quête:slung

Chilean-born Francisco Allendes returns to Crosstown Rebels for the first time in six years this May. Serving up the three-track What You Do, the title number has already received global airplay via Damian Lazarus himself. Now, the full release will be made available next month and includes a remix by US-legend Harry Romero.

A contemporary dose of four-on-the-floor house, What You Do leaves few prisoners in its wake, as rampant drum patterns converge on a heady combination of kicks, synths and irresistible vocals right the way through. There’s an infectious energy to the track, paving the way for Harry Romero’s similarly up-tempo remix. It’s feel-good, club-ready dance music at its best, packed full of low-slung groove that opens neatly into the closing sequence: Maratone, a stripped-back, techy cut that bears all the hallmarks of a true Ibiza anthem.

Hailing from Chile and now based in Ibiza, Francisco Allendes is a leading light in today’s scene. Be it Loco Dice’s Desolat, Steve Lawler’s VIVA or Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels, his productions have graced some of the industry’s most well-respected labels. Such quality hasn’t gone unnoticed - he picked up the ‘Best Ibiza’ DJ Award in September 2019 and has gone on to complete several South American tours. A much loved affiliate of ANTS, Francisco has a long standing residency at both Ushuaïa in Ibiza and their affiliated tours, in addition to hosting the weekly radio show.

Seminal American house talent Harry Romero is a well-established figure on the worldwide music circuit. A prominent global DJ and producer since the ‘90s, early productions on Cutting Records and Cutting Traxx helped set the tone for Harry’s career trajectory, opening the doors to a coveted BBC Radio 1 ‘Essential Mix’ in recent years.

Mint Condition - A record label focused on excavating the outer fringes of classic House and Techno. Unreleased mixes, classics, overlooked gems and never heard before material, mined from the last 30+ years of contemporary dance music are the order of the day. From Chicago, Detroit and New York to London, Nottingham and beyond. Mint Condition have got their digging hats on to bring you exclusive heat and those rarer than rare jams that have been in your
wants list for years. Dig in....

Back in 1997, UK house legend Charles Webster, this time under his DJ Profile alias, unleashed these killer tracks. Originally released on the sorely missed London nightclub The End's label, this fine 12" set a benchmark for what would become a very exciting time for the UK's underground scene, both tracks are widely considered to be up there with Charles' most sought after work.

A-side 'Prove It' kicks off with swinging drums that deliver the funk, percussive elements rattle & shake and the low slung bass line keeps the track firmly on the dancefloor. The soothing chords, acid overtones and the evocative vocal hook are mesmerising and soulful.
Over on the flip, 'Realization' is a bumping analogue monster. The kicks are solid, the snares swing and an infectious rolling bass line carries the track throughout. Darker acidic touches sit alongside delicate synth riffs and emotive chords that lift, drift and lose you in a world of wonderfully woozy deep house sonics.

Never has the late night dance floor sounded so good, and this slab of wax is a must have that typifies a halcyon period in underground house history. The tracks themselves have remained exciting and relevant, achieving cult status amongst the most discerning DJs, record collectors and music heads alike. Legitimately re-released with the full involvement of Charles Webster, lovingly remastered by London's Curve Pusher from the original sources especially for Mint Condition. 100% legit, licensed and released. Dug, remastered, repackaged and brought to you by the caring folks at your favourite reissue label - Mint Condition!

The Tel Aviv-born and now Berlin-based Dj & producer Roy Brizman is next on the ever respectable Subtil Records. He delivers two remarkable original cuts, accompanied by a lush remix from the talented Christopher Ledger.

First up is "At The End" wich reflects perfectly Brizman´s moody gentle side, a journey of sounds and beats - super unique.

On A2 "The Swing", a rolling little groove monster that will surely do the magic on any dancefloor.

Christopher Ledger keeps the original low slung minimal house vibes of "At The End" and goes deeper into broken beats with a brilliant remix.

Vinyl Only

Pressing on and extending an already incredible discography, Silat Beksi's imprint Modeight welcomes Irish talent Laughing Man to the family. On an impressive streak of his own following his Debut LP 'Divided Mirrors' Laughing Man continues to ply deep and divine house music territory with his exquisite skill. The A-side kicks off with 'Favourite Past Time', a swooning breakbeat roller that also gets a funked up remix with a signature boogie basseline by Romanian stalwart Triptil. On the flip side it's an intimate two step affair on B1's 'Lucid Thinking', a seductive, low slung session complete dulcet piano stokes and heady atmospheres. And to finish things off were go soul searching on the aptly named B2 cut 'Emotion'. Once again Laughing Man cuts to the core with his precision and prose. Adding a beautiful touch to the Modeight mantra.

Kerri Chandler’s Kaoz Theory kicks off 2022 with Mr. ID’s Language Of Jazz EP, featuring two remixes from the label boss himself alongside two original cuts.

2021 saw Kerri Chandler’s Kaoz Theory continue to move from strength to strength, unveiling material from the likes of Dutch rising star Chris Stussy and of course Kerri himself, here we see the imprint wrap things up with a new addition to the roster, Casablanca, Morocco-based artist Mr. ID.

Up first on the release is ‘Track ID1’, a collaboration between Mr. ID and Youssef Grirane featuring Rita Mdn. It’s a unique six-minute journey through jazzy pianos and organ licks, intricate organic percussion and mesmeric, textural atmospheres. Kerri gives it the remix treatment in style extracting all of the jazziness of the original and retwisting things with the classic Chandler authentic house feel. Next, Chandler employs his revered 623 alias for the ‘623 Again Mix’ version which strips things back to low-slung drums, bumpy stabs and emotive piano lines.

The flip side houses ‘Track ID1’ in all its original glory before ‘Track ID2’ closes out proceedings seeing Mr. ID join forces with Younes Akhraz, rhythmically shifting to a jazzy 4/4 drum groove while wandering keys and warm subs fuel the mystical vibe.

DJ Feedback:

Sasha – Tasty

Laurent Garnier – Love the whole EP

Jimpster – Jazzed up piano house heaven! Love It!

Lea Lisa – Lovely remix by Kerri

Mr. V – Kerri delivers the goods once again!!!

Anja Schneider – Great. Love It.

Archie Hamilton – Nice

Andrew Treagust - Man that's some crazy production – really like it!

Mike W - absolutely classic release. how on earth could you go wrong? the world needs more piano!

Fish Go Deep - All tracks sounding great here. ID1 is a lovely warm groove and Kerri's remixes inject a little dancefloor bump to proceedings.

Daniel Troberg – incredible music

Kiki Navarro – excellent single, loving all the mixes special ID1 and the Kerri Chandler Main Remix

Ben Lovett – Remix mastery from Chandler – wonderful meeting of piano and drum – fire.

Sergio – Excellent example of classic house with personality

Hector Samper – Amazing EP!!!

Louie Vega and Dave Lee remix Anané’s single ‘Tell Me That I’m Dreaming’ on Nervous Records this summer.

The powerful yet intimate voice of Anané Vega, owner of Nulu Music, radiates rhythm, soul and style. Billboard Magazine described Anané as “combining earthiness with glamour and roots-deep house music knowledge with pop wise diversity” - a quote that her music and fashion adhere to effortlessly.

‘Tell Me That I’m Dreaming’ sees Anané join the legendary NYC label's roster as she combines funky electronic, funk-infused grooves and a compelling voice that gracefully floats over Louie Vega’s sensual production. A leader in global dance music and Grammy Award Winner, Louie Vega has painted an award-winning career from a palette mixed with everything from house, salsa and afro-beat, to jazz, hip hop, gospel and soul. Vega continues to lay down genuinely timeless music, rightfully earning him the title as one of The Kings of House Music.

Renowned UK artist Dave Lee blends low-slung disco rhythms, irresistible slap bass and acid zaps in his remix that sits wonderfully above Anané’s vocals that inspire strength and pure love.

For the inaugural release on DSO, shrouded in mystery, two of the most revered female voices in recent memory get the rework treatment from the shadows, resulting in a double dose of low-slung, deftly sampled, house heaters.

Superlux Records continues its release schedule this December with a debut EP from Taymor Zadeh. The four-track Life Goes On EP includes three originals from the UK-based artist, as well as a special remix from One Records co-founder, Subb-an. Speaking on the production process behind the EP, Taymor describes how “ Life Goes On was made using a tb303, roland mc505, a 909 which I borrowed from a good friend, some vocal samples from old tape recordings and a load of imagination.”

The A Side gets underway with Bubbleworks , and Taymor’s “imagination” is plain to see. It’s a no-nonsense club-ready cut, with thick hats and an up-tempo lead bassline residing next to an array of bubble-sounding pops throughout. That same late-night feel continues into Life Goes On , as eerie vocals flitter between pulses of acid and punchy, whip-like drums. On the B Side, Gekula takes the lead. Fast-paced with clear minimal influences, we’re graced with eight minutes of dancefloor-geared delight as distorted voices reside atop a driving kick-hat backbone, before Subb-an’s remix continues in the same vein, taking us deep into 5 AM territory with glitchy synths and plenty of dark, low-slung percussion.

With an ethos of quality over quantity at his core, Taymor Zadeh has carved out a bespoke sound within the electronic music sphere. In recent times his releases have been welcomed by Stephane Genacia’s Highpath Records as well as Luca C’s See Double imprint, a testament to his keen ear for production. Berlin-based Subb-an is a leading figure in the UK minimal scene. As co-founder of One Records, 2020 has seen the label celebrate ten years of releases with a two-part vinyl sampler, including tracks from the likes of Anna Wall, Matthew Johnson and more besides.

That old saying goes

Punks jump up to get beat down

So in times of no voice or reason

Why not welcome back three techno delinquents

Who know how better than most

To throw a hard left to the bass-drum punch

T.RAUMSCHMIERE has soared on our SPEICHER eagle some few times past

And returns with a hearty swill of his signature romper room liberation techno

Drink it up and let the BASS BALLERT VOM BALKON

Take you to oblivion

Brothers VOIGT & VOIGT are no strangers to our series

And their new episode is unlike any show you have seen

Starring BASSTARD – that low slung, deep bass minstrel

2 Part Erdinger and 4 Part Absolut.

Eine alte Redensart besagt

Wer die Fresse aufreißt, der bekommt sie poliert

In Zeiten ohne Sinn und Verstand

Heißen wir drei Gauner willkommen

Berühmt und berüchtigt

Für ihre harten Schläge

T.RAUMSCHMIERE ist schon einige Male

Auf dem SPEICHER Adler gesegelt

Nun kehrt er zurück, mit einem herzhaften Trank

Kinderzimmerbefreiungstechno Nimm einen tiefen Schluck

BASS BALLERT VOM BALKON

Um alles andere zu vergessen

Auch die Gebrüder Voigt

Sind uns Weggefährten

Und ihr neuester Streich

Ist wie kein anderer zuvor

BASSTARD

Tiefergelegter Tiefbassbarde

2 Teile Erdinger, 4 Teile Absolut

With two deeply cherished compilations already in the bag, Luke Una steps up for the third volume in his É Soul Cultura series on Mr Bongo. A love letter to the dancefloor and its power to unite people from all corners of society amid growing division and extremist politics. Genre-spanning in nature, the 15 tracks travel between cosmic soul, boogie, proto-house, slo-mo technoid grooves, drum machine afro, astral bass-bugging futurism, jazz funk, dance, and disco. Each having the ability to move the body as much as the heart.
 
From his formative years in Sheffield to co-founding Manchester’s much-fabled Electric Chair with Justin Crawford, through to helming the iconic LGBTQ institutions of Homoelectric / Homobloc, Luke has spent 40 years immersed in dance music. His latest outlet, É Soul Cultura, has grown from a label to a globe-spanning events series with Luke holding residencies and embarking on tours across the world from Japan and Australia to America and Europe. 
 
“For me, the dancefloor was never about a one-dimensional, thudding, 130 BPM beat only. It's a much more dynamic, broader vision than that. I cut my teeth in an era where a 100 BPM record had as much impact, excitement, and energy as a 134 BPM dancefloor jazz funk or techno record”, Luke mentions. É Soul Cultura Volume 3 is the perfect embodiment of that notion: “It’s about four decades in the trenches playing dance music, the late-night afters, the shebeens, the basements, warehouse parties, the eight-hour journeys in East London, through to festival sets at Houghton and We Out Here. It’s music unconstrained by genre or tempo and more about making your body move”. 

But this isn’t simply a collection of disparate dance tracks; they carry meaning and soul. “It’s less about escapism, more about reconnection. My experience of post-covid has been the coming together of all the clans in various clubs and gatherings. A reaction to a very toxic world out there, where the aggro rhythms of division have sought to divide us, and people don't meet as often. The coming back together face-to-face in clubs has encouraged a real love in the air, there's a real togetherness and collective spirit”.
 
Opening up the compilation is a track that channels that very message, the transcendental, soul-rousing Harris & Orr ‘Spread Love’. Joining the dots from there, to the low-slung deep house closer of Fatdog ‘Remember’, you’ll find electronic drum machine Nigerian funk, sitting side by side with dancefloor Cape Verdean brilliance, a post-punk cover of Fela Kuti, rubbing shoulders with cosmic electro, and an Una-championed, 8-minute, kickless DJ Harvey remix. There’s jazz funk in various guises moving from boogie synth to astral travelling, slo-mo acidic raw techno, and a ‘79 soul stepper, alongside swirling percussive Italo disco and tribal-charged house. All infused with an innate ability to bring people together.
 
As society becomes increasingly fractured, É Soul Cultura Volume 3’s message is more than movement. It’s about dance music’s power to unify people from all walks of life and break down the barriers that divide us.

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.

Ali Renault re ignites the Vivod catalogue after a four year hiatus with Circle of Sins — a solo EP built for italo fiends, horror romantics, and synth obsessives alike. You already know the vibe: detective-noir disco, low-slung BPM swagger, basslines that churn like midnight fog, and those unmistakably icy Renault melodies slithering through the mix.

Four tracks, one ultra-limited 12″, just 150 copies on the planet — each hand-numbered. They’re going to vanish faster than you can say “don’t sleep,” so get that pre-order in before they’re gone to the underworld.

Visionary producer Ilija Rudman confidently lands into the Black Jukebox catalogue with a truly mesmeric 2-tracker.

Based in Zagreb, Ilija has carved a legacy over more than two decades in the game throughout which he's released over 100 vinyl EPs and 8 studio albums, collaborating with the likes of Robert Owens, Greg Wilson, Faze Action and Ron Trent.

'Euphonia' opens up with a suave slice that melds deep Detroit shades with the flexible Electro funk of Morgan Geist and Clatterbox. A sawtooth bass climbs steps in the low end while gorgeous synths bend and glide at the groove's core. Crisp, delicate drums kick, snap and shuffle as they guide a low-slung, retro-futuristic trip to the moon.

'Late Checkout' draws for a similar sound palette as rich analogue pads form a magic carpet for Prelude-era synth phrases and another sneaking bass line. The tone is elegant and nothing feels forced as Ilija Rudman traverses the vast sonic territory between Salsoul-era Disco and modern Electro-funk in the most fluent and stylish manner.

Also Playable Mono, the nom de guerre of Rafał Lachmirowicz, channels musical greats and the romance of Italy with the Firenze EP. “Neverland” reimagines Giorgio Moroder’s iconic introduction of “I Feel Love”, undulating arpeggios and clean kicks giving way to an addictive tongue-in-cheek melody of laser futurism and eastern influences. “Firenze” follows. Broad analogue bars call to mind the works of Patrick Cowley, disco funk flirting with a spoken word tribute to Florence in this bright and bold track. Our next stop off is “Bergamo.” Low-slung, this smoky number is primed for the night. Thick thrums of bass are punctured by piano keys and toms, robotic pulses and trills adding a 1970s sci-fi groove to the proceedings. Turning the tables is “Breakfast Date.” Slow and dreamy, this early morning lounge affair lowers the tempo. Considered and thoughtful, meandering melodies border the blurred lines of jazz and funk. The words of “Firenze” are left in the wings for the instrumental close, Lachmirowicz’s synthesizers taking the limelight in this uplifting finale. A 12” that encapsulates the expansive sound of Also Playable Mono.

Far&High and pizzaaftersex open the Rabbit Hole for Unheard Music’s debut – heady, low-slung tech house slipping between deep haze and club pressure. Gorge and Sasha Carassi turn in heavyweight remix workouts, flipping the originals into pure late-night hypnosis for locked-in floors.

DiscoGram rolls out another tasteful EP on their own self-title label and it's all about global disco with a Brazilian touch. 'Amigo' marries lush strings and loose percussion with call and reposes vocals and MPB vocals in Portuguese that lend a natural flair. 'Disco Samba' picks up the energy and is just that - a clap-laced and speedy groove with elegant strings and expressive vocals. 'Do Grito' means more into funk with its low slung grooves but is packed with vocals, chanting, steel drum hits and horns for a fully vivacious sound. 'Queixume' with a little more light and feathery female spirit, sunny vocals and jazzy horns. Tasty stuff.

nagoyaka na kaze / 和やかな風 (quiet wind): a collection of forward-thinking electronic experiments sourced from central Japan - co-curated by Nagoya artist abentis for Facta & K-LONE’s Wisdom Teeth imprint.

The project profiles a close-knit community of music makers operating in and around the Japanese city of Nagoya: one of the country’s most populous and industrial cities, but one all too often overlooked in terms of its cultural significance.

Curated in close collaboration with local scene organiser Yuya Abe - aka abentis - the record seeks to capture the creative energy of a community of artists making hard-to-define, future-facing electronic music away from the clamour of the bigger cities. “In Nagoya, there’s a strong culture of supporting artists. Even if you pursue music in your own way, as long as it’s good, you’re encouraged to keep doing what you want”, explains abentis. “Within that environment, my generation has been able to freely bring in elements we like from all kinds of genres, combine them in our own way, and express ourselves individually. If you go to Tokyo or Osaka, that kind of freedom isn’t something you can take for granted.” Spiritually, Nagoya fits the mould of cultural hotbeds like Bristol, Detroit or Melbourne, showing that some of the most innovative creative communities form away from the glare of the capital cities. Like Detroit, Nagoya is principally known for being a major auto manufacturing hub, famous for being the home of Toyota Motors - but behind the scenes, it is quietly harbouring one of Japan’s most vibrant and forward-thinking electronic music scenes. “In a good way, Nagoya is a bit removed from the cutting edge, so you find people making all kinds of music”, explains Karnage. “If you’re making music, you feel like part of the crew, and people of different ages mix together without much hierarchy.” The city’s music scene is characterised by a freedom to mix genres and an open-door approach to creatives of all disciplines. The artists featured come from a diverse set of backgrounds, ranging from hip-hop to noise music, but have found a common collective identity in their omnivorous approach to genre. As such, the record moves fluidly between shimmering ambient and new age (Am Shhara, DHYAN, daiki hayakawa), psychedelic minimal house (Methodd, abentis), abstract, low-slung downtempo (baptisma, Nasty Soupman) and spaceage steppas (Karnage). “I’d say the way ambient, new age and that kind of sound design are blending nicely with dance music feels somewhat new”, says baptisma, the crew’s eldest member and de-facto scene leader. Responsible for bringing artists like Basic Channel, Mala and Jan Jelinek to the city, baptisma has been crucial in establishing underground electronic music in Nagoya since the 90s, and now helps cultivate the next generation of local talent. “Artists and DJs are seamlessly mixing ambient and new age with techno, house and bass music. I think that’s a really interesting development.” nagoyaka na kaze has its roots in a one-off event held in October 2024 as part of the 10 Years of Wisdom Teeth Japan tour. Curated by abentis in collaboration with Facta & K-LONE, the showcase featured live sets from eight artists based in and around Nagoya at one of the city’s key dance music hubs, Club JB’s. Each of the artists features again here, on record, presenting an original commission produced especially for the project. The record’s art direction was led by Yudai Osawa - in-house designer for Kankyō Records, the much-loved Tokyo record shop run by H. Takahashi - and features original photos by Hayato Watanabe.

2026 Restocked!

If you've been following the Payfone story over the last 13 years, you'll know that Phil Passera and Jimmy Day's long-running collaborative project has specialised in one-off musical morsels - sublime songs cooked up in cahoots with all manner of guest musicians and vocalists. Never ones to rest on their laurels, Day and Passera have now delivered a full six-track tasting menu in the shape of Lunch, their hotly anticipated debut album.

Recorded over an 18-month period at Passera's Barcelona studio and Day's studio in Brighton, Lunch is an unsurprisingly assured and musically detailed affair that's entirely made up of previously unheard songs. Unlike acid-flecked recent single 'Volt To Volt', which delivered a tweaked take on late 1980s house music, the album's six tracks showcase the trademark sound the duo has been developing since first joining forces 13 years ago.

Trawl back through Passera and Day's high-quality catalogue, which includes outings on Leng, Golf Channel Recordings and Defected as well as their own OTIS imprint, and that distinctive musical recipe becomes clear. Rooted in their love of classic drum machines and their trusty JUNO-60 synthesiser, the Payfone sound combines equal amounts of electronic and organic instrumentation, warm and inviting downtempo and mid-tempo grooves, and pertinent and thoughtful lyrics delivered with panache by an impressive roll call of guest vocalists.

Lunch, then, is a standalone sonic statement - an initially vinyl only album on their own OTIS imprint - that continues this impressive lineage. Like all Passera and Day's collaborative work, it is free of samples, with the pair preferring to create their own sounds from scratch. Opener 'Movin' On', featuring the honeyed vocals of former XL Recordings artist Willis Earl Beal AKA Nobody and slap-bass from Jo Gabriel Harris (who also features on three other songs across the album), is a deep and effortlessly evocative mid-tempo delight that perfectly sets the tone for what's to come.

Brooklyn-born April Pittman and Russian/Armenian vocalist Zara Kian lend their talents to woozy, sun-baked shuffler 'Paperman' before regular Payfone collaborator Ludmilla Rodriguez headlines 'Joan of Arc', a veritable Mediterranean breeze rich in tumbling analogue synth synths, elastic bass and tumbling guitar solos. Those yearning for a touch of lightly disco-flecked dancefloor heat will savour 'Spend The Night', where Los Angeles singer Collette Tibbetts AKA Carmella The Balls, accompanied by virtuoso keys courtesy of Parisian pianist Gabriel Cazes, rises above a sweet, melodious, dub disco-adjacent backing track. In contrast, 'Pamela' is low-slung and hypnotic, with 'Sofian' vocalist Barbara Alcindor ushering us through a deep, heady groove-scape.

Fittingly, Passera and Day round off Lunch via a vibrant and potent sweet treat, 'Pony Bar'. Headed up by the J.J Cale-esque lead vocals of man of mystery Leon Lace, the pedal steel-sporting song joins the dots between dusty Americana, kaleidoscopic Balearic beats and lilting, slow-motion disco. Like the rest of the album, you'll be thinking about it long after you've washed down the last few musical mouthfuls.

Mathias Kaden returns to Rekids with the 'Circulate' EP, featuring a William Kiss Remix.

Mathias Kaden is back on Rekids after 2022’s ‘Blackbird’ EP, this time with the four-track ‘Circulate’ EP featuring a remix from the hotly tipped William Kiss. Kaden’s ‘Freedom’ kicks things off with stripped-back machine rhythm, tasteful stab melodies and a deeply satisfying low-end groove before an iconic gospel vocal joins in. Title track ‘Circulate’ is another infectious low-slung crawler with crunchy synth hits and a hypnotic and classy vibe that will get the dancefloor moving.

On the flip, William Kiss remixes Mathias Kaden’s ‘Freedom’ following his recent EP on Rekids' sibling label RSPX and the release of his collaborative project, Not Without Friends, with Luke Alessi and Jordan Brando on RÜFÜS DU SOL’s Rose Avenue. Kiss turns the track into a pumping peak-time cut with additional percussion and plenty of his signature Jackin’
flavour. Closing out the record, Kaden’s ‘Twisting Shadows’ introduces an acidic bassline and warped, dubbed-out vocals before dropping into an energetic trip.

Active since the mid-90s, Mathias Kaden appeared on Radio Slave’s Rekids for the first time in 2019 for ‘Liberate Drums’. He now returns to the label with the ‘Circulate’ EP, adding to his versatile discography on labels like Dyinamic and Vakant while also remixing work by Matthias Tanzmann, Onur Özer, Anja Schneider, and Trentemöller.

First Word Records are proud to bring you 'Penny Ballads', a 5-track EP from Royce Wood Junior. Royce Wood Junior is a Grammy & Mercury Award-nominated musician, songwriter and record producer from London, currently based in Brighton. As a multi-instrumentalist, he's collaborated with a litany of brilliant artists over the years, such as Jamie Woon, Nao, Disclosure, Jessie Ware, Olivia Dean, Joy Crookes, Jamie Lidell and Jordan Rakei, additionally to touring with the likes of the legendary Thomas Dolby. He's released two acclaimed solo albums to date ('The Ashen Tang' in 2015, and 'No Two Blue Ticks' in 2021). 'Penny Ballads' demonstrates RWJ's varied talents, with a collection of alternative soul compositions, each one as unique as the next. It includes the first two singles, the Poplife-Prince era flavoured 'Go Get Your Money', and the double-time future funk adrenaline shot, 'Clean Up', along with three previously-unreleased tracks. 'Beretta' is low-slung soul funk, beginning with quirky squelchy synths, before the soulful lead vocal of feature artist Lucey Way breezes in to melt everyone's hearts. 'Things' sweeps in next, an infectiously soulful midtempo heavy soul bop, with an instant earwork of a hook, like a modern-day Steely Dan / Doobie Brothers, complete with a head-nodding string section to end the track. The collection concludes on a more melancholy downtempo tip with 'Rolling'; an almost-folktronic anthem, with a key refrain that wouldn't be out of place on a 70's Stevie piece. RWJ (aka Jim Wood) says of this project… "Back in the 17 and 1800's Troubadours and minstrels would go from Tavern to Tavern selling Penny Ballads, single sheets of music and lyrics written quickly and frivolously to make a quick buck.. It strikes me that we're in a similar phase in the way we value music in 2025. An old Penny Ballad was cheap and dog-eared, ink-smudged, sung aloud by firelight, Now songs live in the digital ether, dissolved in the air, a ghostly breath paid in micro cents. The new era of Penny Balladry is here, and weird. This EP is a snapshot of my writing over a two year period. Focussed on minimal recording styles, one mic on the drums, generally first or second takes on parts and vocals, I wanted the music to feel like small moments with lyrics that talk about the weird nuances of being alive as a latter stage human on the cusp of the Ai revolution. Culturally so evolved, but physiologically still just a bunch of mammals walking about with primitive fears and needs. Just trying to reconcile it all moment to moment…" Previous support for Royce's music has included Radio 1's Future Sounds, BBC 6 Music's New Music Fix, Annie Mac, Clara Amfo, Jo Whiley (BBC Radio 2), Mary Anne Hobbs, Jamz Supernova, Tom Robinson, Huw Stephens (BBC 6 Music), Zane Lowe and MistaJam. There have been sessions previously for the likes of Red Bull and press from Huck, Line of Best Fit, Clash, Aesthetica & DIY magazine. Entirely self-written and self-produced, this EP gives a solid taste of RWJ's talents. A deeply funky diverse set of music from an immensely talented individual. 'Penny Ballads' is due to be released on vinyl & digital, 24th October 2025. The vinyl version also includes an exclusive additional mix of the first single 'Go Get Your Money'. TRACKLIST: 01: Clean Up (EP Mix) 02: Go Get Your Money 03: Beretta (feat. Lucey Way) 04: Things 05: Rolling 06: Go Get Your Money (B-Sharp Mix) Deconstructed Mixes

Back in 1988, disco rap aficionado and collector Dave Lee put together a compilation titled 'Back To The Old School', showcasing some of the best of the genre, most of which had never been issued before in the UK . Fast forward to 2025 and Dave's label Z Records has managed to procure the rights to a few choice old school cuts for a (sort of) follow up. The difference is this time Mr Lee has remixed and re-worked the songs for today's dancefloors while preserving their original flavour and integrity. In this first part of the series we have TJ Swann's 1981 jam 'Get Fly', re-tracked and taken into lo-slung yacht rock funk territory with a sizzling synth solo for good measure, a perfect compliment to TJ's smooth NYC flow. Terry Lewis & Wild Flower are up next on the A-side, with a boogie rich, mid-tempo stomper with a heavy funk bottom end and a message that still rings true in this day and age. Mike T's 'Do It Anyway You Wanna' finishes things up with a compulsive dose of jazz-tinged disco rap that goes straight for the jugular, super charged slap bass underpinning sharp sax and flute motifs while the rich tones of Mike T slide over the top. Dave Lee yet again providing a masterclass in production.

New week, new heat from Monsieur Van Pratt, an ever-reliable edit master who this time brings his signature style to a trio of Spanish-language cuts. He tackles two classic disco anthems that are familiar yet completely revitalised in EspaNol as 'Caliente' kicks off with stomping disco energy and catchy riffs, then 'Toca Mi Campana' is a more funky and playful number with low-slung bass. They are joined by a deeper, lesser-known gem, 'Americana ', which is reimagined into a powerful dancefloor weapon with gritty, analogue textures and a deep respect for groove that will heat up any 'floor.

Rahaan is a US edit master who can turn his hand to disco, house, soul, funk and r&b all with equal elan. He's been doing it for 20 years but it's still exciting to hear a new one from the legend, and the 11th Street Edits outing is another beguiling one. 'Impure' is a ragged and rugged, low-slung deep house drum track with cat squeals and crashing hits striking a menacing tone. 'Answer The Damn Phone' is a surging cosmic disco sound with driving arps and incongruous vocals before closer 'Intense' brings more raw, physical rhythms to a driving deep house cut.

First Word Records are proud to bring you 'Penny Ballads', a 5-track EP from Royce Wood Junior.

Royce Wood Junior is a Grammy & Mercury Award-nominated musician, songwriter and record producer from London, currently based in Brighton. As a multi-instrumentalist, he's collaborated with a litany of brilliant artists over the years, such as Jamie Woon, Nao, Disclosure, Jessie Ware, Olivia Dean, Joy Crookes, Jamie Lidell and Jordan Rakei, additionally to touring with the likes of the legendary Thomas Dolby. He's released two acclaimed solo albums to date ('The Ashen Tang' in 2015, and 'No Two Blue Ticks' in 2021).

'Penny Ballads' demonstrates RWJ's varied talents, with a collection of alternative soul compositions, each one as unique as the next. It includes the first two singles, the Poplife-Prince era flavoured 'Go Get Your Money', and the double-time future funk adrenaline shot, 'Clean Up', along with three previously-unreleased tracks. 'Beretta' is low-slung soul funk, beginning with quirky squelchy synths, before the soulful lead vocal of feature artist Lucey Way breezes in to melt everyone's hearts. 'Things' sweeps in next, an infectiously soulful midtempo heavy soul bop, with an instant earwork of a hook, like a modern-day Steely Dan / Doobie Brothers, complete with a head-nodding string section to end the track. The collection concludes on a more melancholy downtempo tip with 'Rolling'; an almost-folktronic anthem, with a key refrain that wouldn't be out of place on a 70's Stevie piece.

RWJ (aka Jim Wood) says of this project… "Back in the 17 and 1800's Troubadours and minstrels would go from Tavern to Tavern selling Penny Ballads, single sheets of music and lyrics written quickly and frivolously to make a quick buck.. It strikes me that we're in a similar phase in the way we value music in 2025. An old Penny Ballad was cheap and dog-eared, ink-smudged, sung aloud by firelight, Now songs live in the digital ether, dissolved in the air, a ghostly breath paid in micro cents. The new era of Penny Balladry is here, and weird.

This EP is a snapshot of my writing over a two year period. Focussed on minimal recording styles, one mic on the drums, generally first or second takes on parts and vocals, I wanted the music to feel like small moments with lyrics that talk about the weird nuances of being alive as a latter stage human on the cusp of the Ai revolution. Culturally so evolved, but physiologically still just a bunch of mammals walking about with primitive fears and needs. Just trying to reconcile it all moment to moment…"

Previous support for Royce's music has included Radio 1's Future Sounds, BBC 6 Music's New Music Fix, Annie Mac, Clara Amfo, Jo Whiley (BBC Radio 2), Mary Anne Hobbs, Jamz Supernova, Tom Robinson, Huw Stephens (BBC 6 Music), Zane Lowe and MistaJam. There have been sessions previously for the likes of Red Bull and press from Huck, Line of Best Fit, Clash, Aesthetica & DIY magazine.

Entirely self-written and self-produced, this EP gives a solid taste of RWJ's talents. A deeply funky diverse set of music from an immensely talented individual.

'Penny Ballads' is due to be released on vinyl & digital, 24th October 2025.

The vinyl version also includes an exclusive additional mix of the first single 'Go Get Your Money'.

An electrified meeting of minds, Candy Girl is a lost 1975 session by jazz pianist Mal Waldron, recorded in Paris with core members of the mighty Lafayette Afro Rock Band, the American funk unit who had made France their home and whose deep grooves would later be mined by generations of hip-hop producers.

By 1975, Waldron was a decade into his self-imposed exile from the United States—a transformed musician who had reassembled his sound in Europe and Japan after a devastating breakdown in the early '60s. His post-1969 output had stripped jazz down to its core elements: modal intensity, locked grooves, and hypnotic repetition. Candy Girl doesn’t interrupt this trajectory—it extends it, wrapping Waldron’s minimalist mantras around the funked-up chassis of the Lafayette rhythm section.

Originally released in microscopic quantities on the Calumet label and long shrouded in obscurity, Candy Girl was recorded spontaneously in the studio of French producer Pierre Jaubert, whose Paris HQ had become the workshop for both avant-garde jazz (Archie Shepp, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Steve Lacy) and psychedelic funk (Lafayette Afro Rock Band AKA Ice). This session finds Waldron jamming freely with bassist Lafayette Hudson, drummer Donny Donable, and keyboardist Frank Abel on clavinet, Moog and more—laying down raw, unfiltered instrumental funk with an experimental edge.

Highlights include the low-slung vamp of “Home Again”, the crisp, break-laden groove of “Red Match Box”, and the mesmeric swirl of the title track “Candy Girl” —a minor-key electric piano waltz with hints of cosmic soul. There's even a deep cut for the crate diggers: the somber yet meditative “Dedication to Brahms”, where Waldron deconstructs the Romantic composer’s third symphony into a sparse jazz reverie.

Unlike his polished sessions for Japanese labels or the avant-garde swing of his earlier Prestige work, Candy Girl feels more spontaneous, even accidental — and that’s part of its power. It’s a document of Waldron as bandleader, collaborator, and explorer, captured in the midst of a vibrant, cross-cultural scene in mid-70s Paris. Never officially issued with a cover and barely released at all, Candy Girl is a rare convergence of two underground traditions: Waldron’s Euro-exile electric jazz and the raw, sampled-future funk of the Lafayette Afro Rock Band. Now finally resurfaced, it deserves its rightful place in both stories.

Badboy garage is the order of the night on this latest drop from the unstoppable Instinct label. It's a split EP between Isgwan and Trustee, and the offer kicks off with the low slung swagger and warped bass of 'Right Tehn' complete with gun-finger synths and nawty vocals. Trustee then steps up with some expertly crafted jungle breaks turned 2-stepping beats on 'Watch Dat' with mad low energy wobbles. His 'Shuffle N' Step' is another lip-curling and rude as you like bit of filthy garage, 'Feel Me' (feat Tanya George) is a more emotive sound thanks to the buttery r&b vocal hooks and 'Work Set' shuts down with bumping low-end pressure.

Born 2 Be Free continues its good early work with another dose of UKG old skool magic. It comes from the label head Azaad, whose previous drops have all sold out in quick time, and this one will likely do the same such is its magnetic appeal. The Londoner opens up with 'Caliente' and rides on bumpy drums with some turbo-charged stabs injecting the heat. 'Feel It' bobble along with cute chords brings a balmy feel next to whispered vocals and low slung bass for maximum lip curl. 'I Want You' brings another timeless vibe with its neon pads and cuddly, immersive atmosphere then the Az Gets Deep mix sets down with some extra depth and drive.

Hard Times welcomes back Alex Arnout and his BLACK LOGIC project, following their recent ‘Pull Up’ EP with a second installment of new music from collective - The Illusions EP.

Hailing from West Yorkshire, Arnout spent his formative years on the Hard Times dancefloors, absorbing the beats and vibes that would later shape his own productions. His journey with the label reignited when he was invited to remix Michael Watford’s classic 'Love Change Over' and Steve Silk Hurley’s fresh hit 'All I Need'. Now, he returns with something truly special.

“Black Logic was born out of the pandemic,” says Arnout. “I wanted to move away from drum machines and synths, getting back to sampling jazz and the deep house sounds of the ‘90s - taking inspiration from artists like Bugs in the Attic, Jazzanova, and Ernest Saint Laurent.”

What began as a solo project soon evolved into a collective effort. Bassist and guitarist Alan Riggs, a former member of Delta 5, joined the sessions, bringing warmth and groove to the productions. Vocalists Tempo O’Neil, Anthony Beckford, Mariana Orsho, and Sophie Barker added their distinct voices, completing the vision

Across four tracks, The Illusions EP pulls us deeper into Black Logic’s rich, live-wired universe. The title track pairs Tempo O’Neil’s vocal with a grooving, low-slung bassline, whilst “Dusty” drifts in on brushed snares and ghostly Rhodes, its saxophone lines curling through the mix like smoke. “Chasing Daze,” analog synth shimmer and Tempo’s velvet tones, is a track suspended between head-nod groove and astral lift.

The curtain falls with “Disco Down,” a jubilant ensemble of Hammond organ, flute, guitar, bongos, and horns locking into joyous conversation.

Sean Roman is a Toronto-based producer who has worked with Toronto Hustle before on an EP for Wolf Music. Here he serves up a club-ready crowd pleaser that shows his love for original UKG sounds. 'Did It For Love' on Selections rides on low-slung and well-swung drums with some nice tender vocals up top. The percussion is crisp and the groove drips with cool. Flip over this limited 12" and you will find a Toronto Hustle Late Night dub that pairs things back to some meaty drums and grittier textures, with the vocals more turned down and sparking synth motifs looping to bring some colour. Useful stuff.

Joaquin Joe Claussell readies the ‘Raw Tones’ LP on Rekids this June.

The first LP since 2008’s ‘Corresponding Echoes’ on his Sacred Rhythm Music, Joaquin Joe Claussell arrives on Radio Slave’s Rekids for ‘Raw Tones’, a nine-track excursion through the sound of his exquisitely soulful house music.

Originally released on uber limited cassettes, the music within ‘Raw Tones’ caught the ear of Radio Slave, aka Matt Edwards, who messaged Claussell, a friend since remixing Edwards’ Machine project in 2012, and convinced the legendary producer that the music needed a wider audience and, so, ‘Raw Tones’ the LP is here.

Introspective opening cut ‘Lock Down’ draws for breathy strings and swirling pads, followed by the hypnotic and low-slung ‘The Blame Game (Table Top Idea)’, which sees jazzy keys float around carefully crafted dubbed-out ambience and subtle, whispered vocals.

‘Break Free’ ups the energy, bringing a wonky bassline under decisive, machine-like drum hits while both spoken and sung vocals interplay throughout. ‘You Mutha Fuka’ brings rock-solid drums and thick bass underneath delayed vocals before the dreamy chords and twinkling keys of ‘Way Back Then’ close out the B-side.

The gorgeous ‘Air We Breathe (Revisited Cassette Demo)’ marries rolling percussion across live bass and softly drawn-out pads, followed by an instrumental version of ‘Break Free’. The final side of vinyl sees the extended trippiness of ‘If It's All In Your Mind Let It Out’ lead into the floaty low tempo closer ‘Hallucinations Ejaculations’.

Joaquin Joe Claussell, co-founder of Body & Soul with Francois Kervorkian and Danny Krivit, continues to run his Sacred Rhythm Music record label and curate the Cosmic Arts community centre in his hometown of Brooklyn, NYC.

Berlin-Hamburg duo Session Victim return to the ever-reliable Delusions Of Grandeur imprint with Chapter Two of their Sidequests trilogy, marking yet another high point in their almost twenty year journey through heartfelt, sample-rich music. Overflowing with analog warmth, sundrenched textures and irresistible grooves, the release also features a stellar remix from label cofounder and deep house pioneer Jimpster who kicks off the EP. Here he takes Behind The Glass into spaced out house-not-house territory. With crisp drum programming, trademark Rhodes, and subtle pads that build over time, his version delivers that late-night sophistication he's known for—steering the downtempo original in a clubbier direction without losing its blissed-out essence. Up next we have a brand new collaborative effort with long time friend, label mate and fellow sample nerd Nebraska. Make It Happen is a dusty, slo-mo house groove featuring delicate keys, euphoric strings and that unmistakable sense of journey. It’s just the kind of low-slung epic house they do best—intimate yet club-ready, nostalgic but never retro. Flipping over, Too Soft To Be Loud, another collaboration with Viken Arman, follows with a jazzy, almost samba-esque rhythm and swirling atmospherics. Loose percussion, catchy guitar riffs and Rhodes stabs collide with off-kilter dub FX and soft vocal snippets giving the track a laid-back, live-band feel that harks back to their See You When You Get There era. Hubcap Candy dives deep into funk territory. Nebraska’s on point boogie bassline drives the track forward as crunchy drums and layers of synths create a dreamlike haze. It’s loopy, moody, and finds Session Victim at their very best. Closing out the EP we have the original of Behind The Glass, a headsy, beatdown piece that slowly unfolds over an unconventional brass-like bassline and delicate guitar textures, paying homage to the golden age of Trip Hop haziness and it’s pioneer turntable spirit. Blending crate-digging sensibilities with forward-thinking production, this latest release solidifies Session Victim’s reputation as genre-blurring tastemakers, and their chemistry with Delusions Of Grandeur remains as strong as ever

Oliver Dollar presents part four of his Contemporary series on Rekids. The EP precedes his upcoming album on the label, enlisting Seven ‘Sev’ Davis Jr. and Nils Ohrmann, alongside dub reinterpretations by La Boix and Sev.

Germany’s Oliver Dollar returns to Radio Slave’s Rekids with Contemporary Part Four, Parts one through three featured collaborations with Austin Ato, Brillstein, Harvard Bass, Hazmat Live, Boogs, and many more, winning support from the likes of Nightmares on Wax, Anja Schneider, Laurent Garnier, Carista, Jennifer Cardini, Dam Swindle, and others.

For this next chapter of Oliver Dollar’s ‘Contemporary’, elements of Dub serve as the unifying thread, opening part four with ‘Speakers Bleed’, a jazz-inflected House cut from Oliver and Classic Music Company and Ninja Tune artist Seven ‘Sev’ Davis Jr. Hypnotic vocals swirl through deep, groove-laden rhythms, setting the tone for the EP’s fluid, atmospheric feel before Oliver reunites with Golden Gate club resident and long-time collaborator Nils Ohrmann for the Hallelujah Dub of ‘The New Is Here’. The track features the soulful voice of Detroit songwriter and Contemporary series regular APROPOS while gospel-tinged background vocals and rich textures sit over an infectious percussive rhythm. On the flip, Oliver Dollar & Brillstein’s ‘Pill Popper’ from Contemporary Part Two is reworked by La Boix, the duo of LA”s Thee Mike B (aka Brillstein) and producer Salva, whose credits include work with RL Grime, Kurupt, E-40, and the Grammy-nominated album of ScHoolboy Q, as well as remixes for Rihanna, Boys Noize and Nelly Furtado. Their version is a late-night, low-slung trip, with echoing keys and vocals drifting through deep basslines. Closing the EP, Seven Davis Jr. returns for a dub of ‘Before You’, Oliver’s collaboration with ADMN from Contemporary Part One. Retaining APROPOS’ heartfelt vocal from the original, Sev layers bright, soul-drenched synths over rolling drums, delivering an irresistible, feel-good finale.

Disco Mind heads all the way to South America for this next outing with Colombian duo Vagabundo Club Social at the helm, having previously impressed on the likes of Razor n Tape. 'El Gato' kicks off with bright, expressive disco horns and fat, low-slung drums that draw your hips right in. 'Yim Zalzedo' has another thick-set rhythm and this time the horns take a back seat to the percussion and jazzy keys and congas. 'Tabu' flips the vibes and taps into a revivalist 90s house sound with piano chords getting hands in the air, then 'Adicto Al Limon' shuts down with a perfect uplifting and feel good Balearic house sound with a classic Chic bassline.

Welshman Earl Jeffers, who you may know as Cheesus, has lined up a couple of gems for the Melange label in the early part of this year. This addition to the archives is disco-inspired trip aimed squarely at the floor. 'Jump' kicks off with hulking great kicks, raw chords and twanging guitars that are full of life and soul. 'Intergalactic Jam' is another no-nonsense cut, this time with more low-slung drums, wet hand claps and withering sci-fi synths all providing a foundation for big chord vamps and even bigger vocals.

Plastik People Collections dropped this one back in 2019, and it became an instant classic that soon sold out. It has since rocketed in price on the second-hand markets, so thankfully, the label is reissuing it this summer. Cultured Pearls's 'Mother Earth' is effortlessly cool garage-house with bumpy drums and expressive piano jams perfect for outdoor dancing. Night Society's 'You Turn Me On' has an authentic US edge and hot and humid groove with passionate vocal cries, then JJ Can's 'I Don't Know Why' is a dubby and low-slung deep garage sound with chopped vocals and a timeless appeal. Three vital cuts that will be huge all over again this year.

Mike Popov is the musician behind the I Gemin project, which was conceived as a way of working disco style and sampling into his house tracks. And the results are brilliantly effective and charming. 'Introfall (Autumn)' makes for a low-slung downtempo start, 'Come Together' brings horn-led disco house fun and 'Black Tea Groove' sinks into a fat-bottomed and dubby rhythm alive with magical synth flourishes. The blissed out 'Summer Breeze' is an escapist charmer, and the flipside features three more exquisite genre studies that have real heart and authenticity.

20/20 Vision's 30th birthday celebrations continue apace with another choice reissue. This one throws it over to Huxley, a prolific and accomplished producer who defined the house and garage sounds of the 2010s. This EP is from 2012 and is one of many standouts that exemplify his bass-driven style. 'Box Clever' brings big paint stabs and bubbly rhythms, 'Atonement' is a low-slung and deep cut with warm pads and silky bass and 'Feel What You Want' is full of colourful cosmic pads and more irresistible grooves. Also included is a new mix from Berlin house Queen Cinthie alongside, for the first time ever, her partner Meat. It's a chunky cut with a new school twist on classic house.

A-grade disco don Monsieur Van Pratt shares duties on his latest missive with so-called "cosmic funk slinger" Disco 86 as both artists take one side each. MVP is first up with 'Lovers' with its saucy male vocals and funky basslines littered with Chic-style hooks. 'All I Do' layers in plenty of filtered synths and noodling bass hooks to a classic vocal and then it's over to the B-side. 'Shoot Me Baby' is a low-slung and sleazy sound with smooth and sexy vocals and meandering bass. 'Disco Galaxy' is a more upbeat sound with funky brass, leggy drums and a lavish arrangement that is full of action. Another unmissable platter in this new limited Illegal Disco series.

Since first forming in 2016, London's High Vis have steadily polished their palette of progressive hardcore with shades of post-punk, Brit pop, neo-psychedelia, and even Madchester groove, mapping a middle ground between hooks and fury, melodies and mosh pits. Singer Graham Sayle describes their third album 'Guided Tour' as an axis of competing forces: "It's trying to be a hopeful record, while also being incensed." Rounded out by drummer Edward 'Ski' Harper, guitarists Martin MacNamara and Rob Hammaren, and bassist Jack Muncaster, the band's deep roots in the UK and Irish DIY hardcore scenes have kept them grounded but growing, inspired equally by restlessness and righteous anger. As Sayle puts it, "Everyone's scratching, everyone's working all the time, and their idea of relaxing is just getting fucked and avoiding reality. This album is an escape from that."From its opening seconds of a cab door slamming, a car revving away, and a baggy rhythm swinging to life, 'Guided Tour' sounds like a band reaching for new heights, bristling with energy. Recorded across a few weeks at Holy Mountain Studios in London with producer Jonah Falco and engineer Stanley Gravett, the results feel dynamic and dialed-in, like anthems burned into sense memory through sweat and repetition. Harper cuts to the chase: "We had a clear idea going in, every moment got used. Maybe when we're 60 we can sit around and get a drum sound right, but for now it's about getting things done."The album's 11 songs span the spectrum of contemporary guitar music, sharpened by experience, camaraderie, and societal frustrations. From swaggering street punk ("Drop Me Out," "Mob DLA") to jangling indie sneer ("Worth The Wait," "Deserve It") to heavy alt ("Feeling Bless," "Fill The Gap") to shoegazey spoken word ("Untethered"), the group's chemistry transmutes any style to their unique intensity. Sayle champions this evolving fusion: "For years coming from hardcore, we had pretty clear boundaries - other scenes were separate worlds. Now things are getting more blended, drawing from different places."Nowhere is this sentiment flexed more boldly than on "Mind's A Lie," a dance- punk anthem inspired by Harper's love of house, garage, and pirate radio. Stabs of sampled female vocals (by celebrated South London singer and DJ Ell Murphy) build into a razor wire rhythm of low-slung bass, tense drums, and sparkling guitar before Sayle's staunch voice starts barking harsh truths ("Face to face with all I've known / I can't call these thoughts my own"). After a sudden breakdown, the track regroups and takes off, cruising into the horizon in a haze of chiming guitars and Murphy's ascendant voice, from the streets to somewhere beyond.