The "Phunk Investigation vs. James Senese" collaboration, specifically the track "E'na Bella Jurnata,"
is seen as a high-quality fusion of Italian Disco and funky house, praised for its driving beats,
70s disco melodies, and signature saxiness from the legendary Senese,
making it an instant anthem for clubs and Ibiza.
Reviews highlight it as a grand cru of Italian dance music, blending classic vibes with modern house energy,
a must-have for disco and house lovers.
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Analog Fingerprints Vol. 0 is a compilation bringing together the early 2000s works of Marco Passarani under his Analog Fingerprints alias, collecting key tracks originally released on Rome’s Plasmek and Pigna labels.
For Numbers, the story starts long before the label itself. In their formative years, digging in Glasgow’s Rubadub, Passarani’s records felt like dispatches from a future city. Releases on his own Nature Records and on labels such as Generator and Interr-Ference Communications were mind blowing: rooted in Detroit techno, Chicago house and electro, yet pushing somewhere new. Much like fellow travellers Autechre, who would remix him in 2001, Passarani’s music balanced machine funk with restless experimentation.
Information was scarce, and you would hear these records first on the dancefloor or at listening stations in shops like Rubadub. Print fanzines like Ear and early web outposts such as Forcefield offered only fragments. But there was a palpable axis forming between Detroit techno and a new European wave of record labels including Skam, Rephlex, Clone, Viewlexx and Nature itself. It was the sound that defined Saturday nights at Rubadub’s ‘69’ parties in Paisley, just outside of Glasgow.
Passarani’s records, in particular, were instrumental in bringing together the future Numbers co-founders. Richard had already booked him pre-Numbers; meanwhile Calum (Spencer) and Jack (Jackmaster), then 16/17 year olds working alternate Saturdays in Rubadub, were so enamoured with the Roman sound that they travelled to Rome for the Bitz Festival in 2003 to seek out Passarani and Lory D at their source.
The first Analog Fingerprints release landed as a 12” on Plasmek in 2001, following the fractured, IDM-leaning 6 Katun material. For Passarani, the project marked a recalibration. A DJ first and foremost, he had moved into production via early computer setups, from a Commodore Amiga through primitive PC audio, Cubase and Logic, later experimenting with Ableton. The IDM scene had offered a playground for trial and error, but there was always a tension between abstraction and the dancefloor. Analog Fingerprints became the bridge: still intelligent, but with more dance than distance. After years of broken beats and complex arrangements, he wanted directness without surrendering identity.
Working closely with Francesco de Bellis and Mario Pierro in the Pigneto district, the trio formed Pigna as a vehicle for reclaiming a more accessible dance sound, deliberately steering away from the minimal wave beginning to dominate Europe. Sessions were fast, instinctive, often stretching late into the night with friends dropping by. It was a studio as social space, production as collective energy.
“In that constant search for balance, Analog Fingerprints was my way of expressing something closer to the classic dance floor. The track 'Tribute' - a tribute to my favourite early Detroit techno track of all time, 'First Bass' by Separate Minds - came after I realised I had almost lost my connection with the dance floor. The simplest step was to take inspiration from early Chicago and Detroit and twist it in our Roman ‘Pigna’ way. My goal was to create more accessible dancefloor tracks by mixing my unconscious Italo roots with my teenage love for that early US sound, ensuring the result was as far as possible from the minimal sound that was starting to dominate everywhere.” - Marco Passarani
Technically, the Analog Fingerprints tracks span a transitional era: Roland TR-909, SH-101 and Alpha Juno hardware met early software experiments. A Novation Drumstation rack stood in for the unattainable TR-808, syncing with TB-303 and TR-606. Yet the true secret weapon was Jeskola Buzz, a tracker-style modular environment that allowed step-by-step parameter control and strange melodic constructions, later exported into the audio sequencer. Even the lead on ‘Tribute’ came from an early PPG Wave-style plugin. It was hybrid thinking at a moment when digital tools still felt unstable but full of possibility for technologists like Passarani.
Behind the music sat Finalfrontier, a loose Roman collective orbiting Nature and Plasmek. Distribution and production were intertwined; importing obscure records into Italy built connections with like-minded outsiders across Europe and the US. Expensive phone bills and fax machines forged an “electronix network” that linked Rome to Clone, Viewlexx, Skam, Rephlex, Rubadub and Detroit’s Underground Resistance. There was a shared sense of survival and resistance, of operating against commercial systems.
Passarani recalls “The first time I found a sheet of paper inside an Underground Resistance 12” with info about upcoming releases... and a huge picture of Spock on the back. Imagine that: you love the music, you love Star Trek, and there’s someone on the other side of the ocean sharing those same values and sounds. It was the perfect match. We even gave our original company the suffix ‘Finalfrontier’: that says it all.”
Feedback in that era arrived physically: distributor faxes, conversations with visiting DJs, the experience of playing abroad and meeting kids who had connected with the records. Glasgow became a key node in a scattered outlier network. Passarani personally brought the first two Nature releases to Fat Cat in London, playing them in-store. Shortly after, a fax arrived from Rubadub in Glasgow requesting copies.
“I still remember that phone buzz and the fax paper slowly sliding out, with someone I didn’t know saying they wanted 75 copies of Nature 001. Or like the time we got a fax from the Rephlex crew just saying, “Hello Nature Records, Keep up the good work.” That was how we knew the message was getting through. It was a fantastic feeling; just one piece of thermal fax paper as an analog notification - the mood for the entire week would change.” - Passarani
The connection to Glasgow has since stretched across generations. As Passarani reflects, links often fracture as scenes renew themselves, but in Glasgow something different happened. New and old mixed seamlessly. There was a visible trust in what came before, and a willingness to carry it forward rather than discard it. Observed from Rome, it was deeply encouraging.
Analog Fingerprints Vol. 0 captures that moment of exchange: Rome to Glasgow, Detroit to Europe, experiment to dancefloor. It documents an artist recalibrating his sound and a network of scenes discovering one another in real time, connected by vinyl, faxes and shared intent.
Leading voices in contemporary Organic House anchor LS001 V.A-Thunderlab Collective, the inaugural vinyl-only edition from Life Signal. This first chapter introduces Life Signal as a curated imprint dedicated to presenting standout works from modern electronic music-pieces selected for their lasting impact and now pressed exclusively for listeners who value both sound and physical format.
These tracks have earned significant attention within the digital space, and this release brings them to vinyl for the first time, giving collectors a chance to experience them in a new, tactile form.
A1-Volen Sentir & PROFF-"Luna Amazonia (PM Mix)"
The record opens with a signature blend of organic textures and melodic flow, shaping an atmosphere that sets the tone for the edition.
A2-Krasa Rosa-"
Kaftan"A refined balance of acoustic nuance and electronic drive, building toward a standout breakdown and a sharp, vocal-chopped lead.
B1-Jiminy Hop-"Cavalier (Extended)"
Marked by Jiminy Hop's characteristic phrasing and evolving percussive movement, this version extends the melodic narrative with precision.
B2-Audiense-"Winterfell (Extended)"
A steadily rising finale combining psychedelic touches and ethno-vocal textures, rounding out the collection with an expansive sense of lift.With LS001, the Life Signal vision arrives on vinyl: curated electronic works preserved for collectors who follow music not only by sound, but by legacy.
Sweden has long had a celebrated techno scene and you'd be hard pushed to find anyone who has contributed to it as significantly as Cari Lekebusch. He has a vast back catalogue dating back to the mid-90s under many different aliases, including this one, Phunkey Rhythm Doctor, which yielded his 'Underground Poetry' EP back in 1995. 'Jazz Maze' is an exceptional start - urgent and punchy with freeform melody that brings the fun. 'Mad Poet' is much darker and has a doom-laden vocal over stiff, crisp drums. 'Sugardaddy' is a dubby bumper with a wobbly bassline and wispy synths, cyborg electronics and a cavernous groove. Don't sleep on this one.
East London's Jeigo works alongside North London perfume house Nosu on this quietly inventive release from Fleurella Records that extends beyond the usual club framework and intertwines scent and sound. Opener 'Placid Shimmers' drifts between organic house, lo-fi ambient and introspective worlds with swung rhythms and soft focus synths, while 'SPF 50' leans into melancholic breaks and 90s IDM echoes. It feels delicate but still moves you and is where texture and mood carry the groove into something subtly uplifting and tactile. A beatless version of the opener is included for pure dreamy escape.
After a short break, Vibes and Grooves is back with Collab Grooves Part 2. Following the success of our initial collaborative venture, we continue our mission of uniting visionary producers under a single sonic umbrella. This time Jemaho, Shaka and DFRA come together for another deep collaboration.
With “Joudia’s Groove (Drifting Away – The DAT Version)” on the A side, we are delighted to have Jemaho on board. He delivers an outstanding, warm and soulful vocal house cut driven by a smooth, uplifting groove and rich musical depth. With its unique tape sound aesthetic, a true masterpiece. Certainly a future club classic.
The B side opens with „Sparkling Soul“ from label resident Shaka. A jazzy house affair that blends vibrant piano melodies, a hypnotic lead synth line, and a tight bassline. It radiates warmth, sophistication, and an ever-present sense of romance.
The second track comes from DFRA, the man from Buenos Aires, who is already well known on the label for his outstanding tracks from the latest Collab Grooves. With “New York Style”, DFRA delivers a deep house tune shaped by warmth, restraint, and a steady underground groove. Subtle textures and raw rhythms create a smooth, flowing atmosphere that feels natural and unforced.
Timeless in feel and refined in production, Collab Grooves Part 2 captures an effortless flow that speaks directly to both the heart and the dancefloor.
2026 Repress
French talent Hyden makes label debut on Mutual Rytm with conceptual new techno EP, 'To Whom It May Concern'. Hyden is a potent force in the French underground, creating powerful techno with dense percussion, immersive grooves and subtle nods to classic influences - all through his own unique lens. Having delivered standout releases in recent years, here he offers up sounds "anchored in psychoanalysis, time, and emotional residue" as he makes his mark on SHDW's Mutual Rytm imprint, delivering influences of dream logic and surrealism as the palette moves between brutality and introspection. "It's hypnotic music for moments of rupture where something breaks or breaks through". Opener 'Manifest Content' is inspired by Freudian theory and explores the surface illusions of thought and dream. It's about the dissonance between what we perceive and the deeper meaning that slips away beneath and is a deep and dubby techno track with flashes of unsettling melody. 'Bruises' is emotional trauma made sonic. This piece delves into invisible scars and traumas, residues of past conflict or intimacy - it's slow-burning, heavy and raw. 'Jikan' is a meditation built on time and its erosion. Inspired by the Japanese concept of impermanence, it reflects fleeting moments, decay and the tension between stillness and motion with jacked up but warm drums and turbulent bass. Next, 'Free Will' is born from inner conflict and plays with deterministic rhythms and evolving layers, questioning whether we are truly in control or just passengers in a prewritten sequence. The vocal mentions, "creatures, you're out of time" to bring darkness to the intense but sleek rhythms. The streamlined physicality of 'Swarm' channels the primal force of collective movement and is a nod to the loss of individuality in group behaviour. In addition, the package is loaded with digital bonus cuts. 'Yumehara' is a dive into surreal dream-states and evokes subconscious landscapes where logic dissolves and emotion reigns, while 'Lu Bu' is brutal and warlike and named after the legendary Chinese general that captures impulsive violence, betrayal and reckless glory with relentless energy and rhythm. Lastly, 'Neon Pale' is a synthetic dreamscape about fading beauty under artificial light - a melancholy ode to cities at night and the loss of warmth in modern life.
For almost two decades, Igor Škafar has honed a own unique sound. Warm and nostalgic, the Slovenian artist melts unctuous analogue tones with subtle percussive patterns. This palette is at the heart of Ichisan’s fifth appearance on Bordello A Parigi. An undulating and understated introduction ushers in “Erotika,” the cosmic gazing sounds of the 1970s and the turquoise waters of Balearic flowing as one. Swirling space synthlines are countered by punchy beats, fudgy basslines balanced by the gently rippling melody. The break offers new directions, drum patterns scatter before regrouping around those sunkissed scaling chords care of Škafar’s impeccable craftsmanship. The beats take on a disco snap for “Midnight House,” a smouldering snaking synthline unfurling itself to glorious heights. Bongos and toms support the sci-fi dipped keys of this seven-minute journey into the musical mind of Ichisan. Two tracks that offer a deep dive into the sounds of a truly singular artist.
2026 Repress
Lars Huismann returns to Mutual Rytm as he delivers the second instalment of his "Sounds From The Past" trilogy on the label.
As SHDW & Obscure Shape's Mutual Rytm imprint continues to grow, it's clear that the DJ and producer pairing have a strong vision for the label and are building an equally impressive roster of artists to form the imprint's core family members. One of the early standouts is Lars Huismann, who arrived to deliver a selection of impactful offerings influenced by the "golden years" of techno in his own unique style crafted by various production techniques. Having featured on the label's opening VA and delivered the first EP for MR002, racking up a wealth of global support in the process, mid-November welcomes a return for the Berlin-based talent as he serves up six fresh cuts in his signature sound for "Sounds From The Past II".
Opener "Sounds From The Past II" is an action-packed title cut fusing typically slick rolling grooves with hazy melodies and atmospheric releases of tension, while "Propulsion" takes cues from its title and sees precise drum shots, echoed background vocals and a tunnelling groove taking the track right into the thick of the action.
On the flip, B1 "Loucura" brings a percussive workout as frantic organic drums and resonant brass melodies bring a party
to proceedings, with "Stroke" and "Nudge" both armed with tough kicks, zipping synths and more subtle vocal work.
Digital buyers get an extra exclusive in the form of "Dub Division", welcoming a slightly more subdued but equally as impactful track guided by dubby chords and peppy hi-hats to close the show.
- B1: Ore-Se-Rere (Nigerian Juju Hilife)
- B2: The Gathering
- B3: Spiritual Blessing
- A1: Elevation
- A2: Greeting To Saud (Brother Mccoy Tyner)
Elevation, released in 1974 on Impulse! Records, finds saxophonist Pharoah Sanders expanding his spiritual jazz vision on an album that balances ecstatic expression with focused ensemble interplay. Produced by Ed Michel and recorded in 1973 across two live performances and a studio session, Elevation features a dynamic ensemble including Joe Bonner on piano, Calvin Hill on bass, and Michael Carvin on drums.
The album’s open forms, modal grooves, and spiritual themes underscore Sanders’s ongoing search for transcendence and cultural affirmation through sound. With chant-like melodies, circular motifs, and immersive rhythmic textures, pieces like “The Gathering” and the title track reflect a more meditative and exploratory side of Sanders’s aesthetic. Elevation comes towards the end of Sanders’ tenure on Impulse!— a cohesive and spiritually resonant statement that bridges the raw fire of earlier albums with a deeper, more spacious sound.
The album’s open forms, modal grooves, and spiritual themes underscore Sanders’ ongoing search for transcendence and cultural affirmation through sound. With chant-like melodies, circular motifs, and immersive rhythmic textures, pieces like “The Gathering” and the title track reflect a more meditative and exploratory side of Sanders’s aesthetic. Elevation marks the culmination of his Impulse! discography — a cohesive and spiritually resonant final studio statement that bridges the raw fire of earlier albums with a deeper, more spacious sound.
The Verve Vault series is always mastered from analog tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
a A1. Elevation 18:26
b A2. Greeting To Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner) 4:15
[c] B1. Ore-Se-Rere (Nigerian Juju HiLife) [6:20]
[d] B2. The Gathering [14:09]
[e] B3. Spiritual Blessing [6:20]
[a] A1. Elevation [18:26]
[b] A2. Greeting To Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner) [4:15]
[c] B1. Ore-Se-Rere (Nigerian Juju HiLife) [6:20]
[d] B2. The Gathering [14:09]
[e] B3. Spiritual Blessing [6:20]
[a] A1. Elevation [18:26]
[b] A2. Greeting To Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner) [4:15]
[c] B1. Ore-Se-Rere (Nigerian Juju HiLife) [6:20]
[d] B2. The Gathering [14:09]
[e] B3. Spiritual Blessing [6:20]
[a] A1. Elevation [18:26]
[b] A2. Greeting To Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner) [4:15]
[c] B1. Ore-Se-Rere (Nigerian Juju HiLife) [6:20]
[d] B2. The Gathering [14:09]
[e] B3. Spiritual Blessing [6:20]
[a] A1 | Elevation [18 26]
[b] A2 | Greeting To Saud (Brother McCoy Tyner) [4 15]
[c] B1 | Ore-Se-Rere (Nigerian Juju HiLife) [6 20]
[d] B2 | The Gathering [14 09]
[e] B3 | Spiritual Blessing [6 20]
Audience’ was a 14-track record that signalled a shift back to Hayes Bradley's dancefloor roots. It was a collision of breakbeats, trip-hop, and ambient textures that perfectly balanced nostalgia and forward-thinking sounds, and now it gets spun into all new worlds by some of the scene's most acclaimed contemporary stars.
Special Request, aka UK powerhouse Paul Woolford, has shaken up the scene with his thrilling mix of jungle, bass, techno, rave, and hardcore in recent years. The hugely prolific producer knows exactly how to blow up the club and does that here with two reworks of '& I Love U'. The Special Request Extended Mix is a meticulously crafted jungle workout, featuring precision drums, rising synth tension, and gorgeous melodies that dart throughout and will appear on the vinyl release only. The VIP version focuses more on celestial memories for a heavenly escape.
Next is Shanti Celeste, a house and garage favourite who crafts emotional, high-impact sounds on her own Peach Discs. Her remix of 'Play It As It Lay' is a bubbly, soft-focus, late-night sound with earworm synth motifs and rich bass that sinks you in deep for a nice, heady trip.
Piori is an alias of Canadian musician Francis Latreille, who has built a sprawling discography full of hyper-detailed techno steeped in science fiction and fantasy. He flips 'Awareness' into a zoned-out affair, with broken beats and cosmic synth waves over a bold bassline that shows, once again, why his productions are in such demand.
Last but not least is Kaifeng-born sound artist, DJ, and producer Yu Su, whose truly unique sound has made her a cult underground star. She flips 'Dear Treasure' into a slow motion and sleazy chugger with dark disco energy and raw live drums, shady vocal loops and otherworldly melodies that seep into your consciousness.
- A1: Talla 2Xlc - Into The Wormhole (Ext Ended Mix)
- A2: Talla 2Xlc - Transmission (Extended Mix)
- A3: Talla 2Xlc - No Fate (Extended Mix)
- B1: Talla 2Xlc & Yakooza - City 2 City (Talla 2Xlc Extended Mix)
- B2: Talla 2Xlc Ft Bogart & Gable - The Dragon (Extended Mix)
- B3: Ultra - Free (Talla 2Xlc & Para X Extended Mix)
Vol. 1[18,28 €]
Techno Club Retro Vol. 2 – Vinyl Edition
Sechs legendäre Trance-Tracks aus den 90ern & 2000ern – in den erfolgreichen Talla 2XLC Reworks – auf exklusiv farbiger, streng limitierter Vinyl! Mit seinem Label Technoclub Retro! lässt Talla 2XLC unvergessene Trance-Klassiker mit viel Liebe zum Detail kraftvoll und emotional neu aufleben. Vol. 2 präsentiert die ersten sechs erfolgreichen Veröffentlichungen des Labels:
Side A:
• Dito – Shadows (Talla 2XLC Remix): Das Original aus 2000 – melancholisch und hypnotisch – erhält eine treibende Dynamik mit Gänsehautmomenten.
• Triple Concept – Tonetwister (Talla 2XLC Remix): Von 1998, bekannt für das ikonische NASA-Sample. Der Remix liefert eine wuchtige Bassline und modernes Clubfeeling.
• Alpha Breed – Epic Future (Talla 2XLC Remix): Ralphie B’s Meisterwerk von 1999, jetzt mit psytrancigen Akzenten – energetisch und atmosphärisch zugleich.
Side B:
• Talla 2XLC – Follow The Meteor: Ein Remake des Vectrex-Hits von 2004 – zwischen mystischem Drive und Adrenalinschub, perfekt für die Peak-Time.
• Plastic Angel – Schatten 2021 (Talla 2XLC & Para X Remix): „Schatten“ von 2001, neu aufgelegt von zwei Trance-Veteranen – emotional, druckvoll und voller Tiefe.
• Traveller – Bright Sign (Talla 2XLC Remix): Hardtrance trifft Psy – der 2002er Kulttrack bekommt fette Breaks, bunte Strings und kompromisslose Energie.
Techno Club Retro Vol. 2 ist eine kraftvolle Zeitreise durch die Trance-Geschichte – neu gedacht von einem Pionier des Genres. Für Liebhaber, DJs und Sammler gleichermaßen ein Statement auf Vinyl!
Guti returns to Crosstown Rebels with improvisational new EP, ‘You Know Ya Miss Me’.An exploration of instinct, groove, and the new Latin sound, the Argentinian live maestro returns to Damian Lazarus’ imprint on 13th March 2026.
A new wave of Latin-infused groove arrives on Crosstown Rebels, and South American favourite Guti is at the helm. Returning to Damian Lazarus’ imprint with a release that captures his music in its most immediate and expressive form, his four-track ‘You Know Ya Miss Me’ EP marks his first material on the label since 2020, reigniting a relationship that stretches back over 15 years. For the Argentinian artist, the studio has always been a living room, a jam space, a place where ideas can breathe, collide, and evolve naturally. Throughout his career, Guti has blended groove-driven house and Latin percussion into a signature sonic language in which spontaneity guides the process. The result here is a new release that feels as alive as it does intentional, designed for ears, hearts, and dancefloors alike.
Title track ‘You Know Ya Miss Me’ opens with warm rhythmic layers and subtle instrumental interplay, a space where melody and movement coexist freely. ‘What You Give’ follows, pulsing with the organic energy of jam-session dynamics, each percussive gesture and melodic line alive with intention. On the flip, ‘The Truth’ unfurls a rich tapestry of percussion, soulful vocals, and improvisational motifs, while ‘La Nueva Onda Latina’ closes the EP as a vivid statement; an embodiment of the “new Latin sound” at the heart of Guti’s ethos, where instruments, electronics, and collaborative energy meet on equal footing. At its core, ‘You Know Ya Miss Me’ is a showcase of a musical mind at work: deliberate yet free, precise yet flowing, rooted in tradition but open to the unexpected. It’s a reflection of Guti’s belief that dance music can be both kinetic and expressive, that improvisation and groove can coexist, and that the most resonant sounds are born when musicians let go in the moment. This EP invites listeners into that space, to move with the rhythms, and to experience a sound unmistakably Guti; organic, vibrant, and alive.
- A1: Apache Talk 05 29
- A2: Jacaranda 03 49
- A3: Gentle Rain 05 18
- A4: You Or Not To Be 02 36
- A5: Strange Message 03 29
- B1: Don Quixote 03 35
- B2: Song Thoughts 03 27
- B3: Danse V 06 48
- B4: Empty Room 06 58
- B5: Sun Flower 05 24
Jacaranda is an album published in 1973 that highlights Bonfá’s refined approach to bossa nova and Brazilian instrumental music, blending Brazilian melody and rhythms with jazz-influenced harmonies. The album is cantered on Bonfá’s classical-influenced guitar technique. Indeed, rather than focusing on vocals, Jacaranda lets the guitar lead the narrative, creating a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere which evokes Brazilian landscapes and moods. Compared to his previous album Introspection (HE72018), Jacaranda is less restrained and inward, it does not have a meditative mood but offers warmer harmonies and a stronger melodic richness. This is the first vinyl edition of this album since its first edition in 1973.
‘In Virus Times’ is an acoustic instrumental piece by Lee Ranaldo.
Composed during the pandemic, ‘In Virus Times’ is released as a onesided LP with an etching on Side B. The cover is a beautiful photo by
Lee’s friend, the great Brazilian photographer Anna Paula Bogaciovas.
Originally released as one track as part of a collaboration with Lucien
Jean for Le Presses du Reel, the music was featured on a mini CD that
accompanied a book that featured two short stories.
‘In Virus Times’, released by Mute, sees the track transformed into 4
pieces and is available on transparent turquoise vinyl with digital
download and an exclusive poster, designed, signed and individually
numbered by Lee Ranaldo. The poster design is based on an electron
microscope photo of the COVID-19 molecule.
Lee has written some of his own ‘loner notes’ for the release:
“This recording began on an evening in September 2020, stuck at home
in lower Manhattan during the dark days of the Covid-19 pandemic as
we came out of a deadly summer. A heightened sense of anxiety
stemming from the then-upcoming US Presidential elections as well as
the virus seemed to pervade all aspects of life, for myself and everyone I
knew. Its minimal quality reflects the sense of ‘motionless time’ that
many of us felt. I set up some microphones in our darkened living room
(studios being closed due to Covid restrictions), coaxing out one simple,
repetitive phrase, and then another, sounding them out into the air. The
casual home ambience - a siren or truck rumbling down the street out
the window; someone talking around the table in another part of the loft;
water running - intrudes at points. I worked to develop a few simple
thematic elements, but mostly I wanted to hear the notes and chords
ringing out, hanging in the air for a long time on that evening when the
world seemed close to stopped on its axis.
“I’d been listening closely to Morton Feldman’s catalog throughout the
pandemic. His sparse, long-duration music could often be heard playing
on repeat as we spent endless days locked inside. His willingness to do
very little, with very simple elements, and to such profound effect, has
been inspirational. I found the vast open spaces in his works thrilling,
miraculous, and comforting in those empty times. Additionally, the Drop
D guitar tuning used here has prompted my own variations on Bach’s
works for solo cello, open strings droning against melodic lines, so
simple and perfect…” - Lee Ranaldo, New York City, August 2021
Small Great Things / Small Great Beats returns with a shiny yellow vinyl by Quadrakey - the Summer Vibes EP.
With SGB003, Small Great Things delivers a warm and groove-driven vinyl release from Quadrakey, featuring four carefully crafted cuts designed for both late-night dancefloors and sun-soaked daytime sessions.
The EP opens with A1 Good For You, bringing uplifting, feel-good house energy driven by a steady groove, playful details, and a warm bassline that instantly sets a positive tone on the floor. A2 Feel Alone follows on a deeper and more emotional tip, exploring hypnotic rhythms and moody atmospheres, perfectly suited for intimate club moments and late-night transitions.
Flipping to the B-side, B1 Dancing With You delivers a smooth and infectious flow built around rolling rhythms and subtle melodic touches, balancing elegance with dancefloor functionality. Closing the record, B2 Summer Vibes lives up to its name with sunny chords, relaxed grooves, and an effortless open-air feel, ideal for daytime sessions and sunset sets.
From hypnotic grooves to feel-good summer moods, SGB003 showcases a refined and confident production style, staying true to the Small Great Things philosophy: quality music, pressed on vinyl, made for DJs who value depth, groove, and longevity over short-lived trends.
A solid addition to any record bag, SGB003 captures the essence of modern house music with a classic touch, simple, honest, and effective.
"Ed DMX has been part of Shipwrec since the label's inception. Under his DMX Krew moniker, this analogue wizard has released four Eps and one LP on the Nijmegen imprint. DMX Krew returns to Shipwrec for a brand new album, a collection that displays yet another side of this sculptor's sound. Brutal and cold, shadows are long and shades dark from the outset. Drum patterns twist in tempo and intent, from hard and punishing to gentle and fragile. Elements of breaks and industrial are also present in the percussion, this fragmenting allowing deep and soulful melodies to counter the battery. In fact, echoes of electronica permeate the harmonies across the LP such as deep and divergent "Interrupt." No single style is adhered to. Instead, the full palette of machine music is employed. From the squelchy Tudor electrofunk of "I Wonder Why" to the melancholic braindance of "Rephlections in Time", genre boundaries are given little credence. Instead, Ed DMX draws on his decades of experience to create sounds that are both familiar and completely one of a kind. The deep-sea dive of "Final Comedown" is juxtaposed with the ambling calypso of "Dinosaur Reaction", styles reimagined and reshaped to the creator's evolving purpose. Echoes of the halcyon days of Rephlex permeate the 2LP. The harshness and softness of the Cornwall imprint being present throughout, those more subtle tones coming to the fore in the delicate beauty of the "Phaser Level 2." A transcendent album and a certified future classic. To accompany this very special release, there will be a limited edition run with full cover art by Ruwedata. An artist very close to Shipwrec's heart, Ruwedata was responsible for the sleeve work on DMX Krew's Cosmic Awakening."
Light Touches Records is devoted to shed new lights on hot rarities, unknown grooves as well as forgotten classics.
While the older numbers are much sought after on Discogs, Light Touches pushes further and invites Irish underground heroes Frawl and Blackout (respectively founder and one of the resident djs of the connaisseur Backwards parties in Limerick) for the new release on the highly revered Light Touches Records.
On A side, “Fortune Teller” is a masterpiece of a lost disco tune with infectious funky bassline, while “Foxee” goes deeper into a brass driven relentless grooves with psychedelic melodies. On the flipside, “Me, Me, Me” is a 10 minutes journey, with a strong moody and deeper vibe.
All tracks have been carefully edited without overdubs, in order to bring the spirit of classic disco manipulators to today’s dancefloors!
12” limited to 300 copies (no digital).
Rob Clouth returns to Mesh with Cicada, a follow-up to his EP earlier this year and a continuation of his ever-curious approach to the outer limits of electronic music.
An artist who has spent much of his career committed to a dialogue between scientific phenomena and music built for big soundsystems, Bichillo signalled a segue into a more free-running idea of creativity - one that didn’t pander to unrealistic expectations and, essentially, brought the fun back to Rob’s production process. A theme also explored in a link-up with long-time collaborator and label boss Max Cooper on their recent joint EP 8 Billion Realities, out now on Mesh.
Cicada, he continues to expand on this universe, prioritising experimentation over concept, and arriving at some of the funnest music he’s ever made.
Like a field of insects, ‘Cicada’ opens with cross-rhythmic layers of animated glitches, soon joined by huge bass swells that gradually build into a maximal tranced out build-up and a swarm of vocal chops. ‘Core’ builds a quietly dramatic symphony of machinist built sound - a soothing polyphony of computers singing. Leaning into an off-kilter 2-step, ‘Gummy Clusters’ swirls into a hazy blur of distorted voices and acoustic rhythms. Closing things off, ‘Grefuser’ puts pedal to the metal with a high BPM storm of pointillist drums and melancholic leads.
Cicada is music that twitches and mutates, but most importantly, breathes fun into the circuitry.
‘Cicada’ lands Friday 20th March via Mesh.




















