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Legendary dub techno artist Paul St. Hilaire (AKA Tikiman) announces new collaborative album, marking 10 years of Kynant Records



Building on the success of Paul St. Hilaire’s landmark solo album for Richard Akingbehin’s label Kynant in 2023, w/ The Producers switches up the formula to pair St. Hilaire’s with a different producer on each track. Referencing fellow dub techno pioneers Mark Ernestus & Moritz von Oswald’s acclaimed album w/ The Artists as Rhythm & Sound, St. Hilaire flips the concept to feature as the lone vocalist.



Over the album’s nine tracks, St. Hilaire offers a range of conscious song-writing and headtop musings, such as the spoken-word dread of “What’s This” or the sparse call-to-action of “Send Them On”. The record weaves through all shades of contemporary dub evolutions, showing the vocal range and versatility of St. Hilaire. w/ The Producers is yet another essential record in St. Hilaire’s unmatched discography.



The producers were curated by label owner and DJ Richard Akingbehin to give the new album a future-facing feel and mark 10 years of Kynant Records. Akingbehin sourced beats from luminaries such as Digital Mystikz boss and dubstep trailblazer Mala or elusive Chain Reaction artist Shinichi Atobe. They sit alongside some of the most exciting names in recent electronic music - Batu, Gavsborg, Azu Tiwaline, Priori, Cousin, Russell E.L. Butler, Aurora Halal and DJ G - all of whom bring different elements of dub techno into their productions.



w/ The Producers finds Kynant Records bridging the original voice of dub techno with the genre’s new wave. It’s a statement of intent from the label, which began 10 years ago with deep, hypnotic techno and has veered gradually towards more dubwise sounds

2026 Repress

A landmark release for both the label and its founder as Kasra releases his debut solo EP. The Ski Mask EP features 4 tracks of rolling low end and marks the start of a new phase for him to make his mark as an artist as well as DJ.

Kasra says, "After 16 years of running the label I thought it was time I released a body of work of my own. It's quite daunting after all the incredible music the artists have given me to be doing this for the first time. I hope you enjoy it for what it is: raw, honest drum and bass."

London-based sonic champion Shy One releases her long-awaited second album Mali on Errol and Alex Rita"s Touching Bass. So-called after her given name, Mali is a confident, future-facing ode to Black British electronic music and diasporic lineage. Informed by the full spectrum of London sound that she was raised on - with a vital cast of Black British collaborators including George Riley, Steve Spacek, James Massiah and Private Joy.

Mit Robot feiert Caravan Palace den zehnten Geburtstag eines Albums, das den Electro-Swing neu definiert hat. Der Pariser Ausnahmeact vereint auf beeindruckende Weise energiegeladene Club-Beats, cineastische Retro-Ästhetik und eine unwiderstehliche Jazz-Sensibilität. Zum Jubiläum erscheint das Werk nun als exklusive Doppel-LP mit vier bislang unveröffentlichten Remixen - ein Geschenk für alle Fans, Sammlerinnen und Vinyl-Liebhaberinnen. Die Edition umfasst die ikonischen Singles "Lone Digger", "Aftermath", "Wonderland" und "Comics", die den Sound von Caravan Palace weltweit geprägt haben. Mit ihrem Mix aus Future Swing, Electro, Funk und pulsierenden Streicher-Hooks schaffen sie eine Klangwelt, die gleichermaßen nostalgisch wie futuristisch wirkt. Robot bleibt ein Meilenstein der modernen elektronischen Musik und zeigt auch zehn Jahre später, wie innovativ und zeitlos diese Band klingt. Die Jubiläums-Edition ist die definitive Art, das Album neu zu erleben - kraftvoll, tanzbar und voller musikalischer Liebe zum Detail.

Detroit powerhouse vocal trio Dames Brown make their long-awaited debut with ‘Take Me As I Am’, a bold, soulful celebration of the Motor City’s sound and a heartfelt tribute to their late mentor, Amp Fiddler.

Crafted at Amp’s legendary home studio, the album captures the essence of Detroit through rich instrumentation, gospel-infused harmonies, and unfiltered soul. Blending house, funk, techno, and 70s groove, Take Me As I Am embodies the city’s spirit; timeless, raw, and full of life.

Featuring collaborations with Detroit icons Andrés, Eddie Fowlkes, and Waajeed, standout tracks like ‘You’re The One For Me’, ‘Glory’, and ‘What Would You Do’ showcase the trio’s unmatched energy and vocal chemistry.

Across fourteen tracks, Athena Johnson, Teresa Marbury, and LaRae Starr channel the soul of Motown, the groove of Parliament Funkadelic, and the power of Aretha Franklin, uniting their influences into one authentic, uplifting sound.

With nearly a decade of releases on Defected and its sub-labels, including collaborations with Sophie Lloyd, The Vision, Floorplan, and Horse Meat Disco, Dames Brown continue to shine as one of Detroit’s most dynamic vocal collectives.

‘Take Me As I Am’ is more than an album… it’s a declaration of love, legacy, and Detroit soul.

Long considered a "Holy Grail" of Latin vinyl, The Booga Mambo Beat (1967) by Steve Hernández y Su Orquesta Latinoamericana returns.

This LP has puzzled collectors for decades: who was Steve Hernández, the shadowy figure behind this powerful orchestra including top Puerto Rican and New York musicians?

Arranged by Ray Santos and featuring vocalist Vitín Avilés, the album delivers a unique mix of mambo, boogaloo, descarga, proto-salsa and 1950s big-band swing. A rare bridge between the Palladium sound and the emerging salsa era. Originally self-released and barely promoted, the record became a cult favorite among DJs and collectors.

Sourced directly from the original master tapes, discovered in outstanding condition, this edition is pressed on 180-gram vinyl and includes extensive liner notes by Pablo E. Yglesias (DJ Bongohead).and a digital download code.


A must-have archival release for collectors, DJs, and anyone fascinated by the hidden corners of Latin music history.

Fresh for 2026, Something System Records returns with its second four-track EP, showcasing a carefully curated selection of forward-thinking underground sounds from across the DnB and jungle spectrum.

A1 – Creativity
Oxford-based producer SR makes his label debut with Creativity. Having already built a strong reputation through multiple vinyl releases and production collaborations with JEMONE on Metalheadz, SR delivers a powerful opener defined by tense atmospheres, razor-sharp drum programming, and weighty sub-bass. Designed to move both dancefloors and minds, this is a standout introduction.

A2 – 3 Times Around The Sun
Duburban & Peeb return to Something System Records for their second appearance following a prolific period of releases on some of the scene’s most respected labels. This track channels lush, uplifting pads reminiscent of the golden era of Good Looking Records, underpinned by warm sub frequencies and expertly edited drumfunk breaks that evolve beautifully throughout. A deeply musical and rewarding listen.

B1 – Fresh Outlook
Bristol-based producer Loma returns to the imprint with Fresh Outlook, a finely crafted 140 BPM jungle roller. Featuring intricately layered breaks, precisely placed subs, and an immersive atmospheric backdrop, the track takes the listener on a dynamic journey. With previous releases on John B’s BETA Recordings, Loma continues to demonstrate a bright and promising trajectory.

B2 – Tell Em Purdie
Closing the EP, Something System Records proudly welcomes Pixl to the label for the first time, collaborating alongside Duburban & Peeb. A seasoned producer with releases on numerous highly respected DnB labels and founder of Loop Progression Records, Pixl brings depth and experience to this jazz-infused finale. Smoky club atmospheres, textured breaks, deep subs, saxophone lines, and a spoken-word sample referencing a legendary drummer combine to deliver a rich, soulful conclusion to the EP.

Step into the spirit of the early rave years with “Parade006”, a high-energy EP rooted in the uncompromising sound of classic breakbeat. Drawing inspiration from the 90s, this release channels the raw pulse of a time when warehouse walls shook, kicks hit hard, breaks were chopped to the bone, and basslines pushed systems to their limits.

Right from the first track, the EP pulls you into a fierce rush of rough-edged samples, piercing rave stabs, and nonstop drive. Each cut blends heavy nostalgia with modern punch, fusing old-school hardcore attitude with contemporary production power.

Brace yourself for pure dancefloor pressure. Arms up. No restraint. The rave is back.



>>> comes in different marbled colored 12 “ Vinyl and ONLY on Vinyl <<<

At the core of the creative process behind “HPC” and “Bor3d” lies meta-irony, a quality that permeates much of today’s digital content landscape.

Both tracks are a deliberate attempt to push the sound toward a barely perceptible absurdity and ironic unseriousness in their interpretation of well-familiar styles of dance club music. It is a play with form, expectation, and recognizability — balancing sincerity with sarcastic exaggeration.

Okay
Okay is built around interruption. Voices, fragments of dialogue, yawns, irritation — people seem to step inside the track uninvited. Someone is bored, someone is annoyed, someone tries to stop the flow entirely. Just like in real life, the process is constantly disrupted. The track reflects the experience of being surrounded by opinions, noise, and skepticism — especially the kind that will never be convinced, no matter what you do. “Okay” becomes a quiet, ironic response to this pressure: not agreement, not approval, but endurance. The track continues anyway.

Tripatura
Tripatura is a fictional creature — a warped echo of cryptid mythology. In this narrative, Tripatura doesn’t simply exist, it hunts. Once it finds you, it drags you into an endless trip with no exit point. Time stretches, perception blurs, and the track itself becomes the trap. Its prolonged, unresolved ending mirrors the experience of being stuck inside a loop that refuses closure. Tripatura doesn’t rush. It lingers, slowly pulling you deeper, until the trip no longer feels temporary.

2026 Repress

Creating music, sharing your sound, and performing — all from a small village on an island — is no easy feat.
Dear artist, do you find yourself in a similar situation? Then this record is dedicated to you.
Never forget your roots — and don’t forget to save your atoll!

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Son Little expands his musical palette on his upcoming album, Cityfolk. Blending elements of soul, folk, and blues, Son Little captures his signature sound along with expressive yet personal lyrics. Cityfolk is a reflection on love, loss, and finding peace in the chaos. It"s about holding on, letting go, and learning to breathe again when the world feels heavy. Born Aaron Earl Livingston to a preacher and a teacher in Los Angeles, Little"s collaborations with The Roots and RJD2 helped him make a name for himself in his adopted hometown of Philadelphia. Critics were quick to recognize the unique power of Little"s solo recordings, which stripped the past for parts that could be reconstituted into something wholly new and original. NPR hailed Little"s "impeccably crafted songs" as "honest and unpretentious," while The Independent proclaimed him "a formidable talent." Since then, his catalog has racked up over 250 million streams, and Little has toured with everyone from Leon Bridges and Kelis to Shakey Graves and Mumford & Sons alongside festival appearances at Bonnaroo, Newport Folk, and more. Never one to rest on his laurels, Little also earned a GRAMMYî for his work helming Mavis Staples" acclaimed "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean."

After launching its label in 2020, Mother's Finest comes back with fresh tracks courtesy of Nasty King Kurl. Following a strong start with a compilation curated by Hodge and Franklin De Costa, Hekate showcases the mysterious and fun producer honing the magic of his craft. The EP features five deadly and frantic pieces, sometimes otherworldly vocals collide with sounds seemingly coming from all directions. The formerly Berlin based producer relocated recently with a cute dog to Poland. He has released since 2017 on various imprints such as Serious Trouble or 777 Recordings. His background is firmly rooted in modern hip hop, he performs mostly live which explains maybe why his productions contain this certain quality, this bit of craziness: a high that can happen anytime, anyhow, anywhere. Life is never boring in the Nasty Kingdom.

There’s a special kind of feeling when everything falls into place - when the drums bounce easy, the bassline rolls steady, and a bright guitar line cuts through the warmth of tape. That feeling became the heart of the FULLNESS, from Marcus I meets aDUBta. The sound of FULLNESS is built on simple, living elements: real drums, deep bass, a warm sound, and melodies that leave space to breathe. It moves between Early Reggae, Rocksteady, and Roots - sometimes straight and solid, sometimes stretching out into Dub and Echo. With its voice, from singer and lyricist Marcus I, FULLNESS carries the message about gratitude, love, freedom, and the small moments of everyday life. While Marcus’s singing style nods to the great singers, he stays grounded in his own experience, which perfectly complements aDUBta’s production, giving him space to shine. This LP is a complete, warm, balanced, and uplifting experience from start to finish.

FULLNESS grew from a steady musical exchange between Marcus I and aDUBta - two people on different sides of the Alps (Marcus I in France and aDUBta in Germany), finding a shared rhythm. What began in early 2022 with a few Riddims sent back and forth soon turned into a regular flow of songs. Every week brought new ideas, new words, and new melodies. When they finally met in person at aDUBta’s Attic Roots Studio in Bavaria, Germany, it all fell naturally into place. Most of the instruments were played by aDUBta, and the whole LP was mixed live on his Tascam 388, keeping that raw, handmade feel. With several friends helping bring even more color into the music, aDUBta brought in Viti Sanchez to lend his expressive saxophone and horn lines, Michael Salvermoser with his warm trombone tones, and members of the Black Oak Roots Allstars - King HuHa and Jannis Klenke on bass and guitars, along with Morry 'Da Baron' (Dub Inc.) on bass. FULLNESS means the fullness of music, of life, of friendship, of gratitude. It’s what happens when music becomes more than a project - when it turns into a shared space where things just flow.

2026 Repress

Sicily's SLV is able to merge technical mastery with emotional resonance. His potent techno sounds have come via the likes of SHWD's Mutual Rytm and Slam's Soma, and unite timeless yet forward-thinking sonics.
On 'Fleeting Dreams', he continues to refine his signature sound while channelling introspection and intensity into a collection of meticulously crafted cuts that balance precision and feeling, energy and space. Each track reveals a different side of his sonic identity: hypnotic rhythms intertwine with evolving soundscapes, while layers of distortion and melody merge into a dreamlike tension between the mechanical and the organic.

'Fading Moments' kicks off with a sleek blend of driving, supple kicks and warm synth ripples, while a euphoric vocal cry is buried deep to amp up the emotion. 'Scenario' then brings icy hi-hats and sinewy synths bring a futuristic feel to the unrelenting, high-pressure drums down low. 'Daruma' has a darker energy with menacing textures and paranoid FX bringing the rolling drums to life, while 'Bass Grit' has a hunched up rhythm, with groaning pads and fizzing static electricity that charge up the party. To close, 'Shimmer' sinks down into a muscular and deep rhythm that's marbled with restless synths and ever-rising tension.

In addition, digital bonus cuts 'Trust' and '1990' offer different perspectives with slamming drums, seductive vocals and feisty synth loops making for two more bold, immersive techno weapons.

Well, this release is like the icing on the cake for me. This is the first release I tried to sign to Vinyl Fanatiks once I knew we were creating a record label in early 2019. The problem being though - we couldn't locate Dimension! But now we have and I can finally bring to you my favourite rave release from back in the day!

Six killer tracks - zero filler here! A slice of UK dance music history that inspired so many.

DJ Serviced Records is made by DJs, for DJs, and curated with love by DJ Service. This second release is a solo EP from the ever-creative Brian Topham, a.k.a. Papolious Jones. Born from the pulse of his live shows, it channels his signature groove — soulful, spontaneous, and irresistibly rhythmic.

2026 Repress

since his first ep tips' on luciano's label cadenza in 2007 producer and dj petre inspirescu emerged into one of the key figures of the romanian electronic music scene.

so far he released music on labels such as vinyl club, lick my deck or amphia. together with his buddies rhadoo and raresh he also launched in 2007 the label (a:rpia:r) -  a platform where he, his two friends and many producers from romania and abroad released detailed grooving house and techno, that stands out with delicate structures and one-of-a-kind grooves.

both of his more dance floor oriented solo albums intr-o seara organica...' and gradina onirica for (a:rpia:r) are enlarged with melodies, sounds and harmonies that go beyond the usual characteristics of a dance album.

furthermore his love for classic musicians like mily alexejewitsch balakirev, alexander porfiryevich borodin or or nicolai andrejewitsch rimsky-korsakow can be felt in the album padurea de aur (opus 2 in re major) and two more eps that he released under the alias pensemble on the romanian label yojik concon in order to unite classical spheres with analogue electronic music production.

in february 2013 he also released his highly acclaimed fabric mix cd that only features dance floor leaning music produced by himself. with talking waters' he published in late 2014 his first 12inch on mule musiq that is now followed by the full-length album vin ploile' which he produced without the intention to entertain with easy to hook up rhythms, melodies and harmonies.

even tough he established himself as a internationally playing house dj that regularly performs at all major clubs, festivals and other party destinations around the globe: as a musician petre inspirescu always tries to enter new territories to explore with a heartfelt human touch the infinite space of sound.

for his latest album the man that originally comes from the eastern romanian town braila stepped away from his former experiments of melting classical spheres with electronic music. instead the 36-years old man from bucharest only used some piano, string and wind instrument elements and analogue electronics to arrange a gracefully deep ocean of sound.

all slow grooving tracks spread the atmosphere of live improvised sessions that are edited, tweaked and mixed to perfection. in-the-moment moods of strange and unusual analogue synth sounds groove in a fluid quality with subliminal bass shapes, latinate percussions, jazz rhythms and acoustic melodies.

together they create a gaseous kinetic atmosphere full of tangible rhythm patterns, delicate chords and ghostly modular synth pads - all mixed subtle to create space for the tones between the tones.

you can call it a hypnotic after hour album for after hours that are dedicated to a deep listening experience. you can tag his arrangements as brilliantly textured and musically super-charged ambient, which goes beyond the usual definition of the genre.

all nine suspenseful compositions seduce with a deep melodic sensibility, harmonic adventures and an overall rhythmic ambiance of freshness and laidback enthusiasm. together they represent a challenging auditory experience that will resonate in your mind long after the music has finished. 

Some admirable UK-US collaboration here, as storied Motor City producer Kyle Hall joins forces with Kieran Ifill aka K15, an artist whose first great release appeared on the Detroiter's excellent Wild Oats imprint 11 years ago. There's plenty to set the pulse racing throughout, from the breezy broken house warmth and deepness of 'Soft Centred Groove', and the Kaidi Tatham-goes-to-Michigan flex of 'Combined Elements', to the heady, tactile and lightly spacey grooviness of '130 Bounce' and the intergalactic bruk-up business that is future West London classic 'Steel Sharpens Steel'.

Continuum Recordings’ debut is signed by Rambal Cochet: Dimensions Drift. Over recent years, the prolific Krasnodar-based producer has steadily built a reputation within the global underground scene through releases on labels such as Junction Forest and space lab, where EPs like Seeds of Unconsciousness and Galatians Syndrome showcased his ability to merge hypnotic techno frameworks with trance-driven atmospheres and progressive momentum. His productions are defined by fluid arrangements, immersive textures, and a strong sense of narrative movement, earning consistent support and recognition as an undisputed, emerging force. Limited to 300 copies, the inaugural release on Continuum Recordings, CR-001 sets a clear foundation for the label’s vision: bridging timeless club, trance-infused aesthetics with forward-looking electronic exploration.

Artwork by @leandrofaina

A fresh breeze of color, groove, and charm marks the first outing of OKAY OKAY, a new label from Germany that celebrates playful, soulful, and dance-ready sounds beyond genre borders.
With Marmelade Dew EP, Gelée serves up a vibrant debut full of disco shimmer, Italo-house warmth, and a sweet dose of pop sensitivity. It’s a record that feels both nostalgic and daring, sun-kissed melodies meet tight rhythm work and carefree emotional drive.
From early-morning club sets to slow-burn afterhours, Marmelade Dew EP is an invitation to smile, move, and surrender to simple pleasure. A lovingly crafted 12″ for those who like their house music playful, tactile, and just a little bit sticky.

Cinthie’s Collective Cuts sub-label of her 803 Crystal Grooves label welcomes the UK’s Black Eyes onto its roster this March with his ‘Hydrocity Reflex’ EP, comprised of four original soul drenched House Jams.
Cinthie’s 803 Crystal Grooves Collective Cuts welcomes Black Eyes with a fresh four-track EP that distils the Manchester-born, Berlin-based artist’s signature aesthetic into its purest form. Fusing deep, trippy and soulful house with a raw, Detroit-leaning sensibility, Black Eyes channels the influence of House music’s roots into rolling rhythms and fluid textures alongside shaped by his enduring love of water. Now firmly embedded in Berlin’s underground while carrying the grit of his northern roots, he delivers a release that feels both immersive and driving a natural fit for 803 Crystal Grooves’ dance floor focused sonic vision.
Opening the EP is ‘Can You Dig That Depth’, an emotive slice of House driven by saturated keys, soulful vocal lines, heavily swung drums and a buoyant bassline. ‘Pressure Malfunction’ follows, stripping things back to organic percussion, sweeping filtered funk loops and intricately processed spoken-word chants. The B-side begins with ‘Loyalty To Tha Deep’, living up to its name as it embraces classic Deep House sensibilities through choppy, airy chord progressions, hypnotic breathy vocals, fluttering melodies and slow-slung, crunchy drums. ‘Funky Oxygen’ then brings the release to a close, channelling the spirit of Motor City House with a refined blend of cut-up samples, shuffled percussion, jazzy keys and a snaking bass groove.

Zum 40. Jubiläum des ersten Teils des stylischen Actionspiel-Klassikers DEVIL MAY CRY erscheint der Killer-Soundtrack des Capcom Sound Teams - bekannt für seine Musik zur Resident Evil-Serie - spezielle für 180g Vinyl gemastert. Der OST ist eine genreübergreifende Meisterklasse, die von Rock über Techno zu Ambient und weiteren Paletten wechselt. Erhältlich als 2LP-Format mit 34 Tracks auf transparent-rotem und ockerfarbenem Doppelvinyl, sowie als luxuriöses 4LP-Boxset mit den kompletten 73 Tracks auf schwarzem 4fach-Vinyl.

Gregor Tresher is finally back on his own imprint with a track that once more showcases his impeccable songwriting skills and even though he manages to deliver a song that fans will recognize as a Tresher production, it's not a repetition of his earlier works in any way, but another step forward in his ever evolving sound.. "Sleeping Giants" has been a secret weapon in Gregor´s DJ-sets, often dropped as the closing track if the night was really a special one. It's a journey driven by arpeggios and layered drumming that culminates just before a mysterious vocal sets the tone for the second coming. Gregor is obviously back on top of his game. And well, then there´s the B-Side: A world renowned DJ and producer, and a dear friend of Gregor and the BNS family delivered a remix that can only be described as pure perfection. It forces the original track on to the most massive warehouse floor you can imagine. Mr. Enrico Sangiuliano invites you to witness a true masterclass in remixing by delivering nothing short of an absolute peaktime monster, while keeping the vibe of the original respectfully intact. Ladies and Gentlemen, we give to you: Sleeping Giants!

2026 Repress

A gift to the overthinkers and overworked. Those who are over-concerned and always preoccupied. This is an invitation to hang up the bootstraps, take a load off, and visit a place in the mind where the sun is shining, the breeze is soft and the waves lap softly at your feet. Vacation From My Mind is a sonic realignment of melancholic soul, breezy soft rock, & mellow jazz-funk.

This album is a thoughtfully curated collection of 12 rare and obscure tracks from 1973 to 1981. From Jeanette Baker’s hypnotic 70’s soul title track “Vacation From My Mind” to the Latin rhythms of David Buckland’s jazz-funk “Celia”, this compilation was lovingly crafted to ease the stresses and worries of modern life. The Care Package’s song “The Storm” is a larger-than-life production of dreamy harmonies not often found on privately released 45s. Utopia’s “Lejos De Mi” is a slow-burning slice of Bolivian psych that will have you searching for similar sounds. Whatever your preference, we hope that this album will give you a vacation from your mind.

The breakout underground star of the past year, the deservedly hyped Thought Leadership returns with another X ideas: the deck this time chooses the suit of Cups. This new collection is closer to the Post-Punk tonality of Pentacles, than the breezy Balearic Jazz of Swords. Gone are the brushed drum samples and airy synths and in their place are BIG guitars, 808 thumps and a decidedly more prominent use of bass as a melodic device.

As the suit of Cups reflects the emotional heart of the Tarot, presented within are a further X pieces, this time displaying the full range and fervour of Thought Leadership.

You know the drill by now. Originally out on cassette only, we present the first ever vinyl issue. It's a hideously limited pressing of 300 for the world, so don't sleep on this.

Side A explores the emotional levels of consciousness; angst, joy, love, sorrow, relief, regret – they are all represented across the first seven tracks, and often within the same piece. XXI kicks us off with a huge tumbling D minor passage, layers and layers of guitar front and centre, whilst the drums pound away in the distance. Release is provided with a gorgeous G Dorian section, where we hear the bass take flight with a high melodic line.

We’re still in familiar Durutti Column meets Dif Juz territory here, but things switch up with XXII. This piece showcases a darker, more angular palette of guitars; think Alan Rankine (The Associates), or Deb Demure (Drab Majesty) in the unexpected harmonic shifts, knotty arpeggiated patterns and heavy, goth-adjacent modulation. A real love letter to 45+ years of darkly inclined guitar heritage.

XXIII enters the fray with tight, thumping 808s and Marr-esque guitar figures; and again, the bass providing heavy melodic counterpoint to the guitars. Enter chiming, lyrical lead phrasing, reminiscent of the eternal opening to "Everybody Wants To Rule The World". Another accidental perfect pop moment from the Thought Leader. Whilst on the topic of Tears For Fears, XXIV comes swinging out of the gate with some serious Sophisti-chug; we’re reminded of "Shout" in the A section, before being beautifully juxtaposed in the B section with more Vini-eqsue patterns, reminiscent of his timeless classic, Another Setting.

XXV gives us welcome pause to take stock midway through the A side. No drums this time, but instead a heartbreaking conversation between two guitars; think Kevin McCormick and David Horridge’s masterful Light Patterns, or perhaps even the early solo-Bill Connors mid-70s cuts for ECM. The moment of quiet reflection passes, and is quickly shattered by the thudding march of XXVI – this piece comes across like The Associates playing "Wicked Game"; heavy, moody, and utterly compelling. XXVII ends our journey across Side A with more Marr-inspired playing; one for the heads and already featured on mixes, this one is real testament to the vision of Thought Leadership.

Side B again takes us on a trip through three long-form semi-improvised pieces. XXVIII is like those classic Jonny Nash, early Melody As Truth releases, slowly unfurling, additional details introduced deliberately piece by piece, this idea builds across 7+ minutes culminating in some utterly joyous ebow fireworks at the end – well Balearic.

XXIX again, like XXV before it, dispatches the drums with a focus purely on melody and mood. The piece feels like a lost Save Room Theme from the Resident Evil series, pure golden age Capcom Sound Team vibes. Unadulterated aural nostalgia for hours spent with a PS1 in haze of hash.

XXX completes this majestic voyage with another Modal exercise; this time the Thought Leader has opted for the Lydian Mode. Beautifully dreamy, undeniably Soundtrack-y, and arguably the most concise distillation so far of everything this project stands for; drum machines, guitars, pedals, one-take improvised solos – XXX has the lot, and is surely destined for greatness.

So, another X epic statements for guitar, homespun with the humblest of means, for all the dreamers out there. The first ever vinyl release of IV Of Cups has been carefully remastered by Be With's engineer Simon Francis to ensure it sounds better than ever after its initial tape release. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut at Abbey Road Studios whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry, in Holland. The original tape cover artwork, so crucial to Thought Leadership's striking visual aesthetic, has been rejigged for vinyl issue here at Be With.

The last 2 LPs flew. You have been warned.

Black Truffle is thrilled to announce Dalbergia Retusa, an extensive double LP selection of the solo guitar music of Hans Reichel, compiled by Oren Ambarchi. Last heard on Black Truffle as one quarter of the joyously anarchic Bergisch-Brandenburgisches Quartett, Hans Reichel (1949-2011) is one of the great figures of experimental guitar music. Though perhaps lesser known than peers like Derek Bailey, Fred Frith and Keith Rowe, Reichel’s rethinking of the instrument was in some ways the most radical of all. Early on, he dispensed with existing guitars to build a series of his own that explored the use of additional strings and fretboards, moveable pickups, extra bridges, special capos, and other innovations documented in the extensive booklet accompanying this release.

Reichel was a long-term resident of Wuppertal, the small Western Germany city that became an unlikely centre of European free jazz in the late 1960s, also home to Peter Brötzmann and Peter Kowald. His solo debut Wichlinghauser Blues was an early entry into the FMP discography and began a relationship with the label that stretched into the 1990s; all the solo performances heard here were first released on FMP. As Reichel says in the charming archival interview with Markus Müller included here, he was ‘always a cuckoo’s egg at FMP’, a label that began as an outlet for roaring European free jazz. What strikes the listener right from the opening selection on Dalbergia Retusa—‘Return of the Knödler show’, from 1987’s The Dawn of Dachsman—is the extraordinary beauty of Reichel’s music, at once alien in the shimmering sonorities and unconventional pitch relationships made possible by his invented instruments, and deeply lyrical, even romantic in its harmonic content. Growing up in West Germany in the 1960s, Reichel’s formative influences were mainly British and American rock bands, a background that shines through in many of the pieces included here: ‘An old friend passes by’ is haunted by the ghost of Hendrix’s rhythm guitar, and the wild closer ‘Heimkehr der Holzböcke’, taken from a rare 1975 7” and the only piece to use overdubbing, layers errant hammer-on and slide tones over a Canned Heat boogie chug.

Reichel was an important source for the development of Oren Ambarchi’s own extended approach to the electric guitar. Appropriately enough, his selection opens with the very first piece by Reichel he ever heard, on a flexidisc included with a 1989 issue of Guitar Player magazine. Though Reichel collaborated with others extensively in many settings and also performed on violin and his other major contribution to instrument invention, the daxophone, his music for solo guitar remains at the core of his oeuvre. Focusing exclusively on solo pieces recorded between 1973 and 1988, the 23 pieces on Dalbergia Retusa showcase the range and consistency of Reichel’s work, allowing the listener to see how his performances developed hand-in-hand with his instrumental inventions. On a piece from his very first LP, played on an 11-string instrument (partly strung with piano strings and using a schnapps glass a slide), we hear his intensive exploration of fret-hammering to create zither-like, chiming tone, which Reichel would hone further in later years with a double fretboard guitar specifically designed to be hammered rather than fretted and picked. On a piece from 1979’s Death of the Rare Bird Ymir, Reichel uses two steel-string acoustic guitars at once, with beautiful results: ‘some even say too beautiful’, he jokes in the interview included here. Many of the pieces from the 1980s make use of varieties of the ‘pick behind the bridge guitar’, instruments of uncanny harmonic richness primarily designed to be played on the ‘wrong’ side of the bridge. At times the unexpected behaviour of attacks, resonance, and decay can almost seem electronic, conjuring up the technology-assisted work of Henry Kaiser or even Fennesz, but realised solely through Reichel’s unorthodox techniques on his invented instruments. Extensively illustrated with photos and Reichel’s own plans and drawings of his instruments, Dalbergia Retusa is an essential introduction to the unique world of Hans Reichel. Rarely has music been at once so strange and so beautiful.

Back on Celestial Echo Records with CER010, a record that’s been a fixture in the right record bags for a long time.

Africano – “Open Your Hearts” is a serious modern soul tune for the Chicago DJs. Super funky, big on feeling, and powered by explosive instrumentation that just keeps driving. — strong, emotional, and made for proper dancefloors.

It’s been spun for years by DJs like Mark Grusane, Theo Parrish, and others in that Chicago scene — and it works every time. Part 1 on the A-side is the one you know, while Part 2 on the flip stretches things out and lets the groove roll on.

As always, Celestial Echo is about soul records that have earned their place. Remastered with care and pressed properly, Africano is one we’re proud to finally put back out there.

Kim Gordon hat Kunst und Noise über Jahrzehnte immer wieder neu gedacht - und dabei nie an Schärfe verloren. Vierzig Jahre nach ihren Anfängen wirkt ihre Vision noch immer provokant. Dieses Abenteuer setzt sie mit ihrem dritten Soloalbum "PLAY ME" fort, das am 13. März bei Matador Records erscheint. Mit der Ankündigung erscheint die erste Single "NOT TODAY", begleitet von einem Kurzfilm der Modedesignerinnen und Filmemacherinnen Kate und Laura Mulleavy (Rodarte). Gordon trägt darin ein eigens für sie gefertigtes, handgefärbtes Seidentüllkleid. Der Song offenbart eine neue, fast poetische Spannung in ihrer Stimme: "Da kam eine andere Stimme zum Vorschein", so Gordon. "PLAY ME" ist ein konzentriertes, direktes Album, das ihren Sound um melodischere Beats und den motorischen Drive des Krautrock erweitert. Entstanden ist es erneut mit Produzent Justin Raisen (Charli XCX, Sky Ferreira, Yves Tumor). Die Songs sind kurz, prägnant und stark rhythmusorientiert - fokussierter und selbstbewusster als zuvor. Nach "No Home Record" (2019) und "The Collective" (2024, zwei Grammy-Nominierungen) richtet Gordon den Blick auf die Gegenwart: Tech-Macht, KI-getriebene Kulturverflachung, den Abbau demokratischer Strukturen und den absurden Alltag des Spätkapitalismus. Trotz dieser Themen ist "PLAY ME" ein nach innen gewandtes, geradezu körperliches und ebenso emotionales Album. Mit verzerrten Stimmen und schroffen Beats legen Songs wie "Square Jaw", "Dirty Tech" oder "Busy Bee" gesellschaftliche Realitäten frei. Der Titeltrack entlarvt die Logik einer durchkuratierten Komfortkultur. "PLAY ME" ist radikal gegenwärtig, widerständig und kompromisslos eigenständig.

Hate Love Trio made a low-key debut last year on this label with the slow, dreamy, dance-pop charms of 'Chan-O-Rama'. We have found out little more about the producer or producers behind it but here they or he or she returns with a full-length album of elegant and inventive downtempo and Balearic that starts off with those singles. Elsewhere, slow, mournful rhythms and melodies encourage inward reflection. 'Loosey Goosey' is a funky dancer for grown-ups, 'Billie Brownie' merges dub pacing with sunny guitar echo and 'Sunday I Don't Know' is a shimmering, jazz-flecked neo-classical warmer for intimate moments. An accomplished and adventurous album that is as good for the mind as it is body and soul.

Zwei Plattenspieler und ein Mikrofon. In der Klarheit dieser einfachen Schlussformel liegt eine Wahrheit - eine Wahrheit, die zugleich erahnen lässt, wie groß die Möglichkeiten innerhalb dieser Grenzen sind. Manchmal muss man daran erinnert werden.I Guess U Had To Be There, das neue Album des New Yorker Rappers ELUCID und des erfahrenen Produzenten Sebb Bash, ist genau so ein Fall. So frisch, als wäre es morgen entstanden - und doch kann man darauf wetten, dass man es auch 1989 hätte auflegen können und sofort alle Köpfe mitgenickt hätten.Es gibt Momente in der Musik, in denen Meister ihres Fachs sich auf dem Höhepunkt ihrer jeweiligen Schaffenskraft begegnen - Alben wie Madvillainy, Liquid Swords, Dr. Octagonecologyst oder Hell Hath No Fury -, bei denen das Ergebnis mehr ist als die Summe seiner Teile. ELUCID und Sebb Bash bewegen sich auf I Guess U Had To Be There genau in dieser berauschenden, scheinbar mühelosen Sphäre.Alles wirkt zugleich vertraut und bahnbrechend. Die Beats verschieben und wenden sich unter ELUCIDs Füßen, doch er balanciert sie wie auf einem Drahtseil - seine Performance so beweglich wie die einer Bergziege, Produzent und Rapper in perfekter Synchronität. Einige leuchtende Stars haben unvergessliche Gastauftritte: billy woods, Breezly Brewin, Estee Nack und Shabaka Hutchings. Doch im Kern ist dies eine Zwei-Mann-Show, und das Duo hält den Fokus genau dort, wo er hingehört.I Guess U Had To Be There ist ein fesselndes, konventionssprengendes Hörerlebnis und ein neuer Höhepunkt im Schaffen zweier der besten Künstler dieses Genres.

2026 Repress

An anthology born out of isolation and deep introspection, Sky Dust Drifter is a cosmic medley of sun-soaked AOR, psychedelic folk, and soft rock. This soundtrack was driven by the lonesome cowboy, a lockdown savior leaving me adrift in desert winds and dimly lit country bars.

Long-distance trades and masked meetups yielded a collection of private press LPs and 45s from ten different artists spanning 1973 to 1980. This seemingly random stack of records revealed songs living entangled in themes of hard luck, heartache, and the inevitable loneliness of existence. Adorned in cracked leather and chrome, this album is an aimless wander from the soil to the stars.

Featuring an unreleased English version of the compilation’s title track “Sky Dust Drifter” (originally released only in Hebrew), the record shifts from laconic afterthoughts to bold proclamations. From Michael Andrews’ blue-eyed soul assertion “Something Bad’s Better Than Nothin’,” to the searing electric guitars and bold synths of Sunburst’s “Special Lady,” Sky Dust Drifter thrives on solitude in a universe of unconditional self-rule where loneliness is not darkness but rather a blazing light of autonomy.

It's been more than ten years since Rolando debuted with his sought after self-titled EP on 030303 and it is thrilling to see the producer - who has always managed to remain a sort of best kept secret, admired only by the heads - still surf those high waves of creativity. Lifephorce is bound to be an instant classic, leaving instant marks on the listener's soul with unsettling yet mesmerising chord changes, a heavy throbbing bassline and generally a deep, introspective outlook on the dancefloor. Sterilize the Club brings back memories of face masks (thank you Rolando), but soundwise this is face to the ground stomping braindance material. Just as driving but more melancholic are Dot Zoner and Exit Your Own Realm. Classic Rolando Simmons, this one. If you know you know...

With Hyperbola, Laima Adelaide frames speed as a condition of softness rather than impact. The fan- tasy of flying through the air with effortless move- ment forms its emotional core, as tracks move fast, yet nothing collides: rhythms skim the surface, tex- tures hover, and motion unfolds through glide inste- ad of strike. Energy is continuous and diffused, pro- ducing propulsion without aggression, momentum without weight.

The hyperbola operates as both image and method. Sounds trace curved trajectories, drawing close only to diverge again, suspended in a state of gentle tension. Elements never resolve into force, they re- main airborne, elastic, and permeable, as if shaped by an invisible geometry. Across the EP, velocity becomes a tool for lightness, revealing an ethereal space where motion is elegant, friction dissolves, and intensity is carried through grace rather than pressure.

Credits:
Mastering by HWA
Artwork and Graphic Design by Enrico Caldini
Distributed by One Eye Witness

E23 Records second release is where electro has a love triangle with synthwave and Italo. Reality is the original Rorschach,

E23 founding member Mavanov worked diligently on delivering you eight varying tracks perfectly suited for working out on the dance floor and to find nuance and reflection at home or on the go. You will find hints of EBM and Detroit, with notes of cold wave and synthpop. A nostalgic journey into the future delivered on a beautifully crafted 12” limited to 200 copies.

JOCELYN VIRAPIN is one of the master of the Guadeloupean Gwoka percussion.
Born October 17th, 1957 in Basse-Terre, he’s an author, composer, producer and a vinyl digger.
His Gwoka is a pure tribute to the traditional combination of responsorial singing in Guadeloupean creole, rhythms played on the Ka drums and dancing.
He started to play in the 90’s with his band Gwaka. He opened and collaborated with prestigious band such as Kassav or Zouk Machine.
He has a massive discography as arranger and musician: he appears on more than 78 albums! The track "Pasyon" was originally released in 1994 on a rare vinyl , but with the artist we decided to do an edit, so we invited the super talented jazz player Florian Pellissier for a Rhodes improvisation on the original take.
The track "Respè Pou Fanm" was originally released with his band BELOKA in 2010 and was only pressed on a Cd format at a very limited quantity. This beautiful song is a blend of Ka, fantastic jazzy keys on Rhodes, hypnotic bass, sublime creole spiritual chants. With an incredibly joyous feel, the lyrics gave a timeless advice to men: Respect Women .
It definitely deserves a vinyl version for all the music lovers, Dj’s and diggers from all over the world !
Kenbé red pa moli !

Detroit original, Terrence Dixon, returns to Tresor Records to kick off 2026 with ‘When Stars Remember’. Despite his thirty-year career, Terrence has always managed to keep a lower profile than his peers; he has given few interviews, preferring instead to speak through his music, with cryptic song titles hinting at the thoughts swirling around their creation.
However, ‘When Stars Remember’ finds him stepping forward. “I wanted to get closer to the dancefloor. I consciously made this one feel louder…made with Tresor specifically in mind.” And the EP does just that: whilst many of the hall marks of a Terrence Dixon production are present, the drums are more forward; the synth arpeggios so bold that ‘monumental’ seems a better descriptor than ‘minimal’.
“I put three or four sounds together on the same track, layering to make something bigger”, he says of opening track ‘Mono Collapse’, though the statement could apply to any of the music appearing on the release as all four pieces fold in sonics to create something hypnotic; more than the individual parts: “If you stick with the same layered tones, and repeat it over, after a while your brain changes it on its own; you hear a lot of things: things that you didn’t notice at first, things that maybe aren’t even there.”
The absence of things is another main theme of the EP, especially what Dixon sees as ‘The Forgotten’, a group of fundamental principles like common sense, trust, loyalty, honesty and respect that are missing from modern life. “This world is different…the love is gone. But I love everybody, man. I think, secretly, everybody love everybody, but they just don’t know it.”

This is the first release from the label, signed by Lukio (aka Luciano Gentile).

Four tracks built around a constant sense of depth and a clear focus on the dancefloor. The approach is straightforward: solid grooves, controlled saturation, and a sound palette designed for long sets and proper systems.

MPC-driven drums provide a strong backbone, while Blofeld pads and the vintage character of the Yamaha TQ5 add texture without cluttering the mix. The EP moves between minimalist passages and rougher, tech-driven sections, maintaining tension and cohesion throughout.

This record sets the foundation of the project: hardware-driven sound, deep dancefloor functionality, and a long-term vision.

One of the UK’s rising talents in recent times, J6 continues his upward trajectory with an enormous four-tracker on underground fan favourites, Locked In Dam. The party starting crew go hand in hand with the refined J6 ethos, as he delivers a dynamite selection of tracks for your record bag. His familiar low end driven sound, combined with tinges of acid and futuristic textures moving between house and modern electro, shapes the ‘Devil Baby’ EP into a cohesive and powerful statement.

The title track is built upon powerful drums and squelchy, spaced-out tones, combined with trippy vocal stabs from Martina, who features on the record. This is prime J6 territory and not to be underestimated. Next up, ‘Biohazard’ introduces mysterious synths that create a transcending atmosphere, shifting the dance floor into the next gear with further twisted acid movements. On the flip side, the Manchester based beatmaker teams up with Ben Gough for ‘Time Capsule’, delivering pacey energy that never lets up, driven by nostalgic tech house drums and icy hi-hats. Rounding off the EP, ‘Emergence’ simmers with an emotive dark energy throughout; if we weren’t dancing with the devil before, we certainly are now.

A certain tip for the tastemakers amongst us, these are four dynamic dance floor cuts to be shared deep within the dark realms of the night.

DJ support: Soul Clap, Walla P (Voyage Funktastique), Moniquea

The first lady of MoFunk Records is also considered by many to be one of the queens of modern funk music. Her latest, “Womp In My Spirit,” fuses a wide range of styles within its ten tracks and shows the true versatility of funk music. On one end, the deep g-funk bounce of songs like “Womp In My Spirit” & “However You Are” show you Moniquea's west coast roots clearly, while uptempo boogie bangers like “Get It Together” sit in the lane that MoFunk is best known for. Tracks like “Red Light” go in a more dancey direction, welcoming the sleekness of house music to mingle with g-funk whistles and rubbery synth bass, a track that recently caught the ear of Soul Clap and was remixed by them on their recent “Soul Clap vs. MoFunk” EP. The majority of production on the album was handled by MoFunk head honcho XL Middleton.

Ascendent Dutch duo LUSU shoot skywards with a stunning solo Drumcode release ‘Move 2 the Groove’. ‘Move 2 the Groove’ is supreme. The title track picks up from where they left off with ‘DIZZY’ (with HI-LO) in terms of dancefloor impact. Marked by a hypnotic rap line, elite drum programming and a thrashing mosh pit energy, this is a percussive beast that thrills with each listen. ‘Afterlife’ shows their range, a stunning cut marked by old skool chords and celestial end-of-night energy. Bravo!