Cerca:balearic sound

Man Power his raw electronic sound, organic flourishes and diverse selection make him a perfect match for DGTL, both on stage as well as on the imprint. Next to releasing a steady flow of records on established labels like ESP Institute, Optimo Trax, Correspondant and Hivern Discs, Man Power is running his own shop as well: Me Me Me. This gives him an outlet to release music by both friends and himself. For his release on DGTL Records he created a three-track EP called Apologue EP, that showcases just two of different sides of his multi-faceted musical scope.

The a-side features two firm, acid influenced tracks. The first of these two, The Duelist, is an emotive house record, with a soundscape of piano melodies, synths and syncopated percussion laid on top of an acid bassline. El Mago del Tiempo features heavy hitting kicks combined with a sharp synth pattern. It has a long build up that keeps evolving throughout the entire composition. Halfway through, the track breaks in to a raw and fierce rhythm accompanied by yearning, drawn-out synth pads.
On the flipside, Put Your Hands on the Car (And Get Ready To Die) brings back memories of a long gone past with nods to Balearic Pop, EBM, and the Soundtrack work of Stewart Copeland, James Horner, and Jan Hammer. This multi layered production has a warm and analogue sounding feel to it that rounds off a 3 dimensional release.

You will find the new Man Power record in your favourite record shop, be it online or offline, on the 2nd of February.

Fernando Pulichino is no stranger to Leng Records. The bass guitar-wielding Argentine made his first appearance on the label five years ago via the cosmic disco/psychedelic rock fusion of Blue Impala, returning two years later with the similarly inclined brilliance of Giant Desert. Pulichino then resurfaced on Leng late last year with a superb, digital-only three-tracker called Natural 77.

Now he's back on wax, buoyed by the success of the acclaimed Shining EP on Is It Balearic
Recordings. This time round he's in Search of Indigo, shaping hazy, sun-baked soundscapes around his distinctive basslines, echo-laden synthesizers, meandering Fender Rhodes solos,
gentle dub vibrations and glistening, early morning jazz guitars. This is music for the heads, hips and feet, soaked in Fernet and left in the afternoon sun to slowly ripen.

Arguably the most arresting of the four cuts is the title track, a head-in-the-clouds vocal number rich in bubbly electronic riffs, laidback electro beats, ricocheting percussion hits, swirling wind
effects and rubbery funk-rock bass.

Pulichino's penchant for intergalactic disco shufflers once again comes to the fore on killer Sundown Visions', a saucer-eyed chugger that simultaneously throbs, pulses and sparkles
thanks to sparring synthesizer motifs and eyes-closed space rock guitars. We suspect Daniele Baldelli and Andrew Weatherall would approve.

Elsewhere, Pulichino indulges his passion for sofa-surfing jazz-funk on solo-laden EP closer Frontera', a relaxed and undulating jam rich in cascading electric guitars, fluid electric piano, delay-laden flourishes and deep space synthesizers. You won't know whether to lie down, dance enthusiastically or wearily shuffle, either way, play at sunrise or sundown for maximum
enjoyment.

The EP also boasts a first vinyl outing for the title track of last year's digital-only EP, Natural '77'. Seemingly partly inspired by legendary West Coast funkateers Steely Dan, it's a lazy, low-
slung affair full of languid guitar solos, freestyle vocal improvisations, bongo-laden drums and one of his most inspired and elastic basslines to date.

Tracy Island announces Episode 2 of the 10 piece concept series with 'The Unlimited'. This time the musical transmission comes from Beach Wizards, the secondary alias of the well renowned collective Seahawks, offering their interpretation of Island mentality. The release opens with the ever growing mood of 'The Diamond Sea' - 18 minutes of building disco strings and stabs, rolling bongos and percussion, and intermittent ambience with an A side offering a true listening experience. 'Don't you wanna get off.' Get out the city they called. The B side starts and ends with the lulling sound of midnight waves in a downbeat balearic boogie of rain chimes and head nodding subs. Between these tides interjects 'Lucky Dips' on the B2, with melodies from an aquatic saxophone from below the surface.

Just in time to warm up your winter, Hell Yeah revisit the peerless recent Tsuki album from ambient and Balearic masters Tempelhof & Gigi Masin. Two tracks from the album are included on this new package, as well as a remix from Jex Opolis. Trancendental and dreamy drums characterise the new age 'Corner Song', which is the sound of laying back on a boat and bobbing up and down on gentle seas at sunrise. It's organic and soothing to the max.
The other original is 'Flying Man', a suspensory film that feels like floating amongst the clouds on a humid afternoon.
Wordless vocals add a heavenly feel to the lush and all encompassing chords and pads and nothing sounds sweeter than being lost in this one. It is Corner Song that gets remixed by Good Timin' and Running Back man Jex Opolis.
Famous for his disco infused synth pop sound he is a master of his own musical world. His version is eight minutes of laid-back tropicalia. Slowly churning drums and knotted funk-bass prop it up as an eco-system of pops, clicks and hits add to the steamy and sensuous groove. It's grown up disco for cocktails on the terrace and will have you hugging anyone in earshot.
Support by Calm, Lexx, Leo Mas, Apiento, Zambon, Max Essa, Kito Jempere, Buena Onda Djs, Balearic Gabba Sound System...

Four slow-burning bombs that perfectly encapsulate how far that Slow Motion, slo-mo sound can be stretched. Featuring artists old as Alien Alien (Rodion & Hugo Sanchez) and Lerosa and new as Stoned Immaculate (Leo Mas & Fabrice and Max Essa) and Kassiel, Slow Motion drop the energy down a notch or two but not the emotion. Just as suitable for an early morning run as they are for a Balearic sunset, this four tracker has got essential written all over it.

Hell Yeah is back with more beach ready and boat party styled summer tunes, this time from Riccio. This Italian producer has long been making essential edits, off kilter grooves and soul kissed house sounds that demand to be played loud and these new ones are no different.

Described by the label boss as Balearic Big Beat, this EP kicks off with Afro Chemy, a scorching seven minute tune that builds on a bed of fat drums. The scattered percussion is loose and organic and when the funky bass and colourful xylophone sounds comes in you can't help but cut loose. Add in a sexy trumpet line and you have the sound of summer distilled into seven sensational minutes.

Funky Cave will get any party started with its old school drum breaks and cymbal splashes sounding like the ocean when you plunge in on a hot day. Busted bass lines add a certain fatness and cosmic keys and steamy guitar licks make this another perfect outdoor anthem.

Last of all is the blissed out Heather, one to drop at sundown after a long day's dancing. The beats are warm and lumpy, the synths smear out to the horizon like gently breaking waves and soulful leads really get your heart swelling. Proper.

"Berlin based Cocktail d'Amore Music and Ene Tokyo join forces for Greenvision's debut - The Italo-American duo formed by Trent and Juan Ramos. pENE d'Amore Pt.1 is the name of their first 12 inch. This is one of those records that makes you start questioning matters of genre and music construction. Sit back, press play and enjoy this ultra-cosmic adventure. The different rhythm patterns included in Surdinia melt organically with the acid lines, the high UFO whistles and spaceship-like sound effects, exploding into an unexpected and comfortable piano house line, solving the puzzle and leaving you thirsty for more. Meccanica is a slow tempo gem, It combines elements of industrial and Balearic with a touch of submarine-like soundscapes. Ramos and Trent's music-making philosophy is as special as unique. The multitude of elements that compose each track has its own life cycle, its own ecosystem.

Russian duo Gamayun, known for releases under the Udacha label, make their way to Hesperian Sound with 4 jazz-laced live grooves. Occupying a space between tropical Balearic and moody Deep House, this EP offers both rich melody and rhythmic excellence in tandem. The lead off track "Golden Ratio" harkens to the past with its ornamented theme and classically inspired strings, while "Ascension" chugs forward, bringing along sweet piano and synth riffs. On the flip, "Untitled" is dubbed out melancholic perfection as "Uvolnenie" closes with shuffling techno followed by a mellow bow out.

Emotional Rescue starts its 5th year by shining a light on one of Europe's best underground 80s' label in Spain's Auxilio De Ciento. Their Terra Incognita Volumes I and II collated an international mix of synth-pop, new wave, world and industrial sounds to a small but appreciative following. Released in 1985 and 1986, the Volumes have become highly regarded and rightly sought after, finding a place in discerning playlists from London to Amsterdam and Dusseldorf to Glasgow. Here, taking a premise of avoiding the songs unearthed on other recent reissues, is a unique album itself. Starting with Denis Mpunga & Paul K's esoteric Criola, a fusion of fourth world ideals and poly-rhythmic funk. The music of Mal, Bene Gesserit and La Caida De La Casa Usher, however, soon highlight that the decade also belonged to dark, minimal synth as to shiny balearic ideals. The inclusion of Hector Zazou with Bony Biyake and their contribution Komba, is a fitting continuation from their cult Noir Et Blanc LP before, things continue with US avant-artist Danny Alias and his humorous Big Brother "response" to Laurie Anderson's Superman O. Image Pour Image loose indie-pop and the inclusion of seminal Beast Of Burden lead again to a Zazou contribution, this time in his collaborative Stranger In A New Light, before the compilation eclectically ends with the dadaesque Lakota and the post punk dub of Instead Of's closer, Angels .

(180 gr) Mark Barrott steps away from the Balearic sound he's become synonymous with to take a journey back to the territory he first explored with Bepu N'Gali. The Pathways Of Our Lives is a joyous, life affirming piece of 70's Afro Soul with amodern twist, continuing Barrott's love affair with African Polyrhythms and 70's Philly Strings.
It's also the first time since 2014's aforementioned Bepu N'Gali release that he has worked with a full band and sees The Grünewald Quartet return to string duties after collaborating on Barrott's Sketches from an Island 2 album last year.

The Bside, Music for Santoor, Bansuri, Tanpura y Sarod is another track recorded live during one of his spring meditation sessions in Northern Ibiza, with India's Vishnu Quartet performing a 2 hour piece with Barrott directing and later editing it down into the form you hear today.

After a busy and productive first half of 2017 in which Barrott released his Music for Presence EP and two Talamanca System releases, this summer sees Mark Barrott step into high gear with his work at La Torre in Ibiza, where he is sunset resident and has compiled the second edition of their compilation
series (last year's debut charting high in best mixes of the year by Resident Advisor).

Pathways invites the listener inside Barrott's mystical world, where stillness and meditation are the foundations, non-attachment and non-judgement are the windows, and through the music he mindfully sketches a vista into the next chapter in his career.

Pitchfork calls International Feel's "Pathways Of Our Lives" incredible. Hell of a track.

This June Session Victim return to Delusions Of Grandeur imprint with their third studio album. Listen To Your Heart is the result of a year of cross-continental scripting, started in their Hamburg studio and wrapped up stateside in San Francisco's Room G Studios where the duo had worked on their 2014 LP See You When You Get There. Here we present the second of three LP samplers containing four tracks each, cut nice and loud for the vinyl crew.
Shadows gets things rolling with a classic Session Victim housey groove, looped up pads and hooky spoken vocal samples. Filtered string stabs bring a warm and soulful edge whilst dub delay touches add a floaty element to get lost in. Next up we have Unchained which drops the bpm's for a widescreen, slo-mo jam clouded in a smokey haze with jazzy touches, recalling the halcyon days of Pork Recordings.
Flipping over we have a brand new LP version of previous single Up To Rise, another sublime slice of blissed-out house music with a wonderful organic and live sound palette. Echoing Rhodes licks join the lead guitar tune for a Balearic beauty which will be stuck in your head long after the sun sets. Closing this second sampler we have Over And Over, which winds things down somewhat for an inspired, bass-led roller.
An impeccable demonstration of retro-inspired yet forward thinking house and downtempo music, Listen To Your Heart sees Session Victim at the top of their game.

While the story of Jah Wobble, from post-punk bassist to Tube driver to world music explorer is well documented, the fact he founded his own label, Lago Records, at the age of just 23 years old has oft been overlooked. Lago Records was set up by John "Wobble" Wardle soon after his acrimonious departure from college friend John Lydon's Public Image Ltd band at the end of the recording of the Metal Box sessions. Although still young, Wobble had already experienced a music career most would dream of and was experienced enough and singular in his thinking that while now working with both Island and Virgin Records, he did not want to be constrained by the traditional label / artist format and release schedule. With a mindful of music ideas and working with a group of friends and musicians, Lago allowed Wobble to express his wider musical interests that now forms it's own unique document in time. This release takes a collection of songs from the 6 EPs released on the label between 1981 and 1985 and captures some of his best ever music, covering a wide palette including dub, jazz, spoken word and even some pop sensibilities, all held together by his instantly discernable bass rumble. The driving post-punk-dub of Invaders Of The Heart is clear a link to the PiL years, while the psychedelic nature of Long Long Way and Fading offer long, drug-induced meditations. Nocturnal and East take this further with long-form instrumental experiments, before both Voodoo and the now highly sought after Blowout take in (Balearic) pop touches that the mid-80s were beginning to encapsulate. Packaged with DJs in mind as much as for the "Heads", the Lago Years double pack is a revelation to those who thought they knew the Jah Wobble sound and offers a perfect framing of a unique musical journey.

(2x 180 gr LP in a gatefold sleeve with download card) The debut album of Talamanca System, aka Gerd Janson + Mark Barrott + Philipp Lauer. Their past is your future!

On the white island, between Ibiza Town and the infamous fish shack high up on a rock next to a bird sanctuary, you will find the beach of Talamanca. Plagued by too much seaweed, anchored middle-class yachts and joggers, it is also surprisingly the spiritual home of a correspondent post-Balearic group. As luck would have it, a remix request by Mark Barrott bedded the International Feel boss in a trio with Philipp Lauer and Gerd Janson, alias Tuff City Kids. A highly sought-after 12-inch later ("Balanzat"), as well as fantasies of getting together to work on more material, led to a fruitful and effortless studio session on the non-Balearic outskirts of Frankfurt am Main.

The outcome of that meeting forms the homonymous debut album of Talamanca System. A documented vision, or a sunburned imagination of a day and night spent on said island, during a moment in time that probably never was or will be. Still summed up best by dungarees, long hair, yellow sunglasses, espadrilles or that famous picture of people grouped around roofless Amnesia's pyramid well, it is the food of the Balearic gods. But, dear nostalgia, stop right here! Even though Talamanca's debut flies the Balearic flag, it is not about turning back the clock, but rather about a past that could be the future. Dusted, danceable, driving, dreamy and dapper at the same time, this is an album for the club, the car, the beach, the (coke)float and the fountain.

Coined by the colourful and respective talents of the three individuals behind Talamanca, you will hear nine tracks ranging from up to downtempo, piano house smashers that would have deserved the prefix Italo-, percussion rituals captured by a group of Zoo animals on the loose, soundtracks for dusk and dawn, hushed vocals, rites of ambient passages, powerful synth ballads and vamp choirs. If this album were a car, it would be a Citroen 2CV remade by Tesla.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: their past is your future!

Aficionado enjoyed a storming start to 2017, serving up a pair of sell out EPs from either end of the Balearic shoreline - now they're back with one more for Good Measure.
Teaming up with the Mancunian fashion house for a second season, this sonic selection pack is softer than velvet, smoother than silk and more durable than Moonboots' P.E. kit.
Pour yourself a spritz, slip into something stylish and bask in the brilliance of 'Good MeasurePt.2' Bird song blends into synth swell as 'Ottimismo' shakes our hand, pulling back a deckchair and inviting us to relax and recline with its simmering percussion, swaying bassline and delicate fretwork.
London's Simon Peter is the man behind the music, following a gorgeous 12" on Claremont 56 with another sun kissed soother perfect for a coastal drive, morning swim or lazy siesta.
We take a small step towards the fiesta on the A2, rolling our shoulders and nodding our heads to the infectious rhythms of Simon Cotter's 'Pianta Road'.Though the claves, woodblocks and guiro may dart like dragonflies over a midsummer drum pattern, the Australian conjures a calming breeze via Casiotone keys, spheric bass and sublime strings.
If that weren't enough to make your ice cube melt, the exquisite cascade of well-tinkled ivories could bring a tear to a glass eye and a smile to a cliff-face.The sultry sounds continue on the B1 as France's Murena charters a yacht from Saint Tropez to Es Canar, cutting through the dazzling azure with 'Un Prueba De Amor'. DX7 chimes and digital pan pipes glisten in the spray while a lilting groove rises from the deep, picking up snatches of distant conversations and the rise of tidal sine waves as it goes.
Drifting, dreamy and more debonair than Boardman's cravat, this is as Balearic as it gets. From here we go sublime, waltzing beyond the sunset to the baroque soul of B&B's 'Read Me'.
Waves crash and strings screech, a roaring storm kept at bay by warm double bass, pizzicato melody and spirit lifting poetry. Hints of hip hop and dub colour the immersive groove, while those neo-classical flourishes favour the cinematic diversions of PCO or Monsieur Tellier. Officially Aficionado.

Hell Yeah is proud to present a new EP from an artist that has been on their radar for a while. That artist is Napoli's Quiroga aka Walter Del Vecchio, the Italian DJ and producer who also runs his own Really Swing label and has been given props by the in the know Test Pressing blog, as well as having all his tunes dropped by
Balearic Gabba Sound System at every opportunity.

One of the finest talents to come from Italy in recent times, Quiroga cooks up hypnotic and trance including sounds from a myriad of diverse influences from opiate jazz to shuffling funk beats, from shifty landscapes to library music.

First up is Viaggio a Tulum, a perfectly loose and jumbled mix of sunny vibes, feel good chords and clipped vocals full of soul. The sort of thing that has you day dreaming of lazy afternoons and drunken BBQs, it's perfect example of Quiroga's efforts style.
Non Dire Notte—featuring Acido and ReallySwing act 291Out members Luca "Presence" Carini on electric bass and Vincenzo "Warren" Ciorra on electric guitar—is even more lazy and elongated, horizontal and blissed out. Twanging guitars off set pixelated synths, squelchy chords and Afro signifiers bring the heat and overall you cannot fail to get lost in the groove.

Prati Bagnati is a serene ambient interlude that feels like laying on your back and looking into a deep blue sky and second ambient cut Bava is more textured and intense, with shifting drones and muffled voices bringing a sense of filmic unease to the table. Overall, this is a perfect window into Quiroga's most intoxicating musical world.

Support by Alexis Le Tan, Aficionado Djs, Coyote, Ibiza Sonica, Reza Athar, Gonno, Noema, Fabrizio Mammarella, Riccio, Bill Brewster, Private Agenda, Soft rocks, Tim Love Lee...

Acclaimed Russian producer, DJ and live musician Kito Jempere is back with a stunning second album, this time on Italian label Hell Yeah. Entitled Sea Monster and due for release in early 2017, the nine track album is a fantastic fusion of live instrumentation and electronic production.

Kito Jempere is a musical polymath. The Russian artist, producer, multi-instrumentalist and band leader has been involved in many projects over the last ten years plus. These range from rock to acid jazz to electronic bands and often call upon a rotating cast of other members who are all equally talented.

From playing in small bars to headlining big shows for thousands of people in Saint Petersburg, he has put out a number of albums and singles on labels like Freerange, Room With A View and Hell Yeah and DJs around Europe.

Jempere plays live as the Kito Jempere Band, and here he calls upon his bandmates for their many skills to lend the album a richly musical feel.

Mixed and co-produced by band member Roman Urazov, the album features Artemiy Gunbin aka Noteless, the voice of the Kito Jempere Band and front man of his own rock band Videatape, as well as Ruslan Gadzhimuradov, a long time drummer on many projects, plus Matvey Averin, the bassist but also co-producer for cult group Manizha and finally Sergey Lipsky who here plays guitar and is also half of Simple Symmetry as well as having played for Kito's other project Saint Petersburg Disco Spin Club group.

Sea Monster kicks off with Lifetime Theme, a heavenly groove with loose drums and percussion and gorgeous keys. Form there, Artemiy Gunbin's ethereal and crystal clear vocals take centre stage amongst balearic guitars on album single 'Ampa', and then 'To Talk' is a deeper cut with bumpy drums, long tailed pads and shiny synths all making for a curious and whimsical atmosphere.

'Grid Cells' is a lush instrumental track with clever revel and echo adding a sense of grandeur to the freeform jazz drums and frazzled synths, 'Uohha' is as sunny and laid back as an afternoon on the beach and 'Puzzled' then layers up scuzzy basslines, popping hits and suspenseful synths into something smooth and seductive.

The final third of the album closes out with blissful guitar licks, lazy broken beats and brilliant drum playing that all have you wishing it was summer again.

This is an album with elements of jazz, house, disco, balearic and many more sounds all smoothly blended into one coherent and captivating album full of soul and musical skill.

Shelter is one Alan Briand, a young Parisian producer with a strong melodic centre producing a sound that pulls on the Zouk, the Afro, the Balearic and the Ambient palette. Zon Zon Zon is only his fifth release and his first mini album, following the series on International Feel that has brought us material from Len Leise, Wolf Muller and CFCF.

International Feel first met Shelter on a trip to Paris a few years back. It sounds like a story from a Nick Hornby novel, but there's a record shop in Paris called L'International Records, run by a guy called Dave who has a group of young French DJs, producers and promoters that visit the store, hang out and buy and listen to music - a story no doubt currently being repeated throughout the world as new generations immerse themselves in the culture. Shelter is a producer who has sucked up all that he has been hearing around him for a number of years and is now producing a quality sound, pulling on the exotic.

The seven tracks on this mini-album are taken from an extensive pool of Shelter's melodic magic. Some people lead on the beats, some on the production, but Alan focuses on the melody, with the beat closely tied in as support. Señor Zalla starts the album with an afro vibe, closely followed by the Zouk-style of Zon Zon Zon and Port-au-Cœur's mellow Balearic tones, as Shelter twists nature's sounds into his own sonic world. Bucolica, an upbeat wonder of a track, turns to the ambient mantra of Courant Rouge and it's distant cousin Courant Bleu, a classic rhythmic balearic piece with syncopated melody and delayed drums. La Volière (the French can make even bird cage sound beautiful) brings the album to a close with a smile in the mind's eye.


Zon Zon Zon is universal. It could easily have been created in Ibiza or Canada, Australia or Africa. It was in fact recorded at Paris 11, where Shelter forged beauty through the sounds of nature and uncovers a wisdom in its simplicity. We can expect good things from Alan. Here's the first chapter.

The always wonderful BEGIN returns after a very Balearic absence ! And what a return !
'Let's Talk' eases us in with some trademark Begin style mid-tempo mellowness, as undulating melodic elements are carried straight to the beach on gently lolloping beats
'Aight' adds a little more anticipation, with a syncopated backbone and some mesmerising Carl Craig style synth cycles...
On the B, the 'Cut The Paste' is a burly, New Beat inspired chugger, which manages to sound exactly like an early morning, strobe-lit Boccaccio moment, while simultaneously basking in the midday sun

Cosmic Club 17's in the house, and for this one Skylax have delved deep into the mystic universe of the ultra prolific photonz with a four track EP quite simply out of this dimension ! Photonz is the artist name of Marco Rodrigues, a London-based DJ and producer who's been championing the new sound of Portuguese house and techno worldwide since the early 2000s. He has done tracks for various labels such as crème organization, unknown to the unknown, hot haus, the "cult" dissident and many more. His first cut "memories of burma" that gave the title to the ep is an infinite groove that builds and builds with arabic synths, a perfect crossover between balearic & old school jackin house. "Baronrevxp" & "agape" moves into the same territories with some sharp clap, hi hats and some big retro vintage sounds. While "stealth predator" catches him at his most experimental, upping the tempo and unleashing an ambitious techno juke roller, think about drexcya, 1990s techno, Plink Plonk and you're not even close ! Photonz music sounds extremely big for the big rooms, and still very large indeed for the smaller ones.His music is praised by The Chemical Brothers, Jackmaster, Optimo, Ivan Smagghe, Daniel Avery, James Holden, Ewan Pearson, Auntie Flo, Tim Sweeney, just to name a few. 'Memories of Burma' EP is not just a cosmic experience, but a voyage into the realms of a producer in a world of his own. Must have. Essential item. SKYLAX RECORDS 4 EVER !

It was the spring of 2007 when Paul 'Mudd' Murphy and Kevin Pollard announced the arrival of the former's Claremont 56 label with Villa Stavros', a magical frst collaborative 12'. It
seems somewhat ftting, then, that Claremont 56's fnal release of its' frst decade will be N7 Odyssey, the frst collaborative album from Mudd & Pollard. By the time Villa Stavros' came out, the pair had already been regular studio buddies for a couple of years. Initially, Murphy had recruited Pollard - a hugely talented keyboardist and composer - to play on tracks he was working on for Rong Music. One thing naturally led to another, and soon they were joining forces to make music as Murphy's home studio in
Holloway, North London. As the years rolled by, further acclaimed singles followed Villa Stavros' - the bubbly, Rhodes-laden Balearic disco shuffe of Vincent', and the lilting, intergalactic dub disco of Scaffold', most notably - before the duo's other musical commitments began to take precedence. Murphy had his hands full running the Claremont 56 and Leng labels, while Pollard carved out a successful career as a soundtrack composer for both flm and television. Now, the album they set out to make all those years ago is fnally fnished and ready to be
released. N7 Odyssey - titled in tribute to the Holloway studio they recorded in for many years before Murphy moved - draws together freshly re-mastered versions of their previously released singles with a clutch of previously unheard tracks. Built around the duo's own fne musicianship, with Pollard handling synths, keyboards and electric piano, and Murphy guitar, bass and percussion, the album's ten tracks offer a musical journey through their shared love of shuffing grooves, sun-kissed soundscapes and
gentle positivity. Highlights come thick and fast. There's the swirling strings, futtering futes, jammed-out electric pianos and heady female vocals of Far Away', the enchanting new age ambience of December', and the rush-inducing Balearic disco breeze of Mawson's Walk', a former single blessed with sublime horn solos and rising, cinematic strings. Check, too, the head-
nodding beats, fuid electric piano solos and jazzy guitars of Inatin', the gentle Eastern mysticism and vintage ambient house aesthetics of Anura', and the ultra-deep house pulse of N7 Odyssey'. The album fttingly fnishes with a sublime ambient interpretation of Scaffold', arguably the duo's most celebrated track. It may have taken a decade to emerge, fully formed, but Murphy and Pollard have delivered an album that's beguiling, magical, and hugely comforting. Clearly, it's an odyssey worth
taking.

To begin the year with, Antinote summoned Panoptique and JC Satan's Paula to release a badass two-tracker, paying a pared-down tribute to a very overlooked period in recent musical history: the accursed electroclash-era.
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At a time when 'Balearic' has become the new musical gospel, the holiest adjective one can use to describe one's music (and therefore, electroclash has become the musical antichrist - to keep going with the biblical comparison)... while everyone seems to glorify stuff like Ibiza's 'endless sunsets', the duo happily kicks over the anthill with a song, a record and a band soberly called Succhiamo (first person plural of 'to suck' in Italian). The title-track straightforwardly announces what the main elements of Succhiamo's music are: over-saturated simple patterns of drum machines and EBM-infused lines of synths backing overtly sexual vocals in Italian. Nothing more, nothing less.

On the flip side, Succhiamo deals with the same formula in depth, engaging this time in detailing a meaningless list of products available in the 'supermercato'. The song conveys a nihilist - but fun - attitude, and it just sounds as if the band was crashing a car in a commercial zone in high spirits... As a kind of inheritor to Ich Bin, Succhiamo offers to bring some stupidity in the club and gives serious dance music producers the finger, like some irreverent Franco-Italian Beavis & Butthead.

Following their much-acclaimed surprise debut album VERMONT from 2014, Motor City Drum Ensemble's Danilo Plessow and Innervisions' Marcus Worgull reunite for more synth daydreaming on the suitably titled II'. The new outing continues where the first full-length left off, strolling further down the luminous and undulating path that the duo turned into, influenced in equal measures by kosmische, krautrock, minimal wave and synth soundtracks.
This latest batch of instrumental cuts opens with the strictly balearic vibe of NORDERNEY, a softly swinging, light-footed recording with a keen sense for structure. Featuring a guest performance from Robbert Van Der Bildt (aka Kaap) on guitar, it's a telling starting point for the album that - similar to Vermont's self-titled debut - successfully navigates between economic, careful studio arrangements and playful, incidental exploration further pushing into jam session territory. Van Der Bildt's guitar returns on the plucky, curious UFER, where Vermont showcase a renewed sense for jazz-like improvisation - same as on the cuts DSCHUNA, CHANANG and WENIK, which also include contributions from Dermot O'Mahony and Tadhg Murphy on strings.
Still, Vermont's synth contraptions remain the album's main attraction, with the extensive array of gear encompassing an entire panopticon of analog bling - from Arp Oddysey and Moog Prodigy to Fender Rhodes, Juno and Prophet, list-studying gear heads will find lots to drool upon. Consequently, tracks like CHEMTRAILS, UNRUH or GEBIRGE err on the machine side of things, expertly interweaving arpeggiated sequences for maximum atmospheric effect. Foreboding, slightly menacing synth motives as on SKORBUT or CHEMTRAILS are perfectly balanced with the casual ambient of HALLO VON DER ANDEREN SEITE and the nostalgic warmth of DEMUT - while the gentle push of the masterful KI-BOU even carries a whiff of classic deep house, linking the Vermont project to Plessow and Worgull's main careers as dance floor movers and shakers.
Continually intriguing, immersive and texturally rich, each one of Vermont's new pieces betray the experience, precision and determination of the producers involved - while opening up Worgull and Plessow'a vocabulary for patient experimentation and subtle discoveries. A musical treat for synth aficionados - and everyone else, if you ask us.

The motorcity boys are back with LOVEiT003 a fresh sounding 4 tracker strongly reflecting the diversity of styles found at their parties. lds kicks thing off with 909 To Heaven, a jacking and balearic workout with a rootstrax, Chicago style bassline keeping the floor hypnotised until the small hours of the morning. Snares, Kicks & Rhodes is a more laid back jam. Lazy warm pads and a slow winding sub bass rise and fall intermittently only to be interrupted by a lo-fi distorted bass that snaps you right out of that trance. Nico Brun opens the flip side with an absolute banger, hazily reminiscent of that 90's warehouse rave. lds and Nico Brun close the EP with an atmospheric collaboration perfect to start or end the night with. Splashy beats keep up the footwork whilst pulsating synth sounds slowly wind together and drop with a beautifully crafted sample that's guaranteed to bring some sexyness back to the dance floor. This EP will definitely be a regular addition to your record bag to spread those warm summer party sounds. - Bruno Farace Early Support: XDB (Echochord / Dolly): "Debut ep" Congrats! End Monologue is my favourite.

Miskotom is a project from Mik and Andra.Originally hailing from Russia but now both residents of Vilnius Lithuania. Both have a long history of music making going back as far as childhood.Andra was involved in 2Muchahos an ambient project which came out on Beko recordings. Mik came up through the indie scene playing in bands before finally settling in the dj booth and then as a producer....Miskotom's music has a magical dreamy quality, sometimes lovely Balearic or melodic pop sounding like long lost tracks form Wally Baderou, but also sounding like sleazy mid 80s chicago basement jams....Analog synths jam along with guitars ,voca land ,handmade percussion mixed down and recorded onto tape. Sometimes 4/4 sometimes no beat at all.....to round off this EP we have an excellant remix from Kito Jempere, who over the last few years has notched up a steady stream of releases over many labels , most recently a killer edits ep for the mysterious Bahnsteig label.

Len Leise - Ing Ing - The first release for General Purpose (GP), a record label created by Len Leise and longtime DJ partner and collaborator Salvador. Leise and Salvador neither plan to release exclusively on GP, nor promise regular releases. It's a label for when they can find the time, energy, money and, most important, the sound they believe in. Ing is about embracing change, experimentation and progression. Terrified to follow a format, Leise looked to other genres for inspiration. He turned to his love for dub, afro, post punk and experimental music to find guidance. Artists like Scientist, Jah Shaka, Savant, Adrian Sherwood and Andromeda all in their own way influence Ing. Ing is not what you'd expect from Leise. Ing is a dub record, a post punk record, an experimental record, a balearic record, a homage record, a record with a purpose.

Berlin-based Marlon Hoffstadt drops 'Coach Mike', the fourth EP on his own Retrograde imprint, featuring remixes from Massimiliano Pagliara and The Friend and following a hat trick of successful releases. The four-track EP is the sophomore release from Hoffstadt on his burgeoning label, which he co-founded with Natureboy Gold and Matteo Luis in August 2015. Previously featuring the likes of Kris Wadsworth and Tuff City Kids, Retrograde provides a platform for the artists to explore music alongside other forms of expression such as art, particularly surrealism. The vinyl sleeve artwork from the first four releases, when fitted together, completes the painting 'Interaction' by surrealist Hermann Reimer. With previous releases on FFRR and Play It Down, Hoffstadt boasts a sound that is both innovative yet authentic, and 'Coach Mike' displays the sonic alchemy that the talented producer, aged only 22, has already become known for. The title track starts as a grooving acid-based cut peppered with percussion before building up suspense to a surprising yet satisfying breakdown. This is his first release without vocals, allowing him to focus entirely on creating pure soundscape. Panorama Bar resident and Live at Robert Johnson mainstay Massimiliano Pagliara's rework of the A side is a Balearic-tinged affair, starting with a solid drum and building to a crescendo of bass, pads and synths, along with the analog synth elements for which he's known. This is an undeniable summer anthem that will captivate dancefloors across the world. 'Broncos' is a club track created for the floor. An acid bassline sits alongside industrial elements and stabbing synths.

Three years on from the release of the critically acclaimed debut album, Undergrass, Mushrooms Project return to Leng with a two-track taster or their forthcoming follow-up full-length.
In the intervening years, Giorgio Giri and Marco Lentano have hardly been slacking, further exploring their unique blend of glistening Balearica, dubbed- out disco, Italian Afro-cosmic and psychedelic nu-disco via EPs for Horn Wax, Uber and Hell Yeah! Recordings. Their latest two-track missive is undoubtedly amongst the Italian duo's strongest work to date. The A-side boasts 'Dirty Bolas', an effortlessly summery groover destined to soundtrack sultry evenings and sun-baked afternoons. Its' rolling, percussive funk groove and undulating electric bassline keep the action moving, but it's the tumbling guitar solos, toasty
keys, humid electronics and atmospheric feld recordings that catch the ear. Flip the 12' for 'Sunset Ballad', a near ten-minute epic that more than lives up to its' name. Soft, delay-laden acoustic guitar passages and yearning electric piano fourishes set the tone, before the Parma-based production duo
gradually ups the pressure via a shuffing groove, whispering acid lines and quietly bubbling synthesizers. It's undeniably rich and life affrming, but best appreciated while lying fat on your back.
Dirty Bolas will be featured on the duo's second album, which is slated for release in the fnal quarter of 2016. For now, you'll have to make do with these two slices of seductive, sun-bright brilliance.

Welcome to the second release on a new record label, Real Balearic. We are record label based in Ibiza and London. We were set up by the team who brought you the world famous "Real Ibiza" series of compilations and released the very first "Cafe Del Mar" compilation. We are passionate about music and in particular music with a thread that runs to the musical sounds of Ibiza and the Balearic islands. Whilst we may "chill out" with the best of them it is not what we are all about. Balearic techno, Balearic disco, Ambient soundscapes, Classical interludes, Sun-drenched chords, Sunset grooves, Moon-washed rhythms... and just about anything that grabs us...

Following on from our first release from Ibiza Balearic legend Jose Padilla we follow things up with a second release also brimming with sunshine and optimism. Here we harness the Balearic spirit with a brand new track from the San Francisco based producer Sorcerer (also known as Dan Judd). His release becomes our first vinyl release and the first opportunity to see our brand new vinyl house bag artwork.

The original of "Video Magic" has the trademark shimmering guitar lines and chords, bags of lazy-afternoon groove and that all important summertime swing.

First up on remix duties is downtempo and chillout DJ, tastemaker, broadcaster and overlord Chris Coco. He nudges the groove up ever so slightly with his beach front evening re-rub. Perfect for sunset moments.

With a 5 track single it is nice to touch all bases and Slovenian based Ichisan covers the leftfield and slightly quirky version with his remix. His remix moves along with his usual mix of ponderous bass guitar and analogue synth effects. South American Daniel Solar cranks the pace a touch more with his beach disco evening time excursion. As a finale and one final crank on the energy index, the Italian based duo Irregular Disco Workers deliver their peak time disco house stomper. Sweet.

Stay tuned for the third album from Dan out soon on Real Balearic.

Hunting down the coolest sounds around the globe, the wewantsounds crew have curated another special mix for your Lazy Sundays. Dishing out a tasteful mix of new tracks from under the radar, this selection features a string of sunny pop, indie grooves, chilled electro and relaxed disco, the whole seasoned with a couple of leftfield cult classics and classy jazz tracks for good measure. Sunday Mixtape is the perfect sonic brew that will bring you back to life after a long night or hard partying. Many of the tracks in this selection have barely been heard outside of the underground circles and feature young artists who have just sprung out to life with the exception of UK soul diva ALA.Ni and the recent success of her melancholic jazzy album and L'Impératrice, the next disco big thing out of France, whose buzz is getting louder.
Here you'll find new French nouvelle vague singer Laure Briard, US groovy duet Bones & Beeker, minimal house producers Roscius and Shigeto as well as Domenique Dumont with a buzzing balearic beat.
Sunday Mixtape also features a few cult classics such as Mock & Toof's 'Farewell to Wendo', Louie Austen's 'Hoping' and Justine & The Victorian Punks' 'Still You', a sought after NY avant disco 1979 tune led by French expat fashionista Justine and saxophonist (and frequent Arthur Russell collaborator) Peter Gordon.

Who would have thought that Gerd Janson and Phillipp Lauer, aka The Tuff City Kids, delivering a 'Rocker' mix for Alter Ego, wich is not only one of their best up to this date remixwork, but also probably one of the biggest electro-summerhits in 2016. The Tuff City Kids production work is quite similary eclectic like in Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke's original version. They know exactly how to juggle with different styles, until they come up with a fresh new sound that transforms an ordinary rave into an unforgettable happening. In this case they are mixing real performed krautrockdrums, 90's prototrance-balearicstrings and an unexpectedly new, enthusiastic way of working with Alter Ego's trademark melodyhook. This melody-theme is dripping formally out of every programmed bass and synthesizer line without beeing to cheesy, superficial or over the top. Even their 808 electro-remix for the track Gate 23 is keeping to the premise of the legendary New York punk rock band The Ramones, that a good party track should not illustrate the effects of psychedelic drugs, the music has to be the pill itself. The rich details and playfulness of the mixes are showing Gerd Janson and Phillipp Lauer as real fans of the original versions.In the same spirit, they are trying to melt pop-appeal, art-sensibility and clubhit-function in one piece of vinyl.

Our little Dirt Crew sub label Spiel started out in late 2013 with three excellent releases, the first two by "Clancy" featuring remixes by "Urulu" and "Prins Thomas" followed by a stellar EP from "Mercury". After a hiatus SPIEL
is back for 2016. Renewed and inspired we have a bunch of both fresh faced and established artists on board packing quality releases for the year. With sounds spanning from Indie Dance and Electronica to Disco and spaced out Balearic jams, we're proud to present you the first of our outings for 2016.

First up is close friend and rock solid producer "Good Guy Mikesh". Out of Leipzig, Germany, he's the guy with the Perfect pitch, forward thinking ideas, an impressive discography of 12"s to his name, and a huge range of influences from funk and soul, to 80's new wave electro and back again. He's come to the table with four tracks we've been busting to share with you.

'Whim' is the steady builder. Spacious and very much alive with sliding leads and layers of analogue synths that sparkle, it's melancholic bliss, it's a deep breath inducing, dance floor lifting, thought provoking piece of beauty. 'Why Not' is something deeper, the bass slips and slides dancing with the top line, while a palette of plucked strings, tuned percussion and Mikesh's signature synth soundscapes reach into the distance as the track continues to roll.

On the B side, 'Cookie' is joyful, its playful keys and poolside energies toast to warm weather and good times. Bouncing arpeggios lead the charge in the break, rising before giving way to euphoric synthetic strings which lead us back into the elated refrain. 'Corone' hints towards Mikesh's disco history, boasting a burly bass and a funk all of its own, this indie dance shaker's got a solid groove and vibe to spare.

A listening pleasure and a dance floor treat, Mikesh's far reaching and assured musical vision is inescapable on this record. The perfect welcome back for SPIEL.

After closing the year with four tracks of wintery house from San Laurentino, Aficionado set their sights on the spring with their latest release, which comes courtesy of Glaswegian trio Imperfect Product.Opening with a drifting dreamscape, reminiscent but intangible (entirely fitting for a track reborn out of decade's old rehearsal tapes) 'Solina' blooms into colour and focus at the rattle and crash of a jazzy drum break. An irresistible rolling bassline carries the groove onwards and upwards, loosening your shoulders nicely before spiralling synthesisers, swaggering wah guitar and rippling piano take your breath away completely.
As the fuzzy organ stabs and shimmering drones flood the soundscape, you're overcome with memories of youthful mixtapes where Innerzone Orchestra and Eddie Henderson rubbed shoulders with 'Summer Madness'. Understated but overwhelming, 'Solina's' sweltering perfection works just as well as an end of night life changer as the soundtrack to a spliff and sangria in the back garden.

On the B-side, London's Les Crocodiles deconstruct the track inna dubwise style, turning up the heat for some far out Balearic beat. The head nodding rhythm holds things together perfectly while the acid-tinged rubber bassline, echo drenched middle eastern strings and psychedelic synth lines do their very best to totally blow your mind.
As you head deeper into the groove, the dreamy piano of the original leads us into a euphoric breakdown before pulling us back in for more ecstatic dancing.
A score of releases in and with no two records sounding the same, Aficionado continue to fly the flag for open minded music.
Officially Aficionado.

Hitting you like the soundtrack to some wonderful film you will never see, the depth and emotion of the sound of Farbror Resande Mac will take your breathe away.
They have crafted a wonderful EP for Back To The Balearics, which offers the listener a refreshing break from the norms of electronic music making.Across the 5 tracks they cover a variety of moods and themes with great technical skill and top class production values, while creating musical patterns that conjure up images of star studded Scandinavian skies, Balearic sunsets and the buzz of great cities at night.So why not step off the musical beaten track with Farbror Resande Mac on Back To The Balearics You won't regret taking the wander...

Out with a bang, 'Blitz Magic' is the final release in the Jose Padilla 'Too Many Colours' campaign from International Feel. A carefully curated project, from the selection of producers working on the album (Mark Barrott, Wolf Müller, Tornado Wallace, Telephones, I:Cube and Dream 2 Science), superior productions and remixes to boot, through to the beautiful artwork. Now it draws to a beautiful close. 'Blitz Magic' a Telephones production is the perfect club track to follow the wondrous 'Lollipop'. The original of 'Blitz Magic' is a lovely balearic ride that feels the influence of the all time classic 'E2E4' or in turn 'Sueno Latino'. It has now been placed in the hands of Tambien and Deetron for remix duties. Tambien are a trio from Munich. They are the Bartellow and Public Possession pair Marvin & Valentino who have released on various labels but in recent times ESP Institute and their own Public Possession. They create that intriguing mix where intelligent meets club music such as their Jil Thunder Light Remix. Deetron is an awardwinning Swiss producer and DJ that keeps his soul in Detroit and his heart in warm techno. This sound is perfectly shown in his stripped down remix cleaning out the drums and taking it back to pure club values. As Autumn arrives it feels the perfect time to release this third single from Padilla, the last in a beautiful string of releases that for International Feel have perfectly encompassed the Balearic sound as it is now. Play loud and you'll get the benefits.

José P adilla is loved by many for his work soundtracking sunsets at the Café Del Mar and compiling the seminal Café Del Mar compilations which sold over six million copies. His fans are wide and varied, on one end of the spectrum you have Madonna or Karl Lagerfeld, and on the other DJ legends such as Harvey and Andrew Weatherall. His new album ' So Many Colours' was released on International Feel earlier this summer to great acclaim and is regarded as the most forwardthinking Balearic album of the year.
FEEDBACK
I played it loud, Tambien mix is beautifully bizarre. - Mark E
Deetron mix is magical - a organic knights of the jaguar .. - Terry Farley
Simply brilliant. Loooove both mixes. Thanks a lot - Laurent Garnier

After impressing with his debut album, 'Buy The Ticket, Take the Ride', on Tsuba last year, Magic Feet label boss Craig Bratley is back with a hot new EP on his own label that features tracks by Unisexl Audio Club, Beato Cozzi and the man himself.

Since 2014's LP release, Bratley has been remixed to great effect by Ewan Pearson and has continued to take his machine made, darkened disco sounds to clubs and festivals around Europe.

His sound is robust and analogue, has come out on labels like Andrew Weatherall's Bird Scarer and Is It Balearic and now for the first time arrives on his own Magic Feet, a label that has showcased sounds by Timothy J Fairplay, Antoni Maiovvi and Tommy Awards amongst others.

Up first here is Unisex Audio Club with 'Event Duality,' an elastic, low swinging, mid tempo track with frazzled synth lines, pixelated melodies and lots of dark energy. Flabby bass adds serious weight to this most arresting affair.

Beato Cozzi offers up 'Killer ', which comes on like a long forgotten Italo B-side, a chugging rework of a solitary 1990 chart hit that sounds all the more resplendent for its rainy alien melodies, extra visible and twinkling chords and invitingly laboured drums.

Then comes Bratley with the first of two cuts. 'Photons' is seven minutes of loose and lush house music with arcing pads, feel good chords and emotionally swollen melodies. It's the sort of breezy, al fresco tune that would sound great at a boat party and shows a more tender, vulnerable side to Bratley's work.

His second, 'Analogue Voodoo', is a slow and sparse affair where futuristic synth lines, apocalyptic drums and darkened spoken word snippets all conjure an unsettling, industrial mood. It's a fresh sounding cut that is destined to stand out on any dancefloor.

This is another fine offering from Magic Feet that offers disco lovers of all shapes and sizes something to explore and enjoy.

Drum Island unveil their tenth release with an extraordinary EP from Norway's Klaus Lunde.

From Norway's oldest city Tonsberg comes the stargazing sounds of Klaus Lunde: an acclaimed and prolific electronic music composer, his array of releases under the Xerxes Music pseudonym explore a unique take on ambience and tonal electronica that's a mesmerising and accomplished body of work to be sure.

This, undoubtedly many people's first introduction to his work, is a perfectly pitched collection that highlights the familiar themes of the Xerxes work, but fits easily into the Drum Island blueprint of music for the midnight sun. On the Exerxes EP, we're treated to pulsating Balearic trance and zero gravity house before gliding into relaxed ambience, soothing New Age and horizontal night music.
We then dive further into the psychedelic ocean hidden below with truly tripped out Kosmiche vignettes of warping and spine-tingling odd-pop.
Guest vocals from fellow viking Marthe Borge-Lunde Pfirrmann (aka Phoenix) making this is a cinematic tour de force!
Limited Edition import vinyl - full picture sleeve - one press only.

Streetlight Soul' is the inaugural release on new imprint Gnosis. This four track EP is the fifth Myriadd record, following 12"s for Crème organization, Pinkman and Signals. The past decade has seen releases from the artist under a variety of pseudonyms including Acid Phreex (Djax-Up-Beats), Mantra (Bunker, Abstract Acid, Solar One Music) and Monofonix (Iwari, Cataclyst). Across the EP, Myriadd remoulds the template of vintage Chicago house, acid and deep house into his vision of modern house music. Opening with 'Midnight Obsession'; working a dark hypnotic bassline into an endless groove of crisp jacking drums and soul stirring melody, all primed for maximum effect at 4AM when lost in the smoke and strobes. 'Visions Of Love' is driven by a Juno bassline, a classic palette of tumbling, infectiously funky drums, warm, enveloping synth atmospherics and elevated by lush, celestial string work which comes off like some fantasy Mr Fingers + Virgo psychedelic jam. The EP's titular track goes deeper into the night with 909 claps, off-kilter snare hits, melancholy synth and ethereal melodies that ascend and dissolve into neon clouds. Closer 'Back To Nature' is a trip into blissed out, tropical house sounding like a lost Balearic classic re-tweaked for the 21st Century..

After "III" Dusty Kid is back with a new album that is a trip and homage through and for his native land, Sardegna. "The Arsonist" anticipates this trip from its most dramatic part, touching upon an issue that haunts the island every summer: arsons. Setting itself apart from the contemporary techno music trends 'The Arsonist Part II" delves into 90's trance, reminiscent of legendary Jam&Spoon and rave parties. An intense explosion of pathos reminding us of the glorious Loveparade to describe a dangerous situation, a desperate attempt to save the Sardinian land. The pathos peaks with "Doa" when the fire leaves behind utter desperation and desolation, ashes and smoke. "Doa" is another stage in this new journey for Dusty Kid. It is an emotional and melancholic stop, drenched in the magic of the spaghetti western genre, honoring Morricone that has always been the artist's idol. The track is dedicated to the date of July 18, 1983,  when in the north ofSardegna the worst arson happened; here 9 people lost their lives and 15 reported terrible burns in the attempt to extinguish the fire. This has later become the European date to raise awareness against forest fires. The EP ends on the balearic notes of "Serpentara', little abandoned island in the south east of Sardegna, that represents a small batch of land that is untouched by men, their doings and their fires. 'Serpentara' recalls the likes of "Sueno Latino', the summer of love '88 and Ibiza, when ravers wanted to take a break from the hysteric acid house and needed softer and dreamier sounds. Dusty Kid is back with a masterpiece that cannot be missed, a perfect soundtrack to the Summer of 2015.

Reissue of a unknown b-side of an early Belgian trance outfit release. Before they made euro trance they made this heavenly balearic gem. It screamed for Lauer remixes and he provided...
Unless you have been sleeping it should be pretty obvious that WPH head honcho Red D has a weak spot for early Belgian trance stuff. Before trance was even known as trance that is... The early 90ies were the post new beat era in Belgium and loads of producers were experimenting with new sounds to steer away from the blatantly commercial new beat chart stuff. So that's when the magic started happening.

One of these producer outfits was The Mackenzie, who on their very first releases covered a territory somewhere between new beat, Chicago house and Balearic sounds. None of these tracks really 'hit', but some 25 years later WPH shows you that true timeless quality always resurfaces. 'No Promises' is simply a divine piece of work from start to finish and should become that underground summer hit played by any DJ worth his or her salt when it comes to putting melody over beats. One listen to this one and it's easy to see why German stronghold Lauer was the go to man for some remix action. Lauer brings you a different take and a classic cover version of the original.

As a little bonus Locked Groove & Red D made an edit of a remix done by The Mackenzie in that same period. I think you will agree that both these tracks were made to be on one E.P. Trust WPH to bring it back in a different way!



[C] b1 | The Right Side (Locked Groove & Red D's Exotische Edit)

IIB's latest release is an EP from The clandestino crew. First track is a slo mo cosmic melodic acid dub. A beautiful early evening trip. This is remixed by the Beat Broker who adds a few sublime uplifting west coast sprinkles. The first track on the B side is a solid disco tinged house beauty with synth stabs subtle acid undertones claps and a great sample. The final track is Beyond the Sun. A mellow eastern tinged sundowner featuring another great sample. This EP really captures the original IIB sound and philosophy. A real gem.

After releasing his stunning debut "Diamond Days" on Traum and the follow up "Nothingness EP" Egokind told us he had the idea for an album already sitting in the back of his head.
To be able to convert all of his ideas he asked his long time friend and collaborator Ozean to work with him. For both of them "Transition" is their debut album, but both artists can draw on a lot of experience recording music from multiple genres.

The A1 track "Mega" is a track which illustrates Egokind & Ozean's approach to touch many grounds resulting in something gigantic. The track itself begins rather acoustic inviting you to the private world of Egokind & Ozean, before it becomes a joyous balearic tune that despite its wealth keeps slight dissonances coming and going.

"Every Time You Smile" is an energetic piece of warped music which swells and and then in the next moment is diminished to small islands of voices that turn like mad creating a new cosmos almost comical at times, but always very kind and gentle as well.

On the flipside "Light Realms" flows into "Silverbird" with no pause: "Silverbird" then opens the curtain and lets the sun fill out the whole room with yellow golden rays. Egokind & Ozean then unfold a garage house track which makes small turns but stay very organic and warm.

And "Everybody Dance Now" by its title makes things very clear. Egokind & Ozean have crammed all their skills here into an hi-energy dance track, still keeping one big surprise to come halftime, when they decide to leave the trail of club culture by introducing a fantastic acoustic intermezzo, juggling and bending their sounds to the max.  

Balearic maestro Max Essa joins the dots seamlessly between the ambient imaginings of Sakamoto, the Krautrock rhythms of Neu and the beach pop of Chris Rea , while making them all dance together like waves on the beach.

This is some of his very best work to date and demonstrates a producer at home at the controls and a real musician with a vision.

Your carnival sounds like this...

Maricopa returns to Back To The Balearics to complete his stunning opus, Pastel Love.

And he continues where he left off building deeply textured songs packed full of simple melodies that really shine.
His music opts for subtle feelings and passing vibes over the more obvious structures of 'dance music'. The release of Part One led to a number of comparisons with the early work of Aphex Twin as well as more contemporary producers such as Four Tet.

Such comparisons don't come lightly, but Pastel Love demonstrates that a rare musical talent has arrived.

The release again has beautiful printed covers and looks as good as it sounds. Viva Maricopa!

Steve Lee's (The Project Club) ABOVE MACHINE label returns with another superb release from acclaimed Italian duo Almunia
Their last single for AM was a best-seller, and their celebrated output through Paul 'Mudd' Murphy's Claremont56 label, including the recent Pulsar LP has seen the their blissful & uplifting Balearic sound win over many a new follower
'Find My Way' is a gorgeous, acoustic guitar led vocal number, conjuring up twilight beach side boogie, balmy breezes and ice cold drinks
Marius Circus gets to work on the B side, taking the irresistible melodies to a much later, darker dancefloor.
Laying a foundation of squelchy moog style bass and a toughened up rhythm track before heavily effected guitars sweep across the mix elevating the whole thing to near transcendental heights !
A superb release and addition to the Above Machine catalogue

Baptise & Pierre Colleu
French brothers Baptiste & Pierre Colleu have been making music together since they were children. They spent a chunk of their childhood in Africa, which they say has inspired their work in the studio. That influence is submerged fairly deep on 'Dolphin Kid,' the title track for these two EPs. There's an undercurrent of eerie soulfulness and woody percussion accents running through this oddly alluring cosmic-house seducer, but its roots are more Balearic than Afrobeat.

The five remixes of 'Dolphin Kid' enhance the Colleu brothers' original in incrementally fascinating ways. On 'Coyote's Intense Mix,' the respected UK duo augment the laid-back rhythm with nuanced 303 twangs and boldface the hand percussion to magnify its latent funkiness. L.I.E.S. recording artist Willie Burns slows 'Dolphin Kid''s pace to a majestic, hollowed-out, dub-funk strut. It's unfathomably deep. Seattle tech-house maverick Jon McMillion serves up the most twisted, sinister version here, warping the main synth part into a disorienting swirl of borborygmi while intensifying the rhythmic urgency and expanding the sound palette. The second EP concludes with two masterly remixes by Black Merlin. His 'Romance in the Dark Mix' turns 'Dolphin Kid' into a chilling, Goblin-esque piece of dungeon ambience. But it's Merlin's nearly 13-minute 'Peyote Mix' that really reels in the cinematic magic, as he launches the cut even deeper into the black, adding thrusting, throbbing disco kicks and enough horror/thriller-film soundtrack signifiers to give John Carpenter a perma-grimace. Poor 'Dolphin Kid' has come to a gory, but very exciting end.

The Auf Togo combination of Clement Cachot-Coulom from
the Fabulous Penetrators and Sasa Crnobrnja, one half of In
Flagranti are back with a follow up 12' for Leng.
Once again they blend the warm analogue sounds with a
dancefoor approach this time bringing in some vocals on 'Old
Models' that sit over a tight live drum beat and lush guitar work
locking us into a killer summer groove.
'Waiting For Beggi' gets a Balearic workout with more hazy
guitars, percussion and a rolling bassline.

Steve Lee's (The Project Club) ABOVE MACHINE label returns after 003's massive 'Love Disguise' from Vendetta Suite

This fourth release comes courtesy of acclaimed Italian duo Almunia
Their celebrated output through Paul 'Mudd' Murphy's Claremont56 label, including the recent superb Pulsar LP has seen the their blissful & uplifting Balearic sound
expand and evolve beautifully.



One Time is a gorgeous slice of the same, and conjurs up gentle sea breezes and long summer days perfectly


The ever essential Craig Bratley, whose All Ears distributed Magic Feet label has provided some of our best output, alongside recent hit 'Obsession' on Weatherall's Bird Scarer imprint takes charge on the flipside here.
Craig takes the melodic motif's and vocal parts and weaves a trademark synthed out & acidic chugger of epic proportions. Sure to be belting out across the Adriatic this summer
Andrew Clarke - whose been making an impact with a selection of cuts on labels like Audio Parallax & Chopshop - wraps it all up with a truly amazing rework, managing to retain all the stunning musicality of the original, but elevating the elements to euphoric new heights.

We're very happy to welcome aboard new imprint Back To The Balearics

It's a label on a mission to uncover music with significance, special sounds that can make a moment out of nothing.
In an increasingly fast and disposable world the need for such moments is more important than ever.

The first release, by Belfast's MARICOPA, perfectly defines that sound. His electronic tracks blend naïve beauty with emotional depth in a sonic landscape devoid of all the usual musical clichés of dance music.
Back To The Balearics is a journey to nowhere in particular with plenty of musical stop overs on the way.

We hope you will take the trip...

April 2013 sees the release of Norwegian Disco Viking Rune Linbaek's latest long player, on his Drum Island label

Its his first album since the 2000 release (Sondag) on Paper Recordings RePap offshoot

Last year's single 'Wonder' feat Kurt Maloo on the label was a day one sell out here at All Ears and marked a significant maturing of Rune's trademark sound.
The influence of Norway on the world's forward thinking Disco scene & beyond is more than evident, with countrymen like Todd Terje, Prins Thomas and Hans Peter Lindstrom
all leading the charge for years now. The creative cauldron of the infamous 'club in a public toilet' Skansen has much to answer for !

Krasava is a very much vocal led project, with a cast of featured vocalists which includes Norwegian popstar Anneli Drecker alongside recent collaborator Øyvind Blikstad.
The album is steeped in Norwegian folklore, visually and musically and the gentle lilt of the Norse/Balearic sound, sits comfortably alongside more Cosmic flavours, Rock and beautifully crafted pop.

Popnoname`s Change is the perfect Pop Song to sing along to and soundtrack a change in you. David Hasert creates Pop for the dancefloor, his remix is like a Dreamliner in the balearic sea, which goes ashore with the drums of Bertil Mark. David Hasert curates the NICE parties in Cologne and runs the Label LIKE.When Matt Karmil`s Remix starts, you know this is a hit. Sensitive and cool he captures the essence of the track while
leaving out all Pop Themes. The solitary beat splattered with white noise creates an eternal space to drift away to in the club

Arriving at their fourth release, Emotional Rescue's knowledge of forgotten musical gems and their commitment to give them the chance of wider appreciation they fully deserve cannot be in question! After digging out that Bob Chance classic, the focus switches to something of an equally balearic nature with the release of Jaki Whitren & John Cartwright's lost folk rock album International Times. Originally released as a private press on the obscure French label Living Records back in 1983, this eight track album is filled with dusty soul nuggets which are given extra life by the silky vocal stylings of Whitren - formerly a backing singer for Alan Parson. Opening track "Stay Cool" sounds quite ahead of it's time, whilst there are some true dancefloor gems for the more adventurous DJs out there, such as the title track and the laid back bump of "Go With The Flow."