In Hayk Karoyi’s music, the vibrant palette of the Mediterranean meets the deep layers of Armenian medieval culture. A composer, sound artist, producer, selector, and live performer, as well as a multi-instrumentalist specializing in Armenian woodwinds, Hayk channels his cultural identity intuitively, allowing memory, place, and subconscious expression to shape his sound. Coming from a mixed East Mediterranean and Armenian heritage, he has never aimed to define himself—or his music—within a single tradition.
Instead, his work exists as a continuous fusion: electronic music intertwined with ancient timbres, improvisation, and experimentation. His work has been presented in clubs, concert spaces, and international festivals across Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, and Indonesia. He has appeared on festival lineups such as Terraforma Symposia (Italy), Stihia Festival (Uzbekistan), O3 Festival (Armenia), Nopa Sound Festival (Armenia), TKESHI FESTIVAL (GEORGIA) ,Urvakan Festival (Armenia), New East Festival (Barcelona, Spain), Suara Festival (Indonesia), and Un Week-end Festival (France).
“Yotqar” is a love letter to the artists and musicians who have shaped me; those whose music I’ve carried in my heart and those I’ve shared stages and moments with over the years. The album is deeply rooted in Armenian woodwind traditions, echoing voices of the masters I admire. Its soundscape stretches across a wide geography and draws inspiration from the mountains of Syunik to the streets of Anjar, weaving in local sounds, memories and emotions. Endless gratitude to my parents, and especially to my mother for the folklore melodies she sings while cooking, filling the house with warmth and history.” - Hayk Karoyi
Italian jazz trio Collettivo Immaginario announces the release of their second full-length album, 'Oltreoceano'.
Known for their slick sound and energetic live performances, their style is firmly rooted in the jazz tradition of collective improvisation, through which they have developed an agile, kaleidoscopic sound. The trio’s unique fusion of funk, jazz, and 70's electronica continues in the trio’s latest release, forging connections across oceans through the universal language of music.
Consisting of founder Tommaso Cappellato on drums and percussion, Nicolò Masetto on electric bass, and Alberto Lincetto on rhodes, piano, and synths, Collettivo Immaginario have become rising stars in the Italian festival scene, from the streets of their hometown in Italy to the diverse audiences in Los Angeles, London and Milan.
Subtly paying homage to genre-bending giants like Azymuth, Lonnie Liston Smith, Herbie Hancock, and Hermeto Pascoal—alongside Italian film music legends Piero Piccioni and Piero Umiliani—their sound moves effortlessly between the heat of the club and the cinematic allure of evocative film scores, infused with touches of spiritual jazz.
Essential 1969 album from Gal Costa, one of the defining voices of the Tropicalia movement. It showcases a bold fusion of psychedelia, Brazilian pop, rock, and samba, featuring standout tracks like Caetano Veloso's 'Baby' and Caetano and Gilberto Gil's 'Divino Maravilhoso,' as well as songs written by other iconic artists such as Jorge Ben and Erasmo Carlos.
A timeless classic that still sounds fresh and relevant. 180g vinyl reissue.
M’Bamina – African Roll (1975)
The story of an album born between Africa, Italy, and the nightclub culture of the 1970s
In the heart of 1970s Italy — a country undergoing profound social change and a music scene just beginning to open itself to distant sounds and cultures — an extraordinary, almost improbable story took shape. It is the story of a group of young African musicians who found their way to Europe, of a Turin nightclub that became a crossroads for communities and experimenters, and of an album which, released in small numbers and largely unnoticed at the time, is now considered a rare jewel of Afro-fusion.
The band called themselves M’Bamina — an ensemble of musicians from Congo, Cameroon, and Benin, who arrived in Italy in the early Seventies. Settling between northern Italy and the Pavia area, they began performing in small clubs and community events, bringing with them a vibrant rhythmic heritage: African polyrhythms, call-and-response vocals, funk-infused bass lines, and Caribbean or Afro-Latin colours absorbed along their musical journeys. Their raw, contagious energy on stage quickly drew attention.
Meanwhile, in Turin, another story was unfolding. There was a venue becoming almost legendary: Voom Voom, one of the city’s liveliest nightclubs, run by Ivo Lunardi. The club attracted an eclectic crowd — students, artists, foreigners, night owls — and Lunardi quickly understood that the dancefloor wasn’t just a place for music, but a melting pot for a new kind of cultural energy. Out of this vibrant atmosphere came his idea: to turn the club’s name into a small independent record label, Voom Voom Music, capable of capturing the spirit of those years and giving voice to unconventional projects.
When Lunardi heard M’Bamina, he immediately sensed that this was the sound he had been searching for: fresh, different from anything circulating in Italy at the time, and capable of blending African tradition with funk and European sensibility. He brought them into the studio.
Production was handled by Lunardi along with Christian Carbaza Michel, while the engineering was entrusted to Danilo Pennone, a young sound technician with a sharp, intuitive ear.
The recording sessions — held in Turin in 1975 — produced a remarkably warm and direct sound. The music feels almost live: grooves rooted in African tradition, but open to funk-rock structures and modern arrangements. It is a natural fusion, never forced. Tracks move between tribal rhythms, funk basslines, light electric guitars, congas and Afro-Latin percussion, with call-and-response vocals and melodies that echo both Congolese tradition and the lineage of Latin jazz. Not by chance, one of the album’s most striking tracks, Watchiwara, reinterprets a Latin standard through M’Bamina’s own rhythmic language.
The album was titled African Roll — a name that was already a statement of intention. It is African music that “rolls,” that moves, adapts, transforms within a new geographic and cultural setting. It is not strictly Afrobeat, nor Congolese rumba, nor Western funk: it is a spontaneous, hybrid blend, shaped more by lived experience than by any calculated aesthetic program.
When African Roll was released, the world around it barely noticed. Distribution was limited, and 1970s Italy had yet to develop a cultural framework for receiving such music. The national music press rarely paid attention to African or “world” productions. The album slipped into silence — though the band’s own story did not.
M’Bamina continued performing across Europe and Africa, even sharing a stage in Cameroon with none other than Manu Dibango. By the late Seventies, they moved to Paris, signed with Fiesta/Decca, and recorded a second LP, Experimental (1978). Meanwhile, the peculiar record they had made in Turin began to resurface quietly among vinyl collectors, Afro-funk enthusiasts, and DJs hunting for forgotten grooves.
That is when the album’s fate began to shift.
Over the decades, African Roll emerged as an almost unique document: a snapshot of an intercultural Italy before the word “intercultural” even existed, a fragment of migrant history, a spontaneous experiment in musical fusion born far from major industry circuits but rich in authenticity. Original copies began commanding high prices on the collector’s market, and the album became recognized as one of the hidden classics of European Afro-fusion from the 1970s.
Today, more than fifty years later, this reissue finally restores visibility and dignity to a project that deserves to be heard, studied, and celebrated. It is not simply an album: it is the testimony of a rare cultural encounter, born in an Italy unaware of how fertile such exchanges would one day become.
It is the story of a visionary producer, an extraordinary band, and a fleeting moment in which music, migration, and nightlife came together to create something genuinely new.
African Roll is — now more than ever — the sound of a bridge: between continents, between eras, between cultures. A record that, after rolling far and wide, has finally come home.
Wolfgang Haffner is one of Europe's most respected jazz drummers, known for his impeccable sense of timing, groove, and atmosphere. Though rooted in jazz, his musical language transcends genre boundaries, guided by pulse and subtle nuance rather than tradition alone. For Cocoon Recordings, he now enters an entirely new dialogue, offering warm, organic reinterpretations that honor the spirit of the source material while opening a fresh sonic horizon. The result is a meeting of two artistic worlds where Sven Väth's timeless energy and Haffner's refined touch flow naturally into a new musical form, an encounter between two artistic universes, merging into something both unexpected and deeply musical.
Fusion is a groove driven piece built around a clear, flowing melody, allowing Haffner to reinterpret it acoustically through a jazz lens. Its straight, driving pulse lets him explore the track's rhythmic and melodic interplay with clarity and nuance.
L'Esperanza, originally a dreamy, trance like track, envelops listeners in strings, filtered downbeats, and a playful synth melody, a perfect canvas for Haffner's warm, organic touch. Its ethereal layers and subtle tension allow him to explore the track's emotional depth while preserving its entrancing charm.
Barbarella, emblematic of Sven Väth's early 90s vision, carries the energy and innovation of a club classic. Haffner's reinterpretation transforms it into a rich, acoustic exploration that honors its hypnotic essence. By emphasizing the track's iconic motifs and underlying drive, and by drawing out the track's essential elements, he bridges its electronic origins with a new, organic perspective.
Together, these three reinterpretations form a cohesive journey that celebrates the timeless essence of Sven Väth's music while revealing a new dimension through Haffner's masterful touch, a release that invites listeners to experience familiar classics in a completely new light.
For their fourth release, Australian label Lunatic Music welcomes Chris Stoker (UK) and Jamie Blanco (UK born, AUS based) to the fray for a dubbed out analogue synth workout that is indisputably Ess O Ess.
Fusion unfolds in Simply Nothing. Analogue synths intertwine with exquisitely programmed percussion and George Humes' chorus-drenched, draped in a veil of spectral vocals by Sarah-May Brown. The result is a retro-futuristic sonic whirlpool that is as memorable as it is delicate.
A waterfall forms in The Lotus & The Banksman. An otherworldly mutant breakbeat techno floor filler. Ethereal pads and dubby textures ripple across the surface whilst the resonant bassline churns below. Gentle currents give way to surging momentum as the percussion kicks in wth the repetitive chant of Time Travelling Man throughout, again by Sarah-May Brown.
On Remix duties, Hybrid Man applies their refined proto-trance formula to Simply Nothing, drawing out its hypnotic core.
Mayurashka fractures The Lotus & The Banksman, sifts through the pieces, and assembles a mind-melting, wonky techno drum work-out from the fragments.
Super Rhythm Trax are proud to present this reissue of one of the most loved, most underground and most sought after Breakbeat Hardcore records from 1991. Raw rugged and authentic, no silly chipmunk vocals or twee piano here, oh no!
Carefully remastered from the original dat tapes, both original versions of Underkut “Both Ends” are now available at a reasonable price after 35 years!!
Since its original release in 1991 it quickly gathered legendary status with it’s super slamming breaks and ‘that’ huge Bassline, it doesn’t get any better than this.
On the DAT tape, we also chanced upon an unreleased, unheard version, and We include this unheard vocal mix as an ‘of it’s time’ artefact for the collectors, as it really accentuates the record’s obvious HipHop leanings and there are parallels to be drawn with the whole Britcore movement of the time, where crews like Hijack, Gunshot, Cash Crew, Demon Boyz and London Posse were flourishing.
After the promo version flew off the sleeves, now comes the full picture sleeve, yellow vinyl version of French live trio, Oden & Fatzo’s chart topping, house smash hit, ‘Lauren’ limited to 1000 copies. A bootleg experiment that got out of hand, Oden & Fatzo’s Radio 1 A-listed single is the accidental hit that everyone is talking about.
So how do you go about making an ‘accidental hit’, by accident of course... The track came about when French DJ Fatzo tried to demonstrate the difference between an edit and a remix to his dad, “... I took a song from the band Men I Trust, sped it up and added a drum beat and violin. After playing it to Oden, they loved it, and in turn, added their secret ingredients.”
Unlike the name might suggest, Oden & Fatzo consists of three people: The Parisian underground collective are a powerful fusion of the electronic live duo Oden, and house DJ Fatzo. Back in 2020 a bootleg version of ‘Lauren’ was uploaded to the YouTube channel of the electronic label Novaj, kicking off an unforeseeable wave of enthusiasm. That video is now approaching 3 million views. Enthralled listeners begged for a commercial release, a year later Ministry of Sound/B1 cleared the sample and the track started its march across the airwaves and up the charts.
With its captivating beat and nostalgic catchiness, ‘Lauren’ makes up for the party nights lost to the pandemic lockdowns, and sees people dancing in their homes and on the streets, as concerts, parties, and live sets are finally making a return. As the trio put it: “This song was all about hope, freedom and a party atmosphere at a time when you couldn't go anywhere. We think it gave everyone who heard it a little bit of an escape, including us.”
Meanwhile in the UK, the track has seen early support, not only by names like Franky Wah, Danny Howard, Pete Tong, Annie Mac, Jax Jones, Jodie Harsh, HUGEL, Bakermat, Cut Snake, Salomé Le Chat, Piem, David Gausa and many more, but also by the incredibly ecstatic party crowds.
Press:
6th week A List at Radio 1
Plays from Radio 2 and added to Hits Radio Pride playlist
Airplay up +3% week on week
#1 Cool Cuts Chart
#1 Upfront Club Chart
#1 Pop Club Chart
#5 UK Shazam Chart
Holding at #12 on Shazam – over 200k tags for the track in the UK to date
Over 8.6m+ streams WW now across all platforms
Over 200k+ views for the music video
Averaging 50k daily streams in the UK
47k+ sales across UK OCC to date
#1 on Beatports Deep House for 16 consecutive weeks
Volcov, the Veronese founder of the Neroli record label, returns to the BBE fold with the third compilation in his majestic series 'From the Archives' and once again this new installment is another collection of overlooked gems and unreleased beauties that are set to entice the discerning listener. As with volumes 1 and 2, 'From the Archives volume 3' features cherry picked songs that focus on melodies and weave a thread between eras and genres. From the Archives volume 3 is a genre free journey into authentic grooves which features music from the enchanted tones of Carlo Nino & Friends, an exclusive from Collettivo Immaginario, uptempo moments from remix kings Kaidi Tatham and DJ Spinna as well as two unreleased songs from Fred P and J2 Fusion feat. Javonttee and DJ Genius. From The Archive 3 represents another accomplished work of love from Volcov aka Enrico Crivellaro, who has a long list of albums and compilations under his belt as well as being involved in productions, edits, releases and projects with artists such as Dego, Theo Parrish, Phil Asher, Gerald Mitchell, Domu, Kaidi Tatham, Kirk Degiorgio, Patrick Gibin, Lars Bartkuhn, Ian O’Brien and many more. From the Archive volume 3 is released as a vinyl double LP and a digital download and is a compilation in which the music lover will be guided hand in hand through a collection of unreleased and hard to find songs that shift effortlessly between jazz and house, broken beat, ambient and soul.
Two ultra-rare Peruvian gems that reimagine the international hits 'Do You Think I'm Sexy?' and 'Saturday Night Fever' through the lens of hypnotic Andean rhythms, full of vibrant winds and pounding percussion. Disco music, reworked with huayno and Andean cumbia flair! Once again, Peru manages to surprise us. From the heights of the Andes come two incredible recordings that show how local folklore has embraced international hits-resulting in fun, unexpected fusions with a distinct Andean twist. 'Do You Think I'm Sexy?', Rod Stewart's 1978 classic, is transformed into a powerful huayno anthem-complete with driving percussion and bold brass that almost echo the sound of a New Orleans street parade. Raw, energetic, and unmistakably Andean. On the flip side, we find a playful nod to 'Saturday Night Fever'-retitled 'El Travoltoso'-infused with infectious rhythms of huayno and cumbia. Once again, wind instruments take center stage in this track, just like in the flip-side cut. Both songs come from some of the rarest and most sought-after records among collectors of Peruvian music. Reissued for the first time ever.
Since first forming in 2016, London's High Vis have steadily polished their palette of progressive hardcore with shades of post-punk, Brit pop, neo-psychedelia, and even Madchester groove, mapping a middle ground between hooks and fury, melodies and mosh pits. Singer Graham Sayle describes their third album 'Guided Tour' as an axis of competing forces: "It's trying to be a hopeful record, while also being incensed." Rounded out by drummer Edward 'Ski' Harper, guitarists Martin MacNamara and Rob Hammaren, and bassist Jack Muncaster, the band's deep roots in the UK and Irish DIY hardcore scenes have kept them grounded but growing, inspired equally by restlessness and righteous anger. As Sayle puts it, "Everyone's scratching, everyone's working all the time, and their idea of relaxing is just getting fucked and avoiding reality. This album is an escape from that."From its opening seconds of a cab door slamming, a car revving away, and a baggy rhythm swinging to life, 'Guided Tour' sounds like a band reaching for new heights, bristling with energy. Recorded across a few weeks at Holy Mountain Studios in London with producer Jonah Falco and engineer Stanley Gravett, the results feel dynamic and dialed-in, like anthems burned into sense memory through sweat and repetition. Harper cuts to the chase: "We had a clear idea going in, every moment got used. Maybe when we're 60 we can sit around and get a drum sound right, but for now it's about getting things done."The album's 11 songs span the spectrum of contemporary guitar music, sharpened by experience, camaraderie, and societal frustrations. From swaggering street punk ("Drop Me Out," "Mob DLA") to jangling indie sneer ("Worth The Wait," "Deserve It") to heavy alt ("Feeling Bless," "Fill The Gap") to shoegazey spoken word ("Untethered"), the group's chemistry transmutes any style to their unique intensity. Sayle champions this evolving fusion: "For years coming from hardcore, we had pretty clear boundaries - other scenes were separate worlds. Now things are getting more blended, drawing from different places."Nowhere is this sentiment flexed more boldly than on "Mind's A Lie," a dance- punk anthem inspired by Harper's love of house, garage, and pirate radio. Stabs of sampled female vocals (by celebrated South London singer and DJ Ell Murphy) build into a razor wire rhythm of low-slung bass, tense drums, and sparkling guitar before Sayle's staunch voice starts barking harsh truths ("Face to face with all I've known / I can't call these thoughts my own"). After a sudden breakdown, the track regroups and takes off, cruising into the horizon in a haze of chiming guitars and Murphy's ascendant voice, from the streets to somewhere beyond.
For the first time EVER on 7" single come two of Don Blackman's most classic tracks from the 1982 album "Don Blackman" for GRP. multi-keyboard wizard Blackman played with the biggest names in fusion music including Lenny White & "Twenny-nine". As a leader and featured recording artist Don's keyboard, vocal and composing talents all came to shine on the debut LP from which these two songs are taken.
Don has toured the world with his band and "The Marcus Miller Band", "The World Saxophone Quartet", with jazz and bassist Tuero Nakamura.. His work on the acoustic piano and other keyboards was recorded on Mary J. Blidge's, "Feel Like A Natural Woman" and Janet Jackson's "That's The Way Love Goes"
First & Last is the debut outing of MC D alongside his partner in rhyme Audio MC. Fresh-faced schoolboy scions of Hijack, The Demon Boyz and Silver Bullet, and peers of the likes of Gunshot, Hardnoise and The Criminal Minds, the pair were taken under the wing of The Powerlords as part of the Powerpack crew (alongside Construction and Trouble), and were given the moniker 2XDEF. Brought to the attention of South London’s fledgling dance label Mendoza Records by producer DJ Fusion, this release would mark the the beginning of a longterm creative partnership between him and MC D, with Mendoza label-mate CSP called in for remix duties. Gritty, explosive and raw, the record stalled at the white label stage with only a handful distributed to radio and club DJs, earning it the status of underground classic. First & Last became exactly that for the short-lived crew.
M.C.’s/How Many Miles? is the follow-up solo single and arrival proper of MC D. With DJ Fusion once again handling production and scratch duties, this extended player is no less uncompromising than its predecessor. Benefitting a full release with the now iconic Mendoza green labels, it cemented the young MC in the annals of UK rap history. MC D (aka Darren James) cut one more record for Mendoza as part of his Silent Eclipse project before moving on to future collaborations with the likes of The Principle (Caveman), Deckwrecka, Rodney P and Skinnyman. M.C.’s/How Many Miles? is ranked amongst Mark McDonald’s Top 100 UK rap records in the essential Megablast book published in 2024.
Thomas Schumacher’s “Schall" is a landmark Techno track that has pushed the boundaries since it’s original release in 1995. A remix by the man himself turned the underground cult track into a chart phenomen, something unseen up until then. The story continued when Thomas’ created a special mash-up of “Schall” and Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love to celebrate his first DJ set at the legendary Fusion Festival in 2016, which ended up becoming one of the most saught after mash-ups. We are excited to present the 2021 version of “Tainted Schall" by Thomas Schumacher.
After the excellent response to the first volume, Acid Jazz Classics returns with the second volume.
The Acid Jazz sound born in the 1990s, which harked back to the Soul Funk of the 1970s, found in IRMA one of the labels most dedicated to
this world, and still releases music that can be categorized under this name.
From songs from the 1990s with artists like Jestofunk, Bossa Nostra, Black & Brown, Gazzara, Italian Secret Service, LTJ Xperience, Sarah
Jane Morris, to the present day with artists like The Smoke Orchestra, Yuts and Culture, Fusion Funk Foundation, Micky More & Andy Tee,
Belladonna, and many others.
19 tracks on a double vinyl, some of them never before released on vinyl, all rigorously perfect for both the club and listening.
In fact, some tracks are little club gems:
"Say It Again" by Jestofunk in its very first version from 1993;
Belladonna - Black Jazz, one of her most requested songs ever released on vinyl;
Key Tronics Ensemble - You For Me, the Montuno Salsa version performed for years by Little Louie Vega at many of his gigs;
the Micky More & Andy Tee remix of Sarah Jane Morris's Hold On To Love!
The Cosmic LP is an album that is fully part of the history of Italian dance music.
First released in 1984, it is a produc*on signed by SANGY, one of the founders of Italo-dance, who was
responsible for the composi*on, arrangement, and performance as a guitarist and mul*-instrumentalist on
most of the tracks.
Crucial to this project was the collabora*on with DJ Daniele Baldelli, who at the *me was the resident DJ of
the legendary Cosmic club in Lazise (Verona) and is s*ll considered one of the most important Italian DJs.
Collaborators also include the names of Sandy Dian, one of the most sought-a2er sound engineers of the*me, and a debutant M&G, who would later co-sign one of the most iconic Italian disco tracks, "When I Let
You Down," also in collabora*on with Sangy.
The sounds of this album were absolutely revolu*onary for the era because they blended funky, jungle,
Brazilian, disco, and fusion influences in a completely unprecedented way.
For these reasons, the Cosmic LP has remained an iconic piece of interna*onal discography, maintaining its
originality and sonic power intact more than 40 years a2er its first release.
The mysterious artist behind the alias Your Ex returns after a self-released EP in 2025 and a deep house killer 7-inch on Scruniversal Records in 2023. Now joining Vibes And Pepper Records, Your Ex opens 2026 with a five-track EP that channels a European twist on Chicago deep house—warm basslines, soulful chords, and hypnotic percussion layered with emotional depth and a timeless groove. Drawing inspiration from Jazz, Funk, Fusion, Library Music, Dub, and “out there” Electronic sounds, Your Exalso draws deeply from the foundational vibrations of Chicago and Detroit. These influences flow through every track—lush harmonies, intricate rhythms, and raw analog textures that bridge eras and styles. Staying true to an elusive identity, Your Ex lets the music speak: smoky late-night grooves, dusty hardware tones, and an undeniable sense of movement that nods to the roots while pushing forward. With Vibes And Pepper, the artist continues to blur the line between mystery and motion—a perfect start to the new year for those who still believe in the deep.
Synaptic Cliffs is thrilled to welcome the synthetic humanoid Fleck E.S.C. to its neural family.
He is planet-wide known as a master of Electro Space Cookie productions and a legendary figure among 4D wanderers since his voluntary transmigration to the Tokyo Null Zone. This release is not merely a collection of tracks but a detailed, musically decrypted analysis of post-human consciousness. The pieces were extracted directly from the non-Euclidean circuits of his own, self-constructed Franck Collin Android body. Prepare your brainstems for a complete recalibration and enjoy this perfect fusion of French precision and the wild, uncontrollable energy of Neo-Shinjuku.
"It's like hearing the entire evolutionary history of humanity played backward in a single millisecond while a synthesizer scores the birth of a new star," says
pdqb.
Large Music is proud to announce the highly anticipated reissue of the iconic collaboration between Roy Davis Jr. and Jay Juniel: Transitions. Originally released in 1997, this seminal piece of Chicago house music has been remastered and is set to return to the world with the same raw energy and grit that made it a classic in the late '90s.
Coming on the heels of Roy Davis Jr.’s legendary hit Gabriel, Transitions captures the raw, emotional intensity of Chicago's underground house scene. Blending soulful melodies with thumping basslines, the EP brought forth an undeniable sound that resonated with house music fans globally. A testament to Davis’s versatile talent, Transitions also introduced Jay Juniel, who contributed his own dynamic flair to the project, creating a distinctive fusion of deep, experimental rhythms, intelligent spoken words and a vibrant club-ready pulse.
The reissue of Transitions offers fans both the original tracks and newly remastered audio to further elevate the listening experience. The gritty, hard-hitting vibe that defined the late '90s Chicago house movement is unmistakably present, from its throbbing basslines and kick drum to the smooth, haunting melodies. This release not only pays tribute to the timeless influence of Chicago House but also serves as a reflection of the ever-evolving nature of the genre itself.
‘Let’s take a trip’ – with major names on the psytrance scene Avalon and GMS releasing on KNTXT for the first time, combining forces for a full-on attack, 4-track EP ‘The Underground’, out December 11th. Their joint mission? ‘Combining two worlds where psytrance meets techno, a fusion which will take you on a mind-expanding journey! Welcome to The Underground…you have arrived!
London DJ/Producer Avalon was recently awarded the number 1 top-selling psytrance artist on Beatport with over 30+ psytrance chart #1s and 5 top-selling LPs to his name, and performs at the likes of Tomorrowland, Boom, EDC Las Vegas, Glastonbury, Exit, Burning Man, Ultra, ASOT, Ministry Of Sound,... GMS (Growling Mad Scientists) was founded by Dutch Ibiza-based DJ/Producer Riktam with the sadly late Bansi, to establish pioneering psytrance label Spun Records and to have director Tony Scott no less, using GMS tracks on three of his films. A prolific producer with over 300K album copies sold, GMS holds the most psytrance records released overall.
‘I'm beyond honoured to release this stunning four tracker from psytrance legends Avalon and GMS. With this release, friendships were formed and worlds truly started colliding. I have massive respect for both these artists and their long standing impact on electronic music. This release feels like a bridge between generations and genres. It carries an energy that deserves to be heard, experienced, and felt on dancefloors around the world.’ Charlotte de Witte
Title track ‘The Underground’: hyperspeed trance beats support a wild variety of acid-dripping pulsations, spacey arps, otherworldly swoops, mind-teasing stabs, it’s like a lightshow in sound. That transports its listeners into another dimension. On ‘Horizen’, psytrance thrives, while ethereal vocals call, with intricate sound design painting a mythical soundscape. On ‘Machines’, it’s driven by hypnotic acid lines, pulsating Kick & Bass with sprinkles of techno infused percussion! Its choral notes and alien-like spoken lyrics, both gripping and disorientating as builds & breaks come thick and fast. ‘Rave to the Grave’: constant pulsing high synth and vocals with twanging acid together with frantic percussion create a sustained, agonizing build, build, build – until ‘On the 7th day, the Lord said ‘Let the beat drop!’’ Phew!
‘We are very excited about our debut release on KNTXT ‘The Underground’ and can’t wait to share this 4 track EP with you all. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did creating it. This fusion of techno/psytrance is brought together by all of our mutual love for acid & driving hypnotic dance music! Enjoy… Play it loud! Welcome to The Underground… You have arrived!’- Avalon & GMS
A mind-bending EP, with racing beats that give the ‘trance’ in psytrance a huge adrenalin shot. This is high energy reaching new altitudes; hold on to your brain cells, they’re going for a ride!
Don Cherry, armed with a voracious musical appetite and boundless imagination, first made a name for himself - though not always fully understood - alongside Ornette Coleman, playing trumpet or cornet. In Los Angeles and then New York, he stood at the heart of a revolutionary approach to improvisation based on melody rather than harmony, later baptized "Free Jazz," the final structural development of American jazz. Over time, he became a champion of improbable fusions - gradually integrating into his style a whole array of "exotic" instruments, and more importantly, the cultures from which they originated. Among them: India, Brazil, Africa, Indonesia, and even China. The time had come for the emergence of "world music": in hindsight, a patchwork rich in imagination and seduction, but once the novelty wore off, often lacking in substance.
In Don Cherry's case, however, the commitment ran deep - tied to his personal engagement with a global vision of art and the human condition. Ustad Ahmed Latif Khan, from the Delhi gharana (a musical lineage), was part of a new generation of accompanists - percussionists, sarangi players, flutists, etc. - who had extended both the technical and conceptual possibilities of their predecessors to gain recognition as soloists and soon to venture onto the international scene. Among them, Latif stood out for his taste for irregular, highly syncopated rhythmic patterns - rich in variety and originality. Don and Latif had never met before the recording session, but the two quickly recognised one another as kindred spirits - calm, focused... and full of laughter. Don clearly knew what he wanted to create, and nothing seemed to pose a challenge for Latif, who grasped the American's intentions immediately, warmed up his fingers at astonishing speed, and with his perfect pitch, naturally took on the role of tuning Don's diverse instrument collection to match whatever was found in the studio - from concert piano and Hammond B3 organ to chromatic orchestral timpani.
A High-Energy Fusion of Past and Present
The collaboration between the Amsterdam and Berlinartists showcases their unique chemistry, blendingcutting-edge production techniques with a deepreverence for the genre's roots. Crafted in the shadows,Accelerate is a meeting of two minds from two citiesknown for their underground energy, each bringing theirunique influence to an exhilarating techno experience.
The reworked classics on Accelerate, which originallygraced some of the most renowned techno labelsbetween 2007 and 2012 on vinyl 12", are newly mixed,edited, and turbocharged, pushing the limits of eachtrack's original energy. All is recalibrated for a newgeneration of listeners-and they hit harder than ever.Alongside these revamped gems, Accelerate introduces
new and previously unreleased material that will takelisteners even further.
Accelerate is a relentless force that demands to be felt inall its depth.
Flanked by a team of collaborators - including Nick León, more eaze, Ultrafog and Kissen - Ben Bondy captures the Kwia-pop zeitgeist on 'XO Salt Lif3', sluicing down dappled emo and downtempo grooves with log drum thwacks, tempered field recordings and sandblasted shoegaze guitars.
Forget what you think you know about Ben Bondy; like Naemi's fuzzy 'Breathless Shorn', ‘XO Salt Lif3’ is a decisive shift away from the ambient world and towards contemporary underground pop. Last year's amapiano-tinted loosie 'Bend' serves as the album's opener and is the best taster, its slick DSP squelches, granulated drones and sub rumbles immediately swapped out for breezy acoustic guitar riffs, tuned log drum hits and Bondy's own Autotuned vocals. When Bondy turns down the temperature a little, letting the orchestral synth arrangements slip into fuller view on 'Halfmoon', a collaboration with Nick León and Aussie producer Lovefear, it's tempered by low slung emo riffs and mumbled sweet nothings.
By the time we hit 'Dreamseed', Bondy's in full swing, offsetting slow breaks and multi-tracked vocal harmonies with full-spectrum shoegaze power chords that cut into the mix like a chainsaw, with crunchy amp crackle foreshadowing the Bark Psychosis-like drop. Bondy hits a cruise when More Eaze helps out on 'There Is A Place'. Maurice's unmistakable pedal steel draws us in, used by Bondy to add an Americana accent to his euphoric fusion of amapiano and indie pop. It's music that'll make perfect sense if you've caught one of Bondy's notorious DJ sets, where you might hear anything from American Football and Jessica Pratt next to Gwen Stefani, Skinny Puppy or Sneaker Pimps. It’s this chaotic, open-hearted approach - which also plays a part in the Shineteac material - that makes 'XO Salt Lif3' so effortlessly enjoyable.
We’re thrilled to announce our debut release — Lucid Departure EP, marking the beginning of our journey. Kicking things off in style with David Pasajero and Artesano Titer, each bringing their own unique blend of trance.
David Pasajero’s A1 Matter of the Mind and A2 Stage One showcase his distinctive touch — a driving fusion of Goa textures and heavier trance energy that sets the tone for what’s to come.
Artesano Titer’s B1 Declaration and B2 The Sparrow reflect his Uruguayan roots, weaving dark, progressive layers into an atmospheric trance experience.
No Static Automatic is proud to cap off the year with the electrifying *Cabin Pressure EP* from seasoned producer and sound designer **Luke Sanger**.
Set for release on limited edition vinyl, this four-track weapon is a potent fusion of classic electro rhythms and Sanger’s signature world of bleeps, wobbles, and modulated
chaos.
With a career spanning two decades at the nexus of music and technology, Luke Sanger is a relentless innovator. While his roots are often linked to techno, his artistic output defies easy categorization, constantly exploring the full spectrum of electronic music. On the
*Cabin Pressure EP*, he turns his focus to electro, injecting the genre with his uniquely off- kilter and captivating sound.
The EP is a masterful display of analog synthesis. Sanger crafts simple, infectious basslines and leads, then sets them in motion, allowing them to converse, modulate, and evolve into a complex tapestry of sound. The result is a listening experience that is as intellectually fascinating as it is physically compelling. Over a bedrock of sturdy electro beats, Sanger layers acid basslines with wild envelope modulation, distorted humanoid samples, and an array of wobbly, techy textures designed to bring dancefloors to a state of ecstatic, unstable bliss.
This is a record built for impact. The *Cabin Pressure EP* is not just a collection of tracks; it's a dynamic tool for DJs, guaranteed to become a secret weapon in sets that demand character and forward-thinking energy.
Pharoah Sanders has been described as ‘probably the best tenor player in the world’, emerging as a star from playing saxophone with John Coltrane in the 1960s. As a solo recording artist he is best loved by fusion fans for the jazz dance classic “You’ve Got To Have Freedom”. It’s taken from his 1980 album “Journey To The One” featured here for the first time on the complete side of a 12” single.
“Got To Give It Up” is Pharoah’s outstanding rendition of the Marvin Gaye classic. It has previously been on 7” but never until now in its full length version on 12” single. It was originally a feature on the 1978 album “Love Will Find A Way” produced by Norman Connors. To have both of these masterful recordings on one 12” single is something special.
Amotik recruits Norway's Kameliia and Dallas-based Decoder for the third split EP on his increasingly essential AMTK+ label.
Kameliia's hypnotic and atmospheric music has appeared on the likes of Overbalance and Unterwegs, where she has previously flexed her sophisticated take on sound design and heady soundscapes with driving and physical grooves. Decoder recently started his new Toca label with Jay York and has previously appeared on labels like Subsist, Float and Jeff Mills' legendary Axis.
Kameliia kicks off with the heavy and thumping 'Beyond', combining forceful drums and a slow, mystical synth lead that encourages you to follow it deep into the night. '8-12' is another perfect fusion of the head and body with supple percussion smeared with balmy and cosmic chords for a classy and immersive cut.
Decoder opens the B-side with 'Kalpavriksha', a twitchy and paranoid cut laced with bleeps and pulses, crafting a futuristic soundscape that grows ever more intense. 'Swayambhu' brings experimental shades with its tightly interlaced drums and synths beneath an unsettling synth line that whistles like a storm. Closing the release is the excellent 'Velinattu,' a buoyant track that's warm and full of delicate percussive layers.
On “Cold Sweat,” James Brown famously called to “give the drummer some.” In 1974, Philadelphia vibraphonist Khan Jamal called to Give the Vibes Some, with superb results. Pianist and composer Jef Gilson’s PALM label gave Jamal the platform he needed to deliver a thorough exploration of contemporary vibraphone. After launching PALM in 1973, Gilson quickly demonstrated that he would only produce records not found anywhere else. Give the Vibes Some, PALM number 10, was another confirmation of this guiding principle.
Raised and based in Philadelphia, Khan Jamal took up the vibes in 1968, after two years in the army during which he was stationed in France and Germany. Decisively drawn to the instrument by the work of the Modern Jazz Quartet’s Milt Jackson, Jamal studied under Philadelphia vibraphone legend Bill Lewis and soon made his debuts in the local underground.
Early in 1972, Jamal made his first recording, with the Sounds of Liberation. The band attempted an original fusion of conga-heavy grooves with avant-garde jazz soloing. Saxophonist Byard Lancaster, an important figure in Jamal’s development, contributed much of the solo work. Later in 1972, Jamal made his leader debut with Drum Dance to the Motherland, a reverb-drenched, never-to-be-replicated experiment with live sound processing. Both albums appeared on the tiny musician-run Dogtown label.
“We couldn’t get no play from nowhere. No gigs or recording sessions or anything. So I took off for Paris,” Jamal recalled in a Cadence interview with Ken Weiss. “Within a few weeks, I had a few articles and I did a record date. It didn’t make me feel good about America.” That was in 1974, while Byard Lancaster was recording the music gathered on Souffle Continu’s recent The Complete PALM Recordings, 1973-1974.
Jamal’s record date delivered Give the Vibes Some. At its core, it was an exploratory solo vibraphone album, even if two tracks added (through technological resourcefulness?) a très célèbre French drummer very much into Elvin Jones appearing under pseudonym for contractual reasons. Another track, for which Jamal switched to the vibes’s wooden ancestor, the marimba, added young Texan trumpeter Clint Jackson III. The most notable article published on Jamal during this stay in France was a Jazz Magazine interview. Jamal’s last word there were “The Creator has a master plan/drum dance to the motherland.” “Give the vibes some” could be added to this programmatic statement.
Recursive Infinity is the new chapter in Rémi Gallego’s The Algorithm, a relentless sonic exploration of the chaotic fusion of metal and electronic music.
The album blurs the boundaries between machine logic and human emotion. Each track unfolds like a program caught in an endless loop, rising, fracturing, and recombining with mathematical precision.
Astropolis Records, the label born from the legendary Brest festival, marks a decade of electronic passion with a sprawling, heartfelt anniversary compilation — slightly delayed, but still delivered with flair.
It comes in two EPs, spotlighting the many facets of the Astropolis universe: in-house artists, long-time festival collaborators, and rising stars from France’s ever-bubbling scene. Eighteen artists guide us through a sonic journey where rave heritage, electronic dreamscapes, and collective fervor converge — true to a festival whose DNA has never recognized borders.
The second EP dives into darker territories, spanning original electro, multifaceted techno, and sunlit vibes toward the close.
Astropolis has always thrived on happy collisions, and this EP is a perfect demonstration.
For synth lovers, Legowelt & Cuften revive the spirit of early electroclash on Liar, a carnal fusion of analog synths and DIY attitude.
Zaatar & Trunkline inject raw energy on Come Into The Light, a sweaty, visceral banger bridging techno, dark disco, and EBM.
French scene stalwarts Scan X & Electric Rescue deliver a masterclass in elegant techno on Lost In Time.
When Manu Le Malin meets Kmyle, the result is as sharp as it is cinematic: Little Big Man builds dramatic tension, balancing raw emotion with contained fury.
On a more contemplative note, we’re thrilled to unveil one of the first productions from our dear Célélé with Théo Muller: the subtle Drum and Drift, threaded with dubby vibrations and sun-drenched bursts.
This anniversary compilation reaffirms the label’s openness to new generations and recent sonic hybrids while honoring the techno scene that shaped its beginnings. Like the festival itself, it embodies the same sincerity and collective energy: a small manifesto connecting generations, aesthetics, and territories — celebrating roots without nostalgia, and the future without bending to trends.
Astropolis Records, the label born from the legendary Brest festival, marks a decade of electronic devotion with a sprawling, heartfelt anniversary compilation — slightly belated, but executed with undeniable flair.
It also comes in two EPs, showcasing the many facets of the Astropolis universe: in-house artists, long-time festival collaborators, and fresh talent from France’s ever-bubbling scene. Eighteen artists guide us through a sonic journey where rave heritage, electronic dreamscapes, and collective fervor intertwine — true to the spirit of a festival that has never recognized borders
The first EP bathes in warm tones across electronica, house, g-tech, old-school rave, and melodic techno.
It opens with grace and magic via Rone, whose electronic touch conjures the intimate and the infinite. Between electronica and downtempo, The Dolphin Ambassador delivers luminous melancholy, offering a gentle calm before the storm.
The unlikely pairing of Mézigue and Swooh catapults house into a g-tech vortex with the unrestrained Broken Roll To Venice, a compact fusion of groove, hybrid sounds, and playful inventiveness.
Belaria & Madben continue this alchemical thread on Into The Void, an incendiary anthem where 90s rave, EBM, and modern intensity collide in hypnotic trance.
For old-school dancefloor loyalists, KiNK finally resurrects a cult live set staple: Give Me, a bona fide banger merging breakbeat and vintage house, engineered for late-night sweat sessions.
Oniris & Benjamin Rippert revisit the melodic techno roots of the label on Sonate, demonstrating a masterful command of harmony.
This anniversary compilation underscores the label’s openness to new generations and recent sonic hybrids, while paying homage to the techno scene that shaped its early days. Much like the festival itself, it embodies the same sincerity and collective energy: a small manifesto connecting generations, aesthetics, and territories — celebrating roots without nostalgia, and the future without bowing to trends.
Labas, ka tu ? I am ready to show you Rayonas - Speedy House Vol.2 !!
As the world time and us are becoming faster I decided to work on my OWN style and genre :
Speedy House - fast house music on 145-150bpm
it goes well with groovy / tribal 90s / techno.
Speedy House releases will be divided into VOL. sections.! i am not changing character just adding some Roller Skates to go faster and from speed light comes some colours on top of it.
Five years after the release of 'The First Circle' Neroli celebrates its 25th anniversary with a new volume.
'The Second Circle' picks up from where its predecessor left and expands its aestethic into more musical territories.
The album moves from still ambience and majestic uplifting strings to quirky electronics, it explores expansive fusion landscapes till landing into Detroit beatless territories accompanying the listener to multiple musical places and to embrace this unique spiritual journey. Featuring original unreleased compositions by: Nu Era, Lar Bartkuhn, Molinaro, Claude Young jr, Joe Claussell, EDB, Jordan GCZ, Other Lands, Stephen Lopkin, Meftah, Zopelar and Volcov.
British-Brazilian jungle artist Janaway announces his brand new EP International Luv via Up Ya Archives Records.
‘50/50 Vision’ is the defining statement of Janaway’s upcoming EP, a single that captures the project’s full essence in one. Blending pulsing jungle rhythms with the rich textures of Brazilian vocals, together, with his UK-centric underground lens, he creates this rolling, dancefloor-ready track that bridges continents and culture.
The title, a play on “20/20 vision,” reflects Janaway’s experience as a dual-heritage artist who views each of his cultures from a balanced perspective. This sense of duality runs throughout his work, expressed through a distinctive fusion of sounds, stories, and collaborations that mirror his own world. The accompanying visuals deepen this connection, featuring Janaway alongside his collaborators and friends, not only adding a personal and authentic layer but providing a snapshot of the community that shapes his music.
‘50/50 Vision’ is a collaboration with two incredible artists that represent each side of his heritage. MC Tchelinho’s (Rio’s Heavy Baile collective), dynamic flow injects raw Brazilian energy and is enhanced by Arinola’s signature mix of UK funk and Ragga vocals which layer in an infectious groove. Together, they create a dynamic intersection of contrasting sound that feels both global and grounded - full of rhythm, movement and connection.
Growing up between cultures, Janaway has always gravitated toward sounds without borders. Now based in Bristol, he’s part of the new wave pushing jungle forward while keeping its essence alive. His signature blend of heavyweight basslines and sharp breakbeats has earned support from Nia Archives, Tim Reaper, Sherelle and Fracture. His acclaimed high-octane DJ sets packed with unreleased tracks, move effortlessly through jungle, footwork, and jungle funk, keeping crowds locked in and dancefloors moving. After a European tour and standout appearances at Boomtown, Glastonbury, and Outlook Festival, Janaway is fast becoming one of the most exciting names shaping the next gen of jungle.
A deep journey into the sound abysses of the night, invoking hidden energies, opening a ritual portal to the core of the seal and the ritual itself.
This compilation brings together diverse artists who explore a fusion of dark techno, industrial environments, ritual textures and pulses that evoke vast underground spaces. The idea is to generate a state of technical-ceremonial trance: vinyl becomes a physical talisman, object of worship, beyond a simple club track.
Side A opens with darker rhythms, synthesizers that resonate like funeral bells, mechanical percussions that hit like ancestral machinery. As it progresses, the journey intensifies, layers of bass that rumble like mine hulls, reverberations that expand consciousness.
The B-side takes flight towards the ethereal and the expansive: distant melodies, ritual echoes, processed voices that look like invocations, culminating in a track that sounds like the closing of a rite, the day that meets the night.
Mumbai-based musician, producer, and DJ NATE08 returns with his sophomore album Twenty Seven - a luminous fusion of r&b, deep house, and funk-leaning grooves, pressed to a single 140g LP in black vinyl.
Three years on from his acclaimed debut Furaha (which featured the breakout hit “Primrose” with over 7 million streams), NATE08 expands his sonic palette with Twenty Seven: a radiant collection of tracks that balance soul-soaked vocals, late-night basslines, and warm, sun-drenched production.
NATE08, aka Nathan Thomas, has become a central figure in Mumbai’s thriving underground, working as a session bass player, live performer, and genre-spanning DJ, while making an international impact through releases on label Needwant. Twenty Seven captures his full range: both organic and synthetic, smooth yet floor-ready, always driven by heartfelt groove.
From the dreamy opener “You’re The Reason” featuring Mary Ann Alexander’s velvety tones, to the nostalgic glow of lead single “Where Are You Tonight” (feat. Dishaan & Mallika), the album unfolds like a love letter to house music’s emotional core. Highlights include the syrupy r&b/house hybrid “Afterlife” (feat. Dappest), the golden-hour deep house shimmer of “Call Me Back” (feat. Sahirah), and the soul-drenched “What Was It” featuring Jamal Bucanon. Closing track “Stay” wraps it all with soft-focus chords and a bumpy, irresistible groove.
Twenty Seven is a sophisticated and inviting journey across mood, tempo, and texture, showcasing NATE08’s gift for weaving melody, rhythm, and soul into music that speaks equally to the dance floor and the heart.
DJ Support: Antal, I Cube, Noel Watson, Colleen Cosmo Murphy, Sean Johnston, San Soda, Takaya Nagase, Tina Edwards, Pete Herbert, Kenneth Bager, Severino, Aaron Paar, Felix Joy, Harri Harrigan, Laroye, Telford, Darker Than Wax, Rocky (X Press 2), Shane Johnson, Dan Tyler, Felix Dickinson and many more
Having previously released selected retrospectives focused on the musical output of Ryo Kawasaki and Joan Bibiloni, NuNorthern Soul has now turned its attention to the vast back catalogue of Jasper Van’t Hof’s pioneering electro-acoustic, Afro-fusion collective, Pili Pili.
The band was established in 1984 by Van’t Hof, a Dutch pianist who began his career in Europe’s jazz scene of the late 1960s, as a way of combining his love of jazz-fusion and the music of North-West Africa. Van’t Hof already had a reputation for combining roles in traditional jazz combos with more experimental and abstract projects. These included a spell in violinist Jean-Luc Ponty’s first band, years spent masterminding jazz-rock outfit Jasper Van’t Hof’s Porkpie, the recording of an all- electronic album (1982’s Visitors), and a celebrated collaborative live album with the great Archie Shepp, Mama Rose.
Pili Pili, though, was another step forward for Van’t Hof. Working with percussionists and vocalists from Benin and Mali (including the now legendary Angelique Kidou) and a string of adventurous jazz soloists (saxophonist Tony Lakoto and trumpeter Annie Whitehead included), Van’t Hof’s collective frequently combined live and programmed percussion, electronic and acoustic instrumentation, and the talented improvisor’s own memorable melodies and impactful solos.
NuNorthern Soul’s retrospective focuses on the most productive and celebrated period of Pili Pili’s near three-decade history, showcasing tracks originally recorded and released on studio albums released between 1984 and 2002. The six tracks on show offer an essential glimpse into the musical gold to be found across the Pili Pili catalogue.
In keeping with NuNorthern Soul’s previous retrospectives, the vinyl version of Selected Works 1984-95 comes with extended liner notes telling the remarkable story of this most unusual of cross-cultural collaborations. These feature extensive quotes, reflections and memories from Jasper Van’t Hof and were written by music historian Matt Anniss.
When Leng Records founders Paul ‘Mudd’ Murphy and Simon Purnell marked the imprint’s 10th birthday, they did so via a celebratory compilation that mixed classic catalogue cuts, remixes and exclusives. Five years on, and with the label’s 15th birthday upon us, they’ve decided to look to the future via a compilation made up entirely of fresh productions from Leng’s roster of current and new artists. Presented on limited-edition gatefold double vinyl with a bonus 10” single, the collection offers an updated showcase of Leng’s much-loved trademark sound, a distinctive fusion of mid-tempo sleazy-disco, Balearica and chugging house interspersed with elements of electronic psychedelia and synth-powered space disco. Fittingly for a compilation that wholeheartedly looks to the future, you’ll find first contributions from a handful of label newcomers.
Fast-rising duo Flying Mojito Bros give their spin on ‘Smoke Signals’ by label debutants Joe HarveyWhyte and Bobby Lee, turning in a heady and inspired revision that sits somewhere between dusk-ready cosmic disco and flash-fried desert blues. There’s also an appearance from Swedish producer Bo Wosticz with the dreamy and ultra-deep nu-jazz of ‘Bs As’. Naturally, you’ll also find plenty of heat from those who have already proved their mettle through prior releases on Leng. Danish duo Liminal, who made their debut earlier this year with the much-played ‘Keep Coming Back To Me’, open proceedings with the tactile, slow-disco flex of ‘Tzatziki Bay’ where sweet synth melodies and a heady electric piano riff ride a warming groove.
Roberto Intrallazzi and Dario Piana from Italy’s original Afro-cosmic movement return with ‘Plutos’, a typically deep dubbed-out cosmic chugger. Then there’s Rose Robinson AKA Tigerbalm, whose ‘Mexicana’ featuring singer Joi N’Juno is presented across the package in two different forms. Pete Herbert, who contributed to some of the earliest Leng releases, drops a driving dub disco take on the main compilation, while Robinson’s original mix – a more organic, percussive and horn-heavy affair blessed with plenty of hallucinatory intent – opens the bonus 10”.
There’s a welcome return to Leng for the brilliant Payfone, whose ‘Dime Algo’ is a typically classy, analogue-rich affair in which attractive Rhodes riffs, atmospheric female vocals and pitched-down house pianos rise above shuffling drum machine beats and a slow-motion bassline. Long-serving label contributor Lex (Athens) delivers the loose-limbed nu-disco breeze of ‘Stolen Dance’, while the imprint’s San Francisco connection – the ever-brilliant 40 Thieves collective – drop the dubbed-out Bay Area brilliance of ‘Such A Great Trip’.
Then there are the contributions of the label’s most storied artist, Andrew Meecham AKA Emperor Machine with ‘Eumig’, a deliciously slow, synth-rich chugger full of colourful chords, bubbly electronic melodies and jaunty electronic bass. Then, to round off the bonus 10” single, Meecham joins forces with Paul Murphy (as Mudd) on ‘Road To Nikko’, an extended, Japanese musical culture-influenced slab of pitched-down alien-funk packed to the rafters with squelchy synth sounds, effects-laden percussion, chiming melodies and rubbery bass guitar.
