quête:late

Alpenglühen continues to establish itself as a trusted source for forward-thinking ambient techno with its latest vinyl release, introducing Vanertia, the new collaborative alias from Vand and !nertia. This debut offering fuses the distinctive sonic DNA of both artists into a deeply textured and rhythmically intricate EP.

The record draws heavily from the dub techno tradition, with spacious delay lines and submerged chord stabs setting the tone across all tracks. Yet it’s the subtle interplay between syncopated grooves and classic 4x4 pulse that gives the record its driving energy. The percussion is detailed and organic, riding a bed of carefully sculpted low-end that never overwhelms but always supports the movement.

The result is a hypnotic, immersive listen that balances club functionality with introspective richness.

With Vanertia, Vand and !nertia have laid the groundwork for what promises to be a highly fruitful collaboration.

dljife – The Essence Of Experimental House.
On the A-side of our first 7“ single we see the production team of Hamburg-based baze.djunkiii and Uelsen's finest Sascha Müller who have also ventured into the world of Bass Music with their acclaimed Combat Dubs project as well as their most recent Footwork x Juke x Global Bass fusion remix for Colombian artist Iam JDP on the Freebreakz.FWD label harking back to the Minimal House vibe of the mid-90s, presenting a stripped down, yet groovy and seductive take on late night club music with a tongue-in-cheek twist, Jazz-referencing percussions, wonky, ever meandering midrange synths and a simple, highly effective main motif expertly crafted for those in the know.

On the flip we've got „Acid Jackson“, a vinyl debut for the mysterious project that is RU DEAD 42 which enters a hyperdense realm of muscular, hard-stomping and heavily Acidinfused House Music backed by soft Piano chords and a trippy dreamstate attitude of sorts with this musical outing, providing quite a deliberate contrast to the deep and restrained vibe of the A-side.

Formed in 2012 by long-time musical companions Oyvind Holm and Hogne Galaen,
the band quickly grew into the six- piece musical force they are today. Their unique
sound fuses cosmic Americana and rich vocal harmonies with catchy melodies, highspirited improvisation, and contagious musical energy that will leave you craving
more.
The six members come from diverse musical backgrounds but are united by their
shared love of psychedelia and cosmic Americana. They draw particular inspiration
from the California sound of the late '60s, with bands like The Byrds, Crosby, Stills,
Nash & Young, and the Grateful Dead as key infuences.
Between 2012 and 2019, the band recorded and released fve critically acclaimed
albums, two of which were recorded in the California desert at the legendary Rancho
De La Luna, nestled among the Joshua trees. Like many other artists, the pandemic
shook their foundations, forcing the band into an involuntary hiatus. In the aftermath
of lockdowns and other imposed restrictions, the backlash from other projects kept
them from picking up where they had left off.
However, the fall of 2024 brought new opportunities. An unexpected email from Mike
Scott of The Waterboys reignited their spirit and motivation. While on tour in Norway,
Scott discovered one of their albums and was so taken by their sound that he invited
them to contribute vocal harmonies to 'The Tourist,' a track off The Waterboys' new
album Life, Death & Dennis Hopper.
Soon after, an even greater opportunity arose--an invitation to join The Waterboys on
tour in the UK and Scandinavia. To accompany the upcoming tour, we've put together
a beginner's guide to Sugarfoot.
The compilation album Cosmic Norse Americana features nine highlights from
Sugarfoot's career so far, along with a newly recorded cover of Emitt Rhodes' 1967
track "Time Will Show The Wiser."
Sugarfoot:
Hogne Galaen - guitars, vocals
Even Granas - drums
Thomas Henriksen - keyboards
Oyvind Holm - guitars, vocals
Bent Saether - bass
Roar Oien - pedal steel
THOUGHTS AND WORDS
The Sugarfoot story begins back in 2011. But before there was Sugarfoot, there were
the Dipsomaniacs, Kulta Beats, Motorpsycho, Too Far Gone, and Deleted Waveform
Gatherings--bands that, in one way or another, featured future members of what would
eventually become Sugarfoot. Six musicians from diverse musical backgrounds,
united by a shared love of psychedelia and cosmic Americana. Drawing deep
inspiration from the California sound of the late '60s, their musical compass points
toward The Byrds, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and the Grateful Dead.
I say eventually, because Sugarfoot didn't start as a band--it began as a duo. Hogne
Galaen and Oyvind Holm had previously played together in Deleted Waveform
Gatherings. But when their drummer moved out of town, the group was put on ice. Not
ones to sit still, the two of them launched a side project to keep the creative wheels
turning.
Throughout the winter of 2011, they holed up in their rehearsal space, writing and
recording rough sketches of what would soon grow into a full album. And that's when
things got interesting. They drew up a wish list--a dream lineup of musicians they'd
love to bring into the fold.
Among the names on that list were Even Granas, Thomas Henriksen, Bent Saether,
and Roar Oien, all soon to be permanent Sugarfooters. Each was invited to contribute
to the project, adding their parts to the pre-recorded tracks--without knowing what the
others were doing. Like assembling a giant musical puzzle, Galaen and Holm later
pieced the album together from these blindfolded contributions. The result was This
Love That We Outwore, released in the fall of 2012.
From there, things escalated quickly. By the following year, Sugarfoot had become a
proper band. Big Sky Country-- written and recorded collectively-- landed in 2014,
solidifying the group's evolving sound, including favourites such as Dolphins Hotel and
Ego In A Bag. When it came time to record a third album, the band felt the itch for
something new. They wanted a change of scenery--somewhere that could spark fresh
inspiration and leave its own sonic fngerprint on the production. So they asked
themselves: where could they go that carried the spirit, the legacy, the stardust of their
musical heroes?
That search led them to the California desert, to the legendary Rancho De La Luna,
nestled among the Joshua trees. Their next two albums, Different Stars (2016) and
The Santa Ana (2017), were both recorded at the Rancho. In fact, The Santa Ana was
both recorded and mixed during a two- week stay in 2015, making it a true time
capsule in the band's discography.

2025 Repress!

South London favourites Chaos in the CBD come back to Rhythm Section International one year after their breakthrough EP 'Midnight in Peckham'. The original EP captured a moment in time in a way few songs can manage. It was hailed as a masterpiece, capturing the attention of all who listened, as evidenced by the unquenchable demand for the 12'.
This follow up EP is an equally sublime collection of tracks that revel in the late night soulful feel that Chaos in The CBD have been honing over the past two years. The music's strength lies in it's subtlety - the tracks demand your attention in an effortless fashion and hold it, right 'till the last beat. Another unbelievably powerful record from RS INTL, who are proving to be unstoppable of late. BUY ON SIGHT!

2025 Repress

Another collection of early cassette recordings from J DILLA feat. more raw unreleased DILLA originals. "GENIUS" includes 14 remastered tracks showcasing DILLA's sonic growth in the late 90s—including him rapping and singing, working out a track. Packaged in full color sleeve

Neapolitan composer, producer, and keyboardist Giorgio Lopez sets sail on Berlin-based label Cosmic Romance with his “Sud des Îles”. Navigating between 80s-inspired grooves, French boogie, and sun-kissed atmospheres, the record unfolds like a musical travelogue, following fictional skipper Georges Taty and his crew of musicians aboard the sailboat “Sud des Îles”, caught between racing waves, late-night jams, and dockside dreams.

From the whirling groove of "Voyager Sans Bouger" to the breezy atmosphere of "Toujours Distante", the eight tracks on Sud des Îles invite listeners to drift away in rhythm and reverie through a songwriting that is both infectious and evocative. Stories of escapes (real or imagined), romantic illusions, and nostalgia-tinted euphoria weave together, propelled by Giorgio Lopez’s arrangements and distinctive keyboard work, as well as by the well-crafted production, carried out together with Executive Producer and label owner Ed Longo.

Featuring lead vocals by Stella, Master Phil, Amanda Roldan, and Bernardino Femminielli, together with the “équipage de Sud des Îles” itself - a tight-knit ensemble of acclaimed musicians from Berlin and Naples – “Sud des Îles” is an invitation to ride the waves to a neon-lit night on a faraway island: no passport required.

The double A-side includes the super "Fresh X Pop" new song "Sunny Side Up" which signals a new start, as well as the next latest song.
Released on July 16th, which is Roy's (Vo&Ba) birthday and "Hot Dog" day, which is also the origin of the self-managed "Hot Dog Records" label.

Coral Grief, das Rocktrio aus Seattle, und Air Between Us, sein Debütalbum, sind treffend betitelt. Die ersten Töne von Sam Fasons Gitarre im Opener ,Starboard" treffen wie ein Windstoß Seeluft ins Gesicht. In nur wenigen Sekunden schwebt man, zu gleichen Teilen unter dem Himmel und über dem Meer. Es ist ein ähnliches Dazwischen, in dem Coral Grief gedeihen, denn sie konstruieren ein kunstvolles Geflecht aus doppelten Bedeutungen in dieser Hommage und Lobrede auf ihre Stadt und Community. Die Sängerin und Bassistin Lena Farr-Morrissey und Fason sind durch die psychische Chemie verbunden, die man nur durch jahrelanges gemeinsames Spielen in Bands entwickeln kann. Die Gitarre von Fason ist das Segel zu Farr-Morrisseys Anker, und hier schafft er Texturen, die so dicht sind wie der Wind. Das Bindeglied - der Motor in dieser nautischen Metapher - ist Schlagzeuger Cam Hancock, der von gemeinsamen Freunden wärmstens empfohlen wurde. Sein treibendes Spiel dient als Brücke der Ideen, als letztes Puzzlestück, als Meister der Dynamik und Übergängen, der ihre Songs in neue Gefilde treibt, ohne dabei aufzufallen. Gemeinsam lassen sie sich von Stereolab, Broadcast, Th' Faith Healers und Seefeel inspirieren, und umrahmen diese sehr spezifische Sorte von britischer Coolness auf eine einzigartige Weise wie es sie nur im pazifischen Nordwesten gibt. Um die Songs zum Leben zu erwecken, begab sich das Trio ins The Unknown - eine eine stillgelegte Kirche, die als Segelmanufaktur und Aufnahmestudio in Anacortes, WA dient. In Zusammenarbeit mit dem Toningenieur Nich Wilbur, der sich von fünf Matchas pro Tag ernährte, wurde der Arbeitsraum zu ihrem Workshop. ,Wir wollten die Dinge zu dritt angehen, aber auch, dass es so üppig und voll wie möglich klingt", erklärt Fason.

The double A-side includes the super "Fresh X Pop" new song "Sunny Side Up" which signals a new start, as well as the next latest song.
Released on July 16th, which is Roy's (Vo&Ba) birthday and "Hot Dog" day, which is also the origin of the self-managed "Hot Dog Records" label.

Marco Faraone is the latest artist on DCLTD imprint with his ‘Open Your Eyes’ four tracker. 'Open Your Eyes': the title track combines roiling fast techno beats, with pizzicato 'plucked string' insistent, subtly dominating monotone strand throughout, all peppered with a deep male vocal command - 'concentrate', until the big breakdown's drop is heralded by female voice 'open your eyes' and a fast ride to the satisfying end. Uncompromising and invasive in the best way. 'Enigma': the techno beats ride alongside a resonant synth melody with an 80s vibe, hypnotic and upbeat, counterpointed by a touch of melancholy in the intruding high synth notes in the breakdown. A deep, danceable techno track with emotion baked in.

'Convert The Energy': Fast and dark, with a whomping beat, metallic percussion, and a repeating monotone phrase stealthily gripping the hearer, while urgent, deep male layered vocal riff - 'convert' - becomes a layered, processed vocal delivery of 'machine designed to convert energy', emphasis suitably on the last word. 'Haze': a stotting fast drum beat and hissy hi-hats underlie a repeating melodic synth phrase with a noughties trance feel, crescendoing into a plangent, almost-piano sound, punctuated by single notes like trumpet calls, clattery or jangling intrusions, mysterious and intriguing.

Never Sleep charity tape series heads for Etruria with a late 90s mix from one of the masters.

Gaetani sophist Claudio Coccolutto quantifies joy with a blend of Balearic, House and Prog. A frivo- lous journey through the golden spectrum of dance music and hosted by ??.

Showcasing a smoother than buttered muffuletta mix style, deep grooved sequential ecstatica and layered love for the summertime balcony terpsi-chorean. Utilising Pioneer 800 sound design filter elements, slowly simmered percussion and magne-tised around the good time driving force of House music. Coccolutto brings the positivity, uplifting vocal tenderness and cavorting XTC for a master-class in slow burning velocity.

Claudio Cocculutto passed away in March 2021 and is well known for his community work, politics and love of dance music.

To mark 10 years since SOPHIE’s game-changing singles collection PRODUCT, Numbers are celebrating with a special edition featuring 11 songs across Deluxe Vinyl and Compact Disc.

This anniversary release includes bonus tracks, track-by-track slide posters, and a SOPHIE PRODUCT Card. Physical editions are now available for pre-order and released on 11th July 2025.

SOPHIE classics ‘BIPP’, ‘LEMONADE’ and ‘VYZEE’ are joined by two immaculate PRODUCT-era songs ‘OOH’ and ‘GET HIGHER’ recorded and produced at the time, each with colourful single artwork completing the set.

‘OOH’ is one of SOPHIE's earliest productions that has been through several revisions since 2011. It was one of three original tracks that Numbers had signed when SOPHIE uploaded the song alongside 'BIPP' and 'ELLE' to her Soundcloud, and while it had been through several iterations and speed changes, this finalised version was completed by SOPHIE in 2019.

SOPHIE once described ‘OOH’ as “hi tech club dance pop”. Musically speaking, the earworm hook is carved out by her signature portamento-infused synths and candy-coated lyrics, a firm cult classic approved by AG Cook and Charli XCX. Initially titled 'MAKE RESPECT', the track was first performed live by SOPHIE in 2011 to a handful of lucky people at a beach afterparty surrounding Sonar Festival, Barcelona and later that year at Manhattan's New Museum. The vocal was recorded as the first track in the same one-day recording session as SOPHIE's debut single 'NOTHING MORE TO SAY', released on the Huntley & Palmers label, where Sophie's songwriting was performed by the London vocalist Jaide Green.

The genesis of the ‘OOH’ and ‘NOTHING MORE TO SAY’ recording session is lore-worthy in its own right: after watching Jaide Green perform live with Olly Murs during the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009, SOPHIE reached out and invited Jaide to record in her home bedroom studio.

‘GET HIGHER’ was born during joyous sessions in 2013, when SOPHIE’s beat was introduced to the vocalists Cassie Davis and Sean Mullins. The track feels like a visionary precursor to ‘Vroom Vroom’, and doesn't sound out of place next to the sub-clang intensity of SOPHIE’s ‘HARD’ and ‘MSMSMSM’. Striking a playful balance between blissed-out hyperpop and club-ready Atlanta trap, it showcases SOPHIE’s signature, laser sharp sound design. Originally released as a bonus track on the Japanese CD edition of PRODUCT, ‘GET HIGHER’ has remained a hidden gem.

A groundbreaking producer, songwriter and performer, SOPHIE's visionary approach reshaped the landscape of pop and electronic music. Emerging in the early 2010s, SOPHIE introduced a hyper-detailed, futuristic sound defined by metallic textures, elastic basslines, and an uncanny blend of synthetic and emotional tones. Collaborating with artists including Charli XCX, Madonna, Vince Staples and Arca, SOPHIE helped pioneer a new pop movement while challenging conventions around identity, genre and production. SOPHIE's work continues to resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impact on a generation of artists and listeners alike. Discography: PRODUCT (2015), OIL OF EVERY PEARL'S UN-INSIDES (2018), SOPHIE (released posthumously, 2024).

Hexagonal rising star Hyas & Parisian underground mainstay Aurèle join forces on their latest five-track EP, “Spider Rituals”. This release navigates the realms of techno, breaks, and UK inspired wobbling frequencies.

The journey begins with the 140 BPM head-turner, “Craig Mild” where an enchanting witchcraft ambiance intertwines with classic Roland drum machines and emotive Yamaha synth chords.
A2, “Pryorities” propels you straight into the heart of a sweaty basement, layered with naughty boys samples and a wonky bassline supplement that keeps the energy alive.

Flipping to Side B, we dive into the grooviest cut of the record, B1 – “Wow Seen”, certified banger material avidly tested by the French duo prior release… spoiler : it works every time. B2, “Bueno Dub” ventures into frowning-and-vibing territories, serving up a potent mix of daggering basslines, breakbeats, and off-kilter pop samples. Finally, B3 – “Cash Mire” closes the record on an ambient note, featuring deep 808s that seamlessly pull you in a deep bass bath.

With a commitment to blending influences, Hyas & Aurèle present this ambitious opus as a collaboration between their respective labels, Bardouin Music and Demi-Monde.

Best of' albums are invariably repackaged collections of old recordings, so Vice Squad's `Punk Rockers' is a breath of fresh air The songs have been lovingly recorded and remastered, keeping all the original fire and adding decades of experience gained from punishing tours and continuous songwriting Beki is the original architect of the songs and the Vice Squad name, and she is the sole surviving member of the original lineup to have continued as a full-time musician Vice Squad are 100% DIY and record everything in their home studio with guitarist/riffmaster Paul Rooney engineering and mixing. There is nothing sloppy here; the whole album is concise and intelligent with lightning-speed diction, passion, and intent. The glorious `If I Knew What I Know Now' and `The World Is Wrong' are examples of Vice Squad's ability to write instantly catchy, witty songs, and the more gut-wrenching material from their last album, `Battle of Britain', showcases some enormous riffs and a voice that is a million decibels from Beki's untried teen vocals. The album opens with the deliciously effervescent `If I Knew What I Know Now', followed by the sparkling old-school tongue-twister `Out of Reach'. Next up is the visceral `Get A Life', an angry anti-suicide note to the desperate, originally the title track from their 1998 comeback album. This is followed by a shimmering version of Vice Squad's old-school classic `Resurrection'. While the treatment of the old songs remains true to the original teenage renditions, the upgraded versions pack more of a punch with detuned guitars and growling bass. The tribal tom-toms of `Allergy' underpin just over two minutes of punk protest about the delights of pollution and asthma. Then comes the sublime `Sniffing Glue', a near-perfect punk love song that would be a huge hit if not for its subject matter. `Ordinary Girl' is punk-pop perfection brimming with hook lines and harmonies, warmly mocking the life that could have been chosen instead of the grindstone at the sharp end of the music industry. `The World Is Wrong' is anthemic, joyous, and wonderfully contrary, and one would expect nothing less from a band that has soldiered on and grown through the decades. It's always great when bands lead by example. In these increasingly tough times where our survival is threatened by the gargantuan greed of a few individuals, it's important to continuously stick two fingers up to the grabbers and spoilers. 'The World Is Wrong' does just that in an impassioned, melodic, and optimistic style. 'Hold your head up, stand your ground, and don't let the bastards grind you down.' Then we roar into the final single Beki wrote with original and now sadly deceased guitarist Dave Bateman, `Citizen', and continue with another teenage opus, the quite brutal `Scarred For Life'. `Voice of the People' is a bulldozer of a song, all swagger and ballsy riffs, and the chorus, `Freedom of speech is against the law; now we're all criminals,' snarls its derision at red-handed red tape. `Punk Police' sneers over a catchy-as-COVID guitar riff, and the lyrics, `Regulation cut, you must measure up, down on the street, PR companies, monied families, running the scene,' call out the hierarchies that now permeate Punk. Baritone guitars add extra darkness to one of the first-ever animal rights songs, `Humane', and I'm struck by how relevant the older songs are. Chocks away, and the awesome 'Spitfire' takes flight like Motörhead on extra amphetamines. Merlin engines fade into `Born In A War', the second in the triumvirate of conflict-themed songs, an absolute stonker with huge muscular riffs and lyrics that roar pure outrage. Then comes the ominous Last Rockers, with all the angst of the original plus added depth and resonance. Beki: ' "Last Rockers" is a typically depressive adolescent song about nuclear war and being too young to die but too late to live. I believed Punks were the `Last Rockers', the final youth cult before the Apocalypse. I was obsessed with punk, and all I wanted to do was sing in a band and be part of the movement, so I would often romanticise the idea of punk in my lyrics.'

Best of' albums are invariably repackaged collections of old recordings, so Vice Squad's `Punk Rockers' is a breath of fresh air The songs have been lovingly recorded and remastered, keeping all the original fire and adding decades of experience gained from punishing tours and continuous songwriting Beki is the original architect of the songs and the Vice Squad name, and she is the sole surviving member of the original lineup to have continued as a full-time musician Vice Squad are 100% DIY and record everything in their home studio with guitarist/riffmaster Paul Rooney engineering and mixing. There is nothing sloppy here; the whole album is concise and intelligent with lightning-speed diction, passion, and intent. The glorious `If I Knew What I Know Now' and `The World Is Wrong' are examples of Vice Squad's ability to write instantly catchy, witty songs, and the more gut-wrenching material from their last album, `Battle of Britain', showcases some enormous riffs and a voice that is a million decibels from Beki's untried teen vocals. The album opens with the deliciously effervescent `If I Knew What I Know Now', followed by the sparkling old-school tongue-twister `Out of Reach'. Next up is the visceral `Get A Life', an angry anti-suicide note to the desperate, originally the title track from their 1998 comeback album. This is followed by a shimmering version of Vice Squad's old-school classic `Resurrection'. While the treatment of the old songs remains true to the original teenage renditions, the upgraded versions pack more of a punch with detuned guitars and growling bass. The tribal tom-toms of `Allergy' underpin just over two minutes of punk protest about the delights of pollution and asthma. Then comes the sublime `Sniffing Glue', a near-perfect punk love song that would be a huge hit if not for its subject matter. `Ordinary Girl' is punk-pop perfection brimming with hook lines and harmonies, warmly mocking the life that could have been chosen instead of the grindstone at the sharp end of the music industry. `The World Is Wrong' is anthemic, joyous, and wonderfully contrary, and one would expect nothing less from a band that has soldiered on and grown through the decades. It's always great when bands lead by example. In these increasingly tough times where our survival is threatened by the gargantuan greed of a few individuals, it's important to continuously stick two fingers up to the grabbers and spoilers. 'The World Is Wrong' does just that in an impassioned, melodic, and optimistic style. 'Hold your head up, stand your ground, and don't let the bastards grind you down.' Then we roar into the final single Beki wrote with original and now sadly deceased guitarist Dave Bateman, `Citizen', and continue with another teenage opus, the quite brutal `Scarred For Life'. `Voice of the People' is a bulldozer of a song, all swagger and ballsy riffs, and the chorus, `Freedom of speech is against the law; now we're all criminals,' snarls its derision at red-handed red tape. `Punk Police' sneers over a catchy-as-COVID guitar riff, and the lyrics, `Regulation cut, you must measure up, down on the street, PR companies, monied families, running the scene,' call out the hierarchies that now permeate Punk. Baritone guitars add extra darkness to one of the first-ever animal rights songs, `Humane', and I'm struck by how relevant the older songs are. Chocks away, and the awesome 'Spitfire' takes flight like Motörhead on extra amphetamines. Merlin engines fade into `Born In A War', the second in the triumvirate of conflict-themed songs, an absolute stonker with huge muscular riffs and lyrics that roar pure outrage. Then comes the ominous Last Rockers, with all the angst of the original plus added depth and resonance. Beki: ' "Last Rockers" is a typically depressive adolescent song about nuclear war and being too young to die but too late to live. I believed Punks were the `Last Rockers', the final youth cult before the Apocalypse. I was obsessed with punk, and all I wanted to do was sing in a band and be part of the movement, so I would often romanticise the idea of punk in my lyrics.'

Pachinko Round 6!

Get ready for another sonic journey with this latest installment from Tunisian artist Ahmet Mecnun. On the A-side, Necrotic Surge is a powerful 8-minute odyssey that stands proudly on its own — hypnotic, intense, and richly textured, it sets the tone for a release that invites listeners to lose themselves in sound.

In what ways does human consciousness transcend time, crafting subconscious connections that unite humanity’s primordial past with a future yet to be defined? Fittingly, Memory Implant took shape by following the latent threads of this concept, emerging from dream theories and anthropological explorations organically into the realm of Fourth World Music.

Finding a middle ground between atmosphere and rhythm, moving forward while remaining grounded in space, the music progresses with subtle shifts in texture and energy.

The concept of genre re-invention is irrelevant when rhythm is a building block of collective consciousness. Instead, Glaesha brings a fresh perspective, using sound as a way of seeing.

Sneaker Social Club is pleased to direct your attention to this sparse and weighty club gear incoming from a sizeable new talent on the scene, Beton Brut.

Following on from his previous drops on Plasma Sources and Coyote Records, Beton Brut steps onto this latest platter with a surefooted sound. It’s informed by weightless grime, minimal techno and brittle electro, but he carves his own incisive path towards the hoods-up-heads-down Dancefloor.

This is stark, moody gear to get lost in — the dexterous sound design slipping around the rhythm core of ‘Tobacco Earthworm’; gleams in high-definition, but never at the expense of the eerily stripped-back atmosphere. ‘Booters’ snips up a clutch of clippings from grime and scatters them across the timeline in a scrapbook style, making a deadly, dislocated love letter to the sound in the process. Approaching mutant, hybrid club music with a considered poise, this is exactly the kind of forward-thinking bassweight gear that Sneaker thrives on.

Five tracks of future electro-funk from Spanish DJ and producer Lefrenk, who makes his Gated debut.

Across five expertly warped tracks, the EP pulls from 80s Balearic sunsets, fried breakbeats, warehouse-scented house music, and electro that’s been lightly basted in funk and grilled over a lovely DAW.


‘Brainstorm’ kicks off with pummelling beats then goes widescreen, like a sci-fi epic barging into your set uninvited but winning you over immediately. It’s bold, abstractly beautiful, and absolutely means business.

‘Clocks’ loops squelchy bass and a twinkling melody that develops masterfully, intent on living in your head proudly — like a tenant who pays rent on time and doesn’t play the saxophone.

‘Funk Awake’ could soundtrack a very stylish chase scene between two people in vintage tracksuits.

‘Ocaso’ slows it down a little — warm and woozy, but with snappy, electrified beats holding it up like a drunk at a bar vying for the bartender’s attention.

Rounding things off, ‘Relative Point’ floats somewhere between VHS nostalgia and late-night contemplation, where the insistent beat and bass hold steady and the synths do the wandering.

Dana Schechter: Lap Steel Guitar, Bass, Electronics. - Paul Wallfisch: Piano, Organ, SOMA Pipe, Guitaret. Music from the Vienna Volkstheater production of Wolfram Lotz's play "Die Politiker" directed by Kay Voges; performed live in the theatre, spring 2022. These 2 beautiful exiles travel limbic landscapes and underwater dreams with a map that disintegrates instantly when viewed. Their fractured sounds dissolve and reconfigure endlessly in our cochlea and infest our imaginations with spiked armies of ultra-vivid, sentient and carnivorous coral predators, atavistically intent on devouring the sweet meat hiding deep in the center of the amygdala. Michael Gira (SWANS). Wallfisch has played in bands like Firewater and Little Annie, while Schechter has logged time with American Music Club, Angels of Light and her own Insect Ark, among others; both spent time touring and recording with SWANS. They've been friends since meeting in New York in the 1990s. Years later they forged a stronger connection as bandmates in Botanica. They renewed their artistic partnership in 2021, when Paul invited Dana to Vienna to develop the music for a theatrical spectacle called Die Politiker written by Kleist prize winner Wolfram Lotz. The music from the production provides the foundation for the duo's first album, The Heart of A Whale. Across its six intense tracks one can detect a subtle homage to storied Berlin musical traditions, as the pair puts a raw, often brutal veneer on songs steeped in Weimar cabaret (a la Tom Waits) but updated with a visceral mixture of noise, post-punk, and industrial elements. Performed on a panoply of instruments from bass, organ and lap steel to SOMA Synths, Guitaret, a variety of electronics and a grand piano hammered with a shoe, the music reflects the New York- Berlin nexus they've both been part of for decades. Echoes of Swans, Einstürzende Neubauten and The Birthday Party, but also hints of Throbbing Gristle, Eno and even William Basinski and Michael Gordon. The music can't be contained by any single tradition, with a decidedly experimental bent that ruptures the fixed rhythm of rock for something more theatrical and emotionally harrowing.