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The Star Beams album is a bit of an enigma. When we first came across their epic dance-floor monster 'Disco Stomp’ it was on a Disco Calypso compilation, so we assumed it originated from the Caribbean. Years later we worked out how wrong we were and that this nugget was actually from South Africa and taken off an ultra scarce album on JAS Pride records from 1976. The next problem was tracking down an original copy and we don’t think we’ve ever seen our Bongo team member Gary Johnson as happy as the day he turned up clutching a copy under his arm. 'Play Disco Specials' was produced by Ray Nkwe who also worked with Mankunku Quartet and The Soul Jazzmen, with all writing credits on the album going to Ray, the recording credited to engineer Robin Ritchie and the artwork to Carol Knowles. Other than this, the personnel of the record remains a mystery, but sometimes a bit of mystery is a good thing. Aside from the disco-jazz-funk of 'Disco Stomp’, which has found it’s way into the DJ sets of Theo Parrish, 'Play Disco Specials’ will appeal to fans of The Star Beams South African contemporaries The Drive, Batsumi and Pacific Express.

Standards & Practices returns after an extended hiatus with its first release for 2020 and the label's first-ever compilation. Showcasing six exclusive tracks from a variety of musically like-minded allies both new and established, "Out Of Practice Vol. 1" finds some of the most talented artists currently working in electronic music refining their sound and pushing their craft in exciting new directions.

Stave and Grebenstein's "Rack 4", their first collaboration since 2018's acclaimed "Live From Frankfurter Strasse", kicks off the proceedings with a view into a bleak, dystopian sonic landscape, while Italian producer VSK, known for his excellent EPs on Mord and 47 (among others) delivers "Pendulum", one of his best tracks to date - a visceral, unrelenting, broken-beat behemoth. Closing side A is Chicago native Todd Mattei 's contribution, "Lake Charles", a beautifully textured Frippian soundscape.

Kristian Jabs, better known to most as Pessimist, opens side B with "Rut", a sleek, stripped-down, techno track that positively drips with moody atmospherics and tension. Overlook and Karim Maas's contribution, the dense and claustrophobic "Chalk", is an ultra-heavy breaks track with hoovers and enough sub-bass to shatter blocks of granite. "7th Recording 29", an ambient piece which represents Jonathan Krohn's first recorded collaboration with long-time friend and associate Benjamin Mjolsness since their work together in the group Male - closes the compilation.

Massage Brain Cult VA1

Written and produced by BOT1500, D'Arcangelo, Mause, Jessica Walrus, fxbip, Velum break

Digital Mastering by Julian Tardo from Church Road Studios

Vinyl Mastering and Cutting by Keith Tenniswood from Curve Pusher

Uncompromising Hi-Speed and -Quality on Strictly Strictly’s 5th EP produced by Mathis Ruffing. No less than 6 ultra-fast paced bangers fractured by bustling breakbeat escapades. Opener Speed House Tool perfectly entitles the uncompromising A-Side with pure dashing power throughout. Side B contrasts with the aerial spirit of its three elegantly stitched Electro Traxx. Tangible / Elastic – deploying the future.

Maceo Plex hasn't dropped an original on Drumcode since 2014 when the hugely popular 'Conjure Infinity' EP was released. Despite this, he's been a significant feature at DC events over the last year.
Sharing a tight relationship with Adam Beyer, the pair have laid down memorable B2B sets at Warehouse Project, Ultra Music Festival, and the Resistance opening party in Ibiza this summer, thus cementing their tight musical bond.

Produced in the early part of 2019, 'Destination Mars' marks his terrific return to Beyer's iconic label. The track is trademark Maceo, a master class in tension and release, characterized by a slick low-end bass hum that gathers steam as crunchy drum lines and breathy vocal accents combine effectively with the main vocal lead, a contribution from Josh Wink, no less.

... No surprise, it went down a storm when debuted at Time Warp's mammoth 25th-anniversary party in April and has been highlighting the Ellum boss' sets ever since.

The ever-reliable Raxon is charged with remix duties, stripping back the track's engine to focus on a central melody, chugging bassline, and hypnotizing vocal effects. Shall Ocin's re-rub is made for misty-eyed mornings as celestial pads result in a transcendental finale to bring it home.

Berlin based Dame Bonnet makes music influenced by post punk and cold wave and with a primitive and reverb-drenched production he creates a tragic dream for the listener to sink in to.

The music has a sentimental feel to it but the pretentions are avoided thanks to the direct sound and the unremitting drums which contributes to give the tracks a forward momentum instead of a stuck in place-feeling.

Dame Bonnet makes sad club music with traces from the early eighties In England, a society ravaged by the cold individualism as a result to neo conservative politics - a time that resembles ours, where people gets categorized out of prejudice and the social welfare systems are uninstalled bit by bit in front of a sparser crowd of woke people.

In Europe, now in the 2010s, a supposed dead ultraconservative monster is coming alive again and Dame Bonnets music makes the soundtrack to that process.

Hamsa Intenational 003, Dj Pegasuz & Donnay pres. Endless Mief #3!
Wie ein guter Höhlenkäse musste ebenfalls die 3. Scheibe ordentlich reifen damit die Ultra Portion Mief auch garantiert bleibt!
Endless Mief #3. Keep it simple... Keep it Sylt!

After taking time out to search for the right blend of carefully curated tracks, Bristol-based dancefloor futurists Innate return with a third multi-artist EP - shot through with melody, warmth and soul.

A quartet of timeless-sounding tracks full of stargazing sounds, undulating acid lines, far-sighted electronics and crackling beats, the A side kicks off with Perseus Traxx's "Drifting In Space": a loose-limbed exercise in analogue house deepness that wraps slowly shifting pads, meandering melodies and pulsating TB-303 motifs around broken house drums.

Welcoming Australian scene stalwart Ewan Jansen to the fray with "Sinders", he effortlessly blurs the boundaries between far-sighted, Motor City style techno and the kind of head-in-the-clouds analogue sounds that have always been his forte.

On the flip, Reedale Rise adds his touch with "Coral". In keeping with the brilliance of his 2018 debut album "Luminous Air", he drops a colourful, picturesque voyage into deep electro territory rich in ear-catching melodies, engaging chord sequences and crunchy machine percussion. To round, label co-founder Owain K returns with "Teifi", another ultra-deep treat: an enveloping, dancefloor excursion rich in fluttering lead lines, slowly expanding chords, vintage bass and punchy drums. A fitting conclusion to Innate's latest immaculate, eyes-closed voyage."

Cititrax presents a full length LP by a new duo called Tornische. Julio Tornero and Hanna Chamiarytskaya (aka Anneq) got together in Madrid after having met through mutual friends. Immediately, they bonded and found a musical chemistry between them. They went into the studio and began revisiting Julio's unreleased archives, incorporating what he had already recorded years ago with fresh sounds and Neu Deutsche Welle style duets. The result is a modern, chaotic, take on 80s European new wave, 90s detroit electro, and contemporary indie pop. The energy level is always high, the melodies are catchy and the vocal delivery and lyrics futuristic, subversive, italo-disco / punk, and surreal. A special album, this one is line with Medio Mutante's classic debut EP, 'Inestable' (2008) and not unlike the pioneering sound of Liaisons Dangereuses.

The vinyl will be pressed on 160 gram ultra clear and limited to 500 copies. The record is housed in a PVC printed sleeve, with a neon graphic designed by Peter Miles. The back features an image by Nastya Porukevich along with the track titles and album info.

... BubbleTease Communications and Running Back team up once again for Mim Suleiman’s fifth studio album on vinyl and compact disc. During the course of Si Bure you will find Mim at her very best.
It’s easy to imagine the Zanzibar-born-UK-based vocalist and percussionist dancing and prancing to the 14 songs featured here.

The tropes of house and disco are mixed here with wonderful rhythmic adventures, infectious futuristic pop and ultramodern African music, while the mesmerizing and addictive lyrics are sung in Swahili and deal with love and affection, freedom, oppression, unity and everyday life.
Enchanting, entrancing and entertaining all the way.
- Produced by Maurice Fulton.

Two great 'Tom Moulton' Mixes back to back! 'SOUTH SHORE COMMISSION' were a self contacted soul/funk band from Chicago.
They released their one self-titled, Billboard Dance Chart No.1 album in 1975 on Wand Records from which comes the Bunny Sigler composed/produced track “Free Man” featuring Instant Funk.

It was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. This Tom Moulton mix on “Free Man” was an original feature of the album and is considered one of the first proto-house records.

ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY:
More Philly splendor here from 1973 with “We’re On The Right Track” co-written and co-produced by Norman Harris. Mixed by Tom Moulton. Never previously released before on 12” single.

This is the 2nd single release from L'Épée, from the seminal album “Diabolique”. This 3 track single contains an exclusive track to the release “Shiny Shiny” & the artwork is by Frank Kozik.
The band are Emmaunelle Seigner (Ultra Orange & Emmanuelle), Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre) & Lionel & Marie Liminana (The Liminanas).

The late composer, arranger, musician and record producer Nonato Buzar is a lesser known great (outside of Brazil). His legacy leaves behind a rich body of recordings, working with some of the cream of the Brazilian 60s and 70s music scene, such as Evinha, Elis Regina, Wilson Das Neves to name a few as well as Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff. The awesome organ driven dancer of ‘Cafuá’ is taken from Nonato & Seu Conjunto’s 'O Som E O Balanço De Nonato’ album from 1975 on Som records.
Mr Bongo re-issued José Roberto’s (aka Ze Roberto) ultra rare 'Lotus 72 D' 7” earlier in 2019. 'Crioula Multicolorida’ though not as scarce as ‘Lotus' is still a hard record to find and is equally as great. This anthemic ‘samba rock’ gem, with its amazing breakdown, originally appeared as the B-side of a 7” in 1974 on RCA Victor. It has since been a favourite amongst Brazilian DJs and collectors, featuring on the influential ‘Via Brazil’ compilation series and 'Brazilian Beats Brooklyn' collection on Mr Bongo.

An ultra-pitch non skip DJ scratch tool with new content on vinyl by Ritchie Ruftone, with one side at 83 bpm and the flip side at 133 bpm.

2x12"

The first LP from Scorn since 2010’s Refuse; Start Fires, ​Cafe Mor ​is Mick Harris in his happy place. Which just happens to be in studio, demolishing all standards and rules for electronic bass music, and embodying the darkest, deepest sound in dub. ​Cafe Mor ​takes risks outside of the conventional Scorn apparatus, and with these risks come substantial rewards.

The album is comprised of powerful dub excursions, from the deep dark dank of the front two tracks Elephant and The Lower The Middle Our Bit, and gaining steam towards the ultraviolence of Mugwump Tea Room to Never Let It Be Said to the CRUSHING DEATH KICK of Who Are They Which One. A quick drive under the lights with a lasered out snare on Dulce, then we come across the appearance from ​Sleaford Mods ​frontman​, Jason Williamson,​ on the standout track on the LP, “Talk Whiff”. A cruise around the Midlands sighting the Broke Fridge and Tinder Surprise, with an instant classic refrain:

“Talk Whiff // I’m a busy person // I’ve had enough of it”
Cafe Mor culminates in the all-in-one dub affair SA70, letting rip all the new mixer and fx techniques of Harris’ most recent incarnation of Scorn. The album is the official soundtrack for all smoked out backroom deals, situations and arrangments, cancelling all small tours, and mongoose rhinocharging the bass to level 24.

All tracks Created and Mixed ​by MJ Harris in the Lad’s Old Room

B14 Mastered​ by Daniele Antezza for ​Dadub Mastering Studio

Artwork​, ​Layout ​by ​MachineTM

2x12"

"Reactions" is the debut album from First Tone, the musical partnership of New Orleans-based artists Turk Dietrich (Second Woman, Belong) and composer Duane Pitre (Important Records). While the project has been at work quietly sculpting their sound for years, "Reactions" is the first available set of recordings. Those familiar with the respective works of the two artists will be happy to find a collection of music that is very much of the duo, and yet totally unlike anything they've produced before.

Over six tracks, First Tone unfurl poignant, flickering compositional works that utilize pitch material that is tuned using the system known as Just Intonation (which Pitre has studied for nearly 15 years) in conjunction with various software and a single hardware synth. The result is a collection of music that is both organic and alien. Layers of tone and texture build and dissolve from the ultra minimal to the enormous, on occasion seamlessly blending the two. A wide array of striking timbres patiently wash over one another, at times sounding like organic instruments, at other times sounding completely otherworldly.

"Reactions" is a masterclass not only in sound design and dynamic range, but also in sonic depth. The album's approach to the usage of time and dynamics work together to create the perception of a three-dimensional spaciousness of sound. The holographic effects produced from the spaces between the album's sounds are mesmerizing, with discreet arrangements that demand repeat listens to fully absorb.

***ULTRA RARE GERMAN BOOGIE-FUNK REISSUE***
Tyree Glenn Jr. is no new name in the Tramp family. He is featured on both "Can You Feel It" Modern Soul/Disco comps and not to forget the Tramp 45rpm single release of two LP-only tracks (check his James Brown cover of "Superbad"!).
"Jealous Love" and "Beautiful Woman" were originally released on a superrare german 33rpm single EP from 1984. The first 150 copies come with a picture sleeve, so those who purchase it quickly may be lucky and get one of those!

The only cover tune on Carlton Jumel Smith's "1634 Lexington Ave." album is not really a cover at all, since it was first cut by Carlton himself already 10 years ago. The sultry 2009 edition of "I'd Better", that was put out on the short-lived UK Soulchoonz label, is a nice piece of programmed mid-tempo modern soul. The new version, now getting a 7" single treatment on Timmion, still sounds miles away from the polished earlier effort.

It starts off with a nice guitar led beat before settling into a sweet Tighten Up groove, a funky road which still has plenty curves to explore, even for Cold Diamond & Mink, who are certainly not lifting water from this particular well for the first time. What remains naturally is Carlton's ultra-soulful vocal performance, and a message of manning up to the max, staying true to your word in front of something divine.

It's not that often you hear a more recent version of a song sounding so that you would think it's the old version. Essentially, what you get is a beautiful piece of xover soul, with timeless swagger, and an instrumental with soulful legs of its own.

We welcome Dubfound for our fifth release.
Including a Purplehummer remix.

Attraverso is the debut album of new ambient trio PCM. The band consists of Francesco Perra (P) who also records solo as Perry Frank, Pop producer and sym- phonic ambient composer Matteo Cantaluppi (C), and sound designer/engineer and PCM creative director Matteo Milea (M). The album was conceived after a brief studio session exposed that each member brought something unique to their collaborative take on ambi- ent's many sub-genres. Attraverso, in concept, is meant to mimic four long-form journeys through human inner consciousness utilizing an amalgam of drone, modern composition, guitar ambient, and Koyaanisqat- si-eque arpeggiated kosmische musik. Each track title is the word "Attraverso" with three of the four being represented in different languages.
Attraverso is out October 18th on limited edition 180-gram ultra clear vinyl and gatefold compactdisc.