quête:talen

J.E. Movement's groundbreaking ‘Ma Dea Luv’,

Toward the end of the 1980s South Africa's recording industry was booming. Searching for a sound that could cross over to all in the country's segregated society while also eyeing international success, a new duo emerged that quickly rendered its 'bubblegum' predecessors obsolete. Drawing on international trends and crafting lyrics for local ears, J.E. MOVEMENT — a duo made up of James Nyingwa and Elliot Faku — exploded onto the local scene with their debut album, 'Ma Dea Luv'. The future had arrived.

A talented bassist and composer, Nyingwa was at the time employed as an in-house producer at TRS Studios in Plein Street in downtown Johannesburg, run by two Greek immigrants, George Vardas and Chris Ghelakis. Together they formed a close bond as friends and musical partners at what would become CSR Records, recording original hits with acts like the NEW AGE KIDS and SIDNEY, while also cashing in on cover versions as BLACK BOX.

The six tracks on J.E. Movement’s 1988 debut give firm nods to UK Street Soul, New Jack Swing and Stock Aitken Waterman's 'Hit Factory' sound and infuse them with an African rhythmic flair and homegrown lyrical sentiment. Though not expressly political, the title track was received by many as a play on words referencing then-jailed and banned Nelson Mandela (coming after the similarly styled 'I'm Winning My Dear Love' by Yvonne Chaka Chaka in 1986 and 'We Miss You Manelow' by Chicco in 1987), giving it an added potency for those in the know. 'Jack I'm Sorry' was an underground hit in the townships, while 'Marco', 'Friends', 'Funkytown' and the eponymous closer are similarly bass and drum-driven, with hiphop-styled vocals.

The third release of Diggers Society Records comes from two artists who have distinguished themselves on the international scene. Side A is crafted by Two Phase U, a veteran of the Montevideo scene, who delivers two of his finest works, Aether and The Mansion, tracks that embody the essence of his signature sound, refined over the years. The B-side of Diggers Society Vol. 2 showcases the exceptional ability of Ukrainian talent Koloniari to blend house, electro, break, and techno into atmospheres with an authentic feel. The result is a sonic journey that merges pragmatism with a futuristic vision, reaffirming his versatility and artistic sensibility.

M.R.E. is Michiel Eskes - a hot new talent from Holland. His music is deep, emotional and full of finely tuned melodies, these two tracks show off his style perfectly. His two tracks on this EP were written especially for FT having been chased down for them since the label first heard his music. ReKab is back with his trademark deep techno and a 9 minute workout on his "Climbing High" track. "Always Having Fun" is a melody driven bubbling acid track on the flip, if you love ReKaB these are essential. FTV005 is limited to 150 copies and comes on coloured, marbled, eco-vinyl with an insert showing "Post Clubbing Exercises" for when you have thrown too many shapes on the dancefloor the night before!

Nowhere People is a brand-new project that brings together musicians from Tbilisi and Amsterdam in a unique musical meeting point. The group came to life thanks to Mishulino, a producer born in Tbilisi and now based in Amsterdam, who's connecting these two vibrant scenes. Involved we have the incredible Beka Gochiashvili aka Bjazz11 on keys--an artist who's already turned heads on the world stage, getting recognition/playing with legends like Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Herbie Hancock. He shares the spotlight with fellow Tbilisi talent Luka Tuporia, a gifted young player with deep roots in jazz, funk, and fusion. Together, their playing is full of raw feeling and instinctive flow. The lineup is rounded out by Anna Zavorina, who brings beautiful string textures, and Finn Peters, adding his own distinct flavor. Save Some is the result of a lot of love and effort--a record that moves effortlessly from fusion to hyperjazz to broken and beyond. It's a true collaboration that celebrates creativity across borders. Nowhere People is just getting started, and this release is a taste of what's to come.

Dream Log is the latest EP from French producer KX9000, blending electro-funk, space disco, Chicago house, and broken-beat into a captivating journey through diverse musical landscapes. Featuring collaborations with talented artists such as Nic Hanson and Corsica One, the project showcases KX9000's unique ability to merge genres and create dynamic, immersive soundscapes.

From the powerful disco-dub energy of 'Tonight's Ride' to the jazzy intricacy of 'Nuova Zone,' the EP explores a wide range of influences. 'Lost E Shop' blends retro video game nostalgia with electro-funk and city pop, while 'Over Fee' offers a soulful evolution of a years-long work. The EP concludes with 'Deepose Minute,' a deep house track that pays tribute to classic dancefloor sounds with a modern touch.

With Dream Log, KX9000 delivers his most accomplished project to date, a vibrant and emotionally resonant collection that captures the essence of his club performances and studio precision.

Scoville Records returns with the long awaited second entry into its catalog from rising talent Pily. Serving up 3 spicy cuts dripping with moody grooves guaranteed to make you sweat. On the remix, Mario Liberti brings a psychedelic breakbeat-infused take, simmering with late-night tension & dancefloor drive.

The new release on Flaneurecordings by Dana Shanti with her song 'Rain' promises an exciting sound experience. Dana Shanti is known for her remarkable musical talent and her ability to combine different instruments to create a unique sound. The remixes by Charles Webster, known for his deep and atmospheric soundscapes, add a special flavour to Dana's voice. Especially the 'Charles Webster Dub' is a highlight and perfect for the dancefloor.
A remix by Oliver Marquardt, also known as DJ Jauche, enriches the release. A representative and avant-garde of the early Berlin club scene, he brings his own creative influences to the track. With this combination of talented artists and innovative remixes, 'Rain' is sure to win the hearts of music lovers and clubbers alike.

Hell Yeah have been busy making musical connections and reaching out to like-minded beatmakers once again. This time, it is Pier Paolo Polcari aka Polcari, a founding member of cult Italian band Almamegretta, who steps up with the magnificent new album I Will Try To Imitate The Birds. The eight-track record also features Adriano Viterbini, another Italian music icon and guitarist with the revered Bud Spencer Blues Explosion and I Hate My Village as well as Ubjk, San Ignacio and Sergio Dileo.

Label head Marco first got in touch with Polcari after he remixed Italian cultural hero Sergio Messina's cover of 'Fly Away' back in 2021. The pair began sharing music, discussing their favourite records and, eventually, the natural next step was to work towards the album now served up here.

The multi-talented Polcari is a master of downtempo sounds and as well as several solo projects that fuse trip hop, folk, dub and world music, he made a global mark as part of Almamegretta. The revered Naples band formed in the late 80s and has worked with greats like Massive Attack and Adrian Sherwood across more than 15 albums and are currently on a special 30th anniversary tour. Also playing on the album are Adriano Viterbini, a composer and member of blues-rock outfit Bud Spencer Blues Explosion, San Ignacio who is a downtempo and cumbia innovator behind the much sought-after albums like La Identidad Es Una Trampa and Sergio Dileo, sax player in the much-loved Naples band Nu Genea as well as being a busy jazz collaborator.

Opener 'Jardino' Feat. San Ignacio sets a laidback vibe from the off with gently breaking drums topped with whimsical melodies. 'Vita Nova' is cavernous dub with more lush instrumentals, xylophones and wispy synth motifs making for a world escape and 'Mundo' (Feat. Ubjk) has an air of Eastern melody with delicate pads and glowing keys floating above the pillowy drums. 'The Birds' (Feat. Adriano Viterbini) has fluttering harp strings that bring real beauty to a downtempo groove packed with vocoder vocals, synth smears and organic percussion.

'Orcos Ou Fadas' carries on with a rich blend of strings and percussion, shuffling rhythms and curious moods, 'Raifuki' lurches on moody drums and introverted melodies and 'Ligea' Feat. Sergio Dileo brings some romantic Latin rhythms and seductive clarinet while 'Superluna' completes the odyssey with more wavy dub and magnificent collages of melody and percussion.

I Will Try To Imitate The Birds will lift you off your feet and carry you away to a lush world of cathartic, sun-kissed musical pleasure.

Bosconi Records is proud to present Tangled Waves, a dynamic split EP that brings together the sonic identities of two emerging Italian talents—Roberto Manolio and Giuseppe Angeloro—each making their debut on the label.

Like currents colliding below the surface, Tangled Waves reveals a natural convergence—where distinct styles drift together in subtle harmony.

The A-side features Roberto Manolio, known for releases on Cosmological, Nugs on Board, and Musek Records. He kicks off with Deeply Red, a UK tech house-influenced stomper driven by a fat, aggressive bassline and dreamy delayed chords. A haunting Russian voice sample adds a cinematic, retro-futurist edge—like a lost transmission from a 60s space mission. Next up is Machine City Road, a raw, gritty weapon where grinding synths and sharp textures drive the track forward with the force of a distorted electric guitar. It’s dark, edgy, and full of tension. On the B-side, Giuseppe Angeloro—previously featured on Cimedirapax, Havalon, and Polarity Records—brings a touch of italo-flavored euphoria with A Night Among the Trees. Lush arpeggios and nostalgic synth lines conjure up a dreamy atmosphere, building into an epic, cinematic anthem. Closing the EP is Mind Trip, a gentle, psychedelic excursion built on floating melodies, delayed vocals, and hazy atmospheres. It’s a reflective, emotionally rich track—perfect for the final moments on the dancefloor. Tangled Waves offers a meeting point of two unique sonic voices, flowing along parallel—but deeply connected—paths, resulting in four essential weapons built to last.

Backspin's next release brings Selective Response, a prominent figure in America's techno scene, to the forefront with his Inner Heaven EP. Known for his hard-hitting techno rollers, he brings his expertise and passion to Backspin, delivering a release that aligns seamlessly with the label's mission to rejuvenate the Hardgroove sound of the early 2000s, blending releases of legendary pioneers with those of fresh talents.



The EP opens with Hells Bells, a doomy track that encapsulates Selective Response's signature style, featuring relentless rhythms and an underworldly bell theme. The title track Inner Heaven follows, offering a, contrasting atmosphere, blending ethereal elements with driving beats to explore the balance between intensity and tranquility. On the flip side, Power Hungry delivers a potent mix of pulsating basslines, sharp percussion and industrial elements, embodying the raw energy that defines the Hardgroove genre. The EP concludes with Purifier, a track more in line with the EP's title track, merging driving loops with intricate sound design, leaving listeners in a state of ecstatic trance.

"Bordeaux-based emerging talent Salomee deals in menacing and moody atmospheres, drawing on a range of techno, electro, house, and the ill-lit corners in between. Hypnotizing and neon-tinged melodies drive her tracks: these are bare bones, high on repetition, and very compelling. They come backed by elaborate and agile drum rhythms, composed with a rawness that references the most seasoned inspirations. The Before Time Began EP sees the artist further develop her sangfroid aesthetics with four tracks that assuredly reach beyond bunkers and basements. On Sacred Gatherings, several entrancing, alternating arpeggios work up a spark against a backdrop of tightly choreographed kicks and SH101 patterns. When the cut rises to a peak, a salvo of vocal chops drops - a rare event in Salomee's discography, even though the samples are rearranged beyond recognition. Before Time Began utilizes a similar palette, but this time, an undercurrent of melancholy seems to propel the track. A leisurely modulated, dubby sub segment amplifies the theme. By The Sea combines dark bass sequences and strings as gloomy as a fog horn with vivid 909 drums. The highs of the lavishly programmed hats and claps and the intense lead provide a slug of energy. It is a rendition of trance, manipulating both the genre's and the artist's signifiers. On Love Prevails, a slowly filtered, heavily delayed lead is spread atop a Bristol techno style beat. An array of cinematographic chords and subtly mixed gasps inject this closing track with a precarious balance, one that explores the tension between yearning and relief."

'Jamz' is a vibrant offshoot of the album Keep Me On The Dancefloor, born from spontaneous jam sessions with the talented musicians who helped bring Riva’s vision to life. These free-flowing studio moments, crafted with the dancefloor at heart, radiate playful energy and infectious groove. Featuring standout collaborators like Australia’s Close Counters and Naples’ Dario Bassolino, Jamz delivers a sun-soaked collection full of musical warmth and feel-good vibes. Already championed by Gilles Peterson on his radio show, this release is primed to move both hearts and feet.

INDEPENDENT RECORD SHOP AND LABEL KLANG TONE RECORDS RE-ISSUE DEBUT ALBUM BY 8 PIECE INSTRUMENTAL EHTIOPIAN JAZZ/AFRO-BEAT/PROG COLLECTIVE;
TEZETA

“Absolutley gorgeous from start to finish…”
- Deb Grant, BBC 6 Music

“An instant obsession. Impeccable rhythms and hypnotic melodies—Tezeta crafts a spellbinding fusion of Addis and Avon that takes you on a journey."
- Don Leisure

“Gorgeous mood music with more than a nod to Addis. Lovely tapestries and textures”
- Matt Temple, Matsuli Music


'Formed in Bristol back in2014 Tezeta were an experimental 8 piece instrumental group effortlessly combining Ethiopian jazz, Afrobeat, prog and improvisation. The band spawned out of the much loved Bloom Collective - a collective of musicians and friends from an experimental corner of the city’s buzzing music scene.

Led by composer, pianist and bandleader Daniel Inzani (Spindle Ensemble, Cosmo Sheldrake) the band also featured tenor saxophonists Andrew Neil Hayes (Run Logan Run) and Lorenzo Prati (Count Bobo, the Evil Usses, Itchigo Evil), Harriet Riley (Spindle Ensemble, Paraorchestra) on Marimba, vibraphone and percussion, Pete Gibbs (Count Bobo) on bass, Conrad Singh (Alabaster dePlume, the Evil Usses) on electric guitar and finally two(!) drummers Matthew Jones (The Brackish, Slate Trio) and Daniel Truen (Yama Warashi, The Evil Usses, Rozi Plain, Count Bobo).

They initially got together to play music from ‘The Ethiopiques Volumes’, in particular, the work of Mulatu Astatke, hence the name Tezeta (Ethiopian for nostalgia) but quickly evolved into their own style with all original material, incorporating many other influences along the way. Their much loved, debut album 'Seventh Place' was released in Sept 2016.

“We at Klang Tone have been admirers of Daniel Inzani’s work with Spindle Ensemble and I was fortunate to catch Tezeta perform before they disbanded. I bought one of the last available copies of their home released cdr at their gig at local Stroud venue The Prince Albert. It became a firm favourite - a recording I keep playing and never got tired of. It’s such a beguiling mix of styles - always evolving and resolving in different ways to what you might expect - some thrilling ensemble playing rhythmically propelled by two drummers and a percussionist with Daniel’s evocative melodies at the centre. I was convinced this was a recording that deserved a bigger audience and felt it needed to be heard on vinyl so I started a conversation with Daniel about releasing it on Klang Tone as it perfectly encapsulated the raison d'être of the shop and label. We didn’t want this recording to languish online barely listened to - I felt it was in danger of becoming a lost classic. I hope that this vinyl release is a worthy testament to this great band and helps draw attention to the creative genius of composer Daniel Inzani and the talented ensemble of players featured on the recording.” - Sean Roe, Klang Tone Records

Tezeta had a cult following among other musicians and were known for their wild group solo wig outs, virtuoso musicianship and creative use of unusual rhythm, harmony and melody. They toured across the UK at various venues and festivals including Glastonbury, Shambala and Green Man, and subsequently released an EP named ‘Curious Bubble’ in 2020.

In 2023 Tezeta performed a sold out final show at Strange Brew, Bristol as Inzani decided to pursue solo releases, notably his critically acclaimed triple vinyl album ‘Selected Worlds’ released on Hidden Notes Records which landed in the Guardian Top 10 Contemporary Albums of the Year in 20204. The third disc ‘Play’ was a clear continuation and development of the music Inzani had developed with Tezeta and featured many of the same musicians.'

The cover image is from ‘Project Rewind’, a double exposure photography collaboration between Karen Dews and Paul Blakemore.
Graphic design by Adam Hinks.

The Second Installment of “Versions” PART TWO by NYC’s Multi-Talented GE-OLOGY.
A VERY SMALL RUN of VINYL ONLY 2x12", NO DIGITAL CONTENT

What do you get if you put two synthesizer sorcerers in the same room? In the case of Skatebård and Lauer, the answer is Trollkraft. Between them, the Norwegian-German partnership have hundreds of releases, run record labels and have wowed crowds across the globe. In short, the two tracks of Trollkraft are the product of some serious electronic talent. Rich and textured drum layers give way to strings and a vibrating bass for the title piece. Twists and turns abound, elements of disco and house brush shoulders with indie and italo as the pair tear down genre divisions. A 90s heyday influence that runs through both offerings, with “One Night In Geilo” taking its cue from house rhythms and a two-stepping melody adopted from that emblematic decade. Reimagining rave in their own effervescent and playful style, these strobe and fog veterans serve up a fat slice of glow-stick elation. Strings weave high into the dawning sky, bongos and toms reveling next incandescent synthines with just a touch of trance thrown in to add spice to this heady and euphoric mix.

Two tracks from two true masters.

People Unpleased strikes again with this 4-track EP, designed for the dancefloor through the unique vision of each contributing artist. Featuring talents from across the globe—Bolivia, Spain, Argentina, and the United Kingdom—this collaboration delivers an exceptional record for your collection

DJ Support: DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mark Knight, Michael Gray, Mousse T., Brian Tappert, Hector Romero, Don Carlos, DJ Fudge, Moodena, Moplen, Birdee, Hotmood, Souldynamic, Ricky Montanari, Husky.

Micky More & Andy Tee's Groove Culture is back with more badman Funky madness and this time it is Shabi in charge, a new emerging talent from Berlin. 'Funky Grooves' is a four-track full of disco goodness and groovy house with a generous amount of funk.

2025 Repress!

OFF / GRID makes a captivating debut on Life In Patterns with his 'Sonic Spectrum' EP. Previously recognized as an underground gem in the techno scene due to his acclaimed, self-released EP, 'Time To Shine,' the Hamburg-based producer has garnered significant attention in 2023 with EP releases on labels like Planet Rhythm, Uncage, DifferentSound, and Entourage Concept.

On LIP009, he presents four meticulously crafted vinyl tracks and a digital bonus track, each a testament to his remarkable talent for creating hard-hitting, euphoric DJ tools. His music is distinguished by cutting stabs, hypnotic acid lines, and a distinct dub influence, all seamlessly woven together with powerful drum sounds.

Lemuria, the Hawaiian AOR project helmed by Kirk Thompsonian original member of the legendary Kalapanaireturns with a special 7" reissue featuring their a few of their favourite tracks 'All I've Got To Give' and 'Hunk of Heaven'. Thompson, a multifaceted talent as both a musician and producer, crafted timeless albums that captured the sun-soaked essence of island life. Originally released in 1978, Lemuria's music boasts top-tier production and songwriting, which has seen their songs covered by many artists over the years. Now, P-Vine revives two of their signature tracks on vinyl, offering DJs a dynamic slice of soulful, tropical grooves. 'All I've Got To Give' is a warm, melodic gem, while 'Hunk of Heaven' delivers a breezy, irresistible rhythm perfect for eclectic sets. This 45 is bringing the spirit of Hawaii's musical legacy back to the turntables.