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The Temptations Get High on Psychedelic Soul: Cloud Nine Soars with Ambitious Arrangements and Production, Features Standout Vocal Performances and Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers

The Temptations’ Cloud Nine announced that Motown — and “The Sound of Young America” — would never be the same. Influenced by the emergence of cutting-edge rock and pop currents, as well as increasing sociopolitical turmoil, the album broke down barriers between rock, psychedelia, and soul while heralding the arrival of visionary arrangements and production techniques. Bookended by traditional R&B numbers, the 1969 record sent the Temptations in bold new directions and signaled the advent of psychedelic soul.

Sourced from the original master tapes, strictly limited to 3,000 numbered copies, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45PM 2LP set presents Cloud Nine in audiophile sound for the first time on a domestic pressing. This collectible reissue bestows Norman Whitfield’s extraordinary production with the grand-scale dynamics, natural tonality, expansive openness, and low-end weight it deserves. The timbre of each of the five members’ voices is readily identifiable — even within the group harmonies — bestowing a realism never experienced outside the recording studio.

Making its debut on 45RPM, the album further benefits from the wide groove space by playing with greater separation and more realistic presence than prior editions. Everything from the brassiness of the horns to the dry snap of the snare comes across with reference-grade clarity and positioning. And since Motown’s renowned Funk Brothers backing band plays on many of the cuts, you’ll want to savor every note. The imaging, soundstaging, and organic bloom-and-decay of the notes make that possible.

Amid Cloud Nine, the instrumentation and architecture stand out as much as any element. Never before had a Motown album contained such ambitious patterns and complex passages. Seemingly conscientious of the departure from their past methods, the Temptations and Whitfield bunched together the tracks that mark a deep dive into psychedelic territory and counterbalance them with seven sterling soul cuts that dovetail with Motown tradition drenched with heartfelt vocals, swelling strings, and finger-snapping beats.

On the original 33RPM release, traditional Motown soul — laden with heartfelt vocals, swelling strings, and finger-snapping beats — occupies Side Two. These songs reveal an ensemble still very much on top of delivering pristine pop-soul material graced with romantic sweetness, persuasive insistent, and soaring highs. Re-energized after the departure of lead singer David Ruffin, who was fired for a variety of reasons in June 1968, the Temptations seamlessly meld with his replacement, Dennis Edwards, on one melodic gem after another.

The collective tackles five songs co-written by the legendary Motown team of Barrett Strong and Whitfield. Not the least of which are the smooth, shuffling “Why Did She Have to Leave Me (Why Did She Have to Go)” and deceptively simple, horn-spiked “Gonna Keep on Tryin’ till I Win Your Love.” On these tracks, as well as on a lush rendition of the ballad “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing” and pleading, tender send-up of the Gerry Goffin-Carole King classic “Hey Girl,” Edwards and Paul Williams take turns on the lead with the estimable Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams providing backing support.

All five vocalists trade-off leads on the simmering title track, a groundbreaking composition shot through with wah-wah-pedal effects, liquid funk, deep bass lines, Cuban percussion, saturated reverb, and gang choruses. Whitfield mines each member’s natural vocal range with spectacular results, keeps time with cymbals, and channels both the heated temperatures and escapist desires of a society embroiled in war, conflict, and experimental drugs.

Amazingly, the Temptations top themselves on the similarly revealing “Run Away Child, Running Wild.” Nearly 10 minutes in length, the song explodes R&B parameters and harbors a cinematic scope. Urgent pianos, distorted guitars, stripped-down percussion, steamy Hammond organs, minimal bass motifs, five distinct voices narrating the tale of a boy who fled home and now finds himself amid the scary, unforgiving external world: They combine to give the urgent tune a walls-closing-in atmosphere where fear and desperation reign. Bolstered by an extended instrumental section that precedes a climactic return of the singers’ voices, “Run Away Child, Running Wild” equaled the success of the record’s title track, with both reaching No. 6 on the pop charts.

Looking back on her career in the early 90s, Stevie Nicks described the first track of Rock a Little as “the most exciting song that I had ever heard.” This coming from a superstar who was already closely affiliated with several bajillion-selling Fleetwood Mac albums — to say nothing of her own benchmark solo debut. Her remarks attest to the enthusiasm and effort she invested in her third record, a 1985 work that quickly furthered Nicks’ profile and cemented itself as a piece of 80s pop lore.

Mastered at MoFi’s California studio, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, strictly limited to 4,000 numbered copies, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, Mobile Fidelity’s 180g 45RPM 2LP set presents Rock a Little in audiophile sound for its 40th anniversary. Helmed by a cadre of producers and engineers, and recorded for a reported one million dollars, the platinum-certified album teems with a head-spinning array of colors, tones, dreamscapes, and accents. This reference-grade reissue marks the first time they are all brought to light and conveyed with proper balance, dimensionality, and positioning.

Though Rock a Little doubtlessly has period characteristics of a mid-80s LP, Nicks and company spare no expense when it comes to distinguishing the music with expansive sonics distinguished with lush melodies, high-tech percussion, echoing vocals, sampled keyboards, and layers of sophisticated accents. The degrees of spaciousness, headroom, and dynamics are nothing less than inspiring, while the newly enhanced detail, texture, and clarity make the songs sing like never before. As for Nicks’ voice? Wait ’til you experience the transparency and depth.

Those advantages extend, of course, to the aforementioned “I Can’t Wait,” a statement-making opener shot through with modulating synthesizers, splashy drums, metallic guitars, and serious drama. Holed up in a massive studio, Nicks required just one take to nail her part, which she called “magic and simply not able to beat.” The singer-songwriter also distilled the reverberating emotional essence of the Top 20 tune, stating “when I hear it on the radio, this incredible feeling comes over me, like something really incredible is about to happen.”

The same can be said for nearly all of Rock a Little. Crafted by the likes of Songwriters Hall of Fame multi-instrumentalist/producer Rick Nowels, Heartbreakers organist Benmont Tench, bassist Bob Glaub, jack-of-all-trades Greg Phillinganes, and session-pro guitarists Waddy Watchel, Les Dudek, and Danny Kortchmar — along with another two dozen or so participants — the record spills with diverse ideas, shapes, and moods. Everything is in the right place, as evidenced by the swirling glide and sensual undertow of the slightly funky title track to the snapping rhythmic pace and big hooks of “Imperial Hotel,” one of Nicks’ standout moments.

“What was it she wanted?” Nicks queries on “No Spoken Word,” continuing a theme of contemplation that runs through the narratives. Nicks never lands on a definite answer, but hearing her explore loneliness, love, and the secrets we keep to ourselves proves continuously rewarding. Take her passionate performance on a cover of Chas Sanford’s “Talk to Me,” a Top 5 smash furthered by tasteful saxophone lines and understated folk elements. Immersive yourself in the grand sonic corridors of “If I Were You,” laden with Nicks’ signature mysticism.

Moreover, surrender to the gravitas of the closing “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You,” a piano ballad composed about the death of Joe Walsh’s three-year-old daughter. As Nicks asserts earlier on the album, she sings for things money can’t buy.

So, rock a little, yes, but dare to feel even more.

Fragile announces the release of Juan Pablo Echeverri & Wolfgang Tillmans's unreleased 2016 composition, Warm Star,
alongside a new remix of the song by TR/ST, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Tillmans and Echeverri's first recording sessions together.

2026 Repress

Words by Costanza Acernese
MOVING PRESSURE 04 / Obscur
With its fourth release, Moving Pressure welcomes its first external artist: young Slovenian producer Obscur. With a signature sound that is driving and subtly psychedelic, his debut on the label doesn't stray from the core tenets of its sonic ethos. Obscur delivers minimalism with purpose-dynamic, intentional, and wholly physical.
'F135' opens the A-side with a sinister tilt-rubbery squeaks stretch and coil around a flickering, synthetic voice. It's tactile and strange, without losing movement. 'Soul Eater' follows with a slow-burn crescendo, nestling psychedelic inflections into a warm low-end. On the flip, 'Stockholm Syndrome' pares things back. Dry, stripped rhythms carry an atmospheric tension-it's austere yet playful, leaving space for darker hues to linger without fully settling. A precise, heads-down statement. 'Blasphemy' follows with a tighter percussive grip and Feral-esque, panning modulations. Highs slice through a foundation of finely textured grooves-functional at its core, but laced with enough detail to give the track a sharper, more intricate edge. The digital bonus, 'Diamond City', stretches the sonic palette even further. Not through layers, but through tone: steel blues and deep violets bounce off metallic bleeps with cinematic restraint, closing the EP on a reflective note.

Sa Pa launches Dub Techno For Life: a dedicated outlet for the artist’s more dancefloor-focused material - work that has largely sat outside the conceptual frame of his previous releases.

The label’s first release, Girls on Tour EP, opens with “Mokira Ultra Dub”, a 10-minute club rework of Mokira classic “Manipulation Musik”. Originally produced alongside an ambient version commissioned for Kontra Musik’s 2016 Kontra X compilation, the dancefloor mix was ultimately shelved until now. With Andreas ‘Mokira’ Tilliander’s blessing, it finally surfaces as a standalone Sa Pa production. A track too banging to go unreleased.

“Waiting For You” traces back to Sa Pa’s orbit around the giegling ecosystem via FORUM. Once lined up for an official release on the parent label before plans stalled, the track slipped into the archives. Buoyant and disarmingly pop by Sa Pa standards, it finds its place here as the A2 - tuned to the collective memory of mid-2010s German house music.

Harnessing the spirit of Chain Reaction from the abandoned patches and borrowed machines of a rainy night’s recording in Taipei, the B-side’s “Modular System” captures a late-night, one-take modular jam. A broken yet hopeful “World Saving Banger” closes the EP with some raw and IDM-leaning force, showcasing Sa Pa’s new label - and the Girls On Tour EP - as a space for neo dub techno ideals to take shape.

[k] C3 | DJ Hooligan– Sueno Futuro (Wake Up And Dream) [pink Clouds Mix]

'Electronic lullabies and folk songs from Ethiopia! A landmark recording from Ethiopia’s vibrant cassette era of the 1980s, Resonance of Time features pioneering composer Wesenyeleh Mebreku reimagining Ethiopian folk melodies through the humble circuitry of an early Casiotone keyboard.
'Historically, the works featured on Resonance of Time (የጊዜ ቃና Yegizie Kana) stand as quiet documents of Ethiopian musical memory. Many of the original songs included in this release emerged during important moments in Ethiopian history when music carried the collective emotion of the nation - love, loss, resistance, dignity, and hope. By arranging these pieces from Ethiopia’s musical heritage instrumentally, Wesenyeleh Mebreku aimed to preserve their essence while protecting them from being confined to a single era or performance style. In doing so, his preservation of Ethiopia’s musical heritage became a contribution to his country’s musical legacy itself, as Resonance of Time serves as an important musical milestone of this composer’s innovative recordings and musical developments in the prolific era of Ethiopia’s 1980s cassette tape culture.
'On Resonance of Time, Wesenyeleh made use of the first Casio electronic keyboard - the Casiotone CT-201 - to arrange and perform Ethiopian folk songs in his own unique style. Implementing the soulful, lo-fi character of the keyboard, Wesenyeleh’s interpretations of these works take on a life of their own. Charming analog tones interpret swirling sounds of organ and piano in kignit modality to the beat of a nostalgic rhythm machine while twinkling synthesizer sounds carry the melodies drifting out of time. The recordings reflect a watershed moment in Ethiopian musical history - when traditional melodies started being interpreted on electronic keyboards, and the advent of cassette tape recording allowed for music to be transmitted more accessibly than centuries-old oral traditions. During this time, Ethiopian musical modes were syncretized with new technology and budding musical experimentation, and Wesenyeleh’s interpretations on Resonance of Time are a landmark recording of this era, following in the tradition of reflecting upon and re-interpreting historical Ethiopian music for a new generation.
'Featured on the release are timeless Amharic folk songs and lullabies, Tigrinya love songs, Gurage and Oromifa popular songs, and even works closely associated with performers from Ethiopia’s 1970s popular music era such as Tiz Alegne Yetintu (ትዝ አለኝ የጥንቱ) which was famously performed by Tilahun Gessesse. Each piece, thoughtfully chosen by Wesenyeleh, is beautifully transformed into instrumental music of his own style - allowing these worlds of song to echo into the future while they are synthesized with the electronic innovations of the 1980s and Wesenyeleh’s own musical history.
'Wesenyeleh says this about his musical approach - ”Instrumental music, for me, is a space of reflection. Without words, the listener is invited to remember, imagine, and feel freely. In Resonance of Time, I hear my own musical philosophy: respect for Ethiopian kignit, careful dialogue with Western harmony, and a deep trust in melody as a storyteller.”
'Each piece performed on Resonance of Time speaks to a time when Ethiopian music was shaped by oral transmission through live performance and communal listening. In today’s fast-moving musical environment, revisiting these works is an act of cultural responsibility. These works remind us that melody once traveled slowly, settling deeply in the listener’s heart. The instrumental format allows these works to cross linguistic and generational boundaries, making them accessible to audiences who may not know the original lyrics but can still feel their spirit.
'Resonance of Time also reflects a broader historical dialogue: the meeting of tradition and adaptation. Ethiopian music has always evolved while holding onto its core identity. These arrangements affirm that evolution does not mean abandonment. Instead, it can be a form of safeguarding - ensuring that the musical wisdom of the past continues to resonate in the present and inspire the future.
'In this sense, the album is both personal and collective. It carries Wesenyeleh Mebreku’s own musical fingerprint, shaped by decades of practice, but it ultimately belongs to a wider cultural continuum. It is the artist’s contribution to keeping time audible so that memory, history, and sound may continue to speak to one another.'

2026 Repress

Samosa Records swings back into action for the summer months with Afrikano Vol. 1 - a scintillating four tracker EP from Various Artists which you will fall in love with on the first listen.

On the A-side, the always impressive Vagabundo Club Social kick things off with the enigmatically titled ‘Mr. Mista’ - a hypnotic, (almost calypso inspired) rhythmic explosion of Mibra guitar, whirling organ, horns and a wicked high end laser sweep. This is a pure chugger, folks. At a deceptive 120bpm it will have you dancing til dusk.

A2 brings us ‘Sweet Dance’ where C. Da Afro met De Gama: after a brief shuffle beat start (liberally peppered with rhythm guitar and organ stabs), the unusual duo make sure it’s all about the beat and horn breakdowns. Pre-drinks in Lagos, people watching and waiting for the night to start is the order of the day here. Cut this in half and it has ‘summer’ stamped right through it. Gloriously sweet.


On the B-Side, Atchoum & Grincheux take centre stage with ‘Demokoussé’. Les Inferno applies the special retouch here, and straight away we’re treated to a gloriously produced trip through breakbeat inspired beats, deep, throaty horns and an outrageously soaring sax. Oh you want more? Well try the addition of the gorgeous spiritual vocals that put the bow nicely on this African sizzler.

Finishing the EP on B.2 is Lego Edit and the aptly titled ‘Afromaniaco’. A pulsating, horn inspired shaker, this track grabs you right by the beat bone from the off and won’t let go. Lego Edit’s trademark deft touches and attention to detail is all on display here - sweet sounding African vocals weave in and out of the almost melancholy horn stabs and washboard beats. A soundtrack for one of those incredible sunsets, ‘Afromaniaco’ is the missing piece of this diverse jigsaw.

With Afrikano Vol. 1, Samosa Records has found the perfect accompaniment to what is hopefully a long, hot summer. So Samosa, so brilliant.

Erasmus Hall's 1980 album Your Love Is My Desire' is one of the most collectable and in fact desired modern soul albums of all time. Copies of the original pressing on Westbound have exchanged hands for over £400. Furthermore in-demand gems including Your Love Is My Desire' and Just Me And You' have never previously been on 7' vinyl, so as part of these Record Store Day release those two tracks are included on the format making this package irresistible. Eramus Hall are in fact a group taking their name from a building George Clinton saw and gave them while he was in Chicago. The group comprise lead vocalists Michael Gatheright and James Wilkerson with musicians Ronald Wright, Marvin Williams, Joe Anderson, Grady Smith, Charmie Currie and William Tillery.

Jazz-fusion, disco-funk, Latin jazz and batucada rhythms get the Filipino treatment onAfter Midnight, the sublime second album from keyboardist Boy Katindig. Originally released in 1980, After Midnight draws heavy influence from soul and funk contemporaries in the US as well as Latin America, in particular the famed Brazilian percussionist Paulinho da Costa.

It’s a testament to his musical prowess that Katindig weaves effortlessly between styles and tempos. His reverence for Paulinho da Costa extends far, with covers of several songs from the latter’s 1979 Happy People album. This includes slow-burner ‘Déjà Vu’ written by Isaac Hayes originally for Dionne Warwick; on the Filipino instrumental version, local legends Jun Regalado and Roger Herrera (from Regalado’s ‘Pinoy Funk’ single) are reunited on drums and bass respectively.

But Katindig’s original compositions hold just as much weight and unique personality: title track ‘After Midnight’ opens with a sultry funk serenade reminiscent of The Isley Brothers, and quickly transforms into a catchy, blistering, saxophone chorus that brims with swagger. Hidden B-side gem ‘Got The Need’ is an uptempo tribute to batucada that would not be out of place in a jazzy house set, and boasts increasingly elaborate and psychedelic solos from Katindig on keys and Ben Concepcion on soprano sax.

Meanwhile, ‘Love Till the End of Time’ is a masterclass in instrumental disco funk, penned by the prolific Greg Phillanganes who at that same time was writing for many of the greats including Chaka Khan, George Benson, Stevie Wonder, The Jacksons and Cheryl Lynn.

This album is lovingly reissued by Sama Sama Records, a boutique label from DJ and collector Norsicaa, who ran the esteemed Soundway Records for 8 years and released the compilation Ayo Ke Disco in late 2024.

Greetings from Haan & Detroit

Our brand new Club Sweat compilation series has landed with Vol. 002 - a meticulously curated vinyl EP that captures some of our favourite releases from 2026.

From the Latin-infused energy of LO’99 & Yolanda Be Cool’s ‘Casa Cantina’ to the peak-time euphoria of CHANEY’s ‘Everybody Rising’, and Tseba’s ‘Dusk Til Dawn’, Side A is built for the dancefloor’s brightest moments.

Flip the record to Steve Lawler’s hypnotic ‘Tiny D’, the funk-filled ‘On The Limit’ by DvirNuns and a masterclass in momentum from Bonafique with ‘Sunday Routine’.

This one captures the essence of Sweat It Out’s undeniable influence on dancefloors across the globe.

Odysee Recordings is proud to present the 4th in the series of digital re-masters and remixes of selected classics from the back catalogue. Originally released in 1996 (ODY06), this was widely regarded as the pinnacle of the initial Odysee catalogue with support from Goldie, Kemistry & Storm, Fabio, Peshay and many others.

PARK PLACE With PAUL TILLMAN SMITH

MAGAZINE GIRL b/w SIMPLE LOVE LIFE
IZIPHO SOUL in association with CHUMP CHANGE RECORDS is thrilled to announce an intriguing new 7”.

From the pen and production prowess of Oakland’s unsung hero Paul Tillman Smith, ably assisted by co-producers Nelson Braxton and Levi Seacer Jr. we present the following musical gems:-
‘Magazine Girl’ featuring the striking vocals of Donnie Williams singing a tale of fantasy. Delightfully crafted for this record, ‘The Catwalk Mix’ by Philip Ward.
‘Simple Love Life’ - modern-day soulful boogie of the highest order, featuring the sensual voice of Terrill Carter.
Also included is Paul Tillman Smith’s ‘Country Rap Epilogue’ cut as a separate track to offer both a humorous twist and context to the song.

Dual label design to reflect the theme’s of each side.

Fresh from the success of his debut solo LP ‘How To Kill A Butterfly’ out last year on High Focus Records, Farma G returns with the anticipated full-length follow up ’Nearly Nothing’s Enough’.

An album anchored in his notorious musical adventures as 1/2 of Task Force, Bury Crew and Mud Family, but very much informed by the state of 2026 Britain and beyond, Farma’s new body of work is fuelled by equal parts venom and deep introspection across 12-tracks courtesy of Brighton based producer Relense.

With one eye on following ‘How To Kill A Butterfly’ with something of equal standing, Farma revisited the fundamentals in the hope of better understanding what he really wants to say with the music he makes. By channelling feelings of familiarity and seeking out emotional connections to his past he created a record that feels both concise and expansive.

With the help of Relense’s gritty analog instrumentals, Farma found himself journeying across subjects and bandwidths; from exploring the mind of a conspiracy theorist on ‘X-Files’, to being a zen master with a mountain on his back on ‘Sun Wukong’, before returning to earth for a typical day in the life on ‘Mr Moany’, ‘Nearly Nothing’s Enough’ is an album that took Farma home and he is delighted to welcome you on the journey.

Carrier’s debut album features eight elegantly rude arrangements that dance in negative space between Photek’s frictional syncopations, Rhythm & Sound’s dubwise minimalism, and Torsten Pröfrock’s fractured dynamics, bolstered on two tracks by contributions from Voice Actor and Memotone, summoning a noirish, jazzier frisson to his signature metrics and temporalities.

Since hard-snagging our ears and feet in 2023 with 12”s for FELT and his own eponymous label, Guy Brewer’s Carrier has become the go-to project for anyone who had almost given up on chasing these sorts of ultra-subtle but vitally distinctive new permutations in dance music. For the past two years, his unpredictable variations within a style have kept us all tip-toed and seat-edged with organisations of a finely chiselled percussive palette and smouldering ambient noise that distils the salient aspects and spirits of D&B, dub techno, electro-acoustic music, and trip hop with unique traction. In effect, he’s enacted a clear leap of imagination from previous work issued as part of Commix and solo as Shifted that only continues to reveal hallucinatory psychoacoustics on this first album detail.

»Rhythm Immortal« sees Brewer tilt the project into slower, resoundingly more atmospheric realms, better to luxuriate in the instinctive guile and integer-stepping style ’n’ pattern of his incredible sound. At the album’s poles, a vocal cameo by cult gynoid Voice Actor follows from Gavsborg’s on a preceding 7” single to ideally model his sound’s mutability and compatibility with trip hop forms, and Memotone helps seal the deal with a hovering glow lent to »Offshore«, whilst Carrier jostles the reins throughout with masterful control of his thing, crisply purposed to the album canvas. In that context, it’s perfectly adaptable to bodies both supine or in motion, ushering a hypnagogic sway with »A Point Most Crucial«, and hingeing around the slightest interplay of 16th-note hi-hat ruffles and recoiling reverbs on »Outer Shell«, or blissfully stepping on knife-edge 2-step on »Wave After Wave«.

The album conveys a deeply personal pulse and spiritual devotion to that kind of all-tension-no-release mode typical of so much music we love – from Kode9’s earliest re-factoring of Prince to Photek’s »Ni-Ten-Ichi-Ryu«, from T++/Dynamo and Traktor’s asymmetric dynamics to Burial’s shockout debut – refactored with a rare conviction in its unspoken powers to activate the eyes-shut imagination.

Repress

A certified deep house classic makes a comeback! Originally released in 2002, this significant collaboration between Lo.Motion (Gavin Belton of The Littlemen) and Jay Cowley (Toka Project) is finally available again on vinyl. With releases on Drop Music and Tilted Music, this duo provides a masterclass in timeless production that remains relevant and fresh 24 years later. Original copies are highly sought after and in limited supply, so don't miss out—grab a new copy while you can.

Spinnin' Records, one of the most influential dance music labels, celebrates its 25th anniversary with the Chapter 1 compilation featuring a selection of iconic hits that have shaped the global electronic music scene. Since its founding in 1999, Spinnin' has been a trendsetter in electronic dance music (EDM), nurturing superstar artists and groundbreaking tracks across house, future bass, big room, and deep house genres.

This edition of Spinnin' 25 Years...Chapter 1 double vinyl LP collection includes memorable tracks from legends like Martin Garrix with the chart-topping hit “Animals”, "Stumblin' In" by CYRIL, "Secrets" by Tiësto & KSHMR, "Tsunami" by DVBBS & Borgeous, “Bullit” by Watermat, “Toulouse” by Nicky Romero, "Show Me Love" by Sam Feldt and 23 more tracks showcasing the signature sound and major contributions to the label.

Spinnin' 25 Years...Chapter 1 is available as a limited edition on green vinyl. The iconic Spinnin' logo is printed with an uv spot varnish on the gatefold sleeve.

With Get Together III, the journey moves into its next chapter, as four artists come together once again to bring the many colors of electronic music to life.
modul808 opens the journey with deep, warm chords and a driving groove that instantly pulls the listener into the depths of its sonic landscape. In “Kamuro”, shimmering details line the explorer’s path, while the magical vocals of Igor Pose are elegantly woven into the arrangement, creating a dense and hypnotic atmosphere. With “Habits”, Heidmann continues the journey in a similarly groovy fashion, leading the way to sunlit clearings filled with memorable melodic gems. Cie effortlessly picks up the uplifting mood on the B-side, where the magnificent “Schlosshotel” unfolds with majestic chords and shimmering strings, inviting every house lover to stay for a while.
Finally, the journey home begins with Dip’s “Module”, which follows a deep path once more, uncovering sparkling sonic secrets along the way.
Together, the four tracks form another chapter in the Get Together series - a warm and timeless deep house journey shaped by four distinct artistic voices.

Mit Get Together III geht die Reise in ihr nächstes Kapitel: Vier Künstler kommen erneut zusammen und bringen die vielfältigen Farben elektronischer Musik zum Leuchten.
modul808 eröffnet die Reise mit tiefen, warmen Chords und einem treibenden Groove, der den Hörer sofort in die Tiefen seiner Klangwelt zieht. In „Kamuro“ säumen glitzernde Details den Weg des Entdeckers, während die magischen Vocals von Igor Pose elegant in das Arrangement verwoben sind und eine dichte, hypnotische Atmosphäre entstehen lassen. Mit „Habits“ führt Heidmann die Reise ebenso groovig fort und öffnet den Weg zu sonnendurchfluteten Lichtungen voller einprägsamer melodischer Klangperlen. Die gute Laune greift Cie auf der B-Seite mühelos auf: Vor ihm erhebt sich das prächtige „Schlosshotel“, das mit majestätischen Chords und schimmernden Strings jeden House Liebhaber zum Verweilen einlädt. Beschwingt beginnt schließlich die Heimreise mit Dip’s „Module“, das erneut einen deepen Pfad einschlägt und auf seinem Weg funkelnde klangliche Geheimnisse offenbart. So entsteht ein weiteres stimmiges Kapitel der Get Together-Reihe - vier Künstler, vier Perspektiven und eine gemeinsame Reise durch warme, zeitlose Deep-House-Landschaften.


Early DJ Feedback:
Christian Seitz / Show "Neuland" on Radio Z
A beautiful compilation that brings together deepness and dancefloor
Sebastian / f.a.r.e.s / Bass And Space
Great EP, thanks!
ed2000 / Dangerous Drums, Cashmere Radio, Face Radio, dub intervention
Very nice set of tracks, support and thanks radio and dj set plays.
Sasha / Circus Recordings, Renaissance, Global Underground
Cool from Cie
Anthony Pappa / Selador / Renaissance
Nice tunes. Thank you.
Timo Maas / Cocoon Recordings, Crosstown Rebels, Rockets and Ponies, Mobilee, Moon
Harbour, Tenampa, etc etc
Nice Heidmann
Stéphane Chambord / Radio Resonance ("DeeJay Academy" Radio Show)
repérages : Kamuro & Habits je prépare une émission spéciale avec un mix des productions du label
Cyprien Rose / Lui, Houz-Motik, Waxdoesmatter
Amazing > Modul808 - Kamuro feat. Igor Pose
Rob Zile / Brain Food Radio (Kiss FM) / Brain Food Records
Great deep tunes
John Digweed / Bedrock Records
Downloading
T. Carlita / In My House
Good Vibe
Laurent / WTM
Another wtm's playlist is coming soon…;)
Douglas Arellanes / Radio 1
Cool chilled out vibe on this record.
Valerio Vaudano
I like "Kamuro" and "Habits". Will try these warming up the dance floor. thx for sending
Stuart Bruce / Chain DLK
Downloading for possible review on ChainDK
Noah Pred / Thoughtless, Biotop, Highgrade
Some nice ones here, thanks.
Ninu / Hipodrome
I like Habits
BARRcode / Backseat Mafia
Solid release.
Carl Craig / Planet-E
dl 4 erno thx!
Ilario Alicante / Cocoon Recordings, Alphahouse, Bosconi, Prism
Downloading for Ilario Alicante, thanks for the music!
Andrew Till / Machine, Fnoob
Cool dubbed out grooves ,,,Heidmann - Habits is my pick.
Ju / Upperberry
Dope =)
Kat Davids
nice and smooth!
Como Las Grecas / Kali Modernphase, Denis Yurgens, Alejandro Club, German MT, Como Las
Grecas
Deep mind in house groove. Interesting VA of deep house.
Dole & Kom / Death By Disco, Mixmag
Really liking Modul808's and Cie's traxxx Thank you

Gap Mangione's monumentally influential Diana In The Autumn Wind. AKA BEWITH200LP. And, without question, Be With's White Whale.

They said it could never be done. And with good reason.

We've spent the past 12 years trying to license this legendary 1968 recording from Gap and, after much work, it's finally here. Remarkably, this is the first ever vinyl reissue of Gap Mangione's Diana In The Autumn Wind, produced with the full and extensive participation of Gap. An exceedingly rare album, it's been coveted by funk, soul, jazz and hip-hop sample fiends for decades.

It's unarguably *the* most sought after album for J Dilla / Madlib sample collectors. It has also been brilliantly sampled by A Tribe Called Quest, Large Professor, Ghostface Killah, Kendrick Lamar and Talib Kweli.

But this record is so much more than a sample-spotters curio. It's solid gold throughout. Bursting with killer funky-jazz grooves and tracks adorned with warm electric piano, the release is notable for featuring some extremely significant players at the very outset of their careers; Tony Levin, at 21, whose superb playing on both acoustic and electric bass was the harmonic mainstay of the trio and Steve Gadd, at 23, one of the greatest drummers of his generation.

With acceptable copies of this holy grail changing hands for $400, to call this reissue "much-needed" underplays just how vital it is. Gap's story is told in his words alongside rare photos across a sumptuously designed 2-page insert and, to augment this deluxe edition further, its all wrapped up in a beautiful, no-expense-spared luxury tip-on sleeve, as per the original hens-teeth release. And, while we're talking packaging, just take a look at that cover - a work of art in and of itself.

The tracks are short but complex, with that extraordinary rhythm section backing the beautiful piano, organ and electric piano work of Gap. It's like the best ever library funk breaks record you never heard - but all your favourite golden age rap producers were all over it, long ago. It's a stunning blend of the vibrant, driving music of the Gap Mangione Trio coupled with the sensitive composition and superb orchestration of Gap's legendary brother, Chuck Mangione, who helmed an amalgam of seemingly disparate elements – rock, big band jazz, solo improvisation and "classical" music - into a spectacularly cohesive whole that has aged wonderfully well. As Gap himself notes in the liners, "with this group I was able to explore and add new and exciting elements from rock, Brazilian and then-current pop music."

Opener "Boy With Toys" triumphantly swaggers out the gate, all big band horns, flutes and dextrous organ work. The synthesis of everything going on is nothing short of stunning. When one wise YouTube commentator called this tune "old school superhero music", Gap agreed. Rap luminaries did, too, amongst them Talib Kweli, who rapped over DJ Scratch's chopped up intro for "Shock Body" on his Quality album back in 2002.

You've barely recovered from that incredibly affecting opener when you get hit over the head with the exquisite title-track. And now you see how two of the greatest beats of all time emerged from one single track produced nearly 50 years earlier. Unforgettably utilised by Dilla for Slum Village's heartbreakingly good "Fall In Love" and then Madlib for his "Official" beat for Dilla to rap over, on the Jaylib record. Regardless of the records it went on to spawn, this is just a staggering tune in its own right. Be beguiled by the flutes and the flutter tonguing, the counter-melody from the trombones, the soprano sax solo. All of it. Simply beautiful.

The questing organ and horn workout "Long Hair Soulful" deserves a lot more attention, overshadowed somewhat by the opening two monsters but no less fantastic. It swings, it grooves and Gadd and Levin truly cook. Up next, Gap's wonderfully percussive, mellifluously piano-heavy cover of "Yesterday" by some fellas called The Beatles. It's a subtly arresting gem. "The XIth Commandment" is damn fine, with thick, gorgeous electric piano and snappy drum work underpinning chaotic soundtracky horns. To close out the side, "St. Thomas" showcases the "fourth" member of the Gap Mangione Trio, conga drummer Dhui Mandingo. Having performed with the Trio since 1965, Dhui‘s African-based and jazz-latin-influenced style amazed listeners and its way to hear why.

Opening the B-Side, standard "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You" breezes along in the late-night jazz club fashion before things get super deep with the outstanding and - up to now - un-sampled "Pond With Swans". It's simply heavenly, and how its moody, melancholic intro has yet to be pilfered is anybody's guess. It oscillates between gentle, sombre movements and bombastic grooves, equally hypnotic and joyous. The rendition of "You Are My Sunshine" is yet another showcase for Gap's virtuoso playing and Gadd's mastery of the pocket. Indeed Gadd's drumming on "Free Again" is nothing short of neck-SNAPPING! Ghostface took it for not one but two "Iron's Theme" tracks across his seminal Supreme Clientele. It's got that Galt MacDermot "Coffee Cold" feel. Suuuuuper cool. The frantic "Dream On Little Dreamer" hurtles along and must've surely had the whole room absolutely swinging from the chandeliers back in Rochester in the late 60s. The album closes with the magnificent Graduate Medley, featuring memorable renditions of "Scarborough Fair", "The Sounds of Silence" and "Mrs. Robinson". The warm electric piano lines of the former were sampled by The Ummah (Dilla again!) for Tribe's "Pad & Pen" from their reappraised final album, The Love Movement, as well as by Large Professor on his much-loved "The LP (For My People)".

Under the watchful eye - and extremely attentive ears - of Gap Mangione himself, the audio for Diana In The Autumn Wind has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, with a few much needed tweaks here and there, according to the artist's wishes. At the prestigious Abbey Road Studios, Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at the always stellar Record Industry in Holland. The artwork restoration has taken place here at Be With HQ and has that drop-dead gorgeous cover artwork popping like new. Buy on sight!

Foundations Records brings you their hotly anticipated third release from Sonar's Ghost on Rinse Out EP - a bold four-tracker of breakbeat jungle, atmospheric jungle and jungle-tekno.

Sonar's Ghost

Starting out DJing in the peak hardcore era of 1992, Dominic Stanton rose as a post-hip-hop and ragga kid, cutting his teeth at free parties across the Shires. Drawn into the new directions of hardcore and jungle, he earned early gigs at the legendary Sanctuary, Milton Keynes, performing as Dom-unique.

Learning the art of beat-chopping on the Amiga 500, Dom landed his first release on Reinforced Records in 1995 and continued releasing into the 2000s as Static Imprints and Sonar Circle. Inspired by Dego and the evolving trajectory of 4hero, Dom began moving into more unexplored territory, producing eclectic, soulful beats under the name Domu.

After a brief hiatus, Sonar's Ghost was born - an outlet to explore the years Sonar Circle missed, from 1991 to 1995. Creating alternate journeys through that era, Sonar's Ghost reimagines the original sound palette using original sources, new blends of beats, and a lifetime of musical influence. For Dom, Sonar's Ghost is his happy place.

The Foundations release blends the eras and directions Dom loves most - from '93 bouncy darkside through to '03 drum funk - with authentic drums and samples integral to the vibe.

Here's the support on radio:

- Makossa (Radio FM4 Vienna)
- Distant Planet (Infrared FM)
- Sun People (Sub FM)
- Alex Ruder (KEXP Seattle)
- Haus of Beats (Txapa Irratia)
- Haus of Beats (Txapa Irratia)
- Tom Ravenscroft (Rinse FM)
- Jon1st (Subtle Radio)
- Martha (NTS / BBC R1)
- Harper (Czworka Polskie Radio)
- Gremlinz (89.5FM Toronto)
- N-Type (Rinse FM)
- Michelle (NTS)
- Mathieu Schreyer (KCRW, LA)
- Darkerthanwax (The Lot Radio)
- Bevin Campbell (PBSFM Aus)
- Errol Anderson (NTS)
- Ian (94.9 CHRW)
- OPR8 (Sub FM)
- Tramma (Noods)
- Carlos Contreras (Tilos Radio Budapest)
- Jay Scarlett (BR Puls Munich)
- DJ Tuco (91.90FM Prague)
- Ed2000 (Cashmere / The Face)
- Vinyl Junkie (Eruption Radio)
- Klaus Fiehe (1WDR)
- Benji B (BBC 1Xtra)

Ubisoft and Laced Records have forged a new trade alliance, expanding their economic tree to bring the lavish music of Anno 117: Pax Romana to glorious vinyl.

This vinyl set celebrates the ornate score for Ubisoft's richly detailed city builder, capturing the spirit and splendour of the Roman Empire at its peak. From the beautiful heartland of Latium to the mysterious Celtic wetlands of Albion (where no civilized Roman wants to be), every musical cue is steeped in world-building and crafted with remarkable care.

The outer sleeve features striking landscape art from the game, while the inner sleeves present detailed track lists framed with ornate motifs inspired by Roman architecture and pattern work. The result is a set that feels like a treasure from the imperial archives.

The soundtrack charts a journey across the empire, weaving together atmospheric strings, ancient-inspired instrumentation, and sweeping orchestral cues that capture both the serenity of prosperous provinces and the political tensions throughout. The music reflects every choice you, the governor, must make. Diplomacy or domination, tradition or transformation. An emotionally rich and immersive soundtrack worthy of Rome itself.

2026 Repress

IZIPHO SOUL is thrilled to release the epic “HIGHER POWER”- better still these are unearthed and unheard versions, especially commissioned for this 7” release.

Paul Tillman Smith wrote, produced and assembled the cream of Bay Area musicians - Featuring the legendary late greats - Freddie Hughes, Pharoah Sanders and Calvin Keys.

Freddie Hughes powerful tenor voice is ’Dripping with soul’ and at it’s captivating best - the warm tones of Pharaoh Sanders’ tenor saxophone intertwines with the harmonic richness of the backing vocals, making this an immense piece of music!

Daniele Baldelli
"A pleasant surprise to find in this release various atmospheres and sounds that have always been part of my DJing. It even made me rediscover M’Bamina, whom I used to play back in 1974 at the Tabù Club in Cattolica.
There are afro vibes as well, with Black Line – Myele, which is featured on one of my Cosmic tapes, and Nowhere by the Stratosferic Band recalls a track I used to play at the Baia degli Angeli…
Excellent work!"

Voom Voom Music was an independent Italian record label based in Turin, founded and managed by record producer Ivo Lunardi (Turin, December 6, 1940 – December 9, 2010). A pivotal figure in the Piedmont music scene, Lunardi was active both as a DJ and as the owner of several disco clubs.

The label operated for several years in the latter half of the 1970s, releasing mainly productions connected to the Italian dance and pop scene.
Since 2016, the original master tapes from the Voom Voom Music catalog have been owned by Gianluca Pandullo (I-Robots), a close friend of Ivo and Luca Lunardi. Through his labels Opilec Music and Turin Dancefloor Express, Pandullo oversees their preservation and historical enhancement.

The artistic direction of Voom Voom Music was marked by a distinct sonic identity — eclectic yet visionary. The Turin-based label founded by Ivo Lunardi embraced a sound that blended disco, pop, and rock influences, interwoven with African American grooves in a pioneering, international perspective.

Voom Voom Music was among the first Italian labels to introduce this kind of musical language in the country. A prime example is the Italian edition of the debut album by B.T. Express, Do It ('Til You're Satisfied), released in LP, 8-Track Cartridge, cassette, and 7" single formats.
The label’s productions clearly reflected the influence of black and funk music, as evidenced by the references and inspirations running through its catalogue. The track “Lady Pick-Up”, for instance, includes direct nods to “Do It Good” by KC & The Sunshine Band and Manu Dibango’s iconic “Soul Makossa”, revealing a musically refined and contemporary sensibility.

Among the label’s most representative works is Splash (1977) by the Stratosferic Band, a project conceived by Luigi Venegoni — producer, songwriter, and guitarist of Arti e Mestieri. Venegoni’s artistic journey spanned from progressive rock to space and Italo disco. The album artwork was designed by Piero D’Amore (1944 - 2022), a charismatic and multifaceted figure of Turin’s art scene (one of his works was even acquired by the MoMA in New York).
The record includes a disco reinterpretation of Van Morrison’s classic “Gloria”, and “Splashdown”, a track fusing the disco-rock energy of Rockets and Space. In contrast, “Nowhere” revisits the 1975 single by Hokis Pokis, a soul/disco band from Nassau County (New York), transforming it into a vibrant disco-funk number.

Another significant expression of the label’s catalogue is the afro-rock sound of M’Bamina, an Italo-Congolese group whose rhythmic energy and dialogue between African percussion and Western funk evoke the style of international formations such as Osibisa — themselves linked to a rich artistic history in Italy.

Daniele Baldelli and Jolly Mare come together for a record that feels less like a collaboration and more like a shared state of mind. Flusso Uno moves through Afro-cosmic kraut-inflected psychedelia and cinematic electronics with a natural, unforced flow, where rhythm, texture and narrative all pull in the same direction.
Rather than referencing the past, the EP treats it as a living language. The longform, ritualistic percussion of early cosmic dance culture meets the hypnotic motorik pulse of krautrock and the more structured, sample-driven tribalism that followed in later decades. What ties it all together is a deep sense of atmosphere and intention: music that feels physical, emotional and quietly transportive.
“We particularly focused on ritual percussions, hypnotic grooves and suspended atmospheres, trying to blend musical anthropology, auteur electronics and narrative instinct.”
Dhol Parade opens the journey like a slow-burning procession, drums circling and expanding as if guiding the listener into another space. With Icari the perspective lifts, melodic lines drifting and tilting, constantly searching for balance between gravity and flight. Huldufolk pulls everything back into a shadowy, nocturnal zone, where textures feel half-real, half-imagined.
Finally, Viaggio Tascabile loses the record in a quietly reflective way, a compact voyage that sums up the EP’s philosophy: small in scale, deep in meaning. Flusso Uno is not about nostalgia or revivalism. It is about taking the spirit of cosmic culture and letting it breathe in the present, where storytelling, dancefloor intuition and sonic exploration still meet. A record made for open ears, open minds and long nights.

With centuries of history, traditional instruments carry physical vibrations shaped by human breath and touch.
In contrast, electronic music generates vibrations through inorganic principles such as electrical signals and circuits. When the subtle tremors of traditional instruments resonate with the intricate tones of electronic sounds in an improvised dialogue, performers from distinct realms expand each other’s languages, creating a new sensory experience.
The project album Ancient Moment marks the first collaboration between the Korean contemporary music ensemble WhatWhy Art and the Seoul underground electronic music collective vurt.. It is a record of a free journey where two different worlds collide and merge, breaking cultural boundaries and dismantling aesthetic hierarchies.In Part 2 of the album, you will hear boundless performances by haegeum player Jieun Kang with electronic musician Djilogue, and Whatwhy Art with electronic musician Siot.
The recording was done in an improvised one-take format at STUDIO Y in Seoul, and Giuseppe Tillieci mastering enhanced the sonic quality.
Credit
Jieun Kang / Haegeum
Hong Yoo / Daegeum
Hwayoung Lee / Gayageum
Woongsik Kim / Korean Traditional Percussion
Djilogue / Electronics
Siot / Electronics
Produced by Hong Yoo, Yoojun
Executive Produced by Jieun Kang
Designed by Yoojun
Motion Graphic Video Created by Nahsol
Live Sound Recorded by Jeong Morgan at STUDIO Y
Mastered by Giuseppe Tillieci at Enisslab
Supported by Arts Council Korea (ARKO)
Distributed by Space Cadets
Released by WhatWhy Art & vurt.

Out of Buenos Aires, Argentina the ever-consistent Manuel Sahagun comes
correct for Sounds of Style Records with our 6th release titled “Feed The
Flame EP”.
With excellent releases on Freerange, Pomme Fritte and Fortunea we are
excited to welcome Manuel to the team!
We start off with a jam that's funky and moving titled “Stressed Out’ that’ll give
the heads something to think about while the dance floor boogie’s. Next up is
“1000 Shamans” with a nice spoken word over a funky chugger that will turn
out the heads whether its early in the night or full-on boogie till the sun comes
up.

The B side starts off with our title track “Feed The Flame” which gets to the
feels of classic House music that we love so much! We round out the ep with
“Younger Brother” that ties a catchy spoken word over solid chord work and
bumping low-end to round out this quality record!
Already getting play by DJ Sneak, Toomy Disco, Jay West, DJ Dazy, Mateo
Dufour, Cory Wells, Sound Process & more.
Up next, we have Eddie Leader ”Need To Pivot EP” that is due out January 30th!

l 4What Does It Take (To Win Your Love for Me) feat. Jonathan Butler












[l] c4 | What Does It Take (To Win Your Love for Me) [feat Jonathan Butler]












[l] c4 | What Does It Take (To Win Your Love for Me) [feat Jonathan Butler]

It’s with great pride that we announce this amazing album on Optimo Music from Portland-based duo Natural Magic. It was the final vinyl release that Keith McIvor aka JD Twitch put into production before his untimely departure in late September this year.

Having been a long time lover of everything krautrock, space rock, experimental and psychedelic it seems more than fitting that he leaves us this LP as his parting gift; because this sublime album is all these things wrapped up into one and much more.

The album’s opening track “Galaxy Builder”, with its driving tempo, monolithic bass and screaming guitars might give the impression we’re about to hear a Neu for the 21st Century, but no, by the 2nd track we’re already on the first of several wild detours into uncharted territories: part shoe gaze, part ethereal, part psychedelia it’s a unique piece of beautiful euphoria from start to finish. By the time we reach the end of the A-side’s closing track “Distant Bells” the whole place is in tears after hearing possibly one of the most poignant pieces of electronic music of the entire year.

The B-side takes us even deeper into this trip through the duo’s homeland in the Pacific Northwest opening with “Skyward Eye”. If the Orb had ever teamed up with Slowdive and gotten Andrew Weatherall on production this could be it. “Get It Right” is a fuzz-filled epic with heavy dub leanings and meanings...it soars high up into the beyond and prepares us for “Ride”; an unashamed space voyage in the true sense…cosmic guitars, laden with FX; before returning gently down to the rolling green hills of Earth with the closing track “Chugsby’s Theme”. Whoever Chugsby is, his vibe is organic, deeply grounded and beautiful.

In the duo’s own words:

“Natural Magic II is a west coast road trip soundtrack for the fading summer. Taking inspiration from the majesty and myths of their home in the Pacific Northwest, the seven track album is culled from the late night, dimly lit, live sessions of Mike McKinnon on keys/drums and Matthew Quiet on bass. Overdubs of guitar, synths and percussion followed. All this from the same space they throw their legendary Limited Edition parties - all-night free experimentation celebrations in their own right. The album art work is handmade flower pigments, opium poppy pollen ink and wood-scrap charcoal by their friend and collaborator Pith Cocomici. Roll the widows down, tilt the seat back and turn it up. Gas, grass or black mass... there's magic in the hills.

Les Enfants Terribles presents LETM011 by DJ Real Madrid with the new EP No Smoking:

Dear readers and listeners,

My name is Tillmann Ostendarp, others know me as DJ Real Madrid. I love to play instruments, I love to play with machines. And this is something I did in May 2024, when I spent one week in my beautiful studio. Over the course of the week I recorded „NO SMOKING“ which is going to be my first Vinyl Release as „DJ Real Madrid“. No Smoking contains 4 Tracks: „Ta Ta“ which is a Juno-driven deep homage to the god of funk „Johnny Guitar Watson“. „Leave It Be“ is a big percussive jam that tells you to mind your own business. When I knocked out „GGGGGG“, I invited Dino Brandao and Mel D over to jam on the microphone, which led to a dark humorous ode to the insanity of our world. The last track is called „Merlasco“ and brings back the hope that we all will come together in the morning sunrise!

About the artist: Greetings from Oesje. I don't know what to say, it's very surprising that people so far away like my record from the 70s. This was my only record with songs in English, and vocoder. I was young and very ambitious that time, but now I'm a family man who works from eight till four. These days I only write songs in my own language, because music is just a hobby and I perform only on special occasions in Surinam. Surinam is where I come from. That is my story, I hope everyone enjoys my music.

Diagonal welcomes Scott Gordon to the fold. Scott has previously released on Editions Mego as one half of Oto Hiax, a collaborative project with Mark Clifford of Seefeel (Warp Records). He's also released a series of EPs and one album under his Loops Haunt alias via the Black Acre imprint. For his Diagonal debut, Scott offers up "Metals", a double EP of sorts: two sides of wax with two separate titles, "And Away" on side one backed with "Tilts" on side two. Each set is a study in using mechanical means to seek tone, rhythm and texture via unexpected objects and instruments. Both sides feature Scott's custom made Spinning Plate Instrument SPI. The SPI is a large, motorised vertical frame that spins a series of metal plates. These can be struck via midi - mechanical 'beaters'. These recordings also feature Scott playing the SPI manually. The results are both gripping and provocative. Mastered by Russell Haswell. Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) to vinyl.

Following on from the first KMS Sampler, PDD in conjunction with Armada Music & BEAT Music Fund return for Volume 2 in the series. Once again mining the delights in the expansive catalogue, Volume 2 showcases four more essential cuts. Up first is the classic MK Mix of R-Tyme’s – Use Me. Next up on the A side we have the legendary pairing of Chez Damier and Ron Trent with their remix of Inner City – Share My Life. On the flip, the D’Pac Dub of Dionne opens the B side and then rounding off the EP is the second Inner City track, this time remixed by another Detroit hero, Carl Craig.

Just like Volume 1, the audio has been lovingly remastered by AIR Studios and their team of celebrated engineers, fully utilising their mastering knowledge. Another brilliant volume from KMS!

After following Luke Blair's work for approaching two decades from his 2007 debut as Lukid on Actress' Werk Discs, we're humbled to present a new album on Death Is Not The End. Following relatively hot on the heels of 2023's Tilt (his first in 11 years, not counting his work with Jackson Bailey under the Rezzett guise) Underloop brings Blair's innate knack for building loops and sound structures further to the surface, while allowing his ear for emotional expression to be dialled up a notch. Those fortunate enough to be familiar with Lukid's work as a DJ will be aware of how distinct his ability is to seamlessly disappear into loop-based abstraction and back again seemingly without blinking, and often Underloop feels much like a collection of the sludgey interludes and foggy sketches that underpin his sets. Blending apparently ramshackle melodies and textures and pulling them together into an undeniable whole, Blair's tendency for pairing the simple and the indescribable with an understated vigour is fully on show here.

Written and produced by Luke Blair. Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi.

‘Get A Life, Listen To Autumns’ is a statement that tells you everything you need to know about the quality and attitude of the Irish producer’s latest EP. His DNO debut presents five tracks of steel-studded EBM and industrial run through with his trademark dub aesthetics.

A1 ‘100 Ways To Get Fucked’ — another bold title — struts its stuff to a methodical stomp; strained vocals pulled out of shape and fed back into macabre forms; low-end chugging like some smoke-billowing, grease-slicked machine.
‘Let It Melt’ picks up the pace, making judicious use of the reverse function, while subtle acid chirps and woozy arpeggios provide a chaotic, though not unpleasant, dissonance that induces a feeling of headrush.
‘Petted’ swaggers like sex incarnate, alongside snatches of diva vox and the kind of sweeping space-age pads that Holst might have used had he been born a century later, seemingly taking cues from the hot and sweaty nights of ’80s Chicago.

Over on the B-side, ‘LDRO’ sets its kicks and snares thrusting at full tilt over an inexorable bassline; Autumns’ favourite effect, delay, keeping things squelching like the jellified flesh of a ballistics dummy.
And to finish, ‘God’s Gift’ drops down to a sludgy rhythm — though with surprisingly spritely percussion — to match its tortured guitar, shrieking horns, and deadly subs. A fever dream of twisted metal and hot breath, like the gradual slowing after the climax of debauchery.

Marking a sultry new route for DNO, Autumns’ first for the label is confident, confrontational, and
not to be missed.

Rhythms of postmodern realism at the very bottom of the DNO.

Welcoming elusive Japanese guitarist, Kouhei Fukuzumi, for his 3rd solo full-length as Ultrafog. ‘A Replica Screams’ emerges as a collection of drifting memories, a chain reaction of unique combinations of elements already present in the World. It embraces the idea that existence itself is positively shaped by serendipity and meaningful coincidences, and that we are all falling together, in time, and on time.

The vinyl edition contains an original artwork poster presenting João Bragança Gil’s ‘The Origin’ (On & On), an installation on synchronicity and fossils, which materialized in conjunction with Ultrafog’s live show at Ufonic (Lisbon, September 2024).

Mastering by Giuseppe Tillieci in Rome
Design by Eunseo Kim in Seoul
Manufacturing by AFG in Rome

With centuries of history, traditional instruments carry physical vibrations shaped by human breath and touch. In contrast, electronic music generates vibrations through inorganic principles such as electrical signals and circuits. When the subtle tremors of traditional instruments resonate with the intricate tones of electronic sounds in an improvised dialogue, performers from distinct realms expand each other’s languages, creating a new sensory experience. The project album Ancient Moment marks the first collaboration between the Korean contemporary music ensemble WhatWhy Art and the Seoul underground electronic music collective vurt.. It is a record of a free journey where two different worlds collide and merge,

In Part 1 of the album, you will hear boundless performances by daegeum player Hong Yoo with electronic musician Unjin, and gayageum player Hwayoung Lee with ambient duo Hosoo. The recording was done in an improvised one-take format at STUDIO Y in Seoul, and Giuseppe Tillieci mastering enhanced the sonic quality.

Five years after the release of 'The First Circle' Neroli celebrates its 25th anniversary with a new volume.
'The Second Circle' picks up from where its predecessor left and expands its aestethic into more musical territories.
The album moves from still ambience and majestic uplifting strings to quirky electronics, it explores expansive fusion landscapes till landing into Detroit beatless territories accompanying the listener to multiple musical places and to embrace this unique spiritual journey. Featuring original unreleased compositions by: Nu Era, Lar Bartkuhn, Molinaro, Claude Young jr, Joe Claussell, EDB, Jordan GCZ, Other Lands, Stephen Lopkin, Meftah, Zopelar and Volcov.

With CAPTAIN, BNXN takes the wheel. The Nigerian singer-songwriter has always blurred the lines between afrobeats, R&B, and soulful introspection—but this time, he’s driving with full control, no co-pilot. The album marks a defining moment for BNXN (pronounced "Benson"): a confident, fully-formed statement from an artist who’s learned to trust his instincts, sharpen his pen, and follow his own creative compass.

From the cinematic opener to the late-night confessionals tucked between glossy hooks, CAPTAIN feels like a diary written at cruising altitude. BNXN threads personal stories through rich instrumentation—balancing Yoruba and English lyrics, weaving between amapiano pulses, stripped-down ballads, and smoky alt-R&B. Standout moments find him unpacking fame’s isolations, questioning loyalty, and wrestling with what it means to lead without losing yourself. There’s growth in every verse, not just in what he says, but how he says it: sharper, more intentional, and wholly unafraid to take risks. This is BNXN unfiltered—charting new territory without ever losing sight of home.

‘Before the Odysee, there was the Iliad; a tale of the golden age of heroes and warriors.'

The idea behind the Iliads series was to return to the sound of the golden age of Jungle/Drum & Bass, and more specifically the original ‘heroes’ of the Odysee label.
This fourth and final instalment concludes the series; bringing all the different styles of the original Odysee sound together in a grand finale. From deep atmospheric beauty to sinister dystopian breakbeat fury; Iliads IV has it all.

Oubliette immediately creates a feeling of unease and paranoia. The rapid injection of different breakbeats gives the track an unsettled feel; with nervy piano jangles and moaning samples adding to this atmosphere. The track drops with punching subs and razor-sharp curling breaks from amidst the desolation of the atmosphere of the intro. The call and response style is used to cut from break to break maintaining the unease of the intro. The drums & bass break down into a
dystopian landscape of sound, before dropping once more to take the track towards its conclusion.

A Point In Time with its obvious reference to a compilation series on a certain well-loved atmospheric Jungle label is all about conjuring nostalgia. There are notable references to bygone days; the infamous bulb bass and bleeps of the Warehouse days of glory, and the tearing mentasms that enter in the approach to the breakdown. The breaks are crisp and complex, the sub-lines deep and dark; a track truly built for a dark sweaty basement club where the bass bins
are pushed to their limits!

Love & Desire is a sultry deep atmospheric roller full of subtle references to the early UK Garage sound of the mid 90’s or even Deep dub Tech-House. The elegant curls of the Apache break that takes centre stage in this track are complimented by sweeping pads and a set of deep synth stabs that form the rhythmic backbone. The subs drop deep amidst a palette of avant-garde electronica, as the spoken word vocals call out “my love....my desire.”

We really hope you’ve enjoyed the Iliads series as much as we have; they represent a very special sound that is close to the very heart of what we at Odysee are about. As much as they focus the lens on the past, we truly believe they have had a profound effect on our future....in as much as they have brought us back to the raw essence of our sound.
Andy & Tilla

Syncretic marks the debut full-length from Australian duo Bhairavi Raman, a Western and Carnatic violinist, and Nanthesh Sivarajah, a mridangam player and versatile percussionist. Both artists share a Tamil heritage, a current that hums across the album. Raman, from South India, and Sivarajah, from Sri Lanka, draw lines that connect Western practice and Carnatic tradition. This hybrid is central to Raman’s approach as a violinist, an instrument itself caught between East and West since the late 18th century. Her playing folds history, lineage and experimentation into music that acknowledges inheritance while gently rewiring its circuitry.

Expanding on traditional music can be a precarious practice, but Syncretic never feels heavy-handed. Raman and Sivarajah exercise measured restraint, letting the Carnatic framework breathe even as it is refracted through contemporary tools. Delays, looping, subtle layering and synthesized harmonies tilt tradition into a new light without disguising it.

Even within a contemporary framework, Raman’s rigorous Carnatic training under gurus Sri S. Varadarajan (India), Sri Murali Kumar (Australia) and Sri Gopinath Iyer (Australia) is unmistakable. She captures the spiritual and emotional essence of each raga: on Seven, the playful raga Bahudari becomes both centrepiece and conduit, while on the traditional piece Thunbam Nergayil, drawn from a Tamil poem, we hear a deeply personal iteration, a weeping euphony of mixed emotions hitting all at once. Tradition here is absorbed, expanded and reframed.

Sivarajah’s command of the mridangam, honed by his gurus Sri Jambunathan (Sri Lanka), Sri Balasri Rasiah (Australia) and Sri T. R. Sundaresan (India), is central to his original composition Guardian. He sustains tradition while extending it through layering and sound-spatialisation. The mridangam here functions as both a structural and ornamental force, mapping continuity between inherited form and contemporary sonic architecture.

Syncretic resonates as a space where Tamil heritage, diasporic memory and contemporary practice coalesce. Culture, like sound, circulates, transforms and persists. Tradition is not an archive but living material, a soundworld that lingers in the ears and the imagination.

MAXED OUT MAXI EP OF THE HIGHEST ORDER FROM TAPES, HONOURING JAHTARI'S 20 YEARS OF D.I.G.I.T.A.L. BUSINESS IN FINEST STYLE...LOADED WITH RIB-8-BIT PRESSURE!

Four digital dancehall scorchers with two accompanying 8-bit versions meticulously crafted with the soundsystem session in mind!

Tapes has been spreading wonky saturated riddim goodness since his ground breaking “Hissing Theatricals” EP in 2009. Now, after a brief hibernation in the northern spawning pools, he’s spinning up his reels once again to present a new killer set of amphibian friendly, nintendo-fied sound system depth charges!

The “Photos of My Frog EP” is croaking off with its oddly addictive namesake: a surefire pond party starter – Ribbit! Hopping along, the adorable but tuff “Cleat Skank” and its gameboy driven pollywog follow, swinging their 8bit melody lasso till the cows come home. Yeehaw!

“Ramp Up” on B is a dense and raw FM synth digi banger, sure to fry any nearby circuits, so best beware! “Back Cramp Riddim” then turns up the low end even more and swirls its drums and synths into the next delay vortex, warping into a pixelated 8bit conclusion.

Whatever your taste in insects there’s something on this record for any lover of vintage dancehall and amphibious wild life alike!

These are going to fly out - sticky tongues at the ready!

Advanced Art was formed in Tampere, Finland, in 1985 by Jana, Pete, and Vince. Too young to be part of the first wave of Finnish groups inspired by German synth pioneers and New Romantics, they instead forged their own path and soon became pioneers themselves. For the next ten years, Advanced Art defined and dominated Finland’s small but growing electronic underground. They inspired a new generation of Finns to experiment with synthesizers, built an international cult following, and were deeply involved in the local scene—running clubs, organizing events, and performing at some of the very first warehouse parties in the country.

Although the line-up shifted over time, the group’s creative drive consistently came from the partnership between Jana, who supplied the voice and words, and Vince, who shaped the music with his machines. Together they defined the band’s distinctive blend of sharp electronics and lyrical vision.

After several cassette demos and two 7-inch singles, Advanced Art signed to Poko Rekords in 1991. The EPs Scar and Time raised their profile both at home and abroad, especially thanks to valuable exposure on MTV Europe’s 120 Minutes. Known for their perfectionism, they finally released their debut album Product in January 1993. On Product the line-up was Jana (lyrics, vocals), Vince (music, production), and Factor (percussion, studio work). Having moved through phases of synth pop, EBM, and industrial, the album showcased Vince’s vision of a unified sound and style more clearly than ever before.

Force followed in 1994, conceived as a multi-part concept album (Update / Live / Retro). Recorded with live percussionist PW joining Jana and Vince, it expanded on the groundwork of Product with new beats, ideas, and a sharper, more defined identity.

By 1995, exactly ten years after their founding, Jana and Vince decided to bring Advanced Art to a close on the band’s birthday, 13 October. Their run had been precise: one decade of creative output, ending with a legacy that laid foundations for Finland’s electronic scene.

Now, conveniently coinciding with the band’s 40th anniversary, Advanced Art present Forced Product. This double-LP set, fully remastered, features Product in its entirety, alongside the Update and Retro sections of Force, plus additional EP tracks and remixes recorded between 1991 and 1994 at “Audible Art” – less a studio than a concept, existing wherever machines and people met.

Limited to 450 copies, Forced Product comes in a gatefold sleeve with poster and sticker, offering a definitive document of Finland’s pioneering electronic cult heroes — a band that helped invent their country’s scene and left a lasting influence far beyond it.

d b2 Screamin’ Rachael - Gina (XXX) Someone from Lithuania with a Friend Named Jorge Remix

Seoul-based DJ and producer DJ Botermelk launches his new vinyl label Venn with a solid four-tracker of club-ready tools.

Kicking off the EP, ‘Rubber Glover’ is a wonky stomper layered with hypnotic vocals and percolating FX.

A2 settles into a deeper, minimal groove with dubbed out synths perfect for a cheeky jaunt down the streets of ‘Milwaukee’.

On the flip, ‘Rearview’ takes on a more sinister tilt, with a rumbling bass line, menacing vocals, and a punchy drum workout to keep things driving forward.

Fresh off a run of standout releases on Mindhelmet, Limousine Dream and Sex Tapes From Mars, Bristol-based producer Boulderhead closes out the EP on a more optimistic note with his bouncy remix of ‘Rubber Glover’, driven by razor-sharp drum programming and pulsing drones.

Eramus Hall's 1980 album 'Your Love Is My Desire' is one of the most collectable and in fact desired modern soul albums of all time. Copies of the original pressing on Westbound have exchanged hands for over £400. From the LP comes two of its most desirable tracks, neither released before on 7' outside of a limited run of the LP reissue on Expansion for this year's Record Store Day.
Eramus Hall are in fact a group taking their name from a building George Clinton saw and gave them while he was in Chicago. The group comprise lead vocalists Michael Gatheright and James Wilkerson with musicians Ronald Wright, Marvin Williams, Joe Anderson, Grady Smith, Charmie Currie and William Tillery.

Tokyo producer Yusuke Iguchi aka RGL makes his long-form debut with Touzan, an album that expands on the soulful, groove-rich sound introduced on his inaugural EPs for Breaker Breaker.

Named after the Kawagoe Tōzan fabric woven by Iguchi’s mother and featured on the artwork, the record weaves together house, hip-hop and jazz-tinged textures into RGL’s most distinctive statement yet - a deeply crafted vision of modern Japanese house music.

Introducing Beautiful, a 4-track, club-focused EP by Copenhagen’s Hekt on Numbers. It hints at his mass appeal while featuring club-ready vocal collaborations from close friends Henriette (on ‘Beautiful’ and ‘You Won’t Believe’) and Catharina (on ‘Anytime Anywhere’), who together record as Smerz.

Working entirely without samples, Hekt is a sculptor wielding digital synthesis and sticky hooks, with each element carefully constructed from the ground up and the process just as important as the finished result. “It’s about trying to be honest with what I like at every level,” he says. “To maximise the points where I'm forced to check in with my feelings on each aspect of the songwriting, sound design, mixing, and any other aesthetic choice. Creating digital approximations tilts towards an uncanny space where everything is crystal-clear but also kind of warped.”

On opening track “Beautiful”, the descending bass and acid lines are inspired by tracks Hekt and friends used to test subwoofers in the cars they rode around during their teenage years. “You Won’t Believe” started off as a MIDI piano sketch that accelerated towards the epic emotional impact of EDM stadium-fillers like Avicii and Eric Prydz. In a playful nod to internet culture, Hekt recalls that “I had this idea for adding a vocal that played on YouTube thumbnails and self-promotion. I called Henriette when she was in France and asked her to phrase it as epic as possible, and she sent two ideas over for ‘Beautiful’ and ‘You Won’t Believe’.”

On ‘Anytime Anywhere’, Hekt reimagines his sound at 110 BPM. What began as studio experiments morphed from Neptunes or Timbaland-style productions into a crunchy pressure overload closer to Gescom via Lazer Dim 700, with Hekt also adding his own vocals.

Steve Moore reprises his beloved Lovelock guise by presenting his unique riff on the library breaks genre. Business And Pleasure contains grimy groove and sleazy, funk-laden lounge music.

This vinyl release is hyper-limited, with just 500 pressed for the world.

The LP is ushered in by the spacey synth-funk of the sleazy, woozy title track. This is that serious slo-mo cosmic-balearic head-nod shit. Laidback bass, heavy funk with dreamy synth and electric guitars. An outstanding opener. Up next, the dynamic, swaggering "Last Call" is a sophisticated, elegant stroll - sweeping, mellow strings, a smooth bassline and gorgeous percussion with urgent keys and swelling synths.

"Slinky Strut" is another spaced-out, sleazy funk groove with jazz rock by way of a heavy, heavy guitar riff, mellotron and bass breakdowns which build to brass crescendos. Gigantic. "First Class" closes out the side, and, like classic Hawkshaw / Bennett noir, it's got that mysterious and murky stretched out sleuth / detective soul with a great bassline and percussive elements, with swelling strings, ace synths and smooth Rhodes piano melodies entering the mix halfway through. Dramatic guitars and groovy percussion add extra intrigue. It's 7 minutes of funk!

Side B opens with the stretched-out psychedelic funk and jazz groove of "Stank 49". It takes its sweet time to unfurl, creating enormous - almost sensual - anticipation for the ensuing beauty but, as it does, we're left beguiled and straight-up hypnotised. Heaven-sent synth flourishes and a laidback bassline over smooth drums cement its simple, vivacious grace. "Dangerous Man" is that creeping crime funk we all love; heavy bass and fuzzy guitar riffs, mellow strings and sumptuous piano/synths. It's irresistible, it's ominous and it's pretty gargantuan. It's basically like an El-P hip-hop instrumental. We need to get some rappers over this stuff, stat!

"Stinkbug" is a dazzling and funky groove-fuelled jazz-rock workout with fizzing synth riffs joined by full percussion and drum breaks, building with strings to a strong swagger. Vigour! To close out this remarkable set, the breezy "Win Or Lose" is laidback soul-inflected funk, utilising urgent, skipping drums and galloping basslines. Just stunning.

This collection was written and recorded in Spring and Summer of ’24. Everything was tracked at Steve's home studio in Albany, NY except the drums and percussion, which were recorded by Jeff Gretz at his space in NYC. The whole collection is basically a rhythm section feature, so Steve's Rickenbacker 4003 and Fender Jazz Bass play very prominently. The bass guitar serves as lead instrument in a lot of these tracks. Also, lots of Rhodes and stringers (Solina, Logan etc) and guitar (Strat and Les Paul). He even dusted off my sax for this one, which he doesn’t do as often as he’d like!

This type of groove-oriented library music has been a steady part of Steve's diet since the late 90’s. In heavy rotation while writing this collection were the following classics: “Time Signals” by Klaus Weiss, “Tilsley Orchestral No. 10” by Reg Tilsley, and “Heavy Truckin’” by Simon Haseley. “Voyage” by Brian Bennett was also a big one.

Lovelock started as a dedicated Italo-disco project, but over the years Steve expanded it to include anything directly informed by the commercial/pop side of the music of his childhood (70s/80s). Writing and recording this album was, like a lot of Steve's music these days, basically a test to see whether or not he could do it.

The song titles, like the music, are meant to be evocative yet vague. But there is a bit of a travel theme. Steve imagined this record being the soundtrack to a sleazy salesman’s business trip. The kind of guy who, when asked if he’s traveling for business or pleasure, responds “both.” Beyond the traveling salesman comparison, the title directly relates to the creation of this album. This was something he wanted to do just for his own enjoyment. Yet, like our sleazy salesman, he still found a way to get paid.

The album’s cover was designed by Chris Stevenson, with no little direction from Steve. He knew that he wanted to go with something photography-based for this cover so, in true DIY/cheapskate spirit, Steve started by looking through his own photos. He found the cover image on his phone, taken through an almost empty bottle of beer, and it clicked. The whole album has a very boozy vibe (especially with titles like “Last Call”) so this shot seemed appropriate. We, hic, agree.

Mastering for this vinyl edition was overseen by Be With regular Simon Francis, and it was cut by the esteemed Cicely Balston at Abbey Road Studios to be pressed in the Netherlands by Record Industry.

Detroit, MI – – Blank Code Records, a cornerstone of the underground electronic music scene, is proud to announce the launch of its highly anticipated sublabel, Modern Relics @modernrelicsrecords. This new venture is set to redefine the future of electronic music by merging a diverse range of genres, including techno, drum & bass, atmospheric, polyrhythms, ambient, and dub.

Conceived in the heart of Detroit, Michigan—an internationally renowned hub for electronic music innovation—Modern Relics is dedicated to exploring the freshest, most experimental soundscapes. The label aims to introduce listeners to groundbreaking productions that push the boundaries of genre and convention, reflecting the cutting-edge spirit of the underground scene.

Modern Relics will serve as a platform for both emerging and established artists who are unafraid to break free from traditional constraints, weaving together intricate rhythms and atmospheric textures that captivate and challenge the listener’s perception of sound. Drawing from a wide array of global influences, the label will focus on music that’s as dynamic as it is genre-defying, from hypnotic techno to the pulse of drum and bass, with hints of ambient sound design and the intricate complexity of polyrhythms.

"We wanted to create a space where experimentalism meets accessibility, where the boundaries of different genres can be blurred and redefined," says Co-Founder Chad Parraghi. "Detroit’s legacy in electronic music made it the perfect place to launch a new chapter that honors the city’s rich history while also pushing into the future with new and innovative sounds."

Modern Relics will launch with a series of forward-thinking releases. Expect immersive soundscapes that transport you into uncharted auditory territories—one where techno meets the experimental, drum and bass merges with ambient sound design, and dub echoes resonate within polyrhythmic structures. The label will feature a diverse roster of talented artists whose work reflects the international underground, bringing together voices from every corner of the globe.



Bio: Echoføn is the project of Detroit producers and Blank Code co-founders Chad Parraghi and Corbin Davis. Their music pulls from the roots of Detroit techno while folding in the energy of drum & bass and the complexity of polyrhythms, giving their tracks a sound that feels both raw and forward-looking.
Through their work with Blank Code, Parraghi and Davis have long been part of Detroit’s underground, building spaces for artists and pushing new ideas into the scene. Echoføn is a natural extension of that—two voices combining into something new, but still grounded in the city that shaped them.

Their first release, the Empty Space EP on Modern Relics Records, has already picked up support from artists like Polygonia, Kangding Ray, and Forest on Stasys, marking an exciting start for what’s ahead.

Hard Times and DJ Spen go back decades. The Baltimore house veteran has long been a fixture at the label’s parties, on the remixes, and now under his Muthafunkaz alias he cements the bond with a set that’s as much a time capsule as it is a renewal. The Muthafunking Hard Times EP revisits a clutch of Spen’s early-to-mid-2000s jams that, till now, have never been committed to wax. True to form, Spen hasn’t simply dusted them off: he’s remastered, refreshed, and imbued them with a 2025 gleam, bridging past and present in one irresistible sweep.

The A-side opens with the Funkee Kole Cappin’ Mix of 2008’s “(You Make Me Say) Woah!”, a gospel-fired stormer whose call-and-response vocals climb skyward while a cheeky Fab Four nod keeps things buoyant. “Holy Ghost” follows in its Holy Spirit incarnation, wringing church-floor catharsis from tribal percussion and sanctified chants - a blast of kinetic, almost Faya Combo-like fervor.

Flip the record and you’re hit with the swing and strut of 2010’s “Gotta Hold On Me,” Spen’s Vocal Mix turning horns and jazzy drums into a pure adrenaline surge. The closer, “Doin’ The Best I Can,” is a tonal shift: harmonica and guitar sketches circling loose-limbed beats, equal parts after-hours reverie and Sunday-morning balm.

Too vibrant, too joyous, too Spen not to press - The Muthafunking Hard Times EP isn’t just archival housekeeping. It’s an affirmation of what house music does best: uplift, electrify, and remind you that, even decades on, the spirit still moves.

DJ Support: Fred P, Mark Farina, Harvey Sutherland and more

When two underground icons like James Curd and Fred P join forces, the result is more than just acollaboration-it's a cross-continental meeting of deep house minds. The track was born in James Curd's Adelaide studio while Fred P was in Australia, capturing a rare and organic creative moment between two respected figures in house music. James Curd, known for his work with Greenskeepers and his extensive catalog across labels like Classic, Defected, and DFA, brings a playful yet precise groove, while Fred P, the introspective deep house pioneer behind Black Jazz Consortium, adds soulful depth and hypnotic finesse. The remix package elevates things even further. Harvey Sutherland, a staple in Australia's modern funk and electronic scene, brings his analog synth wizardry-his remix credentials include Disclosure and Jamiroquai. Austin Ato, a UK house innovator with a DFTD remix for Groove Armada, injects vibrant dancefloor energy. And Junior Sanchez, a long-time figure in New York's club culture, rounds it out with a heavyweight version - he's flipped everyone from A-Trak to Madonna. This is a lineup that speaks volumes before you even hit play.