Arguably one of Get Physical’s most influential tracks, ‘O Superman’ sees a new release with remixes from Man Power and SIS alongside the 2008 version from Robag Whrume and a remaster of the now classic original. Man Power kicks off the new interpretations with an epic, ten and half minute version that patiently stretches the original’s melodies into pads and held bass tones across crisp, micro-house styled beats before unleashing loose, clattering breakbeats after a striking, extended breakdown. SIS’s dreamy, percussive version sees the German producer in hypnotic, and tracky form, focussing on the ebb and flow of the original’s tuneful vocoder and synth work that drift across his perfect groove. Robag’s Pumper-Nikkel remix, for those that missed it some years back, is yet another funky, chopped, sliced and diced piece of work from the playful producer and still sounds as fresh as ever. M.A.N.D.Y. vs Booka Shade feat. Laurie Anderson - O Superman Remixes are released on Get Physical 12” in late July with a digital release following in the Autumn.
This new EP and revival of his Nite Rite series from Dutch electronic maestro Mason (he of chart topping Exceeder fame) comes in the form of four very individual cuts aimed squarely at the dancefloor. Typically eclectic and fresh sounding, these four cuts have been doing damage in the clubs over recent weeks with a strong reception from a massive cross section of DJs. Cuts vary from French Touch style disco-house to out-and-out electro filth.
Bogdan Ra kicked off his new label Love Affair with some banging house cuts that threw it back to early Chicago styles. This third outing flips the script and shows his range with four disco sounds that take their cues from the late 70s and 80s: all the hallmarks are there, from the classic synths and vocoders to dusty drum machines. 'Complimento' is a smooth title track, while 'Shout' is a French-tinged funk workout., 'Paramour' glides through cosmic disco textures, while 'Fire in Cairo' brings an unexpected vocal twist and acrobatic bassline full of movement. Charming stuff.
The highly prolific purveyor of acid electro funk, Acidulant has arrived on Analog Concept with a grand landing of an EP.
Straight to underground lights out business A1 - Run To Survive delivers a dark world of vocoder lyrical style, smoothly concentrated acid lines, and nocturnal melody in the pads for deeper submersion of your sonic attention.
Following up, is A2, “All I Want is Everything You Got” with strikes of melancholy waves, before manifesting a dystopian world of aggressive electro acid bass sure to rock the Place.
A3 - Chordzi takes a detour into lush, and beautiful electro territory, laid down with smooth sunny pads and cosmic acid lines, surely refreshing and satisfying for the body and mind.
On the flip, we shift into the remixes, 1st up with the high talents of EKATA providing an industrial aura and truly unique perspective of “Run To Survive” it's not playing games or taking prisoners with its heavy kicks and dense snares, dark atmospheres, and lysergic arpeggios that hypnotize and own your ears.
The track sees another revision through the hands of Mutex. Moody and warm chords serenade smooth acid basslines and breaks in this emotive number, that dances between IDM, Breaks, and Acid Electro, concluding an ep that is full of both energy and deep personality - This is Analog Concept number 20, Acidulant - Run To Survive….
NOFEAR! Musik presents its second vinyl release, bringing together two of the label's most celebrated tracks alongside a fresh reinterpretation of a true classic.
The A-side features Alegría and Fuego, two tracks by Head Horny's & K-Style that became standout releases on the label, receiving strong support from DJs and dancefloors across Europe.
The B-side is dedicated to Funky Feelings 2026, a modern rework of one of Head Horny's classic productions. Together with Carlos Perez and K-Style, the original idea has been updated into two complementary versions: a driving hardgroove-techno interpretation and a more old-school klubb-oriented mix.
Pressed on 180g vinyl, NFV02 reflects the sound and identity of NOFEAR! Musik: energetic, groove-driven and built for the dancefloor.
"Potency continues apace with 'Jackin Shit', a gleefully self-explanatory EP from label founder Cromby. Following widely-played recent releases from Malik Kassim aka Retromigration, Trax Unit and Rhythms of Prescott, the prolific DJ and producer reaffirms his imprint's fundamentals with four upfront, high-energy tracks, each reflecting a different facet of the Belfast-via-Berlin producer's decades-deep understanding of house and techno history. Title track 'Jackin' Shit' gets things moving with a rich blend of rolling basslines, liquid keys and diva'ed up vocal snippets. Lucid and groovy in the style of seminal East Coast vocal pleasures, Cromby's vision of house is nonetheless driven by a dusty kick drum that references Head High/WK7, or Paul Woolford in a warehouse somewhere... In contrast, 'Sense Control' places percussion front and centre, locking in a tight rhythm in order to ride out a liquid collage of acid lines, ecstatic piano and other blissfully wavy elements. 'Con Gas' establishes a tougher direction on the flip, finding Cromby's busier instincts reduced the simplest of ingredients - sub, bass and stabs - taking dancers deep into the bowels of house, replete with classic vocal call-outs, and yes, even a well-earned inbuilt spinback. Having exhibited such restraint, we're unceremoniously booted out of the cubicle and back toward the strobes for 'Cheeky Bump', a rubbery, driving dancefloor tool guaranteed to delay any impending cab home. Colourful, charismatic and exclusively engineered for true party people, 'Jackin' Shit' finds Cromby returning to home turf on definitive form."
Exos inaugurates the new sub-label on SHDW's Mutual Rytm with four 90s techno cuts, with offshoot imprint X building on the main imprint's DJ-friendly tools to delve deeper into a broader spectrum of electronic music.
Founded in 2022, SHDW's Mutual Rytm label has quickly become one of techno's most supported labels, with wide-reaching love and well-earned hype following a series of carefully curated VA offerings and solo EPs from a wealth of the scene's best. Continuing to push the pace, with more records capturing high-quality, fresh soundscapes, April brings a new project to the mix with the launch of a new sub-label X, with techno pioneer Exos drafted to deliver the first instalment.
Hailing from Iceland, the Planet X boss is a master of crafting perfect dancefloor weaponry. Over the last twenty years, his high-octane sounds have come via vital labels like Figure and X/OZ, never failing to make an impact with both DJs and dancers. Whether dubby or hard, his techno is always authentic and channels the purity of the 90s sound, and he brings this signature sound to four fresh productions across his 'Infrared' EP, marking an impressive debut for both label and artist.
The title cut 'Infrared' opens up the package in style and showcases a track that looks set to be a go-to anthem for many in the months ahead. With searing synth lines and drilling bass, the blistering production delivers a thrilling, high-impact techno sound that will devastate the dancefloor. The well-designed 'Kaldur Klaki' ups the ante even more with tightly coiled loops of drums, rusty hi-hats and stuttering synth lines that canter along with a muscular feel. 'The Bad' is twitchy and paranoid, anxiety-riddled techno that is perfect for dark warehouses and freaky dancers before digital bonus 'DS4BR' lands with a more stripped-back aesthetic with dubby undercurrents and static electricity fizzing across the face of the cut.
Each of the releases on Mutual Rytm X will be available on limited edition, coloured 10" vinyl, hence the Roman numeral X, and Exos' 'Infrared' EP kicks off the series on 19th April ahead of a new wave of killer releases scheduled across 2024.
House and techno's most innovative improviser, KiNK, lands on Mutual Rytm X.
Offering four more thrilling dancefloor weapons, the iconic talent lands on SHDW's new Mutual Rytm X Series to deliver the label's second release.
Legendary Bulgarian artist KiNK is widely regarded as one of the most respected live acts on the global scene. He is a noted tech wizard who creates loops on the fly, crafts killer drums and never fails to hypnotise dancefloors. He has released on almost every influential label of the last 15 years and taken his unrivalled live show to all corners of the world, often drawing on those sets to bring aspects and inimitable qualities from his performances into his tracks. This innovative approach has helped to solidify his reputation as a groundbreaking figure, inspiring a new generation of musicians and producers, and he once again showcases precisely why he's in a league of his own here with a first appearance on SHDW's newly minted Mutual Rytm X.
'Unicord' opens up this new EP in thrilling fashion with sleek, Detroit-style synth loops flashing up top as the heavy, pounding while warm drums drive things down low. 'Quantum Shake' brings 90s energy with new school sound deists - the dubby drums are fast and urgent, the synth craft is deft, and the percussion adds texture to a straight-up but sophisticated techno anthem. 'Pitch Down' then brings fantastically unhinged synth leads that spray and zip about the mix to boggle the brain. Rattling percussive loops and chunky drums keep things moving as those synths get even more wild. To close, the digital bonus 'Highpass Lowpass' is a masterfully muscular cut with rugged bass and taught synths interlinking to mind-melting effect.
Explore the vibrant sounds of Bearface DJ with the debut installment of "Remakes and Raw Cuts Vol 2", a fresh vinyl series released on Beartone Records. Veteran producer Raj Panasa, aka Bearface, boasts a multi-decade catalog of feel-good, eclectic music, renowned for his distinctive blend of house, disco, Latin, and Italo influences.
This EP showcases Bearface’s versatile production style through expertly crafted edits and remakes of some of his favourite tracks, perfectly capturing sunny, dancefloor-ready vibes. Whether you're a DJ seeking energetic edits or a collector looking for a soulful addition, this release delivers sunshine and positivity in every groove.
Swedish talent Dold drops nuanced techno cuts on 10" via SHDW's Mutual Rytm X.
Stockholm-based Patrik Eriksson, aka Dold, is a cultured producer known for crafting hypnotic loops with a minimalist, emotive touch-bridging underground dancefloors and introspective listening.
As a DJ, producer, and co-founder of Arsenik, Dold has championed raw, unembellished techno since 2015. His releases on Key and Fuse blend Detroit techno's legacy with IDM's intricacy and ambient's ethereal tones, creating a style that is both timeless and forward-thinking. Whether it's crafting tapestry's recorded via hardware in the studio or performing live, Dold continues to innovate, honouring techno's roots while exploring its future, and his talent is on full display across his label debut on Mutual Rytm X.
'Grainy' opens the EP and showcases Dold's ability to craft deep and loopy techno with a stripped-back, emotive
edge. It's deft but enthralling, with innovative synths rising and falling through the minimal drums. 'Surface' is another compelling deep cut with hurried drum funk and subtle synth pulses, adding a futuristic edge to the groove. The fantastic 'Blush' brings smears of warm synth and machine soul to a dynamic dub techno rhythm that bends the
past with the present. Digital bonus cuts 'Dub at Heart (Club Version)' and 'Dub at Heart (Sofa Version)' offer
contrasting perspectives of the same track, with the first aiming directly for peak-time sessions, while the latter closes the package on a laid-back tip.
2026 Repress
Hypnoxock, aka Victor Solsona from Barcelona, has been releasing all kinds of psychedelic music for over 15 years now! Since focusing on Goa-trance over the last decade, he has gained significant attention and released a full album on Suntripin 2020. His major breakthrough came with the track "Magma", featured on theAcid/303 compilation Acidum Influxum by Suntrip. For many, this was the track of the year - and we wholeheartedly agree.
On this 12" EP, you'll find that standout track, accompanied by three brand-newones: the full acid stomper "The Fabric of Reality", the uplifting morning anthem "Cascade", and a remix of a classic Underhead track. A 12" on wax featuring different styles from one artist? This feels like the '90s! :) Not many copies available- extra distribution thru the well known Flatlife Records Labelgroup.
Enjoy!
Few contemporary labels even come close to the output and influence of Lempuyang in terms of dub techno. Albums, 12"s and EPs come thick and fast and the latest is the first part of the fourth in the Pura Lempuyang series, which offers a glimpse at what they do best. Upwellings begins with Maurizio-style, smoky dub techno before Rothchord ups the drive with a more forceful kick. Paul Simmons's 'Burial (Natty Haffi Dread)' reflects the traditional roots of dub with a more 70s style cut, Another Channel slows to a crawl with an eerily empty arrangement and Inner Echo drives things home with a timeless fusion of molten dub chords and cuddly kicks.
Hot on the heels of the massive Grant Dell release, GEMS Delivers another slice of underground house excellence, continuing its relentless journey of showcasing both timeless and forward-thinking underground house music with a powerful new release from Gideon Jackson.
A 3 track EP featuring Helpless (Original Mix) — The standout cut from Gideon’s Outa The Blue EP (1996), capturing the raw, hypnotic energy of the era. Helpless (Freeform Mix) — A previously unreleased 1996 remix, unearthed from the vaults yet sounding as fresh and relevant as ever. Sales In the Wind — A brand new production (2025), proving Gideon remains at the top of his game with a refined yet unmistakable sound.
true underground figure, Gideon Jackson has been deeply embedded in the scene since the formative days of tech house. Renowned for his vinyl-driven approach to house and techno, Gideon blends styles seamlessly, creating a distinctive and instantly recognisable sound.
Widely regarded as one of the key pioneers of the London tech house movement, his productions helped define the genre’s early blueprint — fusing bass-heavy rhythms with hypnotic grooves. His work has appeared on respected labels including Loaded, Pagan, and his own imprint Outa The Blue.
After stepping away from the spotlight, Gideon resurfaced in 2017 with a standout podcast for Strange, reaffirming his influence and deep-rooted musical identity.
His long-awaited return to the decks came in October 2025 at Archivio presents Wiggle in New York, followed by a November appearance at Wiggle at Gaffe — marking a powerful resurgence for one of the scene’s original innovators.
“One foot out the door, another in the otherworld…”
So begins Hannah Lew’s debut, self-titled solo record, soaked in imperious, wide-eyed pop songwriting and a girl-group/post punk aesthetic that belies the artist’s history in the U.S. underground. A towering, hook-laden album, it’s infused with an optimism and surrealism that conversely deals with the times we find ourselves in.
Recorded at home in Richmond, CA and in The Best House studio with Maryam Qudus in Oakland CA, with the assistance of a crack team of West Coast musicians, this album sees Hannah Lew stepping out from behind the legacy of her two groups Grass Widow and Cold Beat. While musically bearing similarities with her previous work, “Hannah Lew” is a bold leap into direct pop territory, making ample use of a vocal style that teases out the inherent melancholy in her melodies. Mastered by Sarah Register, each song is a perfectly honed nugget that frequently pulls the heart in two directions at once.
Themes of change, breaking up, shattering old ways of being are shot through the record. For the front cover, a photograph of the artist’s face was printed, ripped up and re-assembled, resembling the creative process embarked upon by Lew for her first “solo” material. The album feels instinctual, almost dream-like in its assemblage of sweeping synths and pulsating, propulsive drum machine beat patterns with Lew’s vocal performances sensitive and caressing over the top. Increasingly relying on the subconscious and dreams to guide her creative process, Hannah Lew frequently abandons literal interpretations or linear narratives, the songs seeming to exist in a swooning, effortless flow-state while remaining emotionally hard hitting.
On an album where every song could be a single, there are kaleidoscopic shades and varying emotional tones in abundance. First single Another Twilight is carried along a pumping, Italo-disco-style 4/4 beat and mono-synth bass line, the low end pulling at the heart and body. Lew’s vocal melody teases the track before swan-diving into a gorgeous chorus as she sings “it’s all over baby and I don’t mind… in decline, I take my time…” The album is suffused with moments like this. On slow builder Damaged Melody, an arpeggiated synth elongates the verse before a cascading synth showers down melodic glitter. The stunning Replica uses dual swirling synth patterns before a driving, synthpop chorus for the ages carries Hannah Lew’s vocal into the stereo field, sailing in on a high register singed with the embers of a break up.
In a departure from previous groups, her solo songs are guided by dreams and free association inspired by Dada and the Surrealist movement and sculpted afterwards. As such, the songs reveal themselves on repeated listens, revealing traces of heartbreak inspired by both personal and global elements - Hannah Lew regards the album “a wartime album.” On Move In Silence, Lew intones “there’s a war outside, just out of view,” revealing the dichotomy at play throughout. With the songs evolving naturally and in a flow state, the pressures and sadnesses of the modern age bleed through, mixed in with Lew’s inherent love, sensitivity and fractured-but-intact optimism. On the swooning, sublime Sunday layers of Numanoid synths open up for the commanding vocal performance pontificating on grief, love, pain as she “feels the ache on Sunday…” As the chorus builds and Lew’s call-and-response vocal adds to the emotional tension, it almost feels like too much to take.
Elsewhere, there are echoes of Hannah Lew’s previous work. On Time Wasted a bass guitar comes in with a heavy, punk attack before the synths and vocal harmonies reminiscent of later Cold Beat elevate everything. The glassy, sweetly resigned closer The Clock sounds like so classic it could be cover, a sweetened Jesus & Mary Chain tune perhaps, before it erupts into volcanic chorus that could only come from Hannah Lew in 2026.
Get ready to dive into the vibrant sounds of the summer with Neighborhood Music’s second vinyl sampler!
Building on the success of their inaugural release, this new collection features a stellar lineup of artists that embody the essence of house music, ideal for sun-soaked days and dance-filled nights.
1. Lazaro Casanova (Miami, USA) - Return (Original Mix)
Born and raised in the heart of Miami, Lazaro brings his unique flair and infectious energy to the sampler, ensuring grooves that will resonate on dance floors around the world.
2. Ordonez (Cuenca, Ecuador) - Trukmpaholic (Original Mix)
A rising star from Ecuador, Ordonez infuses his tracks with a deep understanding of house rhythms, delivering a sound that is both captivating and invigorating.
3. De La Maso (Zurich, Switzerland) - Stand Up
Known as the Swiss lucky charmer, De La Maso combines hypnotic percussion and melodic hooks to create a Balearic atmosphere perfect for sunset sessions by the beach.
4. Hotswing (Florence, Italy) - Samba
The young gun from Italy, Hotswing brings a fresh perspective to house music, seamlessly blending modern elements with classic grooves that keep the hips swinging.
This vinyl sampler is all about*percussion, groove, and swing, It embodies the spirit of Balearic style, where sun, beach, and fun intersect, making it the perfect soundtrack for your summer escapades. Each track is designed to uplift and energize, whether you're lounging on the beach, hosting a backyard BBQ, or hitting the club.
Massive support by Harry Romero, Paco Osuna, Joeski, The Deepshakerz, Tom&Collins, Alaia&Gallo, Animal Trainer, Tube&Berger and many more.
House is the Religion. The DJ is my Deacon. The Music is my God and James Bangura is cool af.
Genuine, passionate, clear, authentic and real…. He isn’t trying, he just is. And his music is the same. It’s fucking cool. It’s real and authentic and it just is James Bangura. So it’s a real honour to add him to the Shall Not Fade roster; from Techno to Jungle to House and everything between the DC native can extract the true essence of a genre and simultaneously make it his own & pay homage to its roots.
So on Jack Sermon there’s no surprise when he flexes a seemingly generationally inherited knack for all things House (and Techno) and delivers four tracks of raw, real, genuine House music. OG shit.
‘House is the Religion, and the DJ is my Deacon, but the music is my God” says the Evangelical vocal on title track ‘Jack Sermon’. Never has there been a more aptly named track…This is a jack sermon… an OG inspired Chi town cut channeling early house music’s soulful beginnings delivered with straight up jacking house beat offset with laidback dusty dub chords….. We don;t say this lightly but we’re calling anthem on this one.
‘Scat Pack’ takes a more percussive and drum forward House motif. Thunderous kicks tease techno but this is still house, NY at heart complete with voguing diva vocals . Blown out and choppy we could say ‘this could have been ripped from a late 90’s club recording on a lost tape’ but that would do disservice to the precise but invisible fusion that's been laid down here..
‘Funk To Berlin’ opens the flip side and in Bangura’s journey to explore classic forms of house and techno, this track may well have taken root from Dub techno pioneers from the past. Deep dub chords and deeper subs lead the track but that jacking percussion makes this more than homage. Machine Funk, Machine soul. AA side business.
‘The Green Line’ closes out the EP in style.. rolling it out with skittering synths that work like percussion, ethereal pads and a faint vocal ‘Chicago’ spiralling into itself making this track one you can get lost in. Some might argue that this one is techno but who cares. It’s the journey not the destination. Two tickets please.
If you don’t know James Bangura’s music already (or even if you do) do some digging.. Look for releases on Mister Saturday Night, K7! and Floorspeed and check his output as part of “Black Rave Culture” with Amal and Nativesun and as a member of Groovedeep with Toronto’s Ciel and fellow DC native Jackson Ryland.
To close, we’ll leave you with this note from James……. told he is cool af.
House music, to me, exists on a wide spectrum. I’m inspired by its many forms: stripped-back minimalism, percussive drive, hypnotic textures, and soulful undertones. Rather than confining myself to one approach, I treat each track as an exploration—testing structure, pushing rhythm, and allowing subtle details to carry emotional weight. The studio becomes a space where groove and atmosphere meet intention. This body of work highlights that process. It reflects how I balance technical precision with feel, tension with release, and tradition with forward motion. Every decision—from drum programming to spatial design—is part of shaping a sound that feels honest and instinctive. - James Bangura
Katamari Damacy became a game beloved by fans across the world with its remarkable action mechanices of rolling your katamari and collecting items to become large enough to form a star for the cosmos. A vinyl pressing of Katamari Fortississimo Damacy, a collection of songs that brought the unique world of Katamari Damacy to life! Starting with "Katamari on the Rocks", and following up with "The Na-Na Song", you can feel the very soul of Katamari Damacy with every popular song. Plus, get a bonus track that was only featured in the trial version, "Katamari on the Rocks (Beta Version for Trial)"! Boasting a soundtrack that is packed with distinctive vocals and a broad range of musical styles, experience music that truly expounds on the feeling of Katamari Damacy at its best. Product shown is a luxurious gatefold sleeve housing two records inside. The outer packaging features an original illustration by Keita Takahashi, the creator of the Katamari Damacy series and art director for the first Katamari Damacy game! When you think of Katamari Damacy, you think of the colorfully chaotic artwork that comes hand in hand alongside it, and this packaging offers a high-quality, must-have item for a fan"s collection.
A pure goa-trance-classics compilation; back on vinyl with Astral Projection, MFG, Xenomorph, Shakta, Oforia,... !
This compilation opens with a track of Roy Sasson, who was famous in the 90s as part of Shidapu. Here he opens with a deep & groovy psychedelic dancefloor monster. The second track has a darker atmosphere, is super powerful but also melodic and spiralling! Xenomorph hasn't released any music for a long time, but he clearly kept his magical touch! That darker touch is carried on by Battle of the Future Buddhas, who went towards pure acid 303 territories in his haunting track! Shakta brings back some sunshine with his funky uplifting "Expedition To Earth"! Now after this first part of the CD come two of the most famous Goa-trance names ever: Astral Projection & MFG! They both do what they do best: creating wonderful melodic soundscapes! Sensitive, emotional & harmonious trancy music for people that want to feel a sunny dancefloor through music! Then RA mixed his known euphoric type of melodies & chords with a more modern sound! The result? Music that will do the trick on every dancefloor around the world. The ender is a more floating, warm track of Oforia, who showcases his more mellow style :)
We hope to create the same heartwarming feeling in your heart, as the one we had when we heard goa-trance for the first time! Enjoy and make sure to land again after reaching the sky!
Emotional Rescue returns after a much-needed year hiatus, refreshed and ready, as it moves into its 15th year, to further explore the environs of oft-forgotten musical secrets and present them to new heads and minds.
To celebrate, the label looks back to one of its favourite collaborations, the music of French ‘Ethno-Industrialists’ Vox Populi! in presenting a truly unique EP of “In Dub”, inspired remixes by 4 fellow Paris based artists of today in Full Circle, Froid Dub, Krikor and Shelter.
“In Dub” takes a selection of songs from the series of albums reissued or compiled on Emotional Rescue and sister label, Platform 23, and gives the Master tapes to this talented ensemble to offer their own, unique dub reworks. The project explores the on-going advances in technology offered, mixed with pure talent and a respectful homage.
Formed by Axel Kyrou and including wife Mitra, as well as long-term music and art partners Pierre Jolivet aka Pacific 231 and Francis Lafont aka FR6 Man, they forged a path from obscure, drum and drum-based cassette releases on to fully realized albums and compilations on their now cult Vox Man Records.
Alexis Le Tan and Joakim’s Full Circle project starts, with their electronic dub remake of Soleyman Dub from the ‘Alternatif Réalisme’ compilation (ERC079). With releases on Good Morning Tapes, Offen and their own “Released” label, their plaudits as master diggers and producers of dubby tripped-out inspired electronics – releasing slowed Trance some 10 years before anyone else – is inspired. Tuning in and turning on the original dub into a mantra style slow-breaks (Digi)dub is the perfect experimental flavour.
Jube Man is next, a twisted, psychedelic dub out by rising stars Froid Dub. The stand-out from the ‘Magiques Creations’ release (ERC052), an album that explored Vox Populi’s furtive post-industrial period of 1984 to 1988, Jube Man was the perfect selection by the duo of François Marché and Stéphane Bodin.
Froid Dub have steadily developed their “cold” Digidub style to acclaim –
releasing a steady flow of dub inspired electronics on their own label Delodio, as well as recently appearing on sister label Emotional Response’s 10th year anniversary collection, ‘All Trades’. Their haunting, shuffling and murky acid / piano dub, with the drifting “Space Echoing” of Mitra’s vocals from the live desk mix, creates a ghostly version to effect.
Next, master mixer, producer and engineer Krikor serves a steppers remake with his “OverDub” of Zen-Dub. With a career that spans releases on Tigersushi, LIES and Soul Jazz, his sound has developed from Electro, House and Techno, to Acid, Bleep, Dancehall, Dub and touches of Gabba.
Taken from Vox Populi!’s master-opus Aither (ERC030), the first of our reissues dating back to 2016, Zen-Dub’s pacey, lo-fi dub experience is transformed and overdubbed into an incessant sound system throb, a true bass quaking “steppa”.
To close, Micro Climax is put through Shelter’s increasing avant dub exposition. Appearing on the likes of Growing Bin, Emotional Response and his own Protopost, as well for – and being in-house designer – on the much-missed Séance Centre, Alan Briand aka Shelter productions have developed from Balearic, Edits and House to explore Avant, Raga and live Dub productions.
Appearing on the recent ‘Ethniques Pyschedeliques’ compilation on Platform 23 (PLA032), in original form Micro Climax is a sprawling 10-minute ethno-dub of whispered vocals, drone and sub bass. Shelter strips it back, keeping background effects, adding live bass and percussion to create a wonky, slow, shuffling ska-lite excursion to complete a true “In Dub”.
Nippon Psychedelic Soul 1970-1979 is Time Capsule’s continuation of the deep dive into Japan’s rich history of folk and psychedelic soul music.
Vinyl LP with 4 page insert, original artwork and photos
The kaleidoscopic psychedelia of 1970s Japan captured a fragile and fertile moment as the country sought its future in funk grooves, heavy reverb and lyrical hallucinations.
The follow-up compilation to Time Capsule’s Nippon Acid Folk, Nippon Psychedelic Soul takes myriad pathways into the tripped-out undergrowth of 1970s Japan. Finding their feet at home and looking for inspiration abroad, the musicians featured here were engaged in the communal soul-searching that followed the breakdown of the 1960s protest movements. Some made it big, others drifted into oblivion. The music they left behind shimmers with intensity.
At the core was Happy End, the first project of YMO’s Haroumi Hosono, whose distortion-heavy guitar and crisp back-beat laid the foundations for Japanese lyrics that flipped the paradigm of Japanese rock music on its head. With it came a new found sonic ambition, such as in the bold Philly-soul style arrangements of producer Yuji Ohno, whose work with occult wandered Yoshiko Sai shares some of the bittersweet grandeur of Rotary Connection or David Axelrod.
Then there was Jun Fukamachi, a pioneer of Japanese synthesis, whose debut album was a carnival of orchestral funk, euphoric horn lines and rich production, complete with soaring guitar solos, psychedelic organ and a truly cinematic finale. The first and only time Fukamachi would sing on record, ‘Omae’ rips like the ultimate end-of-nighter.
Influenced by giants of the US soul scene, maverick composer Hiroshi “Monsieur” Kamayatsu (otherwise known as ‘the Brian Wilson of Japan’) went one step further, enlisting Tower of Power to play on ‘Have You Smoked Gauloises?’ The B-side to Monsieur’s biggest-selling single, it coasts with sophisticated cool - a liquid bassline and suave keys comping under a roaring trademark ToP sax solo. No surprise it found favour once more on the Acid Jazz dance floors of ‘90s London.
Such was the spirit of experimentation that big studio productions and private press releases sat side-by-side, with the likes of Momotaro Pink and Kazushi Inamura, taking their hopes of success into their own hands with the resources available to them. More reflective but no less robust, theirs was a heavy, fat-backed drum sound, soaked in dramatic, soulful psychedelia.
If some were dreamers and others space cadets, none were further out than sci-fi writer, musician, activist and self-made scientist Tadashi Goino, who transformed his own fantasy novel Messenger from the Seventh Dimension into an operatic prog odyssey with few discernible musical reference points – a majestic and completely bonkers outlier even among company as strange and brilliant as that which is collected here.
Less a compilation of a scene, as a compilation of a sentiment, Nippon Psychedelic Soul is a wild ride from start to finish, shattering the narratives of the Japanese folk and rock tradition into a million tiny pieces.
