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ROTCIV is back with his new EP ‘Memory’, which marks the 20th release on Beartrax’s label Melodize. Throughout the record, the Berlin-based and native Brazilian producer explores his signature dark, mysterious, and atmospheric vibes shaped by the underground and queer club nights and dance-floors that fuel his sound, refined by over almost 30 years behind the decks.

Maintaining Melodize’s specialized sound deep-rooted in moody electronic principles, the EP opens with ‘Memory’, a piercing, dark, synth dynamic alongside rich tonal textures in both harmony and melodies alike. Unapologetic, yet calming and reminiscent of a slow drive through the winter nights; cold, yet bold, sharp, and comforting.

First to remix ‘Memory’ with a nostalgic, synth-heavy 80’s remix is Frankfurt-based DJ, producer, and visual artist Chinaski. Integrating his signature bold synth hooks into the track, Chinaski knows how to roll in with longing sentimentality. The remix features a bouncier approach with re-envisioned acoustic percussion and catchy synth arps, along with an eery dark disco feel.

On the B side, Rotciv kicks in with ‘Trintage’, which gives a sinister sensation with its hypnotising bass synth lines alongside contrasting, choir-like pads. Seeping with articulate poly-rhythmic synth arps, Trintage guides the listener to be indulged into a dream-like state on the border between both digital and analogue soundscapes, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality.

Next up is New York-based and founder of Samo Records, Facets, who takes on the next remix for ‘Trintage’ with a more electro-grunge techno approach consisting of heavier four to the floor kicks in company of Rotciv’s hypnotic textures. Having shifted the synth melody rhythmically, a sense of space and tension is created within the soundworld of this track. The play between gritty bass-end synths along with softer, textured high-ends helps emphasize the groove injected into this remix.

One last remix of ‘Memory’ by Melodize’s own label founder, Beartrax, rounds out the EP. Available exclusively via digital bonus, Beartrax features his deeply hypnotic aesthetic by driving in ethereal synths alongside cosmic arps and slow-rolling rhythmic and pulsating groove lines.

2026 Repress

Throughout 2025, Tresor Records will reactivate Detroit house and techno originator Blake Baxter's vast Tresor catalogue digitally in chronological order, starting with 1992’s Dream Sequence, closely followed by his 1995 album, Endless Reflection. To inaugurate and celebrate this retrospective of one the genre’s true founders, an artist whose connections to Tresor go back to the very beginning, the label announces a special 12” release, Dream Sequence X, featuring remastered tracks from the early days and highlighting the harder side of his output.
Initially inspired by post-punk and funk, Baxter started making music as early as 1985. By 1991 he had already released several seminal records on classic labels like Underground Resistance, KMS, and Incognito, as well as providing multiple tracks to the groundbreaking UK compilation Techno! The New Dance Sound of Detroit, which was many European listeners’ introduction to the genre, solidifying the term techno, and launching the international careers of many of the contributors.
1992 saw Baxter make the first trip to play Tresor, on the first UR Europe tour ever, thereby pioneering the now legendary Berlin-Detroit Connection. This visit led to a long and fruitful partnership with the club’s new-fledged label beginning with Mills', Banks' & Hood’s X-101 and Baxter’s Dream Sequence, from which the first four tracks on the new 12” come.
Whilst he would become more renowned for his signature seductive vocals and a smoother music style closer to house music, these early tracks are heavier, classic 90s techno, revealing the influence of industrial, post-punk and pop of the time. Indeed the collection is something of a time capsule: jacking 909 drums, intense, ravey synth stabs, samples from classic soul breakbeat and the Speak & Spell voice synthesizer; classic sounds and styles of the era all make appearances on the record. All tracks have been remastered by Manmade Mastering breathing a new vitality and sharpness for the modern dancefloor.
In a world where longevity is difficult and superlatives are too easily deployed, it is still difficult to overstate the long-lasting influence that Blake Baxter has had on modern music. His visionary output can be heard across modern electronic and pop to this day and with this series of remasters, there has never been a better time for the world to hear it at source.

We're excited to announce 2 stone cold classics from Theo Parrish on Peacefrog - First Floor Part 1 and First Floor Part 2.

Originally released in 1998 "First Floor” is Detroit/Chicago auteur Theo Parrish’s debut album. Released on vinyl in two parts for maximum playability; the raw bluesy, soulful offbeat grooves have long since buried themselves deep under the skin of the house community.
Showcasing Theo’s innovative use of drum programming and effects its uniquely loose but taut knit of minimalist elements worked to maximal, hypnotic effect have solidified its reputation as a contemporary classic and served as a corner stone for Theo’s truly legendary status.
"First Floor” is one of those albums that has transcended generic borders to influence heads of all stripes with its unmistakable soul-nuzzling texture and groove. Essential.

Ayū returns to his home imprint with another EP, marking his second solo outing on the label. Whether operating alone or alongside Alfred Czital, Ayū has shaped a signature sound that fuels long nights and tightly packed dancefloors. Spiral Motion sees him dive further into his deeper, late-hour aesthetic. Smooth, yet hypnotic, and built for those moments when the room locks into a shared groove.

Side-A is a systematic prog compulsion. Starting with Ayū’s ‘Come on,’ the track deploys a strictly sequential energy curve, using its paced and nearly robotic vocal anchors as a command-line for dance-floor madness. A2, ‘Pure NRG’, as the name indicates, it’s an energy-based weapon built on a heavy bassline. Instrumental elements that add up sequentially through fades, boops, and rougher vocals.

Adding fuel to the EP, side B is dedicated to remixes of A-side creations. B1 by IN2STELLAR delivers the tech-house version of ‘Come on’. Drummy and spatial, the track builds up towards an explosion of rhythm. B2 crafted by D.Tiffany inverts ‘Pure NRG’ and presents it through a darker lens. Slowly, but surely, the track emphasizes shadow and minimal texture, flavored by D.Tiff’s tone & style.

Club Splendore was born in 2022 in Modena, Italy, as an itinerant party and club format.

In just a few years, it has established itself as one of the most recognizable disco-oriented projects within the new Italian nightlife scene, exporting its sonic and visual identity to iconic clubs and international settings.

With over 20 dates in a single year, recurring sold-outs and a diverse crowd, Club Splendore has evolved into an experience that goes beyond the dancefloor: an inclusive, label-free space where music, style and attitude coexist under red lights and immersive atmospheres. The format has appeared in some of the most relevant venues across Europe, including Villa Delle Rose (Riccione), Palazzina Grassi (Venice), Matis Club (Bologna), Hierbas Club (Cortina), while also expanding internationally with dates at Do Not Disturb – W Hotel Amsterdam, COYA Mykonos, and House Party London, confirming the project’s ability to connect with an international audience. From the club to the record.

Club Splendore Vol.1 is the project’s first official vinyl release and marks a natural step forward: capturing on physical format the sound that has been defining its dancefloors over the past years. The record explores a contemporary take on Italo Disco, infused with classic disco, funk and modern house elements, delivered with an ironic, sensual and direct approach. A sound that reinterprets the aesthetics of the ’80s without nostalgia, translating them into a current, club-focused language. Behind the production and on the decks: Sparkling Attitude, Nicola Zucchi and Matteo Mussoni, resident DJs of the format and the core musical force behind Club Splendore.

Side A features “Drink Campari”, an italo disco track built around warm, enveloping textures, elastic basslines, bright synths and a late-night groove. A story of summer desire and endless nights, playing with the iconography of Italian Red Passion in a light, effortless way.

Side B hosts “Madame”, a bonus track and electronic ballad with a more intimate, suspended mood. A track designed for the final hours of the night, when the club slows down and the dancefloor gives way to something more personal.

Club Splendore Vol.1 is not a compilation, but a statement of intent. A first chapter that brings the club experience beyond the club itself, staying true to the promise that has defined the project from the very beginning: “We will bring the light into the darkness of the night.

IFS008 - DE-TU - Fruitcake

IFS011 - Dark Tantrums - Command EP

IFS020 - Taiko - Giant Big Man

IFS022 - SWR - Square Soulja EP

IFS023 - Von D - Hunedoara EP

IFS027 - Nova - Bonafide EP

IFS031 - Causa - Haiy / Untitled R V3 C

IFS032 - Kodama - Gekko EP

Following the success of his recent releases, Mendekua and Electro Bloody Music, Barro’s honcho Nöle demonstrates that he is at one of his creative peaks with this new four-track EP.

The fortunate owners of reference number thirteen will not only take home a substantial slice of vinyl but also a powerful teleportation device that will instantly send them to the dance floor. Demencial chico acelerado features four tracks of techno infused with elements of industrial and EBM, as dark as it gets.

The EP kicks off with the enigmatic “IDDDQD,” a complex industrial techno track packed with sharp synths, devastating basslines, and an incredible punch.

“Lemmy Dust” comes next showing no mercy from the moment that the powerful kick hits, captivating you with its hypnotic sound and not letting go until you’re exhausted.

Cinematic as its name suggests, “Xenomorph” is a claustrophobic industrial techno powerhouse, brimming with intense EBM nuances that are both unsettling and frenetic—perfect for dancing with your hair standing on end.

Last but not least, “Ghost Dancer,” is one of the most purely techno tracks, showcasing haunting synths mid-way through. It’s heavy material fit for the dance floor.

Without a doubt, this demencial accelerated kid knows exactly what he’s doing.

The above references have already been supported by artists such as Dave Clarke, Phase Fatale, The Hacker, Lokier, NX1, Unhuman, Alienata, Reka, and many more.

Text by : El Garaje de Frank

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen is a brand new 2026 Netflix horror series produced by the Duffer Brothers, the creative minds behind the global hit Stranger Things. From the Executive Producers of Stranger Things, and the Director of Baby Reindeer, Something Very Bad is Going to Happen is on Netflix from March 26th. Created by Haley Z. Boston.

The music for the series is composed by Grammy Award-winning musician and composer Colin Stetson, renowned for his idiosyncratic use of saxophone in his projects. He has collaborated with acclaimed artists such as Bon Iver, Arcade Fire and The National, amongst others. Scoring Something Very Bad is Going to Happen builds on Stetson's extensive experience in film and game music. He has composed soundtracks for films like the psychological horror Hereditary (2018) and the dark thriller The Menu (2022), as well as the epic Rockstar game Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018). For this series, Stetson delivers a suspenseful soundtrack, perfectly complementing the Duffer Brothers' signature storytelling. A must-have release for fans!

The soundtrack of Something Very Bad is Going to Happen is available as a limited edition on red vinyl and includes an insert.

With Stronger, her third EP, Mira Ló continues her rapid ascent within the French electronic scene. A cathartic project born from a period of personal upheaval, this EP is both a cry of resilience and a celebration of club culture as a space for healing. The Paris-based queer producer and DJ turns pain into creative force, and the dancefloor into refuge, release, and rebirth. Across four emotionally charged tracks, Stronger traces the contours of a club where one rises through the energy of the beat, the warmth of a caring community, and the affirmation of self through sound and movement. “This EP is my response to a very dark period in my life. I chose to turn pain into strength, to stand back up through music, and to reconnect with joy, intensity, and the collective. Each track follows a movement, of a body rising, a heart beating stronger, a soul regaining its light. Stronger is also a tribute to those who carried me when I could no longer stand on my own. It's proof that even in chaos, we can rebuild together.” Mira Ló The first chapter of this inner journey, “Riser” is a house track filled with enveloping melodies, ethereal pads, and organic chords that create a suspended sonic space. Its steady pulse and warm basslines evoke a rising from within. “I wanted this track to feel like a build-up, like breathing again. It's about that moment when you feel you're ready to rise once more, even after a fall, like a gentle but powerful wave,” says Mira Ló. With its R&B textures, pop-infused touches, and radiant production, “Brighter” glows with warmth. It captures the return of inner clarity, the rediscovery of joy and ease. Made to bring people together, it’s Instagram | Youtube | TikTok | SoundCloudboth immediate and heartfelt. “It’s a song about shining again, after the dark. I wanted something full of light and simplicity, a track that speaks to the heart and makes you want to dance without thinking.” A personal and introspective nod to the French Touch, “Higher” is driven by filtered basslines and hypnotic grooves. It channels a sense of euphoria that builds gradually, almost meditatively, like a joyful vertigo. “This track is about finding euphoria again, that moment when music lifts you beyond yourself. I grew up with the French Touch, and this is my way of coming back to it with my own voice.” Closing the journey, “Louder” is the most assertive track on the EP. Inspired by the UK bassline and garage scene, it bursts with percussive, punchy energy. This is where everything comes into full light, bold, unapologetic, and free. “I wrote Louder as a statement: I’m here, I exist, and I won’t stay silent anymore. It’s about partying as self-affirmation, as a joyful, powerful scream of identity. Meant to be played loud. Very loud.” Mira Ló, born Ana Lopez, is a queer producer and DJ based in Paris. Drawing from the full spectrum of club music, her sets and productions blend melancholic emotion with a unique, high-energy, euphoric touch - inspired by artists like Disclosure, salute, and Sammy Virji. From her early days playing in Parisian bars and intimate clubs, she quickly rose to the lineups of top French venues and festivals such as Peacock Society, Marvellous Island, and Lollapalooza - extending her reach across Europe and even to Chicago. She’s carved out a strong place for herself within the new wave of the French electronic scene, leaving a lasting impression with every appearance. In 2023, she released her debut EP Memories and was featured in Apple Music’s “Women In Electronic” series. That same year, she became a resident at Sacré in Paris, before unveiling her second EP Tribute To Chicago in 2024. She returns in 2025 with her third release, Stronger - once again proving she’s one of the most promising artists shaping the future of electronic music.

For the 10th edition of Cmdrpx, we're thrilled to welcome back Yu to the label for a second release. This time, he takes us on a darker, more intense journey a bold contrast to his previous, more colorful EP. Expect hypnotic rhythms, acid driven grooves, and floor shaking energy in every track a truly captivating package designed to ignite any dancefloor. Huge thanks to the amazing DJs already supporting this release. Get ready to experience it loud in clubs around the world. Turn it up and enjoy the ride!

Strong one on Voyage Direct from Rotterdam's Benny Rodrigues...TIP!

The label say "Benny Rodrigues seems to delight in confounding critics. Since making his debut alongside Darko Esser with 2007's Underwater Records-­-released 'Paradox', the Rotterdam-­-based DJ has surprised and excited at every turn.

Variously delivering woozy tech-­-house, rave revivalism, stripped-­-back minimal, jackin' acid, wide-­-eyed deep house and, under his occasional ROD alias, shirts-­-off warehouse techno. Along the way, he's released music on some of Europe's most prestigious labels, including Desolat, Soma, EC Records, Be As One and Wolfskuil Records.

Here, he makes his debut for Tom Trago's Voyage Direct imprint with two undulating, hypnotic, heads-­-down tracks that blur the boundaries between house and techno. Rhythmically loose but impressively tough - like all of Rodrigues' best productions - both cuts are built around mesmerising late night grooves and intoxicating chords.

'Master French' kicks things off, lacing nagging shakers, subtle synth strings and fluttering chords over a robust, shuffling tech-­-house groove. Rodrigues works the mix like a master, bringing elements to the fore before sliding them into the background. It's a simple, heads-­-down, 4am groove, but it's executed brilliantly.

'Z', on the other hand, is an altogether breezier affair, with repetitive, new age-­- inspired synthesizer melodies seemingly drifting over a rock solid house groove. Notable ride cymbals and warm beats proper the track forward, giving it a humid, tropical feel. This is music to move the body, mind and soul. "

Introduced by a discrete message online, at the beginning of 2024, SNR007’s opening track Gliadin snuck its way through the web and first tickled my eardrums. It immediately lightened the mood and caused a little living room dance after a boring and grey day.
K’s musical ingredients may be called sparse, or certainly peculiar. All elements have their purpose though, even if they won’t tell you exactly what that is. The resulting experience is rich, enveloping and darkly funny.

With this new chapter, Blackwater Label presents an EP exploring the frontier between ethereal, electronics and sonic horror. Two tracks move like ambiguous presences, evoking atmospheres suspended between dream and nightmare, body and shadow. "Hypnoptera" is a journey through dense textures, oblique frequencies and subtle pulsations that seep into the listener, keeping alive the tension typical of the label's most radical productions. A work that does not seek comfort, but disorientation: a sonic ritual digging into the dark matter of imagination.

The A-side opens with "Gomma", a sonic mass that deforms, viscous and elusive. Gomma moves through dry hits and elastic reverbs, a living organism mutating at each beat. The atmosphere oscillates between tribal and industrial, like a ritual dance seen through distorted lenses. A track that fascinates with its physicality and hypnotic nature, suspended between attraction and unease. "Dulcis in Fungus" descends into a humid and cavernous sonic landscape where sweetness and decay coexist. It layers ethereal drones and underground pulses, creating an environment that feels both organic and alien. The piece develops like the growth of a fungus-silent yet unstoppable, seductive and corrosive at the same time.

LIMITED QUANTITIES TO 100

“The music of Season 2 of SEVERANCE is true to what came before in Season 1, while also developing new themes, new sounds, and new variations,” says Shapiro. “The season's bold expansions into new storylines and new locations, along with the incredible filmmaking and performances, provided plenty of inspiration.” “We are beyond thrilled to head back to Lumon with our Season 2 vinyl package,” says Mutant Co-Founder Spencer Hickman. “Working alongside Ben Stiller and his team, Fifth Season, and Apple has been an absolute honour and a joy. Greg Ruth and I are obsessed with the show and the chance to play in this sandbox again. Creating original art alongside in-show ephemera is like receiving a gift. I couldn't be prouder of the package we have crafted for Season 2, blending the Innie and Outie worlds just as the season itself felt instinctual. I really hope fans feel we have done it justice. PRAISE KIER.” Single LP with obi strip and a 16-page booklet featuring portraits of the main cast.

2026 repress !

Nous'klaer Audio presents Martinou - Chiral, the follow full-length up to his 2021 album Rift. This time nine tracks across two vinyls. An album flowing 'in a way' like Rift, but it's different: More outspoken, heavier sound design and it peaks on a blissful note. ''Open up the blinds and take me there. We'll break the surface tension. We'll dive in. I'm locked in your devotion. You give an inclination to our demise. It will be our exit. To bliss, we'll be its guardian. Once there was love. Clear as glassy water. No ripples, no waves. I followed while you led. Our arrival was warm. Hot, even. Stunning to a startling degree. Hands intwined, frolicking towards the blue. Hours passed, and white heat cede to an orange hue. We cooled down. Red. We rallied. Black. It began. Into the deep darkness we ran. White sand, it has a tendency to get everywhere. Salt water will only dehydrate you more. Shriveled and dry. Scratchy and coarse. More. And then we were lost. Fingers once locked grew distant. Morning, dear. Where have you gone? We looked. A glimpse from afar. Red. We rallied. Shall we share a bottle of wine? Black, lost again. Afternoon, friend. Where were you? Red. Alone. Black. We rallied. Shall we try somewhere new? Sand and salt. Evening, sir. Reservation for one? Reservations a plenty, I say. Evening, miss. Dining alone? Aren't we all? Dining, miss, not dying. Oh, yes, alone. Black. Sand and salt. I found you. No. No. Wait, do I know you? You feel like a dream. Don't touch me. Move along, sir. Who are you? Leave. Who are you? Where did you go? Keep moving. I am, I will. Time to move on. I'm moving! Leave. Don't touch me. Leave. Why are you? Exit. Purple. Orange. Yellow. White. Blue. Morning, dear. Shall we have breakfast? I think I'll sleep some more. But it's our last day. I know. See you downstairs when you're ready. OK. I open up the blinds. A bird breaks the surface tension. Locked in. To Devotion? No. Demise. An inclination. Reverie. Take me there. Where? Exit (To Bliss) '' Text by Gregory Markus

Belgian techno tastemaker Charlotte de Witte is back with the brand new Sanctum EP containing vocals of Marion Di Napoli. The release arrives the week after this year's Amsterdam Dance Event from October 16th - 20th and just ahead of her return to LA on November 2nd, where she will play a much anticipated all night long set at City Market.

Thanks to her truly distinct sound, de Witte sits at the frontline of the global electronic music scene. She is a DJ, producer and label head who has reshaped the underground with her blend of hard, dark and driving beats and trance tinged synths. Because of this, she is in demand on all the world's biggest stages, has picked up millions of global streams, established her label and its events art as a leading source of cutting edge sounds, and hosted her own KNTXT Turbo Club during Amsterdam Dance Event this year having already played across Europe, the US, UK all summer long.

Her own productions continue to stand out with fresh ideas and spectacular sun designs defining each one. She proves that once more with this new EP which features the alluring vocals of French singer, DJ and producer Marion Di Napoli. "I fell in love with Marion's voice years ago”, Charlotte explains. “She adds a very mystical touch to all her productions that have the power to bring you in a certain trance on the dance floor. I'm beyond excited about this release, on which every track her angelic voice is present.”

Sanctum kicks off with hard and heavy drums that will rattle warehouse walls as the searching synths add a futuristic feel next to twisted acid lines and the spell bound vocals of the angelic Marion. Fourth Dimension is a moody and driving techno roller with the vocals worked into hypnotic, soulful loops that add human warmth to the hypnotic drums and icy hi-hats. It's a warm and mystical world of sound then Fugato is an evocative ambient piece with soothing and exotic vocal coos and great cinematic tension.

This is another innovative EP from the one and only Charlotte de Witte.

Les Enfants Terribles presents LETM011 by DJ Real Madrid with the new EP No Smoking:

Dear readers and listeners,

My name is Tillmann Ostendarp, others know me as DJ Real Madrid. I love to play instruments, I love to play with machines. And this is something I did in May 2024, when I spent one week in my beautiful studio. Over the course of the week I recorded „NO SMOKING“ which is going to be my first Vinyl Release as „DJ Real Madrid“. No Smoking contains 4 Tracks: „Ta Ta“ which is a Juno-driven deep homage to the god of funk „Johnny Guitar Watson“. „Leave It Be“ is a big percussive jam that tells you to mind your own business. When I knocked out „GGGGGG“, I invited Dino Brandao and Mel D over to jam on the microphone, which led to a dark humorous ode to the insanity of our world. The last track is called „Merlasco“ and brings back the hope that we all will come together in the morning sunrise!

LWS returns to Parris and Call Super’s can you feel the sun imprint with All Of The Chaos. 4 mutant rollers in his
now-singular style, sharp constructions meticulously designed with club drama and devious rave energy.
A year on from Palloon, and Edinburgh’s LWS has certainly left his mark. His inner metronome ticks differently, ornate
club constructions snarling with hypnotic fervour. His music has been ubiquitous across clubs and festivals over the
past twelve months as a result, and on his second EP for can you feel the sun he proves there’s still plenty left in the
tank.

Opener Many Requests goes galactic, a wide-eyed entanglement of melody and rhythm that gallops tough yet supple
through an ever-shifting landscape; an inevitable deconstruction ensues, before the salivating return sets us back on
course. Gooly shifts darker, a looping roller with sultry swagger that deviously maintains its shuffling delirium with
uncanny nous. Sharkbait on the flip cultivates a jaw-gnawing tension, vibrantly edging towards that ecstatic release
with unrelenting ease. Closer All Of The Chaos goes weirdest, a chromatic safari swivelling on its mechanised 2 step
through a carousel of unhinged sound design to its conclusion; signing off on yet another collection of future-shock
missives from LWS.

Early DJ support from Call Super, Objekt, Pariah, Surusinghe, Ploy, OK WIlliams and Pangaea.

In 2016, a year after the 50th entry in the long-running series, none other but the iconic Detroit artist, DJ and producer Moodymann stepped up to helm the next landmark edition of DJ-Kicks, his first ever multi-artist DJ mix compilation. Following !K7's 40 th anniversary, this classic DJ-Kicks mix is now being repressed on coke bottle clear vinyl.
Born Kenny Dixon Jr., Moodymann is a one-of-a-kind electronic music icon, hailing from, and wholly synonymous with the Motor City. He is an outspoken, impossibly charismatic artist who has been putting a distinctive and soulful stamp on house and techno since the early 90s. Melting together jazz, funk, soul, blues and rock in captivating ways, he is responsible for some of electronic music’s most definitive tracks, EPs and LPs on labels like Planet E, Peacefrog and his own KDJ and Mahogani Music imprints. As able to serve up the sweetest and most sensual sounds as he is the darkest and most depraved grooves, his own unique voice and stream of conscious musings infuse expertly sought-out samples for music that is decisively alive and authentic.

Across 75 minutes and 30 tracks, Moodymann does not disappoint: despite being a notorious vinyl fetishist, Dixon’s aim is to present music of quality, not to one-up fellow collectors. Rather than serving up ridiculously rare or hard- to-find records, he instead focuses on creating a libidinous, blues-drenched mood that takes in heart-breaking soul, gorgeous hip-hop and love-fuelled house.

In addition to cuts from his own creative circle, the mix features 11 exclusive Moodymann edits. Like everything Kenny Dixon Jr. touches, his DJ-Kicks showcases the taste, skill, and soul of a dance music original.

“The group has no niche, it doesn’t fit in anywhere,” explains Necessaries drummer Jesse Chamberlain in a 1980 Melody Maker interview. “We just state the facts about life in America, like The Clash did about England, but we’re not so heavy about it.” The Necessaries rose from the ashes of Harry Toledo & The Rockets, a little-known New York art-rock band playing gigs at Max’s Kansas City during glam’s metamorphosis into punk. —From the liner notes by Michael IQ Jones The Necessaries came together in 1978 and in the too-brief lifespan of the band counted among their members, Ed Tomney (Rage To Live, Luka Bloom), Jesse Chamberlain (Red Crayola), Ernie Brooks (Modern Lovers), Arthur Russell (The Flying Hearts), Randy Gun (Love Of Life Orchestra). First championed by John Cale on the strength of Tomney’s songs, Cale produced their first single for Spy Records (under the I.R.S. umbrella) which was released in 1979. With the forward momentum brought about by the single, the band set about tracking demos intended for Warner Bros., but The Necessaries ultimately would sign to Seymour Stein’s Sire Records. These rough demo basic tracks lacked overdubs, mixes and any finishing touches that would have made them viable for commercial release, but due to tour commitments, the band had to put the sessions on hold to hit the road. While on tour, the band was shocked to discover that Sire had issued the unfinished tracks as their debut album Big Sky (issued in 1981). The band had Big Sky withdrawn and replaced with Event Horizon (issued in 1982) which included half the original tracks from Big Sky and continued to record throughout 1982 aiming for a follow-up. It was not to be and their final studio sessions remained unissued until now. Completely Necessary (Anthology 1978–1982) is the first authorized collection of recordings by The Necessaries and includes 37 tracks, 28 of which are previously unissued. Completely Necessary represents the most accurate musical history of the band laid out across three albums. Disc one is the band-approved first album Event Horizon, followed by Pilots Facing North, a disc collecting studio recordings spanning 1978–1981 and disc three finally sees the release of their final sessions, Songs From The Blue Colony. Album notes by Michael IQ Jones trace the history of the band for this compilation produced by The Necessaries’ Ed Tomney and Cheryl Pawelski (Omnivore Recordings). The audio has been restored and mastered by Michael Graves at Osiris Studio, and both the 3-LP and 2-CD sets feature previously unseen photos across the package. Finally, an essential missing piece of the late ’70s/early ’80s New York scene that was just slightly ahead of the college alt-rock soon to come, is finally available to rediscover—this time it’s authorized and absolutely necessary. BUY! HERE’S WHY! • The first authorized and comprehensive anthology by The Necessaries. • Mid-’70s/early ’80s New York rock/punk/art scene band included members: Ed Tomney, Ernier Brooks, Arthur Russell, Jesse Chamberlain, and Randy Gun. • 37 tracks, 28 previously unissued. • Liner notes by Michael IQ Jones, plus unseen photos.