quête:rhythm machine

Flower Storm returns with Seh, the third chapter in its unfolding mythos. If Yek was the first winds and Do the deepening of the spell, Seh is where the storm fully takes shape--five slabs of sonic metal, smithed in rhythm and ritual. Sepehr and Kasra V continue their excavation of Iranian folklore through contemporary club mutations, where thunderous percussion and hypnotic cycles push deeper into a space where myth becomes motion. The rhythms continue forward, but the past lingers in the echoes--deities flicker between pulsing machine sequences, time loops and fractures, and tension builds like an incantation. Trance-inducing polyrhythms collide with shadowy textures and melodies stretch and distort like time folding in on itself; the storm rages on. When it rains, it pours.

At the heart of this double album, and amid the intense internal struggle between creative instinct an artistic reasoning, Ziggy has identified two key themes: Inspire and Radicalise. It is within this duality that the 15 tracks of this new work, recorded between Berlin and London throughout January 2024, take shape. Throughout its creation, the crew enlisted a familiar pallet of materials, seeking those obscure and vintage music-making machines, meeting a myriad of percussion and drums with the new addition of electric guitar as the band ventures into disco / highlife inspired territories. bring this ambitious project to life, Ziggy enlisted a team of forward thinking musicians across Europe and the UK alongside old friends and collaborators from the grassroots in Melbourne, Australia: Lewis Moody (Energy Exchange Records), Szabolcs Bognar (Abase), Eric Owusu (Jemba Groove), and Tom Varrall (Jamie Cullum) form the core rhythm section alongside a hefty list of guest appearances (from the likes of Oscar Jerome & Tom Driessler) making this truly the most ambitious and diverse incarnation of ZFEX to date.

For this 4th release, Bazdesur records welcomes nothing less than its founder, Basile de Suresnes with the EP “Hush Money”, his really first appearance on the label. A collaborative work with the artist The Social Fugazi who was noticed a few months earlier on Frappé records. The two producers deliver a work that is surprising to say the least, as it contrasts with the universe that we knew from them. Here, no glitter or disco ball, no groovy bass line, but a sound made of machines, samples and broken rhythms. We find UK inspirations, Electronica, and a touch of house. A raw coloring totally assumed by the artists and enriched with their French “touch”. We like that. This EP reminds us of the richness and diversity of electronic music, and how good it is to mix styles! Bazdesur records promotes electronic music in the broad sense.

QUEENDOM is an album that marks a new era for the project while staying true to the essence of Minuit Machine. Produced under the SYNTH RELIGION label, this opus immerses us in Amandine's introspective realm, oscillating between darkness and light, between doubt and self-conquest. While retaining the emotional DNA of previous productions, QUEENDOM stands out with a more pop-oriented touch, featuring tracks where Amandine sings in French for the first time.

The first single, "HOLD ME," is a powerful pop anthem addressed to the queer community, celebrating the freedom to be oneself and breaking free from societal and patriarchal norms. This track is a true empowerment statement, with striking electro beats supporting a strong message of emancipation and pride.

"Créatures," a collaboration between RAUMM and Minuit Machine, is a modern fairy tale—a timeless love story that could take place in any era. This salvific love, rarely seen today, embodies a poignant depth and beauty.

Continuing the journey, "Cent Fois"—a French-written track—takes us into a techno-pop universe with nostalgic yet hopeful undertones. This song perfectly reflects Minuit Machine's evolution toward a more radiant approach while staying faithful to its dark heritage.

"Party People," on the other hand, is a return to roots with dark wave/italo sounds. This hypnotic and haunting track questions identity in an increasingly robotic society, where individuals are forced to conform to imposed norms. This exploration of the individual versus the collective lies at the core of Minuit Machine's DNA.

"Mes Souvenirs," created in collaboration with Rebeka Warrior, dives intimately into the memories of Amandine and Rebeka. Together, they reveal fragments of their past—precious and vibrant memories that resonate through powerful and melancholic electro sounds.

Finally, the eponymous track "Queendom" invites us to plunge into the depths of Amandine's world—a universe that is both tormented and icy, yet resilient. Supported by a slow and captivating rhythm, this track is designed to grip and haunt the listener, like an incantation.

QUEENDOM is a bold and hybrid work where each track reflects a pursuit of sincerity and artistic reinvention while maintaining the ability to express emotions through rhythms that are both danceable and introspective. The album showcases Minuit Machine's artistic maturity, establishing itself as a must-listen in the darkwave and electronic pop scene.

Amandine entrusted the artistic direction of this album to Manon Dupeyrat, a brilliant young artist who crafted a bespoke universe perfectly aligned with the produced tracks. The album cover, both intimate and anachronistic, invites listeners into Amandine's private world through her bedroom, revealing what she wishes to share.

Recut, the elusive DJ and producer whose roots trace back to Southern Italy but whose sound resonates globally, is back with a scorching new release titled "Narcotic Tango". This four-track EP, out on vinyl only, is a deep dive into the raw energy of Acid House and Chicago's underground, delivering an unforgettable experience for both DJs and dancefloors alike.

Opening with "Narcotic Tango", Recut lays down a track with intense rhythmic drive. The throbbing bassline and shimmering hi-hats combine with a tantalizing arpeggio that elevates the track to a hypnotic level. It’s a club banger with an irresistible groove, and once you’ve heard it, you won’t forget it. Next up, "Acid Street" transports listeners into a world of deep, dark synthetic atmospheres. The pounding drum machine and the rumbling analog bassline carry the track forward like an unstoppable force, while the overall vibe conjures a sense of gritty dancefloor energy that never lets up. "Jack On Acid" brings the heat with an unapologetically raw Chicago-inspired sound.

With a deep, looping acid groove and a steady, driving rhythm, it channels the essence of the Windy City’s storied dance music tradition, offering pure, unfiltered Acid House energy. Finally, "Feel The Heat" kicks things into overdrive with its infectious blend of New York house and Latin-infused vibes. This track is all about dancing until the break of dawn, breaking boundaries with its smooth yet aggressive energy and contagious rhythm. Recut’s unmistakable style shines through, blending the wild, experimental spirit of Acid House with the raw, soulful energy of Chicago House. Whether you're a vinyl collector, a club DJ, or simply a lover of pure dancefloor joy, this EP is an essential addition to your collection. A seasoned DJ and producer with a passion for underground sounds, Recut has been carving his name in the electronic music scene for years. With his eclectic mix of influences and cutting-edge production skills, he continues to push boundaries and captivate audiences worldwide.

BLACK/RED VINYL

A match made in heaven and hell, since forming in the cradle of Europe Athens, back in 2012, dark synth duo Selofan have paved their own perditious way, reinventing the modern Darkwave scene throughout the continent and worldwide with their prolific creativity and work ethic over the past decade. Through varied experimental synth-scapes conjured with keen ears for sound design, production, and theatrical aesthetics, Selofan rest not on the laurels of just creating highly danceable coldwave infused music, but with together with Joanna Pavlidou's haunting vocals, and Dimitris Pavlidis' throbbing bass guitar, and modular synth compositions, the pair conjure whole other worlds and narratives throughout each album and music video they create. Thus far the Selofan have released 5 studio albums, issued through their own legendary label they curate themselves: Fabrika Records. Through their Fabrika family, Selofan have championed such acts as Lebanon Hanover, and She Past Away, aiding these bands in becoming two of the most popular Darkwave acts worldwide. Drab Majesty even cameoed in a She Past Away video while being hosted by Selofan during one of the band's frequent stays in Athens, and Kaelan Mikla, a handpicked favorite of The Cure, were first championed by Selofan, through the release of the Icelandic Trio's self-titled debut in 2016. In the Spring of 2020, Selofan released the video for the hopelessly plaintive "There Must Be Somebody", the first single from their forthcoming sixth studio album Partners In Hell, the follow-up to 2018's widely popular Vitrioli LP. "There Must be Somebody" is a discordant composition, mimicking the startled song of birds after a disturbance in a wooded enclave on a mountainside, while a magick ritual unfolds. The album itself opens with "Grey Gardens", a menagerie of morose melodies setting a sombre tone for the rest of a bleak record whose sound design and dreamscapes evoke the best sounds of British and German post-punk of the 80s. "Almost Nothing" is a brooding bell-driven track with a dark and pirouetting melody that is the perfect soundtrack to a figurine twirling in a music box. The German language "Nichts" means No, and this song is both sinister and cinematic with sighing keys, shuddering drum machines, and German lyrics sung with sorrowful conviction. "Zusamen", is a word often asked if you are together, or separate, is a dark ballad whose shadowy keys weave a nightmarish delirium, evoking the soundscapes of a lullaby sung in a haunted dollhouse. "4am" is a restless rhythm, whose soft percussive melody tosses and turns alongside subtle bass and string accents overlaid with despondent vocals. "Happy Consumers" sounds like the swirling of a finger drawn upon the edge of crystalline glass, with vocals and drum machines coming emanating from an adjacent room with echoing acoustics, collectively evoking the sound like lingers when the somnambulist wakes from his dream. "Absolutely Absent" hums onward like a phantom train ride that is a one-way ticket to madness, and with the next track "Metalic Isolation" the locomotive beats gather more steam, propelled forward with anachronistic melody. The album closes with "Auf Dein Haut", which translates as on your skin, and the song is both tactile and tenebrous with sensuously dark synth textures amidst howling German vocals that take flight like witches during a sabbat. Partner's In Hell was mixed and produced by Serafim Tsotsonis, and mastered by Doruk Ozturkcan. Genre: Alternative / Post-Punk / Cold Wave

CUPULA006 is a landmark release that introduces a new boy band formed by Vince Void, Pau Rosés, and Adria.

Side A takes you deep into the realms of progressive house, featuring tribal grooves and lush textures created using rare analog machines from the 1990s. The warm, intricate production invokes nostalgic feelings.

On Side B, the trio shifts gears into a striking fusion of EBM and synth pop, offering pulsing rhythms, electrifying synths, and irresistible melodies.
This dynamic contrast between the two sides creates a story told through sound, forging a deep connection with emotions.

This album represents a significant evolution in the musical journey of Nick Viola, transitioning from the powernoise and heavy industrial sounds of his previous project, Fractured Transmission, into a techno-framed landscape. Spanning seven tracks, including remixes, the album features recurring sounds sourced from machinery, field recordings, and personal travels. These elements create an uneasy atmosphere oscillating between slight discomfort and absolute dread, offering a dystopian sonic experience fitting for the times we unfortunately live in.

The opening track, ‘A Ghost in Your World,’ sets an intense tone with distorted atmospheres and ‘It’s Still Real’ follows with a relentless pulse and swirling mechanical sounds, seamlessly flowing into Kenny Campbell’s remix of ‘A Ghost In Your World’, providing a cathartic release for the A side.

‘Drop Out,’ guides listeners on a psychedelic journey into the B side of the record, while ‘Negative Nancy’ ramps up the energy with an aggressive industrial techno assault offering an antagonistic jab at the current trend within the genre. Substencia’s remix of “Drop Out” delves deeper into psychedelia, offering an immersive trance-like experience relieving the tension of “Negative Nancy”.

The digital-only bonus track, ‘Tensor,’ maintains the album’s heavy industrial techno feel of a well-oiled machine, ready to pummel any underground sound system.

About Artist:
Nick Viola is a versatile electronic music producer known for his distinctive blend of industrial and techno music, drawing inspiration from a wide range of influences spanning from the gritty sounds of powernoise to the pulsating energy of techno.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nick began his musical journey immersed in the industrial club scene, where he cut his teeth performing at the legendary Los Angeles industrial club Das Bunker. Here, he honed his craft and developed a deep appreciation for the raw, aggressive textures of industrial music. As the driving force behind the project Fractured Transmission, he made a name for himself with his uncompromising approach to power and rhythmic noise, earning recognition for his intense live performances and relentless sonic assaults.

However, Nick was always drawn to the rhythms and sounds of techno, and in a bold move, he embarked on a new chapter in his musical career, transitioning from the abrasive sounds and rhythms of powernoise to recontextualizing those sounds into a more techno landscape. With this album, “A Ghost In your World”, he showcases his evolution as an artist, seamlessly blending the industrial aesthetics of his past with the pulsating energy and frame of techno.

Spanning six tracks, “A Ghost In Your World” is a sonic journey through dark, dystopian landscapes and pulsating dance floors, where distorted atmospheres and mechanical rhythms collide to create a mesmerizing and immersive experience. From the haunting textures of “A Ghost in Your World” to the relentless energy of “Negative Nancy,” each track offers a unique glimpse into Nick’s sonic universe, inviting listeners to explore new depths with each listen.

Written + Produced by: Nick Viola

Mastered by: Tim Vitek

Artwork: Permian Designs

Design by: Elaine Stam

180G vinyl pressing

After releasing their well-received 7” and 12” singles ‘Night Time’ and ‘Feel It / So Hot’, Isle of Jura is pleased to present Exotic Illusions, the debut album from D.D. Mirage, the Sydney-based duo of Josh Dives and Disky Dee.

Having first played music together during the mid-2010s in the indie-psyche and punky-shoegaze bands King Colour and SCK CHX, the two Australian musicians/DJs came up in the warehouse party scene that fermented in the wake of the Sydney lockout laws. While organising mixed media events under the Yeah Nah Yeah brand, they discovered the joys of disco, dance-punk and the Balearic beat through Pender St Steppers’ DJ mixes and reissue releases and found themselves changing direction in response.

Written and recorded with a range of vintage keyboards and preamps, instruments and digital studio software, Exotic Illusions is a cosmopolitan love letter to the immaculate blend of Italo disco, Neopolitan funk, Nigerian boogie, cosmic house, synth-pop, UK street soul and lovers rock sounds that have inspired D.D. Mirage since they began this iteration of their ever-evolving musical relationship.

“The name Exotic Illusions refers to our fascination with all of this music made in other parts of the world,” they explain. “During lockdown and thereafter, we indulged in these exotic sounds as an antidote to our lack of travel. This fascination continued as the world opened up again, and we started working on tunes together. It’s also a way of acknowledging that we feel like tourists partaking in these styles and established sounds. They aren’t ours and weren’t born out of the place we’re from, but we hope we’ve been able to add something unique to them.”

In recognition of this, rather than just reinterpreting genre motifs through an antipodean lens, D.D. Mirage opened up lines of communication with some of their favourite musicians from the Neapolitan scene, bassist Daniel Monaco (Rush Hour, Periodica Records) and drummer Andrea De Fazio (Parbleu/ Nu Genea), who recorded the rhythm section for ‘So Hot’. They also wrote to the Manchester-based singer/producer Private Joy, who graced ‘Night Time’ with a smoother-than-silk street soul vocal that helped the single secure crucial plays on NTS and BBC Radio 6.

Opening with the tropical melodies, post-disco machine beats and jilted art-punk singalong chants of the title track, Exotic Illusions unfolds as a series of sturdy, internationally-minded dancefloor excursions. ‘Piranesi’ is boogie with a South American shuffle. ‘So Hot’ is Neapolitan funk with a Leichhardt strut, and ‘Antenna’ (featuring Jofi) is D.D. Mirage’s love letter to ‘80s drum machine bossa nova from Brussels.

On ‘Feel It’, the duo hit a sparking groove that reaches into an eternal sunset of the mind before throwing out a bubbly disco-not disco spoken word bounce on ‘Cat’s Cradle’, featuring psychedelic-pop singer Jermango Dreaming. From there, D.D. Mirage bring it home with a cheeky Aussie drawl on ‘Living Upside Down’ and the nocturnal excellence of ‘Night Time’, making a case for themselves as a significant new force from Australian music to the world.
full sleeve artwork from Bradley Pinkerton.

Get on track with Fidelio and Luca Piermattei.

Fidelio’s triple-vision A-side gives a taste of the unorthodox, blending 90s acid rawness with the timeless elegance. This is where baroque drama meets warehouse ecstasy.

Fidelio unleashes an avant-garde fusion of classical organ melodies and razor-sharp acid basslines, echoing through your spleens. Each track oozes groove, driven by punchy kicks and hi-hats that sizzle like sparks on steel.

Fidelio’s mix pulses with a sense of urgency, like a techno odyssey through a neon-drenched dystopia.

Luca Piermattei will catch you on the flippity-flip. ‘Gas’ feels like a transmission from a synthetic consciousness trying to breach the uncanny valley. The track opens with a pulsating bassline that wobbles like liquid mercury, creating a sense of disorientation. A warped robotic voice enters, glitching and stuttering, its eerie attempt at human inflection both captivating and unsettling.

The groove is undeniable—polyrhythms weave through intricate layers of percussive clicks, offbeat hats, and swelling synth stabs. Just as you think you’ve found the rhythm, the track bends your mind with unpredictable shifts, like machinery spiraling into controlled chaos.

Enter Luca’s wormhole with ‘Third Rec. With Tascam 122’: Meet the captivating 4×4 electro groover that pulls listeners into an otherworldly soundscape. Anchored by pulse-driven basslines, the track delivers a surprising and dynamic arrangement that keeps you guessing.

The sections are seamlessly divided with intricate, pinball-like percussion, creating a playful yet precise rhythm. Perfect for late-night explorations, this track balances hypnotic grooves with unexpected twists, making it a standout on the dancefloor.

Nearly two decades after it was first released, Norken’s sleek cult classic album ‘Our Memories Of Winter’ is being reissued on vinyl via Hydrogen Dukebox on 6th December 2024.

With its unique sonic blueprint of early 2000s electronica, ‘Our Memories Of Winter’ is a record that is at once both deeply reminiscent of a particular era and place, yet remains a timeless invocation of Norken’s idiosyncratic palette of minimal, techno, house and British IDM.

This vinyl reissue presents all 12 tracks from the original release, with the inclusion of 'Df23' and 'Flirt' making this the first time that ‘Our Memories Of Winter’ is available on vinyl with the complete album tracklisting.

Norken is one of the many pseudonyms of Lee Norris, a producer who is considered by those in the know as one of the unsung heroes of UK electronica. With a slew of releases throughout the years as Man-Q-Neon, Nacht Plank, Norken, Tone Language and Metamatics, this reissue shines a light on his soulful, immersive output under the Norken name.

As Norris explains, “The release of ‘Our Memories Of Winter’ has a nostalgic, warm feeling for me. I made his album in a garden shed with a wood burner, an Atari computer and a few synths in the depths of an English winter. I still had the thought process of making emotional style techno that would warm any soul on a cold day.”

First released in 2005, ‘Our Memories Of Winter’ carries the echoes of electronic luminaries such as the Detroit ambient techno of John Beltran, through to the immersive atmospherics of Biosphere and the innovative IDM of fellow British outfits Autechre and The Black Dog. Yet as Norken, Norris retains a distinctive musical voice that has continued to deepen in stature over the years since the album’s initial release.

Opening with the brief intro cut ‘Fern 2’, the album slides into the dreamlike groove of ‘Memories’, where rich, resonant chords wrap around cool, galactic-sounding synths and a compelling bass undertow.

On ‘It Might Have Been Rain’, that signature bass texture again propels a luxuriant mid-tempo rhythm, while Norken layers in hypnotic washes of string-like synths, gentle electronic pulses and the brief murmur of a vocal, across seven-plus immersive minutes.

Vocal textures, often subtly looped and distorted, also add a distinctive depth and personality to tracks like ‘Eastern Soul’ and ‘Here’. Throughout the album, there’s a feeling of intricate microcosms unfurling, as Norken coaxes a myriad of contemplative moods and emotions from his machines.

Whether shaping the smooth, lulling ambient gauze of ‘Ty Canol’, or letting the kaleidoscopic, dancefloor-leaning drive of ‘Audic Strable’ loose like a coiled spring, ‘Our Memories Of Winter’ presents the singular voice of an artist whose innovative contribution to UK electronic music has only become heightened with the passing of time.

Like the morning sun penetrating a Winter sky, a shimmering frost flecks the brightness of “Message to Nowhere”.

The four tracker showcases the sound of Ruben Benabou’s Hyperstellar nom de plume, a sound that draws inspiration from sci-fi soundtracks and the warmer currents of electro. Refracted bleeps introduce the title piece, shorn beats cutting through glowing synthlines as the EP takes flight. Tight terse drum patterns are the launchpad from which melodies sail and swoop in “Words in a Void”, bittersweet strings and warbling pads bending and shifting above juddering basslines. Fellow Frenchman, and all-round electro virtuoso, The Hacker remixes “Message to Nowhere”. Pulling the track toward the centre of the floor, scissoring snares slice through echoing notes and silken shrouds in this machine funk remake. Temperatures rise for the close. Bold key changes and snapping rhythms gather in “A Thousand Nights”, a lively late evening close to a quartet of sheer quality.

'Cupar Grain Silo' is Sam Annand's first release on the Blackford Hill label. Its nine tracks blur the lines between ambient electronica and sonic history, as synthesised melodies and rhythms reverberate through the extreme acoustics of the disused Cupar Grain Silo in Scotland. Built in 1964 as a sugar store, the silo towers 60 metres above the surrounding Fife countryside. Its industrial life was short: in 1971 it was closed, and barring a short period as a grain store, remained empty for decades.

In 2014, Sam Annand was given access to the silo as part of the Resono project, set up to study a series of highly reverberant locations across Scotland. The ambitious industrial architecture of the Cupar Grain Silo has given the space a reverberation time of 36.5 seconds. This measurement describes the time a sound takes to decay or 'fade away' in a closed space. To put this in perspective, the Cupar Grain Silo reverb time is around three times longer than that in cathedrals like York Minster and St Paul's.

"The acoustics are immediately noticeable when climbing the ladder into the main chamber", Sam says. "The sound of your voice begins to circle around and above you, inviting you to shout, clap and bang objects to excite the space into revealing its intimidating architectural voice."

Sam began to experiment with musical compositions which responded to the unique acoustics of the silo space. He used impulse responses – a short, sharp sound like a gunshot – to record these acoustics, allowing him to experiment with the silo's reverb in his production. Sam's compositions were performed using a modular synth system, a Roland Juno-6 polyphonic synthesizer and a bowed ride cymbal.

"Chords can be constructed in time by hanging successive single notes in the air," Sam describes, "The flutter echoes from the immediate cylindrical walls can be used to create bursts of scattering spatial imagery and harmonic blooms, following short percussive moments."

Originally recorded on 21st May 2016, 'Cupar Grain Silo' is now released on 12" vinyl with an accompanying booklet of imagery and essays. The compositions are at once true to the unique architectural acoustics of the silo whilst also being playful and experimental with the creative possibilities it offered. Arpeggiated melodies ebb and fall across extended call-and-response shapes formed by the silo's reverb; modular drum patterns crackle like dying machinery; whilst bowed drones waver and wash over.

"We all love reverberation," reflects Prof. Peter Stollery, Professor of Composition and Electroacoustic Music at the University of Aberdeen, on the project. "As kids, we play in it – yelling in forests and caves, surreptitiously dropping objects in huge churches – mouths wide open at the lingering smears of sound which come back to us."

In 'Cupar Grain Silo', Sam Annand has harnessed the extraordinary acoustics of the disused silo to tap into this sense of joy and amazement that reverberation can bring.

As the tenth candle flickers atop the torta alla panna, Archeo Recordings play the Uno reverse card, breaking with tradition to give us a gift in celebration of its birthday: the first in a series of exquisite EPs on which the label's favourite contemporaries pay homage to past masters. Each re-polished gem is plucked either directly from the beatific back catalogue of the fine Florentine label or is at least Archeo-adjacent, perhaps a sign of future wonders to come. Like a musical version of Janus, who can be found at the heart of Bertoldo di Giovanni's frieze in the Medici villa, Archeo Recordings will continue to look forwards and backwards to provide sublime sounds for us all.
Pepe Maina officially joined the Archeo family in 2019 with the much-needed reissue of his 1979 masterpiece Scerizza (AR015), but his astounding music has been a constant companion to label head Manu for much longer. An inter-dimensional, multi-instrumental maverick, Maina weaves the frayed edges of prog rock, new age, organic jazz and global minimalism into a shimmering tapestry all of his own. The results are spread across fifty years and almost as many albums, largely self-released and always absolutely untarnished by commercial concerns.
Based in a small village in the hills of Brianza, just north of Milan, Maina translates the beauty of his surroundings into transformative tone poems, and the folkloric fusion of "The Infinite", originally released on his 2014 CD Tales From The Hill, is the perfect example of his practice. It opens with a recitation of Giacomo Leopardi's 1825s poem "L'Infinito" by famed Italian actor Vittorio Gassman. A leading figure in the romantic movement, Leopardi explores the idea of time and space within the natural world, and the peace that comes with an appreciation of the immensity of eternity. Manu, longtime digger and now a burgeoning producer, expands upon the original with tribal percussion, chirping electronics and a spheric bassline, folding Maina's elegant strings and gossamer pads into a new arrangement suited for a slow dance under the stars.
Unless you had a well-trained ear tuned to Italy's avant-jazz scene, chances are your first encounter with innovative flautist Roberto Aglieri came via the 2017 Archeo reissue of hisalmost untraceable LP Ragapadani (AR011). It's a true testament to Manu's digging credentials that he snatched this masterpiece out of the esoteric atmosphere and brought it attention it so richly deserved. A delicate union of digital synthesis and versatile flute - be it soft and silvery or
brilliant and clear - the 1987 album was a shapeshifting masterpiece, replaying scenes from Virgil, Verdi, Visconti and Pasolini with a neon glow. Quintessentially Italian, but uncanny and previously unimagined - Penthouse and Portico perhaps. Powered by a percolating prototechno sequence, cascading keys, hallucinogenic vocal snippets and a variety of tonal timbres from Roberto's reed, "Danza N. 1" long deserved the praise reserved for Jean-Luc Ponty's pinnacle, so many thanks to Manu for our collective introduction. The tall task of reinterpreting this particular paragon falls to Perugian polymath Daniele Tomassini AKA Feel Fly, whose peerless skills as both producer and musician have delighted DJs and dancers alike. Hot on the heels of his diverse and definitive remixes of Tony Esposito for AR027, Daniele delivers a radical rework of "Danza N. 1" perfect for both day rave sunshine and full moon party alike. Enhanced by snapping breaks and a rattling kick, the bassline gurgle emerges as a progressive powerhouse, laying the foundation for the trilling flute and circular keys to cast a psychedelic spell. As the slow-Goa revival picks up pace, this one is way ahead of the pack.
Archeo take us all the way back to the start of its story here - well almost. Though it bore the stamp AR001 (2015), this Radio Band reissue actually hit shelves months after Tony Esposito's "Je-Na' / Pagaia"; a false start perhaps but a true classic all the same. Radio Band were a group of DJs from Florence who all sailed the airways of Radio Fantasy in 1984 and whose one and only release was this super groovy slice of Italo-boogie. Following the example of Milanese DJs Band of Jocks but far surpassing their formulaic funk fizzle, Radio Band employed an intergalactic bassline, cosmic keys and that undeniably Italian style of rapping to deliver a sophisticated party-starter which even found its way to disco deity Ron Hardy. Back to the here and now, and if you've found yourself pumping an ecstatic fist to a supercharged Italian epic of late, chances are its from the mind of the mysterious Radiomarc. Operating on the ascendent Popcorn Groove imprint, this shadowy figure steers his country's lost classics into peaktime territories, finding a sweet spot between late Italo-disco, early Italo-house and contemporary cool. Pushing the tempo with a club-ready 4/4, setting the sequencer to stun and supplementing the original melodies with a series of synth riffs, the mystery producer send this one into orbit. Radio Band - Radio Rap - Radiomarc, the circle is complete.
Few have done more to develop cross-cultural musical exchange than Futuro Antico. A collaborative venture from musician, archeologist and ethnomusicologist Walter Maioli, keyboardist and tonal theoretician Riccardo Sinigaglia and multi-disciplinary artist and composer Gabin Dabiré, Futuro Antico formed in Milan in 1979, combining ancient international folkloric traditions with otherworldly electronics. The result is an arresting melange of Mediterranean, African and Asian instrumentation, mimicked by esoteric synth tones and hypnotic minimalism, which the group perfected on their acclaimed 1990 LP Dai Primitivi All'Elettronica. The meditative and transportive "Pan Tuning" belongs to their largely overlooked 2005 CD only release Intonazioni Archetipe, and has been amongst Manu's most loved tracks from the first moment he heard it. Who else is better placed to reshape this evocative opus into an immersive, transcendental dance floor journey than label favourites Mushrooms Project? The duo sows the original elements into a sprawling fifteen minute fusion of séance and science, at times propulsive with a ritualist rhythm of tuned percussion and crunching drum machine at others drifting off into ethereal ambience. Mushrooms Project continue to push the boundaries of the Afro-cosmic style, and this remix marks a new zenith.

Stellar Systems, the latest imprint from the Rings of Neptune crew, readies its first release, "Archived Dreams" — a four-track EP signed by Berlin-based techno luminary Michael Melchner. Drawing influences between electro-charged techno and IDM-tinged minimalism, "Archived Dreams" explores cosmic, genre-blending themes through high-octane machine funk and tons of atmosphere. Crafted with pure analog equipment, the four tracks of the EP capture Melchner’s dedication to pushing sonic boundaries while channelling the raw energy of 90s electronic music.

The EP opens with 'Archived Dreams' (A1), a powerfully hypnotic track of pulsating drums and mesmerizing melodies, layered modular sequences and subtle percussion, setting an entrancing tone. Decollage (A2) dives into breakbeat territory, balancing intricate, syncopated rhythms with deep basslines and shimmering synths. On the B-side, Berlin Phenomena(B1) delivers a groove-laden, robotic vibe—a testament to Melchner’s knack for crafting infectious, funk-inspired rhythms. Closing out the EP, 'OE Underground' (B2) ramps up the intensity, blending raw, mechanical beats with intricate melodic threads to create an entrancing, slightly euphoric finale.

Stellar Systems emerges as an exciting extension of the Rings of Neptune collective dedicated to explore electronic music's rich sonic landscape. From deep, leftfield groovers to dynamic dancefloor stompers, Stellar Systems aims to capture a galactic range of sounds and styles. Michael Melchner, with his body of work — spanning solo projects and collaborations like Omega Men — and his esteemed reputation in the underground techno scene, aligns perfectly with the label's ethos.

DJ Support: Grant Nelson, Dr Packer, Purple Disco Machine, Cj Mackintosh, Mark Knight, Sam Divine, Jamie Jones, Funkerman, Vanilla Ace, Roog/Hardsoul

Birdee has managed to carve out quite a path for himself, remixing luminaries such as Aeroplane and Michael Gray, collaborating with legendary singers Barbara Tucker and Angela Johnson, as well as releasing on Glitterbox, Big Love, Nervous and of course Tinted. On his latest single Birdee remakes the Jomanda classic 'Don't You Want My Love' (As sampled later by Felix) in true Birdee style, as a complete disco reinventio, crafting an all original backing of dynamic drums, funky bass and some classy synth and string arrangements that glide across this timeless ear-worm.

TRANCE ATLANTYK is dropping some serious heat with the upcoming release of EARLY ZEROS, the latest EP from label founders PANKOFF & DJ VARIUS TRAX. After experimenting with some polish vocals on their “Sound of Poldon” debut EP, the duo serves us this time a modern high-energy tribute to the early 2000s—an era when progressive house and trance ruled the dance floors.

The EP kicks off with "Early Zeros," a track that’s pure nostalgia wrapped in a slick, modern package. Think of it as a sonic time machine, zooming you back to those legendary nights when the bass was thumping, and the vibe was electric. It’s got that uplifting, feel-good energy that’s impossible to resist.

Next up is "Schemes," a track that’s as deep as it is groovy. This one’s all about the journey, with layered beats and hypnotic rhythms that build and evolve, taking you on a ride through the trippy side of progressive house and early trance music. It’s got that classic, boundary-pushing vibe that’ll have you lost in the music.

On the B side the duo slows down the tempo with the track “We Can Rebuild Him” that pays homage to the 6 Million Dolar Man, one of Pankoffs favourite TV series. Piercing cascading synths, a driving bass line and some breakbeat percussion thrown into the mix make this one a great choice for the eclectic dj’a out there.

And just when you think it couldn’t get any better, Bliss inc steps in with a remix of "We Can Rebuild Him" that flips the script in all the right ways. This remix increases the tempo of the chuggy original and transfoms the track into a stomping peak time banger that some might label as furious progressive tech trance.

EARLY ZEROS isn’t just an EP—it’s a party, a flashback, and a forward leap all rolled into one

Afterhours. continues its quest for exquisitely crafted minimal dance music and welcomes young talent Aron for its seventh release. "Limbic" features three original dancefloor cuts and a groove-focused remix by Arno, Pressure Trax's head honcho.

The "Limbic" EP starts with 'Prawn Repetitions' (A1), immediately locking the listener into a seemingly endless loop of stomping sub-bass, slippery drums, snipped chords and a mantra-like vocal stating "I'm a Shrimp" just enough times to hypnotize. 'Inverse Perspective' (A2) strips down the sonic space to focus on micro/macro rhythms, leaving just enough room for its haunting atmospheric pads to cut through. The track title "Limbic" (B1) is as wacky as it is catchy. Its sound design feels alien, not only in its wobbliness but also in the type of vocal snippets used and overall aesthetic graininess; yet, it remains highly stomping and dancefloor appropriate, with its second part elevated, and humanized, by (very) human melodies. Arno's Remix of "Limbic" (B2) deconstructs its every element, grounding the alien elements into a groove-centered, drum-machine-driven composition that embraces the harmonious aspects of the original without ever losing pace on its (very) insistent bass pattern.

Between the acoustic and the electronic, the four-by-fours and the breakbeat, Aron's tracks are as trippy as they are soulful: dense and detailed tracks with enough forward momentum to keep any room moving.

Dark Entries picks up Severed Heads yet again for Ear Bitten, a double LP reissue of some of the band’s earliest material. As originary Aussie industrial legends - although founder Tom Ellard would balk at being branded as such - Severed Heads shaped the continental subcultural sound with their kitchen electronics, chaotic tape loops, and quietly infectious nursery-rhyme-esque melodies. In 1979 Ellard, Richard Fielding, and Andrew Wright abandoned the moniker Mr. and Mrs. No Smoking Sign and adopted the edgier name Severed Heads “to pretend to be an industrial band such as Surgical Penis Klinik & Throbbing Gristle.” Noise-rockers Rhythmx Chymx had placed an advertisement in a local shop looking for a band to share the costs of pressing an LP. The Heads set about recording a Dadaist racket on a pair of open reel dictaphones and a cassette deck using a TRS-80 computer, Kawai Synthesizer 100F and Korg Mini Pops drum machine. Ear Bitten was released in 1980; original copies now fetch obscene sums, in part due to most of Severed Heads’ copies perishing in a fire at Richard’s home. The band’s next endeavor was a cassette titled Side 2, a collection of free-form experiments fashioned as Ear Bitten’s second side. For this reissue, Dark Entries has collected both Ear Bitten and Side 2 on the first disc, presenting the album in its full form. Disc two includes the original first version of Ear Bitten, which was only unreleased because it was recorded in a format not suitable for pressing. The album comes in a gatefold sleeve designed by Eloise Leigh and includes photos, liner notes, and reproductions of the original Xerox inserts from the 1980 issue. Ear Bitten delivers 22 tracks of pain you can dance to!

Markantonio's record label, AnalyticTrail, proudly presents "Groove Impact," an dynamic techno EP by young Irish talent CULT, known for his fast-paced rhythms sequenced into jackin' grooves.

CULT, one of Europe's most talked-about young talents, has a raw style defined by intricate synths creating upbeat machine-funk. Influenced by '90s techno, his music perfectly blends captivating atmosphere with driving energy. Known for his warm, punchy basslines and tribal drum patterns, CULT's tracks are already staples at Vault Sessions events and are championed by DJs like Alarico and Future666 among others.

Founded in 2001 and based in Naples, Italy, AnalyticTrail has been pivotal in shaping the Neapolitan techno sound. A cornerstone of the scene, the label has achieved great success with
its groovy, dancefloor-engineered tracks. With "Groove Impact," AnalyticTrail returns to its roots restarting vinyl releases driven by the desire to produce timeless music that endures on physical formats, just like in the good old days. The label has also started signing techno that puts a contemporary spin on the classic hardgroove style that first brought it success in the early '00s.

The EP opens with A1 "Jumpin' Traxx," featuring cowbells and a dramatic hip hop vocal sample layered over a throbbing bassline to create an upbeat groove. On A2, "High Pressure" follows with booming percussion, fizzing ride cymbals, dystopian synths, and invigorating vocal stabs. B1 features "Anotha Beat," combining hypnotic vocal tones, relentless percussion, and intense synth stabs. The release closes with B2 "Brass Tac," offering a jazz-infused groove built around a live percussion loop.

Pink Rhythm was one of John Rocca"s mid-80"s solo side projects and a somewhat evolution of his pioneering early-80s band, Freeez. After Freeez ended, John still had some ideas left over which he explored with Andy Stennett of Freeez. John also re-worked one of the final jazz funk songs written (but unused) by Freeez called "India". He named the project Pink Rhythm after his self-funded, entrepreneurial record label that he used to launch Freeez. Pink Rhythm lasted a brief year or two, between 1984 and 1985. In 1985, three singles were released, including "Melodies Of Love, which has become a cult favorite. It has been described as "timeless drum-machine soul music" and a "cult funk slow jam". Over the years, John Rocca"s music has been sampled by many, including Jamie xx, Empress Of, Brandy, Burial, Todd Terry, Coolio, Cut Chemist and more. Often credited as one of the pioneers of brit-funk, John"s music is iconic and has been used in TV/Movies like; Better Call Saul, Midsommar, Irma Vep plus the fashion world for brands including Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton and more. "Melodies of Love" - though never a pop hit - was recently been used the Joaquin Phoenix film Beau is Afraid as well as in the acclaimed British Film Blue Jean. It was also recently featured in a high-end ad campaign for Piaget. It is pure, smooth 80s drum machines, it is synth sounds, saxophones and keyboards.... it"s retro, but it could also be current. Either way, it"s as refreshing now as it was then.

DJ Support: DJ Support by Spiller, Alex from Tokyo, Coyote, Fango, Pete Gooding, Ally Tropical, Steve Cobby, Gold Suite, Luca Averna, Will Nicol, Danilo Braca, La Guardia De La Luz

Federico Costantini aka Luminodisco is back on Hell Yeah having long since assured his legacy with the label. Over the years, the Italian has dropped many cult and still widely played cuts here from across the disco-sphere ('Ragazzini,' 'Diavolo di un Disco,' 'Oh Mary' and more all still bang) and now he is back with a newly moved sound. A compulsion to produce something with "a more adult approach" is what defines this latest era, and a fine one it is too. Opener 'Solero' will surely become as revered as those classics above with its irresistible grooves guaranteed to bring ultimate dance floor satisfaction. The punchy drums are peppered with percussion and drum fills while gloriously sugary chords add the heat and wispy pads take things into cosmic realms. 'Jazzclub' is an unhinged rhythmic interlude that chops up vocal stabs, screwy synths and whirring machines into stomping brilliance then 'Bigfoot' slows things to a dubbed out crawl that has you gazing at the twinkling star-like synths. Things then get wonderfully wild on closer 'Soko', a jumble of percussion and tribal vocals over swaggering drum loops. Playful leads bring the sun as the dumpy bass plods on, pixel thin pads squirm all around and a celestial carnival in the sky plays out with irresistible charm.

The Ghost of Ibiza is 5-tracker album by the French Electro wizard
Jauzas The Shining. All audio manufactured from heavy machined
equipment by The Ghost of Ibiza a.k.a. Romain Jauzas

Barcelona based dj and producer Flavio Folco is the man
behind the third release on Abstract Rhythm. With his Rise &
Fall EP he delivers four solid tracks in his own signature
sound between electro and breakbeat. Flavio knows exactly
how to program the machines and tweak the knobs the right
way to create those deep grooves and atmospheres that take
you on a journey.

One of the most prolific electro artists of his generation, Boris Bunnik aka Versalife, returns to TRUST with an exceptional soundtrack for the algorithmic hellscape we live in. As neofeudalist power structures solidify around us, Versalife's tracks remain in constant flux. Subtle tonal shifts and undulating synth currents create tension and beauty while crisp machine beats provide the clockwork rhythm for humanity's march into the singularity.

Their newest release “For Barney, Who Was A Bad Dog, But A Good Boy, And Very Much Loved” comes from Brooklyn-based Dekalb Works (debut ‘Duologue’ on Where To Now? Records), the collaborative project of Austin Peru (Vision Fortune) & Daniel Creahan (Sweat Equity / Alien D).

The release summarizes a series of experimentations between live performance contexts and sample-heavy collage work. Since starting their residency on Radio alHara, Dekalb Works found themselves drawn to the act of performing, whether as a live act or DJing, and the space between these two often overly rigid modes.

“For Barney…” draws heavily on the sonic palette of American country and western music, treated through the lens of heavy studio processing and the production techniques of dub, ambient, and trip-hop. Recording hours-long live improvisations with guitar, piano, or drum machines and samplers, they pillaged these sessions as source material. Whereas previous work focused on the voice and the interaction of text, voice and music, these recordings pulled from the sounds of musicians playing together in a room. The arrangement process remains the same, chopping and manipulating small samples and momentary gestures into dense, rhythmic collages.

The story of Ultrasonic Grand Prix is one of two vintage 60s guitars and their owners. I love my 1967 Vox Grand Prix guitar,” declares multi-instrumentalist/producer Shawn Lee - creator, among other feats, of the soundtrack for Rockstar video game classic Bully, and one half of Ultrasonic Grand Prix. “It is a serious beast and an important part of my arsenal. Every tone you need…’For guitar maestro Barrie Cadogan - of Nottingham Freakbeaters Little Barrie, best known for the main title theme of ‘Better Call Saul’, The The, Liam Gallagher and playing on the soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’ - it was the Vox Ultrasonic, also from the same period, that caught his eye. “I first became interested in Vox guitars because of people who used them like Spacemen 3 and the James Brown band of the late 60’s”, he explains, “but it was when I was part of a recording session at Anton Newcombe’s studio in Berlin that I had chance to get to know the Vox gear better. I was borrowing an Ultrasonic from a friend for a while and Shawn already had his Grand Prix. I thought it would be a good name for our project whenever we got it going.’ It was with this shared passion for these weapons of vintage, psychedelic gold that the suave, velvety, and off-kilter cool of INSTAFUZZ was born. While a project born of recent times, the flames of INSTAFUZZ were first ignited all the way back in 2010, where the two met during mixing sessions for Little Barrie’s 2011 LP King of the Waves. Snap forward a decade and we find Cadogan ripping guitar licks on Instagram, the workaholic Lee using these as inspiration to lay down rhythm tracks on analogue drum machines. And not long after that, cut to the two trading files back and forth furiously online, birthing music together in ever more completed forms. And the music that did emerge was weird, startling, and insatiably groovy. With one foot dipped in the organ-warbling garage of 60s psych, and the other vibrating in the mind-expanding fractals of the British Acid House boom, INSTAFUZZ plies the earthly quintessence’s of blues, rock, soul and jazz, against the preternatural discomforts of programmed drums and unhinged synthesisers to produce something distinctly and nostalgically futuristic

Presenting 'Swinging Flavors #12,' the latest sonic exploration by Tokyo-based sound craftsman, T5UMUT5UMU. In the pulsating track "Bolt," he deftly blends elements of techno, breakbeat, and jungle, offering an intergalactic journey through the diverse universe of bass music. Released under Beat Machine Records'
Swinging Flavors series, this digital and 7" vinyl release invites listeners to embark on a cosmic adventure.

T5UMUT5UMU, a genre-defying producer, skillfully navigates the space between tracks united not by traditional genre labels but by vibe and style. With techno, breakbeat, and jungle as his guiding stars, his music draws inspiration from Eastern cultures, seamlessly woven into UK-style club tracks. Fusing elements like HARD DRUM, dark breakbeats, grime, and DnB, T5UMUT5UMU creates compositions that transcend boundaries, captivating audiences globally.

The remix of "Bolt" by Mani Festo mirrors the rapid and diverse stylings found in his towering catalog. Mani Festo, caught in the tension between futurism and tradition, is a champion for the transformative power of club music. As part of the Club Glow
collective, his dynamic sound ranges from breakbeat science to electro machine funk, elevating 'Swinging Flavors #12' to new heights. The remix, akin to a warp-speed journey, propels the original track into uncharted territories, delivering an electrifying experience anchored by heavyweight rhythm craft.

Together, T5UMUT5UMU and Mani Festo invite you to lose yourself in the cosmic magic of 'Swinging Flavors #12,' a release that transcends musical boundaries, celebrating the joy of exploration within the vastness of bass-infused soundscapes.

The return of Gaussian Curve - Gigi Masin, Jonny Nash and Marco Sterk’s much-loved trio are back for the first time since their 2016 sophomore album 'The Distance', presenting two new tracks entitled 'Winter Sun' and 'Fever Dream'.

Both tracks originate from recording sessions that took place in Amsterdam in 2016 for 'The Distance'. Despite not finding a place on the final album and being left as unfinished sketches for six years, the tracks represent an important part of the Gaussian Curve story which the band felt compelled to complete. Coinciding with the decision to perform a handful of live shows in 2022, they finally revisited the sketches, mixing and arranging them with the goal of giving them the full release that they deserve.

The trio’s trademark sound hits from first moments of 'Winter Sun'; a lush slow builder with all the classic GC ingredients; Nash’s airy and spacious guitar lines interplay with Masin’s warm rhodes, underpinned by Sterk’s subtle use of electronics and the minimal rhythm of a CR-78 drum machine.

On 'Fever Dream', the trio subtly expand their palette; a gently building 303 bass line and 808 rhythm form the foundations of the piece, with Masin’s vocals adding to a slow-burning intensity. Arguably a fuller sound hinting at new areas of exploration for the trio, but unmistakably Gaussian Curve.

Group is a project with its own sound and a gradually expanding style, and Seedman perfectly reflects these attributes. With 160925_1145, the first cut on side A, the ritualism he has previously exhibited on other albums such as Esoteric Free Afrika, or more recently with Broken Faces, is somewhat apparent, due to the slow cadence, steady rhythm and tribal arguments. 160205_1066 is created from another perspective, however, it is not what it seems because from the first bars there is a syncopated and constant rhythmic pattern that places you in an industrial scenario, and gradually a simple two-tone melody appears that completely changes its initial musical context. 170218_1475 moves between an industrial and dark ambient concept, as it mixes gloomy atmospheres with deep breaks.

The sonic properties of 160131_0683, the cut that opens the B-side, connect with an unexplored environment, with a new, recently discovered and inhospitable scenario, since among other things we can appreciate sounds of machines, radio signals, filtered and choppy voices, combined with disturbing acoustic phenomena. 170213_1455 is a track that describes quite concisely the creative sense of Group, and for this we must take into account that it could be catalogued as a techno production, with groove and aimed at the dancefloor, however, he manages to minimise all these factors by giving it a volatile and atmospheric aspect. 170105_1398 closes the B-side of the vinyl, returning once again to the tribalism and ritualism that characterises many of Group’s productions, given that on this occasion his rhythm is not diluted, it has much more presence and manages to generate a hypnotic state.

In addition to these six tracks that make up the entire vinyl tracklist, Seedman also presents a couple of bonus tracks in digital format. And the first of them, The beast11, already arouses curiosity because its title is not due to a sequence of numbers, as is usual in this project. Musically, it once again shows Group’s ability to adapt any environment to a sonic degradation very much in keeping with his style. 150407_0166, the last track on the album, is an ode to chaos, a hodgepodge of frequencies devoid of rhythm that appropriately serves as an outro.

Syncrophone proudly presents 'Proceed with Caution' by Detroit's Filthiest. This 4-track catalog masterpiece is a rhythmic exploration, featuring infectious funk-infused beats and a distinctive style that pays homage to the city's illustrious musical heritage. Detroit's Filthiest seamlessly blends tradition with innovation, creating an electrifying experience that echoes the Motor City's iconic sound.

Feedbacks :

Luke Slater : dope
Serge (Clone) : Sick release! Another banger from Dj Nasty!
Elena Colombi (NTS) : Check Out the Technique is great!
Lukas Wigflex (Wigflex) : wonk
Tijana T : huge fan!
Hodge (Livity Sound) : lovely
Eclair Fifi (Lucky Me / NTS) : fk yeah 5/5
Monty Luke (Rekids / Black Catalogue) : fear in your eyes is a banger
Dave Clarke (white noise radio) : Will support ! Love the first track
Marcel Dettmann : thx
Machine Woman (Take Away Jazz Records) : cool
Ben Sims : Technique is my pick, thx!
Will Hofbauer (Third Place, Wisdom Teeth, Rinse) : very slick
Blasha & Allatt (Meat Free) : Fire! Up In Smoke + Nuttin But Chedda are the ones for me :) Thanks, Steffi x
Lena Willikens (Cómeme) : Fear In Your Eyes for me!
Lauren Flax (The Lot Radio/ Young Turks / K7) : incredible EP, thanks!
David Martin (Dimensions Soundsystem) : his is superb. Love it! Thanks DM
Amy Dabbs (Shall Not Fade, Distant Horizons, SlothBoogie, ) : Beautifully sleazy - love it
Bloody Mary (Dame-Music) : track 2 :))) thanks
DMX Krew (Breakin Records / Fresh Up) : Nice trax :) Will try to fit in my December show for Rinse FM.
mi-el (NTS show) : heavy

“The Castle II” is a collection of works composed and recorded by the Japanese artist Tomo Akikawabaya between 1986 and 1989. An album filled with obscure atmospheres, hypnotic rhythms, electronic melodies, experimental interludes and the unique and mesmerizing voice of Akikawabaya.

Since the release of the album “The Castle I” in 1984, Tomo Akikawabaya became disappointed with the music scene in Japan and thought that the only way to continue as a musician was to release his music abroad. After finish to record some new songs, he embarked on an adventurous trip to London in order to look for an opportunity for a new release. Unfortunately, after three months and despite meeting many artists and important people in the music industry, luck was not on Akikawabaya’s side and with time running out he had to return to Japan without a concrete proposal. In the following years, although he continued to work with his long-time partner Takaaki Han-ya with a project called Beata Beatrix, he never published anything and later focused to other activities. It was until 2015 that the New York label Minimal Wave released “The Invitation of The Dead” compiling songs from “The Castle” (1984) and “Anju” (1985), both originally released on his own label Castle Records. Tomo Akikawabaya is currently working under the moniker of Th, together with his wife Rinko, on a project called The Future Eve. They released an album in 2019 with the collaboration of the legendary Robert Wyatt.

'Experimental multi-instrumentalist Dave Cudlip releases his debut full- length album as Radiolarians via brand new experimental label Klang Tone Records.

Having already garnered plaudits from one of the most authoritative voices in UK electronic music, Electronic Sound magazine, the 10-track album presents a stunning and unique combination of ethereal ambient soundscapes, undulating rhythms and jarring sound collages; the result of what Cudlip describes as a “quick and spontaneous” recording process using a limited setup of analogue synthesisers and drum machines.

The release marks an exciting new chapter for Klang Tone, which is already considered a musical institution in the vibrant town of Stroud, Gloucestershire. The record shop, founded by avant-grade sound artist and obsessive crate-digger Sean Roe has earned a reputation as one of the South West’s nuclei for contemporary jazz, electronic and experimental music.

After the instantly sold-out limited edition lathe-cut 7” of the Radiolarians single ‘Obsidian 2’, Klang Tone is now proud to launch its label arm proper with Radiolarians as its first limited run vinyl release.'

Dave Cudlip was born in North Devon. After moving to Stroud as a child and playing in bands as a teenager, he left the West Country to study archaeology at Durham University, with his subsequent work as an archaeologist taking Cudlip all over Britain. After returning to Stroud, Cudlip has continued to make music, drawing on his love for the work of artists such as Harmonia and Autechre. He created Radiolarians in response to what he calls the “tyranny of choice” when it comes to electronic instruments, streamlining his creative process and consciously limiting his options to produce a veritable distillation of extraordinary ideas.