Mercurial Swede Axel Boman debuts on Aus Music with four spellbinding deep house beauties
Swedish artists pbeatgirl and Joakim Åhlund & Jockum Nordström feature on one track each
Axel Boman has brought playful charm to the underground for nearly two decades. His colourful, emotive sound marries melodic whimsy with warm, cuddly grooves and is underpinned by invention and experimentation in sound design, rhythm and mood. The Studio Barnhus co-founder is an artist who can make you laugh and cry at the same time, as continually shown across more than 20 EPs and four full-length albums on a tasteful array of labels. He strides into 2026 with a first EP for Aus that embodies everything that makes him easy to love and hard to pin down.
First up is 'Night Blooming' feat pbeatgirl - a provocative figure in Sweden's post-pop underground. The sensual late-night lullaby has soft drums and even softer spoken words whispered in your ear. Add in the dreamy synths, and you have perfect house hypnosis. 'Someone Stop Me' slows the tempo but ups the texture with raw, tumbling drum loops, incidental guitar licks and sustained pads that help you zone out and gaze into the distance on a summer's afternoon.
'Svalor Radiosignal (Axel's Dub)' features Joakim Åhlund, who is currently on tour of Australia with his band Les Big Byrd, and is also a guitarist and lead singer in the Caesars band he founded, as well as being a prolific producer. World-renowned multi-disciplinary artist Jockum Nordström works across painting, sculpture and collage and also features. There's a signature Boman innocence and charming naivety to the melodies here. They leave wispy, painterly trails above the smooth, dubby groove and fill you with warmth and comfort. Closer 'Spooky' journeys later into the night with a more rickety, edgy mood, but beautiful, shape-shifting synths are like a tender hand guiding you into darkness.
This is Axel Boman at his most intimate and expressive, a quietly powerful EP for heads-down moments and after-hours warmth.
Search:synths
This album plays like an invitation rather than a record - a slow boarding pass to an imagined retreat somewhere beyond gravity. Analogue synths shimmer like gold, bubbling rhythms drift in gentle orbits, and playful melodies sketch out distant galaxies with an easy, unforced charm. There's a strong lineage here, with the music echoing classic library and soundtrack recordings cherished by deep diggers, yet it never feels nostalgic for its own sake. The grooves are light but nourishing - 'Uranium Jungle' has a touch of Luke Vibert's frisky funk about it, while 'Martian Sunset' is interstellar bossa nova with a light dusting of 70s analogue magic to boot - designed as much for sofa-bound drifting as for attentive listening. Musicianship is front and centre throughout, with smart, accessible compositions that reward repeat visits. A fully realised concept - sign us up for a stay.
- A1: Les Immortelles (04:09)
- A2: Le Cœur Arraché (03:54)
- A3: Rêve De La Maison (01:25)
- A4: La Prière (00:47)
- A5: Le Cœur Brisé (03:55)
- A6: Amoureuse (04:33)
- B1: L’homme Poisson (03:32)
- B2: Rêve Des Lunes (01:09)
- B3: La Faute (04:14)
- B4: Le Cœur Ressuscité (03:17)
- B5: Nuit Somnambule (00:50)
- B6: Les Immortelles Ii (07:27)
After standout collaborations with Christophe Honoré and Bertrand Mandico, Calypso has signed with Pop Noire for the original soundtrack of Caroline Deruas’ film Les Immortelles. She unveils her new single, L’Homme Poisson, a gem of magnetic pop. With this ultra-catchy track, she reinvents 70s synth-pop with her signature poetry—both modern and timeless.
With Les Immortelles, Calypso Valois does more than accompany the film: she becomes its sonic soul. Each track—from enchanting choruses to rich instrumentation (piano, synths, strings, brass)—immerses the listener in a dreamlike universe, where music weaves the emotional thread. A singular cinematic experience, infused with mystery and magic. Whether you’re a fan of sophisticated pop, evocative soundtracks, or simply seeking an enchanting musical journey, this album transcends the boundaries of genre and era.
The film opened the Venice Film Festival and continues to make waves at festivals before its release a on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
2026 Repress
Deetron is a venerated veteran who has been crafting sublime house and techno for three decades on a range of influential labels. 2025 brought another busy year for him, with another standout EP on Ilian Tape followed by his latest album which landed via Running Back in October. Back in 2024, he dropped his 'Translate Rhythms' EP on Mutual Rytm's X series and now takes charge of the second release on SHDW's new sub-label Mutual Rytm Raw - following the first 12" 'You And Me', which was a true summer anthem courtesy of KiNK & Raredub.
In its original form, the bright, expressive 'Flow' is a fulsome techno cut that pairs a driving rhythm with sophisticated synths. It sparkles with cosmic energy, while a textured, screwy lead winds through the mix and euphoric female vocals burst out to big emotional reactions. The 'Chord Dub' is a tight, bouncy rework with vamping chords lighting up the drums with real warmth and soul, while the 'Breakbeat Mix' fizzes with rich, old school energy. The dusty breakbeats demand physical reactions, while the pads bring a grand sense of scale and the vocals tug at the heart. All three are classy, effective and offer yet more timeless sounds.
- A1: Can I Live Feat. Precious Okoyomon 02:36
- A2: M32 Riddim 04:06
- A3: One Exists Or Agrees To Exist 05:00
- A4: Don't Panic Feat. Ms. Carrie Stacks 02:58
- B1: Duppy Know Who Fi Frighten 06:31
- B2: Helicopter Hovers Over My Crown Heights Apartment 05:19
- C1: Exorcise The Language Of Domination Feat. Juliana Huxtable 06:12
- C2: B2B Feat. Suutoo 05:32
- D1: Effects Of Resistance Feat. Khanyisile Mbongwa 06:12
- D2: Black Trans Masculine Experience (Instrumental) 08:55
May 2026 marks the arrival of TYGAPAW (aka Dion McKenzie)’s first full-length album on Tresor Records, entitled Together You Gather All Power Applied Worldwide. An acronym of its creator’s name, TYGAPAW’s third studio album is a deeply personal collection of music building worlds where Black queer and trans siblings can thrive, while unifying dancefloors worldwide. A proposition that collective wisdom liberates us from the matrix of domination we live within. The album unfolds as the latest chapter in TYGAPAW’s ongoing techno opera opus, continuing to center the voices of Black women, which surface as layered incantations rather than lyrics - powerful, haunting, sensual, activating.
With the process of creating the album starting in 2023, as TYGAPAW (Dion McKenzie) was in the first year of their transition, the music reflects the intensity of that period, where they were experiencing deplatforming as a response to the shift in their physical appearance: Tracks like ‘M32 Riddim’ and ‘Helicopter hovers over my Crown Heights Apartment’ feature high-paced rhythms intersecting with intense siren-like synths to form demanding compositions echoing a heightened sense of alert. Yet throughout the album, relief comes in the form of TYGAPAW’s vocal features, co-conspirators, and chosen family, whose voices are treated with reverb and echo, a sonic fingerprint that leads back to the pioneers in the legendary studios of TYGAPAW’s native land, Jamaica, an important reminder that the past will always inform the future. It is an album for dancers first and foremost, where joy, defiance, and integration with the natural body coexist, and every drop feels less like a climax than a transformation. Expect a bass that permeates your soul and melodic synthesized sequenced phrases echoing the dancehall eras of TYGAPAW’s youth, reshaped into hypnotic melodies that glow over industrial kicks designed to command attention, reasserting Jamaica's pioneering yet often overlooked contribution to electronic music.
In the opening track, ‘Can I Live’, Precious Okoyomon’s words feel like the beginning of a ritual; setting the intentions for the rest of the proceedings. As McKenzie puts it, their “work is about regeneration, resetting, getting integrated into nature, and about rebirth. That’s the tone I wanted to set at the outset of the album.” Ms Carrie Stacks continues this thread of support in ‘Don’t Panic’ with heavily processed vocals on top of a beat that takes inspiration from another important ingredient in the antidote to the oppression of isolation: Ballroom culture. “ I feel like I found my queerness in Ballroom, that’s why this track is very important to me.”
Echoes of NYC Black queer nightlife scene also permeate in the energetic drums of ‘Exorcise the Language of Domination’, in which Julianna Huxtable’s spoken performance complements the various movements and tones of the music. “My producer brain thought this was the one that Juliana’s vocals would be best suited for. I hinted: ‘what do you think of this one?’ She just went into her notes and picked some passages to go with the first section of the track. From there, it was a year-long process of development. It required time and space for this thing to evolve, but I think it’s one of the most powerful tracks on the album.” London’s SUUTOO contributes the album’s only musical collaboration on ‘B2B’, a track that emerged from sessions in McKenzie’s New York studio where the real objective was to connect and have fun; a time out from the demands of life outside.
The album closes out with a double hit of emotion in the form of ‘Effects of Resistance and Black Trans Masculine Experience’. The former features South African scholar Khanyisile Mbongwa drawing connections that exist between Africa and the Black diaspora, whilst looking to the future and calling for a shared sense of community.
The latter piece, an instrumental version of the piece which featured on the IMMIGRANT E.P. of 2025 is a gentle and deeply affecting end to the record, a place of peace and acceptance. This end-of-cycle tone is mirrored in the sleeve photography, which also ties back to IMMIGRANT by finally revealing what was hidden: a portrait of the artist fully self-actualized; a step towards true inner liberation. TYGAPAW is sonically defiant across this album; bass frequencies feel tactile — less heard than inhabited — infectious lead synth melodies remain with you long after the track ends. An overall sound that leaves asserting an urgent need for connection. From Detroit to New York to Berlin to Jamaica, despite geographic distance, this album reminds us that we remain in solidarity, recognising that meaningful world-building requires collective input and action, both personal and communal, if we are to move toward liberation.
- A1: Passage I (Small, Soft Feet Running Across Wooden Floors In The Morning)
- A2: Passage Ii (Listening To Lullabies While Holding Hands)
- A3: Passage Iii (Slow Days Of Togetherness)
- A4: Passage Iv (Watching You Quietly Eat An Apple In The Shade)
- B1: Passage V (Sounds From Your Rituals Playing In The Garden Near The Old Tree Which Has Witnessed Your Childhood)
- B2: Passage Vi (While You Slept, The Thought Of Not Yet Knowing How To Braid Your Hair Brought Quiet Tears)
- B3: Passage Vii (When You Learned To Stand In Your Own Light)
- B4: Passage Viii (Fifteen Years Passed And A Full Circle Moment Surrounded Us, Where The Ocean Meets The Mountains)
Passages in Time, the third album from Kasper Bjørke Quartet, traces the contours of a blend of spiritual jazz reverence and the calming grandeur of '80s ambient. Inspired by Christopher Nolan's observation that "time is the most fundamental part of our human experience," the compositions are approached as fragments of time and memory. Meditations on the elusive nature of time form the heart of the work, merging freeform jazz improvisations with cyclical synthesizer patterns that mirror its quiet undulations.
Dreamy synths intertwine with guitar, harp, trumpet, flugelhorn, saxophone, and flute, creating a spacious environment for contemplation. The music invites reflection on the choices that shape our lives and the lives of those closest to us, and on the quiet weight of our priorities within the brief span we call life on this planet. Each passage unfolds as a fleeting moment suspended in time. The subtitles hint at fragments from someone's diary, tender observations of love, parenthood, and connection. Together, the passages form a musical memoir of sorts, where memory and emotion are gently woven into the compositions.
Passages in Time does not impose structure or meaning, it reflects them, offering an open space as the instruments drift in and out of focus, tracing time's subtle rhythms and inviting the listener to infuse their own memories and meaning into these passages.
The album also marks a transformation for the Quartet project itself. Langstrakt (Claus Noreen), part of the original ensemble, continues to operate the synthesizers alongside Bjørke, while the wider constellation of contributing musicians has evolved. Strings and piano give way to flute and saxophone by Oilly Wallace, guitars by Danish ambient composer Anna Roemer, trumpet and flugelhorn by Malthe Kaptain, and cascading orchestral harp by Katie Buckley, principal harpist with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra.
The cover painting is by American artist Marcus Leslie Singleton, courtesy of V1 Gallery, and reflects the meditative and timeless atmosphere of the music.
Passages in Time is released on Bjørke's own imprint, Sensitive Records, following the two previous Quartet albums released on Kompakt Records: The Fifty Eleven Project (2018), a debut that introduced Bjørke's ambient and neoclassical explorations, and Mother (2022), which expanded the ensemble's sound with emotive choir compositions and guest appearance by Sofie Birch (Unsound / Stroom). Together, these three albums trace a journey of artistic growth, from introspective experimentation to a fully realized, contemplative expression of time, memory, and human connection.
Primordial Mind forms the mysteries and intensity of inner life into eight mandalic instrumentals where Mas Aya and Khôra, artists who share 15 years of music making, orchestrate an inspired, prismatic palette of percussive and melodic sources. Each composition presented stages a vigorous meshwork of colours and textures, contrasting riveting polyrhythms with towering arrangements for flutes, synths, and processed acoustic instruments. Tendencies which the artists trace in their solo practices are amplified, blended, and refracted sublimely in unison, serving as energetic portals to the collective awareness.
Combining trans-ethnic scaling alongside a heady brew of rhythmic influences and advanced electronic processing, the recordings on this album operate with a tactility that vaults between free jazz, dub, raga, ambient, and ritual music. Assimilated powers of primal drum patterning and psychoactive, ceremonial melodies, invoke fourth world adjacencies with the work of Don Cherry, Jon Hassell, Popol Vuh et al. There is an alchemical, Buddhist/Taoist/Hindu inflection that guides the record’s narrative, formed through dialogue between the artists over lifelong shared interest in spiritual modalities generally and the tantric approaches of the global east in particular. The album title is derived from an unexcelled esoteric work known as the Kalachakra (Wheel of Time)Tantra and its associated commentary the Ornament of Stainless Light which detail forms of inner and outer transubstantiation within its complex cosmology and metaphysiology.
Mas Aya is the moniker of Brandon Miguel Valdivia, acclaimed Nicaraguan-Canadian composer, producer, and musician whose electronic and jazz inspired works creatively interlace Colombian, Cuban, and a wide array of traditional music. Khôra is the name of the occult entity that uses multi-instrumentalist, producer, and writer Matthew Ramolo to pronounce itself. Returning to Marionette following 2024's monumental Gestures of Perception, Primordial Mind reinforces the rigorous and magical approach to creation which defines Khôra’s two decades of sonic output. Brandon and Matthew met back in 2011 and the pair toured around eastern Europe with Toronto band Picastro in 2013, also performing as a duo with Brandon contributing drums to Khôra's opening sets. After a short spate composing and playing in the ensemble Bespoken together, they continued to discover shared inspiration in psych/art rock, jazz, experimental and electronic music, providing a fertile soil for friendship and collaboration resulting in their collaged, lo-fi album Tangled Roots in 2017. Mythic and talismanic, the duo's Marionette debut weaves a luminous tapestry of organic pulses, offering itself as a support for resonant meditation and a motor for lucid action and intuition.
Brandon Miguel Valdivia: Percussion, Flutes, Log Drum, Korg Lambda, Angklung, Tambor Alegre, Udu
Matthew Ramolo: Modular Synth, Archival Samples, Angklung, Guitar, Duduk, Bass, Percussion, Arrangements and Mix
Repress
The Collaboration - Having toured together over the years, Lattimore and Barwick now join forces to co-write and record this full-length album. Their creative synergy brings together harp, voice, and analog synths in a deeply emotional, immersive sound journey. The album was recorded at the Philharmonie de Paris with co-producer Trevor Spencer (Fleet Foxes, Beach House). This album continues a unique series of collaborations between the label and the Musée de la Musique, featuring historical instruments in contemporary composition. Since 2017, InFiné and the Philharmonie de Paris have co-developed a series of albums designed to highlight the extraordinary instrument collection of the Musée de la Musique. Following the albums InBach by Arandel (2020) and Saturn 63 by Seb Martel (2022), this third release is a meeting of two iconic contemporary ambient voices: Mary Lattimore and Julianna Barwick. The project offers the artists full access to the museum’s playable instruments for recording, sound conservation, and creative reinterpretation.
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Tragic Magic brings together Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore, two of contemporary ambient, experimental and electronic music’s most celebrated composers, for a unique collaboration at the Philharmonie de Paris, with extraordinary access to the Musée de la Musique’s instrument collection, in partnership with the French label InFiné. The album features seven immersive, evocative compositions guided by the human spirit – intimate, grounded in friendship, both earthly and cosmic – and part of a greater continuum, reflecting the solace and transformative power of artistry across generations.
Co-produced by Trevor Spencer (Fleet Foxes, Beach House), Tragic Magic was created in just nine days, a testament to the “musical telepathy” that has developed between Barwick and Lattimore over years of touring and friendship. Arriving in Paris from Los Angeles shortly after the 2025 wildfires, their sessions combined improvisation with the emotions and experiences they carried, in a setting both inspiring and deeply supportive. Lattimore selected harps tracing the instrument’s evolution from 1728 to 1873, while Barwick chose several iconic analog synthesizers, including the Roland JUPITER and Sequential Circuits PROPHET-5. In freeform dialogue between voice and instrument, they create a meditation on tragedy, wonder, and the restorative power of shared experience.
The duo, often joined by Spencer, also explored the city, sharing meals and visiting museums and landmarks, each encounter leaving an impression on their next session. The experience allowed them to work intimately with rare instruments, blending their personal sensibilities with centuries of history, resulting in music that honors the past while remaining a deeply authentic expression of the present.
Throughout Tragic Magic, Barwick and Lattimore find something beyond themselves: a sense that while everything may not be okay, beauty persists. Their approach – transforming life into music, observing, feeling, and creating – continues a lineage of creative expression and visionary invention, embodied in the very instruments they employed for this project.
Be The Mountain (2026) is the latest release from Detroit-based musician STS. The record explores a serene and introspective world shaped by organically morphed textures and slowly evolving soundscapes.
While largely drumless, the album maintains a subtle rhythmic backbone - not through traditional percussion, but through modulated pads, shifting synths, and carefully sculpted ambience. The music moves and breathes without overt propulsion, finding tension and momentum through tone, density, and motion rather than beats.
Much of the record was written during a period of sustained physical and mental strain. A time when daily effort fought against perceived limits. Instead of responding with heavier or more aggressive material, the music became a quiet counterweight to the intensity. These tracks function as an escape from chaos. They are built from patience, repetition, and a gradual transformation.
The title reflects a central idea behind the record: confronting something that initially feels insurmountable, only to realize that the enduring force is the one within us all.
Be The Mountain is about endurance, not as struggle, but as presence.
2026 Repress
Chlar delivers his debut record for SHDW & Obscure Shapes' Mutual Rytm imprint.
Emerging as artist of note for both now and the future, Chlar continues to craft and shape his sound as he curates his own high-octane approach to techno. Combining dynamic performances taking in three and four deck mixes with his own up front productions and his talents as a former mastering engineer, the Swiss talent has become a respected name amongst his peers. After releases on Lobster Theremin and his own Bipolar Disorder imprint, the Berlin-based DJ, producer and label boss heads to SHDW & Obscure Shape's blooming label Mutual Rytm to deliver six precise and powerful cuts across his 'Optimized Groove' EP.
"As the names states, 'Optimized grooves' is a collection of tracks designed to match specific parts of the event/night. From 'Night Genesis' at the origin of the night through to tracks like 'Maximum Performance', a peak time bomb, and 'Spirit Enhancer' - an uplifting and warm production elevating individuals to higher labels after hours of spiritual connection'" - Chlar
Opener 'Early Morning Acceleration' sets the tone early and dives into a looping ride through slinking hats and bustling arrangements - combining classic influences with forward thinking touches to reveal a dynamic slice of techno. Next, 'Maximum Performance' fuses swelling low-ends, sharp percussion and vibrant leads, while 'Love Blaster' delivers an all out fiesta armed with rolling drums, sharp whistles and rich chords. On the flip, B1 'Night Genesis' sees hypnotic loopy vocals balanced by tough kicks and luminous synths, before 'Spirit Enhancer' showcases a soulful trip as resonant electronics work around the track's tunnelling groove. The digital EP comes with a bonus exclusive production in 'Synaptic Discussion', a euphoric and impactful closer which brings things to a close firmly in the peak time hours.
Chlar 'Optimized Grooves' drops via Mutual Rytm on 9th September 2022.
Psychedelic dub, Afro-Latin rhythms and cosmic grooves come together on La Chooma’s self-titled debut for Batov Records. Drawing on Moroccan Gnawa, Colombian cumbia, Afrobeat, Jamaica dub & roots, and cosmic jazz, the six-piece ensemble create deep, hypnotic music rooted in global traditions and shaped for contemporary dancefloors.
Having already captivated local audiences with their hypnotic, organic live performances, La Chooma – now a six-piece ensemble – have been steadily building an international following. Initial singles “Magic Plant” and “Huachuma” earned support from tastemakers including BBC Radio 6 Music’s Deb Grant and Tom Ravenscroft.
“Magic Plant” distills the band’s signature blend of hypnotic grooves, lush percussion and woozy synths, like Jimi Tenor lost in the Colombian Amazon. A dreamlike, dub-infused trip driven by organic rhythm and cosmic textures. “Huachuma” picks up the thread, fusing Afrobeat percussion, swirling basslines and psychedelic flourishes into a hallucinogenic jam made for a tropical dancefloor.
Enrico Fierro, known as Milord, a daytime engineer and researcher of human mind states during dreaming, has collaborated for years with Periodica Records and co-produced projects such as Danger Boys and Space Garage. In “Perfect Crime”, he presents a nostalgic vision of twilight synth-pop, capturing an urban landscape alive at night and in constant motion, blending street soul and echoes of classic house with textured synths, 808 patterns, and subtle new wave influences
- 01: Arp Amp Chasm
- 02: Drift Vector
- 03: Modloop 138 Fragment
- 04: Foldsp4
- 05: Osc Hop (Slow Collapse)
- 06: Tweak 3 Driftmass
- 07: Blurform Dust
- 08: Wogglebug Remembered
- 09: Trippy135 Phase 0
- 10: Nachtgrain
- 11: Chronoroute Fank
- 12: Freeqwarp 2025 Redux
- 13 30: 3 Template Refract
- 14: Dln - Soft Ruin
- 15: Cr78 Mesh
- 16: Volca Signal 06
- 17: Ctrssalms (Cold Render)
- 18: Oceans Past And Present
- 19: Jt33Unstable Core
- 20: Modern Birds (Origin Edit)
Contemplating the role of the album format in an attention-deficient society, Speedy J presents Walkman -- a constantly shifting, 90-minute soundtrack to a journey of your choice. Jochem Paap's first solo album in over 20 years is a freewheeling, 20-track testament to his decades-deep studio skill and sonic versatility, running from skewed rhythmic rabbit holes to exploratory tonal abandon. For Paap, the traditional idea of the album had become obscured by listening habits and the non-stop information barrage of our digital lives. Having moved on from his breakthrough years releasing LPs and touring off the back of them, he was more inspired to develop his many-sided STOOR project and feed into a bigger artistic body of work than the temporary shelf-life of a single release. As is natural for any artist, his perspective shifted over time and he found himself drawn back to the idea of an album, realising he connected best with longer releases while he was on a walk, out for a run or generally in transit one way or another. With an endearing call back to the humble Walkman, he selected an hour and a half of material created during studio sessions at the beginning of 2025, perfectly sized to fit on two 45-minute sides of a cassette tape. As has long been the case for his studio practice, there were no fixed intentions when sitting down in the STOOR lab to start making noise -- just a wealth of experience and an expansive set of tools to start exploring with. From hours of jams Paap pulled together standout moments and moulded them into a mixtape-like narrative ranging from two-minute beat nuggets to full-tilt techno workouts and immersive ambient drops. Every sound is intentional, but the overall delivery is instinctive and curious, showing multiple new dimensions to Paap's sound and offering unpredictability at every turn. 'Arp Amp Chasm' opens the album up in a thick blanket of humming, harmonic waves with an electric emotional charge, while 'Ctrssalms17 (Cold Render)' journeys through evocative blooms of melancholic, gritty pads and rugged, half-submerged tech funk. 'Modern Birds (Origin Edit)' reaches skywards with grand sweeps of dynamic, brilliantly rendered synthesis. From the dexterous drum science of 'Drift Vector' to 'Osc Hop (Slow Collapse)'s lurching, beatless swamp of synths, on Walkman even the briefest snapshots leave an impression that lasts beyond the quick-scan cycle of the modern music experience. With his return to the album format, Paap's message is clear --put your headphones on, get outside and lose yourself in the sound of an artist constantly committed to moving forwards.
Warehouse Find!
Introducing Red D, the Belgian DJ and producer, one half of FCL (alongside San Soda), long standing club promoter (since 1992), owner of We Play House and general all round good guy. With releases on Ferrispark and Delusions Of Grandeur (with MCDE), remixes on Eskimo, regular sets at the likes of Panorama Bar and an RA Mix under his belt you could say things are falling into place nicely. On top of all this his FCL project continues to go from strength to strength with a new
EP dropping soon on Kai 'KZR' Alce's highly regarded NDATL label. When he sent over two originals for Freerange it was love at first listen as the simple, warm beats and emotive chord stabs of title track Chez oozed from the speakers. This sounded to me like house music in it's purest form, from the days when the focus was on a feeling rather than complex sounds or technological
trickery. And the proof is in the pudding with this one as you can feel the dance floor go into some kind of collective bubble of love whenever you play it. The second original follows drawing you into a false sense of security with familiar 707 beats and gentle pads before taking a left turn. Appropriately titled Into Darkness the blissful vibes of the intro begin to fall away as the
track reaches a breakdown and we're treated to the rudest of Chi-Town basslines taking us down a somewhat less wholesome path. Flipping over we're treated to two Jacob Korn remixes, one of each of the originals and if the A side is the good cop, we can trust the Uncanny Valley regular to deliver some pure badness on the flip. His Remix of Chez is clearly inspired by his studio hardware as you can hear the improvised and 'live'
sounding arrangement, the machines taking on a life of their own as things twist and turn in a spontaneous and unpredictable way. A rattling white noise pulse drives the rhythm whilst bubbling synths add some lightness to the pummeling
kick. Into Darkness gets the Korn treatment next and here he puts it right through the sonic mangler, tape saturation distorting the mix to within an inch of it's life. Jacob puts the focus on the bassline of the original, keeping things simple at
first before winding in layers of Juno chords and the bleepiest of synth lines resulting in the finest of raw, bassment house jams.
Italian jazz trio Collettivo Immaginario announces the release of their second full-length album, 'Oltreoceano'.
Known for their slick sound and energetic live performances, their style is firmly rooted in the jazz tradition of collective improvisation, through which they have developed an agile, kaleidoscopic sound. The trio’s unique fusion of funk, jazz, and 70's electronica continues in the trio’s latest release, forging connections across oceans through the universal language of music.
Consisting of founder Tommaso Cappellato on drums and percussion, Nicolò Masetto on electric bass, and Alberto Lincetto on rhodes, piano, and synths, Collettivo Immaginario have become rising stars in the Italian festival scene, from the streets of their hometown in Italy to the diverse audiences in Los Angeles, London and Milan.
Subtly paying homage to genre-bending giants like Azymuth, Lonnie Liston Smith, Herbie Hancock, and Hermeto Pascoal—alongside Italian film music legends Piero Piccioni and Piero Umiliani—their sound moves effortlessly between the heat of the club and the cinematic allure of evocative film scores, infused with touches of spiritual jazz.
Dive into the depths of deep house with "Unexpected EP", the debut vinyl release from an upcoming artist to watch.
This meticulously crafted 12-inch EP showcases a profound love for detail in every element. It´s a timeless record appealing to collectors and DJs alike who crave depth over fleeting trends.
Side A opens with the title track "Unexpected," a hypnotic journey through evolving synths and crisp percussion.
Following seamlessly is "Still Missing," a soulful cut infused with emotive melodies and rolling sub-bass.
Flip to Side B for "Crash & Bang," which thrives on a mesmerizing polymeter figure over which intimate string sounds evolve.
The EP closes with "Sheltered Place," a serene retreat with warm pads and playful percussion perfect for moody after-hours sessions.
Embracing a vinyl-first strategy, "Unexpected EP" drops exclusively on wax ahead of its digital counterpart.
>>> comes in 4c Sleeves
Regular contributor Vick Lavender returns to Cataleya Music for two lengthy stargazing jams. Each clock in at over 10 minutes, taking the listener on an extended musical journey. They combine Spiritual, Soulful and Jazzy House Esthetics with great results. Africanus is a moving composition with mystical melodies, thoughtful instrumentation and percussive layers. No Rhyme, No Reason offers powerful synths, mellow brass and in-step beats. Both Africanus and No Rhyme, No Reason are incredibly engaging pieces of music. The Esthetic EP is Vick Lavender’s most ambitious record on Cataleya Music so far. Listen and be rewarded!
Transient Response is a storytelling of moods in motion, from city to city, situation to situation from China-born, London-based artist Guohan. Side A opens with ‘Don’t Forget Your Hiss’, a funky dusty groove built around the repeated phrase ‘带走我的’ gradually unfolding into ‘带走我和你的故事’ meaning ‘bring along the stories of yours and mine’. ‘First Light’ follows as a percussive MPC-driven slow burner, capturing a swirling summer day in the studio.
Side B starts with ‘Seeds of Tomorrow’, a mellow drive through thoughts with a broken groove constructed with drum machine, djembe and shaker. Growing synths and bassline from the analogue devices keep your head nodding and feet moving. Backed with a remix from Xiamen-based artist Knopha.
Detroit's Rocksteady Disco its dropping a couple of golden nuggets this season and Brooklyn-based producer, DJ, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and label-owner JKriv is next up with his 'Adaptation' EP. Opener 'Greene Street Lament' is a swooning, laid back way to open and immediately slows your pulse. 'Adaptation' raises it again with a funky drum and clap combo underpinned by a busy little bassline. 'Total Pleasure' tugs at the heart with an aching vocal riding the mid-tempo, deep cut drums and lavish synth sounds. The mid tempo magic continues on 'Vibetown' which smears synths between gentle broken beats with string flourishes and jazzy keys all rising up. 'Adaptation' gets a dub rework to close out a tasteful EP of heart warming sounds.
RNT co-founder JKriv joins forces with keyboard virtuoso Jason Lindner to drop the Real Ones EP, a clubby and musical 3-track excursion that includes a deep and polished remix from rising star Retromigration. Needing little introduction, JKriv is a driving force behind RNT, architect of edits, original productions, and the aesthetic direction of the label. Jason Lindner has a storied musical history that includes leading the in-house big band of legendary jazz club Small’s in the early 2000s through to performing on David Bowie’s final album Blackstar, and much more. The duo have been honing a musical alliance for the past few years through their work together in the A Joyful Noise band and hybrid-live sets on hometown Brooklyn Razor-N-Tape events, developing an inctricate musical interplay and incendiary energy that is captured perfectly here. Across these 3 melodic house tracks, lush layers of synths interlock and build toward big anthemic moments, with hard-hitting drums driving the energy forward. Retromigration steps up to deliver a gorgeously slick remix to round out this exceedingly musical and eminently playable 12".




















