Verb T – Homer Loan 1 & 2 (Half 'N Half Splatter Vinyl Release)
UK hip-hop veteran Verb T returns with the long-awaited vinyl release of Homer Loan 1 & 2. A definitive collection capturing two distinct creative periods from one of the scene’s most respected voices.
Originally released digitally, the Homer Loan series has become a cult favourite among Verb T fans, offering an intimate glimpse into his trademark balance of sharp lyricism, dry humour, and unfiltered honesty. The vinyl release brings both volumes together for the first time, celebrating the evolution of a prolific artist still pushing his craft forward. Homer Loan 1 is entirely self-produced, showcasing Verb T’s production skills and ear for soulful textures and lo-fi warmth. Built around introspective rhymes and smooth, laid-back beats, it reflects the self-contained creative process that defined its making.
With Homer Loan 2, the palette expands — featuring production from Cuth, Farma G, and Forrest Moon, each contributing their distinctive sonic fingerprints while complementing Verb T’s unmistakable flow and storytelling. The result is a cohesive yet dynamic project that bridges the personal and the universal, the underground and the timeless. The Homer Loan 1 & 2 Yellow and Purple Half 'N Half Splatter vinyl release stands as both a collector’s piece and a testament to Verb T’s consistency and artistry within UK hip-hop’s ever-changing landscape.
Berlin’s Tal Fussman returns to Rekids with the ‘Walking on Mars’ EP, releasing 7th November 2025. It follows the Survival Tactics boss’ recent album on Binh’s Time Passages, as well as his ‘Definition’ (2024) and ‘I Feel’ (2025) EPs on Rekids, with Fussman’s fresh spin on classic House and Techno winning support from the likes of Raresh, Cromby, DVS1, Saoirse, Carista, Honey Dijon, and many more.
The ‘Walking on Mars’ EP opens with ‘Crystallized’, a cavernous cut exclusive to 12”, where Tal Fussman pares back his signature percussive style in favour of a rolling groove set against a deep, atmospheric backdrop. ‘Who’s Who?’ follows, its wild sequences and skewed drumlines colliding in restless motion. The title track, ‘Walking on Mars’, drives forward on hard-hitting drums that gradually unfold into a soulful house melody, setting the stage for ‘Knowledge < Machine’, a razor-sharp electro finale of snaking synths and an apt robotic vocal. Fussman’s versatility shines throughout, with the EP already winning support from Antal, Rene Wise, Marcel Dettmann, and Fred P. Founded in 2006, Radio Slave’s Rekids has since launched the Techno-focused Rekids Special Projects in 2017 and its latest sublabel, REK’D, in 2024. With Matt Edwards as the sole A&R, Rekids has been instrumental in developing emerging artists and remains a trusted home for House and adjacent sounds, recently featuring names such as Hilit Kolet, Frankey & Sandrino, Mathias Kaden, Huxley, and many more.
Following a breakout year that saw them torch the Sonora Stage at Coachella, storm Europe on the HONEYPAQQ TOUR, and rack up co-signs from Carl Craig, LSDXOXO, Jamie xx, Crystalmess, SHERELLE, TELFAR, Tinashe, Smino, Nia Archives, Earl Sweatshirt, and Denzel Curry, HONEYPAQQ VOL. 1 captures HiTech at their most ambitious: unfiltered, explosive, and impossible to pin down.
Across a stacked track list, the trio bring together the raw DNA of Detroit techno, Chicago house, rap, and punk, honouring the roots of Black electronic music while taking the scene to new global heights. Features include boundary-pushing collaborators like George Riley, ZelooperZ, and Na-Kel Smith, adding warped soul, razor-edge bars, and unruly energy to the HiTech universe and demonstrating how HiTech are the only act straddling underground chaos and mainstage euphoria while unifying global scenes across electronic, rap, and rock in one breathless body of work.
“Round and Round” is a tale of depression and the brooding repetitious inner thoughts that drain us. Dubbed by producer Daniel David as “emo boogie”–partly as a joke–this newfound genre illustrates familiar personal struggles of the current age. This A-side rides the fine line of unraveling deep emotions, ultimately coaxing you to FEEL the groove.
Conversely, the B-side “Finely” feat. B.Bravo is a smooth rolling vocoder jam, a laid-back anthem perfect for a cruise or warming up a fresh dancefloor: a high to offset the low.
Zackey Force Funk
Born into this wild world in Tucson, AZ 1974, Zackey Force Funk found himself in and out of prison at the age of 17. Once released for good, Zackey ditched a life of crime to focus on raising his family and writing music. He thrived in the golden era of Myspace, producing eerie, gritty music on pirated software, and swiftly grabbed the attention of Kutmah–soon to be followed by a plethora of formidable producers. Zackey forged many collaborations later with the likes of XL Middleton, The Egyptian Lover, Salva, Lazer Sword, Lorn, Brian Ellis, Baron Zen, Daedelus and B. Bravo, as well as forming the group Demon Queen with Tobacco, and Delta Weapon with his brother N8NOFACE. As these tunes were scattered across various labels and on their respective collaborator's projects, ZFF continued to hone his style, delving deeper into the psychedelic future funk realm of which he has created for himself.
Daniel David
Daniel David is a Bay Area born multi-instrumentalist, producer, and singer based in Dallas, Texas. 1/2 of boogie funk duo The Pendletons, Daniel’s solo music is a genre defying mix of organic and electronic elements including psych, dirty analog funk, hyphy, jazz, and more.
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The third and final volume of Classic’s 30th Anniversary vinyl series brings the party full circle - blending deep catalogue cuts, future-forward house, and tracks from the label’s tight-knit family of collaborators.
Like the volumes before it, this 2x12” release arrives in a raw reverse board outer sleeve, a nod to the aesthetic of Classic’s earliest releases. Inside, bold yellow and red GMUND card stock inner sleeves with embossed detailing reflect the label’s long-standing commitment to design, artistry, and collectability.
Record One kicks off with a certified Classic family affair. Home & Garden’s ‘Sexuality...He's 2 Young’ features the unmistakable voice of DJ Colette, a staple of Classic’s early era. Included here is JT Donaldson’s Porno Beat Down Remix—a stripped, low-slung rework with an irresistibly funky bass line and pure dance floor chemistry.
Brett Johnson’s ‘Jiffy Pop’, from his legendary Bounce! EP, follows up with a jittery, swaggering groove that epitomises Brett’s playful, funk-laced production style. Infectious, weird, and entirely unforgettable.
On the flip, Tiefschwarz’s ‘Acid Soul’ delivers a moody, muscular roller. Originally released during their prolific run on Classic in the early 2000s, it fuses baritone sax stabs, a Berlin-borne bass line, and a sultry vocal into a deeply spiritual house cut.
Roy Davis Jr. closes Side B with the propulsive ‘About Love’ (Solid Groove Remix)—a tough and driving interpretation by Dave Taylor that’s long been a DJ favourite in the Classic vaults.
Record Two showcases Classic’s more recent sonic evolutions. JT Donaldson’s return to the label in 2019 came with ‘Stay Inside’, a rich and breezy groove featuring the soulful voice of Liv.e. It’s an elegant and understated slice of modern house with timeless appeal.
Then comes Dam Swindle’s funk-charged ‘Hey Mister’. A punchy, bass-driven jam built around a 70s reggae-disco vocal sample. Raw and infectious, it’s been lighting up dance floors worldwide since its release.
Luke Solomon’s catalogue on Classic is vast, but ‘Come on Over’, his collaboration with Amp Fiddler, earns its place here. Seeing vinyl release for the first time, this cut overflows with musicality. Amp’s passionate vocal, free-time breakdowns, and deep funk grooves deliver pure emotional punch.
And to close, a modern masterpiece: Honey Dijon’s ‘Work’ (Extended Mix), taken from her ‘Black Girl Magic’ LP. Featuring Dave Giles II, Cor.Ece, and Mike Dunn, this powerhouse track brings together fierce vocal performances, live instrumentation, and top-tier production. It embodies everything Classic stands for: collaboration and innovation on the dance floor.
Introducing Beautiful, a 4-track, club-focused EP by Copenhagen’s Hekt on Numbers. It hints at his mass appeal while featuring club-ready vocal collaborations from close friends Henriette (on ‘Beautiful’ and ‘You Won’t Believe’) and Catharina (on ‘Anytime Anywhere’), who together record as Smerz.
Working entirely without samples, Hekt is a sculptor wielding digital synthesis and sticky hooks, with each element carefully constructed from the ground up and the process just as important as the finished result. “It’s about trying to be honest with what I like at every level,” he says. “To maximise the points where I'm forced to check in with my feelings on each aspect of the songwriting, sound design, mixing, and any other aesthetic choice. Creating digital approximations tilts towards an uncanny space where everything is crystal-clear but also kind of warped.”
On opening track “Beautiful”, the descending bass and acid lines are inspired by tracks Hekt and friends used to test subwoofers in the cars they rode around during their teenage years. “You Won’t Believe” started off as a MIDI piano sketch that accelerated towards the epic emotional impact of EDM stadium-fillers like Avicii and Eric Prydz. In a playful nod to internet culture, Hekt recalls that “I had this idea for adding a vocal that played on YouTube thumbnails and self-promotion. I called Henriette when she was in France and asked her to phrase it as epic as possible, and she sent two ideas over for ‘Beautiful’ and ‘You Won’t Believe’.”
On ‘Anytime Anywhere’, Hekt reimagines his sound at 110 BPM. What began as studio experiments morphed from Neptunes or Timbaland-style productions into a crunchy pressure overload closer to Gescom via Lazer Dim 700, with Hekt also adding his own vocals.
Irish born, London based Tree Threes aka Jamie Meehan joins the Soul Quest family for their 8th release of 2025 with a dance floor ready 4 tracker that could only come from someone who has studied authentic Deep House. With releases on Nervous, Morris Audio, Kolour and most recently Special Grooves, Tree Threes once again flexes his production skills which were honed at Secret Sundaze school, combining disco, jazz and soul influences all under the Deep House umbrella.
Following up a string of releases on labels such as Mana, Sun Ark, Orange Milk Records and Abyss, Other People are honoured to present the new album Fobia by Argentinian musician and sound artist aylu, real name Ailin Grad. Inspired in part of Grad's many collaborative projects over the last few years, Fobia sees her collecting and rearranging the music and sounds fostered within these to create an intimate, spiritually charged album that turns personal struggle into collective resistance and resilience. What initially started as a way for Grad to process her own experiences with agora- and claustrophobia, and an attempt to navigate feelings of shame and a perceived demand to keep these feelings bottled up and hidden from the world, she began to realise how mental health struggles are not isolated incidents but part of broader systems of collective suffering and injustice. “It took a long time for me to discover that my issues were part of a system that produces these kinds of symptoms and that it takes a lot of courage to find a way around them. I have the feeling that more and more people suffer from these kind of things in some way or another, and what was at first taught as something you should be silent about and keep private, I discovered that the more you talk about it and share it with people you trust, the more you realise that it’s part of something much bigger.” This tension and constant pull between fear and joy, light and dark, is present throughout the album. From the strained breathing featured in opening track Yodo echoing the suffocating feeling from claustrophobia interspersed with the lighter textures of Obelisco Elysium and Prospero offering up a sense of relief, to the almost cacophonous, immersive soundscapes of El Sol Mal, mirroring the complex, often contradictory emotions when navigating mental health challenges. Fobia invites listeners to move through pain with honesty, finding strength in shared experiences.
Italian producer, musician, DJ, and groove architect Sam Ruffillo drops his long-awaited debut album Tipo Così on Toy Tonics – a sun-drenched, genre-blurring statement that blends classic house with Mediterranean flair, romantic funk, and tongue-in-cheek Italo vibes. Over 11 expertly crafted tracks, Ruffillo delivers a dancefloor-ready, emotionally rich LP that connects deep musicality with irresistible rhythm and light-hearted elegance.
After three acclaimed EPs and collaborations with revered artists such as Barbara Boeing, Kapote, and Fimiani, Ruffillo has firmly cemented himself as a core artist on the Berlin-based label. Known for his unmistakable signature sound — a warm mix of vintage disco, 90s house, and Italian vocals — Sam’s music has garnered widespread DJ support from tastemakers like Gerd Janson, Palms Trax, Seth Troxler, and DJ Tennis, while becoming a staple on Italian airwaves. His infectious summer anthems like Danza Organica and Perfetta Così have soundtracked countless club nights and festivals, creating a loyal following that eagerly awaited this full-length debut.
Tipo Così is the natural culmination of a musical journey that’s both playful and profound — a travel diary written in grooves, synth stabs, and melodies that feel like postcards from a parallel Mediterranean universe. The album expands and deepens Ruffillo’s world into a fully immersive experience: lush emotional chords meet tight syncopated grooves, vintage synth textures collide with irresistibly catchy pop refrains, and the boundary between sincerity and playful irony is exquisitely blurred.
Entirely written, produced, and recorded in Italy, in his beloved hometown of Bologna, the album finds Ruffillo at the helm on keys, drum machines, and production, supported by a talented cast of musicians contributing live bass, guitar, and other organic elements — further enriching his trademark fusion of electronic grooves and natural instrumentation. There’s a tactile warmth in these tracks, a hands-on feel that adds soul and depth to every beat.
This album also marks Ruffillo’s heartfelt return to singing in Italian, with standout tracks like House Tipo Così, Mi Fa Volare, Ancora, and Dentro Di Me, where romantic naïveté meets pulsing club energy in a way that feels both timeless and refreshingly new. The vocal performances add an intimate, human touch to the music, reinforcing the personal stories woven into each song. There’s poetry in the casual, a bittersweet elegance in the way the lyrics float over groove-heavy production.
Having toured extensively across Europe, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Mexico — with sets at iconic venues like Panorama Bar and festivals such as Sónar Barcelona — Ruffillo has fine-tuned much of this album in front of live audiences. The real-world testing ground infused the record with a dynamic energy and immediacy that only comes from genuine crowd interaction. These songs weren’t just made in the studio — they were lived on dancefloors around the world.
Tipo Così is not just a collection of tracks. It’s a philosophy — playful, stylish and unmistakably personal. A modern club album bursting with heartfelt emotion and sophistication. Music for dancers with taste; for lovers of beauty, rhythm, and the little imperfections that make things feel real.
But what exactly is Tipo Così? More than just a phrase, it’s a way of being. It’s about embracing elegance without effort, mixing irony with sincerity, and letting nostalgia slip into the room without taking over the party. It’s Sam Ruffillo’s signature language: relaxed, confident, meticulous yet never rigid — where a chord progression can say as much as a lyric, and every beat carries intention.
The album’s visual identity complements this vision perfectly. The artwork and promotional materials lovingly reference Italian design from the ’80s and ’90s, combining bold graphic elements with playful pop culture nods. This aesthetic mirrors Ruffillo’s music — a fusion of vintage warmth and contemporary freshness, delivered with authenticity and charm.
Sam Ruffillo belongs to a new generation of European artists who are reshaping electronic music by blending past and present, analog and digital, groove and emotion — without nostalgia or pose. His artistic universe is coherent, vibrant, and alive; a rich tapestry of sound, images, and stories that coexist with lightness, precision, and a distinctive voice.
Reflecting on his artistic journey, Sam describes music as a vital, deeply human impulse — a tribal connection to rhythm and body that has driven him since he was a teenager. His creative process balances meticulous planning with room for spontaneity, usually sparked by clear melodic ideas that evolve naturally. Collaborations with close friends, especially vocalists like Ninfa, add warmth and authenticity, exemplified in tracks like “House Tipo Così.” For Sam, music is honest self-expression — crafted for listeners who crave memorable melodies and rhythms imbued with genuine feeling.
While technical perfection is tempting, Sam prioritizes emotion, knowing that what truly resonates is the soul behind the sounds. His long-standing partnership with Toy Tonics has been key in nurturing his vision, offering a blend of creative freedom and professional support. Looking ahead, Sam Ruffillo is excited to broaden his live performances, and release new projects that continue to blend electronic grooves with organic, heartfelt sounds — maintaining the delicate balance between playful irony and sincere emotion that defines Tipo Così.
Kurzversion:
Italian DJ, producer and musician Sam Ruffillo drops his debut album Tipo Così on Toy Tonics - a sunny blend of house, funk, Italo and pop, full of groove and emotion. Written and recorded in Bologna with live instruments and Italian vocals, it’s a playful, elegant journey shaped on dancefloors worldwide. A stylish, sincere club album where nostalgia, irony and rhythm meet in perfect harmony.
- Mi Fa Volare
Road-tested across continents and now finally released, “Mi Fa Volare” channels 90s uplifting euphoria with big breakbeats, lush chords, and Italian vocals built to stick. Somewhere between balearic bliss and piano house nostalgia, it’s a feel-good club weapon made for peak-time moments - already sung back by crowds after just one listen.
- Ancora
“Ancora” is a vibrant hi-NRG track inspired by 80s Italo disco, sung entirely in Italian. It blends driving rhythms with dreamy melodies, capturing the radiant spirit of the decade. This fresh yet nostalgic song delivers euphoric vibes and timeless energy, making it a perfect fit for both dancefloors and reflective listening moments worldwide.
- Dentro Di Me
“Dentro Di Me” channels ‘90s sensuality through a fast-paced, UK house-inspired lens. Entirely in Italian, it’s a bold and contemporary dance track where hypnotic vocals meet high-energy grooves. Blending nostalgic textures with forward-thinking production, the result is a seductive and euphoric trip - equal parts emotional and club-ready.
- Amigo
“Amigo” blends Latin groove, acoustic guitar-driven rhythm, and Mediterranean flair into a warm, magnetic, cross-cultural dance anthem. Sung in Spanish and Italian, it celebrates connection, inclusivity, and the joy of moving together - whether stranger or friend. With its unstoppable rhythm and vibrant energy, it’s a feel-good track with a unifying spirit.
- Ma Sei Fuori
“Ma Sei Fuori” is a tongue-in-cheek dancefloor bomb blending raw house energy with catchy vocal phrases and a nod to classic French touch. Driven by hypnotic vocal lines and a playful attitude, it doesn’t take itself too seriously - while still proving serious club impact. Built for late-night moments, it’s bold, bouncy, and impossible to ignore.
KinAhau returns to Crosstown Rebels with expansive new single ‘Under the Flowerpot’, featuring Luke Cusato. Backed by a cosmic, synth-driven remix from Perel, the release lands on the label. After debuting on the label with his remix of Airrica’s ‘Hi Speed Lover’ last year, surging wonderkid KinAhau steps forward with his first full solo release for Crosstown Rebels. ‘Under the Flowerpot’ captures a moment of raw honesty and transition for the young Mexican artist, revealing a more expansive, song-led direction in collaboration with UK vocalist Luke Cusato.
The single was born during a turbulent period, written in the wake of a panic attack shortly after relocating to Rome. That sense of fragility and release runs through the record, pairing Cusato’s stirring topline with KinAhau’s widescreen production to create a cut that blurs the lines between club energy and confessional songwriting. For the remix, Damian Lazarus welcomes Perel to Crosstown Rebels. A unique voice within the electronic landscape, crafting her own lane with a genre-blurring approach, her remix is chugging, synth-led, and infused with a signature retro-futurist touch, channeling cosmic energy and slow-burning tension for dancefloors that like things deep and driving.Now 22, KinAhau’s journey has already taken him from handing Solid Grooves founder Michael Bibi a USB disguised as a trash collector to playing at DC10, Fabric, Space Miami and Mayan Warrior. His breakthrough collaboration ‘Different Side’ with Bibi and Audio Bullys carried his name onto global stages, while his 2024 mixtape comprised of old demos, drafts and edits revealed a more confessional, unfiltered edge to his sound. Yet ‘Under the Flowerpot’ feels like a deeper statement, one rooted not in hype but in self-exploration.
London artist CASSIMM returns to Rekids with ‘I’ll Take You There’, landing 26th September 2025. It follows his recent remixes for label boss Radio Slave and his 2024 ‘House of Moves’ EP on the imprint, which won support from the likes of Paul Woolford, Dam Swindle, Hannah Holland, and Laurent Garnier.
CASSIMM’s 'I’ll Take You There' is a chunky House cut with powerful bass and rolling drums, joined by filters which build the vibe while a diva vocal rings out with raw emotion. It's a perfect mix of gritty production and infectious rhythm that lights up the floor with pure underground credentials, while the club mix of ‘I’ll Take You There’ hypnotises with a loopy feel and toughed-up groove.
Over the last decade, CASSIMM has amassed a massive following via a slew of chart-topping releases on labels like Defected, King Street, and Rekids. His best-selling, party-ready, and radio-friendly music earns consistent support across the globe, backed by BBC Radio 1 and artists like Honey Dijon, Nic Fanciulli, and many more.
Continuing the release series on our town of multicultural multimedia hub called Sakskøbing, which has been named after a lovely place in Denmark. This time a true veteran of electronic music DJ Honesty steps up under his moniker Honeydrop. Delivering four cuts of honest house music infused with elements of dub and break this release is guaranteed to cause the turntables feeling good and appreciated, they will be asking you for more. Hans has been producing music fanatically for long time with first official releases dating back to 1995 so it is a true honour to welcome him to the label 30 years later, now in 2025. The release is an intergalactic warm blanket with music on it that is completely ready for different moods and settings of the events/parties/listening sessions one might find itself in. Starting with “Penha de Franca” right until the last track named after the release’s title “Free at Last” a smooth ride can be felt which hopefully by the end of it will set the listener free, if it needs to do so. Free at last dear listener, free at last.
Ahead of the release of Hollie Cook’s fifth studio album, Shy Girl, the anthemic, feel-good title track and rootsy chugging ‘Frontline’ take either side of a 7” single.
Woven with tight grooves, beautiful vocals and catchy melodies, Hollie’s forthcoming album hears her more confident and open to vulnerability than ever before. The title track of the album ‘Shy Girl’ is a buoyant and elastic slice of lovers rock. It was written in a moment of spontaneous intuition, and bubbles with a charisma and positivity that Cook radiates. “I’m not a natural show-off,” Cook explains. “The Shy Girl theme is me. It’s just about being my most vulnerable self and being as true to the music that love as possible.” Doused in Hollie’s signature “tropical pop” sound, ‘Shy Girl’ is grounded in a vibrant bassline and classic off-beat reggae guitar struts. Hollie’s dreamy vocals radiate warmth and tenderness in equal measure, adding to the song’s soft-hued embrace.
The deep roots flavour of ‘Frontline’ takes the B side. Complete with raking electric guitar lines, a dubby bassline and weighty horn section, it’s a powerful cut that’s both ethereal and empowering. Wearing her heart on her sleeve with this beautifully melancholic piece of songwriting, Hollie opens up through her lyrics with an emotional depth and striking honesty.
Step into the emotional landscapes of Saudade’s new EP Expensive Noise, a multi-textured journey where analog machines speak louder than words. Each track captures a different state of mind, blending depth and groove with raw, honest sound design. The EP opens with “Expensive Noise” — direct, grounded, and hypnotic. No detours, no hesitation — just raw analog power locking into a loop with magnetic tension. The groove builds steadily, shifting your state of mind as the rhythm takes hold. “Anyway” brings a dreamy, bittersweet touch. Exclusive to vinyl, this extended version unfolds like a teenage memory you never shared — warm, nostalgic, somewhere between electro and pop, glowing softly from within. “Colored Life” dives into detailed minimal deep house territory. Rounded and generous, its sound design sculpts soft clouds of melodies against crisp, syncopated snares — floating between dream and presence, like a cushion made of rhythm and light. “Porte de la Villette 45” echoes the EP’s birthplace — a raw area near the Parisian périphérique, where engines roar, people hustle, and concrete weighs heavy. Yet within this urban friction stands Studio Villette 45 — a funky, soulful shelter where the machines find their groove. The record closes on “Cœur” (heart in French) — a stripped-down, heartfelt outro. Just a Prophet 5 pad, no tricks. A moment of vulnerability, stillness, and truth — as if the music had finally dropped its armor. Between analog heat and emotional honesty, Expensive Noise is Saudade at his most sincere — building bridges between power and softness, body and soul, sound and silence.
What is it about New York City, that concrete jungle that continually inspires the creative spirit? From Warhol’s Factory to Larry Levan’s Paradise Garage to David Mancuso’s Loft, collectives that celebrate and nurture unfettered, organic artistry have been absolutely intrinsic to the story of this sprawling metropolis. Its latest chapter is being written at the hands of ‘The Maestro’, Grammy Award winner Louie Vega and his Expansions NYC parties, the sound documented in his latest album Expansions In The NYC (Nervous Records).
Starting in February 2019 in Manhattan and Brooklyn venues, Vega’s Expansions NYC parties have their origin not in his revered prowess as a DJ but rather his whole-hearted appreciation of the different elements of the dance floor surrounding him: the dancers, the musicians who bring their instruments to join him ad-hoc on the night, the small, dedicated crowd of clubbers whose ears to the ground keep them informed on the underground party information. The events included 6-hour DJ Sets with Louie under his select curation, and would usually end with 3 AM jam sessions involving keyboardists, guitar players and poets all performing in front of a jam packed crowd. In just a few short years the Expansions NYC events have evolved into an NYC-clubland institution, an intimate celebration of house, funk, disco, afro, R&B and more.
As with his parties, so goes his album. The collective vibe that forms the beating heart of Expansions NYC parties is absolutely front and centre in Expansions In The NYC, Vega drawing in one of the most comprehensive lists of collaborators in recent memory. House heavyweights Honey Dijon, Joe Claussell, Moodymann, Kerri Chandler and Anané rub up against legendary vocalists Bernard Fowler, Cindy Mizelle, Lisa Fischer, Audrey Wheeler and Tony Momrelle. Gospel royalty BeBe Winans and Debbie Winans, pop icon Robyn and rising star Karen Harding sit alongside disco-era champions Unlimited Touch, Cuban jazz pianist Axel Tosca, Nico Vega, Two Soul Fusion with Josh Milan and Vega and underground legend DJ Spinna. At the centre of it all, fingerprint on every beat, touch on every groove, sits a master at work, weaving the individual threads into a rich dance music tapestry.
"In the past few years I’ve found new inspiration both from the musicians I’m working with and the audiences coming to see me at my DJ shows,” Vega says. “So for me this album represents new beginnings, bringing together a beautiful mosaic of artistic perspectives to express musically what we call Expansions In The NYC."
At its heart, Expansions In The NYC is a love letter to New York, as much as melting pot as the city it represents, the scope of its line-up possible only because of the influence and reverence of Vega the artist, the DJ, the producer, the curator. In creating this album, Louie Vega has once again utterly enriched the lives and libraries of music lovers the world over, far beyond the hustling streets of NYC that have so indelibly left their mark on his work.
Red Snapper co-founder and drummer Rich Thair to release a solo album on Acid Jazz, under the name Dicky Continental. 'Un…' is out 7 April, 2023 on LP/CD.
'Un...' was recorded, mixed and produced by Rich in his Welsh
Studio. Un, Welsh for ‘one’, features 11 tracks which all fell together in the right shape. Often the first, simple ideas were the best and weren’t
overthought or convoluted. 'Un...' is about moods and atmospheres, edges and angles, light and darkness. Downbeat soul to take you on your own journey.
Norman Connors' Mr. C is a masterclass in sophisticated modern funk and boogie-infused soul that was way ahead of its time. Originally released in 1981, the album finds the renowned jazz drummer/producer at a creative crossroads, boldly diving deep into street-level boogie-funk without losing his soulful, jazzy touch. What once might have puzzled jazz purists now delights soul/funk aficionados; it has quietly become a cult favourite and now, nearly 45 years later, Mr. C sounds fresher than ever. Brimming with infectious heavy funk, lush arrangements and soul-stirring performances, it's an album that flirts with perfection, ensuring its enduring significance in the boogie/jazz-funk-soul canon.
From its opening moments, Mr. C makes one thing clear: this is Norman Connors at his funkiest. The majority of the album is a straight-up party: think dancefloor-ready beats complemented by punchy horn riffs and slick early-80s boogie vibes. There’s heavy use of synths and drum-machines, demonstrating Connors' gleeful embrace of contemporary funk trends. Each track shines in uniquely thrilling fashion, showcasing Connors’ versatility and happy knack for blending genres whilst crafting unforgettable melodies.
Irresistible thumper “She’s Gone” opens the album with a dyno-Rhodes electric piano groove and a seriously thick boogie-funk rhythm. Lush string accents and horn stabs weave through the funky bassline, while the vocals (handled by a young Beau Williams) soar with gospel-tinged emotion. Over four decades later, it endures as a masterpiece. Living up to its name, the shimmering “Party Town” brings deep Electro-Funk Energy by layering bubbling synth bass and shiny lead synth lines. The groove is downright addictive, a brisk, brass-kissed jam that implores you to move. Up next, the sophisticated funk of “Keep Doin’ It” is a low-slung post-disco glider, propelled by a sleek vibe, leaning into the late-night boogie sound. Funky guitar, tight drumming (with Connors’ jazz-honed chops in the pocket) and smooth vocals urge you to “keep doin'” whatever it is that's working. “Stay with Me” works a bit of island flavour into the mix, riding a thick Caribbean groove complete with tropical percussion and an upbeat tempo that could almost be calypsoul. The fusion of Caribbean rhythm elements into an R&B context demonstrates Connors’ willingness to experiment with global sounds while keeping things soulful and danceable.
Side B opens with the sassy funk-deluxe workout, "Anyway You Want" dripping with that soulful strut. Bringing a real quiet storm swagger, “Sing a Love Song” slows the tempo ever so slightly into a sexy, swaying jazz-funk gem, featuring a young Glenn Jones on lead vocals. The arrangement is elegant, built on warm keys and an undeniable groove. The celestial “Love’s In Your Corner” is all about soulful uplift. Featuring the legendary Jean Carn's powerhouse vocals soaring over a brass-kissed driving funk, it's an R&B burner. The refined, jazzy instrumental “Mr. C” is a slinky, smooth, funk-filled mid-tempo groove, with sax and warm keys gliding effortlessly. Connors combines jazzy arrangements into the post-disco/boogie framework one last time, and the result is sublime. It’s sophisticated and cool and, as a finale, “Mr. C” wraps up the album in classy style.
On release, Mr. C flew under the radar but time has been exceptionally kind to this record. DJs, collectors and soul connoisseurs alike have since rediscovered its magic. As ever, this crucial reissue has been lovingly remastered by Simon Francis, cut by engineer of the year Cicely Balston at Abbey Road Studios and pressed to perfection by Record Industry in Holland. Norman Connors was something truly extra. He was a visionary. And Mr. C is proof.
DESTIN CONRAD, is a sultry R&B singer hailing from Tampa, Florida. A newcomer to the music industry, DESTIN actually got his start on Vine, amassing over 1M followers. Years later he received his first major writing credits on Kehlani's Billboard #2 album, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t. DESTIN’s debut project, COLORWAY, was released in 2021 and has surpassed over 120 million streams. He spent 2022 on the road opening for artists Syd and Kehlani on their respective tours.
DESTIN CONRAD did his first headlining tour in EU and UK in 2023, where he sold out shows in Amsterdam, Paris, and three nights in London. His sophomore project, SATIN, was released November 2022 and has been just as successful as COLORWAY. Fader described his catalog as, "lush, intimate earworms infused with a gentle touch." The following releases, SUBMISSIVE, & SUBMISSIVE2, showcased a new era of growth for DESTIN, landing major features on both projects and embarking on a massive 47 show global tour.
All of this has culminated in the release of DESTIN CONRAD’s debut album, LOVE ON DIGITAL, setting himself up as one of the new promising voices in R&B. Previously released singles include “The Last Time (feat. Teezo Touchdown),” “KISSING IN PUBLIC,” & “DELUSIONAL.”
This 15-track album features the original score composed by Nicolas Godin (of AIR) for Fire of Love, the Oscar-nominated documentary directed by Sara Dosa in 2022 (available for streaming on Disney+), as well as original music inspired by the film.
Fire of Love tells the extraordinary love story of fearless French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft, who died as spectacularly as they lived, capturing some of the most breathtaking footage ever recorded of their greatest passion: volcanoes.
Spanning 14 tracks, Serotonin includes standout singles like the acclaimed ‘Burn’ with Tom Walker, ‘Seventeen’ with YOTTO & White Lies, and ‘You & I’ with Nathan Nicholson. Written over several years in his studio, on tour, and at his childhood home in the Netherlands, the album’s creation spanned a period in Joris’s life that possessed significant emotional challenges, but as the title suggests, is firmly fixed on a strong sense of positivity and euphoria for the path ahead.
From ambient soundscapes, melodic house and immersive techno, Serotonin spans a rich emotional and sonic range—always warm, organic, and unmistakably Joris Voorn.
Marking more than two decades at the forefront of electronic music, Serotonin captures the sound of an artist in full bloom.
“This album really reflects how I’ve grown into my own sound,” says Voorn. “I’m not chasing trends—just making something honest, hopefully timeless, and able to move people on the dance floor. I want listeners to feel Serotonin—to let go, be free, even if just for a moment."
Schadenheimer fled Syria for Europe in 2016, eventually finding refuge in Germany. While working through personal challenges, they began exploring new wave, electronica and the raw aesthetics of post-punk, all of which shaped the sound and feel of this release.
Their first single, "Der Lärm in meinem Kopf / Selbstliebe ist egal" reflects a state of inner unrest. Drawing from experiences of war, migration and personal struggle, Schadenheimer shares a direct and honest take on what it means to live with constant noise/war within.
This release comes from something deeply personal but speaks to a broader experience. While rooted in the trauma of displacement and emotional conflict, the songs touch on something many can relate to. They explore self-doubt, emotional numbness and the quiet pull of self-sabotage.
According to Schadenheimer, despite the weight of these themes - there was always a sense that something within could carry them forward. That feeling doesn’t remove the struggle, but it helps to keep moving.
"Der Lärm in meinem Kopf / Selbstliebe ist egal" will be released on 18.07.2025 on 7" vinyl and digital via the Leipzig imprint, R.A.N.D. Muzik Recordings.
The duality of love and pain runs right through the centre of this compelling and highly personal debut LP from Sasha Pervukhin, DJ/producer from Zolochiv, Ukraine, currently based in Paris.
Over years releasing on his own Laconica label (as Alex Pervukhin) and more recently working at Carpet & Snares record shop in Lisbon, Sasha has honed in on a highly evocative, widescreen sound that draws deftly from his influences in classic tech house, breakbeat and hip hop. Now, on this new Carpet sublabel Nataraja — created for obscure, dark and experimental club sounds, downtempo, ambient and beyond — Sasha delivers four upfront and compulsive dancefloor tracks paired with four noirish vignettes, recounting a heart-on-sleeve sonic narrative about human contradictions: swagger and vulnerability, hubris and heartbreak.
Drawn from years of early-hour sets and the quiet intimacy of the booth before the room fills, Gimme The Sun marks the debut EP of Al-Veez (real name Alvise Marino). A seasoned guitarist raised in Italy with musical roots in funk, boogie, and blues, Marino’s release is a sonic travelogue of his formative years as a selector in a city, NYC, that quietly became home. The prominent guitar captures both the ache of departure and the bright, restless hope of return.
With a wistful blend of beachy, meandering textures, lush synth layers, and a hypnotic pulse, the EP lands in time for another steamy summer in the city—sure to strike a chord with longtime NYC house heads, whether they be behind the booth or lost in the crowd. Arranged in close collaboration with TSoNYC label boss Danilo Braca (also on mixing and mastering duties), theshimmering title track reads like a Dear John letter to New York. Tender, honest, and full of gratitude, it’s the kind of farewell only a true love could inspire—one that dances forward even as it looks back.
As the record warms up, “F Train Boogie” evokes snapshots of bright midsummer mornings gazing out a scratch-blurred train car window at the glistening city, while the track that follows, “Sneaky”, sizzles with cosmic allure—an intoxicating blend of luminous synths, tightly interlaced rhythms, and a commanding kick drum that locks the listener into an entrancing groove from the very first bar. “Underwater”, the fourth and final track, shares some of the same allure and mystery, but features a playful optimism, encouraging the listener to lean into curiosity of what the next chapter, night, or DJ set will hold.
Parallelle & Nicolas Masseyeff return to Crosstown Rebels with dynamic new EP, ‘Shake It Out’. The trio deliver their third collaborative release on the label on 18th July 2025, backed by a standout remix from Airrica.
Following their acclaimed collaborations ‘Renegade’ in 2023 and ‘Surrender’ in 2024, Parallelle and Nicolas Masseyeff return to Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels with a third instalment of their evolving partnership on the imprint. Titled ‘Shake It Out’, the release arrives in the heart of summer and showcases two original productions from the Dutch-French trio, alongside a vibrant remix from US rising star Airrica.
Dutch brothers Parallelle and French mainstay Masseyeff share a deep-rooted musical connection, honed across years of collaboration and a shared love for expressive, forward-thinking electronic music. With past releases on labels such as DGTL, Systematic, Rose Avenue, and Masseyeff ’s own Diversions Music, the trio have built a sound that’s rich in detail and driven by emotion, combining analog warmth, live instrumentation, and club-ready energy in equal measure.
A fusion of sharp production and live sensibility, ‘Shake It Out’ leads with layered drums, psychedelic stabs and a commanding vocal that urges listeners into motion. On the B-side, ‘Everything’ delivers a more stripped-back and introspective mood, with hazy textures and wonky sonics for the late hours. Joining the package is Airrica, making her return to Crosstown following 2024’s ‘Hi Speed Lover’. Her rework of ‘Shake It Out’ adds a new dimension to the original, dialling up the energy with crisp percussion, pulsing acid-dipped low-ends, and warped vocal treatments that inject a driving twist into the hypnotic groove.
Dutch maestro Kettel (Reimer Eising) is back on Madrid's Analogical Force with Inmate Shuffle, his first full EP for the label since 2017's Alacasa (AF008). This release features five tracks straight from the heart of Reimer's universe, serving as a heartfelt reaffirmation of his unique identity. Kettel's artistry is a testament to staying true to oneself. Artists like Reimer are not bound by fleeting trends or rigid genres; instead, he carves his own paths, constantly reinventing his sound with honesty and passion. This is why his material is reviewed again and again and serves as a clear reference for many. While Dubio (2025), his recent full-length album inspired by the soundtrack of the acclaimed puzzle game of the same name, explored cinematic and conceptual landscapes, Inmate Shuffle takes us back to the playful, melodic, and rhythmically rich territory that first captivated his devoted audience. Five tracks, five parties. Inmate Shuffle will resonate in your head for a long time. MUST.
As rRoxymore, Hermione Frank has been exploring the outer edges of the dance floor and producing music that goes beyond traditional genre boundaries for more than a decade. In that time she has covered plenty of ground from caustic and abrasive techno to long-form and immersive grooves, always with a focus on contrasting tempo, texture and tone. On previous albums she intertwined the electronic and the acoustic with elements of psychedelia and jazz. With Juggling Dualities, Frank takes a sideways look at New Age and Wellness culture.
Writing the album came about after many months of being unable to create during a complicated personal time which left her lacking inspiration, feeling creatively stuck yet emotionally uprooted. What helped was distance - taking time and space to disconnect from the struggle. That brought a different rhythm to life and a fresh perspective that allowed exploration without any expectations. A six-week surge of intense creativity followed in which the majority of the album was written. As she explains, "The record represents a journey of reconnection that conveys an underlying message of hope and healing at its core. I think it is my most honest
work to date."
Initially conceived as a New Age project but with a signature personal twist and some subtle humour, there is a familiarity to Juggling Dualities. It is warm and comforting with a sound palette that is refined but familiar - there are soothing signifiers and organic designs that nod to the motifs of New Age but passed through a more contemporary lens.
Juggling Dualities is an invitation to reconnect with yourself. It's music that encourages you to take a pause, be in the moment and reflect on the fact that no matter what challenges come your way, they shall eventually pass.
I know that people love to read the stories related to the background of each release on Future Retro London & how they came together, but I'll be honest, I have no recollection at all about how this release came into existence????
Sorry that I can't give much insight on anything to do with this release, I imagine that DJ Sofa pitched me the idea to get remixes done of our collab from her FR011 release and one thing led to another...
Rather than try and piece together the process of what happened to make this release into a thing, I'll just skip to the big ups. Thanks to Soeneido, Cheetah & Janaway for their remix work, to DJ Sofa for the idea (I think?) for this release and for her work on the original and to my memory for failing me in this moment where I was hoping it would come through for me.
Lars Bartkuhn returns to Rush Hour with “See The Light”, as deep and complex as we have come to expect but as always his ever-present hunt for new inspiration and unique approaches is clearly evident across all 3 mixes of this beautifully deep yet pulsating track!
Originally written as a final foray into house music for the legendary Needs co-founder, this production aimed to “push boundaries within the world of electronic dance music, integrate fresh new elements, bring new compositional perspectives to the listener and to create overall rewarding experiences.”
It’s a deeply personal track, best summarised by the incredible piano solo in the Full Experience Mix. In Lars’ own words, “I am ten million light years away from being a good pianist, but for some reason I NEED to play those kind of things…even if they are raw, primitive and incomplete and lack parameters like elegance, fluidity and wisdom - I need to express myself in that very moment in this exact way.” It’s these unrestrained moments of brilliance that create rich palettes of sound with deep textures, organic rhythms and joyful melodies that keep your ear constantly engaged.
The Full Experience Mix is a near-13 minute trip through lush vocals, complex percussion, deep chords and raw piano solos that guides the listener through the changing motions of “See The Light”. Backed by two dub mixes, Inner Experience hones in on the keys and synths - truly elevating those striking notes. Opening with atmospheric percussion, the Dub Reprise settles into a chugging rhythm that brings the drums to the forefront.
“When a musician/composer really goes ‘all in’ there is almost nothing impossible. If you really pour out your heart and give all the sweat and tears you have you create a kind of zone where everything fits together in mysterious ways.” - Lars Bartkuhn
Eko, or Eko Roosevelt, is a Cameroonian composer, pianist & vocalist. He was born in Kribi in 1946, the son of a local Tribal Chief. Eko developed his love for music at church, later pursuing his growing passionwith music studies abroad, first in Dakar and then in Paris. After concluding his studies in France he went on to a recording career and between 1975 - 1982 released a number of full-length LPs, 7" singles and albums on cassette, before returning to Kribi to take over the role of Tribal Chief from his father, a role he holds to this day.
While the name "Eko" may not be immediately familiar to all, his music will be well known to many, from the DJs to the dancers, the heads to the home listeners. Evergreen classics like “Kilimandjaro My Home”, have remained a mainstay in the record bags & USB crates of disco jocks since its release in the late 70s, while numerous of his other crossover Afro-disco gems have been bootlegged, edited and remixed by a seemingly endless number of both greater & lesser-known producers who have all paid tribute to his work. Eko Roosevelt’s position in the ranks of Cameroon’s great musicians cannot be overstated. As a composer, songwriter, pianist and singer he has influenced generations of musicians both in Cameroon and France and further abroad, while he has written & arranged for many of the Cameroonian musical community.
Here Canopy, with the benediction of Eko himself, officially reissues two of his works that have not been rereleased since their first outings. Stylistically the two songs straddle the line between Afro-disco, funk and pop, with a slightly Balearic, almost AOR sensibility.
“Phone Me Tonight” is taken from a 7” record that has barely resurfaced since it was self-released in 1981 on the “Eko Music’ imprint. The song is an uplifting opus that demonstrates Eko’s deftness for creating catchy songs that succeed in their songwriting prowess and melody crafting, both on and off the dance floor. It is a stripped back composition that employs the key elements to great effect. The groovy bass line is underpinned by a tight Afro-disco beat as Eko’s unmistakeable voice draws us in and with a masterful use of repetition and hooks, creates a song that feels familiar from the outset, while being brand new to almost all listeners. As the song develops, the synth lines lift the song higher and higher, culminating in a euphoric transcendence perfect for elevating the mood of any dancefloor.
“Take Me As I am Now”, is sourced from Eko’s first album, “Nalandi” which originally came out in 1975 on Dragon Phenix. Here we have another fine example of Eko’s ability to hone compositions that blend thelines between pop song writing and more loopy dance floor orientated structures. The vocal hook repeats throughout the song, with only minor variations, making the song feel comfortingly familiar from its early bars. An instantly appealing bass line sets the stage for the sleek guitars and taut horn arrangements. The end result is a feel-good balance of melody and groove that makes for a timeless feel with a positive message!"
Get a Life is thrilled to announce its second vinyl release.
This limited-edition record showcases four expertly crafted edits that breathe new life into original hip hop and pop tracks, transforming them into fresh, danceable anthems. Catchy hooks with infectious beats that are sure to resonate with both casual listeners and dedicated vinyl collectors.
Dive into the finest edits from Hessa and Alvaro Medina.
Don’t miss out on this limited release,
get your copy.
Featuring: Coby Sey, Mica Levi and Mark Pell (Good Sad Happy Bad / Micachu & The Shapes)
‘Affectionately’ is the debut album by London based songwriter and musician Raisa K. With self produced instrumentals supporting Raisa’s signature vocal performance, the record delves into the intricate emotional cycles of relationships with heartfelt sincerity. Melodies appear simple and direct, while the themes explored present a great level of complexity. Whether about trust, kindness, doubt, frustration, annoyance, regret, honesty, insecurity, loneliness or friendship, each of the album’s twelve songs lie somewhere in between a diary and a letter.‘Affectionately’ is almost entirely produced on Raisa’s laptop and written in her home in London, as well as finding small pockets of time on trains and buses, during breaks at work, during the kids' nap-times, at the playground, in the park. The production's backbone is formed by a synthesiser sample, weaving together a range of recordings and sonic textures.
This creates a consistent expression where diverse electronic styles merge with Raisa's crisp, candid vocals in unique and personal songwriting. Some listeners might recognise Raisa’s voice and musical language from records by the band Good Sad Happy Bad, which she is a part of. While ‘Affectionately’ certainly moves in its own space, a kinship with fellow London artists is also present, as the record includes a feature with Coby Sey as well as instrumental contributions from long-time collaborators Marc Pell and Mica Levi.
Liquid Memory returns with Stephan Bazbaz – Lithium EP, a collection of three dancefloor-certified heavy hitters.
Packed with deep grooves and undeniable energy, this record is destined for the record bags of the most discerning DJs and clubbers—a must-have for those who appreciate expertly crafted club weapons.
A long-time praised producer, Stephan Bazbaz makes a true comeback with this release, marking his first in four years after over a decade of delivering top-tier music. With extensive experience behind the decks and in the studio, he has honed a sound that seamlessly blends minimal dub and crisp house. From his celebrated residencies to his own vinyl-only label, No Waves, his deep understanding of club culture shines through in every groove.
Daniel Monaco and John Noseda join forces for Alektra, a new project born out of a deep love for Hi-NRG and raw 808 sounds. Renowned for their dj sets, trips that delve into tropical obscurities, Chicago jack and Rimini romances, the pair have channelled a unique blend of untamed house and shimmering italo melodies into pure dancefloor euphoria. Their debut release, “Shake Your Body,” drops on Bordello A Parigi. Neon synthwork is punctured by clean punches of percussion, scaling melodies set firmly in the golden analogue era. Key stabs drive the track with Only Bee’s honeyed lyrics pushing the energy levels higher. In true 1980s anthem form, the flip is dedicated to the instrumental with the synthesizers and their hypnotic melodies taking centre stage: Alektra’s machines smouldering with fiery intensity. That same intensity closes, Only Bee’s mellifluous vocals given the limelight for the acapella close. Dancefloor definitions redefined. Welcome to Alektra.
wiggle room is the long-overdue Blip Discs debut from pq - founding member of Nihiloxica (Nyege Nyege Tapes, Crammed Discs) and long-time label affiliate.
On the A-side, “igglewiggle” and “aliens!” augment UK styles to deliver two bassy heavy hitters. The more experimental B-side starts off very B2 with “ketty stepper anthem” and its wonked-out polyrhythm, before a stripped-back VIP of “aliens” closes the record.
Having made his mark as a core force behind Nihiloxica — the Bugandan-techno outfit whose explosive live shows earned global acclaim — pq now hones a functional club sensibility he first showed on Lapsus Records and his own label Spooky Shit.
wiggle room balances an adventurous energy with serious bass-weight, never stopping to stroke its proverbial chin even once. A definitive, forward facing statement that expands the peripheries of the dancefloor in an ever evolving UK bass-music continuum.
""A Synonym for Repetition" weaves together a tapestry of parallels, all intricately linked to Japan. The project initiates with a collaboration with a Tokyo-based musician, which ultimately fails to materialise during Jason Kolar’s recent visit to the country.
From an original approach that has to mutate in its starting phase, the record was conceived from the beginning to embody a sincere homage to Ryuichi Sakamoto, also a Tokyo native. Shaping ideas within the context of a city with a vibrant soundscape, through an exploration where tradition and modernity intersect in an ongoing quest for correspondences.
Yet, the barriers of language and cultural disparity emerge, casting a veil over the perceived connections and rendering them more projection than reality. This dynamic delineates the space observed from an external perspective, perpetually distant from true understanding, framing it in the fields of imagination, both Japan and Sakamoto. Nonetheless, Kolar tries to pay an honest ode to the artist and its scenic background, with all the implications and contradictions of this kind of process, even with the risk of falling into clichés, pastiches, and Eurocentric bias.
Connecting it to ‘vertical listening’ rather than to an obvious tribute exercise, he has morphed his sound to a synthetic and midi approach, aiming to set an ironically fictitious stage, one that resembles something, but it’s not really it."
In a blizzard of breaks and surrounded by towering slabs of icy atmospherics, Quelza comes spinning into the Dekmantel UFO orbit with an EP of grandiose proportions.
Anyone who caught Quelza at Dekmantel Ten last summer will be well aware of the breakthrough producer's affinity for evocative soundscapes — amongst his keen instinct for dancefloor propulsion its his richly rendered atmospheres that have made him such a vital new talent in the industry and club scene. The curious, extraterrestrial quality to his sound is the perfect fit for the resurgent UFO series, and Quelza has more than risen to the occasion with four tracks that take in the widest spectrum of his sound to date.
The title track 'Pensa Poetico' is a dramatic, 11-minute epic that moves beyond dancefloor rigidity into a fractured zone where rhythms splinter and shudder around immersive dub chords pulses and IDM infused rhythms . There might be the anchor of an insistent, staggered kick drum, but it's a simple tool to allow the freedom of movement for intricate layers of steel, glass, ice and dust before the second half erupts in a powerful display of breakbeat science. It's the most adventurous expression from Quelza to date — a track he credits with unblocking his creative process on the path towards a more honest expression within his production.
This spirit of adventure maintains throughout the EP, balancing cathartic compositional shifts with hyper-detailed scene-building and energy shifts that push and pull with your expectations. Quelza's well-established affinity for dancefloor physicality holds true as he twists and turns through these constantly surprising, nail-biting arrangements. Even when everything seems to fall apart, he'll sense the perfect moment to return to a pinpoint groove. Toying with minimal, modernist 2-step and complex organic percussion as well as choppy breaks, this is the sound of Quelza breaking out into a new phase where anything feels possible and his production vocabulary allows him to land audacious moves with mind-blowing finesse.
Private View is distinctly Blancmange while also expanding into new sonic terrain. There’s a deft marriage of futuristic electronic sounds, Neil Arthur’s unmistakable vocal hooks, and songs veer from buoyant and joyful to dark and brooding. Private View will be released on London Records almost exactly 40 years to the day since the label released Blancmange’s debut album Happy Families. This neat full circle of Blancmange re-signing to the same label that ignited things all those years ago is also reflected in the album itself, being the perfect crystallisation of four decades of creativity.
On Private View Neil returns with key collaborator Benge (Wrangler, John Foxx, John Grant), and David Rhodes (Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Scott Walker) also returns as the guitarist, having previously performed with the band as early as 1982’s Happy Families (as well as several other Blancmange albums).
Private View is a record that manages to capture an artist who is potently in the moment when it comes to creating new work, while also being able to draw on 40 years’ worth of knowledge, experience, and built-in intuition. “I'm really lucky to be able make the music completely on my own terms,” Arthur says. “Being able to just continue being creative...that's when I'm happiest.” As he said before: “within myself there are no limits.”
Blancmange is also reflected in the ongoing influence the music has on younger generations of artists and fans over the years. Contemporary electronic producers like Honey Dijon and Roman Flügel have paid tribute with remixes, Moby once called Blancmange “probably the most underrated electronic act of all time.”; while John Grant continues to profess his love for Arthur’s music, old and new, and has invited Blancmange to perform as part of Grace Jones’ Meltdown festival.
Meet Camy Huot: a French performance artist, music producer, and DJ currently based in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Known for driving the pulse of the underground scene via her events, radio shows and DJ sets at live shows & festivals (e.g. Best Kept Secret, Gothic Pogo and Grauzone)
The night stretches elastic, twisted. You’re a hostage to the rhythm, riding the edge of something primal and broken. Neon shadows flinch and fold into your peripheral vision. A voice, your own maybe, says you don’t have to worry about it. The night insists. The echoes pile up in your skull, turning themselves inside out. –It’s boring here, and I don’t wanna go home–
For her debut EP “Echoes in my Room”, Camy Huot set out to write about what she knows, channeling a primal collection of fucked up thoughts through an invigorating, brutally honest clash of feverish noise, cavernous textures and arpeggiated beats.
