It's a UK thing, they say. However, halftime and Jungle are dubbed internationally since ages. Positive vibes are killing borders all over the globe.
Members of Champion Sound met while playing in Reggae bands in Moscow. Neekeetone was drumming, Koondoongoo is still playing bass. A bit later they ran into Distant Roots while DJing at Dub Raw Camp, a bass family festival in the north of Caucasus.
When the 45Seven label and its sounds started to flourish, it gave instant inspiration to them Champions, resulting in nothing less than the two bombs you will hear on this very plate.
Gun Fevah is cultivating splashy halftime snares spiced with jungley layers, embedded between classic horns and skanks.
Wise Man steps up Sesame's Treat wise with vibes hailing from far away over a lush bassline that could roll on forever.
This seven looks back to the imaginary roots of these 45s as well as making way for a bright future of Dubby Jungle!
Suche:dubby
Portuguese producer Mardel debuts on Carpet’s Circuits series with a tight set of modular jams. Precise, at times introspective but with a driving motor pulse underneath, the three electro tracks touch on acid and bass as they launch into space. For its part, the ten-minute lead track, ‘Ducks In A Pond’, is a dreamy dubby epic, full of surprising textures and watery flourishes.
Time to welcome another newcomer to Freerange with a brilliant debut that has already been gaining a lot of interest from early spins. Stefano Ritteri should be a familiar name to many, having dropped several well- received releases on key labels such as Pets, Rockets & Ponies and Get Physical as well as his own monthly Rinse France radio show. A producer in the old school sense, he has the ability and desire to flip from deep, emotive and down tempo jams to the most impactful, high energy floor fillers, all with a deft touch and unique and experimental spin. The Italian producer, now relocated to London, has a studio chock full of vintage synths and hardware outboard which keep him inspired and ensure his output sounds fresher and fatter than most, as can be heard on this excellent two-tracker entitled A Different Happiness EP The title track is a spaced out, percussion-heavy jam which takes a minimal approach but wins hearts and minds with an ear-worm of a melody that gets gets you hooked in from the start. Snippets of spoken word add to the intense atmosphere making this one of those sure-fire, perennial tracks which can work in a variety of sets and still guaranteed to make an impact and stand out in the crowd. Flip over for Pocket Melody, another simple yet effective and inventive track which sees Stefano letting loose on his synths and coming up with some warped Zawinul-inspired vibes in the process. The playful melody snakes around in an improvised way whilst the dubby drums and classic analogue machine beats ensure everyone stays locked into it's hypnotic groove. Definitely a producer to watch for us and we're sure Stefano is on track to continue making some amazing music. We hope you love this as much as we do!
2024 Repress
Seasons are changing - energy is shifting. The next Frenzy release is here, presenting the next-best-local talent on the block: Levzon. This born-to-be gearhead from the outskirts of Amsterdam began experimenting with electronic music as a youngster. Immersing himself in a variety of genres throughout his early years, he decided to take the next step and provide an output for his vision on techno as 'Levzon'. For our next Frenzy adventure, he is going all out for the first time, profiling his sound through a 4-track heavy-hitting EP with old-school-induced cuts and loopy basslines, including two remixes by like-minded associates.
Imagine an era where speed has no limit and the night knows no dawn. That's about the atmosphere 'Mambata' is creating at the start of the A-side. Followed by drum-led 'Bang the Drums', Levzon continues to ride the wave of heat, pressure, and movement. The adventure doesn't end here yet: talent on the rise Phil Berg is providing a perfectly executed dubby remix of 'Bang The Drums' Enter the B-side where a body-heavy peak time experience is awaiting you with 'Baraa'. A true weapon on the dancefloor. At the end of his story, Levzon leaves us with the beautifully composed 'Baila', casting a subtle rhythm of basslines with funk-induced vocals within a more subtle tempo. To close off the record in style, Ruiz OSC1' provides a remix of 'Baila' - throwing her 90s rave techniques into the battle.
2024 Repress
For Frenzy's third release, and the first solo release, the Uruguay-based William Arist is introducing us to his world of 'tribal techno'. Hailing from the city of Montevideo, this Southern-American-born artist already is a talent to watch overseas. Through their like-minded vision of electronic music, William bonded strongly with our Amsterdam-based Frenzy crew over the last couple of years. This warm connection evolved into Frenzy 03 - showcasing pure dance floor eclecticism that only William can deliver, including two remixes by no other than VIL and rising star Kenji Hina aka Alarico.
The A side instantly kicks off at full good vibe-throttle with two productions that reminisce about those iconic Love Parade moments during the very first days of rave culture. Balancing on the edge of house and techno, 'Chaka Chaka' loops the listener into a straight sense of movement. With rhythmic drums and uplifting vocals, 'Days' feels like stepping into an after hour dance-floor at the beach while the morning sun rises through the exotic vegetation. On the B side, William leans towards a more hypnotic sound. With a great tempo and a dark yet subtle mood, 'Tero' sets the tone for those murky clubbing moments where the boundaries dissolve and bodies merge. Slowly climbing out of the deep, 'Gultural' stays on the same energy level while adding dubby hints and a taste of freshness.
To top it off, the release is provided with two remixes that leave no room for interpretation. Portuguese producer VIL turned 'Chaka Chaka' into a true peak-hour beast while Italian multi-talent Alarico shows his versatile skill set with a speedy house remix of 'Gultural' under his Kenji Hina alias.
Uni Cover[11,72 €]
Born and raised in Sicily but now based in Berlin, SLV is known for his innovative approach to techno and its various shades. He has released on revered labels like Soma and received support from key industry players who respect his ability to blend old-school vibes with modern production techniques. Away from the club, he also produces music for film soundtracks, adding a sense of cinematic edge to his techno cuts and is a master of both analog and digital technologies - a true audio engineer who crafts unique, compelling sounds. Having previously featured on the labels Federation of Rytm III compilation, he returns to SHDWs Mutual Rytm imprint with his Night Echoes EP to open up October.
Graustufen opens with punch drum programming and scintillating percussion that dances atop the groove as booming bass brings serious weight down low. The superb Grand Cayman is another potent techno weapon, this time with icy synth atmospheres and eerie moods pervading the tightly programmed drums and bass to deliver an unstoppable force. Voids brings urgent funk with its hunched-over, closely stacked kicks and suspensory pads, which never let up and keep you locked in the moment, while Elastik Pho echoes a classic Detroit sound with its soul-drenched beats and serene, uplifting, beautiful hi-tek style. Last but not least, That Night shows SLVs extraordinary range as it brings some soulful vocal loops and optimistic chords over thunderous drums, which are sure to power dance floors through to euphoria. The EP includes two digital bonus cuts: Basic Uno, which is a raw, percussive and heads-down banger, and Persistence Of Memory, which is stripped-back, glitchy and dubby techno for strobe-lit warehouses.
Ira James - owner and orchestrator of Vessel Recordings Group US - is treating us to plenty of newness this month and first up is Natural Rhythm with this transparent yellow vinyl 12". It's pure deep house bliss from the off with 'No Clothes' pairing rubbery and punchy kicks with some liquid synths that bring colour and depth. After the delightful '1985' comes 'City Life' which has a more dubby and bulbous low end that disappears out of sight as snappy snares power along the groove. 'Dust Redux' closes out with some sleek synth work and tech house minimalism that is pure dancing bait for the heads.
Digital digs deep into his dusty DAT box and his hard drives for DDD Vol. 2!
A1. Digital & Spirit’s rave banger, Remote Control, gets a sweet freshen up from heavy hitter Kiljoy
A2. Dubby, spaced out roller, Reflection, is intense, rough and rugged!
B1. Restoration, we all need it.
B2. X Nation has a heap of great jungle to his name and the Ras 78 remix doesn’t disappoint
2024 Repress
Pitch Black’s “Electronomicon”, a landmark album in New Zealand’s electronica scene, finally gets pressed on vinyl.First released in 2000, “Electronomicon” shows Pitch Black developing their deep dubby sound further by creating long and involved song structures that traverse a range of sonic experiences. The resultant album journeys from organic ambience and layered soundscapes to skanking keyboards, cutting acid riffs and thumping rhythmic grooves, with dub being the glue that holds it all together.
“Electronomicon” reached 28 in the New Zealand album charts and led to a sell-out 30-date tour of New Zealand and Australia. It has since gone on to become one of the duo’s most popular albums, regularly finding new fans around the world.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release, the band dug out the original audio files and Angus McNaughton has remastered them for this vinyl release. Hamish Macaulay has also adapted the original artwork, creating a brand new collage for the centerfold out of pictures taken at the time.
The unconscious and unknown must be really nice places. In any case, if you take the second album of Menelaos Tomasides under his given name as travelogue. A trip into dreamlike territory, yet concrete enough, a journey without target yet looking forward and looking back into familiar places, „dreamhike“ both continues and departs from the style Menelaos has found earlier, in “When the Moon Comes Through”, or his more conceptual-intentional “31 Minuten” works. As the album title - which roughly translates to “dream hiking” but also hints on “walkabout” and “songlines” – suggests, we are rambling between the real and the imaginary. From the bucolic border triangle of Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands to the buzzing streets of the capital of Cyprus, where Menelaos has lived for many years, the tracks are about real places, about real experiences and emotions yet interwoven with a dreamlike fabric. Something that is just not tangible, yet substantial and palpable. Something concrete that manifests in the genuine and special sound design of this records - basically all of Menelaos’ works - his really special treatment of dynamics and loudness. It is one of the very few records where the established language of music making, specifically Techno, House, Dub, and early 2000’ Electronica, the clicks, thumps and plops from an earlier age of electronic music, transmogrify into slow movements of something new. Something that is gentle and truly personal, looking inwards. There are four-to-the-floor beats, there is wobbly bass, and dubby chords, even sublimated clarion calls. There is an immense energy in these tracks, the sheer materiality of low frequencies of a massive sound system manifested in a tiny room. Yet it is without any aggression, stripped bare of sonic pressure. It is quiet music no matter how high you turn up the volume. A rare treat, that requires exceptional skills and exceptional restraint and control on the technical side of music making. Probably it is a result of Menelaos specific combination of instinctual, intuitive approach to making music, which meets a genuine love for sound in seemingly endless loops of refinement that can lead to such a result as „dreamhike“. The elegant floating balance of control and playful experimentation manifests for example in a track that continues the ongoing collaboration with seasoned Cologne improviser Achim Fink on bass trumpet. Not only in this respect, the album can be described as a product of openness. It comes from a lot of taking in the world, of travel, of places and people met, of friendship and conversation (not necessarily with words). The deep trip of “dreamhike” further manifests Menelaos as one of the truly independent voices of electronic Cologne and beyond. Somewhat alike in character and attitude probably to what late Pete Namlook has established for Frankfurt with his label Fax +49-69/450464 (though ultimately warmer and much less uncanny) Menelaos has found his very own sound and vision. Music that answers to no one but speaks to everyone. Uncompromising yet gentle to the core: kind sounds from a kind spirit, arguably the most extraordinary and valuable quality music can have these days.
Daydream is super happy to welcome back the brilliant Nick Beringer more than 2 years after his last appearance on the label, with a new timeless classic. Modflow EP is the perfect combo between Nick and Daydream universes with 4 raw tracks full of groovy dubby sounds and deep classy vibe.
This is the second package of remixes for the hypnotic folk music of the Ainu a cappella group Marewrew.
Ukouk Remixes Pt. 02 is dedicated to dub-infused remixes, featuring Elijah Minnelli and Peter Presto on a 7" single.
Elijah Minnelli is a producer of dub music. The London-based artist specialises in a fusion of folklore and dub, which he masterfully demonstrates on his latest release Perpetual Musket on the FatCat label. His remix of Marewrew's Uekap is a deep and breathing take on the mesmerising round singing vocals, dubbed in a live take through his mixing desk. The chopped vocals are used like percussion instruments. Elijah Minnelli has also contributed a moody DJ mix to the Pingipung podcast series, sharing some of his knowledge of pre-reggae roots music from the Caribbean and South America.
Pingipung founder Peter Presto remixes the same track, Uekap, with his unmistakable dubby playfulness. The vocals are merry, the groove stumbling and slow. The flute melody qualifies as a perfect stress antidote.
The electronic dub trio Cloud Management added their version of Honkaya to the digital package. There is an Andi Otto remix in the bundle, Hunpe Yan Na. The song is about a whale that has stranded ashore; Otto dubs the song with Heiko Gogolin’s bass clarinet, blown organ pipes and his cello. Finally, Californian folk wizard Contact Field Orchestra adds his atmospheric, haunted version of Etukuma Kara.
i9M is back with a new old release - what we mean by that is that these tunes were actually first recorded back in 2002 by Ability II aka David Duncan, but you wouldn't know it from listening. They are still future-sounding cuts from the producer who had forgotten about them for many years but who says that lyrically they are even more relevant now than two decades ago. The drums are dubby, the FX are cosmic and the synths bring sleek ambient flow to the energetic low ends. Outta Attercliffe aka the talented Luca Lozano, alongside associate DJ Steve remixes and ups the dub quotient while slowing the groove a touch. Last of all is a tripped-out Underground Dub Mix full of glistening FX and melon-twisting reverb.
- A1: 100Lbs Of Summer Feat Greentea Peng
- A2: Evil Generation
- A3: Midnight Blues Feat Fifi Rong
- A4: King Of The Animals
- A5: Green Banana Feat Shaun Ryder
- A6: Jesus Life
- B1: I Am A Dubby Feat Marta
- B2: No Illusion
- B3: The Person I Am Feat Rose Waite
- B4: Jah People In Blue Sky Feat Greentea Peng
- B5: Future Of My Music Feat Tricky & Marta
- B6: Goodbye
Record producer, composer, singer, and pioneer of the dub music genre Lee Scratch Perry passed away in August 2021. His influence over popular music since the 1970s is hugely significant, with artists including Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Clash, Beastie Boys, Max Romeo, Junior Murvin and The Orb all enriched by Perry’s legendary touch, innovative studio techniques and production style.
Conceived, written and recorded during the COVID pandemic, ‘King Perry’ was produced by Daniel Boyle, and features guest performances from Greentea Peng, Shaun Ryder, Tricky, Marta, Rose Waite and Fifi Rong. Two tracks were also co-produced with Tricky, who releases Perry’s last recorded performances on his False Idols label.
Over a career spanning six decades, Lee Scratch Perry left the music world with a huge catalogue of albums, productions and appearances that cannot be underestimated. Releases for Island Records, Trojan, Adrian Sherwood’s On-U Sound, Mad Professor’s Ariwa...the list goes on. It was in 2014 that Perry teamed up with UK producer Daniel Boyle, and from this collaboration came the Grammy nominated album ‘Back At The Controls’ and was followed up five years later with the ‘Black Album’.
The ‘King Perry’ album was born out of a request from Perry that he “wanted to do something new, something different but still with a dub framework”. And so, armed with influences as diverse as synthwave, big beat, drum & bass and electronica, Boyle and Perry traded ideas, beats and lyrics in a project that continued to grow as its various guest performers were added, resulting in a kaleidoscopic and engaging melting pot of rhythms, melodies, and voices. Poignantly, closing track ‘Goodbye’ was Perry’s last ever recorded vocal performance.
2024 repress.
Repress Back in March 2003 Claro Intelecto announced his arrival in the electronic world with his Peace Of Mind EP on Ai Records. Now, a decade later, Delsin, the label on which he released his latest LP, is re-releasing it in all its glory. Across four perfectly formed tracks the EP proved Manchester's Mark Stewart to have a fine grasp on techno, electro and dub, and that he was able to do his own unique things with each.
Arguably the most well known cut from the EP is 'Peace of Mind (Electrosoul)', a busy bit of chattery house-come-electro that is wired up with many zithering melody lines and Claro's trademark lush strings. 'Tone' is then a much more frazzled and aggressive bit of techno with raw, slapping percussion, gurgling synth lines and plenty of dystopian electro vibes. 'Contact' then settles into a deep, dubby, spacious groove with airy hi hats and a delightful bassline and carries you along effortlessly, and final track 'Signifier' closes things out in beautifully serene style with ambient swirling pads, organic synths and a curious bassline that rises and falls like the tide. Seminal stuff that still fetches a high price on Discogs, it was the start of a remarkable career for Claro Intelecto.
Vessel Recordings Group is a new label from the United States and kicks off with Natural Rhythm aka the duo of Thomas White and Pete Williams. They have been working since the 90s on their own brand of house and as this EP shows it is stylish, rooted in tradition but full of contemporary designs. 'Jillybean' is raw, stripped back and perfect for backrooms. 'The Chase' is a slamming cut that pushes on with classic vocal samples twisted into something new, and great swing. 'Son Of Orange' is another lo-fi, high-class house sound with real weight and machine soul and 'Pocket Ops' closes out with dubby techno energy. A fantastic, no-frills EP to get this label underway.
Archeo Recordings' rewarding relationship with Tony Esposito continues on AR027, as the label provide a remastered reissue of his transcendent fusion-pop masterpiece "Pagaia" alongside a trio of brand new reworks from Perugia's mighty Feel Fly. Whether you're looking for cosmic house, mellow acid, trancey techno or dubby downbeat, these remixes have you covered, and the original remains a true work of art. Available in all good record stores on 12th July as a 50 copy super limited edition on Solid Blue Vinyl (including gadget scarf) and limited black vinyl edition.
50 copy Solid Blue Vinyl Edition (including gadget scarf), and also limited black vinyl run "Pagaia" hails from the Neapolitan percussionist's 1982 LP Tamburo, his first release for the brilliant Bubble imprint. Though the album delights and excites from start to finish, dancing through jazz-funk, Mediterranean pop, slow disco and smooth fusion, it's "Pagaia" which is first among equals. Esposito's nuanced hand drums lay the foundation for Claudio Pizzale, Sara Borsarini and Simona Pirone's wordless vocals, a life affirming chorus which carries us onto the swell of bass, piano and horns which drive the track through four and a half minutes of emotional release. Emphatic and expressive, the track transports the listener into a state of body moving rapture, all driven by Tony's rhythmic fluency. The song found its way into Italian living rooms over the credits of TV show Domenica In, and found its way into club culture thanks to fanatical support from the likes of Daniele Baldelli, who even included it on his first official Cosmic compilation.
Following a string of essential releases for the likes of Internasjonal, International Feel and New Interplanetary Melodies, Daniele Tomassini, better known as Feel Fly, now joins the Archeo family with a trio of contemporary club translations of the killer "Pagaia". The Perugian's "Cosmical Remix" extends that familiar introduction into a deep and DJ-friendly blend of drum and voice, awash with airy reverb and augmented by additional percussion, building through the original piano and bass into the churn of a dance floor wormhole. Driven by an unstoppable sequencer throb, the interpretation skirts the dark side of space before landing in the light of the miracle, those heavenly vocals and lush keys leading the way. The "Instrumental Cosmical Remix", not entirely instrumental, but utterly cosmical nonetheless, sees Daniele serve a tense and tracky arrangement of his first rework, perfect for deep space exploration. Stripped of the joyful exuberance of the original, this variation is a complex blend of shadowy trance idents and the mature techno we'd expect from the likes of François K. Not content with soundtracking either side of the peaktime, Feel Fly serves up a third version, following the Compass Point through a musical map of club-dub to turn out an immersive interpolation of deep bass, spring reverb and stabbing keys that sits perfectly beside the Rhythm & Sound catalogue. Each interpretation is an emphatic demonstration of Tomassini's musical talent, production prowess, and stylistic range, and furthermore a fitting tribute to the lasting genius of Esposito's original.
2024 Repress
Physically and mentally draining in the best way possible, Wet Will Always Dry is maybe the most complete statement from Blawan to date, and as such should be ignored at your peril. This becomes evident from the album-opening 'Klade,' a dizzying, tumbling flight of pure energy over overlapping fields of electrified menace. This sets the stage for 'Careless,' which retains the hazardous, crackling atmosphere but dials back the intensity just enough to make room for a new feature, Blawan's eerie and disembodied vocals.
'Tasser' ratchets up the tempo and the frenetic energy yet more, slinging chunks of audio shrapnel and grinding factory noise over the kick-heavy beat, only letting up the tension every now and then for a convulsive breakdown. By the arrival of 'Vented,' a more steady, cycling groove has set in along with the accompaniment of suspenseful melodic swells, but the element of surprise is far from gone: there still seem to be spectral entities lurking around every corner, and there's no shortage of intriguing tumbril weirdness blowing around the imaginary streets that this track conjures up.
The slamming 'North' keeps alive the record's persistent, darkly humorous feeling that things are about to go off the rails at any moment, using wildly contorted sequences and granular debris to shift between total abandon and regimented strictness. A moment of relative calmness, along with the return of the atmospheric vocals, comes about with 'Stell,' a faintly dubby track that leaves an impression like watching streams of traffic progress underneath rolling, deep grey clouds.
'Kalosi' brings back the percussive motif of 'Tasser' and 'North,' this time partnering it with loops that bring to mind radioactive bass strings. 'Nims' then shuts things down with infectious harp-like sequences, fuzz-shrouded percussion and an 'everything but the kitchen sink' mentality towards filtering and processes which will get the attention of all but the most jaded soundhead.
Damian Lazarus invites Kristin Velvet to Crosstown Rebels for ‘Wasp Nest/Get Down’, featuring and remixed by house icon Fred P. Delivering her first material on the iconic label, the Arms & Legs boss serves up two diverse productions, including a collaboration with Fred P, with the New York favourite also providing two slick interpretations of his own.
Rising to prominence over the past decade as an artist backed by a wealth of support from BBC Radio 1, Australian-born DJ/producer and label boss Kristin Velvet has garnered consistent support from The Blessed Madonna to Fat Boy Slim and Carl Cox, seamlessly blending her roots with influences from her adopted homes across the globe, including London, Tokyo and most
recently, Berlin and Ibiza. Collaborating with Felix Da Housecat while releasing material via Josh Wink’s Ovum Recordings, Cassy’s Kwench and Hot Since 82’s Knee Deep In Sound, plus her own Arms & Legs which she co-manages with Daniel Steinberg, she continues a busy 2024 with a visit to Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels for the very first time with her two-track EP ‘Wasp Nest / Get Down’ - featuring a collaboration with house pioneer Fred P who also serves up two trademark, deep dives.
Warping and twisting, armed with robust drums and ever-evolving synths, ‘Wasp Nest’ is a trippy excursion through an amalgamation of textures, delivering a driving production with twists and turns at every moment, while the slick ‘Get Down pairs crisp percussion and smooth grooves with Fred P’s iconic vocal for a classy house outing. Delivering his own takes on the production, Fred P’s first reshape is a delightful dive through dubby pads and hazy chords before serving up a cosmic excursion across his ‘Deepness’ reshape to close things in style.
Following various single releases and remix projects, Benx is back with a strong new EP on their homebase Bouman Records. Slowly building their name, the duo are already receiving help from some of the biggest names on the underground circuit, with vocals by Colonel Redz and some high profile remixes. Techno legend Orlando Voorn provides a banging rework of 'Lets get wild', while DJ Crisps delivers a masterclass in dark & dubby 2step garage with his remix of the title track 'What you want'




















