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Often credited as the father of multi-media theatre, Alwin Nikolais (1910-1993) took complete creative control over his productions - including cutting-edge approaches to lighting and costume that transformed human bodies into shifting sculptural shapes, while also composing wildly innovative electro-acoustic and synth-based audio as accompaniment.

After initially experimenting with musique concrète and tape manipulation (as demonstrated on the 1959 LP Choreosonic Music of the New Dance Theatre of Alwin Nikolais) Nikolais became the first owner of Robert Moog's synthesizer at the Audio Engineering Society convention in New York in late 1964. Relying heavily on the Moog and later the Synclavier synth/sampler, these 21 tracks document Nikolais' highly-prescient compositions across the mid 1960s through to the late 1980s - existing not only as extensions of his other-worldly choreographic productions, but standalone pieces of foundational mid-century American electronic and experimental music.

"Born in Southington, Connecticut in 1910, Nikolais’s early years and early career were in acting, music and puppetry. It was not until the late 1930s that he began his work as dancer/choreographer in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was commissioned by the Avery Memorial Theatre, a part of the Wadsworth Atheneum, to create an evening-length work to the music of Ernst Krenek. Previously his work and study as a pianist-organist found him accompanying silent films. This sort of accompaniment required from the musician not only a playing skill but also a versatility in improvisation, matching movement to sound, and evoking mood to situation.

Nik was drawn initially to dance by his involvement with the percussion scores used by the illustrious early twentieth century German dancer Mary Wigman. In trying to learn more about percussion, he was lured into dance class and thus his career began. His development of music and dance occurred simultaneously. His introduction to the twelve-tone technique opened his mind to the expanding areas of atonal music, and his dealing with music as sound per se. In 1948, after being appointed director of the Henry Street Playhouse in New York, Nikolais formed the Playhouse Dance Company, later known as the Nikolais Dance Theater, and began his aesthetic orientation toward dance as a study of motion. By the 1950s, he had ceased creating literal dances and began his explorations and eventual milieu as an abstractionist.

Sound became an important part of his abstract theatre. For his first dances, which involved his new thinking of dance as both a visual and kinetic art, he used live percussion scores in which he directed his dancers to play instruments of all nature. There was a combination of children’s toy instruments as well as harsh and resonant automobile brake drums, and other pitched auto parts which he also used to accompany classes. Once he installed his own tape recording machines, he quickly used the limited range these instruments provided in a new way, slowing and increasing speed and reversing sound. He also made the sounds adhere to the choreographic structure (not the other way around), thereby giving the dance its independence from the musical phrasing. But the real need remained: the search for new sound. Nik made a sound library, recording noises and percussion and vocal sounds, which the French aptly called musique concrète. Needless to say, he became a master at splicing bits and pieces.

From 1956 to 1962 Nikolais composed eleven major scores for his theatre pieces using such techniques. In 1963, James Seawright, who at the time was assisting Nik in his productions and also working at the Columbia-Princeton Center for Electronic Music, recorded a sound bank for the production Imago (1963). With this material, Nikolais created his first synthesizer score. Imago won the Paris Grand Prix in 1968 and launched the Nikolais Dance Theatre towards its national and primarily international acclaim.

During the same period, Seawright came to Nik and told him of a young man who had invented and constructed a simplified synthesizer and insisted that Nik visit the electronic fair currently being held in New York. Nik did so and met Robert Moog. He was completely taken by the new machine and after making some suggestions to Moog, (which Moog made), Nik bought the inventor’s first machine with the aid of a Guggenheim Fellowship. Moog himself was astonished by what his machine could produce for Nik. This machine was later acquired by the Museum of Musical Instruments at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor as the first Moog synthesizer. The Synclavier was Nik’s next source of sound and since the mid-1970s remained the major instrument in the Nikolais soundroom.

Alwin Nikolais has been honored and awarded throughout the world. He has received the French Legion of Honor, the Kennedy Center Honors, National Medal of the Arts, two Guggenheim Fellowships, as well as Mellon, Ford, and Rockefeller grants. He has been a recipient of NEA grants since 1966, been awarded five honorary doctorates, all for his remarkable achievements in Dance Theater. His genius has influenced several generations of artists."
—Murray Louis

Perry Louis is a pivotal figure in the UK jazz dance movement. As a dancer and choreographer, producer, DJ, broadcaster, and founder of the internationally respected jazz dance collective JazzCotech Dancers, he is perfectly placed to curate this collection.

Perry has been at the heart of the scene since the early 1980s, from JAFFAS, the Electric Ballroom, Dingwalls, Acid Jazz, Hi Hat, and Messin’ Around, taking its energy and sound as far as Japan, the USA, St. Lucia, India, Canada, and across Europe.

This compilation celebrates 25 years of Shiftless Shuffle, with Perry as its ambassador and driving force. Over the years, he has collaborated with top DJs including Paul Murphy, Gilles Peterson, Snowboy, Colin Curtis, and Shuya Okino, helping shape the UK jazz dance sound into a global phenomenon.

The album blends deep jazz, fusion, Latin, and groove-driven tracks, reflecting both the scene’s rich heritage and its forward momentum.

From the brand-new exclusive track by Kyoto Jazz Massive, Get It Together (Samba Fusion Mix), to Bunny Brunel’s Fickle Funk appearing on vinyl for the very first time, and the hard-hitting Caribbean Fire Dance by Tom Grant, this compilation tells the story of a movement—an underground culture born on UK dancefloors that has now captured a worldwide audience.

Der Euro-Disco-Klassiker „Jasmin China Girl“ von Mozzart aus dem Jahr 1988 feiert sein großes Comeback und erscheint jetzt endlich wieder als farbige Maxi-Single auf Vinyl. Der legendäre Dancefloor-Hit zählt bis heute zu den beliebtesten Euro-Disco-Tracks der späten 80er Jahre und begeistert mit seinem eingängigen Refrain, charakteristischen SynthesizerSounds und dem unverwechselbaren Retro-Feeling.

Neben den originalen Maxi-Versionen des Kultsongs dürfen sich Fans und Sammler auf ein besonderes Extra freuen: Auf der B-Seite befinden sich brandneue Remixe, die den klassischen Mozzart-Sound modern interpretieren und gleichzeitig den Charme des Originals bewahren. So trifft nostalgischer 80s-Disco-Sound auf zeitgemäße Club-Elemente und sorgt für frischen Wind auf dem Plattenteller

Following the launch of the SOMA35 project with a celebration of Soma’s enduring catalogue, SOMA35.2 turns its attention to one of the defining releases in Soma Records history—Surgeon's seminal 1996 EP, Muggerscum Out. As Soma Records continues its 35th anniversary celebrations, the SOMA35 series shines a light on the records that helped define not only the label's identity, but the evolution of techno itself, creating a dialogue between the label's past, present and future. Originally released at a pivotal moment in UK techno, Muggerscum Out captured Surgeon at his most uncompromising. Its stripped-back intensity, industrial edge and hypnotic power would go on to become hallmarks of Birmingham techno, influencing countless artists while cementing Soma's reputation as a home for fearless electronic music. For SOMA35.2, four respected producers each take a unique approach to reimagining these timeless cuts.

Following up the launch of his own Dustbin Digs label, Manchester local Rossiter piles four of his own atop the stack of goodtunes97 wax.
Side A lifts off into the clouds with Feels So Good. The rhythmic shuffle, hint of UKG, and a determined bassline get to the gate as spacey chords are cleared for takeoff. Go Straight carries the trajectory, pressurizing the cabin in breezy dubbed transit. Keys vaporize on the periphery as Rossiter mitigates turbulence with careful cadence, maneuvering high-altitude with grace.
With two stops still to go, the B-Side gets off and running upon arrival. Round & Round kicks up dust as the low end stomps out the homestretch, tenaciously hitching a ride to our final destination. P45 is the long awaited return to familiar territory – nostalgic chords carrying beats so blissed they stutter. Interview samples from legendary UK producer/DJ Grooverider give the track a cultural anchor, connecting its contemporary sound to the lineage of UK dance music and the culture that shaped it.
Each side balanced with equal parts heavy and light, Rossiter’s Round & Round EP firms up the fifth release for goodtunes97.
– Forrest Camire

The debut release by Confusion on Incompetence Records documents an exercise in disciplined spontaneity, a jam session where organic interaction is rigorously shaped into form. Recorded live in Belgrade by Dmitrii Steinberg, Aleksei Siubaev, Viktor Volkovich, Evgenii Piankov, and Leonid Lipelis, the material was subsequently dissected and reassembled with a scalpel like precision reminiscent of Teo Macero’s landmark edits for Miles Davis. What emerges is not a loose improvisational document but a suite of cohesive constructed pieces: weightless structures suspended over a hypnotic pulse, steeped in cosmic vibes and soft psychedelia. There is a slo mo insistence to the grooves, a kosmiche drift that folds jazz funk rituals into something both intimate and expansive. For musicians previously orbiting rare groove, house, indie rock, and modern composition, Confusion expands their explorations into a terrain where genre dissolves into texture and intention. The record’s mesmerizing beauty lies in its restraint, motifs surface, dissolve, and return as if refracted through magnetic tape memory, each fragment locked into place yet breathing with human elasticity. Rather than presenting virtuosity, the quintet channels it into atmosphere, into a patient, glowing continuum that feels less like a jam and more like a carefully mapped inner cosmos, calibrated for deep listening and slow revelation.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the release of Remek Depo, the very first electronic record from the former Yugoslavia, the group Beograd has decided to unveil eight previously unreleased tracks in the context originally intended. The band initially planned to title their first album as Mrak ( eng. Dark). Recorded with Du Du A and other collaborators, this album serves as a manifesto of resistance—not only in Belgrade and Yugoslavia but everywhere else.

The A-side opens with the track 1984, named after George Orwell’s seminal novel. This piece was recorded in a single night in the same year, featuring Zoran Zagorcic (Du Du A) and one of the first Yamaha DX7 synthesizers. It encapsulates the dark and tense atmosphere of Belgrade during a period marked by economic crisis, characterized by shortages of essential products like coffee and oil, as well as electricity restrictions. This oppressive environment also impacted personal relationships, leading to unconventional expressions of passion and desire, as exemplified by the subsequent track from 1985, Mracni Predjet Zelja (eng: That Obscure Object of Desire). However, the primary source of frustration was political, stemming from the abuse of nationalism and the incitement of inter-ethnic conflicts within the complex Yugoslav society. This sentiment is vividly illustrated in the songs Hare Krishna and Belgrade Beat, recorded just before the country’s collapse in 1991. Remarkably, despite their protest, these songs convey messages of strong optimism and hope. In “Belgrade Beat Dejan Kostic (Du Du A) raps and Dejan Stanisavljevic sings. ”Od Studija B do Amerike, Beograd širi svoje talase, mi nismo sami u nama je svet, dolazi veliki preokret” (eng. “From Studio B to the USA, Belgrade spreads its waves, we are not alone, the whole world is with us, a great change comes!”). It is no surprise that this song was frequently broadcast on student Radio Index during the student and anti-war protests in 1992.

The B-side features contemporary songs produced by Beograd, which reflect protests against the current societal conditions in post-war Belgrade. Crafted with musical clarity and irony, these tracks satirize figures of repression, hitting their mark with an almost childlike purity, reminiscent of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” The collaboration between Dejan Stanisavljevic, the leader of the Beograd and the Du Du A group not only influenced his musical expression but also laid the groundwork for the group’s socially engaged music in their later career.

As we remember the two late leaders of the Du Du A group, Dejan Kostic and Zoran Zagorcic, alongside the recently departed member of the Beograd, Milan Bubalo, this gramophone record stands as an important testament to the contributions of previous generations of artists in the fight for a fairer society. We hope it will inspire the younger generation in their current struggles, especially at a time when such inspiration is needed more than ever.

En Direct presents “No More Spectacles”, the fourth release from one of the finest electro EBM projects worldwide. With this new work, En Direct leans further into a sharper and more emotionally charged EBM sound while making clear they do not renounce their roots as the driving force behind the influential electro imprint Clear Memory. The record is infused with strong post- punk overtones, somewhere between the cold intensity of classic body music and the melancholic tension of post-punk reimagined through EBM structures. No More Spectacles delivers a sound that feels both immediate and deeply atmospheric. Drill-like kicks hammer through the mix while distorted basslines split the tracks wide open, locking into martial and commanding vocal lines that push the energy forward with relentless precision. Mechanical yet deeply human, the record balances darkness, groove, and emotional weight with remarkable control. Built for strobe-lit floors and restless bodies, “No More Spectacles” confirms En Direct as masters of a sound where post- punk sensibility and EBM functionality collide at full force. Presented in ONE-OFF truly limited edition of 300 copies lacquered pressed on 180 gr. high quality solid BLACK vinyl. All tracks have been specially remastered and mastered for vinyl by Daniel Hallhuber at Young and Cold Studios (Germany).

Sciahri and Sublunar are truly proud to present the next chapter in the label's journey: Hadone's debut album, Kept What Remained. Known as the co-founder of TSSRCT alongside UFO95, and following his contribution to Veil Of Echoes II, Hadone returns to Sublunar with a body of work that fully showcases the breadth of his artistic vision. Throughout the album, he reveals an impressive ability to merge emotional depth, powerful rhythms and sophisticated sound design into a deeply personal and unmistakable sonic identity, further establishing himself as one of the most compelling artists in today's techno landscape. The journey begins with the ambient title track, "Kept What Remained", an atmospheric introduction that sets the tone for everything that follows. It seamlessly transitions into "It Was Never Really Gone", a deeply emotional piece with a memorable arrangement that lingers long after it ends, before "Red Hour" raises the intensity through driving percussion and a tougher sonic approach. The B-side opens with "The Enemy Within", an explosive combination of intricate sound design and powerful rhythmic structures. It is followed by "Claim Your Due", a more submerged and atmospheric composition whose versatility makes it equally effective across different moments of a set. On the C-side, "Nobody Hears The Warning" gradually builds momentum through hypnotic energy and striking production, leading into "A Gentle Kind Of Madness", where beautifully crafted synth work and meticulous arrangements create one of the album's most distinctive moments. The final side begins with "A Dog That Learned To Speak", blending contrasting synth textures and detailed effects into a constantly evolving soundscape. The album concludes with "The Quiet Refusal", an epic and powerful closing statement that perfectly brings together the emotional intensity, coherence and artistic vision of the entire record. With Kept What Remained, Hadone demonstrates that innovation doesn't require sacrificing identity. Instead, he delivers an album that is bold, emotionally resonant and unmistakably his own, confirming his place among the leading voices of contemporary techno.

2026 Repress

Techno mainstay Gary Beck drops hugely sought-after cut 'Hopper' on SHDW's Mutual Rytm sub-label Spectra, with remixes from KiNK.

Glasgow-born Gary Beck is a primary figure in techno and has been for well over a decade. Dropping seminal
underground classics and cultured full-lengths on an array of leading labels, as well as his own BEK Audio imprint,
he has also led the way as a revered DJ as his legacy continues to build. Now, adding to his standout 'Upside
Criminal' EP as well as his well-received track 'Fold' on the 'Federation Of Rytm III' VA, he returns with a record that
has often featured in both his and Mutual Rytm boss SHDW's sets, stepping out on the label's Spectra series with
a cut that has long been sought-after by those who know.

A spontaneous studio moment turned club weapon, the timeless 'Hopper' merges a syncopated disco bassline with
subtle nods to funk and classic dancefloor energy. It's one of those tracks that lingers in your head long after the
night ends - a pure embodiment of Beck's raw energy and production finesse built on an infectious groove full of
contrast and character.

Bulgarian synth wizard, hardware genius and tireless innovator KiNK delivered Spectra's inaugural release, so he
lands as the perfect person to remix. His first interpretation stays close to his roots with a house-leaning, slowed
down take that channels warmth and groove in equal measure. On the B2, however, he flips the script with a high
octane fusion of techno and UKG. It's a peak-time anthem engineered to ignite dancefloors and closes out a
standout EP with the third release in the Spectra catalogue.

Gary Beck 'Hopper' drops via Mutual Rytm Spectra on 20th June 2025.

2026 Repress
Berlin-based duo Disguised land on Mutual Rytm with a splash of signature driving techno on ‘Nightrun’. German-born, Berlin-based pairing Alvaro and Domenik are Disguised, a duo that feels closely connected to their favourite club RSO and its Robus Floor, where most of their musical inspirations happen. They head up their own label, Inherit Records, and also host parties at Berlin's new C115 venue on the Berlin highway. Already this year, they have dropped an impressive collaborative EP with their studio partner and close friend Fabio, aka FANK, who features on this EP with his own vocals. Their sound is always defined by driving drums and hypnotic melodies that build up to intense dancefloor peaks, and here they showcase this to its fullest on their Mutual Rytm label debut via five vinyl-only cuts and three digital bonuses built and crafted to make a lasting impact. The powerful 'Where Thoughts End (ft. FANK)' rises up through the ground like an oncoming train, as drums rumble, synths peel off the groove, and moody voices have you looking over your shoulder. 'Nightrun' is glitchier and more textured, with a fractured energy that keeps you on your toes. 'Crusher Wheels' is a deep, back-lit, and trance-inducing sound made for 4am, while 'Ashes and Algorithms' layers up eerie melodic details with bulky drums for a spare but atmospheric trip. 'All You Find (ft. FANK)' is dubby, greyscale techno with a muscular rhythm and unsettling synths, taut and tensile, balancing right on a knife-edge. Three digital bonuses explore different moods - the subtle melodic touches of 'Silent Pulse', the cosmic energy of 'Sceptre Rd', and the rising optimism of 'Twinfall’.

Tehran-born Sohrab brings a unique mix of influences to the new outing on Iran-based label Shahr Farang. Vocals in Persian and melodies associated with Middle Eastern styles all colour his take on deep techno. 'Santouri (Sange Sabour)' kicks off with a throbbing rhythm and exotic strings that intertwine up top with wirey electronics. It's an intoxicating collision of cultures that also comes as a more direct instrumental. On the flip, 'Rise' is a jacked analogue workout with punchy kick and spangled bass locked in a wrestle as swung percussion and rattling chords all beef things up further.

Luis Reich and Max Wurden's Reverence traverses superb ambient and electroacoustic territory with sustained tones, radio interference, fragmented speech and plenty of harmonies that shift almost imperceptibly. 'Sono' opens wide with drones meeting distant brass, before 'Lens' marries brooding bass pulses with floating brass top notes that pass by like half-remembered thoughts. The title track strips everything back to a sparse, suspended core and 'Horfunk' brings damaged broadcast noise to a textured soundscape. 'Studio Blue' closes out slowly and patiently with plenty of sonic decay. A subtly dramatic record.

"Once Turin-based producers Mattia and Massimo joined forces under the Voodoos & Taboos moniker, they quickly became a notable force in contemporary club music. A crafty take on house music, combining groove with sculpted production work and a bent for lush melodies, drawing from a wide range of influences - anything that borders on the electronic genres really, and beyond - fueled their own namesake imprint with 6 EP's and landed them spots on a variety of top-tier labels. We have been keen to work with these artists for a long time, and are thrilled this finally materializes with the release of ALT027. Title track "Sempre Sognar" immediately sets out the duo's floor-focused intentions. Breakbeat-laced drums gradually build momentum before a formant lead drops in. It trades phrases with an equally infectious organ that's eventually joined by a 303 pattern for the track's finale. Similar vibrating, buzzy leads thrust "Take Me" forward. Amid heavily delayed vocal samples, the proggy beat takes a more trippy turn however. Synthesized idiophone interludes create room for moments of repose, although not entirely unambiguous ones. A subtly detuned lead and more sleek acid lines are supported by the type of arp bass that characterizes Voodoos & Taboos' sound on the B-side's "Revolution". A collage of broadcast and war-movie lines alike not only adds color, but underlines the sense of indeterminate imminence that looms throughout the track. B2 "Afterhouse" sees the BPM drop a notch, yet the palette shows no signs of winding down; it is downright exuberant. As different arpeggiated melodies play call and response, tape-delayed chords, alarm-like risers, and sprinkles of guitar add extra flavor. This does not lead to excess, however. Everything is carefully measured and kept in check: after all, at the helm are two artists who understand that perfection lies in getting a great many small things exactly right."

2026 Repress

clear red vinyl

Djedjotronic blasts us off on an interstellar journey with The Great Red Spot EP, the ninth release on International Chrome. Named after the ancient and gigantic storm on Jupiter (bigger than the Earth), the EP is similarly massive with a swirling, constantly moving energy. Includes a huge Jensen Interceptor remix of EP highlight, Death Clock and comes on clear red vinyl with artwork by Pointless Illustrations.

Bringing mutant verve and a deadly swing to the bassweight discipline, Lyeform lands on Sneaker Social Club in resonantly rude form. Strong doses of UKG, wormhole techno and dubstep course through the veins of this muscular four-deep drop, but the London-based producer's metabolism strips the strands down to an atomic level and rebuilds the dance in his own design.

There's a dense and dank mood hovering over 'Drift Into Dread,' shaped out by rugged, noisy percussion steering towards mind-melting immersion. Rather than resting in technoid repetition, the landscape keeps shifting as dislocated rhythmic phrases slide in and out of earshot, led by the disembodied toasting of a mysterious MC.

'Vintage Gilly' has a much starker sound palette, all crackling drums sparking static interference into negative space with subs so low you might mistake them for heart murmurs. All the better to savour the subtleties as they tease into the mix, not least the understated lead lines loping lazily on the threshold.

The 2-step swagger is unmistakable on 'Godkiller' as it comes bowling into earshot, but there's not a whiff of garage revivalism in earshot as we channel hop between metallic feedback interference and needlepoint noise snaking around the minimalist framework of the beat.

'Glass Eater' closes the record out on another skippy stepper, but here Lyeform makes room for cavernous dub techno chords, overdriven bass harmonics and teeth-grinding noise. It's a final maverick swerve from an artist carving out a formidable impression via micro-level textural exploration within the context of dark and deadly soundsystem tackle.

Arguably one of Get Physical’s most influential tracks, ‘O Superman’ sees a new release with remixes from Man Power and SIS alongside the 2008 version from Robag Whrume and a remaster of the now classic original. Man Power kicks off the new interpretations with an epic, ten and half minute version that patiently stretches the original’s melodies into pads and held bass tones across crisp, micro-house styled beats before unleashing loose, clattering breakbeats after a striking, extended breakdown. SIS’s dreamy, percussive version sees the German producer in hypnotic, and tracky form, focussing on the ebb and flow of the original’s tuneful vocoder and synth work that drift across his perfect groove. Robag’s Pumper-Nikkel remix, for those that missed it some years back, is yet another funky, chopped, sliced and diced piece of work from the playful producer and still sounds as fresh as ever. M.A.N.D.Y. vs Booka Shade feat. Laurie Anderson - O Superman Remixes are released on Get Physical 12” in late July with a digital release following in the Autumn.

2026 Repress


Eclectic Music Producer and DJ Marc Mac (from 4hero) returns with another Mixtape Style album following on from 'Extend The Knowledge" & "It's Right To Be Civil". Marc's formula of Boom Bap Beats, Breaks, Jazz and Soul pull together soundbites from the Vietnam War era. Beats are intertwined with soundbites from the 1960's Vietnam War protest era where African American's were sent to fight during the Civil Rights period in the USA.

Marking the 10th anniversary of this series of 'mixtape style', revolutionary and thought provoking albums, Omniverse Records have pressed a short run of never before on Vinyl releases. The complete set of records "It's Right To Be Civil", "Extend The Knowledge", "Message From Soulville" and the new "Generation - X" albums will be available each on single record continuous play vinyl. The albums are a must for the fans of Marc Mac's side projects, each album has a story to tell and the collection makes great listening both musically and subtly informative. This is most defiantly for the collectors. Not to be slept on.

SILVI005 welcomes Brizman back with Fall Down On Me – a vibrant, groove-driven EP that perfectly captures his signature sound. Built around rolling rhythms, warm textures, and hypnotic movement, the title track delivers the kind of infectious dancefloor groove Brizman has become known for.

The release also features a stunning second original production with Shigar, where beautiful piano arrangements blend effortlessly with Brizman's refined grooves, adding emotional depth while staying true to the EP's understated club aesthetic.

On remix duties, the package brings together two distinct interpretations. Minimal house legend Jay Tripwire delivers his unmistakable touch with a deep, sophisticated rework, while rising talent Danny David brings a fresh perspective to the release with a forward-thinking interpretation.

From the original productions to the carefully selected remixes, SILVI005 is a special release that celebrates timeless grooves, musicality, and the unique sound Brizman continues to shape on the dancefloor

Al Wahem (“The Illusion”) is the new full-length release by PRAED, the Swiss–Lebanese duo of Raed Yassin and Paed Conca. Recorded between Beirut and Berlin, the album returns to the group’s central aesthetic: a rhythm-driven weave of Egyptian shaabi, electronics, improvisation and the gritty pulse of street-level sound. Nearly twenty years into the project, PRAED have distilled their approach into four pieces that subtly shift the listener’s bearings, reordering grooves and fragments until familiar elements take on new identities.
The twenty-minute title track sets the tone. A tightly interlocking two-drum foundation from Pascal Semerdjian and Ayman Zebdawi shapes a structure that expands steadily: synth figures branch outward, clarinet and bass lines act as internal guideposts, and brief vocal calls from Yassin and guest singer Mayssa Jallad sit inside the texture rather than leading it. PRAED’s shaabi keyboard language is present, but the duo stretch it outward, building tension and movement through patient accumulation.

“Al Hathayan,” at 4:46, tightens the focus. Conca’s clarinet moves between melodic arcs and clipped rhythmic gestures, threading through electronic loops that surface and disappear. Zebdawi’s percussion adds a raw, tactile quality, placing acoustic patterns and electronics in direct conversation. The piece acts as a bridge between the album’s two long-form compositions.
Side B begins with “Al Maraya,” a thirteen-minute piece that relies on electronic, bass and clarinet interplay. The atmosphere nods to the breadth of PRAED Orchestra!, but remains anchored in the duo’s rhythmic foundations. Rather than building mass, the layering creates a sense of depth, as if new spaces were opening inside the groove.
The album closes with “Assarab,” featuring keyboardist Amr Said. Semerdjian and Zebdawi again form a dual percussive axis, while synths hover between melody and pulse, and themes recur in widening circles rather than building vertically. The porous boundary between electronic and acoustic sources — processed clarinet mistaken for a sequencer, rhythmic figures springing from live drums — is where the album’s theme of “illusion” shows itself most clearly.

Al Wahem follows a long arc: early releases on Annihaya, a key appearance on Ruptured Sessions Vol. 5 – Live at Radio Lebanon (2013), later albums on Akuphone, and the large-scale PRAED Orchestra! documented on Morphine Records. This new Ruptured/Annihaya co-release brings the duo back to a concentrated format, reorganizing their familiar materials with renewed clarity and intent.

Moroccan-born producer Reda Senhaji, better known under the name Cheb Runner, presents 80K, the second installment in Beat Machine’s TERRA TEMPO series. A direct tribute to the cultural heritage of the Souss Massa Darâa region, the release reactivates ancestral rhythms and translates them into a forward-looking electronic language rooted in place, memory, and physical sound.

Drawing from traditions such as Ahwach, Gnawa, and other interconnected practices from the Souss region, the EP preserves original rhythmic skeletons while reimagining them through modern production and club-oriented structures.

Across six tracks, traditional instruments and electronic elements collide fluently, where the 808 functions as a structural force rather than an accent. From the rolling pulse of Iznagn Engines and the evocative contours of Azn Oudrar to the spiritual resonance of Gn-Awa, the B-side expands the journey with the sub-heavy Afouss Adar 808, the atmospheric Tarwan Ganga, and a reinterpreted Gn-Awa by Guedra Guedra, layered with intricate textures and low-end pressure.

Moving between bass, world, and electronic territories, 80K reflects a deliberate balance between preservation and transformation. Music that carries ancestral rhythms into new listening spaces, bridging generations, cultures, and sonic worlds within a single, cohesive experience.

Greer delivers a hyper textural masterclass in experimental sound design through their debut album, 'Seven Wise Dogs Bless You With Their Kindness'. Originally hailing from Meanjin, a scene known for outstanding musical output and consistently interesting variety, Greer has brought this spirit into Naarm's musical landscape with careful consideration and style. Organic entities meet machine rumbles, from tense drone hums to easing ambient soundscapes. Greer navigates these territories in a way that feels uncharted and perfectly at home with Oomycota.

zake and bvdub are towering figures in the world of ambient - and prolific ones at that. The pair now return to zake's hugely influential Past Inside the Present label with the four-track long player Erasure. Each piece goes typically long and builds slowly but surely into an all-consuming soundscape despite the fact each one is crafted simply from textured synth drift. There's distortion brewing under 'Effacing The Ephemeral' that nods to the likes of Stephen O'Malley while 'Eclipsing Your Earth' is a much more luminous and celestial mood that empties your mind of everything. 'Erasing Empires' then builds to an intense crescendo before falling away to sultry strings. A hugely dramatic work.

In 1979, Neil Fraser (artistically known as Mad Professor) founded Ariwa Sounds, the longest-serving and one of the most influential independently owned Reggae studios and record labels in the UK. From humble beginnings set up in the front room of Neil's home in South London recording on 4-track and homemade equipment, Ariwa would go on to record and release over 300 albums including works from some of the most impactful and storied artists of their time in the genres of Reggae, Dub, and Lovers Rock

Whilst our previous release in collaboration with Ariwa captured the label's early sound, a shared performance with Neil in Osaka and regular visits to his South London studio inspired us to assemble this 15-track compilation, showcasing the label's output across 45 years. Our release emphasizes some of the label's greatest vocalists: Johnny Clarke, Sandra Cross, Kofi, U Roy, Sister Nancy, Queen Omega, Aisha, Garnett Cross, Abel Miller, Horace Andy and more — presenting the Motown and Stax influences in the Lovers Rock, but also provides a glimpse into the dubbier and more experimental side of the label, showcasing Ariwa's commitment to quality but also their personality, philosophy and their humour. Love songs, break-up songs, socially engaged songs, dub experimentations — this compilation is not a "best of" Ariwa but a diverse and honest celebration of the label through the lens of Melodies International.

The compilation will be out in July in vinyl 2xLP, CD, digital formats, mastered from the original tapes by Frank Merritt (the Carvery), pressed at Optimal, artwork created by Jason Evans with design and assembly contributions from Nevil Bernard and Will Sweeney, animated teaser by Nevil Bernard and Melozine designed by Mafalda Meireles.

Double LP, pressed on gold vinyl. As part of Lineage II's 22nd anniversary celebration, NC America and Black Screen Records are proud to announce the first-ever Lineage II collector's edition vinyl album, which elegantly combines a track selection reflecting the game's iconic history and memorable musical identity. This vinyl album is now available for pre-order and will hit the stores in November. Arranged by composers Bill Brown (Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six), Jamie Christopherson (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance), Inon Zur (Fallout 4), and NCSOUND, the track list is a collection of 40 of the most recognized pieces from the original soundtrack, carefully selected to create a cohesive listening experience rather than a complete collection. Published by NC, the album flows between calm, reflective village themes, atmospheric exploration pieces, and more intense, dramatic compositions tied to combat, progression and large-scale conflict. The track list draws from the original soundtrack's most recognized pieces and centers on two major regions: Giran and Aden. Early on their journey, players venture into the world's southern territory of Giran. As they explore the region's villages, tracks such as "Crossroad at Dawn," "Shepard's Flute" and "Caravans Crossing" help create a calm, grounded atmosphere that reflects the peaceful nature of travel through the area. In contrast, the world's northern territory of Aden reflects the game's grander, more conflict driven spirit. As players continue their journey, the Elven Village track "Unicorn's Rest" marks a turning point, gradually giving way to darker settlements and imposing castles through standout tracks such as "Knighting Ceremony" from the iconic Aden Castle and "Expedition March" from the Town of Oren, where tension, warfare and large scale conflict take center stage. Across both regions, the tracks are more than background music; they shape how players experience each location, from villages and hunting zones to moments of intense combat. This collection brings together the sounds that have defined Lineage II for the past 22 years, offering a reflective musical journey for both longtime players and new listeners alike.

Fred Everything is on an impressive streak right now, having just released a solo retrospective album on 20:20 Vision and the much-lauded ‘8 Days’ collaboration album with Atjazz.

On this first release for Winding Road Records, Fred teams up with a fellow Montreal musician Teuteu to deliver the lush deep house of ‘Arrêt Infini’.

There are four interpretations of the track, each showcasing Fred’s crisp dancefloor-focused production and Teuteu’s keyboard mastery. From the cinematic punch of Part 1, and the deep uplifting groove of Part 2, to the blissed-out ambience of the Reprise, and the out-there dubbiness of ‘Rhythm & Bass’. All filled with warm chords, soaring strings, and squidgy basslines, but coming from a different angle.

Another jewel in Fred Everything’s expansive discography, and another choice Winding Road Records release.

Since its inception, Isness has developed its own identity alongside Analogical Force, focusing on atmospheric and introspective electronics. For its third release, the label welcomes Kid Bucle, the new alias of Ibrah PM, formerly known as Malsum within the d&b scene. Memorabilia marks both his debut on the label and the beginning of a new creative chapter. Across six interconnected tracks, the Memorabilia EP explores memory, landscape and emotion through fluid compositions and richly detailed sound design. Echoes of labels such as Merck or Chocolate Industries can be felt throughout, alongside traces of classic IDM, yet the result remains fresh and distinctly contemporary. Rather than seeking immediate impact, the EP rewards attentive listening, gradually revealing new layers with every return. Deeply immersive and emotionally resonant, Memorabilia further reinforces Isness as a platform where atmosphere, narrative and emotional depth take center stage.

The fifth chapter of The Third Room's curator-led series is shaped by Alarico, one of the defining voices of a new generation pushing techno into faster, sharper and more rhythm-driven territory. Through his productions, DJ sets and close ties to a network of like-minded artists, he has helped shape a contemporary sound defined by tension, detail and forward momentum. For his curation, the focus lies on connection. Bringing together artists operating within a shared sonic language, the release reflects a generation where precision, movement and emotional depth exist in constant dialogue. The record opens with Connection, a first official collaboration between Yanamaste and Alarico. The track captures the intersection of both artists' approaches: Yanamaste's intricate and distinctive synth work meets Alarico's driving, forward momentum. Fast, pulsing and tightly controlled, it unfolds through cycles of tension and release, stripped back to its essential elements. On Crimson Leaf Minstre, Toru Ikemoto builds a detailed and contrasting sound palette. Bright, delicate elements interact with darker stabs that disrupt and reshape the rolling bassline, creating a sense of movement that feels continuous rather than moment-based. The track leans into depth and variation, balancing clarity with a more mysterious tone. Blue Lights by Lea Occhi & Amotik shifts into a more groove-led space. What begins with a functional framework gradually opens up - subtle chords and restrained vocal elements add texture and attitude without overtaking the structure, resulting in a track that feels both light and deep. Closing the record, IB1809 sees Alarico return with a defining statement. Reduced but highly present, the track builds around a strong rhythmic core, where chords, melody and vocal fragments interlock with precision. There is a sense of contrast at play - melancholic yet driven, vulnerable yet forceful - culminating in a moment that feels both functional and expansive. Across all four tracks, the release remains tightly focused - fast, dynamic and cohesive, with a strong emphasis on movement and detail. As the fifth entry in the series, it captures a distinctly modern strain of techno, where emotional nuance and rhythmic intensity are no longer in opposition, but fully aligned. A1 Written and Produced by Irakli Danelia & Alarico Zucchi | A2 Written and Produced by Toru Ikemoto | B1 Written and Produced by Lea Occhi & Anil Chawla | B2 Written and Produced by Alarico Zucchi Mastered by Ahmet Sisman (The Third Room Studios) Artwork by Charlotte Ernst Design by Daniel Bornmann (STUEDIO.XYZ) Distribution by Clone Pressing by Matter Of Fact

The fourth chapter of The Third Room's curator-led series is shaped by Freddy K, one of techno's most enduring and uncompromising voices. Through decades behind the decks, an unwavering commitment to vinyl culture and his work with Key Vinyl, he has helped shape a generation of artists rooted in functionality, precision and a direct connection to the dancefloor. For his curation, the focus lies on alignment. The selection brings together artists who reflect that same discipline: a reduced but expressive approach, stripped to essentials yet rich in detail. With contributions from Toobris and Sons of Hidden, both previously featured on Key Vinyl, the release also reflects the long-standing artistic relationships behind his vision. Bat by Toobris opens the record with a powerful, straightforward statement. Driven by a steady pulse and minimal elements, the track feels alive through its control - direct, efficient and highly expressive without excess. Before Mirrors by Sons of Hidden continues this direction while expanding into a more spheric space. Tension is held consistently, with subtle accents carefully placed to shift the energy and draw the listener deeper into the track. On the B-side, Clouds Cream by Quelza stands out as a more intricate and exploratory piece. Deep and immersive, it unfolds through detailed sound design and evolving structures. Rather than relying on repetition alone, the track develops its own internal logic - balancing complexity with clarity, and allowing each element the space to contribute to a larger whole. Closing the record, Swing of Time by Jin Synth shifts into a rougher, more moody territory. Subtle pitch modulation and shifting textures create a sense of instability, giving the track a distinctive edge while maintaining its functionality. Across all four tracks, the release remains focused and cohesive - built on reduction, tension and control, but carried by small, defining moments that shape its movement. A1 Written and Produced by Lennard Miessner | A2 Written and Produced by Sons Of Hidden | B1 Written and Produced by Leo Na?t A?ssa | B2 Written and Produced by Jin Synth Mastered by Ahmet Sisman (The Third Room Studios) Artwork by Charlotte Ernst Design by Daniel Bornmann (STUEDIO.XYZ) Distribution by Clone Pressing by Matter Of Fact

The final chapter of The Third Room's curator-led series is shaped by GiGi FM, an artist whose work moves fluidly between club functionality, emotional storytelling and immersive sound design. Through her productions and performances, she has developed a distinct language where rhythm, atmosphere and movement exist in constant dialogue. For the closing chapter, the focus lies on cohesion. Bringing together artists connected through a shared sensitivity for groove, detail and space, the release unfolds through percussive structures and atmospheric elements that move with clarity, depth and intention. The Half Bearded Man by Fergus Sweetland opens the record. A rough yet detailed rhythmic framework, syncopated percussion and a rolling bassline create forward motion, while softer elements and a subtle vocal layer introduce a contrasting sense of lightness, drawing the listener into the track. On Shark Attak, D-Leria places percussion at the centre, but with a more restrained approach. Polyrhythmic bleeps and high-frequency sweeps weave around the groove, maintaining depth and tension without becoming intrusive, giving the track a quiet but persistent drive. The B-side opens with one of its defining moments: Anukari, a collaboration between Efdemin and GiGi FM. Bringing together two distinct approaches, the track unfolds as a layered and atmospheric piece: detailed percussion, connecting textures and subtle melodic fragments create a sense of depth that feels both modern and slightly otherworldly, while remaining inviting and grounded. Closing the record, Even by Fireground reduces the elements further. Warm chords and a restrained rhythmic core create an open, enveloping space, balancing softness with tension and allowing the track to unfold with a quiet sense of momentum. Across all four tracks, the release remains tightly cohesive: built on groove, space and carefully placed detail. As the final entry in the series, it shifts the focus from structure to flow, offering a closing chapter that feels immersive, connected and complete. A1 Written and Produced by Fergus Sweetland | A2 Written and Produced by Giuseppe Scaccia | B1 Written and Produced by Giulia Fournier & Philip Sollmann | B2 Written and Produced by Angela Dragonetto & Danielle Paduano Mastered by Ahmet Sisman (The Third Room Studios) Artwork by Charlotte Ernst Design by Daniel Bornmann (STUEDIO.XYZ) Distribution by Clone Pressing by Matter Of Fact

Since the early 2010s, photographer and producer Izaak Schlossman has been surreptitiously using the Topdown Dialectic moniker to frame his most enigmatic and most psychedelic productions: faceless pure sound experiments that ogled dub and techno archetypes from somewhere far beyond the veil. This generous 2LP collection surveys over a decade of persistent activity, pulling together recently unearthed gear written between 2013 and 2016 (the same time period as the iconic Peak Oil trilogy) and muddling it with more contemporary material. It's a rare chance to fully comprehend the slow, measured evolution of the project: its genesis as a method to fractalize various bass music frequencies with suggestion rather than over-compression, and its ongoing advancement through sensitively finessed ASMR ambiance towards spangled neo-psychedelia.

So it's no surprise that the lengthy suite of five-minute snapshots was initially devised while Schlossman was preparing for his first ever Topdown Dialectic live appearance in 2025. A hazed early morning, open air performance that's still lodged in the memory banks of anyone who witnessed it, the set provided the narrative anchor for the album, blurring the past and present and reaching tentatively into the future - ideal material for audiences whose brains are fully plasticized. The tracks, while divided, sound as if they're breathing over and into one another; beats and phrases materialize and dissolve just for moments, leaving the mind to fill in the gaps with any available sonic material. What might reflect the bright neon light of acid house at first soon embodies the flicker of a candle over a desk of drum machines in a Midwestern basement, or the first blush of sunlight over a tiny campground as subwoofers creak in the distance.

It's music that asks the listener to be involved in the creation itself, projecting their own shapes on the negative space, their discreet fantasies on haunted stretches of near silence. Schlossman's identity was never the point, Topdown Dialectic was always a scrying stone intended to divine far more personal revelations.

One of the most influential dub albums ever made. The remixing techniques used – radically new for 1973 – helped transform the role of the producer and the engineer to that of creative artists in their own right.

First released in Jamaica in December 1972, Upsetters 14 Dub Black Board Jungle is widely regarded as one of the first full-length dub albums and a true landmark in reggae history. Produced by the visionary Jamaican innovator Lee “Scratch” Perry, it marks the decisive moment when dub evolved from incidental B-sides into a fully realized long-playing art form. At a time when Jamaican sound system culture was flourishing, producers were beginning to strip down popular reggae tracks into instrumental “versions,” emphasizing the bass and drums for sound system deejays to toast over while adding echo and reverb effects to make things more interesting and dynamic. While King Tubby, who was in charge of mixing the tracks, was pioneering the technical foundations of dub, Perry expanded the approach by adding the hypnotic and psychedelic sound effects that made this record so rich in ideas, rendering the album more conceptually bold.

The album reworked previously released rhythm tracks by the Upsetters, which were recorded between 1970 and 1972, shortly before Perry opened his own studio – the legendary Black Ark Studio in Kingston. Their tight, groove-driven playing provided a solid backbone for these radical studio manipulations. Using the mixing desk as an instrument, tracks were deconstructed in real time – dropping vocals in and out, isolating drumbeats, pushing bass lines to the front of the mix, and sending fragments of sound spiraling into space through the heavy use of a spring reverb and tape delay effect units. Silence became as important as sound, and the interplay of rhythm and echo created a hypnotic, immersive listening experience.

Upsetters 14 Dub Black Board Jungle established dub as a genre defined by creative studio intervention. It demonstrated that the remix itself could be the main attraction, influencing generations of reggae producers and resonating far beyond into the techniques and aesthetics of post-punk, electronic music, hip-hop, and ambient sound design. By transforming the studio into a creative laboratory and elevating the “version” to an art form, this foundational album reshaped not only Jamaican music, but the whole of modern music production culture.

Berlin-based Dutch-Italian composer and musician Aimée Portioli aka Grand River presents the new album Temporary, returning to the renowned Editions Mego label with her most expansive and focused LP yet.

Rooted in existential ideas of impermanence and flux, Temporary is a deeply emotive work centred on the rich interplay between resonant guitar work and innovative electronics. Written in the wake of profound personal grief and loss, the album sees Portioli infuse her music with a raw, expressive intensity anchored in this experience. Across eight strikingly melodic and affecting soundscapes, Portioli powerfully embodies a dramatic encounter with mortality.

Temporary reprises Portioli’s exceptional streak of material across acclaimed labels including Donato Dozzy and Neel’s Spazio Disponibile, Caterina Barbieri's light-years, Ghostly International, Tresor and Umor Rex. The LP represents the latest tour de force in her distinctive electronic practice. Alongside a raft of lauded releases, Portioli has devised visionary multichannel installations which dissolve the boundary between the art gallery and the performance space.

Her new album signifies a culmination of her work, imbued with the depth of Portioli’s artistry. Shaped by a paradigm shift rising from loss, the record reflects a contemplation of the human condition and the ephemeral nature of existence. Ruminating on the thoughts and experiences that have fed into the record, Portioli reveals a consequential recognition underpinning the record:

"Sometimes, when travelling in places far from home that I know I will most likely never return to, or while accompanying someone I loved towards the end of their life, I become intensely aware of the singularity of the moment, and of how precious and sad this feels at the same time. It carries a particular weight because it will never happen again in quite the same way. Through experiences like these, I have gradually come to understand the temporary nature of all things. They taught me that to live is to experience the present while already feeling the trace of its disappearance, something both painful and blissful." - Aimée Portioli, Grand River

The album is invested with a potent mood and momentum from the outset. Establishing an evocative tone with the subtle, pulsating synthesis, rustling undertow, and oceanic low end of 18 circles to heaven, Portioli gradually ascends through the incandescent modular majesty of Come to stay, and the turbulent, brooding guitar figures of The crossing of the body, the crossing of the mind. The album progresses through the rapturous electronic phasing of The little we last into the coruscating synth grandeur of Let me know when you’re pure, before a thrilling endgame.

Closing with the wavering harp runs, heavy percussive thud, and cataclysmic guitar discordance of Maybe I am dead and this is paradise, and the evanescent atmospherics and beautiful acoustic refrains of Work of ending, Portioli takes the listener through vast landscapes of sound and mercurial emotional states. Intimate and immersive in equal measure, the record traces a compelling sensory journey.

Each part of the album is part of a larger poetic sentence, with track titles forming fragments that together articulate a meditation on transience. From 18 circles to heaven and Come to stay through From the other side and Work of ending, they read like quiet statements about being human, about loving, losing, remembering and eventually fading. The record moves through these states as a continuous passage, depicting a poignant soundworld guided by temporality.

The awareness that our time is limited sharpens the value of what remains. Each encounter, each gesture, each fleeting moment becomes more vivid. Temporary lingers in the space where presence and disappearance coexist, where everything is already passing away and therefore becomes infinitely precious. Things matter because they do not last. Mortality does not diminish life; it intensifies it. In confronting these ideas, Temporary feels irrepressibly alive.

Composed, produced and mixed by Aimée Portioli
Production and mixing assistance by Luca Sammartin
Acoustic piano on Maybe I am dead and this is paradise by Andert Tysma
Mastered by Rashad Becker
Cut by Marta De Pascalis at Schnittstelle, Berlin
Artwork by Nicola Tirabasso
Layout by Riccardo Piovesan

Finally, almost three years after the well-received Orange Wine EP, and three international tours, Okvsho is back with their fourth project “A place between us”. Georg and Christoph Kiss, the two brothers behind Okvsho, are showcasing a project that is more intimate and bolder than ever, offering an insight into their thoughts, feelings, and experiences during the last two years. The unique style Okvsho has become known for in recent years has once again evolved, combining organic and electronic elements with beautiful harmonies and expressive rhythms.


Okvsho’s second LP will also be the first full-length project to be released on the newly founded Zurich-based label Current Moves, with which the Okvsho-brothers aim to shape the young European jazz scene they are inspired by and also an established part of.


“A place between us is the frst step into a new era for us – We’re very grateful for the love and support we received during the past six years and we’ll continue to strive for the better. Thanks for becoming part of our journey.”

Smallville presents a very special album project – 'Tumbling Cycles' by Billus is here to stay! Ethereal deep-dubby house music from Australia, that feels like finding the hidden-treasure you were not even looking for.

„When I am most enjoying making music, I have this sense that I'm just watching cycles of sound happen and match up in front me on their own and I'm not really just doing anything and it's really nice. Most of these tracks stem from a small collection of
iteratively distorted percussive jazz and breaks that I kept coming back to and watching them cycle around each other.“

This is Billus' approach while he is out in the studio zone. As a result, we all get the chance to scuba-dive into his soundscapes like a warm blanket, interwoven rhythms and cosmic textures, that seem to have the ability to heal. The fresh feels was real,
every time the album went by.

Billus is praised for his impeccable mixtapes for a lot of very special occasions of doing not a lot- make sure to check these out. And Billus produces sprawling music- he released on Naarm labels Animalia, Vessel and Pollinate and he makes music to shyaway in the woods, picking up lil mushrooms if you feel like- or leave these untouched for the same effects.

So while listening to the Tumbling Cycles LP, make yourself comfy and try to work out your own personal scenario, in which Billus' music and his leftfield approach would flourish best. These tracks come with approval by the sweetest dancefloors
around the world and we can't wait to release these to the world. The 2x12“ comes with a stunning full-cover artwork from Stefan Marx.

Debut album by Pissoir des Dieux — Melancholic Noir Folk


A collaboration between three highly talented musicians: Larissa Iceglass, Vincenzo Wieczerzynski, and Owen Pratt.


Recorded in Occitanie, France, and at Trixx Studios, Berlin.


A haunting journey through melancholic noir folk, dark, intimate, and deeply atmospheric.

Debut album by Pissoir des Dieux — Melancholic Noir Folk


A collaboration between three highly talented musicians: Larissa Iceglass, Vincenzo Wieczerzynski, and Owen Pratt.


Recorded in Occitanie, France, and at Trixx Studios, Berlin.


A haunting journey through melancholic noir folk, dark, intimate, and deeply atmospheric.

What's Left is the new album by Tom Henry, releasing November 20th, 2026 on Royal Oakie Records. Where his debut album Songs to Sing and Dance To leaned into big dreams, What's Left is a record about what remains once the dust settles, delivered with the wit and charm of a young rocker in his prime. The familiar influences are still there — Paul McCartney and Big Star loom large (though there's a little more Third/Sister Lovers this time around), but now the songs are lush and polished, with new sounds creeping in around Henry’s trademark power pop hooks. On a handful of tracks you can even hear strains of Syd Barrett influenced acid-folk alongside psychedelic rock that recalls The Brian Jonestown Massacre or The Beatles at their most lysergic.

Produced in collaboration with David Glasebrook (Patti Smith, Peter Case, Sugar Candy Mountain), and engineered by Glasebrook and Stephen Shirk, the album was tracked across two cities at Shirk Studios in Chicago, IL and The Garden Shed in Oakland, CA, where Glasebrook also handled mixing and mastering. The record's cross-continental origins reflect the movements of Tom’s own life over the past half decade, which found him departing his native Chicago for Los Angeles before returning home four years later, and lend the album its distinctive sound of Midwestern grit mixed with California sunshine across all twelve tracks.

Opener "Someone I Need" sets the tone: an old-fashioned, up-beat rocker built for a roadside diner jukebox somewhere out along the backroads of your mind — it's crunchy tape tones and horn arrangement lending warmth to the song as the narrator asks for a dance and beckons the listener along for the ride. By "It's Not Meant to Be," the record turns inward, wrestling with the exhaustion of trying to find love in the modern age — especially for someone who wears their heart on their sleeve and often comes to find their suitor's wardrobe doesn't have room. "Silverlake Song," reminiscent of early Donovan, kicks off with otherworldly sitar — a wry postcard from the west, tracing how the shimmering promise of L.A.'s Silver Lake enchants, bargains with, and ultimately tries to ruin the starry-eyed dreamer — and very nearly succeeds.

In addition to Tom–who sang and played guitar, bass, and keys–the album features musical contributions from co-producer David Glasebrook, Brian Daley, Joe Daley, Finn Swingley, Lewis Patzner, and labelmates Graham Patzner, Charles Lloyd, and Simon Beins. Liner notes come courtesy of Ian F. Svenonius, who — in the guise of one Johnny Sincere of Integrated Star Management Ltd. — recounts his company's failed attempt to sell Tom Henry a gimmick: a space suit, a coal miner's neckerchief, a lounge pianist's dead-eyed shades. Tom turned them all down. As Svenonius tells it, when reminded that every story's been told and every gimmick's been used, that all that's left is to admire the photographs of what's gone before, Tom simply shrugged: rock 'n' roll is an eternal spring, and if this is what's left, that's just fine with him — it's what he likes to do.

Alan Vegas ,Live at Max's Kansas City" fängt einen der furchtlosesten Innovatoren und Visionäre der Musikszene in voller kreativer Kraft ein und verwandelt diesen Punk- Club, eines der kultigsten kulturellen Wahrzeichen New York Citys, in ein Theater aus roher Performance, klanglichen Experimenten und kompromisslosem künstlerischem Ausdruck. Aufgenommen am 18. Juli 1980, nur wenige Wochen vor der Veröffentlichung seines bahnbrechenden selbstbetitelten Solo-Debüts, zeigt der Auftritt Vega an einem entscheidenden Punkt in seiner Karriere, an dem er eine einzigartige künstlerische Sprache entwickelt, in der Rockabilly, Blues, elektronischer Noise und Performancekunst mit elektrisierender Intensität zusammenfließen. Auf sieben Titeln wird Vega von dem jungen texanischen Gitarristen Phil Hawk begleitet, dessen messerscharfe Gitarrenarbeit sich mit Vegas Tonbandmanipulationen und experimentellen Klängen verflechtet, um seine kompromisslose klangliche Vision zu verstärken. Eher vom Instinkt als von Konventionen getrieben, fängt das Album die Kollision von Rockabilly und Blues mit elektronischen Experimenten, unerbittlicher Energie und der radikalen künstlerischen Freiheit ein, die Vegas Karriere prägten. ,Live at Max's Kansas City" ist ein lebendiges Dokument davon, wie Alan Vega am Beginn seiner Solokarriere stand - mit dem unerschütterlichen Engagement seiner kreativen Kräfte. Jeder Schrei, jeder Pfiff und jeder Ausbruch des Publikums wird Teil der Performance selbst und bewahrt den explosiven Austausch zwischen Künstler und Publikum, der Vegas einzigartige Bühnenpräsenz ausmachte. Entdeckt von Liz Lamere und Jared Artaud im Alan-Vega-Archiv, dem ,Vega Vault", wurde ,Live at Max's Kansas City" von Josh Bonati aus den Original-Live-Aufnahmen remastert, wobei die Bänder von Ted Young übertragen wurden. Diese historische Performance, die ein weiteres bisher unbekanntes Kapitel aus dem ,Vega Vault" enthüllt, ist zum ersten Mal auf Streaming-Plattformen und auf Vinyl erhältlich .

2026 Repress

Coming in hot on Berlin's Toy Tonics label: a new EP by the talented duo ALMA NEGRA!

Founded in 2013, Alma Negra is a Swiss collective centered around the brother duo Dersu and Diego Figueira, whose diverse roots in Switzerland and Cape Verde inform their sound. The project was launched with the ambitious vision to explore the world's diverse rhythms and drive musical innovation by mixing different styles. Their work is anchored in a process of digging and sampling, skillfully blending traditional sounds-from Fela Kuti-influenced Nigerian afrobeat and Angolan Lamento to Caribbean Zouk and the Maloya sound of Réunion-into a contemporary dance music context.

The Figueira brothers' eclectic DJ sets embody this ethos, peppering disco and house with salsa, samba, jazz, and Afro-Caribbean carnival rhythms, all under their guiding motto: "As long as it's Funky."

Since 2014, Alma Negra has made an important contribution to intercultural exchange in their hometown of Basel. Their international presence began in 2015 with their first shows abroad in countries like France, the Netherlands, and Portugal. From 2016 to 2019, their reach expanded significantly, with performances in major hubs like London, Paris, and Berlin, as well as Istanbul, Tel Aviv, and Tunisia. Highlights from this period include sets at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Dimensions Croatia, and Fuse Club in Brussels. Their standing is further cemented by releases on respected labels like Heist Recordings, Sofrito, and Basic Fingers, alongside remixes from an elite group of peers, including Soulphiction, Kuniyuki, and Yuksek.

Parallel to their studio and DJ work, the project expanded into the Alma Negra Live Band, formed with jazz musicians from Basel. While the band is currently on hiatus, this collaboration made live instrumentation increasingly central to their productions, creating a dynamic they feel is essential for any dancefloor. The live band has performed in cities like London and Hamburg and has led to collaborations with artists such as French singer Pat Kalla and jazz trumpeter Bodo Maier.