Following the passing of our dear friend DJ Romain earlier this year, we've spent a long time reflecting on when to share some of the new music he entrusted to Hard Times Records. The incredible response to 2024’s 'The Lost D.A.T.S.' EPs reignited Romain's creative spark at a time when, unbeknownst to many, he was quietly battling serious ill health. After relocating from his beloved New Jersey to Cleveland, the studio once again became his sanctuary, inspiring a remarkable new chapter of music. The 'New Jersey' and ‘Cleveland’ EPs were the first recordings from that period.
Funky Streets completes the first trio of new EPs, but it is also just a glimpse of the wealth of music Romain crafted before his passing. His final studio sessions became an escape from his daily battles, inspiring a remarkable outpouring of new material that he was determined to finish, knowing his beats would continue to warm dancefloors and further cement the legacy of one of house music's true masters.
Opening with the horn-driven swagger of the title track, the EP moves seamlessly into the soulful groove of 'I Like To Boogie' before culminating in the deep, organ-led dancefloor energy of 'This Is Where I Wanna Be’. Romain signs off with 'The Chocolates’ - an uplifting, guitar-laced boogie jam filled with warmth, joy and unmistakable soul.
Beautifully crafted from beginning to end, Funky Streets stands as a lasting testament to DJ Romain's extraordinary talent, timeless musicality, and enduring contribution to House music. His legacy lives on in every groove.
Kid Katana Records teamed up again with KOEI TECMO GAMES and Team NINJA, to bring you the NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black OST on vinyl for the first time.
This physical edition is a 2LP designed in close relationship with the game's creative team:
2-colored vinyl with a unique “corona” effect that is reminiscent of “Sumi (black ink)”: handmade vinyl effect melting white and black colors to shape a unique vinyl color on each product, evoking Ryu Hayabusa style.
Handpicked curation of the game music, mastered for this specific vinyl edition
A Gatefold created for this specific vinyl
Kid Katana Record produced this album with supervision from Koei Tecmo Sound, who composed the original game music.
A pure goa-trance-classics compilation; back on vinyl with Astral Projection, MFG, Xenomorph, Shakta, Oforia,... !
This compilation opens with a track of Roy Sasson, who was famous in the 90s as part of Shidapu. Here he opens with a deep & groovy psychedelic dancefloor monster. The second track has a darker atmosphere, is super powerful but also melodic and spiralling! Xenomorph hasn't released any music for a long time, but he clearly kept his magical touch! That darker touch is carried on by Battle of the Future Buddhas, who went towards pure acid 303 territories in his haunting track! Shakta brings back some sunshine with his funky uplifting "Expedition To Earth"! Now after this first part of the CD come two of the most famous Goa-trance names ever: Astral Projection & MFG! They both do what they do best: creating wonderful melodic soundscapes! Sensitive, emotional & harmonious trancy music for people that want to feel a sunny dancefloor through music! Then RA mixed his known euphoric type of melodies & chords with a more modern sound! The result? Music that will do the trick on every dancefloor around the world. The ender is a more floating, warm track of Oforia, who showcases his more mellow style :)
We hope to create the same heartwarming feeling in your heart, as the one we had when we heard goa-trance for the first time! Enjoy and make sure to land again after reaching the sky!
Take That, eine der erfolgreichsten Bands Großbritanniens, veröffentlicht ihr neuntes Studioalbum „This Life“. Nach 45 Millionen verkauften Alben, 12 UK #1 Singles und insgesamt 2,5 Milliarden Streams über alle Streaming Dienste kehren die britischen Pop-Royals mit diesem Album zurück. „Windows“, die brandneue Single von Take That, kennzeichnet die erste Eigenkomposition der Band seit über fünf Jahren.
Take That sind bekannt für ihre großen Produktionen und unglaublichen Liveshows. Im Jahr 2019 feierte die Band ihr 30-jähriges Bestehen mit der ausverkauften Odyssey-Tour. Die musikalische Ausgestaltung des Albums ”This Life” ist geprägt von wunderschönen Melodien, eingängigen Refrains und eleganten Harmonien, die die Stimmen des Trios wunderbar miteinander verbinden. „Windows“ und das kommende Album „This Life“ setzen somit das Erbe einer der talentiertesten Bands der britischen Chartgeschichte fort
MAXIMILIAN’s records takes listeners on a journey across two parallel paths.
Beginning with the full A-side, it unfolds as a driving, emotional exploration—diving deep into questions of consciousness that have been asked time and time again.
In contrast, the B1 cut delivers a more aggressive energy, pushing you beyond your comfort zone, only to leave you with a sense of release by its conclusion.
Iconic Argentinian DJ/producer Flug drops full EP on Mutual Rytm Raw with ‘Dew At Night’. Flug, aka Sebastian Lopez, has long been part of the fabric of underground techno with a signature sound that is deep, driving and atmospheric, ensuring that the Argentinian has crafted his own story across the globe. Following his track ‘In Control’ on Mutual Rytm’s ‘Federation Of Rytm IV’ compilation, he follows the likes of KiNK & Raredub and Deetron to make his appearance on sub-imprint, Mutual Rytm Raw, with his ‘Dew At Night’ EP featuring a rare rebuilt version of an unreleased sketch dating all the way back to 2009. ‘Dew At Night’ was unearthed while searching for another track among sessions from over a decade ago. After hearing it again, it sparked a new creative age to rebuild it from scratch, and while experimenting with synthesisers, the main arpeggio appeared. "At first it was hypnotic but harmonically repetitive; the groove and phrasing felt incredibly catchy, so I decided to push the harmony further and change some chords until I found the exact point where emotion and tension could coexist naturally.” Around that bright arp are darker, more raw percussive textures and drums that make for a great contrast and melancholic atmosphere that marries emotion with physical structure. "In my mind, the track was always conceived as a closing track - that moment when the darkness is still there, but the first light of the day starts to appear and the whole atmosphere changes.” After hearing the original, label founder SHDW suggested the Argentinian should remix and reinterpret the record to complete the full EP, and so he steps out of his comfort zone across the remaining tracks, exploring different versions of his musical universe and showcasing all sides of his sound. First up is the ‘Dub Version’, which represents his contemporary sound - the melodic and emotional essence of the original track remains but is translated into a more hypnotic and club-oriented language. The ‘Instrumental Version’ is a brings more progressive-leaning sounds with piano, sax and live percussion textures that, says the artist, allowed him to "rediscover myself as a producer by using tools and influences gathered throughout my long journey in electronic music”. Closing the package, the digital-only ‘Raw Version’ strips away the melody and gets much more primal, introducing a tunnelling groove for when the dancefloor gets dark and moody.
Subtle Beginnings is the second of the ReKab albums originally released on Móatún 7 to be reissued on vinyl for the first time by System One. Analogue Isolation came in May & sold out everywhere almost immediately
Label head D. Howard first came across ReKab while deep diving through Bandcamp, and like many lovers of deep, late night, soulful electronic music immediately fell for the emotional pads, pristine melodies & immaculate productions, simultaneously summoning up the essence of early 90s electronic while sounding thoroughly contemporary.
They connected and a plan hatched to make the Móatún 7 albums available on vinyl for the first time, something that avid record collector James was delighted about. Unfortunately James sadly passed away late August last year, but following conversation with the family & friends of James, it was decided to honour his wishes & make the albums available on vinyl & across all digital services once again. Proceeds after costs will be paid through to the trust fund set up to support James’ surviving son.
System One is a new label dedicated to soulful electronic music, late night grooves & intergalactic beats, drawing its inspiration from the early 90s techno & ambient sounds of Uk, Frankfurt, Detroit & beyond
SHDW & Obscure Shape offer up their first EP on new imprint Mutual Rytm as they drop five fresh and expansive techno cuts across their 'Poetic Justice' EP.
A duo that has ascended to become leading names within today's techno landscape, SHDW & Obscure Shape continue to grow and evolve while shaping their own unique sound fusing classic influences with a modern touch. Their latest project saw the birth of Mutual Rytm - a new imprint launched in early 2022 set to showcase a deep dive into the duo's musical roots via their own productions alongside material from the label's close family of likeminded artists. Following the label's opening multi-artist VA and the first solo EP from Berlin's Lars Huismann, June welcomes the first solo instalment from the label founders themselves as they ready a killer five-tracker set to make an impact.
A1 'Turbulence' sets the pace as the duo delve into nimble rhythms which ebb and flow effortlessly to reveal a hypnotic slice of modern techno permeated with classic, old school cues, while 'Pulse' takes up a darker aesthetic, keeping the energy high as metallic drum licks guide driving sub-bass and resonant stabs. On the Bside, title cut 'Poetic Justice' balances warping vocals with swinging percs amongst a layered, drum-laden kinetic
workout, exemplifying the duo's drive for combining and contrasting various shades of techno. Next up, 'Set It Off' welcomes the introduction of expansive melodies to offer an entrancing late-night cut, before turning to the unhurried grooves, salient hats and sweeping atmospherics of 'Killing Me Softly'.
Digital bonus 'Before Sunset' once again delves into lighter, breezy territories while keeping the classic rolling
techno touches throughout, shaping up the package with a powerful yet agile closing production.
Zeta-Kognition is a rarely documented perceptual phenomenon in which thoughts are no longer experienced in the order in which they are formed.
The first reports appeared shortly after the promo release of this EP. Listeners described a strange effect while listening to pdqb's signature electro tracks: while the music was playing, memories, expectations, and present perceptions seemed to exchange places. Some felt they had already completed a thought before it had even occurred to them. Others reported that half an hour vanished in what felt like seconds, while a few minutes seemed to contain an unusual depth and density of experience.
Intriguingly, those who experienced side effects after listening could restore their normal perception by playing the entire EP in reverse. It was said that the reverse playback would unwind the cognitive displacement caused by the original sequence, gradually returning memories, expectations, and present awareness to their natural alignment.
Dr. Sascha Dornhöfer, who first documented the phenomenon, speculates that the remix by Carsten Nicolai (Alva Noto) may contain a unique balance of repetition and symmetry that survives both forward and reverse playback. This would explain why listeners experiencing the effects of Zeta Cognition consistently identify it as the point from which normal perception can be restored.
In any case, dear listener, there is no cause for concern - the antidote is hidden in reverse.
P.S. Then again, who knows. Persistent rumors suggest that Adam Pendleton's exclusive black-and-white artwork conceals a visual counterpart to the phenomenon, though no one has yet determined exactly what it reveals - or to whom.
Phosphor returns with its fifth release and a new chapter for the label’s founders, Blue Vision. As their second EP on the imprint, Machines Will Transform Us (PHP005) confirms the project’s direction: a precise balance between club-driven tech house and more immersive, hypnotic electro textures.
Across the EP, Blue Vision asks a simple question: after spending our days connected to algorithms and modern machines, can repetitive rhythms and mechanical grooves on the dancefloor turn us into machines once again, or instead help us reconnect with ourselves?
Machines Will Transform Us (A1) opens the EP with a driving Italo bassline and tight, tech-driven drums. Melodic 80s synths contrast with sharper electro elements, gradually building tension before a final drop designed for peak-time impact. The track sets the tone for the release: machines transform us as much as we transform them.
Then comes Just a Game (A2), blending spacious 90s progressive and synthwave influences over a rock-solid club bassline and crisp drums. Playing with atmosphere and emotion, the track explores the feeling that we are never too far from a simulation, that maybe everything is just a game. Perfectly suited for introspective yet intense moments, it acts as an ideal bridge between harder tracks in a set.
On the flip side, I Love Acid (B1) is direct, hypnotic, and designed to lock the dancefloor into a steady flow. Stripped back to punchy drums and a raw acid line, it takes a minimal approach that works equally well in early hours or late-night sets. Behind the title lies the idea of acid as both machine energy and mental escape, where repetitive sequences blur the boundary between human emotion and mechanical movement.
As a final touch, Scan Your Brain (B2) shifts into deeper, more immersive territory. Analog pad textures create a drifting atmosphere over a hypnotic bassline and electro drums. With this closing track, Blue Vision answers their initial question by imagining the dancefloor as a space to disconnect from rigid thinking. The vocal serves as a reminder that the brain is constantly overloaded, and that dancing becomes a way to let go, reset, and reconnect.
This has been a very personal project and a mammoth undertaking for us folks here PACE HQ: 12 tracks unearthed from the cult Scottish figure’s completely overlooked back catalogue. Collected archive material from the past 25 years, originally composed as an OST for the feature length film The Flesher (1992) which was also written, shot and directed by Rae. No copies remain. Deep cuts that span G-funk, hip-hop, house, synth-pop, electro, dub, downtempo, funk/soul, R’n’B with appearances from Rae’s heavyweight list of frequent collaborators… Bernie Worrell, Adrian Sherwood and Jimmy Douglass.
"In 1991, the Scottish Rugby Union & the Royal Bank of Scotland, commissioned me tae make the world's first Scotland World Cup music video... they didn’t pay me so I fought back. It took 18 years tae win, and I nearly lost everything. I turned to audio visual art: under the pseudonym Jock Pleasure - I wrote and directed a feature length film called The Flesher as well as creating 100s of full length DVDs and tracks” (Jesse Rae).
One man took on the banks and won, but it took its toll and in this totemic corpus of work Jesse Rae counts the cost. The Flesher is art as pure defiance: “this stuff is very dark and deep, it is such a vast body o’ work, but when I won my battle against the bank, I secretly returned tae Hodge Close (in the Scottish borders) and dropped the entire work sealed in stone intae the deep deep murky depths of that water, where it has remained since 2009. There are no mair copies."
What we have here then is the salvaged remains. A hopeful dunt of Scottish erotica that gets you right in the pits.
Splice DJ Screw with Dean Blunt, Moodymann, Prince, Cocteau Twins, MF DOOM, Luther Van fuckin’ Dross, Barry fuckin’ White; run that through the B-movie videotape static meets Harmony Korine, Les Blank & early Grand Theft Auto. Empty boulevards. Small-town strip joints. Late-night dial-up. Sacrifice and solace. Outside of the OST, there’s a cast of forgotten characters: primary school kids making house jams, teenage popstars from the Scottish Borders, and the rhapsodic Ayrshire soprano NIKA laying down haunting vocals in Miami.
Celebrated as a cult figure in the USA, Jesse’s work has never fully had the appreciation it deserves at home. Not really. Aye, we know Inside Out and The Thistle. But he’s too easily fobbed off as an eccentric outsider: a helmet-wearing, claymore-wielding gimmick. But do we really know the extent of what this man has done - and gone through - for the sake of art?
Here comes the next revelation in our ongoing journey of uncovering true artistry, with KAIR stepping again into the spotlight for his debut EP on Real Talks Records. After touching our hearts with his appearance on our first VA, it became clear that his sound and his message deserved a deeper exploration. The result is the Salsa! EP, a stunning reflection of his talent.
We couldn’t be more thrilled with this release. KAIR has been consistently recognized for his highly creative music productions, brimming with his colorful personality, endless groove, and heart. This follows a stream of successful releases on 5511, K7 Records, Banana Gold, Miura Records, theBasement Discos, Real Talks Records, and more.
The first three songs on the EP deliver some serious heat, setting their sights straight for the dancefloor. With well-structured drum rhythms that move the body and stir the soul, crafted with love and dedication, he delivers a succinct slice of tech-housey goodness that keeps it tight throughout.
While these 3 bangers won't fail to make you dance and feel good, the B-side holds a hidden gem. Closing out the release, “GTA” embodies an entirely different energy, delivering emotional vibes that keep things slick and grooving all the while.
The Salsa! EP captures the essence of what we stand for at Real Talks Records: music with intention, depth, and soul. It’s an EP built not just for the dance floor, but for meaningful moments.
South African composer and producer Jason van Wyk is continuously honing his craft, with each consecutive release feeling like a clear evolution of its predecessor. Through his albums and soundtrack commissions, van Wyk’s technique at perfectly balancing melody and atmosphere is now more apparent than ever.
Inherent, his sixth aptly named album, finds van Wyk distilling his sound to where each note seems to have implicit cinematic intent, revealing intricate new details with every listen. Inherent features large swaths of warm, wispy ambient, ghostly piano and widescreen drone. Yet, at the very moment when all seems to apex, van Wyk presses on by mining his past endeavors in club music, neo-classical and scoring work to create something else entirely.
Distorted guitars, percolating synth arpeggios and poignant beat design propel the contemplative ambient sections into the light, bringing van Wyk’s sound into previously unexplored territory.
‘An Undying Love For A Burning World follows Converge’s Love Is Not Enough this year as a pivotal metal album about acknowledging the darkness for what it is and trying to accept it.’ - the QUIETUS
‘Neurosis Know You’re Hurting. Their Stunning New Album Is a Life Preserver.
An Undying Love for a Burning World, the band’s first album with new member Aaron Turner, is a reminder of how even the darkest music can be a guiding light’ - 9/10 ROLLING STONE
Evolution can be ugly and beautiful, painful and euphoric. An Undying Love For A Burning World is the first new release from Neurosis in a decade, and a potent statement of intent and rebirth - one that marks the first new steps of resolve and resilience.
An Undying Love For A Burning World is an epic album of colossal hypnotism - beautiful, fearsome and utterly compelling in a way that only Neurosis can be. Aaron Turner (Sumac, Isis) joins the band on vocals and guitar, a name whose legacy is intertwined with the band’s own and a true kindred spirit.
“From the moment I first heard Neurosis over 30 years ago, I felt this was the music my heart and mind had been seeking but not yet heard. Now after many years travelling along various musical paths of my own, the singular sound and spirit embodied by Neurosis continues to speak to the depths of my being. It is an honor and a true pleasure to have been welcomed so warmly into a band that not only shaped my perspective on the limitless possibilities of music - but has lived and exemplified the necessity of upholding creative integrity and camaraderie above all else.” - AARON TURNER
Neurosis have never been afraid of change, and here they embrace endless regeneration, surrendering to the emotional exorcism through heaviness and distortion that their music incites. Just as the universe tends towards balance, Neurosis’cacophony of noise, rhythm and dissonance always resolves towards moments of beauty. The addition of Turner's powerful vocals and wildly creative and unhinged approach to guitar proves to be a vital force as Neurosis find themselves again at the mercy of evolution and expression.
On every song in the band’s history, Neurosis shifts restlessly between tension and relief, invoking a feeling both feral and transcendent in listeners. The band describe their songwriting process as an inescapable impulse to create with each other - a need rather than a choice. Indeed, the band insist that their return is “not a reunion - we never broke up.”
The album was recorded by Scott Evans (Kowloon Walled City, Sumac, and Great Falls) at Studio Litho in Seattle during three weekends this winter, and mixed in three days just six weeks before release at Evan's Antisleep Audio in Oakland.
Neurosis will play their first show in seven years on the traditional lands of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana as part of Fire in the Mountains festival by special invitation of Firekeeper Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to reducing youth suicide in Indian Country.
FITM, is a unique festival known for bringing epic music to epic landscapes with the intent of reconnecting and immersing oneself with the natural world, and strengthening our ancestral roots as human beings - an aim which aligns directly with Neurosis’ deep-rooted power.
Stay tuned for further news over the coming months.
PREVIOUS PRESS:
‘In less skilful hands, this relentless sonic oppression would be gruelling, but by expressing human frailty with such visceral abandon, Neurosis have once again turned darkness into euphoria.’ - 4/5 THE GUARDIAN
‘The Oakland band has evolved from gritty metallic punk to harrowing post-hardcore prog to the majestic doom of their current phase’ - 7.9 PITCHFORK
‘It’s not often an album of such stature exceeds one’s anticipations, but Honor is too astounding to not be revered.’ - The QUIETUS
“Fires Within Fires is the summation of thirty years of experimentation in tonality and texture. Yes, NEUROSIS are firmly positioned within the extreme metal underground yet their music, with its ability to generate images of beauty akin to those many of us have experienced in our own lives – not to mention the loss that accompanies them – challenges this categorization. ‘’ - WIRE MAGAZINE - FULL PAGE REVIEW.
"Their intensity remains undimmed on Fires Within Fires...The already converted will take heart from the evidence that age is unable to wither the fury of this heaviest of bands." - KERRANG! 4K REVIEW
"Every monstrous sludge riff gnashes menacingly for the right amount of time and every delicate moment of folk-inspired drift is emotionally exacting. Neurosis continue to create art without equal, and Fires Within Fires is another worthy addition to an awe-inspiring canon containing a number of truly pioneering and timeless albums." - METAL HAMMER - 8/10 LEAD REVIEW
The moment the instantly recognizable intertwined guitar passage on the title track to the Eagles' Hotel California begins, the record's genius becomes obvious all over again. Ranked the 118th Greatest Album of All Time by Rolling Stone, certified by RIAA as the third best-selling LP in history, and considered the foundation on which the Golden State's mid-‘70s music scene was built, the 1976 landmark is a music staple immune to shifts in trends, eras, and styles. Fearlessly addressing the chaos and consequences of American life, its songs remain strikingly prescient and gain creedence with each passing day.
Mastered from the original analogue master tapes, pressed on MoFi SuperVinyl, and limited to 17,500 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's UltraDisc One-Step 180g 45RPM 2LP vinyl box set ensures you will want to permanently check into and never leave this particular Hotel California. Up to the herculean task of standing head and shoulders above all prior reissues, this collectible edition plays with extreme clarity, organic richness, tube-like warmth, massive dynamics, and microscopic levels of detail. You'll be able to practically smell the colitas and feel the breeze in your hair. Songs come across with an epic sweep and feature immersive, front-to-back soundstages that allow the music unprecedented air, roominess, and separation. As for the noise floor? It's basically as invisible as the spirits that waft in the corridors of the unforgettable title song.
Aesthetically, the premium packaging and presentation of the UD1S Hotel California pressing befit its esteemed status. Housed in a deluxe box, it features gorgeous foil-stamped jackets and faithful-to-the-original graphics that illuminate the splendour of the recording. From every angle, this UD1S reissue exists as a curatorial artefact meant to be preserved, touched, and examined. It is made for discerning listeners that prize sound quality and production, and who desire to fully immerse themselves in the art – and everything involved with the album, from the renowned cover art to the meticulous finishes.
Indeed, the opportunity to zero in on all the particulars of the 26-million-selling Eagles record dubbed "a legitimate rock masterpiece" by vaunted Los Angeles Times scribe Robert Hilburn has never been better. A global phenomenon that marked the band debut of guitarist-singer Joe Walsh, Hotel California continues to resonate and connect with listeners of all generations taken by its narrative depth, stark directness, picturesque melodies, daring majesty, and ardent emotionalism. Adorned with a breathtaking exterior photograph of the Beverly Hills Hotel that serves as the simultaneously haunting and alluring cover art, and rounded out by a rear-cover shot of the Lido Hotel lobby that reinforces a notion that teeters between permanence and transience, Hotel California is brilliantly tied to a specific place that functions as a universally understood metaphor for the American Dream.
Confronting the darker undercurrents and oft-ignored constructs attached to that romantic notion, the record's songs revolve around a host of shared themes: excess, mobility, stability, illusion, fame, destruction, and idealism included. Notably, Hotel California appeared at a crucial junction in American history: During the country's bicentennial and amid escalating controversies related to the Vietnam War, energy crisis, and governmental corruption. That the Eagles manage to channel such cultural, social, and economical matters into a cohesive, stately, big-picture statement is alone a stupendous feat. That the album's reach, boldness, vitality, accessibility, and understated intensity have never waned make it a marvel.
Reflecting on Hotel California 40 years after its original release, and indirectly explaining its enduring appeal and increasing relevance, singer-songwriter Don Henley confirmed the record pertains to the "loss of innocence, the cost of naiveté...the difficulties of balancing loving relationships and work, trying to square the conflicting relationship between business and art; the corruption in politics, the fading away of the Sixties dream of ‘peace, love and understanding.'"
It can be argued that Henley and company squarely hit on and drove home those ideas in the surreal title track, chart-topping "Life in the Fast Lane," and grand "The Last Resort" alone. But that would miss the forest for the trees. Experienced as an unbroken whole, complete with the pristinely shot imagery and physical grooves, Hotel California unfolds like a geography-conscious saga by James Michener and plays like colour-saturated movie shot on 70mm film by Martin Scorsese. It's about our collective and individual decisions – and the shape of our past, present, and future. And, just like that conjured by our imaginations, Hotel California continues to take on a life of its own.
More About Mobile Fidelity UltraDisc One-Step and Why It Is Superior
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab's UltraDisc One-Step (UD1S) technique bypasses generational losses inherent to the traditional three-step plating process by removing two steps: the production of father and mother plates, which are created to yield numerous stampers from each lacquer that is cut. For UD1S plating, stampers (also called "converts") are made directly from the lacquers. Since each lacquer yields only one stamper, multiple lacquers need to be cut. Mobile Fidelity's UD1S process produces a final LP with the lowest-possible noise floor. The removal of two steps of the plating process also reveals musical details and dynamics that would otherwise be lost due to the standard multi-step process. With UD1S, every aspect of vinyl production is optimized to produce the best-sounding vinyl album available today.
MoFi SuperVinyl
Developed by NEOTECH and RTI, MoFi SuperVinyl is the most exacting-to-specification vinyl compound ever devised. Analogue lovers have never seen (or heard) anything like it. Extraordinarily expensive and extremely painstaking to produce, the special proprietary compound addresses two specific areas of improvement: noise floor reduction and enhanced groove definition. The vinyl composition features a new carbonless dye (hold the disc up to the light and see) and produces the world's quietest surfaces. This high-definition formula also allows for the creation of cleaner grooves that are indistinguishable from the original lacquer. MoFi SuperVinyl provides the closest approximation of what the label's engineers hear in the mastering lab.
Carly Simon’s quietly intense sophomore album comes across like an assertive notice nailed to a telephone pole for all to see. Bold, personal, and autobiographical, Anticipation announces the arrival of an artist who won’t back down. While Simon stands her ground on her eponymous debut, she elevates her passion and persona to heightened levels throughout this gold-certified record, dealing in private matters related to love, relationships, and desire. At times, Simon is nothing short of primal. She reflects on the difficulties of retaining your own identity while also giving yourself to a partner. Simon’s connection to her folk roots would never be stronger.
Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP set of Anticipation lays bare the rich tapestries afforded by the spare blend of soft guitars, mellow orchestration, and dreamy melodies. Audiophiles and record collectors, take note: This is the first time Anticipation has been available on 45RPM. The wider grooves and dead-quiet surfaces prove extremely rewarding.
The rhythmic framework anchored by session pro Andy Newmark’s drumming sounds dynamic and balanced, with songs benefiting from a focused midrange and taut low-end. Simon’s attachment to and investment in each lyric is made evident by way of the intimate, hushed atmospherics and expansive responsiveness. And just as Simon’s vocals feel more transparent and direct, so, too, do the supporting choral arrangements.
Released before the singer-songwriter movement reached full bloom, Anticipation remains remarkable for the high-quality songwriting and Simon’s gutsy stance. The album cover — depicting the vocalist holding the gates at Queen Mary’s Garden in Regent’s Park and seemingly defying anyone to take her on — serves as a metaphor for the content within.
Known for having relationships with high-profile partners, Simon was heavily involved with Cat Stevens leading up to the recording of Anticipation. She draws from her experiences to craft tunes that resonate because of their honesty, realism, and strength. Few of those moments are better known than the Top 20 title track, which Simon composed in just 15 minutes as she waited for Stevens to pick her up for a date. Imbued with the nervousness, tension, and excitement that accompany the moments when a romance could go either way, the Grammy-nominated song presages the feminist-minded vulnerability and burning longing that informs a majority of the record.
On the soulful “Legend in Your Own Time,” also inspired by Stevens, Simon harnesses yearning as a conduit to feel-good paradise. Deemed by Rolling Stone an “absolute clincher, an awesome description of the psychic ravages of gone-nuts, know-nothing love,” her cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “I’ve Got to Have You” moans with no-holds-barred desire and breathtaking sensuality.
For all the wanting Simon pursues on Anticipation, her way of staying in control — vocally and personally — make the record a courageous statement of contemporary femininity. For further evidence, look to the bossa nova of “Summer’s Coming Around Again,” somber “Share the End,” soothing “Three Days,” and sincere “Julie Through the Glass,” a tribute to her young niece.
Simon would achieve international fame with her next album, No Secrets. Yet as this definitive reissue shows, Anticipation suggests the rest of the world was just a little late catching up to her.
Drop Music marks a marvellous quarter of a century of releases with this new slab of vinyl featuring some gems from disco funksters Crazy P and the house mainstays Inland Knights. Crazy P go first with 'Disc Odyssey' which is perfectly indicative of their much beloved sound with its low slung kicks and funky bassline. Inland Knights then offer a trio of in demand & unreleased tracks. 'Overnight' is a bumming deep house joint, 'Walk On' has an icy late night vibe and balmy pads and 'Do It Again is a more playful closer, with some killer b-line action. All four, needless to say, are timeless gems, and the fact the last two are appearing on vinyl first the first time makes it an even more desirable cop.
The Doobie Brothers faced a serious predicament as they prepared to record Takin’ It to the Streets. That the group navigated a potentially serious personnel problem that would’ve tanked lesser bands and scored its fourth straight Top 10 album — while again expanding its range — speaks to the collective’s chemistry, broad-mindedness, and songwriting abilities. Known as the effort on which vocalist-keyboardist Michael McDonald makes his debut, the 1976 set stands as an all-encompassing representation of the various styles the Doobie Brothers explored during their heyday.
Sourced from the original analog master tapes, mastered by engineer Krieg Wunderlich, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s numbered-edition 180g 45RPM 2LP presents Takin’ It to the Streets in definitive sound. Given the luxurious room of a 45RPM version for the first time and benefiting from the wider grooves, the music unfolds amid large soundstages replete with ultra-quiet backgrounds, big dynamics, and accurate imaging. By then a key component of the Doobie Brothers' success, Ted Templeman’s production is brought to light with stellar clarity and definition.
As is the case on Mobile Fidelity's four other acclaimed Doobie Brothers 45RPM reissues, myriad facets that help make Takin’ It to the Streets timeless, natural, and organic — minimal overdubs, voices that realistically rise and fall, notes that properly carry and decay, warm tones, bass lines that pop with color, well-placed percussive accents, defined separation between the players — emerge with incredible presence, openness, and fullness. Nothing is overdone or out of place. No small feat given Templeman and company didn't know how everything would unfold when they first met up in Southern California.
Confronted with a change in plans by co-founder Tom Johnston, whose contributions to the band up to that point in its career identified him as an indispensable member, the Doobie Brothers were thrown for a loop when he curtailed pre-planning work and retreated home to deal with ongoing health problems. Thankfully, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, the group's newest full-time recruit, had a possible solution in his former fellow Steely Dan colleague McDonald. The singer-keyboardist had already sat in with the Doobie Brothers on their recent tour. So, why not give it a shot?
McDonald's prodigious talents notwithstanding, he couldn't technically replace Johnston. For starters: McDonald's soulful timbre bore little resemblance to Johnston's grittier voice. And McDonald played keyboards, not guitar. No wonder Templeman initially expressed reservations. He also knew the Doobie Brothers needed additional material before they could consider wrapping the record. Yet the skepticism began to dissipate on the first day of the sessions. Still waiting for second drummer Keith Knudsen, the band gathered in the studio with former roadie Bobby LaKind on congas and Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward for a live run through "Wheels of Fortune." The instrumental parts of that take landed on the record. Johnston would even return to share the lead vocal duties with Patrick Simmons.
Those magical results, and the experience of hearing McDonald woodshed the title track at the piano, turned Templeman into a believer and cheerleader. Spurred by their veteran producer's encouragement and McDonald's ideas for songs, the Doobie Brothers embraced new directions just as they did after their debut LP and on subsequent efforts with orchestral and horn treatments. The latter return on Takin’ It to the Streets courtesy of the five-piece Memphis Horns. Yet outside of viola accompaniment on "Losin' End," string elements step aside in favor of McDonald's pianos, synthesizers, and clavinet. And, on five cuts, lead singing.
As the new face of the band, McDonald ended up crafting all or portions of four tunes. His fingerprints are all over two of the singles, including the jazzy, blue-eyed-soul delight “It Keeps You Runnin’” and irresistibly melodic title track, which cracked the Top 15 and became one of the Doobie Brothers’ signature numbers. He and Baxter’s penchant for smoothness, and a precursor to the band’s coming transition into rhythmically oriented yacht rock, informs the brassy sway of “Carry Me Away.”
Further enriched by Tiran Porter’s gorgeous, time-signature-shifting ballad “For Someone Special,” Simmons’ peppy, spring-loaded “8th Avenue Shuffle,” and Johnston’s “Turn It Loose” — the move-your-feet boogie serving as kind of apt farewell to the band’s prior rock ‘n’ roll sound — Takin’ It to the Streets spun uncertainty into gold. Altered yet unbowed, the Doobie Brothers once again offered countless listeners “the best kind of remedy” with feel-good music that holds up amid any era.
Backing it up can mean so many things. According to the urban dictionary, it means to carry on drinking the next day in spite of a rather large one the night before. According to Apple, it means to take your I-phone and attach it to an I-pad or Apple Mac - and copy the information to the cloud. Or the device. But in music.....what we mean is basically this....."Damn......that was a big hit......how the hell are they going to emulate that success on the next one."And it's hard for so many reasons. Was it luck Timing That one in a million sample With all the pressure, soon the artist can start second guessing themselves........and that's when backing it up becomes a real problem.But not for our boy PURPLE DISCO MACHINE. If BODY FUNK, his last outing on CLUB SWEAT, wasn't one of THE biggest songs of last year, from Ibiza to Miami and back again.....played by every single DJ under the sun, from BLACK MADONNA to JAMIE JONES to your mama......then I'm not sitting at my lap top writing this shpeel....which I'm very sure I am. AND I'm going to back myself (see what I did there) - and say that DISHED (MALE STRIPPER) is the best way to back up a hit ever. With another hit. Doesn't sound the same....doesn't worry about what the last one did...just does what it does.....which to be honest - is GO OFF!!!! It builds and builds and builds and......In the same way that BODY FUNK masterly made the sum of 2 disco songs bigger than their parts had ever been, this time PDM takes some Italo Disco from MAN TO MAN MEET MAN PARRISH's MALE STRIPPER and mashes it with the aptly named ELLIS D's DISHAPELLA to create a 12/10. Back it up PDM - you are a legend!!!!
Gerd returns to his own Frame Of Mind imprint with another fine selection of tracks. The breakbeat-driven groove of "Brave New Era" aside, all tracks offer different perspectives on early Motor City techno and house. Gerd is showcasing his love for metallic FM-synthesis driven sounds once again. Deep, moody and uplifting.
Re-Issued and Re-Mastered by Beau @247. Back with the original and the remix on one slab of black crack. FBD Project rolling out the musical side of early drum and bass / jungle. The original is a pure chop-age fest, with poly-rhythm breaks rolling over 808 tones and luscious melodies... buy it an enjoy listening to the ever changing rolls and break programming.
Flip to the B-side and check out Neil Trix's revisited version. Stepping it up with an AMEN roller that just glides and rolls without the need for any long breakdown. FBD Project bang at it again.
Amazing remix capturing the style of 2000 D&B with a modern twist. Madcap's on fire right now smashing out serious quality tracks that are being hammered by all. This remix is getting a lot of attention since being announced.
Pete Cannon (93 Amiga mashup) of The Core.
Pete on a pure 93 jungle darkside tip. Classic Mirage samples with Amiga breaks and edits ensures this is a must play if you are into your 93 Darkside. Pete has smashed it out the park again.
Nookie (Dark rolling 2025) remix of Terminate.
What can we say... Nookie always plays the original of Terminate and has rolled out a D&B deep building head nodder that takes you in. This just rolls and rolls. Get it mixing in a set and take them on a journey of deep darkness.
Vinyl Junkie and Sanxion (Jungle Techno) remix of Terminate.
The final remix... a fierce jungle techno workout with amazing stabs and drums. Four to the floor with Amen always works alongside a nice deep sub to keep you bouncing, add some classic stab workouts and you have an anthem in the making. A perfect nod to 93 Jungle Techno from two amazing producers.
This second EP from Alex Jungle comes with the standard amount of chaos and confusion, what with it being titled Chapter Three. But once again, Alex drops four demented breakbeat tracks, flexing his muscles with both the old skool and the classic jungle styles, yet keeping his eyes on progression and innovation. The only thing better than having this Chapter Three EP would be having Chapter Two as well.
SKYLAX RECORDS proudly unveils the fourth and final chapter in its epic, conceptual 4-part saga — SKYLAX BLACK 4 – Vision Quest. This secretive series brings together two pillars of French electronic music, ARNAUD REBOTINI and ACID WASHED, in a bold tribute to the essence of rave, electro, and techno. Following the critically acclaimed Winter Sequences and Musical Component, this last installment pushes even deeper into the roots and futures of the underground. On the A-side, Vision Quest opens the EP with a pulsating journey of progressive electronics — cinematic and sleek, evoking the robotic spirituality of Kraftwerk and the expansive textures of early kosmische music. Next, TOI 700-d channels the golden age of acid house with infectious 303 lines and jacking grooves. Think DJ Pierre, Phuture, and Ron Hardy at their most transcendental — raw, euphoric, and timeless. Flip to the B-side and dive into Black Star Liners — a dub techno masterclass in the lineage of Maurizio, Basic Channel, and Chain Reaction. Deep, minimal, and full of ghostly delay, it’s a meditative immersion in pure sound system hypnosis. Closing the EP, Trojan Asteroids fires into classic Metroplex territory — icy, futuristic, and funk-laced. A perfect nod to Cybotron and Model 500, this is hi-tech soul with a razor’s edge. Once again, SKYLAX RECORDS delivers a visionary release — timeless, intelligent, and essential. The final piece of the puzzle is here. The journey ends… or just begins.
At the end of the project’s 20th anniversary celebrations, ROME tolls in the next era of the band with a fresh and visionary album: ‘The Tower’. ROME’s new and ever more mature sound is informed by a radically minimalist folk approach, with nonetheless charmingly lush arrangements. ‘The Tower’ is an introspective and enigmatic work at whose centre stands nothing less than ROME’s raison d’etre: The Great Work and the sacrifices both necessary and essential on the demanding path to light. As an unreachable bulwark against the general decline of every value in life, the tower would have been erected long ago to defend the coast.
It would have been raised on a rocky platform resting on the sea floor. It would have been joined to the continent by a thin tongue of sand. It would have offered a heroic, magical point of view. A place for our claim to know and point out vaster horizons. It would have stood firm on the ramparts. This isolated tower would not have been just a refuge for more or less mystic escape, but also a post of resistance and combat.
Can’t go over it. Can’t go under it. Gotta go through it. And somewhere out there in the Pitch black beyond all darkness lies Peace & Purpose. The horizon you never quite crest until the inevitable end. Breathe deep — this fearful moment is the most alive you’re ever gonna feel. For the last decade, Crack Cloud’s vision has grown ever more expansive, more cinematic. Last go around, they dropped from The Heavens and then performed with their bare backs to an endless darkening desert. Now they’ve crammed all that life into some metallic and strange object called Peace & Purpose. All the terror of living. All the helplessness. All the raw human will. All glued and screwed and locked into this impossible tactile shape of dungeon dub; sour milk vox; Avant-protest music. Music arm wrestling itself to the ground. Far afield of beauty. The discordant symphony of factory farming and grim timber of the meat processing plant. The grinding din of the cogs. And yet, never giving up in spite of all good sense. Even in death, we are a coterie of survivors. Look now: There’s Terry Fox on his one-legged Marathon of Hope across The Great White North while cancer spreads through his lungs. A self-annihilating drive to feel alive. Rage against the dying of the light, they say. Well, how ‘bout it then!??! Peace & Purpose is not in any way some art project meditation on Punk Rock. It is Punk Rock. Terrifying, inspiring, vital, invigorating and most importantly, utterly unexpected. Every goddamn stupid day is a sublime slice of fresh hell. That’s the point. Gotta go through it. Wishing you Peace & Purpose — if only in that last big breath.
In 1995 Celvin Rotane’s “I Believe” carved its place in house history. Powered by the unmistakable “Huh!” sample a soaring high string breakdown, and a phat kick that slams into a massive crash, it became a global club anthem, lighting up dance floors from festivals to beach bars. An evergreen classic, it still moves crowds today.
Now, 30 years later, it returns as a fully remastered and refurbished package on limited vinyl. The release features the original Dub Mix plus remixes from DJ Misjah and Rozzo from Switzerland, now rather known as Lake People. And there is more on the way, with remixes coming from Johannes Albert, Cinthie and many more. Huh, we believe again.
Designed for her 5 Hour extended sets and refined on dancefloors worldwide, "Can't Stop Loving You" - out today on slash - captures KI/KI's signature nostalgia-meets-future sound. Self-written and produced, it's an emotive trance burner built for peak time joy, unity and release, a sound that has defined her rise across global rave culture.
"Can't Stop Loving You" has become the closing moment in KI/KI's 2025 sets. From her Radio One Essential Mix, her two 5 Hours at the Woolstore, Melbourne - the only artist to ever do two back-to-back - to her AMF headline set to 40,000 fans at the Johan Cruijff ArenA! "Can't Stop Loving You" has been the emotional closer all year long.
On the track KI/KI says:
I wrote this track during the biggest heartbreak of my life. Back then I was working on music for my liveshow, and needed a track to close the show with. Can't stop loving you was the result.
Every note, every sound, every vocal helped me through how I was feeling and listening back now reminds me that eventually things will be okay again. The song evolves from an emotional track to an optimistic 172bpm banger and this perfectly describes my process - and maybe the story of almost every heartbreak?
This record is living proof to me that music can be healing. I hope it does the same for you
In just a few years, KI/KI has become one of the most exciting and influential voices in electronic music. She's sold out 20,000-capacity shows and graced the cover of DJ Mag. In 2026, she'll headline London, Dublin, Belfast, Paris, LA and NYC - all selling out in minutes.
With new music coming and her fanbase surging, "Can't Stop Loving You" now closes both her sets and her year - the emotional full stop on 2025 before an even bigger 2026.
Real soul heads won't need to be told that this is a reissue which stands tall over most: Lozano is a classic, much sought after and now hard to find record by young Puerto Ricans and Cubans in Spanish Harlem and the Bronx. It's the only album credited to the group and it's rich in funky arrangements and clean falsetto vocals. There are slower, more heart-aching laments like 'Loving You' next to sparkling confessionals about a moribund relationship ('Free Girl') and more empowering, upbeat grooves like 'Can't Get You Off Of My Mind' that capture the excitement of falling in love all over again. It's a wonderful rollercoaster of emotions that come with teenage romance and will have you nostalgic for those innocent times.
Genie In A Bottle is back with strong EP from my Italian Hermano - Shkedul.
“Secret Society” is the last track of the record, but definitely far from least. One of the best examples of Shkedul’s dark and confident production. This time also with perfect marching kicks, acidic arpeggios, and kinda familiar story that is being narrated through the track. The name here goes straight from the story, by the way.
“Meditative State” at the B1 also tells us the story, this time with a bit calmer voice. The track is calmer too, the kicks are still marching, don’t assume. “Confidence” lays very hard on the acid part, easily the most acidic track here. Finally, the opener, “Change Is Coming”. With the story again (damn, I like those conversations over the track so much) and the most interesting bassline of all.
Powerfull Support from : Quest , Anthea , Gabbs , Jane Fitz…
Another standout chapter in the Sacred Medicine catalogue, this latest release sees Ron Trent at the helm once again. This time featuring master percussionist Angel Figueroa (Herbie Hancock “This is the Drum” ) and multi versed guitarist Pablo Color.
The track unfolds through layered rhythms and melodies that feel light yet deeply pulsating, carrying both elegance and intensity. Its rich, evolving arrangement balances a strong percussive drive with a sense of space and musicality, revealing new details with every listen.
On the flipside, a more acoustic “Suite” version offers an alternate perspective, highlighting the composition’s organic textures and depth. A record that speaks to both dancers and attentive listeners alike, and another meaningful addition to the ever-consistent Sacred Medicine catalogue.
If one thing is for sure, you can always count on FXHE to serve up the jams and surprise you in the process. Enter this new 12" from Bill Beaver aka William Beaver who has been serving up house jams under various guises since the late 80s. This one, 'Crusin Outer Drive', is, in the words of the label, "a back yard Boogie slash Hustle Summer Jam for those who live in the inner city and Beyond" and it comes with a 70s-style keyboard solo from Javonntte Garrett as well as signature off-grid drums, lo-fi charm and a raw analogue aesthetic. Vocals add the charm as the synths get passed through various filters, decay and change shape with a mind of their own and the chords never quit. Elsewhere, we get an instrumental version of the A-side and two takes on 'Down To The Sac', one a sultry, looped up affair from Jefferson, the other from Brett Fullerton, stripping it down to tribal drums and then building it right back up again via some super pimped synths. It's pure Detroit heat.
A collaboration of Rob Gee, Buzz Fuzz, & DJ Gizmo together on this one! 30 years later it still sounds great! Just as you would expect from these 3 hardcore legends. This release is the most sought after 12” from Rob Gee with 3 tracks that still stand out on this classic vinyl from 3 decades ago! Drop The Bomb is one of my favourite solo tracks from Rob Gee. Great to have this record out again at a reasonable price for supporters. Comes on a limited edition blue vinyl as well as the standard black 12”
The anime-loving crate diggers behind the Secret Vault series are back with some more disco edits of the highest order, and once again they're aimed squarely at the dancefloor. The A-side transforms an overlooked groove into a peak-time powerhouse, driven by muscular drums, rolling bass and a perfectly paced arrangement that keeps the energy locked as the vocals keep on adding fuel to the fire. Flip it over for a breezy and uplifting, horn-soaked disco workout packed with hooky bass and ever-rising vibes. Respectful of the originals but with the sort of punch needed to cut through. Another doozy from this small but well-formed label.
This isn’t Halloween however the spooky meters are showing abnormal levels of spookiness thanks to the French duo of producers Gogo Gadgeto and Lazer Man. These monsieurs of electronic groove have gathered together to craft “Vampire World” the disc which is categorically against the light, garlic or the silver bullets and in huge favor with the sir count Dracula himself. Audio trips which are telling the ritual story of nighttime and the creatures who are lurking deep in the shadows when the sun is tucked away and cozy sleeping. The 4 tracker is guaranteed to transport you to Transylvania, the original birthplace of vampires and to establish contact with them. At the end of the day, we are living in the vampire world where evil spirits must be respected as the undead are always watching.
Andrei Ciubuc and Rhadoo join forces again under the classical a _ r duo we are all familiar with, this time appearing on Cameleon Records’ second installment CML02, delivering two power-house tracks, remembering us about the pure minimal-techno sound that formed the pillars of today’s underground scene. Different in their own fashion, these two tracks perfectly blend percussion, melody and trippy elements in a way that only this fusion can deliver.
Some records are made for the hour when the light goes long and low - when you can feel the day slipping and want to hold it a little longer. Escaping Sunset is a deep house collection built for exactly that stretch: warm, unhurried, and turned toward the last of the glow. Like the hourglass on its label, it's about the kind of time you can't keep - so you turn the glass over and let it run again.
Andu Simion, a Romanian producer with deep roots in the European minimal and microhouse underground (Tzinah, Palinoia, Diffuse Reality) and a careful hand for groove - teams with Thomas Wood, a deep and raw house producer (Circle of Us, Berg Audio), across the A-side: the title track and then "Onde Viola." On the flip, Sickdisco - now based in Belgrade, and as at home in deep and minimal house as he is among the minds behind punk outfit ВсадникиЖКХ (The Horsemen of Housing & Commercial Services) - lays down "Beats," before Nicolas Barnes, the Riga producer and ECOUL SND founder already woven into the MixCult family, closes the record with "Phantom Lights."
Adlibitum Tum Tunes is a division of MixCult Records
