Search:sō percussion

The king of cheeky edits of timeless disco and funk is back with a wicked trip through obscure French grooves, flipped, filtered, and fired up for contemporary dancefloors. These three edits from Monsieur Van Pratt on Illegal Disco 008 don't just nod to the past, they grab it by the collar and drag it under the mirrorball. The opener 'Danse Danse' struts in a sunny groove built for open-air euphoria, 'Pas Chez Toi' slides deeper, a go-go-soaked funk jam with razor-sharp percussion then 'Ombre De Plaisir' detonates with horns blaring, rhythm pumping and pure disco adrenaline. Another gem from Mr Pratt.

JOCELYN VIRAPIN is one of the master of the Guadeloupean Gwoka percussion.
Born October 17th, 1957 in Basse-Terre, he’s an author, composer, producer and a vinyl digger.
His Gwoka is a pure tribute to the traditional combination of responsorial singing in Guadeloupean creole, rhythms played on the Ka drums and dancing.
He started to play in the 90’s with his band Gwaka. He opened and collaborated with prestigious band such as Kassav or Zouk Machine.
He has a massive discography as arranger and musician: he appears on more than 78 albums! The track "Pasyon" was originally released in 1994 on a rare vinyl , but with the artist we decided to do an edit, so we invited the super talented jazz player Florian Pellissier for a Rhodes improvisation on the original take.
The track "Respè Pou Fanm" was originally released with his band BELOKA in 2010 and was only pressed on a Cd format at a very limited quantity. This beautiful song is a blend of Ka, fantastic jazzy keys on Rhodes, hypnotic bass, sublime creole spiritual chants. With an incredibly joyous feel, the lyrics gave a timeless advice to men: Respect Women .
It definitely deserves a vinyl version for all the music lovers, Dj’s and diggers from all over the world !
Kenbé red pa moli !

Both multi-instrumentalists and seasoned producers, J and Peter took an all-hands-on-deck approach to these original collaborative tracks. The sonic seeds of "Underappreciated" and "Facile" were planted by Peter, JKriv cooked up the demo of "Over Suffa", and all three were completed together in J’s Brooklyn production studio. With live-recorded guitar, bass, analog synths, and drums/percussion by and a cohort of Brooklyn accomplices, the Facile EP marries live elements with modern club-ready production.

The punchy horns and no-nonsense vocals on "Underappreciated" come via Peter’s long-standing stage and studio connection with Ibibio Sound Machine, Favorite Recordings staple singer Olivya delivers the soulful EP title track performance, and Samy Love’s insistent vocal on "Over Suffa" is a pleading message to end the war and suffering in his native Cameroon.

With a remix of "Underappreciated" by French producer extraordinaire Yuksek, songs in both English and French, and influences ranging from boogie funk, 80s R&B, and classic Zouk, the Facile EP is a varied and dazzling collection of music for both listeners and DJs alike.

2026 Repress

Welcome to the brilliant Herbie Hancock with the always in-demand slinky groover Stars In Your Eyes on the much coveted 11.21 "special disco remix".

This is quite simply one of the smoothest Disco rides you will ever take with a production made in heaven and a vocalist supreme with Gavin Christopher taking it to another level. Find an original U.S. promo of this if you can.

There's lookalikes about which are inferior quality! As if that wasn't enough, we've only gone and paired it with the hugely rare U.S. promo-only 12" "special disco remix" of the scintillating Saturday Night.

This is as rare as hens teeth and you'd be lucky to find a mint one for less than £50. Featuring an extended percussion break from the fantastic Sheila E, this a very different mix to the original album version and was never widely circulated at the time.
So another nice rare gem. As double-siders go, this really takes some beating. Order with confidence because this will still be selling for years to come.

Swiss DJ and producer Audrey Danza returns with Next Stop, her first self-released vinyl EP on her own imprint, Proxima. The four-track release sharpens her sound into a direct, club-focused statement rooted in acid techno.

Each track is carefully engineered for the dancefloor. Driving acidic basslines and distinctive percussion interlock with warped, spacey textures to form forward-moving, high-pressure grooves. Processed vocal fragments punctuate the tracks, heightening tension and momentum. The EP moves through trippy, mental territory, balancing functional DJ tools with off-kilter details and strange sonic flourishes.

Built for movement and momentum, Next Stop works equally well in late-night warehouse settings and peak-time club moments.

Boogie Back Records proudly reissues BBR008 on 7-inch vinyl — a timeless slice of soulful innovation from Max Beesley, whose deep roots in the UK’s acid jazz and soul scene have influenced generations of musicians and listeners alike. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer, Beesley has collaborated with some of the most iconic artists of our time — Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Earth, Wind & Fire, James Brown, Incognito, Jamiroquai, and many more — contributing his signature touch on drums, percussion, keyboards, and vibraphone.

Originally released as part of Boogie Back’s 12” series, BBR008 captures Beesley’s unmistakable sound: rich harmonies, heavy grooves, and that soulful energy that bridges classic street soul and contemporary jazz-funk. This 7” reissue distills the essence of his acclaimed Boogie Back Records impacting era — a period defined by vibrant musicianship and cosmic jazz grooves ready for both the dancefloor and the deep listener. These two tracks showcase the full range of Beesley’s musical vision. “Night Daze” rides a hypnotic groove of cosmic Rhodes chords, tight percussion, and lush vibraphone lines, creating a cinematic, late-night atmosphere. On the flip, “Painful Truth” features the unmistakable voice of Omar, one of the UK’s most iconic soul vocalists — delivering a deep, heartfelt performance over Beesley’s rich, jazz-funk arrangements. This is another special and exclusive 45/7“ release via Soulkitchen Distribution…

2026 Repress

The long-awaited sequel to Ophidian's cult classic Blackbox (2003) arrives: "Blackbox: Kasamaan" picks up where the original left off, and strays further into the darkness.
Expect Industrial Hardcore and Hard Techno with grinding, distorted kicks, warped percussion, detailed rhythms and intricate sound design, all while being cloaked in haunting, eerie atmospheres.

Daniele Baldelli
"A pleasant surprise to find in this release various atmospheres and sounds that have always been part of my DJing. It even made me rediscover M’Bamina, whom I used to play back in 1974 at the Tabù Club in Cattolica.
There are afro vibes as well, with Black Line – Myele, which is featured on one of my Cosmic tapes, and Nowhere by the Stratosferic Band recalls a track I used to play at the Baia degli Angeli…
Excellent work!"

Voom Voom Music was an independent Italian record label based in Turin, founded and managed by record producer Ivo Lunardi (Turin, December 6, 1940 – December 9, 2010). A pivotal figure in the Piedmont music scene, Lunardi was active both as a DJ and as the owner of several disco clubs.

The label operated for several years in the latter half of the 1970s, releasing mainly productions connected to the Italian dance and pop scene.
Since 2016, the original master tapes from the Voom Voom Music catalog have been owned by Gianluca Pandullo (I-Robots), a close friend of Ivo and Luca Lunardi. Through his labels Opilec Music and Turin Dancefloor Express, Pandullo oversees their preservation and historical enhancement.

The artistic direction of Voom Voom Music was marked by a distinct sonic identity — eclectic yet visionary. The Turin-based label founded by Ivo Lunardi embraced a sound that blended disco, pop, and rock influences, interwoven with African American grooves in a pioneering, international perspective.

Voom Voom Music was among the first Italian labels to introduce this kind of musical language in the country. A prime example is the Italian edition of the debut album by B.T. Express, Do It ('Til You're Satisfied), released in LP, 8-Track Cartridge, cassette, and 7" single formats.
The label’s productions clearly reflected the influence of black and funk music, as evidenced by the references and inspirations running through its catalogue. The track “Lady Pick-Up”, for instance, includes direct nods to “Do It Good” by KC & The Sunshine Band and Manu Dibango’s iconic “Soul Makossa”, revealing a musically refined and contemporary sensibility.

Among the label’s most representative works is Splash (1977) by the Stratosferic Band, a project conceived by Luigi Venegoni — producer, songwriter, and guitarist of Arti e Mestieri. Venegoni’s artistic journey spanned from progressive rock to space and Italo disco. The album artwork was designed by Piero D’Amore (1944 - 2022), a charismatic and multifaceted figure of Turin’s art scene (one of his works was even acquired by the MoMA in New York).
The record includes a disco reinterpretation of Van Morrison’s classic “Gloria”, and “Splashdown”, a track fusing the disco-rock energy of Rockets and Space. In contrast, “Nowhere” revisits the 1975 single by Hokis Pokis, a soul/disco band from Nassau County (New York), transforming it into a vibrant disco-funk number.

Another significant expression of the label’s catalogue is the afro-rock sound of M’Bamina, an Italo-Congolese group whose rhythmic energy and dialogue between African percussion and Western funk evoke the style of international formations such as Osibisa — themselves linked to a rich artistic history in Italy.

Some 30 years after they first met in the DJ booth of Tokyo’s Spacelab Yellow nightclub, close friends François Kevorkian and Dimitri From Paris have finally joined forces in the studio. The result is The Nassau Excursion, a dazzlingly good three-track EP inspired by their joint love of disco and boogie-era dance records made at Island Records’ Compass Point Studio in the Bahamas.

Across three essential tracks, François and Dimitri explore and celebrate this distinctive Caribbean post-disco sound – one where weighty basslines and heavy drum machine beats rub shoulders with early ‘80s synths, dub-style production, heady hand percussion patterns and arrangements drenched in space echo and tape delay.

Worldwide Connexion (JGRVWAX007) is the seventh vinyl release on Junked Groove, bringing together five artists from four countries on one deep house / house record.

Side A opens with BMB SpaceKid, delivering an explosive cut driven by swinging percussion, vocal chops, and a heavy low-end. His beat-making roots are front and center, resulting in an undeniable dancefloor mover. Next up, DFRA & Nick Weaver take things into a more hypnotic territory: jazzy, minimal, and smooth, with flowing harmonies and subtle synth movements that quietly reveal a solid classical foundation behind the music.

On Side B, Detroit’s own Javonntte offers a raw house anthem. Pure groove, timeless energy, and that unmistakable feeling of being locked inside the track from the very first synth line. Closing the record, Junky Palms brings a UK-rooted groove built around classic house chords, layered with psychedelic and slightly tense synths. Cold Manchester air and rave nostalgia drift through the mix.

One record, four countries, five perspectives, one groove.

Ascending Signs Records returns with its second release “Remedies”, a four-track EP from label founder Domenico Niki, featuring a remix by Hieroglyphic Being on the B-side.
The EP delivers and explores an eclectic territory between house and mid-tempo rhythms, blending deep and immersive atmospheres with experimental textures.
It opens with A1 “The very few”, a mid-tempo track built around interwoven synth leads, fat basslines and dirty drums.
Driven by a soaring beat, A2 “Straight to the sky” follows with smooth pads and complex, evolving textures.
On B1, Hieroglyphic Being reshapes “Straight to the sky” through his unmistakable sonic language, pushing the track into more abstract soundscapes.
The EP closes with B2 “Lovewill”, a deep and smooth journey where percussions, synths and a vocal sample come together as an ode to sound and love.

Billy Wooten's 'In This World' is a long-overdue gem from the golden age of soulful jazz-funk. Originally from his cult 1972 album, this P-Vine reissue makes it available on 7" wax for the first time ever, and Wooten's vibraphone magic is brought to life in full analogue warmth. Channelling that same mellow, sunlit energy as Roy Ayers, male-female vocal number 'In This World' drifts between blissed-out groove and spiritual elevation and is a track that feels like walking through light. Silky percussion, deep bass and those unmistakable Wooten vibes make this a wonderful winter escape to sunnier times and climes.

Daybreakers keep it moving in 2026 with another essential drop from Chicago’s Vick Lavender. Following on from Vol. 1, Essential Traxx Vol. 2 digs even deeper into that soulful, live house sound that Vick’s been perfecting for decades on his label Sophisticado.

A musician, producer and DJ whose work bridges house, jazz and soul, Vick’s music has always carried that feeling — spiritual, rhythmic, and full of life. Part of Glenn Underground’s Strictly Jaz Unit back in the 90s, he helped carve out a sound that still resonates through clubs today. Sophisticado is his world now — real musicians, real instruments, and real emotion.

On the A side, Consequences featuring Spike Rebel rolls with organic percussion, warm keys and that signature Lavender groove — fluid, human, alive. Music built for the dance.

Flip it for Thanks I Get featuring Cei Bei — straight deep house from the source. Soulful vocals, deep chords, and that unmistakable Chicago energy that hits right where it should. Essential Traxx Vol. 2 continues the story. Real house music, deeper than deep.

Buy or cry.

Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the first vinyl reissue of Disappointment-Hateruma, the 1976 ALM Records release by percussionist Toshi Tsuchitori and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The album is notable as Sakamoto"s first recording issued under his own name and represents one of the few occasions he explored fully improvised music during the 1970s. It provides a vital document for understanding Sakamoto"s early development as a composer and performer, capturing a period when he was experimenting with ambient soundscapes and textured improvisation. This edition features original artwork, audio remastered by Heba Kadry and new liner notes by Andy Beta.

Suburban Architecture continue their series of sought after 4 track EP releases with their 8th offering, 'Purpose'. This latest release is the most stylistically varied of the duo's releases to date, drawing on inspiration from a multitude of styles which emerged during Drum & Bass's mid to late 90s golden years.

The E.P opens with title track 'Purpose', clashing Jazz influenced instrumentation with deep atmospherics and sharp, angular drum programming, not to forget a tone-setting vocal sample. 'Tones' meanwhile puts the drums at the forefront: Lush keys, melancholy horns and subtle, shifting synth lines underpin an unconventional drum track, packed with rattling percussion and raw energy.

Over on the flip 'Focus' goes harder and darker. Eery synths, atmospherics and a driving drum track set the scene for an explosive second half drum switch. 'Stairways' closes out the EP, marrying uplifting atmosphere with live instrumentation in a style which will appeal to fans of 4hero and the like.

Two ultra-rare Peruvian gems that reimagine the international hits 'Do You Think I'm Sexy?' and 'Saturday Night Fever' through the lens of hypnotic Andean rhythms, full of vibrant winds and pounding percussion. Disco music, reworked with huayno and Andean cumbia flair! Once again, Peru manages to surprise us. From the heights of the Andes come two incredible recordings that show how local folklore has embraced international hits-resulting in fun, unexpected fusions with a distinct Andean twist. 'Do You Think I'm Sexy?', Rod Stewart's 1978 classic, is transformed into a powerful huayno anthem-complete with driving percussion and bold brass that almost echo the sound of a New Orleans street parade. Raw, energetic, and unmistakably Andean. On the flip side, we find a playful nod to 'Saturday Night Fever'-retitled 'El Travoltoso'-infused with infectious rhythms of huayno and cumbia. Once again, wind instruments take center stage in this track, just like in the flip-side cut. Both songs come from some of the rarest and most sought-after records among collectors of Peruvian music. Reissued for the first time ever.

Supervibe returns with the next chapter of its vinyl-only series, delivering a 3-track EP from the legendary Tripmastaz. A release built for the dancefloor, blending energy, depth, and hypnotic groove.

A1. Simpatico
A fast-paced, energetic cut with tight, driving rhythms. True to its name, it hits hard and gets straight to the point, with punchy percussion and an upbeat tempo that injects instant energy into any set.

B1. 3001
A futuristic, space-driven journey featuring layered synths and atmospheric textures. The groove unfolds with a deep, late-night feel, perfectly suited for afterhours moments and immersive dancefloor transitions.

B2. Medina chronicles
A hypnotic, groove-focused tool with experimental sound design. Repetitive yet evolving, the track thrives on subtle variations, making it ideal for floor-building moments and seamless DJ transitions.

Stepping up for Punctuality number 8 is the dynamic duo of Ciel and Matthis Ruffing. Needing little introduction, both artists are prolific producers and collaborators across tempos and genres. Toronto-based Ciel has released music on labels like NAFF, Peach Discs, and !K7, while Berliner Matthis Ruffing’s work can be found on International Chrome, Infinite Drift, and Strictly Strictly, to name just a few.

Bonding over a shared love for the techno stylings of Claude Young and early 2000s tech/prog house from labels like Future Groove and Slide, the duo’s collaboration began with a spontaneous jam in Ruffing’s Berlin studio during the summer of 2022. With an organic studio chemistry, the pair continued to jam over the following years. Hot Squid is the result of these studio experiments: five tracks of sleek, muscular, contemporary tech house that fluidly distill the creative visions of both artists—slick, shimmering grooves, heavily weighted for the dancefloor.

The title track, Hot Squid, weaves dubbed-out waves of FX and low-end sonics around metallic, staccato drum bursts, sci-fi pads, stuttered vocals, and syncopated snares that flit and flicker around a rolling bassline reminiscent of golden-era UK tech house from the late ’90s. Roza Terenzi’s remix flips the original into a modern, low-stepping tek roller—a mind-bending re-fix that puts more focus on the snaking vocal groove and a sparser percussion arrangement, filled out with lustrous textures and razor-precise sound design.

On Little Voice, glossy synths and spiraling atmospherics cascade around a mesmeric vocal line, while tightly wound, minimal drum loops give way to a swaggering bassline that barely relents throughout the track. The result is a satisfyingly boshy, groove-driven roller, fit for the dancefloor at any time of day.
Late Summer maintains the EP’s high-grade production standard in the form of a dreamy, electro-leaning tech house number, resplendent with deep, pummeling kick drums, woozy low-end, and organic sonics. Its plucked melody and introspective pads nod to halcyon-era IDM and the Detroit techno that inspired the duo in creating Hot Squid.

The release culminates in Bong Bong—a meditative dancefloor tool suffused with ASMR-like nature documentary samples that lend the track a psychedelic intimacy. Careening percussion lines and swooning chord stabs anchor the rhythm, while the title’s “Bong Bong” mantra hums beneath the surface, carried along by barely perceptible sub fills and ultra-processed percussion. A cohesive, unique, and enduring take on seminal tech house and Detroit techno from Ciel and Matthis Ruffing.

Dutch DJ/producer Boss Priester has built a name as a producer who operates with a ‘let the music speak’ ethos. Now based in The Hague, he has spent years crafting a distinctive sound that blends elements from minimal, house, and techno, releasing across respected labels including Ba Dum Tish, X-Kalay, Dungeon Meat, and his own BPDUBS imprint. His 2023 ‘Hotel Dijon’ EP on LOCUS marked a notable moment in his journey, having long drawn support from label boss Enzo Siragusa, establishing a connection that now comes full circle with an impressive debut outing on FUSE. Building on the backing of other notable figures such as Fumiya Tanaka and Samuel Deep, reinforcing his meticulous attention to rhythm, texture, and groove, his ‘Respect Yourself’ EP extends his sound further as he delivers four tracks that are impactful, precise, and built to command the dancefloor.

Title track ‘Respect Yourself’ leads the EP with its synth-led, hypnotic groove, as intricate percussion and low-end weight immediately establish a commanding presence shaped for the floor. ‘BP On The Master’ follows with a deep, rolling energy, blending minimal textures and squelchy bass licks with understated melodic flourishes. On the B-side, ‘Future Is Electric’ channels a forward-thinking spirit, layering bright textures over weighty, skippy UKG-influenced driving rhythms, before ‘Flava’ closes things with a hazy yet heavy kinetic groove that perfectly encapsulates Boss’s growing sound.

The short, mysterious career of the female French duo Deux Filles is bookended by tragedy. Gemini Forque and Claudine Coule met as teenagers at a holiday pilgrimage to Lourdes, during which Coule's mother died of an incurable lung disease and Forque's mother was killed and her father paralyzed in an auto accident. The two teens bonded over their shared grief and worked through their bereavement with music. However, after recording two critically acclaimed albums and playing throughout Europe and North America, Forque and Coule disappeared without a trace in North Africa in 1984 during a trip to visit Algiers. The short and terribly unhappy lives of Forque and Coule are at the root of the small but fervent cult following the mysterious duo have gained since their disappearance, not least because the placid, largely instrumental music on the duo's albums betrays no hint of the sorrow that framed their personal lives.

This would be a terribly sad story if a word of it were true. In reality, Deux Filles were Simon Fisher Turner, former child star/teen idol and future soundtrack composer, and his mate Colin Lloyd Tucker. Turner and Tucker left an early incarnation of The The in 1981 to pursue another musical direction. Turner claims that the idea of Deux Filles came to him in a dream, and he and Tucker strictly maintained the fiction throughout the duo's career. Not only did they pose in drag for the album covers, the duo once even played live without the audience realizing that the tragic French girls on-stage were actually a pair of blokes from south London. Deux Filles released two albums through Turner and Tucker's Papier Mache label, 1982's Silence & Wisdom' and 1983's Double Happiness'. Both albums are included here and blend watery piano, occasionally ghostly vocals, sheets of synthesizers, heavily processed guitars and the barest minimum of percussion. Drifting and wistful, they're a pair of lost ambient gems from a time when the genre had yet to mature, an excellent example of post-Eno, pre-Orb ambient music.

All songs have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl comes housed in gatefold sleeve with original front covers of both albums, and a centerfold of archive images and the original liner notes. Each LP includes a sticker of the Lino cuts by Adrian Gill that was included with the original pressing.

"Like an early French film soundtrack with melodramatic overtones, the sound is jagged and disjointed but never harsh. Lilting guitars and ample use of echo smack of Vini Reilly, relying on the hypnotic qualities of the sound rather than abrasive noise" (Sounds, 03/1983)

With Cliknopium I, Dr.Nojoke opens a new 12-inch series marking 20 years of CLIKNO — the artistic concept built entirely on field recordings and found sounds. Since its foundation in 2005, CLIKNO has focused on transforming everyday sonic fragments into electronic microcosms, guided by a strict manifesto: no presets, no templates, no classic machines, and every sound crafted from scratch. This approach has shaped Dr. Nojoke’s unmistakable aesthetic — detailed, tactile, and rhythmically unconventional.

Influenced early on by the click-and-glitch lineage of Villalobos, Jan Jelinek, Akufen, and Alva Noto, Dr. Nojoke has long expanded his palette to include dub-infused basslines, delicate percussions, and hypnotic textures. The result is a body of work he describes as “CLIKNO,” where organic sounds meet electronic precision.

Treguja opens the record with a playful, slightly wonky funk, evoking the atmosphere of a clandestine backyard rave. Gragada shifts into deeper territories, its bird calls and floating chords unfolding like a memory of a vanished paradise. On the B-side, Wesikwa propels the listener into a dreamlike, ritualistic groove, carried by Jew’s harps, murmured voices, and a steady, immersive pulse.

Twenty years after the concept began, CLIKNO remains as vital and imaginative as ever. Cliknopium I is both a celebration of this legacy and the beginning of a new exploratory chapter — an invitation to flip the record and let the trip continue.

Dub Consistency proudly presents its debut release, showcasing the hypnotic sound of 23.4 with a special remix from Berlin-based Argentinian artist Volpe.

On this four-track EP plus two locked grooves, Lille producer 23.4 distills over a decade of studio experience into a fast-paced yet deep Dub Techno journey.
Rolling percussion, weighty low-end and subtle atmospheres recall both the raw soul of Detroit and the spacious echoes of Berlin.

Adding his own signature, Volpe-a talent of Berlin's club circuit and producer for labels such as a.r.t.less and Frenzy-delivers a powerful rework that blends Dub, Deep and Tribal influences for peak-time impact.

Mastered by Conor Dalton, this first Dub Consistency outing is built for vinyl and the dancefloor alike: immersive, heavy, and unmistakably club-oriented.

“Echoes of the Earth – Episode 1: Central Africa” is the new EP by Railway Movement, the project of Stefano Cattivera with Ettore Vozza (keyboards) and Alessandro Gizzi (percussion). Blending ambient electronics, organic rhythms, and archival sounds from a 1980s cassette of Central African field recordings, it creates a sonic journey through nature, ritual, and memory.

For their 11th release, djfix makes his long-awaited return. A Soft Place to Land features six driving, techy tracks flexing his familiar djfix steeze with swung, slamming percussion, deep chattering low-end, and a psychedelic sheen.

Credits:
Written by Ethan Donovan in Bedstuy, Brooklyn
Mastered by Mike Grinser, Manmade Mastering
Additional Vocals: namastrange

Chicago legend K. Alexi returns to Dark Entries with K.A. Posse’s Strkes Again, an EP of preleased unreleased acid and house mayhem. K’Alexi Shelby’s illustrious career has included releases on legendary labels such as Trax, DJ International, and Transmat, as well as collaborations with high-profile artists like Marshall Jefferson and Pet Shop Boys. But his musical journey began at the young age of 12, when he befriended Ron Hardy and Frankie Knuckles while frequenting the Music Box and Warehouse. In high school, he began to write songs and hone his poetic craft. “I recognized I had a gift to say what I was thinking. I would study Prince and Marvin Gaye, figure out what they meant and put my spin on it. The power of the word. I was writing love notes for all my boys in high school and making a killing. I would know what to say and what they should do.”

Dark Entries previously reissued Shelby’s debut record, Essence of a Dream, which was recorded under the name Risque III in 1987. Strikes Again brings us six tracks recorded in Chicago between 1988 and 1990, which come courtesy of Mike Dunn’s personal archive. This record showcases the rawer, more immediate side of Shelby’s sound, with tracks full of overdriven 808’s, careening sirens, and dangerously funky breakbeats. “Imported Taste” brings Shelby’s signature deep pads to the front of wild congo-laced percussion. “Suckas Be Ready” is a slamming hip-house cut featuring vocals from MCD-TA, while disco-samples duel with crunchy 909s on the jacking “Muzic Box.” Strikes Back showcases the real underground sound of Chicago, where sonic abstraction meets full-body kinetics. The record comes housed in a retro-styled sleeve designed by Eloise Shir-Juen Leigh.

After a series of successful outings alongside sidekicks Ofofo and Zongamin, studio wizard MYTRON turns in his debut solo full-length for Multi Culti World Records. With contributions on Invisible Inc, Calypso, Bongo Joe, Kalahari Oyster Cult, LYO, Codek Records and Earthly Measures, Mytron has carved out a name for himself in a carefully-curated left-field quadrant of the indie-dance galaxy. Tuning his oscillators to myriad sounds — from dub and disco to krautrock — the London-based producer perhaps most notably channels the pristine compositional style of Kraftwerk. While most apparent in the use of vocoder, there’s a consistent efficiency of arrangement that recalls the man-machine in effervescent, idealistic fashion. Mytron manages to keep it simple, funky and musical — whimsical tunes that bop along with analog grit, wilderness, and wonk. There’s a warmth and wit that shine through every synth line, an understated confidence that speaks of years spent tangled in wires and waveforms, with an inclusive sonic eclecticism that flattens hierarchies between genres, geographies, and generations. Each influence is invited to the table, treated not as pastiche but invited to dine and dance in a space where kosmische dub disco and Afro rhythms can coexist without borders. The sleeve design echoes this philosophy: video-feedback patterns hinting at our modern screens, both portals and filters — coloured, distorted intermediaries through which we perceive the world. In the trippiest sense, the record is both reflection and refraction — a sonic mirror held up to an interconnected, glitchy reality. Tailored equally for DJ use and home-listening head trip, the album is meticulous, mischievous and merry.

BanBanTonTon review:

On Mytron’s debut long-player for Multi Culti groovy 21st Century leftfield house gear collides with Daniele Baldelli and Beppe Loda’s hugely influential `80s afro / cosmic. The 9 tracks are chunky, chugging and full of funky, funny noises. Old school B-lines mixing with eccentric electronics. Spinning, spiralling sounds.

Sugar is an electro-pop, vocoder confection, cut from the same sonic cloth as cult classics like Codek’s Tam Tam. Created from tough trap drums, splashing effects and a mutant Giorgio Moroder bass arpeggio. The title track, Propellor, pits Kraftwerk-esque hardware harmonised vocals against a bongo loop and a whistling hook. Playground has simian shrieks surround tumbling tom-toms. Highway Maintenance adds kosmische synths to a dance of woodblocks and buzzing bottom end. Keep On Dubbing is an organ-led, clip clopping percussive canter.

Tracks such as Speaker Can Talk, shot through with disco lasers blasts and recalling Curt Cress’ Dschung Tek, also lift the tempo up, but the bulk of the music here is a mid-tempo, techno drum circle. Squelchy sequences gurgling in and out of programmed percussion. On Quasar, spiky acid edges in and slowly takes over.

Key references that come to mind are Baldelli’s own turn-of-the-2000s Cosmic Sound Project productions, and Wolf Müller’s scene shaking sides on Themes For Great Cites, from around a decade later.

This release documents the legacy of Ranil, the Amazonian singer and bandleader who shaped a distinctive regional style blending cumbia, psychedelic textures and local rhythmic traditions. Born Jorge Raul Llerena Vasquez in 1935, Ranil rose from rural beginnings to front Los Silver's in the early 1970s before founding his own label, Producciones Llerena, to independently record his imaginative, genre-blurring music. His catalogue, long scattered across mismatched pressings, remains a vivid record of Amazonian creativity. Following his later career as a radio voice in Iquitos, this collection preserves key recordings and supports archival efforts that continue to highlight his cultural impact. Check the frisky percussion and euphoric vocals of 'Pueblo', the scratchy guitar and bustling funk of 'Bahia' or the lilting 'Albores De Mi Selva' for proof of just how irresisitble it still sounds today.

Daniele Baldelli and Jolly Mare come together for a record that feels less like a collaboration and more like a shared state of mind. Flusso Uno moves through Afro-cosmic kraut-inflected psychedelia and cinematic electronics with a natural, unforced flow, where rhythm, texture and narrative all pull in the same direction.
Rather than referencing the past, the EP treats it as a living language. The longform, ritualistic percussion of early cosmic dance culture meets the hypnotic motorik pulse of krautrock and the more structured, sample-driven tribalism that followed in later decades. What ties it all together is a deep sense of atmosphere and intention: music that feels physical, emotional and quietly transportive.
“We particularly focused on ritual percussions, hypnotic grooves and suspended atmospheres, trying to blend musical anthropology, auteur electronics and narrative instinct.”
Dhol Parade opens the journey like a slow-burning procession, drums circling and expanding as if guiding the listener into another space. With Icari the perspective lifts, melodic lines drifting and tilting, constantly searching for balance between gravity and flight. Huldufolk pulls everything back into a shadowy, nocturnal zone, where textures feel half-real, half-imagined.
Finally, Viaggio Tascabile loses the record in a quietly reflective way, a compact voyage that sums up the EP’s philosophy: small in scale, deep in meaning. Flusso Uno is not about nostalgia or revivalism. It is about taking the spirit of cosmic culture and letting it breathe in the present, where storytelling, dancefloor intuition and sonic exploration still meet. A record made for open ears, open minds and long nights.

repressed !

Francois Kevorkian is a name that should need no introduction. With over 40 years in the game FK has occupied numerous roles in his long and storied career - drummer, DJ, A&R man, remixer and producer - his skills know no boundaries. Having DJ-ed during the nascent days of club culture in NYC alongside Walter Gibbons, Larry Levan and more, Kevorkian has been there from day one. Years spent in the seminal clubs of the day sharpened his ears and his prowess behind the mixing desk saw him become the A&R man at the legendary Prelude records in the early 80's, this in turn led to him working with everyone from The Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Erasure, D-Train, Yazoo, The Smiths, Kraftwerk and many many more. A true NYC original and legend, Kevorkian is still active today and the respect he commands amongst his peers has never waned, his adventurous extended DJ sets, seminal mixes and remixes and his open ears and open mind have ensured that he will go down in history as a musical pioneer.

Rewind to 1995. Kevorkian's 'Wave Music' imprint has come into existence with a handful of releases. No-one could imagine that his self-produced 'FK EP' - the next release on the label - would be a stone cold classic. Easily one of the most consistent, exciting and solid EP's to come out of NYC during this golden era of dance music. Across 4 tracks we are taken on a sound journey through a world that is undoubtedly informed by FK's time as an engineer, DJ and most importantly, a music lover.

EP opener 'Hypnodelic' brings us into this world, a deep, driving cut that fuses the dubbed out vocals of Freddie Turner against FK's keyboards and immaculate drum programming, oozing cosmic electronic soul, this track was destined to be a future classic. 'Mindspeak' also boasts some tough drums and with a respectful nod to Chicago is an incredibly mixed and arranged peak-time cut that will drive your dancefloor into deep space again and again. 'Edge Of Time' welcomes us to the flipside of the EP, wild Latin percussions, tablas and old school horn stabs drive this monstrous cut, not to mention cavernous dub FX and that huge bassline that just doesn't let up. Essential. 'Moov' rounds things out on a more subdued, stripped back vibe. Reversed percussions and spaced-out synth chords lace this beautifully understated and warm track, one that builds into a crescendo of melodies and hypnotic rhythms and the perfect way to close what has been a truly special musical journey.

This essential reissue of the 'FK EP' has been fully licensed, sanctioned and remastered in conjunction with FK from the original master sources by Optimum Mastering, Bristol UK, repressed onto high quality vinyl and packaged as the 1995 release was. A truly classic record indeed, available again for 2018. Welcome back Wave Music!

2026 Repress

A mastermind when it comes to crafting quality electronic music across the house spectrum, expressing various shades of his vision, French DJ/producer Traumer has solidified himself as one of the country’s finest exports while his alias has become a home for heavily sought-after minimal-leaning house productions that journey through expansive textures and trademark percussion. After combining with Romanian favourite Cristi Cons early last year as part of the imprint’s collaborative ‘X Series’ and following a series of releases on his own gettraum label, the Parisian makes a highly-anticipated solo return to Enzo Siragusa’s FUSE as he unveils his latest four-track offering in the form of his ‘Nectar’ EP. The title track ‘Nectar’ heads up the package and brings a blend of snappy drum grooves and zippy synths beneath hooky female vocals as it builds into a rolling anthem, while ‘Lamerci’ gets dubby with crisp percussion shots guiding hazy stabs and deep grooves. On the flip, ‘First School’ strips things back and focuses on a snaking bassline and signature silky melodies, before closing on the interwoven textures and shimmering tones of B2 ‘Rodage’.

Ideologic Organ freut sich, die brandneuen Aufnahmen von The Necks zu präsentieren, dem legendären australischen Trio, das sich durch die Umgehung musikalischer Klischees auszeichnet und gleichzeitig die Praktiken der Improvisation, des Jazz, des Post-Rock, des Ambient, des Minimal und der texturierten, ,klangbasierten" Musik erforscht und erweitert. Das neueste Werk dieses langjährigen Ensembles, Unfold, präsentiert sich als Doppel-LP mit vier seitenlangen Tracks. Das bewusste Fehlen von nummerierten Seiten gibt dem Hörer viel Raum, sich einzubringen, und lässt ihn seinen eigenen Weg durch die Klanglandschaft finden. Die kürzere Länge des Vinylformats ist für die Mitglieder des Ensembles kein Hindernis, sondern bietet ihnen einen kompakteren Horizont zum Nachdenken, in dem die zurückgelegte Strecke auf unmittelbarere und dynamischere texturale Aspekte neu ausgerichtet wird. Die Unmittelbarkeit von ,Rise" bestätigt diesen neuen Weg, während die traurigen Töne von Lloyd Swantons Bass um Chris Abrahams' kristallklares Klaviermotiv wirbeln und Tony Bucks Percussion den Prozess in erleuchtende Free-Jazz-Gefilde lenkt. ,Blue Mountain" bahnt sich einen Weg durch das klangliche Unterholz, wobei Soul-Orgel, rasselnde Percussion, Pfeifen und hüpfende Schallwellen um den Vordergrund wetteifern. ,Overheard" behält eine erhabene melancholische Aura, während Percussion und Keyboards sich gleichzeitig umarmen und auseinanderfallen, während ,Timepiece" als sanfte Geste weiterer Möglichkeiten dahinspringt. Wie genau The Necks ihre besondere Magie entfalten - so einfach es auch scheinen mag -, während sie sich immer weiterentwickeln, kann nur vermutet werden, aber ,Unfold" beweist einmal mehr, dass Regeln und Schulen gebrochen und zu Mustern und Rahmenwerken umgestaltet werden müssen, die sich von denen unterscheiden, die wir kennen.

2026 Repress

Originally from Malaga but a Berlin resident for the past 13 years, Carlo is thrilled to unveil his first album released under his own record label, Bisiesto. This label stands out for its unique approach, releasing just one album every four years on leap day, February 29th. In contrast to his previous style, this album blends all his musical influences into a unique mixtape of instrumentals.

Reminiscent of Nightmares on Wax, Kid Loco, and Mushroom Jazz, this album offers a unique auditory experience. Lora Ute brings a hint of tangy mellowness to ‘Because’ balancing dreaminess with playful notes, while Jose Fernancaster, with his immaculate guitar skills, infuses ‘Todo Mal’ with sexy guitar riffs and wahs. Intr0beatz's hip-hop touch enhances ‘Lemon Haze’, while Black Loops, a percussionist at heart, collaborates on ‘Midnight Cruiser’ to encapsulate the solitude of night-time city cruising with a lo-fi sound. Piek rounds off ‘Esperanza’ with an empowering bassline, tying the track together with a golden ribbon.

Combo Efectivo was formed in November 2024 in Bogota in a studio in the Teusaquillo district, at the invitation of Jazztropicante. It brings together an all-star cast from Bogota's neotropical movement and three iconic brass players from the current French jazz scene.
The chemistry was immediate and the energy palpable: a sound that was both playful and demanding, exuding groove, rich material rooted in contemporary jazz structures, and breathing the spirit of brass bands and the splendor of popular expression from the Colombian Caribbean.
A two-track EP was produced from this unique studio session, recorded and mixed at Mambo Negro Records, with the expertise of Daniel Michel. Mastered in Paris at Loom, this first 45 rpm single was released in February 2026 with The Pusher, officially marking the birth of the Casa Maguey Records label, which promotes the catalog resulting from Jazztropicante's encounters.
On the French side, three musicians who are making their mark on their generation: Stéphane Montigny on trombone, Antoine Berjeaut on trumpet, and saxophonist Léon Phal, the spearhead of a new generation of jazzmen. The Colombians are a cocktail of musicians from the most exciting groups on the current scene: Karen Nerak on vocals, rap, gaita, and percussion, Ruben Aragon on keyboards, Pelango on bass, and Kike Narvaez on drums.
Combo Efectivo magnifies the alchemy between the finesse of European jazz and the power of Colombian rhythms. A tropical trance fueled by improvisation, where the contemporary jazz scene and neo-tropicality meet in a spirit of openness and exploration.

Towering dub techno titan Brendon Moeller takes care of the 10th EP from Fossils Records and does so with a typically excellent six-track. The New York-based South African has long since mastered the art of space and restraint in his music and that's laid bare again here. 'Motion' has sinewy electronics and warped bass making for a fuller cut than you might expect from him. 'Disko Inferno' is a jumble of percussion and fizzy synth warmth and 'Habitual Ritual' then sinks into deep, dusty and ritualistic rhythms. 'Apparatus' is Moller's refined take on deep jungle and there are dancehall mutations on 'Samurai Steps' and serene deep space trips on 'Meltdown', making this one of his most varied EPs.

DJ Support: BEN UFO, Solomun, Marco Carola, Damian Lazarus, Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Ilaria Alicante, Michael Bibi, Paco Osuna, D'Julz, Groove Armada, Dennis Cruz, Chloe Caillet, Kettama and many more

Enzo Siragusa opens 2026 with his ‘Kilimanjaro Sound’ EP, a release that expands on last year’s standalone single. Marking both Enzo and FUSE’s first drop of the year, the EP delivers the latest instalment in his longstanding Kilimanjaro concept while reaffirming the label’s position at the heart of underground club culture.

Following the digital release of ‘Kilimanjaro Sound’ back in October, the full EP frames the title track within a broader narrative of rhythm, atmosphere, and movement. A long-time fixture in Enzo’s sets throughout 2025, the title track established itself as a fan favourite through its rolling percussion, weighty low-end, and expansive spatial design, and now it takes on renewed presence on vinyl. New cut ‘Liquify’ pushes deeper into Enzo’s rhythmic sensibilities, pairing fluid groove structures with subtle tension and release. Designed for late-night floors, the track unfolds patiently, allowing swing, texture, and space to do the heavy lifting. It’s a natural continuation of the Kilimanjaro language, less about immediacy, more about immersion, showcasing his refined understanding of how momentum is built and sustained in true club environments.

Completing the EP is a remix from Giammarco Orsini, whose Garage Dub Mix of ‘Kilimanjaro Sound’ offers a fresh perspective while remaining true to the original. Born in Italy and now based in Berlin, Orsini has quietly evolved into one of the scene’s most respected selectors and producers, with releases on Cragie Knowes, Mood Waves, and Shonky’s Stoned Pilot. His interpretation strips the track back to its essentials, reintroducing it through a garage-leaning lens that prioritises groove, swing, and subtle pressure.

As the first release following FUSE’s latest DJ Mag Best of British Award, marking their second Best Club Event win, the EP reflects the values that have long defined the brand: community, longevity, and music built for real dancefloors. Pressed to wax, the release extends one of Siragusa’s most recognisable concepts and sets the tone for the year ahead - measured, confident, and rooted in the underground.

Luca Olivotto is back on Small Great Things sub-label At A Glance with new four-track EP, ‘Acquafun’.

Berlin-based DJ, producer, and label head Luca Olivotto continues to shape the underground house scene through his acclaimed imprint Small Great Things and its signature Small Great House events. Known for his warm, soulful House sound and meticulous curation, Luca now recently expanded his creative universe with the launch of At A Glance, a new sublabel under his direction.

Leading the charge is ‘I Got Nothing’ setting the mood with a buoyant bassline, bright piano lines, west coast funk style synth licks and jazzy undertones floating amongst a crisp, swinging drum groove. ‘Prosciutto’ follows in style a delectable sonic treat layered with organic percussion, airy chords, dubbed-out vocals, smooth strings, and a deep, rolling low-end that oozes warmth and character.

On ‘Half A Ever,’ hip-house vocal snippets and chanting hooks intertwine with sharp stabs and a driving rhythm section, showcasing a vibrant, club-ready energy. Concluding the EP, ‘Equalizer’ ties it all together with jazzy keys, soulful organ lines, marimba touches, choppy bass, and saturated drums, a masterful nod to the timeless essence of House.

With centuries of history, traditional instruments carry physical vibrations shaped by human breath and touch.
In contrast, electronic music generates vibrations through inorganic principles such as electrical signals and circuits. When the subtle tremors of traditional instruments resonate with the intricate tones of electronic sounds in an improvised dialogue, performers from distinct realms expand each other’s languages, creating a new sensory experience.
The project album Ancient Moment marks the first collaboration between the Korean contemporary music ensemble WhatWhy Art and the Seoul underground electronic music collective vurt.. It is a record of a free journey where two different worlds collide and merge, breaking cultural boundaries and dismantling aesthetic hierarchies.In Part 2 of the album, you will hear boundless performances by haegeum player Jieun Kang with electronic musician Djilogue, and Whatwhy Art with electronic musician Siot.
The recording was done in an improvised one-take format at STUDIO Y in Seoul, and Giuseppe Tillieci mastering enhanced the sonic quality.
Credit
Jieun Kang / Haegeum
Hong Yoo / Daegeum
Hwayoung Lee / Gayageum
Woongsik Kim / Korean Traditional Percussion
Djilogue / Electronics
Siot / Electronics
Produced by Hong Yoo, Yoojun
Executive Produced by Jieun Kang
Designed by Yoojun
Motion Graphic Video Created by Nahsol
Live Sound Recorded by Jeong Morgan at STUDIO Y
Mastered by Giuseppe Tillieci at Enisslab
Supported by Arts Council Korea (ARKO)
Distributed by Space Cadets
Released by WhatWhy Art & vurt.

Prolific beat pharmacist par excellence Brendon Moeller continues his hot streak with a return to Samurai to serve up the exquisite craftsmanship of Shadow Language. Across 15 fresh productions the seasoned house and techno producer demonstrates yet more variations on his rejuvenated sound since pivoting towards 160 tempo zones. Heavyweight dub techno pulses collide with D&B pressure and dubstep snarl, delivered with devastating restraint and mediative warmth.

Moeller's dub-informed, high-grade production hit a hot streak as he started to experiment with faster tempos and more broken rhythms, reaching into thrilling new sound fields where fast-slow rhythmic intrigue meets with spatial subtlety and constantly evolving synth voices. The past year has seen him release a swathe of albums, from Further on Samurai to outings on Constellation Tatsu, ESP Institute and Quiet Details that all burst with inspiration, each distinct from the last and offering an original perspective on this rich seam of crossover electronics.

Shadow Language shows Moeller burrowing even deeper into this new era of his work, continuing the hypnotic approach set out on Further while edging more forthright ingredients into the mix. From the outset 'Division By Zero' hits with immediacy even as it dips into a dubwise breakdown, with snatches of vocal and even the iconic loom bird making the slightest of appearances. 'Feral Hymn' finds a curious kind of uplift in the synth chord that twists in and out of the mental techno murmurations of the rhythm section. 'Impermanence' has some snarling bass that belongs in the gnarliest tech-step, while the nagging hats ticking through 'Junkyard Syntax' hint at a shockout without resorting to brute force. The majestic dub techno chords of 'Driftform' create a through-line across Moeller's extensive catalogue, but here they dominate the mix above a spongy bed of sub bass throb and framed by the tiniest slithers of percussion.

Throughout the album, it's the implications Moeller suggests with the tools at his disposal that create a powerful energy. Restraint governs the delivery, guiding the listener in deeper until they find a maximal experience from each elegantly understated roller. The weight and presence is abundant across every track, fuelled by the invigorating power of each tone and frequency while avoiding the clutter of overloaded arrangements.

Finding the notes in between and half-hidden rhythms, Moeller himself perfectly summed up his latest opus as he continues to develop his own compelling Shadow Language.

ANiML comprises accomplished and storied electronic artists. Their Stratasonic label has become a respected home for their freeform musical explorations, with no genre restrictions. They often call on friends and influential pioneers to collaborate on releases, and the originals they produce are defined by improvisation, creative songwriting, and intentional collisions of different moods and grooves.

'Unioness' is a tender but crisp late-night sound. Soft, jazzy melodies drift over orchestral swells with drum breaks cascading below. Abstracted vocals and serene strings further enrich this sophisticated sound, which draws on soundtracks and instrumental soul groups.

Stoned Autopilot is an alias of long-time studio magician Martin Buttrich, who is also part of Better Lost Than Stupid and has a fulsome catalogue on many of the scene's most recognisable labels. His dub rides smooth waves with aching vocals melting into the mix, and the melodies looped, smudged, and smeared in hypnotic fashion.

The second rework comes from DJ Sneak, the hugely prolific and consistent Chicago house innovator whose famously raw, tracky sound keeps him in a class of one. His fantastic Big Bawse Re-Rub brings a rolling four-four groove, a delicate sprinkling of percussion, and a loopy rhythm that locks you in and zones you out as curious melodies unfurl up top.