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Composer, musician and producer Nils Frahm steers the new edition of Late Night Tales, set for release on 11th September. A hypnotic voyage through modern and classical composition, experimental electronics, jazz, dub techno, soundtracks and soul; Frahm's Late Night Tales haunts and beguiles. It's not mixing, so much as gently layering, like a particularly fluffy goose-down duvet folding in on itself, the folds part of the attraction, the layers part of the overall picture being painted. Many of the tracks have been edited, effected and re-made. The subtly overdubbed parts on Rhythm & Sound's 'Mango Drive' adding to the haunting hypnosis, while choral interruptions aid Miles Davis' 'Générique' on its journey towards the light. Meanwhile, on Boards Of Canada's 'In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country', the tempo is somewhat sluggish, the organs slurred, as Frahm slows it down to a funereal 33rpm that nevertheless fits perfectly. The purring of his girlfriend's cat Cleo transitions playfully between Nina Simone's definitive version of 'Who Knows Where the Time Goes' and unearthing the gentle electronics of Dub Tractor. Eddy Arnold's 'You're The Only Star', a country tune that sounds like its transmitting from a mid-west diner wireless circa 1947, is straight from the soundtrack to an imaginary David Lynch movie, comforting and dismaying all at once. This crackly reality abounds, as on Finnish band Gentleman Losers' 'Honey Bunch', that adds an unsettling texture, with a sound that is modern but as nostalgic. Frahm's own tracks bookend the mix, opening with an inspired "rework" of the infamous silent John Cage piece '4:33' ("I sat at the piano in silence and worked from


there. I listened and took in the atmosphere and this is what came out of it") and ending with a solo piano version of 'Them', taken from his recently released score of the film 'Victoria'. The traditional Late Night Tales spoken word epilogue is voiced by actor Cillian Murphy (Inception, Batman, 28 Days Later), reading a short story by Edna Walsh (Hunger, Disco Pigs).

Cadenza Records displays a deft touch in showcasing new talent, just as much as it leans on its core of established producers. The 'Split' EP shines a bright light on the musical endeavors of Enrico Gasperini AKA gAs, and fellow Italian, Lino Pugliese. One side of vinyl each, and gAs opens up Side A with 'Rack Attack', its woody hits and scattering hi-hats holding a solid groove whilst gentle keys entwine a melodic touch with a stuttering synth riff that's designed to circulate around the brain. Splashes of cymbals and white noise provide the all important drama as the track rises to a crescendo. Enrico's second contribution, 'Agogo', keeps up the ante with another slice of exquisite house grooves. The inner-city street ambience opening gives way to an undeniably funky rhythm track, incessant spongy stabs and frenzied percussion that makes this one a sure fire winner. Over on Side B, Lino Pugliese gets to flex his sonic palette after recent releases on Cadenza Lab and Memento. 'Banging On Your Door' takes its time to unfurl; a percussive swing not too dissimilar to the Stones' 'Sympathy For The Devil' sets the tone magnificently, as low frequency synth sweeps and distant vocal effects build, the kick drum jolting the track into life with bursts of furry snares and handclaps. More ambient soaked business on 'Aniwama' as Lino forges melodious piano and clanging ride cymbals with low end sonics as the track deconstructs as quickly as it builds, tearing up the arrangement rule books to create a unique cut that can perform as a mood-setting piece just as well as a peak time genre-shifter.

Tough, to the point, no-nonsense machine music is a longstanding Midwestern tradition.
Drawing a line all the way back to the old guard, The Bunker New York's latest EP is Walk The Distance, courtesy of Mark Verbos, a techno veteran and New Yorker by way of Milwaukee who put together four pieces of heavyweight dancefloor artillery, informed by an intimate, inside-out knowledge of the machinery used in the production of these tracks.

"I've been doing this for a long time. In the beginning, there was only hardware, and it feels better to make music with physical objects. Plus, I make hardware, too," says Verbos, recounting his production processes. Verbos not only produces music, he also produces the hardware he uses to make music—his company, Verbos Electronics, manufactures Eurorack synthesizer modules with a vintage sensibility. When he's making music, Verbos says, "I try to get to know the devices I use well enough that whatever I imagine can come from them. Techno is machine music. When I'm recording, it's just me and the machines."

The music, however, speaks for itself. No punches are pulled here—the record starts in top gear with "Start Up Drive," a devastating techno bomb centered around a throbbing, repeating bassline and a meaty kick drum that builds to a massive climax in the span of five minutes. "In The Back Room" kicks the tempo up a notch, featuring spaced-out atmospheric synth leads floating atop syncopated percussion. "Just A Little Late" is funkier than the other two, built around a rubbery, insistent synthesizer groove that worms its way deep into your head and doesn't let go.

The aforementioned three tracks alone would comprise a solid techno EP suitable for any number of dancefloors. But the last track on the record—its namesake—shifts gears entirely. "Walk The Distance" is a moody, pulsing slow burner, introspective and emotional. It's a haunting listen that adds remarkable depth and complexity to the record. "Walk The Distance, the track, is a reference to the fact that music is not a career. Any advice you could offer someone on how to have a successful career doesn't really apply to a career in music. By that I mean to say, process is everything, and the results don't really matter."

Sage advice indeed, but judging by Walk The Distance, Mark Verbos has figured out how to produce results that matter.

WRR is back on the scene with a new record from the label owner Giovanni Damico aka Ron Juan. Freshness and grooves are the key words of this new release projected into the summer and Gio is serving them to you on a beautiful piece of yellow wax! Laying the needle on side A and listen to "O Pais Do Sol", feel the smell of the sea and have a mojito, then when the sun is burning, smoke a cigarette in the shade and check what Trinidadian Deep thinks about that sound on the side B...Yeah you feel it, right The party is on! Now dance until the sunset and when you feel tired, the "Someone Is Gr8" track will bring you home safe!

Reissue of a unknown b-side of an early Belgian trance outfit release. Before they made euro trance they made this heavenly balearic gem. It screamed for Lauer remixes and he provided...
Unless you have been sleeping it should be pretty obvious that WPH head honcho Red D has a weak spot for early Belgian trance stuff. Before trance was even known as trance that is... The early 90ies were the post new beat era in Belgium and loads of producers were experimenting with new sounds to steer away from the blatantly commercial new beat chart stuff. So that's when the magic started happening.

One of these producer outfits was The Mackenzie, who on their very first releases covered a territory somewhere between new beat, Chicago house and Balearic sounds. None of these tracks really 'hit', but some 25 years later WPH shows you that true timeless quality always resurfaces. 'No Promises' is simply a divine piece of work from start to finish and should become that underground summer hit played by any DJ worth his or her salt when it comes to putting melody over beats. One listen to this one and it's easy to see why German stronghold Lauer was the go to man for some remix action. Lauer brings you a different take and a classic cover version of the original.

As a little bonus Locked Groove & Red D made an edit of a remix done by The Mackenzie in that same period. I think you will agree that both these tracks were made to be on one E.P. Trust WPH to bring it back in a different way!



[C] b1 | The Right Side (Locked Groove & Red D's Exotische Edit)

Over the past few decades, there has been a seismic shift in Brazil's musical landscape. A plethora of varying musical undergrounds has developed across the nation. While Rio and São Paulo have been overwhelmed with networks of talented musicians for a long time, creative life is now bursting all over the country. Amplificador exists to document and propagate the wonderfully diverse music currently blossoming from Brazil's vivacious and geographically varied musical undergrounds. Presenting an up-to date insight into Brazilian music, this compilation draws together some of the components of 'Novíssima Música Brasileira' (brand new Brazilian music), ranging from afro-grooves to rock, to modern samba and MPB. The music reaches back across Brazil's incredibly rich musical and cultural traditions, while also taking in influence from other movements around the globe.



Having begun life in 2012 as a Brazilian music blog run by Marcelo Monteiro, Eduardo Rodrigues, Mateus Campos, and Ricardo Calazans, the aim of Amplificador is to document and propel to wider audiences, Brazilian music of the '00s and '10s generation. This is a task made more significant by obvious changes in the way music is consumed. 'People are no longer obliged to listen to what the radio and TV are presenting. There is a whole new generation that wants to listen to new bands and new sounds and we try to connect those bands with other bands, producers, fans and even the mainstream.' These changes in technology and the way music is discovered and shared have developed parallel to the proliferation of these emerging scenes. The ostensible decentralization of the music industry means the promoting and filtering work of journalists and blogs, like Amplificador, have become increasingly important, as people try to keep up with the tsunami of new music and media flooding the country on a daily basis.



Marcelo uses the example of the Mangue Beat movement to explain a trend in contemporary Brazilian music that looks both inwards, to Brazil's own musical traditions and outwards, to movements around the world to create a novel, localised identity: 'The 90's Pernambuco art-social movement was inspired by Coco, Maracatu and Forró all mixed with modern riffs and grooves. The mythical

revolutionary Chico Science, his Nação Zumbi, Mundo Livre, Siba, and many others do this blend perfectly. There are also the references to the older generations and masters - Gil, Caetano, Luiz Gonzaga, João Gilberto, Tim Maia, Jorge Benjor - as a constant inspiration for all bands.' This is very much the case for the Brazilian artists of today.



Music is unquestionably informed by place. Brazil has always been famed for its regional differences in this sense. Indeed there are still pronounced variations between the scenes of Rio, Sao Paulo, Natal, Goiânia, Belo Horizonte and Belém for example, there are also great divergences within cities and while technology has brought changes to the way musical influences are shared, there are cultural differences, rooted in folkloric traditions, that aren't going away. Expressing his appreciation for this fact, while highlighting the potential of Brazil's spread of musical flavours, Marcelo explains that 'what we have now is new ingredients to make an even better mixture.'

This compilation heavily features music from a scene in Brazil's current musical make-up, which draws inspiration from African music, particularly Afro-beat music. Abayomy Afrobeat Orchestra from Rio formed because of their shared love of the music of Fela Kuti, uniting initially in 2009 for a jam session in his honour. But what sets Abayomy apart from other groups of a similar nature, is the fact that their sound also brings with it the songs and rhythms of candomblé. In this sense, Abayomy was the first band of its kind. The thirteen members of the orchestra have a palpable current of Rio's musical heritage - its rhythms and culture - running through them. So while their sound is distinctly African, it is also inherently Brazilian. Similarly, Zebrabeat Afro-Amazônia Orquestra draw upon traditional guitarradas and carimbos from the state of Pará and fuse these with the poly-rhythms of Afrobeat to create another regional hybrid, which stays true to both its Amazonian and African roots, yet which results in a very fresh, Brazilian sound. From Belo Horizonte (capital of Minas Gerais), Iconilli are another key band on Brazil's Afro-groove scene. With influences as varied as funk, jazz and psychedelic rock, congado, mining harmonies, maracatu, coco, ijexá, carimbó, Iconilli somehow manage to balance all of these sounds in such a way that makes it impossible to pin them down. From the Northeastern city of Joao Pessao, Parayba, Burro Morto's pshychadelic afro sound leans more towards rock and funk influences, with hint of regional Brazilian rhythms such as frevo and forro. They add another flavour to the Brazilian afro-groove scene: just one of the many exciting facets of Novíssima Música Brasileira.



While African-inspired music features heavily on the compilation, it is just one of the many styles within. Ive Seixas has a fresh approach to MPB, based on traditional rhythms and instrumentation, punctuated by a pop sensibility, coupled with a powerful female vocal. As an artist she is a product of a 'Do It Yourself' outlook to creativity, taken from her love of rock growing up. In 2013 she embarked on a project of street performance: wandering, like a lonely troubadour with just her guitar. Ive and her project began to gain notoriety and shortly after, her first EP was recorded, featuring some important names of South Rio's underground scene. 'Cervejas Populares' taken from the EP, is a beautiful, sombre piece of modern Brazilian pop, with a traditional samba rhythm. Another artist of the new MPB scene is Fabricio, from the city of Vitoria, who's 'Feito Tamborim' melds rock and funk and is also clearly reminiscent of the old Brazilian masters. It's an appreciation for the national musical heritage, alongside a keen ear for melody and an acceptance of foreign influences that results in these promising new sounds of Brazilian MPB.

Sao Paulo's super group of the underground 'Passo Torto' have been at the helm of an emerging scene in the city: an innovative approach to samba which draws in and experiments with afro grooves, jazz melodies and rock structures. Their sound is naturally very Brazilian, but the nylon twang of Faira Lima Pra Ca, interspersed with ominous strings and light rolling percussion, seems reminiscent of Captain Beefheart or Tom Waits, as the band lament their frustrations with their native city through their music.



The Future of Novíssima Música Brasileira looks very bright. The main challenge (and purpose of this album) is to get the music beyond Brazil's underground and into view of international audiences. In the last 10 years this goal has become somewhat more attainable, as the Brazilian government has begun to see the internationalisation of the nation's culture as a strategic objective, with public projects gaining increased investment and backing. The continuing project of Amplificador is to reinforce this international bridge by writing, filtering and promoting the scene as a whole. There is a wealth of great music currently blooming in Brazil and using new media tools, Marcelo and the team, alongside many others, will passionately continue to get the voices of Brazil's underground heard.

The final part of the SchleiBen series brings the contrast of heavyweights for a special collaborative release featuring Colin Potter (Nurse With Wound), Alessio Natalizia (Walls/Not Waving) and Guido Zen (Brain Machine), backed up on the flp by a rising name, the (another) world ambience of Cass. Emotional Response completes the SchleiBen series, bringing together the legendary Colin Potter with two of Italy's best experimental / drone / industrial producers in Alessio Natalizia and Guido Zen for a one off special recording, plus again highlighting one last Dusseldorf affiiated project, with the Osnabruck based, beautiful ambient touches of producer Niklas Rehme-Schluter aka Cass. When the idea of the split series was born, one of the aims was to get producers who have worked with the label to come together and record special pieces. However, it was not until the fial release that this fially occurred and who better in which to do this. Having seen a number of reissues come out in the last 18 months - one of which on the distant relative label, Sacred Summits, Colin Potter has brought him in to the orbit of two
artists closely associated with Emotional Response in Mr Natalizia and Mr Zen. The assimilated Parts 1 and 2 provide a perfect marriage of methods. Percussion hinting at Industial and Techno is explored, while the constant Drone inflx and disintegration grab your attention, overlapping with rhythmic repetition deeper and deeper. To end is the ambience of Cass. Taken from the limited 'Hiding Place' cassette only album, the pieces here are the perfect completion. Found sounds, loops, piano, synthesis, all intertwine and overlap to bathe you in pause, a one last time call to stop and (un)listen.

Need you back is a collaboration piece between the anonymous Mystep character and vocalist Frank H. Carter III. The original track and vocal laid the grounds for remix work by label regular Jamie Trench, and a most experimental remix by our new friend Dudley Strangeways. This release also commemorates 3 years of Made Fresh Daily, it's been a hell of a lot of fun and learning so far. Here is to another 3, MFD forever.

Aux-Rec is Airdrop's offshoot label designed with a specific mission in mind: to look back and pay tribute.

Aux-Rec continues its survey of musical history, looking for those inspiring pieces of music (famous or forgotten) that carry a very distinctive groove and identity, and that offer the potential to be revisited in an ingenious contemporary way.

At Airdrop, we love music of all ages and of many genres! We feel Aux-Rec is a way for our artists and for us to pay our due respects to the origins and the evolution of contemporary dance music.

Neil Tolliday aka Nail, released the Themis records on his own Velocet imprint between '96 and '98. These three extremely rare 12"s constitute a great and important part of Tolliday's work.

For our eighth and ninth installments, we are glad to present the re-release in two episodes, of the long lost Themis works - re-shuffled, re-packaged and re-mastered by Matt Colton.

BACK IN STOCK NOW!! "Volume One is the debut album. It was the only album recorded with original guitarist Justin Marler, before he became an Orthodox monk. Volume One showcases a darker sound and stronger doom metal influence than Sleep's later work. The image featured on the cover is taken from the Salvador Dali painting "Soft Self-Portrait with Fried Bacon".
Their only album as a four piece of Al Cisneros, Matt Pike, Justin Marler and Chris Haikus

LP repressed for first time in many years.

allmusic
"For all their budding, precocious talent, Sleep's 1991 debut, Volume One, quickly betrays their still quite heavy debt to doom metal forefathers like Black Sabbath, Witchfinder, and Saint Vitus. Driven by Matt Pike and Justin Marler's lumbering mass of low-tuned guitar riffs, Al Cisneros' (still going as Luke here) serpentine bass and ragged screams, and drummer Chris Haikus' cyclopean kit pummeling, occasional highlights such as "The Suffering," "Nebuchadnezzar's Dream," and "The Wall of Yawn" prove less memorable than they are sensorially overwhelming. And yet, ironically, Sleep's rhythm guitars would never again be kept as under control, nor would their leads sound quite as refined as they do here (see the cleaner harmonies employed to good use on "Numb" and "Catatonic," for example). This was probably due to the onetime involvement of the significantly less stoned Marler, who would soon exchange the group for a monastery where he would study to become a monk. Fittingly enough, however, losing the versatility of a second guitarist was exactly what Sleep needed to focus their singular power into a crushing force, and the remaining trio would flourish immediately behind the sheer physicality of Pike's six-string style, as proven by 1993's superlative sophomore LP, Sleep's Holy Mountain."

Uber picked up this beautiful mellowed out pop song by Shining Bird for a vinyl release after becoming totally captivated by its warm laid back Balearic feel. Shining Bird hail from Austinmer a coastal town just south of Sydney, Australia. They are a collective of friends who got together over their love of the sea, Australian cinema, Dennis Wilson's "Pacific Ocean Blue" Lp and the great Australian poet Henry Lawson. The second track Stitzing/Wipeout is another great alternative pop song in the same vein as Destroyer with the song blending into a 5 min piece of psyched out ambient. On the flip side Coyote remix Distant Dreaming into a horizontal percussion led dubby contemplative trip with pitched down vocals and a throbbing bassline. Uber continuing its crusade of finding and releasing music that captures their Balearic ethos.

Nologo is back with 2 essential, tried and tested underground club tracks. Orlando B serves up Side A with 'Dark World', an epic, slow burning, dark-house journey. 'Dark World' begins completely stripped back before the main hook, an eerie hypnotic vocal is introduced. Funky percussive elements creep in which drive the piece forward and a deep minor pad heightens the tension setting the tone for the rest of the track. The energy builds gradually with the addition of a 303 bass line peaking just before the end, taking the listener on a dark hypnotic trip.

On the flip, is none other than house & techno legend MR G who uses the Dark World vocal but takes it somewhere new providing his own unique and distinctive flavour. Mr G's Rum Remix is a dark and twisted peak-time banger, the high energy from the off set perfectly complementing the slower vibe of the original. Plenty of sub and twisted synth action keeps the momentum high and the dark stab he uses punctuates the vocal nicely giving it a raw edge. 'Dark World' is an essential addition to the record bag for darker dancefloors.
Dj Deep: I love this, your remix is super Funky and Dark at the same time!!! Dope! Tom (Panorama Bar): Ufff nice and dark.....another Mr G gem.To be served with the Rum Rush

'Psych', the long-awaited Freaks album released in 2014 gets a re-release in 2015 with some brand new remixes.
Freaks, a musical partnership between Luke Solomon and Justin Harris that's spanned twenty years and includes the Music For Freaks label, four albums, and an avalanche of singles on the likes of Playhouse and Hot Creations to Crosstown Rebels, News and International Deejay Gigolos. The album was released to rave reviews and featured a much awaited gathering of material from the late 00s onwards, including collaborations with Robert Owens, Stella Attar and Diz Washington.
This 12" includes interpretations from Dave Aju, Jamie 3:26 and Freaks.For over a decade, San Francisco innovator and a vital part of Circus Company, Dave Aju has been producing and performing his unique brand of electronic dance music, a consistently fresh and expressive sound.
His remix of 'Situations' makes no exception, a strong piece of jacking house music with bubbling sub bass, strong raw percussive beats, and an effective use of Diz' vocals and the flute sound. On the B Side 'Misfits' is reworked by Chicago's master Jamie 3:26 who turns the tune into an acid house monster and by Freaks themselves who extend their Original version for dance floor action. A strong package...and more to come !

Home Records is the musical output for Marcus Henriksson aka Nobody Home, Minilogue, Son Kite on which he writes:This vinyl is a monument for the discoveries in the search for the Self. Contemplating and exploring the questions; Who and what am I Where do I come from And what is this 'I' that we all are refering to These two musical pieces and the artwork is the outcome of these matters in mind. Mastered by Marcus 'Nobody Home". No limiting! No digital plugins!!! Little compression and some analogue EQ'ing to keep the original space and dynamics in the music.

Two dubbed techno wonders on a 7' platter.


Lars Fenin,born and raised in Hamburg has been around the music scene
in berlin since the mid 90ties as reggae guitarist/songwriter/live-act/artist/producer/dj.
His first experiments in electronic music started in 1998 with some friends in Hamburg, followed two years later by his
first Ep release called 'Herr Pitzelberger dreht auf" for the Berlin based label Shitkatapult.
Since then Fenin has released several Eps and albums for his homies Shitkatapult as well as 12" s and remixes for
labels like Echocord, Revolver, Eintakt and Mitek among others. Along the years he could boast collaborations with artists
such as Deadbeat, Mikael Stavöstrand, D-meteo, k.j.gibbs,Horace Andy, der dritte raum, Eraldo Bernocchi and Jeff Milligan. Since 2008 he runs also his own label called "Dock-records"..

Soundwise, Fenin's productions range from roots reggae/dub pieces
to cordish/melodic techno sets and electronic alike soundscapes.

The future is unwritten.

Serious heat alert! Ridiculously rare sun drenched funky Soul from the mythical Raw Soul Express....

"The Way We Live" is as flawless as it gets, a superior piece of sweet Soul music from all the way down there in Miami, ultra sought after in it's original 45 issue & featuring some absolutely stellar production from the underrated George "Chocolate" Perry this record is an instant party starter! Featured on the mix-tapes & in the play-lists of some of the most discerning crate digging DJ's out there & an OG 45 will literally cost you an arm & a leg ($600 plus) this total gem of a record gets an overdue repress in it's original form. Essential!

Backed here with it's original b-side slow jam "This Thing Called Music" this ultra-rare 45 has been re-mastered, re-pressed & brought back for 2015's dance-floors in conjunction & with the permission of T.K. Disco / Henry Stone Music, Miami USA.

Emotional Response starts 2015 with a 4 part split (Schleissen) series aimed at highlighting artists pushing the sonic boundaries of electronic experimentalism. Starting with ErB001, featuring Abul Mogard and Harmonious Thelonious.
Emotional Response is pleased to announce a special 4 part, split series of LPs that explores the further reaches of ambient, drone and rhythmic percussion, known here as Schleissen. To start the series is 2 artists long admired by the label. The music of Abul Mogard has stayed pretty much under the radar. Hailing from Belgrade, Serbia, retired factory worker turned drone specialist, Abul has released 2 solo and 1 joint cassette-only albums on Steve Moore and Anthony Paterra's (Zombi) VCO label. A big favourite of the label, Dizziness That Shakes Rivers And Mountains is near 19 minutes of pure, modular beauty. Play loud for full o.o.b.e effect. On the flp, a more well known name in Stefan Schwander's percussion based project, Harmonious Thelonious. First catching the label's attention with a series of drum heavy EPs before moving more towards the dance flor on his most recent releases. On a visit to play the infamous Salon Des Amatuers for the Musiccargo album launch in late 2013, Stefan kindly passed on a CDR of "more experimental pieces" and on hearing these, the idea of Schleissen was first born. 2 pieces of Steve Reich inspired minimalist explorations weld to become an incessant psychoacoustic cycle, melodically deconstructing and reconstructing to create a continuous harmonic movement. A series then created for the more discerning ear, so empty your mind and (un)listen.

The french producer 1977 delivers with his first EP a bold and subtle blending of ambient textures, deep pads and raw rhythms perfectly mixed with some minimal sequences. In Brief, a fine and complete piece of electronic music, made with constant attention to detail.
New release by 1977 with 4 tracks. Don't miss it

Given its short gestation, it is striking how far removed the new album is from its predecessor . After the dark complexity of recent output, Same As You is startlingly fresh, as inclusive and accessible as the title suggests, while still maintaining the playful experimentation on which the band has made its name.

Originally conceived as a single longform piece, the tempo remains constant but does not prevent the band from producing swells of raw, joyous, life-affirming energy within these self-imposed limits

The vocal performances and the heartfelt, spiritual lyrics are an inspired addition to the rich instrumental mix: Pete Wareham and Mark Lockheart (tenor sax), Tom Herbert (double bass) and Leafcutter John (guitar, electronics), with Shabaka Hutchings (Sons Of Kemet, Melt Yourself Down) making a guest appearance.

The album's lead single 'Dont Let The Feeling Go' sees Rochford take on vocal duties alongside a choir of friends and collaborators: it's Polar Bear at their most direct.

The use of vocals may catch the ear but that should come as no surprise given that Rochford has enjoyed working with singers as diverse as Beck, Spoek Mathambo, Paolo Nutini and Rokia Traoré over a 15 year career that has seen the drummer, composer and producer emerge as a pivotal figure in contemporary British music

Recorded by Rochford in London, and mixed in the Mojave Desert with Ken Barrientos late last year

Polar Bear will tour Europe from February (see confirmed dates below)

Garofano Rosso is the latest project by Italian producer Giorgio Luceri, perhaps better known for his work on Jamal Mossí Mathematics label. This new work eschews the house stylings of previous releases in favour of a more classic Cosmic approach. Echoes of Tangerine Dreamís Thief OST mixed with what could perhaps be the imaginary soundtrack to Miami Vice if it had infact been set in Rimini and starred Maurizio Merli as Sonny Crockett. These are not however just mere mood pieces, but take the sun, the sea and the body-count straight to the dancefloor. Not to be missed. Including download code.

Revered Belgian DJ and producer Mugwump proudly presents his longawaited debut album on his Subfield imprint. An impeccable nine track LP, informed by two decades as a globe-trotting DJ, producing tracks that have inspired everyone from Andrew Weatherall to Mr. Scruff. A mainstay from the Belgian club scene, on the ground in Ibiza in the early 90's, behind the cult Food Club in the late 90's, now running his own Leftorium clubnight in Brussels, with releases on the highly influential Kompakt label but also on R&S, Gigolo, Cocoon, Gigolo, Eskimo, Permanent Vacation or Throne of Blood... Mugwump has the CV to deliver one of the year's most eclectic and inventive studio albums, a timeless excursion into modern-day, leftfield dance-pop and mutant disco with heavy New-Beat influences. Produced with his partner Olivier Grégoire, it also gathers a solid list of collaborators : Circlesquare's Jeremy Shaw (!K7/Output), Brussels guitar wizard Raphael Lee (aka Spookhuisje), Luke Jenner (ex-The Rapture), Norway 's cosmic disco lords Päl Nyhus of Mungolian Jet Set and Tore Gjedrem from Ost & Kjex, Belgian multi-instrumentalist Stephan Fedele, Philip Janzen (frontman of Cologne's Krautrock-Disco band Von Spar) and Sami « Morpheus » Birnbach from 80's cult punkfunk/new-wave band Minimal Compact.

KEY POINTS
-Mugwump's SF001 and SF002 releases have been supported by Pachanga Boys, Ivan Smagghe, Horse Meat Disco, A Love from Outer Space, Huxley, Jack Savidge (Friendly Fires), Sasha, Ben Pearce, Groove Armada, Andrew Weatherall, Erol Alkan and featured in Mixmag, Clash, Ransom Note, Resident Advisor, DJ Mag, Phuturelabs, Insomniac and repeatedly in France's prime-time news show Le Petit Journal (Canal +)

-This album will be supported by a 4/5 piece live band, with SF002 collaborator DC Salas plus Raphael Lee (Spookhuisje), Stephan Fedele and Mugwump, plus a live drummer when possible. Early tryout dates already scheduled in Brussels (23.01 Maison du Peuple/20.02 Central)

-Freeman PR will be handling the full album UK campaign targeting all the major blogs, webzines, specialist and mainstream print medias with also tba UK plugger targeting radios. Two original videos are being finished right now.

-Mugwump co-runs and resides at the highly-rated Leftorium clubnight in Brussels and has a weekly radio show on FM Brussel, running for 10 years now.

Number three in Prins Thomas Rett if Fletta excursion welcomes our good friends from Full Pupp Trulz&Robin with Change, a 10 minute deep techno buildup piece in a somewhat classic, almost trentemolleresque, soundscape + tradition. Minimalistic but huge in a motoric wall of sound style long not heard. Large! Dunjon sets the counterpoint on B, bassdridden, sparse, bubbling sturdy grooving techno Is Dub comes back to the richer atmosphere of Change for another hallcinating deep and dubby piece. Written&produced by Trulz&Robin (Truls Kvam,Robin Crafoord).

Dear reader,

since Ramona presented all her disciples work throughout the first Lifesaver compilation in 2013, it's now time for another episode of togetherness. Summoning all of her artists around Frankfurt and those who live around the world, Ramona is now ready to present the Lifesaver Compilation 2. 

Kicked off by one of the Frankfurt young guns, the compilation leans into a melody-driven warm-up with a slight hint of analogue soul - "Digital Revolution" by Orson Wells. Next up is the Italian-born and now Berlin-based Massimiliano Pagliara. His contribution "Phasing Down The Sea" enriches the second Lifesaver installment with some of his signature synth-lines paired with a classic chicago-driven beat. The secret weapon from Kilianstädten also known as Mr. Melody, who goes by the name of Lauer, delivers a dark-italo and wave-ish piece topped off with the famous Lauer-craziness called "Language". Roman Flügel, the man of the hour, reinvents classic UK bleep-techno with Tender Hooligan". Another member of the young-guns-club, Chinaski, brings his certain level of synthesizer-love to the table with a track called Futuresex". Portable, one of Ramona's most delicate flowers, teamed up with Lcio again - together they created a hieroglyphic and deep-driven piece of music: "Dive In". TCB, also known as the only member of The Citizen's Band, delivers "Byrdmap", a solid piece of spheric deep and broken music. "Brainwashed" by Benedikt Frey marks the end of the compilation and simultaneously shows his dimension of futuristic dark-disco acid-madness. 

The Lifesaver compilation will be released as a double 12"-vinyl. Additionally Live At Robert Johnson will release an Extension-10"-vinyl containing two brand new tracks by the infamous Hotel Lauer and Tuff City Kids end of March 2015.

Be prepared,
Ramona

LP version comes with free download card.

Radio support from Benji B & B Traits (BBC Radio 1), Nemone (BBC 6 Music), . DJ support from Ben UFO, Joy Orbison, Caribou, Tessela, Mosca, Kowton, Ron Morelli, Bok Bok

Print features confirmed in Groove, Beat Mag, Faze (DE), Tsugi (FR), DJ Mag (IT), Volkskrant (NL), The Gap (Austria)

Print reviews confirmed in Mixmag, The Wire, Crack, DJ Mag, Uncut (UK), Blow Up, Rumore, Rockerilla (IT), Irish Times (IE), Musikexpress, Doppelpunkt, Westzeit (DE), Exclaim (CA)

Online features / premieres: The Fader, NPR, XLR8r (USA), The Quietus, Dummy (UK), Wasabeat (JP),

Hessle Audio are excited to announce the release of the self-titled debut album by Pearson Sound, aka label co-head David Kennedy. Characteristically minimalist in approach, its nine tracks use a handful of elements to craft mesmerising, self-contained worlds, alive with motion and near-subliminal detail: from vast and inky landscapes, to electrifying rhythm tracks, where layers of percussion and bass tumble over one another like rocks in a landslide. Recorded between 2013-4, Pearson Sound documents a distinct phase of Kennedy's studio explorations. "I had a signal chain set up that I was really happy with, and I started sending my machines through the same processes" he says. Expanding upon the techniques underpinning his recent REM and Starburst 12"s, its tracks emerged swiftly through improvised jam sessions, some were captured in a minimum of takes, while others later took shape through extensive sculpting and post-processing. "A lot of it was made by feeding the the same sounds between two different pieces of equipment and they'd end up feeding back between each other and snowballing. On some tracks it's about harnessing that and taking it to the brink before it disintegrates, and some of them are about just letting it go full-blown out of control." The result is a record of striking contrasts: bold, stark and visceral, yet also subtle, harmonically complex and deceptively playful. While Pearson Sound's livewire percussive energy remains inextricably rooted in the club, this exploratory studio process has created Kennedy's most wide-ranging yet coherent body of work to date: a suite of thrillingly impulsive, expressive and open-ended music, untethered from restrictions of form.

With this release, Anne Arbor's jakbeat man delivers 6 minutes of electronic mania; a piece of repetitious, dance-inducing machine funk with a hook that hits you like a punch in the face with a velvet glove, brooding pads, and a top line like steel drums on acid. D'Marc Cantu twists the sound of Detoit techno and Chicago house with his own visceral production style and makes it his own.

"Sonically I'm reminded of old home videos, a lower quality presentation of a memory. Decay has that quality to it that reminds of a time gone but stills feels familiar and comforting" DMC

"Rival was the first experiment of my first alias, Rival. It was recorded in with a Volca drum machine the first day I got it, no effects and no edits, as is the basis of the alias, unedited analog sessions. One take" DMC

This release blows the trio's instrumental palette wide open for a single continuous piece.
Begun as a one-off collaboration in 2009, the trio of Keiji Haino, Jim O'Rourke and Oren Ambarchi has now become a solid working group, refining its craft through a series of annual concerts at Tokyo's legendary SuperDeluxe.  Much of their recorded work has focused on their intense, ritualistic take on the rock power trio of electric guitar, bass and drums, with last year's 'now while it's still warm let us pour in all the mystery' (BT09) containing a series of instant compositions of stunning power and concision that demonstrated how familiar and attuned to one another the three have become.

Presenting the entire first set of the trio's March 2013 concert at SuperDeluxe (the second set will follow on Black Truffle later this year), 'only   wanting to melt   beautifully away is it a lack   of contentment  that stirs affection   for those   things  said to be as of yet unseen', their fifth release,  blows the instrumental palette wide open for a single continuous piece focused on acoustic strings, synth, flute and percussion. Featuring one of Haino's most delicate and moving recorded vocal performances, the opening section of the record takes the form of a spare duet between O'Rourke's 12-string acoustic guitar and Haino's kantele (a Finnish variant of the dulcimer), behind which Ambarchi provides a hovering backdrop of wine glass tones. While on previous releases the listener has often sensed that Haino was firmly in the driver's seat, here O'Rourke takes centre stage with an acoustic guitar performance that takes the lyricism of John Abercrombie or Ralph Towner and refracts it through the free improvisation tradition of his mentors Derek Bailey and Henry Kaiser. The atmosphere of meditative, abstracted song is reminiscent of some of Haino's greatest recordings, such as the legendary 'Live In The First Year Of The Heisei' volumes recorded with Kan Mikami.

Schlammpeitziger's album yields even more fruit. Six weeks after the release of his longplayer "What's Fruit" Pingipung releases this 12inch EP with remixes. The motley set of six electronic musicians and bands dice Schlammpeitziger's countless melodies into a delicious fruit salad! Candie Hank (Patric Catani) deals with the title track "What's Fruit" and beams the mantra-like vocals of the original unerringly to the dancefloor. Andreas Dorau, the infamous hero of German New Wave music form the 80s, is a year long companion of Schlammpeitziger. He sings about autumn leaves, on top of the instrumental hit "Balcony Sofaune", which is transformed into a disco piece by Dorau's producer sdfkt. (Golden Pudel Club, Hamburg). Springintgut dedicates himself to the complex melodic layers of "Pipe Claphorse", waves a giddy tambourine and tops it off with a three voiced cello chorus. The B side is opened by Mouse On Mars who turn "Balcony Sofaune" into an ever growing and collapsing bass monster, while focusing on the bold brass theme of the original. Thomas Mahmoud Zahl slows it down with a head- nodder. He thwarts the melancholy of "Schneid ein Stück aus der Zeit" with a stoically bouncing beat, which dubs and grooves like it wants to go on forever. Dub-Master hey (one half of Pingipung's Hey-Ø- Hansen) sends the same track through his studio, offers new harmonies with his quiet acoustic guitar and sugars it all with a galactic vocoder.

Seattle/San Francisco based Techno label, From 0-1 issue "Time Dilation", a 12" vinyl/digital EP by label director, and co-owner Milkplant (Justin Pennell) of the San Francisco Bay Area. Andrei Morant and From 0-1 co-owner Sone join in as remixers. Including an endless groove and two locked grooves, this piece of vinyl is meant to be as utilitarian for the vinyl DJ as possible. 'Dimension 4' starts off the EP with a classic big room percussive Techno vibe, closing in an endless groove. Following is Andrei Morant's absolutely punishing treatment of Dimension 4, a tearing lead, and searing percussion point to the main room. Two locked grooves, one percussive, the other synth based close out side '0'. On the flip side Milkplant's 'Spherical' reps a tight "future-retro" vibe; elements of old Motor City Techno dominate with a bit of grit to keep it dirty. Sone dials in a perfect toned down, more expansive and hypnotic interpretation of Spherical showcasing slowly evolving filters and modulation fit for the wee hours of the morning. 'Plasmic' is included only as a digital extra in this release- tough, noisy, and a little tripped out with a bit of swing to keep them on the floor.


All12" vinyl jackets are custom screen printed by Bloom Press in Oakland, California, with design curation by label art director, Rubidium. Mastering and distribution by Dietrich Schoenemann of Complete USA. Marketing and promotions by Pullproxy Berlin.

Producer CRISTIAN VOGEL, born in Chile and in raised in Bristol, England, represents an inner turmoil within the history of electronic music and techno. Like only a few other artists such as Aphex Twin, he personifies the second wave of techno during which authorship, previously pronounced dead, returned in full force. The former punk, who had completed studies in composition (20th century classical music in Sussex) conveyed a powerful force in his music, which now finds its place very naturally as electronic music; back then, it did more than just shake up the concepts of techno. Complex and intricate rhythms (Süddeutsche Zeitung) dig deep chasms in dark (listening) spaces.

In 1996, together with JAMIE LIDELL as SUPER_COLLIDER, he made a final attempt to breathe life into electronic music, which was still primarily seen as dance/rave/club music, and produced clustered break funk music that was so relevant to its time that many considered it more a music of the future: science fiction for the dance floor. Although the project was not a failure, it did not succeed even halfway in meeting the expectations of an artist who was rather perplexed by the lack of interest he perceived in others in music as art and research. Vogel believes that music has a will to unfold, like a jungle from the undergrowth of industrial cities where music is thought of as an attack and a defense.
Seemingly out of disappointment in the predictably declining hedonism of the scene, he moved to Barcelona and bound his explosive ideas to more accessible formats, founded labels, created networks (No Future, Sleep Debt) and, at the same time, revisited his early days by working more and more on formats such as music for ballet and similar concepts. He also sought freedom precisely in what was referred to as functional electronic music through conceptual and serious endeavors in the artistic sense.
Vogel went under for a time and lived in Vienna before arriving in Berlin nearly two years ago, where he made his first new and daring attempt to assimilate everything that electronic music represented to him on one album: 'The Inertials' on SHITKATAPULT. Shortly after that, his mystical, floating ambient work 'Eselsbrücke' was released, which already spoke the language of the new city.

He now presents a new album on SHITKATAPULT entitled 'POLYPHONIC BEINGS' - a true masterpiece in the inimitable Vogel style, as his fans will no doubt claim. 'POLYPHONIC BEINGS' begins, after two minutes of an irritating noise wave, with a surprisingly classic dub track and grows darker and more abstract from track to track, minute by minute. An eerie and unbelievable sound, with all as it should be: every reverb tail, every movement of the fader, every composed note takes the listener piece by piece into Vogel's own cosmos.
He foregoes interwoven elements for swaying towers of rhythm, powerful sound passages, spaces, roads, mirrors and pathways, leading to a stream of ideas that never wants to end. He aptly quotes Karl-Heinz Stockhausen in the liner notes: These are the "atomic layers of ourselves." And so it is. We are what we hear. This is the definitive CRISTIAN VOGEL.

finally repressed

DYAD is a collaborative music project and label by Ben Gibson and Fundamental Interaction. For their first release they bring two pieces of accomplished techno as DYAD together with a remix by Japanese legend Takaaki Itoh.

After releasing his stunning debut "Diamond Days" on Traum and the follow up "Nothingness EP" Egokind told us he had the idea for an album already sitting in the back of his head.
To be able to convert all of his ideas he asked his long time friend and collaborator Ozean to work with him. For both of them "Transition" is their debut album, but both artists can draw on a lot of experience recording music from multiple genres.

The A1 track "Mega" is a track which illustrates Egokind & Ozean's approach to touch many grounds resulting in something gigantic. The track itself begins rather acoustic inviting you to the private world of Egokind & Ozean, before it becomes a joyous balearic tune that despite its wealth keeps slight dissonances coming and going.

"Every Time You Smile" is an energetic piece of warped music which swells and and then in the next moment is diminished to small islands of voices that turn like mad creating a new cosmos almost comical at times, but always very kind and gentle as well.

On the flipside "Light Realms" flows into "Silverbird" with no pause: "Silverbird" then opens the curtain and lets the sun fill out the whole room with yellow golden rays. Egokind & Ozean then unfold a garage house track which makes small turns but stay very organic and warm.

And "Everybody Dance Now" by its title makes things very clear. Egokind & Ozean have crammed all their skills here into an hi-energy dance track, still keeping one big surprise to come halftime, when they decide to leave the trail of club culture by introducing a fantastic acoustic intermezzo, juggling and bending their sounds to the max.  

What better way to follow up Andy Meecham's (Chicken Lips / Emperor Machine) huge Gino Fontaine originals than a duo of remixes from Balearic chieftains Pete Herbert & Stratus

As one half of Reverso 68 alongside Phil Mison, and in his own right Pete has been behind a ton of mesmerising sunrise and sunset workouts, and he's more than delivered here - crisp and club ready percussion, those stark punk-funkin' guitars and his trademark synth work all conspire to cook up a storm on the floor

Martin Jenkins and Mat Anthony's Stratus outfit (remember their superb 'Spring Tide EP' on Aficionado last year ) take a pop at the sublime Konkondo on the flip
And what a masterpiece it is !
A ten minute, utterly absorbing and expertly evolving piece, which flips the darker elements of the original into a mesmerising, cinematic, early 90's style Balearic epic

Fracture is a new label which aims to release quality music on a medium we care about. This is why we chose to work with Matt Colton from Alchemy Mastering, and also why we decided to put only one track per side of a 180 gr. Vinyl. After a first EP earlier this year by Berlin's I/Y, this second release features Signalweiss, one of the alias of prolific and talented Italian artist Dario Tronchin (also known as Chevel), here supported by a remix of Milton Bradley.

The past years have seen Dario exploring many directions, from intelligent dancefloor tracks to surprising housy & technoesque pieces. Artificial is another occurrence of him blurring the lines between different genres, dreamy and abstract, it successfully creates a refreshing and unique atmosphere.

Milton Bradley skillfully brings Artificial completely into the realms of techno, keeping the original's track attention to space and melody, the track in his hands turns into a mental and punishing dancefloor bomb.

Dear reader,
as part of Massimiliano Pagliara's album 'With One Another', Ramona presents 'Major Fun', a limited 10" vinyl release only. The record is dedicated to two of Massimiliano's closest friends - Joshua, who sadly passed away and Lucky who is gladly still with us. Side A features 'Major Fun' - a piece that celebrates the essence of life with a sprightly chicago-rooted acid-bassline and a certain italo-flair. On the flipside the much deeper disco-house excursion 'Your Love Away', featuring Jules Etienne on vocals. Ramona is proud to fulfill your desire for the complete Massimiliano Pagliara enjoyment.

Stay humble,
Ramona

This next release demonstrates exactly what can happen when you merge a formidable heavyweight with one of the genre's most promising talents. Jaguar Skills needs little introduction; he's infamous for his ninja-like DJing skills with years stacked behind the decks.

As a result, it was no surprise the artist tried his hands at production alongside Chord's impressive musicality. Already unstoppable from its conception, 'Lust' could only be released on an imprint known for its high quality. And RAM Records is proud to unleash this toe-tapping, catchy piece of sonic artwork on the dnb community...One that's already taken the radio airwaves by storm.
Opening with a rhythm that curls itself around your aural senses, prepare to be pulled into 'Lust' by its funky groove and well-chiselled hooks. The vocal delight of Matti Roots really brings light to the seasonal feel this track creates; an arpeggio of notes underpins each high-hitting voice crescendo. Bright but not without substance, Chords' production style is instantly recognisable. This debut from Jaguar Skills serves as a perfect platform for the high standards this mix-maker is about to set, as well as the benchmark which Chords has already carved.

On the flipside, Break holds onto the A-side's sunny disposition, yet throws down a riddim that hits as heavy as a freight train. The foundations laid by the producer are slightly different, as it rattles forward with clinking percussion, alluding to the kind of drop Break is renowned for. With his distinctive, boundary-pushing drum rolls and bouncy, booming and concise hits, there's no mistaking a sound which adds another dimension to the remixes' original.

You're also served up with another dish which is vastly different from house-guru Monstro. like the previous edit, the record's humanism winds up within the first thirty seconds, however the seismic impact of its drop rolls out into a house-bassline that thumps with every bar. A genre transition which doesn't fall short of the original's production prowess, prepare to hold onto your seats because this serves as the optimal way to wrap up two striking remixes of an already impressive track list.
Dominating playlists for years to come, this release from RAM is yet again taking the genre to another level. But considering the parties involved, there was no other direction for this record to take.

Scuba Death is Ricardo Donoso's alter ego. With more of a focus on analog sound, percussion, sampling, and location recordings, there is an organic undercurrent on Scuba Death recordings that isn't as prevalent in his solo work. This music is rich in atmosphere while still tethered to the deeper ideas that Donoso often explores in his work. Treatises on fear and death­anxiety, the underlining thematic framework for the project, run rampant throughout these claustrophobic electronic passages, and teeter on the edge of being oppressive. Nitrogen Narcosis marks the first full length and strongest statement in the Scuba Death repertoire after the privately issued, ruthless 'Demon Seed' twelve inch back in 2011. The album alternates between surprising lethargic dance inflections all nestled between 75 & 100 bpm, the normal resting heart rate for adults, and the more conceptual, numbness­inducing pieces like '50­-70 Meters' and 'Nociception.' Sequencing plays an integral role on Nitrogen Narcosis as the listener is suddenly thrust into the darkest reaches of the ocean after dark alley grooves are sucked into an aquatic abyss. For a project named after Donoso's near­drowning experience in the South Atlantic when he was younger, there's an impressive amount of reflection & vulnerability present - the field recordings that permeate throughout the album were captured at the same location the undertow caught hold of him that bright Summer day 20 years prior. An inner battle between paranoia and euphoria is played out in well­conceived, precision sonics on Nitrogen Narcosis as Donoso reminds us to look back, break through the surface and go deeper.

Steve Frisco, of Serie Limitee fame, brings us the latest bundle of hot tracks to hit Wax Classic in 2014. As the title suggests, Steve takes us on a journey through low fidelity sounds and production techniques. Think dark, moody, yet crunchy basement house tracks with inspiration taken from all over the U.S and the rest of the house world. It's a generous offering as well. Six whole dusty tunes for those diggers who are looking for something with a bit more range than another record of generic piano laden, house-by-numbers pieces that still seem to be flooding the record store shelves in 2014. The moods do vary from track to track, but they remain very reflective and almost melancholic at points. The title track, 'Adventure in Lo-Fi', is the deepest of the lot with filtered chords, echoing claps and a sporadic kick pattern that often clears way for the track's bass hits. Now, compare that to 'Da Brooklyn Beat'. Whilst the former had a distinct sunrise/sunset kind of feel to it, the latter is definitely more of a club affair. Skippy snare hits and a strong organ lead the track on, and at the risk of utilizing very overused buzzwords such as 'raw' and 'ruff', this track, and the rest of the A-side for that matter, certainly captures that essence.Stalwart Wax Classic fans will no doubt be picking this one up to add to their collection. However, I strongly recommend this EP as a jumping in point to the label for any newcomers out there!