House Vinyl New Releases - News

Welcome to Retropolis! Known for the inimitable Can’t Stop with Coloray, an unhealthy obsession with vintage music machines, a baroque style in the use of synthesizer melodies and a forewarn-looking approach to the past, Chris Barratt’s music as Eagles & Butterflies can be as fun-loving as melancholically beautiful. For his long overdue debut on Running Back, the english man dishes out a bit of both in a healthy bowl of broth.

Retropolis is not only the direction giving title, but bold and bonny at the same time. That its working title was Italo should tell you all you need to know. Suitable for big rooms, major moments, minor miracles and sophisticated car chase scenes alike. Faster takes off in another direction. Imagine two people falling in love during a bumper car ride – heartfelt vocals included.

On the flip side E&B follows a similar state of equilibrium. Like the highs and lows and ups and downs in a John Hughes movie, it also showcases the characteristics of two synthesizer classics: the exuberant piano version of Juno Ninja (please look at the digital release for a version devoid of it) offsets the poignant and plangent vibe of CS-80. In summary: made with lots of synthesizers and for fans of keyboard music. And always keep in mind: the future sounds and looks better than you think!

The increasingly vital Jorkes makes a big step up to the acclaimed Live at Robert Johnson label with her standout Sweet Dreams EP. As with all Jorkes EPs, the artwork features photography shot by Daniel Rajcsanyi.

Jorkes has been making big and bold moves recently. She is the co-founder of the unique Freeride Millenium label which is a hotbed for queer dance music. German-born but Austria based, she has an influential residency at Radio 80000 alongside ParisBöhm and is a resident at Stuttgart's Romantica where she plays a thrilling mix of disco, house, techno and everything in between. She is someone who always serves to highlight the importance of the dance floor as a place of sexual and cultural liberation and this new EP is another innovative statement that comes as she rides a wave of high profile radio, DJ and media support for recent outings on her own label.

Opener 'You Will be Mine' is a song about obsessing after an unattainable stranger on the dance floor who disappears into the night. It's a silky disco house sound with chords that sing and a floating bassline that lifts you off your feet. The melodic motifs bring charm and cosmic energy and the whole track has a lush, musical feel. The equally excellent 'Robot Lover' muses on human detachment in this technological era of internet porn, dating apps and screen obsessions and how a robotic lover might be a better fit than a real life partner. It is another elastic and disco-tinged rhythm, with elegant chords and dancing keys over a suspensory bassline. Intimate vocal whispers bring tenderness to this timeless track.

On the flip side, 'Sweet Dreams' layers up infectious claps and tinny percussion over an irresistible deep house groove. It's a widescreen, symphonic sound that brings very real but subtle joy and closer 'CDEvaLo' is the name of a crossdressing male-to-female and sex-worker friend of Jorkes. She sings the introduction lyrics in Greek and they translate as "It was a very beautiful day, while we were sitting at the park we thought of going out for a coffee and realized we have no money and are absolutely broke. So we discussed about who is gonna put the wig on to "go and make a visit“ Greek slang for sex work so we'll have money again." It is a comment on the number of young people who arrived in Athens over the years to do cross-dressing sex work after being kicked out by their Orthodox Christian homes. The track flips the script with a more playful disco sound, characterful vocoder vocals and glossy synths over a jacked house beat.

This is an expansive EP that shows off the different sides to Jorkes's unique sound.

The prodigiously talented Tim Engelhardt returns to Watergate for his third EP outing.

The young producer has been industrious throughout 2020; he released a new album ‘Idiosynkrasia’ on Stil Vor Talent, remixed Trentemøller and gifted Watergate another excellent EP, ‘Rooted’, among other activities.

‘Prophecy’ EP continues his touch for crafting exquisite compositions that evoke a warm cocoon-like atmosphere. The title track places his sound design skills at the fore, as tender melodic flourishes run
alongside a hummed vocal line, piano and swelling pads. ‘Polygon Particles’ is an intricate acoustic jam centred around a chunky bassline, lilting synth and keys, which builds towards a feel-good finish. The evocative ‘Connected in Silence’ rounds out the trio of tracks, driven by a crisp percussive core and wistful widescreen soundscapes.

Reissue of this neo trance classics from 2006!

Do you remember Groove la Chord Well, we dive into similar Rave territories with Johannes Albert and his Generators . Some might call it peak time stormer. Endless arps warped into nasty basslines is what we manage on Minilogue . Yeah it's kind of a tribute to a silver machine. Please wait for the break, though. Calming things down with a skit of Ambient. Well, 2018, bring it on!

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Applescal is the next in line for a release on DGTL Records, seeing as he has been part of the crew since day one, with multiple appearances at their shows to his name. The Atomnation label-head crafts out three tracks all coming from one single studio jam, aptly naming them Harmony One, Harmony Two and Harmony Three. The record is a special one for Applescal himself as well, as it's his first full EP in two years.

The EP starts off with Harmony One, a dubby and bass heavy track with a subtle vocal sample. It steadily builds up towards a more energetic part with synth stabs and heavy snares, while the pads in the background still make it keep its atmospheric feel. As all three tracks come from the same studio jam, it's obvious that this was the start of the jam, serving as the basis for the other two tracks. The second one, Harmony Two, was previously part of an Atomnation sampler and received a lot of great feedback, as well as airplay from a few big names in the industry. It builts around an arpeggio that playfully progresses and intensifies towards the break, where a raw synth is layered on top for the climax. With a more subtle bassline, but multiple rhythmic elements that add a proper swing, it makes an essential peak-time tune.

The flipside brings Harmony Three, which distinctly sounds as the final part of the studio jam. Hard hitting synth stabs and a rolling bassline set the track apart as the heavier hitter of the three, while still clearly building on the overall theme. It features an arpeggio that progresses along the break and into the main part, with sharp drum samples and tense synths. It wraps up this release perfectly.

Rufus Du Sol gehören zu den spannendsten Electro-Acts unserer Zeit - erst im April wurde die Band mit einem Grammy in der Kategorie "Best Dance / Electronic Recording" ausgezeichnet, für den Song "Alive" ihres aktuellen Albums "Surrender". "Surrender" stellt ein neues Kapitel in dem Universum dar, das die Band seit ihrer Gründung geprägt und gepflegt hat: Die Platte präsentiert einen mutigeren und kühneren Sound - das Ergebnis einer Kulmination von Einflüssen von Trent Reznor und Nine Inch Nails bis hin zu Moderat und Jon Hopkins.

Rüfüs Du Sol schlagen dabei gekonnt die Brücke zwischen ihren elektronischen Wurzeln und ihrem Können als Live-Musiker.

Mister O/Y from Berlin finally releases his very first solo EP on Underyourskin Records - including a Remix by Kerala Dust.

Satori´s latest Album "In Between Worlds" gets its second round of Remix Treatments. First Mix is coming from Satori´s good friend and former release partner El Mundo who turned "Compulaire" into a hypnotical tech house version. Second is Just Emma and the duo made a perfect dancefloor suitable mix of "Pink & Orange Sky" - likewise Britta Arnold did this to "Compulaire" and spiced it with a acidish bassline. Norwegian duo Of Norway have chosen "Tuti" and mixed it with groovy and relaxed beats - perfect for the morning after hours. For the way home Alexander Christian´s Remix of "Ehsan" is the best companion. Last but not least we have Joney who turned "Pink & Orange Sky" into a powerful crossover Mix somewhere between Broken Beats and Electronica.

A now hugely sought after collection, with copies of the first and second editions lessening in numbers, the Black Hole 'Special Collector's Edition sees a return courtesy of The Record Republic, bringing you massive classic tracks from the Black Hole Recordings Catalogue.

In keeping with tradition, we are happy to bring you 4 tracks (a single track per side) in full, extended mix glory in a fantastic reverse stock printed, 5mm sleeve, housing 180g black vinyl.

YEAR 000.000.001 identifies an endless year and a conceptual ongoing voyage in borderless spaces. Hence, the fourteen artists, ten tracks and five colors of this second installment are not to be considered a compilation but a continuous metamorphosis of the label's core vision, curated by Toto, Pepe, Carola and Giammaria.

Repress.

Rising from the dark streets of Cairo we proudly present you the first release of the new label from the land of the pyramids: THE MAGIC MOVEMENT.


On the "In Between Reality E.P." Noema invites you to an unheard psychedelic trip: Like through a reverse prism, he melts down Kraut Rock, Afro-American House drums and cosmic Jazz into forbidden sounds of frenzied dancefloor rituals. Outside traditional paths, these driving grooves and polyphonic structures take the adventure seeking dancer to Dionysian highs and places never been before.

You might know Barnt as one of the people behind the idiosyncratic imprints Magazine and Schalen, through which he released his most of his EPs and the incomparable 2014 debut album, Magazine 13.; or maybe you know the thread of beautiful, unpredictable club hits he’s woven with labels like Cómeme and Hinge Finger.

Despite living in Cologne, and being friends with the label, Barnt has not put out anything on Kompakt yet, apart from an one-off appearance on Pop Ambient 11 over a decade ago. An EP had been in the air for several years, but it took Barnt a bit of time to get into the right state of mind, because he wanted to make sure the music paid tribute to “the ceremonial, emotional, grand sprit” that he connects with Kompakt.

Typical to the producer’s modus operandi, ProMetal Fan Decor Only Product spins out a surprising narrative, catching the listener unawares, while remaining fundamentally Barnt. After the elegiac opener “Fan”, stately in its melancholic, epic flourish, “You Know What’s Gone” stomps into earshot, the pounding thud of the drums pinning clanging patterns to the dancefloor, a Sturm Und Drang symphony, the tones all clashing metals and silvers.

After that, there’s release – the hypnotic psychedelic reels of “This Is For Decor Only” are Barnt gone trance, a sensual glide of a track that pirouettes out an eternity of sizzling hi-hats and strip light melodies. While you might want to be alone when listening to “Fan”, you might have the time of your life dancing to “This Is For Decor Only”, played by your favourite DJ at your favourite festival this Summer.

With ProMetal Fan Decor Only Product, wrapped in a sleeve by artist Lukas Heerich, Barnt and Kompakt finally come together, equal parts refined elegance and sweaty fervour.

Dieses Vier-Track-Vinyl-Album enthält die ersten beiden Singles ('Sway' & 'To The Light') des aufstrebenden Acts Lufthaus und die entsprechenden Remixe von Dense & Pika bzw. Fideles und ist voller Underground-Allüren. Mit auffälligen Vocals, ansteckenden Beats und ausdrucksstarken Melodien eignen sich alle Tracks dieses Albums hervorragend für die Tanzfläche und jede On-Demand-Hörsession.

Essex-based producer Ruffien returns to Deeptrax with his debut album – To Win in Silence. Though made in just under a year, it is a collection spanning a decade’s worth of personal growth culminated into one package - documenting the meandering highs and lows of his own private metamorphosis, as he blends impulsivity with styles contemporary, soulful and nostalgic.

For the first time, Ruffien features his own vocals on some of the tracks, which makes the album feel more like several torn journal entry segments falling into place. His intent is to be as unambiguous as possible to get his points across – regardless of how grand or intimate they may be; To Win in Silence doubles down on that intent.

Damian Lazarus’ imprint Crosstown Rebels will release a solo EP by German DJ and producer Jonathan Kaspar in August. Transcending melodic techno and sultry house, the 4-track Overfree release echoes the cinematic but club-driven aesthetic of the Bonn-born artist.

Enter the rabbit hole through the title track and its constellation of starry synth notes and a chugging bassline. Magic. Ten floats in next as a slow-burning melody curls around a bleepy percussive pattern. On the flip, Kaspar goes deep via Piece Of, as staccato piano notes and a soft kickdrum evokes ethereal textures, the kind that marks the end of an all-night-long DJ set. Kaspar collaborates with Canadian singer and songwriter Graham Baxter on the closing track Unify. It's a sublime meeting of the minds as Baxter’s ghostly vocals collide with Kaspar's dreamy grooves and rippling bassline. Surreal synergies, made with the dancefloor and introspective listener in mind.

Jonathan Kaspar is a Cologne-based producer and DJ with an evolving collection spanning Cocoon, Innervisions and Kompakt. Kaspar's roots in dance music stem from his student days studying medicine, when he promoted parties in his native Bonn, Germany, to fund his studies. After graduating, he followed a winding road in producing and DJing and delivered his debut release on Upon You Records in 2015. A slew of solid releases followed suit on Objektivity, These Eyes, ouï and Kompakt. Like his productions, Kaspar's DJ sets convey stories, stitching a range of atmospheric tones and tingling melodies that capture his audience's imagination. He garners a residency at Cologne's esteemed Gewölbe club and enjoys curating all-night-long sets and inviting international names to play alongside him. Beyond Cologne, Kaspar's played at German institutions Watergate, Kater Blau and Fusion Club, as well as Volt Club in Milan, T7 in Paris and Extrema Open Air in Hasselt

Focus on your steps for this 3/4 sample-based tune by Rubini, the psychedelic cactus “San Pedro” will bless you with a magic trip.

Bantwanas, meaning children of Africa, is a collective of producers, songwriters and musicians collaborating to showcase quality African House music to the world. Bantwanas is a way to share African culture and music to the world, opening a channel that gives a global voice inviting the audience to connect with African culture through our music, while manipulating authentic African instrumentation.

Their latest release, Ixesha EP, comes via All Day I Dream, with the title track receiving a remix from label founder Lee Burridge and mainstay Lost Desert.

"La Compil" is an annual production contest organised by the french label Nymphony Records. Every year, at the end of the contest, the label selects 5 house tracks and 5 techno tracks to release a compilation that is distributed everywhere in France.

AsOne² introduces the addition of Catherine Siofra Prendergast to the As One line-up after a series of successful live shows together with Kirk Degiorgio. The live duo entered the studio to focus on adding a melodic sensibility to the harmonic structure of the existing AsOne sound. The resulting album once again finds it perfect home with the Belgian record label De:tuned.

Following on the heels of the teaser EP featuring the duo's acclaimed 'Descent Module' - AsOne² is a blend of vintage, warm analog gooeyness and pristine post-modern production techniques. Prendergast's melodic additions veers the AsOne sound towards a more accessible arena without compromising on the core AsOne sonic signature. Yearning chords, sparkling lead lines, bubbling funk basslines and ethereal ambient washes merge to form a coherent whole in this new advance in the development of AsOne - now in its 30th year.

Kevin Foakes (Openmind, DJ Food, Ninja Tune) created all the graphic work. Mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis and pressed on 180 gr vinyl. A separate digital release will also be available at the usual digital shops. Stay tuned!

Aura Dinamica prep Speed + Noise pt. 1, the first instalment in a two part compilation featuring Svreca, BNJMN, Boddika, Somne & more. The boutique label operated by Italian producer Federico Maccherone AKA Somne & British artist Oscar Morgan, under his Portrait alias, will release the first part of the label’s debut compilation in November 2019. The second part will arrive early 2020, and features contributions from François X, Shifted, Mod21, Inland & more.

After ten years 12 Inch Lovers has become a household name not only because of their parties but also because of the fantastic vinyl samplers they released over the past few years, which were sold out in no time and have become true collector's items.

They now continue in the same vein and once again bring a fresh and contemporary mix of hard to find, original house classics or even classics that never had a vinyl release.

These samplers should therefore not be missing from any 12 Inch Lovers collection.

Sampler 5 begins with the breakthrough record from Norwegian producer "Finnebassen". "If You Only Knew" was a big hit for him in 2012, the record was best known for that hypnotic Aaliyah sample used throughout the entire track. A2 brings the very rare remix of this uber classic "The Sound Of Violence" by "Cassius". The "Franco Cinelli" remix is a very successful approach to this classic.

On B1 we find a real anthem. "World Cup" by "Kiko" is a delightful classic from 1999 but to this day it is impossible to imagine today's DJ sets without it. B2 then brings the delicious "Still In The Groove" from "Reckless", of course in that famous "Def Offenders" remix.

"Phil Fuldner" is still very active as a DJ and producer today. You can find his dreamy "Lights Off" from 2010 on C1. And speaking of dreams. "Winter" by "Aril Brikha" is another incredible classic that should definitely not be missed in your collection.

On D1 we find the Australian and headstrong singer "Sia" with her classic "The Girl You Lost On Cocaine", but in that fantastic and hard to find "Stonebridge Vocal" mix.

Last on Sampler 5 we dive back into the nineties with the memorable club classic "Closer" by "Liquid" on D2.

DJ/producer Ahmed Spins debuts on MoBlack, together with legendary Kologo maestro Stevo Atambire and South African songstress, Lizwi. The Boston-based artist ushers in his two-track EP through a synergetic collaboration with one of Afro House’s most compelling vocalists and gifted musicians. Vitalized by Stevo Atambire’s affective Frafra vocals, ‘Anchor Point’ is a gratifying calibration and an immersion into the deep combers of house - rife with dynamic Afro rhythms, permeating strings and eloquent vocal gradients. ‘Waves & wavs’ concludes the saga - powered by robust percussion and the sorcery of Lizwi’s soul-nourishing balladry. Driven by climactic progressions, euphoric melodies and transcendent Moroccan sounds, this harmonic litany interlaces lucid electronic pulses with elemental acoustics to perpetuate a pensive dancefloor meditation.

Press by Marie J Floro

Pollux - Locus

Pollux strikes again with this banger, a solid deep groove as we're used to, the drive in this one is really massive.

Lovely mysterious female vocals and a great solid melodic lead, all this in a wonderfull stunning atmosphere.

This track has got it all, great vibe, lush sound, a strong production.

Pollux & Faber - Pulse

With Pulse, the guys continue on the elan of predecessor Tam Unanimem, a "dark" deep bassline which reminds a bit to the classic "Barbarella" although it's different, but it's nice to have :)

An additional strong deep bass-melody and catchy lead are keeping "this whopper" going !

Leach - Cernunnos

No interduction needed for this guy who already earned his stripes with several releases. We go way back so we're very proud to have him and his newest track "Cernunnos" on Castor, a MASSIVE groove, nice build up & break with a great vocal. "Cernunnos" grabs hold of your attention and doesn’t let go ! Guaranteed Floorfiller !!!

Pollux - Restless

This one's got that typical "Pollux Sound", a pumping deep groove, a

heavenly arpeggiator and bombastic lead in a "Progressive" atmosphere, makes you long to dance ...

British maestro Massano follows up his ‘Solitude’ release with four fresh cuts full of wistful emotion and solemnity.

Title track ‘System’ opens the EP with a jagged riff, sombre low end and spinetingling melody. Next is his rework of ‘Drown’ by Øostil & Juan Hansen, which utilises a haunting vocal to tantalise your very essence. ‘Odyssey’ features an almighty breakdown and galloping drums to get the energy pumping. Lastly, Massano presents a 2022 remaster of ‘The Feeling’, encapsulating the Afterlife sound with its rousing arrangement and transcendent composition…

Four afro-house gems selected from the MoBlack catalogue to set the dancefloor on fire!

Steyoyoke Recordings is proud to unveil an 8 track album commemorating 10 years in this dynamic and intriguing industry. As each year comes to an inevitable close, it is customary to ride the winds of change, give thanks for what has transpired, grow, and prepare for a rebirth. Putting aside the past, we welcome in a year of unbridled progress, and with our minds, hearts, and souls wide open, we look to the future of what it means to be spiritual architects through OUR ethereal resonant frequencies.

This Anniversary Anthology is a powerful representation of Steyoyoke’s past, present, and future. The monumental works of Soul Button, Monarke, Browncoat, Grammik, Nick Devon, Haffenfold, MPathy, and Darko Milosevic resonate on all that is ethereal techno, from vintage broody and mysterious leads, to hypnotic and groovy basslines, to soaring, hopeful, and emotional atmospheres and ambiances.

Charlotte de Witte & Enrico Sangiuliano have come together to serve up a very personal remix of the hugely influential self-titled classic by Age Of Love. It lands on the original Belgian label Diki Records on August 13th next to the legendary Jam & Spoon 'Watch Out For Stella Mix' and the original vocal mix from 1990.

Age Of Love wrote and released their most iconic track in 1990. It went on to become a stone-cold dance classic that inspired a whole trance movement that has endured throughout the years. The track was originally released on one of the most iconic trance labels in Belgium's history and has been specially remastered for this 2021 release.

The idea to remix 'Age Of Love' started taking shape when KNTXT boss Charlotte was in lockdown with esteemed Italian techno artist Enrico at the end of February last year. As soon as the track was finished, it was played in several live streams and the online community quickly fell in love. The remix bears all the hallmarks of both producers, who between them have a number of Beatport hits and have crafted everything from the darkest drums to the most emotional synths to great effect.

Say Charlotte and Enrico, "It's a very meaningful track for both of us, for various reasons, and it brings back many joyful memories. Remixing such a legendary track was a super fun thing to do, but we noticed how easily and spontaneously we could work together in the studio. We are beyond excited to finally unleash our remix to the world. And this at a time where the world finally seems to be going back to normal. There is no better time for a New Age Of Love. We're ready."

'Age Of Love' (Charlotte de Witte & Enrico Sangiuliano Remix) is a big, driving techno roller. It has heavyweight drums and stripped back percussion which leaves plenty of room for the ionic synth lead and spine-tingling vocals to ring out and really work the crowd into a trance.

This fantastic remix brings a new perspective to one of dance music's most celebrated and influential tracks

Spread across 4-tracks, the producer offers fanciful instrumentation and production while conveying a narrative of preservation for mother nature.
The theme of Mother Land is inspired by one of Nohan’s main interests: nature. In response to ongoing climate change and global environmental degradation, he opted to craft a project that captured the planet's beauty - with a message of sustainability.

The EP is a faithful representation of Nohan the producer - packed with his love for the piano, ipnothic synths, and suspended ambient compositions. The project opens with the title track - kickstarting the subtle, yet palpable production rooted in tangible instrumentation. “The world’s on fire… It’s calling out for you and me” are the opening lines from the vocalist, reminding listeners that earth’s fate revolves around us.

“Heavenly Sing” presents a more upstart offering, with loose shakers and scintillating keys leading. This more tropical take provides optimism in sound, serving as prose for uplifting introspection in headphones as well as the ADID dancefloor. “The Sun in December” reflects its title - somber piano leads the way through a serene, melancholy soundscape. The EP also includes an ambient take on “Mother Land,” which strips its electronic backing in the intro to draw focus to the words and theme of the project.

Noahn makes a perfect fit with this emblematic imprint.

+ 10 Tracks for download
Preceded by the successive releases of lead singles "Sandcastles" and "My Mind", here comes the versatile debut full-length offering from Tel-Aviv-based producer Kadosh on Stil vor Talent, "Unanimously". Bridging the club universe with that of deeper, further immersive off-floor narratives, Kadosh entices us down a compelling path of rhythmic enlightenment and all-embracing togetherness. Casting mutable strains of EBM, house, pop and exotica entangled in one dizzying polyphony throughout the album, the Israeli vibist has us surfing our way across his musical headspace effortlessly.

From the stealth, neo-noir-like opening sequence of "Interstellar" feat. Marc Piñol to the epic Luso-Italo vibrations of "Sandcastles" feat. vocal hoodooist Abra~o, via the exquisite Afro-informed piano house and all-round atmospheric luxuriance of "My Mind" feat. Floyd Lavine and Erika Krall's supremely smooth yet characterful timbre, Kadosh swings the pendulum with constant surprise and bravura. Aside from his compositions' obvious hooking nature, there's also great lots of textural back funk to dive in at every corner. Hauntingly transporting, "From Jaffa to Frederichshain" feat. Upon You's Marco Resmann works a more jagged programming, flush with big-room reverbs and muted drums, while the slo-evolving "Pronto" feat. Emanuel Satie morphs from a low-key DJ tool into a full-fledged, melancholy-charged peak-time burner.

Bearing both Kadosh and David Mayer's signature, "1999" lets the 80s-inherited arsenal of iridescent Casio synths and lashing percussions talk in unhindered fashion, whereas "Volantage" feat. Murat Uncuoglu goes all in on the trampling kicks, sooty claps and prismatic keyboard stabs. Sensual to the fullest, "Moran" in collaboration with Rodriguez Jr. is certainly one of the album's highlights with its impeccably laid-down melange of bassy thunder and shapely Latin rhythmic backbone ushering us down an irresistibly poignant and hypnotic tunnel of sound. A joint effort with Locked Groove, "Far Too Close" is a further loopy discoid affair reminiscent of the French filtered-house scene's heyday, while the album's closer "Think it Over" feat. Stereo MC's is that perfect pop-indebted electro chugger that'll rev up any tired engine with reinvigorated, ecstasy-inducing horsepower.

The EP marks the third release since emerging onto the scene in with 'Drunk on Hope' on the first Siamese Anthology back in 2017.

The name says it all: 'Demon Dancer' delivers what the title suggests, exploring the darker sides of Patriks creative mind. With that being said every song on the EP ist filled with the usual Shiffer ingredients: Groove, intelligent percussion, challenging harmonies, manipulated vocals and powerful kicks. The EP can be considered a mini album as all four original tracks are expertly crafted and complement each other. To further enhance the EP, another favorite of ours eternalizes himself on Siamese with Frank Wiedemann added his touch making "Demon Dancer" even more danceable. A mainstay in our sets since the first bounce.

A year on from Dominik Eulberg's glorious Avichrom album on !K7 Records, he has enlisted a new series of interesting remixes. Etapp Kyle, Isolée, Acid Pauli and Aera all step up for a fresh four-track EP which is out this Spring.

Avichrom was conservationist Eulberg's sixth studio album and another one inspired by his love of nature. Each track was named after a native German bird and offered a kaleidoscope of musical colour. Now that vivid source material gets reworked for the club by some of the underground's most revered names.

First up is Ukrainian producer Etapp Kyle, someone known for his elegant techno on labels like Ostgut Ton. In his hands, 'Gelbspötter' takes flight on airy synths and slick, paddy broken beats. They suspend you amongst the serene and painterly synths to make for a joyful trip. Minimalist house shamen Isolée is an intricate groove specialist at home on the likes of Pampa and Playhouse. He brings his mix of ambient melody and underlapping grooves to 'Grauspecht'. It's a deep, wavy and fluid track with ever-changing melody patterns and hypnotic bass.

Next comes Acid Pauli, the Ouïe co-founder and versatile live act who brings real artistry and influences way outside the dance music world to his own work. His take on 'Grauspecht' is a beautifully organic affair with late-night melodies unfurling like lullabies over supple and rubbery drums. It's dreamy and captivating and perfect for those zoned out 5 am dance floors. Last but not least is Innervisions-veteran Aera, a producer with a deft touch and knack for delicate but impactful groovers, as he proves here. His deep and cuddly remix of 'Schwarzhalstaucher' is a quiet triumph with the sort of subtly uplifting and innocent melodies you want to hear as the light peaks in through the curtains after an all-night dance.

Present moments of the past, sound reminiscences of the early 90s Valencia, slide through the grooves of our next reference to internally shake and stir those motionless minds and entities that gravitate imperceptibly around us like white noise due to the implantation of the system, so that they awaken to the understanding of their own purpose.

The architect behind this premise is Asymetric80, the pseudonym behind which Gonzalo Sendón from Barcelona promotes his musical inquisitiveness and tries to roll out his rage before the uncertain moments in which we find ourselves while destroying the dance floor. Thus, he gives us Static Minds, the thirteenth vinyl reference on HC Records. It is a release with four original songs and two remixes by Siarem and WLDV in the physical version, which are completed with five extra songs in the digital one.

On side A, first of all, we find Hidden Visions, a blast that invites us to reflect on the origin of freedom of speech through a forceful bass drum, arpeggiated basses and synths that come together with surgical percussions and a structuring discourse passage.

Next, we find the remix of Hidden Visions that Siarem has created. Here, our already habitual on the label, provides further pression with a dreamy EBM key adding and twisting layers, without losing the forceful, arpeggiated and vindictive orientation of the original.

The last track of the first side is Nahual, where the predominance of a great arpeggiated bass and a clear and overwhelming snare drum are combined with varied melodic sequences that invite us to dress up in our best clothes and set out on the route from Barcelona to Valencia to burn our favourite club dancefloor.

Already on the B side, Astral Body takes us back to those crazy nights of frenzy and musical experimentation, a specialty of the Levant thanks to the new sounds coming from central Europe, but with the intention of making us let loose the held back internal rage by dancing with our fists raised high due to the euphoria incited by its elaborate layers of basses, arpeggios and winding pads.

Next, WLDV delivers his version of Astral Body, taking us to a more combative terrain in which all the heavy weapons have been deployed on the battlefield to reverse the anesthetized and collective state of our society through a continuous bombing of percussion and synthesizers as lysergic as destructive.

Fractal closes this episode of long-awaited awakening, a track that captures and cloaks you through its tangle mess of synthetic melodies and forceful percussive pulses to remind us that there is something, something beyond what they have so resignedly and effectively inoculated us with.

The finishing touch to the physical reference is provided by the digital part, where we find the definitive epilogue to this declaration of intent that thus reaches the category of mini-album. Archetype, Symbiosis, Timeline, Hologram and Fragments, with a big download of crystal-clear snares and percussions and grandly intertwined melodies and arpeggios, raise the ante around inner rediscovery after beating society's rotten operating system in the shade of the dance floor.

Last but not least, we have our usual comrades Dani Requeni in charge of the artistic section and graphic design and Steve Voidloss offering the purity of his mastering process handcrafted at Black Monolith Studios in London.

030303 Records taught us a lot about the many faces of acid throughout the 18 years of its existence. The label has specialised in all substyles of the genre, whether that's tracks inspired by early 80s proto acid, Chicago house, braindance or the eerie melancholy of Polygon Window. Good thing is, they haven't stopped getting better at it. Most 030 releases are now out of print and severely sought after and, with so many instant classics featured on it, this fifth compilation will be no exception. Caramel Chameleon kicks off with an epic cut, one that will appeal to fans of Roy of the Ravers. Perseus Traxx, Raving Kid and RAG aka Steven Brunsmann follow suit with acid on a deeper tip, with the latter adding a heavenly soulful touch to it. And how great it is to see American producer Korr? return to the label with a wonderfully spaced out introspective cut. Also standing out is Endfest's heavy electro/acid take on one of the most obscure mysteries ever to come out of Detroit: Shari Vari. Dwaalgast and De Beer Uit Allekmaar aka Cosmic Force deliver the last track before the lights go on - the aptly named A Wave Goodbye has a distinctive, bouncy westcoast-sound-of-Holland feel to it. An excellent compilation and a huge tip!

(Gatefold with UV gloss finishing) 'Reunion' is the third album from nu-disco star Tim Bernhardt, aka Satin Jackets. Released this summer on Eskimo Recordings 'Reunion' is a stunning follow up to the German producer's first two critically acclaimed albums and features 14 stunning tracks of sun kissed disco, Balearic house, leftfield pop and guest vocals from the likes of Australian star Panama, Belgian singer Ivy Falls, US based vocalist Metaxas and up and coming British singer Tailor.

isolée’s fourth album resort island is a record as that's in turns hazy and thumping, euphoric and melancholy, always delivered in brilliant splashes of color. "coco's visa" sets the tone, its soft chords lapping against the drums like waves against a dock. Gentle moments like this and the exquisitely bittersweet "let's dence" offset dreamlike club tracks of the kind only Müller could make. "rumour", the album's first single, is all ghostly strings and loping synths, a mellow joy-ride in magic hour light.
pardon my french (second single)
isolée need not apologize for this flirtation with the sound of French touch. "pardon my french" has the key elements that give the best disco and disco-flavored house records their magic: impossibly smooth bass tones connect perfectly plump kick drums, a strutting rhythm, glittering synths, all joining forces to give you the feeling of having a supremely, impossibly good time. On Resort Island, it's a vacation within a vacation, an artist so skilled at subtle, ambiguous moods going for straight up bliss, just this one time.
canada balsam (third single)
The third single from Resort Island is "Canada Balsam," a dreamlike club track of the kind only isolée could make. The beat is taut and punchy, a welcome echo of the minimalist flair of his early records. The rest draws from the lush sonic palette he's perfected since then: vaporous chords, swirling hand percussion, a subtly dramatic earworm melody that almost sounds plucked from a harp. It's the kind of tune that brings a wash of technicolour onto the dance floor, a cool breeze riding on a perfectly tight groove.

Blazing newcomer Henri Bergmann makes her full EP debut on Watergate Records with the captivating ‘Mind Control’ EP.
Building a buzz via impressive releases on her label Automatik, the Londoner has picked up support from everyone from Dixon, Solomun and Maceo Plex. Indeed, mention the Dodi Palese Remix remix of her track ‘Protection’ to any clued-up melodic house fan and you’re likely to be met with a blissed-out response, so beloved was the cut, which also ended up in Tale of Clubs’ top 10 for 2021.
Her maiden voyage on the Oberbaumbrücke home label is a tour de force of chugging house that encompasses new wave, electro and progressive elements, with a strong cast of collaborators and remixes
along the way.
Pushing herself creatively during the lockdown, this EP is the first time we’ve heard Henri utilise her voice on her own productions, and the resulting work is a treat. The title track is a team-up with Biesmans who brings his distinct retro sound signature to the track, while Henri’s vox elevates it to another level. ‘Our Time Has Come’ is a punchy dancefloor gem propelled by her own vocals and a classy psychedelic synth line. ‘We Just Keep On Going’ brings bags of robotic soul to the table, as Henri’s husband Wennink takes to the
vocoder, alongside a mystical lead melody. Stephan Jolk returns to the label following his excellent ‘Freedom’ EP in April, re-working ‘Mind Control’ into a muscular weapon. Meanwhile Echonomist, who is notable for his appearance on WhoMadeWho’s Watergate 26 compilation, also takes his hand to the title track, re-fashioning it into a tough bass-driven electro cut that’s beautiful and brain-scrambling in equal
doses.