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The master of ambient soundscapes, intertwining authentic old school breakbeats with his inimitable style returns with a fresh album of choice cuts for the Spatial crew. A1 - Form of Defraction Opening the LP in his gloriously unique style, Aural Imbalance sets the tone with a powerfully ambient intro of padwork and delicately filtered breaks before dense, analogue old school breakbeats roar to life sending the track skyward. The sublime 808 bassline simmers beneath an ever-evolving soundscape of twinkling melodies and strings, the very essence of serenity captured in just under 7 minutes of audio bliss. A2 - Discreet Function Enveloping the listener with a warm blanket of silky ambience, Discreet Function soon jolts to life with a crunchy breakbeat that counteracts yet compliments the pads and myriad of delicious micro melodies so well, you wonder how it’s possible to take such extremes and mix them down so expertly that our ears accept it as one. After a relatively brief breakdown the track rolls out before the breaks are snatched away at the death - capping off a quite unique composition. B1 - Softlight Light cymbals and delicate textures introduce us to Softlight, a track which sees Aural Imbalance guiding the listener through the clouds to a haven of gentle serenity where your troubles simply fade away, punctuated by a stunningly programmed and memorable Hot Pants break pattern, timid classic basslines and an overall plethora of sun-baked energy - perfect for the headphones and the record box - as always. B2 - Airwave Immensely old school vibes are immediately present in Airwave, with analogue breaks and succinct female vocal samples that mingle with echoing melodies and synthwork to create a beautifully flowing and unique slice of atmospheric gold. Additional breaks are fused into the mix as the track progresses, elevating the piece to the heights we have come to expect from Aural Imbalance, yet never cease to amaze. C1 - Speed of Light Gentle cymbals and filtered breaks open Speed of Light, before a crisp barrage of amen goodness descends and dominates proceedings - just as a good amen should! Programmed to perfection with an immensely danceable rolling pattern, the amens lead us through a sea of washing synths and delicate melodies, intertwining and frolicking in the mix, completing a charming and memorable piece. C2 - Fading Star Playful strings and a luscious 808 bassline play with sumptuous padwork in the intro to Fading Star, a track which sees Aural Imbalance capture the essence of 90’s jungle and it’s symbiotic relationship with atmospheric drum & bass perfectly. Developing throughout with an array of unassuming effects and a quietly moving vibe, Fading Star is the perfect addition to sets spanning the entire history of this music. D1 - Drifting Under Bright Skies Aural Imbalance resurrects the excellent break last featured on Spatial in his sublime track Surface Area, this time chopped and sliced to a different vibe, with kickdrums at the forefront and that fantastically crunchy snare deployed more sparingly. Shimmering padwork and light melodies dance across the mix throughout to leave us with a refreshingly unique and memorable track you won’t be able to get enough of. D2 - Violet Completing this fine LP of old school ambient breakbeat mastery, Aural Imbalance deploys Violet to see us out - a climactic-feeling romp that opens with quiet intent before launching the listener through cheery melodic tones and bustling soundscapes, sprinkled liberally with airy pads and fluttering micro melodies that zip and whoosh around thick analogue breakbeats. A fitting end to a thoroughly enjoyable album. Words by Chris Hayes (Spatial / Red Mist) credits

Life and Death launches Peak Time Archives, a new vinyl and digital various artists series shining a light on rising producers and the next wave of label-affiliated talent.

This first edition moves across the full spectrum of the dancefloor. Jennifer Loveless — Guardian 'Artist To Watch', Mixmag Track of the Year recipient, and alumni of !K7, Future Classic and Butter Sessions — opens with "Satisfaction", a warm, body-moving indie dance reinterpretation that feels at home as much at Ibiza sunset as it does on a festival main stage.

UK mystery producer ROKAR follows with "Bedroom Headliner", a garage-rooted house cut that blurs the line between intimate and euphoric, already earning BBC Radio 1 plays and support from Marco Carola, Skream and Chloé Caillet.

Rudy With A Hoodie & J-Land deliver "The Rhythm", a driving, hypnotic peak-time weapon built for main stages, drawing on the analog warmth of Red Axes and DJ Tennis.

Mexico City's PAURRO closes the record with "Chik Fresa" — playful, punchy indie dance with personality to spare, from an artist who has performed at Tresor and Boiler Room and released on Cómeme and Nervous.

Four tracks. Four distinct voices. One dancefloor.---

This solid jackin' house EP feat. PAKA PROJECT is packed with groove and a summer-ready vibe. Crafted with DJs in mind, perfect for layering, cutting basslines, and blending.. Cool brass elements, soulful textures, and hints of blues-style vocal samples woven throughout. Full pic sleeve.

Final chapter of the Monochrome series by Okain.
Started in his Berlin studio a few years ago and completed just before moving back to France, these tracks mark the end of a special period.

They are the last recordings made in that space, capturing a moment in time.

The Monochrome concept was simple: one track, one day, one idea.

This EP brings together four new cuts, each drawing from different influences across deep tech house, dub techno and UK garage.

After a brief hiatus, Nuances de Nuit returns with Lucho's 'RioGroove'; a tightly woven trio of deeper cuts, perfect for the hazy dancefloor and after-hours alike.

Two Lucho originals and a stripped-back, slow burning reinterpretation from Rumps.

Plåy launches with T. Jacques’ Serve Chilled; two dancefloor-focused deep cuts.

A1 Keep On drifts in with spacious percussion, warm pads and soft vocal textures that ride the groove with hypnotic ease - a warm late-night closer.

On the flip, Serve Chilled finishes on a deep-house high, with resonating pads and lush chords drifting effortlessly over tight, hardware-driven drums. A classy, hypnotic, after-hours glide.

Running Hot returns with the third release on his own imprint, delivering four more cuts aimed squarely at the dancefloor.

From the tribal-leaning, peak-time energy of “Body Language” to the deeper swing of “My Love” on the A-side, the record shifts gears into the sunlit grooves of “Horse Of The Year” and the percussive bounce of “Sambódromo”. Equally at home on the festival stage or in a sweat-soaked basement.

Voltage Desire is a five-track EP from Lazer Man moving between raw tension and subtle warmth.

Side A opens with "Woman's Need", an electro house cut built around a rock-inflected bassline and guitar tones that carry a dusty, wide-open edge. "Reactivation" follows with a deeper, more hypnotic approach: pitched-down vocals loop and drift over chords that keep pulling you further in. Side A closes with "Sunris Techy", the most groove-driven of the three, a funky bassline locked in dialogue with shifting synthlines and samples.

Side B shifts into collaborative territory. "Sweet Tide", produced under the Wave Catchers alias with Baldov, is a nostalgic track that will awaken past memories and feelings. The record closes with "Idée Discousu", a co-production with Koffi that blends synthpop with a spooky edge and a story told through vocoder.

Toscal Records reaches its fifth vinyl release, TSCL005, with a record that feels especially close to the label’s identity. This time, the spotlight is on Igna and Santiago Ritacco, the minds behind the label, who step forward as the artists shaping this new chapter.

On the A side, Igna delivers Keep On and Mbeat, two cuts full of momentum and raw energy. On the B side, Santiago Ritacco answers with Brokkk and Naughty, bringing his own blend of infectious electro and late-night intensity.

Move and dance!

Compounding a reputation for his unique vision on techno with an uncompromising underground ethos utilising a fusion of deep and energetic electronics, Lee’s sound always creates a myriad of tension and construction which has seen him become one of techno’s elite, appearing in the most prestigious underground venues across the planet. His consistently original and dynamic productions, which have earned him much international ecognition, are frequent and in great demand. Appearing on many impeccable cutting edge and classic imprints over the years, Lee’s music has generated relentless plays and support from the brightest and leading connoisseurs in the underground techno scene.

Continuing with the ‘Limited As Fuck’ series of releases, on our fiercely independent techno label based in Scotland, we’ve got an electronic guardian of such resolute astral belief in how the purest of dance music should be relayed to the occupants of any Celestial City. You will believe in RIOT when we say “The ‘Sentinel’ has awoken.”

Featuring eight tear drops out of the smoke fuelled rain from a distant belt in the galaxy, no ‘Moonrunner’ will be able to surf the ‘Gravitational Waves’ this Motor-City inspired journey takes you on. Book yourself passage on the Starliner ‘Off-World’ for a stargazing extravaganza into ‘The Gates Of Orion’ and witness the brightest of glimmers ........... in the dark.

The full digital release also features one bonus spellbinding track so your mind can melt into the depths of
space and time.

WARNING: YOU WILL OBEY IN ORDER THAT RIOT CAN TAKE YOU ONE STEP BEYOND …………….

Credits:

Written by Lee Holman
Mastered by Joe Farr
Artwork by Alan D. Oldham & Nomad

2026 Repress

Samosa Records swings back into action for the summer months with Afrikano Vol. 1 - a scintillating four tracker EP from Various Artists which you will fall in love with on the first listen.

On the A-side, the always impressive Vagabundo Club Social kick things off with the enigmatically titled ‘Mr. Mista’ - a hypnotic, (almost calypso inspired) rhythmic explosion of Mibra guitar, whirling organ, horns and a wicked high end laser sweep. This is a pure chugger, folks. At a deceptive 120bpm it will have you dancing til dusk.

A2 brings us ‘Sweet Dance’ where C. Da Afro met De Gama: after a brief shuffle beat start (liberally peppered with rhythm guitar and organ stabs), the unusual duo make sure it’s all about the beat and horn breakdowns. Pre-drinks in Lagos, people watching and waiting for the night to start is the order of the day here. Cut this in half and it has ‘summer’ stamped right through it. Gloriously sweet.


On the B-Side, Atchoum & Grincheux take centre stage with ‘Demokoussé’. Les Inferno applies the special retouch here, and straight away we’re treated to a gloriously produced trip through breakbeat inspired beats, deep, throaty horns and an outrageously soaring sax. Oh you want more? Well try the addition of the gorgeous spiritual vocals that put the bow nicely on this African sizzler.

Finishing the EP on B.2 is Lego Edit and the aptly titled ‘Afromaniaco’. A pulsating, horn inspired shaker, this track grabs you right by the beat bone from the off and won’t let go. Lego Edit’s trademark deft touches and attention to detail is all on display here - sweet sounding African vocals weave in and out of the almost melancholy horn stabs and washboard beats. A soundtrack for one of those incredible sunsets, ‘Afromaniaco’ is the missing piece of this diverse jigsaw.

With Afrikano Vol. 1, Samosa Records has found the perfect accompaniment to what is hopefully a long, hot summer. So Samosa, so brilliant.

For its eleventh installment, Raw Soul continues to carve out its place in the deeper end of the house spectrum, this time welcoming Stuttgart-based DJ and producer Jakob Mäder to the fold.
Titled "House Your Feeling", the five-track EP captures Mäder's wide-ranging musical language-rooted in house, yet drifting effortlessly into ambient textures, disco-tinted warmth, and subtly experimental structures. It's a body of work that feels both intimate and expansive, equally suited for late-night listening and early-morning dancefloors.
The collaboration has been a long time in the making. Built over months of close exchange, the project reflects not only a shared musical vision but also a genuine personal connection. That sense of trust and patience resonates throughout the record-carefully crafted, unhurried, and deeply felt.
Across the EP, Mäder explores different shades of house music: from reduced, dreamy cuts to more groove-driven moments, always maintaining a distinct emotional core. One of the highlights comes in the form of a collaboration with Markus Phillip, adding another layer of depth to an already rich release.
Known for his work with the Midnight Service crew and his eclectic productions spanning ambient, deep house and breakbeat, Mäder brings a refined yet playful touch to Raw Soul's catalogue. With "House Your Feeling", he delivers a timeless contribution that feels grounded in the present while nodding to the genre's enduring legacy.

BERLINCIAGAY launches its first vinyl release, welcoming DJ Beluga92 for a dreamy and twisted journey through house, tech and electro. Rooted in analog textures and emotions,
BCG001 captures a driving and cinematic side of Berlin nightlife while still carrying enough tension for the late-night hours.

Mastered and lacquer cut by Mike Grinser at Manmade Mastering and pressed by Matter Of Fact, the EP feels intentionally physical and warm, embracing the depth and movement of analog sound.

DJ Beluga92 recently delivered a live set at Rex Club Paris, which can also be heard through the BERLINCIAGAY #10 mix series. We are very excited to finally present this release on vinyl.

A1 “Rip Meine Maschine” is Labelheads Tom Peters’ absolute favorite from the EP. A twisted roller driven by a distinctive male vocal, hypnotic groove and restless energy. The track became a closing moment during Tom’s latest US tour, where he played BASEMENT’s Studio in NYC, Vice Underground’s warehouse party in Los Angeles and Midnight Service in Miami.

A2 “System Effect” moves into a more dreamy and emotional direction. Floating vocals repeating “this is the sound” drift through housy pads and spacious textures, creating a track that feels both euphoric and trippy at the same time.
B1 “GA_Entry after 7AM” rounds off the record beautifully with spacey atmospheres, analog synth work, echoes and reverbs. It feels like the afterglow of a long night, designed for the early morning hours on the dancefloor or the journey home afterwards.

BERLINCIAGAY is a statement. A different perspective on Berlin club culture. Less aggressive, less functional, more emotional, dreamy and intimate.

London based imprint SHIBUI follows up with a second 12" on the label, with a four track EP from Brennan.

SHIW002 features Tech-House cuts with an unmistakeable old school feel, an essential for every DJ's record bag.

Telfort continues his considered run of self‑releases with a sixth outing of deep, expressive house music that captures the warmth, emotion and subtle evolution of his signature sound.
Across three cuts, he balances classic dancefloor instinct with a deft melodic touch – from driving grooves and warm, rolling low‑ends to lush, uplifting turns and hazier, introspective closes. The result is a rich, diverse yet cohesive statement from an artist still refining what makes his music resonate, further reaffirming the inimitable style that has defined Telfort’s output since the label’s first release over ten years ago.

There was nothing in contemporary music like Chris Isaak’s Heart Shaped World when it hit shelves in June 1989. More than three decades later, the singer-songwriter’s third album still sounds unique — and claims a backstory nearly as fascinating as the retro-leaning material and standout performances that propelled it to sales of more than 2.5 million copies. Home to the Top 10 smash “Wicked Game,” the set remains a masterful mood piece that invites you to pour a late-night drink, sit in a dimmed room, and relish Isaak’s elegant albeit raw ruminations on love, relationships, and questionable decisions.

Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, and featuring the bonus track “Diddley Daddy,” Mobile Fidelity's UltraDisc One-Step 180g 45RPM 2LP box set of Heart Shaped World unearths the staggering inner details, saturated tones, and brilliant atmospherics of the crisp production. It brings you up close and personal with Isaak’s spectacular singing — impeccably controlled, tense, brooding, steamy, smoldering, haunted — situated amidst stripped-down backdrops that allow every note to fully bloom and decay.

While Isaak’s ever-steady baritone remains the anchor, the contributions of his trusty backing band, the aptly named Silvertone, come across with just as much cool, command, and realism. The indispensable playing of guitarist James Calvin Wilsey particularly emerges with superb clarity and dimensionality. The character of his 1965 Fender Stratocaster, shivering twang of his spring-coiled fills, and his signature use of reverb, delay, and vibrato seamlessly match Isaak's patient deliveries and the band’s unhurried rhythms. Experienced on UD1S with ultra-black backgrounds and a nearly invisible noise floor, Heart Shaped World is in every regard a demonstration disc.

The premium packaging of this UD1S pressing befits its elevated status. Housed in a deluxe slipcase, it features foil-stamped jackets and faithful-to-the-original graphics. Aurally and visually, this reissue is for discerning listeners who desire to immerse themselves in everything involved with the album, not the least of which is the cover art depicting a lost-in-thought Isaak staring ahead and sitting in what appears to be an efficiency apartment. The image epitomizes the record’s lonesome temperaments and pensive themes.

Of course, if not for director David Lynch hand-picking two cuts from Heart Shaped World for his 1990 film Wild at Heart, the record would’ve probably suffered the same fate as Isaak’s prior efforts and gone unnoticed by the mainstream. Despite receiving raves from outlets such as NME, Chicago Tribune, and Rolling Stone upon its original release, the album stalled in the lower quadrants of the Billboard charts and, after a few weeks, dropped off.

Cue the ear of Lee Chesnut. Then the music director for a large Atlanta radio station, Chesnut heard the instrumental version of “Wicked Game” on Lynch’s soundtrack and started airing the album rendition at all hours of the day. Aided by a sensual video featuring Isaak and supermodel Helena Christensen, the song found its way into the public consciousness by early ‘91 and helped make Isaak a most unlikely mainstream star in an era where his techniques had little to nothing in common with popular tastes.

Despite its vintage vibes and shared DNA with legends such as Roy Orbison, Chet Baker, and Glen Campbell, Heart Shaped World transcends nostalgia, rockabilly, and throwback tropes. For all the melodrama and sadness at hand, Isaak’s gorgeously transparent singing dives deep underneath emotional surfaces. He mines subtleties that indicate his feelings go beyond heartbreak and anguish, and occasionally suggest frustration, menace, and anger. You can hear it in his quivering falsetto, and the slow and methodical ways he allows delicate whispers to break into shadowy phrasing that crosses over to the darker sides of romance and desire.

That approach bolsters the title track, which suggests calm yet moves on ominous currents — its simmering pace and snare-drum snappiness foreshadowing Isaak raising the volume and urgency during the coda. The southwestern-tinged “Wrong to Love You” plays with similar concepts of hesitation, unease, and discord, Isaak careful never to fully erupt and give anything away. His poised deliveries offer a master class in the art of insinuation and hurt on “Nothing’s Changed,” sent up with a wordless backing chorus and crackling guitar lines straight out of a Memphis blues joint.

Heart Shaped World further boosts its merit via its abundant stylistic variations, from the upbeat country-and-western trot of “I’m Not Waiting” and Spanish acoustic shimmer of the jazz-based ballad “Blue Spanish Sky” to the swinging horn-accompanied grooves of “Don’t Make Me Love You” and desert smokiness of the understated “Kings of the Highway.” On the latter, Isaak comes across as resigned and absolute. His singing and pain worm their way into your soul, and echo akin to the way the music prepares to strike when you least expect.

“Trouble going 'round,” Isaak croons right as the album begins. “Trouble going down.” Damn straight.

After more than a decade shaping dancefloors and curating sound, ROOTS steps into a new chapter with the launch of its vinyl imprint: ROOTS LTD, a platform dedicated to exploring the essence of “the sounds of Roots.”

The inaugural release comes courtesy of Gojnea76, delivering a refined four-track EP built with the dancefloor in mind. Drawing on the spirit of ‘90s tech house and memphis rap, the record blends solid basslines, groovy vocal cuts, and rolling pads into a cohesive and timeless journey.

With his unmistakable signature, Gojnea crafts a debut that feels both nostalgic and forward-thinking, a statement piece to mark the beginning of ROOTS LTD.

Fresh Tunez is back with Eliaz. Four tough, spacey, snarling cuts for uncompromising dancefloor impact. This one is powerful. Vinyl only.

For the first release of Les Enfants Black Series, we have the pleasure of welcoming Villaça, a Brazilian native now based in Barcelona.

For this release, he brings us a selection of deep cuts created for his live act between 2023 and 2024, featured in the tracks “A1. You Don’t Know”, “B1. Energy!” and “B2. A Moment of Reflection”, alongside the more uplifting “A2. Ready” that was made specifically the day after his first time in the club, with final touches and musical direction tips from Francesco Carvetta.

Expect an emotional and powerful journey from an artist who is constantly evolving, and keep an eye on the upcoming material on the Les Enfants Black Series, this is just the beginning.

Natural Goofy makes his debut on Unearthed with a raw four-track vinyl cut shaped through analog machines, instinct, and lived moments across Europe and Asia. From late nights in Barcelona to concrete mornings in Berlin, Early Hours EP captures warmth, tension, and that fleeting energy between movement and memory.

Now based in Spain and running Planka Records, Nando delivers a sound that is dry, emotional, playful, and deeply human — no plug-ins, no edits, just hardware and moments recorded as they happened.