Love Affair News

Long part of Portugal's ever expanding house scene, Bogdan Ra loves acid, and frankly, don't we all. This new drop on his Love Affair label offers up four more 303-inspired works full of dirtiness, sleazy texture and analogue punch. Side A opens with the classic leanings of 'Damn Fine' with a rasping acid line and hefty groove, while 'Habibi' is where eastern melodies meet jacked up drum work. Side B amps up the vibe with 'Feel', offering a faster, more edgy sound and 'Action' is a driving New Beat-inspired sound with phased bass, withering sci-fi synth motifs and darker, snappier moods and grooves for when the lights go down low and things get naughty.

Circus Operandi is the project of Donatas Chipak and Tumosa, two figures of the Vilnius electronic music scene, and residents at legendary clubs Opium (RIP) and Gallery 1986, where Ivan Smagghe & Niv Arzi (who jointly run Customs & Faces) met them countless times at countless hours. We’re not keen at describing the music we release at C & F, no need for pigeonholing ourselves but this EP completely ticked our boxes : electro, techno and everything in between, punch and deepness included.

Blah Blah has been played in every Ivan Smagghe set for the last 6 months and picked up by, amongst others, Shonky and Francesco Del Garda. Some kind of hit rambling about ordering a pizza is quite something. Fantast and Hints are slightly moodier pieces of emotional 4/4 electro while Denter subtly hits at non-cheesy trance. Expect much more from these two very soon.

2026 Repress

COEO are to Toy Tonics records, what Master at Work were to the House scene of the 1990ies: They bring the Soul into the House. Their new EP Back In The Days' is a 4 track house stomper that could have been made in 1997 by guys like Sneak, Dimitri from Paris or Little Louie. But still the similarities to the new Berlin Sample-House scene around Max Graef and Hodini are evident, too. Already their last years' superhit NATIVE RIDDIM (which is featured as a bonus track on this vinyl) included some heavy jazz samples they found in their parents' bag of soul. Native Riddim has been no.1 in the Traxsource charts for several weeks and was the basis for their already huge following. From Laurent Garnier to Tensnake - the feedback has been awesome. Now they proceed their way of souldful house. Just good taste.

Starting in 2021 the critically acclaimed Next Wave Acid Punx series has seen Luca Venezia, aka Curses, celebrate the music that has shaped both his life and career. Across the first two compilations Luca took usfrom the industrial and post-punk sounds of the late 70s, through the emergence of EBM, new beat and freestyle in the 1980s and onto the music he both makes and plays himself in clubs today. Bringing the series to a close Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS sees the Berlin-based musician and DJ return full circle, this time exploring the sounds that first initiated him into Brooklyn's rave scene and the music that, in some way, continues to embody its eclectic spirit today.

Spread across three 2LPs and 3CDs Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS captures a moment whose influence can still be heard reverberating around clubland today. With the nascent rave scene obliterating boundaries, this was a moment where the darker, harder industrial electronic sounds of the mid 1980s were crashing headfirst into the ecstatic wave that was washing over clubland creating thrilling juxtapositions. Whether in the clubs and warehouses of New York, London, Frankfurt, Valencia and beyond, electronic music would never be the same again as countless new genres we take for granted today were born from the chaos and energy that had been unleashed.

Featuring 46 hard-to-find, new and exclusive tracks, Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS both documents that fertile period and shows how, despite rumours to the contrary, that early anarchic spirit can still be found today. From the Detroit Techno of Model 500 to Nitzer Ebb's EBM and the proto-Trance of Age of Love and onto brand new tracks from some of today's best producers such as Zaatar, Italo Deviance and Leona Jacewska, this compilation closes out a series that has to date revelled in exploring the darker corners of clubland in uplifting style.

This is Chapter 1.

Starting in 2021 the critically acclaimed Next Wave Acid Punx series has seen Luca Venezia, aka Curses, celebrate the music that has shaped both his life and career. Across the first two compilations Luca took us from theindustrial and post-punk sounds of the late 70s, through the emergence of EBM, new beat and freestyle in the 1980s and onto the music he both makes and plays himself in clubs today. Bringing the series to a close Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS sees the Berlin-based musician and DJ return full circle, this time exploring the sounds that first initiated him into Brooklyn's rave scene and the music that, in some way, continues to embody its eclectic spirit today.

Spread across three 2LPs and 3CDs Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS captures a moment whose influence can still be heard reverberating around clubland today. With the nascent rave scene obliterating boundaries, this was a moment where the darker, harder industrial electronic sounds of the mid 1980s were crashing headfirst into the ecstatic wave that was washing over clubland creating thrilling juxtapositions. Whether in the clubs and warehouses of New York, London, Frankfurt, Valencia and beyond, electronic music would never be the same again as countless new genres we take for granted today were born from the chaos and energy that had been unleashed.

Featuring 46 hard-to-find, new and exclusive tracks, Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS both documents that fertile period and shows how, despite rumours to the contrary, that early anarchic spirit can still be found today. From the Detroit Techno of Model 500 to Nitzer Ebb's EBM and the proto-Trance of Age of Love and onto brand new tracks from some of today's best producers such as Zaatar, Italo Deviance and Leona Jacewska, this compilation closes out a series that has to date revelled in exploring the darker corners of clubland in uplifting style.

This is Chapter 2.

Starting in 2021 the critically acclaimed Next Wave Acid Punx series has seen Luca Venezia, aka Curses, celebrate the music that has shaped both his life and career. Across the first two compilations Luca took us from the industrial and post-punk sounds of the late 70s,through the emergence of EBM, new beat and freestyle in the 1980s and onto the music he both makes and plays himself in clubs today. Bringing the series to a close Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS sees the Berlin-based musician and DJ return full circle, this time exploring the sounds that first initiated him into Brooklyn's rave scene and the music that, in some way, continues to embody its eclectic spirit today.

Spread across three 2LPs and 3CDs Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS captures a moment whose influence can still be heard reverberating around clubland today. With the nascent rave scene obliterating boundaries, this was a moment where the darker, harder industrial electronic sounds of the mid 1980s were crashing headfirst into the ecstatic wave that was washing over clubland creating thrilling juxtapositions. Whether in the clubs and warehouses of New York, London, Frankfurt, Valencia and beyond, electronic music would never be the same again as countless new genres we take for granted today were born from the chaos and energy that had been unleashed.

Featuring 46 hard-to-find, new and exclusive tracks, Next Wave Acid Punx TROIS both documents that fertile period and shows how, despite rumours to the contrary, that early anarchic spirit can still be found today. From the Detroit Techno of Model 500 to Nitzer Ebb's EBM and the proto-Trance of Age of Love and onto brand new tracks from some of today's best producers such as Zaatar, Italo Deviance and Leona Jacewska, this compilation closes out a series that has to date revelled in exploring the darker corners of clubland in uplifting style.

This is Chapter 3.







[f] B2. Javi Redondo - HALT [Process]

Tripmode made a superb start to life with its first EP and is now back with more goodness, this time from family member Daniele Temperilli. We're told he is inspired by 'love, freedom and matured childishness' and he brings some big bass and bouncy minimal house to this 12". 'Beatback Haze' is tight and clipped in its tech funk, then 'Peace What?!' Brings more low-swinging drums and a prying bassline topped with big hits and warped pads. 'BeesTreb' taps into a darker vibe with gritty drum textures and more rapping, farting bass that's perfect for a darkened room. Last of all is 'Pachyderm', which bounces and swings, with macho drums but a sense of lithe energy that keeps you on your toes.

DiscoGram's self-titled label is quickly becoming our disco dealer of choice. This third massive gets us further hooked on the groovy goods. After a Brazilian flex last time out, there is more of an Afro overtone to this 12": 'Africa Tribal' is a percussive sun-soaked sound with expressive horns and equally expressive vocals over a ton of percussion, hand claps and wiggly grooves. 'Chillin' Out' is more US-flavoured with a low-slung and breezy vibe and sunny vocals. 'Coconut' ups the pace and injects florid feels with Philly strings and stomping drums. 'Hi Tension' then keeps its foot down with a heavy but funky disco sound and irresistible double-claps.

Barcelona-based DJ Gamba lands on the Parti-Pillz imprint with his ‘Transform Your Consciousness’ EP, a carefully crafted release that blends fast-paced modern electro with flashes of futuristic house across four high-energy cuts.

From the relentless drive of the title track and the warped textures of “Planet Gro (Hip-House Cut)” to the deeper hypnotic groove of “Most U Ever Lost” and the smooth, house-leaning momentum of “Temptation Voice In My Head,” the EP showcases Gamba’s forward-thinking approach while adding a strong new chapter to the Parti-Pillz catalogue.

Respect The Craft returns with its sixth release, featuring Chicago House mainstay DJ Sneak and a rework from Tripmastaz. The record unites facets of Sneak’s style, shifting between raw house and acid experimentation yet remaining grounded in a direct, club-focused approach.

“Future” sets a tougher tone than typical for Sneak, anchored by driving drums, sharp 303 lines, and tribal-leaning percussion that fuel the track's momentum. On “No Reasons”, energy eases into a deeper house swing, with soulful vocal snippets atop a slower groove and acid accents adding subtle tension.
On the flip, “La Clave Boricua” stands out with looping Puerto Rican vocals, dense percussion and a rolling structure proven effective in larger rooms throughout Tripmastaz’s sets over the past 3 years. Tripmastaz’s “Spectral Pressure Dub” distils the original track, emphasising its funky bass and vocals, using subtle pads to expand the space over time.

With Future EP, Respect The Craft expands its catalogue with a release that strikes a balance between character and utility, bringing together established voices in a format that remains focused, effective, and built for the club.

2 tracks
45 RPM

Compiled by Rey Colino.
Design by AJAM.

International DJ and collector Elado is well known to edit lovers for his work on the likes of Funkyjaws Music, Razor N Tape and Eddie C's Red Motorbike. He has been digging in his vaults again, this time for Scruniversal, and turns out a pair of blazing Brazilian edits. First up is 'Sabor' ,which is a tight, funky sound that sways low with lush claps and wandering basslines, but the vocal harmonies are what make it, and your heart, soar. 'Debbie' then follows off with some soft, honours Portuguese soul vocals and instrumental disco-funk grooves that are super sophisticated and perfect to go with a cocktail at sundown somewhere nice.

Epsie steps up on Secretsundaze’s 9FINITY imprint with ‘Any Colour You Like’, a four-track EP weaving trippy, techy, and subtly progressive elements juxtaposed with darker, electro-orientated moments for a heady dancefloor statement.
Built with a live-first mentality, his productions mirror the fluidity of his sets—intricate rhythms and elastic basslines ground the EP in pace and movement. The release oscillates from the sleek to the abrasive with punchy drums and otherworldly synths existing in tandem with deep tech house grooves. A distinctly European sensibility runs throughout: restrained yet exploratory, minimal yet richly detailed, all landing with understated psychedelia and deep functionality tailored for the heads.

First Axis of People release for 2026.
Fantastic Man shifts the tone, dialling back recent trance leanings in favour of a more direct, house-driven sound. Deep chords and ethereal vocal fragments remain, but the focus moves away from the ‘epic-drops’ du jour toward something more fluid and propulsive.
A Little Bit More and Be There keep things warm and rolling, Inhibition adds extra drive, and Prophecy closes in dubbed-out broken-beat territory.

After a 12 month Break we are ready for our 17th Chapter….VINYL ONLY as usual

The eleventh release from label Early Morning, run by Guy J, presents a three-track EP totaling 22 minutes and 23 seconds, reinforcing his position as one of the most disciplined and forward-thinking figures on the global scene. Despite intercontinental recognition, Guy J continues to approach his work with restraint and focus, treating sound not as a finished achievement but as an ongoing exploration. His imagination remains a constant source of carefully developed ideas that resonate through a restrained yet expressive intensity.

The opening track, Piece of Cake, sets the tone with confident momentum, unfolding through a precisely balanced structure where hypnotic rhythm meets expansive spatial design. Selector expands the palette with a fierce bassline drive, textured atmospheres, random squeaks, and euphoric build-up, building on the opening piece and taking the vibe into psychedelic territory.

The release concludes with Against the Wall, a composed and decisive finale. Strong rhythmic foundations, paired with suggestive female narrative vocal samples, bring the record to a resolved and coherent close.

First release on a new label from Fabric resident Harry McCanna - a dj and producer who's already been running NorthSouth records for 9 years with Sam Bangura and Dale Mussington, and has been an active DJ in London and further afield for over 15 years, and a fabric resident since 2021 when we came out of lockdown. The label is more focussed on the hypnotic, trippy, steady side of things and this first release will be Harry's first under his own name rather than Henry Hyde which he's been releasing under since 2025.