Marc Cotterell has been going about his business with great style in recent years. The Plastik People boss leans into the old school soulful house and garage house scenes for his inspiration and updates those foundational samples with plenty of musicality as well as club-ready rhythms. This solo outing kicks off with the impossibly infectious 'Keep Pushing' with its angelic vocal tones and rich piano chords all overflowing with catchy, feel-good vibes. 'If You Still Love Me' has the same irresistibly joyous results, but this time darts about with a touch of US garage swing and some vibrant horns. 'Boogalou' closes with a more knotted, funky bassline. Brilliantly accessible but sophisticated stuff.
Released in Nottingham at the turn of the millennium, when the city was at the heart of an exciting underground scene, Lounging sits between trip-hop's slowed breaks and deep house's low-end drive. Drum programming is loose but controlled, with swung rhythms underpinning warm basslines and restrained chord patterns. Tracks alternate between vocal cuts featuring Gea Russell and Isi Samuel, and instrumental pieces built on short sampled phrases and repeating hooks. It's a perfect record for either pre-club or post-rave, especially on warmer days, and this anniversary edition has been remastered by Shawn Joseph. A welcome return for a low key classic.
Canadian minimal titan Akufen dominated the scene at the turn of the new millennium and has a fine back catalogue full of classics. Now the Montreal man is back with new music though and it's like he never went away - 'Breakin' Free' (feat Dominique Fils Aime) is a slow, smoochy sound with low-slung drums and r&b vocals, while 'You Naughty Scamp' is a little more propulsive as it rolls through deep house and bright, textured synth melody. 'Rubber Ducky' is another playful jam with jazzy top notes, sampled vocals cut up and smeared through the mix and languid bass funk. 'Sensitive People (With So Much To Give)' is another symphonic and soulful house sound.
By 2005, Drugsex Recordings had firmly established its own identity within the Tech House scene, providing a platform for deeper, sounds for the heads and also could further push the peak-time cuts for the era. For the label's fourth release, founder Rob Pearson teamed up with Chris Pascoe. Pascoe’s distinctive style had already earned him recognition through a string of acclaimed underground releases and Rob & Chris kept meeting through the underground party scene so friendship and collaboration were a natural step.
The collaboration resulted in One More Time, a beautifully balanced meeting of two production styles. Combining Pearson's trademark rolling grooves with Pascoe's musicality and deep, understated funk, the track perfectly captures the stripped-back sound that defined the best of mid-2000s UK Tech House.
On the flip, Rob Pearson takes centre stage with the solo production Shadow Maker. Deep, hypnotic and effortlessly understated, the track showcases the signature South London sound that became synonymous with both Evasive and Drugsex Recordings—tight percussion, warm analogue textures and an irresistible groove built for long nights on discerning dancefloors.
Luca “DJ Rocca” Roccatagliati isn’t just a producer, he’s a shapeshifter of sound. Emerging from the late ’90s under the Maffia Soundsystem alias, he’s spent decades bending genres, dissolving boundaries, and reconfiguring the DNA of club music.
From cosmic disco to leftfield house, Rocca’s catalogue reads like a map of underground excellence. He’s collaborated with a roll call of innovators—Howie B, Dimitri From Paris, Daniele Baldelli, François K, Jazzanova, Zed Bias and many more. Crafting releases for some of the most respected imprints in the game: like Rekids, Toy Tonics, International Feel, Defected, Rush Hour, Hell Yeah, Rotters Golf Club among others.
His output is prolific, restless, constantly evolving.
Partnership is central to Rocca’s universe. With Dimitri From Paris, he co-created Erodiscotique, a sleek electro-disco project that fuses vintage sensuality with future-facing production. Alongside Daniele Baldelli, he’s explored deeper, more psychedelic terrain, delivering albums like Podalirius and Quagga—records that blur the line between Balearic mysticism and dancefloor propulsion.
His aliases Ajello, Supersonic Lovers, Crimea X are parallel auditory dimensions. Each one pushes a different facet of his sound, from Italo-tinged grooves to raw, analog-driven club cuts. As a remixer, Rocca has reworked everyone from Andrew Weatherall to Soul Clap, always imprinting his unmistakable signature.
To say we are excited about this new EP is kind of a massive understatement……
Having been huge fans for over two decades, when he reached out to us it was a bit of an eye rubbing and arm pinching moment.
We have been graced with a 3 track EP titled “Tonight is the Night”
A1. Sun Deck – A link-up with Athens mainstay Lex, drifting somewhere between yacht funk and late-night boogie. Sun-washed grooves, crisp synth leads, and just enough 80s energy to keep it moving without trying too hard.
B1. Italo Boogie Stomp – Does exactly what it says. Rolling Linn drums, sharp synth lines, and a nostalgic flute motif that nods to NYC’s street soul era without getting stuck in it.
B2. Ferroso – Picks up the pace slightly. Deep house drums meet a driving electro bassline, with arpeggiated synths and warm pads rounding it out—focused, functional, and built for the floor.
Mat Fink with his first solo EP, on new label, Funky Soul Creations, delivering driving bass-lines and jazzy melodics. 4 tracks telling stories of diversity and funkiness with touches of Detroit and Chicago energy. From a DJ for a DJ, the versatility of the release is for any environment whether peak-time in the club, at the afters, or just a Sunday afternoon listening. A Side opens with the title track, a raw funky tribal groove with an off-the-top one take vocal that was never written nor planned. That’s followed by a ‘Peace of Deep’, an early morning deep house mood that intensifies and inspires the sun to rise over the horizon. B Side is where the release becomes darker and quirky. The first track offers a hypnotic bass-line with deep textures and rolling percussion lines. The track is set in the environment of the long club night, managing the intensity and progressions.
The final track of the release is a cocktail party for the forest animals. Futuristic folk
For our 7th original release we welcome our good friend David Agrella, alongside Kompo on remix duties.
David’s a producer with a fast growing reputation and a label of his own, Agrellomatica. The label’s gathered support from a number of respected DJ’s such as Jane Fitz, Laurent Garnier, Ivan Smagghe, Francesco Farfa, Enzo Siragusa, Moxie, Ciel, Massimiliano Pagliara and we’re pleased to welcome him on Seven Hills.
The Kom Dansen EP is one of David’s darker EP’s, blending together thick growling basslines and atmospheric, psychedelic samples. 4 tracks made purely for the dancefloor, all driven by a phat 909 kick, this is music for late night sessions.
Deseo drives through twists and turns with a grooving bass, precise funky drum patterns, and a vocal recorded by the man himself. Kom Dansen hits you with a huge belly bassline, while taking you on a trip on the night train, deep into the wormhole, with an ever building momentum.
Sabotage Signals is similarly growling and deep, with spooked out synth sounds, and unsettling pad action, while Kompo’s version strips everything back, and
Drop Music marks a marvellous quarter of a century of releases with this new slab of vinyl featuring some gems from disco funksters Crazy P and the house mainstays Inland Knights. Crazy P go first with 'Disc Odyssey' which is perfectly indicative of their much beloved sound with its low slung kicks and funky bassline. Inland Knights then offer a trio of in demand & unreleased tracks. 'Overnight' is a bumming deep house joint, 'Walk On' has an icy late night vibe and balmy pads and 'Do It Again is a more playful closer, with some killer b-line action. All four, needless to say, are timeless gems, and the fact the last two are appearing on vinyl first the first time makes it an even more desirable cop.
Nottingham duo Andy Riley and Laurence Ritchie AKA Inland Knights, continue to celebrate a quarter of a century of Drop Music with a third special EP. This one features two utterly new and exclusive cuts - the first is 'Bad Situation', a brilliantly loose and soulful deep house sound with well-treated vocals, and the second is 'Some Lovin', a more raw and jacked-up cut but with magnificently elastic bass, funky riffs and old-school vocals. The steamy house throb of 'Slummin It' and twitch future tech of 'Get High' round out a fine EP from these enduring greats.
Lizard & Snake, the new collaborative project from Elia Nafzger and Axel Pineau, lands on Respect The Craft Enterprises with a classy collection of deep, rolling hypnotic house cuts. Tight grooves, crisp percussion and understated funk make for timeless dancefloor tools with plenty of character. A strong debut from the duo and another quality addition to the Respect The Craft Enterprises catalogue.
What Soul Media, led by Jiro Inagaki, ultimately arrived at was a tight, cool, and ultimate groove.
As Inagaki himself has stated that he “played black funk” on this album, the explosive jazz-rock foundation he had cultivated up to that point is fused with the stickiness, elasticity, and physicality of black music—elevating his musical vision to an entirely new dimension. Combined with the masterful arrangements of Hiromasa Suzuki, the groove is polished to a high sheen, growing richer, more fluid, and subtly seductive.
Every track stands out: the vibrant, driving energy of “Painted Paradise”; the coexistence of funkiness and mellowness on “Breeze”; and the low-slung, razor-sharp cover of Kool & The Gang’s “Funky Stuff”.
Now regarded as a definitive classic, this album remains in constant demand from listeners around the world.
LP,180g, 2027 REISSUE - REMASTERED FROM ORIGINAL TAPES, CAREFULLY REPRODUCED ORIGINAL ART
When Alan Parker recorded the killer library soul-funk LP The Voice of Soul with session vocalist Madeline Bell in 1976, some bright spark at Themes decided to also release all of the backing tracks as a separate, and equally innocuously title LP called The Sound of Soul. Thank goodness for bright sparks.
Released as a collection of unobtrusive musical backings in various rhythmic styles', the LP's original description dryly explains these tracks have been issued without melody and are therefore particularly suitable for use behind commentary. Female vocal versions of these tracks are issued on TIM 1021 The Voice Of Soul and it is possible to edit from vocal version to instrumental version or vica versa where commentary or scene changes occur'.Madeline Bell was backed by The Rhythm Section, who were for all intents and purposes the Themes International Music house band. So what we end up with here is entire album of instrumental work-outs by a band comprised of the formidable talents of Alan Hawkshaw on keyboards, Alan Parker on guitars, Barry Morgan on drums, Les Hurdle on bass guitar and Frank Ricotti on percussion.
Without Bell's vocals these backing tracks are given all the room they need to breathe. Each one more than stands up on its own.
The Sound of Soul is a real diggers' delight and, unsurprisingly, a must-have counterpart to The Voice of Soul.
As with all ten re-issues, the audio for The Sound of Soul comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. We've taken the same care with the sleeves, handing the reproduction duties over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM's brand identity.
Obelix is the brainchild of UK producers Richard George and Corine Trembath, whose timeless take on house and techno has long been cherished by underground heads and vinyl collectors alike.
With releases on Pacific Records, Mosaic and Stickman, their music occupies a distinctive space between early house and techno, raw, hypnotic and deeply musical, built around rolling 909 rhythms, expertly programmed 303 acid lines and the unmistakable character of analogue hardware.
Following an extensive dive into their DAT archives, Pariter presents The Lost Tapes, a collection of previously unreleased recordings made in the mid-1990s. Carefully restored and curated by Yossi Amoyal, the material retains all the rawness, warmth and analogue
character of the original tapes, offering a rare glimpse into a particularly fertile period of UK underground dance music.
The two part release is completed by Whatever, their sought after classic originally released on Offshoot, a timeless slice that stands alongside the unreleased recordings as an essential piece of the Obelix story.
The Lost Tapes documents a sound that has lost none of its power, raw, hypnotic and unmistakably timeless.
Night Luv is a new label founded by Italy's Simplr that wants to bring people together, whether times are good, bad or sad. Drop the needle on this inaugural 7" though and the times will surely be rad: it's a tweaked, chopped, screwed and filtered take on a stone cold soul classic with a smoky vocal fragment and deployed teasingly through the mix. The drums are rough and raw, the synths swirl, and the whole thing has an excitable energy. The K Lost Acid dub, meanwhile, is a little more club-ready with some chunky low-end drum funk.
Straight from Girona, Roto lands on SPHERART Records with Sardaukar, five cuts of stripped-back electro. Dry drums, heavy basslines and raw machine funk run across the record, from broken grooves to colder, more introspective moments. Direct, restless and full of character, Sardauka carries Roto’s own language from start to finish.
Mutual Rytm spawns new sub-label ‘Versus’ with debut EP from longtime techno associates Regent and Chontane. Continuing to expand its creative world, SHDW’s Mutual Rytm imprint now introduces ‘Versus’ - a new sub- label crafted for creative symbiosis between two artists across one shared release. Opening the series with authority, Regent and Chontane man the debut offering - two close friends and native Berliners who have been shaping techno for more than 15 years. Both long-standing members of the Mutual Rytm family, having released multiple times here before, the pair have always created music informed by life immersed in their local scene. Having both mutually influenced one another over the years, here they present their shared interpretation of techno with individual artistic DNA, forming a unified sound that represents the best of both worlds. Regent goes first, leaning towards functional, anthemic, dance-floor-focused techno. ‘Ephemera’ is tight, minimal but forceful; ‘Slow Burn’ has synth tension rising through the dark, next to glitchy percussion; and ‘Afterglow’ lets in more light, bringing otherworldly synths that hang above the groove and consume your focus. Chontane then explores a more musical and unconventional approach. ‘Plaxaric’ is supple, warm, and deep techno that tunnels into an abyss. ‘Grounding Factor’ is just as economical in design, but with introverted funk and evolving layers of sound. ‘Mental Lab’ spins out into complex rhythms inspired equally by IDM, jungle, and techno. It’s a mental workout as well as a physical one. Both artists add a pair of digital bonus tracks. Regent’s ‘Control Room’ and ‘Rarely Enough’ deliver elevated, hypnotic tools, before Chontane’s ‘Escore’ and ‘Outside In’ bring extroverted drum patterns along with contrasting melodic unease
Jéroboam drop their debut on Space Grapes. This Parisian funk band, also known as Echoes Of, comes with an extensive live experience and a strong reputation as backing band for Howard Johnson, Junior Giscombe, Kyoto Jazz Massive and others. Recorded in the usual Space Grapes style; fully analog, rough and ready!
Ja:ck is an artist who moves beyond fast-paced trends, focusing instead on a clear, driving vision. His releases on the renowned label Cocoon Recordings represent an uncompromising sound that balances hypnotic techno and energetic club dynamics. With a keen sense of tension and atmosphere, he has developed a signature style over the years that works as effectively on large floors as it does in intimate sets.
His new track, Dinamo, perfectly encapsulates this energy: pulsating, powerful, and precisely crafted. The track builds with subtle intensity before erupting into a forceful, captivating movement designed for the peak time.
Notably, Ja:ck has been supported for years by techno icon Sven Väth, who consistently integrates Ja:ck's sound into his sets. This ongoing backing underscores not only the quality of his productions but also his relevance within the international scene. With Dinamo, Ja:ck delivers another clear statement: raw, direct, and absolute club material.
The Oliver Keim remix of Ja:ck’s Dinamo translates the original track into a clean, stripped-back club aesthetic with a steadfast focus on groove and energy. From the start, a driving flow emerges: precise, dry drums meet a deep, rolling bassline that constantly pushes forward. The arrangement remains intentionally minimalist, yet leaves enough room for subtle details to unfold and build tension. Finely placed breaks provide dynamics without losing momentum, leading back into powerful, controlled drops.
The remix eschews clutter, relying instead on clarity, punch, and timing. This makes it versatile enough for both intimate club settings and larger floors, fitting seamlessly into Tech House, Melodic Techno, or driving House sets. It is a modern, functional remix—minimalist in sound, powerful in impact, and strictly geared toward the dancefloor.
Ja:ck ist ein Künstler, der sich jenseits schneller Trends bewegt und stattdessen auf eine klare, treibende Vision setzt. Seine Releases auf dem renommierten Label Cocoon Recordings stehen für kompromisslosen Sound zwischen hypnotischem Techno und energetischer Club-Dynamik. Mit einem feinen Gespür für Spannung und Atmosphäre hat er sich über die Jahre eine eigene Handschrift erarbeitet, die sowohl auf großen Floors als auch in intimen Sets funktioniert.
Sein neuer Track Dinamo bringt genau diese Energie auf den Punkt: pulsierend, druckvoll und gleichzeitig präzise ausgearbeitet. Der Track baut sich mit subtiler Intensität auf, bevor er sich in eine kraftvolle, mitreißende Bewegung entlädt, gemacht für die Peak-Time.
Besonders bemerkenswert: Ja:ck wird bereits seit Jahren von Techno Ikone Sven Väth unterstützt, der seinen Sound immer wieder in seine Sets integriert. Diese kontinuierliche Rückendeckung unterstreicht nicht nur die Qualität seiner Produktionen, sondern auch seine Relevanz in der internationalen Szene.
Mit Dinamo setzt Ja:ck ein weiteres klares Statement : roh, direkt und absolut clubtauglich.
German Text:
Der Oliver Keim Remix von „Dinamo“ von Ja:ck übersetzt den Original-Track in eine klare, reduzierte Club-Ästhetik mit konsequentem Fokus auf Groove und Energie.
Von Beginn an entsteht ein treibender Flow: präzise, trockene Drums treffen auf eine tiefe, rollende Bassline, die sich konstant nach vorne bewegt. Der Aufbau bleibt bewusst minimalistisch, lässt aber genug Raum für subtile Details, die sich im Verlauf entfalten und Spannung erzeugen. Fein eingesetzte Breaks sorgen für Dynamik, ohne den Drive zu verlieren, und führen kontrolliert zurück in kraftvolle Drops.
Der Remix verzichtet auf Überladung und setzt stattdessen auf Klarheit, Druck und Timing. Dadurch funktioniert er sowohl in intimen Clubsettings als auch auf größeren Floors und lässt sich vielseitig zwischen Tech House, Melodic Techno und treibenden House-Sets einsetzen.
Ein moderner, funktionaler Remix, reduziert im Sound, stark in der Wirkung und konsequent auf den Dancefloor ausgerichtet.
LILDAVE215 is a proud Philly representative who channels funk, soul and acid jazz into his delicious take on disco. For this new outing on the young but already promising Sweet Breeze Sound label, he kicks off with 'Music Takes Me' which rides on slinky drums that slide irresistibly on nice dusty cymbals and has funky riffs down low. The vocals add simple but effective colour that adds to the feel-good nature. 'Carnaval Del Tiempo' is more Latin influenced, with prickly percussion and big vocals, even bigger drums and sax energy all added for when the sun shines down hot.
The Body Works begins from a simple idea: sound does not end at the speaker, and music is something that is not only heard, but held, felt, and carried. By translating sound into physical form, the project creates an encounter that exists between listening and touch.
Rhythm is anticipated by muscle, voices affect breathing, and repetition changes our sense of time. Listening is already a physical act. Rather than treating the body as a subject represented by the music, The Body Works treats it as the place where the music happens; the physical and perceptual space through which sound is experienced.
Primarily consisting of left-leaning club music, the LP moves between trap-tinged tech funk, sweaty nocturnal throb, bottom heavy breaks, seedy cowbell acid, pumping techno workouts, doting hi NRG, cosmic homoerotica, and electronic disco. Interspersed and laced atop are more exploratory approaches to sound. Synthesis, field recordings, voices, electroacoustic and musique concrete techniques, plus a dose of offbeat humour are all treated equally as compositional material.
The record travels through ordinary human actions and situations - partying, sleeping, travelling, cooking, flirting, drinking, dancing and listening. These are not presented simply as themes; they become compositional material through which sound, attention, movement and the body interact. "A lot of the record is just weird normal things happening around me. Sleeping, travelling, flirting, drinking water, trying to kill a fly. The more attention you give these things, the stranger they become", comments Bjarki.
Savor Music celebrates a landmark 15 years in the scene with a three-part compilation series. This second installment continues the momentum, bringing together a powerhouse selection of artists that define the label's sophisticated, groove-oriented sound.
Side A opens with a major track on A1, as Dani Labb unveils a hypnotic Detroit meets Aphex Twin spiritual bomb. This track serves as a masterclass in production, delivering a fluid, dark room ready flow. Following this, A2 showcases the refined artistry of Cosenza, who brings a groovy funky stylish number to the record. His contribution is characterized by an infectious energy that keeps the groove effortlessly sophisticated.
Side B shifts into deeper territory, starting on B1 with Franco Cinelli teaming up with Lucio de Rosa for a classy subtle morning piano house track. True to their reputation, they deliver a detailed number that showcases the technical precision and steady momentum for which they are renowned. Finally, B2 rounds out the EP with a deeper hypnotic track by Shine On You boss, Travis. Combining unique creative perspectives, Travis weaves together profound atmosphere and mysterious depth while keeping a steady groove to close out this chapter.
His sophomore LP for Limousine Dream, Secrets, is his most expansive and refined to date. Borrowing from after-hours techno, tech house, minimal, and deep house, Secrets is a tour de force of the outer fringes of house music. Wallace leans into the darker hours of the night and the tracks are heavier and headier, but still imbued with his trademark funk. Across 8 hi-definition nuggets, Wallace crafts bespoke bangers for the sound systems of the world’s best clubs.
New label Never Enough records kicks off with with a revisit to label boss
C-Souls 2005 release on much loved and missed Nathan Coles Is This! Imprint.
The release has been freshly remastered by Da Sunlounge and kicks of a string of releases from new and old faces.
Long regarded as one of electronic music’s true individualists, Aubrey’s legacy stretches across decades of uncompromising, deeply musical productions — always balancing raw machine funk, psychedelia and emotional depth with a uniquely personal touch. Through Deep Series, Georgios DSR brought him on board for a release shaped less by trends than by a shared dedication to timeless underground music culture.
On the A-side, Aubrey delivers the shimmering and organically evolving *Insectos de la Luna* alongside the weightless, jazz-leaning groove explorations of *Flying Low*. The B-side shifts into deeper and more functional territory with Georgios DSR’s *Analog Ground (LiVRO’s Groove Shape)* and the hypnotic pulse of *Signal Drift*.
Rather than following contemporary formulas, *Shifting Phase* reflects a mutual commitment to atmosphere, movement and long-form dancefloor storytelling — rooted in house and techno traditions while remaining open, psychedelic and forward-thinking.
Previous Deep Series material received support from XDB at Dimensions Festival, generating a strong response around the label’s growing catalog.
RDS003 is another step in the ongoing evolution of Deep Series: music driven by conviction rather than hype.
London groover Sam Shelly plays everything from new jack swing to boogie, disco to soul, jazz funk to soulful house, and much of that feeds into his work in the studio. After outings on the likes of Midnight Riot, he now features on Soul Service Sabrosura with a new 7" full of love, life and soul. 'Spirit Love' is a life-enriching funk and jazz fusion with positive messages in the celebratory vocals, drama in the horns and killer groove in the drums and bass. On the flip, 'The Latin Strut' is a much quicker funk workout with shades of 60s styles and the narrative flow of a cop chase. It's a brilliant flip side to complete a gorgeous 45.
Diso Gram is based in Barcelona and deals in global disco, nu-disco and edits with in-house production from we don't know who, but we do know they're skilled in the studio. 'Bobby' is a life-affirming opener with proud trumpets and classic disco vocals before 'The King' taps into a funky bassline and slapping hits that all feel wonderfully live. 'Me Enciendes' brings more strutting disco house with massive claps and falsetto vocals that will take any crowd to a better place and 'Tropical' closes the account with a more subdued, early evening dub-disco builder with Afro flourishes.
Hectic urban grooves with subtle hints of city pop, Japanese psychedelic techno, & dream house all infuse this EP with an exciting phosphorescence across its varied moods. The title track is a majestic, lumbering synth odyssey - think M83 or Prins Thomas on their way home. By contrast, Hagstrom Funk maintains the colorful atmosphere but dials up the frenetic energy into a bubbling boogie. On the flip, legend of the Balearic sound Eddie C unwinds the beat into an almost drunken lope - massaging the majesty of the original into a twisted and cheeky trip. Memorable work, all round
20:20 Vision has been defining the house underground for decades now, and much of its earlier material remains as revealing as its newer output. A case in point is this reissue of the rare Echo Beach release. Founder Ralph Lawson and his old pal Carl Finlow's recordings from The Farm in the Rhubarb Triangle retain a warmth and analogue weight that contemporary production struggles to replicate - all hands-on-deck live passes through drum machines, synths and outboard desks, the process audible in every groove. The discovery of unreleased cut 'Blues Dimensions', which was rescued from corrupted DATs, is the real find here: rasping Moog bass, P-Funk refrain and heavy Rhodes that sounds anything but archival. Top drawer excavation.
Zed Bias (aka Maddslinky) is a pioneering producer and DJ whose influence has helped shape UK Garage, 2-Step, Broken Beat and UK Funky.
This release marks the first in a new archival series, opening the Biasonic vaults to showcase rare and essential recordings spanning multiple genres and decades of groundbreaking music.
With a strictly limited pressing, this is a must-have for collectors and fans alike, best to secure your copy fast!
Presenting the eighth edition of the Bizarre Trax wax series and the second solo outing from bare-knuckle beatmaker B.Love. A Shape You Can Feel EP marks a subtle but deliberate evolution in the producer's sound. While the groove-led, funk-infused records that first put his name on the map are still woven into his DNA, this latest four-tracker strips things back in favour of a more understated, headsdown approach. Leaner drums, weightier low-end and hypnotic arrangements take centre stage, with each cut built for long blends and late-night dancefloors. Across four rolling club weapons, B.Love explores a deeper, more refined sonic palette without losing the character that's become synonymous with his productions. Chopped vocal fragments, unmistakable sample work and crisp, polished percussion remain at the core, but are now delivered with greater restraint, allowing space, tension and groove to do the heavy lifting. Designed for selectors who favour subtlety over spectacle, A Shape You Can Feel EP is a confident statement from an artist continuing to carve out his own lane; proof that sometimes the smallest shifts leave the biggest impression
We bring a definite label favorite Eddie Leader from Huddersfield, whose label Hudd Traxx is based out of Manchester UK.
Excellent timing on the Need To Pivot EP as it’s kicking off Eddie’s 20 Years of Hudd Traxx Summer Tour!
The title track “Need To Pivot” starts off with an ode to Chicago House in form of a funky, swinging, banger laced over the top with clever spoken words from a voice any dance floor will surely recognize!
For those wanting more banger and less words, we included the “Need To Pivot” Dub version on A2.
The flip side drops the vibe back to what we come to love from Eddie! Deep driving baselines and synth based goodness for both B Side cuts on “Close To You” and “Listen To Me”.
Synaptic Cliffs proudly welcomes Annie Hall for her label debut. With the Future Sports EP, she once again expands the boundaries between machine funk, speculative sound design, and forward-thinking club music. Delivering her signature fusion of IDM, electro, fractured breakbeats and experimental electronics, she sculpts a metallic, high-definition vision that feels as though it has been transmitted directly from centuries ahead.
Future Sports imagines the sonic landscape of sport in the year 3024. In a future where society has paradoxically stripped itself back to the essentials, aesthetics have returned to the elegance and restraint of the 18th and 19th centuries. Amid this cultural shift, fencing has emerged as the defining global sport, elevated from historical discipline to mass obsession.
Throughout the EP, the sounds of these future arenas become musical raw material: the sharp clash of advanced foils, the resonant impact of engineered protective gear, the tension of ritualized competition, and fragments of other, unnamed sports from a distant age. Annie Hall transforms these imagined athletic acoustics into intricate rhythmic structures and futuristic melodies, allowing the machinery and choreography of competition to shape the record's sonic identity.
The result is a vivid soundtrack to a world yet to come - precise, kinetic, and unmistakably futuristic, where sport, technology and sound merge into a singular vision. Future Sports is both a speculative narrative and a club-ready statement from one of electronic music's most distinctive voices.
As a special bonus, the EP features an animated picture label. When played at 45 RPM and viewed under a stroboscopic light operating at 9 Hz, the artwork comes alive, revealing a hidden motion sequence. Blurring the boundaries between sound, design and optical illusion, this kinetic visual layer extends the EP's futuristic narrative into the physical realm, transforming the record itself into an artifact from the year 3024.
Mit The Techno Session setzt die renommierte Electronic Music Anthology-Reihe aus dem Hause Wagram ihre Reise durch die wichtigsten Strömungen elektronischer Musik fort. Nach House- und Deep-House-Ausgaben widmet sich diese neue Edition nun konsequent dem Techno - in all seinen hypnotischen, treibenden und zeitlosen Facetten. Die Auswahl stammt von FG Radio, einer der angesehensten Institutionen für elektronische Musik in Frankreich und seit Jahrzehnten eng mit der internationalen Club-Kultur verbunden. Die Compilation versammelt prägende Künstler und Produzenten, die Techno von seinen frühen, funktionalen Wurzeln bis zu modernen, melodischen und atmosphärischen Ausprägungen definieren. Pulsierende Grooves, repetitive Strukturen, reduzierte Eleganz und eine klare Fokussierung auf den Dancefloor stehen im Mittelpunkt dieser sorgfältig kuratierten Zusammenstellung. The Techno Session richtet sich gleichermaßen an DJs, Sammler und Liebhaber elektronischer Musik, die Techno nicht als kurzlebigen Trend, sondern als eigenständige, langlebige Musiksprache verstehen. Eine hochwertige Anthologie, die die Essenz des Genres einfängt - kompromisslos, fokussiert und cluberprobt.
Powerful, exhilarating, and refreshing. Whether exploring deep modal jazz or basking in the warmth of calypso-infused jazz, every note is delivered with uncompromising conviction. Here, the essence of Ryojiro Furusawa reaches its fullest expression.
From the 1970s through the 2010s, drummer Ryojiro Furusawa was an active force not only in jazz but across the broader Japanese music scene. His music, marked by unmatched individuality and overwhelming power, is free-spirited yet unwavering, rugged yet inviting, and endlessly captivating.
Among his many achievements, his masterpiece Racco stands as the most complete representation of his artistry. Every composition on the album is an original by Furusawa, yet each piece reveals a distinct musical character. One moment, he delivers a beautifully crafted ballad; the next, he unleashes a dynamic burst of funky jazz. Just as the listener settles into a deep modal jazz groove, he effortlessly shifts gears, wrapping the music in the gentle warmth of calypso rhythms.
The album is eclectic, but never unfocused. Its diverse musical elements are tied together by Furusawa's unwavering vision, with every idea pursued boldly and to the fullest. The result is a listening experience that feels consistently invigorating and rewarding.
Powerful, exhilarating, and refreshing. Few musicians, and few albums, embody such a joyful sense of freedom and vitality. Racco is where the artistry of Ryojiro Furusawa reaches its peak.
If ever an album could transport you to the hazy sunshine and imagined halcyon paradise of Southern California in the mid-1980s, could capture the early evening warmth of hanging at an inclusive boogie jam as it approaches “magic hour” in Santa Ana or Anaheim, then it’s Vaughan Mason and Butch Dayo’s Feel My Love. A brilliantly produced deep slung, low rider funk classic originally released on Salsoul in 1983. It’s a masterpiece of “funk love music”.
Yes, this is indeed a perfectly formed five track “mini LP” of unparalleled heat, but there’s one song here that, above the rest, represents Orange County boogie-funk. A straight killer beloved by all that have had the pleasure of moving to it. A track that can fill up a dance floor within seconds of its starting. That song is the eternal title track, “Feel My Love”.
This is a work of art that made people fall in love with the funk. It transcends the limitations of genre. “Feel My Love”’s deceptive simplicity makes it perfect to drop during a house set, a classic funk party or at a west coast rap jam. It’s sexy, deeply emotional, melancholic, hopeful, passionate and just radiates so, so much raw energy. This is music.
The rest of the record is hardly filler though. Opener “Oh, Love” is a dizzying, emotional slow jam. With heaven-sent vocals riding gorgeous, sweeping keys that alternate between sweet twinkling lines and funk-fuelled stabbing. It’s sensational. A rollerskating jam named “Rollalong Songs” is an ultra-swish piece of dance floor dynamite. Its slick drums, staccato piano and neck snapping claps underscore Dayo’s buoyant vocals. It’s essentially “Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll Part II”.
The flip begins with “Party On The Corner”. Smoother than silk vocals, day-glo synths, a bubbling bassline and guitar licks that surely received the Prince seal of approval. It’s another example of how Vaughan Mason and Butch Dayo flirt with perfection so routinely. The most majestic closer, the kaleidoscopic, cow-bell-assisted synth-funk heater “You Can Do It” is a proto-rap groover that truly smokes.
This prized LP is a stone cold jam and finding original copies on vinyl at affordable prices has been tough for years. Mastered brilliantly by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and with lovingly reproduced artwork, this fresh Be With reissue ensures this legendary LP now sounds, looks and feels as sensational as it should.
Mit FATHERS präsentiert sich ein außergewöhnliches neues Kollektiv aus Produzent Kenny Beats, Keyboarder Kiefer, Bassist CARRTOONS und Drummer Nate Smith. Auf ihrem selbstbetitelten Blue-NoteDebüt verbinden sie die Offenheit des Jazz mit Hip-Hop, Funk, Soul und elektronischen Einflüssen zu einem
ebenso virtuosen wie zugänglichen Sound. Entstanden aus einer Zusammenarbeit beim Montreal Jazz Festival 2023 und weiterentwickelt auf gemeinsamen Tourneen durch die USA und Japan, lebt FATHERS
von der kreativen Chemie seiner Mitglieder. Das Ergebnis sind acht Songs voller präziser Grooves, starker
Melodien und geschmackvoller Arrangements, die musikalische Raffnesse mit unmittelbarer Zugänglichkeit
verbinden.
Since launching two years ago, Craig White has used the Mister Bear label as a vehicle for quality, musically expansive deep house from a handful of established artists. Chief among these is Chicago great Vick Lavender, who here once more joins forces with trusted multi-instrumentalist Justin Dillard (and on side B, Will Jackson) for a pair of cuts fronted by honeyed vocalist Brian 'Smokey' Williams. A-side 'Experimental' is particularly special, with Williams seemingly improvising atop a chunky, bass-heavy organic house groove marked out by funky Clavinet licks, Ron Trent style percussion, spacey synths and rich organ chords. The collective goes deeper, smoother and even more intricate on flip-side 'Love Times', which is presented in both full vocal and instrumental forms.
Now marking eight years in the underground, Blur Records delivers a various artist collection that reflects its sound across always floor-facing cuts across a house and disco spectrum tinged with retro flair. 'Back To The Disco' by Hotmood opens with big loops and a hands in the air grove that is high on funky-disco vibes, while Delfonic keeps things tight on 'Let's Do The Magic' which centres a vocal hook and busy chords. Elsewhere, Crackazat's sultry rework of Scruscru's 'Just House' adds a jazz-leaning touch and 'Touch Me' shifts into a more restrained, late-night mood. Closing with the deep, plump drums of Sven Wegner's sexy, sax-laced 'Chuck The Boom', the collection stays consistently accessible and groovy throughout.