Kay Slice’s music is more than meets the ear. He channels a movement. His sound moves beyond borders, blending highlife rhythms and poetic verses into a sonic force that connects the soul of Africa with its scattered children across the globe. Slice is rooted in legacy but speaks to the now. Bold, layered, and deeply aware.
This isn’t fusion. It’s ancestral alignment with a futuristic edge.
From the electrifying grooves of West Africa to the sharp truths of hip-hop, Kay’s music isn’t merely entertainment; it’s a cultural awakening. His performances are highlights: Ghanaian drums, balafon chants, and rhythmic prophecy shaking stages to their core. His storytelling is vivid, raw, and intentional. The immigrant experience reimagined through sound and soul. And as Kay says about this new single, “Moving with purpose, driven by the will to put in the work. The time is now to raise Mother Africa.”
Following his powerful debut From Back To Back (2022), Kay is stepping into full artistic clarity. In 2026, it all comes to a head with Kay’s next album, scheduled for autumn 2026, forged across borders, driven by the spirit of his Ghanaian ensemble and a love letter to highlife, elevated with modern energy.
No longer bound by survival, Kay is moving like a general of sound. Leading with grace, grounded in legacy, but always forward-moving. His shows? Think rituals. Think liberation. Think sweat, spirit, and rhythm. Kay Slice isn’t finding his voice. He is the voice of diasporic pride, ancestral rhythm, and future Africa.
LA-based producer Real Bad Man and multi-JUNO Award winning Toronto-based artist TOBi release their collaborative album The Perfect Blue via the producer’s own Real Bad Man Records. The album collects a diverse array of sounds,highlighted by the album’s two advance singles “When I’m Home, ” which Stereogum described as “a moody,graceful soul song with a serious groove, ” and the funk-laden “Over The Moon, ” released last week.
TOBi and Real Bad Man’s work together on The Perfect Blue encapsulates the producer’s mission for 2025, a year in which he released intricate collaborative albums with a wide swath of artists. His work with TOBi was seamless and began quickly after the two first met, finding kinship in their ability to push past their comfort zones in genre and familiar sounds. The result is eclectic and boundless, jumping from straightforward and unflinchingly personal rap moments, to the flared funk of “Over the Moon” and understated contemporary soul flourishes that prove the Toronto emcee can confidently make each of these sounds his own.
The Perfect Blue marks Real Bad Man’s fifth full-length collaborative album of the year, bookending a prolific 2025 that began with his collaborative album with ZelooperZ, Dear Psilocybin. Over a celebrated catalog spanning years, Real Bad Man, also known as Adam Jay Weissman, has cemented himself as a force in underground hip-hop, but his impact extends beyond work with contemporaries like Boldy James, Pink Siifu, Blue and more. Each of Weissman’s five collaborative albums this year showcases a different side of his craft, appeasing fans familiar with his gritty hip-hop production on his third album with Boldy James Conversational Pieces. He also surprised listeners with a bold turn in sonic direction, well outside of his traditional production palette, with his reunion with former Pollyn bandmate Genevieve Artadi on Everything Is Under Control.
Nigerian-born, Toronto-raised artist TOBi has carved out a distinct lane for himself with a celebrated discography of releases that explore themes of vulnerability, self-reflection and contemporary masculinity with a pointed nuance. His 2023 album PANIC swept the rap categories (Best Rap Album, Best Rap Single for “Someone I Knew”) at the 2024 JUNO Awards and his catalog has been praised by the likes of Billboard, Rolling Stone, i-D and more. Expanding on his ELEMENTS project series with the second volume released earlier this year to high praise, The Perfect Blue cements TOBi’s bonafides as an adept collaborator.
‘Finally’, the forthcoming new record from Catz ’n Dogz, belongs to the latter.
There are albums you listen to, and there are albums you live with. ‘Finally’, the forthcoming new record from Catz ’n Dogz, belongs to the latter.
Across sixteen tracks, Voitek and Greg have created their most creatively ambitious and emotionally open work to date. An album about relationships, friendship and the people and places that shape us. At its heart is a simple idea: music should make you feel something, and sometimes the most meaningful moments are the quiet ones when you finally have time to yourself.
Finally is rooted in the emotional contradictions that make memories so powerful. Inspired by classic American Folk and Soul, its songs are happy and nostalgic; hopeful without pretending that the past doesn’t exist. There is melancholy inside the euphoria and warmth inside the sadness, a constant interplay between looking back and moving forward.
The album begins with the soulful breakbeat glow of 'We’re Gonna Be Alright' featuring Ajii, before moving through the smoky jazz and piano-led intimacy of 'Dance For You' with Miller Blue and the bass-driven energy of 'Sun Goes Down' featuring Charlotte Haining. Closing with the reflective 'Miss You' featuring Mateusz Krautwurst, the record takes in a rich cast of vocalists, musicians and producers, alongside a series of deeply personal Catz ’n Dogz solo productions.
Those collaborations are central to Finally. The album is, in many ways, a celebration of the creative friendships Voitek and Greg have built throughout their journey. Relationships that have allowed them to step outside their comfort zone and rethink what their music can be.
Written and recorded between Madrid, New York, Warsaw and the road, the album finds the duo placing renewed emphasis on songwriting, chord progressions and musical craft. Rather than simply chasing the next track, they took the time to learn, experiment and create something with a sense of permanence.
This is an album for driving without a destination. For watching the sun go down. For remembering somebody you haven’t thought about in years. For those rare stretches of time when there is nowhere else you need to be.
Ossie lands back on Heist after his 2025 hit ‘Are U still smiling?’ with a 4 track EP featuring Miraa May.
How on earth do you follow up your debut when that record got dancefloors moving across the world and picked up radio & dj plays from dance music’s finest selectors?
Many producers would get instant writer’s block, but not Ossie. His new EP on Heist is full of joyous melodies, catchy vocals and euphoric dancefloor moments. Across 4 tracks, Ossie takes us on a trip through rolling electronics, catchy UK sounds and big room anthems.
His Heist debut in 2025 did not go by unnoticed, and Ossie kept a busy calendar since, with regular shows in London and Hï Ibiza with Skepta’s Mas Tiempo crew, his own Supercali imprint as well as his appearance alongside heavyweights Louie Vega, Kerri Chandler, Cinthie and more on Heist’s ‘House of House’ much celebrated compilation.
The Motivation EP kicks off with a bumpy UK track that somehow reminds us of Bicep early day hit ‘Vision of love’. Where the Bicep boys went for a big sample, Ossie landed a surprise studio session with Algerian born-London native Miraa May where they wrote ‘Motivation’ in a single session. The track is stripped back to its core with catchy scats and chants from Miraa May and keys that’ll stick with you far after the track is over. If you’d need any extra motivation for your daily routine, to get out of bed or to go out dancing, this is your jam.
‘Can it get any better’ is a loopy house affair with soulful vocal chants, hints of disco and a subtle piano theme that drives the track into big room territory. It’s energetic without ever getting over the top; a thin line Ossie navigates effortlessly on this record.
On the flip, we’ve got ‘Left side’; a deep groover built around a synth & disco loop and cleverly sampled vocals singing ‘I believe… oooh yes I do’. This one is definitely a lowkey banger, where Ossie turns that one simple loop into a powerful theme made to ignite dancefloors.
The EP closes with the heavy warehouse groove of ‘Don’t stop’. A cavernous low end, rough percussion and chopped synth stabs all come together on this beast of a track. Ossie cleverly plays around with vinyl backspins, vocal chops and small changeovers to keep things interesting, while the groove just keeps on going.
Ossie’s ‘Motivation’ EP has dancefloor written all over it and with all its forward energy, there’s no doubt you’ll be hearing this one a lot in clubs all over the world.
There's a moment during every great dance floor experience when the music takes over and everyone becomes part of something bigger. "SHOUT!", the latest release from 2SoulFusion Presents Ascension, captures that feeling in its purest form. Featuring the powerhouse voices and ad-libs of Dames Brown and Dawn Tallman, along with an all-star ensemble of master vocalists including Josh Milan, Rahsaan Patterson, Lisa Fischer, Cindy Mizelle, Audrey Wheeler, Ramona Dunlap, and Lea Lorien, this joyful anthem is an invitation to let go, lift your spirit, and celebrate through music.
Produced, written, arranged, and mixed by 2SoulFusion—Louie Vega and Josh Milan—"SHOUT!" draws inspiration from the communal spirit of gospel while embracing the energy and freedom of house music. Driven by simple yet powerful affirmations—"Shout," "Sing," "Move," "Love," "Get Up On Your Feet," "Listen Up," and "Let This Music Take You Higher"—the song transforms into an experience where every voice becomes part of the celebration. It's a journey of anthemic hooks, soaring harmonies, infectious grooves, and unforgettable melodies designed to ignite dance floors, uplift hearts, and remind us that music has the power to unite people through rhythm, joy, and love.
The inspiration for "SHOUT!" was born from a creative exchange between Louie Vega and Charaf Tajer, founder and creative director of the internationally acclaimed fashion house Casablanca. Introduced by longtime friend Joseph Capriati, Charaf shared a bold vision—to bring together the worlds of fashion, gospel, and house music for one unforgettable Casablanca runway presentation in Paris.
Louie Vega recalls: “Charaf was introduced to me by my friend Joseph Capriati, who said Charaf was looking to meet me about an idea he had. His vision was to marry fashion, gospel, and house music within Casablanca's collection. At first, he wanted me to DJ and play gospel house music. I said, 'Instead of playing existing music, why don't I create an original song with a gospel house flavor?' I immediately got together with my 2SoulFusion partner Josh Milan, and together we came up with 'SHOUT!'”
That vision came to life during Casablanca's spectacular Paris presentation inside a breathtaking cathedral, where Louie Vega premiered the original twelve-minute and nine-second composition live. As the music echoed through the cathedral, Dames Brown joined the London House Gospel Choir in a soul-stirring performance while the models walked the aisle on Casablanca's carpet made of their signature green color and a dashing vibrating giant mirror echoing the runway visually. Renowned DJs Luciano and Chloé Caillet were among those who walked the runway, while friends of Charaf Tajer and special guests—including Jaden Thompson, Folamour, Dimitri From Paris, Kapela, and many others—were in attendance, making it an unforgettable gathering where music, spirituality, fashion, and culture merged into one extraordinary experience.
Inspired by that magical evening in Paris, Louie Vega and Josh Milan returned to the studio to expand the original composition into the powerful recording heard today. Built around rich live musicianship, Josh Milan's keyboards, organ, piano and synth bass provide the foundation alongside Axel Tosca's expressive grand piano recorded live, Sherrod Barnes' soulful guitar, and Gene Perez's unmistakable bass groove. Together they create an infectious, organic driving sound that allows the vocals to soar while delivering the unmistakable musical depth and musicianship that define 2SoulFusion.
Leading the celebration are Dames Brown and Dawn Tallman, whose commanding performances are elevated by an extraordinary choir of world-class vocalists. Dames Brown's spirited sermon and ad-libs, and Dawn Tallman’s powerful ad-lib vamping out together with the soaring harmonies of Lisa Fischer, Cindy Mizelle, Audrey Wheeler, Rahsaan Patterson, Ramona Dunlap, Lea Lorien, and Josh Milan, recreate the feeling of a joyful gospel congregation—not confined to four walls, but alive on dance floors around the world. Every chorus encourages listeners to get up, listen up, feel it, sing, move, love, and become part of the experience. Recorded between Honeycomb Studios in Pennsylvania, The Hub Ibiza and Manhattan Center Studios, New York City, and mixed at The Hub Ibiza, "SHOUT!" reflects the continuing vision of the Ascension project, where spirituality, musicianship, community, fashion, and dance music become one.
Nicola Conte & Gianluca Petrella’s 2021 brilliant collaborative jazz dance album People Need People channelled a vision of togetherness and used the universal language of music to elevate our spirit during these trying times. This vision can’t be more relevant today and the album’s legacy is kept alive with the same spirit of collaboration that distinguished the project.
“Inner Light” - featuring Raashan Ahmad on vocals - is the first song from the album chosen for a series of reinterpretations of the project that will be released throughout 2022. Joaquin Joe Claussell needs no introduction, the Body & Soul founder and Sacred Rhythm label honcho is a true legend and purveyor of spirituality – a cosmic messenger that brings us two versions of “Inner Light”; his work here is not to be solely intended as a remix but, as the title suggests, delivers two new proper versions of the original song.
This EP is the first in a trilogy of 12” releases that will also feature further reinterpretations of tracks taken from the “People Need People” album, by none less than Anthony Nicholson, DJ Spinna and Tall Black Guy!
Harvey McKay’s “Table for One” returns to Systematic Recordings for a special and deeply meaningful vinyl edition. Originally released digitally on Systematic, the EP captures the unmistakable sound of the Glasgow producer: powerful, hypnotic and uncompromising techno, driven by raw energy while always retaining the musicality and soul that defined Harvey’s work. Following Harvey’s passing in Spring 2026, this release inevitably carries a different weight. For Systematic and Marc Romboy, it is first and foremost a celebration of
his music and the lasting impression he left behind.
For the first time, “Table for One” will be available on vinyl, presented as a strictly limited 12” picture disc pressing of only 500 copies. The original version takes the A-side, while Marc Romboy’s remix opens the Bside, offering his own interpretation of Harvey’s distinctive sound. The release is completed by “Mycelium”, another powerful example of McKay’s ability to combine hypnotic repetition, precision and sheer dancefloor energy. More than a vinyl edition of an outstanding Systematic release, this record has become a tribute to an
artist whose music will continue to live on through clubs, DJs and dancefloors around the world.
Naarm/Melbourne-based artist Now Always Fades returns with Coalesce, the follow-up to his widely acclaimed 2025 album Into The Doldrums. The project of Xavier Bacash, Coalesce sees the musician evolving his modernised approach to downtempo and trip-hop, genres in which he has been heralded as a leading new voice amid their growing popularity. Across the record, NAF's musical and thematic universe expands with the return and addition of a series of new vocal collaborators, speaking to the versatility of a voice as a contextual instrument. In doing so, throughout 'Coalesce', he continues to develop a kind of sonic consistency that focuses on shared emotion above all else. In pursuing those feelings, Now Always Fades finds himself alongside a series of strong and soulful voices: Alia Seror-O'Neill, otherwise known as Alias Error; Lili Hall; and Olive Kimoto, NTS Radio host and singer behind influential 90s band Locust. Throughout the record, each vocalist finds themselves on tracks entirely for them, and in doing so, the NAF project provides everyone involved, and the listener, with something sonically new but emotionally familiar at every turn.
Dusky return to Anjunadeep with their forthcoming studio album ‘Signals’. The London duo first debuted on Anjunadeep in 2011 with their critically acclaimed album Stick By This. Expanding the boundaries of deep house and UK club music, the record marked the beginning of Dusky’s rise as one of the scene’s most respected acts. Their breakout track ‘Careless’, released via Aus Music, further cemented their reputation, amassing more than 14 million streams and becoming one of the defining UK house records of its generation. In 2014, the pair launched their own imprint, 17 Steps, which has since hosted releases and remixes from artists including Nathan Micay, LTJ Bukem, Interplanetary Criminal, Denham Audio and Shed. Since then, Dusky have released two further studio albums, Joy and Pressure, alongside a string of acclaimed singles. Their music has earned support from Pete Tong, Danny Howard and Sarah Story on BBC Radio 1, as well as widespread backing from leading DJs including Jamie Jones, Peggy Gou, Gorgon City, TEED and TSHA. While 'Signals' represents a natural continuation of the Dusky story, it also ventures into more reflective territory than previous releases. The album's wider range of influences and more contemplative mood offer a fresh perspective on the duo's sound, while also paying subtle homage to their acclaimed debut album ‘Stick By This’. Featuring multiple collaborations with vocalist Rromarin, alongside a contribution from Nadeem and Pritt, 'Signals' reflects a creative process that unfolded over many years. Some tracks grew from ideas first sketched long ago, while others emerged more recently, giving the album a sense of both history and momentum. Across its 13 tracks, 'Signals' balances Dusky's club-rooted instincts with downtempo offerings. Tracks such as 'Next Life', 'Kadhalan' and 'Lab' showcase the duo's signature combination of bold basslines, driving rhythms and emotional resonance. Elsewhere, 'Elm' and 'Bindweed' slow the tempo and draw on the warmth of soul, the deeper edges of disco and richly textured live instrumentation.
For South Central’s premier singer, songwriter, and producer, success was never an overnight accident; it was a blueprint executed with meticulous precision. With his highly anticipated project, Labor of Love, Blxst delivers a masterclass in modern West Coast R&B and Hip-Hop, proving that true artistry requires both sweat and soul. The album serves as a sonic manifesto on the price of ambition, the weight of loyalty, and the delicate balance of maintaining romance while building an empire. It stands as a definitive evolution of the distinct sound Blxst pioneered, blending crisp, trunk-thumping 808s with soulful, nostalgic chords and his signature, effortlessly smooth vocal runs.
Entirely self-produced and co-written, Labor of Love bridges the gap between the sun-drenched grit of Los Angeles street culture and the vulnerability of late-night bedroom playlists. From the bounce of celebratory anthems to introspective, late-night drive confessionals, Blxst curates a tracklist that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. It explores the sacrifices made in the pursuit of greatness, paying homage to the sonic pioneers of LA while firmly cementing his own place as the vanguard of the city's modern sound. It is a celebration of independence and the self-made mentality, reminding listeners that he remains the chief architect of his own destiny.
Ultimately, Labor of Love is a testament to the grind, capturing the sleepless nights and tested relationships that pave the road to success. Blxst puts his heart on the line to show that the work itself is where the true passion lives, creating an album for the city, for his family, and for everyone who stays dedicated to their craft. More than just a collection of radio-ready hits, this project is a cohesive, cinematic experience from one of music's most reliable hitmakers. It is a definitive reminder that Blxst isn't just riding the wave—he is directing the current.
In the realm of past-life regression hypnotherapy, there is a concept known as “Life Between Lives,” wherein a sacred exchange of energy occurs between two souls in the spirt world, helping a spirit fully understand and forgive a being who hurt them in a past life. This exchange – called “passing the cup of sorrows” – became the unexpected inspiration for William Basinski’s first new album in six years.
While sinking deeper into the daily abyss of our collective negativity bias, William Basinski stumbled upon a video describing the spiritual hypnotherapy exercise known as “passing the cup of sorrows.” Fixed on the glow of a screen that projected mounting anxiety and cynicism at a seemingly interminable pace, Basinski found the testimonials of this fascinating therapeutic practice to be profoundly moving. He sat at his piano, translating the transformation of those traumatic memories of past lives into cathartic tears of the present day.
Channeling the quiet curiosity and asymmetrical patterns of pioneering 20th Century composer, Morton Feldman, Passing the Cup of Sorrows is a single 40-minute piece that employs a solitary piano and subtle electronics to truly haunting effect. It recalls fragments of traumatic memories and projects them as fractals in a slow-moving soft focus that’s as eerie as it is enlightened.
In the realm of past-life regression hypnotherapy, there is a concept known as “Life Between Lives,” wherein a sacred exchange of energy occurs between two souls in the spirt world, helping a spirit fully understand and forgive a being who hurt them in a past life. This exchange – called “passing the cup of sorrows” – became the unexpected inspiration for William Basinski’s first new album in six years.
While sinking deeper into the daily abyss of our collective negativity bias, William Basinski stumbled upon a video describing the spiritual hypnotherapy exercise known as “passing the cup of sorrows.” Fixed on the glow of a screen that projected mounting anxiety and cynicism at a seemingly interminable pace, Basinski found the testimonials of this fascinating therapeutic practice to be profoundly moving. He sat at his piano, translating the transformation of those traumatic memories of past lives into cathartic tears of the present day.
Channeling the quiet curiosity and asymmetrical patterns of pioneering 20th Century composer, Morton Feldman, Passing the Cup of Sorrows is a single 40-minute piece that employs a solitary piano and subtle electronics to truly haunting effect. It recalls fragments of traumatic memories and projects them as fractals in a slow-moving soft focus that’s as eerie as it is enlightened.
Revisiting the sound and spirit of Jazzy Sport, rooted in Japan and carried forward by a new generation. Compiled by Nina Yamada, featuring Cro-Magnon and Grooveman Spot, with remixes by DJ Mitsu the Beats and Idjut Boys.
Founded in 2002, Jazzy Sport emerged at a particularly fertile moment in Japanese music. Beginning as an independent label and record shop, with its first store in Morioka and Jazzy Sport Music Shop Tokyo opening in Shibuya the following year, it became a home for artists including GAGLE, DJ Mitsu the Beats, Cro-Magnon and Grooveman Spot. Its releases moved freely between hip-hop, house, jazz, broken beat and live musicianship, helping define a distinctly Japanese strain of open-minded club culture.
But the music was only the beginning. Jazzy Sport developed into a network of record shops across Japan, alongside its label and distribution work, apparel and design, dance studios, and a Morioka record shop joined to a bouldering gym. These were not unrelated side projects. They expressed the same founding idea: that music, sport and everyday life could come together to create community.
PAST FORWARD: SILVER marks the first release on the Jazzy Sport London label, distributed by Time Capsule. Established in 2022, the London project first took shape through parties, radio shows and community collaborations connecting Japan and the UK. This compilation carries the Jazzy Sport archive and its values forward through a new generation.
At the centre is Nina Yamada, the daughter of one of Jazzy Sport’s core members. She grew up within the community that shaped the collective, and her selection is not a conventional greatest-hits survey, but an inside view of the catalogue and an intergenerational handover made audible.
The music moves naturally between hip-hop and house, electronic production and live performance. That openness has always been central to Jazzy Sport, where club music, musicianship and community are part of the same conversation rather than separate scenes.
DJ Mitsu the Beats’ remix of Cro-Magnon’s “Eclipse” brings the refined, soulful depth that makes him such an important figure in Japanese beat music. Idjut Boys’ deep, dubwise Cro-Magnon rework reflects the long exchange between Japan and the UK, while Grooveman Spot’s “Do The Dance” finds a sweet spot between acid-tinged 808 groove and warm soulfulness.
Elsewhere, Nubian Lady’s “In☆Flu☆Enza” draws on Detroit techno and Chicago house but sharpens those influences into something lean and distinctive. Physical Sound Sport’s “Magical Kalimba” captures the communal energy and openness of a live session. Bottom Fly’s “Rhyme Or Reason,” rooted in Morioka, pairs rough-edged beats with mellow samples and a quiet sense of nostalgia.
What comes through is not only the strength of the individual tracks, but the sensibility that connects them. That keeps PAST FORWARD: SILVER from feeling like a nostalgic best-of. For longtime followers, it offers rediscovery; for new listeners, a way into the breadth of Jazzy Sport; and for DJs, a selection made for the record bag, not just the archive.
Raw deep house pressure from Sascha Dive, four cuts blending soul, groove, and late-night mood, with Roland Clark blessing the mic. Limited green vinyl for those who still move to the real sound.
DJ Feedbacks :
Laurent Garnier : Cool tracks
Josh Wink (Ovum) : Liking 'Im Inspired' the best here.
C-Rock : Those Nights for me, nice NYC dub House touch!
Radio Slave (Rekids) : I've always been such a big fan of Sasha's productions and "There Is No Tomorrow" hits the spot.
Fleur Shore (Undergrowth / Cuttin' Headz) : im inspired, beautiful track
Reboot (Cecille / Cadenza) : schöne tracks ️
Satoshi Tomiie (Abstract Architecture) : Solid release!
Alinka (Twirl, Classic, Crosstown Rebels, Batty Bass) : Nice one
PBR Streetgang : Invocation and Im Inspired are great
D'Julz (Bass Culture) : those night is the one for me here
Damian Lazarus (Crosstown Rebels) : Thanks for sending. Xx
Ben Sims : Now downloading... will check asap!
Archie Hamilton (Microhertz / FUSE) : Nice thanks
Eddie Fowlkes (Detroit Wax, Rekids, Classic Music Company) : thanks
Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space) : Lovely
Doc Martin (Sublevel) : Sascha on a good one,with the voice of house music Roland Clark no less!!!
Terry Farley : THOSE NIGHTS WORKS FOR ME
Chloe Caillet (Smile Records) : love this!
Oliver $ (Classic Music Company / Play It Down) : Sooo gooood!
Ame (Innervisions) : thanks
Danny Tenaglia : Downloading for Danny Tenaglia, thanks!
Robert Owens (Trax / Musical Directions) : Cool tracks
Kai Alce (Real Soon) : Nice deep tracks from Sascha
Mark Farina : dig them.
Lea Lisa (Phonica Records / Folklor Club) : Really good definition of House
Alexkid (Rawax / FUSE / NG Trax) : Phonogramme (and Sascha Dive) on fire at the moment...
Harri (Sub Club) : lovely stuff, will play and support
Crash landing onto the scene in 2017 with his now legendary NTS broadcast of 2 hours of unheard music, the ultra-mysterious and enigmatic Michael J. Blood has gone on to release a series of sought after, lush and rugged future classics on his own imprints Blood Inc. and BodyTronixxx. Allegedly hailing from Manchester in the North of England, Blood’s sound is hard to pin down but instantly recognisable. Rooted in the twin foundations of modern dance music—Detroit and Chicago—while schooled in the sweaty basements of Manchester’s fêted club scene, his music feels both original and familiar, timeless yet unplaceable.
Weaving together a hypnotic narrative that feels both archival and futuristic, Cause & Effect Vol. 1 brings together some of Blood's rare and hard to find bangers from a variety of his early sold out projects. The collection mixes the pulse of Chicago with the grit and cosmic dreams of Detroit, while never losing sight of the North of England’s sophisticated late-night sleaze. Blood’s dance-floor eclecticism and raw, infectious mutant beats drive a soulful, jazz-louche energy into every track. The result is a collection of atmospheric grooves that weave together hypnotic rhythm and smoky texture, blurring house, techno, broken beat, and jazz-soaked electronics into a heady trip. Cause & Effect Vol. 1 maps out the restless evolution of Blood’s sound, a testament to his instinct for rhythm, atmosphere and dance-floor alchemy. House for the heart, techno for the mind, both built for the body. It’s in the Blood.
Trixie Whitley returns with 'Folded Time', her first full-length album in seven years and one of her most adventurous and rhythmically driven records to date. Written largely at the kitchen table of her Brooklyn apartment and recorded between Brussels, New York and Montréal, the nine-track album finds Whitley moving freely between rock, soul, R&B and more experimental territory.
Rhythm sits at the heart of 'Folded Time'. Whitley plays drums, bass, guitar and piano herself, with her love of polyrhythms running throughout the record. Heavy, slow-moving drums turn opener 'Carry' into a mantra, 'Fascinating and Fun' grew out of studio improvisation, while on 'Carnaval' Whitley and Cem Misirlioglu face each other behind two drum kits for what she calls a "drum rave". Her unmistakable voice remains at the centre, moving just as easily between restraint and raw power.
Across the album, Whitley looks at motherhood, womanhood, heartbreak, desire and forgiveness, and at how the past continues to shape who we become. It is a record about taking stock without standing still: instinctive and physical, but full of detail.
'When Southern Lord picked up and re-released their 2010 debut LP Unsilent Death after its smaller first pressing sold out, they offered a comparison of 90s AmRep bands and early Cro-Mags going faster than either. That sort of works. So does Eyehategod's songbook played by 2013 Converge. This music is more suffocating than it is Suffocation; it also pulls largely from hardcore and comes with plenty of raw emotion attached to it.'' PITCHFORK
Larry June has built a career on making hard work look effortless, and his album Who Coppin’ stands as a masterclass in smooth, lifestyle-driven West Coast hip-hop. The album delivers a high-grade mix of Bay Area luxury, entrepreneurial motivation, and unbothered charismatic flows. Spanning a laid-back audio palette designed for early-morning juice runs and late-night freeway cruises alike, Uncle Larry balances the discipline of a hustle-first mindset with warm, sun-drenched production anchored by crisp organic instrumentation and heavy-knocking bass.
The album features a tightly curated roster of collaborators who align seamlessly with Larry's signature aesthetic. Spoken-word encouragement from Wallo267 sets an intentional tone on the opener "Go Outside Intro," framing the record around execution and focus. Soulful contributions from Jhené Aiko on "California Dream" and Musiq Soulchild on "Pretty Green Eyes" provide lush R&B textures, while NorCal legend B-Legit and longtime partner DJ.Fresh reinforce June’s deep West Coast roots. Meanwhile, Swizz Beatz injects high-energy bounce into "Flex," offering a vibrant contrast to Larry’s understated, cool-headed cadence.
Behind the boards, top-tier producers like Cardo, Teeko, Beat Butcha, Jay Versace, and June Santana craft a nostalgic yet modern backdrop filled with warm sample flips, smooth G-funk synthesizers, and relaxed soul grooves. The project builds to an emotionally grounded conclusion on "God Got Us (Ain't Too Many)," where June strips away the flexes to offer direct encouragement to his audience, proving once again that consistency, self-belief, and steady progress remain the ultimate luxuries.
WRWTFWW Records proudly announces the release of sfs/in vain (selected tracks) by UK jungle heavyweight and Future Retro London founder Tim Reaper, a limited-edition 3LP bringing together selected tracks from two previously digital-only albums, sfs and in vain.
An insane collection of slower 140 BPM wonders, sfs/in vain explores jungle, dubstep, UK garage, R'n'B, grime, liquid D&B and broken beats through Tim Reaper's fresh and informed approach. Deconstructed and reconstructed club music, rooted in tradition but looking forward, these tracks reveal another side of one of the key figures in the modern jungle revival.
The selection comes from 2 albums. sfs collects a body of slower material Tim Reaper worked on throughout 2025, stretching across various genres of UK electronic music. in vain comes from a much more personal place. Written during a period of instability, heartbreak, financial and professional uncertainty, the album became a way for Tim Reaper to process what was happening around him and find some kind of escape. The tracks were made at a point when the effort he had put into rebuilding his life felt as though it had all been "in vain" - hence the title. The result is warm, melancholic, soulful, simply very human.
Together, these selected tracks highlight the incredible range of Tim Reaper's production, proving that his understanding of jungle extends far beyond the traditional boundaries of the genre. From heavyweight bass music to delicate melodic passages, sfs/in vain (selected tracks) is a beautifully varied snapshot of an artist constantly pushing UK club music into new territories.
Tim Reaper has been leading the resurgence of jungle for years, with releases on AKO, Skeleton Recordings, 7th Storey Projects, Green Bay Wax, Dalston Chillies, Parallax, Myor Massiv, V Recordings, Deep Jungle and many more. He is also the founder of Future Retro London, one of the most respected labels and platforms in the contemporary jungle scene.
Nine-time GRAMMY® winner Anderson .Paak and GRAMMY®-nominated rapper Cordae have been operating on the same wavelength for years. What started as pure chemical reaction on 2019’s “RNP” slowly turned into one of hip-hop’s most natural, low-ego partnerships, fueled by back-and-forth gems like “Two Tens” and “Summer Drop” and a series of dynamic TV performances that felt more like two best friends hanging out than a polished routine. On their debut collaborative album, Heavy Is The Crown, that organic bond gets the full-length treatment it’s always deserved.
At its core, the project is a tightrope walk between serious real-life stakes and uncompromising fun. The title isn't just bravado—it speaks directly to the shared weight both artists carry as the primary providers and anchors for their families. But instead of letting that pressure crush the vibe, .Paak and Cordae lean into each other. Meeting as total equals, .Paak’s elastic, soul-drenched musicality anchors Cordae’s razor-sharp lyricism, allowing both to unpack the heavy reality of success and family responsibility without ever losing their spark.
That balance is what makes the album tick. To drive the point home, the album art pays homage to the cult comedy Step Brothers—a nod to the silly, irreverent friendship that birthed the music in the first place. Heavy Is The Crown doesn't feel like a forced corporate crossover or a calculated career move. It’s a record about brotherhood, family, and what happens when two masters of their craft step into the studio simply because nobody makes them laugh, rap, or create quite like the other.
Nine-time GRAMMY® winner Anderson .Paak and GRAMMY®-nominated rapper Cordae have been operating on the same wavelength for years. What started as pure chemical reaction on 2019’s “RNP” slowly turned into one of hip-hop’s most natural, low-ego partnerships, fueled by back-and-forth gems like “Two Tens” and “Summer Drop” and a series of dynamic TV performances that felt more like two best friends hanging out than a polished routine. On their debut collaborative album, Heavy Is The Crown, that organic bond gets the full-length treatment it’s always deserved.
At its core, the project is a tightrope walk between serious real-life stakes and uncompromising fun. The title isn't just bravado—it speaks directly to the shared weight both artists carry as the primary providers and anchors for their families. But instead of letting that pressure crush the vibe, .Paak and Cordae lean into each other. Meeting as total equals, .Paak’s elastic, soul-drenched musicality anchors Cordae’s razor-sharp lyricism, allowing both to unpack the heavy reality of success and family responsibility without ever losing their spark.
That balance is what makes the album tick. To drive the point home, the album art pays homage to the cult comedy Step Brothers—a nod to the silly, irreverent friendship that birthed the music in the first place. Heavy Is The Crown doesn't feel like a forced corporate crossover or a calculated career move. It’s a record about brotherhood, family, and what happens when two masters of their craft step into the studio simply because nobody makes them laugh, rap, or create quite like the other.
Chicago producer and composer Will Miller’s Resavoir has established a strong following at the intersection of jazz, electronic music, and beat-driven production, with more than 9,000 vinyl records sold and 82M+ streams across the project’s first three albums. Resavoir’s 2019 self-titled debut received an 8.2 from Pitchfork alongside broad international critical acclaim, with ongoing support from Gilles Peterson, Lefto, Anthony Valadez, Somewhere Soul, Andrew Jervis and Lovie, plus airplay on BBC 6 Music, KEXP and NPR. Recent recognition includes placements on NPR, KMHD and New Commute’s Best Albums/Songs of 2025, while Resavoir has toured extensively in the UK and Europe and opened for Khruangbin, BADBADNOTGOOD and Kassa Overall.
Above The Clouds finds Resavoir moving further into electronic territory, combining jazz improvisation with dreamy synthesizers, booming drums, smeared samples and electronic instrumentation. Recorded through loose studio sessions with longtime collaborators Lane Beckstrom and Jeremy Cunningham, with contributions from Kenneth Leftridge Jr. and Gregory Uhlmann, the album incorporates wind synthesizers, samplers, guitars, electronic drums and woodwinds into a fluid, groove-oriented sound. The album follows Resavoir’s growing presence across editorial and playlist platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, TIDAL and Delicieuse Musique, with US and EU/UK touring planned for Fall 2026.
Chicago producer and composer Will Miller’s Resavoir has established a strong following at the intersection of jazz, electronic music, and beat-driven production, with more than 9,000 vinyl records sold and 82M+ streams across the project’s first three albums. Resavoir’s 2019 self-titled debut received an 8.2 from Pitchfork alongside broad international critical acclaim, with ongoing support from Gilles Peterson, Lefto, Anthony Valadez, Somewhere Soul, Andrew Jervis and Lovie, plus airplay on BBC 6 Music, KEXP and NPR. Recent recognition includes placements on NPR, KMHD and New Commute’s Best Albums/Songs of 2025, while Resavoir has toured extensively in the UK and Europe and opened for Khruangbin, BADBADNOTGOOD and Kassa Overall.
Above The Clouds finds Resavoir moving further into electronic territory, combining jazz improvisation with dreamy synthesizers, booming drums, smeared samples and electronic instrumentation. Recorded through loose studio sessions with longtime collaborators Lane Beckstrom and Jeremy Cunningham, with contributions from Kenneth Leftridge Jr. and Gregory Uhlmann, the album incorporates wind synthesizers, samplers, guitars, electronic drums and woodwinds into a fluid, groove-oriented sound. The album follows Resavoir’s growing presence across editorial and playlist platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, TIDAL and Delicieuse Musique, with US and EU/UK touring planned for Fall 2026.
Melissa Weikart and her piano have proceeded through life in step, from her early classical
training to the experimental practice that defines her work today, a blending of sounds and forms that has never been so clear—and so fully realized—as on her new album, Contact. Across twelve shifting and evocative tracks that examine the connective tissue binding us to ourselves and others, the Franco-American musician’s voice and piano navigate personal and emotional terrain with clarity and nuance, forging a rich dialogue between artist and instrument, artist and self, and artist and listener.
Winner of the 2022 Nancy Jazz Pulsations emerging artist award and the instrumentalist prize at the 2023 La Défense National Jazz Competition, Weikart has released two EPs and an album as a solo artist, and one EP and an album—Surprise and Secret—with her electronic duo Beatrice Melissa. A student of jazz and ’70s folk-pop, and a keen lover of improvisation since her time at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Weikart has always conjured the confessional candor of the singer- songwriter in her music, even as she dispenses her lyrics across rich, shifting, dreamlike tableaux.
On Contact, written and arranged entirely by Weikart (aside from “New angles”), she pushes her sound further than ever before. The album is animated by a pressing need for connection, observing what brings us together and what drives us apart, and the life-saving revelations that emerge along the way. The album’s opener, “Crash,” is a dreamy telephone-hour ode, a message in a bottle, to connections new and old. On the wistful “Mesurer le vent,” Weikart conjures Debussy or Ravel, layering contrasting sounds like an Impressionist painting. The title track begins as a showcase of Weikart’s frank lyricism, a splice-reel of missed connections and wasted time, then glides into a hazy, euphoric galaxy of pleas, circling around her thesis—“I wanted to make contact”—that ushers us into “The Intersection,” a song that recalls her the beginning of her career, when it was just Weikart and her keys. “Appétit.e” is built around a sample of her down-the-hall neighbor’s drumming—another subtle, affecting gesture toward proximity and connection—while pulsating synths reminiscent of Air lend the track an unsteady atmosphere. On the Carpenters-inspired “Expectations,” Weikart muses on the relationship patterns, universal and specific, that have always been a hallmark of her songwriting.
The psychedelic “L’amour de construit” is a slow-motion fall down the rabbit hole, as Weikart
considers the way her own emotions are captured and commodified by the confining ways we think about love. The interlude—“L’amour pt. 2”—finds her near the end of that trip, shouting into the void as a last-ditch effort to rescue herself from the fall. The drums near the end of the interlude warn us that there may be no cushion for, until she is saved, again, by the power of revelation, on the confident, resilient “Not Right”—on which a show-stopping, frenetic conversation between singer and piano is gracefully interrupted by a rush of transcendent strings, lifting her back up.
On solid ground anew, “New angles,” featuring Manu Delta, creates a percussion-less groove that relies on experimental synth sounds. The 11-o’clock stunner “Catching up”—composed in a church—meets the singer in a state of ecstatic confession, bringing her to the formative memory that propels “Bicycle,” the album’s closer. Younger, more wide-eyed, she reflects on her move from Boston to Strasbourg, those early days, when Weikart had no other companion than that loyal hunk of scrap metal that took her to the shores of her own soul. She seems to suggest, on “Bicycle,” that a backward-glance is not always troublesome, not always anxiety-producing, but can be grounding: a reminder of where we come from, so that we can keep moving forward.
As part of the 20 Years of BM anniversary celebrations, Bondage-Music proudly presents Bondage Games Pt. 11 — a special five-part vinyl series. Each release is named after a constellation, together forming a unique tribute to two decades of Bondage-Music.
With Bondage Games Pt. 11, the label's iconic vinyl series returns in its most ambitious edition to date. Created to celebrate 20 years of Bondage-Music, the series unfolds across five constellation-themed releases, each featuring four exclusive productions from artists closely connected to the label.
The first chapter, Ursus, brings together four exclusive tracks from Roger Gerressen, Sascha Dive, Rhadow and Lola Palmer. From Roger Gerressen's hypnotic groove-driven Patterned Shards and Sascha Dive's unmistakable deep house craftsmanship on Dub Chronicles #10 to Rhadow's atmospheric Ripples and Lola Palmer's warm and emotional Slow Down, the record perfectly reflects the timeless musical identity that has defined Bondage-Music since day one — deep, soulful, groove-focused and made for both intimate listening and late-night dancefloors.
Pressed on heavyweight 180g vinyl and housed in an individually printed sleeve, Ursus continues Bondage-Music's longstanding commitment to exceptional quality in both music and design. The artwork was created by BM's longtime Head of Artwork, Pete Bombart — a close friend and an integral part of the label since its earliest days. His unmistakable visual language has become inseparable from the Bondage-Music identity, earning a loyal following far beyond the music itself.
Whether collected as part of the complete anniversary series or enjoyed on its own, Bondage Games Pt. 11: Ursus is a celebration of the artists, the friendships and the unmistakable sound that have shaped Bondage-Music over the past twenty years.
As part of the 20 Years of BM anniversary celebrations, Bondage-Music proudly presents Bondage Games Pt. 11 — a special five-part vinyl series. Each release is named after a constellation, together forming a unique tribute to two decades of Bondage-Music.
With Bondage Games Pt. 11, the label's iconic vinyl series returns in its most ambitious edition to date. Created to celebrate 20 years of Bondage-Music, the series unfolds across five constellation-themed releases, each featuring four exclusive productions from artists closely connected to the label.
The first chapter, Ursus, brings together four exclusive tracks from Roger Gerressen, Sascha Dive, Rhadow and Lola Palmer. From Roger Gerressen's hypnotic groove-driven Patterned Shards and Sascha Dive's unmistakable deep house craftsmanship on Dub Chronicles #10 to Rhadow's atmospheric Ripples and Lola Palmer's warm and emotional Slow Down, the record perfectly reflects the timeless musical identity that has defined Bondage-Music since day one — deep, soulful, groove-focused and made for both intimate listening and late-night dancefloors.
Pressed on heavyweight 180g vinyl and housed in an individually printed sleeve, Ursus continues Bondage-Music's longstanding commitment to exceptional quality in both music and design. The artwork was created by BM's longtime Head of Artwork, Pete Bombart — a close friend and an integral part of the label since its earliest days. His unmistakable visual language has become inseparable from the Bondage-Music identity, earning a loyal following far beyond the music itself.
Whether collected as part of the complete anniversary series or enjoyed on its own, Bondage Games Pt. 11: Ursus is a celebration of the artists, the friendships and the unmistakable sound that have shaped Bondage-Music over the past twenty years.
“Slide in the party like three monkeys wearing a trench,” GDP says in the opening seconds of Cross Off Matthew, his first solo album in over a decade. The line is indicative of the New Jersey emcee/ producer’s relationship with music, one that’s ebbed and flowed throughout his career and eclectic discography. Entirely self-produced, Cross Off Matthew feels like a reintroduction as well as an expansion of what makes the cult rapper so beloved. GDP came up in the respective punk, hardcore, and skateboarding scenes of New Jersey, roots that inspired his DIY approach to making hip-hop. He applied a decidedly punk ethos to his brand of neo- boom bap on early releases like 2009’s Realistic Expectations and 2011’s Useless Eaters, albums that celebrated his youthful indiscretions but also signaled an old soul lying beneath the surface.
He opted to release them on punk/indie labels (including Run For Cover and Ride The Fury Records) instead of more traditional hip-hop outlets, and along with an ambitious touring schedule, he carved out a dedicated fanbase throughout the early 2010’s. Cross Off Matthew is a slow-cooked labor of love, born out of taking enough time away from something to understand the journey with greater perspective and appreciation.“I’m older, arguably wiser, but that creative fire stayed with me,” he says. “I wanted to make something that felt nuanced, something that I could feel proud of.” Throughout the album, the production toggles between foreboding and facetious just as deftly as his bars. Tracks like “Island In The Sky” and “Location Therapy” make rap confetti out of caustic guitars and glaring distortion, while “Seroquel” and “Rock For Light,” (the latter a nod to NJ rap royalty, The Outsidaz) embrace GDP’s signature blend of East Coast hip-hop and punk sensibilities, with lyrics that highlight the sharp wit and heady philosophizing that he made his name on. GDP examines vices, interpersonal relationships, the collective dread of late-stage capitalism as well as the pitfalls and rewards of trying to lead a creative life throughout it all. The wiseman that peaked out from beneath the shield of debauchery on his early releases has now come to the forefront, as GDP’s trademark humor and commentary feel refined by years of life lived experience
Get Used To It, a “uniformly excellent” album (PopMatters) first released in 2006, marked the return of N’Dea Davenport, whom The New Yorker described as “a lithe dynamo with a sensuous voice and an arresting presence.” Her voice remains inseparable from The Brand New Heavies’ classic sound, “an accessible hybrid of soulful grooves and smooth funk,” as The New Yorker put it
Following the success of the inaugural all-Jiri Jiri edition, Batov Records returns with the second instalment of its Give Me Disco series, once again curated by label co-founder and globe-trotting selector DJ Kobayashi. Rather than revisiting familiar disco classics, Give Me Disco Vol. 02 digs deeper, bringing together four dancefloor discoveries from across Europe and Asia, including two previously unreleased tracks available here for the first time.
Spanning Portuguese jazz-funk, Norwegian cosmic oddities, Japanese-inspired psychedelic disco and cinematic groove, the EP reflects the breadth of Kobayashi's record bag - a carefully assembled selection of tracks that have soundtracked his DJ sets for years alongside exclusive material rescued from the vaults.
Opening the record is The Bam Jam Band's brilliantly understated "Theme", a soaring slice of jazz-infused disco from Portuguese musicians Sérgio Alves and Pedro Tenreiro. Originally released only as a now long-sold-out 7 inch on Mad About Records, the track has become one of Kobayashi's trusted secret weapons, championed by discerning selectors including Darryn Jones and Red Greg. Built around Alves' dazzling synthesiser work, "Theme" finally gets the wider audience it deserves. The EP's first exclusive arrives courtesy of D. Apal, instrumentalist and member of Norway's Flammer Dance Band. His only solo release, issued on the band's Lysketrekk Records, has become a cult favourite among adventurous record collectors. Batov now unveils the previously unreleased "60 Meter'n (Rytme)", an extended instrumental dub that strips away the vocals to let the handclaps, cavernous bassline, dub effects and wonderfully eccentric synthesisers breathe, transforming an underground favourite into an irresistible dancefloor weapon.
Side B opens with YĪN YĪN's "Tokyo Disco", taken from the band's acclaimed third album Mount Matsu on Glitterbeat Records. Long-time admirers of the Dutch quartet, Kobayashi has championed them since first hearing the breakthrough pairing of "Dis ̄ kô Dis ̄ kô" and "Dion Ysiusk" on Bongo Joe. Since then, he has hosted the band twice on Soho Radio and supported them live in London. "Tokyo Disco" perfectly captures YĪN YĪN's distinctive blend of Japanese-inspired psychedelia, Southeast Asian influences, post-punk funk and shimmering disco grooves, making it a natural fit for the Give Me Disco series.
Closing the EP is another exclusive from Jiri Jiri, whose contribution helped launch the series on Vol. 01. Ahead of their forthcoming album later this year, the duo unveil the previously unreleased "Spaghetti Western", a wonderfully off-kilter fusion of Morricone-esque cinematic atmosphere, taut funk rhythms and the soulful modern groove of SAULT. Equal parts soundtrack and dancefloor curveball, it provides a fitting finale while offering another tantalising glimpse of what's still to come. With two exclusive cuts sitting alongside two carefully chosen modern classics, Give Me Disco Vol. 02 is another lovingly curated snapshot of DJ Kobayashi's musical universe: borderless, groove-driven and unapologetically built for adventurous DJs, discerning collectors and open minded dancefloors alike.
Fall Collection pulls from the vaults. Four tracks, some long out of print, one never
before pressed, all of them worth the dig.
The A-side opens with Ty Tek’s Dirty Fusion, originally released on Gourmet Recordings
in 2005 alongside the Audio Soul Project remix two years later. Both have been
fetching serious money on the secondary market for a reason. This is tech house from
when that phrase still meant something, the walloping cadence, the sci-fi pads, the
seismic synths rolling underneath. You hear it once and it stays with you.
Departed by Wasted Chicago Youth follows. Justin Aulis Long and Mazi Namvar
started from a remix brief and promptly ignored it, building something new from scratch
in a single session. Organs, wailing lead, disco break, 808 subs, a plastic bass line
threading through all of it. Somewhere between an angry Metro Area and a more
psychedelic Jitwam, but really it’s just WCY doing what they do.
Love Thy Enemy by Wasted Chicago Youth appeared on the Chase The Devil EP back
in 2009. The bubbles, shuffles, and wobbling chords hold up, and the vocal samples hit
differently now than they did then.
ASP’s Cloud Dub closes the record. It appeared on Dubs Vol. 2 as a digital release in
2022 and has never been on vinyl, and that’s where the subsonic acid bass line and
the layered string, piano, pad, and organ groove finally get room to breathe. Deep
house the way Chicago made it in the early nineties. Bare, musical, and raw.
Track A1 written by Ty Tek. Remixed by Audio Soul Project
Track A2 written by Justin Aulis Long and Maziar Namvar
Track B1 written by Justin Aulis Long and Mazi Namvar
Track B2 written by Audio Soul Project.
Copyright Control
Fresh Meat Records 2026
Finnish-born, New York raised, and now Melbourne based Jani Ho has crafted a distinctive sound that can only be described as machine music with undeniable soul! Jani's hardware-driven live performances and studio productions are legendary and has earned him global recognition with multiple quality releases on the highly acclaimed soiree records. His contribution for the dolly TS series draws those direct lines with Detroit's soulful machinery techno and echo's the perfect union of rhythm and emotional depth, touching the deepest territories of techno.
The Stockholm-based duo continues their flirtation with Chicago disco house, clearly indebted to DJ Sneak's bump-and-swerve school yet filtered through Scandinavian cool. It's affectionate without being slavish, and just irreverent enough to avoid museum-piece territory.
This EP is another testament to the soundscape Ari Bald & CJ Scott strive to showcase as a duo. Built on a deep love for digging through jazz, funk, soul, disco, and cinema, their sound captures a nostalgic vibe from the late '90s and early '00s. "Dart 2 Da Heart EP" highlights their playful approach to samples and raw, straightforward production. Produced and mixed in Sätra Studios in the southern suburbs of Stockholm, this record is made exclusively for the mobile-free dancefloor.
Biz returns to his Subjekt label for it’s fourth instalment, continuing a long-standing connection with the deeper, more cerebral side of techno. With previous releases on Detroit institution Transmat, Laurent Garnier’s COD3QR, Xistence, We’re Going Deep, Acquit Records and other respected underground labels, the lineage is firmly established.
Here, Biz digs deep into the Detroit blueprint — machine rhythms, hypnotic sequences, melancholy, soul and futuristic tension — balancing introspection with raw dance floor vibes.
For the remix, Osaka techno veteran DJ Compufunk steps up with a stripped-back interpretation, locking into the groove and pushing the track further into raw machine funk territory.
Detroit spirit, Japanese precision and Australian underground techno vibes — another essential Biz release!
Canada's Demuir makes house music with the sort of feeling and character that defined the earliest days of the sound. Gospel, funk, jazz and much more all colour his grooves next to a superb array of samples, and all of that is on display across The Intersecting Virtues Of Love & Respect, a new album packed with jams. 'TIVLR - Moment Of Clarity has neat organ chords worked into a soulful, dusty groove; there is an infectious bubble to the drums and molten chords of 'Alone In Chicago' and 'Somethin 'Bout Respect' is smooth, free-flowing analogue house with jazzy fingers dancing across the keys. Elsewhere, 'Know They Value' is deeper and more heads down and 'Speak Power To Your (Black) Man' is a freewheeling and sunny sound anchored by more trademark Demuir drums.
DJ Support: Mochakk, Joseph Capriati, Jamie Jones, Purple Disco Machine, Groove Armada, Marco Carola ,keinemusik, Adrian Roman, Bill Brewster, Rino, Ruben Mandolini, Terry Farley, Nicolas Masseyeff, Echonomist, Robosonic, Nuno Dos Santos, diskJokke, Dan Marciano Jody Wisternoff / Way Out West, Eelke Kleijn, Henry Saiz, Digitalism, Sister Bliss / Faithless, Innellea, Adriatique, Judge Jules, Sam Divine, TSHA, Simone Vitullo, Joris Voorn, Tommie Sunshine, Fahlberg, Stijn D'hont / DJ Neon
D Stone is a rising force in Amsterdam’s electronic music scene, blending live instruments with electronic production to create his unique take on house music. His sound bridges true house to proto-disco and deeper percussive elements, as showcased in his release Total Unison. A passionate DJ and producer, D Stone crafts infectious tracks by combining samples with live instruments, driving dance floors with his grooves. Born into a musical family, D Stone was immersed in sound from an early age. His father’s influence exposed him to diverse musical styles, sparking his lifelong curiosity. He began playing piano at eight, learned guitar at twelve, and by fifteen discovered electronic music, exploring house as a DJ. A year later, he ventured into production, gaining recognition and landing his first gigs. Inspired by 70s and 80s disco, funk, garage, and 90s tech house, his music blends energy, groove, and soul. With his foundation in live instruments and his forward-thinking approach to electronic music, D Stone strives to create more than tracks—he’s shaping moments that linger in the minds of his listeners.
Envision remixed by DJ & producer Julya Karma Emerging from Brooklyn’s underground and now rooted in Berlin, her practice isn’t about fitting into a lane, it’s about finding what is alive and letting it shape the moment.
Across diverse stages and platforms from Coachella and Lost Village to Berghain, Cercle, Space, The Brooklyn Mirage, DGTL, Time Warp, Audio Obscura, Tomorrowland, and within the orbit of Innervisions, Julya’s performances reflect a commitment to exploration over formula, earning recognition from artists like Laurent Garnier, Dixon, Âme, Adriatique, Rüfüs Du Sol, and Sven Väth.
Influential UK Jazz/Funk/Disco outfit THE COOL-NOTES' biggest hit 'Spend The Night', originally released in 1985, is back on Dafia Records with a set of brand new, never before released remixes by French Disco icon DIMITRI FROM PARIS.
The original, which reached #11 in the UK Top 40 in the Spring of 1985, is regarded as a mid-tempo UK classic by many since its first appearance. Known for his luxurious, groove-driven productions and remixes, Dimitri From Paris has reworked tracks for artists including Björk, Quincy Jones, Chic and New Order, while helping define the sound of modern disco and house music in a way only he can.
When he got the chance by Dafia label head Mannix to get his hands on the original multitrack tapes, he didn't hesitate to deliver two classic DFP revisions in the making. His Main version leaves all the essential elements of the timeless Original, highlights the parts that have deserved more exposure whilst adding crisp beats and nice effects to the game. The result is a greatly updated version that surely will have many fans within the Soul/Funk/Disco scene.
On his Dub Dimitri Form Paris delivers a spaced out stripped back version with great use of vocal snippets to great effect on any dancefloor.
Nearly 15 years have passed since the original version of this LP was released (the first iteration as a 4X12" LMTD set back in 2012), and it has truly aged like fine wine! This release features five timeless cuts from the mind and soul of cv313 and a truly mesmerizing otherwordly dub of the illusive radius project, mixed and recorded near the heart of Detroit! (with nearly all of the tracks making their debut on wax) This entire project has been beautifully remastered by dub innovator and pioneer, Stefan Betke POLE @ scape mastering in Berlin, DE. You can just drop the needle and close your eyes for a near 20 minutes of fathomless sonic depth, massaging your brain and mind, a deep dive into an immersive analogue world. A new addition to this newly minted vinyl iteration of the "Altering Illusions" series now includes cv313's blistering analogue assault on the darkest radius bit in the interpolation tapes series. Expect sub-harmonic deep space exploration in some seriously out-there electronic quadrants, some of the deepest techno reductions ever captured to tape!
Thoughts:
"Altering Illusions Chapter One cv313 is every bit as strong and essential as the debut cv313 album it supplements and acts as a nexus between cv313 material old and new.It is quite unlike anything cv313 has released before or since, a beautiful hybrid of cv313 textures, dense, whirring drones from Alva Noto’s Xerrox series of ambient albums and Thomas Koner’s panoramic soundscapes." -IGLOO MAGAZINE
a A1. cv313 “isis” original mix 10:47
c B1. radius “interpolation tapes” cv313 rewire 20:06
e C2. cv313 “irradiate dub” 5:58
reduced 20:24
a A1. cv313 “isis” original mix 10:47
c B1. radius “interpolation tapes” cv313 rewire 20:06
Every coastline develops its own rhythm. The Adriatic is no exception.
For decades, Italy’s eastern coast has been shaped by funk, Cosmic Disco, Balearic sounds, Italo Disco, House, Latin rhythms, Brazilian music and countless other influences. Rather than blending into a single style, these musical worlds have lived side by side, constantly inspiring new generations of DJs, musicians and dancers. For more than fifteen years, Soul Fingers and Funk Rimini have explored that landscape from different perspectives. Founded by Claudio Cavallaro in 2013, Soul Fingers grew into a vinyl-driven community where groove matters more than genre. Its philosophy has always been simple: if the groove is right, genres stop mattering. Brothers Ricky and Francesco Cardelli developed Funk Rimini into a project rooted in funk, disco, live performance and electronic production. Anima Adriatica is where these two journeys meet.
The project didn’t begin with the ambition of making an album. It began behind the turntables. As DJs, Claudio Cavallaro and Ricky Cardelli found themselves constantly searching for records capable of connecting distant musical worlds inside their sets; from Afrobeat into disco, from hip hop into Latin, from Brazilian grooves into boogie, from cosmic electronics into deep funk. Sometimes those records existed. More often, they didn’t. So they stopped searching and started writing them. Not records designed to belong to one genre, but records designed to travel between genres. That space between musical worlds became Anima Adriatica.
The music grew through spontaneous jam sessions with Ricky and Francesco Cardelli, drummer Enrico Mao Bocchini and, gradually, a wider circle of musicians, singers and longtime friends, making Anima Adriatica less a traditional band than the beginning of an open collective. Recorded at SynthPosio Studio, founded by Ricky and Francesco Cardelli inside Rimini’s iconic skyscraper, the project also carries a symbolic connection to the building itself, where many Italo Disco classics (including records by Betty Miranda, The Creatures and many others) were recorded decades earlier.
Betty Miranda returns not as a nostalgic guest, but as a bridge between generations. On the title track she performs a spoken-word text written by Claudio Cavallaro, reflecting on the invisible thread connecting the Adriatic dancefloor across time. From Baia degli Angeli to Cocoricò, from the legendary clubs of Riccione to today’s independent communities gathered around projects such as Soul Fingers and Funk Rimini, the places have changed, but the dancefloor continues to tell the same story. Much like Pier Vittorio Tondelli’s Rimini captured the Adriatic through literature, Anima Adriatica imagines its soundtrack.
Brazilian musician Daniel Plentz (Selton) expands that vision on Açúcar and Alegria, bringing another coastline into the story. Across its four tracks, the EP moves naturally between analogue funk, boogie, Brazilian music, underground disco, cosmic textures and the wider Black musical tradition, with All Down The Line paying tribute to the Paradise Garage era.
Released by Bordello A Parigi, the project found its natural home through a shared love of adventurous dance music, records and club culture. More than the title of an EP, Anima Adriatica marks the beginning of an open collective; a meeting point where musicians, DJs, producers and friends continue building bridges between genres, generations and communities.
Because Anima Adriatica doesn’t live inside a genre. It lives between genres. If soul music has always reflected the places where it was born, Anima Adriatica is simply our own Adriatic Soul.
SIMPLR is a dab hand when it comes to editing, tweaking and touching up classics tracks just enough to make them bang on contemporary flors, but not so much that they lose the essence of what makes them standout in the first place. Already this month he kicked off this label with a doozy rework of a soul great and now offers two more gems - 'Downtown Soul' is steamy and hot house with big trumpets and funky bass loops and 'Those Days' gets deeper, with louche, live-feeling grooves that loop back on themselves and bring the funk.
Carlos Benedetti, a Colombian house producer and live performer from Cali, has steadily become one of the standout names in today’s underground dance scene. Following multiple vinyl releases on the acclaimed German label Disco Disco, Benedetti’s productions have earned widespread praise and support from respected figures including deep house icon Cinthie.
Specialists, selectors and collectors alike have described his records with comments such as:
“fabulous 12-inch”
“This is the most wild dance record to come out this year so far”
“Cannot formulate the words to capture how this one sounds and makes me feel”
“Listen close and behold.”
With this latest EP for SUPREME STRIKER, Benedetti once again delivers a collection that feels destined to become a future underground classic.
The record opens with Nostalgia Blues, a soulful and deeply textured piece channeling the spirit of Larry Levan’s legendary dancefloor energy, somewhere between disco’s emotional golden age and modern club functionality.
On Bellavista, Benedetti dives deeper into high-energy territory, layering powerful black grooves, hypnotic rhythmic tension and rich percussive movement into something both vibrant and timeless.
Pyramid follows with soaring arpeggios and delicate melodic flourishes, recalling the euphoric sophistication of Todd Terje at his most inspired, while maintaining Benedetti’s raw dancefloor sensibility.
Closing track How High The Moon nods toward Patrick Cowley’s pioneering synth work, injecting the EP with cosmic disco pressure, futuristic funk textures and a strange late-night sensuality.
More than a simple collection of tracks, the EP unfolds as a fully coherent journey through house, disco, Italo and high-energy mutations, balancing emotional depth, machine-driven grooves and timeless dancefloor instinct with remarkable naturality.
Powerhouse vocalist Sandra St. Victor returns with Eleven, her eleventh studio album and first solo release in over a decade. From her years with The Family Stand to collaborations with Roy Ayers, Curtis Mayfield, Chaka Khan, Prince and Lalah Hathaway, Sandra has built a remarkable career that has consistently blurred the lines between soul, funk, jazz and gospel.
Executive produced by Sandra St. Victor and Patrick Gibin for Mother Tongue, Eleven brings together Sandra's longtime collaborators alongside the Mother Tongue family, bridging her rich musical legacy with a fresh, forward-looking sound rooted in soul, jazz, boogie and soulful dance music.
The album combines brand new compositions with inspired reinterpretations, from Kaidi Tatham's stunning reimagining of Captain Sky's Moonchild and his masterful reinvention of the Leon Ware/Syreeta underground gem Tiki Tiki Donga, to a beautifully understated new version of Sandra's own Dizzy, originally released on Gemini: Both Sides in 2001 featuring Questlove, Roy Ayers and Donald Byrd, here reimagined by Mark de Clive-Lowe. Along the way, the lo-fi soul of Black Ice, the timeless duet No More Water featuring Lalah Hathaway, and the straight-up funk of Makes Me Wanna Fall In Love Again and What Would Miles Do showcase an artist continuing to evolve while remaining true to her artistic voice.
Rooted in experience yet driven by curiosity, Eleven bridges Sandra's remarkable musical legacy with the creative vision of Mother Tongue, resulting in an album that feels both timeless and unmistakably
"John Beltran joins forces with Ireland’s Intrinsic Rhythm for a masterclass in emotional Detroit Techno with his "Roots EP" featuring a deep & soulful remix from Fireground.
Few names command the same reverence in electronic music as John Beltran. Since pioneering the more melodic, ambient-soaked textures of Detroit techno in the 1990s and 00s, the Michigan producer has spent over three decades crafting electronic music with an unmistakable human soul.
For his latest outing, Beltran links up with Irish imprint Intrinsic Rhythm for a physical and digital release after previously providing a remix for IR004 . The A1 "My Faith In You" is a perfect distillation of his signature sound: lush, cinematic chord progressions, propulsive rhythm arrangements, and that deep-running emotive warmth that makes his catalog timeless and this continues on the A2 with "Gratiot" a timeless piece of Deep Detroit Techno with a shuffling groove and precise tones and textures.
Sharpening the edge of the package is a stellar remix from dynamic Italian duo Fireground. Known for their driving, soulful and rich sound on labels like Tresor and Ilian Tape, Fireground adds a deeper more textured version of "Gratiot" and reconstructs it into a sun drenched musically rich remix. Together, the release forms a beautiful bridge between the two artists. "
Strut proudly presents an expansive deep dive into the world of Quatermass Sound Lab, the prolific under-the-radar East London studio founded and run by producer, engineer and The Heliocentrics co-founder Malcolm Catto. Over the last two decades, Catto has quietly established himself as a sought-after sonic architect in contemporary music. Revered for his analogue-first approach, he has built Quatermass Sound Lab around vintage recording equipment, valve preamps and live performance, creating recordings that feel warm and timeless. Equally inspired by punk, hip-hop, psychedelic rock, jazz, funk and electronic music, Catto has developed a production style that rejects genre boundaries in favour of instinct and atmosphere. Describing himself as "50% musician and 50% listener," Catto approaches each session as a collaborator rather than a conventional producer. That philosophy has made Quatermass Sound Lab a creative home for an extraordinary range of musicians, from established innovators to emerging voices. His remarkable discography spans collaborations with Yussef Dayes, DJ Shadow, Madlib, Quantic, Mulatu Astatke, Orlando Julius, Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids and countless others, each project using analogue wizardry to shape bold, contemporary recordings with a character all of their own.
Two Thou’s Oraculu releases a full length spiritual electronics LP with tubaredefining Theon Cross, homeboy Taymour Khajah, soulful presence of D’Monk and Division81 vibe designer Sonny Daze. The sun-inspired record sets a high energy moment for Oraculu, blurring all the lines between the dancefloor, the horns, Berlin, London, Chicago, and Sardinia. This record is about change. I’ve started to be less interested in the fire of the sun, the explosion, the heat. The consistency, the orbit, the return got my full attention. Until it clicked, that repetition is a fundamental aspect of change.
Craig Alexander drops back with the Soul Revival repress — a raw, deep house cut built for heads who know. Originally released on Transparent Records, now back on wax through Phonogramme.
Limited-run energy, timeless groove, straight-up dancefloor business.
Feedbacks:
Dave Huismans (ex_libris, In Transit) : Nice to get Soul Revival digitally, thanks!
Ben UFO (Hessle Audio / Rinse FM) : absolute classic
Laurent Garnier : SOUL REVIVAL is super cool track Will play
Mike Shannon (Cynosure) : Nice to have this one back! thx
Prosumer : this a journey into sound
Red Eye (Crash Planet Rec, R.E.A.D., Red/Shift, Lavish Habits, Multipass) : ahh i have this original vinyl. Glad to have a digi!!!
Dorian Paic (Raum Musik) : good re release too. Soul Revival is the one for me, in the past and now as well. ;) Thx for the promo !!
Hunee (Rush Hour) : lovely reissue
DJ Bone (FURTHER) : Lovin Feelin works for me, thanks
Chloe Caillet (Smile Records) : love these!
Franck Roger (Real Tone Records) : soul revivais is dope as always !!!
Terence :Terry: (La Vie En Ros / Freak N Chic) : what a good remember we use to played it a lot " Soul Revival" super track to surprise everyone Terence :Terry:
Tripmastaz (Plant 74) : tight cutz
Jorkes (Freeride Millenium) : soul revival is cute
Girls Of The Internet (Classic) : Classic!
Geir Aspenes (G-Ha (Sunkissed)) : Thanks
Terry Francis (Fabric) : nice
Sven Weisemann (Mojuba Records) : absolute classic!!!
Pacific Coliseum (Dublab, Teen Daze, Noire & Blanche) : DEEP!!! These are gorgeous, thank you so much for sending!
Pat Hyland (Northside Loft Society) : A welcome release from Craig. Three pure dancefloor heaters with Soul Revival topping!
Fred P : Dope...
Doc Martin (Sublevel) : Good Grooves!!!!
Mark Farina : good stuff. thanks!
Samuel Deep (SlapFunk Records) : yes
DJ Steaw (Rutilance / Steaward) : Nice ep thanks :-)
Lea Lisa (Phonica Records / Folklor Club) : Soul revival for me !
Brothers' Vibe (Luv4Wax) : Bangers!
Anthony Collins (Frank & Tony / Scissor & Thread) : great record
Carlos Valdes (Is Burning) : Loved it since the first time I've heard it! Happy to have the digital file!
Five Special were a five-man harmony vocal group from Detroit whose members included Mike Pattillo, Steve Harris, Zeke Stanley, Greg Finlay and Bryan Banks (the younger brother of Dramatics’ main man Ron Banks). The aim of these five young men was to create a group with the potential of anyone of its members to be able to step up to sing lead on any given song, something which they went on to achieve to great aplomb.
Ron Banks was very instrumental in the founding of Five Special introducing them to his long-time friend Charles “Chuck” Underwood, a one-time former road manager of the Dramatics and by then the owner of the independent T.E.A.I Record Corporation label (T.E.A.I being an abbreviation for “Tellin’ Everybody About It”). Five Special’s first release for T.E.A.I was the 1976 joyously uplifting dancer “The More I Get To Know You” a Jimmy Roach and Marcella Henderson composition featuring Bryan on lead, released as a part I and part II deemed to be a more disc-jockey friendly practice at the time. The record was popular with radio stations throughout the Detroit metropolis leading Chuck to precure a deal with Polygram which resulted in the song gaining release on their nationally distributed Mercury label. A second Five Special Mercury release followed in 1977, the Jimmy Roach penned mellifluous “(Let’s Stop Making) Small Talk” backed with the Ron Banks/Paul Clark penned psychedelic soul styled “Oh, Oh (Look What We’ve Done)” with Greg Finley and Zeke Stanley exchanging tenor and baritone parts throughout.
Through our ongoing working relationship with T.E.A.I Soul Junction have gained access to some previously unissued master tapes on Five Special which were recorded for an intended album project that was never finished. From these tapes we took “The More I Get To Know You” in its 5:50 minutes entirety (not split into parts 1 & 2) backed with the previously unissued mid-tempo delight “You Got To Be The One That I Love” with interchanging leads from Bryan and Steve coupled with the released psychedelic soul “Oh, Oh (Look What We’ve Done)” with interchanging leads between Greg and Zeke, catalogue number SJ565, currently a very popular release amongst Collectors and DJ’s alike. For our second and follow up Five Special 45 release, we have chosen to lead with the gorgeous, previously unissued “Two OF A Kind” penned by Ron Banks with lead vocals being provided by Steve Harris. The B-side of this release opens with another unissued psychedelic song, the Ron Banks/Chuck Underwood composed “Stone Chain Reaction” featuring punchy interchanging lead vocals from Greg Finley and Zeke Stanley, this is coupled together with the released mid 1970’s sweet soul masterpiece from the pen of Jimmy Roach “(Let’s Stop Making) Small Talk” making this yet another quality three track release from Soul Junction.
Blending shimmering disco grooves, warm analog synths and soulful vocals, Luna Soul bring together the elegance of the 70s and 80s with contemporary disco pop. Formed by German singer Lisa Michèle Lietz and Spanish guitarist Jordi Arnau Rubio, the band creates music that feels equally at home on the dancefloor and during a quiet drive home after midnight.
Following the release of their debut album „First Move“ (2025), Luna Soul have established themselves as an internationally touring live act, performing more than 50 concerts each year across Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Denmark. Airplay and features on radio stations including Deutschlandradio Kultur, Radio Eins, NDR and Bayern 2 introduced the band to a growing European audience.
With their new album „Second Nature“ Luna Soul expand both sonically and emotionally. Written between tours and shaped by constant movement, the record explores themes of change, longing, resilience and the search for genuine connection. Ten new songs unfold like scenes from a midnight movie. Synthesizers, guitars and soulful melodies accompany stories of long journeys, quiet conversations, fading memories and the hope found in new beginnings. The album’s first singles, “Only Human” and “Down The Line” capture the two emotional poles of the record. „Only Human“ embraces vulnerability and acceptance with an uplifting warmth, while „Down The Line“ moves through nocturnal cityscapes, combining cinematic intimacy with the pulse of the dancefloor. Together they introduce an album that feels equally suited to solitary late-night drives and crowded dancefloors.
Live, Luna Soul perform as an multi-national four- to six-piece band, seamlessly moving between disco, sophisticated indie pop, yacht rock and atmospheric slow-burners. Their performances combine musical precision with emotional immediacy, inviting audiences into the same cinematic world that defines „Second Nature“.
„Second Nature“ defines Luna Soul‘s most mature artistic statement to date, a record less concerned with nostalgia than with preserving fleeting moments before they disappear.
“Cue Blue”, the latest and fifth studio recording from Australian down under, gritty jazzfunk grooves ensemble Kerbside Collection sees a return to a more classic, stripped back, meat-and-potatoes, home-cooked, quartet formation sound of guitar, bass, drums and brass.
A sound formed on previous, recent recordings (incl. Golden Rules compilation tune “Fleet Streak” etc), seemingly harking back to the approach of the group’s first recordings (2013’s “Mind The Curb”, “Night in Tunisia” etc), whilst embodying inspirations from more ‘true school’, classic, bluesy New Orleans funk and soul groove flavours à la early Meters, Boogaloo Joe Jones, Melvin Sparks, Billy Butler etc. But it’s not all completely ‘retro’ and ‘looking back’, the album definitely taps into some of the current exponents and leaders of the contemporary deep funk sound – The Greyboy Allstars, Eddie Roberts, The New Mastersounds, The Mighty Mocambos, Breakestra and fellow Aussie funksters Cookin’ on 3 Burners, Lance Ferguson and The Bamboos etc.
The lead single and first tune “Shivers” gives us a clear, picture and definitive opening statement to the record with all the characteristics you’ve come to expect from the Kerbside gritty jazzfunk sound: silky guitar line phrasing, rubbery bass-lines, tight crusty drum breaks, and sweet brass arrangements. Then it’s straight into a frenetic, jangly, mod-funk workout complete with Northern Soul & Motown inflections in the surging B sections. “City Park Avenue” conjures up classic New Orleans funk flavours with its strutting brass, slinky guitar and swinging tambourine groove. There’s classic, b-boy funk territory covered in “Coffee Grinder” (a breakdance move) with its razor-sharp drum break groove and chunky riff complete with sizzling trombone solo. Before the pace of the record changes up with the finger-clicken’, hand-clappin’ boogaloo, reminiscent of early 60s Harlem x Puerto Rican Bronx sounds (à la Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barretto) loaded with a scintillating baritone sax solo from long standing part of the collection ‘Papa Joe’ Roberts.
“Sittin’ On The Porch” cools the temperature down even more, delving into slight Southern Louisiana Delta blues territory, while suggesting some of the hot and muggy atmosphere and imagery of their home town location in suburban Brisbane Australia, complete with kooky Casio percussion representing familiar yard sounds such as sprinklers (spinning lawn watering devices) and ‘mozzies’ (mosquitos), passing cars indicated by trombone, and guitarist TC Tyler, channelling some bluesy John Lee Hooker, R.L. Burnside guitar flavours - you can almost feel the humidity on your skin.
Then it’s time for a stroll down memory lane, with their version of a People Under The Stairs hip hop classic “San Francisco Knights”, bringing the tune full circle back into band mode, also with another tasty guitar solo. The album then enters its final stages with a mesmerising, soulful, jazz ballad “Shimmer”, complete with Elliott Parker’s sultry upright double bass, and trombone taking the melody for a gentle stroll down the street. The album finally closes and arrives at its title “Cue Blue”, a classic blue-eyed soul number (penned by bassist Parker), emitting the scent of true school, vintage R&B and soul (à la Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye).
An album of funky arrangements and refined compositions, mostly penned by recent new-ish member, guitarist Tyler (for fans of Tower of Power & John Scofield guitar playing) taking the ensemble through their paces with all the usual characteristics of the Kerbside sound, on top a groove that will take you round-the-block-and-back :P Gritty jazzfunk and rustic soul grooves with definite bluesy overtones, some classic 60s, 70s flourishes and down-home funk flavours.
Ghanaian producer, songwriter, and cultural innovator Delasi has earned international recognition for his forward-thinking blend of traditional Ewe rhythms, soul, jazz, hip-hop, and electronic music, with recent releases on Gilles Peterson's Brownswood Recordings and support from outlets including Bandcamp Daily, CLASH, CRACK, COLORS, and BBC Radio 6 Music. His music has also appeared in the indie feature Dreams in Nightmares and the UK Premier League. Joining him are Tokyo's acclaimed experimental pop outfit TAMTAM, whose distinctive fusion of reggae, dub, jazz, soul, exotica, and electronic music has drawn praise from Gilles Peterson, Bandcamp, NTS, Mr. Bongo, and Rolling Stone Japan, alongside performances at Fuji Rock and international tours across Canada, Australia, and South Korea.
This limited 7" brings the two artists together across two richly textured collaborations. A-side "Guardian of The Green" blends alternative soul, downtempo electronica, trip-hop, and cinematic post-rock into a lush, organic soundscape where futuristic electronics meet live instrumentation. On the flip, "Celestial Bodies" explores dream pop, ambient electronica, and jazz-inflected soul, pairing hypnotic rhythms with shimmering synths, expressive guitars, and warm lo-fi grooves. Together, the release showcases a cinematic, globally minded approach to contemporary electronic music that will appeal to fans of Bonobo, Khruangbin, Little Dragon, and Cinematic Orchestra.
SOULMEEX record label reaches its tenth release in less than two years with Bleib Yummy, the new EP by Nürnberg-based artist Schmidt in Rio.
Martin Schmidt develops a distinctive sound rooted in the spirit of electronic music’s golden era, blending italo, disco and house with a playful and unmistakably personal touch. His productions combine analogue textures, infectious grooves and a healthy dose of eccentricity, creating music that feels both familiar and unexpected.
With Bleib Yummy, Martin delivers a four-track EP that fits naturally into the SOULMEEX universe: raw but refined, playful but never superficial, and driven by the timeless energy of the dance floor.
Soul Quest Records opens a new chapter with Re:Quest Vol.1, the first instalment in a new remix series dedicated to revisiting, reimagining, and breathing fresh life into music from the label’s growing back catalogue. True to Soul Quest’s ethos of deep, soulful, and jazz-tinged sounds, Re:Quest brings together four new interpretations from a diverse cast of producers, each offering their own perspective while retaining the spirit of the original recordings.
MALEDICTUS is a Portuguese metal band formed in Lisbon. Bringing together experienced musicians with a shared vision, the band creates dark, powerful and atmospheric heavy music. With a foundation of aggressive riffs, haunting melodies and emotional vocals, the band blends modern heavy metal with darker, more melodic influences.
The group was formed by musicians seeking to explore a heavier and more expressive sound, combining technical musicianship with compelling songwriting and a cinematic atmosphere. Their music strikes a balance between intensity and melody, moving between crushing guitar passages, dynamic rhythms, and dramatic vocal performances. ""Our music reflects who we are and how we process life and our own emotions. Music is life manifested through an artist's soul. We all process life with a sense of dark melancholy”, comments guitarist Ben Stockwell. As history has taught us, Portuguese metal bands are known for their melancholic sound, which reflects their cultural identity.
Since their formation, MALEDICTUS has been focused on creating music that reflects the darker and more emotional aspects of the metal genre. Drawing inspiration from classic and contemporary metal acts, the band aims to create a sound that feels familiar yet distinct, appealing to fans of powerful, atmospheric metal.
Boasting a line-up of seasoned performers and a clear artistic vision, MALEDICTUS is developing new material and establishing its presence in the Portuguese metal scene and beyond. Their debut album, „Lazarvs“, is set to be released on Friday 13th of November. The album title draws heavily on the biblical story of Lazarus in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus performs the great miracle of raising his deceased friend Lazarus from the dead after he had been in the tomb for four days.
With Rez on vocals, the band has an exceptional singer with a distinctive, powerful voice. „He is undoubtedly one of the best out there having power, soul, range and timbre. Everything fits perfectly with our sound. We couldn't have asked for a better voice or frontman"", says the guitarist. Rez’s lyrics are another perfect addition to the band's dark, epic and partly progressive sound. The lyrical themes focus on life's darkest moments. „Death brings an opportunity for renewal, as do our most difficult struggles, which require part of us to die in order to be overcome.
Amsterdam based Malik Kassim & Cem Mo arrive on Cataleya Music with the diverse Breaking Clouds EP. With outings for the likes of Wolf Music and Love On The Rocks, Kassim made a name for himself with retro yet upfront House as Retromigration and now is focusing on making music as Malik Kassim. Cem Mo released the dreamy What Remains for Metro Beirut. They combine in style on the broken house groover that is Breaking Clouds. A cool flute, brass and smart keys do the work here alongside gliding percussion. A more intense remix comes from DJ Spinna where he tightens up the beats and gives the track the Galactic Soul treatment. Short Stay from Malik Kassim & Cem Mo is a fizzing Deep House effort with flying synths and underlaid keys. A great debut for the label!
Nach der Veröffentlichung der Lead-Single ,Glowin'" im Jahr 2025 kehrt Mike James Kirkland mit seinem lang erwarteten Album ,The Business" zurück. Begleitet von den Monophonics präsentiert Kirkland eine facettenreiche, von Bläsern geprägte Sammlung, die beschwingten Soul nahtlos mit gefühlvollen Balladen verbindet und damit seinen Platz als eine der beständigen Stimmen des Genres bekräftigt. Das Album beginnt mit dem energiegeladenen ,Ready Or Not", in dem Kirkland selbstbewusst verkündet: ,Baby, I am ready", und damit den Ton für ein triumphales Comeback angibt. Produzent Kelly Finnigan lässt in ,Where Did We Go Wrong" die üppige Raffinesse des Philly-Soul einfließen und unterlegt Kirklands Reflexion über eine Liebe in Aufruhr mit Bläsern, Flöte, Waldhorn und Sitar. Finnigan arrangiert zudem das romantische ,Leading Lady" und begleitet Kirkland beim zarten ,Remembering Our Love" im Hintergrundgesang. Der Midtempo-Titelsong ,The Business" widmet sich sozialen Themen und verbindet fließende Streicherklänge mit Texten, die systemische Ungerechtigkeit und polizeiliche Unterdrückung thematisieren. Im Gegensatz dazu fängt ,Joyriding" die Unbeschwertheit des Sommers mit einem mitreißenden Groove ein, der zu den Höhepunkten des Albums zählt. Die vielbeachtete Single ,Glowin'" bildet den Abschluss des Albums. Inspiriert von der Version der Rationals aus dem Jahr 1969 des von Dr. John komponierten Stücks spiegelt der Song Kirklands beständige Botschaft wider, spirituelles Gleichgewicht und Glück dem materiellen Erfolg vorzuziehen. ,The Business" wurde zwischen Ende 2021 und Mitte 2022 geschrieben und aufgenommen, unter Mitwirkung von Jimmy James (Parlor Greens) und Lou King (Ironsides). Das Album verbindet Kirklands zeitlosen Gesang mit der üppigen Musikalität der Monophonics und markiert damit eine willkommene Rückkehr des legendären Soulsängers.
Dream Dancing have been on the hunt for something special and find it with the return of Blueless.
On the A side, two highly sought after tracks originally released on her own Capture Records in 2007.
'Groove Me' is a stunning emotive deep tech house moment which will raise the hairs on your neck on every listen.
'OK' enters more club territory, still keeping within the soulful spectrum. Restored and remastered from Blueless' own vault.
On the B side, 'Trueness' and 'Outsounding' are both fresh from the studio, offering organic rhythms, effortlessly gliding with classy musical atmospheres and warm rolling grooves.
Almost 20 years between the productions, Blueless remains true to her unique soulful style with these much welcomed heartfelt, timeless and deep sounds.
Ian Pooley's 'Roller Skate Disco EP' Returns with Digital Debut and Vinyl Repress
Definitive Recordings brings back one of the label's early house gems with a remastered reissue of Ian Pooley's 'Roller Skate Disco EP'. Originally released in 1994, the EP returns for the first time as a digital release while also receiving a new vinyl repress. Alongside the original material, the reissue expands the package with the previously unreleased track 'Unity' and the Bandcamp-exclusive 'Never Give Up'.
For more than three decades, Ian Pooley has been one of house music's most respected producers and DJs. Emerging from Mainz, Germany, with a deep love for the sounds of Chicago and Detroit, he has built a career defined by subtle artistry, impeccable groove, and timeless musicality. His acclaimed albums 'Meridian' and 'Since Then', remixes for artists including Daft Punk and Jovonn, and releases on labels such as Plus 8, Innervisions, Rekids, and his own Pooledmusic have established him as one of the true masters of deep and soulful house music.
The title track, 'Roller Skate Disco', immediately captures the uplifting spirit of classic 90s house. Built around an infectious disco-inspired sample, funky guitar loops, and a warm, rolling house bassline, the track is complemented by a looping female vocal that gives it an unmistakable feel-good energy. 'Sure!' follows with a groove driven by crisp TR-909 drums, deep synth chords, and a playful TB-303 sequence, while a repeated female vocal ties the arrangement together into a hypnotic club workout.
'The Brückenkopf at 7 AM', named after the legendary club in Pooley's hometown of Mainz, moves into deeper territory. Dreamlike synth textures, a memorable deep house piano motif, and another signature 303 sequence combine to create one of the EP's most atmospheric moments. The previously unreleased 'Unity' continues this journey with a hypnotic groove, deep house aesthetics, and another beautifully woven acid line, making it a natural addition to the original release. Completing the digital edition, 'Never Give Up' arrives as a Bandcamp exclusive, pairing playful M1 organ sounds with a rolling 303 sequence and an effortlessly flowing house groove.
More than thirty years after its original release, 'Roller Skate Disco EP' remains a perfect snapshot of Ian Pooley's early sound and a testament to the timeless appeal of classic house music. This expanded edition celebrates one of Definitive Recordings' defining releases while introducing it to a new generation of listeners.
TORRE return to Musiq Voyage with Phocaea Vol. 2, a new chapter in their ongoing Mediterranean journey. The Aix-en-Provence duo, Jean-Marc and Patrick Torre, deliver two original tracks, Sormiou and Les Sirènes du Frioul, inspired by Marseille, its coastline and the deep connection between the city and the sea. Blending disco, house, boogie and Balearic influences, TORRE once again shape a warm, hypnotic and distinctly Mediterranean sound.
The EP is completed by two remixes from leading figures of the Italian underground. *Gigi Testa, one of the most respected names in Naples’ deep house scene, brings his signature soulful, deep and groove-driven approach to the TORRE sound, while **Giovanni Damico* delivers a refined rework infused with funk, cosmic textures and dancefloor energy. Together, the four tracks offer different perspectives on the same Mediterranean landscape, moving seamlessly from sunlit afternoons to late-night club atmospheres.
With more than two decades of musical exploration behind them, TORRE have built a distinctive sound between disco, house and electronic music, earning support from artists such as Carl Craig and releasing underground favourites including Corps à Corps and Baleora. With Phocaea Vol. 2, Musiq Voyage and TORRE continue to explore their own Mediterranean mythology — from the turquoise waters of Sormiou to the mysterious shores of Frioul — with a release that feels equally at home on a Balearic beach, a Marseille terrace or a late-night dancefloor.
ARE YOU HOUSE Records presents: Are You House Sampler 2
Following the success of the first edition, ARE YOU HOUSE Records returns with the second instalment of the Are You House Sample series — bringing together three distinctive cuts rooted in groove, rhythm and the spirit of house music.
Opening the release, June Jazzin delivers “Iksasa”, a 9-minute broken-beat journey that takes you deep into its rhythm and groove. With its extended arrangement and hypnotic flow, the track gives you the time and space to settle into the groove and let the music take you on a journey.
Track 2, June Jazzin returns with “Driver Step On It”, a driving house cut built to push the energy forward, lock into the groove and keep the dancefloor moving.
Closing the release, SculpturedMusic delivers “Sing My Blues Dub”, a 6-minute deep, rolling and groovy house journey layered with hypnotic rhythms and soulful energy.
Three tracks. Two artists. Different grooves, different moods, one unmistakable house spirit.
A Safe Place To Be Wild is the seventh LP from Jordan Rakei, arriving after more than a decade of pushing the boundaries of soul, jazz and alternative R&B. Fearless, intimate and emotionally direct, the album finds Jordan embracing uninhibited self-expression and placing vulnerability at the centre of his songwriting. Stripping everything back to raw feeling and unfiltered moments, A Safe Place To Be Wild captures an artist fully stepping into himself, confronting the fear of exposing his inner world and finding power in doing so.
Cosmic Romance presents the debut album from Sua Galera, a vibrant 8-track journey shaped by friendship, late-night sessions, and a shared love for groove-driven music.
Formed in Dortmund, Germany, located in the middle of the multicultural region Ruhr, Sua Galera brings together nine musicians who first connected through the city’s jazz music scene. Led by keyboardist and producer Eskil Bauer, the collective channels a multinational identity, reflected both in its sound and its name: “Sua Galera,” Portuguese for “your crew.” With vocalists with Brazilian and Moroccan background at the forefront, the project naturally blends diverse cultural influences into a warm and cohesive musical language.
The album moves effortlessly between Brasil funk and Mediterranean-inspired grooves, all filtered through the timeless sound aesthetics of 1970s and 1980s studio productions. Recorded through countless nights spent both in the studio and immersed in live music culture, the record captures the spontaneity and chemistry of a band deeply connected through performance and collaboration.
Perfectly aligned with the Cosmic Romance universe, Sua Galera’s debut delivers an organic, soulful, and rhythm-forward sound designed for DJs and listeners seeking emotionally rich groove music.
Ossios makes his Yay Recordings debut with two deep cuts that capture the magic of his creative process - summer house excursions shaped by back-and-forth flights and fleeting moments of inspiration.
On one side, Deadbeat opens up his studio a fires up the studio stove with "One Night at the Ranch (Betting the Farm)," featuring vocals from his love soul Elle. Tumbling drums, understated grooves, and subtle house hypnosis unfold with effortless ease.
On the flip, "Drama Is a Game" channels a hazy afternoon in Mexico City, exploring memory and duality through shape-shifting synths and warm, drifting vocals. The result is a deeper, darker journey where emotion and atmosphere remain in constant motion.
"Temporary World" sees the return to Canopy of musical whizz kid Joi N'Juno, teaming up with the creative force of Kaleta, who has been a long-time collaborator of the label and long known for his work with Nigerian legends Fela Kuti & Sunny Ade.
For this project, the inspiration came from vintage Nigerian funk & disco, channelled through modern production aesthetics, bridging the gap between past & present.
Joi N'Juno's bouncy disco beats and groovy basslines lay the foundation over which Kaleta's funky guitars and the horn section from London Afrobeat Collective pepper the details. Keys bubble and synths soar as Kaleta's vocals, sung in both English & Yoruba, bring his evocative soulfulness. The culmination is an authentic melting pot of both vintage influence and originality.
Joi N'Juno turns in two different mixes of each song, the first in a "live", sounding approach and a second Mmore "oomphy" mix with fat synth bass, suited to the late night dance floors
Celebrate the incredible music from the first half of the 70s with this brand-new 2LP collection packed with the era’s most iconic hits.
LP1 kicks off with Queen’s ‘Killer Queen’, followed by Elton John’s timeless ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ and Mott The Hoople’s anthemic ‘All The Young Dudes’. Glam-rock favourites from Sweet, Mud and Wizzard sit alongside Pilot’s feel-good ‘Magic’ and David Essex’s distinctive ‘Rock On’. Side Two turns up the guitars with Rod Stewart’s ‘You Wear It Well’, Free’s legendary ‘All Right Now’ and Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet’. Alice Cooper’s rebellious ‘School’s Out’, Status Quo’s ‘Down Down’ and Thin Lizzy’s ‘Whisky In The Jar’ continue an incredible run of rock classics before Bob Dylan closes the LP with ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’.
LP2 opens with Paul McCartney & Wings’ epic ‘Band On The Run’, before Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’ showcase some of the decade’s finest songwriting. Harry Nilsson’s unforgettable ‘Without You’ and Terry Jacks’ ‘Seasons In The Sun’ lead into soulful classics from Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and The Stylistics. Side Two opens with Neil Diamond’s enduring ‘Sweet Caroline’ and Carly Simon’s ‘You’re So Vain’, before Diana Ross’ ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ and Stevie Wonder’s ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours’ launch an irresistible run of soul and dancefloor favourites. Barry White’s ‘You’re The First, The Last, My Everything’, George McCrae’s ‘Rock Your Baby’ and The Three Degrees’ ‘When Will I See You Again?’ lead into Michael Jackson’s beautiful ‘Ben’, bringing this celebration of 1970–1974 to a memorable close.
Back for his second EP on Artikal - Cadik returns with a heavyweight 4 track EP ‘Tiger Heart’
Off the back of his first EP ‘Lion Soul’ the Hungarian producer dropped a 100% production mix for us on Soundcloud which included demos of the tracks on this EP.
Nikon One returns to the label with his amazing artwork for this project.
Since forming in 2020, Dinner Party has continued to erase the lines between jazz, soul, and hip-hop, building a discography celebrated for its warmth, musicianship, and effortless chemistry. Following their Grammy-nominated 2020 self-titled debut, the Dinner Party: Dessert reimagining, and 2023's Enigmatic Society, Whatchu Bringing? finds the group as locked-in as ever — trading the same easy, in-the-room feel that has made them one of the most beloved collectives in modern music.
Whatchu Bringing? arrives on the heels of a pair of 2026 Grammy nominations for Dinner Party co-founder Terrace Martin. Martin's collaborative album with Kenyon Dixon, Come As You Are, was nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album, while its single "WeMaj" (feat. Rapsody) earned a nod for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. The nominations arrived in the middle of an especially prolific run for Martin, who spent early 2026 rolling out his ambitious four-part album series — Passion, Peace, Purpose, and Perspective — building toward the full-length Love Is Louder Than Algorithms. Whatchu Bringing? marks his next chapter, bringing that same restless creative energy back to Dinner Party.
With Whatchu Bringing?, Dinner Party continues a run defined by joy, community, and genre-defying collaboration — an invitation, as always, to pull up a chair.
Gasba fire drawn from Ahlem Édition, the Oran-based label founded in 1992 by Abdelkader Haci.
Hypnotic flute melodies laced through hard-grooving, synth-led raï rhythms, heavy drum machine workouts, throbbing basslines, and slow-burning, hyper-soulful witness.
Hotly recommended.
Since forming in 2020, Dinner Party has continued to erase the lines between jazz, soul, and hip-hop, building a discography celebrated for its warmth, musicianship, and effortless chemistry. Following their Grammy-nominated 2020 self-titled debut, the Dinner Party: Dessert reimagining, and 2023's Enigmatic Society, Whatchu Bringing? finds the group as locked-in as ever — trading the same easy, in-the-room feel that has made them one of the most beloved collectives in modern music.
Whatchu Bringing? arrives on the heels of a pair of 2026 Grammy nominations for Dinner Party co-founder Terrace Martin. Martin's collaborative album with Kenyon Dixon, Come As You Are, was nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album, while its single "WeMaj" (feat. Rapsody) earned a nod for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. The nominations arrived in the middle of an especially prolific run for Martin, who spent early 2026 rolling out his ambitious four-part album series — Passion, Peace, Purpose, and Perspective — building toward the full-length Love Is Louder Than Algorithms. Whatchu Bringing? marks his next chapter, bringing that same restless creative energy back to Dinner Party.
With Whatchu Bringing?, Dinner Party continues a run defined by joy, community, and genre-defying collaboration — an invitation, as always, to pull up a chair.
Frenchman Janeret heads up the second release on fledgling label Species. Deep in the game for over a decade now, Janeret has an innate ability to blend emotive layers of electronic funk with sultry grooves and hypnotic rhythms. His output is impeccable, each release encapsulating his emotionally rich approach. On the road, he’s an in-demand selector, channelling his love for sharing music that moves people into spellbinding sets from Europe to the USA, Australia and South America.
On the Vibrations EP Janeret embodies the essence of what makes him unique: combining the core foundational components of his sound to produce four dancefloor-ready cuts that epitomise where he’s at right now…
The EP opens with its title cut, ‘Vibrations’, a steppy production with an enchanting riff and mythical melodies. A reggae vocal utters “vibration” intermittently, accompanied by a hip hop sample, demonstrating Janeret’s broad sonic palette. Layered drum arrangement and deep bassline make this one a surefire dancefloor groover.
Up next it’s ‘No End’, a mesmerising trip driven by crisp percussion and a mean b-line. As the drums roll out, Janeret introduces jaunty layers that add cosmic funk to the cut. With each stage of progression the swirling funky synths envelop the listener more and more, immersing you in their wistful vibrations. A spinetingling break allows space for a short breather before the beats come back in, guiding us to the close.
On the flip we have ‘Fazed’, which kicks off with sturdy breaks and a highly effective, simple melody. The low end is immediately captivating, complementing the melody with a little more complexity. Together, the beats, bass and uncomplicated melody build steadily, with more elements added bringing further depth to the cut. This is one for closing your eyes and really losing yourself in the moment.
Finally, ‘Sub Pressure’ closes out the EP with a dreamy, yet bass-heavy atmosphere. Soft pads glide across the top layer, while a hefty b-line balances things out in the bottom end. Janeret’s exquisite production keeps things progressing with subtle elements creeping in throughout, creating a symphony of electronic sound and vibration. Let the brighter layers tantalise your spirit, while the bass moves your body.
Masterful work from Janeret here, with four versatile tracks designed to move the dancefloor across mind, body and soul. Feel the Vibrations…
Introducing the first in a series of reworks on GAMM from Macedonia's finest curator of urban music, DJ Goce...
Deeply rooted in hip-hop, Goce has a worldwide rep for exploring all things funky, soulful, and jazzy, releasing tracks on labels like Dusty Donuts and Baller Beats.
For his GAMM debut, he tackles a classic Beatnuts anthem, complete with a wild intro using the original sample source.
On the B, Goce keeps the momentum going with a rework of an Al Hirt rare groove classic, famously sampled by De La Soul and The Roots.
Keep an eye out - there is plenty more to come from DJ Goce on GAMM !
It’s that time of year again! Are your copies of “Now! That’s What I Ca l Christmas” and “A Motown Christmas” finaly feeling worn out? Strut has the ideal antidote this year, as we dive into the world of festive records made by African artists spanning the late 1960s to the 1980s with our new Krismasi: Christmas Sounds From Africa compilation.
Taking in music from across the continent from Nigeria and Ghana to South Africa and Zimbabwe, Krismasi draws from a wide range of sounds from fun novelty records and spur-of-the-moment jams to spiritual and gospel favourites. Featured artists include Ghanian great Kwadwo Donkoh with a meditative highlife praise song from his much-loved Christmas Africana album. Elsewhere, pop star turned pastor, Jerry Boifraind, has some fun with a song celebrating seeing friends at Christmas and Nigerian pop favourite Martha Ulaeto features with the lilting lead track from her own Christmas Africana release. We pick out some choice Central and East African sounds with Kakai Kilonzo’s bri liant Kilimambogo Brothers Band and Congolese legend Baba Gaston’s Orchestra Baba National capturing the joy of the festive season. We stop off in Zim for a rare Dorothy Masuka acoustic piece and one of the country’s great musicians post-independence, Paul “Dr. Love” Matavire with ‘Christmas Yaswedera’ (‘Christmas Is Near’). Township jazz star Reggie Msomi appears with a joyous township instrumental and, fina ly, we couldn’t release a Christmas co lection without some carols. Here we include here a great version of ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ by UK-based Nigerian highlife musician Flash Dominci and a hi-octane funky medley of favourite festive hymns by Ghana’s Oscar Suley.
The compilation is the first in-depth co lection of rare African Christmas recordings, uncovering a rich and often overlooked chapter of the continent's musical history. Krismasi is available on Red & White Inkplosion Vinyl LP and CD. Vinyl restoration is by Colin Young at See Why Audio, mastering is by Frank Merritt at The Carvery, and the album features striking new artwork by Liam Large.
Legendary Children (All of Them Queer)" is a celebrated 1994 dance-pop track by former Frankie Goes to Hollywood frontman Holly Johnson. The song acts as an upbeat LGBTQ+ historical roll-call, honoring historical queer icons from Andy Warhol to Leonardo da Vinci, and was notably performed at London's Gay Pride in 1994. The song is based on the iconic Paris Is Burning and features the brilliant vocals of Helen Terry (Culture Club/2wo Third3).
Released on the album Soulstream, the song is famous for its spoken-word verses and euphoric chorus celebrating legendary figures like Oscar Wilde, Jean Cocteau, and Joe Orton. The overarching message is captured in its defiant lyric: "The answer is clear, they're all of them queer."
Now 2026 sees brand new versions by Luv Foundation (UK). George from the Sharp Boys, a dear friend of Holly's and Mark Loverush, mentioned to Holly that Luv Foundation (UK) should do the rework. Mark Loverush and Julian Napolitano wanted to capture as much of the original essence as possible, keeping that 90s flavor while giving the remix a big, classic feel reflective of how it would sound today.
This is a limited edition of 700 pink vinyl, including 2 of the original versions alongside 2 remixes by Luv Foundation (UK). It comes in brand new artwork by Philip Marshall.
With one foot in the Mexican underground rock scene and the other one in the global tape trading circuit, Las Ánimas del Cuarto Obscuro found themselves in the middle of a crossroad after their first LP. México wasn´t the same country as when the band first started. Even though access to non-commercial music still was a difficult task in the late eighties, the fringes of culture had way more resources thanks to the stubbornness of certain anonymous heroes: dwellers of El Tianguis Cultural del Chopo, niche record stores, illegal underground parties and hosts of late night Mexican public radio shows.
Ubiquitous social unrest expressed itself in every way possible. The aftermaths of the 1985 earthquake weren’t the only matters on the table. Protests erupted after a rigged presidential election and a student strike hit Mexico’s biggest public university. This was just the tip of the iceberg of issues PRI’s perfect dictatorship was or wasn’t addressing. The clash of the authoritarian regime against new and fresh ideas.
If the first record was about the loneliness of self-destructive youth and it’s urban phantasmagories, LACO’s second LP dealt with change as the axis of human existence. Las Ánimas is just the beginning of the sonic metamorphosis Toño Sánchez went through until this very moment.
The departure of former bandmembers set a different approach towards more experimental and atmospheric sounds. As the project’s only member, Toño Sanchez took an alchemical trip aiming for more mysterious horizons.
Despite the fact that we can still find conventional dark pop and catchy songwriting, the record rests on sound landscapes closer to Jorge Reyes or Tuxedomoon and This Heat than the orthodox ways of so called post-punk, seasoned of course with the lack of music gear and the economic reality prevalent in Mexico of those convulsed times.
Las Ánimas is a goodbye letter to underground but not because the next move is the mainstream. Far away from it, it’s a farewell to traditional rock and a the first steps down into the depths. From now on, Toño Sánchez will dedicate his musical efforts to weirder sounds and scarcer audiences in the search of the arcane, possessed by a mania of constant change that infects the soul after crossing the black door’s threshold.
The Five Green Moons present Moon 3. The third sphere to find its way into orbit. On its surface the evolution of a many faceted creature has taken place. Now with long, long tentacles and a million mouths the creature dances and sings. Its voice is the sound of the ghost dub ritual. The echo of spirits passing through the translucent veil. The chants of souls lost in the vampire woods. The clap, clap of its limbs colliding is the sound of frequencies being bent into fascinating new shapes by machine/ human hybrids. Post punk dubwise angular electro folk, Pastoral dub, whatever name you give to this music is of no consequence. It is alive and spinning in orbit.
The third Five Green Moons album sees Justin Robertson's sonic pallet blossoming into new exciting shapes. These 11 tracks offer a wide vista of across the frequencies including a truly remarkable and uncanny tale from celebrated author David Keenan on ' To Haunt of the Dark Earth A Spot' that brings to mind a vision of M.R. James merging with African Headcharge. Another refreshing collaboration can be found on 'Message from the Tone Generator' where underground electronic producer Nickelle adds her magical poetry to the psychedelic swirl. This is a bold and magical offering in a time of pastiche where new shapes are drawn from the sketches of the past.
If you need a sonic shorthand imagine Public Image Limited meeting the haunting chants of a new age Incredible String Band. The spiritual tones of late 70's Don Cherry. The whispering psych swooshes from Planet Gong and most importantly a solid bass foundation straight out of King Tubby's studio.
BERNARR, the latest album from Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and vocal powerhouse Durand Bernarr, marks the next chapter following his 2026 Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album for BLOOM. Named after his father, legendary sound engineer Bernarr Fields, the album honors legacy while capturing Durand in full command of his voice, his lineage, and his artistic evolution. Originally envisioned as a deluxe edition of BLOOM, the project evolved into a full-length album, blending Bernarr's signature R&B, soul, and gospel roots with vibrant influences from yacht rock, P-Funk, house, and Miami bass. The album features collaborations with Khalid, Big Sean, Sevyn Streeter, VIC MENSA, and James Fauntleroy, alongside production from Raphael Saadiq, Bryan-Michael Cox, and James Fauntleroy
Prolific British multi-instrumentalist William Dorey makes music emphasising traditional means of recording under the Skinshape moniker, referencing influences ranging from Ennio Morricone to The Beatles, and a variety of genres including but not limited to retro funk, soul, reggae, psychedelic rock, African music and folk. Far from carrying an anything goes attitude, Dorey's is an evocative melting pot moulded in an orderly fashion, creating output that keeps categorisation open-ended. Whilst tackling a busy tour schedule over the past 18 months, Skinshape has continued to find time to make music in his studio based in North London. The latest endeavour is titled Chapman's Pool - named after a bay on the Jurassic coast in Dorset, located walking distance from where Dorey grew up. Chapman's Pool carries a sense that Skinshape is reconnecting with the sound which formed his musical identity, drawing inspiration from spaghetti westerns, trip-hop, `60s+'70s Ethiopian Jazz, '80s South African bubble gum and so on, all while the multiple years of recording, songwriting and production experience are clearly audible.
"Baby put that cheecky dress on_get your feet on the ground, shake your hips to the sound! We're dancing to the music!"_of THE MODBIRDS! Ladies & Gentleman, die Tanzfläche ist freigegeben! Spotlights an, Boxen auf Anschlag aufgedreht bis die rotierende Discokugel in 1000 Scherben zersplittert - hier kommt "Shards", der erste Longplayer der Modbirds. Einen berauschenderen Cocktail mit allerfeinsten musikalischen Zutaten wirst Du an keiner Theke finden! Der abwechslungsreiche Mix aus Ska, Soul, Reggae, Rocksteady, einer kleinen Prise Punk bis hin zu Swing und klassischen Big Band Elementen macht süchtig und vereint alles was Birdies, Rudeboys und sonstige Nachtschwärmer lieben werden. Nach ihrer Mini-LP "Spin it to win it" hat die 7-köpfige Big Band mit u.a. ehemaligen Mitglieder von The Porters und Los Placebos im Music Area Studio bei ihrem ehemaligen Bandkollegen Beagle 12 neue Songs aufgenommen und all ihre musikalischen Einflüsse und Vorlieben darin einfließen lassen. Ob Jamaica-Roots, Ausflüge in verschiedenen Waves of Ska-Äras, den typischen UK-2 Tone Sound nach Art von Madness bis Buster Shuffle oder eine einfach nur Spaß machende Reminiszenz an all die deutschen Ska-Bands von El Bosso bis Frau Doktor (mit dem einzig deutschsprachigen Song "Jogger"): Mit jeder Note und Takt merkt man diesem Album an: Die Modbirds leben und lieben diese Subkultur seit Jahrzehnten und kreieren daraus ihren eigenen Sound! Die 180g Vinyl-Edition kommt im Gatefold in klassisch schwarz oder silber mit mehrfarbigem Splatter. Limitiert auf insgesamt nur 300 Exemplare!
"Baby put that cheecky dress on_get your feet on the ground, shake your hips to the sound! We're dancing to the music!"_of THE MODBIRDS! Ladies & Gentleman, die Tanzfläche ist freigegeben! Spotlights an, Boxen auf Anschlag aufgedreht bis die rotierende Discokugel in 1000 Scherben zersplittert - hier kommt "Shards", der erste Longplayer der Modbirds. Einen berauschenderen Cocktail mit allerfeinsten musikalischen Zutaten wirst Du an keiner Theke finden! Der abwechslungsreiche Mix aus Ska, Soul, Reggae, Rocksteady, einer kleinen Prise Punk bis hin zu Swing und klassischen Big Band Elementen macht süchtig und vereint alles was Birdies, Rudeboys und sonstige Nachtschwärmer lieben werden. Nach ihrer Mini-LP "Spin it to win it" hat die 7-köpfige Big Band mit u.a. ehemaligen Mitglieder von The Porters und Los Placebos im Music Area Studio bei ihrem ehemaligen Bandkollegen Beagle 12 neue Songs aufgenommen und all ihre musikalischen Einflüsse und Vorlieben darin einfließen lassen. Ob Jamaica-Roots, Ausflüge in verschiedenen Waves of Ska-Äras, den typischen UK-2 Tone Sound nach Art von Madness bis Buster Shuffle oder eine einfach nur Spaß machende Reminiszenz an all die deutschen Ska-Bands von El Bosso bis Frau Doktor (mit dem einzig deutschsprachigen Song "Jogger"): Mit jeder Note und Takt merkt man diesem Album an: Die Modbirds leben und lieben diese Subkultur seit Jahrzehnten und kreieren daraus ihren eigenen Sound! Die 180g Vinyl-Edition kommt im Gatefold in klassisch schwarz oder silber mit mehrfarbigem Splatter. Limitiert auf insgesamt nur 300 Exemplare!
“Carl layers willowy guitar arpeggios, foggy keyboards, and chimes over Windy’s murmured intonations and rippling basswork. Everything sounds fresh and unaffected in the careful hands of these two gentle souls. Pick it up, lie back, and allow it to lull you into an undisturbed reverie.” Big Takeover
At the time of original release it was written that the album "will transport the listener to other plains of reality.” (Acid Test). Meanwhile, Alternative Press called it “alluring and addictive.” and CMJ called it "expansive, daydream enhancing music.”
The pair have also recently released their collaborative album with Optigan Conservatory, which can be revisited here. A beautiful and hermetic energy larger than the sum of its parts was captured in the collaborative process of making this album. There are echoes of the earliest releases from Windy & Carl as well as refractions of the same opacity that surfaced in the early kranky catalog.
A fine time to be shining a light on these label stalwarts as the dark Autumn evenings roll in
Mysticisms’ explores the previously unknown Dub House, Digidub and electronic Street Soul of Manchester émigré Andrew Fitzgerald aka Atone on a 6 track EP, shape shifting from dark basements to summer fields, the music is wide-screen dreams, mixing psychedelic temperaments with ecstatic memories.
Dub Dats is a compendium of a life around or making music, beats, dubs; menageries of sound that encompass a love of reggae mixed with the influences of youth. Growing up in Thatcher’s then declining Manchester housing estates, Fitzgerald found escape first as a young roadie, just aged 15, sorting ‘cigarettes and alcohol’ for visiting bands. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Buzzcocks, Ian Dury and The Slits, was a great way to learn the ropes, while avoiding becoming another juvenile delinquent.
A love of Bowie, Kraftwerk, Motown, film scores and the emerging electronic and industrial bands like Throbbing Gristle led to a first studio, featuring the unique and faithful DR-55 Dr. Rhythm, soon followed by Sequential Circuits Pro One, Juno 60, Roland 303 (x 2), Roland 808 and Space Echo.
Working on music solidly, a release finally appearing on Robs Records, before losing all the equipment in a robbery. Manchester was shifting, gangs and “Gunchester” meant it was time to move on and when ‘an out’ appeared, Fitzgerald was landing in Sydney and settling into a new life.
Hooking up with Ali Omar, who he’d met while doing a stint in Brixton, London; the two worked solidly on music, gigging continuously, hanging with the likes Severed Heads and living a good life of that post acid-house party era. The loss of Ali to cancer, still young, hit hard and period “quite liked the madness” ensued. Rehab and starting again, Atone has been gaining some interest.
With 2 EPs of early works recently released on Tonal Oceans, Dub Dats looks deeper, with the dubbed house grooves of title cut, Dats and, the intriguingly named, Somewhere In France With Eric Random. Complimented by the electronic dub of Keep On, the soulful, slow breaks torch song, I Be There, the sample heavy Sound Of Soul and closing, trippy Unlike You, this is a multi-genre producer of considerable capability and talents.
Finally getting his due, Dub Dats perfectly fits the Dubplate Series, broadening its soundscape, while also standing out as its own, sonic release.
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