The long-awaited return of the techno trance wizard Asymetric80 is finally here. You can once again expect his unique vision of what a dancefloor banger should be: powerful low drums and mesmerizing melodies dancing around the perfect bass to energize any dancefloor. Presented in a ONE-OFF truly limited edition of 300 copies lacquered pressed on 180 gr. high quality solid BLACK vinyl. All tracks have been specially mastered for vinyl by Daniel Hallhuber at Young and Cold Studios (Germany).
First Word Records is proud to bring you 'The Making of Silk', the brand new album from Allysha Joy.
Allysha Joy is a deeply-expressive singer, songwriter, producer & keys player hailing from Naarm (Melbourne), known for both her solo work and as front woman for 30/70. A uniquely-talented artist, her husky soulful voice, formidable Fender Rhodes prowess and raw poeticism has garnered legions of attentive fans the world over.
As an integral performer in the modern day jazz-soul scene, previous support has included selectors Gilles Peterson & Jamz Supernova (BBC 6 Music), Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), China Moses (Jazz FM) & Laurent Garnier (PBB France), along with stations such as NTS, Lot Radio, KEXP & KCRW, and publications including OkayPlayer, Dazed and The Vinyl Factory.
Along with a recent foray into the USA market with a string of successful shows, Allysha Joy has performed alongside acts such as Snarky Puppy, PJ Morton, The Teskey Brothers, Kokoroko and Children of Zeus, to name a few.
Joy has previously released two full-length solo albums 'Acadie : Raw' in 2018, 'Torn : Tonic' in 2022 and an EP, 'Light It Again' in 2020, along with countless collaborations and features over the past few years.
Entirely self-produced and affectionately poured over, 'The Making of Silk' is about a new understanding of the meaning of love.
Joy says, "it's the kind of love that bell hooks writes about, that lives in the poetry of Mary Oliver, Hafiz and the passionate dreaming of a Koryusai painting. It's about a love that is compassionate, that lives in open conversation, deep listening, the front lines of social movement and would never seek to stifle the light in you. It's about accepting our aloneness, the impermanence of all things and still forever wanting to prove it wrong, to say that I understand that all things change, all things end, hurt exists, but I will love regardless."
Riding on the waves of rich string arrangements, layers of vocal harmony and the raw poeticism she is known for, Allysha Joy's next album is embodying love.
'The Making of Silk' is due to be released on vinyl & digital worldwide, September 13th 2024.
We have invited for the first time in our closed creative community the soul and creativity of an old colleague, friend and fellow traveler on the road of DAO of life.
This is K▲NZ
If read from back to forth it comes from ZNAK, which means SIGN when translated into Bulgarian.
Originating and still gravitating in the suburban area of Lyulin district, these areas are known to give birth either to crime, or to art. In the case of Kaloyan “K▲NZ” Gavrailov, the shady Lyulin area, thankfully sparks the latter.
K▲NZ has had a lot of attention in regards to nightlife participation and on behalf of labels, but definitely not yet the deserved one. We are proud to present the platform for his first ever 12″ vinyl release with slightly odd in taste selection, and thus, rich in soul and creativity. -M-E-L-M-A-K-’s LKVBHR-12 installment is to be released also later this summer and by this we would like to tell Kalo: “welcome to the mob, big! Small-town-dogma-free techno rulez!”
Markus Guentner returns to his longstanding label, A Strangely Isolated Place following the triptych of ‘Theia’, ‘Empire’, and ‘Extropy’, presenting eight inspiring collaborations on ‘Kontrapunkt’.
Collaborations are nothing new to Markus, but it’s hard to see beyond his strong singular presence as a pioneer of long-form ambient and drone. Collabs have punctuated his albums in various places over the years, and he is no stranger to working as a duo amongst other projects, with such a strong conceptual thread throughout his prior ASIP releases, Kontrapunkt represents a literal pivot and counterpoint in his production approach. Instead of music encapsulating a strong conceptual narrative, Kontrapunkt sees Markus create a dialogue between himself and a collection of inspiring production partners.
Kontrapunkt opens with ‘Vanish’, a widescreen cinematic odyssey created in collaboration with fellow German and Affin label-head Joachim Spieth, forming the perfect opener with its modest subtleties. Australian-born Karen Vogt, renowned for her voice layering and looping, brings a beautiful, and natural addition to ‘All Light Will Remain’.
Sonae, who appeared on ASIP’s early digital releases, demonstrates her evolution into experimental flourishes with ‘Farbe Der Nacht’, adding pulsating techno tendencies and a menacing, metallic approach to Markus’ foundations. Multi-instrumentalist Pepo Galán harmonizes beautifully with Markus on ‘Ancestral Images’, adding complex nuances to a slowly evolving euphoric piece.
A master of synthesis, Arovane delivers a powerful display of supercharged electronics and coils of energy on ‘Utopian Fragments’. Benoît Pioulard's renowned expertise with guitars and tape distortion become a perfect counter to the electronics of Markus, blending styles seamlessly on ‘Father Of Waters’.
‘An unstoppable force meets an immovable object’ on ‘While Hunting Nightmares And Dreaming For Peace’, as Abul Mogard adds powerful restraint in a meeting of two drone titans. The album concludes with ‘Presence’, where Hollie Kenniff’s uplifting vocals provide a shimmering finish, perfectly bookending an album of perfected counterpoints and evolutions on the Markus Guentner sound.
Kontrapunkt will be available on Gatefold Black/Grey/Blue marble 2LP, digital and streaming on August 30th 2024. Mastered by Gio at Artefacts Mastering, Berlin, and featuring artwork by Noah M / Keep Adding.
2024 Repress
Mastered from the original analog tapes for the very first time, SHARP-FLAT brings you the WITCH DISCO SINGLES as you’ve never heard them before. WIT 5 hosts a single edit of “Erotic Delight” from the band's 1984 album Kuomboka backed with “Change of a Feeling,” an unheard WITCH track released for the very first time.
By the end of the 1970s, WITCH was a Zambian music institution. Active since 1972, they had survived the Zamrock years and left an impressive garage, psych and prog discography in their wake. But at the outset of the 1980s, the band was ready to embrace the modern sounds of a newera. Undertaking personnel changes and relocating to Zimbabwe, they were primed by the independence celebrations of their neighbouring country to undertake their mythical transformation into an African disco powerhouse.
With access to a state of the art recording studio in Harare, WITCH produced two exquisite albums in the early 1980s. Appearing in 1980,Movin’ On was preceded by the single “My Desire,” which featured new member Christine Jackson on lead vocals. With an upfront funky bass-line, falsetto backing vocals, swirling synths and tight horns, it was a searing hot disco offering that made no bones about the fact that the WITCH was ready to get down. Composer/vocalist Stanford Tembo’s mid-tempo burner “You Are My Sunshine" was the perfect fit for the flip.
Documenting the band’s drift from disco into boogie, WITCH’s final album Kuomboka was released in 1984 without an accompanying single. New lead vocalist Patrick Chisembele injected youthful energy and a modern soul edge, most notably on “Erotic Delight” with its crisp drums, slinky keys and intoxicating bass groove. Pop reggae was also within the album’s stylistic purview by way of the closer “Jah Let the Sunshine” as well as “Change of a Feeling,” the flip side of a recently discovered single that wasn’t originally released.
2024 Repress
Mastered from the original analog tapes for the very first time, SHARP-FLAT brings you the WITCH DISCO SINGLES as you’ve never heard them before. WIT 4 carries a single edit of 'My Desire' backed with 'You Are My Sunshine' from the group's classic 'Movin’ On' LP from 1980.
By the end of the 1970s, WITCH was a Zambian music institution. Active since 1972, they had survived the Zamrock years and left an impressivegarage, psych and prog discography in their wake. But at the outset of the 1980s, the band was ready to embrace the modern sounds of a new era. Undertaking personnel changes and relocating to Zimbabwe, they were primed by the independence celebrations of their neighboring country to undertake their mythical transformation into an African disco powerhouse.
With access to a state of the art recording studio in Harare, WITCH produced two exquisite albums in the early 1980s. Appearing in 1980,Movin’ On was preceded by the single “My Desire,” which featured new member Christine Jackson on lead vocals. With an upfront funky bass-line, falsetto backing vocals, swirling synths and tight horns, it was a searing hot disco offering that made no bones about the fact that the WITCH was ready to get down. Composer/vocalist Stanford Tembo’s mid-tempo burner “You Are My Sunshine" was the perfect fit for
the flip.
Documenting the band’s drift from disco into boogie, WITCH’s final album Kuomboka was released in 1984 without an accompanying single. New lead vocalist Patrick Chisembele injected youthful energy and a modern soul edge, most notably on “Erotic Delight” with its crisp drums, slinky keys and intoxicating bass groove. Pop reggae was alson within the album’s stylistic purview by way of the closer “Jah Let the Sunshine” as well as “Change of a Feeling,” the flip side of a recently discovered single that wasn’t originally released.
Syncrophone Records Is Proud to Present Dutch Producer Jeroen Search's Brand New "One Dimension" Ep.
Across Its 5 Unreleased Tracks, Jeroen Search Pushes Further His Exploration of Minimal Textures and Hypnotic Rhythms.
Opener “OneDimension” Plunges the Listener Into a Meditative Trance With Its Lancing, Repetitive Groove. “Night Driver” Follows With an Obsessive Bassline That Seems to Have No Beginning or End. the Atmosphere Grows Darker and More Introspective on “Cypher”, Before &Ldquo;a Form Of” and “Snake Shifter” Bring the Ep to an Epic, Reverberating Climax. With "One Dimension", Jeroen Search Once Again Demonstrates His Mastery of Repetitive Structures and Hypnotic Ambiences. This Ep Is Made to Be Listened to on Loop, Until the Boundaries Between Dream and Reality Fade Away. It's Another Success for Syncrophone Records and Set to Be One of the Standout Techno Releases of the Year....
We welcome Torn back to Samurai Music for a full length return trip.
Immortal ventures back into the abyssal realms that Ivans music inhabits with 13 meticulously crafted solo works. Meditative, brooding and hypnotic, it's a hauntingly immersive journey that shines a light on his singular vision and artistry.
From the outset, Torn descends into the subterranean with unmatched precision. Each track on Immortal is an intricate colage of raw, sinewy textures and eerie melodies,meticulously woven to create an intensely intoxicating experience.
Standout pieces like the title track 'Immortal', 'Into The Abyss', Unending Rails' and'Glacier' display the inimitable Torn style in its full glory. Immaculate rhythms and layered atmospherics, forever evoking a sense of inexorable momentum
What sets Immortal apart is its ability to maintain a cohesive narrative while exploring diverse sonic and rhythmic territories. Torn seamlessly transitions from the minimalist, almost meditative ambience of tracks like Reckless and I Dare to the more aggressive, beat-driven attacks of Inner Battle and Invisible Turmoil. Each piece contributes to the overarching foreboding atmospheric journey.
For aficionados of deep, shadowy atmospheric drum and bass, Torn's Immortal is indispensable, a tenebrous soundscape that is equal parts innovative, disquieting and enthralling.
**Big Tip. Wild (fully licensed comp of truly all sorts - put together with love**
Over the course of the last few decades many wonderfully talented musicians have made some amazing, unique, and sometimes lost music. Here is some!
Spanning Gospel, House, Zouk, Experimental, Techno, Disco, Folk & Electro 'Second Chapter' in the 'Compassion Cuts' Compilation Series
EN:
I am thrilled to present my new musical work, "Oscillations" – an album that explores the harmonious connection between the natural world and electronic sound art. The title "Oscillations" symbolizes the vibrations and rhythms that are omnipresent in both
nature and music.
Nature is an inexhaustible source of inspiration. From the gentle waves of the ocean to the subtle oscillations of leaves in the wind – everywhere, there are rhythms and patterns that are music in their own right. These natural movements and sounds inspired me to incorporate them into my compositions and weave them with
electronic elements.
"Oscillations" attempts to bridge the organic world and the synthetic soundscape.
Electronic sounds meet acoustic instruments and merge into a new, fascinating unity.
It's about uniting the natural beauty and the technical possibilities of music to create something unique.
With a piano, a double bass, a harmonium and a Moog synthesizer, I would like to invite my listeners on a journey into my sound universe.
DE:
Mit großer Freude präsentiere ich mein drittes musikalisches Werk "Oscillations" – ein Album, das die harmonische Verbindung zwischen der natürlichen Welt und elektronischer Klangkunst erforscht. Der Titel "Oscillations" steht symbolisch für die Schwingungen und Rhythmen, die sowohl in der Natur als auch in der Musik
allgegenwärtig sind.
Die Natur ist eine unerschöpfliche Quelle der Inspiration. Von den sanften Wellenbewegungen des Ozeans bis hin zu den subtilen Schwingungen der Blätter im Wind – überall findet man Rhythmen und Muster, die auf ihre eigene Weise Musik sind. Diese natürlichen Bewegungen und Geräusche haben mich dazu inspiriert, sie in
meine Kompositionen einzubinden und sie mit elektronischen Elementen zu verweben.
"Oscillations" versucht, eine Brücke zwischen der organischen Welt und der synthetischen Klanglandschaft zu schlagen. Elektronische Klänge treffen auf akustische Instrumente und verschmelzen zu einer neuen, faszinierenden Einheit. Es geht darum, die natürliche Schönheit und die technischen Möglichkeiten der Musik zu
vereinen und daraus etwas Einzigartiges zu schaffen.
Mit einem Piano, einem Kontrabass, einem Harmonium und einem Moog Synthesizer möchte ich meine Hörer auf eine Reise in mein Klanguniversum einladen.
DJ Funny and Bojvck, who are of the same age as
the zodiac sign of the horse, the two wild horses that
awaken their unstoppable galloping instinct,
and their heart rate begins to speed up as
they hear the sound of the horses’ hooves. 'Horse To Horse',
the 4th Vinyl-Only release of Sambo Records,
with the theme of 'music that runs at a tempo as fast as a horse',
including Electro, Breakbeat, Ghettotech, and Footwork."
The Chronics is co-manager of the respected Bipolar Disorder and Primal Instinct labels along with Chlar and Alarico, and is known for his mastery of straight-up and compelling grooves and evocative anthems. He has been releasing for over a decade now and shows his versatility again here. This new release makes a debut vinyl offering from the Anglo-Australian Transition label, following millions of digital plays since its inception last summer and support from DJs like FJAAK, Anetha, Daria Kolosova, VTSS and Boys Noize.
Opener 'By My Soul' is a techno pumper with inescapable euphoria built into the diva vocals and the smart synth loops that rise up and up through the mix. It's lean and linear but packed with feelings that burst out of the speakers and hook in your heart. Dublin's Tommy Holohan is blazing an exciting path as a fine new talent who is part of Samba Boys with Kettama and has released on SCDD, Monnom Black and more. His remix is even more maximal, with happy piano stabs dropped in and a funky bassline that brings an all-new vibe.
The Chronics then serve up 'Body Harmony', a slamming but playful cut with a colourful lead synth motif and unrelenting drums. It's warm and energising while also hitting hard, especially during the epic jungle breakdown. Acclaimed techno producer and live artist Obscure Shape recently split from his long-time partner SHDW but is already making waves as a solo talent with a huge batch of unreleased music, including this remix. It's a turbocharged and nimble loop techno offering enriched with Detroit-style machine soul and precision percussion that keeps you hooked.
One of two big previously unreleased cuts to a well loved '87 digi riddim. The Singing Melody is the first cut of this adaptation which he would go on to do a few more times, real dancehall vibes. The Rod Taylor is another great example of his small but deadly late '80s output. Both tunes voiced at Dynamic Sounds in the golden year.
Quintessential compilation of early collaborations by Silverlining (aka Asad Rizvi) with other artists between the golden years of 1996 and 2001. The album reinvigorates several timeless tracks—some known, others rare or unreleased—across a beautifully packaged 3LP with extensive sleeve notes and exceptional analogue mastering. The album includes sought-after and rare works by Two Right Wrongans, Impossible Beings, Appleheadz, Southern Comforters, and Bluegoose vs. Silverlining. The compilation includes one previously unreleased Impossible Beings track rescued from DAT archives. Moving from blissed-out listening into up-tempo underground grooves and then back, the anthology serves both headphone and heads-down-on-the-dancefloor listeners alike.
DJ Support from Danny Howard, Annie Mac, Mistajam, Pete Tong, Charlie Hedges, Kraak & Smaak, Maxinne, Todd Terry, Alex Preston, Full Intention, GW Harrison, DJ Rae, Rudimental, Alaia & Gallo, Illyus & Barrientos, Johan S, David Penn, Sam Divine, Riva Starr, Claptone, Nice7, Dario D’Attis, Mousse T, SMan, Huxley, KC Lights, Friend Within, Dombresky, Gorgon City, Chris Lake, Format:B, Pirupa, TCTS, Alan Fitzpatrick, Low Steppa, Mat.Joe, Raumakustik, Eskuche
Toolroom’s leading lady ESSEL returns to the label with a brand new killer vinyl 2 tracker. First up is her recent smash ‘Rave Is The Weapon’ with fellow female powerhouse and talented DJ, producer and vocalist, Alex Mills. Alex Mills is on an incredible journey! She had a UK top 40 hit last year with ‘Million Dollar Bill’ and as a talented vocalist boasts writing credits on records with the likes of Camelphat, Solardo and Ferreck Dawn. When these 2 are in the same room together, the energy that exudes from them is on another level! Their genuine friendship and thirst for fun is clearly visable and this spills into the record in a massive way. This BANGS! A peak-time tech houser in a similar vein to ESSEL’s Beatport chart topping tracks ‘Sweat’, and ‘Lennon’ with a lyric that will be screamed on dance floors and at festivals for the foreseeable future… ‘RAVE is the weapon!’ On the flipside is her late 2023 Toolroom single ‘The Edge’ that already sits on an impressive 4m streams and almost 40 Radio 1 plays. She has received a huge amount of radio support over the past few years which was rewarded with a DJ booking at Radio 1’s ‘Big Weekend’ back in May alongside the world’s leading artists. As far as the record is concerned… This is a real EARWORM! A stripped back, fun record with insanely catchy vocals and one that will please radio DJs, and club DJs alike.
Countless radio plays on Radio 1 from Danny Howard, Sarah Storie, Pete Tong Other notable radio plays – Kiss FM, Toolroom Radio, Sirius XM, Data Transmission Radio, Radio 1 Dance Anthems, Radio 1 Party Anthems, Rinse FM, Select Radio, Tomorrowland Radio
"LATZFONSER KREUZ / FELTUNER HÜTTE scheduled for release on September 20th 2024 is the third single to be lifted from Ulrich Troyer's TRANSIT TRIBE due later this year.
Mamadou Diabate, originally from Burkina-Faso and now resident in Vienna, who is also a world-famous virtuoso balaphon player, collaborates on "Latzfonser Kreuz" with fellow countryman Hamidou Koita to produce a remarkable percussion track, both singing and employing talking drum and djembe to come up with a sound that can only be described as dubbed-out Nyahbinghi-style electro-beats! The track references the little church at Latzfonser Kreuz, which is the highest pilgrimage spot in South Tyrol, one of the highest in Europe; every year in June, the Black Lord, a black carved Gothic wooden cross, is brought from the village church in Latzfons to thepilgrimage church, where it remains throughout the summer.
On the flip for "Feltuner Hütte" Ulrich Troyer is joined by co-producer Osman Murat Ertel, founding member of the electro-psych-folk group Baba Zula from Istanbul, who has worked internationally for many years collaborating with the likes of Jaki Liebezeit, Fred Frith and Mad Professor. But here Murat takes us on a dub psych-out trip with his favoured electric saz, with wha wha FX, delay and echo, like Link Wray meeting King Tubby on the old streets of Istanbul."
Steve Barker (DJ, Radio Presenter - On the Wire, BBC 1984 – 2023, now Slack City Radio & reggae/dub columnist and contributor to The Wire)
Credits:
Mamadou Diabate: vocals (A) & talking drum (A)
Osman Murat Ertel: electric saz (B)
Hamidou Koita: vocals (A), djembe (A)
Didi Kern: percussion (A), drums (B)
Flip Philipp: percussion (B)
Ulrich Troyer: analog synthesizers & drum-machines, sampler, field recordings, dub effects (A+B)
A written by Mamadou Diabate, Hamidou Koita & Ulrich Troyer
B written by Osman Murat Ertel & Ulrich Troyer
Recorded by Ulrich Troyer at 4Bit Studio & 4Bit Bungalow, Vienna - except electro saz on track B recorded by Osman Murat Ertel at Saniki Studio, Istanbul
Mixed & arranged by Ulrich Troyer at 4Bit Bungalow, Vienna
Produced by Osman Murat Ertel & Ulrich Troyer
Mastering & Lacquer Cut by Kassian Troyer at Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin
Cover Drawing by Ulrich Troyer
Special thanks to Steve Barker, Mamadou Diabate, Osman Murat Ertel, Diggory Kenrick, Eva Kelety, Didi Kern, Hamidou Koita and Flip Philipp
Kindly supported by the City of Vienna (MA7 - Kultur), Federal Ministry Republic of Austria (Arts, Culture, Civil Service & Sport), SKE-FONDS (AT) & Amt für Kultur, Bozen (IT
Musique Pour La Danse proudly presents "8 COFFINS", an essential collection of original tracks by the British duo Dougie Wardrop (of Conscious Sounds fame) and Nigel Lake as Jungle Neck unearthed from the mid 90s from original masters for all fans of the Jungle Sound. These impressive and mind-blowing soundclash ready weapons feature the deepest analog subs and sharpest drums, killer reggae samples to fit any sound system, and stands out as possibly the only jungle album in the bizness with an innovative and effective live dub production feeling. This unique characteristic makes it even more essential and one-of-a-kind, capturing the raw energy and innovation of the era.
For fans of the peak era of Jungle, with shades of reggae and dub, warehouse raves, heavy basslines and 160 BPM.
