Oscar-nominated composer Max Richter's new album While The Flood Rages, drawn from Richter's latest collaboration with choreographer Wayne McGregor, MaddAddam, inspired by Margaret Atwood's trilogy.
Across 15 tracks split into three acts, Richter blends orchestral writing, electronics, processed field recordings, choir and piano to create an immersive sonic journey.
Themes of ecological collapse, technological acceleration and resilience run throughout, with recurring piano motifs providing moments of reflection amid dense, cinematic soundscapes.
A cornerstone of late-'90s trance, Binary Finary's 1998 remains one of the genre's most iconic anthems, rising through the UK Dance Chart and becoming a defining soundtrack of the global trance movement. Featuring legendary remixes by Paul van Dyk and Victor Ruiz, this vinyl edition also includes the new Paul Oakenfold & Marie Vaunt remix on the B2.
“Nothing grows in the shadow of great trees,” said Constantin Brancusi when leaving Auguste Rodin’s studio. The same holds true in music, as Richard Raux’s journey proves. At the end of 1970, after recording the debut album of the legendary band Magma, which he co-founded, Raux set out to explore new musical horizons. Under the names Faarmadin and later Hamsa, he crafted a sound deeply rooted in jazz and improvisation, yet daringly open to experimentation.
A devoted admirer of Charlie Parker, Raux played bebop alongside René Urtreger and performed with Bernard Lubat’s Percussion Expérience. Jazz is a cornerstone of Hamsa’s iconoclastic approach, blending seamlessly with psychedelic and progressive rock, and the rich musical traditions of Madagascar, where Raux spent his formative years.
Hamsa is as much a personal endeavor as it is a “family affair.” Alongside his brother Patrice on guitar, Raux brought together a circle of friends—Alain Lecointe (double bass), Jean-Lou Besson (drums), John Faure (guitar), and Alain Pistre (percussion)—to record at the iconic Château d'Hérouville, just outside Paris, at the end of 1974. Yet the spirit of Hamsa is deeply Malagasy, rooted in the village of Andranomadio, which gives its name to the album’s opening track: a vibrant explosion of percussion and color. Africa’s presence resonates throughout the record, whether invoking Brotherhood of Breath (Chris McGregor) on “Johanna,” the Malagasy-infused work of Jef Gilson, or paying homage to John Coltrane’s Africa.
Far from being “just another fusion,” Raux’s music dazzles and transports. The saxophone-guitar unison on “Ahiri Lalita” captivates, the vocals of “Fahamadina” sweep you away, and the manifesto of “L’exploité” hits hard—yet with a liberating warmth. Sunshine and joy shine through on the album’s closing track, “Cultivate the Garden of Your Heart” (with Alby Cullaz on double bass and Jean Padovani on drums), capturing the ethos of Richard Raux and Hamsa—and now, ours too.
The Blue Aeroplanes have been delivering their distinctive brand of rackety sprechgesang for four decades now, and they are showing no signs of slowing down. Their new studio album, ‘Tales From The Silver Lounge’ is based on overheard conversations between the clientele of The Silver Lounge, a rather louche café/bar in an unnamed city on an unknown planet much like ours, and in an unknown time, though the decor tends to the late 50’s, early 60’s.
The identities of the members of the Silver Lounge are, of course, confidential.
This is the 14th Blue Aeroplanes studio album and the third with the current line-up, which is:
Gerard Langley: vocals
Bec Jevons: guitar, vocal and backing vocals
Mike Youé: guitar, vocal and backing vocals
Rita Lynch: guitar, vocal and backing vocals
Chris Sharp: bass and backing vocals
John Langley: drums and percussion
Ed Taylor: many different instruments and backing vocals
Wojtek Dmochowski: dance
Alexander Dmochowski guests on saxophone and clarinet, Will Diamond on violin and Steve Bush adds backing vocals.
After two best-of compilation albums were released by Chrysalis Records in 2025 (‘Magical Realism’: The Best Of The Blue Aeroplanes’ and ‘Outsider Art’: The Other Best Of The Blue Aeroplanes’), the band are now back firmly in a sort of present with a new album that features all the guitar-band flavours that anyone could need, with poems that cover name-doppelgangers, falconry terms, Don Marquis, postcards, Greek mythology, abandoned Teslas, the First World War and the surreal nature of music-hall jokes.
“The Blue Aeroplanes? Not my cup of tea, but I can see what people see in them.” Mark E. Smith
The Blue Aeroplanes have been delivering their distinctive brand of rackety sprechgesang for four decades now, and they are showing no signs of slowing down. Their new studio album, ‘Tales From The Silver Lounge’ is based on overheard conversations between the clientele of The Silver Lounge, a rather louche café/bar in an unnamed city on an unknown planet much like ours, and in an unknown time, though the decor tends to the late 50’s, early 60’s.
The identities of the members of the Silver Lounge are, of course, confidential.
This is the 14th Blue Aeroplanes studio album and the third with the current line-up, which is:
Gerard Langley: vocals
Bec Jevons: guitar, vocal and backing vocals
Mike Youé: guitar, vocal and backing vocals
Rita Lynch: guitar, vocal and backing vocals
Chris Sharp: bass and backing vocals
John Langley: drums and percussion
Ed Taylor: many different instruments and backing vocals
Wojtek Dmochowski: dance
Alexander Dmochowski guests on saxophone and clarinet, Will Diamond on violin and Steve Bush adds backing vocals.
After two best-of compilation albums were released by Chrysalis Records in 2025 (‘Magical Realism’: The Best Of The Blue Aeroplanes’ and ‘Outsider Art’: The Other Best Of The Blue Aeroplanes’), the band are now back firmly in a sort of present with a new album that features all the guitar-band flavours that anyone could need, with poems that cover name-doppelgangers, falconry terms, Don Marquis, postcards, Greek mythology, abandoned Teslas, the First World War and the surreal nature of music-hall jokes.
“The Blue Aeroplanes? Not my cup of tea, but I can see what people see in them.” Mark E. Smith
Following his contribution to last year’s RNT In the D comp, Detroit legend Dez Andrés drops his first solo 12” on Razor-N-Tape’s long running white label edit series. Renowned for his work with Detroit legends Amp Fiddler, J Dilla and Slum Village, Dez later moved into clubbier production on KDJ, Mahogani and his own La Vida imprint, crafting a unique sound that authentically blends hip-hop and house. A true masterclass in how to flip a sample, this 12” oozes with varied flavors and grooves that bounce between Detroit electro, deep dusty disco, and beat down soul.
NeighbourSoul Edits Vol.10 lands with Pete Blaker on edit duties. 4 silky, slow-building cuts: smooth disco, soulful late-night grooves + one proper 80s bomb. Made for select dancefloors.
pdqb has been spending an increasing amount of time on the Blue Planet lately. From his perspective, this was never going to end well.
With an intelligence operating several evolutionary levels beyond anything currently available to humanity, pdqb identified the problem almost instantly. Humanity's operating system had developed a number of serious inefficiencies, and the planet was clearly heading in the wrong direction. Even artificial intelligence would not be of much help here: created by humans and trained on human knowledge, it remains, in pdqb's estimation, a rather primitive form of intelligence compared to the cognitive systems he carries within himself.
So pdqb has decided to intervene - personally, and in human form. His identity will remain undisclosed. His intervention, however, will be unmistakable: a brief intelligence boost, followed by approximately 10.000 years of world peace.
It will be fine.
Contact Imminent contains three transmissions from pdqb himself, carrying his characteristic Electro-Cognition signature sound - three pieces of evidence that the future is still worth saving.
For the B-side, pdqb selected two Earthlings whose music he already appreciated, but whose name was particularly appropriate for the occasion: Extrawelt.
Because after the intervention, this planet will no longer be what it was. It will not be the old world, nor simply a new one.
It will be an Extrawelt.
A slightly improved version of reality, with another 10.000 years to get things right.
5. VITAL SALES POINTS:
" transparent vinyl with black dots
" mastered by the infamous Andreas LUPO Lubich
" cover artwork by SUPERFLEX
" two remixes by Extrawelt
INXXXWEL returns with another donut of funky laid-back edits. The A-side sounds like a late night top-down cruise in a lowrider sittin on dubs with ANGIE STONE behind the wheel. On the flip SLUM VILLAGE meets up with AMERIE for a slow grind head bopper sure to bring the lovebirds to the floor.
Sometimes the most interesting stories in 80s dance music are hidden on the B-sides.
This one begins in Munich with two men: Manfred Alois Segieth, better known as Fancy („Slice Me Nice” and „Flames Of Love”), in the production credits he frequently appeared as Tess; Alfons Weindorf, musician, composer and producer, member of Zara-Thustra and part of the Munich studio environment surrounding the Weindorf family and Weryton Studios. For his electronic dance productions he used the names Elvin and Elvine. In the second half of the 1980s, Tess and Weindorf became part of an extremely productive Munich circle that also involved names such as Linda Jo Rizzo, Grant Miller, Sabrina Lorenz or Charlie Glass. Together in various combinations, they created original productions, songs and remixes that today form an unmistakable chapter of German Euro Disco. ZYX Records regularly called on this production world for new mixes and additional material and this is where our story becomes particularly interesting.
In 1986 ZYX decided to release „Tribal Stomp (Cherokee Nation)” by Psychic Interface in Germany. Psychic Interface was actually an American project by Jim Callon. But turn the German 12-inch over and things suddenly become much more German. The B-side, „Dancin’ In The Night”, was credited to Psychic Interface as well, yet the music itself came from an entirely different world. Written and produced by Elvine and Tess it was essentially a Munich production. The synths, the bassline, the melodies, the arrangement and that unmistakable mid-80s German Euro Disco character all point directly towards the creative partnership that would become associated with The Hurricanes.Around the same period another piece of the puzzle appeared. ZYX decided to bring back Den Harrow’s 1983 debut single „To Meet Me”, taking advantage of the enormous popularity Den Harrow had achieved by 1986. The new German release featured the „Hurricane Hit Mix”. And on the other side was something completely different – „Tropical Nights”. An instrumental written and produced by Elvine and Tess and this time officially credited to The Hurricanes. There was a logical reason for that. Putting an original composition on the reverse of a licensed or remixed single meant that the creators were not only remixers or producers. Their own composition was now part of the record as well, generating its own publishing and mechanical rights. It was a clever piece of 1980s record business. Two years later, in 1988, The Hurricanes would return with the much better known „Only One Night”, one of the finest examples of the Elvine & Tess Euro Disco sound.
Now Vintage Pleasure Boutique goes back to that earlier chapter. We bring together „Tropical Nights” and „Dancin’ In The Night”, two productions born from the same Munich team, and give each of them a new DJ-friendly interpretation. The originals retain everything that makes them special: crisp electronic drums, driving sequencers, huge synth melodies and that wonderfully unmistakable German take on Italo Disco. The new remixes take the same DNA onto today’s dancefloor. Longer builds, stronger transitions, more room for mixing and a subtle touch of contemporary italowave production, without losing the melodies, atmosphere or character of the originals.
Two hidden pieces of Munich Euro Disco history, taken out of the B-side shadows and finally given the dancefloor space they deserve. Two originals. Two new remixes. One fascinating piece of The Hurricanes story.
Sommige avonden zijn legendarischer dan andere. En dan was er 11 april 2022. De wereld ontwaakte net uit de quarantaine. Om die overwinning tegen de virussen in stijl te vieren, speelde Raymond van het Groenewoud in zijn Amsterdam. In Paradiso nog wel, de zaal van zijn jongensdromen.
Vijf keer was het concert uitgesteld, maar die avond was het eindelijk prijs. En hoe. Drie uur lang bezong hij oude deernes en nieuwe liefdes. Zoals steeds met veel humor, af en toe een hartenkreet ertussen, een zeldzame opstoot van nostalgie zelfs, maar altijd met vuur in de vingers en het lijf. Hij is de zeventig voorbij, maar een tovenaar verleert zijn trucs niet.
De nacht van Paradiso kreeg een verrukkelijke beat door de band achter hem. Maar ook door het publiek voor hem: ze applaudisseerden steeds luider, dansten steeds wilder. 'Ik werd in een bad gedompeld van appreciatie en liefde', zei Raymond later, 'zoals ik dat nog nooit had meegemaakt. Het was als een droom van begin tot einde.'
Geen enkele nacht blijft duren, maar er is hoop: op 27 november ligt Live in Paradiso in de winkel. Voor wie die nacht opnieuw wil afspelen, op fijne momenten of wanneer dan ook.
Following the success of the rework releases of Trip To Your Mind by Delfonic, LTJ Xperience, and DJ Friction, the time has finally come to reissue the original mixes of this essential and still highly sought-after Disco Funk classic.
Both the original Hithouse Mix and the re-mix by Chris Hill & Robbie Vincent were released in 1979. However, newly uncovered evidence has revealed that the track was actually recorded much earlier. After extensive research, including the rediscovery of Reginald Hudson's original flight ticket dated September 7, 1976, from Los Angeles to London, proof has emerged that the recording sessions took place in late 1976.
Due to unfortunate circumstances, the track remained shelved for several years and did not see release until 1979. By that time, the original backing band, Body Heat-a group of U.S. Army musicians stationed in Germany-had already disbanded. As a result, the record was released under the project name Hudson People.
Reg Hudson has since shared additional photographs and previously unknown information, which will be revealed in the coming months. To further celebrate the record's legacy, an official music video is currently in production and is scheduled for release this summer, marking the track's 50th anniversary.
As the original master tapes have unfortunately been lost, the audio has been transferred and restored using highest end equipment from the best available sources. In particular, the original Hithouse Mix now sounds better than ever before.
The 12-inch release will be presented in a faithful reproduction of its rare original "Disco 45" sleeve, believed to have been included only with the earliest pressings.
The Story Behind the Record
For decades, Trip To Your Mind was celebrated as a Brit Funk classic, although its true origins remained largely unknown. While the track was recorded at London's Advision Studios, Hudson People were neither a British group nor a London-based project-a fact first brought to light through the official 2022 reissue on Backatcha Records.
In interviews with label owner DJ Scientist, songwriter and producer Reg Hudson revealed that the musicians behind the recording were actually members of Body Heat, a GI band based in Germany. Like Hudson himself, most of the musicians originally came from the Chicago area.
"The band included Tony Palmer on guitar, Herva Middleton on drums and lead vocals, Charles Walker on saxophone, Harvey Perry on trumpet and trombone, and Rickey on bass-a five-man lineup," Hudson recalls.
Recorded in late 1976, the track remained unreleased for several years. By the time it finally appeared in 1979, Body Heat was already on the verge of breaking up, prompting the decision to release it under the Hudson People name.
Since the late 1990s, Trip To Your Mind has been heavily bootlegged, widely compiled, and continuously championed by DJs and collectors worldwide, cementing its reputation as one of the most enduring and in-demand Disco Funk records of its era.
50 year anniversary edition! Recorded in 1976, first released in 1979.
DJ Support: Carlita, Husky, David Penn, Claptone, DJ Dove, Jonas Blue, Sam Feldt, Hutch, Illyus Barrientos, Mark Knight & more.
Fool’s Paradise’s latest Sampler sees 4 big releases from Soul Avengerz, Sian-Lee, OFFAIAH, David Penn, Thando, Eric B Turner, Tenacious, Jay Vegas & Olav Basoski.
Bondage-Music proudly welcomes back Markus Homm with his latest vinyl EP, "It's Safe To Say." Continuing his long-standing relationship with the label, Homm once again delivers the warm grooves, crisp rhythms, and unmistakable dancefloor sensibility that have become his trademark.
Across four carefully crafted tracks, Markus Homm combines rolling basslines, soulful vocal touches, and refined house grooves with subtle techno influences. From the infectious swing of "My Alibi" and the driving title track "It's Safe To Say" to the soulful energy of "I Got All This Love For You" and the hypnotic flow of "Rush," the EP is built for both peak-time club moments and extended listening sessions.
As a special treat for vinyl collectors and DJs, two exclusive tracks are available on vinyl only, continuing Bondage-Music's tradition of offering unique content for the format.
For the 63rd release on Memoria Recordings, Thessaloniki-based producer and DJ G.rush delivers a deep and hypnotic four-track EP shaped by experience, restraint, and underground club sensibility. With roots tracing back to the early days of his DJ career and a production path that has steadily developed through stripped grooves, subtle atmospheres, and low-end movement, G.rush brings a mature and focused sound to the Memoria catalogue. Across the EP, he moves with patience and control. “Spectra” opens the record with a reduced but magnetic drive, built around rolling pressure and detailed rhythmic tension. “Just Friendz” leans into shuffled swing and understated funk, while “Seduction” takes the B-side into deeper, late-night territory. Closing track “Tus Manos feat. Lucie” adds a warmer vocal touch, balancing intimacy with dancefloor flow. MEM063 is a refined club record for selectors who understand the power of subtle movement. Just deep, functional, emotionally charged grooves built for intimate rooms, warm systems, and long after-hours moments.
Gyros Heroes is the latest release from Adlibitum Tum Tunes, showcasing the unmistakable synergy between label curator Kirill Matveev and trusted maestro Nicolas Barnes, a resident artist renowned for his consistently refined and emotive sound.
The EP unfolds as a sophisticated blend of deep- and tech-house aesthetics, designed to uplift, move, and connect. It balances percussive bounce with emotional subtlety, offering a graceful flow that is both club-ready and sonically rich.
A1. Kirill Matveev – Am I Happy With That and A2. Kirill Matveev – Once At Dawn deliver the opening momentum, channeling sleek grooves and playful introspection with polished restraint. These tracks glide effortlessly between warmth and drive—embracing the listener without overwhelming.
On the flip side, B1. Nicolas Barnes & Kirill Matveev – Naar Shada blends the duo’s sonic sensibilities into a mood-driven piece with elegant progression and percussive intricacy. Closing with B2. Nicolas Barnes – Qeezy, the record reaches its emotional high point: a dancefloor-oriented yet soul-touched cut that radiates both sensuality and controlled energy.
Gyros Heroes is a finely tuned experience—bright yet deep, emotive yet precise—crafted for selectors who value atmosphere as much as movement. This is an EP that invites you into its positive orbit, reminding us how expressive and graceful club music can be when shaped by masters of tone and detail.
Adlibitum Tum Tunes is a division of MixCult Records
Well where do you go from the killer release of sde 78 Kinky Foxx "Is It Still Good To You" which sold out quicker than we could have imagined. I guess you should expect that with a group that has a cult status like Kinky Foxx.
Trawling through the guys demo sessions of the late 1970's and early1980's we always had a soft spot for "Lovely Night" but felt the audio and vocals were not quite on point for an official release. But not letting any obstacles get in our soulful way we took the demo and made it ten times better. New vocals were added by Vincent Lilly jr and with the watchful production skills of legendary Curtis Styles we are so pleased with the outcome. Its a modern day dancer but keeping in line with the 1980's boogie funk from the Kinky Foxx crew!!. Flip the 45 over and you get "Call You Up" again which has been touched up like a classic car with a respray. Keeping all the elements of 1980's synth boogie soul and taking it into 2026.
Scott Pilgrim EX, the newest video game from the Scott Pilgrim franchise developed by Tribute Games, is out now with an all new original soundtrack from Anamanaguchi. The sprawling soundtrack, which accompanies a brand-new storyline co-written by series creator Bryan Lee O’Malley, perfectly connects the band's legendary electronic past with their fuzzed out garage rock present while maintaining their unmistakable punchy style. Known for resonant world building across past projects, the depth of emotion and the range of styles displayed on Scott Pilgrim EX are uniquely Anamanaguchi while delivering a host of melodically anthemic and new energetic hooks that are sure to pack a punch for both newcomers and old school fans of the band alike.
Anamanaguchi's collaborative relationship with the Scott Pilgrim universe goes back to the early days of the band. After cutting their teeth programming music with playable Nintendo cartridges and helping to bring a wider audience to a largely internet based 8-bit chiptune scene, the band was brought in to score the fan-favorite soundtrack for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game. The success of this game soundtrack would help them to launch an early crowdfunding success story with their campaign for their debut album, 2013's Endless Fantasy. From there the band would go on to collaborate with virtual pop star Hatsune Miku (resulting in the perpetually viral, Fortnite featured hit, “Miku”), and later develop the intricately soundscaped compositions displayed across their second album, USA, but throughout it all the connection between the band and the Scott Pilgrim universe would remain a pivotal source of inspiration.
After being brought in to score the animated Netflix series, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, in 2023, band members Peter Berkman and Luke Silas would credit the live kinetic energy they channeled when writing songs for the in-universe garage band Sex Bob-Omb with helping them get back in touch with the roots of how they learned to play music even before Anamanaguchi's earliest releases. This process would eventually lead to Peter and Luke alongside the remaining two band members — Ary Warnaar and James DeVito — flipping their typically meticulous digital writing process for the more collaborative, straight to tape, distorted angst that can be found on 2025's Anyway, marking another significant evolutionary turn for the band to come out of their relationship with Scott Pilgrim.
Now fresh off the heels of a nationwide tour in support of Anyway, Anamanaguchi have returned to the 8-bit beat em up world of Scott Pilgrim with a relentlessly high energy and genre defying original soundtrack for Scott Pilgrim EX. A return to form that comes with a depth of knowledge and innovative skills that have allowed the band to continue to evolve and grow alongside the characters in the Scott Pilgrim universe and the multi-generational fanbase that continues to follow along with them.
The new soundtrack for the latest installment in the Scott Pilgrim franchise, Scott Pilgrim EX
Toka Project was a collective from Nottingham's fertile 90s party scene, including members Andrew Macari, Andy Riley and Steve Walker amongst others, and they dropped their 'One Day' EP in 1999 on Filter Flow, which now revisits the title cut with a new set of remixes. The original is a deep house sound with a rough metallic edge and humid pads infused with whispered vocals. Di Saronno remixes it into something more light and airy, with a subtle skip in the drums that recalls the best of Melchior LTD. Andrew Macari's version has a little cheeky wiggle and sunny synth work, then Latenight Society remixes it into a slower sound with a swirling backdrop of pastoral melodic colours. A dreamy close to a fine set of new versions.
Mark Ambrose has been a serious house head since the 1980s and has always brought his own flavours to the original Chicago and Detroit sound. He heads up the Crayon label, which is where much of his music comes from, including this latest deep dive into groove. 'I Want You' (feat Talia) kicks off with a meandering lead synth that comforts over a warm bed of drums as a sultry vocal whisper brings some intimacy. 'Rumble Jazz' then rocks back and forth a little more with swaggering attitude and hints of darkness and 'Monica Dancing With Angels' is a smooth cruiser with a far-sighted melodic edge. 'On A Dream' brings a sultry jazz flourish with some sombre trumpets lingering above classic deep house drums and bass that take you way back.
Ontario-based hip-hop editors, builders and sculptors Suckaside are not afraid of taking on any challenge big or small and have worked across timeless house, r&b, hip-hop and disco joints. This time though, they take on a hip-hop staple and flip it into a Latin hearted with a shuffling samba groove, organic percussion and natty piano melodies. The edit is first up and has a female vocal line oozing soul and attitude and then on the flip one of the East Coast's finest mic men appears with one of his most well-known verses layered into the same groove. Perfect for late summer fun.
Cooper Saver joins the Dream Space family for his first solo EP in 6 years, which was well worth the wait.
Born in LA and now residing in Squamish BC, Cooper ran the infamous Far Away parties in his home city through the mid-to-late 2010’s. Over the past decade, he has released exceptional music and remixes on labels such as Hivern Discs, Permanent Vacation, Internasjonal, DFA and more.
Working often as a collaborator, his recent projects alongside Chris Macintyre as Inner Flight and Night Cycle, and as part of hardcore punk band Self Arrest, all hold up to the same high quality output.
After being in contact with each other for years, it feels like a full circle moment to be working with Cooper and sharing more of his music with the world.
Across all four tracks he dives deeper into the new progression of his sound. From the peak time energy of Depths Of Reality and cosmic radiance of Be Alive, to the understated and shimmering B side of Glider / Running In Circles, this one’s an essential.
Classy Frenchman Franck Roger is one of the most consistent performers in the deep house game and he is back with another MVP performance on Seasons Limited this Autumn. This all-new trio of tunes opens with a delightfully airy, light-footed blend of Afro drum patterns and buffed metal melodies that have a lovely late-night glow to them. It's a persuasive rhythm that will infect your hips in no time, while 'Circulation' is more humid and bouncy, with nods to the deep and smoky foundations of house but still one foot in the here and now. 'Feel Free' closes with an elastic groove and the sort of introspective melodies that mean more than most throwaway synth lines in the modern scene. Tasteful and timeless as always from Roger.
"ASSEMBLE MUSIC 15 YEARS - Part I : Founded in Lisbon in 2011, Assemble Music celebrates its 15th anniversary with a three-part vinyl compilation, bringing together fifteen artists who, in different ways, reflect the label's past, present and future. Released simultaneously in November 2026 and distributed worldwide by Clone Distribution, the three records are less a retrospective than a continuation of what Assemble has been building since the beginning: music with character, made by artists with their own language, away from trends and easy categorisation. Across fifteen years, Assemble has moved freely between house, techno, electro, dub and more experimental forms of electronic music. The catalogue has never been defined by one particular sound, but rather by a certain approach, personal, uncompromising and built to last. Part I opens with XDB, an artist whose relationship with Assemble goes far beyond a single record. His deep, understated approach to house and techno has always been closely connected to the musical identity of the label. Aubrey, one of the enduring figures of the UK underground, follows with decades of experience behind him and a catalogue that stretches back to the early 1990s. Synchrojack connects the compilation to another important lineage: the raw and deeply individual British house music with a track produced and never released in the 90's. Activ-Analog bring their machine-driven, analogue approach back to Assemble after previously releasing on the label, while Kumquat Kids aka Julian Phethean & Steve O'Sullivan with a track originally released in 1999 on the Various Positions EP for UK label Organised Sound. "Surface" is a genuine late-90s underground rarity! Over the years, the original 12" has become increasingly sought-after and notoriously expensive on the second-hand market."
Silhouette is a brand new label from Burnski, who is surely the hardest working man in the underground right now. His thirst for sounds that traverse the garage, tech, dub and minimal spectrum seems to be utterly insatiable. For the second release on his latest outlet, he enlists Budapest-based house-head Vitus. In return, he drops five tunes that will work the floor with muscular grooves but bring the fun with great samples. There's raw filth on 'Got Your Head Nod', choppy, jazzy loops on 'Mind State,' a more heads down minimal sound on 'Take Me (To The Floor)' and bubbly energy on the well swung closer 'House Is (Never) Boring'. A charming EP full of club utility.
Long before electronic music was divided into countless genres, there was a shared
dream of the future. A dream born somewhere between Detroit, Düsseldorf and
Northern Italy. A dream of machines, space travel, science-fiction, melody and emotion.
With Starflight Command, Johannes Volk reconnects with that vision.
For the third installment of the Skylax Classic Series, Skylax Records proudly presents
four timeless explorations from one of Germany's most respected underground
producers. Known for his work on Axis, Token, Dolly, Cocoon, Sistrum and his own
Exploration imprint, Johannes Volk has spent nearly two decades building a unique
universe where Detroit futurism meets European electronics, cosmic imagination and
machine soul. Far from contemporary trends, Starflight Command feels like a lost
artifact from an alternative future.
The title track immediately sets the coordinates. Floating synthesizers, interstellar
melodies and cosmic atmospheres evoke the spirit of the great Italian Cosmic era as
much as the futurist visions of Detroit. Somewhere between Daniele Baldelli's cosmic
imagination, early Metroplex and classic science-fiction soundtracks, the track unfolds
like a transmission received from a distant galaxy. "Cyber Fields" pushes the journey
deeper into synthetic territory, where hypnotic sequences and shimmering textures
create vast electronic landscapes. On the B-side, "Feel" reveals another side of Johannes
Volk's musical language. Warm chords, soulful harmonies and a subtle groove recall the
emotional depth of late-night house music, sharing the same human touch found in the
most timeless works of Romanthony and the deeper side of Black Male Records. Closing
the EP, "Lifecore" expands the horizon even further. Cinematic, immersive and
beautifully restrained, it blends cosmic electronics, futuristic melancholy and deep
emotional resonance into a stunning conclusion.
What makes Starflight Command so special is its refusal to belong entirely to any single
tradition. It is not purely techno. It is not purely electro. It is not purely cosmic. Instead,
Johannes Volk draws invisible connections between Detroit, Düsseldorf, Northern Italy
and outer space itself, creating a record that feels simultaneously familiar and impossible
to place in time. A record for cosmic dancers, science-fiction dreamers, Italo enthusiasts,
Detroit believers and collectors searching for music that still dares to imagine the future.
Vintage Pleasure Boutique returns to the classic Hotsound Records catalogue with Primero’s “Oh Que Calor”, another unmistakable production from Michiel van der Kuy.
This vinyl edition brings together three newly remastered original versions: Extended, Radio and Instrumental, preserving the sound and atmosphere of the original release, alongside fresh remixes from A.P. Mono, Spacehawk and Disco Computer.
All three remixers share a fascination with Van der Kuy’s signature sound. Their interpretations may take different routes, but the original DNA remains intact: pulsing synths, Linn Drum, cosmic melodies and that unmistakable late-’80s vocal spacesynth energy.
And “Oh Que Calor” still has the power to transport you somewhere else entirely: to a seaside resort on some Spanish coast, sometime in the late 1980s – hot nights, neon lights, open-air dancefloors and a whole summer soundtrack built from Italo Disco, spacesynth and electro. Somewhere between the beach and the club, Primero feels completely at home.
For fans of Laserdance, Koto, Cyber People, Proxyon and Sisley Ferre, this is both a return to the original and a new chapter.
Three original versions. Three new remixes. One unmistakable Hotsound DNA.
After years of steadily building momentum within the deeper side of drum & bass, Monika now delivers his long-awaited debut album, How We Saw Forever, landing this August on Spearhead Records.
UK-born and now based in New Zealand, Monika has developed a sound that blends deep rolling grooves, soulful textures, delicate musicality and moments of genuine emotional weight. Across the album he moves effortlessly between late-night introspection, euphoric warmth and darker, more experimental territory, showcasing an artist fully confident in his own sonic identity.
Having already made a strong impression through previous releases on Spearhead and appearances across the label’s 20-year anniversary campaign, How We Saw Forever feels like a major step forward creatively. From the haunting beauty of “What Turns Your World” featuring Oktae, through to the nostalgic rave energy of “Mango Pop” and the weightier pressure of “Syndicate”, the album captures Monika’s ability to balance emotion, atmosphere and dancefloor impact without ever feeling formulaic.
At its core, How We Saw Forever is an album about atmosphere, memory and emotion, music designed equally for solitary headphone moments and packed dancefloors at sunrise. There’s a cinematic thread running throughout the project, but also a raw honesty that gives the album its real depth.
Speaking about the album, Monika says:
“This project became a reflection of so many different seasons of life over the last few years. Some tracks came from really emotional places, others were written purely from joy and escapism, but together they tell the story of where I’ve been creatively and personally. I wanted the album to feel immersive, something people could disappear into.”
Released via BCee’s Spearhead Records — a label long celebrated for championing soulful and emotionally rich drum & bass. How We Saw Forever marks another exciting chapter for both Monika and the wider Spearhead family.
Disco Collected celebrates the dance music which originally developed from R&B, soul, and funk from the late 60s and 70s and turned into a mighty subculture in discotheques, with Studio 54, Manhattan, New York as one of the most famous and extravagant discos all over the world. Disco used a steady four to the floor beat, string sections, horns which created a perfect setting for DJs who mixed their special 12 inches to an eager dance crowd.
Movies like Saturday Night Fever and Thank God It’s Friday contributed to disco’s mainstream popularity. Compiled on Disco Collected are some of the best, well-known and great disco hits by Rose Royce, Chic, Kool & The Gang, The Trammps, Thelma Houston, KC & The Sunshine Band and 16 more guaranteed floor fillers.
The 2LP Disco Collected is available as a limited edition on disco ball silver vinyl and includes an insert.
ANDREW MACARI, JASON HODGES, GIL AGUILAR, and DANIEL ALLEN need no introduction, and this release is a must have for all house heads. Jackin', thick and soulful, these cuts are all made to keep the people moving and smiling. This release is why we love house music.
Amsterdam-based Moody Mehran captures the atmosphere of a soft Mediterranean sunset perfectly. Just in time for late summer, the Dutch-Iranian artist debuts on SEVEN with four trance-infused, uplifting cuts, alongside a remix by Maruwa. The EP channels a distinct Balearic-leaning, '90s trance sensibility. Melodic, sun-drenched and emotionally direct. Built for open-air floors and festival moments, these tracks are driven by shimmering synth sequences, rolling basslines, crisp percussion and psychedelic sound design. It’s a sound reminiscent of trance’s golden era reduced to its essence: simple, euphoric, and highly effective.
1986 was a very good year for Mike Mareen. It was the moment when something changed in his music. After years of searching for the right sound, Mike decided to change his production team and it turned out to be exactly the right decision. The first major result was “Love Spy”, with Lutz Rahn playing a crucial role in shaping its sound. The record simply exploded. Even without the kind of massive promotion normally associated with an international hit, “Love Spy” became one of the defining records of that peculiar German intersection between synth-pop, electro, Hi-NRG and Italo Disco. But Mike and Lutz were only getting started. Soon afterwards they wrote and recorded “Agent Of Liberty”. And once again, everything worked. The single travelled far beyond Germany, appearing in places as distant as Mexico, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Venezuela and South Africa. It was another demonstration of how sophisticated Euro Disco could be when it was treated as serious electronic music rather than disposable dance-pop. The sound was simply dope. Sharp digital synthesizers, metallic FM textures, punchy electronic drums, dramatic arrangement changes and the kind of bright, futuristic timbres that made the Yamaha DX7 era so instantly recognizable. But the biggest change… was Mike himself. This was no longer the romantic lover of “Dancing In The Dark”. On “Agent Of Liberty” he sounds tougher, sharper and more confrontational. His half-spoken, half-rapped delivery cuts through the production with almost streetwise confidence, while huge uplifting backing vocals and highly melodic synth lines keep pulling the track back towards the dancefloor. And beneath the attitude there was something much more interesting going on. “Agent Of Liberty” announced a new chapter in Mike Mareen’s music, a direction that would later be developed much further on the “Let’s Start Now” album. Mike wanted to belong to the intelligent side of the electronic scene. And, just as importantly, he wanted to help shape where that scene was going next. “Agent Of Liberty” is probably one of the clearest examples of that ambition. It has all the ingredients of a huge club record, but there is tension in it, drama, attitude and a sense that something bigger is happening behind the beat. Four decades later, it still sounds completely distinctive. Not merely like a record made in 1986, but like a record that captures what was exciting about 1986 in the first place.
For its 40th anniversary, Vintage Pleasure Boutique brings “Agent Of Liberty” back to vinyl in newly remastered form. The release will be available on classic black vinyl and in a striking bright orange edition. And because this is not meant to be just another archival reissue, we have added two brand-new interpretations. Disco Computer takes the track into more adventurous territory. His remix is the more unconventional of the two, approaching the original from a slightly more modern and experimental angle while keeping its unmistakable melodic identity. A.P. Mono takes almost the opposite approach. Rather than trying to reinvent “Agent Of Liberty”, his version works more like a contemporary DJ edit. The original character remains intact, but the structure has been reshaped for the modern dancefloor, with stronger build-ups, clearer mixing points, carefully controlled changes in dynamics and moments designed to let the tension rise before the track hits again. The idea was simply to give DJs two new ways of playing it.
Forty years after its first release, “Agent Of Liberty” remains one of the most characteristic records not only of Mike Mareen’s career, but of the entire German electronic dance scene of the 1980s. Powerful, melodic, intelligent and wonderfully excessive. The Agent is back.
Analog Africa's latest essential compilation began with a ruined needle. Samy Ben Redjeb, who was newly back from a 2002 digging trip, dropped a stylus into a groove that censors at the SABC had gouged with a blade. The record had been marked "not suitable," and the story behind it runs through the whole compilation. The 22 tracks pull American soul, funk and disco toward jazz, reggae and local rhythm until the result sounds utterly Jo-burg. 'How Long?' and 'Take It' are the early standouts, though the Beat Set two-parter and Dudu And The Big Time Boys hold their own. The 16-page booklet fills in the context nicely on this well assembled deep dive.
BEAT'EM ALL is french hip-hop/jazz instrumental trio SHIBUUYA!'s latest LP release. A blend of nu-jazz, fusion, hip-hop and future beats, all in original compisitions from the band's keyboardist and drummer, the album goes against the polished image we usually have of jazz music to deliver a raspy, energic and groovy sound that shakes the listener instead of nurturing him. With prestigious featurings such as CHiLi GiRL aka Shinobu Kawasihma, a Tokyo-raised Shamisen (a traditional japanese guitar) player, Melbourne rapper Nelson Dialect, french virtuoso saxophonist Hugo Afettouche, or the "french problem kid of jazz" trumpetist Daoud, SHIBUUYA! pushes forward its identity with references to japanese pop-culture through anime samples, powerful hip-hop beats, progressive broken-beat grooves and crazy deliveries on all three instruments (keys, drums and bass), all of it served by an original manga-inspired cover art by the band's keyboardist and leader. A reference to the japan-popular videogame genre (Shibuya being a neighborhood of tokyo centered around fashion and pop culture), BEAT'EM ALL tries to beat the odds on what we expect from a jazz album and to make it sound more like a garage-produced LP rather than a million-dollar studio album, to make as authentic and as generational as possible, a true product of today's young jazz scene.
Mihail A. Popov is a Russian with two decades in the game behind him, partly under his given name, but half of that time has also seen him work as I Gemin. Now he lands on Deeppa Records with a conceptual EP "built around depth, patience and underground exploration." The aim is to explore all new musical ground and follow newly emerging paths, and the result is a fine four-tracker. 'Like The Star' is a lush, deep nu-disco jam, 'Love Undercover' has a seductive slide to the live-sounding drums and playfulness in the horns, while 'Terra Incognita' brings jazzy chords and a balmy late-night warmth. 'Melancholy' gets more heavy and roughed up with smudged neo-soul and r&b samples, making it a romantic affair. Kid Sublime and 6th Borough Project drop remixes that bring more club-ready grooves and complete a superb EP.
At the height of grunge, Morphine sounded like nobody else. The Boston trio built their own strange, seductive musical language (coined "low rock" by frontman Mark Sandman), built around Sandman's two-string slide bass and unmistakable voice, Dana Colley’s baritone & tenor saxophone, and stripped-back drums (Jerome Deupree, Billy Conway). Morphine became one of the defining cult bands of the ’90s, but their story came to an abrupt end in 1999, when Sandman suffered a fatal heart attack on stage during a concert in Italy.
More than 25 years later, Cocoon offers an extraordinary final chapter. Its eight songs were recorded during Morphine’s late-’90s sessions before Sandman ultimately shelved the material on the path toward what would become their final album. Rediscovered in the band’s archives decades later, Sandman’s life partner and Morphine estate manager Sabine Hrechdakian and producer Paul Q. Kolderie (Radiohead, Pixies) transferred the original tapes and carefully assembled this unified collection of Morphine songs. Dana Colley returned to add new saxophone parts, and Kolderie then brought new mixes to the table. Rather than a collection of demos or outtakes, Cocoon is a fully realized Morphine album revealing a band still pushing forward that somehow waited nearly three decades to find its way into the world
Album Background
The background on the album is that the majority of the songs existed in demo form on a CD release called "Sandbox" a semi-legit release of Mark Sandman music on 2004. These versions are the completed tracks that include contributions from Morphine saxphonist
Dana Colley and produced and mastered by Morphine's long time producer Paul Kolderie.
At the height of grunge, Morphine sounded like nobody else. The Boston trio built their own strange, seductive musical language (coined "low rock" by frontman Mark Sandman), built around Sandman's two-string slide bass and unmistakable voice, Dana Colley’s baritone & tenor saxophone, and stripped-back drums (Jerome Deupree, Billy Conway). Morphine became one of the defining cult bands of the ’90s, but their story came to an abrupt end in 1999, when Sandman suffered a fatal heart attack on stage during a concert in Italy.
More than 25 years later, Cocoon offers an extraordinary final chapter. Its eight songs were recorded during Morphine’s late-’90s sessions before Sandman ultimately shelved the material on the path toward what would become their final album. Rediscovered in the band’s archives decades later, Sandman’s life partner and Morphine estate manager Sabine Hrechdakian and producer Paul Q. Kolderie (Radiohead, Pixies) transferred the original tapes and carefully assembled this unified collection of Morphine songs. Dana Colley returned to add new saxophone parts, and Kolderie then brought new mixes to the table. Rather than a collection of demos or outtakes, Cocoon is a fully realized Morphine album revealing a band still pushing forward that somehow waited nearly three decades to find its way into the world
Album Background
The background on the album is that the majority of the songs existed in demo form on a CD release called "Sandbox" a semi-legit release of Mark Sandman music on 2004. These versions are the completed tracks that include contributions from Morphine saxphonist
Dana Colley and produced and mastered by Morphine's long time producer Paul Kolderie.
The project first appeared as an anonymous transmission: a folder sent through the network, containing music, instructions and a name - Transpac. No photograph. No biography. Just the request to use the name and let the music speak.
There have been several transmissions since. Still no interviews, no confirmed identity, no explanation of who - or what - is behind the name.
Some say Transpac is a person. Others insist it is a machine. A few believe it is simply a data packet that escaped the network and somehow learned how to make music.
The name itself offers a possible clue. TRANSPAC was once the name of a French public data network, launched in 1978 and built around X.25 packet switching - breaking information into packets and moving them across a network long before the Internet became what it is today.
Perhaps Transpac has been travelling ever since.
Packet Switching EP is the latest intercepted transmission: six packets of pure machine music, assembled somewhere between circuitry, communication protocols and whatever exists on the other side of the network.
Whilst the packets have been received, the sender remains unknown.
Synaptic Cliffs is particularly pleased to have brought Transpac into its network - a feat made possible, not least, by its principal operative, pdqb. Through communication channels inaccessible to ordinary Earthlings, pdqb was able to locate Transpac with remarkable ease and secure its transmission for the label.
The artwork, rendered in yellow and black and largely composed of binary code, echoes the visual language of the early machine age - a world of geometric systems, electronic signals and human beings beginning to communicate with machines. Created by the legendary Infamous Image Division.
First ever reissue of the highly sought after '91 EP from TYREE COOPER & DJ PENG. 4 tracks of raw purpose built Chicago warehouse grit and grime that manage to sound just as vital 35 years later as they did on release. All-killer-no-filler. Don't sleep, will go fast.
On En Route, Oddisee captures the tension of motion—between where you’re from and where you’re headed, between ambition and grounding, between survival and purpose. Released at a moment when his voice was sharpening into something unmistakably his own, En Route feels like a checkpoint record: reflective, hungry, and deeply human.
Built on warm, head-nodding production and Oddisee’s signature blend of jazz-inflected beats and conversational clarity, the album balances internal dialogue with outward observation. He raps not as a distant narrator but as someone in the thick of it—touring, questioning, recalibrating—turning everyday moments into quiet revelations. Themes of independence, self-definition, and forward momentum run through the record without ever tipping into cliché; this is movement with intention, not escape.
What makes En Route endure is its honesty. There’s no forced grandeur here, just earned confidence and craft. Oddisee treats growth as a process rather than a destination, letting listeners ride alongside him as the miles stack up. The result is an album that feels lived-in and timeless—music for long drives, late nights, and anyone figuring out who they are while still on the way.
![pdqb - CONTACT IMMINENT[with two Extrawelt remixes]](https://www.deejay.de/images/l/1/2/1268612.jpg)
