Search:g men

This EP aims to positively boost your subconscious thoughts while your body is captured by ravey energy. You wanna loose your skin and become a Mental Mamba? Than you should sometimes mirror your thoughts, and not only your body...

DJ Tjizza’s latest inception has been crafted to positively boost your subconscious state, whilst your body is captured by ravey energy

2026 Repress


The overexcited young men at the Droid factory up the beats per minute and channel the spirit of other sensible chaps a la John Belushi, River Phoenix and John 'I chose the best exit' Entwhistle on our latest audio laboratory assault. Less terminal, with careful use, perhaps, than a fat fully loaded speedball, we hope man and beast find some musical justice or bemusement in the latest hoedown on offer. We have various takes at various tempos, so bar mitzvah's, weddings and indeed acid house events should be covered for those game enough to get on the Droid bucking bronco....

Enjoy the relaxing, meditative sound of Droid !

Cindytalk has remained a majestic proposition over the decades, one marked by a continued process of disintegration and regeneration. Change has been a constant for Cindytalk, as has been the presence of the Scottish musician Cinder, who has fronted the project since the early '80s. The first Cindytalk albums embraced a dark theatricality of post-punk dissonance and abject rock deconstruction that coupled industrial dirges with Cinder's beatific vocals, these same vocals that were once plied to the earliest This Mortal Coil and Cocteau Twins recordings,forever binding Cinder to the 4AD lore. But even on those albums, Camouflage Heart and In This World, Cinder was pushing the band to embrace the studio as a tool for further abstraction of sodden drones, cobwebbed dark elegance, and decayed textures.

By the early aughts, Cinder had reimagined Cindytalk through the granular processes of digitalia with a handful of equally celebrated works of glitch-born expressionism for Editions Mego. Cinder explains that "those elements were growing roots under our sound and had started to organically change the shape of what we were doing. The fucked-up rock music was in retreat and the electro-acoustic abstractions were becoming apparent. Fast forward to the early part of the 21st Century and my first laptop. It seemed natural where I needed to begin that part of my new sonic journey. To further explore those and new territories. Sunset and Forever is intrinsically connected to what came before."

Sunset and Forever is a labyrinthine opus, one that returns to the themes of the sacred and profane that have rippled through all of Cindytalk's recordings, albeit in various guises. The opening track "Embers of Last Leaves" is a haunted piece of undulated, cyclical tones that entwine into a sorrowful chorale with Cinder's own voice. Thumps of electronic drum kicks and bass drops dot the apocalyptic menace of "Tower of the Sun" but serve not as a rhythmic grid, but as painterly noises that further disrupt and disturb the machined dissonance. A cinematic radioluminescence blooms from the tempered electronics within "For Those Eyes, Shadows Of Flowers." The finale "I See Her in Everywhere" bookends the opening number with a seemingly human chorus build from electronic tones cast in cathedral reverence. Sounds throughout may appear adjacent to those of Fennesz, Holly Herndon, or even Lovesliescrushing from time to time, but Sunset and Forever remains purely Cindytalk.

Cover designed by Chris Bigg, known for his iconic design work for 4AD. Mastered by James Plotkin.

For the 23rd entry in our ICONYC catalogue, we welcome rising Swedish star Fahlberg and his collaborative single with German maestro Paul Brenning, ‘Show Me’. Amped by reworks and edits by Hunter/Game, BAILE, and KEVSKI, our latest delivery is a monumental EP that is bound to awe and inspire in equal measure.

Hinting at something emotionally gripping from the onset, the original version of ‘Show Me’ unfurls over a tight frame as a synthetic bed surges to the front before Fahlberg deploys a thundering bassline. Slowly, we start to sway, making our way to a break in the cloud while Brenning’s ever-alluring vocals glide over the piece in a spectral presence, immersing us deeper into the narrative, as crisp arpeggios make their way through brass swells and backing chords. Blissful, yet exciting at every turn, ‘Show Me’ is a dazzling collaboration that invites us to revel in the possibility of a new, warmer dawn.

Taking ‘Show Me’ in a slightly darker direction, Hunter/Game presents us with their own interpretation, an introspective juggernaut that is constantly evolving as it walks the tightrope between light and shadows like only this acclaimed duo can.

Adding a new layer of depth to this package, BAILE gifts us a wondrous remix that fragments ‘Show Me’ in a different light. Employing broken beats and lush, evocative moments, this softer twist is a mesmerizing creation bound to wash the pain away.

Completing this aural gem that is ‘Show Me’, avant-garde electronic-classical duo KEVSKI unveils an exquisite masterpiece, deconstructing the original skyscraper into a sublime menagerie of textures and melodic flourishes that blossom somewhere between melancholy and hope.

"At Your Pace" is the second full-length album from Berlin-based duo Modha - drummer/producer Dhanya Langer and multi-instrumentalist Max Scholl. Following their acclaimed 2023 debut "Through The Cycle", which tackled mental health and vulnerability through soulful, genre-blurring compositions, "At Your Pace" doubles down on their signature approach: raw textures, emotional honesty, and deep collaboration.

Based in Rennes and founder of the Vives label in 2020, Weever has been exploring the interplay of light and shadow for over 10 years, crafting abstract soundscapes and textured sonic tunnels of unparalleled musical breadth. He elegantly blends industrial and baroque sounds to construct sonic cathedrals. His music is both utterly raw and meticulously crafted.

L’âge de la Galère :

started this EP in 2020. At the time, I had just finished my studies, it was a pretty difficult period and I had made a track, or rather a melody, that I thought was amazing. I held onto it all these years without ever releasing it. 2020 was a tough year overall. The big question was: What am I going to do with my life? Hence the title L’âge de la Galère

The title really started to make sense when I began putting tracks together for Micheal. Around that time, I was reading Those of 1914 by Maurice Genevoix. For those who don’t know it: it’s written as a journal and tells the story of the author and his fellow soldiers in the trenches during World War I.

I’ve always been passionate about the two World Wars, I watch every film, old and new, I listen to the soundtracks, and so on. Same with period films, especially medieval ones. I love drawing inspiration from them.

So naturally, I imagine and create around that. It comes easily because it’s always been my universe. And when I make music, those kinds of images inevitably come out, even subconsciously.

So I created and told an audio story through my 6 tracks.

“It’s 1914. The story of many men who, upon hearing the sound of the bells, are met with the announcement of a war like no other. Most of them are young, some very young, and they are drafted into the French and German armies. They have no military experience, and the first battles are so violent that many won’t make it back. Very few will earn the glory they deserve.

The conditions are appalling, everything is in short supply, and the men are exhausted. Still, they must hold on.
Leaving carelessly from beneath their mothers’ skirts, too few returned. Many were left traumatized, and an entire generation was forever changed.”

Specific Objects debuts on Life In Patterns with Helios, a powerful 6-track EP shaped by the pressures, ambitions, and contradictions that define creative work in a hyper-competitive society. The record explores the perpetual pursuit of success - an ever-distant horizon that inspires as much as it consumes.

Named after the sun, Helios symbolizes the personal goals we orient ourselves toward: radiant and motivating, yet capable of overwhelming those who chase them too closely. The EP was written during a period of intense reflection on performance culture, "hustle" mentality, and the rat race of late capitalism - an environment amplified by constant comparison on social media.

Helios is both a celebration and critique of ambition - a techno journey through the heat, pressure, and brilliance of striving. It is scheduled to release on February 6, 2026 on both digital and vinyl formats.

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.

Emily Wittbrodt's "Wearing Words" is a cycle of ten instrumentals and songs for harpsichord, cello, drums, clarinet, accordion and tenor. With precision, humor and grace, Wittbrodt translates a baroque sensibility into pop terrain, combining her fascination for language and poetry with her love for unusual instrumentation and classical forms.

Acid Up Dub is Acid Up Dub. There is nothing mutch more to say than respect.

Ohio's O'Jays were a hugely popular part of Philadelphia's PIR stable throughout the 1970's and 80's.
They cut numerous sides for the label aided by the incredible production and arrangements of the infamous Gamble and Huff hit machine.

This special 4 track EP includes some of the absolute evergreen, stellar and downright soulful tracks they are most known for. It's all here. Influential, uplifting, inspiring and soulful music that will touch everyone. From the string laden and lush extended proto Disco joy of 1975's 'I Love Music', to the deep and soulful Philly stylings of 'Back Stabbers', 'Message In Our Music' & 'My Favourite Person', all of the music contained within this amazing collection is utterly essential if you dig Soul, Funk, Disco, Gospel and even House music. This is it. The real deal. These are some of the roots of contemporary dance music, the building blocks. On top of that, it's simply great music, a solid and essential addition to any record collection from one of the greatest vocal groups of the era, not to mention the world calls production, arrangement & execution from the legendary Gamble & Huff. A real no brainer this one.....

This is a fully legit reissue, made in conjunction with Above Board distribution and Sony music, sourced from their vaults using original source material and remastered and repressed to the highest standard for 2018 and featuring all original PIR label artwork.

Here's your chance to own yet another essential stone cold classic from the archives!

Smith war ursprünglich Sänger bei Good Times in der Andy Williams Show im Jahr 1963.
Die Aufnahmen entstanden zwischen 1967 und 1972 und wurden vom Künstler selbst auf der Straße verkauft.
Die Neuauflage wurde von Smiths Bruder Gary und dem Autor Mike Stax zusammengestellt, der Herausgeber des Ugly Things Magazine und Verfasser des Buches „Swim Through the Darkness: My Search for Craig Smith and the Mystery of Maitreya Kali“ ist Smiths Geschichte von seinen bescheidenen Anfängen bis zu seinem tragischen Tod umfassend erzählt.

Seit einer einmaligen Pressung im Jahr 2019 vergriffen.

Für Fans von Rodriguez.

LP1 weiß mit schwarzem Marmor & LP 2 transparent orange mit schwarzem Marmor (Inca), plus Bonus-7„-Single in Schwarz

The mysterious artist behind the alias Your Ex returns after a self-released EP in 2025 and a deep house killer 7-inch on Scruniversal Records in 2023. Now joining Vibes And Pepper Records, Your Ex opens 2026 with a five-track EP that channels a European twist on Chicago deep house—warm basslines, soulful chords, and hypnotic percussion layered with emotional depth and a timeless groove. Drawing inspiration from Jazz, Funk, Fusion, Library Music, Dub, and “out there” Electronic sounds, Your Exalso draws deeply from the foundational vibrations of Chicago and Detroit. These influences flow through every track—lush harmonies, intricate rhythms, and raw analog textures that bridge eras and styles. Staying true to an elusive identity, Your Ex lets the music speak: smoky late-night grooves, dusty hardware tones, and an undeniable sense of movement that nods to the roots while pushing forward. With Vibes And Pepper, the artist continues to blur the line between mystery and motion—a perfect start to the new year for those who still believe in the deep.

Following the success of his recent releases, Mendekua and Electro Bloody Music, Barro’s honcho Nöle demonstrates that he is at one of his creative peaks with this new four-track EP.

The fortunate owners of reference number thirteen will not only take home a substantial slice of vinyl but also a powerful teleportation device that will instantly send them to the dance floor. Demencial chico acelerado features four tracks of techno infused with elements of industrial and EBM, as dark as it gets.

The EP kicks off with the enigmatic “IDDDQD,” a complex industrial techno track packed with sharp synths, devastating basslines, and an incredible punch.

“Lemmy Dust” comes next showing no mercy from the moment that the powerful kick hits, captivating you with its hypnotic sound and not letting go until you’re exhausted.

Cinematic as its name suggests, “Xenomorph” is a claustrophobic industrial techno powerhouse, brimming with intense EBM nuances that are both unsettling and frenetic—perfect for dancing with your hair standing on end.

Last but not least, “Ghost Dancer,” is one of the most purely techno tracks, showcasing haunting synths mid-way through. It’s heavy material fit for the dance floor.

Without a doubt, this demencial accelerated kid knows exactly what he’s doing.

The above references have already been supported by artists such as Dave Clarke, Phase Fatale, The Hacker, Lokier, NX1, Unhuman, Alienata, Reka, and many more.

Text by : El Garaje de Frank

What can be said about Joey Beltram’s ‘Energy Flash’ that hasn’t be said already! The track still gets rinsed, week in, week out, across radio stations, clubs and festivals, testimony to the sheer importance of this techno classic.

Released originally in 1990 on the R&S Records label, ‘Beltram Vol. 1’ included the aforementioned ‘Energy Flash’, alongside three equally ground-breaking dance tracks that possibly get overshadowed by the big lead track. But tracks like ‘Subsonic Bass’ broke the mould and went on to influence a raft of rave and drum ‘n’ bass tunes, thanks in part to its use of the now legendary ‘hoover’ bass sound. The sinister acid of ‘Jazz 3033’ still sounds as fresh today as it did 33 years ago, and the menacingly titled ‘Psycho Bass’ reveals the EP’s most passive moment, as its solid breakbeat cuts through ethereal tones and chugging synths.

‘Beltram Volume 1’ has been remastered by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering, and the release comes in an updated sleeve, faithfully recreating the 1990 packaging.

‘Beltram Volume 1’ by Joey Beltram is available on R&S Records from 10th February 2023.

Ezekiel presents No More, a 4-track EP on 12-inch vinyl. We dive into a powerful journey filled with pounding drums that shake the room, subtle resonances, and hypnotic bells. Close your eyes and let yourself be carried away by the minimalist details woven into every beat--a dramatic sequence crafted for the perfect mental journey.

Autosimilar presents its second VA on vinyl - a deep exploration of the mind through four hypnotic techno cuts from leading artists Kaiser, A4, Pulso, and Vibrations of Gravity.

»Es ist wie die Essenz von SLEEP.« So beschreibt Max Richter Sleep Circle, die neue Veröffentlichung zum
zehnten Jubiläum seines bahnbrechenden Projekts SLEEP. Sleep Circle lädt ein zu einer 90-minütigen Reise
in eine andere Wirklichkeit – in jenes geheimnisvolle Zwischenreich zwischen Wachen und Schlafen, in dem
sich Träume formen.
Die 24 Tracks sind inspiriert von den Eindrücken und Einsichten, die Max Richter bei seinen Konzerten
einer gekürzten Version seines Opus Magnum gesammelt hat. Mit dieser intimeren und konzentrierteren
Gestaltung von SLEEP rückt das neue Album Stücke wie »Dream 11 / Moth-Like Stars« und »Non-Eternal«
in den Mittelpunkt und spannt einen musikalischen Bogen, in dem sich der natürliche 90-minütige REMZyklus spiegelt.
Aufgenommen im Studio Richter Mahr in Oxfordshire, zeigt Sleep Circle Max Richters einzigartige Fähigkeit,
tiefgreifende menschliche Erfahrungen in Musik zu übersetzen. Ein Raum öffnet sich, in dem das Innere
nachklingen darf.

Fantastisches Album mit 12 Liedern der Begena-Musiker Tafese Tesfaye, Admassu Fikre, Seyoum Mengistu und Alemu Aga. ""Die Begena ist eines jener seltenen Musikinstrumente, das seit über 5800 Jahren existiert. Faszinierend an ihr ist nicht nur ihr Alter, sondern auch die Tatsache, dass sich ihre Herstellung und ihr Verwendungszweck über all die Jahre hinweg nicht verändert haben. ... Während des Derg-Regimes, nach dem Sturz von Kaiser Haile Selassie, wurde sie nicht mehr als wichtig erachtet. ... Aber besonders in den letzten 15-16 Jahren hat es eine Renaissance erlebt. Es gibt viele, meist junge Begena-Spieler, von denen ich über 500 Schüler unterrichtet habe. Es gibt auch Begena-Bauer, die das Instrument für neue Schüler bauen. Das Interessante an diesem Instrument ist, dass die Musik, der Klang, der aus diesem Instrument kommt, die besondere Kraft hat, Menschen zur Konzentration, zur Ruhe und zum Nachdenken zu bewegen. Das ist eine besondere Qualität. Man muss kein Äthiopier sein, jeder kann es hören, es wird ihn automatisch zur Ruhe und Konzentration anregen."" – Alemu Aga (aus einem Interview mit Pit Budde für den WDR, Köln, 2008)

After three years of releasing singles and remixes across the electronic scene, Belaria makes a grand return to her label, Binding System, with a more introspective format: Dynamic State. A conceptual EP exploring the benefits of body movement on the mind, psyche, and emotional well-beng, it
unfolds through a two-sided narration where physical and mental energy gradually resurge. Balancing tension and release, control and liberation, Dynamic State translates movement into sound. This EP includes two powerful remixes: VEL delivers an ultra-textured, psychedelic reinterpretation, while Kendal transforms another track into a trance-infused, rave-ready floor-filler.

Coral Morphologic is the brainchild of Jared McKay and Colin Foord. A mending of minds, the arts, science, and the sea. Their lab in Miami lies close to the Florida Reef just offshore; the third largest coral barrier reef system in the world. This album composed by Jared echoes the voice of the reef. A reflection of its cosmic connection to our moon. A departure from the earth into deep space. We often wonder what intelligent life exists outside of our own aquatic world. Look and listen to the synchronous celestial satellites and the endless love song they sing. *features a foldout poster with album art by Robert Beatty

lim. 150 blue transparent 180 Gr LP + 7" + Poster / incl. Silent Servant Remix

A cross-cutting label exploring the boundaries between different disciplines based on deep listening and music research, Modern Obscure Music is set to release 'INRI' (INDUSTRIA NACIONAL DEL RUIDO INFINITO) on the 1st December, the new album from Dellarge.

Inspired by the scenic beauty of his studio's surroundings at Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacan, Mexico, Alejandro Barba, aka Dellarge, delves deep into the depths of his artistic consciousness to craft a spiritual album that encapsulates the essence of the place. 'INRI' stands for Industria Nacional del Ruido Infinito (National Industry of Infinite Noise) and serves as a vessel for Dellarge's innermost self-expression and reflections on the potential of humanity.

A multifaceted artist and veteran of the music industry for over two decades, his latest musical creation is an intimate and personal album and a departure from previous Techno/EBM-orientated Dellarge releases. 'INRI' (INDUSTRIA NACIONAL DEL RUIDO INFINITO) offers a mesmerizing blend of ambient, futuristic, and industrial sounds that transport listeners into a realm of mysticism, futurism, and duality and stands as a testament to Dellarge's artistic growth and his ability to transcend boundaries, offering listeners an immersive experience that connects them to his world.

Drawing inspiration from numerous sources, Dellarge found creative fuel in books such as 'El Arte de los Ruidos' by Luigi Russolo, 'Manifiestos y Textos Futuristas' by F.T. Marinetti, and science fiction classics including 'Congreso de Futurología' by Stanislaw Lem, 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson, and 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. Musically, he delved into the works of Coil, Michael Bundt, The Threshold Houseboys Choir, krautrock legends CAN and Popol Vuh, early Kraftwerk, Arthur Brown, Yello, Esquivel, The Residents, and Hector Lavoe for inspiration.

When asked about the creative process behind the album, Dellarge revealed a disciplined routine that involved immersing himself in the sounds, focusing on minute details that connected with the vivid world he envisioned. Ethereal tracks such as 'Viento Androide' and 'Viaje al Sol' offer a glimpse of a hopeful future, while darker compositions such as 'Corpus de Sangre' and 'Toro de Falaris', explore the wickedness and compassion within humanity. Each piece in the album represents a unique sonic journey.

'Viaje al Sol', the first single to be taken from the album, is set for release on the 27th October, and is also available as an EP which includes a remix from Juan Mendez aka Silent Servant. The remix is also included on the digital version of the album and available on 7" vinyl alongside an exclusive reworking of 'Cascabel' by the founder of Modern Obscure Music, Pedro Vian.

The Éthiopiques series returns! Essential archive recordings from an extremely fruitful period in Ethiopian music.

Before “Swinging Addis” took over the world, there was Moussié Nerses Nalbandian — the Armenian-born composer who shaped modern Ethiopian music. Mentor, arranger, and pioneer, he laid the foundations of Ethio-jazz.

This Éthiopiques volume revives his forgotten legacy, recorded live by Either/ Orchestra First issue ever with new exclusive photos and in depth liner 8-page insert.

“Ethiopian jazzmen are the best musicians that we have seen so far in Africa.
They really are promising handlers of jazz instruments.”

Wilbur De Paris
(1959, after a concert in Addis Ababa)

አዲስ፡ዘመን። *Addis zèmèn* **A new era.**
The time is the mid-1950s and early 1960s, just before "Swinging Addis" bloomed – or rather boomed – onto the scene. Brass instruments are still dominant, but the advent of the electric guitar, and the very first electronic organs, are just around the corner. Rock’n'Roll, R’n’B, Soul and the Twist have not yet barged their way in. Addis Ababa is steeped in the big band atmosphere of the post-war era, with Glenn Miller's *In the* *Mood* as its world-wide theme song, neck and neck with the Latin craze that was in vogue at the same period. Life has become enjoyable once again, with the return of peace after the terrible Italian Fascist invasion of Ethiopia (1935-1941). The redeployment of modern music is part and parcel of the postwar reconstruction. *Addis zèmèn* – a new era – is the watchword of the postwar period, just as it was all across war-torn Europe.
The generation who were the young parents of baby boomers** were the first to enjoy this musical renaissance, before the baby boomers themselves took over and forever super-charged the soundtrack of the final days of imperial reign. Music is Ethiopia's most popular art form, and very often serves as the best barometer for the upsurge of energy that is critical for reconstruction. Whether it be jazz in Saint-Germain-des-Prés or the *zazous* who revolutionised both jazz and French *chanson* after the *Libération*, be it Madrid's post-Franco Movida, or Dada, the Surrealists and *les années folles* that followed World War I, the periods just after mourning and hardship always give rise to brighter and more tuneful tomorrows. Addis Ababa, as the country's capital, and the epicentre of change, was no exception to this vital rule.

**Two generations of Nalbandian musicians**
Nersès Nalbandian belonged to a family of Armenian exiles, who had moved to Ethiopia in the mid-1920s. The uncle Kevork arrived along with the fabled "*Arba Lidjotch*", the** "*40 Kids*", young Armenian orphans and musicians that the Ras Tafari had recruited when he visited Jerusalem in 1924, intending to turn their brass band into the official imperial band. If Kevork Nalbandian was the one who first opened the way of modernism, pushing innovation so far as to invent musical theatre, it was his nephew Nersès who would go on to become, from the 1940s and until his death in 1977, a pivotal figure of modern Ethiopian music and of the heights it. Going all the way back to the 1950s. Nothing less. And it is Nersès who is largely to thank for the brassy colours that so greatly contributed to the international renown of Ethiopian groove. While the younger generations today venture timidly into the genealogy of their country's modern music, often losing their way amidst a distinctly xenophobic historiographical complacency, many survivors of the imperial period are still around to bear witness and pay tribute to the essential role that "Moussié Nersès" played in the rise of Abyssinia's musical modernity.
Given the year of his birth (15 March 1915), no one knows for sure if Nersès Nalbandian was born in Aintab, today Gaziantep (Turkiye/former Ottoman Empire) or on the other side of the border in Alep, Syria... What is certain is that his family, like the entire Armenian community, was amongst the victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Turks. Alep, the place of safety – today in ruins.
Before Nersès then, there was uncle Kevork (1887-1963). For a quarter of a century, he was a whirlwind of activity in music teaching and theatrical innovation. *Guèbrè Mariam le Gondaré* (የጎንደሬ ገብረ ማርያም አጥቶ ማግኘት, 1926 EC=1934) is his most famous creation. This play included "ten Ethiopian songs" — a totally innovative approach. According to his autobiographical notes, preserved by the Nalbandian family, Kevork indicates that he composed some 50 such pieces over the course of his career. This shows just how much he understood, very early on, the critical importance of song as Ethiopia's crowning artistic form. Indeed, for Ethiopian listeners, the most important thing is the lyrics, with all their multifarious mischief, far more than a strong melody, sophisticated arrangements or even an exceptional voice. (This is also why Ethiopians by and large, and beginning with the artists and producers themselves, believed for a long time — and wrongly — that their music could not possibly be exported, and could never win over audiences abroad, who did not speak the country's languages).

Last but not least, one of Kevork's major contributions remains composing Ethiopia's first national anthem – with lyrics by Yoftahé Negussié.
Nersès Nalbandian moved to Ethiopia at the end of the 1930s, at the behest of his ground-breaking uncle. Proficient in many instruments (pretty much everything but the drums), conductor, choir director, composer, arranger, adapter, creator, piano tuner, purveyor of rented pianos,... he was above all an energetic and influential teacher. From 1946 onwards, thanks to Kevork's connexion, Nersès was appointed musical director of the Addis Ababa Municipality Band. In just a few years, Nersès transformed it into the first truly modern ensemble, thanks to the quality of his teaching, his choice of repertoire, and the sophistication of his arrangements. It was this group that would go on to become the orchestra of the Haile Selassie Theatre shortly after its inauguration in 1955, which was a major celebration of the Emperor's jubilee, marking the 25th anniversary of his on-again-off-again reign.

At some point or other in his long career, Nersès Nalbandian had a hand in the creation of just about every institutional band (Municipality Band, Police Orchestra, Imperial Bodyguard Band, Army Band, Yared Music School…), but it was with the Haile Selassie Theatre – today the National Theatre – that his abilities were most on display, up until his death in 1977. To this must be added the development of choral singing in Ethiopia, hitherto unknown, and a sort of secret garden dedicated to the memory of Armenian sacred music, and brought together in two thick, unpublished volumes. Shortly before his death (November 13, 1977), he was appointed to lead the impressive Ethiopian delegation at Festac in Lagos, Nigeria (January-February 1977).

His status as a stateless foreigner regularly excluded him from the most senior positions, in spite of the respect he commanded (and commands to this day) from the musicians of his era. Naturally gifted and largely self-taught, Nerses was tirelessly curious about new musical developments, drawing inspiration from the very first imported records, and especially from listening intensely to the musical programmes broadcast over short-wave radio – BBC *First*. A prolific composer and arranger, he was constantly mindful of formalising and integrating Ethiopian parameters (specific “musical modes”, pentatonic scale, and the dominance of ternary rhythms) into his “modernisation” of the musical culture, rather than trying to over-westernise it. It even seems very probable that *Moussié* Nerses made a decisive contribution to the development of tighter music-teaching methods, in order to revitalise musical education during this period of prodigious cultural ferment. Flying in the face of all the historiographical and musicological evidence, it is taken as sacrosanct dogma that the four musical modes or chords officially recognised today, the *qǝñǝt* or *qiñit* (ቅኝት), are every bit as millennial as Ethiopia itself. It would appear however that some streamlining of these chords actually took place in around 1960. It was only from this time onward that music teaching was structured around these four fundamental musical modes and chords: *Ambassel*, *Bati*, *Tezeta* and *Antchi Hoyé*. A historical and musical “details” that is, apparently, difficult to swallow, especially if that should honour a *foreigner*. Modern Ethiopian music has Nersès to thank for many of its standards and, to this day, it is not unusual for the National Radio to broadcast thunderous oldies that bear unmistakable traces of his outrageously groovy touch.

Bangalore-based producer Chaz (IN) makes a striking debut on KUJE002 with Soul Contract, a four-track EP that marks a shift from his industrial roots into mental techno with a driving edge. These tracks aren't just meant to be heard; they're body music, built to be felt as much as listened to.
The EP opens with Hardwired, a percussion-heavy trip that builds tension through progressive hihat patterns, bleeps, and raw energy. Sling Hook follows with a composition that's both driving and mind-bending.
On the B-side, Wiggle Room taps into an almost animalistic dimension; a jungle of percussive textures that breathe, shift, and pull you in. The record closes with Retroactive, where shimmering synths and ghostly, wailing tones sketch out a post-human vision of Bangalore.
Soul Contract is mental techno with a pulse, designed to inhabit your body while captivating your mind.

Sylvan Esso ist eine Band aus Durham, North Carolina. Im Laufe ihrer Karriere haben Amelia Meath und Nick Sanborn vier hochgelobte Alben veröffentlicht, wurden für zwei GRAMMYs nominiert und haben mit einer breiten, vielseitigen Gemeinschaft von Künstlern zusammengearbeitet, darunter Arooj Aftab, Maggie Rogers, Tyler Childers, Reyna Tropical, Califone und viele weitere. ,WDID" ist die erste neue Musik der Band seit 2022. Der Track sowie seine hypnotische, wellenförmige B-Seite ,KEEP ON" entstanden beide aus einer intensiven Phase des Schaffens und Experimentierens der Band. Meath und Sanborn haben das letzte Jahr damit verbracht, mit einer Reihe neuer Mitwirkender an neuem Material zu arbeiten und ohne Zeitdruck in den üppigen Wäldern von Chapel Hill, North Carolina, aufzunehmen. Der Song ist auch der erste, den Sylvan Esso über ihr eigenes Plattenlabel Psychic Hotline veröffentlichen. ,WDID" ist ein komplexer, eindringlicher Track; ein manisches Summen, das sich irgendwo zwischen einem Doom-Scroll um 3 Uhr morgens und der Tanzfläche abspielt. Er sprudelt vor Angst, einer alles verschlingenden, endlosen Kaskade von Krisen. Der ausgefallene, elektrisierende Pop der Band hat sich schon immer aus einem zentralen Spannungsfeld entwickelt - Meath und Sanborn scherzen schon lange, dass das Songwriting von Sylvan Esso aus einem Streit entsteht, einem Hin und Her der Möglichkeiten. Das Songwriting hier - und in der neuen Musik im Allgemeinen - ist locker und verletzlich, eine disparate Collage, die mit Klebeband zusammengehalten wird und etwas hervorbringt, das letztlich sowohl magisch als auch seltsam ist, ein dyspnoischer, schattenhafter Sound, der die Menschen an der Spitze von Sylvan Esso mit einer neuen Unmittelbarkeit zeigt. ,WDID" wurde in Betty's, dem Studio von Sylvan Esso in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, aufgenommen und wurde zusätzlich von Jake Luppen (Hippo Campus, Samia) produziert. ,KEEP ON" entstand aus einer Woche Improvisation mit dem Bassisten Daniel Aged (Frank Ocean, Dijon) und dem Schlagzeuger TJ Maiani (Weyes Blood, Neneh Cherry). Diese limitierte 12"-Single verfügt über eine speziell angefertigte, ausgestanzte Hülle, die als Malvorlage verwendet werden kann.

Sechs Tracks. Zwei Seiten. Ein Gefühl

Manche sagen, diese EP sei wie eine Reise durch das Universum.
Andere sagen, sie ist einfach nur geil produziert.
Und dann gibt’s noch uns, REEEF, und wir sagen: Warum nicht beides?

Die „Universe EP“ ist der Beweis, dass Melodic Techno nicht nur tief und emotional sein kann, sondern auch richtig gut sitzt – wie dein Lieblings-Hoodie nach drei Tagen Festival.



Wir haben alles reingepackt:

Universe: Der Titeltrack. Ein epischer Opener, der mehr Stimmung macht als dein Barista mit Burnout.

Humanity: Technofrontalangriff mit Betonwänden – für alle, die es ernst meinen mit dem Raven.

Never Say Never: Melancholie auf House-Basis. Für den Moment, in dem du denkst: „Vielleicht bleib ich doch noch bis Montag.“

Daydreams: Der Track für 6:42 Uhr, wenn draußen der Nebel aufzieht und du kurz überlegst, ob das Leben nicht doch ein Musikvideo ist.

Bumblebee: Direkt im Ohr, klebt wie Honig im Hirn – nur eben clubtauglich.

Kryptonite: Der große Absch(l)uss. Melodic House mit Pop-Einschlag – emotional, energetisch, kein guilty pleasure, sondern einfach pleasure.



Für DJs. Für Hörer. Für Menschen mit Geschmack und funktionierendem Basssystem.

Auf 12” Vinyl gepresst, liebevoll angeordnet, Spielzeit optimiert – so wie Oma früher die Tupperdosen im Schrank. Nur mit mehr Kickdrum.



Fazit: Diese EP braucht keine Hype-Formulierungen. Die Tracks sprechen für sich. Und wenn nicht, übernehmen wir das Mikrofon – laut, tanzbar und mit einem leichten Hang zur Selbstüberschätzung.



REEEF – Universe EP! Jetzt überall, wo es gute Musik gibt. Und bald auch bei dir im Plattenkoffer.

First album of French band La Femme released in 2013 with which they won Best New Band of the year at the French Music Awards and god certified gold. It marked also the beginning of their international recognition, confirmed since with their 2nd album Mystère in 2016 and their brand new album Paradigmes today. Includes the hits Sur La Planche, It's Time to Wake Up and Antitaxi! La Femmes's debut LP, is a mix of surf revival, updated cold wave (in a similar vein to countryman Lescop), 1960s yéyé and psychedelia. "Psycho Tropical Berlin: is apparently also their self-penned genre, they have also said "strange wave, new Motown, witch wave, silly mental wave"... whatever, aach term makes for a pillar to describe their music. Psycho Tropical Berlin is the story of a couple who slipped into chaos and survives by watching each other. Le Danger est partout - Peril is all around - as written in the booklet. Rock and pop, rococo bauhaus, fed from multiples influences (Krafwerk, Elli & Jacno). La Femme just want to please you. Generous and welcoming, she stretches you her white hand in the dark, if you grasp it, it could be the shiver of your life.

SPHERART Records returns with its ART series and a brand new Various Artists release "A TODO RITMO 002" a true piece of art featuring six atomic bombs designed to accompany every selector on their hypnotic journey.

ART002 brings together an exceptional lineup of talents including Andy Somoza, Aka Juanjo, Shkedul, JPG, Ffrvnco and Marino. Each track carries a pure essence, guiding you through a hypnotic and progressive voyage across electro Dracula, acid grooves, and 90s inspired techno percussion.

Ambroos De Schepper and Pepijn Gyssels became roommates when PiP moved to Brussels in 2021. Both paid close attention to each other’s musical approach and interests. One year later, Ambroos moved out. When he swung by to pick up some boxes, they decided to record something for the fun of it. Between May '23 and November '24 they continued experimenting with textures and improvisations. This collaboration has become the deepening of a friendship and a way to maintain it at the same time.

PiP: “We would have coffee or the occasional beer and everything we recorded came very organically. Ambroos would just bring his saxophone, a clarinet, some FX pedals or a weird flute. Whatever he felt like on that particular day. A few hours later he would usually be on his way again, leaving me with the recordings. I could treat them as I pleased.”

Ambroos: “I liked the idea of working with someone focussing on the physical side of music. Not so much on chords and tonality, but on texture and atmosphere. This gave me a framework with less concrete references, using words like “dark” or “busy”. I could improvise freely and we would try and catch a particular moment."

“l’Esprit de l’Escalier” is meant to be a musical meditation, opening up a continuous and detailed sound palette, aimed for the right mental state to listen with. Ambroos came up with the melody in COVID times and later in PiP’s studio, they recorded it on clarinet.
“Sans Loup” is the first jam the duo did together, after Ambroos and Lou moved out of the apartment they shared. Lou Wéry eventually found her way back to the album, as she can be heard playing the wing piano in this track.

PiP: “We recorded in the apartment we used to rent together. Since the title track and the entire album are named after Lou being absent in this dynamic, it seemed only natural to invite her in a later stage.”

“Spring Whistle” was an attempt to embed Ambroos’ musicality in dreamy textures and “Bring Back Bones” was built around an endlessly evolving krakeb recording that PiP took home from on a trip to Morocco. Both tracks are not aimed to end or evolve drastically, they just make the clock tick slower.

To conclude this release, “Velours de Tendre” is built out of a deconstructed groove and a field recording of the “Ronde van Vlaanderen”, a small reference to the countryside where PiP grew up. The reverberating chords you hear are the echoes Tijn Driessen squeezed out of an old harmonium, in a staircase of De Grote Post in Ostend.

PiP: “During a residency in De Grote Post we recorded in a staircase with a spaced pair of omni microphones. And you can take ‘spaced’ quite serious; one was positioned 5 stories higher and the other 3 stories lower.”

Sans Loup is the first vinyl to release on PiP’s label. They look alike, but none will be identical. The cover is screen printed in various combinations + a risograph insert. A highly personalized object.


credits

Released on Zitstill Records
Recorded in Brussels, Horebeke, Morocco and elsewhere, between September 2021 - November 2024

Music, mixing and production by Pepijn Gyssels
Saxophone, flute and clarinet by Ambroos De Schepper
Grand piano on “Sans Loup” by Lou Wéry
Harmonium on “Velours de Tendre” by Tijn Driessen
Mastering and lacquer cut by Anne Taegert at Dubplates & Mastering
Pressing by Objects Manufacturing
Layout and graphic design by Liselotte Van Daele & Otis Verhoeve
Photography by Willem Mevis

Special thanks to: Stijn Cools, Victor De Greef, De Grote Post

On the heels of their breakout earlier this year, the enigmatic duo Soundboy Dead step up for their first release on Dub-Stuy with Soundclash Story, a fierce tribute to the art of clashing featuring UK veteran Don Cotti.

The title track captures the heat of the dance, Cotti at the mic delivering a vivid tale of dubplate warfare over a menacing steppers riddim built for the battlefield. On the flip, Soundclash Dub pushes the pressure even deeper, with a stripped down, FX-laden version that will test the heaviest rigs.

With Soundclash Story, Soundboy Dead continue their mission of crafting uncompromising bass music rooted in sound system culture. Pure energy. No gimmicks.

After the resounding success of its first edition, the legendary Lagoa club, temple of techno and hard techno in Menin, strikes back with LAGOA TRAX Vol. 2, a second vinyl release that promises to shake dancefloors with four explosive tracks crafted by the club’s emblematic resident DJs: DJ HS, Manu Kenton, Jamie Dill, and Max Walder.

Faithful to the spirit of Lagoa, these four pillars of the club deliver a new collection of powerful productions, raw, energetic, and forged for peak-time moments. Each track embodies the unmistakable sound that has made Lagoa’s nights legendary: relentless rhythms, hypnotic synths, and an intensity that ignites the crowd from the first beat.

Already tested and approved on Lagoa’s iconic dancefloor, these tracks have quickly become essential weapons in the sets of the club’s residents. LAGOA TRAX Vol. 2 is much more than a collector’s item, it’s a pure concentrate of the club’s energy, a sonic tribute to its unique atmosphere, and a must-have for all lovers of techno.

Français

Après le succès retentissant du premier volume, le légendaire club Lagoa, temple de la techno et hard techno à Menin, revient en force avec LAGOA TRAX Vol. 2, un second vinyle explosif qui réunit quatre morceaux inédits signés par les résidents emblématiques du club : DJ HS, Manu Kenton, Jamie Dill et Max Walder.

Fidèles à l’esprit Lagoa, ces quatre figures incontournables livrent ici une série de productions puissantes, taillées pour le dancefloor. Des rythmiques percutantes, des montées hypnotiques et une intensité sans concession : chaque titre capture l’énergie brute et la signature sonore unique qui font la réputation des nuits Lagoa depuis plus de trois décennies.

Déjà testés et approuvés sur le système légendaire du club, ces quatre tracks sont de véritables bombes, prêtes à retourner n’importe quel dancefloor. LAGOA TRAX Vol. 2 s’impose ainsi comme bien plus qu’un simple vinyle : c’est une immersion totale dans l’âme du club, une déclaration d’amour à la techno, et un objet de collection pour tous les passionnés.

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

Sciahri and his label Sublunar are proud to present the second chapter of the "Veil of Echoes" project, a continuation of a journey that connects emerging and established artists from the label.
Following the vision introduced in the first volume, this release unveils a new dimension of techno and electronic music, merging timeless roots with forward-thinking sound design.

The trip begins with "Voltages" by Cirkle, a sharp and direct cut built for the floor, followed by "Tides" by Red Rooms, an hypnotic journey driven by an entrancing vocal hook.
"Phonolith" by Border One brings a mental and groovy touch, while "Basic Instinct" by Hemka stands out for its captivating arrangement and refined sound design.
The first record closes with "Your Hands Forget Their Shapes" by Hadone, a truly memorable track destined to stand the test of time.

The second record opens with "The Radius" by Temudo, one of his most acclaimed digital tracks now available for the first time on vinyl, followed by "Etched" by Hurdslenk, a powerful and driving piece of precision techno.
Next comes "Nardo" by Pierre, a modern, groove-heavy weapon with a distinctive sound identity, and "Serpents" by Ketch & Alessio Landini, a hypnotic and tribal tool for any moment of the set.
Closing the journey, "Zone 0" by Danya delivers a mystical and immersive ending that transports the listener into another dimension.

With "Veil of Echoes II," Sublunar presents a visionary collection that captures the essence of techno and electronic music, bridging its past influences with the sound of the future.

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

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

In 1978 a newly formed Augusta, Georgia group Marshall, Donovan and Broomfield chose to record cover versions of two songs previously recorded in 1973 and 1974 respectively by Florida siblings group Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose. These Eddie Cornelius penned songs “Let me Down Easy” and “Since I Found My Baby” would form both sides of Marshall, Donovan and Broomfield’s first 45 single, released on group founder John Marshall’s own Augusta label. The flipside “Since I Found My Baby” would eventually gain popularity across the pond with aficionados of the UK modern soul scene of the early 1980’s and beyond.

John Marshall began his musical career in a high school group called The Fabulous Gardenias who recorded the doowop ballad “It’s You, You, You” backed with the up-tempo R n B mover “What’s The Matter With Me” released on Tommy Brown’s local Liz label (named after his wife future Motown recording artist, Liz Lands) in 1961.The Fabulous Gardenias featured John Marshall, the late Atlanta alumni Calvin Arnold, “Little” Joe Jones Jr (later of the Tams) and a fourth guy only remembered as Harold. John Marshall later sang with another Atlanta group The Tams of “Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me” fame from 1970 through to 1978.

Later in 1978, John Marshall having relocated to Augusta, GA the previous year was casually emptying the contents of his mailbox outside his home when a car suddenly pulled up. The driver called out “Hey I recognize you, you’re John Marshall you used to be with the Tams!” The driver continued to introduce himself as John Donovan stating that he too was a singer, followed by an impromptu performance, and hey! sure enough he could sing! A later introduction to Charles Broomfield (John Marshall’s next-door neighbour at that time) would lead to the formation of the group Marshall, Donovan, Broomfield with the addition of Mary Marshall and Pat Donavan (the then, two John’s respective wives) as backing vocalists. The previously mentioned group’s first release the John Donovan led “Let Me Down Easy/Since I Found My Baby” was recorded at the now defunct Jam Studio’s in Atlanta. Upon release, the “Let Me Down Easy “side received considerable local radio play but only led to the group performing a handful of local shows. On the strength of the group’s first release a second 45 release followed in 1980 “Let’s Dance/That’s Love” both sides of this 45 were penned by Charlston, South Carolina native, Harold Thomas who John Marshall knew from his time with the Tams, Thomas having once been part of Bill Pinkney &the Original Drifters and later the Tams management teams. This second 45 never gained the same local attention of “Let Me Down Easy” and after three years together the Marshall’s, Donovan’s and Charles Broomfield went their separate ways. John Marshall lost contact altogether with his former group members and left the music business taking up employment at International Paper Mill until his retirement in 2013.

Due to the current resurgence in popularity of “Since I Found My Baby” with copies regularly selling for four figure sums, Soul Junction have reacquainted ourselves with John Marshall to you bring you “Since I Found My Baby” backed with “Let Me Down Easy” with the addition of the excellent and lesser, known stepper “That’ Love” making this an excellent value 45 release.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Das Werk von JJJJJerome Ellis bewegt sich mühelos zwischen Stille und Möglichkeiten. Der schwarze, behinderte Künstler mit grenadischen, jamaikanischen und amerikanischen Wurzeln schafft mit Saxophon, Orgel, Hackbrett, Elektronik und Stimme atmosphärische Klanglandschaften. Improvisation ist der Kern - oft werden große Teile von Aufnahmen bearbeitet, um das Werk wie ein Marmorbildhauer freizulegen. Es ist eine expansive und interdisziplinäre Praxis, die es JJJJJerome ermöglicht, sich an jedes Medium und jede Form anzupassen, darunter aufgezeichnete Musik, Live-Theater und Performance-Kunst, Filmmusik, Spoken Word und Storytelling sowie multimediale/visuelle Werke, die Klang integrieren. Als Mensch, der stottert, fiel es ihm in der Kindheit schwer, sich mit dem Mund auszudrücken. Den Künstlernamen ,JJJJJerome" zu buchstabieren, rührt von der Erkenntnis her, dass das am häufigsten gestotterte Wort der eigene Name ist. Trotz einer kurzen Sprachtherapie als Kind - als er in der siebten Klasse zum Saxophon griff, machte es plötzlich Klick. ,Ich stottere immer noch beim Saxophonspielen, aber es ist anders." Als Künstler dreht sich sein kreatives Ethos nun um die Erforschung des Stotterns durch Musik, wobei er die Fähigkeit jedes Einzelnen, Zeit zu gestalten, näher erläutert. Er ehrt das Stottern durch Kunst. Er begann damit, zu CDs von John Coltrane und Billie Holiday auf dem Horn zu improvisieren. Aber als jemand, der sich gerne mit Grenzen auseinandersetzt, hat sich JJJJJerome seitdem zu einem versierten Multi-Instrumentalisten entwickelt, wobei jedes Instrument einen Wendepunkt darstellt, der neue Wege zu potenziellen Klangwelten ebnet. Seine Stimme wird zusätzlich von einer Ehrfurcht vor der Erde und den Vorfahren - sowohl menschlichen als auch anderen - geleitet. Aufgrund der familiären Verbindungen seiner Mutter zur Kirche und den unvergesslichen Geschichten seiner Großmutter, die als Pianistin und Organistin auftrat, hat JJJJJeromes jüngste Affinität zu Tasteninstrumenten eine bedeutende Gewichtung. Das kommende zweite Album ,Vesper Sparrow" (Shelter Press) ist aus dieser Verbindung zur schwarzen religiösen Tradition und zum Erbe entstanden. Es ist eine Fortsetzung der fortlaufenden Auseinandersetzung des Künstlers mit den Schnittstellen zwischen Musik und Klang, Stottern und Schwarzsein aus der Perspektive der Zeit. Das Album besteht aus zwei vollständigen Gedanken und dreht sich um ein aufgezeichnetes Stottern. JJJJJerome teilt die vierteilige Komposition ,Evensong" auf, indem er das Stottern in Teil zwei ausblendet und die Tracks drei und vier (,Vesper Sparrow" und ,Black-Throated Sparrow") dazwischen einfügt. ,Das Stottern wird zu einem strukturierenden Moment", erklärt er in Bezug auf die Möglichkeit, die entstandene Zeit zu füllen. Die Aussetzung wird somit zu einem integralen Bestandteil der musikalischen Sprache von JJJJJerome. Sowohl Stottern als auch Granularsynthese können Momente in der Zeit aussetzen und ,zu vielfältigen Arten des Verweilens, Durchquerens und Verbindens mit anderen in diesen Momenten einladen". Der Künstler greift auch auf Elemente der Pop-Produktion zurück - elektronische Texturen und Verzerrungen, die teilweise vom Indie-Rock inspiriert sind, sowie Spoken Word, Sampling und Audiomanipulationen, die aus der karibischen und afroamerikanischen Musik stammen.