Buscar:school

A sonic journey across Tweak's collection tracks that offering a unique blend of rhythm and atmosphere.
"Generations" stands out with its pulsating grooves and hypnotic melodies, fusing electronic precision with an old-school soul. The "Red Rover" (Rework) injects fresh energy, layering tight beats and atmospheric synths for a tension-filled club experience. "Fathorn" dives into darker, tribal territory, driven by deep bass and mesmerizing percussion that evoke a ritualistic intensity. Meanwhile, Raw Deal’s Freedom Time remix of "Fathorn" expands on this mysticism, infusing the track with a freer, more fluid groove that heightens its immersive power.
For this record, Back To Life made a 100% recycled vinyl that reduce waste, minimize environmental impact and support the planet.

Jack Cutter is a songwriter and guitarist based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. He started with a $5 banjo just after finishing high school. In University, during the late 60's, he performed with bar bands in Buffalo, New York. After completing University and a year as an Aerospace Engineer, he decided that attack helicopters were not really what the world needed and so
he headed off to California in pursuit of music and mystic times.
Fast forward to Fall 2014: Jack is playing his quintessential tune, 'Gift of Our Fathers' in the SF BART subway to an onslaught of morning commuters when he was spotted by 40 Thieves. Eureka! Love at first sight and in the next few months, two of Jack's original acoustic pieces were given the 40 Thieves
treatment.Enter David Sanderson aka David Harks, a singer, songwriter, producer and label curator from the East Sussex region of the UK. 'Having fallen in love with the cosmic boogie (of 40 Thieves classic 'Backward Love') I really felt I would
love nothing more than to write a tune with them. Layne got back in touch with a track he was working on entitled Serpent Strut with Jack Cutter and we worked via email over a few months to brew up that misty soul.' Deep, stony, psychedelic, drawing from the well of Hawkwind, Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, Baffo Banfi and Tolkien-tinged acoustic Led Zep, the proof of
concept is now complete and in the capable and loving hands of Claremont 56.

180 G. BLACK VINYL WITH LINER NOTES IN CREOLE, FRENCH, ENGLISH

Originally released in 1979, "Spiritual Sound" lives up to its name, a soaring, triumphant album, six tracks of spirit magic from Guadeloupe.

Telluric, intense, terribly alive, the gwoka drums of Guadeloupe carry the identity of a painful and fervent island. Marked forever by the crime of slavery, Guadeloupe's créolité cherishes the ka drums and their natural environment: the low-pitched boula drum with male goatskin, the high-pitched soloist makè drum with female goatskin, the chacha, ti bwa, triangle, calabash and other percussion instruments that surround them, and the voices - the fiery, proud, timbred, urgent voices of the gwoka.



This album is also a legend for its voices: in his then dazzling youth, singer Lukuber Séjor was one of the first gwoka artists to largely feminize the chorus of répondè, who converse with his text delivered in a straight and powerful voice.

And everything here sets new standards. In 1979, Mizik Filamonik - Spiritual Sound proclaimed a spiritual patriotism of ferocious intensity. The album by Lukuber Séjor - whose spelling alone is a battle - sets out to give Guadeloupe the intangible weapons of self-respect and self-knowledge, through a singular practice of traditional music.

The genesis of gwoka music is less straightforward than one might imagine... The drums performed the servile task of accompanying the work of slaves in the fields and during the “corvées” imposed by the administration, before being freely practiced by the common people after the abolition of 1848. At the heart of the conviviality of the Guadeloupeans furthest from the cities - geographically and socially - the gwoka drums come out for carnival, funeral wakes and neighborhood celebrations, but also during strikes, fits of anger and armed vigils of the riots and revolts that have punctuated the island's history. For generations, governors of the colony and then the prefects of the overseas department of Guadeloupe have been viewing the gwoka as a potential for turbulence and a threat to public order.

But as the Beatlesmania, “chanson engagée” and rock revolutions unfolded in Europe, young people turned to the drums of mizik a vié nèg (“bad negro music”, in Creole), which Guadeloupeans had learned to despise by following the “assimilation” process advocated by the school system and most of the political class. At the end of the sixties, in a Guadeloupe mourning the deadly repression of the May 1967 social movement, they played traditional music, refusing to wrap it up in tourist prettiness and madras folk costumes. Instinctively, they played a rough and contemporary gwoka, led by the incendiary Guy Konkèt. This was the era of decisive 45 rpm records such as Robert Loyson's Kann a la richès, which brought to light the fieriest words of union rallies.

At his home in Sainte-Anne, Lukuber Séjor played with flautist Olivier Vamur and his brother Claude Vamur, who cobbled together a drum kit from tin crockery and became, a few years later, the most influential drummer in Kassav'.

These were the years of the Bumidom program, when young Guadeloupeans were encouraged to emigrate to mainland France. At the age of twenty, Lukuber Séjor embarked on the liner Irpinia, disembarking at Le Havre and taking the train to the Gare Saint-Lazare - the route taken by thousands of young West Indians who went on to study or looked for work, all the while trying to maintain a link with their homeland. In this case, it's at the Antony university residence, where Lukuber played the drum and participated in a thousand gwoka updates and aggiornamentos, while exile reinforced the need for a spiritual link with the native land.

In 1978, Guy Konkèt played at the Salle Wagram, a historic event for West Indian music. After serving as répondè - i.e. backing vocalist - on one of his home-recorded albums, Lukuber joined his live band. Little by little, he became one of the key artists on a circuit parallel to French show business. At a student party in Caen, he met a young woman from Martinique who, at the time, was more motivated by her ambitions as a visual artist than by her vocation as a musician. Her name was Jocelyne Béroard and, a few years before she plunged into the Kassav' adventure and became the greatest West Indian singer of her generation, she designed the cover of Lukuber Séjor's LP.

This ambition was obvious and imposed its will. A more or less regular band was formed, with Roger Raspail, Rudy Mompière and Éric Danquin on ka drums, Claude Vamur on ti bwa, Olivier Vamur and Françoise Lancréot on flutes and Annick Noël on keyboards. Lukuber Séjor is set on wanting to extend the gwoka palette to other instruments, as the jazz-rock revolution opens a thousand new doors. Annick Noël will play a wide range of timbres and textures on electric piano and synthesizer. Another novelty: the répondè are two men and two women, Roger Raspail, Olivier Vamur, Françoise Lancréot and Maryann Mathéus ...

Mizik Filamonik - Spiritual Sound is a self-production in which the singer and leader sank all his savings, allowing him no more than a single day in the studio. The first side is more of a musical manifesto, with the first two tracks, Éritage and Penn é plézi, being instrumentals. The third, Son, forcefully celebrates the need for Guadeloupeans to connect with the gwoka. In fact, Jocelyne Béroard's cover shows a tambouyé in the shadow of a cloudy sky, against which a radiant sun is rising and whose light will soon flood the entire landscape. The silhouette and face of this man strongly evoke the immense Vélo, master of the ka, rejected at the time on the fringes of society.

The second side of the LP is surprising. Formally, three tracks are explicitly linked like the three parts of a triptych. Primyé voyaj evokes the appalling tribulation of Africans deported as slaves to Guadeloupe; dézyèm voyaj speaks of the Bumidom program and the economic, political and social forces driving young Guadeloupeans towards the mirage of prosperity in France; twazyèm voyaj closes the cycle with the emigrants' return from Europe after years away from their island...

This gwoka, obsessed with the need to save Guadeloupe spiritually, appeals far beyond the politicized audience. Mizik Filamonik - Spiritual Sound instantly became a classic, although Lukuber Séjor never really made a career for himself as a musician.

After all, the album was released in 1980, with no promotional resources in France or Guadeloupe - and therefore no concerts. The thirty-two-year-old author, composer and performer made his own third trip back to Guadeloupe. He set up a small woodworking business, which he lost in Hurricane Hugo in 1989. His other activity, teaching in a medical-educational institute, became the core of his professional life. He continued to be an active campaigner - a campaigner for the Creole language, a campaigner for the reawakening of identity, a campaigner for special education, a campaigner for a thousand causes that he ignited with his generous and perceptive enthusiasm, such as the defense of breadfruit fries...

The echoes of his 1979 album have not died down. Of course, the use of Penn é plézi as the theme tune for Radio Guadeloupe's funeral notices from 1980 to 1992 kept him in the collective memory, but he continues to sing and compose sporadically, as with his all-female

vocal group Vwapoulouéka... Still convinced that music is a means of liberating the spirit, he continues the journey of a young man eager to deploy the power of Creole music and language.

Bertrand Dicale

Unusual Systems' tenth release with various artists. Side A dedicated to the true old school sound with the track "Stay To me" by the Italian duo Two Opposites and "Sin Kontrol", an unreleased track by its founder. Side B from two Catalan producers Torrent and Adria with a couple of modern new wave tracks.

South Londons’ indomitable Medlar delivers an ambitious new album

The long-time underground favourite has collaborated with the likes of Dele Sosimi, Rebekah Reid, Deevoenay, Finn Peters, Sam Virdie, Afla Sackey and Arnau Obiols on an album that finds him taking his production to new levels.
From roots playing illegal raves in the South West to building up a cultured catalogue that bounces between house and garage, Medlar has long been part of the underground conversation. He has dropped a previous album and many innovative remixes and edits for the likes of Billy Cobham and Shirley Lites, worked in the studio and on stage with Afro legend Dele Sosimi and most recently released an album under his own name that collected myriad different sonic sketches from the past 15 years.

Islands is an altogether different proposition that comes after establishing himself as a mix engineer and producer of other people's music. In that time, Medlar has honed his skills, learnt new tricks and grown more able to express himself in sound. The result is an album that explores a more electronic palette inspired by '80s fusion sounds whilst maintaining a loose, organic flow through his use of live instrumentation. “The idea for the LP was for a collection of music which could sit alone as club tracks, but would work equally well as part of a whole. The name Islands came from this, as there's some connecting ideas but the tracks sit independently in their own little sonic worlds. I took a lot of inspiration from early 80’s electronic music produced during early years of MIDI technology… proto house, jazz fusion, electronic disco and experimental ambient. I wanted to juxtapose some of these methods with more contemporary production and make something that's ultimately quite fun!” says Medlar of the record which could easily soundtrack a summer road trip.

Across 11 tracks, he blends old-school techniques like a fusion of live instruments, FM synthesis and MIDI triggered vocal samples with more contemporary touches such as punchy, club-friendly drums and dub inspired, speaker-wobbling low end. The result is less reliant on samples than his previous works and makes for a perfect blend of retro authenticity and future freshness.

No words are needed for tracks and collaborations this bold, but we still decided to give it a short introduction.

Hips don’t lie on the title track “Make A Scene”, which comes with two massive remixes. Dirty Dutch legend Chuckie teams up with Finnish talent Skuwa to deliver some real old-school bubbling beats. Man of the moment, DJ Babatr, completes the A-side with his Raptor House remix—a heavy, drum-driven build-up that erupts into a volcanic dancefloor moment.

Koperblond collaborates with hot new producers AUTOFLOWER and Beau de Wit on “Feel You”, a piano house track with a catchy vocal. It’s all fun—perfect for getting every crowd on their feet.

Closing duties for “Plan B.”, a deeper house groove that captures the bittersweet loneliness of being without your love. Even when everyone assures you it will come, the emptiness can still feel real— and this track captures that emotion perfectly.

Tom Carruthers is back with his debut drop on Syncrophone Prod, bringing straight fire with raw vibes and slick beats. “No Frequency" hits hard with four bangers that blend old-school flavors with a fresh twist. A must-grab for vinyl head



Feedbacks:


Laurent Garnier : Old school vibes. Another super cool release by Tom Carruthers. Will play
Uncertain (RSPX, WRKTRX, Suara) : good ol dayz!
Truncate : Dope!
nd_baumecker (Ostgut Ton) : Synchrophone once more show that they are absolutely not stoppable at the moment. Their output is crazily good for a long period of time now. I like. Thanks!
Erol Alkan (Phantasy Sound) : Downloading thanks!
The Advent : Nice OG Sounding, Reminds me of origins or TECH - YES..
Richie Hawtin (M_Nus) : downloaded for r hawtin
DVS1 : Thanks!!

(marble organe, black coloured vinyl) This ep contains 5 dancefloor fillers, produced by Belgians finest; Dj Ghost, Jamie Dill, Jan Vervloet, Danny Corten & Bestien. From techno to hard trance, all productions are made with an old school twist, the signature from the new label Don Ghost Records.

The multi-talented global traveller Shawn Lee starts the new year 2025 with "Lost", the first album by Shawn Lee's GPS Band. The story behind the album is best told by the artist himself: "Inspiration can come from the most unlikely places. In this case…Italy. While on tour there in 2024, I found that I never knew where I was or where I was going. For that matter, I affectionately dubbed it 'The Lost in Italy Tour'!"

Shawn Lee continues: "While listening to music in the car barreling down the open road, GPS voice directions kept barking instructions over the tunes. Suddenly, the full musical concept of the 'Lost' album smacked me right between my ears. Instrumental tracks equipped with GPS voices on top robotically guiding me to my various destinations. Sometimes it was a venue like the Parasdiso in Amsterdam. or record label like Légére in Hamburg - and for goodness' sake, even a pizza restaurant in Italy! The possibilities were infinite.

"I lovingly explored the sounds of the late 70s & early 80s delicious brew of Post-Punk, Post-Disco, Krautrock, Punk-Funk, old school HipHop and No Wave. Armed with a P bass,Madcat Telecaster, a handful of synths and a few choice effects, the album was both a minimal and focused affair. Sometimes less is more… The world on the other hand, is way more than less and a very big place to get 'Lost'. So this is just the beginning of a long journey and with my GPS Band, I will always arrive at my destination."

Studiomaster was born from an experiment I ran for a little over a year, releasing tracks exclusively on Bandcamp. I wanted to see how far music could travel without the institutional machinery of a label, without physical products, and without relying on mainstream platforms. The experiment worked so well that Studiomaster has now evolved into a label with physical vinyl releases. Throughout this journey, I found myself missing the physicality of music. So, to celebrate it, I decided to release something in a format I had never used before: the cassette tape. What better occasion to bring together a collection of previously unreleased tracks in the physical world and craft a mix the old-school way? Get your tape quickly, it's limited!
ps: The tape unlocks download for all the tracks featured in the mix!

Promising new talent Joolmad is quickly becoming a name to watch out for, his latest body of work comes in the form of the “Perspective” EP, the third release from the thriving English producer, off the back of his sought after EP on TSOL. Although young Joolmad’s refined taste and years of tweaking his sound enabled him to construct tried and tested underground material, meaning his music and the PILLZ label could not be better suited. Gritty, straight edged peak time action from a producer on the rise. The new school showing their hand here as Joolmad shares his interpretation of mysterious sounds of modern times, melding electro and techno genres as he moves.

2025 Repress

Following releases from Dublin’s Fio Fa & naive label head Violet, LA-based Cromie & Timedance affiliate rRoxymore and various artists compilation Visions Vol. 1, Holly Lester prepares the next chapter of dualistic bleeps, bloops and blends from Utrecht producer Tifra on Duality Trax. Re-imagining vintage club sounds through a contemporary lens, Tifra is no stranger to stretching the electronic music template into new forms and ideas. His left-field house and old-school breaks have found their way onto Gestalt Records and Rough Recordings, and here the producer turns in three cuts of blissed-out electronica, hedonistic progressive and jungle-run club with its sights firmly fixated front left, complete with a wicked remix from one of modern dance music's most reliable names Roza Terenzi. ‘Plastic Replicant’ is a vocal-laced electro-house roller that takes inspiration from the golden-era of 90s electronic music and fuses it with the organic, multi-genre blends of the current gen. The ravey continuum is laced with high-frequency vocal stabs and deep basslines designed for a heads-down approach on the dancefloor, before ‘Entomology’ captures the playful side of the club with its shape-shifting acid-lines, trance-licked melodies and kaleidoscopic blend of colour, feeling and mood. Out of the club and onto the beach, ‘International Waters’ is a trip-hop inspired, downtempo dub that will delight ambient and laid-back electronic-revellers with its chirpsing birds and aqua-like aesthetic, before Roza keeps the dualism alive with a stripped-back jungle flip of the original; the perfect score for the perfect daydream.

DMF is proud to present the K-llab series, a new collaboration project where label head Kerrie partners with some of her favourite artists. The debut release in the series features an original track and a remix by each artist, offering a fresh take on both the sounds and creative processes of each collaboration.

K-llab-01 sees Kerrie teaming up with Italian duo Dynamic
Forces, known for their heavy, old school leaning, industrial influenced techno. After hosting their UK debut at a DMF event in 2024, the connection between Kerrie and the duo was immediate, leading to the creation of the series.

The duos killer original track Moralism sets the tone as the A1, followed by Kerries grooving, steppy broken-beat remix. The B side features Kerries funk-infused Good Intentions and a slamming Technasia-esque style remix from Dynamic Forces.

This release delivers four tracks that merge gritty, industrial influences with futuristic sound design all underpinned by the signature Dark Machine Funk energy, the first K-llab release offers a powerful start to this new series for DMF.

On the third Ziemia release, Private Press invites their long-time friend Piotr Baranowski, known as Mutual Attraction. Piotr is a veteran of the local Warsaw scene, recently channeling his talent through a combination of jazz and house music. The musical inspirations and absolute joy of studio time shared by Piotr, Jan and Adam (Private Press) form a solid foundation for this compilation.

The first side of the record is dedicated to a signature corroded dub sound, infused with an emphasis on rolling bass and heavily delayed stabs. While A1 is an old-school-leaning take on fast, straightforward techno, A2 is a minimalistic definition of a tool track, executed with metallic chords and a frosty atmosphere.

The situation changes dramatically on the other side, bringing warmer and more uplifting vibes, yet it still maintains the energy as all the artists focus on a moodier, more laid-back sound. Mutual Attraction brings his skills, laying down the smoothest melodies and chords, while Private Press dubs out the sounds to their limits. This collaboration offers a beautiful contrast between the functional roots of club music and more storytelling melodies cut from a late evening jam. It’s all held together by classic house grooves, bridging the familiar sounds of Chicago and Berlin in these two collaborative tracks.

Everything is perfectly finalised by on-point mastering by Wouter Brandenburg and the atmospheric artwork on the label. This record offers a great, cohesive atmosphere from top to bottom.

Synth-pop duo Marina Zispin return with their highly anticipated album Now You See Me (Now You Don’t), set for release on March 7 via Scenic Route.

Now You See Me, Now You Don't is the continuing journey through the ever evolving sound of Marina Zispin AKA Bianca Scout and Martyn Reid. As with their previous EP - the recurring themes of Life and Death loom heavily over the 10 album tracks. With support from 6 Music, Resident Advisor, Pitchfork, METAL, Dummy, The Line of Best Fit, Boomkat, and more for their recent singles. With Now You See Me (Now You Don’t), Marina Zispin further reinforces their reputation for crafting lush, melancholic soundscapes paired with surreal storytelling and ice-cold synth pop.

Since their formation in 2018, bridging Newcastle and London, Marina Zispin have quickly captivated audiences with their ethereal blend of dreamlike melodies and avant-garde textures. Their 2023 debut 12” on Night School paved the way for a successful UK tour, a BBC 6 Music session, and a memorable performance at Bucharest’s Collisions festival.

Bianca Scout, acclaimed for her solo album Pattern Damage (with praise from The Quietus, DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Bandcamp, The Wire, and more) continues to push sonic boundaries with her unique fusion of sound collage, post-punk, and poetic lyricism. Recent shows across Europe, including at Poland’s Unsound Festival, underscore the duo’s expanding influence.

With Now You See Me (Now You Don’t), Marina Zispin invite listeners on a captivating journey through a signature blend of fantasy and reality. The album is now available for vinyl pre-order.

After a Classic/Defected release and a string of edit projects/remix work Snips returns to his own Barbershop Records for his latest release "Blasphemy", a project drawing solely on Gospel samples from Snips' personal collection. Barbershop sticks with the theme of re-imagining the past to create something new while continually offering an alternative to todays mainstream. With Gospel music being the least commodified of its contemporaries yet the most essential element of them all, it would seem the perfect sample source for a Barbershop release and a sonically perfect fit for Snips' brand of Hip Hop, Soul & House inspired beats. From future club friendly anthems like "Feed The People" and "Feel The Spirit" to the true school Boom Bap sensibilities of "Pattersons Pilgrims" and "Never Waltz Alone" this release has all bases covered.

SEVENs first VA introduces seven new names to the label.
Kicking off this VA is vinyl enthusiast Sol Ortega with her fast paced track Dabz. With 4 r Luv, Posture created a melodic house tune that is sure to put you in a good mood.

Mastermind producers, Bailey Ibbs and Fergus Sweetland, join forces under the name DD Boys on their track Cannot Stop. Retromigation delivers old school tech house vibes with a touch of hip hop and funk in his track Cariati Feels
.

The G in Baka G stands for groove, and The Blue Spirit is real proof. CucaRafa delights with his debut track as Oliver Benji in Voice Mail.

Finally Ackermann rounds out the VA with another, more fast paced tune called Make You Wanna Do Right, sitting in the sweet spot between house and techno.

Born in 1989 in Bamako, Mali, Nfaly Diakité is a member of the Donsow, Bambara animist hunters. Nfaly Diakité is named after his grandfather, the late Nfaly Diakité, one of Mali’s most respected donso chiefs. His grandfather did not play, but as a leading figure in the donso brotherhood, he was always accompanied by musician Yoro Sidibé. Nfaly grew up alongside Yoro Sidibé, who became his first master of the donso ngoni, a type of eight-stringed antelope skin harp. After leaving school to devote himself to his instrument, Nfaly continued his apprenticeship with Diakaria Diakité and Oumar Sidibé, two donso masters from the Wassolo region.

He quickly made a name for himself in the donso community and was much asked to play at the traditional ceremonies of his brotherhood. He then met percussionist Ibrahim Sarr and joined the BKO Quintet, with whom he recorded an album and toured Europe and the United States. His virtuosity on the donso ngoni soon attracted attention, and he took part in numerous music and dance festivals in Mali and abroad, with the aim of raising awareness of this little-known traditional instrument.

Nfaly Diakité is also a Kônô, meaning that he is responsible for passing on the history and culture of the Bambara people through music and song. He pursues his mission by combining tradition with more contemporary sounds and by collaborating with artists from a wide range of musical backgrounds. For him, music is a means of conveying messages of peace, love and harmony, and his compositions evoke the values of respect, tolerance and open-mindedness.

‘Tribute to Toumani Koné’ is Nfay Diakité’s first solo album, recorded in Bamako in June 2020. On the album, Nfaly is the only singer, providing backing vocals and playing the donso ngoni and keregne. The album is a tribute to the storyteller and poet Toumani Koné, the greatest donso ngoni player since N’gonifo Bourama. Nfaly Diakité is a representative of the new generation of donso ngoni players and he wishes to pay tribute to Toumani Koné, who throughout his long career has been a symbol of courage, daring, loyalty and honesty.

The nine-track of this solo album leaves no room for hesitation. Three instruments (donso ngoni, voice and keregne) manage to carry one into another dimension without ever tiring. The fitting and precise rhythm is a deep but melodious transe. Nfaly’s voice plays between expressive urgency and calm wisdom, and the choruses with his own voice multiply the planes of dimension of the music. The donso n’goni, of which Nfaly is an excellent player, sounds rough and earthy but always clear and sharp. All the strength of a music that does not belong to a single musician but to a long cultural tradition of which he is the spokesman is expressed here. The young Nfaly, thanks to his experience and sensitivity, succeeds on his own in pushing us into this world without feeling the weight of tradition but only the liberation of music that sounds all the more contemporary. This album is to be listened to in its entirety as one tight journey between repeated formulas, highlights and moments of rest within the same relentless rhythm. The densest moment is probably found in the heart of the album, between the tracks Nankama (the predestined one) and Mogote Diabeye (no one can please everyone). Here, the message, which can be deciphered from the translation of the lyrics, seems to transcend language barriers and intepret us directly about our human condition, urging us to move our bodies to the dense rhythm of life.

As the new year begins and resolutions spark against the
backdrop of winter's stillness, Circular Motions EP by Hamburg based DJ and producer OFF/GRID channels the fire of renewal through dubby, chord-driven techno. Known for his high-paced, grooving redefinition of dub techno, OFF/GRID brings euphoric intensity to the dancefloor, alongside moments of depth and
reflection that maintain unrelenting energy.

The EP features four thoughtful arranged peak-time tracks that blend old-school purism with vibrant and modern sonic aesthetics. Resonating with power and precision, these tracks represent the fire that fuels us even in the coldest moments, inspiring movement and momentum as 2025 unfolds.

King Street Sounds is on a mission to reintroduce timeless house classics to the dancefloor with another iconic release. Their aim, to educate a new generation about the sounds of the old school while also offering fresh remixes for everyone to enjoy.Kerri Chandler's 'Bar A Thym' is back on 12-inch vinyl, featuring the full original 7:24 mix. This track builds, keeping listeners at the brink of euphoria and inviting them to dance. It’s THE perfect groove.The original track is accompanied by a new version via South African producer Themba who adds his signature afro sound to the mix, infusing the song with swing, extra percussion, and heightened anticipation around the various drops.Then the classic Foremost Poet's version, which was a great alternative to the timeless bomb. If you’re a house head, you need this in your life.

Stefano Chesti aka (Stephno)unleashes his fifth release in 2025 – Mainly Techno on the agenda with a hint of old school Chicago acid.

Livy Ekemezie’s Friday Night is widely recognised by DJs and afro-funk aficionados as a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) grail record. It is one of those rare dance music albums that sounds like a record of its’ time but also has a timeless quality that makes each listen an immensely rewarding experience.

Fueled by teen spirit, every track slaps leaving little or no opportunity to skip. The song concepts circle around sweaty, afropolitan nightly excursions into the nightclubs of Aba, Port Harcourt and Lagos. But they could easily have been the soundtrack to Basquiat and Grace Jones grooving to DJ Larry Levan at Studio 54.

Digital Multitrack Sound Production combined with 80s synths and keyboards ushered in a new era. But what made this different is the bombastic but never overbearing "mélange" of slapping, funky bass lines, choppy synths, crazy, carefree vocals contributing to an intense dance-driven musical experience.

Livy and his friend Franklin Izuora teamed up with Jules Elong a seasoned keyboardist to create the LP in 1982, Franklin was a student in the US and already the experience of producing an album (Be Nice To The People, 1977, EMI) with the soundmaster, Odion Iruoje in the teenage afro-rock band, Question Mark. This gave Livy the confidence to leave most of the creative direction to him.

Livy had completed his secondary school cursus and was waiting to attend college. Jules Elong’s role was to make the record sound professional. The Quincy Jones influence created a reference point, Goddy Oku’s studio, Godiac was the mother ship for this 80s dance music masterpiece.

2025 Repress

DJ Quik is a giant of West Coast hip-hop. With 1995’s Safe + Sound, he scaled new levels of musical magnificence with his signature new age P-Funk/laconic G-Funk. A quintessential, sun-scorched LA album, this is pretty much essential. Typical for mid-90s albums the original vinyl copies are now rare so here’s the Be With re-issue, complete with “Tanqueray”, the hidden track from the original CD release.

A preternaturally gifted producer/rapper, DJ Quik has produced scores of LA gangsta rap classics. He’s released platinum and gold records of his own, as well as helped craft them for the likes of Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Dr Dre. Quik has always been quirkier and more interesting than his gangsta rap peers, both musically and lyrically. An old-school funk producer at heart, he’s also incredibly nice on the mic. His raps often deal in boasts, jokes and good times but also cover his beefs, his trials and his trauma. Partying and pain, all mixed up. DJing and producing hype beat tapes from age 14, Quik’s tracks blended the languid funk and rubbery synths of Zapp and George Clinton with a gangsta aesthetic, creating a more danceable foil to Compton’s more typical nihilistic hedonism. Ultimately, his records sound custom engineered to drift out over sun-soaked barbecues.

By the time of his third album DJ Quik was a household name on the West Coast - California’s premier rapper/producer not named Andre Young. Released on Profile in 1995, Safe + Sound was certified gold. Less reliant on samples and more focused on live instruments, it elevated him from producer to fully-fledged composer. This sound — the quick, winding basslines, tinny high hats, smooth instrumental solos, soulful pipes, and Roger Troutman’s talkbox — defined him. This is an album of full-blown masterpieces. Rich soundscapes and masterfully arranged orchestrations with dense layers of sounds, intricate rhythms, and well-balanced songwriting.

The first track proper, “Get At Me” samples Cameo whilst Quik takes aim at the Judases in his life, the horn-laced chorus providing a triumphant feel. On the horizontal “Diggin’ U Out”, the soulful electric piano of Warryn Campbell lays a relaxed groove for Quik to talk over about one of his favourite topics: sex. Title track “Safe + Sound” chronicles Quik’s formative years over a slick instrumental. The moody bass locks a laidback infectious groove, the hook is catchy and Quik’s delivery is in fine form. On the uber-chilled “Somethin’ 4 Tha Mood”, Quik cooks up a breezy, feel good track of sparkly keyboards, syncopated claps, shuffling hi-hats, woozy synths and a floating two-minute flute solo courtesy of Robert “Fonksta” Bacon. Analysing the highs and lows of an average day in the hood, it echoes Cube’s “It Was a Good Day”.

“It’z Your Fantasy” is a silky smooth soundtrack to Quik’s detailed retelling of a sexcapade with a young lady and whilst “Tha Ho In You” is musically perfect for that midsummer family BBQ, its lyrical content is unsurprisingly decidedly less family-friendly. A real highlight, the infamous “Dollaz + Sense” is one of the most ruthless diss tracks of all time. The brutal lyrics ride a laidback West Coast beat, flipping a sample from Young & Company’s “I Like (What You’re Doing To Me)” as Quik fires lyrical shots at his arch Compton nemesis, MC Eiht. On the loping, hazy “Let You Havit”, Quik is again in gangsta mode, with more bars of barbs aimed at Eiht, rhyming over sun-kissed synthy-rollerskate funk.

Some of the finest tracks on Safe + Sound are those designed to de-stress. The evocative “Summer Breeze” is a classic warm-weather jam, anchored by a twangy funk guitar, breezy string arrangement, and a soulful hook delivered by Dionne Knighton. Quik’s nostalgic lyrics are not far from DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s “Summertime”, reminiscing over barbecues at the park, young love, and the brevity of halcyon youth. The relaxed and jazzy “Quik’s Groove III” is another highlight, as bass, guitar, piano and flute combine to create a smooth, soulful instrumental.

The swaggering “Shack Up”-sampling “Sucka Free” features a cameo from Playa Hamm, all funky braggadocio and over much too quikly (pun thoroughly intended). The jazz-flavoured “Keep Tha ‘P’ In It”, again featuring Playa Hamm but this time extending the cameo invitations to Hi-C, 2nd II None and Kam, is pure laidback P-Funk. The deep bass and industrial drums make sure the groove hits hard.

“Tanqueray” was originally a hidden track on the CD version of the album, but it’s too good to hide. This wild party samples Brass Construction’s gigantic “Get Up To Get Down” and soars in its drunk-ebullience. An apt way to close this party-driven set.

This 2022 Be With double LP re-issue has been mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and pressed at Record Industry. Unusual for the time, Safe + Sound was originally pressed as a double, so all that was missing was the CD’s hidden bonus track “Tanqueray”, so we’ve fixed that. The original vinyl release never got a picture sleeve, so we’ve recreated the original’s promo-style silver-sticker and plain black jacket. A subtle cover for a wonderfully unsubtle record.

Ring the alarm - multi-instrumentalist Jimi Jules scheduled for the album „+“ in 2022, executive produced by Innervisions label boss Dixon. The album features the most sought after and requested tracks of the last month including „My City's On Fire“, revolutionary „Der Aufstand“, dancefloor romance „Burning“ and „Clinomania“ featuring Joy Tyson, and fabulous Lily Allen / Elton John drummer Nathan Curran. The artwork concept is developed and designed by iconic graphic artist Trevor Jackson, whose multi-disciplinary works formed the graphical identities of design, music, fashion, and art by the likes of Soulwax, HFD / Comme des Garcons or Apple Music. Jimi Jules’ second album signifies his return to future-focussed album concepts. A welcomed novelty and venture. Exploring themes such as free thoughts and togetherness after a period of interpersonal absence. Better Together Forever.

A unique character in the electronic music scene, Jimi Jules is a multi-instrumentalist and school-trained musician with much more to offer than the standard four-to-floor sound. Jimi plays nearly everything from drums to trumpet and sings almost all the vocals himself. The talent probably lies in his roots, as many of his family members are known for their playing in jazz bands and classical ensembles. Most recently awarded a silver disk marking 200,000 copies of the 2020 track “Pushin On” in the UK, Jimi Jules also commenced a new collaborative partnership with Berlin-based booking agency, Temporary Secretary, earlier this year.

As the new era is underway for Innervisions, Jimi Jules “+” takes center stage of the label’s fundamental core - artist first, label second. For Jimi Jules especially, this new project represents the beginning of a whole new platform and innovative space for collaborations and symbiosis of mixed media.

2025 Repress on clear orange Vinyl!

Studio, the influential project of Swedish musicians Dan Lissvik and Rasmus Hägg, presents their legendary 2006 debut in remastered form, in partnership with Ghostly International. Available in limited edition "Fog Machine Vinyl", CD, and cassette. "One of the finest pieces of electronic music you'll hear this year.” - The Guardian (2006). Included in year-end best-of write-ups by Pitchfork, FACT Magazine, and Rough Trade. Physical copies have long been out of print for West Coast, and the album has also been notably absent from most streaming services until now.

“Somehow, I knew I wanted to make a conceptual record that, although only imaginary at that point, could represent or define how our city sounded,” says Lissvik of Gothenburg's influence on West Coast. Some called Studio, the project of Swedish musicians Dan Lissvik and Rasmus Hägg, “the missing link between The Cure and Lindstrøm,” Pitchfork heard Durutti Column and Can, as the duo’s story became swept up in a loosely developing scene — adjacent first to the label Service (Jens Lekman, The Whitest Boy Alive) and later Sincerely Yours (The Tough Alliance, jj) — and a precursor to the 2010s boom at the axis of electronic and psychedelic music guided by indie greats like Caribou, Four Tet, and Darkside.

West Coast, their seminal 2006 debut, captured a faraway romanticism of Balearic brushed up against Krautrock, disco, dub, and afrobeat, with pop lyricism lifted from new wave, all made modern by two art school grads in Gothenburg. First pressed in a small vinyl-only run via their own Information label, the album has been notably absent from most streaming services, and the internet’s record of its initial impact is all but fossilized from a bygone blog era, while its sound is simply untraceable to any one moment in music.

Outside of three 7” releases, they’d keep the music to themselves for several more years. In 2005, Hägg remembers, “We got our degrees and were kicked out of our studio spaces so all these recordings were just piled up. A year later we dusted them off and started to deconstruct and assemble them in a more drawn-out fashion.” In the same breadth, they cite DJ Screw, J Dilla, and Joy Division, along with early ‘80s European live DJ sets from the likes of Beppe Loda, Dj Mozart, and Baldelli as reference points.

“The anything-goes mentality was very encouraging and was a big cornerstone to the Studio sound,” says Hägg. “But there’s so much more to the picture, we were not that young then and had lots of musical baggage in our suitcases, the new thing was that we finally let it all come through, not bound by any borders that was often the case with music identity in Sweden during the 90s.” In the afterglow of the record’s 2007 reception, Studio receded from view, clouded behind a mountain of remix requests (including one for Kylie Minogue that saw release) and label bureaucracy. “It’s easy to wish we would have done some proper recordings of our own instead,” Hägg reflects. But both artists, now well into respective careers beyond Studio, have come to peace with West Coast as their most enduring effort together. Lissvik adds, “It serves as a good reminder for me to keep to that decision and promise and to continue exploring and growing

Unex Pected Records, the advanced sub-label of Mixcult Records, is proud to present its first release compiled by none other than Ultranoise, a master. The “Color Filters EP” UNX001 is a sonic tour that conveniently merges the current and past of electronic music offering an enthralling amalgam of progressive, tribal and garage influences in today’s jazzy wrapping.

From the moment the first beat drops until the closing note, it is clear that every Ultranoise composition has been crafted with love and attention to details, meaning that this album will not only make you feel nostalgic but also excited about what lies ahead. Each track on this record aims at attracting all those who love dancing; they come with entrancing melodies that are backed up by pulsating beats which can either be deep or infectious making one respond by simply moving.

Rediscover the old school essence of electronic music in new colours. If you are already a seasoned collector of vinyl records or if you want to attract more beauty into your ears as a beginner, then this piece should never be out of your shelves. Don’t be left out when Unex Pected Records’ debut ever comes calling.

This is a highly recommended album for any serious collector interested in adding some new life onto their dancefloor.

DIG CURATED the infamous four of this EP in an omnivorous fashion, allowing vinyl wizard Louis the 4th to take us on a ride of stylistic adventure between old and new-school techno wickedry.

Olivia Mendez (the curator behind this EP) picked these gems according to the way she would build her sets; each track corresponding to a distinct part of a blazing journey. Each track being a different color on a powerful, vibrant palette, attesting to the versatility of an artist whose emblem is anonymity - remember Detroit? - and reinvention. The man behind the bandana doesn't shy away from paying homage to the old school while at times enveloping us into a computerized sound chaos - classy as it is.

This selection reveals a side of LTF that hasn't been shown before, catching the ears of a great number of peeps, who could easily find their match here.

"Dilatation" is a chugging techno zinger, with a groove that feels minimal yet keeps expanding through punctured breaks and urging synth enveloped into a sustained air- a kind of tool that mounts the energy to near combustible.

"Almost There" decompresses space into a light-weight, energy saver atmosphere, that fleshes out a brand-new compartment in LTF`s music wallet. Threaded through driving rides and a rhythmic zeal, it wobbles gently between sustain and release.

On the flip side, "Kurrikulum Vitae" flexes LTS mechanics, with rascal shifts in a groove that feels simultaneously ancient and totally new, amassing a depth of textures and tones towards a skanking peak.

"999" seals the deal with multilayered distortions enveloped into ghostly undertones and reverbing crunches, half-step of being a techno-artefact and a dazzling sound puzzle, made of a loopy melody edging towards poise.

Words by __ORSHI

2025 of New Interplanetary Melodies begins with Extra Meta EP signed by ABYSSY, Part 2 of the album EXTRA META .

“Extra Meta was born from the passion for a certain electronic sound ecosystem of the 70s and 80s, a journey that embraces minimalism of the “Berlin school” and extends to the beating heart of the soul/funk of Detroit techno. A journey into the abyss of emotions and the unknown of the human spirit, as the deep darkness of the ocean intertwines with the unfathomable darkness of space. An invitation to explore new sound boundaries, to let yourself be lulled by waves that repeat without ever repeating themselves and to immerse yourself in the reflective mystery of discovery and of evolution, a dance in darkness and light, and where the abyss of emotion merges with the infinity of imagination: ABYSSY.”

The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology Vinyl
35 Tracks including 4 acoustic bonus songs
Never-Before-Seen 12” x 12” Poster
4 Marbled Translucent vinyl discs

Depiction of this product is a digital rendering and for illustrative purposes only. Actual product detailing may vary. Please note due to the custom manufacture process, each vinyl unit may be slightly different in coloration.

Hooj present Warehouse Tools EP with a spread of tempos, but keeping the energy levels up across the 4 tracks.

Fast rising Brighton bod Jamie Unknown takes Farayen & Liam Parkin's Where Do We Go ‘, and strips it all back into a big floor bassline banger.

Young South Wales / Valleys producer Dan Newman makes his debut with 'Moving' with it's rolling piano's, spacey pads and fat housey rhythms treading the line between Italo scream up and Dream-House journey. Early doors, or first light starting to appear through the cracks in the grimey Warehouse windows, we're here for it..

On the flip we have Dutch duo Dean & Di After’s ‘Wicked Dreams’ keeps it steady paced, subtly bouncy with a crafted, Italo '90 old school feel.

Rounding off the EP we have the South West’s premier MDMA Marxist, Shade Guevara goes mid tempo maximalist piano slammer on 'Ted or Dead'.

Bushwacka’s first release for Radio Slave’s Rekids, the ‘Heaven On Earth’ EP, is out on October 11th 2024 and sees the UK House and Breakbeat innovator deliver two tracks complete with versions.

Title track ‘Heaven On Earth’ is a slice of low-slung House in which a drawling spoken-word vocal about love for music dominates. It’s a track with the sort of cast-iron, funky groove that has permeated Bushwacka’s music since day one. The ‘Instadub’ dubs out the vocals and takes ‘Heaven On Earth’ in a heady direction.

On the flip, Version One and Version Two of ‘Roger That’ see Bushwacka drop finely tuned funk-infused Deep House, with the former treading an earthy heads-down path while the latter ups the melody, chord and vocal sample prominence, creating a restrained euphoria throughout.

Bushwacka, aka Matthew Benjamin or Matthew B/Just Be/Makesome Breaksome and countless other aliases, has been a pivotal part of the electronic music scene for over 30 years. While his wildly successful project with Layo Paskin as Layo & Bushwacka! is his most prominent, this former London School Symphony Orchestra percussionist’s roots go much deeper. A pioneer of the nascent Rave and Acid House scenes who went on to be one of the progenitors of Tech House and UK Breakbeat scenes, Bushwacka’s influence is huge but far from static, with releases on the likes of Classic, Aus and NuGroove in the past few years alone.

“Raggamuffin Soldier” was recorded at Channel One Recording Studio in 1983 with Soldgie as engineer and a rhythm track played by Jolly Stewart and Daniel “Axeman” Thompson. Growing up in the Waterhouse neighborhood of Kingston, Jolly Stewart obviously developed this singing style and gave us a killer early digital dancehall missile with pure conscious lyrics “Raggamuffin soldier, big ina your area...me no deal with badness, me nah deal inna war, me is a raggamuffin soldier...mi raggamuffin ina foreign, raggamuffin sit down pon di riddim...how you know the raggamuffin? Me no wear no gold chain, me no wear no gold ring...”. “Raggamuffin Soldier” was produced by Fitzroy Peterkin who also produced the digital lover tune "Angie".
The Waterhouse style is a particular style of singing that emerged in the late seventies and early eighties within the Jamaican reggae scene. The Waterhouse style is commonly described as a plaintive, groaning and fluctuating vocal style, often nasal and strident, characteristics that will give it a sound that is distinct from the rest of the reggae singers. The commonly recognized founders of the Waterhouse style are the singers Michael "Mykal" Rose, Junior Reid and Don Carlos. The name derives from the famous neighborhood of the same name in Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, the place where the three pioneers were born and emerged. The Waterhouse style influenced many dancehall reggae artists of the eightiesvsuch as Tenor Saw, Half Pint, Nitty Gritty, Anthony Red Rose, King Kong, Yami Bolo, Andrew Bees...
Vincent Stewart aka “Jolly Man” is a reggae singer from Kingston 11, born december 16 1960 at Hunts Bay Lane, 4 Miles, Jamaica. Jolly started singing at age 13, he was placed in an approve School for 3 years and at the age of 16 he was released.
He started his musical career in the late 70's with Ossie Thomas, Phllip Morgan and Tristan Palmer from Black Solidarity label. Jolly Stewart recorded his first song entitled "Money Pyaka" on the classic "Pretty Looks" riddim which was recorded for Oswald Thomas on Ganja Farm label and released in 1979. Tristan Palmer who has another tune "Disappointed Lover" on the same riddim backed by The Soul Syndicate made the link with Jolly Stewart because he liked his style of song writting.
Jolly Stewart wrote three songs for Black Solidarity label: "Collie Man", "Bad Minded" and "Symbol Of Justice". All three tracks were covered by Triston Palmer. As a song writter, Jolly Stewart is behind Yami Bolo's hit on Stalag riddim “When A Man Is In Love” released on Winston Riley's label Techniques.
Jolly Stewart then decided to move on with his singjay career. He ventured to Tuff Gong studio where he met two producers. One was Prince Jazzbo from Ujama label, and the other was John John who owned the Bun Fi Bun label. He recorded "Praise jah" for Ujama and "Poverty Rush" for Bun Fi Bun. Still not satisfied with how his career was heading, he moved on to Lannaman's Preparatory School. There he learned to play guitar from a man named Fred McMurray aka Faf and Donald Jackson. Later he learned to play the keyboards by watching other musicians.
In the late 80's and early 90's, Jolly Stewart recorded many songs for various labels such as “Do Me Like So” for Bunny Gemini's label “Bun Gem Records” in 1987, “Late Last Night” and “War” for producer Zelma Rust and his label Myotta Ruff.
He also recorded for Augustus Pablo on his label Rockers International just before he died in the late 90's but we never heard about this release so probably Addis Pablo have it on old master tapes in the Rockers International archives....only Jah knows!

Mark Broom and CJ Baker team up as Kingpin Cartel on Rekids for the The ‘Long Dark Soul Of The Night’ EP

Kingpin Cartel, Mark Broom and CJ Baker’s joint House alias debuts on Rekids this November with the ‘Long Dark Soul Of The Night’ four-tracker. The EP starts with the title track, a playful, funk-fuelled cut with squelchy licks and soulful keys. Next, Kingpin Cartel’s ‘Moonrise’ leads with strong percussion that lay underneath a smooth swinging piano riff. ‘You Are’ then dives deep, perfectly blending emotive synth chords with an undeniably weighty house beat before ‘Shakedown’ closes the ‘Long Dark Soul Of The Night’ EP with a quirky synth line and an infectious bassline that firmly keeps it old-school.

Mark Broom is a UK dance music legend with releases on labels like Warp, M-Plant, and Hardgroove. He returns to Rekids as one of its core artists, joining CJ Baker, a producer known for EPs on Innervisions, Emissions Lo-Fi, Well Rounded, and many more. Founded in 2005, their Kingpin Cartel alias has released on Nic Fanciuli’s Saved Records as well as Mark Broom’s Rewired, Pure Plastic, and Beardman imprints, now landing on Radio Slave’s flagship label with the ‘Long Dark Soul Of The Night’ EP.

Peppermint Jam is proud to present Mellow Man’s latest release, 'In A Flow', an EP that takes you on a sonic journey through time. With three distinct tracks, this release captures the essence of three different eras of groove: the 70s, the 90s, and today.

Mellow Man has been with us since our founding days in 1994 and is a master of THAT old school sound.

First up, 'In A Flow' throws you straight into the golden age of 90s house music. With its smooth grooves, uplifting melodies, and driving bassline, this track embodies everything we love about classic house.

Next, 'Rumpshaker' brings you right back to the present. This track is all about today’s sound—fat beats, tight production, and a bass to die for, designed to keep the dancefloor moving.

Finally, 'Ghettoblaster' takes you even further back to the early 70s. Featuring the soulful sounds of Artist Locmelis on the tenor sax, this track is a nod to the funk-infused, boombox culture of the era.

Mellow Man produced these tracks using a mix of vintage and modern gear, including the Korg MS 20, Akai samplers, and a Rode NT1000, to name just a few. The result is a rich, textured sound that honors the past while still feeling fresh and relevant today.

With its blend of eras and styles, "In A Flow" is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates the evolution of house music.

ncoming for the second release on House Music label Ascension on Wax, AoW's co-founder Lavan is dropping his 'For The Love EP.' This raw, authentic, party-ready release is arguably his best to date and pushes the purity of the old-school house music sound, whilst bringing it into the present. Lavans notorious usage of MPC sampling and borrowed synthesisers is flowing throughout the release alongside gorgeous jazz elements. Hydro-trip specialist Black Eyes closes the EP with a subterranean, downtempo roller of a remix which gives a nod to the iconic Detroit sound championed by the late Mike Huckaby amongst many others.

'For The Love EP' follows Lavan's 'It's Happening EP' on SlothBoogie released earlier in 2024 and his feature in DJ Mag's emerging artists section. This is a gentleman who is proving his dedication to his craft.

We are proud to bring you part II of the CEP VA series, featuring six tracks that span a wide range of genres. Each track brings its own signature to this release, making it truly one of a kind.

Beta.V opens the A-side, fusing self-sung vocals with multiple synths that harmonize beautifully together to create a timeless track. This is followed by SWART's 'Eternal Raver', much akin to old-school trance thanks to hypnotic synths and dreamy textures creating a meditative state. A3 introduces ETERA’s 'Classic Shit', a dancefloor weapon with stomping beats and crisp, background drums signaling the signature sound of ETERA himself. On the B-side, SZG stands out with its gated synthline, pounding bass, and catchy vocals from Brazilian MC DDSV adding that unique energetic spin to this release. DJ HENNE’s 'Roboter' on B2 is a hard house slayer featuring a deep mid-track breakdown and self-sung vocals - a DJ HENNE classic. Wrapping up the release, Pōnky combines groovy, funky plucks with a smooth finish, closing the EP out on a playful note.

'Pursuit Of Change' drops via CEP Records on 29th November 2024.

In the intricate maze of Tokyos neon heartbeat, Yuki Takasaki, known as Altone, creates a world where time and sound dissolves into dub techno. Altones work, steeped with an old-school sonic palette, is a symphony of resonating bass lines, rustic layers and delicate synths, crafting a port rait that connects the fleeting with the timeless. Altones music t ranscends mere sound, offering an invitation to explore the shadowy corridors of consciousness and minimal dub aesthetics. Each original track unfolds like a tranquil journey through an urban nocturne, haunting and beautiful in its harmony. Brendon Moeller, a master of dub techno, reimagines Altones >Self Replication< In two distinct yet sonic territories. The first remix pulses with a futuristic rhythm, its syncopated beats dancing on the edge of awareness. The dub remix, by cont rast, plunges into a vortex where liquid acid intertwines with hypnotic bass lines, conjuring a dreamscape infused with laser guided drums and crystalline texture. Through these remixes, Moeller crafts a sonic voyage that weaves through the complex tapestry of the dub landscape and keeps reminding us that the territory is still vastly unexplored.

London-based DJ and producer Steven Julien’s career has always been about contrasts. Across a decade of releases on labels including Eglo and his own Apron Records, as well as club sets around the world, he’s consistently mixed light and dark, soft and heavy, yin and yang. From rough-edged house and techno to laid-back soul and boogie, or meditations on his familial and musical heritage with 2018’s Bloodline LP Julien’s music has always moved between moods, styles and emotions.

That eclecticism also defines Julien’s upcoming instalment in !K7’s iconic DJ-Kicks mix series. Featuring a broad spectrum of artists including Ryuichi Sakamoto, DāM-FunK and Todd Edwards, alongside a selection of his own exclusive productions, Julien takes us on an imagined journey from day to night: from a bucolic afternoon in nature to heady domestic vibes before a big night out, and finally the euphoric embrace of the dancefloor itself.

Julien describes his creative approach to DJing in general, and this mix in particular, as letting his energy and intuition guide him - it’s only on listening back to the finished session that he realised how often he mixes tracks in key, creating smooth transitions from one moment to the next.

That instinctive approach, where seamless mixing becomes second nature, speaks to Julien’s decade of appearances in DJ booths around the world: he cites sets at Ormside Projects in London, Doka and De School in Amsterdam, or Mitsuki in Tokyo as specific inspirations for this mix. Julien describes the feeling he’s tried to capture on tape as an out-of-body energy: just letting loose, and being yourself. “When you get in that position of doing what’s true to you, playing what’s true to you” he says, “people just resonate with that.”