Lab Music’s latest release presents an EP from various artists, each offering a unique perspective on electronic music. This release showcases the label’s commitment to experimentation and innovation, allowing artists to freely explore their sound. Side A sets the stage with “Cylinder,” a collaborative effort between Slak and Stephanie Sykes. This track takes listeners on a journey into ambient-rooted breaktechno, featuring cinematic pads and powerful drums. Appleblim follows with “Every Blade Of Grass,” a wild break-electro beat that combines ferocious reese bass and solid synths. Side B begins with Datafive’s “My PC Is Not Political Correct,” delivering his personal take on low-tempo drum and bass merged with wistful idm melodies, and the usual dose of sound design. The compilation concludes with Anna Kost “W03 X” delves into the world of futuristic electro, with accurate sound design and drum programming combined with spiritual atmospheres. This EP offers a diverse listening experience, showcasing the talent and creativity of the artists involved. Mastered by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven. Artwork by Geso.
All lights reserved. Lab Music 2024
RARE & PREV. UNRELEASED PSYCH-FUNK AND GARAGE ROCK !!!
Say hello to Down & Wired Vol. 7 as Perfect Toy Records unleashes yet another instalment in its long-running compilation series! Once more, the label provides a delectable selection of obscure funk and soul-influenced psychedelic and garage rock tracks to delight even hardcore collectors of both genres.
And make no mistake, there is plenty to discover among these eleven tracks. At the funkiest end of things, Function's Free Style morphs from West Coast psychedelia to country funk to swamp rock and back again in its sub-three minute length, Dandy King provide psychedelic funky-soul and The Whiz Kids take a heavy dose of funkiness with them into psych-rock territory – sample fiends watch out for the fat twenty-second drum break towards the end of the latter! Purer psychedelia can be found in the offering from Third Stone while Würzburg band Prisma provide all-out epic psych-rock carnage. And if rock carnage is your thing, you'll be feeling the dirty garage rock onslaught of The Comin' Generation and a previously unreleased cut by Synod - soon to be a 45 single on Perfect Toy. That just leaves The General Store, The Soul Society, The Vestells and another unreleased cut from The Villagers (from whom the label will be dropping more unreleased material soon!), to close the circle by adding a heavy dose of garage soul.
A worthy successor to the previous volumes, Down & Wired Vol. 7 is once again accompanied by an insert containing detailed information and photos of the bands and a download code is also included with every vinyl LP.
A highly talented artist who has grown to make a notable impression amongst the scene’s most revered tastemakers, DJ/producer and label owner Jhobei is an individual who continues to blossom. His deep, expansive sound has already welcomed material on Up The Stuss, Limousine Dream, Mindhelmet and Picnic Records, amongst others, while featuring as a co-founder of London-based collective and label Bizarre Trax. In addition, his work as one-third of dynamic trio Felon5, coupled with his unique sound, has taken him from Albania’s ION Festival to Los Angeles, alongside making a handful of appearances for FUSE and its sister brands on home turf at fabric, The Cause and Village Underground - plus 2024’s Open Air event at Barking Park earlier this year. Building on that relationship, late September brings fresh music as Enzo Siragusa invites the exciting selector to make his label debut with an array of impressive productions across his ‘Age Of Virality’ EP. A-side opener ‘Swarming’ is all action and kicks things off with authority as a snaking bassline guides a garage-influenced trip through bumping low-ends and hooky vocal samples, while ‘Machine Language’ delivers a mix of playful tones amongst sweeping melodies while delivering a heavy dose of robot funk. On the flip, ‘Defusion Solution’ is a heady late-night excursion through skippy percussion and cosmic tones, with ‘Rising Sun’ stripping things back to deliver a classy, hazy journey as organic percussion grooves unravel effortlessly. Digital buyers are treated to a bonus cut in the form of ‘Kontrol Urload’, a sci-fi leaning cut merging glistening neon synth motifs with punchy kicks and zipping effects for maximum impact.
Fledgling label Shadow Pressings already made a mark with their debut release in March entitled the Chicago EP, garnering love from Hunee, Terry Farley and Luke Solomon to name a few.
Striking while the iron is hot, the label are serving up four more heavyweight club tracks which include acidic edits, crunchy deep house, 808 electro grooves and dusty breakbeats.
Lead track Find A Friend jacks up the perennial classic with 808 rims and toms and additional synths but keeps things loopy and rolling.
Holding One Shoe continues with the 808 theme whilst injecting a healthy dose of acid resulting in what sounds like a long lost Yazoo B side filtered through a lysergic lens.
Train Of Fools decontextualises a well known acapella making for a deep and techy basement jam which will keep the floor moving and the speaker pumping.
Closing out the EP we have More Music In The Night, which chops up some familiar samples and layers up an 808 electro groove and breakbeats for a fresh take on early 90’s house.
With releases that have been heavily rooted in Glasgow's Southside, Full Dose take things international for the next release and invite Jamaican dancehall artist I Jahbar (SKRS, Duppy Gun) to showcase their talents over two versatile Brollachan productions.
Smokin' is a celebration of marijuana in the truest sense, with I Jahbar's potent delivery perfectly connecting to the bouncy dance floor riddim.
UFO is an altogether different prospect, the spaced out percussive production serves as a blank canvas for I Jahbar to make a call for peace, unity and love to overpower the corrupt forces at large here in 2023.
To close on either side are dubbed out, free-form remixes from Lvchessi, Full Dose's brother in sound."
Love Love host a collaborative release by two of the freshest contemporary Avon producers, Best Pest and Kursa. Kursa (also one half of S.Murk) has built a notable following in the UK as well as in the USA, playing out often at big stateside events with his own style of tight, maximalist bass music - think Tipper, Eprom, Noisia etc… Ben Pest is no stranger to Love Love with 2 previous solo releases under his belt, best known for his crunchy techno & electro and ripping hardware live-sets. Here they come together for a 5 track genre-hopping EP, each flexing their respective production sensibilities, splicing elements of dubstep, grime, hardcore & garage together, along with a healthy dose of multi-dimensional sound design, to make some of the noisiest modern dance music going.
Early support from: Clouds, Giant Swan, Rob Hall, A Made Up Sound, Om Unit, Nikki Nair, Luke Sanger, Deft, Warlock, Second Storey...
Heels & Souls Recordings roll into reissue number eight with a double dose of early '90s UK street soul magic, splitting the sides between two sought-after cuts from Elaine Vassell and 3rd Zone.
Step back to 1993, house music has hit, UK Soul is in full flow and its rawer, DIY street soul sibling is making its mark across the UK’s underground. Fuelled by accessible, affordable production gear and ignited through enthusiasm and an influx of ideas and sounds, two acts drew inspiration from a melting pot of genres they were exposed to, providing their take on soul as they saw it.
Up first, Elaine Vassell - ‘Never Give Up’. A rough breakbeat-driven, mid-tempo groover from a North West London production triple threat, made up of Longsy D, Pinky and Murray. Utilising Pinky’s home studio with its DX7, Juno 106, LinnDrum and 808, they masterminded a track that sits at the intersection between soulful house, hip hop and R&B. Its crunching drum loop, chest-rattling low-end and serene synth lines, lay the foundation for Elaine’s powerful yet emotive voice to take centre stage. ‘Never Give Up’ should have been a future classic, but never quite found its feet.
On the flip side another 1993 gem, as Sansel Ali and twin brothers Mark and Stephen Anglin joined forces to form 3rd Zone. Conceived in Mark’s makeshift bedroom studio, the trio laid down their first foray into recorded music, ‘You Stole My Heart’. Originally promoed as a limited whitelabel in 1991, it officially landed on the group's one and only EP ‘No Real Reason' in '93.
Armed with a handful of synth modules, a drum machine and a Korg M1, Mark, Stephen and Sansel hit with a tough but tender, underground triumph. Part dance, part romance, layering synth strings, chunky breaks and M1 stabs underneath Sansel’s heartstrung vocals and Stephen’s hip house rap interlude, it provides another perfect example of house seen through the street soul prism.
Two timeless tracks that fly the flag for the fact that big studios and big budgets aren't necessary to create songs that really resonate. Each side also contains an alternate version, with the A housing a beatless reprise of ‘Never Give Up’ and the B a tougher, bassier remix of ‘You Stole My Heart’.
Licensed from Pinky Music and 3rd Zone respectively and remastered from the original DATs by Justin Drake.
Strange movements emerge from the lake. Beneath the thin layer of water that separates aquatic and terrestrial creatures, dozens of carp move in unison. From here come the drifting voices. French artist Raveld is the bearer of those echoing sounds, and he does it among four distinctive, slick, original minimal tunes that resonate throughout both hemispheres. Prepare to be permeated by pulsating basslines, bald groove patterns, and a good dose of ethereal, blossoming energy.
Dive into darkness and discover the pulsating sounds of Amsterdam based Raderkraft: a masterful fusion of minimal synth, darkwave, and post-punk elements. His love for synthesizers combined with the right dose of DIY spirit has resulted in three EPs.
Raderkraft takes you on an introspective journey to the darkest corners of the human mind. “Politiestaat?!” is a raw and unapologetic expression of the times we live in, inviting listeners to reflect on their own input and behaviour regarding pressing issues that dominate our world today.
The icy synthesizers, hypnotic rhythms and piercing vocals weave a story with the central themes of fear, misunderstanding and rejection. Raderkraft brings his signature sound, a unique mix of raw energy and refined minimalism, back to life. This time only up-tempo songs, partly in Dutch and also including a remix of Dyatlov track “Insect Paranoia“ (exclusive 2023 remaster) plus a cover of Belgium 80’s minimal wave act Violence Conjugale. It -finally- marks the vinyl release of crowd favorite “De Witte Streep” (exclusive 2023 remaster).
The lavish lyrics reflect a sense of rejection in an indifferent polarizing society. This mini album will make you think, feel and finally realize that we live in turbulent times.
E.P. of low slung and tripped out Cologne style mind melters. Grischerr achieves a live and open sound in these grimy productions which adds to the immersive atmosphere conjured up across all tracks. It's inspiring stuff!
Lucas Croon doses up the psychedelic measures with a flipped version of 'The Man That Never Smiled' topping off the E.P. just nice.. RH TIP!
twelve.to.zero is back with its second release, signed by Crihan. "While You Sleep EP" finds Alin shaping three slow-burning and hypnotic pieces of minimal dance music brimming with detail deeply rooted in the early years of organic micro-house.
A-side's 'The Visitor' (A1) opens the EP emersed in engrossing, cinematic textures and heavy doses of syncopated acoustic drum samples. Elements ebb and flow on top of a highly minimalistic 4/4 structure, creating a contemplative locomotive composition reminiscent of the a-rpia-r school.
Flip-side's 'Lust' (B1) feels like a continuation of the previous track - driving, mysterious, mesmerizing - bubbling with vocal samples, orchestral textures, and a distinctly subtle micro-house swing. 'The Chase' (B2) closes the EP with a fresh rhythmic flavour: odd drum arrangements and melodic sequences take centre stage, flowing on top of rolling basslines of deeply enigmatic character. Introspective piano chords razor through its swingy rhythmic patterns, folding the sonic space with elegance, proving Alin's innate talent for avant-guard minimal music.
For our 008 interpret teams up with with one of Montreal's finest jazz imprints “Ensoul records”.
This collaboration presents a four remixes record featuring songs from Dominique fils aime's album “Nameless”.
For the A1 interpret's founder Ohm Hourani revisits “Birds” with his own signature of walking bass and shuffle drums. Sharing this side, Ben Nevile inserts a healthy dose of funk to “Grow mama grow” with a remix that visits a past era with a flavour of modern twist.
The B side commences with a dance floor roller for the title song “Nameless” by Paris's Pepeno and shake expert Ben Vedren.
Closing this four tracker is Montreal's dynamic duo “Flabbergast”. Vincent Lemieux & Guillaume Coutu Dumonts work their own charm on “Birds” pairing the voice with a deep groove accompanied by warm keys.
Portage Garage Sounds is proud to present the label's first LP, "Capturing Animals" (PGS 017) by Charles Trees. Recorded over a two year period, Capturing Animals preserves the isolation and individual atomization experienced by all over recent years as well as the jubilance of humanity's reconnection.
The 11 track album presents itself as an interconnected work--the listener is guided through the album's narrative and sequential structure effortlessly by Trees' arrangement and showcase of his production and composition talents. The album offerses glimpses of early Detroit techno, flashes of EBM, drips of acid (and full-on doses in "FRQDNK"), stripped-down electro, UK RNB, prominent vocals (as heard in "Stave I" and a Sophie cover), and composed works of live strings.
Capturing Animals is a high point for Trees' and Portage Garage Sounds. The raw talent and dedication is unmistakable. The artist and the label are moving onto higher ground and reaching upwards.
A blistering collection of ska tunes from Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd's legendary Studio One Records, Jamaica's foundation label of reggae music. Featuring classic cuts from the originators of Ska - The Skatalites, The Wailers, Lee Perry - alongside a heavy dose of superb rarities from the might vaults of 13 Brentford Road - pure Ska Fever !
Soul Jazz Records new Studio One Ska Fever returns back to the early 1960s when Ska was the soundtrack to Jamaica's Independence and Sir Coxsone ruled the land and The Skatalites and Studio One were creating history on a daily basis with an endless stream of blistering, scorching classic tunes.
This album includes an incredible line-up of only the finest artists in reggae music, including Roland Alphonso, The Gaylads, The Ethiopians, Don Drummond, Jackie Opel and many more. An all-star cast from Studio One, as Chris Blackwell famously noted, the 'University of Reggae'.
The accompanying booklet contains extensive sleeve-notes from Studio One historian Rob Chapman (author of Never Grow Old and Downbeat Special), with information on musicians, tracks, label scans and more. Soul Jazz Records' Studio One Ska Fever is released in
CD- jewel case, 24-page booklet with card slipcase, as well as a heavyweight double-vinyl edition in deluxe strong gatefold sleeve (with full sleeve notes).
The third vinyl release from CUE Music invites Jiggy (IT) to deliver three fresh tracks in the form of “Delinquentes EP” alongside Reboot on remix duties. The record delivers a solid dose of tech house and minimal techno, definitely adding even more magic to the imprint’s discography, which includes titles signed by artists like Butane & Riko Forinson, Elchinsoul, Sascha Dive, Aney F., Dubphone, Christian Burkhardt, Sascha Sonido, Bee Lincoln, Danilo Schneider, Nektar Agu, Triad, CL-ljud and, of course, label head Sven Jaeger, among many others.
Jiggy (IT) started mixing in 2008, exploring various genres and slowly creating his own style. For 8 years he lived in Ibiza, going from playing at small clubs and underground villas parties to memorable performances at Space, Privilege, Sankeys and Bora Bora while hosting weekly shows at Ibiza Global Radio. Throughout time, he released some of his works with labels like Innocent Music, Psicodelica, Variety Music, Ole Rec, Eisenwaren, Moan, Play Groove Recordings, Basswalk, Pild, Quanticman, Natural Rhythm, Konzept:Musique and his own Be Water Recordings which is more than just a label, it’s also a deeply spiritual lifestyle for him.
Endplate is back after his excellent Gemini EP from 2020. The andalusian expert gives us four exercises of proper driving techno with an excellent sonic craft.
Unreal opens this slice of plastic with a repetitive and elastic line grooving across the precise beat. The main synth line changes in intensity along the development of the track playing wisely with the percussive elements to create the required feeling.
On PMMM the rhythm goes dirty and pulsating, gummy sequences come along a n intense drum pattern heavily reverberated and processed.
The flip side opens with, No Success Street, starting with a voice-like sound, obsessive and intense with an opaque bass drum as foundation. Sibilant drones add tension to the formula, increasing the adrenaline levels as the track goes into total madness.
Malenia closes the physical edition with echoed drums and loads of reverb. The drums go solo for the first bars, being filtered and processed constantly. A superb tool to add tension to a busy set.
As the first bonus digital track, Animal Noise, dirty and screamy, a dystopic hymn for the proper morning routine at Berghain for example.
To end the digital version, Green Eye, direct and punchy, with the right dose of drum pressure on a 90% rhythmic track, again a tool for those to know how to use them.
Techno with no jokes inside, from the makers to the real players.
Releasing solo for years on his self-titled imprint, Berlin-based DJ/producer Amotik launched AMTK+ earlier this year to feature other artists via split EPs. Following the first instalment with the label boss and Deluka, Berlin-based Arthur Robert and Decka team up for the next EP, bringing another dose of deep and grooving techno to the table across four new tracks.
Unterwegs co-founder Decka kicks off the A-side with 'Bridging the gap', bringing punchy kicks under oscillating tones and razor-sharp hats. 'Sulphur' follows with reverberating synths, rattling percussions and moody bass textures, delivering another menacing techno workout.
On the flip, Figure affiliate Arthur Robert provides deep, dark and hypnotic productions with 'Husk' blending warping stabs over a rumbling bass, while 'Charisma' takes us on a futuristic trip, embracing metallic bleeps and staggered hits, luring us into the early hours.
CLUB U NITE RECORDS PRESENTS: Your Daily Dose Of Dope Vol.2
We're kicking off spring with new House gems that will make your sweet behind move.
A01 starts off with 'Everyday', an old-school stomper with a touch of soul and funk, while A02 gives you a satisfied smile with the 'Deep Dub Journey' and a jazzy piano.
B01 hits you with a dry kick and spoils you with deep Rhodes samples in 'Get Up'. The 'Jump For U Version' wraps up this EP full of old-school vibes..... for you!
Full Dose is back! Once again exporting their distinctive brand of mutated dub directly from Glasgow's Southside. The label's 13th release is the work of a new name: Brollachan - "a shapeless darkness that craves bodily form".
As the name would suggest, the music itself evokes a certain eeriness. Brollachan fuses this with the metallic textures and airy rhythms commonly heard on Full Dose records. Tracks like "Hall" could well be written by a smoked-out mythical being, with deep subs and spring reverb-laden tones throughout. Quality stuff.
This juxtaposition of influences continues throughout the release. "Graze" has a particular aquatic feel. Sonar-esque synths punch through the haze and sustained synth sounds keeps the track in midwest territory.
Despite the obvious variety on show here, Brollachan of course keeps fans of the Full Dose sound on-side. "Mad Dawg" is a grimey take on this. General MIDI style sounds appear throughout the intro. This is complimented by intricate drum programming and a growling bassline, to give us a track straight from the 22nd century.
13 releases in and the tight-knit crew behind Full Dose continue to promote a sound that is both unique and reliable - Brollachan is no exception!
Club U Nite Records presents: Your Daily Dose Of Dope!
Brand new 4 track EP in the timeless sound of the 90s.
A1 Is raw and dirty and makes you stumble with the extreme swing! Don't stop dancing!
The second track on the A Side is just 'Delicious' and brings the good old 90s vibe back to your dusty 1210s.
The B-side starts with a load of jazz & funk and brings a lot of deepness with it. Simply the highest pleasure!
B2 closes with a pumpin 'goodie that brings everything you need after many hours of partying ... Depois De Horas.
Cremation Lily’s »Dreams Drenched in Static« exists at the horizon of consciousness and heavy experimental music. Through the use of frenetic vocal melodies, tape degradation, and guitar noise, the album documents the liminal moments at the edge of sleep, and the distressing thoughts that often accompany late-night R.E.M. disturbances. The lyrics were largely written at three in the morning and serve to evoke the depression and meditations on death that seem to haunt these early hours.
Based in London, England, Cremation Lily is the project of Zen Zsigo. Like many Flenser artists, the work of Cremation Lily is difficult to classify. The project began in 2009 as sample-based ambient music, but has evolved to incorporate more rock-oriented guitar instrumentation and influence from a wide range of genres such industrial, shoegaze, tape loops, noise, and power electronics.
Although rooted in electronic music, Cremation Lily shares similarities with Flenser artists like Planning For Burial and Have a Nice Life, as well as black metal. »Dreams Drenched in Static« is the first Cremation Lily album to rely primarily on guitar and vocal-based contributions, and is the project’s most intentional and developed work to date.
Holly Lester’s Duality Trax Label has quickly become synonymous for its blend of future facing sonics and mind-warping melodies, served together with a healthy dose of nostalgia. A label just as focused on making dancefloor destroyers as it is exploring left-leaning, personal projects, it’s within this duality where the label has found its success, never afraid to shy away from b side oddities or tracks edging more towards good-old-fashioned-fun.
DUALITY5 steers towards the latter, with Manchester based DJ & producer Aiden Francis providing the serotonin on tap with three lively dancefloor cuts, including a huge remix from Italy’s Matisa. Aiden had a big 2022, releasing music on Magic Carpet, Gestalt and beloved music platform and label Houseum, solidifying himself as one to watch in the euphoric unity of house, trance and techno.
Title track ‘Plastic Fantasy’ is the star of the show, a suitably sassy roller that places everyone's favorite blonde icon front left of the speakers. Subtle old school strings contrast with alien electronics, providing familiarity in an otherwise unfamiliar world. A bubble-gum vocal then rolls in cheekily over a driving bassline and dynamic percussion - used in a way I’m not sure the original creators had in mind. ‘Future Proof’ meanwhile demonstrates Aidens’ knack for contemporary progressive house music. With warm pads, swirling sonic textures and moments of blissful euphoria, it’s energetic enough to move a dancefloor, but gentle enough for home listening too.
The record comes to a close with ‘Aquamarine’, with Aiden opting in favour of free flowing breakbeats and mind expanding synths, together radiating a feeling of warmth and hope for days to come. Italian DJ and producer Matisa is on hand to round the EP off with a bass-heavy rendition of ‘Plastic Fantasy’ a no-holds-barred speed garage licked stomper, with the power to lure smokers back inside the club with their feet firmly planted on the dancefloor.
Tutto Bene is the new imprint of the North German vinyl digger Hagel. The plan? Release infectious but versatile grooves reminiscent of the nineties with hefty doses of funk - rich in percussion, rolling sub basses, charismatic rhythms, and light-hearted yet odd synths. The first record, 'Too Easy EP', comes signed by AlleyOP, a collaboration project between Hagel and Berlin-based wonder producer Atree, and features two original tracks and two remixes by Lorenzo Chiabotti and Audio Werner.
A side's 'Die Another Day' opens the record with robotic rhythms under mildly paranoid tones proper for dancefloor hypnotization. Lorenzo Chiabotti brings an unexpected melodic touch to the original, completely re-shaping its groove and determinately swapping its freaky tonalities with hopeful scales. B side's 'Too Easy' follows the same path of minimal arrangements and straight-to-the-point drum programming and sampling but opts for warmer sonic tones - making it appropriate for dusk and dawn dancefloor moments. Audio Werner elevates the warmth in scale and ups the vibe by intensifying the breaks and synth atmosphere of the original and shooting it into a stratosphere where melody and detail are elementary.
New sub-label to Gunfinger Food focusing on uptempo, bouncy beats. Volume 1 delivers a dose of speedy, acid booty hardcore slammers by the mysterious producer Beerus.
Limited to 300 copies.
A stellar duo of techno talent remix Adam Beyer & DJ Rush’s ‘Restore My Soul’.
The original work, released in June 2021, was a highlight on Drumcode and saw Adam Beyer link with the legendary DJ Rush for an inspiring four track EP. Almost a year on and the label has drafted in a triumvirate of top-shelf techno talent to remix the cuts.
ANNA makes her first outing on DC since 2019’s ‘Galactic Highways’ and delivers a searing rework of ‘Control’ that mixes up her patented brand of stadium sized sonics with a fierce acid stomp throughout the second half of the track. HI-LO follows up his debut EP ‘Hypnos’ with a heavy dose of low-end funk as he reworks the title track retaining the original’s hypnotic bassline and building upon it to craft a beefed-up weapon.
The treasure chest that just keeps on giving. Another refreshing, reissued dose of solid gold UKG heaters from one of the finest garage acts of the ‘90s, 24hr Experience. Highlighted here, the first EP under the 24hr Experience name from Grant Nelson and Simon Firmin back in 1994 - Dub Essentials Part 1.
Samples galore, grooves upon grooves and that sweet swing to keep the bodies moving. Five iconic cuts from skippy vocal bumpers to percussive workouts and bass heavy whompers, this ain’t one to miss.
BART & THE BEDAZZLED: PEOPLE PERSON + CARBOARD MAN (7")
Bart & The Bedazzled return with a sensational AA-side 45 with the highlife-vibed-plaintive pop of 'People Person' and the layered 'Cardboard Man', featuring the gorgeous guest vocals of Earth Girl Helen Brown. "World dance pop meets '80s indie" LA's northeast side is home to a dizzying number of independent artists and bands. One of the scene's most distinctive sounds emanates from Bart & The Bedazzled, a collaborative group led by talented songwriter Bart Davenport. After debuting in 2018 with the Blue Motel album Bart reconnects with the stellar musicians that make up the Bedazzled for two exclusive new songs of, what he terms, "world dance pop meets 80s indie". Consisting of Los Angeles' highly respected players, the collective are undoubtedly a "musicians' band" playing for joy, performing for and with other artists that inhabit underground haunts such as Zebulon or Permanent Records Roadhouse. This is their sound!
With these new tracks The Bedazzled usher in a new phase, adding a small dose of drum machinery to the mix, resulting in an uplifting, danceable endeavour. On top of this, hand played congas and shakers blend with ultra clean guitars to form a rich context for Bart Davenport's patented, smooth vocal. Newcomer band member and producer Nic Hessler (Catwalk, Captured Tracks) fits these pieces together in seamless mixes.
People Person celebrates the collective human experience, while subtly acknowledging that people often are "the worst". It's an upbeat ode to a beautiful world that sadly may never be saved. Meanwhile, the semi-fictional Cardboard Man critiques a society desperate for truth and a way out of dark times only to find omnipresent, puppet-like heroes offering nothing real. Featuring guest singer Heidi Alexander aka Earth Girl Helen Brown her distinctive tone and phrasing add a much needed weirdo energy to a decidedly consonant pop track.
It comes as no surprise the group have gravitated towards world-dance-ish sounds. Andrés Renteria is an accomplished crate-digger and DJ, as is bassist Jessica Espeleta. She kicks off People Person with a dubby bass line, setting the stage for Wayne Faler's African highlife inspired guitars. It's still Bart & The Bedazzled, but this time they come with a sound somewhat reminiscent of '80s bands that also incorporated international flavors, such as the post Young Marble Giants project Weekend or French electro-obscuros Antena. Like those bands, Bart & The Bedazzled have a wide range of influences and the artistic intention to make something contemporary with them.
Above all, they're a group of friends who enjoy the creative process together. For them the journey is as important as the finished work.
Two decades since they formed in New York City and over ten years since their last album, Tel Aviv based quartet Shotnez are back with Dose a Nova, an album of 10 exhilarating jazz filtered jams, with vibrations indebted to tuareg desert blues, Ethiopian-jazz, 1950's Afro Cuban recordings, surf- rock and folk from across the East Mediterranean basin.
Featuring the original Balkan Beat Box producers Ori Kaplan and Tamir Muskat alongside Uri Kinrot from Boom Pam and Itamar Ziegler from The Backyard, four musicians who are all producers and share love and deep connection to hip hop and jazz, Shotnez reunited in 2020 meeting up for improvised sessions and jams, once a week over a period of about four months at a carpentry turned music studio in suburban Tel Aviv.
Downing midi cards, triggers and synths, the day to day tools for these four producers and picking up and playing their respective traditional instruments - saxophone, clarinet, guitar, bass, percussion and drums – the group was immediately liberated by the moment. In the middle of a strict lockdown, they had no preconceptions, no deadlines, no labels or managers knocking on the door. This was an opportunity to rebuild the camaraderie that developed on the other side of the world two decades back, to reconnect as brothers and seek a higher spiritual plane, all the whilst fully encouraging each other to express their diverse musical backgrounds channelled within, during their time apart.
RIYL: Toro y Moi, Helado Negro, Rosalía, Tame Impala, Cuco.
Follow up to their 2019 breakout ‘Foam,’ of which Pitchfork said “Foam demonstrates that it’s possible to draw from everywhere, without sounding quite like anything else.” Lead to tours supporting Durand Jones & The Indications, Belle & Sebastian, Chicano Batman, Crumb, Innerwave, and festival appearances at Pitchfork Festival Chicago and Primavera Sound LA. ‘Last Spa on Earth’ is wildly unique and creative music, mixing the sounds of Indie, Electronic, Drum & Bass, Reggaeton, Latin Hip Hop, and more to create a sound all to their own. Divino Niño are no strangers to bold reinvention. When Camilo Medina and Javier Forero friends whose bond dates back to their childhoods in Bogotá, Colombia moved to Chicago and recruited guitarist Guillermo Rodriguez to form a band, they were psych-pop outsiders playing live shows with a drum machine. With the addition of drummer Pierce Codina, their 2019 breakthrough and debut LP for Winspear, Foam, solidified their place as local indie rock mainstays. Soon after, multi-instrumentalist Justin Vittori joined to round out their lineup. Once again, with their masterful, unpredictable, and eminently danceable new album, the band has done something radical: They totally upended the way they write songs, eschewing practice room jams for unrelentingly collaborative beats, implied grooves for immersive dance floor heaters, and mellow vibes for frenetic doses of reggaeton, electropop, and trap on their most adventurous and ambitious work to date. Welcome to the Last Spa on Earth. Written and recorded over the past two years, Last Spa on Earth deals in release and catharsis: confronting your darkest moments and coming out better for it. The album artwork, done by Medina, a longstanding visual artist, depicts a dreamy, yet graffiti-tagged spa, void of physical bodies so listeners can envision themselves in this unique environment. It represents the yin and yang approach Divino Niño took while creating the album: the serenity of the spa and the chaos of the party. Ultimately, the band’s desire is to provide healing in the same way one feels after sweating, shivering, stretching, and resting at the spa against the backdrop of the world’s darkness. Last Spa on Earth is the cathartic product of Divino Niño letting go of their musical preconceptions, past traumas, and future anxieties to embrace change, chaos, and each other’s contributions both to these songs and to each other. Track Listing: 01. LSE 02. Nos Soltamos 03. Tu Tonto 04. XO 05. Toy Premiado 06. Ecstasy 07. Drive 08. Miami 09. Mona 10. Especial 11. Papelito 12. I Am Nobody
The heaters just keep on coming! Rolling into its third volume, Riot Records’ Disco Made Me Do It series hits you with four more nu disco and disco house worldies. Sweet as you like, feel-good summertime sounds from Musta featuring Venessa Jackson remixed by Hot Toddy, Danny Kane featuring Jacqui George, Jaegerossa, Stan Boogie remixed by Qwestlife. Top drawer as you’d expect, with a dose of magic for every occasion.
London’s SlothBoogie records welcomes Subjoi to its roster with his four-track ‘Reflections’ EP.
Hailing from Warsaw in Poland and now residing in Adelaide, Australia, Subjoi has been gaining steady traction in the House scene over the past five years, racking up releases on the likes of clipp.art, Shall Not Fade’s Lost Palms sub-label, Lobster Theremin sub-label Distant Hawaii and 13th Hour amongst others. Here we see him joining the roster of SlothBoogie Records with some more soul-infused and sun-drenched house cuts.
Up first on the EP is ‘At A Time’, seeing Subjoi lay down an amalgamation of disco string, brass and vocal samples atop a swinging drum groove, dynamically evolving with filter sweeps and a loopy feel throughout. ‘Gone’ follows next and employs more classic house tropes courtesy of a bouncy piano line, robust drums and hooky vocal chops.
Opening the B-side is ‘What You Do’, shifting things aesthetically to 2-step drums alongside airy stab sequences, bubbling synth melodies and processed R&B style vocal lines. ‘Sapporo Nights’ completes the EP next on a deeper tip, journeying through hazy string lines, warm bell chimes, heavy doses of sub bass and stripped-back, bumpy drums.
The gift that keeps on giving, Purple Disco Machines’ ‘Exotica’ is being treated to some epic remixes of your favourite songs now available on vinyl.
This vinyl includes a double dose of Ron Basejam remixes, as he offers up signature extended and dub versions alongside remixes from Dutch maestro Oliver Helden and Belgian high flyer Aeroplane.
Chilean-born Francisco Allendes returns to Crosstown Rebels for the first time in six years this May. Serving up the three-track What You Do, the title number has already received global airplay via Damian Lazarus himself. Now, the full release will be made available next month and includes a remix by US-legend Harry Romero.
A contemporary dose of four-on-the-floor house, What You Do leaves few prisoners in its wake, as rampant drum patterns converge on a heady combination of kicks, synths and irresistible vocals right the way through. There’s an infectious energy to the track, paving the way for Harry Romero’s similarly up-tempo remix. It’s feel-good, club-ready dance music at its best, packed full of low-slung groove that opens neatly into the closing sequence: Maratone, a stripped-back, techy cut that bears all the hallmarks of a true Ibiza anthem.
Hailing from Chile and now based in Ibiza, Francisco Allendes is a leading light in today’s scene. Be it Loco Dice’s Desolat, Steve Lawler’s VIVA or Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels, his productions have graced some of the industry’s most well-respected labels. Such quality hasn’t gone unnoticed - he picked up the ‘Best Ibiza’ DJ Award in September 2019 and has gone on to complete several South American tours. A much loved affiliate of ANTS, Francisco has a long standing residency at both Ushuaïa in Ibiza and their affiliated tours, in addition to hosting the weekly radio show.
Seminal American house talent Harry Romero is a well-established figure on the worldwide music circuit. A prominent global DJ and producer since the ‘90s, early productions on Cutting Records and Cutting Traxx helped set the tone for Harry’s career trajectory, opening the doors to a coveted BBC Radio 1 ‘Essential Mix’ in recent years.
Eastenderz welcomes French party starters Oden & Fatzo and Thurman for a double dose of debuts on the label, with this funk-fuelled, punchy, summertime house four tracker. Part feel-good, part hazy deepness, part heads down heat, there’s a cut here for every occasion, giving a glimpse into why these two acts are on the trajectory they are.
Classic jazz-funk fusion from the late, great Japanese guitarist Ryo Kawasaki. Recorded in New York, and originally released in 1976, 'Juice' presents Ryo at the height of his powers.
Born in Japan in 1947, Ryo had a long and stellar career recording and releasing music up until his passing on 13 April 2020, in Tallinn, Estonia. Ryo is one of the pioneers of the jazz fusion genre, with the Japanese jazz fusion / funk sound becoming extremely influential within the 80s UK club scene and amongst its DJs. His track 'Trinkets & Things' became a bonafide underground classic. In the US he worked with some of the greats of jazz, such as Elvin Jones, Chico Hamilton and Bobbi Humphrey, to name but a few. A forward-thinking and ever-evolving musician, Ryo collaborated with the Roland Corporation and Korg on the 'guitar synthesizer' and later wrote music software for computers. Later in life he relocated to Estonia and worked there, as well as Finland, Sweden, and the Baltic states.
'Juice' has become a much-loved album for crate diggers and jazz-funk enthusiasts, with its tracks frequently being sampled and re-imagined in hip-hop. The smokey, beat-down, spiritual funk jam 'Bamboo Child' has been flipped by Diamond D, Puff Daddy, and Kool G Rap. The album was released in 1976 on RCA Records and features the musicians' drummer Jimmy Young, rhythm guitarist Hugh McCracken, and bassist Stu Woods amongst other luminaries. A solid album throughout that incorporates a heavy dose of tripped-out synths alongside the emerging disco sound of the time. Tracks such as the opener ‘Raisins’, with its drum beat intro and bubbling bass-line, rivals The Headhunters at their finest. A superb album from an underground legend.
It might seem tongue-in-cheek on the surface, but the fact that the title of Eldritch Priest's sprawling debut vinyl release, Omphaloskepsis, is the Greek translation for “navel-gazing” unlocks something essential to the Vancouver-based composer and writer's singular outlook.
Perhaps even more telling is the title of Priest's 2013 book Boring Formless Nonsense: Experimental Music and the Aesthetics of Failure (Bloomsbury), whose 300-odd pages read as though you've been dosed with potent hallucinogens. Throughout the text Priest addresses—celebrates, even—the titular elements via various musical examples, including that of his peers. What's so bewildering it is that his descriptions of how boredom, formlessness, and nonsense manifest are laced with the very tactics he's depicting. Passages tie themselves in knots, footnotes engulf the “primary text,” he even deliberately misleads the reader.
The restless stasis of Omphaloskepsis could be regarded as an extension of this book's wayward spirit. Things unfold fairly slowly and consistently but it'd be a stretch to describe it as properly contemplative. Like attempting to meditate with a high fever, any sense of tranquility is constantly derailed as one succumbs to queasy agitation. The piece's foundation is a seemingly endless guitar melody; an organic meander that neither seems to repeat or offer any concessions to narrative directionality. Priest unfurls this rambling cantus firmus in a rich, clean, jazz-like tone, but as it's played, it's repeatedly tangled with snarls of dense digital processing and shadowed by stumbling virtual “band.” These strident interjections blatantly contrast with the guitar, yet they aren't so violent as to offer more than a faint itch of distraction. As such, the distinctive amorphousness that this piece asks us to inhabit for its 54-minute duration leaves a strong impression, but also feels utterly intangible.
In addition to his recorded forays, Priest's disorienting music has also been performed by top-tier interpreters such as the Arditti Quartet, Quatuor Bozzini, Philip Thomas, Anton Lukoszevieze, and Continuum. While living in Toronto he co-founded the collective neither/nor with John Mark Sherlock, which featured a cross section of musician-composers playing each other's work including Eric Chenaux, Doug Tielli, Eric KM Clark, Heather Roche, and Rob Clutton. “Though the name refers specifically to a loosely knit group of composers and performers,” remark's the collective's website “neither/nor is also a sensibility that refuses art’s messianic pretensions and the gaping maw of commercialized society, opting instead for art’s right to be esoteric.” In 2021, when Eric Chenaux and Martin Arnold relaunched their neither/nor-adjacent Rat-drifting imprint, an album by Priest, Many Traceries, was among the first to be released. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Priest was a student at the University of Victoria, a school that's come to be known for fostering such staunch individualists as Arnold, Linda Catlin Smith, Allison Cameron, and Anna Höstman.
As a scholar, Priest writes from a 'pataphysical perspective and deals with topics such as sonic culture, experimental aesthetics and the philosophy of experience. Priest brings these interests to his job as an Associate Professor in the School for the Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University, interests that also inform his work as a member the experimental theory group The Occulture. In addition to Omphaloskepsis, his new book, Earworm and Event: Music, Daydreams and Other Imaginary Refrains,
The masterclass collection of deep melodic house & techno sound is going into the 21st round! "Parquet Most Wanted Vol. 21", featuring worldwide supported & breathtaking productions by SOLEE, JAMES HARCOURT, RAUSCHHAUS and NORS KODE. These tracks are already played by A-List DJs like Kölsch, Innellea, Dave Seaman, Fideles, Dosem, John Digweed, D-Nox, Magdalena, Eelke Kleijn, Bebetta, Markus Kavka and many more.
black.round.twelve presents the second release on its imprint, signed by the Romanian talent Pîrvu.
Dance Refuge EP’ is a 4-track EP spanning from minimal house to broken beat, showcasing a collection of music drenched in vibrant and sincerely playful energy – a sonic naivety of sorts, very akin to Pîrvu’s own personality.
Both ‘Twelve’ and the title track ‘Dance Refuge’ fill the A-side of this record with a positively warm tone where the groove is king. Razor-sharp drum programming shines through compositions with hints of acid, profoundly accurate sub-basses, and just the right amount of atmosphere, creating a musical spectrum very prone to those floating, early-morning dancefloors. The flipside’s ‘Space’ follows the same groove-led narrative introduced previously and infuses it with an extra dose of playfulness and feel-good sound design before toning it down to the introspective ‘Lver,’ finishing this EP with just the right amount of breaks and warmth.
As usual, the cover of the EP was (undoubtedly) drawn and painted by the talented Berlin-based Juli Jah, beautifully portraying Pîrvu.
Debut release for The Fear Ratio's Mark Broom and James Ruskin under their 'Deadhand' alias, which proceeds on a strictly experimental hip-hop tip, accompanied as they are here by 4 x world scratch champion DJ Prime Cuts (of The Scratch Perverts) and illbient rap legend Sensational, who brings his characteristic broken charm to the EP's itchy, spartan production vibes: "Step into my office, now we sparkin' it... I spit the isms in yer ear... you better recognise it's raw shit from orbit."
This pairing with Sens makes total sense: Distinct from Mark and James' work as The Fear Ratio, their Deadhand project delivers something closer to 90s illbient in any case: extending the boom-bap era of hip-hop production with elements of hallucinogenic dystopianism, the energy of the EP nevertheless vibes playfully: Given the dispiriting global situation at present, the EP title 'Meanwhile' might simply refer to getting on with things in spite of all the cultural and political misendeavor the era will no doubt be long remembered for. Despite the global health pandemic and the looming spectre of wide-scale environmental collapse, little despair or surrender prevails here, but rather a hankering to attempt a few tripped-out experiments.
Three remixes bring further twists of the screw: A cosmic break flex from ETCH resituates Sensational amidst the magmic glow of Reaktor bass ensembles, while DJ Prime Cuts repurposes 7" soul gold by way of a more 'traditional' SP1200 approach. 90s trip-hop pioneer and graffiti legend REQ steps up with all the painterly flair he is rightly renowned for, obliterating the Monster Orchestra's classic 'I Can't Stop' stab towards a double dose of galactic melancholia.
g 07: Touch (ETCH's Pink Ladies in Space Remix) feat. Sensational
[h] 08: Meanwhile (DJ Prime Cuts Remix) [feat. Sensational]
[i] 09: Touch (REQ's Dub) [feat. Sensational]
[feat. DJ Prime Cuts]
First vinyl issue from this french label, artisan of the Eurotrance revival. Compilation of contemporary producers' works, deeply rooted in the 00's.
Played by Ellen Allien, Nina Kraviz, in among others.
Thanks to a perfect balance between a good dose of madness and genius, Union Trance Mission has become the playground of some of the rising talents of the european rave scene in a few years.
Launched in 2018 by DJ Reiz & Tonni 3000 with the desire to take the techno scene off-balance, UTM quickly laid the foundations of an hybrid style where oldschool vibes perfectly combine with contemporary sounds. A colorful and formidable cocktail of efficiency, where techno blithely rubs shoulders with nostalgic trance synthesizers.
After a couple of years of digital releases (singles, EP and compilations), UTM decides to take another step by releasing its first 2x12", gathering the residents DJ Reiz, Tonni 3000, Red Scan and Walfroy on one hand, and the guest artists Pawlowski, Jaëss, Tranceman2000 and Alpha Tracks on another hand, in a wish of being eclectic and exploring Trance music in all its forms.
