glasgow based imprint flatpack traxx returns with a no nonsense 4 track ep made for the dance floor. collaboration from 2 of the uk s brightest new talents dissonance and intact. both of whom play an integral role within london based collective surface music. dissonance an anglo/italian producer was exposed to strong musical influences having relocated to the uk at an early age. his recent productions are a voyage of exploration, recording for the likes of spains oblack label and 2651 records alongside los pastores and the willers brothers respectively.

austere make a welcome with a various artists four tracker. featuring four varied cuts ranging from techno tinged house to bass heavy beatdown! life recorder kicks things off in his own unique style which never disappoints. next up is arnheim, a newcomer with a very mature sounding jazzy house number. gradul lashton takes things back into house territory with an infectious 303 laden groove. finally, fat dog comes and drops the tempo and the bottom end with a sublime track to finish.

laak return on austere with four cuts, only available on vinyl as usual. laak are on point with the opening track unbalanced, an intensely gritty track. there is also a remix of an archive laak track by dj spider who completely dismantles the original to create a dark menacing remix. the b side kicks off with mental & emotional which continues the theme along with the more laid back track, the rituals. overall an ep that will not disappoint fans of the label.

expect the usual heads down, subterranean business! side a contains probably the most dance floor friendly track that laak have produced, always true, with a solid bass line and 303 subtleties to get going. the second mix of it adds some classic chords to great effect. flipside is for the underground heads, with a lush brooding track called mixed messages and a slo-mo burner amor meus closing the ep. only available on vinyl as usual.

limited to 300 copies. available only on vinyl.
for the fourth ep on austere, irelands slowburn are welcomed into the fold. having impressed us with releases on uzuri and elektrosouls this ep will not disappoint fans of the label to kick things off we have the the hustle which sounds like something that prescription forgot to release back in the day! next up is broken document which delivers lovely warm analogue chords and pads interlaced with an 808 groove. the b-side starts off with do it using various samples to great effect to culminate in a unique deep house sound. finishing things off in much the same territory is from another angle which again brings the warm chords and pads, but also brings to the table some really delicate synth lines to create a surreal effect.

the third ep from laak on austere is very much in the same vein as the labels ethos – raw, profound underground house music! with the past releases on austere getting props from players such as jus ed, keith worthy, steven tang, anton zap, malcolm moore (altered moods), deep space orchestra, homepark, pjotr (ethereal sound), area/m50 (wave) and dj spider, this ep will not disappoint the heads so dont sleep on this!

300 copies, vinyl only, authentic, raw, underground. the second offering from laak on their austere imprint is another defined four tracker. >back of beyond< kicks things off, a sincere heads down jam combining latin percussion elements with a killer bass line and warm chords. the second track, >dont ever leave< is a heartfelt lament on the feeling of loss, slowing the tempo down, this one is deep! on the flip, >cosmic causeway< offers something a little different although keeping with the warm pads, this time the use of a spaced out trumpet keeps things flowing. the remaining track >cantankerous emotions< is a little different as regards to the beats, but loses none of the soul and profoundness of the other tracks. only for the underground soldiers!

austere can mean >lacking trivial decoration< and >not extravagant< which is exactly what the ethos behind this esoteric new label is about - raw, real and underground. the first ep from laak (pronounced >lock<) is true to the roots of house music. warm pads, discreet analog melodies and vintage drum patterns. along the way giving a huge nod to chicago, detroit and the forefathers of the genre. already receiving support from jus ed on his underground quality radio show and quite a few other players, dont sleep!

ici d’ailleurs presents the 7th album from chapelier fou. the vinyl release includes a download code.

mit dem ehemaligen alexisonfire-frontmann wade macneil haben gallows einen großartigen nachfolger rekrutiert. gemeinsam veröffentlichen sie am 07.09.2012 das erste studioalbum in neuer besetzung - das insgesamt dritte full-length album. in wade macneil hat die band einen ausgezeichneten ersatz gefunden, denn seine live-performance gilt als legendär. das im september erscheinende album >gallows< belegt, dass die fünf weiterhin einzigartig in ausdruck und kraftvoller dynamik sind. vom ersten moment an waren gallows eine ungewöhnliche band für die britische rockszene. 2005 ist die hertfordshire crew aus der britischen untergrund punk-szene entstanden. ihre einflüsse kamen stets vom amerikanischen hardcore - refused, at the drive-in, jr ewing - die für den brachialen und typisch tobenden sound einer unzufriedenen jugend stehen. das album erscheint auf ihrem eigenen label venn records, aufgenommen im sommer 2012 in watford von thomas mitchener und steve sears. inklusive code für freien mp3-download des albums.

clandestine techno/house imprint, meanwhile records reveals a one-off opus from two highly respected techno producers, niels luinenberg (delta funktionen) and samuel van dijk (mohlao). the deeply mystical >inward content< session represents the leuwarden sound of their native north holland (also former home to another master of hypnotic repetition ((of the graphic type)), m.c. escher) with an elegant, classically informed and deeply refined brand of 4/4 also identified on celebrated 12inches for ann aimee and delsin. the albums six tracks use an economical production palette, but we wouldnt call them minimal. the emphasis is on subtly monotone melodic shades, from the rippling black masses of bass which power each track, to the bluest hued pads and unfathomably expansive atmospheres which lend them their spectral grace. listening to this album is almost a mystical experience, like hearing the results of a seance conducted in low-lit surroundings calling upon the spirits of basic channel, convextion and the black dog circa 1995. >inward content< took over two years to assemble and techno connoisseurs can clearly discern why. recommended!