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After a brief wander 'round the garden, Chilean-born Ricardo Tobar returns to the ESP Institute bearing earthly delights. With 2017's Liturgia, he introduced his creative point-of-view—instantly substantiating a sense of rhythm that was deliberately complex yet slightly rough around the edges, while touching upon his musical origins from the guitar-driven corners of psychedelia— however with his debut 2xLP Continuidad, he leaves us gobsmacked and seeking shelter as he leaps from dancefloor comforts and descends into absolute chaos (in more ways than one). Emotionally, the artist has crossed all previously self-imposed and subconscious thresholds, putting his true imagination on display and exposing an unwavering attraction to all things loud, orgasmic and transcendent. He's not subtly hinting at a fetish, but opening his arms wide with conviction, abandoning genre taboos and personally inviting everyone to join his enchanted caravan. Sonically, his appetite for intensity is clear throughout—epic chord changes, ascending peaks in arrangement, accumulating layers of grit that build into impenetrable blankets of distortion and feedback—a kind of aural hedonism that translates visually into the potent video abstractions our Mario Hugo has summoned for the album's packaging. This follow-up single surrounding the Continuidad album boasts the dirty little secret Bailemix of album track Recife—we wont go as far as uttering the 'T' word, but this is unbridled merciless tops-off festival gear for the massive. The flipside is another exclusive non-album cut Cuatro Meses De Verano, a rhythmic build-up that breaks into a low-slung funky stomper, Tobar's idea of a warm-up weapon.

Lavascar is a sound and music project by creative instigator and provocateur Michèle Lamy, multi-disciplinary artist Nico Vascellari and Lamy's daughter, the artist Scarlett Rouge.

Following the release of their debut album A Dream Deferred in 2017 - which was inspired by Langston Hughes' poem Montage Of A Dream Deferred, the trio will release new album Garden Of Memory through The Vinyl Factory label.

Drawing on the work of Lebanese-American poet, journalist and artist Etel Adnan, Garden Of Memory explores the tension between the organic and industrial, layering both Rouge and Lamy's idiosyncratic delivery over Vascellari's ambient and EBM-influenced electronics. After Vascellari described the debut LP as 'an evocation of Michèle Lamy sitting in a cave, surrounded by wild beasts ready to devour her', Lamy says the new record has loftier concerns: 'So far it seems like we are more in the cosmos... We are coming out of the hole!' Lamy continues: 'I like poetry, I don't like when there is sentence that tells you everything, I like suggestion.' It was for this reason that Lamy was drawn to the 93-year-old Adnan - 'a woman explaining what's going on in life. We can say everything is political, this is especially important.' It's a sentiment that Scarlett Rouge echoes: 'She wrote political poetry, and she is a journalist, so that's why I think when Michèle discovered her there was an immediate sense that this is now what needs to be felt and said.'

Rivertones - the recorded music of Caught by the River - have repressed their classic 2012 Dylan Thomas-in-dub 7" Under Dubwood by the Dubwood Allstars.

Although Under Dubwood might seem an incongruous mix - the words of Dylan Thomas, the voice of Richard Burton and the studio sounds of King Tubby - the resulting single actually makes perfect sense - a gloriously woozy psychedelic skank that places Llareggub somewhere just outside downtown Kingston, JA. Since its release five years ago, Under Dubwood has been a staple on BBC6 Music and was used as soundbed music for the BBC's coverage of Dylan Thomas' centenary in 2014. It remains hugely in demand from the Caught by the River shop and has been sold out for the last eighteen months. The identity of the Dubwood Allstars remains a mystery to all at Rivertones.

On the B-side of the Under Dubwood 7" is River Theme by the Time and Space Machine (aka acid house stalwart Richard Norris of the Grid and Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve). River Theme is a hypnotic, fuzzed-up garage groove that's equal parts Dirty Water Club and Trash.

After a brief wander 'round the garden, Chilean-born Ricardo Tobar returns to the ESP Institute bearing earthly delights. With 2017's Liturgia, he introduced his creative point-of-view—instantly substantiating a sense of rhythm that was deliberately complex yet slightly rough around the edges, while touching upon his musical origins from the guitar-driven corners of psychedelia— however with his debut 2xLP Continuidad, he leaves us gobsmacked and seeking shelter as he leaps from dancefloor comforts and descends into absolute chaos (in more ways than one). Emotionally, the artist has crossed all previously self-imposed and subconscious thresholds, putting his true imagination on display and exposing an unwavering attraction to all things loud, orgasmic and transcendent. He's not subtly hinting at a fetish, but opening his arms wide with conviction, abandoning genre taboos and personally inviting everyone to join his enchanted caravan. Sonically, his appetite for intensity is clear throughout—epic chord changes, ascending peaks in arrangement, accumulating layers of grit that build into impenetrable blankets of distortion and feedback—a kind of aural hedonism that translates visually into the potent video abstractions our Mario Hugo has summoned for the album's packaging. This might all sound like a warning for Hurricane Ricardo, but fear not, listeners will still find some security in the album's rhythmic underpinnings, and although this foray into primitive, ritualistic bang-the-drum percussion is significantly more dangerous than his previous programming, its the imperfection in his passionate studio performances that imbue Continuidad with something remarkably human.

The second of March's PY LPs is one the label has been eager to unleash for what seems an age. The killer new full length from ace experimental electronic musician Bernard Grancher. Coming to the attention of the label via his last record on ERR.REC; PY is mining much of this current wave of incredible French electronic music (as previous releases by Dialectric, Alexandre Bazin, (Arc en) Ogive and the mighty Cite Lumiere attest to) and is in hindsight, somewhat an extension of label head Dom's own record buying and digging habits just now (70s French synth LPs featuring heavily in his Utrecht fair baggage twice yearly!)

Grancher himself began his 'career' as a somewhat under the radar, host / director of 'mostly forbidden' radio programmes, where in Bernard's own words, he created 'incongruous sound collages, that gradually slip towards noisy or disturbing sounds intended to replace the music of others', within its broadcasts'. Then, armed with a large accumulation of 'machines I found at low prices, with an unknowing of quite how they function' he sought the help of friends Yan Hart-Lemonnier and Eric Lumbleau (from the hugely respected 'Mutant Sounds' blog, and his project Vas Deferens Organazation).

Then, having released what he describes as two 'rather talkative' LPs by taking again 'the concept of it's emissions: Hallucinatory slogans and Electro punk', Grancher, then released with ERR.REC, leading in turn to the PY full length here.

A fabulous LP hugely recommended to all kraut heads, experimental electronic sound collages, motorik grooves and minimal synth all figure strongly. To use one final quote from Grancher; 'Abandon any idea of listening comfort; this record leads you into a dangerous race that will be impossible to jump on'.

300 copies on vinyl only, released 2nd week of March.

After a pleasing start to the New Year, 2 same night sell outs on lathe cut 45s and a single afternoon sell out of the recent Gabe Knox LP, Polytechnic Youth continue their relentless release schedule with 2 more awesome full lengths. In their own ways, both totally unique but very much befitting the tried and trusted synth / electronic PY blueprint.

First up is the fabulous 'Where comes the Dark' debut full length from shadowy, underground producer The Slow Engineer. 'An album of sculpted synthsonics and Eldritch electronics originally released on a limited run, blink and you'll miss it cassette which sold out in 24 hrs. Heavy on basslines, with driving rhythms and tweaked synthesisers, it's a record which openly acknowledges it's nod to horror scores and the work of the Radiophonic Workshop whilst pulling off something uniquely and freshly new, with an assembled array of wayward equipment stored at his Analogue Hades base.'

British horror actor Laurence R. Harvey adds suitably menacing narration in places, and across 10 fabulous tracks this is a richly, deliciously diverse electronic record which comes hugely recommended to fans of John Carpenter, not to mention label mates The Heartwood Institute and Dream Division.

A one time pressing of 300, destined to sell out pretty swiftly.....

After selling out with the Rick Wade's huge release , RYMD London's
label comes up now with their third limited edition output, 'Along
The Way'.

A Coloured Vinyl Compilation Release made up by a team of talented
artists exploring different shades of Deep House and Dance music :
Club, Funky , Cosmic , Jazzy , Balearic , Disco-ish and Garage.

The 45 of Everyday People - World full of people is well known on the modern soul and funk scene and it relatively easy to find a copy for maybe 500 pounds. What was always less well known was that there was also an LP by the same band but labels as People Pleasure. I first came across this LP in Turku, Finland in the early 2000s when at the house of DJ and Collector Felix Manell who pulled a pile of rare and interesting bits that day. I did not really appreciate the true rarity until trying to source my own copy. The next copy I saw was in Japan in 2004 but was not going anywhere. Roll on 15 years, Russell Paine, collector, DJ and super record researcher called me saying he had finally unravelled the mystery and was talking to Bill brown & Al Hall Jr. Russel sets himself the hard task of only putting out unreleased material on his own label so we also work together on LPs and Singles on Athens of the North. After we managed to clear the rights the final hurdle was finding a clean copy, not an easy task. After asking loads of deep collectors, Zaf put me onto DJ Nick the Record who very kindly lent me his minty personal copy, a huge favour considering how rare this record is, almost impossible to replace. So we mastered from the vinyl (no tapes exist) and while it still sound pretty raw it is twice as good as the O.G. Been a long time coming.

Patrick Topping has announced that he will be launching his own record label, TRICK , a home for Patrick to exhibit his versatility as a producer, as well as a platform to showcase the wealth of the emerging talent which he has been pushing in his DJ sets.

Packed with three original tracks from Patrick, the EP-titled 'Watch What Ya Doing ' comes with the launch of his label TRICK and as a much anticipated follow up to the late 2017 Hot Creations smash 'Be Sharp Say Nowt', which continued to dominate throughout 2018. A year which proved another hugely successful one for the UK producer who was called on for the remix duties for Calvin Harris and added Music Radar 's ' Best House Producer/DJ 2018' ' and his third DJ Award for Tech House Artist to his list of accolade that include his DJ Mag ' Best of British ' award and reaching number 11 in Resident Advisor 's 2016 top DJs poll.

This debut release on TRICK showcases a change in sound from the acclaimed artist and an evolution of Patrick 's ever-maturing style. The British DJ displays a new style as a producer, one which has always been a part of his genre-hopping DJ sets, but for the first time as a producer, Patrick delivered an EP packed with darker techno undertones and raw influences.

The imprint's launch follows the British producer's sell-out headline shows at Manchester Academy, two consecutive nights Dublin's District 8, London institution fabric, his very own takeover at The Warehouse Project and as far as Melbourne's huge Shed 14 . Entering a refined and developed chapter of his career, the announcement follows Patrick' s Boxing Day set at Digital, Newcastle , the last ever party in his acclaimed Motion event series, with the UK producer looking to support and nurture emerging talent in future via the launch of ' TRICK.'

Man Power's Me Me Me signs up long-time friend Ian Blevins for his long overdue label debut. Blevins's originals are backed by stellar remixes from Austin Ato and Kiwi.

Blevins hails from the North East of England and has released on ESP Institute, Futureboogie, Not An Animal and Culprit. The prolific producer was a long time resident of the legendary We Love Space in Ibiza and is an enduring favourite on the UK scene with plenty of musical tricks up his sleeves.

'Both tracks on offer showcase the mongrel sound that I hear coming out of the North East region,' Says Man Power. 'Partly tough, partly playful, not simply techno, not simply house, and certainly nowhere near the most common contraction of the two words.'

Innovative opener 'The Serpent' is a suitably snaking, slithering groove with acid twitches, rubbery drums and raw percussive energy. It pings about in dynamic fashion and really keeps you on edge. First up to remix, Austin Ato makes his return to the label after his huge 'The Sound Of' EP in summer 2018 and gives further credence to Man Power's suspicion of his impending super stardom. He takes the 'The Serpent' on a luscious and deep trajectory that would make Larry Heard proud.

The second standout original is 'Unse', a dark stomper with cosmic rays that strike right to the heart of the dance floor. It's menacing and absorbing music that is steely and unlike anything else. To remix is 17 Steps regular Kiwi, who is responsible for two of Man Power's favourite tracks of 2018. Here he continues his run of astounding form while taking 'Unse' in a tougher and more robust direction that will really make you sweat.

As ever this is a brilliant and stylistically diverse package from Me Me Me.

Following 1 or 2 small run / mailorder lathe cuts, Polytechnic Youth follow it's hugely successful 'Popcorn Lung' label compilation LP, with it's first full length of the new year, and man... this one is just wonderful! A mighty record to kick off what promises to be another hugely productive, constantly busy year for the Crouch End based synth label.

PY often likes to quote the artist directly in it's press releases, and this one is no exception. Gabe's own words, more than adequately explaining the path leading to this killer set for 2019; 'It feels a little ridiculous to pretend that the person introducing you to Gabe Knox is some kind of bigwig press agent and not just Gabe Knox himself, so let me, Gabe Knox, tell you a little about myself in that hopes that you'll give my music a listen.

In 2014, after years of moderate success as a local musician and club DJ in Toronto, Canada, I looked at my collection of barely functioning analogue synths and drum machines and said to myself 'Instead of trying to unsuccessfully make music you think other people will like, why don't you make something that you'd actually want to listen to for once' I wanted to make music that had the drive shaft of Neu!, the punishing low end of King Tubby, the interleaved melodic lines of Vince Clarke, the melancholic, otherworldly whimsy of Raymond Scott and Delia Derbyshire, the hypnotic drone of Spacemen 3, and the analogue intimacy of Le Car. I wanted to bring the euphoria and hypnosis of dance music to the rock kids, and the energy and excitement of rock music to the dance kids.

This was going to be a tough sell in the clique-y Toronto music scene, so I figured the best way to get the music out there would be by recording when I can and self-releasing a steady stream of EPs online. They would all be a series, a snapshot of the evolution of that initial idea. ABC represents a compilation of the best songs of the first three EPs, subtly remixed and remastered to best suit vinyl. I hope you love listening to it as much as I loved making it.'

This really is a remarkable record. Displaying all the PY traits of icy cool blasts of minimal synth, motorik grooves, melodic pop via passing nods to early mute and sky records. Never before did label head Dom think he'd get the chance to namecheck 2 musical heroes from wildly differing poles -Vince Clarke and Spacemen 3- into one LP PR sheet, so he's understandably excited for this one's release!

250 copies on yellow wax in hand numbered, reverse board sleeves. Sure to go real quick....

* Five years have passed since the first release of Nowadays Records.Launched with Fakear's signature (seen on Ninja Tune), the label founded by oOgo and Chomsky from La Fine Equipe has seen the growth of many projects such as Clément Bazin, Everydayz, Phazz (who produced for Travis Porter, did remixes for Soulection, Interscope and Mad Decent), Leska, Jumo and many others, all of them carried by the irreplaceable quartet of La Fine Equipe.

Five years during which Nowadays Records released 75 EPs and LPs, toured in and outside of France, and generated several hundred millions stream plays.With its heart in the right place, its eyes on the emerging scene and its ears open on the world, Nowadays built itself a singular and racy identity through the time. Fed by inspirations like Stone Throw, Ninja Tune or Warp, the label places itself as an ambassador of a fast growing scene, defending it through its shows, releases, and events like the two Boiler Room shows in Paris and London.Without sticking itself to a musical gender, Nowadays keeps on widening its horizons by working with foreign artists and mixing the inspirations through its releases, driven by its sound and visual trademarks and aesthetics.

In order to celebrate those five years spent defending as many projects as musical crushes they had, and to thank its community made of more than 150 000 followers around the world, Nowadays unveils the 'Nowadays V', double album with a digital and physical release on November 30th.Through this compilation, Nowadays gathers on one side the tracks that marked its history and, on the other side, unreleased tracks that sometimes lead to collaborations such as the one between Clément Bazin and Leska, or the one between Fakear and La Fine Equipe.

First Word Records are thrilled to announce a brand new addition to the label - LA beatmaker and producer 14KT.

Known for his deft, soulful hip hop production, KT has broadened his palate for his FW debut to create 'For My Sanity', the first offering from his jazz-influenced project IAMABEENIE.

The album will be released in early 2019, but we couldn't wait that long to share this taster of what 14KT created as a form of escaping from his "normal" ways of making music. Case in point: the first single taken from the project - 'The Power of Same' feat. Muhsinah.

Strongly rooted in KT's spiritual practice, 'The Power of Same' is a bass and synth-heavy ode to consistency and unconditional love, laced nicely together by his signature drum lines, harmonious guitar riffs (played on the track by Stro Elliot) and the unmistakable sound of James Poyser (The Roots). Vocal powerhouse Muhsinah adds layers of emotion via her endearing delivery of the core message, and, deep in the background you can hear KT sharing a very personal routine with us all - giving thanks to God.

How much of a personal project this is, in 14KT's words "This was inspired by a bible study plan I was reading called The Power of Same. It spoke about the power of being consistent in our lives. I thought about how consistently God's love and my family's love have gotten me through my journey of life. Once I made a "skeleton" of the song, I reached out to the brother James Poyser who I was extremely blessed to work with. My brother Stro Elliot was living right down the street from me at the time. One night he walked over to my house, I played the record for him, he picked up my electric guitar and played the first thing that came to mind - which was perfect. I played the record for my brother Tall Black Guy, who suggested I reach out to Muhsinah to add vocals. I sent the record to her and two days later she sent me exactly what you hear. Amazing. That was definitely the spirit of God working. Huge shout out to my Playlist family. Love y'all."

To date, 14KT has released seven solo albums, as well as his collaborative hip hop album, 'Takin' Ls' with emcee Ozay Moore, R&B/soul album, 'Saturn Return' with singer/songwriter AB, and 'The Big Knock', together with Mayer Hawthorne as Jaded Incorporated.

Last year saw another duo collaboration album with Michigan rapper Ro Spit, entitled 'RSXGLD', a project held in high regard by the global hip hop community.14KT is also part of Jazzy Jeff's Playlist Retreat, alongside our very own Eric Lau, Tall Black Guy and Kaidi Tatham, who also turns out an unmistakably dope remix on this 7" single.

A very warm welcome to the family, KT!

'The Power Of Same' is available on 7" and all digital platforms on March 1st 2019.

Following on from last year's releases by Neue Grafik and Selectors Assemble, CoOp Presents step into 2019 with a new 4-track EP courtesy of Oliver Night; a DJ, producer & singer born and raised in North London.

In addition to joining the Selectors Assemble family recently, Oliver is a member and producer of Roots Manuva's Banana Klan. He established himself as a DJ some 15 years ago, and has since played across the capital, from the Tate Modern to Boiler Room. His music has been supported in the past by the likes of Tony Humphries, Kerri Chandler & Seth Troxler,

This four-tracker illustrates Oliver's diverse range of influences, from the initial inspiration of his Jamaican uncle, musician Hughie Izachaar (who worked with Lee Scratch Perry & others), through to his passion for London's broken beat movement. Oliver's sound epitomises tru-skool UK sound-system ethics; grounded in reggae and dub production sensibilities, whilst built solidly for the bruk and house music dances of today.

The set kicks off with title track, 'Make Believe', featuring the powerhouse vocals of BB.JAMES aka Bethany Barnett Bywater, who's had previous releases with EVM128, Spoek Mathambo and Waze & Odyssey. London-based singer BB is a talent to watch in her own right, as proven on this monster of a track, which has all the ingredients to crossover & damage dancefloors underground and over. Sassy soulful vocals ride a woofer-shattering b-line and synth stabs with devastating effect - a sureshot future anthem.

Next up is 'Swing For Life', an instrumental jazz-house affair, which features the talents of Vancouver-born trumpeter, Jay Phelps - a highly-prolific, highly-acclaimed musician in the jazz world, who found his base in the capital over a decade ago and has since worked with a veritable who's who of international jazz artists, including Courtney Pine, Wynton Marsalis, Amy Winehouse, Hugh Masakela & George Benson, to name a few.

Finally, the flipside brings with it two versions of the cut 'U Got To', remixed by Selectors Assemble family, Cengiz, and label founders IG Culture (fresh from receiving a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the 2019 Worldwide Awards) and Alex Phountzi (formerly of Bugz In The Attic) aka NameBrandSound, delivering more of their signature bassweight business. Oliver unleashes his own vocal talents on this track, deftly demonstrating a rich, soulful Omar-esque quality to his voice, and completing a truly heavyweight debut for the label.

This record is huge. Essential business, no BS. A truly firing start to the new year for CoOp Presents.

Limited vinyl & digital available on ********

Long time unsung UK techno artist Aubrey is to release Gravitational Lensing, a first artist album since 2001 and his third in all. It lands in early 2019 on Out-ER and across 12 tracks it finds him getting more personal and instinctive than ever before with jazz, techno, broken beat and house all colouring this most coherent of musical adventures.
Aubrey s discography dates back to the early nineties, when he was a key part of the UK scene on labels like Solid Groove, Textures and Mosaic. Up there with the greats from Chicago and Detroit, he has turned out a steady stream of music that marries perfect dance floor functionality with real musical invention. Always inspired by anything deep with a good groove, everything from synth band Japan to funk king George Clinton, electro break beats to Jean Michel Jarre all inform his work.

As a DJ, he cut his teeth playing the biggest raves in the UK with names like Carl Cox and Eddie C having been swept up by the acid house records that hit English stores when he was just 15. Add in a love of jazz, ambient and US house, and you have all the eclectic influences that this criminally under-the-radar artist has drawn on for his latest album.

It is one that finds him really put his personal stamp on his sound. It s a chance to be more who you are and what you feel without pressure to conform to a particular sound, it s a chance to be free, says the artist of the album process. It was partially produced at Out-ER s studio in Nard , Lecce over the course of a year s worth of studio jam sessions, and is his finest and most cinematic work to date.

Things kick off with the ambient synth modulations of Aerglo Visible before exquisitely loose jazz drums and sci-fi pads suspend you in the cosmos on Floating to Rigel. There is an experimental feel to the off grid drums, rippling chords and drunken keys of Doctor Portia that keeps you brilliantly off balance, and the first deep techno trip is Journey To the Blue Planet , which has gorgeous ambience swirling over rolling, dubby kicks and soulful Detroit synth work. Carrying on through more lush, musical synth work and inventive drums, there are moments of heads down dance floor power and hi-tech soul, serene techno landscaping and chord-laced deep house that is superbly cerebral throughout the album.

In all, it makes for a complete and storytelling record that draws on a rich variety of genres and reworks them into something deep, multi-layered and hugely emotional that works as well in headphones, at home, as it will in the club.

From four individual parts, with distinct musical pasts but also
overlapping histories, a new unified chapter begins with Piroshka and
the quartet's thrilling debut album 'Brickbat'.
The album is named after the word for a missile, which nails the
record's heavyweight lyrics if not the music's gorgeous, bittersweet
and euphoric pop. Think of 'Brickbat' as a wolf in sheep's clothing -
which suits the name Piroshka, the Hungarian take on the wolf
terrorised fairytale hero Little Red Riding Hood - a subtle nod, too, to
a certain red hairdo that stood out in the 1990s Brit-guitar-pop
scene...
The four band members are former Lush vocalist / guitarist (and
former redhead) Miki Berenyi, former Moose guitarist KJ 'Moose'
McKillop, Modern English bassist Mick Conroy and former Elastica
drummer Justin Welch. The connections between them are a
veritably tangled family tree. Before they lived together and raised a
family, Miki and Moose were notable figures on the so-called
shoegaze scene, while Elastica were Britpop peers. After post-punk
pioneers Modern English split for a second time, Mick became a
latterday member of Moose, while Justin joined the reformed Lush in
2015. And when Lush required a bassist for what proved to be their
final show (in Manchester) in November 2016, Mick stepped in.
It was the rehearsals for that Manchester show that laid the
foundations for Piroshka. 'We sounded great!' says Justin. 'Like a
proper punk band. Mick brings a huge amount of enthusiasm and
livens up the room, and I thought, this is the kind of band I want to
be in again.' Mick agreed. 'I'd seen Lush so many times, it was like
playing with old friends. Miki agreed it was good fun too. And with
Moose available, we thought, let's all have a bash, see what
happens.'
Though 'Brickbat' kicks off with a squeal of feedback, the album is far
from a proper punk record, with as much sublime delicacy as physical
force, with guitars to the fore but also electronic flourishes in all
manner of spaces. Combined, they drive the nuggety melodic bombs
long associated with Miki's songwriting
LP format includes digital download code.

Soundway Records present a special summer tribute double a-side 12" with two tracks from African musicians that both passed away within a couple of months of each other at the end of 2013 / start of 2014. Both tracks are perfect smooth summer tropical DJ fodder for the dancefloor.

On the first side South African singer Shaluza Max's massive Mashkandi / house anthem from 2002 gets a first release on vinyl. This track was a huge hit in South Africa and around the world on its release. With a soaring Zulu vocal and big sound it's a fitting reminder of a very talented musician who worked as a very well respected producer, composer and arranger who died tragically young at the age of 47 in January of 2014.

On the flip we drop a fairly unknown track from the mid 1980s from one of the biggest names in African music, Tabu Ley Rochereau. With a kind of almost balearic proto-house congolese pop cut with drum machines, and trademark sweet congo horn section, Hafi Deo is a beautiful track that fell into obscurity by perhaps being too smooth for the world music crowd in the mid 80s. Tabu Ley passed away in November 2013 in his late 70s with over 250 albums and 3000 songs to his name. A true pioneer of the congolese soukous sound, he was also one of the most influential African musicians of his generation.

Due to popular demand, 22a presents the out of print Ruby Rushton LP's from 2017, in a deluxe gatefold vinyl format, strictly limited to 500 copies.

The Tenderlonious led jazz quartet Ruby Rushton and their 22a imprint have been at the forefront of the UK jazz scene since the release of their debut album 'Two For Joy' in 2015. The band transport you back to the 70s Headhunters era, whilst still adopting the spiritual concepts of John Coltrane and Yusef Lateef. Audiences can expect to be treated to high energy compositions, fusing flavours of afro beat, hip hop, and Latin jazz.

Both Trudi's Songbook Volume One and Two were met with mass acclaim in the summer and autumn of 2017. They received regular airtime and support from DJ's, tastemakers and radio stations across the world, including Gilles Peterson, Benji B, Bradley Zero, Jazz FM, BBC Radio 6 Music, Worldwide FM, NTS and many more. The huge support for the albums led to Trudi's Songbook: Volume Two being nominated for Jazz album of the year at the 2018 Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards.

With a brand new album due for release in March 2019, this limited edition, 2xLP, deluxe gatefold issue of Trudi's Songbook: Volume One and Two closes this chapter for the band and paves the way for new material.

Rounding up five years of Heist also means we're releasing our fifth version of the Round Up. Last year's edition was full of highlights with Fouk remixing Nachtbraker's anthem 'Hamdi' and Alma Negra going all tribal on Nebraska's 'Big plate chicken'. This year, we've seen a lot of new faces on the label, which has brought us a fresh set of combinations and a couple of really nice revisions of the tracks that made our year.

First up is Detroit Swindle's take on Heist's latest signing Hugo Mari. They chose to remix 'Change ur ways', beefing up the dreamy original. They focus on a simple but effective grainy groove and added a twist on the bass to give a more 'warehouse' feel to it and play around with the lovely detuned keys and vocal chops of the original to great effect.

Alma Negra show you just how loose their limbs are with a Rhodes filled version of Kassian's Acid surprise 'Bad Habit', while the full B side is dedicated to Pitto's personal take on Adryiano's classic house track 'Me and you and her'. His version takes the track into a new territory that lies somewhere between balearic and dreamhouse. Whatever it is, it's got a lovely vibe where the vocal is complemented by airy pads and a touch of acid.

Kassian on their turn, have done a great job on taking Pitto's 'Treat me like a fool' into 4x4 house territory. They've opted for a sub heavy club track where reverbed hits and the vocal take turns over a solid house groove. Next up on the C-side is Adryiano. He's picked Detroit Swindle's moody-but-heavy album track 'Cut u loose' and does what he does best: a steady and nicely distorted filtered house groove that packs quite a punch. The final track of this compilation really is a great pair of artists: Hugo Mari and Alma Negra. Hugo takes the tropical warmth of 'This is the place' and adds a subtle punch with a smart percussion loop and some added pressure on the low end.

So there you go. Another year, another Roundup. We hope you'll enjoy listening to these re-interpretations as much as we do. Yours

Sincerely,
Maarten & Lars.

Seven Dials Records enlist the expertise of Hugo alongside Fiona McMartin on vocals for their fourth release - the heavyweight UKG tinged, 'Cold Fingertips'.

There's a dark UKG flavour to the 'Vocal' mix, reminiscent of the transition from UKG into early dubstep yet softened with those silky tones. Layers of sub bass and wonky synth lines intertwine, with the skippy, 2-step rhythm providing the perfect basis for Fiona's alluring voice. Label boss Seb Zito takes it more US in style, switching to a 4x4 swung beat, chopping the vocals into a mesmerising melodic element, and adding a host of spin back samples for full garage enlightenment.

Take to the flip for a dubbed-out version of the original, allowing those killer sub synths to come to the fore whilst echoing out the vocal refrains. Closing out the EP the 'Ethereal' mix ventures deep into the realms of dubstep with monstrous undertones, glitching stutters and celestial pulsations, ready-made to cause damage in the dance.