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Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels imprint announces, ‘Portrait of the Obscure’, the stunning new album from Oceanvs Orientalis.

Following three superb singles on the label across the past four months, the nine-track LP offers a comprehensive exploration of the Instanbul-based talent’s rich, globally-infused and captivating sound, with the project set for release on 26th April 2024.

Safak Oz Kutle, known as Oceanvs Orientalis, is a producer and live performer based in Istanbul. His musical style intricately weaves together diverse sonic tapestries of wide-spanning genres and cultures, and through his creative fusion of these influences, he crafts an immersive world that takes you far away from the usual club music references. His music serves as a celebration of his musical heritage, and this has never been truer than on his superb new album ‘Portrait of the Obscure’, which again pushes traditional boundaries within the electronic sphere. Set for release on 26th April via Damian Lazarus’ renowned and celebrated Crosstown Rebels imprint, the nine-track LP project features a showcase of solo and collaborative material alongside close friends such as Tooker, Idil Mese and Tilahun Gessesse, delivering a journey into the creative mind of one of
the scene’s most intriguing talents.

The bold and riveting project kicks off with the captivating synthscapes, fluttering strings and plucked bass of the gorgeous ‘Pulse Antique’, before ‘Ministry Of Midnight’ cuts loose on more jumbled rhythms and intricate organic lines warmed with wordless vocals. Next up are two of the lead
singles - the tense and intricate house sonics of ‘Neutrality’ and the haunting atmospheres and ethereal synth lines of ‘IL Lupo’ featuring Tooker, while ‘Conritmo’ continues to bring exotic new string sounds, leftfield melodies and warped bass to this most vibrant exploration of candle-lit house sounds. ‘Soul of Calypso’ blisses out on far-sighted cosmic chords with sonorous bells and late-night spoken word musings that add all-new character to the innovative grooves. Then comes the laid-back, jazz-infused house of ‘Heart Pieces’ feat. Idil Mese, a deep and jazzy jungle shuffler
in ‘Mercury’ and the playful horns and lumpy, dub-wise swagger of ‘Lanchi Biye’.

An album project encompassing its title perfectly, ‘Portrait of the Obscure’ is just that - a magnificent snapshot of the unique musical mind of Oceanvs Orientalis.

Repress

Obscure Shape & SHDW represent the new generation of German techno, they took over in a very small amount of time their own space, and they showed that their sound can fit in many different places. Now it's time for them to join the label with a stunning debut that represents all they did in this years, but even better what they want to aim for in the future. It's a refined release. Four full length tracks that are extremely helpful in any occasion from clubs to pure raves and warehouses, there is no real rule, it's all about energy and power. Welcome to Obscure Shape & SHDW.

Oceanvs Orientalis teases his highly anticipated album 'Portrait of the Obscure’ on Crosstown Rebels with the third and penultimate single ‘Neurality’, remixed by 8Bit and Cecile head honcho Nick Curly. Istanbul-based Safak Oz Kutle, aka Oceanvs Orientalis, is a producer and live act who blends the rich sonic cultures of Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian and Arabic music to curate his take on electronic music. The first two singles from his forthcoming album on Damian Lazarus’ legendary Crosstown Rebels have showcased his diverse sound at its fullest, and now the third offering and final single ahead of the LPs release confirms him once again to be a standout talent as he unveils the captivating sonics of ‘Neurality’.

An absorbing and stirring production, ‘Neutrality’ brings a darkly involving groove that is multi-layered and hypnotic, with several shimmering vocals, jangling percussive lines and ethereal pads all locking you in for an enthralling ride. A remixer who needs little introduction, Nick Curly is as integral to the tech house genre as anyone in the scene, heading up key labels such as 8Bit and Cecile while helping to define the genre as we know it today. His interpretation is deep and warm, with slinky drums carefully deployed amongst vocal whispers that bring human soul. An excellent final preview into what’s still to come, ‘Neurality’ delivers another exceptional production, leading perfectly into the release of the full-length project this April.

Bolina Records, born in Italy and based in Stockholm, is the brainchild of the Cerrado Studio crew, a dynamic team of artists and DJs who have been organizing events and innovative initiatives since 2008.

Veteran DJ-producer Sebra Cruz (formerly of Margot and A&R for Bolina Records), after releasing his debut album with Life And Death by Dj Tennis, has teamed up with his protégé, Giacomo Cancellieri. Over the years, Cancellieri has become one of Sebra's favorite artists, with Sebra often describing him as a truly brilliant mind, consistently impressed by the new tracks he produces. Giacomo has notable releases on Rebellion and Margot Records.

"Rollerball," titled after Norman Jewison's 1975 film, carries a powerful anti-war message. It includes 4 versions plus an acapella, the latter intended to encourage DJ-producers of various genres to incorporate it in their tracks, thereby spreading the anti-war message on dance floors worldwide.

The original mix captures the essence of intimate club settings — intense yet lucid, with a sound texture fitting for an underground label. It continuously and forcefully spreads the anti-war message with deep seriousness.

The Funky Vocal Mix offers an Italo-French vibe, blending the smooth ambiance of 2000s dance music with a raw vocal tone.

Buck's version, hailing from Otranto, a quaint seaside town in the extreme south of Italy and owner of Substrato label, is marked by solid, rolling grooves that complement a deep and refined atmosphere.

Delphi's remix, one half of Tiger And Woods with Marco Passarani, completes the set. Its arrangement skillfully connects Chill and Detroit styles, infusing the project with a sense of robustness and insight.

KAOS FUEGO IS HERE, A NEW SERIES WERE WE PUSH THE LIMITS IN THE VERY KAOS STYLE, BECAUSE WE ARE PUNK AND WE DON'T CONFORM. PROUDLY INTRODUCING SITA'S FIRST EP, KITSCH MAXIMALIST QUEEN, ONE FOR THE REBELS, FOR THE THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING TO FIND SOMETHING OUTSIDE THE USUAL.

BRINGING KAOS TO A NEW DIMENSION, THIS IS FUEGO01

Oceanvs Orientalis reveals the second single from his forthcoming album on Crosstown Rebels with ‘Heart Pieces’ feat. Idil Mese, accompanied by remixes from Mustafa Ismaeel and Nightmares On Wax.

A producer, live performer and solo act whose productions merge influences spanning Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian and Arabic sonics and beyond, Safak Oz Kutle, aka Oceanvs Orientalis, has crafted a sound that is entirely his own ever since making his debut back in 2014. Following on from his impressive debut appearance on the imprint with ‘Il Lupo’ alongside Italian talent Tooker, revealing the first single from his forthcoming album, the Istanbul-based talent is back on Crosstown Rebels with another gem taken from the project as he reunites with singer-songwriter Idil Mese for the excellent ‘Heart Pieces’ - with remixes from Crosstown and Rebellion regular Mustafa Ismaael, and legendary house talent and Warp favourite Nightmares On Wax.

Slow-blooming and resonant throughout, guided by Mese’s soulful and emotive vocals, vibrant sax melodies and trippy background samples, ‘Heart Pieces’ is a dazzling slice of laid-back, jazz-infused house music full of subtle elements. Remixing the record, Mustafa Ismaeel leans towards late-night hours with a remix drenched in rolling percussion and sweeping leads, while Nightmares On Wax takes the track in two directions - opting for loose drums, hazy tones and chugging grooves across his first take before laying the focus solely on the musical elements with his ‘Club Dub’.

Under meters of concrete in central Cairo, a relentless buzz rebels and forms a melody. A tired man tunes his machines to catch a snatch of it, and accidentally creates a playground where these abandoned sounds can flourish. They develop a sense of humor and an acid tongue. A few children with bent ears find their way to an alley with an entrance to the playground. They would later describe what they heard as a delicious hybrid: one part cream, one part bubble gum. So, bend your ears and maybe you'll hear it too.

Oceanvs Orientalis teams up with Italian artist Tooker and joins the Crosstown Rebels roster with ‘II Lupo’, including a remix from Acid Pauli.

Hailing from Istanbul, Safak Oz Kutle, also known as Oceanvs Orientalis, is a true maestro at crafting hypnotic, evolving sounds while blending a diverse mix of Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic and Armenian influences. Unfolding after a busy year of performances at venues across the globe, including a notable appearance at Crosstown Rebels’ Rebel Rave at Club Space Miami, he now combines his signature downtempo sound with the talents of Italian native Tooker, a partnership two years in the making. With their joint creation teased across their sets, both artists now unveil their first collaboration on the label with the soul-stirring, ‘II Lupo’ including a remix from Damian Lazarus’ longstanding friend Acid Pauli.

‘II Lupo’ weaves a haunting atmosphere through ethereal synth-lines, echoing wolf howls and low rumbling drum hits, transporting you to a realm of intrigue and allure. Infusing his unique touch, Acid Pauli adds an extra layer of sonic flare to the release by layering cosmic stabs and shimmering chimes, enriching the melodic experience.

Harry Romero returns to Crosstown Rebels as he links with vocalist Shyam P for ‘Mind Games’.

With a catalogue as rich as any and continuing at the top of his game two decades after his emergence within New York’s fabled nightlife scene, Harry Romero continues to serve up his own take of Latin-inspired and percussive- driven house music via a long list of the industry’s leading imprints. Having previously remixed Chilean favourite Francisco Allendes on the label last year alongside his collaborative ‘It Hurts’ EP with Jessica Eve in 2021 and his contribution to the ‘Spirits III’ compilation before that, the Bambossa Records head honcho is back on Damian Lazarus’ revered Crosstown Rebels for his latest EP project, uniting London-bon, Dubai based singer/ songwriter Shyam P for the excellent ‘Mind Games’.

Crafting a slick and heady groove before launching into a hypnotic haze accenting by a bubbling bassline, ‘Mind Games’ is an infectious and vibrant house cut as Shyam P’s alluring vocals take hold amongst emotive builds and breaks. Nest, ‘Mira’ is a classic Romero offering as the focus shifts to crisp organic percussion arrangements, carnival-esque whistles and hooky Latin vocals for a bustling terrace number, before ‘Analog Bugz’ takes cues from its title as crisp drum shots and sharp stabs unite to create a no-nonsense builder made for the main room.

CHIWAX welcomes DJ Soch to the artist family!
We are very happy to present you this great DJ & Producer from Italy on our 39th edition. 'Keep On keep On' is a fantastic Disco House release with an outstanding remix byTurbo Jazz.

Serge Devant returns to Crosstown Rebels with his mesmerising new single ‘A Little Bit Of Love’, complete with a remix from Art Department & MDL Child. Thanks to his fresh house sound, New York resident Serge Devant has turned the heads of tastemakers like Jamie Jones and Damian Lazarus for several years. A regular on Crosstown Rebels dating back to his label debut in 2015, dropping a string of EPs on the label since, he arrives in fine form once again as he unveils his latest single.

His brilliant ‘A Little Bit Of Love’ is an inventive rhythm that soon sweeps you up with its wavy beats and slick hits. Gorgeous chords are draped over it next to steamy vocals to ensure a truly emotive dance floor trip, while the dub version strips out the lead vocal to lay the focus on the remaining musical elements. The remix comes from Jonny White, aka pioneering underground artist and No. 19 Music boss Art Department, and fellow Canadian talent MDL Child. They flip the production into seven minutes of emotionally intense house music with muted acid lines undulating throughout the mix, while immense percussive energy and lush cosmic keys make for a fulsome dancefloor rush.

You know Krash Slaughta right? The man behind the recent wildly successful DOOM/Sugacubes mash-up LP Sugar-Coated DOOM, not to mention his unofficial remixes of the Wu’s K.R.E.A.M. and P.L.O. Style and collab. 45 with Phill Most Chill, Rebel Base? ‘Is he at it again?’ the monkey hears you ask. Yes, he is at it again, though the closest of the the three aforementioned releases to what he’s about to drop is the Wu remix 45. And what he’s about to drop is Diggin Deeper, not a single this time but a whole remix album of one of his (and the monkey’s!) all-time favourite hip-hop LPs – to wit, Niggamortis – more usually known as Six Feet Deep (especially in the U.S., though minus the best track under that name) by hip-hop supergroup Gravediggaz.

As many will know, this LP with its horror-movie fixated lyrics gave birth to a whole hip-hop sub-genre – that of ‘horrorcore.’ However, none of those who came after seemed to manage the lyrical humour of The RZArector, The Grym Reaper and The Gatekeeper (a.k.a. RZA, Poetic and Frukwan) and the only bit of production by The Undertaker (a.k.a. Prince Paul) that they seemed interested in was the sub-metal rap sludge of the shouty Bang Your Head – i.e. the LP’s one weak spot. But don’t worry, Krash isn’t interested in that sort of thing. Not only does he avoid rap-metal beats for Bang Your Head, he doesn’t use any on the LP at all – hurrah! What he does do is employ, arguably, as eclectic an array of sample sources as Prince Paul on the original – though with an entirely different end result. Bang Your Head with its apparently sixties garage band-derived beat for example is one of the standouts. The skeletal piano skank of 6 Feet Deep is another, while a beat featuring spaced-out eighties synths forms the new musical backdrop to Constant Elevation. Two more of the monkey’s favourites on this one are Here Comes The Gravediggaz, now underpinned by double-bass-led funk and the glorious inappropriately joyous bounce of Blood Brothers. The result? Your favourite cuts on this one might not be the same as your favourite cuts on the original. Two different versions of a much-loved LP, then; it’s why people remix hip-hop. All the vocal stems were created by Krash and the ultimate intention is to do a limited vinyl release. Cover art is by the Dead Residents’ Junior Disprol.

EXTREME return in 2023 with their brand new studio album “SIX”. The multi-million selling hard rockers present 12 tracks ranging from funk-tinged bangers to soaring ballads as only EXTREME can deliver. Spearheaded by the songwriting team of vocalist Gary Cherone and guitarist Nuno Bettencourt (who blessed the world with chart toppers like “More Than Words” and “Hole Hearted”), “SIX“ is an essential addition to EXTREME’s discography. The album opener and first single “RISE” will immediately fire up legions of anxious fans with its signature riff. Elsewhere, “OTHER SIDE OF THE RAINBOW” showcases EXTREME’s gift for passionate acoustic magic. EXTREME are back with “SIX“ – everything the fans have been waiting for. Formats; CD, 2LP Black, 2LP Ltd Transparent, 2LP Ltd Red & Black Marble.

It’s difficult to describe Partiboi69’s sound; words feel subordinate to the energy and personality he presents. This personality bleeds into his sound, as seen with his latest EP ‘Naughty By Nature’, in which the Aussie enigma brings born boundary-breaker MCR-T into his ‘naughty’ nirvana.

Bridging the gap between Techno, Hip-Hop, Trance, Booty House, and a further multitude of other genres, MCR-T is, like his partner in crime for this EP, Partiboi69, equally difficult to categorise: a compliment that few modern artists can claim. His pioneering mentality makes him a perfect fit for Mutual Pleasure; a label that bulldozes genre boundaries for fun.

From the sweet, funk-infused bassline of ‘Go To my Show’, to the devilish ‘Blow My High’, to the wildly outlandish anthem ‘Sex In The Club’, and ultimately the brazen ‘Get Freaky’, every track within ‘Naughty By Nature’ has a mind of its own, and its own unique character.

To partner the infectious production of each track, both Partiboi69 and MCR-T flex their muscles with vocal work, as the pair masterfully manipulate the microphone to create a dynamic element to their sound; one that is totally controlled by the devious double act.

Despite their differences, each track shares a common ancestor in Partiboi69 and MCR-T: mischief, rebellion and exuberance are deeply embedded into their DNA, and consequently, these qualities characterise the overall personality of this EP.