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.
Latebloomers introduce The First Bloom, their debut EP, ready to heat up summer dancefloors.
From playful ghetto-infused house grooves to deeper, hypnotic cuts, The First Bloom brings together five artists connected by friendship and a shared love for underground dance music.
The A-side features Miami Beat$ representatives BeetWorldWide, Uncle Franky, and Teejay joining forces on two nostalgic, hip-hop-inspired cuts. On the B-side, label founders Roy Koch and DJ Z each deliver a solo track, exploring deeper grooves and planting the seed for the Latebloomers sound.
Rooted in the belief that growth unfolds at its own pace, The First Bloom marks the beginning of Latebloomers.
Macedonian artist Stojche kicks off Mutual Rytm Xs 2025 schedule with his blistering new EP, Stomping Ground.
Stojche is an exciting DJ and producer from Skopje, Macedonia, who is currently based in Madrid. He heads up his Tangible Assets imprint and has been making waves in the electronic underground for over 20 years. His music takes inspiration from the classic sounds of Detroit and dub techno, and in 2024, he impressed with his Metaphor EP on F.U.S.E. Following on from his superb contribution to Mutual Rytms Federation of Rytm II compilation, here, he now serves up his first EP of the year with a first outing on X, the sister label of SHDWs Mutual Rytm, w Stomping Ground.
This EP opens up with the powerful Stomping Ground, a scintillating blend of tightly programmed kicks and reverberating percussive lines. The textured percussion shimmers over the racing beats and cannot fail to sweep dancers off their feet. Oberheim is another high-class, high-impact sound with muted melodies thinking over the twisting and turning drums and bass which never let up and ooze warm machine soul. Consequence keeps the pressure on with tight drums and raw percussive layers softened by smeared dub chords. Digital bonus The Vault shuts down with thumping kicks and rave ready synth stabs that will erupt on peak-time floors.
Since his 2013 debut album, Body Issues, Max Ravitz—better known to you and me as Patricia—has been zeroing in on the kernel of an idea. Across seven albums for labels like Opal Tapes, Spectral Sound/Ghostly International, and Acid Test, he’s applied his hand to a lean, focused vision of electronic music, paring away excess to lavish attention on carefully sculpted acid lines, stealthy drum programming, and warmly emotive melodies. For all their restraint, though, his tracks could never be called merely rote or efficient; even at their simplest, they’re steeped in atmosphere and shot through with layers of mystery. Now, on his first record for Balmat, he strips things down even further, revealing the ambient essence of his music.
Across eight tracks, he pours everything he has into the most minimalist music of his career. Many tracks
seem to have been made with just one synthesizer patch and some carefully applied effects—a honing of
his materials that brings the nuances of his music to the fore as never before. Elastic pitches warp and drift; fleeting harmonies bring out new dimensions in his synths’ timbres. “Murmuration” sounds almost like
Baroque music in its lithe, undulating counterpoints. “Birdsong” takes a classic choral pad and stretches it
horizon-wide. And songs like the closing “Yearn” allow the expressive dimension of his music to fill the
frame as never before.
The title Songs for Josephine pays tribute to Max’s wife. For years, she’s told Max she’d like to hear him
make an album without drums; he assembled these songs over time, always with her in mind. “Even with
my beat-driven music, I’ve gotten a lot of comments in the past about the ambient textures tucked into
those tracks, so I feel like people have been drawn to that aspect of my music for a while,” Max says. “It’s
been an interesting change of pace making a record with that side of my sound as the focal point.”
For listeners familiar with Max’s music, the effect may be uncanny: This is Patricia through and through, but heard in a whole new way.
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Balmat is a label with a cloudy outline. Jointly shepherded by Albert Salinas and Philip Sherburne, two
friends living in Cardedeu, Catalonia, and on the Balearic island of Menorca, Balmat grew out of Lapsus Radio, a weekly show born almost ten years ago. Balmat’s mission is simple: to foster new ideas, expand upon personal obsessions, and put enveloping sounds out into the world. “Balmat” means “empty” or “void” in Catalan. But quite apart from any negative connotations, we prefer to think of it in terms of possibility: a space waiting to be filled.
Released in the winter of 1995, Dah Shinin’ introduced Smif-N-Wessun as torchbearers of the gritty, sample-driven East Coast sound that defined a generation. Backed by Da Beatminerz’ haunting, jazz-laced production and supported by their Boot Camp Clik brethren, Tek and Steele delivered a debut that was as raw as it was revolutionary — capturing the essence of mid-90s Brooklyn.
Now, 30 years later, Dah Shinin’ returns in its most complete form. The 30th Anniversary Definitive Deluxe Edition brings together for the first time in one place, the full original album, two essential remixes "Wrekonize" and "Sound Bwoy Bureill" and rare material, including the long-unreleased “Nuttin’ Move But Da Money,” finally available officially after years on white label.
Pressed across three LPs and housed in a premium tri-fold jacket featuring original artwork, newly commissioned liner notes, period photography, and archival content, this expanded edition stands as a tribute to the album’s creation and legacy. From the underground anthem “Bucktown” to the crew showcase “Cession At Da Doghillee,” every track celebrates the timeless sound that made Dah Shinin’ a classic.
Edgar debuts on Dark Entries with Pavor, an 11 track LP of sleazy disco, warped synthpop, and gothic cumbia. Veteran musician Luis Gutierrez has spent the past two decades touring in bands, running Lalalandia Studio, and building his practice in Oakland and Guadalajara. But now, for his first solo outing, he has become Edgar, a pop star who knows no limits! “Edgar feels mightier than anyone but is always reduced to his vices” says Gutierrez, and Pavor delivers vices in spades. From the opening salvos of “Otra Agua,” it’s clear we’re in for a wild ride: seasick synths slide along slamming disco beats, menacingly chanted vocals sit amid a flurry of careening horror movie samples. The mischief does not abate as we’re guided through a demented funhouse of genre detournements.
Edgar puts his indelible fingerprints over every inch of this vinyl, from uptempo numbers like the spooky chip-tune frenzy of “Nunca Mas” to the twisted cumbia of “Panteon.” We’re even treated to a fairly faithful (and majestic) Spanish-language cover of Amanda Lear’s “Follow Me,” here titled “Sigueme.” EBM, space disco, and horror movie soundtracks all find their way into the mix on Pavor, but the diverse palette comes together perfectly, like a Yello album for the 21st century. Pavor comes housed in a sleeve designed by Eloise Shir-Juen Leigh and features a photograph by Izaak Schlossman. Also included is an insert with lyrics and notes. On Pavor, Edgar brings us a healthy dose of pure excess, reminding us that dread can be a hell of a lot of fun.
Following the passing of our dear friend DJ Romain earlier this year, we've spent a long time reflecting on when to share some of the new music he entrusted to Hard Times Records. The incredible response to 2024’s 'The Lost D.A.T.S.' EPs reignited Romain's creative spark at a time when, unbeknownst to many, he was quietly battling serious ill health. After relocating from his beloved New Jersey to Cleveland, the studio once again became his sanctuary, inspiring a remarkable new chapter of music. The 'New Jersey' and ‘Cleveland’ EPs were the first recordings from that period.
Funky Streets completes the first trio of new EPs, but it is also just a glimpse of the wealth of music Romain crafted before his passing. His final studio sessions became an escape from his daily battles, inspiring a remarkable outpouring of new material that he was determined to finish, knowing his beats would continue to warm dancefloors and further cement the legacy of one of house music's true masters.
Opening with the horn-driven swagger of the title track, the EP moves seamlessly into the soulful groove of 'I Like To Boogie' before culminating in the deep, organ-led dancefloor energy of 'This Is Where I Wanna Be’. Romain signs off with 'The Chocolates’ - an uplifting, guitar-laced boogie jam filled with warmth, joy and unmistakable soul.
Beautifully crafted from beginning to end, Funky Streets stands as a lasting testament to DJ Romain's extraordinary talent, timeless musicality, and enduring contribution to House music. His legacy lives on in every groove.
Excited to share this bomb new release from Scottish techno/house legend Stephen Brown, whose discography reads like a Who's Who of classic techno labels: Transmat Detroit, Djax-UpBeats, Cocoon, Subject Detroit, Theory...
With its instantly recognisable vocal hook, Test 1 is a bona fide, party-starting hand grenade of a tune and destined for track ID requests wherever it drops. Backed by the raw, Chi-town groover Move It (which wouldn't have sounded out-of-place on one of Brown's Djax-up-Beats releases: all off kilter pads, detuned hats and a slamming kick) plus the deeper Tell Him, itself a masterclass in subtlety and groove, this 3-tracker really is quite a package.
All killer: no filler, The Safari EP is essential for fans of proper underground house & techno. Stephen Brown's releases have been falling into the "buy-on-sight" bracket for DJs in the know for many moons now. This release is no different! High quality from Edinburghs finest.
Outer Place Records proudly presents its seventh vinyl release: Jungle EP by Kamyar Keramati with included a remix from Domenico Rosa . A sonic expedition through intricate rhythms and emotive textures, this EP marks a significant chapter in our label's journey. Berlin-based Iranian producer Kamyar Keramati delivers a compelling four-track EP that traverses the realms of techno, breakbeat, and ambient soundscapes.
A1. "Jungles"
An immersive opener that sets the tone with layered percussions and atmospheric depth, inviting listeners into a dense sonic forest.
A2. "Sakhiff"
A rhythmic journey blending intricate beats with subtle melodies, showcasing Keramati's prowess in crafting dynamic electronic narratives.
B1. "One For All"
A unifying track that melds diverse sonic elements into a cohesive whole, reflecting the EP's complete theme of interconnectedness.
B2. "Jungle (Domenico Rosa Remix)"
Italian producer Domenico Rosa reinterprets the title track, infusing it with his signature minimalistic but techno flair, adding a fresh perspective to the original composition.
Each track demonstrates Keramati's ability to weave complex rhythms with emotive undertones, creating an EP that resonates on both the dancefloor and in introspective settings. Visual Identity by Henrik Delehag Complementing the auditory experience, the EP features cover art by Swedish artist Henrik Delehag . Known for his distinctive black-and-white iconography, Delehag's work explores the interplay between chaos and harmony. His art distills complex realities into symbolic forms, providing a visual narrative that mirrors the EP's sonic journey.
This collaboration marks the beginning of an ongoing partnership, with Delehag set to design all future vinyl covers for Outer Place Records. His unique artistic vision aligns seamlessly with our label's vision, enhancing the holistic experience of our releases.
Jungle EP is more than a collection of tracks; it's a curated experience that fuses sound and visual art.
In November 2024, 2 Flying Stones organized a remix contest. Four of the winners are featured on this 12” record.
The contest winner is Narik, who transforms the massive trance classic “Blue Crystal” into an organic house gem. It's 100% Ibiza-style, 100% downbeat, and perfect for the summer.
Other participants include Wesqo Beats, Stevectro, and DJ Nyano. They each bring their own unique sound, reinterpreting the iconic 90s original in their own style.
These four different versions, each growing within their own scenes, make for a diverse and exciting 12” release.
Subtle Beginnings is the second of the ReKab albums originally released on Móatún 7 to be reissued on vinyl for the first time by System One. Analogue Isolation came in May & sold out everywhere almost immediately
Label head D. Howard first came across ReKab while deep diving through Bandcamp, and like many lovers of deep, late night, soulful electronic music immediately fell for the emotional pads, pristine melodies & immaculate productions, simultaneously summoning up the essence of early 90s electronic while sounding thoroughly contemporary.
They connected and a plan hatched to make the Móatún 7 albums available on vinyl for the first time, something that avid record collector James was delighted about. Unfortunately James sadly passed away late August last year, but following conversation with the family & friends of James, it was decided to honour his wishes & make the albums available on vinyl & across all digital services once again. Proceeds after costs will be paid through to the trust fund set up to support James’ surviving son.
System One is a new label dedicated to soulful electronic music, late night grooves & intergalactic beats, drawing its inspiration from the early 90s techno & ambient sounds of Uk, Frankfurt, Detroit & beyond
2026 Repress
Efficient Space honours the memory of producer and MC Ali Omar with Hashish Hits, a posthumous selection from the dub rebel’s self-released discography.
One of ten children in working-class Liverpool, Omar drew deep influence from his father's Arabic heritage—a thread central to his identity and sample origins. After art school and a spell clubbing during Manchester's halcyon days, he relocated to Sydney, where he cofounded the blunted downbeat duo Atone with fellow British expatriate Andy Fitzgerald. As an MC, he infiltrated the city’s house, dub, jungle, and bass circuits, becoming a regular fixture at the Bentley Bar, where he commanded the mic with his versatile, rumbling baritone and charisma.
Freakishly talented in the studio, Omar was a pioneer of the Akai sampler and Atari, deftly recording live sessions straight to DAT. Drawing on industry insights from his sister, Merseybeat firebrand Beryl Marsden—who supported The Beatles on their final UK tour and was signed to Decca and Columbia—the non-conformist sought to build a self-sufficient business model. Between 1998 and 2004, he independently issued four albums on CD through his Hashish Studios imprint, hustling copies directly to local record stores and live shows for instant returns, even hand-sewing screen-printed hessian sleeves for his final release.
Uncompromising in his principles and refusing to suffer fools or charlatans, Omar relished the opportunity to collaborate with those who embodied the same spirit. Hashish Hits offers a snapshot of his inner sanctum—Fitzgerald on the opening track's billowing smoke stacks, the serpentine vocals of Gina Mitchell and the magic hands of mixer Louis Mitchell on 'On Release,' and Wicked Beat Sound System’s Kye on 'Poor Man Beggar Man Thief'. Meanwhile, 'Suicide Bomber' smoulders with the tension of a lost Muslimgauze relic, as the instructional 'Roll Up' and 'The Last Straw' spiral deeper into Omar’s signature production vortex— where space stretches in slow motion and walls reverberate with ricocheting delay.
A true icon of Sydney’s underground scene, the larger-than-life Omar passed away on 23 June 2009 after a valiant battle with cancer. He is remembered for his assertive spirit, larrikin humour, wild anarchic personality, and enduring mantra: “Love and live your life”.1
“One foot out the door, another in the otherworld…”
So begins Hannah Lew’s debut, self-titled solo record, soaked in imperious, wide-eyed pop songwriting and a girl-group/post punk aesthetic that belies the artist’s history in the U.S. underground. A towering, hook-laden album, it’s infused with an optimism and surrealism that conversely deals with the times we find ourselves in.
Recorded at home in Richmond, CA and in The Best House studio with Maryam Qudus in Oakland CA, with the assistance of a crack team of West Coast musicians, this album sees Hannah Lew stepping out from behind the legacy of her two groups Grass Widow and Cold Beat. While musically bearing similarities with her previous work, “Hannah Lew” is a bold leap into direct pop territory, making ample use of a vocal style that teases out the inherent melancholy in her melodies. Mastered by Sarah Register, each song is a perfectly honed nugget that frequently pulls the heart in two directions at once.
Themes of change, breaking up, shattering old ways of being are shot through the record. For the front cover, a photograph of the artist’s face was printed, ripped up and re-assembled, resembling the creative process embarked upon by Lew for her first “solo” material. The album feels instinctual, almost dream-like in its assemblage of sweeping synths and pulsating, propulsive drum machine beat patterns with Lew’s vocal performances sensitive and caressing over the top. Increasingly relying on the subconscious and dreams to guide her creative process, Hannah Lew frequently abandons literal interpretations or linear narratives, the songs seeming to exist in a swooning, effortless flow-state while remaining emotionally hard hitting.
On an album where every song could be a single, there are kaleidoscopic shades and varying emotional tones in abundance. First single Another Twilight is carried along a pumping, Italo-disco-style 4/4 beat and mono-synth bass line, the low end pulling at the heart and body. Lew’s vocal melody teases the track before swan-diving into a gorgeous chorus as she sings “it’s all over baby and I don’t mind… in decline, I take my time…” The album is suffused with moments like this. On slow builder Damaged Melody, an arpeggiated synth elongates the verse before a cascading synth showers down melodic glitter. The stunning Replica uses dual swirling synth patterns before a driving, synthpop chorus for the ages carries Hannah Lew’s vocal into the stereo field, sailing in on a high register singed with the embers of a break up.
In a departure from previous groups, her solo songs are guided by dreams and free association inspired by Dada and the Surrealist movement and sculpted afterwards. As such, the songs reveal themselves on repeated listens, revealing traces of heartbreak inspired by both personal and global elements - Hannah Lew regards the album “a wartime album.” On Move In Silence, Lew intones “there’s a war outside, just out of view,” revealing the dichotomy at play throughout. With the songs evolving naturally and in a flow state, the pressures and sadnesses of the modern age bleed through, mixed in with Lew’s inherent love, sensitivity and fractured-but-intact optimism. On the swooning, sublime Sunday layers of Numanoid synths open up for the commanding vocal performance pontificating on grief, love, pain as she “feels the ache on Sunday…” As the chorus builds and Lew’s call-and-response vocal adds to the emotional tension, it almost feels like too much to take.
Elsewhere, there are echoes of Hannah Lew’s previous work. On Time Wasted a bass guitar comes in with a heavy, punk attack before the synths and vocal harmonies reminiscent of later Cold Beat elevate everything. The glassy, sweetly resigned closer The Clock sounds like so classic it could be cover, a sweetened Jesus & Mary Chain tune perhaps, before it erupts into volcanic chorus that could only come from Hannah Lew in 2026.
Impressive Collective, BBE Music and Mark de Clive-Lowe present: Remixes & Reimaginations World-renowned for decades, Mark de Clive-Lowe is a New Zealand-born, Tokyo-based pianist, composer and producer, widely recognised as a pioneer in nu-jazz, broken beat and electronic music. In contrast to his previous release on Impressive Collective, the contemplative solo project 'past present (tone poems across time)', this collection brings together MdCL’s extraordinary reinterpretations of other artists’ work. As he explains: “Remixing has always meant more to me than just rearranging stems - it’s about uncovering a new reality inside the music.” From the uplifting gospel-house of Close Counters’ 'I’ll Be There For You', recontextualised for the broken beat dancefloor, to the timelessly angelic tones of We Are KING’s ‘Supernatural'; from Omar’s 'This Is Not A Love Song' reimagined almost 30 years later, to the politically charged intensity of Anthony Joseph’s 'Maka Dimweh' - every remix has been crafted with the progressive dancefloor in mind, while still resonating for the deep listener and always in service to the original artist’s essence. “I’m grateful to every artist who’s invited me to dive into their work - to deconstruct it and reimagine it with love, curiosity and respect. This compilation isn’t just a retrospective, it’s a celebration of the remix as an art form.”
We are thrilled to announce the release of MOTHERV004, a captivating vinyl compilation that unites house enthusiasts from New York to London, Barcelona to Lisbon, and Bucharest to beyond. This carefully curated 4-track sampler features an eclectic mix of talents, including Santé, Kristofson, Freiboitar, Piem, Cecelia, and Artwerq.
Each artist infuses their unique signature into the tracks, creating a rich tapestry of rhythms and melodies that will carry you away. Just as the vibrant energy of the global house scene continues to evolve. We invite you to immerse yourself in this sonic journey that transcends geographical boundaries. Let the beats guide your feet and the melodies inspire your spirit. Whether you’re dancing in the club or enjoying an intimate listening session!
Played and loved by Jamie Jones, Carl Craig, Sam Divine, Claptone, Joris Voorn, Roger Sanchez, Mark Knight, NESI and many more…
House is the Religion. The DJ is my Deacon. The Music is my God and James Bangura is cool af.
Genuine, passionate, clear, authentic and real…. He isn’t trying, he just is. And his music is the same. It’s fucking cool. It’s real and authentic and it just is James Bangura. So it’s a real honour to add him to the Shall Not Fade roster; from Techno to Jungle to House and everything between the DC native can extract the true essence of a genre and simultaneously make it his own & pay homage to its roots.
So on Jack Sermon there’s no surprise when he flexes a seemingly generationally inherited knack for all things House (and Techno) and delivers four tracks of raw, real, genuine House music. OG shit.
‘House is the Religion, and the DJ is my Deacon, but the music is my God” says the Evangelical vocal on title track ‘Jack Sermon’. Never has there been a more aptly named track…This is a jack sermon… an OG inspired Chi town cut channeling early house music’s soulful beginnings delivered with straight up jacking house beat offset with laidback dusty dub chords….. We don;t say this lightly but we’re calling anthem on this one.
‘Scat Pack’ takes a more percussive and drum forward House motif. Thunderous kicks tease techno but this is still house, NY at heart complete with voguing diva vocals . Blown out and choppy we could say ‘this could have been ripped from a late 90’s club recording on a lost tape’ but that would do disservice to the precise but invisible fusion that's been laid down here..
‘Funk To Berlin’ opens the flip side and in Bangura’s journey to explore classic forms of house and techno, this track may well have taken root from Dub techno pioneers from the past. Deep dub chords and deeper subs lead the track but that jacking percussion makes this more than homage. Machine Funk, Machine soul. AA side business.
‘The Green Line’ closes out the EP in style.. rolling it out with skittering synths that work like percussion, ethereal pads and a faint vocal ‘Chicago’ spiralling into itself making this track one you can get lost in. Some might argue that this one is techno but who cares. It’s the journey not the destination. Two tickets please.
If you don’t know James Bangura’s music already (or even if you do) do some digging.. Look for releases on Mister Saturday Night, K7! and Floorspeed and check his output as part of “Black Rave Culture” with Amal and Nativesun and as a member of Groovedeep with Toronto’s Ciel and fellow DC native Jackson Ryland.
To close, we’ll leave you with this note from James……. told he is cool af.
House music, to me, exists on a wide spectrum. I’m inspired by its many forms: stripped-back minimalism, percussive drive, hypnotic textures, and soulful undertones. Rather than confining myself to one approach, I treat each track as an exploration—testing structure, pushing rhythm, and allowing subtle details to carry emotional weight. The studio becomes a space where groove and atmosphere meet intention. This body of work highlights that process. It reflects how I balance technical precision with feel, tension with release, and tradition with forward motion. Every decision—from drum programming to spatial design—is part of shaping a sound that feels honest and instinctive. - James Bangura
Nippon Psychedelic Soul 1970-1979 is Time Capsule’s continuation of the deep dive into Japan’s rich history of folk and psychedelic soul music.
Vinyl LP with 4 page insert, original artwork and photos
The kaleidoscopic psychedelia of 1970s Japan captured a fragile and fertile moment as the country sought its future in funk grooves, heavy reverb and lyrical hallucinations.
The follow-up compilation to Time Capsule’s Nippon Acid Folk, Nippon Psychedelic Soul takes myriad pathways into the tripped-out undergrowth of 1970s Japan. Finding their feet at home and looking for inspiration abroad, the musicians featured here were engaged in the communal soul-searching that followed the breakdown of the 1960s protest movements. Some made it big, others drifted into oblivion. The music they left behind shimmers with intensity.
At the core was Happy End, the first project of YMO’s Haroumi Hosono, whose distortion-heavy guitar and crisp back-beat laid the foundations for Japanese lyrics that flipped the paradigm of Japanese rock music on its head. With it came a new found sonic ambition, such as in the bold Philly-soul style arrangements of producer Yuji Ohno, whose work with occult wandered Yoshiko Sai shares some of the bittersweet grandeur of Rotary Connection or David Axelrod.
Then there was Jun Fukamachi, a pioneer of Japanese synthesis, whose debut album was a carnival of orchestral funk, euphoric horn lines and rich production, complete with soaring guitar solos, psychedelic organ and a truly cinematic finale. The first and only time Fukamachi would sing on record, ‘Omae’ rips like the ultimate end-of-nighter.
Influenced by giants of the US soul scene, maverick composer Hiroshi “Monsieur” Kamayatsu (otherwise known as ‘the Brian Wilson of Japan’) went one step further, enlisting Tower of Power to play on ‘Have You Smoked Gauloises?’ The B-side to Monsieur’s biggest-selling single, it coasts with sophisticated cool - a liquid bassline and suave keys comping under a roaring trademark ToP sax solo. No surprise it found favour once more on the Acid Jazz dance floors of ‘90s London.
Such was the spirit of experimentation that big studio productions and private press releases sat side-by-side, with the likes of Momotaro Pink and Kazushi Inamura, taking their hopes of success into their own hands with the resources available to them. More reflective but no less robust, theirs was a heavy, fat-backed drum sound, soaked in dramatic, soulful psychedelia.
If some were dreamers and others space cadets, none were further out than sci-fi writer, musician, activist and self-made scientist Tadashi Goino, who transformed his own fantasy novel Messenger from the Seventh Dimension into an operatic prog odyssey with few discernible musical reference points – a majestic and completely bonkers outlier even among company as strange and brilliant as that which is collected here.
Less a compilation of a scene, as a compilation of a sentiment, Nippon Psychedelic Soul is a wild ride from start to finish, shattering the narratives of the Japanese folk and rock tradition into a million tiny pieces.
This disparate collection of material formed Kold Funk Vol. 1, showcasing The Surfers’ sweeping palette developed through 15 years of playing music. Igor Zhukovsky, the band’s frontman, himself selected the tracks. Enjoy your trip to the enchanting world of The Soul Surfers! TSS are the ground-breakers and a vivid example of how authentic world-class groove may be produced anywhere — what matters is the right feeling and the concept.
There is a strong sense of place running through 'North West Tonight', as God Colony aka Crack Copies label heads and Liverpool-raised duo James Rand and Thomas Gorton sketch out a hazy, after-hours portrait of their hometown. Drawing on 80s new wave melodies and rough-edged club rhythms, the EP balances sounds of yore with present-day energy. There is crunchy, disrupted bass on 'The Column', backlit broken beat on 'Middle Eye' and more sun-kissed depths on 'Rhyll Sun Centre'. 'The Paradox' stands out as a darker, more edgy and club-ready sound while the rework by Sasha stretches the track into something built for wide-eyed dancefloors.
FELT wade deeper into the murky waters of contemporary Scandinavian electroacoustic music following the recent reissue of Johan Wieth’s Health & Safety project on sub-label LEFT and established gems from the likes of Civilistjävel!
Gintė Preisaitė, a Lithuanian artist and graduate of Copenhagen’s Rhythmic Music Conservatory, reveals her first solo release under her own name, following a collaborative effort with Toshimaru Nakamura in 2025 and a number of cassettes as “Baraboro”. The deliberately genre-blurring sound Preisaitė deploys works with composed pop vignettes, sustained drones, FX manipulations and guttural bursts of noise. Sparse piano movements, sample-laden psychedelia and moments of big beat/trip-hop rhythms gel with crowd noise, close mic’d intimacy and experimental percussion with a focus on instrumental timbres and extended techniques.
With a background in composing for large ensembles, Preisaitė's multi-instrumental approach is evident across the eight tracks, moments of dense concrète-style sound collages anchored by the human voice never being far away. She laments on fantasy, absurdity and relationships as a cast of players contribute string, brass, accordion, and guitar parts. Passages move from delicate acoustic folk motifs through to wide-eyed, cut-and-paste glitch electronics and spectral melodic riffs, making the album an unorthodox and welcome addition to Denmark's current world-class music scene.
The return of Jonne Lydén aka 53X is an exhilarating welcome for Emotional Especial with 4 more seismic analogue psychedelic jams that are becoming recognisably a unique and hypnotic statement.
Lydén’s studio time is distillation for personal contemplation and perfection just 3 releases in 5 years that are worth the wait. The heady demand for his debut ‘Synapse’ and the following ‘Zen ‘23’ on Especial (limited repress incoming!) show constant development a sound of widescreen technoscope where dub beats trance pyrotechnics and 303 mind-melt swirling in a cosmic matter.
His return takes this further his music heritage in Finland’s hardcore punk scene to finding the techno of Detroit and Berlin before submerging in synths and drum programming jamming recording and mixing these trip-out electronic journeys live.
This heavy 4/4 jack is apparent on opening Sanctuary. Like his recent outings ‘Radar’ found on the Especial 50th “sampler” release ‘Gracias Especial’ (EES050) and also ‘Simulaato’ hidden away on blink and you miss it cult label Avidya (AVI003) this is a pure undiluted bang. Straight forward heavy bass kicking charged with acid 303 and monotonic vocal insights the track is a flourishing temple a call of embrace.
The eponymous Cyan Haze showcases 53X’s cinematic finest panoramic audio and sound design creating expansive phonics. BPMs drop samples flourish around break drops and rolling bass – breathing looping shouting lifting.
Owls enlightens. Hardware rumbles cerebral a temporal universe awakening. The collage of found sound successive sequential all encased by hypnotic broken chords rolling bass and melancholic piano refrain. Meta worming braindance ecstatic tribal industrial gliding by Shiva into the night.
Dust closes apt its basement collage pounds Lydén to techno genesis. Proto-zeitgeist steppa dark room incantation pulling and expanding the fantasy to strange dreamscapes. Reincarnation and hope in 2026.
A long-time figure at the heart of Samurai Music, Last Life makes his first appearance on SAIBAI trading his signature snarl for shadowy psychedelia and snaking beatdowns. Since 2015 Mauro Picciau has been cultivating a sound that maximises on the space that opens up around half-time 170, finding plenty of power while stretching out his rhythms. On this new release he pivots towards subtler tones and textures, and plugs directly into the wave of innovative artistry occurring at the intersection of D&B and deep techno. Writhing, taut sound design spells out the mood on opening track 'Gear Cutter', as Picciau gets expressive with metallic feedback tones that elegantly contort across the front of the mix. There's a strong sense of narrative that brings the track's dynamic movement to the fore, holding back energetic shifts with a measured intent to ramp up the tension. 'Norma' has a more ceremonial feel, locking into a steady pulse and letting distant clouds of melodic ambience create a bewitching atmosphere around the percussive mantras. 'Radian' speaks its own minimalist, techno-spirited language, drawing on alien murmurs and steely drones to strike a lighter note without breaking the mysterious fog that hovers over the EP. 'The Moat' leads on a heavier set of drums to close the record out, shaping space with skilful reverb and a tightly controlled synth pulse. Within this echo chamber, and across the whole release, Picciau has capitalised on this patient approach to bed infinitesimal ripples into the mix, rewarding the active listener and instilling his creations with a kinetic vitality that can always be felt, no matter how slight the sound is.
The fourth release on Samurai Music sublabel SAIBAI comes from Spanish techno mainstay Reeko. True to his long-standing reputation for hypnotic sonics and rhythmic precision, Juan Rico builds on a recent run of activity on Samurai to offer up a densely packed, evocative pair of 160/170 BPM soundscapes. In keeping with the spirit of previous SAIBAI releases, Rico emphasises exploration on both sides of this new record as he draws out continually morphing textures that land between melodic expression and percussive impact. It's instantly clear there's a free tekno undercurrent buried beneath 'Gathering 1' that defines the energy of this latest transmission. The difference is how Rico wields that energy, artfully submerging the kick drum propulsion and letting three-dimensional sonic sculpture beat a path towards the dance. Layers of arrhythmic delay ripples loosen the valve, but there's a constant pressure pushing at the edges of the production from start to finish. There's a more immediate urgency to the mixing of the rhythmic elements on 'Gathering 2' as Rico teases a gabba-like intensity tempered by misty clouds and textural sweeps that soften the attack without sacrificing the thumping energy of the track. Measured and meticulous, bristling with micro-details on top of the imposing presence, both 'Gathering's reaffirm Reeko's current hot streak working outside his usual field of focus.
Aural Imbalance returns to Curvature for the first time since the label’s very first release with an EP of stunning atmospheric and old school bliss. A1 - Ghosts of Midi - String Theory (Aural Imbalance remix) Kicking the EP off with a spirited remix of the immense Ghosts of Midi track String Theory, delicate padwork and subtle hats open proceedings before Aural Imbalance deploys a brisk, heavily chopped and spliced Circles break to drive the luscious atmospherics atop a deep, moody 808 bassline. Synths, pads and strings jostle playfully across the soundscape before the breaks fall back before we are treated to a blissful extended ambient outro. A2 - High Time Taking us right back to the early 90’s with crunchy, rustic amen breaks that immediately burst into the mix, Aural Imbalance flexes his old school muscle with a flurry of thumping, distorted breakbeats with an earthy analogue sub bass rumbling below. Synths and light strings add character and juxtaposition to the track to complete an enjoyable and very dancefloor friendly throwback classic in the making. B1 - Magnetism Chunky, belligerent breaks smash their way into a drum-riddled intro as Aural Imbalance unleashes an old school amen workout for the ages. Punctuated by cheerful, swirling sounds of sonic phosphorescence, the drums are chopped and filtered liberally as an earworm melody works its way into the mix. Magnetism is a perfect example of how old school breakwork and atmospheric ambience are such a perfect match. B2 - Night Vision Switching things up with a more introspective vibe, Night Vision sees Aural Imbalance opening with trancey synths before thick drums with metallic snares and dense kicks are introduced - carefully and elegantly arranged with a thoughtfully constructed pattern. The synths continue to surf the audio waves with deep 808 bass accompanying the beats and micro melodies layering throughout.
South African composer and producer Jason van Wyk is continuously honing his craft, with each consecutive release feeling like a clear evolution of its predecessor. Through his albums and soundtrack commissions, van Wyk’s technique at perfectly balancing melody and atmosphere is now more apparent than ever.
Inherent, his sixth aptly named album, finds van Wyk distilling his sound to where each note seems to have implicit cinematic intent, revealing intricate new details with every listen. Inherent features large swaths of warm, wispy ambient, ghostly piano and widescreen drone. Yet, at the very moment when all seems to apex, van Wyk presses on by mining his past endeavors in club music, neo-classical and scoring work to create something else entirely.
Distorted guitars, percolating synth arpeggios and poignant beat design propel the contemplative ambient sections into the light, bringing van Wyk’s sound into previously unexplored territory.
The wait is over! Superfett Supersound Selection is back and ready to unleash the next wave of club anthems with VOL. 6.
This explosive 4-track sampler is packed with massive bangers that are sure to ignite dance floors everywhere. Get ready for an unforgettable ride!
1. N-YOU-UP, John Bowtie (France) - DIS MTF
This dynamic duo brings their signature sound to the forefront, combining infectious beats with electrifying energy that sets the stage ablaze.
Known for his infectious grooves and captivating melodies, John Bowtie delivers a track that elevates the dance floor experience with every pulse of the beat.
3. Folkness (Poland)
The Polish superstar producer has crafted an undeniable anthem that showcases his mastery of house music. Expect driving rhythms and explosive drops that will keep you moving all night long.
4. Amedeo Picone (Italy)
A rising star in the scene with releases at Snatch, Jospeh Capriati´s Metamorfosi - Amedeo Picone brings a fresh perspective with his distinctive sound, expertly blending bass-heavy lines and infectious hooks that demand attention.
5. **KPD** (Spain)
KPD rounds out the lineup with a high-energy track that’s guaranteed to make an impact, blending elements of tech and house for an unforgettable dance floor experience.
Superfett Supersound Selection VOL. 6 is all about delivering no fillers, only bangers. Each track is carefully curated to ensure maximum dance floor damage, making this a must-have for DJs and partygoers alike.
Played and loved by Carl Cox, Adriatique, Jamie Jones, Riva Starr, Amine Edge, Steve Lawler, Nic Fanciulli, Chicks Luv Us and many more...
The highly anticipated collaborative album, GOLDFISH, sees two of contemporary hip-hop's most revered and distinct production minds, Hit-Boy and The Alchemist, finally join forces for a full-length statement. Far from a simple beat-swap, this project is a masterclass in sonic cohesion, blurring the lines between their signature sounds to forge a new, golden-hued identity. Beyond production, the duo step from behind the boards to behind the mic to trade verses throughout the project, adding a personal layer to their creative vision.
GOLDFISH is a deeply immersive listen, perfectly balancing the West Coast muscle and polished, anthemic quality of Hit-Boy's work with the dusty, abstract texture and cinematic suspense that defines The Alchemist's aesthetic.
The result is a sound that feels both street-tested and museum-worthy. A collaborative manifesto, showcasing the infinite possibilities when two generational talents decide to link up, creating an instant classic in the canon of producer/MC albums.
A vast pulse from a distant past gets lost in incantations from the future. Ascending divine harmonies are reminiscent of specters of forgotten dreams. Followed by a trance like state of mind all spirits are transferred to arcane items and form evocative rhythms for evocative rituals. New imprint by Rupert Marnie exploring the atmospheric and minimal sides of techno. The first release features two extended hypnotic cuts built from acid influenced basslines, ethereal pads and constantly shifting sound structures for late hour dancefloors. Both sides end in locked grooves to keep the beat going. All tracks written and produced by Matthias Schubert Additional Mixing Bendrik Grossterlinden Mastered by Isabel Schröer at Olo Mastering and cut at Scape Mastering Berlin Artwork by Martha Jokier
There is a kinetic energy that binds drummer and producer Karriem Riggins and singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer Liv.e, the spark that happens when instinct meets flow and spirit finds rhythm.
Their collaborative debut as GENA (short for “God Energy, Naturally Amazing,” and loosely inspired by Gina from Martin), The Pleasure Is Yours feels like a playful, soulful conversation between two kindred improvisers: Liv.e’s smoky, unpolished vocals glide through Riggins’ warm, percussive universe. Rooted in jazz, soul, and hip-hop, Liv.e brings a raw, experimental approach to R&B, while Riggins known for his work with Common, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Madlib, and his close kinship with J Dilla, extends his lifelong dialogue between jazz improvisation and beat science.
Together they create a world that’s analog and ethereal, percussive and poetic, bridging eras without settling in one, the sound of two artists finding a new shared language rooted in rhythm, vulnerability, and exuberance.
Pressed on 180g vinyl, the album comes in an embossed sleeve and is avaible in red and black splatter.
For their debut EP on Tectonic, Beatrice M. drops four deep, dubby cuts bringing weighted bass energy together with techno sensibilities and advanced percussive manoeuvres. Elegant but powerful tracks built for sound systems and curious ears!
Midnight Swim is an ode to the “softer” club sounds, repetitive aquatic grooves that remind Beatrice of their go-to sport: swimming. No phones, just back and forth in the cold water, settling into a mechanical groove. The opening track, Oval, carries its title from the appreciation of soft edges, little distortion, minimal rhythmic pattern.
Upon hearing Pinch’s tune 136 Trek, (itself a nod to Zinc’s 138 Trek), Beatrice decided to name a tune 132 Trek, to continue the lineage of their musical heritage. The tune was already called Trek because it was made after moving from France and spending their first months in London, and realising “everything is a bloody trek”!!
The EP’s title track is about warm-up music and enjoying the earlier hours of the party - a quick immersion and then time for bed, rather than banging club tracks all night long. Beatrice likes to show up early at the club, watch it fill and then leave as it packs out. Midnight Swim is a dip into a roller.
The last tune of the EP features Sub Basics, the first artist to have a vinyl release on Beatrice’s own label, Bait, and one of their biggest musical inspirations. Sub Basics’ immersive progressive sounds fit simultaneously in the deep techno world and the dubstep world. A beautiful in-between.
Label boss Demuir steps up for the 8th 12" from Purveyor Underground Limited and uses the opportunity to dedicate the music to his mother. This Grooves From Mama's Kitchen EP has already picked up some notable plays from the likes of Jimpster, Masters At Work and Kerri Chandler and is a swinging house offering with great depth and musicality. 'Beat 6 (Luv Is Complicated)' is majestic and soulful house with diva vocals and brilliant melodies, while the dub is more paired back. 'In Awe Of You' brings the jazz with its bright lead synths and soulful grooves, while closer 'In Awe Of You Ma' (Gabriel's Strings) is more loose-limbed and playful with some fine horns. .
The Beatles played two shows at the Montréal Forum on September 8th 1964, a matinee at 4pm and an evening performance at 8pm and at 6pm they held a press conference for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from the Forum’s stage. A local newspaper had reported that somebody was going to kill Ringo, so instead of staying the night in Montréal, they flew out straight after the evening show and arrived at Key West at 3.30am where hundreds of fans were awaiting them. After a day off in Miami, the group performed at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida the following night.
We have done the best we possibly could with these admittedly lo-fi yet important historical recordings. The source is AM radio and there is considerable distortion on the vocals. The broadcast was faded out halfway through A Hard Day's Night so the last two songs of the show, I Want To Hold Your Hand and Long Tall Sally were not transmitted.
The Temptations Get High on Psychedelic Soul: Cloud Nine Soars with Ambitious Arrangements and Production, Features Standout Vocal Performances and Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers
The Temptations’ Cloud Nine announced that Motown — and “The Sound of Young America” — would never be the same. Influenced by the emergence of cutting-edge rock and pop currents, as well as increasing sociopolitical turmoil, the album broke down barriers between rock, psychedelia, and soul while heralding the arrival of visionary arrangements and production techniques. Bookended by traditional R&B numbers, the 1969 record sent the Temptations in bold new directions and signaled the advent of psychedelic soul.
Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45PM 2LP set presents Cloud Nine in audiophile sound for the first time on a domestic pressing. This collectible reissue bestows Norman Whitfield’s extraordinary production with the grand-scale dynamics, natural tonality, expansive openness, and low-end weight it deserves. The timbre of each of the five members’ voices is readily identifiable — even within the group harmonies — bestowing a realism never experienced outside the recording studio.
Making its debut on 45RPM, the album further benefits from the wide groove space by playing with greater separation and more realistic presence than prior editions. Everything from the brassiness of the horns to the dry snap of the snare comes across with reference-grade clarity and positioning. And since Motown’s renowned Funk Brothers backing band plays on many of the cuts, you’ll want to savor every note. The imaging, soundstaging, and organic bloom-and-decay of the notes make that possible.
Amid Cloud Nine, the instrumentation and architecture stand out as much as any element. Never before had a Motown album contained such ambitious patterns and complex passages. Seemingly conscientious of the departure from their past methods, the Temptations and Whitfield bunched together the tracks that mark a deep dive into psychedelic territory and counterbalance them with seven sterling soul cuts that dovetail with Motown tradition drenched with heartfelt vocals, swelling strings, and finger-snapping beats.
On the original 33RPM release, traditional Motown soul — laden with heartfelt vocals, swelling strings, and finger-snapping beats — occupies Side Two. These songs reveal an ensemble still very much on top of delivering pristine pop-soul material graced with romantic sweetness, persuasive insistent, and soaring highs. Re-energized after the departure of lead singer David Ruffin, who was fired for a variety of reasons in June 1968, the Temptations seamlessly meld with his replacement, Dennis Edwards, on one melodic gem after another.
The collective tackles five songs co-written by the legendary Motown team of Barrett Strong and Whitfield. Not the least of which are the smooth, shuffling “Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go)” and deceptively simple, horn-spiked “Gonna Keep on Tryin’ till I Win Your Love.” On these tracks, as well as on a lush rendition of the ballad “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing” and pleading, tender send-up of the Gerry Goffin-Carole King classic “Hey Girl,” Edwards and Paul Williams take turns on the lead with the estimable Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams providing backing support.
All five vocalists trade-off leads on the simmering title track, a groundbreaking composition shot through with wah-wah-pedal effects, liquid funk, deep bass lines, Cuban percussion, saturated reverb, and gang choruses. Whitfield mines each member’s natural vocal range with spectacular results, keeps time with cymbals, and channels both the heated temperatures and escapist desires of a society embroiled in war, conflict, and experimental drugs.
Amazingly, the Temptations top themselves on the similarly revealing “Run Away Child, Running Wild.” Nearly 10 minutes in length, the song explodes R&B parameters and harbors a cinematic scope. Urgent pianos, distorted guitars, stripped-down percussion, steamy Hammond organs, minimal bass motifs, five distinct voices narrating the tale of a boy who fled home and now finds himself amid the scary, unforgiving external world: They combine to give the urgent tune a walls-closing-in atmosphere where fear and desperation reign. Bolstered by an extended instrumental section that precedes a climactic return of the singers’ voices, “Run Away Child, Running Wild” equaled the success of the record’s title track, with both reaching No. 6 on the pop charts.
Originally released on France's Megaphone Records back in 2002, People's Process in combination with Jean Marie Kone thrown down three different variations of title track, Incidental Beats. Strictly dancefloor business only !
Some records are made for the hour when the light goes long and low - when you can feel the day slipping and want to hold it a little longer. Escaping Sunset is a deep house collection built for exactly that stretch: warm, unhurried, and turned toward the last of the glow. Like the hourglass on its label, it's about the kind of time you can't keep - so you turn the glass over and let it run again.
Andu Simion, a Romanian producer with deep roots in the European minimal and microhouse underground (Tzinah, Palinoia, Diffuse Reality) and a careful hand for groove - teams with Thomas Wood, a deep and raw house producer (Circle of Us, Berg Audio), across the A-side: the title track and then "Onde Viola." On the flip, Sickdisco - now based in Belgrade, and as at home in deep and minimal house as he is among the minds behind punk outfit ВсадникиЖКХ (The Horsemen of Housing & Commercial Services) - lays down "Beats," before Nicolas Barnes, the Riga producer and ECOUL SND founder already woven into the MixCult family, closes the record with "Phantom Lights."
Adlibitum Tum Tunes is a division of MixCult Records
A flash of light hits your eyes. Your ears hear muffled bass. As bright white fades to amber, you find yourself in a familiar place. A place you have been to many times. Though the edges of your memory are no longer sharp, the shape of it all is in your DNA.
The smell of rusted metal, dirt-covered floors that once hosted workers, machines and industry mixed with spilled beer and the sweat of a thousand bodies moving to syncopated music. As your vision comes into focus, you’re back there.
A warehouse in the former industrial part of town. You’re surrounded by hundreds of strange but familiar faces, each of you dancing into a frenzy countless times under the moonlight — moving, jumping, laughing and connecting.
Sunlight pours through warehouse windows or appears over a distant horizon.
The DJ plays a song that completes the journey you all just shared. You are desperate to hold on to the feeling of the last song that lands you safely from the night and into a new day. The feeling is deep. Pure.
Especially when communal ecstasy is juxtaposed against the edges of the warehouse floors, the intimacy of city lofts, the spiritual nature of open fields or forests.
The Custodian
I spent just shy of two decades in spaces like that — as a raver in early 1990s Los Angeles, then a DJ, producer, label owner and head of Moulton Studios in San Francisco.
The Custodian Project is a memoir of a life lived deep inside the culture and business of house music from 1990 to when I stepped away from music as a full-time life in 2015 — told through music, stories and DJ events.
Each release of new music draws inspiration from feelings, emotions and memories of that life — different rooms, different eras. It is an exploration to understand and capture what those feelings were, and in some cases still are.
The Music
This EP is the beginning. 1990. When I first found the rave and re-ordered my DNA based on the sounds, songs and feelings of that era that can be summed up in the title track — Sunrise Through Warehouse Windows.
All three tracks here are an attempt to reach back and touch those mornings again. To put the listener back in the warehouses or open spaces where we would dance as the sun rose over the horizon.
To capture what I felt back in 1990 when the night transitioned into daybreak. Bodies moving in unison. People, places and music all connect. An era before algorithms.
(tracklisting)
A1 — Sunrise Through Warehouse Windows — 7:51
B1 — *Truly Amazing — 8:16
B2 — Sunrise Through Warehouse Windows (Floating Beatless Mix) — 4:20
Written and produced by Chris Lum for Abitare Music (ASCAP)
* Written and produced by Chris Lum - Abitare Music (ASCAP) & Jay-J Hernandez Stopped in Time (ASCAP). Originally released on Leaf Recordings 2000
Afterlife family member Kevin de Vries invites us to Dance With Me as he returns to the label with his spellbinding new single.
Comprised undulating synth waves, punchy beats and a monotone female vocal, ‘Dance With Me’ is a compelling invitation into the enchanting realm of the dance floor. Alluring, progressive and hypnotic, its power lies in its simplicity. Kölsch handles remix duties, adding layers of funky analogue synth and ramping up the tempo for a more energised dance.
Australian producer Inkswel is back on the Cosmocities label in France with more of his superbly soulful sounds, this time with none other than Chicago legend Robert Owens. The lush 'Space Love' is a playful deep house jam with the sort of cosmic synths that recall early Fingers Inc and Owens's smoky tones only heighten that feeling. Steve Spacek provides a mix that rides on broken beats with elastic bass but just as much cosmic energy and a Fluterumental gets all loose-limbed and seductive. On the flip side are two Yoruba Soul mixes that bring extra rich soul vibes and shimmering pad work. A classy and timeless EP for sure.
Barranquilla born multi-instrumentalist Pernett is undoubtedly a true pioneer in fusing Colombian folklore with electronic elements. Back in 2003, when he released his first album “Música Para Pick Up”, Humberto was immediately seen as genius by some, crazy and outrageous by others. How dare he incorporate synthesizers into traditional music? What would be called this avant-garde genre where gaitas, traditional drums and keyboards come together? To this date, Pernett has released 6 albums, worked with an impressive number of prestigious artists such as Phil Manzanera, Calle 13, Novalima, or Quantic, and is still influencing whole generations of forward-thinking musicians.
Originally released from is latest album, “Vamos A Hacer” and El Pajarito have been edited for the occasion, by talented recording engineer Benjamin Calais AKA Ben Matik,
A-side “Vamos A Hacer - Ben Matik Instrumental Edit” is a joint collaboration between Pernett and renown British producer Will Holland aka Quantic. A heavy blend of funky breaks and cumbia. A 7-minutes version, exclusive to this 10″, has been especially taken out from the masters vault, and edited by Ben Matik: the original short version takes a unexpected turn to a completely freaked-out “Puya” rhythm, where gaitas and synths perfectly merge together.
B-side “El Pajarito - Ben Matik Instrumental Edit” is a deep downtempo anthem, a perfect fusion of powerful electronic beats, 808 bass, analog synths and gaitas. special attention should be paid to the enchanting voice of Diana Pereira on this one.
