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Originally released as a strictly limited 10-inch vinyl record exclusive on Record Store Day 2012, this long sold-out must-have for fans of these two artists will finally be re-issued - this time in 12-inch format!
Erased Tapes label mates Ólafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm recorded and mixed their first collaborative record between Reyjkjavík and Berlin as a surprise release for label founder Robert Raths.
The ambient/electronic work 'Stare' is a true family effort with long-time collaborator Anne Müller joining in on cello and all graphics created by close label-friend and designer Torsten Posselt of FELD Studios.

Words by Nils Frahm: 'I heard 'Eulogy For Evolution' for the first time six years ago and I was totally captivated. Impossible to know back then that I was supposed to meet Ólafur many years later as my label mate. Later when he took me along a tour of his we also noted that we kind of like hanging out together, doing important things like cover versions of long forgotten songs or eating veggie pizza. Also he would join my live set for a jam and I would return the favour by playing along with his set.

All in all, I fell for Óli and after one memorable jam session we had in Berlin at Roter Salon in 2011, he finally proposed the idea to visit me in my studio in Berlin to work on 'some music'. I was happy and delighted about that idea, so we got together in April 2011 and after having a big pizza, I plugged in some old analogue synths and we played for four days until late in the night. Also queen Anne Müller stopped by after a show with Agnes Obel to record some cello at 5 am in the morning for 'b1'. Making music together with people is lovely!

The time I spent with Óli in Berlin made me very happy and the music wasn't like anything I have heard before. It was all very reduced and minimal and I felt like I couldn't have done this alone. So we decided to do another 4-day jam at Óli´s E7 studio in Reykjavik. So I flew there in the end of October 2011 to repeat the trick and record some out of this world ambient music. It didn't take us too long to write 'a1' and 'a2'. I can't wait for the follow up!'

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)

Munich's Zenker Brothers arrive on Index Marcel Fengler for the first time with Pollioni, a four-track EP that captures the unique style that has brought the duo acclaim over a string of releases for Tresor and their own Ilian Tape label since they combined their considerable production talents as a dual force in dextrous, charismatic techno.
Each of Pollioni's tracks eschew the standard four-four in favour of insistent beat patterns that service a maelstrom of rave era-indebted synths and tumescent basslines, working themselves into grooves with their own personality and once again showing the Zenker ability to forge techno that rises above the standard DJ tool style into something more characterful and lasting.'Night Hustler' opens the A-side with a swinging, low-end-heavy groove that opens up for a sinister melody in the its second half. It's followed by 'Bias', which builds rolling tribalistic drums around a slowly rising degraded synth line. B1 'Karma Lounge' mines similar territory in the duo's collaboration with Ilian Tape colleague Philipp Von Bergmann, before 'Neunkeu' closes the EP by establishing its place in the continuum with its hardcore stabs and a sci-fi acid backbone.

After releases for Discos Capablanca and Moon Glyth, Food Pyramid join Especial for a remix EP of their album-only track Oh Mercy. Updated by the inhouse team Apophenia, before being given the full italo treatment by SF's Inhalt and a true Especial twisted FX double mix by the man, the myth, Jamie Paton.

Minneapolis collective, Food Pyramid are welcomed to the label with the twisted psychedelic electronics of Oh Mercy. Taken from their Mango Sunrise album of 2012, its warped breakbeat jam-fusion has long been a secret favourite of the label, so it seemed right to present it on a unique EP.

Starting with a 2015 rework at the hands of the label's in-house production team of Apophenia, the original is extended with respect, keeping much and taking out little (the horns) so that the originals groove can ride and ride.

This is followed by a superb remix from Inhalt. After themselves appearing in the form a remix EP (EES009) it seemed now was the right time to get on board with their own take and in the process creating a pumping Italoesque classic. In the same way Timmy Regisford turned NOIA's Rules To Survive in to a mid-80s Chicago all time top 10, this remix harks to all that was good of that time, notably replaying much of the
instrumentation, while keeping it aimed squarely at today's floor. Who said Razormaid

On the flip are killer remixes from the label's main man Jamie Paton. Locked in an increasingly modular headspace, he digs deep and expansive. Premiered on the recent Beats In Space showcase, the Remix kicks far and wide, pushing club systems to the max, this yearns to be played at 7am Panorama. Sliding straight (and you'll miss it) in to the Dub, stripping it wayyy back, let the drums do the talking. Oh baby, have mercy on me.

The enigmatic Amara Touré from Guinée Conakry finally getting a well deserved compilation showcasing all of the 10 songs ever released between 1973 and 1980. Cuban influenced music of a different kind featuring amazing spaced-out guitar works!! Analog Africa compiles a complete collection of Amara Touré's Afro-Cuban compositions, originally released between 1973 and 1980."Lamento Cubana and Temedy are the two finest Afro-Cuban compositions ever recorded. As if they were played in a smokey, poorly lit ballroom where dark rum was sipped ever so slowly" - Vikram Sohonie - Ostinato Records
Analog Africa to release a compilation by Amara Toure, the enigmatic Afro-Cuban musician from Guinea-Conakry, showcasing all of the 10 songs he ever released between 1973 and 1980.
"Latin music, is it really foreign to us Africans I don't think so. Listen to the drums, to the rhythm. It all seems very close to us - it feels like it's our own culture," declared enigmatic singer Amara Toure. It is the late 50s, and Senegal is going crazy to the groove of Son Montuno and Patchanga. Brought to West Africa by Cuban sailors in the early 40s, these styles were immediately adopted by a flourishing music scene that did not hesitate to embrace the Caribbean sound, mixed it with their own Folklore, and, in the process, created something new. Through the unique cultural fusion of West African and Caribbean influences, Latin music took on a new and unique sound - the format was reinvented. Producer Ibra Kasseì and his Miami nightclub acted as the spearheads of this movement. They brought a breath of fresh air into Dakar's nightlife, further energising one of West Africa's most exciting cities. The demand for ballroom parties and live acts exploded, attracting numerous musicians from surrounding countries. One of the musicians who answered this call was percussionist and singer Amara Toureì, from Guinea-Conakry. Spotted by Kasseì while performing with Dexter Johnson, Toureì was asked if he would like to be part of a new project. Little did he know that this project would become a phenomenon.Immensely important for the development of Senegalese modern music, Le Star Band de Dakar, led by Mady Konate, became a sort of musical incubator and workshop, where many musicians learned and practiced their trade before moving on to become stars in their own right. Toureì's talent on percussion was undeniable, but it was his powerful and raw voice that captivated the producer. The fascinating way Toure interpreted Cuban music was unparalleled, and it was this feature that encouraged Kasse to recruit the unknown artist.
Although already brimming with incredible talent, Amara Toure's joining of Le Star Band de Dakar in 1958 began the band's meteoric rise to the top. The band quickly became Dakar's number one orchestra, and it cemented the reputation of the Miami nightclub as the hottest spot in the country. The place was packed nightly, and Dakar was boiling.
Amara Toure's Senegalese adventure lasted for ten years when he received an irrefutable offer and in 1968, joined by a few talented Senegalese musicians, headed to Cameroon and immediately formed the Black and White ensemble. Many live gigs later and it was time for the first songs to be recorded. A total of three singles were produced between 1973 and 1976. These singles, representing the first six songs on this compilation, fully epitomise and distill the essence of what Toureì had learned during his career. His Mandingue roots fused with the Senegalese sound that he had mastered - the perfect foundation for the Toureì's Cuban interpretations.
If Toure's intention was to create the most sensual music ever recorded in Africa, he might very well have reached this goal. The musicians on the recording sound like they are playing in a smokey, poorly lit juke joint, where dark rum was sipped ever so slowly, and the pulse of the music took up a life of its own. How many couples have danced, swayed, and melted together to the distinct sound of Amara Toure Nobody can say for sure ...
Amara Toureì's success poured across the borders of Cameroon, and in 1980 he went to Libreville, Gabon, to team up with the powerful Orchestre Massako. Toureì recorded an LP at that time which is hailed by many music aficionados as one of the very best African albums. The songs from that LP are the last four on this compilation. It took only ten songs for Amara Toureì to become a legend. These ten treasures, representing Toure ìs complete discography, have been carefully re-mastered from original session tapes and vinyl records, and will be released by Analog Africa on 22 June 2015. After the release of his LP in 1980, Toureì seems to have disappeared. Apparently he was last seen in Cameroon but it is unknown if he is still alive today. His music though is definitely alive.

BACK IN STOCK NOW!! "Volume One is the debut album. It was the only album recorded with original guitarist Justin Marler, before he became an Orthodox monk. Volume One showcases a darker sound and stronger doom metal influence than Sleep's later work. The image featured on the cover is taken from the Salvador Dali painting "Soft Self-Portrait with Fried Bacon".
Their only album as a four piece of Al Cisneros, Matt Pike, Justin Marler and Chris Haikus

LP repressed for first time in many years.

allmusic
"For all their budding, precocious talent, Sleep's 1991 debut, Volume One, quickly betrays their still quite heavy debt to doom metal forefathers like Black Sabbath, Witchfinder, and Saint Vitus. Driven by Matt Pike and Justin Marler's lumbering mass of low-tuned guitar riffs, Al Cisneros' (still going as Luke here) serpentine bass and ragged screams, and drummer Chris Haikus' cyclopean kit pummeling, occasional highlights such as "The Suffering," "Nebuchadnezzar's Dream," and "The Wall of Yawn" prove less memorable than they are sensorially overwhelming. And yet, ironically, Sleep's rhythm guitars would never again be kept as under control, nor would their leads sound quite as refined as they do here (see the cleaner harmonies employed to good use on "Numb" and "Catatonic," for example). This was probably due to the onetime involvement of the significantly less stoned Marler, who would soon exchange the group for a monastery where he would study to become a monk. Fittingly enough, however, losing the versatility of a second guitarist was exactly what Sleep needed to focus their singular power into a crushing force, and the remaining trio would flourish immediately behind the sheer physicality of Pike's six-string style, as proven by 1993's superlative sophomore LP, Sleep's Holy Mountain."

Before they head underground to finish their new the globally-loved Hamburg duo Digitalism are unleashing their first 'pure' club track since the red hot 'Fahrenheit 32' in January 2014.
Digitalism's brand new track 'Roller' does exactly what it says on the tin. Full of raucous energy, the track mirrors the freshness that could be found on Digitalism's debut album 'Idealism' back in 2007.
Mixed by Matt Wiggins at Paul Epworth's Church Studios, 'Roller' comes complete with a delightfully low-slung remix from another duo who are currently on top form, Dense & Pika. Alongside two bonus DJ-Tools 'Roll-A-Pella' and 'Beats-A-Pella' which will all be housed on a limited edition 12' that's sure to go down an absolute treat with Digitalism's loyal and dedicated fan base.
Vital Sales Points:
DJ support from Boys Noize, Busy P, Mason, Harvard Bass, Adam Bayer
Radio Support from BBC Radio 1's B-Traits (16th May 2015), Pete Tong's Evolution Show on iHeart Radio (30th June 2015), Tom Robinson on BBC Radio 6 (16th May 2015), KLP's (House Party Playlist) on Triple J Radio (2nd May 2015), Nemone on BBC Radio 6 (9th May 2015), Mornings with Zan Rowe on Triple J Radio (12th May 2015)
Press Support from Mixmag (Electro Tune of the Month June 2015 issue),

Record Store Day 2015 will see a special release from Gene Hunt directed and selected by label boss I-Robots.

The two track vinyl EP features unreleased material produced in the early years of the famed Chicago artist's career in the 80s and is dedicated to musical legend Frankie Knuckles who appears on the artwork in a rare picture with Gene Hunt from back in the day.

Gene has regularly produced and remixed for the label before now (including remixing Klein & M.B.O. 'Last Call' and on forthcoming I-Robots project 'Dirty Talk' ft. Donna McGhee) and has already assured his place in house history as a DJ headlining clubs like Warehouse and the Music Box as well as playing with the likes of Ron Hardy and Larry Heard.

As a producer he has been on top of his game for three decades and has released on legendary imprints such Rush Hour, Svek, Djax and many more, so is a true house icon.

His first cut here, 'Drive Yourself Nuts' is a classic bit of Chicago jack with prickly percussive patterns staying busy on top of punchy drums. Wonky bass, physical grooves and coarse claps all make this one a standout banger for the peak of the night.

On the flip of this special package, 'Wildside D Dubb' is a slow building, mania inducing tune with a lead synth line slithering about over dusty metallic drums. Eventually some acid bleeds into the mix and pans all around, adding a sense of scale to this heady, freaky, dance floor smasher. As ever, Opilec Music show others how it is done with this real and rare bit of true Chicago house history.

Having released on the label before (including a collaboration with Lake Haze last time out) Lisboa based producer IVVVO now returns to Creme Organization with a new three track solo EP. Showcasing his unique take on analogue house, here he conjures up his most unique work to date, Up first, 'Raised' is a dishevelled concoction that sees organic hand drums rattling over heady kicks, with groaning vocals, ghostly pads and afro mutterings all adding to the intoxicating brew. 'Our Journey' is then an acid flecked, lo fi techno rave up with car alarms, barking dogs and white noise textures that all come over like an urban soundtrack as much as anything else. It's captivating stuff that gets rounded out with '0000', a slurred, smeared bit of ambient with awkward key progressions, wordless vocals and tons of crunchy texture. Few people sound as idiosyncratic as IVVVO and this EP proves that in spades.

Ovum's 20th birthday celebrations continues with the return of Itamar Sagi. Itamar Sagi debuted on Ovum in 2009 with the amazing Fiona/Agnes Blue. After a five year hiatus from the label, he triumphantly returns with the Invisible Key EP. Raised in the hot spot of Tel Aviv, with his artist roots deep in the techno underground. Itamar is from the new breed of the current techno wave. Already well respected, Sagi's reputation continues to grow with his unique floor filling productions. His productions have caught the attention of legends such as Laurent Garnier, Josh Wink, Carl Craig, Francois K and others. It wasn't long before he found recognition on a worldwide scale, including reviews and interviews with many of the world's most popular dance magazines and radio stations. With releases on Ovum, Be As One, Soma, Drumcode and more, Sagi has shown that he is here to stay. The Invisible Key EP kicks off with the title track 'Invisible Key", which is classic Sagi. The track slowly brings you in with it twists and turns. The track bubbles and builds and creates a tension that will keep the dance floor wanting more and more. The second track from this EP 'New Order' harkens back to the sound of Basic Channel, G-Man, and John Ciaffone. Sagi once again builds the tension with vocal samples and effects that deliver an absolute massive punch without being over done. For the final track 'Dub Superstitions", Sagi brings us a proper techno workout. The track percolates and builds and once again Sagi's amazing use of tension deliver a proper massive finish to this stellar EP.

Breakbeat Paradise Recordings is proud to present Tom Showtime with his brand new 4-track vinyl release, The Butter Zone EP. As it has done so many times before BBP is bringing Ghetto Funk and Funky Breaks back to its roots by putting the funk in focus and letting the rest speak for itself. Never before has it been done as well as this with Tom Showtime getting on board and tailor-making this 4-track EP of banging feel good jams around our genres beloved 105 BPM, aka The Butter Zone.

Tom Showtime is no newbie to the field having dropped laid-back funk bombs on lables like Groove Penguin, Booty Fruit, Riddim Fruit, Tru-Funk as well as an artist EP on the Ghetto Funk label.

This time he really means business as he takes us on a deep dive into his crates of samples and treats us with some flawless ghetto boogie jams. The EP even comes with a scratchapella cut - so DJs don't forget to pick up your doubles...

On the back of an exciting debut album in 2012 that saw him perform live at Sonar festival and later with his band at Vienna's Volkstheatre, before disseminating music on Permanent Vacation, Suol and Connaisseur Recordings, enigmatic Basque Country producer El_Txef_A returns with his sophomore longplayer 'We Walked Home Together'.
El_Txef_A (pronounced 'Elchefa') has crafted a work that just like its journey-conjuring title, charts a shifting palette of sounds and moods, exemplifying its creator Aitor Etxebarria's breadth of skill.
Produced entirely in Aitor's homeland of the mountainous Basque Country, the album showcases the talents of not just its creator who producers, sings and plays piano on the record, but also some of the Spanish region's most outstanding musicians.
Local artist Biskonti is one contributor, whose vocals coat a brooding bed of rough-cut drums on the ice-cold slice of electronica 'I'm Going to Paint You', while Hannot lends his pipes to the moving 'You Left Us In This Physical World' that sweep over a delicately crafted brew of guitars and keys. Both Basque vocalists featured on El_Txef_A's debut 'Slow Dancing in a Burning Room'. Sublime title track 'We Walked Home Together' turns into a family affair, with Aitor's brother Hibai playing the grand piano.
A graduate at 2013's Red Bull Music Academy in Madrid, El_Txef_A has an impressive array of sonic strings to his bow and the Detroit techno inspired 'Claim of Planet Earth' deliciously rubs shoulders with the album's single, the alternative slice of pop 'The Love We Lost' featuring DFA's Woofly.
Elsewhere, Aitor paints a dream-like soundscape with the sublime shoegaze-inspired trip '0730' that seamlessly bleeds into 'Every Day Is Blue Monday', with its atmosphere-heavy swirl of subtle acid lines, floating synths and evocative vocals delivered by Suol records contributor Meggy.
An artist whose music is inextricably connected with his homeland, the album concludes with the stirring 'Mugarrirantz' sung in the native tongue of Euskera by country folk band Napora Iria. It's proof that El_Txef_A is equally adept at doffing his cap to tradition as moving a dancefloor with his inspired brand of electronica.

Kyle Hall back on Hyperdub for our 10th Anniversary - Yes please. In fact this is more or less a long delayed EP from the vaults, recorded around the same time as his 2010 'Kaychunk' EP ... which just goes to show how ahead of the curve the young Detroit producer is. Starting with 'Girl U So Strong', the track riffs on a distorted arpeggiating bassline, seasick organ and a dubbed out voice, and a flicking metronomic note, starting slowly before shuffling drums give the track some rhythmic focus. Soon a warm melody builds over some happy arpeggios, and the whole track feels like a product of brilliant spontaneous energy. 'Take Me Away' works an 8 bit bassline, bleeps and throbs into an off beat shuffle over a pulsing bass drum, loose and happy, dosed with sunshine and space.

Following the release of virtuoso new singles Mr. Cover Up and No-Operative across January and February, seminal DnB duo State Of Mind are to present their fourth album, Eat The Rich, on March 31st. To be released by Black Sun Empire s Blackout imprint, the album celebrates some of the best work of their career to date, underlining their remarkable pedigree and with it, their ability to fuse darker, hard-edged sounds with genuine dance floor mcredibility. Famed for their rugged basslines, steely percussion and huge, driving synth lines, State Of Mind also showcase different sides to their craftsmanship on Eat The Rich, with a number of vocal features taking centre stage. As well as NZ
rapper PercIEve s appearance on the storming, tear-out anthem Mr. Cover Up, the duo also join forces with promising songstress Sacha Vee on the wonderfully eerie Black Raven; although still bullish in style, it highlights a softer, more thoughtful side to State Of Mind. Heavyweight second single No-Operative is also an album highlight, as are further future dance floor anthems like Where You At and Put It On, as well as two unique collaborations with fellow revered DnB figureheads Black Sun Empire. To compliment the rich diversity of sound on offer, the idiosyncratic, breaks-driven heat of Fast Life and the outer-worldly, synth-laden intro on U Control Me complete what is a stunning, career-defining album.
With a European tour in support of the album set to commence in March, ahead of further headline dates in Australia and New Zealand throughout April, Eat The Rich is set to cast State Of Mind into the spotlight like never before.

Tapper Zukie's 'Man from Bosrah' album still stands up today many years after its initial release, as only great music seems to do.
Tapper was one of the few Jamaican artists in the late 1970's that crossed over with the emerging punk/new wave audience.
Punk poet Patti Smith had practised her poetry over the rhythms from Tapper Zukies 'Man Ah Warrior' album, before reworking them as songs with her band.
Acknowledging this influence she brought Tapper on stage with her at the Hammersmith Odeon 23 October 1976 and introduced Tapper to a whole new audience. An audience that accepted Reggae as a music that also dealt with struggle and oppression.
The great cover shot shows Tapper standing at the back gates of the school yard in Trench town which was opposite his own yard...so sit back and hear what was happening back then that made this such a time defining album....

LP is available on 180 GRM black vinyl The KVB release their new immersive and hypnotic album 'Minus One' on November 18th via A Recordings. The album follows hot on the heels of outstanding stand alone single 'Run Away' released on Ample Play Records last month. The KVB is the audio/visual project of London youngsters Nicholas Wood & Kat Day, who combine reverb heavy wall of sound guitars, minimal haunting strings and grinding bass synths, messed up motorik drum machine beats and delay drenched vocals with a backdrop of imagery to accompany the symphony, that's nothing short of life affirming. 'Minus One' is in fact The KVB's third album, their second full length LP 'Immaterial Visions' which came with an accompanying remix EP, featuring mixes from underground techno pioneers Regis and Silent Servant was only released in February this year. The KVB is a group with a sense of urgency about it, to do what they need to do, with full commitment and without delay. It's a tangible attitude that runs throughout 'Minus One'. Indeed this year they have undertaken more extensive touring, including shows in Russia & the Ukraine and November 2013 will see them playing the last ever ATP before supporting The Brian Jonestown Massacre across Australia in December.Dates For The UK 23 Nov 2013 Electrowerkz w/ Dead Skeletons, London UK & 29 Nov 2013 ATP Festival, Camber Sands UK

More extra-terrestrial, technoid vibrations from the Ill River nucleus.
This latest transmission delivered by the one and only Hakim Murphy; and received through biosynthesized artefacts planted on Earth by the higher civilizations during the Great Experiment.

Reports of strange noises in the sky have been circulating since 2010, posing many questions as to their origin.
Secretly, III Rivers have been communicating with the space beings, securing their place in the interstellar Shangri-la when at last we finally transcend the cosmos.

"Smog" is the initial signal to land - beginning with cascading bleeps and sonars before a buzzing sawtooth assumes first contact. Proceeding to encapsulate all Earthlings with its electromagnetic hum - it's no wonder people are rushing to the top of apartment blocks to try and bootleg this shit on their phones.

"Vortex" is next, taking us right through the wormhole into the domain of machine-elves and humongous multi-headed entities, all eager to show us the porthole to paradise. A blissful bubble of ricocheting snares, delectable synth rubs and celestial goodness awaits.

“Spanking Tables” concludes the set and sees Hakim display his amazing control of percussion and unusual sounds; comfortably easing us in with our new galactic friends. Synthetic toms, drifting pads and sharp hats all converging on our bodies.

Beautiful stuff. Maybe the Maya were just a year too early….

Vinyl Exclusive Version Vidis brought us a handful of hidden gems last year. A selection showcasing the under-estimated and often overlooked Lithuanian House scene. After months of sifting and sorting, Vidis came to what has become 'Silence Please!' - a 14-track compilation that surprised many and turned more than a few heads with a unique taste of Vilnius House. We now present a very special vinyl edition - featuring tracks hand-picked by Vidis, tracks he felt deserved a wax debut. Vital Sales Points: - A sampler showcasing some of the nicest tracks featured on Silence Please! compilation - Includes dance floor destroyer Mario & Vidis - Warung (Downtown Party Network Remix) - All the tracks have never been released on vinyl before

[B] A2 | Mario & Vidis - Warung (Downtown Party Network Remix)

*A pure slab of noise... a ruckus on vinyl! A limited edition piece of wax featuring remixes by the Circus Records superstars Funtcase & Genetix.

*Funtcase has been producing since being inspired by d&b as a kid growing up in Bournemouth. In 2009 he created his dubstep alias Funtcase and released his first single on 4:20 Records. The following year he signed with Circus Records and released the killa 'So Vexxed/Matress Punch'. He is also known for his standout remixes, including mixes for Plan B, Camo & Krooked, The Wideboys & Skizm.

*For this remix Passenger organised Spyda (Pendulum 'Black Tarantula'/Knife Party 'Fire Hive') back into the vocal booth to lay down some fresh vocals for the remix. A former Passenger vinyl buyer, Funtcase is no stranger to the sounds of the label and adds his own nod to its history by flipping some breakbeat twists and turns to proceedings to create what many are saying is his best remix to date!

*The flipside remix is from fellow Circus Records crew members and Bournemouth badmen Genetix. Following a similar path to Funtcase, Matt & Rich started off making d&b before switching the tempo and laying down some filth at 140. With regular appearances on the MistaJam's radio show, guest mixes on KissFm for Hatcha and Crazy D and remixes for the likes of Bassline Smith & Drumsound and Kelly Clarkson, to name a few, these guys are continuing a south coast tradition of bass noise and terror.

*With the label instructions to 'make it as heavy as you can, Genetix took the vocal of Sporty-O, recorded at DJ Lethal's (House Of Pain/Limp Biskit/La Coka Nostra) studio in LA back in 2007, and brought it up to speed with a track that flips from militant dubstep into some proper 808 trap biz.

Belgium, not the first place you'd think of when it comes to Latin or Afro funk. Yet one of the greatest records to blend both styles came from the small northern European country, masterminded by Nico Gomez and his Afro Percussion Inc.

Ritual was originally released in 1971 on the Dutch label Omega International (Gomez was born in Holland before moving to Belgium in the late 40s) and is being reissued by Mr Bongo in 2013, bringing its blazing funk grooves to both new ears and those already tuned in to this masterpiece's legacy.

Across its 11 tracks Ritual delivers the kind of production, arrangement and musicianship that rightfully belong in a dictionary next to the definition of professional. Gomez' band was tight and they knew it, showing it off on their covers of Perez Prado's 'Caballo Negro' and 'Lupita' by injecting the originals with a deep funk that blends both Afro and Latin influences. On 'Samba De Una Nota So' and 'El Condor Pasa', another pair of covers, they switch to soulful downtempo with mesmerising ease. The title cut remains one of the album's highlights, a devastating dancefloor groove with horns to match that has aged beautifully and was heavily sampled by Liquid People for 'The Dragon'. 'Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!' adds touches of rock with fuzzy guitars for one of the album's headier experiences.

DVA started off Hyperdub's barrage of albums in 2012 with his brilliant 'Pretty Ugly', and now closes the the year with the 'Fly Juice' EP's bumper selection of machine tooled tracks, each created for optimum dancefloor damage and road tested by DVA, Kode9 and a select bunch of DJs. These four tracks are a brilliant example of what he's been describing as 'power house' for a while, a colourful chunky techno sound that switches up every 8 bars like grime and has plenty of shuffle and offbeat swing as a counterpoint to the 4/4 drums. 'Fly Juice' opens with sweet jazz funk Rhodes before dropping into weightless bouncey chopped vocals and stuttering drums building through 8 bar patterns - with the Rhodes as a sweetner, it's bliss! 'Do It' runs a stuttering voice, a huge deep bassline and relentless building stabs against shuffling drums. On 'Walk it Out', the repetition of the title over a pummelling two note melody is positively dumb, but pitched against swirling effects and whooshing chords the effect is epic. 'Long Street' features a collaboration with South African producer Big Space, and echoes the sound of early UK bleep and bass with a stern melody, breaking down into swirling Detroit-like chords, while shuffling along on a crisp, scissoring rhythm. After the sweet and sour songfulness of his album 'Pretty Ugly', the 'Fly Juice' EP shows DVA returning to his dancefloor roots. As an amazing DJ/producer, you can expect more of this in 2013.

Boris Werner is known for producing quality music and filling venues with crowds who can't get enough of his energetic and inspiring sound. These are a couple of the reasons why Boris Werner stands with us here today and proudly presents the Slow Dancin' EP, and we think you are really gonna love it. Strings and a relaxed rhythm user in the title track, complete with ambient vocal samples. Then, all at once the bass hits and the kick fills the void; instant groove. A jumpy synth dances over the track and invites friends to the show. Before you know it you've got a full track on your hands. Don't be fooled by the title, as it is indeed misleading. There will be no slow dancing to this gem. 'Missing Out (Dedicated to Ed & Emma) is a bit deeper, but with a warm feel (e-piano on reverb). Then, like 'Slow Dancin'', it catches you off guard with the beat. This is a feel good track, perfect for evenings, deep nights, and early mornings. Not to mention some of the years last open-air festivals. 'Did It In Miami' opens with caution, an indecisive kick with other percussive elements slowly build into an invigorating tech house beat. Grimy vocal samples creep in and the bass line slips under the beat, holding up the track well on a packed dancefloor.

One can hardly imagine the genre-busting, culture-crossing musical magic of Outkast, Prince, Erykah Badu, Rick James, The Roots, or even the early Red Hot Chili Peppers without the influence of R&B pioneer Betty Davis. Her style of raw and revelatory punk-funk defies any notions that women can’t be visionaries in the worlds of rock and pop. In recent years, rappers from Ice Cube to Talib Kweli to Ludacris have rhymed over her intensely strong but sensual music.



There is one testimonial about Betty Davis that is universal: she was a woman ahead of her time. In our contemporary moment, this may not be as self-evident as it was thirty years ago – we live in an age that’s been profoundly changed by flamboyant flaunting of female sexuality: from Parlet to Madonna, Lil Kim to Kelis. Yet, back in 1973 when Betty Davis first showed up in her silver go-go boots, dazzling smile and towering Afro, who could you possibly have compared her to? Marva Whitney had the voice but not the independence. Labelle wouldn’t get sexy with their “Lady Marmalade” for another year while Millie Jackson wasn’t Feelin’ Bitchy until 1977. Even Tina Turner, the most obvious predecessor to Betty’s fierce style wasn’t completely out of Ike’s shadow until later in the decade.



Ms. Davis’s unique story, still sadly mostly unknown, is unlike any other in popular music. Betty wrote the song “Uptown” for the Chambers Brothers before marrying Miles Davis in the late ’60s, influencing him with psychedelic rock, and introducing him to Jimi Hendrix — personally inspiring the classic album Bitches Brew.



But her songwriting ability was way ahead of its time as well. Betty not only wrote every song she ever recorded and produced every album after her first, but the young woman penned the tunes that got The Commodores signed to Motown. The Detroit label soon came calling, pitching a Motown songwriting deal, which Betty turned down. Motown wanted to own everything. Heading to the UK, Marc Bolan of T. Rex urged the creative dynamo to start writing for herself. A common thread throughout Betty’s career would be her unbending Do-It-Yourself ethic, which made her quickly turn down anyone who didn’t fit with the vision. She would eventually say no to Eric Clapton as her album producer, seeing him as too banal.



Her 1974 sophomore album They Say I’m Different features a worthy-of-framing futuristic cover challenging David Bowie’s science fiction funk with real rocking soul-fire, kicked off with the savagely sexual “Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him” (later sampled by Ice Cube). Her follow up is full of classic cuts like “Don’t Call Her No Tramp” and the hilarious, hard, deep funk of “He Was A Big Freak.”

Kenny Gino and Big Mike a.k.a. the Solid Gold Playaz both started playing records in the late 70's/early 80's. Having family from Chicago, who were DJ's and down with some of the big guys at the time, "heavily influenced our music and production styles" both say. "Living so close to the city, we could go down to all the legendary night spots. The Rainbow and the Warehouse, the Box, the Shelter... places where you could just feel the vibe. And you could hear guys like Farley Funkin' Keith, Ron Hardy, and Jammin' Gerald (the Chicago DJ/producer who is Kenny's cousin) play these incredible records". They both were hooked on the house sound, and would bring it back to their home, a small city named Racine, Wisconsin, located about an hour and half north of Chicago. They continued to develop their DJ and production skills into the 90's, but musically, weren't taking things very seriously until they met Chicago producer Louis Bell. He introduced them to many of the people who were building the mid-90's Chicago sound. "Louis gave us access... access to places we hadn't been before. He took us into the offices of Cajual/Relief Records and Underground Construction, and suddenly we were face to face with guys who were doing what we wanted to do... Cajmere, Paul Johnson, Glenn Underground... showing us that we could do this too. We did a few releases just to get our name out, and soon we had some pretty big named DJ's playing our music. We had DJ's actually looking for our records, and telling us how much they liked our sounds... that just blew us away, especially with very little promotion and in the limited numbers we were pressing... our music just started to build a name for itself."