quête:delv!s

Gentle waves lap the soft white sand. The limitless ocean fills the view as the sun slowly sinks below the horizon. As the day ends in blue and orange tones, the heat begins to subside, a sure sign that the slow evening migration from the beach will soon begin. A pleasant, yet formidable music comes from the radio tuned into a frequency transmitted from Paris. Maybe it was written and recorded in the 70s, or maybe it has simply soaked in that aesthetic all the way down to the pauses. It doesn't really matter. Delving deep to explore the roots of Brazil’s musical tradition, the Camarão Orkestra has tapped into Candomblé and its rhythms. Born on the drums of enslaved Africans in a ritual that invokes numerous deities, they lay the foundation for this new album, Nação África. The eleven musicians, guided by Amanda Roldan’s silky voice and guest appearance by Anthony Joseph (“Canto De Bahia”), explore and embrace the murmuring polyrhythm of Brazilian percussion instruments, vibrating berimbau and squeaking cuícas, pouring their tightlywound funk bass into the groove and letting their jazz fly free, together and solo. The seven nonchalant tracks get your hips swaying, whether you’re in a comfortable armchair or surrounded by other dancers. They take your mind far away, on a journey paved by analog synths with Fender Rhodes crystals to the horizon where the sun’s last glimmer has finally faded away. The brass section’s shiny bells, valves and keys reflect the images and ambiance of the soft Brazilian night air.

When the world slipped into madness last month, the ESP Institute put most releases on the back-burner to await brighter days, but then we thought again; why not approach these odd circumstances the way we do most realities, positively and head-on? We’re committed to a community that builds new worlds — this is fundamental to our creative and spiritual relationship with Osaka-born, cosmos-straggling artist, Ground — and while temporarily we can’t physically congregate to uplift each other, its our responsibility as an institution to maintain a platform for prolific creative pioneers, our cherished cartographers of cognitive escape. 'Wakusei' is wonderfully confusing and disorienting music, a follow-up EP to 2018’s critically acclaimed album 'Sunizm', not created specifically for life under lockdown, but nonetheless aptly suited to help release angst, guide meditation, and assist in making this moment in history more interesting if not transcendental. Whereas 'Sunizm' relied on field recordings gathered from rainforests, percussions learned from imaginary ancient civilizations, and the somehow organic freneticism of a mission control meltdown, the aesthetic of 'Wakusei' reduces this abstract instrumentation one step further to a more base-level array of gurgling synth scraps, accelerating engine friction and static-bound phonetic mistakes, all scrubbed into dust by a Brillo pad of white noise. The cliché of “great art is born out of hard times” is not lost upon us — of course the world will look back to this turmoil and its residual contributions to culture — but we see today's art as an immediate coping mechanism, and artists like Ground helping to unlock and navigate internal utopias. We’re already indoors, let’s delve inside.

Live At Robert Johnson deploys a very true to its school release by one of Brussels finest, DC Salas. „The Complicated Art of Dreaming“ tells a four-track tale of joyous and airy nights on the dancefloor. A few euphoric sixteenths and a few quirky acid lines, lush pads and irresistible drums—it’s all about giving you that driving and energetic feeling, with more than one genuine hands in the air floorfiller at your disposal.

Things are what you expect of LARJ: Driving high quality tracks with an emotional twist, a nod to the luscious moments on the wooden dancefloor. — DC Salas is thirtysomething year old Diego Cortez Salas, a skilled talent with peruvian origins hailing from Brussels. His four-track EP „The Complicated Art of Dreaming“ delves into classic territories, an eclectic amalgamation of his musical inspirations in 15 years of digging and DJing. A regular DJ at C11 and Kiosk Radio both in Brussels, Diego also co-runs Biologic Records with his mate Abstraxion since 2014.

Snips is the founder of Barbershop Records and co founder of Livin Proof, with over 15 years experience as one of Londons most prolific DJs and over 10 years worth of production credits across Hip Hops underground. 2018 has seen Snips emerge as a budding solo artist, fusing the production styles of Hip Hop, House, Soul and Funk in the same fashion as he is known to do behind the turntables.

With his debut album "The Barbershop" making waves on both sides of the Atlantic and his Single "The Product" On Classic Records garnering support from a cross genre selection of heavyweights such as Karizma, Benji B, Eli Escobar, House Shoes, J Rocc, DJ Spinna and Henry Wu, Snips returns on his own label Barbershop Records and delves into Edit territory for his second instalment of the "Snips Edits" series. This time cleverly turning a handful of Hip Hop classics into club ready anthems over Snips' original productions.

Following on from releases by the likes of Whitesquare, The Cyclist, DJ Octopus and Daniele Baldelli & Dario Piana, Tropical Animals head honcho Ricardo Baez steps up to provide a three track EP of refined, richly textured, deep and brooding cuts.

Undulating synths, introspective chords and a tapestry of rhythms flow from the Florence native, at times moving through the depths of lo-fi, crunching house at others delving into the realms of acid.

'CYAN’ is the third full length LP from San Francisco Bay Area-based band The Seshen. Taking its name from a colour that is both strong and soft, the LP unravels the progression that has been made since 2016’s ‘Flames and Figures’, both as a band and as individuals; “Since ‘Flames and Figures’, a lot has been taking place both internally and externally.” Lyricist and vocalist Lalin St. Juste recollects, “we were on tour for the last album during the 2016 US election. There was an intense heaviness, a familiar one, one that extends generations and it just sunk in even further.”

The battle to overcome this heaviness, felt as a result of political and social issues and through Lalin’s own experiences with combating depression, fuels ‘CYAN’. “I was at the edge of myself,” she confesses. “This album is about pulling back the layers of who I am in order to push through sadness and grab onto what’s underneath”. From the opening lines of the LP on “Take It All Away”, these ideas are displayed - “I think it’s been too long that I’ve been your puppet / Cut these strings, I don’t want any of it”, she sings. Led by exposed yet bold musical endeavours from bassist/producer Akiyoshi Ehara, the album sees The Seshen delve into uncharted eclectic realms; “I think that there’s a lot more rawness on this record” Aki muses.

Anchored by Lalin’s sly, silvery vocals (which draw frequent comparisons to Erykah Badu) and cerebral yet playful rhythms from producer- bassist Aki, The Seshen’s music pulls from a deep well of electronic influences, R&B, and indie rock. Drummer Chris Thalmann, keyboard/synth player Mahesh Rao, percussionist Mirza Kopelman and sequencer Kumar Butler make the music three-dimensional, blending live and digital instrumentation for a mercurial, transportive sound. Since 2012, the Seshen’s live show has earned them critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase on multiple continents, as they’ve shared stages with the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, Petite Noir, tUnE-yArDs, and Thundercat.

The third installment of the Baast album series "Trident" sees the band heading into the direction of electronic soundscapes, delving deeper into soundtrack and ambient textures more so than previous albums "Dimension" and "Bazaar".
R. Scott Dibble and the inimitable DJ Johnny Basil remain at the helm with a round of uber talented guest artists who've contributed in the past along with some new players, heavy on talent but even more so on the vibe that's captured in the recordings.

Colored LP

'CYAN’ is the third full length LP from San Francisco Bay Area-based band The Seshen. Taking its name from a colour that is both strong and soft, the LP unravels the progression that has been made since 2016’s ‘Flames and Figures’, both as a band and as individuals; “Since ‘Flames and Figures’, a lot has been taking place both internally and externally.” Lyricist and vocalist Lalin St. Juste recollects, “we were on tour for the last album during the 2016 US election. There was an intense heaviness, a familiar one, one that extends generations and it just sunk in even further.”

The battle to overcome this heaviness, felt as a result of political and social issues and through Lalin’s own experiences with combating depression, fuels ‘CYAN’. “I was at the edge of myself,” she confesses. “This album is about pulling back the layers of who I am in order to push through sadness and grab onto what’s underneath”. From the opening lines of the LP on “Take It All Away”, these ideas are displayed - “I think it’s been too long that I’ve been your puppet / Cut these strings, I don’t want any of it”, she sings. Led by exposed yet bold musical endeavours from bassist/producer Akiyoshi Ehara, the album sees The Seshen delve into uncharted eclectic realms; “I think that there’s a lot more rawness on this record” Aki muses.

Anchored by Lalin’s sly, silvery vocals (which draw frequent comparisons to Erykah Badu) and cerebral yet playful rhythms from producer- bassist Aki, The Seshen’s music pulls from a deep well of electronic influences, R&B, and indie rock. Drummer Chris Thalmann, keyboard/synth player Mahesh Rao, percussionist Mirza Kopelman and sequencer Kumar Butler make the music three-dimensional, blending live and digital instrumentation for a mercurial, transportive sound. Since 2012, the Seshen’s live show has earned them critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase on multiple continents, as they’ve shared stages with the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, Petite Noir, tUnE-yArDs, and Thundercat.

For years, Rhythm Buro and Zadig have maintained a special relationship. The French DJ and producer (real name Sylvain Peltier,) became involved with the Ukrainian institution when he headlined their first party in Kyiv back in 2014. In the few years since, both Sylvain and Rhythm Buro have developed into strong international brands that have become well-known and trusted. They are thus ready to present another form of collaboration: Zadig's debut record on the Kyiv-based label. "Takara-machi" EP is the sixth release in Rhythm Buro's catalogue, following previous releases by Haze, Na Nich, Cyspe and a few VAs on the imprint.

RB006 is particularly notable for its sonic diversity. Zadig, often known for his uncompromising and hard-hitting techno ventures, explores a deeper musical side here, and delves into his wide range of influences and inspirations. A good example of this is found in the manga series "Amer Beton", with the excellent soundtrack by Plaid, hence the Japanese name for the record's title track. At least three of the six tracks on the record follow this influence precisely and are rather cinematic: these are A and B sides' closing tracks; "Shores of Sorrow" and "Kuro & Shiro". Both of which play to a certain dreamy ambient field. The title track on B2 exemplifies Zadig's passion towards an old-school 100 bpm-ish tempo.

And then there's the more dancey side of the record. The EP's opener, "No-face" on A1, and its following tune on A2, "What We Become" are both a clear take, albeit more modern, to classic Detroit techno. Rich with melodies and 909 patterns, both A1 and A2 are conscious in their reference to Detroit, and pay homage to the master minds that spawned the genre in their studios 30 years ago and started it all. The B-side's opening track is another dance floor friendly stomper, although in a different way: "A World of Children" may be best labelled as "slower-electro". Its synth-heavy, almost naive essence, describe its name perfectly.

Despite its aforementioned diversity of sound and tempos, Zadig's "Takara-machi" EP still possesses and maintains a unique commonality and voice across the spectrum. It is dreamy, it is soulful, it puts substance over form. In other words, it has something the vast majority of today's techno palette is missing. Rhythm Buro doesn't miss the mark in unearthing and releasing pure quality for those who know and care.

For Patrick Flegel, Cindy Lee is more than just a recording music project. It is the culmination of a lifelong exploration of art, the electric guitar, queer identity and gender expression. "Singers like Patsy Cline and The Supremes carried me through the hardest times of my life," explains Flegel, "and also provided the soundtrack to the best times."

Following the dissolution of Canadian experimental indie band Women, Flegel would delve deeper into songwriting that bends further toward high atmospherics and bracing melodies – a unique space where splendor naturally collides with experimentation. Delivering moments of sheer beauty through somber reflections on longing and loneliness, Cindy Lee is something to hold onto in a world of disorder.

What's Tonight To Eternity, Cindy Lee's fifth long-form offering, showcases the project's most entrancing strengths: ethereal snowdrift pop and sly nods toward classic girl-group motifs. Recorded at Flegel's Realistik Studios in Toronto and featuring younger brother Andrew Flegel on drums, the album travels hand in hand with a spectral guide.

Flegel found inspiration for Cindy Lee in the form of Karen Carpenter, drawing on the singer / drummer's early recordings as well as her look and style. "I found a deep interest and comfort in Karen's story, which is a cautionary tale about the monstrosity of show business, stardom at a young age and being a misfit looking for connection. The darkness and victimizing tabloid sensationalism she suffered is easily tempered and overwhelmed by her earnest output, her artistry, her tireless work ethic. Something utterly unique and magical takes shape in the negative space, out of exclusion. What I relate to in her has to do with what is hidden, what is unknown."

What's Tonight To Eternity remains a mix of pop culture indoctrination, pain and suffering, hopes and dreams, fierce confrontations and wide-open confessional blurs. Closing with the song "Heavy Metal" (dedicated to the memory of former Women bandmate Chris Reimer) and adorned by Andrea Lukic's Journal of Smack artwork, the album continues the bold and rewarding path on which Cindy Lee has embarked.

Swiss bass music maestro Bit-Tuner presents a widescreen ambient album about interactions and the traces they leave behind.

Bit-Tuner's 7th album "EXO" marks a milestone in his work: the widescreen and mostly beatless opus focusses on musical storytelling and atmospheric depth. The album was written and recorded towards the end of Bit-Tuner's 2-year stay in Athens.

Influenced by topics like the social and structural turmoils of the past years, the strong connections between communities and the sensation of being in an economic deadlock, Bit-Tuner wrote an album that urges to be listened to in a (self-)reflective way.

It is a call to listeners to listen closely, delve into the sounds surrounding them in any given moment and draw a quiet but firm inspiration from within. Following his field recording-based albums "The China Syndrome" and "The Japan Syndrome", "EXO" highlights his interest in cinematic music and soundtracks.

For the album, Bit-Tuner is collaborating with film maker Joerg Hurschler, who is creating animated footage that will be screened, mixed and live scored at Bit-Tuner's shows in 2020. Joerg Hurschler's work tells the story of molecular objects being propelled into a world similar to ours, where they operate, interact and affect their surroundings, creating and leaving behind something new and strange. What is it that surrounds us, and how do we approach and interact with forces that are beyond our (apparent) reach?

Uniformity of Nature, the second release on Prague based Detach Recordings, marks an exciting collaboration between Romanian producer DYL (re:st, Alpha Cutauri, Skutta) and Germany's Senking (Raster Noton, Karaoke Kalk).

DYL pushes the bounderies of his sound beyond his 170 roots, with the powerful electronics of 'Phrases' and the electrifying team-up with Senking on 'Destroyed City Lights'. Two tracks see DYL in the more familiar peripheries of D&B. The percussive 'Words', with its curious background atmospherics, and the driving, hypnotic collaboration with DB1 on the title track 'Uniformity of Nature'. 'Launch' sees Senking slow the tempo down and delve into a more murky space, yet still highly-charged with razor-sharp sound design.

DYL closes the EP with the abstract 'Semantics', a further excursion into experimental electronics. The record comes housed in a screen-printed transparent sleeve, with a limited edition insert by Romanian artist Teodora Gavrila.

First run on marbled vinyl!

During a career spanning decades, under a spread of monikers, Lee Norris has weaved musical gold. Shipwrec know this. Once again the dutch imprint delves into the Metamatics' archives to come up with audio treasures. Instamatic, released in 2014, is the source material for the "Instamatic EP" with four tracks being revisited from the album. As with all of Norris' work, a depth of expression can be enjoyed from the outset. Mixing elements of electro, electronica and IDM, "Neon Future Blue" is a warm textured and simply addictive opener. Subtlety and form are tinkered and toyed with in the ruffled edges and stark lines of "Cosmic Emotion" before the grandeur and isolation that is "Metamatix." Fragility and the ephemeral combine in the closer. "Haethear" casts whimsical notes to the wind, gentle currents shift as basslines bubble against crushed beats. Simply sublime from a true master.

Ella Fitzgerald’s singing talents were simply supreme. Every one of her contemporaries looked up to her as the standard to be judged by. There are dozens of quotes from everyone including Crosby, Sinatra and virtually all the major band leaders extolling her virtues.
'Ella Fitzgerald' was undoubtedly one of the greatest jazz and pop singers and interpreters of the twentieth century.

Listeners can dance to her work, relax to it, laugh with it, cry with
it, and everything in between as she can satisfy every mood ...
This album gathers some of her very best recordings, and could serve
as a starting point for some deeper delving into her fine catalogue
of songs.

Fabio & Grooverider have been at the forefront of UK dance music for over 3 decades. This is the roots of their story told through music.

The 2 London DJ's are part of the DNA of the global Jungle / D&B movement and they have remained relevant, cutting edge, authoritative and essential to this truly underground art-form since it's inception. RAGE could arguably be the ground zero of Jungle. The party was started at London's cavernous Heaven club by Fabio & Grooverider in 1988, at the height of Acid House fever that was making it's way up and down the motorways, slip-roads, fields and warehouses of the M25 and further beyond every weekend, troubling the nation, the police, your parents and the press as it went. RAGE was a different beast, it certainly channelled some of that Acid energy but pitted it against the new and exciting sounds emanating from Belgium, Amsterdam, Detroit, Sheffield, Essex and Hackney and in turn created a new style, a new sonic attitude and energy in the process. Rumbling bass-lines, narcotic synth rushes and roughly chopped and sped-up breakbeats all merged into a style that we now know as Jungle. Nothing like this had been heard before, this was a brand new style and it was coming out of London's West End and Fabio & Grooverider were the people firmly behind it.

RAGE is approaching it's 30th anniversary. It's sonic and cultural legacy is still being felt today, Fabio & Groove are still shutting down raves and festivals every weekend all over the world with their superior DJ sets and musical knowledge guided by their pioneering spirit. This musical selection you hold in your hands, the first of 4 parts, sees them delve into their prodigious memories and record boxes to select a true musical representation of the very beginning of one of the UK's most unique and influential musical movements of the last 50 years. Across 4 x 2 x 12"s compilations we are taken on the journey through the sounds of RAGE, accompanied with track by track notes from Fabio & Groove themselves. This is the sound of the underground, from the inside out.

This is a masterclass in the old-school. The roots. There is no filler here, it's simply ALL killer. Lovingly selected and programmed by the masters - 'The Living Shock' & 'The Ladies Choice'. Produced in conjunction with Above Board distribution and Fabio & Grooverider. All tracks mastered from original sources and fully licensed. Mastering by Optimum, Bristol. Artwork and design by Atelier Superplus. 2019

FUTURE AFRO-LATIN JAZZ HOUSE FROM MASTER PERCUSSIONIST, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST AND COMPOSER GABRIELE POSO.

A true multi-instrumentalist, Gabriele Poso found a particular affinity for percussion at a young age, studying in Puerto Rico and Cuba. His latest album ‘Batik’, to be released on Soundway Records, is once again entirely selfproduced and features guest vocalists Nailah Porter, Nina Rodriguez, Quetzal Guerrero & Sofia Rollo.
Following a long-term collaborative partnership with Osunlade / Yoruba Records, as well as albums on BBE and Agogo Records, Gabriele Poso has garnered acclaim from reviewers and selectors including Gilles Peterson. On ‘Batik’, Poso further develops and matures his sound - exploring his extensive roots in Afro-Cuban percussion, while delving into the realms of jazz and soulful house. Much of the album features Poso on not only vocals but many of the instruments - including percussion, guitar and kalimba. With mixing by renowned Spanish DJ and producer Kiko Navarro, the lead single “Africa Linda” is an up tempo live take on Latin house, featuring American-born soul singer Quetzal Guerrero on vocals.

NecareDiskoEP is the debut original release from, Thomaas Banks and also the first release on his own imprint, Sinahti.

The 4 track EP delves into his love for EBM & the slower side of Techno. NecareDisko rocks with low slung future vibes. Gnarly metallic synths and apocalyptic Vatican orchestration meld with a rolling beat to provide a sleek burner with plenty of grind and glimmer.

VitalClaret ups the tempo with a rousing trip to the chasm edge. Ring modulated arpeggiated leads clash with insistent embers of modular rebellion.

A background hum rises throughout to reach a punishing crescendo. TYVYT-IYTYIon the first remix of the EP’s title track and he pushes the swamp funk button for a syncopated noise workout, with a hot as hell detuned noir melody around the halfway mark. Magma!

The EP closes with a loose open electro remix of Necare Disko from Hymns. Open and lighter than the rest of the EP, nevertheless it still has a taut, Germanic vibe with distorted bass funk dueling
hard towards the end.

Emotional Rescue again delves in the world of private pressings, with a reissue of British electronic pop meets proto-House duo 4AM. With copies of their self titled album now highly sought after, this timely reissue presents two of their songs as a stand alone 7".

Consisting of multi-instrumentalist Steve Kirby - piano, guitar, bass, programming - and vocalist Kevin Finch, 4AM came together after youths filled with a love of music. Following a string of band attempts, Steve dived in to the world of midi, allowing him to build a studio set up and play solo. A meeting with new work colleague Kevin quickly developed to joining forces to expand on his early demos.

Their melodic, dance-influenced pop draws on a love of Japan, OMD and The The, but also ECM jazz and a touch of "white boy soul". The TR-808 drum and hi-hats, string stabs and random acid squelches - although no TR-303 was used - highlights the influence the nascent House sounds emanating from the "second summer of love" of 1988 / 89 had in their music melting pot.

Over this, personal lyrics flow, full of honest emotions and a touch of youthful naivety thrown in - of relationships, love, sex and passions. Intended as a personal artifact, the original album was released in 1990 with no promotion or live shows and has taken until now, some 30 years, to find a cult audience. I want you with a Passion.

Dan HabarNam returns to Chris Farrell's label with a follow up to last years acclaimed 'Draw Your Pattern' 12". Picking up where that left off 'Major Blinks' delves deeper into sub heavy techno with superb sound design and depth. On the flip 'The Source' transfixes with its eerie pads and broken drums. Another strong release from this label and another chapter in this unique Romanian artist's story.

The first artist other than label head Patrick Topping to release on TRICK , his Geordie compatriot Adamson delivers an eclectic mix of tracks. The EP opener and title track, ‘Electric Acid Tater Tots’ is an acid-soaked techno slammer, strung together by Elliots own robotic vocals. Skream then steps up to deliver the labels first ever remix, a trippy, high-energy workout, before the Electric Acid Tater Vox offers a stripped-back vocal version which is available exclusively on the vinyl. Over on the B-side, ‘NYC Dada’ is an infectious disco-house edit destined to fill countless dancefloors, then ‘11am in Brisbane’ delves into melodic techno waters.
“I don't recall writing the lyrics, but I like to believe they appeared in the notes in my phone delivered by some divine spirit via the medium of an Apple iPhone XR - cheers Steve,” Adamson jokes. “About four instrumentals existed for about four weeks and I would often find myself standing on the table at parties singing out the lyrics excitedly trying to explain that 'this is my song.’” - Elliot Adamson The record is also accompanied by two exclusive bonus tracks. Lesgo Lesgo Lesgo is a true techno odyssey and bonus purely for digital copies of the EP. Then, there is the Electric Acid Tater Tots (Acid Mix) , a secret dubplate that has only been sent out to a select number of DJs. A true weapon for the warehouses.
“Elliot had to be the first artist, other than myself, to release on TRICK!” Topping enthuses. “ I’ve been championing his music for years and this release has been a long time coming. He’s now helping me A&R and is a resident at the label parties. His EP genre-hops and this is what TRICK is all about.” - Patrick Topping

Floating Points' personal collection of global soul, ambient, jazz and folk treasures form the latest in the warmly revered Late Night Tales series.

Sam Shepherd aka Floating Points' music taste is notoriously tricky to define, ranging from ethereal classical at one end to coruscating techno at the other, united only in a firm belief in the transcendental power of music to move hearts, minds and - yes - feet. Similarly, his production career has ranged from early experiments in dance music with breakout records such as the 'Shadows EP' and collaborating with legendary Gnawa master Mahmoud Guinia to his expansive album 'Elaenia', which met with critical acclaim upon its release in 2015.

This Late Night Tales excursion into the depths of the evening reflects his broad tastes. The globally-travelled producer has collected untold treasures on his travels from dusty stores in Brazil to market stalls near his hometown. There's the gorgeous 'Via Làctea', culled from Carlos Walker's debut album, Abu Talib's (Bobby Wright) plaintive 'Blood Of An American' and Robert Vanderbilt's gospel reworking of Manchild's 'Especially For You'. Raw soul and feeling oozing from each song's pores.

At the other end of the music scale are the modernists, such as Québécoise Kara-Lis Coverdale who weighs in with the indelible 'Moments In Love', Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith whose 'Milk' is an exercise in tranquility, while Sarah Davachi's meditative mix-opener offers respite from a weary world.

We have some exclusive tracks for Late Night Tales; alongside Davachi's offerings there is also Toshimaru Nakamura's 'Nimb #59', as well as the now traditional cover version. hepherd delved into his childhood
memory for this one, a track taken from the first album his parents bought him, Kenny Wheeler's 'Music For Large & Small Ensembles': Sam offers up his interpretation of 'Opening Part 1'. Wheeler also contributes horns to Azimuth
track The Tunnel, written and performed by Norma Winstone and John Taylor who, coincidentally, are the parents of Floating Points' drummer Leo Taylor. Closing the album, Lauren Laverne reads the suitably nocturnal poem 'Ah! Why, Because The Dazzling Sun' by Emily Brontë.

'I tried to find music that reflects the stillness of night. And because my musical interests lie all over the place, it's quite difficult to distil that notion down to just a few songs. I was quite keen to have some electronic music in there but I also really wanted to have some soul music mixed in, so I had to try and find a pathway between all of this different music.' - Sam Shepherd (Floating Points) March 2019

Glenn Astro conquers new territories with Naturals, fusing elements of Balearic and leftfield house with tribal and acid sounds on Tartelet Records.

In an impressively short amount of time, Glenn Astro has created a musical universe that’s entirely his. With full-length releases making waves on Ninja Tune and Apollo Rec, the sister label of R&SRecordings, the Berlin-based musician assembles a perfect pastiche of influences on his forthcoming EP Naturals, coming out on Copenhagen’s Tartelet Records this September.

Exploring the outer fringes of the Balearic sonic spectrum, Naturals delves into unexpected sound territories without losing touch with planet home. Sub-heavy drums mix with private oceanic field recordings, futuristic synth, and effect pedal workouts, delivering a four-track EP that is novel but honest to the bone.

“I tried not to take any direct influence from any particular music I was listening to,” Glenn Astro says. “Instead, I tried concentrating on where the instruments and effects were taking me, experimenting with different ways of using the gear that I know so well.”

Inspired by Sicily’s natural beauty, the juxtaposition of its rough landscapes and clear blue waters, Naturals takes listeners on a journey into unfamiliar sound; a conscious diversion from his usual style and yet an instant dance floor cracker infused with the artist’s signature panache.

“I made most of the record while being in Sicily,” he says. “In retrospect, it is easy to hear that the volcanic landscapes contrasting the idyllic beaches were a major influence.”

The EP opener “Naturals (Unsweetened Mix)” is a beautiful freak – a peak-time cut – starting out with tranquil ambient melodies and water drop percussion followed by a beasty acid line and slick drum programming. Next, “Naturals (Dance Mix)” slows it down to 116 BPM, taking a completely different route with a hypnotic dance between tribal and dub – a wonderfully weird closer.

On the flip side, “Slarutan (Pristine Mix)” emerges au natural with Sicilian field recordings, layered pads, playful melodies, and crisp drum programming. Saving the best for last, “Slarutan (Water Mix)” dips its toes into the early days of dance music, shifting into futuristic, ambient dub territory with divine melodies and filtered percussion.

“This one is for the plants and the trees. Return to planet Tartelet,” Glenn Astro says.

White Vinyl

AsymetriK is the bold and experimental alias of Arjun Vagale, an artist who's been a leading figure in the Indian electronic music landscape for over two decades.

The debut release of his self-titled label wends through the chaotic landscape of what we broadly call "electronic music". As AsymetriK seizes a free and open platform to explore his versatility, the EP delves deep into uncharted territory, spanning varying tempos and creative musical paths.

Mondoj presents Jeremy, the latest release from LA's Roy Werner, who is perhaps better known for his work as G.S. Sultan. While the Max/MSP magician's previous works delved into ideas of "avant-garde pointilism" (ad.sculpt tutorial, Orange Milk Records) or presented "abstract noise as a communicative medium" (Redundancy Suite, Phinery), Jeremy repurposes pop music to create abstract, vaporous forms.

22a label founder, multi-instrumentalist and producer Tenderlonious continues to evolve away from his recent jazz projects and delve further into the world of house and electronic beats.
This is his most club orientated release to date, yet he still manages to capture the essence of his live instrumentation. Detroit techno via Woking and South London!

Deliquent Delivery’s third EP titled U​ comes from Dublin based label head Stephen Mahoney, who contributed two tracks to the label’s last split EP.

Mahoney’s vision for Delinquent Delivery is visible on this release, showcasing his talents which range beyond A&R and delving into production. ​U features five untitled tracks, contrasting thumping dancefloor driven techno with spacey atmospheric ambient tones. With over twenty years experience as a DJ, Mahoney’s ear for precise, engaging rhythms and melancholic tones can be heard throughout​ U.​

A1​ sets the tone of ​U.​ A thumping kick lays the foundation for the track, with gritty, cutting melodies juxtaposed with polished, pensive tones. Rhythmic structure is a large component of Mahoney’s signature sound, with cleverly placed hats and snares audible on ​A1​. A strong link to the sounds of Detroit sounds of the ’90s is audible here, synonymous with Zenker Brothers et. all.

A2 c​ontinues down the path previously set out, with another dance floor directed track. More subtle than previously heard, Mahoney drives the track with a glossy lead, only to break the track up and juxtapose it with a gritty, murky underlying melody. ​A2 ​also focuses heavily on rhythmic structure, with well-placed spacing allowing energy to be retracted and reintegrated with more tenacity.

A3​ takes ​U​ to a different space with an ambient excursion. Mahoney here showcases that he is capable of creating lush, captivating soundscapes which transport the listener to a place of tranquillity. Dark, harrowing undertones are balanced with ethereal swells, maintaining the aura of the record established.

B1 moves back to the dancefloor, with a thumping kick and jagged, piercing tones. Mahoney’s versatility as a producer is evident here, as ​B1​ moves in the same vein as the A-side of ​U​ but is completely different in style. Prime-time dance-floor material, this track drives forward with ferocity and grace, cleverly being broken up with sparkling synth tones only to hit back harder than before.

B2​ closes out ​U. ​A bouncy kick drum sets the tone, with atmospheric, dark swells creating an engaging sonic tapestry. Sparse, delicately placed lustrous tones take the lead, with airy swells contributing to form a wonderful balance of light and darkness. Mahoney’s focus on precision within rhythmic structure is again noticeable here, with rhythmic elements forming their own melodies throughout ​B2​.

U​ is Stephen Mahoney’s first full release on Delinquent Delivery and captivates the essence of his vision as a producer entirely. Versatile, engaging and polished, ​U​ contains five tracks which all compliment one another wonderfully. ​U​ is a record which is as useful in a DJ’s record bag as it is for home listening.

Long overdue, here comes AIR LQD’s first full-length player, Repeat Itself, making up for the direct follow-up of his acclaimed vinyl debut released on the label in 2016. Mixing science fiction, social criticism and punk ethics in the most cryptic fashion, the latest entry in the discography of the taciturn Belgian groove-maker sees him pushing further his electronic experimentation. Delving into the meanders of the human consciousness through hazy and abrasive rituals, brainpowered by robotics, artificial intelligence and urban metamorphism. The weird looping echo of a man-machine drifting through a vortex of feral scratches and overworked machinery. Slowly moving towards the event horizon of a supermassive black hole, leading to unexpected aural aberrations full of hidden, past and new meanings. Giving a last disillusioned glance at our human condition facing technological progress and the toxicity of the outside world.

Esa's compilation Amandla: Music To The People holds diverse dancefloor tracks from over the world. The first compilation in 2019 for Soundway and a comprehensive picture that connects the dots of Esa’s musical journey.

Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, during the last days of Apartheid, Esa recalls the immense power that music had in resisting oppression and division. “Amandla, Awethu”, which literally means “the power is ours”, was an ubiquitous chant echoing throughout the politically charged atmosphere of the time – a call to unite, and a call from which this release derives not only its title, but its intention as well.

“Music was a crucial way of bringing people and communities together”, reflects Esa, “and it’s what I hope to achieve with this compilation, too”. For Esa Williams is not only a musical polymath but also passionate about connecting people through music – be it as a skilled DJ, an educator in production, a band leader reigniting the legendary Ata Kak band from Ghana, or a collaborator with the likes of Tanzanian artist Mim Suleiman. A firm favourite on the DJ circuit, he held a monthly residency at Phonox London for over 6 months - bringing guests such as Nu Guinea to Brixton audiences - as well as delivering memorable sets at Dekmantel, Atlas Festival, Boiler Room and more.

The last few years have seen a recent surge in interest in South African music from the 80s and 90s, including bubblegum, which was recently showcased on Soundway’s critically acclaimed 2018 compilation Gumba Fire: Bubblegum Soul & Synth Boogie in 1980s South Africa, put together by DJ Okapi. It was only natural that the label looked to delve deeper into the country’s rich musical legacy and tap another of its esteemed ambassadors for the role of compiler.

The result is a rainbow of complementary electronic styles hailing from not only South Africa but further afield, including zouk from Brazil and the French Antilles, as well as Afro-futurism. Together, they form a comprehensive picture that connects the dots of Esa’s musical journey – from growing up in South Africa, to artists he has encountered in his worldwide travels who have helped develop his identity as a musician.

DESCRIPTION
Absolute madness unearthed by Paul Ebhart and Florian Stöffelbauer aka Heap for Wiener Brut's third release
Chicago-meets-Vienna-vibes - music way ahead of it's time produced in the 80s by short-lived formation Aktionskunst Gerasdorf aka Athletico Kunst Gerasdorf, a project that is well known for it's contribution to the legendary Viennese sampler ‚Die Tödliche Dosis'.

808-driven beats programmed by René Radikal (R.I.P.) backing Melanie Delval's tender voice, with multiple guest musicians (e.g. Fritz Grohs) rounding things up and adding their spice to the laidback jams alongside stand-out musical heavy hitters. A composition of sound you never heard before.

2025 Repress

2019 marks the year that Music for Freaks has officially been running for over 20 whole years. Two decades of topsy turvy, downright Freakish behaviour. How the hell did that happen?

So, what better time to delve deep into the labels vaults again and uncover more of its hidden treasures. Back in 2015, we approached some of today's most discerning producers, those who truly "get" the label's ethos from old, to let them loose on tracks old and new. It brought to the fore the "Freaks - Let's Do It Again" series of releases and we're super chuffed to bring you the 3rd in the series to kick off the label's 20th anniversary celebrations; a new collaboration with likeminded artists and we think you'll agree it's another testament to the divergent & insouciant house music that has always been the beating heart of this label.

First up, we welcome back the Chilean anti-hero Ricardo Villalobos.

When we sent Ricardo the parts to the Freaks album, "The Man Who Lived Underground" a few years ago, he sent back 5 interpretations which blew our collective minds. This is the 3rd of his journeys. Edited by head Freak, Justin Harris, it delivers a tripped out, discordant tech mix of the Freaks track, 'He's Angry' and is a wonderfully warped and highly hypnotic jam, that drives deep down into the subconscious.

The 20th anniversary wouldn't feel right without some brand spanking new music from Freaks themselves.
This track was properly hidden in the Freaks DAT vaults from the 1990's and Justin & Luke have dusted it off, mixed it down and "Unbeknown To Us" will finally see the light of day. It's safe to say Freaks have always had a timeless feel to their music and this track, despite being 20 years old as an original production, is no exception.

Next up, The Martinez Brothers make their MFF debut and to say we're chuffed to be releasing this one after 3 years of it being in the vault, is a huge understatement. There's nothing but good vibes, cranked to eleven, on this cut and the brothers have cooked up a true rip snorting tech house remix of "Time", that will charm the roof off any self-respecting club or festival tent.

And last but by no means least, fellow previous collaborators on Let's Do It Again, Part 1, Gerd Jansen and Phillip Lauer, aka Tuff City Kids, have graced us with another superb remix of a firm Freaks favourite from back in the day, "Turning Orange". The duo have whipped up an excellent stripped 808, electro-hop mix with low slung electro beats, minor key atmospherics and nostalgic 80s vocal pitch-shifts. Villalobos, Martinez Brothers, Tuff City Kidz and Freaks all on the same record? This is the type of house music madness that dreams are made of.
A fitting start to the celebrations - we reckon you'll agree!

After 10 years of vinyl pressings on Lapsus Records it's now time for our first ever "vocal" release!

Many of our Lapsus Radio (Radio 3) followers may already be aware of our fondness for synth-pop, however as a label we have never dabbled with this often unfairly maligned genre, until now...

From the moment we first heard the material from British artist Circa 2000 something magical transpired. William Wiffen's production blueprint signals a new twist in this forty-year old genre. ‘Thoughts In Vias’ –the album released in 2017 on Computer Club, the sub-label of influential Sheffield label Central Processing Unit– offered the first opportunity for us to witness the work of Circa 2000, the UK producer and composer residing in the costal city of Brighton. After his debut, in 2018 William released the ‘The Sun To The Waxing Moon’ EP on the multifaceted Chilean platform Infinito Audio, in which he delved into his more experimental production side.

Circa 2000 now joins Lapsus Records to present ‘Faith Healer’, his most personal work to date and a palpable tribute to the work of Scottish composer Alex Harvey, during his time leading The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. ‘Faith Healer’ is a seven-track album that revisits the nascent days of new wave and synth. It is an exercise in raw and analogue electronics that transports us back to the golden era of synthetic electronica, in which bands like Deux, Victrola and Monoton redefined minimalism and underground pop.

‘Faith Healer’ will be released in July and available on limited edition vinyl and all digital formats. As always, the Basora studio has once again provided us with stunning artwork for this release.

“Following on from Homenagem, Lugar Alto’s first critically acclaimed project, the São Paulo label's new endeavour is the reissue of another neglected masterpiece. This time, it’s “Poema da Gota Serena” turn by Zé Eduardo Nazário from 1982. This unique work gathers elements of free jazz, Brazilian Northeastern rhythms, Asian percussive instruments and electronics.

Zé Eduardo is a virtuoso drummer and percussionist with a prolific career as a musician and teacher. He was introduced to music in his youth and started playing professionally at the age of thirteen. In the late 60’s he was a regular at the famous Totem night club in São Paulo, where he performed alongside the pianist Tenório Jr. and other exceptional instrumentalists. It was there that he met Guilherme Franco, and together they formed the Grupo Experimental de Percussão. This period defined Nazário’s interest in different sonorities involving percussion, and he broke away from the more traditional genres, such as bossa nova and jazz. Over time, this distinctiveness in sound and playing allowed him to create his own path which culminated in an extensive number of remarkable works, including the colorful and psychedelic “M andala”, which examines Indian and hippie themes. He also played with Hermeto Pascoal’s group and joined him and Jaques Morelenbaum for the recording of the cult classic “Imyra, Tayra, Ypy” by Taiguara. For Egberto Gismonti’s “Nó Caipira”, Nazário performed with the khene, a mouth organ from Laos, a present from Gismonti himself.

But it is Nazário’s work with the 1976 collective Grupo Um which is his most well-known, who, during their 6-year legacy recorded, amongst movie and ballet soundtracks, 3 albums: “Marcha Sobre a Cidade”, “Reflexões Sobre a Crise do Desejo” and “Flor de Plástico Incinerada”. The combo is considered one of the most innovative formations of its time, unusually combining electro-acoustic elements, jazz and Brazilian traditional music.

Poema da Gota Serena was Zé Eduardo's first solo project and it was financed by the legendary Lira Instrumental, a collaboration between the ground-breaking venue, label and publisher for the São Paulo avant-garde, Lira Paulistana, along with the always interesting Continental Records, home to such luminaries as Tom Zé. The album was offered as a package deal simultaneously with the production of “Flor de Plástico Incinerada”, ensuring 2 studio sessions at JV studios in October 1982.

Each side of the album explores different duets which, with its suite formated tracks, give the album the feel of a cohesive whole. The first half of the A side, “Energia dos Três Mundos”, is shared with the improvised saxophone of Cacau. Nazário delves into free jazz rhythms and plays his drums with a rolling and tumbling swing, using the kit in full, demonstrating the power of Brazilian jazz fusion. The second half of the suite takes us into a more tranquil mode. “Só Prá Ouvir”, demonstrates Zé’s mastery on the glockenspiel, and Indian percussion instruments, such as the tabla and mridangam. Cacau, on his side, switches his saxophone for more delicate dancing flute driven passages, equal parts northeastern rhythms and deep Amazonian indigenous influences. The B side, with “Prá Pensar / Prá Sentir e Prá Contar”, contrasts heavily with the A side’s more organic and natural feel. In Prá Pensar Lelo Nazários’s synth clusters and electronic blasts strangely interact with the exploring, wandering percussion. This track leads into the sublime “Prá Sentir e Prá Contar” where South Indian inspired vocals, performed by Zé Eduardo, accompany the graceful synth chords and fluttering percussion. The result is a hypnotic, otherworldly feel to the music that is infectious and takes the listener on an extraordinary journey.
With Poema da Gota Serena, it is possible to hear music that extrapolates the lines of the avant-garde and popular music. It is an album the demonstrates that Brazilian jazz fusion can be both spiritual and challenging at the same time.

All the tracks were expertly remastered by Lelo Nazário, directly from the original tapes, maintaining the high quality of production that Lugar Alto are becoming renowned for. All the artwork was reinterpreted by the São Paulo design studio Sometimes Always, including an exclusive insert and unpublished images.

It seems that Lugar Alto have managed to excavate yet another gem from the seemingly bottomless Brazilian mines. Long may they continue to do what they do so well.”

Lance Ferguson's Rare Groove Spectrum collection of newly recorded versions of classic funk, soul, jazz and latin vinyl rarities found fans everywhere when released earlier in 2019. The extended reworking of Earth Wind & Fires' 'Brazilian Rhyme' was selected for Jazz FM's A playlist and stayed there for months.

Lance has always enjoyed imaginatively taking a classic rare groove and re-recording in it a different genre, and it has to be said that his latin-ised version of the great jazz organist Jimmy Smith's '8 Counts for Rita' is a concept no one saw coming. Kept back from the Rare Groove Spectrum album, we proudly present it here in all it's swinging, samba-fied glory!

Spanish DJ & remixer Flow Lab Kid (Sergio Cáliz López) is also along term Ferguson fan , and he delved back over 12 years to Lance's very first 'Black Feeling' album and did own 'Blessed' remix of The Blessing Song (which was originally and amusingly credited to the fictitous group The Shirley Eubanks Ensemble) but was in fact a version of jazz violinist Michael White's spiritual jazz track from his 1972 album Pneuma on Impulse Records.

Finally, there is a straight down the line funk version of the Blackbyrds Theme that also didn't make it onto the Rare Groove Spectrum album, although it was always planned that it would see the light of day and what a great way to round off Lance Ferguson's Rare Groove Spectrum - remixes and rarities.

Over the last few years, K15 has been visiting Simbad's studio, where they delved deep in conversation, as well as into an arsenal of analog gear. The result? A revered collection of raw grooves...but what to do with all this heat? Enter Apron boss and mutual friend Steven Julien, who was compelled to share some of these works.
Welcome to Earth State

Dutch producers Mindmapper & Fre4knc team up to deliver the 'Martial Manners' EP in celebration of Translation Recordings' tenth vinyl release, which comes on a visually stunning piece of crystal & transparent white vinyl! Up first is 'Collessius,' whose heavy-rolling bassline rushes in with the
force of a tsunami, leaving a wake of dancefloor destruction in its path. 'Shutter Angel' is a futuristic track where tight, snappy breakbeats slingshot back and forth between an electrifying bassline that surges across the airwaves like a beam of focused energy. Mindmapper & Fre4knc
delve into darker territories on 'Fenryr,' whose gritty atmospherics and subterranean low
frequencies deliver a unique and immersive listening experience. They close the EP on a deep, meditative note with 'Mind of Steel' (digital only) where drum edits slice through growling bass riffs with blade-like precision. The 'Martial Manners' EP strikes the perfect balance between dancefloor and experimental to carry on Translation Recordings' ongoing mission to bridge audiences with quality music that can be enjoyed in all listening environments.
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Translation Recordings is proud to unveil its summer 2012 project capturing all moods sublime with the 'Universal Grooves LP'. A limited press on transparent blue vinyl, this special edition 12inch showcases a diverse sampling of Translation's full album that will not disappoint. The A-side brings the thunder showcasing the heavy hitting, rolling and dubby sounds of Loxy and Resound's 'Civil War' and Theory's calculated genius behind the ragga and amen tear-out, 'Final Confrontation.' Flip to a switch in vibe as DBR

STATUE is a mysterious percussion-based structure erected by Tom Gould. With origins behind a drum kit laying down the foundations in cult Melbourne bands NO ZU and World’s End Press, STATUE has become an evolving stand-alone project. With three previous EP’s released on Fort Romeau’s ‘Cin Cin’ and Cut Copy’s ‘Cutters Records’ STATUE has become a peculiar shadow on the dance floor.

Commissioned by Le Temps Perdu, ‘Solidify’ delves further into the hypnotic percussive groove of STATUE. With its feet firmly fixed on the dance floor Solidify manages to cover a lot of ground. With left of center remixes by Zombies in Miami and Christian S, this EP redefines the space, which STATUE occupies.

Delicate Wash is back with its third offering of classy edits built for the most discerning of dance floors.

It delves deeper into the cosmic cosmos, and unveils more of the lesser known, but brightly shining disco stars you've come to expect.

Detroit native Javonntte, keyboardist to the late Aretha Franklin, delves deep into the Jazz Fusion vaults with Primetime Voyage.

The meditative New Age album Sojourn reshaped including unearthed tracks from the archives produced in that time frame now for a long time overdue worldwide release ! Young, the percussionist and marimba player in the seminal New York art-wave group, recorded a series of cassette-only releases in the '80s after Liquid Liquid disbanded. A couple of these were picked up at the time for Korean release, which is where Daehan Electronics, a South Korea-based label dedicated to tracing the history of electronic music in the land of the morning calm, comes in. Sojourn was one of these albums, part of a biorithmically-aligned New Age serie, each one meant to be heard on specific days of the week. DE has worked with Young to restore and remaster the original masters for this new release, bringing out the full warmth of the analog synthesizers used to create it. It is the second in a series of collaborations with Young, which will delve deeply into both the scarce cassette issues and other, unreleased material newly discovered on tapes. Liner notes outline the history of the record and include Young's own pathway

Until now Tape only New Age Dance masterpiece Visions reshaped including unearthed tracks from the archives produced in that time frame now for a long time overdue Vinyl release ! Young, the percussionist and marimba player in the seminal New York art-wave group, recorded a series of cassette-only releases in the '80s after Liquid Liquid disbanded. A couple of these were picked up at the time for Korean release, which is where Daehan Electronics, a South Korea-based label dedicated to tracing the history of electronic music in the land of the morning calm, comes in. After the market fail of the biorithmically-aligned New Age serie planned by the label Visions could never see life on Vinyl and felt forgotten due to the limited tape run released at first. DE has worked with Young to restore and remaster the original masters for this new release, bringing out the full warmth of the analog synthesizers used to create it. It is the third in a series of collaborations with Young, which will delve deeply into both the scarce cassette issues and other, unreleased material newly discovered on tapes. Liner notes outline the history of the record and include Young's own pathway

oe Budden is one of the mainstays of rap. Originally hailing from New Jersey, Budden entered the game after heating up the streets via mixtapes that made the rounds, and eventually caught the attention of Def Jam recordings. After a successful stint there, and a Grammy Award for “Best Male Rap solo Performance” for “Pump It Up”, Budden parted ways and soon after formed the supergroup, “Slaughterhouse” alongside Royce Da 5’9”,Joell Ortiz, Crooked I, which were signed to Eminem’s, Shady Records. After a slew of releases and starring 2 successful shows on VH1; “Love & Hip-Hop: New York”, and “Couples Therapy”, Joe Budden’s brand has never been bigger. Throughout the summer he dominated headlines and timelines via an open and running dialogue with Drake, a dialogue that has resulted in millions of Soundcloud and Youtube streams. With momentum at its peak, Joe Budden returns with his highly anticipated new solo album Rage & The Machine.

Rage and the Machine, is produced entirely by super producer, AraabMuzik and features the likes of Tory Lanez, Fabulous, Joell Ortiz, and more. The music, as Joe describes it is for listeners who still appreciate lyricism with an updated twist. Backed by AraabMuzik’s sonic landscape, the album delves into Joe’s life, thoughts, and perspectives. Budden, never one to shy away from the spotlight announced the album via Complex by jumping out of a plane.

‘Verdigris’ the new EP from Japanese artist Atsushi Izumi, is a deep dive into the crevice of the mind. It is an exploration of where fearful emotions lie and confronting them. It is only through this conflict that light can shine through in the end.

The Osaka native has a background in music and sound design and as such found his sound going through a metamorphosis from Drum n Bass to a more experimental sound. His EP ‘Snow’ was released under the subtract imprint last year and saw the initial phase of this transformation. It was followed up by ‘Lansing / Mistrust’ via The Collection Artaud, which continued his growth of using slowed out heavy percussions surrounded by frantic synths and modulations.

Atsushi Izumi’s use of long drawn out hallow synths is like an ominous cemetery at night before these powerful percussions detonate in. He uses heavy spaced out bass drums, either as a single or double beat, which simmer as they echo and roll. They are surrounded by these chaotic, textured synths, which can sound like a cicada, hovering and distorted to give a mechanical effect. It feels like being thrown into the woods late at night, eerie yet calm in the beginning, before extreme panic sets in and you feel like you’re being chased.

Japan witnessed the end of the world up close and it is still reflected in their art and music: it delves into the sadistic and explores deep themes of melancholy and the apocalypse. This is juxtaposed against pure joy and serenity, showing that life is there to be enjoyed and struggles have an end, which is translated quite coherently to this piece.

As an extra bonus to all this, there is a scintillating remix from ANFS. The Greek adds a bit of pace to the track Zeit. He is an artist who enjoys frantic distorted techno and it shows in this cut. He takes the basic elements but whereas the original slowly introduces the percussions, ANFS bangs straight in. It’s structured yet frantic and a massive sound.

‘Verdigris’ is due for release on 17th May 2019 under the mysterious Swiss label Thrènes, that is known for eye-catching signature artwork and a deep and dark techno sound.

French modern-classical quartet astrïd return on May 10th with the first part of a new release entitled A Porthole.

Conceptually the two records work in unison, focusing on portholes into the abyss, with part one delving into the depths of the deep sea. The tracks are named after various strains of seaweed, the artwork depicting dark waves and uncertainty. Part two will follow in a years time and will turn its attention to the night sky and constellations.

A Porthole continues astrïd’s signature style of billowing guitars, strings and woodwind. Each element intertwined with another, linked perfectly together through restrained jazz-tinged percussion. 2017’s highly-acclaimed release ‘Through the Sparkle’ with renowned pianist Rachel Grimes (of Rachels) set the bar extremely high for this release but astrïd have matched the depth, melody and quality of that record here.

Part one of this journey features some sublime compositions with Cyril Secq’s expressive and bold guitar playing carrying the pieces into chamber music territory, joined seamlessly by a variety of other instruments that swell and soar and fit perfectly into the story being told. Everything seems to have its place, nothing is overplayed or out of step here, there is an organic nature to the way this quartet plays and interacts with one another as melodies circle back and fade away in the same beautiful breath.

A Porthole is a deeply charming record, exercising glorious, nuanced refrain and offering a sort of hope rarely found in music these days.

• Aqua blue vinyl - limited to 300 copies w/ download code

• The album was mastered by Harris Newman (Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Tindersticks etc)

• The artwork is extracted from an original one of a kind monotype print by Gizeh overlord Richard Knox.

sssIn January 2016 arts and music organisation Santuri East Africa invited guest producer Jan Schulte to join the Nile Project gathering in Aswan, Egypt - an intensive two week musical experiment featuring musicians drawn from all around the Nile Basin that functioned as both a creative cauldron for cross-border collaboration, and a forum for artists and cultural activists to discuss the issues affecting the Nile river.

Wolf Mu¨ller aka Jan Schulte has been a resident of Dusseldorf's era-defining Salon des Amateurs for many years, releasing wildly inventive and dance music under various monikers - from his birth name to Wolf Mu¨ller, Bufiman and his Young Wolf collaboration with Young Marco. Schulte's feel for off kilter sounds and rhythms and a playful approach to the sometimes po-faced world of dance music have resulted in some incredibly well received releases (Instrumental Musik Von Der Mitte Der World and the compilation Tropical Drums of Deutschland being prime examples).

Santuri East Africa is an organisation set up to connect musicians and producers from around the globe, a process of co-collaboration that has led to some highly well received releases on Soundway (Msafiri Zawose) Sofrito (Auntie Flo's Soniferous Garden) and On the Corner (Makadem and Mugwisa).

Clocking in at a shade over 15 minutes, A-side 'Mabomba Dance' gradually layers Kasiva Mutua's needle-sharp percussion over a deep analogue bass pulse, building into a hypnotic dancefloor workout.

The B-side sees erstwhile Owiny Sigoma Band collaborator Rapasa Nyatrapasa showcase his Nyatiti harp before delving into an almost Afrobeat-esque slice of afro-minimalism. The EP rounds off with Adel Mekha's stellar vocals over traditional Nubian percussion.

A journey that has flourished from Florence, Italy to the UK capital of London via Ibiza, Italian duo Neverdogs’ ascent and journey into the global spotlight is one deeply rooted in talent and passion. As a duo, Tommy Paone and Marco De Gregorio have gone on to release material on the likes of Roush and Deeperfect, played at renowned festivals such as The BPM Festival, and made regular appearances at Marco Carola’s highly-coveted Music On where they have been core residents since 2013. Having founded Bamboleo Records earlier this year, the label’s third release will see the arrival of the duo’s most diverse work to date as they reveal their debut album: ‘Details’.

“We always wanted to prepare an album that would represent us. Besides having twenty years of experience, musical and artistic backgrounds we have been studying for months, listening to old vinyl records from our collection, paying attention to the work of other artists from the industry whilst taking inspiration from 80's bands such as Yazoo and Depeche Mode, and from the contemporary underground and pop worlds. This allowed us to understand what direction to take when creating our own sound. All the sounds of our tracks are made with analogue instrumentation.

We decided to call our first album ‘Details’ as it encapsulates what this series is all about. We were paying particular attention to the details whilst creating all the tracks. We collaborated with the musician Davide Ruberto aka Fortyseven and the singer Spencer Kennedy, son of the former drummer of Imagination (English band from the 80's). We are also working on an Album Tour which will be released following this one.” - Neverdogs

First up on this limited album sampler, ‘Details’, drives right into the trademark Neverdogs sound as the duo weave together precise drum patterns effortlessly with rumbling sub bass. Next, the stripped back ‘Dance Moves’ couples elastic synthlines and galactic glitches with panning sweeps and crisp hats.

The flip side delves deeper, as ‘Duck From Mars’ reveals slick organic percussion arrangements and bubbling lead lines, whilst ‘Volca’ ups the tempo and edges towards the peak time, a flow fans of the pairing will be familiar with, as perfectly demonstrated year in year out when playing on Amnesia’s iconic terrace.

Following their hotly tipped 2018 debut album 'On' - Altin Gün returns with an exhilarating second album. 'Gece' firmly establishes the band as essential interpreters of the Anatolian rock and folk legacy and as a leading voice in the emergent global psych-rock scene. Explosive, funky and transcendent.

Some words from the label:

The world is rarely what it seems. A quick glance doesn't always reveal the full truth. To find that, you need to burrow deeper. Listen to Altin Gün, for example: they sound utterly Turkish, but only one of the Netherlands based band's six members was actually born there. And while their new album, Gece, is absolutely electric, filled with funk-like grooves and explosive psychedelic textures, what they play - by their own estimation - is folk music.

'It really is,' insists band founder and bass player Jasper Verhulst. 'The songs come out of a long tradition. This is music that tries to be a voice for a lot of other people.'

While most of the material here has been a familiar part of Turkish life for many years - some of it associated with the late national icon Neset Ertas - it's definitely never been heard like this before. This music is electric Turkish history, shot through with a heady buzz of 21st century intensity.
Pumping, flowing, a new and leading voice in the emergent global psych scene.

'We do have a weak spot for the music of the late '60s and '70s,' Verhulst admits. 'With all the instruments and effects that arrived then, it was an exciting time. Everything was new, and it still feels fresh. We're not trying to copy it, but these are the sounds we like and we're trying to make them our own.'

And what they create really is theirs. Altin Gün radically reimagine an entire tradition. The electric saz (a three-string Turkish lute) and voice of Erdinç Ecevit (who has Turkish roots) is urgent and immediately distinctive, while keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, and percussion power the surging rhythms and Merve Dasdemir (born and raised in Istanbul) sings with the mesmerizing power of a young Grace Slick. This isn't music that seduces the listener: it demands attention.

Altin Gün - the name translates as 'golden day' - are focused, relentless and absolutely assured in what they do. What is remarkable is the band has only existed for two years and didn't play in public until November 2017; now they have almost 200 shows under their belt. It all grew from Verhulst's obsession with Turkish music. He'd been aware of it for some time but a trip to Istanbul while playing in another band gave him the chance to discover so much more. But Verhulst wasn't content to just listen, he had a vision for what the music could be. And Altin Gün was born.

'For me, finding out about this music is crate digging,' he admits. 'None of it is widely available in the Netherlands. Of course, since our singers are Turkish, they know many of these pieces. All this is part of the country's musical past, their heritage, like 'House of The Rising Sun' is in America.'
As Verhulst delves deeper and deeper into old Turkish music, he's constantly seeking out things that grab his ear.

'I'm listening for something we can change and make into our own. You have to understand that most of these songs have had hundreds of different interpretations over the years. We need something that will make people stop and listen, as if it's the first time they've heard it.'

It's a testament to Altin Gün's work and vision that everything on Gece sounds so cohesive. They bring together music from many different Anatolian sources (the only original is the improvised piece 'Soför Bey') so that it bristles with the power and tightness of a rock band; echoing new textures and radiating a spectrum of vibrant color (ironic, as gece means 'night' in Turkish). It's the sound of a band both committed to its sources and excitedly transforming them. It's the sound of Altin Gün. Incandescent and sweltering.

Creating the band's sound is very much a collaborative process, Verhulst explains.
'Sometimes me or the singer will come in with a demo of our ideas. Sometimes an idea will just come up and we'll work on it together at rehearsals. However we start, it's always finished by the whole band. We can feel very quickly if it's going to work, if this is really our song.'

Just how Altin Gün can collectively spark and burn is evident in the YouTube concert video they made for the legendary Seattle radio station KEXP. In just under 20 minutes they set out their irresistible manifesto for an electrified, contemporary Turkish folk rock. It's utterly compelling. And with around 800,000 views, it has helped make them known around the world.

'It certainly got us a lot of attention,' Verhulst agrees. 'I think a lot of that interest originally came from Turkey, plenty of people there shared it.'

That might be how it began, but it's not the whole tale. The waves have spread far beyond the Bosphorus. What started out as a deep passion for Turkish folk and psychedelia has taken on a resonance that now travels widely. The band has played all over Europe, has ventured to Turkey and Australia and will soon bring their music to North America for the first time.

'Not a lot of other bands are doing what we do,' he says, 'playing songs in that style and seeing folk music in the same way.'

Buffered Multiple is the techno A/V project of Vienna electro poster boys Microthol. Buffered Multiple return to Pomelo after their debut on our 20 yrs compilation and subsequent EPs on other imprints. “Buffer 05” starts off with “Prime Time” in super-saturated dub techno mode, its sublimely textured chords ambling hypnotically over a tense and pounding beat. “Shitty Track” changes gears into jack mode, with a bleepy morphing swing hook that drives up the intensity over a percussive beat and takes all the right cues from Chicago’s second wave productions. “Junolized” delves deep into the abyss again, its expansive echoes weaving intricate layers of dub over a foundation of bottomless bass.

Last year saw The Last Poets celebrate their 50-year anniversary with the righteous, politically-charged poetic record, "Understand What Black Is". Now to continue the party, Brighton production-maestro Prince Fatty has reworked the album with a fresh twist and blend of smooth, dub-delights. Set to land on the 29th March, the revolution marches on - this is "Understand What Dub Is".

After Prince Fatty's involvement in the production of the original project, he was the perfect person to help update the record with five decades of experience for a new audience to enjoy. The ten tracks of "Understand What Black Is" depict a relevant, historical philosophy of identity and race that has followed The Poets over the last 50 years. Since the origins of the civil rights movements back in the late 60's, Abiodun Oyewole and Umar Bin Hassan (two of the longest-standing group members) have provided social commentaries and a voice to African-American consciousness that has now been heard on a global scale.

Their raps, exploitations and insights quickly evolved into the origins of hip-hop in Harlem, New York back in 1968, and now in 2019 they continue to voice their dedication to the cause with the backing of slick rock-steady infused beats to keep things moving. Having had their work sampled by the likes of NWA, Dr Dre, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and countless others is just a testament to the timeless sounds and prophecy they have created, and now Prince Fatty has stepped up to put his stamp on it.

Prince Fatty's ever-reliable work gives "Understand What Black Is" another lease of life as he maintains an undeniably slick groove throughout. Both therapeutic and warm, the soulful rhythms of "Understand What Dub Is" provide the perfect platform for The Last Poets to delve into everything from Trump's inauguration, nods to Biggie Smalls and respect to Prince. The calm, collective and downright thought-provoking words go hand-in-hand with the roots-driven reggae medleys with ease - this is dub in its rawest form.

Not only do these songs explore personal struggles and individual endeavours, they also represent a collective of deprived aspects of humanity and socialism, that perhaps now need to be pointed out more than ever. Although there is a variation of sound, the overlying topics remain a constant - it is time to "Understand What Black Is" once more.

Movente Is A Debut Lp From A Vital And Long Standing Figure Of Italy's Clubbing Scene Under A Brand New Alias. That Alias Is Cleptophonic, And The Album, Due In 2019, Is An Autobiographical Collage Of Experimental Trip Hop Sounds That Is Truly Immersive.

Under A Former Alias, Cleptophonic Has Spent Years Djing And Experimenting In The Studio And Has Made A Real Impact On His Native Scene As A Result. He Is A Very Delicate Person With Serious Attention To Detail That He Puts To Best Use By Delving Deep Into What He Loves: Playing On Turntables And Immersing Himself In A Sonic Realm Cuts Him Off From The Real World And Acts As Therapy For This Meticulous And Selective Person And Artist.

He Is A Master Of A Stylish Musical Collage Technique - Both In Sound And Images. As Such Movente Is A Collage Of Different Sounds, Sampled With The Turntables And Put Together With Logic, While His Passion For Collage Also Spills Over Onto The Album Cover, Which Is Made By Pieces Of Paper From Magazines, Newspapers And Comic Strips. The Result Is An Experimental Trip-hop Album With A Singular Sound That Puts Together Pieces Of Life, Sounds And Images That Are Meaningful For Him, Especially The Last Song, Which Is Dedicated To His Mother Who Sadly Committed Suicide A Few Years Ago.

There Is A Beauty And Delicacy To The Music Throughout This Most Excellently Escapist Album That Is Utterly Absorbing. Pads Swirl Round Louche Beats, Crisp Hits Ring Out Into The Night And You're Left In A Deep State Of Contemplation Throughout. There Are Warped And Shimmering Cuts, Dub Tracks Drenched In Reverb And Melodically Rich Broken Beats. The Whole Thing Is So Spacious You Get Sucked Right Into The Centre Of It All And The Thoughtful Moods And Deft Sonic Details All Making A Truly Lasting Impact. This Is An Exquisite Album That Encourages You To Really Get Lost In A Unique Musical World.

Cement returns with its second story - this time delving deeper into the dub techno abyss on the A-side with Montreal veteran Mateo Murphy's banger "Black River". It has peak hour written all over it with its full-on sound and tantilising dub atmosphere; a dark flowing bassline builds into a droney crescendo. Next Sonitus Eco of Silent Season, his label HAAV and the crucial Verdant delivers a coup de grace of dub techno. Stripped back with an effective 808 pattern, his tenacity with pads and atmospheric space echo gives "Ruffcut" its character and leaves you wanting more.
On the flip side, the elusive CMNT returns for another arpeggio-laden journey. With a constant kick and airy hats pattern, occasional stabs, melodic notes and some random human voices give texture to "White Heat".
Finally, label founder Caspian Rabone's electro moniker Fourmatic, drops a spacey electro workout "Ectosketch". Playing with tonal rhythms, the track unveils awkward synth hooks and metallic strings to keep things edgey.

Line Explorations present its first release - a compilation consisting of six tracks by six national artists, producing under the names of T'iwu, HTL, PX, emme, AMSH and Mensaje Sanador, serving as a sampler for what's to come in the future on the label and the sounds the label will evoke such as techno, IDM, ambient, noise, drone and experimental vibrations from the further avant-garde,

The first track focuses on growing an organic and everyday sonic scape with the use of chords and melodies filled with light touch - reminiscent of clear skies and sunshine - which creates an ambient feel similar to that of daily vibrations of life as presented and explored by T'iwu.

HTL enhances the depth of the reflections of today's emotions one can feel by delving deeper into everyday surroundings and exploring the noise/drone side of the ambient musical styles by mixing melodic elements with the out of the ordinary effects which shock and ululate while shaping the musical texture into a darker and deeper atmosphere.

The following track, by PX, elevates the atmosphere into a more jovial soundscape full of '80's inspired electronica and sci-fi soundtracks. The beat rolls off and twists in a funky groove helping develop a danceable pace for the release.

On top of that, emme presents the fourth track - in the shape of techno meets breaks - where more classical elements of industrially influenced electronic music can be traced from yesteryears. The sounds engulf in warmly distorted melodic strings while flowing over and under the rhythmic structure.

In contrast, AMSH's ''Subway'' presents a downpour of heavy sounds, such as noise influenced synths and delayed infected percussion, along with field recording of trains help envision the movement of a manmade machine and its flow through the undergrounds of today's world.

The final piece, of the label's initial release, comes in the shape of a Mensaje Sanador or healing message. The track takes on the elements of the three titles that have preceded it and explores further the dynamics between current and classical sounds of the electronic dance music genres by delving deeper into sound synthesis, melodies and rhythm as to help one submerge further into exploring such sounds, their history and the future to come.

So Here We Go, Album Number Three By Till Von Sein. Attentive
Observers Of Tilly's Record History Might Notice, Something
Different Is Going On With This Cycle Of Tunes. Other Than The
Constitution Of His Previous Two Full Lengths, ocean' Tends To
Elaborate An Idea, A Pallet Of Sounds, An Overall Aesthetic, That
Come From Just One Place. Appropriate To The Release On Von
Sein's Own Label Imprint Tilly Jam, These Cuts Indeed Feel Like
Proper Jams. Deriving From A Certain Mindset, Building Up A
¢ow, Drifting Into Various Spheres, Delving Into Moods, And
Meanwhile, Forgetting About Time And Principles Of Structure,
Most Of His Previous Efforts Complied With. Surprisingly, No Vox
On Here. But Evidently, The Arrangements, Textures And Sonic
Nuances On ocean' Create A Narrative On Their Own. It Is An
Album That Puts Musicality Over Functionality. An Album To
Immerse Into, A Piece Of Music That Claims Attention And
Rewards With An Embracing Listening Pleasure. aloha', As The
Introducing Track, Sets The Tone Of Ever Reoccurring Leanings
Towards Balearic- And Mellowed Down House- And Funk
In¢uences. neptune' Directly Picks Up, Leading The ¢ow Of
Soothing Harmonies Into Slightly More Dancey Vibes. It's
Meeting The Relaxed Tempo Of cruise Control', Introducing Its
Catchy Synthbass And That Heart Melting Piano Hook. We Couldgo On, How The Funk Bass, The Spaced Out Break, The Tender
Chimes And The Harmonica Solo Of mission Muizenberg' Kind
Of Form The Centre Piece Of This Record, How junjung' Refers To
The Inciting Verve Of A Marching Band And At The Same Time
Grounds The Tune On Warm And Longing Melodies. How la
Boum' Is Bringing A Saturated Kickdrum Into Its Organic ¢ow,
How level 61' Merges G-funk Hints With A Neo-disco Attitude
Or How ocean' Lands This Record On A Dreamlike Loop. Yet, It
Wouldn't Paint The Picture Colourful And Bright Enough. Only
ocean' Itself Can Do. Album (release 22.02.19):

Audiophile reissue, lacquered directly from Axelrod's original EQ'ed master tapes at Capitol Records by Ron McMaster, housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket. 'Songs of Experience was supposed to have a different feel than Song of Innocence. You see, music is a great outlet. And regardless of what the titles say, and as close as I wanted it to be to William Blake, what was going on in my life took precedence.' - David Axelrod. Songs of Experience is visionary composer/arranger/producer David Axelrod's second album; it was recorded after the death of his beloved son Scott. Experience is an ominous affair, an album concerned with mortality and spirituality - the solitary, pastoral musings of William Blake set to the urban bombast of a full Los Angeles orchestra, with Wrecking Crew vets grounding the proceedings with dark funk. This is the next Now-Again issue in a series of reissues centered around Axelrod's Capitol Trilogy - Song of Innocence, Songs of Experience and Earth Rot - which will see release through 2018. LP Contains oversized, 28 page booklet that delves into Axelrod's incredible life and music, replete with never before published photos and an interview with Axelrod by Eothen Alapatt and Wax Poetics' Brian Digenti. (CD 32 page booklet) 'There are very few people who see the Grand Picture of the Universe and understand the Nothingness that it all comes from. There are even fewer who can express these ideas through music - David could do it all.' - T-Ray.

Milan based collective Just This continue their mission into the darkest territories of electronic music with the Evolution EP from Hill Of Vision featuring an Alex.Do remix, due February 22nd.

Title track is a bleak, disorienting journey through muffled acoustics and gloomy surroundings narrated by an eerie vocal. For his remix, Alex.Do reinterprets the tension of the original into a floating dance floor weapon.

'Signs' is a stripped back swirl of strange melodic inflections and cyclical effects, whilst 'Land Of Vision' dissects the framework of atypical techno into an immersive doomsday soundtrack.

Evolution EP delves deeper into the blackened acoustic world of Just This, repurposing references from gothic tales and electronic music culture into a singularly murky aesthetic.

As Metronomy work on their forthcoming sixth album, they take a moment to reflect on the 10th anniversary of their breakthrough album 'Nights Out'. Metronomy's Joseph Mount has delved into the archives for 'Nights Out: 10th Anniversary Edition' which will be released on February 8th on Because Music.

It features the original critically acclaimed album alongside a second LP which expands upon Mount's vision with a set of unreleased demos, rarities and b-sides - many of which make their first appearance on vinyl. Two of the highlights come with alternative versions which have become staples of the Metronomy live set: a bedtime dub version of 'Holiday' which takes it into a darker, glitchier direction, and a French-language version of 'Heartbreaker'.

Mount's Francophile leanings are also explored in Breakbot's remix of 'A Thing For Me', which contrasts French touch vibes with Mount's distinctly English-accented vocals. Previously issued on an exclusive Rough Trade bonus disc, 'Over' is an instrumental of cinematic scale, while the disc closes with four previously unreleased demos including the leftfield minimalism of 'Das Booty'.

Although Metronomy's 2006's debut album 'Pip Paine (Pay The £5000 You Owe)' was discovered by those in the know, it was 'Nights Out' that captured the imagination of a much wider audience. Mount achieved the seemingly impossible: he highlighted both the joyous atmosphere of a big night out and a taste of the resultant comedown in a set that playfully veered towards being a concept album.

About Nights Out Joseph Mount says: 'Oscar reminded me the other day how I said to him on completing Radio Ladio 'I think I've just written my first number 1'. I hadn't. We also reminisced about the day we borrowed the Honda Insight for the album artwork: I found the owner on an enthusiast chat room, we gave his daughter two Kate Nash tickets and a meet and greet with Kate in exchange for a few shots with the vehicle... simpler times. Shout out to Myspace.'

Metronomy's most recent album 'Summer 08' was released in 2016 to widespread critical acclaim. DIY described it as a 'pure-pop odyssey' and NME concluded, 'Mount has done it again. He could write music about the impact of Brexit on the UK's trade with China and make it sound amazing. He's that good.'

Metronomy bring 2018 to a close when they play Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party on December 31st. The 65,000 capacity show is headlined by Franz Ferdinand and completed by Free Love.

Midday Moon is a survey of ambient and experimental music that emerged from Australia and New Zealand between 1980 and 1995. These recordings are sourced from a rich variety of micro-labels, private pressings, theatre soundtracks and artists' personal archives. Curated by Melbourne based DJ and archivalist, Sanpo Disco (a.k.a Rowan Mason), the collection delves deep into the world of outsider music that emerged in Australia and New Zealand in the latter half of the twentieth century, as synthesisers and early workstations began to enter the consumer marketplace. The record is an odyssey in itself, a journey that takes listeners into the unsung world of Australian new age composers. There are stories abound within this volume, from the mysterious disappearance of Helen-Ripley Marshall after the release of her 1988 album 'Green Chaos', to the journey of American-born, Perth based blues/rock guitarist John Heussenstamm, who unexpectedly turned his finger to 'ambient' music in the late 80's; and again from Melbourne based Ros Bandt, who made a series of recordings exploring the resonance of a hollow concrete cylinder 5 stories beneath busy Collins Street in Melbourne's CBD. Compiled by Sanpo Disco / Mastered by Mikey Young . '(Ambient music is) a surrounding influence that induces calm and a space to think... it can accommodate many levels of listening attention without enforcing one in particular.' - Brian Eno / 'A richer and more diverse ambient genre began to form. Music that crafts a unique cultural geography of landscapes and atmospheres: real and imagined, natural and man-made. Some artists turned their attention to the singular acoustic ecologies of overlooked spaces around the country. Others fostered interests in non-Western music cultures and instruments. The common thread is their use of new technologies to conjure interior and exterior regions, through acoustic and synthesised sounds.' - Sanpo Disco

Italian secret project called Maurizio Delvecchio, released in 1986 as a private press. Minimal electronic music, odd and synthetic vibe.

Domestic Exile are proud to present the devastatingly deplorable and malevolent recordings (that are sure to corrode yet electrify your ears) by Glasgow's very own KLEFT.

KLEFT aka Vickie McDonald is rooted in and has actively propagated the underground DIY radical queer punk and feminist movement here in Glasgow. Their projects have included the skull crushing sludge doom of Cartilage, the unflinching and infamous multi- membered hard core stars that were DIVORCE and the sacrificial, druid drone glitch of MOURN. Alongside these projects they have uncompromisingly disrupted, motivated and facilitated collective endeavors to take down the capital power structure of the dominant system of patriarchal club venues and abhorrent fuckers in this town.

For this record 'H+ Sexualis', KLEFT explores the neo-modern space where flesh is left behind. Negotiating, analyzing and tearing to shreds the relationship and balance between flesh and technology. KLEFT's expansive and palpable sonic offerings delve into themes of transhumanism and body hacking and seep into our collective skin begging the question; can flesh ever be created digitally. Does a lack of physicality alienate human experience in a post transhumanism society Are we all destined to be skinless yet digitally connected Will the body become superfluous Toward "the utopian dream of the hope for a monstrous world without gender," as stated on Donna Haraway's essay ''A Cyborg Manifesto.'

From the opening track 'Ossein' the listener grasps a foreboding lethargic build up, lurking out of the spatial ritualistic shadows into a sea of suffocating nothingness. A void where there is no gravity. Skeletal and brittle shattering rhythms which echo DMZ / Skull Disco dubstep alongside the more frozen, glacial ominous explorations of grime are often felt proving KLEFT is an artist whose inspirations run deep and wide and generally exist in the darkest recesses of our subconscious. These fearful, disjointed rhythms are set against weightless atmospheric oscillated synths, as if roaming through bleakly opaque, claustrophobic narrow corridors on a first person survival horror video game such as Resident Evil.

Moving through to 'CMBR', KLEFT's dissonant, degrading soundscape ferociously ascends. The resilient kick drum is propulsive and pulverizing akin to 'ardcore tekno - or intense gabba if you have the guts to adjust the tempo up to +8 - aesthetics that overwhelm and agitate finally revealing it's grotesque biological / amorphous bio structure. Elevating the repetitive 4/4 kick to a destructive, distorted banger of a track as layers of converging atonal noise and sound design simultaneously further enhances the sense of imminent radioactive contamination.

Next is 'Writhe, Squirm, Broken' continuing the convulsive, nauseating permutations of the prior track but reconfigured like a mangled, gruesome Cronenberg-esque parasite that has infiltrated an open wound, excruciatingly feeding off of the inner anatomy of it's hosts body from within. Repulsively reformulating the shape and dimension. The intro is akin to a panic stricken bouncy ball contracting and expanding, the spring reverb building momentum and traveling further away in distance and speed.

'Hackfleisch Deluxe' is a muuurrderous stomper and is one of the more grime / bass orientated tracks that deconstructs and disrupts the tempo familiar to sub-low producers on Black Ops / Jon E Cash / DJ Dread D. The crawling, plummeting frequency of the synth is a nauseating rush of coagulating blood to the heed; a deep throbbing sensory depravation in sharp, paradoxical contrast with the driving harmony layered on top which proves to be infectiously addictive. Furthermore are splintering programmed vocal samples that gives a sense of artificial disorientation, mind over matter, a possible hint at our evolving sentient cognition within a nightmarish simulated, augmented reality

Second to last we have 'Keratin' which is filled with the near fatal dissolving thud of Djax-Up acid that gives the impression that you're a biologist peering through a microscope into a petrie dish and witnessing the rapid and furious genetic cellular replication of bacterial and viral organisms.

Culminating in 'Bruised and Bleeding Hands' where the squashed density of a deflated and depressurized helium filled balloon and elastic umbilical cords, barbed wire and copper wires grind n' coil around the lens of a zooming camera. Taking no prisoners, this is a punishing grime weapon. A phat, surgical kick drum bulldozes its way thru causing carnage, syncopated punching snares after every rave stab and dizzying third beat. It won't be long until ye hear this on Silver Drizzle's youtube channel in the near future.

This record transports us to the hyperkinetic mutation scene on the cult cyberpunk film Tetsuo The Iron Man where the organic flesh / mechanical rust of the Iron Man metamorphoses with the Metal Fetishist during the rebirth sequence and we say 'LONG LIVE THE NEW FLESH!''.

You might know Peter Matson as the founder, frontman, and guitarist of NYC-based breakout band Underground System, who recently released a debut album of otherworldly global-dance anthems (on Soul Clap's self titled imprint) and have been touring their live show at venues around the US. Matson's roots, while nestled in worldly live sounds, also firmly grip deeper dance music styles, though they manage to still pack a refreshingly eclectic energy.

His debut EP 'Short Trips' for Brooklyn's Bastard Jazz connects the dots between his time moving bodies in the club as a DJ, as well as in his group as a guitarist and producer, though this record is better suited for a woozy club floor. "Roma Norte" kicks off the wax with its soulful cocktail of latin-house styles and hypnotic basslines that would elevate the opening hours of any club night. Deep house legend and Freerange Records boss Jimpster provides an ethereal, creative remix that delves into afro-house territory. "3AM to Sete" is a warm and bubbly deep house tune that sounds like something you might hear late-night in a South London nightclub—it's all warm bass vibrations and subtle synth explorations. Matson's seasoned instrumental skills shine on "126," another breezy synth jam with just enough punch to make you move, eyes closed, of course. 'Short Trips' sounds like the work of someone not interested in where one scene ends and the other begins, but instead, where they connect.

The Analog Africa label delves into the amazing history of music from 1970s Benin and Togo.
This compilation highlights forgotten raw and psychedelic Afro sounds, and the well-researched liner notes tell fascinating stories to accompany the mind-blowing music. The essence of Analog Africa is clear, searching in dusty warehouses for forgotten music to keep the sound alive!

Debut album from the multi-instrumentalist Solomon Citron
300 copies pressed
For fans of Adrian Younge, Tommy Guerro, soundtracks, library music, funk
Solomon Citron's debut, a non-existing cinematic movie soundtrack called; "Kampu-China".

On the 4th January,KingUnderground Records are releasing "Kampu-China" on a 6 track vinyl EP, streaming and download.

Solomon Citron was born in Rostov-on-Don in the south of Russia. He's a professional musician and talented multi-instrumentalist.

Paying homage to his childhood memories of 70s action movies, he decided to create a soundtrack for "Kampu-China" - a fabricated, fictional movie. Behind the closed door of his home studio in Russia, Solomon composed the soundtrack in just two weeks, using only his imagination and the make-believe storyline as his inspiration.


The film is set on an imaginary world, where the mythical country Kampu-China lies. Shootout scenes, kung-fu fighting, crime pursuits, betrayal and revenge make this movie a classical action movie of the 1970s.

The soundtrack was composed using 3 instruments; guitar, bass and drums which has captured the sound and atmosphere of that era of movies.

Solomon grew up listening to hard-core metal and punk rock, as he got older he delved into all sorts of indie music and these days is a big fan of "old school" hip hop which all helped influence "Kampu-China".

Big news on the Apparel Tronic side. We're here to celebrate another step forward of our newest label introducing the 7th release on the catalogue & 2nd on vinyl, by an artist we really admire and we're delighted to have on board with us: Julian Habib aka Inkswel, on this project with his alias 'That Dude Inkswel'. The man himself created an 8 tracks LP which truly represents our spirit of experimentation, this time round steering towards a more jazzy influenced hip-hop, shaped up staying true to the sound we love. 'The Sound' LP features dope collaborations such as the Detroit vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brownstudy singing on the opening and title track, the amazing progressive artist Maia Von Lekow giving her voice for B1 track 'Mother' alongside Mista Monk, the superb Han Litz's flute and Trujillo on Kellin' it & also Divine Species on 'Galaxies' and Mr. Shem rapping on A3 track 'Dedicated to Mr. Schem'. This work is a bold and captivating selection of different styles belonging to the same soul orchestrated by Inkswel and his musical mastermind, listening to 'The Sound' is like jumping on a caravan for a journey where every track is a different stop: crunching beats, deep bass lines, psychedelic melodies. The ingredients for this amazing recipe are all coming from different parts of the planet, a place that Inskwel seem to have written on his palms seen his capability of bringing different music influences under the same roof, where he finally invited Apparel Tronic to hang for a bit.
racks such as 'Snooker Club' and 'Viejos' delve into more caliginous, IDM territory. The result is a rich and varied collection that demonstrates Apparel Music's unwavering ability to continue to keep listeners guessing.

Lost Futures is a new label that explores experimental and often radical approaches to dance music from the past. In a musical landscape that increasingly claims to seek and reward new forms and ideas, Lost Futures delves into the recent past to revisit forward-thinking, optimistic projects that, owing to the social, musical or outright political climate, perhaps struggled to find an audience. Allowing only time to re-contextualise these leftfield, sometimes misunderstood and ultimately human bodies of work, Lost Futures taps into the inherent idealism of rave.

LF001 trips back until the early nineties to revisit the alternative scene emerging from the Dutch city of Utrecht. Here, three young men - DJ Zero One (Sander Friedeman), TJ Tape TV (Arno Peeters) and DJ White Delight (Richard van der Giessen) - joined forces to form 'The Awax Foundation'. Inspired by the transcendent and revolutionary electronic music arriving on their shores imported from Chicago and Detroit, combining their knowledge, gear and ever-expanding vinyl collection allowed additional freedom in paying sincere tribute to these intoxicating sounds, while also developing their tastes in a more personal, eclectic direction.

The musical flavours of Awax initially leaned toward acid house and the roots of techno. However, with three different mindsets in the mix, their tastes were rarely fixed. One thing each shared in common was a devotion to collecting rare sounds, specifically more adventurous and international samples than those emanating from the increasingly-hard, masculine dance music emerging from the Netherlands during the period. Inspired by the cross-over global sound of bands like Suns of Arqa, or 'World Music', as it was perhaps patronisingly termed at the time, the trio became interested in the idea of making techno with 'ethnic instruments'.

Of course, this being 1992, none of The Awax Foundation had access to such instruments, instead, they had a vast, collective library of samples from all over the world. There were no collaborations and no clear plan. Instead, they set to work using a Yamaha TX16W sampler, the legendary Atari 1040ST computer, a cheap mixing desk and a couple of low-end synths and FX machines. When Richard mentioned the project to his friend, Akin Fernandez, the London DJ and owner of cult label Irdial Discs, Fernandez was intrigued enough to invite the trio to record a one-hour show for his 'Monster Music Radio' series on London's then-burgeoning Kiss FM.

Forced to come up with a name, 'CultureClash' seemed like the obvious choice, even if the members of Awax were only creatively sparring among themselves. Along with the term 'ethno-techno', slightly dubious to a hopefully more conscious Western audience in 2017, these were the only guiding principles to the quietly ambitious project that soon combined cutting-edge machine rhythms with samples sourced from everywhere from Bolivia to Togo, and inspired by everything from Ravi Shankar's epic soundtrack to the Oscar-winning movie Ghandi, to the technical limits of their own setup requiring a dazzling degree of cut-and-paste work. Some tracks even emerged out of academic studies within the ethnomusicology department at The University of Amsterdam.

The show aired on October 2nd, 1992, recorded in one blistering take and without any rehearsals, traversing a huge variety of tempos and styles. If the performance wasn't seamless, it was undeniably thrilling, fresh and ambitious. As such, several labels, including Fernandez's aforementioned Irdial Discs expressed an interesting in commercially releasing CultureClash, while another imprint proposed a series of twelve-inches and an album. But the sheer complexity of the project meant that it never saw the light of day, while the trio embarked on different journeys ahead, both creative and personal.

Twenty five years later, and the original CultureClash lineup and founding members of The Awax Foundation provide the sound of the first release from Lost Futures. An otherworldly, ambitious and optimistic compilation, accompanied by extensive sleeve notes from the trio, CultureClash is a timeless ode to experimentation in dance music's ever-overlapping culture.

inner Sea' Is A Journey Inwards, Delving Into The Hidden Ocean Of Unconscious Dreams And Memories. Melodies Tell Stories Of Key Moments, Anchoring Certain Points In One's Life And The Experiences And Sensations They Reflect. Giving Them Sounds To Breathe And Mirroring The Soul In Unseen Depths, These Memories Are Stored Eternally In A Shelter Floating Within This Inner World.

all These Memories Lay In The Depths Of My Inner Sea. It's Surface Reflects Pictures Of All The Worlds That I Want To Dive Back Into, Over And Over Again.' - Takeleave Nicolas De Araújo Peixoto

'inner Sea' Comes Out Worldwide On Limited Double Blue Vinyl (including Download Code)

The godfather of acid house, DJ Pierre, is back - bringing four heavyweight Chicago cuts to the fore, two of which, 'Pinball Machine' & 'The Spirit' are unreleased, exclusives.

'Sexy Aquarian' showcases Pierre's unique style putting his trademark spin on this classic vocal, combining it with a bumping bass and dizzying acid lines, to trigger old memories whilst giving you something new for your mind, your body and your soul.

Next up 'Pinball Machine' goes in heavy on the percussion - filling those speakers with a barrage of weighty toms, crisp hats and crunched up snares. The frenzied synth line bounces around relentlessly, pinging off the sides of your brain like a sonic arcade.

Take to the flip for a lesson in how to take jackin' house to another level. 'Whats Mine is Mine' delves beyond the beat, mixing sassy vocals and spiritual organ stabs, with a touch of swing reminiscent of an era long gone.

Closing out the EP, 'The Spirit' utilises another treasured vocal layering it behind punchy drum programming, a rumbling bass and atmospheric touches that add an ethereal tinge to the track.

DJ Feedback:

The Black Madonna - We Still Believe / Liaison Artists - Excellent!

Eli Escobar - OH yes.

PBR Streetgang - 20/20 Vision - classic

Andy Caldwell - Nettraxx / Cr2 Records - Ooh so so sublime. Good shit here!

Tony Humphries - The Zanzibar / New York - Nice peak time banger.

Danny Howard - BBC Radio 1 / Nothing Else Matters - Aceeeee. Wicked vocal!!! Love the vibe

Our final physical release of 2018 at First Word comes courtesy of Souleance, aka the DJ producer duo consisting of Soulist and Fulgeance, with a double A sided single, and a glimpse into one of our forthcoming 2019 releases, 'French Cassette' which follows on from Souleance's acclaimed 'La Beat Tape' release from 2013, and again delves into crates of samples with a distinct French flavour.

'François' is a track dedicated to the one and only François de Roubaix, legendary film score composer, jazz aficionado and one of the duo's biggest French influences. A delectable slice of 100 bpm instrumental boom bap, built around a seriously infectious jazz-funk groove, and chopped-up vocals.

'Sète' heads to the south of France, to the beautiful Mediterranean city where Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Festival takes place. A region that the duo have had love and appreciation of, for many years. This one touches up the tempo a little, with some sun-glazed boogie riding beneath ethereal vocals, samples and sizzling synths.


With a decades worth of collaboration between them, and persistent party rocking across Europe, Souleance continue to create tried & tested nuggets of magic for the dancefloor. This double-sided 7" is no exception, and should give you an idea of what to expect from the full beat tape next year. Meanwhile, here's another essential one for the record bags.

A lost ambient cosmic gem from Liquid Liquid founding member Dennis Young is getting a long-overdue vinyl reissue! Young, the percussionist and marimba player in the seminal New York art-wave group, recorded a series of cassette-only releases in the '80s after Liquid Liquid disbanded. A couple of these were picked up at the time for Korean release, which is where Daehan Electronics, a South Korea-based label dedicated to tracing the history of electronic music in the land of the morning calm, comes in.

Quest was one of these albums, part of a biorithmically-aligned New Age serie, each album meant to be heard on specific days of the week. DE has worked with Young to remaster the the album for this new release, bringing out the full warmth of the analog synthesizers used to create it. It is the first in a series of projected collaborations with Young, which will delve deeply into both the scarce cassette issues and other, unreleased material newly discovered on tapes. Liner notes outline the history of the record and include Young's own look back at the making of Quest.

Africa Seven's next installment returns to Cameroon with a special edition version of Momo Joseph's in-demand LP, "War For Ground", with three extra tracks. Momo may be better known for his work as an actor, having featured in such titles as "La Haine" (1995) and "The African" (1983), but his small foray into music is definitely memorable as he lays it out in true Afro-Boogie style. Apart from two singles, "War For Ground" represents Momo's only other body of work, and only studio album which was self-released in 1983. With this "Edition Speciale" reissue we provide you all the originals from "War For Ground" remastered alongside his party-time classic "Cameroon Airline", "Love Africa Soul" and his lesser known tack "Oh Momo".

The A-side starts with "Africain", which also featured on our compilation "Africa Airways Four". Glistening synth lines work it out over the top of romantic guitars, while the continual and hypnotic vocal chant of "Africa" tells you exactly where this music is coming from and what it means. The tempo creeps up a bit with "N'Gon Le Bek" which again takes advantage of driving guitar lines, this time facing off with the horn section. The last cut on the A-Side is "Out Side No Fine", which flows great after the previous two, keeping up the same aesthetic with a bit more of a tropical feel to it.

The B-side kicks off with the title track "War For Ground". In this one Momo starts off rather melancholic before things end more triumphantly with the backing vocals and horn section again providing much of the driving force. The final two tracks on this record make up the "Edition Speciale" element of this reissue. "Love Africa Soul", taken from Momo's 1980 single of the same name, at first seems to be one of the more straight forward disco led tracks on this release until an ecstatic synth line breaks things up in a forward thinking break down before a trademark Momo groove kicks back in. The other track featured on that single was"Cameroun Airlines", a bonafied afro-disco classic. Next we delved into the vault and unearthed a recording session for "Oh Momo", this never released version of the track reflects a slightly different side of the signer, with a more afrobeat feel.

This "Edition Speciale" version of "War For Ground" offers a thorough observation of Momo Joseph's work as a musician and looks to help shine a light on Momo's career and musical genius.

The debut album from Seattle's Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio. The group channels old-school organ combos like The Meters and Booker T & The MGs, but are making it fresh and feel new again!

AUDREY CHEN's long-awaited new solo album "Runt Vigor" is an adventurous sonic exploration of the voice, cello and analog electronics.

AUDREY CHEN began her relationship with sound through the cello and voice over 30 years ago and since the past 15 years, her predominant focus has been her solo work, joining together the extended and inherent vocabularies of the cello, voice and analog electronics.

More recently, she has begun to shift back towards the exploration of the voice as a primary instrument, delving even more deeply into her own version of narrative and non-linear storytelling. She derives her sound material in continuous process, championing the "in-between" and overlooked. Regardless of instrument, CHEN's mode of experimentation touches both the abstractly beautiful and the aggressively unsettling, creating a kind of curiously imagined architecture, non-prosaic song or ritual that reaches beyond gravity or language.

Recent projects, aside from performing solo, includeher long running voices duo with PHIL MINTON, duos HISS & VISCERA with modular synth player RICHARD SCOTT, BEAM SPLITTER with Norwegian trombonist HENRIK MUNKEBY NØRSTEBØ, and the "romantic noise duo" AFTERBURNER with DORON SADJA (electronics/light projection). Past projects include work with German conceptual artist JOHN BOCK, a duo with NYC abstract turntablist MARIA CHAVEZ, and a quartet with NATE WOOLEY, C. SPENCER YEH and TODD CARTER that released a LP on MONOTYPE. Hernew projects include a double duo/quartet with BEAM SPLITTER and STREIFENJUNKO's, EIVIND LØNNING and ESPEN REINERTSEN and MOPCUT with LUKAS KÖNIG and JULIEN DESPREZ.

- Upward Bound' is a long lost, incredibly rare and very expensive classic disco era album! It combines soul, funk with and slick pop appeal into a great cocktail of grooves and melodies! This will drive you to the dancefloor and make you sing along at the same time! The lush arrangements, tight grooves and powerful soul vocals with catchy harmonies make this album an instant evergreen. I'm least surprised that the arrangements should pose a challenge to every rhythm section and that the catchy melodies instantly stick to the listener. The flashing horn arrangements are amazing! The funky bass grooves and guitar riffs weave a cocoon of sound around your soul. The sound is certainly clean but also vivid and the music feels grounded despite it's larger than life expression. The swirling backing vocals in combination with the lead singer are the icing on the cake that already consists of catchy and outstanding songs. This is more funk and soul than simple disco music. There is depth in the arrangements with awesome details as you delve deeper into each single track. You can of course groove along and just enjoy the songs as they are, but be sure to at least be on the lookout for the beautiful ornaments in each song. This music will surely move you, it makes it impossible sit still . In this album you'll find a wide range of funky music, from Slow groovers to fast paced tunes, you will get them all. Some with a deep atmosphere, some energetic, all of them memorable with arrangements that keep your attention going even with the 50th spin on your turntable. To my opinion this album is an unmissable gem of the disco era at it's peak! The original album retails at $ 400 going up, rarely a decent copy could surfaces on the market once a year. So here's a chance for you to grab an affordable copy of this well-deserved and long overdue reissue on vinyl and be enchanted!

South African gqom pioneer and producer DJ Lag is set to release his new 'Stampit' EP via London label and collective Goon Club Allstars. The new release follows the 22 year old producer's acclaimed 2016 self-titled debut EP for the same independent imprint. The EP follows the release of his first single, the thrilling dance floor heater '3 Step Culo', which draws from the hard-hitting percussive sound of gqom made up of searing synthesisers, broken beat and hypnotic vocal samples to create a darker, bass-driven strain of house music. The EP follows his self-titled debut to showcase his keen talent for crafting charged, minimalist genresplicing sound. 'Let's Do This' exhibits an intense and euphoric big room feel, whilst 'Drumming' and 'Switz' display tense, potent drumwork and sparse & spectral club patterns. Also known as the 'Gqom King', DJ Lag was at the forefront of shaping the futuristic, explosive sound of gqom, the raw and distinctive style of drum-heavy dance music originating from the underground scene of Durban, South Africa in recent years and swiftly proliferating across the internet through the spread of social media and gaining international recognition. DJ Lag's latest outing delves into the infectiously rhythmic and high-energy sound palette of his previous works, recorded fully in his home studio in Clermont, South Africa.

Following on from Bodyjack's landmark "Nataraja EP" this summer which marked the 10th DEXT release, we welcome back our good friend Lo Shea to the label to continue the next phase in our journey. He comes to us fresh off his recent outings on Rekids and Dusky's 17 Steps, His first DEXT EP 'Durga' is one of the standouts from our early catalog.

We first heard "Activation" when he dropped an early version at our Fabric takeover earlier this year, and it grabbed us immediately. What essentially starts off as a super sharp rhythm track ends up very differently. This is a DEXT track through and through without a doubt!

Liam delves into his drum and bass roots for 'Pressure', marrying rolling broken beats and dark rave synth work but cleverly keeps the tempo right down and really adds to the sense of foreboding.

'Pillar' is the second release to come from London based duo, Abstract Man, uniting three original tracks plus one remix from pioneering French producer, Von Grall. Signifying the second stage of the pair's studio time, 'Pillar' delves further into a shared
love for rhythmic, textured techno and dynamic grooves.

"The world exists as you perceive it." - Rumi

This EP combines the veteran talents of Kniteforce label owner Dj Luna-C, with the debut release of Kniteforce Radio owner, The Lowercase, and comes up with something quite unique. A love for heavy beats and inspired by some of the toughest old skool around, the EP delves into the underground in a big way, throwing caution to the wind and layering multiple breakbeats and aggressive stabs together to make a wall of hard sound, just like it was back in the day....

Club / DJ Support
Billy Bunter, the Fat Controller, Glowkid, Slipmatt, Dj Jedi, Dj Luna-C, Dj Brisk, Clayfighter, Jimni Cricket, Bustin, Sc@r, Doughboy, Saiyan, Dave Skywalker, Ponder and many others

Prayer returns to Black Acre with the 'Vital' EP, a heavy four tracker which blurs the lines between sorrowful sounds and high voltage club energy - limited to 200 hand stamped vinyl.
'A four track EP that delves further into his defiantly outsider sound. Living somewhere near the intersection of classical, jungle and ambient' - The Ransom Note
'This atmospheric modern jungle track has a bit of Burial's sad-but-sweet emotional tinge to it' - Resident Advisor

PRAYER blurs the lines between sorrowful sounds and high-voltage club energy in VITAL; a piece of art that refuses to be boxed off by genre or stereotype.

Opener FEAR explores the producers love of film music; a dark sci-fi landscape punctuated with drums and melodic synths, a Bladerunner-esque track. Moving on, A2 'I'M STILL HERE' is an anthem, a nostalgic mix of hardcore, jungle and classical influences with a DIY, rough and ready feel.

On the other side, PRAYER shows his talent for the piano with B1 - KIND, finessing the skills that reflect his first adventures in sound. It's an emotive, stripped back number. The final track is B2 - VITAL, another drum-heavy, weighty track that sounds only like PRAYER - as ideal for the club as it is for headphones

Parrish Smith makes his Dekmantel debut on the label's sister-techno imprint, UFO, with a blend of avant garde electronics and industrial.
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With the 'Sex, Suicide & Speed Metal EP', Dutch producer Parrish Smith works outside of the realm of genres and tempos, creating his own unique template of saturated, electronic post-punk, having won accolades from the likes of Nina Kraviz, and Ron Morelli along the way. An analogue purist at heart, Parrish Smith has already amassed a cult following with regular appearances on Red Light Radio, in which the anarcho-experimentalist broadcasts sessions of heavy industrialism, breakbeats and body music.

Parrish Smith's music brings together classic analogue gear and a love for the fusion of aggressive industrial sounds. With title track 'Sex, Suicide & Speed Metal', Parrish Smith channels his inner Alan Vega, with some screaming guitars, and 65bpm machine-crunching body beats, lurching into a sultry space of slick wave music. 'Mute' jacks up the feeling of tempo, rife with energetic drum machines, pulsing synths and retro-fitted vocals, similar to the sound of something Daniel Miller might have released himself back in the early 80s. 'SKINS', delves further into the mechanical, with a grinding bass that bleeds through the track's entirety, while 'Fall into sin' sees him explore the world of deconstructed, gothic-pop yet further. Parrish Smith will be DJing, and performing live as Volition Immanent at this year's Dekmantel Festival, to fulfil the festival's charter of provocative, and intoxicating, energetic beat-filled music.

New age music from West Africa. Lush and hypnotic dreamscapes combine traditional instrumentation with sweeping electronics and field recordings. Bamako based composer Luka Productions delves into avant-griot, transforming ancient music for the 21st century. The songs are meditative and sage, as voices guide the listener through ways of living, from the village life to the modern world. Inspired by early electronic music, library records, and new age, this is easily one of the most leftfield recordings to ever come out of Mali. Limited to 500.

Following the success of Joey Negro's 'Produced With Love' album, four of the album cuts get the remix treatment from an all-star cast of producers each with their own particular flavor.

Kicking it off Chicago legend Ron Trent takes the original funked out, Arthur Russell flavoured, 'Distorting Space Time' and turns it into a deep house groover complete with a strong walking bass alongside adding a soul & richness to the elements that only he knows how. Crackazat step up next to take on 'Lactican Boogie' crafting it into an uptempo piano driven, emotionally charged stomper sure to do some damage this summer.

Flip it over and Lay-Far delve into 'In Search of The Dream', adding squelchy synth stabs and a deep bass to give a more hard hitting edge to the track whilst retaining that disco flavor with Angela Johnson's emotive vocals.

Closing out the e.p. Fouk come full circle, bringing their hazy, jazz tinged style to 'Distorting Space Time' - building the remix around those warm Rhodes chords, shuffling rhythm and dynamic bassline.

Gold once again from the Z Records camp!

WHITE RING mark a triumphant return with a brand new full-length Gate Of Grief, due out on Rocket Girl on 22 June 2018. Their debut album arrives a full eight years since their benchmark EP, Black Earth That Made Me, which sold out almost instantly, making their records some of the most highly sought after on the underground scene and earning them a cult following across the globe. Swerving from aggressively abrasive to beautifully ethereal, musically they draw from varied and challenging palette, whilst tackling themes of loss and acceptance due to struggles with drug addiction and existential dread on a broader scope.

WHITE RING were originally formed by Bryan Kurkimilis and Kendra Malia, before they were joined by Adina Viarengo, with Bryan and Adina currently touring as a duo. One of the most acclaimed proponents of the "Witch House" movement, WHITE RING blend heavy, distorted electronics with eerie, unsettling vocals. However, their new material, created over the course of seven years, pushes the boundaries further, subverting genre ideas and mashing them all together, with industrial, metal, rave, chopped and screwed, rap, grunge, neo folk, post punk and new wave all in the mix. As Bryan Kurkimilis explains; 'We treat our influences like tools to create a certain feeling. We are interested in covering more ground than sticking to a certain formula.'
Bryan and Kendra originally met on Myspace in 2006. At the time Bryan lived in New Orleans and Kendra was in New York, and they didn't even meet face-to-face until 2008 after they had already released a few singles. In 2010 they released the EP Black Earth That Made Me, which was a collection of songs that they mostly recorded before they met in person. The record confounded expectations by selling out immediately on pre-order, making it very rare and highly sought after, with copies going on Ebay for large sums. It was reissued by Rocket Girl in 2011 and still continues to sell in voluminous amounts.

They started playing live in 2009 and rapidly grew a reputation for their captivating performances, usually bringing their own lighting equipment and putting on a spectacular laser show. They have played for large crowds in their hometown of NYC and toured the UK in 2010 in support of their sold out split 7" with oOoOO, playing InTheCity and SWN festivals - which were their first shows outside of New York. They have since shared the stage with the likes of Cold Cave, araabMUZIK, Liturgy, Blank Dogs, Gatekeeper, Blondes, oOoOO, Clams Casino, and others.  
They started recording Gate Of Grief in 2010, with the hope of exploring new musical territory, however they took a while to find their path. Bryan and Kendra had some tough personal battles to fight, a sense that pervades the whole album. Thematically it delves in to some pretty dark places whilst exploring the concept of time and what it does to people, relationships and society. As Bryan explains; 'There is a lot of tragedy in this album but there is also hope at the end of it.'
By 2016 pressure was building to finish recording, however due to Kendra's ill health, they needed to bring in someone new to assist with vocals. Fortunately they found Adina Viarengo, who had played in various bands and gave them the impetus needed to complete the album. Shortly after meeting in Brooklyn, Bryan and Adina moved to Joshua Tree, California to finish recording the album, before settling in Massachusetts. Her vocal style fitted in seamlessly with what Kendra had been doing, and although she sang on half the songs, it's almost impossible to tell who is singing on which track, thus making her the perfect addition to the band.
Gate of Grief can be considered the second part of Black Earth That Made Me, or rather, they are the first two chapters in an overarching trilogy about evolution. As Bryan explains; 'First you are born but then you realize what you are and what is against you and it's a flood of emotion that you can only hope to hold on for and let it pass.'
The album title, Gate of Grief, refers to the real gate between Africa and Saudi Arabia that is believed to be the spot where the first humans migrated out of Africa and went on to populate the rest of the world. The album art ties in with this concept, with an image depicting a group of settlers in the USA in early 1900 during a parade. They were actually from a cult in the early 1900s in Bryan's hometown of Fort Myers, Florida.













M 13) Burn It Down