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Laaps starts into 2024 with the release of the first collaborative recordings by Benoît Pioulard and Offthesky, two long-time explorers of the experimental ambient genre.

Benoît Pioulard is the primary audiovisual project of Michigan-born, Brooklyn-based Thomas Meluch. With six LPs on the renowned kranky imprint, as well as a catalog of works for Universal (UK), Morr Music (DE) and others, he has constructed a unique aesthetic steeped in the textures of analog decay and pop song structure using chiefly guitar, piano and tape processing. He has also built an extensive archive of Polaroid photographs (many of which grace his album covers), the first official collection of which is the hardcover book "Sylva", released in 2019. His most recent album "Eidetic" (Morr Music, 2023) was his first vocal-heavy work in several years.

Jason Corder aka Offthesky is an experimental-ambient multimedia artist based in Denver, CO. He has been producing music, video art, audio software, and the occasional interactive sound sculpture, for over 20 years. He teaches private courses on generative music and occasionally lectures on various sound design topics at Denver University. He currently is the Audio Director at the Denver based videogame studio Dire Wolf. Over the years, he has worked with labels such as Home Normal, 12k's term, Facture, and more. Over the years he has performed at Mutek, Decibel, Communikey and other festivals, sharing the bill with likeminded artists Pole, Matmos, William Basinski, and more.

Back again with another release for the Meeting Of The Minds series, this time with lucky number 13!

First track on this is by me & Fez The Kid, who has been regularly sending me music for years, most of which I admit to sleeping on due to the sheer volume of demos submitted to the label. But when I was able to actually check some music that he sent me, there was one tune (at the time called All Round Juggling) of his that I gave me a few ideas on how it could sound. He was thankfully up for me working on it with him & the end result is "Skin Out Crew (Magnificent Mix)", which I've been playing a lot in sets this year.

"BDC" is a track done by me & The Last Ronin (aka Stretch & Enjoy) which they had started and I was really into it because it reminded me of some of the "ruff with the smooth" ragga jungle style tracks I'd hear on labels like Slam!, Tom & Jerry, Kemet & so on. It was really fun to work on this with them & we were also able to do a 2nd collaboration, which will be coming out on the next Defender compilation on Stretch's label AKO Beatz.

Settle Down is someone that was on my list of potential collaborators for a long long time but I just kept neglecting to reach out to him about actually doing something together. I eventually got round to getting in touch with him last year for collaborating on a track for Meeting Of The Minds, so he sent me something he had started, which I added some more to & sent back to him, so that he could add the finishing touches. The end result is "Shell Of A Man", which I like because it's quite sparse & ominous, dark but not in the typical "darkside hardcore" way.

"Altitude" by me & Flex Luthor has been through quite a lot haha. He initially reached out about working on a tune together in 2021 & at the time, I was keen but already quite occupied with other artists I was collaborating with for the series, as well as contemplating ending the series on Vol. 10, due to the amount of work it takes to compile each one (which also explains why Vol. 14 is not currently ready for release yet). But around the end of 2022, he sent me a track he had done where he said that he was struggling to get any kind of bassline that he was happy with. I liked what he sent so I asked him to send the track over for me to work on, but I then sat on the track for a whole year due to other commitments before finally working on it in 2024, during a long plane ride where I had time to actually focus on it. I was able to get the track to a place we were both happy with, until it became one of the tracks of mine that got lost when my backpack was stolen a few weeks later, with my computer inside. I didn't have the backup of the project, so unfortunately, we had to master this track for release from the mp3 file of the first & only version we had of it. I think it still sounds fine though, especially as this is not the first (or only) time I've had to send mp3 files off for mastering, but yeah, what a journey this tune has had!

Nach einer legendären Tribute-Performance bei den VMAs vereint sich Aerosmith mit YUNGBLUD auf
„One More Time“, das am 21. November bei Capitol Records erscheint. Die 5-Track-EP enthält Vocals
von Steven Tyler und YUNGBLUD, darunter 4 neue Songs, die von Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, YUNGBLUD
und Matt Schwartz geschrieben wurden, sowie eine neu interpretierte Version des Aerosmith-Klassikers
„Back In the Saddle“.

Fourth edition of the Metro Jaxx series, 303 copies, hand-numbered on purple vinyl. Six tracks of jacking acid house, rave and techno. KMRT makes his vinyl debut with the opener Beez Waxx, all breakbeats and wonky 303 lines. Hacienda legend Jon Dasilva brings “Look At The Owl” which repeatedly builds and strips itself back, while Balkan mainstay Nightwave ends the A side with the frantic snares of “Bang The Rocks”. The B side opens with “Xtasy” in typical Acidulant distorted voices and acid lines, Hannah Holland goes high speed & high energy with the vocal talents of Kurtis Lincoln, and label boss Posthuman sees the collection out with dirty 303 & 707 action. And yes, this blurb was 303% written by a human not f’kin ChatGPT.

We’re happy to announce the “Planetary Shift” EP by our friend O-Wells with an additional remix by Bangkok’s finest Sarayu from More Rice. An EP that combines friendship and a long overdue Ozelot-cosmos release. After we heard “Planetary Shift” a while ago for the first time, we kept insisting on releasing it- Now we’re happily presenting it to you in the form of a 4 track EP.

The record orbits around O-Wells’ signature style: dub-inflected drums, slithering synth lines, and percussive patterns that never sit still. There’s a sleek futurism to these tracks, but they feel worn-in, like spacecraft that have already charted the edges of known space. Across the EP, O-Wells embraces tension and release—rolling low-end pressure that swells, only to dissolve into weightless melodic fragments.

The result is music that feels in constant flux, forever shifting through sonic terrain without losing its pulse. Anchoring the EP is a remix from Sarayu, a key voice from Southeast Asia’s flourishing electronic music scene. Known for threading traditional rhythmic sensibilities into contemporary club frameworks, Sarayu flips O-Wells’ abstract groove into something tactile and urgent. His version turns the track inside out—primal percussion and humid atmospheres pushing the original’s spacious minimalism toward a more grounded, earthy palette. It’s a vital rework that expands the release’s global reach, bridging Frankfurt and Bangkok through the shared language of rhythm and friendship – Overall, the reason why we do what we do.

Delsin's Mantis series welcomes Agonis with a heavy-hitting four-track workout geared towards adventurous dancefloors. As a leading figure in forward-thinking techno, Agonis has helped pioneer a scene that folds multiple tempos, styles and rhythms into a cohesive, dance-focused strain of psychedelic hypnotism. Co-running amenthia recordings from his base in Z?rich, Agonis has long explored the creative potential where elegant, immersive 4/4 and drum & bass intrigue intertwine. On Mantis 18, he carefully adjusts his sound palette to move beyond typical smoky atmospheres towards more forceful, sharply realised tones and textures. Bold synthesis striking out in brooding soundscapes, underpinned by a powerful low-end undercurrent and playful percussion: this recipe is a polite reminder you're engaged in a corner of club music that thrives on fresh approaches, served by one of the scene's key instigators.

Montreal’s NAFF Recordings presents Rest Here, the sophomore album of Car Culture (also known as Physical Therapy). Across 12 tracks, Rest Here plays like a well-worn mixtape: from fuzzy dream pop to hypnotic downtempo. Layers of guitars, drums and samples build a heartsick wall of sound. Warm psychedelic shoegaze is primed for emotional projection. Featuring Patrick Holland, Priori, & J. Albert, plus vocals from Squirrel Flower and Ms Ray.

2026 Repress

There's no need to apologise - not when the vinyl in question is as good as this. If you've seen Ricardo Villabos behind the decks of late you'll almost certainly have heard him drop one or more of these superlative edits, as he's been hammering them practically non-stop. You can't blame him. 'Edit 1' is a hypotonic bongo-fest that shimmers and caresses the dancefloor with absolute confidence. 'Edit 2' is a female vocal-led disco-slanted house affair with neatly trimmed, jazzy keys and a perky bassline, while 'Edit 3' looks to the late 70s/early 80s for inspiration with a supercatchy synth motif that Vince Clarke would give his right hand for and some exotic sounding, continental male vocals that round it off superbly. Imagine that Patrick Cowley and Krafftwerk made a tune together and you're in the right area. Put all three together and, well, you've got quite the package.

The collaborations between Chet Baker and Art Pepper were originally issued in such a disparity of ways that it might seem difficult at first to think about them as a coherent body of work. Their first session, for instance, was originally segmented in a variety of compilation albums, one tune each, and many times the selections were even abridged, suppressing a solo here or there.

Along with another equally splendid session, it was included in Baker and Pepper's most famous album together, Playboys, which was also released under the title picture of heath. At the time, both Baker and Pepper were at their peaks, which is to say that each was playing as much or more on his instrument than anyone in jazz.

Texan deep house don Rami invites you into an evocative world here that is part soothing late night charmers, part avant-garde electronic experiments and part cruising late night grooves. 'First' is a deliciously drowsy sound to get you on side, then 'Popsumn' shakes things up with bleeping synths, fragmented vocals and warped pulses. There is a moment to pause amidst lush ambient on 'After You', daydream in the cuddly kicks and far-sighted pads of 'I Like This' and gaze off into the distance on the far-sighted 'Bedtime'. 'Sex! Closes with a steamy late-night pulse that could well get you in the mood.

Master edit man Delfonic is back with more reworked gold from his favourites folder. He kicks off with the funky horns and disco lushness of 'Up & Down', then 'JaJaJa' slows things down and layers in some chunky drums to a cosmically-minded workout. 'Unity Together' is a percussive jumble with funky hooks and grooves that are always on the move and bubbling beneath the smooth vocals. Last but not least is 'Feeling It', which we really love. This one has a buttery male vocal adding weight to buoyant and instrumental disco grooves that dazzle with bright melodies and life-giving strings. A wonderfully uplifting EP.

Puglia-born Bress Underground brings his reverence for early US house and garage to a new outing for Spanish label Mate. 'This House' opens with chopped up vocal stabs, acrobatic drums and percussive rhythms. 'Connected' is smooth and seductive with dusty swing and muted chord work. 'Ready Or Not' brings some electronic futurism with sleek, liquid metal lines over deep, dynamic drums and 'Take Me Higher' is a big finish with Kerri Chandler kicks and chords, all finished with a true school house vocal. It's timeless, effective tackle for cultured floors.

Another new project coming on Macadam Mambo is the first release of the duo Hun Hun.

Hun Hun are 2 young brothers from Bruxelles who are doing a very special music in an ethno-shamanic-tribal vibe pretty cinematographic. With this first opus, an album of 10 tracks, they bring us on a journey into deep, dark and mysterious atmospheres with natural backgrounds from the forest, beautiful vocals, singular percussions, and rhythms that would easily fit for intro sets at Boccacio in 1988. This album could have been easily released on Crammed Disc in the 80’s, but it has a modern touch from today that makes it a proper gem for Macadam Mambo.

For its fifth anniversary, Deeppa Records presents a two-part various artists compilation exploring the theme of duality. The first part kicks off with Jehan's 'Casino Aquatique' which is a breezy and warm deep house jam with smooth vocals radiating soul. Scruscru then brings more funky drums and expressive disco melodies, and Shaka's 'That Spot Under The Sun' is pure Mediterranean vibes. On the flip comes more blissfulness from I Gemin, a starry-eyed and melodic wonder from Laroye's Cosmic Disco mix and Sunes' late-night and romantic groove, 'Don Fetti.' Four tasteful sounds that ooze class.

With Love and Squalor ist das Major-Label-Debüt der Rockband We Are Scientists. Das Album erschien im Oktober 2005 bei Virgin Records in Großbritannien und erreichte Platz 43 der Charts. Dank einer treuen Fanbasis wurde es 2006 – rund sechs Monate nach Veröffentlichung – mit Gold ausgezeichnet. Durchschnittlich verkaufte sich das Album 4.166 Mal pro Woche, bevor es zertifiziert wurde.

Der Titel ist inspiriert von der Kurzgeschichte For Esmé – with Love and Squalor von J.D. Salinger, ursprünglich erschienen im New Yorker und später in der Sammlung Nine Stories.

Zum 20-jährigen Jubiläum erscheint nun eine limitierte 2LP-Edition mit unveröffentlichtem Archivmaterial, B-Seiten, Akustik- und Live-Versionen. LP1 kommt in Pink, LP2 in Rot

Musician and visual artist by day, bat researcher by night: Mathilde Nobel brings both worlds together on her new album Guadirikiri on Nous'klaer Audio. Unlike the first album, Guadirikiri features (almost) no vocals. Instead, its compositions took shape through Mathilde's deep fascination for bats. Creatures that, much like her, navigate and make sense of the world through sound. By night, Mathilde travels across the Netherlands to study their calls, movements, and patterns. Using ultrasonic detectors and thermal cameras, she's been gathering and archiving recordings and visuals, gradually building what she calls an orchestra of bats - shaping and inspiring what became Guadirikiri.

Kevin Sery is the ambient guitarist behind From Overseas and now returns with a brilliant follow-up and stylistic evolution of his 2020 debut, Home. This one was inspired by fatherhood and the artist's studies in environmental philosophy, which is why the eight luminous soundscapes feel both intimate and immense. Layers of shimmering guitar, airy drones and organic resonance add up to a sonic meditation on awe that cannot help but have a profound effect. From the cascading beauty of 'Appalaches' to the radiant calm of 'Infinite,' this is ambient music that is too emotional and cinematic to be simply left playing in the background. It's a contemplative heavyweight that demands and rewards your full attention.

Markus Mattern, a.k.a. Kapillarkraft, lands on Slow Process with ‘Transdermal Patches’, a left-field exploration of vintage electronica.

Mattern, a Bavarian experimental electronic musician and professional drummer, builds this album around a plethora of interesting rhythmic elements. Aquatic timbres ebb and flow around almost-beats from analog drum boxes and Moog synthesizers.

Channeling inspiration from the likes of Kraftwerk, Brian Eno, Morton Subotnik and even early hip hop and electro-funk, some of it could be described as left-field electro, while some is just outright off the wall. An ever-present Roland Space Echo assists in the creation of rattling rhythm patterns and pitch dives, two of the album’s prominent sonic signatures. Atonal droplets and washes of simulated industrial noise yield an abiding sense of foreboding and tension, sitting in contrast to a few brief harmonious moments.

It may not be one for the clubs exactly, but it’s a deftly shaped piece of work, brimming with inventive sounds.

Released November 28th on limited edition “pharmaceutical” boxed cassette and digital formats.