Third Place is a collective of old friends who bathed in the London electronic music scene for two decades together. Now spread across Montreal, Frome and the Lake District, they collaborate on multiple projects and started the Cabane Musique imprint as a vehicle for their music.
The A-side hosts title track Spectral. A shimmering Balearic sunrise anthem that sounds as if it’s always been here. A natural set closer that will immerse the early morning dance floor in a euphoric rush of hopeful wonder.
Flight kicks off the B-side, sending the listener towards the stars with flickering percussive flourishes, beautifully deep bouncing bass line and rich pads. Music for psilocybin-infused forest parties with the Milky Way piercing through the canopy.
Last we have BenDen’s Hierbas Mix of Spectral which stays very much on the Balearic tip. They slow things down for a lush and tripped out affair.
DJ support: Chris Stussy, M-High, Prunk, Cinthie, Michel de Hey, Locklead, Dennis Quin
When Souls Collide - A soulful fusion of sound and spirit, this track invites listeners to experience a harmonious clash where emotions and rhythms intertwine.
Shy Time - Inspired by the vibrant energy of Chicago, this deep house gem brings a raw, underground vibe that captivates and moves the dance floor.
Feel Free - A high-octane heavy house anthem, 'Feel Free' is designed to electrify any dance floor with its cutting-edge beats and infectious energy. Prepare for some real damage!
Dexed Tek- The perfect B-side to complete the EP, 'Dexed Tek' features dubby chords layered over a powerful beat, creating a deep, immersive soundscape that resonates long after the last note fades.
You’re NEXUS 21, central to the dizzy zeitgeist of the 1991 adrenaline rammed UK House Music juggernaut, and you have just recorded a masterpiece of an album MIND MACHINES.
DON’T DO IT LIKE THAT - somehow even though your record label love the album it does not get released.
DO IT LIKE THIS - it finally gets issued now.
When Mark Archer and Chris Peat flew back from a seminal recording session at Kevin Saunderson’s KMS Studio in Detroit there was a palpable feel of excitement. Instead of merely paying homage to their Techno forerunners, they were now creating their own just as innovative waveforms.
In the can was a gem - DON’T DO IT LIKE THIS, DO IT LIKE THAT. Motor City songstress Donna Black had unconsciously seemed to add Ma to the start of her name and her recorded in the dark vocals helped conjure up an almost Madonna and a drum machine meets Techno hybrid. This it was agreed could be a huge breakthrough single which - preceded by strategically released set up tracks - would build up Nexus 21’s surely inevitable rise to glory. And the release of the MIND MACHINES album. But it never happened. Instead one day Mark and Chris burst into Network’s Birmingham office excitedly brandishing no less than 8 new recordings infused with a propulsive Rave energy flash compared to their more cerebral Nexus 21 work. The label agreed that the new tracks should be released under a new artist name and an initial suggestion. Alien 8 replaced by Altern 8. What was planned as temporary dalliance became a long term relationship. You all know the score - Altern 8 became surf riders supreme on the rave tsunami, not just music makers but myth creators. The plan has been to run Nexus 21 and Altern 8 parallel, a kind of schizophrenic experiment by two men, a drum machine and a mad for it record company. History shows that Altern 8 became too DOMIN 8 and the lovingly recorded Nexus 21 album was left on the proverbial shelf (actually a box in Birmingham)
So now MIND MACHINES finally meets the World. First thing that screams out that it hasn’t half aged well. Obviously it is a wet dream for the anoraks of electronica, that goes without saying. But above and beyond the history lesson of how 2 young UK techno mad kids got the dots from Detroit and deconstructed them to create something very British the music they created, sometimes naive but frequently knowledgeable, sounds .. well just great.
The four Detroit recordings - NEXODUS, TOGETHER, DON’T DO IT LIKE THAT, DO IT LIKE THIS and EVERYTHING (NO STATUES) - variously feature contributions from Motor City luminaries Marc Kinchen and Anthony Shakir.
Only two of the twelve recordings were properly released in 1990/1991 with two more making it on a withdrawn white label 12 inch at the time. Three of the tracks, including a live recording at London’s Brain Club that has been retrieved from a DAT that was thought to have disappeared, are previously unreleased. And as well as two previously unreleased much altered versions of Nexus 21 gems there is the legendary much tougher mix of the duo’s signature techno treasure Self Hypnosis.
NEXUS 21
LOST AND NOW FOUND
LMajor's been on my radar of artists to watch out for ever since I heard a tune of his called "Roll Away Clean" in 2020 when it came out on Diamond Life (sublabel of Coco Bryce's label Myor). I played it in my Essential Mix for Radio 1 and in many other sets of mine, it's the type of tune where I wish it was me that made it haha.
After that, I heard "Can't Do It" on his EP for Astrophonica a year later which I also was impressed by, and soon after, he sent me these 2 tracks thinking they would be suitable for the label. One thing led to another and I signed them both straight away and here we are...
‘The Night of the Stars’ is the fantastic sixth album from Swedish dream pop favorites AZURE BLUE. The album pushes the quality to its peak, exhibiting a richer, clearer, and more luxurious approach to the patented AZURE BLUE sound across ten enticing tracks. Three of the songs generated significant buzz when released as singles. Album opener ‘Rise’ is a shimmering track with a rushing drumbeat topped by luxurious layers of analog synths and a Peter Hook-like bass. The song is a dream pop anthem featuring a timeless chorus and vocal harmonies from AZURE BLUE’s long time companion The Land Below.
The crystal-clear topline in ‘Three Times The Drama’ shines over electric guitars and analog synths to create an immediate pop song with great summer hit potential. The song is also a bittersweet dedication to Tobias Isaksson’s mother, who recently passed away, and its completion provided comfort following a period of unspeakable grief. The album also includes ‘Define Your Dreams’—a bright flare first previewed during the dark days of the pandemic with massive synth walls and lyrics that suggest that while difficult times have passed, more difficult ones may be coming. ‘Visions and Themes’ will have its premiere on October 25 when it is released as the fourth single from the album, while the remaining six tracks provide even further evidence of the brilliance of one of Sweden’s most internationally acclaimed indie artists.
Mixed by Tobias Isaksson and Ollie Olson. Mastered by Håkan Åkesson at Nutidstudio.
Artwork by Alexander Palmestål. Design by James Tassos and Steve Lippert.
12″LP features: limited edition of 300 copies, 140 grams crystal clear vinyl, hand-numbered double-sided postcard, download code.
American soulstress Phyllis Hyman gets two of her much loved anthems officially reissued on 180g vinyl.
"You Know How To Love Me" is a 7 and a half minute lesson in love. It's got that full bodied production of this golden era - layering strings seamlessly with a busty brass section and a flute line that even the most hardened can't help but smile at. Couple this with Phyllis' sultry yet powerful vocals bolstered by a backing group containing, amongst others, the mighty Gwen Guthrie.
On the flip, "Living Inside Your Love" hits you with a soul jam, heavy on the funk - complete with hands in the air chorus. Just as perfect to close out a set, as it is to warm up the floor.
Two essential tracks for any soul & disco aficionado!
Repress!
Charlotte de Witte marks the homecoming to her own imprint KNTXT with her brand new EP ‘Return to Nowhere’. The captivating record exists out of four long-awaited tracks called ‘Return to Nowhere, ‘Ensemble’, ‘Sgadi Li Mi’ and ‘What’s In The Past’.
Further exploring her sonic realm, the record features techno sound reminiscent of her ‘Selected’ EP, but switches out the acid stabs for haunting hymns. The result is a gripping dismal soundtrack that feels desolate yet hopeful. With this spellbinding EP which combines her iconic hard-punching techno with mesmerizing chants effortlessly, Charlotte proves once again why she remains at the forefront of the industry.
The release of ‘Return to Nowhere’ fits perfectly in these uncertain times. Charlotte says: “I made the EP before the current COVID-19 crisis. After being inspired by recordings of age-old traditional chants. So, I never intended it to be a “Corona record”. However, it did grow on me during this period of isolation.”
Bushwacka’s first release for Radio Slave’s Rekids, the ‘Heaven On Earth’ EP, is out on October 11th 2024 and sees the UK House and Breakbeat innovator deliver two tracks complete with versions.
Title track ‘Heaven On Earth’ is a slice of low-slung House in which a drawling spoken-word vocal about love for music dominates. It’s a track with the sort of cast-iron, funky groove that has permeated Bushwacka’s music since day one. The ‘Instadub’ dubs out the vocals and takes ‘Heaven On Earth’ in a heady direction.
On the flip, Version One and Version Two of ‘Roger That’ see Bushwacka drop finely tuned funk-infused Deep House, with the former treading an earthy heads-down path while the latter ups the melody, chord and vocal sample prominence, creating a restrained euphoria throughout.
Bushwacka, aka Matthew Benjamin or Matthew B/Just Be/Makesome Breaksome and countless other aliases, has been a pivotal part of the electronic music scene for over 30 years. While his wildly successful project with Layo Paskin as Layo & Bushwacka! is his most prominent, this former London School Symphony Orchestra percussionist’s roots go much deeper. A pioneer of the nascent Rave and Acid House scenes who went on to be one of the progenitors of Tech House and UK Breakbeat scenes, Bushwacka’s influence is huge but far from static, with releases on the likes of Classic, Aus and NuGroove in the past few years alone.
Next up on Intrepid Skin, MarcelDune readies four heaters direct from the scuzziest corners of the rave, out on Friday 13 December on digital / vinyl.
Based in London but hailing from Athens, they draw upon a lifelong relationship with music spanning jazz studies, opera singing, and the punk DIY scenes of their hometown.
In connecting the dots between these disparate aspects, they've committed to engaging with music that honours resistance and authenticity, and draws inspiration from those seeking liberation from oppression and societal frameworks.
With this new release MarcelDune hones in on the ethos that underpins their aesthetic, with touches of euphoria, huge drums, and quintessentially fun.
Title track 'Buy Success' brandishes raw serrated edges and an industrial core whilst never losing the groove. 'Remedy for evil' moves into bouncier feels with the hardest groove. On 'Tell Me Who They Are', vocal chops ricochet over angular percussion and glitching machines. Closing things off, 'Romantic and Other Fantasies' lays down some weighty percussion driving a madhouse of effects forward.
Part 2 of ‘La Decima’ Compilation to celebrate the 10 years of Refuge kicks off with Melbourne kings, Ben Silver & Boogs long standing residents at Revolver. They collaborate on a driving house number taking inspiration from Detroit & Chicago. Next up, Jason Hodges & Joey Coco’s jam, Valentino feat vocals by Emerson Alexander. The B side kicks off Elijah Something offers up a groovy drum weapon with Skippy Disco Track. B2 features Ritmiq, remixing Historia with a rolling acid dub tool that is built for those late night sets. Get familiar, familia.
Infinity Plus One joins Fresh Tunez. Operating from London’s underground since the ‘90s, Infinity Plus One has been quietly building a reputation as a distinguished producer across electronica. Here he blends deep moods with undeniable dancefloor appeal. The opening track is big, pulling us in with brooding bass and intricate textures. At A2, rich dreamy chords combine with energetic drums for an ethereal haze. Flipping to the B-side, B1 brings fresh energy with its breaks-infused groove, injecting a lively yet sophisticated edge to the record. The EP closes with a dive into an irresistibly sleek and sultry downtempo number for a few minutes of calm.
The recently released Nineties styled slow jam NEXT MOVE, on which Jarrod Lawson is joined by Los Angeles-based R&B rising star Raquel Rodriguez, is now available on 7inch vinyl.
The track is co-written by Jarrod and Raquel together with Raquel’s producer Sam Brawner and Andris Mattson of Moonchild. And Moonchild (featuring vocalist Amber Navran) also join Jarrod on the B-side for I’LL BE YOUR RADIO, one of the most-streamed favourites from his album Be The Change.
The limited edition release will tie in with Jarrod’s visit to the UK and the Netherlands for concert dates, including London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire and LanterenVenster in Rotterdam.
The recently released Nineties styled slow jam NEXT MOVE, on which Jarrod Lawson is joined by Los Angeles-based R&B rising star Raquel Rodriguez, is now available on 7inch vinyl.
The track is co-written by Jarrod and Raquel together with Raquel’s producer Sam Brawner and Andris Mattson of Moonchild. And Moonchild (featuring vocalist Amber Navran) also join Jarrod on the B-side for I’LL BE YOUR RADIO, one of the most-streamed favourites from his album Be The Change.
The limited edition release will tie in with Jarrod’s visit to the UK and the Netherlands for concert dates, including London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire and LanterenVenster in Rotterdam.
Fantastic Planet returns with its sixth release, "Survival Mode," a statement dedicated to the ongoing struggle for freedom in Georgia. This electrifying compilation brings together a diverse lineup of visionary artists, each channeling their own unique sound to amplify the message of resilience and resistance. Survival Mode - is a mindset, a relentless fight for existence when all other options have been stripped away. It's about the raw, primal instinct to keep moving forward, even when every door seems closed, and there's no way back. In this mode, every moment is a battle, a test of endurance and resilience. For the people fighting for freedom in Georgia, survival mode represents their unwavering determination to push through oppressive forces, refusing to be silenced or broken. It's the point where compromise is no longer an option, where you either rise or fall-but surrender is not part of the equation. This struggle is about more than just survival-it's about carving out a future, no matter the cost. Design Giorgi grdzelishvili
'Cupar Grain Silo' is Sam Annand's first release on the Blackford Hill label. Its nine tracks blur the lines between ambient electronica and sonic history, as synthesised melodies and rhythms reverberate through the extreme acoustics of the disused Cupar Grain Silo in Scotland. Built in 1964 as a sugar store, the silo towers 60 metres above the surrounding Fife countryside. Its industrial life was short: in 1971 it was closed, and barring a short period as a grain store, remained empty for decades.
In 2014, Sam Annand was given access to the silo as part of the Resono project, set up to study a series of highly reverberant locations across Scotland. The ambitious industrial architecture of the Cupar Grain Silo has given the space a reverberation time of 36.5 seconds. This measurement describes the time a sound takes to decay or 'fade away' in a closed space. To put this in perspective, the Cupar Grain Silo reverb time is around three times longer than that in cathedrals like York Minster and St Paul's.
"The acoustics are immediately noticeable when climbing the ladder into the main chamber", Sam says. "The sound of your voice begins to circle around and above you, inviting you to shout, clap and bang objects to excite the space into revealing its intimidating architectural voice."
Sam began to experiment with musical compositions which responded to the unique acoustics of the silo space. He used impulse responses – a short, sharp sound like a gunshot – to record these acoustics, allowing him to experiment with the silo's reverb in his production. Sam's compositions were performed using a modular synth system, a Roland Juno-6 polyphonic synthesizer and a bowed ride cymbal.
"Chords can be constructed in time by hanging successive single notes in the air," Sam describes, "The flutter echoes from the immediate cylindrical walls can be used to create bursts of scattering spatial imagery and harmonic blooms, following short percussive moments."
Originally recorded on 21st May 2016, 'Cupar Grain Silo' is now released on 12" vinyl with an accompanying booklet of imagery and essays. The compositions are at once true to the unique architectural acoustics of the silo whilst also being playful and experimental with the creative possibilities it offered. Arpeggiated melodies ebb and fall across extended call-and-response shapes formed by the silo's reverb; modular drum patterns crackle like dying machinery; whilst bowed drones waver and wash over.
"We all love reverberation," reflects Prof. Peter Stollery, Professor of Composition and Electroacoustic Music at the University of Aberdeen, on the project. "As kids, we play in it – yelling in forests and caves, surreptitiously dropping objects in huge churches – mouths wide open at the lingering smears of sound which come back to us."
In 'Cupar Grain Silo', Sam Annand has harnessed the extraordinary acoustics of the disused silo to tap into this sense of joy and amazement that reverberation can bring.
IV[56,09 €]
ADE is just around the corner which means it’s time for the annual Vega Records 5 Pack Unreleased limited vinyl release.
Unreleased V is ready for you to play at your vinyl parties with a lineup of super talented individuals including Bebe Winans, Msaki, NV, Funki Cadets, Axel Tosca, Boddhi Satva, Tommy Bones, Johnny Dangerous, Dj Erv, Natasha Watts, Mobi Dixon, and Josh Milan. This year we hit you with 18 Unreleased tracks, special versions, dubs, and more for your dance floors and house parties. With 5 new reworks by Dj Erv to new young talent NV, to seasoned songwriter and genius talented artist Msaki, to the incomparable Bebe Winans, to Brooklyn producer Tommy Bones, to the maestro on keyboards Axel Tosca and more, this 5 pack brings you around the world within 18 tracks from Brazil to Africa to Cuba and back to New York City ! The pressing is pristine mastered by Herb “Pump” Powers and vinyl manufactured at Optimal Germany assuring you top quality excellence! This is a limited edition so get yours asap before they sell out! Available soon at a record store near you!
Published: 21st October 2024
Buckle up, electronic aficionados! Queen of Coins is about to drop a six-track sonic odyssey that’s your one-way ticket to Electro, Italo-Disco, and Detroit Techno nirvana. This isn’t just an album, it’s a masterclass in psychedelic dancefloor alchemy, tailor-made for DJs who crave cutting-edge sounds while paying homage to the genre’s founding fathers.
From the slow-burning hypnosis of “Head Tension” to the heart-racing throb of “16K Cal,” this release is a BPM rollercoaster that echoes the spirits of legends like Legowelt, Drexciya, and Francisco. But make no mistake – Queen of Coins isn’t just rehashing the past, the Queen is propelling these influences into the future.
“Bring it to the top” is pure condensed energy, engineered to shake every powerful soundsystem while maintaining an emotional depth that’ll hit you right in the feels. Speaking of feelings, “Damaged Souls” is the track you didn’t know you needed – a poignant electronic love letter to all those “what if” moments that haunt our dreams.
But don’t think for a second that Queen of Coins is all melancholy. “Oreo Cake” swoops in with its irresistible bouncing bassline, serving up a fat slice of low-end theory that’ll give your mind, body, and soul the workout they’ve been craving. It’s a reminder that in the realm of Queen of Coins, the future is bright, and the beat goes on.
Remember the mantra, ravers: Queen of Coins is “Music to grow with Expanding your soul Thriving in Prosperity.”
This isn’t just an album release; it’s a coronation. Long live the Queen of the electronic underground!
