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Energy Fields is Gus Paterson’s vinyl debut. One of the brains behind Bokhari Records, this four tracker melts disco, italo and house into a creamy funk fondue. Staggered bleeps and crisp percussion introduce the title piece, samples echo as a squelching thick bassline drops. Countering the fudgey strings are sparkling synthlines, bold brassy analogue bursts tethering the track to the floor. Although tempos drop for “Emotive Feel,” the energy remains high. Robust keys are further fortified by blasts from vintage machines, a free flowing groove lifted into astral jazz. Sharp beats open the flip for “Cyborg Dateline.” Soon, Paterson’s melodic skill takes over. Layers of inspiration are held together by ambling notes. Echoes of cosmic and disco are adopted, a contemporary twist delivered through the complex intertwining of elements. Paterson takes us into the stratosphere for the finale. “Jetpack Joyride” maintains the rhythm of its predecessor, pouring on the funk through daring piano lines and rich strings of double bass. A trip into the beyond from this debutant.

The second part of Roy’s return to Emotional Response and the While Line Sunrise series dives further in old Hard Drives and DATs to unearth more lost techno for the brain, heart and feet.

Ensuing melody for driving beats, Fenix Haus 6 is a TB303 blast. Electro meets acid, the focus is on the rhythm, percussion is pushed to the fore and the rest will follow. Exit Ren8 brings some melody touches to the jacked-up ride, acid melodies ride classic Roy beats, programming for the mind and soul.

As with Part 1, here the flip expands the retinae of the found sound, Cristia Theme with flourishes of IDM and industrial touches, wrapped in a sheen of acid squelches and snap hats.

The series completes with the theme, the ambient meets kosmiche of White Line Sunrise III. Minimalist keys against cathedral sweeps, motorik drums float in and are gone, a grandiose ending with, as always, a light hearted ending, Roy’s return is a welcome and an intriguing interlude.

Efficient Space honours trailblazing Australian imprint Volition Records with Volition Cuts Vol. 1. Evolving from Andrew Penhallow’s time at GAP Records, which smuggled Cabaret Voltaire, The Fall and the Factory catalogue into the region, Volition shifted focus to homegrown talent over imported sounds. Echoing its precursor’s blend of indie friction and electronic curiosity, the label wired itself into the pulse of club and rave culture, linking city scenes and amplifying them for the mainstream. With retina-scorching design, uncompromising packaging and top-tier remixes, Volition consistently bent the major label machine to its will.

No Volition retrospective would be complete without Sisters Underground’s intergenerational anthem ‘In the Neighbourhood’. Otara teenagers Brenda Makamoeafi and Hassanah Iroegbu brought their Pasifika perspective to Proud (An Urban-Pacific Streetsoul Compilation), a commercial success that platformed NZ rap and R&B with a clarity that outshone its overseas counterparts. The quiet architect of Volition’s sound, producer prodigy Robert Racic flipped the classic as a hip-house dub before his untimely passing in 1996.

Its A-side companion comes from Brisbane synth-pop unit Boxcar, who signed to Volition after frontman Dave Smith handed a cassette to Tom Ellard of Severed Heads during a school newspaper interview. That unlikely handoff led to their 1990 debut Vertigo. Here, their ritual-laced, body-jacking industrial is retooled by Miami freestyle maverick Tony Garcia.

Further cherry-picking from the VOLT vaults, Sexing The Cherry unleash a bleep-addled meltdown from Brisbane’s Edwin Morrow and Cherryn Lomas. ‘This Is A Dream’ was recorded exclusively for High (A Dance Compilation), the first all-Australian V/A to top the ARIA charts, propelling the local movement into national consciousness.

Closing the sampler, Sydney’s Single Gun Theory joined Volition as they moved from post-punk abstraction and electronic collage toward downtempo, sample-based mysticism. Their 1994 ambient-pop reverie ‘Fall’ is reimagined by Stuart Crichton and Apollo 440’s Norman Fisher-Jones as full-throttle Goa trance, a final surge that channels the label’s relentless push into new terrain.

Volition Cuts Vol. 1 is dedicated to the loving memory of Volition’s visionary founder Andrew Penhallow, and key contributors Robert Racic and Edwin Morrow.1

Deep Detroit house from WHODAT featuring lush keys and moody female vocals (courtesy of SOPHIYA E). Vocal edit and dub versions. Pressed on limited blue colored vinyl. Don't sleep on this one.

Shiver Records returns with another club-ready whitelabel by Frankfurt based Porco Rosso.
4 track EP with an oldschool vibe, analog feelings and jacking moments all patched together in a serious but not serious manner. Add playful samples, softer keys and casual glitchy whistles - a gliding tool with a powerful spank for the record bag.

Vinyl only handstamped 180g whitelabel with clear outer sleeve.

Logo stamp on one side & graphic stamp on the other side.

Brooklyn Sway's 7th drop might best be described as the black market edition, but as always we leave the gumshoe work to those heads out there savvy enough to figure it out themselves. Thugfucker alum Acid Tourist and BKS stalwart DeWinter remix celebrated West Coast sideman ROC's cover of a tune that needs no intro, transforming a torch song into an acid belter while keeping its quality intact. Charles Levine, best known as Charlie from Soul Clap, steers close to his usual antics with 'Ocean Waves & Ashtrays', his ashtrays obviously full of blunt ends as he runs the voodoo down on a sultry funk number laced with fat lead keys and ideal for beach party afterhours or smoky late-night sessions. Returning for a second BKS appearance, Ohm Hourani's 'SupaDupaFly' fetches the funk again with rap vocal samples sliding just inside the industry 10% rule set amidst seesawing synths for a woozy, extended effort sure to influence sobriety decisions. On 'Hearts & Diamonds,' label honcho Jay Prouty and mainstay David Paglia join forces jailbreaking two legendary NYC freestyle anthems into a combination that rocks more like high period New Order, so when you catch Fumero's psychedelic painting winking at you off the plate after a few spins, you'll understand exactly why the sway resides in Bucktown.

Obrador originated from Olympia the capital state of Washington. A multifaceted group that consisted of many members over the years. They were together from 1976-2006 and was led by band leader Michael Moore. The members were, Steven Bentley ~ Drums, Connie Bunyer ~ Clarinet, Guitar, Vocals, Paul Hjelm ~ Guitar, Bass, Trap Drums, Piano, Steven Luceno ~ Bass, Guitar, Michael Moore ~ Keyboards, Michael Olson ~ Percussion, James Pribbenow ~ Saxophone, Vincent Soluna ~ Sax, Vincent Soluna ~ Sax

They recorded 5 albums over the period of 30 years. One track of which “Willow” you will find tucked on the B side of this lovely new release. We wanted you Kats to have great value for money and pack the record with two stone wall Dingwall style killer recordings.

The A side “Blink Samba” was recorded at Russian Hill Studios San Francisco in July 1983, after the group made the long journey down from Olympia and back to record a whole Lp that has lay unissued since 2023 only getting a digital release. We stumbled across the tracks whilst doing some research and was blown away. A few chats with member Michael Olson and we knew these had to be on vinyl. They are pure fire jazz with a slightly latin Esq vibe. We can almost see the sweat dripping from the Jazz dancers as they cascade to the rhythm of the percussion “Blink Samba”

Flip it over whilst the floor is still rocking to the track “Willow” Unlike “Blink Samba’s opening percussion this one kicks in straight away with a rasping baseline. You hold on to the bars like you been strapped into to a rollercoaster and get ready for the ride.

We’re thrilled to announce the release of “Strangers Become Friends”, the soulful new single from Incognito featuring the powerhouse vocals of Zebulon Ellis. This uplifting track, rich with timeless grooves and heartfelt lyricism, is paired with a stunning remix by producer and keyboard maestro Ski Oakenfull. The release lands first on a beautifully pressed 10” vinyl, available from 11th July, with the digital and streaming release following on 25th July. Whether you’re a vinyl collector or a streaming fan, this is one to add to your summer rotation.

Cataleya reach double digits with a very special cover of a Soulful House classic. Coflo freshens up 280 West’s Love’s Masquerade for modern audiences with the help of Canadian vocalist CEE. Their sparkling cover is backed by mixes from Vick Lavender, DJ Spinna and more from Coflo. Coflo’s Classic mix has the vibe of the 90s mixes, whilst Vick turns the track into a glorious synth addled bumper. Spinna offers his own version, where sturdy beats, vocals and free flowing keys combine. This is a fantastic update of a classic!

Informed by all the sub strains of UK Bass music and the Hardcore Continuum, Analias’s hazy sound straddles both poles between melancholy and euphoria, with an underlying greying hue in the center where all the disparate colors of the underground meld into one. Preferring to let the music speak on his behalf, (You will not find him on social media) Analias’s already substantial discography is an accomplished body of work that deserves all of the attention and praise soon to come his way. LGHPS is incredibly happy to help amplify this phenomenal artist to the world.

Drenched in mournful atmosphere and longing tones, all four cuts hold an emotive, introspective motif with subtle drum work that holds back the bubbling aggression of the punching 808 B lines brooding underneath. “Falling Falling Falling” loops sensual yet familiar vocal chops into a hypnotizing hook while the drums and bass step with enough weight and grit to make this the perfect set opener. “Cardio” up’s the tension to the boiling point with undulating strings churning the waters before unleashing a monster B line tidal wave. The sun ray’s break through the clouds on “Pass Me By” as the pummeling bass is tempered by lively Rhodes keys. The mood ascends further on the playful stomp of “Again n Again” using morphing 303 melodies and upbeat handclaps with Mood II Swing club sensibilities.

Nathalie Duchene & Radio Slave team up for summer anthem ‘We Are Youth’. CASSIMM remixes the track.

The Belgium-born, Paris-based Nathalie Duchene joins Radio Slave’s Rekids via a collaboration with the label boss himself. ‘We Are Youth’ lands 11th July 2025 and includes a remix from CASSIMM.

Embodying the spirit of summer with glistening piano keys, vibrant strings, and a snazzy bassline, Nathalie Duchene & Radio Slave's ‘We Are Youth’ brims with feeling. The vocal, sung by Radio Slave’s daughter, adds a layer of innocent nostalgia that clings to joyful memories. Rekids regular CASSIMM steps in for a remix, upping the tempo and flipping the track into a disco infused House cut.

Founded in 2006, Radio Slave’s Rekids has since launched the Techno-focused Rekids Special Projects in 2017 and its latest sublabel, REK’D, in 2024. With Matt Edwards as the sole A&R, Rekids has been instrumental in developing emerging artists and remains a trusted home for House and adjacent sounds, recently featuring names such as Tiger Stripes, Tal Fussman, Oliver Dollar, The Hacker, and more.

"Summer Jam" is back! A long-awaited repress of this powerful and joyful tune described as "acid pied piper", with new artwork and new flip-side. EM Records is very happy to again bring you our favorite tune from the artist known as Tapes, here in a 10-inch vinyl/download format that, with its good vibes, positivity and major-key delightfulness, will rescue you from any doldrums you are experiencing, whether personal, societal or cosmic. "Summer Jam" is a solo recording from 2019, but it soars over the worries of the year, any year, with an up- lifting rhythmic lilt, a positive tonality, non-annoyingly catchy melodies and some lovely sonic textures. There's something here for fans of bass music, mid-80s-and- beyond electronic music, and pure toe-tapping good times. There's a sweet chord progression and background drift in the title track that are particularly pleasing, and the flip-side is a very satisfying "acid" live version with his ally, 7FO, that will lovingly catapult you to another major-chord heaven. The sun can shine anywhere, anywhen, so enjoy!

Lars Bartkuhn returns to Rush Hour with “See The Light”, as deep and complex as we have come to expect but as always his ever-present hunt for new inspiration and unique approaches is clearly evident across all 3 mixes of this beautifully deep yet pulsating track!

Originally written as a final foray into house music for the legendary Needs co-founder, this production aimed to “push boundaries within the world of electronic dance music, integrate fresh new elements, bring new compositional perspectives to the listener and to create overall rewarding experiences.”

It’s a deeply personal track, best summarised by the incredible piano solo in the Full Experience Mix. In Lars’ own words, “I am ten million light years away from being a good pianist, but for some reason I NEED to play those kind of things…even if they are raw, primitive and incomplete and lack parameters like elegance, fluidity and wisdom - I need to express myself in that very moment in this exact way.” It’s these unrestrained moments of brilliance that create rich palettes of sound with deep textures, organic rhythms and joyful melodies that keep your ear constantly engaged.

The Full Experience Mix is a near-13 minute trip through lush vocals, complex percussion, deep chords and raw piano solos that guides the listener through the changing motions of “See The Light”. Backed by two dub mixes, Inner Experience hones in on the keys and synths - truly elevating those striking notes. Opening with atmospheric percussion, the Dub Reprise settles into a chugging rhythm that brings the drums to the forefront.

“When a musician/composer really goes ‘all in’ there is almost nothing impossible. If you really pour out your heart and give all the sweat and tears you have you create a kind of zone where everything fits together in mysterious ways.” - Lars Bartkuhn

Born and raised in Sicily but now based in Berlin, SLV is known for his innovative approach to techno and its various shades. He has released on revered labels like Soma and received support from key industry players who respect his ability to blend old-school vibes with modern production techniques. Away from the club, he also produces music for film soundtracks, adding a sense of cinematic edge to his techno cuts and is a master of both analog and digital technologies - a true audio engineer who crafts unique, compelling sounds. Having previously featured on the labels Federation of Rytm III compilation, he returns to SHDWs Mutual Rytm imprint with his Night Echoes EP to open up October.

Graustufen opens with punch drum programming and scintillating percussion that dances atop the groove as booming bass brings serious weight down low. The superb Grand Cayman is another potent techno weapon, this time with icy synth atmospheres and eerie moods pervading the tightly programmed drums and bass to deliver an unstoppable force. Voids brings urgent funk with its hunched-over, closely stacked kicks and suspensory pads, which never let up and keep you locked in the moment, while Elastik Pho echoes a classic Detroit sound with its soul-drenched beats and serene, uplifting, beautiful hi-tek style. Last but not least, That Night shows SLVs extraordinary range as it brings some soulful vocal loops and optimistic chords over thunderous drums, which are sure to power dance floors through to euphoria. The EP includes two digital bonus cuts: Basic Uno, which is a raw, percussive and heads-down banger, and Persistence Of Memory, which is stripped-back, glitchy and dubby techno for strobe-lit warehouses.

Another early standout release from Speedy J's vast catalog. The follow up for the 'Rise EP', also originally released on Plus 8 Records in 1991, with the apt named title track 'Evolution'. Jochem's style of producing music was evolving while still influenced by all the music arriving in the Rotterdam import record stores. The US, UK or Belgium didn't matter, good music was the key... but this was definitely one of the pre-cursors to his first album.

Cinthie makes a welcome return to her own 803 Crystal Grooves imprint this June for its sixth release, the project comprises four original"s showcasing Cinthie"s many different sonic styles and influences.
The past decade has seen Berlin"s Cinthie moving from strength to strength, racking up milestone achievements like her DJ Kicks mix compilation and a steady stream of critically acclaimed material via the likes of Aus, Heist, Shall Not Fade and of course her own 803 Crystal Grooves label where she returns here with some fresh machine jams.
"Grooves" kicks off the package, a dynamic dance floor cut fuelled by processed vocals uttering the track title, murky bass stabs, heavily swung drums and gritty saturated stabs all dynamically evolving and unfolding throughout. "Boxer" follows next and showcases Cinthie"s love for dub-tinged sounds, laying down spiralling dub echoes, a snaking bass groove and hypnotic chord sequences atop a robust, swinging rhythm section.
"Hands Up" then kicks off the B-Side, shifting gears to a classic House aesthetic with dreamy keys, bright stab sequences, glistening synth textures and smooth strings, intertwined with soulful vocals and classic 909 workout. "She Wants It" then concludes the EP on a more cinematic tip with sweeping lead synths, fluttering arpeggios, elongated bass drones and vocal lines running with raw, crunchy drums.

This is in fact a cover of "You'll Lose A Good Thing" a slow 1962 R&B hit written, played and sung by Barbara Lynn. In our humble opinion this cracking 60’s reggae cover is vastly superior to the original with its frantic electric guitar introduction, the cool harmonica solo in the middle and Audrey’s gorgeous vocals set against the up-tempo riddim. "You'll Lose A Good Thing" is a rare early Reggae track that does rock.
An absolute must!

An original Dandy Livingstone composition, “Love Me Tonight” showcases Audrey’s tender, soulful side. Layered horns and bubbling keys back her sensual but restrained vocals. The song sits at the crossroads of lovers rock and early reggae offering a romantic storm of yearning and groove.

Very popular with the Skinhead crowd back then, it is yet another rare great track from Audrey and it complements perfectly You’ ll Lose A Good Thing on the A side!

Tunnel was made in Naples in 1978 by Giorgio Verdelli and Danilo Rustici only on 7inch and it was the theme song for two RAI radio programs. Going through the names of the musicians we begin with the inimitable voice and the splendid guitars of Danilo Rustici, then passing through the saxophones of Enzo Avitabile we arrive at the keyboards of Joe Amoruso, musician-arranger who left a great void with his untimely death. For Joe, who crossed his experience with Premiata Forneria Marconi, Zucchero, Vasco Rossi, Mauro Pagani and was part of that 'dream team' of Pino Daniele - made up of technically extraordinary musicians, but above all gifted with an inimitable sound - this one-off project represented his recording debut. 'Tunnel Lights' and 'Speed Up' have been brought to light by Dario Di Pace and Claudio Casalini, two visionaries who believe that Neapolitan music is a sonic mixture of ancient and modern musical registers even if it sometimes develops a conflict between tradition and modernity as the recovery of popular tradition is strongly opposed to the push for innovation. This therefore is the reason for a 12" reissue in which the evocative original songs - from almost 50 years ago - are reflected in the new versions created by a bevy of talented DJ-arrangers including Massimo Berardi (with the bassist Luca Andreozzi) and by the industrious and passionate Francisco & Malkuth (ed: Francesco De Bellis and Cosimo 'Cosmo' Mandorino in disguise) in turn assisted by other zealous musicians and dee-jays - including the very good and always very collaborative Raffaele Arcella - who took part in a remix of this EP with enormous fervor The 12" reissue of Tunnel was released both on the classic black vinyl and in the very limited red vinyl version, in order to reflect the lips of the extravagant cover, a graphic work by another brilliant and multifaceted artist: Lino Vairetti, legendary singer of the historic prog rock band Osanna. The envelope developed by Best Record is embossed (front and back cover) to further enhance the passion that Neapolitan musicians have always had in knowing how to combine their roots with all the other musical genres of the world.

Sono Unica taps local producers Vincent Casanova and Ajaks for the ”Northern Lights EP”, a mystical outing incorporating deep grooves and airy breezes to set the stage for summer festivals and open air delights. Rolling basslines bask in vibrant keys, and Ajaks turns toward darker hours with a slick rework.

Facta returns to Wisdom Teeth with ‘GULP’: a zippy, hi-def mini-album full of scrambled vocals, blown-out basslines, dripping synths and spring-loaded grooves that together map out his playfully psychedelic corner of contemporary club music. Written in a quick creative burst in late 2024, the record brings together a range of the producer’s distinct creative strands into a sharp, cohesive whole. Sitting snugly within the stylistic niche carved out by his A&Ring and DJ sets (alongside label co-founder K-LONE), we hear the influence of 00’s minimal, tech house, UK soundsystem music, ambient electronica, dub and more rubbing shoulders in a way that feels effortless and personal. Many of the tracks began life as sketches penned on the road - dotting between festivals, European club shows, and on tour in Japan - and so the record carries with it a sense of movement and forward momentum, and feels populated by voices, memories, people and places.

The Londoner’s characteristic approach to sound design and genre interplay are on full display here. Generative vocal hooks melt and warp into strange fluid forms, while synths stretch, detune, bend and dissolve into space before snapping back into shape again. Keyboards mirror human vocal formants, forming melodies that feel at once organic and alien. Basslines warp and distort, as if being re-moulded out of different synthetic properties.

Across the record there’s a commitment to expressing simple or familiar ideas in new and unexpected ways, whilst experimentations and innovations are presented clearly and intuitively. Cherished genre references are lovingly deployed as personal touchstones across the record - bleeping minimal- and tech-house; breakbeat dubstep and funky; Chicago house; dub techno - yet sounds and influences are combined and meshed in unexpected ways. Each track is tightly engineered and reduced down to its key elements, which are then manipulated, flipped, warped and pushed to breaking point. As is typical of Facta’s music, uncanny contrasts are worked throughout the music in unexpected ways. Warm, balmy moods come laced with seams of tension or uncertainty, whilst the record’s darker moments are handled with a light, playful touch.

With 15 years experience writing, DJing and A&Ring under his belt, ‘GULP’ is testament to Facta’s love of creation and curation - of seeking out, absorbing, experimenting, and channeling new sounds to create your own sonic world. A record borne of playful experimentation and happy accidents, ‘GULP’ shines bright with a simple, pure energy - a testament to writing quickly and intuitively and, above all else, enjoying the process.

The album’s artwork features photography by award-winning Boston-based photographer, Pelle Cass, whose complex time-lapse composites present hyperreal yet impossible tableaus of seemingly simple everyday scenes - an approach that parallels the record’s blurring of the familiar and the unfamiliar. Cass’s work has been widely exhibited, collected, and published, including solo shows at Gallery Kayafas, Boston, the Photographic Resource Center, Boston, and the Houston Center for Photography, and in collections such as the Fogg Art Museum, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. He was twice a Critical Mass Top 50 photographer and has received two fellowships from Yaddo and one from the Berkshire Taconic Foundation.

An unlikely fusion od disco-funk grooves and Indian vibes. Bruno Boogie blends swirling keyboards, fat baselines and hypnotic percussion into a sonic journey that smells like spices and wet dance floors. Bruno Boogie – just pure boogie!

Imagine having a song go viral for 17 years - without even knowing it. That's exactly what happened to the German 1980s band FEX. And this isn't just any song - it's The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet, a track that puzzled music detectives for decades before finally being identified in November 2024. Now, it has been officially released - twice.

The Story in Brief:
Sometime around 1984, a song was broadcasted on NDR Radio. The name of the song was Subways Of Your Mind - only found out 40 years later in November 2024. Back then, a listener recorded the NDR show on cassette, a common practice at the time. Decades later, the tape resurfaced, but while most songs from the recording were identified, one remained an enigma. On March 18, 2007, the track was uploaded to the internet in an attempt to uncover its origins. Due to its now-iconic opening lyric, it was tentatively titled Like The Wind. Over time, the mystery deepened, and the song was given a nickname: The Most Mysterious Song - or simply TMMS.

Starting in 2019, a dedicated Reddit group, TheMysteriousSong, now boasting over 63,000 members, took up the search. They meticulously documented every lead, hoping to solve the riddle of the song's origins. Then, in 2024, the breakthrough: Reddit user marjin1412 reached out to musician Michael Hädrich after discovering a reference to his band FEX in an old newspaper article. Hädrich, FEX's keyboardist, provided a recording from an old demo cassette which included an alternative version of the song. On November 4, 2024, the mystery was officially solved: FEX was the band, Subways Of Your Mind was the title.

What Happened Next:
Since then, FEX has released two singles - both featuring Subways Of Your Mind - through the Berlin-based independent label The Outer Edge. First, the demo cassette version was pressed onto vinyl, as the original NDR radio recording remained lost (see EDGE-028). The Remastered Demo Mix single instantly topped Bandcamp's global charts, holding the #1 spot for several days. By then, it was clear: this was more than just an internet curiosity. A real fanbase had formed. Enthusiastic comments on the sales page ranged from "best post-punk song to ever exist" to "FEX themselves (are) perhaps the most underrated musicians of all time."

But the story didn't end there. A higher-quality version of the NDR radio recording was rediscovered in late december, remastered, and now sent for a second vinyl pressing: the TMMS Version. This new vinyl 7" is backed with Talking Hands another great and unissued song that was found on the demo cassette.

Fame Comes with a Price
Suddenly, time isn't standing still for FEX. The band had to come to terms with the fact that they had become Lostwave super stars. A FEX fan club quickly formed on Reddit, fan-hosted FEX parties are popping up, and the internet is demanding more - an album, merchandise, live performances. But how does a band prepare for a comeback after a 40-year hiatus?

For now, FEX is carefully considering their next steps. Their demo cassette contains six songs - and a few other recordings have resurfaced which probably could be restored and compiled. But foremost, a brand new re-recording of Subways Of Your Mind is in progress.

One thing is certain: The Most Mysterious Song will continue its unstoppable journey around the world. Don't miss this (second) chance to own a piece of music history!

Eko, or Eko Roosevelt, is a Cameroonian composer, pianist & vocalist. He was born in Kribi in 1946, the son of a local Tribal Chief. Eko developed his love for music at church, later pursuing his growing passionwith music studies abroad, first in Dakar and then in Paris. After concluding his studies in France he went on to a recording career and between 1975 - 1982 released a number of full-length LPs, 7" singles and albums on cassette, before returning to Kribi to take over the role of Tribal Chief from his father, a role he holds to this day.

While the name "Eko" may not be immediately familiar to all, his music will be well known to many, from the DJs to the dancers, the heads to the home listeners. Evergreen classics like “Kilimandjaro My Home”, have remained a mainstay in the record bags & USB crates of disco jocks since its release in the late 70s, while numerous of his other crossover Afro-disco gems have been bootlegged, edited and remixed by a seemingly endless number of both greater & lesser-known producers who have all paid tribute to his work. Eko Roosevelt’s position in the ranks of Cameroon’s great musicians cannot be overstated. As a composer, songwriter, pianist and singer he has influenced generations of musicians both in Cameroon and France and further abroad, while he has written & arranged for many of the Cameroonian musical community.

Here Canopy, with the benediction of Eko himself, officially reissues two of his works that have not been rereleased since their first outings. Stylistically the two songs straddle the line between Afro-disco, funk and pop, with a slightly Balearic, almost AOR sensibility.

“Phone Me Tonight” is taken from a 7” record that has barely resurfaced since it was self-released in 1981 on the “Eko Music’ imprint. The song is an uplifting opus that demonstrates Eko’s deftness for creating catchy songs that succeed in their songwriting prowess and melody crafting, both on and off the dance floor. It is a stripped back composition that employs the key elements to great effect. The groovy bass line is underpinned by a tight Afro-disco beat as Eko’s unmistakeable voice draws us in and with a masterful use of repetition and hooks, creates a song that feels familiar from the outset, while being brand new to almost all listeners. As the song develops, the synth lines lift the song higher and higher, culminating in a euphoric transcendence perfect for elevating the mood of any dancefloor.

“Take Me As I am Now”, is sourced from Eko’s first album, “Nalandi” which originally came out in 1975 on Dragon Phenix. Here we have another fine example of Eko’s ability to hone compositions that blend thelines between pop song writing and more loopy dance floor orientated structures. The vocal hook repeats throughout the song, with only minor variations, making the song feel comfortingly familiar from its early bars. An instantly appealing bass line sets the stage for the sleek guitars and taut horn arrangements. The end result is a feel-good balance of melody and groove that makes for a timeless feel with a positive message!"

David Versace is an Australian multi-genre keyboardist, composer and producer based in Meanjin, Queensland. Growing up in a very musical household it was always important to express and embrace all types of music and sonics. His sound ranges from Jazz and Samba to ambient works and the odd dance-floor heater. David also plays in Meanjin nu-jazz dance outfit First Beige.

Small Great Things boss Luca Olivotto is back on his own imprint with the four track ‘It’s Too Dark’ EP.

In recent years, Italy via Berlin artist Luca Olivotto has been etching his mark on the underground House scene through his labels Small Great Things, Endless Music and recently minted At A Glance, as well as his Small Great House events series. Here the story continues with a fresh collection of works from the prominent House producer and DJ.

Opening is title-track ‘It’s Too Dark’, a six minute excursion through bright piano keys, swinging drums, soulful vocal stylings and a bumpy bass hook. ‘It’s Over’ follows and dives into deeper House territory with warm strings, organ stabs, and choppy subs intertwined with crisp drums, soft Rhodes and cut up vocals.

Opening the flip-side is ‘I Found You’, upping the energy levels again with a high energy melodic drive, hypnotic vocal lines and heavily shuffled drums. ‘See Thru’ then concludes the release and leans into a more Disco-tinged House realm with intertwined funk samples, sweeping filter work and intricately processed vocal chants running atop a sturdy rhythmic foundation.

Kick N' Dance is dedicated to the House music from Chicago & New York.For the second release, we have honored to have Berlin- based Nat Wendell onboard. Since 1998, his mission has been the same : to captivate the audienceswith his unmistakable sense of swing. A move to Berlin in 2010s saw releases onessentials labels. For this KND002, we have two sides of Nat : « Raw Love » with aWarm Tech House style, completely dedicated to the dancefloor . We dive deeperwith the track « What I Need » where a sensual voice meets subtle keyboardnotes. Nat brings his New York influence.

Last Year at Marienbad proudly welcomes French producer DJ Psychiatre, aka Sylvain Creton, known for his dynamic and evolving approach to house music. His style blends acid-infused grooves, soft rhythmic atmospheres, and disco-driven energy, earning him releases on renowned labels like Whyte Numbers, Lost Palms, and Shall Not Fade.

His latest EP, Moving Into Jazz, showcases his signature sound with four diverse tracks. The title track starts with delicate keys before building into a rich, atmospheric house piece with acid elements. Those DJs follows with a stepping drum pattern, deep bass, and sweeping chords, reinforcing his intricate rhythmic focus. On the B-side, Iced Lemon introduces clean arpeggios and euphoric pads, culminating in a powerful progression. Closing the EP, A Trance to Remember delivers an uplifting, energetic groove with a deep bassline and engaging vocal snippets. This EP highlights DJ Psychiatre’s ability to craft immersive, melodically rich music that resonates beyond the dancefloor. Last Year at Marienbad is thrilled to share this release from a true master of the genre.

In celebration of Pride Month, Kinga struts to Dark Entries with “Sexy Boy,” a steamy Canadian pop gem. Inspired by gender-bending pop stars of the 1980s like Boy George and Janet Jackson, a young Tomas Fussey aka Kinga ditched his “schoolboy appearance” to adopt an edgier, androgynous style. Immersed in Calgary nightlife, he became acquainted with sexy synthpop and disco songs like Madonna’s “Everybody,” Divine’s “Native Love,” and the Flirts’ “Passion” - songs which still linger in his mind. He began writing music: “It was 80s. Everyone was making a record. So I made one too.” In 1988 he teamed up with keyboardist Dan Madison and veteran producer Bob Gallo to make “Elevator Operator” and “Sexy Boy.” Kinga was surprised when the B-side “Sexy Boy” garnered substantial radio play from CFNY in Toronto. But he notes: “They saw the obvious... My physical appearance supported the lyrics.” In 1989, Amok Records backed a new “Late Night Dance Mix” version of “Sexy Boy.” Almost every part was re-recorded or remade, including Kinga’s vocals. The new version surprised Kinga with its slick production and moody atmosphere. Sales were disappointing, and Kinga stated “It was not the sound of the moment.” But these deeper house-inflected grooves feel like the sound of our current moment. This release of Sexy Boy includes five different mixes, including the original 7” mix, three versions from the 12”, and the previously unreleased “TV Mix”. Sexy Boy comes sleeved in a reproduction of the original artwork and includes an insert with liner notes and lyrics, as well as an 8x10 glossy press photo of the sexy boy himself.

South African producer Cool Affair returns to Cataleya with an innovative track that blends genres effortlessly. Motoric Patterns is a real hypnotic groover, with sweet keys and vocal harmonies. The sound is somewhere between Broken Beat, Downtempo and even Deep House. Keyboard wizard and Broken Beat pioneer Kaidi Tatham provides a fantastic remix. His version features classic fractured beats and soul kissed touches. Tatham even adds an extra vocal hook. Motoric Patterns is a singular winner!

FoxBam Inc returns with its fourth EP featuring a powerful mix of floor-shaking productions. The release includes contributions from Gez Varley, best known for his work with LFO and classic tracks like 'Quo Vardis' alongside Italian acid producer Vikkei and label founders Foxtrot and Egebamyasi. This new one opens with the acid-heavy 'Battle Scars' while Vikkei delivers the hard techno 'Hip 'n' Crack.' Egebamyasi explores bass-driven dubstep with 'Mandubchester' and Varley's 'Saturn One' brings cinematic vibes to his signature techno style. Launched in 2023, FoxBam Inc is already becoming a key player in the underground.

Tom Esselle, staple of the South London music scene, hits his stride on Rhythm Section release Revolutions and Evolutions. Building on the success of his previous releases (Lou’s Groove on Rhythm Section’s Shouts 2021 compilation, Praise Bes EP on Wolf Music in 2022), his latest EP further showcases the breadth of his sound. Drawing on influences from across the house music spectrum and honing skills developed in the studio with Chaos In The CBD, Revolutions & Evolutions delivers a sound that looks boldly to the future while remaining firmly grounded in the classics.

The A-side is primed for peak dance floor action: Baddies features a mid-2000s RnB vocal that did serious damage when Bradley Zero played it at Circoloco last summer, while Plaything, a big-room tech-house banger, echoes Moon Harbour's tougher catalogue, or a skunked-out Gavin Herlihy.

The B-side is a slice of sunshine with One Of These Days, an uplifting daytime house track featuring a deft keys solo from Dave Koor (Albert’s Favourites, The Expansions, Modified Man). Harmonise rounds off the EP: a smoky, dreamy groover to warm up the party or lock it in during the early hours.

Tom has been producing music since 2010, patiently refining his sound. His 2015 debut, the choppy drum workout Until She Spoke on Wholemeal Music, became a quiet underground success played by luminaries like Ruf Dug and Gilles Peterson, and remains a staple in many a record bag to this day. His productions have also found their way into the collections of DJs from Moxie to Mr Scruff and Osunlade to DJ Harvey

Hologram Teen is the solo project (and anagram) of former Stereolab keyboardist Morgane Lhote. Her colourful playful songs are heavily influenced by disco and 80s French pop.

Initially from Paris, Morgane relocated to Los Angeles where she concentrated on her solo material. Captain Fluo is a disco-fuelled love letter to 1980s Paris and its underground nightlife, record store discoveries and the exhilaration of growing up as a gay teenager in a world of self-discovery.

Produced and mixed by Andrew Claristidge (Acid Washed) at Duca Sonora Studios in Brittany Captain Fluo is a vibrant fusion of propulsive beats, bouncy synths and funky basslines. Morgane’s signature keyboards weave through a constellation of guest vocalists including Sandra Zettpunkt, Maxwell Farrington, Eric D Clark and Alex Aikiu. From the euphoric pulse of ‘Lust Pill’ to the radio crooner nostalgia of ‘Fréquence Gaie’ each track is a portal to the dance floors and late-night airwaves of a bygone era.

Drawing inspiration from French pop icons like France Gall, Michel Berger and Louis Chedid alongside the sleek productions of Italo disco pioneers Kasso and the genre-defining touch of David Bowie, Nile Rogers, Quincy Jones and Depeche Mode, Captain Fluo is a heartfelt ride through an era when music was liberation.

Glen Adams was a Jamaican musician, composer, arranger, engineer, producer, based since the mid-1970s in Brooklyn, New York City. Predominetly known for being a key member of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s group The Upsetters – the Glen Adams Affair was the disco alter ego of this reggae/dub organist.

Originally released as a 12” on the infamous SAM Records label in 1980 the 7-inch version only ever received a small UK pressing. This is the first time this legendary single appears as a 7-inch with the iconic SAM Records sleeve and label.

Remastered by Phil Kinrade and presented in a 7” Discobag sleeve and now officially released in full coordination with SAM Records

Keyboarder, Produzent und Songwriter Joe Armon-Jones präsentiert sein bisher ambitioniertestes Soloprojekt: All The Quiet. Ein mitreissendes Statement, das Jazz, Funk, Dub, Hip-Hop und Soulmusik verbindet und vollständig von Armon-Jones selbst geschrieben, produziert und gemischt wurde. Als Bandmitglied ist er als Teil des mit dem Mercury Prize ausgezeichneten Ezra Collective bekannt, das 2024 als erste Headliner-Jazzband die Londoner Wembley Arena ausfüllte. "All The Quiet (Part II)" ist das zweite Kapitel eines zweiteiligen Albums auf seinem Label Aquarii Records. Gastmusiker und Featuregäste sind u.a. Greentea Peng, Wu-Lu, Yazmin Lacey, Hak Baker, Nubya Garcia und Oscar Jerome.

Sechs Jahre sind vergangen, seit Armon-Jones' letztes Soloalbum "Turn To Clear View" 2019 auf Gilles Petersons Brownswood Recordings veröffentlicht wurde, aber man darf diese Lücke nicht mit einer Pause verwechseln. Denn in dieser Zeit tourte er um die Welt, baute ein Studio auf, wirkte an Alben grosser Namen des britischen Jazz mit und nahm Kollaborationen mit Liam Bailey, Fatima, Hak Baker, Prince Fatty, Ranking Joe, Maxwell Owin und der Dubstep-Legende Mala auf.

Robsoul Recordings launches its 2025 campaign in style with the release of the ‘Make Love' EP, an impressive label debut from Italian producer and MPC virtuoso, Bress Underground.Following a strong 2024, which saw him release on GLB Dom, SNATCH!, Jackies Music, Special Grooves, and Slothboogie, as well as delivering unforgettable sets at iconic venues such as Sisyphos and NYC Downlow (Glastonbury), Bress Underground rolls out a sumptuous four-track selection of impeccable House music.“The EP was created by mixing a variety of production techniques, including the MPC, sampling, and Ableton Live,” explains Bress Underground, real name Andrea. “These were all projects I'd started and, for whatever reason, remained incomplete for some time. Each track started with a specific mood but evolved into something new as I finished them.”A love for all shades of House is evident throughout the EP, from the bumping horns and infectious shuffle of opener ‘Chick House' to the smooth, chiming keys and soulful tones of fellow A-side cut ‘Keep On'. On the flip ‘I Don't Pray' delivers a powerful, sermon-like groove whilst title track, ‘Make Love,' closes the release with its timeless 303 energy and undeniable dancefloor appeal. As Bress Underground himself puts it, this EP is “the perfect musical omelette,” blending textures, moods, and influences into a flavorful collection of House tracks.

CS003, our next offering on wax, is home-grown. The Instruction EP features three original productions by label co-founder Niall Kelly complimented by a remix from the inimitable Carl Finlow. Niall’s debut EP showcases his prowess as producer harking to a pool of influences found in the sonic DNA of our hometown of Leeds, with added firepower provided by a legendary artist with close ties to the city.

Echoes of the rowdy bygone Mint Club ooze through the slappy tech house roller ’Section 1’ which opens the record. The chunky basslines retro synths and robotic vocoder connect the dots from Niall’s palette to the unmistakeable sound of Yorkshire Bleep on ‘Seven Wolves’. Carl’s treatment of ‘Section 1’ pivots into a darker, dystopian soundscape full of fizzing hi hats and dizzying synths that amalgamate into a dancefloor shaker that is unmistakably Finlow. The EP is rounded off by Groove Key, a track which serves up a special disorientating euphoria designed to be heard on large soundsystems and felt deep within your bones.

Tornado Wallace arrives at Test Pressing with the main mix being a beautiful long track that develops over ten minutes, starting with keyboard melodies before the tracks goes into the club zone. The ‘Symphony Mix’ takes the train on an ambient mix with the Bitter Beats bringing fin for the DJ squad.

"Bassland Prophecy" was a collection of Southern California musicians, including Alex Xenophon (Deep Squared), Stuart Breidenstein (formerly of Skylab 2000), Alissa Kueker (vocals), and Maxx Vaxx (Euterpre, Butterfly Garden).

The act nourished and grew the emerging LA scene and was a renegade force in live electronic improvisation. Rather than composing full tracks, Breidenstein stated over email that they built musical "ingredients" on the fly, syncing DOS and hardware sequencers mid-performance. Their unpredictable sets, from illegal raves to makeshift desert parties, resulted in electrifying, unforgettable sonic trips.

Recalling 90s LA, Breidenstein said: “Before the internet, finding a rave was an adventure. You’d get a flyer with a phone number, call it the night of the event, then drive—sometimes 100 miles or more from a map point to the actual party. The scene was raw and underground, built by music obsessives hunting for the freshest sounds.”

Two standout tracks from 1996—“Nine / Deeper” and “Blue and Purple Starship of Trust”—perfectly represent their unique genre-bending concoctions. Against all odds, the recordings survived and have been given new life, remastered and reissued on Bristol-based *Sex Tapes From Mars*. To produce the wizardry, their setup included a Juno 106, Yamaha FB-01, a Roland S330 sampler, and a Sequential Circuits Pro-One mono synth with external MIDI, and some guitar effects pedals.

“Nine / Deeper,” born from one of their many spontaneous studio sessions, became eerily intertwined with recurring appearances of the number 9 and black cats. So much was the frequency of apophenia episodes that paranoia began to take over the artists. Recorded in a makeshift living room studio, the 14-minute excursion traverses genres and tempos, beginning quick and hypnotic, and climaxing chuggy and drenched in adlibbed acid lines, culminating in a surreal and legendary live performance in Hollywood. The piece captures the raw spontaneity of their sets, crafted with vintage gear, cassette tape recordings, and, as always, a DIY ethos. Breidenstein states, “While improvised sessions often failed, when it succeeded, it was definitely a kind of infectious magic the listener would recognize.”

“The Blue and Purple Starship of Trust” is a deeply personal piece, named after when Breidenstein saw a heavenly blue morning glory on a walk around his neighborhood, and emerged from heartbreak and the following deep depression entrenching his life at the time. Recorded in a single take onto cassette tape, blending piano, guitar, and heart-rending vocals into an emotional, dreamlike journey. The track starts with a lush, cascading synth sound, bolstered up by rolling, reverbing downtempo drums. Using Sequential Circuits Pro-One throughout, the rippling synths and off-key piano licks act like pipetted droplets of water, all elements bleeding into each other in some kind of hallucinogenic swelling, reflecting Breidenstein’s fading relationship. The guitar part is a nod to Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and Breidenstein recalls just “bawling as the guitar line was recorded.”

Created in a time of artistic struggle, living in an old school bus, surviving on instant noodles while hauling their gear from venue to venue, and scraping by on gig money, these recordings act as rare artifacts of a movement that thrived on passion and perseverance, standing as a poignant testament to resilience. Though they released a handful of tracks, ranging from deep house to ambient to techno, their true legacy lay in their high-energy, genre-blurring live shows, which are powerfully encapsulated within these recordings and leave a lasting impact on underground electronic music today.

Daniel Monaco and John Noseda join forces for Alektra, a new project born out of a deep love for Hi-NRG and raw 808 sounds. Renowned for their dj sets, trips that delve into tropical obscurities, Chicago jack and Rimini romances, the pair have channelled a unique blend of untamed house and shimmering italo melodies into pure dancefloor euphoria. Their debut release, “Shake Your Body,” drops on Bordello A Parigi. Neon synthwork is punctured by clean punches of percussion, scaling melodies set firmly in the golden analogue era. Key stabs drive the track with Only Bee’s honeyed lyrics pushing the energy levels higher. In true 1980s anthem form, the flip is dedicated to the instrumental with the synthesizers and their hypnotic melodies taking centre stage: Alektra’s machines smouldering with fiery intensity. That same intensity closes, Only Bee’s mellifluous vocals given the limelight for the acapella close. Dancefloor definitions redefined. Welcome to Alektra.

When you’re running a label, a demo occasionally comes across your desk that makes you reconsider everything you thought your label was all about. For Balmat, such was the case with this stunning album from Stephen Vitiello, Brendan Canty, and Hahn Rowe. It sounds like nothing we’ve released so far—and that very otherness opened up a whole new world of possibilities for us.

Fans of ambient, experimental electronic music, and sound art will be familiar with Vitiello, a New York native, long based in Virginia, who has collaborated with a cross-generational list of greats: Taylor Deupree, Steve Roden, Lawrence English, Tetsu Inoue, Nam June Paik, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Pauline Oliveros, and many more. On labels like 12k, Room40, and Sub Rosa, he has explored a wide range of minimalism, microsound, lowercase, ambient, improv, and other styles. But this album is something different. It may begin in ambient-adjacent territory, but it quickly veers off, and it just keeps zigzagging, taking on elements of krautrock, post-punk, dub, and the groove-heavy interplay of groups like Natural Information Society and 75 Dollar Bill.

This stylistic turn is thanks in large part to Vitiello’s choice of collaborators. “We’re coming from three different schools,” Vitiello says: “sound art, art rock, and punk rock.”

Active since the early 1980s, Rowe—a violinist, guitarist, and producer/engineer—has played with, or manned the boards for, a frankly jaw-dropping list of musicians: Herbie Hancock, Gil Scott-Heron, the Last Poets, Roy Ayers, John Zorn, Glenn Branca, Swans, Live Skull, Brian Eno, David Byrne, Anohni, R.E.M., Yoko Ono, and many more. But he might be most closely associated with Hugo Largo, a one-of-a-kind New York quartet—two basses, vocals, and Rowe’s violin—that in the late 1980s helped lay the groundwork for what would eventually become known as post-rock.

Canty, of course, is the legendary drummer of Fugazi, the visionary DC post-hardcore group, as well as Rites of Spring before them, and, currently, the Messthetics, a Dischord-signed instrumental trio with guitarist Anthony Pirog and Fugazi bassist Joe Lally.

Vitiello’s trio first collaborated on First, a 17-minute piece released on the Longform Editions label in 2023. Second picks up where the freeform drift of First left off, channeling the trio’s exploratory energies into more intentionally structured tracks and—in a real first for Balmat—some almost shockingly muscular grooves. “Sometimes my projects are more conceptually driven,” Vitiello says, “but I think this was more musically geared. I just wanted to open up the references and bring in an incredible drummer, bring in some melodies, and I’m sort of the center.” But his collaborators, he stresses, are “vastly creative in making anything I might suggest better.”

Like its predecessor, Second took shape in phases, shifting between improvisation and collage. Vitiello laid down the skeleton of the music at home, sketching out initial ideas on Rhodes keyboard and acoustic and electric guitar; he then fed the parts through samplers and his modular system, recording 10- or 20-minute jams. Once he had edited them into more structured forms, he hit the studio with Canty, who added not just drums but also bass and piano; finally, Vitiello took the results of those sessions to Rowe, who played violin, viola, electric bass, and 12-string acoustic and bowed electric guitar, and assisted in some of the final structuring and mixdown.

A few more surprises along the way: Reanimator’s Don Godwin, the studio engineer where Vitiello recorded with Canty, contributed what he calls “resonant dustpan”; and none other than Animal Collective’s Geologist, who just happened to be in the studio that day, sits in on hurdy gurdy on “Mrphgtrs1,” the album’s gorgeous, stunningly atmospheric drone closer. “I love these chance encounters,” Vitiello says. “Somebody I admire, a group I admire—that was an unexpected gift.”

An unexpected gift is a great way of describing Second as a whole: three veteran musicians venturing outside their usual zones and finding a new collaborative language together. The results can’t be neatly slotted into any given genre; they belong not to any given category, but to the spirit of conversation itself.

More Water pairs the dancefloor stylings of Sub Basics and Witch Trials through the platform of Temple Of Sound. Beckoning the listener to the centre of the dancefloor with haste, there they will remain as the tracks appropriately travel from light, to dusk, to dark. All the while holding a high-paced tumbling percussion, encouraging complete expressive movement.

Encapsulating bright keys travelling on a wave of undulating rhythm, littered with muffled vocals that enhance the persistent energy that traverses daytime house. All the way to warehouse rackets that hiss and pump with 4 AM energy, this release has something for every moment of the night.

Ltd edition!

to rococo rot?s the amateur view (1999) will be reissued as a highly limited expanded edition, featuring 12 bonus tracks on an additional disc, a new gatefold sleeve with previously unseen photos, and liner notes by Jon Dale. The Amateur View is widely hailed as one of the definitive records of late '90s analog electronica. Released in the U.S. via Mute Records, it was named one of UNCUT's Albums of the Year in 1999 and perfectly captured the introspective, experimental mood of the era. The album's influence was far-reaching-so much so that Saint Etienne enlisted To Rococo Rot for their 2000 album Sound of Water. At the time, To Rococo Rot were the band of the moment-jetting across the globe to play the most cutting-edge electronica festivals, including wild WARP events where none other than Aphex Twin spun support DJ sets, The trio was invited three times by John Peel to record radio sessions in the BBC studios between 1997 and 1999. Bands like Modeselektor still cite them as key influences and pioneers. Stephen McRobbie of The Pastels, Mark Fell (SND), and Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet) are all big fans-Kieran even remixed a track from their debut album so did Mira Calyx and Daniel Miller of Mute, a longtime supporter, and yes Björk is a fan too.

Greetings, the producer known for blending captivating electronic sounds with heartfelt storytelling, steps into the spotlight with his debut album, Dance Music For Elsewhere. Featuring original vocals and analog textures, the album is an electrifying journey through love, life, and beyond.

Donald’s House transforms Greetings’ track My Paradise into a dreamy Australiana dub mix, with rolling basslines and echoing M1 keys that transport you straight to the bush. Meanwhile, Romain FX delivers a monumental seven-minute reimagining of the album’s lead single, End of the Night, featuring Naarm-based vocalist Indigo King. This remix captures the essence of dancefloor romance, taking listeners on a journey through the night. This vinyl-only release marks Volume 1 of the Dance Music For Elsewhere remixer series. With limited pressings available, don’t miss your chance to escape into your own paradise.

Auntie Flo finds a natural home for OUTERNATIONAL DANCE on Multi Culti Throughout his long career in music, Brian d’Souza aka Auntie Flo has made a name for himself for his adventurous and open minded approach to music making. Travel and collaboration is key to his work, and over the course of four albums and various singles, he’s showcased music made in Cuba, South Korea, Uganda, Brazil and more, often fusing long standing musical traditions, field recordings and artist collaborations with a modern production techniques. As Auntie Flo, he has bridged not only cultural gaps as a Scottish-Goan in hybrid genres like Afro-disco, Indian Classical and Dub-Techno, but recently crossed over into bioelectrical music, with his Plants Can Dance, Mushroom Music and full-blown ambient psychedelica all housed under his A State Of Flo label and Substack. Outernational Dance helps define this expansive sound with a set of tracks that brings dance culture back to nature, inspired by ‘Esperanto’, a form of universal language created by L. L. Zamenhof in 1887. The notion of music as the universal language has always been at the heart of Auntie Flo’s practise and makes this new EP a perfect fit for the boundary dissolving reverie of the Multi Culti ethos: pointing the way to a better world, borderless, free and in symbiosis with nature.

After the success of our first release, UR2wo’s Move Me (including Blame’s legendary Shadow Mix on vinyl) and continued support from big names in clubs and socials, Break-The-Future returns with a new signing: Nathan Cable. A veteran of progressive house, Nathan gained recognition as part of Tenth Chapter, with tracks like Wired on William Orbit’s Guerilla Records in the 90s, supported by DJs like Sasha, Pete Tong, and Dave Seaman. Now back under his own name, Nathan offers a modern blend of intelligent breaks, with a rich, emotional sound that fits alongside Ninja Tune's style. His new tracks are already getting support from John Digweed on Transitions Radio Show.

The release kicks off with Nathan's Innocence featuring the All Tribes Mix, which blends lush pads, whispering arps, and gated vocals. Nathan’s Gyroscope Mix follows with a deeper take, built on rubber bass and rich keys.

For the remixes, we bring Northern Ireland's Richie Blacker, who ramps up the BPMs for the club with a spacey, synth-driven journey.

Last but not least, we have legendary rave innovator Nookie, who offers two remixes: the nostalgic Speed Remix, channeling 90s rave, and the darker Not So Innocent Remix, reminiscent of London’s Rage. Essential!

Oath’s latest release takes flight with Elfenberg’s signature proggy, euphoric sound. Known for his expertly crafted, otherworldly grooves, Elfenberg seamlessly blends trance-laden progressive house and techno, delivering dancefloor-ready yet deeply immersive experiences.

His new EP, *Ritmo Paradiso*, showcases his signature style while exploring fresh sonic landscapes. The title track pulses with deep bass, evolving percussion, and acid-tinged melodies. *Vasastan* shifts into IDM territory, layering swirling synths over a hypnotic rhythm. *Styggforsen* builds on acid-driven grooves with delicate pads and intricate keys, creating an endless sense of immersion. Closing track *Thank You For Your Patience* ups the tempo, featuring rolling basslines and dynamic breaks for an electrifying finish.

As always, Elfenberg crafts a journey of rhythm and melody, and Oath is thrilled to share this latest chapter.

Private View is distinctly Blancmange while also expanding into new sonic terrain. There’s a deft marriage of futuristic electronic sounds, Neil Arthur’s unmistakable vocal hooks, and songs veer from buoyant and joyful to dark and brooding. Private View will be released on London Records almost exactly 40 years to the day since the label released Blancmange’s debut album Happy Families. This neat full circle of Blancmange re-signing to the same label that ignited things all those years ago is also reflected in the album itself, being the perfect crystallisation of four decades of creativity.

On Private View Neil returns with key collaborator Benge (Wrangler, John Foxx, John Grant), and David Rhodes (Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Scott Walker) also returns as the guitarist, having previously performed with the band as early as 1982’s Happy Families (as well as several other Blancmange albums).

Private View is a record that manages to capture an artist who is potently in the moment when it comes to creating new work, while also being able to draw on 40 years’ worth of knowledge, experience, and built-in intuition. “I'm really lucky to be able make the music completely on my own terms,” Arthur says. “Being able to just continue being creative...that's when I'm happiest.” As he said before: “within myself there are no limits.”

Blancmange is also reflected in the ongoing influence the music has on younger generations of artists and fans over the years. Contemporary electronic producers like Honey Dijon and Roman Flügel have paid tribute with remixes, Moby once called Blancmange “probably the most underrated electronic act of all time.”; while John Grant continues to profess his love for Arthur’s music, old and new, and has invited Blancmange to perform as part of Grace Jones’ Meltdown festival.

Neba Solo, whose real name is Souleymane Traoré, is a true living legend of Malian music. His voice and balafon playing are unique, instantly recognizable, and deeply cherished throughout Mali.

He gained international recognition with his iconic track CAN 2002, composed for the famous African Cup of Nations. This success opened doors to global stages, leading to tours in the United States, Asia, and Europe. Prestigious labels such as Cobalt and Secousse supported this exceptional period in the artistic journey of this musical genius.

For many years, Neba Solo has closely collaborated with Yaya Diarra, the sound engineer of the legendary Bogolan studio in Bamako. Diarra played a key role in preserving and recording the works of the balafon master from Sikasso. He was also the one who invited Dom Peter to work on a bold and resolutely modern project: an album with more electronic sounds, enriched with drum machines, offering a new artistic direction to Neba Solo’s compositions.

Dom Peter and Yaya Diarra immersed themselves in the studio to conceive and produce this album, titled TUMA DUMA. The result is a perfect alchemy, where electronic rhythms blend seamlessly with traditional percussion, redefining the richness of Malian musical heritage.

These nine tracks explore classic themes of the Mandingue repertoire while showcasing Neba Solo’s unique way of narrating both everyday life and universal stories

Exzellente LP mit komplett unveröffenlichtem Material der Stuttgarter Jazz-Rock-Band BAOBAB aus den Jahren 1978-1981. Gegründet Anfang 1970 als Zufallsprojekt der Musiker Karl-Heinz Huschka (sax), Michael Radtke (bass) und Joachim Pflieger (keys), entwickelte sich das Trio im Laufe der Zeit zu einer 7-köpfigen Band mit vielseitigem Spektrum und charakteristischen Merkmalen: Drive mit euphorischen Bläsersätzen, cooler Swing mit Bluesphrasen, Rhythmus mit lateinamerikanischem Anstrich, die Stimme von Beatrice Mathé nicht nur solistisch herausragend, sondern sich auch mühelos integrierend in das Unisono der Leitmelodien. Limitierte Bio-Vinyl-LP im Gatefold samt DL-Code und vielen unveröffentlichten Fotos.

"Carrycroch'" is the title of the first album by the Alsatian progressive rock band WLUD. This French band is composed of Philippe Wendling on keyboards, Bernard Labroche on guitars, Gigi Untersinger on bass and Gianni Drago on drums. WLUD is the acronym of the musicians' names, W for Wendling Philippe, L for Labroche Bernard, U for Untersinger Gigi and D for Drago Gianni. All compositions are by WLUD. The original vinyl record released in 1978 was as successful abroad (notably in the USA and Japan) as in France. This record is a reissue of the original production at the time but for this reissue, a bonus track has been added on the B-side which did not exist on the original 1978 version. Another vinyl album followed in 1979 under the name “second”, also reissued in its original form.

“Second” is the title of the second album of the Alsatian group WLUD This French band is composed of Philippe Wendling on keyboards, Bernard Labroche on guitars, Gigi Untersinger on bass and Gianni Drago on drums. WLUD is the acronym of the musicians' names, W for Wendling Philippe, L for Labroche Bernard, U for Untersinger Gigi and D for Drago Gianni. All compositions are by WLUD. The original vinyl record released in 1979 was as successful abroad (notably in the USA and Japan) as in France. This record is a reissue of the original production at the time. A first album called "Carrycroch'" was released in 1978.

This is the first full-length album by bojvck, an artist deeply embedded in Seoul’s street culture. Blending breakbeat-inspired sounds with raw audio textures sampled straight from the street culture, the album captures the restless energy of youth and the spirit of the city. If the keywords “boy” and “street” speak to you, this is one you shouldn’t miss.

Miles Away Records are proud to introduce a brand-new, never before released piece of music.

In September 2024, Rob J Madin reached out to us with a collection of instrumental covers he had created. Immediately drawn in, we loved both the musical approach to these covers and the fact he tastefully selected these tracks to cover. Following up, we asked Rob, an accomplished musician, if he had any original compositions in a similar style.

The result is "MONSTRO", six instrumental slabs of jazz-funk heat! Produced primarily in Rob's attic studio in Sheffield. Rob showcases his talents on guitar, bass, keys, and percussion, with each track built around iconic drum samples. Listeners can expect spacey synths, silky electric pianos, and irresistible hooks. Think BADBADNOTGOOD meets Mildlife with a side plate of Herbie Hancock.

From the kick-your-door-down energy of "Callisto Disco" to the slow-burning allure of "Heartbreaker" and optimistic sunny day feel of "Cherryade" to the fully grown earworm synth lines of "Bouquet Garni". In addition to four original songs, the collection features two cover versions from that initial SoundCloud link: Michael Miglio's "Never Gonna Let You Go" and Rupa's "Ayee Morshume Be-Reham Duniya." Both are rare early-80s gems, wonderfully reimagined by Rob.

"MONSTRO" will be officially released on May 16th, 2025 on digital and physical formats. The 12" EP comes with printed inner sleeves and is pressed at 45rpm for maximum audio depth.

LOCKJAW is up first with a moody yet optimistic progression through the traffic. There are upbeat and urgent tones just on the dry side of squelch, with arpeggiators emerging from the white noise of the hats’ long tails into clean synth work, as elongated tones gently push their way out of the filter, drawing out against the shorter synth loops that shimmer and echo with tight delays.

AROUND comes in punchier and with more pronounced percussion, gives a sense that something is up, and haze has been left behind.It acts as a precursor to more arpeggiated bass tones, gently meandering as they make their way to menacing metallic chords and modulations, allowing the keys which follow to have a sense of place before you’re pushed back into grooves and reprise.

ADAPT builds a slow and steady groove layered with, rather than punctuated by, metallic soaked chords like Basic Channel in bed with a fever. Vocal loops and lead lines creep their way out of the filter and cymbals gently exhale into, then inhale out of existence, blending with the reverberating chords and sedated pads which weave their way among the foggy reflected tails.

CONTACT slows things back down but punches through harder, with expansive sinister tones from the word go, in a Carpenteresque fashion that suggests it’s now time to make that Escape From Los Angeles. A feeling perpetuated by the vocal samples, pulsing synths and slower arpeggiated bass which act as groundwork for clean, moody strings and chords which perfectly round out this dystopian futurescape.

SAMOSA RECORDS EARTH, WIND & FUNK VOL.2 - Pt.1

Samosa Records comes at you with all the elements for Earth, Wind & Funk Vol. 2 – a succulent double slice of vinyl heaven!

On side A1 label favourites Dirty Elements & Drunkdrivers start the party with the knee-slapping treat ‘Koko’. A bouncing bassline and some sweet clavinet keys act as the starters to this trip around the discophere. Lush strings and sassy vocals provide a delicious cherry on top. Mesmerising stuff.

For A2, Macchianera undergoes a De Gama Re-Groove with ‘Gotta Dance’, a deceptive 115bpm chugger that could travel the tracks for an eternity. Deep, groovy bass and soulful vocals combine perfectly in the build-up to the brass-soaked chorus line. Oh, and you know that rhythm guitar is gonna get you.

Side B1 finds Niels F. ‘Trying To Love’ with a little help from some De Gama Re-Drums. ‘Trying To Love’ breaks out into its stride from the off. With an almost ‘2-step’ vibe at the intro, ‘Trying To Love’ nicely builds to a rag time jam of lush strings, smile-inducing brass and a wicked vocal – all applied perfectly and filtered expertly. Let the good times roll!

B2 brings the Afro inspired delights of MP Soundworks and ‘Gotta Get It’. There’s a tribal vibe in the air at this party, a hypnotic runaway train of a track that makes full use of filtered build ups, looped vocal samples and a wicked, wicked bassline. Bouncier than supper-concentrated Zectron.

In Earth, Wind & Funk Vol. 2 Samosa Records has produced a stunning double slab release, featuring a good mix of some of the label’s most prolific artists and some welcome newcomers.

Comes in a sleeve screenprinted by the artist. Mastered by Yves De Mey.

Antwerp-based freaks City Suckers compose rythms on various hardware and vintage drumcomputers, with the use of fx-send, samples and sequencers. Progressing loop-based compositions, layering patterns into a painting of rhythms, bass and keys.

Two early 80s slices of disco funk, from the taleted James (Gem) Prewitt, "My Love Box" was recorded recorded in St Louis, Missouri in 1981 and "Juicy" 1983. James Prewitt, a 27-year-old attending Forrest Park Community College in St Louis, took a leap and established his own label called Keyes Production. He demonstrated his remarkable talent by writing, producing, and playing on all of his releases.

Electronic music visionary Pye Corner Audio, a master of blending nostalgia with forward-thinking production, has carved out a unique niche in the electronic music landscape. Drawing inspiration from 1970s and 80s synthesizer music, Detroit techno, and cinematic soundtracks, his work often evokes a sense of eerie futurism.

Lapsus Records is proud to present Where Things Are Hollow: No Tomorrow, a comprehensive box set revisiting and expanding his acclaimed Where Things Are Hollow series. This release includes the first two volumes—with Volume 2 featuring an unreleased track—and two additional chapters that further enrich the series’ narrative. Once again, Pye Corner Audio delivers innovative soundscapes, drawing inspiration from ambient techno, cinematic electronica, and experimental slow disco.

The third installment unveils a constellation of entirely new tracks, weaving the ambient, synthwave, and retro-futuristic textures that define Jenkins' work. Meanwhile, Where Things Are Hollow 4 amplifies this narrative, incorporating reinterpretations by some of today’s most visionary artists: Alessandro Cortini, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Lord Of The Isles, and Surgeons Girl, alongside the popular 2020 John Talabot remix of "Resist".

As with previous entries, the visual identity of Where Things Are Hollow: No Tomorrow is a striking collaboration between Basora Studio and renowned illustrator Alex Trochut, offering a visual counterpart to the series' otherworldly audio.

With all tracks remastered for this release, Where Things Are Hollow: No Tomorrow is a testament to Jenkins' enduring influence and creative evolution, cementing Pye Corner Audio as a key figure in modern electronic music.

Brazilian talent Rafael Cancian has grown in stature thanks to solid outings on the tasteful likes of Razor-N-Tape and Hot Pot Records. Now with that profile established, he heads out with a new label of his own in the form of About Disco. He inaugurates it with a quartet of edits that he has already been deploying to great effect on various dancefloors around the world. 'Sounds Chicago' does indeed with raw drums and great keys dancing over the beats. 'Ti Amo' has a more funky undercarriage and disco percussion, 'D'Afrique' again brings a funky bass riff to the fore with some psyched-out sounds for company and 'Opera' shuts down with some late-night and soul-drenched synths over intimate and stripped back house drums.

Blissfull sounds.. moving freely between drum machines & synths to more organic instrumentation with rich arrangements never losing sight of a light ethereal feel. Check!

Sjunne Ferger was a swedish jazz and blues drummer, shifting more towards jazz after working with Don Cherry. From his ‘FAT’ Studio near the central Swedish town of Örebro, Sjunne Ferger crafted a small but radical legacy of genre bending music. With an open minded ‘anything goes’ attitude born from his jazz roots, compiled here are songs charting a transition from fusion beginnings via his debut 7″ with group ‘Exit’ through to a more blissful synthetic sound palette. Hypnotic ambient pieces written for short film swirl amongst the electronic & electrified- unreleased versions of ‘Destiny’ and ‘Candlelight’ hint at his sound to come, while the album culminates in the highlights ‘Night Rituale’ and ‘Childrens Mind’ -Intoxicating mixes of Sjunne’s influences & inspiration, they unknowingly hint at Mkwaju Ensemble and other key Japanese contemporaries, and bear witness to the Swede’s deep Eastern philosophical outlook. Retaining his own unique sound throughout, ‘Childrens Mind’ is a primer for Sjunne Ferger’s ‘Mindgames’ LP reissued on Strangelove later in 2021.

Iconic German producer Stimming takes flight with his new album Friedrich Friedrich is out on April 25th via Stimming Recordings A masterful blend of sonic experimentation and storytelling, Friedrich – the second chapter in Stimming’s trilogy – dives deep into life’s ordinary yet profound moments. Designed to ignite the dance floor while offering a rich, introspective home-listening journey, it showcases the producer’s unparalleled artistry. Stimming’s sound world has always been known for its high-level, cerebral architecture. The artist takes electronic music to a compositional extreme where every sound is imbued with meaning and nothing is left unthought of.

Archeo Recordings is a record label. Old, lost, obscure and forgotten gems and a boundless focus on the new Balearic scene for a wider audience of collectors, DJs and music lovers. All releases are limited edition. This release is a Limited Edition EP (250 on black vinyl). New life and an expanded treatment of Quiroga's epic Electronic/Future Jazz/House Snaporaz (Really Swing 2020), from none other than L.U.C.A. (AR029). Archeo delights us with this luscious and limited release featuring Quiroga's sleek jazz-house UFO "Snaporaz". This edition includes an exclusive extended version, a brand-new cut from the Neapolitan groover, and a completely cosmic overhaul from the mighty L.U.C.A. Operating at the nexus of future jazz, beatific electronics and deft house, Quiroga (Walter Del Vecchio to his nearest and dearest) has carved his own irresistible niche over the past two decades, gracing countless labels with nuanced body movers and forging his impressive Really Swing imprint, the original home to this melodic masterpiece. Tucked away on Del Vecchio's 2020 EP "Chords and Desire", the sunny and sultry Snaporaz fell foul of our communal pandemic preoccupation, missing out on the widespread acclaim, appreciation and ass-shaking it so richly deserves. Archeo steps in as patron, giving this Rhodes-led jazz-house heater the full 12" treatment it was born for. On the A1, Quiroga's extends the ecstasy of "Snaporaz", stretching its original elements into a loosely grooving, dopamine-deep delight. Sunkissed keys and tender pads ride the rhythm of a bubbling bassline while the sophisticated percussion snaps, crackles and pops in the background - the perfect environment for the P&P leadline to flourish. If that wasn't enough to have you slipping straight into your party pumps, Walter makes the most of the extra runtime with a HOT hand drum freakout down the final stretch, adding the most enticing icing to an already heady cake. A comparative cooldown follows in A2 offering "Escorpião", a fusion-tinged flirtation for aperitivo everywhere. Cutting back on the kick to save space for the swing, Quiroga leads us through a sublime sequence of hooks, riffs and solos, without ever overwhelming the ears but keeping the groove alive. It's a dizzying delight from start to finish and features one of the finest keytar and cowbell interplays you're likely to hear. The B-side belongs to the frankly legendary Francesco de Bellis, a house, disco, Italo and electro hero, appearing here under his deliciously downbeat alias L.U.C.A. Imbuing Quiroga's original with the atmospheric stylings of his Edizioni Mondo oeuvre, the Roman producer delivers a radical rework, slowing the tempo by 20 bpm and translating those jazzy tones into a drifting new age dancer for the cosmic crowd. Zero gravity rhythms meet mystical melodies uptown as the house hippies get down. Lest we overlook the batshit brilliance of the drum programming, L.U.C.A. caps it off with a bonus beats version sure to delight DJs and dancers alike in its otherworldly oddness.

DJ Support: Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), Huey Morgan (BBC Radio 6), Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 6), Deb Grant (New Music Fix, BBC Radio 6)

On debut album ‘While I'm Distracted’, London-based New Zealander Arjuna Oakes draws inspiration from contemporary soul and jazz, touches of global folk, electronica, modern classical, and post-rock, with dynamic arrangements and production. ‘While I'm Distracted’ is an album about fighting for your innocence and right to be a vulnerable and honest human. Arjuna’s songwriting explores themes of identity, depression, existentialism, social media, loss of innocence, and finding hope for the future through artistic expression.

'I'm obsessed with albums,' says Arjuna. 'I've made seven EPs, but needed time to tackle a full length record. I was using the EPs to learn the craft of how to make a great album, much like a director will make short films before they make a feature. I wanted to take the listener on a journey and spark their imagination. Hopefully the album expresses complex emotions, rather than having an intellectual concept. I'd rather ask questions than answer them'.

Across the album, Arjuna performs vocals, piano, keyboards, synths, production, and wrote the string arrangements. He’s joined by Harrison Scholes on bass, Jo Jenkins and Andre Smith on guitar, Sam Notman on drums, Louisa Williamson on saxophone, Nathan Haines on flute, Kate King on french horn, Leah Thomas on clarinet, Hilary Hayes and Emma Colligan on violin, Chris Van Der Zee on viola, Charley Davenport on cello, Zane Hawkins on percussion, James Macewan on trumpet, and additional production by Callum Mower.

After the dazzling debut of their first LP "Latin Freaks", the Funkool Orchestra is back with a brand new single that anticipates the release of their second studio album. A pure adrenaline double sider 7" vinyl with two dancefloor killer tracks.

"Tengo che ffà"
A dancefloor where the sun never sets, pulsing with a Mediterranean heartbeat. Funkool Orchestra return with "Teng Che Fa", a vibrant fusion of funk, disco, and Neapolitan groove. Following their sold-out debut Latin Freaks, this Maledetta Discoteca production delivers pure feel-good energy: sweaty, euphoric and made for endless dancing under golden skies. Perfect for global grooves, nu-disco, and upbeat funk playlists.

"P-Funk (Dance with Pezz)"
A rhythm that grabs your hips and won’t let go, while you smile to the world. Funkool Orchestra set the dancefloor on fire with ‘2-P–Funk’, a percussive, Latin-infused groove drenched in funk and soul. This Maledetta Discoteca production is built for shaking and radiating pure joy, packed with irresistible horns and unstoppable rhythm. Perfect for Latin funk, soulful disco, and global grooves playlists.

FUNKOOL ORCHESTRA: Valentina Conte – Voice; Daniele Mango – Voice; Pask Bluenne – Voice; Adriano Rubino – Trumpet; Riccardo Colicchio – Saxophones; Mario Tammaro – Trombone; Enrico Pizzuti – Guitar; Mattia Leone – Keyboards; Dario 'Pezz' Gessato – Bass; Peppe Shaf – Drums; Paolo 'Batà' Bianconcini - Percussions

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Fabrizio Piccolo at Auditorium Novecento (Naples)
Graphics and Illustrations by Jack Bulgaro

Vinyl Only!

Prepare to embark on a transcendental musical journey with Vick Lavender's latest album, "BEYOND". This release showcases Lavender's unparalleled ability to blend genres and create a rich tapestry of sound that defies boundaries. Teaming up with the talented Justin Dillard, who serves as music director and contributes his skills on organ and keys, Lavender delivers an album that is both innovative and deeply soulful.

From the deep house grooves of "Midnight Hour" and "Overdrive" to the jazzy house vibes of "Beyond" and "Knights", each track on this album is a testament to Lavender's versatility and mastery of his craft. The hip hop tracks "The Project" and "Good Timing" (featuring Big Mel) add a fresh and dynamic element, while the soulful house tracks "Experimental" (featuring Brian 'Smokey' Williams) and "Get Here" (featuring Angel-A) provide a lush, emotive experience.

The album also features contributions from a stellar lineup of musicians, including Simon Sims on bass, Joe McCoy on organ, Jackie Shepard on guitar, and Charles Roland on woodwinds. Special respect is given to Aundre Miller, Vick's mentor, whose influence is felt throughout the album.

"BEYOND" is more than just an album; it's a sonic journey that pushes the boundaries of genre and takes listeners on an unforgettable ride. Whether you're a fan of deep house, hip hop, jazz funk, or soulful house, this album has something for everyone. Don't miss out on this must-have collection from one of the most innovative producers in the game.

180 G. BLACK VINYL WITH LINER NOTES IN CREOLE, FRENCH, ENGLISH

Originally released in 1979, "Spiritual Sound" lives up to its name, a soaring, triumphant album, six tracks of spirit magic from Guadeloupe.

Telluric, intense, terribly alive, the gwoka drums of Guadeloupe carry the identity of a painful and fervent island. Marked forever by the crime of slavery, Guadeloupe's créolité cherishes the ka drums and their natural environment: the low-pitched boula drum with male goatskin, the high-pitched soloist makè drum with female goatskin, the chacha, ti bwa, triangle, calabash and other percussion instruments that surround them, and the voices - the fiery, proud, timbred, urgent voices of the gwoka.



This album is also a legend for its voices: in his then dazzling youth, singer Lukuber Séjor was one of the first gwoka artists to largely feminize the chorus of répondè, who converse with his text delivered in a straight and powerful voice.

And everything here sets new standards. In 1979, Mizik Filamonik - Spiritual Sound proclaimed a spiritual patriotism of ferocious intensity. The album by Lukuber Séjor - whose spelling alone is a battle - sets out to give Guadeloupe the intangible weapons of self-respect and self-knowledge, through a singular practice of traditional music.

The genesis of gwoka music is less straightforward than one might imagine... The drums performed the servile task of accompanying the work of slaves in the fields and during the “corvées” imposed by the administration, before being freely practiced by the common people after the abolition of 1848. At the heart of the conviviality of the Guadeloupeans furthest from the cities - geographically and socially - the gwoka drums come out for carnival, funeral wakes and neighborhood celebrations, but also during strikes, fits of anger and armed vigils of the riots and revolts that have punctuated the island's history. For generations, governors of the colony and then the prefects of the overseas department of Guadeloupe have been viewing the gwoka as a potential for turbulence and a threat to public order.

But as the Beatlesmania, “chanson engagée” and rock revolutions unfolded in Europe, young people turned to the drums of mizik a vié nèg (“bad negro music”, in Creole), which Guadeloupeans had learned to despise by following the “assimilation” process advocated by the school system and most of the political class. At the end of the sixties, in a Guadeloupe mourning the deadly repression of the May 1967 social movement, they played traditional music, refusing to wrap it up in tourist prettiness and madras folk costumes. Instinctively, they played a rough and contemporary gwoka, led by the incendiary Guy Konkèt. This was the era of decisive 45 rpm records such as Robert Loyson's Kann a la richès, which brought to light the fieriest words of union rallies.

At his home in Sainte-Anne, Lukuber Séjor played with flautist Olivier Vamur and his brother Claude Vamur, who cobbled together a drum kit from tin crockery and became, a few years later, the most influential drummer in Kassav'.

These were the years of the Bumidom program, when young Guadeloupeans were encouraged to emigrate to mainland France. At the age of twenty, Lukuber Séjor embarked on the liner Irpinia, disembarking at Le Havre and taking the train to the Gare Saint-Lazare - the route taken by thousands of young West Indians who went on to study or looked for work, all the while trying to maintain a link with their homeland. In this case, it's at the Antony university residence, where Lukuber played the drum and participated in a thousand gwoka updates and aggiornamentos, while exile reinforced the need for a spiritual link with the native land.

In 1978, Guy Konkèt played at the Salle Wagram, a historic event for West Indian music. After serving as répondè - i.e. backing vocalist - on one of his home-recorded albums, Lukuber joined his live band. Little by little, he became one of the key artists on a circuit parallel to French show business. At a student party in Caen, he met a young woman from Martinique who, at the time, was more motivated by her ambitions as a visual artist than by her vocation as a musician. Her name was Jocelyne Béroard and, a few years before she plunged into the Kassav' adventure and became the greatest West Indian singer of her generation, she designed the cover of Lukuber Séjor's LP.

This ambition was obvious and imposed its will. A more or less regular band was formed, with Roger Raspail, Rudy Mompière and Éric Danquin on ka drums, Claude Vamur on ti bwa, Olivier Vamur and Françoise Lancréot on flutes and Annick Noël on keyboards. Lukuber Séjor is set on wanting to extend the gwoka palette to other instruments, as the jazz-rock revolution opens a thousand new doors. Annick Noël will play a wide range of timbres and textures on electric piano and synthesizer. Another novelty: the répondè are two men and two women, Roger Raspail, Olivier Vamur, Françoise Lancréot and Maryann Mathéus ...

Mizik Filamonik - Spiritual Sound is a self-production in which the singer and leader sank all his savings, allowing him no more than a single day in the studio. The first side is more of a musical manifesto, with the first two tracks, Éritage and Penn é plézi, being instrumentals. The third, Son, forcefully celebrates the need for Guadeloupeans to connect with the gwoka. In fact, Jocelyne Béroard's cover shows a tambouyé in the shadow of a cloudy sky, against which a radiant sun is rising and whose light will soon flood the entire landscape. The silhouette and face of this man strongly evoke the immense Vélo, master of the ka, rejected at the time on the fringes of society.

The second side of the LP is surprising. Formally, three tracks are explicitly linked like the three parts of a triptych. Primyé voyaj evokes the appalling tribulation of Africans deported as slaves to Guadeloupe; dézyèm voyaj speaks of the Bumidom program and the economic, political and social forces driving young Guadeloupeans towards the mirage of prosperity in France; twazyèm voyaj closes the cycle with the emigrants' return from Europe after years away from their island...

This gwoka, obsessed with the need to save Guadeloupe spiritually, appeals far beyond the politicized audience. Mizik Filamonik - Spiritual Sound instantly became a classic, although Lukuber Séjor never really made a career for himself as a musician.

After all, the album was released in 1980, with no promotional resources in France or Guadeloupe - and therefore no concerts. The thirty-two-year-old author, composer and performer made his own third trip back to Guadeloupe. He set up a small woodworking business, which he lost in Hurricane Hugo in 1989. His other activity, teaching in a medical-educational institute, became the core of his professional life. He continued to be an active campaigner - a campaigner for the Creole language, a campaigner for the reawakening of identity, a campaigner for special education, a campaigner for a thousand causes that he ignited with his generous and perceptive enthusiasm, such as the defense of breadfruit fries...

The echoes of his 1979 album have not died down. Of course, the use of Penn é plézi as the theme tune for Radio Guadeloupe's funeral notices from 1980 to 1992 kept him in the collective memory, but he continues to sing and compose sporadically, as with his all-female

vocal group Vwapoulouéka... Still convinced that music is a means of liberating the spirit, he continues the journey of a young man eager to deploy the power of Creole music and language.

Bertrand Dicale

Poni Hoax, a French band born in the early 2000s under the impulse of Laurent Bardainne, immediately emerged as the union of converging forces: on one side, the precision of a composer and instrumentalist breaking away from jazz conservatory traditions; on the other, the magnetic presence of Nicolas Ker, a terminal new wave crooner with a sepulchral voice. Surrounded by Arnaud Roulin on keyboards, Vincent Taeger on drums, and Nicolas Villebrun on guitar, they made an instant mark with Budapest—dark and haunting—followed by the unstoppable She’s on the Radio, crafting a unique identity that blended the venomous elegance of Roxy Music, the tension of New Order, and the fervor of Larry Levan. With Images of Sigrid, Poni Hoax achieved the miracle of an instant classic before continuing their journey with A State of War and Tropical Suite, sonic odysseys haunted by memory and distant horizons. On stage, it was either an apocalypse or a revelation—a Formula 1 driven by a gang of Gremlins, a blazing energy leaving only burning embers in its wake. The adventure came to a tragic end with the passing of Nicolas Ker in 2021, as the notes of Laurent Bardainne’s saxophone rose into the gray skies of Père-Lachaise, the final echo of a dazzling odyssey.In 2025, Poni Hoax celebrates its 20th anniversary with the release of Greatest Hits: Everything is Real.

In musical terms, Bill Converse is as iconic as the basketball sneaker with which he shares his name. He's a techno favourite and veteran of the Midwest scene who has come up under the likes of Claude Young and Traxx but very much fomented his own sound. Here the American ace returns to Dark Entries with a new seven-track exploration of raw, analogue-driven techno. His sound blends the acid grit of Relief Records, the hypnotic pulses of early IDM and Detroit's energy all with an unpredictability that mirrors that of his live sets. He makes fine use of classic hardware like the Roland TB-303 and modern modular synthesis to cook up off-kilter rhythms and abrupt shifts that keep you on edge. Another vital and visceral offering from this legend.

Nearby Bear Records are proud to present 'The Foundation' - the 10th Studio album from south coast super-producer Flevans.

After almost two decades in the game, Flevans has had releases and features across diverse labels including Tru Thoughts, Jalapeno Records, Boogie Angst, Ninja Tune and Ministry of Sound. His new album (the first on his own label) marks a new chapter for him as a producer, whilst showcasing some of the many styles of music which have influenced and inspired him over his musical journey so far.

Taking in instrumental hip-hop, funk, soul & disco alongside Flevans' trademark live instrumentation (he plays guitar, keys & bass across all tracks) 'The Foundation' expertly pieces together all these styles and sounds into a wonderfully cohesive and upbeat LP.

Support for Flevans across this release and recent albums has come from DJ's and radio luminaries including Fatboy Slim, Purple Disco Machine, Gilles Peterson, Steve Lamacq and Craig Charles.