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DJ Support: Gilles Peterson and Lauren Laverne on 6Music, with club play from the likes of Axel Boman, Peter Kruder and Erol Alkan.

Photay drops epic acid breakbeat magic on ALWAYS COSMIC. The A-side features his remix of United Freedom Collective’s ‘Always Open’ (featuring the vocal talents of Falle Nioke) in both original and instrumental form. With early plays by Gilles Peterson & Lauren Laverne, the hype around this incredible track is building for good reason. There is an exceptional combination at play: slick, detailed, hifi dance production with powerful, prodigious talent on the drums – we call it ‘the PHOTAY advantage.’ The B-side brings expansive cosmic dub versions, the first track derived from the Always Open session, the second from Photay’s recent remix for Conclave & Toribio. Deep, emotional stuff that doesn’t lose track of fun-factor with sheer, un-fakeable excitement in the rhythm section!

JoeyStarr is the co-founder of the famous French rap duo Suprême NTM. Originally starting out as breakdancers and graffiti writers, the duo is known for representing the perspective of minorities residing in the underprivileged neighbourhoods of Paris and beyond through dark, gritty, politically-conscious lyrics. Despite achieving record sales with their four albums, they split in 1998.

After a few detours away from the music business, in 2006 JoeyStarr dropped his first solo album. Egomaniac, released in 2011, is his second album and includes some high-profile collaborations; on "Mamy..." he works together with Nicoletta on a rework of her 1971 hit single "Mamy Blue" and the interlude "Appel À La Resistance" features a speech by leading left-wing politician Olivier Besancenot. After its initial release, the vinyl edition went out of print so we're happy we can finally make it available again.

Egomaniac is available as 15th anniversary edition of 1000 individually numbered copies on orange vinyl and includes an 8-page booklet.

The collaborative project of Lawrence English and Werner Dafeldecker has consistently been concerned with processes of transformation. This is all the more true for »Fathom Tides,« the duo’s second album for Hallow Ground following up on »Tropic of Capricorn« from 2023. Using field recordings collected from diverse coastal environments made by English and later treated extensively by Dafeldecker, the two sound artists explore cyclical changes in nature across these seven pieces. Through its abstracted soundscapes, »Fathom Tides« poses concrete questions: What impact do we have on the world we inhabit?

»Tropic of Capricorn« was based on material English had recorded around Australia to highlight the country’s colonial past. On »Fathom Tides,« water and tides provided a conceptual framework for the duo’s remote working process—notions of states of action and tidal dynamics becoming guiding principles in their work with the source material. English and Dafeldecker were led by the question how the morphing of solid forms into more liquid states might be captured and used as compositional guides for their respective preparations treatments and the addition of electronics to the source material.

While eroding coastlines, river systems, and glacial transformation served as inspiration, the seven pieces resulted out of the two sound artists paying close attention to seemingly minute details through which immediate and distant histories peek through often in the most unexpected and rewarding ways. Hence, »Fathom Tides« does not provide a macro view on the catastrophic changes humans have facilitated on Earth. It is its own sound world guided by both the pace of its subjects and a recognition that time is fluid—a reminder that our clocks are not those of the world around us.

Sari Jordan ist Sängerin, Songwriterin und Musikerin mit einer Stimme, die durch ihre unverfälschte Ehrlichkeit und verspielte Kühnheit besticht. Ihre Musik ist komplex und ätherisch, funky und fröhlich - ein kontrolliertes Feuerwerk. Die in New Jersey geborene und in New Orleans lebende Künstlerin beschäftigt sich mit den Widersprüchen in Beziehungen, Macht und Liebe. Jordans einzigartige Stimme und ihre introspektiven Songs tanzen am Rande der vierten Wand, die zwischen Künstlerin und Zuhörer schimmert. ,PERFECT BE THE ENEMY" ist ihr Debütalbum. Das Projekt mit 11 Songs kehrt Trauer und Wandel von innen nach außen und schmückt die emotionalen Erdbeben des Lebens mit eklektischen Grooves, hypnotischen Gitarrenlinien und einem warmen, goldenen Licht - wobei Jordans Stimme und Geschichten durchscheinen. Aufgenommen in New Orleans im Lil Squeeze Studio von Ajaï Combelic, wurde das Projekt von Jordan, Comebelic und Robin Sherman koproduziert, der auf der Platte auch Bass spielt. Jeder Song ist wie ein lebhafter Eintrag in einem Sammelalbum - Sari nimmt uns mutig mit auf eine Reise ins Selbst. Sie erinnern uns daran, dass nichts endgültig ist, alles im Fluss liegt.

Jess Sah Bi is well-known as half of the legendary duo Jess Sah Bi & Peter One who brought homegrown Country-Americana to the West African masses with their smash debut Our Garden Needs Its Flowers in the mid-1980s. Touring stadiums and reaching listeners worldwide, their music has racked up millions of spins on YouTube and remains imprinted in the hearts of Ivorians of a certain age. ATFA reissued their album in 2018, garnering critical acclaim from publications including Pitchfork and Rolling Stone and reaching a new generation of listeners outside Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire). Sometime in the early 90s, Die Sahbi - or Jesse, as he known to friends-became gravely ill with an unknown ailment and almost died. He visited various doctors and all kinds of religious healers and nothing helped. One day he went down to an Evangelical Christian revival in his neighborhood. They prayed over him and he was delivered. He says, "Their prayers helped chase out whatever demons and unhealthy spirits were inside me. After that my illness went away. When I went to the United States a few months later on an exchange program I wanted to make music to thank God because I was saved." He recorded an album of music praising God in order to honor a promise he made to himself at the depths of his desperation in the hospital. The album Jesus-Christ Ne Deçoit Pas Jesus Christ Does Not Let Us Down came out in 1991 and sold around 3000 cassettes in Ivory Coast. The master tape was lost along the way so the recording has never been on digital platforms until now. Jesse didn't have much time to record while visiting South Carolina, hence the relatively short album, 6 songs including two reprises for filler. A local pastor connected him with a studio and some American musicians (Robert Fortner and Gary Davis) to help. They added acoustic guitar, percussion and keyboard accompaniment to Jesse's soaring French and Gouro vocals, harmonica and finger-picked acoustic. The resulting recording is deeply soothing and contemplative music that perfectly compliments the songs already embraced by millions. But he had to find the rest of the studio expenses-$600 total-which he secured drawing cartoons for UNICEF. Jesse is Ivory Coast's first political cartoonist, a vocation for which he was widely celebrated at the time. It also made him a few enemies which lead to him leaving the country permanently a few years later. Jesus-Christ Ne Deçoit Pas is Jess Sah Bi's first and only gospel album. Fortunately, fans responded with enthusiasm: widespread radio airplay and concerts followed, along with a growing solo profile in the country. The first big gospel artists in Ivory Coast were the duo Mathieu et Constance, who emerged in 1989. There was a bigger gospel music movement in English-speaking counties like Ghana and Nigeria (Christians make up roughly 40% of the population in Ivory Coast, slightly less than Muslims). Jesse didn't have any intention of working in Christian music but he realized, "You don't make music to make money-you want to send a message." In the years since Jesus-Christ's release, gospel music in Ivory Coast has grown to become a key part of music culture in the country. Spiritual music appears in community actives across the public and private spectrum from religious gatherings and parties to television broadcasts and music festivals. And, as it has evolved and indigenized locally, gospel music has picked up elements of traditional Ivorian music, reggae and soul. The album ultimately precipitated the demise of the duo, who were soon separated geographically as Peter One relocated to Nashville. He went on to become a nurse and release a successful solo album on Verve following the ATFA collaboration. Nowadays Jesse lives in the Bay Area and continues to record and perform music wherever and whenever he has the chance. He is publishing a new book of humorous cartoons in 2025 and his most recent album Never Give Up came out in 2020

Limited Apricot/Rose Vinyl. After being only available on his "North America & Japan Tour 2025", Black Screen Records is excited to release the second pressing of VK Blanka's latest studio album "Knightclub" on 1xLP Rosé / Apricot Split Vinyl. The album comes with an exclusive vinyl bonus track "Black Catcher - Piano Version" and includes a lyrics sheet. The Japanese singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist also announced his return to AnimagiC 2026. The convention will be held from July 31st - August 2nd in Mannheim, Germany. Black Screen Records will also return and bring the Knightclub vinyl to the event. Since expanding his activities overseas in 2023, he has performed electrifying live shows in new territories, including North America, Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Latin America. At Brazil's largest anime convention, Anime Friends Sao Paulo 2024, he captivated a staggering audience of 10,000, their voices rising in fervent chants of his name, as he closed out the event as the final act of the night.










[j] 10OLD RIVALS [A SELF-COVER OF RIVALS!]
[k] 11BLACK CATCHER PIANO VERSION [BONUS TRACK]

Strut proudly presents the first-ever reissue of a landmark 1974 Ghanaian highlife classic Sikyi Highlife by Dr K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings, originally released on Essiebons.

A defining recording of the era, Sikyi Highlife bridges tradition and innovation at a pivotal moment in Ghanaian music. Deeply rooted in the classic 1950s–’60s highlife sound, K. Gyasi drew inspiration from the ancient sikyi drum-dance of the Akan people of southern Ghana, shaping the album’s rhythms around its distinctive pulse.

The vocal arrangements echo the traditional Akan modal style, grounding the music firmly in Ghana’s cultural heritage. Yet Sikyi Highlife is equally forward-thinking. As electric guitars became standard in highlife during the 1960s, the 1970s ushered in further experimentation. The Noble Kings broke new ground as the first highlife guitar band to incorporate keyboards and a full horn section into their sound, expanding the genre’s sonic possibilities while retaining its rootsy spirit.

Gyasi’s approach was part of a broader indigenisation movement among Ghana’s electric highlife bands in the post-independence era. Inspired by the nation’s ‘African Personality’ ethos and reinforced by Afrocentric messages arriving from American soul and funk, artists began reclaiming traditional forms within modern arrangements. Contemporaries included Koo Nimo, who revived the older palmwine style, and drummer Nii Ashitey, whose Wulomei band pioneered a folklorised Ga highlife sound from 1973.

Like many musicians of his generation, Gyasi was a passionate supporter of Ghana’s independence movement. In 1963, he travelled as a musical ambassador alongside Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, performing across North Africa and the USSR and carrying Ghanaian culture onto the world stage.

The Noble Kings’ mid-’70s line-up featured some of the country’s finest musicians, including guitarist Eric Agyeman (who led the band at the time), Thomas Frimpong on drums and vocals, Ernest Honny on organ, and bassist Ralph Karikari - who was renowned for his innovative technique of translating the rhythms and tonal language of the traditional talking drum onto electric bass.

Upon its original release, Sikyi Highlife became one of the biggest-selling albums of the 1970s for Essiebons, earning Gyasi the affectionate honorary title of “Dr” from his devoted fans. Today, the album remains an evergreen classic, still cherished across Ghana and beyond.

[a] 01. Excerpt 1 [16:44]
[b] 02. Excerpt 2 [11:00]
[c] 03. Excerpt 3 [19:14]
[d] 04. Excerpt 4 [10:38]

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

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

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

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

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

At the core of the creative process behind “HPC” and “Bor3d” lies meta-irony, a quality that permeates much of today’s digital content landscape.

Both tracks are a deliberate attempt to push the sound toward a barely perceptible absurdity and ironic unseriousness in their interpretation of well-familiar styles of dance club music. It is a play with form, expectation, and recognizability — balancing sincerity with sarcastic exaggeration.

Okay
Okay is built around interruption. Voices, fragments of dialogue, yawns, irritation — people seem to step inside the track uninvited. Someone is bored, someone is annoyed, someone tries to stop the flow entirely. Just like in real life, the process is constantly disrupted. The track reflects the experience of being surrounded by opinions, noise, and skepticism — especially the kind that will never be convinced, no matter what you do. “Okay” becomes a quiet, ironic response to this pressure: not agreement, not approval, but endurance. The track continues anyway.

Tripatura
Tripatura is a fictional creature — a warped echo of cryptid mythology. In this narrative, Tripatura doesn’t simply exist, it hunts. Once it finds you, it drags you into an endless trip with no exit point. Time stretches, perception blurs, and the track itself becomes the trap. Its prolonged, unresolved ending mirrors the experience of being stuck inside a loop that refuses closure. Tripatura doesn’t rush. It lingers, slowly pulling you deeper, until the trip no longer feels temporary.

2026 Repress

Trickpony rightfully return with their sensual sophomore record, a six track tip of downtempo anthems elaborating on the sonic blueprint established through Pillow Talk (STEP11). Contemporary trip hop revivalists at the core; the trio specialise in new age pop collages, stripped, subbed and dubbed for your pleasure. With whispered secrets tangled over atmospheric decay and hooks that tug at heartstrings, the trickpony DNA is embedded deep in the musical discourse; “24/7 Heaven” elevates even the most devious to a divine higher place.

From top to tail slung breaks crash like waves, rolling and seeping into opulent synthesis which fills the room. Sometimes music can say a thousand words without a single lyric; Ripple and Trick Trick fixating on textural constructions, layers of harmonic delight working in unison with forward thinking percussion patterns. Angel and No/Direction delve deeper into a more sparse, stripped back landscape; delayed fragments with room to breathe between vocal stylings that will lodge themselves into your memory one word at a time.

Closing with a psychedelic exploration, Memphis Light derails structure formula and drum&bass starts to feel technicolour. With an understated maturity exuding from all angles, STEP17 offers an introspective assortment of illustrious songs ready to reach into your subconscious.

No Drama, the label founded by Roy Rosenfeld, continues its vinyl and digital series with a new release from Eli Nissan, an artist whose work consistently rewards close listening.



The musical material unfolds over 15 minutes and 4 seconds, offering a concise yet layered statement.



While Hedonism opens with driving percussion and a flexible groove, layering textures and effects into a high-energy, immersive cut built for peak-time moments, Shout closes the release with a deeper, more introspective direction, blending vocal samples with a laid-back, psychedelic flow balancing repetition and variation to create a sense of elevation and continuity.



Concise, versatile, and DJ-ready, the fifth edition of the No Drama catalog continues the path with clarity and purpose.

Since I have announced this repress, originally released in 1993, I have had a few people contact me to say that this was their secret battle record. One thats been under the radar but every track is an absolute Halloween Monster! I think it's time to share how amazing this record is with everyone - plus DJ Sphinx gets to make a few quid too... so win win!

This is another big moment for us, and if you have read the story on how the Psychology EP came to be, you will know that we spent a long time trying to track Dimension with the Fozbee & Cooz brothers.

This is my era of music, these are the tunes that I was raving to once I first got my driving license in 90/91. Its a style of music that has influenced pretty much my whole musical career. I find it fascinating that this music was basically by hip hop heads who only a year or two before would of discovered rave. A truly unique musical style and culture that could of only come out of the UK.

Check the soundfiles below and take yourself back to an illegal rave in a secret woodland in Wiltshire in 1991 where ravers, b-boys, hippies and new age travellers all partied together.

"Murk Patterns" is eighth album by Mexican producer Rainforest featuring three talented collaborators - Homemade Weapons (Samurai Music, Weaponry), David Louis (Repertoire) and Heatwave (Onset Audio, AGN7).

Rooted in jungle pressure and expanding into halftime and atmospheric drum & bass, the release unfolds as a dynamic exploration of rhythm, weight, and space. Side A presents Rainforest’s solo work, including material released under his second alias Bwoykah, while side B is dedicated to showcasing collaborative tracks.

Second release from The Temple And The Low Dive by SELD, following on from there first release Featuring MUTE headman Daniel Miller and Nicolas Bougaïeff as 'Populist'. Grinding heavy techno...

In a Secret Room is a retrospective that reopens the sonic and visual archive of KKD, bringing back to light a trajectory that long remained underground within the history of Italian new wave. The tracks, recorded between 1979 and 1986, reflect a constantly evolving process shaped by experimentation, improvisation, and a drive toward new languages. The project takes shape inside a former hotel in Italy’s Po Valley, transformed into a studio, rehearsal space, and visual lab.

Here, among analog synthesizers, homemade electronics, and multitrack recorders, Kriminal Killer Division experimented with and pushed their available technology to its limits, developing a hybrid language: sounds captured from radio and the street, synthetic voices, guitars, and electronic sequences intertwine in compositions that move between art rock, minimal wave, and more industrial directions. This collection aims precisely to reactivate that imaginary. The vinyl is accompanied by a risograph fanzine that restores the project’s visual dimension: collages, photographs, and graphic materials reflecting the same experimental attitude found in the recordings. Sound and image move together, as parts of a single expressive device. In a Secret Room offers access to a hidden space where interference, noise, and intuition take form without mediation. Not a nostalgic operation, but a re-emergence: a living archive that continues to generate meaning in the present.

A decade into life, Secret Society marks this notable milestone year with a release that stays true to its ethos of depth and groove. Ewan Jansen started producing in the early 90s in Perth, often with the same hardware he used in his live shows. He's back on the label with two driving cuts built squarely for the dancefloor: 'Hydroid' is bright mid-tempo techno with pixelated synth charm, and 'Bodywash' is a deeper, more syrupy sound for late-night cruising. Alongside them sits a more introspective collaboration with Italian producer Luca that trades peak-time punch for texture and restraint. On remix duties, John Dimas adds his trademark crisp momentum and understated flair, a fitting choice given his long-standing connection to the camp.