Beats Vinyl New Releases - News

‘Hidden Lines’ is the debut album from rising jazz/electronica outfit

Kinkajous. Recorded by Jordan Rakei drummer Jim Macrae and mixed by

producer Brendan Williams (GoGo Penguin/Dutch Uncles), the sublime,

interwoven melodies and drums invoke the likes of Steve Reich, Floating

Points and BADBADNOTGOOD.

A1 - The Abyss
Opening his debut EP for Curvature, Law jump straight in with an intense, suspenseful aura which immediately surrounds The Abyss, with crunchy Hot Pants breaks rolling us forward for the first act before a timely and unexpected switch to heavy, punchy amens. With whooshing vocal hits colouring the vibe as echoing piano keys provide delightful melodies throughout, The Abyss is an impressively varied heavy hitter and a strong indicator of Law's talents.
A2 - False Awakening
Yearning atmospheric padwork introduces False Awakening, a deep and compelling piece which utilises the Apache break to great effect, with a myriad of filtered samples ducking and weaving around the break. Female vocals set a sorrowful tone, delicately punctuating the stirring atmosphere as the breakbeats shudder and dart with a suitably wrought 808 bassline complementing the intensity of the track.
AA1 - Six Below
Law continues the strikingly atmospheric tones with Six Below, a track with a distinctive organ melody sitting atop a backdrop of darkly FX and deep, expansive pads which blanket the soundscape. For the breaks, we are treated to a very danceable two-step pattern of old school drums, guaranteed to move you and your audience while a subtle, deep bassline rumbles along below.
AA2 - Ascent
Closing the EP with a viscerally brooding and orchestral vibe, Law utilises a wide array of production techniques with Ascent, drizzled with menacing, echoed vocal hits, understated filtered melodies and inspired female vocal samples. An exquisite collage of deceptively varied and weighty breaks zip back and forth making this closing track something truly special for the listener and the dancefloor.
Words by Chris Hayes (Spatial / Red Mist)

In my opinion, Nebula is one of the best new producers for the atmospheric side of jungle & I've been a big fan of his work for years, following & supporting his music on Scientific Wax & Subtle Audio, so I'm very pleased to have a release from him on Future Retro London.

When he sent me "The Future", it was originally for Meeting Of The Minds, but it was already so fully formed and finished, that I felt like it was better off being released as is, and so I did a VIP version of it to go on the b-side. Big thanks to him for the great music!


b b1. The Future Tim Reaper VIP

Rian Treanor keeps knocking new doors of possibility with his new label Electronic Music Club and its initial focus on Rotherham Sight & Sound, participants of a community-based initiative in their shared post-industrial home town Rotherham. Utilising software synths designed by Rian and his dad Mark Fell, the trio twist out vortices of shearing, asymmetric anarchitecture, rudely resembling the sort of hyper-contemporary styles alluded to in Rian’s solo works, but inflected with cranky timing and an intuitive freedom that bears extraordinary results, especially when considering the fact the trio had no prior musical ability, and only encountered electronic music a few years ago.

After a couple of years of practice and performance, ‘Action Potential’ now firms up their quicksilver sound for club and home buzzes with seven actions that warp and morph from the needling jolts and hoof of ‘Pass The Go’, to shuddering detonations in ‘Dial’, each with a properly electrifying force carrying a genuine futureshock. Working within Rian’s systems-based framework, Anne, Kathleen, and Mick deploy a tactile feel for the machines, finely honed over the course of many sessions at the Rotherham Sight & Sound facility, that uses their visual impairments to synaesthetic advantage.

Between the wickedly metallic ragga swivel of ‘Hold’, the diffractive chain reactions of ‘When It Ends’, and more tempered, sloshing sensuality of ‘30 Seconds’, the trio follow their noses down wormholes that manifest an ideal of accessibility and expressionism within electronic music contexts that Rian and Mark have long worked towards, with Anne, Kathleen and Mick’s relative lack of cultural conditioning in this paradigm prompting them to act on pure instinct

In Signal, Brendon Moeller takes his expertise in techno, ambient and dub techno into deeper ambient and drone territory, crafting a richly atmospheric journey through sound for Constellation Tatsu’s thoughtful cassette label.

This album gently balances textures, merging natural and synthetic elements for a unique sonic experience. Highlights include the track 'Light', which opens with a minimal drone and subtle, pulsing sub-bass notes, setting a calm yet immersive tone. In 'Wires', Moeller skillfully intertwines organic and electronic soundscapes, bringing together the natural and technological in seamless harmony. 'Nowhere' shifts to a more aquatic feel, conjuring the sensation of being submerged in an otherworldly lagoon. The serene, electronic layering in 'Bask' adds beauty and peace through calm sequencing and warm tones. Closing with 'Beam', Moeller expertly blends real-world sounds and hints of a surreal, alien atmosphere, rounding out an album that’s both tranquil and otherworldly. Signal encapsulates Moeller's thoughtful production approach, giving listeners a deep dive into ambient landscapes that feel as expansive as they are introspective and adventurous.

25th Anniversary 5 x 12inch vinyl using the original print files. 3mm spined sleeves with black paper inners in a 12inch black lined lift off lid hard cover box, gloss laminated with 16 page booklet of original notes/photos and background to arguably the most influential Drum & Bass album.

Optical Feb 2023;
“We are doing a luxurious high quality boxset to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original release with the original artwork and top quality vinyl and lovely 16 page booklet with lots of photos and art and words from everyone involved in making the record happen”

* Recorded between 1997 and 1998 by Ed Rush & Optical, the album was released on the 16 November 1998 on Virus Recordings, in vinyl and CD formats. The CD edition was a double disc, the second disc containing an hour-long continuous mix while the LP was a five-disc set housed in a widespine sleeve, with a single track per side. “Splinter” by Fortran was a collab with Ed Rush, Optical and Fierce. The recordings were produced and mixed in Optical's custom built studio, based in Rob Playford's Moving Shadow offices, St Anne's Court, SOHO, London. The final mastering was done by Stuart Hawkes at Metropolis Studios in Chiswick, London.
* Wormhole is considered to be the very first LP in the Neurofunk Genre and is a drum and bass scene classic

Did you ever experience the feeling that, while listening to an album, immersed in the music, you weren't thinking anything and, in fact, did not have to think anything because the music was somehow replacing your thoughts and simultaneously translating or mapping them? And that you'd be entirely happy to continue having your thoughts and the music merge into one, your cerebral activity just 'being' that music? But then it also hits you: what does that say about my thoughts and mindset? In particular, why am I so comfortable with my brain twisting and speeding like a renegade droid in an escape pod gone berserk somewhere in the voids of outer space?

As more than a few listeners will agree, the darker styles of drum & bass are an exceptional musical fit for sci-fi themes and atmospheres, especially the more gloomy, brooding and apocalyptical ones. Ed Rush & Optical's Wormhole undeniably is one of the albums that does that best. From the ominous beginning tones of Mystery Machine onwards, the producing duo will have you hooked, or at the very least intrigued, with some the heaviest bass lines ever (see esp. Splinter and Millennium), up-tempo snares and scratchy grooves (Slip Thru, Compound, Fixation), and an array of instrumental and vocal samples throughout, used sparingly enough to give the impression of minimal tweaks for maximum effect. Tracks like Glass Eye and Dozer still connect with the dub and reggae roots of drum and bass, while Point Blank and Compound mix elements of ska and funk, giving them a heavy futuristic twist. The main mid range guitar-like sample in Compound is one for the ages, together with its pounding bass lines. As stardust sparkles through the title track Wormhole, the sound of the album also seems to reach the peak of its maturity (if something like electronic bass riffing exists, it’s on this track), and the journey your ears have been taking reveals itself as one that translates intergalactic shortcuts to synapses in the microcosmic realm of the brain. The closer Lithosphere, then, forms the short but necessary ambient decompression.

Alien, otherworldly, eerie, relentless and infectious are all predicates that fit the musical vibe of Wormhole equally well. The tunes are irresistibly funky in some kind of deranged way, bursting with dark attractive energy. In hindsight, there could not have been a better time slot than 1998, pending Y2K, to drop this aural bomb of millennial anxiety and anticipation. The album captures that feeling and historical moment perfectly, but also continues to convey it as a timeless experience. There’s plenty of background and analysis to read on the internet: on how Wormhole hit and changed the face of drum & bass, instantly making it fashionable far beyond UK club culture; on how its stylistic leap from the jazzy and ethereal to the relentless and dark single-handedly initiated and installed the subgenre known as Neurofunk; on how its militant drum tracks and bass lines had a significant hand in winning over fans of metal to electronic music; etcetera. You will also have little trouble finding all the nerdy technical specs: on how the album retains the ‘warmth of older pre-PC production’ as it was made on ‘outboard gear’; on the arsenal of studio equipment used (including the whole range of Boss guitar effect pedals); on the quality of the drum samples (half of which being the artists’ original recordings of drummers); and whatnot. But the year is now, and the fact is: Wormhole still hits the spot.



Studio Equipment:
Mackie 32/8 32 channel, 2 x Emu E6400 Ultra (1x8 outs, 1x16 outs), Alesis Quadraverb, Focusrite Green Eq x2, Focusrite Green Compressor, Focusrite ISA430 Producer Pack, Lexicon Alex, Lexicon MPX1, Alesis MidiVerb4, TC Electronics Fireworx, TC Electronics Finalizer, Joe Meek VC1, Drawmer MX40, CryBaby Wah Pedal, Boss Pedals - (Too many to list but all the popular ones), Novation Basstation, OSCar, Sequential Circuits Pro1, Prophet 5, Wurlitzer, PPG Wave 2.1, Neumann TLM 103 mic, Fender Strat 1972, Oberheim/Viscount GM1000, Korg Z1, Kawai K1r, BSS DPR-402 Compressor, Unitor8 Midi output, Kenton Midi to CV box, Yamaha NS-10M monitors, Dynaudio BM15 monitors. Apple LCII computer. Cubase SX 1. All top quality, shielded, balanced, gold core, custom made wiring throughout, with a fully balanced +10db signal path.

Obliques presents Poème symphonique. Electronic music composer Jonathan Fitoussi revisits Symphony No. 1 “Titan” by Gustav Mahler as part of a world creation commissioned by Radio France. Concert recorded live in the large auditorium of La maison de la radio on November 18, 2023, Paris.

Limited Edition clear vinyl LP - No Digital

For over a decade, Mako has been a distinctive presence, both as an individual and through his music, a talent we've proudly showcased at Metalheadz.



This September, we are honoured to release his third album on the label, and his second solo endeavour, which serves as a seamless continuation of his earlier work. His 2020 album, 'Oeuvre', represented years of dedication and refined production, solidifying Mako's esteemed place within the Metalheadz family.



Now, four years later, we're thrilled to present 'Oeuvre – Part 2'. This 12-track album is a celebration of Mako's deep passion for music, while also reflecting his sometimes disillusioned views on a modern era that often seems to pass us by. In a world where individuality can struggle to shine amidst an overwhelming flood of content, Mako's superior production stands out as a beacon, demanding not just recognition, but active listening.



Mako's commitment to his musical community is evident throughout the album, with contributions from long-time collaborators Fields, Hydro, Villem, and Mikal, each bringing their unique expertise to the project. The album also features a special collaboration with the late Marcus Intalex, a friendship that blossomed in the years before Marcus' untimely passing and one that continues to bear fruit.



Diving into the heart of the album reveals Mako's charm as a producer: from the captivating vocals in 'Feed You', the sleek homage to techstep in "Suspension', to the pure dancefloor energy of 'Direct Source', a track long favoured by Goldie. As expected, Mako also delivers deeper, more contemplative pieces like the album's opener 'True Expression' and the graceful melodies of 'Overshare'.

Manifesting a soporific vision of classic dreampop, Man Rei lands on Glasgow’s Somewhere Press with one of the years most memorably hushed albums; unfolding through an hour of quietly soaring songs that split the difference between Enya, Seefeel and Grouper.

Kristin Reiman, aka Man Rei, elevates and expands the choral tradition of their Baltic homeland with the smudged drift of this quietly epic new album. A moody, dimly lit summoning of ambient music touched by the enduring influence of classic dreampop, it’s a record full of pared-down arrangements and luxurious instrumentation, elevated by goosebump inducing vocals that make the thing so memorable.

The soothing pulse of Kranky's early years (think Labradford or even Windy & Carl) moves with tranquil momentum, playing faded lower-register riffs to accent a pervasive longing in the lyrics. On 'Edge knot city', the influence of Harold Budd and the Cocteau Twins' hangs in the air as Reiman marries muted electric piano with pastoral field recordings. That voice, blurred at the edges to enhance its ambiguity, cuts through the clouds like a knife, inserting a melancholy earworm into wafting ambiance. Even the lengthy 'Intermission', a wordless piece, maintains a masterful balance between emotional weight and atmospheric vapour.

On 'Witless', they bury the fragments of a love song beneath synth distortions, turning pebbly, slapbacked claps into a rickety rhythm on 'The thread', cooing over piano phrases that vanish into the aether until that voice takes over completely. It's gorgeous, restless and confident material that immediately sinks itself deep into the psyche - its familiarity is almost a smokescreen; the closer you listen, the stranger and more beautiful Man Rei’s world becomes.

It feels like most every week Burnski starts a new label that is immediately as good as all his others, and here is this week's case in point: Reliance is a super limited new outlet from the super producer and it kicks off with ODF who you may know from a brilliant remix of Special Request. 'Yeah (Uh!)' opens with bubbly basslines and neon melodies and is a timeless garage bumper. '2 Turn' then brings the funk with tight bass and lovely silky drums, 'Rattlesnake' is more dark and menacing thanks to the trippy samples and low end and 'Back To 98' is a stateful shot of garage nostalgia direct to the veins.A

One Million Eyes, previously known as Templehof, return with a new album of balearic ambient, previously heard on two excellent releases for A Strangely Isolated Place.

This time appearing on legendary cassette label Constellation Tatsu as part of their fall combo, anyone familiar with their previous work will know what to expect. Dreamy, sun hazed analog synth lines mix with deep fourth world soundscapes that wouldn’t sound out of place on 90s labels such as Pete Namlook’s Fax or Instinct Ambient. The first half of Signal begins slowly, eyes wide shut, with 'Nickel', a slow pulsating jam of chilled out psychedelia. 'Marea' blends organic instrumentation with distant, processed voices. ‘Koala’, the deepest cut on the album, leads to a mood shift in 'Opalescent' that will sound eerily familiar to any Gaussian Curve fans. 'Polaris', 'Solstice' and highlight 'Landscape' close out the album in style.

For fans of anyone from Music From Memory, Jonathan Fitoussi & Ishq, there are few better ways to relive your memories of later summer.

In Scratch Trouble ?
" Crystal Blue Cuts !! "
Sounds & Effects, Noises and Voices , Guns Blazing, Drug Stories, Thuggish Brawls...
" Cut 'Em Now !!! "
(4 instrumental tracks in bonus to download inside composed by Ugly Mac Beer, inspired by the iconic characters from the series "Breaking Bad")

Here comes the 11th act of our 10" series. Another fusion of obscure 60/70s grooves, epic 90s conversations and other unknown elements from outer space.

“I hate all the words” by Luca Scarabelli and Michele Lombardelli’s Untitled Noise, the eight instalments in the celebrated Die Schachtel’s “Decay music” series, is a concept album composed of three tracks designed to explore the remote and hidden depths of psyche: Misery, the awareness; The Time, the suspension of disbelief; and Heaven, the existential atonement through detachment.

The sounds and the voice proceed alternately, overlapping, where each, in its progression, asserts itself autonomously—entities unto themselves, presences in dialogue at the edge of possibility. At times primitive and obsessive, they emerge as reminiscences of the unconscious and emotions, which coincide with unconscious, altered, and unexpected lowness. Sound and voice in unison are a burst of a great energy. Noise-glitch sound patterns, distortions, and objects set into vibration in the "soundscape" are mainly performed by Michele Lombardelli. The lyrics, interpreted by Erica Bazzeghini, were written by Luca Scarabelli, drawing inspiration from a personal experience as well as his art. In Luca’s reflection, “I hate all the words” is a path to test the truth, the mistery and the meaning of words.

“Self-reflection has been an intimate journey, often conducted in the seclusion, away from the chaos of external reality. In the lyrics it is mirrored in three distinct stages: self-awareness marked by Misery, the suspension of disbelief symbolized by the passage of Time, a moment of misgiving, and finally, recovery through detachment, in the track Heaven. In my thoughts, I see the works of poets like T.S. Eliot, Georg Trakl, and Sylvia Plath, who explored personal pain and transformation. In “I hate all the words” resonate the mysterious meaning of words as well as the poetry hidden in them. In Eliot's poem "The Waste Land," he writes: "This music crept by me upon the waters" quoting “The Tempest” by Shakespeare, encapsulating melancholy and a sense of being lulled over one's own ruins.

In Georg Trakl's poem "De Profundis," he captures this sense of apprehension through his vivid imagery: "Es ist die Seele ein Fremdes auf Erden. / An Abenden, wenn die Glocke im Dorfe / Langsam der Frieden uns kündet, / Folgt uns die schwarze Verwesung. ("The soul is a stranger on Earth. / In the evenings, when the bell in the village / Slowly announces peace to us, / The black decay follows us.").The exploration of time's fluidity creates a mental space to be explored, much like the soul existing as a stranger on earth. In Sylvia Plath's poem "Mirror," she writes: "Faces and darkness separate us over and over." The mirror doesn't reflect the self, but the lament of words.

In “I hate all the words” all the “colours” have become dull. Fragments of thoughts and a sonic exploration change the perception of the present reality, evoking the ghosts of the past, in a shattered time, with the weight of whispered words.

You've Come a Long Way, Baby ist das zweite Album von Fatboy Slim. Es wurde am 19. Oktober 1998 im Vereinigten Königreich bei Skint Record und einen Tag später in den Vereinigten Staaten bei Astralwerks veröffentlicht.

You've Come a Long Way, Baby erwies sich als Cooks weltweiter Durchbruch und erreichte Platz 1 der UK-Albumcharts und Platz 34 der US Billboard 200. Von den Kritikern für seinen Sound und Stil gelobt, brachte das Album Cook internationale Aufmerksamkeit ein und verschaffte ihm 1999 einen Brit Award. Später wurde es von der BPI mit viermal Platin und von der RIAA mit Platin ausgezeichnet. Aus dem Album wurden vier Singles veröffentlicht: "The Rockafeller Skank", "Gangster Trippin", "Praise You" und "Right Here Right Now", die alle in den Top Ten der UK Singles Chart landeten. "Build It Up -
Tear It Down" wurde auch als Promo-Single veröffentlicht.

Das Album wurde jetzt mit halber Geschwindigkeit in der bestmöglichen Audioqualität neu gemastert.

"Chewing The Fat" marks a new chapter for Franc Moody.

This album delves into the duo's creative depths, breaking away from traditional norms and

showcasing a more refined sound than their earlier work.

Partially recorded at LA 64 Sounds Studio and Damon Albarn’s Studio 13 in West London,

the album’s sonic landscape is significantly shaped by Albarn’s collection of synthesizers,

especially some Russian models.

Drawing inspiration from live performances by Massive Attack and LCD Soundsystem,

the result is a sound that leans less toward disco,

embracing a grungier, more gritty attitude.

Limited edition - 250 copies

Coming from the vaults of one of the label heads 'Golden Ivy'. This single presents a full circle, baleo-industrial experience that makes its mark as a firm revisit to the label after some time spent being harbored by other imprints.

The foundation upon which this release stands originally stems from a sample from the mindfulness record ’Sinnenas dans” by the renowned Scanian folk musician and multi-instrumentalist Ale Möller. With its re-illumination graciously blessed by the original creator, it quickly transcends into flute-laden fourth world grandeur, underpinned by synthesized meanderings and industrial motorik. Flip the record for the version, and you’ll find label friend and artist Philipp Otterbach taking us on a post-punk dub jaunt of sorts, carefully decorated with his signature of deep and enigmatic sounds—often both sculptural and contrasting.

This record serves as a reflection of the label’s long-standing affinity for subtle rhythmicism and is well suited for mindful low-tempo dances in the many years ahead.

Los Angeles’ Jarren returns to Apron Records with a 6 track offering of fresh selections for the autumn.
Following his Apron debut LP, Jarren returns with a new EP titled Fresco that continues to explore his love for analog synths & squelching bass lines.

Los Angeles’ Jarren returns to Apron Records with a 6 track offering of fresh selections for the autumn.

Following his Apron debut LP, Jarren returns with a new EP titled Fresco that continues to explore his love for analog synths & squelching bass lines.

The forthcoming release builds on his signature style with fresh ideas, offering listeners another unique experience reflecting his West Coast origins.

Jarren, an LA-based producer and DJ with Panamanian heritage, draws deeply from his rich musical roots. Growing up with a father who played saxophone, his early exposure to gospel and jazz has shaped his sound. Always in the studio, Jarren’s music reflects this blend of influences. He’s played at some of LA’s coolest spots for the last 10 years and toured overseas, sharing his laid-back dynamic energy with audiences everywhere.

OUT SOON ON RAWAX: RV-02 - TERMITEN (RICARDO VILLALOBOS) - NORDHORN (RE-ISSUE FROM 2002) VINYL ONLY!

RAWAX proudly presents the second release by Ricardo Villalobos on his own series!
This time we have the honor to release Ricardo under his Termiten Alias. "Nordhorn" came originally out on LINEAR in 2002. The release will be re-mastered and viny only - don't sleep!

Operating since the late 2010s, Vienna-based sound artist the concept horse has quietly amassed a distinctive and diverse discography, drawing inspiration from the rich traditions of musique concrète, noise, plunderphonics, microsound, and free improvisation. “Public Detail” follows releases on labels such as FALT and czaszka rec., as well as the artist’s own eë editions, and neatly encapsulates the polyglottic breadth of the project. Patinaed piano loops and wistful ambience give way to chance percussion environments, beat research, and treated location recordings, resulting in a suite of evasive and diffuse music informed by dialectics such as repetition/unrepeatability and formal rigor/chaos.

“A door space to further diagrams, white on blue, a window.”

recorded and arranged in vienna, austria between 2021-2023.
35mm photograph taken by the concept horse.
risograph print and cover design by marie vermont.
mastered by angelo harmsworth.

Disrupt Records presents DJ Chromz - Love & Unity EP, featuring DJ Stretch & Double O!

Following the blueprint established in the first two releases by again providing the platform for the debut EP of one of the hottest new producers around, DJ Chromz!

DJ Chromz brings us four tracks of sublime 94 influenced jungle that take you on a nostalgic journey via the dancefloor to the scene's golden era whilst keeping the sound fresh and dynamic.

Featuring a colab with AKO Beatz General DJ Stretch, plus a remix from Rupture's very own Double-O!

Lush pads, crisp drums, dubbed out sounds that reflect a love of soundsystem influences, analogue sampling and drum programming, big vocals and slamming amens all wrapped up across 4 huge dancefloor tracks.

Dj Terrace's third and final release in his Signed series contains his usual rich combination of old skool jungle sounds and unusual arrangements, the style echoing peak Labello Blanco with its deep bass and clever use fo samples and edits, but carving out its own unique sound for the modern audiences!

An extremely prolific artist, whose work encompasses composition, opera, theatre, radio plays, film or performance, Ergo Phizmiz returns in due time to the Discrepant fold long after his 'Two Quartets' and 'Disco Carousel' - under his given DW Robertson name - albums. A purveyor of the Creative Commons rights, Phizmiz has been deploying much of his work on the ever expanding Free Music Archive directed by WFMU since the early 2000's, creating a sprawling and defiant body of work that defies given and stale notions of sound hierarchies, history and copyright through a process that comprises collage, sampling, reappropriation, songwriting, covers and pretty much any available media with a playful and thoughtful approach.
For this new Discrepant entry, Phizmiz goes back in time to push into the future a number of pieces recorded more than two decades ago creating this perpetual motion outside a linear chronologic progression. Anticipating by almost 20 years the memefication of ASMR videos, 'Selected Ambient & ASMR Works 2001-2003' - itself a pun on the AFX classics - embraces the ambient tag not at its functional face value, but instead as a means to the "evocation of imaginary spaces, and correspondingly the invention of their sonic environments". Collecting recordings from a myriad of instruments - violin, xylophone, banjo, kora, found percussion and so on...-, shortwave radio and field recordings to create loops with different lengths that play with and/or against themselves continuously in a process "(dis)conjunction" not far removed from Feldman's 'Why Patterns?' or hip-hop's sampledelia. A free-floating temporal space that collapses the flashing images of Angelfire pages unto Web 2.0 sense of displacement.

Black vinyl 180g made only in 100 numbered copies.

This record is different. It is different from what might be expected of Jan Emil Mlynarski by those who know him, from sold-out shows and platinum albums of his bands – Jazz Band Młynarski – Masecki and Warsaw Dance Combo, as an old-timer, curator and reenactor of pre-World War II Warsaw's plush dancehalls and backyards folklore. Quite likely they may not recognize him until the last song, when he removes his shaman mask and bows down: Yeah, that's really me, folks, your good ol' Jan Emil, the entertainer. They might not have even known that he ever played drums because in his flagship bands, clad in a white tux in the former or in a Peaky Blinder hat in the latter, he sings and plays mandolin banjo. In fact, Młynarski has been a drummer for a lot longer than a singer. He stands clear of the jazz mainstream but is active on the progressive scene. A record he contributed to, trumpeter Tomasz Dąbrowski's 2022 release The Individual Beings, was recognized by Downbeat magazine as "excellent" and awarded the highest rating of five stars.

However, this is the first instrumental record to bear his name. As an album by a drummer, it stands out from other records, especially as it features drums as the principal content rather than the performance by a band with a drummer as the leader. It's all about drums, there is neither an articulate melody – because the melodies that are there are only micro-linesencased in ostinato modules – nor is harmony as an intentional chord progression – because whatever harmony-wise there is, is rather a product of the counterpoint of overlapping voices. All sounds other than the drums make only a riverbed through which runs a raging stream of rhythms. And indeed, this record took off just with this stream. At first all the drums were recorded live onto an analog tape, all at once, without overdubs or editing. After that, synthesizer riffs were added, and the record was ultimately assembled on tape without the use of computers or complex postproduction, which sets it apart from most releases today.

Młynarski the drummer acknowledges that he follows the trail beaten by Art Blakey, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, and Billy Higgins, but he walks it in his own strides. He treats the jazz drumming with specific reversed engineering by decompiling the jazz drum kit originally compiled by the pioneer jazz drummers from an array of instruments that had made their way from a jungle to New Orleans, first to Congo Square and then to street brass bands.

This takes him back to the jungle, his drums don't sound like jazz drums, the snare is rare, and the hi-hat and ride aren't there at all. Instead, there are drums and bells from Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire. He doesn't sound like a jazz drummer either, but like a gang of drummers, each playing their own rhythm, and it's hard to believe that all this is the work of one man.

Not only his drumware comes from the jungle, but also the software – his approach to rhythm and time. Its essence is polyrhythm and ostinato. The polyrhythmic matters were unveiled to Młynarski and Piotr Zabrodzki, his creative partner in many projects and co-composer/producer of this album, by the legendary eccentric veteran-drummer Władysław Jagiełło, who introduced them, aged thirteen, to his concept and practice of "17 Latino rhythms at once". Ostinato, an obstinate repetition of a phrase or rhythm, "arrests" time, turning its linear course into cyclical in-place rotations. This is specific not only to African music but also to cultural music of other regions and differs from Western artistic music in that it does not "run" to fulfil an aesthetic intention but "stays" to provide the framework for recurrent routines of communal proceedings.

So, this record is different. And, if you are different too, this is the record for you.

nobile, one half of the former Milanese duo Voronoi, presents a new series of recordings of ephemeral ambient soundscapes, organic throbs and broken rhythmic textures that sublimate the more instinctual and playful side of his poetics.


The project is haunted by cavernous sounds and an obsession with the 'netherworld' of the videogame Minecraft, and by Le Matin des Magiciens - the classic and revolutionary book that popularised occultism, alchemy and paranormal phenomena in the 1960s. "...FANTASTICO INTERIORE is" - as the artist puts it - "a fantastic journey inside the body, perhaps also a journey into the unconscious to understand my gastritis?"

The seven tracks traverse underworlds, infused with fantastic realism, where odd sounds materialise like poltergeists of digital folklore. Creepy voices emerge from the hell-like nether, intertwined with clusters of gelatinous percussive sounds that trudge to the surface. Earthy streams of crackling white noise carry volatile sonic particles that bounce off walls with short delays and reverberations, giving an almost visible form to the space.




But it is not always serious. As soon as you come across the curiously long titles of the tracks (which are rough translations of the Minecraft manual into Italian) a subtle irony emerges. The imagery appears to be harmless and eventually, as in a video game, you can switch to safe-mode and refill your health-bar along the way... 
No panic attacks in the soft-occultism of FANTASTICO INTERIORE ;)

A gang of singular producers assemble to perform the sacred ritual of dissection and reconstruction on all four tracks from Presha's recent Sacrifice EP.

RADIAL
Acoustic Rhythm & Texture Sequencer
Available as C60 Limited Edition of 50 mirror dubs- (same on both sides) + Inserts

written and produced by
S.Gordon 2024.

additional percussion by Islay Spalding - TRK 7, recorded at SFS studios 2024

Synths & Radial - SDGordon.

The Radial instrument was designed to explore various material's acoustic characteristics in ways that could only be achieved through mechanical and electronic control.

It creates sporadic dense percussive sequences & sharp reciprocating sweeps or can focus in on tiny acute angles to produce deep shaking drones among a host of other planned and unplanned acoustic sounds.

Radial uses 5 voltage controlled motors and interchangeable textured cylinders captured via contact microphones positioned within the chassis. The cylinders can be synchronised or independent & the blades are interchangeable allowing the flex of certain materials to skew and augment the movements and sounds and sequences.

Playing the Radial instrument is a direct visceral experience. Its sequences sound unlike anything else i have used and the simple design by no means limits the scope of its rhythmical output. After feeling out the controls you arrive somewhere in-between the rubbery juddering fuzz or clockwork blasts of percussion and can step back allowing the physicality of the instrument itself to dictate how things proceed. Minor adjustments can have a butterfly effect on the entire tone inmate rewardingly unpredictable but controllable way.

On certain tracks there’s some synth work in a move away from the potential “instrument study” vibe of the release and Islay Spaldings blistering scrap metal percussion on Track 7 was incredible to watch.. Additional thanks to Stephan P Richter “SPR” for the advice and encouragement through the whole build.

Scientists from Stereo 45 headquarters have finally translated the warp code sequence, opening up a parallel-time-rift connection across the vast known universe. They've enlisted the help of Tim Reaper, Dwarde, DJ Sofa, Nectax & Sketchy Rida to venture into the portal and report back their findings in the form of club-ready atmospheric Jungle.

Tornado Wallace and Jamie Tiller present Heart Sphere, on their new imprint Basic Spirit. The first release "E.R. (Emergency Relief)", is a mid-tempo, cosmic trance manifestation with three revisions; Guitar Mix, Piano MIx, and the vinyl only Children Mix. For disciples of Big Room Balearic ™️, new-normal-beat, classic-trance, and George Clooney.

Repress!

This EP is delicately melodic and fluid that even in its short four tracks shows a producer with different bows to their arrow. Intro is a laid back, downtempo affair with vocal samples punctuating the track’s pared down synths and gently propulsive beats.

Contrast that with Engang, which sees Jos Ma chisel all other elements away and put trust in the groove and urgency of its percussive elements. It’s something he echoes in Like Honey, although here the bright stabs of keys provide a welcome interjection - as does the chopped-up vocals that offer a further counterpoint to its kwaito-reminiscent shuffle. It is perhaps here that his respect and love of central and southern Africa’s dance forms is presented at its most bare.

The EP finishes with Mongo’s Dance, so-called after the Cuban Mongo Santamaria and driven forward by a chopped-up pachanga rhythm taken from one of the pioneering percussionist’s tracks. He then adorns it with wavy synths and flutes, each intertwining over the top as though engaged in ritual with one another. It’s a euphoric, slightly delirious end to an EP that puts Jos Ma firmly in Mas O Menos’ “neither here nor there” camp – a producer who simply follows his instincts and revels in the enthrallingly wandering music it throws up.

The link up between Mantra and Vivek goes back to 2013 when Mantra used to frequent his System nights at The Dome. Both share similar values in grafting hard, focusing on the music and not getting distracted by the noise surrounding the culture. This EP has been in the making for over 2 years and we’re proud to finally be releasing Mantra’s debut SYSTEM EP.

4 cuts spanning different corners of electronic music - from broken beat, garage, and jungle, all with a heavy dub influence. Chopped up breaks, carefully programmed hits, dub baselines, heavenly pads - this release is raw, weighty & System to the core!

Bringing stark dread bass vibes like no one before or since, Mars89 makes a welcome return to Sneaker Social Club with another four-track script flipper.

Since he first surged onto the radar with some incisive moves on Bokeh Versions back in 2017, Masayoshi Anotani has deployed a raw, non-conformist kind of bass music that's minimal in spirit but packing incredible weight where it counts. It draws parallels with weightless grime, but swap the woozy square wave synths out for fierce industrial textures and dystopian bleeps, and maybe you're halfway there.

Following on from 2022's Night Call and a collab LP with Seekersinternational on his own Nocturnal Technology, Mars89 is back with an EP which takes on new sonic dimensions without losing the persistent moodiness that makes his shadowy sonics so compelling.

'No Control' feels the most in line with the earlier Mars89 work, creating a back and forth between an upfront grime-y synth lick and blown out bass notes. The space around the notes is as vital as everything being played, creating a tension that doesn't let up no matter how much the brittle percussion rattles.

'Sonar Breaks' feels distinct as it drags a sticky drum loop through the dirt until it comes out positively caked. That leaves plenty of room for the bleeps up top to cut through the mix with devastating clarity, and Mars89 needs nothing else to make a taut piece of soundsystem Semtex.

'Hydra' continues to draw influence from jungle while taking a sideways approach to breakbeat edits, finding a curious groove in angular drum science before a stark arpeggio locks the track down. It's another hint at the different tools being reached for on this EP, brought into the Mars89 methodology and bent to his particular will.

'Still Dreaming' closes the EP out with an evocative sample from a sci-fi blockbuster and a spiralling sound bed of synth lines and break shards. While the track lands softer than its predecessors, the dense mix whips up a claustrophobic allure comfortably aligned with the overall intensity of the record — an intensity which is wholly unique to Mars89 and his maverick manoeuvres in the field of contemporary bass music.

DDS presents the debut EP from unknown entity NZO, whomever she may be, dancing in the gaps between amapiano, Afrobeats, broken beat and R&B with a rare guile and flavour.

The 4th in the DDS 12” series, NZO helps stake the label’s 15th year of operations with a typically Janus-faced approach to classic >< contemporary club ruffage. Tune to tune, she decimates and distills familiar tropes in singular, whirring syncopations designed to prompt bodies to move in fresh new ways. It’s all primed for proper animist magick, bound to snag rhythm fiends with its shape-cutting manoeuvres.

Working deep in the hardcore ’nuum’s 30 odd year tradition of concrète sampler chicanery, the four tracks find fractured vocals and echoes of club classics revitalised and reset with advanced drum ingenuity. 160BPM opener ‘Concentrate’ appears like Hessle Audio’s Joe stripped for parts, whilst ‘Mallet’ swivels like SND remodelling Afrobeats’ palette of tuned percussions, next to what could almost be a lost Various Production edit in the sublime tension of syrupy R&B and frothing drums on ‘Come Alive’.

The EP ends with its standout, ‘Body & Soul’, an undulating ama simmer punctuated by dub chords like some lost Basic Channel production re-cast for the lovers.

To mark the 10th anniversary of Gidge's landmark album Autumn Bells on Atomnation, the label has assembled a brand new box-
set reissue. This deluxe and expanded edition features a 58-page photo book, poster, the original double album plus a nine-track bonus vinyl with alternative edits and demo tracks from the time, all on transparent wax. The exclusive, limited edition boxset comes first on September 27, then all tracks come digitally in mid-November.

Gidge is the Swedish duo of Jonatan Nilsson and Ludvig Stolterman, who has also taken all of the photos in the booklet. As
friends since high school, they have a deep connection, a great understanding of one another and a shared love of Nordic
woodlands. The spirit of the northeastern forests they grew up around has always coloured their music and lent it an organic,
ethereally, otherworldly edge that conveys feelings of inner peace.

Their brilliant debut album Autumn Bells captured all that in nine accomplished tracks that picked up critical praise from the music
media and millions of online streams. More importantly, it also won them a dedicated fan base who appreciate the art of Gidge's
craft and the sensitivity of their sound. Despite the early success of the album and the three more that have followed since, this
humble pair have chosen to remain low-key. They play only a few shows a year and consciously haven't chased wider commercial
acclaim.

Distant Worlds welcomes Gilbert to the roster with an EP possessed by the ghosts of UK techno past. A broad offering of sonic delights echoing the days when the likes of A13, Pure Plastic and GPR were sharing shelf space.

‘Lost Frequency’ kicks off with eager intent aimed directly at the dancefloor, drum machine funk collides with punchy bass and soaring synths. ‘Quantum Echoes’ offers a meditative take on bass weight accompanied by heart-breaking melodies and enriched by a true master’s attention to detail.

Flip over to ‘Earthscapes’ for a breakbeat infused workout resplendent with percussive flair and melodic deep bass. ‘Particle Drift’ takes us home in style with beautiful acidic flourishes atop emotive harmonies that could easily be an undiscovered gem of 90s techno. Timeless music sure to endure.

In what feels almost like an annual autumn tradition now, we’re mighty excited to announce the next release on our label, “Candor“ by Hett.

Working with friends has an especially rewarding quality which is why we’re particularly happy for Hett to join the AWK label family. Having known about his excellent production skills for a while, we were quite eager to unearth this hidden gem. It took a moment to put together but everyone’s patience paid off and we can proudly present you this beautiful 5 track record.

The Wearside raised and Berlin based artist provides the perfect formula for a club ready yet emotively aware package, making it hard to believe that this is only his debut EP. A work of music that embodies the refreshing candor of a forward thinking attitude whilst also giving a respectful nod to the past.

AWK 006, “Candor“ by Hett will be out on October 24th 2024. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!