Search:underground electro

A Modern Revisit to a Cult Classic: A fresh "Twentysix Mix" of the 2016 underground staple In Your Body, updated for 2026 dancefloors with contemporary BPM and sharp remaster.

Ten years after defining the early sound of his own label, Berlin-based electronic explorer Cosmin TRG revisits a cornerstone of his discography. In Your Body (Twentysix Mix) sees the Romanian-born producer breathe new life into the 2016 underground anthem that helped cement the Sportiv label's reputation for high-end, functional techno.

This updated iteration retains the propulsive, hypnotic spirit of the original while sharpening the edges for a contemporary club environment. The package is rounded out by the driving, industrial-tinged cuts "Erodat" and "Iradiat," plus an exclusive digital remix by mysterious newcomers TRYL. Delivered as a classic hand-stamped white label, this release continues the Sportiv tradition of marrying stripped-back, high-impact club aesthetics with meticulous sound design.

Keroxen presents Spandauer Damm 103, a new album by Dancelwerk.
Bringing together modular systems, worn drum machines and digital synthesis, the record nods directly to the first decade of Warp Records and the early logic of bleep culture.
Dancelwerk is a Tenerife-based electronic pioneer and one of the foundational figures of the Canary Islands underground. Active for over 30 years, Spandauer Damm 103 marks both a personal milestone and a renewed point of focus, reaffirming his role in shaping the region’s electronic lineage. The album draws on 1990s electronic futurism, filtering those references through a contemporary production approach rather than nostalgia.
The music moves between places and periods: from the early rave circuits of southern Tenerife, where Dancelwerk built his reputation through DIY releases and warehouse-level experimentation, to his later relocation to Berlin, famously arriving with a shipping container of vintage synthesizers and modular equipment.
Balancing melody and impact, Spandauer Damm 103 sets custom-programmed percussion against detailed sound design. FM, spectral and wavetable synthesis shape its harmonic and textural focus, resulting in music that remains physical without sacrificing clarity.
A long-standing practitioner reconnecting with his roots while pushing the system forward.

MUSIKOMMT Volume One is a new vinyl release on Tractorecords, featuring four tracks by Francesco Passantino, The Rhythm Vision, Pogo and Sera.
MUSIKOMMT represents a Berlin-based hub for artists, events and collaborations dedicated to analog electronic music, live performance and vinyl culture.
The A-side opens with “Novembrina” by Francesco Passantino, followed by “Live Psychedelica” by The Rhythm Vision, a trio of musicians who create real-time analog live jams. The track is taken from a live recording at Club der Visionaere in Berlin and features a vocal insert by Rick Ellis.
On the B-side, Pogo presents “Shoutin’ Girl”, while Sera closes the release with “Stasera”.
A direct snapshot of Berlin’s analog scene, shaped by improvisation, machines and underground culture.

Downtempo legends Coyote offer up a full length of Balearic bliss with Go With The Tide on Universal Cave Records. With one foot in timeless chillout electronica and another in the dubby soundsystem psychedelia of our times, Coyote expand on their distinct cosmic groove with seven songs that dive deep into the sonic underground.

Go With the Tide is a tale of three islands. Coyote drop a heavy dose of modern UK stylings, rumbling bass and chilling vocals, on top of a familiar White Isle dream state while radiating Jamaican dub sensibilities. It’s like coming home from summer holiday and returning to the day to day of city life. The nights grow longer and the air chills, but the shimmering sparkles of sunshine still reflect and refract through your soul.

Coyote pick up that tension between the escapism of summer and the heavier waves of fall, and weave it into a remarkable LP that makes as much sense for a forever summer as it does for an impending winter. For whichever side of that you fall, just Go With The Tide.

Deathbomb Arc has a long history of bringing unlikely artists together for collaborations. From True Neutral Crew featuring Grammy winner Daveed Diggs (clipping.), SB The Moor, and members of Ratsmagick to the Arc Mountain album which paired artsts from the Deathbomb and Hausu Mountain rosters including Fire-Toolz (WARP) and They Hate Change (Jagjaguar). Now Deathbomb is excited to share this surprise crew release from BBBBBBB, Fatboi Sharif, and Ratsmagick, entitled 'Christmas in Sodom'.
All three acts come together for the title track, and then contribute solo efforts to expound on the dark absurdist themes in their own manner, providing a deconstruction of how all the styles were combined.
The duo of BBBBBBB are leaders of the underground electronic hardcore scene Japan, often playing alongside their peers and collaborators, Dos Monos. BBBBBBB released 'Positive Violence' on Deathbomb Arc last year and will release their followup with the label this coming fall in conjunction with their 2nd tour of the UK/EU.
Fatboi Sharif's most recent full lengths are an impressive one-two punch released by Deathbomb Arc and then Backwoodz. Sharif returns to the EU/UK this Sept, after a special appearance at the Clipping. curated 'Splendor & Misery' fest in New York in Aug.
Relative newcomers, the Philadelphia based Ratsmagick, are masterminded by Dennis Martinelli of Knifeplay. This loose 7ish piece group includes Deathbomb Arc founder Brian Miller of Foot Village (Fat Cat) as one of their two, dueling drummers. Outside of Knifeplay's extensive touring schedule, Dennis has found time to finish a Ratsmagick full length due on Deathbomb this winter.

Electronic mainstays and longtime collaborators Steve Bug and Stefan Braatz return to cult NYC label Nu Groove with the vinyl edition of their four-track EP, Circles. Showcasing a refined blend of new deep house, acid and underground club sonics, the EP opens with ‘Circles’, featuring the Chicago legend Virgo Four whose vocals bring a timeless energy to the record. A driving Beat Mix follows, transforming the original into a tougher, more DJ-ready cut. On the flip, ‘Nu Acid’ dives into raw machine funk and hypnotic pressure, while ‘Thiz Mood’ closes the EP while highlighting the duo’s mastery of tension and rhythmic detail. Rooted in the spirit of classic house while sounding firmly contemporary, Circles EP is another essential addition to the Nu Groove catalogue.

With Picture About You, Recut opens a new chapter, blending the heritage of house music, acid textures and underground electronic culture into a contemporary vision for today’s dancefloors. Rooted in the essence of club culture, the EP explores hypnotic grooves, evolving patterns and the timeless dialogue between the DJ, the sound system and the crowd, where emotion, movement and energy become a universal language. The title track, “Picture About You”, reflects Recut’s artistic identity through the lens of his personal history and family roots. An important part of this story comes from his uncle, known as Mr. Steve, who in 1975 founded one of the pioneering independent radio stations in Southern Italy during the early years of independent broadcasting. His connection with radio, disco culture and the first generation of Italian clubs embodied a spirit of discovery, sharing and musical exploration that continues to shape Recut’s approach to music.

Musically, “Picture About You” unfolds through a hypnotic and emotional groove, blending old-school character with a contemporary perspective. A timeless club track where past and present come together in Recut’s own musical language. “Hey Jack” is a powerful dancefloor weapon driven by unstoppable grooves, hypnotic acid lines and captivating arpeggios. Built for peak-time moments, it pushes the energy forward with a relentless rhythm designed to ignite the crowd.
“Subwave” takes the journey into a deeper and more massive dimension. Driven by powerful low-end pressure, evolving dynamics and explosivetransitions, the track builds tension throughout its progression before releasing its full impact on the dancefloor. Closing the EP, “Neon Flux” delivers the final impact: fierce, electric and uncompromising, a track designed to push intensity beyond the limit and leave a lasting impression. Recut Music — Fun for DJing!

The four-track EP “Invaders, Qu'est-ce que c'est?” blends dark electro-house elements with cloudy live improvisations, created for the Turin and European underground club scene. The composer duo was born from the meeting between Viziale, a DJ & Producer, and the multidisciplinary composer Barabbah.
After connecting through Italia90®, they began collaborating on new music and launched a new label linked to the clothing brand; the 30x30 cm poster by Woc, included in the vinyl release, is a proof of the contemporary image aim of the label.


NB: The Lps are made with 100% regenerated plastic, totally green and respectful for the world and 100% compatible with the standard of the pure material.

This one means a lot to us. A project we’ve been working on for a couple of years. One where we hand over the curatorial keys of the label to very specific artists in whom we have absolute trust and who have an almost academic knowledge of a specific rhythm or a specific region where our eyes and sensitivity cannot reach. In order to amplify powerful voices from the global south, where the true underground is happening today, and that move away from the traditional axis of New York, London, Berlin. We present to you: Mzansi Bass curated by Shannen SP.

A project meant to explore the space between 3-step, Gqom, the dark sides of Amapiano, and mutations of Pritori rap deeply rooted in Black African rave music from the local scenes of Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Eastern Cape, and their global mutations from Brazil and the Netherlands. The project is anchored around the legacy act of DJ Lag and new comers of South African bass whose music has broken international barriers with pure-emotionally-rich dance music. The release works as both a celebration of the roots and the future offering it projects. As Shannen puts it, it's electronic music with a futuristic feel, both raw but minimal, trance-inducing and deeply physical, built in a very particular geographic space for
the whole world to enjoy.

Indulge into this special soundscapes crafted by their own inhabitants. Expect a couple each year from now on.

Over the last two decades, Ste Roberts has quietly established himself as one of the UK's more distinctive underground electronic producers. Drawing equally from house, techno, electro, IDM and experimental electronic music, his productions blur the line between dancefloor functionality and sonic exploration. His debut release for Cyphon Recordings continues that trajectory. Four transmissions exploring machine rhythms, synthetic environments, and fractured dancefloor architecture, where melody emerges through corrosion and groove survives mutation.

Cultivated Electronics celebrates two decades at the forefront of electro with its landmark 50th release on the main label, returning to the very beginning with a new release from Signal Type - the collaborative project of label head Sync 24 and Matt Whitehead. The anniversary EP pays homage to the sound that launched Cultivated Electronics back on CE001 A1, with Signal Type delivering "Break Through", a snappy, driving and psychedelic electro workout built firmly for the dancefloor. Funky, spacey and packed with the restless energy that has defined the label since its inception, the track feels both like a nod to CE's roots and a statement of where the label stands today. The celebrations continue with three remixes from long-standing Cultivated Electronics collaborators and influential figures within the electro scene. Keith Tenniswood, aka Radioactive Man, brings an old-school, Mad Mike-esque Underground Resistance flavour to his rework, injecting the original with raw Detroit-inspired energy and machine-driven propulsion. Carl A. Finlow, operating under his Silicon Scally moniker, takes things deeper, delivering a heady after-hours interpretation built around immersive, late-night club sonics. Rounding out the EP, Finnish electro pioneers Morphology deliver a hypnotic, 90s-inspired roller, bringing their distinctive analogue sensibility and futuristic groove to the original. The vinyl edition arrives on blue marbled translucent coloured vinyl, housed in a full-sleeve package featuring artwork from Geometric Love. From its first release to its 50th, Cultivated Electronics has remained dedicated to forward-thinking electro, connecting classic machine funk with contemporary club sounds. CE050 marks both a celebration of the label's history and a salute to the artists and sounds that continue to shape its future. Here's to another 50 releases.

"The third part of "The Nightstalker" Saga emerges from the depths of dystopia, the last part of a Childhood Intelligence original tale written/produced by Dan Piu & Gary Rich. After "The Tragedies Of A High-Tech World" (2020) and "Genetic Constitution" (2022), the final chapter "Flowers Of Agony" (2026) // Child 22 materializes through a 2x12 Lp. "Flowers Of Agony" presents yet another shade of the duo's analogue machine soul. Technoid brain dance electro from alien mysterious worlds. The album travels through various types of electro infused works, the live-arrangement dynamics and "The Nightstalker" Klangbild shines through each of the traxx, taking the listener through psychedelic cybernetic universes with strong techno force, bridging elements of the past works and taking them further into the future. Deep mind Influence intensifies the more listening time spent... This last chapter of a 3-Story Saga, is the essence, yet evolution of an analogue band, a 20 year friendship - the current zeitgeist & the partnership with Childhood Intelligence. For the future listener, we hope you might unravel the keys to this puzzle and find your own means to define and represent your true self in underground culture..."

Helsingborg music hero known locally as DJ Jespha Galore strikes back with a EP containing 6 perfect length tracks somewhere in the borderlands of acid house and electronic disco. Instant 90's vibes without feeling retro and all recorded early 2026 in his new studio housed in an old cinema lobby downtown Helsingborg. These are spontaneous and raw instinct productions from a man who lived thru the 90's behind the turntables at underground parties and still doing it to this day. Highly recommended! -Joakim Cosmo

“Neither from here nor from there” is often used to describe migrant identities in territorial terms. In the case of Siete Catorce, it works better temporally: his music has always been so far ahead of its moment that it ultimately carved out a space of its own within both Latin American and global electronic music.

Born in Mexicali and shaped between the Bay Area and northern Mexico, his musical identity emerged through hip hop, dubstep, and the independent borderland scenes. After several years in Mexico City — without a clear place inside the local circuit — he created his own space through his music, developing a distinctive DJ/live set and a singular vision of contemporary Mexican electronic music, becoming a key figure within the city’s most forward-thinking underground.

In 2026, he releases El Valle, his first album in nearly three years. The record moves through different currents of electronic music — ambient, techno, cumbia, and tribal — filtered through a unique rhythmic language marked by syncopation, unpredictable breaks, and a constant tension between restraint and energy.

The album opens with “Mexicali,” alongside Andre Pereda, a tribal track stripped down to its percussive essence, evoking the genre through an ambient and synthetic approach. From there, “Aragón” and “El Rancho” progressively increase the tempo and intensity, combining cadenced phrases with minimalist tribal beats and unexpected turns.

In the second half of the album, now moving through territories of 140 BPM and beyond, tracks like “Montecarlo 1” and “Tierra Roja” drift between futuristic bass music and large-scale techno structures. This is followed by the 8-minute epic “East LA,” where Siete Catorce expands the energy of syncopated techno before releasing it into a pre-Hispanic tribal journey with flute and all the drums required for the occasion.

The closing section arrives with “Tlatelolco,” accelerating into an epic cumbia infused with trance references, and “Los Pinos,” a direct and forceful finale sustained by some of the album’s most precise sound design.

More than genres, Siete Catorce’s work is defined by meticulous sound design and an exceptional rhythmic sensibility — qualities that have established him as one of the most respected drum programmers of his generation.

DAYBREAKERS Records proudly presents ROOT DOWN 30, a celebration of one of Europe's most influential club institutions. Curated by legendary DJ, producer and tastemaker Rainer Trüby, the compilation marks three decades of Root Down, the Freiburg party that has quietly shaped dancefloors, record collections and musical conversations since 1996.

Long before genre boundaries dissolved into today's eclectic club culture, Root Down championed a unique musical vision. Jazz, Brazilian grooves, soulful house, broken beat, Afro-Latin rhythms and future-facing electronic sounds were brought together under one roof, creating a community that became a vital meeting point for adventurous dancers and deep music lovers alike.

Across thirty years, Root Down has hosted an extraordinary roll call of artists and DJs including Jazzanova, Gilles Peterson, Theo Parrish, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Jimpster, Laurent Garnier, Dixon, Peter Kruder, Richard Dorfmeister and countless others, helping establish Freiburg as an unlikely but essential stop on the global underground music map.

ROOT DOWN 30 captures that spirit perfectly. Handpicked by Trüby, the collection brings together a selection of artists whose music embodies the warmth, sophistication and dancefloor energy that have defined the party since day one. Featuring music and remixes from Jimpster, Osunlade, Da Lata, Jazzanova, Crackazat and more, the compilation moves effortlessly between soulful house, jazz-inflected club music, Brazilian influences, broken beat rhythms and deep electronic grooves.

ROOT DOWN 30 is a snapshot of an enduring musical philosophy. Thirty years after the first Root Down dancefloor came to life in Freiburg, the spirit remains unchanged: open-minded, soulful and rooted in discovery.

ROOT DOWN 30 stands as both a celebration of that remarkable journey.

Released on DAYBREAKERS Records.

Yorkshire's underground has always run deep and this double pack from one of the region's finest new labels, Hearlucinate, makes the case well. For this double album, Leeds mainstay Tristan da Cunha has done a careful excavation of Scott Featherstone's DAT archive featuring music recorded under his Triform alias entirely on analogue hardware. The results are simultaneously timeless and urgently present, and the kind of machine jams that only reveal their full power in dark, hazy rooms. 'Harmony' has a dark and sleazy soul, there's muscular drum weight to 'What Is This', 'Basic House Rocker' has an anxiety-riddled sound that's alive with twitchy acid electronics and 'Chimes' marries vast, swinging kicks with Detroit soul. Wonderful.

Hara Discs is proud to present the first EP from Sheffield-based DJ Harry Shackleton, co-owner of Grub Records and one half of DJ duo Wow & Flutter. This release draws influence from their longstanding residency at underground electro party Control., melding together sounds which have made this one of the North of England’s best kept secrets for the past 7 years. In an extremely long-winded and uncertain move, he has finally donned his rather fetching production hat and completely self generated the alias Hypno Disc with which he aims to unleash some music that is 100% OK.

The EP and alias are a homage to the late 90s and early 00s TV show Robot Wars. The title track combines the carnage of Craig Charles with something a bit UK and tribal. The remaining tracks bear the names of robots which took part in the wars. These are written from the perspective of the robots and as such are internal monologues of what each robot was thinking. The concept comes from an early fascination with this show and how it made the artist feel as someone growing up in the UK around 2000.

We hope you enjoy this release. Complaints will be tolerated.

CEASE!!!

Originally released via the Leipzig-based underground label Minor in 2017 the two tracks on this super limited 7" vinyl release see the Japanese producer providing a glimpse into the deeper, more intriciate and surely more intimate side of his work throughout his now 25 years spanning career. Both tracks on this release are based on fragile, fluttering, sparse yet playful rhythmatic signatures evoking memories of late 90s / early 2000s Electronica x IDM releases and backed by most beautiful, icy and glistening atmospheres reminiscent of autumnal morning dew or calm iridescent glacial reflections caused by a rising sun in absolutely unscathed wilderness.


Never officially distributed before and only known and recognized by a few well informed selectors out there this is the first time ever this unrecognized gem is available to a wider audience, albeit in highly limited quantities.

Limited pressing of 100 single copies on white marbled vinyl.

J Old Rat aka DJ Lao Laoshu aka DJ老老鼠 presents China Underground.

DJ Old Rat is the moniker of Steve Barker, the legendary British broadcaster, music journalist, and host of the long-running On the Wire radio show on BBC Radio Lancashire.

Here he presents underground music from China 2002-2011, Between 2002 and 2011, Barker lived in China working on cultural projects for the British Council. During this decade, he produced and broadcast On The Wire directly from Beijing, embedding himself deeply into China's developing experimental and electronic underground music scen

Detroit techno visionary Keith Tucker returns through his acclaimed alter ego Optic Nerve with AUGMENTATIONS EP, a forward-thinking exploration of minimalist machine funk, futuristic sound design, and deep electronic movement.

Crafted with precision and unmistakable Detroit character, AUGMENTATIONS merges hypnotic analog sequences, mechanical rhythm structures, atmospheric synth textures, and driving electronic beats into a powerful sonic statement rooted in the city’s enduring techno legacy. Sparse yet immersive, the EP balances raw underground energy with cinematic futurism — designed equally for dark warehouse floors and deep headphone listening.

Pressed as a Limited Collector’s Edition Clear Vinyl 12-inch, PBX-38 captures the sleek, transparent aesthetic of the music itself: pure signal, machine emotion, and uncompromising Detroit innovation.


A1 — Augmented 1 (Optic Nerve Original Mix)

A deep, stripped down Detroit techno workout driven by pulsing drum programming, evolving synth modulation, and hypnotic minimalist sequencing. Functional futurism engineered for late-night motion.
B1 — Augmented 2 (Infinite Worlds Mix)

Built around a rolling funky bass line and eerie flowing string textures, this expansive composition moves through layers of atmospheric electronics and mechanical groove architecture. The track creates an immersive sense of drifting through endless digital landscapes while maintaining a sharp rhythmic intensity designed for the underground dance floor.
B2 — Augmented 3 (Visual Shapes Mix)

Abstract melodic fragments, and precision electronic rhythms collide to form a futuristic minimalist soundscape filled with movement, tension, and cinematic pulsed chords.

Trumpeter, rapper and sonic wanderer Pan Amsterdam has carved out one of the most distinctive voices operating at the intersection of jazz and hip-hop today.

Pan Amsterdam is a musical enigma wrapped in an enduring riddle. His creator is a jazz musician from Houston who’s found fame working with Detroit punk rock God, Iggy Pop, and British indie royalty, Metronomy, and now makes shapeshifting, adventurous hip hop out of the music’s spiritual home, New York.

He’s an irreverent character born out of frustration and named after a misunderstanding, yet one who’s on the verge of releasing his fifth album of truth-slaying, genre-crossing rhymes and beats. The result is a catalogue that feels both deeply rooted in Black American musical tradition and completely untethered by convention.

Pan Amsterdam returns with ‘Panarama’, his fourth full length album and a bold reassertion of his hip hop identity, released via Def Pressé. Created by Houston-born, New York-based musician and composer Leron Thomas, the record finds Pan Amsterdam embracing the harder edges of his sound while continuing to blur the lines between jazz improvisation, abstract rap, punk attitude, and experimental production

Written as a response to contemporary life and the endless cycle of information, conflict and distraction that defines modern culture, ‘Panarama’ unfolds as a stream of consciousness journey through hyper-normalised realities. Across sixteen tracks, Thomas navigates social commentary, personal reflection, absurdist humour, and cultural critique, delivering his observations with the same spontaneity and freedom that have become central to the Pan Amsterdam project

Lead single ‘Szechuan Beef’, produced by acclaimed collaborator 1FS, serves as one of the album’s defining statements. Built around Thomas’ signature free-flowing delivery, the track explores the overwhelming nature of contemporary life, where domestic conflict, social division, entertainment scandals and political discourse become flattened into a constant stream of content.

In Thomas’ own words: “My stream of consciousness style comes quite naturally to me due to the conditioning of scroll down culture where everything, no matter how minor or extreme, is hyper normalised.”

Elsewhere, the track ‘Vanilla Ice’ was written in response to widely publicised ICE killings and the speed at which tragedy is absorbed and forgotten within online culture. Thomas channels the anxiety and emotional disorientation of endlessly consuming information, allowing his thoughts to unfold in real time as social commentary collides with everyday digital noise. The result is both deeply personal and sharply observational, reflecting the fragmented reality of modern life. Other album highlights include the cinematic, Interpol-esque opener - ‘Old Friend’ complete with shimmering guitar lines and an far-reaching introspective, no-filter vocal as Thomas teams up with Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Brad Truax (Interpol) across multiple tracks, often the production traverses left-field indie territory, but always maintaining Pan Amsterdam’s unique musical identity throughout. For the hip hop purists and beats lovers there are plenty of riches to discover from the clever nostalgic sample flips of ‘Cutlery’, the sleepy lofi of ‘Shuriken’ and the wonky LA beat scene / early Flying Lotus era beats of ‘Drunken Noodles’ - all boasting quick witted lyricism. ‘Deep Fried Shiney Things’ explores early electro and industrial sonics while album finisher is an upbeat new wave / indie band cut which sees Thomas take a break from rapping, but of course never letting up on the sharp observations nonetheless


While his previous record explored more alternative territory, ‘Panarama’ marks a deliberate return to rap, as Pan Amsterdam explains:

“I just wanted to do a rap album again.I enjoyed making my last album, but I felt like rapping again. I like to have the freedom to move in between musical worlds that suit the current state I’m in. Frequency accommodating frequency.”

This philosophy runs throughout the album. Tracks move effortlessly between jazz-inflected arrangements, experimental beats, punk energy and underground hip hop aesthetics, allowing ideas to evolve organically rather than conforming to traditional structures. Thomas describes himself as an improviser first and foremost: “I think like an improvisor. That’s how my albums pretty much move. It’s improvisation.”

Featuring additional contributions from Spice Programmers, AnOtter and Mr. Shn, ‘Panarama’ presents a wide-ranging cast of collaborators while remaining firmly rooted in Thomas’ singular creative vision. The record embraces contradiction, humour and unpredictability, capturing fleeting thoughts and observations with the same freedom and spontaneity that define jazz improvisation itself.

A musical enigma wrapped in an enduring riddle, Pan Amsterdam has built a reputation as one of contemporary music’s true outsiders. The project emerged from frustration, experimentation and artistic freedom, with Thomas drawing equally from his background as a jazz musician and his collaborations with artists including Iggy Pop and Metronomy. Operating from New York while carrying the spirit of Houston’s musical heritage, Pan Amsterdam has developed a distinctive voice that sits comfortably between avant-garde jazz, underground hip hop and experimental music.

Reuniting with Def Pressé for ‘Panarama’, Thomas explores what he describes as the more hardcore side of his artistic identity:

“They let me do anything and everything I wanna do so long as it’s on audio, and I need that freedom. What may verbally be perceived as vulgar to one group of people may be very thoughtful and a poignant description of the times that we’re presently in, so I’m glad that I’m part of a label home that understands that.”

DJ Support: Glenn Underground, Leo Mas, Sean Johnston / ALFOS, Massimiliano Pagliara / Panorama Bar, Al Mackenzie / Field of Dreams, Shane Johnson / Fish Go Deep, Flash Atkins / Paper Recordings, Pete Gooding, Mark Broadbent, Max Essa and plenty more.

2026 has been a particularly busy year for Visions of Light, the Balearic/ambient/dub trio founded by Freebooter Records’ Simon Sheldon alongside Muzka and Dan Dub Lounge. Following the Dedications EP – their warmly received collection of Balearic dub reinterpretations of White Isle-friendly club classics – the trio return with ‘Mycelium Bloom’, the follow-up to their 2025 debut LP The Mandela Vortex. Mycelium Bloom sees Visions of Light expand their signature sound, blending downtempo dub grooves and sunbaked Balearic soundscapes with hallucinatory electronics and psychedelic touches. Layered guitars, deep bass, immersive textures and dreamlike melodies run throughout an album designed for both sunset listening and deeper late-night excursions.

Opener Split The Scene sets the tone with acidic electronics circling languid beats, heavy bass and spacious pads, while All The Best Thing taps into the spirit of early ’90s chill-out rooms, adding desert blues influences to its hazy, enveloping atmosphere. Holding Jupiter pushes further into psychedelic territory, built around low-tempo rhythmic drift, effects-laden guitars and expansive chords. Elsewhere, the trio reconnect with their rootsier dub foundations. B Town delivers a warm, summery skank, while Radiant Flux shifts towards Balearic dub dancefloor territory. Perfect You, featuring words written and performed by Richard Dormer alongside flute from Luis Vilca, is a gorgeous sunset-ready highlight, while Let Go closes in on pure Balearic bliss through gentle melodies and slow-burning atmosphere.

Artlab continues the celebration of its 10th anniversary with the highly anticipated second installment of its commemorative vinyl series. Building on the momentum of the inaugural release, this follow-up collection further cements the cultural center’s status as a beacon for cutting-edge sound, bringing together a refined selection of artists who perfectly embody the club’s forward-thinking electronic spirit.

The journey begins on the A-Side with the legendary Voigtmann, who steps up to deliver "Casual," an electro-tinged, hypnotic bomer designed to lock the dancefloor into a steady, driving trance. Following this peak-time intensity, Mateo Dufour—undoubtedly a man of the moment—takes the reins with "Space Child." Infused with classy, mysterious house vibes, the track offers a sophisticated sonic texture that bridges the gap between deep atmosphere and rhythmic precision.

Turning the record over, Franco Cinelli commands the B1 slot with "Ecos Perdidos." A master of his craft, Cinelli presents a dub-infused, hypnotic number that explores deep, resonant soundscapes, perfectly showcasing the label’s commitment to underground innovation. To close out this second anniversary chapter, Revivis brings us "L.T.F.U." A classy, driving production that captures an infectious energy, making it an essential anthem for the summer season and beyond.

With this second installment, Artlab reaffirms its dedication to its multidisciplinary roots, providing a diverse yet cohesive listening experience that continues to define the next decade of its artistic journey.

You've never played a game like Blippo+ before, and you've never heard a video game soundtrack quite like Greatest Hits from Planet Blip.

Composed by Rob Kieswetter and Jona Bechtolt from the LA-based trio YACHT, the soundtrack collects 71 tracks from the cult classic video game Blippo+, reworked and sequenced into a continuous listen for this special release —a TV static-speckled gatefold double LP, out Oct. 16 via Hologram Opera, marking the soundtrack’s physical debut.

Taking the form of a cable TV simulator, Blippo+ captures the magical feeling of seizing a mysterious signal from outer space and discovering the television programming of an alien culture. Soundtracking the game’s pastiche of programs is Rob and Jona’s genre-spanning score—synth-heavy, eccentrically electronic, with a skewed sensibility that pays homage to cable access, library music, video art, and the late-night margins of the 80s and 90s underground.

TV obsessives will find plenty to love in Greatest Hits from Planet Blip: with surreal theme songs, jangly jingles, zippystings, catchy kitsch, period-accurate menu music and even pop hits from the alien airwaves, this propulsively playful soundtrack will have channel-flippers tingling with nostalgia.

“Planet Blip is an alien planet where art and music are the only currency and ‘consciousness particles’ form the basis of all media. To capture the spirit of this world, we drew inspiration
from all the music we felt best embodied this ethos and ran it through our own utopian blender,” say Bechtolt and Kieswetter.

Blippo+ is an award-winning, experimental, live-action video game created by YACHT and Telefantasy Studios, along with developers Noble Robot and Dustin Mierau, and published by Panic Games. It was released for Steam, Playdate and Nintendo Switch in 2025 to widespread
critical acclaim and has earned a devoted fandom. A Mac version followed earlier this year, and was nominated for an Apple Design Award.

"Simultaneously nostalgic and futuristic, otherworldly yet
welcoming, Blippo+ is an absolute artistic triumph.
" —Deven McClure, Screen Rant

"Blippo+’s presentation might ape old traditions, but the collective impact of its content is richer, deeper, and more entertaining than any mere remembrance.
" —Garrett Martin, Paste/Endless Mode

"In the increasingly reactionary and prescriptive landscape of video games, it is remarkable to encounter something so distinctive, so hopeful, so celebratory, so devoted to expanding the possibility space of art beyond a single medium." —Sam Bodrojan

Nu Vision is the latest project of Duke Cooper, band leader and label boss of Nation, Kode and DirtyBlends. There are three humans who make up Nu Vision, and they all have their own stories and discographies, records released on labels you might know, gigs played in Chicago or Berlin or someone’s loft, lives lived, friends made, sleep lost - fighting for theirart, standing by truths, defending voices, honoring progenitors, whilst pushing a new paradigm. Time is both fleeting and heavy for us all, but it is not without receipts.

Nu Vision is a band in the classic do-you-believe-in-alchemy sense - equal parts rhythm, damage, and deep feeling. Drenched in nostalgia and futurism, The Seed is a singularity of sound + vision; as if heavily rotated by VJ Dave Kendall on MTV’s 120 Minutes but materialized via today’s technology.

The Seed 10 inch provides additional music inspired significant icons Section 25, Liaisons Dangeruses and Adrian Sherwood having paved the way with their prior successes..- this package of The Seed is no freshman effort; but rather, a masterclass in continuing sonic education, delivering a unified experience from beginning to end. A NU VISION.

The Seed 10 inch provides additional music inspired significant icon band: Section 25 from the period of 1981-1984 with a more electronic-dance direction, process which culminated in the album ' From the Hip ' and remix single "Looking From A Hilltop", both released in 1984 as "Insecure Man is about being true to manhood with Robert Lane leading the charge with his vocabulary message of the current state of society.

Insecure Dub focuses on the period of 1981-1984 with an alternative electronic-dance direction process as an inspired blueprint from Nu Vision inspired from Adrian Sherwood having paved the way with his individual success.

Inspired from electrifying songs produced by Chrislo Haas (DAF) and Beate Bartel (Mania D. / Matador) reinforced by Krishna Goineau’s French and Spanish Speech-Attack-Lyrics Liaisons Dangereuses created a unique style anything other than a Berlin or Düsseldorf ‘thing’ – that was propelled to an international underground phenomenon of fame.

Nu VIsion was inspired to create a blueprint from the period of their productions of 1981-1982 with an electronic-dance direction paying homage with passionate craftsmanship utilizing what equipment was possible in the studio at the time of this recording featuring new members; Zoe Murphy & Fletch The Stranger on vocals and James Chazz on Saxaphone with a Ring Modulator.

Second chapter in the Alkaline series. Five electro cuts and one techno excursion, crafted by two artists with decades of dedication to electronic music.

On Side A, Raakel Bloody Raakel brings decades of discipline and formal training into a sharp, uncompromising sound. Active since the late 90s and rooted in both classical education and underground culture, his work reflects precision, intensity and structural control.

On Side B, Roi delivers three focused electro pieces forged through years of experimentation and dancefloor experience. His approach blends coherence, tension and forward motion, driven by a continuous commitment to evolving the language of electronic music.

Two trajectories. One alkaline framework. Built for those who understand the craft.

Cosmic Tribe · Research & Development in Sound.

Over the last decade and a half, Rotation Sound System’s annual gathering in the Staffordshire countryside has become one of underground dance music culture’s true success stories – an intimate gathering of like-minded friends and partygoers, powered by a custom-built six-way sound system, with music provided by a carefully curated line-up of dusty-fingered diggers, selectors and hand-picked live performers.

At the heart of the collective’s unique and much-loved approach lies a dedication to finding and sharing lesser-known gems and audio obscurities – fantastic records whose charm and quality has long been overlooked.

Last year, the core members of the crew – founders Dean Meredith and Ben Shenton (renowned for their productions as Mind Fair), and Wrekin’ Havoc trio Rob J, Stuart Robinson and Rich Hall – offered a snapshot of their unique musical approach via debut compilation Everything You Are About To Hear Is True, Volume 1, in the process introducing a global audience to some of the countless unknown mid-tempo classics nestled in their collections.

Fresh from another sold out edition of their acclaimed micro-festival, they’re back with volume two, another must-have collection of slept-on classics, loved-up shufflers and wide-eyed Balearic beats, all of which have played a part in Rotation’s story over the last 13 years.

Appearing on gatefold double vinyl with extensive liner notes telling the stories behind the tracks, Everything You’re About To Hear Is True, Volume 2 is full to bursting with music that sounds mind-blowing on the crew’s high-end sound system.

For proof, check the analogue-rich intergalactic shuffle of Paul Atreides’ 2015 jam ‘Arrakis Walk’, the relaxed boogie-soul of Rocky Winters’ Chaz Jankel produced ‘Vicious Circle’, the easy-listening-jazz-rock bliss of Vincent Maclin’s ‘Should’ve Took a Chance’, the 80s soul squelch of ‘Ecstasy (Centurion Mix)’ by Endgames and the immersive British dub drift of Sigma’s ‘Remember (Dub Style)’.

Everywhere you look, you’ll find eye-opening and ear-pleasing delights. There’s Pinky’s lightly acid-flecked, breakbeat-fuelled, acid house-era street soul classic ‘I Wanna Be The One (Instrumental Groove)’, the 1992 new age downtempo seduction of Linda Myers (‘Shine On Me’), the Clavinet-and-synth sporting jazz-rock/space-rock fusion of Wolfhound (1984 gem ‘Another Moon Song’), the Gallic colour of Buzy’s ‘Keep Cool (Version Maxi)’ and the guitar solo-laden electrofunk explorations of mid-80s UK act Lifesighs (‘Get Serious’, here presented in its extended instrumental form).

For their next release, Phase Group invites you deep into the mind of a singular artist to offer a glimpse of their prolific body of work, zooming in on music composed specifically between 2018 and 2021.

Across 16 tracks, ‘Summa 2018-2021’ by Serbian producer Andria reveals a highly unique approach to sound design and composition, spanning the realms of futuristic IDM, ritual ambient, fourth-world techno and other elusive electronic genres.

Listening to this album in its entirety feels like entering a self-contained sonic world, where animistic and ancestral traditions are refracted through unfamiliar forms of technology. It’s an album which moves effortlessly from moments of deep and contemplative abstraction, as heard in tracks like ‘Sunlessness’, with it's atmosphere of otherworldly field recordings and ancient rites, to propulsive tracks that will guide clubs through ceremonial trance states such as ‘Floating Island’, where industrial kicks underline expressive poly-rhythms, evocative synths and snarling digital glitches.

The release is a gripping and immersive listening experience filled with spellbinding and expertly conjured sounds alongside highly effective moments of dance music that will surely find their way into the sets of the most expressive and fearless DJs. This is one for fans of Coil, Shackleton, Andy Stott and Demdike Stare.

Behind the work is Andrija Čugurović the Belgrade-based artist. A graphic designer by day (and in-house designer here at Phase Group), he dedicates his nights and time away from work and production to Belgrade’s underground electronic scene, digging deep into the worlds of Bass, Techno, Industrial, Ambient, IDM, Experimental and Computer Music.

A regular attendee at spots like Drugstore and the 20/44 boat since a young age, Andrija has honed a deep connection with the music he creates and DJs and that is evidenced in this highly original collection of music. This is his second release on Phase Group, coming after his debut EP ‘o o o o o’ in 2020, the second release on the label.

'Summa 2018-2021’ is available digitally and on high-fidelity C-90 cassette, dubbed at Tapeline UK and distributed by Rubadub.
All tracks composed and produced by Andrija Čugurović.
Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi.
Artwork by Andrija Čugurović.

Two decades after its original release, Herbert Boese’s “Charger“ / „Hypnotoad” returns to vinyl.

Originally released as the second record on Jaktronik, the label Herbert Boese ran together with Marc Romboy, the two-tracker captures a very particular moment in German electronic music: stripped back, physical and functional, yet deeply rooted in the sound of Detroit.

At the time Boese was a resident DJ at Düsseldorf’s legendary Harpune club and one of the people shaping the city’s underground electronic music scene. His Jaktronik productions became an extension of that world, music made by a DJ, for the dancefloor.

“Charger” was an immediate standout. Marc Romboy selected the record for his chart at the time, describing its combination of heavy bass and Detroit-influenced strings as a track that made dancefloors scream.

On the flip, “Hypnotoad” goes deeper and more hypnotic: reduced, trippy and relentlessly effective, built around repetition, tension and groove.

Twenty years later, neither track sounds like a museum piece. Quite the opposite. In a time when a new generation is rediscovering the raw, minimal and machine-driven sound of the mid-2000s, “Charger“ / „Hypnotoad” feels remarkably current again.

The original tracks, remastered and finally back on vinyl.

here is a direct and enduring connection between the roots of Italian electronic music and the underground club culture of today.

Boldly pulling that thread are Marta Paradise, the duo from Martina Franca (Puglia, Italy), who have established themselves as a go-to name for anyone craving an elegant, refined sound that remains unapologetic.

For their latest release, they team up once again with a true legend: Fred Ventura. As one of the most iconic artists of early Italo Disco, Ventura brings an unmistakable vocal timbre that turns every track into an instant classic.

The result of this cross-generational collaboration is Call In The Night, a track that bridges authentic Italian heritage with the sharpest edges of modern Indie Dance. It delivers everything discerning clubbers live for: shimmering synths cutting through the dark, an octave-driven bassline that locks you to the dancefloor and a nocturnal, dreamy, relentlessly catchy vocal line.

Elevating the package even further is a stellar remix package featuring some of the hottest names on the current circuit, including Mystery Friend, Day Ventura, the unmistakable touch of the legendary Flemming Dalum, and Slow Motion label boss Franz Scala.

Far from a simple nostalgia exercise, Call In The Night is a forward-looking journey with a vintage soul that never falls into cheap clichés. Past and present merge to set the world’s most visionary DJ booths ablaze.

Written by GIANLUCA SERVETTI
HEY CABRERA
Owner of the Magazine “rockerilla”

"Surface Noise Isn’t A Crime" continues NOREPRESS’ exploration of texture, pressure, and imperfect sound as core elements of underground electronic music. Across four tracks, the release moves through Deep Tech House, Dub Techno, Electro, and Breakbeat without settling into fixed genre boundaries, balancing functionality with experimentation throughout.

A1. Tvardovsky feat. Andrey Zverev – Flute Meditation opens the record with a dense, slowly unfolding trip built on dub space, electro tension, and hypnotic Tech House movement. Organic flute phrases drift through layered percussion, evolving bass pressure, and spacious analog textures, creating a strange collision of futurism and nostalgia. The track resists obvious peak-time formulas, choosing gradual transformation over immediate impact and rewarding deeper immersion with every transition.

A2. Osman Öz – Regrets moves into softer territory without losing rhythmic weight. Warm breakbeat structures, airy melodic fragments, and fluid low-end movement give the track a calm but persistent momentum. Osman Öz keeps the arrangement restrained and precise, allowing groove and atmosphere to carry the emotional core of the composition naturally.

On the B-side, Kirill Matveev appears under his Natural Piece Of Aloe alias with two contrasting interpretations of the project’s dub-informed language.

B1. Salto Mortale is playful, unstable, and constantly mutating. Rhythms stretch and reorganize themselves around shifting tonal fragments, while the arrangement moves with the loose unpredictability of an improvisation session. Despite its complexity, the track never loses control, maintaining a strong forward pull through every unexpected turn.

Closing the record, B2. Columbo Beat, Kirill Matveev - Sundub pushes deeper into darker territory. Acid sequences slice through heavy dub atmospheres while rugged drums and saturated low-end pressure drive the track forward with raw physical energy. Distortion, space, and movement interact continuously, turning the track into a hypnotic late-night tool designed for more adventurous dancefloors.

"Surface Noise Isn’t A Crime" captures NOREPRESS at its most confident: raw textures, deep space, broken edges, and timeless club influences reconstructed into a modern dub-driven framework.

NOREPRESS is a division of MixCult Records

Longtime Sonic Groove staple REALMZ (Rob D'Atri) makes his long-awaited return to the label with his first release since 2018. Delivering a sharp, clinical transmission of heavy electronic sound design, this record pairs intricate programming with fractured rhythms and dense, driving atmospheres. Echoing the minimalist, metallic energy of classic warehouse techno, it cuts straight to the floor with precision mechanical grooves. Pure, uncompromising underground techno

Following the success of Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 in 2023, Cosmocities returns in 2026 with two new chapters in its acclaimed compilation series dedicated to the rich heritage and continuing evolution of Japanese electronic music.

Compiled by label owner Matt Soulie, Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku Vol. 4 further explores the depth, sophistication and diversity that have long made Japan's electronic underground one of the world's most inspiring musical landscapes.

Since its inception, the Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku project has celebrated the artists and sounds that have profoundly influenced the Cosmocities vision. Across four volumes, the series has journeyed through ambient soundscapes, deep house, boogie, jazz-infused electronics and forward-thinking club music. Volume 4 shifts the focus firmly towards the deeper end of the dancefloor, bringing together timeless classics, rare gems and sought-after reinterpretations from some of Japan's most respected producers.

Opening proceedings is Kaoru Inoue's remix of Soft's "Art Farmer", a rolling percussive Afro-house excursion rich in hypnotic groove and organic rhythm. XTAL's "Heavenly Overtone" follows with a beautifully cosmic house journey, combining shimmering keys and celestial atmospheres that perfectly capture the compilation's expansive spirit.

On the B-side, Slow Didi's "Follow Me (Hidaway Mix Instrumental)" delivers a deep and hypnotic groove before Tokyo Black Star's "Fantastique Voyage" channels the soulful, sophisticated energy of classic 1990s deep house. The journey continues with Manabu Nagayama and Soichi Terada's "Low Tension", presented here in a sublime instrumental remix by Satoshi Fumi and Yoshi Horino, where warm piano melodies and elegant synth work create a timeless late-night mood.

The final stretch moves into more driving territory. Hiroshi Watanabe's "The Orionids (2025 Revised)" subtly raises the tempo, blending deep house sensibilities with sleek tech-inflected textures. Kaoru Inoue's "Ground Rhythm", reworked by The Backwoods, plunges deeper into hypnotic territory with a heads-down groove designed for intimate basement spaces and low-lit dancefloors.

Closing the compilation is Bitowa and YAMADAtheGIANT's "Forest (Mixtacy Exclusive Version)", a trippy, immersive finale that leaves listeners suspended in a dreamlike state between nature, rhythm and imagination.

A carefully curated collection of deep, cosmic and forward-thinking sounds, Denshi Ongaku No Bigaku Vol. 4 once again showcases the enduring creativity, innovation and global influence of Japanese electronic music.

It was in the year 2008 when Too Much came out: a 15-track debut that turned Berlin's underground upside down and made excess into a musical principle.
The album sounds like a party that has already gone off the rails - and is getting better because of it. Tobias Jundt's deadpan, heavily accented delivery collides with jagged guitars, rattling bass, vintage synths and restless dance grooves. Rock'n'roll, electroclash and dance-punk blur into something that never quite sits comfortably in any genre.
The songs are deliberately ridiculous, catchy and hedonistic. Too Much is full of party anthems, absurd one-liners and hooks that get stuck in your head whether you want them to or not. The title track itself became one of Bonaparte's signature songs - one of the early Myspace-era tracks that helped turn the band into a genuine underground sensation.
But Too Much was never just a record. Bonaparte's world extended into circus costumes, provocative performances, striptease, queer aesthetics and wildly excessive live shows. What began with illegal gigs under Alexanderplatz quickly moved to the Montreux Jazz Festival, international tours and legendary parties - with the band becoming one of the most distinctive acts to emerge from Berlin in the late 2000s.
Now Too Much returns on vinyl. A document of a particular Berlin moment - chaotic, funny, sweaty and impossible to ignore.
15 songs. Zero restraint. Still too much.

Budapest based concept label Blue Sun arrives with the 3rd edition of their annual VA series, showcasing a colorful taste of the local underground music scene, with some international sidenotes.

Following up on the label’s customs, the 19-track selection is not only released digitally, but also on a limited 200-piece cassette series. Curated by the label heads, the tracks follow Blue Sun's listening-oriented concept without genre restrictions with downtempo, trip-hop, jazz, dub, balearic, ambient, experimental, and electronica as highlights, with pieces that are more difficult to classify.

As before, instead of the usual A-B markings, the two sides are divided by the label's colors: “ORANGE” contains more organic and high-energy music, while “BLUE” contains more pensive and experimental tracks. Moreover, the selection has been carefully curated so that it can be listened to as an endless loop: the end of a side always resonates with the beginning of the other, wherever the listener begins.

The list of contributing artists this year are truly various and just as impressive. From uniqe debuting local artists to internationally recognised performers, it gives a taste of how the Hungarian underground scene sounds like atm. Important to note, that the release marks another debut: the label’s new visual identity by Blue Sun’s new designer, Péter Tóth.

""Early Morning"" is the result of an intimate, personal experience within Mexican territories. It unfolds as an open-ended narrative, suspended in vast and indefinite environments where sound merges with the landscape.
Trumpet and electric keyboard act as the central forces within the composition, guiding its emotional core. Around them, additional elements are woven in through subtle interventions-reinforcing, dissolving, and reshaping the piece. The result is a form rich in suspense, positioned between electroacoustics and contemporary experimental music, maintaining a strong focus on timbre, spatial perception, and the relationship between acoustic sources and real-time processing. Jacopo Buda (born in 1994) is a trumpeter, composer, and sound artist. In addition to his work as a musician, he is an artistic director for experimental music festivals within the Italian underground scene and has been the co-curator, alongside Demetrio Cecchitelli, of The Cave hosted by Casa Madiba (Rimini) since 2021.

2026 Repress

Dial Records boss makes a welcome return to Smallville in March of 2024 with a fresh four-tracker EP ‘Gravity Hill’. Peter Kersten, better known to most as Lawrence, has been at the forefront of underground house and techno for decades now. His Dial imprint, co-founded alongside Carsten Jost, has grown to become a north star for many seeking out raw, emotive and understated electronic music and Lawrence’s own productions follow a similar path, finding a home on many beloved labels beyond Dial such as Kompakt, Mule Musiq, Ghostly
International, Giegling, Pampa and of course Smallville, that he co-founded together with Stella Plazonja and Julius Steinhoff in 2005.
Title-track ‘Gravity Hill’ opens the project and perfectly sets the tone with Lawrence’s distinct atmospheric haze of keys, chords and pads billowing atop swaying bass tones and crisp drums. ‘Beaver’ follows next and edges into dubbed out realms with expansive stab delays, rounded subs, modulating percussive flutters and a robust rhythmic drive.
‘The Swamp’ then leads the B-side, diving into a deeper territory via airy Rhodes melodies and subtly unfurling pads, intertwined with organic percussion and a jazz tinged bass line. ‘Stargazer’ then concludes the package and shifts back to a more straight, dance floor- oriented feel via a twitchy acid bass, circling resonant synth licks, hypnotic textures and a swinging drum groove.
Smallville 62 artwork by Stefan Marx as always and it's the first 12“ Smallville cover in full colour ever after 61 black/white releases.

Curses' dark, romantic take on electronic music is often linked to EBM, new beat, synth-pop, and the offshoots in between - but, as the artist states, it's feelings, not genres, that motivate his music. Especially the underground and its niche sounds, brimming with collective energy, drive and passion, make for a major impetus. It's no coincidence that he's drawn to the era when man turned to the machine, as a collaborative force, and a new kind of liveliness, timelessness, emerged. In Curses' practice, this synergy translates into an enticing mix of synthesisers and voices, electronic drums and guitars. Nostalgia operates as an influence rather than a motive, though: despite its affinities with the past, his music is stridently contemporary and idiosyncratic. On the "Perfect High" EP, this approach is rendered in a resolutely dancefloor-oriented selection. It's rich in detail and constantly evolving; each time a new element appears, it's treated with such delight and care that you could imagine the track to flit off and turn it into the main theme. This doesn't happen, however, as the sense of cohesion and momentum is paramount: there's a relentless forward drive that keeps engagement tight from start to finish. The detuned, chorus-heavy leads of title track "Perfect High" and the clockwork-tinged percussion of "Weapon Of Time" jell with lustrous hooks. The ominous choirs on "Dare To Dream" and the proto rolling-and-scratching squelches of "Killer Instinct" similarly fall into place. Bravado never stands in the way of flow. Everything is kept in check by gated R-50 rhythms, and in the vocal department, Curses finds the sweet spot between his own voice and a slew of off-kilter samples. On closer "Blasted" NYC royalty Andi joins for a slab of synth-driven groove. It's shiny and sensuous, like patent leather - a perfect distillation of club music channeled through pop aesthetics, and thus a right coda for ALT028.

American DJ, producer and Lone Romantic / Ellum Audio label boss Maceo Plex joins Radio Slave’s Rekids with the ‘Monster’ EP.

Maceo Plex opens the ‘Monster’ EP with 'Flute Jam', a muscular, progressive cut with broken beats and subtle chords lighting up the airwaves. Drifting vocals and widescreen synths add great scale to this intergalactic journey while textured bass brings the weight. The hyper-real and aptly named 'Baby Monster' then features vocals from Baby Monsta, refracted through a full-bodied Electro-Techno fusion. The chords dance over fizzing bass, all with future-facing sound design and an outer space atmosphere. Closer 'Cold Flow' is a prickly breakbeat cut with dehumanised, trap-style vocals and precision engineering in the groove. It's a cinematic sound that takes breaks, techno and electro into new realms while retaining a soulful, melancholic core.

Active since the 90s, Maceo Plex haș long been operating in his own musical world, where Electro, Techno and House all fuse into something futuristic and fresh. He's been shaping the underground for three decades as a DJ and producer but also head of the infl ential Ellum Audio and Lone Romantic labels. Already this year he has dropped the dark 2-step sounds of his 'The Plan EP' via the latter, which also features Baby Monsta, and continues his purple patch with a standout debut on Rekids that finds him exploring yet more new ground.

Over the last decade, Medlar has carved out a unique corner of the underground with releases on labels including Delusions of Grandeur, Wolf Music, Razor n Tape and Make A Dance, developing a sound that effortlessly bridges deep house, leftfield disco, broken rhythms, and jazz-infused electronics. Here he is with a brand-new Celestial Bodies EP on Delusions of Grandeur, deep, warm, Balearic sounds for the soul!