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Despite its title, Ratboys’ new album Singin’ to an Empty Chair is not defined by what’s missing. Rather, it’s the beginning of an important dialogue with a close loved one, vocalist Julia Steiner finds herself estranged from. The music on the band’s sixth studio album – its first for New West Records – fills the space that person left behind with 11 songs showcasing Ratboys at the peak of their powers — twangy, effervescent, as confident as they’ve ever been, and perhaps more emotionally interrogative than ever before. The four-piece Chicago band followed up 2023’s highly acclaimed The Window by reconvening with co-producer Chris Walla to begin tracking at a rural Wisconsin cabin before taking the songs to Steve Albini’s famed Electrical Audio studios in Chicago and later to Rosebud Studio in Evanston, Illinois. The results veer from bubbly power-pop on “Anywhere” to irresistible post-country on “Penny in the Lake,” along with heart-piercing ballads like “Just Want You to Know the Truth” and an exhilarating detour into the extraterrestrial on “Light Night Mountains All That,” which Steiner dubs the band’s mammoth “wormhole jam.” Singin’ to an Empty Chair also marks the first Ratboys album written since Steiner began therapy, which the singer/lyricist credits for the clarity found across the album’s unflinching examinations of relationship and self. Fittingly, as the album begins by extending a hand into the void, it concludes with a scene of serenity – all while weaving candid honesty, humor, chaos, and whimsy along the way. “It's not all doom and gloom,” Steiner says. “The experience of making this record definitely gives me hope for whatever happens next.”

Despite its title, Ratboys’ new album Singin’ to an Empty Chair is not defined by what’s missing. Rather, it’s the beginning of an important dialogue with a close loved one, vocalist Julia Steiner finds herself estranged from. The music on the band’s sixth studio album – its first for New West Records – fills the space that person left behind with 11 songs showcasing Ratboys at the peak of their powers — twangy, effervescent, as confident as they’ve ever been, and perhaps more emotionally interrogative than ever before. The four-piece Chicago band followed up 2023’s highly acclaimed The Window by reconvening with co-producer Chris Walla to begin tracking at a rural Wisconsin cabin before taking the songs to Steve Albini’s famed Electrical Audio studios in Chicago and later to Rosebud Studio in Evanston, Illinois. The results veer from bubbly power-pop on “Anywhere” to irresistible post-country on “Penny in the Lake,” along with heart-piercing ballads like “Just Want You to Know the Truth” and an exhilarating detour into the extraterrestrial on “Light Night Mountains All That,” which Steiner dubs the band’s mammoth “wormhole jam.” Singin’ to an Empty Chair also marks the first Ratboys album written since Steiner began therapy, which the singer/lyricist credits for the clarity found across the album’s unflinching examinations of relationship and self. Fittingly, as the album begins by extending a hand into the void, it concludes with a scene of serenity – all while weaving candid honesty, humor, chaos, and whimsy along the way. “It's not all doom and gloom,” Steiner says. “The experience of making this record definitely gives me hope for whatever happens next.”

Bluegrass band Big Richard makes music for the 21st century’s twisted cultural unease. Their Signature Sounds debut Pet, is a fierce, provocative, rejoinder to what troubles them and the world right now, and was recorded live to tape in order to capture the fervor of their live shows.

“Big Richard is so much about our energetic delivery, and so I think it's been really important for us as a group to figure out how to do that for a record,” says mandolin and guitar player Bonnie Sims. And figure it out they did. Pet delivers, successfully translating the supergroup’s live kinetic harmonies and string virtuosity. Unapologetically outrageous and provocative, the band’s name is a wink to the ‘big dick’ energy Big Richard is reclaiming from male bluegrass bands. Since exploding onto the Colorado scene in 2021, the four women have been on a wild ride, slapping as hard as possible on the festival circuit, working up their stamina on nationwide headlining tours, and leaving a wake of die-hard Big Richard Heads across the country swooning for their honest songwriting, chilling vocals, and fiddle-driven barn-burners.

“Our live performances are so raw and so gritty, and I think that our sound never really flourished in that digital landscape.” GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning cellist Joy Adams says. “Recording live to tape we were all in the same room together, very close together, with a lot of mic bleed, etc. And the energy was insane. It felt so good to record this way. Even on the first day, we were like ‘wow, this sounds like our band.’ And to do something that's very real and gritty and has little mistakes in it just feels alive and human.”

Formerly one third of the much-loved trio Black Box Recorder, alongside The Auteurs’ Luke Haines and Jesus and Mary Chain guitarist John Moore, the British singer-songwriter Sarah Nixey has steadily gained acclaim as a solo artist who makes savvy, sophisticated and poised pop.

Delivering vocals with a detached elegance over opulent tracks, any perceived nonchalance in Nixey’s luxe, cut glass voice belies her empathy, where social commentary serves as protest, both explicit and implied. Like Billy Bragg deepfaked as prime Julie Andrews, this strange but effective juxtaposition radiates soft power. ‘Lies of the Land’ depicts a corrupt post-Brexit and Covid-19 world where inequality and division flourish. ‘England's On Fire’ delves into the nuanced concepts of patriotism and nationalism, and ‘Pleasure Bay’ narrates the story of a love affair with a deprived yet beautiful English seaside town, written after Nixey left London, drawn back to the Dorset coast.
More than just a political record though, Nixey was drawn to the poetic elements of living too, telling stories of life and death, love and loss, conflicts and symmetry, in an intimate and close-up way, as if whispering secrets to her listeners.

“Sea Fever explores the bittersweet beauty of human life amid a volatile world of changing seasons and brutal elements,” says Nixey. “These are songs of deep sorrow, remembrance, birth, and change, set against a backdrop of the sensuous natural world.”
‘Rolling Waves’ explores profound grief following her beloved grandmother's death, while ‘Spring Equinox’ celebrates the joy and awe of life after welcoming her first grandchild. ‘At the Edge of the Forest’ is a poignant story of someone losing their memory, and ‘On This Wide Night’ recounts the early hours return home of a teenage runaway.

Originally released in 2005, this standout EP returns as part of the much-anticipated reissue campaign from cult New York imprint Drugsex — a label that quickly became a treasured name among heads who lived and breathed the underground. Born from the creative partnership between UK producers Rob Pearson and Simon Copleston, Drugsex carved out its own raw, hypnotic corner of the international tech house movement.

For the second instalment in the reissue series, label head Rob Pearson teams up with Daniel Poli under their Distant Strangers moniker — a project that, even back then, was whispered about among selectors for its deep, rolling grooves and stripped-back intensity. Both artists had already made their mark with releases on some of the most respected labels of the era — from Rekids and Swag Records to Evasive Records, Rescue Recordings, and beyond.

The pair’s first collaboration, the Lost Souls EP, became a highly limited, in-demand underground gem, pressed in small quantities and played by those in the know. This follow-up, crafted at Online Studios in Croydon, took their sound to the next level — two original tracks built for dancefloors that like things hypnotic, physical and uncompromising.

On the A-side, Virtual Morality is a slick and driving slice of tech house pressure. Crisp percussion, rolling low-end and a subtle but addictive hook make it a peak-time weapon that never goes out of style. Flip it over for Take Us In Deeper — a track that lives up to its name with a shadowy groove, atmospheric layers and a perfectly balanced push and pull that draws dancers further into the late-night haze.

Adding even more weight to the release, Adam Collins — known for his work with Omni AM and Euphoria Records — steps in with a remix of Virtual Morality on B2. His version injects an unmistakable acid edge, elevating the original into a tripped-out, floor-focused burner that fits as comfortably in a basement sweatbox as it does on a sunrise terrace.

Nearly two decades later, these tracks still carry the same raw power and effortless groove that made them cult favourites in the first place. This reissue isn’t just a nod to the past — it’s a reminder of why this sound endures.

7", Transparent Royal Blue Vinyl
The track ‘Atrium’ was born during the Dream 3 sessions, on a day where it was just Claire and I in the studio. It wasn’t rehearsed at all before we started recording it. All I really had was the main guitar riff in drop D, inspired by the Rob Crow stylings of Heavy Vegetable and Thingy. The lyrics came quickly and received almost no editing. They circled around feelings of resentment, heartbreak and the idea that a sturdy love for oneself is necessary before you can truly love others. This release includes 2 B Sides from GOON’s critically acclaimed Dream 3 LP available on 7” vinyl for the first time.

Loaded with tension and anchored by bold textural and stylistic contrasts, Sam Slater’s third solo full-length finds the British sound artist, composer, and engineer grappling with his creative contradictions head-on.

Having spent a life time in bands and producing records, Sam transitioned somewhat by accident through his work with Johan Johansson into working as a composer on high profile projects such as his collaboration with Hildur Guðnadóttir on the Grammy Award-winning Joker and Chernobyl, and with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mstyslav Chernov on the soundtrack to the lauded 2000 Meters to Andriivka. Having a vast set of interests and influences is an asset when helping realise a directors vision for a soundtrack, but one's own musical voice can end up being constrained. In Lunng, Slater has gone back to his wildly divergent range of influences and rather than shy away from the extremes, he's used them to create a singular vision.

Take the opening track “Heatsick”: Slater imagines an extravagant fusion of 2000s drone metal and vintage British brass, welding ear-splitting overdriven drones and blown-out choral vocals to stirring trombone swells from veteran player Hilary Jeffery. On paper, it’s hard to imagine—but Slater’s intentionality conducts these polarizing elements into a surreal blur of sonic extremes, with the guitars’ relative harshness softened by Jeffery’s eerily nostalgic colliery echoes.

His last solo album, I do not wish to be known as a Vandal (Bedroom Community, 2022), showcased this breadth by assembling a team of collaborators including Sam Dunscombe and Yair Elazar Glotman. On this record he’s linking up with acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Maria W. Horn, idiosyncratic sax virtuoso Bendik Giske, versatile percussionist Adam Betts, and the aforementioned Jeffery, Slater ushers these players toward a lattice of calculated confutations.

Working to explore the tension between the divergent practices of his collaborators—Lunng was meant to be challenging. On “Praya”, Giske’s familiar overblown horn phrases are almost vaporized, vanishing among Slater’s weightless synths and Horn’s chillingly hoarse vocals. There are traces of Horn’s Funeral Folk project, but Slater shifts the emphasis, letting her voice brush past the other elements like a hallucination.

Slater’s use of extremes isn’t just in the micro; dynamics drive the album’s overall flow. “Praya” sets the stage for the record’s heaviest, most prickly moment: “Passengers”. Here, Horn’s voice cracks, rasps, and gurgles over serrated synths and Betts’ ritualistic drums. Slater turns an industrial symphony into a folk opera—dark, dramatic, and strangely beautiful—etched with Giske’s fluttering phrases.

But the mood soon shifts. Slater careens toward chaos, unleashing double-time rhythms and piercing textures familiar to anyone with a soft spot for classic black metal. These grotesque incongruities are deliberate; Slater surveys years of musical conflict and leans in, using dissent as fuel to build kinetic energy.

The weight of sentimentality bears down on “Black Metal Rewind (Night Drive Astra, 2006)”, melting teenage memories into hypnagogic ambience—shoegaze dreams whirled with angelic choral delusions. On “Death by Nostalgia, 1688”, he ventures further into polarizing territory, distorting AutoTuned voices with cryptic strings and medieval tonalities, unsettling any stable sense of past or present.

In this record Slater focuses on pure energy, color, and mood. Lunng distills years of listening into a bracing brew—boiling each sound down to its essence, then serving it with unflinching intent.

John Twells, 2025

After “Comme Jean Reno”, Flora Fishbach unveils a new extract from “Val Synth”, due for release on Sept. 12. On “Des bêtises (pt. I)”, she continues her 80s vein with a Europop / FM sound inspired by Niagara. On a production by M. Declerck (Justice, Kavinsky), the singer reveals her radiant and popular side: she sings “Tout ce que je fais, c’est vraiment pour te plaire” like an acid candy.



La Machine (Sept 18) sold out in just a few days, Zénith and tour all over France starting in 2026!

“Sleep Walking” and “Just Below The Skyline” is a double header from The Future Sound Of London taken from the archives. Both tracks are previously unreleased and are the first to be part of a new series of limited edition 7” singles

For two decades, Hudd Traxx has stood as a pillar of underground house music – a label defined by longevity, taste, and its ability to bridge the old school with the new. To mark its twentieth anniversary, the revered UK imprint presents ‘20 Traxx From The Hudd’, a specially curated, all-new twenty-track compilation handpicked by label founder Eddie Leader.

The compilation brings together a global, star-studded lineup of artists who embody the Hudd Traxx ethos: soulful, inventive, and uncompromisingly underground. Contributions come from Groove Armada, Seven Davis Jr., Chez Damier, Cinthie, Jovonn, Oliver Dollar and others, offering a snapshot of the label’s wide-ranging influence. From the silky deep house depths of Black Loops’ opener ‘Soul to Soul Communication’, to the unmistakable analog warmth across Cinthie’s ‘Hudd House’, to the raw, stripped-back energy of Seven Davis Jr.’s ‘Infrasound’, the collection captures the many deeper shades of house Hudd Traxx has championed for twenty years.

Founded in 2005, Hudd Traxx has served as a trusted home for pioneering artists such as Nightmares On Wax and Matthew Herbert, guided by Eddie Leader’s consistent curatorial vision and unwavering commitment to craft. As a producer, his releases on Classic, Robsoul, and Balance Alliance have been supported by Laurent Garnier, Josh Wink, Disclosure, and many more. ‘20 Traxx From The Hudd’ isn’t just a celebration of the past; it’s a fervent reminder that Hudd Traxx remains as relevant and vital as ever.

Remixer extraordinaire Eric Kupper takes a set of epic, lost recordings from 1982, that feature the cream of the crop session musicians behind the soulful sound of Philadelphia - Earl Young (Drums), Ronnie Baker (Bass), Norman Harris (Guitar), Lenny Pakula (Organ), Larry Washington (Percussion), Vince Montana, Jr (Vibes, Keyboards), John Bonnie (Saxophone) - along with powerhouse vocalists Joe Freeman, David Simmons, Bobby Love and Ron Tyson, and lovingly applies his own modern sheen, spinning them into ear candy for today’s listener as well as those who were there from the very beginning. These incredible remixes, which have individually been topping the charts on Traxsource, can now be had in one place - this exclusive 3-LP vinyl collection that is not just a tribute to the past, but a vibrant continuation of the legacy these legendary musicians helped create.

With an ever-growing horde of rappers clamoring for attention, manifesting a successful long-term career in hip-hop has become an almost supernatural achievement, reserved for artists with near-mystical talents. Atlanta emcee Tha God Fahim embraces this role, positioning himself as a divine warrior with lyrical powers transcending this earthly realm, battling dark forces with tactical ingenuity and relentless dedication. This artistic vision has become even more vivid in recent years, culminating in the wildly creative series Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap with acclaimed producer Nicholas Craven. Inspired by the anime phenomenon Dragon Ball and its conception of a dimension unconstrained by the rules of time, Fahim and Craven just concluded the ambitious endeavor with a staggering fifteen volumes released in only eight months. Taken collectively, Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap forms a vital entry in Tha God Fahim's catalog, blending gritty narratives of hustle and hardship with intergalactic rhyme wizardry. Fahim's stratospheric ambitions are elevated by exquisite production from Nicholas Craven, known for his work with Roc Marciano, Mach-Hommy, Westside Gunn, Conway, Boldy James, Pink Siifu, and more. This first ever vinyl pressing of volume 3 contains

The strongest Japanese covers of Grover Washington Jr. and Kool & the Gang's representative songs are now available on 7-inch vinyl for the first time!

Side A, "Ja Ashita Ni Sureba?" is a cover of Grover Washington Jr.'s famous soul/R&B song "Just the Two of Us," released in 1980. The song depicts the human weakness of putting off troublesome tasks, with lyrics that play on the ears, and an arrangement that retains the atmosphere of the original song while still being danceable, making it a superb track. Side B features a cover of the legendary funk band Kool & the Gang's 1981 hit "Get Down On It," titled "Netanone." This powerful double-sided single will have you intoxicated by the gap between the cool, danceable sound and the humorous lyrics!

Since 2018, Less J’s been laying it down on local labels and pushing his own imprint, Law Heart Records. No shortcuts, no polish — just rough-cut soul and heavy samples, stacked brick by brick into a sound that hits as hard as the city he comes from.
Bricklayer by day, bedroom producer by night, Less J builds grooves the same way he builds walls — with patience, grit and a touch of soul.
Some call him Adrià, others Lessito — but around here he’s simply L'Hospitalet’s own Moodymann. A nickname not given lightly, earned release after release through effort and persistence.
Rather than a weight to carry, it’s fuel — a reason to push harder, sharpen the sound and prove it every time.
This EP oozes truth. Three solid cuts, slow-cooked and straight to the point, topped off with a Mistanomista remix for dessert. No garnish, no tricks — just real music, meant to be listened to properly.

2026 Repress

One of the leading names in contemporary underground music, Guy J, embarks on a new journey. As a dedicated futurist and sound enthusiast who pushes boundaries akin to science fiction, Guy delivers the first track on his new label with an abstract vision of the layered future of sound. This 15-minute preview of Guy J's forward-thinking, innovative work indicates a promising future for his label. Experience the birth and transformation of a new era in sound from day one!



Every beginning carries excitement and unpredictability, requiring something extraordinary. Whether rooted in creationism, biblical narratives, or the Big Bang Theory, both theological and scientific origin stories resonate with events echoing millions of years into the future. One of the leading names in contemporary underground music, Guy J, embarks on a new journey. As a dedicated futurist and sound enthusiast who pushes boundaries akin to science fiction, Guy delivers the first track on his new label with an abstract vision of the layered future of sound.

From the opening patterns till the end, A Million Years From Now offers an adventure, blending moments of free-flowing thought with a perfectly engineered audio collage that evokes a spectrum of abstract emotions-from melancholia and psychedelia to breathless excitement and, ultimately, pure euphoria.
The layered creativity transcends realism, leading listeners into a state of trance. The second piece, Just Rain, kicks off with a bass-heavy, pumping kick drum that vibrates speakers on any sound system.
However, Guy J transforms this from a rhythm-based track into a melodic epic. Its power lies in the seamless transitions and manipulation of effects and in the compositional structure that evolves over the eight-minute arrangement. Despite its subtle atmosphere, the melody culminates in an explosion of emotions that stimulate every frequency of the audible sound spectrum.

This 15-minute preview of Guy J's forward-thinking, innovative work indicates a promising future for his label. Experience the birth and transformation of a new era in sound from day one!

2026 Repress

Dam Swindle's new 'Backyard Galaxy' EP is an ode to house music and the classic Swindle sound.

It's only been a few months since Dam Swindle released their highly acclaimed album "Open" and already the boys are back on Heist with a new release that takes you right back to the dancefloor. Where they've spent the better part of the last 3 years writing their album with all its sonic explorations and collabs, this new EP sees the duo return to their roots of club-ready house music. The 'Backyard Galaxy' EP comes with 4 high-energy house tracks made in their Amsterdam studio that have been road-tested all summer.

EP opener "Feel it much?" has all the ingredients of a classic Swindle heater, with warm pads, rich organic percussion and tons of soul. There's a simple and effective vocal running throughout the track that blends nicely with the classic house elements and electronic textures that are layered throughout the track. There's an effortless flow to this track and it comes as no surprise that it has been a highlight in their sets this summer.

The EP title track 'Backyard Galaxy' is an up-tempo Latin-themed jam with a hint of old school techno. The synth stabs hit you just right and the modulated vocal chops are a lovely boost for the build ups and add a touch of swing to a track that already has a tight groove. Add to that a huge breakdown and drum roll and you've got yourself a track that'll light up any dancefloor.

On the flip, we're moving into garage territory with the shuffling vibes of 'Rhythm Baby'. The current popularity of the genre is not missed on Dam Swindle, but when you look closely, you'll see this track is full of elements that the duo have built their legacy on. The vocal chops, transposed key samples and swing are all on point and work just as well below, as above 130 bpm if speed is your thing.

The EP closes with the NY-style house cut 'What you give', which reminds us of Dam Swindle's remix of Cinthie's Heist hit 'Won't U take me' with its lush organs and moody keys. It's perhaps the most classic house track they've made in a long time and you can hear they had a great time recording this. It's playful, vibey and catchy. Just the way we like it.

Dam Swindle might have delivered one of the standout cross-over albums of 2025, but on this EP the message is clear: Once a househead, always a househead.

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Much love,
Heist HQ