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Hissing Nest is something like a carnivorous plant growing in the little piss patch just left of the well-beaten earth stage front. It’s something dense, unhygienic and purposefully inconvenient, like a smoker’s mating call for seducing your madness. Rhythms descending and ascending staircases simultaneously, bathrooms with holes cut in the floor so you can see the crashing waves below, or a giant lurching mechanism one loose screw from a total collapse. Sadly there’s nothing here resembling a safe-room, every wall is violently splattered with red paint. It’s a tumultuous space built by one-take analog sessions in the backdrop of murderous, racist, colonial ideologies ever encroaching on the zen garden so desperately needed in the floor plan.
Text about Rank+File:
Rank+File is a record label and event series based in New York City. It exists within and opposed to the empire, focusing on sounds and scenes that both challenge and provide release from its crushing grip. We’re entangled by our common threads, and sewn together by our collective unraveling.

2025 Repress

Following up last summer’s dark and driving ‘Amotik 013’, Amotik returns with the hypnotic rhythms of his next instalment on his self-titled label. For the ‘Amotik 014’ EP, Amotik is joined by Tina Ramamurthy, whom Amotik previously worked with on his 2020 Bpitch record and his second album ‘Patanjali’ in 2022. This time, Ramamurthy joins Amotik for the entire ‘Amotik 014’ EP, with ‘Chauhattar’ starting things off with psychedelic spoken word vocals over dubbed-out hits and a chugging beat.

The track is neatly followed by ‘Pachattar’, which continues that early 2000s drummy, New York feel on the B-side of Amotik’s ‘Amotik 014’. Here, Tina’s vocal echoes through cavernous halls while its massive low-end-heavy drums keep steady in a real trip. ‘Chihattar’ then emerges from the darkness, bright pads and subtle percussion accompanying poetry recited by Tina Ramamurthy, evoking the familiar comforts of nostalgia and closing this three-track EP from the husband and wife duo.

UK producer Tom Carruthers returns with a scorching 5-tracker for Skylax Records, diving headfirst into the primal roots of jackin’ house, proto-italo, and early machine funk. Known for his raw MPC-driven grooves on L.I.E.S., Clone Jack For Daze, Syncrophone, and Craigie Knowes, Carruthers channels the energy of the underground circa ’86—pure drum machine soul for the dancefloor faithful. Side A kicks off with the title track “Neutralise”, all sharp snares, warped synths and hypnotic repetition—a jack track in the truest sense. “Deep North” follows with ghostly pads and relentless drum programming, while “No More” brings metallic tension and stripped-down funk with a heavy nod to Chicago’s original blueprints. On the flip, “Pascals” weaves cosmic arps through rugged percussion, merging italo sensuality with bleep-era minimalism. The closer, “Cosmic Ride”, is exactly that: a journey through spacey chords, dusty rhythm boxes, and that unmistakable feeling of warehouse euphoria at 4 a.m. Neutralise EP is a raw, timeless record that strips dance music down to its essence—jacking, emotional, physical. To match the sonic purity and timeless aesthetic of the release, we enlisted the iconic H5 studio—a name synonymous with visionary design in music and culture. Known for their groundbreaking work with Daft Punk, YSL, and numerous award-winning visual campaigns, H5 brings a level of artistic sophistication that elevates this EP into a complete sensory object. Their clean, modernist design echoes the stripped yet futuristic vibe of Tom Carruthers’ sound—a perfect fusion of form and function, underground and high art. Vinyl only. No digital. No compromise. For fans of: Virgo Four, Baby Ford, Larry Heard, early Warp, Mr. Fingers, and Beppe Loda.

Originally released in 2005, OK Cowboy, Vitalic’s first album, is celebrating its twentieth anniversary with a reissue in several formats (box set, double vinyl, CD, digital), enriched with rare tracks and previously unreleased versions. OK Cowboy is a landmark album in electronic music, a pivotal record between eras. It perfectly captures that period while also anticipating the raw, abrasive new sounds of French Touch 2.0 (the movement led by Justice and the artists of the Ed Banger label). Twenty years later, the impact and power of this major album still mark it as a defining release of the mid-2000s, retaining its full sonic relevance today.

A DJ, producer and prolific collaborator, Greg Paulus’s musical career has led to a truly enviable discography. Born in Minnesota and now an essential part of New York’s sprawling musical landscape, Paulus has taken the foundations of an organic childhood education by his father, the composer Stephen Paulus, and seen it blossom into an unpredictable musical journey encompassing house, soul, jazz and hip-hop.

While touring as a trumpet player with indie band Beirut, as well as in Matthew Dear’s live ensemble, back home he was helping to redefine New York’s underground dance scene as one half of No Regular Play. Alongside childhood friend Nick DeBruyn, the pair brought their deeply musical sound to no less than fifty countries across the world. A decade on, and Paulus arrives on Seth Troxler’s Slacker 85 imprint for his long-awaited debut solo LP, ‘Close To Home’, a deeply felt long-play celebration of his personal cornerstones; family, trust and hope.

From the opening, organic swell of ‘Perot’, arranged with Seth Troxler himself alongside John Camp, ‘Close To Home’ introduces itself as a focused, conscious trip, it’s languid trumpet spilling over into the reflective ‘World Keeps Changing’, which introduces Paulus’s philosophy of music as a constant. ‘Midtown Mirage’ meanwhile leans into the idea of the city itself as a collaborator, resisting pressure and finding its own restful groove. Back over the river, ‘Bond’ roots itself in Brooklyn with a contribution from resident Dillon Cooper, flipping rap standards amid psychedelic flourishes.

Paulus nods toward his dancefloor form on ‘NRG’, a slinky, lo-slung club groove that seamlessly evolves to meld the artist’s nocturnal and studio instincts. In contrast, ‘Real Job’ switches the tempo on Paulus’s MPC to embody an old-school, beatdown flavour, subtly teased out alongside composer and sound designer, Taylor Bense. Doubling down on this languorous groove, ‘Hat Down’ introduces a full-scale No Regular Play reunion, the first of two collaborative tracks that recall the duo’s imperial phase of confidently minimal productions, while evolving their craft.

Following a few missed calls made with love taken from Paulus’s answering machine on ‘$1000’ the minimal, reflective arrangement of ‘Hold Dear’ finds the artist stripping back his layered sound for a skittering, vulnerable exploration of intimacy and life’s devotions.

For a memorable finale, Paulus recruits jazz prodigy Michael Feinberg to deliver upright funk on the deliciously rich ‘Sometimes It’s About Us’. A purely celebratory collage of bopping rhythms and vocals, sharply plucked guitars and archive samples, ‘Close To Home’ concludes with Paulus leading his friends, ensemble and many influences in rare harmony.

Hania Rani ist eine mehrfach preisgekrönte Komponistin und Pianistin, die mühelos zwischen der Welt der
klassischen und der experimentellen Musik wechselt.
Aufgenommen in den Abbey Road Studios mit einem 45-köpfigen Orchester, markiert „Non Fiction“ einen
neuen Abschnitt in Ranis Karriere, da sie von den elektronischen Klängen ihres gefeierten Albums „Ghosts“
in den symphonischen Bereich übergeht und eine Brücke zwischen ihrem eleganten Experimentalismus und
ihrer klassischen Ausbildung schlägt.
Non Fiction ist Ranis erstes Klavierkonzert und symphonisches Werk. Es ist auch eine Reaktion auf die Entdeckung der Kompositionen des jungen Musikwunderkindes, Josima Feldschuh, die während der Schrecken
des Zweiten Weltkriegs im Warschauer Ghetto entstanden sind. Bewegt von der Geschichte des jungen
Mädchens, beschloss Rani, sie durch die Linse der aktuellen Schreckenssituationen in der Ukraine und im
Gazastreifen zu betrachten und zu untersuchen, wie wir diese durch moderne Medien wahrnehmen. Dabei
erforscht Rani die ständige Koexistenz von Harmonie und Unordnung, schafft eine klangliche Metapher
für das Überleben des menschlichen Geistes angesichts von Gewalt und nutzt den emotionalen Wert von
Klängen, um diese irgendwie fernen Konflikte für uns auf menschlicher Ebene nachvollziehbarer zu machen.

Esteemed soul man of Panama Mr. Ralph Weeks has in recent years been enjoying a much overdue retrospective of his remarkable six decades-long musical journey with the help of Names You Can Trust. Now onto their fifth record release together since 2019, the label has covered both Weeks' original holy grail material as well as re-cuts and reimagining of some of his rarefied and unreleased songs.

One of Mr. Weeks' two iconic 45 releases on Panamanian label Sally Ruth was a funky soul side called "Let Me Do My Thing," originally recorded in 1971 as Weeks' answer to Charles Wright's big tune "Express Yourself," which had just hit the airwaves in 1970. Weeks' musical response would help define his legacy. He was gonna express himself, he was gonna Do His Thing. This golden age ultimatum recorded with the Dynamic Exciters of Panama as the backing band was a simple, straight ahead number with a defining message that would be carried on throughout Weeks' independent career. The funkified air and creative freedom of the original tune is a prime example of the crossover Combos Nationales sound that flourished in the prolific Panama recording industry of the era, and in the ensuing decades Weeks' tune would live on as a cherished rare groove for souleros, funk fans, and bootleggers alike.

Fast forward to 2023, when Ralph Weeks and Names You Can Trust prepared for a Bay Area appearance at the wonderful Latinos Con Soul weekender put on by San Francisco's Discodelic record shop, the groundwork was laid in the studio for a revival, a reawakening of Weeks' funky fan favorite. A spectacular ensemble of NYCT's All-Star artists and alumni was convened in the studio, including Caito Sánchez on drums, Victor Axelrod (Daptone Records) on clavinet and Sam Day Harmet (La Banda Chuska) on guitar. Anant Pradhan (The Skatalites), Eric Biondo (The Budos Band) and Alex Asher (Los Cumpleaños) occupied the brass section, and Ralph Weeks even lent his still formidable chops on electric bass and keyboards, a little OG flare to back up his silky voice with a deft musical touch. What came out of the sessions was a chance for NYCT to pay homage to Weeks' iconic original, without replacing it, and build a brand new version from the ground up with the maestro and composer himself!

RAWAX proudly presents Acid Jesus aka Roman Flügel & Jörn Elling Wuttke with her groundbreaking debut album called "Acid Jesus" from 1993

Following the title of the classic Ecstasy Club record - be it a direct influence or merely a coincidence - Acid Jesus was the first of many collaborations between Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke.

Situated in Germany’s then blistering techno scene and especially a mirror of Frankfurt at the time, the early recordings are also a feedback loop to what was happening in the UK and the USA before and at that very time. With many definitions and interpretations of techno already in place, and while its triumphal procession slowly geared itself into exhaustion, Flügel and Wuttke succeeded with their own and unique take on it, that owned as much to Underground Resistance and the Belleville Three as it did to Sven Väth and Andrew Weatherall. Depicting the booster detonation of what was to become the holy label trinity of Playhouse, Klang and Ongaku, this is a collection of tracks and experiments in sound that won’t sound dated, yet classic, mesmerizing and eternal. Jesus loves the acid and vice versa.

Danny Krivit pairs a powerful reworking of a rare groove classic with a NYC boogie classic on this highly useful single from the ever-reliable Most Excellent Unlimited. Billy Paul’s ‘East’ was the opening track on the very first Philadelphia International Records LP release from Gamble and Huff’s legendary label. Written by bassist Tyrone Brown, it naturally has a monster bass groove that Mr. K makes the centerpiece of his DJ-friendly rework, which tightens the tempo while retaining the spiritual vibe of the original. Final Edition move us to the dancefloors of early 80s NYC with their ‘Can’t Keep Running Away’, a musical halfway point between the disco funk of the 70s and the boogie sound to come. Krivit’s edit pares the song down to its propulsive highlights, with the catchy chorus taking centre stage. As always, these handpicked classics from the crates of the renowned Mr. Krivit are mastered and pressed to the highest standards with the dancefloor in mind!

o Vocals Vocal Performance – Telle Smith Of The Word Alive*















o Vocals Vocal Performance – Telle Smith Of The Word Alive*















[Vocal Performance] – Telle Smith Of The Word Alive*

Das fünfte Album der Newcastler Riffzauberer Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs (aka PIGSx7) ist geprägt von kalkulierter Aggression und selbstzerfrleichenden Texten. Zu den verblüffenden Boni gehören verspielte Synthesizer-Arbeiten und der Auftritt eines Hip-Hop-Masters. Mit seinem Titel, der Absurdität und Ernsthaftigkeit einander gegenüberstellt, ist dies Death Hilarious. Während Land Of Sleeper von 2023 als immersives Kopfhörer-Erlebnis konzipiert war, strebten Pigs dieses Mal nach etwas direkterem, böseren. ,Wir wollten, dass es ein Schlag ins Gesicht ist", grinst Produzent und Gitarrist Sam Grant. Dieses Ziel kam zum Teil dadurch zustande, dass die Band in den letzten Jahren sooooo viele Gigs gespielt hat. Die Band fühlte sich gut geölt und reif dafür, den Zuhörern zu Hause die Art von Prügel zu verpassen, die ihr Publikum von der Bühne aus erhält. Death Hilarious bietet einige Überraschungen, vor allem der Track 'Glib Tongued', bei dem El-P von Run The Jewels als Gastmusiker mitwirkt. Als Bassist John-Michael Hedley unwissentlich das schrieb, was seine Bandkollegen als ihr Äquivalent zu einer Hip-Hop-Nummer betrachteten, setzten die Pigs ihre Ziele hoch an und sicherten sich einen fulminanten Beitrag von einem der größten Rapper der Welt. Das soll nicht heißen, dass Pigs zum Nu-Metal übergegangen sind. Death Hilarious ist eine abwechslungsreiches, straffes Album, das sich zwischen sabbathianischem Doom, grotesk minimalistischem Noise Rock und zyklischen Post-Metal-Fortissimos bewegt. Auch die Pigs treiben sich selbst weiter an. Unpassende Synthesizer-Soli tauchen dort auf, wo normalerweise Gitarren-Histrionik Platz hätte. Klaviertracks lauern im Mix und verleihen dem Klangstrudeln eine fast unterschwellige Tiefe. Stitches" ist wie Motörhead, die versuchen, Glamrock mit einem beschwipsten Keyboarder zu spielen. Und dann ist da noch das 100-Meilen-Tempo des Cosmic-Thrash-Openers ,Blockage". Verzerrte Licks fliegen aus den Verstärkern von Grant und Lead-Gitarrist Adam Ian Sykes, während die Rhythmusgruppe dahinter brutzelt. Mit all dieser Power, die durch die Adern fließt, wird Death Hilarious mit Leichtigkeit eines der besten Rockalben des Jahres 2025 sein... und das ist kein Witz!

For its debut release, Echoform presents a sonic palette of the shapes and colors that define its events.
The journey begins with Circles, a tension-packed peaktime driver. Built around a deep bassline, layered leads, and emotional pads, all tied together by a vocal that calls for love.
Next is Squares, a raw, heads-down groover made for sweaty dancefloors. Dreamy FX meet stripped-back rhythms in a hypnotic blend.
The EP closes with Another Shape, a 90s-inspired tech house cut with a deep emotional core. Subtle pads and a rolling groove carry you through the early hours.

Echoform is a newly formed record label based in Amsterdam and Berlin. Formerly known as boshuis, the label has been refreshed with a new mission: to unravel the mysteries of visualising sound. Have a look at their artworks and take some time. “Do you hear what you see?”

Red Axes return with LOUD—their most explosive record to date. Blending post-punk grit, indie-rock swagger, and their signature electronic pulse, the duo deliver 13 tracks packed with raw energy, twisted hooks, and fearless experimentation. LOUD is restless, fearless, and wildly diverse - showcasing a band that never stands still.

Following over a decade of groundbreaking releases and genre-defying sets at Coachella, Glastonbury, Sónar, and Berghain, LOUD showcases Red Axes’ ever-evolving sound and genre-defying legacy. Drawing inspiration from acts like Amyl and the Sniffers, Viagra Boys, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Red Axes channel their roots in psychedelic rock into something gritty, loud, and deeply addictive.

Lead single Home "La La La” captures the hazy feeling of a night spiralling out—equal parts bliss and breakdown. From distorted riffs to hypnotic grooves, each track pushes Red Axes into thrilling new territory. From the surf-rock energy of “Church Avenue” to the pounding chaos of “Lava Lava,” LOUD spans moods, genres, and states of mind—but always hits hard.

DOUBLE VINYL ALBUM RELEASE

Kraak & Smaak Announce New Album Velvet Seas.

Dutch electronic pioneers Kraak & Smaak return with their highly anticipated seventh studio

album, Velvet Seas. Penned and produced between their hometown of Leiden and the sun-

drenched sprawl of Los Angeles, the album channels a rich seam of West Coast psychedelia,

deep funk roots, and that unmistakable K&S groove, all wrapped in shimmering synths and

electronic soul.

The record captures the essence of the band's genre-defying journey, blending radiant nostalgia

with forward-thinking production. True to form, the Dutch trio have enlisted an eclectic roll-call of

collaborators: from the dreamy stylings of Kosta G (formerly known as PWNT and memebr of Rio Kosta) and Butter Bath to the powerhouse

vocals of Izo FitzRoy, plus contributions from The Undercover Dream Lovers, Kainalu, Iogi, and

longtime live partners IVAR and Berenice van Leer.

With hundreds of millions of streams under their belt and a legacy as industry tastemakers, Kraak

& Smaak are set to take Velvet Seas to the global stage, with a world tour slated for next year.

Ajomasé is the groundbreaking debut album by legendary Nigerian percussionist Gasper Lawal. Originally released in 1980 on his own label CAP, Strut are proud to now bring this unique album back to the racks.

GATEFOLD VINYL 2LP - TRANSPARENT BLUE + ORANGE, A2 Colour Poster, 5x Film Set Photos, Flexi Disc, Sticker Sheet

Blurring the lines between fiction and documentary, the seminal film Wild Style, directed by Charlie Ahearn and developed alongside Fred Braithwaite aka Fab Five Freddy, offered an iconic snapshot of the emerging New York hip hop scene in the early ‘80s. Considered one of the first hip hop films, it documents the styles, culture, attitudes, and most importantly, the music of this evolving era. The accompanying soundtrack remains one of the most influential in hip hop history, featuring a who’s who of artists who stood out during the movement’s nascent block party days.

“Making hip hop’s first and most beloved feature film, Wild Style, with Charlie Ahearn and creating the original music is one of my proudest accomplishments.” - Fab 5 Freddy

In celebration of Arrow Films restoring the original Wild Style film in 4K, Mr Bongo is proud to present this special-edition reissue package. The release comes as a double LP pressed on transparent blue and orange vinyl, offering a freshly curated tracklist that brings together the finest songs from previous editions, the full sought-after instrumental album, and Kenny Dope’s top edits. Also included are an A2 colour poster, five film set photos, a flexi disc containing Fantastic Freaks Live at the Dixie, and a Wild Style sticker sheet.

Originally released on Animal Records, founded by Chris Stein of Blondie fame, the soundtrack focuses on the hip hop scene as it evolved from the streets to the recording studio. Co-produced by Stein and Braithwaite, it features the Double Trouble pairing of Rodney Cee and KK Rockwell, The Chief Rocker himself Busy Bee, and the mighty line-ups of both The Cold Crush Brothers and The Fantastic Freaks, to name but a few. The music offers a transportive glimpse into the streets of the South Bronx, capturing the free-form, roaming nature of the film - it’s rough around the edges, but utterly absorbing.

Behind those foundational voices of hip hop’s first wave was a selection of backing beats that have underpinned and influenced the genre ever since. Easily mistaken for lifted breakbeats from old records, the songs on the Wild Style soundtrack are all unique creations. Overseen by Braithwaite and Stein, with Stein also on guitar and effects, they were intended as a homage to those early breakbeats. Drummer Lenny “Ferrari” Ferraro, who played for Aretha Franklin before emerging on the punk scene, and bassist David Harper laid down many of the iconic grooves, two somewhat forgotten participants in shaping a legendary sound.

Over time, the Wild Style soundtrack, with its Charlie Chase and Grand Wizard Theodore scratches, recurring sounds and motifs, and indelible lyrics, has become a hip hop touchstone: endlessly sampled and referenced, the bedrock of so much music to follow. It perfectly encapsulated the essence of the film, the scene, and hip hop’s emergence from the Bronx to the attention of the wider world. It was, and remains, the blueprint.

Verb T – Homer Loan 1 & 2 (Half 'N Half Splatter Vinyl Release)
UK hip-hop veteran Verb T returns with the long-awaited vinyl release of Homer Loan 1 & 2. A definitive collection capturing two distinct creative periods from one of the scene’s most respected voices.

Originally released digitally, the Homer Loan series has become a cult favourite among Verb T fans, offering an intimate glimpse into his trademark balance of sharp lyricism, dry humour, and unfiltered honesty. The vinyl release brings both volumes together for the first time, celebrating the evolution of a prolific artist still pushing his craft forward. Homer Loan 1 is entirely self-produced, showcasing Verb T’s production skills and ear for soulful textures and lo-fi warmth. Built around introspective rhymes and smooth, laid-back beats, it reflects the self-contained creative process that defined its making.

With Homer Loan 2, the palette expands — featuring production from Cuth, Farma G, and Forrest Moon, each contributing their distinctive sonic fingerprints while complementing Verb T’s unmistakable flow and storytelling. The result is a cohesive yet dynamic project that bridges the personal and the universal, the underground and the timeless. The Homer Loan 1 & 2 Yellow and Purple Half 'N Half Splatter vinyl release stands as both a collector’s piece and a testament to Verb T’s consistency and artistry within UK hip-hop’s ever-changing landscape.

Disco 5 is the latest instalment of Pet Shop Boys’ continuing ‘Disco’ album series, which started in 1986. The 12-track collection features ten Pet Shop Boys’ recent remixes of songs by artists including Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Primal Scream, Paul Weller, Tina Turner, Claptone, Wolfgang Tillmans and more, as well as a remix of their own track ‘Dreamland’ featuring Olly Alexander.

Skylax Records is proud to unveil the reshaped and definitive edition of Blue Mondays’ "The Homage" EP – a record that bridges the golden age of Italo Disco, the raw proto-house energy of Frankie Knuckles & Ron Hardy, and the resurgence of true underground dance music. This release has been meticulously refined to give it the space it deserves: a future classic, driven by iconic reworks and a visual identity worthy of its legacy. A1. The Homage (Vedichecista Mix) delivers a hypnotic journey into Italo Disco euphoria, A2. The Homage (Instrumental) strips it down to pure musical essence, and A3. Countach (Driving Mix) propels us into the unstoppable energy of classic Italo Disco, showcasing Blue Mondays’ unmatched ability to capture the era’s true spirit. On the B-side, B1. The Homage (Floorfillers Remix) injects a raw acid energy designed for peak-time floors, while B2. The Homage (Jolene Remix) delivers a filtered French house gem straight out of 1998, crafted by one of our leading torchbearers of the "real music" renaissance. Wrapped in a stunning sleeve designed by H5, evoking the iconic aesthetics of Joy Division, New Order & Peter Saville, "The Homage" EP captures the essence of an era when the dancefloor was sacred, the music was raw, and the underground thrived. We took our time to reshape this release because it deserved nothing less. Now it’s ready – sharpened, elevated, and destined to become a definitive Skylax classic. This is not just another EP. This is Blue Mondays. Skylax. The resurrection of the underground.