Made up of Matt Tuck, Michael ‘Padge’ Paget, Jamie Mathias, and Jason Bowld, Bullet For My Valentine return with their 8th album ‘Social Apocalypse’. The band have accrued multimillion album sales, multibillion streaming numbers, multiple Gold certifications at home and abroad, plus three UK Album Chart and Billboard 200 Top 10 placement.
Thematically, ‘Social Apocalypse’ combines the bare-faced lyrical introspection of people weathered and worn by the modern world. Working once more with producer Carl Bown – a veteran of four Bullet albums, alongside work with Sleep Token, While She Sleeps,
Malevolence and more – the idea for each track was diligently scrutinized, constructed and polished to its immaculate final form.
The track ‘Social Apocalypse’, rages against the end of the world as we know it, ‘I Don’t Trust Tomorrow’ is a reflection on the fear of the unknown labelled as the heaviest Bullet song ever complete with a hair-raising vocal turn from Lorna Shore’s Will Ramos. The second collaboration features Against The Current vocalist Chrissy Costanza also stepping in to duet on the exceptional ‘In The Absence Of You’.
Reminiscent of the band’s storied past without ever being repetitive of it, it’s with a steelyeyed determination to break new ground that the beloved hallmarks of Bullet For My Valentine past and present – Acid Rain and Fragile’s rapid-fire riffage, the melodic sensibility of Masquerade and Never Enough, and the anthemic balladry of Read Between The Lines and Here Without You – are refocused and re-energized for the future.
Bullet For My Valentine have established themselves as one of Britain’s all-time most celebrated rock and metal exports and now enter the dawning of a new era with the same burning drive and vision as ever.
Made up of Matt Tuck, Michael ‘Padge’ Paget, Jamie Mathias, and Jason Bowld, Bullet For My Valentine return with their 8th album ‘Social Apocalypse’. The band have accrued multimillion album sales, multibillion streaming numbers, multiple Gold certifications at home and abroad, plus three UK Album Chart and Billboard 200 Top 10 placement.
Thematically, ‘Social Apocalypse’ combines the bare-faced lyrical introspection of people weathered and worn by the modern world. Working once more with producer Carl Bown – a veteran of four Bullet albums, alongside work with Sleep Token, While She Sleeps,
Malevolence and more – the idea for each track was diligently scrutinized, constructed and polished to its immaculate final form.
The track ‘Social Apocalypse’, rages against the end of the world as we know it, ‘I Don’t Trust Tomorrow’ is a reflection on the fear of the unknown labelled as the heaviest Bullet song ever complete with a hair-raising vocal turn from Lorna Shore’s Will Ramos. The second collaboration features Against The Current vocalist Chrissy Costanza also stepping in to duet on the exceptional ‘In The Absence Of You’.
Reminiscent of the band’s storied past without ever being repetitive of it, it’s with a steelyeyed determination to break new ground that the beloved hallmarks of Bullet For My Valentine past and present – Acid Rain and Fragile’s rapid-fire riffage, the melodic sensibility of Masquerade and Never Enough, and the anthemic balladry of Read Between The Lines and Here Without You – are refocused and re-energized for the future.
Bullet For My Valentine have established themselves as one of Britain’s all-time most celebrated rock and metal exports and now enter the dawning of a new era with the same burning drive and vision as ever.
MP06 introduces DHAEUR to the Moving Pressure catalogue. The Berlin-based producer carves his sonic worlds through a strong sense of rhythmic architecture and a deep understanding of dancefloor dynamics. Here, he channels club-driven sensibilities into a mature and conscious 4 tracker.
The concept behind the EP reflects the principles of the label - namely, the pressure of sound and its resulting movement. Minimalism meets maximum technical intention, where swollen basslines and tightly coiled rhythmic progressions open up in signature DHAEUR style. The groove carries a distinct elasticity, punctuated by vocal inserts that add a subtly funky, almost soulful essence to the flow. Every element sits with purpose: dynamic yet
stripped back, intricately offset in ways that keep the body locked and the mind wondering. While the A-side leans into this physical immediacy - driving, playful, and sharply articulated - the B-side slips further into the tunnel. Atmospheres thicken and the palette turns eerier, stretching its essential rhythmic backbone into darker territories. Spatial details begin to seep through the structures, pulling the listener deeper while maintaining that firm gravitational pull toward the dancefloor.
Together, the two sides reveal different shades of DHAEUR's language. The result is a beautifully balanced narration between propulsion and immersion, where groove-led functionality meets a more shadowy, atmospheric depth.
UK producer Tom Carruthers delivers another masterclass for Skylax, diving deeper into the DNA of house music with Deepline, a 5-track journey that connects the raw futurism of the late ’80s to the deep innovations of the early ’90s. Known for his MPC-driven grooves on L.I.E.S., Clone Jack For Daze and Craigie Knowes, Carruthers has become a true guardian of machine funk — always stripped down, always pure. The title track Deepline captures the very essence of house, hypnotic and driving, right at the crossroads of 80s machine funk and early 90s deepness, a timeless groove that feels like the missing link. Dream 12 unfolds as lush and atmospheric, with pads that instantly recall the golden era of early 90s deep house, a reverie made for afterhours and smoke-filled basements. Experience stands as a raw reminder of the four pillars of house — drum machines, bass, minimalism and repetition — metallic, stripped, relentless, pure underground. On the flip, Fantasy explodes with wild energy, channeling the raw spirit of Trax Records and Armando, dirty and direct, a weapon for uncompromising dancefloors. Finally, Folx closes the record with a cosmic edge, its tough jackin’ drums colliding with spacey synth touches to create a bridge between Chicago basements and interstellar dancefloors. Once again, the visual identity is entrusted to the iconic H5 studio (Daft Punk, YSL, Logorama), whose bold modernist artwork perfectly mirrors Carruthers’ stripped yet futuristic vision. Vinyl only. No digital. No compromise.
Chronicle continues his journey through the cosmos on Spatial bringing a stunning array of inspired atmospheric bliss with Aqua Pura. A1 - Pure Alchemy Chronicle opens his latest EP for Spatial with a sprightly track, introduced with purposeful synthwork, echoing effects and a wonderful 808 bassline reminiscent of the late 90's Progression Sessions era. Energetic, layered breaks drive and build throughout Pure Alchemy with joyous vigor, while a cluster of subtle melodies intertwine across a varied and memorable mix from the label regular. A2 - Endless Ocean Next up Chronicle treats us to an amazing array of atmospheric synthwork with Endless Ocean, notes yoyoing across the soundscape through a gorgeous intro. Flecked with shimmering, buoyant melodies and bringing an immediate injection of pace, the breaks drop delivering a driving, distinctively head-nodding energy punctuated by a blippy micro melody and suitably deep bass. AA1 - Shared Consciousness Opening with a playful intro featuring subtle hi hats, twisted bells and a classic film sample, Chronicle deftly juggles excitable effects with his inimitable cheery atmospheric style before a real feast for the ears and the feet arrives - breaks reminiscent of those long lost nights at Shepherd's Bush in 1998 bring an essential hypnotic energy to a track simply dripping with style and rhythm. AA2 - Water World Straight into the action with crisp two-step breaks, Water World needs no introduction as a myriad of atmospheric effects, samples and quirky melodies seize your attention for a decidedly dancefloor-friendly track for 160bpm heads. Beautiful breakdowns play their part as well as the subtle yet room-filling 808 bass, rumbling persistently beneath another remarkable track from one of Bristol's finest.
Since 2020, 12 Inch Lovers have been releasing new samplers every year, eagerly anticipated by collectors. These samplers have now become a staple and are easily added to vinyl collections across Europe. They offer timeless classics and rare tracks that are often hard to find elsewhere.
With Samplers 11 & 12, they surprise again with a mix of modern classics and tracks that have never been released on vinyl or are difficult to find. By adding unique and exclusive tracks, the 12 Inch Lovers samplers remain innovative and high-quality. They are a must-have for DJs, collectors, and fans of contemporary classics!
SAMPLER 12
A1) Borai & Denham Audio - Make Me (original release 2023)
Released in 2023 on the British label Room Two Records (catalogue R212001) on twelve inch vinyl, Make Me combines breakbeat, house and speed garage with high energy, featuring clear use of Amen breaks, rumbling sub bass and sharp rave sounds. At the heart of the track lies an instantly recognisable vocal hook from the mid eighties, a sample taken from Donna Allen - Serious (1986). The result feels like a long forgotten rave anthem from the nineties wrapped in a modern sound.
The original twelve inch pressing quickly became a highly sought after collector's item and received a limited pink vinyl repress in 2025. This track, first issued only on orange vinyl in 2023, was officially re released once all samples were cleared. It has every ingredient of a future classic, a true underground anthem for fans of modern UK rave and jungle energy.
A2) Smoke City - Mr. Gorgeous (and Miss Curvaceous) (Mood II Swing Vocal Mix) (original release 1997)
Originally released in 1997 on the album Flying Away by Smoke City. The Mood II Swing Remix, produced by New York house duo John Ciafone and Lem Springsteen (also the producers behind Ultra Naté - Free), takes the song straight to the dance floor with a smooth groove, soulful vocals and a deep, hypnotic flow.
The iconic line "Cool and calm, Mr Gorgeous..." remains untouched, while the remix enriches the original Latin and trip hop influences of the band with that distinctive late nineties house atmosphere. The result is a timeless club favourite, almost nine minutes of pure vibe (the Mood II Swing Vocal Mix runs 9minutes and 20 seconds), adored by DJs who like to bring a touch of soul to their house sets.
Released on Jive Records, the track received great praise. Music Week highlighted its "tight ay ay ay hook" and noted that the Mood II Swing and Hyperspace mixes made it a real standout. The original version reached number one in Italy in 1997, and the Mood II Swing Remix has since gained cult status in the Belgian club scene and beyond as the perfect marriage between soul and dance floor energy.
B1) Chris Raven - I Know You Love Me Too (Bruce Norris Remix) (original release 1997)
Christian Raabe, better known as Chris Raven, is a German producer who made his name in the late nineties progressive trance scene.
The Bruce Norris Remix of I Know You Love Me Too (Additive Records, catalogue 12AD 027) first appeared in late 1997 and was officially released in early 1998. The remix builds an euphoric atmosphere witha beautiful melody, dreamy pads and powerful drums, all typical of the progressive trance sound of that period.
The track gained extra attention when it appeared on Northern Exposure 3: Expeditions by Sasha and John Digweed in 1999. Many fans first discovered it there (especially the Van Bellen Remix version), helping to cement the cult status of I Know You Love Me Too within the progressive and trance community.
B2) Grooveyard - Mary Go Wild (original release 1996)
One of the most recognisable and iconic club tracks in Belgian and Dutch underground house history is without a doubt Mary Go Wild, released in 1996 on EC Records. The track quickly became the defining anthem of the rave scene in the Low Countries.
With a raw groove around 133 BPM, pumping four to the floor drums and the hypnotic vocal sample "Mary... go wild!", the record set dance floors ablaze in the nineties. Producer Jeroen Verheij, also known as Secret Cinema (from the classic Timeless Attitude), perfectly captured the raw energy of the European house movement of that era.
To this day Mary Go Wild stands as a symbol of pure rave power, a timeless anthem that, as one Discogs collector put it, "still works on any dance floor." Original twelve inch pressings on EC Records and later issues on Blanco Y Negro are highly sought after, and the track remains a staple in retro house and classic DJ sets.
C1) Dave Swayze - Last Flight To Paris (original release 2000)
Dave Swayze, best known for his classic Goldwave, has several hidden gems to his name, and Last Flight To Paris is certainly one of them. Released in November 2000 on the Belgian label Yeti Records, the track is a subtle blend of trance and progressive house. It is known for its emotional melody, dreamy build up and strong percussion, built on the foundation of progressive trance but with thewarmth and groove of house.
At the time, Last Flight To Paris was frequently played by progressive trance DJs and soon became a cult favourite among vinyl collectors within the genre. Original pressings on Yeti Records are now extremely rare and much sought after. The mix of emotion, euphoria and timeless club energy makes Last Flight To Paris a hidden treasure from the late trance era of 1999 and 2000.
C2) Joe Goddard - Music Is The Answer (Hot Since 82 Remix) (original release 2017)
This remix by Hot Since 82 (Daley Padley, from Barnsley in the north of England) for Music Is The Answer by Joe Goddard is partly based on the original classic Celeda - Music Is The Answer (in the Danny Tenaglia Remix). It was released in February 2017 as a digital exclusive through Domino Records.
Hot Since 82 reworked the original, a vocal house track by Hot Chip member Joe Goddard, into a deep, grooving house track with a warm rolling bass line. The soulful vocals of Joe Goddard (featuring SLO) take on a subtle melancholic tone in his remix, creating a modern house classic filled with emotion and drive.
The remix became a major club favourite in 2017 and 2018, supported by leading names in the tech house scene and heard at festivals around the world. Interestingly, this popular version had never been released on vinyl, which only increased its cult status among collectors. Music Is The Answer (Hot Since 82 Remix) remained a digital classic for years, until now, finally available in this long awaited vinyl edition.
D1) Just A Man - I'm Sorry (Original Club Mix) (original release early 2000s)
The French project Just A Man consists of brothers Hervé and Nicolas Subrechicot. Their track I'm Sorry is an emotionally charged house record that perfectly captures the early 2000s club atmosphere.
Released in 2003, the song combines soulful male vocals with a warm, rhythmic production that blends UK garage and classic club house influences. The Original Club Mix (6 minutes and 14 seconds) builds gradually towards a powerful, uplifting climax, carried by rich chords and an irresistible groove.
Although I'm Sorry stayed somewhat under the radar at the time, it is regarded by connoisseurs as a hidden gem, a perfect balance of melody and groove. The twelve inch vinyl release (on RKG / Motor Music, 2003) is now hard to find and highly prized among vinyl and house collectors, which only adds to its appeal.
I'm Sorry embodies the pure sound of early 2000s vocal house: sincere, funky and danceable, with that unmistakable UK garage touch, even more evident in the G Box Garage Club Remix on the same EP. An unfairly overlooked track that has always remained a true timeless classic since the very beginning of 12 Inch Lovers.
D2) Teddy Pendergrass -Life Is A Song Worth Singing (Jamie Jones Remix) (original release 2019)
In 2019 Jamie Jones breathed new life into the classic soul song by Teddy Pendergrass with a contemporary house rework. The remix was released in March 2019 as part of the digital EP Mixmag Presents: Teddy Pendergrass - The Remixes, issued in honour of the documentary If You Don't Know Me, a film about the rise of Teddy Pendergrass, the first African American male artist to achieve five consecutive platinum albums in the United States during the seventies.
Jamie Jones stayed true to the feel good essence of the 1978 original but wrapped it in a modern club sound, with pulsing synths, a warm rolling groove and a tight four to the floor beat providing the perfect base for Teddy's powerful and instantly recognisable voice.
The result is a captivating, soulful house track that effortlessly bridges past and present without losing the emotional power of Pendergrass's vocal delivery.
Despite its widespread popularity in the international club scene, where it became a favourite among DJs who love to blend soul with house, this remix never had a physical vinyl release. Until now, with its long awaited appearance on 12 Inch Lovers Sampler 12.
After a short break, Vibes and Grooves is back with Collab Grooves Part 2. Following the success of our initial collaborative venture, we continue our mission of uniting visionary producers under a single sonic umbrella. This time Jemaho, Shaka and DFRA come together for another deep collaboration.
With “Joudia’s Groove (Drifting Away – The DAT Version)” on the A side, we are delighted to have Jemaho on board. He delivers an outstanding, warm and soulful vocal house cut driven by a smooth, uplifting groove and rich musical depth. With its unique tape sound aesthetic, a true masterpiece. Certainly a future club classic.
The B side opens with „Sparkling Soul“ from label resident Shaka. A jazzy house affair that blends vibrant piano melodies, a hypnotic lead synth line, and a tight bassline. It radiates warmth, sophistication, and an ever-present sense of romance.
The second track comes from DFRA, the man from Buenos Aires, who is already well known on the label for his outstanding tracks from the latest Collab Grooves. With “New York Style”, DFRA delivers a deep house tune shaped by warmth, restraint, and a steady underground groove. Subtle textures and raw rhythms create a smooth, flowing atmosphere that feels natural and unforced.
Timeless in feel and refined in production, Collab Grooves Part 2 captures an effortless flow that speaks directly to both the heart and the dancefloor.
ICONYC steps into new territory with Traffk, a spellbinding EP from UVITA, Twiins, and Motip White. Built around two deeply immersive compositions, Traffik operates as a threshold rather than a destination — a carefully measured passage into unfamiliar territory where tension is curated, expectations are subverted, and every detail feels deliberately withheld until the right moment.
At the center lies the title track, “Traffik,” a commanding convergence of three distinct creative voices distilled into a singular, unsettling vision. Suspended between austere minimalism and intricate design, the piece unfolds with a forceful rhythmic backbone that plunges into subterranean depths. Twisting brass motifs flicker and bend like fractured light across polished surfaces, creating an atmosphere that is both tactile and elusive. As the groove locks into a hypnotic oscillation, a spectral vocal presence emerges, injecting a sense of weight and foreboding before the track fractures inward, collapsing into a violent release that ejects us from its vortex with uncompromising intensity.
On our B-side, UVITA and Twiins reconvene for “Lucy Tried For It,” a continuation that trades overt drama for a slow-burning psychological pull. Anchored by a prowling low-frequency current and a relentless percussive drive, the track draws us deeper through carefully placed sonic detonations that expand its spatial dimension. Gradually, malfunctioning mechanical textures and distant, almost feral cries seep into the framework, setting the stage for an introspective spoken-word moment that nudges the piece further into the subconscious. As fragmented melodic elements begin to surface, “Lucy Tried For It” reaches a moment of suspended reflection before surging forward once more, closing the EP on an emotionally charged and resolute note.
Mihail P delivers four tracks of machine-driven techno exploring classic 90s aesthetics while moving freely between electro, breakbeat and deep house sensibilities. The Phantom Broadcast EP channels the spirit of early 90s records with evolving rhythms, dubby textures and emotive chord work.
“Pulse Memory” opens with a deep electro-techno roller, constantly shifting its rhythmic framework while weaving in subtle deep house elements, recalling moments from the back catalogue of Pacific Records. “Tempest” begins with dubby 909 drums and rolling hats before unexpectedly transforming mid-track into a breakbeat sequence, eventually looping back to its original structure and closing with a distinctly Detroit-influenced finale.
On the B-side, “Cat TV” pushes the tempo to 138 BPM with breakbeat rhythms, 808 low-end pressure and constantly evolving Detroit-style chords. The track builds intensity before easing into melodic tones towards the end, creating a reflective closing passage. “Sights Unseen” blends deep house and techno foundations with a rising acid line that gradually takes center stage, supported by rolling percussion and a driving bassline that keeps the groove energetic while retaining a deep emotional core.
Functional and atmospheric dancefloor material for DJs navigating the deeper and more hypnotic corners of techno.
Discover the next release on Fantastic Friends, by Chris Llopis, a track tailor-made for the dancefloor. This minimal track, both punchy and hypnotic, embodies a streamlined aesthetic where every element is precisely in its place. Driven by a sharp rhythm and a subtly evolving energy, it instantly captures the attention of fans of cutting-edge sounds.
Complementing this, a remix by Nicolas Duvoisin enriches the release with a minimal house-oriented approach. True to his signature style, he offers a rhythmic and immersive reinterpretation, blending delicate textures with a driving groove, ideal for high-energy club moments.
Agent By Default In Hybrid Systems' is a deep dive into today’s and tomorrow’s society. Across four tightly constructed tracks, cinematic-surrealist musician and DJ JessyJiggy reflects on how mankind and machine-driven systems coexist and evolve. We act, respond, and adapt as agents by default caught between instinct and structure. Built for movement yet rooted in observation, every progression feels less like a command and more like a suggestion inviting listeners to negotiate their own place inside the grid.
This poetic concept translates into music where analogue and digital tools merge into a hybrid sound. Compositions carry an almost automatic rhythm that drives motion while sound design elements subtly reference modern technology. Raw, bass-driven, minimal and techno showcase the breadth and progressiveness of Rotterdam with its brutalist spirit embedded in every detail.
Carefully mixed and mastered by Simon Lescure, who works at the intersection of sound design, club culture, and contemporary art, the record is optimized for a wide spectrum of sound systems while offering a distinct, full-bodied experience on the dance floor. With his vision of music as a system of memory and tension, a way to hold time and transmit presence, raw energy is brought into focus, shaping JessyJiggy's signature sound with clarity, weight, and intent.
A work committed to pushing boundaries and contributing something lasting to the electronic music landscape, this record is crafted to become a cult classic.
Mark Pritchard (Global Communication / Africa Hi-Tech / Reload / Harmonic 313) produced gem from 2004. Featuring Eska, Nina Miranda and other vocalists. TIP!
An expanded edition of a long out of print Far Out classic. This double vinyl edition will include the track 'Strikehard' for the first time, which was omitted from the original pressing, only released on a separate 12" and CD.
Far Out Recordings announces the Record Store Day 2026 deluxe double LP reissue of Troubleman’s Time Out of Mind. Originally released in 2004, the album marked a distinctive turn in Mark Pritchard’s expansive career, channeling his pioneering electronic instincts through a filter of Brazilian grooves, African rhythms, and global soul. This special edition includes the underground club classic “Strike Hard” (previously unavailable on the original vinyl), alongside the album’s flawless blend of early-noughties space-age bossa, broken beat, future soul, and psychedelic downtempo.
Under the Troubleman alias, Pritchard stretched his focus outward in every direction. From the UK rave continuum to Brazil, the US, Africa, and beyond, he drew on the psychedelic soul of Dorothy Ashby and David Axelrod, the Afrobeat drive of Fela Kuti and Tony Allen, and the samba-doido energy of Azymuth. Filtering golden-era seventies influences through early-2000s pop, club, and rave lenses, the album moves effortlessly between club-ready tracks like “Strike Hard,” and more laid-back, tripped-out moments that highlight Pritchard’s range, shifting seamlessly from dancefloor heat to outer-bongolian cloud watching.
Featuring vocal contributions from Nina Miranda (Smoke City, Da Lata), Steve Spacek (Spacek, !K7), and Eska (New Sector Movements), the record captures Pritchard at a pivotal moment, exploring how electronic production could absorb and expand the rhythmic complexity of global sounds.
One half of Global Communication and Jedi Knights with Tom Middleton, and Harmonic 313 with Dave Brinkworth, Pritchard has since built a dense, acclaimed discography across numerous aliases and labels. His work on Warp Records has included collaborations with Thom Yorke, and his remix portfolio spans Depeche Mode, PJ Harvey, Underworld, Aphex Twin, Lamb, KRS-One, A Tribe Called Quest, The Orb, and The Beloved.
Remastered from the original sources and pressed to vinyl exclusively for Record Store Day 2026, this edition also faithfully reproduces the album’s psychedelic artwork by renowned British artist and designer Swifty.
Art Bound launches its label with Ghost Signal Theory, a split EP by Brazilian producer Artürst and Georgian producer Toke, exploring a dark, progressive and electro-oriented sound where each track develops its own atmosphere while contributing to the overall flow and cohesion of the project.
Side A features Artürst with two tracks blending progressive grooves with layered textures and subtle acid-infused elements, delivering a hypnotic drive built for peak-time sets.
Side B is a three-tracker exploring Toke’s take on the Tbilisi underground, moving through high-energy electro and trance-infused passages, before closing with a deeper broken rhythm that shifts the pace and brings the journey into a more contemplative space, offering a final moment of suspension.
In just five years, The Spy has gone from underground newcomer to one of the most talked-about names in the European electro and EBM dark electro scene. Early releases on Osáre Editions and Mechatronica quickly placed him on the radar of forward-thinking clubs and selectors across Europe. Now landing on Oráculo Records, he presents his most wave-driven and club-oriented material to date: pure, physical electro built for dark rooms and late hours. Driving basslines and sharp machine rhythms—infused with subtle, classic post-punk tension—define a sound that connects the dancefloor with the shadows, drawing clear parallels to artists like L.F.T, Credit 00 or Gesloten Cirkel. This is music made to move bodies without sacrificing attitude—raw, confrontational, and far removed from formulaic club clichés. Five years in, the message is clear: this is not hype, but momentum—an artist fully in command of a modern electro language built for the underground. Presented in ONE-OFF truly limited edition of 300 copies lacquered pressed on 180 gr. high quality solid BLACK vinyl. All tracks have been specially remastered and mastered for vinyl by Daniel Hallhuber at Young and Cold Studios (Germany).
Number 5 of Fluyo Records arrives with The Headmaster, a project conceived in the early 90s from an attempt to “master my own head” and express feelings through sound. The music is mainly instrumental and beat-driven, focusing on emotion and atmosphere rather than vocals, though the right vocal sample can sometimes enhance a track , like B2 - Eternity ¨
Growing up around the Melbourne electronic music scene inspired me to have a go at making music myself. The Melbourne rave scene of the 90s eventually sealed my fate, leading me to perform live, DJ, and release tracks on various Australian and European labels.
With Black Koyo, Mattias De Craene enters a sound world at once intimate and vast. Born from journeys in Morocco and Brussels, the project traces the rhythms, chants, and spirits of the Gnawa tradition, revealing a quiet resonance that echoes De Craene's own search for depth and presence. Guibri, qraqueb, call-and-response chants, saxophone, loops, and electronics come together in a trance-induced dialogue - ritualistic, elemental, and dreamlike - creating a space where listening becomes immersion, tradition meets imagination, and music unfolds as a shared act of reflection and wonder.
About Mattias De Craene
Mattias De Craene's artistic path is marked by rare coherence. As a central voice in Nordmann and MDC III, he developed a physical, rock-inflected jazz language driven by propulsion, volume, and trance-like collective energy. Over time, a period of personal rupture - burnout, tinnitus, depression - shifted his focus inward. The saxophone became a breathing, textural presence, and in his solo work, he weaves saxophone, electronics, loops, and minimal forms into a cinematic, hushed world where repetition, resonance, and silence slow perception. Rooted in ambient and introspection, his music prizes attention over impact, precision over excess - a quiet intensity recognized with a nomination as Musician for the Music Industry Awards (MIA's).
About Black Koyo
Black Koyo is a Brussels-based ensemble and one of the most compelling voices of the Gnawa tradition outside Morocco. Led by maalem Hicham Bilali, the group brings guibri, qrraqueb, and call-and-response chants to life with trance-like intensity and ritual precision. Their music is both rooted and contemporary, weaving earthbound rhythms and vocal invocations into ecstatic, immersive soundscapes, creating a space where ancestral resonance meets present-day imagination.
About Jan Bang
Jan Bang is a pioneering Norwegian producer and musician, celebrated for his mastery of live sampling and his ability to merge electronics with improvisation, rhythm, and texture in real time. He mixed the album and occasionally joins live performances, bringing his signature approach to sound as co-founder of the influential Punkt Festivaland collaborator with artists such as Jon Hassell, David Sylvian, Arve Henriksen, and ECM Records' roster. As a performer and sound architect, Bang creates immersive, trance-like sonic textures where silence and sound carry equal weight. Within Mattias De Craene ftBlack Koyo, his live sampling becomes an organic instrument, weaving saxophone, electronics, and Gnawa rhythms into hypnotic, physically charged soundscapes.
Line-up & credits
Mattias De Craene - sax, electronics | Hicham Bilali - guibri, vocals, qraqueb |Ismael Akhraz - vocals, qraqueb | Marwan Abantor - vocals, qraqueb
All tracks are original gnawa traditionals played by Black Koyo and arranged by Mattias De Craene.
Album produced & recorded by Mattias De Craene in Essaouira, Morocco and hometown Ghent, Belgium 2025.
Text by Hicham Bilali.
Mixed by Jan Bang at Punkt Studio
Mastered by Lieven Van Pee
Artwork by Marina Sviridova
Design by Benoit Van Geel
Manufactured and distributed by N.E.W.S.
Executive production by W.E.R.F. records
Supported by Flemish Government, Jazzlab, nona, HA Concerts, Aubergine artist Management,
KAAP, La Bestia (Wout Van Putten) & mdcmu.sic vzw.
2026 (c) W.E.R.F. records
Kerrie makes a welcome return to Sync 24's CE camp, with "Waves of Reverie PT1" dropping in March on Cultivated Electronics. It follows her two part "We Continue" vinyl 12"s, on sister-label Cultivated Electronics Ltd back in 2021. Irish-born, Manchester-based Kerrie is a multidisciplinary artist and resident DJ at Tresor Berlin. She performs live sets, produces music, DJs and runs her own label, Dark Machine Funk, as well as an extensive discography on the likes of Tresor, Blueprint Records, Don't Be Afraid, Cultivated Electronics, I Love Acid and Symbolism. On her new EP, "Waves of Reverie PT1" Kerrie once again channels a distinctive electro aesthetic rooted in acid and electro traditions but filtered through her own raw, industrial-leaning production style. A staple for fans of analogue hardware-driven electro and forward-thinking electronic music.
Rythm Of Paradise launches his brand new label “Ritmo Adriatico” with "Divina EP", a sonic manifesto of Italian house music. This four-track journey blends the power of main stages with the warm intimacy of clubs, always driven by a profoundly Mediterranean soul. A first release that doesn't just present a sound, but tells a story.
The EP opens with main track "Divina" , powerful and immediate groove built for the dance floor, wrapped in warm atmospheres and bright pads that create a sense of high energy, with emotional breaks that reminds French Kiss sound.
Followed by its remixed version of Divina by St. David where he reimagined and elevate the impact on main stages. The bass becomes more prominent, the groove expands, and the voice became more hypnotice, without ever falling into cliché.
B1. Italia Novanta is where, Ritmo Adriatico reveals its beating heart. "Italia novanta " is a respectful and modern tribute to the golden era of Italo House, diving into the Mediterranean soul of the 90s, reinterpreted with today's power.
Closing with B2. Te Quiero where takes the dreamy atmospheres and immerses them in a deep, meditative dub treatment of spacious bass lines and captivating Italo house piano licks.
Written and Produced by Michele Lamacchia.
Mixed & Mastered by St. David
Fossils in Transit dropping their first EP with diverse club focused features. The label
wants to express their love for timeless pieces and extrapolating it to their own vision.
Brussel based duo Kappen & Latence showing their musical spectrum on the A-side. On
the B-side Ennio Tyson debutes his take on timelessness.
A1 is a warm and slowly building track guiding the listeners through a blissful state. This
percussion driven piece sets the perfect mood for sunrises/sunsets. In A2 the rebellious
nature is defined by punk vocals, an acid bassline and crunchy percussion. Produced for
dark clubs and peak-time slots. B1 ventures into a bass-heavy realm where scattered
perc-like vocals and stabby synths create an ominous atmosphere. Keeping the body in
check while the mind wanders. Closing the EP on B2 with an off-the-wall minimal tech
house roller. Balancing a steady energy level to keep a tight grip on the dancefloor.
"Music, like love, surprises you, makes your heart race, gives you new eyes with which to look at yourself in the mirror..." (Gigi Masin)
With an exclusive presentation by GIGI MASIN, UP TO 23 release their second album, now with an expanded three-member lineup following the permanent addition of ENRICO CONIGLIO over the founder members MARCO BUFFETTI and FRANCESCO FINCATO. The album draws inspiration from the 1980s, evoking atmospheres reminiscent of sci-fi soundtracks. Partly romantic, partly doom ambient, the work unfolds as a requiem for our planet. Liquid and enveloping atmospheres drift between melodic ambient territories — explored through processed guitars and synthesizers — and soberly electronic paths traveled to the rhythm of sequencer-driven patterns and programmed structures.
Dramatic and evocative moments emerge throughout this succession of varied yet perfectly integrated and fluid soundscapes, where sounds and progressions combine with ever-shifting solutions, following a descriptive thread that remains consistent as it continuously unravels through encompassing and emotionally engaging textures. AN APPLE A DAY YOU DIE ANYWAY is the perfect soundtrack to these dark times that UP TO 23 want to color in order to continue to hope, to live without having to survive.
Calibre announces his new album 'Tricklemore Sea', set for release on vinyl and digital on 1st May via Signature Recordings.
A deeply personal and exploratory body of work, the album moves through ambient, shoegaze, electronic, blues and folk, all subtly shaped by the low-end sensibility that has defined his music for decades. It resists easy categorisation, reflecting an ongoing interest in blending bass culture with forms that sit outside it. Following the release of 'They Want You' at the end of 2025, this new project marks a clear shift in tone. Where that record leans into intensity and forward momentum, 'Tricklemore Sea' turns inward, occupying a more introspective space. Featuring entirely his own vocals and production, it carries a more exposed and vulnerable quality.
The album has taken shape gradually, drawing from material written in the years after 'Planet Hearth'. Rather than forming around a fixed concept, it emerges as a collection of pieces connected by tone and instinct. Tracks move between simplicity and abstraction, with piano-led compositions sitting alongside field recordings, improvisations and bass-driven works. Ideas often begin quickly, then evolve over long periods of revisiting and reworking. His voice takes on a more central role throughout, bringing a heightened sense of vulnerability. Lyrics and delivery are often left open, allowing space for interpretation. His process remains fluid and instinctive, with ideas written quickly, revisited over time and combined across different periods.
Moments such as 'Little Blend' carry a quiet melancholia balanced with hope, while 'Free One' reflects on the pressures of contemporary life. The title track considers the scale of human existence within a wider universe, framing individual lives as small but meaningful within something larger. Elsewhere, 'Deflower' and 'Pigeon Luncheon' draw from recordings made in Berlin at the end of lockdown, capturing a sense of movement and return. Older material, including 'Living In Your Head' and 'Hyndsight', is recontextualised and sits naturally alongside newer work. Threads from his wider catalogue remain present. 'Able Son Dub' nods to longstanding reggae influences, while 'Bit Broken Stream' appears here in a downtempo form alongside its drum and bass counterpart from 'They Want You'. Tracks like 'United Pull' and 'Mizzle Mine' lean further into abstraction, using minimal language and space to suggest mood rather than define it.
Over more than 30 years, Calibre has built a catalogue that moves across drum and bass, ambient, dub, techno, house, jazz, soul, blues and folk. His work is marked by restraint, quiet melancholy and a singular approach that continues to evolve. Complete authorship remains central, with all vocals, lyrics and production on both 'They Want You' and 'Tricklemore Sea' created solely by him. This breadth extends into his DJ sets, where he draws heavily from his own catalogue, often performing entirely self-produced material across a wide range of tempos and styles. His ability to move between contexts has seen him play at Boomtown, Houghton and Atonal Berlin, delivering distinct sets while maintaining a clear identity.
With 'Tricklemore Sea', that identity leans toward stillness, introspection and emotional depth. It is a record that prioritises feeling over definition, holding space for ambiguity while remaining grounded in a strong sense of authorship. Each release carries an element of exposure, a moment of vulnerability in letting the work go. At its core, the album seeks to capture something fleeting but recognisable, a sense of beauty that sits just beyond language.
He describes it simply: "The river inside of me flowing into the sea."
Horsemen make their debut on Small Great Things with Southbound, a warm and colourful EP made to ease the winter blues.
Drawing from a wide palette of house influences, the record showcases the duo’s versatility and depth beyond a single formula. The release follows Horsemen’s first year as residents at Small Great House, the label’s monthly party at OXI Berlin, including its beloved summer open airs that helped shape the sound of this EP. Southbound also introduces their first collaboration with vocalist Guya.
While the A-side sets a relaxed tone with disco and jazzy influences, perfect for those summer open-airs, the B-side shifts firmly into club territory, delivering two dancefloor-proven cuts for the night.
The A-side opens with Make Me Feel Excited, an almost disco-tinged summer anthem driven by a distinctive sample. It is followed by Napoliballa, featuring Guya on vocals, a sun-soaked jazzy track with playful rhythms. The side closes with Lighter Days, a moody piano-led track that adds a deeper, more dreamy tone.
The B-side moves into club territory, with Running offering a driving, floor-focused cut led by a bold organ hook, followed by a faster, more club-oriented version of Napoliballa.
Silvana Rossi emerges from the new wave of Italo revivalists with a sound that feels both timeless and sharply contemporary, where vintage drum machines, analog synth lines and nocturnal romance collide with a modern club sensibility. Rooted in classic Italo disco but filtered through today’s underground circuitry, her music speaks directly to selectors navigating the space between wave, electro and slow-burning techno. The tracks carry a distinctly personal edge—melancholy, desire, and late-night introspection wrapped in icy melodies and hypnotic grooves. This is music made for dimly lit booths, smoke-filled basements, and DJs who still believe in storytelling through vinyl.
A seductive opener “Elixir Of Love” built on cascading arps and a steady pulse, romantic but restrained, like a whispered confession over a rolling bassline. Perfect for setting the tone early set. Tension-driven and emotionally charged, italo anthem “Breakdown” balances crisp electro rhythms with a sense of inner collapse. A cold wave-leaning cut that hits hardest when the lights stay low and the energy turns inward. Shades Of The Night – a cinematic slow-burner drenched in shadow and atmosphere. This one is all about texture and space. Walk In The Night, another italo classic on the EP, stripped-back and hypnotic, with a confident groove that nods to classic Italo while staying firmly rooted in modern club aesthetics. “Bad Girl” brings a sharper, more playful edge, driving, stylish, and slightly dangerous. A weapon with crossover appeal for electro and wave crowds alike. A versatile tool for both warm-ups and deeper moments. Emotionally direct yet sonically controlled lush pads and restrained vocals create a sense of distance that pulls you in “Don’t Leave Me”. A melancholic highlight for DJs who know how to play with tension.
For the fifth volume of the Disco Goodies series, Sundries continues its tradition of delivering carefully hand-picked selections designed to satisfy every vinyl enthusiast, presenting a wide ranging collection of disco oriented cuts. From vocal-heavy disco edits like DJ Laurel’s “Rock The World” and Save The Robots’ “Warm Injections,” to classic disco-house fusions such as the irresistibly catchy, eyes-closed groover “Keep Me Loving U” by Gigi Croccante, and “Like A Fool” by Berlin based producer Shabi driven by Chic-style clipped guitar sample ,delivers pure dancefloor energy with character and warmth. Flipping to the B side, you’ll find the slow-mo disco jam “Keep It Coming,” a proto disco soul rework by producer Ben Jamin. GMGN closes the compilation in style, teasing out a hypnotic cut-up loop and layering it over a hazy, late-night atmosphere elevated by lush sax sections.
Michael Forzza unveils Obscure, a two-track EP navigating the darker edges of atmospheric techno with precision and intent.
A) Obscure is a peak-time weapon built on powerful percussive drive and a commanding groove. The rhythm pushes forward with controlled intensity, locking the dancefloor into motion. As the track evolves, the rhythmic pressure gradually recedes, allowing a shadowed melodic atmosphere to emerge in the final moments, adding depth and contrast without losing its dark identity.
B) Torture ventures into a more industrial realm. Dense textures, mechanical tension and hypnotic repetition shape its core, creating a sustained rhythmic strain. Then, when the pulse finally withdraws, the structure opens into a striking melodic finale, transforming the track into a suspended, almost cinematic closing atmosphere.
With OBSCURE, Michael Forzza explores the fragile line between impact and introspection, pressure and release. A release crafted for intense peak-time moments and the shadows that follow.
Français
Michael Forzza dévoile Obscure, un EP deux titres qui explore les territoires les plus sombres de la techno atmosphérique avec précision et intensité.
A) Obscure est un véritable track peak time, porté par une puissance percussive affirmée et un groove implacable. La tension rythmique s’installe et maintient le dancefloor sous pression, avant de s’effacer progressivement en fin de morceau pour laisser émerger une atmosphère sombre et mélodique, apportant profondeur et contraste.
B) Torture s’aventure dans une dimension plus industrielle. Textures denses, tension mécanique et répétition hypnotique construisent une montée intense. Puis, lorsque la pression rythmique disparaît, le titre bascule vers une finale mélodique surprenante, transformant l’énergie brute en une atmosphère finale plus immersive.
Avec OBSCURE, Michael Forzza joue sur l’équilibre entre impact et relâchement, puissance et émotion. Un EP taillé pour les heures sombres et les dancefloors exigeants.
Originally from Florence, Italy, Elio made an impression in the Seattle underground through his deejaying at DAZED parties alongside his evolution as a producer. On his first vinyl EP, two original productions channel an early 2000s melodic minimalism with a touch for evocative composition paired with memorable grooves. A remix of each completes the record.
The title track “Still Love” opens the EP with a series of contemplative notes. As the bass stirs, the track expands, adding energy alongside the breakbeat. The synth unfurls in a melodic crescendo before pads add emotive accents.
Kurilo steps into the lab to reconstruct “Still Love” into an afterhours potion. The Ukrainian producer showcases the psychedelic and sumptuous grooves that established him as one of the finest purveyors of hypnotic tech house at Trance Pandemic. The influence of cinematic acid house washes over the driving groove.
“Vegas Jam” opens side-b and again emphasizes Elio's sense for musical composition and progression. Adding swing and jazz techniques to the synth melody, variations of the piano hook improvise blissfully above the rolling bass.
A warm yet powerful kick sets the tone for the final track of the EP. China's electro and techno wiz B.AI remixes “Vegas Jam” into a mind melting sensory stimulus. The remix gathers intensity and drive, an irresistible late night brain worm.
Anané’s colourful life in music has seen her do everything from singing at the famous pre-game show at Super Bowl XLI as part of the group Elements of Life, DJ at hotspots like Hi Ibiza, Pacha NYC and Ushuaïa to name a few, while also curating her own monthly residency Nulu Movement, now ten years strong at Le Bain NYC, release unique blends of Afro, house, and pop on labels like Vega Records, and head up her own imprints, Nulu Music and Nulu Electronic. The Cape Verdean-born DJ, producer, vocalist, and songwriter has had countless club hits and has released acclaimed albums like ‘Ananésworld’ and ‘Chapters Of Becoming’, often with a lush, live, and orchestrated style that is truly unique.
With this release, Anané steps forward with her first solo production to date. Here she serves up the sumptuous ‘It Looks Like Love’, a poised, elegant house sound with her own smoking, soulful vocals and classy strings bringing colour to an Afro groove packed with infectious bounce. Neat guitar riffs and silky synths all enrich this most sophisticated sound. The first mix sees Anané link up with veteran Italian Christian Mantini, who has hosted Sunset Ritual parties with Anané and Louie Vega since 2013. Their dub is rooted in warm, rubbery drums that are even deeper and more immersive than the original.
Manda Moor & Sirus Hood are a red-hot contemporary pair who run the Mood label and are defining the contemporary underground. Their remix is more driving, but it retains the soulful vibe with breezy pads and jazzy motifs drifting in and out above the swaggering groove.
Rotterdam-based Chicagoan Jamie 3:26 is a master at blending disco, soul, and house into timeless sounds, and here he delivers a loopy rework that pairs deep drive and sun-kissed vibes with funky, Chic-style bass guitar motifs.
With Coalescence, The Third Room brings together artists from distinct yet interconnected techno lineages, united by a shared understanding of the music as both physical and introspective. Rather than staging contrasts, the EP focuses on convergence, where propulsion, atmosphere and restraint fold into a coherent whole. Rene Wise & Ignez open the release with Anjos, pairing Wise's tactile, percussive pressure with Ignez's expansive, oceanic pads. The result sits at the intersection of functional drive and elevated, almost devotional space, reflecting a new generation's approach to techno as both tool and inner landscape. Norbak's remix draws the track further inward, deepening its hypnotic pull and extending its energy into a more meditative, slow-burning form. On the B-side, Claudio PRC & Luigi Tozzi present Onirica, a deeply restrained and immersive composition rooted in atmosphere, spatial detail and subtle psychedelia. Unfolding with patience, it rewards attentive listening and long-form dancefloor contexts. Markus Suckut closes the EP by reducing Onirica to its bare essentials, applying his signature economy and precision to heighten tension and focus. Coalescence reflects The Third Room's vision of techno as a shared terrain, where different voices and generations meet, align and quietly reinforce one another.
Back in 2022, Is It Balearic? Recordings founders Coyote (AKA long-serving producers Richard Hampson aka Ampo and Timm Sure) took time out from releasing music on their own labels to deliver a near perfect mini-album on Phil Cooper’s similarly mind-ed NuNorthern Soul imprint, Everything Moves, Nothing Rests.
A superb exploration of their trademark sound, where gentle downtempo rhythms and nods to dub came cloaked in colourful ambient chords, sun-bright melodic motifs, organic instrumenta-tion and quirky spoken word samples, Everything Moves, Nothing Rests deserved a sequel. So, three and a half years on, the duo has delivered just that: a fine six-track EP that offers an even deeper and more atmospheric exploration of their signature sound.
It is a sonic approach that should now be familiar to Balearic en-thusiasts the world over. Aside from delivering a steady stream of singles, albums and remixes on their own imprint, Hampson and Sure have also showcased their skills and loved-up musical mis-sives on International Feel, Music For Dreams, Needwant, MM Discos and Citizens of Vice.
The Higher The Sky, The Deeper The Ocean, their hotly anticipated NuNorthern Soul return, is named in honour of a quote from Ped-ro Alonso’s documentary series On the Ship of Enchantment, an extended voyage in which the Money Heist movie star meets healers and masters of ancestral medicine across his native Mexi-co.
There’s naturally a meditative and slightly psychedelic sound to much of The Higher The Sky, The Deeper The Ocean, which offers a subtly varied exploration of Coyote’s style and influence. Yearning, soft-focus opener ‘Muted Beauty’ – the kind of immersive, effects-laden and sample-sporting ambient bliss found nestling on Fila Brazillia albums of the mid 1990s – is followed by the similarly gentle ‘Go All The Way’, where delay-laden acoustic guitars, spo-ken word snippets and gaseous chords stretch out atop a languid, slow-motion groove.
‘A Drop in the Ocean’ picks up the pace a little via a glorious hat-tip to turn of the 90s ambient house – all dub-wise bass, heady deep house sonics, spaced-out chords and half-buried references to sunrise-ready Balearic synth-pop records of the late 1980s. Late psychedelic guru Terrence McKenna appears in sampled form on ‘Dolce Far Niente’, a tabla-driven drift and musical hallucination which conjures mental images of lying in the Mexican desert, gazing intently at a starry sky.
In contrast, ‘Riviera Sound’ is a chunkier, brighter and more sun-splashed affair – all deep, dubby bass, sustained piano parts, punchy downtempo breaks and the duo’s trademark ambient pads – while superb closing cut ‘No Coincidences’ fixes jazzy double bass samples, twinkling keyboard motifs, subtle acid lines and Latin-laced percussion to a street soul-adjacent beat.
Heady, impeccably crafted and thoroughly enveloping, The Higher The Sky, The Deeper The Ocean is Coyote at their dazzling best. It marks another significant chapter in their ever-evolving musical journey.
Scissor and Thread presents Tailored Cuts, Vol. 06, a four-track selection that accompanies the digital compilation album. All four tracks appear on vinyl for the first time. Opening the A-side is a brand new and exclusive dub mix of Soela & Module One’s Drowning, reworked by Matthias Reiling (one half of Session Victim). Originally taken from Soela’s Dark Portrait album, the track is reshaped here into a spacious and hypnotic dub that emphasizes texture, atmosphere and patient groove. "I have been a fan of both Soela's and Module One's music for quite a while now," says Reiling, "so getting the chance to remix their collaboration from Soela's beautiful Dark Portrait album is a huge honor. I tried to keep the elegant and somewhat tender synth work close to it's original spirit and combine it with simple drumkit samples, acoustic guitar, electric bass and a dash of space echo. The process put me in a slightly eerie, yet romantic mood, which, so I hope, translates a little when listening to the result."
Also on the A-side, Black Light Smoke’s Love Triangle appears in ZG’s remix, a lush and understated reimagining that balances warmth with rhythmic precision. On the B-side, Hidden Spheres remix of Francis Harris’ Earth Moves feat. Eliana Glass appears alongside DaRand Land’s Passion Motion from his album Wander Being, "a more upbeat ride, with melodic overtones that drive the “passion”. Personally, it’s my interpretation of some of the sounds from mid-90’s Chicago." says DaRand Land.
With ASN002, Any Second Now presents the label’s second release. Sitting somewhere between Tech House and Deep House, this EP blends stripped-back grooves with warm, atmospheric depth. Featuring “The Sun” on the A-side and “The Rainfall” on the B-side, Zcelli Forever delivers two tracks that work just as well in the club as they do in more focused listening environments. Clear in rhythm, subtle in arrangement, and rich in mood, the record unfolds with both drive and emotional texture.
Rave-o-lution - Teknology EP (HDK-3)is a manifesto disguised in project.
Forged in the raw energy of the underground, Rave-o-lution - Teknology EP explores the connection between machine, movement and collective consciousness. This is not nostalgia, it’s forward motion. Teknology as a tool, rave as a language, evolution as a necessity.
Across four different versions, the same core signal mutates and adapts, shifting pressure, tempo and density while staying locked to its original frequency. Each version is built for a different moment on the floor, from deep hypnosis to pure mechanical drive.
Sometimes a pad emerges in the break, a moment of suspension where emotion cuts through the structure. A brief opening. A breath inside the system. Proof that even the hardest teknology carries feeling beneath the steel.
HDK-3 is made for soundsystems at full power, bodies in sync, and minds ready to disconnect from the surface and dive deeper.
No compromise.
No decoration.
Just rave — evolved.
Fresh off an EP on Semantica and an album on MORD, Uun returns to his imprint Ego Death with the Panopticon EP. Uun showcases his range on these 6 tracks, running the gamut from dissonance to chord driven grooves.
The A side focuses on intensity. “Aesthetic Descent” features dual synth lines, slipping between melody and atonality. The straightforward percussion allows the listener to focus on the everchanging dynamics in the leads. “Structural Obedience” begins with a chugging groove, out of which a buzzsaw synth emerges. This track is a display of Uun’s ability to walk the line between minimalism and maximalism.
The B side focuses on the interplay between melody and groove. “Ralph’s Track” channels the dub chords of Basic Channel while applying a modern edge. “The Hidden System” features the lone vocal on the EP, sampled from the work of the late great David Lynch. The interplay between the 7⁄8 lead synth and 4/4 percussion creates a feeling of anticipation, where the patterns develop in unpredictable ways.
The digital exclusive tracks go into more experimental territory. “Queen’s Chamber” is a broken beat dirge, consisting of reverb drenched percussion and synths reminiscent of Dead Can Dance. The final track, “Shokunin”, is the counterpoint to Aesthetic Descent, closing out the release on a crushing yet hopeful note.
Pressed onto a unique custom turquoise and black hand poured color mix record inside a full printed jacket. The evocative artwork was created by Minneapolis based graphic designer Ryote.
Following the critical success of last year’s ‘Cold Feet’ LP, producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist Alek Lee returns to Isle of Jura with his most introspective work to date, the ‘Blue Bird’ album. Across eight tracks, the Athens-based artist explores what he describes as a "Peculiar state of minds & Dub Orientated Feelings," blending his signature guerrilla style production with deep, organic soul.
The album’s centerpiece and title track, ‘Blue Bird’ features the haunting vocals of singer-songwriter Keren Ilan. It is a raw, heartfelt exploration of the aftermath of a breakup. The lyrics speak of a "desert heart" and a "loss that grows tall and loud," eventually finding a path toward healing as the "blue bird sings the dawn." Musically, the track is anchored by hazy, sun drenched guitars, a central instrument that weaves a consistent Balearic thread throughout the LP.
The journey through ‘Blue Bird’ is one of shifting shadows and unexpected textures. ‘Treasures’ is a standout instrumental, leaning into a grit-flecked, bluesy "twang" reminiscent of Duane Eddy, while ‘The Beach Road’ sees long time collaborator and ‘Shame On Us’ bandmate, Yovav, lending his magical bass and guitar work to a track that feels like a slow drive toward the horizon.
Side B shifts the energy toward the dancefloor and the sophisticated leftfield pop of the 80s. ‘First Rain’ is a subtle house leaning gem underpinned by a kick drum and lush, synth heavy emotive chord progression. ‘Thanks to Sade’ is a seductive downtempo groove with epic guitar lines shifting through, while ‘Remember the Good’ brings a subtle reggae skank and a French-influenced organ sound into the mix. The LP comes full circle with a smoked out Dub version of the title track ‘Blue Bird’.
A 180 gram pressing in a 3mm spine full colour sleeve and sticker designed by Bradley Pinkerton.
SONO kehren nächstes mit ihrem mit Spannung erwarteten neuen Album "Lost Lovers Motel" zurück, einer nostalgischen Reise durch Synthwave und von den 80ern inspirierte Klanglandschaften. Pulsierende Synthesizer, atmosphärische Melodien und catchy Vocals vereinen sich zu einem eindringlichen, retro-futuristischen Erlebnis. Die erste Single "Like Glass" zeigt, wohin die Sono-Reise geht: fl irrende Synthesizer, gefühlvolle Lyrics und ein eindringlicher, ansteckenden Beat, vereinen sich zu einem Song, der versucht, eine verlorene Liebe einzufangen. Mit "Lost Lovers
Motel" erforschen SONO Themen wie Herzschmerz, Sehnsucht und Eskapismus und huldigen dabei dem pulsierenden Sound der 80er Jahre.
It’s True What They Say is the debut EP from Edinburgh-based, husband-and-wife duo Sarah/Shaun (pronounced simply Sarah Shaun), aka Sarah and Shaun McLachlan (pronounced “McLochlin”).
“Sarah and I both have a love for nostalgia,” explains Shaun. “We watched that amazing old 80’s Sci-Fi, (John) Carpenter movie, Starman, a few months back. Myself and my brother David used to watch it all the time. We must have been, roughly, 5-7 at the time. I remember loving the movie but the end, you know, with the beautiful, atmospheric, synth ending, I love that particular moment the most - best part of the movie, you know, when he goes home… It’s heartbreaking but stunning, all the same. It’s the music that moves you most… It did when I was 5 and it still does to this day. It must have had some form of a (much deeper) impact on me.”
The duo narrates stories across themes of love, hope, family, friends, dreams and sadness - the good that comes with the bad in everyday life, not just on a personal scale but within a community as well.
“Starbed is the first song I have ever written and just came out of the blue really, with Shaun playing a melody and me singing along,” says Sarah. “It’s simple and just about two people in love. Love songs are always the best songs, after all… Music has been a big part of my life from a young age. I was unwillingly dragged to piano and violin lessons, which I’m thankful for now! I’d say the first band I really became obsessed with growing up were the Beatles, and on the back of that a lot of 60s music and fashion. From then on, I had a love for music.”
“Shaun definitely opened my ears to a lot of sounds and got me thinking about soundtracks and all the noises that can be made,” she goes on. “We love just spending time experimenting in the house with instruments, pedals etc and Ali is a real magician to work with, too…”
The recordings took place over the summers of 2022 and 2023, with fellow Delta Mainline member Ali Chisholm (aka Jaguar Eyes) plus long-term friend and collaborator Gavin King. Further collaboration then came via the ‘net from the (international) likes of Chris Dixie Darley (Father John Misty), Darren Coghill (Neon Waltz) and Daniel Land (The Modern Painters), among others (see a full list of credits below).
Both Sarah and Shaun have a love for uber-soundtrack producers such as Hanz Zimmer, Max Richter, Cliff Martinez plus live acts such as Beach House, Spiritualized, M83, Suicide, Moby and OMD (to name a few). Shaun also credits the work of Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein (from Survive) on the Stranger Things score… “Even a moment in a movie, whether it be just 30 seconds during a particular scene, it grips you,” he says. But there’s something much deeper at play as well. “Music is a healer,” he goes on, “and I write from my own perspective but more so for others. Once I've done my bit, it doesn't belong to me any longer. It belongs to whoever wants it or needs it.”
The result is a cinematic, synth-wavey, dream poppy and downright beguilingly beautiful body of work. And they’re just getting started…
REVIEWS/RADIO/FEEDBACK:
“Starbed is folky, flavoured by pedal steel, cello, and brass. Dust Tears, in stark contrast, is a mini synth-pop rave epic. Part Bicep. Part Human League. Keep Your Eyes Closed summons a mood that’s romantic, but also dark and potentially doomed – like David Lynch’s Twin Peaks meets Cliff Martinez’s Drive score. My pick though is It’s True What They Say, whose interwoven jangle and picking recalls New Order’s more introspective moments (Love Vigilantes, Love Less… ). Drums crashing, cathartic. Guitar raising dramatic arcs. Its chorus a rush, like a reprise of Pains Of Being Pure Of Heart’s ‘Higher Than The Stars’.” BAN BAN TON TON
"Dust Tears sees them sharing vocal duties over a synth foundation reminiscent of Moby’s Go - Artist Of The Week” THE SCOTSMAN
"Woozy pop" NEMONE (Mary Anne Hobbs Morning Show, BBC 6Music)
"Nice one, very David Lynch meets Euro dream pop" YOUTH (Killing Joke, Paul McCartney, U2, The Orb, Spiritualized etc)
"Music sounds killer! Real emotion” DAVID HOLMES
"I’m enjoying it” TIM BRINKHURST aka LONDON (IKLAN, Young Fathers, Callum Easter)
“Oh, this is lovely!” SEAN JOHNSTON (A Love From Outer Space)
"It’s totally my cup of tea with milk and biscuit" BRENT RADEMAKER (Beachwood Sparks/GospelBeach)
"Beautiful, ecstatic electronica! Short and to the point" KEVIN BALES (Spiritualized, Julian Cope, Soulsavers, BE)
"Makes me wanna sit in the sun and sip an Arnold Palmer" CHRIS DIXIE DARLEY (Father John Misty)
“Really beautiful - Cocteau Twins / Spiritualized vibes but has its own thing going on, too - worth checking out!” JULIAN CORRIE (Franz Ferdinand, Miaoux Miaoux)
‘Sounded nice on a sunny day, makes me think of Twin Peaks, nice moods’ EAMON HAMILTON (Sea Power)
"Dealing in nostalgia, no bad thing at all, great to play that (Dust Tears) for you” RODDY HART (BBC Radio Scotland)
“I'll give the vocal tracks a spin before the release." VIC GALLOWAY (BBC Radio Scotland)
"Rather good!" IAIN ANDERSON (BBC Radio Scotland)
CREDITS:
Lyrics, Guitars, Keys, Synths, Drums, Drum Programming, Percussion, Mandolin, Glockenspiel: Shaun McLachlan
Lyrics, Vocals, Keys by Sarah McLachlan
Guitars, Synths, String Arrangements, Drum Programming, Engineering: Jaguar Eyes Percussion/Drums/Effects, Fire Extinguisher: Darren Coghill (Neon Waltz)
Guitars by Daniel Land
Slide Guitar by Chris Dixie Darley (Father John Misty)
Brass by Bruce Michie
Keys, pre-production & engineering on “It’s true what they say”: Gavin King
All produced by Jaguar Eyes and Shaun McLachlan and then mixed at Glasgow’s Chem19 Studios by David McCaulay (From Scotland With Love, Rick Redbeard, BBC TV’s Attenborough and The Mammoth Graveyard score).
Artwork: Jamie Walman (Fourteen Admirals)
MORE INFO:
Although Shaun released a pair of solo singles (When We Dance and Give Your Love To Me) during Lockdown, he will be better known to many via his work as the multi-instrumentalist in Edinburgh band Delta Mainline. With two albums released to date, Oh! Enlightened and Bel Avenir, both rapturously received by fans and critics alike, Delta Mainline have developed an international, cult following. Oh Enlightened (2013) achieved widespread critical acclaim on release, earning the band comparisons to Arcade Fire and Echo & The Bunnymen, while 2019’s Bel Avenir pulled in references to The Flaming Lips, Pink Floyd, David Bowie and krautrock. A third DM album is currently being mixed and due for release later this year…
Costas Music returns with its third release after a period of silence, delivering a timeless club-oriented EP from label head Costas, with remixes by Baldo and Youandewan.
It's Me Again sets the tone with rolling 90s-influenced drums, groovy basslines and subtle acid touches, driven by a raw dancefloor energy and atmospheric pads in the breakdowns. Barcelona’s Baldo steps in with a powerful remix, reshaping the track into a peak-time club weapon.
On the flip, Waterphone dives into hypnotic territory with evolving textures and stripped-back grooves built for late-night floors. UK underground favourite Youandewan delivers a distinctive reinterpretation, injecting his signature trippy swing and deep rhythmic flow.
Closing the EP, Drako drifts into cinematic soundscapes and immersive atmospheres, offering a deep and reflective ending to the record.
Deep, acid-tinged underground house with strong 90s influences — crafted for modern dancefloors.
London based composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Akusmi announces 'Lines', an exhilarating new collection of works born from the desire to take where the acclaimed debut album 'Fleeting Future' left off - in search of new forms.
" 'Secant', I must have listened to this tune 3 times in a row, this one soundtracked my night drive through the winding roads" - Benji B, BBC Radio 1
'Lines' is presented as a Limited edition clear vinyl (500 copies only worldwide), printed in heavy-weight reverse board sleeve with a hand-numbered edition sticker. The vinyl edition also features 'Oblique' (A2), an exclusive version for the vinyl format, plus the now revered 'Longing for Tomorrow' - (Brandt Brauer Frick Remix), previously unreleased physically and now pressed on vinyl format, ending side B. The cover artwork features another collaboration with Dutch visual artist Sigrid Calon and design by label founder Adam Heron.
Formed with a sense of urgency and a reductive approach 'Lines' is almost entirely comprised of alto saxophone, clarinet and piano with embellishments of ambience and minimal percussive elements. Recorded in full at his home studio in London, Pascal Bideau speaks about the process:
"I wanted to go a bit more a bit more horizontal and ambient, work with layers of lines, might they be dotted or straight, and leave them to unfold and see where they would take me."
Akusmi uniquely finds the spaces in between experimental jazz, crossover classical and ambient music.
Building a temple of sound from reduced elements, Decoder's Alchemy EP on T3R allows selected components to generate a strong and steady drive. Using a distinctly organic sound palette, the tone of the release is wordly, sometimes almost wooden with space taking the role of an active element. When melodies or chords appear, they introduce a subtle sense of melancholy, adding emotional weight without pulling the music away from its physicality. In its unfolding storyline, the EP suggests a broader narrative. While each piece explores a slightly different soundscaping approach, a consistent DNA runs through the release - reinforced by Sanskrit and Hindu references as an underlying conceptual thread. Percussion is handled with precision and imagination: Grooves shift, evolve, and reconfigure. Dark, driving sequences are softened by airy pads and atmospheric layers, creating a dual feeling of intensity and serenity. Filters and reverbs are applied with restraint, giving the music a sense of movement and breath. Alchemy showcases an emerging artistic voice driven by aspiration and exploration. Through confident craftsmanship, genuineness and self-reflection translate into a perfectly balanced, inspiring release. ? 2026 The Third Room Written and Produced by Gautham Gaug Mixdown and Mastering by Ahmet Sisman (The Third Room Studios) Artwork by Daniel Bornmann & Lennard Makosch (STUEDIO.XYZ) Distribution by Clone Pressing by Matter Of Fact
Assemble Music welcomes XDB for his first appearance on the label. Born and based in Germany with Greek roots, XDB (Kosta Athanassiadis) has been deeply involved in electronic music since the early 1990s. Known for his broad musical vision and refusal to be boxed into a single style, XDB has built a reputation through both his carefully curated DJ sets and hardware-driven productions. His sound draws from raw Detroit traditions, dub techno and deep house, favouring analog textures and stripped-back machine funk. On this three-track EP, XDB explores the darker edges of house and techno, blending classic Detroit influences with raw analog production to deliver a focused and uncompromising statement. With releases on respected imprints such as Sistrum, Ferox and Dial Records, this debut on Assemble Music feels perfectly placed and essential.
