quête:excell

A great name. A great cover. And - of course - outstanding library music.

Soul City Orchestra's Meal Ticket houses titanic funk, mellow groove and symphonic disco-soul.

Released in 1977 on Rouge, a subsidiary of the prestigious and long-established British library label Music De Wolfe, Meal Ticket was crafted by the studio band Soul City Orchestra (a pseudonym for the De Wolfe in-house composers Chris Rae & Franck McDonald).

The driving instrumental funk-rock of the A Side is enhanced with strings and no little drama. However, it's undoubtedly the peerless flipside that makes this record an essential part of any collection.

Head straight to highlight "Chamber Maid"; insistent, conga-driven funky rock with lashings of string-heightened drama. It's sophisticated, classical and deeply classy.

The majestic, powerfully emotive "Sore Head" contains an excellent intro drum break and sultry slo-mo disco breaks throughout. It's low-key stunning. With a few melodic switch-ups, it's symphonic soul heaven and is comfortably the best and most beautifully crucial track on Side A.

The breezy, Philly soul-tinged "Short Change", its intense strings reminiscent of the Salsoul Orchestra and TSOP, presents an easy-glide funk that's just irresistible.

The funky, cool and slick AF "Wheeling And Dealing" is laconic flute and string-propelled sophisticated mid-tempo disco soul. It's worth the price of admission alone.

The breezy, mellowed out disco-funk workout "The Jam" is a deliciously slinky and sophisticated soul strut. Try not swaggering into the club with this in your head next time you venture into the murky world of "the night". Just ace.

The crowning glory is the sweeping, sublime symphonic disco breaks of horn-infused "Soul City Drive", an absolute monster of radiant heavy soul-funk à la Barry White with great string & brass arrangement.

Basically, this is essential for all groove-aficionados.

The audio for Meal Ticket has been meticulously remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring this release sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.

Finally, finally, FINALLY! After many years of fruitless praying, a true collector grail can finally grace every turntable the world over. Bright And Shining is a miraculous leftfield library classic from the genius mind of Barbara Moore. It's Highly Addictive Happiness Music TM and one of the coolest records to come out of anywhere...ever! With originals almost impossible to find - and, when they do, going for over £300 - you already know how crucial this beautiful reissue is.

Recorded in 1981 for Sylvester Music Company, Bright And Shining is breezy, dreamy and funky in a perfectly smooth jazzy-soul-groove fashion, with Moore's patented celestial male-female vocal harmonies this time benefitting from the addition of Fender Rhodes and pumping bass lines.

As one particularly enthusiastic Discogs user put it: "If Eno is responsible for Music for Airports, Moore is responsible for Music for Holidays." Indeed, this is brilliantly unique, "maximum happiness music". If you miss the sun-dappled soft-psych soul of Koushik, the heavenly vocal arrangements of the great Library Music doyenne Barbara Moore - her depth, richness, sophistication and warmth - will see you just right.

The gigantic title track, "Bright And Shining", gallops out the gate, all sophisticated, jazzy leisure-soul with sax and guitars backing Moore's effortless vocal swag in this relaxed, mid-tempo head-nod strut. Worth the price of admission alone. Up next, the sunny, vibey "Fly Me High" features strolling, "unworded" vocals (aside from the refrain of the title) alongside breezy alto sax and electric guitar. Pastoral and perfect. The slow'n'sultry "Affluence" presents a moody elegance, a classical "downlifting" gem. Another crucial highlight is the breezy "Going On Holiday". It's happy. It's sunny. It's lively. It's cool and happy. Did we say happy? A mid-tempo, romantic sax workout, "Alto Sex"presents smooth jazzy funk before the first side closes out with the soaring, jazzy "Stay With Me". Seriously uplifting.

Side B opens with "Feel Fine", an excellent uptempo and bright jazz groove. Up next, "Canon" is wracked with refinement, a peaceful, smooth vocal harmony over repeating bass making for an elegant, late-night classic. It's followed by the laconic "Smooth And Soft", a laidback, casual sophisticated soul and easy-feeling jazz gem. The jazzy "Real Thing" is another exercise in strolling sophistication, complete with wordless vocal harmonies. The fairly self-explanatory "Voice Over Sax" sounds precisely how you would expect; a relaxed sax number with heavenly vocal support! To close, the carefree "Feeling Free" is a pleasant, light and breezy mid-tempo groove.

The audio for Bright And Shining has been meticulously remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring this release sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue. We'll grant the final word to MillionDollars. on discogs from about 10 years ago: "If you listen to the record on a sunny day you feel like going out surfing in a white linen suit with a blunt on your lips, catching a cool breeze."

Italian maestro SRS returns on the Furthur Electronix offshoot with an excellent Braindance outing. Includes a very nice and deep remix by Rephlexian alumni D'arcangelo. Limited quantities!

The Flatlife Records Labelgroup is happy to announce: DDR is back on his own magical oldschool acid techno label from the 90's: HAZCHEM. Four excellent tracks on this one and 2 with Acerbic (aka Chicago Loop or Ant). Pressed on limited RED colour vinyl in 200 copies only.

Squares have been throwing intimate parties through the London underground for the last several years. For their first record, they’ve curated a VA with close affiliates to capture dark sounds that have left a mark. On the A1 is Squares co-founder Guzman with “Tangent”, which is stripped back, ethereal and electro-tinged.

A2 welcomes Terraflow with “Clip”, showcasing his excellent take on proggy trance influences and infectious rhythms. The flipside starts with Oho’s “Wicked”, a pumping, dubby techno roller. Finally, on the B2 is Roto with “Stormrider” which has hard hitting drums and a bassline full of attitude.

After the excellent response to the first volume, Acid Jazz Classics returns with the second volume.
The Acid Jazz sound born in the 1990s, which harked back to the Soul Funk of the 1970s, found in IRMA one of the labels most dedicated to
this world, and still releases music that can be categorized under this name.
From songs from the 1990s with artists like Jestofunk, Bossa Nostra, Black & Brown, Gazzara, Italian Secret Service, LTJ Xperience, Sarah
Jane Morris, to the present day with artists like The Smoke Orchestra, Yuts and Culture, Fusion Funk Foundation, Micky More & Andy Tee,
Belladonna, and many others.
19 tracks on a double vinyl, some of them never before released on vinyl, all rigorously perfect for both the club and listening.
In fact, some tracks are little club gems:
"Say It Again" by Jestofunk in its very first version from 1993;
Belladonna - Black Jazz, one of her most requested songs ever released on vinyl;
Key Tronics Ensemble - You For Me, the Montuno Salsa version performed for years by Little Louie Vega at many of his gigs;
the Micky More & Andy Tee remix of Sarah Jane Morris's Hold On To Love!

Prolific beat pharmacist par excellence Brendon Moeller continues his hot streak with a return to Samurai to serve up the exquisite craftsmanship of Shadow Language. Across 15 fresh productions the seasoned house and techno producer demonstrates yet more variations on his rejuvenated sound since pivoting towards 160 tempo zones. Heavyweight dub techno pulses collide with D&B pressure and dubstep snarl, delivered with devastating restraint and mediative warmth.

Moeller's dub-informed, high-grade production hit a hot streak as he started to experiment with faster tempos and more broken rhythms, reaching into thrilling new sound fields where fast-slow rhythmic intrigue meets with spatial subtlety and constantly evolving synth voices. The past year has seen him release a swathe of albums, from Further on Samurai to outings on Constellation Tatsu, ESP Institute and Quiet Details that all burst with inspiration, each distinct from the last and offering an original perspective on this rich seam of crossover electronics.

Shadow Language shows Moeller burrowing even deeper into this new era of his work, continuing the hypnotic approach set out on Further while edging more forthright ingredients into the mix. From the outset 'Division By Zero' hits with immediacy even as it dips into a dubwise breakdown, with snatches of vocal and even the iconic loom bird making the slightest of appearances. 'Feral Hymn' finds a curious kind of uplift in the synth chord that twists in and out of the mental techno murmurations of the rhythm section. 'Impermanence' has some snarling bass that belongs in the gnarliest tech-step, while the nagging hats ticking through 'Junkyard Syntax' hint at a shockout without resorting to brute force. The majestic dub techno chords of 'Driftform' create a through-line across Moeller's extensive catalogue, but here they dominate the mix above a spongy bed of sub bass throb and framed by the tiniest slithers of percussion.

Throughout the album, it's the implications Moeller suggests with the tools at his disposal that create a powerful energy. Restraint governs the delivery, guiding the listener in deeper until they find a maximal experience from each elegantly understated roller. The weight and presence is abundant across every track, fuelled by the invigorating power of each tone and frequency while avoiding the clutter of overloaded arrangements.

Finding the notes in between and half-hidden rhythms, Moeller himself perfectly summed up his latest opus as he continues to develop his own compelling Shadow Language.

Pixl has been sending me so much of the music that he's been doing solo as well as his collabs with Duburban, Ark X & Peeb. I've been playing quite a few of them on my shows on NTS Radio & it only made sense to eventually put together a full release of them, so here is Old Citrus by him & Peeb, representing the atmospheric style of jungle that they are both excellent at.

Big up to both of them on this release & to Equinox for his fantastic remix of Old Citrus.

He runs a label called Western Lore which I've featured on previously, with 2 different remixes I did of Plastic Face by Response & Pliskin, as well as a track featured on the first Blunted Breaks compilation. It only made sense to eventually work on a joint label project as his label is a key figure in the current wave of jungle music, plus I hadn't put any music from him on Future Retro London yet so now I can finally tick him off the list!

Big up to Dead Man's Chest for his work on the collaborations & for his involvement in making this release a reality.

Danny Krivit pays tribute to the royal family of soul with a double A-side of classic house remixes from Michael and Janet, both appearing on 7-inch for the first time. Standouts from the revered era of ’90s house, these tracks have remained a steady presence in Krivit’s sets, a testament to their timeless appeal.

Mr. K’s edit of ‘Remember The Time’ takes E-Smoove’s punchy Late Nite remix from the original 1992 12-inch single — already considered the strongest mix on the release — and carefully condenses it to fill a 7-inch, retaining all the best elements while adding a highly mixable intro and a unique acapella ending. This edit might now be the definitive version of this classic club tune! The original mix of Janet’s ‘Any Time, Any Place’ hit radio in 1993, but it wasn’t until the following year when Darryl James and David Anthony’s smoothly uplifting and funky remix really took off in all the clubs, and it’s this D&D remix that Krivit turns his attention to for the flip side of this new MEU 45. A favorite of Frankie Knuckles, and Body & Soul, ‘Any Time, Any Place’ has remained a go-to cut for Mr. K, who shares his personal edit here on the compact format for the very first time.

Laseech, a Croatian producer and Cosada label owner with releases on BBE, Lumberjacks In Hell, Red Ember Records, and Forbidden Dance, is continuing a string of excellent releases with Rising Soul. Known for his dedication to house music, Laseech has built an international reputation through collaborations and remixes with some of the genre's most respected architects, including Ron Trent, Patrice Scott, Javonntte, and Dego. "Rising Soul is actually one of the first tracks I did back in 2017 while I was heavily into sampling. I was jamming with my MPC1000, and Rising Soul came up. I never thought that it would become such an effective song that works on the dancefloor every time." Laseech explains. Kez YM, a highly respected Japanese producer and DJ, has been a key figure in the global house music scene for almost two decades. Originally from Chiba and now based in Berlin, his unique approach to house music has led to releases on esteemed labels such as City Fly, Faces Records, Yore, and 4Lux. When describing his version of the track, Kez simply stated: "VIBES." Well, no one will argue with that. The last version comes from Cycle Records' founder Jan Kincl, a prominent Croatian music producer and DJ with releases on labels like BBE, Far Out, Sonar Kollektiv, and Get Physical. "I've been playing Andrej's original for years. He undoubtedly made some good stuff recently, but this one remains among my firm favourites from him. Kez delivered a beautiful version that took it further towards jazz territory, so I decided to make a version that would bridge those two." Jan explains. "I knew we could build a very good record around Rising Soul, with versions that would give DJs different options for different moments during the party. I guess we did a good job because some of the early supporters include DJs from all over the place - Laurent Garnier, Alex Barck from Jazzanova, Marcel Dettmann, Alex Nut (Eglo), Sasse, Chicago's K' Alexi Shelby, Lakuti, Ian Friday and Truncate, among others.

Kalani’s debut album ‘Rain Man’ is a downpour of electronic excellence. A spell-binding journey spanning the electronic music spectrum where sound design and composition are at the core of everything. Let the analogue rain fill the lakes and rivers of your soul.

Nacho Marco drops Colors in Dub Vol.1—deep house soaked in warm analog dub. From the hypnotic “Midnight Blue” and its Satoshi Tomiie remix to the raw pulse of “Bumblebee Yellow” and “Electric Green,” this wax rides late-night frequencies straight from Valencia to Paris.

DJ Feedbacks :


Francois Kevorkian (Wave) : Love the Satoshi mix
Eddie Fowlkes (Detroit Wax, Rekids, Classic Music Company) : thanks
Travis Kirschbaum (Warehouse Preservation Society) : Loving this. Especially Midnight Blue!
Sascha Dive : Midnight Blue for me!!
Brothers' Vibe (Luv4Wax) : Super ep, great works!!
Radio Slave (Rekids) : Another superb ep from Phonogramme and Satoshi's mix is great.
Giles Smith : "midnight blue" is nice
Alexkid (Rawax / FUSE / NG Trax) : Totally my vibe. <3
Aleqs Notal : Yes !!
Italojohnson (Italojohnson) : Track 1 for me!
Ben Sims : Now downloading... will check asap!
Okain (Talman / Infuse / Pleasure Zone) : Electric Green is dope!
Satoshi Tomiie (Abstract Architecture) : Receiving great feedback from the dance floor!
Steffi (Dolly) : lovely release!!
Laurent Garnier : Cool tracks
DJ Bone (FURTHER) : Electric Green and Satoshi Tomiie remix work for me.
Harri (Sub Club) : lovely stuff, will play and support
Rob Pearson (Evasive Records / Sine 102.6fm) : lovely - right up my street, cheers ;-)
Felix Dickinson (Futureboogie, Rush Hour, Cynic) : Solid E.P. current fave Electric Green
Jorkes (Freeride Millenium) : lovely, thanks so much. xo
Kassian (Phonica White / Heist Recordings) : wicked
Jaye Ward (Dalston Super Store / Netil Radio) : massive quality as ever!! super deep and pulsing gear, electric green is ace! thx
Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space) : Sounds great
Chloe Caillet (Smile Records) : love this!
Stevie Cox (Sub Club) : really lush, thank you !
Raresh (ar:pi:ar) : thanks
Ame (Innervisions) : thanks
Geir Aspenes (G-Ha (Sunkissed)) : Thank u
Saoirse (Body Movements) : Super nice dubby vibes
Amotik : Very nice :)
Kai Alce (Real Soon) : Satoshi remix is hot!
Domenic Cappello (Subclub) : nice dubby house
Cee ElAssaad (ENSOULED) : Just the way I like it! dubby and groovy.
Mike Shannon (Cynosure) : Excellent work here from Valencia's finest!

After collaborating with Answer Code Request on Delsin early 2024, Amotik now strengthens the relationship with a first solo EP for the Amsterdam based label. Delsin is known for working the sweet spot in between emotive electronica and dancefloor functionality, and it feels like the perfect place for Amotik's new EP 'Raat'. The Berlin based producer has been pushing his highly effective techno tools via his own imprints for over a decade and doesn't make an appearance on external labels often. So for this special occasion he adds new layers of deepness and emotion to his palette. An effortless combo of punchy techno grooves and soothing pads together form a well rounded pack of dancefloor euphoria. The remarkable bleeps and playful rhythms of Amotik's highly effective techno are deftly transformed into four pieces of excellent eyes-closed techno felicity.

Imagine it’s 1987.

The neon is glowing, the lasers are cutting through the smoke, and space synth is ruling the dancefloors. Laserdance just dropped their groundbreaking album “Future Generation.” Tracks like “Power Run” and “Humanoid Invasion” are setting clubs on fire, and every bedroom producer dreams of reaching that cosmic perfection.

And in this athmosphere Spacehawk appears shining like an alien spaceship.

Behind the name Spacehawk stands Swedish producer Anton Eriksson, a modern-day craftsman of analog dreams. In his vast studio, packed with vintage synths and drum machines, Anton creates electronic masterpieces so authentic, so rich in melody and power, that even Michiel van der Kuy himself, the godfather of the genre, decided to collaborate with him.

The result? “Space Patrol” – a landmark single that bridges generations of synth lovers.

On the A-side, you’ll find Anton’s stunning original version, pulsating, melodic, and bursting with energy. Flip it over, and you get a remix by Michiel van der Kuy that feels like a time warp straight back to the golden age of Italo-space glory.

“Space Patrol” has it all: soaring melodies, driving basslines, hypnotic rhythm, and that unmistakable intergalactic energy that makes you feel like you’re racing through the stars.

Fans of Laserdance, Rygar, Koto, Syntech, and all things van der Kuy will instantly recognize the DNA of true space synth excellence here.

To top it all off the single comes on a bright yellow vinyl, housed in a stunning retro-futuristic sleeve that looks like it beamed in straight from 1980s sci-fi.

It’s not just a release. It’s a revival.

And if space synth runs through your veins, this is one you simply can’t ignore.

The catalog of Discomagic’s sublabel Sensation Records is a true treasure chest of surprises. Rare gems sought after by collectors, whose prices on the secondary market often exceed €100, €200, and sometimes even €500. Once again, Vintage Pleasure Boutique reaches into this vault of highly coveted obscurities. This time, the focus is on SNS 8017.

It is one of the cult productions by Raffaele Fiume, revered, cherished and long admired mainly thanks to the distinctive vocal presence of Giusy Ravizza. Upon its original release in 1984, the record did not achieve major commercial success. However, with the resurgence of Italo disco, the rise of the internet, discussion forums, collector communities, online marketplaces and web radio stations, places where fans and collectors gathered to rediscover forgotten tracks, “Light” gradually emerged as a highly desirable, much-loved and increasingly hard-to-find title.

Once again, Vintage Pleasure Boutique steps in to meet the expectations of all those who wish to own a vinyl copy of Giusy Ravizza – “Light.” This is not the original Italian pressing with the SIAE stamp on the label, but it sounds absolutely excellent.

DJ Support: Danny Krivit, Michael Gray, Dr Packer, The Shapeshifters, Tedd Patterson, Seamus Haji, Terry Hunter, Brian Tappert, Hector Romero, Danny Rampling and many others

Groove Culture's ongoing 'Jams' series continues to deliver disco-house excellence with its fifth edition. This high-quality compilation features standout tracks from Micky More & Andy Tee, Reverendos Of Soul, Soulista and Serge Funk.

Highlights include: Reverendos Of Soul Feat Sheree Hicks - ‘Wasted Time'(Micky More & Andy Tee mix): An all-night disco spirit track verging on Hi-NRG style, bringing big energy and a lively atmosphere to any dance floor. Another great one is Soulista, Micky More & Andy Tee ‘Like I want You" (feat.Anduze): A perfect blend of disco and house, featuring a heavy beat and great guitar sounds that create an infectious groove. Closing things out on a classic leeven is Serge Funk's heater ‘Just Disco’ and Micky More & Andy Tee’s “Soul Education”. These fantastic edits of the classic disco tracks are a filtered gems that is sure to knock the roof off the discotech. Groove Culture once again proves its reliability as a source of top- tier disco-house with this stellar collection.

Legendary Hiroaki Sugawara in the form of Sergio Maria Saguaro presents Rain Guitar.

Step into paradise alone to deeply savor an exotic experience.

“I first learned about this album thanks to GOKA, who built the sound system for my record shop, CELLAR RECORDS. Around 2019, it was praised by some connoisseurs, but it’s different from the so-called “popular ambient” sound that was in vogue at the time. This work is a Japanese obscure pop album created in 2002 by Hiroaki Sugawara, who goes by the name “Sergio Maria Saguaro,” mixing all types of exotic moods and completed in a secluded space. In particular, A-2 “Window with a Dog” and B-5 “Washing Machine” are truly a sonic paradise. When you put this record on your shelf, be sure to place it next to Tatsuhiko Asano’s excellent soundtrack “Following in the Footsteps of Doshin,” which was happily reissued in 2022, or Steve Hiett’s “Down On The Road By The Beach.”” -浜公氣 (Cellar Records)

“This sophisticated sound file paints natural landscapes, depicting rich and abundant scenes while floating through them, creating a world that is as beautiful as a kaleidoscope, appearing in the soundscape in a way that is always gentle, natural, and organic. It makes extensive use of four types of stringed instruments, modulators, flutes, and ethnic instruments, possessing a refined sense of elegant ambiance.” -Walearic / Gokaine Sound Research Institute

2025 Repress

Amotik recruits Norway's Kameliia and Dallas-based Decoder for the third split EP on his increasingly essential AMTK+ label.

Kameliia's hypnotic and atmospheric music has appeared on the likes of Overbalance and Unterwegs, where she has previously flexed her sophisticated take on sound design and heady soundscapes with driving and physical grooves. Decoder recently started his new Toca label with Jay York and has previously appeared on labels like Subsist, Float and Jeff Mills' legendary Axis.

Kameliia kicks off with the heavy and thumping 'Beyond', combining forceful drums and a slow, mystical synth lead that encourages you to follow it deep into the night. '8-12' is another perfect fusion of the head and body with supple percussion smeared with balmy and cosmic chords for a classy and immersive cut.

Decoder opens the B-side with 'Kalpavriksha', a twitchy and paranoid cut laced with bleeps and pulses, crafting a futuristic soundscape that grows ever more intense. 'Swayambhu' brings experimental shades with its tightly interlaced drums and synths beneath an unsettling synth line that whistles like a storm. Closing the release is the excellent 'Velinattu,' a buoyant track that's warm and full of delicate percussive layers.

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

Continuing the epic journey through three decades of trance excellence, Platipus 30 Years – Volume 11 lands as the penultimate installment in the acclaimed anniversary vinyl series. This edition brings together a stunning selection of classics and remixes that embody the unmistakable Platipus sound: the power of Union Jack – Cactus (Original Mix), the modern reimagining of Art of Trance – Before The Storm (Gai Barone Remix), the euphoric depth of Moogwai – Viola (Original Mix), and the psychedelic force of Quietman – The Sleeper (Man With No Name Remix). With its mix of legendary originals and visionary reinterpretations, Volume 11 stands as a testament to Platipus’ enduring influence and offers collectors another essential piece of electronic music history.