pdqb has been spending an increasing amount of time on the Blue Planet lately. From his perspective, this was never going to end well.
With an intelligence operating several evolutionary levels beyond anything currently available to humanity, pdqb identified the problem almost instantly. Humanity's operating system had developed a number of serious inefficiencies, and the planet was clearly heading in the wrong direction. Even artificial intelligence would not be of much help here: created by humans and trained on human knowledge, it remains, in pdqb's estimation, a rather primitive form of intelligence compared to the cognitive systems he carries within himself.
So pdqb has decided to intervene - personally, and in human form. His identity will remain undisclosed. His intervention, however, will be unmistakable: a brief intelligence boost, followed by approximately 10.000 years of world peace.
It will be fine.
Contact Imminent contains three transmissions from pdqb himself, carrying his characteristic Electro-Cognition signature sound - three pieces of evidence that the future is still worth saving.
For the B-side, pdqb selected two Earthlings whose music he already appreciated, but whose name was particularly appropriate for the occasion: Extrawelt.
Because after the intervention, this planet will no longer be what it was. It will not be the old world, nor simply a new one.
It will be an Extrawelt.
A slightly improved version of reality, with another 10.000 years to get things right.
5. VITAL SALES POINTS:
" transparent vinyl with black dots
" mastered by the infamous Andreas LUPO Lubich
" cover artwork by SUPERFLEX
" two remixes by Extrawelt
7–Early Years–79 was The Fall's first comp ever. Originally released on Step-Forward in 1981, the LP compiles the group's first four singles recorded for the label between 1977 and 1979 – Bingo-Master's Break-Out, It's The New Thing, Rowche Rumble and Fiery Jack – none of which appeared on any of the band's studio albums. (Also included is "Dice Man" from 1979's Dragnet.) Taken together, these 7-inches are The Fall as they initially emerged from the primordial soup of '77 Manchester, pushing out from founder Mark E. Smith's poetry-collective origins into the early punk scene.
Right from the first track, "Repetition," Smith and crew's working-class art punk is in full effect. His obtuse lyrical brilliance and inimitable vocal delivery ride atop the band's ringing atonal guitar, looping basslines and propulsive drumming – complemented by wheezy combo organ tones. The tracks from each 7-inch are presented here in reverse chronological order. The Fall's fierce contrarianism defines the early UK punk sound and, at the same time, sounds nothing like any of their contemporaries.
The revolving cast of band members includes Martin Bramah, Una Baines and Karl Burns as well as Marc Riley, Craig Scanlon and Stephen Hanley who would remain in The Fall's classic '80s lineups. Many of their best-known songs are featured here – from "Psycho Mafia" and "Rowche Rumble" to the Mayo Thompson-produced "Fiery Jack."
Superior Viaduct's edition is the first time that 77–Early Years–79 has been reissued on vinyl. Includes liner notes by Stephen Malkmus.
Originally released on Flying Nun in 1983, Fall In A Hole is a double LP of an especially incendiary Fall show at Mainstreet Cabaret in Auckland, NZ in August 1982. The second of a two-night stand, this would be the band's final concert of its successful first tour of Australia and New Zealand. Recorded by longtime Flying Nun associate Chris Knox – who also made the striking cover artwork – Fall In A Hole follows the release of earlier live albums Totale's Turns and A Part of America Therein, 1981.
Besides capturing The Fall onstage during one of its most feral and exhilarating periods, Fall In A Hole is historically significant for several reasons. It heralds the end of Marc Riley's tenure with the band, an era considered by many Fall fans to be the group's peak, and showcases the two-drummer lineup heard on 1982's Hex Enduction Hour, with both Paul Hanley and Karl Burns sharing drumkit duties onstage. With Riley and Craig Scanlon on dual guitars and Stephen Hanley on bass, The Fall was stepping out in its final iteration with a majority of personnel rooted in their late '70s lineup.
The setlist is peppered with a mix of singles and album tracks old and new – including several that had yet to be released. Rarities like "Fantastic Life," "Backdrop" and "Solicitor In Studio" are given epic, feedback-drenched airings, while fan favorites like "Hip Priest," "Prole Art Threat" and "The Classical" radiate with lively, raucous energy.
Superior Viaduct's edition is the first time that Fall In A Hole has been reissued on vinyl. Includes liner notes by Roy Montgomery. Digital transfers made from analogue master tapes in the Flying Nun Collection and Chris Knox Collection held at the Alexander Turnbull Library (National Library of New Zealand).
Lilac Vinyl LP. "Rabbit Trap (Original Motion Picture Score)" stammt von der kolumbianischen Komponistin und Klangkünstlerin Lucrecia Dalt. Der Soundtrack verbindet experimentelle Elektronik, Ambient, moderne Filmmusik und atmosphärische Klangkunst zu einer eindringlichen Begleitung des Films, in dem Kreativität, Natur und übernatürliche Kräfte aufeinandertreffen. Dalt, bekannt für ihre innovativen Soloalben und Filmmusiken, erschafft eine dichte, cineastische Klangwelt zwischen Schönheit und Unbehagen. Unterstützt wird der Score unter anderem von Hauptdarstellerin Rosy McEwen, die auf einem der Stücke als Sängerin zu hören ist. Das Ergebnis ist ein faszinierender, experimenteller Soundtrack, der die mystische Stimmung des Films eindrucksvoll einfängt. Für Fans von: Jóhann Jóhannsson, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Delia Derbyshire, DJ Python. // "A cinematic audio masterwork" // "The cosmic intensity of composer Lucrecia Dalt's score immerses the audience in Daphne's chaotic creative process." - //
10 years since his first edits outing on RNT, label co-founder JKriv digs into his deep well of reworks for a four-tracker of cheeky dancefloor madness. Coming in hot on the A side, I Feel Amor is modern twist on the disco classic anthem, a peak time weapon of epic proportions with hard-hitting beats and churning synths, and the inimitable sing-along vocal (pero en Español). Love Dub is a stripped down deep house affair, a solid driving groove with thunderous bass, synth accents and acapella flourishes. On the B-side, Cuando Bailo is the edit you didn’t know you needed; a callback to a bygone era of one-hit wonder magic, flipped masterfully to be all-club and just a sprinkle of camp. And rounding off the record Dance Sexy takes an obscure purple-hued cover into hypnotic red-light territory, with funky synth stabs riding a pulsing and infectious bass line, in classic JKriv fashion.
Magazine Announces 15th Anniversary Remaster of Barnt’s Techno Classic Geffen
Cologne-based record label Magazine celebrates the 15th anniversary of Barnt’s visionary anthem Geffen. One of electronic music's most defining tracks of the 2010s will be reissued in a 2026 remaster edition, marking the first time it receives its own dedicated standalone release.
Originally published on the legendary Cómeme imprint as part of the Various Artists EP The Power Of Now, the track rapidly became a global phenomenon. Looking back, one can hardly imagine Geffen without the 2010s, or, conversely, maybe even electronic music of that era without it. The composition mirrors the expressive possibilities of bedroom producers at the beginning of that decade—an era where artists could launch tracks into the world and have them resonate through their sheer sonic power, without major marketing efforts.
Barnt remembers: "It was one of my earliest tracks. I had just entered art school and didn't own much equipment. My MIDI keyboard only had two octaves. I would always play notes with my right hand while simultaneously shifting through the octaves with my left. This is how the hook line came to life. The production only consisted of seven or eight stems, and barely any equalizers were used during the mixdown. In hindsight, this sparse approach to production probably made it sound different and is why it hits so hard on big sound systems (while sounding unfinished to some on YouTube). At that time, we were doing a small festival on a playground in the center of Cologne. When I played the CDR there, Matias Aguayo demanded it right after. That is how it ended up on Cómeme."
The release comes with two very Magazine-esque reinterpretations from the label's two other co-founders alongside Barnt: a powerful atmospheric club remix by Jens-Uwe Beyer, and Magazine Hallucination, a wild, collaborative, psychedelic mutation by Crato and Beyer.
Jörg Burger, who already mastered the original track, is also responsible for the mastering of this release.
Originally released in 2006, Rendezvous is a rare, dub techno track released by Nao AKA DJ Compufunk from Compufunk Records in Osaka. Working under the name Lovegod for the first and only time, he created a timeless epic for a live set at the legendary, short-lived underground club "United Underground ??? (Tsurunoma)".
Now revived 20 years later by Richard Akingbehin’s Kynant Records, Priori contributes a dreamy rework and Janeret slows it down into a crisp dub version to complete the EP.
Written & produced by Naoyuki Yamakawa
Additional production by Francis Latreille and Mickael Jeanneret
Mastering by Anne Taegert @ Dubplates & Mastering
Artwork by Grant Gibson
Distributed by N.E.W.S
Often credited as the father of multi-media theatre, Alwin Nikolais (1910-1993) took complete creative control over his productions - including cutting-edge approaches to lighting and costume that transformed human bodies into shifting sculptural shapes, while also composing wildly innovative electro-acoustic and synth-based audio as accompaniment.
After initially experimenting with musique concrète and tape manipulation (as demonstrated on the 1959 LP Choreosonic Music of the New Dance Theatre of Alwin Nikolais) Nikolais became the first owner of Robert Moog's synthesizer at the Audio Engineering Society convention in New York in late 1964. Relying heavily on the Moog and later the Synclavier synth/sampler, these 21 tracks document Nikolais' highly-prescient compositions across the mid 1960s through to the late 1980s - existing not only as extensions of his other-worldly choreographic productions, but standalone pieces of foundational mid-century American electronic and experimental music.
"Born in Southington, Connecticut in 1910, Nikolais’s early years and early career were in acting, music and puppetry. It was not until the late 1930s that he began his work as dancer/choreographer in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was commissioned by the Avery Memorial Theatre, a part of the Wadsworth Atheneum, to create an evening-length work to the music of Ernst Krenek. Previously his work and study as a pianist-organist found him accompanying silent films. This sort of accompaniment required from the musician not only a playing skill but also a versatility in improvisation, matching movement to sound, and evoking mood to situation.
Nik was drawn initially to dance by his involvement with the percussion scores used by the illustrious early twentieth century German dancer Mary Wigman. In trying to learn more about percussion, he was lured into dance class and thus his career began. His development of music and dance occurred simultaneously. His introduction to the twelve-tone technique opened his mind to the expanding areas of atonal music, and his dealing with music as sound per se. In 1948, after being appointed director of the Henry Street Playhouse in New York, Nikolais formed the Playhouse Dance Company, later known as the Nikolais Dance Theater, and began his aesthetic orientation toward dance as a study of motion. By the 1950s, he had ceased creating literal dances and began his explorations and eventual milieu as an abstractionist.
Sound became an important part of his abstract theatre. For his first dances, which involved his new thinking of dance as both a visual and kinetic art, he used live percussion scores in which he directed his dancers to play instruments of all nature. There was a combination of children’s toy instruments as well as harsh and resonant automobile brake drums, and other pitched auto parts which he also used to accompany classes. Once he installed his own tape recording machines, he quickly used the limited range these instruments provided in a new way, slowing and increasing speed and reversing sound. He also made the sounds adhere to the choreographic structure (not the other way around), thereby giving the dance its independence from the musical phrasing. But the real need remained: the search for new sound. Nik made a sound library, recording noises and percussion and vocal sounds, which the French aptly called musique concrète. Needless to say, he became a master at splicing bits and pieces.
From 1956 to 1962 Nikolais composed eleven major scores for his theatre pieces using such techniques. In 1963, James Seawright, who at the time was assisting Nik in his productions and also working at the Columbia-Princeton Center for Electronic Music, recorded a sound bank for the production Imago (1963). With this material, Nikolais created his first synthesizer score. Imago won the Paris Grand Prix in 1968 and launched the Nikolais Dance Theatre towards its national and primarily international acclaim.
During the same period, Seawright came to Nik and told him of a young man who had invented and constructed a simplified synthesizer and insisted that Nik visit the electronic fair currently being held in New York. Nik did so and met Robert Moog. He was completely taken by the new machine and after making some suggestions to Moog, (which Moog made), Nik bought the inventor’s first machine with the aid of a Guggenheim Fellowship. Moog himself was astonished by what his machine could produce for Nik. This machine was later acquired by the Museum of Musical Instruments at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor as the first Moog synthesizer. The Synclavier was Nik’s next source of sound and since the mid-1970s remained the major instrument in the Nikolais soundroom.
Alwin Nikolais has been honored and awarded throughout the world. He has received the French Legion of Honor, the Kennedy Center Honors, National Medal of the Arts, two Guggenheim Fellowships, as well as Mellon, Ford, and Rockefeller grants. He has been a recipient of NEA grants since 1966, been awarded five honorary doctorates, all for his remarkable achievements in Dance Theater. His genius has influenced several generations of artists."
—Murray Louis
New release from Stockholm-based producer Anders Enge (BÖRFT rec, Blank Forms), once again based on tracks pulled from his live set: L’Angle du Hasard and Tempest Chords. Two solid and moody pieces with a healthy dose of euphoria stuck in there somewhere. They are complemented by a slightly more experimental and housey approach with Rêve Familier and Winny & Wanda. All things considered an interesting ride! Handstamped discobag with download code. Edition of 100. Mastered by Jesper Dahlbäck.
20 Dolla Julio keeps his identity a mystery but there are no secrets about what music gets him going. He's a master of classic hip-hop joints mixed, blended, diced, cut and stitched together into electric new grooves that bear all the hallmarks of the original but with ester club clout. First up is 'Still', a Weast Coast classic that has the same bleeping melodies and trademark bars but with a tight, bumping broken beat down low. 'Overnight Celeb' then marries pitched-up vocal intensity with smoother bars, bright harmonica and plenty of classic swing. Two top-tier weapons.
For nearly 30 years, SUNN O))) – Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson – have pushed the boundaries of heavy music, straddling the worlds of the avant-garde and rock to forge a style instantly recognisable as their own. Now, SUNN O))) return with their first album of new material since 2019’s acclaimed Pyroclasts. Their tenth album – their debut for Sub Pop – demonstrates the duo’s mastery of time and space, light and dark, and their willingness to evolve their unmistakable sound into bold new forms.
The eponymously titled SUNN O))) was tracked at Bear Creek Studios, Woodinville, Washington with Brad Wood (HuM, Tar, Sunny Day Real Estate, Liz Phair). This location proved crucial to the recording process. “The vast tracking room had big windows looking out on trees,” says O’Malley. “We could go hiking and be out in the woods, spend time outdoors. That became a big part of it.”
SUNN O))) have long welcomed collaborators into their self-contained world: past work has featured, Attila Csihar (Mayhem), composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, multi-instrumentalist Steve Moore, polymath Mark Deutrom, Silkworm’s Tim Midyett and legendary singer-songwriter Scott Walker. But on this album O’Malley and Anderson found fresh possibilities in the primal territory of the duo format, performing all the instrumentation themselves. “What’s been happening with our performances over the last couple years with the two of us and no other collaborators has been really fresh and exciting,” says Anderson.
The compositions on SUNN O))) are expansive and panoramic yet finely detailed, reflecting the arboreal setting in which they were recorded. Amidst howling feedback and glacial crunch, one finds surprisingly delicate moments: a field recording of water trickles beneath, piano interludes lend a hushed, solemn feel. All while the duo attains fresh heights of telepathic intensity as they shape music that breathes the bracing, earthy air of the Pacific Northwest.
Framing the album visually are two paintings by the late American artist Mark Rothko. Liner notes are by award-winning British writer Robert Macfarlane, famed for his works concerning landscape and the relationship between humanity and nature. Through the work of the band, Macfarlane, and Rothko, sound, word and visual combine into a fully immersive experience that is undeniably, completely SUNN O))).
In 1991, the rave scene was at its peak in Italy, and DJ Cirillo was right at the heart of it.
It felt only natural for him to join forces with another rave legend, Leo Young, and create four tracks that were pressed in extremely limited quantities and distributed by hand to a carefully selected group of DJs.
The record quickly found its way into the hands of some of the era's most influential figures, including Lory D, Grooverider, DJ Cirillo himself, and many others.
We are truly proud to present the official release of this record on a label—and even prouder that our label is the one bringing it to the world.
Thank you to the master, DJ Cirillo, for continuing to inspire us, and thank you to Leo Young for being a true pioneer and for always pushing things forward.d.d
For our next release, we welcome Eduardo de la Calle. An artist whose music has long moved beneath the surface of electronic music, shaping minds and dancefloors through depth, restraint and timeless vision. This EP drifts through hypnotic rhythms, deep pulses and evolving textures, inviting the listener into a space where time softens and movement becomes instinct. A meeting of two currents, flowing in the same direction, guided by depth, energy and a shared love for the spaces between sound. Eduardo de la Calle Synthetic Collapse CRRT02 A1 Eduardo de la Calle - Subverse A2 Eduardo de la Calle - Black Input B1 Eduardo de la Calle - Protocol Remain B2 Eduardo de la Calle - Systemic Error All tracks written and produced by Eduardo de la Calle except Black Input and Subverse written and produced by Eduardo de la Calle and Andres Fusaro under the project RSCA. Brighter Days Vocals from Karen Gordon - Djaè - extract from - CAJ201 1992 Mastered by Javier KTC Mastering
Casabianca returns with Omatucada, the second vinyl release from Zagreb-based DJ and producer MIMI.
Omatucada is a journey through percussive sampled rhythms, combining live-recorded instruments, vocal textures, and analog synths across four original productions.
The title track, "Omatucada" opens with a rolling tribal beat and hypnotic vocal fragments, revisiting one of MIMI's earliest productions, originally written many years ago.
"O Lado Negro De Felix" ventures even deeper into dark tribal grooves, suggesting that there is always some light within the darkness, and vice versa.
The B-side moves into more cinematic territory. "VCM" builds driving momentum, drawing heavy influence fro
WHAM! 10 Days in China - The Live EP features four live performances from WHAM!’s historic 1985 concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou, as seen in the highly acclaimed, 5-star rated documentary WHAM! 10 Days in China. As the first Western Pop group to perform in China, these performances cemented the duo as global superstars. Featuring previously unreleased live audio, newly mixed and mastered from the original recordings.
*First-ever release on vinyl
*Produced in full cooperation with Hiroshi Yoshimura's estate
*Remastered from original sources by John Baldwin
*English translations of original 1996 release liner notes
*Reproductions of Yoshimura's handwritten recording notes
*Vinyl includes 5" x 7" postcard print
"My encounter with the Hoh Rain Forest, located inside Olympic National Park across the water from Seattle, felt like seeing a whole new world for the first time in my life. Long green fronds draped along the branches, like a scene in which fairies could be heard whispering to one another. But when you try to listen, no sound can be heard. Amidst the mysterious silence, in which no birds or insects make a sound, every living thing seemed to have stopped in its place, only to start dancing when some kind of spell is cast over them.
-Hiroshi Yoshimura
Originally issued on compact disc in 1996, Quiet Forest was Hiroshi Yoshimura’s last album-length work to be released before his passing in 2003. Largely inspired by his trip to the vast forests of the North American Pacific Northwest, the album is an aural reflection of the fantastical, surreal beauty he experienced as he walked through the otherworldly wilderness for the first time. The basic tracks were recorded in the fall of 1993. After numerous revisions to the song titles and a scrapped idea to overlay the tracks with nature field recordings, Hiroshi ultimately produced a latter-day masterwork that feels like the spiritual follow-up to Green, one of his defining works from a decade earlier."
*Produced in full cooperation with Hiroshi Yoshimura's estate
*Remastered from original sources by John Baldwin
*English translations of original 1996 release liner notes
*Reproductions of Yoshimura's handwritten recording notes
"My encounter with the Hoh Rain Forest, located inside Olympic National Park across the water from Seattle, felt like seeing a whole new world for the first time in my life. Long green fronds draped along the branches, like a scene in which fairies could be heard whispering to one another. But when you try to listen, no sound can be heard. Amidst the mysterious silence, in which no birds or insects make a sound, every living thing seemed to have stopped in its place, only to start dancing when some kind of spell is cast over them.
-Hiroshi Yoshimura
Originally issued on compact disc in 1996, Quiet Forest was Hiroshi Yoshimura’s last album-length work to be released before his passing in 2003. Largely inspired by his trip to the vast forests of the North American Pacific Northwest, the album is an aural reflection of the fantastical, surreal beauty he experienced as he walked through the otherworldly wilderness for the first time. The basic tracks were recorded in the fall of 1993. After numerous revisions to the song titles and a scrapped idea to overlay the tracks with nature field recordings, Hiroshi ultimately produced a latter-day masterwork that feels like the spiritual follow-up to Green, one of his defining works from a decade earlier."
At the height of grunge, Morphine sounded like nobody else. The Boston trio built their own strange, seductive musical language (coined "low rock" by frontman Mark Sandman), built around Sandman's two-string slide bass and unmistakable voice, Dana Colley’s baritone & tenor saxophone, and stripped-back drums (Jerome Deupree, Billy Conway). Morphine became one of the defining cult bands of the ’90s, but their story came to an abrupt end in 1999, when Sandman suffered a fatal heart attack on stage during a concert in Italy.
More than 25 years later, Cocoon offers an extraordinary final chapter. Its eight songs were recorded during Morphine’s late-’90s sessions before Sandman ultimately shelved the material on the path toward what would become their final album. Rediscovered in the band’s archives decades later, Sandman’s life partner and Morphine estate manager Sabine Hrechdakian and producer Paul Q. Kolderie (Radiohead, Pixies) transferred the original tapes and carefully assembled this unified collection of Morphine songs. Dana Colley returned to add new saxophone parts, and Kolderie then brought new mixes to the table. Rather than a collection of demos or outtakes, Cocoon is a fully realized Morphine album revealing a band still pushing forward that somehow waited nearly three decades to find its way into the world
Album Background
The background on the album is that the majority of the songs existed in demo form on a CD release called "Sandbox" a semi-legit release of Mark Sandman music on 2004. These versions are the completed tracks that include contributions from Morphine saxphonist
Dana Colley and produced and mastered by Morphine's long time producer Paul Kolderie.
At the height of grunge, Morphine sounded like nobody else. The Boston trio built their own strange, seductive musical language (coined "low rock" by frontman Mark Sandman), built around Sandman's two-string slide bass and unmistakable voice, Dana Colley’s baritone & tenor saxophone, and stripped-back drums (Jerome Deupree, Billy Conway). Morphine became one of the defining cult bands of the ’90s, but their story came to an abrupt end in 1999, when Sandman suffered a fatal heart attack on stage during a concert in Italy.
More than 25 years later, Cocoon offers an extraordinary final chapter. Its eight songs were recorded during Morphine’s late-’90s sessions before Sandman ultimately shelved the material on the path toward what would become their final album. Rediscovered in the band’s archives decades later, Sandman’s life partner and Morphine estate manager Sabine Hrechdakian and producer Paul Q. Kolderie (Radiohead, Pixies) transferred the original tapes and carefully assembled this unified collection of Morphine songs. Dana Colley returned to add new saxophone parts, and Kolderie then brought new mixes to the table. Rather than a collection of demos or outtakes, Cocoon is a fully realized Morphine album revealing a band still pushing forward that somehow waited nearly three decades to find its way into the world
Album Background
The background on the album is that the majority of the songs existed in demo form on a CD release called "Sandbox" a semi-legit release of Mark Sandman music on 2004. These versions are the completed tracks that include contributions from Morphine saxphonist
Dana Colley and produced and mastered by Morphine's long time producer Paul Kolderie.
Ghost Funk Orchestra (GFO) kehren mit ,Yours in The Ranks of Death", ihrer bisher bodenständigsten und persönlichsten Sammlung von Songs, in unseren Orbit zurück. Nachdenklich und ätherisch - auf dem fünften Album von Ghost Funk Orchestra reduziert Komponist und Mastermind Seth Applebaum die Klänge und konzeptionellen Grundlagen und schafft so für seine typischen Grooves einen klareren Rahmen, in dem sie über den Plattenteller gleiten können. Wie die Strahlen der Sommersonne, die den Morgennebel langsam auflösen, treten nun die Konturen und kristallklaren Figuren deutlicher hervor, die Ghost Funk Orchestra seit ihrem Beitritt zum Label im Jahr 2018 zum groovigen, modernen psychedelischen Soul-Jazz-Boogaloo-Rückgrat von Karma Chief Records gemacht haben. Eine treibende, poetische und funkige Form der Selbstreflexion.
Ghost Funk Orchestra (GFO) kehren mit ,Yours in The Ranks of Death", ihrer bisher bodenständigsten und persönlichsten Sammlung von Songs, in unseren Orbit zurück. Nachdenklich und ätherisch - auf dem fünften Album von Ghost Funk Orchestra reduziert Komponist und Mastermind Seth Applebaum die Klänge und konzeptionellen Grundlagen und schafft so für seine typischen Grooves einen klareren Rahmen, in dem sie über den Plattenteller gleiten können. Wie die Strahlen der Sommersonne, die den Morgennebel langsam auflösen, treten nun die Konturen und kristallklaren Figuren deutlicher hervor, die Ghost Funk Orchestra seit ihrem Beitritt zum Label im Jahr 2018 zum groovigen, modernen psychedelischen Soul-Jazz-Boogaloo-Rückgrat von Karma Chief Records gemacht haben. Eine treibende, poetische und funkige Form der Selbstreflexion.
Astral Projection were pioneers on the Goatrance scene and have been storming the dancefloors for more than 20 years with their uplifting melodic and hypnotic music signature! Now we are delighted to announce; their EP "Let There Be Light" with 2 new tracks of the masters and remixes by Filteria and Morphic Resonance; repressed on vinyl.
First you can hear Astral's rework of the sublime "Filtertraces" track by Filteria. Giving it their so special spiraling recipe, Avi and Lior gave it a trippy and panoramic touch!
Second Filteria returns the favor with his own version of the fantastic "Let There Be Light" track by Astral Projection. The production upgrade and filteria-esque melodies do wonders to the goatrance anthem and on the dancefloors where it's played!
Then, Morphic Resonance, shows the full extent of his skills as he embarks you on a sci-fi rollercoaster ride with his remake of Astral Projection's "Enlightened Evolution". Expect massive melodies and the usual explosion of energy from the Catalan artist!
Last but not least, Astral Projection have remixed their own "Another World" track from the 1999 eponymous album. Yet no doubt the Israeli duo is stunningly sharp as it managed to give it exhilarating new twists as well as a splendid production!
This incredible collaboration shows once again goatrance music is a blessing and we hope it will enlighten your path!
GERDie Chopi Timbila zählt zu den großen Orchestertraditionen Afrikas und ist tief in der Kultur der Chopi im mosambikanischen Distrikt Zavala verwurzelt. Ihre charakteristischen Mwenje-Holzxylophone sind in sieben gleichmäßigen Tonabständen gestimmt und erzeugen eine mikrotonale Klangwelt, die sich deutlich von westlichen Tonsystemen unterscheidet. Die Ensembles vereinen Musiker verschiedener Generationen und Erfahrungsstufen, während jährlich neue Kompositionen entstehen, die Gemeinschaft, Geschichte und das Leben der Vatxopi widerspiegeln. 2008 wurde die Tradition von der UNESCO als Immaterielles Kulturerbe anerkannt und gilt bis heute als eine der komplexesten und schönsten musikalischen Ausdrucksformen Mosambiks. Mit Ecos Do Legado (Echoes Of The Legacy) ehren die Brüder von Timbila Ta Venancio, allesamt Söhne des legendären Timbila-Meisters Venancio Mbande, das Lebenswerk ihres Vaters und die kulturelle Bedeutung der Chopi-Musik. Die 2026 im Studio Bom Dia in der Provinz Inhambane entstandene Aufnahme interpretiert Mbandes Erbe neu und bewahrt zugleich dessen Geist und Tradition. Die zehn Stücke folgen der überlieferten Reihenfolge einer klassischen Timbila-Aufführung und entfalten eine zusammenhängende musikalische Erzählung. Ecos Do Legado ist damit zugleich Hommage, kulturelles Dokument und eindrucksvoller Beweis für die lebendige Zukunft dieser einzigartigen Tradition.[ENG]The Chopi Timbila is one of Africa's great orchestral traditions, deeply rooted in the culture of the Chopi people of Zavala, Mozambique. Its distinctive mwenje wood xylophones are tuned in seven equidistant pitches, creating a microtonal sound world markedly different from Western musical systems. Timbila ensembles bring together performers of different ages and skill levels, with new compositions created each year to reflect community life, history, and tradition. Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, the tradition remains one of Mozambique's most celebrated and sophisticated musical forms. On Ecos Do Legado (Echoes Of The Legacy), Timbila Ta Venancio honors the legacy of revered timbila master Venancio Mbande through the work of his sons, who perform and reinterpret his enduring musical vision. Recorded in 2026 at Studio Bom Dia in Inhambane Province, the album serves as both a tribute to Mbande and a celebration of Chopi cultural heritage. The ten pieces follow the traditional sequence of a timbila performance, unfolding as an interconnected musical narrative. Ecos Do Legado stands as a powerful testament to a living tradition whose cultural significance continues to resonate across generations.
Die Chopi Timbila zählt zu den großen Orchestertraditionen Afrikas und ist tief in der Kultur der Chopi im mosambikanischen Distrikt Zavala verwurzelt. Ihre charakteristischen Mwenje-Holzxylophone sind in sieben gleichmäßigen Tonabständen gestimmt und erzeugen eine mikrotonale Klangwelt, die sich deutlich von westlichen Tonsystemen unterscheidet. Die Ensembles vereinen Musiker verschiedener Generationen und Erfahrungsstufen, während jährlich neue Kompositionen entstehen, die Gemeinschaft, Geschichte und das Leben der Vatxopi widerspiegeln. 2008 wurde die Tradition von der UNESCO als Immaterielles Kulturerbe anerkannt und gilt bis heute als eine der komplexesten und schönsten musikalischen Ausdrucksformen Mosambiks. Mit Ecos Do Legado (Echoes Of The Legacy) ehren die Brüder von Timbila Ta Venancio, allesamt Söhne des legendären Timbila-Meisters Venancio Mbande, das Lebenswerk ihres Vaters und die kulturelle Bedeutung der Chopi-Musik. Die 2026 im Studio Bom Dia in der Provinz Inhambane entstandene Aufnahme interpretiert Mbandes Erbe neu und bewahrt zugleich dessen Geist und Tradition. Die zehn Stücke folgen der überlieferten Reihenfolge einer klassischen Timbila-Aufführung und entfalten eine zusammenhängende musikalische Erzählung. Ecos Do Legado ist damit zugleich Hommage, kulturelles Dokument und eindrucksvoller Beweis für die lebendige Zukunft dieser einzigartigen Tradition. ENGThe Chopi Timbila is one of Africa's great orchestral traditions, deeply rooted in the culture of the Chopi people of Zavala, Mozambique. Its distinctive mwenje wood xylophones are tuned in seven equidistant pitches, creating a microtonal sound world markedly different from Western musical systems. Timbila ensembles bring together performers of different ages and skill levels, with new compositions created each year to reflect community life, history, and tradition. Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, the tradition remains one of Mozambique's most celebrated and sophisticated musical forms. On Ecos Do Legado (Echoes Of The Legacy), Timbila Ta Venancio honors the legacy of revered timbila master Venancio Mbande through the work of his sons, who perform and reinterpret his enduring musical vision. Recorded in 2026 at Studio Bom Dia in Inhambane Province, the album serves as both a tribute to Mbande and a celebration of Chopi cultural heritage. The ten pieces follow the traditional sequence of a timbila performance, unfolding as an interconnected musical narrative. Ecos Do Legado stands as a powerful testament to a living tradition whose cultural significance continues to resonate across generations.
This compilation presents a selection of highly sought-after tracks and milestone classics crafted by esteemed Royal UK house producers.
Terry Francis, Nathan Coles (rip), Laurant Webb, Dave Coker and Justin Bailey.
With 16 tracks, many of which have never been reissued since their original pressings, fetching prices of hundreds of euros in the second-hand market (if you can find any in decent quality), while others were never released on vinyl. These are milestone classics, recorded and re-mastered directly from the original DATs for the first time.
This collection represents a pinnacle meeting of visionary minds who pioneered an entirely music genre, subsequently shaping the UK club scene with legendary Wiggle residency nights at iconic venues like Fabric. An essential and must-have album curated by Yossi Amoyal for Sushitech Records.
Celebrate a decade of a modern masterpiece. Originally released to critical acclaim, DJ Shadow’s The Mountain Will Fall gets a definitive reissue for its 10th Anniversary. Featuring the explosive, Gold-certified hit "Nobody Speak" featuring Run The Jewels, this album remains a towering achievement in instrumental hip-hop and experimental electronic production. This special anniversary edition is pressed on 2 x 140g classic black vinyl, delivering the rich, warm analog sound the album deserves. The release is housed in a stunning gatefold jacket showcasing brand-new artwork by the renowned artist Paul Insect, complete with premium spot gloss hits that make the visual design pop.
The Shroud's appearance on Droogs is a masterclass in the fundamentals with four tracks that wear their influences proudly without ever becoming slavish to what has come before. Opener 'Cross' dives deep and rarely surfaces, rewiring classic shapes in murky bass underworlds. The title track is a rhythm slasher with steely-plated drums and growing low end menace, then 'Ouroboros' cranks the pressure to new levels without ever veering too far from meticulously programmed breaks. It has a schizophrenic panic to it in the scratchy textures and vocals that bleed in and out, then 'Restless Minds' closes things out with the sort of rhythm that gets you dropping your shoulder and fully locked in to each and every bump.
Epicentre was an R&B/funk group formed in Seattle, Washington by keyboardist Ric Ulsky. The band developed a loyal following, playing the extensive NW club, concert and dance venues throughout the mid-to-late 1970s. Their sound was a blend of melodic R&B and powerhouse funk that dependably filled music venues throughout the Western US. Bernadette Bascom was the lead vocalist, who captivated audiences with her powerful yet velvet-smooth voice and commanding, magnetic stage presence.
In 1978, Epicentre worked with Seattle producer Don McKinney to record their music in Seattle's now legendary Kaye-Smith studios. The result was seven strong, fully -produced R&B songs, with occasional horn and string orchestrations tastefully added to the final versions.
Their music quite literally sat on a shelf for decades until McKinney decided that all the hard work and talent should no longer remain undiscovered and it needed to find its audience. He restored and digitized his copies of the master tapes and looked for an opportunity. A chance call to the former leader of the group, Kell Houston, led to a serendipitous introduction to UK boutique/funk/R&B label founder Russell Paine. The result was an agreement to release their music, starting with two songs, "When You Were In Love With Me", and "Magic Carpet."
And now the follow up single of "Searchin/Tongue Tied"
Footnotes: Lead singer Bernadette Bascom became a protegé of Stevie Wonder, and was the first artist to be signed to his label Black Bull , starting a period of collaboration between the two. Bermadette is the daughter of Reverend Dr. Marion C. Bascomb (1925-2012), one of Baltimore's major civil rights voices and pastor emeritus of Baltimore's Douglas Memorial Community Church. Ric Ulsky eventually left the group to play keyboards and tour extensively with The Association. You can also find Epicentre's music on the compilation album "Seattle Funk, Modern Soul & Boogie: Volume II 1972-1987." In addition to Bernadette, the musicians on the 1978 sessions are Kell Houston, keyboards, Michael Cox, bass, John Carmondy, guitar, and Ricky Lynn Johnson, drums and vocals. While their recorded material is primarily original, Stacy Christensen from Seattle's Gabriel contributed two of his compositions.
In 1979, Neil Fraser (artistically known as Mad Professor) founded Ariwa Sounds, the longest-serving and one of the most influential independently owned Reggae studios and record labels in the UK. From humble beginnings set up in the front room of Neil's home in South London recording on 4-track and homemade equipment, Ariwa would go on to record and release over 300 albums including works from some of the most impactful and storied artists of their time in the genres of Reggae, Dub, and Lovers Rock
Whilst our previous release in collaboration with Ariwa captured the label's early sound, a shared performance with Neil in Osaka and regular visits to his South London studio inspired us to assemble this 15-track compilation, showcasing the label's output across 45 years. Our release emphasizes some of the label's greatest vocalists: Johnny Clarke, Sandra Cross, Kofi, U Roy, Sister Nancy, Queen Omega, Aisha, Garnett Cross, Abel Miller, Horace Andy and more — presenting the Motown and Stax influences in the Lovers Rock, but also provides a glimpse into the dubbier and more experimental side of the label, showcasing Ariwa's commitment to quality but also their personality, philosophy and their humour. Love songs, break-up songs, socially engaged songs, dub experimentations — this compilation is not a "best of" Ariwa but a diverse and honest celebration of the label through the lens of Melodies International.
The compilation will be out in July in vinyl 2xLP, CD, digital formats, mastered from the original tapes by Frank Merritt (the Carvery), pressed at Optimal, artwork created by Jason Evans with design and assembly contributions from Nevil Bernard and Will Sweeney, animated teaser by Nevil Bernard and Melozine designed by Mafalda Meireles.
DJ Support: Chris Coco, DJ Morpheus, Alexis Le-Tan, DVS1, Afterlife, Ally Tropical, Alex Ruder (KEXP), Andy Wilson, Bill Brewster, Makossa
Dawn Again continues his masterful run on Hell Yeah with a third new album in consecutive years. The Aussie "pubwave" architect this time serves up Pints Of Ambient Nectar, an eight-track collection of new ambient works and remixes of album tracks from 2024's Every Dog's Hotel and 2025's Lost In The Front Bar.
Melbourne producer Nick Verwey has spent the last decade quietly refining a sound that's loose, lived-in, and made for real moments rather than peak-time theatrics. With releases on Houseworx, Enjoyment Division and Hell Yeah, his sun-faded, lo-fi grooves drift between breaks, downtempo and hazy house. His “pubwave” sound is music born from lockdown nostalgia, communal pints and the romance of places where time slows, conversations linger, but the jukebox keeps things moving.
The scene is set with bird calls and saw synth awakenings on 'Backyard Paradiso', 'A Day in the Life of Pond Algae' is a quiet ode to hope and revival, while 'Slow Motion Goal Celebration' smudges chords like rays of sun cooled by a breeze. 'Kneverending Knockoffs' teases acid murmurs amongst floating melodic clouds, and new cut ' A Pub With No Beer' has sugary lines piercing sustained ambient drones. 'Hard Earned Thirst' is mellow magic for horizontal afternoons, 'Hair Of The Dawg' shimmers like heat waves on the horizon and 'Vanilla Sky' is a cathartic drift bathed in soft light, unfolding in slow, weightless waves.
This sun-dazed ambient sidestep from Dawn Again stretches pubwave nostalgia into hazy, unhurried pieces made for slow afternoons where your woes dissolve and your soul warms.
Fred Everything is on an impressive streak right now, having just released a solo retrospective album on 20:20 Vision and the much-lauded ‘8 Days’ collaboration album with Atjazz.
On this first release for Winding Road Records, Fred teams up with a fellow Montreal musician Teuteu to deliver the lush deep house of ‘Arrêt Infini’.
There are four interpretations of the track, each showcasing Fred’s crisp dancefloor-focused production and Teuteu’s keyboard mastery. From the cinematic punch of Part 1, and the deep uplifting groove of Part 2, to the blissed-out ambience of the Reprise, and the out-there dubbiness of ‘Rhythm & Bass’. All filled with warm chords, soaring strings, and squidgy basslines, but coming from a different angle.
Another jewel in Fred Everything’s expansive discography, and another choice Winding Road Records release.
The final chapter of The Third Room's curator-led series is shaped by GiGi FM, an artist whose work moves fluidly between club functionality, emotional storytelling and immersive sound design. Through her productions and performances, she has developed a distinct language where rhythm, atmosphere and movement exist in constant dialogue. For the closing chapter, the focus lies on cohesion. Bringing together artists connected through a shared sensitivity for groove, detail and space, the release unfolds through percussive structures and atmospheric elements that move with clarity, depth and intention. The Half Bearded Man by Fergus Sweetland opens the record. A rough yet detailed rhythmic framework, syncopated percussion and a rolling bassline create forward motion, while softer elements and a subtle vocal layer introduce a contrasting sense of lightness, drawing the listener into the track. On Shark Attak, D-Leria places percussion at the centre, but with a more restrained approach. Polyrhythmic bleeps and high-frequency sweeps weave around the groove, maintaining depth and tension without becoming intrusive, giving the track a quiet but persistent drive. The B-side opens with one of its defining moments: Anukari, a collaboration between Efdemin and GiGi FM. Bringing together two distinct approaches, the track unfolds as a layered and atmospheric piece: detailed percussion, connecting textures and subtle melodic fragments create a sense of depth that feels both modern and slightly otherworldly, while remaining inviting and grounded. Closing the record, Even by Fireground reduces the elements further. Warm chords and a restrained rhythmic core create an open, enveloping space, balancing softness with tension and allowing the track to unfold with a quiet sense of momentum. Across all four tracks, the release remains tightly cohesive: built on groove, space and carefully placed detail. As the final entry in the series, it shifts the focus from structure to flow, offering a closing chapter that feels immersive, connected and complete. A1 Written and Produced by Fergus Sweetland | A2 Written and Produced by Giuseppe Scaccia | B1 Written and Produced by Giulia Fournier & Philip Sollmann | B2 Written and Produced by Angela Dragonetto & Danielle Paduano Mastered by Ahmet Sisman (The Third Room Studios) Artwork by Charlotte Ernst Design by Daniel Bornmann (STUEDIO.XYZ) Distribution by Clone Pressing by Matter Of Fact
One of the best mid 70s roots tunes, reissued the way we always wanted to see it. The Officials (later known as Earth & Stone) "Babylonian" was released on a very rare Jaguar 45 as a solo vocal, but also had a lesser known release on a Dynamic Sounds compilation album. That album cut is a duo harmony vocal over a slightly different take of the rhythm, and never reissued on vinyl before. Both vocal cuts are now paired back to back in crisp master tape quality.
The second in our TEN series has been envisioned by a humble legend in the game, Tzena. Two tracks with his signature drive, and obscure details, maximising dance floor pleasure!
Less is more with this limited 10” run, a collector disc with the beautiful design of Gal.tic
If you are lucky you might catch Tzena hustling the sound at some of your favourite Berlin spots!
Limited copies available here in our Berlin shop at Weserstrasse 166
First released 30 years ago (...) We're talking about 1990. Written and produced by 'FSOL' before they became The Future Sound of London.
This EP brings together the original recordings of the 3 main tracks released by Mental Cube, while the forth was released under a different name, it was intended to be a Mental Cube track.
Q - quickly became a dance floor favourite funky 909 drums and speak n spell top line and big warm strings; Chile of the Bass Generation - Clanking Breakbeat wig-out. So this Is Love! A masterclass in classic UK House-Music, that sounds so good even 30 years on...
In The Mind Of A Child - Originally released as Indo Tribe but in fact was intended as a Mental Cube Release - Bouncy heavy bass 909 drums beautifully constructed top melodies.
Naarm/Melbourne-born, now Berlin-based, Willem shows us the house side of his work. Techno-leaning grooves lay the foundation of the record, while leaving room for textures that drift into the realm where dub techno meets house.
On the B side, we hear the debut release from Naarm/Melbourne-based justjoe. His dreamy, pad-heavy productions round out the release perfectly, riding a line of tech house-inspired drums whilst holding a mood that taps into those deep, inward states.
Highscore is one of the newest-and quite sensational-discoveries in funk of the 1980s out of Germany. Two tracks Breakin' Out and Girls So Fine, both recorded about 40 years ago and shelved ever since, are finally receiving a long-overdue 12" release.
Label founder DJ Scientist tells the story of how the tracks were uncovered:
"Several years ago, while researching the Crea label-after we had already licensed 'You're Not The One For Me' by Peter Patzer-I also wanted to find out more about another band on the label: Nuages, who had released the stunning jazz-funk/fusion album Cumulus.
Interestingly, a Discogs user had uploaded a hand written promo letter from one of the band members along with the LP. In it, drummer Mike Bach mentioned plans for a second album, as well as a single featuring a 'coloured singer'-which caught my attention. (A note on language: the original letter from 1985 uses the term 'coloured.' We've chosen to quote it directly as a historical document, but want to be clear that this reflects the terminology of the era and not language we would use today.)
Digging deeper, more information was found on Bach's own website, where a project called 'High Score' was mentioned. I immediately got in touch and asked if the recordings from that project still existed. Unfortunately, Bach couldn't locate any of the material at the time.
Years passed before we reconnected, when we featured 'Strange Weekend' by Nuages on our recent yacht rock compilation. I still had the Highscore project in mind and asked again. Once more, Mike had to deny-but he made another effort and reached out to former collaborators. A few weeks later, guitarist and composer Hermann Behrens discovered cassette tapes containing tracks from the Highscore project. I couldn't wait to hear them…"
To go back a bit: Nuages were a jazz-rock band from Bremerhaven, originally formed by guitarist Joachim "Fussy" Fuß in 1982. The lineup included Mike Bach (drums and percussion), Klaus Hinners (bass), and Frank Fischer (keyboards). In 1984, John Dillard, a U.S. GI stationed in Germany, joined Nuages for several live performances as a soul singer.
Around 1985/1986, Dillard and Bach then teamed up with Hermann Behrens with a new focus on electro funk and disco: Highscore was born.
When the three demo recordings were finally sent to us, they immediately blew us away. Breakin' Out stood out as an incredible electro-funk boogie gem-exactly what we had been looking for. What's more, it didn't sound like a rough demo at all, Breakin Out was a well-arranged and almost perfectly recorded track, driven by fresh, vibrant synths, drum machines and guitar. The cassette mix wasn't entirely final, but the remaining details could be refined during mastering.
The B-side, Girl So Fine, impressed just as much-equally strong and just as captivating as the A-side. Our reaction was immediate: this had to be released without delay!
Most importantly, there are a few more recordings from Highscore. However, these only exist as multi-track studio reels, which currently cannot be transferred. In the best case, more material from the band may surface soon-hopefully without another long wait.
The 12" release Breakin' Out / Girl So Fine" comes with a newly designed picture sleeve, featuring an original photo of the band members, including background singer Ruben Hopkins who does not appear on these two recordings.
Exos inaugurates the new sub-label on SHDW's Mutual Rytm with four 90s techno cuts, with offshoot imprint X building on the main imprint's DJ-friendly tools to delve deeper into a broader spectrum of electronic music.
Founded in 2022, SHDW's Mutual Rytm label has quickly become one of techno's most supported labels, with wide-reaching love and well-earned hype following a series of carefully curated VA offerings and solo EPs from a wealth of the scene's best. Continuing to push the pace, with more records capturing high-quality, fresh soundscapes, April brings a new project to the mix with the launch of a new sub-label X, with techno pioneer Exos drafted to deliver the first instalment.
Hailing from Iceland, the Planet X boss is a master of crafting perfect dancefloor weaponry. Over the last twenty years, his high-octane sounds have come via vital labels like Figure and X/OZ, never failing to make an impact with both DJs and dancers. Whether dubby or hard, his techno is always authentic and channels the purity of the 90s sound, and he brings this signature sound to four fresh productions across his 'Infrared' EP, marking an impressive debut for both label and artist.
The title cut 'Infrared' opens up the package in style and showcases a track that looks set to be a go-to anthem for many in the months ahead. With searing synth lines and drilling bass, the blistering production delivers a thrilling, high-impact techno sound that will devastate the dancefloor. The well-designed 'Kaldur Klaki' ups the ante even more with tightly coiled loops of drums, rusty hi-hats and stuttering synth lines that canter along with a muscular feel. 'The Bad' is twitchy and paranoid, anxiety-riddled techno that is perfect for dark warehouses and freaky dancers before digital bonus 'DS4BR' lands with a more stripped-back aesthetic with dubby undercurrents and static electricity fizzing across the face of the cut.
Each of the releases on Mutual Rytm X will be available on limited edition, coloured 10" vinyl, hence the Roman numeral X, and Exos' 'Infrared' EP kicks off the series on 19th April ahead of a new wave of killer releases scheduled across 2024.
House and techno's most innovative improviser, KiNK, lands on Mutual Rytm X.
Offering four more thrilling dancefloor weapons, the iconic talent lands on SHDW's new Mutual Rytm X Series to deliver the label's second release.
Legendary Bulgarian artist KiNK is widely regarded as one of the most respected live acts on the global scene. He is a noted tech wizard who creates loops on the fly, crafts killer drums and never fails to hypnotise dancefloors. He has released on almost every influential label of the last 15 years and taken his unrivalled live show to all corners of the world, often drawing on those sets to bring aspects and inimitable qualities from his performances into his tracks. This innovative approach has helped to solidify his reputation as a groundbreaking figure, inspiring a new generation of musicians and producers, and he once again showcases precisely why he's in a league of his own here with a first appearance on SHDW's newly minted Mutual Rytm X.
'Unicord' opens up this new EP in thrilling fashion with sleek, Detroit-style synth loops flashing up top as the heavy, pounding while warm drums drive things down low. 'Quantum Shake' brings 90s energy with new school sound deists - the dubby drums are fast and urgent, the synth craft is deft, and the percussion adds texture to a straight-up but sophisticated techno anthem. 'Pitch Down' then brings fantastically unhinged synth leads that spray and zip about the mix to boggle the brain. Rattling percussive loops and chunky drums keep things moving as those synths get even more wild. To close, the digital bonus 'Highpass Lowpass' is a masterfully muscular cut with rugged bass and taught synths interlinking to mind-melting effect.
Another long-awaited vinyl shaped through time, pressure, and careful listening. On this record, Spinnski, Ian Oskadev, and CLGR each bring the maximum of their craft, pushing their sound until it holds up under the toughest real-world testing. Airy textures, rolling low-end, sharp rhythmic structure, and hypnotic elements come together into a sound that feels both controlled and alive. Every detail has been checked, adjusted, and refined with precision — not just for the studio, but for real systems. This is a record that translates everywhere, from small rooms to large dancefloors. VAM14 stands as another carefully built piece in the catalogue — balanced, warm, and fully functional. A release shaped with attention, experience, and respect for the sound.
Kashatskikh Studio Mastering
Design & Illustration by Kirill Kashatskikh
Following the passing of our dear friend DJ Romain earlier this year, we've spent a long time reflecting on when to share some of the new music he entrusted to Hard Times Records. The incredible response to 2024’s 'The Lost D.A.T.S.' EPs reignited Romain's creative spark at a time when, unbeknownst to many, he was quietly battling serious ill health. After relocating from his beloved New Jersey to Cleveland, the studio once again became his sanctuary, inspiring a remarkable new chapter of music. The 'New Jersey' and ‘Cleveland’ EPs were the first recordings from that period.
Funky Streets completes the first trio of new EPs, but it is also just a glimpse of the wealth of music Romain crafted before his passing. His final studio sessions became an escape from his daily battles, inspiring a remarkable outpouring of new material that he was determined to finish, knowing his beats would continue to warm dancefloors and further cement the legacy of one of house music's true masters.
Opening with the horn-driven swagger of the title track, the EP moves seamlessly into the soulful groove of 'I Like To Boogie' before culminating in the deep, organ-led dancefloor energy of 'This Is Where I Wanna Be’. Romain signs off with 'The Chocolates’ - an uplifting, guitar-laced boogie jam filled with warmth, joy and unmistakable soul.
Beautifully crafted from beginning to end, Funky Streets stands as a lasting testament to DJ Romain's extraordinary talent, timeless musicality, and enduring contribution to House music. His legacy lives on in every groove.
Excited to share this bomb new release from Scottish techno/house legend Stephen Brown, whose discography reads like a Who's Who of classic techno labels: Transmat Detroit, Djax-UpBeats, Cocoon, Subject Detroit, Theory...
With its instantly recognisable vocal hook, Test 1 is a bona fide, party-starting hand grenade of a tune and destined for track ID requests wherever it drops. Backed by the raw, Chi-town groover Move It (which wouldn't have sounded out-of-place on one of Brown's Djax-up-Beats releases: all off kilter pads, detuned hats and a slamming kick) plus the deeper Tell Him, itself a masterclass in subtlety and groove, this 3-tracker really is quite a package.
All killer: no filler, The Safari EP is essential for fans of proper underground house & techno. Stephen Brown's releases have been falling into the "buy-on-sight" bracket for DJs in the know for many moons now. This release is no different! High quality from Edinburghs finest.
A pioneering keyboardist of crossover music in Japan, Jun Fukamachi recorded and released this hidden masterpiece of the early Japanese fusion era in 1975 as part of Toshiba EMI’s audiophile-oriented high-fidelity analog “Pro Use Series”.
Now, it returns on clear red vinyl.
Backed by a powerhouse rhythm section consisting of drummer Shuichi “Ponta” Murakami and bassist Ray Ohara, Fukamachi showcases a rich palette of analog synthesizer sounds, while Kenji Ohmura delivers breathtakingly intense and fluid guitar solos.
The centerpiece of the album is the approximately 14-minute jazz-funk epic “Bamboo Bongo”, a standout track that perfectly captures the virtuosity and adventurous spirit of this landmark recording.
The saxophone, thunderous as a peal of lightning, burns the listener’s body and shakes the soul. Out Of Chaos captures a new frontier reached by Kosuke Mine beyond the depths of chaos.
Having attracted widespread attention through his work with the Masafumi Kikuchi Group and the consecutive release of three albums under his own name in 1970, Kosuke Mine was one of the most talked-about figures in Japanese jazz. Following the breakup of the Kikuchi Group, he released the masterpiece Daguri in 1973, followed by the recording of Out Of Chaos.
From the hard-driving Recollection to the beautiful ballad Little Abi, Mine’s playing—said to have been influenced by John Coltrane during this period—displays both sharp inspiration and a grand sense of scale, blowing with a power that seems to break through every barrier.
Backing him is the trio that helped propel Mine to the center of the jazz scene. Their performance, completely united and burning with intensity, is nothing short of breath-taking.
2 x 12" LP with bonus tracks & printed innersleeves
Idealism Forever is the reissue of Digitalism's genre defining debut studio album from 2007. After the 2024 release of the limited remastered 3 LP set which is sold out completely, this new version is on 2LPs but still has all bonus tracks from the 2024 release. The analogue master of the album shows the songs in their best outfit and the bonus material, which originally was recorded while making the album back in the days, breath the energy of the original recordings. To date the album tracks have been used in numerous games and commercials. They have been sampled and used in new song interpretations all around the world. The songs have millions of streams over the different platforms and never lost their appeal.
Volume Six in the ongoing saga of the Jahtarian Dub mothership, full of 8-bit explosives, cosmic curveballs and sound system heavy hitters.
Roger Robinson teams up with West Coast beat maestro Mophono (watch out for the limited 7” instrumental “Budokan Dub”!), Maffi and Tapes return with mutated killer riddims, Casio shaman Green Jesus is transmitting from the Polish woods, while The Other Others beam in alongside Daniel Monaco, followed by a special Dub cut from Elijah Minelli x Kiki Hitomi.
On the flip Bo Marley are back with a track previously only released on tape, S.NOVA spreads her haunting vocals over an Alien Trackers depth charge and Slim Levy dubs the Beatles into outer space.
There is more Dub love coming from the newly born Snorks outfit, disrupt appears with a beautiful spaced out hiphop track and Barcelona Dub heroes STA finish the journey with a super hypnotizing brain melter that will see an extended 12” version soon.
UK tech house pioneer Dexter debuts on Endell Street with a release deeply rooted in London’s underground tech house history. For years, Tangent Boy has circulated as a mythical weapon, passed hand to hand through London’s underground and closely guarded by those in the know. This marks its first ever vinyl release. On the B-side, the sought after Funk Warped finally returns newly remastered, preserving its original grit while sharpening its analog edge.
Steeped in the dub-tech traditions of early London, this is a masterclass in restrained, functional sound design, capturing a defining moment in time from an artist who helped write the genre’s vocabulary.
Assembler Code - We've Felt This One Coming For A Minute Now. After An Unstoppable Run Of Releases Along Side Jensen Interceptor On Labels Such As Cultivated Electronics, Private Persons & Boysnoize Records, Ac Is Finally Flying Solo With This 4 Track Electro Assault Masterpiece 'mental Escape'.
Plugging Into The Title Track 'mental Escape', It's A Rugged Machine Driven Work Out Through Idm & Industrial Landscapes Formulated To Present His Vision Of Futuristic Electro Whilst Still Providing All The Nostalgic Rother & Drexcyian Nods We All Love.
Now That The Tone Has Been Set, 'simulant' Follows Suit. Entering The Celestial Sphere Via Some Haunting Sci-fi Strings, We're Slapped In The Face With Slamming Percussion Followed By A Relentless Acidic Modulated Baseline That Takes Us From One Planet To The Next At Light Speed.
The Journey Wouldn't Be Complete With Out His Old Partner In Crime Jensen Interceptor Coming On Board For A Ride. 'type 2' Is A Classic Case Of Past Meets Present. Scrapyard Industrial Groove Ready To Split Speakers At Your Next Warehouse Party Married With A Selection Of Classic Alpha Sounds To Keep All The Purists In Check.
The Thunder Continues To The Very End. If You're A Tape Saturation Fiend Begging For Your Next 808 Crack Hit, Prepare To Have Your Back Bent In Half With Euphoria As Soon As 'hal's Machine Tool' Is Injected Into Your Ears. In Short, 4 Minutes & 44 Seconds Of Hard Nasty Robotic Electro Booty Sweat.
The undisputed Godfather of Boogie, Leroy Burgess’s Logg project is his grand masterpiece.
The self-titled LP, originally released on Salsoul in August 1981, is one of the greatest albums of the post-disco era. It’s one of Be With’s favourite ever LPs and so it’s a complete honour to be giving it our reissue treatment. With all the touchstones of Burgess’s finest work - breezy grooves, undulating synths, funk-drenched bass and life-affirming lyrics - delivered with gospel-derived vocals and harmonies - it’s a record to uplift both body and spirit.
Already a cult soul figure as lead singer of seminal vocal group Black Ivory, Leroy Burgess cut his teeth as arranger, vocalist and songwriter with legendary producer Patrick Adams on essential late-70s projects like Phreek and Dazzle. He went on to define the essence of “boogie”: the vibrant underground dance sound that stood in contrast to commercial disco. With its reduced speed - mid-90 to under 110 BPM - the cool boogie of Burgess has the disco bounce, just more laidback.
All six tracks here could have been stand alone 12" hits. Indeed, some of them were. But together they are also an incredibly cohesive album, where all the compositions are deeply relevant to each other. In short, it’s essential; a thrilling showcase for Burgess’s finest arranging and production work - with his vocals at their euphoric peak alongside the inventive rhythm section of Aaron (Sonny) T. Davenport on drums and James Calloway on bass.
Opener “(You’ve Got) That Something” is a balmy sunshine groover with an insistent chorus whilst the timeless vocal of “Dancing Into The Stars” - married to percolating synth and airtight drums - showcases the chemistry between Burgess and the rhythm section.
The fusion of funk and gospel-influenced harmonies which propels “Something Else” is remarkable - deep, joyous and bouncy. Infamously mixed by Larry Levan, “I Know You Will” is an easy glide, all rollicking electric piano underpinned by a precise and relentlessly upbeat groove. “Lay It On The Line” radiates smooth, understated brilliance, elevated by interstellar keys and finally album-closer “Sweet To Me” is a chilled-out gem of profound soulful elegance.
Logg has long been a hit with the likes of Kenny Dope and Dam-Funk whilst, in the last decade, MCDE and Harvey Sutherland have routinely cited it as a huge influence. Accordingly, finding original copies on vinyl at affordable prices has been a thankless task. This fresh Be With reissue ensures this legendary record now sounds, looks and feels as sensational as it deserves to.
Mastered brilliantly by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and with lovingly reproduced artwork, we think this is a reissue that does justice to this classic LP.
Stemming form the Saurus in NY Ep released in 1994, Sex Line is getting its own well deserved release and make over. The new EP contains the original mix re- mastered and a new mix made in 2020. Side B “I feel myself” previously unreleased (new recordings) was written while working on the original Sex Line project but did not make it in the original release by Muzak.
“One foot out the door, another in the otherworld…”
So begins Hannah Lew’s debut, self-titled solo record, soaked in imperious, wide-eyed pop songwriting and a girl-group/post punk aesthetic that belies the artist’s history in the U.S. underground. A towering, hook-laden album, it’s infused with an optimism and surrealism that conversely deals with the times we find ourselves in.
Recorded at home in Richmond, CA and in The Best House studio with Maryam Qudus in Oakland CA, with the assistance of a crack team of West Coast musicians, this album sees Hannah Lew stepping out from behind the legacy of her two groups Grass Widow and Cold Beat. While musically bearing similarities with her previous work, “Hannah Lew” is a bold leap into direct pop territory, making ample use of a vocal style that teases out the inherent melancholy in her melodies. Mastered by Sarah Register, each song is a perfectly honed nugget that frequently pulls the heart in two directions at once.
Themes of change, breaking up, shattering old ways of being are shot through the record. For the front cover, a photograph of the artist’s face was printed, ripped up and re-assembled, resembling the creative process embarked upon by Lew for her first “solo” material. The album feels instinctual, almost dream-like in its assemblage of sweeping synths and pulsating, propulsive drum machine beat patterns with Lew’s vocal performances sensitive and caressing over the top. Increasingly relying on the subconscious and dreams to guide her creative process, Hannah Lew frequently abandons literal interpretations or linear narratives, the songs seeming to exist in a swooning, effortless flow-state while remaining emotionally hard hitting.
On an album where every song could be a single, there are kaleidoscopic shades and varying emotional tones in abundance. First single Another Twilight is carried along a pumping, Italo-disco-style 4/4 beat and mono-synth bass line, the low end pulling at the heart and body. Lew’s vocal melody teases the track before swan-diving into a gorgeous chorus as she sings “it’s all over baby and I don’t mind… in decline, I take my time…” The album is suffused with moments like this. On slow builder Damaged Melody, an arpeggiated synth elongates the verse before a cascading synth showers down melodic glitter. The stunning Replica uses dual swirling synth patterns before a driving, synthpop chorus for the ages carries Hannah Lew’s vocal into the stereo field, sailing in on a high register singed with the embers of a break up.
In a departure from previous groups, her solo songs are guided by dreams and free association inspired by Dada and the Surrealist movement and sculpted afterwards. As such, the songs reveal themselves on repeated listens, revealing traces of heartbreak inspired by both personal and global elements - Hannah Lew regards the album “a wartime album.” On Move In Silence, Lew intones “there’s a war outside, just out of view,” revealing the dichotomy at play throughout. With the songs evolving naturally and in a flow state, the pressures and sadnesses of the modern age bleed through, mixed in with Lew’s inherent love, sensitivity and fractured-but-intact optimism. On the swooning, sublime Sunday layers of Numanoid synths open up for the commanding vocal performance pontificating on grief, love, pain as she “feels the ache on Sunday…” As the chorus builds and Lew’s call-and-response vocal adds to the emotional tension, it almost feels like too much to take.
Elsewhere, there are echoes of Hannah Lew’s previous work. On Time Wasted a bass guitar comes in with a heavy, punk attack before the synths and vocal harmonies reminiscent of later Cold Beat elevate everything. The glassy, sweetly resigned closer The Clock sounds like so classic it could be cover, a sweetened Jesus & Mary Chain tune perhaps, before it erupts into volcanic chorus that could only come from Hannah Lew in 2026.
Kid Katana Records collaborated with the incredible teams at KOEI TECMO GAMES, Team NINJA, PlatinumGames and Xbox Games Studios to bring you the NINJA GAIDEN 4 OST on physical format for the first time.
This release is composed of three premium editions:
4LP Vinyl Slipcase - Limited Edition (No Repress) - no consignment, 25 units minimum order
Limited “blood splatter” vinyls with a unique “splatter” effect: handmade vinyl effect with transparent red base and white splatter. Each vinyl has a unique pattern that evokes Yakumo & Ryu combat style. This edition will not be repressed.
Handpicked curation of the game music, mastered for this specific vinyl edition. Includes “Infinite Gale“ DLC track as bonus.
Matte 4LP slipcase with a glossy effect on the game’s logo.
4 printed sleeves with “Bloodbath” design, alternating between Yakumo and Ryu execution animations.
4LP Vinyl Slipcase - Standard Edition
4 classic black vinyls.
Handpicked curation of the game music, mastered for this specific vinyl edition. Includes “Infinite Gale“ DLC track as bonus.
Matte 4LP slipcase with a glossy effect on the game’s logo.
4 printed sleeves with “Bloodbath” design, alternating between Yakumo and Ryu execution animations.
3CD Boxset
3 printed CDs with “Bloodbath” design, alternating between Yakumo and Ryu execution animations.
Handpicked curation of the game music, mastered for this specific CD edition. Includes 4 DLC tracks and 4 instrumental versions.
Crystal Jewelbox 3CD Boxset vintage packaging.
4-pages booklet featuring tracklist, credits and concept art from PlatinumGames Sound Team.
Kid Katana Record produced this album with supervision from NINJA GAIDEN4 Sound Team, who composed the original game music.
Kid Katana Records collaborated with the incredible teams at KOEI TECMO GAMES, Team NINJA, PlatinumGames and Xbox Games Studios to bring you the NINJA GAIDEN 4 OST on physical format for the first time.
This release is composed of three premium editions:
4LP Vinyl Slipcase - Limited Edition (No Repress) - no consignment, 25 units minimum order
Limited “blood splatter” vinyls with a unique “splatter” effect: handmade vinyl effect with transparent red base and white splatter. Each vinyl has a unique pattern that evokes Yakumo & Ryu combat style. This edition will not be repressed.
Handpicked curation of the game music, mastered for this specific vinyl edition. Includes “Infinite Gale“ DLC track as bonus.
Matte 4LP slipcase with a glossy effect on the game’s logo.
4 printed sleeves with “Bloodbath” design, alternating between Yakumo and Ryu execution animations.
4LP Vinyl Slipcase - Standard Edition
4 classic black vinyls.
Handpicked curation of the game music, mastered for this specific vinyl edition. Includes “Infinite Gale“ DLC track as bonus.
Matte 4LP slipcase with a glossy effect on the game’s logo.
4 printed sleeves with “Bloodbath” design, alternating between Yakumo and Ryu execution animations.
3CD Boxset
3 printed CDs with “Bloodbath” design, alternating between Yakumo and Ryu execution animations.
Handpicked curation of the game music, mastered for this specific CD edition. Includes 4 DLC tracks and 4 instrumental versions.
Crystal Jewelbox 3CD Boxset vintage packaging.
4-pages booklet featuring tracklist, credits and concept art from PlatinumGames Sound Team.
Kid Katana Record produced this album with supervision from NINJA GAIDEN4 Sound Team, who composed the original game music.
Kid Katana Records teamed up again with KOEI TECMO GAMES and Team NINJA, to bring you the NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black OST on vinyl for the first time.
This physical edition is a 2LP designed in close relationship with the game's creative team:
2-colored vinyl with a unique “corona” effect that is reminiscent of “Sumi (black ink)”: handmade vinyl effect melting white and black colors to shape a unique vinyl color on each product, evoking Ryu Hayabusa style.
Handpicked curation of the game music, mastered for this specific vinyl edition
A Gatefold created for this specific vinyl
Kid Katana Record produced this album with supervision from Koei Tecmo Sound, who composed the original game music.
Emotional Rescue returns after a much-needed year hiatus, refreshed and ready, as it moves into its 15th year, to further explore the environs of oft-forgotten musical secrets and present them to new heads and minds.
To celebrate, the label looks back to one of its favourite collaborations, the music of French ‘Ethno-Industrialists’ Vox Populi! in presenting a truly unique EP of “In Dub”, inspired remixes by 4 fellow Paris based artists of today in Full Circle, Froid Dub, Krikor and Shelter.
“In Dub” takes a selection of songs from the series of albums reissued or compiled on Emotional Rescue and sister label, Platform 23, and gives the Master tapes to this talented ensemble to offer their own, unique dub reworks. The project explores the on-going advances in technology offered, mixed with pure talent and a respectful homage.
Formed by Axel Kyrou and including wife Mitra, as well as long-term music and art partners Pierre Jolivet aka Pacific 231 and Francis Lafont aka FR6 Man, they forged a path from obscure, drum and drum-based cassette releases on to fully realized albums and compilations on their now cult Vox Man Records.
Alexis Le Tan and Joakim’s Full Circle project starts, with their electronic dub remake of Soleyman Dub from the ‘Alternatif Réalisme’ compilation (ERC079). With releases on Good Morning Tapes, Offen and their own “Released” label, their plaudits as master diggers and producers of dubby tripped-out inspired electronics – releasing slowed Trance some 10 years before anyone else – is inspired. Tuning in and turning on the original dub into a mantra style slow-breaks (Digi)dub is the perfect experimental flavour.
Jube Man is next, a twisted, psychedelic dub out by rising stars Froid Dub. The stand-out from the ‘Magiques Creations’ release (ERC052), an album that explored Vox Populi’s furtive post-industrial period of 1984 to 1988, Jube Man was the perfect selection by the duo of François Marché and Stéphane Bodin.
Froid Dub have steadily developed their “cold” Digidub style to acclaim –
releasing a steady flow of dub inspired electronics on their own label Delodio, as well as recently appearing on sister label Emotional Response’s 10th year anniversary collection, ‘All Trades’. Their haunting, shuffling and murky acid / piano dub, with the drifting “Space Echoing” of Mitra’s vocals from the live desk mix, creates a ghostly version to effect.
Next, master mixer, producer and engineer Krikor serves a steppers remake with his “OverDub” of Zen-Dub. With a career that spans releases on Tigersushi, LIES and Soul Jazz, his sound has developed from Electro, House and Techno, to Acid, Bleep, Dancehall, Dub and touches of Gabba.
Taken from Vox Populi!’s master-opus Aither (ERC030), the first of our reissues dating back to 2016, Zen-Dub’s pacey, lo-fi dub experience is transformed and overdubbed into an incessant sound system throb, a true bass quaking “steppa”.
To close, Micro Climax is put through Shelter’s increasing avant dub exposition. Appearing on the likes of Growing Bin, Emotional Response and his own Protopost, as well for – and being in-house designer – on the much-missed Séance Centre, Alan Briand aka Shelter productions have developed from Balearic, Edits and House to explore Avant, Raga and live Dub productions.
Appearing on the recent ‘Ethniques Pyschedeliques’ compilation on Platform 23 (PLA032), in original form Micro Climax is a sprawling 10-minute ethno-dub of whispered vocals, drone and sub bass. Shelter strips it back, keeping background effects, adding live bass and percussion to create a wonky, slow, shuffling ska-lite excursion to complete a true “In Dub”.
Joining the ranks of Razor-N-Tape’s 45 series, London producer Danny Kane drops a pair of disco heaters under his D’Swing moniker. Pulled from the archives of his 90s street soul and UK Garage project D’Swing, these tracks were brought back to life from the original masters, and flipped as modern disco cuts that preserves their authentic vintage quality. Snappy drums, dexterous live instrumentation, and soulful vocals feature on this pair of summery floor fillers!
The prolific Lord Of The Isles (aka Scotland's Neil McDonald) has had a string of stunning 12's over the past few years on labels such as Permanent Vacation, Unthank, Shevchenko, Mule and of course his four track 'Year Of The City EP' on Phonica, which was widely acclaimed upon its release in 2012.
This time LOTI presents two long-form tracks, each a mini-masterpiece in itself. The 10 minute plus 'Greane' bursts into life after an intro of kicks and white noise hi-hats. It continues to slowly build, with pitch-bent synth lines and a pulsing bass-line making way for a melacholic shift in mood. Truly original stuff!
On the flip, a swirl of synthetic strings introduces 'Gigha', in a manner that brings to mind Rhythm
Is Rhythm's legendary 'Kao-Tic Harmony', before the drums and infectious acid-line join in. Over the 8 minutes they continue to interweave and play off each other to dazzling effect.
Artwork by Jack Featherstone, the designer of a number of sleeves for Border Community (including the highly praised campaign behind James Holden's 'The Inheritors', its singles and live visuals), Electric Minds, Warm and of course, Phonica.
“Wavebreaker” is a magnificent post-punk and minimal wave album originally self-released in 2024 by Orus Boris — a brilliant work that unquestionably deserved a proper vinyl edition for both its musical depth and outstanding technical quality. Built around a truly exceptional production, “Wavebreaker” moves in line with the finest contemporary wave sounds while constantly expanding its own universe. The album never feels nostalgic or predictable. Instead, it reshapes its influences into something fluid, sharp, and deeply personal, refusing to remain confined to a single language. Alongside its minimal wave foundations, the record introduces subtle incursions into darker electronic territories such as dark electro aesthetics, making each track feel unexpected and constantly evolving. Melancholy collides with tension, elegance with aggression, precision with emotional weight. The result is an immersive and surprising listening experience from beginning to end—a remarkable work that confirms Orus Boris as one of the most exciting and essential voices to follow within the new wave underground. Presented in ONE-OFF truly limited edition of 300 copies lacquered pressed on 180 gr. high quality solid BLACK vinyl. All tracks have been specially remastered and mastered for vinyl by Daniel Hallhuber at Young and Cold Studios (Germany).
Common Language is a project of the Community Library label. We started it as a way to reconnect with the ideas that drove ComLib’s inaugural releases back in 2005, uncompromising and eclectic DJ 12’s. We’ll be focused on this imprint for a while, and near-term, putting the emphasis on releases by label cofounders and our closest friends.
On CLANG02, the Middlemarch 12” EP, Solenoid transmutes his signature buoyant syncopated acid, electro, and mutant techno into moodier, reverberant territory. If you previously knew Solenoid for his restless, sophisticated Braindance-adjacent stuff, this EP is totally consistent with his long discography. Here though, he gets into a dreamier, and also bassier zone that is equally rewarding either in the innerspace immersion of headphones or in the warmth of your favorite local underground club’s sound system--lots of detail and atmosphere to sink into.
“Middlemarch” is moody deep techno-- a clatter of distant percussion encircles eerie pads and an extra-bassy, double-filtered TB303 bassline. “Ways and Means” rotates perplexing polyrhythmic patterns driven by bright, elasticchords that keep it moving (reminding me of The Martian’s stuff on Red Planet a bit). “A Winter Walk” offers a skeletal, skittering rhythm that wouldn’t be out of place next to a Livity Sound track; and the closer, “Dvv Waltz” reserves a 3/4-time experiment for the bravest / most inquisitive DJs.
Edition of 300 vinyl copies includes special full- color insert
Mastered by Dietrich Schoenemann
About Solenoid
Solenoid is the primary musical vehicle of David Chandler, a lifer underground producer, musician, and visual artist. As a lone electronic voice in the wilderness of early-90s Portland (which was at the time a grunge-saturated third backwater) he started out releasing adventurous, now- unobtainium tapes on his DIY Pharmacy label. Solenoid then became known internationally at the turn of the millennium as one of Portland’s persistent ambassadors for underground crossover electro and techno, releasing on labels like Outward Music Company, Emanate, Orac, and many others (most recently, on the Paris label Partout). He’s a real legend honestly--doggedly clocking in almost 40 years of uncompromising experimentalism with a signature sound and vision running all the way through.
-- Paul Dickow (Strategy)
Next up on Berlin’s Pure Hate Trax PH009 PH EP by NX1 Incl. UVB Remix. For over a decade, the Barcelona-based duo NX1 have forged and continuously refined a unique sonic identity. Their music radiates an awe- inspiring physicality: powerful low-end pressure, meticulously crafted breaks, and tension-driven crescendos that elevate each track without ever resorting to clichés. The duo has consolidated its position with releases on some of the most respected labels in the scene, including Planète Rouge, MORD, Modularz, Semantica, BITE, Earwiggle and their own imprints NX1 and Nexe Records. Their discography reached a pivotal moment with the release of their acclaimed album “What You Should Know About Yourself”, a defining chapter in the evolution of their artistry. On remix this time we are proud to welcome UVB to the label. The French Berlin based artist needs no introduction due to his constant presence on the Techno scene for well over a decade now releasing on such labels as Mord, 47, Monnom Black, Analogue, STOOR and his own imprints SHIV and Body Theory. Mastered by Paul Mac Graphic design by Slave To Society Distributed by Triple Vision Distribution 2026 Pure Hate Trax
A legend returns as the alias of scene stalwart DJ Levi and Curvature co-creator Ghosts of MIDI unleashes an EP of seismic tracks backed with remixes from ASC and Aural Imbalance. A1 - Iron Dinosaurs Opening a fine Curvature debut for the label’s very own Dan Azimuth, Iron Dinosaurs is an epic piece of atmospheric goodness introduced with a long, elegant intro of synths and luscious female vocals. Before long, classy, energetic metallic breaks kick in, set to an immensely memorable key melody and a room-filling bassline, creating a breathtakingly fluid and captivating piece. A2 - Iron Dinosaurs (ASC remix) Taking an incredibly evocative track and lacing it with sprinkles of ASC goodness to create a true gem is the order of the day here, as the heart of the original courses through an ominous intro, quickly beset by fine analogue amens that hit hard for the dancefloor, while allowing the soul of the piece to breathe, syncing in harmony with the distinctive vocal samples and swirling synthwork that colour the atmosphere so perfectly. B1 - Deadly Dimensions A DJ-friendly intro of hi hats gradually ushers in epic, bassy melodies gliding through serene vocals and airy pads, before the drop reveals exquisite breaks with just the slightest hint of an apache in there. Very danceable, the breaks are chopped and diced at will, driving a determined pace for another superbly epic, ethereal piece of atmospheric drum & bass from one of the OG’s of the scene. B2 - Deadly Dimensions (Aural Imbalance remix) The EP closes with a real treat - this is as close as an example you’ll hear to a match made in heaven as the eerily epic production of Ghosts of Midi collides with the inimitable ambient mastery of Aural Imbalance. Intersecting the thoughtful vibes of the original, this remix sees playful old school breaks jostle with swathes of fluid synthwork and delicate pads, creating a unified expression of atmospheric purity.
1st Down is a Detroit hip-hop group formed by Phat Kat and Jon Doe in the mid-1990s. Signed to Payday Records, the group recorded one album and released a single before the label went defunct, leaving the full project unreleased. More than thirty years later, Detroit Vinyl presents the complete album exactly as it was intended to be heard, preserving a critical piece of Detroit hip-hop history and showcasing the earliest recorded work of the artist who would later become J Dilla.
Younger Brother Live, with Shpongle and The Orb at Troxy, London 9th May
Twisted Records is thrilled to announce the release of the long-awaited fourth album by Younger Brother: Mutually Assured Distraction.
The first full-length release by the fabled electronica project in a decade features nine sumptuous tracks that each embody the project’s intoxicating fusion of profoundly human sonorities and etheric electronic soundscapes.
The title is a subversive reframing of the Cold War doctrine “Mutually Assured Destruction,” pointing to a world currently frozen not by the geopolitical threat of a Nuclear Winter but by a Digital Summer of mindless overstimulation. Mutually Assured Distraction is a sonic salve for the pervasive numbness induced by an emotionally disconnective artificiality that seeks to pacify with counterfeit happiness; the album offers an antidote to mundane superficiality with nine musical masterpieces that convey the depth of human experience and authentic creative expression.
The progression of track titles symbolically represents the arc of this soulful journey through an evocative auditory landscape of moods, harmonies, and textures, progressing from the haunting opening “I Belong to Nowhere” to the penultimate “Home In This World” before arriving at the concluding “Endless Drift.”
The synthesised musical mastery of renegade musicians Simon Posford and Benji Vaughan is complemented by the contributions of some supremely skilful musicians, with beguiling vocals by MiraBelle Rose and Jay Marsh and the rich cello of Rena Jones. With poignant lyrics that speak to the universal human condition in a world where voices are amplified yet so many feel unheard,
Mutually Assured Distraction provides, through its fusion of electronic and real-world music- making, an example of how technology can pair harmoniously with our humanity - an energetic homecoming as the music draws us away from the unconscious scroll into an open field where we can embody our essential nature.
The album stands as both a reflection of our times and a timeless reminder that beneath the noise, a deeper presence continually exists, waiting to be felt, heard, and expressed.
In the rapidly shifting tectonic plates of the global Afrobeats scene, few arrivals have been as seismic as that of Ahmed Ololade—better known to the world as Asake. With his breakout project Mr. Money With The Vibe, the artist didn’t merely debut; he effectively recalibrated the tempo of the Nigerian pop soundscape. The EP functions as a masterclass in synthesis, pulling from the ornate, percussive history of Fuji music and grafting it onto the driving, bass-heavy architectures of contemporary Amapiano. It is a calculated, deeply rhythmic hybridization that manages to feel both nostalgic and jarringly modern.
From a critical vantage point, Mr. Money With The Vibe is defined by its brevity and density. Asake treats each track as a focused vignette, utilizing a vocal delivery that oscillates between a melodic, almost liturgical chant and the staccato urgency of a Lagos street orator. The production—characterized by sharp, frenetic percussion and deceptively simple melodic loops—creates a high-intensity atmosphere that mirrors the relentless pace of urban life. He avoids the pitfall of bloated experimentation; instead, he doubles down on a "street-pop" ethos, prioritizing accessibility without sacrificing the complex rhythmic interplay that gives the genre its distinctive texture.
Ultimately, Mr. Money With The Vibe stands as a pivotal document of the current era, capturing the transition of Afrobeats from a regional powerhouse to a dominant global force. By blending the aspirational "hustle culture" narrative with an increasingly sophisticated sonic palette, Asake established a blueprint that has since influenced a new wave of artists. The project is a testament to the idea that authenticity, when paired with relentless precision, remains the most effective currency in contemporary music.
The wait is over! Superfett Supersound Selection is back and ready to unleash the next wave of club anthems with VOL. 6.
This explosive 4-track sampler is packed with massive bangers that are sure to ignite dance floors everywhere. Get ready for an unforgettable ride!
1. N-YOU-UP, John Bowtie (France) - DIS MTF
This dynamic duo brings their signature sound to the forefront, combining infectious beats with electrifying energy that sets the stage ablaze.
Known for his infectious grooves and captivating melodies, John Bowtie delivers a track that elevates the dance floor experience with every pulse of the beat.
3. Folkness (Poland)
The Polish superstar producer has crafted an undeniable anthem that showcases his mastery of house music. Expect driving rhythms and explosive drops that will keep you moving all night long.
4. Amedeo Picone (Italy)
A rising star in the scene with releases at Snatch, Jospeh Capriati´s Metamorfosi - Amedeo Picone brings a fresh perspective with his distinctive sound, expertly blending bass-heavy lines and infectious hooks that demand attention.
5. **KPD** (Spain)
KPD rounds out the lineup with a high-energy track that’s guaranteed to make an impact, blending elements of tech and house for an unforgettable dance floor experience.
Superfett Supersound Selection VOL. 6 is all about delivering no fillers, only bangers. Each track is carefully curated to ensure maximum dance floor damage, making this a must-have for DJs and partygoers alike.
Played and loved by Carl Cox, Adriatique, Jamie Jones, Riva Starr, Amine Edge, Steve Lawler, Nic Fanciulli, Chicks Luv Us and many more...
The highly anticipated collaborative album, GOLDFISH, sees two of contemporary hip-hop's most revered and distinct production minds, Hit-Boy and The Alchemist, finally join forces for a full-length statement. Far from a simple beat-swap, this project is a masterclass in sonic cohesion, blurring the lines between their signature sounds to forge a new, golden-hued identity. Beyond production, the duo step from behind the boards to behind the mic to trade verses throughout the project, adding a personal layer to their creative vision.
GOLDFISH is a deeply immersive listen, perfectly balancing the West Coast muscle and polished, anthemic quality of Hit-Boy's work with the dusty, abstract texture and cinematic suspense that defines The Alchemist's aesthetic.
The result is a sound that feels both street-tested and museum-worthy. A collaborative manifesto, showcasing the infinite possibilities when two generational talents decide to link up, creating an instant classic in the canon of producer/MC albums.
Younger Brother Live, with Shpongle and The Orb at Troxy, London 9th May
Twisted Records is thrilled to announce the release of the long-awaited fourth album by Younger Brother: Mutually Assured Distraction.
The first full-length release by the fabled electronica project in a decade features nine sumptuous tracks that each embody the project’s intoxicating fusion of profoundly human sonorities and etheric electronic soundscapes.
The title is a subversive reframing of the Cold War doctrine “Mutually Assured Destruction,” pointing to a world currently frozen not by the geopolitical threat of a Nuclear Winter but by a Digital Summer of mindless overstimulation. Mutually Assured Distraction is a sonic salve for the pervasive numbness induced by an emotionally disconnective artificiality that seeks to pacify with counterfeit happiness; the album offers an antidote to mundane superficiality with nine musical masterpieces that convey the depth of human experience and authentic creative expression.
The progression of track titles symbolically represents the arc of this soulful journey through an evocative auditory landscape of moods, harmonies, and textures, progressing from the haunting opening “I Belong to Nowhere” to the penultimate “Home In This World” before arriving at the concluding “Endless Drift.”
The synthesised musical mastery of renegade musicians Simon Posford and Benji Vaughan is complemented by the contributions of some supremely skilful musicians, with beguiling vocals by MiraBelle Rose and Jay Marsh and the rich cello of Rena Jones. With poignant lyrics that speak to the universal human condition in a world where voices are amplified yet so many feel unheard,
Mutually Assured Distraction provides, through its fusion of electronic and real-world music- making, an example of how technology can pair harmoniously with our humanity - an energetic homecoming as the music draws us away from the unconscious scroll into an open field where we can embody our essential nature.
The album stands as both a reflection of our times and a timeless reminder that beneath the noise, a deeper presence continually exists, waiting to be felt, heard, and expressed.
The album from an association of Ukrainian artists called Noneside brought musicians and painters together under the famous words of the writer Lina Kostenko "Sometimes I'm Blinded By Beauty..".
The painting by contemporary figurative artist Danik Manzhos “Decadence/Zaruba” frames the prog, trance housy music of such performers as Saturated Color (Neptune Discs, Nerang Recordings), with a real acid test for you, JJ Fortune’s (Late Night Superglue, BOOOoo! Rizzwax) LSD trip remix on Lostlojic’s tune, Brooht (Mr.Banger, Silias Records) with summer electro fairy-tale, and Slava Los backs with his timeless work “M-14”.
Mastered by Taras Bril, also awesome typefaces of Ivan Tsanko-Khlibovich used in design as always.
First of all, this is the music of love and unity, wherever you are - at home dancing in the kitchen or on the big festival floor - common feelings will unite and spin you in a crazy rhythm, will make you understand that we are not strangers to each other. Together we dance for a better future!
A vast pulse from a distant past gets lost in incantations from the future. Ascending divine harmonies are reminiscent of specters of forgotten dreams. Followed by a trance like state of mind all spirits are transferred to arcane items and form evocative rhythms for evocative rituals. New imprint by Rupert Marnie exploring the atmospheric and minimal sides of techno. The first release features two extended hypnotic cuts built from acid influenced basslines, ethereal pads and constantly shifting sound structures for late hour dancefloors. Both sides end in locked grooves to keep the beat going. All tracks written and produced by Matthias Schubert Additional Mixing Bendrik Grossterlinden Mastered by Isabel Schröer at Olo Mastering and cut at Scape Mastering Berlin Artwork by Martha Jokier
British producer TIJN makes his _NRV debut with Berlin to Prague EP, a three-track collection of rolling grooves, understated detail, and late-night functionality. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience behind the decks and in the studio, TIJN has built a respected presence within the underground through releases on Rawax, Pleasure Zone, Bodyparts and Leftback, while also serving as label owner, partner and A&R across a number of influential imprints including Into The Wizards Sleeve, OGE and Curtea Veche. He is also the mastering engineer behind In Haus Mastering, bringing a finely tuned ear for detail to every corner of his output.
Do You Want Me Baby sees Cloud 9 deliver a timeless garage house cut from New York legend Victor Simonelli, returning on fresh 12” vinyl.
Built around uplifting piano lines, soulful vocal hooks and groove-driven rhythms, the track captures the feel-good energy of classic US garage house and remains a staple for DJs across house and garage sets.
Featuring a full suite of mixes including Club Mix, Deep Dub, Bonus Beats and Instrumental, the release offers strong versatility for DJs looking for both peak-time energy and stripped-back club tools.
With a sound rooted firmly in the New York house tradition, this release sits comfortably alongside artists such as Masters At Work, Todd Terry and Kenny Dope, making it a natural fit for stores supporting classic US house and garage.
Back on fresh 12" vinyl, this iconic track continues to resonate with both long-time collectors and a new generation of DJs.
A reliable and highly playable catalogue piece for stores supporting classic house and garage.
DJ Support from Luke Una, Colleen 'Cosmo Murphy' and Greg Wilson.
Two bona fide classic 70s cuts reworked for now.
‘Papa Stoned’, Ian Ossia’s driving take on one of disco’s seminal tracks, the Norman Whitfield masterpiece, ‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’ by The Temptations, relentlessly hammers the groove home, leaving the dance floor no option but total surrender.
‘Dream A Dream’ sees a 1994 Ian Dewhirst re-edit of the glorious ‘Dreaming A Dream’ by Crown Heights Affair respectfully retouched by Ché & Matica, who bring the beats into time, overdub additional elements and create a DJ friendly intro/outro for what is an essential update.
The gold standard edit masters at Scruniversal have decided to refocus somewhere away from their usual Brazilian sound for this latest 7". It finds the crew heading to Africa and digging deep for new grooves, with Tony Lavrutz, Scruscru & Dwaal coming correct. 'Afrika Bambaataa' kicks the record off with a laid back Afro-tinged broken beats with a sunny disposition and plenty of bright melodies that wouldn't sound out of place in a Nightmares on Wax set. On the flip side joint, 'Zulu Jam" the drums cut more deep with organic percussion scattered up top next to expressive flutes. Perfect summer vibes.
Damage Code is the result of the convergence of two long-standing figures from the underground industrial and EBM scene: Carlos Grabstein (89s✝) and Ben Bunzen (Hammershøi). Released in partnership with Miseria records, their first collaboration unfolds through proto-industrial sequences, oppressive atmospheres, repetitive structures, and distorted transmissions, all wrapped in body-driven percussion that pulls the listener into a controlled state of sensory overload. Harsh yet precise, ritualistic yet futuristic, the record advances with relentless intensity while maintaining a raw, physical energy throughout. Somewhere between the diseased electronics of Front Line Assembly and the primitive industrial tension of Esplendor Geométrico, Digital Slave channels a sound that is both confrontational and hypnotic. With “Digital Slave”, Damage Code opens a new portal into industrial body music: dense, punishing, and engineered to trap the mind inside its circuitry. Presented in ONE-OFF truly limited edition of 300 copies lacquered pressed on 180 gr. high quality solid BLACK vinyl. All tracks have been specially remastered and mastered for vinyl by Daniel Hallhuber at Young and Cold Studios (Germany).
The NE21 stands as one of the most mysterious and elusive projects within the contemporary post-punk and minimal wave landscape. With only two previous releases—through Domestica and She Lost Kontrol—the project has already secured an unquestionable place among the essential names of the genre. After five years of complete silence on the release front, “No Zone” marks their long- awaited return. The record expands the project’s unmistakable universe: cold synth lines, suspended atmospheres, hypnotic rhythms, and a haunting sense of isolation that moves between Trisomie 21 minimal wave austerity and Neon’s emotionally charged post-punk tension, aligned with other Italian wave visionaries such as DsorDNE while connecting with newer tendencies in electronic krautrock and proto-experimental music. Everything in “No Zone” feels deliberate and restrained, unfolding a ghostly elegance, balancing shadowy electronics with sharp melodic instinct. With “No Zone”, The NE21 not only return—they reaffirm their singular position as one of the most distinctive and enigmatic voices operating in the darker edges of underground electronic music. Presented in ONE-OFF truly limited edition of 300 copies lacquered pressed on 180 gr. high quality solid BLACK vinyl. All tracks have been specially remastered and mastered for vinyl by Daniel Hallhuber at Young and Cold Studios (Germany).
If ever an album could transport you to the hazy sunshine and imagined halcyon paradise of Southern California in the mid-1980s, could capture the early evening warmth of hanging at an inclusive boogie jam as it approaches “magic hour” in Santa Ana or Anaheim, then it’s Vaughan Mason and Butch Dayo’s Feel My Love. A brilliantly produced deep slung, low rider funk classic originally released on Salsoul in 1983. It’s a masterpiece of “funk love music”.
Yes, this is indeed a perfectly formed five track “mini LP” of unparalleled heat, but there’s one song here that, above the rest, represents Orange County boogie-funk. A straight killer beloved by all that have had the pleasure of moving to it. A track that can fill up a dance floor within seconds of its starting. That song is the eternal title track, “Feel My Love”.
This is a work of art that made people fall in love with the funk. It transcends the limitations of genre. “Feel My Love”’s deceptive simplicity makes it perfect to drop during a house set, a classic funk party or at a west coast rap jam. It’s sexy, deeply emotional, melancholic, hopeful, passionate and just radiates so, so much raw energy. This is music.
The rest of the record is hardly filler though. Opener “Oh, Love” is a dizzying, emotional slow jam. With heaven-sent vocals riding gorgeous, sweeping keys that alternate between sweet twinkling lines and funk-fuelled stabbing. It’s sensational. A rollerskating jam named “Rollalong Songs” is an ultra-swish piece of dance floor dynamite. Its slick drums, staccato piano and neck snapping claps underscore Dayo’s buoyant vocals. It’s essentially “Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll Part II”.
The flip begins with “Party On The Corner”. Smoother than silk vocals, day-glo synths, a bubbling bassline and guitar licks that surely received the Prince seal of approval. It’s another example of how Vaughan Mason and Butch Dayo flirt with perfection so routinely. The most majestic closer, the kaleidoscopic, cow-bell-assisted synth-funk heater “You Can Do It” is a proto-rap groover that truly smokes.
This prized LP is a stone cold jam and finding original copies on vinyl at affordable prices has been tough for years. Mastered brilliantly by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and with lovingly reproduced artwork, this fresh Be With reissue ensures this legendary LP now sounds, looks and feels as sensational as it should.
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway’s BACK TOGETHER AGAIN is truly a masterpiece.
The James Mtume and Reggie Lucas penned gem is timeless - as proved by this sumptuous remake by the unlikely pairing of Sarah Jane Morris (ex The Communards) and velvet voiced Italian growler Mario Biondo.
Unlikely yes, but the result is an instant Modern Soul classic snapped up for worldwide exclusive 7” vinyl release by
ANORAX. The duet, catchy and guaranteed to make you smile, brings back memories of Lisa Stansfield sparring with Barry White (Mario really does sound like the great man).
The sound of yesterday made for today with a touch of House prodding along a happy reincarnation of one of Soul Music’s most glorious moments.
Jay Lumen is back on the label with his brand new pumpy and fat floor filler EP. His massive bassline section and 303 elements perfectly complement the pulsating rhythm of the "Bounce" track.
While "Metro" is a good proof of Jay's melodic bassy side. The roots of the track are the old school techno and hardgroove elements in his own recreation with some trippy melodies.
Last but not least, the "I have the beat" track is a power house masterpiece with the perfect balance of the groovy bassline and the dusty stab sections. Mind your Footwork! :)
pressure control’s second release comes from the hands of Shift label-head Phase O’Matic.
Following seismic hits on Libertine, Exarde, EYA, New Fair Tracks and Chandelle, our boy wonder crashes into the pressure control spotlight with a deadly five-tracker primed for the floor.
Touching all corners of what we know and love – you can run, but you can’t hide.
Available for pre-order now via One Eye Witness.
All music by Jules Von Daniken
Pressing and distribution by One Eye Witness
Design by Al Robertson
Mastering by Marco Pellegrino
A collection of hit songs released at the time of the TV anime "Dragon Ball", including rare insert songs, has been reissued on clear orange vinyl. This is a truly one-star ball (Yishinchu) disc!
A collection of hit songs that also includes the opening theme song "Makafushigi Adventure!" and ending theme song "Romantic Ageruyo" released in 1986. The "Son Goku Song" is sung by Masako Nozawa, the voice actor for Son Goku, the main character of Dragon Ball, and the "Wolf Hurricane" is sung by Toru Furuya, Yamcha's voice actor, Hyuma Hoshi from Star of the Giants, and Amuro Ray from Mobile Suit Gundam. Contains a total of 10 songs, including "Mutenroushi no Oshie" song by Kohei Miyauchi, the voice actor of Master Roshi! A must-have for Dragon Ball fans!
Mike Gordon's debut album as Mk.gee, "Two Star & the Dream Police," is a groundbreaking fusion of pop, rock, and soul. Hailing from New Jersey, the 26-year-old musician redefines familiar genres with his unique approach to sound, incorporating unconventional tones, tempos, and textures. His distorted guitar riffs and soulful vocals, reminiscent of Prince, cut through murky, experimental mixes, creating a captivating sonic landscape that refuses to conform to traditional boundaries.
Despite his experimental tendencies, Gordon demonstrates a mastery of melody, crafting intricate and engaging pop songs from seemingly chaotic compositions. "Two Star" is both innovative and accessible, offering a fresh take on contemporary music while retaining a timeless quality.
While Gordon has been releasing EPs and mixtapes since 2017, it was his collaboration with Dijon on the latter's debut album, "Absolutely," that introduced him to a wider audience in 2021. Their dynamic live performances, characterized by Gordon's frenetic guitar playing and Dijon's charismatic stage presence, exemplify the creative synergy between the two artists. Dijon credits Gordon with pushing him to new creative heights, infusing his music with a newfound rhythm and freedom. "Absolutely" marked a significant evolution for Dijon's sound, with Gordon's influence recognized as invaluable to the project's success.
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Lena Willikens & Sarah Szczesny feat. Viktoria Wehrmeister and Detlef Weinrich
"Phantom Seance Ballett is a boombox orchestra, Nō mimes, Vicky’s protection spells, Detlef’s psychic shuffles, a smoke machine, a strobe light chamber, painting, Margit Carstensen’s chiffre, Susie Greene’s insults, Schleim, Ebichu’s echoes and Anna Oppermann’s limbo."
Thus we welcome Lena Willikens & Sarah Szczesny's ethereal Phantom Kino Ballett project to Utter with 'Phantom Seance Ballett', an unusually tangible manifestation of what has become an on-going series of live performances and installations that incorporate sound, video, costume, still imagery and beyond. The themes explored weave in and out of grasp, touching on the otherworldly and mysterious, on hypnotic rites and ceremonies, on the fetishisation of cultural tropes and curios.
While carefully documented, these happenings had not been distilled or presented in a cohesive format until now. Of course, an attempt to harness and package such an experience required an imaginative leap beyond the traditional 'record-in-sleeve' approach and Lena and Sarah have overseen every aspect of this remarkable collection themselves.
Working with designer Till Sperrle, Lena and Sarah have conjured up a fold-out box containing an LP, a riso-printed credits poster detailing the samples and snippets collaged into the sound, a 36 page book with imagery from various shows and an essay by Thomas Vorreyer plus sticker pack. The limited 50 copy artist edition contains an additional 10 special riso-prints within an artist stamped hand-numbered box. For all, the LP contains twenty hidden locked grooves cut into the run-out on each side presenting snippets from the artists' archive.
The first of these pieces - 'Identikit Arkaden Seance' - took place on the 2nd of October 2019 at NAK Neuer Aachener Kunstverein and is a live recording. This performance was part of their exhibition "Chambers of Phantom Kino Ballett", where they showed new video works and displayed the now infamous costumes and slippers worn by Lena, Sarah and a rotating cast of guest phantoms.
At this performance, the seven performers carried boomboxes playing individual audio tracks inside and outside the Kunstverein, while Viktoria Wehrmeister and Detlef Weinrich improvised music alongside the phantoms' moving soundtracks of sonic snippets, poetry, field recordings and soundscapes.
The second piece - 'Studio Chamber Seance' - contains diverse audio tracks of performances that were held by Willikens and Szczesny in collaboration with Wehrmeister and Weinrich. It has been deconstructed and rearranged with additional sound material from the Lena Willikens & Sarah Szczesny archive, then edited and mixed by Lena and Sarah in Amsterdam and Cologne last year. Additional music by Detlef Weinrich and Viktoria Wehrmeister features throughout, recorded live in Aachen 2019 and Frankfurt 2020.
Mastered by Gordon Pohl. Transfer, additional mastering & lacquer cut by Helmut Erler at D&M.
Obscura Pulse I marks the start of a new label series delving into contemporary pulsating sounds of underground wave-infused music. Selected tracks of previously unreleased material or available on vinyl for the first time.
The first edition moves through the realms of European wave music, with support from German EBM act XTR Human, Dutch/Romanian synthpunk act Badtime, Italian darkwave/post-punk duo Schonwald, German Age O.P.F., Dutch darkwave queen Camy Huot, Austrian minimal synth duo Mitra Mitra, Dutch minimal wave act Raderkraft, Belarusian goth/coldwave act Tout Debord, Dutch synthwave wizard Adam Tristar and Croatian minimal synth maestro Neon Lies.
Explore the shadow frequencies of the underground pulse: from the hard hitting warehouse EBM energy in opener “Sledgehammer” by XTR Human (remixed by Dancing Plague). The analog machinery mastered by Raderkraft in future minimal wave classic “Virtual Reality Check” or Adam Tristar exploring cinematic synth landscapes balancing between retro futurism and dark club momentum in “Goosebumps”. On the flipside, Schonwald’s “Starless” bolts menacingly on gritty drones, metallic drum programming and rumbling bass lines. Mitra Mitra crafts suspense in the elegantly synth-driven soundscape “The Lure of the Naïve” and Neon Lies closes the circle with moody synthwave melancholy in “Heavens”
With a little work and a lot of love, we present this limited edition selection of wonderful Lords Of the Null Lines remixes for your enjoyment...limited to 300 copies, this will be gone in the blink of an eye...featuring the epic remix from Photek, the difficult to find remix from Aquasky & Masterblaster, the unique Acen, and the pounding NRG remixes, this EP is a must have for all old skool and jungle heads....
There was nothing in contemporary music like Chris Isaak’s Heart Shaped World when it hit shelves in June 1989. More than three decades later, the singer-songwriter’s third album still sounds unique — and claims a backstory nearly as fascinating as the retro-leaning material and standout performances that propelled it to sales of more than 2.5 million copies. Home to the Top 10 smash “Wicked Game,” the set remains a masterful mood piece that invites you to pour a late-night drink, sit in a dimmed room, and relish Isaak’s elegant albeit raw ruminations on love, relationships, and questionable decisions.
Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, and featuring the bonus track “Diddley Daddy,” Mobile Fidelity's UltraDisc One-Step 180g 45RPM 2LP box set of Heart Shaped World unearths the staggering inner details, saturated tones, and brilliant atmospherics of the crisp production. It brings you up close and personal with Isaak’s spectacular singing — impeccably controlled, tense, brooding, steamy, smoldering, haunted — situated amidst stripped-down backdrops that allow every note to fully bloom and decay.
While Isaak’s ever-steady baritone remains the anchor, the contributions of his trusty backing band, the aptly named Silvertone, come across with just as much cool, command, and realism. The indispensable playing of guitarist James Calvin Wilsey particularly emerges with superb clarity and dimensionality. The character of his 1965 Fender Stratocaster, shivering twang of his spring-coiled fills, and his signature use of reverb, delay, and vibrato seamlessly match Isaak's patient deliveries and the band’s unhurried rhythms. Experienced on UD1S with ultra-black backgrounds and a nearly invisible noise floor, Heart Shaped World is in every regard a demonstration disc.
The premium packaging of this UD1S pressing befits its elevated status. Housed in a deluxe slipcase, it features foil-stamped jackets and faithful-to-the-original graphics. Aurally and visually, this reissue is for discerning listeners who desire to immerse themselves in everything involved with the album, not the least of which is the cover art depicting a lost-in-thought Isaak staring ahead and sitting in what appears to be an efficiency apartment. The image epitomizes the record’s lonesome temperaments and pensive themes.
Of course, if not for director David Lynch hand-picking two cuts from Heart Shaped World for his 1990 film Wild at Heart, the record would’ve probably suffered the same fate as Isaak’s prior efforts and gone unnoticed by the mainstream. Despite receiving raves from outlets such as NME, Chicago Tribune, and Rolling Stone upon its original release, the album stalled in the lower quadrants of the Billboard charts and, after a few weeks, dropped off.
Cue the ear of Lee Chesnut. Then the music director for a large Atlanta radio station, Chesnut heard the instrumental version of “Wicked Game” on Lynch’s soundtrack and started airing the album rendition at all hours of the day. Aided by a sensual video featuring Isaak and supermodel Helena Christensen, the song found its way into the public consciousness by early ‘91 and helped make Isaak a most unlikely mainstream star in an era where his techniques had little to nothing in common with popular tastes.
Despite its vintage vibes and shared DNA with legends such as Roy Orbison, Chet Baker, and Glen Campbell, Heart Shaped World transcends nostalgia, rockabilly, and throwback tropes. For all the melodrama and sadness at hand, Isaak’s gorgeously transparent singing dives deep underneath emotional surfaces. He mines subtleties that indicate his feelings go beyond heartbreak and anguish, and occasionally suggest frustration, menace, and anger. You can hear it in his quivering falsetto, and the slow and methodical ways he allows delicate whispers to break into shadowy phrasing that crosses over to the darker sides of romance and desire.
That approach bolsters the title track, which suggests calm yet moves on ominous currents — its simmering pace and snare-drum snappiness foreshadowing Isaak raising the volume and urgency during the coda. The southwestern-tinged “Wrong to Love You” plays with similar concepts of hesitation, unease, and discord, Isaak careful never to fully erupt and give anything away. His poised deliveries offer a master class in the art of insinuation and hurt on “Nothing’s Changed,” sent up with a wordless backing chorus and crackling guitar lines straight out of a Memphis blues joint.
Heart Shaped World further boosts its merit via its abundant stylistic variations, from the upbeat country-and-western trot of “I’m Not Waiting” and Spanish acoustic shimmer of the jazz-based ballad “Blue Spanish Sky” to the swinging horn-accompanied grooves of “Don’t Make Me Love You” and desert smokiness of the understated “Kings of the Highway.” On the latter, Isaak comes across as resigned and absolute. His singing and pain worm their way into your soul, and echo akin to the way the music prepares to strike when you least expect.
“Trouble going 'round,” Isaak croons right as the album begins. “Trouble going down.” Damn straight.
St David's ongoing remix project - Tributes To House Masters - takes a second swipe at the reworks form, probing deep below the surface layer of house music history for another worthy four-track V/A. Paul Johnson's production style is unmistakable before we've even read the name, and shines through even after a remix from St David Swag; 'Take A Lickin'' features several of his sonic blazons, from sticky MIDI brass to ticklish vocal chops. Johnson also famously remixed a Bohannon record, so the latter's inclusion here on the B2 makes this one feel just that bit more knowledgeable. DJ Pierre's MLK-sampling hooter 'Meet Hate With Love' is the favourite big, flabby soulful house chooer in between.
Backing it up can mean so many things. According to the urban dictionary, it means to carry on drinking the next day in spite of a rather large one the night before. According to Apple, it means to take your I-phone and attach it to an I-pad or Apple Mac - and copy the information to the cloud. Or the device. But in music.....what we mean is basically this....."Damn......that was a big hit......how the hell are they going to emulate that success on the next one."And it's hard for so many reasons. Was it luck Timing That one in a million sample With all the pressure, soon the artist can start second guessing themselves........and that's when backing it up becomes a real problem.But not for our boy PURPLE DISCO MACHINE. If BODY FUNK, his last outing on CLUB SWEAT, wasn't one of THE biggest songs of last year, from Ibiza to Miami and back again.....played by every single DJ under the sun, from BLACK MADONNA to JAMIE JONES to your mama......then I'm not sitting at my lap top writing this shpeel....which I'm very sure I am. AND I'm going to back myself (see what I did there) - and say that DISHED (MALE STRIPPER) is the best way to back up a hit ever. With another hit. Doesn't sound the same....doesn't worry about what the last one did...just does what it does.....which to be honest - is GO OFF!!!! It builds and builds and builds and......In the same way that BODY FUNK masterly made the sum of 2 disco songs bigger than their parts had ever been, this time PDM takes some Italo Disco from MAN TO MAN MEET MAN PARRISH's MALE STRIPPER and mashes it with the aptly named ELLIS D's DISHAPELLA to create a 12/10. Back it up PDM - you are a legend!!!!
Nobody thinks it is strange anymore that an artist changes his nom de plume to reflect a new direction; a metamorphosis of his art. As listeners, we must resist the temptation to compare a new expression with previous works but instead allow the artist the necessary leeway to follow where his muse leads. So it is with Lone Wolf & Friends. There is a departure from his previous work that is his alone to define. We are simply recipients and must let the work wash over us like waves on the beach and be slightly moulded by the force of each one.
By definition, a Lone Wolf has no friends so we are left with the nagging question of why the name has significance. Perhaps Lone Wolf’s friends are his previous artistic incarnations and although he alone created this work, those earlier versions were there to encourage his creative drive. We are never truly loners, are we?
Written, composed and produced in Vancouver, Canada, by Lone Wolf & Friends.
Mastered in Groningen, the Netherlands, by Johanz Westerman at Balyhoo Studio Mastering.
Designed in London, UK, by Irene Fo + Agente Morillas + Positivland.
Label boss Demuir steps up for the 8th 12" from Purveyor Underground Limited and uses the opportunity to dedicate the music to his mother. This Grooves From Mama's Kitchen EP has already picked up some notable plays from the likes of Jimpster, Masters At Work and Kerri Chandler and is a swinging house offering with great depth and musicality. 'Beat 6 (Luv Is Complicated)' is majestic and soulful house with diva vocals and brilliant melodies, while the dub is more paired back. 'In Awe Of You' brings the jazz with its bright lead synths and soulful grooves, while closer 'In Awe Of You Ma' (Gabriel's Strings) is more loose-limbed and playful with some fine horns. .
Indulge in a delicious audiophile preview with this Appetizer 12" from the upcoming 2024 compilation by Swiss DJ Princess P. This musical amuse-bouche offers a taste of her eclectic sound, in anticipation of her full, richly curated collection.
Swiss DJ Princess P, known for her eclectic sound, has been a dynamic presence in the electronic scene since the 90s. From her early days exploring house music to working at Plattfon Records, she's honed a genre-defying style. Her sets, a blend of savory house with indie and techno, are renowned at clubs and festivals alike, showcasing her deep musical knowledge and innovative spirit.
Half Speed Cutting and mastering by Sidney Meyer @ EBS Berlin Studios (formerly Deutsche Grammophon).
Re-Issued and Re-Mastered by Beau @247. Back with the original and the remix on one slab of black crack. FBD Project rolling out the musical side of early drum and bass / jungle. The original is a pure chop-age fest, with poly-rhythm breaks rolling over 808 tones and luscious melodies... buy it an enjoy listening to the ever changing rolls and break programming.
Flip to the B-side and check out Neil Trix's revisited version. Stepping it up with an AMEN roller that just glides and rolls without the need for any long breakdown. FBD Project bang at it again.
Finally re-mastered and pressed for a one off limited qty drop. 1993 Very rare FBD Project 3 track Darkside EP with early jungle / rave influences.
Originally a very limited pressing, but now remastered and packaged to allow you a final chance to purchase another classic FBD underground release.
Following the original white label format, with a white sleeve and Bang-in Tune Sticker for reference.
Grab one whist you still can, as this is the only re-press being produced, with original copies selling for big money on various sites.
The Jack Ruby releases have been some of the most sought after dnb/jungle tracks on Discogs, mastered from the original DAT by Beau and pressed on 180g vinyl, sounding incredible!
made at the Green Room in 1994
BTW - in the rush to get these made in time for The Run Out i messed up the label - I write these out by hand (using an Ipad so its cheating really) and i put the cat number as KR007 and KR008, overlaid a layer or something like that. anyway - my mistake, hold my hands up...
The Jack Ruby releases have been some of the most sought after dnb/jungle tracks on Discogs, mastered from the original DAT by Beau and pressed on 180g vinyl, sounding incredible!
Re-Mastered and Re-Imagined for 2025 due to demand. Re-Mastered and presented in a dark format to match to original from 93. Black Vinyl, black sleeve, dark labels. Sounding crisp with a re-master from the legend that is Beau.
Barranquilla born multi-instrumentalist Pernett is undoubtedly a true pioneer in fusing Colombian folklore with electronic elements. Back in 2003, when he released his first album “Música Para Pick Up”, Humberto was immediately seen as genius by some, crazy and outrageous by others. How dare he incorporate synthesizers into traditional music? What would be called this avant-garde genre where gaitas, traditional drums and keyboards come together? To this date, Pernett has released 6 albums, worked with an impressive number of prestigious artists such as Phil Manzanera, Calle 13, Novalima, or Quantic, and is still influencing whole generations of forward-thinking musicians.
Originally released from is latest album, “Vamos A Hacer” and El Pajarito have been edited for the occasion, by talented recording engineer Benjamin Calais AKA Ben Matik,
A-side “Vamos A Hacer - Ben Matik Instrumental Edit” is a joint collaboration between Pernett and renown British producer Will Holland aka Quantic. A heavy blend of funky breaks and cumbia. A 7-minutes version, exclusive to this 10″, has been especially taken out from the masters vault, and edited by Ben Matik: the original short version takes a unexpected turn to a completely freaked-out “Puya” rhythm, where gaitas and synths perfectly merge together.
B-side “El Pajarito - Ben Matik Instrumental Edit” is a deep downtempo anthem, a perfect fusion of powerful electronic beats, 808 bass, analog synths and gaitas. special attention should be paid to the enchanting voice of Diana Pereira on this one.
The new album by breakbeat mastermind Fanu drops in May. 'Ether' is a testament to the multiple styles and tempos Fanu is known for: jungle, drum and bass, hip hop, and much more. Four of the album cuts are available on a beautiful limited edition green vinyl.
Several years ago, the Disco Records DJ Crew members got their hands on a couple of original 70s obscurities, while these standout records shone brightly in their own right, the team finally decided to put them out as those obscure old records fetch eye-wateringly high prices on the second-hand market. Due to popular request & lovingly mastered to the highest possible standards, they are now available to play and share in very special moments at parties around the world. This will surely be one of the most keenly anticipated disco release of the year. For our first release, we are extremely proud to bring you at last, three very hard to find disco anthems on sides A & B in their glorious full extended versions
But rest assured - it's still the same excellent band from Ruda ?l?ska, only this time instead of a forest full of ghosts or a land of fairy tale creatures like a Fruwajacy Przestepca the duo of producers takes us on an interstellar journey!
The artists' third album, just titled KOSMOBOTANIKA, is an over forty-minute work skillfully composed from a multitude of various samples, and genre-wise presenting the sounds of deep house, trip-hop, breakbeat, ambient and even jazz. This is electronic music with a very cinematic, visual and imaginative character, something at which ETNOBOTANIKA has undoubtedly achieved mastery confirmed by their first two very well-received albums. This cinematic style (electronic concept album?) is reminiscent of the classic albums of the genre's progenitors from the UK like The Orb (first releases) or The KLF (the iconic "Chillout" album), but also the French Motorbass.
The Silesian duo does it their own way, of course, with a local twist. Thus, in the cosmic journey our guides will be in-sampled familiar voices from Polish television, cinema, radio and dusty vinyls (yes - samples from Mr. Kleks in Space had to be on the album, of course :) ).
There is no shortage of atmosphere-building instrumental fragments here, but also quite song-like tracks with catchy melodies and vocals. Fans of the band will certainly be satisfied.
What is there to say - ETNOBOTANIKA has created another classic, which simply must be on the shelf :) Trust them and let yourself be taken on a cosmic journey - satisfaction guaranteed!
BLIS701 by Chain Selector is a carefully honed two-track release from BLACKINSTOCK Records, a division of MixCult Records, showcasing Chain Selector’s mastery in blending emotional depth with atmospheric finesse. Designed for those who appreciate subtlety and sonic craft, this release moves between introspective melodies and immersive dub textures with remarkable control.
On Side A, School Days is a tender and timeless composition—melodic, cinematic, and evocative. It gently stirs memory and emotion, creating a world where every sound breathes with intent. On the flip, Autumn Guide opens a more shadowed dimension. Built on layered tension and low-end pulses, it introduces a restrained, dub-heavy soundscape ideal for setting the tone of a deeper set.
With BLIS701, Chain Selector delivers a refined double-sided vinyl, one to reflect, one to explore. Both tracks stand as elegant tools for shaping atmosphere with poise and intention.
When The Information Centre first dropped on the pirate radio airwaves in the ealry 90's, there was nothing like it. It was at the birth of Jungle, and the track was a slow but immense classic, spreading accross the UK from its London Roots to become one of the most influential tracks in jungle's long and storied history.
Here we have the original version of the track, masterfully remastered and sounding absolutely gorgeous, plus two brand new and heavy hitting remixes, both of which are being played by the likes of Ray Keith, Nookie, and many others...BIG new remixes for 2025....
SKYLAX RECORDS proudly unveils the fourth and final chapter in its epic, conceptual 4-part saga — SKYLAX BLACK 4 – Vision Quest. This secretive series brings together two pillars of French electronic music, ARNAUD REBOTINI and ACID WASHED, in a bold tribute to the essence of rave, electro, and techno. Following the critically acclaimed Winter Sequences and Musical Component, this last installment pushes even deeper into the roots and futures of the underground. On the A-side, Vision Quest opens the EP with a pulsating journey of progressive electronics — cinematic and sleek, evoking the robotic spirituality of Kraftwerk and the expansive textures of early kosmische music. Next, TOI 700-d channels the golden age of acid house with infectious 303 lines and jacking grooves. Think DJ Pierre, Phuture, and Ron Hardy at their most transcendental — raw, euphoric, and timeless. Flip to the B-side and dive into Black Star Liners — a dub techno masterclass in the lineage of Maurizio, Basic Channel, and Chain Reaction. Deep, minimal, and full of ghostly delay, it’s a meditative immersion in pure sound system hypnosis. Closing the EP, Trojan Asteroids fires into classic Metroplex territory — icy, futuristic, and funk-laced. A perfect nod to Cybotron and Model 500, this is hi-tech soul with a razor’s edge. Once again, SKYLAX RECORDS delivers a visionary release — timeless, intelligent, and essential. The final piece of the puzzle is here. The journey ends… or just begins.
SKYLAX RECORDS proudly unveils the final chapter in its monumental 4-part saga — SKYLAX BLACK 4: Enlightenment Theory. This visionary series, bringing together two of France’s most iconic electronic artists — ARNAUD REBOTINI and ACID WASHED — was never just a collection of records. It was a journey through the deepest layers of the underground — a conceptual project where each release was a coded message, each track a fragment of a greater whole. On the A-side, Enlightenment Theory explodes with fierce urgency — an anthem forged in the spirit of Underground Resistance, echoing the soulful intensity of early ’90s Detroit without imitation. It’s bold, emotional, and militantly underground — a future classic cloaked in defiance and elegance. On the B-side: B1. Space Is The Place channels the weightless gravity of dub techno at its purest — all echo chambers and endless delay, a direct line to the Berlin school of Basic Channel, Maurizio, and Deepchord. B2. Beyond Current Biological Constraints closes the chapter in deep space — an electro masterwork evoking Drexciya, full of aquatic melancholy and cybernetic funk. It’s not retro — it’s timeless. With this last installment, the puzzle is complete. The meaning is revealed: R.A.V.E. — four records forming one powerful word. One timeless idea. A tribute to everything this culture stands for: raw energy, emotional truth, sonic innovation, and spiritual depth. This project could only be born on SKYLAX RECORDS — a label that has always stood apart. Uncompromising. Devoted to physical formats. Fiercely loyal to the culture. While others chase trends, SKYLAX continues to chart a different course — one rooted in the sacred codes of house, techno, electro, and beyond. It is no exaggeration to say that SKYLAX is one of the last true purist strongholds of underground music — and this series, with its layered meanings and fearless artistry, is proof. From Redshifts to Blueshifts to Artificial Darwinism then Vision Quest, every chapter has pointed toward this moment. Now, with Enlightenment Theory, the full vision is revealed. RAVE is not just a word — it is the truth. A philosophy. A myth reborn. The circle is complete. The message endures. The legacy lives on.
Kora Koumakan, or Word of the Kora, is a boundary-pushing Afro-Manding group from Conakry, Guinea. Led by master kora player and composer Sekouna Conte, Kora Koumakan channels Guinea's rich musical heritage into modern compositions, creating a sound that is both deeply rooted and forward-looking. Inspired by Guinea's iconic Ballets Africains and legendary artists like Bembeya Jazz National and Mory Kante, the band masterfully blends contemporary instrumentation with traditional West African instruments - handmade by the band themselves - including the kora, djembe, and balafon. Since 2018, they have been touring extensively across West Africa, honing their sound and earning a nomination for Best Band at the 2025 Guinea Music Awards.
This inaugural limited edition vinyl release on Jambulance Movement Records features two standout remixes by London's Tigerbalm and Ben Gomori, which transform the band's original Afro grooves into hypnotic house tracks already making waves on dancefloors worldwide. Tigerbalm's remix expertly layers the original percussion around a driving 4/4 beat, with the ethereal kora and powerful vocals weaving through the rhythm to create compelling dancefloor energy. Ben Gomori's remix takes a more atmospheric route, anchored by a groovy bassline loop with layered guitar and keyboard melodies that add depth and movement, gradually building into immersive moments of tension and release. The record also includes instrumental versions of these remixes, with the band's EP of original tracks set to drop in early 2026.
Jambulance Movement Records is a social enterprise record label and recording studio based in Guinea. Their mission is to empower the next generation of emerging African artists by providing free professional recording services. Operating a solar-powered mobile studio and a static studio in Conakry, the label discovers new talent through casting events across the country. Selected artists receive comprehensive training and mentorship, with the overall aim to foster sustainable careers for young African artists.
Next up in our Cuban Classics series, one of the jewels of record label Areito’s extensive and sought-after catalogue. Ricardo Eddy Martinez’s Expreso Ritmico from 1978 is a prized album fusing funk, disco, and orchestrated influences with Afro-Cuban percussion, Latin breaks, and lush vocal harmonies.
Whilst maintaining its distinctive Cuban identity, Expreso Ritmico is one of the more American / Western-influenced Cuban titles of the time drawing inspiration from jazz funk, disco, and library music. The album was directed, written, and orchestrated by keyboardist and drummer Ricardo Eddy Martinez, who was also the mastermind behind the orchestration of the Los Reyes 73 album (that was recently reissued by Mr Bongo). Martinez would later go on to work with international musicians and singers such as Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, Chick Corea, and many more, whilst also working as a sound engineer in the US.
Produced by Adolfo Pichardo, who worked on much of Areito’s output, Expreso Ritmico is packed with gold. The opening title track carries a loose, breezy Latin-disco-funk vibe that breaks into a brilliant Afro-Cuban workout. ‘Que La Tristeza Se Fue’ was expertly sampled and looped by Jazzanova on their 2008 song ‘Look What You Are Doing To Me, featuring Phonte from the hip hop group Little Brother. Elsewhere, ‘Tambo Iya’ has an Afro-funk, Soul Makossa-esque groove, while tracks such as ‘Te Quedas’, ‘Mi Conga Es La Que Es’ and ‘La 132’ run with a heavy pulsating Latin-funk sound. Head to the sultry psych funk of ‘Este Tumbao’ for a spacey journey that blends and morphs through genres.
The Temptations Get High on Psychedelic Soul: Cloud Nine Soars with Ambitious Arrangements and Production, Features Standout Vocal Performances and Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers
The Temptations’ Cloud Nine announced that Motown — and “The Sound of Young America” — would never be the same. Influenced by the emergence of cutting-edge rock and pop currents, as well as increasing sociopolitical turmoil, the album broke down barriers between rock, psychedelia, and soul while heralding the arrival of visionary arrangements and production techniques. Bookended by traditional R&B numbers, the 1969 record sent the Temptations in bold new directions and signaled the advent of psychedelic soul.
Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45PM 2LP set presents Cloud Nine in audiophile sound for the first time on a domestic pressing. This collectible reissue bestows Norman Whitfield’s extraordinary production with the grand-scale dynamics, natural tonality, expansive openness, and low-end weight it deserves. The timbre of each of the five members’ voices is readily identifiable — even within the group harmonies — bestowing a realism never experienced outside the recording studio.
Making its debut on 45RPM, the album further benefits from the wide groove space by playing with greater separation and more realistic presence than prior editions. Everything from the brassiness of the horns to the dry snap of the snare comes across with reference-grade clarity and positioning. And since Motown’s renowned Funk Brothers backing band plays on many of the cuts, you’ll want to savor every note. The imaging, soundstaging, and organic bloom-and-decay of the notes make that possible.
Amid Cloud Nine, the instrumentation and architecture stand out as much as any element. Never before had a Motown album contained such ambitious patterns and complex passages. Seemingly conscientious of the departure from their past methods, the Temptations and Whitfield bunched together the tracks that mark a deep dive into psychedelic territory and counterbalance them with seven sterling soul cuts that dovetail with Motown tradition drenched with heartfelt vocals, swelling strings, and finger-snapping beats.
On the original 33RPM release, traditional Motown soul — laden with heartfelt vocals, swelling strings, and finger-snapping beats — occupies Side Two. These songs reveal an ensemble still very much on top of delivering pristine pop-soul material graced with romantic sweetness, persuasive insistent, and soaring highs. Re-energized after the departure of lead singer David Ruffin, who was fired for a variety of reasons in June 1968, the Temptations seamlessly meld with his replacement, Dennis Edwards, on one melodic gem after another.
The collective tackles five songs co-written by the legendary Motown team of Barrett Strong and Whitfield. Not the least of which are the smooth, shuffling “Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go)” and deceptively simple, horn-spiked “Gonna Keep on Tryin’ till I Win Your Love.” On these tracks, as well as on a lush rendition of the ballad “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing” and pleading, tender send-up of the Gerry Goffin-Carole King classic “Hey Girl,” Edwards and Paul Williams take turns on the lead with the estimable Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams providing backing support.
All five vocalists trade-off leads on the simmering title track, a groundbreaking composition shot through with wah-wah-pedal effects, liquid funk, deep bass lines, Cuban percussion, saturated reverb, and gang choruses. Whitfield mines each member’s natural vocal range with spectacular results, keeps time with cymbals, and channels both the heated temperatures and escapist desires of a society embroiled in war, conflict, and experimental drugs.
Amazingly, the Temptations top themselves on the similarly revealing “Run Away Child, Running Wild.” Nearly 10 minutes in length, the song explodes R&B parameters and harbors a cinematic scope. Urgent pianos, distorted guitars, stripped-down percussion, steamy Hammond organs, minimal bass motifs, five distinct voices narrating the tale of a boy who fled home and now finds himself amid the scary, unforgiving external world: They combine to give the urgent tune a walls-closing-in atmosphere where fear and desperation reign. Bolstered by an extended instrumental section that precedes a climactic return of the singers’ voices, “Run Away Child, Running Wild” equaled the success of the record’s title track, with both reaching No. 6 on the pop charts.
How enduring is the signature song from Harry Chapin’s Verities & Balderdash? So timeless that it became the subject of a 2025 documentary in which artists from multiple generations weigh in on its impact on their lives and craft. “Cat’s in the Cradle” doubtlessly remains the main event on the singer-songwriter’s 1974 album. The legendary opening track also serves as a guidepost for the bold personal and social material that follows — as well as the gorgeous folk-rock arrangements that underpin the New York native’s most commercially successful work.
Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, housed in a Stoughton jacket complete with a four-page insert, and strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 33RPM LP of Verities & Balderdash presents Chapin’s fourth full-length in audiophile quality for the first time on vinyl. Captured during a golden era for sonics and production, the Top 5 effort features remarkable tonal balance, instrumental separation, and organic naturalism. Those valued aspects come into supreme focus on this reissue, which plays with dead-quiet surfaces and a low noise floor.
The newfound clarity, openness, and imaging underscore the lasting appeal of Chapin’s tender deliveries, soulful timbre, and careful phrasing. Every word comes across with incredible realism, while his underrated guitar playing occupies its own distinctive space. Also notable: The extension of the tasteful string accents; airiness of the backing vocals; depth and shape of the spare bass lines; and width and depth of the soundstaging. When on “Six String Orchestra” Chapin calls out names of instruments, they appear like magic, the band performing feet from you. Chapin has never sounded so lifelike on record.
Certified double platinum, Verities & Balderdash resonated with the times and public. “Cat’s in the Cradle” reached No. 1 on the chart on its way to being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The romantic ballad “I Wanna Learn a Love Song” flirted with the Top 40 and wrapped listeners in the equivalent of a cozy blanket. The record’s other single, the mini-epic “What Made America Famous?,” helped establish Chapin as one of the country’s most incisive and insightful commentators.
Verities & Balderdash teems with situational devices and topical matters. Chapin observes everything from the polarization of the nation to changes in moral standards and cultural priorities. He investigates pressing themes without ever turning preachy or elevating himself above the matters at hand. On “Halfway to Heaven,” whose coda races to the finish and ranks as the most urgent moment on the record, Chapin inhabits the mind of his frustrated protagonist akin to an eagle-eyed novelist.
Conveying emotions that range from melancholic to carefree, Chapin is as much of a singer as a storyteller. He assumes the voice of multiple characters within a single narrative. During the quirky “30,000 Pounds of Bananas,” a tale based on a delivery-truck accident in 1965, Chapin alters his delivery, pronunciation, and diction to become an old man reflecting on the mishap and mess. The tempo, too, adjusts to match the speed of the vehicle Chapin describes.
Adorned with timely laugh tracks to reinforce the bittersweet humor, the stripped-down “Six String Orchestra” takes everything up another notch, with Chapin intentionally missing guitar notes or playing a broken passage to illustrate the failures of the hopeful protagonist who doesn’t have what’s required to make it as an artist.
Chapin, of course, did not have any such problem. The lynchpin of a career cut short by a tragic traffic incident, Verities & Balderdash is Exhibit A of the savvy craft, feeling, and perspective he lent to American music.
Carly Simon’s No. 1 smash “You’re So Vain” lingers as one of the most clever and famous songs ever recorded. The subject of mass speculation ever since its release, soon after which it occupied the top spot on multiple Billboard charts for weeks, the anthem kept a captive public guessing at the identity of its smug subject for decades. The question surrounding the protagonist’s identity remained perhaps the only mystery on the otherwise sexually open and autobiographically daring No Secrets, Simon’s commercial breakthrough and ‘70s singer-songwriter staple.
Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP set affords the platinum-certified 1972 effort the finest sonic treatment it’s received on vinyl. Helmed by Richard Perry and recorded at London’s Trident Studios — where Beatles, David Bowie, and Elton John captured landmark LPs — No Secrets touts exceptional production qualities highlighted by this restorative reissue.
Audiophiles and record collectors, take note: This is the first time No Secrets has been available on 45RPM. The wider grooves and dead-quiet surfaces pay instant dividends. Simple, elegant, and disarming, songs seemingly float amid wide, deep soundstages. Simon’s voice takes on a confident, assertive tenor that emerges with accurate imaging, balanced tonality, and palpable presence. String arrangements and backing vocals come through with similar realism.
Enhanced by an all-star cast — Simon’s then-husband James Taylor, Paul and Linda McCartney, Mick Jagger, Lowell George, Klaus Voorman, Bobby Keys, Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins, and Bonnie Bramlett are among the renowned musicians who lend a hand — No Secrets advances Simon’s themes of personal introspectiveness, no-holds-barred reflectiveness, and feminist-inspired boldness. She makes every moment of No Secrets worth savoring. Simon invests her all in the songs, handling beautiful ballads, sassy folk-rock numbers, and bluesy fare with calm, composure, and candor.
While acknowledging her own regrets (“You’re So Vain”) and loss (“The Carter Family”), Simon champions the highs (“The Right Thing to Do”) and pains (“His Friends Are More Than Fond of Robin”) of love in a sincere manner indicative of her maturity as both an artist and singer. The New York native distinguishes “When You Close Your Eyes” with deep-rooted spirituality, recalls childhood joys via charming sentimentality on “It Was So Easy,” and and takes ownership of her persona on a cover of Taylor’s “Night Owl.”
“We have no secrets
/We tell each other everything,” Simon sings at the record’s midpoint, encapsulating both the themes and bravura of an effort that was nominated for four Grammy Awards and saw her write or co-write every song but one. Combined with Perry’s savvy instrumental arrangements, her self-assured performances and forthright lyrics grant No Secrets an edginess and relevance immune to the ravages of time.
With his first full techno album ANFS returns to the label in full form.
Delivering a cohesive, introspective piece of work shaped by tight sound design and an intuitive sense of flow. The music is minimal yet expressive, exploring a detailed palette of textures, subtle groove manipulations and low end pressure that sits gently beneath the surface. A work of art that sounds like nothing else out there at the moment. It's a focused and forward- thinking piece of music creation that shows artistic maturity, profound inspiration and masterful execution.
The moment the instantly recognizable intertwined guitar passage on the title track to the Eagles' Hotel California begins, the record's genius becomes obvious all over again. Ranked the 118th Greatest Album of All Time by Rolling Stone, certified by RIAA as the third best-selling LP in history, and considered the foundation on which the Golden State's mid-‘70s music scene was built, the 1976 landmark is a music staple immune to shifts in trends, eras, and styles. Fearlessly addressing the chaos and consequences of American life, its songs remain strikingly prescient and gain creedence with each passing day.
Mastered from the original analogue master tapes, pressed on MoFi SuperVinyl, and limited to 17,500 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's UltraDisc One-Step 180g 45RPM 2LP vinyl box set ensures you will want to permanently check into and never leave this particular Hotel California. Up to the herculean task of standing head and shoulders above all prior reissues, this collectible edition plays with extreme clarity, organic richness, tube-like warmth, massive dynamics, and microscopic levels of detail. You'll be able to practically smell the colitas and feel the breeze in your hair. Songs come across with an epic sweep and feature immersive, front-to-back soundstages that allow the music unprecedented air, roominess, and separation. As for the noise floor? It's basically as invisible as the spirits that waft in the corridors of the unforgettable title song.
Aesthetically, the premium packaging and presentation of the UD1S Hotel California pressing befit its esteemed status. Housed in a deluxe box, it features gorgeous foil-stamped jackets and faithful-to-the-original graphics that illuminate the splendour of the recording. From every angle, this UD1S reissue exists as a curatorial artefact meant to be preserved, touched, and examined. It is made for discerning listeners that prize sound quality and production, and who desire to fully immerse themselves in the art – and everything involved with the album, from the renowned cover art to the meticulous finishes.
Indeed, the opportunity to zero in on all the particulars of the 26-million-selling Eagles record dubbed "a legitimate rock masterpiece" by vaunted Los Angeles Times scribe Robert Hilburn has never been better. A global phenomenon that marked the band debut of guitarist-singer Joe Walsh, Hotel California continues to resonate and connect with listeners of all generations taken by its narrative depth, stark directness, picturesque melodies, daring majesty, and ardent emotionalism. Adorned with a breathtaking exterior photograph of the Beverly Hills Hotel that serves as the simultaneously haunting and alluring cover art, and rounded out by a rear-cover shot of the Lido Hotel lobby that reinforces a notion that teeters between permanence and transience, Hotel California is brilliantly tied to a specific place that functions as a universally understood metaphor for the American Dream.
Confronting the darker undercurrents and oft-ignored constructs attached to that romantic notion, the record's songs revolve around a host of shared themes: excess, mobility, stability, illusion, fame, destruction, and idealism included. Notably, Hotel California appeared at a crucial junction in American history: During the country's bicentennial and amid escalating controversies related to the Vietnam War, energy crisis, and governmental corruption. That the Eagles manage to channel such cultural, social, and economical matters into a cohesive, stately, big-picture statement is alone a stupendous feat. That the album's reach, boldness, vitality, accessibility, and understated intensity have never waned make it a marvel.
Reflecting on Hotel California 40 years after its original release, and indirectly explaining its enduring appeal and increasing relevance, singer-songwriter Don Henley confirmed the record pertains to the "loss of innocence, the cost of naiveté...the difficulties of balancing loving relationships and work, trying to square the conflicting relationship between business and art; the corruption in politics, the fading away of the Sixties dream of ‘peace, love and understanding.'"
It can be argued that Henley and company squarely hit on and drove home those ideas in the surreal title track, chart-topping "Life in the Fast Lane," and grand "The Last Resort" alone. But that would miss the forest for the trees. Experienced as an unbroken whole, complete with the pristinely shot imagery and physical grooves, Hotel California unfolds like a geography-conscious saga by James Michener and plays like colour-saturated movie shot on 70mm film by Martin Scorsese. It's about our collective and individual decisions – and the shape of our past, present, and future. And, just like that conjured by our imaginations, Hotel California continues to take on a life of its own.
More About Mobile Fidelity UltraDisc One-Step and Why It Is Superior
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab's UltraDisc One-Step (UD1S) technique bypasses generational losses inherent to the traditional three-step plating process by removing two steps: the production of father and mother plates, which are created to yield numerous stampers from each lacquer that is cut. For UD1S plating, stampers (also called "converts") are made directly from the lacquers. Since each lacquer yields only one stamper, multiple lacquers need to be cut. Mobile Fidelity's UD1S process produces a final LP with the lowest-possible noise floor. The removal of two steps of the plating process also reveals musical details and dynamics that would otherwise be lost due to the standard multi-step process. With UD1S, every aspect of vinyl production is optimized to produce the best-sounding vinyl album available today.
MoFi SuperVinyl
Developed by NEOTECH and RTI, MoFi SuperVinyl is the most exacting-to-specification vinyl compound ever devised. Analogue lovers have never seen (or heard) anything like it. Extraordinarily expensive and extremely painstaking to produce, the special proprietary compound addresses two specific areas of improvement: noise floor reduction and enhanced groove definition. The vinyl composition features a new carbonless dye (hold the disc up to the light and see) and produces the world's quietest surfaces. This high-definition formula also allows for the creation of cleaner grooves that are indistinguishable from the original lacquer. MoFi SuperVinyl provides the closest approximation of what the label's engineers hear in the mastering lab.
Looking back on her career in the early 90s, Stevie Nicks described the first track of Rock a Little as “the most exciting song that I had ever heard.” This coming from a superstar who was already closely affiliated with several bajillion-selling Fleetwood Mac albums — to say nothing of her own benchmark solo debut. Her remarks attest to the enthusiasm and effort she invested in her third record, a 1985 work that quickly furthered Nicks’ profile and cemented itself as a piece of 80s pop lore.
Mastered at MoFi’s California studio, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, strictly limited to 4,000 numbered copies, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP set presents Rock a Little in audiophile sound for its 40th anniversary. Helmed by a cadre of producers and engineers, and recorded for a reported one million dollars, the platinum-certified album teems with a head-spinning array of colors, tones, dreamscapes, and accents. This reference-grade reissue marks the first time they are all brought to light and conveyed with proper balance, dimensionality, and positioning.
Though Rock a Little doubtlessly has period characteristics of a mid-80s LP, Nicks and company spare no expense when it comes to distinguishing the music with expansive sonics distinguished with lush melodies, high-tech percussion, echoing vocals, sampled keyboards, and layers of sophisticated accents. The degrees of spaciousness, headroom, and dynamics are nothing less than inspiring, while the newly enhanced detail, texture, and clarity make the songs sing like never before. As for Nicks’ voice? Wait ’til you experience the transparency and depth.
Those advantages extend, of course, to the aforementioned “I Can’t Wait,” a statement-making opener shot through with modulating synthesizers, splashy drums, metallic guitars, and serious drama. Holed up in a massive studio, Nicks required just one take to nail her part, which she called “magic and simply not able to beat.” The singer-songwriter also distilled the reverberating emotional essence of the Top 20 tune, stating “when I hear it on the radio, this incredible feeling comes over me, like something really incredible is about to happen.”
The same can be said for nearly all of Rock a Little. Crafted by the likes of Songwriters Hall of Fame multi-instrumentalist/producer Rick Nowels, Heartbreakers organist Benmont Tench, bassist Bob Glaub, jack-of-all-trades Greg Phillinganes, and session-pro guitarists Waddy Watchel, Les Dudek, and Danny Kortchmar — along with another two dozen or so participants — the record spills with diverse ideas, shapes, and moods. Everything is in the right place, as evidenced by the swirling glide and sensual undertow of the slightly funky title track to the snapping rhythmic pace and big hooks of “Imperial Hotel,” one of Nicks’ standout moments.
“What was it she wanted?” Nicks queries on “No Spoken Word,” continuing a theme of contemplation that runs through the narratives. Nicks never lands on a definite answer, but hearing her explore loneliness, love, and the secrets we keep to ourselves proves continuously rewarding. Take her passionate performance on a cover of Chas Sanford’s “Talk to Me,” a Top 5 smash furthered by tasteful saxophone lines and understated folk elements. Immersive yourself in the grand sonic corridors of “If I Were You,” laden with Nicks’ signature mysticism.
Moreover, surrender to the gravitas of the closing “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You,” a piano ballad composed about the death of Joe Walsh’s three-year-old daughter. As Nicks asserts earlier on the album, she sings for things money can’t buy.
So, rock a little, yes, but dare to feel even more.
Carly Simon’s quietly intense sophomore album comes across like an assertive notice nailed to a telephone pole for all to see. Bold, personal, and autobiographical, Anticipation announces the arrival of an artist who won’t back down. While Simon stands her ground on her eponymous debut, she elevates her passion and persona to heightened levels throughout this gold-certified record, dealing in private matters related to love, relationships, and desire. At times, Simon is nothing short of primal. She reflects on the difficulties of retaining your own identity while also giving yourself to a partner. Simon’s connection to her folk roots would never be stronger.
Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP set of Anticipation lays bare the rich tapestries afforded by the spare blend of soft guitars, mellow orchestration, and dreamy melodies. Audiophiles and record collectors, take note: This is the first time Anticipation has been available on 45RPM. The wider grooves and dead-quiet surfaces prove extremely rewarding.
The rhythmic framework anchored by session pro Andy Newmark’s drumming sounds dynamic and balanced, with songs benefiting from a focused midrange and taut low-end. Simon’s attachment to and investment in each lyric is made evident by way of the intimate, hushed atmospherics and expansive responsiveness. And just as Simon’s vocals feel more transparent and direct, so, too, do the supporting choral arrangements.
Released before the singer-songwriter movement reached full bloom, Anticipation remains remarkable for the high-quality songwriting and Simon’s gutsy stance. The album cover — depicting the vocalist holding the gates at Queen Mary’s Garden in Regent’s Park and seemingly defying anyone to take her on — serves as a metaphor for the content within.
Known for having relationships with high-profile partners, Simon was heavily involved with Cat Stevens leading up to the recording of Anticipation. She draws from her experiences to craft tunes that resonate because of their honesty, realism, and strength. Few of those moments are better known than the Top 20 title track, which Simon composed in just 15 minutes as she waited for Stevens to pick her up for a date. Imbued with the nervousness, tension, and excitement that accompany the moments when a romance could go either way, the Grammy-nominated song presages the feminist-minded vulnerability and burning longing that informs a majority of the record.
On the soulful “Legend in Your Own Time,” also inspired by Stevens, Simon harnesses yearning as a conduit to feel-good paradise. Deemed by Rolling Stone an “absolute clincher, an awesome description of the psychic ravages of gone-nuts, know-nothing love,” her cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “I’ve Got to Have You” moans with no-holds-barred desire and breathtaking sensuality.
For all the wanting Simon pursues on Anticipation, her way of staying in control — vocally and personally — make the record a courageous statement of contemporary femininity. For further evidence, look to the bossa nova of “Summer’s Coming Around Again,” somber “Share the End,” soothing “Three Days,” and sincere “Julie Through the Glass,” a tribute to her young niece.
Simon would achieve international fame with her next album, No Secrets. Yet as this definitive reissue shows, Anticipation suggests the rest of the world was just a little late catching up to her.
LOK Black welcomes Stefano Testa with the SPCWX EP, a deep and driving exploration that fuses powerful techno with rich emotional layers, hypnotic atmospheres and sophisticated groove.
Canadian master Mathew Jonson delivers the remix, creating a beautiful contrast with a mesmerising slow-burning reinterpretation. True to his signature analog style, Jonson enriches the original with his own original elements — including evocative vocals — adding warm textures, melodic sophistication and subtle jazz-infused.
After a few years of silence, Underplay (Playedby sub-label) is back with its fourth release, welcoming Elia Nafzger and his Music Makes Me High EP.
A rising talent with a strong identity as both DJ and producer, Elia’s music has been regularly played by key figures such as Rhadoo and Praslea. Also part of the Sunrise Agency roster, he has already appeared at Sunwaves, Guesthouse and Supermarket Zurich.