french producer okain has long been entrenched in the minimal house movement, from time spent on four:twenty and tsuba through to memoria, no fit state and now shoring up on dogmatik. babylon is a sharply focused workout with playful organ trills darting in and out of the mix, while radio therapy gets into a light-headed, bubbly state of mind thanks to some shimmering synth work. permeable drops a little dubby magic on the track and r4r5r6 finishes the ep off with a more muscular groover for when you need to keep the energy up on the dancefloor.

poker flat label boss and genuine dance music legend steve bug teams up with langenberg for this excellent two track ep. langenberg has released an unfathomable number of dancefloor fillers under various monikers on labels such as drumpoet community, mule, ovum or styrax leaves and recently released his debut album central heated house on dessous. langenberg is also one half of the project ribn. chord cluster has summer anthem written all over deep yet euphoric, spacy yet danceable, and ultimately a deeply emotive piece of house music that will bring smiles to faces all year. the rhythm track is tight yet remains loose and funky, while the pads and synths dip into just the right amount of acid to keep the ravers lost in the moment. the teaze treads similar ground arpeggiated pulses lead the arrangement, while a chicago influenced groove brings a shuffle to proceedings the joy in the track is evident it s clear the guys were having a lot of fun in the studio.

sonic groove’s latest high octane addition to the roster is berlin based british artist rebekah. rebekah has led a successful artist and dj career in the techno scene over the past five years with releases on the prolific clr and soma imprints as well as her own labels elements and decoy. her soma album from a few months ago entitled “fear paralysis” shows her artistic skills of having a wide range of flexibility as she weaved through many styles of techno from deep to hard.
taking her artistry into further realms of sound construction, rebekah ventures into a much harder industrial techno terrain with her latest four cut release entitled “into the black”. designed specifically with sonic groove in mind. “loose mechanics” & “conquest” are ferocious industrialized peak time techno pulverizers that will turn stone into dust.
“into the black” is an advant garde broken beat track with a pitch shifting, hauntingly dissonant string drone would be the perfect score for a sci-fi horror flick while “war cry” turns the blackness into a lighter shade of grey with it’s complexly designed chord driven emotions layered over a very intricately programmed drum rhythm.
classify this ep under “all killer, no filler”

ambient shoegaze duo aris kindt launch the new kingdoms imprint with their second album, swann and odette. picking up where their first record (2015Æs floods) leaves off, swann and odette is an evolutionary leap forward for the duo. the sonic palette is deeper, the grooves more sparse and the melodies are given more room to seep deep within a mix so expansive it feels almost tactile. this is heady, opulent stuff. the album is immaculately produced and cunningly arranged to sidestep easy classification while not sacrificing accessibility and authentic feeling. aris kindt is the collaborative project of gabe hedrick and francis harris (scissor and thread). harris has previously released the albums leland (2012) and minutes of sleep (2014), both of which have been lauded ôfor (their) extensive use of live instruments, a contrasting feature to his work done beforeö (last.fm, 2016). building on this approach, hedrick adds his own sonic signature in effects-laden layers of electric guitar and modular synthesizer. collectively, the album swells and reverberates to create a seamless interplay of synths and instrumentation cast loose from their origins and awash in oceanic delay.

nomadico’s gentefication ep is inspired by the gente-fication movement in east los angeles. a movement striving to uplift and maintain the local street culture without selling out to real estate developers and so-called gentrifiers. the a side tracks “gentefied” and “semillas” are deeper, uplifting tracks with a hi-tech edge. the soundtrack for young barrio coders, digital artists and community organizers. on the flip “graff walk” and “the heights” are grittier techno-funk workouts for bumping loud while rolling down broadway or cesar chavez avenue in l.a. yaxteq will continue to honor high tech urban innovation that goes against all expectations. si se puede!!

vinyl only. fresh from releases on the legendary vibraphone and robsoul labels, alongside their own long-running bosconi imprint, fabio della torre & ennio colaci aka minimono join the inner balance family for an ep of four fine house dishes. each cut gives us a different taste of classic house, from the sharp melchior shuffle of goblin to the sweet rhodes and walking bassline of on the edge , which wouldn t sound out of place in the fair park catalogue. still alive is a light confection of soft pads topped with subtle improvisations, while this side of the forest delivers a more flavoursome sir lord commix-style groove. satisfaction guaranteed

forgot 001 is the debut release from london based record label forgot. the compilation is comprised of four tracks by four different artists: harry orso, aka ratomagoson, was last year picked up by gilles peterson’s future bubblers project and has gone on to drop a succession of well received releases on labels such as twosixtysix, polyop and tru thoughts. forgot residents hoffy and joe s both come from beat-making backgrounds while phillip russel aka pila boasts an impressive catalog of material online. since its release campaign launched earlier this year, the forgot 001 compilation has received a wealth of positive feedback from a number of revered and respected djs such as dom servini, adam scrimshire and david hanke aka renegades of jazz. the release gained considerable airplay during the summer: dom servini on soho radio, risha on radar radio, selassie tbc & amy frenchum on worldwide fm, toshio maatsura on tokyo moon and adam scrimshire on balamii radio.

aaaron joins forces with newcomers deckert and singer valentine to unveil the new title track for connected. the three combine all the talents of each individual to create something really special. while aaaron provides a sub heavy african inspired groove pattern and combines it with deckert’s intense harmonies, valentine finishes off the track with her touching voice performance and lyrics that are both melancholic and deep. wether you listen to it on your odyssey through the night or while watching the sun rise again: if you had to choose a hymn for your last night on this planet, ‘l.d.o.e.’ might be your future pick. floyd soaks up everything that was happy, bright and ancestral and pushes it straight into the void twisting it into a hypnotic techno chant where leftovers leave nothing but ashes behind. perfect for a rough peaktime approach or the early morning hours when the storm is hitting the coast. this track is a predator and will haunt you in your dreams through an endless jungle of insanity.

do yourself a favour and dance across the floor when listening to the new jacob korn-record, aptly titled son of gx. the music is heavily based on the good old yamaha electone organ. the home organ for the world s gentlemen was modified by jacob himself and is now an integral part of his studio. as you ll hear it on the ep, it injects a decent dose of fun into jacob s vision of house music. at least, you will instantly notice that when listening to singlefinger chord, a track that conquers the floor with its disco elements. rumours say that jacob s cat toddled on his poor man s yamaha cs80 when producing cats on organs. if that s true, the cat provided an irresistible hook to an already slamming, italo-inspired track. son of gx is every bit as compelling as the first two tracks with its synth trumpet glory while the slighty darker fun blocks sustains us with heavy percussion works straight out of the yamaha electone organ. on top, you ll get a remix for singlefinger chord by new york s jacques renault (let s play house) as digital bonus.

pwfm record002 intends to be a vinyl with multiple facets and aspirations. obviously, the prevailing desire is to introduce young talents, that will compose the tomorrow’s scene, among a novice or informed public. eclectic by the choice of its tracks, the path and universe of each artist, this record wish to offer a musical trip, while touching the maximum number of persons, without limitation to a particular musical genre. no need to be confined to a musical genre, the richness of record002 come and meet the multiple personalities of its artists. young french project, pwfm aspires to develop the springboards, to brighten up the curiosity of music lovers (or not), help and push the young scene, and wish to obtain their adhesion to expand its community.

another 1960s 7inch soul gem, unearthed and held up to the light courtesy of rocafort records. the heroine of this story is atlanta born delia dee dee gartrell, schooled in the art of gospel and jazz, but banned by her mother to sing any r n b that is until delia met the mighty hannibal, a powerhouse bluesy soul producer and future husband who put her up where she belonged and got her singing about stuff that her mother wouldn t have approved of. mid-tempo stomper, i must be doing something right, is an irresistible sassy classic, originally the b side of the single if you got what it takes (they can t take what you got) released on maverick records. the horns and drums tease the toe-tapping rhythm along while delia belts out with raw fire about not being a great looker, cook or housecleaner for her man, but when its time for sleeping, he thinks i m something outtasight. i must be doing something right. cheeky in spirit, chunky in swing. full of all the urgency and feistiness you d expect from a repressed southern soul vocalist. written by delia and hannibal, fight fire with fire boasts a similar production style but this time with a prominent electric guitar riff, emotive strings and heavenly backing vocals. describing the cheating man who s gonna get exactly what he dishes out, delia reads out the riot act with more punchy promise than threat. a must for all 7inch soul collectors, a thing of rare beauty.

after making waves a few years back via his potatohead people project (with astrological) and co-producing illa j s critically acclaimed self titled lp, vancouver based playboy & producer nick wisdom steps out from behind the boards to deliver his first solo release for bastard jazz. the -intimate strangers- ep mines deep into nick s proclivities for disco, hip-hop, and house flavours. -good times- kicks things off with a snapping four on the floor, deep rhodes chords and a rollicking bassline and vocals courtesy of mr. wisdom himself. -feelin alright- heads into outerspace disco territory with cosmic synths, walking bass, and sultry vocals courtesy of reva devito (hw&w, kaytranada). on the flipside -don t tell- brings in some 80s boogie vibes with downlow vocals from san francisco s k-maxx, while -rock the cash bar- is an instrumental party rocking hip-hop jam sounding like a modern day showbiz & ag.

after releasing his debut album paradise earlier this year to much critical acclaim, b. bravo has swung back around for yet another trip to this island of cosmic delights, tapping into some of our favorite producers & extended fam for a special 12inch to accompany the digital of paradise remixed. the a-side kicks off with fool s gold producer sammy bananas turning the squelchy funk of freak it into a filtered french & italo inspired funky house monster, perfect for peak time on the dancefloor, while los angeles xl middleton deliver s a low slung g-funk & boogie inspired take on the album single i m for real. on the flip, uk producer smbd (better known as simbad) turns lay it on the line a classic 80s synth beast thats been tried & tested around european festivals all summer, while grandfeather (aka anton borin) comes through with a spacey & deep downtempo funk reversioning of cant keep my hands off you. los angeles-based adam mori aka b. bravo adds a touch of love to every soulful groove he gets his hands on. his signature sound, connecting outer space g-funk, r&b, and dance music has made him a name in the electronic music scene as well a key player in the worldwide modern funk movement, being hailed by the likes of xlr8r, fact magazine, gilles peterson and many more.

keysound recordings are proud to announce the second album from uk don sully. while the double vinyl features grime legends jamakabi (roll deep) and jendor (essentials/ogs), it showcases sully’s peerless status across uk bass-driven music, moving though epic soundcscapes, twisted next ragga jams, dark 2step, grime and into chopped up jungle. “with music one of the big motivations for me,” explains sully, “...is its potential to push the crap into the background - to create moments where problems go out the window for a while. that s the drive behind

limited edition red coloured double vinyl plus download code.

‘oma is an immense piece of work, taking its sonic cues from borderlands while expanding them into far wilder territories. organic clashes with electronic in a whirlpool of tribal head banging, fragile introspection and beautiful sonic architecture. skittering rhythms, rock solid basses, angelic vocals and heartbreaking instrumentation are guaranteed to make oma one of the most notable drum & bass albums of 2017 and conduct one of its prominent acts.

you see, vin and hny have history and to make this marriage official we needed it to be just right. big daddy vincente might be known around the world for his sure-fire dance-floor bombs, but not as commonly known for his queer ally reputation in san francisco. using his production prowess and dj knowledge to help bring up the bay area gay dance scene has built him a fanbase of all walks of life. we think this might be his most accomplished musical work to date, not just because it is for our label, but because it s a labor of love. the ep reads like a metaphor for the two sides of the city where it was made. moonchild and electrical storms reminisce the mystical and spiritual love affair san francisco has had since the 60s while patronize and bondage taped reference the sexually adventurous side the city indoctrinates to all its visitors. this record feels big to us and mostly because it reps our home and a hometown hero so hard. enjoy.

zed bias is an electronic music pioneer, throughout his career he has traversed genres with ease whilst all the while retaining his signature sound. it was in 2016 that he debuted on exit records with a three tracker featuring zoe violet, the release was a sign of things to come. modern u.k. soul delivered in the 160bpm format, this aesthetic has now been developed with the different response album. it s the sound of zed bias in 2017, undeniable soul with one eye on the dancefloor. hes gathered a formidable feature list to voice the album artists from his native manchester and beyond all lend their talents to the album. label owner dbridge says of the release: an lp that fits perfectly in what i believe exit is about. artists creating music with soul and a sound uniquely their own. zed has shown again whats possible when you listen to your own voice

this record, and the full 2xlp that will follow it, are dedicated to and inspired by events in 2015 & 2016, which saw the spectre of global crisis come knocking at europes doorstep. during this time, more than a million migrants and refugees fled their homes in the middle east, northern africa, sub-saharan africa and other conflict ravaged areas in search of a better life. for many, hopes of a future for themselves and their families lay in continental europe. while the reasons for such displacement, on a scale unseen in almost a century, are many, so are the reasons for europe being seen as the ideal destination. the relative peace and calm of the continent and the prospect of building prosperous lives in western europe was enough to mobilize multitudes to embark on the treacherous journey to europe. one of the most well-trodden paths on this journey was the balkan route, a trail leading through turkey, greece, and the former yugoslavia. this route was not without its dangers, and the dreams of many were dashed by impassible security fences and discordant eu politics, as one by one they were turned away at borders, or worse, forcibly returned to their countries of origin.

europa is the first single that represents the seed of discontent, from which the 2xlp grew. it was recorded during long jam sessions in belgrade as the media spotlight started to dim. the city became the purgatorial destination for a large number of migrants, whose journeys had been cut short and this record reflects the atmosphere of disillusionment and uncertainty about the future, which descended on the serbian capital.

artist: blasted title: -aelien ii- format: 12- label: aelien catalogue number: aev02 country: it genre: techno, industrial exclusive: yes price: 5.80€ asteroid records catalogue keeps expanding exponentially. label chief blasted brings you more of his purely analogue creations. italian producer continues series of eps titled aelien, and aelien ii is presented thusly – two new originals by blasted backed by two reworks from monolith records owner sirio gry j and paul birken – a one-man techno army from minneapolis. ethereal bassline will kick off the opener reborn, but the serenity of intro will be quickly interrupted by heavy-duty drum kicks, synthetic fields and high-reaching, chirping drops of reverberated acid. in his vision of reborn, sirio gry j leaves no window open for light – it s a grim, completely disarming ode to warehouse-held midnight sessions, intended to instantly penetrate the mind s defense system with oppressive kicks supported by tightly compressed low bass. next up is arkham – its resonant, uncanny bassline will give you the thrills while acid-soaked, syncopated kicks will keep providing the energy required for some boundaryless dancefloor frenzy. lastly, paul birken elevates arkham to a faster pace, straightening out the kicks, and making them more bouncy, while reshaping the bassline into a less sinister, more lively undertone

the first ep from mouse on mars since their anniversary recording 21 again (2014) is clearly connected to their recent club gigs. in fact, synaptics sees the berlin duo embrace their love of juke, footwork and chopped up house music like never before. on its three tracks, andi toma and jan st. werner reinforce the collaborative idea of 21 again: eight different artists have been involved in the making of these tracks, which deliberately depart from a characteristic mouse on mars sound, creating a more organized vibe while still maintaining links to their previous work. there are two directions of research in andi and jan s sonic laboratory: one is focused on experimental club music, the other is in search of music without ties to specific genres. though heavily leaning towards the club, synaptics is caught in between. from the duo s perspective, it even touches pop territory. all three tracks came into existence during the past four years. opener „jack is out- with its pounding lazer stabs is an obvious link to their current club sets as well as a clue on future productions. after months of redesigning and rearranging, it found its final form through an edit by bon iver producer ryan olson aka arson only at his wisconsin studio, where andi and jan also recored for their next album. „bluescreen- was born out of a berlin session with jessy lanza and junior boys and was completed some year later with support from modeselektor. and the tropical funk of „sensitive person-, based on a studio jam with sepalcure, also needed some aging and refinement after a couple of months.

the latest installment on roam recordings features nozz aka damon jee aka jérôme da silva. most known as damon jee for his widely acclaimed remixes, jérôme has been branching out with outstanding originals under his nozz alias. in his misfits ep for roam nozz delivers two excellent new productions. the title track is a cool rock infused guitar laden stunner with class and attitude while hippy home is a dreamer of a tune perfect for greeting the sun or losing yourself in a closed eyed dance session. the misfits ep comes with two top remixes from the emperor machine and autarkic. the first remix is a tour de force performance with a sound that is unmistakably the emperor machine – intricate, dubbed out, lasers, and superb production. autarkic s version of hippy home adds an eclectic edge to the ep with a cacophony of orchestral and quirky sounds that somehow perfectly keep in line with the stripped down feel of this remix. the misfits ep brings together three artists at the top of their game and is a fine addition to the ever growing roam recordings catalog.

a complex web – the story of dive position and the shining path ... began in 1982 when peter miller (aka dr. william s ray – vocals, tapes, guitar) met andrew millar (aka maurice spectograph the nose-y pieman – program execution) in gold coast, australia. while sharing a similar taste in music, they decided to form a band, so dive position was born. equipped with a korg synthesiser and tascam 4-track recorder, they -wanted to have the sound of kraftwerk, the groove of can, and the menace of throbbing gristle-, ending up with -a cross of suicide and the residents-, as peter recalls. in a local record shop they met stig andre leonardson (aka vincent blackshadow), who joined the duo on percussion and drum machine programming. their motto was -now is then-. dive position then became the fatal charm around 1984, and the fatal charm became the shining path who eventually released their only album -basic training manual- in an edition of only 250 copies, most probably in 1986. the band then started to drift apart, and shortly after andrew sadly passed away – this compilation -now is then- comprised of previously unreleased dive position and the shining path material is dedicated to his memory.

all the beats, tracks, and harmonies that vega records release have a story behind them, “union dance (louie vega remix) - dj clock featuring madame-x’s” begins where most great things do as far as we are concerned.... under a mirror ball in a dark club! one night, (well really early morning to be honest) while louie vega was vibbing in the booth, listening to timmy regisford work it out for a packed nyc dance floor a wild beat caught his ear. as louie looked over and saw the crowd confirm exactly what he felt he turned to timmy with a smile and said “that beat is hot, let me get that”, and from that moment union dance’s story began with louie vega.

hailing from richmond, virginia, dj aakmael s profile has steadily risen over the last decade thanks to his supremely classy deep house sounds. recent times have seen him release excellent material on the likes of freerange records, axe on wax, church and release sustain, and now he makes his debut on monologues records with two deep cuts. dahlin is a string-laden stomper while organik is more of a synth-driven jam with some of his exquisite trademark keys improvisation. leon revol returns to the label after his well-received embers ep to rework dahlin in wonderfully introspective, hazy style, while label boss ben gomori steps up for a chunked-up, darkly-tinged rework of organik .

bursting from the bubbling underground club scene of tel aviv, bauhaus records is a record label headed up by veteran scene originators and world renowned the block club first residents dj’s amichay matyas and yogo, in partner with well-experienced label and artist manager, udi niv. buahuas records aims to provide a creative ground for a collective of local underground electronic producers & djs, emphasizing the art of organic & analog sound and down to earth house music. their experience of nearly 20 years of playing for tel-aviv’s underground dance floors, regularly rubbing shoulders with pioneers and leaders of house, disco and techno as well as their vast milage in the dj booth, enables them to cherry pick the hidden treasures and unknown local gems of their scene whose highly secretive to many others while unofficial edits and tracks have already played in biggest clubs and venues in the past year, bauhaus are finally ready to share their official debut release, presenting the label’s prime producer.

exciting news! it took 12 releases but common edit returns with something you might actually play on a dancefloor! the spirit continues with another family affair from canada s celebrated common edit label. welcoming two new members in cooper saver and project pablo, while dane, eddie c & el molito wave hi. something for everyone on this, outside cuts for the floor and inside cuts for the sunny days and rainbows. enjoy the ride!

berlin legend charlie smooth is back at it, spreading good vibes with a new ep packed with delicious cuts. after seven years of organizing and playing his infamous get deep parties at about blanc where he was a pioneer of bringing the disco and baleric sound to berlin’s house scene, charlie has started a new chapter as one of the founders of smooth operators. while he still rocks the decks on a regular basis at his new party disco train and plays around europe spreading his disco and baleric sound, charlie’s focus with smooth operators is all about translating the years of knowledge gained digging and playing with some of the greatest djs of our time into putting out records with only the best quality tracks.
on this debut release, all four tracks are examples of true digger’s delights and super rare, esoteric sounds that djs can use to really set off the vibe on any dancefloor. with smooth operators vol 1, the label is making a strong statement that they are ready to put out real top quality tracks that can be enjoyed by diggers, djs, disco, funk, and soul lovers alike.

stonedwave presents the latest ep offering from jochen heym, „sonoaut“ on snow white vinyl limited to 300 copies. bridging the gap between hardcore, drill and bass and braindance on tracks like exit vessel and init conversation the artist creates dadaistic piano arrangements that meet talking funk basslines while the tracks are still heavily rooted on the dance floor.

mick has been active in the seedier corners of electronic music for more than 30 years, first immersing himself in the world of hi-nrg and new wave before embracing the house, techno, acid and electro explosion of the late 1980s. aligned with dj hell in the 90s and more recently the intergalactic fm crew, hes the quintessential selector. a life spent digging in the undergrowth for deviant dance music has given him the edge that makes a truly gifted spinner, without riding on hype or studio productions. however, mick isnt adverse to the odd outing on vinyl, having previously appeared on international dj gigolos both solo and as the kinky lovers with sometime partner isabella venis, but these moments are few and far between. for this release on arma, mick has given us two edits that speak to his distinctive style as a dj the original tracks are cult choices re-moulded into deadly, subversive club weapons. the brooding darkwave of himmelfahrt 89 is enough to turn the most indifferent bar crowd into swaying, baying denizens of the night, while stay silent pummels out a relentless electro motif that teeters on the edge of destruction for 11 thrilling minutes. these arent crowd-pleasing dj tools, and neither are they slick and easy edits of obvious classics. this is a peek into the inner workings of a man with decades of experience working masses of flesh into a sweaty fever pitch using sounds youve never heard before. the mastering on micks edits was undertaken by none other than dutch electro legend rude 66, while the striking artwork on the sleeve sees arma reach out for the first time to french artist judex. the nerve-shredding, broken op-art assault was originally found in a book published by cult illustrator sam rictus.

jamie jones, reboot, jc fousdelamer remixes + original ...
the latest instalment on christian burkhardt s retrospective/future-focussed c&b sessions projects sees him returning to one of the pivotal tracks of his career: doubledub released in 2009 but still slapping with finesse almost ten years later with its low-swung bassline, latent funk and evocative vocal, its elements resonate perfectly with everything going on in house and techno right now. these remixes couldn t have landed at a better time... jamie jones rolls in with a timeless rolling gem that gradually builds into an impeccable late night jack-out laced with surprise acid tendrils. jc fousdelamer brings the feels with a much slower, cosmic trip that lingers softly with spellbinding dubbed-out magic while reboot unearths the techno beast that was always lurking beneath christian s funk. stripped back machine funk at its finest, reboot never disappoints. naturally christian has also provided the original source material for those who want to kick it 2000s-style and for those who weren t old enough to catch it the last time around. join in if you know the chorus, doobie doobie...

the following three-tracker release is one of those that are about to take you on a very clear ride. we will start with some tensioning and rising loops and will keep you up while the swiftly vibes are getting to you. with the first composition on a side, alex won’t give you a break - it’s a one breath composition where you don’t have any time for a second thought. when it looks like both chunky bass and kicks are going away - a very sharp-shaped and acidy synth will remain on the watch and will ensure the continuously driving thrill. getting to the second part of this side, what can we say, straight from the beginning a thick bass line makes it’s introduction in order to lead you into some awakeness on a early morning on the dancefloor. stepping into the game, diferit on the remix for b side is bringing you a blend of both tracks you’ve heard before. very rich in vibrations of different spectres and proveniences - from very clear and clean kicks to a bouncy bass line to the very zippy and zappy sounds of his unique style. the pleasure of having these two minds behind the second release of aforisme is ours.

the second chapter in petit singe’s travel through akash ganga comes in the form of four remixes curated by members and friends of the haunter records extended family. they all applied their peculiar agencies and experience to the original recordings. danse noire boss and spiritual explorer aïsha devi combined elements from all the tracks of the album with her own production to assemble “necromedia”, a powerful take on the sidereal source material. haunter veteran weightausend delivers a psycho-dub version of the frantic “oxo”, while zuli (of vent and uiq fame) deconstructs the same track turning into a kind of post-human and post-colonial beat he labeled “astrogangsta”. the final track is an alteration of the album’s finale “27.09.87” by canadian experimenter jesse osborne-lanthier, who let it mutate like a self-sufficent biodigital organism, opening it up for new experiences.

swat s third release & detroit is in the house ! there are times in which you can clearly mark a producer s evolution. when they stop inching towards growth and make a bold statement of change in capability and vision. such is the case with this ep from detroit-based disco guru, pontchartrain. after a few years of steadily pushing out some significant pieces of work that have increasingly straddled the line between originals and edits, and nearly a decade of studio experience, his long overdue official house music debutante has arrived. featuring detroit local soul artist, coko buttafli laying down some blistering vocals with a clearly positive house music message, on top of live percussion and keys, and bold analog drum rhythms, pontch has created a solid diva-house gem. the sneaky festival-ready banger, loose , performed, mixed, and overdubbed live, provides some fantastic contrast and versatility to the release. a mr. g-esque remix by dj phenom just alexander and the musical journey of topher horn s evolving and deep version on the flipside make this a well rounded record that will undoubtedly stay in your bag for a good long while, and will find its way back in for years to come.

unknown mobile has quietly carved out a place for himself in the ever-evolving vancouver beat camp among contemporaries like mood hut, 1080p and project pablo. last years no motion 12 on a/s/l singles club was levi bruces dreamy introduction to most, and 2017 finds him stretching out a bit to further expand his palate of rhythms and textures across the five track mixed use ep for young adults. four sided pebble is a breezy bouncer woven with tickled keys, raw bass and a seamlessly organic live feel throughout. shoreline dub pulses in stuttered syncopation, but keeps its sights set on the dusk dusted horizon with delayed rhodes chords and ocean swells. country side is a total mind-melt, a pastoral graze through mazes of circuit board crop circles. the juggler churns a buttery 4/4 beat in an echo chamber, while proteus 216 dims the lights on its way out to an interstellar communications convention.

tbd, the decade-old project from doug lee (an-i) and justin van der volgen, is back! known for their set-defining big room monster jams, below sees them on a deep, heavy and very trippy analogue tip. synths wheeze and bubble while a thick syncopated bass and a giant kick drum keep the proceedings firmly locked to the dance floor. on the flip, legendary japanese dj and producer dj kent steps up on remix duty under his the backwoods alias. building off the original, he adds sharp percussion and tastefully refocuses the track, creating a perfect complimentary mix to the a-side.

on “rest in space”, his first full length outing for music for dreams, the lp keeps a steady pace of around 90-95 bpm, but never gets repetitive with islandman taking us on a rich and ever surprising journey, full of quirky turns and mysterious instrumentations. the opener “rest in space” treats us to a funky percussion-thick rhythm that lounges into a pool of playful & jazzy horn & flute arrangements. this is followed by the epic “night wind” which sweeps across cinematic desert landscapes of synth layers and falls into a dark night time groove reminiscent of nicolas jaar & dave harrington’s darkside project. “seikleos” centers around a motorik electronic rhythm pattern (not unlike the classic electro-pop classic “popcorn”) that develops into a chugging balearic house jam while stand out track “future days” brings in a female guest vocalist to complete the album with a breezy full on groover that echoes of both sheila chandra and tom tom club. also included is the previously released digital single “agit” as well as a remix by berlin-based m.rux, toning down the heavy guitar of the original in favor of a more bouncier interpretation. the stunning “ikaru” wades in through chunks of jungle ambiance and watery percussion to lounge along on a rubbery funk bassline, coupled with a heavy laid back beat and wobbly derelict synth figures. “tawhid” is an odd mix of new wave brilliance and prog momentum that breaks into a cascade of pouring rain and surprising percussion breaks. lastly comes gorgeous eastern guitar opus “the true word of the wind” and the warm vibey dreamscape “following”. as a whole, islandman delivers a delicate buffet of influences - spanning the spectrum from hazy balearic pop to tropical new age flirts to deep spiritual psychedelic jamming.

originally released in 1982, including tracks written for crosstalk (a science fiction thriller film made in australia) and other electronic themes, it was written, performed and recorded by chris neal in his home studio, using roland system 700 and roland mc8. in 1982 there were only a few system 700s ever produced and roland was more interested in promoting their more commercial system 100m (that s why it was credited on the 1982 original cover to give them a plug). the system 700 was developed by taro kakahashi and his team in japan as a direct challenger to the moog modular system. the orbeatize remastered reissue also includes a special bonus track remixed and produced in 2017 by jolly mare.

million brazilians formed in portland, oregon in 2006. founding members grant corum and suzanne stone have been central to the band since its inception, while a rotating line-up backs them depending on the latest vision for the sound. tip! the band carry out their own interpretation of a genre bending ethos that has evolved throughout the american underground. drifting between boundless compositions, focused energetic improvisations and experimental collaborations that embrace a weird sort of transcendence. their next installment red rose and obsidian was recorded in maine and engineered by big blood’s caleb mulkerin. both he and the band deliver a powerful yet fragile and personal release. the mythical and evocative recordings are inspired by maine s rugged coastlines, mournful ripples of sound wash up on the shore, whilst a lonesome, at times harrowing saxophone drifts through the rolling mountains, providing unsettling melodic interludes. electronic treatments veil organic sounds, a fleeting whistle meets spontaneously with spacey flutes, mutated rock rhythms are topped off with the soaring vocals of suzanne stone who leads the listeners into the magical world of the million brazilians.

true to traditional form, where the gods are in peace pays respect to the forefathers of afrobeat with compositions spanning nine to 15 minutes in length. with a blessing from the fela kuti legacy early in the band’s career, antibalas has long been revered for re-popularizing the classic afrobeat sound while adding their distinct new york city grit to the mix. influences of punk rock, free jazz, and hip-hop seep into their expansive works to define a truly 21st century translation of the afrobeat genre and beyond.
the vinyl lp includes a download code.

coming to life on a hazy cloud of natural instrumentation and meditative composition, modern manners tap into the appetite for delicate new age musings beautifully on this debut release. amor y odio is laced with spanish guitar musings that spiral out over a simple but effective drum break that harks back to classic downtempo, while running with me edges towards a more sprightly lounge headspace while retaining the rich musicality felt on the first track. instant illusion is propelled by a bassline that wouldn t sound out of place on a house track, but here its punching out in a subtle, laid back environment that aims to get you horizontal in the most sophisticated way possible.

brain machines peaks lp was a highlight of the emotional response catalogue last year, and its only right that the album gets a high-class set of remixes to accompany it. the label have pulled out the stops here with an all-star cast, leading in with salon des amateurs dreamweaver toulouse low trax who drops a pinging, plucking version of light space. then gigi masin steps up with an illustrious revision of crystal clouds, while harmonious thelonious brings a heavy yet measured, techno-minded presence to traces. ronny & renzo round the package out with playful synth splashes on their version of eclipse predictions.

the first release on kon’s new kontemporary imprint sees the crate diggin selector, producer and remixer extraordinaire reworking george duke’s late 70s jewel “i want you for myself”.
kon’s masterful arrangement highlights the desirous pleas of lead vocalist lynn davis while showcasing the very ahead of its time instrumentation (there are even hints of larry heard to be heard here) of mr. duke’s musical masterpiece. carefully breaking down and building up the arrangement, kon even pulls out previously unheard vocal gems from george duke himself hidden in the original stems giving the listener a glimpse of the studio vibe during its recording. this release also boasts the original version taken directly from the studio masters of the highly sought after 12”. all in all floor stomping disco magic from one of the world’s best remixers further sonically enhanced by boston native caserta on the mix.

repress , swedish disco aficionado drop out orchestra has been plying his trade in the world of slick edits and on-point party fodder for the best part of ten years now, and now he comes to riot gear with a sure fire club classic to share. there s no prizes for guessing the source material on -holding on-, but in this context the evergreen crossover jam gets a modern steroid injection, having never sounded more contemporary than here. yam who? sidles in for a remix that does a subtle job, simmering down some of the familiar vocals and making a slinkier cut that still hits hard. -knucklehead- brings a little more jacking drum machine action to the table, but still disco is the main order of the day, while -where is my man- takes the prize with its on point jazz funk licks and stomping beat.

tenderness - a short-lived disco project helmed by james purdie and skip mahoney only released one 45 and one 12” single during their brief existence. known for their work with chuck brown & the soul searchers & frank hooker & positive people and many more, this duo were undoubtedly a highly talented producer, songwriter and keyboardist combination. originally released on rca in 1978 keep on trying was an underground club hit. the record still packs an immense punch today, it’s a mixture of tough streetwise drums and percussion and swooping dramatic strings and brass will surely hit the spot for disco aficionados. the kind of record you can imagine causing all out pandemonium at the garage while the scents of amyl and sweat fill your nostrils. the kind of record that would make everyone on the raised stages and podiums at the powerhouse whoop and holler in collective joy as frankie stylishly segues it into a punishing percussion break-down. yep. it’s that kind of disco record, so rare and so coveted that even the infamous dj harvey put it over his knee and gave it a good editing way back when. there’s been a shedload of poor imitations knocking around, dodgy euro bootlegs etc, but this 2017 repress is from the master tapes (yes, we can prove it) and is fully, 100% legit in every way. keep on trying - now available again, released in conjunction with rca. back on the streets. same as it ever was! essential disco heat here, buy on sight!

the new album of dj hell zukunftsmusik keeps bringing us good news. the latest single to drop from the album, car car car, arrives with remixes from some of the scenes most enigmatic producers. roman fluegel presents his own eclectic and diverse interpretation in a playful and artistic vibe, while phil kierans autobahn remix is a straight, deep and dark version of the original track, which is featured on the vinyl too.

spearhead records label boss steve bcee returns with his 4th studio album, and itÆs safe to say that itÆs his best one yet. not just a solo affair, bcee has also drafted in some of the finest vocal and production talent around. with features from two time best d&b vocalist winner riya and d&b legend logistics being just the start. northpoint is bcee at his most diverse. from the early 90s hardocre influenced keep moving on to the jungle roots of hollow eyes this is an album that really showcases how broad the d&b spectrum can be while still keeping to the spearhead ethos of being uplifting musical d&b packed full of heart & soul. bcee said i wanted to make an album packed full of d&b that would work in a club just as well as it would in the car. no fillers, no showcasing how i can produce house or hip-hop or whatever, just pure no nonsense drum & bass. with bceeÆs spearhead presents brand regularly selling out shows at clubs like the legendary egg in kings cross & shoreditchs village underground, plus his growing dj & production schedule and the vanguard project his alias as a duo with fellow d&b produced villem, itÆs safe to say that even though bcee has been in the game for 16 years, heÆs only just getting started. support from friction, mistajam, metrik, technimatic, s.p.y, nu:tone, logistics, london elektricity and a whole load more

dutch dj, producer and dekmantel family member young marco kicks things off with a beautiful, melodic, waterfall of a track. it’s a record you’ll want to play out on a yacht, while sipping on a rosé under the warm, afternoon sun. 2017 has been nothing short of an epic year for marco, having already compiled the second in the selectors compilation series for dekmantel, in addition to having released the second lp as gaussian curve, alongside gigi masin, and johnny nash. marco is in good company, as dutch-based artist suzanne kraft crafts a delightful, ambient-meets-house, summer groove, that lives at the most relaxed of paces, sitting side-by-side on the a-side. flip the record over and dekmantel favourite, and dutch house institute tom trago finds himself in a moment of blissful summer haze, with soft, sonic-pallets and waving melodies. concluding the record is long serving dekmantel mainstay, and rednose distrikt main-man awanto 3 with an analogue, and feel-good, electro-beat rhythm.

another smasher from nous, this time courtesy of cofaxx, aka joseph magee and his boundlessly breathtaking pico vu ep, a seven tracker that manages to cover immense ground and knowledge within a compact narrative. and each track is a mandatory component of this cleverly assembled story with startling standouts such as dicey a deep detroity piece, layering into a sound signaturey space, while la s seasoned producer brown irvin closes side 1 with a bolshier bash at opening track tide pool s ambient, semi-conscious swirlings. over on the flip velvet is all golden era electronica stylings, early days warp and planet e on a lingering dinner date, while shape to fade in s smoky textures straddle irridescent sounds for a not-out-of-place jazzy backroom style builder.