Of Paradise News

Of Paradise welcomes Seattle-based artist Hünter with his sophomore album, Mica, a sublime addition to the label’s ever-evolving musical catalogue and one that quickly acquires almost mythical status.

Focused on the relationship between the digital age and the environment, Mica explores the extraction of natural resources, identity, memory, and what remains. A fusion of ambient soundscapes and deconstructed club rhythms, Mica questions erosion as both a physical and cultural consequence of modern consumption, encouraging listeners to reevaluate their relationship with nature, technology, and excess.

Available as a limited edition 12” and digital album, Mica responds to overstimulation; music that breathes slowly, punctuated by occasional moments of tension, provides periods of stillness and reflection interrupted by the intensity of digital life and environmental anxiety. This album isn’t merely a collection of songs; it’s an atmosphere to inhabit.

UK bass music mainstay and SK1 Records co-founder, Synkro, links up with composer and sound design specialist, Tom Jarmey, for their debut combined effort on Of Paradise, minting their new musical alliance with North Star, an emotionally charged and lushly melodic collection of detail-driven club cuts.

Deftly joining the dots between drum 'n' bass, jungle, and trip hop, the duo serves up three original numbers, backed by two exquisite remixes from none other than Pugilist and label co-founder Silent Era, who meticulously distil the source material to produce a mixture of swirling breaks, dub techno, and atmospheric ambient stylings.

Available as a limited edition 12” and digital EP, North Star sees Synkro and Tom Jarmey combine to lethal effect, pooling their diverse influences together to fashion a trio of wide-eyed, hypnotic, and high-grade gems that give a nod to the most potent of ‘90s gear whilst being 100% future proofed.

With an ever-growing and insanely exciting back catalogue, including his Negative Space EP, which was released on the label in 2023, Melbourne-based artist Pugilist returns to Of Paradise, this time linking up with fellow Australian musician Pod on their shapeshifting album Iridescent, the duo’s debut collaborative release.

Comprised of nine pulsing and explorative productions, including one digital-only bonus track, Iridescent is a masterful and quietly nuanced excursion through contemporary dance music, one that sees Pugilist & Pod cultivate a unique and timeless sound of their own that varies tremendously in form, shape, and texture.

Totemic in its imaginative scope, Iridescent offers listeners a truly immersive experience that will blissfully wash over them in the safety of their own homes or take them in a transcendent grasp and guide them on a new journey through the club.

EP opener ‘Scary Movies’, is a wickedly euphoric slice of driving techno that rushes the bassbins and dials up the serotonin levels to the max. A true mutant roller that’s guaranteed to drain the smoke machine dry. Following that is ‘Getting’ a snarling and unpredictable masterclass that traverses through jagged techno and twisted breaks. A proper hard working number, loaded with attitude and built specifically for all night sessions.

‘Esvedra’ kicks off the B-side and keeps things moving at a blistering pace. A laser-focussed club cut that is guaranteed to run amok through every space it graces. A razor sharp face melter stacked with hammering percussion and lethal drum work. Rounding off the release is Yushh’s brooding and expertly restructured remix of ‘Getting’. A heady cocktail of UK Bass in its most sinister form and a heavy dose of the more off-kilter and forward-thinking sounds coming out of not just Bristol but the UK as a whole. This is proper lights down and sound system up material at its finest.

‘Scary Movies’ unequivocally displays Dawn Razor’s skills as an increasingly confident producer and one of the most important artists emerging out of the Russian scene. While simultaneously showcasing Yushh’s inherent ability to think well outside of the box each and every time. Blue Vinyl Edition.

Stratton returns to Of Paradise for the label’s 20th release. Chalking up a hat-trick of EP’s on the imprint, with the impeccably effective ‘Never Bettered Always Battered’. Arguably his most accomplished and significant release to date, this 4-tracker effortlessly showcases the London-based producers expertly distilled and patented style of evocative and headstrong UK hardcore.

The A-side launches with the anthemic ‘Badboy’, a true floor melter, loaded with tunnelling drums, an electric bassline and a criminally infectious chopped vocal. Following that is ‘Double Happiness (Bludclot Mix)’, a lethal dose of no nonsense proto-rave goods, emanating from the streets of North London. The product of a truly skilled operator who fully understands the inner workings of the kick, hoover and piano.

‘Bless’ kicks off the flip side with effortless momentum. The impetus clearly focused on rupturing bassbins and rewiring brains, with its weapons grade drums, growling bassline, lethal Amen break, euphoric melody and rabid hoover.

Closing out the release is ‘Vapour Trail Hurricane’ another system-rushing slice of hardcore mastery that pulls no punches in its pursuit of dance floor dominance. Fuelled by a hammering kick, sharp sirens and swirling acid lines, these are the final moments before imminent self destruction.

This is true peak-time pressure from one of the UK’s most exciting and inimitable talents.