quête:don ́t know

Finally the new Lossless hits the stores and labelowner Mathias Schober formerly know as SHOW-B delivers some great house tunes we played a lot in the recent weeks.
Housemusic the way we like it. Nuff said...!

Moonshine Recordings continues to coordinate dub into all sorts of directions with its steady throughput of vinyl releases. This time around, it's the Spanish-based Bukkha to uplift all followers with two up-tempo rollers that take part in his crucial 'Ruling Sound' EP. His name has been all over the news inside bass culture lately, as the American released highly noted physical music on critical labels like Killa Sound and Dub-Stuy Records. He's been working his way to the top and the only thing the Moonshine Recordings imprint can do is support his efforts in pushing dub music to the masses at any given moment of the day.
On top of this wicked news, Portland's dub producer and engineer 'Skelli Skel' joins this session to frame the taste of the 'PDX Mandem' collective from back home. His love for complex rhythms and heavy bass lines fuel his adventure inside dub culture, something you'll hear when listening to 'MS028'. And with the familiar voice from don Junior Dread, who jumps in on the hype by illuminating the dub with carefully selected freedom of speech, it's the collaboration that speaks for itself. To top it all, TMSV is added to the release roster, a producer whose been dealing some serious damage with his inventive music repertoire. Whether it's music on the darker tip, or the more laidback sound, both Bukkha and TMSV know how to uplift and please their followers with bass-heavy, eardrums-teasing bass music.
Bukkha's 'Ruling Sound' leads his way through musicality by portraying the right balance of instruments and not to mention the gigantic bassline that disperses vibrantly through the lower bottom of the mix. The reigning vocal support from Junior Dread and dub techniques from PDX Mandem family Skelli Skell work out fantastically, as it makes this record come to life. Listen to the instrumental part that propagates in the exact sense of 'dub music', regardless of spinning on a higher beats per minute. The version 'Ruling Dub' by Bukkha himself plays a more meditative part inside your headspace; a clipping where basslines and effects will act up in a blurred version. It's the real attention to detail the American producer shares with remix boss TMSV, who hits fans with a darker joint that pays homage to Drum & Bass. It's aggressive stance forms the pinnacle of 'the right' B-side of a Moonshine Recordings plate. Just make sure you experience the second drop of this absolutely mammoth interpretation, as TMSV shuts down the place!

Virginia-born singer/songwriter Nicole Wray has everything you'd want in a singer: an infectious Jackson-5-family-member flare, a range like Aretha's, and a church upbringing that's brought a pure, healing texture to her voice. But the struggle she's been through has made her more than a singer. Nicole Wray is an artist. When talking about Queen Alone, her first solo album in some time, Nicole explains, It's a reflection of my soul. It's who I am today.' And aptly so. Nicole is writing and singing songs about her life. And yet to even start to know her soul, you have to go back to the beginning. Growing up in Portsmouth was tough at times for Nicole. However, at the age of fifteen, life opened up quickly when Missy Elliot paid a visit to Nicole's family home to audition her on the spot. Missy was there on the rumored strength and quality of her voice. Instantly blowing her away, she signed and left with Missy that night. Two years later, at age 17, she had a hit gold single off a solid debut album (Make It Hot). Suddenly she was part of a team that included late '90s R&B and rap royalty: Missy, Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Playa, Timbaland and Magoo. She made it, and fast. However, as rapidly as she achieved success, Nicole then found herself needing to re-make it. By late 2001, her time with Missy and company had run its course. They amicably parted ways and Nicole, once on top of the R&B world, was unsure of what was next. It was a very low, but important, point in her life. While neck-deep in this struggle, Damon Dash and Roc-A-Fella Records called. They signed an album deal and by 2004, in what was starting to be a pattern, just as things were looking up Roc-A-Fella suddenly (famously) split. Nicole found herself in a familiar situation. In 2013, Nicole paired up with London vocalist Terri Walker and released the album Lady. Once again, Nicole was tested. Terri parted ways with the group to pursue her own projects shortly after the album's release. Fast forward to now-the transformation from singer-for-hire to pure artist is evident in this new full-length solo release, Queen Alone. The record was written and recorded in 10 days at the legendary Diamond Mine Studios, in Queens NY with Leon Michels and Tom Brenneck handling production. Nicole says she is Singing out loud now-singing from the stomach.' Back in 1998 she was coached how to sing, and told to stay in a pocket that never let her show her range, power, and passion. Today, after stutter-stepping in and out of the industry, there is a new soul and substance to her songs-all of it from her life. They Don't Hang Around", tells the story of her post Roc-a-Fella days, Guilty", is about her brother's incarceration, Make Me Over" tells the relatable story of being broke with expensive taste, and 'Let It Go', a perfect way to end the record, is about the simple act of letting go and moving on. Almost echoing her new record, Nicole says, You have to go through something for it to be real.' She has been living with one foot in fame and the other in real life. The result is clear: she's feeling something real in her music again. And it's hard for us as listeners not to follow suit.

In the lead up to their 5th year as a label Music is love celebrate by continuing their infamous VA series the 'LOVEBOX'. Sticking to the winning formula of a hefty double vinyl package comprising of 8 tracks from 8 top artists, this time they have some familiar people alongside new faces to the label.
Kicking off the package in fine form is South London's prodigy Wbeeza and his track 'Bodyman'. It's as if this track announces the the opening of the VA with its beat-less and thickly textured opening... when that beat drops you know your in it!
Label main stay Jamie Trench is up next with his track 'Oil Spill ', this sees Jamie veering away from his tech house roots, delivering a quirky house track laced with an almost footwork groove.
On the Flip we see more new additions to the MIL roster as Ingi Visions ( Samuel Deep & Julian Alexander ) drop Nauyaca, a deep druggy track, with the kind of hypnotic flow and delicate arrangement the pair have become known for. Liam Geddes finishes up the B side , fresh from dropping the previous release on Music is Love his track 'reach out' continues to stamp his unique sound on the label.
And it don't stop...
As we reach for the second vinyl in this double pack we are greeted with a familiar site in the shape of Dutch duo New Jack City. 'Pick Me up' is everything you want from a NJC track, big, bumpy and beautiful.
Mak & Pasteman counter with their very cool track 'U Said', the boys are in serious form at the moment and this track is no different. Slick drum workouts decked out with Juno licks, what's not to love.
The final side welcomes another new act to the stable. Am Unit present their track 'Bang Dat'. With 'Bicep' style production values echoing throughout this track and THAT break, this one will be big.
Closing out the final track is label boss, Oli Furness. 'Broken Summers'. A huge 808 rave workout. Broken beats and sub rattling kicks are the setting for this track, finely polished electronic music for those with a fondness for rave.

Meet Thorsteinssøn. The Iceland-born-Denmark-bred Gunnar Thor Viggosson better known as one half of 76-79 with Tommy Vicari Jnr and bossman at Comfortable Records and Vanity. Right now, though, we're calling him the man behind the first Pets artist album this year... Deliciously cosmic and cheerily schizophrenic, 'Academy Of Heroes' is inspired by a brilliant creative project Thorsteinssøn practiced during his years living in Amsterdam: Solar Industry Radio. A project that would begin with a made up artist or band name in styles ranging from cosmic funk,scandinavien disco to noise collages of the galaxies. A joyously backwards project that inspired a rich rainbow of styles, the content was then represented 24/7 online, collaged with strange jingles and sifi snippets. Genius. Returning to those creations, Thorsteinssøn and Pets have weaved together a full album that cherry picks from his thunderous proliferation: from the strutting west coast deep house of '1976' to the introverted electro boogie of 'N M T F R' by way of the poignant chords of 'Untitled Disco Six', the wry acid wriggles of 'Channel DISQ' and the Trans Am twinkles of 'Beneath A Steel Sky', the 14 collection acts as an immersive, timeless collage. A smorgasbord of synthetic exploration, rich in sci-fi, space and robotic sympathy, pieced together with the same spirit of his cult radio transmissions, it works just as well on the cans as it does in the dance... And it's en route with an equally alluring package of remixes. An album, a radio show for freaks or simply a journey into Thorsteinssøns world.. Whatever... He really is a creative maverick. !

As Claremont 56 speeds towards its' ten-year anniversary, label founder Paul Murphy continues to champion little known producers and previously unheard artists. Over the past 12 months, the label has showcased material from rising talents
such as Bella Figura, Simon Peter, Paraiso and Oma & Amberfame. Now, Claremont 56 is adding another new name to the roster: Statues. Essex-based trio Bradley Lucke (production/bass/percussion/keys), Mark Crooks (keys/production) and Grant Carruthers (vocals/guitar) has been making music on-and-off together since they were teenagers, and last year decided to come together under the Statues alias. They submitted a number of demos to Paul Murphy, who was so impressed by what he heard that he offered to help produce and write an album with them. As debut singles go, 'Alaula' is stunning. Reminiscent of many softly spun
moments from the Claremont 56 back catalogue, it builds slowly and breezily via subtle waves of organic and electronic instrumentation. Carruthers' impassioned vocals pop in and out of the mix at opportune moments, peeping above alluring acoustic guitar, bass, synthesizer and Rhodes parts. Throw in
tumbling, life-affrming piano lines and swelling cello parts - both provided by friend-of- the-family Robin Lee of Faze Action - and you've got another near- perfect chunk of sunset-friendly, horizontal brilliance. On the fip, Murphy dons his familiar Mudd alias to provide a superb Piano Dub. Building the action around a sparse, delay-laden percussion track, Murphy teases out the track's most potent moments, in the process creating something
that lingers even longer in the memory. Lee's superb piano and cello work naturally takes pride of place, as Murphy expertly emphasizes the track's impeccably atmospheric nature.

Tale Of 2 Cities (or T.O.2.C for short) is the culmination of what was just a whim of an idea from label owners Mike & Justin. It's the first of its kind for us & anyone who knows anything about Kolour LTD should know that we shall leave no stone un-turned on a release of this magnitude. This 14 track, 3x12 vinyl compilation is a smooth journey throughout the realms of deep house, mid-tempo grooves, funk/soul, with an edit (or two) for good measure.Disc #1 features the incomparable talents of Jimpster (under his Franc Spangler alias), Admin, Ugly Drums & Lady BlackTronika, Henry Wu, and The Hue ft. Kissy Asplund.
Disc #2 features the FOUK boys, Frank Booker, Vincenzo de Bull & Halve Soul, & Inkswel.
Disc #3 features the talents of Eddie C, Napoleon, Sleazy McQueen & VinylAddicted, Patchworks, and LeBlanc.
3 x LP in a Trifold sleeve & Poster.

Late September marks the arrival on the second edition of Unclear Records 'A Tribute To Klang Club' featuring Move D, Fred P, Christopher Rau and label-heads Easy To Remember.
The Unclear Records imprint has carved out quite the reputation over the past few years with an already impressive back catalogue featuring material from Juju + Jordash, Rick Wade, Gigi Masin and Gerry Read. Here thought we see the welcome return of the labels 'A Tribute To Klang Club' series with its second contribution, following the inaugural various artists package that boasted material from Baby Ford, Roman Fluegel and more.
Move D opens with 'Rise!' and delivers a typically brooding, hypnotic number before Fred P follows up with 'Lush Life' laying down raw acidic bass and ethereal pads alongside shuffled rhythms. On the flip Christopher Rau's 'Unclear Joint' ups the energy levels via weighty drums and intricate use of string, bass and vocal samples before label-heads Easy To Remember round off the package with 'I Don't Know' a stripped back house cut led by sparse percussion, jazzy synth licks and soft pads.
'A Tribute To Klang Club Vol.2' is out on Unclear Records 26th September 2016.

Repress

Peter Zummo (born 1948) is an American composer and musician. He plays the trombone, valve trombone, euphonium, synthesizer, other electronic instruments, and also sings. He is associated with the postminimalist and Downtown aesthetics, and he describes his music as "minimalism plus a whole lot more." He's well-known for his work with Arthur Russell.
"In this project for Optimo, the listener can hear that my musical food pyramid has musicians at top, or maybe they are at the bottom. In any case, they are important. That is why, from track to track, I selected
segments in which one player or another is featured in the take. Some may think that we musicians do multiple takes to get the perfect performance, but I like to find the special interactions lurking in each excursion. Different players came forward in each of the takes, which were recorded in the studios Seaside Lounge and Headroom, in Brooklyn, and live in performances at Cube Cinema, in Bristol, U.K., as well as in Long Island City and on Staten Island, New York.
In order to escape the tyranny of the lyric, I am exploring in this release the possibilities of nonsensical and non-emotional lyrics. These kinds of lyrics bring the singing voices into the mix without an overweening message. The tracks include open-form compositions in which the duration was not specified."

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Rocksteady music genre, 17 North Parade presents "First Class Rocksteady". The collection captures early work from some of the genre's defining artists, and here are further 24 hot tracks additionally to the tracks of the limited edition 7x7Inch box set of the same name. Available as double vinyl with deluxe printed inner sleeves featuring sleeve notes and images.

Tracklisting: Side One A1. Hold Them - Roy Shirley with Lynn Taitt & His Band A2. I Am Lonely - The Heptones with The Supersonics A3. Dance All Night - The Tartans A4. Rock Steady - Alton Ellis and The Flames A5. Ba Ba Boom - The Jamaicans with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics A6. Pata Pata Rock Steady - Patsy & The Count Ossie Band Side Two B1. You Don't Care - The Techniques with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics B2. Little Boy Blue - Pat Kelly and The Uniques with Bobby Aitken & The Carib Beats B3. I'm A Loving Pauper - Dobby Dobson with Tommy McCook & The Supersonics B4. Return Home - Alva Lewis with Lynn Taitt & His Band B5. Just Like A River - Stranger Cole & Gladdy B6. El Casino Royale - Lynn Taitt & The Jets feat. Count Sticky Side Three C1. The Beatitude - The Uniques C2. Revelation - Alva Lewis C3. A Change Is Gonna Come - Ken Parker with Bobby Aitken & The Carib Beats C4. The Big Takeover - The Overtakers C5. I Am The Upsetter - Lee Perry C6. Musically - Keith Blake with Lynn Taitt Band Side Four D1. Lonely Heartaches - The Clarendonians with The Aubrey Adams All Stars D2. Napoleon Solo - Lynn Taitt & The Jets D3. Intensified - Desmond Dekker and The Aces D4. Hold Me Tight - Johnny Nash D5. Seeing Is Knowing - Stranger Cole & Gladdy with Lynn Taitt & The Jets D6. Darling Jeboza Macoo - Stranger Cole

Not even a month has passed since Sierra Sam and Pascal Hetzel ´s CYRK project launched with the high impact homage 'Tribute' and they return with yet another respectfully rooted release.
Channelling the energies of Detroitian agenda-setters such as Inner City, Joey Beltram and Scott Grooves, CYRK celebrate the original template and ingredients that have gone on to inform every genre that's since passed. Easy to say... A dark art to master without repeating something that's already been done before. Safe to say that CYRK definitely have that art mastered...
Its deft ping-pong riff echoing through classic detuned synth tones and unrelenting beats refusing to stop even for the honeyed evocative tones of singer Christine Eusebio , 'Fantasy' is one of those tracks you'll feel you know but also understand its freshness instantly. The type of track that gets crowds grinning like Cheshire cats the second it pops on... Even though they've never heard it before. Rooted in history, coded in innovation, it's more proof that CYRK's three-headed formula is better than one.
Remix-wise both Pascal Hetzel and Gerome Sportelli remain in Detroit: Pascal looks towards the likes of Mills and UR's 'World Power Alliance' phase for inspiration with his heads-down, militant techno aesthetics while Gerome conjures up sensations of Cybotron and The Preps with his slinky, ice-edged electro adaptation. Both versions take Christine's surging, sensual vocals to new creative pastures... And they've invited you to do the same with the acapella version, too.
Celebrating a legacy while keeping it fresh, CYRK remind us where we've come from... And where we're heading.ind us where we've come from... And where we're heading.

There´s not much known about Fabror Resande Mac but them hailing from Stockholm Sweden and having released even fewer matrial yet... an ep on Afficicionado and one on Back to Baleraics.
But both to much applause and already being sought afterness.
FRM do masterfully crafted, slow paced (pacific) coastal sound with all the ingredients for making you long for more. Steady bass pulses, mechanical percussion, punctual punches make waves from underwater to hyperspace - seductively deep and almost see through light.
Price and Timeless.
Or how our dear friends from mighty testpress.org blog would put it:
An idealized promise of the only true cure.
Atalanta and Vi över Manhattan are a Teasor of something even bigger coming in the Autmn of this year. Fabror´s first full length album, here on Horisontal Mambo. So don´t touch that Dial - this is just the beginning of the Deep End.

Horisontal Mambo is a new sublabel from Full Pupp.

In 1779, Ludd is supposed to have broken two stocking frames in a fit of rage. After this incident, attacks on the frames were jokingly blamed on Ludd. When the "Luddites" emerged in the 1810s, his identity was appropriated to become the folkloric character of Captain Ludd, also known as King Ludd or General Ludd, the Luddites' alleged leader and founder.

Gone beyond. That's what they say when an (astro) pilot crashes to earth and takes the journey into the big sky.

When Juan Trippe took that last flight little did he know that his re-incarnated self would be an electronic pioneer. In tandem with his co-pilot Guido Zen (his own father also a pilot) and Kyle Martin (from the Land Of Light) they formed Brain Machine and scaled the highest Peaks to bring back music both unearthly and intensely human.

Are we all not stardust anyway This music proves it, takes you out flips you over and rolls you in stardust. Don't try and think it through, make sense of it, grasp it - just wander in wonder and bask in beauty.
Get lost again.

been to long' - the well remebered chorus of a successfull parisian duo´s single hit comes easily to mind while thinking of the latest internasjonal release. after a long hiatus - which feels like surely way long - we restart with one half of the formerly well known milanese pair - boogie drama - and it´s very own lele sacchi. deejaying since 1995 sacchi has been and is still one of italy´s and especially milan´s musical icons - at least for electronic and alternative worlds, presents himself in his signature style. high on the heals of the success with rebirth´s smash Lele Sacchi Vs Blonde Redhead - You're Only Kosmiquest' is dark and cryptic, with a mean but very neat and elegant bassline plus an unmatched groove and feel for the floor. this time well balanced with a tad into psycheledic strinig heaven, wich combined with electronic effects is his ultimate kosmische' quest. the whole thing is contered by an airy and superbright no less danceable ' lauer version' and a fantatsic relaxed italo take on kraut which can propably be non done much better than byprins thomas walking on that lunga strada' !

Last year saw the mysterious Garage Shelter make their debut appearance on Skylax, and little is still known about them! All we know is they are back with some freshness on the Skylax Classic sublabel.
First up is Bring Back Love, a track that will sink its claws in with that infectious vocal sample hook. Sticking with the old school sample vibe is the Lonely Heart dub of Attempt; it's a bit more mellow but still has plenty of groove in it. Friend of the Garage Shelter, DJ La Foudre, appears over on the B side with It's Alright (Signal St Mix). Still on that catchy sample tip, it features one of the grooviest bassline and funky guitar pairings I've heard in a long time. Next up, Perception 66 is a smooth house affair from yet another friend, Asa No Hikari. Rounding out the package is Garage Shelter's own You (Still), a dreamy pad-driven track that may indeed be the pick of the release. While we don't know much about Garage Shelter, we can't help but look forward to what they come out with next!

Killer LP that mixes elements of zouk and tropical influences from the French West-Indies, with heavy disco and funk flavors. Tip!
Crystal was an 8 piece combo from the French West-Indies islands led by Franck Donatien. Gifted guitarist and composer, Franck Donatien had a few experience leading band projects such as Crystal, Lazer or Taxi Créole, and is mostly known and respected for his long and prolific career as a musicians for many artists from the local zouk music scene.

With Crystal, he released 2 albums between 1984 and 1985, both today very hard to find and famous for including some amazing tracks. If Funky Biguine, Crystal's second album, is mostly a 1 track LP with few other moments, Music Life is truly a brilliant album from first note to the last, including climax titles such as Music Life', or Santo Domingo'.

Favorite Recordings makes this forgotten treasure available again for all. Fully restored and remastered with great attention to sound quality, Music Life by Crystal is presented in a deluxe vinyl replica, and digital versions.

REPRESSED !
NYC LOFT TRAX UNRELEASED VOL. 2 GIVE ME SHELTER...
Not much known about this release but made by seminal production outfit in the mid 90's NYC... Never before released in any format! ALL KILLER NO FILLER! The first volume sold out in days... don't hand around...

Coming from Geneva (Switzerland) but "napoletano" by heart, Pascal Viscardi is a new face in the deep-house panorama. The 31 years old fellow started his career (as a producer) a few years ago with 2 twelve inches on "The Exquisite Pain", including remixes from some heavy weights : Mark E, Session Victim and Agnes.
For his debut on "Frole Records", Pascal kicks in with a single track. "The Warmest Color" is the kind of cut you might play when the sun shows up and the bodies are ready for the slower and sexiest loops. In a totaly "Modern Swiss Vibe" (Did you say Agnes...) this double kicked tune offers you a straight, extra-shuffled, moodygritty and dubby moment. Is this Love at first sight! Yes, it is...
Our new friend didn't come alone, chosing carefully his remixers to complete your wax in a most accurate way.
On the A side - together with Pascal's "Original Swiss Swing"- we're proud to present you the greek berliner : Kindimmer. If you ask Ralph Lawson (2020 Records), the boss could tell you how talented the young dude is... At least, his record on the inconic label proves it all. Here on our release, Kindimmer offers a subtle and minimalistic approach to satisfy all your germanic house needs.
The B side starts with the german puncher Manooz, well known for his bangers on labels like "Tomorrow is Now Kid!", "Morris Audio", " Housewax ", and more... His version is a devastating big room nugget you should drop if you wanna see your dancefloor burning.
On B2 we have the third remix which comes from a really interesting outsider, our french mate : Toni Be. His releases on "Courtesy Of Balance Recordings", "Soul Notes" and "Rawthenticity" have truely convinced the genre specialists. Concerning his tune : dont look further, here you have the deepest cut of the bunch.

Black magic, what is that supposed to be A spell that seeks to do harm to others Usually yes, however Taron-Trekka are animated by the best intentions, rather aim for the magic of the night and as always want to merely destroy the dancefloors of this world in a symbolic way. In fact, nobody has comes to grief with the four tracks of their "Black Magic EP" (the last part of their "Magic" triology) - nevertheless, they possess a certain magic.

However, Taron-Trekka don't make jumbo jets disappear, they don't walk through the Chinese wall or initiate other cocky tricks à la Copperfield. They are more like thimbleriggers. Or card jugglers. You know, those guys who surprise you when you least reckon with it. Those who have already outsmarted your mind when you were still thinking that it was just about to really begin. Taron-Trekka have the groove and cast a net of loops, which magically creates a tremendous energy. Loops with which the smallest shift can open up worlds. Worlds, which admittedly appear accessible, but are hardly decipherable. This way, tools become magical tracks. Furthermore, house becomes a music, which brands itself to the last corners of a soul. Just like the trick that you haven't understood until today.

A1 Black Magic Taron-Trekka's ride through the night starts funky and dry with the title track of the EP. The effects bleep here and fade away there, however over distance a magical pull develops. A pull that can only be escaped from with great difficulty.

A2 Monofile Regarding "Monofile", Taron-Trekka conjures a groove as selfwilled as enchanting by initially making vocals and keys appear on a dead straight beat and then letting this very same one stumble over itself. At the right moment it engenders at least as much "Ohs" as "Ahs" in a club, you bet.

B1 Red From black to red, from night until morning. For exactly this moment "Red" was made, which brings every last person to the next afterhour with its swing and depth.

B2 Distance Entirely against its own title, "Distance" may indeed affect one deeply. Namely then, when one wants to delve into funk as subtle as extensive. That is Jan Jelinek at a gallop or SND with more punch. Both are fantastic