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Australia's Nightime Drama welcome Steven Tang and label associate Trinity for a new collaborative EP that comes with two originals and remixes by Basic Soul Unit and Daniela La Luz.
Tang has long been serving up space age techno sounds on his own Obsolete Music Technology and the likes of Smallville, and Trinity is a DJ, live act and producer from Sydney who plays key clubs around Europe and releases on Counter Pulse and Coincidence as well as this one.
Innermost Search opens the EP with supple and rubbery drums carrying you off into the cosmos as spaced out pads bring real scale and emotional depth. It's a cinematic house track with vivid imagery. Then comes a remix from Dekmantel's Toronto mainstay Basic Soul Unit that is much more busy and robust. A wide lead synth line sprays about above drums which are much bigger and heavier. It's prime warehouse material to get people marching.
Tang & Trinity's Adrifting Voyage then slips back into a deep, cerebral house groove with oodles of reverb and dubby chords cut though by icy hi hats and transcendental pads. Last of all, Berlin's Daniela a La Luz (who has released on the likes of Cocoon and !K7) remixes this one into a lively, nimble house track with curious melodic riffs and tough drums appealing to both head and heel. It rounds out a fresh and powerful EP of futuristic house music.

Since 2010, Jackie House aka Jacob Sperber has been driving the A&R side of the San Francisco dance-music troupe running the HNYTRX label and producing remixes with other members under the Honey name. Putting label duties on hold in 2013 Sperber cocooned into his music studio, entering as a brave brunette and exiting as an ambitious blonde. "Stydive" is Jackie's debut to wax and has as much house-party in it as it does warehouse 4am. With a vocal sample nod to punk's past, 'Stydive' pogo dances to dusty and stuttering live/analog drum rhythms and skips along a rude and infectious bass-line. Bound to find lovers of all persuasions for its dub-esque qualities, instantly recognizable hook, and open relationship with house music, this tune begged to have it's own side. That said, there is always room for some Matrixxman who takes Stydive to a strobe lit South of Market darkroom in his remix on the B. Spurting erotic lazers around a cavernous kick, this tune finishes off even the most experienced edger.

finally repressed !

Here we go with the third edition of "Parquet Most Wanted", featuring another 4 top-notch productions by SOLEE, BOSS AXIS & MICROTRAUMA, UNIQUE REPEAT and MASHK & WHOMI! Already huge DJ support by Dirty Doering (Katermukke), Uner (Cadenza / Diynamic), Oliver Schories (SOSO / Der Turnbeutel), Aka Aka (Burlesque Musique), Reboot (Cocoon), Sascha Braemer (WhatIPlay / Dantze), Eelke Kleijn (Spinnin / Toolroom) and many more. Don´t miss this master class collection of deep melodic sound!

Zosh! is no debut but its the first track since ages. Gunjah releases
a maturred record with his longterm experience from countless hours
behind the decks. With a lot of precision and clean arrangement this
is nothing besides the rest..its Techno on the point. The Remix is coming from a man who - like Gunjah - breathes electronic music since years: Daniel Stefanik. (Cocoon, Mobilee, Freude Am Tanzen, Moon Harbour).

Fort Romeau debuts on Rekids with the ‘Lovin’ U’ EP.

The British producer's three-track release lands this September. London-based DJ and producer Fort Romeau arrives on Rekids with the ‘Lovin’ U’ EP, releasing 11th September 2026. Opening the release, the title track beams sunshine through 8-bit melodies and a repeating, hypnotic vocal shot through with tasteful echoes, all underpinned by a tight drum groove. ‘No Limit’ dives into more of that endless depth, its vocal sample floating over the groove as delectable piano keys bring the party. Closing things out, the Trip Mix of ‘Breathe’ eases the pace, snappy rhythms laying the foundation while dubby chords spring through a track built for daydreaming.

Fort Romeau, aka Michael Greene, has spent more than a decade shaping a sound that blends deep house, hypnotic techno and ambient influences. His productions have appeared on labels including Ghostly International, Running Back, Live at Robert Johnson, Cocoon and Permanent Vacation, alongside more than 100 remixes for a wide range of artists. As a DJ, he's contributed mixes to BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix, the Resident Advisor Podcast and Circoloco Radio, while his latest EP for Rawax became one of Juno's bestselling records of 2026.

The acclaimed compilation series returns with volume 4! Fourteen tracks showcasing the most exciting emerging voices in Belgian jazz, ready to claim a permanent spot on your turntable.

The latest instalment in the celebrated compilation series once again shines a spotlight on the most adventurous and forward-thinking artists emerging from Belgium's jazz scene. Curated by Belgian tastemaker, DJ and broadcaster Lefto Early Bird, the collection continues a tradition of uncovering hidden gems and introducing them to a wider audience of dedicated diggers.

Over the years, the Jazz Cats series has become a trusted barometer of Belgium's ever-evolving jazz landscape. Long before many artists gained international recognition, they first appeared on these compilations, making the series both a discovery platform and a snapshot of one of Europe's most exciting musical ecosystems.

Jazz Cats Volume 4 captures a scene bursting with creativity, diversity and ambition. Across fourteen carefully selected tracks, the compilation explores the many directions contemporary Belgian jazz is taking today. Jazz, hip-hop, electronic music, afrobeat, spiritual jazz and experimental sounds coexist effortlessly throughout the collection.

The opening stretch of the compilation, led by Brussels-based Irreversible Entanglements band member Aquiles Navarro, Ola Tunji and HelenaCasella, offers an early glimpse into a scene that rarely stands still. Their music moves freely between traditions and contemporary influences, reflecting less concern with preserving genres than expanding them. Artists such as Lupo Spaccaro and Kunde, joined here by the raw soul voice of Fred Gata, draw inspiration from hip-hop and contemporary beat culture, yet neither approaches these influences in a conventional way. Instead, they reveal how naturally these sounds have become part of the vocabulary of a new generation of jazz musicians.

Experimentation emerges as another defining thread. KVR and BREAD FOR PIGEONS embrace unpredictability through unexpected textures, shifting atmospheres and confident compositional choices, creating music that constantly challenges expectations. Elsewhere, artists like Gaiko and VLIEGWERK favor immersive soundscapes that reward repeated listening. Whether there's a connection between musical adventurousness and a preference for capital letters remains a question for future research.

At the heart of the compilation lies a strong sense of movement and groove. Ragini Trio and Foutloos approach that rhythm from different angles, yet both build their music around powerful, pulsating foundations. Their tracks need close attention, revealing layers of detail and low-end richness that practically demand to be experienced on a proper sound system.

By the time it reaches its closing chapter, Lucid Lucia, SLAGADER and Kuna Maze bring the focus back to forward motion. Jazz and funk-infused grooves provide a fitting finale, reminding us that however far these artists push the jazz genre, they never lose sight of its ability to connect, uplift and move people.

The result is a body of work that feels remarkably cohesive despite its diversity: a portrait of a scene that continues to evolve through curiosity, collaborationand constant reinvention.

Excited to share this bomb new release from Scottish techno/house legend Stephen Brown, whose discography reads like a Who's Who of classic techno labels: Transmat Detroit, Djax-UpBeats, Cocoon, Subject Detroit, Theory...

With its instantly recognisable vocal hook, Test 1 is a bona fide, party-starting hand grenade of a tune and destined for track ID requests wherever it drops. Backed by the raw, Chi-town groover Move It (which wouldn't have sounded out-of-place on one of Brown's Djax-up-Beats releases: all off kilter pads, detuned hats and a slamming kick) plus the deeper Tell Him, itself a masterclass in subtlety and groove, this 3-tracker really is quite a package.

All killer: no filler, The Safari EP is essential for fans of proper underground house & techno. Stephen Brown's releases have been falling into the "buy-on-sight" bracket for DJs in the know for many moons now. This release is no different! High quality from Edinburghs finest.

New York’s Ma Sha brings wigged-out rhythms to Nerve Collect with an explosive, future-facing new EP. The six tracks prove she is bound by no rules but knows exactly how to energise the club.

Ma Sha deals in sounds that operate outside the usual boundaries and demand full-bodied, physical reactions. She has become a driving force in the New York underground with Kindergarten, which is both a much-loved party and a much hyped label. Though built on global techno foundations, Sha’s grooves range from peak-time brain melters to more twisted and rugged, always at high tempo and with plenty of invention on labels like Steel City Dance Discs and Rhythm Section International.

‘Salpa’ opens with a clipped rhythm drenched in neon and psychedelic swirls as oversized bass cocoons from below with glitchy vocal fragments and hard but bouncy techno momentum. ‘Gillz’ swallows you in waves of bass and rubber kicks while screwy synths spray across the mix while a syncopated broken beat brings irresistible funk to a post-human world. ‘Shots’, a collab track with Hodge, works in overdrive with rising tones and liquid metal textures that trap you in a hall of mirrors. Intense club pressure builds with pristine percussion and hyperreal vocals.

‘Spinmachine’ is a freaky sound world of fuzzy synths, cantering drums and static electricity that is full of threat and never lets go. ‘Total Energy’ locks into rolling drums and hyping swing with descending leads and a sense of future rave chaos designed for sheer dance floor release.

Ma Sha’s sound designs feel beamed back from the future to rewire familiar rhythms that tickle the brain as they make their way through your entire body.

K' Alexi Shelby is a prominent figure in electronic music with a career spanning decades. The cultivation of his massive music catalogue has overflowed into albums and the three labels he heads. It's also led to legendary collaborations with artists like The Pet Shop Boys, Robert Owens, Kenny Dixon, Roy Davis Jr., Joe Smooth, Steve Silke Hurley, Tyree Cooper, Ron Trent, Glenn Underground, Larry Heard, DJ Pierre, Carl Craig, Felix da Housecat, Marshall Jefferson and more. He makes a welcome return to COD3 QR with the jazzy house of opening track, "House Music de Chicago".

Voltaire has built his career through passion and a perfectionist approach to music, creating a richly emotional eclecticism, with inspiration from the pioneers of Detroit to the glorious electro decades of the 2000s and 2010s. Today he's a COD3 QR regular and released his debut album, "Echoes" on the label last year. He leans into the realms of house with a deep techy edge, for new track "Some House".

Finder is the alias of Radial (Jeroen Liebregts), originally from The Netherlands but today residing in Spain. He started mixing records around '98 and in 2002 teamed up with Bas Mooy to started the now legendary label, Audio Assault. He's also released on Token, Perc Trax, Mote-Evolver, Numb, Drumcode, Planet Rhythm, Mord, Will & Ink and MDR, alongside his label, Radial Records. As Finder he goes in a new direction with "Team Dream".

Benny Rodrigues a.k.a. ROD's other moniker, The Lost Souldancer has already seen him drop "No More Voices" and "Life and Death" for the label. In his own words, Benny says: "The Lost Souldancer is about coping with the loss of what once was. Finding comfort in the invisible rather than what can be seen. Disconnect to connect in order to be loved rather than liked." He returns with another emotional journey on "Magnolia".

Producer and manager of Slates Records, Squal G is a French artist who has been passionate about electronic music since the '90s. Initially a DJ, he soon turned to machines and computers. This enabled him to progress with his production and remixes. He never tries to stick to a single style, which, depending on his inspiration, can lead him to be more or less hard, while remaining in the spirit of techno. A popular COD3 QR regular, he's back with the intense techno of "Crackle".

French producer, DJ and live artist, Electric Rescue is world renowned. His productions have been signed on labels like Cocoon, Virgo, Arts, F Communications, COD3 QR, Soma, Sci + Tec, Boys Noize and his own Skrypto¨m. Ahead of his forthcoming artist album (to be released on COD3 QR in October) he closes the vinyl with the electro-tech and wonderfully wonky machine funk of "Internet Was an Illusion".

NU-S3RVO Vol. 2 is the second compilation released by NU-S3RVO. In this release, we continue our exploration of the sounds of modern East Asia, shifting our focus toward female creators within the local scene. This album features works from seven producers based in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, spanning genres from Ambient and Bass to IDM and Techno.

The juxtaposition of “Eastern” and “Female” is not intended to annotate a specific identity, but rather to present an entirely autonomous field. For too long, the “East” has been constructed as a feminine, mysterious, and sensory-indulgent mirror of the “Other.” Such aesthetic norms act not only as gendered shackles but as extensions of colonial logic, forcing both women and the East to share a fate of being “spectacularized” for the gaze. Electronic music, as a creative medium, derives its radical freedom precisely from its departure from this destiny of “spectacle.” It represents the oscillator’s transcendence of physical acoustics and functions as a liberatory technology, offering creators a sanctuary to dismantle traditional constraints and reconstruct the self. In fact, since the inception of modern sound, women have been at the very core of inventing and defining the technologies, interfaces, and expressive techniques of the craft.

Stripping away the romanticized and semioticized cultural shells, each local artist in this compilation is a master of diverse technical crafts. Through their unique logic and emotional resonance, we aim to establish a decentralized acoustic language within the fissures of modern civilization.

Warehouse Find!

Time to welcome Soul 223 to the label with his debut Delusions EP entitled Fear Of Stopping. Something of a complete legend in our eyes and ears, Steve Pickton has been releasing top drawer tuneage for over two decades both as Stasis on influential labels such as B12 and Peacefrog and more recently as Soul 223 on equally well regarded imprints like Delsin, Soul Jazz and Neroli. Always one to shy away from any limelight or self promotion it's true to say that this underrated British producer remains something of an anomaly, staying true to his underground roots where faceless, shadowy and obscure reigns supreme over the latest over-exposed cover star. This ethos naturally carries through into his music where you will always find both expansive beauty and unrefined rawness in equal measures ensuring his tracks always sound fresh rather than over produced or contrived.

Fear Of Stopping opens the EP with a low-slung disco groove providing the backbone for intermittent pad washes and reversing stabs. The focus here is firmly on the drums and simple conga riff with thankfully very little else to deter you from this sublime slice of abstract dance music.

Next up we have a remix from another ridiculously talented producer who chooses quality over quantity, having only ever had one release under his own name, albeit for one of the most respected labels in the world; Rush Hour. Maxi Mill came to our attention having released one of the tracks of 2011 namely To The Next. On this, his first ever solo remix he brings a brilliant bump to the EP with a raw, warehousey and bass-heavy workout. Just the right amount of strings and pads keep the deep vibe intact but the filtering bass and jacking drums definitely take this one to the floor.

Flipping over we have Walberswick in it's Hoist Covert Mix incarnation. Almost thirteen minutes of spaced out, deep Detroit house music awaits you, ready to lure you in and cocoon you with it's warm and hypnotizing machine funk. Lovely to hear the old Stasis influence working it's way into this one sounding both decidedly old-school and completely futuristic and otherworldly as only the best tracks ever do.

Closing the EP we have Birdbrook Rain dropping the BPM's for a beautifully sparse track that brings with it an almost desolate and disconnected feeling, echoing synths providing a naive melody while a dusty pad shifts simply beneath. A little slice of magic concluding a fresh and interesting EP, we hope you agree.

Emanuel Satie returns to Crosstown Rebels with his expansive new three-track EP, ‘A Love Fantasy’. Releasing on 19th June 2026, the Lisbon-based artist delivers his first full EP in three years, exploring the deeper, more emotive corners of his sound, alongside a collaboration with Bruno Roth.

German DJ/producer Emanuel Satie returns to Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels with ‘A Love Fantasy’, a three-track EP that captures an artist equally at home in peak-time spaces as in more introspective territory. Bending emotional depth with groove-led energy, Emanuel continues to refine a sound that balances timeless house sensibilities with a sharp modern edge, following acclaimed releases on Innervisions, Diynamic, Cocoon, and more. Having already released on the label with ‘Personal Liberation’ back in 2021, his return brings three tracks of late-night house bliss.

Title cut ‘A Love Fantasy’ brings soulful vocals, vibrant chords, and crisp rhythms, shaping the deep-rooted energy felt across the EP. On ‘Touch’, he links with Ibiza’s Bruno Roth for a deeper excursion guided by sweeping melodies and fluid movement – born from collaborations between the pair that began in the years following the pandemic. To close, second solo track ‘Some Love’ leans further into melody and emotion, rounding out the release with an uplifting finish.

Over the past few years, Emanuel has continued to solidify his place as one of the most consistent artists around. From Beatport chart-toppers and DJ Awards recognition to standout records and his role within internationally renowned collective SCENARIOS, his output continues to bridge underground credibility with global dancefloor appeal.

Salin, gefeierte Schlagzeugerin, Produzentin und Komponistin, geboren in Thailand, wohnhaft in Kanada, ist bekannt für ihre innovative Verschmelzung globaler Rhythmen. Ihr bahnbrechendes Album "Rammana" erhielt 2025 eine JUNO-Nominierung als "Global Music Album of the Year" und wird nun flächendeckend auf Tonträger erhältlich. "Rammana" ist eine zutiefst persönliche Reise, die die Klänge Nordostthailands mit dem psychedelischen Soul Westafrikas der 1970er-Jahre verwebt – gefiltert durch Salins modernen Produktionsstil. Inspiriert von traditionellen Trommeln und Volksliedern der Urak Lawoi, einem indigenen Nomadenvolk Thailands, ist Salins Album eine Hommage an die musikalische Migration und den Austausch zwischen Ost und West. Ihre Musik reflektiert Themen wie Identität, Spiritualität und Menschlichkeit, gepaart mit einer Prise Lebensfreude, und erschafft eine einzigartige Klangreise für die Zuhörer. Salin tourte durch Nordamerika und Europa (u.a. Jazztage Dresden, Überjazz, Trans4JAZZ-Festival, JazzOne+ Festival) und trat als Support für Kokoroko und Yussef Dayes auf.

London-based DJ, producer, singer, and Fine Human Records owner Dino Lenny returns to vinyl releases on his own label.

Two fast-paced tracks that meander through waves of dark electronica and diabolical synths.

These tracks were created to capture the inner workings of Lenny's mind, transforming them into hypnotic works.

With releases on R&S, Diynamic, Innervisions, Rekids, Crosstown Rebels, Strictly Rhythm, Cocoon, and his own Fine Human Records label,

has remixed and collaborated with Underworld, Missy Elliott, Wu-Tang Clan, and Madonna,

Lenny has long held a firm foothold in both the underground and mainstream electronic music scene.

Consistently supported by Laurent Garnier, Carl Cox, Sven Vath, he maintains a presence that spans multiple scenes without being defined by just one.

Since 2021, he has hosted Tomorrowland's CORE radio show, featuring artists such as Nina Kraviz, Ellen Allien, Ame and Sven Vath

Chins For Lefty is the debut album and first recording by Gichard, a new duo chronicling the absurdities of end-stage capitalism and mouldering social rituals from their vantage point in Glasgow, Scotland. Recorded primarily in the band’s home studio straight to tape, Chins For Lefty combines gorgeous, ramshackle melody, DIY kosmische punk, drum machine + synth and, in vocalist/lyricist Lisa Jones, an absurdist commentator on the human condition as it navigates the anxieties of the modern world. Instrumentalist Chas Lalli’s swirling music accompaniment stitches an evocative mix of musical styles, the ragged wind beneath the lyrics’ wings.

Although the duo first collaborated in their previous group Dragged Up, their disparate musical and artistic backgrounds make for an alluring mix in Gichard. Lalli has spent the last 20 years in the Glasgow underground, most notably in the noise rock group VOM, while Lisa Jones’s practice was in poetry and spoken word. Beginning as co vocalist in her previous band, in Gichard her lyrics are centre stage; the vision concocted alongside Lalli amounts to a total world-build.

Chins For Lefty scans almost like a novel, with each track elucidating a skewed universe that bears only some resemblance to the one you and I partake in. Like all works of fiction Gichard’s songs are rooted in reality and the lived experiences of its authors, but here characters are exaggerated, social mores and habits are pulled apart to reveal their inherent alienness. Universal emotions are laid bare, the bright light of anxious examination searching out every hairline fracture in our relationships. Distorted and cracked, the mirror that Gichard hold up to our world is also pretty damn funny.

Opener Cholesterol Test launches an expansive, cosmic guitar and synth intro that belies the Tascam-tape recorder it was recorded onto, like a Chromatics cut substituting anxiety for overt sexuality. Here Jones intones an apology to a non-responsive recipient, in the medium of a long voice note forensically deconstructing an interaction from the night before. Over punk guitars and shuffling, lo-fi drum machine splutters, the narrator in Asking The Apes “prefers things to people” before being taken hostage in the city zoo to confess an obsession which consumes the protagonist, ending with the immortal two liner “I sleep in a cocoon of old newspapers at the end of your street / And I think I have been fired from my job,” On album standout Posthumous Hologram, the narrator is faced with a human simulacra, in this case an undead pop star; the face of the encroaching technological singularity. Yes, it does requests, it can do My Way in 200 different language options. But what are the implications? While you’re left pondering, the alternating deadpan verse delivery and undeniably catchy chorus keep you company.

By the time Break Up With Johnny Dogbirth rattles into view, the band are satirising a suburban inanity blown up to cartoon proportions, soundtracked with a drawled musicality that recalls Rowland S. Howard’s post-Birthday Party balladeering. This approach is furthered on Human Resources: over an angular guitar+bass track, Jones’s short story recalls Dry Cleaning’s erudite lyrical post punk. On Soft Face, Lalli’s guitar and drum machine are swathed in echo and delay, as Jones dissects dating rituals with a west of Scotland drollness. Hamming It Up brings a porcine perspective in a short story that begins with the line “I was breastfeeding discreetly in the service station. She didn’t mind.” What follows is a passage punctured with canned laughter and a narrative involving tribute acts, modern farming techniques.

Brilliant first single Your Private Hell closes the album, the closest the group get to earnest perhaps, filtered through a surreal central Scottishness. While Your Private Hell might seem like a sardonic take down of romance, perhaps it’s the very distillation of love in all its awkwardness, selflessness and weirdness. Here there’s a distinctive Glasgow-ness to this doomed romance: the protagonist falls for an outsider, offers them cheap jarred hot dogs and carbolic soap (the infamous, excoriating soap dished out in schools and government buildings throughout Scotland), offers to cover up a murder, stalks them in the all-night Spar. It’s a short story of intrigue, murder and the irresistible pull of self-sacrifice to share in someone else’s suffering. If that’s not love, what is it? You can see this vision mapped out in black and white on their video for 'Your Private Hell'.

James Ruskin's Blueprint Records continue the 30th anniversary with another label stalwart as Mark Broom returns with his new EP, "Reality Check".



Mark Broom is a renowned British techno DJ and music producer whose career spans over three decades. Throughout his career, Broom has released over 150 singles, showcasing his versatility across various sub-genres of electronic music. He has collaborated with esteemed record labels such as Defected, Rekids, Warp, Ifach, M-Plant, Cocoon, Glitterbox and his own Beard Man (launched in 2009).



In addition to his solo projects, Broom has engaged in numerous collaborations. He partnered with James Ruskin to form The Fear Ratio, exploring experimental sounds that blend elements of hip-hop, IDM and techno with four albums (to date) on Skam Records, Tresor and of course, Blueprint. Another highlight has been their "Ruskin & Broom" EPs which have peppered the label's roster.Now based in Norfolk (England), Broom continues to be a driving force in the techno scene.



His work has been described as ranging from "club-ready techno and house to left-field electro, downtempo and IDM" highlighting his adaptability and broad musical range.? Returning to his driving Techno roots, his "Reality Check" EP is an essential release for fans of both Broom and Blueprint.

Born 2 Be Free celebrates the naughtier end of the house and garage spectrum with a first volume in this new Low End Guerrillas series. Mista Men's 'Corner' has muggy blasts of bass that cocoon you in warmth as lively garage drums and nimble synth motifs keep things fresh. Mella Dee brings his usual sonic filth to the rugged analogue grind of 'A Way Of Life'. No Brainers then layer up a bubbly mix of top and hits over driving bass notes on 'Not Again', then Lvpica's 'Funky:Mission' keeps it deep and moody with a shadowy bassline and slick drums for cool cats. Live From The Moon shuts down with the more eerie and suspenseful 'Parrot In The Studio.' Characterful tools from font to back.

Rolando’s back in the game with Syncrophone Remixes Vol.2—flipping DJ Qu’s “Undescribed3,” Detect Audio’s “Synchronize,” and Anthony Shake Shakir’s “Arise.” Three exclusive remixes, pure underground techno for real heads. Detroit spirit, cop this 12” before it disappears!

DJ Feedbacks :


Honey Dijon : DJ Qu is the one for me. Will def support!
Raresh (ar:pi:ar) : super! thanks
Truncate : Thanks!
The Advent : Smooth bgrooves on here.. 3 - Anthony 'Shake' Shakir - Arise (Rolando Remix)
Anika Kunst (Symbolism / RSPX) : Cool release. Arise rmx is beautiful. Thanks!!
Harvey Sutherland (MCDE / PPU / Voltaire Records) : DJ Qu flip for me, thanks!
Scott Grooves : The Shake is the one
Satoshi Tomiie (Abstract Architecture) : Wooow hot hot hot
Roman Fluegel (Roman Fluegel, Dial, Cocoon, Playhouse, Robert Johnson) : The Remix for Shake is the one for me.
Erol Alkan (Phantasy Sound) : Downloading Thanks!
Enrica Falqui (ERIS, Plexus 4) : I like it!
Daniel Avery (Phantasy / Fabric) : Awesome
Laurent Garnier : cool release
Elisa Bee : Only love for Rolando, thanks x
Slam (Soma) : Brilliant - thanx
San Proper (Perlon / Rush Hour / Proper's Cult) : Totally what i needed to hear, Rolando remixing Shake & Q, my heroes lined up. I will enjoy playing all 3 mixes. One Love.
Axel Boman (Studio Barnhus) : killer remixes!
Terry Farley : DJ Qu mix my fave - heads down LETS GURN
D'Julz (Bass Culture) : great work !
gilbr (Dj Gilb'R / Chateau Flight (Versatile)) : Like the Shakir remix thanks for sending
Ben Sims : Now downloading... will check asap!
Lea Lisa (Phonica Records / Folklor Club) : mental, really good one
Dj Deep (Deeply Rooted) : Super nice package! Dj Qu's Undescribed3 remix for me here! Thank you
Mike Shannon (Cynosure) : Rrrrreeeeemix!! Thx
Efdemin (Dial) : Wonderful remix package!
Inland (Inland) : Hellooo. These are great. Qu and Shake versions both killer! Thanks
Kai Alce (Real Soon) : DJ QU remix bangin
Uncertain (RSPX, WRKTRX, Suara) : remix 1 for me
Harri (Sub Club) : very nice all three will play and support
Blasha & Allatt (Meat Free) : Thank you!
Marcel Dettmann : thx
Richie Hawtin (M_Nus) : downloaded for r hawtin
Luke Solomon (Classic / Freaks / Music For Freaks) : all killer
Luke Slater : Thanks Ro!
Ame (Innervisions) : thanks
Felix Dickinson (Futureboogie, Rush Hour, Cynic) : I like this
Geir Aspenes (G-Ha (Sunkissed)) : Thank u
Alienata (about blank) : Very nice remixes, all of them, thx!
Nat Wendell (Depth of My Soul, Courtesy of Balance, Love & Loops) : Dope remixes!
Dave Clarke (white noise radio) : Not my sound, but please keep them coming !

Pioen is the second album by Elisabeth Klinck & Nils Vermeulen, released on blickwinkel. It was recorded in a small chapel of a monastery in the city center of Ghent. A chapel by nature is a place of contemplation and meditation, which automatically had influence on the music. Movements slow down, attention is sharpened and the overwhelming silence of the space becomes part of the music. Sound and silence are meticulously woven into each other. Even when the music grows at times dense and heavy, there is an ever-present sense of closeness and intimacy. This is reinforced by the use of the voice, which naturally appears throughout the album, not as a separate layer but as an extension of the instruments.

The pieces – this time more curated than on their previous album Pair, Paire – arose from hours-long improvisations where sound became space and space became sound. Bringing together violin, double bass and voice, Pioen unfolds as a serene and honest journey, inviting the listener into a state of contemplation.

Elisabeth Klinck is a contemporary violinist, composer and performer based in Brussels, known or her timeless, deep-listening sound worlds. Her album Picture a Frame (2023) and Chronotopia - selected by The Quietus as one of the best albums of 2025 - were released on the Swiss label Hallow Ground. A big part of her work revolves around tactility, fragility, and a very physical approaches to sound.

Nils Vermeulen is a Belgian double bass player active in all varieties of adventurous music. He has played with Paul Lytton, Martin Küchen, Seppe Gebruers, William Parker, John Dikeman, Luis Vicente, among others. He works across many scenes, from free improv to jazz to contemporary classical music, and in many distinct constellations, such as his own groups Kabas and Jukwaa, a Norwegian free jazz trio with Tollef Østvang and Heidi Kvelvane, a string duo with Elisabeth Klinck, and as the double bassplayer of Nemo ensemble. In 2023, he released his debut solo album on Aspen Edities.

The Ruins Of Beverast narrate fables of the darkest secrets in human history and present. ‘Tempelschlaf’ is The Ruins Of Beverast’s seventh full-length output and sees the band continue with their sonic morbidity, noises and melodies of a human habitat in its sunset era, while maintaining and refining the widescreen low end that has been sustaining their sound from the beginning. On the instrumental side, ‘Tempelschlaf’ is stripped of some fat, forging the songs with a reduction in length and layers, cautiously leaning towards the stage part of things. While synths and samples have always played an adamant role in The Ruins Of Beverast’s sound, they reach yet another level of psychedelia and insanity on ‘Tempelschlaf’. The Ruins Of Beverast were formed in early 2003 and named after the most bloodcurdling occasion of the collapse of the giant bridge Bifröst. This incident bears analogy to the musical aura of The Ruins Of Beverast, which builds a sonic landscape of massive, surreal, barren mountain formations. Seven full-length albums and several EPs, splits and compilation releases have been published through Ván Records so far. As a live act, The Ruins Of Beverast became a strong force after Roadburn 2013, a festival the band have played again since with exclusive shows. The Ruins Of Beverast have embarked on several European tours with acts like 1349, Grave Miasma and King Dude, as well as a highly acclaimed US tour that eventually concluded with an iconic show at Fire In The Mountains festival. The band have played such well-established club shows and festivals as Hellfest, Inferno, Incubate, Party.San Open Air and Beyond The Gates, to name just a few.

Searows—aka Pacific Northwest singer-songwriter and guitarist Alec Duckart—is pleased to announce his new album Death in the Business of Whaling, set for release on Friday 23rd January 2026 via Last Recordings On Earth. Though Death in the Business of Whaling arrives as Searows’ second album, it’s the product of many firsts, including his first time recording outside the creative cocoon of his bedroom. His 2022 debut Guard Dog was written, recorded and self-produced in Duckart’s Portland home and independently released with little expectation as to how it would be received. The music soon found a passionate audience that were already sharing snippets of Duckart’s music via communities on TikTok and received co-signs from prominent artists such as Ethel Cain and Gracie Abrams, both of whom he went on to support on tour.

French chanson, electro beats, pared-down or synthetic piano: at 21, Iliona draws on all of this. Plural, multifaceted, elusive. Yet her lyrics resonate as if one were singing heartache—and the love one hopes for—for the very first time.
She composes, records, and produces her tracks alone, determined to keep them as close as possible to the tunes, harmonies, and silhouettes she holds in her mind. This time, they are infused with the light of an intense love, and still carried by extreme sparseness in their arrangements: nothing—from electronic arpeggios to melodic autotune—is ever superfluous; everything has its place. Lifted by a new lightness, the tracks also echo the spirit of the yéyé sound Iliona has been listening to for a few years, without necessarily knowing the name of every songwriter or the mark they left behind. It’s their longing for carefree abandon that hovers over the hypnotic Si tu m’aimes demain and its music video inspired by the New Wave, the Beatles, and all those future memories you begin to build when you’re in love.


A gentle warmth also sweeps through the hazy doo-wop contours of Tête brûlée, and the lo-fi twist of Cocoon; but always with that veil of shadow that once floated over the apparent nonchalance of Françoise Hardy’s songs. That unease, that worried smile, resurfaces in the lovely pop gallop of Garçon manqué, an ode to the deepest friendships—the ones you hold in your arms to dance or, sometimes, to cry. Or in the delicate Cent fois, which whispers, “when will the movie scenes we quietly dreamed of come to life?”
The answer, perhaps, lies in wherever you hide, the party finds you, a superb soundtrack to an imaginary drama, whose venomous keyboards unfold the pictorial strength of Iliona’s songs.

-Vinyl

The Ruins Of Beverast narrate fables of the darkest secrets in human history and present. ‘Tempelschlaf’ is The Ruins Of Beverast’s seventh full-length output and sees the band continue with their sonic morbidity, noises and melodies of a human habitat in its sunset era, while maintaining and refining the widescreen low end that has been sustaining their sound from the beginning. On the instrumental side, ‘Tempelschlaf’ is stripped of some fat, forging the songs with a reduction in length and layers, cautiously leaning towards the stage part of things. While synths and samples have always played an adamant role in The Ruins Of Beverast’s sound, they reach yet another level of psychedelia and insanity on ‘Tempelschlaf’. The Ruins Of Beverast were formed in early 2003 and named after the most bloodcurdling occasion of the collapse of the giant bridge Bifröst. This incident bears analogy to the musical aura of The Ruins Of Beverast, which builds a sonic landscape of massive, surreal, barren mountain formations. Seven full-length albums and several EPs, splits and compilation releases have been published through Ván Records so far. As a live act, The Ruins Of Beverast became a strong force after Roadburn 2013, a festival the band have played again since with exclusive shows. The Ruins Of Beverast have embarked on several European tours with acts like 1349, Grave Miasma and King Dude, as well as a highly acclaimed US tour that eventually concluded with an iconic show at Fire In The Mountains festival. The band have played such well-established club shows and festivals as Hellfest, Inferno, Incubate, Party.San Open Air and Beyond The Gates, to name just a few.

Crosstown Rebels reignites Amtrac’s ‘Just’ with fresh remix package, featuring Patrice Bäumel.
Landing 29th August 2025, the emotive 2019 track is reimagined with a powerful take from Bäumel plus a Club Mix from Amtrac himself.

Damian Lazarus welcomes Kentucky-born, Los Angeles-based artist Amtrac to Crosstown Rebels for a special revisit of his much-loved track ‘Just’, originally released in 2019 on his label OPENERS. The 2025 remix package brings fresh interpretations crafted for the dancefloor courtesy of acclaimed German-born, Lisbon-based producer Patrice Bäumel, alongside Amtrac’s own extended Club Mix.
Known for his fearless musical evolution, Amtrac, real name Caleb Cornett, has carved a reputation for bridging genres with emotion-led dance music that resonates both on and off the dancefloor. Revisiting ‘Just’ with Crosstown Rebels marks a new chapter in the track’s journey, opening it up to a new wave of club-ready reinterpretations.

As the original’s shimmering melodies meet fresh layers of rhythm and energy, the result is a record that resonates with both nostalgia and forward motion.
Leading the charge, Patrice Bäumel steps up with a stunning remix that transforms the original into a hypnotic, high-impact dancefloor weapon. Drawing on his storied history of creating euphoric moments on the world’s biggest stages with material on labels such as Kompakt and Cocoon, Patrice infuses his unmistakable, tension-building style, layering driving grooves with cinematic textures. Speaking on the remix,

Rounding out the package, Amtrac himself delivers his own Club Mix, reimagining ‘Just’ with extended energy and a refi ned arrangement built for peak-time sets, highlighting his ever-evolving approach to production and delivering his own vision for the record when transformed for dancefloors.

Rivet’s new album for Editions Mego is an uplifting and joyous affair coming in the wake of tragedy and disenchantment. It is yet another rebirth from an artist willing to take a step back and reprise the current situation he is in. Mika Hallbäck has a long credible history in the Swedish underground. First recognised for his industrial techno works under the Grovskopa moniker he worked privately on more experimental works that eventually came out as On Feather and Wire, an album released on Editions Mego in 2020. After much acclaim for this bold new direction that blended electronic abstraction, pop and industrial forms into a heavy synthetic trip two tragedies struck. One was the passing of label boss Peter Rehberg and then the passing of his dog Lilo, who was as close as a companion one could have. These events led to the release of the more unsettling follow up L+P-2 (Lilo and Pita minus two) on Midnight Shift Records in 2023. Peck Glamour sees Rivet return to the reawakened Editions Mego with an album of optimism inspired by reconciliation with loss and further explorations of new mental/sonic realms.

Hallbäck defines his approach as not being married to any particular machine, instrument, process or genre. However he holds a particular affinity to sampling, of which, he says, provides the dirt and grit amongst what would otherwise be pristine, generic machine music. The contemporary crate digging method of scouring obscure download music bogs for unique sounds was his preferred research practice.

Peck Glamour is an album full of tracks brimming with the excitement of exploration. It's the results of a mind informed by punk, industrial, techno, dancefloor, disappointment, trauma and rebirth. Here the synthetic and authentic is viewed simply as the same means of human rationale and expression.

The opening, ‘Catch Up to Light’, sets the scene with ecstatic and odd fluorescent vocals sliding amongst crystalline likembe whilst synths swirl amongst the external festivities. ‘Orbiting Empty Cocoon’ is somewhat a homage to the alien sound worlds of The Orb, one which takes the listener deeper into a mind melting array of teased potential as visual elements are executed in a mask of audio wizardry and euphoric staccato rhythms, the later being a nod to Singeli music. ‘Patitur Butcher’ is more dance frontal utilising the Ghatam drum and a YouTube rip of a Chinese language lesson. ‘Plastic Bag Putain’ was made during the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and should be clear of its intent. ‘All that Heaven Allows’ is a marimba cover of an imaginary Love Parade anthem. 'Kyrie Geire’ potentially briefly fills the void left by the demise of Coil. The entire trip of Peck Glamour is sewn up with ‘We left before we came’ whereby extraneous recordings of double bass player Gregory Vartian-Foss (tuning/strumming/moving the bass) are superimposed with local field recordings to create a gorgeous bed of sounds acting as an exciting exit music to this sharp collection of cinematic ear excursions.

Sydney's Lipstick Killers released just one single in their lifetime – the perfect ’79 pairing of “Hindu Gods of Love” and ”Shakedown USA”, released on both their own Lost in Space Records and Greg Shaw’s Voxx Records and produced by Deniz Tek of the band's heroes Radio Birdman - but a posthumous live album and a couple of archival releases followed. It was all incredible.

And it was all put together a few years ago on Grown Up Wrong!'s 2CD set Strange Flash! And while the 2LP version of that release included all the studio stuff and the live in LA 1981 set, there was no room for this brain-burning, chaotic live set from '79. Tour De Force, which was recorded for local radio station 5UV, captures the band as they were still emerging from the cocoon that was the Psycho Surgeons.

The Nuggets influences are there, but it's a Stooges influences which dominate proceedings, and definitive readings of both sides of the Psycho Surgeons classic 45 "Wild Weekend"/"Horizontal Action" are included alongside early Killers killers like "Teen Police" and "Sockman" and later faves like "Hindu Gods of Love', "Shakedown USA" and "Dying Boy's Crawl". The band's hot take on the Thirteenth Floor Elevators' "I've Got Levitation" is also featured. There's also plenty of tunes that were only ever captured on tape on this wild night, including "Human Crash", "Crush On You", "Head Off" and "Bully"!

Sydney's Lipstick Killers released just one single in their lifetime – the perfect ’79 pairing of “Hindu Gods of Love” and ”Shakedown USA”, released on both their own Lost in Space Records and Greg Shaw’s Voxx Records and produced by Deniz Tek of the band's heroes Radio Birdman - but a posthumous live album and a couple of archival releases followed. It was all incredible.

And it was all put together a few years ago on Grown Up Wrong!'s 2CD set Strange Flash! And while the 2LP version of that release included all the studio stuff and the live in LA 1981 set, there was no room for this brain-burning, chaotic live set from '79. Tour De Force, which was recorded for local radio station 5UV, captures the band as they were still emerging from the cocoon that was the Psycho Surgeons.

The Nuggets influences are there, but it's a Stooges influences which dominate proceedings, and definitive readings of both sides of the Psycho Surgeons classic 45 "Wild Weekend"/"Horizontal Action" are included alongside early Killers killers like "Teen Police" and "Sockman" and later faves like "Hindu Gods of Love', "Shakedown USA" and "Dying Boy's Crawl". The band's hot take on the Thirteenth Floor Elevators' "I've Got Levitation" is also featured. There's also plenty of tunes that were only ever captured on tape on this wild night, including "Human Crash", "Crush On You", "Head Off" and "Bully"!

Slowly yet firmly blooming into focus, An Unfinished Rose is the new album from Australian duo Troth.

This is their first since relocating to Hobart, Tasmania and their introduction to Night School Records. With a detailed web of past releases on labels A Colourful Storm, Mammas Mysteriska Jukebox, Knekelhuis and Bowman’s own Altered States Tapes imprint, An Unfinished Rose is the group’s most realised and composed work thus far. While still drawing on the improvisatory and DIY practices that informed Troth’s beginnings, it points to a new incarnation of the duo’s music; an intentional language emerging from the fog of obfuscation and mists of uncertainty.

Over these 9 meditations on change, acceptance, renewal and rebirth, An Unfinished Rose finds Amelia Besseny and Cooper Bowman peeling back some of the roughhewn architecture that defined their earlier releases to reveal a masterful - if auto-didactic - use of space and melody. Composition and improvisation compliment and feed each other throughout, with locked-loop earworms providing the springboard for lines of clarinet or synth melody, and the negative space between chord clusters giving ample room for Besseny’s most confident vocal performances to date. Shaving off a little of the defining dissonance and tape compression of old reveals Troth’s music in radiant daylight, humbly accepting of its place in the world while yearning for better, more sympathetic modes of living. Leaning more heavily on acoustic instrumentation and post-production processes than previously, the result is a transcendent body of work infused with an almost zen-like presence.

Troth’s music exists in the border between forming and becoming, its goal to project a kind of preternatural beauty, leaving interpretation open to the listener. Field recordings, happenstance and improvisation may provide seeds for the duo’s compositions, particularly on Side A, but there is a deft touch of songcraft on show. Loam Loom Leaf Litter opens An Unfinished Rose, directly referencing natural cycles of life, death and regeneration, before the blissed-out drum machine groove of Gold Plum continues a discussion concerning the totality of nature and one’s place in it. Besseny’s vocal, swelling like an ocean churn in duet with itself is adorned with synthesised harp and a revolving synth pattern, conjuring plumes of medieval smoke. Thistle’s rounded, bass-heavy drums, nodding to the vast echo of dub, is a relatively new terrain for Troth. It’s propulsive and thumping, pulsing with a meaning and symbolism consistent with Troth’s past work, referenced overtly in Bessey’s lyrics - “Say it too much and it loses its meaning…”. Similarly, the sprawling modern-classical suite, Tides Reflected In Her Eyes, is intentional in its lyrical themes while traversing new ground, revelling in layers of bowed cello and vocal intonations. Side B’s 4 tracks feel like Troth’s most thoroughly accessible and affecting music to date. Leaning into their own detoured version of Synth Pop, Cocoonist explores downtempoisms via a crunchy low frequency synth, and dream-like, fuzzy trip-hop modalities, not unlike Besseny and Bowman’s other group, Th Blisks. Following on, Myrtle Mystes is an open and searching DIY pop song, forged out of drum machine, bass guitar and cello. (An) Unfinished Rose’s title-track is a clear stand-out, built upon an evocative rhythm sample that appears to change emotional resonance with each undulating repetition. Its cascading waves of affect, interjected with a subtle breeze of synth, bowed instrumentation and soaring, densely-layered vocals.

An Unfinished Rose is enveloping, warm, forgiving. Difficult, yet retaining a unique beauty. Troth’s music aims to celebrate the duo;s shared experiences of being in the world, despite the complexity often surrounding us all. Theirs is a message of hope and perseverance, learning and patience.

2024 Repress

Double Vinyl on 140g includes DLC, gatefold sleeve, printed inners. Following the reissue of ‘Hex’ in late 2017, Fire Records reissue Bark Psychosis’ second studio album ‘///Codename:Dustsucker’ (2004) “which finds the band in remarkable form” (Pitchfork). Arriving ten years after the band disbanded, the long-awaited and criminally overlooked follow up brings with it an evolution of their sound. Their experimentations are layered with blissed out electronics, shoegaze, post-rock and jazz are still at its fore as are Sutton’s crystalline vocals. Languid and brooding, the soundscapes are dark and sustained while their “trademark cocoon of limpid, rippling guitar figures and jazzy adornment is buffeted by sharp leftward turns” (Uncut). Recorded in Graham Sutton’s East London DustSuckerSound studio between 1999 and 2004, it features contributions from Talk Talk sticksman Lee Harris and ‘found drumming’ from ex-band member Mark Simnett. Bark Psychosis’

A noughties classic, an earworming anthem, an eventual schoolyard ringtone favourite; Roman Flügel’s once inescapable ‘Geht’s Noch?’ celebrates turning 21 on Running Back, refreshed and remixed by a scene-spanning set of artists paying keen tribute to its absurdist energy.
Casually released as part of a Cocoon Records compilation in 2004, ‘Geht’s Noch?’ rose from the depths with the support of Sven Väth, becoming an international phenomenon, conquering and uniting the dominant scenes of minimal and electroclash alike. Some have said it laid the foundations for the ‘Dirty Dutch’
house scene, albeit from over the border in Germany.
Well known for injecting much-needed levity into the contemporary club landscape via her Live From Earth parties, DJ Gigola adds additional firepower to ‘Geht’s Noch?’, inducing a planet-shaking kick drum, before sending the track’s signature bleeps into nonsensical Morse code for even greater pleasure. Another rave
culture connoisseur, Luca Lozano, offers two alternate takes; his ‘Technocs’ mix rolls deep with additional cowbells, robotic voice commands and stadium-sized claps. Meanwhile, the ‘Gehts Garage Remix’ draws a savvy connection with the original’s as-yet-untapped UK funky potential.
Peder Mannerfelt, who straddles the line between innovation, functionality, humor and seriousness quite like its original author, takes ‘Geht’s Noch?’ to truly wuthering heights. His remix builds unexpected drama and catharsis around the enduring riff, before a collaboration with studio partner Par Grindvik as Aasthma
spins the club out with a glossy, anime-tinted take, full of whimsy and colour.
And while the digital release of Geht’s Noch? also spans interpretations from Audion, Domnik Eulberg & Moguai, this vinyl release presses Steve Angello vs Who’s Who remix to wax, that which helped take ‘Geht’s Noch?’ out of the underground and into the stratosphere. Twenty years on, and Flügel’s offbeat hit is always ascending. Love it or hate it, ‘Geht’s Noch?' will still get you good.
Words by John Loveless

Labelboss Harald Björk presents an energetic and trancy, yet deep and playful minimalistic techno 12" of swirling melodic soundscapes accompanied by raw beats and danceable grooves. A record consisting of four club tracks for different moods of the night. If you enjoyed Harald's track 'Aluco' from the recent Dots & Pearls sampler out on Cocoon Recordings last spring, make some up front room in your bag for this special record. "Something wild, something deep, something acid, something geil!" as the old teshno say goes for a well blended 12". A tense remix package is coming up from Ida Engberg (Kompakt), Gregor Tresher aka Sniper Mode (Turbo Recordings) and Martinou (Nous'klaer/Mule Musiq).

Milky Chance are preparing to release their first official live album, "Live From Vienna (FM4 Session)". The recording captures the magic of Milky Chance's captivating performance with the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. This special release features fan favorites across all of their catalog including "Flashed Junk Mind," "Don't Let Me Down", a stunning rendition of "Tainted Love," all reimagined with breathtaking orchestral arrangements. Most recently, their global smash "Living In A Haze'" reached over 100 million streams and 1.2 Billion Tiktok views. Along with hits "Colorado" and "Synchronize", "Living In A Haze'" featured on their fourth studio album of the same name which was released in June 2023 on their own Muggelig Records. Delivering over 600 million streams, achieved Gold certification in Germany and Canada and debuted on charts across the globe including the US, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. In 2024, the band achieved the highest streams ever for some of their biggest hits including 'Stolen Dance', 'Flashed Junk Mind' and 'Down By The River' of which all songs have been reimagined on this special live release. Pre-order "Live From Vienna (FM4 Session) now and get 'Flashed Junk Mind', 'Living In A Haze', 'Cocoon' and 'Fado' instantly and experience Milky Chance like never before. Milky Chance: "After ten years of our band's journey, it was exciting to give our music a new form and let the songs shine anew. Instead of merely accompanying our tracks with an orchestra, we aimed to create a cohesive band experience. Through the new arrangements, we have built a bridge between modern electronic music and the classical orchestral world. It has exceeded our expectations, and we are very happy to have had this opportunity."

Demonstrating the poignant power of experience + human connection + innate musicality + operating in the present moment, Jeff Mills' Spiral Deluxe collective unveil their second album - The Love Pretender. Driven by the free expression and creativity of improvised performance, Spiral Deluxe is an electronic jazz fusion project comprised electronic music visionary Jeff, along with legendary keyboardist Gerald Mitchell (Underground Resistance/ Los Hermanos), Japanese rocker Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter/Cornelius) on Moog synthesizer and the Japanese bassist, adopted New Yorker, Kenji "Jino" Hino - son of Terumasa Hino, the world famous jazz trumpeter. Together, the four key players formed a band centred around completely improvised journeys through sound.

During their unrestrained performances, what Jeff describes as sonic "conversations" arose between the musicians, as they each contributed to full-length live shows, and studio sessions. Within the boundless parameters of freeform spontaneity, they developed an unspoken understanding of one another, finding balance and poise within the unplanned performances. The resulting recordings have been used for three releases so far: Two EPs, Kobe Session (2016) and Tathata (2017), and their debut album Voodoo Magic in 2018. With The Love Pretender, we're presented with another stunning collection of "tracks" extracted from one long improv session.

With each musician proficient in their specialism and, of course, an all-out music lover, the communication between the group members became almost telepathic. Very little preparation was needed, and their performances flowed naturally and organically. This can be heard, and felt, throughout The Love Pretender. Tracks like 'The Soloist' evolve effortlessly, each new shift subtly influenced by one of the musicians nudging the conversation into a different phase, and the rest responding accordingly, or vice versa. It's music that embodies the true nature of mindfulness and letting go of fear. In their unstructured, liberated cocoon the artists thrive and create musical moments that have, fortunately, been captured for us all to immerse ourselves in. Jazzy notes fill the air, combined with electronic bass, synthesised beats, sparkling keys and an all-round warm and welcoming atmosphere, with the slight edge you can only get from improvised performance.

Sylvain Luc's posthumous appearance on the album is of significance too. The French guitarist died in March 2024 at the age of 59. His natural flair adds another dimension to the album, bringing a touch of that laid back 1980s American California Coast feeling to tracks such as 'Society's Man'. These contributions to the LP, recorded separately, add character - a final sprinkling of humanity to complement the aliveness and presence of this body of work. Three other musicians also added their creative energy to the project. They were; TOKU, a Japanese jazz musician who specialises in wind instruments, especially the cornet, trumpet and flugel horn. And there's Masa Shimizu, who also has wide-ranging with the guitar, as well as being a producer.

Themes on the album include the optimism one can have by simply trusting the process and trusting that everything will work out in the end. By playing together in the way they do, Spiral Deluxe place their trust in the mystery of what will happen next. Getting comfortable with not knowing is key to a sense of peace with regard to the future and this energy is vital to their collective musical output. By embracing the notion of the unknown, you become an eternal optimist, living in the moment, rather than projecting into the future. This cultivates excitement, an antidote to anxiety.

Meanwhile, the title alludes to the shifts and changes that have occurred in today's society, whereby it's possible to achieve success through pretending. The superficiality, and falsehood, that can often be presented via social media, can lead to questions about what's real and what's not. From AI to the fake personas that populate the dominant platforms, The Love Pretender speaks to a process that is symbolic of the time we're living in. Behaviour that has become acceptable in today's world, which may not have been as welcomed a few decades ago. But this is part of the cycle of life...

Jeff's intention with this music is to present it in high-fidelity, to be listened to over and over and over again. In post-recording he worked for hours to ensure the audio quality was as high as it could be. The goal is to create music that people can live with their entire lives, from his solo work to these masterful improvisations. Music that comes to life, music that has a voice we can replicate with our own vocals. Expressive, unstructured, and alive...

With The Love Pretender Jeff Mills continues his mission to experiment with music outside the bounds of what is typically expected. It's freeing, enlivening, vibrant and uniquely human. As ever, Jeff's visionary outlook and bold approach to musical performance and recording has produced a body of work that epitomises his often revolutionary capabilities. There's no pretending here, just pure unadulterated sonic transmissions from a wonderfully daring, inspiring and optimistic ensemble...

And another! One Eye Witness rounds up 4 more acts to deliver the latest instalment of their V/A series, WITNESS07. The EP brings together names from across Europe: here fresh faces — the likes of Bristol’s JoeLy — rub shoulders with more established dancefloor exponents such as SameSame from Germany and Rome’s Christopher Ledger, all utilising the hypnotic tech house aesthetic championed by O.E.W.

Young Adults’ “It’s Only Temporary” kicks the EP into gear, a perky cut loaded with bounce. The The Hague duo employ a rubbery bassline and sound palette with plenty of boing, whilst working in a playful nod to a certain 1997 Loveparade anthem. Christopher Ledger gets classy on “Change That”, its slinky, steady break keeping hips in motion whilst tricky dubwise FX swirl across the stereo field. JoeLy slows things down and reigns it in with “Transitional”: beneath the filter sweeps, a seductive, sliding acid bassline is accompanied by augmented 303 action. As punchy as it is textural, the fittingly titled “Novel End” by SameSame seems draped in gauze — delicate drones wrap the drums in a soft cocoon, offering something a little more cerebral. WITNESS07: A tech house Tour de Europe, brought to you by Amsterdam’s all-seeing eye!

"Girl Missing" ist das zweite Album von Albertine Sarges, der einzigartigen Berliner Künstlerin, die bereits mit Holly Herndon, Colin Self, Kat Frankie und B O D I E S zusammengearbeitet hat und Teil des italienischen Synthwave-Duos Ostia ist, und folgt auf Albertines gefeiertes Debüt von 2021, "The Sticky Fingers". "Girl Missing" lädt die Zuhörer zu einer intimen Erkundung der Schwesternschaft, der Widerstandsfähigkeit und der Überwindung von Trauer ein und geht dabei mit einer großen Portion Positivität und Ermutigung für das hervor, was vor uns liegt. Die Entstehung des Albums fand in einer Zeit persönlichen Verlusts statt. Als eine enge Freundin vermisst wurde, schrieb Albertine unveröffentlichte Skizzen, überarbeitete sie und baute langsam ein musikalisches Mosaik auf, das ihr Verständnis von Abwesenheit zum Ausdruck brachte. "Ich habe eine klingende Biografie der Liebe geschaffen", überlegt sie und verwebt dabei die Themen weiblicher Freundschaft. "Girl Missing" entstand zwischen ihrem Aufnahmestudio in Ostberlin und Margate und ist sowohl nachdenklich als auch verspielt, geprägt von Sarges' flinker Stimmakrobatik. Mit ihrem langjährigen Partner Lo Selbo beschäftigte sich Albertine mit komplizierten Klanglandschaften, arrangierte luftige Flötenstimmen und Chöre, "um Platz für Verletzlichkeit zu schaffen", und nahm dann Vintage-Orgeln und E-Pianos auf, um Wärme und Seelenfülle zu erzeugen, "um den Schmerz zu lindern". Albertines Arbeit wird von einem anhaltenden Gefühl der Sehnsucht angetrieben, einer Kraft, die ihrer Musik poetische Lebendigkeit und eine ansteckende Anziehungskraft verleiht. "Girl Missing" oszilliert zwischen dem Philosophischen und dem zutiefst Emotionalen und vermischt Launen mit Schatten. Das Album endet mit einer verspielten Note ("Wie nennt man einen Fisch ohne i? A fsh."), doch im Kern erzählt es eine lebendige, zutiefst menschliche Geschichte über monumentalen Verlust und die Hoffnung auf Erneuerung. Durch das Nebeneinander scheinbar widersprüchlicher Gefühle entsteht ein Hörerlebnis, das noch lange nachklingt, nachdem die Musik verklungen ist.

Straight from the bustling scene of Brussels comes Nous'klaer Audio's latest signing: an effervescent debut album by the young Belgian-Japanese producer, live-performer, pianist and DJ Gaiko. Gaiko (real name Kaito) bursts onto the scene with a nine-track full-length album that highlights the rich and diverse output of this emerging talent. His first offering spans left-field electronics, IDM and DnB, blending intricate drum-programming with lush synths and contemporary, contrasting piano pieces. The long player has been shaped into a push-and-pull dynamic of tempo and mood, a flow of quests that gradually grow into their entirety. From atmospheric textures to tight, propulsive beats, Gaiko builds layers that ripple into each subsequent track. This contrasting yet complementary energy flows from the tender "Millennium" into the unassuming highs of "Setagaya," while the floating electronica of IDM-leaning tracks "Subdued" and "Ever's Lullaby" build up to standout tracks "Martyr" and "Crush." Gaiko's self-titled debut balances euphoria with introspection through an unusually sophisticated playfulness, a rare quality that makes this vivid young artist all the more promising. The 180g vinyl comes in a heavyweight sleeve with artwork by Loe Duval (aka Barwouf) and includes a download card.

For roundabout a decade now, The Lavender Flu has been pumping their inimitable, underground group-sound way past all manner of lesser modern muck, moving only and always as their varied inspirations prompt them. As players, Chris Gunn, Ben Spencer, and Scott Simmons remain open to where any given moment might take them, which has resulted in thrilling experiences both live and on record at every turn. Tracing The Sand By The Pool, their latest album for In The Red, finds The Flu firing at their most crisp and direct, a full-band collection of meander-free hits triumphantly captured to tape by the lads themselves. Moments will tug, others will stun, but there can be no doubt this new communiqué is their mightiest. The record unfolds from “Within,” born out of a Kiwi brightness that is methodically guided through a series of near-crashes and sly, inward moves, spotlighting the key pillars of the band’s songcraft and tailored to convert the uninitiated. Gunn’s guitar work continues to fascinate and marvel, boasting too many moments of both melodic sweetness and violent shattering to detail here. Their cover of the hangmen’s “I’m Gonna Love You” capably inverts Suicide’s menace to a hopeful, romantic sheen. Of critical note are a pair of guest contributions from The Spatulas’ Miranda Soileau-Pratt, who lends vocals to multiple songs including the deceptive 80s dosed pop of “Snail On The Map”, and The Tube Alloys’ Shelby Jacobson, who takes lead on a cosmos-injected cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “That’s Alright,” as well as “Patron Eyes (Cocoon 2069),” the most vicious, smashingly punk moment the band has unleashed to date. From the jump to its final rest, the album is boundless and full of gifts.

Der in Bristol ansässige irische Produzent Seamus Malliagh kreiert unter dem Namen Iglooghost ungezwungen-detailreiche, elektronische Musik, indem er Juke, Footwork, Punk, Electronica, Hip-Hop und Pop in einen Mixer wirft und ins Unendliche geht. Inspiriert von den alten Frontmännern von Factory Records, Flying Lotus, ARCA und den Metalbands seiner Jugend, entstand sein neues Album in einer alten Werkstatt an der Küste von Kent neben einer Kläranlage, umgeben von alten Stämmen, Abgasen, bedecktem Wetter und rauer See. Sein Ziel war ein Sound, der mehrere Genres miteinander vermischt und aus einer Art Küstenradiosendung aus einer fiktiven Zeitlinie strömt.

- "In jede Ecke und jeden Winkel von Tidal Memory Exos 43-minütiger Laufzeit sind so viele verrückte Ideen, Texturen und Rhythmen gestopft, dass es bemerkenswert ist, dass die Platte ihre thematische Stoßrichtung mit solcher Überzeugung beibehält. Dies ist ein dichtes, langes Stück Science-Fiction der nahen Zukunft, das abstraktes Geschichtenerzählen in gefühlsbetonte, Gänsehaut verursachende Clubmusik kleidet." - Resident Advisor

- "Iglooghosts Tidal Memory Exo ist ein Meisterwerk des Weltenbaus – denken Sie an geomagnetische Stürme, prähistorische Kreaturen, erfundene Mikro-Genres wie 'Foamtek' und 'Sporestyle'." – Dazed