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Channeling the grooves of Black Label Society, the melodies of Alter Bridge, the aggression of Pantera, and the weight of Sabbath, Lowdown deliver doom-laced chords and searing, down-tuned riffs - battle cries in musical form, their arrival wasn't just heard; it was felt.

Underground Pacific is back with a new double vinyl compilation titled ‘The Only Good Wave is a Dead One’ that confirms, once again, its uncompromising taste for bold electronic music, psychedelic textures, and raw, electrified rock ‘n roll. This release brings together a varied group of artists, each of them adding something special to the journey.

The trip begins with “Excursions” by Gregory Moore, a piece that floats into a humid sonic world, between the nostalgic tones of vintage video game soundtracks, the Fourth World atmospheres of Jon Hassell, and the shimmering calm of ’90s Japanese ambient à la Takashi Kokubo.

Next comes Talee, the Rotterdam-based regular of the label, with “Makes Me Wonder”. Here, grunge-soaked vocals meet a tight dark disco groove, pierced by crystalline guitar chords that shimmer at the track’s heart. A song with its soul in the past and its feet in the club.

Label founder Cantor teams up once again with German duo New Hook on “Achtung! Achtung!”, an homage to the eponymous track by Italian producer Black Saagan. Fueled by vintage drum machines, punk-infused vocals, and melodies echoing the krautrock minimalism of Cluster, the track channels pure Cold War disco energy.

On “Scavengers”, Berlin based World Wild Web and Rasp Thorne deliver a pure mix of electro-rock noir – Suicide by way of David Lynch. Picture a never seen before episode of the series where Martin Rev and Alan Vega are playing live at the Roadhouse in Twin Peaks, while Laura Palmer slowly moves her head to the music, with a devilish smile on her face.

All the way from Grenoble to Berlin, H.L.M. deliver a dirty bass-driven anthem called ‘Fronde’. French spoken vocals spitfire over layers of distorted drones and hypnotic rhythms. The result is rough, hypnotic, and brings to mind the grooves of Death in Vegas.

New Hook return, this time solo, with ‘Unity’: a blend of groovy downtempo percussions, melancholic guitar riffs, and their signature brand of spoken word, a style that’s quickly become their sonic fingerprint.

Then it’s the turn of mexican-wave exponents Montessori featuring Vongold on “Ad Libitum”: a techy sunrise piece with soft pads, subtle build-ups, and an ecstatic sense of endlessness. After-party music for vast, open spaces.
Next up are SX2 from Ireland with their ‘Buttons’, offering a rolling tech-house banger laced with desert guitars. Psychedelic FX’s and whispered vocals drenched in delay slow the pace in a breakdown full of tension, preparing the floor to an euphoric release.

A dream from the pandemic era reappears: Cantor’s “Hannett’s Dream”, originally released in 2020 by Modular’s Project’s imprint ‘Nothing Is Real’ together with their own reworked version present also in two very limited vinyl-collector editions released by Underground Pacific. The introspection and hypnotic structure of the original cut here is replaced by a more stripped down arrangement, with a four-to-the-floor groove that is perfectly crafted for peak-time ignition.

Closing out the release is “Carissima” by the man behind iconic label Wonder Stories, Aimes – a Moroder-esque bassline and sensual vocals play on top of a warm groove that suddenly fractures into jazz-tinged, breakbeat mood, in the style of early Warp Records, just in time to get back into its disco-ish swing.

Contrary to what the title of this release might suggest, the wave isn’t dead at all. It’s well alive in the underground, reanimated by labels like Underground Pacific who are always ready to welcome artists who aren’t afraid to crash genres together and, above all, who are driven by the desire to make free-form, inspired pieces of music.

Kai Alce's NDATL Muzik is one of our favourites for deep house so imagine our delight to learn that it now branches out with a new sub-label, Nutria Sounds. Its debut release is a gem from Shaka with Eve's soulful vocals capturing the essence of Paris through organic textures and sultry melodies. The main vocal mix has jazzy chords and a carefree vibe, while 'Unbleached' is a more driving deep house cut with dancing keys and low end heft. The ever-on form Chicagoan Vick Lavender also steps up with a signature jazz-infused remix that is refined yet ready to work the 'floor. This is a fine debut for Nutria Sounds, which seems like it is going to be another vital outlet for heartfelt and classy house.

Motor City great Omar S is not just a don when it comes to programming drums and laying down his irresistible synth lines and heart aching melodies. He can also play a wide array of instruments, and in fact does just that here as he plays all instruments played you can hear across all three cuts of this new one on his FXHE label. Things kick off with the wonderful 'Featuring Omar S (instrumental)' and then 'Sayoungaty Nig' is a hazy, lo-fi ambient sound with occasional synth smears and a barely-there rhythm implied by the odd kick drum sound. 'Featuring Omar S' is a signature deep house joint with bristling metal hi-hats, rickety drums and edgy drones that keep you on edge as more soulful chords rise up through the mix.

This Project is really a two in one offering. Combining the three tracks from Ringer’s 2021 release, the “Meta Music EP” and his darker more aggressive moniker, Black Sued’s offering the “Rogue EP”. The EP is sort of a yin and yang. Monotone is a deep chordal track with uplifting vocals and a pulsing almost distorted bassline. This track is complimented with minimal drums and a simple yet beautiful synth riffs that bring it all together. New Plan is a fast paced cut that insights the listener to move. The drums and chords wrestle in a rhythmic dance while Ringer’s voice projects the essence of this side of the 12”. Positivity and persistence, the energy is alive in this track. YIA, an acronym that stands for Yes I Am, is meditative and filled with affirmations for the listener. Deep solemn chords, and the sounds of a thunder storm take the listener into a inner place of self reflection. The affirmations are for the listener to embody, a solid thought provoking end to this side of the 12”.

Rogue, the title track of this side of the record, is an intelligent, dark and jazz filled groove, that takes the listener on a journey. The groove is easy to catch, and wraps the listener into an almost mysterious landscape of rhythm and melody. Keeping the tone of this side of the 12” is Maze. The chords and rhythm walk in tandem to a beat that almost favors a marching band. A higher energy feel arrives as the 16th high hats meet a long defining chord that take this track to the next level. Deep Dirt reminds me of a drum machine tweaking or malfunctioning. The ominous chords paired with the distorted synth and bass lines that carry the listener through the filth that is this track.

"Wind, Again" is Sary Moussa’s fourth studio album and second album on Other People. Based between France and Lebanon, Moussa returns with a riveting electro-acoustic album informed by his ever-changing relationships to space, listening, and resonance as well as his growing interest in the study of harmonics in electronic and electro-acoustic music.

Years in the making, “Wind, Again” approaches distinct musical worlds and languages by bringing together improvisations by musicians performing on Western and West Asian instruments such as the Hammond organ, clarinet, saz, and buzuk with electronic arrangements and textures. Rather than force a rapprochement of these musical worlds through the instruments, and keenly aware of the weighty sonic histories they carry, Moussa proposes another way through which they can exist together in contemporary electronic composition.

Composed of six tracks, each of which demonstrate an array of recording and processing techniques, the album generates moments of tension produced by the synthesis of textural, tonal, and harmonic encounters that Moussa calls “shadows”, which outline an impressionistic musical language, existing at the edge of familiarity. Such moments permeate tracks like “Everywhere at once” and “Violence” that open with the Hammond organ and the saz respectively and slowly reveal an expansive field of sounds that showcases each of the musicians’ characteristic performances and Moussa’s densely layered textures. It is a latent yet unrelenting tension through which the composer invokes rather than represents a collective experiential state, especially familiar to those who know his environment. In “Wind, Again” these shadows are articulations of sounds steeped in traditions they are never quite tethered to. Such articulations are implied and alluded to, they play within a musical reference without the latter explicitly existing in the recording, always teetering, never completely here nor there.
Sonically and musically, the album is fueled by the cultural, social, and personal realities that Moussa was brought up and lives in.

Both personal and musical ties with the musicians who feature on the album is central to Moussa’s practice. In the title track “I will never write a song about you”, musician Julia Sabra opens with rolled piano chords, followed by Paed Conca on clarinet and Abed Kobeissy on buzuk, before Moussa’s electronic processing pieces together, lifts, and sustains the melodic direction of the track that emerged from the musicians’ separate improvisations. For Moussa: “The initial connection between the three performances was made on a track that no longer existed, the original recording was both an obstacle and necessary step for the track we hear on the record. It’s as if we were all telling different stories and I pulled on the thread that held them together”. The track, and more generally the record, is tinged with a melancholy of things lost, though it never fully succumbs to it.
“Everything inside a circle”, Moussa’s most personal track and for which he provides the only vocals on the record, harkens back to a childhood memory of listening to music with his mother in a car: “There was a sound I was looking for — a memory of a sound and how I first heard it. This track is a hybrid of that memory and what I wanted to make of it”. The track relies heavily on generativesystems and perhaps embodies most the ambiguous quality of the record’s music in its refusal to be pinned down by one musical tradition or another.
“Wind, Again” is both familiar and alien, cold and warm; it pays homage to the mechanics, materials, and tactility of the instruments and converges acoustic and synthetic spaces. What anchors the sound of the album are the elements of a whole that cannot find its own idiosyncrasy and that is precisely why Moussa’s album is a tour de force.

To celebrate the imprint’s 20th release, it only feels right for label head Pegasvs to be left in control, with ‘Extend and Play’ a wonderful representation of not only Pegasvs’ signature style but the start of a joyous new chapter for the label as it looks forward to another 20 releases.

Well known by now for his simmering and infectious house-laden cuts, ‘Extend and Play’ is yet another wondrous piece of house music that cuts across the genre’s horizon line with aplomb.

The title track unravels with a myriad of Jazz and funk fusion melodies nestled atop a delicate rhythmic section that never ceases to get the room shakin’.

‘Wonky Business’ is a slice of hands-in-the-air dance music that pairs infectious disco guitar riffs with infectious melodies and an irresistible bassline.

‘Hidden Sounds’ sits somewhere in the midrange between the previous two numbers, with driving chords sitting atop a rolling rhythmic bed that simply oozes energy and feet moving.

Finally, ‘Not Far Behind’ slides into view to facilitate a little trip into paradise, as euphoric pads and scintillating acid lines lift the listener to new heights of being.

Early Support from Bill Brewster, Laurent Garnier, Robert Owens, Bradley Zero, Jimpster, Crazy P, Auntie Flo…

Vinyl comes housed in a custom sleeve with artwork by Cerri Studio.

4 years after his last solo record on his Wych imprint “BB-8 / Barbarossa”, K-LONE returns for another 2 track EP of bleepy melodic 140, this time reminiscent of Bristolian Purple dubstep aesthetic. Saw waves, cheesy 80s chords and flute melodies continue the signature sound of Wych with "Squelch / With Luv". Mastered by Beau at Ten Eight Seven. Artwork by Annie Foyster.

Sweden’s Tiger Stripes returns to Rekids with the ‘Dance For Peace’ EP, following on from February’s ‘All Night Long’ and 2024’s ‘I Heard It Through The Bassline’ EPs. Across four warm and funk-fuelled cuts, he delivers another essential selection of House grooves primed for peak-time moments and deep, late-night sessions alike, already supported by Oliver Dollar, Riva Starr, Anja Schneider, and more.

The opening track, ‘Time For Peace,’ is a brilliantly loopy roller, featuring bouncy drums, muted synth motifs, and a vocal swirl of soulful cries that ramp up the energy. It’s a stylish tension-builder, paving the way for ‘Rockin’, a chunky jam with funky melodic riffs buried in the beat and wordless ad libs teasing out the soul. ‘The Street’ keeps the vibe flowing with swinging drums, knotted guitar licks, and subtly filtered vocals worked into a steamy, party-starting groove. Closing things out is ‘A Dance’, a deeper cut drenched in lush chords and hazy vocals—perfect for blissed-out dancefloor moments.

Founder of the Strange Idols label, Tiger Stripes has spent over two decades forging his own path with standout releases on Hot Creations, Get Physical, Kwench Records, and Rekids. After stepping back to focus on his indie-rock project Little Lies, he made a full return in 2024 and quickly recaptured the form that’s made him an international favourite.

Adeen Records is back with its The Bird series and this time Cad73 is the one at the buttons. First up he flips the age old classic 'Love and Happiness' into a smooth and seductive sound with lush chords and warming melodies. Flop it over and you will find a rework of 'How Can I Forget You' which becomes a Northern Soul great with big hooks and driving rhythms that will get big reactions in the club. Two different but equally effective and cultured cuts.

Nail Tolliday is a legendary figure in the UK electronic music scene, hailing from Nottingham, having founded the influential Velocet and 89:GHOST labels, and currently running the *In The Dance* label, Tolliday has played an integral role in shaping the sound of underground dance music, with a career that dates back to the early 90s, his impeccable reputation spans across a wealth of releases on renowned labels such as Classic, Robsoul, and many others, his discography is nothing short of extensive, earning him praise from some of the most respected figures in the electronic music world, including Andrew Weatherall, Colin Faver, Fred Everything, and Danny Howells, beyond his solo work, Nail Tolliday was also part of the iconic group Bent, and in a further testament to his versatility, he has produced multiple tracks for the globally celebrated Sleaford Mods, his sound evokes the essence of classic house and disco from the early 90s, reminiscent of the pioneering works of DJ Sneak, Romanthony, and others who defined the era's vibrant dance scene, this latest EP is a masterclass in the golden era of dance music, seamlessly blending early house vibes with sultry, disco-infused grooves, it exudes a timeless, classy funk that will captivate any dancefloor, the EP as a whole feels like a cohesive journey through Tolliday's rich musical influences, while also carving out its own identity in the modern dance music landscape, each track on the EP is an essential offering, « Shakey » delivers a funky, infectious rhythm that immediately commands attention, the bassline grooves effortlessly, while the vocal snippets add an extra layer of depth, creating an instant floor-filler, « Oh Well » takes a more melodic turn, with smooth chords and a sophisticated vibe, making it perfect for those late-night moments when the energy is just right, « All I Want » is pure house magic, with soulful, driving percussion and a hypnotic vocal that brings everything together in a silky, irresistible package, « Starz » brings an upbeat, celebratory feel, packed with infectious melodies and a buoyant energy that's impossible to ignore, « Feel Like » wraps up the EP with a deeper, more introspective groove, complete with subtle synths and a rich, atmospheric atmosphere that lingers long after the track ends, this EP is a true testament to Nail Tolliday's legacy, showcasing his ability to create music that is both timeless and relevant, his style, while deeply rooted in the traditions of 90s house and disco, is infused with a modern sensibility that proves why he remains a living legend in the dance music world, strikingly, his sound also recalls the work of another recent house maverick, Soundstream, with its deep, raw grooves and unapologetic commitment to the classic roots of house music.

Greville returns to Mad Habitat, consorting with the enigmatic Lonely Voices to realize a four-song suite steeped in vivid acoustic psychotomimesis. Each track is underpinned by Greville’s unerring sensitivity to sonic texture and atmosphere. The snappy, febrile drum programming of “I Miss Terry” is a deft counterpoint to the thrumming bassline. The chords of “Purgatory” swirl around the stereo field like hypnopompic hallucinations. On the flip side, vocals bleed in and out of the mix, spectral and elusive, threading through both tracks. “Electric Push” follows the monologue of “Dad’s Folk,” nudging it into even more surreal territory. It evokes a chance encounter between Ifach-era Baby Ford & the occult industrialism of late-period Coil.

The new darlings of the American post-rock underground present a collection of well-wrought bangers on their debut full-length album. Powerfully melodic and heavy at the same time, Wield shows the Philadelphia-based quintet mastering their game of creating compelling melodies that sound larger than life. 2022 saw HIROE burst onto the scene with an explosive debut minialbum "Wrought" full of soaring anthems and sublime soundscapes. Combining the sonic expansiveness of Deftones with the dynamic heaviness of bands like ISIS and Caspian, HIROE already figured out how to make the most majestic sounding post-rock early in their career. "Our first, Wrought was a statement of creation," explains principal songwriter EricKusanagi about the intent behind their debut. "This second record is about what to do with that creation. The thought was, we've created this, now how do we wield it?" "We wanted to show a larger range of musical themes on this record," continues Eric. "You'll hear us dive into some synth work, some piano work, some really interesting effects that Mario helped us dial up." Wield packs a lot of details, which are fun to uncover over repeated plays. «Collider» is almost completely driven by high precision tapping leads, which are ingeniously mirrored by the chords on the final climax. «The Crush» sees the band's three guitarists chugging away happily over a clever 7/8 rhythm subtly exchanging thrashy, sludgy and prog-inspired stylings. Nevertheless, Wield is still an affair of instant gratification for fans of guitar driven post-rock. From the soaring leads of «Tides» to the epic finale of «I've Been Waiting For You All My Life», HIROE show they've upped their game in every department, but especially the one that tugs at your heartstrings. Wield presents the brave new future we all need in these confusing times. A new American frontier on which we can build our wildest dreams and our most daring ambitions! FOR FANS OF Caspian, Isis, pg.lost, Red Sparowes, If These Trees Could Talk, Shy Low, Ranges, Pray For Sound

The new darlings of the American post-rock underground present a collection of well-wrought bangers on their debut full-length album. Powerfully melodic and heavy at the same time, Wield shows the Philadelphia-based quintet mastering their game of creating compelling melodies that sound larger than life. 2022 saw HIROE burst onto the scene with an explosive debut minialbum "Wrought" full of soaring anthems and sublime soundscapes. Combining the sonic expansiveness of Deftones with the dynamic heaviness of bands like ISIS and Caspian, HIROE already figured out how to make the most majestic sounding post-rock early in their career. "Our first, Wrought was a statement of creation," explains principal songwriter EricKusanagi about the intent behind their debut. "This second record is about what to do with that creation. The thought was, we've created this, now how do we wield it?" "We wanted to show a larger range of musical themes on this record," continues Eric. "You'll hear us dive into some synth work, some piano work, some really interesting effects that Mario helped us dial up." Wield packs a lot of details, which are fun to uncover over repeated plays. «Collider» is almost completely driven by high precision tapping leads, which are ingeniously mirrored by the chords on the final climax. «The Crush» sees the band's three guitarists chugging away happily over a clever 7/8 rhythm subtly exchanging thrashy, sludgy and prog-inspired stylings. Nevertheless, Wield is still an affair of instant gratification for fans of guitar driven post-rock. From the soaring leads of «Tides» to the epic finale of «I've Been Waiting For You All My Life», HIROE show they've upped their game in every department, but especially the one that tugs at your heartstrings. Wield presents the brave new future we all need in these confusing times. A new American frontier on which we can build our wildest dreams and our most daring ambitions! FOR FANS OF Caspian, Isis, pg.lost, Red Sparowes, If These Trees Could Talk, Shy Low, Ranges, Pray For Sound

Hampus Lindwall’s Brace for Impact might just be the first album of post-internet pipe organ music. It’s an album of five new contemporary classical compositions, all performed by the composer himself on the 78-stop grand organ at St. Antonius church in Düsseldorf, Germany. Featuring the electric guitar of SUNN O)’s Stephen O’Malley on the title track. A highly visceral forty-five minutes of music with undeniable elemental power.
As 2024 came to a close, in New York and Paris chords rang out from thirty-two-foot pipes for the first time in half a decade. Following twin fires in 2019, the grand organs at the cathedrals of St John the Divine and Notre-Dame, amongst the largest instruments in their respective countries, had finally been restored. The news was justly celebrated in the international press, but the incidents were far from isolated. In England, the city of Norwich hailed the return of its cathedral’s five manual organ in 2023 and just two years earlier York Minster heralded a “once-in-a-century” refurbishment of its own 5,000-plus pipe instrument. Meanwhile, further organ restoration projects are ongoing at churches in Liverpool, Bradford, Bristol, Winchester, and Washington DC. Significant as they are to their respective communities, they’re also emblematic of a wider rebirth for one of humanity’s oldest musical instruments.
The organ is having a moment. Over the last few years, albums by the likes of Kali Malone, Ellen Arkbro, Anna von Hausswolff, FUJI|||||||||||TA, and Áine O’Dwyer, as well as projects in the visual arts by Sollmann Sprenger, Cory Arcangel, Massimo Bartolini and many other talented artists, have given a new prominence to the old ecclesiastical stalwart. The pipe organ bears historical traces which stretch back to the third century BC. But that doesn’t mean it can’t speak to a contemporary moment haunted by algorithms and networked culture. Hampus Lindwall’s Brace for Impact is an album of organ music for today.

Bosconi Records is proud to present Tangled Waves, a dynamic split EP that brings together the sonic identities of two emerging Italian talents—Roberto Manolio and Giuseppe Angeloro—each making their debut on the label.

Like currents colliding below the surface, Tangled Waves reveals a natural convergence—where distinct styles drift together in subtle harmony.

The A-side features Roberto Manolio, known for releases on Cosmological, Nugs on Board, and Musek Records. He kicks off with Deeply Red, a UK tech house-influenced stomper driven by a fat, aggressive bassline and dreamy delayed chords. A haunting Russian voice sample adds a cinematic, retro-futurist edge—like a lost transmission from a 60s space mission. Next up is Machine City Road, a raw, gritty weapon where grinding synths and sharp textures drive the track forward with the force of a distorted electric guitar. It’s dark, edgy, and full of tension. On the B-side, Giuseppe Angeloro—previously featured on Cimedirapax, Havalon, and Polarity Records—brings a touch of italo-flavored euphoria with A Night Among the Trees. Lush arpeggios and nostalgic synth lines conjure up a dreamy atmosphere, building into an epic, cinematic anthem. Closing the EP is Mind Trip, a gentle, psychedelic excursion built on floating melodies, delayed vocals, and hazy atmospheres. It’s a reflective, emotionally rich track—perfect for the final moments on the dancefloor. Tangled Waves offers a meeting point of two unique sonic voices, flowing along parallel—but deeply connected—paths, resulting in four essential weapons built to last.

Pilot is one of the many labels in the orbit of the irrepressible James 'Burnski' Burnham. Its next outing is from M High who perfectly slots into the label's classy minimal and tech sound world. Things open up with 'Same Routine' which is a turbocharged sound with frazzled bass and thumping kicks. 'On My Own Supply' has a touch of the old school to it with the unbridled joy of the dancing piano chords and big, bulky beats. 'Same Routine' then gets a space-tech rework from Wodda and Hatori's live Bass remix brings some lush cosmic synth swirls and bumping drums.

Khadim is a stunning reconfiguration of the Ndagga Rhythm Force sound. The instrumentation is radically pared down. The guitar is gone; the concatenation of sabars; the drum-kit. Each of the four tracks hones in on just one or two drummers; otherwise the sole recorded element is the singing; everything else is programmed. Synths are dialogically locked into the drumming. Tellingly, Ernestus has reached for his beloved Prophet-5, a signature go-to since Basic Channel days, thirty years ago. Texturally, the sound is more dubwise; prickling with effects. There is a new spaciousness, announced at the start by the ambient sounds of Dakar street-life. At the microphone, Mbene Diatta Seck revels in this new openness: mbalax diva, she feelingly turns each of the four songs into a discrete dramatic episode, using different sets of rhetorical techniques. The music throughout is taut, grooving, complex, like before; but more volatile, intuitive and reaching, with turbulent emotional and spiritual expressivity.

Not that Khadim represents any kind of break. Its transformativeness is rooted in the hundreds upon hundreds of hours the Rhythm Force has played together. Nearly a decade has passed since Yermande, the unit's previous album. Every year throughout that period — barring lockdowns — the group has toured extensively, in Europe, the US, and Japan. With improvisation at the core of its music-making, each performance has been evolutionary, as it turns out heading towards Khadim. “I didn’t want to simply continue with the same formula," says Ernestus. “I preferred to wait for a new approach. Playing live so many times, I wanted to capture some of the energy and freedom of those performances.” Though several members of the touring ensemble sit out this recording — sabar drummers, kit-drummer, synth-player — their presence abides in the structure and swing of the music here.

Lamp Fall is a homage to Cheikh Ibra Fall, founder of the Baye Fall spiritual community. The mosque in the city of Touba is known as Lamp Fall, because the main tower resembles a lantern. Soy duggu Touba, moom guey séen / When you enter Touba, he is the one who greets you. After a swift, incantatory start Mbene sings with reflective seriousness. Her voice swirls with reverb, over a tight, funky, propulsive interplay between synth and drums, threaded with one-two jabs of bass. Cheikh Ibra Fall mi may way, mo diayndiou ré, la mu jëndé ko taalibe... Cheikh Ibra Fall amo morome, aboridial / Cheikh Ibra Fall shows the way forward, he gives us strength, he gathers his disciples... Overflowing with grace, Cheikh Ibra Fall has no equal.

Interwoven with Wolof proverbs, Dieuw Bakhul is a recriminatory song about treachery, lies, and back-biting. Over moody, roiling synths and ominous, lean bass, Mbene throws out fluttering scraps of vocal, as if re-running old conversations in her head. The music shadows her despair to the verge of breakdown, at one moment seemingly so lost in thought and memories, that it threatens to disintegrate. Bayilene di wor seen xarit ak seen an da ndo... Dieuw bakhul, dieuw ñaw na / Stop judging your friends and companions... A lie is no good, a lie is ugly.

Khadim is a show-stopper; currently the centrepiece of Ndagga Rhythm Force live performances. The song is dedicated to Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, aka Khadim, founder of the Mouride Sufi order. Serigne Bamba mi may wayeu / Serigne Bamba is the one who makes me sing. The verses name-check revered members of his family and brotherhood, like Sokhna Diarra, Mame Thierno, and Serigne Bara. Though Islam has been practised in Senegal for a millennium, it wasn’t until the start of the twentieth century that it began to thoroughly permeate ordinary Senegalese society, hand-in-hand with anti-colonialism. The verses here recall Bamba’s banishment by the French to Gabon, and later to Mauritania, in those foundational times. During exile, his captors once introduced a lion to his cell: gaïnde gua waf, dieba lu ci Cheikhoul Khadim / the lion doesn’t budge, it gives itself over to Cheikh Khadim. Deep, surging bass, steady kick-drum, and simple, reverbed chords on the off-beat lend the feel and impetus of steppers reggae. A reed plays snatches of a traditional Baye Fall melody; the dazzling polyrhythmic drumming is by Serigne Mamoune Seck. Mbene compellingly blends percussive vocalese, narrative suspense, exultant praise, introspection, and grievance.

Nimzat is a devotional tribute to Cheikh Sadbou, a contemporary of Bamba, buried in a mausoleum in Nizmat, in southern Mauritania. Way nala, kagne nala... souma danana fata dale / I call upon you and wonder about you... If I am overwhelmed, come to my aid. The town holds special significance for Khadr Sufism. An annual pilgrimage there is conducted to this day. The rhythm is buoyantly funky; the mood is sombre, reined-in, foreboding. Punctuated by peals of thunder, Mbene sings with restrained, intense reverence; huskily confidential, steadfast. Nanu dem ba Nimzat, dé ba sali khina / Let us go to Nimzat, to seal our devotion.

Mbene Diatta Seck: vocals.
Bada Seck: bougarabou, thiol, mbeung mbeung bal, tungune.
Serigne Mamoune Seck: bougarabou, khine, mbeung mbeung, tungune.
Text by Mark Ainley (Honest Jons).
Mastered by Rashad Becker.
Everything else by Mark Ernestus.

Wh0 arrives on Rekids with ‘Girls & Boys’. The Grammy-nominated producer’s next single comes with a remix from Catz ‘n Dogz.

Wh0 lands on Radio Slave’s Rekids with new single, 'Girls & Boys', out 13th June 2025. A full-throttle piano jam, the track distils a range of House styles into one expressive, infectious, modern-day classic. Powered by a raw, rolling bassline and loopy chords, it brings unrelenting energy built to raise hands in the air all summer long.

Polish duo Catz ‘n Dogz step up on remix duties with a chunky dub mix. Stripping things back, they reimagine the original into a thudding Techno cut, complete with eerie vocal chops and a deliciously deep, driving groove.

Formerly a member of legendary House duo The Rhythm Masters, Wh0 has since made his mark as a solo act with sold-out shows at places like Printworks, XOYO and Fabric. The Wh0 Plays and Wh0 Worx label boss boasts production credits for artists like Ten City, Royksopp and Idris Elba and collaborations with the likes of David Penn, David Morales and Nile Rodgers, with his work often topping digital charts and his Spotify clocking up more than a million streams a month.
Radio Slave’s Rekids was founded in 2006 and has since spawned successful off shoots with the Techno-focused Rekids Special Projects in 2017 and its newest sublabel, REK’D, in 2024. With Matt Edwards as the sole A&R, Rekids has been crucial in developing early artist careers and has become a haven for established acts operating in House and adjacent genres, having recently featured the likes of Harry Romero, Tal Fussman, Spencer Parker, The Hacker, and many more.

There’s a particular magic that happens when seasoned producers with global roots come together under a shared ethos - not for hype, but for connection. That’s precisely what MISINGO represents. A cross-continental studio experiment born out of Covid-era isolation, the group spans hemispheres and histories: Yorkshire's Doorly, L.A. legend Gary Richards (aka Destructo), and Australian duo Colour Castle. Their debut offering, Give You Love, lands via UK House Music institution Hard Times Records, and it’s as emotionally resonant as it is built for the floor.

Anchored by a slow-burning acid line and moody, immersive synthwork, 'Give You Love' carries the DNA of classic house without feeling like pastiche. DJ Rae’s smokey vocal, recorded in Doorly’s Ibiza studio, sets the tone - raw, intimate, immediate. Gene Farris enters with a gravelly, magnetic counterpoint, flipping the call-and-response into something spiritual. It’s a record that feels both new and deeply lived-in, a jam session from afar that somehow lands with unity and purpose.

For the remix suite, Hard Times dig into family ties and deliver a heavyweight lineup that spans generations of dance music lineage.

First up, DJ Pierre, the Phuture pioneer himself, brings a Wild Pitch revision that is pure summer sleaze and shimmer. Glistening keys, kinetic snares, and a syrup-thick bassline collide in a mix that’s tailor-made for golden-hour sets and open-air systems.

DJ Romain brings that New York swing. All velvet chords, stabbing pianos, and organ swells that spiral skyward. It’s gospel-house energy that doesn’t need to shout to be heard, a reminder that soul still moves the dancefloor.

Closing out the package is Charles Lavine of Soul Clap fame, whose Boston-bred funk sensibility steers things into new territory. He strips back the mix, lets Rae’s vocal ride the groove, and injects a subtle bounce that turns heads and hips in equal measure.

With 'Give You Love', MISINGO and Hard Times haven’t just released a single, they’ve bottled a moment: one born of distance, stitched together with soul, and destined for collective release on dancefloors worldwide.

Debut album from Lou Venturini, limited edition run of 200, full sleeve & label artwork by Ciaran Birch.

In Lou Venturini's inaugural album, it finds the perfect grey area between janky noise and flawlessly manipulated sound design, with his vocals a constant throughout. The result is a constant bubble of blown out and imaginative productions with warped mutters and wheezed out vocal chords. A truly personal and deep dive into the world of Lou, it's been over six years in the making, and boy was it worth the wait.

On her debut album, Lucy Gooch stays true to her electronic foundations, while incorporating more acoustic instrumentation and digging deeper into her folk roots through songwriting. But at the heart of Lucy's music is her rapturous vocal, with which she has experimented more than ever over the course of her first full-length. Many of the pieces on 'Desert Window' started out as vocal improvisations from which she pulled a narrative. Taking cues from the incantatory chanting found in middle English poetry such as 'The Names of the Hare', as well as the prescient imagery in contemporary works like 'The Hearing Trumpet' by Leonora Carrington (1974). "To a larger extent, this became an experiment in placing my voice in a more narrative way, while remaining oblique," Gooch explains. While her previous work could be compared to drawn-out landscapes punctuated with moments of romance and radiance, this album feels grounded in materiality and the everyday. Gooch's voice is at times strident, while elsewhere restrained and broken. "I lost connection to my voice and then had to rediscover it, which was exhilarating. There were these bursts of energy where I'd be messing around and occasionally stumble upon something". There are hushed melodies and exhausted squalls, creating dissonance and space. The result is an atmospheric balance between Kate Bush and Cocteau Twins harmonies, Vangelis major chords, and a juxtaposition of folk ambience reminiscent of the offset madrigals of The Third Ear Band and Italian cult film composers Goblin. It is a complex and elegant album, an all-consuming series of songs that reach into jazz, electronica and classical song construction.

On her debut album, Lucy Gooch stays true to her electronic foundations, while incorporating more acoustic instrumentation and digging deeper into her folk roots through songwriting. But at the heart of Lucy's music is her rapturous vocal, with which she has experimented more than ever over the course of her first full-length. Many of the pieces on 'Desert Window' started out as vocal improvisations from which she pulled a narrative. Taking cues from the incantatory chanting found in middle English poetry such as 'The Names of the Hare', as well as the prescient imagery in contemporary works like 'The Hearing Trumpet' by Leonora Carrington (1974). "To a larger extent, this became an experiment in placing my voice in a more narrative way, while remaining oblique," Gooch explains. While her previous work could be compared to drawn-out landscapes punctuated with moments of romance and radiance, this album feels grounded in materiality and the everyday. Gooch's voice is at times strident, while elsewhere restrained and broken. "I lost connection to my voice and then had to rediscover it, which was exhilarating. There were these bursts of energy where I'd be messing around and occasionally stumble upon something". There are hushed melodies and exhausted squalls, creating dissonance and space. The result is an atmospheric balance between Kate Bush and Cocteau Twins harmonies, Vangelis major chords, and a juxtaposition of folk ambience reminiscent of the offset madrigals of The Third Ear Band and Italian cult film composers Goblin. It is a complex and elegant album, an all-consuming series of songs that reach into jazz, electronica and classical song construction.

I must admit to being a sucker for two-guitar bands. Ok, Hendrix pulled off a trio. But I don’t care what anybody says: The Yardbirds were a better band than anything that came out of them (Ok, maybe not Zep. But Cream?).

Maybe the reason I go back so far in my references is that, within the two-guitar band format, original new roles are difficult and rare. There’s the classic (socially problematic and often boring) “rhythm/lead” solution. There’s the JB’s or Nile Rodgers’ chicken pickin’ vs comping solution (which avoids chordal clashes by relegating one of the guitars to the role of single-note percussion instrument). There’s Ornette’s Prime Time division between Bern Nix’s rolled-off “jazz” tone and Charles Ellerbee’s trebly wah. Almost everything else is a variation on one of these.


In Ches Smith’s record Clone Row, each piece is built around a different concept for guitar interaction. The delightful and gifted weirdness of Mary Halvorson’s playing is counterpointed, contrasted, unisoned with, played off, juxtaposed (that is to say, enters every relationship possible) with Liberty Ellman’s equally amazing sound palette, chops, and imagination. This definitely ain’t your father’s guitar band.
The overall vibe of the record—despite Halvorson’s occasional noise outbursts or Ellman’s distorted guitar lines (see Mixed Fridge) is neither punk/funk, nor Zorn-ish metal—and certainly not the looser parameters of Ornette’s improvised harmolodics. Smith’s vibraphone playing, Halvorson’s guitar tone (whammy pedal squiggles aside), the brilliant electronics, and (most of all) the compositions themselves are somehow strangely West Coast cool. It’s as if I’m hearing a Jim Hall concert in which one of us did a lot of mushrooms, or (dare I write this?) some post-punk post-Dave Brubeck post-trip-hop experiment with classical form.

This recording is, most of all, about Ches as composer. He’s picked up a lot on his long, strange trip of the last few decades. The Haitian funkiness of his work with We All Break is audible—but deeply buried, encoded in the polyrhythms (check out Heart Breakthrough). His long-running side musician collaborations with John Zorn and Tim Berne are also evident but sublimated here into something new.

Not that improvising is absent. Check out the compelling collective statements in Sustained Nightmare and Ready Beat. Check out the brilliant interplay and bass soloing on Abrade With Me (a Weather Report for the age of extreme weather?) Nick Dunston is my favorite bassist of the new generation, and he plays brilliantly throughout. And Ches’ drumming here has all the groove, energy, and incredible range that have kept him in demand from Saturday night Vodou services to jazz and new music recording sessions (…the thinking man’s rock barbarian?).
The sus chords in Abrade With Me do build, for a moment, towards a fusion type of climax...but just at the moment I was gritting my teeth in anticipated defense against some horrible synth solo, the drums drop out, and we’re transported to the ambient lounge at the rave, and we suddenly understand we’re in the hands of a composer with the power to transport us just about anywhere.
So, this is a composer’s record most of all; a composer’s record performed by musicians who happen to be great improvisers. Ches Smith builds here on his reputation as a gifted new voice with an important vision, while showcasing some of the most creative musicians of our time.

You might think that Yassin Omidi is a newcomer, but in fact it is the new-coming of an already accomplished and respected head who now delves deep into the world of dub techno on Steve O'Sullivan's Mosaic. The beatless 'Sluder Dub' is coated in heavy fog and static with conscious vocal musings and the roomiest of chords landing with great drama and tons of echo. On the flip is another analogue sound that features buffed metal dub chords, classic effects and a shapeshifting ambient hiss. It's dramatic despite being such a minimal piece.

B2 Recordings is one of those labels that is deeply entrenched in proper house circles. Its latest comes from Bengoa who keeps it nice and chill on 'I Won't Love You' (feat Mimi X FY). The drums are low-slung, the chords are breezy and warm. 'Bibi's Funk' then layers in some lively percussion that adds a nice texture to the swaggering, slo-mo grooves. 'Listen' picks up the pace with some electro-charged rhythms and corrugated bass funk and then 'Exiles' leaves you with another classy, spacious sound with persuasive claps and big splashy cymbals.

Returning to an aphotic minefield of sound – Seismic Records is back with its third release, Drum Ring, crafted by Norwegian producer and Ute Records co-founder Ekkel. Emerging from the forests of Nordic electronic heritage, Teo Bachs – aka Ekkel – channels the raw energy of ’90s progressive sounds into his mind-bending productions. From the studio, his signature blend of breaks and intricate percussion create soundscapes that are as cerebral as they are propulsive. Titled Drum Ring, the EP captures the feeling of a complete mental trip through a narrative of tension, ancient textures, and enchanting melodies.

Poised with a sense of urgency, the A-side unfolds with a neatly rolling rhythm. Hradec Fog Fever builds a controlled frenzy of percussive elements, with layers stripping in and out, consistently driving the track forward. Slipping into A2, Owl Foot casts a sonic mist, a haze that tentatively creeps forward, flickering between atmospheric dips and shadowy contours. Vocal-cut whispers transcend through the soundscape, shy yet impactful, drawing you closer. It’s a tender introduction to a minimalist, dark progressive journey – a delicate balance of intrigue and mystery, where each sound lingers like a secret waiting to be discovered.

The B-Side strikes with poignant, powerful drum kicks that reverberate through layers of distortion. Drum Ring displays echoes of tension and unease, building a restless energy that urges deeper introspection. Ancient, enchanting tones weave through the chaos, grounding the frenetic soundwaves in something timeless and mystical. Sealing the EP, Endphase begins with faint, distant string notes that offer a fleeting, hopeful moment of rest. Growling chords and textures swirl, edging you to a meditation, only to be punctuated by sharp, deliberate drum patterns, adding a sense of momentum and purpose – a glimmer of light breaking through the mist. Experience the full cycle of a delicate trip as Ekkel guides you through Drum Ring – a precious and dark progressive journey.

Marcellus Pittman is one of the Motor City's finest. The long-time house explorer has a singular sound that is built around brittle drum loops, hissing and dusty hi-hats and loose-limbed arrangements that are stark and dehumanised but somehow full of intriguing machine warmth and soul. Take this EP, 'Loneliness Leave Me Alone,' first dropped back in 2010: the title cut has bouncing, bulbous bass and jacked up drums that sound both menacing yet playful, which the fizzy, sugary chords spray across the mix like a mist of pixelated water. 'Razz 09' has that Omar-S style melancholy and trudging rhythm that's heightened by the curious melodies which unfurl with a mind of their own in the background. Superb.

With releases on Brooklyn’s Major Records and UK imprints Non Stop Rhythm and Indulgence, DJ Split is a breakthrough producer putting his own stamp on the classic Chicago house sound. For his Shadow Pressings debut he has conjured up five original club cuts that will work their magic on any dance-floor worth it’s salt.

Last Night Baby sets the tone with taught 909 beats, punchy bassline stuttering vocal hits. Piano chords and a smattering of melodic chimes and just the right amount of musicality without taking away any of the raw energy and turbo-charged grunt. Treading a similar path but upping the BPM’s, XNXX goes for the jugular with gnarly FM bassline and frenetic groove.

Flip over for Can I Tell You? which goes a little deeper with a rolling bassline, filtering Detroit pads and strings whilst Step For brings touches of acid, banging 909 toms and vocal chops. Closing out the EP we have One In A Life Time which turns up the jack factor with snappy 808 snares, mechanical bass line and deep stabs. DJ Split is a man on a mission to bang the party and has come prepared with his piñata fully loaded with big, fat beats n basslines.

interloot returns with a stellar compilation, assembling a cadre of versatile heads to deliver a bulletproof warehouse set for your gear bag. kicking off the a-side is »once again« by stuttgart's jakob mäder. known for his eclectic blend of ambient, disco, house and techno, mäder crafts a heavy opener boosted by a propulsive rhythm, seamlessly melding forceful chords with swirling acid echoes. »tick« by bristol-based fella thrilogy screws down the force and untwines the groove with a more mellow, bass-driven foundation and intricate percussive patterns to a subtle yet weighty synth journey through space and time. flipping to the b-side, »back on back« by renowned duo decent rides instantly slaps your face and unfolds its raw energy with a stomping infectious vibe urging forward unchecked. supplemented by delicate vocal rollbacks this guy’s a real peak-time pusher. rounding out the little concrete jungle voyage, »groove got me« by vienna’s moff & tarkin proves the name’s the product. A massive breakbeat blast tenderly detailed and beautifully arranged builds up to a complex raw and punchy climax leaving no one’s body parts unmoved. savour this collection poised to satiate the appetites of discerning nightlife buds and sistas.

From the experimental chaos of IDM to the deep, soulful chords of Detroit techno, Japanese DJ and producer Takuya Matsumoto takes us on a captivating journey through decades of musical evolution. Vertical Stories is Takuya’s debut album, and it seamlessly blends the past with the future. Get ready to dive into a sonic landscape that spans from unfiltered energy to complex, layered textures. If you’re a fan of the raw energy of Underground Resistance, the innovative sounds of Mike Paradinas, or the intricate layers of Floating Points and Pepe Bradock, to name just a few, this full-length album is for you!

Sophia Kennedy, the Baltimore-born, Hamburg-based artist, returns with her new album in May. Known for her genre-blending innovation and distinct vocal style, she has collaborated with DJ Koze and earned praise from The Guardian, Iggy Pop, and Resident Advisor.

Following her self-titled debut (2017, Pampa Records), a radiant dance between the glamour of the Great American Songbook, electronic textures, and clubland influences, earning her international acclaim, Kennedy released her second album, Monsters (2021, City Slang), and delved deeper into surrealism and transcendence. Now, on Squeeze Me, Kennedy and her long-time musical collaborator and co-writer Mense Reents sketch a more disillusioned commentary on the status quo of the world at large. The complexity of interpersonal relationships, questions of power dynamics, and the quest for self-determination—longstanding themes for Kennedy—run as a cohesive narrative throughout the album.
More minimalist than her previous works, Squeeze Me brims with Kennedy’s gift for catchy melodies with a certain pop appeal and psychedelic hues. The first single, "Rodeo," features hypnotic piano chords, shimmering synth basses, and glimmering choirs. 2025 will see Kennedy back on tour in Europe, supported by an international PR campaign to expand her global presence.

Oasis Records is a Portuguese outlet that marks its 10th release with its first vinyl outing, and the music is certainly deserving of that treatment. Vros is a collaboration between three siblings who use real instruments to blend hypnotic sounds from the worlds of deep and dubby electronica. Each track symbolises an elementiwind, earth, fire, and wateriso has a real connection with nature and encourages self-reflection as well as plenty of shape-shifting. 'Space Marimba' is perfect for outdoor dancing with its happy marimba melodies and elastic bass, 'Don't Be Afraid' is pure Balearic house bliss and 'Fusion' brings subtly trance induing chords while 'Release Your Mind' is a deep, mind-bending opener.A

In a world where physical experiences are becoming rarer, artists are looking to connect their process to something more tangible, and with A/V rinsed, scent is an obvious next sense to plunder. Florian TM Zeisig - who last appeared on Somewhere Press as Angel R, goes the extra mile, teaming up with perfumer Angel Paradise to develop a suite of music that plays like a bouquet of memory-triggering aromas, coupled with a fragrance that captures the oily essence of their bucolic alpine setting. The project came about when both artists were living in Hinang, a small farming village in the rural Bavarian alps. Paradise was studying alpine plant behaviour and using her research to inform her approach to scent creation, developing natural perfumes based on the landscape. Zeisig, meantime, composed his own response to the mountains and forests that surrounded them. He wrote ‘Spool’ as a poignant farewell (or spiritual rebirth) as they prepared to leave, considering teenage nostalgia as well as the idyllic locale, and the pastoral suite of lulled loops, field recordings and dissociated instrumental vamps plays like a contemporary Heimatfilme soundtrack, locking into the genre’s idyllic, fantastical simplicity and romance. Drunken horn loops and mushy piano chords concertina around a wobbly axis on ‘Oneandhalf’, met by dreamy guitars and whispered, lysergic vocals. The sweet-smelling notes form an enigmatic compound, prompting us to think of Codeine or Galaxie 500 without solidifying completely. It’s music that works with outlines and traces, catching us off guard with flickers of samples and veiled base notes: the Cocteau Twins-like phased piano on ‘Threeandhalf’ that’s drowned out by gunked tape fog, or the smudges of ‘Spirit of Eden’ ambience on ‘Alright’ that creep between tweezed piano phrases. There’s depth too; Zeisig doesn’t restrict himself to Romance-cum-Basinski loopmuzak, he intersperses his GASeous orchestral waves with serene, relatively demure reflections that capture the pristine beauty of a dewy alpine morning. ‘Four’ is an ASMR-rich blend of crunching leaves and mossy, decelerated pads, and ‘Plus’ burns its drones down to crackling embers, letting the faint harmonies flicker through the coal dust. Importantly, it’s emotional music, but not overly melodramatic, finding peace in nostalgia and the calm of nature.

Soul Clap and Haven Star join forces for vibrant collaboration ‘Gone Stumblin’ on Crosstown Rebels.

Landing on 23rd May 2025, the track brings together years of musical evolution, late-night studio magic, and the unmistakable essence of a true party anthem. Genre-blending US house visionaries Soul Clap return to Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels with a deeply groovy and emotionally charged new release, teaming up with South Florida’s rising star Haven Star for the striking ‘Gone Stumblin’ - ushering in a new chapter of collaboration and cosmic storytelling.

Rooted in a near-mythical session at Brooklyn’s legendary Marcy Hotel, ‘Gone Stumblin’ began its journey with keyboardist John Camp crafting the original chord progressions and top-line melody. After years of floating in digital limbo, the track resurfaced thanks to Soul Clap’s Charles Levine, who reimagined it with a fresh twist and brought in Haven Star—whose soulful delivery launched it into orbit.

At just 24, Haven Star brings fresh energy and vintage soul sensibility to the table—having shared the stage with legends like Patti LaBelle, Jeff Beck, and Sam Moore, while cutting her teeth across genres from orchestral pop to funk-fuelled house. The original mix merges heady keys and rich chords with a bouncing, crisp low end, while the ‘Dub’ strips it back and introduces trippy sonics and heavy low-ends for after-hours introspection. ‘Unifying Force’ leans into Soul Clap’s psychedelic ethos, before the ‘Bonus Version’ of the title cut offers yet another club-ready rework with added punch.

Risk/Reward is the brainchild of New York based, London-born underground music scene veteran and Archivio Records owner Daniel Dutts.

The label fuses leading contemporary artists, with iconic 90s producers to create a playful yet sophisticated sound, firmly focused on creating dance floor magic!

The first EP showcases rising Philadelphia talents Post Play (Sweater & John Raffaele), whose previous excursion on Small Moves became a much sought after cult classic.

Danger is what’s commonly known by DJs as a “sure thing”, guaranteed to get the most stubborn of crowds moving. A cheeky bass groove, quirky stabs, hip hop breaks and scratched vocals, create a vibe best described as “if DJ Premier made a track for Wiggle in the late 90s”

Go blends vintage Nu Groove style NYC house with progressive and techy elements to create a unique dancefloor monster. warping speed garage style sub bass combines with punchy stabs, lush pads, trippy synth leads and skippy, swinging drums, creating an atmospheric but driving track, that keeps you guessing til the very end.

Bushwacka! channels his Plank-era heyday to create a remix of Danger that delivers multiple “what the f#%k was that?” moments, as he takes you on a breakbeat voyage with crisp percussion, devastating low end, hypnotic ragga vocals and a didgeridoo no less! A reminder of the man’s genius and genre-defining sound.

What I Meant To Tell You merges warm, J Dilla style sampled chords, with punchy 808s, a deep and warm bassline, dreamy pads and enchanting male/female call and response vocals. Perfect for a warm up or deep in the afters.

With heavy support from the likes of Dyed Soundorom, Tini, Harry McCanna and more, the Post Play boys are ready to add another buy on sight record to their growing discography.

Limited 2025 Repress
Black Truffle is pleased to announce the release of Ichida, the first release from the duo of two important yet often underappreciated musicians, Eiko Ishibashi and Darin Gray. Ishibashi is a singer-songwriter, keyboardist, drummer, and multi-instrumentalist, known in Japan both for her own elaborately conceptual solo albums and for her frequent collaborations with figures such as Jim O'Rourke, Merzbow, and Phew. Darin Gray is a bassist and multi-instrumentalist known for a multitude of collaborations (with O'Rourke and Loren Connors, among many others), for On Fillmore, his cinematic post-exotica project with Glenn Kotche, and as one half of Chikamorachi with Chris Corsano, one of the finest free-jazz rhythm sections around. Presenting the entirely of a live set performed at Tokyo's Super Deluxe in March 2013, the set begins as a duet for Ishibashi's flute and Gray's upright bass. Calmly melodic yet harmonically inventive, with shades of 'spiritual jazz', the pair's acoustic ruminations are gradually joined by Ishibashi's lush electronics, which randomly flicker between chords in a manner recalling the classic work of David Behrman. As the electronics build into a gloomy fog of slowly cycling loops, Gray lays his bass aside and turns to making strangely mournful interjections on a mouthpiece. Eventually Ishibashi moves to the piano, enveloping the audience in rippling pools of sustained, octave-doubled melody, provided by Gray's bass with a fluid and dynamic foundation. For much of the second side, both Ishibashi and Gray turn to electronics, ultimately arriving in a bizarre space of melancholic arpeggios and random sputter and sizzle, oddly reminiscent of 70s outsider prog acts like Wapassou. An uneasy coda of rich piano chords ends the set. Captured in warm room ambience and beautifully mixed by Jim O'Rourke, Ichida is a rare combination of improvisational acumen and emotional directness, both adventurous and immediately accessible.

This latest Unxpozd release has taken a hot minute to arrive but it's been worth the wait, because once again DJ Aakmael shows off his deep house class. '6minutes' kicks off with the sort of whimsical late-night chords that soon get you dreaming as the loveably lazy grooves slouch on. 'Just A Track pt. 8' shows Aakmael's sample skills as he chops up the sounds with some nice jazzy keys. You won't find a groove more lush and smooth than the gently cosmic 'Track 123' while 'Autumn' is perfectly stripped back to chunky kicks, slowly ascending chords and a hint of Kerri Chandler soul with a gospel vocal hook.

Burnski's Constant Sound is very nearly at 50 releases and not one of them has ever dipped below essential levels of quality. Kepler has been a regular contributor to this fine catalogue and returns with more of his shuffling, playful and charming garage cuts. 'Recall' manages to be both deep and driving, with cute chord stabs and a smart vocal sample that adds the r&b gloss. 'Flavour' has those old school stabs and filthy basslines and 'Loft Groove' is a bouncy, low-slung number with organic percussion. Closing out another high-grade offering is 'Don't Stop' which brings some dubby chords to a slick, punchy house rhythm. Pure class.