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Laid Back in Top Form: New Music Flowing After 47 Years
After 47 years together, the iconic Danish duo Laid Back continue to defy expectations, entering a new and remarkably productive creative phase.
Their upcoming album, Born to Fly, captures their unmistakable sound while showcasing a renewed sense of energy and inspiration

“We feel like we are meant to make music. And when we play music, it feels like we’re flying,” says John Guldberg, reflecting on the album’s title and spirit.

Long known for their unhurried approach to releasing music, Laid Back now find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Guldberg describes a surge in creativity that has
turned their process on its head.
“It’s kind of funny — Laid Back has always taken its time making records. We’ve been behind schedule for most of our career. Now it’s the opposite:
I’m actually starting to worry about whether I’ll have time to release everything I’ve got in me,” he says.

Their current workflow reflects this momentum. Guldberg develops initial ideas,which he shares with Tim Stahl, who then brings them to life with vocals and instrumentation.
“When he sends me something and I start singing and playing on it, that’s when it really becomes Laid Back,” says Stahl.

The duo’s creative output has accelerated to such an extent that even ahead of the release of Born to Fly, they already have enough material prepared for more than a double album for their next project.

“It’s about making the most of the time you have left. I used to feel there was plenty of time and no need to rush. Now time feels much more valuable,” Guldberg adds
.
Alongside their creative resurgence, Laid Back are also seeing a shift in their audience demographics. Streaming data and live performances indicate a growing younger fanbase — a development that has taken the duo by surprise.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back out on stage. We still have the urge to perform, and we love making people happy. That’s what our music is for,” says Stahl.
Born to Fly is set for release across CD, vinyl, and digital formats. Laid Back will also perform in selected cities across Europe later this year 2026.

“We hope people can hear that we’ve grown — and that it still makes sense for us to make new music,” says Guldberg.

Detroit producer, Shawescape Renegade, comes to Tresor Records with Exoframe, a five-track EP of pure techno and electro, including a remix by Arpanet.
As with so many forerunners and peers in the Detroit techno world, Shawescape Renegade, is a deep thinking and a world-building story teller and Exoframe uses the traditional sci-fi narrative to explore recent thought Shaw has had on the potential hidden costs of technological
evolution: what happens when overspecialisation leads to a dead end; when inflexibility means a return to the old forms becomes difficult.
The EP opens with 78 Light Years From Earth, an effects-laden slab of electro that pulls the percussion into other dimensions. Mechanus 9 brings a techno edge before Terraformers Warning unleashes a bass-driven beast.
A fast-paced remodel of Terraformer’s Warning from Gerald Donald’s Arpanet project follows, before the EP is closed out with another bassline-forward track, Ignition One, an updated version of the Shawescape cut that soundtracked the section of the Black To Techno
documentary focussed on the Detroit’s Jit dance scene. The strong symbiosis between Jit and Techno is a foundational part of Detroit’s culture and a community tie and suggests that while technology may lead to stagnation, the cultural muscle memory offers a path back to
authenticity.
In a thoughtful nod to the praxis of the DJ, the vinyl versions of A1 & B1 are five BPM slower than the digital, moving the music to between 128BPM and 151BPM on a standard Technics turntable and opening it up for play in a greater range of club environs.
It’s this deep respect for the artistry and traditions of Detroit’s longstanding music and dance scenes that mark Shawescape Renegade out as one of the true inheritors of the city’s heritage.

Dublin meets Rotterdam.
Following the highly acclaimed Combination 2 EP featuring Pineal Navigation & Stanislav Tolkachev, Dublin-based label Awareness System returns with its boldest statement yet. Combination 3 EP unites the rising label head Pineal Navigation with Rotterdam’s prolific techno force Charlton for a powerful six-track split release. This third instalment in the Combination series delivers a deep dive into raw, machine-driven Techno and Electro, embodying the spirit and authenticity of the true underground. Each artist contributes three tracks, creating a dynamic and immersive listening experience designed for peak dance-floor impact.

Charlton opens the record with relentless grooves in “Whats The Answer” and “Relentless Pressure”, setting the tone with punchy Detroit tinged poly rhythmic driving energy. Pineal Navigation answers on Side B with “Forward Ever” and “Datafried”— two tracks of mechanical funk layered with cerebral textures that push the listener into a state of sonic bliss.

The journey continues as Charlton closes Side 1 with “Feeling Cloudy” an emotive track that blends his signature gritty, rhythmic percussion sound with dub-inflected techno elements. On Side 2, Pineal Navigation finishes the EP with “Purpose” exploring his electro influences through hypnotic synth lines and wandering vocal fragments that propels and image of a futuristic terrain.

Combination 3 EP stands as a testament to both artists’ commitment to crafting forward-thinking electronic music while honouring the underground ethos that defines Awareness System

A Profound Non-Event, the debut album by Sydney-based three piece Daily Toll, comprises 11 songs traversing three years of forged friendships, collaborative experimentation and a shared love of growing through words and song.

Those attuned to the ever-vibrant Australian underground may already be well familiar with Daily Toll, their consistent live presence since their inception in 2021 embroidered by a handful of (mostly) home-recorded, (mostly) digital self-releases that have steadily accumulated an appreciative following. Initially the project of self taught musician, poet & artist Kata Szász-Komlós(they/them) and Jasper Craig-Adams(he/him), and expended to a three piece with the more recent addition of friend Tom Stephens(he/him), Daily Toll represents the union of three unique creative dispositions, of relationships blooming through the push and pull of creative practice. Mapping the band’s existence through their recorded output is to bear witness to the flux of three people learning to respond to one another and gently ossify into a collective vision that at once calls to mind folk song intimacy, post-punk dynamics and the artful poeticism of an adjacent Flying Nun legacy.

If those earlier recordings reflect a band imagining themselves into being in real time, A Profound Non-Event observes a clear shift in both conviction and approach. Recorded in just three days with Alex Bennett at the purely analogue Sound Recordings studio in Castlemaine and holing up at night in the century old cottage situated beside the studio, sheltering from the late-June wind and rain within walls littered with instruments and microphones, lighting fires to stay warm. Kata describes the experience as defined by “candle light and creative camaraderie”, an idyllic account of a collection of songs that glide with an undeniably warm, easy charm, evidenced in particular in the record’s second half as the tone turns increasingly introspective, the very sound of a cold evening’s drift into night. When contrasted with the moody swirl and sing-song bounce of the opening trio of tracks, there’s clear evidence of a band not simply in the process of becoming, but committed to finding their truth in that process.
Still, if Daily Toll display a reluctance to be wholly defined, then album centerpiece ‘Killincs‘ (positioned in the middle for a reason) might just be their Rosetta Stone. A verbose rumination on unsettled feelings of isolation and longing, exploring the challenges in making peace with one's decisions amidst the uncertainty of an often harsh world and the realisation that some things remain best unresolved - “I have the keys still, but I’ve buried the path”.

"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."

The fourth chapter in the daring XTRICTLY ELEKTRO saga once again pushes the boundaries of the genre.

Volume 4 delivers six powerful cuts that move from timeless electro foundations to futuristic, experimental territories — achieving a perfect balance between precision and raw energy.

This release brings together familiar faces — Parand, ElektroTechnik, EC13, and X-Truder — alongside two new additions: Roi, a DJ and producer recognized for his sharp, detail-driven sound and modern take on electro; and DJ Overdose, the veteran force of Dutch electro.

A tight and cohesive mini-LP that embraces diversity while remaining faithful to the spirit of electro: sharp rhythms, dark atmospheres, and pure machine funk.

Limited to 150 copies. Don’t sleep on this one.

Bound to break the new year in with all our might, we are excited to unveil our new baby, RYCX. Expanding the scope of our main catalogue to bottle what we consider pure techno quality with its idiosyncrasies and inherent untamedness, RYCX will serve as our platform of choice to embrace the more minimalist, dubby vibe of techno, focussing on tracks that sound more like a rabbit hole, trippier, psychedelic, and immersive, yet still powerful enough to fill a dance floor. Kicking off the journey is 'RYCX01' by Ruben Ganev, up with his debut solo release after contributing a track to our 2023-issued 'Heimat' VA. The music here featured packs the very defining qualities RYCX aims to engage its audience with: a raw, inspired, quality-driven combination of force and thoughtfulness, ruggedly honest yet built to meet the expectations of the most picky dance floors and home listeners out there. Ganev's quartet of stormy churners, cut from the most hypnotic cloth and eerily vibrant machine funk, has us diving deep into a throbbing furnace of charred dubs, steely industrial reliefs and post-apocalyptic atmospheres. A most fitting manifesto in sound, telling the beads of the sonic revolution in march.

Since 2020, 12 Inch Lovers has embarked on an exhilarating journey, characterized by sold-out parties and samplers that have built a loyal fanbase. These samplers consistently find their way to collectors in search of contemporary classics. Samplers 7 & 8 once again constitute a collection of true classics, rare gems, and club tracks that have never before appeared on vinyl.

Sampler 7

There are records that follow the rules, and others that rewrite them in real time. With O R G A S M A N I A, Byron The Aquarius returns to Skylax with a deeper, freer and more unpredictable statement — where jazz instinct meets raw machine funk, and structure dissolves into pure feeling. Rooted in the lineage of Detroit yet never confined by it, Byron operates in that rare zone where house music becomes expression rather than format. His sound doesn’t chase functionality — it breathes, it stretches, it resists. The EP opens with Back 2 Zion (Tomorrow), a spiritual and meditative journey built on loose drums and luminous chords, carrying a sense of elevation — early morning music where the dancefloor begins to think again. Enter the Co$mos (Fool) pushes further into abstraction, with drifting synths and broken rhythms unfolding in a non-linear structure, navigating between Sun Ra’s cosmic language and Detroit futurism. On the flip, Mr. Captain Crunchhh brings a raw, playful energy — crunchy textures, off-grid swing and an almost improvised groove, alive and unpredictable, a leftfield tool designed to disrupt expectations. Finally, O R G A S M A N I A stands as the centerpiece — hypnotic, sensual and immersive, locking into a deep repetitive groove while evolving in subtle layers, a late-night body experience guided by a sharp musical mind. Across four tracks, Byron The Aquarius confirms his unique position between jazz musician, house producer and sonic storyteller, with a trajectory spanning Sound Signature, Axis, Eglo, Apron and Shall Not Fade, continuing to resonate from Detroit to Berlin and beyond. Artwork by H5 — the iconic studio behind Daft Punk, Air and Vitalic — reinforces Skylax’s timeless and art-driven identity. This is not fast music, this is not algorithm music — this is music for those who still listen. Strictly for the heads. Vinyl only. No repress. Skylax Records.

UnOwn is back with a third outing of magical edits and this time the enigmatic Fava Luva is cooking up the heat. First up is an edit of 'Roze', a disco gem that gets pulled apart and rebuilt in slow, sensuous fashion. The drums are loose, the funk is real and the vocal is full of tease that will warm up any setting in any season. On the flip, 'Fishy' is just as much of an elastic and playful sound, this time with a sleazier vocal and some mad, cosmically inclined synth expressiveness and plenty of Parliament-style vocal oddness. A pure heater from this ever-more-vital label.

On this album the former "Chasing Clouds" have accumilated into the eponymous "Black Sky"; these drifting soundclouds have swallowed a bulk of Sepalot´s sunny nature; his trademark relaxed attitude gave way to instrumental melancholy and pugnacity. "Before I started recording I listened to lots of The Doors songs. I found the suicidal aspect in their music very exciting. I totally inhaled it." Sepalot reports. "The breakage, the grid, the dirt - that was my inspiration. I was thirsty for the energy of pureness." In order to capture this roughness Sepalots first production steps were drafting soundsketches - often more than 100 in a row. This is then is followed by a sorting procees with many drafts going immediately into the trashcan. The survivors create the first basic draft.
There is something waiting in the wings. Don´t fear the storm, come outside with us... "Black Sky" is here.
Clemens Brentano: "These sounds are a wonderfull living breath of darkness"

Todh Teri returns with a brand new record, and this time the spotlight falls on Hari Heart. The Return of Hari Heart marks the eighth release on Masala Movement Records and launches a fresh vinyl-only series that brings the mythical characters of Deep In India back to life in a bold new form. Todh Teri further expands his conceptual universe by focusing on deeper sonics & music explorations. Hari Heart guides the release with a delicious blend of nostalgia, analog warmth and a club-ready intentions - built for curious DJs (and listeners alike).

On the A side you will find Smriti (Remembrance) - a reimagined classic flipped into a peak-time driver - disco spirit, acid bite, and pure dancefloor release. Limited, loud, and made to move bodies. On the flipside we have ??a (Debt) - a deep, dubby slow-burn built around an evergreen melody which grows patiently - finally rewarding you with a sweet earworm.

The final tune on the record is Prem (Love) - a reinterpretation of a ’70s indie rock n roll gem. Unmistakably retrospective (if you know your history). Play it a bit longer into the dead wax, and you will catch a hidden acid sequence locked groove.

Art by Soju Aduckathil with creative direction from Masala Movement’s Manoj Kurian. This is the label’s eighth release, a vinyl-only exclusive, with more coming in 2026.

RENEGADE METHODZ presents ENACT

5 YEARS RM - MUSIC WITH THE FORCE OF FUTURE

Celebrating five years deep in the trenches of techno resistance, the Greek label presents ENACT, a Various Artists compilation that captures the ethos of Renegade Methodz in its purest form and collects together a carefully selected group of music that embodies the Renegade Methodz philosophy.

In a sharp-angled, fiercely inventive reflection on the nature of club culture and digital fatigue, Simo Cell and Abdullah Miniawy reunite to deliver their new album, Dying is the internet, to Dekmantel's UFO series.

French producer Simo Cell has blazed a singular path from his dubstep-influenced origins to become a leading light in contemporary leftfield club music, twisting up adventurous rhythms and flamboyant production in pursuit of a perpetual freshness for the floor. Egyptian singer, poet, producer and composer Abdullah Miniawy has become equally omnipresent in the past 10 years, straddling the arts world and leading with his piercing Arabic lyricism while maintaining an eternally curious spirit that leads into open-ended, experimental music from the abstract to the propulsive.

Following up on their 2020 EP for BFDM, Kill Me Or Negotiate, Miniawy describes their sharply focused new album as "a playful prophecy about the triggers of a new global revolution." Cell considers the title, Dying is the internet, to be a mantra about "how the internet lost its soul," becoming "less about sharing ideas and more about surviving in a digital business ecosystem." Deliberately at odds with the reel-ready two-minute attention span of the average social media surfer (i.e. everyone), the pair set out to make an album that takes its time to reveal nuanced ideas and expressions. Rather than one-note despair for the modern malaise, Cell and Miniawy offer a philosophical reminder that this present moment in the human experience is a temporary phase, no matter how overwhelming it feels.

Dying is the internet finds Miniawy experimenting with auto-tune across the record, while Cell has developed his voice design chops and compositional instincts, moving closer to fully realised song structures without losing the fundamental 'clubbiness' of each track. The result is a cohesive, wildly original kind of heavyweight dance music that slings out hooks left right and centre, from Miniawy's laconic trumpet looming through low-slung 'Reels in 360' and 'Travelling In BCC' to the persistent handclaps that bring 'Living Emojis' to life. Miniawy's poetry explores the power of insistent, repeated phrases in a break from his more typically structured form.

Kenyan powerhouse Lord Spikeheart adds extra snarl to stripped-back, slow-burn opener 'I See The Stadium', but otherwise Dying is the internet is purely the work of Miniawy and Cell casting their considerable chops out into unexplored territory. The results are electric, bound together by a consistent economy of sound that burrows into a shroud of bass-heavy minimalism barely masking Cell's incredibly detailed studio flex. Even the beatless flourish of the Miniawy-produced 'Tear Chime' comes loaded with physicality — a sensory rush at the mid-section of the album bookended by some of the most idiosyncratic club music in recent memory.

Both Simo Cell and Abdullah Miniawy have already proved themselves as fearless innovators across different fields. The strength of their partnership lies in their ability to make space for each other while letting their distinctive sonic identities ring loud and true. Dying is the internet has immediacy and physicality to translate over a soundsystem, but its intricacies are purpose-built for repeat visits and contemplation, unveiling hidden dimensions the deeper you dive into it.

The Illegal Disco Limited series makes its return with a purple vinyl treat. On the A-side, Monsieur Van Pratt delivers two sure-fire weapons: 'What About Me', a familiar sample flipped for today's dancefloors, and 'Sunset Driver', a killer reconstruction of MJ's rare demo. Flip over for the B-side, opening with a collab between Van Pratt and BoogietraxxAon the viral Japanese gem 'Stay With Me'. BoogietraxxAthen takes control with the funky 'Moving Down the Line' before closing the record in style with 'Pretty Good Feeling'. A must-have for disco and edit heads alike.

Hey ! Uzi specialist start the record with his Tribe du sud killa !
Dismatik, phase neuralizer pure jus teknoidal.
John start the B side with an original ragga bomba, fire !
Trizia Close, a very good mental sound from another time, the file is closed
TRIBE DU SUD !
Poster & sticker

Yore Records presents: Craig Alexander - Phenomenal Woman / Across My Mind (12" Maxi Reissue)
Following his recent appearance on the label, Craig Alexander returns to Yore Records with a carefully curated reissue of two standout House Workouts: Phenomenal Woman and Across My Mind.
Originally released on earlier records, these tracks are now brought together on one 12" - each presented in two distinct mixes - capturing the raw, emotional depth of Chicago House in its purest form.
At the heart of this release lies Phenomenal Woman, a track that draws inspiration from Maya Angelou's iconic poem of the same name. Rooted in the African-American cultural context, the piece carries a subtle but powerful message of identity, strength and self-definition - translated here into deep, jazz-infused House music.
Across My Mind complements this with a more introspective tone, driven by warm chords, understated grooves and a timeless sense of space.
Together, these recordings embody what House music has always been at its core:
music with a message, shaped by lived experience, culture and emotion.
Stripped down, honest and deeply rooted, this is Chicago House in its most original and authentic form - a sound that continues to resonate far beyond the dancefloor.

Limited to 250 copies worldwide / no repress.

Fresh for 2026, Something System Records returns with its second four-track EP, showcasing a carefully curated selection of forward-thinking underground sounds from across the DnB and jungle spectrum.

A1 – Creativity
Oxford-based producer SR makes his label debut with Creativity. Having already built a strong reputation through multiple vinyl releases and production collaborations with JEMONE on Metalheadz, SR delivers a powerful opener defined by tense atmospheres, razor-sharp drum programming, and weighty sub-bass. Designed to move both dancefloors and minds, this is a standout introduction.

A2 – 3 Times Around The Sun
Duburban & Peeb return to Something System Records for their second appearance following a prolific period of releases on some of the scene’s most respected labels. This track channels lush, uplifting pads reminiscent of the golden era of Good Looking Records, underpinned by warm sub frequencies and expertly edited drumfunk breaks that evolve beautifully throughout. A deeply musical and rewarding listen.

B1 – Fresh Outlook
Bristol-based producer Loma returns to the imprint with Fresh Outlook, a finely crafted 140 BPM jungle roller. Featuring intricately layered breaks, precisely placed subs, and an immersive atmospheric backdrop, the track takes the listener on a dynamic journey. With previous releases on John B’s BETA Recordings, Loma continues to demonstrate a bright and promising trajectory.

B2 – Tell Em Purdie
Closing the EP, Something System Records proudly welcomes Pixl to the label for the first time, collaborating alongside Duburban & Peeb. A seasoned producer with releases on numerous highly respected DnB labels and founder of Loop Progression Records, Pixl brings depth and experience to this jazz-infused finale. Smoky club atmospheres, textured breaks, deep subs, saxophone lines, and a spoken-word sample referencing a legendary drummer combine to deliver a rich, soulful conclusion to the EP.

New album by SABA ALIZADEH, a groundbreaking voice in contemporary Iranian music who blends classical Persian traditions with avantgarde experimentation.

Born in Tehran in 1983 as son of the world renowned tar and setar virtuoso HOSSEIN ALIZADEH, SABA ALIZADEH established himself not only as a true master on the Iranian spike fiddle kamancheh but one of the groundbreaking voices in contemporary Iranian music, blending classical Persian traditions with avantgarde experimentation. His music, praised by THE WIRE as "a bridge between the ancient and the contemporary", turns sound and image into powerful narratives of memory and resistance. Over the past years, ALIZADEH (who relocated to the Netherlands a few years ago) has appeared at key festivals and venues such as Reeperbahn Festival, CTM, Flow Festival, Philharmonie Berlin, Kölner Philharmonie, solidifying his reputation as a singular live performer.
After the critically acclaimed releases "Scattered Memories" (his international debut, released on Karlrecords in 2019), "I May Never See You Again" (2021) and last year's "Temple of Hope", his new album fascinates again with a unique artistic voice, weaving together centuries-old sonic heritage and the urgency of the present through deeply immersive, meditative landscapes in two epic pieces. "Rituals Of The Last Dawn" may feel like a sad or resigned title (compared to the positively fierce "Temple Of Hope"), but at the same time the highly meditative music provides a good lot of contemplative strength. Appealing to an open-minded "world music" audience as well as fans of current streams of ambient or drone in its most subtle forms, ALIZADEH's latest work is a strongly needed soul food in bitter times. Created on the spot with his musical partners PIETRO CARAMELLI (guitar and electronics on "First Ritual") and LIEW NIYOMKARN (lap steel and electronics on "Last Ritual"), "Rituals Of The Last Dawn" is a pure, unfiltered emotional expression from one of contemporary Iranian music's leading artists.

Calibre steps up with two outstanding reworks of jazz/hip-hop/funk legends Brooklyn Funk Essentials’ ’Take The L Train (to 8th Ave.)'.

The A-side is vintage Calibre: crisp breaks, deep subs, silky musicality - a pure, rolling DnB number. Flip it over and he drifts into a lush ambient dub version, stretching the original into a drifting, atmospheric gem.

He has been closing his set with this record since and it has recently found its way into the sets of Moodyman, Fabio, Marky and Goldie.