quête:architect

Terry Francis stands as one of the original architects of acid tech house, a genuine pioneer whose influence shaped the sound and spirit of London’s underground scene in the 90s. From the seminal projects with Housey Doingz to his enduring tenure as a core resident at fabric, Terry has remained a constant and uncompromising force at the heart of the scene.

His contribution is impossible to overstate. Across three decades, Terry’s unmistakable sound, forward thinking approach and steadfast dedication have inspired artists across the globe. His work helped define an era and continues to resonate today.

Following a widely acclaimed run of reissues from the golden age of the early 2000s London underground, where the label was born, Sushitech Records now joins forces with Terry for a landmark moment, his first Sushitech LP, featuring various tracks from over the years alongside unreleased session recorded at Strange Weather Studios in 1999.

This special collection brings together eleven tracks, officially remastered from the original tapes and source material for the very first time. These are timeless productions, restored to reveal new depth, clarity and detail while preserving the raw energy that made them so vital and sought after, pressed on 180g vinyl. The release also features standout collaborations with Ricardo Afonso, Gideon Jackson and Haris, further cementing its status as an essential document of an era. A landmark collection, restored with precision and reintroduced in its fullest form.

EVPHORIA is not just a record. It’s a trigger.
140 BPM of tension, ascent and release — engineered to push the dancefloor into collective hypnosis.

Balancing power house propulsion, techno pulse and large-scale emotional lift, the track transforms a strangely familiar sensation into something raw, direct and uncompromising. No nostalgia — only forward motion. A rise that refuses to come down.

The original version unfolds as a sustained euphoric surge: driving percussion, insistent hooks and controlled repetition built for peak-time unity.
The edit version distills that energy into a tighter DJ weapon — immediate, sharp, floor-focused.

On the B-side, Inflammable Noise appears in its instrumental form — pure club mechanics, no vocals, no distraction. A stripped version that amplifies tension and turns the track into a true dancefloor weapon. Already tested in demanding environments, it notably detonated a peak-time moment when Chloé Caillet played it at Berghain — a point where the room tipped over.

EVPHORIA moves freely across scenes — from house floors pushing tempo to techno basements and high-intensity dance spaces — built for DJs chasing the rupture point.

Pressed in a strict limited edition.
Vinyl only — no digital release.

Created under the EVPHORIA imprint by Hardrock Striker — dancefloor architect and driving force behind the Skylax universe — this release stands as a physical, autonomous club statement.
Sleeve artwork by H5 (Daft Punk, Air, Étienne de Crécy, Logorama, Kanye West / Adidas), reinforcing EVPHORIA as both a sonic and visual manifesto.

EVPHORIA doesn’t ask permission.
EVPHORIA triggers.
A record for the moment the room tips over.

Deep! atmosphere, groove and timeless dancefloor architecture. SYSTEM257 returns with a truly exceptional statement as N07 unveils November Morning, a stunning double pack overflowing with depth, elegance and underground precision. This is the kind of release that instantly commands attention, subtle yet powerful, deeply immersive yet undeniably effective, and crafted with the confidence of an artist who understands exactly how to create lasting impact.

The new 12" release, "Call and Response", by the enigmatic artist MD, is a masterclass in the resurgence of retro techno, bridging the gap between the raw industrialism of early 90s Detroit and a modern, high-fidelity punch. The A-side is defined by its massive, anthemic vibes, built around a thundering TR-909 kick and a soaring, crystalline synth lead that feels both nostalgic and startlingly fresh. What truly sets this record apart, however, is its intricate counterpoint structure; rather than relying on simple loops, MD weaves multiple independent melodic lines together in a rhythmic dance of tension and release. The "call" begins as a jagged, percussive stab that is immediately answered by a "response" of lush, interlocking minor-key arpeggios, creating a sense of constant movement and architectural depth. It’s a track that demands attention on a massive sound system, proving that the classic techno blueprint can still be expanded into something grand and deeply intellectual.

Limited to 250 copies

Techno architect Damon Wild returns to Sonic Groove with a masterclass in deep-space hypnotism. The Synewave founder bridges classic 90s grit with sharp, modern production across six tracks of driving, futuristic acid and mental, dubbed-out atmospheres. From broken beats to haunting vocal snippets, this is deep, spontaneous music from a true pioneer of the hypnotic sound.

SUPREME STRIKER returns with its second release following the breakthrough success of Quasar — Ritmo Love, widely supported on dancefloors and notably played by James Zabiela, igniting crowds and confirming the label’s direction: uncompromising underground music built on culture, not trends.

The new chapter comes from Italian producer John De La Noise, delivering a powerful and deeply authentic EP entirely co-produced by Michele Lamacchia, the mind behind Rhythm Of Paradise (ROP), Love Island, 34th Floor Experience, Nu-Cleo, Qubrique, Soulvibe Inc. and many other essential projects tied to the extended SKYLAX universe. A true architect of sound, Lamacchia brings his unmistakable analog finesse and musical intelligence into every detail of this record. From the opening track, A1 — Just With U (Special Skylax Edit) sets the tone with a refined filtered house approach — balancing French touch heritage with modern underground precision. Warmth, control, and elegance without excess. A2 — Tributo Al Maestro operates as a direct transmission — a respectful and elevated nod to the legacy of Soichi Terada and Larry Levan, where rhythm becomes language and space becomes emotion. A3 — 1986 (Special Skylax Edit) pushes deeper into the source code — merging old school Italo disco, proto-Chicago house and early European electronics. With strong melodic identity and raw analog textures, the track echoes the spirit of Klein & MBO while feeling immediate and alive.

On the B side, the journey expands with Piacere D’Estate, a fluid and luminous house track built for open air systems and extended sets, followed by Città Di Frontiera, where darker tones and hypnotic structures meet urban tension. Vecchio Ritmo Italiano closes the record as a statement — rhythm as memory, rhythm as identity, reprojected forward. Across the entire EP, the production carries the aura of early ‘90s Italian and New York house — not as a reference, but as a living system. Every element is intentional. Every frequency serves a purpose. SUPREME STRIKER continues to define its path: records made for the dancefloor, for DJs, for those who understand that music is not content, but structure.

After two albums inspired by vast northern landscapes, the forces of nature, and an ever-present sense of duality, Glass Museum shifts gears. The Brussels-based group-originally formed in 2016 by pianist Antoine Flipo and drummer Martin Grégoire-welcomes bassist Issam Labbene as an official third member, opening up a richer, more immersive sound and setting its sights on the rhythms of the modern city.

A true turning point in Glass Museum's career, the new album 4N4LOG CITY twists the codes of electronic music, explores the depths of jazz, and asserts its eclecticism through a fresh and infectious groove.

Signed to the forward-thinking Belgian label Sdban Records, the group shapes its identity within the vaulted ceilings of Volta, a creative hub in Brussels frequented by the vanguard of Belgium's "new scene." Sharing space with acts like ECHT!, Lander & Adriaan, and Tukan, the band continues to push its boundaries through collaboration and reinvention.

Recorded between the French countryside of Drôme, the industrial edges of Brussels, and Volta, 4N4LOG CITY features striking guest appearances. Swiss drummer Arthur Hnatek-known for his work with Tigran Hamasyan and Erik Truffaz, and praised by Gilles Peterson and Laurent Garnier-drives the opener "GATE 1" into hypnotic, krautrock-inspired territory. Meanwhile, rising vocalist JDS lends soulful grace to "Call Me Names", evoking the emotive textures and elegance of vintage soul-jazz reminiscent of the likes of Jordan Rakei or Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes.

Without abandoning their melodic roots and foundational approach, the trio takes daring steps into new terrain. The experimental centerpiece "III" explores the piano as a textural and rhythmic force, drifting between ambient and breakbeat. Elsewhere, the gritty "VAN GLAS"-a hip-hop-tinged track featuring rapper JAZZ BRAK of STIKSTOF-the band ventures far beyond their comfort zone, injecting streetwise lyricism in their mix of electronics and jazz.

Fueled by the heartbeat of the city, 4N4LOG CITY captures the mechanical ebb and flow beneath concrete towers-the anonymous rhythms of daily life moving over the asphalt, and the fleeting, meaningful connections made along the way. Produced by Antoine Flipo and mixed by Elsa Grelot (Avalanche Kaito), the album stands at the intersection of human emotion and urban architecture-a post-modern, deeply cinematic work that asserts Glass Museum's place at the cutting edge of European music.

Nine Inch Nails returns with over 70 minutes of new music for the motion picture TRON: Ares, the first soundtrack / score work from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross that will live under the Nine Inch Nails moniker; consisting of all original music, complete at 24 tracks. Reznor and Ross bring their Grammy and Oscar-winning sonic vision to the Grid, crafting a soundtrack that hums with menace, melancholy, and momentum. More than an album, its architecture in sound: pulsating synths, distorted textures, and haunting melodies that rewire the TRON universe from the inside out. It is the collision of analog soul and digital dread—a score that doesn't just accompany the film, it possesses it.

Architectural steps up in Tikita with two long mind bending tribal trips

Slowly yet firmly blooming into focus, An Unfinished Rose is the new album from Australian duo Troth.

This is their first since relocating to Hobart, Tasmania and their introduction to Night School Records. With a detailed web of past releases on labels A Colourful Storm, Mammas Mysteriska Jukebox, Knekelhuis and Bowman’s own Altered States Tapes imprint, An Unfinished Rose is the group’s most realised and composed work thus far. While still drawing on the improvisatory and DIY practices that informed Troth’s beginnings, it points to a new incarnation of the duo’s music; an intentional language emerging from the fog of obfuscation and mists of uncertainty.

Over these 9 meditations on change, acceptance, renewal and rebirth, An Unfinished Rose finds Amelia Besseny and Cooper Bowman peeling back some of the roughhewn architecture that defined their earlier releases to reveal a masterful - if auto-didactic - use of space and melody. Composition and improvisation compliment and feed each other throughout, with locked-loop earworms providing the springboard for lines of clarinet or synth melody, and the negative space between chord clusters giving ample room for Besseny’s most confident vocal performances to date. Shaving off a little of the defining dissonance and tape compression of old reveals Troth’s music in radiant daylight, humbly accepting of its place in the world while yearning for better, more sympathetic modes of living. Leaning more heavily on acoustic instrumentation and post-production processes than previously, the result is a transcendent body of work infused with an almost zen-like presence.

Troth’s music exists in the border between forming and becoming, its goal to project a kind of preternatural beauty, leaving interpretation open to the listener. Field recordings, happenstance and improvisation may provide seeds for the duo’s compositions, particularly on Side A, but there is a deft touch of songcraft on show. Loam Loom Leaf Litter opens An Unfinished Rose, directly referencing natural cycles of life, death and regeneration, before the blissed-out drum machine groove of Gold Plum continues a discussion concerning the totality of nature and one’s place in it. Besseny’s vocal, swelling like an ocean churn in duet with itself is adorned with synthesised harp and a revolving synth pattern, conjuring plumes of medieval smoke. Thistle’s rounded, bass-heavy drums, nodding to the vast echo of dub, is a relatively new terrain for Troth. It’s propulsive and thumping, pulsing with a meaning and symbolism consistent with Troth’s past work, referenced overtly in Bessey’s lyrics - “Say it too much and it loses its meaning…”. Similarly, the sprawling modern-classical suite, Tides Reflected In Her Eyes, is intentional in its lyrical themes while traversing new ground, revelling in layers of bowed cello and vocal intonations. Side B’s 4 tracks feel like Troth’s most thoroughly accessible and affecting music to date. Leaning into their own detoured version of Synth Pop, Cocoonist explores downtempoisms via a crunchy low frequency synth, and dream-like, fuzzy trip-hop modalities, not unlike Besseny and Bowman’s other group, Th Blisks. Following on, Myrtle Mystes is an open and searching DIY pop song, forged out of drum machine, bass guitar and cello. (An) Unfinished Rose’s title-track is a clear stand-out, built upon an evocative rhythm sample that appears to change emotional resonance with each undulating repetition. Its cascading waves of affect, interjected with a subtle breeze of synth, bowed instrumentation and soaring, densely-layered vocals.

An Unfinished Rose is enveloping, warm, forgiving. Difficult, yet retaining a unique beauty. Troth’s music aims to celebrate the duo;s shared experiences of being in the world, despite the complexity often surrounding us all. Theirs is a message of hope and perseverance, learning and patience.

To mark a decade as one of Ibiza's most iconic musical sanctuaries, Hostal La Torre announces 'La Torre Ibiza Volumen Cinco', a new compilation curated by long-standing residents Pete Gooding and Mark Barrott. Released June 27 on CD and double vinyl, the 15-track collection captures the spirit of the venue that has come to define the golden-hour soundtrack ofthe island's west coast.

Since opening in 2015, La Torre has established itself as a bastion of Balearic culture-set high on the cliffs overlooking the sea, where music flows with the sun rather than the clock. The fifth volume in the celebrated La Torre series is a journey through Brazilian soul, ambient electronica, classic deep house, orchestral minimalism, and dusk-lit Detroit techno-an emotional arc designed to mirror the progression of an evening at the venue.

From timeless icons like Nina Simone, Mazzy Star, Talk Talk (with their Spirit of Eden closer "Wealth"), and Boards of Canada, to boundary-pushers like Auntie Flo, Eden Burns, and µ-Ziq (aka Mike Paradinas), Volumen Cinco weaves together deep-rooted classics and leftfield discoveries. Mark Barrott contributes a brand-new exclusive, 'When Devils Become Gods', while the compilation closes on a rare gem from Yellow Magic Orchestra's Yukihiro Takahashi. Also includedis Software's 'Present Voice', a quietly powerful tribute to the late José Padilla, the spiritual architect of Ibiza's sunset sound.

Volumen Cinco is more than just a listening experience-it's a tribute to La Torre's ethos: open-hearted, genre-fluid, rooted in place and time. Each track is carefully sequenced to evoke a feeling, a shift in light, or a shared memory beneath the fading sun.

Over the years, La Torre has welcomed some of the most influential names in Balearic and electronic music, from José Padilla, Alfredo, and Jon Sa Trinxa to DJ Harvey, David Holmes, Lovefingers, Heidi Lawden, Wolf Müller, Don Carlos, and Phil Mison. With each summer season and each release, the venue continues to build a musical legacy that has earned critical acclaim from Resident Advisor, Phonica Records, Juno, and Piccadilly Records, regularly featuring in their year-end lists.

As Test Pressing once wrote, "La Torre is not a party, it's a place of pilgrimage. It feels almost sacred." That spirit resonates deeply in this anniversary compilation-a celebration of music, community, and connection that spans a decade.

La Torre Ibiza Volumen Cinco is dedicated to the artists, friends, collaborators, and guests who've shaped its story so far-and to everyone who continues to gather, listen, and lose track of time as the sun slips beneath the horizon.

Efficient Space honours trailblazing Australian imprint Volition Records with Volition Cuts Vol. 1. Evolving from Andrew Penhallow’s time at GAP Records, which smuggled Cabaret Voltaire, The Fall and the Factory catalogue into the region, Volition shifted focus to homegrown talent over imported sounds. Echoing its precursor’s blend of indie friction and electronic curiosity, the label wired itself into the pulse of club and rave culture, linking city scenes and amplifying them for the mainstream. With retina-scorching design, uncompromising packaging and top-tier remixes, Volition consistently bent the major label machine to its will.

No Volition retrospective would be complete without Sisters Underground’s intergenerational anthem ‘In the Neighbourhood’. Otara teenagers Brenda Makamoeafi and Hassanah Iroegbu brought their Pasifika perspective to Proud (An Urban-Pacific Streetsoul Compilation), a commercial success that platformed NZ rap and R&B with a clarity that outshone its overseas counterparts. The quiet architect of Volition’s sound, producer prodigy Robert Racic flipped the classic as a hip-house dub before his untimely passing in 1996.

Its A-side companion comes from Brisbane synth-pop unit Boxcar, who signed to Volition after frontman Dave Smith handed a cassette to Tom Ellard of Severed Heads during a school newspaper interview. That unlikely handoff led to their 1990 debut Vertigo. Here, their ritual-laced, body-jacking industrial is retooled by Miami freestyle maverick Tony Garcia.

Further cherry-picking from the VOLT vaults, Sexing The Cherry unleash a bleep-addled meltdown from Brisbane’s Edwin Morrow and Cherryn Lomas. ‘This Is A Dream’ was recorded exclusively for High (A Dance Compilation), the first all-Australian V/A to top the ARIA charts, propelling the local movement into national consciousness.

Closing the sampler, Sydney’s Single Gun Theory joined Volition as they moved from post-punk abstraction and electronic collage toward downtempo, sample-based mysticism. Their 1994 ambient-pop reverie ‘Fall’ is reimagined by Stuart Crichton and Apollo 440’s Norman Fisher-Jones as full-throttle Goa trance, a final surge that channels the label’s relentless push into new terrain.

Volition Cuts Vol. 1 is dedicated to the loving memory of Volition’s visionary founder Andrew Penhallow, and key contributors Robert Racic and Edwin Morrow.1

Berlin’s ZentaSkai continues his slew of limited-run 200-copy vinyl releases via his Mask Records this July, presenting the ‘JIMMY’ EP, and following up last year’s ‘Bob’ EP and two instalments from his Cuddling Monsters project with Laura Merino Allue.

Across the four tracks on ‘JIMMY’, ZentaSkai delves deep, placing mysterious, foreboding synths over crunchy taped drums and exploring a variety of tempos. Dub influences are rife, its elements echoing across carefully laid-out Techno grooves while minimal shifts subtly build the energy. With ‘JIMMY’, ZentaSkai once again offers a journey through sound already supported by Luke Slater, Blasha & Allatt, Truncate, Elisa Bee, and many more. ZentaSkai (aka No Mad Ronin, Matt Nowak, and MASK) is a German DJ and producer active since 1997. Based out of his studio in Berlin, ZentaSkai runs the Zaijenroots label and, since 2017, the Mask sub-label, which houses his stunning 2023 ‘Architecture of the Mind’ LP as well as his Cuddling Monsters alias - with other credits including a release on Jerome Sydenham’s Ibadan Records and support from the likes of Richie Hawtin, Joseph Capriati, Marcel Dettmann, Luke Slater, Laurant Garnier, DVS1, Ben Sims and Radio Slave.

LILAS06 — FEDO
For its sixth chapter, Lilas Records shines the spotlight on a rising voice in the Eastern European minimal movement: FEDO.

Hailing from Ukraine and of Greek descent, FEDO is more than a producer — he’s an architect of acoustic space. With a seasoned background as a DJ and sound designer, he bypasses genre boundaries, carving out his own distinct path between deep minimalism and textural innovation.

On LILAS06, he delivers four original tracks that encapsulate his sonic philosophy:

Precision without coldness, groove without compromise.

Feather-light percussion meets rolling basslines, wrapped in immersive atmospheres and delicate spatial play.

Here, minimalism is no longer austere — it becomes expressive, hypnotic, and profoundly human.

Limited to an exclusive run of 200 copies, this release has already garnered fervent support from a distinguished roster of industry heavyweights including Raresh, Reiss, Ramona Yacef, NTFO, Enzo Siragusa, Silat Beksi, and more.

LILAS06 isn’t just another record — it stands poised to leave an indelible mark on the global underground music scene.

The second album on Ilian Tape comes again out of Munich city. Skee Mask doesn't spend a day without making music and the dedication, attention to detail and architectural approach really make this album an absolute trip to listen to. It's the sound of a peaceful and energetic place. It's smoky and cosy. It's where Skee Mask spends most of his time. He lives for the music and we are really happy that this freak became a core member of the Ilian Tape family. This album is made for true lovers and hustlers. Turn it up loud!

SOULMEEX record label returns this summer with a heatwave of nostalgia-infused grooves, welcoming French producer Harrington for his debut release on the label. Known for his raw, emotive take on electronica, Harrington blends italo, dream house, and vintage synth textures with a distinct nod to the golden era of Chicago and New York club culture. The result: two original cuts that pulse with timeless energy.

On the A side, Dancin’ Better channels a bittersweet euphoria, driven by retro drum machines, silky basslines, and melancholic melodies that feel both familiar and fresh. The remix comes courtesy of Prom Night, one of Copenhagen’s most vital dancefloor architects. His version reimagines the track turning it into a peak-time heater for dreamy dancefloors.

Flip to the B side for System Nation, a darker, more propulsive journey through late-night zones, with Harrington crafting a groove that’s both hypnotic and emotionally charged. Stepping up on remix duty is Berlin’s own Maltitz. His italo remix injects System Nation with shimmering synths nodding to the genre’s roots while pushing the vibe forward.

Le Chatroom, a record label established in 2016 by the English producer Kouslin, searches for the missing link between underground bass music and outer national sounds. Its music is defined by the blend of synthetic and organic tones, modern / classic instruments and low- end heavy percussive rhythms.

Pushing artists from all around the globe that share the same love for this newfound sound, Kouslin's aim with Le Chatroom is to promote musical diversity, open-mindedness and experimentation at a time when unity between cultures is crucial. With 'LCR001' the label advances into a new physical environment from which this release should be experienced.

Real talk and native percussion establish the steady climax of 'Brothers', the A-side of Le Chatroom's inaugural wax release. Kouslin cuts through this sediment with a bright flute, before the state of the sound switches into something far darker and meditative. By placing several samples at irregular intervals, the Londoner achieves a fascinating charm that'll unite us all.

Booming bass in 'Gyals' lingers with a steady pace while percy tribal hits forge a raw groove that's far from common. With this movement, the producer from Bristol disintegrates the sense of a generic production and sticks to his true nature. Through this it becomes clear that Galtier has his polyrhythms down to a science.

Londoner Sheik clinches the B-side with a craze that unveils a nearly psychotic sense of sample architecture. Pushing crystal clear 808 kicks in- between the haunting atmospheres and a wall of pressure simply becomes one of his most inventive takes documented on wax. If you love to swerve through a minefield, the odd 'Oxram' would be your favourite pick off this first outline.

The three producers that feature on 'LCR001' pass on their fundamentals to conjure Le Chatroom's philosophy red-handed. Together they do the imprint's name justice by handing over critical bass repertoire that'll excite many!

»White Noise« is a cooperation project between raster-media and the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics. Artistic sound projects generated in the context of the scientific research institute will appear at irregular intervals. The themes and questions of empirical aesthetics research are taken up, questioned or challenged in very different ways. »White Noise« is conceived as an audio archive of the MPIEA artists in residence which records the artistic works on vinyl and documents the respective concepts and working methods in text form.

Victioria Keddie’s »Pshal P’shaw« (white noise #002) is a multimedia exploration delving into phonetic expression’s auditory and rhythmic nuances of phonetic expressions through an amalgamation of text, sound, video, data, and customized learning software. Drawing inspiration from the painter and architectural theorist Hermann Finsterlin who made speculative architectural renderings, the project originated during a residency at the Max Planck Institute of Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt in 2023.

The project’s engagement with the sonic landscape of the eight diphthongs in US English, documented through recorded sessions at EEG labs with participants of diverse international backgrounds, is not just a technical analyses. The applied script for the recording session, infused with a contemporary Western US dialect, ventures beyond, exploring the primal essence of phonetic expression and its impact on the oral landscape of mouth, throat, and tongue.

This work focuses on the spoken aspect of language: the art of oration, conversation, and mimicry. It reflects the beauty of our perpetual change, speaking directly to our humanity and the raw, tender moments of existence. It embraces the awkward, beautiful and vulnerable essence of our shared human experience.

Victoria Keddie is a multidisciplinary artist delving into sound, video, installation, and performance. Her work uncovers hidden narratives within ordinary artifacts and spaces, emphasizing their role in shaping our collective story. The examination of acoustic phenomena and language is a recurring theme in her artistic work. Keddie’s current projects navigate the acoustic complexity of language and dialects.

For over a decade, Keddie was co-director of E.S.P. TV, exploring the televisual medium for performance and sound. Keddie has performed and exhibited internationally. Recent fellowships include the NYSCA/NYFA for Music/Sound (2022), the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (2023), and the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Sound Art and Experimental Music Fellowship (2024).

»White Noise«, 40 p. magazine English/German, vinyl LP, cardboard box

Iconic German producer Stimming takes flight with his new album Friedrich Friedrich is out on April 25th via Stimming Recordings A masterful blend of sonic experimentation and storytelling, Friedrich – the second chapter in Stimming’s trilogy – dives deep into life’s ordinary yet profound moments. Designed to ignite the dance floor while offering a rich, introspective home-listening journey, it showcases the producer’s unparalleled artistry. Stimming’s sound world has always been known for its high-level, cerebral architecture. The artist takes electronic music to a compositional extreme where every sound is imbued with meaning and nothing is left unthought of.

Ltd edition sky blue vinyl, inc download.

Up In Her Room are delighted to bring you the latest offering from US psych heads White Shape, in conjunction with US label Little Cloud Records!

Hailing from Rockford Illinois, White Shape are a reverb-soaked experimental heavy psychedelic rock band that are able to create sublime ethereal soundscapes. Previous releases include the widely renowned 2019’s ‘Perfect Dark’ where the band deliver a heady and physical ride of tidal proportions. Whether you want cerebral psychedelic, body moving rhythm, or hard-hitting riffs White Shape caters to your every need. The record is an anthem to their collective vision, spreading out to showcase the various talents and specialties of each band member.

With the departure of two of the founding members through covid, Josh Weidman and Alyssa Hall set the sails once again to the wind and from the tumult of those incomparable times, they brought into existence their latest album, “Through the Lupine”. It is decidedly White Shape, with its brooding atmospheres, Hall’s iconic vocals that float and expand until they fill every physical space, and the classic narrative architecture that invites you to enter the music and with it create your own inner worlds. You can hear these in every track, and particularly in “Draped Urns.” 

But as it has been said, no one came through those times unscathed, untouched. Within the quintessential White Shape sound there is something else, something new. It can be heard in the previously releases 1st single from the album “Knives Down”; a shift in the barometric pressure, a sea change both profound and subtle. It’s a defiance, a refusal to go quietly into that good night, but with undercurrents of something else, something not yet found in the band’s prior work. Is it optimism? Hope? Or simply the resignation to create for the sake of creating. 

The true value of Through the Lupine is that it provides the listener with the space to craft their own interpretation. For the White Shape fan, there is everything you love and want. There’s just more, and it’s different, evolved. For the initiate, there is the beginning. The introduction to the next understanding of what it means to experience music. Long live White Shape!