Cerca:sound of sound

Ben Hixon heads up the Dolfin label, but it operates more as a collective of musicians with him at the centre orchestrating sessions, mixing, mastering and producing both solo and in collaboration with pals. For this one he has again linked with Rami for an immersive EP that traverses various tempos and rhythms. There's whimsical downtempo on 'Break Up', sparse soundscaping on 'Collect' and hurried deep house on 'After Dark' that burns with real late night intensity. 'Pleasure' gets more playful and extroverted in its rugged swing and 'Saturday' is a laidback soother. Another timeless EP.

Joe Fujinoki centered the compositions of his latest album Glass Torso round the idea of the fragility of the human body. Fujinoki described the narrative thread of the album as that of “holding the shape of a human body as if it might shatter like glass”. The precariousness of the body, the essence of the body as defined by Fujinoki as the torso, and the object relations between the boundaries of dialectical exercises pack themselves into his creative process.

Fujinoki recorded Glass Torso exclusively with analog synthesizers, stumbling in and out of structural loops to find space for accidental discoveries. The ten pieces of recorded material feel somewhere on the edge of typified form, feeling like a vascular system pumping in and out its undulating liquidities. Maybe this is the hollowed space held together by Fujinoki’s notion of the torso where you hear a microscopic world, dubby and generative. Fujinoki is adept at organizing this realm of subtle sound sources, giving proper considerations of shared tonal space. Seemingly, this handling of the precarity of sonic material elucidates Fujinoki’s mature attention to detail.

Ambient music genre tropes often affirm the listeners vessel for escape and dissociation. It provides an intoxicating allure by respite from an overwhelming exterior reality far outside the listeners controls. Here this space becomes apolitical, or its protest vocabulary softer and subtle. Fujinoki does not aim to tackle hyperobject topics on how to course correct the world, but he does something increasingly rarer to come across. On Glass Torso an alternative space is created not as shelter, but as a meditation on negotiation and compromise. This twenty eight minutes of audio lays down a foundation for imagination, for imagining how to negotiate the fragility of the self. Zoomed out, the implications of his negotiative sonics can be a playground for broader reflections on distributive care and attention.

Fujinoki says he feels “alert” to his physicality and placement in the world amidst vast digital cultures creating impositions on him and his surroundings. On Glass Torso he creates a concretized space on a vinyl record, where the virtual and the tangible antagonize one another that create the spectacle of the listening experience. This spectacle is a soft one, a considered one, and an utmost enjoyable one. Fujinoki juggles opposing forces brilliantly, and formulates an exquisite palette of soft passing music so he can also help the listener with the exquisite burden of their own Glass Torso.”

- Nick Klein, January 2026

Drumcode returns with its flagship A-Sides series, led by a huge new Adam Beyer single that highlights the 20-track compilation.

If you want a snapshot of techno in any given year, look no further than Drumcode’s annual A-Sides compilation. The release broadly charts the evolution of the genre, while giving a platform to standout demo’s Adam Beyer has received across the course of the year with many emerging artists finding their music on Drumcode for the first time. Case in point – Wehbba, Charles D and Raxon who all debuted on the label via a track on the A-Sides series and have gone on to become regular contributors to Beyer’s influential labels.

This year’s compilation features an exciting mix of established heavy-hitters, alongside a slew of new faces set to make their mark on the genre. ‘We Don’t Say Please’ – is emblematic of Adam Beyer’s sound in 2025 – fresh, experimental and thriving on cross-genre pollinations, as elements of bass music, rap and techno collide, underpinned by a distinctive UK vocal. The results are inspiring.

Elsewhere, the 20-track compilation brims with highlights. HI-LO’s ‘NYC to Amsterdam’ has inflections of New York house fused with driving techno elements. Nicole Moudaber returns to DC in cahoots with the rising ZLATA for the super-charged ‘Report to the Dancefloor’. Oscar L & Charles D mint a new collaborative partnership with the immersive, spacey cut ‘Lift Me Up’. LUSU continue their red-hot run following the recent ‘Move 2 the Groove’ EP, and craft a straight-up mind-mashing single ‘LIKE THIS’. Mark Reeve is in trademark strong form with hypnotic ‘My Mind’, which comes to life via a massive synth led. The fantastic Kaufmann shares her ‘People are Strange’, a nod to a classic vox, re-contextualised for a modern techno audience.

As is tradition, a troupe of ascendant producers land on Drumcode for the first time. They include Uruguay’s Enzo Monza, who delivers the crisp ‘Late Night’ – a favourite of Beyer’s; Mattia Saviola, whose ‘Parallel Dimension’ is a powerful cut with fantastic sound design; Romanian artist Tao Andra, who shares the celestial ‘Unity’; and long-time industry stalwart AdamK, who makes a richly deserved Drumcode debut in partnership with Vikthor feat. MC Stretch on the stunning ‘Silence + The Sound’.

Sounds of Sirius Music unveils SOSNZ011 – Eye of Deva, a release exploring perception, truth, and higher awareness through deep frequencies.

The Eye symbolizes seeing beyond the surface.
Deva, rooted in Sanskrit, represents divine light and elevated consciousness.

Together, Eye of Deva becomes the vision of the divine — awareness beyond separation.

A-side by Fedo, remixed by Mihai Pol.
B-side by PRT Stacho, remixed by Last Pines.

A release shaped by close friends of Sounds of Sirius.

Tapping into the otherworldly frequencies of the UFO series, UK-born, Lisbon-based prodigy Rene Wise arrives on Dekmantel with an assured demonstration of his position at the cutting edge of real techno.

Andrew Shobeiri appeared in the cut and thrust of the scene fully-formed around 2017, instantly bringing his Rene Wise alias to top-tier labels with a razor-sharp combination of functional minimalism and mind-warping flair. There's no grey area fluctuation in his hypnotic, intentional sound — this is deep, captivating techno for the long haul, music to submit yourself to.

True to his sound, Rene Wise makes his presence felt on Dekmantel UFO with a varied spread of sounds, leading with the melancholic charm of the melodic sequences weaving through 'Johnson's Theme' before sinking into the engrossing folds and low-end rumble of 'Granite Skin'. There's a lighter atmosphere at play in the vaporous impulses that mark out 'Flow' before rolling into the rhythmic urgency and strafing bleeps of 'Kanga'.

This is the Dekmantel UFO experience as expressed by one of the leading lights in modern techno — an artist who understands the psychoactive power contained within the subtleties of production and pursuit of the ultimate loop.

This year’s edition of our Glome series leans into a deep, driving, club-focused sound. The A-side opens with Mitra’s signature bass-heavy, bubbly textures, setting a warm, energetic tone before moving into Mordio’s relentless
groove, where the rhythm is lifted by chords that carry a subtle dub-like glow. On the B-side, Tenzia brings his unmistakable sense of groove and an uplifting, wide-open sound palette that feels both playful and effortlessly fluid until the record wraps up with Vanta’s eerie, enveloping atmospheres that creeps right under your skin. Each track carries the unique fingerprint of its artist while staying true to the evolving sonic identity the label is shaping.

Afro Funk Grooves by Afro Dub is a unique experience that challenges genre conventions, bringing together the present and the past in a captivating blend of Afro Funk Soul sounds. Sound Exhibitions Records continues to be the bridge between historical roots and contemporary innovations, making this vinyl a precious addition to any music collection.

A dynamic DJ and producer, the Galway-born, Berlin-based artist is driven by mood not genre, gleefully scribbling outside the lines to craft rhythmic, high-vibration dancefloor cuts that make them a delicious match for the Chunkers. Just reference their pin-sharp releases on Radiant, Punctuality, Planet Euphorique and their own World of Worlds imprint. While anyone who’s caught their throwdowns at Draaimolen’s legendary forest stage, Horst Festival or London’s infamous queer party Club Are already knows what’s up.

Their contribution to the BSC catalogue is bang on. Lead cut ‘Track Like’ is a straight-up Chunker. Beginning life as an instrumental, it’s a pumping house cut marked by a grooving bassline, tight drums and a contained ravey energy, before Eoin DJ added that vocal that took the production into peak-time party territory.

A producer who requires no introduction – Jennifer Loveless join the Chunkers fold with a full-bodied remix of ‘Track Like’. Lock in for a funky maximal re-rub with the attitude turned up to 11. Back in Eoin DJ’s corner, the crisp ‘n’ punchy ‘Pure U’ is driven by fat kick drums, euphoric chords and a chunky rolling bassline. Exquisite stuff. A tight Dub version is included in the pack. The EP rounds out with the perky ‘Feel Deeper’, which channels ‘90s New York house and circuit sounds and is built around a hooky vocal line and rhythmic drums.

Eoin DJ follows BELLA, Eliza Rose, Papa Nugs, Paperkraft and remixes Peach and CARISTA in joining the Big Saldo’s Chunkers family as Sally C delights in growing the label via a carefully curated roster of artists.

“I loved the label already, so I was super stoked when Sally asked me to do a release. Chunkers is always

so on-point and consistent with its output. All of the releases are certified party starters – fat basslines, catchy vocals, full of energy and tuned to perfection to hit on the soundsystem. I used that as a jumping off point when making the EP. You could say it’s Chunkers – Eoin DJ style.” – Eoin DJ

“I was hooked on Eoin’s sound since they released ‘Ode to Beachball’ in 2024 on Punctuality Records. I love their ability to weave emotion and groove so seamlessly. It’s been a pleasure working on this EP – I’ve been endlessly rinsing all of the tracks. Such a great producer!” – Sally C

2026 Repress

Chicago deep house pioneer Merwyn “Merle” Sanders needs no introduction to true heads.As one half of the legendary Virgo Four (alongside Eric Lewis) and under a slew of aliases, Merwyn helped shape the sound of late ’80s deep and acid house. Their records, now considered foundational, continue to echo across dancefloors and DJ sets worldwide.In the late ’90s, after years of trying to release more material through Trax Records, Merwyn took matters into his own hands. He self-produced his first 12” under the Merle alias — a record that sadly flew under the radar at the time, with most copies eventually destroyed. But one track survived and thrived: “Fannie Likes 2 Dance.” What started as a quiet release became an underground classic, highly sought after by DJs and collectors alike.

Now, Still Music and Jerome Derradji proudly present the full reissue of this cult favorite — featuring the two original mixes along with a never-before-heard unreleased remix by Merle himself.

This special edition comes housed in a full sleeve, complete with a detailed backstory written by Jerome Derradji about the track’s origins and legacy. A true slice of Chicago house history, back where it belongs — on wax.

Returning to Winthorpe after a five-year hiatus, Irish electro producer DeFeKT delivers a heavyweight 12-inch packed with four cuts of his unmistakable electro-techno hybrid sound, reaffirming his status as a true underground craftsman. Opening with the low-slung bass bounce of "It's Down", before sliding into the Detroit-influenced groove of "Your Body Will Learn", from there DeFeKT turns up the tension with the twisted, menacing pulse of Overcome before closing the release in epic fashion with the widescreen synth swagger of "Always"! A confident, statement from an artist firmly back in his element.

Arguably one of Get Physical’s most influential tracks, ‘O Superman’ sees a new release with remixes from Man Power and SIS alongside the 2008 version from Robag Whrume and a remaster of the now classic original. Man Power kicks off the new interpretations with an epic, ten and half minute version that patiently stretches the original’s melodies into pads and held bass tones across crisp, micro-house styled beats before unleashing loose, clattering breakbeats after a striking, extended breakdown. SIS’s dreamy, percussive version sees the German producer in hypnotic, and tracky form, focussing on the ebb and flow of the original’s tuneful vocoder and synth work that drift across his perfect groove. Robag’s Pumper-Nikkel remix, for those that missed it some years back, is yet another funky, chopped, sliced and diced piece of work from the playful producer and still sounds as fresh as ever. M.A.N.D.Y. vs Booka Shade feat. Laurie Anderson - O Superman Remixes are released on Get Physical 12” in late July with a digital release following in the Autumn.

Phil Berg is back on the label, with his highly anticipated return. Four tracks that
continue to pave the way he laid in 2023 with his Raid EP.

Titled Iso, the EP is a study in reduction and discipline. Phil builds each track around a single guiding tension, rhythmic loops that breathe and shift injecting different emotions as each sound passes.

Phil Berg first appeared on SK11 in late 2023 with Raid, one of his biggest and most accomplished releases to date, an EP that made an immediate impression across techno fans worldwide. Iso's four productions here, each with their own identity, each showcasing the same commitment to craft and precision that defined his introduction to the label.

The EP is a statement of intent for Phil in 2026 and one of SK11's strongest releases of the year.

Once I Was Young and The Airplane Album find the producer taking yet another sonic right turn. "These records were made in the same year with a very similar creative process. I moved almost completely away from sampling, experimented more than ever with ambient and techno elements and used the album format as a way to tell a story about moments in my life." Once I Was Young is a storytelling work that journeys through analogue synth-pop, modulated techno and raw, dusty drums with otherworldly melodies. Moments of beauty come through escapist, naturalistic ambient tracks and fusions of Kraftwerkian sequencing with more classical piano, while stark, clubready grooves keep things moving. Airplane contrasts similar shades of light and dark, synthetic and organic, rough and smooth. Glitchy, imperfect analogue sounds, knackered drum machine grooves and eerie synth phrasing evoke a post-human world with icy atmospheres. Elsewhere, warmth comes from bittersweet melodies and loose, funky drums that ooze retro-future charm.
Once I Was Young and The Airplane Album show a diff erent side to Escobar, one that embraces introspection and experimentation while exploring a whole other world of meaningful machine soul

Celebrate four decades of the fan-favorite iconic film, Pretty In Pink with the ultimate soundtrack of the ‘80s. Now available on black vinyl.

Cécille Records Welcomes Sambo with a Standout 5-Track EP

Cécille Records proudly continues its tradition of discovering and nurturing fresh talent, and we are excited to welcome Sambo to the family with an outstanding 5 track EP!

True to the label’s signature sound - rooted in timeless, classic house - Sambo delivers a release that feels both fresh and deeply connected to the essence of Cécille. Each track reflects a strong artistic identity, blending groove, emotion, and refined production into a cohesive body of work that stands out effortlessly.

This is a release we have been waiting to share for quite some time, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally present it to the world. Please join us in giving Sambo a warm welcome to the Cécille family.

Soulful Motown City deep house, hip hop interludes, swinging techno, and early Chicago-inspired cuts. Donato Basile steps out onto DVS1's Mistress Recordings label with two 12-inches: Mistress 18 and Mistress 18.5. Pressed in tandem, each record draws upon Basile's dual aliases to go head-to-head as Dona vs. DJ Plant Texture. Rhythmic machine grooves and masterful MPC work that pay respect to the diverse sounds of the metropolis Midwest cities.

Music is life. Berlin-based dj, producer and dance music historian sven von Thulen kicks off his new label All Through a Life with four tracks of emotive, dusty and dub-infused dance floor heat. With the release neatly landing in the sweet spot between house and techno, the label's mission is set out clearly from the jump: warm grooves, hazy atmospheres and a deep emotional pull define a sound built for long nights on the dance floor.

Acid Acid Session Vol. 4 continues the steady development of the series toward a clearer Acid House direction.

Paul Renard from the Netherlands, behind Deep Acid Records, adds his 303-driven Acid House approach to the Acid Session series.

The flip side features Acidskool, delivering their UK Acid House sound, raw in groove and hardware-driven.

Late 80s & 90s energy, reworked for today's club floor.

Ya Dig? Records steps forward with the debut of their first wax release.

Labelheads, Serosai, drops two originals packed with rolling grooves, punchy low-end, and that signature Ya Dig? flavor built firmly for the diggaz.

On remix duties, we are so thankful to have two artists that we have mad respect for, Gojnea76 and Cristi Klebleev (ck).

This record balances punch and personality: driving grooves with distinct flavors across each track. It’s tough when it needs to be, deep where it counts, and showcases the sound we’ve been shaping since day one. Dance-floor focused and rooted in love for the culture.

Ya Dig?

Kashpitzky returns with an era marking new EP on Be As One Imprint, channeling the classic Detroit techno into a modern sonic journey.

Blending driving rhythms with lush orchestration, the release is rich in sweeping strings and cinematic textures, Each track unfolds with emotional depth, balancing raw machine energy and elegant musicality.

The EP pays homage to the golden era of Detroit while pushing its sound into new territory, A timeless yet forward-thinking release, it captures both nostalgia and innovation in equal measure.