quête:round two

Rekids' latest signing Peggy Gou serves up two subterranean slices of quality with L.I.E.S. producer Terekke providing a remix.
The South Korean artist, who was raised in the UK and now resides in Berlin, kick started 2016 for Rekids with her 'Art Of War' release. She now returns to Radio Slave's imprint with a sequel. 'Jen High' boasts a heady bassline whilst quivering synths make way for serene key melodies. 'When Round, They Go' then deploys robust kicks as ebbing pads join acid licks, before Germany's Terekke provides a floating rendition comprised of soaring atmospherics and jazzy aesthetics.

Burnski's Instinct label kicks on with more filthy low-end wobblers, this time with Killjoy the man behind the buttons. He opens up with 'Proud' (feat Kwam) which has a dirty low-end sleaze and blasts of busted bass topped with grimy bars and razor sharp percussion. It's pure filth for lip-curling disgust. Then 'Fever' drops into punchy speed garage energy with hustling drums and more warped bass and 'Allstars' gets lose on a glitchy two-stepper. The flip side shows yet another look with 'Lovestruck ' packed with pitched up vocal hooks and slamming drums and 'Shout' rounds out with icy cool.

Two Lisbon mainstays from contiguous generations join forces as Scam Dust for the new Paraiso record: Tiago, Lux Fragil resident, world-renowned DJ's DJ and all-round music whizz plus Shcuro, Paraiso's co-founder, scene documenter and impeccable selector & producer. Funnily enough they also live in contiguous beach towns in the outskirts of the capital, Parede and Carcavelos. That's where they zig-zagged amid home-studios and, four hands in various machines, concocted this refreshingly to-the-bone record. Like a non-local entanglement between Lisbon, Sheffield, The Hague and somewhere in the American Midwest, 'Gastric Pulse' EP opens with a saturated, modulated acid line over a tight, industrial-tinged techno beat, peppered with sonic dirt of the highest order. It sounds like music projects like Downwards and Mathematics would put out. 'Enzyme Breaks' follows suit with a comparably raw spirit, adding some mysterious atmospheric scintillation and drum variations. A certain recluse techno (is that a thing?) comes to mind (and heart), Unit Moebius style. Toms abound in 'Pepsin Drive' - always a promising sign in our book - and the playfulness continues in the cheeky bassline and the intricate clap work. Soulful stabs give the tune extra magic via the mantra-like structuring power of repetition. The final track in the record comes from Pacific North-West transplant Doc Sleep and her collaborator Elias FS step in for remix responsibilities and flip the B1 into a hypnotic, dubby - and yes, jazzy - piece complete with a dive into glitchy, sonic sculpture territories towards the end of the arrangement. Quite the brilliant take. Music still counts (and always will), after all is said and done - and nothing like two hard-working music-makers to remind us of that.

Mike Shannon drops the ‘Off World Synthetics’ EP on Rekids. The Cynosure label boss follows up his ‘Shadow Moves’ EP on sister imprint RSPX on January 16th, 2026

Canadian DJ and producer Mike Shannon kicks off the year on Radio Slave’s Rekids with the ‘Off World Synthetics’ EP, landing 16th January 2026 and marking his first appearance on the label since 2023’s ‘Shadow Moves’ for sub-label RSPX. A long-standing force in Minimal and House with a discography stretching two decades, collaborations on Richie Hawtin’s Plus 8, and his own Cynosure and Haunt Recordings labels, Shannon has carved out a reputation as a respected staple in the booth and the studio.

Inspired by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Möbius’ INCAL graphic novels, Mike Shannon’s ‘Off World Synthetics’ EP opens with ‘Synthetic Salsateca’, where a static groove drives a playful, squelching synthline. ‘Back To The Hood’ follows with rattling, mechanical energy before the fl ip reveals ‘Off World Sparkle’, its wonky sequences bending around rubbery low-end. Closing cut ‘Only Noodles’ pushes deeper into warped clicks, scratches, and subtly shifting textures, rounding off an EP that’s raw, restrained, and devastating in the right hands and on the right system.

Itay Dailes & Eran Ben-Zeev A collaborative EP between veteran producer Itay Dailes and label owner Eran Ben-Zeev.
Two sides, two visions — one spirit. A nod to ’90s traditions, each track offers its own distinct flavor, ranging from deep, dub-infused minimalism to warm analog grooves. A versatile release for selectors who value subtle contrasts and timeless dancefloor tools. Higher State Minimal deep house with a hypnotic pull. Built on warm, dubby pads and a rolling, understated groove, *Higher State* draws the listener into a meditative zone — subtle, emotional, and deeply immersive. Dub Rounds A deep, edgy minimal cut powered by a rolling bassline. Vocal fragments weave in and out, while jazzy chords add a dreamy, soulful lift to the groove. Unicorns Can’t Fly A lush, emotive journey of floating grooves, warm pads, and delicate textures. Designed for late-night introspection while keeping the pulse alive on the dancefloor — equal parts body and soul. Jupiter 1 Diving deeper into raw analog territory, Jupiter 1 pairs a rolling bassline with smooth acid contours. Stripped-back percussion channels early ’90s energy, perfect for long sets and locked-in moments.

The Tuff Fluff EP from Joe Koshin channels the spirit of classic Tech House while pushing it somewhere new. Bouncy and full of groove, each track brims with fresh ideas and details that give the EP its own unique character. Born from a shared musical connection between Joe and label
head A for Alpha, Tuff Fluff began taking shape a few years back. After patiently waiting, the record now arrives feeling more relevant than ever - vibrant, groovy, and timeless all at once.
Marking the first release on Alpha’s Trip in two years, Tuff Fluff also celebrates the label’s relaunch, complete with a fresh new look crafted by the legendary Pointless Illustrations. It’s the start of an exciting new chapter for the imprint, setting the tone for what’s to come. Rounding out
the release is A for Alpha’s remix, a darker, moodier take built around the unmistakable sound of the Roland SH-101 bassline, whilst lifted with floaty, luscious pads - the perfect counterpoint to Joe’s bright and bouncy originals.

“From Birmingham and centred around the extraordinary songwriting talent of James and Patrick Roberts – initially as The Sea Urchins and since 1993 as Delta – they’ve only just got round to releasing their debut album, Slippin’ Out. It is a work of some beauty”. 9/10 NME ALBUM OF THE MONTH, 2000

“It’s classicist for sure, shot through with the influence of The Beatles, Byrds and Buffalo Springfield. In James’ downright beautiful closing ballad ‘I Want You’ one can also discern the school of ambitious English balladry that peaked in about 1968: The Casuals, Love Affair, Barry Ryan. The impression of accomplished old-schoolery is only furthered by the dizzying string arrangements penned by Louis Clark Jnr, son and namesake of the one-time orchestral chief of Electric Light Orchestra” – Mojo lead review, 2000


Having ended the 90s with the spirited ‘Laughing Mostly’ compilation of singles and demos (Guardian Album Of The Week) Delta finally released their debut studio album of twelve songs in the summer of 2000 on the Dishy Recordings label. Accepting that this might be their sole studio album the band threw everything at these recordings allowing it to exist in its own sphere, unbothered by their contemporary generation and disregarding the idea of even releasing a single.

Recorded at DEP International there was a notable difference to the scruffier, looser charm of their 1990s recordings, a tighter focus developed by having the experienced Lenny Franchi mixing the LP with them. Lenny had been working with a number of Island artists including My Bloody Valentine and Tricky so knew his way around a desk. There was also the question of budget (a few months passed between recording and mixing whilst funds were raised) so every day counted. Ultimately though you can hear the joy in the recordings, even amongst the melancholy and angst. As James recently recalled in an interview in Shindig! Magazine: “It was such a big deal for us. It’s one of my fondest memories doing that record. Everyone was happy. If there’s anything that I’d stand by, I think it would be that”

Louis Clark Jr joined the band towards the end of the ‘90s and brought a classically-trained element to the recordings particularly with his string arrangements. For ‘Cuckoo’, ‘I Want You’ and the prophetic ‘We Come Back’ Louis brought in eight players from the Birmingham Conservatoire; the baroque style is partly why the record often receives comparisons to Love’s ‘Forever Changes’.

On release ‘Slippin’ Out’ was a big favourite with writers at the NME, Mojo and The Guardian again and before long the band were signed to Mercury/Universal for their second studio album ‘Hard Light’, a far more expensive and expansive love affair. It was a temporary palatial home where things quietly fell apart again, but that’s another chapter.

“If long-term memory is nothing more than selective editing and only pop’s most weighty visceral works are built to last then it’s quite possible that in 50 years the Britpop era will be best recollected for the two bands it ostracised. Earlier this year we met Shack and thought their story of mercurial brilliance indicated the biggest music biz oversight of the 90s. We were wrong because we hadn’t met Delta yet. This is richer and more engrossing than anything by Shack” 

When Leng Records founders Paul ‘Mudd’ Murphy and Simon Purnell marked the imprint’s 10th birthday, they did so via a celebratory compilation that mixed classic catalogue cuts, remixes and exclusives. Five years on, and with the label’s 15th birthday upon us, they’ve decided to look to the future via a compilation made up entirely of fresh productions from Leng’s roster of current and new artists. Presented on limited-edition gatefold double vinyl with a bonus 10” single, the collection offers an updated showcase of Leng’s much-loved trademark sound, a distinctive fusion of mid-tempo sleazy-disco, Balearica and chugging house interspersed with elements of electronic psychedelia and synth-powered space disco. Fittingly for a compilation that wholeheartedly looks to the future, you’ll find first contributions from a handful of label newcomers.

Fast-rising duo Flying Mojito Bros give their spin on ‘Smoke Signals’ by label debutants Joe HarveyWhyte and Bobby Lee, turning in a heady and inspired revision that sits somewhere between dusk-ready cosmic disco and flash-fried desert blues. There’s also an appearance from Swedish producer Bo Wosticz with the dreamy and ultra-deep nu-jazz of ‘Bs As’. Naturally, you’ll also find plenty of heat from those who have already proved their mettle through prior releases on Leng. Danish duo Liminal, who made their debut earlier this year with the much-played ‘Keep Coming Back To Me’, open proceedings with the tactile, slow-disco flex of ‘Tzatziki Bay’ where sweet synth melodies and a heady electric piano riff ride a warming groove.

Roberto Intrallazzi and Dario Piana from Italy’s original Afro-cosmic movement return with ‘Plutos’, a typically deep dubbed-out cosmic chugger. Then there’s Rose Robinson AKA Tigerbalm, whose ‘Mexicana’ featuring singer Joi N’Juno is presented across the package in two different forms. Pete Herbert, who contributed to some of the earliest Leng releases, drops a driving dub disco take on the main compilation, while Robinson’s original mix – a more organic, percussive and horn-heavy affair blessed with plenty of hallucinatory intent – opens the bonus 10”.

There’s a welcome return to Leng for the brilliant Payfone, whose ‘Dime Algo’ is a typically classy, analogue-rich affair in which attractive Rhodes riffs, atmospheric female vocals and pitched-down house pianos rise above shuffling drum machine beats and a slow-motion bassline. Long-serving label contributor Lex (Athens) delivers the loose-limbed nu-disco breeze of ‘Stolen Dance’, while the imprint’s San Francisco connection – the ever-brilliant 40 Thieves collective – drop the dubbed-out Bay Area brilliance of ‘Such A Great Trip’.

Then there are the contributions of the label’s most storied artist, Andrew Meecham AKA Emperor Machine with ‘Eumig’, a deliciously slow, synth-rich chugger full of colourful chords, bubbly electronic melodies and jaunty electronic bass. Then, to round off the bonus 10” single, Meecham joins forces with Paul Murphy (as Mudd) on ‘Road To Nikko’, an extended, Japanese musical culture-influenced slab of pitched-down alien-funk packed to the rafters with squelchy synth sounds, effects-laden percussion, chiming melodies and rubbery bass guitar.

A song about Colostomy - from the opening bars you might think so. but it gets worse. 'X rated' stuff.
the label say 'Djoko is no stranger to Voyage Direct. Having first appeared on the label way back in 2012, he's returned numerous times since, becoming an integral member of the imprint's growing family of artists. Elsewhere, he's delivered material on Tuskegee, Mobilee and Leftroom, amongst others, developing an approach that takes inspiration from numerous styles of house and techno. However, little he's previously released can match the raw, eyebrow-raising lust and sexually charged funk of Dirty Talk'.

Driven forward by Djoko's sleazy, whispered spoken word vocal, the original version combines the rubbery, bass-heavy rhythms of classic, Dance Mania-style ghetto house, the delay-laden guitar flashes of vintage NYC proto-house, and the kind of darting, funk-fuelled keys - provided by fellow Dutch producer Kid Sublime - that recall the glory days of '80s electrofunk. Djoko provides an alternate version in the shape of the thrusting, stripped-back Club Dub', with his breathy Accapella' rounding off the A-side.

On the flip, two Voyage Direct stalwarts take it in turns to rework the track. First up is label boss Tom Trago, who builds on Djoko's elastic percussion with some dense new drum hits of his own. These are combined with spacey synths and sharp string stabs, giving Dirty Talk' a more classic techno/house fusion flavour. In contrast, Werner uses the opportunity to turn in a triple-X-rated interpretation full of bounding, Chicago-influenced beats, intergalactic pads, sleazy acid lines, and sweaty, surging drum fills. It's a fittingly breathless remix.'

Tre Turner bounces back on Belters4u with two unashamedly old-school Scottish club cuts alongside two remixes from London prog trance upstarts Close Proximity.

With shared spiritual roots in the West of Scotland early 90s rave scene, Belters4U and Tre Turner realise their adolescent dream in releasing this love letter to a decadent lost reality. Title track ”Scottish Piano” amalgamates a million shared moments on Scottish dance-floors and living room afterparties. On the flip, Ultra-Free samples the vocal hook from the ultimate Scottish old skool rave anthem ”Obsession” by legends ‘Ultra-Sonic.’ Hardcore pianos meet gated synths and thumping solid bass, the sound of many a misspent youth.

Through the haze of smoke and strobes, the Close Proximity Trance Mix recalls the wildest, most ecstatic, face-melting moments from the legendary Metro and Hangar 13 clubs. Close Proximity round things off by taking you further into euphoric dreamland with their ever-evolving Paradise Mix of Ultra-Free.

The saga of squelch continues. After the first round proved that the acid line might be the most durable cliché in dance music (and still the best one), part two turns the resonance knob a little further.
Steve Bug & Stefan Braatz, Deetron, Todd Osborn, and Mathew Jonson with The Mole join forces for another ode to the silver box - less museum piece, more perpetual motion machine. Proof that you can't retire a sound that never had a desk job.
Once again, Gasius supplies the visual psychedelia, while the tracks handle the auditory side of the trip.
Dial 303, accept the charges, and remember: the only thing more reliable than acid is its ability to surprise you.

“The high priest of country cool” - Rolling Stone

“I like him very much. He’s very special. He’s singing with a voice I never heard before” - Townes Van Zandt

“A conscious, soulful brother” - Horace Andy

“He’s a brother to me - one of the best singer/songwriters I’ve ever met” - Adrian Sherwood

“Unearthed mine of gems from inner Wales - a songbook of ideas - that's Jeb!” - Gilles Peterson

Jeb Loy Nichols is a bonafide Country (Got) Soul legend. The Music Maker presents 21 incredibly deep, grooving and soulful songs from the cream of Jeb's catalogue; from its earliest days to his latest unreleased gems via countless rare and unbelievably good lost-classics. This 2LP set is presented in a gatefold sleeve complete with freshly commissioned artwork courtesy of Jeb himself.

In collecting these uncut, under-heard gems, we hope to do justice to Jeb's jaw-dropping artistic brilliance. A man who, in working with Adrian Sherwood, Dennis Bovell, Dan Penn, Larry Jon Wilson and countless other legendary characters, has crafted some of the most deeply affecting folk, country, soul, funk, blues, dub, reggae, gospel, rap and electronic music, ever heard.

The first music Jeb really felt a connection with was southern soul: "I used to listen to the radio at night and fell in love with Bobby Womack and Al Green, The Staple Singers and Joe Simon – that whole Nashville/Memphis/Muscle Shoals thing.” But Jeb was so much more than a soul boy, Indeed, he "went to bluegrass festivals with my dad and come home and listened to jazz records with my mother.” And, when he was fifteen, he heard his first punk record: "God Save The Queen" by The Sex Pistols. “That and The Ramones completely changed me.” In 1979 he got a scholarship to go to art school in New York: “A great time. Punk was over but hip-hop was starting and I got into that in an obsessive way.”

His first recording, in 1980, was an unreleased rap song called "I’m A Country Boy". If that isn't an insight enough into Jeb's kaleidoscopic path through music, in 1981 he visited friends in London and found himself living in a squat with Adrian Sherwood, Ari Up (from the Slits), and Neneh Cherry. “Adrian put me to work immediately, moving boxes of records all across London. It was Adrian that was and is my biggest influence – in his complete disregard for genre purity.” So, presumably you're getting the picture? A veritable musical magpie with a voracious appetite and unimpeachable taste.

"Mine has always been a meandering career. I've done what I've done, and made the music I've made, due to chance meetings. I'm not particularly ambitious; it's more important to me that I work with friends and like-minded people. I've been a big fan of Be With for years. Everything they release is essential. When they asked about rereleasing "Countrymusicdisco45" I was both pleased and flattered. We began talking about how we'd do it; two years and twenty-one tracks later, here we are. I've always thought of the music I make as Country Music. Music conceived in the country, written in the country, recorded in the country. I left London and moved back to the country so I could live among the trees, the grasses, the animals, those things that don't go to war and get greedy. This compilation is the story of that life. Hand made, lo-fi, ramshackle, stripped down, real deal music. Heartworn and funky. Music made in the kitchen, not in the studio. As the great Skip Mcdonald said, Perfect ain't perfect. It's great to see all these tracks gathered together. It feels like a family reunion. Some older members of the tribe, some newer arrivals."

Opener "countrymusicdisco45" is a song Jeb wrote about how his crew lives, tucked up blissfully in the hills: "House parties full of country folk dancing to disco, reggae, soul, country, hip-hop. All night. I recorded it at home under the influence of Stevie Wonder." It's one of the funkiest records you'll ever hear. "Sometimes Shooting Stars" was recorded in Nashville and mixed by the legendary Dennis Bovell. It's deep, dubby, majestic. A thing of fragile, melodic beauty. The party ramps back up again with the undeniable groove of "Short Cut Home" before the profoundly moving "Disappointment" arrives. One of many songs he's recorded with good buddy Benedic Lamdin (aka Nostalgia 77): "We were going for a Leon Thomas meets Richard Brautigan meets Alice Coltrane kind of thing". We think they nailed it. "Days Are Mighty", like a lot of the tracks on this collection, "started life as a demo, an attempt to get something down while it was fresh. No frills, nothing fancy, just feel." And what feels!

The irrepressibly funky "Don't Dance With Me Tonight" is a deeply moving, slow-mo organ-drenched head-nod-funky country-ballad. Next up, the breezy "You Got It Wrong" was recorded in Wales with some of Jeb's good friends and neighbours, The Westwood All Stars, featuring Clovis Phillips and Will Barnes. Skanking fiddle-flecked gem "Ring The Bells" was the first thing Jeb recorded when he moved to Wales. A combination of all his loves; country, reggae, soul. It's followed by "Let's Make It Up", a truly sumptuous string-drenched emotional groover. "When Did You Stop Loving Me" is another Nashville track, written and recorded during a time Jeb was spending a lot of time with the Muscle Shoals crew, Donnie Fritts, Spooner Oldham, George Soule and Dan Penn: "It shows, I'm sure, their influence." Oh, you bet it does!

The swaggering country-funk of "Just Beginning" should grace many groove-focused DJs' sets whilst "Wintering Of The Year", again made with Clovis, is pastoral, campfire soul. The glacial, gorgeous "Let It Rain" is from an unreleased record Jeb made with the great British jazz bass player Andy Hamill and "We Tell Each Other Who We Are" is freaky country-soul made by a man with a love for strutting, wonky hip-hop stylings. Rounding out the side, "Trip To You" is pure, uncut amphetamine-propelled drum-machine soul.

The spare, beautiful "Dirt" is from an EP Jeb made with Julian Moore in his house in South London: "All first takes, straight to tape." Swoon! "Heaven Right Here" was a very minor league hit in America: "It was produced by the brilliant and much missed Wayne Nunes. It was started in the countryside of Missouri, finished in the countryside of Wales, and recorded in the countryside of Sussex." Double swoon! "If Later Ever Comes" is electronica meets J.J. Cale business whilst "Remember The Season" is truly wonderful and breezy guitar soul. "A Little Love" was made with Wayne Nunes as well, after a night of listening to Studio One and Northern Soul. Bouncy dub closer "Weary Traveller" was written by Bill Monroe, the hero of Jeb's youth: "Monroe's music was heavily influenced by black southern churches; I've tried to keep some of that feral feel." This was the final recording by Jeb's 1990s Country-Dub band, Fellow Travellers.

The name of this compilation comes from a time when Jeb lived in Peckham, south London and he used to DJ and sometimes perform at a local bar: "The owner of the bar, a Jamaican named Count Percy, once asked me what I called my music. I told him I wasn't sure, I guess just pop music. He thought about it for a minute and then said, 'no, more like mom and pop music'. Rather than call me a country singer or a folk singer he always referred to me as The Music Maker."

With the long overdue deluxe overview of his beloved music, we hope to finally shine a light on the unheralded genius of Jeb Loy Nichols. RIYL Larry Jon Wilson, Townes Van Zandt, Bobby Charles, country got soul artists, dub, deep soul, disco, dancing, heartbreak. This deluxe collection, spellbinding from beginning to end, should hopefully go some way to ensuring Jeb reaches an ever bigger, ever more appreciative crowd of followers. Mastering for this special double vinyl edition was overseen by Be With regular Simon Francis and it was cut by the esteemed Cicely Balston at Abbey Road Studios to be pressed in the Netherlands by Record Industry. The artwork has been lovingly put together by The Music Maker, himself, Jeb Loy Nichols. "Be With is the perfect home for this mongrel music. I am forever in their debt." The pleasure is all ours, Jeb.

Sasha & Henry Saiz deliver evocative new single 'Love Is All You Need'

Henry Saiz and Sasha are two of electronic music’s most visionary figures, each renowned for blending emotional depth with cutting-edge production. Saiz is a DJ, producer, and live artist who crafts genre-defying soundscapes on his own Natura Sonoris as well as Sasha’s Last Night On Earth. His work resonates far beyond the dancefloor, much like that of Sasha, a pioneer with an enduring creative streak who continues to push boundaries, most recently through collaborations with forward-thinking producers like Artche, Jody Barr, and Joseph Ashworth. Together on this new single, the pair balance transportive grooves with meticulous synth work to perfection.

The wonderfully luminous 'Love Is All You Need' radiates breezy melodic charm while riding a light, uplifting rhythm that feels as airy and warm as the rush of a new romance. Shimmering, sun-kissed melodies evoke the glow of an outdoor Ibizan party with emotive female vocals drenched in reverb, adding a dreamy, blissful layer to round out this hazy and heartfelt electronic trip.

Ian Elms’s cult isolationist synth masterpiece Good Night returns via Dark Entries. Originally released in 1982, Good Night blends Berlin school minimalism and BBC Radiophonic weirdness with the aesthetics of then-nascent DIY punk electronics throughout its fifteen short tracks. According to Elms, these pieces were composed in two broad but interrelated modes: pieces with voice and synthesizer, which are obliquely narrative, and instrumental synthesizer pieces that aspire to capture fleeting emotions. Ian met with producer David Hoser at Octopus Studios and they began constructing pieces using a Polymoog Keyboard 280a, sampled drum tracks, and Elms’s synthesizer. On “The Street Enters the House”, live drums lurch along with skeletal motifs while Elms’s elliptical lyrics evoke domestic discontent. “A Light Moves Across Curtains” features metronomic pummeling and icy strings buttressing the scant cryptic lines from Elms. Instrumental gems like “Goodnight” and “Surrounded by Trees” are built around detuned riffs in round-like structure, both drifting and static like the motion of waves. With original pressings fetching three digits – if you can even find a copy – this reissue is essential listening for fans of John Bender, Transparent Illusion, and the early 80’s DIY cassette scene. Each copy of Good Night comes with a postcard featuring a photograph and notes by Elms. “This record is intended for anyone who by accident or design spends most of their time alone (whether in the body or in the mind).” – Ian Elms.

A Place In My Memory Is All I Have To Claim is the new album by Australian atmospheric pop trio Hydroplane, the storied 'offshoot' formed by three quarters of independent pop group, The Cat's Miaow. On this, their first music after two decades plus of radio silence, Andrew Withycombe, Kerrie Bolton and Bart Cummings return to the gentle, close-quarters musical world they shared around the turn of the century.

Recorded during 2024 in Melbourne and Ballarat, A Place In My Memory… picks up the thread Hydroplane set down with its precursor, 2001's The Sound Of Changing Places, though you can hear echoes of their other releases, too, with Withycombe noting a through-line from the group's 1998 "Failed Adventure" single. There's little quite like A Place In My Memory…, then or now, though. Maybe you can draw some connections between Hydroplane and their sister group, The Cat's Miaow, while fellow travellers might include Empress, The Ah Club, and further back, Young Marble Giants, Veronique Vincent (the muffled, ticking drum machine also makes me think of Robin Gibb's Robin's Reign).

There's also an umbilical to the bedroom-crafted electronica doing the rounds in the late nineties and early noughties. Hydroplane hint at this through their approach to songwriting, which often builds creatively around loops as structural devices. Through all this, the trio achieve an effortless, organic weightlessness across these nine lovely songs. Many feature Bolton's clear singing voice, drifting along, while guitars, keyboards, drum machines and loops tickertape away. The constituent parts fit together, but they also have a curiously detached quality - think of abstract cloud formations sharing the same sky.

Hydroplane and The Cat's Miaow often dealt in emotional ambiguity and uncertainty, and the uncertainty of the nostalgic. This was always one of the most appealing facets of their music, and A Place In My Memory… is thus named perfectly. I couldn't dream up a better title for the album and its reflections on history, lived experience, and the inevitable tangle between these two phenomena. These reflections variously address such concerns as human cruelty, flight, space travel, adventurism and spiritualism. There's also "To the Lighthouse", not a direct reference to the Virginia Woolf book, but a great title, nonetheless. (They've always had excellent titles, often borrowed, for songs and albums.)

A beautiful collection of drowsy, sleepy pop, humble and quiet, but resolute in its craft, A Place In My Memory Is All I Have To Claim is dream work in practice; a lovely reintroduction. Welcome back, then.

To mark three decades of Classic, this special edition double vinyl comes housed in a raw reverse board sleeve, calling back to the very first ‘Season’s’ release on the label. The inner sleeves feature stunning orange and pink GMUND card stock, complete with embossed detailing—a tactile nod to Classic’s design-led legacy and attention to craft.

Volume 1 of the 3-part compilation series dives into Classic’s most cherished moments—spanning both foundational tracks from the label’s early years and key highlights from its post-2011 rebirth.

Record One celebrates some of the first outings of Classic's original era.

It opens with Matthew Herbert’s sought-after 1996 cut ‘Got To Be Movin’—a raw, Chicago-inspired groover that captures the sound of Classic’s roots.

Also featured is the monumental ‘Somewhere Between Distance and the Impossible’ by Chris Nazuka (of Rednail Kidz with Derrick Carter), a 1997 masterpiece steeped in atmosphere and widely regarded as one of the label's most transcendental releases.

Flip to Side B for Blaze’s legendary ‘Lovelee Dae’, remixed into a club ready, ethereal dreamscape by Jon Marsh of The Beloved.

To finish we have Gemini’s hypnotic ‘In My Head’, transformed by prolific remixers on Classic - Freaks (Luke Solomon & Justin Harris) into a dubbed-out vocal trip that oozes character.

Record Two picks up the story with Classic’s reawakening in 2011.

Seven Davis Jr’s ‘The One’ (Live Edit) was the track that caught Luke Solomon’s ear, paving the way for his Friends EP and long-standing connection with the label.

Red Rack’em’s infectious and eccentric ‘Wonky Bassline Disco Banger’ found its perfect home on Classic in 2016, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about records of the year.

Then there’s Eli Escobar’s ‘Happiness Pt. 2’—a rich, emotive standout from his Classic album work, showcasing his skill at blending deep grooves with raw soul.

Rounding out the release is the iconic ‘Play the Game’ by Kenny Hawkes & Louise Carver. A pillar of UK house history, this essential track was reissued in 2019 with a powerful remix from his best buddy’s The Space Children (Luke Solomon, Jonny Rock & Leon Oakey), honouring Kenny’s lasting influence.

Introducing OBI02 – Plight of the Gifted EP by TB Shine, the second release on
Dutch-label OBI Trackz.

Operating under various aliases since the early 2000s, TB Shine is one of the many expressions of Norwegian artist Terje Bakke. Plight of the Gifted EP holds five tracks that drift between hypnotic minimalism and raw percussive workouts, told through disjointed rhythms, haunting atmospheres, and layered tension.

The A side kicks off with Dopamine Dungeon—a slippery, low-end-driven roller wrapped in hazy textures and unstable euphoria. The track traps the listener in a quirky haunt, like the title describes accordingly. Red Army Moody Troopers follows with a tougher edge: straight drums, spectral pads, and an undercurrent of unrest. It’s a track that marches forward but never fully lands, suspended in an unresolved urgency.

On the B side, Plight of the Gifted appears in two versions. The original leans into emotional melodic motifs and fragmented structures, evoking both vulnerability and defiance. The Haunted Version strips things back further—bleeding with space, odd grooves, and a kind of post-club phychosis that lingers long after. Closing the EP is Plague Doctor, a slow-burning piece where a hopeful melody echoes and distant percussion round off the release with a sense of closure while being wrapped in a warm blanket.

With Plight of the Gifted EP, TB Shine offers a layered and personal collection— one that walks the tightrope between control and collapse, rhythm and mood. A fitting next step for Obi Trackz: cryptic, cinematic, and carved with intent.

"After years of exploring different realms of electronic music, Trinchera.XV opens the doors of its label with a vinyl EP that moves between dancefloor-driven energy and sonic abstraction. For this first release, two complementary visions converge: the renowned artistry of Radial, a key figure on the international scene, and the fresh, promising energy of Bendiak, an emerging talent from the local landscape."


a Radial - Roundabout Way TXV01
b Radial - Sly [TXV01]
[c] Bendiak - Cheat Codes (Time Mix) [TXV01]
[d] Bendiak - Niebla en la Trinchera [TXV01]
[e] Bendiak - Dos Copos de Nieve [TXV01]

DJ Support: Fred P, Mark Farina, Harvey Sutherland and more

When two underground icons like James Curd and Fred P join forces, the result is more than just acollaboration-it's a cross-continental meeting of deep house minds. The track was born in James Curd's Adelaide studio while Fred P was in Australia, capturing a rare and organic creative moment between two respected figures in house music. James Curd, known for his work with Greenskeepers and his extensive catalog across labels like Classic, Defected, and DFA, brings a playful yet precise groove, while Fred P, the introspective deep house pioneer behind Black Jazz Consortium, adds soulful depth and hypnotic finesse. The remix package elevates things even further. Harvey Sutherland, a staple in Australia's modern funk and electronic scene, brings his analog synth wizardry-his remix credentials include Disclosure and Jamiroquai. Austin Ato, a UK house innovator with a DFTD remix for Groove Armada, injects vibrant dancefloor energy. And Junior Sanchez, a long-time figure in New York's club culture, rounds it out with a heavyweight version - he's flipped everyone from A-Trak to Madonna. This is a lineup that speaks volumes before you even hit play.

The Block E.P. by A.J. Sound is the alias of two heavyweights in the scene, Arthur Smith (Artwork) and John Kennedy (Big Apple Records). First released in 1995 this blend of Techno and Acid is getting a much-deserved reissue and remaster for its 30 year anniversary. This widely desired release is a masterpiece of minimal techno. Basemental a track thrashed by Laurent Garnier for years, so much that it featured on his "Laboratoire Mix". This feature brought even more attention to this rare release. Copies on the second hand market are being sold at £40 and even more. Now Decoy Records are treating us to this much needed reissue for collectors and DJ’s alike who weren’t favoured enough the first time round to grab a copy for themselves.