Suche:ma fra

A veteran producer (Who prefers to separate this incarnation from past works) working within many disciplines in sound, Silent Cubes demonstrates a particular skill in atmospherics and mood in their productions, creating three tracks of original UKG driven sound that speak in a dialect as familiar to the progeny and brethren of Clubroot, Sorrow, and Congi as that of Chez Damier, Mr Fingers, and Ron Trent. An exercise in deepness, Draped in the framework and immediacy of Garage.

Showing how evocatively these elements can be transformed is MOY, himself straddling a line between classic IDM, Old Skool, and Acid, and with releases on Analogical Force, Vinyl Fanatiks (AmenTec), and a slew of others. MOY comes forward with a hybridized remix of “The Stream”, which really is in a class of its own and closes outside B.

“Sound And Motion”. Presented as a 4-track vinyl EP, in a numbered/limited edition, and bundled with access to 2 exclusive Poly Cut/Digital tracks, only ever available via the access provided through ownership of this record.

Raining Heart is a studio project originally created by the German musicians Peter Heckmann and Tobias Freund in 1986 in Frankfurt. Very much in the same vein as Art of Noise with its studio sound experimentalism, but with a Kraut edge to it. If there was one track that could be played for everyone at the G20 Summit whilst on LSD in hopes of achieving world peace, it might be “Raining Heart”, the first track on this EP, it’s just one of those tracks that makes you wonder what these people were eating for breakfast at the time. Nothing technically mind blowing, just crafted to perfection in terms of all the elements coming together in therapeutic beauty, (also clearly exposing Peter’s relationship with theatrical production). A downtempo chugger with the dreamiest of sounds, effortlessly transporting the listener to another dimension, the vocals are unthinkable, by Yucca Rose, an East Javanese Jazz singer, almost as if she was broadcasting from a radio station in a parallel universe. “Alien Beat” takes a more aggressive turn into some kind of neo rock direction generously decorated with a wide range of studio tricks that might have been ground breaking at the time. B-side offers two new remixes by Castro, a “K-hole Collage” version of “Raining Heart” taking the original theme to another dubbed out realm, and a “Bonus Beat” extension of “Alien Beat” that dissects the key elements of the original track in efforts to develop a more dancefloor oriented DJ tool. Remastered with original artwork.

There are few people across the globe, who will have not been touched by the work of Frankie Knuckles. Forever regarded as ‘The Godfather of House’ for his unrivalled contribution to the house music we know today; what started as an underground movement in Chicago has grown to international heights thanks to Frankie. His records earned him recognition on a global scale, allowing him to work with some of the globes biggest names including the likes of Diana Ross, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.

Frankie passed away in Chicago on 31st March 2014 leaving behind one of the greatest house music legacies spanning almost four decades. Now he is commemorated by long time writing and production partner Eric Kupper. Eric, himself a seasoned DJ producer and writer, has worked on over 116 Billboard #1 Dance Records and played a pivotal role in many of Frankie’s productions. Having both worked together for many years they established themselves as ‘Director’s Cut’ from 2011 and set about producing original releases and remixes based on the classic ‘Def Mix’ sound while sharing equal credits for their creations.

Together they re-produced and re-purposed classic cuts for modern dancefloors, with reworks including tracks from Marshall Jefferson, Ashford & Simpson, Artful & Ridney and The Sunburst Band, alongside Frankie Knuckles originals. These releases have now been brought together by Eric to feature on special album called ‘The Directors Cut Collection’ on SoSure Music.

For the third volume classic cuts such as Inaya Day & Robin S. - Right Now (A Director’s Cut Master) and Marko Militano - Good People (Director’s Cut Signature Mix) are nestled alongside equally absorbing Directors Cut mixes of Vintage Lounge Orchestra covering 'Dreams' and Art Department pres. Martina Topley Bird feat. Mark Lanegan & Warpaint covering 'Crystalised'.

The Director’s Cut Collection is a fitting tribute to commemorate the seventh anniversary of Frankie’s passing whilst giving Eric a platform to tell his side of the creative story. This album is to be released in collaboration with The Frankie Knuckles Foundation who work to continuing Frankie’s legacy well into the future.



DJ Feedback:

Dixon - 5/5 - "Classic"

The Black Madonna - 5/5 - "Love you Frankie!!!"

Laurent Garnier - 5/5 - "“niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice OHHHH SOOOOO NIIIIIIIIIIIIICE !!!!!”

Honey Dijon - 5/5 - "Iconic!!!!!!"

Axel Boman - 5/5 - "It's all about love - not about emotions!!!!

Adam Beyer - 5/5 - "<3"

Space Dimension Controller - 5/5 - "Always"

Tensnake - 5/5 - "Classic Love It"

Jonny Rock - 5/5 - "Hot!!!"

Prins Thomas - 4/5 - "very nice! fresh take on an all-time classic"

Len Faki - 5/5 - "It's been a while listening to this masterpiece - and yes - it's timeless and I love the new touch on the new version. thanks Frankie!"

robdabank (Radio 1) - 5/5 - “One of my all time faves and great mixes here!”

Severino Panzetta (Horse Meat Disco) - 5/5 - "OH YASS!!"

Matthias Tanzmann - 5/5 - "Can't believe it has been five years already. Legendary

Michael Serafini - 4/5 - "Excellant Retouch on this!!!"

Ease-Nightmares On Wax - 4/5 - "Timeless classic for a true legend RIP x"

Timo Maas - 5/5 - "well...classic!"

Tiefschwarz - 5/5 "bless Frankie Knuckles!!"

Red Rack'em - 4/5 - "Love this new version. Really tasteful. Well done!"

Fortunea Records is thrilled to present 2 great Italian producers for its 33rd record. DJ Rocca & Mike Riviera will release their 4 tracks packed Night Jamz EP this spring on the Austrian label to shake up the dancefloors with their combined power of raw and snappy warehouse grooves.

The former is a living legend! He began his career in the late 1990s with drum’n’bass-, breakbeat- and future jazz productions under the brand Maffia Soundsystem, which was also a club in Italy where he was the main resident dj. What followed was an impressive work history in the house and disco scene with many memorable tracks and collaborations with artists such as Dimitri From Paris as Erodiscotique or Marcello Giordani under the moniker Supersonic Lovers.

Michele Tessadri aka Mike Riviera resides in Berlin and is mostly known for his italo disco inspired productions with Luc Sauvage. But he released also solo under pseudonyms such as Fratelli Riviera on the labels Slow Motion and Bear Funk and occasionally works on impressive edits of disco- and funk records.

The Night Jamz EP will come out on all the digital stores and streaming services on may 24, 2024 and will be available on limited vinyl shortly after.

It's difficult to ''label'' the songs of this authoritative and necessary official reissue (after the shameful fake of 10 years ago). ''Zombi'' and ''In the Land of the Zombi'' are two electro disco-funks from 1979, therefore from three years before was born the ''Italo-Disco'' style, certainly more powerful, aggressive and more electronic than the ''Made in Italy'' disco style of the 2nd half of the 70s (Fratelli La Bionda, Pino Presti, Claudio Simonetti, Celso Valli and others.). The creation of the original 7" by Salvatore Ida, great musician and bandleader - to whom this excellent reissue is dedicated - was a sort of game for the authors of the two pieces: Federico Ida and Massimo Ida, were protagonists 4 years before of the Italian progressive rock scene with the sister Silvana Ida, Marcello Surace and Franco Vinci thanks to the immeasurable and acclaimed album ''Apoteosi''. So The Zombies were destined to pair with another easy '79 joke by the Ida brothers: ''Let's Go'' and ''Mustang'' by Sandwich, also reissued on 12inch by Best Record Italy. The Zombies comes out with the original artwork of the time, but in a full embossed picture sleeve and released in the classic black vinyl and on red vinyl with black shades (limited edition with red copies numbered manually (1/250: 2/250 and so on...) What else to add except that: the two long versions of ''Zombi'' and ''In the Land of the Zombi'' were re-edited by Massimo Berardi, always diligent and active, as well as tidy and aware of where he was putting his hands, are fundamental in order to complete this 12" fully remastered by Dom Scuteri.

Slave To Society (ex AnD) returns to Natural Selection with a white-hot industrial Techno EP, entitled 'Ai Invasion', accompanied by an IDM-infused remix from hard electronica duo; Somatic Responses.



Format : 12" Vinyl / Digital



Mastered by Dadub Studios, Berlin. Cut by Simon at The Exchange Vinyl.



After a decade of redefining techno dance floors as AnD, Andrew Bowen returned to his experimental, hardware-focused roots as Slave To Society in October 2019. Since then he has seen his music released by highly revered institutions in the world of hard techno, noise, breakcore, IDM and industrial electronica, such as PRSPCT, Pure Hate, Ohm Resistance and BANK Records NYC. After forming a close connection to Natural Selection in recent years, Slave To Society returns to the London based imprint after releasing via their VA compilation 'NSUKR' with his track 'Tundra', followed by his remix of Kamikaze Space Programme's 'Dust To Dust' from his physical EP entitled, "Ashes to Ashes, Dust To Dust", released on Natural Selection in 2022.

In the form of a 4-track physical and digital EP, 'Ai Invasion' is a sonic exploration of the symbiotic relationship between humanity and technology.

Slave To Society uses carefully designed futuristic soundscapes and atmospheric textures, layered with AI generated vocals, combined with heavy and fiercely unpredictable drum elements.

Expect advanced, experimental hard techno and noise, fused with powerful low-end muscle, raging hi-hats, fragmented percussion and augmented amens.

The release also features a razor sharp and well-placed remix of track B1 - 'Robot Dementia', courtesy of legendary hard industrial electronica duo; Somatic Responses.

In true Slave To Society fashion, all rules and boundaries are smashed to pieces and all tracks are equally suitable for blasting through the world's biggest club systems and rigs as they are for home listening.

'Ai Invasion' challenges listeners to question the impact of artificial intelligence on our society and the implications of our relentless pursuit of technological advancement.

After the success of the New Frames debut EP on Green Fetish, 'Fatal Strategies'.
We had to circle back and have a remix EP carried out.

After getting some of our favorite and uncompromising producers on board. We are proud to present a spectrum of techno variety for you.
Opening up the A Side is a Hard hitting re-interpretation from Valerie Ace. Which then leads into a heavy driving remix from our boy EAS.

The B Side continues with contrast with a glitchy, driving Mickey Nox Remix and then closing out with a groove chapter from none other than VILLA.

This remix EP was able to be such a banging release thanks to the original detail and crafty sound design from the Heavy Hitters 'New Frames'.

Out now everywhere and on Marble Green Wax.

The initial release from Washington DC based Enman Recordings is a hypnotic deep groover centered around an evolving synth lead that builds to create beautiful tension. The remix is helmed by none other than Parisian House legend, Franck Roger. His remix has his signature bounce, guaranteed to lift any dance floor! The Bside No Accident is a tough dance floor banger with carefully selected jazz horns and spoken words from one of the icons of jazz.
The EP closes out with Fall In, a stripped down house groover with heavily saturated drums. It adds beautiful piano samples and vocals to lift the track. Great for getting those dance floors warmed up.

Acclaimed Canadian electronic producer Francis Latreille, known as Priori, unveils his new singles "Learn To Fly" and “Segue” today, marking the first releases from his upcoming third album, This But More. "Learn To Fly" offers a taste of the album's lush, dubby techno soundscapes, while "Segue" showcases the album's ambient side. Arriving May 24th via NAFF, This But More marks a sonic departure for the artist, exploring a richly textured landscape of electroacoustic compositions inspired by literature, cinema, and the transformative power of nature.

Priori delved into This But More from September 2023 to March 2024, drawing upon archival recordings and fresh ideas. "This album is about healing," Priori explains. "Not necessarily 'music that heals', but about the process in its ups and downs, its beauty and uncertainty." Themes of protection, healing, sleep, and decay naturally emerged during the creative journey.

To craft this immersive world, Priori collaborated extensively. Writer and musician Devon Hansen penned a series of "Suggested Stories" to accompany the album, adding depth to its lore. Musically, Priori teamed up with James K, Ben Bondy, Sabola, Adam Feingold, and Jesse Osborne-Lanthier, infusing the album with diverse instrumentation, including violin, guitar, software instruments, and field recordings.

This collaborative spirit extends to the album's striking visuals. Jesse Orsborne Lanthier designed the main and single artworks, while Ulysse De Lezenne crafted a unique jewel, both pieces seamlessly connected to the album's narrative.

The intricate world-building sets This But More apart. "It's the biggest collaborative project I have tackled so far," Priori notes. This spirit of exploration extends to the second single, “Wake”, featuring Priori's first vocal collaboration with close friend Jamie Krasner (James K).

Priori's artistic process is grounded in self-awareness and intuition, asking vital questions about how each element serves the greater purpose of the music. Swimming sessions between studio work provided clarity and focus throughout the album's creation. These meditative moments reflect in the music, inviting listeners into a contemplative, dreamlike state.

Beyond music, Priori draws inspiration from the literary worlds of Gene Wolfe, Ursula K LeGuin, China Mieville, Brian Caitlin, the evocative games of Hidetaka Miyazaki and Yoko Taro, as well as the ever-evolving beauty of myths and nature.

Multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer Calcou is set to share his sophomore album Murmuration on July 5th, 2024 via MfRD+C. Calcou's latest singles were picked by worldwide Spotify editorials for playlists like Fresh Finds, Late Night Vibes, metropolis or by Apple US for focus playlists like Today's Chill. He has received support from numerous blogs and magazines such as CLASH Magazine, Stereofox, Cercle, House Music With Love, Majestic Casual and ElectroPosé to name a few. Calcou finds inspiration in the works of Kiasmos, Bonobo, and Four Tet. TetTethlatest release calls to mind the likes of Four Tet, Maribou State and George FitzGera

CMDRPX and RPX16035 present the first various artists in collaboration and unite the two souls that were already traveling on the same vibrations, opening the v.a is an iconic figure from the underground world, @francescofarfaofficial who with his "Soul Engineering" drags you into his world hypnotic, a fusion track that combines his unique style that looks to the future with bleep and acid sounds with a non-invasive groove that encompasses everything and makes the track one of a kind.

Also on side A we find @niki_ilb with his "Acid lover" track which focuses on an IDM sound and which opens the doors to a conceptual acid and Deep style.

@gianluca.pellerano opens the B side with "Stanza di musica", a record projected onto the dancefloor with hypnotic voices, sounds and textures that will drag you towards new musical horizons.
The B2 side was entrusted to @giuseppe__angeloro with his track "Mentalism dance" with a raw sound reminiscent of the 90s, an acid texture and present percussions that make the track evolve in a more introspective direction.

Lastly we find the duo @gianluca.pellerano & @caciotechnology with their "Mango bet" the two combine their styles perfectly the track has an Electro base with a texture projected into the future experimentation in this track is the key word.

Happy listening everyone.

Ruby Red - Transparent - Galaxy effect vinyl in dub style jacket (jacket sleeve with center hole cut out so label of LP shows through) a black paper inner sleeve and poly bag.

PART ONE’ METAL HAMMER - 8/10 review. FOR FANS OF : Lustmord, Om, Sunn O))) . “An exercise in freeform ambience, ritualistic repetition and the rapturous, womb-like power of bass…strange and affecting. We remain lucky to share in the great man’s vision.”


At its heart, music has always been a questioning of inheritance – a dialogue with predecessors and forebears, the forging of one’s own perspective in relation to what has come before, and for some, a plunge into the boundless realms between. For Steve Von Till, that process has always taken on an added dimension to become the most sacred of tasks. Whether through the apocalyptic uprising of Neurosis, the sonic deconstructions of their sister project, Tribes of Neurot, the invocatory intimacy of his eponymous solo albums or his instrumental psychedelic reveries in the guise of Harvestman, that dialogue has never just been with musical influences, but with what underpins them: the primordial, elemental forces now banished to the peripheries of our contemporary consciousness, yet still broadcasting a signal for all who will listen.
Drawn to the megaliths, ruins and ancient sites mapped out along the British and European mainland’s geographical and psychic landscapes, the folklore and apocrypha forever resurfacing as portals from a rational world, “Triptych” is a meditation forged from traces and residues, and an hallucinatory recollection of artists who have tapped into that enduring otherworldliness embedded within us all. It’s a dream diary narrating a passage through Summer Isle where Flying Saucer Attack are wafting out of a window, a distant Fairport Convention are being remixed by dub master Adrian Sherwood, celestial scanners Tangerine Dream are trying to drown out Bert Jansch and Hawkwind are playing Steeleye Span covers, all prised out of time yet bound to its singularity.
Woven together from home studio recordings that span two decades, this latest outing as Harvestman finds parallels with nature’s cycles not just in its release dates but in the repeated structure that binds each album, like an imprint refracted through three separate strata. As with April’s “Part One” and the forthcoming “Part Three”, “Part Two”, starts on a collaboration with Om bassist and long-term friend of Steve’s, Al Cisneros, with a dub take opening the B-Side. Here, the opening track, “The Hag Of Beara Vs The Poet”’s languid, tribal groove expands into a chromatic wash, like an endless drip of oil spreading out under a midsummer haze.
A filtering of the alpha-state travelogues of its predecessor, “Part Two” reaches even deeper into primal yet pristine states. It journeys from the undulating drone and slow-thawing wonder of “The Falconer”, as if the Myst soundtrack were being broadcast from outer space, through “Damascus”’s perpetual-motion, dreamtime bazaar and “Vapour Phase”s seismograph frequencies measuring supernatural tremors to “The Unjust Incarceration”s distorted bagpipes, sounding a noise-frayed lament
If “Triptych” is a multi- and extra-sensory experience, it extends to the remarkable glyph-style artwork of Henry Hablak, a map of correspondences from a long-forgotten ancient and advanced civilization. As with “Triptych” itself, it’s an echo from another time, an act of binding, a guide to be endlessly reinterpreted, and a signpost to the sacred that might not indicate where to look, but how.

2024 Repress

After 7 years and countless requests, Sneaker Social Club finally deliver a repress of Dream Cycle - Part One.

After a chance meeting at Gottwood in 2016 a bond was established between Dream Cycle (Robin Clarke) and label owner Jamie Russell over a shared love of 2 Bad Mice and Moving Shadow. It wasn't long before Clarke began channeling elements of that influence to produce his Dream Cycle Part.1 EP. Unfolding over 4 steppy tracks and an ambient closer, Clarke melds sharp snares, summery motifs, dense atmospheres and thick subs whilst keeping things suffused with a distinctly UK quality that marries his work perfectly with the Sneaker catalogue.

DJ Support: Ryan Elliott, DJ Die, The Blessed Madonna, Octo Octa, Bwana, Altered Natives, Noodles (Groove Chronicles), Liem (Lehult), Deejay Astral, LA4A, 2 Bad Mice, Fred P, Matt Karmil, Flori, Marco Zenker, J.Rocc (lol at comment!), Ajukaja, Gnork, William Djoko, Till Von Sein, Fold, ASOK, Gene Farris, DJ bwin, Seven Davis Jr, TRP, DJ Octopus, DJ Normal 4, Gerd, Dean Man s Chest, Poté, Doc Scott, Violet, James Welsh (Kamera), Konx-om-Pax, Etch, Raresh, Hrdvsion, Michael Serafini (Gramaphone), Frazer Ray, DJ Guy, Mak & Pasteman, Shenoda, Urulu, Mark Archer & James Zabiela, Zinc, Lehult, Jackie House, Mosca, Noodles (Groove Chronicles) & DJ Die.

After a brief hiatus, Martin Enke, known by his artist name Llewellyn, makes a return to Riotvan. "Instant Crush" is a perfect blend of nostalgia and innovation channeling the essence of the 1980s with a modern twist.

There is propably no single event that has as potent of an
effect on the german Techno- scene as the fall of the Berlin
Wall. A city divided suddenly, in one single night, became
uni¦ed, opening up both sides for the new experiences and
ways to view life the other might have. Berlin’s eastside with
it’s empty, unused warehouses proved to be a fertile breeding
ground for free spirits and those carrying a newfound ¦re in
their eyes. This was the zero hour. The Consolidation. And it
is this mindset, spirit and ¦re of Consolidation that Shaleen
conjures on her debut EP of the same name. The title track
opens up by sampling John F. Kennedy’s legendary “Berlin”
speech from 1964, before absolutely caving in the concrete
with a beyond-heavy kickdrum and a very stripped down but
effective 909-percussion section. Spursed in along the track’s
runtime are droning sirens and JFK continuing to beckon you
to lose yourself in the metropolitan bowels. This is the
anthem of a past revolution. On Deconstruction, Shaleen
goes down a slightly more basement oriented route. The
Percussion shares the title track’s stripped down
effectiveness, but the Groove is more rolling, the Vocal
samples are more distorted and there are sharp synths
cutting through the beats like shards of broken glass. Of
course, a revolution wouldn’t be complete without a mob so
both Cadency aka Hector Oaks and New Frames have put
their spin on the EP’s title track. Mr. Cadeny is up ¦rst and,
being no stranger to revolutionary anthems, has given
Consolidation an almost contemplative mood in his Remix,by adding a very subtle melody. This doesn’t mean it hits any
less hard, mind you, there is an incredibly strong drive to the
track, paired with an almost constantly looping vocal and the
sirens going into overdrive, this would be the track to drive
crowds into a frenzy. Meanwhile New Frames’ track is the
kind of thing you wouldn’t want to encounter alone in a dark
alleyway. The sub-basses are heavy enough to terraform
Mars, the Jungle-esque Synthlines roar and snarl at the
listener and every drop feels like a right hook to the chin. The
original’s vocal is cut in a way that it only adds to the
stomping rhythm, putting you in a mood to throw bricks. So
while this record showcases an aggressive sound and a
mood for revolution, it is important to remember it’s title.
Consolidation. It echoes a message of uni¦cation. Of
standing together. Because together we are, have been and
will always be stronger than by ourselves.

Nonna Fab is a core part of Sheffield’s progressive music scene, founding Apricot Ballroom, Footprints Jazz Club, Jazz On The Park Festival, and his band Fuji Speedway. He’s also part of the consortium behind Grub Records, a new record shop and wine bar opening this summer. As well as regularly playing as part of his duo with Apricot Ballroom, Nonna Fab’s back catalogue of releases explores house, boogie, jazz and broken beat. This release shows an organic curation of instruments, touching on live elements, jazz improvisation and dance-floor orientated rhythms. We Still Out Here began a few years ago as a nod to the iconic New York City sound of Dinosaur L and Francois K, and to serve as a message that there are still producers out here working on and inspired by that sound. This release also features remixes by Admin and Comb. Bristol-based collector and beatsmith Admin is known for his sampling finesse, self-releasing some killer 7s, edits on his Community Disc-O's label, and music on others including Boogie Café Records, Take Away, Better Listen, and Future Boogie. The second remix comes from Norwich-based artist and I Travel to You label manager Comb, one half of the duo Dangerous Goods and the producer behind the popular Comb Edits series.

Cinthie returns to her 803 Crystal Grooves label with You Know How EP German mainstay offers up three varied and vital house weapons to relaunch her label after 2.5 year hiatus Cinthie is one the most revered voices in underground house music and has been for more than a decade. Her take on the genre always puts the groove first.

It is informed by the classics but with a contemporary edge and comes on 803 Crystal Grooves as well as cultured outlets like Aus Music and Heist. As a DJ she mixes up records from her vast collection with equal style and skill, and is also now live artist who serves up impromptu jams on her collection of hardware.

Hot on the heels of several remixes already this year, the Elevate. Berlin record store boss is back with a new release just three days before her birthday. As a gift to herself she is relaunching her label after a 2.5 year hiatus due to pressing plant delays during the pandemic.

Opener 'You Know How' is a joyous piano house anthem that will get hands in the air. Classic, smartly deployed vocal samples inject an old-school edge while the textured bass brings serious low-end weight to this utterly timeless gem. The superb 'Mellifluous' rides on smooth drum bumps as waves of synth wash over the dance floor.

They bring feel-good warmth in a subtle, dynamic fashion that locks dancers in for a blissed-out ride. Last of all, 'Can You' swings irresistibly with punchy kicks and dry, raw claps. It's a physical house sound with chopped-up vocal fragments and rolling bass that makes a huge impact.

Cinthie's You Know How EP comes on 803 Crystal Grooves on DATE.

Mickey Nox is a techno enthusiast, label owner, DJ and producer from Melbourne, Australia. His impressively unique style and attitude towards his constantly evolving productions and DJ sets is dark, menacing and always maniacally exhilarating as he becomes progressively more entangled within his heavy hitting hardware.

Continuing with the ‘Limited As Fuck’ series of releases, on our fiercely independent techno label based in Scotland, we witness the return of the Australian assassin himself with the most rampant, fast paced release we’ve ever put out on our infamous label …….. so far. After the rip-roaring success of his first RIOT Radio Records release a few years back with his double vinyl album ‘Mad As A Cut Snake’, he’s back once more to knock some sense out of, or is it into you?

He’s pulled out all of the bashing implements he can muster into forging this conk buster of a release. Full bore mallets, truncheons, heavy mounted metal clubs and even franticly abused frying pans have all been industriously employed by this long-haired behemoth of an artist for driving, battering, pummelling, pounding, striking, bludgeoning and cudgeling all for the purpose of taking you into his world of being a ‘Hammerhead’.

The full digital release also features one bonus track with the ‘Rough Mix’ of ‘Tropic Corridors’ which you won’t find nowhere else. Rough by name, rough by nature.

WARNING: LISTENING TO THIS WEAPONIZATION WILL ENDUCE FILTH OF THE MOST OBSCENE NATURE

French Chicago Techno imprint Ghettomania celebrates 15 years with old collegues like Manu Kenton, Traxman and Label head Manatane.

Anonymous British funk studio outfit Ultrafunk was spearheaded by Blues & Soul magazine proprietor John Abbey, who ran a fashionable record shop and label called Contempo in London’s West End during the 1970s; he conceived of the group as the UK counterpart to US studio bands like Mfsb. Arranger Gerry Shury, who had worked with Barry White and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees, drafted guitarist Chris Rae and bassist Frank McDonald (who often composed library music together) and future Rubettes drummer John Richardson to form the group, in situ. A lack of band photos, suggestive song titles and a predilection for American cover tunes led many to believe the band was US-based. Their self-titled debut LP is where the myth all begins, with a number of truly atmospheric and cinematic hard funk instrumentals, given added textural depth through full orchestration, including covers of Bill Withers’ “Use Me” and Stevie Wonder’s “Living In The City.” Though not quite as compelling as the better-known follow-up set, Meat Heat, there is still plenty to savour on Ultrafunk, making this debut companion disc a must-have for all true funk aficionados.

Inspired by Front 242, Skinny Puppy and Clock DVA, Arno and Tibor were fellow students at the Center of Electronic Music (CEM) in Arnhem, Netherlands during the mid 80's.



After getting a record deal with the Belgian Antler Subway, and started producing their first EP, originally meant as EBM. But since they were in the middle of proceeding, they took the chance to incorporate some of those influences in their first record, 'Force D'Inquisition', in 1990, which became one of the earliest Dutch house records.



Track A2 is the legendary 'Apocalypse', which was quite a hit at the time both in the EBM and acid scene, with gentlemen like Frankie Knuckles playing it in his sets.

Arno Peeters was later part of Random XS and Urban Electro and worked solo as Spasms on Djax-Up-Beats.



In memory of Tibor Fülöp, 17-03-2010.

Welcome to the presentation of the new catalog RQM020: Francesco Passantino's Cosmic Rhythms EP. This work offers four tracks that blend the roots of the '90s with a fresh vitality of 2024, representing a journey through the artist's artistic evolution. Ideal for vinyl DJ sets, these tracks provide compelling rhythms and engaging atmospheres, making them an indispensable addition to every performance.

Ten years after his first full-length effort ‘Man Is Deaf’ landed him firmly in the runnings for DJ Mag’s album of the year, prodigal son Michael Anthony Wright AKA Brassica returns to Civil Music with a deeply accomplished, painstakingly whittled LP of hydraulic electro slickness, rich synthscapes, and hooky, peak-time tearjerkers for the most discerning front-left lifers. ‘Tribeless Gathering’ is a barnstorming testament to Brassica’s stylistic and timbral deftness, touching down in the elusive epicentre of the club/home listening venn diagram with ease.

From the elastic, neon acid pointillism of opener ‘Hop Kweng’ to the mardy, miasmic plod of closing chugger ‘Changa Hill’, Brassica seamlessly segues between avenues of influence, his notoriously omnivorous musical knowledge roadmapping each turn. Raised on a diet of everything from early rave standards to metal, and schooled in avant garde sonics as a student of sound design at LCC, Brassica does a peerless job of sublimating his countless influences into a record of refined, heterogeneous, and most crucially, catchy, club moods.

Less spartan than his more recent oeuvre on Feel My Bicep, and less baroque than his technicolour experiments in postmodern synth pop with vocalist Stuart Warwick, Tribeless Gathering represents Brassica’s triumphant return to the main room, replete with rushy hooks primed for the planet’s finest soundsystems, and passages of heads-down tension bound to draw listeners right to the edge of their seats. Overall it is a concise and refined testament to Wright’s command of spectral sonics and effortless ability to pressurise a dancefloor. It is no surprise that he has also worked as a prolific mastering engineer, tuning music from a plethora of dance disciplines for maximum club impact. This work extends to his own projects (including this one), cementing them as rare expressions of complete artistry from studio to turntable.

As we delve deeper into the record, we are ushered through a series of accomplished and varied club moods, each channelling a unique cocktail of influences, but retaining a warm, ebullient analogue sensibility unique to Brassica’s work. This playful scope of influence calls to mind James T Cotton or Machinedrum’s experiments in dance music form, but Wright manages it all under one roof, wrangling everything from sashaying wub-laden two step to snarling Dillinja-esque FM damage into something inherently his.

Choice cut ‘Change Yourself’ layers an almost Cerrone-like piano refrain over radiant surges of saturated bass, dubby, strobing chords and a jagged, driving break, building to a jaw-clenching apex of dancefloor elation, while the rude, playful half-step of ‘Elevation’ breaks down the vintage speed garage formula into linear fragments, utilising a tight palette of resonant bass slugs, infectious synth leads and Papua New Guinea-style vocal strobes. The aptly named ‘Hold Tight’ fuses heart-in-mouth UK ‘ardkore pads with glissando acid disturbance and surgical snare fills in a formula which recalls the ethereal grit of Nubian Mindz’ 00s experiments in big-smoke break science, while the questing melodic arcs and arpeggiated squarewaves of ‘Pinball Marinara’ could easily have soundtracked an 80s sci-fi epic, beset with sparkling, bare-bones drum programming and hazy beds of sub sediment.

With ‘Tribeless Gathering’, Brassica both irreverently fuses and pays homage to the many unique and weird permutations of UK dance music. The short lived gathering of junglists, ravers and house hotsteppas of a similar name may have long since dissipated, along with the tribes themselves, but across these 11 tracks, he lays a blueprint for a new sound of togetherness.

LIMITED Quantity. Deep dive into the realm of electro music. Hypnotic multi-layered baselines, unpredicted drops and bursting beats would make precise, nevertheless not full definition of this EP. Following the
debut of the sequel with an exhibition showcasing artwork’s creation and conceptualization, we face SEQ002: False Destination, a new chapter where the story continues in an unexpected way. It holds the question, to which unknown territory did the agent headed from his collapsed dimention? – Side A takes you on a journey that echoes the spirit of interdimensional travel, a recurring theme in electro music. Impact One throws you into a captivating sonic environment, grabbing your attention with distinct sonic events, all layered over a foundation of subtly shifting rhythmic patterns. A2 is another mention of wrong dimention, hard alterations on early 90s Rave revivalism with peculiar artifacts and touch of blue note with breakbeat burst out conclusion. –
On the flip, a couple of heavyweights. Thick kicks jumping from 4 tothe-floor to broken beat, uncertain breakdowns and unexpected amen breaks driving audience on the edge. Hypnotic bassline for B1 was characterized as Giorgio Moroder on steroids. Last track is a calm blend in ending on a hybrid cosmic breaks combined with Yamaha DX7. – ABOUT ARTWORK This time comic-like backside artwork has an insert accompaniment to immerse within the world created by the artist behind the record. AI has been used to create artwork, generating imagery as a way to bring ideas to life. It offers a cryptic clue, a fragmented piece of the puzzle that complements the music to tell the story

Ever since he made his first trip to Japan to DJ, Optimo Music founder JD Twitch has been bewitched by Japanese music, and particularly the vibrant, imaginative, and often far-sighted sounds which emerged from the island nation during the 1980s. Now he’s put years of digging in Japanese record shops to good use on Polyphonic Cosmos, the latest release on his compilation-focused Cease & Desist imprint.

Subtitled ‘A Beginners Guide to Japan In The ‘80s’, the collection offers a personal selection of Japanese gems recorded and released between 1981 and ’86 – a period when advances in recording and musical technology offered the nation’s artists and producers a whole new tool kit to employ. When combined with the unique musical culture of Japan, where local traditions are frequently fused with Western styles to create timeless, off-kilter aural fusions, this embrace of locally pioneered music technology had spectacular, often unusual results.

Eight years in the making, Polyphonic Cosmos provides an endlessly entertaining musical snapshot of Japanese music of the early-to-mid ‘80s with all of the open-minded eclecticism and sonic twists that you would expect from the Glasgow-based DJ.

Compare and contrast, for example, the gently breezy, morning-fresh folk-plus-electronics bliss of ‘ばら二曲 Baranikyoku (Fellini&Rota)’ by World Standard – the most familiar alias of long-serving musician/producer Sohichiro Suzuki – and the hallucinatory, slow-motion tribal rhythms, post-punk rhythms and tape delay-laden electronics of Imitation’s ‘Exotic Dance’. Or, for that matter, the tipsy mid-‘80s electronic reggae of Pecker’s ‘Sha La La’, the grungy but melodic post-punk strut of ‘You Go On Natural’ by Earthling (a track Twitch accurately describes as “sheer unrelenting groove”), and the unearthly, swirling sonics, new age instrumentation and flotation tank vocals of prolific (and seemingly mysterious) act Geinoh Yamashirogumi’s ‘Rimme Kohkyogaku Meiki’.

It’s a credit to JD Twitch’s curatorial skills that the quality never dips, and sonic surprises lurk around every corner. Consider for a moment the hard to describe, far-sighted audio immersion of D-Day’s ‘Ki-Ra’ – all languid post-pop guitar, enveloping chords, spoken word vocals, shuffling 808 beats and marimba melodies – and the two contributions from video games soundtrack specialist (and driving instrumental synth-pop specialist) Hiroyuki Namba.

The collection naturally includes some selections that have long been favourites in Twitch’s DJ sets – see Masumi Hara’s ‘Your Dream’ – as well as a handful of tracks from artists who may be more recognisable to those with only rudimentary knowledge of Japanese musical culture. The great Yasuaki Shimizu, whose work as Mariah has become far better known in recent years thanks to reissues of some of his most magical albums, is represented via ‘The Crow’, a picturesque chunk of horizontal, hard-to-define jazz-not-jazz smokiness, while the collection fittingly concludes with a sublimely funky, oddball electronic workout from Yellow Magic Orchestra legend Ryuichi Sakamoto (the frankly incredible ‘Wongga Dance Song’).

Matt Anniss

Fuelled by the Berlin-based duo's love of club music in all its forms ''FJAAK THE SYSTEM'' is FJAAK's most definitive album to date, a winding sonic odyssey that surveys the rave landscape, dipping between frantic euphoria and deep contemplation. Featuring sizzling collaborations with Modeselektor, Skee Mask, Red Eye and J.Manuel, the album draws a bold line under FJAAK's 15 years of mischief and mayhem, pulling together 23 tracks (culled from over 300, no less) that truly reflect the duo's boundless enthusiasm for the dancefloor. Grazing UK breakbeat, techno, 2-step, d'n'b, jungle, trip-hop and ambient, these elasticated, hybrid bangers paint a vivid picture of FJAAK's utopian club ideal, a place where genre boundaries evaporate and only the groove remains. Since graduating in audio engineering in the early 2010s, FJAAK have been challenging the logic of a maddeningly conservative club scene with their hardware only live shows, DJ sets a myriad of record releases. In 2019 they launched the label and platform Spandau20 with a steady flow of records and a mixtape series featuring new talent and established artists. With their rebellious attitude and notoriously energetic live sets, the duo have brought back a crucial lost ingredient to the rave: playfulness. And if their well-loved albums 'FJAAK', released on Modeselektor's Monkeytown imprint, and 'Havel' set the scene, 'FJAAK THE SYSTEM' rises above and beyond expectations, creating a new benchmark. It's not just blood, sweat and tears either, FJAAK's advanced technical knowhow and love of synthesizers and drum machines helps them formulate a sound that's conscious of dance music history, but focused on a brighter, more equitable future. Their second single 'And You Feel' is an emotional rollercoaster combining UK breakbeat with a dubstep-influenced bassline wobler and alluring vocals, emulating the moment the mind becomes a tranquil void through the crescendo of adrenaline like a strain of physical exertion. This is reflected on their new music video which shows an unexpected ''rage room'' scene.

"Diamond Life": 1984, erstes Album, erster großer Wurf. Sades subtile Soul-Jazz-Cool-Mischung, die sich völlig gegen den synthetischen New-Wave-Trend der Zeit richtet, wird zu einem der meistverkauften Alben des Jahres auf der ganzen Welt. Mit den Singles "Your love is King", "Smooth operator" und "Hang on to your Love". Das Album wurde in den Abbey Road Studios mit halber Geschwindigkeit von den Original-Mastern gemastert. Das Mastering mit halber Geschwindigkeit erzeugt einen außergewöhnlich klaren Klang, der die Dynamik der Originalmischungen bewahrt. 180G Vinyl. Die Originalcover wurden einschließlich der Papierqualität und Druckmethoden reproduziert."Diamond Life":

The superduo formed by two authentic stars of the Italian dance scene is back with the ‘Rolling Wave’ EP on Mondo Groove. Daniele Baldelli needs no introduction; he has made a fiery mark on DJ history worldwide with his legendary sets. He built his eclectic and visionary style at the Baia Degli Angeli in the 1970s and Cosmic in the early 1980s, to the triumph of recent years, in demand at every latitude on the planet. DJ Rocca is one of Italy’s most inspired producers, his art forged in a mix of technique and passion, versatile enough to work alongside artists as diverse as Baldelli, Dimitri From Paris or one of the giants of Italian jazz, pianist Franco D’Andrea.

Daniele Baldelli & DJ Rocca are on fire in the four tracks of this new EP on Mondo Groove, which starts with the bleep sounds of the title track ‘Rolling Wave’, goes into orbit with the deep boogie of ‘Funk Infusion’ and a party number like ‘Marchin On’, and culminates in the refined disco-jazz digressions of ‘Focused Image’. A record that will be a future classic.

Loud Enough returns with the third and final installment of the 3-EP series dedicated to Roman Pigna Records, the dancefloor-oriented sister label of Nature Records. Following the releases by Marco Passarani and Mario Pierro, it's now Francesco De Bellis's turn, akaFrancisco / Mr. Cisco.

In line with the previous EPs, LE004 showcases four tracks: two timeless cuts, "Fregna The Age" and "Miss Cha Cha Cha," alongside two previously unreleased tracks from the same era, "Move" and "House." Each piece embodies Francisco's groovy, Chicago-inspired signature style, ensuring a captivating journey on the dance floor. Music produced and written by Francesco De Bellis. Originally recorded in Studio 22 (Pigna Studios) Rome, Italy 2024 – 2008. Remixed in Mondo Studio Rome 2023

Future Romance presents the 2nd edition of their vinyl release series called „Collector“, featuring the labels most wanted and most sucessful tracks. This collector's release is a sonic journey through the realms of melodic house & techno, featuring four captivating tracks by different distinct artists. Each composition has already garnered widespread acclaim and massive DJ support from across the globe. "Collector" is a testament to Future Romance's commitment to delivering unparalleled musical experiences on the beloved vinyl medium. Part II gives us wonderful tracks by Solee, Drumcomplex & Frank Sonic, Off Night and Paul Angelo & Don Argento.

Chamber music masterpiece with electronics

Albert Alan Owen was born in Wales in 1948 to parents of Welsh and Latvian heritage. His family later moved to Zimbabwe, where his father took up a teaching position. There, Owen was deeply influenced by local music and culture, while also exploring American RnB and jazz. It was during this period that he became acutely aware of the harsh inequalities under British colonial rule, which instilled in him a lifelong aversion to discrimination and racism.
In 1967, Owen returned to Europe to pursue his studies and enrolled at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He went on to spend time in Paris, studying composition with the eminent Nadia Boulanger and piano under Jacques Février, a favorite pianist of Ravel’s and Poulenc’s. Owen's focus shifted almost entirely to composition, and the acquisition of a Fender Rhodes electric piano marked the beginning of a divorce from his classical Western training. This transition allowed him to merge his passion for African and African-American music with the impressionistic styles of Ravel and Debussy while exploring the innovative realm of electroacoustic composition.
These formative experiences framed Owen’s career as a composer and educator at the Royal Academy of Music and London’s Working Men’s College. He eventually returned to Wales, where he continues to reside.

In 1979, 29-year-old Albert Alan Owen released Keyboards & Strings, a light magical chamber music masterpiece.
Transcending the formal conventions of its era, Keyboard & Strings is an acoustic and electric piano piece, where the violin is met by synths and electronics.
As is often the case in Albert Alan Owen’s most intimate works, there is a sense of ethereal beauty that emerges from the music, akin to the emotional state one might experience while contemplating a Félix Vallotton landscape or the unfathomable mystery of dawn’s first light.
Quiet, profound, and immersive, Keyboard & Strings stands out as an electronic-age tone poem, a rare gem that transcends time and place.

Kicking off 2024, Modern Life Is War introduces the Tribulation Worksongs sessions as a single 12"EP/Digital album. This release consolidates all three 7"EPs along with "End Times Dub," a dub version of "Feels Like End Times," creatively reimagined by Urian Hackney (Rough Francis, Iggy Pop, The Armed, etc). The packaging for this release features a collaborative visual effort from Jeffrey Eaton, Thomas Hooper, and J. Bannon. Tribulation Worksongs was recorded by Luke Tweedy at Flat Black Studios, mixed by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios, and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege. Originally released as a series of three 7"EPs between 2018 and 2021, the lyrics and credits for each song were typed by vocalist/lyricist Jeff Eaton on his 1950s Royal "Quiet De Luxe" typewriter during the initial presentation. These typewritten elements were later hand-stamped on the front and back covers of the EP by artist J. Bannon, resulting in each cover being entirely unique. Additionally, the labels on the vinyl were hand-stamped before final assembly by the team at Deathwish, which will see physical release on March 22nd.