Suche:m lick

Paris club kid MAXIME IKO joins BPitch with this five-track trip into the depths of his mind !

Infused with acid licks and electro motifs, this is a scintillating debut from an artist who represents diversity and inclusiveness - two cornerstones of club culture. Maxime's influences range from the gothic, dark and lurid through to the often flamboyant gay culture, launching his own highly-regarded gay event at Rex Club called 'Cockorico' and, later, putting on 'Le Bal Con' at Badaboum - a party that celebrated the wild, creative side of nightlife with art performances and lots of crazing dancing. Maxime's 'Concilium' EP starts with the frenetic 'Achartade', a track which pulsates with eerie vibes, closing with the multi-tempo closer 'Concilium' - a demonstration of Maxime's penchant for playfulness and experimentation. In between those two killer cuts we have 'Repulsion', where the main riff has a jaunty, arpeggiated rhythm, 'Timeline's Wrong', a heads down acid roller with vocal stabs and a totally absorbing atmosphere and finally, 'Closure' a spine-tingling emotionally-charged adventure. One that will lift the roof off anywhere it's played. An accomplished collection from a man who values the roots of electronic music culture and brings his own unique vibe with each performance and new release... allez!

Lost In Time has laid down some killer 12"s to date from the likes of Ralph Lawson and Tuccillo, and now they welcome London-based scene staple Alex Arnout to the label with an on-point EP of explorative house music variations. "No Borders" features long time US house veteran Jovonn, and the pair whip up a tracky tech house roller with serious percussive pressure and a subtle lick of dub in the mix. "Downtown 500" is a rough and tough, bashy house jam with a fresh drum palette, and by contrast "Riddim" brings a straight up deep house vibe with classic organ licks aplenty, that almost sound like they should be the handiwork of Jovonn as well. "Jam The Dance" finishes the EP off with a twitchy house cut peppered with vocal slices.

New 7" from the mysterious Gitkin, who crisscrossed the US in the late 70s selling knockoff Gibson guitars to the diverse & disparate groups of immigrants from all four corners of the globe who were coming to the US during the 2nd great migration. Recycling and filtering the sounds he encountered through his own psychdelic lens, he created a sound rooted in other, but deeply his own. This single is taken from his forthcoming album, "5 Star Motel" and features two tracks from the album 'Grand Street Feast' which charts a sand-dusted, melodic funk misadventure, while "Cancion Del Rey' has the sound of the Peruvian chicha - steady-moving, alluring, and lyrical - winding its way through Gitkin's fuzz-filtered licks, and the rhythm underpinning.

It was May 2017 when Earthboogie's debut release dropped on Leng. The soundsystem-loving East London duo rightly won praise for a fne EP that brilliantly joined the dots between all things intergalactic, terrestrial and tribal.
Having spent the last ten months recording their adventures, Izaak Gray and Nicola Robinson return with Silken Moon', the frst single from their forthcoming debut album, Human Call.
In typical fashion, Silken Moon' cannily combines musical elements from a myriad of styles - most notably Afro-disco, samba and mid-tempo Chicago house - to create a humid hybrid that defes easy categorization. There are bouncy organ riffs, undulating acid lines, clipped Afro-funk guitars, tons of tropical percussion and the chanted, carnival-friendly vocalizations of guest singer Nina Miranda.
The release comes backed with remixes from two members of the extended
Leng family: long-serving producer Felix Dickinson and Turkish rising star Ali Kuru. Dickinson sticks close to the original of Silken Moon' with a mix built around gently jacking machine drums and Earthboogie's sweaty guitar licks while Kuru takes Human Call' in an altogether more cosmic direction. Pushing the track's psychedelic TB-303 lines and tropical textures to the fore whilst
adding his own mind-altering electronics - most notably a fat new synth bassline - Kuru cleverly re-casts the track as a pulsating, late night throb-job.

Quality is the key word from Copenhagen based Music For Dreams and here is another home run. Willie Graff splits his year between DJ residencies in New York and Ibiza. In this new outing with studio partner Darren Eboli, the influence is, as the title suggests, clearly NY-based. Over only four tracks, the pair manage to craft a stunningly comprehensive exploration of the essential elements of dance music.

Opening track "Love Flight" staggers into a lush string-driven groove that recalls the glory of Metro Area meets Wally Badarou vibes. Minimal yet playful, it lounges somewhere in the depths of the house tradition, calling on familiar sounds while throwing in odd details along the way (harmonicas). It takes both skill, devotion and a sense of humor to pull this track off, making for a strong opening. "Moon Tan" lingers on a metallic hook that drags you into a plethora of percussion followed by a rubbery soft baseline. Dubby key work would suggest this was a new wave band jamming at Compass Point, while the icy chill of the xylophone transports you into 80s italo territory.

"Second Sun" pulls out the bag of boogie tricks, relying on a firm but humble baseline and smattering drum machine claps. Nile Rodgers-style guitar licks guide us onwards into a well-orchestrated jam that builds up and breaks down with perfect timing while dreamy chords reach for the sky. "First Light" keeps the groove tight while dipping over towards more Balearic temperatures. Steeped in a watery atmosphere and gentle organic percussion, it focuses in on a trance-inducing arpeggio that lulls you in to the swaying Badarou-style synth swirls that intercept it.

D.KO Records regular Mad Rey joins Rekids with a pair of deep house cuts this March.

The Parisian producer and Red Lebanese co-founder started releasing music as Mad Rey in 2014, providing D.KO Records with their second release (having already contributed to the D.KO01 various artists EP under his real name Quentin Leroy).

He now joins Rekids with a solid two track package initiating with 'In My House N°6', a lively slice of house featuring funky bass licks and jazz influenced melodies complete with a compelling groove. On the flip, 'L'orage (Dub)' 'L'orage (Dub)' slows down the tempo whilst exhibiting sampled strings, crunchy snares and twinkling effects.

Having recently appeared on Bosconi Records and Altzmusica, Daisuke Kondo is a producer on the rise at present. This outing on Vibraphone adds fuel to that particular fire with four distinctive cuts that push to the outer edges of house music without losing sight of the groove. "Hold On To Love" is, on the surface, an upbeat, disco-infused house jam, but there's a certain trippy approach Kondo takes in the processing department that edges the music into a different head space. "Life" meanwhile gets gritty and bass heavy at one end of the frequency range, and airy and melodic at the other. "Feelin Blue" gets even dustier and scratchier with its sample treatment, and then "Fallen Star" lays down some unflinching machine beats with wonky, distant piano licks.

Figurehead of the Japanese jungle scene, Ishio Dai releases 'Mirage / Island Dub' on his own Effective label. Working around a lick from Skatalite legend, Johnny Moore these two steppers roll with ferocious bass frequencies and snappy percussive sequences. Ace!

* Boom 90's sought-after selection from versatile JA/UK vocal veteran Danny Red licking out against bad boys and gangsters alongside Boombastic Crew aka Nick Raphael (Manasseh. Riz Records, Roots Garden) and Gil Gang (Tuff Scout, Riz Records)
* Riddim-wise this is a sound system bullet which has hints of the mid 80's in the style of King Jammy, Jah Tubbys and Unity Sounds.
* This track originally came in the early 1990s on a Riz Records LP `Themes From Riz' which is now a wallet-busting records to secure.

For the first release of 2018 we welcome Harry Wolfman to the Outplay family!
Having followed his work for the last couple of years we're very happy to have him deliver this varied 4-tracker, which very well might be some of his best work to date.

The A side starts off with 'Hitch'. A warm and dusty groover driven by rhodes, a rubbery bassline and a thudding kick. A lovely string piece in the middle of the track slowly builds up to the break for it to return to the head nodding groove soon after. The added percussion gives it a nice lively feel as well.

'Pigs in Blankets' sets the pace a little slower, but the funk goes on. The track incorporates 80's style samples with some excellent synth and chord work. Perfect for a warm up session.

Starting on the B side Harry takes it up a notch with 'Nemoto', which will be a definite stomper for the dance floor. It takes you on a 9 minute journey of rolling bumpy basslines, screaming distortion leads and hypnotising synth work.
Finally, to ease things off, STS-136 (Final Call) comes in at a slow 88 bpm pace as a perfect closure to the EP. Dreamy pads, piano licks and a calming marimba melody combined with a beat which feels like a warm blanket will make you wander off for a moment...

Finale Sessions launch a new series entitled Unreleased, and their kicking things off with label boss Michael Zucker sparring with Jonno & Tommo (more commonly found lurking around labels like Ornate). As you would expect from Finale, it's a deep house masterclass, with Jonno & Tommo leading the proceedings with the deft piano licks and hard grooving sub bass of "Dirty Nylons" before Zucker steps in with the pattering rhythms and swooning pads of "Just Believe". On the flip Zucker embraces a gentle strain of electro for "Narrow Is The Gate" before Jonno & Tommo round the record off with the immersive tones of "Shark City".

If you're familiar with Public Release's sibling, FACE, a series of parties, you'll already know that Jee Day, né Dennis McNany, has been in the Bay Area label's orbit for some time; as half of the DFA act Museum of Love, he joined the inner circle years ago. Here, with Amot Herga Laxy, he makes his bold debut on Public Release itself.
The single begins with 'Crocodile Tears,' an abstract, impressionistic tapestry of African rhythms, meditative synth washes, Vangelis-esque horns and pads. It recedes and Jee Day plunges deeper into the jungle with 'Communication Masterbation,' a propulsive number built around a psychedelic, droney bass that's wrapped with gritty, distorted effects and layers of topline keyboard licks stacked high. A raw club track cut from transcendentalist cloth that'll lift you off the dance floor.
The B-side is a dub of 'Communication Masterbation,' with an emphasis being placed on pulling out, unraveling, extending the rhythmic elements and emphasizing the electronic veil the piece is shrouded in. A trancey, menacing sprawl that could be an extended Sonic Youth live jam if they swapped their stringed instruments for Roland and Korg gear—and dusted the whole thing in an unknown psychoactive slime.

For more than 30 years music has been the most important thing in my life - this is a clear and true to the heart statement by Soulsurfer, DJ and drummer for the Hanover-based outfit named SUPERSOUL. And yes, SUPERSOUL are a real band. A band in love with analogue instruments and mastering their craft. A rat pack of five groove fanatics accumulating enough years, wisdom and experience to tell truly authentic stories within their songs - songs which are taking the bands audience on a journey into the 60s and 70s sound of Black America. SUPERSOUL are playing Funk 'n' Soul on a hot, steamy, energetic and passionate tip, performing self-written songs with stories told in the bands mothertongue - German ! With Arne Busch as vocalist and band leader SUPERSOUL is built around a true force. His vision and expression of Soul is phrased like the emphasis of a preacherman's gospel whilst fat and funky grooves are masterly crafted and carefully layered by Margot Gontarski and drummer Lars Heindorf a.k.a. Soulsurfer, glazed with wah-wah-heavy licks played by guitar wizard Toni. Their experienced interplay on the latest SUPERSOUL album is polished with loads of analogue engineering magic at Studio Nord Bremen and perfectly complemented by solos and arrangements of Lutz 'Hammond' Krajenski and seven other guest musicians making and appearance on this longplay piece.
It's not big of a surprise that these musicians, all of them rich in experience due to their contributions to other bands and projects, met in Hanover, Germany's secret capital of Funk. But it is quite a surprise that it took that long for an album to appear on the record store circuit that amalgamates German lyrics and urban Funk in a previously unheard manner like SUPERSOUL does.
And for those who come across this longplay piece whilst being on their next dig we go along the lines of the words by the famous man Miles Davis as - We suggest to you to play this record at the highest possible volume in order to appreciate the sound of SUPERSOUL .

Tact Recordings launch their new vinyl only sub-label 'Tactics' this November, with the first EP coming courtesy of Yard One, who deliver three excellently programmed cuts in the shape of 'Tactics Vol.2'.

Launched by Yard One, aka Jordan Bruce and Larry Jones, and Richard Fletcher (who produces under numerous guises including Adventures In Daydreams and Fletcher), Tactics is set to become the labels latest project with a focus on solely vinyl releases. Inspired by the 2012 Various Artists release 'Tactics Volume 1' on Tact Recordings, which featured productions from Isherwood (Sharingtones/Imprints/Lize Records), journalist Per Boisen-Moller, and label regular Luke Black, the sub-label is set to showcase a more stripped back and minimal side to the Tact Recordings family with releases coming courtesy of Yard One, Fletcher, Luke Black and their close friends only.

The EP opens up with 'Avenoir', a raw and hypnotic production that utilises a multitude of lasers, glitches and pops at the forefront to keep listeners firmly on their toes, whilst a delicate and captivating melody floats fluently amongst ever-evolving percussion shots and twisting bass licks below.

On the flip, 'Granular Movements' snakes its way through swinging drums and hazy, jazzy melodies to reveal an effortless rolling groove, before 'Hexad' keeps the focus on percussive elements strong, whilst a moody bassline goes to work under layers of meditative pads and subtle background nuances to punctuate an excellent debut offering from the label. (Vinyl Only).

We hope you like this Ep as much as we do, ReSolute Label
Resolute Label's tenth release, The Nest EP , features the head honcho himself, Elon. Written and produced entirely in Nest's Brooklyn based studio, this EP is a collaborative project that showcases vintage gear such as the TR-808, 909, Prophet 6, TB-303 and SH-101 to name a few. The EP kicks off with the title track, a stripped back number featuring arpeggiated synths, warm pads and 303 stabs, co-produced by Bulgarian live maestro, KiNK, an industry vet who needs no introduction. On A2, Elon teams up with the machine obsessed Italian, mass_prod, for
Fractious , a techno number with swirling synths and reverberated vocal stabs that echo throughout. On the flipside, Elon collaborates with techno don Alexi Delano aka ADNY to produce Flirtface , a groovy 303 bassline track with resonant synth licks that keeps the mood rolling. The B2 vinyl exclusive track, Meander , features a second collaboration with KiNK.
Offered as a digital exclusive and co-produced by David Scuba, Last Call features a modulated bassline and intricate drum programming that effortlessly rolls along.

STRICTLY STRICTLY enters the second round: The Obsessed EP by TOBS (co-founder of Drowned-Records) comes with 3 driving highly energetic cuts. The title track is putting the stamp on the A-side with pounding Lo-Fi-Power at its best and side B teaches the science of licking a battery with a piling drive of arpeggios before falling apart in the best possible way with IOW.

This November will see Elia Perrone launch his new Jun'Ai imprint with his very own 'Flowers' EP, accompanied by a remix from Romanian minimal powerhouse Vid.

Tuscan producer and DJ Elia Perrone has long been one of the most respected figures in Italy's underground electronic music scene having co-founded the Klang Club in Arezzo which has seen him play alongside the likes of Simoncino, Juju & Jordash and Move D. Amongst this Elia, alongside brother and production partner heads up Unclear Records which plays host to their collaborative works as Easy To Remember as well as material from the likes of Baby Ford, Roman Fluegel, Christopher Rau and Dandy Jack amongst others.

Here though we see Elia turning a new chapter with the launch of his Jun'Ai imprint and taking the lead on the inaugural release is 'Flowers', a mind-altering slice of micro house fueled by pops, whirrs, clicks and sample cuts while fluttering atmospherics and bright string plucks ebb and flow throughout the murky depths of the composition. Vid aka Egal 3 steps up on remix duties to follow, delivering a straight edged take on things via crunchy organic percussion, billowing echoes of the original's atmospherics and a robust sub driven bass line.

Opening the flip side is 'Rain Smell', a slow brooding, hypnotic number employing dynamic string licks, modulating synth drones and bumpy 4/4 drums before 'Moshishi' closes out the package with airy ethereal textures, glitched out off-kilter percussion and rumbling low end tones.

Idle Hands continues its quest to support new talent coming out of Bristol with a fresh 12" from local beatsmith Crump. Up to this point, he's been quietly slipping out razor sharp reduced house cuts on various artist releases for Extended Play and Banoffee Pies, but it's high time he had a 12" of his to truly showcase his sound.

The two tracks on this single tap into a consistent thread on Idle, fusing the minimal sensibilities of contemporary European house music with a swung, dub-weighted presence fit for soundsystem consumption in the fair city we call home. Much like previous releases from Leif, Christian Jay and Matt Karmil, this is a demonstration of stripped down music loaded with swagger.

"Ice & Spheres" pivots around an ear-snagging 2-step shuffle that cuts through any mix, but there's scores of subtlety woven in between the drums to reward the attentive listener. Snatches of vocal, distant field recordings, low-blowing synth licks and other unidentifiable sonic matter lurk quietly in the mix to cast a spell on the sleep-deprived twitcher and warm-up head-nodder alike.

Sporting a brighter disposition thanks to the sheen of its chords, "Mechanisms" provides a different vibe on the flip. The beat throws down with a rugged nod to West London broken styles while still tapping into that aforementioned continental 4/4 sensibility, injecting a refreshing variation into the densely populated minimal house landscape while maintaining the meditative qualities that keep the genre close to our hearts.

Following on from the impressive opening statement from Modern Manners, the second installment from the hitherto unknown outfit sees the sonic remit reaching out to other influences while retaining that poised lounge attitude that made the first record so instantly endearing. "Research" is a dub track in essence, sporting ample space in the mix, the odd conga roll and sparse chords calling out into a field of reverb and delay. "Can Maneras" is a more shuffling kind of smooth jazz that aligns with the classy licks of St Germain and the like. "Serate Cosmiche" finishes the EP off on a melancholic tip that puts the synths at the front of the mix for the first time.

For the 4th release from our beloved 'Ourselves' they've once again invited a group of friends to serve us up a healthy dose of tasty House and Disco. This time, originaltracks from Luvless, Snacks, Siggatunez und Jan Ketel are on the menu.

For starters we have Luvless from Leipzig whose prepared a floor stomper with a side of heavy drums paired with a warm chords- and stringsounds and a groovy bassline... completely love.
The Berlin duo Snacks appear for the first time on Ourselves with their track 'Sisters'. A delicious Disco snack that sounds like an effortless kitchen jam with an extremely funky aftertaste - you're tastebuds will be dancing. Hand played bass sprinkled over percussion, guitar licks and building up synths....hopefully you like your snacks authentic...they muste be true musicians...they are!!
The one love disco & funk and the other jazz...so does Siggatunez. He cuts us up a vibraphonline and sends it on the chase with a chord so delectably deep that not even the side of fat drums can keep up with the bounce and speed it creates but finally gets it and breaks down the club.
Jan Ketel has prepared a desert that at first, tastes like a mere groovy tool but it soon opens up into something bigger and more hectic. It's like you gotta check in at Charles de Gaulle while in anothher moment the unmistakable flavour of a lush warm Rhodes appears...a timeless flavour, and one that you'll never forget.

For ANMA's fifth release, Reekee aka Italy's Riccardo Masi has produced a classic cut of uplifting house, quintessentially jamming a thunderous rolling groove with soft jazz piano. Ecstatic synths unleash their primal screams throughout before the Hammond steps up and raises the bar! Remixer Ricardo Miranda cooks up a veritably frantic electronic jungle of idiosyncratic pulsing square waves and marimba voodoo soup, before Vick Lavender takes over the B-side with nigh on ten minutes of organically blissful jazz and groove experimentation. Vick's Mix comes rooted with percussive breaks and a solid evolving rhythm section and is brim-filled with sleazy vibes, tender electric licks and rapturous synth pads swelling us into elation!
Lovingly pressed on 180g vinyl, hand stamped and labelled.

Hell Yeah is back with more beach ready and boat party styled summer tunes, this time from Riccio. This Italian producer has long been making essential edits, off kilter grooves and soul kissed house sounds that demand to be played loud and these new ones are no different.

Described by the label boss as Balearic Big Beat, this EP kicks off with Afro Chemy, a scorching seven minute tune that builds on a bed of fat drums. The scattered percussion is loose and organic and when the funky bass and colourful xylophone sounds comes in you can't help but cut loose. Add in a sexy trumpet line and you have the sound of summer distilled into seven sensational minutes.

Funky Cave will get any party started with its old school drum breaks and cymbal splashes sounding like the ocean when you plunge in on a hot day. Busted bass lines add a certain fatness and cosmic keys and steamy guitar licks make this another perfect outdoor anthem.

Last of all is the blissed out Heather, one to drop at sundown after a long day's dancing. The beats are warm and lumpy, the synths smear out to the horizon like gently breaking waves and soulful leads really get your heart swelling. Proper.

With the label's 10th anniversary celebrations now done and dusted, Claremont 56 returns to action with something rather special: a magical debut single from a previously unknown talent.
There's not much we can tell you about Ferdi Schuster, other than that he is a talented young producer from Augsburg in Germany. As Claremont 56 is one of his favourite labels, he speculatively submitted some tracks for consideration. Label founder Paul Murphy was astonished by what he heard and believes the two tracks showcased on this 12' are amongst the best things the label has released for some time.
A-side 'Little River' is breathtakingly good. Opening with the sound o a babbling brook, it sees Schuster wrap plucked, sun-kissed acoustic guitar licks and jaunty vintage synthesizer motifs around a languid, samba-infuenced groove. As the track progresses, further magical musical elements come to the fore, including blissful electric piano solos and more mazy synthesizer solos, seemingly played on battere old equipment from the turn of the '80s. Schuster's love of the acoustic guitar is explored further on similarly impressive B-side 'Befreit'. Here, gently strummed chords and fuid Spanish guitar motifs catch the ear, as hushed cymbals and gentle hand percussion lap at your feet like the sea at sunrise. The German producer adds atmosphere through a combination of leisurely Hammond organ solos and a touch of Jew's Harp. When all of these immaculate elements combine, the results are little less than spellbinding.
Schuster may be taking his frst steps into releasing music, but his
compositional, playing and production skills are already fnely tuned. We can surely expect to hear more inspired music from him in the years to come.

Circus Company and The Mole have long been making eyes at each other across the same crowded dancefloor. Colin de la Plantes primary project is synonymous with the off-kilter corner of house music we like to spend our time dancing in, and the labels he releases on are close cousins of the Circus troupe. From Wagon Repair to Philpot, Musique Risquee to Perlon, its a wonder that we havent worked together previously, but finally thats been put right with Little Sunshine. Stripped back, understated disco grooves have always been the bread and butter of The Moles sound, while infectious, cyclical melodic patterns are equally important in making his unique version of house music. On the title track, those elements are presented with full force, but in between the driving rhythms linger the most gorgeous keys, bringing a mellow introspection to the track as a neat counterpoint to the energy of the drums and arpeggios. Compared to the clean lines and peppy tempo of Little Sunshine, Discotheque Airplane is an audacious swerve into low and slow territory, where dusty samples rule the day and the bass swells in and out of earshot with a truly mesmerizing effect. Its a moody affair loaded with tension, mystery and funk in abundance. As if that wasnt enough proof of the variety in The Moles repertoire, on his collaboration with Dutch hero Tom Trago for Down The Hallway we find the pair exploring lean, focused techno, where the simplest of rhythms propel a haunting, distant vocal lick. Its the drum sounds that make this a special cut, championing warm, natural percussion instead of the methodical drum machine hits found in most contemporary techno. Rounding the EP off in a beautifully mysterious style is Aardvarck, whose remix of Down The Hallway take

REPRESSED !
Bristol based producers Behling & Simpson take on remixing some Kerri Chandler classics this August with the 'Heaven' EP, set to drop via Kerri's very own Madhouse Records
imprint.

Madhouse Records boss Kerri Chandler needs no introduction having been one of the most prominent names in underground house music for over two decades now. While rising talents Behling & Simpson's collective output has been championed by the likes of Claude von Stroke, Derrick Carter, Ralph Lawson, Modeselektor and many more over the pairs 100+ previous releases between them (under various guises), this stands as testament to their undeniable ability to craft forward-thinking electronic music.

First up on the release we have 'Heaven' featuring Christopher McCray on vocal duties, Behling & Simpson's prevalent low-slung, dropped tempo rhythms take the lead, alongside hypnotic lowend tones, while the duo capture Chandler's warm musicality with style utilizing the original's bright chord progressions and smooth vocal licks, creating an intricate, intelligent slice of house. 'Peace Of My Mind' follows on the flip side, a track originally released on Madhouse in 2011, though returning to the label in 2014 with an intriguing reshape courtesy of the Behling & Simpson, again taking on the pair's niche slo-mo feel, setting the tone and radiantly showcasing why their sound stands tall above many of their
contemporaries in such an effortlessly cool way.

New Yorks' Matuss returns with the eighth release on her Absence Seizure imprint this September, comprising three originals from the Ukrainian born artist.

Julia Matuss, better known as simply Matuss has been steadily carving out a name for herself over the past decade, initially finding her feet as a prominent DJ in the Ukrainian scene she grew up in before a move to New York saw thing progress and the launch of her Absence Seizure imprint shortly followed. Now eight releases deep the imprint has piqued the interested of DJ's such as D'Julz, DJ Deep, Derek Plaslaiko, TWR72 and Beaner.

Taking the lead on the package is 'Fairy Dust' setting the scene via warbling Rhodes chords, raw dub sweeps and a pulsating low-end drive before a spaced out, sinuous resonant synth lead ebbs and flows throughout the focal point of the composition.

'Baelfire' follows and strips things back to raw percussive feel, employing thunderous claps, a weighty kicks and sweeping filtered sample as the foundation before the latter half of the record works in a frenzied acid-tinged hook. 'Faramant' then closes the package with an amalgamation of organic percussion, natural bass licks and glitchy percussive chimes which all subtly evolve and retract throughout.

It's been a while since Red Laser's last release which left a void in the UK output of Manctalo synth jams but now a planned schedule of three releases in quick succession means plenty more analogue chug for you to rattle your bones to.
First of the 3 is this unique double gatefold LP from Red Laser original Kid Machine.Kid Machine delivers a 5 star upgrade to the signature sound that people worldwide have fallen in love with. 808 kicks and DX 7 licks bubble under the atmospheric chord changes creating a soundtrack which is just as comfortable on the dance floor as it is on a midnight drive.Alien Dance darts around to irregular delight. The dramatic score of Asteroids builds until it soars high above the grid. The bassline on Beast drills a blackened dance floor in preparation to be replaced with 80's discotheque neon squares.Beyond Cygnus takes flight and drifts across a Martian plane. The 808 kicks and orchestral synth stabs of Conquest crush all known reality into a space the size of a photon and the weight of its gravity is unbeatable. Standing out amongst the pack is the apply titled 'Forever Machine'.
A proper Manctalo synth anthem guaranteed to deliver speaker destruction.The LP closes with classic Machine style bangers 'Flight Manoeuvres' and 'Seconds From Oblivion'.
They bring this galactic odyssey to a confident end. This is a cracking journey through the outer rim and back.

Oberst & Buchner are next up on Freeride Millenium and the two Bavaria born, Vienna based producers deliver an EP that offers their interpretation of what 'modern summer togetherness sounds like.' The talented pair started making music together aged 15 and aim to cook up emotionally driven jams. They do so on labels like Heimlich, Underyourskin Records, Schönbrunner Perlen, Lokd, and always get the juices going, as they do once again here. Beginning with the brilliant 'Greg' we dive into a breakbeat bath of summery chords as playful claves dance on the horizon. It is a melodically rich track with spiritual feelings that really bliss you out. On the moodier 'Emile' night time arrives and warm chords mix with jangling, organic glass and percussive tinkles that reflect rays of light. It's a perfectly jazzy and loose number that really suspends you in a rueful place. Last but not least, 'Embrace' is a fluid intergalactic convention with sparse drum kicks weighed down by sombre synths. A skittish, dubstep style groove then comes in and elevates the track with gentle guitar licks and slithering synths adding colour, and overall it has the same zoned out feel as a thousand-yard stare. This is a brilliant mood EP that mixes up the synthetic with the organic, creating some fascinating grooves as a result. The release once again features original artwork from the ever talented Daniel Rajcsanyi. Thanks for purchasing a real copy!

Rune returns on his own Drum Island imprint, this time very ably assisted by UK House turned ambient ambassador Chris Coco
Weekend Billionaires, in its original form is a delightfully lolloping Balearic builder.The Chris Coco Sunshine mix immerses those guitar licks and synth pads in a sea of dubbed out, ultra-violet light. Already rumoured to be included on Harvey's eagerly awaited Mercury Rising comp. Anton Klint (Tryck & Ton / Public Possession) steps up on the flip with a no-less psychedelic, but decidedly more laser-lit interpretation.
Finally Alta Lab wraps things up with a pacier interpretation, Housing up the elements into a hypnotic, emotive rendition...
Quite a package

Bristol beat physicist Second Storey joins the fold of electro dystopians TRUST, and 'Telekinesis Via Fax' picks right up where recent releases for Houndstooth and his R&S collaboration with Appleblim, ALSO, left off. 'Attack Of The Modlings' has deceptively lush pads launch into an industrial grime furor that relentlessly underscores Second Storey's ambition to sonically innovate. Vienna's /DL/MS/, coming right off their recent TRUST debut, reassemble the bits into a subtly layered electro funk banger, before Second Storey steps back onto the plate with the eternally spiralling "Quantock Point To Point" and "Telekinesis Via Fax", the latter evoking memories of Robert Gordon's afro-futurist Black Knight project with hyperkinetic snares and free-wheeling synth licks.

Richy Ahmed's Four Thirty Two imprint continues to shine a light on the freshest talent emerging from the house music underground, and on the label's third release, the London based Senzala get to flex their muscle on a fine release, backed with a remix from Ahmed and Jansons AKA Lovehertz.

Having previously released on the French label Mr. KS & Friends, and Politics Of Dancing, the Senzala boys, otherwise known as Jonni Santos & Sam Holland, deliver the goods once more on the 'Phase' EP.

The title track packs rolling 909s and looping filtered disco riffs into its punch; never letting the energy levels drop. Vocal licks and techno-laced stabs drive this club-focused track fantastically, with a glossy production that really shines through. Richy Ahmed and Jansons come correct with a Loveherts remix; a heavyweight analogue bassline dominated the mix and the vocal parts slide down the arpeggiated riff as incessant synth stabs ramp up the heat, taking their remix right to fever pitch.

The Senzala boys grind out more solid house grooves on 'All For You', deploying disco samples and vocals that are filtered and twisted around the tough drums to great effect, whilst on 'Agora', the mood remains unfaltering as feel good riffs and warm keys wrap around Senzala's steady beat to complete a stellar release that's packed with energy and infectious vibes.

Acclaimed Russian producer, DJ and live musician Kito Jempere is back with a stunning second album, this time on Italian label Hell Yeah. Entitled Sea Monster and due for release in early 2017, the nine track album is a fantastic fusion of live instrumentation and electronic production.

Kito Jempere is a musical polymath. The Russian artist, producer, multi-instrumentalist and band leader has been involved in many projects over the last ten years plus. These range from rock to acid jazz to electronic bands and often call upon a rotating cast of other members who are all equally talented.

From playing in small bars to headlining big shows for thousands of people in Saint Petersburg, he has put out a number of albums and singles on labels like Freerange, Room With A View and Hell Yeah and DJs around Europe.

Jempere plays live as the Kito Jempere Band, and here he calls upon his bandmates for their many skills to lend the album a richly musical feel.

Mixed and co-produced by band member Roman Urazov, the album features Artemiy Gunbin aka Noteless, the voice of the Kito Jempere Band and front man of his own rock band Videatape, as well as Ruslan Gadzhimuradov, a long time drummer on many projects, plus Matvey Averin, the bassist but also co-producer for cult group Manizha and finally Sergey Lipsky who here plays guitar and is also half of Simple Symmetry as well as having played for Kito's other project Saint Petersburg Disco Spin Club group.

Sea Monster kicks off with Lifetime Theme, a heavenly groove with loose drums and percussion and gorgeous keys. Form there, Artemiy Gunbin's ethereal and crystal clear vocals take centre stage amongst balearic guitars on album single 'Ampa', and then 'To Talk' is a deeper cut with bumpy drums, long tailed pads and shiny synths all making for a curious and whimsical atmosphere.

'Grid Cells' is a lush instrumental track with clever revel and echo adding a sense of grandeur to the freeform jazz drums and frazzled synths, 'Uohha' is as sunny and laid back as an afternoon on the beach and 'Puzzled' then layers up scuzzy basslines, popping hits and suspenseful synths into something smooth and seductive.

The final third of the album closes out with blissful guitar licks, lazy broken beats and brilliant drum playing that all have you wishing it was summer again.

This is an album with elements of jazz, house, disco, balearic and many more sounds all smoothly blended into one coherent and captivating album full of soul and musical skill.

Inspired by the likes of Raresh, Zip, and Villalobos, the artist known as Kepler has something special in store for your local area dance floor. "Making Chords" is an exciting new release that's guaranteed to please.
The title track "Making Chords" can be appropriately described as nothing less than an addictive, bona fide banger that will instantaneously hook its end user after one listen. From the beginning Kepler. sets the pace with a smooth, sexy bass line that will command your attention and aggressively compel any crowd to start dancing. This passionate production pushes its agenda with a rumbling tempo, dynamic drums, and intriguing vocals that are well worth repeating. Laced with clever sounding samples and purposeful piano licks, "Making Chords" is made for anyone and everyone.
The second offering, "Wire" is a quirky, fun departure that gives insight to Kepler's wide range. This spooky sounding track is characterized by its off-beat rhythm, saturating bass tones and curious sounding signals that slide up and down while continually building momentum. As the "Wire" progresses, one can't help but to take note of how its unpredictable nature is dictated in such a well-organized manner. Very, very interesting.

Sheffield's thatmanmonkz is quite the sonic force to be reckoned with. With an impressive discography across the board, dropping his most recent album "Columbusing" on Delusions of Grandeur in 2016 and running his own successful imprint "Shadeleaf", we're very happy to welcome him to Dirt Crew and present his latest EP "Shade Throw". Kicking things off rough and ready in true Detroit "Hight Tech Jazz" style, "Manna for Poppa" is a Saxed up dance floor bomb ready for the taking. "Intrinsic Divine", a sonically soaring breakbeat outing lightens the mood a little, think classic trip hop meets modern deep house. The cinematic string arrangement is accompanied by freestyle piano and licks of ad-libbed sax over a steady kit. "Space Jam 2017" sees thatmanmonkz team up with New York City's Clyde Phalanx to create a pure psyched up space house outing. We can picture this one over a sun-drenched Balearic scenery or deep in a dark and smokey basement somewhere. Jazzy freestyle drums underpin a live guitar improvisation that gets truly nasty on this interplanetary journey. Slow and sexy is the tempo for the closing track. "Evolver" is a soulful disco burner reminiscent of Idjut Boys, grooving along with smooth RnB vocals and salacious keys while intoxicating strings lift the energy to pure cosmic goodness.

*Singer-songwriter Amelia Harmony is a welcome addition to the Partial Records roster. Although relatively a new comer, over the last few years, Amelia has been playing with bands of varying genres and styles in and around her native Derby, as well more roots reggae-orientated releases on labels such as King Earthquake, Instrument of Jah, Mellow Vibes and her own recently established Soulshine Music label.
*`Fear and Love' is an uplifting rootsy steppers rhythm with a positive message and soulful vocals topped off with some tasteful acoustic guitar licks. Amelia's delivery oozes cross-over appeal. We will be hearing lots more from her.
*Produced by Liam McGurk for his own well-established Partial Records label.
*The Dub version is mixed by UK dub master legend Dougie Wardrop at Conscious Sounds studio, London

Returning to Hypercolour with a second volume of his Sugar Cane Chronicles, Gary Gritness lays down more devastating funk and classy riffing over his trusty Roland 606. After the first volume, released last April, sold out its vinyl run, Gritness delivers more explorations and adventures into his unique and soulful world. Having elusively built his reputation as an outstanding session player, live producer and fantastically dressed Funkateer, Gritness has delivered a handful of releases on labels like Clone Crown Ltd, Nyami Nyami and his own DIY and cassette-only Slikk Tapes. "Steady Choosin" gets downright fusion-jazz and Gritness fires out seductive melodies and latin piano playing of the highest order whilst "Countin Up With Starr" delves into a darker well of synth mania, with a sexual groove reminiscing of Rick James, all the while retaining Gary's signature licks and riffs. "Runner Joe's Revenge" on the flip ramps up the hysteria for a gritty and colossal production that typifies his love of cyberpunk soundtracks and the drama and narrative to be found in this style. "The Sugar Cane Chronicles Vol. 2 closes with the low-slung "Pool Shark Loot", wrapping up on a mysterious and captivating tone; its wandering bassline and melodic touches carrying all the signature Gritness sounds, with the P-Funk sleaziness on top.

Leyla's 'Parallels & Influences EP' brings together Mondkopf, Positive Centre, Codex Empire & Yuji Kondo for an assaulting 4 tracks of power infused and industrial strength techno.
Mondkopf starts things roling with militaristic snare rolls and off-kilter analog synthesis into a climatic fervor of dystopian scene-scaping. This then is followed upu energetically by the pounding pressure and liquid 303 squelches of Positive Centre's 'Rub'. Crushed out cymbals battle against booming sub bass as a foghorn call rides high above the tempestuous patterns.
Codex Empire's 'Hessdalen' is as slick and detailed as it is ruff and raw. Huge sweeping backgrounds with intense high end percussion lick over a stomping, staggered kick pattern. Yuji Kondo (one half of the excellent Steven Porter project with Katsunori Sawa) brings things to a close with 'Whip Blow'. Bringing his signature refusal for traditional percussion sources - this peaking track pits high level technicality against deeply hypnotic and brooding rhythm.

Another off-the-books mission to the OUTERZONA !
Consistent best-sellers, these little collections of secret weapons have made many friends out there on the floor
No.6 delves once again into the ammo cupboard, but reassembles this devastating array of weaponry into altogether more potent smart-bombs
From a wigged-out Jazz-Rock monster to familiar & timeless symphonic Disco licks, to a hidden mid-Seventies Soul rewire Once again, Outerzona refresh the parts other edits cannot reach !These are never around for long, so you know what to do

In the lead up to their 5th year as a label Music is love celebrate by continuing their infamous VA series the 'LOVEBOX'. Sticking to the winning formula of a hefty double vinyl package comprising of 8 tracks from 8 top artists, this time they have some familiar people alongside new faces to the label.
Kicking off the package in fine form is South London's prodigy Wbeeza and his track 'Bodyman'. It's as if this track announces the the opening of the VA with its beat-less and thickly textured opening... when that beat drops you know your in it!
Label main stay Jamie Trench is up next with his track 'Oil Spill ', this sees Jamie veering away from his tech house roots, delivering a quirky house track laced with an almost footwork groove.
On the Flip we see more new additions to the MIL roster as Ingi Visions ( Samuel Deep & Julian Alexander ) drop Nauyaca, a deep druggy track, with the kind of hypnotic flow and delicate arrangement the pair have become known for. Liam Geddes finishes up the B side , fresh from dropping the previous release on Music is Love his track 'reach out' continues to stamp his unique sound on the label.
And it don't stop...
As we reach for the second vinyl in this double pack we are greeted with a familiar site in the shape of Dutch duo New Jack City. 'Pick Me up' is everything you want from a NJC track, big, bumpy and beautiful.
Mak & Pasteman counter with their very cool track 'U Said', the boys are in serious form at the moment and this track is no different. Slick drum workouts decked out with Juno licks, what's not to love.
The final side welcomes another new act to the stable. Am Unit present their track 'Bang Dat'. With 'Bicep' style production values echoing throughout this track and THAT break, this one will be big.
Closing out the final track is label boss, Oli Furness. 'Broken Summers'. A huge 808 rave workout. Broken beats and sub rattling kicks are the setting for this track, finely polished electronic music for those with a fondness for rave.

You Can't Defeat Her, When You Meet Her You'll Get What I Said B2 Marlon Hoffstadt - 2000MG Floating Info: Retrograde returns late September with 'In Reverse Pt.1', a various artist package featuring Matteo Luis, Natureboy Gold, Terron and Marlon Hoffstadt. Berlin based imprint Retrograde marks its fith release here and once again welcomes back a selection of the collective recording artists already featured on the label such as label head-honcho Natureboy Gold, FFRR/Play It Down artist Marlon Hoffstatd, also co-founder of the label and tipped as a Future Star by Pete Tong on Radio 1. Matteo Luis also makes a return following appearances on two EP's for the label prior to this, while an exciting addition to the catalogue comes in the shape of Terron, most notably known for their work with Young Turks sub-label WHITIES. Up first on the release is Matteo Luis' 'Out Here' setting the tone with ethereal pad swells, organic rhythms and choppy bass hits while a soft and brooding melodic tension subtly unwinds throughout the composition. Natureboy Gold's 'Eternal' follows and employs a similarly airy synth feel while introducing a robust tom- driven rhythmic approach to create an understated dance-floor focused contribution. Opening the flip is Terron's cryptically named 'No.57, You Can't Defeat Her, When You Meet Her You'll Get What I Said' which drops the tempo to a low slung feel with dubbed out bass licks, bumpy percussion and spiraling bass drones to create something idiosyncratic and psychedelic. Marlon Hoffstadt steps up to round off the package next with '2000MG Floating' delivering a raw energetic workout with soaring 80's tinged leads, snaking bass grooves and frenetic percussion.

Late September marks the arrival on the second edition of Unclear Records 'A Tribute To Klang Club' featuring Move D, Fred P, Christopher Rau and label-heads Easy To Remember.
The Unclear Records imprint has carved out quite the reputation over the past few years with an already impressive back catalogue featuring material from Juju + Jordash, Rick Wade, Gigi Masin and Gerry Read. Here thought we see the welcome return of the labels 'A Tribute To Klang Club' series with its second contribution, following the inaugural various artists package that boasted material from Baby Ford, Roman Fluegel and more.
Move D opens with 'Rise!' and delivers a typically brooding, hypnotic number before Fred P follows up with 'Lush Life' laying down raw acidic bass and ethereal pads alongside shuffled rhythms. On the flip Christopher Rau's 'Unclear Joint' ups the energy levels via weighty drums and intricate use of string, bass and vocal samples before label-heads Easy To Remember round off the package with 'I Don't Know' a stripped back house cut led by sparse percussion, jazzy synth licks and soft pads.
'A Tribute To Klang Club Vol.2' is out on Unclear Records 26th September 2016.

They say all good things comes in threes, and with the marking of Nachtbraker's 3rd release for Heist, we can confirm this universal truth once again. Maurits Verwoerd comes back to Heist with more dancefloor muscle than ever before, and shows us great development of his sound: while keeping his unconventional drum patterns and love for the deeper side of house, he adds some filtered funk flavor along the way. 'Gotta act to react' drives on a saturated bassline, a hypnotizing guitar lick and some seriously loose hi-hats, but really delivers once those hard to place filtered hits come in. 'Pollo con Pollo' is potentially Maurits' most clear attempt at a straightforward groove, with a lovely dreamy guitar loop running throughout the track. Add his loose sense of arrangement and changeovers, and it's still anything but straightforward. The B- side gets nice and weird with 2 versions of Intermezz(l)ow, the one being a lovely textured interlude and the other a rough drum workout built around the same theme. When we asked Maurits who he wanted to have as a remixer, he suggested he'd do a remix himself. We knew better than to argue with him, and since he is who he is, we're not entirely surprised he came up with a great dubbed out acid-tinged flip of 'Gotta act to react'. This EP really shows Nachtbraker's steady rise and will most likely take him out of the shadows he so enjoys, into headline territory and we're glad to support him in this journey. Sincerely yours, Lars & Maarten

Our latest Looking for Mushrooms' EP comes to us from a collaboration between long time Dirt Crew resident Tigerskin and gifted jazz pianist and composer Grambow. We first heard from Grambow when his fluid key stylings featured on Tigerskin's Faint' in 2015. The title track is a suspenseful and moody journey, lead by live double bass from feature artist Das Eb". Building in intensity with Tigerskin's warm production and steady percussive instrumentation until Grambow's live lead on a gritty synth growls in over the top. A true modern electronic classic as far as we are concernred. Tsukiji' is a playful deep house groover. Balmy tuned percussion and shaken highs roll along under the light hearted piano which cruises along throughout the whole tropically touched endeavour. This track has Party' written all over it! Octocat' is a tougher italo disco tainted work out, tightly programmed live and analogue percussive elements push along, while wailing keys lick over a tenacious grunting bass. You can really taste and feel the long studio sessions the guys had to compose this great track. It is so much more than generic dance music. Red Fox' is a divine culmination of the pair's compositional prowess and dance music knowhow. A cinematic and spirited house track that glides and glistens via delicate piano, plucky percussive riffs, bright strings and woodwinds. We are very honoured to release this outstanding musical release by Tigerskin and Grambow.

Nearly a year after his acclaimed debut EP, 'Every Inch of You', a musical project meant as an ode to the memory of a once great man, his Grandfather, the enigmatic, Rosas Nievas, steps up to the plate with a sophomore outing for Scissor and Thread, Going Away Soon' On the A-side, the bombastic opener, wastes no time getting its feet moving with charged up percussion, guitar licks, and playful sampling with a clear ode to the likes of Matthew Herbert. Nearly Lost You, Though' sees Rosas Nievas pair up with the singer Poppy Roberts on an emotional house jam primed for a peak time lovers rave . A rock steady kick and shuffling percussion are the anchor, as smooth pads and ethereal, hypnotic vocal snips swirl around the listener before the singer's voice emerges forward with a heartfelt, soulful ode. The b-side takes things down several notches with the funky and loose, Roses are Dead, Violets are Blue,' a hypnotic rhythm cycle flanked by a powerful bass line a reverb-laden piano and a sax ensemble emerging as we are lead with eyes closed on a euphoric early morning dance ritual. The closer, Edge of Keys", continues the shuffling rhythmic patterning of the latter track, but couples with a loose form Rhodes piano, finishing off the EP on a gentle tone, as if coming to terms with loss, bittersweet and full of joy.

Ark & Pit Spector continue their inspired journey with an extended EP full of groovy jams and absorbing rhythms for Hold Youth. The Frenchmen have formed a potent alliance with a series of expertly-crafted, high-quality releases dropping over the last couple of years. On this new EP they go deeper into their sound explorations with five original works and a remix from their Parisian buddy and Hold Youth member, Le Loup. First up, we go into bumping jazzy territory with 'Chauffage Central', a mesmerising cut with swirling pads, soulful vocal clips and a jaunty b-line. Straight up after that, Hold Youth rudeboy Le Loup gives 'Chauffage Central' a funky little rework, throwing live sounding percussion, Nubian vocal clips, trumpet parps and a pumping bassline into the mix which gives a totally different identity. The final track on side A, is a cheeky teaser called 'Petite Ondée'. Rolling out for just under two minutes the track has a muffled, jazz-esque feel to it with a warm rolling bassline and bright, sparkling piano keys.

On the flip we kick off with 'Air Conditionelle', a lush, retro feeling with those oh-so-familiar heavy-hitting eighties snare licks. The bassline takes you to a New York City street and the whole atmosphere is that of an old school NYC neighbourhood, while a spoken-word sample adds a human touch just before the track comes to an end. 'Sub Tropical' goes a little leftfield with an unusual combination of sounds in tandem with a pulsating low end, occasional sax licks and punchy percussion to give it plenty of energy. 'Averse Et Contre Tous' closes out the EP with a slothish ride into the sunset - Ark and Pit Spector show their experimental side presenting an odd union between blues samples, gruff electronic sounds and piano keys.

Another triumphant effort from Ark and Pit Spector, in fact, some of the finest work to date. Make sure you check it out!

Among guitar aficionados, they don't come much heavier than acid-drenched enigma Eddie Hazel. A founding father of Funkadelic and responsible for the blazing "Maggot Brain" solo, he released just one album. A concentrated dose of guitar-driven psychedelic soul and loping funk-rock, Game, Dames And Guitar Thangs(1977) was co-produced by George Clinton and features the full Mothership crew. Despite impeccable credentials, the album sank and dropped out of print for years, becoming a sought-after collector's item for funkateers ever since. Mercifully addressing the dubious legitimacy and quality of previous reissues, Be With Records present a worthy and welcome 180 gram edition, limited to 500 copies.

Possessing a rare ability to be showy whilst maintaining subtlety, Hazel took Jimi Hendrix's style to his own new level. Here, his fuzz-tinged wah-fuelled guitar licks shimmer across seven brain-bending tracks, showcasing highly inventive virtuoso playing and searing riffs. The LP famously opens with the most soaring, soulful version of "California Dreamin'" you've ever heard. Eschewing the structure of The Mamas & The Papas' hit, Hazel slows the pace, adding a pronounced longing to create a truly emotive reworking. Virtually unrecognizable, Hazel's exquisite arrangement recalled Hendrix's rendering of Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower" and his delicately distorted guitar work propels the track into the stratosphere.

The much-sampled "Frantic Moment" - sumptuous head-nod G-Funk a full 15 years early - is essentially a Parliament song whilst "So Goes The Story" showcases Bootsy Collins' rubber-band basslines. The incredible, grooved out version of The Beatles' masterpiece "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" even manages to evoke early Sabbath. Using the original as a template to jam off, he turns the classic sideways into a monster guitar freakout, tossing off lick after lick with enviable nonchalance. The wild "Physical Love" follows, allowing Hazel and the sizzling Bernie Worrell to strut their stuff before funky instrumental "What About It" ignites pure dance floor fire.

Eddie Hazel was a pioneering guitar genius, but his troubled lifestyle led to a dearth of recorded material that demonstrated his strengths. It's a wonderful thing, then, that this lost classic is available on vinyl again. Possibly the finest slice of P-Funk you've never heard, it's a record that will make your brain dance and one every funk fan needs.

To anyone with even a passing interest in the weirder end of good-time party-ready house music, Freaks should need little introduction. Luke Solomon and Justin Harris have been keeping our preferred kind of dancefloor vibrating to the cheekiest manifestations of house music since the mid- 90s, never letting up and moving in the same oscillations as the good ship Circus Company. From first emerging on Phono through to setting up their Music For Freaks label, stopping by Playhouse, Wash House and Rebirth amongst countless other labels along the way, the UK duo have constantly given the traditions of house music a tickle in the ribs without losing that fundamental funk that makes a record great to dance to. We were thrilled to welcome Luke and Justin to remix Dave Aju's 'Nu Threads' at the end of last year, and now we follow up on that connection with a special EP of gems from the extensive Freaks archives. On 'Shrunken Heads (One Pro Mix)' the rock solid foundations of filter house music collide with flamboyant synth noodlings for a truly cosmic end result, while 'Absolut Zero' finds solace in a slower, deeper groove peppered with oddball effects tweaking and disembodied vocal samples. Heading further into loose-fit, slippery territory, 'Funk You (Who Do You Trust Dub)' lets soulful sample licks wriggle and writhe through a decidedly laid-back atmosphere that shows off the range Freaks have always sported in their output since day one. In many ways this coming together of Circus Company and Freaks feels like a logical development for two bastions of the oddball house music community, not to mention a great opportunity to hear tracks that otherwise might never have seen the light of day.

Solimano returns to his Unlock Recordings imprint with two mellow house cuts, featuring a pair of imaginative reinterpretations from fellow Argentinean's Barem and Deep Mariano.

Originally established to promote Latin American productions in 2004, Unlock Recordings has since hosted the likes of Jorge Savoretti and Guti. Its founder, Gonzalo Solimano, has proven himself time again as a label owner, DJ and producer, working as a 'Mr. X' at Red Bull Academy for almost ten years when not performing at the likes of Creamfields Buenos Aires, South American Music Conference and Space World Tour.

'Learjet' is a low-slung groover complete with organic samples, bass guitar licks and a hypnotically looped vocal sample. Up first on remix duties, Minus regular Barem subdues the raw textures of the original to generate an understated rendition, whereas Get Slow founder Deep Mariano takes it down a percussive route where an infectious rhythm is accompanied by dub inspired synths. Finally, 'Calling Again' is a sensual deep house cut featuring the vocals of Sophie Taylor, known for her collaboration with Mathias Kaden, among many others.
Support by:
Hernan Cattaneo - Paco Osuna - Neil (Nail) - David Durango (David Durango, Poker Flat, Suara, Galaktika) - Stacey Pullen (Transmat (Detroit) - Rich Nxt (Fuse) - Hector Couto (Tribal Sessions) - Jorge Savoretti (Esperanza - Savor) - Alexi Delano (H Productions / Visionquest / M_Nus) - Rework (Visionquest / Items & Things / Loveyeah) - Martin Landsky (Poker Flat) - Leon (VIVa / Various) - Grant Dell (Giant Sound / Chicago Transit Authority) - NTFO (Diynamic) - Simone Giudici (Dirty Channels, Ovum, Hot Natured, Rebirth) Javi Bora (2020Vision / Hudd Traxx / Defected / Kehakuma) - Eddie Richards (Evil Eddie Richards)

2015 will prove a benchmark year for Scissor and Thread with the rising momentum of Frank & Tony and Desert Sound Colony and now with the introduction after many months of work of their new enigmatic artist, Rosas Nievas, with a sublime debut EP, Every Inch of You. Like a tip of the hat to Herbert, the title track entices with easy piano licks, a cooing vocal and a lush atmospheric enveloping the 'floor in a warm embrace. Flipping the switch, the bounce of "Opinions" propels dancers into hands-up, Chicago-style elation, while the rollicking, looping closer, "Hear Me Rain", entrances with its early morning psychedelia. Completing the package is a breakaway edit from label heads, Frank & Tony, who transform "Every Inch of You" into a sun-drenched, euphoric deep house stormer, in a way only they can do.

Back in 2013, Futureboogie released The Fade EP by Outboxx, a record that received critical acclaim from the who's who of music press, helping to propel Outboxx on the upward trajectory they've managed to maintain since those early releases. Unsurprisingly, Futureboogie are delighted to get the pair back for more.
Having developed their sound in the two years since, the pair has refined the raw ingredients of those records to show a combined maturity beyond their collective years. Previously the pair of producers (Matthew Lambert and Jake 'Hodge' Martin) have released music on respected independent imprints such as BRSTL, Idle Hands, Well Rounded Records and Local Talk; honing their analogue rich sound that touches on the hard edge of drum machine rhythms crafted by Hodge and the harmonic, jazz soaked embellishments from Lambert on Keys.
'Day One' opens with the sound of a string sample drifting behind warm drums to beautifully open up proceedings. As the track develops with an explosion of shuffling hi hats, the main hook enters with more than a nod to the classic Acid basslines of a 303, built to hypnotize dancers into the early hours with subtle simplicity.
The EP's title track 'Under The Lights' shows the pairs appreciation of Disco, with overdriven drums and a dotting bassline setting the feel. As the track develops, elements of Detroit enter the picture, with more string samples setting the key, and further allowing Lambert to contribute more of his signature Jazz licks as the track winds down to an unwanted close.
'Gift of Life' features the always-beautiful vocal contributions from long-term collaborator, Naomi Jeremy. Having featured on some of their most memorable releases to date, Jeremy's vocals again add a complexity often found in Jazz, but with the drum machine funk of 90's House; creating a sound that blurs the lines between sampling and original composition, uniquely, as only Outboxx can.
The record ends on the appropriately named 'Closing Titles', a track seemingly built to allow Lambert the opportunity to show his prowess and mastery of melody and harmony. Creeping basslines and warm chords mix with looped drum machine rhythms to wind down the release elegantly, showing the pairs versatility and understanding of each other's strengths.

Butane's Alphahouse imprint kicks off 2015 with Pablo Inzunza's 'Convenience' EP, featuring three original cuts from the Chilean artist and a remix from the label-founder himself.

Pablo Inzunza is a Chilean DJ and producer most notably known for his recent long player on Butane & Someone Else's Little Helpers imprint, but also acknowledged for material on Germany's Highgrade, and French imprint Monique Musique. Inzunza has explored an array of organic and abstract Techno styles across the early stages of his career and here we see him push on with more powerful dance floor focused cuts via the Alphahouse imprint.

The original mix of title cut 'Convenience' opens things up here and sees Inzunza employ a hypnotic 303 hook as the driving force, while ghostly synth textures flutter away in the depths of the composition and sparse rhythms further fuel its undulating groove. 'Hypnotica' follows and as the name would suggest lays its focus on an entrancing, percussion and pad-led groove, which subtly unfolds over its five and a half minute duration.

Opening up the flip side of the release label-head Butane offers up a tougher, heads down take on 'Convenience', treating us to his typically rough and ready production style with gritty drum lines laid over the original's squelchy 303 lick. Then finally to round things off we have the third and final original from Pablo entitled 'Intimate', which takes on a more house tinged aesthetic this time with organic percussion, sweeping synth stabs and stuttering bass tones.

*A tough tune from vocalist Paul Fox who has carved out a steady stream of new roots reggae classics over the last two decades. Boasting an instantly-recognisable, unique and distinctive vocal style, here he teams up with top UK roots reggae label Partial on a tough steppers rhythm topped off with some tasteful guitar licks.
* On heavy rotation on dubplate throughout the UK and Europe, with play on several sound systems.
* Produced by the Partial Crew and mixed at Conscious Sounds studio, London.

THE company focused on realeasing original obscure dance classic and everything's that sounds fine to their ears !What a special one we have here on Skylax Classic! Damien Zala, the man who put out the superb album 'Lonely Happiness' on Rowtag Records in late 2012, who gets heavy support from the great Theo Parrish, dishes up six special tracks for our next release. Before diving in, it is well worth noting that a selection of Damien's album tracks had remixes by the likes of house icons such as DJ Jus-Ed, Rick Wade and Boo Williams! If those names register even the slightest blip on your radar, which they should, then this record might be the treasure you've been searching for. Damien's sampling technique has a certain air of grandeur to it. 'Shake Vibration' makes this apparent right from the start with intricate layers of vocals, guitar licks and keys. 'All My Respect' and 'Come Around' both follow suit whilst 'Dizzie' picks up the B side with a bit more energy and frenzy compared to what has come before it. The record rounds out with two tracks taking things a bit deeper. 'Stay Where You Are' drives forward with filtered pad chords that accompany jazzy sax and vocal cuts while conversely, 'Z To The Jz' brings in a moodier vibe with its jazz samples and smoky drums.
Do not miss the chance to get such a gem of a record from Damien Zala!, C L A S S I C ! A must to have in every djs collection. Essential Item No Digital .

Audiojack's Gruuv label returns this October with a four-track package from French producer Okain, featuring a remix from Tuccillo. Parisian artist Samuel Thalman aka Okain has quite the standing in contemporary electronic music having been a prominent name as a DJ and producer for the past fifteen years. Playing at some of the leading nightclubs across the globe such as Fabric, Watergate, Space Ibiza, Rex Club and Electric Pickle to name but a few. Thalman's also built quite the respectable back-catalogue in his time, releasing material via the likes of Tsuba, BPitch, Memento and Cadenza, and here we see him add Gruuv to his affiliations.

Kicking off the release is 'Down the Block', seeing Okain offer up a rugged percussion and bass led house cut, fuelled by swinging rhythms, rumbling sub tones, sporadic sax licks and processed vocal lines, opening up the EP on an energetic tip.

'RZ One' follows this, retaining a similar aesthetic with an insistent drive and penetrative low-end, though Okain opts for a grittier production feel here, distorting the drum sounds, instilling expansive, atmospheric reverb tails and drawn out delays alongside hip-hop imbued vocal lines.

On the latter half of the release we have two versions of 'By Your Side', the first of which is the original mix from Okain, which takes on a more stripped-back approach in comparison to the preceding composition's, laying its focus on fluttering synth sounds, a stab-led bass hook and warm motown style vocal chops. 2020Vision artist Tuccillo then rounds off the package with his mix of 'By Your Side', turning in his signature percussive-led style on the mix with intricately programmed drums and a subtle underlying tension that softly bubbles away in the depths over the cuts seven minute duration.

Dutch drum & bass legends Maduk and Nymfo head up the latest Fokuz Recordings 12''. Three feel good tracks leaning more towards the musical side of the spectrum. We kick off with 'Motions', an energetic stepper with a powerfull wobble bass en deep vocals.

On the flip we a solo track by Maduk called 'Approaching Me'. A smooth roller wit slick vocals and groovy guitar licks. To round things off Maduk and Nymfo bless us with 'Tatta Ganja' a naughty little reggae infused roller, that will go down perfect at a festival. Boh!

Davide Squillace, the Italian DJ and producer behind the This And That Lab and Hideout imprints, has kept up a hugely productive schedule since the 1990s, and lands on Luciano's Cadenza Music this fall with the 'Goiânia' single release. Previous musical output on a multitude of labels such as Primate, his own Sketch Music & Minisketch labels, Ovum, Supernature and M_nus has also seen the artist collaborate with plenty; Guti, Martin Buttrich and Philip Bader among those who he has conjured up some inventive and dancefloor-centric minimal electronic music with. On the lead track 'Goiânia', Squillace opens up a highly musical pot of orchestral stabs and brass hits, morphing bottom end and freestyle synth licks, cavorting around a steady percussive beat to great effect.'Blossom' comes heavier in vibe, but maintaining the classical atmosphere developed on the EP's opener. Pizzicato synths play a call and response with dramatic strings whilst an electro tinged drum pattern and sizzling hats lay the foundations of a track with more than a nod to the classic house sounds developed on labels like Innervisions and Ibadan. 'Unit 9 closes the release, and Squillace goes on a Galactic ride through meteoritic bleeps and humungous pads for a cosmic and pacey techno number, dubbing it up midway for a most enjoyable ride and a fitting closure to a classy release on Cadenza.

At once foreign and familiar, Desert Sound Colony brilliantly scores a nostalgic journey through the proverbial looking glass. The plaintiff vibe of "The Way I Began" envelopes the listener in warm guitar licks and hushed vocals, transporting them to a time when innocence and insecurity gave way to transcendence. The road takes a turn with "Fire Egg", a classic stomper that drives introspection with looping guitar melody and bouncy bass. And before we return to size, "Iris" carries us further inward with scattered claps and a skipping kick, before releasing us into a deep and chugging, eyes-wide-shut, euphoric roller.

Having kick off 2014 in spectacular fashion with their Episode #5 collab, Superfiction label chiefs Italoboyz and Blind Minded join forces again to deliver the next instalment from their popular label series.

Lead track Paradise Adventure effuses a sense of mystery with its psychedelic guitar rhythmically tripping between beats and electronic blues licks heightening the intensity while never reaching boiling point. This adventure bubbles brilliantly.

Christian Burkhardt is drafted in on remix duty and takes us on a march with his strong groovin' bassline. The German allows the sweeping atmospherics to play their part and brings the stunning guitar riff to the fore, allowing us to get lost further in the rhythmic groove.

Champagne Kisses closes the release and the bassline rule again as Blind Minded fly solo, weaving a heavy slice of bottom-ended funk. The vocal playfully chases the key changes to create an excellent sing-a-long club cut that could easily have lead the release.

Two strong originals and an excellent remix make this an Episode not to be missed!

France proves to be rich pickings once more for the Minimal Wave label with this absolutely superb collection of "ritualistic minimal electronics" from French duo DZ Lectric + Anthon Shield. Crossing paths in Paris in the early 80s, Christian Dezert (DZ Lectric ) and Michel Lecamp (Anthon Shield) bonded over a mutual appreciation of The Stooges, Throbbing Gristle and Suicide and went on to record numerous albums together over a five year period. The focus of Minimal Wave's attentions on the Lickin' LP is the cassette Confessions D'Un Masque the pair released in 1985, with eight tracks lifted and remastered from the original reel to reel tapes. DZ Lectric + Anthon Shield's sparse yet manic approach, described as "challenging and hypnotic" by Minimal Wave, will appeal to fans of CHBB.

Darshan Jesrani's new project Funn City continues to break open the notion of modern vs. retro and challenges the listener to categorize what is found inside. Extending the experiment in modern disco without re-treading already explored ground, Funn City offers a playful and rebellious approach to the recombination of old and new. Funn City sticks lightly to the fusion of live and electronic instruments, and heavily to its varied influences from rock and r&b to house and techno, yet casts them in a delirious, neon-lit sheen. 'All-Night People,' the project's first offering, is a relentlessly-upbeat, vivid, saturated trip of a maxi-single inspired by that liminal area of late-70s dance music which existed between shitty, bluesy rock, new wave and disco. Otherworldly, gurgling synths surf atop truncated, slashing guitar and thick, pattering congas. Taut synth sequences spar with sinewy lead lines and trashy vocals, bound together by a precise, modern sensibility, enticing you to waste your time inside a glorious, pinball machine dream. The dub on Side B works most of the same features but empties out the arrangement and infuses the mix with a bubbling, techno-inspired sequence and phaser-licked synth to create a new, more streamlined groove for the track-oriented dancefloor and style of play. Startree is proud to present this first release as a mission-statement in musical form and an indicator of things to come.

D-Edge are proud to present "Black Belt", the stunning debut from one of Brazil's most important figures.




D-Edge Records are proud to present Black Belt, the debut
album from Brazilian DJ, producer, club and label boss Renato
Ratier. After emerging with some already impressive EPs, the
time has now come for a full artistic statement that spans 17
tracks of slo mo electronics, deep house ambiance and tripped
out, disco inflected grooves.
Rather than this being a collection of dancefloor tracks, its
more a carefully programmed journey that takes you up and
down through many different moods and grooves, but all of
them untied by Ratier's analogue textures, unfamiliar hooks
and futuristic melodies.
Opening with the found sound recordings and muffled ambiance
of 'Love Me Tokyo' the album goes through the funky licks of
'Jamaicanese', the well-sampled 'Midnight Sun' and freewheel-
ing deep house and ethereal melodies of 'Teatime'. The latter
half of the album points more towards the dancefloor with the
title track's knotted bassline, the deep and spaced out house
hypnosis of 'Fetisshu' and plenty more besides. It's a stunning
debut from one of Brazil's most important figures.

appearance on Mo's Ferry meanders between techno, house and a little bit of funk. 'The Morning After' is a minimalistic techno weapon, straight forward with no frills. With 'Stag Party' the Frenchman switches to a bouncing house groove, that feels powerful and self-confident. And finally, 'My Command' creates a warm and deep mood, just perfect for the morning hours... and you never go wrong with a funky guitar lick.

Fresh from the success of the Guilty Pleasures EP by Satin Jackets & Ejeca, next up from the ever growing House of Disco Records is Finnebassen's - 'Baby' EP. Boasting make overs from Monitor 66, Ron Basejam and Debonair along with the original track itself, this is a vinyl with credentials that speak for themselves.

The EP opens with the original track 'Baby' from the Norwegian born producer Finnebassen. With previous releases titled 'Babies' 'Footsteps' and 'Bleedin out' I'm starting to wonder if there's some sort of subliminal message at work. However with the rate at which he's been outputting releases lately there are no signs that he has anything other than more music on the way. 'Baby' is not what we have become accustomed to expecting from Finnebassen, it strays away from his usual deep poignant echoing house tracks. Instead it's a rich funk filled gem of a track that he's shown he is capable of through his 'silly pilly edit' of It's gonna take a long time. With bluesy lead guitar riffs and his trademark bass line it's the perfect soundtrack for a blossoming summer season.

The first remix of the EP comes from Swedish trio Monitor 66 who produce under the ethos of creating ''music for sunsets.' The track certainly embodies that motif as gorgeous saxophone licks and chiming synths over a shifting bassline give it a deep tropical feel. Next up is the remix from James Baron, or as the anagram works and we know him as, Ron Basejam. His remix is more of a straight up boogie house track letting the echoing vocals do a lot of the work whilst being complimented by sprinkles of playful keys. The sliced vocals work a treat and he manages to maintain the tracks strong groove throughout. The final remix of the EP comes from London based artist Debonair who strips down the track into a deep atmospheric affair making it the perfect weapon of choice for an after hour set. Ominous kicks and the spades of tension and atmosphere will make sure that fists are pumping well into the early hours of the morning.

The whole EP is brimming with groove and if you find yourself missing Finnebassens deep echoing trademark sound from the original track then you can find essence of it in the remixes. This release speaks volumes for the trajectory of 'House of Disco Records' as a label that's constantly maturing and sidestepping pigeonholes.

Fresh new talent Widowmaker makes his debut release on Wheel and Deal with 3 dark twisted half step stompers. Tunnelling Wurm:
The atmospheric sinister skanker, featured heavily as one of N-Types intro tunes as of late. Industrial twisted bass, bobs and weaves
around half step shuffling beats. Thunderous sub gives any dub system a work out.
Forgotten Ruin: This shows Widowmakers diversity. here he demonstrates a more tribal sound, , reminiscent of Hatcha's sets in the
early FWD days, but with a 2012 re-lick. One for the steppers.
Exile: This takes us into a deeper ambient groove, spaced out dungeon beats, deep dark and dangerous!
a Widowmaker - Tunneling Wurm

A long lost gem back in stock again for lovers and collectors of true
skool ELECTRO sounds. About seven years after it's original release
one forgotten box with 30 copies of this limited to 300 hand-stamped
7" pressing suddenly and surprisingly re-appeared from the vaults of
Intrauterin Recordings.
Sascha Müller, one of Germany's most active underground producers with
a large release scale on several digital labels, serves a nice MINIMAL
ELECTRO re-lick of Paul Hardcastle's anti-war anthem "19" plus
"Travelbox", a storming ACID ELECTRO piece for The Hague's underground
Bunker parties. For those who know...

LMD SkunkWorks is a new project on Lick My Deck Recordings that will focus on releasing Dubstep, Uk Funky/Garage and futuristic beats.

Three releases deep now, Shadow Play transports us back to the nineties with this extra special collection of music from UK wizard Scott Edward. The Bristolian producer dropped a killer series of tracks from 1993 onwards, using a variety of aliases to explore the realms of the techno universe. It's an honour for Shadow Play to be able to rerelease one of Scott's classics, 'Access Activist', alongside three previously unreleased cuts from the same era. We hope you enjoy these classic examples of British underground techno...On the A-side it's the Scott Edward alias that handles matters, going straight in with the title track 'Access Activist', a mesmerising journey into analogue hyperspace. His flair for composition and arrangement really comes through on this opening track, and leads us nicely into 'All Is Lost', a nifty slice of paranoid techno with a jittery rhythm and a pervasive air of mystery.On the flip Scott's Ultra-Modern Art moniker is at the controls and the change in style is immediately apparent. Gone is the cosmic atmosphere and in its place is a funky, jazzy retro sound. The old equipment gives every sound its authentic identity, which filters through to the final track 'Brave New World' - a jaunty number, which uses acid licks, an optimistic b-line and sweet percussion to provide a delightful end to the project.