Search:through

Autodidactic musicologist and sample collagist U turned his archival eye on the melting pot of ‘80s post-punk with his debut ‘Life Isn’t A Fountain?’ EP for Lex. He follows up with an experimental exploration of regional identity with ARCHENFIELD, a deeply personal collection of ambient music and found sound that examines the relationship between geographical space and aural histories.

To construct this record U mined a wealth of recorded material relevant to the area. With a nod to traditional music, he takes samples from these records and creates beautifully atmospheric sound pieces that are often mixed with painstakingly researched snippets to create a stirring reflection on local history and broader themes of how we interact, or even fail to interact, with English folklore today.

Pressed on 180g vinyl, the album comes with a 24-page visual companion that expands on its themes and folk stories through imagery and narrative, echoing the album’s soundscape. : The Caretaker, Oneohtrix Point Never, JG Bie1berkopf, Maxime Denuc, Leon Vynehall

NIKS steps further into her own sonic world with 'Moves Like 2', a powerful statement of intent that blends groove-heavy percussion and hypnotic club energy. The release offers a deeper glimpse into her identity as a producer.

The lead track 'Moves Like 2' is a pretty raw and direct UK club cut, the sound at the core which has influenced and set the tone of the more ‘heads down’ side of this release.

Sub Glow touches on the fun and playful side of the EP, providing softer textures through elongated pads, growing synths and an overall brightness.

Moves Like 2 receives a rework from one of the most tasteful and timeless producers, rRoxymore - who provides a deeper percussive and rhythmic touch to the feature track.

241 rounds off the EP with a slappy and ballsy tone, which features NIKS’ manipulated vocals, concluding the release on a succinct high and buzz.

Debuting on her new imprint, ‘Bloom Tone’, will serve as a self-directed outlet for NIKS’ own productions and friends, providing a platform for her creative autonomy and musical exploration.

25 has always been a mystical number in the world of Kiosk ID, woven into our story since the earliest days of Bar 25, Holzmarkt 25, and every chapter since. When midnight struck on December 31st of last year and 2025 arrived, the magic of the number was undeniable,echoing through Kater Blau, Holzmarkt, and Kiosk ID—and calling for a celebration like no other. As our lasers lit the night, two core Kiosk ID artists—Britta Arnold and Sascha Cawa—took to the decks, weaving a spellbinding journey crafted specifically for this moment. Months in the making, they unfolded a beautifully hypnotic tribute to the magic of 25, premiering five tailormade tracks in the process. That moment lives on as Kiosk ID no. 40—a special double LP capturing the magic of that night. Side A features the live New Year’s recording: an unfiltered document of Britta and Sascha’s hypnotic, otherworldly, and deeply danceable set, as it unfolded in real time—strobing into the first moments of the new year. Sides B, C, and D feature five exclusive studio originals, written and produced specifically for this night. On ‘Counting’, Britta and Sasha unfold their brand of stripped darkness and rolling groove work, while ‘Reformer’ teeters on taut coils of suspended synths. With ‘NGVMT’, the energy bursts open—a radiant block-party roller with throbbing staccato swagger and clanking metallic arpeggios. ‘Beam’ lifts off into pure cosmic wonder, its fluttering, airy themes spiralling skyward. ‘Good Life’ rolls the credits with a beautifully introspective soliloquy, tender and reflective beneath gentle waves of aspirating piano chords. Together, these recordings offer both an auditory keepsake and an invitation to relive that unforgettable night or discover it anew. Across five hypnotic compositions and a half hour of dance floor bliss, ‘Good Life 25’ encapsulates the ever-evolving sound

Quattro Racconti" is a new version of the debut solo album from Wobbler's Lars Fredrik Froislie - This time in Italian, with Stefano "Lupo" Galifi from the legendary Museo Rosenbach on vocals! "Fire Fortellinger" became a great success when released in 2023, and when the opportunity for Lars to do one of the songs in Italian with Galifi, he did - and the 10" release of "Un Posto Sotto il Cielo" came out. And later, when Wobbler played a festival in Italy in 2024, Froislie went to visit Galifi and to record vocals for the rest of the album. The result is stunning! FROISLIE who is himself a huge fan of Italian Prog in general and of MUSEO ROSENBACH in particular, explains: "When I wrote "Et sted under himmelhvelvet", I imagined an Italian version in my head with just STEFANO "LUPO" GALIFI'S vocals. Not so surprising, perhaps, since he is one of my favourite vocalists. I have loved his slightly raspy, but powerful and soulful vocals, ever since I discovered MUSEO ROSENBACH as a teenager. When the opportunity presented itself, I thought it couldn't hurt to ask him, and it gave me much joy that he was actually willing to sing on this. He brings a new dimension to the songs, and it's incredible that he actually sings just as well today as he did 50 years ago. For me, it was both emotional and surreal to hear a voice I have known and loved throughout much of my life, singing my songs."

‘A Tremendous debut. Skilfully blending folk, country and other styles, Woof’s eponymous debut album features thoughtful songwriting, adroit musicianship and her remarkable, crystalline vocals’ - 4/5 RECORD COLLECTOR

‘Enchanting. Whether playing almost solo or with a full band arrangement, Wooff is never less than mesmerising’ - 4/5 SHINDIG!

‘Her spectral voice and acoustic guitar lead abstract stories of loss, yearning and self-exploration, nimbly embellished with pedal steel, organ and strings. ‘The Waltz Of Winter Hey’ and ‘Lefty’s Motel Room’, with its allusive nod to Townes Van Zandt, are outstanding’ - 8/10 UNCUT

‘Launching herself fully onto the scene, she beguiles with tales of love, loss, hope and womanhood, wrapped up in a beautifully strange gothic romanticism’ - FOR FOLK’S SAKE

‘The beauty in the record is not merely based on Toria’s melancholic melodicism and rich delivery. It can be enjoyed in the juxtaposition between the singer’s darker, more eerily gothic instincts and the soothing, reassuring presence of instruments like pedal steel and cellos.’ - KLOF

Stepback Records is proud to announce the highly anticipated release of Jacksonville's new 12" vinyl, Oracle Memory EP.

Jacksonville is an electronic artist whose work spans multiple genres, creating music that’s designed for clubs and dance floors. With previous releases on labels such as Atmospheric Exsistence and Chez Damiers Balance Alliance imprint Jacksonvilles roots run deep.

With Oracle Memory EP, Jacksonville takes listeners on a journey of low end perfection, blending elements of house, electro and bass music genres.

Produced by Chris Lyth (Jacksonville), Oracle Memory EP was crafted with vinyl in mind with an analog warmth throughout each track. Likewise master and cut comes courtesy of Optimum in Bristol for the absolute best sound quality possible.

A samba funk essential. This debut album from Jorge Ben's iconic backing band blends Brazilian rhythms, soulful vocals, and American funk energy into one unforgettable groove. Includes the hit single 'Coqueiro Verde' along with standout tracks like 'Meu País,' 'Aleluia, Aleluia,' and 'O Canto da Ema.' A timeless gem for fans of Brazilian soul, vintage funk, or global grooves. Trio Mocotó is best known for being the powerhouse backing band behind Brazilian legend Jorge Ben during the height of his creative explosion in the early 1970s. But their contribution to music goes far beyond the supporting role-they were instrumental in shaping what would become known as samba funk, a vibrant fusion of traditional Brazilian rhythms with the groove and energy of American soul and funk music. Formed in Sao Paulo's iconic Jogral nightclub, Trio Mocotó-featuring Fritz Escovao, Joaozinho Parahyba, and Nereu Gargalo-began their musical journey as resident musicians, providing live accompaniment for a rotating cast of performers. It was here that Jorge Ben first encountered their raw talent and unmistakable chemistry, ultimately inviting them to join his band. The collaboration would go on to define an era. In 1971, Trio Mocotó stepped into the spotlight with their debut solo album, "Muita Zorra! (...Sao Coisas Que Glorificam a Sensibilidade Atual)." The record made an immediate impact, climbing the charts with the infectious single 'Coqueiro Verde' and marking the start of a prolific period in the group's career. "Muita Zorra!" is a dazzling blend of styles-mixing the baroque funk and melodic sophistication of artists like Marcos Valle with the soulful spirit of Jorge Ben. Layered with elements of American funk, the album delivers a dynamic, rhythm-driven sound that still feels fresh today. The trio's vocal harmonies are front and center, weaving through each track with warmth and richness, creating a captivating sonic tapestry that energizes every beat. This album isn't just a snapshot of a musical moment-it's a cornerstone of Brazilian soul. A must-listen for fans of global grooves, vintage funk, and timeless Brazilian music, "Muita Zorra!" is once again available and ready to take its well-deserved place in your collection. First time official reissue.

Denmarks leading outlet for fresh, forward forward-thinking jazz, April Records, proudly presents the debut release from award award-winning Danish vibraphonist Viktoria Sondergaard. With wide ranging influences from jazz, chamber music, cabaret, pop, rap and SukumaSukuma-inspired grooves, as well as the hymns and melodies of the Danish Hojskolesangbog traditional/folk songbook, the music is grounded in collective expression and responsibility. The album s bold, boundary boundary-pushing sound was built on a strong sense of musical community, as well as Sondergaard s desire to integrate spoken word and lyrics into her practice to convey her thoughts and feelings on the world around her on a deeper, more personal level. Composing with her four collaborators in mind, Viktoria imagined her quintet playing each note as she composed, making the music inseparable from their presence. The album integrates spoken word, rap, singing, screaming, and whispering - a shared sonic tapestry that expresses joy, wonder, questioning and celebration. It s a band built on inspiration, joy, dreams and love, Viktoria says. For me, one of the most beautiful things in art is that we have a platform to say something about the society and world around us. This album is an attempt to do just this. this." Balancing warmth and intimacy with tension and exploration, the music weaves rich instrumental textures and spacious soundscapes with intricate vocal arrangements - intertwining voices that move between comforting folk folk-like harmonies and angular, avant avant-garde expression. The quartet s deep listening and intuitive interplay are evident throughout, shifting fluidly from open, exploratory passages to tightly locked grooves. The result is a sound that feels both grounded and searching: a sonic conversation inviting the listener into a space of vulnerability, curiosity, and connection. With a sparkling tone, emotive improvisation and refined control over her instrument Viktoria is recognised as a fearless explorer and bold musical voice. A recipient of the Aarhus Jazz Talent Prize, Tivoli Jazz Prize and the 2025 Carl Prize Honorary Award presented by Marilyn Mazur, she balances adventurous writing and collective invention with melodic immediacy and emotional power.

After returning from Australia, Brian Baker has wasted no time in making an impact on the NZ scene with much heralded and reviewed singles and film clips, and in particular his solo show which has seen him perform at gigs and Festivals across the country. Now he"s joined two local Whanganui Musicians, Stu Duncan and pro drummer Brad MacMillan, both seasoned performers. The act is called BB and The Bullets and has a focus on the blues, doing tracks by Albert King, BB King, Muddy Waters plus some Stevie Ray Vaughan and other blues classics. They also feature some of Brian"s excellent releases and have a few of their own recorded. These tracks make up their debut LP which will soon be released on vinyl, CD and digital through Nixon Street Recordings, Whanganui"s own international record label. Yes, the guitaring that made Brian"s solo show stand out is heavily on display here, now backed by a tight, live rhythm section. Their shows have been very well received wherever they have performed, getting standing ovations at the recent Bay Of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival where they played six standout shows over three days ! They are drawing crowds wherever they appear, have been invited back to the Capital Blues Inc in Wellington after a knock em dead show there, and were a solid crowd pleaser at Snells Beach this summer for Auckland city council"s Music In Parks series. They are delighting audiences with rock solid, emotive performances of classic blues tracks underlined by undoubtedly one of the finest guitarists New Zealand has produced !

Deep black, with ghostly glimmers of an old car melting into the tarmac: the cover of Never En-ding Rodeo sets the tone. This isn't just a late-night drive, but a controlled skid across the borders of Post-Rock, Noise and Psych. The engine roars, the ground shakes, the white lines blur. Six years after the release of Ain't That Mayhem, the Lyon-based band returns with a dense, smoke-veiled record. Never Ending Rodeo: a deceptively playful, almost cartoonish title for such an intense album. As if, after circling endlessly around dust, bucking, and stampedes, Zëro had carved out its own orbit. Unstable, inevitably. But magnetic. Éric Aldéa (guitar, vocals), Franck Laurino (drums), Ivan Chiossone (Persephone, synths), and now Varou Jan (guitar, bass) - (Le Peuple de l'Herbe, Condense) - have lost none of their bite. Better still: this new album marks a turning point in production quality, thanks in particular to the mixing work of Niko Matagrin. The sound is broader, more inhabited. Every snare crack, every synth layer sits precisely in a meticulously sculpted space. "As if Tom Waits had collided with Nine Inch Nails. Before a frightening modernity hurled this so-nic convoy into a headlong rush." ~ Indiepoprock "You don't simply pass through Never Ending Rodeo: you step inside, you lock yourself in, drawn irresistibly by its magnetism." ~ Solénopole

The most inspiring bands are the ones that can create a world around themselves that is about far more than just the music. The artwork, lyrics, sounds and ethos all merge together perfectly to create its own universe, a secret club. The Lovely Eggs are one such band. And against all the odds, 2025 sees them celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band! Stubbornly and heroically independent, The Lovely Eggs have forged their own path and have achieved mainstream success without ever compromising their DIY ethics. Released on their own label Egg Records, with eye watering artwork by Casey Raymond and hand packed in a black plastic bin bag on neon toxic slime green vinyl, this is yet another collectible release from a band who care as much about the art and ideas in their records as they do about the sound. "We had all these spare songs after we released our last album Eggsistentialism and we didn't really know what to do with them," explained Holly. "They just didn't seem to fit in with the vibe of Eggsistentialism but we'd recorded them and wanted to get them out there." "They're kind of a sketchbook of songs," added David. "They're not polished or laboured over but we thought it would be interesting to release them. It's why we called the record Bin Juice. These were songs we had thrown away. But hopefully people like going through bins collecting trash."

Chris Menist pares his sound right back for A book of imaginary beings, his fourth Awkward Corners outing with a project of electronic and abstracted global grooves. Experimenting with simple melodies and uncluttered arrangements, as well as taking inspiration from the Borges' short stories alluded to in the title, the project took shape in the early part of 2025, in the shorter days and dark evenings of January.

The initial challenge was to knock a basic track into shape each evening after work, then refine it later. There's a melancholy in the air in late winter, compounded by the creeping threat of national and geopolitical instability. Ulla, Natural Information Society, Jabu, Torso and Dawuna formed some of the background soundtrack as each tune took shape.

The track titles came after sitting with the sounds for a while, giving shape to images of people, creatures and their stories for a book that is yet to be written.

Two former friends sets the tone for the album perfectly as a minimal electronic piece with a slowly simmering synth bassline underpinning the groove whilst the trademark Awkward sound of the Shahi Baaja enters drenched in effects. It's the first demonstration of Chris' unique ability to create a world from apparently very little.

Dance of the silver beetles is completely unique in that we can hear chopped up Illimba samples seemingly playing backwards and forewords sometimes alone, sometimes together in duet with Chris' conga rhythms. Add to that a more conventional Illimba melody and added shaker percussion and you have one of A book of imaginary beings most curious chapters.

Anxious shadow puppets is closer to the Awkward Corners sound from previous albums as electronic pulses move around the arrangement with the urgency that the track title suggests. Chris' percussive roots move to the fore with the congas that tie down the Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band's sound. Here, the bassline is more playful and works together with one of Chris' many African Illimbas.

Fans of Chris' adventures on his Roland 808 will dig A leopard with no spots, although the minimal mood continues to flow through on this track. The lolloping, but hard-hitting rhythm track provides the grounding for strange and twisting feedback-sounding tones to work the soundscape.

Abandoned boy (left in charge of the family business) is Awkward Corners at his atmospheric best. Drift off to the sublime sounds of Chris exploring the Shahi Baaja, whilst a soft, repetitive synth line and abstracted pads give the listener that feeling of meditation and peace.

Flamingo with bandaged neck is A book of imaginary beings' perfect coda and is exclusively Shahi Baaja draped in reverbs and delays. It feels like the resolution and the closing of a book that – as of yet – remains unwritten.

Awkward Corners is Chris Menist, a musician, DJ and writer. It started life as a small project in Islamabad, where Chris was living at the time. Initial recordings were made with local musicians in Pakistan and then subsequently in Thailand. This culminated in the Sweet Decay LP that came out on Finders Keepers' Disposable Music in 2014, and in turn led to a limited tape release on Boomkat/Reel Torque of original compositions and re-edits of Thai 45s the same year. Chris released – Dislocation Songs – his second LP proper with Shapes of Rhythm in May 2020, collaborating on many of the tracks with award-winning performer Sarathy Korwar. The LP was picked up by many radio stations including NTS, Resonance FM, BBC 6 Music, Balamii and many more. It made Tom Ravenscroft's LPs of 2020. Amateur Dramatics, Chris' second LP arrived just a year later in 2021 and was a more ambitious project featuring more jazz-focussed compositions and featuring Tamar Osborn and Kitty Whitelaw. Shortly after that came another pivot with the heavier, dancefloor-friendly EP Somebody Somewhere. Somebody Somewhere is Dancing in a Field brought the House (yes House!) vibes, whilst Hector Plimmer turned in a remix of No Words in the same club mood.

As one of NTS Radio's longest-standing presenters, Chris continues to hold down the Paradise Bangkok show. Playing drums and percussion since he was a kid, Chris is the percussionist for The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band as well as co-founding the record label of the same name. Chris has curated compilations for labels such as Finders Keepers, Soundway and Dust-To-Digital. He has been featured on the Boiler Room, Vinyl Factory Collections, played at the Four Tet curated Nuits Sonores festival, and has put together an edition of Volumes which featured unreleased Awkward Corners compositions.






[d] 04: All the Goodbyes (You Tried to Defer) [Original]





[j] 10: Abandoned Boy (Left in Charge of the Family Business) [Original]

BEWARE! THE ECHOES OF DEATH’S HORRID CHANT ARE DRAWING CLOSER…From the endless fields of obsidian darkness rise eerie hymns, echoing an ancient, long-forgotten apocalypse that slices through the eternal night. OBSIDIAN SCAPES are the embodied nightmare – a deathly veil of cascading riffs, raining down like the lethal erosion of cosmic worlds. Layered with relentless, thunderous drums and ghostly dirges, their music summons visions of a dying universe.Their sounds crawl like molten madness into the depths of the mind, painting aphotic images of shadowy, chthonic cathedrals and titanic monoliths rising against a crumbling horizon. Despair and anguish permeate every note – dirges for a world drowning in the abyss of decay and tributes to powers lurking beyond human comprehension.Including one song from the upcoming debut-album Death Chants Echo From Aphotic Void and an unique and exclusive cover-version from SIGH’s “At My Funeral” (only available on the 12″EP).Mixed and mastered by Thomas Taube at FiveLakes Tonstudio.ltd 500, 300 x black vinyl, 200 x cream white bone. Incl. download-code. S

The first-ever best of of Nim Vind is called Anthology 1 and is released by Sunny Bastards Records! This collection of audio medicinals created in a UFO vibrating in the Key of NV is guaranteed to blow your mind. Experience the energy and indulge in some Halloween candy with Nim Vind's 180-gram Vinyl album. This collection includes Nim Vind's most popular tracks from regular albums Fashion Of Fear, Stillness Illness & Saturday Night Seance Songs, along with some special versions or tracks that have never been released before. Nim Vind was introduced to Europe through Zillo Magazine and the Goth club "Pagan Love Songs". This led to the release of his first album, "Fashion of Fear", on Fiendforce Records Germany. The album was recognized by Metal Hammer UK, Maximum Rock n Roll and many other magazines that support underground artists. Rue Morgue Magazine (the world's biggest Horror Entertainment Print magazine) selected Nim's album "Saturday Night Seance Songs" as the Album of the Year. He has shared stages with the likes of Gary Numan, Filter, Blitzkid, The 69 Eyes, Todd Kerns (Slash with Miles Kennedy and the Conspirators), Peter Murphy of Bauhaus, and many more. The album kicks off with NV classic "Killing Saturday Night", which has garnered 1.7 million plays on Spotify and more than 330,000 views on YouTube. The collection attempts to showcase some of the songs that have been a part of his story, bringing us up-to-date with his current work. If you're a Horrorpunk, Goth, Post-Punk, Rock N Roll or Alternative collector, this collection is a must-have! Vinyl only compilation, for fans of MISFITS, JERRY ONLY, CHRIMSON GHOSTS, BLITZKID, THE OTHER.

ROADS VOL.3 is the third installment of Thylacine's iconic ROADS series, recorded in the heart of the stunning landscapes of Namibia, in his caravan studio. A true sonic journey, this album immerses the listener in a unique universe, where every note tells a story of landscape, emotion, and authentic experience.



Since the breakthrough success of Transsiberian, Thylacine has continued to push boundaries, venturing into new territories in search of stories to tell and challenges to take on. Much like mountaineers carving fresh paths across glaciers, he is constantly exploring new creative horizons. With millions of streams to his name and standout tracks like Anatolia, Piany Pianino, and Satie I, his momentum shows no sign of slowing.
Breaking away from the familiar, his upcoming album Roads Vol.3 draws on the raw beauty of his recent journey through Namibia, offering listeners a collection of previously unreleased tracks. Guided by his instinct for musical nomadism, Thylacine treats each project as a true adventure in its own right. Roads Vol.3 will be released on October 31.

ROADS VOL.3 is the third installment of Thylacine's iconic ROADS series, recorded in the heart of the stunning landscapes of Namibia, in his caravan studio. A true sonic journey, this album immerses the listener in a unique universe, where every note tells a story of landscape, emotion, and authentic experience.



Since the breakthrough success of Transsiberian, Thylacine has continued to push boundaries, venturing into new territories in search of stories to tell and challenges to take on. Much like mountaineers carving fresh paths across glaciers, he is constantly exploring new creative horizons. With millions of streams to his name and standout tracks like Anatolia, Piany Pianino, and Satie I, his momentum shows no sign of slowing.
Breaking away from the familiar, his upcoming album Roads Vol.3 draws on the raw beauty of his recent journey through Namibia, offering listeners a collection of previously unreleased tracks. Guided by his instinct for musical nomadism, Thylacine treats each project as a true adventure in its own right. Roads Vol.3 will be released on October 31.

Irish artist The Cyclist (Andrew Morrison) delivers a four-cut dispatch of throbbing house rhythmics and afterhours glow inspired by a trip to Chicago in the summer of 2023. “Mescalate” slides through the door with an uptempo house roller, piston hats and soft-clipped stabs. Title track “Sublimity” slides into a hard-edged garage-house sway with mantra-esque vocals whirling over rolling bass. “Beamin” turns the lights up bright, synthy chords arcing like sun through the fog. Closer “Black Velvet” dials it down into a dubby, deep, bass-heavy stout drift that lingers in the chest long after the needle lifts.

John Fogerty feiert die Songs, die Rockgeschichte geschrieben haben – zu seinen eigenen Bedingungen. Zum
ersten Mal besitzt er die vollen Rechte an seinem ikonischen Katalog. Legacy ist sowohl eine Feier als auch
eine Rückeroberung. Das Album enthält neu eingespielte Versionen seiner beliebtesten Songs und fängt
Fogertys rohe Energie und kreative Leidenschaft ein – pünktlich zu seinem 80. Geburtstag. Unterstützt
von seiner Familienband und getragen von einer neuen Welle der Anerkennung – von seiner Ehrung durch
Bruce Springsteen bei den American Music Honors bis hin zu mitreißenden Auftritten 2025 beim JazzFest,
Glastonbury, der Hollywood Bowl und vielem mehr – zeigt sich Fogerty so kraftvoll und lebensfroh wie eh
und je. Legacy ist nicht nur eine Hommage an eines der größten Repertoires der Rockmusik – es ist der
Klang eines amerikanischen Originals, das seinen Platz im Rampenlicht erneut einnimmt.

Impressions marks Budapest based independent label Blue Sun’s 6th release. Hungarian multi-instrumentalist, Fingerfisher guitarist Adam Gollob's debut solo LP carries forward the musical direction set by the label’s founders (Hanussen & Kozmo D) by presenting tracks that are built around concentrated, listening-based music consumption, deliberately crossing, possibly defying genres.

Impressions is a profound reflection of transformation, embracing imperfection along the way. As a former student of jazz guitar at Bartók Conservatory, Gollob evokes the wandering spirit of John Coltrane with the title, at the same time inviting the listener into a brief but intensive creative period of the artist’s own life. Music listened to, festivals visited, thoughts and conversations - all echoing through-and-throughout the composition, questioning, dismantling, and rearranging them into a piece.

The record is a rich and evocative work that blends elements of new wave, indie rock, alternative electronic, and neo-psychedelic styles. The introspective lyrics and unrefined vocals explore different aspects of existence, placing the perpetual tension between uncertainty and confidence at the center. The hypnotic synthesizers, raw drum textures, and the structurally interwoven songs provide a complex listening experience. The material reforms with each replay into an ever-changing musical landscape, with a strikingly unique, fuzzy yet soothing atmosphere.

Following up on a cracker split single in 2023, Overload Liverpool enterted into 2024 firing on all cylinders with a 5 shooter of freaked-out electro, warm house, deep dub cuts, and gorgeous ambient.

Firstly, Liverpool-based label boss Morrison highlights two of his distinct and dissociative styles. On the front end of the A-side, his The Motorist alias provides us with a freaked-out formant-filtered electro that’s bursting at the lips. On the back end, a deep yet bright house cut from his The Cyclist alias, with warm warbling synths layered over his Wurlitzer electric piano and suitably grooved and jaunty beats.

To kick off the deeper B-side of the 12”, Wax Tek, a founder of the Liverpool Soundsystem crew Polyone Audio, hits us right in the chest with his dubbed-out breakbeat wonder, Get Set, which diverges through Balearic, bass music, a delirious breakdown, and hard-hitting breakbeats.

Deeper still, the second B-side from Puncta, another Liverpool-based artist, who last year came to light with their release on Sputnik One’s N-Face, dives into the deep Arctic seas with Snow Crab, an exercise in dubbed-out electro-style bass music.

Finally, Belfast-based Aaron Thomas brings the 12” EP to a fitting closure with Concert², which, washing over the listener, dances like opulent drapes with its ethereal synths that crash to and fro.

It runs through the minds of men and women of a certain age, complexion, and place who grew up during the era of segregation and who defied their parents, the law, and all genteel propriety and custom by answering one bluesman's invitation to cross the color line and join him getting lowdown and dirty as he serenaded a generation from the bandstand, on jukeboxes, and through the radio.

To them, the slurred guttural sound of a wise man singing "Hush, Hush," putting down the "Big Boss Man" or advising the listener to "Take Out Some Insurance" before they behold the "Bright Lights, Big City" was a siren's call they had no choice but to answer. Even if they tried, they couldn't resist the steady, dirty rhythm punctuated by the twanging sting of an electric guitar note and the sweet wail of a harmonica. And when they leaned in close, they could even hear the barely perceptible sound of a woman's voice whispering forgotten lyrics into an ear.

Ain't nobody can do Jimmy Reed like Jimmy Reed could. But this drive down Jimmy Reed Highway with fellow Mississippian Kent "Omar" Dykes at the wheel with Jimmie Vaughan (older brother of the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan) riding shotgun and folks like, Kim Wilson, Miss Lou Ann Barton, James Cotton, Delbert McClinton, and Gary Clark, Jr., joining the duo, comes mighty close. As Omar guns the engine and peels rubber on the two- lane blacktop lined with no- good women, empty whiskey bottles, too many cigarette butts and bad intentions, he leaves John Law trailing behind eating his dust. Hop in for a ride and turn up the volume. The electric bluesman who shaped the minds and moves of a musical generation is alive and well. (by Joe Nick Patoski)

Enigmatic UK producer Dylan Henner announces new album of deeply considered and choral-laced experimental ambient music Star Dream FM, said to be taped from a mysterious radio broadcast that plays his favourite memories from adolescence.

Though (clearly) fictional, the backdrop to new album Star Dream FM represents a tactile canvas on which the record’s true meaning is painted. It is, through Henner’s now-characteristic employment of ambient-textured synthesis, marimba, digital choir, and processed voice, a study of late adolescence and the experience of being seventeen.

Little is known about Dylan Henner, who landed on the ambient scene in 2020 with cassette releases for Phantom Limb, Belgian label Dauw, and cult tastemakers AD93. He barely promotes himself publicly, instead choosing to communicate through disarmingly poetic song titles. His debut album “The Invention of the Human” (AD93, 2020 - a recipient of BBC 6Music’s Album of the Year honours) responds to a set of philosophical questions - what exactly makes us human? What good is civilisation when there’s so much misery attached to it? How will technology affect humanity in the long run? In 2022, he released follow-up You Always Will Be on AD93, which traced the course of a single life from birth, to childhood, to adolescence, adulthood, parenthood, middle-age, old-age, and demise. He has also covered Raymond Scott, Terry Riley, Aphex Twin, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Su Tissue among numerous further projects.

fabric presents salute features music from pioneers and contemporaries alike, including Kerri Chandler, Bodhi, Dorian Concept, Junior Sanchez, Redhead and more, alongside two originals from salute. More than a collection of tracks, it’s a cultural statement: a journey through club culture, personal identity, and global roots. To celebrate the release, salute will headline fabric’s Room 2 on 10th October, joined by a handpicked lineup (TBA), bringing their vision full circle from mix to dancefloor.

Lead single ‘double luxury’ sets the tone for the project, capturing salute’s signature blend of soulful energy, deep groove, and euphoric release. Built on spacious low-end and an undercurrent of euphoria, warped vocals twist through sleek, propulsive drums to form a house cut that channels the emotional intensity and groove at the heart of their sound. Arriving off the back of a huge summer, with standout sets at Coachella, Glastonbury, a North American tour and All Points East, ‘double luxury’ provides a fitting entry into a milestone chapter for one of the most vital voices in club culture.

salute says:

“my contribution to the fabric presents compilation series is my way of contextualising the music i've been writing over the last couple of years. i wanted to include bits of all the things that make up the salute sonic palette: loopy, sample based house music, dense and soulful chords and beautiful synths, slick and groovy drum work. it's an exercise in beautiful house and techno music, or my definition of it anyway.”

Launched in 2019, fabric presents has become one of electronic music’s most respected mix platforms, with contributions from Andrew Weatherall, Laurent Garnier, The Martinez Brothers, SHERELLE, Bonobo, Overmono, Confidence Man, The Streets, and more. Rooted in the legacy of fabric’s monthly CD mixes, the series now embraces a wider range of releases across digital, CD, and vinyl, each paired with a performance at the iconic London venue. With fabric presents: salute, they take their place in this lineage, joining the dots between underground heritage and the future of club culture.

Vienna-born salute has become more than a producer: they are a cultural innovator representing a club scene that is diverse, queer, and community-driven. Since emerging as one of the UK’s most exciting electronic voices, they have built a reputation for balancing raw emotion with dancefloor ecstasy, weaving grime, UK garage, electro, French house, jazz, gospel, R&B and hip hop into a singular, unmistakable vision.

Their music channels as much emotional resonance as physical release, tracks that turn longing into euphoria, intimacy into collective celebration. This ability has not only won over audiences worldwide but also earned praise from heavyweights including Four Tet, DJ Seinfeld, Floating Points, Skrillex, Fred again.., Annie Mac and Benji B. Their now-legendary Melbourne Boiler Room set, one of the platform’s most-watched, further cemented salute’s reputation as a defining force in the global underground.

The release of their 2024 debut album True Magic on Ninja Tune solidified salute as one of dance music’s most vital voices, its success confirming what the underground had long known. With fabric presents, they mark another milestone, bringing their curatorial vision and boundary-pushing sound to one of electronic music’s most iconic platforms.

Backspin - the imprint launched by Regal as a love letter to early 2000s Hardgroove - welcomes techno titan Marco Bailey with the 'Drivetonik' EP: a powerful blend of past and present that pays homage to Hardgroove's golden era while keeping the focus firmly on today's dancefloors.

The EP opens with the title track 'Drivetonik', a brand-new production that sets the tone: raw, rolling and built to move bodies. A straight-up Hardgroove banger, it's Bailey at his most focused. All momentum, no compromise. What follows is a rare treat for longtime heads: three classic tracks, originally released on the legendary Primate Recordings, now freshly remasteredfor 2025. 'Hustler' brings the bounce with its infectious and instantly effective sound. 'Karma' leans into tribal rhythms and percussive layering, while 'Konverter' cuts through with synth stabs and vocal chops, offering a punchy, streamlined ride through early-2000s funk. To close things out, Swedish Hardgroove legend Hertz steps in to rework 'Konverter', injecting his signature style into a remix that's as crisp as it is driving, a perfect fusion of old-school grit and modern precision.

With each release, Backspin Records continues its mission to rediscover, revive, and redefine the foundations of 2000s groove-driven techno. With the 'Drivetonik' EP, Marco Bailey shows us why his legacy remains firmly embedded in the genre's foundation.

"It may surprise some that, after two decades of silent films, when Alam Ara broke the silence in 1931, it and every South Asian talkie that followed was what we in the West think of as a "musical." Music had been integral to the culture's staged drama going back to the Gupta Dynasty — sometime between the 4 th and 6 th Century CE. Since its inception, South Asian cinema drew heavily from Marathi, Parsi, and Bengali musical theatre and silent film screenings were often accompanied by live music to mimic a live staged experience.

When sound films arrived, actors with serious singing skills became the next wave of stars. Songs were performed live while shooting, with musicians hidden off-camera, to the side or sometimes even in trees. Playback singing — the practice of dubbing a real singer's voice over a lip-syncing actor — didn't become standard until the 1940s.

Thus, the biggest stars of the 1930s were also the greatest singers, with some, like Govindrao Tembe and Pankaj Mullick, excelling as both composers and vocalists. None, however, were more beloved than K.L. Saigal, whose emotional, untrained crooning captivated audiences across the subcontinent. Saigal's voice inspired a young Lata Mangeshkar, who vowed to become India's greatest filmi singer to win his heart. Sadly, Saigal grew increasingly addicted to alcohol, unable to perform without it, and passed away at age 42, seven months before the Partition. Lata never married.

This collection features some of the earliest songs from South Asian cinema, sourced from CDs and LPs found in Jackson Heights, Queens, Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, and Oak Tree Road in Iselin, New Jersey — areas home to vibrant immigrant communities. South Asian immigration to New York and New Jersey surged after the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which lifted non-European quotas. By the 1990s and 2000s, the region's Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi media outlets flourished, especially in Jackson Heights, where such stores outnumbered the total number of regular record shops throughout the five boroughs.

The nascent period of sound film featured a limited palette of musical styles, predominantly Marathi Bhagveet, like the Ghazal, but with greater flexibility of subject matter and rhythm, and Rabindra Sangeet, the approximately 2,000 songs and poems composed by Bengali Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. But there was some evolution as well, with the success of South Asian cinema's first woman composer, the classically trained Saraswati Devi, and the introduction of Western instruments including the piano and Hawaiian guitar.

While much of the music was dark and brooding, perhaps exemplified best by Devika Rani's interpretation of Saraswati Devi's "Udi Hawa Mein" from 1936's Achhut Kannya (Untouchable Maiden), there were moments of brightness, such as R.C. Boral's "Lachhmi Murat Daras Dikhaye" sung by Kanan Devi in Street Singer, an otherwise thoroughly depressing film from 1938 that cemented Devi's and co-star K.L. Saigal's superstardom.

This selection was chosen to emphasise a range of expressivity, instrumentation and style achieved even within the decade's relatively limited scope, setting the listener up for the relative explosion of possibility in the 1940s, to be covered in the next installment of this series."

Mr Bongo proudly presents, ‘AFIM’, the second solo album by one of Brazil’s most exciting new talents, Zé Ibarra. You may be familiar with the hypnotic, entrancing tones of Ibarra’s vocals through his work with the Latin Grammy award-winning, four-piece, Bala Desejo and the band Dônica. He has also toured with the musical titan, Milton Nascimento, performing guitar and vocals, which is quite the honour and a testament to Ibarra's craft. As a solo artist, he has performed headline solo shows in Japan, Portugal and the US, as well as recently completing a support tour with the great, Seu Jorge.

‘AFIM’ is comprised of eight tracks, featuring Zé’s own compositions as well as cover versions of tracks by contemporaries and friends, Sophia Chablau, Tom Veloso, and Dora Morelenbaum. It combines elements of MPB, jazz, pop and progressive rock in a bold, authoritative style. The album represents the intersection between different facets of the artist, from the stripped-down, intimate, guitar singer-songwriter, to dense arrangements with sweeping strings sections. Writing this album allowed Ibarra "to explore sides of myself that had not yet been organized in an album: a certain darkness, a more cinematic musicality, a desire for new soundscapes.

The album features the single, 'Transe', a song with an instantly comforting tone reminiscent of classic Brazilian songs of the past (think Caetano Veloso). It is built on a rhythmic guitar that supports dynamic sound layers, opening space for Ibarra's intense interpretation. Cinematic atmospheres that lend an air of mystery come courtesy of string arrangements by Jaques Morelenbaum.

His unique cover version of Sophia Chablau's 'Segredo' is equally compelling, taking Sophia's punky-indie original in a different direction and making it feel like his own. 'Essa Confusão', a song celebrating the intensity of love and co-written by Dora Morelenbaum, is steered into epic, 70's AOR, singer-songwriter territory with wind arrangements by Ibarra, Jorge Continentino and strings by Jaques Morelenbaum.

The album is the result of the collaboration of experienced musicians and long-time partners of Ibarra. Fellow Bala Desejo and Dônica member Lucas Nunes co-produced the album. The core band featured on the record consists of Lucas Nunes on organs, Alberto Continentino on bass, Daniel Conceição and Thomas Harres on drums and percussion, Rodrigo Pacato on additional percussion, Chico Lira on Fender Rhodes and Guilherme Lírio on guitar.

The overall feel of the record is archetypically quintessential without slipping into retro mode. It is a stunning album from one of the finest musicians of his generation. A true star of Brazil’s blooming contemporary scene.

Im Zuge der Louisville-via-Chicago-Post-Rock-Explosion des späten Millenniums kam Mercury Program mit einem Vibraphon in der Hand in einer amorphen ,Szene" im Umbruch an. Von The Vapors of Gasoline - ihrem 2000er Album für Tiger Style - war keineswegs ein Einbruch, sondern zehn intellektuelle und dissonante Jams, die verschämt die nie gestellte Frage beantworteten: Was wäre, wenn New Age und Posthardcore ein Haus in der Vorstadt kaufen würden? Diese Remaster-Version zum 25-jährigen Jubiläum offenbart das Genie eines übersehenen Triumphs in erstaunlich lebendigen Details und bietet atmosphärische Farbe für ehemalige Reptilien- und Periodensystem-Fans gleichermaßen.

Conjunto Media Luna presents two new tracks that bring together different geographies, collaborators, and histories of cumbia. “Kumbia dos Pasitos,” in collaboration with Turbo Sonidero, and “No es Moda,” alongside La Terrorista del Sabor, are released jointly on 7” vinyl by Little Beat More and on digital platforms through In-correcto. The cover design is by Bogotá-based artist Mateo Rivano, whose work has defined the visual identity of several influential projects in Colombian alternative music.

Yarni's "Anemoia" blends disco, soul, jazz-funk, hip-hop, and trip-hop across ten collaborative tracks, arriving with an unexpected bonus record due to a pressing plant mix-up that transformed a costly mistake into a collector's item. When the pressing plant accidentally pressed the full run using a rejected master, Yarni included both the louder original test pressing and the final audiophile version rather than waste the pressing.

The project has garnered significant BBC Radio support, with Craig Charles, Stuart Maconie, Romesh Ranganathan and Huey Morgan championing tracks as essential listening. Exploring the Greek concept of nostalgia for a time never known, the self-taught multi-instrumentalist collaborates with ten musicians and vocalists, weaving genres into a thoroughly modern tapestry.

Standout collaborations include the orchestral jazz-funk opener "Neon Gods," epic "S.W.A.L.K" featuring Scarlett Fae, hip-hop fusion "Natural Light" with Franz Von and Jeff Darko, and the Afrobeat-influenced closer "Nino." Rather than a retro tribute, Yarni crafts a forward-thinking collection that reimagines classic genres through a contemporary lens, bridging past and present with fearless experimentation.

The bonus record features slight distortion and louder mastering from the original test pressing that wasn't quite right - offering fans both the intended audiophile experience and this alternate version with added character. Each package includes a personal letter explaining this happy accident, making it essential for collectors seeking authentic independent music experiences.

Dutch based producer Ivna Ji, originally from Croatia, and Mexican artist G13ck (Daniel Vela) introduce their joint imprint Parcela Sound with Archways, a six track release moving through complex rhythm structures, shadowy atmospheres, and deep low frequency currents.

The record balances wide melodic sweeps and distorted textures, building tension between restraint and intensity. Collaborations with Düsseldorf based saxophonist/vocalist Amber Pine and Italian/Dutch producer Riccardo Izzo (Fatalist/Flooder) bring vocals and lyrics into the record, giving it a more direct emotional pull.

The project was shaped mainly in Ivna Ji’s home studio with just a few instruments, including Moog’s DFAM and her favorite DSI Evolver, alongside sessions at Zarkoff’s Sensorium Studio, where she focused on mixing and heavily relied on the Sequential Prophet 6, which ultimately proved to be the key ingredient every track was missing.

Mastering was handled by Filip Motovunski, whose sharp ear and precision brought the record to life with clarity and impact, giving the low end full weight without losing the finer details.

Parcela Sound grew out of more than a decade of friendship and collaboration between Ji and Vela, first sparked by a casual exchange of thoughts and admiration developed over years of sharing ideas and supporting each other’s projects, including releases on Vela’s labels Aztlán and Baox. With Parcela, they created a platform that supports emerging and often overlooked artists, some of whom have become close friends over the years.

The artwork by Croatian designer Ugruv Smek, featuring a gecko motif, ties the launch to their shared roots and playful approach.

Archways marks the first chapter of Parcela Sound, a platform for music created with curiosity, care, and connection.

Recloose’s ‘Dust’ returns to the spotlight on The Remedy Project, with the remaster of the original joined by remixes from Natasha Diggs, Aroop Roy and a never before available accapella.

First championed by Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio 1 in the noughties, ‘Dust’ is now a cult favourite as it effortlessly bridged genres and soundtracked dancefloors across the globe. The track’s warm groove, featuring Joe Dukie’s unmistakable vocals and Recloose’s signature production, cemented it as an underground classic; Dallas Tamaira, occasionally releasing under the alias Joe Dukie, is best known as the lead singer of New Zealand band Fat Freddy’s Drop.

A pioneering figure in the Detroit electronic scene, Recloose (aka Matt Chicoine) first broke through in the late 90s with support from techno legend Carl Craig, releasing on Planet E and later building deep ties with New Zealand’s fertile soul and jazz community. His music fuses house, funk, and broken beat with a distinct warmth and musicality that have made him a trusted name across generations of selectors.

To mark its 20th anniversary, ‘Dust’ is renewed with a package of remixes from some of the scene’s finest tastemakers. Natasha Diggs injects her soulful New York finesse, while Aroop Roy brings his global dancefloor touch. With the two new remixes sitting alongside the both the original record and the accapella, ‘Dust’ is ready to gain a new generation of fans.

This EP by Kitchen Crew unearths rare mid-90s gems from deep within the Swirl People archives, all of which first came on Belgium's Marguerite label. 'Want 2B With U' kicks things off with garage swing and disco signifiers, while 'All Funked Up' is full of rolling house energy and is a sound that the more attentive heads out there may well have heard at their favourite underground spots over the years. 'Reach 4 Me' leans into breaky tech-house sound that still suits through all these years on and is lifted by lush vocals. The closer wraps things up with a more deep, soulful atmosphere that is perfect for a more intimate setting. This is a well-received collection that deserves a second spot in the limelight.

TIGHE is a new name on us with nothing out there to tell us more, but whoever they are they know how to make walls rattle with their deepest dubstep. This offering comes on Beatrice M's Bait label and opens with the eerie 'Empty Units', which is a masterclass in building suspense and tension through empty spaces. The low end wobbles with glistening hi hats in the mids and distant sonic echoes adding late night intrigue. 'Untitled 9' is a busier cut that rides a lumpy broken beat with glitchy textures, and 'Cut Off' then has tribal percussion shimmering over more cavernous low ends. A pair of flipside remixes from Pianeti Sintetici & Yogg add more drive to close out a fine EP.

Skip Audio Records is proud to present a new EP from the dynamic duo Chris Llopis & Cirkel Square. This vinyl-only release features three original tracks that showcase the artists' signature sound, blending intricate grooves with atmospheric textures.
Leading the charge is a powerful remix from Argentinean maestro Alexis Cabrera. His interpretation adds a unique twist, taking the listener on a mesmerizing journey through hypnotic rhythms and deep, evolving melodies. Additionally, this release features a captivating DubTape remix, offering another unique sonic perspective.
This record is a must-have for any vinyl enthusiast and a perfect addition to any DJ’s bag. With its blend of original productions and standout remixes, this vinyl is set to be a timeless piece for your collection.

Detroit, MI based label Harbonder brings you Strand's latest 12" vinyl release “You Have Been Warned” - a bar-raising blend of classic musical motifs and forward-looking electronic production that dares/invites the listener to embrace the unknown.

A1: “Astral Plainsman” - A 4/4 excursion into a landscape of percussive funk driven by a soulful bassline and elevated by cosmic chordsmanship.

A2: “Quantum Game Engine” - An epic homage to the video games Strand played as kids with an eye towards the future of immersive, seemingly boundless gameplay. Ethereal pads, a soaring topline, precision machine bass, and killer percussion combine to form a driving, yet funky, yet euphoric standout that goes from 8 bits to qubits.

B1: “A Path Forward” - Techno and Jazz Fusion are brought together to create an afro- futuristic trip through space, guided by an otherworldly melody that traverses expansive strings, exemplifying Strand’s knack for exploring unexpected trajectories.

B2: “Quantum Game Engine (Reprise)” - An entangled version that bounces to the essence of the original mix.

Ritual Dance - is a sound journey, where futurism and the obsolete merge into a new world. Arash & Quasar (truth and star) - is a duo of electronic producers, friends, DJs, rare record collectors and artists, Pavel Grachev and Vitaly Zhul'kov. Their approach for music making compiles elements of various cultures and eras, resulting in fresh and trippy sonic labyrinths. The title track puts the listener in a state of trance and wild fields, where shaman dance moves take over the existense. Powerful percussion, rich synth textures and traditional instruments are mixed in one. 'Acid Krishna' extends the trip, adding acid basslines and meditative flavour. A true morning anthem of a proper rave trip. 'Lokum' is exploring the deepness of the East through melodies, that sweeten up your adventure away from the daily reality. The flip side starts with 'Opium', where slow beats suck you in the abyss more and more. 'Truth & Star' - is an energy exchange ceremony, where Arash & Quasar become rhythm wizards and dictate how you move and feel, just like snakes dance to the magic flute... The Truth refers to the inner awakening and The Star is the symbol of the external shine. 'Desert' is the final chapter of the trip, evolving into eternity, just like a caravan dissolves in the endless desert, hot air and the blue night... Besides studio work, Arash & Quasar share videos of their own trips and adventures via Youtube-chanel, called DIG LOTO. Together with their best friend, the portative Vestax Handy Trax vinyl player, they search for rare records in remote destinations.

Debut album by Cindy is aptly called I'm Cindy. Produced by Kai Hugo a.k.a. Palmbomen II. Vinyl comes with a 20-page handmade booklet, an individually signed and kissed handkerchief of Cindy (some of them even have her teardrops on them) and a huge fold-out poster! Who exactly is Cindy? If producer Kai Hugo used oblique strategies it would be this question that's been central to his past four years of musical output. First appearing on his 2015 LP Palmbomen II as the titular subject of the track Cindy Savalas, her life has become intertwined with the producer's. "Following that release, I made a music video for Cindy Savalas, where Cindy came to life through the portrayal by Blue LoLan,' Hugo explains. 'I really felt a connection with this character and went deeper into developing who she was and the world she lived in. The result was the creation of the LP Memories Of Cindy, where my goal was to reveal more about Carmel Vista, the town Cindy lived in. Afterwards, I imagined Cindy having her own 'lost' album, as if she had once released a record that was kind of forgotten.' I'm Cindy is altogether different though. It sits at an uncommonly explored intersection between Italo disco and shoegaze - Cocteau Twins and Slowdive are mentioned as influences and you can hear that in the blurred textures and hazy synths of the 13 tracks here. But Hugo also revels in a chance to use his self-created character as a conduit to explore his love of both mainstream pop and its more skewed forms. In many ways the record is as much LoL?n's. It was she who gave the character her voice - initially across 27 tracks recorded with the producer - but her own connection to Cindy runs deeper than that. 'It makes me really nostalgic thinking about everything Cindy went through, she and I have similar feelings' says the vocalist. 'Cindy is a mix of me and Kai so when I listen to the album I feel like I'm half entering Kai's head and half in mine, with a whole bunch of deep emotions, purity and loneliness that just makes me want to dance and cuddle with all my cats in a disco forest somewhere outside of Carmel Vista.'

Debut album by Cindy is aptly called I'm Cindy. Produced by Kai Hugo a.k.a. Palmbomen II. Who exactly is Cindy? If producer Kai Hugo used oblique strategies it would be this question that's been central to his past four years of musical output. First appearing on his 2015 LP Palmbomen II as the titular subject of the track Cindy Savalas, her life has become intertwined with the producer's. "Following that release, I made a music video for Cindy Savalas, where Cindy came to life through the portrayal by Blue LoLan,' Hugo explains. 'I really felt a connection with this character and went deeper into developing who she was and the world she lived in. The result was the creation of the LP Memories Of Cindy, where my goal was to reveal more about Carmel Vista, the town Cindy lived in. Afterwards, I imagined Cindy having her own 'lost' album, as if she had once released a record that was kind of forgotten.' I'm Cindy is altogether different though. It sits at an uncommonly explored intersection between Italo disco and shoegaze - Cocteau Twins and Slowdive are mentioned as influences and you can hear that in the blurred textures and hazy synths of the 13 tracks here. But Hugo also revels in a chance to use his self-created character as a conduit to explore his love of both mainstream pop and its more skewed forms. In many ways the record is as much LoL?n's. It was she who gave the character her voice - initially across 27 tracks recorded with the producer - but her own connection to Cindy runs deeper than that. 'It makes me really nostalgic thinking about everything Cindy went through, she and I have similar feelings' says the vocalist. 'Cindy is a mix of me and Kai so when I listen to the album I feel like I'm half entering Kai's head and half in mine, with a whole bunch of deep emotions, purity and loneliness that just makes me want to dance and cuddle with all my cats in a disco forest somewhere outside of Carmel Vista.'