Buscar:the deep end

Mood II Swing are bona fide legends of early house who fomented their own uniquely raw, dark, but soulful and swinging sound. They have got a ton of classics to their name, one of which is 1996's 'Do It My Way', which now gets reworked by a selection of talented house peers on Ira James' Vessel Recordings. The opening Andrew Macari mix keeps it deep and loopy with many original motifs left in place. The Do It Sneaks Way mix leans into the trackiness of the drums, then Joshua Iz turns up the dubby low end for a gliding groove with garage-y percussion. Nonfiction strips away some of the swing and goes for a big, driving wall of drums and Natural Rhythm offers the most playful take with wobbly synths and plenty of air in the drums.

Slope114 are Dmitri SFC & Elise Gargalikis, a duo that makes their house music live from home in San Francisco. That lends it a rare musicality and melodic lushness that sit their work right up there with deep house forefathers. This outing starts with the slouchy goodness and endearing bass of 'Dystopian Blues', complete with aloof vocals that exude cool. The dub is even more pillow and smooth than the Mark Ambrose mix that brings a little more roughness to the drums but still locks into a hypnotic vibe. 'Emu 2' is a gentle rhythm with dusty pads and candle-lit chords for when slow-burn subtlety is prized over immediacy. Classy stuff.

Hyperstellar returns on Bordello A Parigi with a nocturnal and deeply magnetic EP. In For a Flash captures the fleeting beauty of a moment stolen from the night, the tension of a glance that will never return, the sensation of having loved inside a dream. The record carves out a singular aesthetic through new wave, shady atmospheres, and early electronic influences.

The eponymous track, In For a Flash, opens the record like a sudden vision: a burst of light in the dark, propulsive, yet already fading. From its fatalist urgency to the longing of The Dance We Never Had, each piece suggests a different facet of the same mirage. Surrender unfolds like a slow implosion, a toxic war between release and control, while L’Amour sur Saturne drifts endlessly in a suspended space, like a tale where the impossible is still imagined.

Influenced as much by Burial as by New Order, the solitude of classical composers or eccentric glam rock acts, Hyperstellar continues to build his artistry on numbers, and intimate constellations.


Having established himself as one of the most exciting contemporary dance producers with a string of stellar releases, Japanese producer boys be kko returns triumphantly with the Nagasawa EP, four floor cuts bursting with emotion, shimmering in Tokyo technicolor, and perfectly at home on Bliss Point.

Nagasawa kicks off with a bang. “ChuKii” is a peak time heater: breaks, chopped vocals and punchy toms sear over a low end groove that proves body music can funk. Melodic acid explodes like a firework mid-track, taking the dance floor to psychedelic new heights.

The club psychedelia continues with “Mold Mold”, a minimal, subterranean system roller adorned with swells, bells, and deep, guttural growls dubbed to the vanishing point.

“Sant Esteve (kko Edit)” is melancholic and contemplative jazz house, eschewing cliché and twinging with nostalgia for that moment you felt most free.

“Humor is an important part of my music”, boys be kko reflected over lunch as Izakaya smoke billowed past his face. “Oignon”, the fourth and final track on Nagasawa, is an airy and joyful slice of sampledelia that makes good on this promise. An enormous smile of a track sending listeners off with a slice of sonic sunshine and, dare we say, hope.

VIER - IIII, a project by: Machinedrum x Thys x Holly x Salvador Breed.

Across its eleven tracks, 'IIII' dissolves borders between breakbeat, trap-meets-gabber, skippy UK shuffle, halftime, jungle and cinematic electronica, music that shifts from serious voltage to full-colour euphoria. What ties it together is philosophy, not genre.

The group's working method began playfully in the studio with a ten-minute egg timer: each member would sketch for ten minutes, then pass it on. That rule became a ritual, a way to keep things human, spontaneous and shared. In VIER, every track passes through four sets of hands; every decision is a test of trust. What could have been chaos instead became a flow state, a cycle of surrender and discovery thatdefines their sound.

Following singles such as Frankfurt, Control, Where Were You, Solitu and Vai Pulando, 'IIII' stands as VIER's first full statement, a body of work that feels both playful and deeply considered. Moments of quiet bloom into distorted joy; melody drifts through broken percussion; endings turn into new beginnings.

Seeking out the inspirational intersection between free improvisation, rave and ancient mysticism, Plants Heal deliver an album of kaleidoscopic, organic beatdowns to Quindi.
Plants Heal is a collaborative project between Dan Nicholls on synths, Dave De Rose on drums and Lou Zon (aka Louise Boer) on visuals. The roots of the project are entwined with Dan and Lou's London-based event Free Movements, which began in 2018 to explore how instrumental music could merge with live electronics and DJ sets. Dave and Dan found themselves playing together frequently at the event and as part of Dave's free improv project Agile Experiments, with their accomplished track records as multi-instrumentalists reaching across many layers of music culture. The particular synergy of their partnership taps into the subliminal, surreal and transcendental soundscapes, but they're reliably anchored by instinctive rhythms and driven by a natural flow-state.
From the tentative steps of their first collaborations, Dan and Dave coalesced Plants Heal as a more pronounced project with Lou's live visuals, culminating in a first self-released album in 2021 and since organically fed and watered through continued performances across adventurous festivals and intimate club spaces. Every incremental step along the path of the project yielded new surprises and the deepening sense of a unique, powerful energy. The trio opted to pour this energy into two days of studio sessions at Sonic Playground Studios in Athens, maintaining their unplanned approach and letting the music and visuals unfold in the moment. The end result is Forest Dwellers, a sincere document of truly free music that uses the rhythmic structure of dance and trance music as a springboard into heightened consciousness.
Throughout the album you can hear hints of the familiar - dub techno shimmers, trip hop boom-bap, kosmische momentum, snarling bass modulation, new age ambience and even the odd sizzle of disco. But none of these references are explicit, and they weave in and out of less placeable expressions deeply bedded into Dan and Dave's sonic practices. The end result is a swirling tapestry of unspooling groove, wide open and agile enough to shift gears mid-flow - just as comfortable letting the propulsion melt away as locking into a four-to-the-floor throwdown. From the slippery syncopation of 'Avena Moon' to the angular bait-and-switch of 'Alien Hardware', 'Yarrow's starry-eyed reverie and the rolling, warm-hearted funk of 'Space Ballad', the Plants Heal sound world is expansive and equally enthusiastic for immediate musical motifs as much as wild abstraction.
Lou's visual practice is an intrinsic part of the project. During performances she improvises with analogue footage from her library run through video mixers and synthesisers, focused on medicinal plants such as yarrow, hawthorn, nettle and thistle. All those plants feature in processed form on the cover of the record, which was designed in collaboration with Lou's brother Arthur Boer. Meanwhile, Lou recorded additional footage in Athens during the recording sessions to feed into the continued cycle of the project's live evolution.
Forest Dwellers' meaning honours this cycle and its reflection of the eternal undulations of the natural world. It's also a sincere tribute to the spiritual importance and radical potential of the dancefloor, drawn from the freedom taught by jazz and dedicated to reclaiming lost ideas about community, agency, bodies and the enduring allure of the unknown.

Coral Morphologic is the brainchild of Jared McKay and Colin Foord. A mending of minds, the arts, science, and the sea. Their lab in Miami lies close to the Florida Reef just offshore; the third largest coral barrier reef system in the world. This album composed by Jared echoes the voice of the reef. A reflection of its cosmic connection to our moon. A departure from the earth into deep space. We often wonder what intelligent life exists outside of our own aquatic world. Look and listen to the synchronous celestial satellites and the endless love song they sing. *features a foldout poster with album art by Robert Beatty

To mark Grid's second anniversary back in 2023, the label brought together 13 tracks from the bass scene's most forward-thinking artists, all of which sank you into deep sonic chambers. Now, six of those tracks are available on wax for the first time in what is an essential sampler featuring boundary-pushing contributions from forward-thinking artists. Sister Zo opens with the percussive pressure of 'EMP,' Ronan lays down a lithe rhythm that befits its 'Shadowbox' title and Seekersinternational drill down into warped low-end chaos. There is a deftness to Jonny From Space's tumbling perc and E-Unity brings clean lines and a futuristic sheen to his deep dub workout 'Of All The Places I Could Be'. Tammo Hesselink brings ambient soundscaping with his floating delight, 'Paint Reduce Trick.' This is high-quality, original music that moves both mind and body.

Massimiliano Pagliara celebrates 20 years of music production with a special anniversary compilation on Funnuvojere. The release brings together solo productions and collaborations spanning a rich and abundant period that began when Pagliara acquired his first analogue machines, five years after moving to Berlin from Milan, where he worked as a professional dancer and choreographer.

The compilation features 20 previously unreleased tracks, deeply infused with italo grooves, wonky bass-lines, balearic pads, drama, love, sex, and dreams. These tracks evoke a wide spectrum of moments, ranging from intimate, pleasure-driven home listening to full-blown dance-floor euphoria. Throughout the compilation, one can feel Pagliara’s enthusiasm for discovery—his excitement in encountering new machines and immediately putting them to work.

Pagliara’s sonic identity is unmistakable, present in every track and in the compilation as a whole. Like the facets of a crystal, the music reflects his many nuances while maintaining a strong, coherent core. Tracks such as Waves of Desire pay homage to Dream House, reimagined through contemporary production with cosmic tones and infectious drums. Flicker Of Us reveals a dramatic tension between a rowdy bass-line and melancholic pads, while We Can Touch The Sky features Pagliara himself on vocals, blending synth-pop with elements of new wave and glam rock. Cool Breeze unfolds as a sunlit, optimistic walk through a wide Berlin avenue—funky, warm, and filled with curiosity for what lies ahead.

A notable strength of the compilation lies in its collaborations, which highlight Pagliara’s joy in working with other producers and vocalists. Each collaboration reveals a distinct character: the balearic sensibility of A Journey of Discovery with Gatto Fritto, the French house flavour of Neon Memories with Alinka, the 70s disco inflection of It’s In Your Eyes with the late Aérea Negrot, and the driving techno attitude of Whirlwind with Fabrizio Mammarella, to name just a few.

Ultimately, this compilation stands as both a gift to Massimiliano’s long-time fans and an open invitation to new listeners. It offers entry into a world shaped by beauty, order, balance, and ecstasy—guided by an enduring love for the craft.

Following their 2023 LP Presents, Nathan Nelson's American Cream Band bring the Twin City heat back to Quindi with an album rooted in duality. From the yin and yang party-starting A side and meditative B side to the dual-attack boy-girl vocals, the nature of opposites and equals steer the expansive, artful strain of rock n' roll that spill out of this wholly unique Minnesotan export. For the ever intriguing Quindi, it's a strident step into Spring after the frosty introspection of Roudi Vagou & Läuten der Seele's Taghelle Nacht. While the world burns and injustice prevails, Twin is a celebration of unity and radical expression-all the more urgent against the backdrop of authoritarian overreach and righteous protest that has whipped through Minneapolis in recent times.
Twin continues Nelson's drive at the helm of American Cream Band to draw in a colourful cast of players to feed into his orgiastic sound, meshing the trance-induction of krautrock with the irrepressible funk of the post-punk-new-wave explosion. But principal among the cast of characters and forming a central tenet to the identity of this album is Liz Buhmann, lead vocalist and a formidable, playful foil to Nelson's own Midwestern twang. Around the electric spark between Buhmann and Nelson, a heavy duty ensemble wrangle guitar, bass, sax, a cornucopia of synths and a battery of percussion into all manner of sonic forms.
The double-sided concept manifests throughout Twin. On 'Call Me' Buhmann sings in French to contrast Nelson's English, while the strident strut of the NYC disco groove is offset by an inherent dreaminess that turns the track into a more cosmic kind of dancefloor workout. 'Ethical Vampire' is a spiky cut with a garage rock patina that spirals into a psychedelic, synth-soaked get-down. 'Don't Burn The House Down' is a loose and limber roller that captures Can at their funkiest along with the hypnotic vibe of other such esteemed long format jammers, but American Cream Band boils that energy into a hook-laden art pop sensibility before a gentle, drawn out landing.
Even the more pensive moments on Twin find space for friction. For all its tender, smoky temperament, 'Leda and the Swan' lets the electric piano and guitar fray at the edges and bleed into the red while Mat Heinrich's tumbling drums lurch with pent-up intensity on the one. 'No Funeral Necessary' skirts around the mellow pools of new age but prefers to let liberally doused Tape Echo tweak out Alex Meffert's honeyed sax inflections and Buhmann and Nelson's disparate sermons.
Nelson describes Twin as "an oppositorum coincidentia" - a reference to the mystical Latin concept of the coincidence of opposites that suggests contradictory ideas 'fall together' in a higher reality. Beyond the sound of the album, this idea also manifests in the cover photography by Sho Nikado and the swans on the LP labels by Autumn Garrington. As freewheeling and wide-open as American Cream Band feels, nothing appears by accident. The end result feels like a nourishing whole - rich with substance and nuance, deep enough to be explored and absorbed yet also so brazen and immediate you can't help but feel its surface charms from the first thrusts of 'The Hive Is Pissed' to the last ripples of 'We're Not So Sinister'.

Groovin Recordings proudly announce the forthcoming release of "Back From Paradise", a track co-produced by the legendary Italian DJ Costantino “MixMaster” Padovano and renowned South Italian producer Antony Reale.
This record is a dedication to the enduring legacy of Costantino MixMaster Padovano. Originally produced in the late 90's but never officially released, this collaborative piece is finally seeing the light of day as a powerful celebration and tribute.
Costantino MixMaster Padovano needs no introduction to house music aficionados. He was one of the first Italian DJs to achieve deep respect in the 90s US house scene, regularly sharing the decks with titans like Frankie Knuckles, Kenny Dope Gonzalez, Louie Vega, and Todd Terry. His studio influence was massive, including official remixes for legends such as Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Gloria Gaynor, Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige and many more.
Antony Reale is an established Italian DJ and producer with a large discography spanning the last two decades. He has produced and remixed a roster of top artists, including Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige, Ultra Naté, and RuPaul.
"Back From Paradise": Originally created by Antony and Costantino during their creative prime in the late 90's, Antony has now decided to finally release the track. It serves as a beautiful and fitting monument to the memory and fantastic career of this iconic Italian DJ and producer who helped define the 90's house scene.

the work of BIG|BRAVE is ever-expanding. The trio"s singular masterful sculpting of sonics into songcraft tucks layers of vulnerability into frenetic storms. in grief or in hope is an innovative vision of electro-acoustic sound and emotive storytelling, an endless bounty of overwhelming distortions and devastating beauty. The album marks a shift for BIG|BRAVE towards denser guitar-oriented compositions. With longtime touring bassist Liam Andrews (MY DISCO, Aicher) joining guitarist/vocalist Robin Wattie and guitarist Mathieu Ball in the studio for the first time, the pieces are keenly layered with a rich tapestry of harmonics and tonal intricacies. The trio"s instinctual progressions made more vivid through live recording, harnessing the gargantuan and storied sound of their performances. Wattie writes: "All that I could reflect on was grief and hope; death and life; cause and effect; shared experiences of being a human person." The tenth album for the ensemble, in grief or in hope pays homage to their past while looking into their future. Together the trio shift deliver emotional momentum that vividly describes the complex and deep feelings of struggle, pain, and transcendence. in grief or in hope transmits that sense of humanity with every gesture.

the work of BIG|BRAVE is ever-expanding. The trio"s singular masterful sculpting of sonics into songcraft tucks layers of vulnerability into frenetic storms. in grief or in hope is an innovative vision of electro-acoustic sound and emotive storytelling, an endless bounty of overwhelming distortions and devastating beauty. The album marks a shift for BIG|BRAVE towards denser guitar-oriented compositions. With longtime touring bassist Liam Andrews (MY DISCO, Aicher) joining guitarist/vocalist Robin Wattie and guitarist Mathieu Ball in the studio for the first time, the pieces are keenly layered with a rich tapestry of harmonics and tonal intricacies. The trio"s instinctual progressions made more vivid through live recording, harnessing the gargantuan and storied sound of their performances. Wattie writes: "All that I could reflect on was grief and hope; death and life; cause and effect; shared experiences of being a human person." The tenth album for the ensemble, in grief or in hope pays homage to their past while looking into their future. Together the trio shift deliver emotional momentum that vividly describes the complex and deep feelings of struggle, pain, and transcendence. in grief or in hope transmits that sense of humanity with every gesture.

Mark Flash returns on DTFA with two late-night transmissions built for the floor and the mind. "Interstellar Dreams" opens the space. Warm textures, deep chords, uplifting strings, and floating atmospheres drift into Detroit's futurist side, combining Hi-Tech Jazz with a funky bassline by Jon Dixon.

"Midnight Scanner" moves with purpose—pulsing synth lines and restless energy cutting through the dark, like signal traffic across the city after hours. Direct, mechanical, and locked-in, it's a peak-time tool designed to drive the room forward.

Together, the two tracks capture both ends of the spectrum: street-level grit and cosmic lift-off—classic Mark Flash territory where funk, techno, and movement meet. Functional. Emotional. Built for DJs.

American DJ Homicide aka Craig Anthony Bullock is best known as the former DJ for Sugar Ray but also does a fine line in club-ready hip-hop jams and remixes. 'Likwit Swordz' kicks off his latest on the small but well-formed CA label out of the USA. It's got nimble drums that have a clipped bounce and vamping chords, vocal grit that echoes Cypress Hill and an infectious roll. On the flip, 'Day Coastin'' is more deep and smooth - the bars as silky as BIG and the drums rolling with crisp boom-bap style. Both have been made on an MPC and that sampler's famous textures elevate the final jams no end.

Three decades deep and as essential as ever, Ralph Lawson's 20/20 Vision Recordings continues to mine its rich back catalogue with care. To that end, 'Full Circle Vol.3' feels both respectful and forward-facing with new mixes of enduring classics. Roman Flugel reworks 'Machine Life' into a driving club sound with fresh vocals and elastic acid lines, while MADVILLA sharpens 'Rhythm Freq' into a sleek hybrid of house, UKG and electro. Simon Baker's updated 'The Liptrick' retains its raw punch, and Formidable Force close with a warm, late-night dub of 'Reactivate'. It is a tidy reminder of the breadth and depth of sound this label has always dealt in.

2026 Repress
Temudo - Meteora (FUSE06) by Noah Hocker

A leader of the Portuguese wave in techno co-founding Hayes Collective while boasting acclaimed releases on Klockworks, Blueprint, and Soma, Temudo grabs the reins to take club music back to its days of audacity and risk taking. A more than promising up-and-comer turned modern reference, Temudo defends his reputation with a release showcasing depth in his various sonic universes and a deep understanding of his music's history. For its seventh release, Temudo's 'Meteora' is a logical next step for the club's direction - a sweet spot between dancefloor efficiency and enduring aesthetic.

Combining the intrigue of mental soundscapes with the reliability of imposing rhythm, 'Meteora' finds itself collected, expressing effect through restraint. The title track, claiming the EP's A1, is just that - a force of interweaving sound design and powerful micro transitions. Some believe the best techno records are able to express emotion and attitude despite its dissonant and machinelike nature; if that's the case then Temudo has mastered the craft. 'When I Grow Up', however, puts the focus back on the body. What sounds like warbling tape modulation over a percussive lead makes this record an addictively delirious ride from start to finish, fitting in with the track before while shifting to different priorities. Proving his versatility, 'Vrthng' at first seems reminiscent of the minimal Berlin style with a higher pace, but quickly progresses into something intensely euphoric. With experience and measure, an out of the box approach can really pay off, and the added emotion in 'Vrthng' is certainly a turning point in the EP. This mindset is clearly carried over in the project's conclusion : 'It's Always Past'. A surprising use of harmony and storytelling, this final chapter ends with Temudo sealing his style with confidence. The track is mystified by its chords, ending 'Meteora' with a question mark that leaves us in anticipation for what Temudo dares to do next.

Cut The With The Cake Knife was recorded by Rose McDowall in 1988/89 following the break up of her group Strawberry Switchblade. Produced with the aid of several musicians in several studios, the album features songs written for the fabled second Strawberry Switchblade album. More importantly perhaps it showcases the honest, direct and life-affirming songs of one of the greatest unsung songwriters of the modern pop era at a tumultuous time in her career.

Tibet opens the set and could be one of the best pop songs you've never heard. The innate sadness of the songs' content - the loss of a friendship, impending sorrow - is heightened to heart-melting level by McDowall's pop nous and melodic sensibility. Choruses and hooks are everywhere on Cake Knife, from the outsider take on stadium 80s pop in Wings Of Heaven to the spiraling, ecstatic So Vicious, a glorious anthem that highlights the human fragility in McDowall's vocal performance, an instrument that has never lost the naïve purity it first exemplified in Strawberry Switchblade's early 80s recordings. The centerpiece of the album, the title-track, is the greatest Switchblade pop chart hit that never was. Like the veiled melancholy of her former group's hits, Cut With The Cake Knife hints at a darkness beneath the gloss, a darkness that saw McDowall delve into more esoteric territory with her subsequent recordings and collaborations. Cut With The Cake Knife serves as the bridge between the pop music McDowall had been making with her friends Jill Bryson, Lawrence from Felt and Primal Scream to what became a more extreme, deep sound informed by neo-folk and post industrial music.

Rose McDowall's role in the canon has always been one of an outsider. Beginning in Glasgow's East End in the avant proto-noise group The Poems, achieving fame briefly in the 80s and then disappearing into counter-cultural folklore, the emphasis in the internet-age has been skewed towards her image and cultural significance. Unseen to many, her solo work, her groups Sorrow and Spell and her collaborations with a whole host of underground luminaries have still touched lives. As McDowall elucidates: 'They're real sad songs, about real life. I've had people come up to me to say I'd connected with them and helped them. I remember a gig in America when we made a whole room cry. It was bizarre. A couple at the front of the stage started crying and then these two boys beside and suddenly everyone was crying. And I thought, "that's power."

Night School's issue of Cut With The Cake Knife includes unpublished photographs, extensive sleeve notes from Rose McDowall and 2 bonus tracks culled from the bootleg 7' 'Don't Fear The Reaper.' First vinyl pressing is Clear w/ Black swirl; 500 only / has DL card and booklet, with a poster
CD has extensive booklet and is packaged in anO-Card.

‘Future Quiet’ signals a striking new chapter for one of electronic music’s most enduring and visionary artists. Across fourteen tracks that encompass modern piano minimalism, immersive ambient soundscapes and a smattering of vocal collaborations, the album finds Moby reflecting on the tension between hyper-connected modern life and the deep human need for stillness.

Straight from Michigan’s underground, Myles Sergé resurfaces on his own (MS) imprint with the FANPRO EP, a stripped, smoking 140g 12" that connects dub techno pressure, hazy dub house and Detroit-rooted machine soul in one focused statement. Known as a “reclusive perfectionist” and low-flying techno lifer, Sergé channels decades of Midwest grit into four cuts that feel raw, intimate and club-ready.
To push things further into the future, he invites a heavyweight remix squad: Toxido Mask, the Berlin sound designer and Tresor mainstay whose hypnotic, cathartic sets have become the stuff of late-night legend; Ackermann, the Stuttgart house-to-techno shapeshifter behind the Safe Space universe; and Myk Derill, a Berlin-based specialist in deep, dub-soaked, industrial-tinged techno.

Each artist takes the FANPRO blueprint and bends it in their own direction: from smoked-out dub chords and creeping low-end to sharpened Detroit stabs and tension-loaded rhythms built for strobe-lit basements. No filler, no throwaway tools, just four uncompromising trips for DJs who still live for the craft.

Follow up to last years 12" on Voyage Direct from this active Amsterdam DJ/Producer. TIP!
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" Back in December 2014, Elias Mazian debuted on Voyage Direct with a 12' that perfectly encapsulated his open-minded but interconnected approach to electronic music. He'd already showcased this ability to blend sounds and styles by becoming one of the most talked-about DJs on the Amsterdam scene. With Future Times' (and its superb flipside, They Don't Know'), Mazian gave notice of his undeniable production credentials.

Fast forward to the summer of 2017, and Mazian is ready to drop an EP that not only confirms his status as a rising star of Dutch dance music, but also showcases a newfound ability to combine a finely-tuned sense of what works on the dancefloor with the kind of compositional skills that can take a lifetime to perfect.

The Duplicate EP is an altogether more mature proposition than his debut 12', but retains many of the sounds and influences that marked out his first appearance on Voyage Direct - not least his love of spacey electronics, mood-enhancing chord progressions and sparkling synthesizer motifs.

This can be heard in particular on the title track, an ear-catching club jam that wraps chiming melodies, Mazian's own rapped vocal refrains and electro-era synths around a gently jacking, Chicago style house groove. It's deep, poignant and attractive, with subtle nods to the dreamy Windy City deep house of Larry Heard, the retro-futurist boogie business of Moon B and Dam Funk, and the kaleidoscopic electronic funk of Parliament.

Further proof of Mazian's increased musical maturity can be heard in the breathtaking Dream Mix' of Duplicate'. Featuring a yearning, almost melancholic vocal from the producer himself, the remix offers an analogue style deep house interpretation bristling with cascading melody lines, classic Chicago house bass and bubbly, deep space electronics.

The EP closes with superb bonus cut Ride That Shit Baby', an expansive chunk of mind-altering analogue deep house full of restless ride cymbals, crunchy drum machine hits, starburst electronics, delay-laden organ lines and swirling chord progressions. It's as intricately programmed and produced as anything Mazian has released to date, and twice as emotion-rich. In some ways, it's the perfect end to an EP in which Mazian brilliantly showcases the depth and breadth of his emerging talent."

Finally out is this eagerly-awaited release of SUNANDBASS Recordings, Hits Me In Waves EP by Mark System. Friends and close members of the SAB family know it's been brewing for the last decade, appearing in bits in aftermovies and we are beyond excited to now share it with the world.

'Hits Me In Waves' unveils three currents at once, the surging pull of inspiration, the sweep of new love, and the beautiful embrace of La Cinta's waters, all washing over in unison. Thus, each track of the EP explores a wide range of emotions and moods, expressed in multiple styles within drum & bass; the lead single 'On An Island', sets the tone with unmatched sound design, rich musical elements, and raw, uncompromising production. Next comes 'Point Of Reference', built for the dancefloor and eternally young in its refined appeal. 'Celebration' follows, a powerful track that ties the listening journey together, pairing heavy low-end weight with slick musicality to keep it both melodic and full of energy. 'Where's The Dog' stands out for its playability and tough bass synthesis, making it the hardest-hitting cut on the record. Closing the EP is the beautiful and introspective 'Started At The End', a deep dive into Mark's musical mind, offering a classic, emotive finale.

Hits Me In Waves is more than just a collection of tracks, it's a reflection of Mark's long-standing relationship with SUNANDBASS and our shared vision for music that speaks to the soul and stands the test of time. Spanning from Ibiza, this release embodies the SAB spirit: pushing the boundaries of drum & bass while fostering connection through rhythm, movement, and community.

SPTLP008 - Aural Imbalance - Fractional Spaces LP

Returning for his third solo album on Spatial, Aural Imbalance continues his journey through the cosmos with a breathtaking array of breaks, bass and inimitable ambient wizardry.

A1 - Fading Reality

Kicking off the album we are treated to a blissfully ambient intro akin to a perfect sunrise across a tranquil unfurling landscape - just as we have come to know and love from Aural Imbalance. Long, airy washes of textured pads usher in a fantastically snappy break pattern which brings an alluring energy to proceedings, driving the track along with funnels of tuneful melodies lazily drifting by in the ambience.

A2 - This Time

Jumping right into the breaks DJ-style with a delicious Hot Pants pattern, This Time's central theme utilises a hypnotic simple but effective chime melody that plays a key role throughout the track, alongside fluttering birdsong and a luscious array of samples. The exquisite breakdown which delights with an incredible blend of bass atmospheric synths & pads is both beautiful and poignant.

B1 - Always With You

Introduced by what sounds like footsteps echoing through the darkness, Always With You lives up to its title by surrounding you with a warmth usually reserved for arriving home and nestling by the fire. Driven by delicate but vibrant breakbeats, this track showcases Aural Imbalance's relentless dexterity with ambient soundscapes dancing in perfect harmony with deep 808 bass and old school beats.

B2 - Solarity

Lightly excitable hats and elegantly filtered breaks open Solarity, a deeply evocative track with breakbeats rising through the intro towards a drop with solid analogue kicks and a wonderfully deep and persistent bassline. Sporadic micro melodies cruise the waves of floating synthwork, effects rippling gently in the foreground and background of the mix like playful phosphorescence.

C1 - First Protocol

Up next we see Aural Imbalance crack the amen knuckles with a real treat for old school heads - an ambient, synthy ambient laden with incredibly light spaced-out hats through the flowing waves is soon jolted into life by a satisfyingly crisp amen break, edited and programmed with flair and majestic detail that sits perfectly with the light, often sullen textured soundscape drifting above.

C2 - Crystals

An otherworldly landscape brimming with wonder and intrigue unfolds with Crystals, an atmospheric delight with a twist. The serene opening leads into a terrific old school break which takes center stage, punchy in the mix and edited with a precision as shimmering textures and meditative synthwork are expertly layered around the ever-rolling beats, perfect for any occasion at home or the 160bpm dancefloor.

D1 - Velarious

Continuing his showcase of breaks from across the atmospheric drum & bass spectrum, Aural Imbalance introduces Velarious with a quietly epic ambient flow, with filtered drums creeping in before the drop arrives, breakbeats buoyed by some seriously deep 808 bass and distinct hi hats. Micro melodies intersect and reverberate throughout the track to complete an enduring and eclectic composition.

D2 - South Coast Sunrise

Closing with a good old fashioned love letter to the Hot Pants break, South Coast Sunrise perfectly encapsulates its title with a gorgeous panoramic overlay of ambience, spread over an intensely memorable edit of that classic break - programmed and mixed to remarkable effect and cementing Aural Imbalance's ongoing rise as a master of edits as well as ambience, fully realised for our listening pleasure on Spatial.

Venice, Italy – 2025 Paolo Mosca, the Italian producer, composer, and DJ acclaimed for his soulful approach to electronic music, unveils his new alias I.O.N with the forthcoming debut EP Signals, set to be released on Ritmotherapy. Known for releases on Slow Life, Altered Circuits, and a recent collaboration with Alex Neri, Mosca now steps into uncharted territory fusing experimental electronics with rock-inspired textures and raw energy for the dancefloor.

Signals is a daring reimagining of 90s sonic aesthetics, drawing inspiration from the breakbeat and hip-hop influences of cult films like Blade & The Matrix. Each track on the EP blurs the line between nostalgia and innovation, layering hypnotic riffs, rolling basslines, and gripping vocal samples with futuristic precision.

The EP kicks off with “Camouflage” , where breakbeat rhythms and hip-hop flavors meet futuristic atmospheres. A grabbing vocal, heavy low-end, and hypnotic riff drive the track into a world of cinematic tension and release.

“Escape” follows with a slower tempo, but its restrained pulse only builds anticipation. Classical violin lines cut through break-driven drums, leading to a long-awaited drop that delivers an overwhelming yet deeply satisfying release.

Next, “Neo” builds momentum with a gritty 303 bassline and sharp synths, locked into a relentless 4x4 rhythm. The track feels like an expedition through acid-soaked landscapes, equal parts raw and refined.

“They Are Looking at You” closes the EP with explosive energy, bursting with hip-hop vocals that command “don’t stop. ” Propelled by a nasty bassline and oriental-inspired synth melodies, it’s a track built to ignite dancefloors and spark spontaneous breakdance energy.

With Signals, I.O.N presents more than just an EP; It's a manifesto for a new era of club music. It’s heavy yet soulful, experimental yet deeply physical, and above all, a fresh signal to the global electronic scene that something new has arrived. Reserved for their official release on Ritmotherapy, the anticipation around this project signals a bold new chapter for both artist and label.

The Mi-Mnemonic EP by Karma is one of those records that preserves a genuine fragment of the Italian electronic scene of the late ’90s. Originally released back then and now reissued in 2025, it carries the raw energy of a time defined by clubs, after-hours, and pure analog experimentation.

Behind the machines were Francesco Passantino and Davide Calì, two young DJs and producers who brought to life legendary nights between Taverna Jory in Aulla and the iconic Club Imperiale in Tirrenia. It was a period when electronic music was more than entertainment — it was a shared language: from the dancefloors to the studio sessions filled with drum machines, sequencers, and analog synthesizers.

The EP is built on hypnotic grooves, deep basslines, and a raw sound that perfectly reflects the spirit of that era: no frills, just pure sonic energy. The 2025 reissue brings back that same freshness, offering a chance to rediscover a record that smells of endless nights, spinning vinyl, and an underground scene that thrived on community and vision.

Today, Mi-Mnemonic is more than just a track from the past: it is living memory, a testimony of a time when analog sound was the driving force of freedom and connection

Produced by Francesco Passantino & Davide Calì

The new Endell Street release is another essential excavation from the deep, rare archives of London’s early 00’s tech house movement.

On the A side, the elusive T.V. Babies project finally sees the light of day, a hidden gem from some of the era’s most respected spinners, delivering that unmistakable after hours groove that defined the generation. Flip it over for the heavyweight Peace Division’s legendary remix of Smart Alex, a track that turned heads on the release and still carries the same raw, driving energy today.

A deep, funky and timeless slice of UK tech house, crafted for the heads and anyone tuned into the true Endell Street vibe.

Continuing his refraction of the rave continuum into pointedly dislocated, delicately bruising sound system meditations, Low End Activist returns to Peak Oil with a second instalment in his Airdrop series. This time around, he channels the ghosts of foundational tech-step and the quantum leaps of late-90s D&B to provide the inspirational fuel for his skeletal, astral constructions. A strong stylistic thread continues to weave through the LEA output from his earlier self-released EPs and Sneaker Social Club albums, where haunted atmospherics, blown out subs and snatches of breaks dart around each other in empty dancehalls, but the finer point of the sound design and synthesis makes very specific references to landmark moments in hardcore's evolution.

By weaving his own autobiography into the music, the Activist maintains a fundamental theme of his work to date. 'Colin's Golf', 'Smithy's Porsche,' 'Merv's Lazy Eye' and 'Brillo's Teeth' are all personal codes harking back to the formative Oxford rave scene. With the framework in place, he uses textures, timbres and studio tricks from scene-leading pioneers and local heroes of the era as ingredients in thoroughly modernist concoctions. None of the reference points are deployed as literal callbacks — they're waymarkers for the creative process and faint triggers bedded deep into Airdrop II's strange formations. Fleeting sonics might trigger latent memories for those who were there. For everyone else, Airdrop II is another step further along rave's eternally unspooling odyssey, guided by decades of precedents on a path into the future.

Ambroos De Schepper and Pepijn Gyssels became roommates when PiP moved to Brussels in 2021. Both paid close attention to each other’s musical approach and interests. One year later, Ambroos moved out. When he swung by to pick up some boxes, they decided to record something for the fun of it. Between May '23 and November '24 they continued experimenting with textures and improvisations. This collaboration has become the deepening of a friendship and a way to maintain it at the same time.

PiP: “We would have coffee or the occasional beer and everything we recorded came very organically. Ambroos would just bring his saxophone, a clarinet, some FX pedals or a weird flute. Whatever he felt like on that particular day. A few hours later he would usually be on his way again, leaving me with the recordings. I could treat them as I pleased.”

Ambroos: “I liked the idea of working with someone focussing on the physical side of music. Not so much on chords and tonality, but on texture and atmosphere. This gave me a framework with less concrete references, using words like “dark” or “busy”. I could improvise freely and we would try and catch a particular moment."

“l’Esprit de l’Escalier” is meant to be a musical meditation, opening up a continuous and detailed sound palette, aimed for the right mental state to listen with. Ambroos came up with the melody in COVID times and later in PiP’s studio, they recorded it on clarinet.
“Sans Loup” is the first jam the duo did together, after Ambroos and Lou moved out of the apartment they shared. Lou Wéry eventually found her way back to the album, as she can be heard playing the wing piano in this track.

PiP: “We recorded in the apartment we used to rent together. Since the title track and the entire album are named after Lou being absent in this dynamic, it seemed only natural to invite her in a later stage.”

“Spring Whistle” was an attempt to embed Ambroos’ musicality in dreamy textures and “Bring Back Bones” was built around an endlessly evolving krakeb recording that PiP took home from on a trip to Morocco. Both tracks are not aimed to end or evolve drastically, they just make the clock tick slower.

To conclude this release, “Velours de Tendre” is built out of a deconstructed groove and a field recording of the “Ronde van Vlaanderen”, a small reference to the countryside where PiP grew up. The reverberating chords you hear are the echoes Tijn Driessen squeezed out of an old harmonium, in a staircase of De Grote Post in Ostend.

PiP: “During a residency in De Grote Post we recorded in a staircase with a spaced pair of omni microphones. And you can take ‘spaced’ quite serious; one was positioned 5 stories higher and the other 3 stories lower.”

Sans Loup is the first vinyl to release on PiP’s label. They look alike, but none will be identical. The cover is screen printed in various combinations + a risograph insert. A highly personalized object.


credits

Released on Zitstill Records
Recorded in Brussels, Horebeke, Morocco and elsewhere, between September 2021 - November 2024

Music, mixing and production by Pepijn Gyssels
Saxophone, flute and clarinet by Ambroos De Schepper
Grand piano on “Sans Loup” by Lou Wéry
Harmonium on “Velours de Tendre” by Tijn Driessen
Mastering and lacquer cut by Anne Taegert at Dubplates & Mastering
Pressing by Objects Manufacturing
Layout and graphic design by Liselotte Van Daele & Otis Verhoeve
Photography by Willem Mevis

Special thanks to: Stijn Cools, Victor De Greef, De Grote Post

The cultured Seasons Limited imprint is back with more gold from French house mainstay Franck Roger, who continues his recent run of more vocal-leaning sounds. His 'One Of Mine' EP opens with the title cut and the main man himself on the mic. He delivers spoken words in a smoky, sultry tone over a deep, cuddly groove that harks back to 90s classics. 'Pacific Ave' is another icy and sparse sound with dubby low ends and pensive pads lingering in the air above. 'Versalife' shuts down with a gorgeous baseline and more trippy melodic energy that brings some colour and charm to another cool groove.

Following the acclaimed reissue of Sa Discossa earlier this year, Jo Tongo's third solo album Those Flowers returns to the spotlight.

Originally released just a year and a half after Sa Discossa, this 1982 gem came out on the small Context label and, in Tongo's own words, the two records are "like twins." Recorded with many of the same musicians, Those Flowers continues the vibrant fusion of disco-funk and reggae - this time dedicating one side to each, leaning slightly more into his Western influences.

But there's more than groove beneath the surface. Tracks like "People Need Peace" and "We Human Beings" channel his enduring themes of resistance, identity, and freedom. The synthesizer at the beginning of the song mimics the ominous drone of warplanes, and lyrics speak directly to global struggles - reminders that his music is both deeply personal and powerfully political. "I paid for these ideals in my career," Tongo reflects, alluding to the personal costs of his outspoken stance against colonialism and injustice.

Still, Those Flowers carries joy at its heart. Songs like "Ain't No Man Like A Real Friend" celebrate trust and loyalty, while the title track offers a tender ode to love and kindness - "picking flowers from the soul," as Tongo puts it. These songs reveal the inner world of a man who has always viewed music as a mirror of life.

This reissue marks the second installment in the African Edge series from The Outer Edge label. Fully restored and remastered, Those Flowers is now set to bloom again - another vital chapter in the legacy of Jo Tongo.

Hailed as "one of the finest ambient and dub techno albums around," Deep Ground earned Purl a place in the hearts of many lovers of the deeper side of electronica. Enthusiasts on Discogs describe it as "one of the best dubtech albums ever - hypnotic, mesmerizing & deep" - and compare it to luminaries like Biosphere and bvdub for its "warm deep calming sounds and atmospheres." Reminiscent of Wolfgang Voigt's GAS project, the seminal 2011 album by Purl (Ludvig Cimbrelius) is finally reborn in a remastered 3xLP vinyl reissue on LILA ART. Originally released on the revered Silent Season label based in British Columbia, this ambient techno masterpiece has continued to captivate listeners year after year. In many ways like a darker sister to 154's ethereal techno epic "Strike", Deep Ground echoes the misty forests and quiet expanses of Cimbrelius' youth in Sweden. As the artist reflects in a poem accompanying the release: "We are consciousness, rooted in the deep ground of being. The deep ground of being is where all things begin and end. The deep ground of being is eternal." This ethos permeates every layer of Purl's expression; crafting sonic sanctuaries that remain intimate while evoking the infinite.

Delicately remastered for vinyl by Giuseppe Tillieci (Neel) in collaboration with Purl. Limited to 300 copies worldwide.

DJ Support: Raresh, Marco Corola, Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Chris Stussy, DJ Seinfeld, D'Julz, Djebali, Voigtmann, Arapu

For Amsterdam’s Julian Anthony, club culture has always been about movement - between sounds, between scenes, and increasingly, across continents. Rooted in the Dutch underground, his path has taken him from intimate local spaces to international stages, with appearances at institutions such as Berlin’s Hoppetosse, Ibiza’s DC10, and London’s fabric. Along the way, he’s formed close ties with crews such as Slapfunk, VBX, Half Baked, and S.A.S.H, while recent tours across South America and Australia have further widened his reach. His connection with Enzo Siragusa and the FUSE family is longstanding, having previously dropped his track ‘It’s Showtime’ on sister label LOCUS while making appearances at both FUSE and LOCUS events across Europe, including this year at FUSE Malta, during ADE, and November’s fabric takeover. Now, his ‘Missing Pieces’ EP extends that relationship further, marking his fi rst release on FUSE and off ering a natural progression while showcasing his versatility as a producer.

In his productions and his sets, Julian threads together house, techno, and electro infl uences with a playful touch, resulting in a style that feels fl uid yet sharply defi ned. Title track, ‘Missing Pieces’, sets the tone with a heavyweight bassline at its core, coupled with a hypnotic groove and percussive drive, while ‘Endless Echoes’ stretches into more atmospheric territory, weaving rolling rhythms with cosmic textures. On the fl ip, ‘No Sleep’ ups the intensity with zipping synths and sharp drum programming built for peak-time play, before ‘TTS’ closes the record on a captivating note, fusing deeper house nuances and playful rhythms into a late-night trip.

With a growing catalogue across respected imprints such as Dungeon Meat, X-Kalay, and Bee You, and a touring schedule that continues to expand globally, Julian’s first outing for the London favourites highlights his talent for crafting tracks that are simultaneously precise, playful, and built for the club.

2026 Repress

After a storming Soma debut at the tail end of 2017, Cleric returns with the Silent Kingdom EP. This typically intense and raucous new release features an epic VSK remix on the flip.

Phantom Limb opens the EP, all guns blazing. Calamitous percussion hammers through as twisted synth hooks tear the speakers with unrelenting drive. Tag X takes on a more hypnotic functionality yet still embodies Cleric's fierce, vigorous energy. Title track Silent Kingdom concludes Cleric's original tracks for the new EP and doesn't let up on intensity one bit. Pervasive rhythmic elements are bolstered by dystopic pads that cleave through the heart of the track creating an absolute killer, peak time cut. The in-form, Berlin based VSK, fresh from his Soma release under Symmetrical Behaviour offers his take on Silent Kingdom; a decidedly gritty affair he retains the deeper elements of the original but certainly ups the severity.

Another hard hitting and astute release from one of the UK's brightest talents.

2025 Repress

In 2013 Voyage Direct released Tom Trago’s ‘Hidden Heart of Gold’, an expansive trip into intergalactic deep house territory that ranks as one of his most emotionally charged moments to date.

Hidden Heart Of Gold is undeniably special. A typically spacey and quietly soulful dancefloor epic that stretches out majestically over 13 spellbinding minutes. It was a highlight in many of Trago’s club sets for the best part of 12 months prior to release..

Virtual waves of ambient chords shimmer between the speakers, rising and falling as if drifting through time and space. Meanwhile, eyes-closed melodies reminiscent of classic stargazing techno and disembodied vocal samples ride a tough but unfussy machine drum rhythm and addictive bassline. There are well-timed breakdowns and a gradual, enveloping build towards a heart-breaking climax. Many listeners may feel contrasting emotions; a sense of undiluted joy while dancing, perhaps, but also the odd pang of melancholy when listening on headphones. It's that kind of record.

The tracks intergalactic, emotion-rich inspirations are explored further on the flipside Ambient Mix, a winding, beatless excursion brimming with hazy, late night beauty. Gentle and immersive, it offers a grandiose, never-ending world in which to shed your inhibitions. Shorn of the originals dancefloor paraphernalia, Tom's emotive, wide-eyed vision comes to the fore ¿ all sensual chords, far-sighted pads and gentle, outer-space melodies. Like the A-side club version, it may just take your breath away.

Claude VonStroke makes long-awaited Crosstown Rebels debut with ‘Noche Clara’, featuring Honeycomb. A full-circle moment between two house music icons finally comes to fruition, with the two-tracker out on 5th December 2025.

Two decades after label founder Damian Lazarus first booked him to play in the UK, American electronic icon Claude VonStroke finally lands on Crosstown Rebels with ‘Noche Clara’ - a release that bridges friendship, history, and the enduring spirit of the global underground. Built around hazy tones, captivating synth melodies, and sweeping atmospherics, ‘Noche Clara’ captures the playful minimalism and late-night atmosphere that defi ned his early work. On the flip, ‘Bam Bam’ layers warped vocals over a trippy off kilter sonics and a tunnelling, hypnotic groove, providing a haunting and commanding deep dive into the late-night hours. A collaboration with beatboxer, producer, DJ, and instrumentalist Honeycomb, who recently toured with The Floozies and Dirtwire, the link-up came naturally following a joint appearance between the pair at California’s infamous Zenyara, plus multiple Dirtybird festival appearances and more.

A true maverick of modern dance music, Claude VonStroke has spent over two decades shaping the sound and culture of house. From founding the iconic Dirtybird label, home to artists like Fisher, Eats Everything, and Catz ‘n Dogz, to headlining the world’s most respected clubs and festivals, his legacy is built on connection, humour, and an unfiltered love of the dancefloor. Now exploring more underground and experimental sounds, VonStroke is entering a new creative chapter ahead of his forthcoming artist album in early 2026 - a shift perfectly exemplified by this impressive debut on Crosstown.

Dana Ruh offers up part 2 of her ‘This Journey So Far’ project via Yecad here.

As a long standing and widely respected figure in the world of underground house and techno through her releases on the likes of Slices Of Life, Ostgut Ton, Cocoon, Cave and of course her own Brouqade, Dana Ruh’s reputation stands tall as one of the finest purveyors of this sound. Amongst her releases, Dana maintains a heavy tour schedule taking her across the globe each year to many hotspots in key cities, here she marks another milestone in her career with a double 12’’ release, entitled ‘This Journey So Far’, as a musical reflection on all that’s led to this point.

Following the success of Part one, the second instalment now follows - kicking off the release is ‘MF Now’, stripping things back to a shuffled, bumpy rhythm section, resonant synth chimes and billowing textures. ‘Grey With Some Light’ then leans into a more experimental glitch realm via twitchy oscillating percussion, unfurling atmospherics and drifting keys. ‘The Look’ leans back into House territory with raw stabs, sax lines, metallic chimes and vacillating low-end tones before ‘Song For The Lonely’ concludes the project, encapsulating the essence of deep house with ethereal pad swells, circling stab sequences, low-slung drums and cossetting subs.

393 Records is a small independent vinyl/digital record label based in Dublin, Ireland
for its 5th release it welcomes Irish producer, Collie with his Static EP
The young producer showcases the versatility of his productions with 4 club driven tracks which represents the energy very similar to his peak time DJ sets weather as a warm up or headline act
On the A1 "Static " The track is built around soft, hazy pads and airy ambient layers that create a wide, enveloping atmosphere, Dreamy, floating, hypnotic, warm, and spacious.
"Into the West" brings a much different approach, with real Dub influenced warming bassline heavy delay & washed stabs
On the flip the journey continues with well crafted progressive 90s era track "soft progress". This one will definitely set the club or festival a light with the breakdown sending chills down your spine
Lastly the maturity of "Electron" keeping that consistency of the B side with its Shuffling hi-hats & deep atmospheric elements & driving low end
The 393 Label has a history of quality over quantity, with no doubts another gem of an EP been released here & another fantastic Artist in Collie been unearthed with a magical collaboration here

The Finnish imprint Vuo Records continues its exploration of deep dub techno textures with Split Dubs Vol. 2, an essential follow-up to the series that bridges timeless atmospheres and dancefloor-focused grooves. This time, Gradient, Star Dub, and label-head Tm Shuffle join forces for four heavyweight cuts that perfectly capture the label’s raw, analog spirit.
Gradient opens the record with “Stone Jungle”, a masterclass in restraint and tension, the kind of dub techno that feels alive in its own pulse, crafted from only the bare essentials yet rich in texture and movement. Tm Shuffle’s Housedubreshapes the original with reverb-soaked accents and elastic low-end energy, turning it into a deep, head-nodding trip tailor-made for late-night systems.
On the flip, Star Dub delivers “Rubber Dub”, a funk-infused roller driven by breaky percussion, floating echoes, and a deep-rooted bassline that vibrates straight through the chest. Once again, Tm Shuffle takes the controls for the remix, pushing the dub dimension even further: thick layers of delay, washed-out atmospheres, and sub-heavy pressure built for those endless outdoor jams and sweaty basement sessions.
Split Dubs Vol. 2 embodies everything Vuo Records stands for, authentic, handcrafted dub techno from Finland’s underground. Warm, analog, and irresistibly groovy, this record continues the label’s commitment to pushing deep frequencies into new, soulful territory.

Vibe Ride is the sixth release of Adam Rudolph's Hu Vibrational project and marks his 60th release as a leader or co-leader. Comes with insert and download code.

“With every record, the goal is to explore new creative territory,” explains Rudolph. Vibe Ride continues a deeper exploration of a trance-like groove and a conceptual framework known as Sonic Mandala. This album marks the most complete realization of that idea, partly due to the group's experience touring beforehand. That time on the road helped to refine ideas and strengthen musical chemistry. The recording process unfolded organically—likely due to the long-standing collaboration within ensembles like Go: Organic Orchestra and Moving Pictures, where the musicians have developed a deep familiarity with the shared musical language.

Sonic Mandala refers to a musical approach distinct from traditional linear structures of theme and development. Found in cultures across the globe, it may represent one of the oldest forms of musical expression—predating written history by tens of thousands of years. Today, it is most vividly preserved in the music of the Ituri Forest peoples (Aka, Baka, Ba Benzele, Mbuti), whose sound traditions revolve in cyclical, orbit-like patterns. Vibe Ride seeks to bring that ancient sense of circularity into a contemporary—and perhaps even futuristic—context.

The ensemble of Vibe Ride—Alexis Marcelo, Jerome Harris, Harris Eisenstadt, Neel Murgai, Tim Kieper, and Tripp Dudley—brings exceptional creativity and skill to the project. While grounded in the sonic languages of today, their performance channels an ancient vibrational lineage, connecting with ancestral sound makers who were attuned to the rhythms of the sun, moon, stars, and seasons. Human beings have always been deeply responsive to natural cycles.

Like a mandala, where the circle reveals itself as a spiral—always returning, but never to the exact same point—the Sonic Mandala musical experience spirals through motion. Refined signal patterns emerge through overtone-rich instrumentation. The groove becomes a threshold, shifting the listener from passive observation into active, even transcendent, participation. With open ears and an open mind, the sound spirals inward—toward a primal center—and outward into the cosmos. When this elevated state is shared among participants, it creates what mystics describe as resonance.

Vibe Ride thrives on the distinctive sonic voices of its players, interwoven with care and nuance into the compositions. Hu Vibrational merges elements of world music, electronica, and improvised jazz into something both funky and spiritual, intense and soothing.

Using signature techniques of organic orchestration, layered arrangement, and electronic processing, the compositions are sculpted from percussion, electronics, and ethereal textures. Rhythmic foundations drawn from diverse traditions serve not as endpoints, but as building blocks. As the saying goes, “Orchestration is the key.” In shaping the sound, the aim was to discover fresh ways of balancing structure and sonic color. As Don Cherry once said: “The swing is in the sound.”

The audiophile LP was carefully recorded, mixed, and mastered by James Dellatacoma—longtime engineer for both Bill Laswell and Rudolph—at Laswell’s Orange Studio.

“This crew artfully blends together to create a seamless tapestry of rhythm… the end results are mesmerizing. Hu Vibrational is all about communing with the groove spirits and creating worlds where earthy rhythms and other-worldly sounds are one.”
— Dan Bilawsky, All Music Guide

“You can be sure that when Adam Rudolph and an ensemble of breathtaking drummers get together mystical and wonderful things will happen.”
— Raul da Gama,

“A stunning effort, enjoyable and grows with repeated listening.”
— Stefan Wood, Freejazzcollective

fter a series of long-form cassette releases on MAL Recordings, Berceuse Heroique, and his own Ideal State imprint, Samson A.K shifts focus to the club with Heavy Birds Drop - his first 12” EP. Mastered by Rainy Miller and pressed in a limited run of 150 copies, the record distills the grit and atmosphere of his tape work into a direct, floor-focused form.

Opening with the heaving distortion and low-end churn of Frog Bite, the EP moves through the fractured percussion of Forever Cold, then the hypnotic, deep-hours roll of the title track Heavy Birds Drop, before closing with Ballast, stripped back to skeletal dread and tense negative space. Across all four cuts, Samson A.K shapes a sound that is raw, functional, and uncompromising, setting the tone for the future of Ideal State.