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Neon Castle hones in on a fleeting sub-genre of early to mid-’80s folk-rock. For a brief moment, glistening slide guitar, fretless bass, satin floating over drum machines intertwined with ethereal female voices, conjuring a sound at once familiar and otherworldly—pop structures touched by myth. Some songs sway with the warmth of open ranch-land, crystal visions beneath thundering skies; others shimmer with candlelit mysticism, as if born in a pagan stone tower, crafted with the very staff Kate Bush might have wielded. Together, these pieces reveal a singular cloth.

Compiled by Charles Bals—now in his third collaboration with Smiling C—Neon Castle affirms his rare gift for storytelling through sound. Each track unfolds like a scene from an imagined film: castles glowing with noble gas, kingdoms awash in purple haze, white horses roaming free, hair cascading to the waist. The collection sketches a realm both new and upon a time, a world where fantasy takes shape through music. With Neon Castle, attentive listening becomes narrative.

"Apopi doesn't give answers, it asks questions

It doesn't narrate events, it describes their premises and effects

It's not explicit, it's opaque

It's not a sumptuous meal, but only the meager crumbs

It's not figurative, it's the context around the frame

Apopi is everything that exists beyond the mirror

Apopi is deafening silence"

Apopi is the new project of Pepi & Katrina, two established italian djs, producers and musicians, owners of their brand new independent label Porta Nuova Records.

Other projects concerning Pepi & Katrina are: Bait e Borghi, MisteriSeParli.

The first ever release on Stormtrooper Recordings from 1994 gets remastered and repressed on Time Warped Recordings on Voodo Orange Marbled Vinyl

The first ever release on Stormtrooper Recordings from 1994 gets remastered and repressed on Time Warped Recordings on Voodo Orange Marbled Vinyl

Hissing Nest is something like a carnivorous plant growing in the little piss patch just left of the well-beaten earth stage front. It’s something dense, unhygienic and purposefully inconvenient, like a smoker’s mating call for seducing your madness. Rhythms descending and ascending staircases simultaneously, bathrooms with holes cut in the floor so you can see the crashing waves below, or a giant lurching mechanism one loose screw from a total collapse. Sadly there’s nothing here resembling a safe-room, every wall is violently splattered with red paint. It’s a tumultuous space built by one-take analog sessions in the backdrop of murderous, racist, colonial ideologies ever encroaching on the zen garden so desperately needed in the floor plan.
Text about Rank+File:
Rank+File is a record label and event series based in New York City. It exists within and opposed to the empire, focusing on sounds and scenes that both challenge and provide release from its crushing grip. We’re entangled by our common threads, and sewn together by our collective unraveling.

2026 Repress

Saha Gnawa’s self-titled debut pairs Moroccan Gnawa with NYC jazz and groove, channeling North African futurism through cross-cultural improvisation. Building off centuries-old practices, traditional song forms dissolve into psychedelic outer-space explorations.

Swimming Paul’s music has always lived in the push-and-pull between euphoria and melancholy; the rare kind of electronic music that can make you cry while your body keeps moving.



On Smiling Through the Pain 2 (out October 24 via Headroom Records), the French-born, London-based producer doubles down on that emotional duality, delivering an album that feels as much like a diary as it does a DJ set.

Over the course of 15 tracks, Paul stitches together late-night catharsis, suburban nostalgia, and the jagged tenderness of early adulthood. The record is sequenced like an unbroken night out: the giddy anticipation, the sudden moments of reflection, the quiet comedown as the sun edges in. It’s an album that refuses to treat joy and sadness as opposites, they coexist here, often in the same chord progression.



“I don’t want to escape the feelings, I want to bring them with me” Paul says. “If you can’t stop thinking about something, you might as well dance with it.”

That philosophy runs through the singles: the emotional release of Holly (with Junior Simba), the aching nostalgia of Different Time, the hypnotic haze of Hard 2 Sleep, and the house-driven Drinking to Get Drunk, a bittersweet ode to nights spent outrunning your own thoughts. Elsewhere, Liza M1 folds heartbreak into an almost triumphant piano hook, while Shine a Light urges listeners to take risks and live without hesitation—as if youth’s boldness could be bottled.



Since debuting in 2023, Swimming Paul has quietly built an empire on emotional resonance: 150 million streams across platforms, 1.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify and more than 50 editorial placements (including Dance Party, Crying on the Dancefloor, Electronic Rising….), 10,000+ radio spins worldwide, and sold-out tours across Europe and North America. His sound has earned co-signs from BBC Radio 1, Triple J, KCRW, Sirius XM and a wave of DJs who value melody as much as momentum.

But Smiling Through the Pain 2 isn’t chasing charts, it’s chasing connections. Paul’s global fanbase, nurtured through a lively Discord community and nights on the road, has become a two-way conversation, with fans’ stories feeding back into the music’s emotional core.
This autumn, Paul takes the album to stages that match its ambition, from London to a string of US club dates, festivals and intimate pop ups designed for shared release.



Smiling Through the Pain 2 is an invitation to feel everything at once. To sweat through the sadness. To let your guard down under strobe lights. To realise that the best nights out don’t make you forget; they help you remember.

Side A takes us across the pond for a British funk-rock classic: “Give It To You” from UPP’s 1975 self-titled LP. Already sacred in sample lore, its breakbeat (written by drummer Jimmy Copley) has fueled Eric B. & Rakim, Gang Starr, Jeru, Del, DJ Shadow & more. This edit amplifies the raw pocket — drums, fills, transitions — pushing them forward w/o losing grit. Produced by Jeff Beck, UPP’s LP fused funk, fusion & rock, giving the break shimmer & weight beyond pure drum programming. For DJs, this is precision-built: roomy enough to drop hats, scratches, or vocals, yet solid enough to ride raw.

On the flip, the S.S.O. Orchestra’s 1977 gem “Faded Lady.” Lush, cinematic textures — strings, vocals, bass, pads — laced in funk/soul arrangements. Sample lineage runs deep: Diamond D (“I Went for Mine”), Busta Rhymes’ “New York Shit,” Nas’ “Something Foul.” This edit doesn’t destroy or over-chop — it finds the sweet spots, letting the horns, pads & mood breathe. Not a break tune but a vibe: atmosphere & weight for DJs to lean into.

Together, these 2 sides deliver a powerful juxtaposition:

Legendary Mello Music Group producer Apollo Brown's feature packed album including Oddisee, Evidence, Freddie Gibbs, Masta Ace, Vinnie Paz, Westside Gunn, Sean Price and more! 19 full boom bap classics. A celebrated fan favorite with over 20 million streams is finally back on vinyl with this special double lp olive green edition.

Das fünfte Album der Newcastler Riffzauberer Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs (aka PIGSx7) ist geprägt von kalkulierter Aggression und selbstzerfrleichenden Texten. Zu den verblüffenden Boni gehören verspielte Synthesizer-Arbeiten und der Auftritt eines Hip-Hop-Masters. Mit seinem Titel, der Absurdität und Ernsthaftigkeit einander gegenüberstellt, ist dies Death Hilarious. Während Land Of Sleeper von 2023 als immersives Kopfhörer-Erlebnis konzipiert war, strebten Pigs dieses Mal nach etwas direkterem, böseren. ,Wir wollten, dass es ein Schlag ins Gesicht ist", grinst Produzent und Gitarrist Sam Grant. Dieses Ziel kam zum Teil dadurch zustande, dass die Band in den letzten Jahren sooooo viele Gigs gespielt hat. Die Band fühlte sich gut geölt und reif dafür, den Zuhörern zu Hause die Art von Prügel zu verpassen, die ihr Publikum von der Bühne aus erhält. Death Hilarious bietet einige Überraschungen, vor allem der Track 'Glib Tongued', bei dem El-P von Run The Jewels als Gastmusiker mitwirkt. Als Bassist John-Michael Hedley unwissentlich das schrieb, was seine Bandkollegen als ihr Äquivalent zu einer Hip-Hop-Nummer betrachteten, setzten die Pigs ihre Ziele hoch an und sicherten sich einen fulminanten Beitrag von einem der größten Rapper der Welt. Das soll nicht heißen, dass Pigs zum Nu-Metal übergegangen sind. Death Hilarious ist eine abwechslungsreiches, straffes Album, das sich zwischen sabbathianischem Doom, grotesk minimalistischem Noise Rock und zyklischen Post-Metal-Fortissimos bewegt. Auch die Pigs treiben sich selbst weiter an. Unpassende Synthesizer-Soli tauchen dort auf, wo normalerweise Gitarren-Histrionik Platz hätte. Klaviertracks lauern im Mix und verleihen dem Klangstrudeln eine fast unterschwellige Tiefe. Stitches" ist wie Motörhead, die versuchen, Glamrock mit einem beschwipsten Keyboarder zu spielen. Und dann ist da noch das 100-Meilen-Tempo des Cosmic-Thrash-Openers ,Blockage". Verzerrte Licks fliegen aus den Verstärkern von Grant und Lead-Gitarrist Adam Ian Sykes, während die Rhythmusgruppe dahinter brutzelt. Mit all dieser Power, die durch die Adern fließt, wird Death Hilarious mit Leichtigkeit eines der besten Rockalben des Jahres 2025 sein... und das ist kein Witz!

Red Axes return with LOUD—their most explosive record to date. Blending post-punk grit, indie-rock swagger, and their signature electronic pulse, the duo deliver 13 tracks packed with raw energy, twisted hooks, and fearless experimentation. LOUD is restless, fearless, and wildly diverse - showcasing a band that never stands still.

Following over a decade of groundbreaking releases and genre-defying sets at Coachella, Glastonbury, Sónar, and Berghain, LOUD showcases Red Axes’ ever-evolving sound and genre-defying legacy. Drawing inspiration from acts like Amyl and the Sniffers, Viagra Boys, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Red Axes channel their roots in psychedelic rock into something gritty, loud, and deeply addictive.

Lead single Home "La La La” captures the hazy feeling of a night spiralling out—equal parts bliss and breakdown. From distorted riffs to hypnotic grooves, each track pushes Red Axes into thrilling new territory. From the surf-rock energy of “Church Avenue” to the pounding chaos of “Lava Lava,” LOUD spans moods, genres, and states of mind—but always hits hard.

Disco 5 is the latest instalment of Pet Shop Boys’ continuing ‘Disco’ album series, which started in 1986. The 12-track collection features ten Pet Shop Boys’ recent remixes of songs by artists including Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Primal Scream, Paul Weller, Tina Turner, Claptone, Wolfgang Tillmans and more, as well as a remix of their own track ‘Dreamland’ featuring Olly Alexander.

Skylax Records is proud to unveil the reshaped and definitive edition of Blue Mondays’ "The Homage" EP – a record that bridges the golden age of Italo Disco, the raw proto-house energy of Frankie Knuckles & Ron Hardy, and the resurgence of true underground dance music. This release has been meticulously refined to give it the space it deserves: a future classic, driven by iconic reworks and a visual identity worthy of its legacy. A1. The Homage (Vedichecista Mix) delivers a hypnotic journey into Italo Disco euphoria, A2. The Homage (Instrumental) strips it down to pure musical essence, and A3. Countach (Driving Mix) propels us into the unstoppable energy of classic Italo Disco, showcasing Blue Mondays’ unmatched ability to capture the era’s true spirit. On the B-side, B1. The Homage (Floorfillers Remix) injects a raw acid energy designed for peak-time floors, while B2. The Homage (Jolene Remix) delivers a filtered French house gem straight out of 1998, crafted by one of our leading torchbearers of the "real music" renaissance. Wrapped in a stunning sleeve designed by H5, evoking the iconic aesthetics of Joy Division, New Order & Peter Saville, "The Homage" EP captures the essence of an era when the dancefloor was sacred, the music was raw, and the underground thrived. We took our time to reshape this release because it deserved nothing less. Now it’s ready – sharpened, elevated, and destined to become a definitive Skylax classic. This is not just another EP. This is Blue Mondays. Skylax. The resurrection of the underground.

Pingouin Musique, relaunched after exact 30 Years - Founder Zied Jouini
Started his musical career 1992 right in the growing House and Techno era -
Since then he dedicated himself to the underground - Past releases on AFU/ Wavescape/ Music Man
Italys famous dance Label Flying Records, Great Assets URL Underground Label, also a late Force Inc, Traum Schallplatten or his other Imprint Practical Toy and other Project just to name few.

Zied produced a safe House Track with nice portion of underground called Hymn-
He knows how to keep the balance between a Dance Underground rhythms, harmonies and short concise melodies
Very enjoyable on the Dancefloor and at home :)

A1 Original: A classic house bounce with modern finesse and hypnotic effects guide
A2 Jouzie's Give Peace a chance Remix got an electro beat with a slightly breaks touch - a full rich house vibe and a well known Vocal sample in it - Floor Filler
B1 Johnny D Remix - inter alia produced e.g. for Oslo, 8Bit und Cécille, bring up an Absolut rich full tech house groove monster - Johnny D at its best
B2 Danielle Arielli Remix - Founder of Tooflez Muzik delivers a Power House, warm and hypnotic roller with a touch of Acid Remix - Banger!

The new vinyl release by Monaks is the perfect companion for sets — filled with captivating grooves, hypnotic synths, and an atmosphere you won’t want to escape. Four originals, all unified by the aesthetics of warm, danceable house music, unfold like a day-long journey — from a sunny morning to a hypnotic night. Side A delivers uplifting and elegant house with fresh melodies and subtle nods to genre classics. Side B dives deeper — into a world of groove, dub textures, and tight rhythms, perfect for late-night and afterhours vibes. VAM12 isn’t just a collection of tracks. It’s a thoughtful, cohesive release that fits seamlessly into any part of your set. A true delight for DJs and collectors alike.

Mastering by Kashatskikh Studio
Design by Kirill Kashatskikh
Vinyl Only

The time has come for hip-hop’s favourite superheroes to unleash their highly anticipated album. The industry’s most recognisable voice, Chali 2na, and turntable wizard Krafty Kuts have been not-so-secretly preparing this project since 2017 through over 150 live shows and countless studio sessions. The time has finally come to grab your capes, don a pair of tights and load up the turntable ready for the show to begin. This is ‘Adventures Of A Reluctant Super Hero’ – prepare for the Purple Assassin and the Scratchman as they come and save your city, the scene and hip-hop as we know it.

Featuring a who’s-who of collabs and guest appearances from hip-hop royalty, this 14-track record takes you to just about every corner of the genre, leaving no stone unturned. With Lyrics Born and Gift Of Gab joining on ‘Guard The Fort’ to deliver a serious statement of intent to open the LP, the rest of the record is an adventure through funk, breaks, rolling basslines, buckets of groove and everything in-between. Throw in a generous portion of expertly delivered bars and vocals from genre sidekicks like Harry Shotta, Skye (Morcheeba), Omar, Dynamite MC and more, and you’re left with a hip-hop record that not even the comic books could have conceived.

LP version comes with an exclusive 8-page comic-book by official Star Wars illustrator JAKe + full album download.

Operating on the fringes of pure improv, organised chaos, minimal composition, lo-fi electronics and Italian spaghetti westerns, wide-eyed and with a healthy dose of DIY aesthetics lies the world of Jaan. It’s a poetic & cosmic universe, exploring “discreet music” whilst wandering on the edges of the Cat People soundtrack & Brian Eno’s more experimental output, in which you might yourself find floating, wandering or in the middle of a market place.

Jaan is a collective of one, a deliberately anonymous activistic unit with strong ties to the international art scene. Purposefully bypassing the know-it-all of the the internet & embracing the bygone mystery of dusty old archives and deep-dive searching, remarkably little is known about this project. Jaan is lead by veteran experimental sonic alchemist Jaan; they operate between Greenland, the Middle East and Europe, with frequent associates Lisqa, Mashid & Schneorr N. acting as local hubs for collaboration and exploration.

The purpose of this wilful obscurity: full focus on the actual music, whether live events or on recordings. Which brings us to Baghali, their first for World of Echo. It’s a deeply personal album, much like slowly browsing old family albums filled with vaguely remembered tales, some still very much present, some faded, leaving but a ghost-like reflection of what once was. Baghali was compiled over the course of a year on the road, trapped in snow storms, waiting for cancelled flights and stuck rides. It’s made up of snippets of diary, quick recordings on road sides, abandoned buildings, garden ruins, vast desert and focussed studio sessions, following a collage-like aesthetic and steeped in an exploration of non-lineair storytelling. There’s broken memories, a sense of displacement and an occasional yearning for what can’t be again, clouded in fever and unrest, but there is also hope, wonderment and bright colours seeping through the cracks in the wall. Jaan weaves home-made instruments, old tape loops, broken synths, beat-up reeds, dusty beat boxes and the occasional doom guitar squall into a tapestry of fractured sound, with tracks following their own inherent logic rather than following formats. Sounds crash in and out, field recordings placing the listener firmly in an environment then throwing several perspectives at once onto them, with individual elements - a wandering clarinet, a lone mandoline, a beat out of place yet perfectly in place - slowly walking in and out & doing their thing.

The whole album is alive, breathes, takes a wrong turn, gets lost, somehow finds its way again - effortless and with a unique sense of space and flow.

Baghali is released digitally and on vinyl in an edition of 300 on 3rd October 2025.