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"Next up in Mr Bongo's Groove Merchant Records reissue series, we present the only solo album saxophonist Ramon Morris recorded as a bandleader. Having cut his teeth playing with the iconic band Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers and working with other jazz greats, including Reuben Wilson, Shirley Scott, Rashied Ali Quintet, and Woody Shaw, 1973 saw Ramon take the step into solo territory. The resulting album Sweet Sister Funk became a certified classic and a landmark showcase of the cherished ‘70s jazz-funk sound, later sampled by the likes of DJ Premier, The Alchemist and DJ Shadow.

Originally released on Sonny Lester's iconic Groove Merchant record label and produced by Lester himself, Sweet Sister Funk is a jazz-funk masterclass. It features a slick line-up including Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet, Mickey Roker on drums, and Albert Dailey on electric piano. Rich and beautiful, the seven songs ebb and flow in energy, fusing jazz funk and soul jazz with style and swagger. There are bags of groove with Ramon and Cecil trading off on sax and trumpet in an effortless conversation throughout the LP, supplemented by brilliant solos from the rest of the players.

A gold mine of sampling material, the album includes a sublime cover version of The Stylistics' much-loved 'People Make The World Go Round', which was sampled by DJ Shadow on Blackalicious's 'Swan Lake' in 1994. Elsewhere, the percussion and bass intro of the opening track 'First Come, First Serve' is a sampler's delight - a deep, heavy groove with a fine saxophone workout by Ramon. Head to 'Don't Ask Me' and you’ll find the swinging horn intro that formed the basis of 'You Came Up' by Big Pun featuring Noreaga from 1998, whilst 'Wijinia' has echoes of ‘70s indie jazz by labels such as Strata East & Black Jazz.

Here at Mr Bongo, we are proud to be delving into the vaults of Groove Merchant Records once again, reissuing this iconic LP from Ramon Morris."

REPRESS

Back in 2019 we released Arctor's EP "Soulless" on 12" vinyl. It was an instant underground hit and sold out in a flash. Three wild years later and we've had it repressed. Good news for anyone balking at the enormous Discogs prices for a preowned copy. This modern electro classic should fit nicely into any dance music head's collection.

Michael Mayer returns to the Speicher series for his first release since last year’s brain-bursting The Floor Is Lava album. And yes, the floor is indeed lava when Mayer is on peak form, as he is here, with three tracks that oscillate, effortlessly, between the twin poles of Mayer’s music: dancefloor detonation and heart-wrenching beauty. To be fair, there’s more of the former here, but there’s beauty in generous discipline, too, and the unrelenting “Cry Me A Raver” feels, somehow, like it brings together decades of Kompakt pleasure in six giddy minutes – disco-fied arpeggios, glistening and hand-burnished textures, abstruse patterns that fall in and out of step. “Don’t Sync With My Tag” stomps with destructive glee, a beat as undeniable as the shaker cross-rhythms are silkily sexy. There’s always been something practical, functional, and utilitarian about Speicher, but it doesn’t get more everyday DJ-life than this: Mayer tells us the title is “a super-annoying message that pops up every time you open Rekordbox. Nobody knows what it means. It’s a DJ mystery.” But who needs answers, anyway? By the time you’ve started to get close to solving the riddle, Mayer’s taken you to Detroit via Cologne with “It Isn’t What It Isn’t”, a little doffing of the cap to Rhythim Is Rhythim. “You’re May, I’m Mayer, I used to tell him,” Michael chuckles. This made one of our cats almost jump out of its skin, with its stealthy slyness – creeping, amorphous electro noise; percussives that just won’t quit; the whole thing flooded with twitchy strip-light energy and silver-machine flare- outs.

Speicher is as Speicher does, and this is a damn good one. Make Mine Mayer!

Michael Mayer returns to the Speicher series for his first release since last year’s brain-bursting The Floor Is Lava album. And yes, the floor is indeed lava when Mayer is on peak form, as he is here, with three tracks that oscillate, effortlessly, between the twin poles of Mayer’s music: dancefloor detonation and heart-wrenching beauty. To be fair, there’s more of the former here, but there’s beauty in generous discipline, too, and the unrelenting “Cry Me A Raver” feels, somehow, like it brings together decades of Kompakt pleasure in six giddy minutes – disco-fied arpeggios, glistening and hand-burnished textures, abstruse patterns that fall in and out of step. “Don’t Sync With My Tag” stomps with destructive glee, a beat as undeniable as the shaker cross-rhythms are silkily sexy. There’s always been something practical, functional, and utilitarian about Speicher, but it doesn’t get more everyday DJ-life than this: Mayer tells us the title is “a super-annoying message that pops up every time you open Rekordbox. Nobody knows what it means. It’s a DJ mystery.” But who needs answers, anyway? By the time you’ve started to get close to solving the riddle, Mayer’s taken you to Detroit via Cologne with “It Isn’t What It Isn’t”, a little doffing of the cap to Rhythim Is Rhythim. “You’re May, I’m Mayer, I used to tell him,” Michael chuckles. This made one of our cats almost jump out of its skin, with its stealthy slyness – creeping, amorphous electro noise; percussives that just won’t quit; the whole thing flooded with twitchy strip-light energy and silver-machine flare- outs.

Speicher is as Speicher does, and this is a damn good one. Make Mine Mayer!

A collection of transfixing, storm-like compositions, "Drifts" draws you into its heightened sense of quiet, reveling in iridescent, tranquilized vapors - one part ambient Classical, one part Club-adjacent ambience.

Pitched, reduced, sampled and re-sampled, the album's glowing, elliptical abstractions - using piano, harp, strings & modular synthesizer - explore the emotional terrain between aftermath and renewal, blending the unstructured immediacy of improvisation with the elegant sculpture of composition.

"Drifts" represents for its maker a newfound interest in shadow and mystery, each track a shifting terrain, a collection of clues, a scene set in a larger story, the effect cumulative.

Featuring collaborations with Patrick Belaga, Marilu Donovan (LEYA), and Takuma Watanabe, the album's cinematic suite of impressionistic, ambient works invites the listener into a vast, mapless space of dreamlike non-linearity where interior and exterior landscapes bristle with intimacy and electricity.

Hanagasumi, or "flowering haze," is a Japanese term that poetically describes the smoky, blurred appearance of numerous cherry blossoms visible from a distance. This image is often compared to a floral mist or fog. Through this word, the Japanese convey the visual effect created by a large number of flowers forming a soft, diffused, and ethereal picture. Such a description beautifully resonates with the musical palette of the new release. Introducing the long-awaited album Agera by the mysterious musician Jon'Smu. The record combines elements of classic deep house and ambient music, creating a unique atmosphere and the author's distinctive signature. The album features 8 stunning tracks, carefully selected and compiled into a cohesive story. A few words from the author: "This album, spanning a vast timeline of creativity, is about how important and interesting it is to be in motion and in constant search of something new. The recordings presented cover a significant interval of my musical journey through the diversity of genres and sound experimentation. At the core of the music lies Nature - it is the primary source of inspiration for me, and Action is a key moment of life for everything in nature. A wide range of instruments was used in the recording process, whether fully digital compositions or those featuring vintage analog instruments. I hope my love for an immense variety of genres is reflected in this album and brings joy to the listeners."

A year after her rebirth on the 2.0 EP, Maedon returns to her Rant & Rave imprint with the intentions of her previous release now distilled and focused into bold new forms. Whereas before the artist was transitioning from her earlier work towards new directions, Matter & Form arrives as an extended concept piece featuring four variations on a bracing, developed sound, an equally impressive remix from Lady Starlight, and a contrasting mix of the opening track. Where 2.0 charted emergence, 'Entelechy I-IV' unites to actualize this potential into a single-minded purpose behind fundamental principles.

Immediately launching into territory her last release only hinted at, 'Entelechy I' is a showcase for her now-mature approach. Her rhythmic dexterity and groove focus remains, with drum programs subtly evolving phrase by phrase, but they now form the basis for layered, complex compositions in a decidedly contemporary vein. 'Entelechy II' shifts focus towards the arrangement while keeping its drums steadily driving, drawing attention to details in its densely designed sounds through deliberate, gradual processing. Relaxing the tempo slightly, 'Entelechy III' fills in the extra space with more dark atmospherics and finely detailed soundscapes, finding a heavy medium between dark ambience and hammering techno. Another deeper effort, 'Entelechy IV' counterbalances insistent, finely-tooled percussive bleeps and equally persistent bass figures against another sweeping bass pulse, at times breaking down into carefully-controlled atonal aggression. Lady Starlight's remix is skeletal in comparison, deploying its parts sequentially over ticker hi hats and a massive kick while using small shifts to incrementally build tension. 'Entelechy I (Bent Mix)' is more accurately described as hellbent, stripping out the original's harmonic elements to grind the heavy rhythmic workout against an unrelenting acid line.

We keep the fire burning with PAN009, a scorching slice of Latin soul from Puerto Rico’s own Nacho Sanabria, better known as El Sabor De Nacho. Originally released in 1973, his version of “Que Se Sepa” takes the Roberto Roena classic and injects it with a new energy — fiery brass, driving percussion, and that unmistakable swagger that defines the golden age of salsa.

Born in Cataño, Puerto Rico in 1929, Nacho Sanabria grew up surrounded by the rhythms of bomba and plena, performing on stage as early as age nine. After relocating to New York in the late 1940s, he became a key figure in the Latin dance scene, performing with groups like Sonora Boricua, Orquesta Panamericana, and later Rafael Cortijo’s Combo. By the mid-1960s, Sanabria formed his own band, El Sabor De Nacho, combining tight horn arrangements, sharp percussion, and his signature charismatic delivery. His 1970s recordings — including Alma Primitiva and Salsa Caliente — stand as shining examples of Puerto Rican salsa at its peak.

Sanabria’s version isn’t a straight cover — it’s his own Puerto Rican interpretation, full of character and swing. The rhythm section stays tight and earthy, the horns punch with intent, and his vocal delivery brings that effortless charm only a seasoned bandleader could deliver. A proper Latin soul mover that sits somewhere between the barrio and the dancefloor, perfect for warm evenings and deeper DJ sets.

Rescued from obscurity and lovingly restored for today’s floors, PANORAMA Records continues its mission to reintroduce rare and essential music to new generations. From deep funk, jazz and global grooves to Latin dancefloor heat, the label’s 45s series shines a light on overlooked gems that still sound fresh today. Supported by tastemakers like Gilles Peterson, Patrick Forge, and the Mr Bongo DJs, this one’s destined to move both hips and feet.

Yamaha's DX series of synthesizers has long been a source of inspiration for Tom Trago. The DX7, in particular, appeals to the Dutch producer thanks to a unique sound that he describes as glassy but classic and icy'. 34 years after it went on sale - the same year as Trago was born, interestingly - the synthesizer's sound still bristles with futurist appeal.
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Trago, who was partially trained in how to use the DX7 by studio friends Bok Bok, Sterac Electronics and Juju and Jordash, has decided to pay tribute to this most distinctive of synthesizers by using it as inspiration for Serene Waters, his first EP for Voyage Direct since 2014 epic Hidden Heart of Gold.

Across the course of five sparkling, spacey and melodious tracks, the Voyage Direct chief showcases the variety of sounds that can be teased from the DX7. Compare, for example, the delicate and rush-inducing melodies of dreamy, deep electro opener Harvest' and the two contrasting mixes of Opulent'', variations on a throbbing, futurist techno theme rich in glacial melody lines, bustling synth-bass and spacey chords. The dancefloor possibilities of the synthesizer's sound palette comes to the fore on the stripped-back Within Mix', where Trago's rolling stabs and cascading melodies are wrapped in tougher, denser drums.

The sparkling nature of the DX7's trademark sounds also come to the fore on XYZ', a crunchier and snappier electro outing that recall the effervescent brilliance of Trago's sometime label mate, Sterac Electronics. The track's combination of darting bass and mind-altering, alien electronics is as kaleidoscopic as they come.
Nestled slap bang in the centre of the EP is Red Room', where Trago manipulates his machines to get a far more psychedelic sound. While there's vibrant warmth thanks to some seductive background pads and stretched-out chords, it's the bubbling electronincs and futurist tunefulness that catches the ear. Like much of the rest of the EP, it tiptoes the fine line between poignancy and rush-inducing colourfulness.

Next up on Fluid Electronics, Irish producer Derek Carr joins up the fold with his “Harvest Time EP”, featuring Dutch techno staple Deniro on remix duty. Carr’s style, stretching from low-slung techno to squelchy electro, via breaks and chiselled IDM, teleports us to a zero-G headspace where shape and substance merge into an effervescing and highly stimulating maelstrom of sound. The very idea of self-reflexive dance music.

Fusing sino-flavoured harmonics with a straight out hi-tech edge, the lead single “Harvest Time” is the perfect balance between body and soul music, as it elegantly bridges the gap between that sense of weightless vaporousness and a more tactile punch. Pace itself feels relative. In the hands of Deniro, the track hatches into an eerily haunting piece of cinematic electronics, stressing further on the contrasting batucada-esque rhythms and slo-scudding synth tapestry.

The Italo-indebted “Dust Yourself Down” takes Moroder on a ride by the seashore, all arps and heavily processed keys blazing. Dipped in acid, “Rhea” pulls out a cascade of pretty aggro snares, prismatic bleeps, bloops, and a healthy dose of post-trancey waves crashing against a glassy sound design.

dungeon acid review 25-09-03 by Joakim Cosmo A acid house style EP by swedish acid techno pioneer on swedens oldest underground label? Making a acid house EP in 2025 that makes a difference is a challenging task but this one just nails it. Here you see a softer and more musical side of Dungeon Acid in the shape of 5 dark yet hopeful Acid House tracks. Despite the classic form and ingredients it somehow avoids feeling retro but I guess this is what happens when you let a true grand master do it combined with a selector and label boss beyond the ordinary. It's like a paralell universe version of what Acid House could have become, and its a beautiful vision. A1-101-303 starts off with a dreamy, moody dubby and slightly romantic track that is just utterly beautiful in all its simplicity. The elegance and easy touch strikes me instantly. Nails the essence of the genre. One more like this and im buying it. The way A2-Unlock rewind builds up gives me goosebumps. So hypnotic and dark and experimental and the way it progresses to the ravey chord-break. The sounds and effects and details feel so alive and on the fly. In the record store this is where id already go "ok, im having this one" B1-Lonely Acid boy is yet another simple yet super atmospheric track. The contrasts between the rough robotic parts and the jazzy live solos ontop just gets to me. The roughness in the mix, that second beat with the hi-hats and extra bass, the fact that its so loud and sudden, is just great. And then we get to B2-Shnukki and all of a sudden, a romantic melodious electro track with a asian touch and acid bassline, that somehow goes well together with the other tracks. This one isnt my favourite or what I would buy the record for, but it would probably be the one I discover years later. Typical Borft Records to think that far ahead. The EP ends with B3-Chiliflex BB come on and this one starts with more late 80's ravey chords but the further you get into the track the more disharmonic, tweaky and punky it becomes. Things dont really fit together yet they do. To sum it up, these tracks are raw, funky, gutsy, streety, visionary, full of contrast and a bit challenging, just like acid house should be, but often isnt. I think Dungeon Acid and Borft Records nails it here. I'd buy doubles of this.

Spandau20 delivers its eleventh various artists release, a sonically rich and future-facing blend of broken grooves, spatial moods and modern Detroit romanticism. Four tracks, four new angles on the dancefloor. ANNA Z sets the tone with 'Kabeljau', an eclectic, IDM-flirting workout. On the opening track, elastic rhythms stretch and snap while ethereal pads drift overhead, punctured by sudden turns and glitchy surprises. Moody, weird and beautifully unpredictable. Dajusch continues with 'Fallout', diving into shimmering Detroit-inspired chords and pristine production. Clean yet full of soul, its dreamy propulsion moves with effortless optimism. It's a track that lifts heads and hearts without ever losing its club focus. Flip the record and FJAAK welcome you into a breakbeat-infused haze. 'Your Time' pairs groovy percussion and airy atmospheres with those unmistakable powerhouse vocal chops, a warehouse anthem with a gentle cosmic touch, driving yet deeply emotional. Closing the EP, Claus accelerates the pulse. 'Moist Logic' is a faster, more urgent exploration of the techno continuum. Machine funk encoded into a forward-thrusting groove, a sleek atmosphere swirling around a sharp, kinetic core. With SPANDAU20 011, the West-Berlin collective celebrates a hybrid future that is rhythmically adventurous, melodically rich and rooted in the love for the dancefloor. This record combines Berlin grit with dream-state techno, balancing rough energy and refined emotion across four cuts that leave their mark on the floor.

SPTLP008 - Aural Imbalance - Fractional Spaces LP

Returning for his third solo album on Spatial, Aural Imbalance continues his journey through the cosmos with a breathtaking array of breaks, bass and inimitable ambient wizardry.

A1 - Fading Reality

Kicking off the album we are treated to a blissfully ambient intro akin to a perfect sunrise across a tranquil unfurling landscape - just as we have come to know and love from Aural Imbalance. Long, airy washes of textured pads usher in a fantastically snappy break pattern which brings an alluring energy to proceedings, driving the track along with funnels of tuneful melodies lazily drifting by in the ambience.

A2 - This Time

Jumping right into the breaks DJ-style with a delicious Hot Pants pattern, This Time's central theme utilises a hypnotic simple but effective chime melody that plays a key role throughout the track, alongside fluttering birdsong and a luscious array of samples. The exquisite breakdown which delights with an incredible blend of bass atmospheric synths & pads is both beautiful and poignant.

B1 - Always With You

Introduced by what sounds like footsteps echoing through the darkness, Always With You lives up to its title by surrounding you with a warmth usually reserved for arriving home and nestling by the fire. Driven by delicate but vibrant breakbeats, this track showcases Aural Imbalance's relentless dexterity with ambient soundscapes dancing in perfect harmony with deep 808 bass and old school beats.

B2 - Solarity

Lightly excitable hats and elegantly filtered breaks open Solarity, a deeply evocative track with breakbeats rising through the intro towards a drop with solid analogue kicks and a wonderfully deep and persistent bassline. Sporadic micro melodies cruise the waves of floating synthwork, effects rippling gently in the foreground and background of the mix like playful phosphorescence.

C1 - First Protocol

Up next we see Aural Imbalance crack the amen knuckles with a real treat for old school heads - an ambient, synthy ambient laden with incredibly light spaced-out hats through the flowing waves is soon jolted into life by a satisfyingly crisp amen break, edited and programmed with flair and majestic detail that sits perfectly with the light, often sullen textured soundscape drifting above.

C2 - Crystals

An otherworldly landscape brimming with wonder and intrigue unfolds with Crystals, an atmospheric delight with a twist. The serene opening leads into a terrific old school break which takes center stage, punchy in the mix and edited with a precision as shimmering textures and meditative synthwork are expertly layered around the ever-rolling beats, perfect for any occasion at home or the 160bpm dancefloor.

D1 - Velarious

Continuing his showcase of breaks from across the atmospheric drum & bass spectrum, Aural Imbalance introduces Velarious with a quietly epic ambient flow, with filtered drums creeping in before the drop arrives, breakbeats buoyed by some seriously deep 808 bass and distinct hi hats. Micro melodies intersect and reverberate throughout the track to complete an enduring and eclectic composition.

D2 - South Coast Sunrise

Closing with a good old fashioned love letter to the Hot Pants break, South Coast Sunrise perfectly encapsulates its title with a gorgeous panoramic overlay of ambience, spread over an intensely memorable edit of that classic break - programmed and mixed to remarkable effect and cementing Aural Imbalance's ongoing rise as a master of edits as well as ambience, fully realised for our listening pleasure on Spatial.

With this new album, s8jfou resolutely turns toward the club scene and dancefloors, while preserving his unique signature: sharp technique, a subtle and playful approach combined with formidable efficiency. He also infuses a touch of nostalgia, giving the whole work a certain depth.

This is yet another demonstration of his ability to evolve while staying true to what makes him a singular and essential figure in the electronic music scene. Drawing inspiration from memory, s8jfou uses it as the guiding thread of this album, aiming to create a pictorial and visual atmosphere, punctuated by shifts in mood, as if the listener could 'zap' through their memories and make this soundtrack their own.

Through this approach, the artist seeks to evoke an intimate connection, allowing each listener to explore their own memories.

The album will be available in a limited edition, accompanied by a MIDI controller designed and crafted by s8jfou.

MOb return this November with their second album on Veego Records, continuing the adventurous journey they began with their 2023 debut MOb 1. Hailed by the press as one of the boldest and freshest statements in the Greek scene, their first record moved seamlessly between jazz, punk, and electronic forms, creating a sound often described as “an entire orchestra played by just three musicians.”

On their new release, Marios Valinakis (saxophone, effects, synthesizers), Alexandros Delis (bass, double bass), and Panagiotis Kostopoulos (drums) construct an even more intricate and ambitious sonic universe. The compositions range from the explosive energy of “Tipping Point” and the dark atmospheres of “Utu and Sin”, to the radical reimagining of Wayne Shorter’s “Fall” and the polyphonic outburst of “The Listener”, featuring the Kos Choir.

Guest appearances further expand the palette: Phillip “Felipe MC” Manev lends his voice to “Tipping Point” and “Encounters”, while Angelos Polychronou enriches “Encounters” and “The Listener” with his percussions.

The album was produced and recorded by MOb themselves, with Bruno Ellingham handling mixing and mastering for most tracks, while “Utu and Sin” was mixed by Malcolm Catto at the Quatermass Sound Lab. The cover artwork is designed by Apostolos Mitrelis, and the back cover features a photograph by Maciej Moskwa.

If MOb 1 revealed a band capable of fusing free improvisation with rhythm-driven “bangers” that reached audiences beyond Greece, the new album confirms their evolution: more intense, more diverse, and more imaginative. With one foot rooted in tradition and the other firmly in the present, MOb deliver a work that breaks boundaries and builds bridges across genres and audiences, solidifying their reputation as one of the most exciting groups in today’s Greek music scene.

Synaptic Cliffs is barely able to contain the excitement for the release of the 4-track EP "Maximalism" where pdqb collaborates with DJ Sotofett in the most effective way. pdqb's sleek and melancholic electro originals carry a sexy 1980s reminiscing vibe, not too unknown from classic US electro disco-styled pop music. They meet warehouse remixes from DJ Sotofett, known for his top-notch electro productions on Clone and Tresor, as well as funky breakbeat, afro-dub and all-things-house on his own labels Wania and Sex Tags Mania. The remix of pdqb's electrocognition-beauty 'Giallactrus' has heavier, almost p-funk styled electro beats, live scratching complementing the block party approach while retaining the vibe of the original. Elysiaamore, pdqb's sonic love letter to Tangerine Dream, gets a bit of melodic menace treatment by DJ Sotofett, turning it into an intensified breakbeat juxtaposition with Junglized B-Boy elements... again without taking away the energy from the original. The vinyl version was cut by DJ Sotofett with optimal club sonics at Manmade Mastering, Berlin.

New York-based Patrick Sullivan AKA P-Sol has a terrific track record when it comes to refined re-edits and classy, sample-rich mash-ups. Even so, his latest effort, delivered on a tidy and must-check seven-inch, is particularly potent. On the A-side, he takes us into immersive, seductive and ultra-deep territory via the mid-tempo house headiness of 'Everybody' - a kind of 'quiet storm goes deep house' affair featuring warming electric piano chords, heady bass and selected vocal samples from a soulful classic. On 'Walk Away', he provides a warming, percussion-rich new take on R&B classic 'Don't Walk Away', adding her familiar vocals to a head-nodding instrumental full of mazy solos, rubbery bass guitar and handclap-heavy beats.

Welcome to the first release on Acid Lamour
A sub label for Lamour Records started in 2018 with a focus on techno and acid dedicated DJs. Releases are limited to 303 vinyls, no re-press.
Anders Ilar and John H are no newcomers to the electronic music scene.
Born in 1973, Anders Ilar began his explorations of electronic music in the mid 80s. Growing up in the small town of Ludvika in Sweden, Ilar spent all of his spare time playing with synthesizers, drum machines, keyboards and sequencers, learning the ins and outs of analogue and digital sound and music creation. Inspired by the early industrial and EBM wave he formed several bands with friends, started playing live shows
at smaller local parties, and released several demo tapes in very limited quantities. In the 90's he gradually shifted his creative influences towards ambient techno and acid and also started to DJ. He started using computer software to produce his music around 1999 and his first vinyl EP was released in 2001 on the german label Plong!, soon to be followed by
many more releases on labels such as Shitkatapult, Audio.nl and Echocord.
Developing his own flavor of deep minimal dub techno and ambient he gained critical acclaim with his album Nightwidth (2006) for Narita Records in the USA. Followed by highly appraised album Sworn on the german label Level Records in 2008. Ilar has also made remixes for celebrated artists such as Apparat, Mikkel Metal and Ripperton and has
appeared on numerous compilations and DJ-mixes. He's performed live on stage through-out most European countries and Japan, as well as doing a small tour with Notch Festival in China in 2008.
Up to 2018 Anders Ilar has produced 13 albums and 25 vinyl EP's and performed in over 15 countries.
Born in 1984 and based in Gothenburg. John H has been DJing, as well as producing tracks, since the late 90s, with Anders as his mentor and teacher, giving John early musical influences spanning across a wide range of genres, from Swedish techno to IDM, Cologne acid craziness and
the sound of Chicago house tracks. The musical output of his DJ-sets usually varies between techno, house, acid, electro and everything in between, depending on the time and location. John has performed on several locations all around Sweden, but also done appreciated gigs in other European countries at clubs like Tresor and Culture Box, and his music has been featured in sets by DJs such as Sven Väth, Adam Beyer,
Joris Voorn, Dense & Pika, Cari Lekebusch, Alan Fitzpatrick, Karotte,
Gregor Tresher, The Hacker and many more.
Coming For Your Tongue EP is Anders and John's 4th collab release, after
acclaimed releases on Flight Recorder and New York Haunted, recorded
during a jam session at John's studio in Bergsjön outside of Gothenburg,
Sweden, using a small setup of analogue synths and drum machines such as
the Roland TR-606, TR-808, a Devil Fish modified TB-303, Minimoog Voyager
and the Arturia Microbrute. After recording Anders spiced things up by
cutting and puzzling loops as well as adding extra effects and drums.

Limited edition of 303, no repress. Vinyl exklusive for 3 months

Vibe Ride is the sixth release of Adam Rudolph's Hu Vibrational project and marks his 60th release as a leader or co-leader. Comes with insert and download code.

“With every record, the goal is to explore new creative territory,” explains Rudolph. Vibe Ride continues a deeper exploration of a trance-like groove and a conceptual framework known as Sonic Mandala. This album marks the most complete realization of that idea, partly due to the group's experience touring beforehand. That time on the road helped to refine ideas and strengthen musical chemistry. The recording process unfolded organically—likely due to the long-standing collaboration within ensembles like Go: Organic Orchestra and Moving Pictures, where the musicians have developed a deep familiarity with the shared musical language.

Sonic Mandala refers to a musical approach distinct from traditional linear structures of theme and development. Found in cultures across the globe, it may represent one of the oldest forms of musical expression—predating written history by tens of thousands of years. Today, it is most vividly preserved in the music of the Ituri Forest peoples (Aka, Baka, Ba Benzele, Mbuti), whose sound traditions revolve in cyclical, orbit-like patterns. Vibe Ride seeks to bring that ancient sense of circularity into a contemporary—and perhaps even futuristic—context.

The ensemble of Vibe Ride—Alexis Marcelo, Jerome Harris, Harris Eisenstadt, Neel Murgai, Tim Kieper, and Tripp Dudley—brings exceptional creativity and skill to the project. While grounded in the sonic languages of today, their performance channels an ancient vibrational lineage, connecting with ancestral sound makers who were attuned to the rhythms of the sun, moon, stars, and seasons. Human beings have always been deeply responsive to natural cycles.

Like a mandala, where the circle reveals itself as a spiral—always returning, but never to the exact same point—the Sonic Mandala musical experience spirals through motion. Refined signal patterns emerge through overtone-rich instrumentation. The groove becomes a threshold, shifting the listener from passive observation into active, even transcendent, participation. With open ears and an open mind, the sound spirals inward—toward a primal center—and outward into the cosmos. When this elevated state is shared among participants, it creates what mystics describe as resonance.

Vibe Ride thrives on the distinctive sonic voices of its players, interwoven with care and nuance into the compositions. Hu Vibrational merges elements of world music, electronica, and improvised jazz into something both funky and spiritual, intense and soothing.

Using signature techniques of organic orchestration, layered arrangement, and electronic processing, the compositions are sculpted from percussion, electronics, and ethereal textures. Rhythmic foundations drawn from diverse traditions serve not as endpoints, but as building blocks. As the saying goes, “Orchestration is the key.” In shaping the sound, the aim was to discover fresh ways of balancing structure and sonic color. As Don Cherry once said: “The swing is in the sound.”

The audiophile LP was carefully recorded, mixed, and mastered by James Dellatacoma—longtime engineer for both Bill Laswell and Rudolph—at Laswell’s Orange Studio.

“This crew artfully blends together to create a seamless tapestry of rhythm… the end results are mesmerizing. Hu Vibrational is all about communing with the groove spirits and creating worlds where earthy rhythms and other-worldly sounds are one.”
— Dan Bilawsky, All Music Guide

“You can be sure that when Adam Rudolph and an ensemble of breathtaking drummers get together mystical and wonderful things will happen.”
— Raul da Gama,

“A stunning effort, enjoyable and grows with repeated listening.”
— Stefan Wood, Freejazzcollective

‘Before the Odysee, there was the Iliad; a tale of the golden age of heroes and warriors.'

The idea behind the Iliads series was to return to the sound of the golden age of Jungle/Drum & Bass, and more specifically the original ‘heroes’ of the Odysee label.
This fourth and final instalment concludes the series; bringing all the different styles of the original Odysee sound together in a grand finale. From deep atmospheric beauty to sinister dystopian breakbeat fury; Iliads IV has it all.

Oubliette immediately creates a feeling of unease and paranoia. The rapid injection of different breakbeats gives the track an unsettled feel; with nervy piano jangles and moaning samples adding to this atmosphere. The track drops with punching subs and razor-sharp curling breaks from amidst the desolation of the atmosphere of the intro. The call and response style is used to cut from break to break maintaining the unease of the intro. The drums & bass break down into a
dystopian landscape of sound, before dropping once more to take the track towards its conclusion.

A Point In Time with its obvious reference to a compilation series on a certain well-loved atmospheric Jungle label is all about conjuring nostalgia. There are notable references to bygone days; the infamous bulb bass and bleeps of the Warehouse days of glory, and the tearing mentasms that enter in the approach to the breakdown. The breaks are crisp and complex, the sub-lines deep and dark; a track truly built for a dark sweaty basement club where the bass bins
are pushed to their limits!

Love & Desire is a sultry deep atmospheric roller full of subtle references to the early UK Garage sound of the mid 90’s or even Deep dub Tech-House. The elegant curls of the Apache break that takes centre stage in this track are complimented by sweeping pads and a set of deep synth stabs that form the rhythmic backbone. The subs drop deep amidst a palette of avant-garde electronica, as the spoken word vocals call out “my love....my desire.”

We really hope you’ve enjoyed the Iliads series as much as we have; they represent a very special sound that is close to the very heart of what we at Odysee are about. As much as they focus the lens on the past, we truly believe they have had a profound effect on our future....in as much as they have brought us back to the raw essence of our sound.
Andy & Tilla

Making his long-awaited return to Spatial, JLM Productions serves up another sizzling andvaried concoction of atmospheric breakbeat goodness.

A1 - Unraveling

Opening with a blissful, playful melody which fades in and out of effects and padwork,Unravelling shows off an insanely crisp 2-step break at its core - definitely suited for thedancefloor with a buoyant bassline rumbling beneath the waves. The track leaps furtherinto life with JLM adding some additional drums to elevate the breaks further still, all withserene, harmonious melodies dancing around in the mix.

A2 - Forced Perspective

A purposeful melody opens Forced Perspective as JLM Productions unleashes a stellarblend of atmospheric bliss with a unique epic urgency. Sci-fi synthwork surrounds anenergetic selection of drums edited with trademark clarity as layers upon layers of synthintertwine dynamic patterns with ease. This is a great example of JLM's expansive suite ofinfluences combining to create a deliciously detailed and unique whole.

AA1 - Surface Scan

Light cymbals commence a DJ-friendly intro to the second track, Surface Scan. Bothrousing and deep, smooth padwork leads into a drop which brings with it long, whooshingmelodic synths and crunchy stacked breakbeats. As the atmosphere develops, JLM addsin a bunch of effects and subtle, sumptuous sci-fi synthwork, strings and more to completeanother masterpiece from a true pillar of "old school brand new" methodology.

AA2 - Mixed Motive

Straight into a serving of subdued breaks perfect for the intro, JLM rounds off this stunningEP with Mixed Motive. This is a track which explores the atmospheric drum & basslandscape in style. Our creatively-edited breaks soon evolve into a crescendo of joyousdrum patterns with an old 720-style stabby melody punctuating the mix while deep &melodic basslines jostle below, adding dense texture to a stunning piece of music.

Words by Chris Hayes (Spatial / Red Mist)

Syncretic marks the debut full-length from Australian duo Bhairavi Raman, a Western and Carnatic violinist, and Nanthesh Sivarajah, a mridangam player and versatile percussionist. Both artists share a Tamil heritage, a current that hums across the album. Raman, from South India, and Sivarajah, from Sri Lanka, draw lines that connect Western practice and Carnatic tradition. This hybrid is central to Raman’s approach as a violinist, an instrument itself caught between East and West since the late 18th century. Her playing folds history, lineage and experimentation into music that acknowledges inheritance while gently rewiring its circuitry.

Expanding on traditional music can be a precarious practice, but Syncretic never feels heavy-handed. Raman and Sivarajah exercise measured restraint, letting the Carnatic framework breathe even as it is refracted through contemporary tools. Delays, looping, subtle layering and synthesized harmonies tilt tradition into a new light without disguising it.

Even within a contemporary framework, Raman’s rigorous Carnatic training under gurus Sri S. Varadarajan (India), Sri Murali Kumar (Australia) and Sri Gopinath Iyer (Australia) is unmistakable. She captures the spiritual and emotional essence of each raga: on Seven, the playful raga Bahudari becomes both centrepiece and conduit, while on the traditional piece Thunbam Nergayil, drawn from a Tamil poem, we hear a deeply personal iteration, a weeping euphony of mixed emotions hitting all at once. Tradition here is absorbed, expanded and reframed.

Sivarajah’s command of the mridangam, honed by his gurus Sri Jambunathan (Sri Lanka), Sri Balasri Rasiah (Australia) and Sri T. R. Sundaresan (India), is central to his original composition Guardian. He sustains tradition while extending it through layering and sound-spatialisation. The mridangam here functions as both a structural and ornamental force, mapping continuity between inherited form and contemporary sonic architecture.

Syncretic resonates as a space where Tamil heritage, diasporic memory and contemporary practice coalesce. Culture, like sound, circulates, transforms and persists. Tradition is not an archive but living material, a soundworld that lingers in the ears and the imagination.

When Leng Records founders Paul ‘Mudd’ Murphy and Simon Purnell marked the imprint’s 10th birthday, they did so via a celebratory compilation that mixed classic catalogue cuts, remixes and exclusives. Five years on, and with the label’s 15th birthday upon us, they’ve decided to look to the future via a compilation made up entirely of fresh productions from Leng’s roster of current and new artists. Presented on limited-edition gatefold double vinyl with a bonus 10” single, the collection offers an updated showcase of Leng’s much-loved trademark sound, a distinctive fusion of mid-tempo sleazy-disco, Balearica and chugging house interspersed with elements of electronic psychedelia and synth-powered space disco. Fittingly for a compilation that wholeheartedly looks to the future, you’ll find first contributions from a handful of label newcomers.

Fast-rising duo Flying Mojito Bros give their spin on ‘Smoke Signals’ by label debutants Joe HarveyWhyte and Bobby Lee, turning in a heady and inspired revision that sits somewhere between dusk-ready cosmic disco and flash-fried desert blues. There’s also an appearance from Swedish producer Bo Wosticz with the dreamy and ultra-deep nu-jazz of ‘Bs As’. Naturally, you’ll also find plenty of heat from those who have already proved their mettle through prior releases on Leng. Danish duo Liminal, who made their debut earlier this year with the much-played ‘Keep Coming Back To Me’, open proceedings with the tactile, slow-disco flex of ‘Tzatziki Bay’ where sweet synth melodies and a heady electric piano riff ride a warming groove.

Roberto Intrallazzi and Dario Piana from Italy’s original Afro-cosmic movement return with ‘Plutos’, a typically deep dubbed-out cosmic chugger. Then there’s Rose Robinson AKA Tigerbalm, whose ‘Mexicana’ featuring singer Joi N’Juno is presented across the package in two different forms. Pete Herbert, who contributed to some of the earliest Leng releases, drops a driving dub disco take on the main compilation, while Robinson’s original mix – a more organic, percussive and horn-heavy affair blessed with plenty of hallucinatory intent – opens the bonus 10”.

There’s a welcome return to Leng for the brilliant Payfone, whose ‘Dime Algo’ is a typically classy, analogue-rich affair in which attractive Rhodes riffs, atmospheric female vocals and pitched-down house pianos rise above shuffling drum machine beats and a slow-motion bassline. Long-serving label contributor Lex (Athens) delivers the loose-limbed nu-disco breeze of ‘Stolen Dance’, while the imprint’s San Francisco connection – the ever-brilliant 40 Thieves collective – drop the dubbed-out Bay Area brilliance of ‘Such A Great Trip’.

Then there are the contributions of the label’s most storied artist, Andrew Meecham AKA Emperor Machine with ‘Eumig’, a deliciously slow, synth-rich chugger full of colourful chords, bubbly electronic melodies and jaunty electronic bass. Then, to round off the bonus 10” single, Meecham joins forces with Paul Murphy (as Mudd) on ‘Road To Nikko’, an extended, Japanese musical culture-influenced slab of pitched-down alien-funk packed to the rafters with squelchy synth sounds, effects-laden percussion, chiming melodies and rubbery bass guitar.

Puglia-born Bress Underground brings his reverence for early US house and garage to a new outing for Spanish label Mate. 'This House' opens with chopped up vocal stabs, acrobatic drums and percussive rhythms. 'Connected' is smooth and seductive with dusty swing and muted chord work. 'Ready Or Not' brings some electronic futurism with sleek, liquid metal lines over deep, dynamic drums and 'Take Me Higher' is a big finish with Kerri Chandler kicks and chords, all finished with a true school house vocal. It's timeless, effective tackle for cultured floors.

An abstract painting with expressionist hues and futurist echoes, a mix between action painting and informal art: this is the first impression from Grischa Lichtenberger's live performance recorded at the Pino Pascali Museum in Polignano a Mare. The artist, based in Berlin, makes the rhythms creak, cuts them with a laser, weaves imaginative harmonic coils, smoothes with electric razors and draws figures with echoes and industrial clangs.

Then he uses ferrous materials that, with a precision lathe, are abraded and cause sparks. Suddenly steel springs fall to the ground, generating a cascade effect. In the distance, you can hear the roar of speeding cars and the ringing of bells.

Lichtenberger pulps, compresses, dilates, mixes, electrifies, heats up, liquefies: he does all this in just less than forty minutes, treating the sound material with violence, transforming it from time to time, shaping it and succeeding in the arduous task of controlling its effects. It is as if Luigi Russolo, Alva Noto and Thomas Brinkmann were closed in a workshop on the edge of a highway, parodying the famous definition of techno.
Giosuè Impellizzeri

R.i.O. welcomes a new member. Straight in full length. An album created by Dorsten,North-Rhine-Westfalia based producer Aroma Von Troisdorf - a man who refuses to be putin a box. Unlike others, who politely stay in one lane, he is a tuneful shape shifter. Alreadyhis 2021 debut on the Cologne based label Papercup Records smashed Krautrock, Synthpop,Electro, Ambient, and dub together. His 2023 and 2024 Papercup Ep's "Buttergolem"and "Rodeln am Rhein" added Italo-Disco, Synth-pop and a drop of experimental Electroto his versatility. Now eight new creations, brilliantly composed, yet - even in odd flashes -effortlessly catchy. They bring once more a stylistic melting pot, now enlarged with TheCure-ish dreamscapes, stretching over guitar riffs and bass grooves, like in the closingambient-folk star "Zeiten" or the dreamy opening track "Fog Frog Green". There is themotorik krautrock pulse of "Osmopower", that boogies heavy in drum machine hypnosisunder Aroma's entrancing new-wave vocals. Tunes like "Dreams Unfold" or "AmplifyShrooms" are likewise propulsive, each one psyching in its very own rhythmic sector. Morevoices are present too. In the two-minute manic preacher "Colas", were Togolese rapperand political activist Yao Bobby chants edgy. Or in "Closer", where singer Aprico sendsspoken-word trances echoing through the cosmic jacking. And there is "Lovers Lake", ahypnotic drift of witchy vocals, bluesy chords, and endless synthscapes, that makes youswim on your feed. Shift the shapes, "Blaumilch" opens the gates.

When Chuck D proclaimed "Bass, how low can you go?" on Public Enemy's anthemic 'Bring the Noise,' maybe he was pre-empting or inciting the 10,000 fathoms-deep, spine-bending basslines and sub-quake tremors of 'Implosion.'

Implosion is a crushing split album, appropriately released on The Bug's own PRESSURE label. Mapping out a new form of spectral dub, the sound is deliberately immersive, introverted, and yes, definitely implosive. In pursuit of heavy lids, blurred vision, and merciless bass bin punishment, it’s one part meditation, two parts low-end theory, and essentially a confession of devoted sound system addiction.

As expected from a tag team featuring British soundlab explorer and 'London Zoo' composer Kevin Martin, aka The Bug, and Michael Fiedler, aka Jah Schulz—a long-time graduate of Germany's new school of sound system reggae culture—the duo approaches their target differently yet share the goal of keeping their sound "raw" (Fiedler) and "brutally minimal" (Martin). This proves that opposites can attract, even if their tools are different and their methods sometimes diverge.

From such a disparate combo, hailing from different geographical and aesthetic backgrounds, contrasts are certainly on display, even within each artist's own contributions. From the melancholia and transcendence of 'Alien Virus (West Indian Centre, Leeds),' to the duality of ascension and descension on 'Hope,' or the Sunn 0))) in dub, visceral drone of 'Dread (The End, London),' to the tripped-out repetitions of 'Midnight,' which reinvents Chain Reaction for post-millennials, the result is both sacred and narcotic. Each track illuminates the emotional impact and atmospheric pressure being explored across this deceptively sparse album—a mastery of tone and texture.

This collection might be as reduced, minimal, and deep as The Bug has ever gone, perhaps echoing the solemnity of his recent Kevin Richard Martin Black release and invoking the futurist steppas self-pioneered on his previous Pressure album. Alternatively, Fiedler‘s Ghost Dubs project ventures into his most heavyweight direction yet, which is no mean feat considering his previous, the critically acclaimed album Damaged, was a monstrously massive triumph of analogue weight and enviable sound design.

Implosion is ice-cool, a stark contrast to the warmth and sociability of traditional Jamaican roots and the current trends in digi-dub. Instead, the mood is soaked in tension and intense dread, finding an unexpected melting point where classic dub's stark rhythm attack, isolationist ambience's eerie drift, dub techno's floatation strategies, and even the relentless riffs of doom metal collide. As the bass-obsessed pair drop what is arguably the heaviest ambient dub album to emerge from any electronic sector—a moody counterpoint to The Orb's fluffy clouds, etc, Martin has cited The Roots Radics, Black Jade, and On U Sound's Pounding System as heavily influencing his approach to the album, while Fiedler has expressed his admiration for Adrian Sherwood's productions and Rhythm & Sound's enchanting soundscape. Yet, the super heavyweight pulsations, emotive resonances, and bone-rattling vibrations detonated here effortlessly go far beyond these influences.

Shadowy and elusive, there’s a mysteriousness at this record's core. A haunting moodiness oscillating between nostalgia and future shock. Despite the deadly fixation with SLOW and HEAVY, the album maintains a totally hypnotic swing throughout. Implosion and its lead single 'Imploded Versions' are testaments to being enveloped in bass, seduced by bass, submerged in bass, and utterly crushed by bass, as The Bug and Ghost Dubs seek to craft a new form of dub for zonal headz and Babylon seekers.

Mastered by Stefan Betke (a.k.a. POLE) at Scape Mastering studio, this record is heavy as f-ck without resorting to continuous distortion. It’s low-end worship taken to an absolute extreme, yet remains highly listenable and definitely danceable, albeit at the slowest of paces. Sacred and narcotic, this is low-end worship amplified to the max. Dive in if you dare.

Bread&Butter Records celebrates its 10th EP with a powerful statement from Romanian duo NTFO, a name synonymous with precision minimalism and timeless groove. The release unfolds across four masterfully produced tracks, each one engineered for those moments when the dancefloor turns into something deeper, heavier, and unforgettable.

Calibre sets the tone in classic NTFO fashion. Its stripped-bacb bassline rolls with hypnotic intent, carrying just enough weight to lock the floor in. By the three-minute mark, subtle shifts into a trance-like state, gently elevating the room into waves of euphoric release. It’s understated yet devastatingly effective, the type of cut that DJs treasure for its power to transform the atmosphere without ever shouting too loud.

Electr pares things back even further, pushing into pure minimal territory. Built on a sleek harmonic groove, it’s a masterclass in restraint, every sound feels perfectly placed, every movement precise. This is a track that thrives in the early hours, where tension, patience and subtle shifts in rhythm rule the floor.

Forap flips the script, injecting an upbeat energy that hits with instant impact. Around the three-to-four minute mark, a vocal element cuts through, commanding attention before the groove locks back in with unstoppable momentum. Hypnotic yet uplifting, it’s the perfect peak-time tool a track that lifts the room into a collective high, as though flying on pure feeling.

Nanomos closes the EP with finesse. A deeper, darker exploration, it glides through murky textures and intricate percussive details, carrying an otherworldly atmosphere that keeps the listener suspended in motion. It’s a slow-burner that lingers long after the last note fades, a testament to NTFO’s ability to balance groove and emotion in equal measure.

With this release, Bread&Butter not only cements its reputation as one of London’s most exciting underground imprints but also showcases NTFO at their most refined. Four cuts, four moods, all bound by that unmistakable Romanian touch that continues to set standards worldwide.

Operating on the fringes of pure improv, organised chaos, minimal composition, lo-fi electronics and Italian spaghetti westerns, wide-eyed and with a healthy dose of DIY aesthetics lies the world of Jaan. It’s a poetic & cosmic universe, exploring “discreet music” whilst wandering on the edges of the Cat People soundtrack & Brian Eno’s more experimental output, in which you might yourself find floating, wandering or in the middle of a market place.

Jaan is a collective of one, a deliberately anonymous activistic unit with strong ties to the international art scene. Purposefully bypassing the know-it-all of the the internet & embracing the bygone mystery of dusty old archives and deep-dive searching, remarkably little is known about this project. Jaan is lead by veteran experimental sonic alchemist Jaan; they operate between Greenland, the Middle East and Europe, with frequent associates Lisqa, Mashid & Schneorr N. acting as local hubs for collaboration and exploration.

The purpose of this wilful obscurity: full focus on the actual music, whether live events or on recordings. Which brings us to Baghali, their first for World of Echo. It’s a deeply personal album, much like slowly browsing old family albums filled with vaguely remembered tales, some still very much present, some faded, leaving but a ghost-like reflection of what once was. Baghali was compiled over the course of a year on the road, trapped in snow storms, waiting for cancelled flights and stuck rides. It’s made up of snippets of diary, quick recordings on road sides, abandoned buildings, garden ruins, vast desert and focussed studio sessions, following a collage-like aesthetic and steeped in an exploration of non-lineair storytelling. There’s broken memories, a sense of displacement and an occasional yearning for what can’t be again, clouded in fever and unrest, but there is also hope, wonderment and bright colours seeping through the cracks in the wall. Jaan weaves home-made instruments, old tape loops, broken synths, beat-up reeds, dusty beat boxes and the occasional doom guitar squall into a tapestry of fractured sound, with tracks following their own inherent logic rather than following formats. Sounds crash in and out, field recordings placing the listener firmly in an environment then throwing several perspectives at once onto them, with individual elements - a wandering clarinet, a lone mandoline, a beat out of place yet perfectly in place - slowly walking in and out & doing their thing.

The whole album is alive, breathes, takes a wrong turn, gets lost, somehow finds its way again - effortless and with a unique sense of space and flow.

Baghali is released digitally and on vinyl in an edition of 300 on 3rd October 2025.

Ruta5 presents Yellow Fever, the debut EP from Chilean duo Yellow Fever — vocalist Nara Back and dj Haiti — a project born to ignite the dancefloor through hybrid sets that blend live vocals, DJ energy, and a visual world steeped in groove and color. Their first release channels over two decades of electronic roots into fresh, immediate form.

The record opens with ‘Díganle (Dandy Jack Remix)’, where Dandy Jack — a pioneering force in Chilean electronic music and co-founder of Ruta5 — transforms the track into a playful, stomping roller: punchy kicks, rolling bass, groovy percussion, and glitchy vocal fragments that nod to his legacy of bridging Chilean and European underground sounds. ‘Fiebre Amarilla’ (Yellow Fever) leans into space and motion, driven by growling bass stabs, modulated synths, and vibrant vocal energy that flirt with house textures while radiating raw dancefloor sensuality. ‘William Borrow’ brings crisp, electro-leaning drums and syncopated grooves that twist through dynamic shifts, hinting at synth-pop while maintaining tight club precision. Closing the EP, ‘Inspector (feat. Pier Bucci)’ folds in Pier Bucci’s unmistakable touch — a deep, minimal-house hybrid rich in warmth and Latin sensibility, connecting Santiago and Berlin with effortless lightness.

Founded to amplify electronic voices from underrepresented regions, Ruta5 remains a cultural bridge — its sound deeply Chilean yet globally resonant. Dandy Jack’s and Pier Bucci’s presence reaffirms that lineage, while Yellow Fever injects it with new energy: a reminder that consistency in quality need never mean predictability.

DJ Support: Axel Boman, Coyote, Rune Lindbaek, Dr Rob (Ban Ban Ton Ton), Lefto, Johan Blende, Feel Fly, Marco Gallerani and many more

Secret Soul Society, aka South Wales's Cal Gibson, continues his red-hot streak of form with four original jams for Hell Yeah that effortlessly weave decades of influences into intimate, unusual sounds that go from Balearic daydreams to after-hours soul burners.

Gibson was one-half of Nottingham's deep house and downtempo outfit Neon Heights back in the 2000s, a collective that label head Marco has long admired. He has landed here before with the superb Keep The Mystique in 2023, a 15-track collection of brand new curveball cuts built from lovingly sourced samples. Since then, he has continued to collide jazz, funk, Afro, beats, dub, soul and reggae on Paper Wave and Magic Wand.

'To Be Happy' opens with gentle, sun-soaked grooves, swirling keys and dreamy pads that evoke a hazy Mediterranean sunset. Nostalgic soul samples tug at the heart while the track’s laid-back vibe is perfect for golden-hour moments. 'Orange Surprise' is a magical slice of downtempo bliss with hints of romantic vocals. It's built on soft broken rhythms and drifts between ambient soul and laid-back electronica, perfect for introspective moments or late-night winding down.

'Keep On Trying' flips the script with more texture. The synths are crystalline, the pads are sugary, and the meandering bassline unfolds in wonky fashion while soft male vocals bring a steamy edge. Last but not least, 'What You Do To Me' is funky and slow motion disco with 80s synths and reverb that drowns you in good vibes.

This EP is Secret Soul Society at his most expressive and emotive.

Effortlessly charming, inquisitive and generous in spirit: 'Total internal reflection' is the beautifully crafted debut album from DJ ojo, returning to Blank Mind, following his acclaimed 2023 EP ‘Coiled up’.

The vivid sound design, irreverent flourishes and elastic rhythms of his past work remain, yet here he leans further into his enduring love of house and techno music. An impressionistic take on the forms, with a light, considered touch that allows his idiosyncrasies to shine through. There’s a synaesthetic quality here, that implies a gestural play between sound, colour and form.

It is functionality that is the key embrace: eight tracks, two discs, two tracks per side. A cohesive body of work purposefully presented to be played out. These guiding principles complement the uniquely skewed style of ojo: there’s always a groove, but it might trip over itself; there’s always a sense of cohesiveness, but it’s never clear; there’s always a dancefloor, but it’s slippery when wet.

The record features art by photographer Thomas Steineder, who interprets the record visually, by bouncing light through analogue film wrapped around a prism, capturing a reflection turned inward.

With ‘Total internal reflection’, ojo has somehow become even more himself, refining his vision into something playful, profound and enduring.

Evelyne/Masao bring TESTPATTERN to Dark Entries for the label’s first foray into vintage Japanese electronics. Masao Hiruma and Fumio Ichimura’s project Testpattern is known for their release Apres-Midi, a cult slab of synthpop perfection released by Yukihiro Takahashi and Haruomi Hosono’s legendary Yen Records in 1982. While Hiruma and Ichimura parted ways following Apres-Midi, Hiruma’s musical endeavors would continue after meeting French/American model and vocalist Evelyne Bennu in 1984 at a café bar where she would sit and write poetry. Their collaborative efforts as Evelyne/Masao were fruitful, and the duo first performed together in June 1984 on a television program called TOKYO ROCK TV. The album TESTPATTERN comprises seventeen songs recorded in Hiruma’s home studio, which have never been released previously. The Evelyne/Masao duo continues building on the soundworld of Apres-Midi: lush, sophisticated electronics with intricate yet minimalist production. Tracks like “Sakuramochi” and “Bird Island” bear influence from Hosono most clearly, their soaring melodies revealing a subtly ironic redeployment of East Asian musical tropes. But TESTPATTERN is more than homage to Yellow Magic Orchestra. “Tabac” and “Le Soleil Se Leve” display oddball sensibilities closer to Sky Records icons Asmus Tietchens or Cluster. Elsewhere, the project shows affinity for the punkier ethos of continental DIY electronics, like on the quirky “Alien Go Home” and a positively skewed cover of “Singin’ in the Rain.” Bennu’s vocals provide a common thread through these explorations, as she alternates deftly between New Wave deadpan and unhinged chanson singer—check her waxing maximally Francophone on “Au Clair de Lune,” based on an 18th century French song. TESTPATTERN will be available on both double LP as well as CD, and includes a fold-out poster with liner notes with lyrics. This album is dedicated to Masao Hiruma, who passed away in 2011.

Following a breakout year that saw them torch the Sonora Stage at Coachella, storm Europe on the HONEYPAQQ TOUR, and rack up co-signs from Carl Craig, LSDXOXO, Jamie xx, Crystalmess, SHERELLE, TELFAR, Tinashe, Smino, Nia Archives, Earl Sweatshirt, and Denzel Curry, HONEYPAQQ VOL. 1 captures HiTech at their most ambitious: unfiltered, explosive, and impossible to pin down.

Across a stacked track list, the trio bring together the raw DNA of Detroit techno, Chicago house, rap, and punk, honouring the roots of Black electronic music while taking the scene to new global heights. Features include boundary-pushing collaborators like George Riley, ZelooperZ, and Na-Kel Smith, adding warped soul, razor-edge bars, and unruly energy to the HiTech universe and demonstrating how HiTech are the only act straddling underground chaos and mainstage euphoria while unifying global scenes across electronic, rap, and rock in one breathless body of work.

Brown Angel descends upon Dark Entries with Pure Brown Energy, an EP featuring 6 tracks of gloom-laced electro-funk and retro house. Pure Brown Energy was born when San Francisco-based producer and Hard French collective member Brown Angel was faced with a gift and a loss: an original Roland TR-808 was given to them around the same time that their father passed away. To process their grief, they set about making an album that showcased the many facets of their being, in their words: “my gay tío side, my Latin goth side, my cruising down the boulevard side, and most of all my soft vulnerable side.” From slamming vogue/ballroom house to cumbia-inflected freestyle, Pure Brown Energy channels club sounds both contemporary and timeless, while centering the most eternal electronic instrument of all: the TR-808. Opener “Miel” grooves with the effortlessness of peak-era Masters at Work or vintage Kevin Saunderson, while “Dame Más” dials up the energy even further. The influences of Miami bass and West Coast electro shine through on “Maya” and “Love Me Right,” which pair razor-sharp beats with a flurry of samples culled from Brown Angel’s record collection. “PBE” and “En Movimiento” take the Planet Rock vibes to another level, combining influences from contemporary cumbia and reggaeton sounds with Brown Angel’s Latin goth flair. Each copy comes in a sleeve designed by Ricardo Diseño featuring illustrations inspired by Teen Angels, a popular 1980’s Chicano magazine. Pure Brown Energy brings a sense of urgency to the dancefloor, unreluctantly examining the crossover between creation and loss, between celebration and sorrow. But don’t forget: these cuts also slap.

'Find a Way' is the new album from Manchester-based pianist, composer, and producer Matt Wilde, released via his own imprint Hello World Records. The album serves as a reminder that creativity should be accessible and the importance of opening yourself to the unexpected as you 'Find a Way' through all endeavours. Digging into improvisation and jazz harmony on the LP, he crafts a sound that bridges jazz, hip hop, and electronic music, adding: "The creative act is not a matter of waiting for the perfect conditions, but of moving gently, insistently, through the imperfect".

Focus and title track "Find a Way" encapsulates this journey of process. Humans are known for adaptation and response when they face challenges, seeking solutions towards a better world. "Find a Way" leans into our instinctive reaction to improvise and reshape, taking the listener on an unexpected journey. The opening loop could as easily feel at home as part of an electronic soundscape, developing into a clock-like effect from the drums. This keeps time, allowing a duet between keys and trumpet to unfold, symbolising the individual, imperfect and non-linear paths we all carve out day to day.

The album was funded by Arts Council England and created in close collaboration with trumpeter and composer Aaron Wood, with the pair recording in Aaron's rural DIY studio in Huddersfield. Through improvising upright piano, Rhodes and trumpet over intricately programmed beats, the duo captured the spontaneity that makes jazz feel alive, but with the forward-facing touch of Ableton live production. "I actually had live drums recorded for this project and then deleted all of them and instead programmed intricate drums on Ableton live myself to create the kinds of drum sounds I could hear in my head," Matt adds, explaining the onerous process that truly made 'Find a Way' a labour of love.

Matt Wilde discovered jazz through an unconventional journey, and 'Find a Way' is an introspective map of this musical development. Starting out as a self-taught beatmaker, growing up Matt made tracks for friends in the grime scene before falling in love with jazz through the sample-heavy works of Madlib, J Dilla, and Pete Rock. Hints of this influence can be found on "Windup", driven by a deeper bass and a glitchy intensity not commonly associated with jazz. There are also nods to the weekly DJ residencies Matt had in his late teens, establishing a love for club music at iconic Manchester venues like Sankeys. "It's Ok, Feel it" incorporates pitched-up kicks and crisp, papery snares that pay tribute to UK dance culture and the foundation of connection in this world.

Guided by values of accessibility and creativity, Matt has become a key voice in the UK's boundary-pushing jazz and beats scene. His debut album 'Hello World' alongside EPs and single releases, have been championed by the likes of BBC Radio 1, Jamie Cullum and Soweto Kinch (BBC Radio 2), 'Round Midnight (BBC Radio 3), and across BBC 6Music, Jazz FM and Worldwide FM. He has performed headline shows at Band on the Wall (Manchester) and The Lower Third (London) and showcased his music at Brick Lane Jazz Festival and London's iconic Jazz Café.

A proud Mancunian with Polish roots, Matt's values-driven approach reflects his passion for community and empowering others through the arts. Matt founded the UK's first youth-led charity and is a trustee of Manchester music charity Brighter Sound. Driven by these values of equality and inclusion, Hello World Records strives to champion grassroots music with a backbone of fairness built into the business model. The imprint is named after Matt's debut album, released via Band on the Wall Recordings; simultaneously championing the music scene and global musical footprint of Manchester and highlighting the importance of artists reminding people: Hello World, I've made it. I'm still here.

- Martha Cleary, Glow Artists

Following on from Andres aka DJ Dez's well received last outing on David A-P's Hot Pot label, it is now veteran DJ and producer Marc Meistro from DC's Sol Power All-Stars who now brings the class. To kick off he brings his own spin to a Latin funk classic 'Mas Que Nada' and then turns the sunshine up to 112 on the shuffling samba sounds of 'El Platanal De Bartolo'. It's a pure party starter for Latin lovers and then comes some more drum-forward funk on 'I Wanna Go Downtown' with its rolling percussion and funky bass twangs. 'Make Your Mind Up' slows down to dubby disco bliss with leggy riffs teasing and pleasing. Four effective, charming essentials from Meistro.

2025 repress.

There are certain albums which shake the world immediately upon release, and others which come from far underground and whose shocks and aftershocks rise to the surface gradually over the years, gaining momentum and power. "Ten Dubs That Shook The World" is of the latter type. Since its original vinyl release in 1988, the prescient impact of this Australian homemade dubwise solo massive byAnthony Maher aka Sheriff Lindoh as become ever-more apparent and influential. With its dual island combination of Jamaican dub and UK industrial and post-punk, and the twinning of spaced electronic drums and effects with some very fine, superbly rooted bass lines, the tectonic "Ten Dubs" has proven to be a durable, doubly-solid shaker. This 2025 repress is dedicated to the original producer John Blades, founder of the Endless Recordings label, who along with Maher and Richard Fielding constituted The Loop Orchestra. Available on LP vinyl or CD; the CD version features bonus tracks. EM Records is also pleased to announce that we are preparing Lindo's first release since "Ten Dubs" was launched 37 years ago. From deep underground in Australia, rising, reverberating and resonating across the globe, "Ten Dubs That Shook The World" vibrates on.

Break 4 Love, the timeless 1988 deep house anthem from Vaughan Mason’s Raze, featuring Keith Thompson’s soulful vocals was not only #1 US Dance Club hit and UK Top 30 single but an evergreen classic that remains a club culture staple 37 years on since its initial release. Its warm TR-909 groove, hypnotic bassline, and intimate lyrics continue to resonate across generations.

Alongside the original mix, this brand-new release from Armada Music & Champion serves up three essential remixes on one 12” vinyl. IIija Rudman kicks things off, preserving the sensual beating heart of Raze's iconic original while sliding effortlessly into the dancefloor rotations of today. Veteran of the scene Michael Gray puts his signature touch on ‘Break 4 Love’ adding extra percussive elements and sensuous sound effects. Through this Gray stays true to the original whilst providing a fresh take on the ’88 classic. Finally, Ridney & Inner Spirit’s take, slotting into those perfect sunset DJ sets on Ibiza with rolling beats and unfolding soundscapes. All bases covered on this buy or cry vinyl!

Tired of it all? Dreading your routine? Try the all new second set of ears by Hayter! Contains eight unique treatments against fatigue and low excitement disorder. Ranging from Electro Groove to bit-crushed Industrial. For side effects, consult your sound engineer.

HAAi kehrt mit ihrem kühnen und brillanten zweiten Album 'HUMANiSE' zurück und erkundet den Sweet Spot zwischen maschinengesteuerter Dystopie und emotionsgeladener Utopie.

Mit all ihren Veröffentlichungen hat HAAi (bürgerlich Teneil Throssell) immer versucht, neue Grenzen in der elektronischen Musik zu erkunden, und auf dem neuen Album bohrt sie noch mal tiefer in diese Richtung. 'HUMANiSE' setzt sich mit der Frage auseinander, was es bedeutet, in einer zunehmend digitalen Welt ein Mensch zu sein, in der KI alles in den Schatten zu stellen droht und unsere Bildschirme uns voneinander trennen. Das Ergebnis ist ein ehrgeiziges und aufregendes Epos: ein klanglicher Sprung nach oben und eine deutliche Weiterentwicklung ihres 2022er Debüts 'Baby, We're Ascending'.

Stimmen - sowohl reale als auch digitalisierte - spielen auf 'HUMANiSE' eine große Rolle, ebenso wie Ideen von Gemeinschaft und Zugehörigkeitsgefühl. Sie ist zurückgekehrt, um mit Freunden wie Jon Hopkins, Alexis Taylor von Hot Chip, dem Sänger Obi Franky, dem Rapper KAM-BU, dem Künstler Kaiden Ford und dem Dichter James Massiah sowie mit zwei Chören zu arbeiten: Trans Voices mit Chorleiter ILA und ein Gospelchor unter der Leitung von Wendi Rose. Nachdem sie jahrelang hinter den Decks verbracht hat, bringt HAAi nun auch ihre eigene Stimme in den Vordergrund, mit der sie sich verletzlich und selbstbewusst ausdrückt. Ihre Stimme ist umwerfend zart und verleiht ihren kinetischen Produktionen eine neue Dimension.

Das Konzept des Albums wurde klar, als HAAi mit Jon Hopkins im Studio war. Die beiden spielten mit einem Vocal-Harmonizer-Plug-in mit einer Funktion namens 'Humanize'. Für HAAi ging ein Licht auf: „Die Vorstellung, dass etwas völlig Synthetisches versucht, eine echte Person menschlicher klingen zu lassen, ist verrückt“, sagt sie. HAAi lässt diese Extreme im Laufe des Albums verschwimmen: Sie digitalisiert Stimmen, überlagert sie zu einem verschwommenen Effekt und verwendet sogar eine KI-Text-to-Speech, um ihre Stimme zu erzeugen. Letztendlich kommt sie jedoch zu dem Schluss, dass Erfahrung und Erinnerung - das, was uns wirklich menschlich macht - nicht ersetzt werden können.

Vom euphorischen Opener 'Satellite' über UK-Radiohit 'Can't Stand To Lose' bis hin zu genreübergreifenden Stücken wie 'Shapeshift' ist das Album voll von aufregenden klanglichen Wendungen und zutiefst persönlichen Texten. 'HUMANiSE' ist ein kraftvoller, emotionsgeladener Sprung nach vorn: eine Feier der Gemeinschaft, des Selbstausdrucks und der Menschlichkeit.

- Ltd. Col. 2LP: (Crystal Clear Vinyl)