genres." Neben Sisters Of Mercy und Virgin Prunes nennt die Band Platten von Killing Joke, Mercyful Fate, Jimmy Page, Journey, The Sound, Boy Harsher und Vangelis als wichtige Einflussfaktoren für die Entstehung von The Spin.Verkaufsargumente/Treiber (Karriere-Highlights/Fakten/Marketing-Infos):- Massive Underground-Fangemeinde in Europa und Nordamerika - Ausgiebige Tourneen in Europa und Nordamerika- Auftritte auf allen wichtigen Festivals wie Hellfest, Roadburn, DesertFest, Northwest Terror Fest, Motorcultor, Brutal Assault u.v.m. - Release Show von "The Spin" auf dem Roadburn Festival (NL), wo das Album in voller Länge gespielt wurde. - Das letzte Album "Close" hat ca. 2,3 Millionen Streams auf Spotify erreicht.

ver the years, Andreas O. Hirsch has shaped a distinctive sound, exploring the possibilities of the electro-acoustic instruments he const- ructs. The Carbophone as well as the Electrified Palm Leaf are plucked instruments akin to the African Kalimba or Mbira. In combination with effects and loops, Hirsch creates an experimen- tal space, influenced by early electronics, Asian and African music as well as the possibilities of editing and collage. The majority of the pieces on The Salamander Treaty were made using the Carbophone Jr., a small traveling version of his original Carbophone which was the basis of the previously released Early Carbophonics. Shaped by the joy of discovery, the eight tracks traverse peculiar worlds of sound, carried by a warm downbeat and analogue vibe. Alongside the Car- bophone Jr., other instruments come into play: a vibrato-soaked guitar leads through the slowly evolving ‘Rise’, marked by a recurring Shepard tone and sounds made by striking the bars of an antique wall clock. In the straightforward yet sub-aquatic ‘Te- atime Unlimited’, a pitch-shifted Morse key wanders erratically in the background. Tape-delayed har- monicas serve as a flying carpet for ‘Drifting Newts’, and rubber bands make their melodic-rhythmical appearance through ‘Back Door Minimal’.

The Salamander Treaty refers to War with the Newts, a prophetic and black-humoured science fiction novel by Karel Čapek from 1936, which tells the story of the rise of the salamanders, who become in- creasingly intelligent and eventually begin to compete with mankind. The album is a pacifist response to this dark scenario: Hirsch’s salamanders prefer to hang out under the stars (‘Drifting Newts’), drink tea (‘Tea Time Unlimited’) and — as illustrated on the back cover — write conspiratorial-pacifist demands instead of calling for war (e.g., ‘Teaoism International’, ‘White Lilies’, ‘For Congress’). In image and word, the album invites looking at the term ‘treaty’, which phonetically contains the words ‘tree’ and ‘tea’, as a friendly reminder that the drafting of every treaty and agreement on this planet should be accompanied by a peaceful spirit.

Music, mix and artwork by Andreas Oskar Hirsch. Mastered by Volker Hennes. Pressed on BioVinyl by Optimal, who state that their manufacturing process reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 90% for the PVC component. 12“ LP, coloured sleeve, download code included,

LIMITED TO 100 COPIES!.

Just imagine heat wave of the night falling gently on the coastline and being chased away by the breeze of the Pacific. Through abandoned warehouse area you are following the distant sound and speeding up your pace excited and positive. The sound is getting thicker and louder. Yes, you are sure it is Highkin' and his friends are throwing another unforgettable party tonight...
The third STUDIO CLUB release presents Highkin' (Marble, Irenic) a dynamic force in Southern California's party scene and a rising Moscow club star Belogorodski.
The record is imbued with love for classic deep house music, exclusive private parties vibe and that special authentic magic they entail.

The third Farci record, reflecting the intensity of our shared moments, we are happy to introduce you to this record with the vibes of this new year. It goes straight to the point with these beverages, but always as a team.

Probably the Three most dancefloor tracks from the forthcoming Bad Girlz album “Bad Girlz at Work”
I am Savage is a peak time floor filler with Nineties tech vibes with a vocal hook adapted from Breach the Peace. Little Miss information is an all smiles pumping electro hit and It’s a banger ? The clue is in the name … The vinyl sampler will be released on 13th March with the full album in Digital format to follow on the 19th.

Already having made his presence known with releases, 'Iron Fist', 'Retaliation', and his collaborations with Aba Ariginal on 'Ariginal Militant Steppa' and the 'Ariginal Bubbla E.P.'; Mali takes things to another level and steps into 2025 with his debut album 'Ruff & Ready – Dub Opus 1'.
This Album is an amalgamation of heavy basslines, intricate and unique melodies, striking drum patterns; mixed down with wild phasers, intense delays and expansive reverbs. It contains a selection of tracks with varying moods and styles, with 'Spiritual Trance' and 'Judgement Hall' that are mystical and otherworldly in nature, to upfront steppers tracks like 'Nebula', 'Ruff & Ready', and the album exclusive mix 'Rebellion (Unamenable Mix); even 'Know Thyself (Blak Nile Sym- phony I)' pushing the boundaries of what typically fits into dub and reggae.
This debut album offering from Mali Blakamix is sure to please fans of his previous releases, let alone all dub aficionados and reggae & dub music lovers out there. Presented to the world in the authentic 'Blak Nile Style'; be sure to listen to music and feel the vibes of Ruff & Ready – Blak Nile Dub Opus 1.

MACROCOSM is BALTHVS' first LP.

The name implies the diverse nature of the music, the substantial genre blending throughout, and the general psychedelic vibe of the songs.

It's a cross-continental trip across time, styles, languages, and rhythms.

In just five years, BALTHVS has carved out a unique space in the global music scene, emerging as Colombia’s most prominent alternative international act. Blending psychedelic grooves with hypnotic funk, the band has captivated audiences across three continents, performing in 56 cities throughout 19 countries. Their ever-expanding reach is backed by over 45 million streams, 10,000 vinyl records sold, and a relentless touring schedule that has seen them grace stages at premier festivals such as Austin City Limits, Outside Lands, Electric Forest, and SXSW Sydney. As three-time SXSW alumni, they’ve cemented their presence in Austin’s thriving music circuit while remaining a staple at Colombia’s top festivals, including Rock al Parque and Estéreo Picnic. With critically acclaimed releases and appearances on influential platforms like KEXP, Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Café, and the BBC, BALTHVS continues to redefine modern psychedelic music with a sound that is both immersive and irresistibly groovy.

Every so often an album of such deceptive genius, of such aesthetic clarity, comes across our desk and transfixes us. Thought Leadership's III Of Pentacles is one such work of art. It's an instant classic and glides into the pantheon of timeless guitar-soul totems. Originally out on cassette only, we present the first ever vinyl issue. It's a hideously limited pressing of 300 for the world, so don't sleep on this.

Thought Leadership has already garnered big support from such tastemakers as Ruf Dug, Jason Boardman, Nathan Gregory Wilkins, J Walk, Evan Woodward, Justin Robertson and Heavenly's Jeff Barrett. The first time we heard III Of Pentacles, we nearly wept at the thought that something so beautiful, so bursting with real hope, could even exist in this brutal world. To quote the Quietus, "imagine if Stockport was situated somewhere along the Pacific Coast Highway rather than the M60, and you’ll have some idea of the coordinates to the post-industrial, sunburnt dream space opened up here."

So, who is Thought Leadership? What do we know about them? They reside in Stockport and are obsessed with ethereal guitar records. That’s about it. That and these X ideas shared with you, the listener.

Captured on a multitrack recorder in a terraced house in Stockport, this is as DIY as it gets. Glaringly obvious is a love for classic Factory and early 4AD. Perhaps it is the proximity to the River Mersey where the ideas arrived, and there being but three miles between where this and the Durutti Column’s classic “LC” was recorded, as the two operate across a familiar aural plain. Be it geographic or otherwise, limited by a true economy of means, namely guitar, pedals and drum machine, the fruit borne from these humble tools has been indelibly shaped by the perma-gloom that hangs low over the Manchester and Stockport environs.

Ushered in on 808 kicks, “I” opens the record as a beautiful Sketch for Stockport; a chiming maj7 chord dripping in chorus and delay sets us on our way. The Vini Reilly comparisons are unavoidable. “II” is all John McGeoch, with its trippy goth-psyche arpeggiated pattern cascading across the stereo image. Do those drums swing? But goths don’t swing?! They do here. We’re treated to a bit of crunch on the lead guitar part and some really lush reverb. We even step forth into shoegaze territory, albeit briefly, for the middle eight. “III”, a firm Be With favourite, continues the dreamy psyche leanings of the previous track, with an even bigger melody this time. We’re hearing The Teardrop Explodes on quaaludes here. A proto-dream pop cut soaked in melancholy. But watch out! The coda finds Johnny Marr has gotten into the ‘ludes and gatecrashed the final bars with some incredibly ignorant B minor pentatonic noodling.

“IV” ditches the drum machine for the first in a suite of three beatless electric guitar duets. The first of these semi-improvised rubato ideas is a striking departure from the earlier playful pieces, coming over emo and moody. Greyscale sulking for Stratocaster. Sign us up. “V” contains some really lyrical phrasing; a gorgeous conversation between two guitars. Real Stopfordian Primitive; meditative, crude, rain-soaked. We cycle through the same feels, then end on an alluring chord that breaks the pattern. Sometimes thoughts are like this. “VI” creeps in all plaintive, then a huge reverberating descending guitar line comes tumbling in like something off those classic Dif Juz 12”s. There’s some Maurice Deebank in there too, for sure, and the coda nods to early Meat Puppets.

“VII” rounds out the A Side, and succinctly presents a summary of all ideas explored thus far on our journey. The drum machine is back, this time with some wispy delay, before both guitars enter together playing interlocking lines. As we start, we end, with the delayed 808 guiding us out.

Opening Side B, “VIII” sees us embark on the other side of our journey as we slow down and space out. The drum machine is here, but the guitars are different now. Think Sensations Fix or Göttsching at his most peeled out. Drones, ambient drifts of broken chords and distorted lead lines all swirl round the mix. Side B is one for headphones for sure. “IX” is almost too exquisite for words. A New Age Mixolydian voyage through the cosmos. If you’re unmoved by the end you’ve probably got no pulse. We were left blunted ineffable by this one, such is the smudged elegance radiating from this idea. All hail the Thought Leader.

“X” is a full circle moment, and a fitting end. If you’ve not already elsewhere across the platter, you will be getting heavy Robin Guthrie vibes from this piece. Like the rest of Side B, this improvised jam sticks within a framework of related chords but the celestial energies channelled might invite us to wander “outside”, especially when the Tubescreamer is engaged.

RIYL Durutti Coulmn, Cocteau Twins, Dif Juz, Sensations Fix, Spike and adjacent guitar musicks – but, ultimately, this is just its own thing; such is the strength of ideas presented. "It’s good music to chill out to." (??)

Be With is honoured to present the first ever vinyl release of III Of Pentacles, carefully remastered by Be With's engineer Simon Francisco to ensure it sounds better than ever after its initial tape release. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry, in Holland. The original tape cover artwork, so crucial to Thought Leadership's striking visual aesthetic, has been rejigged for vinyl issue here at Be With. Its stark presentation befits the music contained within. They inform us that they shuffled their tarot deck to ask what the album should be called and the card you see on the cover popped out. The III Of Pentacles tarot card represents teamwork, shared vision and the ability to achieve goals through collaboration. We like to think Thought Leadership and Be With have nailed this one.

Brand new repress of the Gentlemans Pistols legendary album. Hustler's Row is Gentlemans Pistols third album after the self-titled Gentlemans Pistols (2007) and the critically acclaimed At Her Majesty's Pleasure (2011). Hustler's Row is a solid melodic hard rock release with a strong 70's classic rock vibe and we would definitely recommend it to the fans of the genre.

Brand new repress of the Gentlemans Pistols legendary album. Hustler's Row is Gentlemans Pistols third album after the self-titled Gentlemans Pistols (2007) and the critically acclaimed At Her Majesty's Pleasure (2011). Hustler's Row is a solid melodic hard rock release with a strong 70's classic rock vibe and we would definitely recommend it to the fans of the genre.

Refreshing Modern Metal meets Alternative und Nu-metal! Luna Kills sind zweifellos der erfrischendste modern Metal Newcomer der Szene, der Alternative- und Nu-Metal-Vibes mit von Game-Soundtracks inspirierter Elektronik kombiniert. Ihre Frontfrau Lotta zwingt das Publikum mit ihrem Jazz-Gesang im Hintergrund und ihrem unglaublichen Fry-Scream-Gesang in die Knie – es sei denn, es rast in Moshpits umher, wie man es bei ihren feurigen Live-Shows desöfteren sieht. Nachdem Luna Kills bereits die Tür zu ihrem geliebten Gaming-Team geöffnet hatten gab es ihre Musik auch auf der erfolgreichen mobilen App Beatstar zu hören.Die 2019 gegründete Band hat bereits ihre ersten Shows auf europäischen Bühnen bravorös absolviert und die Aufmerksamkeit mehrerer Rockradiosender in ihrer Heimat Finnland auf sich gezogen. Nun ist die Zeit reif, um ihr erstes Album in voller Länge bei SharpTone Records als Debüt zu veröffentlichen.

"BODIES marks a bold evolution in our ever-developing sound. HEROINE was defined by its meticulously crafted and tightly woven concept, but the weight of this careful construction sometimes overshadowed the energy of the music itself, leaving some listeners feeling disconnected. With BODIES, we have embraced a more immediate, unfiltered approach that feels like a lightning bolt, looking to capture the energy of “Thornhill right now.” The album thrives on spontaneity and freedom, foregoing rigid concepts in favor of pure, in-your-face authenticity. It’s less about delivering a carefully constructed narrative and more about creating a visceral, open-ended experience. BODIES serves as a sonic moodboard—a collection of feelings and vibes—intentionally left open to interpretation. It has an upbeat and almost celebratory, party energy at times, but also retains all the emotion and intensity Thornhill are known for, making it our heaviest and most explosive work to date. With BODIES, we invite listeners to connect on their own terms. It’s raw, personal, and unapologetically immediate—a record that thrives in the moment, capturing our band at our most authentic and free."

Eine spezielle Trojan Records-Veröffentlichung für 420-Vibes, sorgfältig zusammengestellt von Ras Jammy
von Suns of Dub. Die Verbindung zwischen Dub-Musik und Cannabis/420 hat tiefe kulturelle und historische Wurzeln und ist größtenteils mit der jamaikanischen Musikszene und dem Rastafariismus verbunden – zwei großen Einflüssen auf die Entwicklung von Dub. Dieses Album enthält die Werke einiger der
wichtigsten Pioniere des Genres, darunter King Tubby, Scientist, Dennis Bovell und Roots Radics.

*REPRESS* 2x12"

Poland's finest reggae dubstep export is back to guide us through the long dark winter with his highly anticipated second studio
album, Subconcious. Mat Miller solidified his position as one of the most exciting global ambassadors for the sound with his 2011
debut album and he returns to the mighty Moonshine Recordings with another killer full length selection of thick dread bassweight
and proper roots vibes. Matt's influences have always been varied, and his music's rich diversity is in full effect across the LP as he
adeptly shifts between tempos and moods, utilising his ear for melody and rhythm to create an absorbing collection of timeless
sounds. The ground shaking sub-frequencies central to each track are built to challenge soundsystems and ignite dancefloors,
whether it's on the livewire rhythms of his jungle indebted track 'Wicked Dub', the driving sonic force of the drum and bass styled
'Different Dub' or the dubbed out, skank-ready movements of tracks like 'Earthwalker' and 'Indra'. As well as the all-powerful bass
pressure, Radikal Guru works with a colourful array of instrumentation, and brings in characterful vocalists YT, Danman and Echo
Ranks to provide melodic lead and reggae lyricism on 'Stay Calm', 'Know Yourself' and 'Warning!' respectively. The final result is
shining example of modern roots/ reggae-centred music in 2013, executed brilliantly and certain to last the test of time.

‘The Return of Pachyman’ is a supernatural force
from a brave new world that’s a little bit San Juan,
a little LA, and a whole lot of Channel One in
Kingston, Jamaica. Designed to be a resurrection
of sound systems from the past through which we
can celebrate a post-Trump future, the record
shows that blasting off into reggae’s deep space
has never gone out of style.
Pachy García (aka Pachyman) is perhaps best
known as the drummer / vocalist for the LA-based
band Prettiest Eyes, a unique pop-noise project
that reflects his other formative interest, synth
punk. He thinks of ‘The Return of Pachyman’ the
same way King Tubby might - an ‘X-ray’ of reggae
music, breaking it down to its bare bones.
Originally a guitarist, he moved to Los Angeles in
the early 2010s and developed his passion for
dub. From there, he started recording bass, drums
and piano and collecting recording equipment in
his basement studio, which he calls 333 House.
With ‘The Return of Pachyman’, García wants to
show how the Caribbean flow is transnational, a
vibe that resounds from Jamaica to San Juan to
Southern California. “With this project, I was
looking to make positive music and radiate good
energy; something to kinda disconnect from the
negative things that were happening at the
moment,” Garcia explains. “I am trying to make this
project a service for humanity in the sense that I
just wanted to shine a positive light.”

dreamcastmoe is the recording project of singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ Davon Bryant, a lifelong resident of Washington, DC. His music moves freely between moods and modes, hypnotic, romantic, traversing electronic, R&B, funk, soul, and hip-hop... Resident Advisor dubs it "soulful, cross-genre dance music." This ability to adapt and finesse, to twist in different directions while staying true and coherent in vision, can be traced to his home city and its complex cultural history. "Most Black kids in DC don't ever get to this point," he says. "This is what I am making this music for, in the DC tradition of soul and empathy and love that is rooted in this city. My music is for real people dealing with shit every day." A versatile, modern artist and collaborator, dreamcastmoe has thrived in the underground since his first uploads to Soundcloud and Bandcamp in 2017 and subsequent releases with labels like People's Potential Unlimited, Trading Places, and In Real Life Music. Bryant's laid-back personality, emotional honesty, and infectious energy shine through his work and how he talks about it, as Crack Magazine notes in their 2021 Rising feature: "a steady combination of confidence, creativity, and calmness." He grew up playing drums in church; he's worked dead-end jobs, had ups and downs, even sold off all his gear one time, but never stopped reinvesting in himself. He is quick to praise his co-producers, rattle off influences _ the visual feel of NBA 2K, the comedic timing of Bernie Mac, the savvy legacy of Duke Ellington, for starters _ and credit resourceful DC breakouts like Ankhlejohn that showed him the roadmap. His voice, a steady instrument, seemingly connects it all, capable of slow falsetto flow, swaggering talk-rap, and outright croon. His storytelling style is choppy yet fluid, like a mixtape, which is how Bryant sees Sound Is Like Water, his debut on Ghostly's International's freeform label, Spectral Sound. The two-part project culminates as a full-length LP release in November 2022. The first side, released as Part I, opens on the blurred beats of "El Dorado," which dreamcastmoe dedicates to his journey. It's a head-nodder, an off-kilter earworm co-produced by Max D (Future Times, RVNG Intl, etc.), with Bryant harmonizing hooks with synth jabs and a pitched-down presence. "Complicated" is the slow jam, delivered smoothly from a Saturday night crossroads. dreamcastmoe is contemplative and committed... gliding and locking ad-libs into skittering rhythms courtesy of co-producer Zackary Dawson _ but also willing to let something go, "acknowledging that everything in life IS NOT easy." "RU Ready" takes off from the jump as a tribute, challenge, and promise to his partner and his city ("The times you sat with me when I needed you the most / Told me the things that I needed to see / Young black man, really trying to be what I can be / And I'm really from DC). In its potent two-plus minutes, the sonics (co-produced by ZDBT) press the message, all cymbal crashes, breakbeats, and serrated synth lines. "Cloudy Weather, Wear Boots" is a blitzing dance-punk track made in collaboration with Jordan GCZ on Bryant's first trip to Amsterdam. The album's flipside opens on "Much More," the first of two synth-and-beat ballads co-produced by ZDBT. Later on "Long Songz," he claims, "I'm not writing love songs no more," prioritizing the vibe with "all my day ones." He calls it "a cry for more normal moments. Everything doesn't have to be a fantasy love story, more time spent getting to the money, growing, and making a way." He saves two of his most propulsive cuts for the finale, co-produced by Sami, co-founder of DC dance label 1432 R. As their titles suggest, "Take A Moment" and "Make Ya Mind" operate as anthems for movement, with Bryant free-flowing commands above wildly-styled percussion. Per Bryant, the latter is both "wake & bake jam" and a "dance floor bomb." His parting line: "Action / You got to show me action / Reaction." The world of dreamcastmoe straddles virtual reality and the realness of DC, images both imagined and lived-in. Bryant has a knack for unexpected melodies but what makes his music so exciting is his capacity to defy the expectations of genre and image. A fluid ingenuity and vulnerability bottled by Sound Is Like Water, and this is just the beginning.

Googling “paradise house”, the first results to pop up are an endless list of European b&b’s with whitewashed lime façades, all of them promising “…an unmatched travel experience a few steps from the sea”. Next, a little further down, are the institutional websites of a few select semi-luxury retirement homes (no photos shown, but lots of stock images of smiling nurses with reassuring looks). To find the “paradise house” we’re after, we have to scroll even further down. Much further down.

It feels like yesterday, and at the same time it seems like a million years ago. The Eighties had just ended, and it was still unclear what to expect from the Nineties. Mobile phones that were not the size of a briefcase and did not cost as much as a car? A frightening economic crisis? The guitar-rock revival?! Certainly, the best place to observe that moment of transition was the dancefloor. Truly epochal transformations were happening there. From America, within a short distance one from the other, two revolutionary new musical styles had arrived: the first one sounded a bit like an “on a budget” version of the best Seventies disco-music – Philly sound made with a set of piano-bar keyboards! – the other was even more sparse, futuristic and extraterrestrial. It was a music with a quite distinct “physical” component, which at the same time, to be fully grasped, seemed to call for the knotty theories of certain French post-modern philosophers: Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari, Paul Virilio... Both those genres – we would learn shortly after – were born in the black communities of Chicago and Detroit, although listening to those vinyl 12” (often wrapped in generic white covers, and with little indication in the label) you could not easily guess whether behind them there was a black boy from somewhere in the Usa, or a girl from Berlin, or a pale kid from a Cornish coastal town.

Quickly, similar sounds began to show up from all corners of Europe. A thousand variations of the same intuition: leaner, less lean, happier, slightly less intoxicated, more broken, slower, faster, much faster... Boom! From the dancefloors – the London ones at least, whose chronicles we eagerly read every month in the pages of The Face and i-D – came tales of a new generation of clubbers who had completely stopped “dressing up” to go dancing; of hot tempered hooligans bursting into tears and hugging everyone under the strobe lights as the notes of Strings of Life rose up through the fumes of dry ice (certain “smiling” pills were also involved, sure). At this point, however, we must move on to Switzerland.

In Switzerland, in the quiet and diligent town of Lugano, between the 1980s and 1990s there was a club called “Morandi”. Its hot night was on Wednesdays, when the audience also came from Milan, Como, Varese and Zurich. Legend goes that, one night, none less than Prince and Sheila E were spotted hiding among the sofas, on a day-off of the Italian dates of the Nude Tour… The Wednesday resident and superstar was an Italian dj with an exotic name: Don Carlos. The soundtrack he devised was a mixture of Chicago, Detroit, the most progressive R&B and certain forgotten classics of old disco music: practically, what the Paradise Garage in New York might have sounded like had it not closed in 1987. In between, Don Carlos also managed to squeeze in some tracks he had worked on in his studio on Lago Maggiore. One in particular: a track that was rather slow compared to the BPM in fashion at the time, but which was a perfect bridge between house and R&B. The title was Alone: Don Carlos would explain years later that it had to be intended both in the English meaning of “by itself” and like the Italian word meaning “halo”. That wasn’t the only double entendre about the song, anyway. Its own very deep nature was, indeed, double. On the one hand, Alone was built around an angelic keyboard pattern and a romantic piano riff that took you straight to heaven; on the other, it showcased enough electronic squelches (plus a sax part that sounded like it had been dissolved by acid rain) to pigeonhole the tune into the “junk modernity” section, aka the hallmark of all the most innovative sounds of the time: music that sounded like it was hand-crafted from the scraps of glittering overground pop.

No one knows who was the first to call it “paradise house”, nor when it happened. Alternative definitions on the same topic one happened to hear included “ambient house”, “dream house”, “Mediterranean progressive”… but of course none were as good (and alluring) as “paradise house”. What is certain is that such inclination for sounds that were in equal measure angelic and neurotic, romantic and unaffective, quickly became the trademark of the second generation of Italian house. Music that seemed shyly equidistant from all the rhythmic and electronic revolutions that had happened up to that moment (“Music perfectly adept at going nowhere slowly” as noted by English journalist Craig McLean in a legendary field report for Blah Blah Blah magazine). Music that to a inattentive ear might have sounded as anonymous as a snapshot of a random group of passers-by at 10AM in the centre of any major city, but perfectly described the (slow) awakening in the real world after the universal love binge of the so-called Second Summer of Love.

For a brief but unforgettable season, in Italy “paradise house” was the official soundtrack of interminable weekends spent inside the car, darting from one club to another, cutting the peninsula from North to centre, from East to West coast in pursuit of the latest after-hours disco, trading kilometres per hour with beats per minute: practically, a new New Year’s Eve every Friday and Saturday night. This too was no small transformation, as well as a shock for an adult Italy that was encountering for the first time – thanks to its sons and daughters – the wild side of industrial modernity. The clubbers of the so-called “fuoriorario” scene were the balls gone mad in the pinball machine most feared by newspapers, magazines and TV pundits. What they did each and every weekend, apart from going crazy to the sound of the current white labels, was linking distant geographical points and non-places (thank you Marc Augé!) – old dance halls, farmhouses and business centres – transformed for one night into house music heaven. As Marco D’Eramo wrote in his 1995 essay on Chicago, Il maiale e il grattacielo: “Four-wheeled capitalism distorts our age-old image of the city, it allows the suburbs to be connected to each other, whereas before they were connected only by the centre (…) It makes possible a metropolitan area without a metropolis, without a city centre, without downtown. The periphery is no longer a periphery of any centre, but is self-centred”.

“Paradise house” perfectly understood all of this and turned it into a sort of cyber-blues that didn’t even need words, and unexpectedly brought back a drop of melancholic (post?)-humanity within a world that by then – as we would wholly realise in the decades to come – was fully inhuman and heartless. A world where we were all alone, and surrounded by a sinister yellowish halo, like a neon at the end of its life cycle. But, for one night at least, happy."

Each of the ten tracks on "mixtape suite" is likely to evoke such absurd associations in music lovers. The album authentically and unpredictably creates a feeling of total boundlessness with a global approach. Effortlessly uniting an entire record shop within itself. One time you think of Madlib or the Bee Gees, then of Joan Baez or Amon Düül, other times of Beck or Gorillaz. Between boom bap and Krautrock, disco styles, folk references and trip-hop vibes spread out organically. Analogue percussion blurs with 90s sampling sound aesthetics.
TIKHET sounds unplanned and anarchic, with a raw core and some well rounded patina on the outside.
1883 Magazin: "Keep an eye on this emerging act"

Mesmerized: "the project has all the elements needed for a powerful musical output..., an impressive debut for the visionary pair"
Indieshake: "Fucking love this"

It was quite unexpected to see the very prolific and talended Pieter Kock featuring on Macadam Mambo - which is usualy used to new-comers - as he has released a lot in the past 2 years on very nice labels like RIO, Meakusma or Moonwalk X. But, the demos that he sent were so good that there was no question about doing something. And with a lot of possibilities, to prepare a double album that is now composed of 15 quality tracks for 1h20 of music... What vibes are in here! It’s heavy, loudy, loopy, mental, smokey, and always surprising. Pieter has is very own universe, and is without doubt one of the most interesting electronic musician at the moment.

Should we ask you to give chance to this opus, and tell you you won’t regret it ? We don’t think we need to do so... J

If every significant artist has an underrated gem in its catalog, then Mirage is that album for Fleetwood Mac. An obvious return to relative simplicity after the dramatic tension of Rumours and experimental ambitions of Tusk, the 1982 album finds the band re-grouping after a brief hiatus and again climbing to the top of the charts. Extremely well-crafted, well-produced, and well-performed, the double-platinum effort distills the group’s hallmark strengths into a filler-free set that never runs short of addictive pop hooks or daft accents.

Sourced from the original analog master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, and housed in a Stoughton jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s numbered-edition 180g 45RPM 2LP set presents Mirage in reference sound for the first time. The efforts co-producers/engineers Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut went to capture the splintered albeit formidable band can be heard with stunning accuracy, range, depth, and detail.

Though Rumours understandably gets a permanent spot in the audiophile hall of fame, the smooth, clear, and dynamic sonics on Mirage confirm that the record that stood as Fleetwood Mac’s last effort for five years deserves a place in the same vaunted arena. The presence and imaging of Mick Fleetwood’s percussion alone on this reissue might have you wondering how this slice of soft-rock bliss has gone under-noticed for decades. Other prized aural aspects — separation, definition, impact, tonal balance — are also here in spades.

Like much surrounding Fleetwood Mac in the 1980s, arriving at Mirage was not easy. Caillat searched for studios located outside of Los Angeles on a mission to change up the vibe of the band’s prior recording sessions. Everyone settled on Le Chateau in France, where relations between some members remained icy — and cooperation with the producers strained. Battles with exhaustion, bitterness, and addiction further informed the proceedings at the 18th century complex in the French countryside, where even communal meals were allegedly eaten in silence.

Inevitably, the feelings that co-producer Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, and company harbored — as well as the situations in which they found themselves — drifted into the songwriting. In its rapid ascent to rock-star royalty status, Fleetwood Mac drifted apart, embarked on solo pursuits, and found it was lonely at the top. Emptiness, the illusion of dreams, the longing for love, the want to escape to bygone times of innocence and happiness: Such themes inform a majority of the narratives. Even if the lyrics regularly take a back seat to easygoing arrangements that allow Mirage to come on like a refreshing breeze on a sunny summer afternoon.

Home to three Top 25 singles in the U.S. and having occupied the pole position of the Top 200 album charts for five weeks, Mirage rightfully resonated with the mainstream and attracted listeners on both sides of the pond. And how, via a smart blend of sugary melodies, warm harmonies, interlaced notes, nimble rhythms, taut structures, and passionate vocals. Not to mention the presence of what arguably remains Nicks’ signature song, the biographical “Gypsy,” a meditation on the loss of her close friend Robin Anderson that teems with majesty, mystery, and mysticism — and which gets an assist from Buckingham’s shaded tack piano and richly strummed guitar chords.

Its ranking as an all-time classic aside, that No. 12 hit has plenty of company when it comes to brilliant pop turns on Mirage. On the subject of Nicks, the raspy singer gets a little bit country on “That’s Alright.” Its clip-clopping pace and two-stepping progression complement subtle vocal swells that emerge during the final verse of a tune that is ostensibly about leaving but still conveys forgiveness and grace. And what would a Fleetwood Mac record be without Nicks drawing on the tools of the supernatural — cards, dreams, wolves, and the like — on the twirling “Straight Back.”

Despite the potency of Nicks’ primary contributions, Mirage seemingly unfolds as a tight competition between Buckingham and McVie — and one that ultimately ends in a draw. Buckingham’s salvos include the contagious “Can’t Go Back,” a yearning to time-travel back to the past that’s complete with hall-of-mirrors backing vocals; “Oh Diane,” out-of- left-field ear candy sweetened with hiccupped vocals and salt-and-pepper-shaken grooves; the chiming “Eyes of the World”; and “Empire State,” a delightfully fluttering track whose high-range vocals, lap harp notes, and ringing xylophones hint at the galaxies of sound that would erupt on Tango in the Night.

Then there’s McVie. As elegant, understated, and coolheaded as she’s ever been on record, she pours her heart out on cuts that revolve around her inevitable split with Beach Boy Dennis Wilson. In the process, she punctuates Mirage with a characteristic not always associated with catchy pop music: emotional weight, and the sense of dreaded acceptance in the face of dreams deferred.

“I wish you were here/Holding me tight,” McVie sings over a delicate melody on the album-closing piano ballad “Wish You Were Here.” Though they hoped otherwise, for the members Fleetwood Mac, distance and separation were always close at hand. Believing otherwise, inviting nostalgia, and pretending everything was fine only amounts to a mirage.