Back when the first white labels started floating through the hands of German, British, American and Canadian DJs in late ’84, nobody was ready for what was coming. The official drop hit in early ’85 and the scene was never the same again. This was the moment Mike Mareen broke through the static. Yeah, he’d been working with Chris Evans-Ironside since the ’70s but nothing hinted that together they’d channel something this futuristic. “Dancing In The Dark” sounded like it had slipped through a wormhole: melancholic, hypnotic vocals wrapped in vocoder haze, riding an arrangement so razor-sharp it made most releases of the era feel prehistoric. It didn’t need the pop charts… It owned the clubs. And the clubs listened.
London. Berlin. Madrid. Rome. Paris. Lisbon. Amsterdam. Athens. Toronto. NYC. Tokyo. Mexico City.
One drop of that electro bassline and DJs were hooked. Crowds were hooked. The whole underground was hooked. Soon Europe’s radio charts caved under its pressure, and the track crossed borders on mixtapes, becoming a cult anthem behind the Iron Curtain. It was everywhere, even where it technically wasn’t allowed to be.
Fast-forward four decades and the spell hasn’t faded. “Dancing In The Dark” still shows up in indie dance, italo wave, house and deep house sets. Producers keep re-editing it like it’s sacred material. It’s one of those tracks that DJs treasure, a timeless weapon, one of the top three defining singles of Mareen’s entire career.
And now for the 40th anniversary of its official release, Vintage Pleasure Boutique and Night’n Day Records drop the vinyl every collector and selector has been waiting for: a special reissue loaded with four brand-new remixes spanning the full spectrum of today’s underground indie/disco/italo/house energy.
Tallac – the American Berlin dweller – dives deep into the hypnotic soul of the original, pulling out its buried deep-house DNA and carving out a spacious, emotional roller.
Luksek, Italian producer & DJ, goes raw and dirty: loop-driven, gritty, underground, hypnotic, the kind of edit that eats dancefloors alive.
Flemming Dalum, the Danish Italo grandmaster, finally gets to remix the track he’d always dreamed of touching and of course it’s pure Flemingish electro-italo magic.
And the Polish sparkle: A.P. Mono delivers a shimmering mix of italo disco, glitterbox groove, disco glamour and synthwave glow, all while keeping the spirit of Mareen’s original heartbeat intact.
The wax also features two historical heavy-hitters: the 1985 Jens Lissat’s team remix and Luis Rodriguez’s original arrangement, essential cuts in the Mareen universe.
This release isn’t nostalgia. It’s a resurrection. A celebration. A reminder. “Dancing In The Dark” didn’t survive 40 years by accident, it survived because it still moves bodies, breaks hearts and lights up floors in ways modern tracks can only wish for.
If you’re an indie, italo, wave, house or disco DJ… This record isn’t just worth owning… It’s mandatory.
Cerca:soul tech
- A1: Gaetano Parisio - Deadline 4 55
- A2: Cravo - Drive Back 4 43
- A3: Dold - Feng Shui 4 31
- B1: Endlec - Select Source 4 50
- B2: Sera J - Triangles 4 51
- B3: The Advent - Flux 5 00
- C1: Newa - Your Love 5 20
- C2: Julieta Kopp - Empty Roads 4 52
- C3: Mike Konstantinidis - Secret Scent 4 51
- D1: Glaskin - Talon 4 26
- D2: Dynamic Forces - Untitled Two 4 19
- D3: Anné - Daughter Of The Wind 4 48
Nastia's imprint launches a new compilation series curated by selected music connoisseurs and crate diggers, with ANNÉ as the debut curator.
Each compilation features handpicked unreleased pieces including an exclusive track by the curator. The release pairs a curated double vinyl with a CD featuring the curator's own mix of the compilation.
For this first edition, ANNÉ has put together a balanced journey that opens with Gaetano Parisio's dynamic old-school energy and closes with The Advent's raw classic techno. Between these two legends, the selection flows seamlessly across the first 12".
The second record takes a more soulful direction, starting with Newa and closing with ANNÉ's own track - a natural way to wrap up the journey she's curated, serving both as a closing piece and the final statement of the compilation.
- Control
- Koru Mindset
- Pretender
- Grow
- Leviathan
- Wandern
- Wicked Game
GAVIAL sind zurück. Deutlicher. Verletzlicher. Größer als je zuvor. Fast drei Jahre sind vergangen, seit Gavial mit "VOR" ein kraftvolles Statement abgegeben haben. Drei Jahre voller politischer Brüche, gesellschaftlicher Abgründe und persönlicher Erschütterungen. Drei Jahre, die Spuren hinterlassen haben - hörbar, fühlbar, unausweichlich. Jetzt kehrt das Quartett aus Dresden/Leipzig/Berlin mit einem neuen Album zurück. Hier prallen Soul und Gospel auf Country, Psychedelic-Blues auf pure, unverstellte Emotion. Gavial erschaffen Klangwelten, in denen Gitarren, Bass und Stimme zu etwas Größerem verschmelzen. Melancholie, die nachhallt. Hypnose durch Klang. Energie, die nicht mehr loslässt. Mit Vehemenz präsentieren sich Gavial so roh und kompromisslos wie noch nie. Ihre Songs sind Spiegel - von allem, was brennt: Eine Welt, die sich selbst zerfrisst. Gesellschaften, die verlernt haben zuzuhören. Technologien, die uns überholen. Militarismus, der zurückkehrt. Menschenrechte, die zu Worthülsen verkommen. Institutionen, die versagen. Und Egoismus, der gedeiht. "Thanks, I Hate It" ist keine Kapitulation. Es ist ein Soundtrack zu einer Zeit, die uns täglich prüft. Gavial sind hier, um uns zu erinnern: Wir sind noch da. Wir fühlen noch. Wir hören noch zu. Und manchmal lautet die einzig ehrliche Antwort auf diese Welt: Thanks, I Hate It.
- C2: Back Again (Hot Toddy Remix)
- D1: Alone With You (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
- A1: Coming Home Baby (7" Edit) — Skeewiff
- A2: I Can't Give You Up — Smoove & Turrell
- A3: Ya Lookin Tight — Soopasoul
- A4: God Walked Down — The Allergies
- A5: Man Of Constant Sorrow — Skeewiff
- B1: Geno's Discotheque (Aroop Roy Remix) — Smoove & Turrell
- B2: Keep On Searching — Kraak & Smaak
- B3: Dust (Dimitri From Paris Vs. Cotonete Discomix) — Gizelle Smith
- B4: Glow — Sam Redmore
- C1: Blind Faith (Art Of Tones Extended Remix) — Izo Fitzroy
- C3: Sun Don't Shine (Sophie Lloyd Remix) — Wolfgang Valbrun
- C4: Tears (Scrimshire Remix) — Sam Redmore
- D2: Kinetic (Kraak & Smaak Remix) — Golden Girls
- D3: Speculate (Saison Remix) — Flevans
- E1: The Difference — Smoove & Turrell
- E2: Stumble (Feat. Parcels) — Kraak & Smaak
- E3: Easy Ain't Nothing (Featurecast Remix) — Ephemerals
- E4: I Feel It — The Allergies
- E5: Life Is Good (Technimatic Remix) — Ephemerals
- F1: Skyline (Kraak & Smaak Badlands Remix) — Izo Fitzroy
- F2: Wild Shadows — Flevans
- F3: Sunset Breakup — Dr Rubberfunk
- F4: You Brighten Up My Day — Hallmighty & Vanucci
Jalapeno Records are celebrating their 25th anniversary in the business. The label are marking the occasion with the release of a 3LP compilation featuring some of label boss Trevor Mac's favourite dancefloor gems from across the years. From a humble start in a basement recording studio on Holloway Road to a quarter century anniversary celebrated from their Brighton offices – Jalapeno Records has been an indie label with a mission - to bring the funk to the masses. Along the way that has taken in so many genres from chill to house, gospel to soul, breaks to drum & bass but it has all had a common thread running through it - the funk. "Twenty Five years means there are too many artists to list and this album is not supposed to be a Greatest Hits. We did that on the 20th anniversary. The album is dedicated to all of the artists that trusted us with their music and all the people who supported us along the way" says Trevor
k 11. Back Again (Hot Toddy Remix) feat. John Turrell — Kraak & Smaak
n 14. Alone with You (Purple Disco Machine Remix) [feat. Cleopold] — Kraak & Smaak
[k] 11. Back Again (Hot Toddy Remix) [feat. John Turrell] — Kraak & Smaak
[n] 14. Alone with You (Purple Disco Machine Remix) [feat. Cleopold] — Kraak & Smaak
[k] 11. Back Again (Hot Toddy Remix) [feat. John Turrell] — Kraak & Smaak
[n] 14. Alone with You (Purple Disco Machine Remix) [feat. Cleopold] — Kraak & Smaak
Motor city royalty Floorplan, aka Detroit techno pioneer and creator of minimal techno Robert Hood and his DJ/producer daughter Lyric Hood, announce their forthcoming inclusion in the deeply respected ‘fabric presents’ mix series with the release of their new single ‘You’re A Shining Star’, out now. The full mix drops on digital/vinyl/CD via fabric records on 28th November.
Robert has been a long-standing fabric favourite since the institution's earliest years, clocking up over 20 sets in Room 2, including a live session on New Year's Eve, 2012. In 2008, he'd turn in Fabric 39 which is among the most revered contributions to the fabric mix canon. Now, with the forthcoming ‘fabric presents Floorplan’ mix, the story comes full circle - marking both the duo’s debut on the iconic mix series and a monumental moment for the family project.
About Floorplan: Emerging from a musically rich Detroit upbringing steeped in Motown and vinyl culture, Robert Hood became an early member of the seminal ’90s collective Underground Resistance, helping to spearhead the rise of techno. Going solo, Hood created minimal techno with his Minimal Nation LP. Groundbreaking productions, acclaimed performances, and his own M-plant label followed, until in ’96 he formed Floorplan - an alter ego to expand beyond minimal techno into gospel, soul and house-infused techno. Immersed in music from an early age, Lyric eventually caught the same electronic spark that’s driven her father for decades. In 2014, after the release of Hood’s debut Floorplan album Paradise, the project evolved as the then-16-year-old Lyric joined him to perform as Floorplan, including a supreme closing set at Dekmantel’s Boiler Room stage. Two years later, Lyric officially became a full member of Floorplan, cementing their father–daughter collaboration, and they’d release their co-produced album Victorious on M-Plant that same year.
- 1: Sour Times
- 2: Cross The Bar
- 3: Until Tomorrow
- 4: Hibernation
- 5: Wigstand
- 6: Strata Of Fear
- 7: Untitled
- 8: Blueprint Soul
- 9: The Downside
Lime Green Vinyl[24,16 €]
Confessor's genre defying album Unraveled reissued in January Confessor is a progressive doom metal band from North Carolina that made its mark on the underground metal scene in the late 80's by combining some of the genre's essential elements in a way that no band had attempted before. Once dubbed "the world's most obstinately technical metal band", Confessor's technically complex interpretation of traditional doom gained them a reputation also within the progressive metal circles. Their grand sophomore album Unraveled from 2005 will finally be reissued after two decades on January 16th via Svart Records. Following the release of their 1991 debut album, Condemned, Confessor disbanded in 1994 while they were already planning a second album. Sadly, in 2002 the band's guitarist Ivan Colon passed away, and in tribute to Ivan, the band re-formed in order to play a benefit show for him. Things went so well, that they decided to continue after almost a decade apart. Their second full length Unraveled followed in 2005; an immensely satisfying and unique blend of majestic Doom Metal raised to the next level.
- 1: Sour Times
- 2: Cross The Bar
- 3: Until Tomorrow
- 4: Hibernation
- 5: Wigstand
- 6: Strata Of Fear
- 7: Untitled
- 8: Blueprint Soul
- 9: The Downside
Black Vinyl[23,32 €]
Confessor's genre defying album Unraveled reissued in January Confessor is a progressive doom metal band from North Carolina that made its mark on the underground metal scene in the late 80's by combining some of the genre's essential elements in a way that no band had attempted before. Once dubbed "the world's most obstinately technical metal band", Confessor's technically complex interpretation of traditional doom gained them a reputation also within the progressive metal circles. Their grand sophomore album Unraveled from 2005 will finally be reissued after two decades on January 16th via Svart Records. Following the release of their 1991 debut album, Condemned, Confessor disbanded in 1994 while they were already planning a second album. Sadly, in 2002 the band's guitarist Ivan Colon passed away, and in tribute to Ivan, the band re-formed in order to play a benefit show for him. Things went so well, that they decided to continue after almost a decade apart. Their second full length Unraveled followed in 2005; an immensely satisfying and unique blend of majestic Doom Metal raised to the next level.
R2 2-CHANNEL ROTARY DJ MIXER
Introducing the Headliner R2, a 2-channel rotary DJ mixer that
is perfect for DJ’s looking for precise control and a warm sound,
without breaking the bank. The R2 is packed with features, like an
analog filter and 3-band isolator EQs on each channel, and uses
only high-quality components, including genuine ALPS potentiometers.
Featuring two stereo channels with selectable Line and Phono
RCA inputs, each channel on the Headliner R2 comes equipped
with gain control with a peak LED, a 3-band isolator EQ, a headphone cue selector, a large channel volume control knob, and a
filter activation switch.
The Master channel boasts an analog filter, headphone monitoring,
and output control section. The analog filter features selectable
High Pass / Low Pass Filter modes with Frequency and Resonance
controls, giving you precise control over your sound. Independent
Master and Booth outputs with volume controls, both with balanced
XLR and unbalanced RCA connectors, give you the flexibility to
connect to any sound system.
The Headliner R2 features genuine ALPS potentiometers, and a
sturdy metal enclosure with stained wood side panels for a classic
look that will complement any DJ setup. The modular internal
construction, coupled with the external power supply connected
via locking Mini XLR ensure superior audio performance.
The Headliner R2 is a reliable, high-quality mixer that will give
your DJ performances that classic vibe. Whether you’re spinning
house, techno, or classic funk/soul/disco jams, this fun little mixer
is the perfect addition to your setup.
• Two stereo channels with selectable Line and Phono RCA inputs
• Each channel features Gain control with Peak LED, 3-Band Isolator EQ, Headphones Cue selector with LED, channel
volume control and filter activation switch with LED
• Master channel features analog filter, headphone monitoring and output control section
• Analog filter features selectable High Pass / Low Pass Filter modes with Frequency and Resonance controls
• Genuine ALPS potentiometers
• Headphone Cue control section features volume control, mix control (Cue/Master), and split monitor switch
• High current headphone amplifier with dual 1/4” and 1/8” jacks
• Independent Master and Booth outputs with volume controls, balanced XLR outputs and unbalanced RCA outputs
• Additional Record output with unbalanced RCA jacks
• Dual LED level meters for the Master output
• Microphone input with level control on front panel
• Sturdy metal enclosure with stained wood side panels
• Modular internal construction for superior audio performance
• External split rail power supply connected via locking Mini XLR connector and push-button power switch
• Measurements: 320 x 219 x 106 mm
• Weight: 2.8 kg
Microphone Input
Nominal Input Level: -50dBu
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz (+/- 0.1dB)
THD + N: 100dB
Crosstalk: 100dB
Übersprechen: < -65dB
THD + N: < 0,05%
Kopfhörerausgang
Maximaler Ausgangspegel: 70mA/Kanal in 150Ω
Minimale Lastimpedanz: 32 Ohm/Kanal
Stromversorgung
Typ: Extern mit verriegelbarem Mini-XLR-Stecker
Eingangsspannung: 100-240v ~ 50/60Hz
Ausgangsspannung: +/-15V; 500mA
Spannungsbereich: 32 Ohm/Kanal
black vinyl[10,29 €]
The Cryovac machine operates independently to service the world with an original strain of techno. Our people are pioneers of their own sound and seasoned veterans of its' cause. This cause is the basis for our action and the motivation for our vinyl. Cryovac believes the vinyl format is the truest way to take in our music, and this is why we take great care to personally craft our own plates and photograph our own art. The Cryovac approach and stance make it a true oddity in a world of commodities, and we hope you realize, feel, and respect our work.
Andy Vaz is a rebel from the city of Cologne. He is a creator of techno labels that follow their own path and challenge the standard dogma. His version of the techno sound has gone from stark and funky minimalism to synth cascades and housey feels. Andy Vaz is the perfect choice to collaborate with Andy Garcia. Garcia's brand crunchy soul tech mixed with vocal nonsense is the yin to Vaz's yang. These like minds share a name, a spirit, and a drive to keep moving forward no matter the cost.
Arepas Records follows up its debut serving with a second course of flavoursome house music: “Ceylon Treats EP” by Erwin. True to the Arepas concept of combining dancefloor functionality with culinary storytelling, “Ceylon Treats EP” is all about mood, texture and pacing rather than obvious peaks. Erwin’s production leans on warm basslines, rolling drum programming and hazy chords, spiced with percussive details and small melodic phrases that flicker through the mix like passing smells from an open kitchen. Some moments are cosy and intimate, others are more driving and hypnotic, but everything is tied together by a deep, inviting groove that works from warm-up to after-hours. AREPAS002 feels like a natural evolution of the label’s first chapter: still deep, still soulful, still obsessed with flavour, just with a new recipe and different ingredients. House, deep house, dub house and tech house come together in one coherent, story-driven EP that rounds off the flow of a day, night or early morning like a carefully prepared dessert course. No skips, no fillers. Just pure flavour. Beats & treats.
Blue Limited Edition[21,43 €]
Spandau20 delivers its eleventh various artists release, a sonically rich and future-facing blend of broken grooves, spatial moods and modern Detroit romanticism. Four tracks, four new angles on the dancefloor. ANNA Z sets the tone with 'Kabeljau', an eclectic, IDM-flirting workout. On the opening track, elastic rhythms stretch and snap while ethereal pads drift overhead, punctured by sudden turns and glitchy surprises. Moody, weird and beautifully unpredictable. Dajusch continues with 'Fallout', diving into shimmering Detroit-inspired chords and pristine production. Clean yet full of soul, its dreamy propulsion moves with effortless optimism. It's a track that lifts heads and hearts without ever losing its club focus. Flip the record and FJAAK welcome you into a breakbeat-infused haze. 'Your Time' pairs groovy percussion and airy atmospheres with those unmistakable powerhouse vocal chops, a warehouse anthem with a gentle cosmic touch, driving yet deeply emotional. Closing the EP, Claus accelerates the pulse. 'Moist Logic' is a faster, more urgent exploration of the techno continuum. Machine funk encoded into a forward-thrusting groove, a sleek atmosphere swirling around a sharp, kinetic core. With SPANDAU20 011, the West-Berlin collective celebrates a hybrid future that is rhythmically adventurous, melodically rich and rooted in the love for the dancefloor. This record combines Berlin grit with dream-state techno, balancing rough energy and refined emotion across four cuts that leave their mark on the floor.
Black Vinyl[16,39 €]
Spandau20 delivers its eleventh various artists release, a sonically rich and future-facing blend of broken grooves, spatial moods and modern Detroit romanticism. Four tracks, four new angles on the dancefloor. ANNA Z sets the tone with 'Kabeljau', an eclectic, IDM-flirting workout. On the opening track, elastic rhythms stretch and snap while ethereal pads drift overhead, punctured by sudden turns and glitchy surprises. Moody, weird and beautifully unpredictable. Dajusch continues with 'Fallout', diving into shimmering Detroit-inspired chords and pristine production. Clean yet full of soul, its dreamy propulsion moves with effortless optimism. It's a track that lifts heads and hearts without ever losing its club focus. Flip the record and FJAAK welcome you into a breakbeat-infused haze. 'Your Time' pairs groovy percussion and airy atmospheres with those unmistakable powerhouse vocal chops, a warehouse anthem with a gentle cosmic touch, driving yet deeply emotional. Closing the EP, Claus accelerates the pulse. 'Moist Logic' is a faster, more urgent exploration of the techno continuum. Machine funk encoded into a forward-thrusting groove, a sleek atmosphere swirling around a sharp, kinetic core. With SPANDAU20 011, the West-Berlin collective celebrates a hybrid future that is rhythmically adventurous, melodically rich and rooted in the love for the dancefloor. This record combines Berlin grit with dream-state techno, balancing rough energy and refined emotion across four cuts that leave their mark on the floor.
Athens based Aris Kokou debuts on Cataleya Music with a seriously deep EP. Think Ron Trent, Coflo or vintage Osunlade. Kokou is a seasoned producer, who released Drum&Bass on Good Looking and Tech grooves on Plastic City Suburbia with Bill Makris in the early 2000s. In recent times, he has been making the sort of Deep, Soulful and Afro influenced House we hear on Kalypso’s Island. The lead cut A Woman is a swinging hip shaker with grooving keys and thought provoking spoken vocals from SingTrece. The keys really fly on the Instrumental. Azymuth with Moulton Music regular Phaze Dee has the sort of jazzy vibe that you would expect. The EP finishes with the gorgeous flute and guitar driven Sacred Kalypso. This is one of the deepest and most spiritually aware EPs on Cataleya Music so far!
- A1: Rone - The Dolphin Ambassador
- A2: Mézigue & Swooh - Broken Roll To Venice
- A3: Kink - Give Me
- B1: Belaria & Madben - Into The Void
- B2: Oniris & Benjamin Rippert - Sonate
- C1: Legowelt & Cuften - Liar
- C2: Zaatar & Trunkline - Come Into The Light
- C3: Scan X & Electric Rescue - Lost In Time
- D1: Manu Le Malin & Kmyle - Little Big Man
- D2: Célélé & Théo Muller - Drum And Drift
Astropolis Records — the label born from the legendary electronic French festival — celebrates a decade of electronic devotion with a generous and deeply emotional anniversary compilation - a bit late, but never short on flair.
This double vinyl gathers the many faces of the Astropolis galaxy: in-house artists, long-time companions of the festival, and rising voices from a perpetually vibrant French scene. Across 18 artists, listeners are invited on a sonic journey where rave legacy, electronic dreamscapes, and collective fervor intertwine — true to the DNA of a festival that’s never known boundaries.
The record opens with grace and wonder courtesy of Rone, whose electronic touch channels both the intimate and the infinite. Between electronica and downtempo, The Dolphin Ambassador bathes in luminous melancholy, offering a moment of calm before the storm. In the same contemplative vein, we’re proud to unveil one of the first productions from Célélé alongside Théo Muller: Drum and Drift, a subtle blend of dubby vibrations and sunlit textures.
Astropolis has always thrived on happy collisions — and this compilation is proof of it. The unlikely meeting between Mézigue and Swooh sends house spiraling into a g-tech vortex on Broken Roll To Venice, a playful burst of groove, hybrid energy, and cheeky mischief. The same spirit of alchemy fuels Belaria & Madben, whose Into The Void burns bright as a 90s rave-meets-EBM anthem wrapped in hypnotic trance. Zaatar & Trunkline bring raw intensity to Come Into The Light, a sweaty, visceral banger at the crossroads of techno, dark disco, and EBM.
French techno pillars Scan X & Electric Rescue deliver a masterclass in elegant machine soul on Lost In Time. When Manu Le Malin teams up with Kmyle, the result is as sharp as it is cinematic: Little Big Man pulses with dramatic tension, balancing raw emotion and restrained fury. Elsewhere, Oniris & Benjamin Rippert reconnect with the melodic techno spirit of the label’s early days on Sonate, guided by a craftsman’s sense of harmony.
For the machine lovers, Legowelt & Cuften resurrect the spirit of early electroclash on Liar, a carnal fusion of analog synths and DIY attitude. And for the diehard dancefloor devotees, KiNK finally releases a cult track from his live sets: Give Me, a breakbeat-meets-vintage-house stormer tailor-made for those late-night sweats.
This anniversary compilation reaffirms the label’s openness to new generations and hybrid sounds, while paying tribute to the techno roots that shaped its foundation. Like the festival itself, it embodies sincerity and collective energy — a small manifesto linking generations, aesthetics, and territories, celebrating roots without nostalgia and the future without bending to trends.
2025 Repress
JKS is back on his own imprint. Together with Bailey Ibbs they have collaborated on a groundbreaking EP. This partnership encapsulates the evolution of techno, blending spiritual intros, vibrant vocals, and pulsating rhythms. Each track offers a captivating journey, reflecting the creative depth of Smile Sessions and the philosophy of the label.
Drawing from diverse influences, yet meticulously guided by a singular artistic vision, this EP promises to immerse listeners in a hypnotic journey. From the captivating "It's a Vibe", fusing tribal and soulful techno, to the intense "Tempo," paying homage to 2000s-influenced techno, each track on the EP showcases meticulous curation.
"Shake" stands as a collaborative gem, melding distinct sounds into a driving techno groove enriched with warm, progressive tones and organ textures, while "Rituals" closes the EP with tribal-infused vibes and a seductive vocal flair, ending on a emotional note with its melancholic synth conclusion.
Some things are just too good to be hidden from view. That's certainly the case with Things To Think About, the first album from Dutch electronic music legend Steve Rachmad's lesser-known Sterac Electronics project.
.
Rachmad first rose to prominence in the late 1990s, spearheading a surge in Dutch techno that was heavily inspired by the futurist intent and machine soul of Detroit. Since then, he has continued to successfully explore a wide range of dancefloor-centric electronic styles under a dizzying array of aliases.
It's a while, though, since the public has been treated to a heavy dose of Sterac Electronics material. He first established the alias at the turn of the millennium, primarily as an outlet for hardware-driven electro music shot through with funk and soul.
A handful of highly regarded 12' singles were released on Music Man and Interpersonal XP, before Rachmad began focusing on other projects. When inspiration struck, he returned to the project, jamming out tracks using a mighty collection of vintage synthesizers and drum machines.
Recently, Rachmad and Tom Trago decided to revisit the Sterac Electronics archive, discovering a killer collection of cuts created at different points over the course of the last 15 years.
Now 9 of those spellbinding hardware jams have been gathered together for the first time on Things To Think About, a warm, rich and evocative collection of electro-fuelled workouts that giddily pay tribute to the music of Rachmad's youth.
From the thrusting, synth-driven machine funk of Original Pattern' and mutant electrofunk revivalism of Game Changers', to the baggy West Coast boogie of Metratron' and intergalactic hustle of Archetype' (which sounds like Cybotron covering the 1988 version of The KLF's What Time Is Love'), Things To Think About is an lesson in the emotion-rich, mood enhancing possibilities of spontaneous hardware jams.
The highlights don't stop there, either. Check, for example, the crystalline synthesizer melodies, body popping drum hits and spacey chords of Tuning Into Frequencies' and the breezy humidity of opener Altruistic Endeavor'.
Like the rest of the tracks on the album, they feel timeless, as if they could have been made at any point during the last three decades. From Steve Rachmad, we wouldn't expect anything less.
Things To Think About will be released as a limited-edition double album, preceded by a 12' single featuring another previously unheard gem from the vaults.
„A Deeper Shade“, produced by Case Woo in 2001 and originally released only on CD, will soon be reissued as a double 12“ vinyl. It will come with a full-cover print of the original artwork, as well as an insert with photos of young Case in the studio and a list of the equipment that was used to record this album.
Back then, this release was hailed as the definitive and only full-length Deep House / Tech House album to emerge from the tiny island of Singapore, by one of the pioneers of the local electronic music industry.
Case himself states: „I was introduced to the Deep House genre in 1999 and it was love at first listen, pure magic! What began as a spark of inspiration soon led to a month of self-imposed studio isolation - a journey of immersion, expression, and devotion to a newfound sound. The outcome of that creative dive is „A Deeper Shade“.“
The tracks „Polyester Cookies“ and „Subliminal“ were picked up by transport recordings for TSP008 in 2000/2001 and are getting rare & expensive these days. Now you can get the whole album on wax for the first time - 65 minutes of pure deepness that stood the test of time!
goodbye.
Another side of Steve Rachmad. Preceeds and album of archive tracks that shows the far reaching talents of this master producer.. TIP!
Some things are just too good to be hidden from view. That's certainly the case with 'Things To Think About', the first album from Dutch electronic music legend Steve Rachmad's lesser-known Sterac Electronics project.
Rachmad first rose to prominence in the late 1990s, spearheading a surge in Dutch techno that was heavily inspired by the futurist intent and machine soul of Detroit. Since then, he has continued to successfully explore a wide range of dancefloor-centric electronic styles under a dizzying array of aliases.
It's a while, though, since the public has been treated to a heavy dose of Sterac Electronics
material. He first established the alias at the turn of the millennium, primarily as an outlet for hardware-driven electro music shot through with funk and soul.
A handful of highly regarded 12' singles were released on Music Man and Interpersonal XP, before Rachmad began focusing on other projects. When inspiration struck, he returned to the project, jamming out tracks using a mighty collection of vintage synthesizers and drum machines.
Recently, Rachmad and Tom Trago decided to revisit the Sterac Electronics archive, discovering a killer collection of cuts created at different points over the course of the last 15 years.
Now 9 of those spellbinding hardware jams have been gathered together for the first time on 'Things To Think About', a warm, rich and evocative collection of electro-fuelled workouts that giddily pay tribute to the music of Rachmad's youth.
'Things To Think About' will be released as a limited-edition double album, preceded by this 12' single featuring another previously unheard gem from the vaults.
Musuq Nuna presents its second vinyl release.
Amid electric pulses and suspended atmospheres, this record unfolds a journey where shadow meets light.
Droove traces three paths of precise, nocturnal energy, where techno breathes with a synthetic soul and time seems to bend upon itself.
On the reverse side, Alquimic, together with the ethereal voice of Brunella, opens a luminous rift, a chant that drifts between light and mystery, between reason and ecstasy.
Each groove of Light in the Darkness holds a small ceremony: the alchemy of sound transforming darkness into a gleam, rhythm into a spell.
Repress!
In 2015 when potential remixes of BIPP were first floated the unequivocal response from SOPHIE was “No remixes..” a long pause followed “..unless it’s Autechre”. We asked, and five years later an email from Autechre arrived “sorry this is so late, hope it's still of some use”. An Autechre live show recording from a Numbers show in 2005 had first inspired SOPHIE to source the equipment used to craft new music including BIPP, LEMONADE & more. The BIPP Autechre mx is 3 minutes 33 seconds long, stripped back and loose. Sounding like Autechre paying tribute to some serious late 80’s influences. The duo's interpretation channels an imagined transition point between NY electro and UK street soul, that pitched down SOPHIE vocal reconfigured into a wanna-be Latin Freestyle Natasha King, jiving over a deep slice of TR-606 funk technology.




















