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Returning to Die Schachtel with his fourth full-length with the label, the Genoa born, Bologna based, guitarist and electroacoustic composer, Stefano Pilia, delivers “Lacinia”, a new, immersive cycle of compositions, delving deeper into the realm of metaphysical, spiritual, and divine meaning, weaving astounding arrangements of sonority from a palette of synths, strings, brass, organ, various electroacoustic instruments, and percussion. Resting at a refined intersection of the acoustic and electroacoustic, drone, and chamber music - overwhelmingly beautiful, delicate, and bold, - “Lacinia” stands as a high-water mark in Pilia’s already remarkable and forward-looking career.

Since its founding in Milan during the early years of the new millennium, Die Schachtel has occupied a singular place in the landscape of experimental music, issuing a carefully curated body of reissues and archival releases by historically significant figures and projects like Christina Kubisch, Luciano Cilio, Marino Zuccheri, Prima Materia, Claudio Rocchi, Lino Capra Vaccina, Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza, Roland Kayn, and numerous others, balanced against bristling contemporary counterparts by the likes of Jim O'Rourke, Giovanni Di Domenico, Nicola Ratti, Luigi ArchettI, Valerio Tricoli, etc. Running like a spine through the label’s output is a deep dedication to the work of the Italian guitarist and electroacoustic composer Stefano Pilia. Now Die Schachtel returns with “Lacinia”, Pilia’s forth full-length with the label and their first release of 2024. Building on the ground of deeply personal engagement with metaphysical, spiritual, and divine meaning, explored within his previous LP with Die Schachtel, 2022’s “Spiralis Aurea”, “Lacinia” encounters the composer working in close calibration with various ensembles, including the Bologna based Ensemble Concordanze and Comunale di Bologna String Orchestra, weaving synths, strings, brass, organ, various electroacoustic instruments, and percussion into an astounding reconfiguration of immersive, contemporary minimalism that stands among Pilia’s most noteworthy releases to date. Issued by Die Schachtel in two special double vinyl editions and a CD edition, “Lacinia” features artwork by Bruno Stucchi/Dinamomilano, and is an absolute marvel that draws you in and doesn’t let go.

First emerging during the early 2000s, over the past two decades – via solo releases and numerous collations with artists like Oren Ambarchi, Valerio Tricoli, Alessandra Novaga, Z'EV, Andrea Belfi, David Grubbs, and numerous others - the Genoa born, Bologna based, guitarist and electroacoustic composer, Stefano Pilia has presented a singular voice within Italian experimental music, harnessing visceral energy and hands-on immediacy within delicately woven tapestries of sonority, each investigating the sculptural properties of sound and illuminating its relationship to space, memory, and the suspension of time. “Lacinia”, Pilia’s forth solo venture with Die Schachtel, encounters the composer reentering his longstanding practice of collaboration with various ensemble forms, including the Bologna based Ensemble Concordanze, for the albums central piece, “Lacinia Off Axis”, spinning stunning string confirmations by Pietro David Carami and Elena Maury on violin, Alessandro Savio on viola, and Mattia Cipolli on cello.

A new, important cycle of compositions by Pilia, “Lacinia” (meaning "lace" in Latin) builds upon the exploration of the metaphysical, spiritual, and divine dimensions through numbers, geometry, and the creation of tonal forms explored by 2022’s “Spiralis Aurea”, mirroring archetypal, immutable forms at the juncture of the abstract realm of mathematics and architectural structures in the physical world, expands the poetics and compositional ideas featured in its predecessor. Regraded by Pilia as both a series of individual compositions and a single work, “Lacinia” was conceived to “define a circular path (a sort of "rhizomatic lace") where the beginning and end touch, suggesting the concept of time not only as linear but also cyclical and ritualistic—an eternal return, a process of transformation where matter changes, its state changes, but without altering the invisible internal principle of mutation”, embarking upon a a series of “steps, degrees, and energetic quanta in a progression of archetypal whole numbers and transcendent creation.”

The resulting 16 tracks unfold as a series of complex sonic meditations. While deeply resonant with the minimalism of composers like Arvo Pärt, LaMonte Young, Pauline Oliveros, and Eliane Radigue, Pilia digs deep and moves far beyond the predictable tonal relationships and structures of that idiom, echoing the ancient liturgical and devotional music of composers like Gesualdo da Venosa, Monteverdi, and John Dowland, at a refined intersection of the acoustic and electroacoustic, drone, and chamber music.

Fascinatingly structured as a whole to include a number of motif returns, across which we encounter works like “Lacinia Off Axis” appearing in slightly different rendering, states, or evolutions three times, and compositions like “Eve” appearing twice in subtly different forms and arrangements - first for four oscillators, guitar and voice and then for string orchestra - as well “Maris Stella”, which similarly makes two appearances, first for horn trio, organ and percussion, and then for string orchestra, with “Lacinia” Pilia delves further into the world of chamber music than ever before, creating a deeply inward, mediative body of work the totality of which, guided by its rich string arrangements of arching, sorrowful tone, feels almost like a mass for some unproclaimed loss; simultaneously locked in the nuances of a moment, while managing to suspend time.

Perhaps most remarkable is Pilia's ability to create a remarkable sense of sonic cohesion while using such a varied number of ensembles and instrumentation. From the sprawling string arrangements delivered by Comunale di Bologna String Orchestra, under the direction of Paolo Mancini, and Ensemble Concordanze, and a flute trio (Cadux / Plectere) brilliantly played by Manuel Zurria, to pieces for sax, organ and percussion, violin duo and percussion, organ and percussion, Pilia manages to create a sense of singular, encompassing world that flows forward like a shifting stream.

Overwhelmingly beautiful, delicate, and bold, “Lacinia” is unquestionably a high-water mark in Stefano Pilia’s already remarkable, forward-looking career. Nothing short of a marvel of contemporary Minimalism that, through its shifting arrangements of harmonics, tonality, and texture draws flickering images of ancient forms of music into the present day, “Lacinia” is Issued by Die Schachtel in two special editions on double vinyl and a CD edition, featuring artwork by Bruno Stucchi/Dinamomilano. This is an immersive all-consuming listen that can’t be missed.

When Are You Leaving? is the second full-length album from LA-based Korean-American artist NoSo (Baek Hwong), and it marks a bold evolution in both sound and storytelling. Where their 2022 debut Stay Proud of Me introduced a deeply earnest voice navigating identity and belonging - earning praise from NPR's All Songs Considered, Paste, The Guardian, and a stunning performance at Tiny Desk - this follow-up turns the lens inward with even greater clarity and confidence.

Across a vibrant palette of disco grooves, jagged guitars, and atmospheric ballads, NoSo captures the quiet power of letting go - of fractured relationships, old narratives, and the need to be understood by others. The album is rich with emotional contrast: thorny truths wrapped in dreamy production, vulnerability delivered with the assuredness of an artist coming fully into their own.

Self-produced and sonically fearless, When Are You Leaving? is a coming-of-age record for anyone still in the process of becoming, and a testament to NoSo's place among the most compelling songwriters of their generation.

Cloudy Gold Vinyl. This 10 Year Anniversary Edition features new, gatefold packaging with updated photos, lyrics and liner notes. Disc one incldues the originial album in full and the brand new second disc features rare b-side "Nail In Your Hand," a re-done version of "Heaviside" with artist Wisp performing vocals on the song, and seven never-before heard demo versions of songs from Citizen's second album. Ten years ago, Citizen released Everybody Is Going to Heaven _ a record that marked a bold turning point in their career. Following the breakout success of Youth, the band could have stayed the course. Instead, they doubled down on darker textures, heavier moods, and a fearless sense of experimentation. Released in 2015, Everybody Is Going to Heaven expanded Citizen's sound beyond their emo and post-hardcore roots, weaving in elements of grunge, and alternative rock. Tracks like "Cement" and "Stain" captured a raw, unsettled energy that explored mortality, depression, and identity with an honesty that still resonates today. It wasn't a record built for easy listens _ it was built to last. Now, a decade later, Everybody Is Going to Heaven stands as a defining moment in Citizen's evolution _ a record that challenged both the band and their audience, and helped shape the fearless, genre-blurring artists they've become. As they celebrate its 10th anniversary, Citizen remains a band deeply committed to growth, refusing to be tied to a single sound or era. Everybody Is Going to Heaven didn't just mark where they were; it lit the way for everything that came next.

Italian producer, musician, DJ, and groove architect Sam Ruffillo drops his long-awaited debut album Tipo Così on Toy Tonics – a sun-drenched, genre-blurring statement that blends classic house with Mediterranean flair, romantic funk, and tongue-in-cheek Italo vibes. Over 11 expertly crafted tracks, Ruffillo delivers a dancefloor-ready, emotionally rich LP that connects deep musicality with irresistible rhythm and light-hearted elegance.

After three acclaimed EPs and collaborations with revered artists such as Barbara Boeing, Kapote, and Fimiani, Ruffillo has firmly cemented himself as a core artist on the Berlin-based label. Known for his unmistakable signature sound — a warm mix of vintage disco, 90s house, and Italian vocals — Sam’s music has garnered widespread DJ support from tastemakers like Gerd Janson, Palms Trax, Seth Troxler, and DJ Tennis, while becoming a staple on Italian airwaves. His infectious summer anthems like Danza Organica and Perfetta Così have soundtracked countless club nights and festivals, creating a loyal following that eagerly awaited this full-length debut.

Tipo Così is the natural culmination of a musical journey that’s both playful and profound — a travel diary written in grooves, synth stabs, and melodies that feel like postcards from a parallel Mediterranean universe. The album expands and deepens Ruffillo’s world into a fully immersive experience: lush emotional chords meet tight syncopated grooves, vintage synth textures collide with irresistibly catchy pop refrains, and the boundary between sincerity and playful irony is exquisitely blurred.

Entirely written, produced, and recorded in Italy, in his beloved hometown of Bologna, the album finds Ruffillo at the helm on keys, drum machines, and production, supported by a talented cast of musicians contributing live bass, guitar, and other organic elements — further enriching his trademark fusion of electronic grooves and natural instrumentation. There’s a tactile warmth in these tracks, a hands-on feel that adds soul and depth to every beat.

This album also marks Ruffillo’s heartfelt return to singing in Italian, with standout tracks like House Tipo Così, Mi Fa Volare, Ancora, and Dentro Di Me, where romantic naïveté meets pulsing club energy in a way that feels both timeless and refreshingly new. The vocal performances add an intimate, human touch to the music, reinforcing the personal stories woven into each song. There’s poetry in the casual, a bittersweet elegance in the way the lyrics float over groove-heavy production.

Having toured extensively across Europe, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Mexico — with sets at iconic venues like Panorama Bar and festivals such as Sónar Barcelona — Ruffillo has fine-tuned much of this album in front of live audiences. The real-world testing ground infused the record with a dynamic energy and immediacy that only comes from genuine crowd interaction. These songs weren’t just made in the studio — they were lived on dancefloors around the world.

Tipo Così is not just a collection of tracks. It’s a philosophy — playful, stylish and unmistakably personal. A modern club album bursting with heartfelt emotion and sophistication. Music for dancers with taste; for lovers of beauty, rhythm, and the little imperfections that make things feel real.

But what exactly is Tipo Così? More than just a phrase, it’s a way of being. It’s about embracing elegance without effort, mixing irony with sincerity, and letting nostalgia slip into the room without taking over the party. It’s Sam Ruffillo’s signature language: relaxed, confident, meticulous yet never rigid — where a chord progression can say as much as a lyric, and every beat carries intention.

The album’s visual identity complements this vision perfectly. The artwork and promotional materials lovingly reference Italian design from the ’80s and ’90s, combining bold graphic elements with playful pop culture nods. This aesthetic mirrors Ruffillo’s music — a fusion of vintage warmth and contemporary freshness, delivered with authenticity and charm.

Sam Ruffillo belongs to a new generation of European artists who are reshaping electronic music by blending past and present, analog and digital, groove and emotion — without nostalgia or pose. His artistic universe is coherent, vibrant, and alive; a rich tapestry of sound, images, and stories that coexist with lightness, precision, and a distinctive voice.

Reflecting on his artistic journey, Sam describes music as a vital, deeply human impulse — a tribal connection to rhythm and body that has driven him since he was a teenager. His creative process balances meticulous planning with room for spontaneity, usually sparked by clear melodic ideas that evolve naturally. Collaborations with close friends, especially vocalists like Ninfa, add warmth and authenticity, exemplified in tracks like “House Tipo Così.” For Sam, music is honest self-expression — crafted for listeners who crave memorable melodies and rhythms imbued with genuine feeling.

While technical perfection is tempting, Sam prioritizes emotion, knowing that what truly resonates is the soul behind the sounds. His long-standing partnership with Toy Tonics has been key in nurturing his vision, offering a blend of creative freedom and professional support. Looking ahead, Sam Ruffillo is excited to broaden his live performances, and release new projects that continue to blend electronic grooves with organic, heartfelt sounds — maintaining the delicate balance between playful irony and sincere emotion that defines Tipo Così.




Kurzversion:
Italian DJ, producer and musician Sam Ruffillo drops his debut album Tipo Così on Toy Tonics - a sunny blend of house, funk, Italo and pop, full of groove and emotion. Written and recorded in Bologna with live instruments and Italian vocals, it’s a playful, elegant journey shaped on dancefloors worldwide. A stylish, sincere club album where nostalgia, irony and rhythm meet in perfect harmony.

- Mi Fa Volare
Road-tested across continents and now finally released, “Mi Fa Volare” channels 90s uplifting euphoria with big breakbeats, lush chords, and Italian vocals built to stick. Somewhere between balearic bliss and piano house nostalgia, it’s a feel-good club weapon made for peak-time moments - already sung back by crowds after just one listen.


- Ancora
“Ancora” is a vibrant hi-NRG track inspired by 80s Italo disco, sung entirely in Italian. It blends driving rhythms with dreamy melodies, capturing the radiant spirit of the decade. This fresh yet nostalgic song delivers euphoric vibes and timeless energy, making it a perfect fit for both dancefloors and reflective listening moments worldwide.


- Dentro Di Me
“Dentro Di Me” channels ‘90s sensuality through a fast-paced, UK house-inspired lens. Entirely in Italian, it’s a bold and contemporary dance track where hypnotic vocals meet high-energy grooves. Blending nostalgic textures with forward-thinking production, the result is a seductive and euphoric trip - equal parts emotional and club-ready.


- Amigo
“Amigo” blends Latin groove, acoustic guitar-driven rhythm, and Mediterranean flair into a warm, magnetic, cross-cultural dance anthem. Sung in Spanish and Italian, it celebrates connection, inclusivity, and the joy of moving together - whether stranger or friend. With its unstoppable rhythm and vibrant energy, it’s a feel-good track with a unifying spirit.


- Ma Sei Fuori
“Ma Sei Fuori” is a tongue-in-cheek dancefloor bomb blending raw house energy with catchy vocal phrases and a nod to classic French touch. Driven by hypnotic vocal lines and a playful attitude, it doesn’t take itself too seriously - while still proving serious club impact. Built for late-night moments, it’s bold, bouncy, and impossible to ignore.

Legacy in Motion is the third studio album from Western Sydney hip-hop powerhouse The 046. Legacy in Motion is a 16-track statement of growth, resilience, and ambition that cements our status as leaders of Australia’s rap scene. Blending our signature “Aus Funk” sound with a GFunk and West Coast-inspired style built on heavy basslines, smooth synths, and street-level lyrics with fresh, evolved production. Legacy in Motion captures The 046 at their sharpest, from the anthemic opener “Forever G’s” to standouts like “Music Is Everything” and “Young Free & Reckless”, the album moves seamlessly between hard-hitting street energy, reflective storytelling, and tracks built for festival stages. Stacked with heavyweight collaborations, including Lisi, Barkaa, Nyxladd, JKING, D-Boy 223, and Say True God?.

Legacy in Motion expands The 046’s reach across Australia’s hip-hop landscape. The title track and deeper cuts like “Nothing’s Free” showcase their maturity, reflecting on hustle, loyalty, and carving out a lasting legacy while staying true to their Western Sydney roots. This album isn’t just another release it’s The 046 proving their movement is unstoppable.

‘When The 2000s Clashed: Machine Music For A New Millenium’ is the story of how, 25 years ago, a new form of electronic music – known as electroclash - reignited a tired clubland and gave the indie scene and mainstream pop a shot in the arm in the process. Over this 3LP highlights set, carefully curated from the 5CD box of the same name (also released, 3rd October) the collection showcases the back-to-basics electronic beats that heralded in a new generation of exciting and innovative new artists - Hot Chip, Peaches, LCD Soundystem, and Ladytron, to name a handful. It also shows how the sound and attitude of electroclash plugged into the decade’s cutting-edge indie bands, (Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party), and became intrinsic to the way chart pop would sound in the first decade of the 2000s (Kylie, Goldfrapp).

The collection also shows how the scene’s underground DIY ethos evolved and inspired the next generation of electronic buccaneers (Simian Mobile Disco, Justice Vs. Simian). ‘When The 2000s Clashed’ brings together a dazzling, diverse selection of artists, producers and remixers from right across the 2000s zeitgeist – from The Chemical Brothers and Daft Punk, from M.I.A. to Soulwax and many points in-between. For good measure, there’s also one side of LP3 given over to the original post punk and electronic sounds (including Kraftwerk, The Human League and Cabaret Voltaire) who’d played such a big influence on the electroclash sound. ‘

When The 2000s Clashed’ was compiled and sequenced for Demon / Edsel by Jonny Slut, founder of London’s electroclash citadel Nag Nag Nag. Established in 2002, in a small Soho venue called Ghetto, ‘Nag’ quickly became THE hottest club, first in London and then in the whole world. A glorious mess and hedonists’ hotspot, a night at ‘Nag Nag Nag’ (if you could get in!) saw the capital’s club kids, students and creatives rub up alongside names from the fashion and music worlds - Björk, Pet Shop Boys, Kate Moss, Boy George, Alexander McQueen, and Pam Hogg were among the regulars. Madonna visited, so did John Peel, Yoko Ono asked to perform and did, Throbbing Gristle’s Chris and Cosey DJ’d, so did Marc Almond, and Too Many DJ’s.

Justin Timberlake was refused entry (too many bodyguards)… even Cilla Black was spotted getting down! Jonny shares these reminisces – and many more - in the collection’s sleevenotes. Named after the 1979 Cabaret Voltaire classic, ‘Nag, Nag, Nag’ became the first place to hear the seemingly endless flow of thrilling new tunes coming from every direction during that decade of dance. Many of them are included on this collection.

The Argentine-born producer, now based in Munich, presents his long-awaited
debut album Bleeps Don't Cry, born out of a period of emotional upheaval in the
artist's life, and marks an immersive sonic journey through bw's evolving inner
world.
The record blends hypnotic, dub-infused rhythms with haunting atmospheres and
introspective ambient explorations. With this release, bw presents a raw, strippeddown aesthetic and a deeply personal approach to modern electronic music.
Both the artist and his self-titled label, bw, exist as a refined underground entity
with a keen ear for quality and contemporary techno. His tracks are crafted with
minimal yet vital elements, each sound added like a crucial ingredient, emotionally
expressive and essential to the whole.

Doja Cat’s highly anticipated fifth studio album, “Vie”, is slated for release on September 26th. The 15-track album is rich with retro textures and a sonic background charged by various influences from the 70s and 80s. “Vie” highlights Doja’s own personal evolution and brings audiences into the world of love, life and the mess in between.

Hard Times welcomes back Alex Arnout and his BLACK LOGIC project, following their recent ‘Pull Up’ EP with a second installment of new music from collective - The Illusions EP.

Hailing from West Yorkshire, Arnout spent his formative years on the Hard Times dancefloors, absorbing the beats and vibes that would later shape his own productions. His journey with the label reignited when he was invited to remix Michael Watford’s classic 'Love Change Over' and Steve Silk Hurley’s fresh hit 'All I Need'. Now, he returns with something truly special.

“Black Logic was born out of the pandemic,” says Arnout. “I wanted to move away from drum machines and synths, getting back to sampling jazz and the deep house sounds of the ‘90s - taking inspiration from artists like Bugs in the Attic, Jazzanova, and Ernest Saint Laurent.”

What began as a solo project soon evolved into a collective effort. Bassist and guitarist Alan Riggs, a former member of Delta 5, joined the sessions, bringing warmth and groove to the productions. Vocalists Tempo O’Neil, Anthony Beckford, Mariana Orsho, and Sophie Barker added their distinct voices, completing the vision

Across four tracks, The Illusions EP pulls us deeper into Black Logic’s rich, live-wired universe. The title track pairs Tempo O’Neil’s vocal with a grooving, low-slung bassline, whilst “Dusty” drifts in on brushed snares and ghostly Rhodes, its saxophone lines curling through the mix like smoke. “Chasing Daze,” analog synth shimmer and Tempo’s velvet tones, is a track suspended between head-nod groove and astral lift.

The curtain falls with “Disco Down,” a jubilant ensemble of Hammond organ, flute, guitar, bongos, and horns locking into joyous conversation.

This LP features Christmas music for the piano in a timeless journey through the decades and centuries. These songs have been through a remarkable evolution over the course of several centuries, with the changes they have undergone reflecting the shifting musical styles and cultural influences that prevailed in various times. Composers such as Irving Berlin created Christmas songs centred around the piano that went on to become instant classics. An example that epitomizes this era is Irving Berlin’s ‘White Christmas’. The growth of Christmas carols arranged for piano is a monument to the everlasting spirit of the Christmas holiday as well as the development of musical styles throughout the course of history. On Merry Christmas Pianomania, Jeroen van Veen performs in his signa- ture focused, serene minimalist style, reimagining Christmas music from medieval carols to modern jazz-inspired pieces.

DEVO’s Hardcore documents the group’s beginning as pre-punk outcasts in the fertile Akron, Ohio, underground rock scene. Spawned at the nearby college of Kent State, site of the infamous May 4 Massacre, DEVO formed as a conceptual art project armed with the radical philosophy of de-evolution. Brothers Mothersbaugh (Mark, Bob and Jim) and Brothers Casale (Jerry and Bob) along with drummer Alan Myers soon whipped up an otherworldly brand of “devolved blues” that could hold its own alongside the beatnik groove of 15-60-75 (a.k.a. The Numbers Band) or the primal rock poetry of The Bizarros. Recorded on various four-track machines and in tiny studios, basements and garages between 1974-1977, Hardcore reveals their strikingly clear vision: rock ’n’ roll stripped bare of its collective cool and jerked back into propaganda fit for post-modern man. It’s no surprise that these transmissions would soon catch the eye and ear of Brian Eno, who later produced their landmark 1978 debut album. Noisy synth, strangled guitar chops and a primitive rhythmic thud power the early DEVO sound. Threaded beneath it all are lyrical themes of post-McCarthy paranoia, middle-class ephemera and DEVO’s long-running topic of choice: sex, or lack thereof. Few moments in pop music history can match the grinding, pent-up energy of “Mongoloid” and the spastic bounce and sputter of “Jocko Homo” (two anthems presented in their earlier and superior versions here). Cult favorites like “Mechanical Man” and “Auto-Modown” make Volume 1 essential listening. Superior Viaduct and Booji Boy Records are proud to present DEVO’s Hardcore to a new generation of spuds, lovingly packaged with Moshe Brakha’s stunning cover photography. As David Bowie said in 1977, DEVO is indeed “the band of the future.”

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.

Unknown Waveforms is the forthcoming album from Belgian trio KAU, set for release on October 10, 2025. Marking an evolution since their 2023 release The Cycle Repeats, this new record captures a more personal, immediate, and unfiltered version of the band's sound. In an increasingly digital world, KAU takes a different route, with an album rooted in human connection, live energy, and creative spontaneity. Here, the trio reflect their take on instrumental music, drawing heavily fromjazz, hip hop, and electronic influences.

At the heart of Unknown Waveforms lies the starting point of three musicians in a room, writing and composing music on the spot. For KAU, this idea mirrors their working method: long jam sessions, free-flowing experimentation, and shared moments of inspiration. Songs often take shape slowly, unfolding over hours or days, but always built collaboratively as a trio.

The album's title reflects the mystery behind how music comes together, but is also both literal and symbolic. Unknown waveforms are the sounds that arise when machines and people interact in unpredictable ways. Whether you're an experienced musician or just starting out, the creative process often feels elusive and hard to fully understand. But there are also certain moments: creative sparks that can't be planned or programmed. It ends up being more than notes, gear, or structure, it's about the process, the tension and energy that builds when people connect and create in the same room.

The title track, Unknown Waveforms, captures that exact process. It opens with a quote from synth pioneer Wendy Carlos: "I'm just trying to show you how we get some of these sounds", inviting listeners directly into the creative space. The track focuses less on a polished outcome and more on the moment before a song is "finished": it's a portrait of experimentation, feeling, and raw expression.

This commitment to honesty permeates the entire album. KAU kept overdubs to a minimum, avoided excessive editing, and prioritized spontaneous choices over calculated ones. In a time when the future of live, improvised music feels uncertain, they double down on the physical, the real, and the immediate. The album resists the pristine polish of modern production, favoring the warmth and imperfection of analog synthesis. The band embraces the character of their instruments, particularly vintage gear, where subtle flaws add beauty, depth, and personality.

One standout track, cr_eye, is driven by the Moog Subphatty-a key instrument in the band's toolkit for its analog warmth and powerful sub-bass. The track centers around the conversation between bass and drums, allowing the keyboards to recede and create space. It draws emotional threads from earlier KAU tracks like Kampala and Kautokeino, bridging past and present with a shared atmosphere and rhythmic interplay.

Another highlight, Stratford, finds inspiration in London's transport system and the UK jazz scene that has long influenced KAU. A field recording snippet of the London Underground kicks off the track, connecting it to the rhythm of everyday commutes. Built around a hypnotic sequencer line from the Roland JX-3P, the track evokes the motion of a metro journey. Artists like Nubya Garcia, Yussef Dayes, and Alfa Mist, giants of the scenethat the band has admired for years, resonate subtly throughout.

Above all, Unknown Waveforms is a statement of intent from KAU: a celebration of imperfection, creative honesty and an insight in the process.

Die wilden Söhne Manchesters, Wode, kehren mit ihrem vierten Album „Uncrossing The Keys“ zurück und erweitern damit selbstbewusst ihren ohnehin schon beeindruckenden Sound, der auf einer düsteren Grundlage aus wildem Black Metal und eisernem Heavy Metal basiert. Nachdem sie sich von der eher geradlinigen Methodik ihres Debütalbums weiterentwickelt haben, haben Wode im Laufe ihrer Diskografie kontinuierlich Elemente aus verschiedenen dunklen Ecken des Undergrounds hinzugefügt, wobei ihr Songwriting schlanker, aber auch komplexer, fokussierter und melodischer denn je geworden ist.
„Uncrossing The Keys“ hat die Musik von Wode nicht milder gemacht, der Sound ist nach wie vor von Flammen und Wut durchdrungen, aber sie haben ein breiteres Spektrum an Stimmungen angenommen und malen mit schwärzeren, satteren Farbtönen als je zuvor. Zerklüftete Post-Punk-/Goth-Einflüsse leuchten düster in neuen Tracks wie „Saturn Shadow“ und dem verträumten Trance des atmosphärischen Instrumentalstücks „Phantom“. Das düstere Tempo und die majestätisch-nachdenkliche Stimmung der Single „Transmutation“ erinnern mit ihrer düsteren Unterströmung sowohl an Paradise Lost als auch an Amorphis, während das melancholisch-hymnische „Under Lanternlight“ mit dynamischen Melodien im Stil von Sentenced durchdrungen ist. Die Gitarren tragen manchmal einen traurigen Schimmer, ihre Hooks sind sowohl von Melancholie als auch von Bedrohung durchzogen und schweben mit Momenten elegischer Schönheit und dunkler Klage über dem Gemetzel. Der höllische, raue Gesang erhebt sich wie rituelle Gesänge aus einer anderen Zeit.
Wode beschwört Bilder einer Welt herauf, die sich ständig am Rande der Dämmerung befindet, und wirft im Verlauf der neun Tracks von „Uncrossing The Keys“ einen langen, kalten Schatten. Es herrscht ein Gefühl von Erhabenheit und Verfall, als hätte die Band ein Tor zu einem Reich geöffnet, in dem verfluchte Städte unter blutroten Himmeln schwelen und ihre Mauern ewig verlassene Hymnen widerhallen lassen. Als Ergebnis eines ständigen Evolutionsprozesses hat Wode einen wahrhaft gespenstischen und imposanten Blackened Heavy Metal geschaffen, der ein dunkles Banner hoch über einem riesigen und öden Königreich hisst.

“It’s not often you find yourself recording alone in a churchat 3am. I’m not religious, but I experienced somethingunique while playing through the night as the streetsaround me slept. It felt like the music was telling me whatto play and I was the passenger. Lumen grew out of avariety of compositional seeds - from composed songsthat remain true to the score, leaving little room forfreedom, to wide open improvisations recorded in themoment with nothing predetermined.
“It’s in the space between composition and improvisationwhere the magic happens - and where, if the musiciansare willing, the music can lead. I recorded day and nighton a Yamaha grand and an upright felted piano. It felt likesome sort of solo retreat: sitting in a building of faiththrough the night, delving ever deeper into the music.When I finally resurfaced, I felt profoundly that it was themusic that had led me, rather than the other way around. “As a composer, it’s simplicity that I’m searching for - howto say the most with the least. My previous albums wereabout filling the space, both texturally and dynamically. Butsolo performance is different. There’s unlimited freedom,and while that can be liberating, it also comes with addedresponsibility. Beyond the recording, the music takes on anew life. The piano, the room, the acoustic, the mood ofthe audience, even how much sleep I’ve had - all of itinforms how the music evolves. So, each performance iscompletely unique and unrepeatable.
“The recording of Lumen is just the beginning of itsjourney. Where and how it evolves from here is whatkeeps me searching.” - Bill Laurance

Sabrina Claudio's fifth studio album, Fall In Love With Her, marks a significant evolution in her musical journey. Known for her ethereal blend of R&B and pop, Sabrina Claudio delves deeper into personal narratives, offering listeners an intimate exploration of love, identity, and self-discovery.

This album follows her 2022 release, Based on a Feeling, where she emphasized authenticity and emotional resonance in her music. With Fall In Love With Her, Sabrina Claudio continues this trajectory, crafting songs that are both vulnerable and empowering. The lead single, "Need U to Need Me," exemplifies this, weaving themes of longing and self-worth into a sultry, atmospheric soundscape. Her introspective songwriting, combined with minimalist production, allows her vocals to shine, creating an immersive listening experience.

With a GRAMMY win to her name for her songwriting work on Beyonce’s Renaissance album & over 3B worldwide streams to date, Sabrina Claudio has firmly established herself as a standout in the R&B and Pop spaces.

1xLP, and includes a poster. Grab the vinyl today — and fall in love with her all over again.

Acclaimed British artist Leon Vynehall presents is highly anticipated third album, In Daytona Yellow, via Ooze INC. Marking the next stage in the Ivor Novello-nominated producer and DJ’s evolving sound, In Daytona Yellow showcases Vynehall’s experimentations with fringe electronics, pop, and R&B, and his growing confidence through collaboration and live vocals. Across 10 hypnotically off-kilter tracks, we hear Vynehall at his most deft and diaristic.

Over the past 13 years, Vynehall has built a formidable reputation through his genre-defying artistry. From his early days as a leftfield house producer releasing on labels like Aus Music, Running Back, 3024, and Rush Hour, to his critically acclaimed debut album Nothing Is Still (2018) and the boundary-pushing Rare, Forever (2021), he has continually redefined his creative limits. While Rare, Forever was a bold step away from dance music—melding post-punk textures with experimental electronics—In Daytona Yellow pushes these experiments into a more traditional songwriting framework, inspired by both contemporary and 80s avant-pop.

In Daytona Yellow is set to be a career-defining release, cementing Leon Vynehall as one of electronic music’s most innovative and thought-provoking artists, part of a vanguard expanding the ambition of electronic music.

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.

Amsterdam indie stalwarts Pip Blom and Willem Smit, respectively the songwriter & vocal force behind Pip Blom and the driving creative mind behind Personal Trainer, have come together after a decade of intermittent collaborations to launch a new project: Long Fling. The duo's self-titled debut album arrives 3rd of October, 2025, unveiling a collection of charming, offbeat guitar and drum machine, kraut-rock tinged anthems, touching on everyday oddities like socks, shoes, and the allure of staying home.

Unlike typical duets, Long Fling doesn’t focus on harmonies or traditional back-and-forth vocals. Instead, Pip and Willem trade lines over minimal, melodic arrangements that reflect their shared sensibilities. The songs are direct but often playful, shaped by a mix of guitars, drum machines, and off-the-cuff lyrics.

Over the course of ten years, Willem and Pip’s songwriting process evolved from tentative beginnings filled with creative tension to a natural, collaborative flow. Willem reflects: “Over the years, I feel we’ve grown more comfortable making music together... Assembling a record we have been accidentally making without the goal of making a record was fun, but also weird. It felt a bit like archaeology sometimes. We tried to change things... but found out quite quickly that it made most sense to stay true to the initial ideas we had.”

we each asked our dads whether the album sounded more like a Willem album or a Pip album, they both said the other’s name. I really feel like we made this album together - it’s a true blend of the both of us.

Black Ice Vinyl. On her debut album One Sided, 20 year-old Georga-native Sydney Rose wrestles with growth: growing up, growing apart, growing within. While the singer/songwriter’s 2022 EPs You Never Met Me and This Kind of Thing Doesn’t Last showcased intimate lyricism with the help of understated synths, muted drum machines, and stacked harmonies, One Sided returns to her stripped-back roots, offering tenderhearted meditations on childhood, love, and the evolution of friendship, with a guitar in hand. After Feb 2025 single, We Hug Now, had huge viral success, Syndey Rose has sold out shows all over the US, UK, and Europe.

"Pop" is a tag that's been assigned to Minus The Bear throughout their career. It's been used to set a distinction between the unique brand of complex indie rock they introduced on their first EP and the more angular and aggravated sounds of their previous bands Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. It's also a tag that was thrown around frequently in the wake of their streamlined fourth album, OMNI. And it's a descriptor that immediately comes to mind within the first few seconds of their classic second formal EP, They Make Beer Commercials Like This. Now celebrating its 10-year anniversary and first time in print since 2011, Beer Commercials is the evolutionary step between Minus The Bear's first two landmark albums, Highly Refined Pirates and Menos El Oso. Opening track "Fine + 2 Points" remains one of the band's strongest opening tracks in their discography,charging out of the gates with a syncopated stomp that comes across as a more agitated take on Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Outta My Head". If Minus The Bear were looking to make pop music without any of its major-scale bubblegum trappings, they nailed it here. The band follows it with "Let's Play Clowns" and "Dog Park" - nods to Highly Refined Pirates' formula of frenetic clean guitar work, bombastic choruses, and Jake Snider's lyrics of detached romantic nostalgia. These tracks may represent Minus The Bear's original trademark version of pop, but on songs like "I'm Totally Not Down With Rob's Alien" the band eschews it's restless energy for atmosphere and dynamics, creating a sound that's inspired more than a handful of contemporary melodic post-rock bands. By the time the band belts out "Pony Up!" the listener has watched the three-year sonic transition between Minus The Bear's first two full-lengths transpire within under half-an-hour, with the their earlier math rock predilections yielding to the tightly wound club-banging pedalboard trickery that defined their sophomore album. Even if Beer Commercials doesn't fit within your definition of pop music, the unorthodox energetic charm of this relatively low-profile release serves as an exciting reminder of why Minus The Bear became one of the most important and influential indie rock bands of the new century.

Lorquin’s Admiral is a striking heavy psychedeliccollaboration featuring current and formermembers of Afghan Whigs, Hermano, YawningSons, The Fizz Fuzz, Orquesta del Desierto, Sonsof Alpha Centauri and Luna Sol.
The band unites a lineup of seasoned musicians todeliver a captivating debut album filled with soulfulharmonies, rich psychedelic textures and powerfulguitar-driven riffs.
Born from the creative connection between MarlonKing, Nick Hannon and Dandy Brown, previouslyheard on the acclaimed Yawning Sons album ‘SkyIsland’, this new project expands their musicalvision with infectious songwriting and deep soniclayers. The dual vocals of Dawn and Dandy
The result is an album that blends the raw spirit ofdesert rock with elements of blues, psychedeliaand alternative experimentation. Vibrant, melodicand adventurous, Lorquin’s Admiral offers a freshand exciting voice in today’s evolving landscape ofheavy psychedelic rock.
For fans of Hermano, Yawning Sons, Fatso Jetson,Screaming Trees, Garbage.
LP available on Clear with Red Marble colouredvinyl.

Void King from Indianapolis return with a newchapter in their heavy journey. ‘The HiddenHymnal’ is their most powerful and emotionalrelease to date, offering a deep and immersiveexperience meant to be heard from beginning toend.
Blending stoner rock, doom metal and alternativerock influences, the band deliver massive riffs,haunting melodies and a strong sense ofatmosphere.
After more than a decade in the undergroundscene, Void King continue to evolve their soundwith confidence and depth.
Each track on this album is part of a larger story,with moods that shift from crushing intensity toreflective calm.
This is a record made for those who enjoy musicthat feels heavy in both sound and emotion.
A must for anyone into slow, atmosphericheaviness and concept albums with real emotionalweight.
For fans of YOB, Crowbar, Alice In Chains, Gozu,Boris, Electric Wizard, Goatsnake, High On Fire,Lord Dying, Sleep, The Obsessed, Pallbearer,Monolord.
Now available on gold coloured vinyl.

"Hyperglyph" is the first new album in 11 years from composer/trumpeter/synthesist Rob Mazurek and composer/percussionist Chad Taylor"s long-running Chicago Underground Duo project. Mazurek and Taylor have played music together in a multitude of formations over nearly three decades, including their ongoing partnership in Mazurek"s large-format-skyward-expressionism vehicle Exploding Star Orchestra, in the expanded Chicago Underground Trio, Quartet and Orchestra (all with guitarist Jeff Parker), as well as a plethora of other assemblages. The early albums by the Duo have proven to be embryonic blueprints for the avant-jazz / electronic / indie rock hybridizing of the time, making them majorly important moments in the articulation of the "jazz" dimensionality of the then-burgeoning "post rock" sound. That sound, of course, was being transmitted far and wide due to the success of these groups as well as the Mazurek/Parker project Isotope 217, and the Chicago Underground"s frequently-intersecting collaborators in Tortoise. Just as most of the still-working projects born of that era have evolved, reconfigured, and grown, the Chicago Underground Duo has undergone a number of musical moltings, with the project always in the background of disparate individual aural investigations. The concurrent personal evolutions of Mazurek and Taylor as the Duo project drops off and picks back up makes it a true reflection of their own lives and friendship.

Fabio Nobile is a drummer and multi-instrumentalist who has been active on the music scene for over 25 years. Today, his musical
exploration draws from the deep roots of Afro traditions and the expressive freedom of jazz—two musical cultures that are an integral
part of his identity.
Sankofa Soul is a musical project born from the encounter between jazz, African traditions, and the search for a profound connection
between past and present. The term “Sankofa” comes from the Akan language (spoken in Ghana) and means “to go back and fetch what
is good” —an invitation to look to the past to better understand the future.
In an era where music is evolving at a rapid pace, Sankofa Soul looks to a rich and multifaceted cultural heritage, while also embracing a
modern voice—a universal call to reconnect with our European origins through the lens of African legacy.
Each track on Sankofa Soul reflects Fabio Nobile’s experiences, studies, and roots, forming a dialogue between past and present, the
sacred and the profane, individuality and community.
Sankofa Soul is a heartfelt tribute to West Africa, with a special focus on Nigeria.
Zuma Rock leads us into the rich and ever-changing soundscape of West Africa—a space where tradition meets innovation, and rhythm
tells stories older than words. Here, the legacy of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat pulses through every beat, anchoring the music in political fire and
deep ancestral roots. At the same time, the unmistakable horn section weaves a vibrant fusion of Afro-Funk and Jazz. In Zuma Rock, we
enter a dialogue between past and present—a musical return to the source.
And then appears Kalakuta Republic, a heartfelt homage to the self-declared commune that was home to the legendary Fela Kuti—a
reminder not to forget the rebellious spirit of the Kalakuta Republic. This track gives voice to the very essence of Afro-jazz, wrapped in a
hypnotic 12/8 rhythm that echoes ancient African traditions. Its immersive pulse blends seamlessly with jazz’s boundless expressive
freedom, creating a vibrant, compelling dialogue suspended between ancestral roots and modernity.
Landed in Lagos and I Read the Stars naturally embrace the distinctive sound of Manu Dibango, while Say Your Prayer Now reminds us
how the evolution of Jamaican reggae—and its cultural and musical foundations—remains deeply linked to Mother Africa.
This is Sankofa: the soul’s journey back to the past to move forward.

Zygimantas Dzikevicius aka 5ZYL hails from the vibrant urban district of Pasilaiciai in Vilnius, Lithuania. Since embarking on his musical journey in 2007, Zygimantas has been deeply influenced by the raw energy of old-school rave, breakbeat, and techno. His early work focused on crafting dubstep and jungle tracks, earning him spots as a DJ at various underground parties and open-air events, including the renowned broken rhythm sound festival, Satta.

After five years of intense exploration and innovation within the electronic dance music scene, 5ZYL is set to unveil his highly anticipated debut album Reese Dreams. This LP represents a culmination of his creative journey, meticulously crafted to showcase his evolving sound. The album is presented in two distinct sections: the first half delves into the intricate world of broken beats, while the second half transitions into a high-energy powerhouse experience. Reese Dreams is not just a collection of tracks but a testament to 5ZYLs unique artistic vision and his dynamic approach to electronic music.

Ement returns to PZ Records with a seven-tracker, including a remix by Umwelt.

Balancing dark atmospheres with raw energy, the EP builds on Ement’s previous work while continuing to evolve his sound. Rooted primarily in electro, it remains versatile throughout—blending experimental textures, acid grooves, and driving techno rhythms that reflect a broad sonic palette. A personal yet club-ready release.

Some things simply need time to brew. Loek Frey returns to Omen Wapta with his third release on the label: Nayan. The Amsterdam-based artist shares a long-standing friendship with label head Woody92 - keeping each other in motion as artistic peers since the label's inception. Over time, they've built a shared archive of material: sound sketches, tracks, and sonic touchpoints - an ever-evolving third space where their paths continue to meet as they move in parallel. Nayan emerges from this deep-rooted exchange: a distilled six-track release that fuses Frey's cerebral intricacy with the label's primordial uncanniness, reaffirming both as key voices in a yet-to-be-defined sonic realm. Diving into the release, Frey's signature remains intact - tactile, spatial, and rhythmically precise - but a subtle shift is at play. A paring down. A move toward something more reduced, maybe even more patient, yet no less absorbing. The A side leans inward: deep pressure, spectral traces, and an undercurrent of tension that never quite resolves. It's music for staying with, not escaping from. Flip to the B side and the palette widens - kicks land heavier, patterns loosen, textures fill the full frequency field. Still deeply rooted in the Wapta world, but with an assertiveness that whispers rather than shouts. Somewhere between absence and force. With Nayan, Loek Frey carries his Omen Wapta narrative into new territory - merging restless experimentation with dancefloor intention.

The creative visionary behind a remarkable catalogue of widely celebrated releases and two critically acclaimed albums, Monolink returns this fall with his most thought-provoking and introspective project to date. Titled The Beauty Of It All, the multi-faceted German artist's third studio album is slated for worldwide release on September 26, 2025.
Marking a bold new chapter in Monolink's artistic evolution, The Beauty Of It All will dive deep into themes of beauty, impermanence and human connection, blending his signature fusion of live instrumentation, soulful song-writing and electronic innovation. The announcement arrives on the heels of two standout singles already this year - "Mesmerized" (January) and "Powerful Play" (March) - both of which will feature on the new album. With The Beauty Of It All, he builds on the foundations laid by his first two long players, pushing his sound into new, uncharted territory while staying rooted in the organic, humanistic qualities that have defined his career. The album is poised to be his most revealing and boundary-defying release yet; a sonic statement from an artist who continues to redefine what it means to be a modern musician.

The creative visionary behind a remarkable catalogue of widely celebrated releases and two critically acclaimed albums, Monolink returns this fall with his most thought-provoking and introspective project to date. Titled The Beauty Of It All, the multi-faceted German artist's third studio album is slated for worldwide release on September 26, 2025.
Marking a bold new chapter in Monolink's artistic evolution, The Beauty Of It All will dive deep into themes of beauty, impermanence and human connection, blending his signature fusion of live instrumentation, soulful song-writing and electronic innovation. The announcement arrives on the heels of two standout singles already this year - "Mesmerized" (January) and "Powerful Play" (March) - both of which will feature on the new album. With The Beauty Of It All, he builds on the foundations laid by his first two long players, pushing his sound into new, uncharted territory while staying rooted in the organic, humanistic qualities that have defined his career. The album is poised to be his most revealing and boundary-defying release yet; a sonic statement from an artist who continues to redefine what it means to be a modern musician.

Gwenan Spearing, known for her perceptive, groove-oriented DJ sets, and more recently as a live performer working with hardware improvisation, launches a new imprint, Phase Space, with Degrees of Freedom, a debut album diving deep into generative electronics, modular systems, and real-time response. Composed and recorded in 2019-2020, the album treats constraint as creative fuel, floating between ambient,
sonic sculpture, and improvisation, mapping Gwenan’s path from rural Wales to Berlin’s outer zones of experimental sound.
Sync opens with a theme on a slow triangle wave, expanding the space as it evolves. Some Pluck explores generative counterpoint using LFOs and Euclidean rhythms. Generator I unfolds in an oscillating time where keyboard and bass circuits cross-modulate. Sleep Pressure is a lullaby for grown-ups, capturing that eerie threshold before sleep, followed by Loper, where time flows fluid and unstable. The closer, Generator II, holds machine heartbeats in delicate equilibrium before unraveling into graceful decay, a soft farewell. (That’s the Universe waving.) Degrees of Freedom is algorithmic music with a pulse: visceral, hand-wired, and built for deep listening.

NILS FRAHM and F.S.BLUMM have confirmed the release of their fifth collaborative album, Handling. Containing three tracks but 40 minutes long, it finds the duo advancing from 2021’s dub-influenced 2X1=4, deploying its lessons in ambitious new territory that also nods to earlier collections. Recorded at his studio in Berlin’s Funkhaus, the album will be released by LEITER on vinyl and via all digital platforms on September 19, 2025.

Handling’s three exquisitely detailed pieces are each entitled ‘Leuchter,’ German for ‘candlestick,’ encapsulating the LP’s luminescent glow and rising inner energy. Its scrupulous arrangements exploit a magic cabinet of instruments, among them pianos, celestas and cristal baschets, glockenspiels, guitars and multiple forms of percussion. Their painstakingly engineered improvisations were equally meticulously reassembled in a series of intense editing sessions.

That the duo’s collaboration is built on a friendship and mutual admiration dating back to the early 2000s enables an unusual level of trust, despite both operating in their own distinct manner. “It’s not Frank, it’s not Nils,” they reflect. “We’ve become a new persona.” Handling blends Blumm’s organic chaos with Frahm’s structured intuition, offering a distinct and luminous experience that doesn’t just sound different, but feels like its own evolving world.

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

The 3rd and final chapter in Cochemea's epic quest to explore and express the spiritual connection between his art and ancestry. For Vol 3: Ancestros Futuros, Cochemea entrusted his vision to a core group of longme collaborators-a powerful octet composed of New York-based percussionists and members of Daptone's famed rhythm section. Gabriel Roth (aka Bosco Mann) reprised his role as producer, recording and mixing the album live to 8-track analog tape. Cochemea continues to push the boundaries of his sound, blending past, present, and future into a ritual offering-an evolving sonic narrative where memory, survival and creativity converge.

Black Truffle is pleased to announce Melopea, presenting two new pieces highlighting the incredible voice of Amelia Cuni (1958-2024), the great Italian singer, based in Berlin in later life, whose mastery of the classical Indian dhrupad developed in parallel with a commitment to contemporary experimental approaches. After two stunning archival releases documenting traditional dhrupad performances in India in the 1990s (BT079 and BT092), the two side-long pieces here embody the freedom with which Cuni explored new contexts and settings for her singing.

Both make use of a long recording of Cuni singing the pentatonic Raag Bhoop (or Bhopali) made in 2012 by her partner Werner Durand in Berlin. ‘Melopea’ began from Cuni and Durand’s superimposition of this recording with violinist Silvia Tarozzi and cellist Deborah Walker’s performance of Éliane Radigue’s ‘Occam River II’. Inspired by the beauty of this chance encounter (and other experiments with non-synchronous collaboration during the pandemic years), Tarozzi and Walker recorded independently, without hearing Cuni’s voice but ‘having her present in memory’. Tarozzi and Walker’s bowed strings places Cuni’s magisterial performance in a new context, emphasising, as Radigue commented upon hearing the initial layering of her piece with Cuni’s voice, a shared ‘searching toward the partials, overtones, these natural constituents of acoustical sounds in their richness’. Beginning with whispered bowed harmonics, the violin and cello swap the stability of dhrupad’s traditional tanpura drone for a slowly evolving, uneasy web of harmonic interactions recalling some of Harley Gaber’s work, sometimes sitting on dissonances for long periods or allowing changing interference patterns to come to the fore. Primarily focusing on her lower register, Cuni’s performance demonstrates her mastery of microtonal pitch subtleties, elegant sweeping glissandi and meditatively unhurried pacing.

The continuation of the same recording by Cuni forms the foundation of ‘Bhoop-Murchana’, with Anthea Caddy on cello and Werner Durand on soprano saxophone. In contrast to the randomised layering of the first piece, here Durand and Caddy have carefully selected pitches based on the raag Cuni sings, using the ‘Murchana’ form, which uses the constituent notes of the raag as tonics of new raags, retaining the same interval structure. Both players who have developed tones of striking depth and harmonic purity on their instruments, Caddy and Durand’s patient long tones are simultaneously rigorously grounded in the physical properties of sound and possessed of an immaterial, floating quality. Combined with Cuni’s voice and, near the piece’s end, her contributions on hammered and plucked tanpura, the effect borders on miraculous. To surrender to this music is like slipping into an onsen pool, feeling the instantaneous release of every tension. Accompanied by liner notes from Durand, Tarozzi and Walker, Melopea is both a moving tribute to the profound art of Amelia Cuni and, for the uninitiated, a perfect introduction to it.

The saga continues with the powerful soundtrack to Vikings Season 3. Composed by Emmy Award-winner Trevor Morris, the score evolves with the growing scale and emotional weight of the series. Season 3 takes viewers deeper into Ragnar's journey, from political ambitions to personal sacrifice, and the music reflects this with rich orchestration, ambient electronics, and haunting Nordic textures. This edition also features musical contributions from Einar Selvik (Wardruna) and Steve Tavaglione, whose unique elements lend an ancient layer to the score. Vikings (Music From Season Three) is available as a limited edition of 750 numbered copies on white coloured vinyl. This 2LP package includes a 4-page booklet with pictures and liner notes by Trevor Morris.

Jay York is up next for the third release on Toca with his first solo EP, Viaje. This release marks a significant evolution in his sound, with elements of a deeper and headier approach to his infamous tool driven production style.

Written & Produced by Daniele Serraino (D/n), and Carlos Pineda (Linear Phase) all rights reserved

"Static Rite" is the result of a sonic dialogue between two producers-D/n and Linear Phase-united by a deep, hypnotic, and physical approach to techno. The EP unfolds within the realm of hypnotic/RAW tech- no, where repetition becomes a perceptual language and sound turns into ritual.

Italian-born, Berlin-based D/n contributes the A-side with "Resonant Shift" and "Blind Motion," two tracks built on dub textures, dark atmospheres, and broken rhythmic structures. His magnetic, slow-burning sound reflects years of evolution from the underground acid scene to immersive techno sets in venues like Tresor and Zur Klappe. D/n's tracks have garnered support from renowned artists.

On the B-side, Spanish producer Linear Phase offers "Mandatory" and "Silent Widow," showcasing his refined modular synthesis and deep sound design. With over 50 releases on labels like Drumcode LTD, Planet Rhythm, and Edit Select, his style fuses ambient depth with raw, hypnotic intensity.

Fuse resident Downside delivers the ninth release on Fuse Imprint, showcasing his sharp and emotive sound signature. Traces Of Spring forms a powerful yet delicate journey, balancing intensity with subtle detail. A perfect reflection of his evolving artistry within the club.

A favourite selector for many within the underground, UK-born, Ibiza-based Miller has built a reputation for his hypnotic, low-end-led productions and seamless ability to weave obscure rhythmic patterns into immersive DJ sets. Founder of the Real Gang collective, he honed his craft as a resident at Ibiza institutions The Zoo Project and Ibiza Underground, where his dynamic, vinyl-focused style earned him recognition as a key player in the island’s grassroots scene. This natural progression has since led to the launch of Tomodachi, his new club, an intimate space that refl ects his artistic ethos and evolving infl uence on the island.

Harley Maxwell, meanwhile, brings a raw energy to the project, blending his sharp vocal delivery and lyrical edge with Miller’s meticulous production style. Their collaborative debut at fabric, during Miller’s all-night set, showcased a shared ability to push conventional boundaries, as they provided a fi rst glimpse into the music that would in turn become ‘Caviar’.

The EP opens with the title cut, a stripped-back yet infectious roller that glides between deep basslines, textured percussion, and subtle melodic fl ourishes. ‘How It Runs’ follows with its sharp drum work, zippy synths, and a playful groove built for the dancefl oor. Rounding off the release, the vinyl-only ‘Dreaming Experience’ sees Miller step out solo as he delves into deeper territories with hazy atmospherics, creating a tripped-out late-night journey. Arriving at a pivotal moment for both artists, their ‘Caviar’ EP signals a bold debut on FUSE – a label celebrated for its commitment to forward-thinking club music.