Buscar:hear

Repress

In this time of age where it seems many are slowing down the BPM on tracks and releases it makes us extra proud and happy to send you another Fast and XTRM Hardcore monster!

All 4 tracks rock out harder than hard and the slowest track on the EP is 190 BPM.. So you boys & girls get the message... This is not for the weak hearted... This is HARD Core!!!

Hope you guys enjoy these releases as much as we do and play it loud and fast just as DROKZ & AKIRA intended it to be played!!

With a stellar year in the life of La Fleur coming to an end, the Berlin-based artist is set to close 2013 on a high, with the return to her own beloved imprint Power Plant. After landing a coveted residency with acclaimed Berlin club Watergate, and producing a chart-topping EP as her debut for the club's inhouse label, the Feline EP brings La Fleur back to her roots: unique house music that leaves an imprint on you long after you hear it. A-side track 'Kattflickan' establishes the theme, drawing on the Swedish term for 'cat girl' as its inspiration. It cuts a sleek figure, and is a slower, groovier, quirkier iteration of La Fleur's signature house sound. 'Kattflickan' revealing more detail with every change, and providing a colorful journey through the spectrum of La Fleur's sound. On the B-side, the chiming bell melody of 'Feline' carries it from the outset, and is the genesis of its mysterious and ethereal mood. Punchy drums and layered, meshed chords and its hazy chorus of rising vocal harmonies make it fit for any set. As delicate as it is completely assured, 'Feline' is another irresistible example of La Fleur's balance of dancefloor appeal and melodic richness.

It's always a treat here at Circus Company to be able to shed the light on a lesser known talent. After all, it's a philosophy we have built the label on, but there's no denying we need to have that personal connection with the artists whose music we release. In the case of San Francisco act Moniker, our own dear Dave Aju has a previous history with Kenneth Scott from the duo, having lent some vocals to his 2009 jam 'What Do I Do' So it is that we come to release this, the first fully fledged vinyl offering from Scott and his studio partner Emilio Orlandi after years spent treating Californian crowds to their live, hardware-driven sound. The machines definitely rule the roost in the world of Moniker, but unlike so much of the current obsession with analogue noise and the lo-fi aesthetic, Scott and Orlandi instead coax heartfelt emotion and hand-crafted grooves from an array of beat boxes and synthesisers without making any self-conscious moves to demonstrate how .undigita' they are. Instead, the music takes priority, coming forth in soothing waves of harmonious chords, captivating leads and understated drums that speak volumes for simplicity and soul within deep house. The live aspect of Moniker's mission undoubtedly shines through, manifesting itself in smart switch-ups and breakdowns, impulsive edits and subtle variations that can only result from an on-the-fly jam. Mainly though, this is an exercise in satisfaction, speaking to the same pleasure neurons that would have been tickled the first time you heard Metro Area. In keeping with the warm tones of the original material, Patrice Scott makes for a thoroughly welcome addition to the fold.

It's not easy making jams that really work the crowd just as well in Bristol as in Berlin. Nor any other city for that matter. It's those crossover artists that really stand out for us with tunes that do so much more than just ride the wave of what's hot. Enter The Organ Grinder and his sick 3track EP for Heist. 'How did I get here", the A1 track, might sound like something you'd ask yourself when you realize you're in the wrong place at the wrong time, but for us, this track is everything but that. This track has the most gritty and rolling percussion we've heard in a long time, a looped key with a hint of sleazy techno and some subs that will easily blow your grandma's porcelain to pieces. Add some odd FM frequency noises and you've got yourself a killer tune. Changes all the time takes a more drawn back approach, aptly characterized in the vox: 'repetition, with tiny changes all the time.' A set of carefully placed stabs. pads and strings along with a great arrangement that keeps you wanting more of that warm but rough groove. The Valley of doom takes you on a journey through the whole B-side with a stripped down, almost dubby techno vibe, nicely countered with The OG's signature slamming and gritty percussion. I hope you will enjoy this record as much as we do. Sincerely yours, Lars & Maarten

SKYLAX RECORDS, THE company focused on realeasing original obscure dance classic and everything's that sounds fine to their ears !For this new release, we decided to create another sub - label as this seems to us so special ! SKYLAX RECORDS EXTRA SERIES #1 will present the wonderful work from house maestro Jason Grove with some of the most timeless artists from both Chicago & Detroit.Indeed, we get the chance to get on vocals & productions the great MERWYN SANDERS (Formerly known as Virgo 4) & legendary undeground resistance member NIKO MARKS. We felt that those tracks had something we could qualify as Timeless, it is simply the best music we've heard in ages. THE MASTER IS BACK. VYNIL ONLY.

After his stellar 'Stride EP' release (FACES 1210) and his latest offering 'Late Night Blue Sound EP' (on the UK's City Fly's Records/ featuring Andrés remix), Japanese deep house king- Kez YM is back on FACES Records!
Bringing delicious beatdown flavors to the cooking pot that blends Kazuki Yamaguchi into a serving of signature recipe Kez YM.

With ongoing support from influential peers such as Moodymann, Theo Parrish, Rick Wade & Cassy, this is one delicious treat that will leave the fans salivating for more.

His reputation extends beyond his delicious creations, as one of the standout Japanese House Djs currently holding it down in his hometown and Europe.
Mixing ingredients from Detroit, Chicago House, Funk, Disco & Afro and endlessly rocking dance floors and hearts from Panorama Bar in Berlin to Eleven in Tokyo.
The 'Root Bound' EP journeys beyond his past offerings, fresh ingredients and mouth watering grooves, with a sprinkle of that typical Kez YM signature sound!

Jason Little teams up with SML for the next banger on Jason's Mask. Hardcore to the bone.

The original 12'' vinyl releases of Stomp The Beat and 1990 were two “Holy Grail” releases of Chicago House as they were only available for a short time before Gherkin Records went into inactive status in around 1991. At the time Larry Heard chose to not disclose the fact that he was the producer behind the Gherkin Jerks EPs. The two releases were a concept of experiments where he dove deeper into the equipment and do some creatively different tracks from his Mr. Fingers sound. These two legendary EPs have been heavily influential on other artists to this day. Often sampled or referenced they are true house classics and still amaze 25 years after their creation. Also on this album three bonus tracks, which are from the same Gherkin Jerks sessions but never released as such. Psychotic Fantasy was on the Dance 2000 pt. 2 album and Ecstasy is the full original take which makes its first appearence here. Reznaytor is an exclusive track for this release, never available before.

Nach der Veröffentlichung des neuen Albums "Tomorrow's Harvest", das von einer aufsehenerregenden Internetmarketingstrategie begleitet wurde und Boards Of Canada weltweit erstmals in die Charts katapultierte, erscheint nun - aufgrund starker Nachfrage - eine Reissue-Reihe mit all ihren bisherigen Vinylformaten. Jedes neue Vinyl enthält diesmal zusätzlich einen Downloadcode sowie einen BOC-Sticker aus der jeweiligen Zeitphase. Zuerst erscheinen die Alben "Music Has The Right To Children" (1998), "Geogaddi" (2002) und "The Campfire Headphase" (2006), im zweiten Schritt das Minialbum "Twoism" (1995) sowie die beiden EPs "In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country" (2000) und "Trans Canada Highway" (2006).

After a superlative EP from Chicago's DJ Rahaan, Dublin's Fatty Fatty Phonographics is back with another installment of Pablo and Shoey's 'Rejigs', which have had support from the likes of Hot Toddy, Bicep, Get Down Edits, Leftside Wobble, House of Disco and Rub'N'Tug.

'No Good (Start The Jack) sees them take on Kelly Charles' 'You're No Good', a late 80's New Jersey house bomb and source of the infamous vocal hook from The Prodigy's 'No Good (Start The Dance). After one of the great 80's dance music clichés - an intro where some sassy mama gives her boyfriend shit down an old school telephone line - they go straight for the jugular with that big big hook, spinning the whole thing out for 10 minutes with lots of hypnotic piano loops and large chunks of the great song at the heart of it all. This is one that the crowd will be immediately singing right back at ya at 2am!

'Gonna Get Ya', meanwhile, goes for some Greg Wilson 'Edit The Edit' style shenanigans, taking on Barna Soundmachine's sly, slinky funk loops. The Barna man's original had a whole heap of Diana Ross' vocals from 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' at the centre but never let rip with the big hands in the air chorus. The lads have rearranged it here so it's alot less teasin' and alot more ease-in!

The 3rd track is as important to Pablo and Shoey as it is to Moodymann, so 'Funky Rump (Tribute To MCA)' pays tribute to the sadly deceased Beastie Boy by looping up some busy jazz drums from 'Paul's Boutique' and splicing it with a very fitting in concert tribute from the one and only Flava Flav of Public Enemy. The full track, when it eventually arrives, is a relentless clav funk monster that just keeps going and going....

A vital bit of modern House magic with a blend of Detroit-influenced chords and neatly padded kicks.


Warm, hazy and driving Deep House from Pro-Tez features a bright young hope, Harry Light. It is a vital bit of modern House magic with a blend of Detroit-influenced chords and neatly padded kicks arranged with that cool grooving finish. The vibe is deep and punchy, also taking in classic Chicago House elements from Mr. Fingers, disco from Loose Joints, dub from Rhythm & Sound, modern but vintage sounding House from Harry Light. Limited t0 300 vinyl copies.

Through the Gate of Hell a Wild Savage Forest of Wretched Souls had let me Frozen and Faint. Now all is heard. Lux Rec presents the second appearance of Echo 106 on the label.
The two brothers descended into Infernal Regions to witness torturing flames, black magic woods, seas of damned souls and ice cold bodies. So brave, although not without any fear, they went close enough to sense such pains themselves. Carving five songs that depict their gloomy journey to an extent that, as the last song says, all is heard indeed.

The EP comes in a double 12" outfit with a gatefold sleeve. The front picture is a work of Giandomenico Carpentieri. The production has been curated by D Cosmo.
Free download included.

Limited to 300 copies.




It's been a while since we've heard a jam as bruising as Nonsense. Titles in techno often don't tell you much, and we'd go as far as to say this badboy is really more no-nonsense. This one will blow the stack, with cavernous kicks, down-the-line 909 claps and hats, and good old fashioned warehouse bells. Decision is a jackin factory floor jam. Spitting percussion that's reverbed to the roof, combines with a one-note synth and pacy high-end work for a full-on strobe light track. Myk Derill goes DIY on his re-work of Nonsense, bringing more detailed rhythm work and creating a dynamic jam that ebbs and flows, constantly moving in and out of focus. Polishing off this belting release is Imprinted - an atmospheric sci-fi rhythm reminiscent of Convexion or even Monolake - a very nice little surprise on an otherwise heads-down release.

Always Stays The King This ist he Vinyl edition of Tigerskin's Album - All Those Goodbyes. This special Vinyl features 3 exclusive tracks that are not on the CD version of the Album. - The Essence', - Out of Breath' and - The King always stays the King' are three club bangers that will destroy your floor. As part of this 2LP we also added the strongest dancefloor titles from the CD. Main Info Album : After being the main artist on Dirt Crew Recordings for over seven years and with a staggering 13 EPs in that period either solo or with his buddy Till von Sein, the Berlin based Alexander Krüger has finally put together a full artist album for the Dirt Crew team. The album also features various collaborations featuring established artists such as Ulrich Schnauss, Eddie Richards and of course Till (all titans in their respective fields of 'electronica', 'techno and 'house') plus new producers and vocalists that Alexander has been working with such as The Lazarusman, Sebastian Oehlschlegel and Uffe.Alexander Krüger is one of Germany's most consistent producers and has a huge release list on Discogs ranging from the mid nineties when he started out as Korsakow and Dub Taylor on classic labels like Force Tracks, Müller and Raum Musik. The output of this man is enormous, not only solo under his 3 monikers but also with fellow producers he works with, most prominently the work he does with DJ Phonique. It has also been nine years since his last 'real' album on Resopal Schallware back in 2004 so 'All Those Goodbyes' comes as a welcome relief for Tiger fans. On the album you will find 14 tracks that reflect a broad variety

Once upon a time...in the midst of masked identities, artist pseudonyms and the like, Midnight Shift introduces a creature not even of human form.

Tapirus conjures music reflecting the duality of his soul. On one hand, rough and acidic to tell of the terrain of his past. And on the other, pure ethereal sounds borne of another place. This EP, showcasing 3 songs of the Tapirus alongside a remix by label artist Basic Soul Unit, is just the introduction to his tale.

The wiggly 'Acid Love Story' enters the room with its tight drum programming and infectious bassline commanding attention. A voice speaks of a love lost: 'She left...she left. Dark time ahead. Dark times in my head.' But perhaps the story is not yet over.

'Trying to Make Something of Life' continues the monologue, conveying an acidic almost bitter experience. Freaked out and haunting, this track is literally inspired by the dead. It lays as atribute to losing yet another close companion in life.

On the flipside, 'To Live in the Hearts...' and its remix comes through. Ascending the scales of life, its Asianic influence and soaring chords take one beyond the clouds. Basic Soul Unit's transforms the track helter-skelter, a frantic pace turning the peaceful tune into beautiful art of war.

Narratives Music proudly present the debut EP of the artist Rhyming in Fives. The 'Hindsight' EP sees a well respected producer
embark on a new journey under a new alias, with an intention to breach the boundaries of Drum and Bass and the 170bpm template.
Fusing drift space ambience, glassy synths and retro drum machines with gritty warm bass grooves, Rhyming in Fives has gathered
sensibilities from the austere 80s pop of Depeche Mode and Gary Numan, the soundscapes of Cliff Martinez and Vangelis, and
transcended to something altogether more futuristic.
This highly anticipated release has already caught the imagination of DJ's across the genres with huge names such as Paul Woolford,
Om Unit, Com Truise and Zomby working it into their multi tempo sets while still finding its way into the record bags of Drum and
Bass' hottest players such as Doc Scott, Jubei.and BBC Radio's Friction.
Lead track 'Hindsight' glistens with the trademark Narratives sound of emotion and contrast. Melancholic calling synths build over
pumping kick drums and beckon the classic bass to grow and soar to an euphoric drop of arpeggiators and driving percussion. The
ability to draw the listener completely in to its immersive groove and simplicity, only feigns the depth of this beautiful track, a depth
which reveals more with each listen.
Turning many heads has been the track 'With You'. Instantly recognisable, it builds on the same retro influences as the flip but is
injected with the vocals of Hana. Bubbling basses, beautiful keys and a song like structure make this a golden addition to the
Narratives catalogue; one that evokes the summer decadence of Kavinsky's 'Drive' movie soundtrack.
The last track on the EP, 'All's Well' takes the Rhyming in Fives sound to a much more brooding and meditative place. Cavernous
bass, reverbs and FX lead this wave of haunting ambience to create a heartwrenching close to this debut EP. Sentimental, emotional
and relentlessly engaging, 'All's Well' refuses to let the listener do anything but be drawn in.
Only furthering Narratives reputation for releasing music of bold quality and longevity, this EP embraces experimentation and genre
shifting sounds whilst having relentlessly moved dancefloors and festivals over the summer months.
DJ Support includes : Friction, Paul Woolford, Doc Scott, Om Unit, Kuedo, Com Truise, Zomby

Second part of this two episode series on Subnet records. Following the same flavour as before... dark textures and mental synth lines driven together by hard drum patterns and groovy percussion. These two ep reflect the creepy and insane behaviour caused by experiments in the field of invisibility applied in the human being. All the tracks were recorded live! Just using analog sequencers, mpc, analog mixer and synths... Directly to a recording device. In the same way as you could record a live set, to keep all the vibe as fresh as possible. 220 copies limited vinyl release.

The main man returns with three typically raw and jacking cuts referencing some of the older FXHE material, and replete with the usual mad artwork skillz! A return to form for AOS, and certainly not one you want to be missing.

Together Old-Skool Acid House Alert! These tracks were recorded by Jordan Fields in Chicago during the late 80's. Just recently re-discovered on reel to reel tapes and as soon as we heard these beauties, we knew the world needs to have these on vinyl! Starting off with 'Among The Kloudz' which is a very raw & mental analog groovin' acid-house track. On the flipside you'll find 'Keepin' It Together", a warm soulful but yet club friendly Mr Fingers, Virgo Four alike track. This EP is for all the true Chicago heads, enjoy!

- Turn Me On' by Jay W. McGee is the third release in a series of sought after boogie, disco and modern soul re-issues on Légère Recordings. The original 12inch vinyl single appeared on the tiny Canadian Indie label Love Productions in 1980 and is immensely hard to find these days.

- Turn Me On' is an unusual production for its time, grooving along unbelievably deep in a spartanic arrangement, and fuelled by vocals which are not too far away from Sylvester's iconic style of mixing soul, disco, funk and jazz.


Jay W. McGee has a strong opinion about disco music: - When disco came out, it had its own way of reaching people's hearts too. Being in a club, you know, it's escapism, like with soul music. Soul is addressing everyday life problems, disco is about how to forget and enjoy yourself. They each have their own unique place. I saw people railing on doing disco because they didn't understand the seriousness of it,' Jay W. McGee explains about - Turn Me On' when he officially commissioned this re-release: - The discrimination of disco was in reality a discrimination against black music.'

- Your Love', the flipside of this 12inch single, is an exciting ballad on the B-side and a surprise in itself. Both tracks feature a great combination of talents. Wayne Jackson, the trumpet player on - Turn Me On', played on Rick James' album 'Bustin' Out On L Seven', in the late Seventies. Glenn Johanson was the engineer on - Your Love'. He became Eddy Grant's house engineer at his studio in Barbados right after he mixed this tune. But there is also a little drama in the story. When Jay W. McGee returned to the studio where he recorded, "Turn Me On" he found out that the original version of - Turn Me On' was erased by another technician: - Everybody said it could have been a hit, and maybe the guy did it on purpose.' Nevertheless he recorded the song again with a now different arrangement and instrumentation. Maybe that is the reason why the production is so unique and also so different to - Your Love'.

Jay W. McGee could have been a solo artist on Philadelphia International Records, back in 1969, when he met Leon Huff of Gamble & Huff, in Philly for an audition, just before they recorded - Me And Mrs. Jones', - Bad Luck' and - Backstabbers' with Billy Paul, Harold Melvin and The O'Jays. They offered him a contract, but he refused, because he came with his whole group from Flint, Michigan and they wanted to be signed collectively.

Jay W. McGee kept just one of the original 12inches in his home: - Both songs were a profession of love to my wife. We are now married for 34 years.' Now if this ain't love, we don't know....'

1st pressing of 500 copies in limited embossed sleeve & 180g Vinyl

NSOUND returns with invisible hooks that entice us to believe that the melodies we hear are actually there. A continuation of exploration into his stark sonic landscape that bring up the question or where is he going

Lee Perry's time at WIRL Records, later to be renamed Dynamic Sounds Studios, was a very productive time
in his career. A run of great singles and the shaping of a new sound, the beginning of what we know today as
Reggae .
Lee Perry (b. Rainford Hugh Perry, 28 March 1936, Hanover,Jamaica) began his entry into the music business at
the age of 16.Moving up to Kingston Town and working around various Sound Systems, before finding
employment at Coxonne Dodd's Studio One set up, in the late 50's early 1960's. Perry started out as a record
scout, organising sessions and supervising auditions at Dodd's record shop on Orange Street. Helping to make
hits for Delroy Wilson ( 'Joe Liges','Spit In The Sky') and the Maytals, which would lead to his own vocal records
released through Studio One.The musical backing for which, came from legendary Studio One house band The
Skatalites. Another important relationship for Perry, his first recordings with Bob Marley came in the form of
the Wailers, also providing backing, alongside the Soulettes who featured Rita Marley. Cutting such tunes as
'Chicken Scratch' around 1965/1966. This tune was also to provide him with one of his future nicknames
'Scratch'. A dispute over credits and money saw Perry leave Studio One and work with various producers
including Clancy Eccles and J. J. Johnson, before arriving at the door of producer Joe Gibbs in 1967. Here he
would write songs and produce hits for artists such as, Errol Dunkley and the Pioneers. A tune cut during his
time with Gibbs, voiced a snipe at fellow employee Dodd, a trademark that would become an outlet for his
frustrations in the business.This particular tune 'The Upsetter' would also provide another moniker and a name
for his label 'Upsetter'. Again lack of musical credit and financial reward saw Perry move on this time to WIRL
(West Indies Records Limited) Records, working alongside manager Clifford Rae, who would provide studio
time and pay for pressings in return for helping to promote and distribute WIRL product, which Perry would
carry out on his trusted Honda 50 motorcycle around Kingston town.
This period at WIRL saw some inspired work from Perry. 'Run For Cover' was another musical blow to a
previous employer, Coxonne Dodd and featured the Sensations on backing vocals and Lynn Taitt's guitar
picking skills. 'People Funny Boy' was a massive hit for Perry going on to sell over 60,000 copies. Joe Gibbs
would be at the end of this musical attack. Perry had felt Joe Gibbs had turned his back on him, after he had
provided hits for groups like, The Pioneers amongst others. The song would be one of the first records to
feature a New Beat (Reggae) inspired by the sounds coming out of a Pocomania Church, Perry had heard one
night.The congregation inside, wailed in a more slower way than the current musical style of the time Ska!. Perry
worked up this new style with Clancy Eccles, who would come under attack himself in 'You Crummy'. Their
closeness, which as detailed in that song would find them, 'Even shared the same Gal' but 'Now it's plain to see we
reached the end'. 'Set Them Free' was an answer record to Prince Buster's 'Judge Dread' (which had
featured Perry on it) a plea to the Judges in Jamaica that handed out extremely harsh sentences to the young
offenders of the time. The track was cut on the same rhythm as 'Run For Cover' . 'Django Shoots First'
inspired by the Spaghetti Western film of the same name, features Sir Lord Comic. One of the early DJ's who
used a jive talking style over rhythms. 'Night Doctor' was a hit instrumental that featured the organ talents
of Ansel Collins, that really push the tune along. 'Something You Got' was a cover of an USA R& B track by
Chris Kenner and 'Wind Up Girl' was cut at the same session. 'Water Pump' was a rude style track that
was cut later and originally released in 1974.As was 'People Sokup Boy' a later version of 'People Funny Boy'.
'Labrish' which means idol talk and gossip, was one of the first great talk over tunes that features Lee Perry
and producer Bunny 'Striker' Lee talking about the Political situation in Jamaica at the time and their own
financial situation and stories of various comrades.The track was originally released in 1973.
Bunny Lee would play a major part in lee Perry's career around this time and they were very close, often
sharing sessions and rhythms. Ironically it would be Bunny Lee that took over Perry's roll at WIRL and become
responsible for the labels products in years to come. Clifford Rae who give control to Bunny for a lot of the
WIRL product and even gave him his shop 101 Orange Street. So here we have a collection of music born out
of a time spent at WIRL Records and providing an important chapter in Lee Perry's career and indeed to the
story of Reggae itself.
Hope you enjoy the set.

*The product of a move from South Carolina to Berkeley, CA and the subsequent extended separation from loved ones, Toro Y Moi's third full-length, Anything in Return, puts Chaz Bundick right in the middle of the producer/songwriter dichotomy that his first two albums established.
*There's a pervasive sense of peace with his tendency to dabble in both sides of the modern music-making spectrum, and he sounds comfortable engaging in intuitive pop production and putting forth the impression of unmediated id.
*The producer's hand is prominent- not least in the sampled "yeah"s and "uh"s that give the album a hip-hop-indebted confidence- and many of the songs feature the 4/4 beats and deftly employed effects usually associated with house music. Tracks like "High Living" and "Day One" show a considerably Californian influence, their languid funk redolent of a West Coast temperament, and elsewhere- not least on lead single, "So Many Details"- the record plays with darker atmospheres than we're used to hearing from Toro Y Moi. Sounding quite assured in what some may call this songwriter's return to producer-hood, Anything in Return is Bundick uninhibited by issues of genre, an album that feels like the artist's essence.
*Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Chaz Bundick has been toying with various musical projects since early adolescence. Having spent his formative years playing in punk and indie rock acts, his protean Toro Y Moi project has been his vessel for further musical exploration since 2001. During his time spent studying graphic design at the University of South Carolina, Chaz became increasingly focused on his solo work, incorporating electronics and allowing a wider range of influences- French house, Brian Wilson's pop, 80s R&B, and Stones Throw hip-hop- to show up in his music. By the time he graduated in spring 2009, Chaz had refined his sound to something all his own. Music journals across the board touted his hazy recordings as the sound of the summer, and he released his debut album, Causers of This in early 2010.
*Since then, Bundick has proven himself to be not just a prolific musician, but a diverse one as well, letting each successive release broaden the scope of the Toro Y Moi oeuvre. The funky psych-pop of 2011's Underneath the Pine evinced an artist who could create similar atmospheres even without the aid of source material and drum machines. His Freaking Out EP, a handful of singles and remixes, and a retrospective box-set plot points all along the producer/songwriter spectrum in which he's worked since his debut, and Anything In Return is another exciting offering that shows he's still not ready to settle into any one genre.

***1st pressing of 500 copies in limited embossed sleeve & 180g Vinyl ***
A regular in my DJ sets as demos, Nsound pushes us all to hear what is seemingly not there. Only the brave have the confidence to create music that is so basic in it's core but so deep in its intention, pushing each of us to imagine where the sound stops and the silence begins.

Nick Lapien's debut release as Metropolis garnered little attention when it materialized last year. A skeptical yet dedicated network of underground heads built up a subterranean buzz that has yet to spread into the daylight. That initial transmission was thick with the raw analogue flavors that have become ever-present in dance floor fare recently—but his is a sound that is dedicated to the emotive, narrative aspects of electronic music rather than simple fetishization or passing curiosity in the days of yore.

This, his second release as Metropolis, shows a more focused and patient hand at work. The titular track on the A side is a deep, psychedelic groover. Melodies, textures and sequences undulate and intertwine within a lightless atmosphere guided by Lapien with optimum restraint. Equally pensive and gorgeous, The Flood serves as a Machine's beat-less foil on the reverse. Made up of little more than feedback and two slow, echo laden arpeggiated sequences, this is reminiscent of Jean Michel Jarre's more sinister moments: a brilliant paradox of economy and indulgence. Expect to hear more from Lapien here at Sequencias. He has many more dark corners left unexplored.

Tigersushi surprise us and drop a new 12" from label boss, Joakim... 2 Gloriously Produced Tracks, As Usual...!
Almost 2 years have passed since Joakim released Nothing Gold. Not that he's been lazy. Those 2 years have probably been the busiest for the tall Musician/producer/DJ/label manager who produced numerous bands in his Fountain Studio in Paris (Zombie Zombie, Montevideo, Alba Lua, Acid Washed and more...). Joakim also did a few remixes (Aeroplane, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lescop, Arsenal, Renaissance Man...) ans recorded a collaboration EP with Kindness that was the debut release on his new label Crowdspacer. Not to mention the constant touring, running Tigersushi records and a move from Paris to New York city!

Since Joakim has 4 hands, he also managed to start recording some material for a new album between 2 recording sessions and just before he had to move his studio out, he finished those 2 tracks : the slow, claustrophobic but hopeful « Heartbeats » and « Another Light » which brings that subtle typical melancholy to the clubs.

Now Joakim is setting up a mini home studio in his flat in NYC, somehow going back to his roots when he started making music at his parents house with a cheap keyboard more than 10 years ago. Usually in the music business, artists release a first single once the album is finished and start a promo campaign from there. But Joakim doesn't really understand the music business (don't tell anyone!), so he decided to release those 2 tracks without having any more finished material for his upcoming album nor an idea of what it will be like. In those times when everything is instant, he'd rather release new material leading to an album while the tracks are finished. Just like a work in progress you will witness an album taking shape before your ears.
This is a way to bypass the traditional rhythm of an album launch when everything needs to be done and ready months before the actual release, which usually results in the author being already bored and working on something else when the music comes out.

Almost exactly three years after the first, Redshape has readied his second Red Pack, due for co release by his own Present imprint alongside his frequent Dutch home, Delsin, in June.
Whilst the world is still enjoying the German's latest album "Square", the man himself has typically moved on once more. On Red Pack II he offers up six tracks new of hugely atmospheric and romantically industrial techno across two pieces of vinyl.

First up, 'Disco Marauder' has raw, jangling beats, traumatised vocal cries and plenty of sci-fi ambiance all coalescing into a filmic techno tapestry, before 'Path Dub' goes deeper and more streamlined with rattling claps peeling off taught synth cables in hypnotic fashion. The same track also comes in an original version, which is a much more jagged, roughshod and textured affair.

'The Source' is a track slowed to a crawl that almost seems to want to collapse under its own weight. Machines gurgle and gargle, the beats march on with a heavy heart and widescreen synths all that ever present sense of cinematism that makes Redshape such a unique producer.

Standout track 'Daft Mode' features a beautiful Reese bassline and rich layers of classic Detroit chords of the sort Inner City once championed. Redshape then pairs them with slicing percussion and loose limbed but tough edged beats and lets them roll on to a blissfully emotive oblivion... Fans of 'Mucky Bones' from the first Red Pack might see this track as a close relative. Last track 'Bulp Head' is one of Redshape's more euphoric tracks thanks to the glistening and pixelated melodies which rise up and up through choppy, metallic percussion. It closes out another release from Redshape that offers six more classic pieces that are as idiosyncratic as they innovative..

Jackmaster Cunt EP is the 5th release from Sound Black. Its a departure from the Lady Blacktronika's signature slo mo sound taking us on a journey into jack. She's got 4 deep groove laden tracks here to please the hardest of deepcore house fans and the deepest of hardcore house heads. The tracks here borrow largely from the sounds of Chicago and New York/New Jersey in the 90s, sounds near her heart. These are the roots revisited and brought back to the future of house.

'Believe" delivers a consummate body of work with which Nicole's considerable abilities in the studio are clear for all to hear. A wide-range of sounds that is sure to appeal to the idiosyncratic tastes of the various sub-sections of electronic music community. Furthermore, it lives up to the high-standards of previous Drumcode long-players and is an engrossing and impressive debut; and one that offers a smooth segue into the next chapter of an already exciting career.

Kicking off with the industrial techno grooves of 'Come And Lay' with the bass-heavy 'Do Your Thing' on the flipside.

'Last summer I moved from Chicago to London, and this EP followed me through the madness!' Kate Simko tells us about how her sensual Get Physical debut, 'Lost In London EP' came to be. 'I started the songs in Chicago last spring, and was feeling full of ideas and urgency to get them recorded. I guess I was thinking that somehow things might be forgotten after all of the hustle of moving...' Kate has seen her previous releases span catalogues from Leftroom to Scissor & Thread. She has a solid following of vinyl loving fans - nearly all of her releases selling out in short notice. We expect 'Lost In London' to be no different. 'Then it was time to ship my studio by boat to the UK. It took about 6-8 weeks to arrive, and in that time I did a lot of exploring (aka getting lost) in the city of London.' By the time the studio arrived, I'd absorbed the sounds of the city and I think they came through in the music, especially in 'Lost In London'.' ''Closer feat. Jem Cooke' is the follow up song with Jem Cooke after our collaboration from last year, 'Go On Then' (Leftroom). We recorded the vocals at Royal College of Music; I think the musical vibe of the place put her at ease that day. She's an amazing person and her voice is incredible. So happy to have linked up with her.' Kate's groove and rhythm heavy sound shines throughout the release - from the chords of 'Closer feat. Jem Cooke' to the bass pump of 'Out Of Order'. We're super happy to have her on board, and looking forward to hearing more from her in the near future!

As if our recent releases hadn't already been spreading the sound of Circus Company into new and exciting places, now our very own silver-tongued enchanter JAW emerges with the first details of his own autonomous project. Somewhere in between the electronic drive of his day job in dOP and the folky, organic instrumentation of Les Fils Du Calvaire, JAW shares with us a new venture that has thrust him into the studio with Lebanese musician Kevork Keshishian. After a chance meeting on the streets of Beirut, the pair struck upon a creative buzz and so "Hazihi Laylaty" was born. Translated as "this is my night", the title references one of the most famous pieces sung by the celebrated Egyptian singer Umm Kalthoum in the early part of the twentieth century. The dusty crackles and haunting strings that begin "Hazihi Laylaty" instantly call to mind the mystery and allure of traditional Arabic music, and the track as a whole fuses this spirit with a subtle wielding of modern electronics to create a thoroughly moody piece of pop-noir. Paying full respect to the complexity and consideration of the original version, both The Sorry Entertainers and Soul Clap embark upon unusual approaches for their remixes, managing to enhance the electronic elements in the track through more prominent production without losing the core ambience of Jaw and Keshishian's creation. JAW has been quietly working on a solo project for many years whilst also engaged with the relentless demand of his life in dOP, and now finally the time has come for people to hear the first snapshot of this venture. Bringing together a vast array of people, singers and producers from all corners of music, JAW's voice provides the glue with which a brave and boundary-l

All killer no filler on the new Legendary Sound Research release! We've got a split double A-side EP from The Saint Petersburg Disco Spin Club and head researcher of the label, The Legendary 1979 Orchestra.

SPDSC's 'Nightdriving' sounds like the soundtrack to an early 80s exploitation movie featuring crazy driving stunts! JKriv, of Deep & Disco fame, flips the track into a mid tempo piano driven stomper adding even more action to the scenes.

On the flip side, The Legendary 1979 Orchestra's 'Love Triangle Theme' is the actual soundtrack to the opening scene of the short horror film 'Matasari'. The track is moody and tensed but somehow liberating with its groovyness. Taking care of remix duties is analog veteran Ruf Dug. His take is reverby, atmospheric, sounding straight off a lost proto house tape.

Give the tracks a spin with the sun in your face or in a dark basement, you'll hear what they're meant for!

Midnight Juggernauts have forged a unique path, refusing to be bound by boundaries of genre, convention, or expectation. The band are now on the verge of releasing a new anticipated album, Uncanny Valley, out on June 17th, their first output for 3 years following their previous albums Dystopia and The Crystal Axis. This EP is the first taste of their new material, which sounds uniquely Midnight Juggernauts. Situated at a self-styled nexus between genre and era, their new output may be described as warm-hearted cold wave, interstellar harmony's, early 1950's house, steeped in the darkness of dusty Giallo soundtracks, audio spomeniks at once futuristic and rustic, a bold musical future envisaged through a soundtrack to a forgotten Eastern Bloc Tarkovsky film, sifting through the ruins of LPs past.

Hook swords

The mighty Sunchase smacks it out of the park with another legendary release. The track initially builds up with low, suggestive bass-line and textures from another world. However, the quiet is destroyed with sickening bass and an addictive drum pattern. This is a tune designed to get under your skin.

Identify

The AA side is a dark, unstoppable piece of drum 'n bass made for the hardcore faithful. High-pitched textures quickly give way to a grinding bass-line and Shuffling drums, while stabs and echoes punctuate the track until its high-octane conclusion. Not for the faint hearted!

okuz Recordings presents 'Fifty Five' a release that displays a wide variety of drum and bass styles by various artists around the globe! Expect the freshes beats from Fokuz residents Command Strange, DJ Clart, Incident, talented newcomers like Soligen, Type-2, Joakuim and rising stars Hybrid Minds, Paul SG, PennyGiles & Mr Joseph.

For the a side of the second part of the vinyl series Mr Joseph & PennyGiles provide us with a soulful roller called 'Give you my heart'. Smooth vibes, heavy delayed trumpet samples and organ cuts make this one a real beauty!

On the flip Command Strange takes things up a notch with 'Time Shift'. Straight up club material right here! A deep bassline, energetic stabs and a catchy lead will definitely turn some heads proving his tunes are an excellent addition to every record bag.

Great album. Coming in it's original sleeve. Superb !

*Winston Wright is another unsung hero from the Jamaican musical
cannon. Although many might not know his name, you will have
heard him on many records in your collections. When we say that
it was he who played that classic Hammond organ riff on the
1969 'Liquidator' classic, as part of the Harry J Allstars, we might
begin to appreciate his talents that bit more. But not only this, many
1970's classics carry his organ, piano and arranging skills and
even before that time, many tunes cut in the 1960's,as part of Duke
Reid's house band Tommy McCook's Supersonics, carried the

Winston Wright signature sound.

Winston Wright (b 1944 , Jamaica) began his musical career in
the 1960's as a session player and soon became an integral part
of the Treasure Isle Studio house band, that became known as
Tommy McCook's Supersonics . He played on many of the
Rocksteady era hits that Duke Reid ruled the island with between
1966-1968.His mastery of the Hammond organ made him an in
demand session player. One such was Harry J studio's that had a
massive hit in the UK in 1969 with 'Liquidator' as the Harry J
Allstars of which Winston was a member. The same year saw him
cut some great tunes as part of Clancy Eccles' Dynamites.
The 1970's saw Winston Wright working closely with Dynamic
Sounds Studios' nucleus of musicians Cutting material for all the top
producers of the time including numerous sides for Bunny 'Striker'
Lee, which we have focused on for this set of tunes. From 1975
onwards Winston Wright was a member of Toots and the Maytals'
touring band, but we celebrate here his mighty fine studio work.
Adding his touches to many a fine rhythm as only Winston could
we hope you enjoy the set.

Kavinsky is back with a first and long-awaited album, OutRun, available on February 25th. But before that, here is the first single, ProtoVision!

Red Sky Mix feat. STS (vinyl exclusive)
It was no easy job to tackle this epic instrumental. When he heard Sugar Tongue Slim's version of Nightcall last summer, Kavinsky knew he had found the man who could turn Protovision into gold. After burning up the underground rap scene for several years, STS is now one of the fastest rising artists around. He gave a big blow with this one and literally took Protovision to another dimension.

Boys Noize remix
Berlin's notorious producer put his hands on Protovision and turned it in into a nervous and elegant club hit. Get ready to rave on that sweaty bass and dark beat. 'If it's too loud, you're too old', they said

Blood Orange remix
Between producing tomorrow's pop talents (Solange, Sky Ferreira, Theophilus London) and working on his solo project Blood Orange, England's talent of note Devonté Hynes took the time to add his very own touch to Kavinsky's new release. Giving a fresh and girly feel to the original track, he delightfully transformed it into a groovy pop ballad.

Sébastien Tellier Version (vinyl exclusive)
Taste and simplicity is what it took to Tellier to create this version of Protovision ; highlighting hypnotic strings and heroic guitars, the French maestro offered a timeless reinterpetation of the original.

Tablon is a new France based independent record label. Supporting artists with a characteristic style, tablon releases music by passion, developing its own vision of today's and tomorrow's dance music.
After a first EP by Arnaud linked in a certain way to Greece, tablon 002 will come from Istanbul. Far from us the idea to make a worldwide music label or refer to any old war between two countries. It just happened like that. Sarp makes amazing music and we are proud to present his new EP. It is called "I care because you don't", the artwork is made by Nefelie and the mastering by Mathieu Berthet in Paris. As we care a lot about the vinyl thing, our releases appear first on 12" and then in digital.
"Hi, I am Sarp Yilmaz. No, not your household name, not the next megaDj, not the chart topper, just a guy with some machines and a passion in his heart, who is supported by some other guy who runs this young, fresh label, who is mad enough to release music that is not bassline obsessed, not fitting any of the genre slots of your favorite online store, that is as much hip hop and jazz as it's house. No, this will not destroy your dancefloor, nor will it make you dance like there's tomorrow, it's moody, sometimes even depressive, but I made it with a smile on my face. It's trippy, it's glitchy and it's slow. Music, I make to cure the sicknesses of my heart. Hope it puts a smile on your face too. I care because you don't".
Sarp Yilmaz - I care because you don't EP

With the homespun warmth of his album still keeping us toasty as the temperature drops in the Northern hemisphere, Dave Aju offers up two choice cuts from Heirlooms to receive surgical treatment at the hands of dear friends and respected practitioners in our beloved corner of electronic music. The divine boogie-fuelled electro pop of 'Caller#7' stood out as one of the most flamboyant and earsnagging tracks on the album, so who better to entrust the remix to than Seth Troxler and Subb-an Seth of course is a long-time partner of Circus Company, stretching back to 2008 when he first recorded an EP for us with Patrick Russell. Subb-an may be a new cat to us, but there's no denying the impact he has made with his releases for some of the strongest tech house labels around. In the hands of this formidable duo, 'Caller#7' gets sharpened and honed into a peak-time floor-filler. The vocals from Dave and dOP's Jaw and that inimitable bassline remain intact, with the focus switched to boosting the rhythms that propel this party-starter while a disgruntled caller drops in on Radio KAJU to speak her mind like a true soul sister should. On the flipside, we take great pleasure in inviting the maverick Swede Axel Boman to work his magic on 'Away Away'. After exploding onto the scene in a flurry of hedonistic imagination and cheeky originality, Axel has charmed all that come before him with his releases and his Studio Barnhus label. He treats us to a glorious, soaring version of Dave's track that shuns shortening days and worsening weather, and instead places you at the top of a mountain as the sun rises in a cloudless sky, gently building but never peaking in a truly life-affirming concoction of house music for the heart.

About the sound you'll certainly remember this Pimouss record for a long time too... Part of the Fanatik Sound System this EP starts with the long remix of "Emporté Par La Foule" (Edith Piaf) . A real good french Techno style. On the B side you'll hear 2 excellent tracks as well... A pure diamond for the dancefloor ! Loud cut. STRONG STUFF !!

Drumcode mark their landmark 100th release with a two-track EP that comes directly from the heart of the label's operation. Just as with the label's first release sixteen years ago, Adam Beyer positions himself at the controls, unleashing the shimmering 'The Color Out Of Space' with its euphoric melody riding on the back of nagging chords and booming kick. A product of Beyer's studio collaboration with Ida Engberg, 'Lovecraft' takes its place on the b-side, cutting a trippy journey through distinctive chord patterns and undulating melodies that bounce around in the mix, underpinned by a heads-down groove.

About the sound you'll certainly remember this Pimouss record for a long time too... Part of the Fanatik Sound System this EP starts with the long remix of "Emporté Par La Foule" (Edith Piaf) . A real good french Techno style. On the B side you'll hear 2 excellent tracks as well... A pure diamond for the dancefloor ! Loud cut. STRONG STUFF !!

Special 12” featuring new versions of the track Fa, taken from the debut Fennesz solo album ‘Hotel Paral.lel’ (1997). 15 years after its initial release, Christian Fennesz gives this throbbing monster of a track a new seeing to, extending it and adding more of that magic he is so well known for. The album was always an exercise in exploring alternate means of hearing club based music. This new version carries that concept further.

This is backed by a cracking new mix by the ever productive Mark Fell, adding his unique beat structures, and even a MLK sample, which lends his contemporary rhythmic landscape a odd nostalgic twist.

This 12” can be seen as a warm up for the new Fennesz album, which is currently scheduled for 2013 release.

RAWAX IS PROUD TO WELCOME MR. K-ALEXI SHELBY TO THE FAMILY!
Mr. K Alexi Shelby
Like a moth drawn to a flame, there is something utterly infectious about the music of Mr.K Alexi Shelby, better known as K-Alexi one of the founding fathers of house music direct from his home city of Chicago. Since the late 1980s, he has pioneered the true house sound, leading to a DH and production career spanning over 20 years, including collaborations with artists ranging from The Pet Shop Boys to Derrick May and from Larry Heard and Felix da Housecat to Will Smith, as well as gigs across the globe.
An impressionable young teenager, Mr.K Alexi Shelby developed friendships with Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy whilst attending seminal venues like The Warehouse and The Music Box in the mid 1980s. Being here at this embryonic stage of dance music culture, there were no rules or precedents, so K Alexi drew on a rich musical heritage that had seen him grow up in the 70s and 80s listening to Stevie Wonder, Prince, Curtis Mayfield and David Huff. Those roots continue to influence his music to this day.
It was under the moniker Risque III that Essence Of A Dream was released in 1987, firmly establishing the name of Mr.K Alexi Shelby amongst the most prominent of all house producers at the time. Moreover, those early tracks are still recognized to be the quintessential Chicago house sound. The rumbling and dark bass, smooth strings, incredible percussion and the spoken word poetic and erotic lyrical flow became the trademark for classic Chicago house and the template for everything else that followed. To reiterate, there was no template before this. This was the beginning.
This initial success has lead to Mr.K Alexi Shelby working with the leading names across the electronic music world and beyond. Collaborations and remixes for Chicago peers like Mike Dunn, Mr. Lee and Marshall Jefferson merely served as the springboard for Alexi to work with the best in the electronic scene, from Derrick May to Paul Johnson ,Ron Trent Dave Angel to Felix ad House Kat. Furthermore, his talents have also lead to him working with The Pet Shop Boys and Will Smith.
On top of this, his tracks have appeared on compilations by artists varying from Laurent Garnier to DJ Hell, who used It's Me 2010 contribution to the Body Language series for Get Physical Music. Produced under the Club M.C.M. moniker, the 1991 EP It's Me/Club M.C.M. has been a frequent selection for compilations for 20 years and is rightly regarded as a true underground techno classic.

* 180 gram audiophile vinyl
* Gatefold sleeve

One of the most eagerly anticipated albums of 1968 by press and public, Cheap Thrills met every expectation and then some.

With the heartrending version of "Piece Of My Heart" and a definitive cover of Gershwin's "Summertime", the album (which consists of studio and live material) shot to the top of the charts and stayed there. The audio has been sourced from the original masters, and Robert Crumb's artwork (also known for creating Fritz the Cat and the iconic Keep On Truckin' comics) is meticulously recreated on this Music On Vinyl issue.

A truly classic album and an important part of Rock history, this album is 'a time capsule for one of rock's most distinguished singers.'

Next up in the Delsin house series is a man who's been perfecting it for years - Düsseldorf's Andy Vaz. The boss of Yore and Background Records, Vaz has released two full lengths and many EPs to date, always exploring a heartfelt brand of electronica that draws on house, techno, Detroit and Chicago in equal measure.

Here he serves up two versions of the same track - 'Don't Lose Your Mind'. Both feature the sweet vocal stylings of Niko Marks and the first, the Soul Version, is all ditty, bouncy chords, floating, summery saxophone lines and warm, effusive synths.

The second House Dub mix is a little sharper - the claps cut through the soupy sonics like a knife and as a result the groove has a more urgent bite. Still stuffed with plenty of human loveliness, though, both tracks are surely set for many spins this summer given their classy feel good vibes.

This is the 5th release in the now popular vinyl series personally compiled by Detroit producer & DJ Terrence Parker. This project features two very talented women from different parts of the world who have the love for soul music in common. The 'A' side features the song 'Finally' with lyrics written, vocals arranged and performed by Reno Ka. Reno Ka is a soul singer originally from Vienna/Austria but now living in Hamburg/Germany. The 'B' side features the song 'Where Do You Want Me' with lyrics written, vocals arranged and performed by Kelly Gunn. Kelly is a soul singer from Detroit who currently tours as a background singer for the R&B artist Kem. Both tracks were produced & mixed by Terrence Parker to make another funky soulful classic TP release!

finally repressed! schöne deep groovende tracks!!!

Emerson Todd is our prized import from New Zealand. Since settling in Berlin, he's become a valuable team member at the Upon You headquarters, improving our English by cracking jokes and also assisting in the studio with technical needs. The man with a plan! Back in NZ he produced some well-known bands, but his relocation to Berlin sparked his specialization in tech-house. The results of his work have been heard on several labels including Cocoon and Saved Records, but for his third EP he returns to Upon You, once again showing his keen interest in funky sample work, pulled from his dusty vinyl collection. A1 'Inside Out' and A2 'Streetwalker' exhale radio moments from the past, but bolstered by the contemporary construction of modern power tools. The B-side is a winning remix harvested from the Thuringian Forest with a pounding climax, custom built by Mr. Mathias Kaden.

Jazzy, atmospheric deep house. If you like the sound of Larry Heard, you will definitely like this record.

With a bunch of releases on various labels Dynamic is now preparing for the release of his second LP on Fokuz. The LP consists of 12 tracks: 8 drum and bass, 4 in various other tempos. The Modal Lounge LP will bring you to a dreamlike state, it's smooth, jazzy drum and bass definetely not for the masses. Like Dynamic said in his KMAG interview ''I dont just write dnb for the club - I'd never feel comfortable being restricted in that way''. The album however is not just for home listeners, already receiving support by the likes of LTJ Bukem and former BBC1 Radio hosts Fabio and Grooverider this LP is already promising to be a Fokuz classic.

Leonard Cohen is indubitably one of the most legendary and successful singer-songwriters from the '60s. However, his label at first refused to release 'Various Positions', his seventh studio album, saying "Look, Leonard; we know you're great, but we don't know if you're any good". The success of the album proved them wrong, giving us one of his most beloved and arguably his most covered song 'Hallelujah', along other gems such as 'Heart With No Companion' and the Gainsbourg-esque 'Dance Me To The End Of Love'. This is a nice addition to the rest of Cohen's releases on Music On Vinyl.

Lunar Eclipse is black, dark and deep. Itís the moon behind the sun.
Rvds makes another tribute to the TB-303, black vinyl and Detroit techno with three tracks:
"Noises in black" (vinyl only track) is a symphony,12 minutes of noise, acid and synths, the
deep "Strings in black" with heartbreaking chords and finally "Lunar eclipse", a kind of deep
synth-jazz track ....................................... Limited to 303 stamped and hand-numbered vinyl !

Like hardly any other ambassador of modern Rhein Main House music, Christian Burkhardt has experienced a true rocket-like takeoff in the last year. Burkhardt's Cocoon debut EP "Stopover Goa" has, after one year, still a place of honour in many DJ's record cases.

With his sophomore album Ghost People appearing on 2011's end of the year charts for the likes of Mixmag (#6), Clash Magazine (#9), DJ Magazine (#9), Data Transmission (Album of the Year), Martyn returns to Brainfeeder to release a follow-up 12' this March.

The 12' leads with "Hello Darkness", previously unreleased and exclusive to the release, Martyn shuffles through a rhythmic bassline and feeling of, indeed, darkness from the very first beat. In typical Martyn fashion, the track skips its way through genre conventions, landing in a flux between 2-step, driving techno and old rave (the latter specifically heard in his ethereal and scaling upper melodies). "Hello Darkness" could lend itself to the rawest, grittiest warehouse, yet simultaneously breeds a subtle feeling of elation and release, and keeps the listener guessing with a variety of quirky sound collages.
It also features a remix of "Bauplan", Night Slugs bosses L-Vis 1990 and Bok Bok bringing the most sinister corners of London into their remix, with a heavy grime lean and a pervading feeling of tension. Erratic samples (sounds of a tweeting bird one moment, the cocking of a gun the next) appear in-between a snap beat, metallic stabs and an apocalyptic build-up of percussion and synths. Pulsing in and out of a highly volatile atmosphere, almost as if the track is alive and breathing, this "Bauplan" almost feels like an unrelated beast until Martyn's melody lines start to unfold halfway through the track.
To finish there is an exclusive remix of "We Are You In The Future", a favourite from the Ghost People LP amongst critics and DJs across the board. Techno's notorious man in the red mask - Redshape - steps up to create a deep and dark Detroit interpretation of Martyn's freewheeling, sci-fi-enhanced joyride. Laced with ominous vocal samples ('It may be an accidental side effect of the drug'), the future takes on a slightly more dystopian feel with Redshape's melancholic strings, unpredictable percussion builds and a lingering, creeping reinterpretation of the track's original melodies. A definitive nod to the epic work of Derrick May and Carl Craig, with a hint of Kenny Larkin's intricate builds.
"By the time the imitators catch up, he'll be light years ahead." DJ Mag

Up and away / To your journey to the sun / Drink your rocket juice / Fly away (Hey, Shooter).
High up in the skies, amongst the clouds, Rocket Juice & The Moon was born. Literally. It happened back in 2008, when Damon Albarn, Flea and Tony Allen convened on the same Lagos flight, to play and exchange musical ideas in that city as part of the Africa Express collective. Relishing a shared enthusiasm for one another's work, and bonding immediately, there and then the triumvirate laid down the blueprint for Rocket Juice.
Still, more than a year passed before conditions were set for three weeks together at Albarn's West London studio, recording and refining two-dozen startlingly out and deeply funky instrumental grooves. The next stage was to invite onboard some extremely talented friends, with further sessions in Dallas, New York, Chicago and Paris... Erykah Badu, no less, queen of contemporary soul. Three companions from Africa Express: Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara, whose debut album has topped World Music charts since its release last Autumn; her multi-talented compatriot Cheick Tidiane Seck, whose prodigious keyboardism has lit up releases by artists ranging from Youssou N'Dour to Hank Jones; the young, Ghanaian rapper M.anifest, quizzically existential, switching seamlessly between Twi and English. And the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, long-time stalwarts in the Honest Jon's set-up — since one of the team discovered them busking near the shop in Portobello Road, on his lunchbreak — with a second album for the label due in May... Finally, the tracks were dispatched for mixing to Berlin, to be meticulously honed, polished and envenomed by Mark Ernestus, one half of the legendary Basic Channel and Rhythm & Sound partnerships.
The result is Rocket Juice & The Moon — out March 26, 2012, on Honest Jon's Records — a triumphant exploration and proliferation of kinetic Afro-funk rhythms: organic, exuberant, communal music-making, evidenced by the project's live debut on stage as part of the Honest Jon's Chop Up in late 2011, which hit London, Marseille, Dublin, and Cork to such great acclaim (witness the flurry of smart-phone film-clips uploaded in the days thereafter).
From the inaugural bars — that absurdly funky slice of instructional timekeeping, 1-2-3-4-5-6 — the liquid pulse of Fela Kuti's classic recordings drives the action through a suite of 18 shape-shifting compositions. The greatest drummer in the world has never sounded so good as he does here. His intricate cross-patterns jostle and lock with Flea's nimble, rumbling bass riffs. Joined by Seck on There and Extinguished — 'when you dispose of something burning, be sure it's out' — Albarn's keyboards spray synth fusillades up top, over, and under... splicing into the mess of wires running between the freaked Afro-disco of William Onyeabor and the space-jazz-moog of Sun Ra. The HBE brings extra intensity and drama to Leave-Taking — likewise Flea's trumpet to Rotary Connection — teasing out the haunting melody coiled in the mix.
Where the best of vintage Afrobeat sides sustained their concentrated energies over the course of sprawling, marathon jams, RJ & TM manages something altogether different: the group bottles the idiom into capsules of funk... and real songs. Beautifully buoyed by Erykah Badu's unmistakable vocals, Hey, Shooter brilliantly traverses metaphysical spaceways sans any semblance of noodling. Lolo and Follow-Fashion — featuring the open-hearted sensuality of Diawara's singing, M.anifest's quick, brawny science, and more brass blasts — play like its musical cousins or codas. Indeed, the album's shrewd sequencing creates the composite effect of tracks working both individually or within the context of an extended song-cycle.
The lovely ballad, Poison, is bittersweet and ruminative: 'If you're looking for love, beware the signs / They will paralyze you one by one / Poison, it will only break your heart.' Down-tempo and dubby, Check Out and Worries amplify the range of styles and moods. And by the time of Fatherless — a chugging Afro blues that evokes John Lee Hooker lost in Lagos, one gets the sneaking suspicion there's very little outside the reach of this collective's inventive musical grasp.
There is, in fact, a palpable openness pervading Rocket Juice & The Moon — the sense of a limber willingness to follow creative impulse — right down to how the group acquired its name. When Ogunajo Ademola — the Lagotian commissioned to do the album's cover artwork — dubbed his submission 'Rocket Juice & The Moon', it quickly morphed into the formal name of the project, like trying to hold onto mercury.
Surely, the stars above also approved.

Here we have a new label and it's some of the best Techy Drum and Bass we've heard for a while. Counterstrike and Cooh do what they do best and bring their trademark tight production along with a load of bass that'll rumble any bass bin. Looking forward to hearing what else this exciting label has up its sleeve.

Hailing from Dubstep's home town of Croydon, Wheel & Deal Records introduce Surge. With a signature deep and base driven sound you'll come to recognise instantly, trust us when we say, you'll be hearing a lot more from this guy.'Leech' starts us off with a hauntingly atmospheric vocal track featuring vocalist Phxis. Sub heavy with marching beats and harmonic tones, this is a perfect mix of angelic vocals, and hard metallic beats. With exclusive support from N-type & Walsh.'Swaying Mantis' sounds exactly as you'd imagine. Intelligent beats, heavyweight and dramatic, you may have heard N-type starting many of his sets over the summer with this one. Unapologetically bass driven with relentless sway this one will get in your head and stay, in a good way!

POP AMBIENT 2012 begins in an unusually new but nevertheless somehow familiar fashion. MOHN with MANIFESTO is the opening act. A manifest of slowness. A slowness that Jörg Burger and Wolfgang Voigt have taken up as new mission. MOHN is their new ambient-grunge-down-beat project, scheduled to depart on its official musical journey to Middle Earth early 2012.

Matt Star returns to Mainrecords. Together with his older brother Locke, who is also the labelboss,
he produced two melodic technobombs, which are predestined for the big floors.
But thats not all. The Maintrack "Gaucho" gets an heavy remix by knowone less than Petar Dundov
in his typical hypnotic melodic style...

We are very pleased to hear how mainrecords developed their style this year!

Taken from their forthcoming debut album, the spellbinding "Alive In Us", Darkness Falls announces their next single, the melancholic and mysterious "The Void". Featuring the heartwarming tones of lead singer Josephine Philip, who co-writes with band partner Ina Lindgreen, the whole album was produced by leading Danish composer and recording artist Anders Trentemøller.

For their Summer Of Seven tracks Iso68 have, as usual, recorded many live instruments. We hear drums, guitar, keys, and brass, mixed into two tight tracks which unfold their addiction not at first glance. But after several plays the two pieces by Florian Zimmer (who also plays with the bands Saroos and Jersey) and Thomas Leboeg (member of Hamburgs Popband Kante) become essential beauties.

From the producer of Sally Shapiro and creator of the stone cold classic 'Spacer Woman From Mars', together with the mysterious Stockholm producer Le Prix, comes this beautiful slice of spine tingling italo disco pop.

Hallucination Limited delivers a limited edition vinyl only release from none other than fellow New Yorker"Zev of Wolf + Lamb. Gathered here are Zev's strongest outings for the club since the brilliant "Forget The World feat. Beckford".

The new Sound Signature is from Chicago artist Specter. When Theo heard a a CD given to him by the artist he just had to release this track. "A comrade from Chicago passed me a cd with some serious tracks on it. All of them I recognized except this one

This is RetroMetro's first vinyl outing and it's worth the wait. The four tracks of sweet soul music from Sailor Moon take you right back to that time when a bassline could bring a tear to your eye, and a one-note synth line could make your heart burst with joy.

Merc Music proudly presents new Artist "Edward", a new light emerging from the Black Country underground.
Having passed Mark E a CD full of left field house music Maxa & Naxa finally make their way onto vinyl with Merc.
Here lies deep distorted driving 4/4 beats and looped disco monotony, following in the vein of previous Merc releases this pushes the sound even further. You don't need us to tell this is the real deal folks - one of the best 12's we've heard all year !As with previous MERC releases - this is limited to initial pressing only - Get with it

When we heard Pompeya for the first time and were told they were from Moscow, we were like: - What! Are you kidding This is probably the first Russian band singing in English with such a classy Brit touch and male vocal being very strong and sophisticated at the same time.

Even if u've been hiding underground for the last while, you will have heard this being played out, and on N- Type's Wheel & Deal records Rinse FM show.