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For release #2 Kontrapunkt makes a journey into different fields of electronic music. French based producer Octave Diesis delivers an album full of melancholic yet thoughtful neoclassical songs. The songs live mostly from the enigmatic piano melodies paired with some well-thought synthesizer sounds he composed. Expect ambient environments and dramatic, soothing layers.

Venda is one of Australia's fastest rising stars in the minimal and house music scene and with previous releases on labels like Body Parts his music is now starting to reach a more global audience and its easy to hear why with infectious groove based cuts like this. On remix duties is one of our favourite remixers, FUSE London & Moscow Records star, Archie Hamilton with his stellar dance floor interpretation.

The new Saint Petersburg based label is focused on underground sounding of house and minimal. This is the first release of the label and the debut of a new artist Matpri from Saint Petersburg. Four original house tracks with a shuffling drum beats and solid basslines will add a dose of positive energy to your mix.

"We Are What You Think We Are" is a 3 part compilation celebrating 10 releases from New York-based label and promoters Lost Soul Enterprises. The groupings of artists on each 12" represent slightly different sonic territory, from darkwave and synthpop, to acid and electro, to industrial techno, all of which together have come to define the identity of the label and the community surrounding its legendary parties.

When we started The Bunker New York label in 2014 there was a short list of artists whose music we knew that we wanted to get out into the world. Lori Napoleon, aka Antenes, was high up on that list, although at the time the Brooklyn-based Chicago native had yet to release her recorded music at all. Five years on, after acclaimed records on L.I.E.S. and Silent Season, residencies at Issue Project Room and Bell Labs plus a busy global touring schedule as both a DJ and live performer, we are proud and excited to present Lori's Ante Meridiem EP under her Antemeridian production moniker. She tells us that the Antemeridian project is a special outlet for her more melodic synthesizer compositions and the name Antemeridian refers to morning light and the meridian lines of the planet, the view you would have from above if you were already in the sky/space/seeing the atmosphere also from a great distance.'
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With this EP, Antemeridian has created nothing less than a masterwork of synthesis comprising unique soundscapes unbelievably detailed and crisp. We asked Lori to tell us a bit about her production techniques, which include home-built machines from unorthodox source materials including vintage switchboards and telecommunications equipment. She actually built her first synthesizer out of an antique telephone switchboard we donated to her from The Bunker HQ! I use a combination of synths and controllers/sequencers that I've made along with commercially available/ bought or modded analog synths and field recordings that have gone through a number of effects chains. There may be a crackling sound that emerged from the modular which made me think about a flame sparking and burning out, recalling a very organic process in nature - but in a composition it's a drum element. Perhaps the sense of detail comes from how I work on finding sounds before arranging them in a track so when I find one with little nuances and textures, then I'll be inspired to compose with it. Visceral sounds are very important to me, and sounds that you may not instantly identify with this or that synth model - which is why I like the idea of designing my own palette for portions of tracks.'

NYC native Eric Maltz has been a professional producer and pianist for more than 20 years. After landing on the techno scene in 2017 with the double vinyl 'NS-17' EP on Levon Vincent's Novel Sound, Eric Maltz releases his first single on his own label Flower Myth.Opening on the title track , a bruising slice of machine techno, the live touch of the New-York producer stands out throughout 'Pathway'. On 'Ah-Shu-De-Ohu', paranoid chimes swirl out of focus while chopped up vocals command attention. Free floating chords glide through a meditative soundscape on closer 'Line Through'. Flower Myth will release 4 more singles from Eric Maltz throughout 2018, one of them a collaboration with Cristina Valentina, the powerful voice from 'We Have Power' (NS17).Having recently signed with Uzuri booking and artist management, Eric will soon be bringing his singular live techno to his home-base city of Berlin and other major cities across Europe and the World.

Long time friend of the label, Neue Grafik, steps forth with his most fully realised offering to date. This record has been a long time coming, born out of a encounter in Paris back in 2016. This meeting of minds led to a blossoming friendship between Fred ( Neue Grafik) and Bradley ( RS INTL) which has taken them across 3 continents, countless dance-floors and finally crystallised onto this 12'.

The record itself takes cues from the broken-beat sound of London while paying homage to the Parisian house dance scene. Largely sample based, but also employing much more live instrumentation than ever before, Neue Grafik's music is informed by movement and in turn offers so much for Dancers to respond to.

The EP begins with the lysergic ebbs and flows of 'Innervision', ( in which Wayne Snow graces the record with a sublime vocal performance) and moves effortlessly to the uplifting bruk of 'Dance to Yemanja' via the staccato of ' to Peckham Rye'( a homage to the labels origins) , before finishing on the hauntingly melancholic tones of 'Aulnay's Tears' - an homage to the victim's of police brutality in the Parisian Suburb in 2017.

With releases on 22a, Beat X Changers and Wolf Music and a whole host of exciting plans for the near future - we're very pleased to welcome Monsieur Grafik onboard!

Led by Saxophonist Rob Mitchell, Abstract Orchestra have been a consistent presence on the u.k. music scene, touring constantly in the promotion of their debut LP "Dilla" and steadily building a loyal and supportive fanbase.Inspired by the legendary live performances of The Roots with Jay-Z and the 40 piece orchestral arrangements by Miguel-Atwood Ferguson of the work of J Dilla, classic arranging techniques underpin modern loop-based structures, breathing new life into familiar material.The band itself is based on the classic jazz big band instrumentation of saxes, trumpets, and trombones and features the cream of the north of England's jazz scene, who collectively have played with Jamiroquai, Corinne Bailey Rae, Mark Ronson, Martha Reeves, John Legend & the Roots, Roots Manuva and Amy Winehouse.

"New Day" is the eagerly anticipated new single and features rapper and J Dilla's brother Illa J on vocals. Supported by a U.K. tour with Illa J throughout February, "New Day" takes the blueprint laid out on last years LP "Dilla" and expands it with Illa J's understated vocal delivery. Radio support anticipated from BBC6's Gilles Peterson who has been an advocate for Abstract Orchestra on both his BBC6 and Worldwide FM shows, as well as Huey Morgan (BBC6), Shawn Lee (Soho) and Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s). "New day" is the first original work by Abstract Orchestra and builds on the foundations laid on their debut. Flutes and electric piano lay out a gentle pad, propelled forward by Joost Hendrickx's insistent drums. Occasional fragments of saxophones add an urgency to the insouciant groove laid out by the rhythm section as soft trumpets and trombones are gradually added to the flutes. This provides the perfect foil to Illa J's laid-back vocal delivery as he describes a typically relaxed Tuesday morning spent contemplating the day ahead. The B-side is the AO remix which takes the instrumental performances of the A-Side, chopping and fragmenting them and re-framing the original with a slightly harder edge, which should be popular with those DJs and listeners looking for something with a tougher sound.

Soundway Records presents the debut EP from Amsterdam based The Mauskovic Dance Band - a potent, modern blend of Afro-Caribbean rhythms and space disco, destined for bustling dancefloors.
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The Mauskovic Dance Band is the brainchild of the Amsterdam-based producer and musician, Nicola Mauskovic. A seasoned drummer, he finds himself constantly in demand - as part of Turkish psychedelic outfit Altin Gün, a recent tour with the revival of Zambian legends W.I.T.C.H., and a worldwide tour with psych-pop artist Jacco Gardner, with whom he then went on to form the dance-oriented duo Bruxas (released on Dekmantel). Throughout this hectic schedule Nic still found time to begin studio experiments that would eventually lead to several 7' singles, released on Swiss label Bongo Joe Records in 2017 under the name The Mauskovic Dance Band'.

Quality is the key word from Copenhagen based Music For Dreams and here is another home run. Willie Graff splits his year between DJ residencies in New York and Ibiza. In this new outing with studio partner Darren Eboli, the influence is, as the title suggests, clearly NY-based. Over only four tracks, the pair manage to craft a stunningly comprehensive exploration of the essential elements of dance music.

Opening track "Love Flight" staggers into a lush string-driven groove that recalls the glory of Metro Area meets Wally Badarou vibes. Minimal yet playful, it lounges somewhere in the depths of the house tradition, calling on familiar sounds while throwing in odd details along the way (harmonicas). It takes both skill, devotion and a sense of humor to pull this track off, making for a strong opening. "Moon Tan" lingers on a metallic hook that drags you into a plethora of percussion followed by a rubbery soft baseline. Dubby key work would suggest this was a new wave band jamming at Compass Point, while the icy chill of the xylophone transports you into 80s italo territory.

"Second Sun" pulls out the bag of boogie tricks, relying on a firm but humble baseline and smattering drum machine claps. Nile Rodgers-style guitar licks guide us onwards into a well-orchestrated jam that builds up and breaks down with perfect timing while dreamy chords reach for the sky. "First Light" keeps the groove tight while dipping over towards more Balearic temperatures. Steeped in a watery atmosphere and gentle organic percussion, it focuses in on a trance-inducing arpeggio that lulls you in to the swaying Badarou-style synth swirls that intercept it.

It's the big 5! Berlin - Frankfurt based label House Is OK is celebrating its five-year long presence and has decided to mark that period with something special Label's story started with a sticker Homeboy printed in his former hometown, Zagreb, saying House Is OK'. Catchy, right It became an underground slogan of the local scene. It didn't take long for people to embrace the idea stating that it's OK to be into melodic, fresh, groovy yet, at times, a bit awkward dance music.
Just around the same time Homeboy's Frankfurt based bro's Oliver Achatz and Janis played with the idea of starting a record label. Guess what the logical choice for the name was
Ten records, dozens of original songs and remixes later House is OK continues to grow.
Literally. What was once a platform for the original three founders is now an international family affair supporting the talented artists from Frankfurt, Stockholm, Alexandria and Orlando. Nurturing the friendly approach this musical family continues to grow.
Looking back at the first five years, not only at the music that connected them all but at the bonds that deepened through the production process, House is OK crew wanted to take
create a proper reminder and thank the ones supporting them throughout the years. A double 12' pack titled Gemišt' seemed like a proper way to do that.
- Gemišt will be released as two separate EPs featuring the original music from Kornél Kovacs, Roman Flügel, Gavri & McQueen, TCB, House Of Life and the label makers themselves. Oliver and Janis deliver tracks under their known names, while Homeboy
introduces his new project with fellow Wilde Renate resident The Swift, called Longhair.
Croatian artist Ugruv Smek marks his yearlong collaboration with the label delivering yet another smashing artwork.
Mark the upcoming February when Gemišt part I' is to be released and while you're at it, move on to March just so you don't miss the Gemišt part II' release. And yeah, in case you're wondering - of course it's both 12' EP release and in digital format. House is OK's got you covered.

Strata-Gemma's eponymous debut album is set to provide a soundtrack to 2018.

The trio hail from Modena, the Northern Italian motor city. As with the Ferrari and Maserati cars that are designed and manufactured in Modena, Strata-Gemma produce a music of beautiful symmetry.

Strata-Gemma create jazz for the head, the heart and the body. Their sound is shaped by the ambient adventures Miles Davis and Ron Carter engaged in alongside the electronic pulse Mo' Wax and Ninja Tune carved out of clubland. Add to this a touch of Nino Rota's Fellini film scores, employ a pinch of Balkan and klezmer brass arrangements, and you have an instrumental trio who create music so fresh it stimulates the senses.

Strata-Gemma are a collaboration between Billy Bogus, Luca Cacciatore and Andrea Moretti. The trio first took shape as a club jam between DJs and musicians. Their ability to create atmospheric music, pulsing with rhythm but never solely reliant on beats, music that breaks free and explores sonic possibilities, quickly won notice and lead to the trio playing their freeform music in clubs, music venues and festivals across Italy.

Strata-Gemma consist of producer Niccolò Bruni (aka Billy Bogus), horns player Luca Cacciatore, double bassist Andrea Moretti. Bruni is a DJ, producer and founder of Pizzico Records. Over the past two decades he has striven to mix jazz, beats, soundtracks and funk. Coming together with Luca and Andrea allowed Bruni to explore a vision of post-club jazz that is as rich as Modena's food and as elegant as Modena's cars. Strata-Gemma create a sensual sonic storm, music to be savoured and explored, the opposite of much of today's fast-food music.

Lorenzo Bandiera, the London-based Italian founder of Fly By Night Music, heard a Strata-Gemma demo via friends and was immediately impressed. "I thought 'this is great!", he says. "Music as strong as this can't be ignored. I'm excited about releasing Strata-Gemma."

Brett Naucke returns to Spectrum Spools with his sophomore LP for Spectrum Spools following the "Seed" LP (SP-034) as well as a string of exceptional cassette releases on Umor Rex and Hausu Mountain.

"The Mansion" finds Naucke at the peak of his powers with a fresh array of meticulously composed psychotropic tapestries. Themes based on a childhood home, now a distant memory, reveal a mysterious narrative in mind-bending sonic detail. These complex ideas fuse conflicting states of tension and beauty with an organic acumen, each track a piece of the greater whole.

"The Mansion" is a fine mixture of contemporary concrète structure interlaced with tightly crafted melodic arrangement and hi-fidelity electronic exploration. In addition to his stalwart synthesis, Naucke employs additional personnel featuring vocal duties from Natalie Chami (of Goodwill Smith and TALsounds) and Viola sounds from Whitney Johnson (of Matchess). Field recording, piano and other various instrumentation are also carefully implemented adding a new, deeper dimension to the Naucke oeuvre.

With his most realized set of compositions yet, "The Mansion" finds Naucke at the paragon of his conceptual and sonic ethos with a work that's at once deeply meaningful and profound in it's auditory breadth.

Bleu Nuit (BN) is glad to introduce to you to its second release Red Light City (BN02) by Nice-based French duo Gabardines.
Rising French DJs from the South of France, Gabardines is composed by Olivier aka Ghini-B and Régis aka Redj.
If Ghini-B and Redj already have a couple of vinyl-only releases to their respective solo alias, Gabardines is about to release his first EP under this name. Indeed, in 2017, Gabardines brought out Sweat Things EP on Simple Things Records via bandcamp as well as a remix of Lady B's Liaisons on their own imprint Swipe White Limited a couple of years before.
Red Light City EP follows the lead or rather, the musical line, introduced by both the label and Gabardines' predecessor Flavio Folco (BN01). As can be listened from all three tracks, Gabardines are sticking to these break and gangster beats, offering a balanced release with some warmup (A1), peak-time (A2) and closing/after spirit (B1).

In their fifth release, DC label Partial Magic welcomes four friends and producers from the Knoxville, Tennessee based collective TEKNOX. Alex Falk opens the record with an upbeat slammer, looping cocky vocal samples over brash, noisy textures sure to please those familiar with his sound. Second on the A side, Saint Thomas LeDoux follows with an introspective track perfect for building or releasing dancefloor tension. On the B side, Nikki Nair brings back the raunch with a cheeky breaks-and-bleeps acid track. Dialectic Sines closes out the record with an ethereal cut backed by a hypnotic, tropical electro-techno groove.

People Places & Things is the single project of Manchester born & London based Mike Checuti. Mike grew listening to a heavy mixture of horror & film soundtracks an equal dose of the early electro via the legendary Spin Inn records & then the hedonistic sounds of The Hacienda & the more underground Thunderdome nightclub.

Mike was encouraged to press ahead with the project after a visit to Los Angeles & spending time in the studio with Atticus Ross (Gone Girl & The Social Network soundtrack composer).

Treating Patient A is the first in a trilogy of releases by People Places & Things each pulling from the above mentioned influences but each EP having it's own variation whilst keeping the references points clearly audible along with People Places & Things own take of these sounds at the forefront.

People Places & Things along with Gabe Guernsey of Factory Floor have recently just composed the soundtrack for the latest film for the forthcoming Adidas Spezial range which commemorates 30 years of Acid house.

Artwork for each 12" is designed by Andrew Jackson & each sleeve is individually hand printed thus having its own unique imprint and limited to only 200 copies.

The press & publicity for the release and project as while will be handled by 'The Rest is Noise'

'Intimate Connetion' by Kleeer on US 7' single is one record that's been indemand in recent times and has seen it's value soar in price. The rare 7' mix has never been previously released in the UK. 'Intimate Connection' is one of the smoothest of cuts of the early 1980s and that has a groove that glides effortlessly with great ease. For us in the shop it epitomises the changeover sound from full live bands to electronic based recordings with the amazing Deodato at the production helm overlording the groups synthesisers & drum machines. On the flip with 'Tonight' the jam continues with great aplomb and features it's distinctive vocoder lead. This was always one of the finest double headers of the 1980s and one that we're proud to be re-releasing in 2018

Red Vinyl
In 9 records and 22 years Schmer has given you the same four dudes: Prototype 909, DJ RX-5 and bpmf. Now is the time to unleash a new generation of Schmers on an unprepared world and they are prepared to set the world on fire.

Coming out strong to whip us all into shape we've unleashed Isabella and she'll leave you "Spun Out". Isabella has done tracks for Jacktone, Embalming Lately, Borft, S1, Peder Mannerfelt Produktions. She uses hardware, live, to produce unhinged techno. Now she has done one for Schmer, which had already lost its hinges decades before.

Since 2015, Ciel's monthly radio show "Work In Progress" in Montreal has been highlighting the best and weirdest in underground electronic music produced by women. She has released tracks on Junted (Marshall Applewhite's new imprint), the benefit compilation Power Puerto Rico, and a three- track EP on Peach Discs which landed on numerous year-end lists from Fact Magazine, Mixmag, and Resident Advisor. She provides Schmer with the pristine sounds of "Bad Luck Comes in 3s".

Hiroko Yamamura is the Classic Chicago ride or die style DJ/producer influenced by The Warehouse, technology, and straight up techno, its no wonder she has been named one of Chicago's top 10 DJs by XLR8R magazine. Finally Schmer stops messing around with the Chicago sound and puts the real thing out with Hiroko's "Babyayez" track.

Experimental Housewife is Evelyn Malinowski, a longstanding DJ and maker of music.(Run The Length Of Your Wildness / Jacktone Records / Perfect Location / Juxtatextureall) Now based in San Francisco, she partakes in multiple open collaborations, like the one with the highly skilled DJ and producer Andrew Bowen aka Bilaga´ana. "Free Ends" was created, a track with grit yet full of innocent meandering. Its the cherry on top of our Schmerlicious cake.

Promo Support for new album 'Ruthless Day'

"The more I hear this the more I'm loving it. As a starter while we wait for the main course which will be the album this is just perfect."

"It's fabulous and it sees the return of one of my favourite UK vocalists - the pocket rocket that is Gizelle Smith" - Craig Charles (BBC)

"such a powerful singer...a real british soul talent" - Eddie Piller (Acid Jazz)

Radio support:

BBC 6 Music: Craig Charles - 'STAY' (25.11.17) (2.12.17) (9.12.17), 'Sacred of Something' (13.01.18) (17.02.18)

KCRW (USA): Garth Trinidad - 'STAY'

Jazz FM (UK): John Osborne - 'Sweet Memories'

Delite Radio interview w/ Chris Forbes

Colourful Radio interview w/ DJ Sly

3Fach (playlisted), Delite (playlisted), MiSoul , NTS, Solar, 1BTN, Radio Krimi, Ibiza Sonica, Radio Pepper, Republic 100.3, Kane FM, WUTK 90.3, Juice brighton (playlisted) , Colourful Radio, Crackers Fresh, Radio Cardiff, Starpoint Radio,

DJ: Felix Da Housecat, Benoit C, Yamwho,Doc Scott, Basement Freaks, Dom Servini, Mat The Alien, All Good Funk Alliance, Marc Hype

Online and print press: Blues & Soul, Echoes, Afropunk, EARMILK, The Cocoa Diaries, Vents Magazine, FIP, Wax Poetics, FleamarketFunk, Monkeyboxing, Monkeyboxing, Blue In Green Radio, Groovement, Reductive Reviews,

Lagaffe Tales co-founder Jónbjörn drops four tracks on Iceland's FALK Records beat driven sub-label, FALK DISKS.

Since 2008 FALK (Fuck Art Lets Kill) has become a creative hub for Icelandic and international artists involved in experimental and electronic music, spanning noise rock through to power electronics, underground hip-hop to DIY techno and electro. 2017 saw FALK continue with releases from Icelandic hip-hop producer LORD PUSSWHIP, techno/electro producer ThizOne and Canadian industrial techno musician //HUREN//. Berlin based Icelandic producer Jónbjörn, known for curating Reykjavík record label Lagaffe Tales - one of the main pillars in the Icelandic house scene - now joins FALKS' club focused sub-imprint with a robust four tracker.

Moving away from the deep house sound he's renowned for towards a darker and leaner night time aesthetic, 'Amsiak' inaugurates the release with an infectious electro groove as gurgling pings and acidic clangs and drones are liberally dropped throughout the track. 'Aspekte' is a spacious track with blown-out bass sounds that morph and glide across a tempered, slow burning planar rhythm.

On the flip, Jónbjörn goes for a harder techno sound influenced by his relocation to Berlin. 'Sunnudagskaffi' is a bendy, 4/4 roller that contains hidden grooves below the basslines and the acid pings that wouldn't be out of place on a Livity Sound release. Meanwhile, 'Holy B' is pure warehouse creeper techno, complete with machinic tones and the atmospherics of sweat and grime on dungeon brick walls.