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Label head honcho Jovonn returns to Body N'Deep with the 'I Am Music EP', giving you a taster of what to expect from his forthcoming album due in 2025.

Three quality deep house inspired tracks from NYC's finest!

New World returns to Riotvan, and—no surprise—he nails it. Three tracks that pick up right where his last EPs left off, without ever repeating themselves. Romantic 80s disco, but with bite. A knowing smirk instead of
full-blown nostalgia. Playful, a touch of cheese, but always sharp enough to stay cool. No gimmicks, no empty retro worship—just pure vibe. New World does what he does best. And he’s doing good!

Trance Plantations is the latest brainchild of Nathan Daems and Falk Schrauwen (both members of Black Flower and Echoes of Zoo)



They describe what they make as 'fictional Tribe music (from space)'. That previously resulted in a self-titled debut album on which they collaborated with The Comet Is Coming members Danalogue and Betamax. "Behind your face" is their dazzling follow-up album continuing their musical space adventures.

Building on the subtle beauty of her last album ‘Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing’ (???? The Times, ???? Mojo) ‘Weight Of The Wheel’, the first single off her new album ‘From Newman Street’, evokes feelings of heaviness and confusion with life’s constant cycle. Delivered with what can only be described as exquisite songwriting alongside her unmistakably tender yet warm voice that conjures up thoughts of the likes of Karen Dalton, Joni Mitchell and Sandy Denny with much of the same quiet wisdom.
Kassi Valazza returns with From Newman Street on May 2 via Loose Music. Newman Street refers to the location of a friend's house in Portland where Kassi found shelter and a safe space while navigating change in 2023. Here, she wrote most of the songs for the new record and planned her move to New Orleans, Louisiana. The 10-track set is delivered through a strikingly honest lens as Valazza ponders her willingness to accept change, finding positivity where she can. From Newman Street follows 2023's Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing, which received rave reviews from NPR Music, UNCUT, No Depression, MOJO, The Times, Holler, and more.
‘Weight Of The Wheel’, the first single from the new album, evokes feelings of heaviness and confusion with life’s constant cycle. Delivered with what can only be described as exquisite songwriting alongside her unmistakably tender yet warm voice that conjures up thoughts of the likes of Karen Dalton, Joni Mitchell and Sandy Denny with much of the same quiet wisdom.

No Holds Barred holds the honour of being the first ever tune I signed after hearing it at a Future Retro London event. When I booked FFF to play at the 3rd event at Peckham Audio in July 2022, I had recently released his tracks "Bad Vibes" & "Bookworms" on FR004 (a split EP with Dwarde) & on the night, when he played No Holds Barred, I distinctly remember walking off from whoever I was talking to, through the crowd & straight to the DJ booth to see what the tune was and then reload it because I needed to hear it again from the top.

I was emailing him afterwards to try & get an update on what was happening with the tune, he told me it was unsigned & here we are with FR028, with a quality remix from FX of Demonic Possession (one of my favourite darkside hardcore producers) on the b-side.

Big up to both FFF & FX for their co-operation in making this release happen, look out for more darkside hardcore on Future Retro London in the future. ????

Multi platinum-selling musician and multi-instrumentalist Jamie Cullum today announces The Pianoman At Christmas - The Complete Edition. Due for release on 19th November via Island Records. The deluxe album completes last year’s critically acclaimed hit album The Pianoman At Christmas Part 1, with its Second Part - featuring 11 covers of classic Christmas songs, as well as two original songs, including lead single ‘Christmas Don’t Let Me Down’, out now.

Drawing from the past and inspired by the present, The Pianoman At Christmas - The Complete Edition sees Jamie team up with London jazz innovators Kansas Smitty’s, as well as composer and producer The Vernon Spring and acclaimed LA-based jazz singer Lady Blackbird to complete a piece of work that is imbued with seasonal sophistication. Alongside his two original tracks, Jamie breathes new life into classics such as ‘Winter Wonderland’, ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Frosty The Snowman’, ranging from ‘Amazing Grace’ to ‘Man With The Bag’ and ‘Sleigh Ride’. The Complete Edition will be released on double CD and double black vinyl formats, alongside a limited run of 180G Heavyweight coloured vinyl in red and gold.

Speaking on the release, Jamie said -

“I had a huge amount of fun creating part two of TPAC. Recorded live, all in the room together - it’s the party after the big show, with friends, drinks and some of the finest musicians on planet earth.”

Released almost a year to the day before The Complete Edition is due out, The Pianoman At Christmas featured 11 original songs played by 57 of Britain’s best musicians, recorded in Abbey Road’s famous Studio 2 and produced by Greg Wells whose The Greatest Showman soundtrack spent 28 weeks at number 1. The album sold over 37,000 copies, spending 6 weeks in the album chart and peaking at number 11. In December Jamie broke the Guinness World Record for the largest music lesson ever, when he held a virtual piano lesson for 2,282 people, teaching them the carol ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ with special guests Robbie Williams, Sigrid and Dodie.
With 10 million album sales and over 890 million streams to date, Jamie is a celebrated musician the world over with loyal fans in every corner of the globe. With a career spanning over 20 years, his legendary live shows have seen him perform and work alongside artists as diverse as Herbie Hancock, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar and IDLES - Jamie writing on the latter’s album Ultra Mono. The success of Jamie’s major label breakthrough, Twentysomething in 2003 and its follow up Catching Tales saw him nominated for a BRIT, Grammy and numerous other awards around the world. In 2020 he won an Ivor Novello Award for his track ‘Age of Anxiety’, taken from his acclaimed 9th studio album Taller. In addition to his enduringly successful recording career, Jamie has also established himself as a multi-award winning music broadcaster; his BBC Radio 2 show celebrated its 11th year on air this year.

With her debut album Black Acid Soul earning critical praise, Lady Blackbird is a revelatory new talent with music that transcends the jazz scene through which the LA-based artist is rooted. Reflecting influences as varied as Billie Holiday, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner and Chaka Khan, with critics drawing comparisons to Adele, Amy and Celeste, Lady Blackbird’s distinct and beguiling voice is not one to be missed.

UK band Kansas Smitty’s have developed a musical voice wholly unique from what’s happening around them. They are led by band leader and producer Giacomo Smith who's cinematic compositions feature on their releases, most recently 2021's acclaimed Things Happened Here for Berlin based label !K7. In 2015 they launched their own east London venue and bar, of the same name, which became one of the conception points for the current UK jazz boom.

Londoner Sam Beste aka The Vernon Spring is a polymath in music who has production, writing and performance credits as eclectic as Amy Winehouse, Matthew Herbert, Kano, Joy Crookes, Beth Orton, Blood Orange, Gabriels and MF DOOM. Since 2019 he has been making waves with solo project The Vernon Spring, which foregrounds his rare capacity to hold sophistication and simplicity in the same hands through highly intimate muted-piano compositions and improvisations.

Respected Swedish drummer and composer Dennis Egberth introduces new sextet in his first album with 577 Records.


"If you love the era in which electronic elements began to enter contemporary jazz, you’ll love what Sweden’s Dennis Egberth has been creating. The esteemed drummer/composer introduces us to his hand-chosen ensemble, The Dennis Egberth Dynasty, in the artist’s first album with 577 Records. The self-titled release highlights his creativity, painting a hypnotic soundscape that soothes the soul.

Experimental wizard Dennis Egberth is known for his distinguished approach to experimental music, free improv, and alternative pop, as well as his fascinating skills in blending cosmic composition and chilled ambient and electronic sounds. He presents floating melodies of irresistible bass lines and long, modal buildups that come alive with exploding lyricism. His new record highlights his compositional roots and was inspired by the evolution of electronics in this genre during the late ‘60s and ‘70s.

Egberth fused his talents with those of Fredrik Ljungkvist on tenor sax and clarinet, Niklas Barnö on trumpet, Alexander Zethson on Wurlitzer, Linus Hillborg on electronics, and double bassist Joe Williamson, forming an unforgettable sextet. Together, they’re more like a thriving ecosystem than anything else. Each member brings critical elements from their dynamic roles in the Swedish and European creative music scene and contributes them to the manifestation of a higher wave of sound unlike any other."

Tenor saxaphone and clarinet by Fredrik Ljungkvist.
Trumpet by Niklas Barnö.
Wurlitzer by Alex Zethson.
Electronics by Linus Hillborg.
Double bass by Joe Williamson.
Drums by Dennis Egberth.

Recorded by Niclas Lindström on December 14, 2023 at Atlantis Studio, Stockholm, Sweden.
Mixed by Anders af Klintberg.
Mastering by Kristofer Göransson.
Cover painting by MiHee Kim Magee.
Graphic design by Mark Smith.
All music by Dennis Egberth.

This record was made with support from the Swedish Arts Council.

Hits! Hits! Hits! Number 8 in the value-for-money series on Running Back is here, serving up a dessert spoon for almost every taste. Skatman discovers his inner crooner and shares his feelings with the world—electronic disco poetry of the highest order.
Australia’s high-velocity aristocrat, Baron von Trax, delivers a mirror ball tearjerker of the finest kind: If I Only Knew strikes the golden balance between tried-and-tested Italo tropes, classic disco elements, and their razor-sharp transformation into a zenith of happiness.
In Your Eyes by Janis Zielinski & Sowhy3 continues the journey of heartfelt thingsto-think-about with a pop dance hit from a parallel universe. To round it all off, recurring Running Back artist Morphena delivers a new wavey masterpiece, while Zoé Zoé offers an ode to tangerine-like Berlin School music— complete with a dance beat underneath.
Fancy!

Jack Cutter is a songwriter and guitarist based in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. He started with a $5 banjo just after finishing high school. In University, during the late 60's, he performed with bar bands in Buffalo, New York. After completing University and a year as an Aerospace Engineer, he decided that attack helicopters were not really what the world needed and so
he headed off to California in pursuit of music and mystic times.
Fast forward to Fall 2014: Jack is playing his quintessential tune, 'Gift of Our Fathers' in the SF BART subway to an onslaught of morning commuters when he was spotted by 40 Thieves. Eureka! Love at first sight and in the next few months, two of Jack's original acoustic pieces were given the 40 Thieves
treatment.Enter David Sanderson aka David Harks, a singer, songwriter, producer and label curator from the East Sussex region of the UK. 'Having fallen in love with the cosmic boogie (of 40 Thieves classic 'Backward Love') I really felt I would
love nothing more than to write a tune with them. Layne got back in touch with a track he was working on entitled Serpent Strut with Jack Cutter and we worked via email over a few months to brew up that misty soul.' Deep, stony, psychedelic, drawing from the well of Hawkwind, Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, Baffo Banfi and Tolkien-tinged acoustic Led Zep, the proof of
concept is now complete and in the capable and loving hands of Claremont 56.

Zara is the first album of Parus ethno-ambient project from Belarus that combines pagan songs that are sang by ethnographer and folk singer Hanna Silivonchyk on various dialects of Belarusian language and mixture of synthesizers and field recordings that where reordered in national parks of the country by electroacoustic music composer - Anton Anishchanka. The songs where collected during ethnographic expeditions in remote territories by Belarusian ethnographers in different periods of time

"What I choose to sing from the vast amount of authentic material are songs that
somehow feel like mine for all sorts of reasons, but that I love to be inside." - Hanna Silivonchyk

"Soniejka" is a summer song from the Dnepr river region, which sings about the readiness to meet life in any of its manifestations, about acceptance and love. "Zara" is also from the Dnepr river region, depicting the main Indo-European mythological story of the heavenly love between the Moon and the Dawn and their melting.

"Ruzovyja cviaty" is a lyrical song from Dzvina river region, romantic and touching, which sings about the very beginning of love between two people. And the song "Oj luhom idu" is a spring song from the territory of modern Poland, from Podlasie region, which tells about the life of a married woman, about the fate that may befall her and how it can be experienced. All of them are about one's own feeling of the present time, one's life, about personal life
experience, but at the same time - about universal human contents and meanings that exist outside of time.

Reissued here for the first time, "Cartão Postal" is one of the best and most sought-after Brazilian funk-soul albums from the early ’70s. It includes some outstanding uptempo gems like Marcos and Paulo Sergio Valle’s ‘Que bandeira’, and the stellar ‘Esperar Prá Ver’, co-written by Evinha’s brother Renato Corrêa who also happened to be a member of the Golden Boys. This is a classic Brazilian soul-funk title, right up there with all the greatest albums of the genre. Remastered from the original tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl. This release is part of a new reissue series that will include many other outstanding Brazilian classics. "Cartão Postal" was originally released on Odeon Brazil in 1971, a few years after Evinha started her solo career. From 1961 to 1968 she was a member of Trio Esperança, alongside her brothers Mário and Regina. In 1969 Evinha won first prize at the Festival Internacional da Cançao Popular and her discography for Odeon took off. "Cartão Postal", her third solo album, comprises some outstanding gems. Songs like ‘Que bandeira’, by Marcos Valle, Paulo Sérgio Valle and Mariozinho Rocha, that moves between funk/soul and bossa/MPB grooves; the stellar ‘Esperar Prá Ver’, co-written by Evinha’s brother Renato Corrêa who also happened to be a member of the Golden Boys, is a mid-tempo funk soul number that features stunning arrangements and an epic bassline that is hard to be forgotten… ‘Só Quero’ emanates samba soul sounds while songs like ‘Por Mera Coincidência’ or ‘Rico Sem Dinheiro’ resemble what Trio Esperança was doing at the time: vocal-driven groovy jams spiced with celestial strings arrangements and heavy-duty drums and basslines, which is not surprising since they both worked with the same producers and arrangers, as they were all Odeon artists. Ridiculously rare and expensive now, and at the top of many collectors’ wants lists for decades, it’s finally reissued here after years unavailable.

Released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ debut no.1 single Some Might Say. Limited-edition, numbered, pearl coloured 7” single. Taken from the band’s monumental 2nd album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? which celebrates its 30th anniversary in October this year.

Galactic Plastic Launches with “Roboto Machine EP” by Bænglund

A new force in underground electronic music emerges: Galactic Plastic. Built on a foundation of raw, unfiltered sound, our label is dedicated to releasing high-quality music regardless of subgenre—if it’s electronic and pushes boundaries, it belongs here.

For our debut release, we welcome Bænglund with his Roboto Machine EP, a fusion of machine-driven grooves, hypnotic textures, and deep, underground energy. Expect forward-thinking sounds that transcend trends and genres, staying true to the essence of the underground.

Galactic Plastic is here to keep the underground alive. Stay tuned for what’s next.

HandsOnWax presents catalog number 004: precision-engineered dancefloor weapons. Four meticulously crafted house cuts, designed for maximum impact. Strictly limited vinyl-only edition – acquisition advised!

Nearby Bear Records are proud to present 'The Foundation' - the 10th Studio album from south coast super-producer Flevans.

After almost two decades in the game, Flevans has had releases and features across diverse labels including Tru Thoughts, Jalapeno Records, Boogie Angst, Ninja Tune and Ministry of Sound. His new album (the first on his own label) marks a new chapter for him as a producer, whilst showcasing some of the many styles of music which have influenced and inspired him over his musical journey so far.

Taking in instrumental hip-hop, funk, soul & disco alongside Flevans' trademark live instrumentation (he plays guitar, keys & bass across all tracks) 'The Foundation' expertly pieces together all these styles and sounds into a wonderfully cohesive and upbeat LP.

Support for Flevans across this release and recent albums has come from DJ's and radio luminaries including Fatboy Slim, Purple Disco Machine, Gilles Peterson, Steve Lamacq and Craig Charles.

Our first release - Interlink - which captures the core of what COORREENTE is all about. As the name suggests, Interlink brings together different artists, each adding their own unique sound to create something unified. Like ocean currents flowing together into one continuous path, these artists have collaborated to shape a deep, immersive experience. Interlink isn't just a collection of tracks-it's a reflection of our belief that individual creativity can merge into something greater. This perfectly captures COORREENTE's hypnotic and interconnected take on underground techno.

After over a year of being a floor-filling staple in their live set, we are pleased to release Say She She's stunningly bright and bold cover of the Jackson Sister's classic 'I Believe In Miracles.' Oozing with fresh and funky production from Orgone's legendary Sergio Rios, it's an utterly irresistible tune that will get you giddy with movement! The B-side, 'C'est Si Bon', is the group's French discodelia anthem -- encouraging listeners to throw their hands up and concede to joy. This catchy bilingual track is one of many hits off of their critically acclaimed sophomore LP 'Silver,' which was released to rave reviews last fall. This 45 is essentially a double A, and a collector and DJ must! Two tracks that will undoubtably get the crowd going, what more could you need?

Under the motto «We become more from what is left, deliver else than just the now, build sound stories for the then», Sediments is the new label and sonic adventure launched by Estrato Aurora and d_o_ppelgaenger, partners in the electronic duo Pajaro Dune.

d_o_ppelgaenger || aka David Ortolà || is a pianist, composer, electronic music producer, teacher and scholar specializing in contemporary music and electroacoustic composition and performance. As a solo artist, he has composed multiple electronic, ambient and techno works, modular scores as Grooves #1 (2017) and Déjà vu (2024), unique musical events such as Efímeras for 20 Pianos (2011), compositions for piano and electronics as well as his latest release Live at Perpendicular (2024).

Live at Perpendicular 2024 is Sediment's inaugural offering. Recorded May 25, 2024 by d_o_ppelgaenger at Perpendicular Festival in the woods of Cuenca, Spain, this album is both an ambient live set and a sound journey inspired in the Doppelgänger archetype from the early gothic novel.

d_o_ppelgaenger's signature chiaroscuro medley of styles and ideas relies on narrative sound design, using both electronic production, classical instrumentation, field recording and generative synthesis. His music challenges the boundaries between acoustic and electronic sound calling on a wide range of oft-conflicting aesthetics: from early music to soundtrack atmospheres or disruptive avant-garde trends. This album explores the liminal terrain between divergent languages, trying to create perceptional experiences in search of empathy between the known and the misunderstood or the unheard-from.


|| We
become more from what is left,
deliver else than just the now,
build sound stories for the then. ||

The first of 2 EPs 2 proceed the next FUTURE SOUND OF LONDON album in 2025

Side A is a deeply moody dark ambient journey through mists of choirs to a place of ritualist electronic beat swamp finally being spat on a leaf suburb road somewhere in Surrey - what just happened !

Side B unlike the previous side this begins far more reflective, as the journey progress it becomes more unsettling once more - a baroque minimalist piece followed by modular synths melding with breaks and drum machine - ambient field recordings , a mesh of carefully gathered and selected samples - FSOL perfection.

Foxtail Records delivers its first vinyl release with a true soundtrack for the skies of heaven.
Celestial Dance EP by Tommy Vicari JNR and Loopdeville. A 4-track journey through celestial soundscapes, this release is a cure for the heart, pulling you into a dreamlike, cosmic realm.
Join us on this journey.
The stunning artwork comes from legendary Japanese painter Suyama Masaru, capturing the essence of freedom and escape-how our souls truly feel.

"Bushwick Kindergarten" An EP that encapsulates the gritty charm of the European underground house scene. Dive into Side A with Andrade's pulsating beats, kicking off with "Kubernetes" and following up with "Content Security Policy," a track to secure your sonic journey.
Side B features Dragosh's hypnotic "One Way," culminating in Fabrizio Siano's soul-stirring "Control Your Emotions," a track that does exactly what it promises.

This is more than just a vinyl; it’s a passport to the raw energy world of minimal house. Are you ready to groove?

First Terrace are thrilled to present the new album Lucid Dreams from the prolific Japanese artist Chihei Hatakeyama on January 23rd 2024.



Renowned ambient composer Chihei Hatakeyama is set to release his latest album, Lucid Dreams, an evocative sonic exploration that invites listeners to drift between the waking world and the dreamscape, to experience “dreams you are aware that you are dreaming”.



Known for his deep atmospheric textures and minimalist approach to sound, Hatakeyama’s new project expands on his signature style and with the help of collaborators Cucina Povera and LA based multi-instrumentalist Nailah Hunter charts new emotional territories.



Chihei expands on the concept of the album, sharing that “For the past two years or so, I have suffered from insomnia at times such as when the seasons change, and at those times all I can think about is wanting to sleep. However, when I'm in that state and I go through repeated light sleep, I can experience a state of "Lucid dreams" where I can't tell whether I'm dreaming or not, and am aware that I am dreaming. One aspect of this album is that it was inspired by that state of light sleep.”



“With that in mind, the theme of this album is the sense of time in a dream, situations that suddenly change unlike the flow of time in real life, surprises and nostalgia - I wanted to create an album that depicts those dream states.”



With a career spanning over two decades, Chihei Hatakeyama has gained an international following for his ability to consistently release music that enchants and rewards listeners. In Lucid Dreams, Hatakeyama continues to explore themes of nature, lucidity and calm, offering listeners an auditory escape from the hustle and noise of everyday life.



Tracks like “End of Summer” guide the listener blissfully through a five minute daydream, gently encouraged along by distant guitar strings on a bed of reverb whilst “Wind From The Mountains” (which features the beautiful work of Nailah Hunter) is the perfect example of what Chihei does so well with subtle movements that encourage your imagination & allow you to be lost in your own dream.

We are so back.

This time with a different approach. Focusing on what just feels right and letting go of everything else. Last year was not spent in silence and this one won’t be either. Join us for Underworld, a 6-track mini album by Eric OS.

Hope you enjoy!

Red Pig Flower brings you her sensational debut album Practice Love, available on Sound Of Vast from 10th April. Her unique sound sits upon the apex of a three-sided pyramid. With Berlin, Tokyo and Seoul as the base, Red is a third culture kid, greater than the sum of her parts. The centre is filled with her incredible appreciation and knowledge of house and electronic music from every pin drop through history.

So taken with Red Pig Flower’s sound, Honey Dijon invited Red to her Southbank Centre show to play alongside her. Moxie loves her that much, that she invited Red to record a mix and to guest on her NTS show. Alan Fitzpatrick, and Just Her are amongst Red’s growing posse of followers.

Practice Love is a culmination of all of Red Pig Flower’s life experiences, brimming with her positive energy and an outlook on life of pure love. Red has collaborated with like-minded artists at every level: the music, the cover art and video all produced with talented friends, who get Red as the wonderful person she is and understand her vision. Her label partner and good friend, Knock in particular helped make Practice Love the incredible album it is. So intuitive is their musical symbiosis, they made 20 tracks and carefully curated and ordered nine of these, making an album of tracks that stand out on their own, yet flow perfectly as an album. Practice Love will make you feel joyous when you play it. By the end, you will feel like you know Red like a friend.

Practice Love kicks off with I don’t care, it makes you feel good: a dreamy, tribal mantra of a track that does exactly what it says on the tin. Next up is I Love To Dance. Red’s beautiful soft vocal is sweet yet poignant, leaving you in no doubt of her sincerity. Thirdly comes Feel Good Music. Are you getting a feel from the track names yet that this is an album of warmth and positivity? You can imagine this one at a Café Del Mar sunset, where those who get the spirituality of Ibiza come together, in the moment to appreciate the beauty of a sunset and understand that no matter how many you see, each is magical and unique.

The three tracks so far have taken you to twilight. The titular Practice Love takes you by the hand onto the dancefloor. There is a double meaning to ‘Practice Love’- The first is to make love your practice. The second is that you need to practice love to be able to become a practitioner of love. The video, shot by her friend Jelly, features Red Pig Flower in Brick Lane, London, wearing a little piggy mask and offering free hugs. The first passersby ignore her sign, but Red isn’t disheartened, spreading the right message, dancing with joy. Her optimism is rewarded, making peoples day better on a cold English afternoon.

Fifth track Sax and Drugs takes things a little sleazier, the beat is filthy and the synths are sexy. Your body starts to move to this one before your brain even realises. The incredible Declan McDermott joins on saxophone, the funkiest synths and Red’s sultry vocal washing your soul with Laurent Garnier inspired sunlight. On Thisiz House Music, again featuring Declan, Red takes you even further back. About Frankie Knuckles O’Clock, with a portal straight to 2025.

By now, you will agree with me that Practice Love flows so, so well. I Wanna Meet Somebody follows incredibly, continuing the feeling that if you close your eyes, you’re dancing with David Mancuso at the Loft. No Money completes this EP-within-an-album. Perfect vocal samples, valve synth riff and 808 drum patterns showing that producers as good as Red Pig Flower make it sound effortless. The best albums finish memorably and No Genre is one of those perfect finishers. Think Andrew Wetherall’s production on Screamadelica. The lights are up in the club, nobody wants to go home, arms in the air wanting more.

Red Pig Flower explains: Practice Love resonates deeply with me because house music has always been a sanctuary—a place for unity, joy, and self-expression. As a nomad and outsider, club culture and house music became my shelter. The cities I’ve lived in—Seoul, Tokyo, Berlin, and London and more—nurtured me and shaped who I am today. That’s why the cover, by the incredible Carlos Sulpizio features their skylines, and the album is multilingual, representing the diverse influences in my life.

Practice Love is like a meal that has been prepared lovingly. They always taste better. And there’s plenty more to come from Red Pig Flower. How was your appetizer?

Brussels-based artist Adja Fassa releases her debut album, two years after her well-received EP IRONEYE - and it is promising to be quite a ride.

This contemporary body of work showcases 11 stories, each telling their story of the impact our capitalistic society has on our most intimate moments: from dystopian neo-soul tales of Deliveroo-drivers being stalked by telemarketers (both of them selling/delivering literal 'hope and dreams'), to re-imagined jazz standards and classical songs about conditional friendships, based on time and money. We even get her take on the 'stick-it-to-the-man-sing-along-rock-song', which she called 'Sucking on my Emphatitties'. And then we have the title song 'Golden Retrieve Her' which is as much an accumulation of feelings as of musical curiosities

" 'Golden Retrieve Her' is a wordplay on wanting to retrieve my kindness in a violent social system. Simultaneously, it is criticizing the fact that we, the masses, are often asked to either be naive or pretend we are. All of this accumulated in a visual image of what our social system considers 'the perfect, obedient nuclear family': a kind couple with 2.4 children, a house in the suburbs and... a Golden Retriever." ~ Adja

Serious and concrete topics, wrapped up in a symbolic package, as Adja values both straightforwardness, critical thinking and, paradoxically, a bit of mysticism. For her visual artwork, she created four, self-made tarot cards, that represent the four themes on the album:

'The Wheel Of Fortune', embodies the desire to get the upper hand in a system that doesn't align with your values. 'The Mirror', represents projection and likeness within lost connections (whether with strangers or with friends), 'The Dark Wheel' embodies the turning point of the wheel of fortune, where one is completely surrendered to their own moral demise and 'The Cave' stands for the - sometimes painful, sometimes blissful - return to one's own mind and heart.

Musically, this album contains as much variety as song titles, as Adja continues to explore her own depths as an artist and musician, together with her partner-in-crime, guitarist, composer and jazz-arranger Alexis Nootens. She collaborated with music producer Adam Scrimshire, who was featured in the Guardian as UK's one of three most significant soul music producers alongside Swindle and Inflo, and renowned Belgianproducer, mixer and musician Koen Gisen, who both mentored her into deepening her own productional skills. Last but not least, she gathered 13 musicians to deliver the sound she brings to her album, among them her 5 steady band members and 8 studio musicians from all over Europe. As we said: it promises to be quite a ride.

LIVE:
09/05 : Ancienne Belgique, Brussels
11/05 : Jazz à Liège

More tba.

Hard Times proudly welcomes a new release from an artist deeply connected to the label’s storied past. Alex Arnout presents BLACK LOGIC with their debut EP, ‘Pull Up’, a project born from passion, collaboration, and a return to House music's soulful roots

Hailing from West Yorkshire, Arnout spent his formative years on the Hard Times dancefloors, absorbing the beats and vibes that would later shape his own productions. His journey with the label reignited when he was invited to remix Michael Watford’s classic 'Love Change Over' and Steve Silk Hurley’s fresh hit 'All I Need'. Now, he returns with something truly special

“Black Logic was born out of the pandemic,” says Arnout. “I wanted to move away from drum machines and synths, getting back to sampling jazz and the deep house sounds of the ‘90s - taking inspiration from artists like Bugs in the Attic, Jazzanova, and Ernest Saint Laurent.

What began as a solo project soon evolved into a collective effort. Bassist and guitarist Alan Riggs, a former member of Delta 5, joined the sessions, bringing warmth and groove to the productions. Vocalists Tempo O’Neil, Anthony Beckford, Mariana Orsho, and Sophie Barker added their distinct voices, completing the vision.

The ‘Pull Up’ EP is the first of a debut double-header from Black Logic, delivering five stunning tracks that blend jazzy keys, deep grooves, and rich, soulful vocals. From the warm basslines to the celestial closing moments, this EP is a statement of intent - a wonderfully fresh, yet nostalgic take on deep house from a collective of masterful musicians.

2025 Repress

Yan Cook is a strong pillar of the label, an artist that inspired us and the techno world with consistency and creativity. His sound is a brilliant evolution of what modern functional techno represents today, and we are more than happy to present you his very visit LP on the label. 'XXX' is the celebration of Yan music in the purest form, the artist made his own artwork and the entire package was created to take you into his word without any filters, just techno in the purest form.

** club fire from DJ Python

“i was put on this earth”, his first solo music since 2022, and debut on XL
Recordings.

On “i was put on this earth”, DJ Python - aka Brian Piñeyro - gently forays into uncharted territory as a singer, producer,
and collaborator; an evolution all the more impressive in light of his groundbreaking musical projects to date like Mas
Amble, Angel, and Club Sentimientos Vol 2. While splitting his time between New York and London, Python has teamed
up with a diverse set of collaborators including South London rapper Jawnino, Honduran-born powerhouse Isabella
Lovestory, unclassifiable songwriter Organ Tapes, and NYC mainstay Physical Therapy. Across the five-track EP,
Python shares bold solo songs alongside these intriguing collaborations. The project retains the captivating melodies,
atmospheric textures, and rhythmic innovation that defined Python's earlier recordings while building on and shaping these
signature elements into ambitious and addictive new songs.
The first look at the EP comes in the form of “Besos Robados”. Isabella Lovestory lends an insouciant yet insistent vocal
to this sublime downtempo lovers' reggaeton track that's been a fan-favourite since appearing on Python's epic BBC
Radio 1’s Essential Mix.

On ‘i was put on this earth’, DJ Python says “to whom it may concern…
its too beautiful to embrace change and to challenge urself to find something meaningful in it... i love my friends and
love is deep :') i want them to know that always... but sometimes i get busy and overwhelmed n im not the best at
saying how i feel always... just want to sit around and talk and feel understood together w someone who you like or u
find interesting.. thats the best :) and if the day is nice or if the day is not nice but ur inside and its cozy.. thats too
wicked. and ur making a soup and eating it together... just with the stuff in the kitchen.. dont even go out to get
ingredients.. no need to follow a recipe.. cause ur grandma taught u to cook w the "sazon" (cooking by tasting w as u
go on adding diff ingredients and spices.. no recipes. .. u can only really cook if u can freestyle in the kitchen she said)..
and then u think about how ur grandma taught u that.. and your w someone in the kitchen making something together..
and then u taste it and it warms u up and ur like damn this is fire.. thats what this and i think maybe what "its all"
about... thank u for taking time to read this and i hope you enjoy the album…
kiss u…
Brian”

It was quite unexpected to see the very prolific and talended Pieter Kock featuring on Macadam Mambo - which is usualy used to new-comers - as he has released a lot in the past 2 years on very nice labels like RIO, Meakusma or Moonwalk X. But, the demos that he sent were so good that there was no question about doing something. And with a lot of possibilities, to prepare a double album that is now composed of 15 quality tracks for 1h20 of music... What vibes are in here! It’s heavy, loudy, loopy, mental, smokey, and always surprising. Pieter has is very own universe, and is without doubt one of the most interesting electronic musician at the moment.

Should we ask you to give chance to this opus, and tell you you won’t regret it ? We don’t think we need to do so... J

Since its inception in 2020, Italo Moderni’s energy, spirit and inspiration has been the dancefloor. The darkened bunkers of Belgium, the trembling speakers of Valencia, the warming dawn of Rimini, these influences have been the lifeblood. Solidifying this tireless effort, Mellow Bangers Vol 2 is the label’s most ambitious collection to date.

In celebration of the imprint’s fifth anniversary, four artists gather with every single one united under a rallying cry. From across the globe, machinists have been drawn together to deliver a statement of acid and wave, of electro and synth with flourishes of italo. The shadowy fringes of the floor are well represented, audio artisans like Cyrk serving distorted drums and melodies dripping with menace in the twisted shape of “Double Crash.” The static haze remains with Fragedis’ “Disco Nicotina,” a lancing melody piercing the soaked speakers of this sweaty romp. Label boss, Adrian Marth leads the charge on the flip. “Modernism” is a stripped and playful two-stepper, a two-stepper that Marth beefs into bawdy proportions before balancing the track with crystalline chords. Amongst the litany of talent are musicians who have both inspired Italo Moderni as well as those who have appeared on the label. Antoni Maiovvi fits such a description, the sound sorcerer slicing beats through bittersweet bars in the immersive “Stopping Power.”

Mellow Bangers Vol 2 is a breathless expression of the floor. A contemporary imagining of the racing rhythms and addictive hooks of the 1980s and 1990s. Four works that summarise what Italo Moderni is and will continue to be

QUEENDOM is an album that marks a new era for the project while staying true to the essence of Minuit Machine. Produced under the SYNTH RELIGION label, this opus immerses us in Amandine's introspective realm, oscillating between darkness and light, between doubt and self-conquest. While retaining the emotional DNA of previous productions, QUEENDOM stands out with a more pop-oriented touch, featuring tracks where Amandine sings in French for the first time.

The first single, "HOLD ME," is a powerful pop anthem addressed to the queer community, celebrating the freedom to be oneself and breaking free from societal and patriarchal norms. This track is a true empowerment statement, with striking electro beats supporting a strong message of emancipation and pride.

"Créatures," a collaboration between RAUMM and Minuit Machine, is a modern fairy tale—a timeless love story that could take place in any era. This salvific love, rarely seen today, embodies a poignant depth and beauty.

Continuing the journey, "Cent Fois"—a French-written track—takes us into a techno-pop universe with nostalgic yet hopeful undertones. This song perfectly reflects Minuit Machine's evolution toward a more radiant approach while staying faithful to its dark heritage.

"Party People," on the other hand, is a return to roots with dark wave/italo sounds. This hypnotic and haunting track questions identity in an increasingly robotic society, where individuals are forced to conform to imposed norms. This exploration of the individual versus the collective lies at the core of Minuit Machine's DNA.

"Mes Souvenirs," created in collaboration with Rebeka Warrior, dives intimately into the memories of Amandine and Rebeka. Together, they reveal fragments of their past—precious and vibrant memories that resonate through powerful and melancholic electro sounds.

Finally, the eponymous track "Queendom" invites us to plunge into the depths of Amandine's world—a universe that is both tormented and icy, yet resilient. Supported by a slow and captivating rhythm, this track is designed to grip and haunt the listener, like an incantation.

QUEENDOM is a bold and hybrid work where each track reflects a pursuit of sincerity and artistic reinvention while maintaining the ability to express emotions through rhythms that are both danceable and introspective. The album showcases Minuit Machine's artistic maturity, establishing itself as a must-listen in the darkwave and electronic pop scene.

Amandine entrusted the artistic direction of this album to Manon Dupeyrat, a brilliant young artist who crafted a bespoke universe perfectly aligned with the produced tracks. The album cover, both intimate and anachronistic, invites listeners into Amandine's private world through her bedroom, revealing what she wishes to share.

Studiomaster was born from an experiment I ran for a little over a year, releasing tracks exclusively on Bandcamp. I wanted to see how far music could travel without the institutional machinery of a label, without physical products, and without relying on mainstream platforms. The experiment worked so well that Studiomaster has now evolved into a label with physical vinyl releases. Throughout this journey, I found myself missing the physicality of music. So, to celebrate it, I decided to release something in a format I had never used before: the cassette tape. What better occasion to bring together a collection of previously unreleased tracks in the physical world and craft a mix the old-school way? Get your tape quickly, it's limited!
ps: The tape unlocks download for all the tracks featured in the mix!

Repress!

Up next on Open Space is the first installment in a new series of 12 inch records for DJs titled ‘Open Space Club Tools’ - as the name suggests, you’ll find a variety of tools handmade by our favorite producer-DJ’s. Sticky drum beats and tricky rhythms for the nearly-extinct club deejay.

OSCT01 features Benedek, and John Jones as ‘Calvin’ representing our LA-MIA connection, Lachlan McGeehan aka ‘Liluzu’ from Australia, and of course our Miami boy Goiz; once as himself on the A-side, and again on the B-side under his newest percussion-focused alias ‘Glue Boy’. A mixed bag of hammers, nails, screwdrivers and more… All greased up and ready for whatever the club world may bring your way.

Next stop... Second reference in the PHASELAB catalog and twenty-third of our PHASE IMPRINT label! What a satisfaction to finally present this project (vinyl and digital) by Aizikovic, the yout from Madrid who is trying to bring an especially fresh, as well as profound, vision to our city. This EP transmits us; altered visions in music, many experiences linked to the dance floor and feelings of light in a dark space. And in case anyone wanted a little more, Comissar Lag aka Lag has prepared a melting remix for us.

Many thanks for the designs to the snowboarder of the strokes @judyisangry, to Mario Castillo for the Master and to Pedro O'Connor for the Mix.

Meet Kitchen Plug, the Parisian trio that somehow combines the rebellious energy of punk, the synth-driven chaos of electro, and the charisma of a boy band... except, they don’t really dance (yet).

With their new EP "Nice To Meet You," these self-proclaimed nerds have served up an unpredictable, colorful mix of electronic anthems and rock-infused vibes. It's like if your favorite computer-generated juice suddenly turned into an unstoppable emotional rollercoaster.

Expect cheeky melodies, emotional highs (and occasional lows), and enough playful swagger to make you question why you’re not already in their inner circle of "copains" (that’s French for friends, by the way). Kitchen Plug isn’t just making music; they’re creating a sound so lively and full of attitude that you’ll probably feel like you're getting a bear hug from your favorite nerdy best friend — just with more synths and less homework.

"Nice To Meet You" is the kind of EP that doesn't take itself too seriously, but it’ll still make you feel something. So, what are you waiting for? Plug in, and let's see if they can live up to their own hype. (Spoiler alert: They will.)

In 2045, researchers at MindTech discovered an anomaly in neural networks used for direct data transmission into the human brain. They called this phenomenon “Phantom Scripts” — mysterious glitches in the code that activate when a person falls asleep or closes their eyes. Deprived of visual stimuli, the brain becomes more receptive and starts responding to internal impulses from the neuro-interface, generating unexpected images and phrases, as if creating messages from the void.

Analysis revealed that these scripts are particularly active during deep sleep or meditation, when the mind is most vulnerable to external influence, as though an intelligent force is attempting to communicate through the subconscious. What lies behind these messages and why they appear remains unknown. Perhaps the answers are hidden in the darkness itself.