A1 Fred Hush - Close Your Eyes
This track is cracking and is the unofficial follow up to open your eyes. Some sounds have been taken from OYE and mixed with new sounds and a new discreet vocal. For the people who like hypnotic long and deep climaxes.
A2 Fred Hush - I Say (Remix Noseda)
I SAY is a niche record released on Emmanuel Top's Fokalm label. This version is a remix by techno man Noseda known from Ragnarok Berlin and releases on Deborah De luca's Solamente label.
B1 Emmanuel Top Acid Phase (Fred Hush & Dimitri Andreas Rework)
Acid Phase, an unbelievable record that is hard to match, was repackaged by Fred Hush & Dimitri Andreas. A slightly dreamier and more melodic tone was indicated in a compelling beat. This version was released before but quickly sold out. Played by Sven Vath.
B2 Fred Hush - I Say (Remix Klaudia Gawlas)
International DJ Star Klaudia Gawlas also let her go for a while to make her own version. Very strong sound and an unmissable second break that certainly works on the dance floor.
Hot on the heels of their sophomore release with DJ Rocca, Cyphon Recordings welcome Tijuana’s Cyborg Nerve to the family for the third installment in their busy label schedule.
A new project helmed by the Cedillo brothers - also known for their work under the monikers Soul of Hex and Mano De Fuego - Cyborg Nerve’s sound tips the hat to the roots of Detroit electro and techno.
The Vicario Musique Recordings bosses have already made a mark under their Soul of Hex alias, pushing their cosmic, vibrant take on deep house. It’s caught the ear of labels and artists across the world; the likes of Delusions of Grandeur, Freerange Records and Quintessentials have shared their music and they’ve even earned the Larry Heard seal of approval, with the legendary Chicago producer stepping up to remix their 2014 track ‘Lip Reading’. As Mano De Fuego they’re also getting their music into the hands of pioneering figures in the American dance music scene - summer of this year saw them release a shamanistic debut via the inimitable Underground Resistance.
For their debut outing as Cyborg Nerve, the pair deliver four tracks of old school electro grooves. Title track ‘Cristalizacion’ kicks things off. A slice of intergalactic electro; celestial pads soar above warm bass and staccato drum rhythms. Their eponymous track follows and takes the energy levels up a notch: a warbling bass line drives the track forward, whirring and revving while crisp hats fizz overhead.
‘Tijuana 3000’ is another cut that's custom-made for the dance floor. As with the title track, the duo call to mind the interstellar jazz-tinged electronics of Detroit outfit Galaxy 2 Galaxy, as they pair cosmic twinkling melodies with a hypnotic acid line that takes centre stage. ‘Machine Effect’ brings the EP to a close. Like its name suggests the track is powered by a raw, machine funk groove and precise drum programming - no bells and whistles, just pure cosmic vibrations to move your body.
Our second installment is going to be a classic 4-track various artist release. Carefully curated and selected pieces of music, produced by close friends, this release fulfills the label's mission of providing a platform for our loved ones. This issue features some incredible artists and friends united on wax.
The Berlin and Munich-based duo Medus & Niko S. offer a hybrid track with nostalgic elements of techno, breaks, and progressive house, capable of busting any dancefloor. Longtime Munich resident DJ and producer Dancing Lessons contributes a hypnotic tech-house infused tune with elements of breakbeat and electro, taking the listener on a personal journey through time and space. Munich's young and upcoming producer Johnmon and label owner of Powerloader Records chips in a proper 90s bomb with driving drums, dark, and quirky synths. An all-round tool suited for any dance floor situation. Finally, Vienna-based Doesntmatter polishes off the VA with an expertly crafted electro track. He is the veteran out of the bunch with various releases under his belt on labels such as Traumschallplatten, Reboot Prague, Vienna Underground Track, and Zone Focus.
In the mid-70s, Bob Shad’s cult New York Jazz label Mainstream Records turned to the burgeoning underground Disco scene and released a handful of great singles produced by the likes of Tommy Stewart, Jimmy Roach or Bert DeCoteaux. Featuring artists from the early Disco hotbed including South Side Coalition, Chocolate Syrup and Three Ounces of Love, these singles, proving Shad's great flair, accompanied the rise of the New York club and block party culture that was going to revolutionise the musical landscape a few years later. Most of the singles are officially reissued here on vinyl for the first time, with Three Ounces of Love's "Disco Man" full mix previously unissued on vinyl. Remastered by Colorsound Studio in Paris, with liner notes by Charles Waring and artwork by Thomas C. Bradley
Funk and Soul in the early 70s were mutating to a new sound spearheaded by such labels as Philadelphia International Records (PIR), Scepter and Salsoul: Early Disco was taking off and Its sound was earthier and more urban, mixing the nascent Disco beat with strong funk and soul elements. New York was at the epicentre of the phenomenon, thanks to its thriving club scene and also to a new wave of DJs from the Bronx who started playing the music at block parties along with James Brown and Mandrill. bubbling under was a cohort of small independent labels that released some great music on 7" singles to meet the growing demand. Industry veteran Bob Shad and his label Mainstream Records started investigating this new scene and asked his circle of independent producers to bring him their latest production for release. For the occasion, he set up two sub labels, IX Chains and Brown Dog.
Among the producers who'd heard Shad's call were Tommy Stewart who came up with The South Side Coalition's funky '(Don't You Wanna) Get Down Get Down' in 1975 and Prophecy's 'What Ever's Your Sign' a year later. Seasoned arranger/producer Bert DeCoteaux (Patti Austin, Maxine Brown, The Main Ingredient) brought Lenny Welch's soulful 'A Hundred Pounds of Pain' and the superb mid-tempo instrumental 'Nothing Between Us' by The Electric Ladies. Arranger Jimmy Roach came with his latest single with The Dramatics ('No Rebate on Love') whom he'd worked with at Volt and with Three Ounces of Love on their aptly titled single 'Disco Man,' whose unissued long version merging Side 1 and 2 is released here on vinyl for the first time. The sister group would go on to sign with Motown in 1978 and release their sole album self-titled 'Three Ounces of Love.'
Other highlights on 'Mainstream Disco Funk' include The Grand Jury's 'Music is Fun To Me' with its languid funky rhythm arranged by Ted Bodnar, a producer and studio engineer who'd work with Sir Joe Quarterman, Blair and Al Johnson. Also featured on the set is Crystal Image's superb 'Gonna Have a Good Time (part 1 & 2) which typifies the blend of urban funk, glitzy strings and metronomic beat that were signature elements of early Disco.
The style would keep getting more commercial over the years and reach overkill in the late 70s but the block party scene which more than embraced this breakbeat-filled genre would soon morph into hip hop in the second half of the 70s with the help of a few key industry figures such as Sylvia Robinson (Sugar Hill Records). By that time, Bob Shad had ceased releasing records and relocated in Los Angeles but he left behind a small treasure trove of superb obscure singles which are now making their LP debut on 'Mainstream Disco Funk' for the delight of all funk and disco lovers.
DJ Girl is a DJ and producer who was raised in Detroit, but since the pandemic has been based in Austin, Texas. She's the co-founder of the up and coming Eat Dis Records and her recent releases have been generating excitement in all the right places.
In some ways, 'Hellworld' feels like a direct relation to a lot of early 2000s Planet Mu releases. It could sit neatly alongside Hellfish or Neil Landstrumm, with a similar anything-goes, gleeful attitude, but instead DJ Girl mashes together a driving sound that is founded upon Detroit techno and electro, Chicago juke and Miami bass, with an old school/new school production style that's finessed with distortion and sparse IDM production.
It's a midwest USA style that takes a leaf from DJs and producers such as the wild-style hard techno of Lenny Dee, the tough midwest acid of Woody McBride and the system wrecking electro of Dynamix II, with a joyful, take-no-prisoners bounce.
'Hellworld' kicks off with the industrial juke of 'Get Down', followed by the powerful electro of 'Opp Pack Hittin' (the first of two tracks to feature MC Malik McFly).
'Technician' is a chirpy old school electro track that gets crazier as it progresses, while 'Lucky' mashes together samples and rough beats like an electro version of breakcore.
'Gallery' again features Malick McFly and switches between footwork beats, pumping techno and electro.
'So Hot' is hard 8-bar electro while 'When U Touch Me featuring Irish producer Lighght feels like a very manic take on hyperpop.
The album ends with the tough, spiralling acid of 'Groover' which wouldn't be out of place on a late nineties Jeff Mills mix. The fun is infectious on this one.
There’s more than a hint of ambition on the double LP sophomore effort from Sam Austin Rabede, the producer known as DJ Black Low. Pretoria, South Africa-born and based, the young man makes amapiano with new ways of expressing this local turned-global style of dance music.
In DJ Black Low’s musical imagination, the songs manage to smoothly vacillate between dreamy and firmly-grounded. Adorned with vocalists across most of the twelve tracks, there’s a new dimension to Black Low’s now-signature approach to abstract, angular deconstruction of the rhythmic developments in his songs.
The album references influences and ambitions in its song titles and lyrics while the music itself is anthemic in its sonic and structural aspirations. On many of the songs a slow-burning tension transforms into something unexpected until you’re somewhere else as the track concludes. There is an emotional and compositional maturity that builds on his earlier work. Vocals and lyrics are in focus.
Production collaborators among Black Low’s Gauteng Province circle add to the constantly churning array of ideas that populate this consistently surprising release. Despite being a relative newcomer, DJ Black Low is onto something here.
SPF 50, real name Stephan Kimbel Olson, has graced New York’s finest sound systems with his deep, rolling club sets. In his numerous roles – DJ, engineer, party promoter, label head, producer and dancer – Stephan has become an essential contributor to New York’s nightlife culture, a fixture in the city’s extended sonic community.
On Social Life, his first release with NY label Bliss Point, Stephan has channeled two booming club workouts, each with modular synthesis evoking the organic: an unruly bassline snakes through the aural fauna of “Body Concept”, while breaks and acid fly by on “Liquid USB”, an intricate sonic constellation propelling through space, culminating in the release of classic house chords midway.
On the B side, Stephan takes us deeper into the unknown. “Grove Map” is world-building club ambiance aptly named after The Grove, a stage deep in the woods at New York’s Sustain-Release festival, where portals have long been known to be opened. “Iris (Bad Water Version)”, rounds out the offering, a drippy dub that time seems to slip off of, perfect for a melted warm up or come down.
Gayance joins forces with Rhythm Section for her debut album ‘Mascarade’ - a swaying dance that moves between poetic, soulful odes to the past, accounts of the Afro-diasporic feminine experience and playfully energetic dance floor grooves.
Mascarade is a collection of dancey, broken rhythms, interwoven with heartfelt stories and bright, unapologetic outpours of joy. In her own words, “It's the story of my 20's. I wanted to pay homage to this kid everybody knew, but not deeply. It's about taking back a power that is mine and was always in my hands...It's about making peace with the past and moving forward”.
Gayance (real name Aïsha Vertus) takes her alias from the Haitian creole word for joyfulness.Based in Amsterdam, born and raised in Montreal-Nord, she started as a DJ in 2013, and has toured the world with shows in Paris, Brooklyn, Marrakech, Berlin, Sao Paulo and more, bringing electrifying and contagious energy wherever she goes.
Her own production is influenced by underground UKG and the respective house scenes of Detroit and New York, with nods to the vivid, sun-soaked colours of Latin America. Shades of blues, jazz and gospel can also be heard in her newest project, pulling together styles from each corner of the world. Following her catalog of entirely self-released projects, Gayance announces her full-length debut album on Rhythm Section, bringing some fellow Montrealers along for the ride.
The first release of 2023 on SHERELLE and NAINA’s Hooversound imprint comes from London based DJ, producer and AV artist, Drumskull.
Drumskull is the moniker of Joel Harrison, started during lockdown in 2020. His debut album, ‘Interlocked’ garnered support from the likes of Addison Groove, Ahadadream, Doc Scott as well as receiving radio support from Tom Ravenscroft on BBC Radio 6 and Avalon Emerson on her BBC Radio 1 Residency.
In joining the Hooversound family, he again showcases his style of meshing jungle, footwork with deep house and breaks across two tracks. 'Muscle Memory’ also features two huge remixes from Nottingham’s Lone and LMajor - both making debuts on the label.
The EP wraps up a busy year for Hooversound who also put out releases by RAVETRX, Prayer, Thugwidow and Bruised Skies as well as remixes from Response and Denham Audio. Since launching in 2020, Hooversound has become a go to label that pushes the bass continuum, being championed globally by Resident Advisor, Crack Magazine, FACT, Groove, Mixmag and more.
Sound Metaphors' collaboration with Constantino Paolini opens the Italian classics vaults yet again to bring back two more anthems of Italian dancefloor history. This time a selection of two Instrumental versions of the productions done with Patrizia Pellegrino. Spray Orchestra's “Transilvania” is the instrumental version of Patrizia Pellegrino's “Il Mondo Da Una Nuovola” and Max Manuel's “Energy”, an abstracted instrumental version of Patrizia Pellegrino's “Automaticamore”, both highly coveted in digger circles and originally released as 7”. Now brought to your collections in hefty 12” 45rpm remastered versions. Complemented with a slowed down acid remix of “Transilvania” by DJ Asshole.
British musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ cktrl returns with the release of his new EP ‘Yield’. Born from a desire to change the narrative around contemporary Black British music, the boundary-pushing musician aims with this project to prioritise the art of bonafide musicianship. A stark departure from cktrl’s previous work, ‘Yield’ is a celestial and palpably more inward body of work that harkens back to the pre-electric age of modal jazz while simultaneously pulling in elements from the disciplines of classical and baroque music. Speaking on the project’s sonic identity, cktrl says: “I want to be able to show that you can make things from scratch again that have that feeling and beauty without having to sample an old record. Even though that’s an art-form within itself, I want to show raw orchestration and instrumentation can be the sole source” The origins of the title came from a period where cktrl was looking to find solace in himself after an introspective period of grief and heartbreak. As an intentionally instrumental project with minimal vocals, cktrl wants prospective listeners to see these new songs as guided meditations where they can wholly insert themselves in it. Eliciting and reaping whatever feelings come to the fore. Speaking on what ‘Yield’ means to him as a concept, cktrl explains: “Some people who I've asked to define the word ‘yield’ have looked at it from a harvest point of view, whereas others have seen it as something to submit to, to render, like you're giving up yourself. I see it as a barometer for how you feel - no matter if you're at your lowest or your highest vibration, you still need to show up for yourself. You still have to be present. It’s about getting the best from yourself no matter where you are in life” The new project is the follow up to last year’s ‘Zero’ which featured collaborations with esteemed contemporaries like the GRAMMY-nominated Mereba and anaiis. Upon the project’s release, it was met with a plethora of critical acclaim from highly regarded publications and platform such as British Vogue, Dazed, CRACK Magazine, Resident Advisor, NOTION, Harper's Bazaar and ES Magazine for its sprawling and experimental scope, spanning avant-garde jazz, classical music, alternative R&B and electronica. cktrl has a tune for every occasion: as content making beats by himself at home in Lewisham as he is amongst this generation’s fashion and cultural vanguards. Music has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember: from clarinet lessons throughout his school life to fond memories from his NTS days. Moulded by a unique blend of his West Indian heritage, years of classical training in both the clarinet and saxophone, cktrl strives to do what hasn’t been done before. His approach to creation is decidedly wide-ranging and broad. In fact, where sonic descriptions might fail to encompass the breadth of cktrl’s scope, three words surface when he unpacks his musical aims: freedom, range and feeling. Elsewhere, throughout his career, cktrl has been recognised and heralded by fashion and film VIPs as he firmly embeds himself within the black cultural renaissance emerging here in Britain. Acquiring a global network of creatives that include the late Virgil Abloh, Bianca Saunders, Tremaine Emory, Saul Nash, Maximilian Davis, Ahluwalia, Stephen Isaac Wilson, Sean Frank, Campbell Addy, Ib Kamara and Jenn Nkiru who secured him a cameo in Beyoncé’s ground-breaking film ‘Black Is King’.
Ava Max is ready to take her already extraordinary rise to the pinnacle of pop success to even greater heights with her first new single of 2022, “Maybe You’re The Problem,” and her upcoming album DIAMONDS AND DANCEFLOORS. With over 11B worldwide streams, an array of smash collaborations, and multiple RIAA gold and platinum certifications in the US alone, the first-generation Albanian American artist has fast proven a true pop superstar, hailed for her seismic voice, idiosyncratic high fashion mindset, and undeniable knack for cinematic, theatrical popcraft. 2018 saw Max make her explosive arrival with the blockbuster success of the RIAA 3x-platinum certified hit, “Sweet but Psycho.” Currently boasting more than 3.5B global streams, the track took the world by storm, spending three weeks in the top 10 on Billboard’s “Hot 100” while reaching #1 in more than 20 countries around the world and earning diamond certification in Brazil, France, Poland, as well as multi-platinum certification in Australia (5x), Austria (3x), Belgium (2x), Canada (6x), Denmark (3x), Germany (2x), Italy (3x), the Netherlands (2x), New Zealand, Norway (9x), Portugal (2x), Spain, Switzerland (4x), and the United Kingdom (3x). Joined by an official video that has now garnered over 770M views, “Sweet But Psycho” further earned Max a long string of international honors, including the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards’ coveted “Best Push Artist” award, “Best New Artist” nominations at both the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards, and an iHeartRadio Titanium Award marking over 1B spins in 2020 alone.
Max kept up the pace with a series of smash singles, including the RIAA gold certified “So Am I,” “Salt,” and “My Head & My Heart,” as well as the platinum certified title track to her acclaimed full-length debut, Heaven & Hell. The RIAA gold certified album made spectacular chart debuts around the globe, earning over 11B worldwide streams and gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certifications in over a dozen countries. 2021 saw Max unveil “EveryTime I Cry,” declared by PAPER as “an undeniably uplifting banger.” What’s more, Tiësto & Ava Max’s worldwide hit anthem, “The Motto,” has proven an undeniable international blockbuster since its November 2021 release, reaching the top 5 on Billboard’s “Dance/Electronic Songs” chart while earning close to 500M worldwide streams thus far.
Named to Forbes’ prestigious “30 Under 30” list in 2021, Ava has been feted with a wide range of media attention from such high profile outlets as VOGUE, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Billboard, PAPER, to name but a few, while also delivering a long run of show-stopping performances on CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden, NBC’s TODAY, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Good Morning America, and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020, the MTV Europe Video Music Awards, and more. A truly international artist, Max has teamed up with a stunning assortment of diverse musicians around the world, spanning Norwegian DJ/producer Alan Walker and Spanish superstar Pablo Alborán to David Guetta, Jason Derulo, AJ Mitchell (for the RIAA gold certified “Slow Dance”), and country stars Thomas Rhett & Kane Brown (the RIAA gold certified “On Me”). Now, on “Maybe You’re The Problem” – and more exhilarating new music to come – Ava Max is poised to push pop even further, setting a direct course toward the top and beyond with her newly announced upcoming album DIAMONDS AND DANCEFLOORS, out January 27th2023.
For this uniquely personal retrospective spread over twelve vinyl discs, Sven Väth takes us back to the early days of his DJ career. On What I Used To Play we meet great pioneers of electronic music, gifted percussionists, obscure wave bands, and innovative producers of a bygone 'new electronic' era. Rough beats and irresistible grooves from the identification stage of house, techno, and acid remind us not just how far electronic music has evolved over the past four decades, but how great it was to dance to EBM, techno, and house for the very first time.
If there is one protagonist of the electronic music scene who has remained curious, innovative and at the very cutting edge of music for over four decades, it's Sven Väth. His multi-layered artist albums and Sound of the Season mix compilations have been defining the genre for over two decades, and even today, he is constantly on the lookout for the next top tune to add to the highlights of his next set. At least, that's the case when he's not producing them himself as an artist or remixer. "Actually, it's always been part of my DNA to think ahead," and nothing had been further from his mind than looking back at his past, but when in spring of 2020 the international DJ circuit had to be scaled down to virtually zero, the 'restless traveler' suddenly had time. Time to stop and reflect on "how it actually was back then, at the very beginning of my career..."
"It was a great trip and with every track, beautiful memories came flooding back".
In the London apartment, he had just moved into, Sven has set up a "little music room", where he cocooned himself for several days, "to look way back for the first time and review my musical journey through the eighties, so to speak."
The interim result was six thematically oriented playlists with a grand total of 120 tracks from 'early 80s' to 'Balearic late 80s', together with excursions into afrobeat, European new wave, and EBM sounds and a few epochal techno/house tracks from the USA in between. From these 'Best of Sven Väth's favorites', the project What I Used To Play crystallized. Sven remembers how the Cocoon team reacted to his proposal: "They found the idea of making a compilation out of it MEGA from the beginning and everyone said 'Sven, go for it', but then, of course, the work really started, namely, to clear the rights and to get clean sounding masters of the up to 40-year-old tracks. There was also disappointment, of course. We couldn't clear certain titles because the rights holders in the USA had fallen out with each other or simply disappeared from the scene. In short, it wasn't easy, but now I can safely say we got the most important tracks."
Finally, after two years of research, curation, design, and administrative fine-tuning, the "little retrospective" from 1981 to 1990 is available. The exquisitely packaged, and three-kilo heavy box set is not only physically impressive, WIUTP is also the definitive record of Sven Väth's musical development. On each of the twenty-four sides of vinyl, you can trace track by track, what influenced him during which phase, and how he took off as a DJ from his parents' Queen's Pub straight into the spotlight at Dorian Gray. There and at Vogue (later OMEN), Sven became the style-defining player in the DJ booth that he still is today.
1981 - 1990: Future Sounds of Now
In the early eighties, the crowd in clubs like Vogue and Dorian Gray danced to what nowadays we call 'dance classics' - mainly disco, funk, soul, and chart pop. It was up to a new generation of DJs, including Sven Väth, the youngest protagonist in the Rhine-Main area at the time, to create their own club-ready music mix. Good new tracks and potential floor-fillers were rarities that had to be sought out and found, in order to prove oneself worthy.
Without MP3s, internet streaming, or other digital download possibilities, music didn't just gravitate to the DJ, instead, it had to be tracked down. In well-stocked record stores in Frankfurt and Wiesbaden or even in Amsterdam, London, or New York, Sven and friends sourced the material for countless magical nights. On WIUTP we can follow Sven's very personal journey through this wild, innovative era in which synth-pop, funk, hip-hop, and disco were successively replaced as 'club music' by house, techno, acid, and breakbeat. By the end of the decade, it was clear to see that these once exotic 'fringe' phenomena would soon become 'mass' phenomena.
Early 80s
Dirty Talk by the Italian-American duo Klein & M.B.O. represents the most innovative phase of the Italo-disco genre in the early eighties like no other track. Mario Boncaldo (I) and Tony Carrasco relied entirely on the original synthetic drum and percussion sounds of the Roland TR-808, coupled with the raunchy vocals of Rossana Casale and guitar accents of Davide Piatto. Of course, other tracks from this period were also influential in style, most notably Unit by Logic System, which worked as the perfect soundtrack to the laser lighting system at the legendary Dorian Gray club. With stomping beats and robotic rap interludes, Bostich by Yello also belongs on Sven's eternal playlist - after all, it caught the attention of Afrikaa Bambaataa, who invited the Swiss duo to perform at the Roxy in New York in 1983.
EBM Wave - Mid 80s
From today's point of view, the almost ten-minute-long, downtempo track Giant by Matt Johnson's band project The The, would probably not be considered an obvious club classic. However, a closer (re)listen reveals the rhythmic intricacies of the percussion overdubs by JG Thirlwell (aka Foetus) on Johnson's composition, and it becomes clear why this exceptional piece of music is one of Sven's absolute favorites. Other classics from this phase include Kaw-Liga by the mysterious The Residents, the hypnotic-synthetic Our Darkness by Anne Clark (and David Harrow), and last but not least, the somber, monotonous anthem Where Are You? by 16Bit, one of Sven Väth's projects together with Michael Münzing, Luca Anzilotti from 1986.
US House - Late 80s
You certainly can't talk about Chicago house without mentioning Frankie Knuckles. The resident DJ at the Warehouse not only gave the name to an entire genre, but also produced epochal floor fillers on the Trax label like the timeless Your Love, sung (and moaned) by Jamie Principle. Acid house protagonists Phuture also hail from Chicago, and on We Are Phuture (also released on Trax) we hear the chirping acid sounds of the legendary Roland TB-303 in full effect. Another featured classic is No UFO's by Detroit's Model 500 aka Juan Atkins, who is rightly considered the 'Godfather of Techno' even if the genre-defining track from 1985 still breathes with the spirit of hip-hop and electro from the first breakdance era.
Afrobeat
Le Serpent, by Algerian-born Abdelmadjid Guemguem, is a track that sounds completely different from everything else on WIUTP. Made in 1978, it's a monumental, rousing groove created without bass or synths, just with five congas! Even though Guem sadly passed away in 2021, his immortal, acoustic beats are understood all over the world and will continue to enrich many thousands of DJ sets for years to come. Another classic that not only Sven appreciates beyond measure is Hugh Masekela's Don't Go Lose it, Baby. In addition to being one of the most important jazz pioneers, the trumpeter and freedom fighter from Johannesburg was very experimental, integrating electronic sounds into his music in later years, in a similar vein to Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. Dutch jazz pianist Jasper van't Hof's afrobeat project Pili Pili has also aged well. The trance-like, almost sixteen-minute-long track of the same name, manages to fill a whole side on the seventh of twelve vinyl discs in the WIUTP box.
UK-US-Euro - Late 80s
Time for a change of scene, in the truest sense of the word, and from a musical perspective, this section is like landing on another planet. First up is Andrew Weatherall's classic remix of Primal Scream's Loaded, featuring the iconic Peter Fonda sample (lifted from the 1966 biker film Wild Angels) that came to personify the mood triggered by the British Second Summer of Love in the late eighties: "We wanna be free to do what we wanna do, and we wanna get loaded...". This period also saw the emergence of M/A/R/R/S whose only single, 1987's Pump Up The Volume, became a club classic with support from DJ legend CJ Mackintosh. In this most eclectic of sections, we also encounter New York house and reggae producer Bobby Konders and his seminal Nervous Acid.
Balearic - Late 80s
Those who know him, know that Sven had already lost his heart to the 'magic island' of Ibiza as a teenager, so with that in mind, the WIUTP project couldn't end without a Balearic chapter. Inspired by Manuel Göttsching's E2-E4, the immortal, eponymously titled Sueño Latino belongs in there without question. Equally popular on the island was, and still is Break 4 Love by Raze, which thinking about it, would also fit perfectly into the house chapter. Last, but not least, there's an overdue reunion with Sven Väth himself, in his role as frontman of the successful Frankfurt trio OFF. Together with Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti (later of Snap!) this 'Organization For Fun' created the off-the-wall club hit Electric Salsa in 1986 which incidentally turned into an international chart smash, putting Sven in the enviable position of having to decide between pop stardom and a DJ career. Well, we all know how that decision turned out and the rest, as they say, is history. A not insignificant part of his story is What I Used To Play. Enjoy!
It is a huge honour to present the Disco Gospel 12”, curated and edited by Chicago's Marc Davis and Sadar Bahar. Featuring two under-the-radar disco / gospel fusion tracks that have been given a new lease of life courtesy of these masters of their craft.
We first came to know Marc through his always on-point Black Pegasus record label, which he’s been running since 2006. As a renowned international DJ, record collector, and an integral part of Chicago's underground music scene, we knew anything he sent our way was going to be serious and he didn’t disappoint. Joining forces with Sadar Bahar (Soul in the Hole), who is himself a gospel and disco legend and a DJ's DJ favourite across the globe, they dug deep and put us onto two absolute gems from their beloved collections. As DJs who play a wide range of genres, their ability to spot the real heat within any sound has placed them at the top of their game. As Sadar puts it, "We are always digging for records and these fit the criteria of disco and happen to be gospel”.
First up is the feel-good joint 'I'm So Happy' by Fountain of Life Joy Choir Under The Direction of Kevin Yancy. Originally released in 1978 on a subsidiary label of T.K. Productions entitled Gospel Roots, the clue is in the title with this one. It's an unadulterated, uplifting, joyous dancer. Marc and Sadar’s fizzing edit brings out the best elements of the song and extends them. Working the addictive vocal hooks and building the funky instrumental grooves produces a spirit-lifting mood that is bursting with enough energy to light a fire under any dancefloor.
'Optical Illusion' on the flip, takes the tempo down, but doesn’t let up on the vigour. It’s a driving, stomping anthem that features another lung-busting vocal performance. Working with a live recording of Rev. Charles H. Nicks and The Baptist Assembly Of Free Spirit Churches Mass Choir, this one proves to be the perfect accompaniment to the ecstatic vibe of the A-side. The duo has condensed and heightened the drama of the song and added some light-touch production elements to clean up and enhance the sound. We guarantee this will be filtering its way into the sets of discerning DJs worldwide.
Marc described the selections best when he succinctly put it like this, “We both knew these were two heaters on our first listen”.
We completely agree, and with recording and engineering contributions from Tone B. Nimble (Soul Is My Salvation) and Rahaan, here we have Chicago royalty creating an unmissable release that celebrates the crossover of dance music with the musical traditions of the church.
SHDW & Obscure Shape return to their mothership label From Another Mind with their six-track 'Vergessene Welt' EP, signalling the first material on the imprint for 18 months.
Founded in 2015, the launch of SHDW and Obscure Shape's label From Another Mind saw the Stuttgart-based DJ/producers establish themselves via a wealth of self-released material while welcoming a long list of high-profile remixers, including Rodhad, James Ruskin and Dax J. However, the pair's evolution saw new ventures explored and attention focused wider afield with the launch of their second label Mutual Rytm in 2022. Utilising their A&R skills, the label has seen the duo curate and invite a selection of up-and-coming and established names while also delivering their first EP on the label in Summer, 'Poetic Justice'. Exploring the techno sounds of tomorrow while drawing on influences of the past, the label quickly turned heads and has become a go-to for many. Following a brief hiatus, the attention is now turned back towards From Another Mind as the pair explore their origins and the signature FAM sound once again, opening the New Year with six fresh productions across their 'Vergessene Welt' EP.
Opener 'Planet Der Sturme' is an exhilarating ride through driving basslines, menacing synth lines and hard-hitting percussion to march towards the peak hours and set the tone for what's to come. 'Der Urknall' is a trippy and murky dive through off-kilter textures and regimented percussion, while 'Das Gefallene Konigreich' ups the energy levels further with sharp metallic tones, skittering hats and subtle haunting melodies launching deep into the late night hours.
On the flip, 'Geburt Der Erde' brings a slice of paired-back, groove-led techno as a slick acid line takes control and ebbs and flows throughout the track's six-minute duration, before closing the physical record via the delicate yet compelling sonics of title cut 'Vergessene Welt' - showcasing a deep dive into far-reaching corners of the genre.
Memento records is thrilled to announce "Hotter than Hell" a dancefloor twister release produced by Matteo Lago, Andrea Santini and Miky R, three DJs with more than e decade of experience behind the Booth. They are best known for their sweaty kinky party named Pandemonium that is soon becoming a record label as an output for their studio work.
"Make Some Changes" by Andrea Santini is a groovy hi-shuffled percussive track with a juicy acidic touch with an outbreak of good vibes and positive energy
"The Party Zone" by Matteo Lago is a killer cutting edge House track with an hypnotic synth, a full-bodied kick and sharp hi hats that lead straight into an anthemic 90s vocal hook
Miky R's techoid "Wild Flight' spreads elegant quirks rand clinks over a relentless sub bass and sophisticated uplifting Detroit-reminiscent chords.
Don't miss it! It's gonna make a Pandemonium!
Samuel L Session and Van Czar drop a four-track techno EP on Unrilis that showcases a deeper and more hypnotic sound with dystopian atmosphere and driving percussion. Rino Cerrone launched the Unrilis record label over 15 years ago, and part of the label's back catalogue is its iconic Rilis series. 2022 sees the relaunch of the Rilis series that has a focus on underground DJ tools with raw analogue sounds. The Rilis series was originally launched in 1999, and was restricted to a concept on only 10 releases, each pressing a limited run of vinyl. It was hugely popular with each one often selling out in only a week and picking up DJ support by people ranging from Jeff Mills to Richie Hawtin. Those first 10 releases were focused on Rino Cerrone's own music, but since his retirement from the industry, the revitalised Rilis series will welcome other artists whose sound matches the label's underground concept.
This latest release in the Rilis series features collaborative tracks by Samuel L Session and Van Czar who have previously teamed up for releases on other imprints ranging from Marco Bailey's MB Elektronics to Ben Sims' Hardgrooves. Both are also successful solo artists, Sweden's Samuel L Session being well-known for his headline DJ sets at clubs around the world, along with the music he has released via iconic imprints such as Slam's Soma, Shlomi Aber's Be As One, Len Faki's Figure and Emmanuel's ARTS plus his own imprints SLS, Cycle, New Soil, and Klap Klap Belgium's Van Czar is also an accomplished DJ who is well-established across Europe and he has also released music on respected record labels ranging from Kevin Saunderson's KMS Records as well as the classic imprint, Yin Yang.
'Air Raid' opens the release with its eerie pads, spine-tingling melody loop and machine-driven percussion. It's got a raw aesthetic with dramatic claps and snare fills that add to the building suspense.
'18-022' is a dark and stripped back track with modulating synth textures layered with fast-flowing high-end percussion. Its pounding kick drum and clap rhythms add rigid structure to its expansive atmosphere and dance floor focused groove.
'Route 200' has thrashing cymbals punishing claps and rippling pads that create a stripped back groove submerged in deep atmosphere. Rich with analogue textures and gritty sound design, its relentless energy is tailor made for club sound systems.
'Objectivism' closes out the release with it's funky bassline and bleeping melody. Whirling textures and fluttering percussion maintain an unrelenting tension that's driven forward by the pounding kick drum.
If you decide to look up the strict definition of outsider in any dictionary, you'll find that the term is understood as "a person who is not involved with a particular group of people or organization or who does not live in a particular place".
Perhaps this is the most accurate description of Santiago Merino. For a long decade and from his native Medellín, this DJ and producer has always tried to keep his sonic spectrum open. An interdisciplinary artist capable of freely navigating through a myriad of genres is rarely encountered, and that may be the reason why Santiago enjoys a non-negotiable respect in the different scenes that make up the music circuit of his city. On this occasion, Back Door Records is pleased to serve as host to receive one of the most anticipated facets within the range of music produced by this Colombian artist.
The Outsider marks the debut of a new project signed by Merino, a new hunch in which house takes the helm of an EP entitled 4 Club Use. Composed of five tracks, 4 Club Use seems to show us the true essence behind a genre that has almost been trivialized over the years. In this case, El Outsider decided to take the basic ingredients of tech house to produce a recipe much richer in flavors, textures and melodies. "Fire People", for example, leaves the window open for the airs of Detroit techno to come in and cool off any sunny afternoon. "Outsider" and "The Heat", on the other hand, are seasoned by the purest amen breaks, as if it were a blessing intended solely for the dance floor.
But the real deal across 4 Club Use is definitely El Outsider's own edit of Merino's track "Those Days". Raw and forceful kicks, meticulously sampled vocals and pads that seem to wrap them magically, make this bomb one of the candidate tracks to take the absolute podium of 2023.
Lined up next on Toolroom, we’re set to welcome the return of WEISS to the label 3 years after his last outing. Most known for his certified gold, 2018 smash-hit ‘Feel My Needs’, which received critical acclaim, topping 5 international music charts at #1, and earning DJ Mag’s ‘Best Of British Winner’ in 2018. WEISS himself has locked in an incredible collaboration with legendary Soul act The Jones Girls, using their classic record ‘You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else’ to create the club stomping cut that is, ‘I Need Some’.
A prolific DJ and producer, WEISS has released cuts on DIRTYBIRD, Universal, Island Records, D4 D4nce, Glitterbox and Toolroom along with remixing A-list artists including Kylie Minogue, Robyn, Calvin Harris, and Rag n Bone Man to name a few. When it comes to the House Music elite, Weiss is amongst some of the best there is, touring worldwide and sharing stages with Armand Van Helden, Todd Terry, and MK.
Of course, The Jones Girls are an act that needs no introduction, the legendary Philadelphia trio of sisters are the vocalists behind the classic Soul cuts ‘Nights Over Egypt’ and ‘Who Can I Run To’, released on the renowned Philadelphia International label.
Backing singers to both Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross during the 1970’s, The Jones Girls have left their mark on Music History and still influence artists and vocalists alike today.
With a passion for all things Soul, Disco and R&B, WEISS has officially fulfilled a childhood dream working with The Jones Girls to create ‘I Need Some’. This is a Disco House focused cut that pays homage to the original record ‘You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else’, whilst reinterpreting the sample and making it club ready for dance floors.
Mennie heads to LOCUS for his label debut, delivering four slick productions across his ‘Jack & Jane’ EP.
Florence-based DJ and producer Mennie has been a fixture within the European house scene for years now, yet he’s still on the rise with plenty more on the horizon. A smooth operator when it comes to weaving rolling percussion with alluring basslines, the Italian’s outings via Deeperfect, Moscow Records, and Infuse have showcased his ability to deliver cuts that pack a punch yet are filled with subtle nuances. Heading into the peak summer months in style, early June brings a LOCUS debut as he drops his four-track ‘Jack & Jane’ EP.
‘Jack & Jane’ opens things with the title track bringing loopy, swinging drums alongside cosmic melodies, while ‘Space Rocket’ sees regimented drums shoulder emotive pads and zipping synths. On the flip, ‘What Happened’ buzzes into action armed with zigzagging leads and smooth rolling grooves, before ‘Just Like That’ turns up the heat with squelchy basslines, wonky, off-kilter effects and resonant vocals throughout.
Union Trance Mission is back with its brand new compilation, gathering some of the most promising artists of the European Trance and Techno scene, such as Belgian artists Jacidorex and Azo, French producer Clair and Berlin based artist Lucinee.
Just like the Seventh Gate, they will be followed by the UTM artists DJ Reiz, Tonni 3000, Red Scan and HyperionORBIT.
Digwah putting samples in their right place. This time expertly interweaving a timelessly hypnotic vocal from the mind of a master, into an acid laced groover that’s bumping and ethereal in equal measure.
Nearly 10 years on since his last solo LP, Berlin techno icon Marcel Dettmann arrives on Dekmantel with an expansive album captured in a flash of inspiration.
In many ways Fear Of Programming is a reflection on the artistic process – the critical hurdles one has to overcome, the constant strive for originality, the ability to capture inspiration in its pure moment of inception. Bar the closing title track (and we all know Marcel loves a surprise closing), these 13 tracks came together during a period in which our hirsute host was able to immerse himself in studio practice and set the intention to record an album’s worth of material every single day. From the resulting mass of work there were many options to choose from, and Fear Of Programming stood out as one of the most complete statements on Dettmann’s approach in the here and now.
Unconcerned with an overarching concept, it was the work in the studio which drove the musical direction. No labouring over knotty arrangements, no painstaking mix downs – just honest expression, a moment caught, a groove locked, a stroke of synth sent pirouetting over a cavernous bed of texture. The results are varied, and while you might well hear plenty of bruising machinations in line with the techno Dettmann has made his name on, there are plenty of other shades expressed across the album.
Ambient sojourns, beatless epics and angular electronica have equal footing with strident, floor-friendly workouts. Standout piece ‘Water’ offers an icy ballet of swinging minimal and drip-drop melodics fronted by Ryan Elliott on lesser-spotted vocal duties, urging, ‘give me a sign, just a little something to let me know that you’re mine’. It’s playful, but still underpinned with the sincerity that comes with Dettmann’s work.
Running on instinct, Dettmann presents an honest version of himself in the here and now, speaking through the sonics and not over-thinking the results. His decades of experience helming a thousand techno parties speak for themselves, while his evolution as a musical entity through collaboration and his own BAD MANNERS label demonstrate his appetite for change. Indeed, the working method which resulted in the album also spurred him on to create a live set beyond his well-established DJ practice. Without resorting to a conceited overhaul, Fear Of Programming opens up the idea of what Dettmann represents in the modern techno landscape.
A stellar duo of techno talent remix Adam Beyer & DJ Rush’s ‘Restore My Soul’.
The original work, released in June 2021, was a highlight on Drumcode and saw Adam Beyer link with the legendary DJ Rush for an inspiring four track EP. Almost a year on and the label has drafted in a triumvirate of top-shelf techno talent to remix the cuts.
ANNA makes her first outing on DC since 2019’s ‘Galactic Highways’ and delivers a searing rework of ‘Control’ that mixes up her patented brand of stadium sized sonics with a fierce acid stomp throughout the second half of the track. HI-LO follows up his debut EP ‘Hypnos’ with a heavy dose of low-end funk as he reworks the title track retaining the original’s hypnotic bassline and building upon it to craft a beefed-up weapon.
Originally recorded by D-Train, some might say this is one of the most important post disco records from the 1980’s, which appeared on the legendary Prelude records originally. What makes this version particularly special, is the fact it features another important artist from the post disco era Colonel Abrams, who is most famous for his cult classics ‘Trapped’ and ‘I’m Not Gonna Lie’ which both topped the charts in the mid 80’s. Aussie disco lord Dr Packer, who is currently on tour across Europe teams up with newcomer Sonic Soul Orchestra, who flip this into a fresh disco house cut that includes all new instrumentation whilst respecting the smooth vocal stylings of the Colonel. Plus remixes from Ross Couch, & Ricky Morrison (M&S).
Early DJ Support:
Jamie Jones, Mark Knight, Michael Gray, Roger Sanchez.
BART & THE BEDAZZLED: PEOPLE PERSON + CARBOARD MAN (7")
Bart & The Bedazzled return with a sensational AA-side 45 with the highlife-vibed-plaintive pop of 'People Person' and the layered 'Cardboard Man', featuring the gorgeous guest vocals of Earth Girl Helen Brown. "World dance pop meets '80s indie" LA's northeast side is home to a dizzying number of independent artists and bands. One of the scene's most distinctive sounds emanates from Bart & The Bedazzled, a collaborative group led by talented songwriter Bart Davenport. After debuting in 2018 with the Blue Motel album Bart reconnects with the stellar musicians that make up the Bedazzled for two exclusive new songs of, what he terms, "world dance pop meets 80s indie". Consisting of Los Angeles' highly respected players, the collective are undoubtedly a "musicians' band" playing for joy, performing for and with other artists that inhabit underground haunts such as Zebulon or Permanent Records Roadhouse. This is their sound!
With these new tracks The Bedazzled usher in a new phase, adding a small dose of drum machinery to the mix, resulting in an uplifting, danceable endeavour. On top of this, hand played congas and shakers blend with ultra clean guitars to form a rich context for Bart Davenport's patented, smooth vocal. Newcomer band member and producer Nic Hessler (Catwalk, Captured Tracks) fits these pieces together in seamless mixes.
People Person celebrates the collective human experience, while subtly acknowledging that people often are "the worst". It's an upbeat ode to a beautiful world that sadly may never be saved. Meanwhile, the semi-fictional Cardboard Man critiques a society desperate for truth and a way out of dark times only to find omnipresent, puppet-like heroes offering nothing real. Featuring guest singer Heidi Alexander aka Earth Girl Helen Brown her distinctive tone and phrasing add a much needed weirdo energy to a decidedly consonant pop track.
It comes as no surprise the group have gravitated towards world-dance-ish sounds. Andrés Renteria is an accomplished crate-digger and DJ, as is bassist Jessica Espeleta. She kicks off People Person with a dubby bass line, setting the stage for Wayne Faler's African highlife inspired guitars. It's still Bart & The Bedazzled, but this time they come with a sound somewhat reminiscent of '80s bands that also incorporated international flavors, such as the post Young Marble Giants project Weekend or French electro-obscuros Antena. Like those bands, Bart & The Bedazzled have a wide range of influences and the artistic intention to make something contemporary with them.
Above all, they're a group of friends who enjoy the creative process together. For them the journey is as important as the finished work.
Originally released in 1994 on Calypso Records / Irma Records in a triple vinyl promo white label version, Don Carlos's album Aqua is the
second album by the Varese-based DJ producer, already then known for his first two singles Alone and Mediterraneo, then both included in
his first album entitled Mediterraneo and released only in Compact Disc format in 1992 for the American market printed and distributed by
IRMA U.S.A., the American subsidiary of IRMA Records Italy.
The same fate will also have the Compact Disc format of the Aqua album, again printed only on the American market.
But the triple vinyl, printed in a limited edition of 500 copies in a white generic envelope, was never reissued and has become a rare record
over the years.
After almost thirty years, after countless requests for reissues, especially in the last few years in which the name and music of Don Carlos
has made a comeback, Irma Records has decided to reissue the vinyl in exactly the same original triple version.
DJ Don Carlos (born Carlo Troja) with his productions in the 90s has become one of the cult producers for DJs around the world.
His track Alone released in 1991 for Calypso was and still is one of the classics of House Music, played by all the major American and British
DJs.
At the time of its publication it was considered an underground song and therefore did not sell very much, but over the years its myth has grown
thanks to its subsequent productions as for example his second single, the EP entitled Mediterraneo, title which it will then inspired his first CD
album printed in the USA with the same title.
Several other singles followed, another album, always printed only in the USA, entitled Aqua, from which a triple promo vinyl was extracted which
today is one of the artist's most requested rarities.
In Italy his third album was released in 2002 entitled The Music In My Mind where Kim Mazelle, Michelle Weeks, Taka Boom and Kevin Bryant
were present as vocal guests. In 2009 a collection of the first two albums released in the USA titled Mediterraneo-Club Favourite Collection '90-
98 and in 2010 his fourth album entitled The Cool Deep which reproduced the sounds closest to his first productions.
Also active as a remixer for Italian and international labels, one of his most important works is the remix of Byron Stingily of the song You Make
Me Feel of which he made a worldwide hit. As a producer he also used other pseudonyms such as Montego Bay, Aquanuts, Sotterranea and
Love 2 Love Orchestra. He has played and plays in different countries such as London, New York, Miami and at various festivals, such as the
Robot and the Stickermule Festival in an evening with Apparat, Derrick May, DJ Koze, Lil 'Louis, Young Marco and Ellen Allien, LTJ Xperience
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on 13th February, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Redman, Method Man, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, E-40, K-Ci & JoJo, and the Outlawz, among others.
The album features productions by Shakur alongside a variety of producers including DJ Quik, Johnny “J”, Dr. Dre, DJ Bobcat, Dat Nigga Daz, DJ Pooh, DeVante Swing, among others.
The album includes the number-one singles “How Do U Want It” (featuring K-Ci and JoJo) and “California Love” (with Dr. Dre, featuring Roger Troutman) and the hip-hop ballad “I Ain’t Mad at Cha”, along with the Snoop Dogg collaboration “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” as a promotional single. It featured four singles in all, the most of any of Shakur’s albums. Moreover, All Eyez on Me made history as the first ever double-full-length hip-hop solo studio album released for mass consumption globally.
All Eyez on Me was the second album by 2Pac to chart at number one on both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling 566,000 copies in the first week.
Upon release, All Eyez on Me received instant critical acclaim, and it has been ranked by critics as one of the greatest hip hop albums, as well as one of the greatest albums of all time. In 2020 the album was ranked 436th on Rolling Stone‘s updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
We call it EBM Electro Acid! The ND 005 is Dark and Groovy at the same time!
MAN2.0 is a DJ and producer from London and has graced the decks in Berlin, Edinburgh Manchester and recently at the closing party of London clubbing institution the Cause, playing on the same bill as Optimo, Kink and Ben Sims among others.
Mark (as he’s known to his friends), has also released on Nein, Wonder Stories, Hypnotic Connection amongst others and has remixed for numerous artists such as Zakmina, Ali X (of Azari & III fame) and DDM boss Black Light Smoke, he has also picked up plaudits over the years from artists like Rex the Dog, DJ Sundae and has had his music described as ‘Dark but Ultimately redemptive by the late great Andrew Weatherall.’
"Delivering his first solo EP in over two years, Blue Hour releases Origins, the 21st release on Blue Hour Music. Following a succession of remixes, V/A contributions and an EP under his Tracing Xircles alias earlier this year, the Berlin-based producer and DJ shares four tracks diving deeper into his UK roots. Channelling breakbeat, techno and trance with the hallmarks of 90’s rave, Origins builds upon the foundations created from his EP ‘Devotion’ in 2020.
In this eclectic EP, Blue Hour explores several sonic palettes. The title track blends celestial chords with urgent drums and acid basslines, while uplifting vocals and subtle melodies wind through the track. ‘True’ dips more heavily into breakbeat territory with evolving and immersive pads, soaring strings and a twinkling synth-line. A dynamic fusion of fast-paced energy and soft touches.
On the flip, ‘Emergence’ dances a delicate line between melancholia and elation, as dystopian chords pool with a squelchy acid sequence and a classic house vocal. ‘Searching’ closes on an ambient tip with spell-binding pads and an angelic melody, conveying a bright side to Blue Hour’s aesthetic, akin to Origins as a whole."
Taken from the forthcoming album ‘Prom Nite’. The opening single of ‘Prom Nite’ is a sermon perfect for log cabin lock-ins and losing yourself across the Balearics: 'Feel Like Home' is spirited, euphoric and thoroughly satisfying, not to mention an advertising executive’s dream. London’s House Gospel Choir, endorsed by Annie Mac and The Blessed Madonna, provide the salvation that everyone is looking for right now, their heavenly harmonies aligned to Yoda’s gentle grooves and keys leading you to the light, encouraging the linkage of arms and for its soulful soothing properties to wash over you. Cover Art by ENDLESS..
Kenny Summit revisits Lectroluv’s ‘Dream Drums’ for a brand-new remix package, welcoming fresh interpretations from Joeski, Roberto Rodriguez, Eric Kupper, Lenny RX and Summit himself.
Originally released by Lectroluv, aka Frederick Jorgio, in 1993 and championed by Junior Vasquez before becoming a worldwide anthem across dancefloors across the globe, ‘Dream Drums’ holds a place for many as one of the truly iconic house records from the early 90s. Now almost 30 years on, Good For You boss Kenny Summit presents a carefully curated remix package as he revisits and pays homage to the seminal record. Welcoming fresh interpretations from Freerange regular Roberto Rodriguez, NYC house legend Joeski, Plastik People Recordings boss Marc Cotterell, and his own take alongside longstanding Brooklyn rave staple Lenny RX and Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum-selling recording artist Eric Kupper, the expansive package arrives via his sub-label Afternoon Delight.
Opening the package, Roberto Rodriguez’s take builds on the original’s iconic vocals and slick drums through sweeping melodies and airy pads to offer a hazy, paired-back interpretation of the production. Next up, Joeski’s remix lays the focus on percussion as he introduces Latin and Afro influences for a euphoric peak-time production set to get crowds moving, while Marc Cotterell delivers a signature blend of garage-led organ chords and two-step arrangements for a vibrant, sun-soaked cut. To close, the trio of Eric Kupper, Lenny RX and Kenny Summit join forces for a special ‘NYC Never Sleeps’ remix, introducing a killer lead line and warping synths to shape things up in style.
Force Placement's AEROBICIDE EP is a killer workout of afterhours acid and galaxian breakbeat.
Four hypnotic bangers from Los Angeles with remix support from DJ Manny, D.I.E., and Martyn Bootyspoon
Los Angeles – Following releases on 100% Silk, Clave House, BANK NYC and Lost Soul Enterprises, FORCE PLACEMENT arrives on EVAR Records with four tracks of naughty squelching acid and breakbeat techno hypnotically calling you to the afterhours, backed by a trio of remixes from Martyn Bootyspoon, Detroit In Effect, and DJ Manny, representing North American excellence in techno, electro, and footwork, respectively.
A longtime friend of the EVAR crew from renegade breakcore parties in Santa Barbara to underground experimental electronics happenings in Los Angeles, Into the Woods and The Black Lodge resident Jason "Force Placement" James taps into his love of weird trippy atmospherics, rhythmic complexity and DIY punk/noise aesthetics to create this quartet of mystic, mysterious bangers, crafted with the MPC1000, Elektron's Octatrack sampler, the Korg minilogue, and Ableton.
The AEROBICIDE EP begins its killer workout with "Yeeks," a cabalistic ass-mover driven by a haunted female vocal sample floating atop locomotive bass and shakers – a factory's worth of industrial sounds and eerie accents move in and out of the mix, adding intrigue and interest.
Moving to the main room of the rave, "Balloon Animal" shoots you through an inflatable tube of squelchy acid techno as knives cut the air around you, while "Upsetter" adds a shuffling breakbeat rave bounce into the acid mix. "Quartered" chops it up with Clone-style dark analog electro that gets increasingly deconstructed by dirty, stretched percussion and rivulets of synth reverb raining down the walls.
Rounding out this occult aerobics class, some of North America's most compelling forces in dance music are called in for remix duty. Unsung electro hero Detroit In Effect aka D.I.E. – the man behind such classics as "RU Married" and "Get Up" – leans deep into the classic Motor City palette, pairing lush, spacey pads with that hard-swung Detroit bounce to create a mellow groover that will keep you going all night. Montreal's world-class party starter M. Bootyspoon recalls Substance Abuse-era Hawtin and mid-'90s Midwest techno on his "Balloon Animals" remix, with nasty claps and concentric loops of hard acid bleeps and squelches. And who better to tackle "Upsetter" than Southside Chicago's footwork futurist DJ Manny? The Teklife king eschews the romantic R&B tones of his recent Planet Mu album for a tough-as-nails rework that ups the tension and the tempo to create an otherworldly saga for the dance circle.
Tehran-born, NY based brothers Mohammad and Mehdi collaborate with Ian McDonnell, a.k.a. Eomac on a new record entitled "Patience of a Traitor". Inspired by the traditional bath houses in their native Tehran, the brothers say: "This record speaks to preserving the things that are timeless, through revisiting the past. The traditional Persian bath house — its architecture, the role it played in keeping, building community, the bathing rituals — served as our ultimate symbol. Now we drink from one cup, and fill the jar with the other."
Saint Abdullah is the moniker of Mohammad and Mehdi, New York based Iranian-Canadian brothers working across sound. Inspired by Iran’s religious, political and cultural history, the project was formed out of “a deep frustration with the way the West perceives – and treats – Muslims and the Islamic faith”. They aim to “challenge stereotypes and act as a conduit between unnecessary enemies”. They have released on labels such as Purple Tape Pedigree, Cassauna, Psychic Liberation, Important Records and Room40. Ian McDonnell, a.k.a.
Eomac, is a composer, producer, DJ and label owner. He has released genre-spanning music via The Trilogy Tapes, Stroboscopic Artefacts, Bedouin Records, Killekill, his own Eotrax imprint and the iconic label Planet Mu with his 2021 album, 'Cracks'. His music draws from obscure samples and raw sound design in an ongoing search for musical and collective unity through intense, visceral music for body and soul.
A vibrant and powerful performer, Danny Toeman seamlessly blends the classic vibes of Funk and Soul's golden age with his own inimitable London edge that modernises his work, giving it a fresh 'neo-vintage' flavour. His gravel tones combined with an altitude-defying falsetto set him apart, creating a sound oozing with character and emotion. With his backing band 'The Love Explosion', Danny Toeman stages an electrifying show filled to the brim with feel-good funky soul, designed to make everyone get on up! Born in London, Danny was well acquainted with the Soul, Funk, and Rhythm and Blues of artists such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles from an early age, before graduating onto the hard hitting Souther Soul of artists like Wilson Pickett and Bobby Womack, and the refined uptown Philly Soul of artists like the O'Jays and the Spinners. A guitarist since the age of seven, and a singer before that, he grabbed any opportunity to perform his songs on stage for an audience. Danny Toeman truly set out to on his musical career after graduating University (where he won the regions official Battle of the Bands contest). Soon after, he was in demand as a supporting act for a number of great Soul artists, including Charles Bradley of Daptone, Michael Kiwanuka, Queen of Rare Groove Betty Wright, and 4-time Grammy winner Robert Cray. Around the same time, Danny's music reached a worldwide audience when a song of his was discovered on Soundcloud by scouts, and placed on the in-store playlists of Abercrombie & Fitch. Since then, his music has appeared in film and television shows around the world, most notably Saturday Night Live (NBC). Danny continued to perform nonstop around the UK, occasionally travelling to continental Europe for appearances. From 2019-2021, he hosted and promoted a series of headline shows at the famous Pizza Express Jazz Club, which garnered sold out crowds every night. The pinnacle of the support slots came in 2019, when Danny was chosen as the primary support act for Kool and the Gang at their o2 Arena show in London, in front of 10,000 spectators.
In Mid-2020, as the world was shutting down, Danny was approached by LRK Records to release his track 'She's Got Something About Her' on vinyl.
Within 3 months of release, the disc completely sold out due to demand, taking the European Soul Scene by storm. It garnered multiple radio plays, including from BBC 6 Music's Craig Charles, and veteran BBC DJ Robert Elms pronounced it 'his new favourite song'.
In 2022, Danny received his first spin on BBC Radio 2 for the single, 'Shake the Blues Outta Your Shoes', and was chosen out of thousands of competitors by industry professionals to act as the opening act for the legendary Diana Ross at one of her rare UK performances!
As the world starts to open up, Danny looks forward to releasing more new music, and taking his show across Europe and around the World.
As a tribute to the 20th anniversary of the music label Twin Town Production (*11 Sept 2001), Nicolas Molina and Stachy.DJ presented "The Sound of Twin Town: Tribute Mix Pt. I", a personal selection of remastered music from the catalog of the first decade.
An eclectic mix of Soulful House, Chillout, D&B, Acid Jazz, IDM, Dubstep and Breaks takes the listener on a journey through time to the musical roots of the label until the dawn of the second era of digital mania.
Now this compilation package offers homelisteners and DJs all the
remastered tracks of the DJ-Mix in full length on vinyl.
CAUTION: THE PACKAGE TAPE IS PART OF THE ARTWORK. PLEASE READ THE TEXT FOR HANDLING!
The package can either be opened only on the outer edge to access the vinyls, or it can be sliced on all sides to flip through the entire story. Don’t handle with care!
*** The entire case study on the artwork will still be published in the fall of 2022 by Manuel Wesely himself.
This is the BIG 30th release on RIOT Radio Records, our fiercely independent techno label based in Scotland.
Kaylah from Hackney, London is a forward thinking and driven artist who never fails to create or play the heaviest hitting big room destroyers with the most reaffirming explosive energy. Whether it’s his own music productions or when DJing, his tough captivating pace means he’s always ready for the rave.
Continuing with the ‘Limited As Fuck’ series of releases with some twisted screaming techno here that’s so perverted it departs from any usual or accepted standards of behaviour. All four tracks featured are bonified party stompers so full of debauchery and shamelessness you may be regarded as morally corrupt to persecute the dance floor into such a devout compunction of metamorphosis, transforming it into a stalkers paradise.
WARNING: CONDITION RED: HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, THE RIOT INVASION CAN COMMENCE
Mint Condition - A record label focused on excavating the outer fringes of classic House and Techno. Unreleased mixes, classics, overlooked gems and never heard before material, mined from the last 30+ years of contemporary dance music are the order of the day. From Chicago, Detroit and New York to London and beyond. Mint Condition have got their digging hats on to bring you exclusive heat and those rarer than rare jams that have been in your wants list for years.
Dig in...
East Midlands house legend, Charles Webster, relocated to San Francisco in 1992, setting up Spirit Studios in the heart of the city and a highly productive period ensued. The 'White Powder' EP released in 1995, under Charles' Presence moniker is widely regarded as a classic of its genre, up there with any of its contemporaries on Prescription or Murk. All 4 tracks are flawless and groundbreaking in their ability to to draw together elements of soulful deep house, tribal percussion and the deep melodic tech-house sounds emerging from Europe and America's midwest into a unique whole.
EP opener 'Heart' features the haunting vocals of Sarah Jay, the track builds delicately, adding dark bass, before soaring strings lead into a melodic breakdown. $10's deftly programmed drums really deliver the funk, the deep melodic synth and pad progressions are mesmerising, whilst an unforgettable bass-line underpins the journey. Over on the flip 'Giving Love' intro's with gorgeous pad before shuffling percussion and an uplifting piano turn this track into a joyous ride. Lastly 'Powder Chords' sets the controls for heart of the dance floor, heavy kicks launch a much more techno influenced affair, it's dark and brooding but no less effective in its atmosphere and execution.
'White Powder' is all killer, no filler, a highly sought after slab of wax that has achieved cult status amongst the most discerning DJs, record collectors and music heads alike. Legitimately re-released with the full involvement of Charles Webster, lovingly remastered by London's Curve Pusher from the original sources especially for Mint Condition. 100% legit, licensed and released. Dug, remastered, repackaged and brought to you by the caring folks at your favourite reissue label - Mint Condition!
Re-introducing Uk producer Jay Strata, a Glasgow Scotland based Dj/Producer/Graphic Artist Since 1990; with releases & remixes on Soiree Records Detroit, Ozone Records, Jack Trax, Crayon... Previously called Jace Syntax.This is Jaces new pseudonym & a chance to reinvent Himself. This Selection reflects Jason's Unique Mystical take on Electronic Music with tracks compiled from a musical period of 15 years plus. Each track has their own Quirk, varying from Haunting Electro, Acid House, Hip House & Detroit Style Techno with live recorded vocals by Siouxla Le Sommer.
Wooohaaa! The figure 8 always meant more to us than just a symbol on your screen. For this very reason on our eighth vinyl release from Minor Notes Recordings we’re featuring non other than the legendary producer BMB SpaceKid. Stemming from St. Petersburg and from an early age, BMB proved himself to be an extraordinary musician. Able produces top quality compositions with ease, and in any style, but all with his unique twist.
To date BMB is best known in hip-hop circles as he made album beats for many key underground rap artists. He also went international and produced joint tracks with Dj Premier, Anderson Paak, Raekwon, GoldLink and many others.
BMB has also performed at the Fabric Club in London, the Outlook Origins festival, live on Boiler Room and BBC Radio 1. He also participated in the Red Bull Bass Camp and the Hip-Hop Academy.
On the record "Taste Booster" BMB SpaceKid showcases his taste and skills in the production of house style dance music. A tribute to the traditions of African-American music, the virtuoso mastery of MPC and sampling techniques, and an outstanding approach to melodic rhythms.
We are convinced that this record will appeal to everyone who loves true house music, acting as a breath of fresh air. To enhance the overall effect we invited one of our favorite French producers Art Of Tones, who for a long time, and just like us, has been promoting the organic sound of electronic music 4x4.
Greek genius DimDJ is no stranger to a live jam, pushing his machines to produce gritty dancefloor stompers since the heady days of 2004.
Following a 2019 album of trippy arpeggiated techno – appropriately named Recurring Patterns – here he makes his Gated debut with an EP of uncompromising 303 workouts, once again driving those silver boxes to produce addictive, floor-focused DJ tools.
But it's not all heads-down squelch, with a final track squeezed onto the B-side that brings a surprisingly punk twist to an EP that's also appropriately named... Acid Tracks.
Trad Vibe records is happy and proud to present you this project as well execptional as unpublished!
We are in 1994, DJ Clyde left the group Assassin and launched the 1st French Mixtapes but he sees even further and launches into the production for the 1st time since he became a hip-hop activist. His set up seems very simple but unusual and innovative for the time especially in France with a SP1200 and two S950 and a maximum of Soul, Funk, Jazz vinyls that he digs with his crew Hypnotyc Djs (Dj Clyde, Dj Max, Dj Asko). The project is also exceptional because it comes from a cassette archived by Clyde of beats sent for the album Paris Sous Les Bombes of the famous group Suprême NTM (3rd album of the group).
Of course you will not find the beats released with his last but all the unselected gems that reveals the talent and the advance that Dj Clyde had taken in the production at that time! More than an instrumental album or beat tape, this project is a testimony of the history of Hip-Hop and moreover of Beatmaking in France in the 90s which was not supposed to see the day.
The cover is made by the talented grafiti artist Cyril "Kongo" of the famous and historical crew of graffiti artists MAC (founded in 1986 in Montreuil).
First time available on vinyl!
A pair of Watergate favourites add their touch to JOPLYN standout label debut from last year, as 'Fact & Fiction' and 'Can't Get Enough' get impressive remixes from Adana Twins and JAMIIE.
A prodigiously talented producer, DJ and live act on the rise, JOPLYN’s Watergate Records debut last December was an exhilarating eleventh hour highlight of 2022.
Championed by Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1, the release now gets a second life in time for summer. Adana Twins re-fashion 'Can't Get Enough' into a beast of a tune that cleverly retains the emotion of the original, while propelling it into peak-time festival territory, with a blissful build up and a bass-face inducing bottom end. A straight up fire tune.
‘Fact & Fiction’ get JAMIIE’s vibe-heavy touch, taking the dreamy tones of the original and re-working them into an impact-heavy end-of-night opus.
The Havoc guys have been on an enforced hibernation through the winter due to a lurgy that had been affecting the planet. They have remained in the cave throughout this time huddling up to keep warm and exploring what had become their home away from home for months on end. One night, whilst lighting a fire, trying to find motivation for the next release (basket weaving had lost its appeal) they spotted a glint across the way – On further inspection, it was a small bottle and had a label of sorts – It looked to be medicine or smelling salts – Liquid Gold. Curious creatures they are they all took a long good sniff of this elixir. And just like that, they rummaged around the records stacked in the corner put some more coal in the old computer and began their work.
Soon the A-Side of the new EP was born. Most certainly a step up in the BPM from the previous A-Side off EP1. A1 kicks off with a Germanic Proto Throb Job, that's sure to cause errr...Havoc on the dance floor. Whilst A2 is a Bassline Driven, Reconstructed Austrian Euro Pop Monster. One for late-night Discos.
After a while they had stopped sweating, hearts had stopped beating quite so quick. Whilst the creative juices were flowing a few more records were dug out and a log put on the fire and a cup of fungus juice imbibed. B2 came rattling out the speakers in no time at all in all its chugging glory, the vocals take in a nod to god after the devil has done his dirty work.
At this point, the sun was starting to peek through the mouth of the cave and a new day was upon them. One last record had been found, earlier, that was decided would work at this time, actually after consideration, any damn time... B2 Is like a familiar Balearic Back rub with pop-infused French vocals and beats for days...So now EP2 is complete. Back out into the world our intrepid or is it tepid threesome went... Let's only hope their wives haven't left them after all this time locked away.
DJ Support:
Jim (HMD)
Bill Brewster
Kelvin Andrews
Eric Duncan
Al Mackenzie
James Holroyd (Begin)
Pete Herbert
Phil Mison
Nick The Record
Justin Robertson
Coyote
Mind Fair
Steve KIW
Craig Christian
Dr Rob
Dave Jarvis
Max Essa
Andy Simms (Soft Rocks)
Howler
Jaye Ward
Nancy Noise
Andy Taylor (WATS)
Graeme Fisher
Severino (HMD)
The next release in CUE Music's catalogue sees Butane teaming up once more with Riko Forinson for "Brainstorm" EP alongside Nima Gorji on remix duties. The record definitely adds extra magic to the label's discography, lining up to the previous releases from Elchinsoul, Sascha Dive, Sascha Sonido, Danilo Schneider, Dubphone, Heerd and label head Sven Jaeger, among many many others.
A firm believer that the long hours of studio work keep a musician grounded, Butane boasts an impressive discography, released by some of the most highly regarded labels in the business, such as Crosstown Rebels, Sci+Tec, Hottrax, Fuse Records, Lauter and Get Physical. As a label owner, he's the founder of three influential underground dance music imprints of his own, Alphahouse, Little Helpers and Extrasketch.
Riko Forinson is an Italian artist passionate about the sound of drums and piano which he studied intensively from an early age. After a while of exploring the acoustic dimensions of music, he immersed himself in the world of digital electronica, performing as a DJ at various events and releasing with labels like Orpheus Recordings, Lucidflow, Dushe Label and Bar 25 Music. Nowadays he's an author, composer and producer who loves to play with various techniques while integrating jazz, reggae or classical aspects into his compositions or sets.
In charge of the reinterpretation of the title track, Ibiza-based Nima Gorji is well-known on the international scene, with a career that spans more than three decades. In 1999 he founded Welt Recordings followed by NG Trax and Need For Sound, relentlessly following his passion for electronic music by releasing numerous personal works as well as promoting other artists. His rich discography includes materials published through labels like Sci+Tec, Deeperfect, Fuse London, Bondage Music, Out Of Orbit, Love Letters From Oslo, Indigo Raw, Out Of Orbit, Cocoon, Murmur, Natural Rhythm, Bla Bla Records, ÉTÉ,
Ewan McVicar ‘s releases his huge Trick release ‘Tell Me Something Good’ on vinyl this June.
Following releases on Shall Not Fade, Nervous, and his ‘Street Rave EP’ on Trick in 2020 as well as a pair of remixes on the label earlier this year, DJ Mag ‘Best Breakthrough Act’ nominee and Radio 1 favourite Ewan McVicar returns to Patrick Topping’s imprint with a two-track EP of summer-tinged smash hits.
‘Tell Me Something Good’ sees the Scottish DJ/producer cover Rufus & Chaka Khan’s 70s jam of the same name, twisting catchy vocals and huge synth stabs into an ecstatic peak time club weapon. ‘Delta’ brings the tempo down, but keeps the energy levels high as piano chords drift effortlessly across a chugging breakbeat and rolling basslines, making for a feel-good closing track to another standout release from Trick.
Mint Condition - A record label focused on excavating the outer fringes of classic House and Techno. Unreleased mixes, classics, overlooked gems and never heard before material, mined from the last 30+ years of contemporary dance music are the order of the day. From Chicago, Detroit and New York to London, Nottingham and beyond. Mint Condition have got their digging hats on to bring you exclusive heat and those rarer than rare jams that have been in your
wants list for years. Dig in....
Back in 1997, UK house legend Charles Webster, this time under his DJ Profile alias, unleashed these killer tracks. Originally released on the sorely missed London nightclub The End's label, this fine 12" set a benchmark for what would become a very exciting time for the UK's underground scene, both tracks are widely considered to be up there with Charles' most sought after work.
A-side 'Prove It' kicks off with swinging drums that deliver the funk, percussive elements rattle & shake and the low slung bass line keeps the track firmly on the dancefloor. The soothing chords, acid overtones and the evocative vocal hook are mesmerising and soulful.
Over on the flip, 'Realization' is a bumping analogue monster. The kicks are solid, the snares swing and an infectious rolling bass line carries the track throughout. Darker acidic touches sit alongside delicate synth riffs and emotive chords that lift, drift and lose you in a world of wonderfully woozy deep house sonics.
Never has the late night dance floor sounded so good, and this slab of wax is a must have that typifies a halcyon period in underground house history. The tracks themselves have remained exciting and relevant, achieving cult status amongst the most discerning DJs, record collectors and music heads alike. Legitimately re-released with the full involvement of Charles Webster, lovingly remastered by London's Curve Pusher from the original sources especially for Mint Condition. 100% legit, licensed and released. Dug, remastered, repackaged and brought to you by the caring folks at your favourite reissue label - Mint Condition!
One Tribe label-owner AMÉMÉ makes his debut production appearance on Crosstown Rebels next month with the three-track Drum Beat. The EP includes a remix by longstanding US house veteran Joeski, marking a major career achievement for the Benin-born talent.
The Latin influence is experienced right from the word go on Loca, as Saharan-esque elements build alongside resonant hats and playful, Spanish-like vocals. Tribal percussion drifts in and out alongside, whilst whirring key solos feature subtly throughout. Drum Beat comes next, manifesting as a welcome slice of contemporary Afro-house that’s packed full of raw instrumentals and authentic lyrical samples, before Joeski’s remix brings things to an up-tempo, club-ready close.
Specialising in Afro-leaning electronic music, AMÉMÉ has marked himself as one of the continent’s breakthrough talents in recent years. Head of One Tribe, his productions have been supported by the pioneering figure of Black Coffee since 2019, whilst his appearances on Watergate Records, Blond:Ish’s Abracadabra imprint and the mighty MoBlack Records have been equally well-received, firmly establishing his presence as one of modern dance music’s rising stars.
Joeski’s trajectory can be traced back to 1991, when he burst onto the NYC house scene as a founding member of The Chocolate Factory DJ collective. Since then, the US veteran has garnered a worldwide following thanks to his Maya label, which was first incepted in 2001, as well his keen ear for production that has seen him release on Crosstown Rebels, Relief and a myriad of other heavyweight imprints in recent years.
Roughly two years after their triumphant return to our label, our close friends, the mighty Extrawelt are back with the corresponding remixes to their seminal „Jetzt Neu: Alles Wie Früher“ EP with quite the lineup of remixing artists! First up we have KMYLE, wo graced our label with an outstanding EP recently and worked his magic on this remix for Extrawelt, an act he´s been admiring for a long time! Next up, we have our good old friend Lars Sandberg aka Funk D´Void. Lars and Gregor have been friends for a long time, so it´s long overdue to have him finally deliver one of his trademark productions! Next up, we have quite a surprising collaboration, as Gregor teamed up with an absolute legend in the world of electronic Music: DJ Hell! Expect the unexpected! To round off the Vinyl, we have a remix by Artrik, hailing from Vienna and spicing things up for the bigger floors! So, dear friends - enjoy the remixes of one of our biggest releases recently!
The Tel Aviv-born and now Berlin-based Dj & producer Roy Brizman is next on the ever respectable Subtil Records. He delivers two remarkable original cuts, accompanied by a lush remix from the talented Christopher Ledger.
First up is "At The End" wich reflects perfectly Brizman´s moody gentle side, a journey of sounds and beats - super unique.
On A2 "The Swing", a rolling little groove monster that will surely do the magic on any dancefloor.
Christopher Ledger keeps the original low slung minimal house vibes of "At The End" and goes deeper into broken beats with a brilliant remix.
Ogu welcomes on board dj producer Kabaret Maker, who gives us an exotic and introspective release. Kabaret Maker performances have always been a classy blend of genres, infected by acid sounds, breakbeats, electronica and world music, and all these influences can be heard in the EP that mark his debut on OGU.
“Bellissima in Dakar”, title track release, is a fantastic journey in a winter ocean where future and past meet as to evoke a new world. Hinted rhythms, ancestral choirs and deep bass lines, to lead us to the track “Il Re della Persia”, modern house vibes with a poetic vocal in Italian describing an ancient route, to be sheltered to get a tea in the desert.
The mix pack is rounded off and enhanced by the remixes of the masters Bushwacka! and Thomas Brinkmann, and the single becomes a jewel for our boutique label.
Among those who have written the history of the Italian House is certainly Carlo Troja, aka Don Carlos. In 1991 Irma Records released her first single Alone which immediately became a cult record for DJs across the Channel and especially American DJs. Its particular soft and ambient sounds defined a genre that was then called Paradise House.
And it is precisely from this genre and from this Dj that Irma Records began the celebrations of its thirtieth anniversary a few years ago by
proposing a selection of its catalog chosen by Don Carlos, trying to dig among some of the pearls of the genre but above all among some
songs that featured in his evenings but were less popular at the time of their release.
This compilation had a great response and it was decided to make a volume 2, always selected by Don Carlos. Also this compilation, like the first one, consists of two compact discs and a vinyl version this time with a selection of only 8 of the 20 tracks contained in the CD and Digital version.
All the tracks on the double vinyl have been re-edited by Don Carlos for the occasion. The double cd is in a limited numbered edition.
Among the artists and producers included are: Don Carlos, Lust Unlimited, Subsonic Posse, T.M.V. (Marco Trani, Moz-Art and Maurizio
Verbeni), The Sweatbox Orchestra, Aritmya, Deep Aural Penetration, Be Noir, Love Nation, More Heavy Soul, Outdance, F.I.T.Z. and many
others
Mr. K is back again with a double-sider that tackles the ups and downs of love and does it in fabulous style with two solid soul classics.
Yvonne Fair was a veteran of the soul music world when she finally got the chance to record her first full length album in 1975. She had recorded multiple singles under the guidance of James Brown (her “I Found You” was reworked by Brown into the chart-topper “I Got You (I Feel Good)”) and, after leaving the JB camp for the auspices of Motown, a clutch of 7-inches with Norman Whitfield. These were gathered together to form her first (and only) full-length, but before the album was completed a final song was added to fill things out. This last minute touch would turn out to be the crowning achievement of her career. “It Should’ve Been Me” didn’t seem to be a notable addition at first. The song was originally done by Kim Weston a decade earlier and then by Gladys Knight. But Fair’s version had something special. In addition to the novel addition of a percolating drum machine pulse, Fair imbued the lyrics with a heartfelt sincerity and gruff emotion that touched listeners in a way that other versions had missed. Released as a single in the UK in late ’75, the song rose to the top ten of the British charts by February of the following year, inspiring Motown to release it as a US single. The song never replicated its UK success in the States, but went on to have a long life as a staple of drag performances and gay club life. Gay club life being the heart of all great club life, it’s only natural that the impact of the song has continued to spread, from Adeva’s hit house version in 1991 to Miley Cyrus’s recent revival of the song. Danny Krivit pays tribute to this storied history with his own version, a simple yet effective edit that stays true to the original but gives DJs a little more room (and fans a little more time to sing along!) than the all-too-brief original.
Continuing on our theme of lovelorn loss and redemption, Mr. K turns his attention to the New Birth’s “Brand New Lover” for our B-side. While the original slowly moves from the tentative, immediate aftermath of breakup to the eventual positive path forward, Krivit’s edit jumps straight to the joyous resolution to find new love, riding a delicious call and response chorus punctuated by signature breakdowns from master producer Harvey Fuqua. Danny’s edit provides a natural uplifting opportunity that never stops building over the course of its extended five minutes. Until now, the track has only been available on the group’s debut 1970 full-length, and never on a 7-inch single.
As always, this release has been mastered to the highest standards and is certain to find a spot in the bags of discerning listeners and DJs alike.
Hospital Records proudly present the debut solo album from drum & bass icon Grafix. ‘Half Life’ is an introspective glimpse into the influences and sonic development of the Bristol-based producer, who over the years has established himself as a pinnacle of the dance music world. Grafix’s first ever studio longplayer as a solo artist consists of 14 hotly-anticipated pulse pounding anthems, featuring killer collaborations from the likes of Metrik, Lauren L’aimant, Reiki Ruawai and Chrissie Huntley in his hit singles ‘Somewhere’, ‘Feel Alive’ and ‘Skyline’.
High-octane dancefloor energiser ‘Skyline’ sees drum & bass titans Grafix and Metrik collide for a third time on this futuristic drum & bass cut infused with pure uplifting soundscapes. Enter a world of powerhouse synthesis, relentless basslines and Metrik’s very own vocal performance. This is just the follow up you needed from the mammoth success with the duo’s previous collaborations ‘Overdrive’ and ‘Parallel’.
Grafix draws upon his love for rave culture on the acid heavy ‘Blast Out’ - a no-holds-barred drum & bass system shocker. Skittery vocal chops, shredding bass hits and minimal-funk drums show the side of Grafix well known for tearing up the dance - never afraid to drop a wild card.
From the hypnotic and distorted energies on the likes of ‘CTRL’ and album title track ‘Half Life’, to the forward-facing vibes on LP numbers such as ‘Accelerate’ and ‘The Chance’, the versatile flavours supplied by Grafix throughout are a testament to his years of experience in the studio.
Other album highlights include two tracks with the immensely talented Lauren L’aimant who boasts previous releases on staple dance imprints including Anjunadeep, Colorize and Protocol Recordings. ‘Watch The Sky’ is an anthemic stepper home to Lauren’s spine-tingling vocals and Grafix’s catchy synth hooks. ‘Feel Alive’ captures the pair’s undeniable ability to strike up a euphorically cutting-edge dance music banger.
The ‘Half Life’ LP also features the previously released tracks ‘Radiance’ as well as radio hit ‘Somewhere’ featuring New Zealand’s very own Reiki Ruawai. Both tracks of which are no stranger to worldwide drum & bass listeners.
Grafix’s debut album marks a signature milestone within his musical journey as a solo artist and his achievements so far only scratch the surface. The first single ‘Somewhere (feat. Reiki Ruawai)’ to drop from his album racked up global airwave support with an impressive number of plays from radio tastemakers including Danny Howard, René LaVice, Mollie Collins, the George FM crew in New Zealand and of course, Fred V. With regular support from big hitters including Sub Focus, Wilkinson, Friction, Camo & Krooked and more, Grafix’s music continues to talk for itself when racking up countless DJ spins as well as consistent landings across pinnacle industry platforms such as UKF. Keep an eye out for Grafix at Snowbombing, Hospitality On The Beach Albania and more throughout 2022!
Musical storyteller ´Solee´ takes us on the 4th Future Romance journey with two brandnew tracks called "Sternstunde" and "Exhilaration", both packed with euphoric melodies and some extra drive for the deeper dancefloors.
DJ and producer ´Shall Ocin´, wellknown for his stirring productions on labels like Ellum, Atlant, Drumcode or his own imprint Clash Lion accompanies us as a remixer for this release and turns "Exhilaration" skillful into a true peaktime belter!
Early DJ support by Adam Beyer, Adriatique, Kevin De Vries, Hunter/Game, Edu Imbernon, Fur Coat, James Zabiela, Undercatt, Magdalena, Eelke Kleijn and more...
The fast rising FUTURA imprint from Leon, releases its new release from Mexican DJ Producer Mike.D with stellar remixes from Len Lewis and Do Or Die to complete the package .
Salomon Records founder Mike.D hails from Juarez Chihuahua, and is considered one of the new generation talents of DJs and producers from northern Mexico. His music selection and mixing abilities have given him the opportunity to play at the legendary Mexican venue Hardpop for many years. As a producer he’s released on labels like Kanja Records, Kina Music, The Lab, Dream Culture and more which has cemented his place in the scene. His music is regularly supported and played by the likes of Arapu, Sepp, Cosmjn, Maher Daniel, Mihai Pol, Sublee, YokoO and more.
For his debut release on Futura, he drops 2 originals the first of which is the title track ‘Mente Trascendente’. An edgy minimal deep tech house track with a grooving electronic bassline, deep atmospheric pads, classy beat pattern all combining to create an elegant 8 minute journey. The second on the package is Len Lewis’s remix of ‘Mente Trascendente’. Len Lewis released his first track back in ‘93 on Jumpin & Pumpin, which then led to records on the likes of the legendary Swag. Lewis’ designated name for his sound is, SiTH, Sinister Tech House, claiming its mysterious name after a Mixmag reviewer used this description for his music many years ago. His remix fits this name perfectly, powerful low bassline drives the track effortlessly, and smooth breakdown combining with eerie incidentals and pads, treated vocal cuts providing the signature hook for the track. This is a remix that’s perfect for the heads in the scene.
Next up we have ‘Sendero Interno’. The original mix is a pure minimal work out right from the outset. The stripped back and delicate beats use popping sounds for filling the frequencies, and work perfectly against the backdrop of the brooding pads and synths make this an classy introspective underground track, which is everything the Futura label is about. To round things off we have the final remix which comes from My Own Jupiter DJ Producer, Do Or Die. Well known for producer techno and electro the fast rising producer, delivers an acid house sci-fi esq work out on this remix with punching beats cutting through the mix, whilst retaining the brooding synths and samples from the original and adding in some special vocal cuts to keep this remix unique and perfect for the floor.
CircoLoco Records is proud to present the Monday Dreamin’ Vinyl Box Set, a 5-LP collection releasing on May 20, 2022.
Featuring heavy-hitting releases from visionaries of every era of CircoLoco’s 20-year party history, including Carl Craig, tINI, Kerri Chandler, Rampa, Sama' Abdulhadi, and other icons, the acclaimed debut compilation album from CircoLoco Records is presented in matte full color sleeves with box artwork designed by TOILETPAPER.
With support from DJ’s worldwide and accolades including back-to-back Essential New Tune awards from BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong for Seth Troxler’s “Lumartes,” and DJ Tennis’ “Atlanta,” Monday Dreamin’ has already carved out a unique place in the world of dance music having been featured in the digital world of Los Santos in Rockstar Games’ blockbuster Grand Theft Auto Online: Los Santos Tuners which also featured Monday Dreamin’ artist Moodymann as a new character in the world.
Monday Dreamin’ is the first project from the pioneering partnership between global club culture icons CircoLoco and the creators of some of the world’s most popular and critically acclaimed video games, Rockstar Games, a partnership aimed at elevating and supporting dance music through the collective power of the two entertainment brands.
NO.2 on the groove charts!
Following a year that saw the 50th entry in the long-running series released to wide acclaim, DJ-Kicks returns in 2016 another landmark edition. Iconic Detroit DJ and producer Moodymann is at the helm for his first ever multi-artist DJ mix compilation. Born Kenny Dixon Jr., Moodymann is a one-of-a-kind electronic music icon, hailing from, and wholly synonymous with the Motor City. He is an outspoken, impossibly charismatic artist who has been putting a distinctive and soulful stamp on house and techno since the early 90s. Melting together jazz, funk, soul, blues and rock in captivating ways, he is responsible for some of electronic music's most definitive tracks, EPs and LPs on labels like Planet E, Peacefrog and his own KDJ and Mahogani Music imprints. As able to serve up the sweetest and most sensual sounds as he is the darkest and most depraved grooves, his own unique voice and stream of conscious musings infuse expertly sought-out samples for music that is decisively alive and authentic.
Across 75 minutes and 30 tracks, Moodymann does not disappoint: despite being a notorious vinyl fetishist, Dixon's aim is to present music of quality, not to one-up fellow collectors. Rather than serving up ridiculously rare or hard-to-find records, he instead focuses on creating a libidinous, blues-drenched mood that takes in heart-breaking soul, gorgeous hip-hop and love-fuelled house. In addition to cuts from his own creative circle, the mix features 11 exclusive Moodymann edits. Like everything Kenny Dixon Jr. touches, DJ-Kicks showcases the taste, skill, and soul of a dance music original.
Three years after he released the incredible New Experience EP (picking up plaudits from Bill Brewster, Tim Sweeney, Laurent Garnier, Horse Meat Disco, Leo Mas & 6Music’s Tom Ravenscroft, among many more), Tokyo’s Kota Motomura returns to Hobbes Music for his debut LP, Pay It Forward. This is the first vinyl release on Hobbes Music since the much-loved ‘Aranath’ EP by Leonidas & Hobbes last Spring. While the label maintains the level of quality control for which it has become recognised, the artist continues to subvert electronic and dance music norms in his iconoclastic way on this extraordinary record.
He’s a mysterious character with an ear for idiosyncratic music that runs the gamut from ambient, exotica and jazz to disco, house and techno via post punk, new wave and funk. It’s highly original and all adds up to a confection perhaps best described as ‘Balearic’.
Album opener Paradise is a certified jazz-funk JAM. Destined for dance floors worldwide, this one’s been dropping well with DJs, Motomura demonstrating his piano chops alongside Mutsumi Takeuchi’s sax. Tropical pushes the boat in a more rhythmic direction, some pretty wild drum programming laced with more sounds of the, um, tropics, before mad vocal yelps suggest something yet more tribal. To Be Free initially resembles early 90s progressive house (pulsing bassline, synth-driven melodies), before the arrival of some new wave guitar licks a la classic Talking Heads/David Byrne and ooh ooh vocal chants take it to another dimension altogether.
B-side opener Emotion features Takeuchi again (on flute this time) and more vocal chants before things take a dramatic turn, threatening to open up into a full fanfare before calming and then bursting into wild life again with the exhortation that “C’mon, everybody dancing!” Rhythm flirts with an energy and pace more akin to a techno record: drums, drums, more drums plus a fair few yelps and chants - the kind of DJ tool that will send a simmering dance floor wild in the right hands. Flower closes things in a more melancholy style, familiar to fans of ‘Aboy’ from the New Experience EP, with plaintive acoustic guitar (performed by Akichi), birdsong and big piano chords.
Support from Bill Brewster, Leo Mas, Al Kent, Red Rack’em, Nick The Record, Phil Mison, Phat Phil Cooper, KZA, Sean Johnston (ALFOS), S/A/M, Dribbler, Joe Muggs, Monolith Cocktail and more…
‘Gonna review in MÜ mag... very fine stuff!’ JOE MUGGS
‘Will be reviewed on the blog’ MONOLITH COCKTAIL BILL BREWSTER played Flower on the DJ History podcast #641 (25.3.22) 'I really like this album, Flower and Paradise are my favourite' LEO MAS ‘I like Paradise’ AL KENT ‘Woo this is tasty. DEFO playing on my next radio show. The label’s A&R is defo getting better and better. HM has been putting out some dope stuff and this one seems really good quality’ RED RACK’EM
‘Paradise and Flower sounding good’ NICK THE RECORD
‘Tunes sound great!’ PHIL MISON ‘Going to include Paradise and Flower on my Sunday Ibiza global radio show PHAT PHIL COOPER (Nu Northern Soul)
‘Very nice album with influences from many different genres. I especially like To Be Free with nice synths and guitar cutting, and Flower, which is a chill vibe’ KZA (Mule Musiq, Endless Flight)
'100% correct about the ALFOS potential of To Be Free!' SEAN JOHNSTON (A Love From Outer Space)
'Stunning, will fit perfectly with the vibe of my radio show’ S/A/M (Music For Dreams, DK; Playa Del Sol, Ibiza)
'Stellar work, i'll make a bet that Flowers is a Balaeric classic this summer' DRIBBLER (Breakfast Club, Ibiza)
‘It's cool in a nice smelling psycho sense, it was a very DEEP sound that I couldn't produce. Congrats!’ ALTZ (Altzmusica)
‘Paradise is my jam, it's deep, sunny and never boring. I'm interested to see how this will work on the dance floor. Overall a great album with solid composition and impressive use of live instruments!’ SOBRIETY (fka Chloé Juliette)
'Very tidy selection' ASTROJAZZ (Kelburn Garden Party, Wee Dub, Samedia Shebeen, Disco Makossa) ‘This is a lovely release. Follows on from New Experience in the best way possible. It's got lots of vibes going on but holds together as a cohesive piece of work. Love it’ JAMIE THOMSON (La Cheetah, Glasgow)
‘To Be Free is a track i could imagine Andy Weatherall playing in one of his sets at A Love From Outer Space’ KIRSTIE PATON aka She-Bang Rave Unit (Threads Radio, Radio Magnetic)
The masterclass collection of deep melodic house & techno sound is going into the 21st round! "Parquet Most Wanted Vol. 21", featuring worldwide supported & breathtaking productions by SOLEE, JAMES HARCOURT, RAUSCHHAUS and NORS KODE. These tracks are already played by A-List DJs like Kölsch, Innellea, Dave Seaman, Fideles, Dosem, John Digweed, D-Nox, Magdalena, Eelke Kleijn, Bebetta, Markus Kavka and many more.
First Word Records is very pleased to bring you the sophomore album from Werkha, a 14-track double LP entitled 'All Werk Is Play'.
Werkha hails from Manchester and has been releasing music for a decade, collaborating and remixing artists such as Quantic, Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Marcos Valles and Andrew Ashong. Werkha and his live band have been lighting up dancefloors in recent months at venues such as Low Four Studio in Manchester and The Jazz Cafe in London, with festival appearances locked for the Summer at the likes of We Out Here and Moovin. In past years, he has toured extensively with artists like Bonobo, Chet Faker and Mr Scruff.
In 2020, Werkha released 'The Rigour' on First Word, and dropped 'Beat Tapestry' in late 2021 on a limited cassette. 'All Werk Is Play' marks Werkha's first full-length solo project since his debut album 'Colours Of A Red Brick Raft' on Tru Thoughts in 2015, and sees this multi-talented musician produce a delightfully vibrant body of werk.
This album is predominantly a set of uptempo compositions from Werkha (real name Tom Leah), fusing analogue jazz-funk vibes with modern dance music sensibilities. Nestling somewhere between broken beat and breakbeat, Werkha has been nurturing his own unique sonics for some time; incorporating live horns & wind instruments with bass, double-bass, harp and guitar, along with a selection of sweet squelchy synths and deliciously delectable drum programming.
We've had several single releases from this project so far, namely 'Eterno Retorno' (with Portuguese singer Moreiya),'In Saint-Gilles' (with Brussels DJ & producer, Le Motel), 'Move Different' (with Mancunian singer & musician Ellen Beth Abdi), 'Beauty & The Bloc' and 'Battered Mars Bar'. As well as the afore-mentioned collaborations, this album also features bars from legendary MCR MC Chunky (Swamp81 / Levelz) on 'May Day', soulful vocals from Kemani Anderson (Secret Night Gang) on 'Count Yer Pace' and some heavyweight accompaniment from the likes of bassists Nick Blacka (GoGo Penguin) and Tom Driessler (Adele, Tom Misch, Jordan Rakei) amongst others.
'All Werk Is Play' was an opportunity for Werkha to produce a full body of work in the conceptual formation of an album, as opposed to a set of singles strung together. From 'The Rigour' EP to the subsequent releases, this album completes a circle in his current creative curve, from a design perspective and sonically. Werkha has been steadily pushing his own self-production and musicality, embracing mistakes, and challenging himself both creatively and mentally. As a self-edutaining piece, the depth, nuances and examples of work as play are numerous, and whilst each track was thematically inspired by different topics, the fun element of "play" was always forefront in his mind, to ultimately create something powerful, yet positive.
In Werkha's words "this record is dedicated to mixing things up, to walking down that street for once because your feet took you that way, to deciding not to take the bus today, to moments of improv, to breaking with convenience, to challenging structure, to play."
Tracks have received recent spins & support from BBC Radio heavyweights on 1Xtra & 6 Music like Jamz Supernova, Tom Ravenscroft, Huey Morgan and Afrodeutsche, as well as love from selectors such as DJ Paulette, Scratcha DVA, Harvey Sutherland, Zakia Sewell (NTS) & Jyoty (Rinse).
Sampled by Dr.Dre and Jay-Z, cult combo CALIBRO 35 release the new studio album "DECADE" and celebrate 10 years.
Italian super cult combo CALIBRO 35 release their 6th much awaited studio album "DECADE" on February the 9th 2018. "DECADE" marks 10 years of Calibro 35's releases and it's the very first album recorded by Calibro with an orchestral-inspired enlarged line-up that features horns, strings and percussions. Mixed and recorded by CALIBRO's usual suspect and Grammy Award winner Tommaso Colliva, on the album all the influences collected by the band during their last ten years' journey like music, collaborations, movies, gigs, books find their space. "DECADE" is CALIBRO 35's "time capsule" and is as rare and complex as a timeless work.
Musically CALIBRO 35's inner influences like Ennio Morricone, listen for instance to the epic journey of the album's end credits "Travelers", Luis Bacalov and David Axelrod are still there but are now mixed with elements from afrobeat or cosmic jazz. "Psycheground" sounds like Tony Allen involved in writing a score for a vintage Hollywood production while Sun Ra lurks on "Modo". Everything is mixed up with new influences from modern musical languages. References to Jaga Jazzist, Budos Band or Alternative Jazz and Alternative Hip Hop new acts such as Makaya McCraven, Yussef Kamaal, Oddisee can all be found on the album. In tracks such as "Modulor "you realize that Decade is certainly not a point of arrival and expresses the ambition of the band to look further and evolve. All classic Calibro's vintage instruments such as clavinet, eco, analog synths, fuzz guitars are now supported by new ones such as Dan Bau, Balafon and Waterphone ("Polymeri") in the band's new wall of sound. Thanks to the enlarged line-up and the orchestrated parts involved, which pushed the band to experiment new methods of composition, Calibro 35 on "DECADE" sound strong, full and tight as never before.
Active since 2008 CALIBRO 35 enjoys a worldwide reputation as one of the coolest independent band around. During their ten years career, they have been sampled by Dr. Dre on his Compton album, Jay-Z Love Child & Damon Albarn, they shared stages worldwide with the likes of Roy Ayers, Muse, Sun Ra Arkestra, Sharon Jones, Thundercat, Headhunters and as unique musicians they've collaborated with, amongst others PJ Harvey, Mike Patton, John Parish and Stewart Copeland and Nic Cester (The Jet). Described by Rolling Stone magazine's as "the most fascinating, retro-maniac and genuine thing, that happened to Italy in the last years", Calibro 35 now count on a number of aficionados worldwide which includes VIP's fans such as Dj Food (Ninja Tune), Mr Scruff and Huey Morgan (Fun Lovin' Criminals) among others.
In his foundational essay on Los Angeles, L.A. Glows, the essayist Lawrence Weschler speaks on the city's uncanny, immediately recognizable light; "The late-afternoon light of Los Angeles—golden pink off the bay through the smog and onto the palm fronds." Weschler traces the city's mysterious refracted light from the iconic paintings of David Hockney through the city's frequent portrayal on film and TV, noting its ability to put residents into a state of "egoless bliss."
Similarly, Alex Ho's new album for Music From Memory, 'Move Through It', radiates with the unmistakable LA glow. While the Pasadena native's studio work is just now coming to light, Ho has long been a fixture in the Los Angeles dance music scene, throwing what are perhaps the city's most musically expansive warehouse events and carving out a singular voice as a DJ, as heard on his brilliant Moony Habits show for NTS. The eight-track record, however, lands in a more contemplative zone, better suited for a golden hour drive than a night out.
Though it's his first record, 'Move Through It' is the accomplished work of a fully-formed artist, produced patiently between 2017 and 2020 with help from friends including Baba Stiltz, Phil Cho, Damon Palermo and John Jones. "Mark," the Koanic track conclusion side A, is an arpeggiated slow burn reminiscent of Pino Donaggio's brilliant score for Brian De Palma's 1984 film Body Double. Ho's stunning, pure falsetto soars above gentle melodies. "Miss Suzuki," the piece that originally caught the ear of MFM's Jamie Tiller and Tako, opens the record with a blue, cinematic sway. Ho's facility for poignant melodies—easily conveyed through saxophone, vibes, various keyboards and his own voice—shines on "College Crest Drive," as well as the title track. The lyrical "Move Through It" and the restrained and beautiful closing cut, "TYFC," are abetted by glimmering Kraut guitar figures courtesy of John Jones.
While Ho's rhythms and melodies paint a crystal-clear musical vision, the music's emotional centre is more elusive, indicative of a yearning feeling synonymous with the City Of Angels. Hitting these hazy and subtle notes, Move Through It falls within a canon of sun-addled records spanning from Herb Alpert's "Rotation" to Dam-Funk's Private Life trilogy as Garrett. An immersive and concise statement, Alex Ho's 'Move Through It' is as warm and uncanny as the city that inspired it, a definitive LA album.
On the A side with ‘Joy’, Bruise head in a jubilant direction. Chanting vocal chops ride along deep cut kick grooves and vivid piano riffs; modernising the classic house sound and forming a track that would as likely go off in a club in the UK as it would on the sun-soaked beaches of Ibiza.
In ‘The Theme’, Bruise switches things up and offers up a weighty, bass-driven progressive techno heater; bolstered with rattling break chops and polyrhythmic analogue synth arpeggios. As the track progresses, rip-roaring, squelching acid-lines are introduced at the crescendo; creating a versatile club record; primed and ready for the clubs reopening.
On this single ‘When Pianos Attack’, the vibe is instantly recognisable. Piano chords lead the charge of yet another dancefloor destroyer, with that signature sound of swinging beats, layered pianos, lashings of strings, and hosts of heavenly soulful choirs. Just close your eyes, look up, feel the rush, and dance.
+ Includes the unreleased vinyl exclusive ‘Akiba Choirs’. A new school dance anthem!
Huge support from: Annie Mac, Pete Tong, Laurent Garnier, Severino / Horse Meat Disco, Sasha, A Trak, Andhim, Spiller, Graeme Park, DJ EZ, John Digweed, Fatboy Slim, Sam Devine, Laurence Guy, Gilles Peterson, Fred Everything, Soul Clap, James Lavel, Basement Jaxx, Francois K, Luke Solomun.
'Joy'
- Pete Tong’s Essential New Tune + Tong asked Bruise to record a Joy themed Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1.
- Premiered by leading dance authority Mixmag.
- Featured in Defected / Faith’s behind the counter.
‘When Pianos Attack’
- Played by Blessed Madonna as an artist to watch 2022!
- Played at Warehouse Project by Graeme Park, and then again by Terry Farley.
- Magnetic Magazines Best of Month
Bruise appeared in Faith Magazines taking a full page for interview with a heavy focus on When Pianos Attack.
Another disastrous POPPERS attempt at making people feel like dancing, this time featuring a promo release for DJ Tranquilos - a completely unknown "artist", never booked before DJ, virgin territory for bookers. Guaranteed to offer anything but tranquility to the listener. French vocal epic HiNRG pop cover and Soca dancefloor bulldozer on the A side. Heavy percussive acoustic drums with extraterrestrial synths and a sound effects DJ tool on the B side. Mastered for maximum dancefloor impact - only for true Peak Time DJs.
Ian Pooley returns to Radio Slave’s Rekids with Studio A Pt. 2 this February. The second entry in a three-part series of music based around his studio, Ian Pooley’s ‘Studio A Pt. 2’ for Radio Slave’s Rekids imprint sees the bonafide house legend deliver another choice selection of grooving
hardware productions.
Leading the A-side is the fluttering synths and warped vocal samples of ‘JV Organ & Matrix’, which twists and turns through delightful FX and rumbling bass. ‘Version 2’ of the track follows, contorting elements of the original into a heads-down groover, with washed-out processing and stereo wizardry meeting classic dub techniques.
On the flip, ‘Back Up’ keeps it live and direct with hard-hitting, chunky drums and menacing acid lines, with an additional stripped back digital ‘Beats Bass’ version included. Rounding out the 12” is 101202, a dreamy slice of razor-sharp house, with gorgeous, filtered pads drifting in tandem with strung out low end and skippy percussion.
Active since the early 90s, the German DJ/producer has released on the likes of Force Inc, V2 Records, and his own Pooledmusic, remixing for the likes of Deee-Lite, Carl Cox and many more, as well as being one of the few to be remixed by Daft Punk.
30 years as a full-time touring nightclub DJ sounds like one hell of a career, and for Kenny Summit it's as much of a milestone as it is a turning point. Having shared the stage with greats such as David Byrne, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Kylie Minogue and Prince over the years, Kenny took that influence and inspiration and decided it was time for him to get behind the mic too.
‘Burnin’ is a song written, produced and performed by Kenny Summit that speaks on a desire that's been burning inside of him for three decades. Across those 30 years he’s made many an influential friend too, three of which come on board to remix ‘Burnin’ - the late great Paul Johnson, D&B icon DJ Aphrodite and Brooklyn legend DJ Spinna.
"I caught the fever for house in 1990 and by 1992 I was booked for my first DJ gig at New Jersey's famed Zanzibar nightclub where house legend Tony Humphries held court on a weekly basis. Something changed that night, a fire started and its been building, growing inside of me and now it's time to put paper to pen and write my own songs."
Clearly influenced by the artists Kenny's worked with over the years, ‘Burnin’ is a culmination of one man's journey through dance music; from the Nile Rogers-ish 70s guitar riff to the whining Steely Dan-like keys, to the lush strings and synth pop stabs that would make Moroder blush, the track itself is masterfully produced and punctuated with Kenny's unique uplifting vocals, sang in a manner as if David Byrne and Boz Scaggs were put together and yet still very uniquely Kenny Summit.
Up on remix duties the late great Paul Johnson, Chicago's shining star, serves up a dark, very much after house vibe, that still keeps that trademark Paul Johnson sound. Drum & Bass icon DJ Aphrodite applies his unique sound to ‘Burnin’ with a stellar remix the D&B community has been patiently waiting over three years for. And finally, long-time friend, Brooklyn's DJ Spinna steps up, who after hearing the track commented 'this needs a dope DUB! Leave it to me, imma hook you up bruh!'. The Discoelectric Dub does not disappoint.
D’Arabia is back on House of Disco with come sleazy Italo flavour across two originals, ‘Continuamente’ featuring DJ Rou and ‘Sempre Meglio’ featuring Brine. If that wasn’t juicy enough already, Giovanni Damico and Hot Toddy get given the keys to the HOD residence laying down remixes of the title track with their own distinctive touch.
One of my first record releases was on Traum Schallplatten in 2007. I was living in Berlin and Traum was at its peak launching acts like Extrawelt, Dominik Eulberg, Gabriel Anada, Minilogue, Fairmont… The era of melodic minimal…
The release of Luftlust hit the big DJ's like Sven Väth etc. And I was truly overwhelmed by the support. But the version on the 12" was actually pitched up 5 BPM. And in the end the mastering was not in my personal preference. Watering my feel of it, once or twice a year people actually ask me to do a remaster. Over the years it has been a track circulating the web and playlists, haunting me.
Last year I dug in the past and actually wrote a masters exam in philosophy about being a youngster in the techno scene and how to keep up creativity while working with record labels. Somewhere in that process I decided to face the old ghost and make it happen. Time was ready for the re-release of Luftlust, on my terms on my own label Kranglan Broadcast.
Justus Köhncke Remix
For a time frame of a decade I have asked Kompakt veteran and Whirlpool Productions legend Justus Köhncke to do a remix on my Kranglan imprint. Herr Köhncke to me (and to everyone who has followed Kompakt) is one of a kind! A punk soul, dead serious while smiling, always putting hooks and fragments out of music history on Kompakt sound plates with precise grace… The last years he have replied he's been busy in the studio with Can member Irmin Schmidt, working on soundtracks but... suddenly one day when I wrote the man he said "I love Luftlust, send me the stems".
Listening to Justus interpretation I was blown away… like riding a cabrio through the German landscape of fields and deciduous forests a sunny day in late May! And wait for that outro bridge at 5:56! Like being hugged by the warm mother autumn.
Özgur Can Remix
Anjuna Deep cofounder Özgur Can and I have known each other since high school. Özgur was the first DJ I ever booked to one of my early raves in the forests of Nacka. From releasing our first records with our common buddy Petter on Peter Van Halls label 'Deep' we have walked a parallel path in life, Özgur with a wider span of releases and 100's of nights at sweaty dance floors. No one does the deep driven heartfull arpeggios like Özgur. They swell and they swirl. A true Music lover and true talent!
Lust
Time has flewn since 2007, and that winter break in Barcelona 2006 hanging out with James Holden and the Border gang at Razmataz… the weekend when I actually started working on Luftlust…
Working on a re-release of Luftlust I just got hit by lust to work a version of it from the position where I am at, the 2021 me. I went with lust and it just happened a late summer night in Stockholm being by myself for a brief moment doing what I love the most, making music.
Luftlust Original 120BPM Version
And at last the never released original version of the title track. Correct tempo as it was written. Mastered by Andreas Lubich aka Lupo, the very person to master this type of music if you take a brief glimpse at his back folder! Finally!
I love this project, and I love making it happen at Kranglan Broadcast. Bringing together thoughts and people you have thought of bringing together for a long time. Lust KLN014 is here.
Some people are just not destined to have enough sleep.When you don't sleep enough the world appears to be a different place, compared to the way it is when the mind is fully rested. In such cases very different scenarios may occur.
Starting with a dreamy melody of Roma Zuckerman's 'Sleep not found', which inspired the entire 008 album, and ending with a thirteen minute live recording by a_000, the side project of Alex Backdrop, the entire record has a dreamy and tripped out flow. 008 continues the tradition of gatefold double EPs as conceptual album.All tracks are selected around a particular story, a trip, and presented as a continuous sonic landscape.All tracks are structured in a way that they can be mixed one with another an endless amount of times making a continuous loop, a trip, that needs only end when the party stops. Kraviz works without release dates or deadlines, enabling her to achieve a certain sound bank to shape the story, unmasking the thoughts and unravelling like a dream. A1. Roma Zuckerman - Sleep Not found (North Edit) Apart form the fact that he leaves in Krasnoyarsk in the middle of Russia, very little is known about Roma (short version of the name Roman). But listening to his music and engaging in random short conversations late at night makes it clear that there are really a lot of things going on Romas mind... Minimalistic yet emotionally complex, his music always stands out with it's murkiness and signature moodiness that Roma creates like nobody else.
A2. Deniro - G Deniro continues the record's journey with his new live cut that like pretty much everything he did so far is a beautiful sparse atmospheric groover. He says he wanted it to be angry and it its done with triggering synths from the tr909 and tr808.
B1. Maayan Nidam - Infinite Rattle
Maayan was born in Tel-Aviv. She does not like computers and prefers to record her music live using hardware only. In order to do so she built her incredible studio in Berlin where she recorded "Infinite Rattle'.There is much more to come from Maayan on
B2. Bbbbbb - Prins Polo Caramel milkshake.
Side project by Bjarki-bbbbbb. Like any other normal Icelander, Bjarki really likes ice cream. In Iceland they are absolutely crazy about it.They walk the streets, ice cream in hand, even when its freezing cold outside. But even more than that Icelanders like Milkshakes with all sorts of added cookies and candies. Bjarki's favourite is called Prince Polo after the name of a chocolate bar. He always believed Prins Polo was an Icelandic brand but a couple of months ago somebody proved him wrong.
C1. Exos- dub jazz
In Iceland Exos is a legend. Everybody knows him there. He's been playing incredibly powerful and technically advanced techno sets since the late 90s and releasing delicious dub techno on Icelandic label Thule. Nina always appreciated his subtler, dubbier side, and this short recording a the continuation of it.
C2. Maaayn Nidam - Justice for some
This second live recording was a perfect fit for this album. Maayan has managed to create a particular mysterious night time dreamer here. Sound wise it's even more unique. It took a few times to get the master right, because we wanted to keep the original breathing of the machine that has captured a seriously freaky vibe. Maayan has always been one of Nina's favourite DJs as they share a similar attitude towards music. But after this tune she has also reserved a place in Nina's collective of favourite producers. D1. A_000
This is a side project of Italian native Alessio Meneghello (Alan Backdrop) & Enrico Voltan. . A beautiful 13-minute sonic journey.
For our fifth release, P&f Recordings is pleased to welcome Berlin-based musician, producer, and DJ, Alex Kassian.
Over the past few years, Kassian has made a name for himself in Berlin and beyond as a solo act, as well as with his project Opal Sunn, via a clutch of well received, dancefloor-focused 12s. But on our first release of 2021, Kassian swaps the techy pulse of the German capital for a sound that’s altogether more melodic and atmospheric.
Side A kicks off with 'Leave Your Life (Lonely Hearts Mix)' which began as a way for the producer to realize some of his early—and so far unrequited—dreams of playing in a rock band.
Next up he delivers 'Leave Your Life (Dance Mix)', which ups the energy and echoes some of the production that made the musician’s 'Oolong Trance' (Love on the Rocks) one of 2020’s best club tunes.
On the flip, the gorgeous 'Spirit of Eden' unfurls like a lost Lyle Mays classic, but with a mesmerizing loop that keeps the song’s feet placed firmly on the dancefloor.
Concluding the EP is a bass-heavy remix from none other than U.S. dub legend Bill Laswell. 'Eden’s' melodic focus is underpinned by a propulsive groove and filtered through Laswell's trademark sonic dynamics.
The EP, comes packaged in a full-color jacket from Parisian artist Alexis Jamet with OBI strip.
The Minneapolis-raised DJ/Producer’s second album following 2014’s ‘Monoliths’ lands on Radio Slave’s Rekids imprint in November.
Although based in Berlin for several years, Dustin Zahn has continued to exert influence over the fertile but steadfastly underground Minneapolis techno scene as part of the Intellephunk collective whilst cultivating a worldwide rep via releases for Blueprint, Token and his own Enemy Records. The ‘Gain of Function’ LP sees Zahn channelling the groove-fuelled techno of the late ’90s and early ’00s and shaping eight powerful but funky contemporary techno tracks that display the decades of experience under his belt.
Forged from a series of live jams with two drum machines and two synths, the album is a refined collection of raw, purist techno brilliance. Across the A-side ‘Tell Me About Paradise’ brings shimmering staccato chops under bright and airy percussion before ‘Tangie Groove’ picks up the pace with floating pads, vocal slices, and a rumbling bassline. On ‘Lucid Dreams’, scattered percussion plays with hypnotic synth licks, while ‘Smoking in Silence’ sees off-kilter leads dancing between emotive vocals and evolving drum loops.
Opening the second disc is the deep and shuffling ‘Crimson Cheeks’, with trance-inducing samples nestled between sharp drum hits and rolling synthesis, and ‘Days Like These’ takes a darker turn as twinkling arps and droning pads carry the track. ‘Shark Rodeo’ featuring Jeremy Black mangles samples into a dense rolling affair, before closing number ‘Next Level Looseness’ drops the 4/4 pattern for a raucous club track, combining oddball sound sources and unruly production techniques for a trippy finish to the album.
Since the late ’90s, Zahn’s hypnotic and driving techno has consistently caught the ears of top DJs and labels worldwide, with anyone catching his marathon sets at the likes of Berghain exposed to expansive sets. In addition to his techno-heavy catalogue and DJing prowess, Zahn has lent production and engineering skills to bands and singers, recently working with Poliça and on Carm’s Pitchfork approved eponymous album. Beyond this, his vital work with Intellephunk includes the nearly two decades long running Communion after-hours events, cementing his invaluable contributions to the scene.
The heat is rising with our 5th instalment coming from the volt of Meister Bert Ashra veteran from Berlin's 90s underground scene and active still in the city with his Mastering & Sound Design Studio and experimental audio production and studies.
The solo project B. Ashra has existed since 1993. B. Ashra is a live act, DJ, composer, sound designer and mastering engineer. The style is pretty cross-genre and ranges from ambient, experimental, soundscapes and trance techno to deep house and electronic jazz.
For his pure techno and house productions he uses the pseudonym Robert Templa and for the extremely experimental music, trash and gabba he calls himself Hackbert.
Furthermore, B. Ashra is active in several music projects and bands, including: Psychotikum, Cosmic Octave Orchestra, 70db, Morphon and Brain Entertainment Laboratory.
The collection is a double LP With a variety of sounds spacing between Ambient and Minimal - Techno vibes with deep bass-lines and layered melodic progressions written with special care to the evolution of the harmonies such to maintain those hypnotic feeling until the structure comes back together and releases a powerful groove.
A rich Album and a landmark in the growing of the label.
The second edition of our ‘More Than Machine’ electro series. After the well-received first edition, we continue the same format, mixing old school with new school artists across two VA EPs. We have always been open-minded with Tronic and also have a deep passion for electro so it’s an honour to be able to release tracks from some legendary producers such as DJ Godfather, Carl Finlow, Samuel L Session and label head Christian Smith.
Orange Tree Edits build on their rock solid catalogue with this stellar Vinyl EP debut from Ukranian DJ Yucca Mü.
Richly textured A-side ‘Bluebird’ samples a Soviet era Sci-Fi film to assemble a delightfully weird and wonderful, at once ethereal, refreshing and playful dancefloor heater. Church bells, choral hymns and villainous voiceovers layered on top of a rolling, chuggy low-end propel this tune into peak time territory. A tender church choir acapella outro is a joyous highlight - think festival closing time.
The flip side cut ‘Femme Symbole’ offers up organ stabs alongside swirling grand piano and a sensuous vocal to produce a belter of an edit built for the dark and steamy dance zone.
With support from Hunee, Jonny Rock, Lauren Hansom, Bell Towers, Nicola Cruz & Paula Tape you know you need a copy!
Tropical Disco Records have once again delivered four scintillating feel good summer disco jams courtesy of the latest edition of their well loved vinyl series. Perfect for those gloriously sunny outdoor events, BBQ’s and beach parties alike their latest EP is another must have slice of black gold.
Scouring the globe for the freshest cuts Volume 22 is another multinational affair combining the skills of Colombian duo Vagabundo Club Social, Mexico’s Monsieur Van Pratt, Italy’s Infradisco and New York’s Roland & Brother Rich.
Opening affairs are the hugely exciting duo Vagabundo Club Social with their track ‘Costero’. They are producers who nimbly fuse dusty Latin grooves with cutting edge production techniques and dancefloor know-how and here have delivered yet another feel good dancefloor smash. ‘Costero’ is quite simply a DJ’s dream track which will do the business at any end of the set whether you need to get the crowd on the floor or tear the proverbial roof off.
Mexico is currently at the leading tip of the disco charge and Monsieur Van Pratt is one of the stand-out producers from a country bursting with talent. ‘Jazz Player’ pulls absolutely no punches combining jazz cool with disco know-how for a track which wins on all counts. Sublime brass solos sit atop a huge funky gem of a bassline. ‘Jazz Player’ will tear dance-floors up worldwide as the world starts to rediscover its long since packed away dancing shoes.
Italy’s Infradisco is up next with ‘Aungasana’ and it’s the perfect track to follow on combining many of the traits that both Vagabundo Social Club and Monsieur Van Pratt utilised on their tracks. Expect huge jazzy horns, funky bass and tribal vocals building up to a monstrous organ groove which raises proceedings to fever pitch. Infectious and energetic, it’s another seriously classy dancefloor moment.
Closing out the EP are New Yorkers Roland & Brother Rich with the exquisitely titled ‘Roger Moore’s Living Room’. Paying homage to the James Bond legend it’s the ideal track to sip brandy and toast the characters of yesteryear in that velvet smoking jacket you have always wanted. Deep and Jazzy with the essence of the 70s flowing through it’s DNA ‘Roger Moore’s Living Room’ is a track so effortlessly cool that even Blofeld would be throwing some shapes.
Tropical Disco’s Volume 22 is a sublime selection of timeless and wonderfully cool tracks which will be the perfect accompaniment to sun soaked events this summer and well beyond.
Haven are back with another storming delivery on their white label series, this time with a vinyl-only collection of past tracks from L.A. troublemakers 138 and DJ Angeldu$t that were previously only available as digital or tape releases.
The A1 kicks off the record with "Litty McGuire", previously released on Parisian collective RAW's "Second Breath" VA compilation. Crunching drums thump away with distinct rhythmic funk and groove, with an addictive syncopated snare propelling the track to a screeching acidic synth line at the track's half-way point. The punishment continues through to A2 track "Linebacker", previously released on NYC party-starters Whirlwind Trax's VA celebrating 3 years of Brooklyn rave The Black Hole. A cheeky synth line bubbles underneath swung yet aggressive drum rhythms in another slab of distorted dance-floor machine funk.
The B-side turns attention to three tracks from 138 member DJ Angeldu$t's 2020 solo cassette "Menace To Sobriety Vol. 1". The B1 gets straight to the point with "Fuck That Shit", a certified gravely electro killer with brazen drum overdrive and fluttering bleeps and vocal sampling that goes straight for the jugular. The B2 continues the bold ghetto disrespect with "Prescription Poolz (VIP Mix)". Expertly crafted pops and garbled vocals interplay with shuffling drum programming culminating in a crowd-pleasing rap refrain guaranteed to get feet moving. The B3 closes out the record with "Happiness Is A Cold Cup", another crunched-out electro smasher lean tribute assaulting the ears with nasty acid and snappy rhythmic syncopation to finalise another A-class collection from Haven.
One of the world’s premier house DJs, Junior Sanchez re-imagines one of his early classics, releasing ‘Be With U 2.0 (feat. Dajae)’ via Club Sweat.
As a passionate advocate of preserving the spirit of house music Junior Sanchez mixes ingredients of the 1999 original, situating the warm buoyant bass underneath Dajae’s fervent and impassioned vocals, while implementing spirited sax tones for a soul-fulfilling affair.
An iconic anthem that has lit up dancefloors for over two decades, is served dance music justice with its rebirth. Junior Sanchez bestows the ‘Be With U’ gift upon a new generation, coupled with remixes from Yolanda Be Cool and Dance System.
Supports from: Claptone, Anna Lunoe, Tommie Sunshine, Sacha Robotti, David Penn, Riva Starr, Kryder, Shiba San, HeavyFeet, Kevin McKay, Jamie Jones, Pat Lok, Heldeep Radio - The Noise House, Vanilla Ace, Moon Boots, Norman Doray, Nick Catchdubs, severino panzetta, Don Diablo, Charles J, and Patric la Funk, TOCADISCO, Chris Lake, Paco Osuna, Dennis Cruz, Bingo Players, Mendo, Riva Starr, Don Diablo, Joachim Garraud, and Roger Sanchez
Erneut ist der Detroiter Selektor, Produzent und Labelbesitzer (Pure Sonik Records) DJ T-1000 auf BPitch Berlin gelandet, diesmal mit „The Dirrty Underground EP“, einem dreckigen, stampfenden und perkussiven Back-to-Basics Techno 4-Tracker.
DJ T-1000 a.k.a Alan Oldham ist eine zentrale Figur der Techno-Geschichte. Der in Detroit geborene und in Berlin lebende DJ begann seine Karriere in den frühen 90ern mit Underground Resistance und ist ein äußerst vielseitiger Produzent, dessen Musik auf zahlreichen Labels wie BPitch und Tresor erschienen ist. Hinter den Kulissen betreibt er legendäre Detroit-Labels wie Generator, Pure Sonik und Detroitrocketscience. Gleichzeitig hat er als Grafiker und Illustrator ikonische Cover- und Merch-Artworks für Djax-Up-Beats, +8, Transmat und viele mehr entworfen.
Following the highly acclaimed volumes I and II, dig further into the Wamono sound - the cream of the Japanese jazz, funk, soul, rare groove and disco music developed throughout the years since the end of the sixties in Japan!
-Fully licensed Nippon Columbia and Victor Japan masters available for the first time outside of Japan, featuring rarities from Hitomi Tohyama, Jadoes, Yumi Sato, Tetsuo Sakurai and more!
- Tracks selection by Japanese super diggers and Wamono specialists DJ Yoshizawa Dynamite and Chintam
- Mastered and cut at Timmion Cutting Lab
- Artwork by Yoxxx (Tokyo)
- 180g heavy vinyl pressing, reverse board jacket
Active as a professional DJ in Japan since the late eighties, DJ Yoshizawa Dynamite is also a renowned remixer, compiler and producer. An avid record collector and an expert of the Wamono style, Yoshizawa published the Wamono A to Z records guide book in 2015 which instantly sold-out. The book unveiled a myriad of beautiful and rare records from a highly prolific, but still then unknown, Japanese groove scene.
After many years working as a record buyer for several stores, DJ Chintam opened his own Blow Up shop in 2018 in Tokyo's Shibuya district. A member of the Dayjam Crew and a specialist of soul, funk, rare groove and disco music, Chintam is also an expert of the home-brewed Wamono grooves. He supervised and wrote the Wamono A to Z records guide book together with Yoshizawa.
For this third chapter of the acclaimed Wamono series, Yoshizawa and Chintam unheart some of the best and rarest light mellow funk tunes and disco boogie bangers produced in Japan between 1978 and 1988. Put the needle on the record, turn up the volume and dig right now into the Wamono sound - the cream of the Japanese jazz, funk, soul, rare groove and disco music developed throughout the years since the end of the sixties in Japan!
Charlotte de Witte continues her fantastic year with brand new EP, Asura, on her KNTXT label. All three of the tracks on this release will be exclusively included in her BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix, which is scheduled to be broadcasted on 18th of September.
As well as being back on the road and serving up her high-intensity DJ sets at the world's best clubs and festivals, Charlotte has also been busy in other areas. She has forged a new alliance with Apple Music and is now curating multiple exclusive mix series including a monthly KNTXT Residency Mix and KNTXT Active, which sees the Belgian artist and her label further investigate the connections between high-performance music, sports and BPMs. She has recently remixed the hugely influential trance classic 'The Age Of Love' by Age Of Love' alongside Enrico Sangiuliano and continues to A&R essential new tunes for the label.
Says Charlotte of this EP, "with Asura EP I’m trying to give you a little insight into my musical influences by going back to my roots. We’re speaking about a young Charlotte who, about 12 / 13 years ago, got indulged in the world of electronic music by going to her first underground clubs and raves. From electro and techno to acid core and hardcore to psytrance. This EP flirts with the soundscapes of the latter."
This EP finds Charlotte delve deep into her own past in electronic music with plenty of psychedelic influences. Opener Asura is a brightly lit techno track with big chords that bring the colour. They are sleek and metallic and sure to get hands in the air, with acid sounds and rumbling bass all adding extra weight and depth to this fantastic opener. 'Soma' is another dramatic and psychedelic track with hard-edged drums pounding away beneath celestial chords. They are mysterious and emotive and bring colour to the darkness. Last of all comes another big, psytrance-tinged and emotional roller coaster in 'Stigma' with its all-consuming techno groove and bass that sounds like it's fired from a machine gun. After an acidic breakdown, the drums roll again and even the biggest festival crowd is sure to be swept away.
Charlotte de Witte leads from the front once more with her standout new Asura EP.
If there was ever a dance oddity it’s the bizarrely named single ‘Prisencólinensináinciúsol’, released in late 1972 by Italian entertainment icon Adriano Celentano, first appearing as a 45 on his own Clan label. A cult favourite if there ever was one, GW Edits kicks off their label with a sumptuous edit sewing the A and B side of the record into an 11-minute masterpiece named ‘Adriano Italiano’.
Renamed ‘The Language Of Love (Prisencol…)’ for the UK market, the original failed to make any impression on the UK chart instead becoming a cult DJ treasure. The fact that it was regularly reissued over the next few years illustrates its enduring appeal.
The novelty of its title and zany nonsensical lyrics may have caught the attention, but what sealed the deal was that groove! On top of that, Celentano’s vocal (as well as that of his wife Claudia Mori, who injected the short female section) that mimics the way English sounded to non-English speakers, comes across nowadays as proto-rap, receiving kudos as such in more recent times. The track is most certainly an anomaly, having no bearing whatsoever on hip-hop culture, yet somehow unconsciously envisaging it.
The flip side of the record was appropriately called ‘Disc Jockey’, also featured that infectious rolling groove complete with offbeat hat. It wasn’t as DJ friendly though, the drums not dropping for the first minute, whilst it also featured a more traditional sounding song in Celentano’s native tongue instead of the rhythmic rap gobbledygook of ‘Prisencólinensináinciúsol’.
Here the two are sewn together for a full-length ‘Adriano Italiano’, running at just over 11 minutes, with the addition of a further two-minute instrumental version. The full-length appears on vinyl for the first time and, along with the original ‘Adriano Italiano’, launches the GW Edits series, bringing this eccentric favourite to a new generation of DJs in time for its 50th anniversary next year.
VILIFY is a Berlin-based DJ and producer known for her multi-genre approach to bass-fueled club music. With over a decade of performance under her belt, she broadcasts numerous times monthly – known for her “Genre is a Social Construct” mix series, and DJs regularly at top venues in her home city and around the world. Her serene, melodic productions are anchored by titanic sub woofer emanations, and her sound can best be described as ethereal, eclectic, and exquisite. The Wire magazine selected “Road to Eleusis” for inclusion in its Tapper CD compilation series. A video for Interchangable Auras, was shot in Vancouver, BC, by Jeremy Shantz – a collaborator from VILIFY’s home nation of Canada – and is linked below. This 8 track LP, reaches across bass music, jungle, experimental electronic, world, melodic and more. It was a created in a time of uncertainty, aiming to release fear & past Karmic cycles in an effort to open the door to brighter, more authentic being. Connecting to source, rather than self, fostered this culmination of powerful, emotive sound and deep expression.
London's SlothBoogie return with the second instalment of their 'Dancing With Friends' series this August, featuring exclusive new music from Kemback, Felipe Gordon, Mak z, Bill Mango, The Revenge and more.
Following the success of the inaugural 'Dancing With Friends', which featured the likes of Kassian, Letherette, Joe Cleen and Ruff Stuff amongst others, the crew are back with that ever so tricky... second album. This sequel however, will not disappoint. The team have scoured the four corners of the globe to provide listeners with a comprehensive follow up that showcases more brand-new music from their favourite producers.
'Dancing With Friends Vol.2' is a deftly curated selection of the diverse styles synonymous with the SlothBoogie sound, ranging from the hazy deepness of cuts by Amy Dabbs, DJ Counselling, Bill Mango, Metropolitan Soul Museum and Kristy Harper to Disco tinged, jazzy, bumpy numbers from the likes of Jesse Bru, T.U.R.F. and Felipe Gordon through to more tripped out acid workouts by The Revenge, Fede Lng & Mojeaux, Togethrs and Pablot.
With this latest collection you can trust SlothBoogie to bring some much-needed dancefloor unity and sun-drenched energy to the world for the summer of 2021. The perfect soundtrack to reconnect and begin dancing with friends once again.
The vinyl format will come as a Gatefold Cover with 2 x 12" cream speckled clear vinyl and will include the full digital album download cards.
Debut release for The Fear Ratio's Mark Broom and James Ruskin under their 'Deadhand' alias, which proceeds on a strictly experimental hip-hop tip, accompanied as they are here by 4 x world scratch champion DJ Prime Cuts (of The Scratch Perverts) and illbient rap legend Sensational, who brings his characteristic broken charm to the EP's itchy, spartan production vibes: "Step into my office, now we sparkin' it... I spit the isms in yer ear... you better recognise it's raw shit from orbit."
This pairing with Sens makes total sense: Distinct from Mark and James' work as The Fear Ratio, their Deadhand project delivers something closer to 90s illbient in any case: extending the boom-bap era of hip-hop production with elements of hallucinogenic dystopianism, the energy of the EP nevertheless vibes playfully: Given the dispiriting global situation at present, the EP title 'Meanwhile' might simply refer to getting on with things in spite of all the cultural and political misendeavor the era will no doubt be long remembered for. Despite the global health pandemic and the looming spectre of wide-scale environmental collapse, little despair or surrender prevails here, but rather a hankering to attempt a few tripped-out experiments.
Three remixes bring further twists of the screw: A cosmic break flex from ETCH resituates Sensational amidst the magmic glow of Reaktor bass ensembles, while DJ Prime Cuts repurposes 7" soul gold by way of a more 'traditional' SP1200 approach. 90s trip-hop pioneer and graffiti legend REQ steps up with all the painterly flair he is rightly renowned for, obliterating the Monster Orchestra's classic 'I Can't Stop' stab towards a double dose of galactic melancholia.
g 07: Touch (ETCH's Pink Ladies in Space Remix) feat. Sensational
[h] 08: Meanwhile (DJ Prime Cuts Remix) [feat. Sensational]
[i] 09: Touch (REQ's Dub) [feat. Sensational]
[feat. DJ Prime Cuts]
Utter presents 'Citizen Void' by Celestial Mechanic, a special collaboration between celebrated author Rian Hughes, Kevin Foakes (DJ Food) and Saron Hughes. The deluxe package was designed by Rian and contains the LP and 7" on yellow vinyl plus an art print and press release.
Rian Hughes' novel "XX" includes a review of a fictional album based on a mysterious signal of extraterrestrial origin. DJ Food and Saron Hughes were tasked with the job of taking this review and making the album a reality. In what may be a first, the review actually preceded the music.
"XX", a Novel, Graphic, was published by Picador (UK) August 20 2020, Overlook Press (US) November 2020.
"The best genre novel of the last 25 years"
—Grant Morrison
‘This is a book which only Rian Hughes could have created, which should make us all eternally grateful that he did.’
—Kieron Gillen
‘A novel that is novel in so many ways. A brilliant co-mix of text and graphic design in which sign, symbol and word are linguistically intertwined and reinvented.’
—Steven Heller
‘Rian Hughes is a luminescent pop culture demon.’
—David Quantick
Mr. K takes on two different disco moods in the latest in his long-running series of edits on 45.
Danny Krivit’s edit of Tony Orlando’s “Don’t Let Go” was released in Japan in 2012 and immediately became a sought-after, impossible to find rarity. Orlando’s version of “Don’t Let Go” was released at the height of the disco era, but the song itself was already a well-worn pop standard, having been covered by numerous artists before the pop singer tried his hand at it, switching things up with a percolating disco groove. “I never expected to rave about a Tony Orlando record,” wrote Vince Aletti in his Record World column in June of 1978, “but this one’s really terrific… My pick for a summer refresher.” The Jimmy Simpson mix on the original 12-inch follows the vocals with a long instrumental section that teases the various elements provided by the Muscle Shoals band (guitar, vibes, strings, and above all a sinuous synth) back in over the relentless bass and drums. Danny’s edit, which he’s trimmed down for its debut on 7-inch, works with this instrumental break and more than lives up to Aletti’s description as an addictive warm weather jam.
From the moody instrumental sound of “Don’t Let Go” we move to the bright uptempo vocal track "I Fall In Love Everyday." In spite of the relative obscurity of this fabulous but lesser-known cut, it comes with a sparkling pedigree. “I Fall In Love Everyday” was written by Jay Graydon (whose credits also include “Turn Your Love Around” for George Benson and “Breakin’ Away” for Al Jarreau), produced by Motown ace Mickey Stevenson (who wrote “Dancing In the Street”) and arranged by David Foster, who was just making the transition from session keyboardist to the superstar songwriter/arranger he’d become. The backing track was first used for singer/TV personality Jaye P. Morgan’s version of the song a year earlier, but you certainly can’t blame the team for reusing the music when the band included studio heavyweights like Harvey Mason, Lee Ritenour, Ray Parker Jr., and Kenny Loggins. Danny’s creative edit fashions a clean, DJ-friendly instrumental intro where none existed on the original, and gives new life to a track that’s sure to bring some sunshine to dancefloors.
As always, these unique selections from Mr. K’s personal stash are cut on a loud, club-ready 7-inch pressing.
From Another Mind celebrates its fifth anniversary with 'Versionen 008’, a mammoth remix package of SHDW & Obscure Shape tracks from Héctor Oaks, Ø Phase, Exium, and more.
Comprising nine remixes of the German producer/DJ outfit, 'Versionen 008' covers four sides of vinyl and features adaptations from a wealth of modern techno talent, rising stars, and scene veterans alike,
with Hadone, MRD, Stigmata, Exium, Héctor Oaks AKA DJKAOS11, Introversion, Ø Phase, and DJ Boss making contributions.
With the influences across the release darting between acid, techno, and rave, 'Versionen 008' is a no holds barred journey into the sounds of dark, cavernous rooms and sweaty basements alike, providing a
keen insight into who SHDW & Obscure Shape are passionate about as artists.
From the fast-paced, dub techno infused MRD version of ‘Der Weg Des Kriegers’, the explosive energy in Exium’s remix of ‘Blick Des Bösen’, to the two versions of ‘Die Augen Des Teufels’ by Stigmata, who effortlessly provides a dose of early 2000’s nostalgia, all aspects of the pair’s musical tastes are covered. Héctor Oaks takes ‘Kein Entkommen’ in an otherworldly direction, painting the track with his
signature voice, while Ø Phase brings his powerful and hypnotic sound to the duos ‘Verlorene Seelen’.
Elsewhere on the release, ‘Die Prophezeiung’ receives a shot of trancey energy from France’s Hadone and Introversion breathes new life into ‘Blisswunden’, developing the track into a melodic dream
amongst metallic percussion. The penultimate ‘Feuersturm’ gets the DJ Boss treatment, as the Slovakian DJ/producer transforms the track into a dynamic late-night roller.
Taking in these variety of moods across the remixes, the compilation sways between different strains of techno, from anthems to DJ tools, covering both modern and vintage to provide a diverse compilation
that will no doubt be warmly welcomed by DJs and listeners alike.
Favouring fiercely high-energy and gritty productions, the duo has used the label as an outlet for their dark, intense sound to the rapturous responses from DJs and dancefloors and 'Versionen 008' sees them celebrate five years of the imprint in typically uncompromising fashion.
A well-known figure of the Roman nightlife, resident of the city's iconic Goa Club and its infamous Ultrabeat nights, Simona Calvani, aka DJ Red, steps up on Danza Tribale with 'The Prophets Are Smiling' - her first material to surface since the release of her 'Raw Cacao' EP on Wolfskuil in 2016, here featuring an exclusive revamp from local hero Lorenzo D'Angelo, alias Lory D.
Fitting the label's trance-triggering ethos to perfection, this new record finds the Italian DJ and producer rushing headlong into tropicalised techno grounds, halfway ethno-ritualistic music and a future-ready kind of big-room churn, primed for Berlin's fiercest subterranean raves as much as ayahuasca-induced rituals in the heart of a misty rainforest.
Dipping its toes in teeming beds of organic textures and ancient rhythmic tribalisms, 'The Prophets Are Smiling' fully gears toward awakening your senses and elevating your mind to a broader and further acute state of consciousness. Bathed in a mystique-imbued atmosphere, the track steadily oscillates betwixt a no-nonsense steely swing, glazed industrial tints and epic-sized primitive chants to better daze and confuse its audience.
Hopping on remix duty, Italian techno legend Lory D provides the wares with implacable efficiency, as he reveals the more intricate side of DJ Red original's cogs and wheels to turn it into a proper off-axis floor crusher. Rolling onto a more classic and functional pathway, 'Moon' is a paragon of hypno-tech efficiency. Channeling the pulsating energy of a thousand dancing hearts through a distinctively rich and deep melodic prism, DJ Red confirms her status as one of the Roman scene's most gifted pacesetters.
Special Request continues his impeccable run of form with a typically fervent entry into the DJ-Kicks mix series. His adventurous 25 track mix takes in personal favourites, new school classics and of course a selection of his own brand new and exclusive edits, dubs and reworks next to some overlooked gems. Leeds based Paul Woolford dares to go where few others do. He can do face-melting underground bangers, peak time piano anthems, ambient cinematics or chart climbing crossover hits. What unites his work as Special Request across labels like Houndstooth and R&S, though, is precision engineering, but never at the expense of real, raw emotion and visceral impact. He is an artist who very much pours his heart into everything he does, and has been on such a prolific run in recent years that it has been impossible to keep abreast of all his many projects. Even in this mix, he hints at yet more new sides and sounds. As always with Special Request, this is an emotional, full spirited ride through the musical mind of one of the most accomplished artists of the day.
A rare treat for Drumcode faithful: A-Sides Vol.10 is set to drop in December, the second edition of the beloved series to come in 2020.
Fuelled by the extra time and space to be creative during lockdown, Drumcode’s collective of artists have stepped up. Across 17 contributions, the producers have gone deeper into their sonic repertoire, crafting powerful, yet reflective works that capture the range of the label’s sound.
Jay Lumen leads the way with a rousing riff-driven weapon, ‘Galactic Rainbow’, while Ramon Tapia brings us the muscular gem ‘Drum Control’, mixing up ruffneck techno with a barrage of synapse-tickling synths in the second half. Both rousing highlights of the compilation.
Victor Ruiz, Drumcode’s most prolific contributor in 2020, dishes up ‘Love Story’, led by a huge vocal lead. Zimmz also returns with ‘Tension’, which deftly combines deep squelchy grooves with a silky synth interlude. Thomas Hoffknecht follows up his debut on Vol.9 with ‘Escape’, keeping listeners on their toes with dynamic, choppy shifts throughout. Veerus joins with another stirring addition ‘I Know’, reinforcing why Beyer rates him so highly.
Elsewhere a string of debutants feature: buzzy newcomer Lilly Palmer gives us ‘Amnesie’, a brilliantly pummelling and eerie cut; Alex Lentini & Stomp Boxx serve up ‘Expanders’ mixing up drone effects, trippy vocals and an unsettling melody line; and Patrik Berg’s ‘Activated’ is full-bodied techno that drops down into funky rhythms.
Long-time DC family member Bart Skils brings his A-game with the thrilling no-nonsense ‘Solid State’ that hits like a steam train. Likewise, Alan Fitzpatrick who brings a momentous slab of techno energy with ‘Rochus’, while Thomas Schumacher, now feeling like a regular on the imprint, crafts another dark techno opus, this time in collaboration with CAITLIN.
There’s even a special appearance by the chief Adam Beyer, who makes a welcome return with the progressive-tinged ‘Changes’, driven by organic tones and spacey atmospherics. The track stands as his first original contribution to A-Sides since 2017.
"Do you feel what I feel too?" Brijean Murphy floats the question at the start of Feelings, the full-length Ghostly International debut from Brijean, her collaborative project with Doug Stuart. Guided by a lush mix of charismatic keyboard chords, grooving bass lines, and radiant bongo-driven rhythms, the "Day Dreaming" lyric doubles as an invitation and a statement of intention. Brijean want you to move, physically, mentally, dimensionally; this is dance music for the mind, body, and soul. With Feelings, they've manifested a gentle collective space for respite, for self-reflection, for self-care, for uninhibited imagination and new possibilities. The album cultivates a specific vibe, a softness Murphy has come to call "romancing the psyche." Growing up in a family immersed in jazz, Latin and soul music, Murphy would become an accomplished DJ, session and live player in Oakland's diverse music scene and one of indie's most in-demand percussionists (Poolside, Toro Y Moi, U.S. Girls). In 2018, she began recording songs with multi-instrumentalist and producer Doug Stuart, who shares a background in jazz and pop in bands such as Bells Atlas, Meernaa, and Luke Temple. Following their first sessions, which resulted in the mini-album Walkie Talkie (released in 2019 on Native Cat Recordings), the duo continued freeform hangs in Oakland, inviting friends Chaz Bear, Tony Peppers, and Hamir Atwal. "We improvised on different feels for hours," says Murphy. "Nothing quite developed at first but we had seeds. We re-opened the sessions a couple months later, after returning from tours, and spent a month developing the songs in a little 400 square foot cottage." Aforementioned album opener "Day Dreaming" is a dynamic celebration of newness: the excitement in finding deeper understandings of yourself as you get to know someone, something, or somewhere new. "Wifi Beach" drops a pin in pure psych-pop exotica. With Atwal on drums, Stuart on bass, Peppers on keys, and Bear engineering, the group improvised the track's intro sequence based on the vision of a lavish 1970s pool party. Establishing the scene is a mid-frequency drum kit disco shuffle augmented by tight congas and timbale effect, as Murphy sings in spurts: "I want to be / Deep in love / I want to be / Say you love me too / I want to be / Honey." The stanzas cut between "reflective moments of wants and being overwhelmed by feelings of the present," she explains. "A lot of the `love songs' I write are to my psyche, self-reflections on how to encourage tender perspectives and make more time for the sweet stuff." Though there is a loose, dance-oriented motif throughout, the material gives way to somnolent turns. On "Ocean," Brijean's anodyne lyrics, reminiscent of Astrud Gilberto's airy croon, float atop a brushed drum pattern, sparkling rhodes lines, and pittering and softly funky woodblock bops. The opening line sets up the rest, "In this gentle space we lay" _ among the album's propensity for movement, tracks like "Ocean" stand out by leaning back for momentary sways of blissful introspection. Murphy calls the charming "Hey Boy" a "psychedelic guide _ the exploration of finding what feels good _ through sorrow, anxiety, apathy." This mentality applies to Feelings on the whole: in these nebulous and verdant worlds of hazy melodies, feathery hooks, and percussive details, the songs simply want us to feel alive. They radiate in wonderful abandon and with a sense of devotion to the self. RIYL: Stereolab, Astrud Gilberto, Air, Little Dragon, Broadcast, Khruangbin, Poolside.
Nick Beringer debuts on INFUSE to open the label’s 2021 schedule, offering up his stellar ‘Blue Blood’ EP.
A rising DJ and producer at the heart of Berlin’s minimal house scene, Rubisco boss Nick Beringer has formed a growing reputation as a ‘go-to’ artist for quality productions across the genre in recent years, with his diverse
discography welcoming material via the likes of Raum…Musik, Taverna Tracks, Mulen Records and Berg Audio to name just a few. With a sound fusing classic Detroit house and techno with more modern shades, ranging from electro-tinged elements through to more dubby textures, the German talent kickstarts 2021 with an impressive debut outing on FUSE sister imprint INFUSE as he delivers his four-track ‘Blue Blood’ EP.
Lead cut ‘Concave’ is a perfect example of Beringer’s ability to fuse genres and nuances with ease and fluidity as skipping percussion licks guide skittering sci-fi electronics and sweeping atmospherics throughout an up-front EP opener, whilst vinyl only cut ‘Aint Got Nobody’ delves into deeper realms as squelching basslines merge with icy hats and infectious vocal iterations. The lively title cut ‘Blue Blood’ opens the B-Side in style as warping synths weave amongst aquatic melodies and deep sub-bass, before closing out proceedings via the dynamic, off-kilter tones of final production ‘Second Hand Emotion’.
A MAJOR EXPLORATION OF TOKYO'S CUTTING EDGE 80S SOUND THROUGH THE MUSIC OF CULT JAPANESE LABEL NIPPON COLUMBIA AND ITS BETTER DAYS IMPRINT, SELECTED BY BRITISH RADIO PRESENTER AND DJ NICK LUSCOMBE.
‘Tokyo Dreaming’ is a superb selection picked from the highly collectible Nippon Columbia label and its Better Days sub-label. For the occasion, we’ve teamed up with journalist and Japanese music expert Nick Luscombe who was granted rare access to the much-guarded Nippon Columbia's vaults for a masterful selection encapsulating the fascinating sound of Tokyo in the late 70s and 80s. The selection mixes electro, synth-pop, funk and ambient and features such artists as Ryuichi Sakamoto, Mariah, Shigeo Sekito, Juicy Fruits, Hitomi "Penny" Tohyama and Yumi Murata. The tracklist includes many sought-after rarities and hidden gems which have never been released outside of Japan and the set has been newly remastered by Nippon Columbia. The album has been designed by famed London-based designer Optigram and is annotated by Nick.
Nippon Columbia, one of Japan's oldest music labels is also one of its most collectible thanks to its sub-label Better Days which, in the late 70s, became a hotbed for Tokyo's new generation of pop artists eager to experiment with ambient, electro and funk. Armed with a string of new Japanese-made synthesizers and drum machines that would soon take the world by storm, they made cutting-edge music, which has since become highly sought-after by a new generation of Japanese music lovers. Nick Luscombe, who has long been a leading advocate of Japanese music from this era, has handpicked a selection of some of the sharpest music released on these labels at the time.
According to Nick, “Tokyo Dreaming is a look back to an incredible era of Japanese music, that still sounds and feels like the future. It was a moment when brand-new music tech from Japan helped forge new ideas and experiments that permeated pop, soul and jazz and helped create new forms of music including electro and techno. The perfect meeting point that would help create a new soundtrack for modern living.“
?The selection starts with "The End of Asia" by Ryuichi Sakamoto from his 1978 ground-breaking debut "Thousand Knives Of" (reissued last year by Wewantsounds). The track became a staple of Sakamoto's and YMO's live shows and was even re-recorded by the group for their 1980 album 'X Multiplies'. The track is followed by Mariah's cult Armenian folk flavoured synth pop classic "Shinzo No Tobira" (1983), which first spread outside of Japan when the Scottish DJ duo Optimo started playing the track regularly at their shows.
?Chika Asamoto's "Self Control" (1988) and Jun Fukamachi's "Treasure Hunter" (1985) are perfect songs in the synth-pop canon, while Yumi Murata's rendition of Akiko Yano's "Watashi No Bus" and Hitomi "Penny" Tohyama's "Rainy Driver" both from 1981, move closer towards the slicker, funkier sound of City Pop.
?'Tokyo Dreaming' superbly showcases the breadth of 80s Japanese music and the way electro pop was a playing ground for musicians to experiment with many styles, as showcased by Akira Sakata's dub-enfused "Room" from 1980, Kazumi Watanabe's discoid "Tokyo Joe" (1980) and Juicy Fruits' "kawai" robotic Techno pop song "Jenie Gets Angry".
?The selection flows effortlessly between many shades of synth and ends with two cult classics in the form of Yasuaki Shimizu's "Semi Tori No Hi" and Shigeo Sekito's ambient-jazz masterpiece "The Word II" from his highly sought-after album "Kareinaru Electone (The Word) Vol.2" which, although recorded in 1975, perfectly announces the synth revolution to come. Tokyo Dreaming showcases the groundbreaking sounds of a city turned giant sonic lab which was restlessly inventing the music of the future.
Nick Luscombe is a highly respected and in-demand music influencer who discovers great music from all over the world and shares it internationally through his many radio shows and DJ sets. He has been in charge of music selection for various radio programs since 1999, and from 2010 - 2019, was the DJ for the popular BBC Radio music program "Late Junction”. He has also curated and presented music shows for Monocle and British Airways radio stations. He has worked as both Chief Music Editor at iTunes and Director of Music at London’s Institute of Contemporary Art, and is the founder of MSCTY.
Twenty vinyl releases is a strong landmark in any labels life most especially in these ever unpredictable days. Tropical Disco Records have reached that number with some verve. Over the last three years they have had a succession of chart-topping, sell-out releases fusing their love of the Jazzier edges of house music with contemporary disco and plenty of sure-fire club hits. So successful has the label been that they have in a short space of time that they have quickly become one of the most established labels releasing across the disco spectrum.
As you would expect Tropical Disco Records have put together a very special collection of tracks to celebrate their twentieth edition. Uniting Italian producer Paul Older with England’s Tung-Sol, Greek disco don C. Da Afro and London’s label head Sartorial the EP marks all points on the European compass. It’s an EP which shows the clear impact that Disco has had across the continent and indeed that we are all united by the power of music.
The opening move goes to Paul Older with his delightful track ‘Nothing’ and it’s the perfect feel-good moment. Wonderfully warm vocals, layers of Saxophone, guitar licks aplenty and some tight drum programming give it an energetic live feel as if Salsoul’s band are playing this in the corner of your club. ‘Nothing’ is a track which transcends pigeon holing and as such is perfect for a variety of situations from sun soaked day parties to peak-time dance-floors.
Tung-Sol’s ‘One for Frida’ is packed with layers of brass giving it a truly enigmatic feel. It’s a track which has discernible African overtones but as seen through the lens of American funk and transcribed by a disco loving auteur. Its effervescent feel is hammered home even further with the addition of Jazzy keys. ‘One For Frida’ is as multicultural a track as you will find in the Disco pantheon and as such will see this picked up by a multitude of genre hopping DJ’s.
‘Shiva’s Chant’ see’s label co-boss Sartorial adding Eastern influences to what is already a globe trotting selection of sounds on Volume 20. Its smooth keys and brass stabs give it an undeniable charm which will see it in heavy demand with sun worshiping DJ’s and for summer playlists alike. Sitars, guitars and trumpets combine here for an intoxicating mix of sounds which help this track stand out from the crowd.
Closing the EP out is perhaps Disco’s most prolific producer C. Da Afro. His sure hands deliver yet another club smash in the shape of 'Street Jam'. Powerful strings immediately establish this as a track which has no intention of letting you do anything other than dance with abandon. It’s a straight to the dance-floor combination of percussion, guitar licks and delightfully effusive vocals. Combining the best moments of 70’s disco he’s crated a sensational club jam.
With their twentieth release Tropical Disco Records continue to redefine the notions of what disco is in 2020. With releases this exciting we can’t wait for the next twenty.
Active as a professional DJ in Japan since the late eighties, DJ Yoshizawa Dynamite is also a renowned remixer, compiler and producer. An avid record collector and an expert of the Wamono style, Yoshizawa published the Wamono A to Z records guide book in 2015 which instantly sold-out. The book unveiled a myriad of beautiful and rare records from a highly prolific, but still then unknown, Japanese groove scene.
After many years working as a record buyer for several stores, DJ Chintam opened his own Blow Up shop in 2018 in Tokyo's Shibuya district. A member of the Dayjam Crew and a specialist of soul, funk, rare groove and disco music, Chintam is also an expert of the home-brewed Wamono grooves. He supervised and wrote the Wamono A to Z records guide book together with Yoshizawa.
With this first volume of the Wamono series, our two DJs here guide you through some of the best and rarest jazz funk and rare groove tunes produced in Japan between 1968 and 1980. Put the needle on the record, turn up the volume and dig right now into the Wamono sound - the cream of the Japanese funk, soul, rare groove and disco music developed throughout the years since the end of the sixties in Japan!
On his fourth album proper, Now Here No Where, Danish producer Kölsch (aka Rune Reilly Kölsch) is charting new terrain. Fans of his ‘years trilogy’ – 1977, 1983 and 1989, released on Kompakt over the past decade – were privy to a kind of sonic diary, an autobiography, tracking the artist’s early years through three albums of superior, meticulously rendered techno. Calling in collaborators where needed – most notably, the strings of Gregor Schwellenbach – there was still something deeply personal going down, not quite hermetic, but internally focused; the albums proved not only Kölsch’s mastery of his chosen form, but also his capacity to make techno personal, individual, and to trace histories of the self through music. But on Now Here No Where, Kölsch finds his feet firmly planted in the present. Reflecting on his new album, he notes, “It is fascinating to write about memories and feelings that have had years to manifest and develop, but how would I approach current emotions?” It’s a good question: our past coheres through the narratives we build around memories, but the moment we’re in, the newness of the now-ness, is harder to navigate; this story is as yet untold. For Kölsch, this makes Nowhere Now Here “an album about life in the year 2020. A time defined by confusion, misinformation and environmental challenges. It is an emotional interpretation of personal and mental challenges, observations and personal growth.” Kölsch does this with music that effortlessly balances emotional heft with the dancefloor’s brimming desires. It’s a space that Kölsch has navigated for a while now – one of techno’s breakthrough acts, an in-demand DJ across the globe and a prolific and restlessly creative producer, he’s also Kompakt’s biggest-selling act – but Now Here No Where ratchets up the lushness, making for a delirious drift across twelve tracks that are at once perfectly poised and deeply trippy. “Great Escape” is an elegant swoon, an opener that pivots on a sigh and a prayer; then “Shoulder Of Giants” bustles into view, subliminal clatter and an aching violin line giving way to a riff that glows with fluorescence and iridescence. “Remind You” combines an odd ECM jazziness with notes from a twenty-first century torch song; “Sleeper Must Awaken” mines huge buzzing synths and lets them float, in and out of sync, with reduced, ticking beats; “Traumfabrik” (dream factory – there’s a giveaway) is oddly lush, the tones malleable and plastic, morphing across a glitching undertow. There are sad, emotional washes of strings throughout the penultimate “While Waiting For Something To Care About”, while “Romtech User Manual”’s patterns twist and shape in the light. Throughout, Kölsch never keeps his eye off the dancefloor, and you can tell this is his still his home. “The amount of energy and joy I experience every time I perform, has a profound effect on me. It has inspired me so much of late and has become an integral part of my musicality.” “The way we join in expressing our hope for the future every weekend has given me so much,” Kölsch concludes. The club as a temporary autonomous zone, as a space both of freedom and of politics; somehow, that’s all here, Now Here No Where. “Most of all, it is an album about hope.”
Auf seinem vierten Album “Now Here No Where” betritt der dänische Produzent Kölsch (alias Rune Reilly Kölsch) neues Terrain. Seine Trilogie mit den Jahreszahlen 1977, 1983 und 1989, die in den letzten zehn Jahren bei Kompakt erschienen war, hatte seine Fans durch eine Art akustisches Tagebuch, eine Autobiografie geführt, die die frühen Jahre des Künstlers über die Länge von drei großartig produzierten Techno-Alben nachgezeichnet hatte. Wo es nötig war, wurden Kollaborateure hinzugezogen - allen voran für die Streicher, arrangiert von Gregor Schwellenbach -, dennoch zeichnete die Musik immer auch etwas zutiefst Persönliches aus, etwas nicht Hermetisches, auf eine bestimmte Art immer auch nach Innen fokussiert. Die Alben bewiesen nicht nur, wie sehr Kölsch die von ihm gewählte äußere Form beherrscht, sondern auch seine Fähigkeit, Techno zu etwas Persönlichem und Individuellem zu machen und der eigene Geschichte durch Musik näher zu kommen.
Auf “Now Here No Where” steht Kölsch nun mit beiden Beinen fest auf dem Boden der Gegenwart. Mit Blick auf sein neues Album stellt er fest: "Es ist faszinierend, über Erinnerungen und Gefühle zu schreiben, die Zeit hatten, sich zu manifestieren und zu entwickeln, aber wie nähere ich mich meinen aktuellen Emotionen?”. Eine gute Frage: Unsere Vergangenheit wird im Innersten zusammengehalten durch Geschichten, die aus Erinnerungen entstehen, aber der Moment, in dem wir uns befinden, die Neuheit des Neuen, ist schwieriger zu beschreiben; die Geschichte ist noch nicht erzählt. Für Kölsch ist “No Here Now Where” daher "ein Album über das Leben im Jahr 2020. Eine Zeit, die von Verwirrung, Desinformation und ökologischen Herausforderungen geprägt ist. Es geht dabei um die emotionale Interpretation von persönlichen und mentalen Herausforderungen, von Beobachtungen und der eigenen, individuellen Weiterentwicklung".
Kölsch tut dies mit Musik, die mühelos kleine Gefühlsausbrüche mit den großen Sehnsüchten der Tanzfläche in Einklang bringt. Es ist dieser Zwischenraum, in dem sich Kölsch schon seit einiger Zeit bewegt, als weltweit gefragter und gefeierter Live Act, DJ und so unermüdlicher wie kreativer Produzent (nicht umsonst ist Kölsch der “biggest-selling-artist” bei Kompakt), doch “Now Here No Where” treibt all das noch weiter auf die Spitze: ein enormer Sog entsteht, der uns über zwölf Tracks hinweg gefangen hält wie ein perfekt ausbalancierter Trip. Der Opener "Great Escape" ist pure Eleganz, ein Track, der irgendwo zwischen Seufzer und Gebet hin und her schwankt; dann drängt "Shoulder Of Giants" ins Blickfeld, ein unterschwelliges Geklapper, eine wehende Geige, schließlich ein schillernder Riff, der in der Dunkelheit zu leuchten und zu glühen scheint.
"Remind You" kombiniert seltsamen ECM-Jazz mit einem sentimentalen Liebeslied des 21. Jahrhunderts; "Sleeper Must Awaken" schürft im Bergwerk riesiger Synthesizer, mal im Takt, mal aus dem Takt ticken die minimalen Beats; "Traumfabrik" ist ungewöhnlich “lush”, die einzelnen Töne, geschmeidig und modelliert, zerfließen in einem glitzernden Abgrund. Das vorletzte Stück "While Waiting For Something To Care About" wird von traurigen, emotionalen Strings untermalt, während sich die Strukturen von "Romtech User Manual" im Licht drehen und immer wieder neu formieren. Die ganze Zeit über behält Kölsch die Tanzfläche im Auge, und man merkt ihm an, dass sie immer noch sein Zuhause ist: "Die Menge an Energie und Freude, die ich bei jedem Auftritt erlebe, hat eine tiefe Wirkung auf mich. Sie hat mich gerade in letzter Zeit stark inspiriert und ist zu einem integralen Bestandteil meiner Musik geworden.”
"Die Art und Weise, wie wir an jedem Wochenende gemeinsam unsere Hoffnung auf eine bessere Zukunft zum Ausdruck bringen, hat mir viel gegeben", so Kölsch abschließend. Die Vision des Clubs als eine temporäre autonome Zone, als ein Raum von großer Freiheit aber auch von politischen Ideen, das ist irgendwie alles hier drin, Now Here No Where. "Es ist vor allem ein Album über Hoffnung."
3 years have past since the release of the fortunea Cookies Vol. 2 ep. Now, the Viennese label is resurrecting their various artists collection with a third entry.
The A-side begins with a smooth deep house piece by LeSale. Dreamy strings and sparkling pads chime together with a thriving funky bassline. A beautiful opener for estival sunset moments.
Peletronic and Klaus Benedek team up together on A2 with some ‚Analogue Kinda Funk‘. Finished during the lockdown while sending the project back and forth over the web, this track gives you an eerie and compelling feeling of the Zeitgeist we are living in right now. Dark reverberant percs, a crunchy guitar and a stunning drum beat will turn your flat into a club for sure.
The B-side features a new member on the fortunea roster. Dzc. is a young and talented dj and producer and this is her first production that is coming out. It’s called ‚The Truth‘ and is a well made peaktime track and a homage of early to late 90s house, techno and trance music.
Lukas Poellauer finishes this record. But not alone! He brought Schreder with him and together they make a ‚Midnight Ride‘ through a melancholic, acid-fulfilled desert.
fortunea Cookies Vol. 3 is limited to 300 copies! There will be no repress!
Support by Felipe Gordon, Roman Rauch, Jus-Ed, Fred P, Krewcial, Jeff Samuel
Underground electro-cult figures, ALIEN FM (Anthony'Blaktony' Horton & Keith'K-1' Tucker) return to the reactivated Puzzlebox label for 2020...and beyond.
1) "Monochromatic Images"- Flooded with spatial rhythms and atmosphere, the title tracks leads you into the eps theme. Echoed computerized vocals riding into spaced out beats from the two interstellar travelers.
2) "Record Man"- Signature K-1 big beats accompanied by a Blaktony vocal arrangement brings the formula for this 'dedication to vinyl lovers' song worldwide. A salute to the industry standard and new anthem for the format. Featuring a guest appearance by Kelyn McKnight (K-1s daughter).
3) "Out There"- Big, bad jeep-beat drama for heads. Deep and emotionally driven for your mind and body. 4) "Out There (K-1 remix)"- Certified a cosmic ass-whooping' of a track and take no prisoners approach by Dj K-1's remix. Block-rocking beats, futuristic backdrops. Monstrous.
Wu Hen is the sophomore album from Peckham visionary Kamaal Williams -- an invitation to elevate to a higher state Cinematic strings from Miguel-Atwood Ferguson and virtuoso saxophone from Quinn Mason are textural additions that make for a deeper, multi-layered experience than previous releases.
Bringing groove back to the forefront, Wu Hen oscillates between celestial jazz, funk, rap and r&b reinforced with the rugged beat-heavy attitude of grime, jungle, house and garage - a self-styled fusion Kamaal describes as Wu Funk.
New players on this record include LA’s Greg Paul on drums (of Kalayst Collective), Rick Leon James on bass, Quinn Mason on saxophone alongside vocal features from cult rapper Mach-Hommy and Kaytranada collaborator Lauren Faith. Multi-talented renaissance musician Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (who has worked with Ray Charles, Flying Lotus, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and Seu Jorge) contributes signature strings, which add vivid colour and rich depth, evoking vintage David Axelrod.
Kamaal rose to prominence with the hugely acclaimed Yussef Kamaal alongside drummer Yussef Dayes and a catalogue of 12”s for imprints such as MCDE, Eglo, and Rhythm Section as Henry Wu that became essential DJ tools. In 2018 he launched Black Focus Records with the Kamaal Williams debut The Return, which charted in the UK and saw sold out shows and festival appearances across Europe, North America and Asia.
Melbourne based producer, DJ and co-founder of Sumac Records, Jon Watts delivers his Butter Sessions debut, Music for 3 CDJs. With over 10 years experimenting as an artist, Jon has an established history with the Australian underground scene. Music for 3 CDJs, showcases two contrasting sides, revealing his ability to seamlessly navigate manifold sounds.
The A-side presents three distinct tracks, thread together with restless percussion and a propulsive force. The introduction to the EP, Prohaasation, is a medley of techno and electro fabrics which progressively build before abruptly halting -- generating suspense for the track to follow. The feverish William gasps and screeches in tones that peak and fall, accompanied by audio maintained throughout; reminiscent of a malfunctioning fax machine. Now It's Done is a choppy and disjointed piece yet coherent in its structure that makes for a rewarding conclusion to the release's first chapter.
Subtlety and minimalism prevail for side B, as Jon gifts us with loops that swirl and churn. AMB 4 marks the first deviation from the narrative of Side A; sounding like hypnotic swelling from the bottom of a deep well. AMB 5 follows suit, divulging more of the picture. Carved out of a sound bed of field recordings, the nine and a half minute piece enchants with its repetitive arc, a spaciousness mirrored in the EP's farewell. The last track Piano 1, is an intricate study of a singular piano chord, examining the layers of the chord's sustain that are disclosed. A testament to Jon's unadorned restraint and confirmation of the old adage that less is really more.
Autoroutes II by Pamplona's III3S (aka SuperSobreSaturado) is the soundtrack for a 21st-Century trip interconnecting continents and generations of Acid-House lovers and ravers. This record is a hard-driving journey into (Ph)uturistic sounds that takes it back to the Old School.
III3S knows that the best road-trips begin and/or end in Chicago (which is, after all, the start-point of the legendary Route 66) and he knows the start-point of any journey into Acid-House is Chicago's Phuture, the legendary masters whose "Acid Trax" created the genre in 1986. And so he is humbled to get remix support on this special edition vinyl release from none other than Phuture members Lothario Lee, Dj Spank-Spank, and Ron Maney aka Dj Skull.
A side
A68 (Acid Mix) A groovy analog bass-line rides a potent four to the floor kick while acid squelch rises over snapping rhythms of hats, snare and rolling rim-shots until deep chords bring light like the sunrise after an epic all-nighter.
B side
B1 A68 (Dj Spank Spank & Lothario Lee's Hard Acid Remix)
The Chicago legends and Acid-House inventors Dj Spank Spank & Lothario Lee step hard on the throttle by adding reverb and distortion to a crushing 4x4 kick. They push the drama of the original's rising minimalist melody by cranking up the 303 squelch and steadily building the snare-rolls and syncopated hi-hats.
B2 A68 (Ron Maney aka Dj Skull Remix)
Phuture's Dj Skull draws out the deep, groovy funk of the original's bass-line with a hypnotic, evolving rework.
Rocko Garoni knows what a techno dance floor wants. He’s learned it through countless hours spent on the floor himself as a punter, and through DJing at some of the best clubs and festivals in his hometown Berlin and all over the world. He knows exactly the type of productions that thrill crowds, and he brings this wealth of knowledge and experience to his third EP for Second State, Ammoniak.
The title and first track ‘Ammoniak’ drags you straight into the zone; a pounding, take no prisoners cut laced with stormy synths creating a vague sense of paranoia. ‘Gece‘ cranks the energy up with trancey, bouncing synths and a cool, clipped female vocal. Instantly, you’re pulled into the very sort of club that Garoni knows so well. ‘No Border‘ is the kind of expansive track that seems destined for huge warehouses or vast festival dancefloors. There’s an insistent, brooding bassline, robotic repeated vocals and a mid-track shift in tone that will send the crowd to a heightened state of reverie. The blend of post-punk vocals and eerie beats on ‘It’s All Yours‘, a track featuring Cook Strummer on the vocals, is at once highly unusual and completely compelling. It’s the track to play when the crowd are losing themselves in the best possible way. Closing the EP is ‘Helio‘, another completely different track that showcases the extent of Garoni’s range. Faint, echoed chanting lends the track an almost holy atmosphere. Combined with tunnelling synths and spindly percussion FX, the effect is euphoric, acting as a delicious palate cleanser between heavier tracks.
Put simply, Ammoniak is another first-class EP from a dynamic act who’s fast becoming a Second State star.
The Austrian electronic music label fortunea starts off the new decade
with a bang! This time they come up with a new EP by label fellow
Peletronic.
It’s called ‚Secret Escape‘ and begins with the raw and energetic title
track, that is driven by MPC-style melody chops and a grooving bassline. Definitely a lot of peak time potential here. The original track is accompanied by a remix of charismatic Australian dj- and producer Jad & The, who transforms it into an euphoric deep house weapon with funky breaks and analogue infused acid sequences.
The first track of the B-side is setting up a darker mood. It’s called „My
House Is Your House“ and comes up with spaced out elements that
complement each other into a late night/early morning club atmosphere.
Voice- and effect artefacts sprinkle through the listeners head, while kick and bassline are holding everything together. Jon Gravy makes the remix dutys on B2 and delivers a stomping alternative to the original. A funky reverberant guitar, a staccato male vocal and high pitched piano stabs gives you back these feellings of mid 1990s chicago house memories.
All in all a must have house record for this upcoming festival season.
Don’t miss out!
Support by Rainer Trüby, Mr. Ties, Ame, Tensnake, Robert Owens, Fred P, Kassian, Horse Meat Disco, Loz Goddard, Jeremy Glenn, Intr0beatz, Franck Roger, Carlo, Replika, Just Her, Sune, Orlando B, Reece Johnson
We are proud to welcome Fear-E for his Dark Entries debut ‘Grey Skies In A Dear Green Place’ out February 28th. Fear-E is the moniker of Scott McKay a Glasgow based DJ and producer. Scott has already made a name for himself as one of Glasgow’s most technically-gifted and diverse selectors over the past decade. Then a slew of releases on the home-grown Dixon Avenue Basement Jams and Super Rhythm Trax introduced Fear-E, equally skilled studio operator, to the world.
‘Grey Skies In A Dear Green Place’ contains six club-ready tracks to “smash sound systems and illuminate sweaty warehouses.” The title is a reference to a nickname that Glasgow has, coming from Cumbric, means 'green hollow' or (dear) 'green place'. Layering cut-up vocals with warm thumping beats, Scott creates a stripped-back yet deeply jackin’ vibe. Call these tracks what you will, “acid attacks”, “club destroyers”, “pickle ticklers?!” All songs have been mastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios. For the cover, Scott commissioned legendary Detroit illustrator Alan Oldham, who’s artwork has graced established an identity for Transmat and DJAX-UP-BEATS, to create a futuristic portrait of Glasgow in black & white and with green kryptonite flourishes by Eloise Leigh.d
The Liverpool-based DJ and producer ASOK returns to DVS1's Mistress Recordings with his most diversified EP yet: "Mistress 14" unfolds ASOK's raw, analog-heavy sound aesthetic full of broken kick drum patterns, stepping basslines, and lush synths.
With 25 years of record collecting, DJing, and promoting parties around the UK, there is little of the dance music spectrum that Stu Robinson has not been involved with. The Liverpool-based artist has amassed a fine understanding of a wide array of scenes, styles and sounds from drum & bass to electro-funk, disco to house and techno – underpinned by a love of breakbeat. The music under his alias ASOK is an amalgamation of this diversity that has found favor with labels like M>O>S, Lobster Theremin, Crème Organization, and Mistress Recordings.
"Mistress 14" opens with "Space Rockets" which is a nod to his breakier love affairs without using actual breakbeats. While second track "Is Anyone" displays his take on classic Chicago House with a little Roland JD-800 euphoria thrown in. On the flip, "Last Refuge" explores driving, rhythmical techno with ASOK's typical ravey pad-like break in the middle until "The Alchemist" closes the 12-inch by laying more focus on melody and texture with a growing, always changing bassline and an ethereal synth that carries the track's energy. The digital bonus track "Apano Sin" concludes the package with a scruffy somewhere in between everything vibe.
ASOK about Mistress 14:
"Mistress 14 is probably the most important EP I have ever made in terms of showing all the different things I am into. I’m difficult to pin down because I’m not really a techno DJ, or a house DJ, or anything like that. I like all forms of electronic dance music. As a DJ, I mix up old and new, familiar with unfamiliar, playing everything from Italo disco to really dark high-bpm breakbeat. As a producer, it’s not easy to put an EP together that covers a little of everything, yet still sounds cohesive. Especially considering that all my tracks were recorded in long live takes, then edited down with no ability to change parts. Sometimes that requires some pretty heavy editing, but that’s one of the good things you get when making music this way. I’m in control of the creative process, rather than feeling like some kind of colored block administrator drawing blocks out on arrangement view of my computer."
Shcuro is the alias of João Ervedosa a DJ, producer and graphic designer based in Lisbon. He also runs the record labels Sombra and Paraíso, makes music as Jose Acid and hosts a show on Rádio Quântica. His first contact with a DJ setup happened at age 15, and that’s when Shcuro decided to buy his own turntables and mixer; and started producing his own beats, too. He’s since released music on Basal, Circus Maximus, Obscuur Techno, Golden Mist Records and his most recent collaboration with Photonz for Future Déjà Vu.
‘Particle of Memory’ is a hypnotic 6-track EP that explores new territories in contemporary dance music. Sonically Shcuro paints his sounds blending moody techno with industrial noises alongside fast, apocalyptic electro and breakbeat. He is influenced by Portuguese rave culture that was born in the mid-90s at Lisbon clubs Alcântara-Mar and Kremlin and the country’s first electronic label Kaos Records. Shcuro continues to expand and morph this rich dance heritage to create something entirely different. The bouncy, lead track “Afterlife” features vocals and lyrics by London's ELLES followed by a Decadent Dub rework. All songs have been mastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios. Housed in a die-cut jacket designed by Eloise Leigh reminiscent of ‘90s escape/sci-fi films with futuristic bright pink pop flourishes
For its new release, the Parisian crew Discomatin picked a lesser known banger of the boogie era, Maudit DJ by Clara Capri. Produced in Belgium by Jay Alansky with lyrics
written by his sidekick Jacques Duvall, this EP brings together an Italo discoesque bassline surrounded by shiny synths and irresistible guitar licks. On top of that, Clara Capri sings
with a high-pitched voice. Maudit DJ is a real celebration of the nightlife. Fortunately, it’s brought here with all 3 versions transferred from the original tape masters: the extended “Version Longue” with its great introduction sounding like strong early house, the shorter “Version 45 Tours” if you’re in a hurry and, last but not least, the instrumental version for those too shy to play the vocals. But let’s head back to the 80’s: Jay Alansky
and Jacques Duvall are having a real success. They just produced famous Belgium female artist Lio’s first hits and have access to Dan Lacksman’s studio in Brussels - member of Telex with Marc Moulin. During this euphoric period, they met Clara Capri, a young Italian girl really crazy about Disco, swearing only by Giorgio Moroder or Chic. Her two buddies decide to concoct her a real hymn to the dancefloor. For them it sounds like the perfect
time, considering the duo always dreamed of being like a shadow production team, just like Motown’s very own Holland-Dozier-Holland. With a great care to the production and the
sound and with the best technologies from the era, they managed to create this French dance music attempt, at a moment when nobody was speaking about French Touch.
Thanks to Discomatin, it’s now available to the real connoisseurs with an exclusive insert which contains lyrics, again with fantastic illustrations from french artist Camille de Cussac.
For the first time ever repressed on FullTime Production the iconic disco record "Easy Going" by Easy Going!
That's a brand-new great landmark for the label as "Easy Going" set a milestone in the italian Disco culture.
If at the end of the Seventies you were at Piazza Barberini in Rome at night, you would have come across a small but crowded club half-hidden in the ascent of Via della Purificazione, a trendy gay club with elegant Fassbinderian furniture, but also a night crossroads for many prominent characters of the cultural and artistic life of the eternal city and a regular stop for the most popular national DJs at the time. Easy Going creature was founded by Claudio Simonetti (Goblin), as a homage to the place mentioned above.
The homonymous 33 rpm debut of 1978 is remastered and repressed on a glossy white vinyl and due next December 13th on FullTime Production!
It features the original LP cover highlighting the mosaic of masculine struggle between a sailor and a strictly naked policeman , photographed in the Roman club.
The music explodes with the piece that will define the group par excellence: "Baby I Love You" also released as the first single, sung by a very filtered voice on a hypnotic rug of keyboards and a captivating melody that define a real masterpiece of italian disco and beyond. The same goes for the remaining three tracks of the album, which are also set to set the dance floor on fire: "Do It Again" is pure dance from Studio 54 and on the flip side, Creedence Clearwater Revival's cover "Suzie Q" and the ballad "Little Fairy".
U2 return with their hotly anticipated new studio album 'Songs of Experience'. The Island Records priority release completes a stellar year for the Dublin band, following their return to stadiums with the critically acclaimed, sold out 'The Joshua Tree Tour 2017' playing to 2.4 million fans in just 51 shows across Europe and North and South America, as well as the successful 30th Anniversary re-issue of 'The Joshua Tree'.
Recorded in Dublin, New York and Los Angeles, Songs of Experience was completed earlier this year with its subject matter influenced by Brendan Kennelly's* advice to Bono, to ...write as if you're dead'.
The result is a collection of songs in the form of intimate letters to places and people close to the singer's heart: family, friends, fans and indeed himself.
Songs Of Experience is the companion release to 2014's 'Songs Of Innocence', the two titles drawing inspiration from a collection of poems, Songs of Innocence and Experience, by the 18th century English mystic and poet William Blake.
Produced by Jacknife Lee and Ryan Tedder, with Steve Lillywhite, Andy Barlow and Jolyon Thomas, the album features a cover image by Anton Corbijn of band-members' teenage children Eli Hewson and Sian Evans.
'The Blackout' and 'You're The Best Thing About Me' were the first songs to be made available from the album. 'You're The Best Thing About Me' is the band's first UK Top 20 airplay record in a decade and has also been remixed by Norwegian superstar DJ and producer Kygo.
*Brendan Kennelly - Irish poet, novelist and Professor Emeritus at Trinity College, Dublin.
Photonz is the alias of Marco Rodrigues a DJ, producer and driving force of Lisbon's underground scene. For little over a decade now, he's been crafting his own deeply personal style of Portuguese house and techno. As a DJ, Photonz grew a reputation for deep crates and intensely euphoric sets and in 2017, together with Violet (co-founder at his Radio Quantica) and Lisbon's own Rabbit Hole collective, he started the now infamous Mina parties - a monthly, sex-positive, queer and intersectional-feminist techno party aimed at using the dissociative potential of intense raving to create a temporary space of suspension away from patriarchal expectations. 'Nuit' is Photonz?s debut album and a simultaneous reference the Egyptian Goddess of the Stars or Night. Marco was really swept away by the concept of ?freedom of form under the night sky?, the accepting embrace of Nuit. Ancestral, but also socially advanced and utopian; a deification of the night time. These ideas manifest themselves as eleven songs spread across two LPs that wax and wane like the moon. Photonz channels early techno, Drexciyan rhythms, balearic & atmospheric house; layering sounds, creating moments. All songs have been mastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl comes housed in a royal blue and neon yellow jacket with duality/birth symbolism and trance-hieroglyphs designed by Eloise Leigh. Each copy includes a glow-in-the-dark sticker and a postcard with notes
FUSE resident Seb Zito returns to home turf to close October as he delivers his ‘Trying To Start’ EP. A key member of FUSE since its inception ten years ago, London-based DJ and producer Seb Zito has remained at the heart of the city’s scene featuring as a core resident for the brand across their homes of Village Underground, 93 Feet East and beyond, whilst also serving as the A&R of sister imprint Infuse. Following a busy summer that welcomed outings and remixes on the likes of Four Thirty Two, Play It Say It, ORIGINS RCRDS and Moxy Muzik, plus material via his own Seven Dials Records and two collaborations as part of Enzo Siragusa’s ‘A Decade Of Rave Volume 2’, Zito now returns to FUSE to deliver his second solo EP of the year on the label as he unveils four new cuts in the form of his ‘Trying To Start’ EP. Title cut ‘Trying To Start’ opens proceedings with authority as bright vocals meet skipping percussion, bubbling sub bass and slick hats, whilst ‘Arped Edge’ harnesses a slightly more stripped back aesthetic, introducing infectious vocal snippets amongst hazy pads, sci-fi electronics and menacing low-ends. Next, ’10AM Fuse’ takes cues from its title as snaking bass patterns go to work alongside sharp drum licks to reveal a cut primed for some huge early morning moments, before rounding out the package with ‘Geo Theory’, a lively peak-time production armed with shuffling drums and a signature driving bassline at its core.
LTD 200 Copies - Mastered & Cut Simon The Exchange
About this one something to say :
The music really reminded me Current 909 Atmosfear EP for ARRAKIS (B1)
The B2 (Endorlori) made me think of Black Lung on Depopulation Bomb.
Finally it was of course totally different... but this reminder, kind of nostalgia, with kind of technoïd verses had to exists on wax. For me as a DJ ^^ krkrkrk
I strongly Believe SPERED had something special as a musician.. his style... digging in the past as well as in the future, like with the super slow Mandragore A2...
Well that's a record !
Thanks to Vstee Thebassacademy for the Visual too !
It was in 1973, on the 14 of October, late in the afternoon; on a pretty Sunday under the Big Top in the heart of the “Parc de la Pépinière”, in Nancy; it was the “premiere”, the world
first hearing, and it has so far remained the only one commissioned by composer and trumpet player lvan Jullien, for the first international Nancy Jazz Pulsations festival. In order to complete this work of composition and orchestration, Ivan asked the great Eddie Louiss on organ, and chose to do without a double bassist who would have been drowned in a telluric outburst, for the best drummers in Europe and beyond had accepted out of sympathy to offer their contribution to such a festival. The only melodist with Louiss was the English John Surman (born in 1944) here on soprano saxophone, discharging torrents of incandescent lava.
Conversing with drums, cymbals, xylophones, kettledrums, vibraphones, tumbas, djembes and all other percussive things that you’ll like to imagine – a bunch of talents such as those
of the French André Ceccarelli, Daniel Humair or Bernard Lubat, the New Yorker Stu Martin, who reminds of Paul Motian in his “breaks”, South African Louis Mo-Holo, young Lamont Hampton, the great trombonist “Slide” Hampton’s son and the Malagasy Franck
Raholison, the Senegalese Lamine Konte. And we will scrupulously refrain from omitting the four musketeers, here representing
percussion in classical music, namely the Percussion Quartet of Paris under the leadership of Mr. Lucien Lemaire.
After a year in studio together PST and DJFB are ready with another live studio excursion from the PSTStudion! They continue to explore the live possibilities in the studio. With more additional gear and upgraded old-school synch and programming methods! This time a more up tempo affair. Trippin’ into a dance floor oriented territory, with 808 grooves, the usual heavy dubbed out effects, subtle melody hooks and some psyched out live acid flow. Three track 12″ tripper with a deep touch and groove.
One of the powerhouse voices of soul returns with a new single. “Baby Tonite” is released here in its original steppers, two-step funk groove and house remix flipside. The track has been racing up UK soul charts and is currently play listed across the USA.
Mid-July signals the arrival of Rossko’s debut solo EP on his home imprint FUSE, delivering two tracks accompanied by a remix from Burnski in the form of his ‘Blossom’ EP.
An artist immersed within London’s rich electronic scene for the last 20 years, Rossko remains a central figure at the heart of the city’s ever-evolving sound. A DJ first and foremost, known for his slick and powerful sets and his ability to unearth forgotten gems from across the electronic sphere, his journey as one of FUSE’s core residents now stretches over 10 years, with the Berlin-based talent also featuring as a head resident DJ and A&R for the label’s sister imprint Infuse as well as heading up his own label ‘Late Night Skanking’ and ‘Arkityp’, the project with Archie Hamilton. Following on from his recent collaborative EP alongside Swedish talent Per Hammar on Infuse, here we him step out on home turf to offer up his debut solo EP and the most complete and matured example of his sound to date via the aptly titled ‘Blossom’, whilst Constant Sound boss Burnski also joins on remix duties.
A-side production ‘The Step Up’ opens the EP in slick fashion, as rolling organic percussion arrangements weave amongst slinking bass licks to reveal a stripped back yet dynamic lead cut. Next up, second original ‘Cerca Trova’ takes things a little deeper as off-kilter sonics and vocal murmurs work amongst skipping hats and rich low-end tones, before Burnski’s remix of ‘The Step Up’ sees the production paired back even further to reveal swinging drum grooves, floating, hazy melodies and playful synth flourishes throughout.
Comet presents the first release from its new Disco Highlife series, featuring remastered originals by Ghanaian legends Ebo Taylor & Pat Thomas and disco reedits by LeonxLeon and Leo Nanjo.
Founder of Comet Records, Eric Trosset, started working with those great heroes of West African music, back in 2010. Taking on the role of manager/publisher, Comet teamed up with Strut Records
and musician/producer Ben Abarbanel Wolff to revive Ebo Taylor‘s international career with a string of album releases: Love & Death, Appia Kwa Bridge and Life Stories. In 2014, he collaborated with
Pat Thomas & The Kwashibu Area Band on a new album, gathering together the old ‘pals’ (Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Tony Allen) in producer Kwame Yeboah’s studio in Accra.
It is with great pleasure that Comet launches this new series. Let's make this beautiful and timeless music the soundtrack to an unforgettable summer!
On side A, comes “Enye Woa” by Pat Thomas, originally released in 1988 on Nakase Records and taken from the album Me Do Wiase. It’s killer disco cut, and as innovative a piece of highlife as it
was 30 years ago. Paris-based producer LeonxLeon has been cooking up songs in his Parisian home-studio since 2013. He did a remarkable remix of Cerrone's "Funk Makossa" and more recently released his new Rokanbo EP on Cracki Records. His remix of “Enye Woa” is a classy modern disco cut with funky bass and spacey synths.
On side B is “Atwer Abroba” by Ebo Taylor, a stand out up-tempo track from the album Twer Nyame, originally released in 1978 on Philips West African Records. Tokyo-based multi
instrumentalist/producer/arranger Leo Nanjo formed the first Japanese afrobeat group, Kingdom
Afrorocks. Since the band broke up in 2014, Leo has been producing and arranging music with various collaborations, such as DJ Muro, Pushim and Misia. This is a trippy afro-futurist, broken
beat reedit with highlife grooves flying to deep space
Supported by Villalobos, Dorian Paic, Mattia Trani, DJ Tennis, Verrina & Ventura , Giorgia Angiuli, Carola Pisaturo, Julina Perez
There are people who place their soul at a border between two worlds that are completely different one from the other.
Giulio Paternò has always split his heart in two halves: one beating for Pink Floyd's, Dire Straits' and Deep Purple's rock; the other for an electronic sound influenced by the likes of John Talabot, Nicolas Jaar or David August.The final result by mixing these two different souls is all channeled into his project Swoosh, where house and techno meet the psychedelic sound from the '70s. So here is a captivating and a magnetic sound which is shaped exclusively by a live act with Ableton, a Gibson Les Paul and various controllers.Swoosh's peculiarity drew the attention of top national venues and festivals such as Tenax in Florence, Circolo degli Illuminati in Rome, or Amore and Spring Attitude Festivals.By Spring 2016 Swoosh will be releasing his first EP "Over and Above" with Autum Records, a label based in Rome and New York.Feedback:> DJ TENNIS: Great record, Swoosh is a producer to keep watching... / Gran disco, Swoosh è un producer da tenere sott'occhio...> VERRINA & VENTURA: Great, the slow one is fantastic! / Complimenti, traccia lenta fantastica!
> CAROLA PISATURO: Liked it so much. / Mi piace moltissimo.
> GIORGIA ANGIULI: I really enjoyed the whole EP, tracks are so stilish! / Mi piace molto l'EP, tracce super stilose!> JULIAN PEREZ: Good listening, a good listening. / Un ascolto piacevole > MATTIA TRANI:above mi piace moltissimo bell'atmosfera!
Our imprint marks its five years anniversary this year and to celebrate it's offering up five special various artist packages across 2019 limited to 250 copies each,
featuring material from the likes of Vid, The Mole, Cinthie, Shinichiro Yokota, San Proper, Akiko Kiyama, Com Sin aka Cosmin TRG, Subb-an and more..
'Series 01', penciled for release in May sees Cosmin TRG return under his Com Sin guise with 'Glass Harps', a fluidly unfolding five and half minutes of pulsating subs, glitching percussion and sparkling harp tones before DJ Sodeyama aka The People In Fog's 'Chapter Zero' takes on a modulating hypnotic feel via psychedelic swells, tension building textures and a bumpy, robust rhythm.
UK duo Yard One join the roster with 'Dream Travel' on the flip-side, employing a more ethereal aesthetic with floating pads, winding chords and a heavily swung drum groove. This project also sees a new design concept for the imprint from London's David Surman's painting installation project 'Paintings For The Cat Dimension' which ''explores the motif of the cat as emblematic of internet aesthetics, a place where all painting styles and modes now exist non-hierarchically as pure information.''
From the mists of 1989 comes The Landlord with this monolithic slab of rave history - 'I Like It'. Instantly recognisable, those widely sampled piano stabs, that bassline.... it's all there. Produced by Canadian super-producer and Big Shot Records label owner Nick Fiorucci this much sought after rave anthem was highly prized and coveted by those in the know back in the day, no-one had any idea as to how huge the record would become as it soundtracked every dancefloor, warehouse, field and loft from '89 onwards, this is it, the real deal! Enter: The Maghreban. One of R&S Records contemporary artists and an unashamed Hardcore / Jungle / Breakbeat enthusiast, he seemed like the perfect remixer. Maghreban's mix is respective of the roots and the legacy of 'I Like It', referencing some of it's later sampled incarnations in a clever and knowing way, a true DJ tool that has been road-tested and checked in clubs across Europe and beyond, his epic 'Revenge Remix' shows a deep understanding of the history of these particular records and how they work on the dancefloor. This one will have people crying for more! Also featured on this special RSD 2019 release is the OG 'Blow-Out Dub', the one that started it all. Classic material from end to end right here. Essential business from Above Board distribution and Nick Fiorucci / Big Shot Records.
Photonz is the alias of Marco Rodrigues a DJ, producer and driving force of Lisbon's underground scene. For little over a decade now, he's been crafting his own deeply personal style of Portuguese house and techno for labels such as Créme Organization, 20:20 Vision, Don't Be Afraid, Skylax, Unknown To The Unknown and his own One Eyed Jacks. As a DJ, Photonz grew a reputation for deep crates and intensely euphoric sets and in 2017, together with Violet (co-founder at his Radio Quantica) and Lisbon's own Rabbit Hole collective, he started the now infamous Mina parties - a monthly, sex-positive, queer and intersectional-feminist techno party aimed at using the dissociative potential of intense raving to create a temporary space of suspension away from patriarchal expectations.
Etheric Body Music is Photonz's debut 6-track EP for Dark Entries and a simultaneous reference to hermeticism and EBM (Electronic Body Music). Marco loves that 'aesthetic when 80s industrial and EBM bands split up and start to make trance in the early 90s and all the ritual magick pushes them to zen stuff and they do ecstasy.' There's this concept in theosophy and hermetic philosophy of the Etheric Body, which is an energy body superimposed and connected to the physical body, similar to the acupuncture idea of an energetic body. That idea manifests itself as six primal club cuts, which also channel early techno, Drexciyan rhythms, balearic & old school jack. Raw arpeggiated synth lines and bass blast jut against metallic stabs and highly percussive shakedowns to create mournful atmospheric warped house. All songs have been mastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl comes housed in a psychedelic jacket with snakey green and purple velvet in an electric acid spewing weird biological alien energy form designed by Eloise Leigh.
Three Supple Creations Mark The Start Of The Znr Series By Long-established Lisbon Producer And Dj, Zenner. The Walking Bass And Whimsical Accents On "solstice" And "nightingale Symphony" Recall Golden Age Losoul Or Ben Nevile, While "god Disturbs" Provides Daring Finale: A Hyped-up Broken Beat Formed Of A Whole Cupboards Worth Of Percussion, Around Which Jazzy Bass And Sharp Pads Do A Nimble Dance. Expect The Unexpected As The Znr Series Continues To Unfold.
The Mutant Frequencies EP is the first transmission from Music That Moves - Shinedoe's new label focussing entirely on her own productions. If this release is anything to go by, the label is set to make its mark just as her other label Intacto has done since 2004.
Early support from Jeff Mills, Jerome Sydenham, DVS1, Ben Klock, and more. Shinedoe launches her new Music That Moves label with 'Mutant Frequencies'. The title track is a gripping, arpeggiated techno roller for the peak time slot
The title track is a gripping, arpeggiated techno roller for the peak time slot - DJ Mag
I'm definitely feeling this, all 3 tracks are doing it for me - Big time!!! DJ Rolando
Track 1 for me for sure! DVS1
Shinedoe has built a stellar reputation in the scene for her unmissable DJ sets and stand-out productions, which have made her one of the most respected names in techno. Kicking off this release, the title track Mutant Frequencies sets out the agenda - a deep driving baseline intertwined with sparking, modulated synth lines and crisp, urgent percussion. The result is a tough techno bomb, but containing Shinedoe's signature subtleties. Over on the flip, the Robert Hood referencing M-Plant is an acid- tinged, bouncy groover - the baseline writhes and wriggles throughout the track while the pulsating kick and fizzing percussion propel the track ever higher, punctuated by an exquisite break. Last but not least, Triplex is a deeply atmospheric cut, slowly building out of a hypnotic synth hook and dark, brooding pads - Shinedoe's masterly production keeps the track full of tension throughout.
Music That Moves (MTM) Founded in 2018, Music That Moves is the latest venture by Amsterdam-based techno maven Shinedoe. Having been jointly responsible for the long running and hugely influential Intacto label with partner in crime 2000 and One, Chinedum Nwosu's new label is a vehicle for her own special musical vision. Focussing entirely on Shinedoe productions, Music That Moves is the home for precision techno with soul - literally music that will move you in every sense.
Efficient Space is honoured to share the little-heard recordings of three Yolngu songmen from Northeast Arnhem Land - Bobby Bunnungurr, Jimmy Djamunba and Peter Milaynga (d. 2007) - working in collaboration with Victorian musician Peter Mumme. Yolngu are the indigenous peoples of Arnhem Land in Northern Territory, Australia; their clans are the Marangu and Malabirr, the languages Djinang and Gannalbingu. Their songs are of instruction, story and ceremony.
A connection first initiated by Yolngu actor David Gulpilil, Waak Waak Djungi's mid-90s recordings were preceded by years of respectful sharing of culture. Mumme explains that 'the aim was to produce something that is new, not in the sense of a breakthrough, but what emerges from the combining of existing ideas'. What developed was sonically unique - sprawling vocal/electronic soundscapes and field recordings that reimagine the traditional songs of black crows and white cockatoos, sharing, creation spirits and of leaving and returning home to country. Spacious and patiently durational, the songs resound in a big land with a big story to tell.
On the 1997 Waak Waak Djungi album Crow Fire Music, these interpretations were assembled with traditional recordings and additional material from Sebastian Jörgensen and Sally Grice. Falling short of generating public interest, it became well known in the Yolngu homeland. Nearly two decades later, a CD copy filed away in the 3RRR FM library would prompt a three year investigation to meet the people behind the music.
Waak Waak ga Min Min (Black Crow, White Cockatoo) combines the previously unreleased Gandi Bawong with five contemporary versions from the original album, with a new cover painting by Bobby Bunnungurr. Tracing 1997 back to many millennia ago, this is a captivating window into the richness of Aboriginal culture and collaboration.
Mannequin's 100th - a comp looking forward featuring an international and serious cast... BIG TIP!
The modern synthwave scene would be significantly poorer without the keen ear and tireless efforts of the Mannequin label run by Alessandro Adriani. Geographically situated within the nerve centers of Rome and Berlin, yet with a musical spirit that easily transcends these boundary lines, Mannequin's back catalog has been an important component in the modular assemblage that makes up electronics-based independent music in the 21st century, and an important reference point for those who need to defend against the lazy accusations that this such is purely retro' in its form and content. Recent accolades and accomplishments - being named Resident Advisor's label of the month' for May of this year, starting the 'Death of the Machines' 12' series, and being given the 'green light' for bi-monthly parties at the Säule room in Berghain - have been earned through Mannequin's unflagging commitment to sonic diversity and Adriani's own realization that the anxious and sharp-edged sounds associated with, say, the Cold War of the 1980s can convey a completely different message today. Adriani says it best when claiming that there is no such thing as 'old' or 'new' music...only the music of now'. With this cogent statement of intent, Mannequin continues to go on exploratory missions to find the best and most relevant aspects of genres like acid, industrial, EBM, post-punk, coldwave and still more.
Which brings us to Mannequin's newest project and 100th release overall: the Waves of the Future double LP compilation, which itself is not a conventional retrospective collection. Case in point - none of the artists appearing on this collection have put out their own releases on Mannequin yet, despite acting as Mannequin's unofficial ambassadors (via DJ sets and other means). This makes the set even more compelling rather than less so, since it shows how Mannequin fits into a larger picture that includes other scene leaders and label owners including Beau Wanzer, Willie Burns (WT Records), Silent Servant (Jealous God) and Ron Morelli (L.I.E.S.). Of equal importance is how Waves of the Future projects a sense of aesthetic resilience and continuity, showcasing just how well the current artists allied with Mannequin employ and re-interpret the sonic lexicon that appears on that label's reissues of 'classic' acts such as Nocturnal Emissions, Bourbonese Qualk, Din A Testbild and Doris Norton.
However, none of this would matter as much if the music itself didn't have strong potential for lighting a blaze in the dark corners of the human imagination, and of course for forcing bodies into motion. Each track here pivots around a couple of key sound elements that seem to set the stage for the next track to come: see the sputtering / chopped ghost voices on Morelli's Charges Won't Stick,' which easily informs the slicing drone and authoritarian beat of Shawn O' Sullivan's Ill Fit,' which then lays down the emotional foundation for the sequencer-powered With You' from An-I & Adriani or the glassy landscape of Illum Sphere's Exhaustion'. Elsewhere, the wired mischief of Not Waving intersects easily with the spherical electro-funk and coded commands of Beau Wanzer. When all the disparate parts of Waves of the Future are soldered together, it perfectly illustrates Mannequin's non-linear philosophy and Adriani's suggestion that Mannequin listeners directly engage with the music rather than trying too hard to analyze or dissect it.
Cute Heels is the project of Victor Lenis, a contemporary electronic artist living in Berlin, Germany. He grew up in Bogotá, Columbia during the 1990s, surrounded by the radial punk scene. Over the years, Victor's passion and fascination for synthesizers and drum machines to produce and compose resulted in his debut album 'Spiritual" for Dark Entries in 2014 as well as the Third Skin' EP in 2016. Inspired by equal parts Liaisons Dangereuses, Drexciya and Black Devil Disco Club, Cute Heels connects the dots between Detroit techno, early Chicago house and Belgium electronic body music.State of Mind' is a 4-track EP featuring the vocal talents of Berlin artist Aga Wilk, of electro-punk projects Walkman Music and 77TM, on the the title track. On the A-side are two fresh compositions recorded in New York and Bogota between 2016 and 2017. Victor says, 'State of Mind refers to the subconscious as dominated by real facts, natural, unnatural ,metaphysical or virtual and dynamism of the body as physical shield.' The track is a slow building foray into techno, elegantly suited for intangible moments. 'Golden Tears' kicks off with Cute Heels' signature metallic EBM funk played with punchy, percussive analog synths. On the flip we present two banging club remixes. The first is from LA-4A, techno DJ and producer Kevin McHugh aka Ambivalent, who adds a strong kick drum and lacerating hi-hats that build up to a mind melting breakdown with a full on acid squelch attack. The second remix comes from Noncompliant, Midwest US-based producer Lisa Smith aka DJ Shiva, who creates a raw, thumping exercise though off-kilter mechanics and punishing percussion. All songs have been mastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The record comes in a custom-made die-cut jacket designed by Eloise Leigh featuring suggestive rope bondage graphic printed spot black matte on black hi-gloss finish. Each copy includes a postcard.
Villa Åbo in the alternative solo project of Swedish musician and Villa Åbo in the alternative solo project of Swedish musician and producer Jan Svensson, who has been making electronic music for the better part of 30 years as the artist behind such aliases as Frak, Studio SS and Alvars Orkestra. Svensson also runs legendary Swedish dance and experimental music label Börft, the product of a mutual appreciation for Severed Heads and Terse Tapes. As Villa Åbo he released two records in 1997 on Börft and remained inactive for 17 years until the Dutch label Bio Rhythm coaxed him into revisiting the project and released a double 12 in 2014. Jan has since followed with a steady stream of 12' singles for Kontra-Musik, Noise In My Head and Radio Lundberg. 'Magnetic Moves' is Villa Åbo's debut album, originally released inan limited edition of 65 hand-numbered cassettes by Funeral Fog in 2016. Clocking in at over 46 minutes, this first-ever vinyl edition spreads the 8 ragged techno tracks across four sides for maximum loudness. Some songs are aggressively potent, with cyclical synth riffs and razor-sharp acid lines riding a heavy, funk-fuelled techno groove. Others tracks are more fluid, vintage Underground Resistance or Derrick May with killer drum machine workouts that come in handy as DJ tools. All songs have been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The record is housed in a custom made jacket designed by Eloise Leigh, featuring a photograph of Jan's mother's house, the meaning behind 'Villa Åbo'. Each copy includes a double-sided postcard with notes.producer Jan Svensson, who has been making electronic music for the better part of 30 years as the artist behind such aliases as Frak, Studio SS and Alvars Orkestra. Svensson also runs legendary Swedish dance and experimental music label Börft, the product of a mutual appreciation for Severed Heads and Terse Tapes. As Villa Åbo he released two records in 1997 on Börft and remained inactive for 17 years until the Dutch label Bio Rhythm coaxed him into revisiting the project and released a double 12 in 2014. Jan has since followed with a steady stream of 12' singles for Kontra-Musik, Noise In My Head and Radio Lundberg.'Magnetic Moves' is Villa Åbo's debut album, originally released in an limited edition of 65 hand-numbered cassettes by Funeral Fog in 2016. Clocking in atover 46 minutes, this first-ever vinyl edition spreads the 8 rgged techno tracks across four sides for maximum loudness. Soe songs are aggressively potent, with cyclical synth riffs and razor-harp acid lines riding a heavy, funk-fuelled techno groove. Others tracks are more fluid, vintage Underground Resistance or Derrick May with killer drum machine workouts that come in handy as DJ tools. All songs have been remastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The record is housed in a custom made jacket designed by Eloise Leigh, featuring a photograph of Jan's mother's house, the meaning behind 'Villa Åbo'. Each copy includes a double-sided postcard with notes.
Australia's Nightime Drama welcome Steven Tang and label associate Trinity for a new collaborative EP that comes with two originals and remixes by Basic Soul Unit and Daniela La Luz.
Tang has long been serving up space age techno sounds on his own Obsolete Music Technology and the likes of Smallville, and Trinity is a DJ, live act and producer from Sydney who plays key clubs around Europe and releases on Counter Pulse and Coincidence as well as this one.
Innermost Search opens the EP with supple and rubbery drums carrying you off into the cosmos as spaced out pads bring real scale and emotional depth. It's a cinematic house track with vivid imagery. Then comes a remix from Dekmantel's Toronto mainstay Basic Soul Unit that is much more busy and robust. A wide lead synth line sprays about above drums which are much bigger and heavier. It's prime warehouse material to get people marching.
Tang & Trinity's Adrifting Voyage then slips back into a deep, cerebral house groove with oodles of reverb and dubby chords cut though by icy hi hats and transcendental pads. Last of all, Berlin's Daniela a La Luz (who has released on the likes of Cocoon and !K7) remixes this one into a lively, nimble house track with curious melodic riffs and tough drums appealing to both head and heel. It rounds out a fresh and powerful EP of futuristic house music.
Earth, Wind & Fire are obviously one of the greatest bands of all-time and both of these remixes are works of art in their own right. On the A side we have the much in-demand Blaze 'Shelter' remix of "Fantasy" which stretches this classic to 8.55 and finishes with an unbelievable Phillip Bailey acappella.
As though that wasn't enough we've put the much sought-after Masters At Work remix of "Can't Hide Love" - a staple records since its debut in 2002.
After reaching its 10th year of existence, Secretsundaze will finally launch its 12" singles label in May 2011, as well as re-launching the critically acclaimed compilation series.
Secretsundaze, created and run by school friends Giles Smith and James Priestley is of course best known for its summertime Sunday parties which have become the stuff of legend, attracting DJs from the world of House and Techno such as Carl Craig, Ricardo Villalobos, Kenny Larkin, Efdemin, Cassy and Chez Damier. The boys have taken the party across the world with regular sessions at Panorama Bar, Robert Johnson, Ibiza and as far a field as Japan and New York.
Music has always coursed through Roman Lindau's blood. Even if he weren't the accomplished producer and respected DJ he is today, the German audiophile would still be spending all his money on the stuff; giving over all his time to the art form. ''I'm a music junkie. I need music to live'' he states matter-of-factly. ''For me it's the elixir of life.''
Good job, then, that he gets to spend his ..
Roman Lindau is a German techno DJ, artists and producer, as well as being a core member of the infamous Fachwerk Records from Berlin.
Music has always coursed through Roman's veins ever since he was a young boy so it is no suprise that he became the accomplished producer and highly respected DJ that he is today.
In the late 2000´s Lindau became active in the Berlin electronic music scene, beginning to play music in clubs as well as producing his own music.
The first track he released in 2008 on his home label Fachwerk Records appeared in one the world famous Berghain Mix Compilations, mixed by Len Faki.
Following from this Berghain invited Roman to contribute an exclusive Track for Ben Klock´s Berghain Mix in 2009. After this success the gates opened for him to play regularly as a DJ at Berghain.
At the same time he continued to work on music for Fachwerk Records. He produced dance floor smashers like ´Crasse´ in 2011 and ´Rave on´ in 2014, which were charted by the likes of Ben Klock, Sven Väth & Chris Liebing, afirming his deserved place amongst the techno elite.
More recently in 2015 the well known Victor Calderone from NYC invited Roman to release on his label Matter+.
The reason why Roman is such a great DJ is because of the fact he knows what the people want! ''I love to dance and that's very important: as DJ you need to feel what the crowd want so you can help them to party and have fun.''
Combining a varied selection of raw house and techno in his sets, recent bookings have taken Roman across the world; from the hallowed techno Mecca that is Berghain to dark underground clubs as part of the recent Fachwerk label tour.
He has performed at every legendary Berlin venue, past and present from Tresor to Berghain, and it is this that gives Roman the edge above the rest. If you can do it there, you can do it anywhere!
From 2014 Till the closing he was a resident DJ at Stattbad, one of Berlins findest adress for Electronic Music.
Adam Beyer's Drumcode juggernaut attracts more fans and critical plaudits with each passing year. Holding firm on its future facing ethos, techno's number one label presents a new volume in its acclaimed A-Sides series with 20 prime tracks to signify its 20th anniversary.
Such is the volume of quality music Adam Beyer receives throughout the course of the year, releasing all of it would be impossible. Enter the blue chip A-Sides series: a chance for the quality-obsessive label head to issue a collection of outstanding tracks that couldn't fit in their regular EP release schedule.
With an eye on future talent, as much as the label's established roster of heavy-hitters, the compilation showcases the full breadth of Drumcode's multifaceted techno sound, equal parts inspiring and functional.
Led by the stealth techno funk of 'Nine of You', Beyer's deft collaboration with Mark Reeve, the compilation takes in exciting highlights from big guns such as Alan Fitzpatrick, Dustin Zahn, Bart Skils, Pleasurekraft, Luca Agnelli, Jay Lumen, Kaiserdisco and Gary Beck.
The rich vein of form displayed by emerging techno talent is similarly given prime position. Rising DJ/producer Boxia makes his Drumcode debut, fresh from a well-received warm up set for the crew at the hugely successful Junction 2 festival in London, while the likes of Enrico Sangiuliano, Juan Sanchez, Ian O'Donovan and Timmo also drop fire, establishing their credentials as some of the most promising talent breaking through the ranks in 2016.
Reinforcing the global scope of the label, artists such as The Junkies from Toronto and Layton Giordani from New York, prove techno is winning a place in the heart of the new generation of artists coming out of North America.
Australian label Nightime Drama, run by Peter Fincher (aka Vibrio) and Shaun Franklin (aka Trebek) now serves up its second standout release of 2016. This four track affair comes hot on the heels of the last by Yoshihiro Arikawa, and is a second release on the label by Aussie live act, DJ and producer Trinity, with Steven Tang and Italian based Andee on the remix. Trinity has also released on OOC, Coincidence and Android Muziq and regularly performs all round Europe. His sound deep and cosmic, heady and hypnotic, as the fresh tracks here prove. Cascade Drive is seven minutes of direct and elastic house with spacey pads and driving drums carrying you through the cosmos. From the Earthmothern label and one half of RK's, Andee strips it back to a slick rubber kick drum then layers in a forceful acid line and icy hi hats to really get you under its spell. The longform groove is physical and cerebral in equal measure. The next original is Expansion, and again finds Trinity serving up a hi tech and soul infused deep techno sound that is lithe and liquid, smeared with great pads and truly timeless. Emphasis boss Steven Tang is the perfect man to remix given his style, and his version flips the cut into a more heavyweight and banging techno effort, but one that is just as littered with sci fi sounds, spaceship trails and intergalactic energies.
It is very difficult to present David Duriez without writing an encyclopedic tome as its influence on the House music in France was decisive. Since its inception in 1992, David released over a hundred records under his name, tens under various pseudonyms, mainly on vinyls on the most renowned labels like 2020Vision, Ovum, Systematic, Pokerflat, F Communication, Under the Counter, Stickman, Crosstown Rebels, The End, etc .. (the list is long, see Discogs to be convinced) and as many remixes for some of the greatest artists (think Moby, Dj Sneak, Gemini, DJ Hell, Llorca, Telex, Random Factor, Johnny Fiasco, Paul Johnson, Jori Hulkkonen, Ralph Lawson, Random Factor, Kenny Hawkes or Mr.C).
Founder of the label Brique Rouge and a whole galaxy of other labels, he participated in the creation of internationally recognized labels such as Robsoul with Phil Weeks, Freak n'Chic with Dan Ghenacia (from Apollonia) or Rz Muzik. At a time when David had federated online the cream of the House producers via a forum (far and long before social networks), Ivan Smagghe had nicknamed him "the producer of the producers." , A true House Music activist,
But most of all David Duriez is a devastating dancefloor DJ, He did several tours around the world and played in some of the biggest clubs in the world between 1995 and 2010. Truly one of the most important players in the French electro scene, David is back on tracks after a few years hyatus. But don't call it a comeback because he has never really gone awol, he has been watching the scene and now he's back in the studio. You can expect a (very) long serie of releases for 2016, you have been warned!
Immersed in the early days of the 90s midwest rave scene, Bill Converse began DJing at a young age in Lansing, Michigan. Luminaries such as Claude Young, Traxx, and Twonz were key early influences. Since moving to Texas in 1998, he has experimented with analog techniques in varied studio bunkers. Early techno, noise, ambient, tape, and paranormal processing are all part of his uncanny sound palette. Warehouse Invocation' is Converse's debut 12 release, collecting material from a cassette release on Obsolete Future plus a new unreleased song. Three of the tracks, Warehouse Invocation', Senys Magick' and Consulted Acid', were recorded in Austin TX between 2012-2013 at home and direct to tape with no overdubs or multi-tracking. Riverbank' was also recorded at home in early 2014 in one take with a mic placed outside of the window to record the the sounds of the river late at night. Bill is informed by his surroundings, influenced by scenes of desolation in nature, the sea, the desert, and places of industry, like power stations, old factories, and warehouses. The songs on this EP length reveal a sublime influence from Detroit techno, early Chicago house, and Acid. The album was recorded and mixed by Bill at his home studio in Austin and mastered by Dave Alex. All songs were EQed for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. A custom-made jacket designed by Eloise Leigh features a mystical collage by Josua Dorje Ngodup with acid yellow hues on a deep blue-purple background. Each copy includes a postcard with notes and a Buddhist mandala
Taking influences from "not old music, not new music, just good music" Random Movement's production skill and DJ technique have pushed him to the forefront of state-side drum & bass.
After releasing the critically acclaimed Sleazy B*tch EP early 2015 on Fokuz Recordings we're glad to welcome him back with the Meat Sauce EP containing two soulful cuts packed with flavour, distinctive drum rhythms and clever basslines.
Chapter 1: 'The soul within them'
Beneath their rugged skin and scalding flesh, there is a human soul trapped in eternity, burning with excruciating and insatiable energy.
Chapter 2: 'Inside their lair'
In the mountains old as the world itself, warlocks from across the lands has gathered inside their cavernous lair to celebrate and bless the birth of a hundred dragons. As they chant, their mother roar.
Chapter 3: 'They soar through flames'
Up in the endless sky, the hunters are soaring in the flames blasting from their jaws. With scales hot as the sun, flesh like molten iron, the fly in honor of this day of legends.
Chapter 4: 'Hatchlings, hatching'
As the celestial portals align, the hatchlings start to hatch. Catching their first glimpse of starlight and screaming to the eternal void as their tiny wings start to flap.
Supported by:
Deepbass, Ness, Rraph, Svreca, Antonio de Angelis, Arnaud le Texier, Hector Sandoval (Exium), Kwartz, Takaaki Itoh, The Noisemaker, Unam Zetineb, Valentin Corujo (Exium), Vilix, Mattias Fridell, Oscar Mulero, Refracted, DJ Sandrien, Eric Cloutier, Giorgio Gigli, Nihad Tule, Attemporal, Ben Buitendijk, Brendon Moeller (Echologist), Etapp Kyle, Nima Khak, Rasmus Hedlund, Retina.IT, Victor Martinez, Antonio Ruscito, Dubit, Periskop, Shaded Explorer, Warmth, Astronomical Telegram to name a few.
KiNK (Macro/ Running Back)
I love this! All the tracks are massive! My favorite is the Andreas Gehm remix as it`s the most
weird one, but I`m a sucker for funky acid and this is right up my alley!'
Robert Owens (Chicago/London/Berlin)
Great tracks'
Tensnake (Virgin)
thanks, nice original and Gehm remix'
Dave Clarke (White Noise 2fm)
Dark and groovy'
Luke Solomon (Classic Music)
love love love love hard TON xxxxxxxx'
Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space)
Make me Dance is the one for me'
DJ T. (Get Physical)
thank you for the music!'
ÂME / Kristian (Innervisions)
thanks'
Mark Broom (UK)
FAT mix from Andreas! Respect for the UK!!!!!!!!'
Massimiliano Pagliara (Live At Robert Johnson)
bravi!!'
Mørbeck (Vault Series/Code Is Law)
Make Me Dance!'
Acid Washed (Paris)
MEGA GOOD!!!'
Patrick Pulsinger (Vienna)
love it!'
Angel Molina (Barcelona)
the ultra dark acidic 'Make Me Dance (Andreas Gehm Remix)' is my track on here, although
'Forget About The Music' is a fantastic 80 ´s house track as well. Thanks.'
Paul Woolford (Planet E/Hotflush)
2 thumbs up for the Andreas Gehm Remix. Many thanks!'
Renato Cohen (Brazil)
That's proper music! Forget About The Music sounds amazing. Andreas Gehm Remix is also
huge!'
Propelling Down Under techno and house into the world's clubs with classics such as Phreakin', LSD and 6AM in the mid-90s, djhmc (Cam Bianchetti) is rightly hailed as the 'godfather of Australian techno'.
Now with more than 30 years experience of transcendentally moving dancefloors - and 20 years with his productions, remixes and edits; djhmc is back with a new label - reflector.
This will be an all new platform to showcase totally remastered versions of his back catalogue as well as to provide a vehicle to bring his current and previously unreleased
work to his already loyal following and to new believers.
Cam Bianchetti is a man of many talents who is very much in demand as a DJ and a producer, and he applies the same meticulous attention to detail and knowledge of what works a dancefloor across both disciplines. Under his djhmc alias, it isa very broad church that covers disco, house and techno, whilst his other monikor, Late Nite Tuff Guy focuses more on his love of Funk & Soul. When it comes to giving a classic sound a new contemporary twist, there is simply no-one better.
With the arrival of the 'reflector' label the world is his, and he has embraced it whole-heartedly as in the past the world embraced djhmc; once again its time to prove why he is one of the most talented techno and house producers and DJs to ever grace the turntables....the Godfather is back!
One of the world's most in demand DJs and producers, Noir has been responsible for some of the most poignant - as well as explosive moments in clubland's recent history. Arguably best known for his huge dancefloor bomb 'Around', Noir now drops his debut studio album, a project that has been nearly half a decade in the making.'Around', a sexy, synthesizer-tinted groove featuring vocalist Hayze dominated dancefloors across the world for close to two years, making Noir a household name across clubland. And it's still as popular as ever - the Solomon Vox remix of 'Around' has amassed more than 12 million views on YouTube.
As well as 'Around', Noir includes further club hits 'Around feat. Hayze', 'My Fault feat. HRRSN' and current single 'Black feat. Caitlin', evidencing Noir's desire to work with a variety of vocalists to create something far 7 weightier than simply a collection of club tracks. Noir is about telling stories, boating 12 completely unique productions that chart the artist's evolution over the course of his expansive career. With many of its cuts moving away from the strict four-to-the-floor parameters of house music production, the horizons of Noir stretch way beyond the dancefloor. Taking cues from a range of artists from Depeche Mode to Kraftwerk, and Massive Attack to Timbaland - all of whom have heavily influenced Noir's aesthetic - Noir is an emotionally charged and
utterly engrossing body of work. Says Noir of working on the album: 'The album has been in the making since I started working on 'Around' back in 2010, so for me it's a body of work that spans nearly 5 years, with changes to productions, melodies and moods before I was happy with the final tracks. 'What you hear on the album is the culmination of all the music and influences I grew up and have lived with over the years: it is absolutely my identity and honestly represents my musical passions. Unlike many 'dance' albums that are little more than a collection of thrown-together club tracks, Noir combines tirelessly creative songwriting with multi-faceted production that reveals fresh delights with every listen: a timeless release from a truly singular artist.
Debut release on Mira from The KVB's new project
Full colour, stickered picture sleeve designed by Silent Servant AKA Juan Mendez
MIRA005 by Burma Camp is the fifth release of Avian's 10' inch sub-label Mira. Following their collaboration with the British DJ and producer Ventress (who also co-runs Avian and Mira) on the recent winner on Mira (Worn - Mira004), minimal synth duo 'The KVB' return to the label with this new project.
This release again incorporates the band's nostalgic, shimmering guitar sound but also treads a darker, more dubbed feel across its 3 unnerving tracks.
Mira began in 2012 as an outlet for material sitting outside of Avian's general aesthetic - a home for more esoteric & experimental techno, noise, drone and industrial. Previous releases have come from Bleaching Agent and Covered In Sand.
GREEN VELVET MAKES HIS CIRCUS RECORDINGS DEBUT WITH BIGGER THAN PRINCE, HIS MOST TALKED ABOUT TRACK IN YEARS...
BIGGER THAN PRINCE WAS BORN OUT OF A CONVERSATION BETWEEN LABEL BOSS YOUSEF AND GREEN VELVET WHEN BOTH PLAYED THE INDONESIAN LEG OF THE ANNUAL CIRCUS TOUR. THE IDEA OF THE CHICAGO LEGEND CONTRIBUTING A BRAND NEW TRACK FOR THE CIRCUS X // PART 1 COMPILATION WAS FLOATED AND SOON HE WAS JOINING NINE OTHER FRIENDS OF CIRCUS WHO WERE ALL TO FEATURE IN CELEBRATION OF TEN YEARS OF EVENTS.
'BIGGER THAN PRINCE' IS A CLASSIC GREEN VELVET VOCAL NUMBER AND SHARPER AND FRESHER THAN ANYTHING WE'VE HEARD THIS SUMMER. QUIRKY AND DRIVING, ITS SET TO BE ONE OF THE TRACKS OF THE SEASON.
TO BACK THE ORIGINAL, YOUSEF HAS DRAFTED IN MORE FRIENDS OF CIRCUS ON REMIX DUTIES, HOT SINCE 82 AND THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS...
DJ FEEDBACK
STEVE MAC - "LOVE THIS RECORD AND THE REMIXES... GREAT RELEASE!!"
TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS - "I LOVE THIS RECORD!!! I'LL PLAY THE ORIGINAL!"
MATTHIAS TANZMANN - "BOTH REMIXES REALLY ARE GREAT!! PERFECT FOR ME!"
LEE BURRIDGE - "IT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE ORIGINAL FOR THIS GREEN VELVET FAN!"
SINDEN - "ORIGINAL WINNING FOR ME!!!! CLASSIC GREENB VELVET... I LOVE IT!"
ZOMBIE DISCO SQUAD - "WOW! I DON'T THINK I NEED TO SAY MORE. THAT COVERS MY ENJOYMENT MARTINEZ BROS. MAYBE MY FAV."
TIEFSCHWARZ (ALI) - "A GREAT GREAT RELEASE FROM GREEN VELVET. SUPPORT!"
AXEL BOMAN - "THIS IS SUCH A COOL TRACK... LOVE THE ORIGINAL FROM GREEN VELVET!"
DANNY HOWELLS - "MEGA PACKAGE... SUPERB ORIGINAL AND STUNNING REMIXES TOO... ALL GOOD!"
DEETRON - "REALLY LIKE THE ORIGINAL AND THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS REMIX AS WELL. I'LL BE PLAYING."
UNER - "THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS REMIX IS SUPERB!! <3"
DRUMS OF DEATH - "I LOVE THIS WHOLE PACKAGE... WILL PROBABLY PLAY THEM ALL ACTUALLY! "
SOUL CLAP - "PURE FUNK, STRAIGHT UP NASTY!! "
MOXIE - "BIG BIG TUNE!!"
RALPH LAWSON - "THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS REMIX IS BEST OF THE PACKAGE FOR ME. GONNA TRY IT OUT AND LET YOU KNOW."
ALEX WOLFENDEN - "CLASSIC GREEN VELVET TRACK WITH GREAT REMIXS! MARTINEZ BROS' THE ONE FOR ME, FULL SUPPORT."
ANNIE NIGHTINGALE - (BBC RADIO 1) - "HOT SINCE 82 SOUNDS QUITE HOT IN 2013!"
LARSE - (KLUBBING, WDR 1LIVE, GERMANY) - "I LIKE THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS REMIX. WELL DONE GUYS!"
WAIFS & STRAYS (AMOS) - "ALL TRACKS ARE KILLER! THE MARTINEZ BROS REMIX IS AMAZING...FULL SUPPORT."
LUKE SOLOMON - "I HATE TO SAY IT AS I AM SUCH A HUGE GV FAN...BUT MB'S MIX KIND OF TIPS IT FOR ME. SORRY CAJ."
&ME - "I DON'T LIKE IT, I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
GERD - GREEN VELVET = BIGGER THAN PRINCE! LOVIN' THE LINNDRUM WINK... GREAT REMIXES TOO!"
ZDAR - "LOVE THIS TUNE!!! CURTIS IS THE BEST AND ALWAYS BE... VERY GOOD MARTINEZ BROS. MIX TOO! LOVE!"
DJ HELL - "AND ANOTHER BIG TUNE FROM THE NEW PRINCE OF DANCE MUSIC! THIS IS GREAT!"
TOM FINDLAY (GROOVE ARMADA) - "GREAT EP!! MASSIVE, SUPER FRESH! GREAT CHOICE OF REMIXES TOO, BOTH SMASH IT!"
SHADOW CHILD - "YES! THE HOT SINCE 82 REMIX SOUNDS DOPE!!! "
SKREAM - "SICK RECORD!! MARTINEZ BROTHERS REMIX IS MY FAV ON FIRST LISTEN."
JORIS VOORN - "WAHAAHA CLASSIC GREEN VELVET ATTITUDE! GREAT STUFF GUYS!!"
ALIX ALVAREZ - "GREAT PACKAGE. GREAT MIXES, ESP FROM MY GUYS TMB, BEING MY FAVORITE. GONNA TRY IT OUT THIS WEEKEND."
TAYO - "THE COOLEST MOFO OUT THERE. CLASSIC GREEN VELVET. SLEAZY "CONTROVERSY" STYLE BUSINESS. LOVE."
CATZ N DOGZ (VOITEK) - "FUCK!! YES PLEASE!!! THIS IS FANTASTIC... MARTINEZ BROS. MIX MY FAV TO PLAY ON FIRST LISTEN."
IAN POOLEY - "THE HOT SINCE 82 MIX IS WICKED!! I'LL BE PLAYING THIS OUT FOR SURE!"
JD TWITCH (OPTIMO) - "I REALLY LIKE THE ORIGINAL OF THIS!! SUPPORTING."
MARC ROMBOY - "GREAT SELECTION OF VERSIONS AND GREAT TO HAVE A NEW GREEN VELVET IN THE BOX! HS82 IS MY PICK TO PLAY OUT THOUGH!!!"
DIESEL (X-PRESS 2) - "THE ORIGINAL AND THE HOT SINCE 82 MIXES AT ARE THE BEST FOR ME. WE'LL BE PLAYING THESE!!"
COPYRIGHT (DEFECTED RADIO) - "HARD TO CHOOSE A FAV. WHAT A PACKAGE...LOVE THE BEATS ON THE MARTINEZ BROS MIX...KILLER!"
Als Compilation-Reihe im Jahre 2001 gegründet um ein paar lose Fäden unserer Stammkünstler zu verknüpfen, hat sich SPEICHER inzwischen zu einem Garanten für fortgeschrittene Tanzklänge aus aller Welt weiterentwickelt, der es KOMPAKT erlaubt Musiker aus allen Bereichen des elektronischen Spektrums einzuladen und zu fördern. Für SPEICHER 73 haben sich Hollands Synth-Epiker QUINCE sowie der in Berlin lebende Techno- und Modekünstler TOM PETERS hinters Mischpult begeben, um in zwei meisterhaft auskomponierten Tracks der Suche nach dem Horizont zu frönen.
Weltweit von DJs zum Einsatz gebracht, sind QUINCE's Techno-Etüden ein bekannter Klang im elektronischen Kosmos, dank starker Releases auf respektierten Labels wie etwa DELSIN oder MUSIC MAN RECORDS. Seine Produktionen beeindrucken generell mit ihrer profunden Kenntnis der großen Skylines, doch irrt der holländische Meister hier ein wenig ab von seinem Kurs durch 4/4-Welten und verliert sich stattdessen in den weitläufigen Kellerkorridoren des wolhltemperierten Schaffelbeats. LOST baumelt fast acht Minuten lang von der Klippe und gibt sich ganz als kubistisches Märchen vom einsamen Helden im dunklen Wald: in Erwartung einer zu errettenden Prinzessin bahnte der sich einen abenteuerlichen Weg durchs Unterholz und berichtet nun von unermeßlichen Schätzen und Momenten großen Glücks. Schon massiv gut, wenn sich die eigene, jahrelange Live-Erfahrung so anstandslos in perfekte DJ-Munition ummünzen last.
Zwei Stunden nördlich von Berlin liegt Kartlows kleiner Ortsteil Unnode, wo der ansonsten eher umtriebig veranlagte TOM PETERS wohlverdiente Ruhe in den Alltag eines DJs, Produzenten und angehenden Modezaren einkehren last. Hier, in inspirierender Nähe zur Ostsee, entwirft er die Skizzen für die meisten Tracks; so auch für TAKE YOUR CHANCE, dessen Silhouette sich deutlich geprägt sieht von der Weite der lokalen Natur. Toms Produktionen weisen alle Anzeichen transzendentaler Melancholie auf, verfehlen jedoch nie das urbane Momentum: sein Beitrag für SPEICHER 73 präsentiert eine simple, doch weitläufige Melodie, deren Haar vom Beat elegant zurückgebunden wurde, Futter für die Beine und die Seele. Ganz wie die handgedruckten Botschaften seiner eigenen Modeserie SAVE FASHION, vermag nämlich auch Toms Musik auf dem dünnen Seil zwischen dem Einfachen und dem Mehrdeutigen zu balancieren... dream on, dreamer.
Bali-based producer/DJ STAY GOLDEN makes his debut on All Day I Dream with Silent Covenant, a seven-track album exploring unseen connections, out now.
Silent Covenant traces a near 40-minute path through hypnotic indie-dance textures, melodic techno tones, and deep house grooves. The title track opens with funky drive and a quick-tongued topline before ‘Fragments of a Dream’ pushes into darker territory. From there, ‘RITUAL PAUSE’ and ‘Stay With Me’ return to organic rhythms and deep vocals, balancing cohesion and contrast across the project.
“A seven-track journey through emotions and the invisible connections that shape our lives. Each track is another step in the same journey. The strongest connections are often the ones that never need to be spoken. They live in shared moments and the memories we carry with us. Silent Covenant is my way of translating those invisible bonds into music.” – STAY GOLDEN
Collaborations with Alexey Union, Broken Hill, Kinky Sound, ÜNAM, ANTICALM, and David LeSal broaden the project's sound throughout its second half. ‘Synth Lines’ adds a deeper edge, while ‘In Your Heart’ turns toward airy melodies. Closing with ‘Everything Sacred,’ Silent Covenant brings its themes of memory, connection, and shared experience full circle.
Modern Hypnosis is proud to introduce Babaka, the new alias of esteemed German producer Jörg Müller.
Reigniting his passion for physical, visceral sound system music, Jörg uses classic analog gear and a few self-built instruments to create a unique, potent dub sound. While reminiscent of Jörg’s earlier ambient and dub techno styles on his 2019 album Drawn From Memory and 2022’s Groundworks LP on The Moth Club, his new direction has evolved those techniques and primed them for sound system use. His debut release as Babaka showcases four masterful tracks that differ widely from one another while remaining within his new realm.
The opening track, "Exterminating Angel," is a pulsating, supernatural dub experiment featuring a deeply infectious bassline, ghostly key stabs, tight percussive delays and an oddly dramatic vocal sample creating a profound sonic climax before tapering off, allowing you to escape its vacuum and recalibrate. The most skank'n track of the EP, "A Bug in the dark" with its murky half-time swagger feel, bouncy hats, dub saturation and mega sub-driven riff has become an all-time favourite at Modern Hypnosis HQ.
Featuring precise production with decorative atmospherics and swung drums, "Woodsman Blues" has an almost Boxcutter feel to its intro before plunging off the deep end, hitting the dub floorboards, and revealing its true self as a reincarnated, stoned dubstep track. Closing out the release is "Hysteria," a perfectly executed, dark, chugging techno steppa that remains a popular track for many early-access DJs and selectors around the globe.
In the words of Jörg Müller himself:
After my first Album "Heavy Heart”, I tried to push my music more into abstract territory, especially sound-wise, ignoring mixing and mastering rules... this culminated in the eerie, roomy, off-atmosphere on "ground works" on The Moth Club.
After that, my focus shifted further towards freeform electro-acoustic ambient music. I built a couple of instruments myself and released two albums on Shimmering Mood as Kaleidophon. This was during the pandemic as nightlife came to a stop.
In 2023 and 2024, I started to go to dances again. I saw The Bug on his Pressure System, Al Wootton at Meaksuma Festival, Channel One and Iration Steppas on Young Veteran Hifi Soundsystem. Especially impressive were Mark Ernestus, Mark Ainley and Aba Shanti on the infamous sound system at Open Ground in Wuppertal.
This reignited my passion for dub/sound system music; I wanted to make tracks with the physical, visceral quality of sound systems.
Beatrice M. just dropped a standout album on Techntonic and now shows they are just as adept at the A&R game by signing up Tokyo-born, Bristol-based Manami to their Bait label. Across four cuts, the DJ, producer and pianist blends crackly lo-fi ambience with bright, broad synth smears on opener 'Unsaid'. 'Treading Dub' completely flips the script with a punishing and weighty low end that is fast and urgent beneath rattling dub techno chords. 'Moonlight' (feat Eklipse) is pure subterranean immersion with spoken word consciousness and crashing hits and closer 'Loosen' is a speedy techno rhythm with a sprinkling of percussion. Four atmospheric and experimental sounds from a unique mind.
Individually, Justo the MC & maticulous have impressive resumes in the underground hip hop circuit. Justo, who came up under the Gang Starr Foundation, has worked with Lord Finesse, Rockwilder, Marco Polo and DJ Skizz, releasing numerous projects, most recently “Black Ops,” produced entirely by Showbiz of DITC.
maticulous, who came up under Fat Beats NY, has delivered several producer albums and instrumental projects having produced for the likes of MF Doom, Masta Ace, Your Old Droog, Fame Of MOP, Blu, RA the Rugged Man and many more.
After a chance meeting at SiriusXM studios, the duo started to craft what would become “Mind Of A Man.” This album showcases the feeling of Brooklyn hip hop that stands firm on tradition, giving you true school flavor you’ve been missing. Featuring guest appearances by Kev Brown, Rasheed Chappell, DJ Eclipse and Davenport Grimes.
Limited edition of 300 hand-numbered copies, with the first 100 pressed on black / grey A-side B-side vinyl, the remaining 200 pressed on black vinyl.
The UK Players & Friends Hills and Valleys, Rivers and Streams (A Tribute to Idren Natural) 9 brand new tracks by The UK Players. Voiced by Singers and Poets who knew Idren Natural personally. Recorded and Mixed by Supa Yout’ at Earth Works Studio, Amsterdam. Sleeve artwork and written testimonials from close friends and associates. Idren Natural aka Ras Natural aka InI Oneness, DJ, Singer, Chanter, Musician, was a pivotal player and pillar of UK/European Roots, Reggae, Dub, Sound System Culture. A humble Rastaman who did so much for so many, inasmuch as inspiring, encouraging, and connecting. He selflessly helped those less fortunate than himself. A strong advocate of the culture and philosophy of Rastafari. He was a commanding presence who lit up the stage, giving JAH all the glory. His passing was a great loss to the community. The UK Players Dub Band formed in 1996. They teamed up with Ras Natural/InI Oneness to record their debut 7” single ‘Further’ for Jah Works with Producer Jah Rej. This single gained exposure via Jah Shaka, Abashanti, and King Shiloh Sound Systems, even the famous Radio 1 DJ ‘John Peel’ played it. More recordings with Jah Rej at Seventh Sense Studio led to the debut album ‘Take Heed’. During the halcyon days of InI Oneness & The UK Players (1997-2004) they toured the UK and Europe, clocking up over 250 gigs in that time. Amongst brethren within the Rastafari community, the band became affectionately known as Ras Naturals band. Friends of Natural like Ras Iyah, Tony Roots, Sister Aisha, Wayne McArthur, and Barry Isaacs (among others) performed with them during this time. Members of InI Oneness & The UK Players never split up, throughout the years they branched out into other projects, reconvening for specials and one offs. Following Idren Naturals passing in 2022, the band stepped up to play his memorial show, where the idea formulated of making a tribute album to him. Ben King offered the use of Earth Works studio to help realise the vision. Work began with longtime live sound engineer Supa Yout’ in March 2024. Jah Rej assisted production on a number of these recordings, and sadly passed during the making of it, the last album he worked on. Various vocalists who were close to Natural, submitted vocals across the following year. The album was mixed and dubbed in March ‘25 at Earth Works by Soupa Yout' & Kingsway. Artwork and written memories/testimonials were then assembled. Everyone involved in the creation of this album knew Idren Natural personally. This album shines a spotlight on his spirit. Carrying songs of tribute, and messages for the times. ALPHA DUB: Every time the band played a gig, Natural would insist on starting with a dub. In that tradition, this album is no different. ‘Mandlion’ passing through the studio, headtopped a Melodica cut on it. Dubbed to the max by Supa Yout! NATURAL VIBE: The ‘Forward Fever’ crew from Belgium were one of the first collectives that Natural affiliated with in Europe. Here, Ras Cloud cleverly weaves all of Naturals song titles into the lyrics, creating a song in itself. WORD & FLESH: Fellowdread was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. Now living in Bristol, England, residing with Natural in his last days. His Poetry is rich in inflection, knowledge and wisdom, teachings that spark up the divine. ALL ABOUT LOVE: A pause for contemplation, this one stills the listener. Rootsman Rak’s words warn against complacency, and encourages action. A completely (natural) acoustic track featuring the skilled percussionist Jonah Dan. REMEMBER HIM: Inna Dubplate style, Barry Isaacs toasts to Idren in personal remembrance, reminding us all of the man he was. The track also features snippets of a phone call from Naturals oldest friend ‘Fergie Greenspears’ recounting memories. RISE UP RASTA CHILDREN: The legendary Tony Roots, graces the album with his unique delivery. Natural, The Players, and Tony go back a long way. A song of strength to affirm the soul, and rally against Babylon. Livicated to the one (Natural) SONG FOR THE RIVER MAN: During those halcyon days, many stages were shared with Albaroot, whom the band met whilst on tour in Scotland. Clark Innes (lead singer/songwriter) reminisces about the force of nature that was Natural, times shared, and that knowing, to never meet again. ONE STEP AHEAD: An interpretation of the ‘Look Inside’ riddim by Reuben Addis. Built for Sound System, it is the only track on the album that rolls into a dub. Lyrical Benjie literally entered the studio, rode the riddim without hearing it first, cutting his vocal in one take! A message for the times that sends shivers up your spine. THE PRAYER: Iman Onedub AKA Iman Gebre Iyesus, member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, met Idren Natural at Fairfield House in Bath. Here he seals the album with a recital of the Lord's Prayer in English, with Amharic. His rich textural tones elevated with a one away riddim to carry the listener home.
The third chapter of The Third Room's curator-led series is shaped by Verraco, one of the key voices behind a new generation of artists reshaping contemporary club music. Through his productions, DJ sets and his work with TraTraTrax, he has helped define a sound where hybrid forms, rhythmic experimentation and cross-cultural influences are pushing the genre into new territory. Structured across two distinct sides, the release draws a clear connection between past and present. The A-side leans into a deeper, more classic space, while the B-side moves towards a more forward-facing, hybrid sound. It opens with Libration (Stone Version) by Substance & Vainqueur, a revisiting of their landmark 2007 release, a track that helped define the language of Dub Techno as it is understood today. Reduced, deep and spatially precise, it established a blueprint for how rhythm, delay and tone could function together. It's presence here acts less as a nod to the past and more as a reminder of a foundation that continues to shape the genre. Skee Mask's Clear Sky 909 continues this thread, softening the edges without losing depth. Warm, enveloping textures and fluid movement give the track a sense of openness, balancing clarity with emotional weight. The B-side shifts perspective. On Untitled (Teamgeist Mix), Verraco, joined by Tils, delivers the record's defining moment - a dense, intricately designed piece built on a driving low-end and evolving rhythmic patterns. Elements from Techno, Bass and Leftfield House converge into a detailed, forward-moving structure that actively bridges cultural contexts. It results in a form of dance music shaped by technical precision, but drive.n by a clear sense of intent, marking a distinct expression of Verraco's current sound. Untitled by 1morning introduces a rolling, tribal-infused groove with a strong sense of depth, while PatumPa by Regal86 closes the record with a bright, loop-driven energy that leans into pure motion. Across both sides, the release moves between reference and progression. Rather than separating old and new, Verraco connects them - tracing a line from foundational Dub Techno to a more fluid, contemporary club language. Copyright 2026 The Third Room A1 Written and Produced by Peter Kuschnereit & Rene Loewe | A2 Written and Produced by Bryan Mueller | B1 Written and Produced by JP Lopez & Jakob Ferdinand Tils and mixed by Lurka | B2 Written and Produced by 1morning | B3 Written and Produced by Regal86 Mastered by Andreas Kauffelt (Schnittstelle Berlin) Artwork by Charlotte Ernst Design by Daniel Bornmann (STUEDIO.XYZ) Distribution by Clone Pressing by Matter Of Fact
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South Asian super-producers Lapgan and Baalti – the former a Madlib-disciple spinning hip-hop grooves out of dusty desi samples, the latter duo purveyors of intricately tapestried dance music – holed up in the California desert in early 2024 for a songwriting session to blend their complimentary styles. They ended up with several albums worth of club material built upon decades of Indian music history – floor fillers that move like early Four Tet meets The Avalanches. They’ve been teasing this material around the world during live sets – from Paris Fashion Week to Glastonbury, London Clubs to BK Warehouse parties, sessions at Lot Radio and Karachi Community Radio, and anywhere else they find an aux. The result has been endless ID requests for unreleased gems like “Ipa Ma” and “Lime Tikka”, calls which should finally be answered with the release of Threads.
Lapgan Bio
Chicago-based archivist and producer Lapgan has become renowned for his signature style: unearthing rare and forgotten Indian & Pakistani sounds and recontextualizing them into hip-hop and dance beats that evoke J Dilla and Madlib. He has cultivated a reputation for quietly revolutionary sample-work across his beloved solo projects History and Duniya Kya Hai, as well as LAFANDAR, his critically acclaimed team up with Heems (of Das Racist / Swet Shop Boys). He has worked with a range of artists from both the West (Your Old Droog, Saul Williams, Cool Calm Pete, Kool Keith, Open Mike Eagle, Blue, Quelle Chris) and the East (EXCISE DEPT, Baalti, Sid Sriram, Sid Vashi, Dynoman), and has been featured in global media including Pitchfork, FADER, Stereogum, Passion of the Weiss, Mixmag, Homegrown, and Vinyl Me, Please. Over the past year he has headlined clubs and performed at festivals across the world from Chicago and New York to London and India, and was personally invited to soundtrack back to back Paris Fashion Week shows for the similarly norm-shifting designer Kartik Research. In 2026 he will soundtrack his third Kartik Research runway show, as well as reissue Duniya Kya Hai for its five-year anniversary alongside a companion EP featuring remixes from peers and supporters Arushi Jain, Loris, Mera Bhai, Malkfunktion, and Maral.
Baalti Bio
Baalti makes electronic music built around rhythm, pressure, and collective release – weaving through leftfield bass, dusty hip hop, tripped out dub and raw house all while maintaining a throughline rooted in South Asian culture seen through the lens of a sweaty dancefloor. In the last year they have experienced a whirlwind rise and growing global recognition: from their EP Mela vividly evoking West Bengal’s sound system culture to their Tamil-cinema-infused filter-house project with Anish Kumar Stunt Doubles, in addition to wide-ranging collabs and remixes alongside DJ ADHD, Naya Beat, and A.R. RahmanThey have also built a reputation for their frenetic live show, with appearances at international festivals like Glastonbury and MELT, headlining shows across Australia and Europe and supporting influences turned peers like Four Tet and Disclosure across North America. Their explosive, percussion-heavy sets have been platformed by Rinse FM, NTS, The Lot Radio, Beats In Space, and Refuge Worldwide, and their music has been renowned by publications including Pitchfork, Bandcamp Daily, RA, and MixMag. Their forward momentum continues into 2026 with slated headline tours in India, Australia, and Asia along with appearances at Coachella, Party in the Paddock, Fvded in the Park, and We Out Here festivals.
DJ Support: FISHER, ACRAZE, AFROJACK, Rebuke, ALOK, Mau P, Tchami, MEDUZA, James Hype, Joel Corry, Hot Since 82, Dombresky, Oliver Heldens, OFFAIAH, Danny Howard, MEDUZA, Bob Sinclar, Joel Corry, Groove Armada, Sam Feldt & more.
Toolroom’s next Sampler showcases 4 big releases from Malaa, Zaark, ESSEL, Cristoph, Mark Knight & Wh0.
Cologne based DJ and producer Barnt has been bottling his own weather system since 2010: captivating techno where melodies flirt, rhythms evaporate, and structure is something to tease rather than obey. An attitude, that pierces the average definition of techno. With an album and endless EP’s, he turned club orthodoxy inside out. Barnt has sent his tracks out via labels like Cómeme, Mule Musiq, Hinge Finger, Hivern Discs, Kompakt, or Magazine from Cologne, the enterprise he co-runs with a bunch of friends.
After his 2014 debut album on Magazine, that came out as catalogue number 13, Barnt is back with number 25, a new album, titled “After completing the Hex”. Eleven tracks, each grinding lowkey skewed. This is techno for dramatic entrances. Dance music for confusion. Freely played chords oscillate with intention. Alluring melodies glide across stoic beats. Peaktime vibes stripped to the bone. An album that provides Barnt’s most complete release until today, displaying his unique sound world effortless assembled. Mastered by longtime accomplice, producer Matt Karmil, it features playful, seemingly unintentional, meandering club spirits. There are melodies made from 100 notes and hooklines fashioned from just one. In-between calmer electric enchanters, minimal, free-spirted, tempting. His slinky madness occasionally presents sublimely embedded environmental sounds or oral samples, taken from sources like Torn Hawk’s “Trustfall” TTT cassette album. There is a touch of sadness, that veils the recordings at times, always defied by lightness and optimism. A record made with true inspiration, that overrides all fears. Drawn frankly from emotions, bringing the ultimate flow state, that unlocks a new techno gate.
Risk/Reward’s fourth release sees one of the UK’s most prolific and recognizable Producer/DJ’s take the elevator all the way down to the basement of the Tech House sonic spectrum…
Archie Hamilton has achieved superstar status after over a decade of consistently excellent musical output. As the name suggests, Friends in Low Places sees him return to the underground with the rolling, acid-laced, “for the heads” sound that first saw him explode on to the scene 10+ years ago, supplying 3 original tracks that will surprise and delight in equal measure!
A1: NyLon blends the dreamy shades of 90s Italo with the rugged bounce of golden era UK Tech House, to create a beautiful, bold fever dream. Intricate synth melodies, rudeboy vocal cuts and transcendant pads play out over crunchy swinging drums. A bold opening statement to kick off the EP.
A2: The energy kicks up to 11 on Trance-Tech bomb No Signal, a certified weapon of mass dance floor destruction! Vintage Archie rolling 303 bass layered with complex acid lines, haunting siren calls and relentless, gritty drums make for a powerful peak time standout that will have jaws dropping!
B1: On the flip side Archie takes you Higher with another signature roller that’s instantly familiar yet enigmatic. Punchy yet intricate drums, deeply groovy bass, a variety of ear worm melodies and an oh so familiar voice take you up, up and away in to the atmosphere. An instant classic from a man who’s made his fair share.
B2: Returning to the scene he played a key role in building after almost a decade out, UK Tech House DON Gideon Jackson delivers a gargantuan remix that could very easily reduce the club to rubble if not handled carefully. No element of Higher was spared in this rework, but the weight and pressure get cranked up to the absolute fullest - tougher than tough stuff from the OG!