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This is already our seventh Deep Love compilation and we dare to say our most complete yet in sound and flow. The ten pieces on this sampler blend in perfectly with that laid back 'late' summer mood. We are very pleased to welcome yet again some new acts to Dirt Crew with the likes of 'Jaxx Madicine', 'Ouer', 'Times are Ruff' and 'S3A'. We cross many borders not only in genres but also country wise. From the heavy Disco sampled jam by French producer 'S3A' to the Jazz and Funk laden epos of the Italian 3 piece 'Jaxx Madicine' over to the Dutch deep house boys 'Times Are Ruff' who are well known from their, same named, label and finally to the Berlin duo 'Ouer' who also run an own label and released with our good friends at 'Heist Recordings', delivering an ecstatic electronic floating tune here.

This is all completed by some excellence from long time Dirt Crew artists. '25 Places' have been with us for many years now and their two Ep's have gotten so much love from the deeper deep house community. Here they drop an epic almost IDM techno like tune that closes this great album in the best possible way. Our Icelandic stall wart 'Felix Leifur' drops a heavy hitter named 'Buster'. After his recent 'Bobby Donny' Ep earlier this year we are thrilled to have him back on Dirt Crew! 'Harry Wolfman' and 'Ponty Mython' need no introduction really, they are adding Electro/ Disco/ Electronica fuelled cuts that form a great middle part to this mix of tunes. Harry going in very smooth and relaxed, something else than his usual House workout which we really loved to present to you. 'Ponty Mython' drops an irresistible 'good times' indie acid track in his unique 'free' style.

Last, we must of course not forget 'Dan Only' and key wizzard 'Lorenz Rhode'! With another beautifully smooth cut 'Dan Only' follows up on his latest debut Ep with us. Again a smart cross over in Techno and House with a distinct relaxed groove and atmosphere to it. Lorenz is back 'On Top' here after his super successful first offering to the Deep Love series last year and his 'And I Said' EP which stormed many charts. In the middle of touring and working with Detroit Swindle on their 'High Life' album we are super happy that he found the time to make another gem with that raw n funky live feel to it... We couldn't have started this compilation off with a better joint than 'Marakuja'.

Enough words for now ... just put these vinyl on your decks or stream/play it on the go and don't forget to drop them at a sweaty club night. Deep Love is here to stay!

Alma Negra are back on Heist! After their much applauded 2017 release with that great Soulphiction remix, they've been rather busy taking over the scene. They started their new label 'Alma Negra records' where they released 3 ep's in quick succession, with new as well as older material that showcases their tropical roots and keen ear for clubby reworks. They launched their live show, doing gigs across Europe with a highlight at one of London's more intimate live venues: the Jazz Café. Their latest outing -making their release count a total of 4 in only 8 months - was on Marcel Vogel's Lumberjacks in Hell and explored the more live / rework side of their project. Now they're back on Heist with 3 new tracks, supported by an Awanto 3 remix. 'Conversation' is a track we wanted to put out on Heist badly, simply because it's a beast of a track. It sits somewhere between a live African drum track, percussive techno and moody Midwest electronics, with pads and strings coming in and out of play while a relentless kick drum keeps the energy on a haunting level. This track is Alma Negra at their filthiest, and it feels like they've taken a next step from last year's dark and heavy Luanda dub, bringing it from an intimate dreamy stage straight into the main room. 'This is the place' shows a different side of the house spectrum with the Alma's love for dreamy deep house. The track flows up and down, with soothing Rhodes chords, arpeggio's and mumbling vocals setting a summery mood that's perfect for your warm up or daytime party. Meanwhile, their third original track 'From the heart' goes even deeper and navigates around a smart vocal loop topped with strings, bleeps, claps and rimshots that just keeps going.

Producer Okzharp and vocalist-artist-dancer Manthe Ribane both hail from South Africa, where Manthe still resides, while Okzharp lives in the London where he is a DJ and producer, initially cutting his teeth in LV, who in 2007 were one of the very first acts signed to Hyperdub. Manthe has been at the forefront of South Africa's cutting edge fashion, art and dance worlds for over a decade. After leaving LV, Okzharp and Manthe started collaborating, going on to release two well-received EPs on Hyperdub, 'Dumella 113' and 'Tell Your Vision', recorded in Joburg and London respectively. The recording of 'Closer Apart' reflects the title. Okzharp says 'Most of the music came out of headphone moments in hotel rooms, planes and airports in the brief periods of time that we spent together.' Describing Manthe as a co -producer, he continues 'She selected instrumental sketches and we developed them together, sometimes just keeping the bare bones or a melody or rhythm, or trying different elements or sounds.' Even though the album was built long distance, the short periods they spent together were the ground zero for creativity. Okzharp recalls 'One particular moment in Milan last year, we had a whole free day before our flight so we visited the Salone di Mobile design show. We were so inspired by an installation there just walking around, listening to the amazing soundtrack. That evening our flight was delayed, so we sat on the floor of the airport terminal putting musical ideas down for 'Time Machine' on the laptop speakers and writing the lyrics. "Tic Toc time, we'll be fine / Airport queues, cerulean blues / Viper trails cross the skies / Lights reflect in your eyes...' ' 'Closer Apart' has a softness and openness that contrasts the tougher sound of the EPs. Manthe explains, 'The new music is a 360 turn, an expression of my 'Lady' side. I grew up listening to Jazz, Classic and Gospel, I am a very soft spoken person, and it resonates with being confident with that. It's been crazy finding balance and finding a smart way to strengthen my weaknesses, I had to trust the process.'

Here We Are Releasing The Second Album Of Cologne Born Producer Thyladomid Who Is Familiar To Many Through His Work On Hamburg Label Diynamic Which Has Lead Him To Perform Around The World, Together With Artists Such As: Adriatique, Solomun, Kollektiv Turmstraße, Hosh, David August, Stimming, And Many More. More Then 30 Minutes Playing Time, 6 Tracks And Artwork By Florian Kramer Offer A Lot To Discover. Thyladomid Is Famous For His Forward Thinking Deep Melodic Dance Music Which Earned Him Respect And Support From Many People Of The Scene And Evolved Also In Cooperations With Adriatique And The Singer Mahfoud. You Can Find Two Tracks Featuring Mahfoud On The Album. With His First Album "interstellar Destiny" In 2015 Thyladomid Has Already Changed Towards More Introspective Music And You Will Hear He Has Taken That A Step Further Here. In Comparison To His First Album, "places" Refers To Different Places Which Inspired Him To Write The Album And Offers A Higher Level Of Complexity In The Making Of Music Which Has Helped Thyladomid To Enhance The Moody Quality In A Dazzling Way Sometimes Even Spine Tingling When You Let Yourself Go To Explore The Abundance Of The Trax. As He Said In His Own Words: - the Albums Intention Was That Of An Organic Produced Album With Different Moods. Instruments Such As Piano And And Violin As Well As Field Recording Bring Alive A Special Quality. The Bouncing Of Stones On A Frozen Pond Recorded With Multiple Microphones Suggest For Example An Authentic Spacious Quality. The Self Recorded Percussion, Sometimes Quite Exotic Were Included In All Of The Tracks. The Combination Of Synthetic Sounds With Traditionally Instruments Was One Of The Big Challenges For Me. The Piano And Prophet 6 Und The Moog Sub37 Were The Main Instruments Used For The Album'. Thyladomid Started Working On The Album 2 1/2 Years Ago. His Classical Training On The Piano Helped To Quickly Come Up With A Musical Theme Which Is Based On Different Tonalities Which Were Then Linked To Each Other And Which Actually Helped To Structure The Whole Release. The Good Weather In Summer Was A Good Inspiration And Finally Led To The Idea To Dedicate Tracks To A Certain Place, A Place Which Means A Lot For Him. From That Idea The Title Of The Whole Album Derived: "places ". "a Little Church In Amsterdam" As He Says "is Such A Track Encouraged By The City Of Amsterdam I Love And Respects So Much And Actually Have Spend So Much Time In. It Is A Track I Played Outside In My Garden To Friends And Which Works Perfectly For Me.' "a Little Church In Amsterdam" Is A Track Where Melodies Bloom And Flourish. It Feels Like Zooming In On Nature Grasping A Time Lapse Symphony. "blossoming Limburg Ft Mahfoud" Was Born In The Capital Of Limburg Which Is Located In The South Of The Netherlands And Reflects The Summer Of 2017 And Was Recorded In A Warehouse. It Reflects The Intimacy And Synergetic Level Between Mahfoud And Thyladomid. The Fantastic Deep Vocal Track Is Spiced Up With Lots Of Acoustic Details Which All Happen In The Background But Effectively Surface To Pull The Listener Into His World. "night Owl" Is A Lyrical Dreamy Piano Piece With A Melancholic Note And An Ear For Details. Acoustic Finesse Presented On An Episodic Scale. We Guess The Track Was Influenced By The Works Of Four Tet Or Pantha Du Prince. "kollwitzplatz" Is A Small Park In Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg Which Was Thyladomid's Home For 2 Years . - the Cafes And Restaurants Laced By The Alleys Of The Kollwitz District Resemble A Piece Of Home For Me And Represents The Time Of My Stay In Berlin'. Musically "kollwitzplatz" Is Full Of Life. You Can Hear Children Talking While The Piano Attracts Sounds Like Moths Are Attracted To Light. The Track Offers This Richness Of Percussive Elements And Sound Sources Creating A Stunning Complexity Which Does Not Limiting Itself But Rather Creates This Free Flow Of Acoustic Signals. You Instantly Will Feel: There Is A Lot To Discover At "kollwitzplatz". "underwater Rhapsody", The Title Says It All: It Has That Episodic, Free-flowing Structure, Featuring A Range Of Highly Contrasted Moods, Color And Tonality. What It Actually Means To The Listener Is That Grande Chords Meet Dissonances Of Sound That Fly In Like Drones Cross The Big Time Melodies That Gain A Centrifugal Force At Times... And All This Leaves You Dizzy And Creates Another Big Listening Experience As The Whole Album Is Directed To Entertain You In A Smart And Distinguished Way.






[E b2 | Places Ft. Mahfoud

Having grown up with and on the internet, Martin Steer (1986) has transformed its pull into a concept album that is just as immediate and intangible as the digital world. Bad Stream is guitars and machines vanishing in the spaces between Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails only to reemerge amidst Ambient, Noise, and Drone. Bad Stream, then, is his modus operandi - a hybrid soundtrack to the feelings of resignation, isolation, and cynicism within neoliberal cyberspace and to that strangely numbing comfort of bodies transmuting into zeros and ones in real time.
'I look at my phone even when I play guitar,' says Martin Steer, 'and that isn't even entirely voluntary. The 2010s really changed my perception of how digital technologies and social media affect me as a musician. Through Bad Stream I want to make sense of this particular kind of anxiety, and to use sensory overstimulation as a way to develop an independent and progressive musical language.'
The past seven years took Martin and his laptop and guitar from Berlin to Mexico and Nepal and, as a founding member of Frittenbude, into the German charts and to various festival stages. And yet, Bad Stream is a true 'Berlin album,' out of Friedrichshain, Neukölln, and Kreuzberg and will be released on Martin Steers own label ANTIME. It was recorded with real drums and programmed beats, with shoegaze guitars, acid baselines, piano, smartphone synths, violins, field recordings from the darknet and his voice, whose hopeless timbre conveys reflections on systems, the future, drugs, people, and his own place. In his ever expanding A/V live shows and in the music videos, this is supplemented by complex visuals.

The 12' you're about to read a few lines about is a laconic introduction to the music of an elusive new musician on Antinote. Biographical details about him would probably not help comprehend his music and might even seem slightly contradictory with the music itself, as Reigi / Haipa has been produced in Reims - at least, it would have been much more accommodating if the capital of Champagne was located somewhere in-between Sheffield and London...
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Indeed, at first listen, Slowglide's music seems deeply rooted in a very British history of dance music. Reigi, on the A-side, unfolds a cavernous syncopated kick on which relies a compressed, flangered, smart but somehow handcrafted sound with an extra Kraftwerkian treatment (the obsessive robotic arigato gozaimasu' and the pocket calculator' bleeping melodic line), enlightened by discreet synth waves appearing in the middle of the track.

Haipa, the atmospheric B-side, is an even stronger throwback to a time when Intelligent Dance Music was ruling over electronic music, the likes of Aphex Twin and his fellow Warp-affiliates were about to be crowned kings and Ghost In The Shell was establishing itself as one of the most culturally significant pictures of the late past century.

Slowglide's music is not backward-looking, though. There's something that relevantly resonates with today's diffracted musical landscape, as the French producer gathers and updates bits and pieces from a thirty-andsomething yearlong history of electronic dance music. The result is probably Bass Music', something that one might have been tempted to describe as the future of Dance Music' a few decades ago - to quote these prophetic words written many times. It's probably not, but these two songs are certainly fresh and futuristic.

Leroy Tucker- known simply as L.T. on the scene-and his band the Soulful Dynamics super rare funk 45. The band was a rotating combination of McClyde Sheely, Melissa Riley, Melvin Ausbie, Eric Williams, Collier Carruthers, Lee Berry, Virgil French, Walter Atchinson, and Charles Wakefield. Despite infectious horns and L.T.'s impassioned delivery, neither "Crazy About You Baby" nor "Everybody Needs Somebody" made a dent locally or otherwise. Like all of the Solo platters, the Soulful Dynamics record was manufactured at Monarch in Los Angelas. Dick Smart fondly recalls picking up the record at the Wichita Greyhound station with an excited L.T. in tow.

Fina Records strides into 2018 with another fresh new house EP, this time from PASO aka Pascal Pamme. Over the last few years this French artist has released on the likes of D.KO Records, Increase, and The Groove, and always showcases his knack for loose limbed, organic house grooves laden with jazzy keys and soul-infused synths. The four cuts he offers up here once again prove he is a producer with a truly authentic and musical style.

The warm and golden 'Idocracy' kicks things off with gently shuffling kicks, noodling chords and twinkling keys that together make for a perfectly cozy and intimate house track. 'Fuzy' is another perfectly louche and disheveled number with woody kicks stuttering beneath effusive Rhodes keys. Vinyl crackle and tinkling percussive sounds add to the immediately aged and lived in style of the track and mean it is one that will get smaller rooms well and truly involved.

On the flip, 'Limited Perception' ups the ante, with quicker drums decorated with more languid chords, plenty of smartly sampled sounds and a breezy sense of groove that is heartfelt and effortlessly feel good. Last of all, 'No Matter Where You're From' has great female vocals stitched into long-tailed pads as lazy, swaggering drums lay down a perfectly imperfect groove. It rounds out an EP of masterfully atmospheric house for those who like their beats with real feeling.

The title track "Empty Dancefloor" combines a thumping kick drum, stuttering hats and mesmeric chords, a combination that prove to be the perfect backing track to a captivating synth solo. It's extremely difficult not to find yourself lost in this enchanting track. Fracture" is a track where Skygaze really showcases his ability to combine broken beat, complex drum patterns with bewitching chords, magical marimbas and a curious bassline.
It is a track that really keeps you guessing throughout and one that can really add variety to any DJ set.
First up on remix duties is Jonna, who has put his own stamp on "Empty Dancefloor".
jonna is a DJ, Producer & one of the Label owners of City Fly Records, his sets are prominently House but take in influences from Disco, Techno, Hip-Hop, Funk, Jazz... Basically any music with Soul.
His first artist EP dropped early 2016 on 'Shadeleaf Music' & featured the incredibly talented Erik Rico on vocals with remixes by Atlanta's Kai Alce. The EP achieved great success & Sold Out in the first Month & was supported by heavyweight's Recloose, Derrick Carter, Jimpster & Osunlade to name a few.
Collab Singles (with Samwell) 'Henry Western' Featuring Lady Blacktronika followed on City Fly which was supported heavily on BBC 6 Music, that followed by 'Alright' on 'Future Society', a compilation curated by Seven Davis Jr on R2 Records and more recently the Luke Soloman Edit of 'Through The Night' again on Shadeleaf Music.
He has been busy in the studio since with a release on Secret Crunch (Austria) & 2 EP's forthcoming on Marcel Vogel's excellent Intimate Friends (NL).
The remix of "Empty Dancefloor" is one that is done in the unmistakable Jonna style, it's got groove! By chopping and changing the chords from the original, Jonna has created an entirely new melody, which when combined with rolling bongos and punchy bassline, you can't help but tap your feet.
The all too familiar synth solo from the original resonates throughout and pulls the track together, creating a guaranteed hit on any dance floor. Last, but certainly not least is Chicago based, Garrett David. The Smart Bar Resident has taken time out from his A&R / House buying duties at the famous Gramaphone Records to conjure up a bumping, yet dreamy remix of "Fracture".
He has previous releases on labels including Distant Hawaii, Residual Recordings, Night Sea Journey as well as his own imprint Stripped & Chewed and has really brought some Chicago flavours to the table with this one.

Captivating, ethereal and majestic, Mammal Hands (saxophonist Jordan Smart, pianist Nick Smart and drummer and percussionist Jesse Barrett) has carved out a refreshingly original sound from a disparate array of influences: drawing on spiritual jazz, north Indian, folk and classical music to create something inimitably their own. Hailing from Norwich, one of Britain's most isolated and most easterly cities, they have forged their own path away from the musical mainstream and their unique sound grew out of long improvised rehearsals. All three members contibute equally to the writing process: one that favours the creation of a powerful group dynamic over individual solos. Their records are entrancing and beautiful affairs, while their hypnotic live shows have seen them hailed as one of the most exciting bands in Europe as they push their unique line-up to the outer limits of its possibilities.

Shadow Work is their third album and the first they have self-produced. Recorded at 80 Hertz Studios, Gondwana Records home from home in Manchester, it is the result of 18 months of intensive touring and mammoth writing sessions. The energy from their exhilarating live performances has fed into the writing process and yet there is a quiet reflective side to this album, giving it an expanded emotional range that draws the listener deep into Mammal Hand's sound world. One that builds on the sound of their previous recordings, Animalia and the beautiful Floa, but is wider than ever, with the use of prepared piano strings, more prominent effects and field recordings all adding to the band's most ambitious and accomplished album to date. The striking artwork is by Daniel Halsall and reflects the organic, natural influences underpinning the band's music alongside a darker, modern minimalism.

Most of the musicians who gathered to record this fantastic spiritual jazz record for the Strata-East label on May 24th, 1974 had crossed each other's paths in various musical pairings over the preceding few years. Husband and wife team Dee Dee Bridgewater (vocals) and Cecil Bridgewater (trumpet) had been working together on albums like Frank Foster's "Loud Minority", and Roy Ayers' "Coffy" and "Virgo Red". Ten weeks before the "Freedom Of Speech" session, the couple had been joined in Tokyo by Cecil's brother Ronald Bridgewater (tenor saxaphone) to record Dee Dee's debut album, the beautiful "Afro Blue". Also in the studio on May 24th, 1974 was Donald Smith, (piano, vocals), fresh from recording on his older brother Lonnie Liston Smith's "Cosmic Funk" - on which Ronald Bridgewater had also played percussion. Cecil McBee (bass) was also there - just two weeks before, he'd completed his own Strata East date "Mutima", and in February he'd played on Mtume's "Rebirth Cycle" - with both albums also featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater on vocals. He'd also played on Lonnie Liston Smith's "Astral Travelling".

So 1974 was a huge year for all five of these people. Donald Smith and Cecil McBee were six months away from recording on Lonnie Liston Smith's massive "Expansions", with McBee fitting in a few Pharoah Sanders albums in between.

AND THEN, THE MYSTERY ... So with all this fervent activity, the question has to be asked ...Who was Billy Earl Parker Jr (drums), the leader of this session

Billy Parker remains unlisted as a musician on all major jazz sites. His only other recording appears to be as a percussionist on Charles Tolliver's "Impact" in 1975. Then there's nothing.

Finally, by backtracking one of those Zoom info pages, I found a summary of a "SUNY Rockland Community College" 2002 press release that no longer exists :

"Billy Parker's Fourth World Legacy Concert ...The concert, Billy Parker's Fourth World Legacy, is the eighth annual tribute honouring the late percussionist and RCC educator, Billy Parker. A long-time Rockland County resident, Parker began his affiliation with RCC in 1987, building its jazz program and maintaining his life-long tradition of teaching and inspiring others. A lifelong student himself, Parker was near completion of his doctorate in music education at New York University when he died in 1996.

But then people began to read this blog post, and in the comments, Aaron Fuller said :

"Billy Parker was my uncle. He was an incredibly talented, smart, and kind man. I'm very happy to see that folks are still enjoying his masterpiece. Just to give you a bit more information about him... He was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and then attended college at Michigan State University. He met my aunt in Lansing. They lived in NY and toured in Europe for quite a while. Sometime later they relocated to Nyack, NY and he ended up on the faculty of the community college while he pursued advanced degrees from NYU. He was an Ellington scholar. Although his name isn't well-known even among the most avid jazz fans, I think that if you were to talk to some of the great NY musicians that were around in the late 60s and 70s you would find that most knew him. He also had a huge impact as a music educator and I have no doubt that his former students are all over the place, continuing to put his love of the art into practice."

'Less thought, more direction and purpose, less catering, more expression...'

This was Savile's mantra as he sculpted his 'Compersion' EP for Mike Simonetti's 2MR and it's a mantra we should all subscribe to. It's come about through his introspective analysis during the creation of his most succinct and starkest exploration date.

''Compersion' is a record about wrestling my own beliefs, both personal and political. It's about experiencing the anxiety and absurdity of loving a partner and ultimately myself. The sounds, tempos and arrangements found here are the result of further experiments with editing tracks to their absolute minimum. I tried to work these songs like I am working on me. Less thought, more direction and purpose, less catering, more expression.'

And more detail; throughout every stripped back heavily-edited sensation the conceptual EP provides, the meaning and message is palpable. Each track title inspired by Jenny Holzer and Helmut Lang's revolutionary provocative, sexualisation of the art space in Florence Biennale, 1996, there's a tangible physicality felt throughout...

The heavy breathing rhythmic elements of the electroid 'Talk Smile Bite' and its bedrock bedspring funk; the playful switch between breezy broken beats and driving techno coupled with minimal sample craft and literal message of an instantly recognisable vocal on 'Watch Scan Wait'; the much heavier, intense techno pressure of 'Tease Breathe Smell' where the heart is on the sleeve and it's palpitating wildly with direction, purpose and true expression.

A smart concept from a Smart resident, Savile has achieved something special here; a provocative model a deep self-construction and, above all, three damn fine pieces of techno.

'Control' is the first release on Jeff Derringer's new label, Oktave Records. The Smartbar resident takes his Chicago techno event to the next level with this new label offering. Jeff supplies the sounds for this first record, which continues his impressive run of releases on esteemed labels such as Soma, Electric Deluxe and Perc Trax. This time out, Jeff delivers immediate dance floor action with the A-side, 'Control,' a driving, intense affair with Jeff's trademark heavy kick and mutating sub bass. On the flip,
Jeff introduces an ambient re-working of his 2010 track
'Tarantula,' as well as the blissed-out, dub laden affair 'Touch Disease.' The record and the label represent a new depth of commitment to the Oktave mission and sound, with upcoming releases to feature respected producers like Iori, Giorgio Gigli and more. Stay tuned for further developments from Oktave Records.

After a decade's absence, spent working in commercial sound design, New York based electronic musician and producer Joseph Fraioli returns to his Datach'i alias for a brand new album entitled 'System'. Featuring 16 tracks of beautiful yet unsettling electronic music recorded exclusively on a Eurorack Modular synth, 'System' will be released on August 19th via Venetian Snares' Timesig imprint. Speaking about the album Fraioli said, 'I've spent much of the past decade building up my own sound design company, Jafbox Sound, and in recent years have become fascinated by modular synths. I'd been making a series of performance videos, showing how they work and that inspired me to start making music as Datach'i again. I suddenly realized I had a growing collection of tracks that worked together and had something new to say. Aaron heard some of them and encouraged me to start thinking of them in terms of an album and here we are.' Venetian Snares says of the album 'Joseph's special take on live modular production has had me really excited this past year. There are so many great tracks, it was nearly impossible to compile this album. I'm tickled he agreed to release them with Timesig!' The first non-VSnares-related release on Timesig, 'System' will be available on double vinyl, CD and digital download. Those who pre-order the physical release via the Planet Mu website will also receive a bonus CD featuring 19 more tracks recorded around the same time as 'System'. In addition Timesig and Datach'i have partnered with TipTop Audio and everyone who pre-orders the album will also be entered into a draw to win a Z3000 Smart VCO oscillator and 'Happy Ending' kit, the perfect introduction to building your own modular system. Having released 6 albums between 1999 and 2006 on labels including Planet Mu and Sublight, Fraioli has spent the past ten years running award-winning sound design company, Jafbox Sound, where his productions for film, TV and adverts have been recognized by the likes of the Cannes Film Festival and the CLIO Awards. In 2014, Fraioli also joined forces with Interpol's Daniel Kessler, forming 'Big Noble.' Their freshman release entitled, 'First Light," combined Fraioli's approach to sound design with Kessler's guitar work to create cinematic, ambient soundscapes.

Formed in Washington, D.C. in January of 2014, the EFFECTS are Devin Ocampo, Matthew Dowling, and David Rich.

A multi-instrumentalist, Ocampo is a former member of the bands Faraquet, Medications, Smart Went Crazy, and Deathfix, all of whom released music on Dischord. He has also toured and recorded with Mary Timony, Beauty Pill, and J. Robbins.

Dowling was the bassist and co-leader of Deleted Scenes, while Rich was the drummer in the instrumental group, Buildings. Both released music on the experimental-minded (and now defunct) local record label, Sock- ets. Devin met both Matt and David years before and while there had been talk of a possible collaboration everyone had their own projects at the time. However, by 2014 all were between bands and it finally made sense to get together and start something new.

For the trio, playing together was a nice change in routine. It was a new configuration of musicians, rather than a recombination of old friends and former bandmates, which happens regularly in the close-knit music scene of Washington D.C. Matt and David offered a fresh perspective and (possibly) gave the Devin a nudge out of his comfort zone.

Since then, the EFFECTS have performed sporadically throughout the East Coast and digitally released four two-song singles. Their full-length debut, Eyes to the Light, will be out this fall on Dischord.

DJ, musician, former saxophonist - there's a combination of skills you don't get to see too often. Get acquainted with DEMIAN, then, aka Damien Pontonnier, a French artist who relocated to Paris after an influential career as

electronic music pioneer and party organizer in Northern Spain. Now an accomplished producer with releases on labels such as Correspondant or Clouded Vision, he presents the MILESTARS EP for Kompakt - a quirky and vibrant track trio with an obvious knack for catchy melodic details in a kinetic techno corsage.

Having amassed quite the experience portfolio when it comes to grassroots club culture, DEMIAN knows a thing or two about inspiring a dance floor - but that doesn't necessarily account for the artistic versatility or genuine lust for sonic adventures and happy accidents that these cuts exhibit: opener DÉCLICA boots with deliciously stoic cowbell-isms that leave the doors of perception wide open for some iconoclastic, yet surprisingly effective synth action.

Meanwhile, the title cut invests in texture-rich atmosphere without forgetting about the precise amount of momentum you need to tip the floor over the edge. Closer NO HYPE FOR THE FISH takes things in a more hypnotic direction, intertwining freeform arpeggios and tape delay with smart beatmanship. Simultaneously lush and lean in its overall aesthetic, the MILESTARS EP will feed both the nerd and the dancer in you - a swiss army knife with all the right tools for masterful crowd control.

Gatupreto release their sophomore "Distino Di Nos Vida" on TINK! Music! The duo from Lisbon's hinterland return with a second round of their impeccable, futuristic theory on modern club music after the acclaimed "Modo Di Trabadja" EP, released in 2015. The tropical taste of Cabo Verde, the cool of that Lisbon dance floor fusionism, the appeal of classic vibes. Tracks too dark and twisted to be called "Afro", too sexy and melodic to be called "Techno", too smart and freaky to be called "House" and too cool and mature to be called "Kuduro", it is simply Gatupreto.
On the A side "I Became Me", deep afro dub with a killer sub bass and endless echoes, starring Portuguese soul and hip hop legend NBC as guest vocalist and a remix by afro Dutch master and fellow TINK! artist Philou Louzolo - who turns "I Became Me" into an irresistible deep house with african undertones.
On the flip side, the dark dramatic stomping tracks "Afrowerk" and "Gatu Di Noti", the first an eerie, irresistible peak time banger, and the later a stormer with sounds from natural Africa, harpy acid lines and an off kilter beat.

Label owner Kastil comes up with the fourth 12'' in the Stale series. After imaginative releases by Irazu, Deapmash together with a string of underground cassette releases it's finally time for the man in charge to step back up with a very versatile and well balanced outing called ''The Sadistic Abbess''. The opening effort on the A side ''YD33'' is a modular sounding Techno cut that comes through as a robust and assertive opening track, showcasing Kastil's expertise in creating hazardous ambiances and programming rough drum patterns. ''Sphere of Influence'' is an intergalactic offering that is hard to pin down. The craze of FX on this cut is wide and thorough leaving the listening in somewhat of a frenzy. The built is strong and the effort develops into a monstrous buldger that balances smartly between different sides of electronic music. ''Bastardos'' is an emotive piece of cinematic proportions that serves as the outro for the A side. Wonderfully orchestrated pads and gloomy vocals. ''Variable Penrose'' opens up the B side. This cut will ensure some peak time dancefloor action due to it's structured nature. Serbian producer ''Lag'' offers an energetic remix of another Kastil original named ''Gold Coal''. ST171 will be available through all specialized retailers early 2017.

Another off-the-books mission to the OUTERZONA !
Consistent best-sellers, these little collections of secret weapons have made many friends out there on the floor
No.6 delves once again into the ammo cupboard, but reassembles this devastating array of weaponry into altogether more potent smart-bombs
From a wigged-out Jazz-Rock monster to familiar & timeless symphonic Disco licks, to a hidden mid-Seventies Soul rewire Once again, Outerzona refresh the parts other edits cannot reach !These are never around for long, so you know what to do

After a considerable career releasing on numerous labels, as well as being co-founder of Essen based label Mild Pitch, Langenberg finally drops his first album under this alias. Max Heesen, (who is also one half of Ribn with Manuel Tur) delivers the smartly titled 'Central Heated House' for Steve Bug's Dessous Recordings. The LP format suits Langenberg's hypnotic house classicism well, allowing time and space to stretch out the grooves and moods over four sides of vinyl - working both for the DJs and perfect as a soundtrack for the autumn. The LP kicks off with 'Jade', a melancholic, tape saturated introduction to Langenberg's deep tastes. 'Room 210' maintains this atmosphere, with fizzing percussion and warm Detroit-esque melodies. 'Groove 26' is perfectly timed for the hot summer, as lush Rhodes chords and KDJ style vocal snippets provide the heat for the openair vibes. The single from earlier this year 'Shadows' features the talents of vocalist Blakkat, and caused some serious response when it hit airwaves and dancefloors alike. 'Never Worry' is a heads down roller, built around a simple but perfectly executed bassline, while 'Dreamliner' is trippy laidback sunshine house all the way. 'I'll Be Late' and 'Planitz Proposal' step back into the club, with Langenberg's signature crisp percussion, crunchy hits and analog synth wizardry on full display. 'Rain & Roses' closes out the album in a similar way to how it started wistful, thoughtful house music with soul.

Vintage Electronica aware smart leftfield House jams & Ambient interludes

Prince Jammy became a King while cutting his musical teeth working for the dub master himself King Tubby.
In that old Jamaican way, when everyone in Jamaica was given a new name to work with, Prince Jammy as he would be known so impressed his colleagues that he rose from a Prince to a King,both names given to him by producer Bunny 'Striker'Lee.
Out of the many protégés that trained and worked at King Tubby's....and there were many, Scientist, Pat Kelly .Prince Phillip Smart to name but a few it was King Jammy's work that was the main stay .
We have selected a set of tunes that were rebuilt with King Jammy at the controls...
Hope you enjoy the set

Psychedelic Relics is the debut release launching TB Arthur's own (312) label, distributed by Clone. This four-track EP comprises unreleased material initially revealed and reveled during Arthur's acclaimed live sets at Berghain and Smart Bar in 2015.

Saft welcomes 'Nortasun' to it's expanding roster of artists. With not too much info being available about the artist, the music should do the talking. 'Nortasun' comes up with a sample drenched EP that consists out of swell basslines, mind expanding chords and outlandish percussion works. ''Untitled 1'' opens up with a carefully placed disco sample that hovers over the rhythms very nicely. The percussion section and the ascending chords serve the overal ambiance while Nortasun plays with the extended loop pattern that maintains of interest. ''Untitled 2'' serves as a very deep but functional voyage into tribal territory. A vary of percussion sets in and smartly exchanges tones with FX cuts. On the B side ''Fudge Fingas'' debuts on SAFT with an atmospheric beast of a remix for ''Untitled 1'' that constantly grows and cleverly uses vocal cuts that change up the original atmosphere and makes the overall a very broad work of house music. The Stevie Wonder like clava hit + piano solo's that come in when the remix progresses are all in courtesy of the Edinburghian producer himself.

Mammal Hands are a trio of like-minded musicians: Nick Smart piano, Jesse Barrett drums and tabla, and Jordan Smart saxophones. Floa is their second album for Gondwana Records and in the 18 months since their debut, Animalia, they have carved out a growing following both here and abroad for their hypnotic fusion of jazz, folk and electronica: winning fans from Bonobo and Gilles Peterson to Jamie Cullum. Landmark live performances have included shows at King's Place in London and the RNCM in Manchester, as well as a barn-storming debut at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Drawing on a rich well of influences from Sufi and shamanic African trance music, Irish and Eastern European folk music, to Steve Reich and Philip Glass and more contemporary electronica influences, their music is built around deceptively simple sounding ideas that are lent power through the use of repetition and rhythmic loops. They have been compared to both Portico Quartet and GoGo Penguin for the way in which they navigate the choppy waters between contemporary dance music and jazz. Floa (an old Norse word that means to deluge or to flow) is the sound of a more confident, experienced band: one that has grown together naturally through touring and gigging and through mammoth writing and rehearsal sessions where all three bring rhythmic, improvisational and melodic ideas to the table. Floa was recorded at Gondwana's home from home, 80 Hertz Studios in Manchester, reuniting the band with producer Matthew Halsall and features some of the Gondwana Orchestra strings who played on Halsall's acclaimed album Into Forever. Together they have crafted a wonderful sounding record, the richness of which perfectly illuminates the band's music. Artwork is from Gondwana's in-house design maestro Daniel Halsall whose artwork of symbols created from older symbols perfectly illustrates the creative ideas that drive the band's music.
The release is supported by an extensive UK tour including dates in Norwich, Bristol, Brighton, Manchester and beyond. The band support Matthew Halsall at St John's Hackney on May 26th and have their own head-line show at the Jazz Cafe, Camden on 31st May. Confirmed airplay from Jamie Cullum BBC Radio 2, Gilles Peterson 6 Music, Radio 3 Late Junction, BBC Scotland Jazz House, Jazz FM, John Kennedy X and full servicing to all specialist and online radio stations. Reviews from The Guardian, Mojo, Record Collector, Jazzwise, Nos Magazine, Nowthen and local press. Online support from AllAboutJazz, Quietus, Access All Areas, Bebop Spoken Here and beyond.

Newly established Berlin-based vinyl-only label Dreiklang dive straight into the physical world with First Contact. The label's distinctive triangular concept is reflected in its name with Dreiklang pursuing a three-fold approach to electronic music. Each release presents three contrasting takes on the same source material, juxtaposing and unifying three particular electronic music sub-currents. For their first outing, Dreiklang call upon an international team of producers with OCH, Hydergine and Kelovolt dropping in for their respective shots of tech-house, dub techno, and dark drone techno. The tight three-tracker will see the light of day on a 500 limited edition run of 180gr high-quality wax with the beautiful hand-drawn designs of Berlin artist Nils Altland gracing each sleeve, transforming the covers into individual works of arts. First up on Dreiklang001 is Londoner OCH (Autoreply / Stuga Musik), who takes a simple keyboard line into menacing territory, steering the dancefloor towards the grittier ends of tech-house. A funky bassline leads the way as distant synths exhale in glossy metalic fashion and the road is adequately paved for the reinterpretations that follow. Second up, comes Hydergine. The Italian producer lives up to his brain enhancement drug name by dropping a smart dub-techno rework where mind-numbing kicks bring the listener on an atmospheric joyride through the deeper ends of narcosis. Kelovolt complete the triangle with an immersive remix where drone-heavy soundscapes take center stage for a delicately hypnotic finale. First Contact is out December 16th on Dreiklang.

André Hommen and Gerd Janson have remixed Tensnake's 'The Walk / Keep On Talking'. Forthcoming on Tensnake's own label True Romance, TREP010 'The Walk / Keep on Talking' Remixes will be available on both digital and vinyl from the 14th December. It's arguably the label's biggest remix package since Duke Dumont and Ewan Pearson remixed 'Love Sublime'. The Pete Tong approved André Hommen - also the creative producer and label manager of Dennis Ferrer's Objektivity imprint - has remixed 'The Walk' on the A-side. A deep, minimalistic beat drives his remix and a smart breakdown introduces the melody from Tensnake's original, pushing all the original elements to higher heights. 'Running Back' label boss Gerd Janson's 'Keep On Talking' RAW mix is set against powerful drums and acid-tinged synths, with a piano-led breakdown echoing the original melody. The Panorama Bar resident and celebrated producer delivers a unique cut formed of several retro influences to provide a cool new twist on Tensnake's upbeat original. The vinyl release also include's Gerd's beats-only version in the 'Gerd Janson RAW beats mix".

Steeped in house history it was only a matter of time until the next next generation of Chicago House artist came to the forefront of the genre. Luckily we're friends with them.

'Classic Music Company presents Chicago Nouveaux' brings together the new-breed collective of exceptionally talented Chicago-based artists on a single release. Shaun J Wright & Alinka contribute 'Wang's On Broadway' and 'Matters Of The Heart' - the latter coming with a remix courtesy of Smart Bar's own The Black Madonna while Chrissy drops 'Join Me' with Miles Bonny on vocals, complete with a re-edit for the one & only Rahaan.
This is about as Chi as it gets.

Hailing from Tel Aviv, Israel, the DJ/producer trio PARTOK MATUSHKA APFELBERG is a well-known entity in its hometown, with the involved artists holding residencies in one of the most acclaimed clubs these days: Tel Aviv's The Block has been named "one of the five best sound systems" in the world on England's BBC Radio 1, perfect proving grounds for the slick, propulsive techno to be found on our latest 12" offering. Title track NAI NAI bum-rushes the stage with prowess, inflicting its bass-heavy demeanor with some funky voice cut-up work that will conciliate the hardcore floor heads with the more casual headbangers. The flipside shines with STATION, a relaxed, somewhat introspective belter giving its epic synth pads enough room to breathe without sabotaging its percussive agency. All in all, this is an impressive calling card putting these fresh talents on the road to worldwide floor domination.

Aus Tel Aviv, Israel, stammt das DJ/Produzententrio PARTOK MATUSHKA APFELBERG, in der Heimat eine anerkannte Grösse: die beteiligten Künstler stammen samt und sonders aus dem Umfeld von The Block, einem der besten Clubs zur Zeit, wo sie auch als Resident-DJs walten und wirken. Vom englischen BBC Radio 1 als "eines der fünf besten Soundsysteme der Welt" gelobt, entpuppt sich The Block als das ideale Testgelände für den smarten, antreibenden Techno der unser neuestes 12"-Release schmückt. Der bassgeschwängerte Titeltrack NAI NAI stürmt gekonnt die Bühne, auch dank der elegant zersägten Stimmsamples, welche die Hardcore-Flurfüchse mit den Gelegenheitsheadbangern versöhnen wird. Die Rückseite glänzt mit STATION, einem entspannten, tendenziell introspektiven Schieber, der seinen epischen Synthieflächen genug Raum zum Atmen gibt, ohne jedoch die perkussive Schlagkraft zu sabotieren. Alles in allem eine beeindruckende Visitenkarte für diese frischen Talente auf dem Weg zu weltweiter Flurdominanz.

Das extra schwere 180g schwarze Vinyl kommt mit einer CD in transp. Stecktasche als Bonus.
Seit der Veröffentlichung ihres Debütalbums - Flucht nach vorn ist viel passiert. ROGERS blicken nicht
nur auf Shows/Tourneen mit den Broilers, Slime, Sondaschule und The Creepshow zurück, sondern
auch auf zahlreiche Festivals (u.a. Open Flair, With Full Force, Mair1).
Die ROGERS vertreten eine - Alles oder Nichts -Haltung und diese hört man dem inspirierten und
griffigen neuen Album - Nichts zu verlieren definitiv an. Ungekünstelt und frei von hohlem Pathos
rocken die ROGERS hymnisch (- Steh Auf ), treibend (- Eure Zeit ), nachdenklich (- Zugvögel ) und
beschließen das Album smart mit einem potentiellen Sommerhit (- Vergiss Nie ).
Mit - Nichts zu verlieren im Rücken können ROGERS die anstehenden Sommerfestivals und die
Tournee mit ihren Labelkollegen von The Bones im Herbst kaum erwarten - schaut sie euch an. Es
lohnt sich!

Smart bomb alert! Senegalese Mbalax derivatives in approved Dub mode.

Riding on the back of a surge of interest in De La Club, the debut LP from Hold Youth, comes a smartly picked repress of House don Nail. While the duo is known for their eclectic vision of dance music, the first repress on the label I've Been There EP is in fact an exemplary example of straight-up, no-fuss House. Enjoying a modest comeback of late both as a producer and DJ, Nail originally released Full of Beestone Promise EP on DIY Discs in '97. The stronger two of the four tracks will be repressed one on each side, 'Our Love' and 'I've Been There', distinctive for its melodic vocal and recent inclusion in the Apollonia fabric 70 compilation.

While we have become accustomed to Hold Youth's diversification of sounds with the current LP, I've Been There reminds us that a pigeon-holable classic can be highly refreshing.

8th vinyl from Gilesku series delivers another talent on display. A very intelligent work from one of the most promising slovenian producers you should pay attention to in the future - Vid Vai.
A three track EP opens with an intelligent minimalistic track 'Somewhere out there' - this catchy bassline, wicked and smart game of beats will definitely open your mind and take you on a ride. 'Eleos' is uncompromising dancefloor bomb with strong acid line, accompanied with warm synth theme which will take you back in time. To conclude this amazing EP, here is 'Hidden Projections' track, another 'acidish' gem that proves how talented Vid Vai is.

PRAYMOND is a French Artist and long time record collector. After years of travelling and playing across Europe and America, he decided to release his first EP. This record is not just an elegant DJ tool but it's also a really smart take on how to bring a discrete touch of acoustic in a music usually dominated by analogue and digital sounds. 3 tracks on this EP. Huguette uses a lot of acoustic elements to deliver an epic dancefloor track Chamalowe slows the tempo in order to make the pattern heavier Timeless Memory is a tribute to Dub Techno with an acoustic take, touch of Platon records

It's always a treat here at Circus Company to be able to shed the light on a lesser known talent. After all, it's a philosophy we have built the label on, but there's no denying we need to have that personal connection with the artists whose music we release. In the case of San Francisco act Moniker, our own dear Dave Aju has a previous history with Kenneth Scott from the duo, having lent some vocals to his 2009 jam 'What Do I Do' So it is that we come to release this, the first fully fledged vinyl offering from Scott and his studio partner Emilio Orlandi after years spent treating Californian crowds to their live, hardware-driven sound. The machines definitely rule the roost in the world of Moniker, but unlike so much of the current obsession with analogue noise and the lo-fi aesthetic, Scott and Orlandi instead coax heartfelt emotion and hand-crafted grooves from an array of beat boxes and synthesisers without making any self-conscious moves to demonstrate how .undigita' they are. Instead, the music takes priority, coming forth in soothing waves of harmonious chords, captivating leads and understated drums that speak volumes for simplicity and soul within deep house. The live aspect of Moniker's mission undoubtedly shines through, manifesting itself in smart switch-ups and breakdowns, impulsive edits and subtle variations that can only result from an on-the-fly jam. Mainly though, this is an exercise in satisfaction, speaking to the same pleasure neurons that would have been tickled the first time you heard Metro Area. In keeping with the warm tones of the original material, Patrice Scott makes for a thoroughly welcome addition to the fold.

Soul Print Recordings is proud to present their first ever vinyl release. 4 excellent deep tracks pressed on a slice of 12' black gold which features tracks by Fil Lavin & DJP, Petkovski & Akioki and reworks by the mighty Deep Space Orchestra and Liverpool based Andy Ash.
On the A side we find an infectious disco tainted classic deephouse groove called ''Hear Me'' by the likes of Fil Lavin & DJP. Excellent uplifting grooves which are smartly complimented by some subtle sample work. For the A2' Andy Ash is on remix duties. The rework contains a more nervous and elecronic vibe with flipped drums to a more contemporary electroish 80s vibe but still maintains the signature chord sounds of the original effort.
Label founder Petkovski opens the B side together with longtime label collaborator Akioki on their spiritual dancefloor smasher ''Think''. Again some catchy deep chords are subtly placed over balanced drums to uphold the moving vocal sample that lies on top.
The B2 brings us a Deep Space Orchestra rework of Petkovski and Akioki's ''think''.
Like you'd expect from the british duo, a more atmospheric yet staggering vibe has been created, focussing on the electronic bits of the original work a top notch DSO remix has been delivered which is perfect to close down an excellent and very balanced debut 12''.

Den meisten dürfte FREILAND eher von den jüngeren Profan
Veröffentlichungen Klaviermusik und Geduld bekannt sein.
FREILAND war aber vor allem das 1998 gestartete, auf 6 Maxis
begrenzte Nachfolgeprojekt der legendären Studio 1 Reihe.
Keine Hihats, keine Snares, keine Samples. Weniger ist Mehr.
Mit seiner konsequenten Konzeption, mit jeweils nur einem
einzigen synthetischen Sound, der in stoisch-minimaler
Rhythmik lediglich um eine Bassdrum kreist, war und ist
FREILAND, neben Sog, Wolfgang Voigts wichtigstes Projekt
dieser Art. Im Sinne der ' Kunst des Weglassens " stellt das
Stück FREILAND - ROT 2, gewissermassen den Inbegriff
dieses Konzeptes dar. So bildet auch 'ROT 2' den Auftakt der
Remixreihe 'FREILAND - FREIE SICHT'. Wie eine rostige
Stahlskulptur à la Richard Serra steht auch heute noch das
Original auf freiem Feld und trotzt Wind und Wetter. Für seinen
Z.O.M. Mix hat Wolfgang Voigt das Ding rein ins Haus geholt
und in einen fast discohaft, warmen Groovemantel gehüllt. So
verpackt geht's dann durch silbern glitzernden
Lamettamaschinenregen aus dem Arpeggiator. Ein kleiner
Vorgeschmack auf das im September erscheinende Album
'Zukunft Ohne Menschen'.
'ROT 3' , die Mutter aller Schaffelbomben, kommt im Gaffelmix.
Heißt: Gabber trifft Schaffel. Kompakt Extra / Speicher, die
Heimat des Edelschweinerock lässt grüßen. Gewissermaßen
als Ehrengast gibt sich auf B1 der Maler Albert Oehlen unter
seinem Musik -Alter Ego Wendy Gondeln die Ehre. Ganz der
expressiven Radikalität seiner Malerei entsprechend,
bearbeitet er das bisher als Originalversion unveröffentlichte
'ROT 4'. Vermittels aggressiv, abstraktem Geigeneinsatz in
Echtzeit bringt er die stabile Statik des Beats an seine Grenzen.
Ein kurzes aber intensives Intermezzo und ein Annäherung an
Techno, wie man sie so nur sehr selten gehört hat. Für smart-
souveräne Abrundung in Richtung Dancefloor sorgt Michael
Mayer im besten kompakt'schen Sinne. Er verdichtet die
Zutaten des subtil groovenden Schaffeltracks 'GELB 3' zu
einem zischelnden Geäst aus verwischten Drumsounds.
Musikalisches Eigenblutdoping mit knappen Breaks und
sparsam gesetzten düster-housigen Akkorden.

Elon make with the DIY vibes on the smart EP. Fans of Live Jam releases, listen up! On the title track sharp cuts, tight bursts of sound and loose percussion combine into a complex rhythm that is kept in check by a nice tumbling bassline. Jazz breaks hit the speakers with Got Ya, Tiger! Like a night out in Soho in 1962 brought back to life on an MPC. The bruising bassline just shouts 'Dance Or I'll Kick You In The Guts". Alex Celler's Broken Circuit Dub of Got Ya, Tiger! ramps up that kicking a notch. All those bruising elements are still there, but the guy grinds those jazz breaks up in his big metal jaws and spits out a gobful of twisted future. And you're gonna like it! Elon team up with Stefny on Téo, which finishes the EP. And you can feel her effect - she clearly loves a cheeky little synth line, because there are plenty of them here... squalking, meeping and dooping in perfect harmony to create a nice trancey brainfeeder. Nice.

Italian producer Joe Drive serves you his first ep for 4lux. And what an excellent EP this is. Deep house tracks with a true analogue feel. Rain Dance is an exquisite deep house bomb with smart TR707 drum programming, deep driving bassline and disco-ish vibes. Title song Junopolis is dedicated to the legendary Juno synths and shows you capabilities of these machines in clever fashion. Alden Tyrell brings you the extremely deep remix for Tefnut: steady drum programming with spaced out synth filtering and dubby tape delays. This is one for the heads for sure. Joe Drives' original is included too. Recomended!

Unusually for a record (for me, at least), 'Constants' collects tracks written in four very different moments in time: some are recent - so recent I've only had the opportunity to play them out just a handful of times - while others are over one year old. I really wish the story behind this EP would be a bit more interesting so this text could completely blow your mind but I'm afraid there were no dragons, no sex, no drugs and definitely no rock'n'roll involved. All four were mostly produced by me while sipping coffee and wearing boxer shorts in front of a computer. I could somehow try to describe the music on here but it would probably take less for you to give it a listen. However, if you happen to be one of the humans that prefer reading about music, you might want to wait a little bit longer: hopefully some smart blogger will skip through the SoundCloud previews for you and describe them in detail using words he learned a few minutes prior to posting it on the internet. Anyway, I'm really happy to see these finally out, especially on a label I have always looked up to like Vakant. I really used to think Smoke, Kaden and Ozer were aliens at some point. Hopefully you will enjoy this music as much as I loved writing and playing it out. T PS: I was kidding about the blogger thing. Bloggers, I love you.

Up and away / To your journey to the sun / Drink your rocket juice / Fly away (Hey, Shooter).
High up in the skies, amongst the clouds, Rocket Juice & The Moon was born. Literally. It happened back in 2008, when Damon Albarn, Flea and Tony Allen convened on the same Lagos flight, to play and exchange musical ideas in that city as part of the Africa Express collective. Relishing a shared enthusiasm for one another's work, and bonding immediately, there and then the triumvirate laid down the blueprint for Rocket Juice.
Still, more than a year passed before conditions were set for three weeks together at Albarn's West London studio, recording and refining two-dozen startlingly out and deeply funky instrumental grooves. The next stage was to invite onboard some extremely talented friends, with further sessions in Dallas, New York, Chicago and Paris... Erykah Badu, no less, queen of contemporary soul. Three companions from Africa Express: Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara, whose debut album has topped World Music charts since its release last Autumn; her multi-talented compatriot Cheick Tidiane Seck, whose prodigious keyboardism has lit up releases by artists ranging from Youssou N'Dour to Hank Jones; the young, Ghanaian rapper M.anifest, quizzically existential, switching seamlessly between Twi and English. And the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, long-time stalwarts in the Honest Jon's set-up — since one of the team discovered them busking near the shop in Portobello Road, on his lunchbreak — with a second album for the label due in May... Finally, the tracks were dispatched for mixing to Berlin, to be meticulously honed, polished and envenomed by Mark Ernestus, one half of the legendary Basic Channel and Rhythm & Sound partnerships.
The result is Rocket Juice & The Moon — out March 26, 2012, on Honest Jon's Records — a triumphant exploration and proliferation of kinetic Afro-funk rhythms: organic, exuberant, communal music-making, evidenced by the project's live debut on stage as part of the Honest Jon's Chop Up in late 2011, which hit London, Marseille, Dublin, and Cork to such great acclaim (witness the flurry of smart-phone film-clips uploaded in the days thereafter).
From the inaugural bars — that absurdly funky slice of instructional timekeeping, 1-2-3-4-5-6 — the liquid pulse of Fela Kuti's classic recordings drives the action through a suite of 18 shape-shifting compositions. The greatest drummer in the world has never sounded so good as he does here. His intricate cross-patterns jostle and lock with Flea's nimble, rumbling bass riffs. Joined by Seck on There and Extinguished — 'when you dispose of something burning, be sure it's out' — Albarn's keyboards spray synth fusillades up top, over, and under... splicing into the mess of wires running between the freaked Afro-disco of William Onyeabor and the space-jazz-moog of Sun Ra. The HBE brings extra intensity and drama to Leave-Taking — likewise Flea's trumpet to Rotary Connection — teasing out the haunting melody coiled in the mix.
Where the best of vintage Afrobeat sides sustained their concentrated energies over the course of sprawling, marathon jams, RJ & TM manages something altogether different: the group bottles the idiom into capsules of funk... and real songs. Beautifully buoyed by Erykah Badu's unmistakable vocals, Hey, Shooter brilliantly traverses metaphysical spaceways sans any semblance of noodling. Lolo and Follow-Fashion — featuring the open-hearted sensuality of Diawara's singing, M.anifest's quick, brawny science, and more brass blasts — play like its musical cousins or codas. Indeed, the album's shrewd sequencing creates the composite effect of tracks working both individually or within the context of an extended song-cycle.
The lovely ballad, Poison, is bittersweet and ruminative: 'If you're looking for love, beware the signs / They will paralyze you one by one / Poison, it will only break your heart.' Down-tempo and dubby, Check Out and Worries amplify the range of styles and moods. And by the time of Fatherless — a chugging Afro blues that evokes John Lee Hooker lost in Lagos, one gets the sneaking suspicion there's very little outside the reach of this collective's inventive musical grasp.
There is, in fact, a palpable openness pervading Rocket Juice & The Moon — the sense of a limber willingness to follow creative impulse — right down to how the group acquired its name. When Ogunajo Ademola — the Lagotian commissioned to do the album's cover artwork — dubbed his submission 'Rocket Juice & The Moon', it quickly morphed into the formal name of the project, like trying to hold onto mercury.
Surely, the stars above also approved.

Edward O’Sullivan Lee “but my friends call me Bunny or Striker Lee” was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 23rd August 1941. He started in the music business plugging records for Duke Reid at Treasure Isle, Coxsone Dodd at Studio One and Leslie Kong at Beverley’s. “I used to do plugging… when I say plugging I used to get their records played on ‘Teenage Dance Party’ and we’d dance so if you had a record to plug you’d put it on and dance to it and show the latest moves”.

Nachgepresst und mit leicht erhöhtem Preis wieder lieferbar ist die Doppel-LP von und mit der Produzentenlegende Winston Holness aka Niney The Observer, vollgepackt mit 28 Klassikern aus der Bütezeit des Reggae inklusive Nineys Hit "Blood & Fire". Mit allen Artists mit Rang und Namen und den Musikern der Aggrovators, The Revolutionaries und dem Soul Syndicate, eingespielt in Randy's Studio 17, King Tubby's, Dynamic Sounds, Channel One, Joe Gibbs und dem Black Ark Studio!