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Bob Mintzer has the knack. Whether he developed it during his brief
association with the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra, his two years with the Buddy Rich Big Band, or his time with Jaco Pastorius’ Word of Mouth Big Band is unclear.
What is certain, however, is that the great tenor saxophonist has continued to perfect his instincts for orchestration and counterpoint over the years.
With ‘Soundscapes’, the maestro now returns as leader of the WDR Big Band with ten newly arranged pieces. “At WDR, there is, after all, a tradition that the chief conductor implements a project of his own writing at some point during his tenure,” he explains. “So I pulled together some of the things I’ve written for the band over the last five years, as well as a number of brand new numbers, for this recording.”
‘Soundscapes’, an amalgam of moods, grooves and complex textures, not only showcases Mintzer’s work for this widely acclaimed ensemble, but he does double duty. After all, he is also featured as the main soloist on tenor saxophone and the Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI), while spotlighting other outstanding soloists - such as long-time WDR members Paul Heller on tenor saxophone, Karolina Strassmayer and Johan Horlen on alto saxophone, Ruud Breuls
and Andy Haderer on trumpet, and Andy Hunter on trombone. Recorded in December 2019, the album is certainly among the very best of Mintzer’s long career.

Previously unissued 1999 live set from Alex Chilton (The Box Tops/Big Star) and Hi Rhythm Section Hi Rhythm Section has performed on seminal recordings from Ann Peebles, Ike & Tina Turner, O. V. Wright, Otis Clay, and Al Green Packaging contains liner notes from Memphis Mayhem author and Producer David Less “I never saw him have so much fun on stage. Without rehearsal, Alex called songs and the band locked in. The horn section consists of top Memphis session guys who huddled together when each song was called creating parts on the fly. The pure joy of playing this music so freely with such legendary musicians comes across in every groove of the record.” —David Less, from his liner notes Memphis is a city with music in its blood. When Fred Ford, co-founder of the Beale Street Music Festival, was diagnosed with cancer, David Less organized Fredstock, a fund raiser to help with his medical bills. Less contacted Memphis legend Alex Chilton (The Box Tops, Big Star), who was living in New Orleans, to ask him to participate. Alex said he didn’t have any musicians to play with in Memphis, so Less suggested the Hi Rhythm Section (the band behind classics from artists including Ann Peebles, Ike & Tina Turner, O. V. Wright, Otis Clay, and Al Green). Alex replied, “That will work.” This previously unissued live set contains versions of soul classics from The Supremes and Otis Clay, rock numbers from Chuck Berry and Little Richard, and even a cover of the KC & The Sunshine Band title track. Available on CD, Digital, and LP

Blues singer and harmonica player Brian Knight (1939-2001) is counted as one of the initial members of The Rolling Stones. Co-founder of Brian Jones first band together with Ian Stewart and Dick Taylor (later Pretty Things) among others. Musical disagreement with Jones, who fancied Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry while Knight was a Muddy Waters follower, led to his departure from the group - later to be replaced by Jagger and Richards. He formed his own "Blues By Six" band, frequently with Charlie Watts on drums, and spent the following years touring and playing London clubs. In the seventies he continued with Bradford-Knight Blues Band. Always a high profile act on the English blues circuit Knight has performed with many known artists through the decades, as Rick Wakeman, Peter Green, Paul Jones, Zoot Money, Ronnie Lane, Charie Watts, Chris Farlowe...and many more. After two successful decades of touring and performing he finally got to record his debut in 1981on the independent label PVK Records. The album is a mix of standard blues and rock numbers as traditional "white blues", sometimes reminding of early British R&B from Cyril Davies or Alexis Korner. It features Dick Heckstall-Smith (Colosseum) on sax, Peter Green on guitar and Stones own Charlie Watts on drums

Claptrap label boss returns with a four-track release ‘Big Pharma’.
Following on from this years releases by Longhair and Dr Valentines Claptrap are back with Vanity Project’s new release ‘Big Pharma’. Vanity Project has been managing Claptrap with his partner in crime Dr Valentines since their first 12" release in 2017 and dropped his first full release, a self titled EP in 2018. Since then he’s been DJing & performing live shows around the UK and has most recently dropped the City Elastic EP on London’s Midnight People.
Big Pharma features four spaced out original house cuts ready for the dance floor. A1, 'Letters and Numbers’ opens the EP with a driving groove, tight drums and rubbery synths. A2 the title track ‘Big Pharma’ brings a hint of acid alongside a deeper thumping house groove. B1 Grow Slow, kicks off the second side with a mellow down tempo sizzler, prime for those outdoor coastal parties. The final track Index brings the EP to a close with swirling euphoric synth lines and a dance floor moving stomp.

Blaq Numbers welcomes back DJ Psychiatre for the 8th
instalment in its Blaq Tapes series. The French producer’s
Introspection EP boasts 5 cuts of modern and melodic Detroitleaning House with flashes of early Trance, talkbox Acid and
other psychedelia. Big hitters Goddard and Pedr (aka Pierre
Moritz) contribute two remixes to the release; the former
jumping on the ghostly, soulful breaks of “Sumthin About Luv”
while the latter reworks “Falling Endlessly” into a grooving
110bpm roller.

A six-track release, ‘Fun Is Fun’ opens with the infectious, synth-driven title track, with a dub version and ‘Mamacita version’ also making it onto the record. Next up, ‘Dancefloor Anarchy’ is a similarly slick cut, while ‘Kill Your Friends’ is 140bpm and harnesses a killer bassline and unnerving scream sample to devastating effect.

“The title track ‘Fun Is Fun’ is a heavy bassline track, meant as a provocative poem, or as a joke you tell your friends who DJ,” Kessler explains. “When I did this track I was smiling because it’s my message not to take yourself too serious in this business. I think that's a big problem all over this scene.”

Following energetic releases on underground labels such Coméme, Get Physical and Numbers, the Cologne-born DJ, producer and poet’s distinctive sound has helped him grow into one of Germany’s most celebrated electronic artists. He has previously collaborated with the likes of DJs Pareja and Christian S while his music regularly receives club plays from Dixon and other A-league selectors.

TRICK was initially launched as a platform to exhibit Topping’s versatility as a producer, as well as a platform to showcase the wealth of emerging talent which he has been pushing in his DJ sets. Kessler, who played the TRICK launch party at Gateshead’s 4,500 capacity Mainyard venue, will also return to the tour with a set at the series’ upcoming Warehouse Project in Manchester on 8th November.

“I first heard ‘Fun Is Fun’ when Jackmaster was playing it in 2016 and it's become one of the most ID'd tracks online since!” Topping adds. “This was also the first time I’d heard of Bryan Kessler. Since then I've been hammering so much of his music and I'm absolutely buzzing to sign ‘Fun Is Fun’ a few years later as I think it could be an underground anthem. The other three tracks also show how much of a unique talent Bryan is!”

A collection of club-ready heaters, ‘Fun Is Fun’ sees Bryan Kessler craft six cuts with the dancefloor in mind.

We adore Big Star and Alex Chilton more than words can express. Being able to present two of Alex’s staggeringly beautiful demos on vinyl for the first time (on a cute picture sleeve 7", no less) is an absolute honour for us at Be With.

“It Isn’t Always That Easy” and “If You Would Marry Me” both sound like templates for some of Alex’s best-known Big Star numbers. These demos come from the transitional recording sessions he made with Terry Manning at the Ardent studio in 1969, but were missing from the vinyl version of the wonderful Free Again compilation that was released in 2012.

Caught between the end of the Box Tops and the birth of Big Star Alex’s song-craft was already remarkable - as these demos prove - and this release represents a fascinating, exploratory period in the career of one of pop’s most enigmatic talents.

“It Isn’t Always That Easy” is the real knockout. A tender, acoustic ballad that, stylistically, could have appeared Big Star’s “#1 Record”. Yes, it really is that good. A deeply affecting, ruminative lament that explores the ravages of Alex’s short career to date, it is also one of the sweetest and most delicate melodies he ever wrote. A song this stunning shouldn’t just be kept for the Big Star completists.

Over on the flip, “If You Would Marry Me” finds Alex in earnestly romantic mode. It’s just him and a piano, albeit one that is played in a poppy, uplifting fashion to complement the optimistic mood: “I could make you feel so glad inside and so alive” he confidently declares. It’s quite the gem. It really should be mandatory for this to be played at every wedding.

Unfortunately there seem to be no photographs of Alex from around the time he was making these recordings. But luckily we were put in touch with Pat Rainer who was photographing the Memphis music scene that Alex was still part of a few years later.

Happy to be described as “a friend with a camera who was hanging around”, Pat’s candid pictures of Alex included one of him asleep on the floor of the Ardent studio. Even though the photograph was taken 9 years after the demos were recorded, we think this intimate portrait makes a fitting cover for these equally intimate songs.

LP,180, 2018 REISSUE - REMASTERED FROM ORIGINAL TAPES, CAREFULLY REPRODUCED ORIGINAL ART

Hot Wax is an assured KPM masterclass from a dream team line-up of Brian Bennett, Alan Hawkshaw and John Fiddy. Here we're treated to what happens when all three decide to explore the latest trends in production music'. The latest as of 1976, of course.John Fiddy's numbers are sumptuous, string-led and light. Floaty soft-psych underpinned by a solid groove, particularly on Taste For Living' and "Fresh Start". If you're into Koushik and those early Manitoba/Caribou records - and you should be - you'll appreciate these.
For us, the Bennett and Bennett/Hawkshaw stuf is on another level. Capitol City' oscillates between driving funk and downbeat sentiment. Name Of The Game' is tough, smokin' funk, famously sampled in 2007 by Madlib for Percee P's Who With Me'. Bop On The Rocks' knocks hard and Full Throttle' features a guitar solo with some of the nastiest, about-to-explode fuzz you're ever likely to hear.
As with all ten re-issues, the audio for Hot Wax comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. We've taken the same care with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity.

- Chas's very sad passing in September this year has made this release all the more poignant, as he had been planning
it for a while. Here is how Dave describes the LP:
- 'It had been on Chas's mind for quite some time to showcase our more laid-back numbers. A lot of people had never
heard this side of what we do even though our biggest hit - 'Ain't No Pleasing You' - was a ballad. So when the
opportunity came to put together this compilation, it became a labour of love for Chas. In fact, it was the last release
that he was involved with and wrote sleeve notes for. Enjoy listening to our 'other side''.
- The inner sleeve features many photos and Chas's commentary, and the record is pressed on 180 gram white vinyl.









I B3. Old Dog & Me [new version]

Bear Bones, Lay Low links up with Pizza Noise Mafia's Carrageenan and comes with a monster of a miniLP. BIG TIP!
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Matthieu Levet (Carrageenan / Pizza Noise Mafia) and Ernesto González (Bear Bones, Lay Low / Tav Exotic / Maitres Fous ...) are two musicians based in Brussels who have cut their teeth in the city's freeform underground for well over a decade. Having spent time at numerous shows and parties together, they solidified a friendship after a two week tour around Europe with fellow electronic explorer , Accou, in April 2017.

It was shortly after this moment that the label Random Numbers approached the two with the initial intention of releasing a split cassette with music from their respective solo projects. Several exchanges later, the plan quickly changed into realizing a full-fledged collaboration between both musicians who, while having deep respect and interest for each other's music since they first met, had never found the opportunity to create something together.

The result is the CARCASS IDENTITY EP: a combination of Levet's raw and dub-infused electronics with González's kosmische psychedelic touch. This is music meant for strange parties: the kind where dancing and laying down are equally accepted and ncouraged, where there might be more silence than talking between participants, where small gestures and events reveal their transcendental meaning...

Yuri Méndez's 7th album is called W. W is a collection of finely crafted songs. The instruments are many and their intonations, variegated. W comes in the usual formats, only better, and full to the brim with sensitive lyrics for the man and woman of today.

On the other hand, presumably the left, Yuri's ageing well and intent all the while on writing more numbers in order to keep a steady flow of fresh material ready at any time.

These are good times in W land or, as the poet said, 'it hurts a bit, but the colours are admirable'.

Yuri Méndez is Pajaro Sunrise. Initially a duo, he's been working on his own ever since the release of the second album, 2008's Done/Undone. His previous albums received praise from such fine publications as Q, Uncut and Monocle, and his music can be heard in several international motion pictures and TV series such as The Missing Lynx, Castle, The Big C, Catalan hit series Cites and Benvinguts a la família, and ad campaigns by the likes of McDonalds and Vodafone.

One man's vision of Soul music's evolving potential' ROLLING STONE

The Bamboos are one of the highest profile soul / funk acts in Australia, and have been recognised worldwide as masters of reinventing the genre with modern songwriting within classic arrangements & production over the past 10 years. They've clocked up some impressive Spotify hits numbers on along the way: " Wilhelm Scream" (3.5 M), 'On The Sly' (2.8 M), 'Helpless Blues' (1.8 M)"
Mainstay members Lance Ferguson and vocalist Kylie Auldist are also the creative forces behind one of 2016's biggest singles, 'This Girl' by Kungs Vs Cookin' On 3 Burners. Ferguson played on and co-wrote the song (incl that infectious guitar riff and lyrics) which along with Auldist's powerhouse vocals. The remix went on to hit #1 in France, Germany, #2 in the UK, top 20 in Australia and the US and top 30 in 35 countries. It's edging close to half a billion Spotify plays and 300 million Youtube hits.
Having previously collaborated with the likes of Aloe Blacc and Alice Russell, their latest offering 'Night Time People' see's the band call to mind everyone from Martha Reeves to Sharon Jones, The Bamboos deliver two catchy singles that draw together the raw drive of their earliest LPs and their more recent progressive experimentations in the studio. It's a fresh approach that finds the band wholly reenergised.

There are some records that manage to sound both of a time and utterly timeless and Bon Voyage Organisation's Jungle Quelle Jungle (a nod to Supertramp's Crisis What Crisis) is one of those albums. Its silken-smooth production, irresistible grooves, funk-tinged guitars, lush soundscapes and general glowing presence could easily lead one to believe that have dug up a lost disco gem from the 1970s. However, behind the disco-pop gleam lies eerie dystopian sci-fi ruminations of a futuristic bent and tones that can often feel as French as they do Asian or African.

This sort of cross-continental exploration is an expansion on BVO's previous two EPs, the man behind the Organisation, Adrien Durand, says. 'I tried to continue the musical expedition between dystopian Science-Fiction Haunted Africa - plus Haitian Vaudou on 'Soleil Dieu' - and futuristic Asia. Addressing, in a double entendre manner, some of the political issues that I am sensitive to.' In fact the jungle in question in the album's title is a metaphorical one and one that creates a vast series of environments for Durand to explore such subjects as world trade, utopian ideals and themes of idols, as well as of time and communication. However, one will need to speak French to decipher such explorations, as well as shake off the natural impulse to move with every glorious beat on its 13 tracks, of which are moved along by Maud Nadal and Agathe Bonitzer's golden vocals.

Durand is a full-time producer based in Paris, working with the likes of Amadou & Mariam, so it makes sense that this record would absolutely sparkle in this department. Durand feeds off the variety of musicians coming and going during recording sessions as well as the rotating members and numbers of people involved with the band but fundamentally he writes all songs on piano first before bringing them to record live. 'We recorded a rhythm section of five - drums, percussion, guitar and myself on bass/synth bass and keyboards - at La Frette which is a studio located in a mansion outside of Paris and fitted with a beautiful 1973 NEVE desk. We only used analogue gear, by taste really, and found it a pretty reliable way of doing things. This simply consists of putting good players together in a room and waiting for the right take to happen.' Two four-day sessions and a 'cooling off' period (to let the recordings settle) soon followed before Durand picked the material back up to give it a final polish.

The resulting album is one loaded with intricacies and idiosyncrasies, something that Durand puts down to his own unique approach. 'I don't consider myself much of a songwriter but I love arranging rhythm sections and I'm pretty proud of the ones on this record.' This applies when it comes to working with such musicians as Inor Sotolongo Zapata, who with Durand used traditional Cuban percussive instruments and explored Haitian rhythms. When Durand expands on some of the ideas and influences that were funnelled into the record, you begin to get a sense of the vastness of the sounds that fill his world, from Trevor Horn's production work on ABC's Lexicon of Love, to the literary work of JG Ballard to the visual flair of the original Blade Runner and even the Tuareg sounds of Tinariwen, due to the fact that his studio neighbours their manager's and he would hear their rhythms bleeding through the walls. You therefore end up with an album that offers tracks such as 'GOMA' that fuses Chinese and African rhythms as well as 'SI D'Adventure' a piece of pop music that is dazzlingly hook-laden.

As a result of this cooking pot of sounds, influences, thoughts and creations, Durand has more of a gumbo approach to making this music than a set-out scientific formula. 'There is no definite recipe for me to like the production of a record,' he says. 'Of course it really sticks out that my work is really influenced by the 1978-1983 period, the golden age and last stand of analogue studios and session musicians.' Whilst Durand adores the traditional and conventional music, he really views this as something bigger and wider. 'I have a taste for the otherworldly vibe from records coming from less sought-after musical scenes, particularly Poland, Haiti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Congo and early Cantonese pop. Languages and the rapport of the people involved in the making of those records really inspires me. I particularly hate the use of the word 'World Music' as a potpourri for everything that doesn't sound quite western enough.'

- 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL
- INCLUDES INSERT

Invitation was the third album by Jaco Pastorius, originally released in 1983 while the bassist was a member of Weather Report. This is a live album recorded at various venues during a tour of Japan, featuring his Word of Mouth' big band. While his debut album Jaco Pastorius (MOVLP136) showcased his eclectic and impressive skills on the electric bass, both Invitation and his previous album, Word of Mouth (MOVLP1260) focused more on his ability to arrange for a larger band.

This album features mostly numbers written by other artists. The exceptions are Continuum', from his debut album, and Liberty City', from Word of Mouth, as well as Reza', an original number bookending his version of John Coltrane's Giant Steps'.

The band's all-star cast included Randy Brecker, Bobby Mintzer, Toots Thielemans, Peter Erskine, Othello Molineaux and Don Alias.

Biotop proudly welcomes the Spanish master of machines, Eduardo De La Calle, for his debut Biotop EP. Eduardo is well known for his countless analog releases on labels such as Cadenza, Mule Musiq, Be As One, Planet Rhythm, Mental Groove, and his own delicious imprint, Analog Solutions, to mention just a few. Biotop boss Patrick Zigon is a big fan of De La Calle's music from the early days, so he's honored to extend the Biotop family with this exceptional artist.

"Hyde Numbers" is a typical De La Calle EP featuring multilayered masterpieces built on Eduardo's unique analog studio rig. The first two tracks, "Hyde Number 1.34." and "Hyde Number 8.47." are uncompromising driving techno tracks built on hypnotic chords and roaring synths with rousing snares and effects, ready to destroy the dance floors of dark techno clubs worldwide. In contrast, "Hyde Number 66.4." convinces with its melancholic pads and lush deepness; the clever disharmonic approach makes its beauty more than special, and it was already featured on Patrick Zigon's exclusive mix compilation for the 15th anniversary of the legendary "Macarena Club Barcelona", released in October.

"Hyde Numbers" is out digitally in November and on vinyl in early 2017, complete with delicate mastering by Werner Niedermeier, full analog vinyl mastering by Kotec (KTC Mastering) and with a beautiful cover design by Ninaj Noori.

dedicated to promote young and evolving artists and to present musical diamonds in the rough, raster-noton is curating the unun series which name refers to the chemical elements 111-119. »unalloyed, unlicensed, all night!« is jesse osborne-lanthier's first release on raster-noton, and the ninth and final release of this series.jesse osborne-lanthier is a berlin / montreal based, canadian electronic music producer and multidisciplinary artist. his erratic research process incorporates the urgency of dance music and conceptual electronics by disassembling their grammar and acting through it. refusing to follow the etiquette of a particular musical genre, he explores many creative practices in order to generate clashes of mood, expectation and technique.
»unalloyed, unlicensed, all night!« was recorded by osborne-lanthier a mere two hours before a live set in paris. its specific purpose was to generate a response from the audience, to stimulate their bodies through sound. the toolbox for this task was stocked with automatic call-and-response music tropes drawn from EDM, big-room house, trance, and online production tutorials. between the producer's idiosyncratic by-the-numbers process and the rushed nature of the composition, the final product is rendered unpredictable; each signifier transforms into a distorted ghost of itself. this allows for unexpected responses to manifest on the dance floor as well as in the listener's space of existence.

For those of you wondering what Adesse Versions was doing at our Heist Boiler Room this summer in London, the answer is here. The "Push it along" EP for Heist is Adesse Versions first appearance on our label and features 4 stunningly raw and warm originals, and an amazing remix by New York's ambassador of funk: Ge-Ology, together with multi-instrumentalist Marc de Clive-Lowe on keys.
After having released numerous records for Jackmaster's Numbers, Local Talk and Toy Tonics, we're happy to welcome Adesse Versions to the Heist family. When he sent us his demo's we had the tough job to choose the right tracks, cause there were just too many. The selection on the "Push it along EP" features what we feel are his purest work up to date. With only a small amount of elements, he manages to create such a big and warm sound, finding a great balance between gritty percussion, rich analog synths and funky sampling work.
Opening track Tout it is built around an ever evolving arpeggiated synth, a dancehall-esque percussive riddim and lovely pad work. It builds up slowly, without ever becoming dull, changing small elements and adding momentum with each step.
E to E is based on a chopped vocal looped to bits (only shouting: (E, E, E, E, E..), dancing hihats and a rolling bassline, whereas Geology flips the high energy original into a classic deephouse tune that fans of Larry Heard will love. The steady bassline and trianglework form a perfect canvas for MdcL's work on various synths, adding layer after layer of melodrama.
The title track goes for the same recipe as Tout it, with fierce snares laying down the rhythm and a far away disco sample adding the right dose of funk. Ebony Roses is the final track of the EP: A beatless groove built around a spoken word vocal with dreamy piano work around it building up suspense as the track evolves.
We've been playing this EP over the course of the last few months and it's been getting great response, so we're happy to finally share it with you.

Sincerely yours, Lars & Maarten

Written and produced by Dave Clark

Celebrating our 20th release, Glasgow's Dave Clark returns to Optimo Trax as Sparky. He was responsible for the third release on the label as LUMA which featured the club smash "John Broadwood" and recently had another big club hit with "Signals" on Numbers. We are delighted to welcome him back in what is a contunuation of a relationship that stretches back further than we care to remember.

All four tracks here are certified dancefloor winners; from the reach for the lasers, kickless "Things Fall Apart" through the synth rhapsodies of "Black Swan" and "My Prophet", climaxing in the jacking "Seven Daggers". All killer, no filler is often a trite cliche in these blurbs but is entirely true in the case of this EP.

Four track 12" EP (and digital release) released on April 22nd 2016. Distributed by Kompakt and Rub A Dub.

Common Edit makes a thunderous return with their 10th release and to celebrate, they're going big! 5 A whole extra 5 inches to be exact, extended cuts to keep the party going !
Some of the usual suspects providing the bits and pieces on this 4 course meal. Supplies for the A Side brought to you by the winsome duo of Khotin & Dane, and their two terrifically Eastern numbers 'IMHO' and 'System'.While the one and only Eddie C and Dane team up for a cut each on the B Side. Dane hands over a familiar giant with I Want More' and Eddie ends the trip with his psychedelic guarantee in his endearingly titled 'One For Dane'. No stamps this time, Dane's wrists need a break but no expense was spared in this deluxe offering.As usual, copies given away at the release party in Edmonton, Canada at "The Common"

Phil Weeks teams up with Soldiers Of Twilight vocalist Ladybird on his new track Natural High, a deep and soulful house track laden with warm chords and Weeks' trademark MPC beats. Released on vinyl and digital formats through Robsoul Recordings on 14th February, the single comes with three alternate versions - the Unplugged version removes the beats and bass providing a tool on which Ladybird's vocals shine, the Baby Dub takes things into heads down territory, and the Higher Mix reintroduced the vocal.View the video of Phil Weeks and Ladybird performing Natural High in the studio:http://youtu.be/x1YulPP-EqM

Songwriter and vocalist Ladybird is best known for her work as part of Soldiers of Twilight, who released numbers records via 2020 Vision and Serial Records. Her own self-titled album can be found on Peng, while other collaborations, most notably alongside Llorca, DJ Rork and DJ Le Roi, have appeared on F Communications, Distance and Foliage.Since 2000 Phil Weeks has released his unique brand of house music on some of the world's leading underground labels including 2020 Vision, Music For Freaks, Brique Rouge, Magnetic, Detour, Adult Only and his own Robsoul, which is responsible for the majority of his original output. Robsoul has released his three critically acclaimed albums - Love Affair, Raw Instrumental and Yeah, I Like That. 2013 has been one of Phil's busiest years so far, with the release of the three-volumed Crate Diggin compilation, original music for Supplement Facts and Robsoul, and remixes for Saved, Cajual, Snatch!, Homecoming and Bass Culture. 2014 looks set to be even bigger!

big with: Richie Hawtin, Matthias Tanzmann, Karotte, Sebo K., Jimpster, Monika Kruse, Johnny D, ...

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."