Search:kick the drum

Ben Sun returns to Delusions for his 4th release on the label including three more tracks which show the Australian via London on his best form yet. Full Moon kicks off the Tides EP at full throttle with a muscular conga-led disco house roller. Slurping 909 hats and the most twisted of synth solos courtesy of regular collaborator Fantastic Man (and his beloved Juno 60) provide the icing on this simple bass-cake which never fails to energize the dancefloor in the most special of ways.
Star Ritual drops next, going heavy on the percussion once again for a minimal stripped back drum tool which packs a mighty punch. Dubbed out vocal hits punctuate the beautifully loose groove with subtle hints of afrobeat implied by the bassline making for a warm summer track dripping with tropical vibes.
Finally we have Glass Waves bringing the EP to a glorious close, all chiming synths, bouncing moog bass and waves of chords layering on top of a heavy drum track. Ben repping an early 90's blissed out Nu Groove mood on this one and managing to sound as fresh as ever in the process.

On Scissor and Thread's fourth release of 2016, newcomer Villete takes a turn in the spotlight on their deep house stunner, 'Girl Next Door'. The A-side opens with the swelling pads and earnest hi-hat of Dreams". A distant voice declares everyone is devoted to their emotion, it's me and my imagination' before a springy bass line drops in, ushering in the mantra never be afraid to dream". A brassy synth further envelops the listener into the track's warm embrace as layers of percussion skitter in and out of focus. September' takes a turn for the cerebral with its' skipping hi-hats and airy pads. A springy bass line is accompanied by celestial synths that envelop the senses, making this psychedelic cut primed for after hours devastation. Villete goes even more cerebral on their introspective title cut, dialing back on the BPM, but keeping the energy high. A hushed bass and thudding kick take the backseat, allowing the hypnotizing, submerged pads and swirling, reverbed synths to take center stage, transporting dancers into eye-closed euphoria. The EP closes with the murky drum tones of Rillia". Droning pads, delicate claps, and a shy, skittering shaker keep things bubbling and light above the track's thicker than molasses kicks. Deep house maestro Darand Land takes his turn on the aforementioned track, lifting it out of the murk and straight up to the heavens and drenching it in his sun-kissed, euphoric style.

Philippe Quenum returns to Cadenza Music with 'Solitaire', some thirteen years after helping kick start the Swiss label with the 2003 release 'Orange Mistake'/'Funky Dandy'. This groundbreaking single, co-produced with Luciano, has since become a landmark release, not just for the label, but also as the benchmark for the micro-house and minimal tech-house genre that developed over the decade. With a music career than spans back to the mid-80s (dancing in NYC as part of the breakdance troupe, The Magnificent Force), Quenum found his forte with house music, both as a DJ, and as a producer and label owner. Setting up the Access 58 label in 1998 as a platform for his music and collaborations, Quenum has consistently released over the years for labels like Crosstown Rebels, Soma, alphahouse, Thema and Trapez LTD. 'Solitaire' finds Quenum on fine form; on the lead track, dubby FX and bass shaking shots roll out over an urgent disco beat, muted brass and technoid stabs fire from all directions as the tension building pads flourish. Shadowy forces are at play on 'Mystic'; discordant sounds echo and bellow over reverberating percussion and a dense back beat that fire into life with shuffling hi-hats. Wrapping up this welcome return to the label is 'Mystery'; whipping snares and industrial clangs rumble over the urgent drums for more hypnotizing dancefloor work from Philippe!

Drumcode reserve their Limited branch of releases for the special and outstanding productions. Pressing them onto vinyl only, providing the perfect collectors item and sound that techno lovers worldwide constantly pursue.
The current catalogue of Drumcode Limited releases include names such as Adam Beyer, Alan Fitzpatrick, Tom Demac & Glimpse, Ben Sims, Steve Rachmad, 2000 and One and Marco Faraone. dubspeeka proudly joins the list of acclaimed artists to present the forthcoming vinyl only DCLTD20 - sk30.

Continuing his surge through the world of techno, the Bristol based producer has never strayed from the sound that has proven to be so popular amongst colleagues and fans alike.
The dark, haunting and powerful tones that resonate from the opening track sk30 showcase why dubspeeka has made his mark on the underground scene for a number of years.

Once again the chilling synth arrangements that have become synonymous with dubspeeka's style echo throughout the track clashing against the distorted vocal sample.

Yet another example of dubspeeka's unparalleled studio work, the production is intricately woven together with a tight thunderous kick drum demonstrating his prominence as an underground artist of the highest caliber.
Markus Suckut provides excellent support on remix duties for sk30.
Another purveyor of a unique sound, the German-based producer doesn't hold back
when tackling this mammoth remix.
The hard and relentless bassline conjures the perfect background for the bubbling synth tones and echoing percussion.
Markus Suckut demonstrates his skill and experimentat
ion that he pours into his own
production with the powerful and enthralling remix of sk30.

System boss Mike Gervais is back at it, and he's bringing a crew of talented conspirators to surround you on four sides with an original cut and three distinctly different interpretations.

Surrounded drops in with a thumping kick following a relentlessly rolling synth through taut drum programming, sizzling ride cymbals, and crisp claps to build tension on the dance floor.

Annie Hall takes the suspense of the original deep underground, for a subterranean journey through throbbing bass, corroded synths and filthy atmospherics, straight to the nucleus of the netherworld.

Jesse Jakob pumps up the kick for a jacking reinterpretation laden with warehouse synths and a barrage of claps for big rooms.

Project 313 slips into a shadowy maze of smoke and mirrors to bend their remix into a lithe and rubbery low­down groove, perfect for heating things up early or when it's time to stay long and get weird.

De Sluwe Vos (Dutch for 'The Sly Fox', a name derived from Aesop's fable of the Fox and the Crow) is the newest addition to the Dutch house and techno scene. His productions are supported by artists such as DJ Sneak, Joy Orbison, Boddika andBicep. Moreover, De Sluwe Vos has a packed tour schedule and travels many miles for all his national and international gigs.

With strong hooks and dirty kicks as his specialities, De Sluwe Vos has released multiple tracks on labels like 4Lux and Slapfunk. Lately, this cheerful producer from Dutch city of Deventer has even been gaining a foothold in the pop scene. His gig at Noorderslag did not go unnoticed: national music platform 3voor12 named him the best act of the festival.

De Sluwe Vos mixes various styles to create his own 'signature sound' with which he manages to constantly keep himself at the center of attention. His 'OG Anthem' is possibly one of the most notable tracks of the moment, this underground hit found its way to the surface and received airplay on both Dutch radio station 3FM and BBC Radio1.

With his discography, De Sluwe Vos is constructing a steady career. But he's not one to stay hidden away in the studio: he's at his best when dominating dance floors in clubs and at festivals. His ultimate goal is to bring the crowd to a higher state of mind, where worries simply disappear and the music takes over. Time and time again, De Sluwe Vosprovides proof for the big bang theory with his performances. Whether it's at Awakenings Festival in the Netherlands or at Together Festival in Cardiff: during his shows he is pure energy. His duet between his Roland TR- 909 drum computer and turntables is always a bold endeavor, just like his stage diving.

The fact that he is a fixture of the club scene is proven by his monthly international gigs, his own night The Core and his notorious live act. With the audiovisual show 'Kontra live', De Sluwe Vos is well underway to becoming 'one of the greats'. And that's no fable!

Pure worries from Leipzig — three club burners steeped in Detroit traditions, distilling the explorations in collective, nervy hypnosis of KM live sets. As the music slowly unfurls, there he is at every turn, subtly tweaking its parameters, redistributing its weight, pricking its grooves into a state of utterly infectious perpetual movement.
The two visions of Chilazon track opposite pathways: the first is twelve minutes of gorgeous, dubwise, aquatic techno, spattered with kicks and razor-sharp hi-hats, and smeared with ghostly echoes, then a terse mesh of broken drums, escalating to a quiet yet feverishly intense peak. Lanthanum is calligraphic swordplay, its toms and bass stabs warily circling one another in a graceful steppers' dance, spaced-out and fathoms-deep.

Londoner Endgame is a new addition to the Hyperdub roster after releases on Lisbon's Golden Mist Records, and NYC-based Purple Tapes Pedigree. Endgame hosts an excellent monthly show 'Precious Metals' on NTS and produces and DJs as part of the Bala Club crew (also featuring Uli K, Kamixlo and Rules) who are regulars at Lexxi's occasional club night 'Endless'. He already has mixes and features with the likes of the Fader, Fact, Dazed and Confused and ID under his belt in the short time he's been releasing music. In his ice-cold productions, Drill, Grime and most notably South American dance riddims are threaded and mutated into tracks that he describes as an ever-evolving vision of the dystopian underbelly of London. 'Felony Riddim' is an icy introduction to the EP, an explosive club jam with a menacing and stabbing chime melody leading up to a pounding kick drum. It's all out war, but you can definitely roll your hips to it. 'Sittin' Here Redux' recasts Dizzie Rascal's 'Boy In Da Corner' opener into a tense anthem, with police sirens wailing in the background, dogs barking, and rolling 808 snares that bring a vibe somewhere between reggaeton and drill. Next up is 'Fallen' featuring the MC Organ Tapes - a slow burner that works both as a moody headphone track or a club slow jam. Organ Tapes' slurred autotuned vocals flow perfectly with Endgame's blend of grime drums and chiming rap production. The EP finishes as it began, going out with the explosive and high-energy 'Toxic Riddim'. It's a mix of reggaeton and futurist dancehall, with a menacing melody and relentless electric shock-like hi hats across a deep sub. Endgame takes you all around the world - but the ice-cold tone unmistakably brings you right back to winding in a dark club in London's culture clash

Fresh off the heels of the success of their 'Waiting Ground' EP, the boys in black, Frank & Tony, are skating back onto the scene with another four track summer stomper, 'Under the Jaguar Sun'. The A-side starts things off with the titular track, a rollicking deep house number primed for sunset raves. A bouncing and lush bass line is the back bone of the track, as crisp hi-hats, distant, yearning pads, and shimmering bells propel dancers forward into eyes closed euphoria. Things ramp up quickly into peak-time ecstasy on the Breakaway edit of Solo Andata's A Ballet of Hands.' A whirling dervish of delicate music boxes, bowed guitars, delicate music boxes, and distant horns swirl around and weave in and out between a skipping drum pattern, pushing and pulling alongside a gruff and stuttering bass, perfect for those late night rooftop ventures. The B-side takes listeners into early morning after hours territory, starting with the groovy Difficult Loves.' An airy and luscious double bass keeps things bouyed as introspective pads shimmer alongside pillars of aquatic synths. Backed by a classic, shuffling NY House drum groove, this one is best served late into the evening. The boys wrap things up on a high note with the latin vibes of Sargasso.' Crisp tambourines keep things light as dense kicks and a bass line deeper than the deepest canyon pull dancers deep into the floor with a warm embrace. The star of the show is the bouncing and earnest synth line, which is partnered up with a pair of playful toms in a game of cat and mouse, making this track a weapon anywhere you place it in a set.

The eight tracks on 'Versus' exemplify a remarkable cross-pollination of genres, a true testament to the intense, 'it takes a village' spirit of collaboration among the artists in the Wolf & Lamb aquarium.

The LP kicks off with "Real Love," an electronic duet with San Francisco's PillowTalk. A sparse, airy kick and lackadaisical, scale-climbing bass line complement a vocoder-drenched croon, evoking nothing less than an R&B version of Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works. In the album's next track, "Fo Porter," butter soft vocals from Voices of Black ("I want it/I need it/I just can't get enough/I hold it/I squeeze it/I just won't give it up") complement lush orchestral arrangements, doing for hip-hop inflected dance music what Metro Area does for disco.

"In The Morning," an after the after party, hands to the air entry into the house of god, will instantly conjure up for those lucky enough to have visited the Marcy the familiar image of Gadi's hands feeling up the wall in ecstasy while Zev soldiers through the groove. "Weekend Affair," perhaps the real standout of an all-round exemplary album, punctuates stuttering, oscillating synths with a ferocious cowbell and moaned vocals, continuing a long-standing New York tradition of sexualized Downtown funk.

The gorgeous "Serpentine," with it's kettle-drum compression worthy of Phil Collins's "In the Air Tonight" and atmospheric vocals from French chanteuse Rap Lisa, is rounded out by the it's a perfect ending to the album, a moment of calm before the sharks, always on the move, start circling again.

The Seven EP is coming from none other than Electric Indigo, who is pushing things forward in the electronic music scene since the early ninetees.
She also hosts the network female pressure , which tries to make female artists more visible and therefore holds a data base with information about many of them.
The A 1 track Sept is a journey through soundscapes and a club track at once. There are unbelieveably many details to discover.
Siete on A 2 is on the edge of an Ambient and Techno. A tremendous kickdrum becomes the centre of the rich atmosphere.
On B 1 Tensal hands over his interpretation of Sept . This track is up for the peak time on the big floor.
On B 2 Hagen Richter, who is running the label, also remixed Sept . This track combines melodies with a heavy snare drum.
The 12" comes with a sticker on the disco sleeve.

The master jammer returns! Opal are so proud to release this set of four beautiful, sun filled pieces of pure electronic music. Ged Gengras' Personable project is the boiled down syrup of many years spent learning his craft within synthesis. Captured directly from live home studio recording, each track lives and breathes in it's own space, 'Gambetti' serves a light structure of rattling snares and resonant bass boops dressed up with gorgeous, almost gothic hanging notes. 'Window' is a funked slice of Ged at his best, referencing grime/garage structure but extended out into am 11+ minute epic that conjures buccolic idyll, like funky sunshine. B-side opener 'Oyster' flips the vibe inward into a more paranoid number, similarly long form and rolling but with all melody turning in on itself and riffs decaying away into thin whispers. To close; the stunning 'Cormorant' forms itself from a bed of padded out bliss. Reminiscent of Oval or Pinkcourtesyphone, the track haunts with a breathy sadness which pulses forwards into squash court squeaks and deep forward facing kick drums. Every time I listen to Personable I'm hearing someone who approaches their instruments as a player, no concepts or grand ideas, just playing a synthesiser and doing it so well.

Metrist AKA L. SAE AKA Joe Higgins brings the noise in this tech-punk sound-clash straight outta' Hades. His background in bass music of all moulds can be felt throughout but the round edges of dubstep have been fragmented into harsh shards, prismatic in approach, each track swaggers and pumps under itâ s own mad weight. Jabbering speak & spell voices lead into tape busted kicks and sinuoid crow calls. Seismic filtered drums and a broken mirror landscape of screech synth and dull tonal slope. The record is a vivid nightmare, absurd and chilling.

Canadian based label Eternal Drive Recordings is proud to present it's first vinyl release by Jay Zoney titled "Workhorse" with remixes by Audio Injection & Axkan.

This is the label's eleventh digital release and first to be cut on vinyl featuring two original tracks from label boss Jay Zoney. Jay's productions have picked up previous support from artists including Ben Sims, D.A.V.E. the drummer, Bas Mooy, Speedy J, Sam Paganini, Joseph Capriati and Gary Beck.

On remix duty is Los Angeles native David Flores, who takes on the EP's title track under his Audio Injection alias, where many people will also know him as Truncate. Between his two aliases this heavyweight producer has racked up an impressive back catalogue of labels including CLR, Mote-Evolver, Affin, 50 Weapons, Figure and Gynoid Audio to mention only a handful.

Also featured as a remix artist is Federico Sánchez aka Axkan originally from Mexico, now calls California his home. His dark, experimental and edgy sounds have landed his tracks on the likes of Morgan Tomas' Reloading Records to Israel Toledo's Assassin Soldier and many more.

First on the EP is the title track 'Workhorse,' which true to its name is steady and relentless. A kick drum that stamps like heavy hooves on concrete gives it a powerful sound. The fast flowing percussion is brought to life with startling rips and synth stabs that grunt with determination and grit. This industrial workhorse delivers the goods every time with expert precision and perfect timing.

The second track is titled 'Mr. Ed' shows Jay Zoney's acid roots. Industrial like the first track, it's hard hitting with a rolling acid line that wriggles and twists as the track progresses. It has an intensely powerful clap with sharp hi-hats and a shuddering bass sound that when combined give it an infectious throwback groove.

Third on the release is the Audio Injection remix of Workhorse, and although dark like the original, it's less industrial overall. Opting for his own spacey percussion and bassline David (Audio Injection) creates a rolling groove packed with forward momentum. With the addition of a half bar synth hook and rising pad sound, this remix is powered by a prominent off beat hi-hat which makes it both hypnotic, euphoric and menacing.

Finishing off the release is a rework of Workhorse by Axkan whose rippling remix is both eerie and mysterious. Loaded by a grinding synth sound which echoes round the mix to create the feeling of open space, his remix starts off four to the floor, but with an unexpected shift morphs into a more broken rhythm. Building in intensity, this pulsating masterpiece has mechanical qualities and a truly individual sound.

The next installment on Aus Music sees the return of a relatively new addition to the roster Rob Glassett aka Fold. Throughout previous 12s on Manmakemusic and Electric Minds and on his outstanding 'Netflix & Chill' debut for Aus last year - Fold has laced together dusty House grooves built with a classic approach to sampling Funk, Disco and Soul records. Next up - his 'Lenny's Jam' EP starts up with a dub techno groove built with delayed and panned stabs and sharp, pacy drums. 'Rosie Lea' lays out a rich and sunny groove as a playful sample filters into focus over deftly treated drum kit samples and a buoyant bass line. 'Tracksuits and Tennis Shoes' then follows up with a no-nonsene party jam - a short funk link is set over a booming kick that closes up a nicely varied package".

Manuel and Julian (Bedlam) experiment in different Setups on the fringes of modernist Techno. Working about freely allows them to keep a spontaneous Jam feel to their music. Utilizing whatever hard and software they can get their hands on, their tracks levitate from straight-up punchiness to subbed, backstabbing synths and more eclectic notes.

Side A:
Opens with kickless track - NUCK CHARMS , builds up the tension needed for brute, peak energy live cut, DELIA'S DENTIST'. - STEADY ON THE BRAKE however, plays with the expectation of a kick drum, setting the focus on a sneaky synth line, delivering dynamic to the early stages of a set.

On Side B:
The opener JETSUN' sets foot into more field-tested territories of Techno with an expansive bassline and driving percussions. - WALDO'S MOMENT , the track after, provides an electro framework, coated in overly dramatic arabesque melodics. The EP is secluded by close friend and label partner Sedus, who turns the quirky electronics of - WALDO'S MOMENT / SEDUS VERSION into a candid peak-time banger, utile in any Techno set.
Stock Projects - S/T' arrives in a limited run of 300 on 140g vinyl.

Ruff Daft returns, and after a various artist EP for number 7, number 8 on the label goes back to the founder, with three new tracks from Cottam'Washed Out' kicks things off, at the cross roads between Mood Hut & Basic Channel where dub techno sensibilities meet dreamy chords for a delectable deep house track. 'Horns' harks back to Cottam's earliest releases, with an afro-ish horn loop teased out over four minutes until the full loop and bass kick in to devastating effect.A Ruff Draft' sees Cottam look back towards his techno roots, with a killer kick drum and raw acid lending an abrasive edge to a well rounded EP of varied styles.

Awaking from the dreamstate of Gryningen's hazy library inspired 10", we find Aficionado's expert selectors well rested and in the mood for a dance.
Utilising their extensive network of global connections, Moonboots and Boardman enlist Hungarian producer San Laurentino to raise spirits and pulses with a deep and diverse collection of body movers.

Perfectly conjuring the nostalgic melancholy its title suggests, opening track 'First Love' takes us by the hand for one last dance under the stars.
Cinematic pads sweep around a snapping drum pattern as a signorina from Rimini embraces a Basildon boy, seeing out the summer season to the hair raising chords and spine tingling sequences of a San Laurentino's masterpiece.

While that holiday romance might have come to an end, 'Back To The Stars' leads you off in search of new experiences. Emotive pads, undulating bass sounds and celestial keys vie for attention while the solid kick, intricate percussion and lively hats play out a swaying rhythm. Then all of a sudden the track changes tack completely, tripping out to a modular melody and sinuous techno bassline before reaching a soul soothing conclusion.

On the B-side 'Long Way Home' lulls us into a false sense of security via a gentle drumbox bossa, before thick bass stabs and a tough new beat rhythm take control of our bodies. Once again San Laurentino packs the track with atmospheric chords but this time adds delicate guitars and subtle piano, balancing the steely rhythm section with deep emotional resonance.

Closing the EP with unrivalled sophistication, 'Amici' sees San Laurentino drop the tempo and concoct an irresistible low slung groove before expanding our minds with wavering pads, hypnotic chimes and misty synth vox.
The perfect finale to an EP certain to leave you misty eyed on the dancefloor. Officially Aficionado

Deconstructed EBM from the Nous affiliate Spoiled Drama kicks off the new Science Fiction compilation - 10 tracks of crazed machine grooves further diversifying the Science Fiction's exploration into synthetics. The opener driven simply by an obnoxiously saturated digital drum machine and a mechanical body music bass loop simultaneously hints to late 80s darkside Chicago roots with hard flanged hi-hats and a detuned string machine.

Norman Jay MBE presents his latest compilation, titled 'Good Times Skank & Boogie', set for release 9th October 2015 on Sunday Best Recordings. This is his first compilation since 2011's Good Times 30th Anniversary Addition and follows on from his hotly anticipated Good Times Goes East party at St John Church at Hackney on 29th August.
Norman Jay is undoubtedly one of the finest and highly respected DJs in the world today and yet again pulls from his impressive collection to provide the ultimate eclectic selection.
For this 12th compilation, for those of you counting, Norman kicks off with St Germain's version of Henry Mancini's Pink Panther Theme. A cult favourite from 2004s Pink Panther Penthouse Party album, it of course immediately brings Peter Sellers to mind and a smile to your face. Next up former Uniques front man Slim Smith's Everybody Needs Love is a classic from 1968, cut at the legendary Duke Reid's Treasure Isle studio. Penned originally by Motown heroes Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland and covered by household names including The Temptations and Glady's Knight & The Pips, Slim's version became something of a signature tune until his mysterious death in 1971. Sticking with Motown, Stevie Wonder's Living For The City is up next but it's the Michael McDonald rendition from his 2008 album Soul Speak, which proves the man who gave us the sublime Sweet Freedom had lost none of his class 20 plus years on.
D-Influence's Good Lover takes things up and brings them closer to home, to the streets of London infact. After a couple of independent releases the band, who had strong connections to the London Jazz and Soul scenes, served up this contemporary boogie tune as part of their 1992 debut long player for East West. They would subsequently score hits as a production team for a number of British R&B acts. Homegrown soul continues with Paul Johnson's Better Than This, released here via longstanding UK soul imprint Expansion to deserved acclaim last year. It's quality and appeal are simply timeless, whilst master Dego and Kaidi's mix adds a classic 80s soul dimension to proceedings.
The Chi-Lites I Keep Comin' Back To You and The Real Thing's Love Takes Tears continue and expand the 80s theme, bringing in 2-step and boogie, as does Deodato's Never Knew Love from the same period.
We switch again with Delroy Wilson's Better Must Come, a massively popular sufferers lament from 1971 by this former Jamaican child star, it would go on to be used in election campaigns by various Jamaican political parties. Kent People by Laurel Aitken & The Gruvy Beat is the next one out the box and was the flip to the 1969 anthem Skinhead Train. It features the UK's top reggae band of the era The Rudies, who along with Aitken, the widely-proclaimed Godfather of Ska, comprised of Earl Dunn (lead guitar), Trevor White (bass), Sonny Binns (keyboards) and Danny Smith (drums). They would go on to enjoy UK chart success backing singer Freddie Notes before they evolved into Greyhound. From the same year Splash Down by The Crystalites is another slate that ignited dance floors in both Jamaica and the UK upon release. Some of you will have noticed the rhythm track is the same as that of the earlier Kingstonians' best-seller, Sufferer, which came courtesy of legendary producer Derrick Harriott.
As the end draws close The Stone City Band featuring Rick James serve up some hard edged boogie, hotly followed by a classic Tom Moulton slice of late 70s disco courtesy of The Fantastic Four and their I Got To Have Your Love. If that doesn't have you dancing then Chanson's superb Don't Hold Back featuring James Jamerson Jr. on bass will leave you no choice. Classic Good Times indeed.

Only 150 worldwide

After more than 10 years in the game and a string of successful
EPs to his name, Idriss D releases his first proper album on his
own Memento Records. At first conceived as a succession of
singles for his Dib 00' series (the first two being Constantine
and Alger), the project then became more of a collection of
dance floor tracks influenced by what he likes to play in his DJ
sets. The title Amalgamation' comes from the desire of
bringing together his life experiences over the last few years,
both music-wise and from a marketing and management angle,
this time exclusively focusing on himself and gathering all the
inputs in one single piece of work. Transition''s atmospheric
vibe and ethereal sounds open the LP with a blast of hazy
vocals and noises, followed by the percussive and trippy Casa
Baratas', a nod to the early 90s Acid House movement.
Karma''s pounding kick drum and stripped down arrangement
are a true example of Minimalistic Techno at its wildest. The
more personal RIP Ouarda' was composed in memory of his
grandmother who passed away: dark and hypnotic, it stands
out as one of the most experimental on the album. Title track
Amalgamation''s landscape of lush eerie synths makes it a
blissful comedown number, while Parall-el''s bouncing rhythm
speeds up the pace to high effect. Strong Hayet' is dedicated
to his mum, a source of continuos strength in Idriss' life,
both in good and difficult times: the heavy bass line and almost
obsessive looping vocals and hi-hats are icy and dramatic.
Barn''s pitch shifts and manic vocal samples swing through a
maze of rim shots and toms, its stomping groove and pulsing
beats closing off the album with a bang.

Coming out of Amsterdam via London, Breach's Naked Naked imprint has been a platform from the globally lauded producer can launch club-ready material both from himself and his peers. Having previously released records from Maison Sky, J.Tijn and Viers - the next in an ever-reliable series welcomes back Church and 2020 Midnight Visions affiliate Lorca for his third outing on the label. Hailing from Brighton, Lorca has garnered a following behind several extolled 12s showcasing his intricate and spectral brand of UK Electronic music. His latest offering expands on this with three moody cuts that meld eyesdown melodies with sharp, lively drum structures. 'Creta Kano' kicks things off with ticking percussion scurrying over a rubbery, tape driven thud. Deft dynamics build depth in the mix as detuned and delayed synth lines interweave to stunning effect. 'Malta Kano' then sets more textures bubbling behind bright drums and powerful, melodic synth leads. The Alt version of 'Creta Kano' then brings things to a dark and purposeful close. Field recordings gently bleed in and out of focus while more glowing synthesis occupies the foreground. A warped sequence circles in towards the close bringing another insight into the chops of one of the UK's most dynamic and exciting young producers to a close".

Adam Beyer's Drumcode imprint welcomes wAFF to its roster with two thudding techno tracks. British producer wAFF has been making waves in recent years, reflecting on a diligent 2015 spent playing across the likes of Europe, Africa, Asia and the States, when not making routine appearances at Paradise, Ibiza.
As a producer he's dropped several lauded releases on Jamie Jones' Hot Creations imprint, not to mention Matthias Tanzmann's Moon Harbour and Sven Väth's Cocoon, with his next outing landing on renowned Swedish label Drumcode run by techno titan Adam Beyer. Laying down hard hitting kicks from the off, Holographic churns out an undulating synth combined with shuffling hats and a cavernous low-end, before Vibrationz employs a low-slung groove fashioned from a sultry bassline, floating chords and a sinister vocal..

Welcoming the fourth vinyl only instalment from FarFromNormal Features an excellent 3 track EP from the up and coming Julian. After a long process Julian has come up with 3 great original tracks which FarFromNormal where happily to take on board and put together Julian's very first vinyl release. This record grabs your attention from the start with track 1 Resorave. Resorave is a very psychedelic track with dark drums and beautiful slow atmospheres and a tripping vocal. Track 2 Grunge is much more on the groovy side to with fantastic production and pads that take you on a great journey. Track 3 Chorale is the title track and the one track to leave you on a high, with the heavy kicks and bass lines mixing between a tripping vocal and beautifully placed instruments, this is perfect for the peak hours.

Finale Sessions is really pleased to launch new series Finale Sessions Limited with Berlin up and coming act Arcarsenal. Duo comprised of Alan Mathias and Etienne Dauta, both founders of Bass Cadet Records and its dedicated vinyl store located in the heart of the german capital, they are also active members of the large Underground Quality family. Arcarsenal have already started to establish themselves as proponent of a crossover sound, mixing many influences from jazz, house, ambient to dub and techno. They are always giving a prominence to jam, improvisation and textures work in their studio routine. This EP called « Dark Skies & Wetlands », even if slightly grittier than usual, is no stranger to the rules of the duo. The opening track « Different Planet » is an epic dark deep house cut which develops itself over a course of 8:40. Starting with a stamping ground bassline and hazy atmosphere, the track opens up with synth attacks, dub echoes and slowly brings in a blissful melody that ends up linking all the elements. « Substance Of Arjuna », the following track on the A-side, is a-contrario a short but intense ambient work. Shot in one take, this subtle cut showcases the kind experimentations that Mathias and Dauta can end up doing late at night in front of their machines. The b-side of the EP leaves all the space to « Racoons », one of the weirdest and yet most powerful work of the duo to date. Tribal techno could be a short try to define what they achieved here, but the track goes far more than this. Built on a gritty mental acidic bass and a huge drum kick, the frenchmen bring over aggressive synth work that could sound like an orchestra on rehearsal, pachydermic screams or an overdriven guitar larsen. Underlined by a complex percussion pattern recorded live in their nest and chopped up to the best effect, the track ends up in a looping transe from which the listener might not leave in a normal state.

Since launching last summer, Rasta Vibez has carved a niche for itself among the drum and bass community for those seeking out some dub and reggae flecked jungle cuts for the dance. Now, after a successful series of 10" hand stamped records, Mystic Pulse kicks off a new 12" series pushing a more serious and distinguished sound with style. Both sides start off halftime but effectively evolve into breakbeat chaos, which has already proven to shake up the dancefloor big time. In short a must have for all ragga muffin junglists!

Blossom Kollektiv returns to vinyl once again after the success of Jepe's 'Spring Shadow,' this time around inviting House and Techno veteran Matthias Vogt to the label. The two-track EP of finely crafted melodic and emotive Techno features remixes from Oliver Gehrmann and Jepe and is sure to find its way into DJ bags world wide.

Starting the EP off on a strong note with Solace, Matthias Vogt takes us on a magical journey like we're floating in the clouds with a driving kick and lush melodies that keep us soaring through the sky into a land of beautiful and lovely emotions. Then just when we feel like we're about to fall the track uplifts us once again into a place of cosmic bliss with rich piano notes full of substance.

Playing with the rich piano notes of the original Oliver Gehrmann creates his own vision of Solace bringing a deeper and more after hours feel. The track takes us through the elements of the original but reworking it ever so slightly while never losing the strong emotional sense of the original.

Next we come back to Matthias with Fluorescence where we once again are whisked of to a fascinating place full of melody and care free attitudes. However don't let this allure fool you, powered by a heavy kick drum and tight percussion this track will work wonders on any peak hour dance floor bringing a sense of euphoria to the crowd.

After returning from our blissful land Jepe brings us right to the floor with his straightforward house version of Fluorescence. Putting his stamp all over his version using classic piano stabs and funky percussion to make the track uplifting in a rhythmic way, then subtle synths from the original peek their heads out to create a little drama and suspense until the slamming kick drum kicks back in making the crowd move.

The stage is set from minute one on Clay Wilson's new 4-track EP, "Skandha," his second release for The Bunker New York.
The eponymous first track begins with a familiar techno throb, but is quickly overcome by a blooming swirl of coruscating synthesizer pulses that seem to gather inside the listener's head, a phenomenon Wilson seems particularly interested in: "I've never been into really straightforward club techno that works in neat 8- and 16-bar sequences," he says. "I'm always looking for things that have forward momentum, ways to escape that 'block-y,' downbeat-centric feeling that you find in so much contemporary techno. For me, it's the drone—what's going on in the background—that serves to hold my interest."

Nowhere is this more apparent than on the record's second track, "Cataleptic." The meat of the track is its tightly-wound techno core built from insistent, hypnotic percussion, but it's what's happening in the background that keeps you coming back for more: The sound of a babbling brook and a plaintive, meandering bird call ("the only actual recorded animal sounds on the record," notes Wilson) gently give way to the tintinnabulation of a distant bell, whose meditative timbre brings to mind a Tibetan singing bowl. It turns out that the naturalistic, organic sounds in many of Wilson's tracks are often just that: "I make field recordings all the time, actually—on my phone," he says. "I've found field recordings have been a great way to pull things along, never repeating themselves, but also never being so upfront as to draw your attention away from the synths and drums."

That's a key point, and make no mistake—for all the flora and fauna lurking in the background of Wilson's productions, they're designed for the dancefloor through and through. "Feres," the EP's third track, slows down the pace a little bit, keeping time with a static kick-hat pattern while chunky, stepped percussion laid on top makes the track feel remarkably dynamic. The final cut, "Pict," seems to slowly unfurl like flowers at dawn, while a ghostly vocal sample (or merely something approaching it) repeats itself underneath it all.

While at times the drawn-out shimmering tones in Wilson's work may recall modern minimalism, "getting into techno, and more specifically techno production, was kind of a way for me to get away from (formal, classical musical) training," he recalls. "I had been headed down an open-minded, anything-goes path with a compositionally-geared approach, and ... all those paths led to techno." And for that, we're glad.

Bristol based imprint Timedance launched in February this year, with the 'Cardinal' 12" by label head Batu (Hotline, Dnuos Ytivil).
Following on from this the label travels further into dark, off-kilter UK techno territories with a debut 12" by L.SAE.

L.SAE is a new project by Joe Higgins, also known as Metrist (Resin, Fifth Wall), exploring experimental techno-tempo music. He creates a distinctively raw, atmospheric sound palette, referencing material from early Drum & Bass, noise-techno and 90s IDM.
Both tracks are tough as nails, containing thunderous distorted kick drums and clattering percussion, but also delicate, mournful synth work.

Leave is the third album from Rasmus Rasmussens ethereal electronic project Aerosol. During the nearly six years that has passed since it's predecessor Airborne, Rasmussen has spent his musical efforts in acid rock outfit Causa Sui and as part of various constellations, playing alongside musicians from Sunburned Hand of the Man and legendary kraut bands Can and Faust.

These freeform psychedelic influences seep into the already recognizable style of hazy electronics, known from his own previous work as well as from the music of
his colleagues in former band Limp (Manual/Syntaks).

Cosmic sounds and psy- chedelic effects mingle with cascading guitars and kraut-infused beats on a collection of tracks that sends obvious nods to the german
synth pioneers of the seventies, but is still unmistakably an Aerosol-album - an album set on beating emotions, moods and melodies out of old synthesizers, cheap drum machines and Rasmus' trusty white Stratocaster.

Cadenza Records displays a deft touch in showcasing new talent, just as much as it leans on its core of established producers. The 'Split' EP shines a bright light on the musical endeavors of Enrico Gasperini AKA gAs, and fellow Italian, Lino Pugliese. One side of vinyl each, and gAs opens up Side A with 'Rack Attack', its woody hits and scattering hi-hats holding a solid groove whilst gentle keys entwine a melodic touch with a stuttering synth riff that's designed to circulate around the brain. Splashes of cymbals and white noise provide the all important drama as the track rises to a crescendo. Enrico's second contribution, 'Agogo', keeps up the ante with another slice of exquisite house grooves. The inner-city street ambience opening gives way to an undeniably funky rhythm track, incessant spongy stabs and frenzied percussion that makes this one a sure fire winner. Over on Side B, Lino Pugliese gets to flex his sonic palette after recent releases on Cadenza Lab and Memento. 'Banging On Your Door' takes its time to unfurl; a percussive swing not too dissimilar to the Stones' 'Sympathy For The Devil' sets the tone magnificently, as low frequency synth sweeps and distant vocal effects build, the kick drum jolting the track into life with bursts of furry snares and handclaps. More ambient soaked business on 'Aniwama' as Lino forges melodious piano and clanging ride cymbals with low end sonics as the track deconstructs as quickly as it builds, tearing up the arrangement rule books to create a unique cut that can perform as a mood-setting piece just as well as a peak time genre-shifter.

Tough, to the point, no-nonsense machine music is a longstanding Midwestern tradition.
Drawing a line all the way back to the old guard, The Bunker New York's latest EP is Walk The Distance, courtesy of Mark Verbos, a techno veteran and New Yorker by way of Milwaukee who put together four pieces of heavyweight dancefloor artillery, informed by an intimate, inside-out knowledge of the machinery used in the production of these tracks.

"I've been doing this for a long time. In the beginning, there was only hardware, and it feels better to make music with physical objects. Plus, I make hardware, too," says Verbos, recounting his production processes. Verbos not only produces music, he also produces the hardware he uses to make music—his company, Verbos Electronics, manufactures Eurorack synthesizer modules with a vintage sensibility. When he's making music, Verbos says, "I try to get to know the devices I use well enough that whatever I imagine can come from them. Techno is machine music. When I'm recording, it's just me and the machines."

The music, however, speaks for itself. No punches are pulled here—the record starts in top gear with "Start Up Drive," a devastating techno bomb centered around a throbbing, repeating bassline and a meaty kick drum that builds to a massive climax in the span of five minutes. "In The Back Room" kicks the tempo up a notch, featuring spaced-out atmospheric synth leads floating atop syncopated percussion. "Just A Little Late" is funkier than the other two, built around a rubbery, insistent synthesizer groove that worms its way deep into your head and doesn't let go.

The aforementioned three tracks alone would comprise a solid techno EP suitable for any number of dancefloors. But the last track on the record—its namesake—shifts gears entirely. "Walk The Distance" is a moody, pulsing slow burner, introspective and emotional. It's a haunting listen that adds remarkable depth and complexity to the record. "Walk The Distance, the track, is a reference to the fact that music is not a career. Any advice you could offer someone on how to have a successful career doesn't really apply to a career in music. By that I mean to say, process is everything, and the results don't really matter."

Sage advice indeed, but judging by Walk The Distance, Mark Verbos has figured out how to produce results that matter.

Since debuting in 2013, J.Tijn has found his corner of the electronic music world, developing a hard techno sound that is raw and unforgiving. A core member of Untold's Pennyroyal label, Jesse Tijn has also released on Overlee Assembly, Power Vacuum and Bedouin Records. For Naked Naked's eleventh release, J.Tijn gives us two versions of 'Pick Your Battles' that are ready for damage on the dance floor.
On the A side, 'Pick Your Battles V1' gives us a dark rolling rhythm being led by a crisp snare hit through a sea of machine bleeps and grinding waves of noise. An unrelenting groove which is sure to keep the floor heaving. On the flip, 'Pick Your Battles V2' hits harder with distorted kick drums, an array of hats and attacking synth bleeps. After almost imploding, the track reaches another level, taking us to peak time madness with aggressive percussion. Heads down, hands up, this is sure to bring heat wherever it goes.

After releases for Discos Capablanca and Moon Glyth, Food Pyramid join Especial for a remix EP of their album-only track Oh Mercy. Updated by the inhouse team Apophenia, before being given the full italo treatment by SF's Inhalt and a true Especial twisted FX double mix by the man, the myth, Jamie Paton.

Minneapolis collective, Food Pyramid are welcomed to the label with the twisted psychedelic electronics of Oh Mercy. Taken from their Mango Sunrise album of 2012, its warped breakbeat jam-fusion has long been a secret favourite of the label, so it seemed right to present it on a unique EP.

Starting with a 2015 rework at the hands of the label's in-house production team of Apophenia, the original is extended with respect, keeping much and taking out little (the horns) so that the originals groove can ride and ride.

This is followed by a superb remix from Inhalt. After themselves appearing in the form a remix EP (EES009) it seemed now was the right time to get on board with their own take and in the process creating a pumping Italoesque classic. In the same way Timmy Regisford turned NOIA's Rules To Survive in to a mid-80s Chicago all time top 10, this remix harks to all that was good of that time, notably replaying much of the
instrumentation, while keeping it aimed squarely at today's floor. Who said Razormaid

On the flip are killer remixes from the label's main man Jamie Paton. Locked in an increasingly modular headspace, he digs deep and expansive. Premiered on the recent Beats In Space showcase, the Remix kicks far and wide, pushing club systems to the max, this yearns to be played at 7am Panorama. Sliding straight (and you'll miss it) in to the Dub, stripping it wayyy back, let the drums do the talking. Oh baby, have mercy on me.

New York is awash in emerging young dance producers of different stripes, and, with Your Go, the debut EP from Love Letters, a new name is added to the artists' community who together are revitalizing the long-dormant dance scene. Labels like L.I.E.S. and White Material have reveled in a youthful, raw sound, and Love Letters is no stranger to this, but his background in post punk and ambient music and his deep admiration for disco show through his sound clearly. The brief title track opens, the rolling kicks and submerged bass rebounding off each other and sending reverberations and the space signal bleeping in the distance. Drowned in amplifier hum and circling filter effects, 'Terraform' moves forward into melodic territory somewhere between Satie and Omar-S but keeps its noisy experimental edge intact. 'He Go' is a follow up to the title track, but extended and moving in splayed stance with staggered kicks, ratcheting up the tempo at the midpoint to bring an entirely different feeling and revealing itself as accomplished dub techno pushed onwards by insistent percussion. 'Put' cleans things up marginally but barrels into an off-kilter drum groove that centres itself gradually as it is joined by other voices - pads, deeply funky basslines, industrial atmospheres - developing in distinct sections for the longest, most complex piece on the EP.

The Bunker New York is proud to announce the second EP from Mehmet Irdel, also known as Løt.te (pronounced Loat-tey), following his debut release on our label in 2014.
Løt.te's 'History of Discipline' EP features two distinct moods and detailed, industrial-inspired sound design with a firm focus on the dancefloor.

"When I discovered the heavy, dark techno coming out of the U.K. and Japan in the '90s and '00s, like Regis, Surgeon, Female, and Takaaki Itoh, it was a revelation," Irdel says. "Until then, I hadn't realized that techno could reference the grittiness and physicality of industrial music and make it work so well, and feel natural on the dancefloor." These muscular, upbeat techno artists are the perfect reference point for Løt.te's music, but Irdel takes his work one step further, featuring an emotional complexity that many other producers lack. "I'm interested in techno that feels both masculine and feminine at the same time," says Irdel. "These days, most techno feels either very intricate and clean, or very noisy and macho. What interests me is finding an in-between."

True to its name, "History of Discipline" is the darker track here. Built on a foundation of heavy, swinging kick drums and shuffling hi-hats, the track builds to an enormous climax before winding down into a rattle of metallic percussion. "A Mutable Constant" is more ambiguous, featuring a rubbery bassline and steadily-building background percussion - until a moody, longing synthesizer pad begins to take center stage. "I don't honestly know where the emotion in 'A Mutable Constant' came from. That wasn't the plan when I started working on it," recalls Irdel, "but I incorporate a mix of analog synths into my productions, like the Korg MS-20 or Doepfer Dark Energy, and their sounds sometimes surprise me. My production process begins and ends with a computer, but I love being able to have that '90s analog sound' in my work. I'm very conscious of not having any 'overly digital' sounds in my tracks."

Løt.te's latest EP embodies the spirit of techno while simultaneously pushing its sound forward. "Techno, for me, is an experiment in human perception. A way to find the fringes of perception in rhythm, melody, and emotion, to push all the way to the edge, to find the breaking point. I'm trying to push techno's boundaries without ever losing sight of 'what makes techno techno': its restraint and groove."

Focusing on deep and raw vibes, strictly wax and classic beats, The "Montee Louis EP" has been directly imported from bellevue II, libreville gabon, africa & it has been produced by the great Bernard da smoove. MPC-filtered deep house with some darker & menacing rhythms, A1 "Hudson Budd" kicks off the A1 with a meaty 4/4 kick drum which slowly finds itself surrounded by ghostly pads and even more haunting synths. A2 'Thrawbock' mutates into a more light hearted house jam for the heads, with its vocal infectious sample. B1 "Strctly move" goes back into familiar, smooth deep house territories but still retains his magic touch, able to transform even the deepest of basslines into something both unusual and musical at the same time. B2 & B3 'Thrawbock 88' & 'Strctly move 88' are the 90's hip-hop (!!!) versions of the same tracks above : INSANE !!First time we heard it we thought, 'hell yeah, the production is just TERRIFIC' & indeed there's a timeless quality to the intricately programmed drum machine rhythms, the drifting chords, warm

Hailing from Berlin, but spiritually from Chi-town, Snuff Crew are back in your area with some freshly served up basement goodies once again. Following on from Basement Jams #1, from all the way back in 2011, the boys bring us tracks with the same playful nature as before but, dare I say it, they go even harder this time. Stalwart fans of the first release can stop reading now because it will almost certainly be a blind-buy for you; four tracks obviously engineered for use in the club, whether its the massive kick in 'What It Is' or the ravey acid lead in '88cents'. The jams on the B-side may do the most damage. 'Remember' holds absolutely nothing back, with its arpeggiated bassline lead and crisper than crisp 909 drum programming. Analog is a term that gets bandied about all the time nowadays, ever since so many young producers became enamoured with tape compression and hiss delay plug-ins. I know Snuff Crew are real analog guys though, in sound and mentality, so hearing Basement Jams #2 for the first time had me so excited once again.

JoeFarr inaugurates Leisure System's new GRIDLOCK 12' series with the Longanimity EP, an invigorating exploration of broken techno released April 20th, 2015. Farr has a diverse history, with three well-received releases on Turbo as well as records with DSNT and Power Vacuum. Few producers can claim to have both remixed Tiga and been remixed by Truss, and the Longanimity EP continues Farr's recent drift towards streamlined brutality, leavening intense drum programming with crystalline bursts of color. The clinical and kinetic Oleum' kicks things off and hurdles towards a shatteringly powerful peak, while Mormon Shuffle' boasts twisted functionality without sacrificing roughness in the brittle loops. The monolithic Standard Issue' has an aggressive edge enhanced by whiplash percussion, and the broken piano melody of FS3+4' inverts the joy typically found in that rave standby, preferring to drop the instrument from the fifth floor and let the chords scatter and shatter as they please. The first release in Leisure System's 2015 GRIDLOCK series representing our ongoing interest in melding the freaky and the functional on the dance floor, JoeFarr's Longanimity EP is stocked with tested and tenacious late-night weapons.