Search:kick the drum

In the ever-evolving yet foundational landscape of instrumental groove music, F-Spot Records is proud to debut "Monkey Part 2 b/w Lully" from up-and-coming, multi-faceted keyboardist and composer Max Naseck. Raised in Dallas, Texas, but having worked throughout the Los Angeles music scene for almost a decade, Max Naseck, joined by guitarist Brandon Bae and drummer Julian Allen, brings his new trio project to life. After chasing this sound and style of playing for several years, Appropriately given the name "The Left Hand of God" by some of his musical peers, Max takes the classic soul jazz trio setting of holding down both the bass and melody elements and moves them to a unique combination of funky Moog synth (Key bass) and a Wurlitzer 200A electric piano. This 45 provides a fresh yet retro sound that is sure to leave listeners grooving and locked in.
From the first notes and tight 4-on-the-floor rhythm, "Monkey Part 2" kicks off the A-side with a unique psychedelic blend of soul, funk, and a touch of disco. With Allen's groovy touch, Naseck perfectly locks in with his left hand, followed by Bae's precision-picked electric guitar, which completes the trio's solid groove, further propelled by Naseck's right hand taking the melodic lead. Then on side B, "Lully" brings the tempo down to a more soulful, atmospheric blend that's equal parts Khruangbin & modern jazz pioneers, a la John Scofield. Recorded live together in one room, Max brings his strong compositional style to the table, showcasing how three musicians can interact in a playful, melodic, and groove-focused way.

As we celebrate 30 years of Ten Lovers Music our first offering of the year is a Various Artist selection called Frisson EP Part 1. Frisson is a medical term for the response you get from listening to music, often referred to as goosebumps or a skin orgasm which is caused by the dopamine released in the brain’s reward centres.
Kicking off the A side we have Sound Signals featuring flautist Han Litz, a superb opener. Following on are Future Jazz Ensemble and Don’t Be Afraid, another track from them oozing quality. Onto side AA and Mike Perras is back with another live track featuring keys, drums, bass and a battling flute and sax on Sweet One. Rounding off side AA is Stefano De Santis with Simple Things, an aptly named track for this music that gives us Frisson.

Taupe’s latest album release, waxing | waning delivers jazz experimentalism, ‘skronk’, avant-rock, and electronics, by the Glasgow-based trio, due out via Minority Records. Across its seven tracks, waxing | waning captures Taupe’s approach – bold and boundary pushing – shaped by a fresh shift in the band’s dynamic and compositional approach.

Taupe’s waxing | waning, co-composed and realised by its players in a studio that was once an undertaker’s premises in Glasgow, is an absolutely affirmative album, an act of cultural defiance in desperate times.

Comprising Mike Parr-Burman (guitar, bass guitar, electronics), Jamie Stockbridge (alto and baritone saxophones) and Alex Palmer (drum kit, percussion), Taupe work up a storm of skronk, free jazz and harmolodic frenzy whose closest relations include Zu, Melt Banana and John Zorn. However, waxing | waning is from its opening, stuttering blasts, an exercise in seeking out and claiming new territory, finding unique and novel permutations in which jazz, rock, electronics interbreed at breakneck pace. Here is a group determined to say and do things they don’t get to say and do elsewhere in their musical lives.

‘Lemonade Tycoon’ hits the ground skronking. It’s cubistic jazz, cumulative in its impact, avoiding the white lines of the conventional freeway, bridling, bustling, coming at you from all angles – a three way conversation of astonishing rapidity, fast track, telepathic communication – everyone from James Chance to Albert Ayler coming at you at once, before morphing in to a spidery scrawl of electronics and furious percussion. ‘Anti-Bird-Spike BirdNest’s‘ title somehow sums up the sort of mental images evoked by the music – its sheer creative disobedience, as if being chased in vain, like a delivery rider evading capture by ICE agents -– shapeshifting, assuming different shades, sprouting metal quills and, in its midsection, seeming almost to swallow itself alive, before regurgitating itself in a sublime mess.

‘Interlude (Stride)’ is not exactly ambient, more a horizontal enmeshment of percussion, drones, reverberant noise, electronics, a sonic mulch. ‘allcapsallbold' reminds of early Aksak Maboul, in its playfulness, a haywire series of short phrases, subject to mechanical interference, a complex weave of irregular rhythms, increasingly eloquent sax phraseology and caustic guitars, which land heavier and heavier. ‘Pet Boss' is the new jazz equivalent of a highly evolved, mature conversation among brilliant equals, sharp, empathetic, complementary, rising to a collective, joyful noise. On the title track, electronics descend like a shower of bright particles, intensifying in their luminosity, whitening the skies, as sax and drums kick up a tempestuous, spontaneously sculpted noise that summons the ghosts of the great free jazz players, before a dark calm descends slowly. Finally, ‘Turn Push Kick’, a burgeoning chatterstorm of electronics, before the group kicks in, at angles to one another, led by abrasive guitars, reminiscent of Sunn O))) in their ritualistic concussion, riffing, digging deep amid squealing sax and piledriving percussion.

Samurai Music offshoot SAIBAI welcomes legendary producer ASC to expand upon the label's widescreen strain of electronic music plumbing the depths between techno, electronica and broken beat.

ASC is the flagship project for James Clements, a prolific veteran of the scene who started releasing his distinctive twist on drum & bass back in the late 90s. Across a variety of aliases and many different label projects and collaborations, Clements has retained a strong artistic identity defined by steely atmospherics, rhythmic intrigue and precisely sculpted sound design. He brings those qualities to SAIBAI3.

On 'Raijin' the tempo prowls at 90 BPM, all the better to carry the bass snarls and haunted melodies hovering in the middle distance. 'Rasetsu' meanwhile hides its much sprightlier 150 pace behind a half time construction punctuated by a tactile, almost organic set of percussion. 'Kyubi' sinks into a deep, inky well of spatial sound design with just a light smattering of percussion and a weighty kick for guidance. 'Shigure' completes the picture with a mesmeric tapestry of shifting textures and brooding melancholy.

Clements has devoted much time recently to his ambient output, and it shows in the richness of the space he shapes around his needlepoint patterns, while his roots in more propulsive club music show their hand in subtle, understated ways. It's this balance that makes the release the perfect addition to SAIBAI's evolving story.

Limited to 200 copies

2026 Repress

Melbourne’s DJ Ali is up next on Blue Hour Music with a powerful EP of fast percussive tribal groovers recorded live over multiple hardware sessions. ‘Interceptor’ kicks off the record with energising and rolling momentum laced in echoes of shamanic ritual. ‘Paradox Cell’ maintains the tension with a stripped back and pumping drum track enhanced by repeating tones and swirling winds that suddenly take over. On the flip ‘Nightwatch’ feels even more immersive, tunnelling down into hypnotic chambers where a voice guides and pulls the listener through a lucid void. ’Regeneration’ rounds up the record with an uplifting journey that begins to unfold with a series of shifting layers and hints of colour beneath a haze of euphoria.

"On its Various 2 compilation, Altered Circuits returns with a gripping four-track selection by an equal number of distinct-voiced artists. Perrax En La Calle sees tINI merge sturdy drums, arpeggiated basslines, and ominous synth work. She knows what makes the floor tick blindfolded, and keeps the energy high here, channelling electronic body music and Italo into a contemporary club knockout. Up next is Ionic, a fusion of quirky, pointillist hooks that play call and response, driven by 909 kicks and a sub pattern underneath. Mogwaa spellbinds, and often pulls the rug only to reveal more intricate melodic needlework -- it's done so nimbly and enticingly, there's no way not to get drawn in. On the flip side, rising talent Desiree Falessi joins with the peak time Scandal. Statically-charged basslines mesh with reverb-drenched percussion salvos, and as slinky pads and subtle theme variations emerge, the intensity builds toward a tipping point. Closer Flex features a sharp arpeggiated bassline that funnels through misty, LFO-steered synths, scattered alarm-like melodies, muffled vocals, and gated-reverb snares. When classic high-pass modulation intermezzos are introduced, Monile demonstrates how sparse means, when deployed precisely, can sustain considerable tension."

If you’ve been following the wanderings of prolific psychedelic magicians Elkhorn, you might be surprised that Elkhorn guitarist Drew Gardner’s solo LP Wave Field is the most out and out “rock” record on VHF in many years. Working here in a small group with excellent players Tom Malach (guitar), Andy Cush (bass), and Ryan Jewel (drums), Gardner cuts loose on a set of propulsive and swinging material that allows him to greatly expand his sound into unexpected areas. “Rhizoid” starts with a sneaky groove riding the nimble bass and drums of Cush and Jewel before a leap into the ripping Sonic Youth/NEU! hybrid of “Space Ray.” “Shadow Casting Grass” brings things back down to end the side with some Elkhorn-adjacent gentle guitar weave backed again by the sly rhythm section. “Wave Field” kicks off side 2 with an extended buzzy guitar raga with Cush’s melodic and fat bass providing jammy counterpoint. The epic “Mayan Bees” closes the LP with an extended workout on another extremely fine drum and bass ostinato, a hypnotic minor key riff that slow builds over 10+ minutes.

2026 Limited Repress

Twisted Utopia is jeku’s first solo release on Harmony. The EP is a funky and eclectic synthesis dedicated to rhythm lovers. Twister Utopia’s progressive roller weaves high-energy elements with a splash of sonic psychedelic textures.

Side A kicks off with “Rhythm Circuit” galactic, drum-driven tunes, followed by “Frantic Antics,” whose rich chord progression is paired with airy vocals and wiggly basslines.

On the B-side, “The Future” delivers prog-infused euphoria beat-matched to perfection. The EP is wrapped up with “Borealia,” a multi-layered symphony of transcendence and tempo shifts.

KIK is the new project of two core strategists of sonic enigma HHY & The Macumbas: Jonathan Uliel Saldanha & João Pais Filipe. Ditching acoustic instruments in favour of drum synthetics & tightly controlled sound design, the duo's debut album NIGHTSHIFT focuses on off-kilter club tracks that thwart 4-on-the-floor flavours whilst maintaining trance-inducing extended cycles. If the devil is in the details, this is all about the spectromophology of the details.
Beginning with moving morse code blips in an odd time signature We Can't Dance announces the characteristic unlife of the album's pulse. Once the kick enters, syncopations progressively accumulate into a weave of interacting rhythmic lines. Smoke Machine's groove is reminiscent of the riddims Saldanha explores in his HHY & The Kampala Unit, adding scintillating pads and snippets of blitzed out laughter.

The album's third track, Proff, hearkens back to the initial pulse, displaced and pitched down in register. Here's a more meditative temperament on display, where the regular geometries of the club have been moved into higher-order structures. Segments rise & fall into earshot. Deepening the meditative mood, Back Room explores a short melodic leitmotif anchoring the track's wander- lust.

The rhythmic assault continues in Tactical Gear, bringing further experiments into polyrhythmic contours exacerbated by preci- sion movements of echo & delay. Limping can be heard as a what-if sonic fiction taking Autechre-inspired abstractions through Durbanoid Gqom terrains. The album closes with its longest track, Night Shift, that segments into shifting sound worlds.

Drawing from industrial grit, cybernetic percussion and the eerie fluorescence of after-hours energy, NIGHTSHIFT exists in the liminal space between body music and abstraction——a soundtrack for phantom warehouses and malfunctioning machines. This isn’t just music; it’s an immersive sonic environment, a journey into the heart of deconstructed dancefloors.
For fans of Rian Treanor, Proc Fiskal, Jlin and Lorenzo Senni.

Most recently, HHY has been collaborating with Nyege Nyege through projects such as Kampala Unit and Arsenal Mikebe, performing live with the ensemble alongside Valentina Magaletti, and producing records for artists like Fulu Miziki, as well as collaborations with Phelimucasi, Rey Sapiens, Kingdom Choir and others. He also released Camouflage Vector: Edits From Live Actions 2017–2019 on the label, a live album featuring two tracks with Adrian Sherwood.

Previous collaborations include Tunnel Vision with Badawi (released on Tzadik), the HHY & The Macumbas album Beheaded Totem on House of Mythology, and Fujako (Wordsound, with MC Sensational), along with double-bill shows with acts such as Clipping and Death Grips.

Koma Saxo, the explosive quintet led by Berlin-based Swedish bassist/producer Petter Eldh, returns on We Jazz Records with their new album, cut live at We Jazz Festival in Helsinki, December 2019. Whereas their lauded debut was a triumph of remapping the goal posts for an acoustic jazz combo for the 2020's, "LIVE" takes you right to the heart of the actual ensemble sound, with 5 musicians tearing the place down, no post production. From the fiery opening sequence kicking off with "Euro Koma", on to the much calmer beauty of "Waltz Me, Waltz Me Baby, All Night Long" and the first single "Fiskeskärsmelodin", the 8-song set is pure fire, never failing to convey the extraordinary intensity of the group: Eldh on bass, Otis Sandsjö (Y-OTIS), Jonas Kullhammar and Mikko Innanen on saxes, and Christian Lillinger on drums.

An excerpt of liner notes by Peter Margasak:

"When I first saw Petter Eldh's quintet Koma Saxo in Berlin in September of 2019 I was floored. The raw, sprinting energy of the band was both infectious and astonishing, but what I most remember was a sense of cognitive dissonance. Was this the same combo that recorded a fantastic eponymous 2019 studio album that represented one of the most convincing, pleasurable, and driving hybrid's of searing post-bop and the production ethos of hip-hop? There have been endless stabs by producers trying to remap the machinations of an organic, all-acoustic jazz band with electronic post-production, but Eldh, channeling a sonic language heavily informed by J Dilla, nailed it in a way I'd never experienced before. Having the trust of his three imaginative, high-octane saxophonists—Jonas Kullhammar, Otis Sandsjö, and Mikko Innanen—he used their grainy sound as raw material, smudging and smearing it like a painter creating new hues on a palette, and then extending, editing, and powering it up within the imperturbable grooves meted out by he and drummer Christian Lillinger. He didn't really alter the essential core of the band's performances. There's no question that a seriously burning quintet had laid the tracks down, even if the performances reflected the kind of concision many jazz groups adapt for a studio endeavor. But the way his jacked-up bass lines and Lillinger's impossibly peripatetic, stuttering rhythms buffeted the massed saxophones elevated Koma Saxo to plane all its own, and I repeatedly returned to that place—half the time trying to figure out what the hell Eldh had done, and the other half lost in giddy ecstasy.

The live show, on the other hand, featured the band without any production tricks. Its soaring, pithy repertoire came alive in a different way, and this excellent live recording from the 2019 We Jazz Festival, has reminded me of how fun and visceral that experience was."

Koma Saxo "LIVE" is released by We Jazz Records on 30 April 2021 on two vinyl editions (silver + black), as a bundle with an unreleased 7" (+ silver vinyl edition), on CD and digitally. The vinyl versions plus the CD come complete with silver embossed lettering. The vinyl is delivered on heavy-duty tip-on sleeve, complete with an insert featuring liner notes by Peter Margasak, Andreas Müller, Matti Nives and Petter Eldh.

a 01: Euro Koma (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
b 02: Puls Koma (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
c 03: Fanfarum for Komarum III (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
[d] 04: Waltz Me Baby, Waltz Me All Night Long (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[e] 05: Otis and Christian (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö & Christian Lillinger]
[f] 06: Blumer (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[g] 07: Fiskeskärsmelodin (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]

Silver Vinyl

Koma Saxo, the explosive quintet led by Berlin-based Swedish bassist/producer Petter Eldh, returns on We Jazz Records with their new album, cut live at We Jazz Festival in Helsinki, December 2019. Whereas their lauded debut was a triumph of remapping the goal posts for an acoustic jazz combo for the 2020's, "LIVE" takes you right to the heart of the actual ensemble sound, with 5 musicians tearing the place down, no post production. From the fiery opening sequence kicking off with "Euro Koma", on to the much calmer beauty of "Waltz Me, Waltz Me Baby, All Night Long" and the first single "Fiskeskärsmelodin", the 8-song set is pure fire, never failing to convey the extraordinary intensity of the group: Eldh on bass, Otis Sandsjö (Y-OTIS), Jonas Kullhammar and Mikko Innanen on saxes, and Christian Lillinger on drums.

An excerpt of liner notes by Peter Margasak:

"When I first saw Petter Eldh's quintet Koma Saxo in Berlin in September of 2019 I was floored. The raw, sprinting energy of the band was both infectious and astonishing, but what I most remember was a sense of cognitive dissonance. Was this the same combo that recorded a fantastic eponymous 2019 studio album that represented one of the most convincing, pleasurable, and driving hybrid's of searing post-bop and the production ethos of hip-hop? There have been endless stabs by producers trying to remap the machinations of an organic, all-acoustic jazz band with electronic post-production, but Eldh, channeling a sonic language heavily informed by J Dilla, nailed it in a way I'd never experienced before. Having the trust of his three imaginative, high-octane saxophonists—Jonas Kullhammar, Otis Sandsjö, and Mikko Innanen—he used their grainy sound as raw material, smudging and smearing it like a painter creating new hues on a palette, and then extending, editing, and powering it up within the imperturbable grooves meted out by he and drummer Christian Lillinger. He didn't really alter the essential core of the band's performances. There's no question that a seriously burning quintet had laid the tracks down, even if the performances reflected the kind of concision many jazz groups adapt for a studio endeavor. But the way his jacked-up bass lines and Lillinger's impossibly peripatetic, stuttering rhythms buffeted the massed saxophones elevated Koma Saxo to plane all its own, and I repeatedly returned to that place—half the time trying to figure out what the hell Eldh had done, and the other half lost in giddy ecstasy.

The live show, on the other hand, featured the band without any production tricks. Its soaring, pithy repertoire came alive in a different way, and this excellent live recording from the 2019 We Jazz Festival, has reminded me of how fun and visceral that experience was."

Koma Saxo "LIVE" is released by We Jazz Records on 30 April 2021 on two vinyl editions (silver + black), as a bundle with an unreleased 7" (+ silver vinyl edition), on CD and digitally. The vinyl versions plus the CD come complete with silver embossed lettering. The vinyl is delivered on heavy-duty tip-on sleeve, complete with an insert featuring liner notes by Peter Margasak, Andreas Müller, Matti Nives and Petter Eldh.

a 01: Euro Koma (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
b 02: Puls Koma (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
c 03: Fanfarum for Komarum III (Live) feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger
d 04: Waltz Me Baby, Waltz Me All Night Long (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[e] 05: Otis and Christian (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö & Christian Lillinger]
[f] 06: Blumer (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[g] 07: Fiskeskärsmelodin (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]

[a] 01: Euro Koma (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[b] 02: Puls Koma (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[c] 03: Fanfarum for Komarum III (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[d] 04: Waltz Me Baby, Waltz Me All Night Long (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[e] 05: Otis and Christian (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö & Christian Lillinger]
[f] 06: Blumer (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[g] 07: Fiskeskärsmelodin (Live) [feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]
[feat. Otis Sandsjö, Jonas Kullhammar, Mikko Innanen & Christian Lillinger]

Helsinki quartet Alder Ego, led by drummer/composer Joonas Leppänen, returns with their new album "III" on 9 April on We Jazz Records. A follow up to their successful 2018 We Jazz album, "III" finds Leppänen and his bandmates extracting more depth and punch out of their tenor sax + trumpet + double bass + drums setup, which echoes the greats in the game, such as Ornette Coleman, yet adds a readily identifiable edge to it all. Leppänen's writing is evolving, becoming more and more of a signature of the band and sounding delightfully angular yet easily flowing. On "III", Alder Ego features Leppänen on drums, Jarno Tikka (of OK:KO) on tenor sax, Tomi Nikku (of Bowman Trio) on trumpet and the new addition Nathan Francis on bass.

Kicking off with a key track introducing the band's deep sound, "Love And Maladies", "III" moves through a sonic landscape which is constantly surprising yet identifiable as Alder Ego guided by Leppänen's musical vision at all times. This is true even during moments when the composer himself steps aside, namely in the Tikka–Nikku duo cut "Impermanence" and Nathan Davis's highly memorable solo outing "Nathan's World".

The album's many highlights include singles "November Ghost" and "I Saw It In a Dream", plus the stunning closing track "Ephemeral", featuring Natalia Castrillon on harp.

Alder Ego "III" is available on We Jazz Records on as orange and black vinyl editions, digitally, plus as a bundle bringing together "III" and the band's 2018 album "II".

Techno pioneer Robert Hood debuts on Rekids with a blistering release entitled ‘Nothing Stops Detroit’ ahead of an album this winter.

Over the last three decades the Underground Resistance alum has continually been at the forefront of the techno genre whilst releasing on many of electronic music’s finest labels to boot. In recent years his solo outings have appeared on a select few labels such as Dekmantel, Music Man Records, not to mention his very own M-Plant. Having made appearances on Rekids in the past remixing label boss Radio Slave - both as Robert Hood (‘Don’t Stop No Sleep’) and Floorplan (‘Feel The Same’) - the Detroit originator now drops a four track release in his official debut on the label.

With its machine aesthetic, ‘Nothing Stops Detroit’ is unmistakably Hood from start to finish. Precision kick drums propel the title track forward as stuttering effects and deep stabs work alongside a march band rhythm. ‘7 Mile Dog’ is next with its grainy synths and scintillating pads, making way for the meandering bassline, rattling atmospherics and trippy, oscillating top line of ‘Ignite A War’. Finally, ‘The Cure’ is a cacophony of twisted percussion and rumbling low-end that energetically concludes matters.

A1 | Carlos Native – Be Yourself
Andalusian producer Carlos Native unfolds an almost cinematic sensibility: a slow, introspective piece where a hypnotic bassline and wide, horizontal backgrounds build an inner journey rather than a track aimed at immediate impact.

A2 | Slit Observers – Synthmek
The Galician duo present a hard, high-energy work. Industrial-driven drums demand movement, while an aggressive, sharp arpeggiated bass defines a sonic identity with no concessions.

A3 | Negocius Man – 8N8
The Madrid-based veteran constructs 8N8 with modular precision: each sound falls into place with an almost architectural logic. The result is a synthetic, measured and structured piece shaped by years of experience.

B1 | Allumynd – Chestcollider
Making their debut on the electro scene, Allumynd delivers an original and daring track. An otherworldly snare and a woven vocal structure turn this piece into a clear example of new-generation electro: atmospheric and bold.

B2 | Komatssu – Non Servian
The Asturian producer, under his Komatssu alias, opts for continuous evolution without a kick drum as support. The track works like an organism that grows and transforms as it progresses, generating a hypnotic and mature effect.

B3 | Irrational Language feat. Lucky – We Are Comming Back
Irrational Language dives into braindance with meticulous technical production: drums filled with micro-artifacts, luminous synthesizers, and Lucky’s vocals processed and spatialized to reinforce a narrative of rebirth and emerging from darkness.

Adventure's self-titled 2000 debut is finally getting the reissue treatment, remastered by Jacob Holm-Lupo. This album got great reviews at the time, and helped kickstart a new Norwegian prog scene. The music was inspired by bands like Kansas, Uriah Heep and Camel, with an added touch of folk music. ADVENTURE is the brainchild of the Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Odd Roar Bakken, who had 23 years of experience in Rock bands playing guitars & mandolins, and singing in bands like Tammatoys and Nordagust until 1990, when he met Nils Larsen, Torkel Aune and eventually the talented guitar player Terje Flessen. They started working together, each time getting closer to the Symphonic sound they aimed for But they still had a hard time finding a singer that could fit their style - until 1995 when they finally met Verbjorn Moen. They soon started work on their self-produced and self-released, self-titled debut album, a process lasting all the way until November 1999, with a release in the year 2000. The album is a great expression of Symphonic Prog - inspired mostly by Camel, but with an added hard rock influence from bands as Ayreon and Uriah Heep. The lineup of their debut album is consists of Odd-Roar Bakken (Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals), Terje Flessen (Lead Guitars, Rhythm Guitars, Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars), Vebjorn Moen (Lead Vocals and Backing Vocals) with some guests like Elisabeth Nilssen and Stine Mostervik on flute and Stein Egil Bratland on drums and backing vocals. ADVENTURE is a rare example of a band that didn't played Progressive Rock by nature: They set out to perform music in the vein of the classic symphonic prog genre - but adding some Norwegian Hard Rock, inspired by the Byron & Thain Uriah Heep line-up, something entirely different manifested itself.

Terror Squad is the second album by Danish thrash metal band Artillery. It was originally released in 1987 via Neat Records. It's the successor of Fear of Tomorrow (MOVLP3190) and was later followed by their most succesfull album By Inheritance (MOVLP3935).Terror Squad; the opening track "The Challenge" immediatly kicks your door down and from there on their thrash metal is aggressive, relentless, and executed with deadly precision. At the time it lacked commercial success, but it made up for it with sheer musical intensity. The album's combination of blistering riffs, thunderous drumming, and commanding vocals still leaves its mark decades later. When Artillery hits, it leaves a crater Fun fact: Metal Hammer included the album cover on their list of "50 most hilariously ugly rock and metal album covers ever" Terror Squad is now available as a limited numbered edition of 1000 copies on red translucent coloured vinyl and contains an insert.

RYOZO BAND’s New Single “QUIET FOG / FUGITIVE” Coming to 7-Inch Vinyl!

Following their previous release Pleasure and a remix by French beatmaker Lex (de Kalhex) that drew attention from multiple directions, RYOZO BAND
kicks off 2026 with a two track single available on streaming and 7-inch vinyl.
The lead track, “Quiet Fog,” is a mid tempo piece highlighted by a powerful horn ensemble, with an awe-inspiring saxophone solo that steals the spotlight.
It’s a track that showcases the band’s evolving groove and ensemble maturity.
Released simultaneously with the 7-inch, “Fugitive” is a cover of a hidden gem by Jamaica’s legendary ska band The Skatalites.
While paying homage to the original, RYOZO BAND reimagines it with their signature energy and dynamism, delivering an uptempo arrangement full of drive
and vitality. The result is an energetic yet sophisticated sound that promises to ignite live audiences.

RYOZO BAND is led by Ryozo Obayashi (SANABAGUN.), joined by an all star lineup: drummer Masaaki Nagata (Zainichi Funk), saxophonist Takehide
“KIDS” Hashimoto (Zainichi Funk), guitarist Tetsuta Otachi (SAHAS), keyboardist Yusei Takahashi (Setagaya Trio, Terumasa Hino Quintet), percussionist
Ryotaro Miyasaka (Yuta Orisaka Ensemble), and trumpeter Kyotaro Hori (ACO, TAMTAM). Each member brings a highly acclaimed background, blending
their influences into an ensemble rich in depth and vitality, modernizing ska and jazz elements with a contemporary twist.
A release brimming with passion and love for music—perfect for ushering in 2026. This single is proof that RYOZO BAND is evolving to the next stage.

Belgian techno tastemaker Charlotte de Witte is back with the brand new Sanctum EP containing vocals of Marion Di Napoli. The release arrives the week after this year's Amsterdam Dance Event from October 16th - 20th and just ahead of her return to LA on November 2nd, where she will play a much anticipated all night long set at City Market.

Thanks to her truly distinct sound, de Witte sits at the frontline of the global electronic music scene. She is a DJ, producer and label head who has reshaped the underground with her blend of hard, dark and driving beats and trance tinged synths. Because of this, she is in demand on all the world's biggest stages, has picked up millions of global streams, established her label and its events art as a leading source of cutting edge sounds, and hosted her own KNTXT Turbo Club during Amsterdam Dance Event this year having already played across Europe, the US, UK all summer long.

Her own productions continue to stand out with fresh ideas and spectacular sun designs defining each one. She proves that once more with this new EP which features the alluring vocals of French singer, DJ and producer Marion Di Napoli. "I fell in love with Marion's voice years ago”, Charlotte explains. “She adds a very mystical touch to all her productions that have the power to bring you in a certain trance on the dance floor. I'm beyond excited about this release, on which every track her angelic voice is present.”

Sanctum kicks off with hard and heavy drums that will rattle warehouse walls as the searching synths add a futuristic feel next to twisted acid lines and the spell bound vocals of the angelic Marion. Fourth Dimension is a moody and driving techno roller with the vocals worked into hypnotic, soulful loops that add human warmth to the hypnotic drums and icy hi-hats. It's a warm and mystical world of sound then Fugato is an evocative ambient piece with soothing and exotic vocal coos and great cinematic tension.

This is another innovative EP from the one and only Charlotte de Witte.

Mathias Kaden returns to Rekids with the 'Circulate' EP, featuring a William Kiss Remix.

Mathias Kaden is back on Rekids after 2022’s ‘Blackbird’ EP, this time with the four-track ‘Circulate’ EP featuring a remix from the hotly tipped William Kiss. Kaden’s ‘Freedom’ kicks things off with stripped-back machine rhythm, tasteful stab melodies and a deeply satisfying low-end groove before an iconic gospel vocal joins in. Title track ‘Circulate’ is another infectious low-slung crawler with crunchy synth hits and a hypnotic and classy vibe that will get the dancefloor moving.

On the flip, William Kiss remixes Mathias Kaden’s ‘Freedom’ following his recent EP on Rekids' sibling label RSPX and the release of his collaborative project, Not Without Friends, with Luke Alessi and Jordan Brando on RÜFÜS DU SOL’s Rose Avenue. Kiss turns the track into a pumping peak-time cut with additional percussion and plenty of his signature Jackin’
flavour. Closing out the record, Kaden’s ‘Twisting Shadows’ introduces an acidic bassline and warped, dubbed-out vocals before dropping into an energetic trip.

Active since the mid-90s, Mathias Kaden appeared on Radio Slave’s Rekids for the first time in 2019 for ‘Liberate Drums’. He now returns to the label with the ‘Circulate’ EP, adding to his versatile discography on labels like Dyinamic and Vakant while also remixing work by Matthias Tanzmann, Onur Özer, Anja Schneider, and Trentemöller.

Chicago producer Ellery Cowles lands on Apnea Records with three tracks that draw from the city's foundational rhythms while reaching for something more devotional. Walking by Faith isn't chasing nostalgia--it's after deeper ground. "Fall of Jericho" kicks things off with syncopated Chicago swing colliding with latin percussion and acid basslines that curl and bite in equal measure. "Fly" builds around a looped vocal fragment, letting raw drum patterns stretch and breathe as the track slowly reveals itself. Closer "Crying of Yahweh" is the most patient of the three--seven minutes of hypnotic techno coiling around latin rhythms, carrying a quiet spiritual weight that lingers long after it fades. Cowles moves between reference points with ease--Chicago house, devotional threads, latin heat--but never forces the connection. The music feels like it's been lived in rather than simply constructed, generous with its time and intentional with its space. Out now on Apnea Records.

Kaninchenbau label head The Funk District has joined forces with Argentinian keys specialist Sokur for a new four-tracker that collides bluesy samples with sleek electronic grooves. 'Till My Feet Got Numb' kicks off with waves of synth energy run through with sampled vocals that hark back to Robert Johnson. 'Never Satisfied' is another mix of funky drums, jazzy pianos and crackly blues vocals that is unusual but effective. 'Took My Babe Away' repeats this combination, this time with hints of St Germain in the melancholic spoken words and ever more thumping and acid-laced beats. 'Sunshine From The Sky' completes the quartet with more hurried grooves laced with wonky synth work. It's peak time stuff with plenty of deeper meaning.

Texas-based Ben Hixon is a high-quality house head and for the one on his home label of Dolfin he hooks up with Stonie Blue, while Atlanta mainstay Stefan Ringer also steps up to feature on one cut. 'DX15' opens with a hooky synth motif that's stretched and bent over wooden drum knocks. It's minimal but warm and full of subtle tension. 'The Dancers (feat Stefan Ringer)' has more of a shuffle and sway to it to get those hips going and 'W3dnesday' then sinks back into loopy, elastic rhythm territory with woozy late-night chords draped over the top. 'What You Want (feat Sotnie Blue)' is a more jacked-up cut with hurried kicks and an irresistible urgency.

Kulture Galerie releases its 3rd Digital Artefacts cassette tape: "Mediterranean Blue" by NYC's own Alien D. Alien D is back on Kulture Galerie. Prior to this, Daniel Creahan has been featured on labels such as Lillerne Tapes, Banlieue Records, and Theory Therapy, and now shares a 6 track EP called Mediterranean Blue that lands on Filippo MSM's tapes series Digital Artefacts, the label's more experimental output.

The work is something of a companion piece to his recent release on Theory Therapy, “For the Early Hours of the World in Bloom,” exploring similar states with a more hazy, fluid sensibility. The compositions here trace back to a week spent several years prior on the Puglia coastline, where, in the midst of a read through of Helene Cixious’s Tomb(e), he began compiling a series of works drawing the gleaming sun, swirling waves and jagged, rocky coastline of the region, mixing in fragments of slow, pulsing low end, wafting synth elements and a range of processed samples dwelling on states of transition, life and love. Waves and dripping water swirl around lilting saxophone, kick drums drown the mix in heavily side-chained throbs of bass, and breaks rush in and out of the mix, making for a series of recordings that seem to view the dancefloor as a dream, always front of mind but hazily remembered.

“I was obsessed with these balances between the light-washed, dusty landscape and these quiet modest homes dotting the hills, and all I could think about was the passage of time, falling in and out and back in love, and the slow drift of memory,” he says. “It was like waking up with a new thought.”

The Swedish band Bullet got together in autumn 2001, with the aim of playing traditional heavy metal inspired by the late 1970s and early 1980s: solid, authentic and classic, with a contemporary and timeless touch. Seven years after their latest studio album, ‘Dust To Gold’ (2018), the musicians Dag “Hell” Hofer (vocals), Hampus Klang (guitar), Gustav Hector (bass), Gustav Hjortsjö (drums) and latest addition Freddie Johansson (guitar) are now back with a new album: ‘Kickstarter’ is scheduled for release on Steamhammer/SPV on 09 January 2026 and is set to prove that Bullet are determined to continue their almost 25-year career with the very kickstart referenced to by the album title. This of course also includes Bullet’s iconic tour bus, whose engine exploded after one of their most recent shows, forcing the musicians to embark on their return journey without their rolling accommodation. Naturally, this was the end neither of Bullet nor their battered vehicle – to the contrary: The group’s classic heavy metal spirit and their unwavering DIY mindset have proved stronger than ever. Having repaired the ageing bus with unwavering determination, oil-smeared hands and sweaty brows. Bullet are now ready to hit the road again, with ‘Kickstarter’ and the three lead singles/videos ‘Kickstarter’ (17 October 2025), ‘Keep Rolling’ (21 November 2025) and ‘Chained By Metal’ (19 December 2025) on board.

Chaos is fundamental for creating something powerful. It teaches us to be at ease with how things are, to listen to ourselves, and find our own order’. (Enrico Sangiuliano)

Pioneering, avant garde yet chart-storming sound designer/producer/live performer Enrico Sangiuliano drops EP ‘Order In Chaos’ as release #1 in his self-destructing countdown imprint ‘NINETOZERO’, out 20th November. The EP’s three tracks respectively represent a triptych of sound exploring tension, release, and dissolution, with violinist and composer Vito Gatto joining Italian techno/melodic maestro Sangiuliano for tracks 1 and 3. The EP blends electronic, classical and electro-acoustic genres, resulting in a fresh, unique product that defies typical techno expectation, as Sangiuliano and Gatto explore the concept of disorder as a creative playground.

‘With this chapter, we dive into chaos – something that can be uncomfortable, but is the place in which you can find unexpected or new ideas. Chaos is fundamental for creating something powerful. It teaches us to be at ease with how things are, to listen to ourselves, and find our own order’. (Sangiuliano)

The ‘Order In Chaos’ EP continues a momentous year for Enrico Sangiuliano, and heralds his upcoming all-night-long SOLO show at Nitsa in Barcelona (Nov 28th, tickets here). His highly acclaimed NINETOZERO label has also previously featured Charlotte de Witte, Antonio d’Africa, Mattia Saviolo, GMS, Alex Lentini, STOMP BOXX, Zimmz, Secret Cinema and About Sofiya.

Vito Gatto is a Milan-based violinist, composer and sound explorer. He is the founder of label/collective NeMu (‘Neutral Mutation’) producing Italian projects at the interface of electronic and organic sound. His self-description as ‘Making sounds, looking for silence’ makes him the perfect collab partner for ‘Order In Chaos’, which ‘embraces the paradox: chaos births order, and order dissolves back into chaos.’

‘Whilst classically trained, I have always been fascinated by the world of electronic music, in all its expressive forms’ Gatto says. ‘I use real instruments and natural sound sources processing them through electronics to enhance their unpredictability, always remembering that the core of music - whether classical or electronic - is communication and storytelling. This philosophy guided our creative synthesis on this release.’

The collaborative workflow combined remote and in-person studio work over roughly a year, culminating in these three key tracks reflecting different musical and conceptual layers.

‘Order In Chaos’ EP tracks:
Enrico Sangiuliano & Vito Gatto ‘Adaptation for Strings and 909’: A cinematic overture built from the raw intimacy of Vito Gatto’s violin, processed and layered with unquantized 909 drums. Out of grid, out of rules. Drama and turbulence surge until thunderous kicks strike like sudden storms. ‘This track symbolises both of us. Vito sent the strings, I added the iconic Roland 909. It has no structure and no grid, the arrangement is not precise, it’s a very pure track and a great example of disorder and freedom.’
Enrico Sangiuliano ‘Order in Chaos’: The title track is a pure techno weapon and dancefloor igniter: rolling, stripped, euphoric. A shape-shifting lead synth constantly mutates, flirting with disorder until the kick restores gravity. Chaos becomes dancefloor order.
Enrico Sangiuliano & Vito Gatto ‘Dissolution’: The closing moment. Strings and drums dissolve into a weightless drone. Beatless and infinite, it invites surrender into space. ‘This cinematic track slowly melts ‘Order in Chaos’, adding processed organic sounds and field recordings from the mountains.. coming back to nature, and silence.’ (Gatto).

Still #0 to go in the NINETOZERO countdown… And then what? With Sangiuliano, it’ll be something unexpected and brilliantly innovative.

Black Vinyl

"Tief gestimmter, düsterer und brutaler Texas Death Metal", lautet die kompromisslose Antwort von Terror Corpse-Schlagzeuger Dobber Beverly, wenn er gebeten wird, sein neuestes Monstrum zu beschreiben.

Terror Corpse wurde 2025 gegründet, besteht jedoch aus Veteranen der US-Underground-Szene und ist aus den Überresten von Malignant Altar hervorgegangen, wo sie dort weitermachen, wo ihre Vorgänger aufgehört haben – immer noch in Zusammenarbeit mit Dark Descent Records.

Das Album wurde vollständig vom Schlagzeuger selbst produziert und hat einen ebenso unverwechselbaren wie vernichtenden Sound. Vom ersten hämmernden Kick-Drum-Schlag an, zu dem sich bald eine markerschütternde Bassline gesellt, lässt Ash Eclipses Flesh seinen unerbittlichen Griff nie locker.

„Ich wollte im Wesentlichen einen extrem tief gestimmten Celtic-Frost-Gitarrensound mit einer modernen und großzügigen, natürlichen Drum-Aufnahme. Großer Raum, große Drum-Sounds. Dazu noch ein paar höhlenartige, tiefe Vocals im Stil von Craig Pillard und Bassgitarre, und schon hat man unseren Sound.“

Die Verehrung der Band für das Erbe von Celtic Frost zeigt sich auch im letzten Song des Albums, einem Cover von „Into the Crypts of Rays“. Dobber macht keinen Hehl aus den Einflüssen von Terror Corpse: „Disciples Of Mockery, Incantation, Morbid Angel vor den 2000er Jahren; im Wesentlichen älterer böser amerikanischer Death Metal. Celtic Frost hat uns alle massiv beeinflusst. Von ihren primitiven und gewalttätigen Anfängen bis hin zur ultra-experimentellen und dunklen Ära ihrer späteren Alben.“

SPTLP007 - ASC - Vanishing Point LP

Evolving further with each release, ASC delivers his latest monumental album on Spatial, a varied and memorable journey through stunningly realised fusion of modern and classic atmospheric breakbeats.

A1 - Mystic Street

Setting a murky tone with light cymbals and synthwork flecking the intro, Mystic Street calmly purrs and growls towards a drop of analogue kicks and a sparse, menacing drum pattern to kick off this incredible album. Enveloped by a dense cloud of darkly atmospherics, the track coils with tension, each element rippling through the mix like distant memories as the suitably enigmatic bassline rumbles beneath.

A2 - Convergence

Straight into the beats with a DJ-friendly two step intro, ASC utilises sparse, sci-fi hits and persistent danceable breakbeats with a melodic bassline. As the atmosphere builds, percussive tones punctuate the swirling pads, creating a luscious sense of forward motion with echoing samples and effects combining in the mix to create a dreamlike soundscape perfect for the dancefloor and headphones alike.

B1 - Invisible Borders

No ASC album would be complete without an amen workout, and we certainly have that here as Invisible Borders rushes into view with simmering intent, melodic samples tore from battlegrounds of yesteryear providing a truly epic atmosphere, rippling breakbeat trickery teasing the listener before crushing full contact amens arrive with panache and veracity - twisted across yearning bass with an unflinching fighting spirit.

B2 - Celestial Bodies

Up next a moment of calm as we soak up the charms of the dreamlike Celestial Bodies, a soothing journey of beats, breaks and atmosphere from Spatial's label head. Melodic notes ripple across the mix with old school breaks filtering to and fro, conjuring images of a cosmic journey unfolding, where old school breakbeat rhythms pulse like distant constellations, echoes shimmering in the vast expanse of ASC's versatility.

C1 - Losing Track Of Time

Into an absolute stunner next as ASC unleashes a modern classic which has a wonderfully instant familiarity to it - like it was lifted directly from the golden era of atmospheric drum & bass. The old school breaks have a distinctive feel while a variety of pads teaming with life swirl around above. A myriad of spirited melodies develop and maintain your attention with classic 808 basslines to complete this remarkable composition.

C2 - Slipstream

Switching up the vibe in style, ASC delivers an intense, cosmic intro to Slipstream which builds gradually with whooshing effects and long female vocals before a crisp, crunchy slice of Hot Pants breakbeat heaven tears through the mix, chock-full of excitable edits portrayed in a brilliant clarity. Warm sub bass punctuates the track while a reverberating earworm melody slowly etches itself into your mind.

D1 - Paradigm Shift

A good old fashioned roller up next as Paradigm Shift sees ASC blend a superb 2-step rhythm with a sumptuous smooth bassline - guaranteed to move the dancefloor. Atmospherics take no back seat either as elegant synthwork swirls and washes across the soundscape with subtly used vocal samples adding texture and warmth to an impressively layered mix that maintains its pace right through to an echoing conclusion.

D2 - Transmitter

Sending us back to interstellar space for an inspired mission through vast unexplored star systems, Transmitter sees ASC create a stunningly evocative, ethereal collage of atmospherics with sonar-like beeps punctuating and persisting throughout. Driving the track along are the superbly programmed drums, filtered and layered with twisted, distorted vocal samples to complete this exhilarating album in pure Spatial style.

2025 Repress

Amotik recruits Norway's Kameliia and Dallas-based Decoder for the third split EP on his increasingly essential AMTK+ label.

Kameliia's hypnotic and atmospheric music has appeared on the likes of Overbalance and Unterwegs, where she has previously flexed her sophisticated take on sound design and heady soundscapes with driving and physical grooves. Decoder recently started his new Toca label with Jay York and has previously appeared on labels like Subsist, Float and Jeff Mills' legendary Axis.

Kameliia kicks off with the heavy and thumping 'Beyond', combining forceful drums and a slow, mystical synth lead that encourages you to follow it deep into the night. '8-12' is another perfect fusion of the head and body with supple percussion smeared with balmy and cosmic chords for a classy and immersive cut.

Decoder opens the B-side with 'Kalpavriksha', a twitchy and paranoid cut laced with bleeps and pulses, crafting a futuristic soundscape that grows ever more intense. 'Swayambhu' brings experimental shades with its tightly interlaced drums and synths beneath an unsettling synth line that whistles like a storm. Closing the release is the excellent 'Velinattu,' a buoyant track that's warm and full of delicate percussive layers.

This is the ultimate mini-album that can proudly be called LIP CREAM! “9 SHOCKS TERROR” has remained timeless since its original release in 1986, embodying incomparable speed and a level of perfection that defines Japanese hardcore. Opening with ‘TERROR,’ which goes straight into reverse audio and needle skips, the song structure charges forward relentlessly, shaking off the catchy, humorous, and approachable vibe that had previously defined LIP CREAM. Naoki's noisy yet melodic guitar, Pill's wild drums, Minoru's heavy yet high-speed bass, and JhaJha's intense shouts that still allow the lyrics to be clearly heard—all these elements fuse together to create powerful tracks that have reached an unprecedented sound. Recorded at Shinjuku JAM Studio, ‘9 SHOCKS TERROR’ was composed primarily by Minoru and Naoki, with lyrics and artwork by JhaJha. JhaJha's hand-drawn jacket illustration was a parody of THE FUZZTONES' album “Cinderella”. Additionally, an English translation of the lyrics is included for this RELAPSE release, helping English-speaking listeners understand the unique world of LIP CREAM. Interestingly, the title “9 SHOCKS TERROR” was revised to “9 SHOCKING TERROR” on the 2007 CD reissue by ONI Label. This revision was made after illustrator PUSHEAD, who has a long-standing relationship with LIP CREAM, pointed out a grammar error. However, the original title has been restored out of respect for the original work for this RELAPSE reissue. Following the release of this album, LIP CREAM launched their self-managed national tour “BLOODY SUMMER TOUR,” and fans who bought the album rushed to the gig. Additionally, during a show at Doshisha University in Kansai in the autumn of the same year, torches were brought onto the stage and Jha Jha set them ablaze, causing absolute chaos (footage of this incident can be viewed in the video “LIP CREAM ONLY”).

Begging Dog ist das Indie-Punk-Projekt des in Los Angeles ansässigen Künstlers Jeff Kleinman. Als Ventil für seine Arbeit außerhalb der Band Choir Boy widmet sich Kleinman bei Begging Dog einem rohen, hausgemachten Sound mit Anklängen an Garage Punk und einer einfachen Sprache in den Texten. DEMO 1 ist 26 Minuten lang und voller rollender Bass- und Synthesizer-Linien, charismatischer Riffs und motorischer Drum-Beats. Textlich zeichnen die Songs eine Reihe von Beobachtungen, Szenen und Charakteren aus dem Leben: einen aufdringlichen Gewerkschaftsvertreter, einen Postboten mit einem festen Job bei der Bundesbehörde, einen zwanghaften Spieler und einen geliebten Obdachlosen aus der Nachbarschaft. Ehemalige Liebschaften werden zu einer Collage zusammengefügt, die mehrere Tracks begleitet, aus dem Zusammenhang gerissen, mit unverblümten, scharfsinnigen freien Versen. Kleinman nennt Bruce Springsteen als Inspiration dafür, wie seine Songs mit schlichter Tinte geschrieben sind, wobei er direkte Einfachheit gegenüber blumiger Prosa bevorzugt. Er greift eine gemeinsame Einsamkeit auf, die sowohl universell als auch vielleicht besonders einzigartig für das Leben in Los Angeles ist, mit schnörkellosen Nuancen und Verletzlichkeit. Im Titelsong singt Kleinman: ,Niemand liebt einen bettelnden Hund", eine Zeile, die er von einem Freund übernommen hat und die die Sichtweise des Projekts verkörpert: Die Welt kann einem das Gefühl geben, ein bettelnder Hund auf der Suche nach einem Zuhause zu sein. Auf dem Titelsong singt Kleinman ,no one loves a begging dog" (niemand liebt einen bettelnden Hund) in einer Zeile ,die er von einem Freund übernommen hat und die die Sichtweise des Projekts verkörpert: Die Welt kann einem das Gefühl geben, ein bettelnder Hund auf der Suche nach Zuneigung und Sicherheit zu sein, aber es liegt auch Schönheit in der Einsamkeit und der summenden Monotonie des Ganzen. Der synthlastige Titel ,Laughing Boy" reflektiert über den Sinn des Lebens, kritisiert hohe Mieten und erwähnt gleichzeitig den Duft von Jasminbäumen sowie die störende Präsenz der Polizei. In ,Common Place", umgeben von drängenden Drum-Machine-Kicks und Verzerrungen, singt er davon, wie er sich in einem 7-Eleven-Laden in der Innenstadt wirklich lebendig fühlt, um dann zwischen einer Tragödie, die er in einem Park miterlebt hat, und schönen Erinnerungen an das Leben in einer Wohngemeinschaft in Salt Lake City hin und her zu springen, bevor er sein neues Mantra verkündet: ,Es ist vorbei." Die Kontraste hier sind es, die diese Songs menschlich machen. Kleinman nahm DEMO 1 schnell und mit wenig mehr als sich selbst auf. Live übersetzt sich das dynamische Material von Begging Dog in eine siebenköpfige Band. Kleinman nahm DEMO 1 schnell und fast alleine auf. Live wird das dynamische Material von Begging Dog von einer siebenköpfigen Band umgesetzt. ,Egal, wie gut oder schlecht es einem geht, man sucht irgendwie nach etwas mehr", sagt Kleinman, ohne zu versuchen, eine größere Bedeutung in seiner Arbeit zu finden. ,Wenn ich über diese Dinge schreibe, versuche ich nicht, sie wichtiger zu machen, als sie sind." DEMO 1 profitiert von dieser geradlinigen, alltäglichen Bescheidenheit, die Offenheit mit Entschlossenheit und eingängigen Melodien verbindet.

Begging Dog ist das Indie-Punk-Projekt des in Los Angeles ansässigen Künstlers Jeff Kleinman. Als Ventil für seine Arbeit außerhalb der Band Choir Boy widmet sich Kleinman bei Begging Dog einem rohen, hausgemachten Sound mit Anklängen an Garage Punk und einer einfachen Sprache in den Texten. DEMO 1 ist 26 Minuten lang und voller rollender Bass- und Synthesizer-Linien, charismatischer Riffs und motorischer Drum-Beats. Textlich zeichnen die Songs eine Reihe von Beobachtungen, Szenen und Charakteren aus dem Leben: einen aufdringlichen Gewerkschaftsvertreter, einen Postboten mit einem festen Job bei der Bundesbehörde, einen zwanghaften Spieler und einen geliebten Obdachlosen aus der Nachbarschaft. Ehemalige Liebschaften werden zu einer Collage zusammengefügt, die mehrere Tracks begleitet, aus dem Zusammenhang gerissen, mit unverblümten, scharfsinnigen freien Versen. Kleinman nennt Bruce Springsteen als Inspiration dafür, wie seine Songs mit schlichter Tinte geschrieben sind, wobei er direkte Einfachheit gegenüber blumiger Prosa bevorzugt. Er greift eine gemeinsame Einsamkeit auf, die sowohl universell als auch vielleicht besonders einzigartig für das Leben in Los Angeles ist, mit schnörkellosen Nuancen und Verletzlichkeit. Im Titelsong singt Kleinman: ,Niemand liebt einen bettelnden Hund", eine Zeile, die er von einem Freund übernommen hat und die die Sichtweise des Projekts verkörpert: Die Welt kann einem das Gefühl geben, ein bettelnder Hund auf der Suche nach einem Zuhause zu sein. Auf dem Titelsong singt Kleinman ,no one loves a begging dog" (niemand liebt einen bettelnden Hund) in einer Zeile ,die er von einem Freund übernommen hat und die die Sichtweise des Projekts verkörpert: Die Welt kann einem das Gefühl geben, ein bettelnder Hund auf der Suche nach Zuneigung und Sicherheit zu sein, aber es liegt auch Schönheit in der Einsamkeit und der summenden Monotonie des Ganzen. Der synthlastige Titel ,Laughing Boy" reflektiert über den Sinn des Lebens, kritisiert hohe Mieten und erwähnt gleichzeitig den Duft von Jasminbäumen sowie die störende Präsenz der Polizei. In ,Common Place", umgeben von drängenden Drum-Machine-Kicks und Verzerrungen, singt er davon, wie er sich in einem 7-Eleven-Laden in der Innenstadt wirklich lebendig fühlt, um dann zwischen einer Tragödie, die er in einem Park miterlebt hat, und schönen Erinnerungen an das Leben in einer Wohngemeinschaft in Salt Lake City hin und her zu springen, bevor er sein neues Mantra verkündet: ,Es ist vorbei." Die Kontraste hier sind es, die diese Songs menschlich machen. Kleinman nahm DEMO 1 schnell und mit wenig mehr als sich selbst auf. Live übersetzt sich das dynamische Material von Begging Dog in eine siebenköpfige Band. Kleinman nahm DEMO 1 schnell und fast alleine auf. Live wird das dynamische Material von Begging Dog von einer siebenköpfigen Band umgesetzt. ,Egal, wie gut oder schlecht es einem geht, man sucht irgendwie nach etwas mehr", sagt Kleinman, ohne zu versuchen, eine größere Bedeutung in seiner Arbeit zu finden. ,Wenn ich über diese Dinge schreibe, versuche ich nicht, sie wichtiger zu machen, als sie sind." DEMO 1 profitiert von dieser geradlinigen, alltäglichen Bescheidenheit, die Offenheit mit Entschlossenheit und eingängigen Melodien verbindet.

To celebrate two decades of passion, innovation, and dedication to underground music, Playbeatz Labels Network proudly launches "Tribe", a new compilation project that pays tribute to the artists and sounds that have shaped its journey.
For over 20 years, Playbeatz has been a platform for creative freedom and genre-crossing experimentation—championing independent voices and uncovering unique talents from across the electronic music spectrum. "Tribe Vol. 1" is the first chapter in a special series of releases that reflect the label family’s diversity and forward-thinking spirit.
Kicking off with a limited edition vinyl, Vol. 1 features four carefully curated tracks by long-time Playbeatz affiliates —each bringing their unique sonic identity, from house to melodic textures, tech tools to soulful grooves.

A1. Erly Tepshi – Dreamer Emotionally charged and atmospheric, a deep dive into the melodic house realm, “Dreamer” wraps a haunting male vocal around lush synth lines and hypnotic rhythms.

A2. DJ Simi & Antonio Grassia – Nuestro Fuego With its driving groove and minimal yet powerful arrangement “Nuestro Fuego” is crafted as a peak-time tech and house tool. The track is all about raw energy and club efficiency.

B1. Mind The Gap DJs – Eclipse Of The Soul This old-school house jam delivers uplifting piano riffs, classic drum programming, and a timeless sense of groove. A heartfelt homage to the golden era of house, reimagined for today’s floors.

B2. Giomini & Marcus Raute – Tape Sweat A fresh and summery house cut with shimmering grooves and playful percussion. The track recalls the clean, infectious style of Deetron, blending crisp drums with melodic finesse. A pure dancefloor delight for the warmer seasons.

For its fifth anniversary, Deeppa Records presents a two-part various artists compilation exploring the theme of duality. The first part kicks off with Jehan's 'Casino Aquatique' which is a breezy and warm deep house jam with smooth vocals radiating soul. Scruscru then brings more funky drums and expressive disco melodies, and Shaka's 'That Spot Under The Sun' is pure Mediterranean vibes. On the flip comes more blissfulness from I Gemin, a starry-eyed and melodic wonder from Laroye's Cosmic Disco mix and Sunes' late-night and romantic groove, 'Don Fetti.' Four tasteful sounds that ooze class.

Drumcode launches a new V/A series ‘DC4’ inspired by their popular A-Sides compilations. ‘DC4’ showcases a quartet of sure-fire heaters from the label’s extended family of artists. The EP features two mainstays of Drumcode, Timmo and Mark Reeve, while fleshing out the techno sides of Kaufmann and Goom Gum (in collaboration with rising London artists RDNK) after they debuted on Truesoul in recent times. Kaufmann’s curiously titled ‘Broncho’s Sandman’ kicks things off, a punchy slice of dancefloor tackle marked by a catchy vocal line, with a foot in techno and progressive alike. Timmo follows up last year’s tidy contribution to A-Sides Vol.13, with a technicoloured techno cut that bubbles with bags of personality, as any cut titled ‘Miami Vice’ should! The Bulgarian has poured plenty of hours into the creation of the track, which espouses an otherworldly celestial energy. It's been four years since Mark Reeve’s last contribution on Drumcode, with the excellent mini album ‘Breathe’. The Frankfurt-based British producer makes a timely return with the storming ‘Stop, Go’, that fuses together elements of techno, hard trance and pop for an inspired five minute dancefloor workout. Goom Gum & RDNK team up for the first time ‘It’s Time To Get High. The track begins life as a crisp melodic cut, before transforming into a trippy slab of psychedelia in the second half. This is begging to be rinse in an outdoor party setting.

Frontman Chris Reifert was already a well-known force on the underground through his time as drummer with Florida's highly respected death metal combo Death. After playing drums on the band's debut album, the much acclaimed 'Scream Bloody Gore', Chris moved back west to the more open climate of San Francisco & formed Autopsy. The band released the demo 'Critical Madness' in 1988 & it wasn't long before Peaceville Records snapped them up in a deal initially spanning 4 albums.

The partnership kicked off in April 1989 with their debut album 'Severed Survival'; a brutal explosion of heavy riffs, tight drumming & a screaming vocal, rounded off with concepts of death, disease & diabolica. This was swiftly followed up with the equally genre-defining 'Mental Funeral' opus in 1991. Released in the autumn of 1995, Autopsy's then fourth & final album before splitting, 'Shitfun', was a glorious scatological gross out & exercise in the limits of extremity & a fitting end to one of the finest bands of a Doomed generation before their return from the grave in 2009 which has continued to go from strength to strength to the current day. This thirtieth anniversary vinyl pressing of 'Shitfun' is presented on bowel- busting limited brown marble- effect vinyl, including the original cover art & printed inner sleeve.

A collection of earlier and newer works by LFU
combined in one EP.
On November 14, 2025 !K7 Records released DJ-Kicks by Eris Drew. She chose 'Oh Echt' by LFU as the opening track of her mix.
The style of 'Oh Echt' is not easy to categorize. Electronic breakbeats with Detroit hi-hat patterns and a typically pushy four-to-the-floor kick. The funky, staccato bassline and mysterious strings take you back to the eighties and the added funky organs and stabs complete the story. The "Oh Echt" Main Mix is the instrumental mix of the 'Vogel Mix' in which the 'Oh Echtapella' is incorporated.
The first design of 'Boom Boom Tracking' was in 2011 for a DJ/DRUM performance that LFU did. He picked it up again in 2014, but did not finish it until 2024. This big beat floor filler contains chemical beats accompanied by electrostabs and a deep, dark bassline. If you listen intently to this song on a regular audio device, you might notice a thump on every 1 of the 4 beats, but when it's played on a good, big sound system, you can't miss this tension in your stomach. 'Boom Boom Tracking' it is!
Downtempo percussive track 'Tjeetje' is the first track LFU has made in North Coast Studio in 2001. 'Slow Forward' was the third song he completed there in 2003, the same place where he met Ben Baan of Fruitcake, who played the piano part.
Initially, 'Queen Cubana' did not make it as a remix of Eddy Zoey's 'No Soy Cubano' in 2017. In this new version, LFU removed his vocals, except for "Step". LFU took inspiration from Katy Perry's 'Bon Appetit' and turned it into a rhythmic slow jam with carefully programmed beats, resulting in a spectacular funky joint.

UK producer Tom Carruthers returns with a scorching 5-tracker for Skylax Records, diving headfirst into the primal roots of jackin’ house, proto-italo, and early machine funk. Known for his raw MPC-driven grooves on L.I.E.S., Clone Jack For Daze, Syncrophone, and Craigie Knowes, Carruthers channels the energy of the underground circa ’86—pure drum machine soul for the dancefloor faithful. Side A kicks off with the title track “Neutralise”, all sharp snares, warped synths and hypnotic repetition—a jack track in the truest sense. “Deep North” follows with ghostly pads and relentless drum programming, while “No More” brings metallic tension and stripped-down funk with a heavy nod to Chicago’s original blueprints. On the flip, “Pascals” weaves cosmic arps through rugged percussion, merging italo sensuality with bleep-era minimalism. The closer, “Cosmic Ride”, is exactly that: a journey through spacey chords, dusty rhythm boxes, and that unmistakable feeling of warehouse euphoria at 4 a.m. Neutralise EP is a raw, timeless record that strips dance music down to its essence—jacking, emotional, physical. To match the sonic purity and timeless aesthetic of the release, we enlisted the iconic H5 studio—a name synonymous with visionary design in music and culture. Known for their groundbreaking work with Daft Punk, YSL, and numerous award-winning visual campaigns, H5 brings a level of artistic sophistication that elevates this EP into a complete sensory object. Their clean, modernist design echoes the stripped yet futuristic vibe of Tom Carruthers’ sound—a perfect fusion of form and function, underground and high art. Vinyl only. No digital. No compromise. For fans of: Virgo Four, Baby Ford, Larry Heard, early Warp, Mr. Fingers, and Beppe Loda.

Souldynamic swings back onto the Samosa label with the mesmerizingly rhythmic West-Side Of Afrika Vol. 2.

We kick off the A-Side with ‘Touma’ – a truly hypnotic tribal afro vapour that entices you into the fire-lit night. A heavy dub-style bass just about dominates above the rhythmic ensemble, whilst the haunting chanted vocals elevate the track to ethereal levels. Stunning. No wonder Ron Trent has been spinning this one in his sets for the past few weeks – it’s right in that spiritual zone where deep house meets ancestral ritual.

Second track on Side A is the happiness trip that is ‘M.I.L’. Rolling drums, marimbas and a killer bassline merge with the flighty guitar riffs and smiling vocals. You could be in a bar listening to the music live in the room, smoke filling the spaces and dim lights offering a glimpse of good times.

Heading over to Side B and you find the enchanting ‘DJA’ awaiting. A deep roller of a tune, Souldynamic shifts the gears whilst serving the entrees. A truly magnificent slice of West-African vibes, ‘DJA’ has it all from the gorgeous vocals to the chugging, hypnotic beat.

Track 2 on Side B is the sultry ‘N.T.F.P’. The BPMs are touched down a notch for this one but don’t let that fool you. ‘N.T.F.P’ is a musical celebration of joyous beats, slaps, claps, brass and Afro vocals. You don’t get it much more authentic than this.

West-Side Of Afrika Vol. 2 is like a shapely hand in the perfectly fitted glove that is the Samosa label. A truly stunning piece of vinyl with every track as strong as the last. A sure-fire winner.

Berlin’s ZentaSkai returns to his Mask Records with the ‘Billie’ EP, collaborating with Palawan, Jeremy Reinhard, and Thomas Grün for release on vinyl only, 2nd November 2025. He kicks off with the solo cut 'A1', which is quick, sophisticated, raw House with a funky clip to the beats that diffuses heat in the grainy sustained pads. It brings serene emotional release through stylish hypnosis and gorgeous vocals that blend seamlessly into the mix. Next, ZentaSkai collaborates with the mysterious Palawan, as he did on one track of his 2023 album The Architecture Of The Mind, on 'A2.' This one suspends you in backlit synth glows while rounded drums and funky claps tap out the supple rhythm. Cautious hope comes from the quiet chord stabs and soft focus melodies in what is a masterclass in deep Techno minimalism. 'B1' reunites ZentaSkai with Cologne's Jeremy Reinhard following previous cuts on that same 2023 album. Reinhard has long been a pillar of his local Berlin scene as a resident DJ, but also the wider underground with his own label Lekker Record. Their track taps into dub depths but ups the pace and allows radiant synths to piece the surface next to muttered spoken word that keep it intimate and perfectly seductive for body and mind. Last of all is a collab with Austrian Thomas Grün, who has been shaping deep and Tech House with his immaculate grooves for decades. Their 'B2' brings US garage snares to buoyant drums and douses them in layers of fuzzy synth warmth. It's meditative yet direct with an ever-rising sense of hope that makes it all the more indelible. ZentaSkai (aka No Mad Ronin, Matt Nowak, and MASK) is a German DJ and producer active since 1997. Based out of his studio in Berlin, ZentaSkai runs the Zaijenroots label and, since 2017, the Mask sub-label, which houses his stunning 2023 ‘Architecture of the Mind’ LP as well as his Cuddling Monsters project with Laura Merino Allue, who has been significantly involved in the label's work since 2023. - with other credits including a release on Jerome Sydenham’s Ibadan Records and support from the likes of Richie Hawtin, Joseph Capriati, Marcel Dettmann, Luke Slater, Laurent Garnier, DVS1, Ben Sims, and Radio Slave.

With Dominik Eulberg and Arne Schaffhausen (of EXTRAWELT) we welcome back two longtime Cocoon heroes to the label. The two were featured in a VICE Magazine special last year for a 'field recording' documentary. you-need-to-hear-this/dominik-eulberg-westerwald-extrawelt-zurich-lost-and-found) which marked the beginning of a new collaboration. Dominik and Arne checked their fresh recorded sounds in the studio and found out that there have a common base and musical understanding. They started to work on new tracks and it looks like this joint venture will continue for a longer time. The first results of their mutual work is 'A Little Further' which will be released in three different versions on Cocoon Recordings in the next weeks (COR12117). So let's start with 'Not On A Map' version: This one seems to be tailor made for the next afterhour and the rising sun. Dominik and Arne create the perfect mood for those special moments on the floor with a nice mix of energetic beats, interesting sounds and an emotional bass- and synth-programming. So many layers and different levels however the overall picture never gets overcharged or too demanding. Coming up next is the '37 Routes' version which quite stands out with the used breakbeats and no standard 4/4 kick drum. The synths are more scratchy and louder and the bassline seems to jump out of the speakers, this is a massive wall of sound production. The direction here is clear. However the two incorporated some cool and magic breaks that seem to refer to the deeper Eulberg sound which forms a great mix of two different techno-visions. Last but not least there's the 'Imaginery Escort' version which appears a bit like the dub edit of 'A Little Further".