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OTHELLO is the debut album by pianist and composer Orson Claeys. Bringing together influences from jazz, hip-hop, urban culture, and everyday life, the record offers the clearest portrait yet of an artist shaped as much by the worlds around him as by music itself.

The title refers to Claeys' full name, Orson Dwight Othello Claeys, and reflects the album's central concern:identity. Throughout the record, personal experiences, cultural influences, and artistic inspirations converge into a body of work that seeks to understand how an artist is formed, both within and beyond music. Musically, OTHELLO builds on jazz, strongly intertwined with hip-hop, contemporary culture, and ideas beyond traditional musical frameworks. For Claeys, music is not a fixed genre, but an open and evolving form of expression.

This broad perspective is evident in the album's carefully chosen collaborations. A track like "WHAT A NIGHT" first took shape during a studio session with indie-soul singer Sevens, whose harmonic ideas laid the foundation for the track. As the composition evolved, Claeys felt it called for a stronger hip-hop voice. Through a recommendation from Mixmonster Menno of STUFF., he was introduced to L.A. rapper IAMOMNI, whose contribution brought exactly the energy and perspective the track needed. The result unfolds like a late-night journey through Los Angeles, with IAMOMNI's contribution adding a sense of movement, character, and place.

Elsewhere on the album, "SPIRAL", featuring Belgo-Brazilian vocalist Helena Casella, grew out of a long-standing mutual admiration. Conceived as a meeting point between R&B and jazz, the composition balances the groove and emotional depth of the former with the improvisational spirit and spontaneity of the latter. The collaboration developed naturally from the outset, with Casella instinctively understanding the atmosphere Claeys envisioned while enriching the music with her own warmth and nuance.

A long-held ambition materializes on "SHADOWBOXING", where Claeys is joined by drummer, producer, and one of the key figures in contemporary Belgian jazz, Lander Gyselinck. Gyselinck's work, particularly his collaboration with Zwangere Guy on Pourriture Noble, was instrumental in showing Claeys how the language of hip-hop could coexist naturally with jazz, an idea that runs through OTHELLO. Drawing inspiration from boxing, the track is a musical equivalent of a fighter's walk towards the ring: focused, intense, and driven by the sense of anticipation that precedes stepping into the fight.

After this heightened intensity, the album gradually moves toward its closing statement. OUTRO / HANIN", featuring oud player Akram Ben Romdhane, a longtime collaborator whose playing forms a natural bridge between Claeys' previous work and the broader musical landscape explored across the album. The title references the Tunisian Arabic word hanin, meaning "nostalgia", a fitting conclusion to a work deeply concerned with memory, identity, and personal history.

Beyond music itself, OTHELLO is informed by a wider cultural landscape. Urban culture, with its visual language, creative independence, and sense of community, forms an important backdrop to the record. Sport also plays a significant role, particularly boxing and basketball, whose emphasis on discipline, focus, and resilience mirrors Claeys' own creative process. Rather than being treated as separate influences, these worlds coexist without hierarchy, reflecting an artistic vision that resists rigid boundaries and allows different disciplines, communities, and experiences to inform one another.

Mit der neuen Ausgabe der The Vinyls Collection steht diesmal die goldene Ära von Disco und Funk im Mittelpunkt. Die Compilation vereint 20 zeitlose Klassiker, die den Sound der Tanzflächen der 1970er- und frühen 1980er-Jahre geprägt haben. Von internationalen Disco-Hymnen bis zu wegweisenden Funk-Grooves bietet die Auswahl einen repräsentativen Querschnitt durch eine der einflussreichsten Epochen der Popmusik. Mit Künstlern wie Amii Stewart, Curtis Mayfield, Positive Force, Aaron Neville, Loleatta Holloway, Patrice Rushen und Silver Convention versammelt das Album zahlreiche stilprägende Aufnahmen des Genres. Ob Dancefloor-Klassiker, Soul-infizierte Grooves oder frühe Club-Favoriten - diese Zusammenstellung verbindet musikalische Qualität mit hohem Wiedererkennungswert und spricht sowohl langjährige Sammler als auch neue Liebhaber klassischer Disco- und Funkmusik an.

Black Truffle is thrilled to announce a second volume of unheard concert performances from legendary Pakistani kyhal singer Salamat Ali Khan, recorded at Berlin’s Neue Nationalgalerie as part of the MetaMusik festival in 1974. Like the first volume, the immaculate recording by Michael Hönig (of krautrock legends Agitation Free) captures Khan performing a single extended raag in the company of Shaukat Hussein Khan on tabla and Hussein Bux Khan on harmonium. In addition to his stunningly inventive and moving vocal performance, Khan is heard accompanying himself on a specially tuned alpine zither (in place of the traditional swarmandal, an Indian style of zither). The lack of an underlying tanpura drone gives the music its characteristic floating quality, with the three instruments and voice masterfully dancing around one another as they sketch the outlines of this grand, 40-minute Raag Chandrakauns.

If anything, this epic performance of the late-night Raag Chandrakauns is even more seductively spacious and psychedelic than the music heard on the first volume. Obeying the traditional shape of Hindustani classical vocal music performance, a gradual rise in both pitch and rhythmic activity, the music hovers for twenty minutes in a reflective calm, the pulse only gently stated by the tabla while harmonium ornamentation and zither strums float by. In this meditative space, Khan gradually orients us to the contours of the raag, beginning with long notes at the bottom of his register. His improvisation at once builds with a stunningly firm sense of internal logic and seems liberated to explore every melodic and ornamental byway that comes up along the way. By the time we turn to the record’s second side, the music has grown into something far more frenetic, with virtuoso tabla passages at times occupying centre stage between Khan’s increasingly rhythmic melodic variations. Concluding with a sequence of unison tabla and voice passages of breathtaking complexity, the performance is met with rapturous applause. Arriving in a blue-toned variant of the first volume’s sleeve, with acclaimed musicologist Peter Pannke’s liner notes in the original German, Metamusik Festival Berlin ’74 Volume II is not to be missed. Essential listening not just for Hidustanti classic aficionados, but for anyone who needs reminding of the magic of collective music making in the moment.

Mit A Kind Wave präsentiert Kid Francescoli sein bislang persönlichstes und klanglich vielseitigstes Album. Als zusammenhängende emotionale Reise erzählt das Werk von Liebe, Heimatgefühl, unvergesslichen Sommern, Fernweh und Heilung.

Zwischen Pop, Bossa Nova, Dance und cineastischen Klangwelten entstehen atmosphärische Songs, bereichert durch die Mitwirkung von Andréa, DEMIGOD und Samantha Alma Real. Begleitet von einer europäischen Tournee mit über 50 Konzerten unterstreicht A Kind Wave eindrucksvoll die künstlerische Reife des französischen Musikers.

,Es ist ein Bedroom-Album, das sich aber gar nicht wie eins anfühlt", sagt Glenn Morrow, Gründer von Bar/None Records, über ,Reseda Spleen", das lange verschollene Album von Ventilator aus dem Jahr 1996. Nach Jahren bei Permanent Green Light wurde Matt Devine klar, dass er weiterziehen musste. Devine stürzte sich kopfüber in sein neues musikalisches Kapitel: mit Earle Mankey als seinem musikalischen Mentor, Todd Rundgrens Klassiker ,Something/Anything" aus dem Jahr 1972 als konzeptionelle Inspiration und einem gebrauchten Tascam 388 - gekauft von einem Stuntman bei ,Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" -, den er in seiner Wohnung in North Hollywood aufstellte. ,Reseda Spleen" hätte bei Liebhabern von lautem, gitarrenlastigem Pop eigentlich Anklang finden müssen. Leider blieb die Existenz des Albums, wie bei so vielen Indie-Veröffentlichungen davor und danach, so gut wie unbemerkt - abgesehen von zwei begeisterten Kritiken (von ,The Big Takeover" und ,TapeOp"), die erst lange nach dem Verschwinden von ,Reseda Spleen" aus der Szene erschienen. ,Es ist so ein zeitloses Album", sagt Rob Zabrecky Possum Dixon. ,Es hat nicht diesen schrecklichen Glanz, mit dem damals so viele Bands überzogen wurden, und Matt hat nicht versucht, seine Gitarre wie Nirvana klingen zu lassen oder den Lo-Fi-Weg wie Pavement einzuschlagen; er war so im Reinen mit sich selbst und seiner Vision, dass ihn all das nicht beeinflusst hat. Es ist einfach so schön, dass diese Songs wieder herauskommen, denn ich glaube, die Leute müssen sie hören."

Rathmann spielen dunklen Gitarrenpop. Ungeschliffen und roh. Schmutzig, räumlich und mit einem Sinn für Romantik. Auf ihrem Debütalbum "Die Goldenen Zwanziger" haben sie zu einem klaren Selbstverständnis - einem eigenständigen Sound - gefunden und erzählen darin ehrlich und nahbar. Wenn in ihren Songs ein junges Paar ungewollt schwanger wird, Menschen aus der Bahn geraten oder sich dystopische Zukunftsaussichten breit machen - dann vertonen Rathmann abgründig und introspektiv, eingängig und wunderschön die Zwanziger. Ihre eigenen und das Jahrzehnt, in dem sie sie erleben. Vom Indierocker "Warum tut Liebe so" über den folkigen "Trauriger Geist" bis zum Italo-Western-Titeltrack des Albums - überall ist die klare Handschrift zu erkennen: Eine Band, die sich erlaubt, Band zu sein. Eine Band, die sich nicht am Zeitgeist, sondern ausschließlich an ihren eigenen Interessen orientiert. Und so findet man auf ihrem im Herbst 2026 erscheinenden Debütalbum mehr Anleihen von Leonard Cohen, Big Thief, Dr. Dog und Bands der Hamburger Schule als vom zeitgenössischen, deutschen Indiepop. Bei ihren Konzerten wie auch im Songwriting, Rathmann fangen in ihren Liedern den Moment ein: Die Unsicherheit unserer Zeit und die Tristesse einer soliden Quarter-Life-Crisis - immer aber auch die Freude an der Gemeinsamkeit und die Aufregung eines Lebens, das es noch zu entdecken gilt. Inklusive der Singles Wenn alles vorbei ist, Der Test in Deinen Fingern, Warum tut Liebe so & Trauriger Geist.

DPRTNDRP make a long-awaited return to Infernal Sounds with 'Byrnei', a release that's been quietly building anticipation across the 140 scene. Following their acclaimed 'What Ya Mean' EP in 2020, the duo are back with five heavyweight cuts that showcase exactly why they've remained one of dubstep's most respected production outfits for well over a decade.

Opening with the title track, 'Byrnei' wastes no time setting the tone. Rolling with DPRTNDRP's unmistakable swing, weight and groove, it's a certified soundsystem weapon - built to lock dancers into its hypnotic rhythm while delivering devastating low-end pressure.

Next up, 'Jiaozi' shifts into overdrive. A relentless barrage of razor-sharp percussion, cavernous basslines and seismic energy, it's an uncompromising slice of peak-time dubstep designed to hit with maximum impact from the first drop to the last.

'Fury' explores a deeper side of the duo's sound, drawing influence from their dub-focused alias, D-Operation Drop. Rich in space, texture and heavyweight sonics, it perfectly blurs the line between traditional dub and modern 140, combining meditative atmospherics with chest-rattling low-end.

Adding another dimension to the EP, Causa steps in to rework 'Fury', twisting the original into a hypnotic, distorted roller. Layered with his unmistakable wobble-heavy aesthetic, the remix pushes the track into darker territory, delivering an immersive journey of oppressive bass weight and razor-sharp sound design.

Bringing the release to a thunderous close, 'Backfire' is pure, uncompromising pressure. Stripped back, direct and devastatingly effective, it's arguably the heaviest moment on the EP; a no-nonsense soundsystem destroyer that leaves a lasting impression.

From start to finish, 'Byrnei' is a statement of intent. It's a masterclass in weight, groove and precision, reinforcing DPRTNDRP's status as true innovators within the 140 landscape. With five expertly crafted cuts destined for dancefloors and soundsystems worldwide, this is another landmark release from two producers operating firmly at the top of their game.




[d] B2. Fury [Causa Remix]

Meet Matas Petrikas, a music producer, DJ, and book author with a passion for electronic music. Born in Lithuania during the time when it was still a part of the Soviet Union, Matas began experimenting with electronic sounds during his teenage years using self-built instruments and recording equipment. In 1991, Matas took a trip to Berlin that would change his life forever. There, he encountered the early years of techno culture, which led him to co-found EXEM, one of the first house and techno bands in the former Soviet space. With EXEM, Matas was one of the pioneers of electronic dance music in Lithuania, and by the end of the decade, they had charted numerous hits. They performed live shows ranging from intimate clubs to massive arenas, sewing the seeds of the local electronic music scene. Since then he relocated to Berlin and has forged a musical solo career focused on live-sets, experimentation, and authoring the book 'The Joy of Electronic Music'. The Unknown is Matas’ first release on his newly formed imprint Dangė Records, focused on supporting electronic music from Lithuania and the Baltics. The 6 track EP forges his love for texture heavy hypnotic techno with industrial and warehouse leaning low end and percussion. Although mainly an EP rooted in driving a groove, the use of earworm worthy basslines, rave breaky drums, and squelchy lead synths is where Matas’ long career foray into many genres of electronic music shines through. Dangė Records releases electronic music from Lithuania and the Baltics—sounds that emerge from underwater, carried by artists who inherited the weight of transformation.

The UK Players & Friends Hills and Valleys, Rivers and Streams (A Tribute to Idren Natural) 9 brand new tracks by The UK Players. Voiced by Singers and Poets who knew Idren Natural personally. Recorded and Mixed by Supa Yout’ at Earth Works Studio, Amsterdam. Sleeve artwork and written testimonials from close friends and associates. Idren Natural aka Ras Natural aka InI Oneness, DJ, Singer, Chanter, Musician, was a pivotal player and pillar of UK/European Roots, Reggae, Dub, Sound System Culture. A humble Rastaman who did so much for so many, inasmuch as inspiring, encouraging, and connecting. He selflessly helped those less fortunate than himself. A strong advocate of the culture and philosophy of Rastafari. He was a commanding presence who lit up the stage, giving JAH all the glory. His passing was a great loss to the community. The UK Players Dub Band formed in 1996. They teamed up with Ras Natural/InI Oneness to record their debut 7” single ‘Further’ for Jah Works with Producer Jah Rej. This single gained exposure via Jah Shaka, Abashanti, and King Shiloh Sound Systems, even the famous Radio 1 DJ ‘John Peel’ played it. More recordings with Jah Rej at Seventh Sense Studio led to the debut album ‘Take Heed’. During the halcyon days of InI Oneness & The UK Players (1997-2004) they toured the UK and Europe, clocking up over 250 gigs in that time. Amongst brethren within the Rastafari community, the band became affectionately known as Ras Naturals band. Friends of Natural like Ras Iyah, Tony Roots, Sister Aisha, Wayne McArthur, and Barry Isaacs (among others) performed with them during this time. Members of InI Oneness & The UK Players never split up, throughout the years they branched out into other projects, reconvening for specials and one offs. Following Idren Naturals passing in 2022, the band stepped up to play his memorial show, where the idea formulated of making a tribute album to him. Ben King offered the use of Earth Works studio to help realise the vision. Work began with longtime live sound engineer Supa Yout’ in March 2024. Jah Rej assisted production on a number of these recordings, and sadly passed during the making of it, the last album he worked on. Various vocalists who were close to Natural, submitted vocals across the following year. The album was mixed and dubbed in March ‘25 at Earth Works by Soupa Yout' & Kingsway. Artwork and written memories/testimonials were then assembled. Everyone involved in the creation of this album knew Idren Natural personally. This album shines a spotlight on his spirit. Carrying songs of tribute, and messages for the times. ALPHA DUB: Every time the band played a gig, Natural would insist on starting with a dub. In that tradition, this album is no different. ‘Mandlion’ passing through the studio, headtopped a Melodica cut on it. Dubbed to the max by Supa Yout! NATURAL VIBE: The ‘Forward Fever’ crew from Belgium were one of the first collectives that Natural affiliated with in Europe. Here, Ras Cloud cleverly weaves all of Naturals song titles into the lyrics, creating a song in itself. WORD & FLESH: Fellowdread was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. Now living in Bristol, England, residing with Natural in his last days. His Poetry is rich in inflection, knowledge and wisdom, teachings that spark up the divine. ALL ABOUT LOVE: A pause for contemplation, this one stills the listener. Rootsman Rak’s words warn against complacency, and encourages action. A completely (natural) acoustic track featuring the skilled percussionist Jonah Dan. REMEMBER HIM: Inna Dubplate style, Barry Isaacs toasts to Idren in personal remembrance, reminding us all of the man he was. The track also features snippets of a phone call from Naturals oldest friend ‘Fergie Greenspears’ recounting memories. RISE UP RASTA CHILDREN: The legendary Tony Roots, graces the album with his unique delivery. Natural, The Players, and Tony go back a long way. A song of strength to affirm the soul, and rally against Babylon. Livicated to the one (Natural) SONG FOR THE RIVER MAN: During those halcyon days, many stages were shared with Albaroot, whom the band met whilst on tour in Scotland. Clark Innes (lead singer/songwriter) reminisces about the force of nature that was Natural, times shared, and that knowing, to never meet again. ONE STEP AHEAD: An interpretation of the ‘Look Inside’ riddim by Reuben Addis. Built for Sound System, it is the only track on the album that rolls into a dub. Lyrical Benjie literally entered the studio, rode the riddim without hearing it first, cutting his vocal in one take! A message for the times that sends shivers up your spine. THE PRAYER: Iman Onedub AKA Iman Gebre Iyesus, member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, met Idren Natural at Fairfield House in Bath. Here he seals the album with a recital of the Lord's Prayer in English, with Amharic. His rich textural tones elevated with a one away riddim to carry the listener home.

A quick scan of the world’s favourite crowdsourced discography reveals that Sonic Youth co-founder Lee Ranaldo was not a total stranger to crackling electric experimentation in the years following his songwriting turns of the 20-teens. Yet »The System«, ingeniously culled and sequenced from Ranaldo’s soundtrack work for Dutch filmmaker Joris Postema’s ›eco-doc‹ of the same name, nonetheless feels like a reawakening. Quietly released in a vastly different (and much more ›filmic‹) form by Doxy Music/Riva Media Records in 2025, this LP reimagines and reconfigures the initial release, including unreleased material written and recorded for the film, to lend it new stature as both a return to drone-improv form and a reunion with introspective Downtown angst.

Given the state of the world, it’s not surprising that the film Ranaldo scores – a documentary on three climate activists bruising their fists on the black iron prison of techno-fascist deathkultur – is a study in despair and futility. But rather than wallowing in navel-gazing doom and gloom, the film documents the unstoppable spirit that has animated human resistance since the time of the Pharaohs.

As it turns out, the gorgeous scope of Lee Ranaldo’s guitar palette is a perfect manifestation of the hope and despair that animates the film. But like other high-water marks in the guitar-centric soundtrack canon – the high plains raga of Bruce Langhorne’s »Hired Hand«, Neil Young’s sparse and ghostly solo transmissions on »Dead Man«, or the monolithic mantras of Popol Vuh’s »Nosferatu« – its devotion to spectral gestures and meditative song forms launches it firmly outside of the OST orbit into a universe fully its own.

It might seem like a long journey from the Lower Manhattan rhythmic grime of the album’s opener »Tajikistan (Nice to Meet You)« (reminiscent of guitar opuses like Robert Quine and Jody Harris’s »Escape«) to the ringing cowboy chords of the final track, but the narrative logic of the LP pulls the listener along as solidly as a pack horse. As the LP unwinds, and collaborators like Jim Jarmusch, cellist Leila Boudreil, Yeah Yeah Yeahs snare shaman Brian Chase, and guitarist Yonatan Gat take their places, new vistas unfurl: the ritualistic thrum of »Berlin Blockade«, the haunted overtone palaces of »Bergelmir«, and the cavernous acoustic strumming of »Instruments of Violence«. It all winds up with the high lonesome standard »Cool Water«, each unhurried note trailing off into long-tail reverb, layers of shifting vocal harmonies pulling everything skyward – a hopeful note in an album where existential dread never lurks too deeply below the surface.

In the end, »The System« functions both as a film score and a hallucinatory (mostly) instrumental guitar record, revealing a sensibility not too often spotted in the 21st century – a liminal space where the song, the jam, and the meditation merge into a blurred whole. »The System«’s expansive fabric, emerging from a collective sound circling around Ranaldo’s signature tones, envelops and ampl amplifies the contributions of its community of creators – the perfect antidote to narcissistic despair. Much like the subjects of the film light the way towards intra-generational resistance, the music of »The System« reveals a path through gathering darkness. The world could be yours if you follow.

– Tom Carter

A quick scan of the world’s favourite crowdsourced discography reveals that Sonic Youth co-founder Lee Ranaldo was not a total stranger to crackling electric experimentation in the years following his songwriting turns of the 20-teens. Yet »The System«, ingeniously culled and sequenced from Ranaldo’s soundtrack work for Dutch filmmaker Joris Postema’s ›eco-doc‹ of the same name, nonetheless feels like a reawakening. Quietly released in a vastly different (and much more ›filmic‹) form by Doxy Music/Riva Media Records in 2025, this LP reimagines and reconfigures the initial release, including unreleased material written and recorded for the film, to lend it new stature as both a return to drone-improv form and a reunion with introspective Downtown angst.

Given the state of the world, it’s not surprising that the film Ranaldo scores – a documentary on three climate activists bruising their fists on the black iron prison of techno-fascist deathkultur – is a study in despair and futility. But rather than wallowing in navel-gazing doom and gloom, the film documents the unstoppable spirit that has animated human resistance since the time of the Pharaohs.

As it turns out, the gorgeous scope of Lee Ranaldo’s guitar palette is a perfect manifestation of the hope and despair that animates the film. But like other high-water marks in the guitar-centric soundtrack canon – the high plains raga of Bruce Langhorne’s »Hired Hand«, Neil Young’s sparse and ghostly solo transmissions on »Dead Man«, or the monolithic mantras of Popol Vuh’s »Nosferatu« – its devotion to spectral gestures and meditative song forms launches it firmly outside of the OST orbit into a universe fully its own.

It might seem like a long journey from the Lower Manhattan rhythmic grime of the album’s opener »Tajikistan (Nice to Meet You)« (reminiscent of guitar opuses like Robert Quine and Jody Harris’s »Escape«) to the ringing cowboy chords of the final track, but the narrative logic of the LP pulls the listener along as solidly as a pack horse. As the LP unwinds, and collaborators like Jim Jarmusch, cellist Leila Boudreil, Yeah Yeah Yeahs snare shaman Brian Chase, and guitarist Yonatan Gat take their places, new vistas unfurl: the ritualistic thrum of »Berlin Blockade«, the haunted overtone palaces of »Bergelmir«, and the cavernous acoustic strumming of »Instruments of Violence«. It all winds up with the high lonesome standard »Cool Water«, each unhurried note trailing off into long-tail reverb, layers of shifting vocal harmonies pulling everything skyward – a hopeful note in an album where existential dread never lurks too deeply below the surface.

In the end, »The System« functions both as a film score and a hallucinatory (mostly) instrumental guitar record, revealing a sensibility not too often spotted in the 21st century – a liminal space where the song, the jam, and the meditation merge into a blurred whole. »The System«’s expansive fabric, emerging from a collective sound circling around Ranaldo’s signature tones, envelops and ampl amplifies the contributions of its community of creators – the perfect antidote to narcissistic despair. Much like the subjects of the film light the way towards intra-generational resistance, the music of »The System« reveals a path through gathering darkness. The world could be yours if you follow.

– Tom Carter

Here at Tuff Kong Records we really like to push our boundaries and explore different sounds, we're passionate with music at 360° and so are these guys we have decided to bring to your attention. Dumbo Station is a nu-jazz ensemble out of Roma, Italy that we've met during a live jam with legendary MC Danno of historical roman hip-hop group Colle Der Fomento. They immediately caught our attention and after listening to this masterpiece we decided to collaborate with them and Roman jazz imprint AlfaMusic to release their debut full-length "Tirana Cafè" on limited edition vinyl. The 11 songs featured on their first studio effort will take you on a trip through different soundscapes with the quartet as your guide, joined by Italian talents the such as vocalist Davide Shorty as well as Maurizio Giammarco's sax and Elvio Ghigliordini's flute. These young fellas have managed to merge nu-jazz with soul, funk and modern sounds creating a true masterpiece.

Between the late 1960s and the mid-1980s, musicians across the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten created music that crossed stylistic boundaries, forming a close-knit network shaped by common histories and identities, while rarely receiving wider recognition.

From the psychedelic funk of local stars Sugar Ice Tea and Cryptus Confession to the Latin influences of visiting musicians like Puerto Rican star Mon Rivera via Surinamese-influenced soul and the garage rock of Los Honda, the islands nourished a huge array of styles and talent.

Antiyano Progresivo unfolds against the backdrop of a rapidly transforming Caribbean. During the twentieth century, oil industries, migration and tourism reshaped the islands, creating unparalleled cultural exchange while deepening social divisions. African, Latin American, North American and European musical traditions intertwined with local forms, producing a rich and distinctive musical landscape. Tambú, tumba, calypso and Caribbean dance music coexisted alongside soul, funk, psychedelic rock, reggae, Latin music and American and British pop. Musicians moved fluidly between these styles, developing sounds that were unmistakably local while remaining connected to wider currents across the Caribbean and beyond.

The period also coincided with growing movements for cultural and political self-determination. Events such as Curaçao's Trinta di Mei uprising in 1969, the emergence of Black Power movements and increasing calls for greater autonomy fostered renewed pride in African heritage, local languages and cultural expression. These ideas resonated through music, inspiring artists to challenge conventions and create work that reflected changing identities.

Featuring timeless waltzes and polkas by Johann Strauss I & II , including "An der schonen, blauen Donau", "Kaiser-Walzer" and the festive "Radetzky March", this album captures the sparkle, elegance, and tradition of Vienna's celebrated New Year concerts. Conducted by Willi Boskovsky and Hans Knappertsbusch , these historic recordings from the late 1950s and early 1960s offer an authentic and joyful listening experience, perfect for classical music lovers and New Year celebrations alike.

Deathbomb Arc has a long history of bringing unlikely artists together for collaborations. From True Neutral Crew featuring Grammy winner Daveed Diggs (clipping.), SB The Moor, and members of Ratsmagick to the Arc Mountain album which paired artsts from the Deathbomb and Hausu Mountain rosters including Fire-Toolz (WARP) and They Hate Change (Jagjaguar). Now Deathbomb is excited to share this surprise crew release from BBBBBBB, Fatboi Sharif, and Ratsmagick, entitled 'Christmas in Sodom'.
All three acts come together for the title track, and then contribute solo efforts to expound on the dark absurdist themes in their own manner, providing a deconstruction of how all the styles were combined.
The duo of BBBBBBB are leaders of the underground electronic hardcore scene Japan, often playing alongside their peers and collaborators, Dos Monos. BBBBBBB released 'Positive Violence' on Deathbomb Arc last year and will release their followup with the label this coming fall in conjunction with their 2nd tour of the UK/EU.
Fatboi Sharif's most recent full lengths are an impressive one-two punch released by Deathbomb Arc and then Backwoodz. Sharif returns to the EU/UK this Sept, after a special appearance at the Clipping. curated 'Splendor & Misery' fest in New York in Aug.
Relative newcomers, the Philadelphia based Ratsmagick, are masterminded by Dennis Martinelli of Knifeplay. This loose 7ish piece group includes Deathbomb Arc founder Brian Miller of Foot Village (Fat Cat) as one of their two, dueling drummers. Outside of Knifeplay's extensive touring schedule, Dennis has found time to finish a Ratsmagick full length due on Deathbomb this winter.

"Amour" ist ein bedeutender künstlerischer Meilenstein für die Geigerin und Social-Media-Sensation Esther Abrami. Erstmals stellt sie auf einem Album eine groß angelegte Originalkomposition ins Zentrum. Ihre neun Sätze umfassende Suite für Violine und Orchester ist eine ausdrucksstarke Auseinandersetzung mit der Liebe in all ihren Facetten und fängt das gesamte Spektrum der Emotionen ein - von Zärtlichkeit und Leidenschaft bis hin zu Sehnsucht und Verlust. Über die Suite hinaus versammelt "Amour" eine vielfältige Auswahl ikonischer klassischer Werke rund um das Thema Liebe, die von Esther Abrami neu für Solo-Violine und Orchester arrangiert wurden. Ein besonderes Highlight ist Nino Rotas "Romeo and Juliet: Love Theme", mit der gefeierten Mezzosopranistin Marina Viotti. Ihre Stimme tritt dabei in einen musikalischen Dialog mit Esther Abramis Violine. Das Programm umfasst weiterhin Instrumentalarrangements von Céline Dions "All by Myself" sowie Georges Bizets "Habanera" aus "Carmen", wie auch neue Versionen für Violine und Orchester von Francis Poulencs "Les chemins de l'amour", Christoph Willibald Glucks "Tanz der seligen Geister" aus "Orfeo ed Euridice" und der virtuosen "Chaconne in g-Moll" von Tomaso Antonio Vitali. Auch eine neu arrangierte Version von Charlie Chaplins "Désillusion amoureuse" aus seinem Film "The Circus" ist auf dem Album enthalten. Im Laufe ihrer Karriere hat sich Esther Abrami einen Namen damit gemacht, klassische Musik einem breiten und vielfältigen Publikum vorzustellen. Mit "Amour" verbindet sie erstmals ihre unverwechselbare Stimme als Interpretin mit ihrem Schaffen als Komponistin. Das Album erscheint als CD sowie als Doppel-LP in einer limitierten Ecorecord InkPlosion Version, bei der jede LP individuell gestaltet ist. Die Doppel-LP enthält außerdem 3 Bonus-Tracks, die bisher nur digital erschienen sind.

EM Records is proud to present the first new album release in 25 years from Australia's Sheriff Lindo, dubmaster of the Southern Hemisphere.
His "Ten Dubs That Shook The World" EM1119CD/LP, released in 1988, has been growing in stature since its release, supported by its re-issue on EM Records, and in the meantime the Sheriff has been working steadily, deep-local style, honing his skills with the Australian sound systems Firehouse Sound and Earthlink Sound. The tracks on "Aftershock Dubs", recorded between 1990 and 2005, while never officially released, have been played as dub plates at sound system parties, proved movers, tested in the heat of action. Recorded at Lindo's 4/5 Studios, these specials were chosen by Japanese sound system savants Takuto Kuratani (Ruv Bytes) and Atsushi Muneshige (Touch the Sky/Corner Stone Music) from a cornucopia of goodness supplied by Sheriff Lindo, mastered by Kuratani for maximum impact. EM Records' first-ever Dancehall release is available on vinyl and CD, with two bonus tracks on the CD. One track features the vocals of Ras Roni; all tracks feature the experience-forged Dub sense of the Sheriff. More than a quarter-century of love, knowledge and soul-science has been distilled here. Don't miss it.

Southern Fried Records return with the second instalment of Refried & Tested, a three track EP built for peak time festival business. Bass heavy and attitude driven, this one brings together friends old and new for a run of dancefloor tracks that don't let up. It's Southern Fried doing what it does best - club ready energy with real personality behind it. Elado opens Refried & Tested 002 with 'Don't Stare' - a bass-heavy, attitude loaded cut built for the dancefloor. It's peak time energy with a real sense of swagger, setting the tone for the rest of the compilation. Jordan Peak takes on Elado's 'Don't Stare' and delivers a whopping remix, reworking the original into a festival ready peak time weapon. A standout moment on Refried & Tested 002. lau.ra teams up with Bag Raiders for 'back2back', bringing dance floor energy and attitude to Southern Fried's Refried & Tested 002 - a collaboration between friends old and new that delivers exactly where it counts. Van Damn closes out Refried & Tested 002 with 'Hit You', a bass driven cut that keeps the compilation's dancefloor energy running right to the last track.

Die Wurzeln der NWOBHM-Legende Tokyo Blade gehen zurück bis in die frühen achtziger Jahre, als die Schulfreunde Andy Boulton (Gitarre), Andy Robbins (Bass) und Steve Pierce (Schlagzeug) in Wiltshire unter dem ursprünglichen Namen White Diamond starteten. Irgendwann tat man sich mit Sänger Alan Marsh zusammen und machte zuerst als Killer und dann als Genghis Khan weiter. Die Doppel-Single »Double Dealin’« erschien 1982 und sicherte Tokyo Blade einen Plattenvertrag beim neu gegründeten Label Powerstation Records. Im November 1983 stand schließlich das Debütalbum in den Läden.
Gründungsmitglied und Gitarrist Andy Boulton erläutert: “Die Platte wurde im Wickham Studio in Ost-London aufgenommen. Wir hatten lediglich vier Tage zur Verfügung und es war ein Albtraum. Immer wenn wir fertig waren, fielen wir todmüde um und schliefen sofort auf dem Studioboden ein. Und am nächsten Tag ging alles wieder von vorne los.“
Es wundert demnach kaum, dass Andy die Atmosphäre im Studio als angespannt bezeichnet: “Wir dachten, uns würden wenigstens zwei Wochen zur Verfügung stehen, aber am Ende mussten wir alles mehr oder weniger live aufnehmen. Im Grunde genommen haben wir die Songs für das Album ausgewählt, die uns am besten gefallen haben zu diesem Zeitpunkt.”
Während die Pressereaktionen im Vereinigten Königreich, speziell beim Kerrang!, nicht überwältigend waren, wurden Tokyo Blade in Kontinentaleuropa von Magazinen wie dem Aardschok (Niederlande) und Rock Hard (Deutschland) bereits als die neuen Iron Maiden gefeiert.
Diese erweiterte Re-Issue des ersten Albums von Tokyo Blade kommt mit einer Fülle von Bonus-Material: als da wären die vier Songs der »Midnight Rendezvous«-EP, nämlich “If Heaven Is Hell”, “Highway Passion”, “Midnight Rendezvous” und “Mean Streak”, sowie “Powergame” und ”Death On Main Street” von der »Powergame« 7”, plus ein Stück namens “Machine Run”, das 1982 auf der Ebony-Compilation »Metal Maniaxe« unter dem Bandnamen Madame Guillotine erschienen ist und in Hull aufgenommen wurde.
Transfer, Audio-Restaurierung und Mastering durch Patrick W. Engel bei TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY im Februar 2021 / Januar 2026. Cutting durch SST Germany auf Neumann-Geräten für optimale Qualität auf allen Ebenen. Die ultimative audiophile Ausgabe dieses zeitlosen NWOBHM-Klassikers!

A Modern Revisit to a Cult Classic: A fresh "Twentysix Mix" of the 2016 underground staple In Your Body, updated for 2026 dancefloors with contemporary BPM and sharp remaster.

Ten years after defining the early sound of his own label, Berlin-based electronic explorer Cosmin TRG revisits a cornerstone of his discography. In Your Body (Twentysix Mix) sees the Romanian-born producer breathe new life into the 2016 underground anthem that helped cement the Sportiv label's reputation for high-end, functional techno.

This updated iteration retains the propulsive, hypnotic spirit of the original while sharpening the edges for a contemporary club environment. The package is rounded out by the driving, industrial-tinged cuts "Erodat" and "Iradiat," plus an exclusive digital remix by mysterious newcomers TRYL. Delivered as a classic hand-stamped white label, this release continues the Sportiv tradition of marrying stripped-back, high-impact club aesthetics with meticulous sound design.

Thursday, 2025. Philadelphia. South Philly, to be precise. A basement, to be even more precise. And not just any basement, but the subterranean headquarters of Zillas On Acid.

Which is where Roman Flügel found himself, presumably with good intentions. Some time before that, he had decided to wake Sister Midnight from its slumber.
But rather than simply carrying on where things had left off, a new idea was needed. Enter Sister Midnight Special Products: a new series dedicated to collaborations, chance encounters and other musical situations that deserve to become records.

No grand manifesto, no five-year plan. Just making music with people you like, in places you happen to find yourself, and seeing what happens. Special Product 01 is “Conga Dream,” born from a basement jam with Zillas On Acid and apparently unwilling to behave itself ever since.

Three musical free spirits meet somewhere between the basement, the dancefloor and the more pleasantly confused corners of the mind. Club music is involved, certainly, but functionality has been politely asked to wait outside. Instead: pocketprotector synthesizers, a little E-mu Proteus 3, assorted electronic activity and, as advertised, congas.

The result is less a tool than a small trip. Or perhaps a tool for taking small trips.
Either way, it works.

Zillas On Acid put it like this:
“A basement jam deep beneath the streets of Zilladelphia yields surprising results: pocket protector synths, a dash of E-mu Proteus 3, and yes of course the aforementioned congas.”

And with that, Sister Midnight Special Products is officially open for business.

Dream on.

Mastered by Mike Grinser at Man Made Mastering.

Artwork by Saskia Randt.

VRIL returns to Delsin with KRUX. The crucial point, the moment where everything converges. On KRUX, a new direction was chosen, built on the strong foundation of VRIL's dub-driven sound. For the first time, VRIL presents multiple artist collaborations on his new album. Working closely with friends and fellow musicians has been a crucial part of shaping KRUX where five collaborations with Aurora Halal, Verraco, Rene Wise, AZARI and ATEQ form the core of a 13-track journey. Framed once again by the visionary artwork of Daniel Martin Diaz, KRUX captures a moment of convergence: between generations, humans and machines. Fusing past, present and future into a singular moment.

LAKEJ returns to Eclectic Limited with Scan and Survey, his first solo EP for the label. Across the release, hypnotic rhythms, deep techno textures and finely tuned electronic atmospheres come together in a focused study of movement, space and sound. Following his previous appearance on Eclectic Limited, LAKEJ takes the project into a more personal direction, delivering a precise and immersive set built for both the dancefloor and deeper listening.

After a couple of Echo Labs 45s and an ECR release - the ECHO EDITS sub-label is back once again, with the BREAK CRACKER in 2026

After the last latin flavoured joint on the label, we head to an all out Funk and Jazz party with a couple of cover versions of dancefloor favourites, never on a vinyl 7” before - given an added makeover for a double sided 45 bomb.

“I Want You Forward” takes a big band version of the Jackson 5 monster hit originally released on an LP. After being chopped,looped and layered with sound FX plus JA hype vocals to take it to the next level - this has been a favourite dubplate to start DJ sets with a bang !

“Psychedelic Drummer” is the Horace Silver penned soul-jazz cut that spawned various other vocal and instrumental versions that have been dancefloor favourites in mod clubs and funky jazz sessions over decades. Originally a very short track on a private press LP - it was the massive drums that made this ripe for more exposure with nothing more added - just cut-up, rearranged and extended for club play.

Monolink and CIOZ bring a stripped-back electronic edge to Crosstown Rebels with ‘Don’t Talk To Me’. The German multi-instrumentalist makes his Crosstown Rebels debut alongside Italy’s CIOZ, with OMRI. also returning to the label on remix duties. There are few artists in electronic music quite like Monolink. Moving naturally between singer-songwriter, producer and live performer, his music gives as much weight to voice, melody and narrative as it does to electronic production. For ‘Don’t Talk To Me’, he joins Bergamo-born, Berlin-based CIOZ, whose own work is driven by rich musicality and a willingness to move beyond convention. The link-up makes for an intriguing signing to Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels, bringing together two different approaches to electronic music without either losing their identity.

‘Don’t Talk To Me’ is deliberately pared back, pairing Monolink’s voice and songwriting with sparse textures and gently shifting melodies. Rather than building towards a conventional dancefloor payoff, the track unfolds with a quieter sense of tension, sitting somewhere between alternative songwriting and electronic voyage. An artist whose productions and remixes have quickly made him a recurring presence in the Crosstown Rebels universe, OMRI. takes the track deeper with his remix, adding darker, hypnotic qualities while preserving the original’s restraint. ‘Wasting Time’ closes the release with another sweeping collaboration, built around subtle melodic details and captivating synth flourishes.

The collaboration marks Monolink’s first outing on Crosstown, adding to an impressive career that has seen him craft his distinctive sound via Berlin-based imprint Embassy One and on labels like Cercle Records. Performances have taken that music from Burning Man and Montreux Jazz Festival to Day Zero Bali, where he joined Damian Lazarus for its first edition, as well as sets alongside Lazarus at Club Space, Zamna and more around the world. Meanwhile, CIOZ brings his own expansive approach back to the label, with material also landing via Monaberry, Frau Blau and Stil vor Talent, plus remixes for Diplo, Oliver Koletzki, Patrice Bäumel and the Crosstown head honcho. With both artists comfortable moving between emotional depth and dancefloor function, ‘Don’t Talk To Me’ gives that shared instinct plenty of room to breathe.

Mr Bongo reissue Bobby Williams’ coveted deep funk rarity Funky Super Fly from 1974. Rich in raw, gritty, from-the-heart grooves, the influence of James Brown is strong, yet the tracks are distinctly Bobby. Oozing style and substance, the album is full of fiery horn sections, strutting guitars and infectious basslines tracked by plenty of prime breakbeats. Front to back stacked with highlights, cuts from the album have been famously sampled by DJ Shadow, Coldcut, and more.

For years Funky Super Fly has been a funk aficionado favourite. It’s a sensational set of recordings from vocalist and bandleader Bobby Williams, with plenty of cherished raw-funk heaters in the mix. ‘Funky Superfly’, ‘Soul Brother Party’, and ‘Let’s Jam’, are three standouts that have all the ingredients to ignite even the most subdued of dancefloors. The unprocessed natural energy in these songs speaks to your very soul – Bobby grooving over his captivating funk-fuelled band with dynamism and class. Both ‘Funky Superfly’ and ‘Soul Brother Party’ appear on the album as one continuous track, whereas on the 7” versions they were cut into parts 1 & 2.

Alongside the uptempo dancers on the album, Bobby goes deep on the soul ballad ‘Morning Of Love’, which simmers with intensity and heartache. The album's closing instrumental track, ‘Fair Trade,’ has a wah-wah guitar-driven Blaxploitation film soundtrack sensibility, and is a slept-on gem off the album nestled amongst the big hitters.

The use of Bobby’s music has been sampled decades later, immortalising him for a new audience of record collectors and sample hunters. The pulsating title track ‘Funky Superfly’ was used as a sample source for DJ Shadow’s ‘The Number Song’ off his iconic Endtroducing..... album in 1996. In addition, ‘Soul Brother Party’ was used a year later on Coldcut’s fantastic ‘More Beats & Pieces’ album. This turned a whole new audience onto the magnetism of Bobby Williams' music and added to the frenzy of hungry DJs in the ‘90s looking to unearth obscure funk 45s.

Funky Super Fly is for those who like their funk and soul at its purest. It’s no-nonsense, electrifying and one of the jewels of ‘70s funk, perfect for fans of James Brown and Charles Bradley.

Mystica Tribe and Scopeotaku have formed an international dub alliance. Taking their sounds into melodic experimental electronic dub territory. Previously, both have fused their own cultures and personalities into numerous dub releases. Now they are expanding their parameters by collaborating on a project that encompasses both their love for psychedelic and electronic audio combined with heavyweight dub reggae rhythms.
Mystica Tribe is the musical alias of Tokyo, Japan based producer Taka Noda. Drawing on a wide range of influences from dub, soul, bass and rhythm & blues. Mystica Tribe has been developing a very distinctive sound that exists in a weird freaked out zone, between dub and techno. Noda is especially interested in deep psychedelic music and this is reflected in his productions. Which are equally suited for late night listening sessions or on bent broken dancefloors.
Scopeotaku is the alter ego of Scott Prentice, a Glasgow, Scotland based artist. Scopeotaku has experimented with audio since purchasing a sampler and a four track cassette deck many many moons ago. His love for left-field dub and eccentric sounds have led him to create a variety of output, from industrial ambient, illbent electronics to mutant dub.

The groove never skipped a beat. 10 years after Global Warming and 2 years after Breaking to the Bus Stop, Romain Dalmasso aka Lord Funk, remains an insatiable crate-digger driven by one thing: the dancefloor. With his 3rd LP, More Orgasms, he drops a record that literally bleeds club culture and raw funk.

This is a deeply organic album. Moving away from clinical productions, the french producer gathered a tribe of top-tier musiciansto bring a living, breathing soul to every track. It’s an in-depth study of groove where cutting-edge electronics meet organic warmth and human vibration.



The tracklist is a map of his musical heart: from the R&B anthem First Crush co-written with his partner-in-crime Guillaume Atlan (The Supermen Lovers) and ignited by Shahdo, to the sharp 80s-Blondie energy of Merryn Jeann. True to his hedonistic roots, the vinyl sleeve doubles as an adult board game. More Orgasms isn't just a release; it’s a tangible piece of club culture—a heavy, singular pressing for the diggers and the lovers who want music that has soul and sweat in its DNA.

Vega Records proudly presents "Mercy Of Time," a breathtaking new collaboration between Grammy Award-winning producer, DJ, and songwriter Louie Vega and acclaimed South African composer, singer, songwriter, and multidisciplinary artist Msaki.

Widely regarded as one of Africa's most powerful and influential musical voices, Msaki has earned international recognition through her award-winning solo work and celebrated collaborations with Black Coffee, Sun-El Musician, and Prince Kaybee, including the multi-platinum anthem "Fetch Your Life." A South African Music Award winner, recipient of the prestigious 2022 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Music, and Basadi in Music Songwriter of the Year, Msaki's artistry has resonated with audiences around the world. Her songwriting and vocal contributions to Black Coffee's Grammy Award-winning album further cemented her place among the continent's most revered contemporary artists.

Born from a creative meeting of musical minds, "Mercy Of Time" brings together the extraordinary talents of Msaki, Louie Vega, and renowned Cuban pianist, composer, and producer Axel Tosca. Written by Msaki, with music composed by Louie Vega and Axel Tosca, the song is elevated by the unmistakable rhythmic touch of internationally respected producer and dj Manoo, whose infectious drums provide the heartbeat of the record.

At its core, "Mercy Of Time" is a deeply moving and uplifting composition that blends deep songwriting, rich musicianship, and powerful rhythms into a timeless musical journey. Msaki's evocative lyrics and captivating vocal performance intertwine seamlessly with Axel Tosca's virtuoso musicianship and Louie Vega's signature production style, creating a sound that transcends borders, cultures, and genres.

Rooted in soul and infused with African Electronic and global influences, "Mercy Of Time" speaks to resilience, hope, healing, and the wisdom that comes with life's journey. The song beautifully captures the spirit of collaboration between artists from different corners of the world, united by a shared commitment to authenticity, artistry, and musical excellence.

With all forces combined, "Mercy Of Time" is poised to resonate with audiences across dance floors, airwaves, and listening spaces worldwide. A powerful fusion of soulful expression, world-class musicianship, and timeless rhythm, the release stands as a testament to the creative magic that happens when visionary artists come together.

Risk/Reward’s fourth release sees one of the UK’s most prolific and recognizable Producer/DJ’s take the elevator all the way down to the basement of the Tech House sonic spectrum…

Archie Hamilton has achieved superstar status after over a decade of consistently excellent musical output. As the name suggests, Friends in Low Places sees him return to the underground with the rolling, acid-laced, “for the heads” sound that first saw him explode on to the scene 10+ years ago, supplying 3 original tracks that will surprise and delight in equal measure!

A1: NyLon blends the dreamy shades of 90s Italo with the rugged bounce of golden era UK Tech House, to create a beautiful, bold fever dream. Intricate synth melodies, rudeboy vocal cuts and transcendant pads play out over crunchy swinging drums. A bold opening statement to kick off the EP.

A2: The energy kicks up to 11 on Trance-Tech bomb No Signal, a certified weapon of mass dance floor destruction! Vintage Archie rolling 303 bass layered with complex acid lines, haunting siren calls and relentless, gritty drums make for a powerful peak time standout that will have jaws dropping!

B1: On the flip side Archie takes you Higher with another signature roller that’s instantly familiar yet enigmatic. Punchy yet intricate drums, deeply groovy bass, a variety of ear worm melodies and an oh so familiar voice take you up, up and away in to the atmosphere. An instant classic from a man who’s made his fair share.

B2: Returning to the scene he played a key role in building after almost a decade out, UK Tech House DON Gideon Jackson delivers a gargantuan remix that could very easily reduce the club to rubble if not handled carefully. No element of Higher was spared in this rework, but the weight and pressure get cranked up to the absolute fullest - tougher than tough stuff from the OG!

Slacker and Seth Troxler presents He Ain’t Here. 15 tracks by Slackers for Slackers. All exclusives.

Featuring exclusive music from: Seth Troxler, O.bee & Tomas Station, Audion, Jonny Rock, Dr Dunks, Krystal Klear, Marc Houle, Hiroko Yamamura and more. This is our dysfunctional family – and this will get weird.

Seth Troxler:

"When I created Slacker I wanted to make something to remind me of my youth in the ’90s. Being born in ’85, the ’90s was a decade that defined me. Culturally America was at a pivotal point. Post Reaganism of the ’80s, the ’90s was defined by the anti-hero. The idea that we had had enough. From grunge to hip hop, house and techno.

"This was the time of independence and indie music. Life without boundaries. A world where everything felt possible and a belief that the future was coming. Home game consoles, futuristic new sports like the X Games. It was about being radical. Living life on the edge and turning away from the imaginary cookie cutter American dream.

"I feel we are in similar times. The future we were promised every day seems more like a nightmare than a utopian dream. And all we have left are our minds and bodies, but who knows how long our freedom to be an individual will exist.

"This compilation is protest – from fight songs to moments of joy. It’s about living, dancing and being. It’s for the freaks, perverts, for the rebels, for those who forever were other, and dared the impossible to just be themselves in a world where everyone wants to be the same. The revolution will not be televised because it’s within ourselves. It’s about being unapologetically individual.

"Freedom is a state of mind as well as a state of being. Being a slacker is as much about pushing, as it is about being. Not giving a f#ck about the rules and making your own. I’m a slacker, you’re a slacker, a loser and nobody. History will forget me, history forgot Elvis.

"The world is about to change. Might as well have a bit of fun while it burns. Welcome to our dysfunctional family. Join us for the bonfire, I promise you things are going to get weird, in the best possible way. HE AIN’T HERE."

Sa Pa presents Rhythm From Ambient, the second release on Dub Techno For Life, delivering four experimentally tipped house and dub techno tracks.

Leading with ten minutes of undulating, swamp-soaked grooves, heavy dub weight and scattered, gravel-like percussion, “Rhythm From Ambient” shares the A-side with its companion “Rhythm” - bringing a rougher, rawer energy that revives an industrial techno cut originally intended for Sa Pa’s MDR EP (2015).

On the B-side, “Last Dance” is an extended deep house-styled ‘Ballroom Dub’ that’s a warmly haunting mixture of atmosphere, groove and slow-burning euphoria. Closing the EP is “Bo Riddim”, a slower experimental number with deep sub-bass, heavy drums and laced-out percussion underpinning experimental textures and melodic fragments.

Following up the Girls On Tour EP (DTL001), Sa Pa delivers another four cuts for Dub Techno For Life, the artist’s newly launched label, continues its push into deep house and dub techno territory with a self-styled experimental streak.

Ten Numero-minted, dance floor ready dive bombers from disco's all-to-brief heyday, previously swept under rug by the whitewashed glitz and glam of the era. Chugging grooves, bubbling synths, soaring strings, and sonorous voices are guaranteed to light up your night, on living room rugs and dance floors alike.

The second VA release from Méchante Recording continues with a new identity, bringing together a refined selection of artists across different generations. At its core, a reissued and repress of a 1994 track by Jay Tripwire creates a timeless bridge between past and present.

Alongside this piece, UK producers Quidders and Ferg deliver fresh and captivating productions, as well as Arion, a prodigious talent from Lyon, who charms us with each of his tracks and brings depth and character.

This Various Artists blends dub tech house and progressive minimal, offering hypnotic, groove-driven tracks designed for both listening and the dancefloor, while affirming the evolving sonic identity of Méchante Recording.

Rare groove is a world of many rare grooves, and this 7" is among them. It has been taken from Coming Right At You, the sole album by Chicago guitarist Danny Leake's nine-piece outfit 100% Pure Poison, which was originally released exclusively in the UK in 1974. 'Windy C' has spent decades as one of the genre's most revered cuts - it's sophisticated, soulful and endlessly sampled and the flip's 'No More City, No More Country' is just as beloved among diggers and is prized for its irresistible rhythm and distinctive percussion break. This is the first time it has ever appeared in its full-length form.

Have Isaac Carter & Callum Asa made the most tasteful tech house EP of recent memory? The short answer is
yes....

Isaac and Callum, known for their respective club nights: OCHI and Planet People have been quietly chipping away at the coalface of underground dance music for quite some time now.

Isaac - perhaps known more widely as a regular at Circoloco & Phonox has shared bills with the likes of Moodyman, DJ Bone, Kai Alce, Laurent Garnier and Marcellus Pittmann whilst being championed by Joy Orbison, Ben UFO, Moxie, Seth Troxler, Raresh and Floating Points to name but a few. With such an impressive CV and wide ranging support, it’s wild to note that the first EP released on his own label, OCHI only came out in 2023. His star is clearly ascending with rapidity - so when we throw long term collaborator Callum Asa into the mix, things start to get really interesting. Calum has been running Planet People for the last couple of years, welcoming incredible names such as Shed, Surgeon, Willow, Ploy, Cooly G, Rroxymore and so many more. Steel sharpens steel and having been surrounded by such esteemed talent, it’s clearly rubbed off on the pair who present 4 polished, meticulously constructed, club ready masterpieces, each with their own distinct feel and an insatiable groove.

‘Feel Me’ sets the scene with a descending baseline that would eek a wiggle out of the most reluctant spectator. The twisted dub eeks out even more groove, locking in a more sinister bounce for the heads. By The time ‘Understand’ get’s into full swing, we’re already under the spell of Carter & Asa, this is the kind of roller that could go on forever and ever. The synth embellishments and washes of analog synth pull us deeper and deeper in, prepping us for the finale , ’Try You’ which simmers with deep, brooding intensity.

The magic of the dup’s appeal is that this EP will find its way into the bags of the deepest diggers and also appeal to a new generation of house fans. Elements of it are accessible , but in the right hands - the EP will open a portal to new worlds.

The return of the Dutch masters of deep! Rotterdam techno veterans Duplex show how it's done with three lush & warm interstellar techno tracks from that forgotten future... Pure, dedicated and very well-crafted. This will orbit the dancefloor straight into outer space. And as an extra the Steven Tang remix of 'Jx3PO' to heat things even more up. Well done Dolly!