Finnish dub-techno craftsman TM Shuffle, head of Vuo Records, resurfaces with a deep and distilled EP that goes straight for the late-night heart of the dancefloor. Rooted in Tampere’s raw, analog dub sound, his productions have long balanced weight and warmth, smoked-out chords, rolling low-end and subtle shuffle that keeps the groove in constant motion.
The lead track “Kellari” dives into basement mode: pressure-cooker drums, slow-burning stabs and a humid, lived-in atmosphere that feels equally at home on a huge system or in headphones at 4 a.m. On the second original cut, TM Shuffle links up once again with long-time collaborator Monoder, the alias of Jussi-Pekka Parikka, known for his dubbed-out explorations on labels like Statik Entertainment and Pakkas-Levyt since the early 2000s. Their joint track stretches time, letting echo, tape hiss and distant melodic fragments float around a rock-solid groove, channelling years of shared studio language into one focused, hypnotic flow.
On the flip, Anton Kubikov (SCSI-9) steps in with a lush reinterpretation of Kellari. A true Russian techno veteran with a catalog that spans Kompakt, Force Tracks, Mayak and beyond, Kubikov melts the original into a widescreen, dream-state trip, soft-focus pads, gentle yet insistent percussion and that unmistakable rolling pulse that made his work so enduring. The remix doesn’t just extend the track; it opens a new dimension, turning the basement pressure into a slow-rising, celestial drift.
Pressed on limited coloured vinyl, this EP is built for selectors who like their dub techno deep, human and timeless, a record that will quietly live in bags for years and keep resurfacing whenever the room calls for true late-night elevation.
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BLACK VINYL[25,84 €]
Following the reissue of The Pocket of Fever, Ambient Sans presents the second chapter in Masahiro Sugaya’s visionary work for the avant-garde performing arts company Pappa TARAHUMARA.
Founded by Hiroshi Koike in 1982, Pappa TARAHUMARA blended dance, theater, music, and visual art into abstract, immersive stage worlds. Sugaya’s compositions became the sonic counterpart to this radical aesthetic—minimal yet deeply evocative, combining electronics, ambient textures, and delicate melodic gestures into a sound language both intimate and expansive.
Music From Alejo marks his first original stage score for the company: a work where repetition and silence intertwine with shimmering synthesizers and dreamlike motifs, conjuring atmospheres that feel suspended between reality and reverie. More structured than The Pocket of Fever yet equally poetic, the album reveals Sugaya’s gift for translating movement into sound, balancing modern composition with subtle echoes of Japanese tradition.
Reissued for the first time on vinyl, Music From Alejo includes a printed insert featuring an exclusive interview with the artist, alongside photographs from our visit to his home in Japan. Essential listening for anyone drawn to the ambient minimalism of Hiroshi Yoshimura, Midori Takada, or Brian Eno—reimagined here through the lens of Tokyo’s experimental scene of the 1980s.
- A1: 1. Strangers
- A2: 2. Be With You
- A3: 3. Gang (Feat. G Herbo)
- A4: 4. Non Negotiables
- A5: 5. Overrated
- A6: 6. B.e.d (Feat. Tee Grizzley)
- A7: 7. Sin And Juice
- B1: 8. Can We Talk? (Feat. Bryson Tiller)
- B2: 9. Diabolical
- B3: 10. Bedrock (Feat. Rob49)
- B4: 11. You Deserve
- B5: 12. First Time
- B6: 13. Emergency
- B7: 14. Plan B
- B8: 15. Live & Learn
With Fuck, Marry, Kill, Tink delivers her most provocative and conceptually sharp body of work to date, firmly reclaiming her position as a premier storyteller in the modern R&B landscape. Moving beyond the diary-entry style of her earlier years, this project utilizes the titular game as a brutal yet honest framework for the complexities of modern intimacy. Tink navigates the chaos of the dating world with a dual-threat precision that few can match, seamlessly blending the grit of her Chicago rap roots with the velvet textures of contemporary soul. Under the executive production of Hitmaka, the album finds its heartbeat in the friction between high-gloss production and raw, unfiltered lyricism.
The album is meticulously structured to mirror the chaotic cycle of urban romance: the adrenaline of fleeting lust, the heavy stakes of long-term commitment, and the inevitable coldness of a bridge burned. In the "Fuck" segment, Tink radiates a lethal confidence, delivering anthems of autonomy and physical desire that demand space in the club and on the charts. As the project transitions into "Marry," she peels back the armor, offering a vulnerable look at the desire for stability and the terrifying leap of faith required to trust a partner. However, it is in the "Kill" section where Tink’s songwriting truly bites; here, she chronicles the aftermath of betrayal and the empowerment that comes from cutting ties, transforming her heartbreak into a weapon of self-preservation.
Ultimately, Fuck, Marry, Kill is a masterclass in "Toxic R&B" that refuses to settle for easy answers. Tink captures the specific anxiety of a generation trying to distinguish between a temporary thrill and a permanent soulmate, all while navigating a world of ghosting and digital infidelity. By leaning into her flaws and her triumphs with equal intensity, she creates a sonic space where listeners feel both seen and vindicated. This isn't just an album about love—it's a survival guide for the heart, narrated by an artist who has seen every side of the game and lived to write the definitive soundtrack for it.
The Kandinski Issue marks Dominic Costello’s debut on Shut Off Notice and sets a clear tone for what’s to come. Rooted in minimal techno but pushing past restraint, the EP delivers four innovative cuts built for movement and late-night immersion.
Across the record, Costello balances precision with play. Locust and Cable Stack lock into hypnotic, tightly wound grooves, while Slewing and Hiss Print stretch the space with cutting textures and subtle shifts that reward deep listening. The result is a collection that feels chill yet exuberant, stripped back yet propulsive.
Designed for the dance floor but equally compelling in headphones, The Kandinski Issue is a confident first statement. Clean lines, sharp edges, and just enough tension to keep bodies moving and minds engaged.
Big Science Records is proud to unveil a brand-new split 12” EP — crafted equally for peak-time energy and post-rave reflection — from the label’s co-foun-ders, NVST and Warzou.It’s been a minute since our last vinyl release — the Leo James edition — and we’re excited to be back with an ultra-limited, hand-stamped pressing. Four tracks total: two from each of these kindred artists, the duo behind Big Science.We’re constantly making, exchanging, and living through music — daily, weekly, endlessly. “Nothing is real, nothing exists,” says NVST. And yet, this release feels like a moment where the invisible becomes tangible — the private tracks we’ve shared and cherished with each other now find their place in the world. They’re here. They’re real.
Julius Rennert returns with a warm, soulful House release that channels the timeless spirit of Jack while bringing his own modern sensitivity to the floor. Blending smooth and deep-driven grooves with a partly unmistakable French House touch, the EP radiates a comforting glow - lush chords, shimmering samples, and subtly swinging drums that wrap the listener in a sense of effortless uplift.
Despite arriving in the colder months, this record feels like a beam of mid-summer light: nostalgic yet forward-thinking, deep yet wonderfully accessible. Its refined production and heartfelt energy make it equally suited for intimate late-night sets, cozy living-room listening sessions, and dancefloors craving a touch of emotion.
Warm, groovy, and irresistibly soulful - Julius Rennert's new release is set to brighten the season and warm hearts long after the last note fades.
- A1: Mo Miles Ahead (Intro)
- A2: Free (Feat. Yahzarah & Tarrey Torae)
- A3: Wake Up
- A4: Odyssey (Feat. Kamasi Washington & Mononeon)
- A5: Stay (Feat. Irene Blackman)
- B1: Finish Line (Feat. Chelsea Baratz & Omar)
- B2: Sunday Morning (Feat. Kendra Foster)
- B3: Betta Days
- B4: Imposter Syndrome (Feat. Rae Khalil & J. Ivy)
- B5: Nyc 'Ta Volado (Feat. Cimafunk)
Maurice “Mobetta” Brown has always thrived at the crossroads—between jazz and hip-hop, improvisation and songcraft, trumpet and microphone. With Betta Days, the Grammy-winning trumpeter, composer, and MC sharpens his genre-bending vision into one of his most dynamic statements yet.
The album plays like a conversation between worlds: lush horn arrangements sit beside hard-hitting beats, verses weave seamlessly through melodies, and Brown’s trumpet leads with equal parts fire and finesse. A student of jazz tradition who came up in Chicago’s storied scene, he’s since expanded his reach into hip-hop and soul, collaborating with icons like Aretha Franklin, Santigold, Talib Kweli, and Anderson .Paak. Betta Days captures the spirit of all those influences while standing firmly in Mobetta’s lane.
At its core, Betta Days is about resilience and growth—finding light even in heavy times. The songs carry a message of pushing forward, fuelled by the energy of community and the joy of creation. Whether he’s delivering sharp verses or soaring trumpet lines, Maurice Mobetta Brown reminds listeners that the future is wide open, and that better (or Betta) days are always ahead.
DiscoGram's self-titled label is quickly becoming our disco dealer of choice. This third massive gets us further hooked on the groovy goods. After a Brazilian flex last time out, there is more of an Afro overtone to this 12": 'Africa Tribal' is a percussive sun-soaked sound with expressive horns and equally expressive vocals over a ton of percussion, hand claps and wiggly grooves. 'Chillin' Out' is more US-flavoured with a low-slung and breezy vibe and sunny vocals. 'Coconut' ups the pace and injects florid feels with Philly strings and stomping drums. 'Hi Tension' then keeps its foot down with a heavy but funky disco sound and irresistible double-claps.
Repressed!!
Peggy Gou is proud to announce the launch of her own independent record label, Gudu Records. The label's first release will be the Moment EP - a two-track 12' featuring the tracks 'Starry Night' and 'Han Pan'.
'Moment' sees Gou continue to explore the charismatic facets of her musical and personal identity, drawing on her Korean heritage and language and her love for house & disco's Eighties heritage, with particular nods to the output of labels such as Prelude and West End Records in the decade's nascent years.
Gou's own singing voice, known to so many from last year's 'Once' EP, returns here to confidently guide the rhythm on 'Starry Night'. Mixing both Korean and English vocals over a tumbling cascade of percussion and piano house keys, the track builds to incorporate layers of instrumental samples and subtle acid lines. Romantic, anthemic and timeless in its feel, it reaffirms Gou's skill as a songwriter with appeal that resonates beyond crowded dancefloors, not to mention language barriers.
'Han Pan' follows as an instantly rhythmic affair that draws energy from a memorable and delicately tuned pan-drum. Alongside some expert and understated arrangement, as well as another, contrasting vocal performance, 'Han Pan' transmits a different but equally powerful energy.
The second chapter after “neverlost”, “closer” blends samplebased production with classic songwriting – like a sonic mosaic of warmth and groove. Lyrically “hippiesque,” Sepalot explores natural beauty, unity, equality, and self-determination. Guest features shine: Blu delivers sharp lyricism, and Illa J surprises
with soulful vocals on “My Own Way.” For fans of The Avalanches, Caribou, and Madlib – Closer is lush, human, and unforgettable.
Sepalot is one of those rare artists whose sonic palette refuses to be boxed in. His music exists in the fertile space between multi-layered sophistication and playful unpredictability – a quality rooted in his eclectic upbringing. From skate-punk beginnings to soul all-nighters, from obsessive vinyl digging to
deep immersion in hip-hop’s golden era, Sepalot has carried the art of sampling like a badge of honor. His beats are mosaics – meticulously pieced together fragments of sound forming an intricate whole. Beyond the studio, he’s explored these influences as DJ, producer, and live performer, leading the
Sepalot Quartet across Europe’s jazz festivals, and more recently with his experimental band Tikhet alongside Angela Aux
With “closer”, the upcoming second chapter following his 2023 album “neverlost”, Sepalot distills his broad musical world into a sample-based yet song-driven statement. The production feels warm and tactile – think needle-on-vinyl crackle meeting modern songwriting clarity. Lyrically, it’s “hippiesque” in the best
way: themes of natural beauty, unity, democratic awareness, equality, and spiritual introspection weave through the tracklist.
The guest list is just as inspired: legendary wordsmith Blu delivers razor-sharp verses, while Illa J – brother of the late J Dilla – steps away from his signature rap to surprise with soulful vocals on “My Own Way.” Together, they amplify the album’s humanist core, balancing groove-heavy production with
lyrical depth.
Fans of artists like The Avalanches, Caribou, DJ Shadow, or Madlib will find plenty to love here, but Closer carries its own unique fingerprint – a testament to Sepalot’s ability to merge hip-hop grit with songwriting grace. If “Neverlost” was a map, “Closer” is the destination: lush, thoughtful, and deeply human.
Highly recommended for anyone ready to hold hands, open their mind, and let the beat guide them.
What can be said about Joey Beltram’s ‘Energy Flash’ that hasn’t be said already! The track still gets rinsed, week in, week out, across radio stations, clubs and festivals, testimony to the sheer importance of this techno classic.
Released originally in 1990 on the R&S Records label, ‘Beltram Vol. 1’ included the aforementioned ‘Energy Flash’, alongside three equally ground-breaking dance tracks that possibly get overshadowed by the big lead track. But tracks like ‘Subsonic Bass’ broke the mould and went on to influence a raft of rave and drum ‘n’ bass tunes, thanks in part to its use of the now legendary ‘hoover’ bass sound. The sinister acid of ‘Jazz 3033’ still sounds as fresh today as it did 33 years ago, and the menacingly titled ‘Psycho Bass’ reveals the EP’s most passive moment, as its solid breakbeat cuts through ethereal tones and chugging synths.
‘Beltram Volume 1’ has been remastered by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering, and the release comes in an updated sleeve, faithfully recreating the 1990 packaging.
‘Beltram Volume 1’ by Joey Beltram is available on R&S Records from 10th February 2023.
Chicago producer Ellery Cowles lands on Apnea Records with three tracks that draw from the city's foundational rhythms while reaching for something more devotional. Walking by Faith isn't chasing nostalgia--it's after deeper ground. "Fall of Jericho" kicks things off with syncopated Chicago swing colliding with latin percussion and acid basslines that curl and bite in equal measure. "Fly" builds around a looped vocal fragment, letting raw drum patterns stretch and breathe as the track slowly reveals itself. Closer "Crying of Yahweh" is the most patient of the three--seven minutes of hypnotic techno coiling around latin rhythms, carrying a quiet spiritual weight that lingers long after it fades. Cowles moves between reference points with ease--Chicago house, devotional threads, latin heat--but never forces the connection. The music feels like it's been lived in rather than simply constructed, generous with its time and intentional with its space. Out now on Apnea Records.
RED VINYL VERSION[29,37 €]
Following the reissue of The Pocket of Fever, Ambient Sans presents the second chapter in Masahiro Sugaya’s visionary work for the avant-garde performing arts company Pappa TARAHUMARA.
Founded by Hiroshi Koike in 1982, Pappa TARAHUMARA blended dance, theater, music, and visual art into abstract, immersive stage worlds. Sugaya’s compositions became the sonic counterpart to this radical aesthetic—minimal yet deeply evocative, combining electronics, ambient textures, and delicate melodic gestures into a sound language both intimate and expansive.
Music From Alejo marks his first original stage score for the company: a work where repetition and silence intertwine with shimmering synthesizers and dreamlike motifs, conjuring atmospheres that feel suspended between reality and reverie. More structured than The Pocket of Fever yet equally poetic, the album reveals Sugaya’s gift for translating movement into sound, balancing modern composition with subtle echoes of Japanese tradition.
Reissued for the first time on vinyl, Music From Alejo includes a printed insert featuring an exclusive interview with the artist, alongside photographs from our visit to his home in Japan. Essential listening for anyone drawn to the ambient minimalism of Hiroshi Yoshimura, Midori Takada, or Brian Eno—reimagined here through the lens of Tokyo’s experimental scene of the 1980s.
a1. Straight Line Floating In The Sky
a2. Oldfashioned
b1. An Afternoon When Fish Appeared
b2. Mistral
b3. Alejo's Theme
Repress!
Second Phase (aka Joey Beltram and Mundo Muzique) are 2 legendary producers whose output shaped an entire generation of ravers, DJs and producers minds.
'Mentasm / Mind To Mind' is one such influential release, literally creating new styles, new directions and impacting on dance music for decades to come. Unique programming and fresh sounds made their records stand out head and shoulders above everyone else's output. 'Mentasm' particularly broke ground with it's now infamous 'hoover sound', influencing house, techno and trance music to come and even spilling over into the nascent hardcore, jungle and D&B scenes where it was often imitated or sampled by producers who wanted that ruff, visceral feel for their own tracks, but didn't know how to create it themselves. A new energy was born and it emanated from this milestone 12". 'Mind To Mind' on the flipside is equally as deadly, but in a deeper, more spaced out realm it maneuvers and pulls into a trippy early morning space, the yin to 'Mentasm's yang. This is a quintessential techno record, a glimpse of innovation from back in the day. File under 'classic'.
This special 2021 edition is reissued by R&S Records from original master sources, remastered by Curve Pusher.
- A1: Cirkus (Including Entry Of The Chameleons)
- A2: Indoor Games
- A3: Happy Family
- A4: Lady Of The Dancing Water
- B1: Prince Rupert Awakes
- B2: Bolero - The Peacocks Tale
- B3: The Battle Of Glass Tears (Including Dawn Song / Last Skirmish / Prince Rupert's Lament)
- B4: Big Top
DGM & Panegyric proudly present…
One of the highlights of the King Crimson 50th anniversary CD/Blu-ray editions to date has been King Crimson producer David Singleton’s series of Elemental Mixes as he utilises the full spectrum of available studio sessions for each album to produce very different takes on the familiar songs and pieces.
This is especially true of Lizard where the ambition of the material, the much-expanded line-up of musicians - the background of many of them in the jazz rather than the rock world - and the number of takes recorded, resulted in a large amount of material to be considered for this album.
There was enough material for David to be able to mix and produce alternate takes for every piece from the original album.
As well as giving great insight into the recordings, the nature of Elemental Mixes allows for different takes from individual musicians to be included – sometimes alongside one another - in a way that would never be considered in the formulation of the original album.
David comments that “When I was working on the Elemental mixes, I jokingly described them as ‘Lizard for those who don’t like Lizard’. They were a complete revelation. Lizard is the one album which, in its initial incarnation, never quite convinced me. And yet these Elemental mixes, with their opportunity to look ‘under the hood’ of the album, revealed something fresh, wonderful and astonishing. So, if you are a King Crimson fan, who like me, has never quite taken Lizard to your heart, then these are essential listening. And hopefully equally fascinating to those who already love the album”.
Presented as a single 200gram LP and including the complete album in Elemental Mixes form, running in the same sequence as the original album, this release showcases Lizard in a very different manner to how it’s previously been heard.
Lizard’s reputation has grown, deservedly so, in recent years as old and new audiences alike rediscovered the album, initially when it was first remixed for new Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound editions in 2009 by Steven Wilson and then as much of it was performed live for the first time in concerts by the most recent King Crimson line-up between 2016 and 2018.
After 23 years, The Difference It Makes by The MFA returns. A cult lo-fi house anthem with a surprising roster of fans (including Orlando Bloom and the Olsen twins), it’s now reissued with a fresh set of remixes and a new lease of life. Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) delivers a deep, floor-ready rework, equally at home in the club or during a solo kitchen dance. Nathan Fake – a long-time friend of The MFA – offers a remix that’s pure rave inception: euphoric, strnge, and unforgettable. The MFA’s own new version brings the energy up to date with a stadium house tribute to the original. This is the debut release from Deskbound Complex, a new label from The MFA focused on timeless, alternative electronic music. Less algorithm, more experience.
Somehow it feels fitting that 1+1 equals not only 11, but also the two slabs of vinyl carrying Henry Hodson’s music here. A small inside joke, perhaps, but also a sign of how naturally this record came together: instinctive and shaped with intention. Hodson — who first appeared on Limousine Dream and later with a subtle and beautifully controlled EP via Silky Beats — continues his trajectory between deep house warmth and minimal clarity. These six tracks are drawn with the sort of fine-grained rhythmic detail that rewards attention without ever demanding it. Light-footed percussion, elegant restraint, grooves that breathe. The double 12’’ format isn’t a gimmick; it’s a commitment. Each track gets the physical space and sonic depth it needs.
LATCh Records returns with a refined and forward-thinking release, welcoming Vlad Arapasu for a record that captures the depth and versatility of his sound. Moving between techno, house, and minimal, Vlad shapes a collection of tracks driven by groove, detail, and atmosphere—equally suited for the dancefloor and deeper listening.
Malin Genie delivers a dub remix, reworking the original into a more spacious and hypnotic journey, where subtle textures and flow take the lead.
The release is completed with abstract artwork by Adrian Calin, echoing the layered and open-ended nature of the music.
Supported by Rhadoo
Itay Dailes & Eran Ben-Zeev A collaborative EP between veteran producer Itay Dailes and label owner Eran Ben-Zeev.
Two sides, two visions — one spirit. A nod to ’90s traditions, each track offers its own distinct flavor, ranging from deep, dub-infused minimalism to warm analog grooves. A versatile release for selectors who value subtle contrasts and timeless dancefloor tools. Higher State Minimal deep house with a hypnotic pull. Built on warm, dubby pads and a rolling, understated groove, *Higher State* draws the listener into a meditative zone — subtle, emotional, and deeply immersive. Dub Rounds A deep, edgy minimal cut powered by a rolling bassline. Vocal fragments weave in and out, while jazzy chords add a dreamy, soulful lift to the groove. Unicorns Can’t Fly A lush, emotive journey of floating grooves, warm pads, and delicate textures. Designed for late-night introspection while keeping the pulse alive on the dancefloor — equal parts body and soul. Jupiter 1 Diving deeper into raw analog territory, Jupiter 1 pairs a rolling bassline with smooth acid contours. Stripped-back percussion channels early ’90s energy, perfect for long sets and locked-in moments.
- A1: Frankie Knuckles Pres Director’s Cut – The Whistle Song (Re-Directed)
- A2: Frankie Knuckles Pres Director’s Cut Feat. Jamie Principle - Your Love (Director's Cut Signature Mix)
- B1: Frankie Knuckles Pres Director’s Cut Feat. B. Slade – Get Over U (Director's Cut Mix - Sami Dee Edit)
- B2: Frankie Knuckles Pres Director’s Cut Feat. Jamie Principle – I'll Take You There (Director's Cut Classic Signature Mix)
- C1: Ashford & Simpson - Bourgie Bourgie (A Director's Cut Exclusive)
- C2: Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band Feat Donna Gardier & Diane Charlemagne – The Secret Life Of Us (Director's Cut Signature Mix)
- D1: Artful & Ridney Feat Terri Walker - Missing You (Eric Kupper’s ‘Director's Cut Tribute To Fk' Mix)
- D2: Marshall Jefferson Feat Curtis Mcclain – The House Music Anthem (Move Your Body) (Director's Cut Retro Signature Mix)
Limited Edition Transparent Black Vinyl Version - 500 Units Only
There are few people across the globe, who will have not been touched by the work of Frankie Knuckles. Forever regarded as ‘The Godfather of House’ for his unrivalled contribution to the house music we know today; what started as an underground movement in Chicago has grown to international heights thanks to Frankie. His records earned him recognition on a global scale, allowing him to work with some of the globes biggest names including the likes of Diana Ross, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.
Five years ago, Frankie passed away in Chicago on 31st March 2014 leaving behind one of the greatest house music legacies spanning almost four decades. Now he is commemorated by long time writing and production partner Eric Kupper. Eric, himself a seasoned DJ producer and writer, has worked on over 116 Billboard #1 Dance Records and played a pivotal role in a many of Frankie’s productions. Having both worked together for many years they established themselves at ‘Director’s Cut’ from 2011 and set about producing original releases and remixes based on the classic ‘Def Mix’ sound while sharing equal credits for their creations.
Together they re-produced and re-purpose classic cuts for modern dancefloors, with reworks including tracks from Marshall Jefferson, Ashford & Simpson, Artful & Ridney and The Sunburst Band, alongside Frankie Knuckles originals. These releases have now been brought together by Eric to feature on special album called ‘The Directors Cut Collection’ on SoSure Music. It includes the Director’s Cut reworks of Frankie’s classic cuts such as ‘Your Love’ and ‘Take You There’ with Jamie Principle, alongside Frankie’s first #1 single - ‘The Whistle Song’ on which Eric shares writing credits.
Within a multitude of classic reworks, highlights include a previously unreleased version of Ashford & Simpson’s ‘Bourgie Bourgie’ and a huge Director’s Cut Retro Signature mix of Marshall Jefferson’s The House Music Anthem (Move Your Body) featuring Curtis McClain.
The Director’s Cut Collection is a fitting tribute to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Frankie’s passing whilst giving Eric a platform to tell his side of the creative story. This album is to be released in collaboration with The Frankie Knuckles Foundation who work to continuing Frankie’s legacy well into the future.
Seeking out the inspirational intersection between free improvisation, rave and ancient mysticism, Plants Heal deliver an album of kaleidoscopic, organic beatdowns to Quindi.
Plants Heal is a collaborative project between Dan Nicholls on synths, Dave De Rose on drums and Lou Zon (aka Louise Boer) on visuals. The roots of the project are entwined with Dan and Lou's London-based event Free Movements, which began in 2018 to explore how instrumental music could merge with live electronics and DJ sets. Dave and Dan found themselves playing together frequently at the event and as part of Dave's free improv project Agile Experiments, with their accomplished track records as multi-instrumentalists reaching across many layers of music culture. The particular synergy of their partnership taps into the subliminal, surreal and transcendental soundscapes, but they're reliably anchored by instinctive rhythms and driven by a natural flow-state.
From the tentative steps of their first collaborations, Dan and Dave coalesced Plants Heal as a more pronounced project with Lou's live visuals, culminating in a first self-released album in 2021 and since organically fed and watered through continued performances across adventurous festivals and intimate club spaces. Every incremental step along the path of the project yielded new surprises and the deepening sense of a unique, powerful energy. The trio opted to pour this energy into two days of studio sessions at Sonic Playground Studios in Athens, maintaining their unplanned approach and letting the music and visuals unfold in the moment. The end result is Forest Dwellers, a sincere document of truly free music that uses the rhythmic structure of dance and trance music as a springboard into heightened consciousness.
Throughout the album you can hear hints of the familiar - dub techno shimmers, trip hop boom-bap, kosmische momentum, snarling bass modulation, new age ambience and even the odd sizzle of disco. But none of these references are explicit, and they weave in and out of less placeable expressions deeply bedded into Dan and Dave's sonic practices. The end result is a swirling tapestry of unspooling groove, wide open and agile enough to shift gears mid-flow - just as comfortable letting the propulsion melt away as locking into a four-to-the-floor throwdown. From the slippery syncopation of 'Avena Moon' to the angular bait-and-switch of 'Alien Hardware', 'Yarrow's starry-eyed reverie and the rolling, warm-hearted funk of 'Space Ballad', the Plants Heal sound world is expansive and equally enthusiastic for immediate musical motifs as much as wild abstraction.
Lou's visual practice is an intrinsic part of the project. During performances she improvises with analogue footage from her library run through video mixers and synthesisers, focused on medicinal plants such as yarrow, hawthorn, nettle and thistle. All those plants feature in processed form on the cover of the record, which was designed in collaboration with Lou's brother Arthur Boer. Meanwhile, Lou recorded additional footage in Athens during the recording sessions to feed into the continued cycle of the project's live evolution.
Forest Dwellers' meaning honours this cycle and its reflection of the eternal undulations of the natural world. It's also a sincere tribute to the spiritual importance and radical potential of the dancefloor, drawn from the freedom taught by jazz and dedicated to reclaiming lost ideas about community, agency, bodies and the enduring allure of the unknown.
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.
To celebrate Bugged Out’s 30th anniversary, Disco Pogo has produced a book dedicated to the legendary club night - one of the UK’s most formative and enduring.
Edited by Bugged Out promoter Johnno Burgess, the book features new interviews with regular guest DJs including The Chemical Brothers, Erol Alkan, Tiga, Miss Kittin, Hot Chip, and 2manydjs. It also comprises oral histories written by journalists including Jim Butler, Ralph Moore, Luke Bainbridge, and Johnno himself, charting the club’s pivotal periods: Manchester’s Sankeys Soap in the 1990s, Liverpool’s Nation in the ‘90s and ‘00s, The End in London during the 2000s, and their much-loved five-year run of Weekenders at Butlin’s in the 2010s.
The book is not only a history of Bugged Out but also a chronicle of UK club culture from the mid-1990s to the present day. Told era by era, it reflects shifting fashions - from the utilitarian workwear of the ’90s, to the flamboyant electroclash era, to the neon excess of new rave - as well as the growing dominance of photography, evolving from a handful of disposable 'fun camera' shots to today’s flood of professional images in the Instagram age.
It is equally a story of the highs and lows of running a club night: from the exhilaration of seeing an idea grow from a 600 capacity club in Manchester in 1994 into a sold-out 12,000-capacity 30th-birthday party in London last year, to the painful, financial losses that came from significant failures.
The narrative is punctuated with idiosyncratic anecdotes: the time Daft Punk may or may not have played in Ibiza; Miss Kittin tearing up the rule book one night in Heaven; or Erol Alkan making his first unforgettable appearance in what he called “a proper club”.
'It’s Just A Big Disco' - named after one of the club’s iconic slogans - features hundreds of flyers and lineups, alongside photography by acclaimed event photographers including Luke Dyson, Mark McNulty, Tom Horton and Alistair Allan, plus candid snaps from friends and clubbers and a portrait of Miss Kittin by Wolfgang Tillmans.
Don’t Trust The Snippets – Play The Full Track Before Buying A Record is a finely tuned four-track compilation from NOREPRESS Records, exploring a broad emotional and rhythmic spectrum — from atmospheric breaks to dub-infused tech house. Each piece invites deep listening, rewarding full attention rather than surface impressions.
A1. Osman Oz & SUBLIMINAL. – Johto opens with a beautifully crafted breaks track — rich in ambient layers and cinematic depth, setting a contemplative tone. A2. Pat Jensenn – Heaven Tapes follows with crisp percussion and hypnotic melodies, shifting the mood into uplifting, forward-driving territory. The young Argentinian producer blends instinct and elegance in equal measure.
On the flip, B1. Genning & Kirill Matveev – Orbiter lifts off with bounce and finesse — tight, articulate, and designed for that moment when the dancefloor begins to bloom. B2. Neptuna, also by Genning & Matveev, closes the record with sensual dub textures and refined detail — balancing movement and stillness in perfect harmony.
Led by visionary Kirill Matveev, with strong contributions from Genning, Pat Jensenn, and the always-excellent Osman Oz & SUBLIMINAL, NRP005 serves as a reminder: the full track always tells the real story.
NOREPRESS is a division of MixCult Records
Tastemaker and cult figure among some, noise vendor among others… lurking somewhere in the shadows between London and Paris, the man known as Sheet Noise emerges out of the blue with his debut LP, Shostakovich's 5th Played Backwards in a Concrete Silo.
A direct shock to the system: equally beautiful and evil, abrasive yet uncomfortably calming. The feeling that something is about to happen at any minute—impending love or hatred blaring from the speakers at breakneck speeds. Heavy-duty, reactor-melted junglism; twisted samples buried under layers of dust and static; familiar voices in unfamiliar places.
This eight-track album is as intense as it can get. Don’t call it ambient. Don’t call it jungle. Don’t call it noise. Just strap yourself into the electric chair and get ready for the end.
A classic in the making.
Venice, Italy – 2025 Paolo Mosca, the Italian producer, composer, and DJ acclaimed for his soulful approach to electronic music, unveils his new alias I.O.N with the forthcoming debut EP Signals, set to be released on Ritmotherapy. Known for releases on Slow Life, Altered Circuits, and a recent collaboration with Alex Neri, Mosca now steps into uncharted territory fusing experimental electronics with rock-inspired textures and raw energy for the dancefloor.
Signals is a daring reimagining of 90s sonic aesthetics, drawing inspiration from the breakbeat and hip-hop influences of cult films like Blade & The Matrix. Each track on the EP blurs the line between nostalgia and innovation, layering hypnotic riffs, rolling basslines, and gripping vocal samples with futuristic precision.
The EP kicks off with “Camouflage” , where breakbeat rhythms and hip-hop flavors meet futuristic atmospheres. A grabbing vocal, heavy low-end, and hypnotic riff drive the track into a world of cinematic tension and release.
“Escape” follows with a slower tempo, but its restrained pulse only builds anticipation. Classical violin lines cut through break-driven drums, leading to a long-awaited drop that delivers an overwhelming yet deeply satisfying release.
Next, “Neo” builds momentum with a gritty 303 bassline and sharp synths, locked into a relentless 4x4 rhythm. The track feels like an expedition through acid-soaked landscapes, equal parts raw and refined.
“They Are Looking at You” closes the EP with explosive energy, bursting with hip-hop vocals that command “don’t stop. ” Propelled by a nasty bassline and oriental-inspired synth melodies, it’s a track built to ignite dancefloors and spark spontaneous breakdance energy.
With Signals, I.O.N presents more than just an EP; It's a manifesto for a new era of club music. It’s heavy yet soulful, experimental yet deeply physical, and above all, a fresh signal to the global electronic scene that something new has arrived. Reserved for their official release on Ritmotherapy, the anticipation around this project signals a bold new chapter for both artist and label.
- A1: Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem Feat. Flowdan - Our Sector (Azu Tiwaline & Cinna Peyghamy Remix)
- A2: Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem Feat. Coby Sey - Ultimately (Amotik Remix)
- B1: Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem Feat. Flowdan - Our Sector (Quelza Reinterpretation)
- B2: Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem Feat. Coby Sey - Clean Slate (Alarico Remix)
Azu Tiwaline & Cinna Peyghamy, Amotik, Quelza, and Alarico remix four tracks from Ben Klock and Fadi Mohem’s collaborative album ‘Layer One’. Released last year on the pair’s label LAYER, each artist on the ‘Layer One Remixes’ EP retains the weighty, low-end edge that shaped the album, while reinterpreting four tracks through a myriad of techno, IDM, bass, and experimental shades.
Honouring the conceptual direction of ‘Layer One’, which delved into a post-human world and offered a serene reflection on a realm that continued to flourish in the absence of humanity, the ‘Layer One Remixes’ EP echoes the same theme. The remaining human survivors on Earth signal a remembrance of their sensibilities, told through the powerful lyrics and vocals of grime MC Flowdan and interdisciplinary artist Coby Sey.
Azu Tiwaline & Cinna Peyghamy open the EP with their remix of ‘Our Sector’ featuring the commanding vocals of Flowdan. Fragmented bass-driven textures skitter across the sparse soundscape, culminating in a track primed for the weirder hours of the night. On ‘Ultimately’, Amotik delivers his take on the original featuring spoken word by Coby Sey, and whips up a rolling four-four number pierced with bleepy percussion.
On the flip, Quelza’s reinterpretation of ‘Our Sector’ unfolds with zappy motifs and technoid flourishes, permeating the shadowy pads and spine-chilling harmonics that slink through the atmosphere. Alarico remixes ‘Clean Slate’, serving a potent techno track laced with equal parts restraint and release, enhanced by Coby Sey’s taut vocals.
While the original album represented the more exploratory sides of Ben Klock and Fadi Mohem, the ‘Layer One Remixes’ EP offers a further step into the void, led by five contemporary artists who are unafraid to delve into the murkiest corners of the dystopian world conjured up by Klock and Mohem.
- A1: You’re The Reason (Feat. Mary Ann Alexander)
- A2: Where Are You Tonight (Feat. Dishaan & Mallika)
- A3: Call Me Back (Feat. Sahirah)
- A4: Afterlife (Feat. Dappest)
- A5: Waiting (Feat. Benni Ola)
- B1: She Left Me In Summer (Feat. Jamal Bucanon)
- B2: What Was It (Feat. Jamal Bucanon)
- B3: Say The Word (Feat. Niomí)
- B4: Diamonds
- B5: Stay
Mumbai-based musician, producer, and DJ NATE08 returns with his sophomore album Twenty Seven - a luminous fusion of r&b, deep house, and funk-leaning grooves, pressed to a single 140g LP in black vinyl.
Three years on from his acclaimed debut Furaha (which featured the breakout hit “Primrose” with over 7 million streams), NATE08 expands his sonic palette with Twenty Seven: a radiant collection of tracks that balance soul-soaked vocals, late-night basslines, and warm, sun-drenched production.
NATE08, aka Nathan Thomas, has become a central figure in Mumbai’s thriving underground, working as a session bass player, live performer, and genre-spanning DJ, while making an international impact through releases on label Needwant. Twenty Seven captures his full range: both organic and synthetic, smooth yet floor-ready, always driven by heartfelt groove.
From the dreamy opener “You’re The Reason” featuring Mary Ann Alexander’s velvety tones, to the nostalgic glow of lead single “Where Are You Tonight” (feat. Dishaan & Mallika), the album unfolds like a love letter to house music’s emotional core. Highlights include the syrupy r&b/house hybrid “Afterlife” (feat. Dappest), the golden-hour deep house shimmer of “Call Me Back” (feat. Sahirah), and the soul-drenched “What Was It” featuring Jamal Bucanon. Closing track “Stay” wraps it all with soft-focus chords and a bumpy, irresistible groove.
Twenty Seven is a sophisticated and inviting journey across mood, tempo, and texture, showcasing NATE08’s gift for weaving melody, rhythm, and soul into music that speaks equally to the dance floor and the heart.
Straight from Detroit! With BP004 “Comeback City”, Biblical Proportion assembles a dream-team of Motor City pioneers and torchbearers: Thomas Barnett, Cloud Young, Suburban Knight and Biblical Proportion themselves. The result is a deeply rooted EP that feels like Detroit through and through – equal parts techno blueprint, house soul and street poetry.
Comeback City isn’t just a title, it’s a narrative. It’s about rebuilding, reimagining and reclaiming space, framed in crisp drum programming, thick low-end and shimmering synth work. Every track feels like a love letter to Detroit: tough but emotional, functional yet full of character.
From the shadowed dancefloors of Amsterdam comes mayo, the goth house queen, twisting her sound into something darker and funkier. Stripping it down, a minimalist machine of tension and release — basslines snapping, original vocals echoing into percussive shapes, and synths bending into warp zones.
It’s electronic funk at its most skeletal and seductive: lean, twisted grooves that hypnotize as much as they bombard your soul.
Equal parts underground ritual and late-night seduction, the tracks carve out a soundscape where house collapses into post-punk swagger, and funk mutates into something cold, magnetic, and utterly addictive.
Elations Recordings presents "Tairen", an evocative cello recording marking the debut solo release of Melbourne/Naarm-based cellist LEM (Lauren Meath). This deeply personal work is an impressionistic reflection on place, memory and self at the intersection of classical technique and folk sensibility; expanding Meath's lateral, avant garde approach to sound with piano and textural percussion, resulting in a work that unintentionally falls into the post-minimalist tradition.
Conceived as a single piece across five movements and recorded between 2022 and 2024, "Tairen" reflects on memories of a formative place and period for Meath. Each movement scores part of an imagined landscape, mirroring the cliffs and expansive southern ocean of the coastal Otway ranges, remembered and reinterpreted. While tied to a place and time, ultimately "Tairen" is an exploration and expression of self.
Each piece explores this landscape, retaining its own identity while unified by recurring themes, moods and motifs. Meath emphasises restriction in her approach, creating subtly shifting layers of slowly evolving cello lines with expressive unstructured free playing bursting out. In all but one movement ("Bird"), cello is performed in a single take, utilising joined looping pedals on a semi acoustic cello from luthier Paul Davies. Equal parts meditative and expressive, uplifting and melancholic, the instrument becomes a proxy for the human voice creating a work that is intensely beautiful.
While Meath has a background in classical and pop, LEM has always been a more interior, personal project on the boundaries of minimalism and folk; in the past only as a live project featuring only herself, taking a lateral approach to sound through bow, harmonics and voice. While built on this foundation, "Tairen" expands Meath's typically minimal live approach with piano ("Sky") and additional textural percussion. Produced and engineered by James Tom and Danny Smith and with additional percussion from Dylan Lieberman. Mixed and mastered by Cam Parkin.
South Street International return with the house goodness once again, reissuing Vick Lavender’s house anthem “The L.O.V.E. Song (From Chicago To New York)”. Originally self-released on his label Sophisticado Recordings by the Chicago producer and musician, this is one of those timeless deep house gems that’s become an underrated weapon for discerning DJs worldwide.
Lavender – known for his work with Glenn Underground as part of the legendary Strictly Jaz Unit – has been shaping deep and soulful house for over three decades, blending world music, jazz fusion, R&B and more into a sound that’s both spiritual and deeply rooted in the dancefloor. Here he brings the best of both cities into one track: the soulful musicality of Chicago, the cosmopolitan polish of New York. Warm Rhodes, fluid percussion, and vocal refrains ride over a groove that’s equally at home in a dark basement session or a sunrise terrace set.
With originals changing hands for eye-watering prices on Discogs, this official reissue makes this must have record accessible again. Lovingly remastered by The Bakehouse and presented on South Street International, This record is a must-have for fans of deep house, and anyone who believes in the eternal conversation between Chicago and New York.
Making his debut on Depth.Request, Duellist delivers Intensive Living - a fierce three-track statement inspired by the restless energy and chaos of modern city life. Reinforced by remixes from industrial heavyweights Orphx, Statiqbloom, and label co-founder G.xist, the EP captures the tension between control and collapse - where rhythm becomes ritual and distortion takes on a human pulse.
'Burn Your Way Out' opens with offbeat crunch and abrasive energy, setting a volatile tone. The title track 'Intensive Living' moves with rhythmic swagger and pounding drums, its momentum unwavering. 'Ritual Component' closes the originals with throbbing low-end pressure and hypnotic drive - the sound of machinery breathing.
On remix duty, Statiqbloom transforms 'Intensive Living' into a desolate, melodic descent, Orphx expand its framework into a widescreen rework charged with cinematic tension, and G.xist pushes 'Burn Your Way Out' into industrial hypnosis, fusing intensity and groove in equal measure.
Intensive Living stands as a hard-edged introduction to Duellist's world - precise, forceful, and fully alive in its urban grit.
Kucera & Delayed Sentence Present the Analog Rhythms EP
Scrap & Delete continues its trajectory as a home for uncompromising techno with the Analog Rhythms EP. A collaborative release from Kucera and Delayed Sentence that merges their respective strengths into a tightly honed four-tracker of futuristic machine music.
Opening cut "Analog Rhythms" sets the tone with raw propulsion and hypnotic focus. Anchored by a driving low end and jagged synth pulses, it balances grit with surgical control. A track built for long blends and warehouse immersion.
"Between Networks" dials into a more kinetic space. Its interlaced groove patterns, off-axis drum programming and haunting vocal grooves create a feeling of constant shift, evoking unstable connections and digital interference while maintaining absolute floor impact.
On "Synthax," the duo lean into sci-fi atmospheres. Bleeding-edge textures swirl through a thickly percussive dancefloor orientated framework, creating a dark yet spacious momentum that's equal parts cerebral and physical.
Closing cut "Twisted Ankl3" is the EP's most unhinged moment. A wonky workout full of broken signal bursts and twitchy rhythmic grooves. It's a subtly evolving sequenced post-industrial DJ tool, leaving dancers disoriented and locked in.
With Analog Rhythms EP, Kucera and Delayed Sentence showcase a shared vision rooted in sonic discipline, hardware fluency, and unrelenting energy. This is high-functioning techno at its most distilled. A perfect fit for Scrap & Delete's refined catalogue.
Ever developing his evocative style and dynamic sphere of influence, ASC's latest EP is afurther evolution of the atmospheric legend's repertoire that simply cannot be missed.
A1 - Everybody
ASC opens his latest Spatial EP in subtle fashion, classic genre effects punctuating anunsettling intro before deliciously crisp drums seize the stage and build continually with hi-hats generating an urgency to the vibe. A series of micro melodies delivered withtrademark technical flair float across stunning breaks, before a rousing baseline caps off asuperbly evocative mix which delights the listener and dancer in equal measure.
A2 - Seconds To Midnight
Straight in with a purposeful 808 bassline, ASC delivers another powerhouse display ofbreakbeat fluency, jumping between chunky, juddery drum patterns with a choppedversion of a lesser-used but very effective break sample last heard on ASC's very ownclassic, Polaris. Epic vocal effects surround Seconds To Midnight with a tense aura whilesuitably pitched strings and synth work are dusted liberally throughout the piece.
AA1 - Restless Dreams
Amen fans unite! ASC's love for the most classic of breaks shines through once againwith an enthralling workout for the ages. Introduced with eerie pad work and a solobassline, the atmosphere is crafted through a plethora of pads and samples while theamens thunder on with a detailed array of editing skills on show - thumping kicks andsnares keep the energy levels high bar after bar leaving nothing in their wake.
AA2 - Core Memories
A gorgeous female vocal opens Core Memories, a track which uses the classic breakfeatured on the first ever Spatial release, Force Majeure. Here, a refreshing set oftechniques are on show from ASC as he carves and chops the break to the tune ofcautious horns, highlighting the serene yet uncertain backdrop to a wonderfully varied anddetailed collage to close this distinctive and progressive EP from the label head.
Words by Chris Hayes (Spatial / Red Mist)
- A1: Jancen - Voided Oasis
- A2: Arthur Robert - Dyson Sphere
- B1: Vinicius Honorio - Tundra
- B2: A-Sts - Transit
- C1: Len Faki - Stardancer
- C2: Jeroen Search & Decoder - Fiber
- D1: Iglo - Paraphrase
- D2: Glaskin - User Illusion
- E1: Scheermann - Elura
- E2: Obscure Shape - Träume Im Nebel
- F1: Roman Poncet - Icelander
- F2: Arkan - French Kiss
Figure is celebrating its 150th release with a loaded triple vinyl compilation, showcasing artists both old and new to the label – a testament to what the Figure sound is today. The cover art has been commissioned from Berlin-based graffiti artist Erik Winkler, whose spray-painted work is adorning the thick triple-pocket sleeve housing three colored records.
The compilation features some important recent additions to our growing roster: both Jancen and Arthur Robert deliver their unique take on tunneling techno, be it searing or psychedelic. And Brazilian shape-shifter Vinicius Honorio carves out his own gliding bass frequencies while A-STS relies classic drum machine bleep hypnosis.
Label head Len Faki’s own energetic appearance echoes his versatile style found on his recent album release. The all-out production featuring strings and quirky synths sits in contrast with Jeroen Search & Decoder - a pairing of veterans, whose minimal hardware sound slowly builds over trippy acid loops. The flipside belongs to a younger generation of producers, namely IGLO turning out a superb techno roller teeming with life and lush with details. The duo of Munich brothers Glaskin already remixed Faki for his Fusion album, their first original release on Figure comes a skillful blend of distorted stabs and deep grooves.
Equally refined but with a harder edge to it, Scheermann practices a dark, minimalist approach where each element gets time to shine for maximum effect. His bleak track is aptly paired with a rare solo release of Obscure Shape whose fractures of a dreamy, twinkly melody make for one of the most emotional moments of the compilation. The final side holds Roman Poncet’s seasoned understanding of groove, balancing perfectly the dubby stabs and vocal chops for a dazzlingly perfect loop. The final tones to this milestone release come courtesy of another of Figure’s bright new voices: Arkan manages to conjure up a powerful sense of progression, where colourful synths converge in harmonies over an effortlessly bouncing beat.
It is a rare moment for an independent label to make to number 150. But to keep finding new talent who help re-shape the signature sound while expanding the family roster, that’s a true blessing. This package shows how Figure is growing and adapting as a label, staying relevant as one of the leading voices in modern techno.
Red Axes return with LOUD—their most explosive record to date. Blending post-punk grit, indie-rock swagger, and their signature electronic pulse, the duo deliver 13 tracks packed with raw energy, twisted hooks, and fearless experimentation. LOUD is restless, fearless, and wildly diverse - showcasing a band that never stands still.
Following over a decade of groundbreaking releases and genre-defying sets at Coachella, Glastonbury, Sónar, and Berghain, LOUD showcases Red Axes’ ever-evolving sound and genre-defying legacy. Drawing inspiration from acts like Amyl and the Sniffers, Viagra Boys, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Red Axes channel their roots in psychedelic rock into something gritty, loud, and deeply addictive.
Lead single Home "La La La” captures the hazy feeling of a night spiralling out—equal parts bliss and breakdown. From distorted riffs to hypnotic grooves, each track pushes Red Axes into thrilling new territory. From the surf-rock energy of “Church Avenue” to the pounding chaos of “Lava Lava,” LOUD spans moods, genres, and states of mind—but always hits hard.
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.
Mythology has a recurring theme: creating ambiguity by rearranging worlds and creatures that normally don’t belong together. Centaurs, Minotaurs, Hydras and so on: mockery and mystery intertwine into entities that are in equal parts magnificent and ridiculous. Referencing this idea in the present, Loris S. Sarid conjures 12 compositions simultaneously showing traits of dreamlike trap, candy-flavoured New Age and Spoken Word. The lines between spiritual and mundane, drama and parody are bent and questioned, used as raw material and treated with the same importance. Binding the work together is the sense of feeling peacefully lost inside a shuffling iPod, buried in a quiet zen garden inside a noisy shopping mall or vice versa. What connects Ambient music, which often anonymously swims into endless sleeping playlists with monthly subscriptions to well-being, to the mainstream output of commercial music? "Ambient $" doesn’t explore the social aspect of this question, but rather celebrates the beauty of its paradoxes. This album is the morning choir of forgotten NFTs, brewing lyrics in their binary exile. The television homily of a wrestler turned priest, turned influencer chef, then hermit and then rapper. Randomness is reclaimed as a human quality, and the aesthetics of mass music consumption are repurposed into a rather inexpensive guide to streaming-service-enlightenment.
What once slipped out under a veil of anonymity now steps into the light: the original mystery record was, in fact, Tuff City Kids. The duo’s playful fingerprints are all over it— equal parts homage and mischief.
Fast forward to today, and the circle closes with an EP that reimagines the spirit of that covert release, pushing it into sharper, modern focus. Where the first outing thrived on secrecy, this one thrives on revelation—same DNA, but recut for the present tense.
- A1: Disco Wich Aa
- A2: Nainan Da Pyar De Gaya
- A3: Par Toon Ki Janay
- A4: Pyar Mainu Kar
- A5: Aye Deewane
- B1: Soniya Mukh Tera
- B2: Mainu Apne Pyar Wich
- B3: Chum Chum Dil Nal
- B4: Ve Tu Jaldi Jaldi Aa
- B5: Dohai Ni Dohai
- C1: Disco Wich Aa (Peaking Lights Remix)
- C2: Turbotito & Ragz Featuring Piya Malik - Nainan Da Pyar De Gaya
- C3: Par Toon Ki Janay (Danger Boys Remix)
- D1: Nainan Da Pyar De Gaya (Psychemagik Remix)
- D2: Par Toon Ki Janay (Dexter+Franz Remix)
- D3: Mainu Apne Pyar Wich (Mystic Jungle Remix)
- D4: Disco Wich Aa (Baalti Remix)
Naya Beat is incredibly excited to announce the release of an astonishing lost “holy grail”, Mohinder Kaur Bhamra’s 1982 masterpiece ‘Punjabi Disco’. Unknown and inaccessible to even the deepest of diggers, it is the first British Asian electronic dance album recorded and a true lost relic. A chance find of the original multitrack masters during the Covid lockdown led to ‘Punjabi Disco’ being rediscovered. Lovingly mixed down and remastered from these very studio recordings, the reissue also includes remixes by Peaking Lights, Baalti, Mystic Jungle, Psychemagik, and Danger Boys, as well as a cover by Say She She’s Piya Malik and Turbotito & Ragz and a previously unreleased track. It is available for pre-order and out on x2LP vinyl and all digital platforms on October 31st, 2025.
Released the same year and into equal obscurity as ‘Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat’, Charanjit Singh’s acid house opus, the reissue of ‘Punjabi Disco’ is set to have similar reverberations in the world of dance music. Produced by Mohinder’s eldest son and legendary bhangra pioneer Kuljit Bhamra using a recently acquired Roland SH-1000 synthesizer and a CR-8000 CompuRhythm drum machine played by his then 11-year-old brother, the album was recorded at Roxy Music bass player Rick Kenton’s studio in London. The concept for a Punjabi disco album was subsequently stolen from the Bhamra’s by the very record label that had agreed to distribute the album. Eventually self-released with no label support, ‘Punjabi Disco’ vanished into complete obscurity.
A pivotal figure in British Asian music, West London-based vocalist and first-generation immigrant Mohinder Kaur Bhamra became the first woman to sing at Punjabi weddings and other community events in the UK. Her son, Kuljit, would accompany her, playing tabla at her events from the age of six. Wedding music was traditionally a tame, segregated affair: men and women seated and separated on opposite sides of the room. ‘Punjabi Disco’ was born out of a desire to create an unsegregated dancefloor and inspired by the sounds of disco from the era. A tapestry of electric drum rhythm, warbling bass, and psychedelic siren-like Roland synth melodies provide a vehicle for Mohinder’s powerful voice. Part disco, part funk, part acid house, and infused with Punjabi folk melodies, the sound of ‘Punjabi Disco’ is as mesmerising as it is undefinable.
Featuring an incredible gatefold package and exhaustive liner notes by the Guardian’s Global Music Critic, Ammar Kalia, the x2LP release has been cut to vinyl for the discerning listener and DJ by Grammy-nominated Frank Merritt from The Carvery, London.
This is Naya Beat’s ninth release in a series of reissues, remixes, and compilations dedicated to uncovering electronic and dance music from the subcontinent and South Asian diaspora.
Daniele Baldelli
Considered one of the first DJs in Italy, Daniele Baldelli began his career in 1969 mixing vinyl at the Tana Club in Cattolica (his hometown),
predating the birth of the modern DJ by several years. In the following years, he solidified his talent and technique at histor such as the Tabù Club, Baia degli Angeli, and Cosmic. From 1979 to 1984, Baldelli created his unique and eclectic style, blendi ic clubs ng seemingly distant sounds and musical styles, complementing them with tempo adjustments (bpm) and deliberately extreme equalization,
creating a truly distinctive sound, known as "Afro Disco." Soundscapes and tribal percussion blend with early electronic music experiments, and Baldelli's sets become truly mystical experiences, where, for the first time, the temples are replaced by the dance floor.
The documentary film "A Cosmic Life" has just been released, starring Daniele Baldelli alongside other illustrious guests from the nightclub scene, recounting the history and formation of this movement from the 1970s to the present.
Gaudi
A producer/musician among the most highly regarded on the international dub/electronic scene, over the past 30 years Gaudi, from his
London studio, has contributed significantly to expanding the boundaries of musical genres with high-profile releases and innovative
music production techniques. Recently nominated for a Grammy Award with 'Mass Manipulation', the album he produced for the reggae
band Steel Pulse, and also nominated for a World Music Award with his album 'Dub Qawwali' with Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali
Khan, Gaudi has collected a series of number 1s on the international charts: Billboard - with the album 'Heavy Rain' by Lee "Scratch"
Perry, 'Vessel of Love' by singer Hollie Cook and with 'Mass Manipulation' by Steel Pulse -, UK Chart n.1 with the album 'Prism' by the
band The Orb (with whom he has collaborated as a producer and keyboardist since 2008), with 'Blue Monday' - by Gaudi himself with
the band Dub Pistols -, UK Dance Chart n.1 with 'Jus Come rmx' produced with DJ Angelino for Cool Jack. He also reached no. 41 the UK charts with the album ‘Midnight Rocker’ by reggae singer Horace Andy (known to the general public for his hits with Massive in
Attack), no. 13 with the album ‘Dubwise 2’ by the band Dreadzone and no. 5 in the Italian charts with the song ‘Lasciala Andare’, written
by him for Irene Grandi. With 19 solo albums and 350 remixes and productions under his belt, Gaudi, with his artistic versatility, has
worked with Groove Armada, UB40, Simple Minds, Brian Ferry, Devo, Big Audio Dynamite, Damian Marley, Seun Kuti, Mad Professor,
Trentemøller, Grandmaster Flash ft KRS-One, Lamb, Don Letts, The Beat, Deep Forest, African Head Charge (in which Gaudi is a keyboardist and dubmaster), Elisa, Scientist, Dub FX, Roedelius, Caparezza, Caravan Palace, EMF, Sizzla, Jovanotti, Sly & Robbie, Piero Pelù, Youth of Killing Joke, and Maxi Priest, to name just a few. Capleton,
Daniele Baldelli & Gaudi
DJ Daniele Baldelli and producer Gaudi first met three years ago at the Jazz Cafe in London. Mutual respect and an innate need to
create new stylistic fusions were the catalysts for Baldelli and Gaudi, leading to a series of subsequent meetings that inevitably culminated in the need to create music together. The project began at Gaudi's Metatron Studio in London using analog equipment and later
moved to Baldelli's studio in Cattolica, where the two organically defined their sound, also inspired by Baldelli's precious record collection. The duo consolidated a powerful compositional symbiosis, and the project, born from a simple initial groove, later transformed
into an entire EP consisting of four original tracks and a highly innovative sound, featuring fusions of psychedelic-funk, tribal-dub,
electronic-disco, and, of course, "Afro-Cosmic"! Daniele Baldelli and Gaudi began their sonic collaboration without setting any stylistic
direction and with the intention of not creating pre-established goals to achieve; it is a project of pure artistic freedom guided by their
compositional instinct and their experience. Constantly active with their evenings and live concerts, Baldelli and Gaudi have performed
individually in many of the best international clubs and festivals.
Mieko Shimizu returns with a powerfully cinematic EP, Breathe Out 'Breathe Out' is an intricately crafted double offering that explores stillness and intensity in equal measure and further cements Mieko Shimizu's place at the forefront of experimental electronic music.
The new EP features two immersive tracks that showcase her signature blend of emotional depth and sonic experimentation. Opening with a soft exhale, unfolding slowly with airy textures and gentle pulses that create a sense of calm introspection. 'Breathe In' has a more urgent and restless tone, with shifting textures and a deeper emotional edge that draws the listener inward. Paired together, the two tracks form a striking contrast: Breathe Out will also be released alongside a captivating music video, featuring elegant and expressive movement by rising contemporary dance star Violet Savage, directed by diz_qo. Dropping alongside the visuals, this EP promises to captivate both ears and eyes.
BBC Radio 2 Support Live EP Launch Show in London, UK Press Campaign - with support from Electronic Sound, The Wire & Earmilk
Bringing together the elder statesman of the Zulu guitar Madala Kunene and internationally acclaimed Sibusile Xaba, kwaNTU pulls two generations of South African guitar mastery into a single point of focus. Under-represented on recordings outside of South Africa, Madala Kunene (b. 1951), the ‘King of the Zulu Guitar’, is revered as the greatest living master of the Zulu guitar tradition. Sibusile Xaba, whose collaboration with Mushroom Hour Half Hour reaches back to his first recording in 2017 (Open Letter To Adoniah/Unlearning), has garnered international acclaim for his unique voice and virtuoso guitar stylings, which bring together multiple South African guitar lineages in an original, spiritualised fusion. Collaborating with Mushroom Hour and New Soil for kwaNTU, the two players come together to weave a filigree sonic fabric which reaches down to the heartwood of Zulu guitar music but moves resolutely outward, building on the past to create a deeply rooted statement about present conditions and future travels. kwaNTU – which can be roughly translated ‘the place of the life-spirit’ – is also conclave of teacher and student, as Xaba has been taught by Kunene for the last decade. Meditative, rich and sonically sui generis, kwaNTU finds these two musicians linking up within the inimitable space of sound and spirit that they share through Kunene’s teaching.
The great masters of South African music have not all had equal exposure. For many years the generation of musicians who were exiled during apartheid took centre stage, as the regime made it very difficult for those at home to be heard. More recently, a new cohort of important voices, especially in jazz, has broken through to international consciousness. But for the generation of musicians in between – those who shone like beacons in the most difficult final years of apartheid and immediately afterward – international recognition has been slow in coming.
Madala Kunene, ‘the King of the Zulu Guitar’, is among this number. A revered figure for current generations of South African musicians, Kunene began his recording career in 1990, at the bitter end of apartheid, with a now classic self-titled LP for David Marks’ storied Third Ear imprint. Born in 1951 in Cato Manor, near Durban, he had determined to be a musician from early childhood, and by the time he first entered a recording studio he had already had a long career as a popular performer. His virtuoso absorption and transformation of the venerable Zulu maskanda guitar tradition and his richly spiritualised approach to music immediately marked him out as someone special, and in the years that followed, Kunene cemented his position as one of South Africa’s musical elders. He is without doubt the grand master of the Zulu guitar tradition, but his sound and sensibility ranges far beyond it into varied sonic terrain, and he has collaborated with a wide range of musicians both at home and abroad. Now in his mid-seventies, he remains a shining light for those that are making music in contemporary South Africa.
‘He is really an amazing person,’ says the guitarist Sibusile Xaba, who has been mentored by Kunene for over a decade, and now invites a collaboration with him on kwaNTU. ‘As a mentor, he's really powerful in showing us the way. For us to have this opportunity to make music together and have a project together is really a blessing to me.’
Xaba himself grew up in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, where his mother had been in a band and his father sang in a church choir, and from early childhood Xaba played homemade tin guitars. He only later realised that music was his calling. ‘I just loved music. I was fortunate. My parents loved music. And when it was time for me to leave home and go to study outside Newcastle, I knew that music was what I wanted to do. There was no second option. It was just music.’ Moving to Pretoria to study music formally, Xaba committed himself to his craft, developing a unique style that draws on both US jazz masters such as Wes Montgomery and Jim Hall, and the rich and varied heritage of the South African guitar, from inspirational jazz players such as Allen Kwela and Enoch Mthalane, to the music of the Malombo groups and Dr. Philip Tabane (Xaba has previously collaborated with Dr. Tabane’s late son, Thabang), and the Zulu guitar tradition embodied by Kunene.
‘I was really in love with the jazz guitar, I really admired it, and I was digging a lot in that direction,’ says Xaba, recalling his first encounter with Kunene’s music, over a decade ago. ‘And then one day on my timeline, Kunene popped up, and I was like – “What's this sound?” I was so connected to it. It really touched me deep. I started checking out his records, and then I found out he's from the same region as I am, which is Zululand.’ After Kunene played a show at the Afrikan Freedom Station in Johannesburg, Xaba make contact with him, and visited him at home in Durban. They struck up a friendship, and Xaba became the elder’s student, as Kunene began to pass on his knowledge and his inimitable way of playing.
kwaNTU is a tribute to this relationship and the deep learning that has defined it. The album was recorded in Zululand in the town of Utrecht, at a cultural centre called Kwantu Village, which gives its name to the album. ‘It's such a broad word,’ Xaba says, ‘but the elders teach us that Ntu is basically an energy, almost chi, an energy, a force that all living beings have within them. It's a living energy, so kwaNTU is like, almost the place of this energy.’ The two men sequestered themselves for five days of jamming, improvising and planning, and then the session was recorded in one take over a single night, with Gontse Makhene joining on percussion and backing vocals and Fakazile on vocals. Other voices and overdubs were later added in the studio in Johannesburg.
The result is a rich and meditative recording that finds two generations in a deeply engaged dialogue. Teaching and passing on his knowledge, the elder Kunene has brought Xaba into a space of sound and knowledge that they now share; Xaba’s own practice of deep communion with nature and his dedication to his musical craft make him the perfect interlocutor for Kunene. The result is an album that foregrounds the two musicians engaged at the highest levels of responsive listening, sympathetic unity, and collaborative concentration. Bringing an elder statesman of South African music to an international listening audience for the first time in decades by pairing him with one of South Africa’s most important new voices, kwaNTU is a meeting of generations and a powerful demonstration of musical lineage and continuity.
‘Before music, there is sound,’ Xaba observes, speaking of Kunene’s unique approach to music. ‘And sound is like a common compartment…it's not restricted to particular people or particular geographic places, you know what I mean? It's sound. Everybody can hear it. So when he constructs that sound into music, I think everybody resonates with the energy behind his construction of sound into song. Here at home, we really love him for preserving our history through the guitar, through his stories as well the music, the songs that he writes. We really, really admire him.’
- A1: Isolée - Beau Mot Plage (Freeform Reform Parts I & Ii)
- A2: Greenskeepers - Bang In Your Face?
- B1: Iz & Diz - Mouth (Brad Pepe Remix For Friends)
- B2: Markus Nikolai - Bushes (The First Re-Creation) (Version 1.2)
- C1: Folamour - Devoted To U
- C2: Crazy P - One True Light
- D1: Girls Of The Internet - When U Go
- D2: Sophie Lloyd Feat. Dames Brown - Calling Out
Following Volume 1, this second instalment of Classic’s 30th Anniversary series dives even deeper into the label’s visionary, genre-bending catalogue—balancing pioneering remixes, cult favourites, and future classics.
Once again, this 2x12” release is beautifully presented in a raw reverse board sleeve, a tactile nod to Classic’s earliest releases. Inside, are deep teal and green GMUND card stock inner sleeves with embossed detailing elevate the package into a collector’s item worthy of the music it holds.
Record One opens with one of the most revered remixes in house history. Isolee’s ‘Beau Mot Plage’ (Freeform Reform Parts 1 & 2), originally licensed from Germany’s Playhouse and lovingly reworked by Freeform Five’s Anu Pillai with a live ensemble. It’s a sprawling, euphoric journey that helped define Classic’s international reach and is still widely regarded as one of the greatest house records ever pressed.
Up next is Greenskeepers’ off-kilter banger ‘Bang in Your Face?’, showcasing the quirky, ‘G-swing’ sound for which James Curd and his crew became known for during their long-standing relationship with the label.
On the flip, Pépé Bradock’s jaw-dropping rework of Iz & Diz’s ‘Mouth’ takes center stage—a remix composed entirely from human sounds, equal parts sensual and surreal. Universally praised, it’s a masterclass in sonic innovation and remains one of the most acclaimed house remixes of all time.
The side closes with Markus Nikolai’s beloved ‘Bushes’, The First Re-Creation (Version 1.2) by Classic co founder Derrick Carter—a distinctive and maximalist edit that draws out the Latin horns, strings, and quirky vocals, turning a cult hit into a distinctly ‘Classic’ anthem.
Record Two captures Classic’s renewed energy in the 2010s.
Folamour’s ‘Devoted To U’ from his Umami LP is a 10-minute odyssey in groove—warm, progressive, and cinematic, with soaring piano lines and narrative richness.
Then comes Crazy P’s ‘One True Light’, shimmering with spacey textures, cosmic energy, and the deep, effortless groove the band has perfected over decades.
On Side D, we have Girls of the Internet’s lush and emotionally rich ‘When U Go’, blending soulful vocals with clean, spacious production that balances melancholy with movement.
Closing out Volume 2 is Sophie Lloyd’s now iconic ‘Calling Out’, featuring the unstoppable vocal force of Dames Brown. A modern gospel-disco-house anthem, the track glows with raw energy, live instrumentation, and spiritual fire—cementing its place as one of Classic’s defining moments of the last decade.
d B2. Markus Nikolai - Bushes (Derrick Carter's First Re-Creation) Version 1.2
d B2. Markus Nikolai - Bushes (Derrick Carter's First Re-Creation) Version 1.2
d B2. Markus Nikolai - Bushes (Derrick Carter's First Re-Creation) Version 1.2
d B2. Markus Nikolai - Bushes (Derrick Carter's First Re-Creation) Version 1.2
d B2. Markus Nikolai - Bushes (Derrick Carter's First Re-Creation) Version 1.2
- A4: Daniele Baldelli, Francesca Amati - Inner Light
- A5: Ruins - Sexual Desire
- B1: Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix)
- B2: Musclecars - Running Out Of Time
- B3: Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit)
- B4: Royalty - Heart Strings
- C1: Dirty Art Club - Daysleeper
- C2: Admiral - Soho Girl
- C3: Tom Sharkett & Raf Rundell - Where's It All Go?
- C4: Gina Calabrese - Nobody Lives Forever
- D1: Romolo Grano, Gianni Oddi & Edda Dell'orso - Kilimangiaro
- D2: Lndfk - Hana-Bi
- D3: Fitness Forever - Vederti Distante
- A1: System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (Feat. Reinen)
- A2: Flavia Fortunato - Se Tu Vuoi
- A3: See Thru Hands - Hot City
- D4: Piero Umiliani - Chaser
- D5: Stefano Torossi - Feeling Tense
White Vinyl[32,35 €]
System Olympia presents a bold, cinematic compilation that redefines the sound of sensuality. Love Language is an
18-track double-vinyl release pressed on deluxe heavyweight black vinyl.
It’s accompanied by a provocative, limited-edition 24-page fanzine, exclusive to 18+ audiences.
This is not just a compilation, Love Language is a manifesto. A carefully curated sonic journey through eroticism, artistic rebellion,
and liberation, it spans nearly five decades of music and features exclusive edits and rare gems that illuminate System Olympia’s
radical aesthetic vision.
****
Since her emergence on the electronic underground, System Olympia has carved out a distinct, sensual sonic universe, equal parts
vulnerable and defiant. With Love Language, she presents her most audacious project to date: a compilation rooted in what she
calls The Aesthetics of Sexual Desire in Sound.
It’s a daring declaration that desire is more than a feeling - it’s a language. Across 20 tracks, including her own sultry opener “The
Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN)” and a rare System Olympia edit of Working Men’s Club’s “Ploys”, this compilation speaks in
rhythms and textures that evoke longing, intimacy, and ecstatic release.
This is not a traditional compilation. System Olympia’s sequencing is cinematic and deliberate. Every track a scene in a film that exists
only in the listener’s imagination. From the retro-futurist seduction of Flavia Fortunato’s Italo gem “Se Tu Vuoi” to the deep, extended
tension of Musclecars’ “Running Out of Time,” each piece plays its part in an arc of anticipation, climax, and reflection.Uniting artists as diverse as Daniele Baldelli, Piero Umiliani, and DJ Rocca, Love Language refuses boundaries of genre, era, or
expectation. It dances between vintage Italo-disco, dreamy electronica, sweaty club tracks, and avant-garde jazz, forming a rich
tapestry of sound and sensation.
System Olympia explains, “This is music for lovers, outsiders, and dreamers. It's a rebellion made of velvet and
basslines.
The accompanying 24-page fanzine insert, restricted to adults, further deepens the narrative, with erotic visual fragments and
poetic texts that amplify the compilation’s raw, sensual energy. A tangible extension of the music’s spirit, the zine invites listeners to
step into Olympia’s world and engage their senses fully.
As much a provocation as it is a celebration, Love Language is a deeply personal curation and a radical act of creative freedom. It
champions eroticism as art, desire as dialogue, and music as a liberatory force.
a A1. System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN) 3:44
b A2. Flavia Fortunato - Se Tu Vuoi 3:38
c A3. See Thru Hands - Hot City 3:57
[d] A4. Daniele Baldelli, Francesca Amati - Inner Light [4:43]
[e] A5. Ruins - Sexual Desire [3:14]
[f] B1. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix) [5:13]
[g] B2. musclecars - Running Out Of Time [5:10]
[h] B3. Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit) [4:56]
[i] B4. Royalty - Heart Strings [5:05]
[j] C1. Dirty Art Club - Daysleeper [3:45]
[k] C2. Admiral - Soho Girl [4:14]
[l] C3. Tom Sharkett & Raf Rundell - Where's It All Go? [3:41]
[m] C4. Gina Calabrese - Nobody Lives Forever [4:40]
[n] D1. Romolo Grano, Gianni Oddi & Edda Dell'Orso - Kilimangiaro [3:55]
[o] D2. LNDFK - Hana-bi [1:55]
[p] D3. Fitness Forever - Vederti Distante [2:47]
[a] A1. System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN) [3:44]
[b] A2. Flavia Fortunato - Se Tu Vuoi [3:38]
[c] A3. See Thru Hands - Hot City [3:57]
[d] A4. Daniele Baldelli, Francesca Amati - Inner Light [4:43]
[e] A5. Ruins - Sexual Desire [3:14]
[f] B1. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix) [5:13]
[g] B2. musclecars - Running Out Of Time [5:10]
[h] B3. Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit) [4:56]
[i] B4. Royalty - Heart Strings [5:05]
[j] C1. Dirty Art Club - Daysleeper [3:45]
[k] C2. Admiral - Soho Girl [4:14]
[l] C3. Tom Sharkett & Raf Rundell - Where's It All Go? [3:41]
[m] C4. Gina Calabrese - Nobody Lives Forever [4:40]
[n] D1. Romolo Grano, Gianni Oddi & Edda Dell'Orso - Kilimangiaro [3:55]
[o] D2. LNDFK - Hana-bi [1:55]
[p] D3. Fitness Forever - Vederti Distante [2:47]
[a] A1. System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN) [3:44]
[b] A2. Flavia Fortunato - Se Tu Vuoi [3:38]
[c] A3. See Thru Hands - Hot City [3:57]
[d] A4. Daniele Baldelli, Francesca Amati - Inner Light [4:43]
[e] A5. Ruins - Sexual Desire [3:14]
[f] B1. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix) [5:13]
[g] B2. musclecars - Running Out Of Time [5:10]
[h] B3. Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit) [4:56]
[i] B4. Royalty - Heart Strings [5:05]
[j] C1. Dirty Art Club - Daysleeper [3:45]
[k] C2. Admiral - Soho Girl [4:14]
[l] C3. Tom Sharkett & Raf Rundell - Where's It All Go? [3:41]
[m] C4. Gina Calabrese - Nobody Lives Forever [4:40]
[n] D1. Romolo Grano, Gianni Oddi & Edda Dell'Orso - Kilimangiaro [3:55]
[o] D2. LNDFK - Hana-bi [1:55]
[p] D3. Fitness Forever - Vederti Distante [2:47]
[a] A1. System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN) [3:44]
[b] A2. Flavia Fortunato - Se Tu Vuoi [3:38]
[c] A3. See Thru Hands - Hot City [3:57]
[d] A4. Daniele Baldelli, Francesca Amati - Inner Light [4:43]
[e] A5. Ruins - Sexual Desire [3:14]
[f] B1. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix) [5:13]
[g] B2. musclecars - Running Out Of Time [5:10]
[h] B3. Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit) [4:56]
[i] B4. Royalty - Heart Strings [5:05]
[j] C1. Dirty Art Club - Daysleeper [3:45]
[k] C2. Admiral - Soho Girl [4:14]
[l] C3. Tom Sharkett & Raf Rundell - Where's It All Go? [3:41]
[m] C4. Gina Calabrese - Nobody Lives Forever [4:40]
[n] D1. Romolo Grano, Gianni Oddi & Edda Dell'Orso - Kilimangiaro [3:55]
[o] D2. LNDFK - Hana-bi [1:55]
[p] D3. Fitness Forever - Vederti Distante [2:47]
- A3: See Thru Hands - Hot City
- A4: Daniele Baldelli, Francesca Amati - Inner Light
- A5: Ruins - Sexual Desire
- B1: Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix)
- B2: Musclecars - Running Out Of Time
- B3: Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit)
- B4: Royalty - Heart Strings
- C1: Dirty Art Club - Daysleeper
- C2: Admiral - Soho Girl
- C3: Tom Sharkett & Raf Rundell - Where's It All Go?
- C4: Gina Calabrese - Nobody Lives Forever
- D1: Romolo Grano, Gianni Oddi & Edda Dell'orso - Kilimangiaro
- D2: Lndfk - Hana-Bi
- A1: System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (Feat. Reinen)
- A2: Flavia Fortunato - Se Tu Vuoi
- D3: Fitness Forever - Vederti Distante
- D4: Piero Umiliani - Chaser
- D5: Stefano Torossi - Feeling Tense
Black Vinyl[29,83 €]
System Olympia presents a bold, cinematic compilation that redefines the sound of sensuality. Love Language is an
18-track double-vinyl release pressed on deluxe heavyweight black vinyl.
It’s accompanied by a provocative, limited-edition 24-page fanzine, exclusive to 18+ audiences.
This is not just a compilation, Love Language is a manifesto. A carefully curated sonic journey through eroticism, artistic rebellion,
and liberation, it spans nearly five decades of music and features exclusive edits and rare gems that illuminate System Olympia’s
radical aesthetic vision.
****
Since her emergence on the electronic underground, System Olympia has carved out a distinct, sensual sonic universe, equal parts
vulnerable and defiant. With Love Language, she presents her most audacious project to date: a compilation rooted in what she
calls The Aesthetics of Sexual Desire in Sound.
It’s a daring declaration that desire is more than a feeling - it’s a language. Across 20 tracks, including her own sultry opener “The
Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN)” and a rare System Olympia edit of Working Men’s Club’s “Ploys”, this compilation speaks in
rhythms and textures that evoke longing, intimacy, and ecstatic release.
This is not a traditional compilation. System Olympia’s sequencing is cinematic and deliberate. Every track a scene in a film that exists
only in the listener’s imagination. From the retro-futurist seduction of Flavia Fortunato’s Italo gem “Se Tu Vuoi” to the deep, extended
tension of Musclecars’ “Running Out of Time,” each piece plays its part in an arc of anticipation, climax, and reflection.Uniting artists as diverse as Daniele Baldelli, Piero Umiliani, and DJ Rocca, Love Language refuses boundaries of genre, era, or
expectation. It dances between vintage Italo-disco, dreamy electronica, sweaty club tracks, and avant-garde jazz, forming a rich
tapestry of sound and sensation.
System Olympia explains, “This is music for lovers, outsiders, and dreamers. It's a rebellion made of velvet and
basslines.
The accompanying 24-page fanzine insert, restricted to adults, further deepens the narrative, with erotic visual fragments and
poetic texts that amplify the compilation’s raw, sensual energy. A tangible extension of the music’s spirit, the zine invites listeners to
step into Olympia’s world and engage their senses fully.
As much a provocation as it is a celebration, Love Language is a deeply personal curation and a radical act of creative freedom. It
champions eroticism as art, desire as dialogue, and music as a liberatory force.
a A1. System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN) 3:44
b A2. Flavia Fortunato - Se Tu Vuoi 3:38
[c] A3. See Thru Hands - Hot City [3:57]
[d] A4. Daniele Baldelli, Francesca Amati - Inner Light [4:43]
[e] A5. Ruins - Sexual Desire [3:14]
[f] B1. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix) [5:13]
[g] B2. musclecars - Running Out Of Time [5:10]
[h] B3. Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit) [4:56]
[i] B4. Royalty - Heart Strings [5:05]
[j] C1. Dirty Art Club - Daysleeper [3:45]
[k] C2. Admiral - Soho Girl [4:14]
[l] C3. Tom Sharkett & Raf Rundell - Where's It All Go? [3:41]
[m] C4. Gina Calabrese - Nobody Lives Forever [4:40]
[n] D1. Romolo Grano, Gianni Oddi & Edda Dell'Orso - Kilimangiaro [3:55]
[o] D2. LNDFK - Hana-bi [1:55]
[2:47]
[a] A1. System Olympia - The Heat Of The Night (feat. REINEN) [3:44]
[b] A2. Flavia Fortunato - Se Tu Vuoi [3:38]
[c] A3. See Thru Hands - Hot City [3:57]
[d] A4. Daniele Baldelli, Francesca Amati - Inner Light [4:43]
[e] A5. Ruins - Sexual Desire [3:14]
[f] B1. Midnight Magic - Beam Me Up (Eli's Mix) [5:13]
[g] B2. musclecars - Running Out Of Time [5:10]
[h] B3. Working Men's Club - Ploys (System Olympia Edit) [4:56]
[i] B4. Royalty - Heart Strings [5:05]
[j] C1. Dirty Art Club - Daysleeper [3:45]
[k] C2. Admiral - Soho Girl [4:14]
[l] C3. Tom Sharkett & Raf Rundell - Where's It All Go? [3:41]
[m] C4. Gina Calabrese - Nobody Lives Forever [4:40]
[n] D1. Romolo Grano, Gianni Oddi & Edda Dell'Orso - Kilimangiaro [3:55]
[o] D2. LNDFK - Hana-bi [1:55]
[2:47]
- A1: Yellow Days
- A2: Find A Way
- A3: Everyday Words
- A4: It’s Ok, Feel It
- A5: Windup
- B1: Get Along
- B2: Smile Today
- B3: Inner Meaning
- B4: Nostalgia
'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
Indulge in a delicious audiophile epilogue to Princess P's Infinite Sonore compilation with this 2x12" musical offering.
Swiss DJ Princess P, known for her wide-ranging selections, that resonates equally on the dancefloor and in immersive listening spaces, has been a dynamic presence in the Swiss electronic scene since the mid ’90s and has cultivated a genre-defying style. Her sets have become staples at clubs like Zukunft and festivals such as Watching Trees and Convenanza, where she showcases her iconoclastic musical knowledge and maverick flair.
Unearthed from the Crammed Discs vaults after nearly four decades (Originally recorded in 1987), a hidden gem finally sees the light. Maurice Poto Doudongo’s The Lost Album arrives on vinyl for the first time—limited to 500 copies, with printed inner sleeve featuring release notes and photographs.
Back in the hazy margins of late-’80s Brussels, where boundary-blurring sounds were seeping through the cracks of pop music, a young autodidact named Maurice Poto Doudongo was crafting music that didn’t quite belong to any scene. Born in Kinshasa and growing up in Belgium, Maurice was a sonic nomad—raised on Franco, Miriam Makeba, and Tabu Ley Rochereau, transfixed by James Brown and Prince, and shaped by the fertile collision between African music and experimental electronics occurring all around him.
Leaving school at 16 to concentrate on music full-time, he began recording on borrowed 4-tracks, using cardboard boxes for percussion, and absorbing whatever sounds the airwaves served him: “Music has no frontier,” he says. “You take what you like. Prince, Fela, Papa Wemba—there is no contradiction. It’s all part of the sound.”
The result? A record that’s equal parts analog drum machine funk, homegrown Afro-pop futurism, and new wave R&B-informed synth poetry. Marc Hollander, founder of Crammed Discs, met Maurice through his friend and associate, musician/producer Vincent Kenis and quickly recognized the spark. The two began working in earnest, preparing tracks intended for a full-length release that, for reasons lost to time and memory, never materialized—until now.
Marc remembers: “The album was never completely finished. “Bolingo” was the only track that came out on a Crammed compilation at that time… and the rest sat on the shelf for decades until we started opening the Crammed vaults.”
Maurice recalls the session as being, “like an unstoppable current”. Listening now, the Lost Album feels both of its time and well beyond it. While tracks like “Momo” sound not a million miles away from the slinky and sophisticated Balearic pop ambience of Wally Badarou’s Echoes album, "Passport Train" shakes itself loose of any genre boundaries, veering into free-form Afro-electronica and tough electronic rhythm. Others pulse with a sweet and soulful groove that suggests dance floors dreamed of but never reached.
In decades hence, Maurice never left music, and the music never left him. Now working mainly as an arranger, he describes his job as being like that of a musical psychologist: “Someone comes to me with their sound, and before anything I have to understand their mind and heart,” he explains. That same intuitive fluency can be heard across this entire album—music that listens before it speaks, that absorbs before it asserts.
This reissue is more than a remastering. It’s a second breath. Sourced from cassette roughs and 24-track demos, carefully restored with Maurice’s blessing, and released as a complete album on vinyl for the very first time, The Lost Album isn’t lost anymore.
It just took nearly 40 years to find its way to you. - Editions de Lux
On H008 Len Faki goes back to his crate for a unique journey through synth-led landscapes, carefully selected and bolstered up for the dancefloor.
Starting with 2000 And One - Edge Of No Return from the mid 2000s, when it was just a standout synth-line - no beats. The Hardspace Mix takes this masterclass in building tension, adds a driving beat and searing percussion while keeping the iconic synth-play intact -layered with big, booming bass for that full-bodied, dancefloor-ready energy.
The flip boasts two of longtime Figure-collaborator Viers' productions. Re-L, released almost 10 years ago, it delivered that unmistakable pulse of deep, dubby, shimmering synths. Hardspace picks up these potent elements and injects them with a new low-end, dramatic rises and tight rhythms, creating a high-energy yet hypnotic flow.
Equally energetic but much more brooding in atmosphere is the Hardspace version of Free Your Mind. An elusive original, this mix builds on dense percussion, subdued vocals and droning horns while carrying some seriously spaced-out acid synth textures. One for the wee hours and those special memorable moments in a set.
- 01: Tafese Tesfaye - The Dove &Amp; The Pigeon
- 02: Yetemwork Mulat - Heathen &Amp; Earth
- 03: Alemu Aga - The World Is But A Place Of Survival
- 04: Sosena Gebre Eyesus - Save Us From Our Death
- 05: Abiy Seyoum - The Last Judgement
- 06: Tafese Tesfaye - You Who Take Good Care Of Me
- 07: Sosena Gebre Eyesus - When I Say Your Name
- 08: Akalu Yossef - Who Can Doubt
- 09: Abiy Seyoum - We Are All Mortals
- 10: Yetemwork Mulat - The Second Coming Of Christ
- 11: Akalu Yossef - Our Father
- 12: Alemu Aga - Song Of Praise Played With A Plectrum
LP 2x12"[28,36 €]
The begena is a large ten-stringed lyre which is part of the traditional Amharic heritage of Ethiopia. The Amharas, who have long formed the politically and culturally dominant people of Ethiopia, mainly inhabit the central and northern part of the country. In the majority, they follow the monophysite Orthodox Tewahido Church established in the early fourth century AD.
Music plays a very important part in the life of the church. Most of the liturgy is sung and, contrary to secular music, it is accompanied by percussion instruments only. The begena occupies a special place because it is the one melodic instrument exclusively dedicated to the spiritual repertory. Because of its mythical origin, it is highly respected. Tradition holds that the begena was given to king David by God, and brought to Ethiopia by Menelik I, together with the Ark of the Covenant. It has always been the instrument of kings and nobles. Played by pious men and women of letters, it never became widespread. But it never disappeared either, not even under the Derg regime (1974-1991) which had banned the instrument.
Among Amhara string instruments, the begena is the most carefully crafted, especially with regard to the ornately sculpted crossbar. Its ten gut strings are cleaned and twisted several times. The characteristic buzzing timbre equalled by no other Amhara instrument is due to the enzirotch, that is, small bits of leather placed between each string and the bridge. This plays an important part in the sound production by creating a brief contact between the string and the upper rim of the bridge, thus modifying the vibrating properties of the string. In this manner, the spectrum of the sound is considerably enhanced (up to over 10 kHz).
The begena is a very powerful instrument, it keeps the devil thirty steps away, and its presence in the home wards off malicious spirits. Priests and preachers recommend its presence, especially during Lent (Fassika Tsom) when the Orthodox Amharas ponder their sins and repent. Because of its spiritual import, the begena generates intense emotion. According to some musicians, playing the begena brings them into direct contact with God or the Virgin Mary. The religious role of the begena is underscored by the shape of the instrument, each part symbolises an important element of the faith. The crossbar for instance, which reaches across the entire width of the instrument, represents God who is above all things. The belly which "gives birth" to the sound represents the Virgin Mary, and the ten strings recall the Ten Commandments.
Recorded by Stéphanie Weisser in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 2002-December 2005.
Mastered by Renaud Millet-Lacombe.
Issued under license from VDE-Gallo, Switzerland.
Blazing onto ICONYC for its 21st release, Swiss sonic alchemist Shiffer makes a striking debut with the magnetic All I’ve Been EP. Celebrated for his emotional finesse and innate ability to connect with unexplored corners, Shiffer’s latest creation, including a lucious collaboration with Paul Brenning and capped off by Jonathan Kaspar’s trademark rework, is a tantalizing suite designed to echo in our timeless halls.
The journey begins with Shiffer & Paul Brenning’s opening manifesto, “All I’ve Been”, a track that unfurls with both confidence and caution, as if self-aware from its very first beat. Mechanical whirs and fractured frames give way to low-end swells that drive forward with an unrelenting undertow. Brenning’s unmistakable vocals start to break a warmer ground as they linger in the liminal space between today and tomorrow before slowly growing in gravitas. Suddenly, the piece begins to contort, drawing spellbinding figures as arresting arrangements and melodic flourishes allow for decompression. Imbued with a tantalizing breakdown that amplifies their exquisite use of negative space, “All I’ve Been” is a fascinating and intimate take that feels as expansive as it ever could.
The follow-up, “Urban Legends”, takes a bolder stance. Anchored by heavy drum programming that carves its place with deliberate force, the track is haunted by ghostlike vocal fragments that lend an unsettling, cinematic edge.. Out from the left field, Shiffer deploys undulating synthetics that intertwine with consummate ease as they glide under the spotlight. An alluring act that treads unhurried and unconcerned, “Urban Legends” operates at its own pace, far from the demands of a world lost in the metropolitan hustle, allowing us to bask in a lore of things that might or might never have happened.
Closing the release, ICONYC calls upon Cologne innovator Jonathan Kaspar, who delivers a singular reinterpretation of “All I’ve Been”. Immersed in iridescent textures, Kaspar layers lush, swelling pads over pulsing low frequencies, their ebb and flow punctured by flashes of distortion that spark like electric currents.. Reflective and equally immersive, Jonathan Kaspar’s take on “All I’ve Been” pushes the collaboration into a brash new terrain while retaining the spiritual ethos intact
A one-off 12” from New York’s early 80s boogie underground, Hustlin’ Time was the only single released under the name American Steel. Originally pressed in 1983 on the small but cult Silver Screen Records label, it’s become a rare find for collectors and a secret weapon for DJs in the know.
Built around a strutting bassline, tight drums, and soulful vocals, Hustlin’ Time captures the essence of the boogie sound at its peak, equal parts funk, disco and electro. The 12" delivers four distinct takes: the full vocal, a shorter edit, a stripped-back instrumental, and a Dub mix courtesy of Aldo Marin under his S.U.R.E. Shot alias. Marin would go on to become a fixture in NYC remix culture, and his early touch here brings a raw dancefloor edge.
A 140 gram pressing in 3mm spine black disco sleeve with labels and sticker designed by Bradley Pinkerton.
- A1: Tafese Tesfaye - The Dove &Amp; The Pigeon
- A2: Yetemwork Mulat - Heathen &Amp; Earth
- A3: Alemu Aga - The World Is But A Place Of Survival
- B1: Sosena Gebre Eyesus - Save Us From Our Death
- B2: Abiy Seyoum - The Last Judgement
- B3: Tafese Tesfaye - You Who Take Good Care Of Me
- C1: Sosena Gebre Eyesus - When I Say Your Name
- C2: Akalu Yossef - Who Can Doubt
- C3: Abiy Seyoum - We Are All Mortals
- D1: Yetemwork Mulat - The Second Coming Of Christ
- D2: Akalu Yossef - Our Father
- D3: Alemu Aga - Song Of Praise Played With A Plectrum
Cassette[16,18 €]
The begena is a large ten-stringed lyre which is part of the traditional Amharic heritage of Ethiopia. The Amharas, who have long formed the politically and culturally dominant people of Ethiopia, mainly inhabit the central and northern part of the country. In the majority, they follow the monophysite Orthodox Tewahido Church established in the early fourth century AD.
Music plays a very important part in the life of the church. Most of the liturgy is sung and, contrary to secular music, it is accompanied by percussion instruments only. The begena occupies a special place because it is the one melodic instrument exclusively dedicated to the spiritual repertory. Because of its mythical origin, it is highly respected. Tradition holds that the begena was given to king David by God, and brought to Ethiopia by Menelik I, together with the Ark of the Covenant. It has always been the instrument of kings and nobles. Played by pious men and women of letters, it never became widespread. But it never disappeared either, not even under the Derg regime (1974-1991) which had banned the instrument.
Among Amhara string instruments, the begena is the most carefully crafted, especially with regard to the ornately sculpted crossbar. Its ten gut strings are cleaned and twisted several times. The characteristic buzzing timbre equalled by no other Amhara instrument is due to the enzirotch, that is, small bits of leather placed between each string and the bridge. This plays an important part in the sound production by creating a brief contact between the string and the upper rim of the bridge, thus modifying the vibrating properties of the string. In this manner, the spectrum of the sound is considerably enhanced (up to over 10 kHz).
The begena is a very powerful instrument, it keeps the devil thirty steps away, and its presence in the home wards off malicious spirits. Priests and preachers recommend its presence, especially during Lent (Fassika Tsom) when the Orthodox Amharas ponder their sins and repent. Because of its spiritual import, the begena generates intense emotion. According to some musicians, playing the begena brings them into direct contact with God or the Virgin Mary. The religious role of the begena is underscored by the shape of the instrument, each part symbolises an important element of the faith. The crossbar for instance, which reaches across the entire width of the instrument, represents God who is above all things. The belly which "gives birth" to the sound represents the Virgin Mary, and the ten strings recall the Ten Commandments.
Recorded by Stéphanie Weisser in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 2002-December 2005.
Mastered by Renaud Millet-Lacombe.
Issued under license from VDE-Gallo, Switzerland.
Slippery1 caused quite the ruckus on the floor and here, arch slippery customer Harri Pierson returns, along with some equally slick sidekicks...
So, four more eclectic, leftfield dance chops for your turntables.
Assembled with care and an eye for the esoteric - one limited press. This 12" has been mastered with love by the Grammy award-winning Frank at the Carvery for maximum dancefloor punch.
VINYL ONLY !
Gesloten Cirkel is back with a blistering new 4-track release. Known for his uncompromising sound, he dives effortlessly into stroboscopic acid with the title track and the ruthless "Heisinprison," while delivering near-tearjerking industrialized house with the summer-tinged jams "F-unkz3" and "Breaking The Lamp." The Acid Puke EP oozes equal parts dystopian rave energy and twisted melodic bliss. This is Gesloten Cirkel at his most focused and feral.
Swedish underground maestro Jo Bubbles (a.k.a. Jonas Dahlström) boasts an impressive streak of hot dance 12’’ releases in recent years, for illustrous labels like Parkway Records, The Transient Nature of The Disco Business and Västkransen. Ever intent on lifting homegrown talent and presenting it to its
worldwide audience, Studio Barnhus proudly unveils Mr. Bubble’s first outing on the label: a compilation of four distinct, yet equally striking dance tracks, each showcasing meticulously curated sound palettes paired with undeniably rock solid grooves.
From the electroid stomp of Compass Point to the Balearic-leaning grandeur of closing track Tu Cariño, these are cuts that would have gone down a storm during the early morning hours at Hägring, the infamous, now-defunct disco rave Jonas helped steer for over a decade. We’re thrilled to release these babies into the wild, for all to enjoy. Tu Cariño is out on vinyl and digital formats on October 10.
- A1: Flava D X Mphx Paige Eliza - Blush
- A2: Flava D - Blackwall Tunnel
- A3: Flava D X Anaïs X Dread Mc - Entertainer
- A4: Flava D & Emz - Fluent
- B1: Flava D & Solah - Can't Get It Back
- B2: Flava D, Nu Tone, Slay & Eva Lazarus - Frequency
- B3: Flava D, Paige Eliza & Drs - All We Ever Do
- C1: Flava D & Logan Olm - The Function
- C2: Flava D & Unglued - This Is A Roller M8
- C3: Flava D - Reesey Thing
- C4: Flava D & Charlotte X - Antidote
- D1: Flava D, Slay & Driia - Circles
- D2: Flava D & Lauren Archer - The Cycle
- D3: Flava D - Do U Want Me
- D4: Flava D & Mandidextrous - Keeping Me Up
Having established a reputation as one of the most versatile and respected producers in the game - with over a decade at the forefront of UK bass music, spanning UKG, grime, bassline and drum & bass, Flava D needs no introduction. Now, with her debut drum & bass album Here & Now, she levels up once again, channelling years of dancefloor know-how into a project that's as weighty as it is emotionally dialled-in.
A self-proclaimed fan of Hospital Records from the age of 14 - the first drum & bass CD she ever bought being 'Hospital Mix Vol. 1' - Here & Now marks a particularly paramount milestone for the Bournemouth-born beatmaker. Across 15 tracks, Here & Now captures the breadth of Flava D's musicality, offering a bass-charged, genre-spanning statement that's rooted in experience but tuned into the present moment. With a star-studded bank of collaborators, including MPH, Anais, Unglued, SOLAH and more, the album highlights Flava D's curatorial ear and the strength of her network across the scene.
At its core, Here & Now is a meditation on presence - a fresh, fearless chapter from one of the UK's most consistently innovative producers. The album is equal parts masterful and functional, giving fans what they came for while revealing new layers of Flava D's ever-evolving sound. Through its stacked line-up of collaborators, Here & Now also connects voices who are helping shape the future of dance music, from the underground up.
Shining lights in London’s queer electronic underground, prolific duo FAFF make their debut on Phantasy with the ‘A Few Good Days’ EP, featuring three tracks reverberating the smudged euphoria of the capital’s rave scene, both past and present. Drawing equally on peak-time club catharsis and the emotive experimentation of golden-era IDM and electro, these recordings meld the pair’s diverse DJ sets and ambient live work, which has captivated festivals including Draimollen, Field Maneuvers, and Body Movements.
The title track, ‘A Few Good Days, ’ melds hypnotic percussion, snatches of vocal euphoria, and a stuttering break for instant post-rave afterglow. Its wandering but compelling arrangement subtly invokes and updates the pioneering aesthetic of One Dove, Sabres of Paradise, or even William Orbit. The tempo tilts skywards for ‘Tracy’s Night Out’, a peak-time display of FAFF’s studio prowess that fuses choral techno drama with a shamelessly bouncing bassline designed to tear up any respectable sound system. Emerging from the sweat and strobes for a wide-eyed stroll home, ‘Tracy’s Daydream’ wishes away the EP with delicate, textural delight, floating gently on pure analogue reverie.
London based label Natural Selection present their forthcoming release in the form of a 4-track 12" EP, courtesy of Swarm Intelligence, entitled "Radiance". Mastered by Alain Paul and cut by Simon at The Exchange Vinyl. Record Sleeve and labels printed to premium specification, featuring artwork by Kaan Ulgener.
Born in Dublin and now firmly based in Berlin, Simon Hayes aka Swarm Intelligence has cemented his place in the Techno underground with critically acclaimed LPs and EPs on labels such as 47, Instruments of Discipline and Voitax. He returns to Natural Selection, after releasing his track "Generative" on the label's latest VA release; "Natural Selection: Selected Works Vol. 1" in 2024. Featuring amongst an extensive list of heavyweight label affiliates such as SHXCXCHCXSH, Charlton, ASEC, Nørbak, MAEDON, Annie Hall & more. After further connections with the label via live performances at their regular label nights at FOLD London, it was inevitable that Simon would be invited to release a solo EP on their imprint.
His distinctive sound comes from over a decade of releases spanning multiple genres and tempos and oscillates between rhythmic noise, tense atmospherics, uncompromising levels of distortion, and stark, astute beats. This resolutely non-conformist approach to his productions has earned him a reputation as a true trailblazer in the realm of Techno and has led him to perform at some of the world's finest institutions including Berghain, Tresor and Basement NY.
For "Radiance", Swarm intelligence delves further into the sonic unknown, presenting a bold evolution in his uncompromising vision of Techno. Deep, fragmented textures form the backdrop for thunderous, distorted rhythms and IDM-laden drums and percussion, fused with meticulously designed cinematic soundscapes and powerful low-end muscle. Fierce, unrelenting, and deeply conceptual, all rules and boundaries are smashed to pieces and all tracks are equally suitable for blasting through the world's biggest club systems and rigs as they are for home listening.
Next up on Bosconi, the ever-persistent Italian outpost helmed by DJ sorcerer Fabio della Torre, comes a bold new chapter from label mainstay Lapucci—a familiar name to heads who remember his trippy debut Levitated Sensor Detector (LSD).
With Level of Control, the Florence-based Burbi Dub dubplate conjurer delivers a four-track EP that travels across moody electronics, psychedelic grooves, and off-world rhythms.
Kicking off the A-side is “Radio Controller”, a dark and melodic new beat jam with deep ‘80s roots—think obscure synths, rolling drum-machine funk, and a haunting vocoder line that crackles like forgotten transmissions.
Next up, “Einstein”. This one’s a jacking electro-techno burner, all drive and tension—built for those peak-time moments where things feel like they could go off the rails. There’s a cinematic sense of anticipation here, a nod to the cosmic weight of relativity and dancefloor gravity.
Flip to the B-side for “Level of Reality”—a trance-soaked electro weapon, laced with a screaming guitar-like lead and a soaring, emotional melody. It’s peak-time power with sunrise sensitivity—equal parts rave and revelation.
Closing things out is “Irabijanti”, a stripped-back, hypnotic afterhours tool with a fresh, effortless groove. Subtle nods to Middle Eastern scales and rhythms give it a dreamlike, drifting feel—like getting lost in the dunes of some alien desert.
Another must-have from the Bosconi mothership—Lapucci pilots us further out, not with a bang but with a slow magnetic pull into somewhere weird, warm, and wired.
Hard Times and DJ Spen go back decades. The Baltimore house veteran has long been a fixture at the label’s parties, on the remixes, and now under his Muthafunkaz alias he cements the bond with a set that’s as much a time capsule as it is a renewal. The Muthafunking Hard Times EP revisits a clutch of Spen’s early-to-mid-2000s jams that, till now, have never been committed to wax. True to form, Spen hasn’t simply dusted them off: he’s remastered, refreshed, and imbued them with a 2025 gleam, bridging past and present in one irresistible sweep.
The A-side opens with the Funkee Kole Cappin’ Mix of 2008’s “(You Make Me Say) Woah!”, a gospel-fired stormer whose call-and-response vocals climb skyward while a cheeky Fab Four nod keeps things buoyant. “Holy Ghost” follows in its Holy Spirit incarnation, wringing church-floor catharsis from tribal percussion and sanctified chants - a blast of kinetic, almost Faya Combo-like fervor.
Flip the record and you’re hit with the swing and strut of 2010’s “Gotta Hold On Me,” Spen’s Vocal Mix turning horns and jazzy drums into a pure adrenaline surge. The closer, “Doin’ The Best I Can,” is a tonal shift: harmonica and guitar sketches circling loose-limbed beats, equal parts after-hours reverie and Sunday-morning balm.
Too vibrant, too joyous, too Spen not to press - The Muthafunking Hard Times EP isn’t just archival housekeeping. It’s an affirmation of what house music does best: uplift, electrify, and remind you that, even decades on, the spirit still moves.
The sixth vinyl release from Goodbye Royalty, titled "No Script," is a vivid embodiment of multifaceted creativity. The album is filled with conceptual experiments that reflect the artist's years of experience. The genre palette, ranging from minimalism to Electro-Breaks, will surprise both seasoned diggers and casual audiophiles, offering a unique musical journey. The title track "No Script" is infused with an atmosphere of universality and depth. Acusmouse creates a ritualistic immersion, a whirlwind that draws the listener into the depths of consciousness. The contours of percussive spaces are repeatedly revealed from new angles. Music becomes more than just a collection of sounds; it transforms into a genuine experience that leaves a mark on the soul. "Alfa" by Interpolarm embodies mysterious and simultaneously mystical imagery, where the main strength lies in harmony and balance between rational canvases. The fresh dance form and recognizable sound of the duo provide a better perspective on their evolution from early Minimal Techno with Acid House to romantic Micro House, where the collective liberates itself from heavy energies. On the B side, Information Ghetto takes the lead. Through an equal blend of psychedelia and humor, the artist creates a cohesive concept for fans of broken rhythm based on two tracks. The formula is simple: a mix of trip-hop, electro, and breaks, analog synthesizers, and soft bass that brings dusty mechanisms of the eternal engine to life. The graphic design has been developed by the unique artistic collective Recycle group. Vinyl owners can expect a true surprise-a secret message that can be revealed by focusing a smartphone camera at the main image of the apple. This serves as an additional portal into the world of the future. Just install the Recycle Group APP on your device beforehand.
MCRV017 – Transient States. Feedback is an evocative four-track compilation that captures the deep essence of dub techno—equally suited for the dancefloor and for immersive, focused listening. Label veterans Eric Louis, Genning, Osman Oz, SUBMINIMAL (with a Tvardovsky remix), and Etzu Mahkayah all contribute. From the very first listen, the EP draws in discerning ears with its richness and detail.
Each track unfolds smoothly, evoking deep emotional textures and building a sensuous, introspective atmosphere. The release moves from subtle cues to vast sonic terrains, weaving through warm harmonics and resonant low-end thumps that captivate the body as much as the mind.
These tracks are ideal for transitional moments in a DJ set, yet stand strong on their own. Whether elevating the narrative arc, introducing mid-set tension, or closing a journey with emotional depth, each piece functions as a zealous tool for navigating sensation—crafted not just for movement, but for lasting memory.
Transient States exudes quiet power beneath a deliberate veil of restraint. Emotionally charged, sonically rich, and full of nuance, this release is a standout addition to any selector’s arsenal.
Limited edition
Bushwacka! returns to Nu Groove with ‘House Sounds, Vol. 2’, continuing his acclaimed series on the pioneering NYC label. This four-track vinyl release sees the London underground stalwart dive deeper into his expansive sound to deliver another set of expert cuts for discerning selectors.
On the A-side, ‘Jack The Groove’ opens with a driving rhythm and irresistible bassline, while ‘Middle Channel’ flows with hypnotic polyrhythms, fusing vintage Nu Groove influences with Bushwacka!’s unmistakable touch.
Flip it over and the aptly named ‘House Muzik’ is an unfiltered homage to the genre’s raw essence. Closing this eclectic selection is ‘Two Times’, with its punchy percussion and deep synths creating a groove-laden record that’s equal parts nostalgic and forward-thinking. With ‘House Sounds, Vol. 2’ Bushwacka! delivers another essential collection for crate diggers and dancefloor newcomers alike, reaffirming his status as one of house music’s true craftsmen.
Blue Album[22,65 €]
Two Seminal albums from cult Ghanaian musician Alhaji K. Frimpong and his group the Cubano Fiestas, recorded in 1976 and 1977 respectively and considered to be some of the best highlife albums ever recorded, at the pinnacle of West African musical tradition and innovation.
Both originally self titled, they have become known by the colour of the covers - Blue and Black respectively. The Blue Album brings new arrangements to traditional Ghanaian melodies and features the masterpiece Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu (come back my love) - universally known in Ghana, covered and sampled by artists such as Chronnix, Gnarls Barkley and many more. The Black Album expands the electronic elements and features the equally visionary Hwehwe Mu Na Yi Wo Mpena, although the real gem is hiding on the B side: the extended groove of “Adam Nana”. Sinuously evolving guitar lines, clavinet vamps, harmonised vocal snatches and otherworldly percussion expand and contract over a full quarter of an hour - a Ghanaian repost to the Afro Jazz experiments going on at the same time on the other side of the Atlantic. Although popular in Ghana at the time of the release, the albums were never distributed internationally and original copies of the album are extremely rare.
The albums got a limited reissue in 2011 and have been unavailable since - even reissue copies sell for high prices on the second hand market
Scannoir. After their previous releases as ½GOTT and GOTT on Uncanny Valley and some remixes, the duo returns with a third solo EP, marking their first appearance on the Berlin-Basel-based label Reach Another System. Their passion for EBM, Synth Pop, and New Beat comes to life with a fine array of classic drum machines and FM-synths, topped with Teutonic lyrics and archival samples. The A-side opens with a bang: "Magnet" critiques social expectations and pressures, backed by hard-hitting snares and tom fill-ins in Front 242 fashion. Next up, "Tschernobyl" warps the listener back to 1986 – a musical report of the Soviet nuclear disaster. Equally dystopian, the B-side hymn "Matrix Leben" depicts life inside a structured system that continually shapes and restricts us. The final track "7 Minuten" pushes the limits of restless staccato EBM madness. Mission accomplished!
Ahead of the release of Hollie Cook’s fifth studio album, Shy Girl, the anthemic, feel-good title track and rootsy chugging ‘Frontline’ take either side of a 7” single.
Woven with tight grooves, beautiful vocals and catchy melodies, Hollie’s forthcoming album hears her more confident and open to vulnerability than ever before. The title track of the album ‘Shy Girl’ is a buoyant and elastic slice of lovers rock. It was written in a moment of spontaneous intuition, and bubbles with a charisma and positivity that Cook radiates. “I’m not a natural show-off,” Cook explains. “The Shy Girl theme is me. It’s just about being my most vulnerable self and being as true to the music that love as possible.” Doused in Hollie’s signature “tropical pop” sound, ‘Shy Girl’ is grounded in a vibrant bassline and classic off-beat reggae guitar struts. Hollie’s dreamy vocals radiate warmth and tenderness in equal measure, adding to the song’s soft-hued embrace.
The deep roots flavour of ‘Frontline’ takes the B side. Complete with raking electric guitar lines, a dubby bassline and weighty horn section, it’s a powerful cut that’s both ethereal and empowering. Wearing her heart on her sleeve with this beautifully melancholic piece of songwriting, Hollie opens up through her lyrics with an emotional depth and striking honesty.
Archeo Recordings is a record label. Old, lost, obscure and forgotten gems and a boundless focus on the new Balearic scene for a wider audience of collectors, DJs and music lovers. All releases are limited edition. This release is the second in a series of EPs on which the label's favourite contemporaries pay homage to past masters for ‘10 Year Anniversary’. 4 new Remixes: limited edition on black vinyl (AR032). With the first volume still singing out both in our ears and on our turntables, Archeo Recordings lifts the veil on the second chapter of its celebratory EP series - another shimmering tribute to the timeless and the timely. Once again, the torch is passed to a new ensemble of sonic sculptors, who delve into the archives and emerge with reimagined treasures, equal parts reverence and reinvention. Philosopher and musical polymath Riccardo Giagni made his name as a cultural curator for RAI TV and radio, before lending his expertise in ethnomusicology as a studio musician and songwriter. Originally released to little fanfare and long overlooked until its Archeo reissue in 2019, his 1988 debut LP Kaunis Maa is a masterwork of Balearic ethno-jazz - a guitar-led journey through imagined geographies and dreamt-up dialects. Its closing track, Passeggera, pairs Mediterranean nylon with synth halos, sampled percussion, and the unplaceable vocals of Matia Bazar’s Antonella Ruggiero, singing not in language but in emotion. Now, Claremont 56’s Paul Murphy aka Mudd lends his gentle hand to the piece, reworking its al fresco fusion into something even more languorous. Highlighting the South American sway hinted at in the original, Mudd introduces jazzy synth flourishes, airy percussion, and occasional organ bass, casting the piece anew as a hammock-swung hymn - less a remix than a relocation, from the hills of Lazio to the lush gardens of Mudd’s imagination.
Archeo Recordings is a record label. Old, lost, obscure and forgotten gems and a boundless focus on the new Balearic scene for a wider audience of collectors, DJs and music lovers. All releases are limited edition. This release is the second in a series of EPs on which the label's favourite contemporaries pay homage to past masters for ‘10 Year Anniversary’. 4 new Remixes: limited edition on black vinyl (AR032). With the first volume still singing out both in our ears and on our turntables, Archeo Recordings lifts the veil on the second chapter of its celebratory EP series - another shimmering tribute to the timeless and the timely. Once again, the torch is passed to a new ensemble of sonic sculptors, who delve into the archives and emerge with reimagined treasures, equal parts reverence and reinvention. Philosopher and musical polymath Riccardo Giagni made his name as a cultural curator for RAI TV and radio, before lending his expertise in ethnomusicology as a studio musician and songwriter. Originally released to little fanfare and long overlooked until its Archeo reissue in 2019, his 1988 debut LP Kaunis Maa is a masterwork of Balearic ethno-jazz - a guitar-led journey through imagined geographies and dreamt-up dialects. Its closing track, Passeggera, pairs Mediterranean nylon with synth halos, sampled percussion, and the unplaceable vocals of Matia Bazar’s Antonella Ruggiero, singing not in language but in emotion. Now, Claremont 56’s Paul Murphy aka Mudd lends his gentle hand to the piece, reworking its al fresco fusion into something even more languorous. Highlighting the South American sway hinted at in the original, Mudd introduces jazzy synth flourishes, airy percussion, and occasional organ bass, casting the piece anew as a hammock-swung hymn - less a remix than a relocation, from the hills of Lazio to the lush gardens of Mudd’s imagination.
2025 Repress
More than once Jay Richford and Gary Stevan’s Feelings has been described as the greatest library record ever released. Of course Be With can’t be seen to be playing favourites, but we have to admit, it’s pretty good. Insanely rare and immensely sought-after, it’s a tough funk, street jazz masterpiece coveted for many years by collectors of all musical genres.
Since its original release on Italian label Carosello in 1974, Feelings has appeared on several labels with different sleeves and even under a different artist. Indeed cult library label Conroy put it out in one of their iconic red sleeves in 1976 and yes, Feelings has indeed had more than one modern re-issue since these “original” releases. But a record this special deserves to be kept in press and we think it deserves the Be With treatment.
No, Jay Richford and Gary Stevan aren’t two of the most Italian sounding names. As the story goes these were the pseudonyms adopted by Stefano Torossi and Giancarlo Gazzani who wrote the album but couldn’t use their real names on the original release for legal reasons. But Stefano Torossi himself later both clarified and confused the tale further by explaining that Feelings was the work of four people not just Gazzani and himself. Fellow composers and musicians Sandro Brugnolini and Puccio Roelens also worked on the album and as Torossi himself explained “we all worked together”, with all four gents “dividing the royalties in equal parts… that’s the story.” Right, so, with that all sorted out let’s get back to talking about the music. And what music it is.
Long hailed as a holy grail of library music, Feelings is the epitome of the sort of cinematic orchestral jazzy funk that is “that 70s library music sound”. Infectiously funky, deliciously melodic and with impeccible, elegant production, this record is the showcase for a stunning set of compositions and arrangements and with performances that are nothing short of virtuoso.
The record’s first side lifts off with “Flying High”, soaring brilliant and shimmering. Funk licks, menacing strings and swaggering horns combine for an ice-cold intro groove that Isaac Hayes would surely have envied, before the steady-paced drums deliver the slo-mo TKO. The string-drenched cop-funk of “Going Home” raises the tempo. All funky quick-fire bass lines and killer electric guitar soloing. A real thriller.
“Walking In The Dark” positively drips in blaxploitation-funk drama strings and horn struts, all laced with delicate drums, velvet piano and more filthy wah-wah. “Fighting For Life” is another funk-fuelled workout built around an effortlessly relentless drum track that refuses to give up until even the stiffest-necked head is nodding.
The loping, open drum break that guides the much-loved “Feeling Tense” through its early stages would be good enough on its own. The heavy bass gloss, swirling strings and ominous horns that follow take things to the next level.
The second side opens with another favourite “Running Fast”, and the track does precisely that. This is one fine rollicking chase theme underpinned by frenetic (yet funky) Fender Rhodes and skipping bass and drums. Those sweeping strings are a gorgeous extra. It’s a deliciously feel-good groove that sets the heart racing.
“Loving Tenderly” envelops us in warm, velvety night-time vibes with easy listening horns and slinky strings dialing up the seduction. Definitely one for the lithe lovers out there. The pace picks up on the electrifying “Fearing Much” where strings dart around deep bass, buzzing guitars and another funky drum break. The lush, melancholic “Being Friendly” is another easy beauty, all warm Rhodes and strings. Majestic stuff that puts an aural arm around you. The climactic “Having Fun” rides a pulsating, bass-heavy drum break with snatches of a funky guitar refrain, some luxurious keys, sweeping strings and triumphant horns. Sensational.
2025 Repress
For the second installment of its renewed imprint, Fuse's own in-house resident and one of Belgium's proudest exports Phara takes the reins for a deep dive into thick percussion and vibrant club landscapes. 'The Wall' puts current dance music under a microscope with a brush of truly vintage spontaneity, merging techno's confrontational nature with house's harmonic genuineness. This duality is reflected through Phara's own relationship with his home base Fuse and the complementary contrast between its two rooms.
The EP's title track serves as a hypnotic introduction for the A1, imposing a bass-heavy rhythm and a persistently oscillating synthline. A dense production full of energy, 'The Wall' inspires intrigue throughout its duration, revealing its true intentions through a capable sound system. Sharing the first side of the press is 'Blaes 208', a name that Fuse club goers will likely recognise, that guides the listener from effect into embrace. With lush keys echoing past a comforting drum sequence fit for a close-eyed dancefloor experience, Phara's impactful tendencies meet his affinity for the melodic through a blissful six minutes of crowd to selector connection. Switching sides, a return to a cold cold aesthetic is quickly apparent through 'Hush Now 206'. A pummeling, saturated bass competes with a kick of equal effect, rolling through a storm of metallic stabs. Mastering the message of urgency, Phara presents a lightshow of resonating percussive work, defining his space just to cut right through it. To close out with a lasting impression, the producer mutes the acoustics of his work through razor-sharp sound design dotting along playful snares, a duality reminiscent of the dynamism of Detroit electro. 'Motion Steps', referring to the stairs that ascend from Fuse's main room to its more left-field counterpart, captures the atmosphere of the almost shimmering music that can be expected to be played there; a place where Phara and many others have been known to explore the extremities of their music. He swiftly throws in melodic elements to recontextualize an otherwise pressing composition, and after three chapters of considerable weight, he concludes his record with infectious groove that flaunts technical ability.
Loz Goddard steps into new sonic territory on his Physical Education debut—delivering four machine-driven cuts rooted in analog hardware sounds, with high-energy rhythms and dancefloor intent. Leaving behind the sample-heavy textures and live instrumentation of previous releases, this EP leans more into synthesizers and drum machines, channelling the pulse of classic club gear with plenty of added bounce. Subtle nods to the sounds and moods of 90s and early 2000s video games add a nostalgic digital sheen—balancing playfulness, drive and warmth in equal measure.
Four forward-thinking jams from a seasoned producer.
Limited vinyl pressing coming soon on Baldo’s Physical Education label.
A1 - Course Of Action
Opening the EP with a thoroughly entertaining, unique breakbeat workout of the ilk we've come to appreciate from Eusebeia, we are treated to sharp snares ripping into the mix backed by a lethal apache break dripping with old school appeal. An ever-evolving atmosphere is guided by intense vocal samples and shimmering synth backdrops, interspersed with intense melodies and darkly effects to complete a mesmerising collage of sound.
A2 - Embracing Imperfection
Next up we see Embracing Imperfection, a sci-fi inspired track littered with a detailed myriad of synthwave-esque melodies, transporting you to an ethereal episode of the X Files as Eusebeia flexes atmosphere and breaks intertwined with synths and whooshing FX. The breaks are superbly effective as ever with distinctive cymbal hits and echoed samples adding flecks of detail to an impressive composition.
AA1 - Point Of Isolation
A tense introduction punctuated by a reverberating melody evoking enigmatic mystery slowly unfolds, as Point of Isolation displays Eusebeia's diverse repertoire of breakbeat editing techniques. Darting metallic snares and deep kicks & basslines ebb and flow, a tangled maze of rippling energy lifted straight from the soul. This track is equally suited to the headphones and the dancefloor, causing ructions to both.
AA2 - Soul Searching
Closing the EP, Soul Searching sees Eusebeia release a gradually enveloping system of seductive breakbeats, twisting and intertwining with a whole host of vivid soundscapes delivered through pulsing synthwork and jostling micro-melodies. Throughout the track, the distinctively thick breaks are the true star of the show, encompassing the sensibilities of Spatial perfectly. Until the next time.
Words by Chris Hayes (Spatial / Red Mist)
The session that Clarence Daniel featured Obie (Young) Jessie on as the vocalist, consisted of three marvelous jazz/soul tracks. Two sides sold very poorly on release on the Modern subsidiary Affiliated in 1966. However, early in the next millennium, ‘Hard Working Girl’ was picked up and played by retro DJs to great acclaim. The demand for the few, scarce existing copies, rocketed the price, thereby leading to Kent re-releasing it.
The third recorded track at the session, was equally excellent, so we have taken the opportunity to release ‘Got A Good Thing Going On’ on vinyl as a Kent Select 45 for its many fans. With ‘Hard Working Girl’ now deleted and still needed by more recent converts, it makes for a great new release.
From the dark, reverberating echoes of Kadinjaca Hill to the relentless march of Odjek Koraka, each track reverberates with an intense energy that speaks of defiance and unity in the face of adversity. Pad Okova is driven by a haunting chord that cuts through the pounding beat like a sharpened blade, while Tebi, Moja Dolores brings a haunting melancholy to the battlefield, encapsulating the unyielding spirit of the resistance movement.
Every beat in this EP is infused with the underground force of techno, laced with the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice. The artwork - stark, militant, and gritty - reflects the uncompromising ethos of the partisan fighters, drawing a direct line between the sounds of today and the ideals ofthose who fought for a better tomorrow.
In an ever-expanding musical universe, Azymuth have long existed as a celestial giant, drawing countless artists, musicians and followers into their orbit. Marking fifty years since their 1975 debut album Azimuth, their new album Marca Passo proves that the band’s alchemic brew of Brazilian jazz-funk and cosmic samba soul remains as vital as ever, as the group honours the profound legacy of their departed founders.
Recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Marca Passo is the first full-length release since the passing of founding drummer Ivan "Mamão" Conti in 2023, following the earlier loss of keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami in 2012. Alex Malheiros, the sole remaining original member, sees his stewardship of the band’s musical legacy as his spiritual duty. He is joined by the equally devoted Kiko Continentino (Milton Nascimento, Djavan) on keyboards, who has been with the group since 2016, and new recruit Renato Massa (Marcos Valle, Ed Motta) on drums.
Yet since their earliest recorded music, Azymuth have always been far greater than the sum of their parts. The "three-man orchestra’s" unmistakable sound is rooted in Brazil's MPB studio scene of the 1970s and early 1980s—a time when artists blended traditional Brazilian rhythms with global jazz, rock, and emerging psychedelic and progressive elements. Marca Passo continues this legacy, seamlessly fusing Brazilian musical traditions with global influences while showcasing the exceptional musicianship that powers Azymuth's distinctive, multi-dimensional sound.
The album is produced by studio mastermind Daniel Maunick, responsible for Azymuth’s two previous studio albums, Fênix in 2016 and Aurora in 2011. Daniel’s credits also include albums by Marcos Valle, Sabrina Malheiros and Terry Callier. Azymuth also invited Daniel’s father, British jazz-funk royalty Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick, of Incognito, to play guitar on a new version of Azymuth’s eighties classic “Last Summer In Rio”, in tribute to the song’s composer, José Roberto Bertrami. Equally, “Samba Pro Mamao” is a new composition dedicated to Azymuth’s beloved original drummer, Ivan “Mamão” Conti.
Credits:
Alex Malheiros - Bass, Acoustic Guitar & Vocals: 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Kiko Continentino - Keyboards, Organ, Vocoder & Vocals: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Renato Massa - Drums & Vocals: : 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Ian Moreira - Percussion: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Sidinho Moreira - Percussion: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10
Dudu Viana - Keyboards & Vocals: 1
Victor Bertrami - Drums: 1
Mangueirinha - Repinique: 3
Jean Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick - Electric Guitar: 5
Jose Carlos Bigorna - Soprano Sax: 9
Daniel Maunick: Additional Percussion, Synths & EFX: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Produced, Engineered, Mixed & Arranged by Daniel Maunick
Co-Produced & Arranged by Alex Malheiros
Executive Producer: Joe Davis
Recorded by:
Daniel Maunick & Leonardo Vieira @ Estúdio Nos Trilhos, Santa Teresa, Rio, Brazil
Daniel Maunick & Amadeu Signorelli @ Sigstudio, Niterói, Rio, Brazil
Daniel Maunick & Alex Malheiros @ Estúdio Basslab, Piratininga, Rio, Brazil
Mixed by Daniel Maunick @ The Sugar Shack, Carluke, Scotland
Artwork & Design: Tyler Askew
Subtil welcomes back French producer VENDi for its 29th release, Zndya EP - a three-track collaboration featuring BH2M and T.N.O.
Built on tight grooves, layered textures and spacious atmospheres, the EP blends minimal foundations with genre-fluid ideas and detailed sound design.
The title track Zndya, produced with T.N.O., opens with a fusion of stripped-back minimal and cosmic synth work, drawing influence from Nordic space disco. Arpeggiated leads and a steady, motorik groove stretch the track into wide, cinematic territory — functional and trippy in equal measure.
Session Height, co-produced with BH2M, shifts into peak-time mode with a rolling groove of syncopated basslines, cascading synth delays and chopped vocal fragments.
On the flip, Session Four, also in cooperation with BH2M, closes the EP on a jazzier note. Its full-spectrum sound design — from tight percussion to scattered melodic elements — plays out like organized chaos, balancing deep grooves with intricate detail.
With Zndya EP, VENDi delivers a focused and versatile record that fits naturally into the Subtil catalog — refined, functional and full of character, equally suited for peak-time tension or late-night introspection.
Radio City EP marks the vinyl debut on DOTS. Music, showcasing three distinctive cuts from Dutch producer Pascal Benjamin, along with a standout remix by Argentinian artist Alexis Cabrera. Built around tight grooves, warm analog textures, and playful percussive details, the EP captures a rhythmic, dynamic, and dancefloor-ready energy.
Opening the A-side, Radio City blends sexy chord stabs with Rhodes keys and tiny vocal fragments that lock effortlessly into the groove. Cabrera’s remix flips the original into funkier territory, adding a gliding bassline, electric guitar riffs, and an irresistibly rolling swing that complements the original’s flow while offering a fresh twist.
On the flip, Rewind explores a more underground dimension with sharp drum programming, subtle acid touches, and chopped vocals. A groovy, short-note bassline drives the rhythm forward, while deep chords make the track equally effective in afterhours sessions or peak-time club sets.
Flat Sprite closes the EP with a forward-driving acid hook riding over rolling snares and synths — a functional groove weapon with hypnotic momentum.
With Radio City, Pascal Benjamin delivers a tightly curated selection that merges minimalistic sound design with groove-driven charm — a confident debut that balances functionality with character on the dancefloor.
Seoul-based producer and DJ Yetsuby conjures immersive, layered soundscapes that glide between breakbeat, jungle, and leftfield bass. As one half of the duo Salamanda and co-founder of Computer Music Club, she has released music on labels like Wisdom Teeth, all my thoughts, Human Pitch, and Métron. And her boundary pushing sets on Seoul Community Radio, Boiler Room, and NTS Radio have brought her experimental Seoul roots to a global audience.
Her new album, 4EVA, invites listeners to wander through strange musical landscapes. Blending digital, analog, and acoustic sounds, Yetsuby explores the magnetic pull between people and music—an experience that feels both cosmic and deeply personal. Effortlessly weaving through genres such as bass, breakbeat, ambient, footwork, contemporary club, and IDM, she creates maximalist compositions that remain cohesive and refined.
The inspiration behind 4EVA is equally surreal. A childhood doodle from her sister, calling her a “brain-ful human,” sparked reflections on loneliness, togetherness, and the joy of navigating both. The album channels these themes of connection, introspection, and the transformative power of music, delivering catchy melodies and restless harmonies that invite listeners to lose themselves in its nuanced rhythms.
Out on Pink Oyster Records in LP and digital formats, 4EVA marks a bold new chapter for Yetsuby. With this release, she emerges as one of electronic music’s most original and exciting voices, defining the sound of Seoul’s underground—and beyond.
Pink Oyster is a new label from Jess Goodchild and Jack Hardwicke (Métron Records)
Acclaimed musician, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Kutiman returns with 'Dreams In Aspamia' - a stunning new 6-track EP of dreamy, instrumental cinematic funk, rich with trip-hop, jazz, and global music textures. Best known for his visionary fusion of groove, psychedelia, and visual art - Kutiman crafts a hypnotic journey here: jazzy guitars, double bass, analogue keys, and otherworldly manipulated vocals flow through lush, panoramic arrangements that recall Khruangbin, El Michels Affair, SAULT, and BADBADNOTGOOD.
This strictly limited one-off pressing comes on deep purple coloured vinyl with a hallucinogenic full-colour sleeve designed by Berlin-based artist Philipp Carbotta. Meticulously mixed by longtime collaborator Obas Nenor, it's a bold yet meditative listen - equally suited for audiophile immersion or chilled late-night sessions.
The 10th release on Frenzy marks a milestone, and we're celebrating it with a true legend at the helm.
We're thrilled to welcome Marco Bailey to the label, a name deeply woven into the fabric of techno for decades. His latest work, the "Hollow Cry EP," is a six-track statement reflecting both his legacy and continued evolution as an artist.
Across four original tracks, Marco channels the tension, urgency, and emotional gravity that have defined his sound over the years. From gritty low-end power to cinematic builds and hypnotic repetition, these tracks are built with intent - to move bodies, challenge minds, and hold the floor in their grip.
The journey doesn't end there. We've brought in two key remixers to reinterpret Bailey's vision through their own lenses: The Advent, an undisputed cornerstone of the genre, delivers a groove-laced rework that's equal parts punch and finesse - a masterclass from a true pioneer; and Kaiser, one of the most distinctive voices in today's generation of techno artists, strips things down and dials up the pressure with a deep, percussive take that hits with precision.
We're proud to host Marco Bailey for this special chapter in the Frenzy story, and we invite you to dive deep into this powerful body of work.
"Hollow Cry EP" is built for the late nights, the flashing strobes, for those who know.
Earl Jeffers is no stranger to crafting effective, big-hearted sounds. He's got plenty of them dropping in the early part of 2025 too, and all of them are slightly different but equally effective. This latest drop on the Melange Archives label was originally released back in 2013 and starts with 'Monster (feat Kofi Tarris)' which is raw-as-you-like house music at a slow and steady pace but with such energy in the chords and funky guitars that it will blow up any club. 'Thunder & Lightning (feat TOG)' lands a little more heavy. There is garage swing in the drums and plenty of expression in the vocal stabs. Two bombs, for sure.
Veteran Japanese electronic music producer, AKIO NAGASE, a leading player in the Kansai underground music scene since the late 1990s teams up with Yukino Inamine, a gifted and young female singer from Okinawa who magically mixes traditional Ryukyu (Okinawa) folk songs with her sanshin (Okinawan Shamisen) playing into the modern age, to create this wonderful collaborative album, Yugafu ai KAJI. This album is set to be released on GLOCAL RECORDS, a record store/ record label run by Genta Minowa, an ex-staff at the record store, Disc Shop Zero in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo and who still continues to introduce a great selection of dubby, club music from his HQ in Harajuku.
AKIO NAGASE regularly organised parties at his own venue, as well as ran a record store of the same name while actively being part of the Kansai scene at legendary clubs such as Tsuru no Ma, Sound Channel, etc., the best of what was offered in the Kansai underground dance scene in the 2000s.
As an artist, he released his own productions out of labels such as Sound Channel and RUDIMENTS run by Minowa. His album, Make Dub was released in 2003 out of the label, Sound Channel featured an innovative, techno meets dancehall track, Dance Hall King which connected techno, acid house with reggae and dub. This album is an undiscovered gem whose sound still emulates freshness and originality today (my wish is for it to be reissued on vinyl!) After a brief hiatus of releasing music, he released the EP, Delusion out of Chillmountain Records, a label run by his friend, Ground in 2018 and at his own leisurely pace, he has been slowly but surely releasing material that oozes originality, expressed through a robust acid sound and a variety of elements such as afro and Ryukyu folk music that is then incorporated into the medium of dub. Recently, he has also started to gain international attention by releasing original material and remixes out of labels such as the UK label, Emotional Especial, etc.
For this album, NAGASE teams up with Yukino Inamine who brings her own distinctive singing and sanshin playing magic into this collaboration and they fuse electronic music sounds with Ryukyu folk songs to create this wonderfully imaginative album that has no precedence or equal. Apart from the song, Ishikawa Koiuta, all other songs are covers of Ryukyu folk standards that were handpicked by NAGASE from the repertoire of songs that Inamine regularly performs live. They met up when NAGASE was commissioned to remix one of her original compositions, Miyagi Kaigan that was released in 2023 and that evolved into a collaboration with a concept that mixed Inamine singing Ryukyu folk standards with a backing tracks produced by NAGASE. Whenever she went to the the Kansai area, she would work on the basic track material created by NAGASE at the dub master of Osaka, Soulfire’s studio, HAV who would then additionally edit her takes to create the finishing tracks.
This album, Yugafu ai KAJI opens with Shirahamabushi, a track that slowly builds with an interesting mix of slow acid techno and sanshin and then moves onto the easy-going electro dub of Tinsagu nu hana (it is actually a cover of the track of the same title that first appeared in the label sampler, Comuni ó n Especial that was released on Emotional Especial. NAGASE initially wanted to feature Inamine on vocals for this track but due to scheduling issues, it did not happen but with good fortune, the new version of this track is now included in this album). A side closes with the optimistic Balearic sounds of Tsuki nu Kaisha that converges immaculately with slow-mo steppers. It is also worth noting that the person who introduced NAGASE to Inamine was the Okinawa dub master, HARIKUYAMAKU. They met at a concert held by both him & Yukino Inamine hosted by BUN BUN THE MC at the venue, RAGGA CHANNEL. From this encounter, this album came into fruition and they also asked HARIKUYAMAKU to produce an earthy, traditional rootsy, dub version of Tsuki nu Kaisha that is included as the 3rd track on the B Side.
Ashimizubushi, the track that magically blends old school Chicago house ala TRAX with Ryukyu folk music starts off the B side and it carries on to an uplifting track with a Skaouse (ska + house) feel, Hounen Ondo. Inserted after HARIKUYAMAKU’s dub of Tsuki nu Kaisha, this album closes out with the song, ‘Ishikawa Koi Uta’, the only song written by Inamine who said that she wrote it after falling in love with chill-out music. It is an ambient dub track with a collage like flavour, reminiscent of early The Orb (remixed by Mad Professor) and the latter half of the track finishes off with a message presented by Masao Itokazu (her uncle) who received tutelage from the prior owner of her sanshin that Inamine plays, Moritomo Inamine (her grandfather).
Incidentally, the album title, YUGAFU ai Kaji is derived from an auspicious word from Okinawa, Yugafu which means fruitful year, happiness, prosperity and ai (indigo) is a word that Yukino found inspiration few years ago (she wears a Okinawan indigo clothing called kinonuno in the front cover of this album).
The unique indigo colouring produced by nature overlaps with the unique charm of the human personality, and she wanted to present that current along with the music so the name was integrated to ‘indigo wind’, and the two were connected to form the album title, ‘YUGAFU ai Kaji’.
The photo of the front cover was taken by a young, Uchinaanunishie—- (meaning a boy from Okinawa) 17 year old photographer named Ratio and the designer of this album is Anmonaito who is a childhood friend of Inamine who also did the artwork for her album, Miyagi Kaigan. And the mastering and cutting of this album was done by Rei Taguchi.
The cosmology existing in Yukino Inamine’s singing is fully amplified by AKIO NAGASE’s spacey, abundant with many ideas, dance machine beat~ambient music and all of these elements are organically linked by the adhesive effect of dub.
Lee Humphreys and Evasive head honcho Rob Pearson returned to the imprint for their 2nd EP together as Lovable Rogues. This followed on from their first collaboration which launched Evasive Records : Look Into Your Eyes / Chica / Twilight Manouvres (EVA001)
For this Ep Rob travelled out to work with Lee in the depths of the German countryside at Lee’s Tofu Studios. EVA003 delivered 3 more tasty underground cuts for main floors and urban warehouse spaces and pleased all the right DJ movers and shakers in the year 2000. It now finds favour in 2024 with Tech House connoisseurs hungry for that early South London Tech sound.
Time Zones delivers some peak time twisted year 2k Tech. Swirling ear candy synths and tripped out almost acidic twangs are the order of the day. A head nodding bass combines with the filtered and sample triggered vocal phrase ‘Eternal Energy Music’. As if the production pair were indeed clairvoyants able to look ahead and prophesize the future state of underground dance floors some 20 years later! This cut has since become a classic requested early noughties gem for those in the know.
On ‘Integer’ Lee Humphreys rides solo to showcase his unique talent and slick production sound. Driving filtered percussion elements and an infectious bass combine with ‘Body Grooving’ vocal cuts and eerie reverse synths and sounds. Lee basically hit this track out of the park here so Rob had no choice but to request this cut and it was snapped up for the EP.
‘Thursday’ see’s Rob & Lee back on the joint production for some Tech Funk shenanigans that are ‘sure to get you high’. Not sure what Mr Humphreys was on to allow Rob to play the lead keyboard solo on this funk fuelled excursion but it stills sounds fresh over 2 decades later.! A very different vibe that has not been equalled or surpassed on Evasive since.
- A1: Danou P - The Flex
- A2: Danou P - On My Own
- B1: Danou P - Spirit
- B2: Danou P - Bronstige Bakvissen
Danou P Serves Up Deep, Funky Heat with his 'In The Brine EP' on Definitive Recordings.
Rotterdam-based producer and DJ Danou P delivers a standout four-tracker with 'In The Brine EP,' released on Definitive Recordings. Known for his warm, soulful and funk-infused take on house music, Danou channels raw rhythm and musical flair into a collection that feels both classic and freshly personal.
Opening track 'The Flex' sets the tone with stomping deep house drums, playful chord stabs, and clever vocal sample play that gives it a raw, jacking feel. It's got attitude and groove in equal measure. 'On My Own' keeps things rolling with a classic deep house bassline, gradually introducing a soulful vocal loop that blossoms with the arrival of shimmering synth layers. Danou brings emotion without ever losing grip of the dancefloor.
Next comes 'Spirit', flipping the rhythm into broken beat territory. Another catchy vocal sample rides alongside vibey, jazzy stabs, offering a breezy, uplifting moment that's both heady and driving. It's the kind of track that sneaks into your set and ends up stealing the show. Rounding out the release is 'Bronstige Bakvissen', a deep and moody closer built on a heavy, rolling groove and rich classic house chords. It's stripped back but full of warmth, closing the EP with a nod to soulful late-night sessions.
Best known for his work alongside Jamie 3:26, and with releases on Glitterbox, Tru Thoughts, and Soulfuric Trax, Danou P is steadily building a solo catalogue that's as musical as it is danceable. His 'InThe Brine EP' is a bold step forward, out on Definitive on July 25th 2025.
Berlin-based artist and label head Tom Peters returns to his techno-focused imprint ...isserving with IS011 - CAN U, a refined four-track vinyl-only release that channels groove,hypnosis, and physical intensity in equal measure.
The EP opens with "CAN U", a deep yet propulsive cut built around metallic percussion,textured synths, and a haunting vocal hook. Its stripped precision and subtle emotionalcharge reflect Peters' evolving sound-somewhere between warehouse minimalism andlate-night transcendence.
Ketch, from the SYXT collective, reimagines the title track with raw drive and rhythmicprecision. His remix sharpens the low-end punch while unfolding layers of atmospherictension that feel both industrial and intimate.
On the flip, "Control Conscious" dives deeper into Tom's hypnotic palette-dark, groove-heavy, and cinematic in its design.
Steffi's remix closes the EP with her signature blend of deep techno and Detroit-infusedswing: warm chords, tight percussion, and a dynamic arrangement that nods to bothemotion and functionality.
Pressed on 140g black vinyl in a limited run of 300 copies, CAN U EP encapsulates thecore spirit of ...is serving-techno with groove, depth, and emotional intelligence.
- A1: Cloud Nine
- A2: I Heard It Through The Grapevine
- B1: Run Away Child, Running Wild
- C1: Love Is A Hurtin’ Thing
- C2: Hey Girl
- C3: Why Did She Have To Leave Me (Why Did She Have To Go)
- C4: I Need Your Lovin’
- D1: Don’t Let Him Take Your Love From Me
- D2: I Gotta Find A Way (To Get You Back)
- D3: Gonna Keep On Tryin’ Till I Win Your Love
The Temptations Get High on Psychedelic Soul: Cloud Nine Soars with Ambitious Arrangements and Production, Features Standout Vocal Performances and Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers
The Temptations’ Cloud Nine announced that Motown — and “The Sound of Young America” — would never be the same. Influenced by the emergence of cutting-edge rock and pop currents, as well as increasing sociopolitical turmoil, the album broke down barriers between rock, psychedelia, and soul while heralding the arrival of visionary arrangements and production techniques. Bookended by traditional R&B numbers, the 1969 record sent the Temptations in bold new directions and signaled the advent of psychedelic soul.
Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45PM 2LP set presents Cloud Nine in audiophile sound for the first time on a domestic pressing. This collectible reissue bestows Norman Whitfield’s extraordinary production with the grand-scale dynamics, natural tonality, expansive openness, and low-end weight it deserves. The timbre of each of the five members’ voices is readily identifiable — even within the group harmonies — bestowing a realism never experienced outside the recording studio.
Making its debut on 45RPM, the album further benefits from the wide groove space by playing with greater separation and more realistic presence than prior editions. Everything from the brassiness of the horns to the dry snap of the snare comes across with reference-grade clarity and positioning. And since Motown’s renowned Funk Brothers backing band plays on many of the cuts, you’ll want to savor every note. The imaging, soundstaging, and organic bloom-and-decay of the notes make that possible.
Amid Cloud Nine, the instrumentation and architecture stand out as much as any element. Never before had a Motown album contained such ambitious patterns and complex passages. Seemingly conscientious of the departure from their past methods, the Temptations and Whitfield bunched together the tracks that mark a deep dive into psychedelic territory and counterbalance them with seven sterling soul cuts that dovetail with Motown tradition drenched with heartfelt vocals, swelling strings, and finger-snapping beats.
On the original 33RPM release, traditional Motown soul — laden with heartfelt vocals, swelling strings, and finger-snapping beats — occupies Side Two. These songs reveal an ensemble still very much on top of delivering pristine pop-soul material graced with romantic sweetness, persuasive insistent, and soaring highs. Re-energized after the departure of lead singer David Ruffin, who was fired for a variety of reasons in June 1968, the Temptations seamlessly meld with his replacement, Dennis Edwards, on one melodic gem after another.
The collective tackles five songs co-written by the legendary Motown team of Barrett Strong and Whitfield. Not the least of which are the smooth, shuffling “Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go)” and deceptively simple, horn-spiked “Gonna Keep on Tryin’ till I Win Your Love.” On these tracks, as well as on a lush rendition of the ballad “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing” and pleading, tender send-up of the Gerry Goffin-Carole King classic “Hey Girl,” Edwards and Paul Williams take turns on the lead with the estimable Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams providing backing support.
All five vocalists trade-off leads on the simmering title track, a groundbreaking composition shot through with wah-wah-pedal effects, liquid funk, deep bass lines, Cuban percussion, saturated reverb, and gang choruses. Whitfield mines each member’s natural vocal range with spectacular results, keeps time with cymbals, and channels both the heated temperatures and escapist desires of a society embroiled in war, conflict, and experimental drugs.
Amazingly, the Temptations top themselves on the similarly revealing “Run Away Child, Running Wild.” Nearly 10 minutes in length, the song explodes R&B parameters and harbors a cinematic scope. Urgent pianos, distorted guitars, stripped-down percussion, steamy Hammond organs, minimal bass motifs, five distinct voices narrating the tale of a boy who fled home and now finds himself amid the scary, unforgiving external world: They combine to give the urgent tune a walls-closing-in atmosphere where fear and desperation reign. Bolstered by an extended instrumental section that precedes a climactic return of the singers’ voices, “Run Away Child, Running Wild” equaled the success of the record’s title track, with both reaching No. 6 on the pop charts.
"After being praised as one of the best releases of 2025 by multiple platforms, the highly praised debut album from Obeka lands on vinyl via YUKU.
The rhythmic dynamics and emotive attitudes of A World No More captures the density of soundsystem culture in Obeka's ancestral roots. YUKU presents the Bermudians debut album capturing a Neo-Colonial dystopia, protest and Afro-Futurism hyperextended through decaying sonic structures of a dark past and its grievances which very much exist today.
Growing into adulthood within the walls of British and European Colonial systems meant the disconnection and lostness in a new country hid me from the world at a young age. Unlike London's vast and culturally engaging migrant communities, the industrial milling town of Stockport introduced a coldness towards people from other countries I experienced in my first year after relocating from Bermuda. I couldn't understand why. Whether cold words thrown towards me or actions upon other people who look like me, it has shown to be a dooming societal virus with no cure. The most comfort was found through what was familiar - drums and rhythmic spirituality of my homeland. It was a safe-haven, a place to empty the anger and confusion. It's been 15 years since relocating and as my sound evolved, it seems classism, racism, oppression and civil control of ethnic peoples has become worse - even now more legalised and normalised. Ogun (a powerful Yoruba deity associated with anger, justice and war) acts as the opening sequence of the record and its symbolism. Using distorted bass frequencies and dissected Regga-Dub immersed in live-sampled ghostly voices of the lost ones. This sonic exercising is also applied in Drillaman - a stampede of industrial framework and metallic instruments wielded over moody Dancehall MC'ing, magnifying two parallel worlds in cocooned evolution. The resurrection of Transatlantic African cultures and identity have never been silenced, rather carried elsewhere through trade routes of enslavement, which was pivotal when composing and completing the album upon returning home to the Caribbean for the first time ever. After reconnecting with my heritage my blurred vision of what's wrong in the world became so clear. Guidance in empty plains seek truth throughout the pain - A statement of finding oneself expressed on the poetic closing track A World No More.
On Fawohodie (A West African Adinkra symbol that represents independence, freedom, and emancipation stamped on the album cover) the motive and atmosphere begins to change. Afro-Caribbean idealism which refers to the philosophical concept that emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals and the importance of community, often contrasting with Western individualism, begins to take shape in a new universe. We can co-exist. The track framework uses machine-led software forming frequencies we have no control over, then manipulated through decomposing soundscapes, scattered hand-drums and human-made weapons of control - exposing the hidden disparity that's been carried over generations whilst balancing hopeful and musical foundations towards equality and peace. On Pressure and Kuduro! the writing direction attempts to wake people up. Not settling for a composed approach like in past projects, quite the opposite. A call for native sonic awareness, dismantled vocals of protests, eroded percussion using chains, gears and motorised harmonies sculpted in challenging abstract behaviors far outside my comfort zone. A direct abrasiveness and weight I want people to feel, whilst finding hope and solace through enchanting choirs and hypnotic basslines in complete synchrony.
"Purity in sound manifests when you least expect it. The smallest memory or feeling grows from a seed into a sonic language that you, and only you can interpret and release back into the world." "
2026 Repress
Techno mainstay Gary Beck drops hugely sought-after cut 'Hopper' on SHDW's Mutual Rytm sub-label Spectra, with remixes from KiNK.
Glasgow-born Gary Beck is a primary figure in techno and has been for well over a decade. Dropping seminal
underground classics and cultured full-lengths on an array of leading labels, as well as his own BEK Audio imprint,
he has also led the way as a revered DJ as his legacy continues to build. Now, adding to his standout 'Upside
Criminal' EP as well as his well-received track 'Fold' on the 'Federation Of Rytm III' VA, he returns with a record that
has often featured in both his and Mutual Rytm boss SHDW's sets, stepping out on the label's Spectra series with
a cut that has long been sought-after by those who know.
A spontaneous studio moment turned club weapon, the timeless 'Hopper' merges a syncopated disco bassline with
subtle nods to funk and classic dancefloor energy. It's one of those tracks that lingers in your head long after the
night ends - a pure embodiment of Beck's raw energy and production finesse built on an infectious groove full of
contrast and character.
Bulgarian synth wizard, hardware genius and tireless innovator KiNK delivered Spectra's inaugural release, so he
lands as the perfect person to remix. His first interpretation stays close to his roots with a house-leaning, slowed
down take that channels warmth and groove in equal measure. On the B2, however, he flips the script with a high
octane fusion of techno and UKG. It's a peak-time anthem engineered to ignite dancefloors and closes out a
standout EP with the third release in the Spectra catalogue.
Gary Beck 'Hopper' drops via Mutual Rytm Spectra on 20th June 2025.
Ewan's Makati EP, named after his birthplace and dedicated to his mother, draws inspiration from his earliest memories of life in the Philippines. As a house music producer in Perth (now Melbourne) for over 25 years and releasing dozens of records ... this one hits close to home and his heart as a positive, affirming set of cuts for your ears and feet.
The record starts by jumping onto the mechanical funk of JEEPNEY. A roving mural of quirky synth rhythms riding on a solid stomping house groove.
PELOTA finds the beat and bass marking firm lines of a game of call-and-response. Bouncing from wall to wall, the melodies trade licks while a stoic flute tops out the dance.
On the flip, SEREMONYA mixes spritely conversing synth lines on alternating chord stabs and sustains. With the erratic bass and matching snare guiding both anticipation and reflection as equal partners.
SKYFLAKES encourages the listener's mind to run away with a simple mind-object of the past. As a downtempo hymnal of chords, pads, strings and bells it leaves us high in altitude and higher in hope.
Parallelle & Nicolas Masseyeff return to Crosstown Rebels with dynamic new EP, ‘Shake It Out’. The trio deliver their third collaborative release on the label on 18th July 2025, backed by a standout remix from Airrica.
Following their acclaimed collaborations ‘Renegade’ in 2023 and ‘Surrender’ in 2024, Parallelle and Nicolas Masseyeff return to Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels with a third instalment of their evolving partnership on the imprint. Titled ‘Shake It Out’, the release arrives in the heart of summer and showcases two original productions from the Dutch-French trio, alongside a vibrant remix from US rising star Airrica.
Dutch brothers Parallelle and French mainstay Masseyeff share a deep-rooted musical connection, honed across years of collaboration and a shared love for expressive, forward-thinking electronic music. With past releases on labels such as DGTL, Systematic, Rose Avenue, and Masseyeff ’s own Diversions Music, the trio have built a sound that’s rich in detail and driven by emotion, combining analog warmth, live instrumentation, and club-ready energy in equal measure.
A fusion of sharp production and live sensibility, ‘Shake It Out’ leads with layered drums, psychedelic stabs and a commanding vocal that urges listeners into motion. On the B-side, ‘Everything’ delivers a more stripped-back and introspective mood, with hazy textures and wonky sonics for the late hours. Joining the package is Airrica, making her return to Crosstown following 2024’s ‘Hi Speed Lover’. Her rework of ‘Shake It Out’ adds a new dimension to the original, dialling up the energy with crisp percussion, pulsing acid-dipped low-ends, and warped vocal treatments that inject a driving twist into the hypnotic groove.
Repress
Get ready to experience the groove with your upcoming vinyl release, "I Enjoy You So Much"! This collection of house tracks has been meticulously crafted and rigorously tested on dance floors, ensuring every beat resonates perfectly whether in a club, at a picnic, or hosting any kind of party. Each track offers its vibe while staying true to house music's soulful and energetic essence.
A1 - I Enjoy You So Much
The title track features an emotive male vocal repeating the heartfelt phrase, "I enjoy you so much." Paired with uplifting melodies and a driving house rhythm, this track sets the tone for connection and joy. It's perfect for those peak moments on the dance floor or vibey listening sessions at home.
A2 - Volero
A dynamic and energetic groove, "Volero" carries an infectious rhythm that builds and swirls, pulling listeners into its hypnotic flow. It’s a track that thrives in the club but works equally well as a backdrop to lively gatherings and laid-back outdoor vibes.
B1 - Work Harder
Featuring a soulful saxophone solo, "Work Harder" brings a jazzy edge to the mix, blending smooth melodic lines with a deep, groovy bassline. It’s a versatile track that transitions seamlessly from dance floors to chill sessions, leaving a lasting impression wherever it’s played.
B2 - You Can, You Will
This track is a motivational anthem with a relentless beat, layered with empowering vocal snippets that remind you to push forward. The rhythm feels vibrant and energetic, making it a perfect pick-me-up for parties or workouts.
This vinyl is a celebration of versatile, heartfelt house music, bringing together soulful vibes and danceable beats. It’s designed for club settings, cozy moments, and everything in between.
Under his Orion Westbrook alias, the man cooks up some serious heavy-hitting house grooves with a funky twist that hits just right. Side A brings the heat with Pasadena’s own queen Moniquea, laying down her signature style — smooth, confident, somewhere between singing and rapping, and always on point. She glides effortlessly over this modern boogie gem, oozing style and swagger. The wildest part? These two only met once — but the chemistry is undeniable. Flip it to Side B and you’re treated to the sultry voice of Mae Rojas, a familiar name from the Cee-O-Funk sessions. Her sweet R’n’B flavor blends perfectly with a catchy, cosmic-tinged beat that’s equal parts seductive and futuristic. Personal but danceable — the kind of cut that lingers. Both tracks walk the line between dancefloor fire and laidback cruise, and that’s the magic here — funky, versatile, and 100% fresh.
Pt.1[13,03 €]
The fourth release on ALT, the sub label of Cartulis Music, sees the return of AV1, the freshly formed French duo composed of Chris Carrier and Le Loup. Following the success of Waves + Plants Pt. 1 (ALT004.1), the pair now delivers the highly anticipated second chapter, pushing the boundaries of their sonic exploration
AV1 is the result of a deep-rooted connection between two of the most respected names in the Parisian underground scene. Chris Carrier, a prolific producer and DJ since the late ‘90s, has carved out a legacy with his unmistakable approach to house and techno. Le Loup, equally revered for his refined touch and forward-thinking productions, brings his own signature style to the table. Together, they craft an electrifying synergy built on a shared love for acid, deep grooves, and classicist house/techno foundations.
Waves + Plants Pt. 2 (ALT004.2) expands on the energy of the first release, offering a fivetrack journey through a diverse soundscape. Blurring the lines between trance, techno, breaks, and experimental sounds, the EP showcases AV1’s ability to merge different sonic textures into a cohesive, cutting-edge release. From hypnotic acid sequences to raw drum programming and ethereal atmospheres, each track presents a unique side of their creative vision.
This latest installment solidifies AV1’s place as a standout project in contemporary electronic music and reaffirms ALT’s commitment to releasing forward-thinking, genre-defying sounds.
Following standout releases on acclaimed underground imprints like Klasse Wrecks, Planet Trip, Superior Elevation, and more, Brooklyn-based producer GEE DEE steps into a new chapter with the launch of his very own label, FREE UNIVERSE. The debut release, IT’S A FEELING, is a vibrant four-tracker that showcases his deep-rooted love for hypnotic grooves, playful textures, and dance floor-ready energy.
The title track, “IT’S A FEELING, ” leads the charge — a punchy, genre-blurring cut that captures the essence of GEE DEE’s sound: raw, emotive, and rhythmic. “ENERGY LOOP” follows with a bright, bouncing bassline and cheeky percussion, keeping spirits high and bodies moving.
On the B-side, the legendary KIM ANN FOXMAN delivers a sped-up, psychedelic reimagining of “IT’S A FEELING. ” The remix brings a darker, tunneling energy to the original, twisting it into a late-night trip that’s equal parts hypnotic and propulsive. Closing things out is “TWO VOICES” — a heady,
'90s-inspired roller drenched in spaced-out textures and woozy synths. A bold first statement from FREE UNIVERSE, this release marks a fresh new chapter for GEE DEE — producer, DJ, and now label head — continuing his journey of pushing boundaries across the spectrum of underground dance music.
After a string of mesmerizing digital releases and steadily building momentum in Europe’s club circuit, Swiss DJ and producer Audrey Danza marks a major milestone: her debut vinyl EP, titled Laughing in 4D, out this July on .
A six-track excursion through shifting emotional states and tightly wound rhythmic explorations, Laughing in 4D captures Danza’s signature tension between restraint and release. Twisting basslines stretch, snap, and spiral through layers of percussion, driving textures, and off-axis melodies — a sonic palette that feels both introspective and deeply physical. Hints of Psy-Trance, Techno, and House swirl through elastic grooves — equally suited for deep listening or peak-time disorientation. Her tactile, percussive movement ripple with tension, curiosity, and sly humor — true to the artist’s reputation for weaving high-pressure rhythms with emotional nuance. Known for her distinct and dynamic presence behind the decks, Danza has quickly become a name to watch in the contemporary electronic music scene. This first physical release captures the same refined yet playful approach to a contemporary club sound that has defined her growing reputation as a DJ.
With releases on Underground Status London, BaDumTish, Fresh Milk and Statewide Swing, among others, S.R. has been helping to define the US-based UK Garage scene over the last few years. S.R. Volume 3 marks the 5th anniversary of this white-label series and his first 4-track 12" release. Conceived in the early months of 2025, S.R. Volume 3 draws inspiration equally from UK Garage and techy Drum and Bass to create a dancefloor-focused record that firmly captures 21st century tension.
North View Records is an emerging Bristol-based label that values the music’s atmosphere and integrity equal to it’s technical production, aiming to resonate with listeners through immersive electronic soundscapes. For their debut release, label founder oliver presents ‘Quiet Thud’, an album inspired by expansive and untamed coastline. The 11 tracks take a hallucinatory trip through techno, downtempo, ambient and guitar-led music, drawing on diverse influences whilst remaining distinctive and ethereal.
North View Records is an emerging Bristol-based label that values the music’s atmosphere and integrity equal to it’s technical production, aiming to resonate with listeners through immersive electronic soundscapes. For their debut release, label founder oliver presents ‘Quiet Thud’, an album inspired by expansive and untamed coastline. The 11 tracks take a hallucinatory trip through techno, downtempo, ambient and guitar-led music, drawing on diverse influences whilst remaining distinctive and ethereal.
‘Closer Thud Mix’ and ‘New Light’ introduce panoramic soundscapes to club focused tracks, with warped electronics and swelling wide-angle pads giving contrast to the fine-grain textures and driving percussive elements. Tracks such as ‘Plaza’, ‘Ribbon’ and ‘Joyride’ lend a nostalgic character to the album, presenting wistful and distant melodies that interplay with the off-hand live instrumentation, building a gentle and nuanced sonic palette.
‘Ruin’ balances delicate arpeggios with pulsing distortion and drum programming, evoking a brooding scene fitting of its title. Album closer ‘DRM Reprise’ also explores darker themes, led by a piercing vocal emulation that warps and evolves amongst sparse percussion. In contrast, ‘Still Life’, ‘Everything’, ‘Coastal’ and ‘Overground’ bring warmth and balance to the overall experience, offering moments of lightness and reflection as the clouds break, sunlight spilling across the open landscape.
b A2. Closer Thud Mix
Jukebox Disco Divas makes a fine entry into the world of wax with this first too-classic-to-fail edit offering. First up is an instrumental rework of a well-known and strident disco delight from the golden 70s era. It's sympathetically done with big drums, hooky trumpets and enough original vocals from the Moroder-style gem to make sure the floor catches fire. On the flip, an equally delicious tweak of an equally great original. This first 7" sets a fine standard for what is sure to be a very useful new label for lovers of old and new disco and plenty of sounds in between.
Modeight steps into 2025 with a thrilling entry from Vedana, the Leeds-born, New Zealand-based artist making waves in the underground scene. With a career shaped by years behind the decks and a newfound passion for production, Vedana distills his rich clubbing heritage into four cutting-edge tracks on Epiphany EP. The journey begins on A1 with "Epiphany". This groove-heavy minimal house piece is powered by rolling basslines and jagged modular sequences that ignite the dancefloor. Perfectly tuned for pre-parties and equally ready to take over peak-time sets, it's a versatile cut that balances tension and release in all the right places. Next up is A2's "Flawless Victory". As the name suggests, this track hits with triumphant energy. A massive beat locks in with deep, dynamic basslines, building a sense of pressure that commands attention. Add in trippy atmospheres and enveloping textures, and you've got a dancefloor weapon primed to elevate the vibe. Flipping to the B-side, "Onomatopoeia" lives up to its playful title. Short, synthetic stabs cut sharply across the soundstage, synchronized with a hypnotic groove that feels both meticulous and spontaneous. It's a standout piece, rich in personality and brimming with rhythmically charged creativity. Closing the record is B2's "Present in the Culture". An absolute heavyweight of a track, it delivers a mix of atmospheric swells and plucky, tactile sounds that pull listeners deep into a trippy sonic journey. With its driving force and immersive vibe, it's a fitting finale to a stellar EP.
Jeff Parker’s 2016 album The New Breed was a turning point for both Parker and for International Anthem, changing the trajectory of his solo career as well as drawing an abundance of attention to our fresh imprint despite our then very limited catalog. Most importantly though, the album is the first to give voice to Parker’s wholly unique take on sample-based beat construction augmented by a crack squad of improv-savvy LA breezers—the high-level crew of Paul Bryan (bass), Josh Johnson (alto sax), and Jamire Williams (drums), augmented by Jay Bellerose (drums) and Ruby Parker (vocals).
What began as Jeff’s interest in understanding his own idea of hip-hop processes (and how they related to his work in jazz) expanded into a blueprint for much of his work since then. (see also: The New Breed’s rock-solid followup Suite For Max Brown, the gentle deconstructionist solo guitar of Forfolks, and the long-form slow bloom dub improvisation of The Way Out of Easy—all released via International Anthem)
The IA11 Edition LP features our IARC 2025 obi strip, plus a new 16-page 11x11" insert booklet with unpublished session photos, new liner notes by New Breed bassist / co-producer Paul Bryan, and an in-depth conversation between JP and IARC co-founder Scott McNiece.
“...equally rooted in jazz and funk, and built upon beat-making experiments…”
- Jason P Woodbury, Aquarium Drunkard
Franky Wah makes Crosstown Rebels debut with ‘Disconnect’ EP, featuring Kuuda. Out on 20th June 2025, the four-tracker sees the acclaimed UK producer make his first appearance on the revered imprint.
A producer known for balancing dancefloor energy with introspective songwriting, Franky Wah’s rise has been fuelled by a string of chart-topping singles, non-stop global club and festival appearances, and the launch of his own imprint and event brand, SHÈN. With musical influences stretching from trance and breakbeat to afro-house and techno, he now brings that rich sound palette to the Crosstown fold for the first time with a release that’s equal parts euphoric and deep as it is driving. Delivering a powerful and emotionally charged four-track release, 'Disconnect' showcases the Yorkshire-born artist’s blend of underground grit and melodic sophistication, featuring two standout collaborations with rising vocal trio Kuuda.
Opening the EP, the title track pairs swirling textures, brooding basslines and crisp percussion with commanding vocals, setting the tone for the journey ahead. The synergy continues on ‘Off The Wall’, a hazy, late-night jam elevated by Kuuda’s signature warped vox interjections. On the flip, ‘Desert Dance’ continues further into hypnotic territory with wicked bass licks and layered synth work, before closing track ‘Freak In The Sheets’ delivers another impactful, heads-down groove laced with attitude. Featured on two of the EP’s four cuts, Brighton-based trio Kuuda continue to emerge as a rapidly ascending vocal project within electronic music. Known for their genre-fluid songwriting and dynamic live presence, their collaborations with Hot Since 82, Yousef and Artche have earned them widespread support from the likes of Pete Tong, Danny Howard and RÜFÜS DU SOL. Blending emotional depth with club-ready impact, ‘Disconnect’ marks an inspired meeting point between Franky Wah’s expansive production style and the Crosstown Rebels spirit—one that looks set to soundtrack dancefloors throughout the summer and beyond.
Equally adept on the decks and in the studio, Victor Calderone has travelled the world playing for thousands and created some of the electronic music industry’s most seminal tracks and remixes. His new double sided release on Nervous Recprds is a collaboration with highly respected producer / DJ Mykol. They have a created an EP that has the driving percussive force needed to move a dancefloor in 2025, and through its inspired usage of vocal and musical elements highlights their background as born and bred New Yorkers who grew up enmeshed in New York’s nightlife and musical culture.
'What You Want' features the legendary Byron Stingily, a Chicago house singer and Ten City vocalist with a famous falsetto. Here he serves up a moody spoken word sermon over chunky house drums with a dark energy and late-night sense of soul. Electric synth patterns wave in and out to bring great drama to this full-flavour groove. 'What You Want' also comes as a more pared-back but still jacking dub with plenty of smart studio effects.
'Take You Back' is a surging house sound with deep bass and drums and whimsical synth patterns that dance over the beats. Analluring female vocal pulls you in ever closer to a track that is both emotive and physical, steamy but sensuous.
Fashion Flesh tears the fabric of space and time. This is his first offering for the ESP Institute. With side A’s 'Atoms Revolt', ESP cordially introduces Fashion Flesh, AKA John Talaga, to the deepest corners of your mind. Using largely homemade electronics, circuit-bent gadgets, and tape manipulation, John manages to tap into the innate character of these otherwise introverted machines, eavesdropping and documenting their buried inner dialogue. His command of distortion is multi-tiered. On a micro level, he induces happy accidents and shepherds stray elements. Zooming out a bit, we begin to understand the sonic meat grinder that equalizes his bag of disparate ingredients. And from a macro vantage point, we fully recognize the greater tool that sculpts all of the above into form. Side B’s 'New Freedom' conjures a specific dystopian image—the byproduct of an artist involuntarily conditioned by the commute between up-river Bay County, Michigan and the Detroit metropolitan area. Like cutting away at flesh and muscle, breaking through the bone to suck the marrow, John depicts both the contrast and parallels between two post-industrial urban landscapes, the banal trek across The Thumb between them, and the gradual disintegration of agriculture as one nears the Techno city. Voice fragments begin to stutter in syncopation like radio frequencies interfering with our psyche, Geiger counters wail and moan, untamed oscillations mimic caged primates rioting at the zoo, and a steady-firing piston of drums struggles to break through a dense harmonic soot. The depth of personality John extracts through his manipulation process is remarkable— a point-of-view that foreshadows humanity’s looming technological singularity while hinting that it may have always been here, hiding in plain sight, waiting to be given a voice. These two songs will trip your circuit breakers.
There’s a particular magic that happens when seasoned producers with global roots come together under a shared ethos - not for hype, but for connection. That’s precisely what MISINGO represents. A cross-continental studio experiment born out of Covid-era isolation, the group spans hemispheres and histories: Yorkshire's Doorly, L.A. legend Gary Richards (aka Destructo), and Australian duo Colour Castle. Their debut offering, Give You Love, lands via UK House Music institution Hard Times Records, and it’s as emotionally resonant as it is built for the floor.
Anchored by a slow-burning acid line and moody, immersive synthwork, 'Give You Love' carries the DNA of classic house without feeling like pastiche. DJ Rae’s smokey vocal, recorded in Doorly’s Ibiza studio, sets the tone - raw, intimate, immediate. Gene Farris enters with a gravelly, magnetic counterpoint, flipping the call-and-response into something spiritual. It’s a record that feels both new and deeply lived-in, a jam session from afar that somehow lands with unity and purpose.
For the remix suite, Hard Times dig into family ties and deliver a heavyweight lineup that spans generations of dance music lineage.
First up, DJ Pierre, the Phuture pioneer himself, brings a Wild Pitch revision that is pure summer sleaze and shimmer. Glistening keys, kinetic snares, and a syrup-thick bassline collide in a mix that’s tailor-made for golden-hour sets and open-air systems.
DJ Romain brings that New York swing. All velvet chords, stabbing pianos, and organ swells that spiral skyward. It’s gospel-house energy that doesn’t need to shout to be heard, a reminder that soul still moves the dancefloor.
Closing out the package is Charles Lavine of Soul Clap fame, whose Boston-bred funk sensibility steers things into new territory. He strips back the mix, lets Rae’s vocal ride the groove, and injects a subtle bounce that turns heads and hips in equal measure.
With 'Give You Love', MISINGO and Hard Times haven’t just released a single, they’ve bottled a moment: one born of distance, stitched together with soul, and destined for collective release on dancefloors worldwide.
Second offering from Leo Gibbon’s MUDLINE imprint sees the producer reunite with grime’s perennial wild card, Trim, for a two-sided pressure test that flexes both restraint and raw power in equal measure.
On Side A – Orbit Step, Gibbon leans into the emotive end of the 140 spectrum — all reflective pads, sci-fi shimmer, and subbed-out swing — with Trim delivering a rare, inward-facing performance. It’s grime as meditation, anchored by subtle tek textures and lyrical ambiguity. The accompanying acapella, exclusive to the vinyl, is a potent bonus.
Side B – Danny and Darren flips the script entirely. It’s a no-frills, floor-ready juggernaut — grime at its most ballistic. Trim in full yardman mode here, riding the riddim with relentless intent. It’s sweaty, chaotic, made for late sets and soundsystem abuse.
Instrumentals included on both sides, giving extra room for exploration and dubplate mischief.
A bold second chapter from MUDLINE, Orbit Step builds on the promise of Happy Lovers and underlines Gibbon’s growing prowess in crafting versatile 140 tools with personality — while Trim, as ever, shapeshifts with ease.
Joseph Salvador's impressive young Universo Positivo label returns with a new EP from the boss himself alongside Europe mainstay Orlando Voorn. The dynamic duo serve up four cuts that perfectly embody their timeless sound. Salvador has been at the heart of the underground since the 1990s. He is deeply involved on the scene on many different levels from running the cult Tomorrow Is Now Kid! nights in Amsterdam to labels like TINK Records and also working as part of house acts like Black Tulip & Wendell Morrison, Thyone Girls, Digital Cartel and many more. His music always operates at the sharp end of the spectrum and has come on labels like Tribal America, EMI and Sony Columbia. Orlando Voorn is equally as vital to the evolution of techno. His sound famously builds a bridge between Detroit pioneers and the contemporary European sound and he has worked with greats such as Blake Baxter and Amp Fiddler. He recently remixed South Bay Jams on this label and has also dropped music on the likes of Rush Hour, R&S and Housewax. 'Every Man Loves' brings lavish disco strong stabs to a mid-tempo groove that is packed with warmth. Funky bass riffs and jumbled toms all bring it to life next to an exquisite diva vocal that brings the soul. 'Slap My Funk' hits harder with raw drum loops and a touch of filter house energy. Chopped vocal stabs keep things driving with more live funky bass next to jazzy chords. The steamy 'So Well' is a fulsome house sound with big trumpet stabs and smart vocal samples worked into a heavy, party-starting but emotional groove. Last but not least, 'Break It Down' layers up freeform Rhodes jams with crashing drums and smeared synths to make for a real dance floor weapon. These are four potent and expressive new house gems from this dynamic duo.
Limited yellow coloured vinyl!
There is so much that we at Dirter could say about the legend that is Chris Connelly performing his takes on the music of the equally legendary TG, but this time we’re going to leave it in the words of the man himself. This record goes ahead with the blessing of the surviving members of Throbbing Gristle, Chris Carter & Cosey Fanni Tutti. “Having carved a twisted career with behemoths MINISTRY & REVOLTING COCKS over the past 40 years, starting life with the formidable FINI TRIBE and collaborating with disparate characters such as KILLING JOKE, CABARET VOLTAIRE, JIM O’ ROURKE, and too many others, I have returned to my first love, THROBBING GRISTLE, armed with a cassette recorder, a reel to reel, a razor blade and some tape, I want to invoke the spirit of mid to late 70’s live TG , random, tense, scary & compulsively fascinating…….WHITE PHOSPHORUS is for the TG connoisseur, for the morbidly curious, and the tragically dysfunctional amongst us”. This record is packaged in the spirit of the earliest Throbbing Gristle releases and is very much coming from a ‘70s Xerox angle. It’s pressed on 180gram heavy black vinyl.
Azzurro 80's new album—his first ever on LP—is a beautifully faded Polaroid that, like a true flashback, plunges listeners into the heart of the 1980s. It's a sonic journey that captures the essence of a decade, distant yet vividly etched in our collective memory.
The Roman producer unleashes his sonic vision with even greater intensity than before, weaving through dreamy italo-disco, electric atmospheres, soundtrack-worthy synth-pop, and boogie-funk grooves.
Each track opens a window onto an era the artist experienced only fleetingly as a child, yet he evokes it with a powerful and refreshingly original touch. Much like a classic library music record, these tracks conjure a wealth of images, scenes, and visual sequences—perfect soundtracks for imagined films or evocative advertising campaigns: as seductive as a perfume ad, as desirable as a car commercial, and brimming with the bright future the 80s promised.
It's no surprise that cinematic references spring to mind even before musical ones. The album echoes the dreamy atmospheres of early 80s Italian cinema, particularly films like Carlo Verdone's "Acqua e Sapone" (1983) and Carlo Vanzina's "Amarsi Un Po'" (1984). Meanwhile, flashes of New Romantic aesthetics and hints of electro-funk transport you to a neon-lit dance floor where a DJ is spinning the vinyl copy of Flashback.
Azzurro 80's new album is a vibrant, energetic work, balancing groove and emotion in equal measure and infused with a sense of nostalgia that feels remarkably contemporary.
Available May 9th on LP and Digital from Four Flies Records!
In an ever-expanding musical universe, Azymuth have long existed as a celestial giant, drawing countless artists, musicians and followers into their orbit. Marking fifty years since their 1975 debut album Azimuth, their new album Marca Passo proves that the band’s alchemic brew of Brazilian jazz-funk and cosmic samba soul remains as vital as ever, as the group honours the profound legacy of their departed founders.
Recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Marca Passo is the first full-length release since the passing of founding drummer Ivan "Mamão" Conti in 2023, following the earlier loss of keyboardist José Roberto Bertrami in 2012. Alex Malheiros, the sole remaining original member, sees his stewardship of the band’s musical legacy as his spiritual duty. He is joined by the equally devoted Kiko Continentino (Milton Nascimento, Djavan) on keyboards, who has been with the group since 2016, and new recruit Renato Massa (Marcos Valle, Ed Motta) on drums.
Yet since their earliest recorded music, Azymuth have always been far greater than the sum of their parts. The "three-man orchestra’s" unmistakable sound is rooted in Brazil's MPB studio scene of the 1970s and early 1980s—a time when artists blended traditional Brazilian rhythms with global jazz, rock, and emerging psychedelic and progressive elements. Marca Passo continues this legacy, seamlessly fusing Brazilian musical traditions with global influences while showcasing the exceptional musicianship that powers Azymuth's distinctive, multi-dimensional sound.
The album is produced by studio mastermind Daniel Maunick, responsible for Azymuth’s two previous studio albums, Fênix in 2016 and Aurora in 2011. Daniel’s credits also include albums by Marcos Valle, Sabrina Malheiros and Terry Callier. Azymuth also invited Daniel’s father, British jazz-funk royalty Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick, of Incognito, to play guitar on a new version of Azymuth’s eighties classic “Last Summer In Rio”, in tribute to the song’s composer, José Roberto Bertrami. Equally, “Samba Pro Mamao” is a new composition dedicated to Azymuth’s beloved original drummer, Ivan “Mamão” Conti.
Credits:
Alex Malheiros - Bass, Acoustic Guitar & Vocals: 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Kiko Continentino - Keyboards, Organ, Vocoder & Vocals: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Renato Massa - Drums & Vocals: : 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Ian Moreira - Percussion: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
Sidinho Moreira - Percussion: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10
Dudu Viana - Keyboards & Vocals: 1
Victor Bertrami - Drums: 1
Mangueirinha - Repinique: 3
Jean Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick - Electric Guitar: 5
Jose Carlos Bigorna - Soprano Sax: 9
Daniel Maunick: Additional Percussion, Synths & EFX: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Produced, Engineered, Mixed & Arranged by Daniel Maunick
Co-Produced & Arranged by Alex Malheiros
Executive Producer: Joe Davis
Recorded by:
Daniel Maunick & Leonardo Vieira @ Estúdio Nos Trilhos, Santa Teresa, Rio, Brazil
Daniel Maunick & Amadeu Signorelli @ Sigstudio, Niterói, Rio, Brazil
Daniel Maunick & Alex Malheiros @ Estúdio Basslab, Piratininga, Rio, Brazil
Mixed by Daniel Maunick @ The Sugar Shack, Carluke, Scotland
Artwork & Design: Tyler Askew
- A1: One O'clock Junk
- A2: Before The Rain
- A3: Circles
- A4: Dark Eyes Of Martha Hirsch
- A5: The Bridge That Broke On A Blue Monday
For years, whispers circulated through the jazz scenes of Denmark and Poland - rumours of a lost recording session featuring the legendary Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stanko and a group of Scandinavian and Polish musicians. Now, nearly a decade after the session and seven years after Stanko's passing, these long-awaited recordings are finally seeing the light of day. The project originated at Vallekilde Højskole in Denmark, where Stanko was invited to teach at JazzDanmark's annual Summer Session. A storied program that has hosted luminaries including Bill Frisell and Anat Cohen, the summer school became the birthplace of this unexpected ensemble. Here, alongside a dynamic ensemble of young musicians, Stanko found renewed inspiration, embracing their compositions as much as his own - a rare occurrence for an artist known for leading his own groups. Scandinavian Art Ensemble with Tomasz Stanko is the result: two albums of expansive, deeply expressive music that merge the melancholic depth of Polish jazz with the spacious, atmospheric qualities of the Scandinavian sound. As trumpeter Tomasz Dabrowski recalls, Stanko wasn't just a mentor - he was an equal, driven by curiosity and the desire to push boundaries. "He wanted to play our music. He was always listening, always searching." Across these two albums recorded at The Village Recordings in 2016, listeners will hear Stanko's unmistakable tone interwoven with compositions by both himself and the ensemble members. Pieces like 'The Dark Eyes of Martha Hirsch' and 'Before the Rain' showcase not just his signature lyricism, but also his willingness to step back, listen, and let the younger generation shape the sound. Beyond his unmistakable sound, Stanko's influence was about energy - his presence elevated those around him. Bassist Richard Andersson put it simply: "He brings together the energies, and makes us all play better than usual." This project captures that essence: a legendary artist meeting the next generation on equal footing, creating something entirely unexpected. A decade after the session, the members of the Scandinavian Art Ensemble have forged their own paths, shaping the jazz landscapes of Copenhagen, Malmö, Reykjavik, and beyond. But the impact of their time with Stanko remains profound. "Releasing these albums is about more than just the music," D?browski says. "It's about preserving the spirit of Stanko - his generosity, his curiosity, his way of bringing people together. Even after all these years, his presence can still be felt in every note we played."
co:clear is overjoyed to welcome Jonnnah to its fold, with a new long-form 12” edition. Featuring Pavel Milyakov (aka Buttechno) right off the bat, ‘Me, With You’ is an album that grips its listener tight with gleaming electronica, off-kilter trip-hop and swampy bass.
With past offerings to Soleil Rouge and Second End Records – a label which he heads – there's a thread that laces all of Jonnnah’s work. Although never sticking to a definable bracket, the Lyon-dweller effortlessly floats through various tempers, peddling impeccable electronics as equally suited to colossal sound systems, as they are to solitary early morning walks in headphones. It's ambient for the foreground that surprises with flurries of two-step and amen breaks – present-day sonics that doff their cap to what’s come before.
Out on limited edition 12” vinyl & digital, 30th May 2025. Limited to 200 copies.
Credits:
Written & Produced by Pierre Paumier
Featuring Pavel Milyakov
Mastered by Ike Zwanikken
Lacquer cut by Pitchcraft Mastering
Artwork by Conna Haraway
Distribution by Rubadub
After over 50 events of Bristol's beloved Club Blanco, the city's anointed high priest of night, Chez de Milo, is crystallising his party's dimension-hopping hedonism into a label, calling on an extended family of esteemed producers and musicians to make it happen.
First up is Johnny Aux, aka Quinn Whalley (Paranoid London, Sworn Virgins, Decius), delivering two offerings accompanied by remixes from Jamie Paton and Chez de Milo himself.
Supersonic blends a hyperspace bassline with euphoric 90s synth elevation that delivers us to a blissful dance floor crescendo, where you've been dancing for hours—maybe days— when the sun appears over the horizon and pierces through the club's blacked-out windows. Chez de Milo's re-rub wraps you up vines of a living, breathing forest, where all your favourite flora and fauna summon you to the dappled light of a clearing, front left of the booth.
On The Train locks you into a rolling groove, and electro slaps and smacks. It feels covered in equal parts space dust and the dust of an old crate of records, where this forgotten banger has been buried deep for 25 years, waiting for the right hands to pull it out. Jamie Paton veers off down a stranger track, conducting a driving Italo beat with eerie soundscapes dissected by lasers and a brooding bassline.
An immersive long-form composition in two parts that seamlessly blends a collage of spoken word, field recordings and drones with elements of dub, jazz, fourth world and ambient music.
Son Of Chi is the latest project of Rotterdam-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Hanyo van Oosterom. Van Oosterom’s prolific career spans multiple decades and genres; among countless projects he has been involved in, he is known for founding the Dutch ambient collective CHI in the early eighties, and in recent years for his prolific collaboration with CHI co-founder Jacobus Derwort as Chi Factory. Following Derwort’s passing in 2019, van Oosterom decided to close the CHI circle with the birth of Son Of Chi.
Sonically, the world of ‘We Carry Eden’ is fully immersive; it ripples with depth and shimmers in detail. Motifs, ideas and fragments, arise and disappear like passing thoughts, drawing the listener deeper and deeper inwards. For those familiar with Oosterom’s work as Chi Factory, the depth and meditative nature of the work will come as no surprise; however it is Oosterom’s skill with grooves that shines equally bright here; his infectiously dubby basslines and percussion rise up from the ether, grounding the listener to the earth. ‘We Carry Eden’ at times invokes the fourth world landscapes of Jon Hassell, (with whom Oosterom has collaborated) but as a whole, it remains the unique work of an artist fully in tune with their vision.
Thematically, storytelling traditions lie at the heart of ‘We Carry Eden’, with van Oosterom’s long-time collaborator Omar Ka playing a central role. Ka, who hails from the West African nomadic Fulani tradition of storytelling, responds to the collage of field recordings and sounds collected by Oosterom. His voice is woven throughout ‘We Carry Eden’, creating a narrative that binds the multiple sound sources of the album together.
As with much of van Oosterom’s musical output, inspiration is drawn from the Greek Island of Patmos and the wisdom and prophecies of the Native American Hopi Tribe. Since his work with CHI in the early eighties, van Oosterom has often incorporated quotes from Hopi Elders into his music. Gods, spirits, animals and humans, all existing in one unchangeable relationship tied to nature; ‘We Carry Eden’ is rooted in this philosophy, serving as a peaceful message of beauty, harmony and respect for the wisdom of the Elders and ancient traditions.
Sleeve art and design by Michael Willis.
Calibro 35 unleash a limited 7" feat Piero Umiliani's Italo-Cosmic-Disco classic 'Discomania' and Azymuth Brazilian-Disco stormer 'Jazz Carnival' on the B-side. Calibro 35 continue their journey into the world of cinematic jazz-disco-funk with the release of a new 7" featuring two afro-disco stormers. On the A side Calibro 35 deliver an heavily afro-funk infused version of Piero Umiliani's Italo-Cosmic-Disco classic 'Discomania' while on the flip side the Milanese band drop an equally explosive B-side with their own reinterpretation of Brazialian-Disco hit 'Jazz Carnival' by Azymuth. Both songs are taken from the highly anticipated new album 'Exploration' that drop June 06 worldwide via Record Kicks. The 7" is limited to 500 copies worldwide and is an instant's collector item. Described by Rolling Stone as "the most fascinating, retro-maniac and genuine thing that has happened to Italy in the past few years," Milan-based Calibro 35 enjoy a worldwide reputation as one of the coolest independent bands around. Active since 2007, during their long career, they 1 have been sampled by Dr. Dre on Compton ("One Shot One Kill" feat. Snoop Dogg), Jay-Z ("Picasso Baby"), The Child of Lov & Damon Albarn ("One Day"), and Demigodz ("The Summer Of Sam"). They 2 have played major venues and festivals all over Europe, and as unique musicians, they have collaborated with, among others, PJ Harvey, Mike Patton, John Parish, Stewart Copeland, and Rokia Traoré.
Hitting release number three, Slush Records remaster and reissue Spacer IV aka James Zeiter’s sought-after 1997 EP on Pleasure Records. The man behind a slew of lauded records under a variety of different aliases, his sound is one that is cherished for orbiting the spheres of progressive trance and atmospheric dub techno. This four-track EP, however, saw James venture into unchartered territory, exploring a more melodic, house-tinted spectrum, before flipping back into the progressive techno-trance underbelly.
Having started life in 1995, Spacer IV had already gone from the leagues of limited white labels, to being the name stamped on one of Pleasure’s biggest-selling records by the time this EP came out. With only 195 white labels of his first record ARC 1/ARC 2 pressed, a copy was passed to Pete Robinson at Robs Records. ‘ARC 2’ was plucked from that release, supplemented with a new cut ‘ARC 3’ and given a proper pressing on Robs Records offshoot label Pleasure to notable success.
Fast forward to 1997 and James chose to depart the trance-infused techno sound of those first releases. Absorbing elements by osmosis, this EP sees James dipping his toes into fresh waters. Using what limited hardware he had available, including an Akai S950 sampler, Ensoniq ESQ-1 and Novation Bass Station 1, James laid down four distinctive and versatile club cuts.
‘Sirocco’ opens the EP, a tingling hit of endorphins that only the most timeless of tracks can elicit. Echoing pads feed acid murmurings, that sit atop dusty breakbeats and rattling sub-bass. An aural exploration, that is equal parts ethereal and empowering, taking cues from breaks, ambient, chill out and house. It’s one of those rare tracks that has the power to float you away or fuel your buzz, giving a healthy tug on the heartstrings in the process.
‘Mono’ follows, merging heads-down dancefloors with the embrace of warmer climates. It’s deep and Detroit-infused yet bolstered by a dream house bassline straight out of the Italian riviera. A dose of eyes-closed euphoria that hits just right.
The flipside sees James in more familiar territory with ‘Jetson’ and ‘Dust’. The former is a hit of space-age progressive house. Trippy, hypnotising, driving goodness, showcasing James’ ability to lock your body into a groove, yet send your mind to another world. The latter rounds out the EP, serving up an acid-swirling club stomper, forever building in intensity before dropping you into the vacuum of deep space.
"Are You in Heaven?" was famously shouted by Roxy DJ Eddy de Clercq to the crowd at one of the very first legendary house parties in Amsterdam. This phrase not only symbolizes an iconic moment that captured the spirit of the era—it’s also the title of one of the three tracks featured here.
In 1991, inspired by the dance music craze that swept across Europe at the time, Arnoud Winkler and Jochem Peteri (who would later become the one-man supergroup Newworldaquarium) produced music that is equal parts euphoric, emotive, vital, and vibrant—youthful in spirit, naive yet clever. A European translation of a US-American art form, born from pure enthusiasm and concentrated passion for a culture that, to this day, continues to resonate universally.
Originally released on Lower East Side Records, the story told here is full of rave symbolism, after-party joy, and literal can-you-feel-it moments: rattling sub-bass, blissful pads, whispering voices, dub techniques, and subconscious peak-time signals.
Complemented by a new edit of Ulysses Horizon by Gerd Janson (alongside a revised version of the original), alongside Flowerdale Beach, and Are You in Heaven?, the music here hasn’t lost a single inch of its charm or allure. A taste of Dutch house deluxe.
Happy to introduce our sub-label, Haworthia Records, the Luzerna's little sister,
For the 1st release, Nømad Soul recalls the 80s/90s nostalgia with its Transpace EP, a futuristic universe with retro sounds.. Side A emanates from body music beats into a ravy atmosphere, towards techno of sideral dimensions with a B-side from the deep space..
Inner City’s sojourn at Network resulted in a series of classic recordings.
As well as perfectly crafted vocal tracks including “Your Love”, “Share My Life” and “Do Me RIght” it meant that Kevin Saunderson could also return to his Techno roots with underground Inner City tracks.
None more so than the wonderful “Ahnonghay” which perfectly joined the dots between electronica and the brutal urgency of Kevin’s Reese persona which helped shape the early Detroit Techno landscape.
This 12 contains the Saunderson original plus wonderfully contrasting remixes from Detroit’s Carl Craig and the UK’s Dave Clarke which were equally acclaimed when released on Network’s six6 label.
Another reissued gem from Network.
Mathame Unveil Their Latest Masterpiece: "ANGEL"
Renowned for their groundbreaking contributions to electronic music, Italian duo Mathame is set to captivate audiences once again with their latest single, "ANGEL" Conceived in January 2024 amidst their vibrant tours across Mexico and Asia, the track marks a new pinnacle in Mathame's illustrious career. Critics have lauded "ANGEL" as a real summer anthem, perfectly capturing the essence of summer vibes with its infectious energy and uplifting melodies.
In February 2024, Mathame's journey took them to the heart of Manhattan, NYC, where they collaborated with the equally illustrious Italian duo Parisi. Known for their collaborations with industry giants like Fred Again and Swedish House Mafia, Parisi has been close allies of Mathame since Mathame invited them to perform their first-ever live shows in London and NYC during 2023 and 2024 at Mathame’s events.
This union of brotherhood and musical genius birthed "ANGEL" a track co-written by both duos and perfected through electrifying live performances during the spring. The creative process culminated in the iconic setting of Ibiza, where the final touches were added, ensuring "ANGEL" would emerge as the definitive summer anthem of 2024.
Critics have hailed "ANGEL" as a testament to the innovative spirit and profound synergy. The track showcases their ability to blend mesmerizing melodies with pulsating rhythms, creating an unforgettable experience for listeners worldwide.
CINEMATIC VOYAGE THROUGH COSMIC RITUAL AND ETERNAL SOUND - a work that exists outside time—equally at home in the temples of antiquity and the neon-lit voids of speculative futures, merging ceremonial percussion, interstellar synthwaves, and wordless incantations into a 31-minute ritual for the infinite. Born from a three-year metamorphosis between studio and stage and rooted in a Takhmira (a Zar ritual poem), Ninety Nine Eyes channels the archetypal quest—a search for the “land where light is seated.” Its soundscapes evoke the grandeur of forgotten civilizations and the hum of celestial machinery: droning mizmar lines and drowning tombak and duff rhythms dissolve into maximalist synth storms; choirs of phantom voices rise like starlight through the static of ages. - Sound: Structured like a Sufi Hadra, the LP’s undulating peaks pull at old ways of communing with the divine - Part I builds tension, a breath before the storm, while Part II erupts into unfettered synth-drenched trance, gates flung open - only the listener can close the circle through their own interpretation.- For fans of Vangelis’ Blade Runner, Jon Hassell’s Fourth World, Alice Coltrane’s spiritual jazz, Autechre’s glitch rituals, and Pauline Oliveros’ deep listening.- Production: Mixed by VII, mastered by Heba Kadry (Björk, Ryuichi Sakamoto).- Artwork: Features a portrait of Yunis by Cairo underground photographer Kafrawy and hand-sewn costume design by Alaa Eideh, with graphic design by Giovanni Murolo (Countersubject). EU Tour spring 25
Welcome to the Jungle. ANIMA Records follows up its debut release with JUNGLE 002. As part of our mission to connect the world with a global techno sound - We are releasing one of the first 'Concept' Techno Records. Paired with equally psychedelic artwork, this album is a 'jungle-themed' release, inspired by organic sounds, lush world rhythms, and a focus on producers based in warmer climates. We feature music from Brazil, Uruguay, Malta, Australia and much more - as we take the focus away from club environments, to the places where the sun can shine, a clave pattern pushes the beat forward, and the heat is welcome. 'JUNGLE' is our next step in offering the future of dance music something fresh and different ~
A1 - Tidal Realm
Opening with the kind of finely-honed, sumptuous ambience we know and love Aural Imbalance for, Tidal Realm slowly reveals its welcoming arc with filtered breakbeats and a captivating off-beat string melody before analogue amen breaks are expertly chopped and sliced at will for our listening pleasure. Further melodic charm is added as the soothing ambient backdrops rise like a calming mist, blanketing the scene in style.
A2 - Tears Of An Angel
Subdued breaks sleepily laze during the intro to Tears Of An Angel, gently roused to movement by a sombre backdrop of delicate pads and high pitched ambient textures. Once in full swing, the old-school breakbeats nestle perfectly over a deep, earthy 808 bassline while the atmosphere develops continually through a melodic, ethereal landscape crafted with a trademark understated panache.
B1 - Surface Area
Readying for the unexpected, a suitably eerie ambient intro to Surface Area sees Aural Imbalance flex his versatility once more as a stunningly crafted break pattern suddenly takes center stage and immediately whisks the listener on a journey to lands afar. Micro melodies and inimitable pads add depth but make no mistake - these breaks are sublime, and will inspire both the listener and the dancefloor in equal measure.
B2 - Warm Embrace
Closing out the EP we have Warm Embrace, which opens with the sounds of playful fireflies in the twilight, emitting their soft glow through the washes of inexplicably radiant FX. Old school breaks soon enter the mix, constructed with aplomb over a bed of deep, classic 808 bass perfect for the occasion. The breakdown introduces a deliciously delicate melody, adding further depth to the track perfectly before the breaks and nightlife resume their frolics.
Words by Chris Hayes (Spatial / Red Mist)
Introducing Griffith’s debut release, "Nineteen EP" by Romanian artist Mihai Pol. Known for his instinctive approach to groove and atmosphere, Mihai crafts music that feels organic and immersive, drawing subtle influence from the world around him.
At the heart of the release is "Nineteen", a long-awaited gem produced in 2020. Defined by a hypnotic groove and a striking synth that almost sings like a human voice, the track has become one of Mihai’s most anticipated cuts, impossible to forget once heard. Alongside it, three equally refined productions complete the EP, each carrying his signature rolling energy and deep, immersive flow.
A great first step for Griffith, with plenty more to come.
South Londons’ indomitable Medlar delivers an ambitious new album
The long-time underground favourite has collaborated with the likes of Dele Sosimi, Rebekah Reid, Deevoenay, Finn Peters, Sam Virdie, Afla Sackey and Arnau Obiols on an album that finds him taking his production to new levels.
From roots playing illegal raves in the South West to building up a cultured catalogue that bounces between house and garage, Medlar has long been part of the underground conversation. He has dropped a previous album and many innovative remixes and edits for the likes of Billy Cobham and Shirley Lites, worked in the studio and on stage with Afro legend Dele Sosimi and most recently released an album under his own name that collected myriad different sonic sketches from the past 15 years.
Islands is an altogether different proposition that comes after establishing himself as a mix engineer and producer of other people's music. In that time, Medlar has honed his skills, learnt new tricks and grown more able to express himself in sound. The result is an album that explores a more electronic palette inspired by '80s fusion sounds whilst maintaining a loose, organic flow through his use of live instrumentation. “The idea for the LP was for a collection of music which could sit alone as club tracks, but would work equally well as part of a whole. The name Islands came from this, as there's some connecting ideas but the tracks sit independently in their own little sonic worlds. I took a lot of inspiration from early 80’s electronic music produced during early years of MIDI technology… proto house, jazz fusion, electronic disco and experimental ambient. I wanted to juxtapose some of these methods with more contemporary production and make something that's ultimately quite fun!” says Medlar of the record which could easily soundtrack a summer road trip.
Across 11 tracks, he blends old-school techniques like a fusion of live instruments, FM synthesis and MIDI triggered vocal samples with more contemporary touches such as punchy, club-friendly drums and dub inspired, speaker-wobbling low end. The result is less reliant on samples than his previous works and makes for a perfect blend of retro authenticity and future freshness.
Boulderhead is back on TSOL with another instant classic. If 'Bread Butter Noodles Spice' didn't cement him as one of the most singular voices in house music, then 'Dancing Rain' surely will. It features another iconic vocal paired with far-out sounds and an arrangement that will always keep you guessing. The four other tracks are all equally well tuned, displaying his modular wizardry, and a unique dancefloor sensibility. It's an unmissable EP.
Erudite, the upcoming album by Thomas Decock, is a powerful exploration of modern jazz fusion that uniquely intertwines literature and music. Inspired by iconic literary characters and novels, the album aims to bring the profound emotions and complex themes of these stories to life through music. This project reflects the collective creativity of Thomas Decock and his band, pushing the boundaries of jazz and redefining them with an innovative approach.
Compositions such as the exhilarating and dynamic Rodya, inspired by Dostoevsky's renowned novel Crime and Punishment, and the refined interpretation of Joni Mitchell's Cherokee Louise, showcase both technical virtuosity and profound emotional engagement. From the sharp, angular theme of Rodya to the lyrical melody of Emma-inspired by the character from Flaubert's Madame Bovary-which also highlights the acoustic qualities of the ensemble, Erudite offers a wide palette
of musical colors, ranging from intense improvisation to expressive, lyrical moments.
The music on the album is characterized by the remarkable interaction between the musicians, who are equally at home in jazz and electronic music. Both individual and collective improvisation form the core of the band's musical expression. The sound is crafted through a blend of electronic and acoustic instruments. Erudite is not only an album for jazz enthusiasts but also for listeners intrigued by how music can complement and deepen literary narratives.
Released under the W.E.R.F. label, the album promises an engaging listening experience for a broad audience, from jazz purists to fans of innovative music. Erudite is a work that brings the spirit of both music and literature to life, taking the listener on a journey through the musical translation of classic stories.
- A1: The Cimarons - We Are Not The Same
- A2: Tenor Saw & Buju Banton - Ring The Alarm Quick
- A3: The Gatherers - Words Of My Mouth
- B1: Barrington Levy - Under Mi Sensi
- B2: Dennis Alcapone - Cassius Clay
- B3: The Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number
- B4: General Degree - Pot Cover
- C1: U Roy - Stick Together
- C2: Honey Boy Martin - Dreader Than Dread
- C3: Jackie Mittoo - The Sniper
- C4: Don Carlos - Lazer Beam
- D1: Lynn Taitt & The Jets - Soul Food
- D2: The Granville Williams Orchestra - Hi-Life
- D3: Augustus Pablo - Cassava Piece (’79 Style)
- D4: The Versatiles - Children Get Ready
Long out of print new one-off limited-edition heavyweight special-edition orange coloured vinyl pressing (+ download code) exclusively for Record Store Day 2025 of their out-of-print classic 400% Dynamite! Ska, Soul, Rocksteady, Funk and Dub in Jamaica. 400% Dynamite is the most in-demand of all Soul Jazz's groundbreaking Dynamite! series that brought a whole new audience to reggae music. Often copied, never equalled!
This album is fully remastered, relicensed and with new tracks exclusively for RSD 25 and featuring classic and rare ska, soul, rocksteady, funk and dub, 400% Dynamite will rock any party, fill any dancefloor, anywhere, any time – guaranteed!
Roberto Intrallazzi and Dario Piana, two unheralded sons of Italy’s original Afro-cosmic movement of the 1980s, have joined forces in the studio for the first time. The result is the 99% Stories EP, a collaborative debut for Leng inspired by the formative years of the duo’s near 45-year friendship and their shared musical roots.
The duo both started DJing in and around Milan in 1981, drawing inspiration from pioneering contemporary Daniele Baldelli. Intrallazzi found international success following the birth of Italy’s distinctive house scene, collaborating with other like-minded producers as part of FPI Project and Cube Guys, while Piana continues to be a prolific solo artist whilst also working extensively with mentor and friend Baldelli.
The EP begins with ‘Out Of Control’, a dubbed-out cosmic disco chugger with guitar snippets, spoken word samples and sonic textures over a percussive beat and low-slung bass guitar line. Fellow long- serving Italian LTJ Xperience drops a remix that highlights the acid-flecked electronic sounds, rubbery bass and hypnotic beats in his trademark style.
Intrallazzi and Piana explore the middle ground between psychedelic, pitched down acid and cosmic- disco on ‘Lazise’, offering up a blend of percussion-enhanced beats, undulating 303 motifs and intergalactic electronics, before once more reaching for the bass guitar to drive the vibraphone, bleeps, keys and vocal enhanced midtempo shuffle of ‘Saocraffen’.
The digital version of the EP has bonus cut: ‘SP-15’. Named in honour of the Technics turntables used by Daniele Baldelli at the iconic Cosmic Club – where he first showcased his hybrid and decidedly psychedelic ‘Afro-Cosmic’ DJ style – the track is murky, immersive, trippy and picturesque in equal measure, with waves of glistening synth sounds and musical flourishes winding in an out of a charred, midtempo cosmic disco groove. We have no doubt that Baldelli approves!
Preparing your debut full length record is no small undertaking for any artist. The format itself deserves a certain frame of mind and approach – it’s different, and with Sarah Wild’s debut LP she embraces the idea. Expanding her artistic vision to offer something different, making use of the format and bringing new ideas and musical pathways to her established sound. Releasing on her imprint Midnight Operators in early 2025 – My Body Flows In Gravity constitutes a sophisticated homage to the early 2000s trance movement, integrating nostalgic motifs with her ultra-on point production that sits perfect in todays scene.
From the dreamy proto-house vibes of the opener, establishing a foundation with its understated beats, to the Orbital-esk serenity of the title track My Body Flows In Gravity the album works at evoking the emotive resonance of a golden era of music reborn. This trip is backed up by the Early-Balearic styled tracks such as “Fly With Me To The Moon” and “Visit To Mars” which pull you into hazy smoked filled dancefloor territory, hypnotic melodic progressions effectively capture the essence of Trance’s peak cultural moment.
At the mid point “I Don’t Wanna Go” introduces a different dimension, exploring a more Euro sound that is at the peak of the contemporary scene, but infused with Sarah’s unique edge, hyper pumping beats work alongside spoken word to really up the tempo. Following this the journey returns to a more progressive feel, “Floating Around” and ” On My Way Home” take things into deeper territory, bringing the focus’s of the record back the groove after the blurry eyed highs. Bringing the record in for a perfect landing. There is an emotional duality to this record, a movement through a juxtaposition of yearning and almost frantic emotions alongside more uplifting harmonics through to more introspective moments. The final track “Landing” gracefully closes this arc.
Sarah Wild delivers a sonic journey as much concerned with the process as with the destination itself. My Body Flows In Gravity shows Wild’s capacity to synthesize the deeply personal with the universally resonant, a set of tracks that equally speak to the introspective solitude as they do to the collective euphoria of the dancefloor.
If there’s one thing we know at International Feel, it’s that good things take time. But sometimes, just sometimes, they take a little longer than expected. Enter IFEEL088, a split remix 12” that stitches together two albums, two projects, and a collection of kindred spirits who understand the delicate art of sonic transformation.
Charlie Charlie (the Swedish duo of Chords and Bella Boo) have been long-time admirers of Mondag, ever since their ears first met the melancholic splendor of Sad Soup. When it came time to create Save Us, they had one request: a sax solo from Kristian (of Mondag fame). A beautiful idea, but as the fates (and studio schedules) would have it, the horns never made it onto the album.
Fast forward, and what began as a missed opportunity has now come full circle. Mondag, still taken with Save Us, took matters into their own hands and offered up a remix – a shimmering, unexpected rework of a track that already carried so much weight. Charlie Charlie obliged. And, because there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing, Bella Boo herself offers a tight and nimble edit, while Gerd Janson drapes the track in an ambient mist for those more horizontally inclined.
Hypernatural exists in some liminal space between waking life and dreamstate, it makes sense that its remixes should play with perspective. The trio—Dan Whitford (Cut Copy), Mirko Vogel, and Mike Gamwell (a.k.a. Knightlife)—crafted their album between the Swedish coast and the Scottish highlands, capturing the sublime and the surreal in equal measure. Now, it’s time to hand things over to new guides.
Mike Gamwell himself steps up, delivering a fresh take that bends and stretches time, while Gerd Janson follows, offering another piece for the puzzle—one that slots seamlessly into the hazy, transportive nature of the Hypernatural sound.
One record, two projects, three perspectives, and infinite interpretations. IFEEL088 is a reminder that sometimes the best things in life are worth the wait.
Spin Desire Records is proud to present its first release of the year, a stunning EP by Namur, key member of the renowned Parisian collective :
Beau Mot Plage
Equally talented as a producer and DJ, Namur delivers a new EP featuring four captivating tracks that skilfully blend house, proggy hints and touches of breakbeat. With deep grooves, mesmerizing textures and finely crafted soundscapes which make for a perfectly balanced energy.
This release is sure to connect with both dance floor regulars and those seeking refined electronic music. We could not be more excited to unveil this one as it’s been in the pipeline for quite a while now. A hot take on modern days tech house and timeless addition to any record collection.
Inspired by "slow and quiet life on the southern coasts of England", the debut from CVOIA - a new collaboration between producers and Captured Visions label founders Adam O'Hara and Tom Parker - offers gorgeously lolloping, lazy beats and expansive, cinematic orchestration. There's the brittle, slow motion breakbeats and woozy instrumentation of the duo's original, then remixes from four of their favourite acts: Awakened Souls, Inhmost, Jack Lever and Synkro. All the tracks are about as strenuous as an afternoon on the beach, and equally nourishing, with Synkro's rich, synth-soaked near-ambient mix a dramatic, undisputed highlight. Jack Never's Northern Mix, meanwhile, wouldn't sound out of place nestled somewhere in Mo'Wax's first dozen or so releases. High praise indeed, but much deserved.
Two sought after artists, Deft and Manni Dee, combine their uniquely eclectic sounds on collaborative EP ‘Swamp Season’ arriving on Hooversound in March 2025.
Deft, a familiar favourite within the Hooversound family having released two EP’s on the label, is no stranger to breaking boundaries when it comes to sonic stereotypes. Enter: Manni Dee. Another equally exciting name on the London circuit who is an advocate for non-conformism. Between them they have released on Exit, 1985 Music, Critical and Fabric Originals - their style has been recognised globally and continues to grow. Both creatives bring something refreshingly new to the table, whether it’s with their amalgam style of music making, their esteemed record platforms (Silk + Steel, B4 Music) or their DJ sets - it makes perfect sense for the duo to unite on their vision.
Their latest offering combines their boundaryless artistic style of forward-thinking atmospheric production on an EP named ‘Swamp Season’. The two producers play with different elements of club music and hip hop by blurring genres and throwing the rule book out of the window. The end result highlights how Deft and Manni Dee have excelled once again across five bass-fuelled tracks which will expand your perspective on electronic music.
On their single, the duo said “‘Charged’ was the last track we wrote for the EP. Rooted in the simplicity of 00's hip hop instrumentals, on steroids, adapted with the wider electronic sphere in mind. Inspired by the past and present, facing the future.”
Deft and Manni Dee also explained how they came to collaborate; “We've always shared the same taste in hip hop and electronic music, and also share a studio together underneath FOLD in Canning Town, so it just made sense for us to make a record together. Our process was creatively free with no preconceptions, having worked together remotely and together across multiple studios around the world. The result has created a new and exciting avenue for us both, opening the floodgates to eliminate boundaries. It's Swamp Season.”
Overthink Records - 010 Waveratio 618 - “Bramosia delle cose vietate” (4-Track EP) The 10th release on Overthink Records marks a pivotal moment, delivered by Italian producer Waveratio 618. Following his standout contribution to the label’s Split Series, he returns with a thrilling 4-track EP that blurs the lines between Techno and EBM. Crafted entirely from live jam sessions, this EP exudes raw energy and unfiltered creativity. Each track captures the immediacy and spontaneity of these jams, translating hardware explorations into music brimming with tension and drive. Waveratio 618’s intricate interplay of analog warmth and digital waveforms results in a collection equally suited for shadowy dancefloors and introspective listening. A defining release for both the artist and Overthink Records. Gear Used: Yocto Composer, Kawai R-50, Erica Synth Bass Drum, SH-09, Alpha Juno, Cs2x, Blofeld, BitBox Micro, Td3-Mo.
KEY Vinyls 47th release dives into a silver-plated, machine driven world crafted by Eduardo De La Calle: Kapila. Across four chapters, De La Calles veteran touch shaped by over 25 years of sonic innovation brings to the label a sleek yet abrasive metallic landscape.
The A side opens with Kardama, unfolding a funky yet metallic interplay with sharp bells and stinging rides slicing through a round, acidic bassline. The track proposes a wide spatial range of sounds, a continuous exchange and interplay of elements.
Khatvanga follows, soft yet needle-sharp a lullaby evoking complexity through simplicity. Deceptively minimalistic, its delicate construction disguises its robust power, marking a signature De La Calle moment: feeling held by a soft energy which is equally pungent. With Kankas, the tempo intensifies.
Rugged surfaces and strong high frequencies merge with a type of construction that leans heavily on rhythm, channeling the pulse of a machine in its element. And lastly, Kala mutates into a sci-fi fever dream.
Tense atmospheres build, the machines world grows fuller, and shimmering synths take on a life of their own. The result is a dense, captivating finale that mirrors the increasingly blurred line between man and
machine.
Poor Man’s Friend Records is proud to present a brand new 7” featuring the legendary Cornell Campbell. This 45 delivers a powerful message from The Gorgon, a prolific artist whose recording career spans over 60 years. First recording for the venerable Coxone Dodd at Studio one, Mr Campbell has built a cult following with his trademark Falsetto voice. Equally adept at writing beautiful love songs as he is deep spiritual roots cuts, It's fair to say many of his works have become Iconic milestones in the evolution of the genre. In the year 2025 Cornell Campbell warns us of the pitfalls of living our life in an egotistical way, “ Just try sweeping up your backyard, before you find fault with people's yard.” A searing condemnation of those that judge others based on their wealth, this mid seventies style roots production was cut by the Poor Man’s Friend Rhythm section at their studio in Bristol. The B side dub was masterfully orchestrated by label stalwart Yakka, whilst the horns were played by Cornerstone Horn section.
This one is super limited, only 300 copies have been printed.
Last time Touch From A Distance released a Brother Nebula record the moniker was still shrouded in mystery. A few years later the veil has been lifted and anyone inclined would know our favourite Texan Lance DeSardi has been behind those meticulously crafted tracks all this time.
In line with his past outings on his own imprint Legwork, Brother Nebula keeps exploring the nooks and crannies of varied tropes of club music. There's the razor sharp, Dub Techno inspired stomper „Mach Loop“. There's „Ice Giant“, a heavy drum workout equally indebted to UK Garage and Jeff Mills. There are „The Grandeur Of Delusion“ and „God's Green Earth“ invoking the forgotten transantlanticism between West London and Detroit.
Having relocated to London and immersed himself in the local scenes and culture, Brother Nebula connects the dots of his past, present and future. Smooth melancholia meets icy beat science creating vivid contrast which makes this ep such an intriguing offering.
Gems is a brand-new label dedicated to unearthing the seminal and original tech-house cuts from the 90’s and early noughties from the producers that birthed the genre term. Label boss Paul Still was a music industry don and has proud connections with the trailblazers of the scene from his Croydon roots, the OG home of the sound, where he sourced and sold these vinyl bombs from the back of his van around London and beyond during that time. The rare and choice cuts he has uncovered are now remastered and reissued, offering this legendary sound life to a new fanbase all over again.
The first in the series see the one and only Terry Francis take the remix reigns on the Radical Chic classic; a bomb that changes hands for upwards of £50. An essential tech-houser of the day and THIS was the mix that is in demand. Flipped with the equally brilliant Space Bunny jam, The Key, of which OG copies would cost between £50-£100.
2 of the original tech-house jams on one essential slice of wax.
ReKaB drops another strong four-track EP, rooted firmly in the Detroit sound with a nod to the soulful techno styles that shaped the UK underground in the 90s. His second EP for Cologne's YORE Records. The production, as always, is spot on—sharp, detailed, and endlessly listenable. While the tracks carry the weight of tradition, they’re not stuck in it. There’s a fresh, forward-facing energy here that keeps things exciting.
My Inspiration opens with classic metallic strings and a tight, robotic square bass that locks you in straight away. Just when you think you know where it’s going, the vocal drops—a bold touch that shifts the track into more human territory, giving it an emotional pull without losing its edge.
Soul Brother is a late-night cruiser. Rhodes chords, rolling bass, and lush strings set the scene for a proper cityscape vibe. It’s smooth, it’s warm, and it glides effortlessly, all while keeping enough groove to move.
Future Times kicks things up a gear with more tempo and bite. Acidic basslines and a writhing lead sit alongside deep chords, making it equal parts hypnotic and urgent. It’s the kind of track that turns heads in the club—direct and effective without being predictable.
Wrapping it up, Random Fragments pulls things back into a more reflective, dubby space. The layers are rich but restrained, with chirps and analogue echoes drifting through a hazy atmosphere. It’s introspective but not sleepy, the perfect comedown to round off the EP.
ReKaB’s consistency is something else—each release feels like it’s levelling up, pushing his sound forward without losing its roots. This EP is no different. It’s a tight package of ideas, all executed with precision and style. One for the heads, no question.
- A1: Amazin` (Kakalak Remix)
- A2: Nuff Love
- A3: Raw Factor
- A4: This Year (Feat Big Kap)
- A5: If You Got Beef
- B1: My Main Man
- B2: Represent (Feat Lil Kalef)
- B3: When I Make Parole (Feat Rock Of Brick Flava)
- B4: I`m On Mine
- B5: Was It Just You
- C1: We Lust For The Papes
- C2: I Gotta Maintain
- C3: Touch Y`all
- C4: Wrecognize
- C5: Freestyle After A Philly
- D1: Touch Y`all (Remix)
- D2: Stage Presence (Feat Toz Torcha)
- D3: Rap Vs Crack
- D4: Turn The Party Out
- D5: We Live That Shit
Originally scheduled for release way back in March 1996, "The Raw Factor" by North Carolina native Omniscence is one of the last of the unreleased mid-90's albums to see the light of day. Despite being awarded The Source's coveted "Hip Hop Quotable" and dropping two well-received singles ("Amazin" and "Touch Y'all"), record label politics meant the full-length "The Raw Factor" album was never released and fans were left wondering what might have been.
28 years later, "The Raw Factor" is finally being released on vinyl, CD and digital stores. Featuring punchline-driven lyrics from Omniscence delivered in his unmistakable cadence, and backed by head-nodding production from Fanatic, the album is a must-own for fans of 90's Hip Hop.
Omniscence haunted the same early 90's cyphers and stages that many lyrical greats from the era had to cross. With a gruff delivery and equal adeptness with punchlines and metaphors, his high finish at the 1994 edition Battle For World Supremacy at the New Music Seminar assured heads across the culture were watching. After this, Omniscence locked in with producer Fanatic (who also laced tracks for Notorious B.I.G., Ma$e and Michael Jackson). The result was "The Raw Factor" album, fifteen plus tracks of jazzed out boom-bap, replete with crackin' drums.
Now Below System Records has not only given the album its first deluxe physical release (including 2xLP, CD and digital) as well as a slew of bonus/unreleased tracks.
p Touch Y'all (Remix) feat. Sadat X
p Touch Y'all (Remix) feat. Sadat X
p Touch Y'all (Remix) [feat. Sadat X]
Always endeavoring to drop it a little way different, Ital Counselor Records once again stretch things in a forward direction while paying full and forceful tribute to that which has come before. This heartical 7" is a tribute to the late great Prince Lincoln Thompson in the form of a reimagined take on his composition "Kinky Money Game."
It is with great honor that ITAL COUNSELOR records has been able to work with two legends of the music business on this slab of plastic. Firstly, Jeb Loy Nichols comes with a storied history in music and the visual arts. He first came to ITAL COUNSELOR’s attention upon discovering the 1981 compilation, “Wild Paarty Sounds” via Cherry Red/On-U Sound. Later would be greater, with projects skirting the realms of country, soul, reggae, and leftfield. Bands like the Fellow Travelers, solo albums with Adrian Sherwood, and more recently writing songs for Horace Andy’s latest On-U album have all contributed to an impressive body of work.
Over the years when Jeb is not making music, he can be found writing books or churning out block prints of birds, leaves, pithy phrases, and the odd sleeve art for labels like Pressure Sounds, and, yes ITAL COUNSELOR. His sleeve work on this 7” indeed captures the essence of the music hiding under the cardboard exterior. Lo-fi, retro while poignantly on time. Social commentary manifested auditorily and visually.
Jeb’s reinterpretation of Thompson's original bubbles over a slow burning one drop built by none other than Studio One, Riz Records, and Tuff Scout Records alum Gil Cang. In yet another musical first brought to you by ITAL COUNSELOR, this piece of wax represents the only time Jeb and Gil have worked together. The results are a magical mix equally at home in the hands of a sound system operator unconstrained by the current ‘steppers’ norms as it is on a home stereo where one can deeply sit with the lyrics of depth and significance. An old time something feel for these nowadays times. An ITAL COUNSELOR Records essential.
Feel the vibes…
This absolute classic gets a remix from legendary old skool and jungle master, and Infrared owner, the one and only J Majik. Keeping the feel both modern and traditional, J Majik has created a perfect remix of this timeless classic.
Meanwhile, Dj Stephano has stepped his already considerable game up a level, and brought a new depth and perspective to the lesser known, but equally essential track "Field of Dreams".
The second offering from Mud Trax, a division of MixCult Records is a compilation to remember.
With Dub Tech laid out in all its many forms and moods by a dynamic assortment of rhythms, it is nothing less than exquisitely fresh pop manipulative.The album features contributions from Kirill Matveev, Ataneus, Genning and Etzu Mahkayah. With an electrifying mix of dub's sprawling scope and acid's driving rhythm, even a record that pushes sound the way this one does can come off totally funky.
Kirill Matveev & Wiklauri's Ioli (Kirill's Version) makes for a promising opening, melding into deep dub its ethos of acid, a psychedelic blend that touches the nerves of those who love to dance. Ataneus takes it further on A2 with Napolitaner, a track that is like nothing else: dense, dub-coloured layers of sound, which create a steadily seductive momentum able to steal listeners away into temporal plunge.
On the other side, B1's Red Lights by Genning is at once a punchy piece and a dancefloor phalanx of sound. A work meticulously sculpted by the speakers, yet redolent with natural energy-Geistgemäss.
The journey is brought to a close by Etzu Mahkayah's Cs-137 on B2, hypnotic grooves offering equal parts reflectivity and pumping energy.
Taken together these tracks provide an experience that is euphoric yet absorbing, each not only embodying Dub Tech but also pushing it in new directions.
- A1: Tell It To Me Slowly Feat. Nick Richards
- A2: Jungle Run Feat. Nubiya Brandon
- B1: Basa Basa Feat. K.o.g
- B2: Brother Feat. Nubiya Brandon
- C1: Borders Feat. Pilo Adami
- C2: Permission Feat. Nubiya Brandon
- C3: Addis To London Feat. Mulatu Astatke
- D1: Ghosts Feat. Nick Richards
- D2: They Talk Feat. K.o.g
- D3: Sugar Cane Feat. Nubiya Brandon
Strut proudly present the brand-new studio album from Nubiyan Twist, 'Jungle Run'.
Now one of the leading lights in the UK's new generation of soulful, genre-fluid artists, the Leeds-born and now London-based 12-piece collective have created their finest recordings to date, effortlessly weaving together elements of jazz, soul, hip hop, African styles, Latin, dub, hip hop and electronics in a flow of thought-provoking and life-affirming music.
Recorded at the band's own self-built Henwood Studio in rural Oxfordshire, the album effortlessly moves through different voices from the band's circle. The inimitable, timeless vocals of Nubiya Brandon lead the way on the album's title track about breaking preconceptions and promoting equality, 'Where you from I'm from wherever I be.' Saxophonist Nick Richards vocals the killer first single from the album about inner turmoil and a search for the truth, 'Tell It To Me Slowly' while rising Ghanaian star K.O.G. appears on the Afro jams 'Basa Basa' and 'They Talk'. Percussionist Pilo Adami (Nina Miranda / Afrosamba) voices the infectious bossa-jazz jam 'Borders'. The band also draft in two African legends for guest duties with the original Afrobeat maestro Tony Allen on 'Ghosts' and Ethio jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke contributing vibes on the sinuous 'Addis To London'. 'The depth of talent and ideas that every member of this group has brought to the table for this album is incredible,'
says producer and orchestrator Tom Excell. 'Conceptually, 'Jungle Run' is all about connecting different people and cultures whilst exploring the journey of individuals. This album is the pinnacle of everything we have done to date and to collaborate with the godfathers of Afrobeat and Ethio Jazz and celebrate their music in a modern context was very humbling.'
The album is another landmark for a band that has been consistently developing their sound since their formation in 2015 at Leeds College Of Music. 'One of the biggest factors in our sound was the exciting music scene in Leeds,' explains saxman Joe Henwood. 'From a reggae night called 'Sub Dub' to venues playing whacked out experimental jazz.' Since then, the band's self-titled debut album (2015), EP 'Siren Song' (2016) and single 'Dance Inna London' (2017) have become classics in their own right and their live show has become an essential ticket; previous live highlights have included high profile slots at David Byrne's Meltdown at the South Bank and Glastonbury West Holts
'Jungle Run' is released on 15th February on CD, 2LP and digital. Cover artwork comes from acclaimed designer Marcus Davies and the album is mastered by The Carvery. Nubiyan Twist tour across Europe from November.
CWPT welcomes Acopia to the label with a reissue of the cult Australian bands self-titled sophomore album, available on vinyl outside of Australia for the first time.
Based in Melbourne/Naarm, Acopia’s music is a careful control of tension and release, sparseness and warmth, momentum, and space. Across ten tracks, the band’s three members move across post-punk lamentation, shoegazing DnB, smoldering trip hop and subdued electronic pop, as they carve out their own hazy world of romanticism and restraint.
The highly anticipated follow-up to the band’s stellar 2022 debut, ‘Chances’, this is a deeply emotionally sensitive record, equal parts refined and relatable, and a listening journey that is immediately understood while revealing new layers with each subsequent listen.
Alongside the physical release of ‘Acopia’, CWPT will also release two digital-only remixes of the band, courtesy of Daniel Avery and JD Twitch.
Following a fallow 2023, a rejuvenated Growing Bin return to your turntable with this sublime collaborative LP from Gosha Martynov & Natasha Sinyakova. On their first foray into the physical, the duo expand the spectral ambience and medicated breaks of their earlier work with lithe touches of organic jazz and Cafe Del Mar cool, creating a complex assemblage of dreamy downbeat and emotive electronica that's entirely easy on the ears.
Opener "Pozhaluysta" seduces with smart syncopation and beguiling melody, its flute and fretwork finding ample space to slip around Natasha's voice, equal parts Cocteau operatics and jazz-club coquette, in an expression of a want beyond words. The mood shifting "Osvobodi Menia" sees the solemn, snaking sound of a sampled duduk drift into an optimism of airy pads and escapist mantra, suspended in reverb until the end of time. "Ya Tebia Zhdala" began life as a break-led experiment, gradually evolving into a romantic and naive sketch rich with splashes of piano and dynamic chorus pads. Naturalist hymn "O Dereve" weaves a dark and intimate tale from the point of view of a veteran tree as its buzzsaw guitar loops blossom into multilayered vocals full of emotion.
Awash with sonar sweeps, sumptuous pads and rolling subs, the titular "Imena Rek" channels post-rave bliss into the hypnagogic anthem the contemporary IDM-ographic have been searching for. Infectious hooks and spaced out pads ride the breakbeat rhythm for a dreamy experimental pop banger from another planet. The sombre sway of "Rany", filtered through the fog of a broken cassette recorder, trance djembe and unpredictable bass tones rivals the finest Motion Ward or In:dex releases for crepuscular charm, while "Smeshno" sees serrated drones sink into a slinking rhythm, playing counterpoint to the tender chords and yearning vocals.
"Iskra" closes out the chiasmus with a return to the organic experience of the opener, the flute and acoustic guitar augmented with nuanced hand percussion and a music box refrain. Listening to this album is like a midnight walk through an ancient forest - an experience which both scares and tempts you at the same time. From touching damp moss to feeling the thick fog with your body and watching mushrooms glow in the dark, 'Imena Rek' guides you through the terrain.
Flawlessly arranged and executed, this LP alludes to a long lineage of innovative downbeat, feels absolutely essential in the present and pushes the trip hop revivalists towards a fascinating future - Gosha Martynov & Natasha Sinyakova have created a timeless piece of music,
but what else do you expect from the Bin?
Spanish duo Los Suruba have done it all over the last 25 years, captivating dancers with their blend of House, Minimal, Electro, psychedelic, and deep vibes.
They have established their own network of record labels, with almost 250 releases, Nazca being the latest addition. They’ve also released music on labels like Crosstown Rebels, Diynamic, and Get Physical and have been remixed by international artists such as Solomun, Adriatique, Clarian, and Okain. They describe their music as "Memories of the Future," the motto of their brand Nazca.
As DJs, they’ve performed at the world’s best clubs and festivals, bringing their unique sound across the globe, holding residencies from Ibiza to London, and creating countless underground hits.
They are in top form once again with this latest journeying EP, where Los Suruba and their label Nazca return to vinyl releases, featuring two new remixers for this vinyl edition of the ‘+33 EP’.
Innovative opener 'Dial Banger' is a wonky house sound with wet claps and a gurgling bassline that gets ever more wild. It's a playful cut that teases and pleases in equal measure as the low-slung grooves, string stabs, and unhinged leads keep dancers locked.
'Elegancia La de Francia' is a more experimental house affair with eerie synth leads and freaky filtered vocals, making a dark and menacing atmosphere.
Warm melodies infuse the track with soul and make it perfect for the late-night hours.
First remixer Cristina Lazic launched her own label La Zic, earlier this year. It's a platform that looks to uplift and mentor exceptional female talents next to the Italian's own blend of minimal, deep and tech house sounds. Her fantastic take on 'Elegancia la de Francia' is stylish and stripped back with supple minimal drums and the muted synth sounds bubbling away over punchy kicks.
Romanian artist BRYZ has a refined minimal sound that has established him in the European scene over the last decade. He deals in intricate melodies, pulsating rhythms, and atmospheric textures on labels like Storytellers and Esente Records.
His version of 'Elegancia la de Francia' is silky and deft, with sustained pads locking you into a trance while gurgling bass and trippy melodic motifs add great detail to the rolling minimal house grooves.
- A1: Mosaic
- A2: Elegy
- A3: Prelude
- A4: Intro - Homo Deus
- A5: Hands
- A6: Portraits
- B1: Equality
- B2: Clouds
- B3: Machines
- C1: Super Hero (With Sentre)
- C2: Descent
- C3: Zodiac
- C4: Zodiac Pt 2 - Perpetual Dreame
- D1: Landing On The Sun
- D2: Last Supper - Oxford Suite Pt 1 (With Ed Alleyne Johnson)
- D3: Into The Metaverse - Homo Deus Pt 2
- D4: Outro
Gold[27,94 €]
- A1: Mosaic - 3M 55S
- A2: Elegy – 2M 16S
- A3: Prelude – 2M 28S
- A4: Intro - Homo Deus - 3M 11S
- A5: Hands – 3M 05S
- A6: Portraits – 4M 19S
- B1: Equality – 6M 14S
- B2: Clouds – 3M 17S
- B3: Machines – 6M 03S
- C1: Super Hero (With Sentre) - 4M 39S
- C2: Descent - 3M 54S
- C3: Zodiac – 3M 28S
- C4: Zodiac Pt 2 - Perpetual Dreamer 3M 22S
- D1: Landing On The Sun - 2M 14S
- D2: Last Supper - Oxford Suite Pt 1 (With Ed Alleyne Johnson) - 6M 27S
- D3: Into The Metaverse - Homo Deus Pt 2 - 1M 29S
- D4: Outro - 4M 00S
Black[24,58 €]
Dalmata Daniels third LP comes from Rapha, marking his return to the label after contributing to its split and compilation series. Known for bold acid treatments and dark, futuristic tones, Rapha takes his craft to new heights on Midnight Dancer, which also features remixes by CT Kidobo and PRZ. The album opens with I Win U Win, pulling listeners into an adventure of pulsing basslines and cosmic, minimal electro. CT Kidobos remix then twists it into a darker, seductive French-inspired club sound. The third track, ...And Them, continues the journey of the opener with mechanical beats and textured soundscapes, while Alien Dance highlights Raphas signature sharp, distinct style leaving a strong mark on the deep electro club scene.
On the flip side, Midnight Dancer plunges into a hypnotic realm of haunting echoes and distorted rhythms, with heavy basslines reverberating through the darkest corners of the mind. PRZs remix of the title track retains the original groove but adds a cleaner, equally impulsive electro edge perfect for the club. The albums final tracks, Lost Start and Galactico, round off the journey with shimmering electro patterns and eerie, alien soundscapes, leaving an unforgettable impression.
In Midnight Dancer, Rapha showcases his ability to blend industrial grit with cosmic melodies, delivering hard-hitting electro suited for both club play and immersive listening at home or on a night ride. Be warned DDLP03 is limited to 150 copies, housed in a Studio Jetski designed jacket with a digital download card and shrink wrap.
'Science, Art And Ritual' is a story of ‘process'. Growing up in Harrow (a then quiet suburb of London) in the 70’s and 80’s from the age of about 10, Kingsuk Biswas aka Bedouin Ascent's ears opened up to sound as he scanned the airwaves. The undeniable righteousness of 80’s dub via David Rodigan’s Roots Rockers shows was the first prominent influence he received, and with punk roots —and his burgeoning record collection— became exposed to the breathless post punk experimentation that followed in the early 80’s sweeping up free jazz, noise, dub and much more. Throughout though, he maintained his fascination with Indian Classical music which was a mainstay in his parent’s house and spoke with the same infinite space as Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures', and King Tubby’s Studio dispatches. Through those teens he assembled and de-assembled, knocking about with fellow travellers —punk bands, garage, space rock, noise. Something was happening. On-U Sound, ECM, Factory Records kept him plugged in and sane.
At that time Kingsuk's core studio setup revolved around his vintage Gretsch, Fender Jazz, Moog, TR-606 and rudimentary FX. He added congas, folk instruments, pipes, hand percussion, gongs, and jammed out shards of funk, noise, jazz fusion, electro and ambience into his hungry Tascam Portastudio. By 1987 these had morphed into what we’d now refer to broadly as techno, but the genre didn't exist beyond the reverberating walls of his bedsit, and he hadn’t yet plugged into the global conversation.
'Science, Art And Ritual' was released in 1994 by Rising High Records and was presented as Bedouin Ascent's debut album, although 'Music for Particles' (released in 1995, again on Rising High) was recorded even before —'SAR' sessions span from 1992-1993, whereas 'Music for Particles' were earlier from 1989-1992, with some older 4-track references from about 1986 too.
Weaved in throughout the album are subconscious references to music that Kingsuk heard in the past that still remained within sight as companions. The opening track "Ancient Ocean III", referencing the extinct ocean Tethis, unapologetically channels Tackhead, Colourbox, Mantronix and Lee Perry. The style was also deliberately juxtaposed to the prevailing sound in techno at the time, which had locked onto a rigid form of symmetrical kicks and light snare drums. Elsewhere 80’s soul and funk are frozen and captured in fragile glass lattices. Electric pianos resound throughout, such as in "He Is She", probably a half-memory of 70’s MOR radio from childhood sleepy night drives. A duel between kick drums from three generations of Roland drum machines —TR-808, TR-707 and R-8— is a central theme in "Transition-R", all in conversation, calling and responding. These were not just machines to Bedouin Ascent, but part of an extended family, with heart and soul.
Three decades after seeing the light, Lapsus is proud to present a special 30th anniversary reissue of this
left-field techno gem in a repackaged and redesigned edition. All pressed on a deluxe 3LP marbled vinyl and including a limited lithographic insert print of the original album cover. All tracks have been restored and remastered directly from the original DAT tapes, and the album also features previously unreleased tracks such as "In the Clouds" and "Thru Water" —regularly performed live at that time and produced in the same period as the album sessions in 1993.
'Science, Art And Ritual’ may refer to esoteric traditions in Indian philosophy, but equally embodies the collision of the science, the art and the ritual that is at the core of being immersed in a deep musical journey.
Glenn Astro leans into the twilight months of 2024 with a new album from his Delta Rain Dance project. Divining fourth world sensibilities from his restlessly curious studio workflow, Astro weaves a mesmerising tapestry of sound on Music For Autumn which treads the line between horizontal meditation and head- nodding, backroom-ready groove.
Amongst his constellation of myriad aliases, Delta Rain Dance spells out the inspiration Astro takes from fourth world pioneer Jon Hassell. The project first surfaced with a string of tapes, LPs and digital releases around 2018, all carried on a label of the same name to keep Delta Rain Dance enclosed in its own space
independent of Astro's many other musical endeavours.
"I’m really into the world building aspect in science fiction and fantasy," says Astro. "This is my way of creating worlds and spaces that co-exist next to each other. Sometimes they collide but mostly they exist peacefully next to each other or pursue some form of cultural exchange by collaborating with each other."
There's a strong sense of balance and cohesion throughout Music For Autumn, as organic percussion and instrumentation wraps around delicate synthesis and patient drum machine pulses so naturally it's hard to spot the joins. The sound has plenty of room to stretch out, from the mantra-like chimes and rattles of the album opener 'Green Light Fade' to the luxury funk of 'Mmmh, Nice' (featuring fellow Tartelet alumni Nelson of the East). At times the electronic elements seem to entirely dissolve, not least behind the loping strings and tumbledown percussion of 'Second Sleep', while achingly beautiful closer 'Plucked' centres on the fluttering movement and expression Astro elicits from his modular setup.
True to the project's influences, a consistent ambiguous mood lingers in the air over Music For Autumn somewhere between far- flung mystery and comforting familiarity, reliably calm but equally contemplative. It's an odyssey of serenity with enough nuance to make you really think, perfect for the days getting shorter, leaves crunching underfoot and the last fading rays of warmth from the sun.
Music From Memory is thrilled to introduce Dead Sound, the collaborative project of Marco Sterk (aka Young Marco) and Berlin-based pop-auteur John Moods. Both artists are no strangers to the label; Sterk forms one third of the trio Gaussian Curve, while Moods released the 2022 album ‘Hidden Gem’ with The Zenmenn.
Their collaboration was both planned and spontaneous; Sterk initially reached out in 2022 expressing his desire to work with Moods. The pair finally got together in 2024 to produce ‘Into The Void’, an album that burst into life over the course of a few creatively charged days in each other’s company.
Moods’ dream-like, emotionally charged music wears its heart on its sleeve; its very human vulnerability makes it a perfect match for Sterk’s strong sense of melody and textural sonic visions.
‘Into The Void’ carries these psychedelic traits in its DNA, but they exist layered deep amongst the shadows. Painting on a wide canvas that effortlessly skips between genres, the pair weave anything that inspires them into a truly unique tapestry; a bold attempt to touch at the beyond.
Exploring the space between perception (level of the mind) and the nature of the universe (actual level of reality) seems traditionally like an impossible task. But there’s gotta be a time and a space for the profound and this album invites the listener to go deep, letting go of concepts such as love and opening oneself up to one’s own authentic journey. This transformative force of healing is a central theme of ‘Into The Void’, a path that is lined with light and darkness in equal measure. But, as Moods says, “do not skip the darkness, let that door open and swallow you. And maybe you’ll find, it's not as dark as you perceived at first."
Sleeve art by Michael Willis.
Ephemera is the debut album by Fergus Jones, the artist formerly known as Perko, an Edinburgh-born, Copenhagen-based producer, DJ, and founder of the FELT record label. The nine-track release is out on Numbers on 18 October 2024.
Ephemera was developed with collaborative energy as the creative priority, produced by Jones alongside an extensive list of like-minded musicians, lyricists and vocalists including Huerco S, James K, Koreless, Birthmark, ELDON and Withdrawn of Bristol’s Cold Light crew, Laila Sakini and Lia T. The album embodies Jones’ inner journey as he ranges further than ever sonically and emotionally, emphasising instinct, intensity, tactility and rapture.
“Heima” was written and produced with Huerco S and James K between Iceland, Copenhagen and the United States’ East Coast. Developed during and named after the same Icelandic artist residency that birthed Perko & Huerco S’ debut collaboration “Prang,” “Heima” is a shimmering piece of fortified trip-pop featuring vocals from James K, appearing here following solo releases for AD 93 and collaborations with Yves Tumor. “Tight Knit” aligns Jones’ graceful production with the raw emotions thundering from the performances of Birthmark, ELDON and Withdrawn of Cold Light, the shadowy Bristolian collective channelling the city’s deep sonic history into an equally rich future.
In his own words, Jones says “This album was made over the last five years in various studio and outdoor locations around the world, reflecting my ongoing emphasis on natural collaboration as a creative ideal. It’s my most personal record yet, written with experimentation and an open attitude as guiding lights.”
The album makes a distinctive impact that reverberates and glows long after its runtime. Analogue audio sculpting, adaptive processes and imaginative approaches to creating sound are at the forefront – whether resulting from an endless exchange of iterative stems with Huerco S, or hydrophone recordings with Koreless. Evocative vocal performances and songwriting combine with weighty sound design, gliding easily between the organic and synthetic to reflect and expand the thin spaces of transcendence in each.
Now celebrating 20 years since the original release of 'Salsoul Nugget' in April 2001, M&S enlists Mighty Mouse and Mark Knight for some amazing remix to celebrate this milestone anniversary.
Mighty Mouse pulls out all the stops with expertly chopped vocals and loops that builds intensity with a breakdown that is equal parts intense and euphoric and is sure to get the club absolutely heated.
With a career that spans across two decades, DJ & Grammy-nominated producer and Toolroom head honcho Mark Knight jumps on board the Salsoul Nugget mix package. It's fair to say Mark Knight knows his way around creating records that connect with house music lovers. 2020 highlighted Mark Knight’s more soulful house roots and follows his desire to create timeless dance records that stand the test of time, including the Sunday Shouting sampling 'All 4 Love' (feat Tasty Lopez). 2021 saw the release of ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Alright’ with Beverly Knight and the London Community Gospel Choir. For his mix of Salsoul Nugget, Mark beefs up the drums for the main rooms while being respectful to the original.
The original vocal and original extended vocal mix and original extended Klub Mix are on the flip.
Eaux proudly announces a new collaborative mini-album from label boss Rrose and Polygonia. Containing six tracks and over 40 minutes of music housed in a fully printed sleeve with artwork by Jon-Paul Villegas, the record focuses squarely on the dancefloor while infusing it with the kinds of psychoactive drones, intricate polyrhythms, and relentless modulations that have come to identify both of their approaches to sound. Featured heavily are their shared interests in sonic shapes that resemble natural forms and conjure tactile feelings, in this case related to themes of skin-like surfaces and circulatory systems experienced simultaneously on a micro and macro level. While several of the tracks hover in a flexible tempo range between 125 and 130 bpm, "Stretcher" reaches up to 142, and the closing track "Vena Cava" trades the kick drums for spectrally processed percussion and endlessly diverging high-frequency pulses.
The story behind the release starts in 2022, when Rrose reached out to Polygonia after noticing that her tracks were appearing in their sets more frequently than any other artist. Never before had Rrose proposed a collaboration with someone they hadn't met before, but there was such an obvious connection in their approach to sound that it felt necessary. As it turns out, Polygonia had only become interested in techno after hearing Rrose perform at a festival in 2018. It all made sense, and they began sharing sketches and unfinished ideas with each other, trading them back and forth until they reached completion. Without any announcement of their collaboration, the two artists have since been asked to share the stage together several times. It seems there are other people out there sensing a connection...
Bios:
RROSE
Rrose is an alias of the multi-disciplinary artist Seth Horvitz, born and raised in California, and currently based in London. Active since 2011, the Rrose project explores the intersection of hypnotic techno, experimental composition and psychoacoustic phenomena with a meticulous touch. The first major breakthrough was 2012's "Waterfall" for Sandwell District which followed "Motormouth Variations," a collaborative project with composer, improviser, and activist Bob Ostertag. After the shuttering of Sandwell District, Rrose established Eaux, a home for further solo productions and collaborations. Building on his studies in electronic composition and history at Mills College, Rrose's electronic pieces blur the lines between thrillingly claustrophobic club tracks and destabilizing sound art explorations. In 2015, she released an extended version of James Tenney's postcard composition "Having Never Written a Note For Percussion" for solo gong, and in 2018 collaborated with Charlemagne Palestine on "The Goldennn Meeenn + Sheeenn" for two grand pianos. These works overlapped with the development of Rrose's singular techno: EPs like "Vanishing Pools," "The Ends of Weather" and "Arc Unknown" as well as 2019's debut LP "Hymn to Moisture" and last year's follow up "Please Touch." Rrose is also active as a touring DJ and live performer, equally comfortable commanding sweaty warehouse dancefloors and seated audiences in historic concert halls. Appearances include Unsound, Atonal, Semibreve, Dekmantel, Mutek, Sonic Acts, Nuit Sonore, Mostra, Parallel, Theatre Graslin, Nextones, and Berghain.
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POLYGONIA
Polygonia represents a multidisciplinary music and art project conceived by Lindsey Wang from Munich, Germany.
She draws inspiration from her many years of practicing various acoustic instruments and her keen interest for other cultural forms of expression, which she translates into the digital language of electronic music and art.
Her productions' soundscape exudes a mystical, organic quality, featuring intricate and compelling rhythms. Polygonia's sound palette ranges from energetic, groovy Deep Techno, Downtempo, Grey Area to textural and/or harmonic Ambient. Besides, she is not afraid to include influences from the genres House, Drum and Bass, Electro etc.. In addition inspiration from nature play a major role in many of her productions. Exemplary for her style are for instance her 'Otro Mundo' EP (2023) on Bambounou's Bambel Imprint, her 'Bloom' EP (2022) on the American record label Sure Thing, the release 'Deformed Human Nature' (2021) on her own label IO, as well as the album 'Abbilder einer vergessenen Welt' (2021) on the Korean label Huinali.
Her DJ and live sets too reflect her passion for different genres. Depending on the time of day and setting, Polygonia shows a different musical side. What unites all her dance music sets is the hypnotizing effect that invites to completely lose oneself in the world of sounds for a longer period of time. Several voices from the audience also confirm that the musician always tells a complex story within her mixes, allowing for very clear highs and lows. In the same set there can be very harmonic passages, which provide emotional moments and on the other hand extremely texture-heavy dark tracks, which establish a connection with the subconscious and put the listener in a kind of trance.
Polygonia has already visited numerous of prestigious venues. She is now a regular at Tresor or Berghain in Berlin and additionally started her residency in 2023 at Munich-based BLITZ club.
































































































































































