Suche:the ant

Once regarded as an up-and-comer to watch, it’s fair to say that the past eighteen months have seen Dutch DJ/producer and live artist Locklead establish himself as one of the most in-demand artists emerging onto the global house stage. From his collaborative ‘Across Boundaries’ with close friend Chris Stussy to music via Dungeon Meat, Pilot, and Up The Stuss, the Utrecht-based talent has set his stall and is showing no signs of slowing. Adding to a first outing on sister label LOCUS two years ago, April welcomes a big debut appearance on FUSE as head honcho Enzo Siragusa invites him to the label for the first time to release his latest EP, ‘Kemickal Affairs’.
Opening the record, A1 ‘Zero’s Delight’ is a funk-fulled and spacey ride armed with resonant chords and swirling leads, while ‘State of Peace’ is a blissful ride through rich yet driving house spheres and showcases the second of two heavily requested anthems that have been go-to records for the likes of Stussy and Siragusa over recent months. The flip sees title cut ‘Kemickal Affairs’ open the b-side with authority, as bumping kicks and slinking grooves go to work beneath swirling synth lines and hazy tones, before wrapping things up with more modulated goodness and off-kilter vocal snippets on the chunky and trippy ‘Morning Krew’ - expect this to come out to play in those weird and wonky early-hours afters!

DJ Feedback:

Laurent Garnier - Very cool Ep

Jamie Jones (Hot Creations / Paradise) - Feeling this.

Joseph Capriati (REDIMENSION) - nice, will try soon. thanks !

Seth Troxler (Circoloco / Lost Souls Of Saturn) - lov

Paul Woolford / Special Request - State Of Peace is a killer house record, lovely chords and groove, thanks!!

Stacey Pullen (Blackflag Recordings / Transmat) - COOL THANKS!

Chris Stussy (Up The Stuss) - already on heavy rotation for the last couple of months, absolute heat!!

Rossi. (HOMEGROWN. / NO ART / LOCUS) - Immense music :)

‘Zeitgeist’, the debut LP from celebrated Italian electronic music producer Dukwa, begins with a timeless dancefloor equation; swung drums, a clattering cobwell and flickering hi-hats lurch forward into a serious bassline. Within seconds, dancers are flung into the house anthem ‘You Don’t Want It’ that’s equally raw and charismatic, sensual and powerful. For the next forty-five minutes of rhythm, melody and studio trickery, ‘Zeitgeist’ continues to bend time, eras and bodies.

Having released EPs on respected labels including Numbers, Gudu and Diynamic Records, invariably with the support of Jackmaster, Peggy Gou and Solomun, Dukwa folds into the Slacker85 philosophy with ease, laying down a statement of intent that’s squarely for the dancers. Indebted to a youth digging in Florence’s record stores, embracing the peerless Italian rave scene, as well as his recent appearances at Circoloco and Kappa Future, ‘Zeitgeist’ subverts it’s knowing title to dance between styles with an urgency you can feel in your heels.

Before long, Dukwa is smoothly oscillating between acid overdrive and weightless house on ‘Catch All’, while the balance between softness and severity is refined even further on ‘Show Me’, showcasing the record’s first euphoric breakdown, a heads down, hands up moment that sacrifices none of his organic flow. Ably mastering many corners of his record box, ‘Avec Moi’ makes a confident left turn into tunneling trance, interspersed with a sensual french vocal.

‘All You Need’ provides the record’s beating heart, Dukwa’s overarching philosophy front and center around layers of synthesised groove, build and release: “The world is full of fighting, ignorance and greed, but right here on the dancefloor - the rhythm’s all you need”. Meanwhile, ‘My Turn’ channels more cinematic instincts, zoning in on an elegant piano riff in order to unravel a quietly epic deep house trip.

As ‘Zeitgeist’ heads toward its conclusion, Dukwa effortlessly squeezes the most emotive juice from his well-oiled studio. ‘Sad Eyes’ possesses the emotional punch of many vintage end-of-night anthems, still driving yet touched with a wistful ecstasy. Finally, for closing passage ‘Stck1’, Dukwa truly lets the machines sing, capturing a brief symphony of harmonising modulations that dip into weirdo electronica, without ever skipping his signature beats.

A true showman, nightlife troublemaker, and lover of retro sounds, Master Phil, the Donny Benet of France, unveils his debut EP "Vagabond du Cœur" on Cracki Records. Blending nostalgia with dancefloor euphoria, he takes us on a vibrant journey through French Boogie, Euro Pop, and 90s Trance.

The standout track "Vagabond du Cœur" makes hearts and bodies groove with soaring synths and a deep, infectious bassline. Alongside it, "Ibiza" ignites the summer spirit with pure energy, channeling the sounds of Haddaway and Corona—where the nights never end and the beats never stop.

A debut EP that perfectly balances melancholy and carefree hedonism, ready to be played on the road to summer or as a festival-closing anthem.

After the dazzling debut of their first LP "Latin Freaks", the Funkool Orchestra is back with a brand new single that anticipates the release of their second studio album. A pure adrenaline double sider 7" vinyl with two dancefloor killer tracks.

"Tengo che ffà"
A dancefloor where the sun never sets, pulsing with a Mediterranean heartbeat. Funkool Orchestra return with "Teng Che Fa", a vibrant fusion of funk, disco, and Neapolitan groove. Following their sold-out debut Latin Freaks, this Maledetta Discoteca production delivers pure feel-good energy: sweaty, euphoric and made for endless dancing under golden skies. Perfect for global grooves, nu-disco, and upbeat funk playlists.

"P-Funk (Dance with Pezz)"
A rhythm that grabs your hips and won’t let go, while you smile to the world. Funkool Orchestra set the dancefloor on fire with ‘2-P–Funk’, a percussive, Latin-infused groove drenched in funk and soul. This Maledetta Discoteca production is built for shaking and radiating pure joy, packed with irresistible horns and unstoppable rhythm. Perfect for Latin funk, soulful disco, and global grooves playlists.

FUNKOOL ORCHESTRA: Valentina Conte – Voice; Daniele Mango – Voice; Pask Bluenne – Voice; Adriano Rubino – Trumpet; Riccardo Colicchio – Saxophones; Mario Tammaro – Trombone; Enrico Pizzuti – Guitar; Mattia Leone – Keyboards; Dario 'Pezz' Gessato – Bass; Peppe Shaf – Drums; Paolo 'Batà' Bianconcini - Percussions

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Fabrizio Piccolo at Auditorium Novecento (Naples)
Graphics and Illustrations by Jack Bulgaro

'Modulations' is Oscar Mulero third EP on Semantica Records. This new installment brings an updated techno perspective by the acclaimed Spanish artist into an extended six track format.

Re-inhaled marks the 15 Years Anniversary of Svreca - Obscur series. This new 12" showcase Svreca unreleased / alternative material and Remixes by Stanislav Tolkachev, Felix K and CONCEPTUAL.

Trambeat are an original soul band from Croydon, South London, formed in 2012 by songwriting duo guitarist Graham Potter and drummer Des James. The two played together in various bands over the years, eventually bringing together like-minded musicians from the Croydon music scene to form Trambeat. The name "Trambeat" derives from the where the band call home, with all band members living along the tram line that runs through the heart of Croydon. Initially the band operated as a loose collective, recording music and self-releasing it online and on CD. But following the 2013 release of their debut vinyl single, "Walk a Mile In My Shoes", and debut album "Tales From the Comprehensives" on Berlin labels Firestation Records and Sundae Soul Records, things began to move fast. With regular airplay by Gary Crowley on Radio London, offers of gigs began to roll in and they quickly morphed into a tight and exciting live band. Trambeat have supported the likes of Ranking Roger's The Beat, Geno Washington, The Four Aces (Desmond Dekker), Shakatak, The Flatmates and The Popguns and have featured at festivals right across the UK and Germany. Trambeat's debut release with LRK Records in 2023, the uptempo funk/soul crossover song "Don't Hold Back", proved popular at both Northern Soul and Funk clubs and was championed by "Northern Soul Girl" Levanna McLean who released a widely viewed clip dancing to the record. Indeed it became a staple at her very own Bristol Northern Soul Club and Funk Addict nights. The new single, "All Killer, No Filler", builds around a sultry, strutting bass riff bolstered by jazzy horns and a funky Nile Rogers influenced guitar. Vocalist Aimee lays down her manifesto for love without compromise, before building to an anthemic chorus you can't help singing along to.

First-time vinyl reissue of cult UK dance classic.

One of the cult acts of the heyday of London clubland in the early 1990s, the Ballistic Brothers consisted of later-X-Press 2 members Ashley, Rocky and Diesel, alongside David Hill and Uschi Clansen. After the success of underground smash ‘Blacker’ and ‘vs. Eccentric Afros Vol. 1’, The Ballistic Brothers returned with the second volume of their sampledelic good times with ‘Vol. 2’. The group came armed with years of dance floor expertise, and record making acumen, and delivered a further 8 tracks of good time funky grooves.

The opener ‘Delancey Street…The Theme’ paid tribute to their Camden-based record label and was an immediate anthem, while ‘Goodvibes…Goodnight’ was an irresistible mash-up. Elsewhere are jazz, funk, reggae influences and images of the streets of New York.

A vital snapshot of a very unique place in time, specially remastered for this Acid Jazz release, set in a spined sleeve for the first time, with a beautiful expansion of the original artwork

Grammy-nominated Canadian ensemble BADBADNOTGOOD present the latest edition of Mr Bongo’s iconic Brazil 45 boxset series.
Hailing from Toronto, the band, which now consists of Alexander Sowinski, Chester Hansen and Leland Whitty, made its name by crossing genres and developing a distinctive amalgamation of jazz, hip hop and psychedelic grooves. Their rise to the forefront of their scene has led to collaborations with icons such as Tyler, The Creator, Kendrick Lamar, MF Doom, Samuel T. Herring (Future Islands) and Ghostface Killah. With a penchant for an earworm hook, their sound takes cues from across the globe, both past and present, not least from the wealth of music that has emanated out of Brazil over the last 70 years.

Beatmakers, musicians and record collectors at their core, the influence of Brazilian music on BADBADNOTGOOD’s productions is clear to see, with previous collaborators including Arthur Verocai and Tim Bernardes. It seemed only right then, to hand them the reins for the next edition of our signature boxset series. As ever, the brief was simple, compile a selection of your favourite Brazilian cuts from the country’s rich musical makeup. A captivating collection of sought-after tracks crossing genres, decades and tempos, offering a glimpse into BADBADNOTGOOD’s eclectic tastes, whilst exploring ever further the richness of Brazil’s musical history.

Emma-Jean Thackray, the visionary producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, releases her highly anticipated second album, “Weirdo” on April 25th via Gilles Peterson’s celebrated label, Brownswood Recordings / Parlophone Records. Known for defying musical boundaries, Thackray's latest work is a deeply personal and utterly original exploration of selfhood, grief, and gratitude.

Drawing on an eclectic mix of influences—grunge, pop, soul, p-funk, and jazz— “Weirdo” is a triumphant celebration of survival and individuality. Written, performed, recorded, mixed, produced and arranged entirely by Thackray in her South London flat, the album stands as a testament to her extraordinary musicianship and fearless self-expression.

It's been a long time between drinks for German band Bambi Davidson. "Brunswick", their first outing on Claremont 56, is their first recorded output for 15 years.
It's something of a triumphant return, too. Last time we heard
from them, back in 2000, they were a 'post minimal rock'
duo comprising of guitarist/vocalist Robin van Velzen and
drummer Hans Christian Fuss. A decade and a half of live
improvisation and a multitude of collaborations later, they
return as a Balearic rock four-piece. The band's newest
members, former Mountaineer man Frank Mollena and Sofia
Fuss, were asked to join following a particularly successful
series of live collaborations and improvisational jams.
"Brunswick", the first track from their soon-to-be-released sophomore set, is particularly special. It´s a 13-minute shuffle
through Balearic post-rock territory, with Van Velzen's weary,
emotional vocals riding a wave of vibrant colours, backwards
Hazy, intoxicating and evocative, it sounds like a horizontal
anthem in the making.
One sided, hand numbered, limited to 500

THE CHESTNUT BROTHERS

IZIPHO SOUL is thrilled to announce that the soulful gospel anthem TRAVELIN’ ON is coming your way on a 7” single - for the first time!

There are not enough superlatives to describe this transcendent piece of music - it’s significance within the U.K. modern soul scene should not be overlooked; cited by many as the track they want played at their funeral - a morbid request? Certainly not, more like a song that has resonated in hearts and minds, seen as a celebration and empowerment of travelin’ to a better place

Presented on vinyl are both the radio edit and LP version, which is cut at 33RPM for a full six and a half minutes of heavenly bliss.

The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology Vinyl
35 Tracks including 4 acoustic bonus songs
Never-Before-Seen 12” x 12” Poster
4 Marbled Translucent vinyl discs

Depiction of this product is a digital rendering and for illustrative purposes only. Actual product detailing may vary. Please note due to the custom manufacture process, each vinyl unit may be slightly different in coloration.

The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology Vinyl
35 Tracks including 4 acoustic bonus songs
Never-Before-Seen 12” x 12” Poster
4 Marbled Translucent vinyl discs

Depiction of this product is a digital rendering and for illustrative purposes only. Actual product detailing may vary. Please note due to the custom manufacture process, each vinyl unit may be slightly different in coloration.

Two years after releasing the acclaimed Crash Recoil, Anthony Child aka Surgeon returns to Tresor with new LP, Shell~Wave. Retaining the minimal equipment list and studio-version-of-live-show-sets approach of the previous album in order to focus on the work itself, Shell~Wave is a deeply personal document of both where Surgeon is and has been, converging three decades of experience with a continued curiosity in the untested.
“To make this project, I had to dig really deep in terms of what my relationship was to techno; I’ve been involved with it for a really long time and there’s a lot about it I feel dislocated from, so I had to really think hard about what techno is to me. I often get asked “what is techno to you?” but I can’t answer that with words; this album is the answer.” From the complex, twisting track Infinite Eye to the caustic Soul Fire, the eight tracks that make up the body of the album are single-take explorations of the vast, hard yet minimal techno Child is synonymous with.
Neatly dividing the record in two, the emotional centre of the record comes in the form of Dying, a vibrating, beatless piece that with a mantra-like vocal loop steeped in reverberating effects. Further echoes of dub production appear throughout the record as tracks like Divine Shadow, and Empty Cloud have an almost ever-present mist of reverberation, driven by the appearance of a new delay unit in the equipment list; while much of the philosophy of Crash Recoil’s creation is present, the process and the instruments have changed as Child again switches up his approach to studio work.
This insistence on trying novel techniques doesn’t preclude returning to old ones, as this use of modern digital machines with live, hands-on takes that are as inspired by 60s producer Joe Meek and 70s reggae as they are by this year’s synthesiser expos.
“For me, it’s an interesting experience returning to old techniques again after 30 years. I’m always exploring and finding myself back at the beginning. Connecting the present with the past.”
This philosophy of ‘time travel’ is inherent to the music itself as the synchronised loops repeat while the delay and effects branch out, forming unique eddies; distinct quantum moments within the circular whole; the future leaking through the spaces between the sounds. All of the concepts on the album are perfectly communicated through the painting by Taiwanese artist Jazz Szu-Ying Chen which suggests the movement of water, sound waves, and the chitinous shells of sea creatures.

Following the hyperactive “Blood Karaoke” (2022, Reading Group), “Performing Belief” builds rhythmic thickets from gathered sounds interwoven with synths, drum machines and other samples. Having built these rhythmic nests, Krivchenia then called on two contemporary mages of the low end: electric bassist and fellow Angeleno Sam Wilkes (Wilkes/Gendel) and double bassist/multi-instrumentalist from Krivchenia’s native Chicago, Joshua Abrams (Natural Information Society). Wilkes and Abrams bring the presence of a grounding human witness to the rhythmic undergrowth, providing a centering and even at times melodic voice to the gathering. This alchemy carries a profoundly fresh sense of time, blurring the edges of the quantized grid and the generic boundaries of electronic music.

The core of the album is a lush, opulent matrix of percussion ranging from the familiar—hand claps and drum machines—to the mysteriously verdant, sampled largely from Krivchenia’s own performed field recorded collection. For years, he would record any and all of his musical encounters with natural objects: performing on a particularly resonant log on a hike, throwing rocks into a pristine pond, tap dancing in the mud. This archive of “natural” sounds became the fertile soil out of which the tracks on “Performing Belief” grew. What is gained in the process is not just a novel set of sounds, but a new rhythmic language. The particular give, the anticipatory rustle, the extra breath of a hollow log when functioning as a kickdrum provides a greenness that overtakes the rhythmic grid, giving this music a peculiar kind of stickiness. This rhythmic language, set in Krivchenia’s long-fermenting electronic musical palate, feels like a revelation, even while it calls back not only to his wonderfully elastic timekeeping behind the kit with his beloved band Big Thief, but also to his prior work in computer music as well as his deep study and love of the vast human archive of drumming. “Performing Belief” is in good company in the rank and file of the legendary Planet Mu label. From the foundational early releases of the likes of Jega and Venetian Snares, to the contemporary envelope-warping work of Jlin and hundreds of brilliant releases in between, Planet Mu has been a beacon of forward-thinking rhythmic music for decades, informing Krivchenia’s own sense of the weird metaphysics of musical time since he was a kid. Krivchenia’s contribution to this history calls to mind the principle of organic danceability that subtends Mu’s whole catalogue, while bending our sense of rhythm in new and gracious dimensions. Krivchenia brings out the loamy complexity of natural rhythms, a clearing as generous as it is inviting. Let the drummer give you some.

Combines Northern Soul, Psychedelia, 90s Indie Rock and an orchestral soundtrack feel into a homogenous, convincing work that looks promising and feels damn good in a not so rosy time.

The fourth album by the Frank Popp Ensemble, will be released on Unique Records. Written. recorded and produced in Spain in 2024. As with the predecessor ,Shifting", various guest singers can be heard on the lI brand new tracks.

Gerry Love, once the lead singer of the legendary Teenage Fanclub, who, according to Popp, wrote and sang almost al of the Glasgow cult band's favorite songs. lends his captivating voice to an orchestral, soulful version of "Save", a rather unknown but brilliant piece that Love wrote for the Scots in 2004. Gerard Love already contributed a cover of Frank Popp's "The World Is Waiting" to the "Under Covers" compilation and has now done another wonderful job on Waves.
Another hero from Popp's record collection is Nicke Andersson. Formerly a drummer with the death &rollers Entombed. then singer of the incomparable Hellacopters and mastermind behind other top bands such as The Solution, Imperial State Electric, Lucifer, etc., can be heard on "Caught In AWeb". A Northern Soul stomper in classic "Magic Touch" mania.
Emma Noble, an up-and-coming soul singer from London sings on the girl-groupish soul anthem "Unstoppable". The second single from the album has what it takes to be the next UK floor filler and was already played and praised on Craig Charles' Soul Show on BBC a t the end of 2024.
An absolutely exceptional artist is J Mahon, who can be heard on 5 tracks on the album and contributed significantly to the album. His sweet voice works on his songs as well as on "Going Going Gone", which is the first single release and is reminiscent of certain young Motown artists in the early 70s with its catchy brass hooks and j's androgynous soul vocals.
Audrey Ollesen from Cologne, an old buddy from the Rhineland mod scene, joined by chance after Popp became aware of her singing skills through private recordings. On "Common Stranger" Audrey can be heard on a recording for the first time.
On "Waves" Frank Popp combines Northern Soul, Psychedelia, 90s Indie Rock and an orchestral soundtrack feel into a homogenous, convincing work that looks promising and feels damn good in a not so rosy time. We are all excited...






f Heartbreak (In A Really Good Way) [feat. J Mahon]






[f] Heartbreak (In A Really Good Way) [feat. J Mahon]

Orchid Mantis, by Michelle Helene Mackenzie and Stefan Maier, is a work that draws its inspiration from the history of the Sanzhi Pod City, in northern Taiwan. Sanzhi Pod City was built from 1978 onwards, made up of buildings constructed from assemblages of `pods' inspired by the futuro houses of Finnish architect Matti Suuronen. The project was abandoned in 1980, following a number of accidents during construction and persistent rumours that the site was haunted. However, this wasteland of a city has allowed insects to proliferate, in particular five species of orchid mantis. It is this strange environment, made up of utopian buildings, proliferating insects and vegetation reclaiming the site, that serves as the imaginary space for Michelle Helene Mackenzie and Stefan Maier's music, a music of carefully designed pace and progression, drawing, through resonance and stridulation, subtle sonic materials that guide and accompany us into multiple worlds with admirable ease and grace. Breach, by American composer Olivia Block, engages in a dialogue between field recordings and synthesised sounds, creating a vibrant plea for wild spaces that face an ever-growing threat to their survival from human activities. The work is based on recordings collected in the San Ignacio lagoon in the Mexican part of Southern California. This lagoon is known as a breeding ground for eastern Pacific grey whales. With the help of precise electronics, the music unfolds like a drift, depicting the subjective soundscape of whales caught up in the noise of the Anthropocene. The composer uses otoacoustic emissions in particular, representing the sound saturation caused by humans in the habitat of these large marine mammals. Going beyond a merely descriptive dimension, Olivia Block manages to transcend her subject to offer a fascinating musical form that engages the listener in a constantly renewed way.