Search:jungle

These recordings of Gongs Orchestras were made during Funeral Ceremonies in two Kung villages and one Jaraï village in Ratanakiri province, Cambodia by Laurent Jeanneau (Kink Gong) in 2003 and 2004, at a times when jungle had not been replaced by rubber plantations. Focusing on funeral's ceremonies, those hypnotics pieces are intense and haunting harmonics sonic experiments.

"Adventure brought me to south-east Asia, not academic research. I was based on and off in Banlung, capital of Ratanakiri province between 2003 and 2006. Finding gongs orchestras became my obsession, I've witnessed different contexts in which gongs were being performed, but the most brainwashing ceremonies were the funerals, because they would never end, I remember leaving the 3 days funeral ceremony of a prominent Jaraï dead man in Tang ji village at the border with Vietnam and still hearing the gongs the entire next day going back home through the jungle". - Laurent Jeanneau (Kink Gong)

"Many of the ethnic minority groups, the Jarai, Kac_, Tampuan, Kavet, Kreung, Brao, Bunong, Mnong, Edé, and others, are hill-rice farmers who live in the uplands of the Annamite mountain chain. Collectively these groups have been known by many names, including a number of disparaging terms in local dialects, such as moï, kha, phnong, and others. The term Montagnard was applied to them by the French during the colonial period, and was used by the US military and in popular discourse in English during the United States-Vietnam War. In scholarly and popular literature during the mid-twentieth century these upland farmers were also called hill tribes. I have opted for the word highlanders as a relatively neutral term that avoids the semantic burdens associated with these other namings." - Jonathan Padwe, The book Disturbed forests fragmented memories.

Die aus Bristol (UK) kommenden IDLES haben heute ihr kommendes fünftes Album 'TANGK' angekündigt. 'TANGK', der 11-Track-Nachfolger ihres Grammy-nominierten Albums CRAWLER, wurde von Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, The Smile, Beck), Mark Bowen und Kenny Beats (Denzel Curry, Vince Staples, Benee) und der Band selbst co-produziert. 'TANGK' - ausgesprochen "Tank" mit einem Hauch von "g" und einer lautmalerischen Anspielung auf den peitschenden Gitarrensound, den sich die Band als eine Art Siegel für das Leben in der Liebe vorstellte - ist das bisher ehrgeizigste und eindrucksvollste Album der Band.

IDLES sind eine der stärksten Rockbands des letzten Jahrzehnts. Godrich, Beats und Bowen waren auch für die IDLES ein hervorragendes Tandem, das sie in neues Terrain vorstieß und dann die Zügel anzog, wenn es nötig war. 'TANGK' ist gleichzeitig ausladend und konzentriert, einfallsreich und unmittelbar. Über das Album sagt Sänger Joe Talbot: "TANGK. Ich brauchte Liebe. Also habe ich es gemacht. Ich habe der Welt Liebe gegeben und es fühlt sich wie Magie an. Dies ist unser Album der Dankbarkeit und der Kraft. Alles Liebeslieder. Alles ist Liebe."

Wo IDLES einst darauf aus waren, die Welt zu verarschen, den ewig Gestrigen die Stirn zu bieten und persönliche Traumata in Echtzeit zu exorzieren, sind sie in diesem neuen Akt angekommen, um die Früchte solcher Beharrlichkeit anzubieten: Liebe, Freude und tatsächlich Dankbarkeit für die bloße Möglichkeit der Existenz. Diese Musik gedeiht nicht trotz unserer Probleme, sondern wegen ihnen. Wenn wir uns nicht um uns selbst und um die anderen kümmern, so scheint 'TANGK' in einem gewaltigen Hook nach dem anderen auszurufen, wer dann?

Die aus Bristol (UK) kommenden IDLES haben heute ihr kommendes fünftes Album 'TANGK' angekündigt. 'TANGK', der 11-Track-Nachfolger ihres Grammy-nominierten Albums CRAWLER, wurde von Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, The Smile, Beck), Mark Bowen und Kenny Beats (Denzel Curry, Vince Staples, Benee) und der Band selbst co-produziert. 'TANGK' - ausgesprochen "Tank" mit einem Hauch von "g" und einer lautmalerischen Anspielung auf den peitschenden Gitarrensound, den sich die Band als eine Art Siegel für das Leben in der Liebe vorstellte - ist das bisher ehrgeizigste und eindrucksvollste Album der Band.

IDLES sind eine der stärksten Rockbands des letzten Jahrzehnts. Godrich, Beats und Bowen waren auch für die IDLES ein hervorragendes Tandem, das sie in neues Terrain vorstieß und dann die Zügel anzog, wenn es nötig war. 'TANGK' ist gleichzeitig ausladend und konzentriert, einfallsreich und unmittelbar. Über das Album sagt Sänger Joe Talbot: "TANGK. Ich brauchte Liebe. Also habe ich es gemacht. Ich habe der Welt Liebe gegeben und es fühlt sich wie Magie an. Dies ist unser Album der Dankbarkeit und der Kraft. Alles Liebeslieder. Alles ist Liebe."

Wo IDLES einst darauf aus waren, die Welt zu verarschen, den ewig Gestrigen die Stirn zu bieten und persönliche Traumata in Echtzeit zu exorzieren, sind sie in diesem neuen Akt angekommen, um die Früchte solcher Beharrlichkeit anzubieten: Liebe, Freude und tatsächlich Dankbarkeit für die bloße Möglichkeit der Existenz. Diese Musik gedeiht nicht trotz unserer Probleme, sondern wegen ihnen. Wenn wir uns nicht um uns selbst und um die anderen kümmern, so scheint 'TANGK' in einem gewaltigen Hook nach dem anderen auszurufen, wer dann?

2024 Repress
* Following on from the success of our 'Liftin Spirit Reloaded' vinyl series, we are pleased to announce our next project in collaboration with Ram Records. 'Ram Reloaded' will be a series of limited 12" vinyl from Ram's early years, re-mastered from the original DATs and presented onto our usual, high quality, heavy weight vinyl.

* In 1994, Shimon made his first appearance in the Ram studio to create two tracks alongside Ant Miles. With additional production from Andy C, and the vocal sampled from the film ‘Predator’, Shimon’s debut track soon fell into place. Highlighting the usual precision tooled breaks, synonymous with the emerging Ram style, Ant Miles’s reversed bass line and stereo oscillating effects had an immediate impact on dancefloors throughout the UK, cementing Shimon as an artist to watch out for in the future. For the flipside to Predator, Ant Miles and Shimon went on a roller jungle vibe with haunting pads and slow time stretched vocals, creating a hypnotic trance state perfectly complimenting the A side.


Promotion across chosen internet websites and Hardcore/Jungle 12” vinyl communities.

Hail the sonic mayhem as we commemorate two decades of groundbreaking beats! Bong-Ra's iconic masterpiece, 'Bikini Bandits Kill! Kill! Kill!,' is set to make its vinyl debut on Rotterdam's Redrum Recordz. This record is a genre breaking fusion of breakcore, jungle and experimental electronic sounds that define Bong-Ra's visionary work. Safe to say; a classic! With guest appearances of The Dirty Dred (Skindred / Dub War), Mike Redman (Deformer) and Lolita Storm. In homage to the album's relentless energy and fiery spirit, the 20th-anniversary edition comes in striking red double vinyl. Order now to ensure you don't miss out on this limited release.

repress, yellow viny

When we established Balmat in 2021, neither of us could have imagined that within two years, we’d be putting out an album by one of our musical heroes: Mike Paradinas, aka µ-Ziq. The British producer has been an inspiration to label co-founders Albert Salinas and Philip Sherburne since the 1990s. In fact, his album-length remix project The Auteurs Vs µ-Ziq was one of the very first pieces of electronic music that Philip bought, way back in 1994. To have the opportunity to release his music now feels like a real full-circle moment.

Paradinas, of course, needs no introduction. Under a slew of aliases, chief among them µ-Ziq, the British artist revolutionized leftfield electronic music in the 1990s—coincidentally, this year marks the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Tango N’ Vectif, for his friend and sometime collaborator Aphex Twin’s Rephlex label—and his label Planet Mu has built up a formidable catalog of visionary, forwardlooking records, mapping virtually every corner of the electronic spectrum. With 1977, he turns the clock backward in a sense, and not just with the album’s title: Rooted in classic ambient and electronic sounds, these 15 tracks evoke the anything-goes spirit of the early ’90s, before the tools and tropes had calcified into cut-and-dried styles.

There’s no shortage of familiar sounds on 1977. There are echoes of raves and chillout rooms and transmissions from the fringes of techno; there are detuned synths and glistening reverb tails and, above all, gauzy vox pads, the eerie glue that holds it all together. The title, he says, is meant to invoke a general sense of nostalgia, bookmarking a year in his boyhood when he became more selfaware. More than anything, 1977 sounds like µ-Ziq distilled: Stripped of his signature breakbeats and customary chaos, Paradinas’ first-ever strictly (well, mostly) ambient album presents the essence of his music in a whole new light.

Along the way Paradinas touches on dark-ambient drones (“Marmite”), horror-film themes (“Belt & Carpet”), jungle breaks (“Mesolithic Jungle”), and even house music (“Houzz 13”), which marks the first bona fide dance-floor moment on Balmat to date). Yet the album never—to our ears, anyway— feels expressly retro. Rather, Paradinas plucks timeless sounds out of the ether and gives them a gentle tap, spinning them into unexpected new orbits. At times, 1977 feels like an experience of extended déjà vu: When we first listened to it, we had the sense that we already knew this music. It was as though we had heard it years ago, perhaps on a battered cassette tape lent to us by a friend, and been searching for it ever since. We hope you feel the same.

Six years after the group's suicide on stage at the Olympia, Masto and Fanfan (sax and vocals) reunite to compile 25 tracks taken from cassette recordings of their concerts between 1984 and 1989.

Performing in squats, neighbourhood houses and major concert halls across Europe, in sometimes chaotic conditions but always with a crazy atmosphere, "Carnaval des agités" bears witness to the joyous mayhem and raging energy that was the Bérurier Noir odyssey.

Now available for the first time on vinyl (gatefold sleeve, two discs, split red and black finish), with 4 bonus tracks from the 1995 promo maxi-single.

* Following on from the success of the 'Ram Reloaded' repress vinyl series, we are pleased to announce our next project in collaboration with Ram Records. As part of Ram Records’ 30th anniversary, we have put together a series of new remixes and VIP’s of some of the labels biggest releases from the early 90’s.

* For their follow up to the anthemic ‘Valley of the Shadows’ two years earlier, Ant Miles and Andy C went back in the studio under their guise ‘Origin Unknown’. Firmly under the Jungle style of attack, Ant pushed the envelope and broke the mould on bass sounds, creating the first detuned wobble oscillating sine bassline. With the famous vocal from President Nixon on the moon landing, ‘For one priceless moment, all the people on this Earth are truly one’, this track is one of the most cherished and globally appreciated tracks on the Ram roster to this day backed with the haunting roller vibe of ‘Mission Control’. Ant Miles returns to deliver two brand new VIP’s for 2024 which continue the Junglist vibe of both original mixes.

2LP im Gatefold-Sleeve. 100% recyceltes & zufällig gefärbtes Re-Vinyl. Kommt mit neuem Artwork. "Black Screen Records, Videocult, Akapura Games und Komponist James Primate freuen sich darauf, euch erneut bei der akustischen Reise durch die seltsame "Rain World" zu begleiten. Nachdem der Soundtrack jahrelang ausverkauft war, wird er nun endlich neu aufgelegt. Dieses Mal auf 100% recyceltem & random-coloured "Re-Vinyl". Die Musik stammt von Videocult-Level-Designer und Komponist James Primate - mit Unterstützung von Lydia Esrig (die andere Hälfte des Chiptune-Duos BRIGHTMATE) und Rain World-Schöpfer Joar Jakobsson.Die Platte erscheint in einem Gatefold-Sleeve mit atemberaubenden Artwork von Allegra "Del" Northern. Zusätzlich enthalten ist ein 12" Kunstdruck mit weiteren Illustrationen von Del.

Erupt Records has suffered its first Unrest Hazard. After keeping the lid on a beast this explosive, what did you think was going to happen?

This new series of '4 on 1' EPs from the mighty label, will showcase several of the best producers from the UK (sometimes even beyond!) breakbeat hardcore/jungle scene on 1 record, be they old or new.

The first track from Schoco (Omni Music) is "I Need". Let yourself go to wispy, dream-state synthlines over ferocious breakz.

Track 2 is a bouncy piano anthem for anybody who likes hearing the words "1993" and "happy" in the same sentence. This one is brought to you by After The Zenith. Usually resident cover artist for Erupt, this time he grabs the steering wheel and gears up to present you a bit of his own 'ardcore.

Next up is some brutality from Tactical Aspect. Need no more be said than these lads are one of Australia's finest purveyors of hardcore junglism, with a portfolio including works for Reinforced Records. But, with a recent move back to Yorkshire, and following an initiation into the West Yorkshire Jungle Collective, it only made sense for TA to deliver some unrelenting '93 style breakbeat hardcore brutality to celebrate.

The final track "When Did We Forget" is a get together from the lads at Kool FM, Code and Subbreak, with D-Region. Any time you see these names together, it commands serious respect. This is one for anybody who likes those hazy breakbeat hardcore tracks that tread a fine line between hard and euphoric.

What are you waiting for?

Erupt Records was established in 2016 to cover tougher, faster styles of electronic dance music, with a view of openness towards introducing contemporary influences alongside the familiar; Hardcore that reflects today, not yesterday. The objective? Push the boundaries, keep the drums raw, compromise for noone.

On this EP Dutch Thai label Animist Records puts a new genre on the map: Asian Tropical Bass. With elements of molam (Lao folkmusic), Thai music, dub, reggae, jungle, reggaeton, funk, acid, rave, hiphop and electro, the label presents its most diverse release so far.

Into the best Balearic tradition boldly steps Milan’s Rollover crew. As well as a regular party in Milan, the Rollover DJs (Tiberio Carcano & Rocco Fusco) have been making edits and releasing tunes over the past several years, but with this release there has been a step change in ambition. The latest collection of songs has been produced in a studio with actual musicians and songwriters, but with the ear of an experienced DJ. The best of both worlds. It was recorded almost exactly one year ago in December 2022, with the cream of Italian players, including bass player and Jovanotti collaborator, Saturnino, sticksman Sergio Carnevale, vocalist David Blank and guitar and synth boffin Lorenzo Morresi, who’s helped the guys with production. It follows in the tradition of a new generation of Italian musicians, like Nu Genea, Mystic Jungle Tribe and also DJs like Volcov. The lead single, ‘What Do You Live For’ was what Rocco & Tiberio describes as, “a funky track inspired by the early 1980s” and grooves so hard, with Blank’s message hitting right in the solar plexus. This will be followed by a pair of bangers, ‘Change My Mind’, a mid tempo disco chugger that is a tribute to LTJ Experience, the Bologna DJ Luca Trevisi, while ‘Never Found The Way’ heads towards Arthur Russel, before pealing off directly to the dancefloor. There’s also a Bawrut remix that adds some urgency and darkness to proceedings. The package is completed by lovely artwork by Riccardo Corda, whose work has adorned the Nu Genea releases. Is it Balearic? We think it is.

D Double E is one UK rap's most respected, celebrated and genre defining artists, shelling down radio sets, raves and having countless solo hits. Starting off in Jungle and UK garage, he began life in grime as a member of the N.A.S.T.Y. Crew alongside Ghetts, Kano and Jammer before founding the Newham Generals with Footsie. From solo releases and much loved classics including ‘Street Fighter Riddim’ and ‘Woo Riddim’, in 2018 he released his debut solo album Jackuum to critical acclaim. Subsequent releases included the invigorated and daring D.O.N and most recent Bluku! Bluku! 2 have led the legendary artist to receive consistent praise and support from the likes of The Fader, i-D, Crack, The Guardian, VICE, Complex, Highsnobiety, COLORS, DJ Target and more. Boasting artistic collaborations with everyone from Kenny Allstar, Unknown T, Skepta, Ghetts, Novelist, Shy FX, Backroad Gee and more, D Double E has also made an impact in his career resounding far outside of UK rap with big brands. He wrote the original track for the viral and now iconic IKEA Christmas Advert, put his lyrical magic touch on an advert for Pepsi and more. Most recently he has been interviewed as part of the BBC documentary “8 Bar: The Evolution of Grime” and has been tapped for collaborations with Clarks, Palace Skateboards and others.

DJ Tiddles' Acid Techno/Techno label returns with a second release of explosive female/non-binary fronted tracks from Tiddles herself - teaming up with Polish Acid Techno hero Ciuciek - plus Ireland's new female Acid icon Bubbless - 2 trax including the catchy reggae techno crossover 'Rudie' - and last but not least Jungle-tek legend Mandidextrous turning in something very different to their usual fare with the rip-roaring bouncy techno classic 'Oi Oi Oi'... a classic release that is gonna set harder dancefloors alight!!

DRIVETRAIN/Fairytale Turbo-charged to ignite any sound system with the ruthless energy of pure acid over subsonic frequencies is the impetus for a hypnotic vocal mantra. REOSC/Alarms A boisterous awakening, pounding with the quaking pulse that transmits bleeps and dings, effectively producing a warning signal to move your body.

CLOUDMASTERWEED/Sweet A mesmerizing groove opens with a hammering kick, directing a determined bassline, while chord progressions escort erratic female echoes.

TAKUYA YAMASHITA & TOMI CHAIR/Heaven’s Jungle Packed with rhythm, melody and shrewdly orchestrated pads, piano, and an unrestrained bass hook, a persuasive female voice captures the ambience.

Repress!

Food Music welcomes A1 Bassline to the label to release his first LP - Technicality.

The album's title draws from the club night 'Technicality', a monthly Drum & Bass night at Herbal in East London, which is run by Chris Inperspective and continued the sound of early Reinforced and Metalheadz records as well as pushing new forward thinking music. The album is centred around growing up as a teenager discovering this jungle/drumfunk sound through his college friend Rahim (Lab Creation), where the likes on Fold, Ben UFO, Breakage would attend the club.

In addition to well received records on DirtyBird, Pets Recordings and his collaborative work with Leon Vynehall as Laszlo Dancehall, the album is a stamp on A1's sound and his influences from his teenage years to growing up and discovering House and Techno.

Straight Up Breakbeat rounds up the first full year of operation with a special compilation YEAR ZERO. Featuring the best in modern jungle and forward-looking drum & bass the album features brand new tracks by FANU, OUT OF FUEL, INFADER & DDOG together with 2019 label highlights by RESOUND, AEON FOUR, ESC, HMR and more. The album is preceded by a vinyl EP and a set of digital singles.


DJ Support
Two Hungry Ghosts -
“Sounds like if Dj Shadow made a track for Metalheadz”
DNB Dojo - “Solid! <3 FANU”
Life Support Machine Blog -
“Goldie level excellent”
FFF (Myor) - “Wicked!"
Yorobi (Rupture) - “All bangers”
Moresounds (Astrophonica) “Ouch!!”

DJ Sofa hit the anthem territory with hardcore sounds of Kill A Soundboy on Straight Up Breakbeat affiliated Flatliners Vinyl. Man of the moment SETTLE DOWN now gives it a heavy jungle treatment —on the flip ESC adds tweaks of acid on AEON FOUR's Essence.

Story Of Collapsed Dimention unfold in 4 tracks multi-genres musical accompaniment and 12 frame comics, as artwork. The EP symbolizes a journey of personal transformation, the courage to confront the unknown and fight against circumstances and suffering. In order to become something new, we need to give up what we are now.

The tracks span across various styles, including funky house with a live-band feel, featuring infectious rhythms and vibrant instrumentation. There is a breakbeat track infused with a groovy bassline seized from NBA Live 95 on Sega Genesis, accompanied by turntablism hard drops and scratchy sounds that add an edgy and gritty vibe.

B-side explores psychedelic frequency modulations of polyharmonic intertwined with jungle-oriented breaks, creating a mesmerizing fusion of intricate melodies and rhythmic complexity. Finally, the EP concludes with an electro banger that has been accidentally reinvented with its captivating energy and a profound message.

Overall, the EP showcases a diverse and dynamic musical journey through these genres, offering a rich and immersive listening experience or valuable universal DJ-tool.

The artwork features hand-drawn comics by the talented artist Larisa Shalyapina, script and production by CDA.

The unique texture, blurriness, and overall quality of the illustration are meticulously preserved through a process of manual assembly and duplication, resulting in a visually captivating and tactile experience.

Used gear: Roland MC-808, Roland MC-505, Moog Subphatty, Waldorf Wave XT, MAM33, Volca FM, Volca Bass, Tascam Midistudio 644, Jomox t-resonator II, Boss Digital Delay, Teletron SAQ-206B Amp, KME Sound GBA 80 Bassbox, Culture vulture distortion, Distress compressors. DAW Ableton.

conceptualization:

Tracks are written during frequent relocations, capturing experienced moments and raw emotions. As the physical changes in our living environment are comparable to the collisions and evolving paths within the domain of knowledge reflected in the trials of spiritual awakening.

In Berlin, a city of expats, it has a special relevance to people who came here to find themselves. It also resonates with those who have been brought here by circumstances.

Record id released with all Ukrainian brothers and sisters in heart.

While we find comfort in our safe spaces, it is inevitable that some stress will eventually provoke us to take action. We may long for that period of comfort and feel a sense of anger or sadness for what once was. Once the truth is revealed, much like the unveiling of light, there is no turning back — a path to enlightenment shall be accepted.

Within the EP, each track serves as a chapter for this path.

A1

First track encapsulates escapism by chasing a feel-good sense in the run from responsibilities into fantasy-land. In the moment of careless life in careless time, where the future is sacrificed in the name of immediate pleasure.

A2

Robotboy incorporates a superficial state of mind with a reactive personality rooted in a narcissistic ego, dishonestly denying the righteous path. Subconscious struggle from hedonistic lifestyle with no relief.

B1

A deeply intimate and personal, embodied introspective sentiment kept hidden from the world, revealing when we’re alone and usually stifled with distraction and entertainment. Nostalgic feeling of loss follows us during the abandonment of a beloved place. Overwhelming weight of regret in presents.

B2

Taking action of the first step makes us unstoppable and disclosure of knowledge leads to destruction of the illusory world. Finding out the truth, same as seeing the light, excludes the retreat into darkness. As comprehension is the way to enlightenment.

Mindgames is a new Samurai Music affiliated label aiming to capture the essence of the sound that magnetised label head Presha into Jungle/Drum and Bass in the mid 90’s. Experiencing this musical development as it happened lit a flame of passion and drive that forged a focused musical path that continues unabated today.

94/95 were pivotal years for Jungle with new approaches to production and musical shades that shaped how the music progressed. Light and Dark musical hues were working side by side more frequently in these years as the music found its way, and Mindgames will reflect this.

With the resurgence of artists absorbing this sound and creating updated versions with added production finesse, Mindgames mission is to enlist current-day producers who have successfully captured and reimagined the vibe and feel of these years into new forms that underline the foundation of our sound.

Drumskull returns to Hooversound with a powerful new EP, featuring an official remix from Dwarde who makes his debut on the Hooversound imprint.

Drumskull operates at the intersection of the aggressive sonics of modern jungle, footwork, breaks and the more soulful atmospheres of deep house, UKG and broken beat. The versatile and seasoned DJ released his ‘Muscle Memory EP’ which was unleashed by SHERELLE and NAINA's Hooversound Recordings in 2023, which included remixes from Lone and LMajor. He now returns to Hooversound with another unique body of work, which brings in jungle affiliate Dwarde in for a remix. Having gained support across the electronic dance music scene and radio play on BBC, NTS and Rinse FM, plus glowing reviews in DJ Mag and Bandcamp, Drumskull begins the year with this inimitable release on Hooversound, setting the pace for the rest of 2024.

repress !

A single sided repress of All I Remember - hand-stamped centre with the Astrophonica Logo.

'I was introduced to Damian’s Ghost by a mutual friend and what struck me immediately was how simple and clean the tracks were. The vibe and intention was clear from the outset and ‘All I Remember’ went straight into my radio show that week. Vangelis meets Jungle. Atmospheric and drawn out but ruff with it. Delicate but weighty. There’s more too so watch this space . . .' All I Remember takes the scenic route and drifts over peaks and valleys before ascending into the stratosphere. A positive outlook for your day and beyond.

Four new and reworked songs from Wave Temples delivered on a beautifully exotic 7".

Further into the jungle, the submissive touch of the deepest thicket. Of beachside oracles and openers to the path of penetrating rituals of night. Moist treasure; Exotic dream.

Trailblazing instrumental synth pop experiments created to soundtrack Japan’s booming 1980s cartoon and comic industries. The brightly futuristic instrumentals on this collection reflect the mindset of composers and musicians who believed in a technological future where everything was possible.

In the late 1980s Japan experienced a brief but heady period where societal changes combined with new-found wealth to open up a world of possibilities. A huge influx of cash - artificially created by slashed interest rates after an agreement with the US to weaken the dollar relative to the yen - resulted in the inflation of real estate and stock market at a rapid pace. While the economic bubble it created was unprecedented and impossible to sustain, for a while money was in plentiful supply.

The musical genre City Pop reflected the aspirations of the country’s booming leisure class. Video games flourished with Nintendo's 1983 launch of their Family Computer (or FamiCom). Studio Ghibli was founded 1985 to later became one of the most famous and respected animation studios in the world, and Anime and Manga were established as major forms of entertainment for all generations of the Japanese public.

Music was no mere footnote to the anime and manga boom: the two forms of media often went hand in hand, and not simply through the presence of background melodies. With generous budgets available, even two-dimensional static manga comics could be released with an accompanying soundtrack of original music known as an ‘Image Album’.

Composer and arranger Kazuhiko Izu was one such beneficiary of this open budget approach. Written to accompany artist Katsuhiro Otomo’s manga comic Domu, the composer and arranger took advantage of the world-leading (and wallet-busting) Japanese synthesiser technology available at King Records’ fully equipped studio. Featured on this compilation, A3: Act 2 Scene 26 reflected the story’s sci fi themes with a blazingly futuristic yet warmly funky slice of synth pop that presents a joyful celebration of synthesisers and their seemingly endless possibilities.

Kan Ogasawara was another composer who made early mastery of the litany of synthesisers, drum machines and sequencers that had become available. Two tracks written to accompany the 1985 period manga Yume No Ishibumi are featured here; Honowo’s experimental electronic textures add spice to a jaunty electro pop melody that recalls the Rah band’s 1983 hit Messages From Stars; the jazz-tinged Utage rounds out Ogasawara’s shimmering synth textures with beautifully crafted backing from legendary musicians Yuji Toriyama (guitar), Pecker (percussion) and Jun Fukamachi (piano).

Before becoming one of the pioneers of Japanese Kankyo Ongaku (Ambient Music), Takashi Kokubo worked on the proto techno track Kiki (Jungle At Night). It was put together for the 1984 anime film Shonen Keniya (Kenya Boy) using some of the most expensive music technologies available at the time. This Africa-Inspired dance track offers a contemporary parallel to the early techno music that young Detroit based producers were then creating using cheap Japanese Roland drum machines and synthesisers.

This is the first compilation of Japanese anime and manga soundtracks curated by Kay Suzuki and Rintaro Sekizuka from Vinyl Delivery Service (a Tokyo based online record shop which also operates in East London's renowned wine and hifi shop Idle Moments). With a cover by artist Kazuki Takakura and two pages of liner notes, this vinyl only compilation of music never before released outside of Japan, captures a vital aural snapshot of an era whose forward-thinking sounds went hand in hand with cutting edge technology.

All the music from the iconic Mr Benn cartoons, available for the only time. Recorded in two sessions - Olympic Studios in 1969, and Gateway Studios in 2004. All the music was written by Duncan Lamont, and featured some iconic session musicians including

Kenny Wheeler, Ray Swinfield and Duncan Lamont himself. Ray Swinfield used the same instruments as he used on The Beatles Penny Lane on these recordings. Mr Benn has an enduring popularity, and was shown on The BBC every year from 1971 - 1999, then on Nick Jnr till 2010. The sessions have ben fully remastered, and sound fabulous! It was due to Nick Jnr that a 14th Mr Benn cartoon was made, and the second session features re-working of some of the original tunes as well as lots of new tunes for Gladiator.

The packaging features an insert with Mr Benn dressed in all his adventure outfits, and a game to match all the souvenirs to each adventure. Not to be missed. A must for everybody that grew up with Mr Benn. All the sleeve notes have been written by The Mr Benn cartoon producer Clive Juster, and are full of insights from the recording sessions.

Crate Classics release their 2nd vinyl, pressed by Music House Studios. Stars from the Jungle and Dancehall scenes crammed onto this 12. Undoubtedly one of the most exciting figures to arise within drum & bass over the past decade, Rouen Wilkins, also known as Voltage, has carved his way to becoming one of the most valued artists in the scene. He now takes on Rudeboy Sound by Crate Classics and JODIAN NATTY which was a huge hit at 2022's Notting Hill Carnival, with support from Shy FX, 1xtra, 6music, Radio 1, KOOL FM and more. This Rudeboy Sound Remix EP also includes Jungle pioneer 'Potential Bad Boy's' mix of the tune Babylon fro

The final Samurai Music vinyl release for 2023 sees ASC return to the label with four new 160 BPM jungle excursions.

Conjuring the spirits of the more heady work of Photek, Source Direct and Innervisions, ASC dives deep and transforms the breaks, bottomless sub and eerie synths into 3 forever futurist head cannons.

In true classicist fashion, the EP culminates with the blinding emotive amen flourish of Exploration #4.

House of Leaves is ASC at full strength, again laying out a masterclass of the genre.

A1 - Healing Properties
Opening his Spatial account with Healing Properties, Eusabia immediately throws down the gauntlet showcasing an inimitable versatility with breakbeats, permeated with a jungle flex so rarely captured in the atmospheric D&B landscape. Pivoting effortlessly as the track progresses from drumloop to thunderous drumloop with a simmering haunted atmosphere and deep, weighty basslines to yearning filtered vocal samples, this track has it all.

A2 - The Space Between
Smooth jungly synthwork seizes the foreground before crisp breaks begin to reveal our direction through The Space Between, jittery key stabs and familiar old school FX create a unique sci-fi style backdrop as the breaks drive the vibe forward, switching and weaving in style, constantly mixing it up to ram the point home that you cannot fully appreciate a Eusabia track until every second has been consumed - many times over, as The Space Between demands.

AA1 - Scope of Understanding
A more contemplative piece, Scope of Understanding strips things back with a synthwave-esque vibe tinged with intrigue and allure. Soon the breakbeats leap into gear and develop with an incredible level of refined detail, expertly edited, chopped and cut to a darkly undertone of sub bass and subtle micro melodies. Scope of Understanding will leave you in awe of the quickfire ideas Eusabia can conjure in the space of 6 minutes.

AA2 - Self Reflection
A smooth atmospheric introduction ushers in a thumping drum tools workout, somehow perfectly in sync with the calm harmonies dancing around in the composition. Certainly a track to enjoy both on the discerning dancefloor and while driving home with rain lashing at the windscreen at 2am, Self Reflection's synths and breaks conclude the EP in style leaving a long lasting memory of a Spatial debut you will not forget.

Words by Chris Hayes.

Repress!

Listeners familiar with Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith's previous album Euclid (an album that prompted Dazed to call her "...one of the most pioneering musicians in the world.") will no doubt notice her heavier use of vocals on her new album EARS. On all but one song, her gently ecstatic swells of vocals emerge to soar over a dense jungle of synths and woodwinds. After initially composing on a Buchla analog synth, she wrote arrangements for a woodwind quintet, added vocals, and further refined the pieces with granular synthesis techniques she developed in her sound design work (she contributed sound design to Panda Bear's "Boys Latin" video, and handled sound design and original compositions for Brasilia co-written by and starring Reggie Watts).

Kinetic arpeggios of synths pulse, often buoying her graceful vocal mantras, while woodwinds breathe and flutter, emulating the wildlife Smith observed while growing up on the West Coast (she even studied recordings of slowed down bird calls prior to composing these pieces). Though some of her gestures echo the musical tropes used by early minimalist composers, the world she creates on EARS is uniquely hypnotic and full of life, not unlike Miyzaki's film Nausicaä, which she cites as an inspiration.

EARS is a masterful articulation of Smith's vision, which she achieved in part by spending time preparing her mind prior to composing the album.

Exploring a path darker than before and their most ambitious work yet, 'Tremor' combines beautifully crafted breakbeat to sounds of the past, present & future. From the serious tearout vibes of 'Reflector Dub' to fierce breaks explosion of the title track and 'Intercept' all the way to the calming end of 'Hold Water' TREMOR EP is a captivating collection of modern day jungle.

Ova Doce self-released a highly sought after EP in 1992 called ‘Feel The Rush’ which he used the money that his parents gave him for his 18th birthday to fund. His Dad hated rave music, so to annoy him, Nathan AKA Ova Doce sampled Bob Dylan in one of the tracks. Surprisingly his Dad quite liked it and was intrigued by his sons work. Fast forward 28 years and that track, along with others from the EP and some unreleased tracks written in 1992 were put out on Vinyl Fanatiks.

Amen Brother is the young brother of Vinyl Fanatiks and its ethos is to put our brand new hardcore, rave and jungle tunes by original artists from that era (though this USP is changing in 2022). Ova Doce has arrived on label brining his authentic Walsall rave sound with him, creating 4 brand new tracks, though a few are actually sketches created back in the 90’s that he recently finished off.

Think Acen, think pitched up chipmonk vocals, think being off ya ‘ead in a field raving ya tits off! Now check this EP and feel the rush!

DJ Rashad's 'Double Cup': Das bahnbrechende Debütalbum des Footwork-Pioniers

'Double Cup' ist das Debütstudioalbum des verstorbenen Footwork-Pioniers DJ Rashad, mit bürgerlichem Namen Rashad Harden, aus Chicago. Er verstarb kurz nach der Veröffentlichung dieses wegweisenden Albums. Als Gründer der Teklife-Crew war Rashad ein abenteuerlicher Geist und einer der furchtlosesten Innovatoren des Footwork-Genres. Er entwickelte sich von einer lokalen Größe in Chicago zu einer weltweit anerkannten Rhythmusreferenz für Produzenten.

Im Jahr 2013 über Hyperdub veröffentlicht, markierte 'Double Cup' einen Meilenstein für Footwork und wurde von Kritikern aus der Tanz- und Popmusik gleichermaßen gefeiert. Es vereint Elemente aus Jungle, Trap und House und ist gespickt mit zahlreichen Kollaborationen, da Rashad darauf bestand, dass "Footwork eine Familiensache ist".

'Double Cup' verzeichnet bis heute 14.000 Albumverkäufe in den USA und beeindruckende 6 Millionen Streams. Dieses Album ist nicht nur ein wichtiger Teil der Footwork-Geschichte, sondern auch ein beeindruckendes Werk eines Künstlers, der das Genre maßgeblich geprägt hat."

Yellow/Green Marbled Vinyl

* From Karma Recordings comes their fourteenth EP. I can hardly believe it myself as I type this but yes, Karma Recordings is up to 014. On remix duties this time around is the very talented Dope Ammo. Fusing the jungle and drum n bass styles together seemlessly we feel we have another classic in the making with this release. Taking the pianos of DJ KOS’ original Horizons Lost and overlaying some haunting vocals and then slamming into the dnb, this track is not to be missed. Then rolling right on to the second remix on the A side we just had to release on to vinyl the brilliant Sync Dynamix remix. With a style all of his own Sync Dynamix has really done the track justice with rolling breakbeats and a heavy bassline. I was originally going to title this the light and dark EP and then completely forgot while doing the artwork. However, that’s where we went with the double A side. Psycho Boy by DJ Ande is a grimy menacing track sampling the laughter of Tyler Durden from Fight Club and just gets more and more troubled all the way through. Sinister, scary and chopped, the perfect track for Halloween. Then we have been delighted to bring back the hardware talents of Dertie Bassett, always a bit dark but absolutely superb. All four tracks will take you on a journey from light to dark.

Limited to 100 copies / Maxi printed sticker / download code

A side brings 2 Industrial Tek-Core tunes, and the flip opens with a Jungle/Hardcore question/answer tune and then a Speedcore at the Bugcore frontier...
Back to the spirit of UPR 01 ?

2 jungle tunes, 1 drum & 1 dubstep. All ragga/hip-hop styles quiet old school tune. The F_king Finger is the masterpiece here. Good tune that would have deserved a better pressing. But that's not a mystery anymore...

Detroit Beatmaker Apollo Brown and Fresno Rap veteran Planet Asia are proud to announce their new album - "Sardines" - the follow up to the duo’s beloved 2017 collaborative album “Anchovies.” Apollo and Planet Asia improve upon the minimalist, grimy Hip-Hop theme from the first collab with pristine execution. The new album promises grime just like its predecessor. Featuring Sick Jacken, Ty Farris, Marv Won, and TriState.