no introduction needed, kink gets the remix treatment from matthew herbert, josh wink, dusky & radio slave… two volumes cut for maximum impact. part 2 with matthew herbert & josh wink

“we are doing this on our own, with not much help from government. i am proud that we are building a movement. it’s like a child that you can see growing and evolving. it’s growing exponentially, but that was the plan… we are standing on the shoulders of giants. i grew up respecting the craft. there was that golden era of reggae music when everyone looked to jamaica. i know the history, i know the impact reggae music can have, and i want to be part of an era that brings it back to that stature” - protoje

brothers harvey and ryan mckay return to drumcode with their dynamic alias project. we were introduced to alias last year when the mckay brothers dropped the impact-heavy visions ep mid-way through 2017. the duo followed with a lauded contribution for drumcode live and the buzz from fans was palpable. the follow up sees the pair in powerhouse form. the title track nrg is an attitude-packed tour de force compromised of aggressive snares, warped vocals and a tension-filled break, it has been smashed by adam beyer for the last six months. orange sunshine pulls no punches as it dishes out apocalyptic acid paired with the siblings startling drum work. the event rounds out the ep and is an exhilarating affair propelled by uplifting synth lines and a buzzing energetic bassline.

the essential will & ink label continues to keep up the pressure with a new ep from museum aka anton pieete and jeroen liebregts. the pair have released on vital labels like marcel dettmann records and indigo area and make some of the most robust and powerful techno around. their three new tracks here come with a remix from resident label artist yalessa hall. opener silo is an urgent groove with warped and rumbling synth lines and frazzled textures. it s sparse and industrial as it barrels along while the list is much more wild. the drums flail around, the hits are off grid and the energy is restless and rugged. lastly from them, 1500 has punchy drum programming and watery sound effects, sci-fi motifs and a sense of turbulence that will make a real impact in the club. the raw yalessa hall remix flips the list into a freaky house track with smeared synths and big hits making for something incendiary and unhinged.

after a brief time away from releasing music in 2017 to refresh his ears, essential house artist argy is back with a bang in 2018, as this debut ep on play it say it proves. greek dj and producer argy has been a prolific talent over the last decade plus, releasing a variety of sounds under a number of different aliases. his given name has always been reserved for house and techno, which is classically informed but always infused with the sound of the future. it’s come on key labels like bedrock, bpitch, ibadan, and most recently the martinez brothers’ cuttin’ headz imprint, and has spawned four fantastic full lengths. those releases, along with his storytelling dj sets, have made the these days label boss a much loved and ever-present part of the global underground scene. the excellent title track the way of kings opens up the ep with seven standout minutes of surging house. slick, powerful kicks drive it along as expertly crafted synths bring real drama and tension up top. it’s a tasteful bit of hi-tech soul for the peak of the night and is as essential as the title suggests. switching up the mood is the vibrant los animales, which has a busier, afro tinged groove and tribal percussive energy. lithe synths dart about to add dynamism and movement as vocal chants get you on your toes and the whole thing is sure to make a huge impact in the club. last of all, move like a panther featuring the new yorker in berlin, elbee bad, shows another side to argy. it’s a perfectly raw house cut with plenty of jacking chicago spirit. the drums hit hard, the synths are trippy and the snares force you to move. add in a dark bassline and spoken word mantras and you have a real piece of explosive club dynamite. these are three typically inventive and well-executed tracks from argy that are stuffed with original ideas.

release number 045 sees the much anticipated return of the latest superduo ‘phil:osophy’ (comprising of philth + phil tangent). their recent debut, ‘heavy hearts ep’ made an instant impact on the scene, receiving support from all corners and gaining not only mixmag single of the month but also big ukf + radio 1 features. following on from their immense remix of label head honcho’s ‘justify’ featuring terri walker on metalheadz, we are excited to present another incredible output, introducing the “searching for meaning ep”.

with »redsuperstructure«, robert lippok created a new foundation for his musical endeavors. now – 7 years later – this system properly comes to life on »applied autonomy«. the title of the new album is a clear indicator as to what the berlin-based producer has been up to during the last couple of years, both on a conceptual level as well as how he molds his ideas into tracks. »applied autonomy« orchestrates a certain state of frantic standstill, which occurs once a structure is set. has this state been reached, the artist is free to focus on other equally important aspects, balancing the various shades, pushing ideas even further to really make them shine and blossom in their self-declared autonomy. the more light one lets in, the more layers become visible. layers are key when it comes to understanding »applied autonomy«. big chunks of the material with which the album has been produced derive from sketches specifically made for a club performance. rather than meticulously devising each and every detail, lippok focussed instead on recording as many fragments as possible in a short period of time, elements which he could later combine and layer on stage. based on this material and his experience experimenting with it in a live environment, the album slowly began to shape. an album culminating in a collaboration with klara lewis, with whom lippok spent 2 days at the ems studios in stockholm, approaching the idea of autonomy from yet another angle. during the session, both musicians played and performed simultaneously, yet not explicitly together, lost in their own thoughts and ideas, only subconsciously taking in what the other one was coming up with. the result is »samtal«, 14 minutes of a constantly evolving state of poise, magically connecting all the dots lippok had already defined as »applied autonomy«. the artwork for »applied autonomy« has been created by the berlin-based argentinian artist luca gutierrez. over the last couple of years, he has made a name for himself with his spectacular av performances.

radio slave’s colossal ‘the revenge’ track now gets expert remix treatment from klasse wrecks label head luca lozano. luca has also released on the likes of optimo, sex tags ufo and unknown to the unknown and brings a raw, acid tinged sound to his beats. as a performer lozano’s versatile dj sets span between raw house, cosmic disco and dynamic breakbeat selections, which is why he’s become a regular at key clubs across europe and tasteful festivals like houghton. his ‘how bow dis’ remix’ is solid and features wild old school flavours in its huge drum breaks, a monstrous bassline and dark filtered vocals. it bangs for seven superbly heavy minutes with plenty of twists and turns along the way, and will transform any club or warehouse into a writhing, sweaty mass in seconds. on the flip, his ‘how bow dah’’ version is based around elastic drums and rumbling bass while a loose synth line darts about up top. some distant synths bring a sense of serenity to the madness and so despite the physical impact of this one, it also has real emotion to it.

after a lot of questions from fans when we were going to drop enzyme 060, it is finally here. we thought it was time to celebrate one of our most memorable releases with some new influences, but not forgetting about the original one. as it’s been well over a decade since its initial release and the overwhelming impact it has had on many of our loyal fans. it was time to do something special. we present you the (very!) limited picture disc edition of ophidian & ruffneck’s “so many sacrifices”, including two remixes by rapture and neox. the original track has been carefully remastered to fit today’s standards, so you can play it loud again in your sets.

fragrant harbour once again dig out a cult gem from the seemingly endless vaults of 90s dance music, picking up on a rare and precious gem from a seminal laurent garnier mix and giving it the remaster and reissue it deserves. the artists responsible, broccoli brothers vs righteous men, hailed from germany and were trying to emulate mike dunn. -catch it (calm manoeuvre)- is a spaced out deep house track with all the gritty impact of a classic jam, while -catch it (jam)- gets decidedly rowdy with its hefty kick, jacked up swing and wonky bassline. on the b side -ruhrschnellweg (last exit stahlhausen mix)- brings a little detroit flavour into the mix with spectacular, uplifting results.

kdas hate me (featuring playwright and poet patrick cash) is the freshest sounding british house music record for years. first given to a select handful of djs, including jackmaster, seth troxler, jamie jones, tiga and pete tong (essential new tune on radio 1), hate me has dominated their sets since ims. originally slated as the first single on kdas new label the 35 records, hate me has been picked up by bmg and will be available as a collaborative label release from 8 december (impact mid-feb).

with the previous releases being delivered by tell and label boss nachtbraker, we are very delighted to welcome back parisian sample connoisseur s3a for the third installment of the trophy quartet. limited to 500 copies

25 years of distillery. that’s a memory-laden, even historical event for underground and club culture. or let’s just say, culture in general. getting into detail about the impact, this club had for the last quarter-century, would fill a couple pages, so let’s just state the obvious real quick: distillery has witnessed and co-determined socio-cultural change and progress in its past. be it in its hometown leipzig, basically building up the city’s infrastructure for club culture over the years. or be it on national or international scale. it carries a legacy of being one of the longest-serving and one of the most influential clubs in germany. period.

initially paying tribute to the analogue absurdity, sonic diversity and sheer imagination of the early 90s dance music landscape, future four returns after a hiatus of several years, pushing into new eras, machines and ideals with connection. initially a solo project of andy meecham, the brains behind emperor machine, chicken lips, and bizarre inc., connection is the first future four release to feature the contribution of erol alkan as a permanent member, and is a coupled with a remix from i:cube. a veritable powerhouse of synths, vintage drum machines and all man-ner of effects, connection unfolds with minimal tempo and maximum impact, as sequences of unexpected electronics gradually build from every direction, each landing with the razor sharp precision associated with their composers. cascading synths overflow like fizzy drinks, pro-pelling the track along an electronic patchwork of fm synthesis and psy-chedelia. on the remix, i:cube takes the unpredictable rhythm of connection and coaxes its versatile, multiple elements into a timeless slice of boogie house. nurturing the outsider casio feel of the track under a musical heat-lamp, the always forward-thinking frenchman emerges with a cut that could easily soundtrack both sun deck and space station.

knowledge is a tool, and like all tools, its impact is in the hands of the user. arts white was born to give a platform for every single player in the game that has high-level tool skills in techno, the focus is primarily dedicated to useful and chirurgical direct functional material.
all on white label style, black and white 12”.

patrice bäumel returns to afterlife with two instantly-recognizable, cosmic excursions arranged for big room impact. building on the far-and-wide success of glutes last year, bäumel delivers another singular take on the afterlife sound.

next cocoon floor bomb! cocoon recordings is back with a bang after the winter break, cranking up the pressure once again. what s more, we re seriously pleased that we ve managed to land johannes volk for the new season. johannes has been making us smile with his productions for more than 12 years and considering his 2006 debut appeared on jeff mills axis label, it s easy to guess which direction his cocoon release is going. there are no dreamy minimal sounds or deep house trips this time round, instead you ll find headstrong techno pumping out of the speakers. tears & walls drives forward relentlessly with its meaty kick and metallic open hi-hats setting the pace. energetic and demanding throughout, johannes volk certainly takes no prisoners! -a little story about time and space- follows in its footsteps although the mood here is notably more detroit, taking us back to productions on cult labels like red planet, metroplex or the axis records sound. volk layers the track with more prominent harmonies and hypnotic arpeggios, giving it a subtle yet highly effective trance touch. the warm analog strings in the middle section underline this emotional impact and make a little story about time and space a guaranteed sunrise song for the upcoming spring and summer season, heartwarming and dance floor friendly in equal measures!

founded in 2015 by dubstep forefather sleeper, crucial recordings has continued to develop and strengthen its undeniable grip on the dubstep world with each release, never failing to act as an unyielding beacon within the scene for unearthing fresh, standard-setting talent. leaping from strength to strength, this highly prolific imprint constantly delivers multifaceted and boundary shattering bass music through ingenious and unprecedented ways. the latest addition to the label’s ever-expanding vision for multifaceted bass music comes from rotterdam-based hebbe, who has truly emerged from the shadows recently through releases on subway recordings, artikal music, duploc and version collective. regarded as the most promising up-and-comer in the dutch dubstep scene, hebbe sports an obscure, sound driven flow that aims to inject diversity and progress into today’s musical output. keeping within a similar spirit, hebbe’s crucial016 boasts two far reaching tracks, “mad hatter” and “galata” that convey trailblazing bassweight through two very different formats. while “mad hatter” cuts through to the core with simplicity and impact, “galata” equally enchants with smokey darkness and trenchlike depth, building upon crucial recordings’ irreplaceable position within the dubstep circuit.

a staple of the los angeles house and techno scene, alexandre mouracade’s much developed cv speaks volumes as for the consistency and impact of the man’s contribution to the city of angels’ nightlife for the past two decades. founder of the seminal making shapes party as well as a knowledgeable techno and disco head, this versatile all-rounder eventually established as a full-fledged producer in the past years, releasing solo under his real name and the alias of sonns, and alongside fellow partner in crime travis kirschbaum as split secs on their own machine limited outlet.

the tireless and titanic dance figure that is dj t. is next up on seth troxler’s essential play it say it label. dj t. has done it all in his long and storied career, from setting up one of the most influential labels in get physical to founding groove magazine via opening the monza club and, of course, serving up always inventive eps and lps on the best labels of the day. his sound has evolved through many house, disco and tech styles and has kept him an in-demand dj for more than 25 years. these new missives are yet more proof that few know how to work the floor as well as dj t. the perfectly menacing keep it close kicks things off with a dark, snaking bassline underpinning freaky synth stabs. the pressure builds throughout and will have the crowd locked in before it pulls back and builds again with a masterful grasp of mood. hitting much harder is the excellent the day it all started, a more physical house track with solid kicks is designed for maximum impact in the club. tumbling bass and gurgling synth riffs flesh this one out and ensure it is a real piece of dynamite. last of all is the retro-tinged 1988, with its tightly programmed drums, slick claps and spraying acid line. its a wild track to get the freaks out of the shadows and on to the ‘floor. this is a fresh ep that offers three very different but equally effective club tracks that are sure to blow up in the coming months

following on from his debut ep on drumcode earlier this year, ilario alicante returns. for the past few years ilario alicante has enjoyed something of an unintentional ibiza kinship with adam beyer. when the swede played his special annual sets on the amnesia terrace for cocoon, for three years out of four, the italian has been right there playing alongside him, ensuring his talents were on the radar of the drumcode chief. ilario made his first appearance on the label in 2016 with the stirring temporary featuring on a-sides vol.4, before securing his first full-length release with the awakened ep that dropped earlier this year. figures & echoes deepens his contribution to the label with half a dozen powerful cuts. figure of ra opens the ep, combining a rousing vocal loop, pulsating beats and effective melodic interlude to fantastic effect. the acid runner follows and is true to its name, characterised by echoing vocal effects that lead to a piercing 303-line that hits with peak-time power. virgos echoes features a persistent synth line that combining effectively with lush layers of melody to create an atmospheric impact. third eye delivers an exhilarating dose of rave thanks to the hypnotizing riff that runs throughout.

pangaea returns to his hessle audio label for the first time since his debut lp in drum play , with two club tracks exploring different textures and designed for impact.

a mysterious new label launches with a double lp that ranges from ambient, house, 2-step, breaks and techno. this idea originated from collaborations that the artist had with musicians from different spectrums of the universe but by keeping an open mind and a positive attitude they were able to create music and a deeper respect and understanding for the others art form, opening themselves up to infinite possibilities outside the normal realm of the comfort zone. the relative positivity project will consist of solo projects as well as collaborations with people that have had a positive impact on the life of the artist.

following two sought after, sold out 45s on the label, kevin hendrick’s m i d d e x project releases it’s debut lp for mid-february and right from the off this is no everyday minimal synth project. 10 brutally sharp, icily industrial, analogue synth blasts which tip their hat to those hugely influential days in the late 70s where across the uk, tiny pockets of forward thinking, electronic experimentalists were creating groundbreaking, analogue electronic music, under the radar from almost all, unknowing at the time of course about their impact even to this day. limited edition of 300 numbered copies.

figure jams enters the next round, setting up a pairing between two hardware-loving, no-frills techno-purists. both artists build on vibrant, machine-made roughness, yet each leaving their uniquely flavored footprint. kicking things off is eindhovens albert van abbe, whose wide-open soundscapes and searching synths evoke an emotional impact that goes far beyond mere tools, able to equally move and sooth even the fiercest of late-night lovers. low-key producer sp-x appears on the flipside, ready to get lost deep within layers of hypnotic loops. searing percussion, rumbling bass and dubby synths engage in complex conversation, subtly swelling and swaying but always keeping the groove ever so tight.

telekinesis is a vinyl only record label. we are in the process of researching the impact of musical alchemy. inspired by the art and history of illusionists of the 19th - 20th century, creating the rich atmosphere in each release. the first release opens mikhail maksimov aka meeshoo. 4 tracks of warm house cuts, full of deep analogue basslines and pads, chunky percussive elements and dusty vintage background sounds.

integral 043 sees the much anticipated return of dawn wall’s cousin, the mysterious mohican sun. following the huge “dead sea” & “fixation” eps which have made a significant impact among the scene’s tastemakers, we are pleased to introduce the brand new “cold earth ep”. consisting of 5 superfresh slabs of futuristic soul, this showcase truly highlights next-level production skills and the outfit’s unique andversatile sound. kicking off the new ep with a bang is the cinematic and soulful‘don’t wait’. the majestical, eerie vibes of the intro instantly mesmerise. rumblingand warm bass grooves, slick beats, delcious melodies andheart-wrenching vocals push the #ekhosound to newheights.

tardis records are delighted to welcome uk tech-house hero flow to the tardis records stable for their eighth release. the three tracks making up the trine ep were recorded together with simon moorecroft (a.k.a. simon vinyl junkie) around the time of his first vinyl releases back in 1996-1997. all three tracks sound completely contemporary whilst having more than enough old school flavour to give flashbacks to any 90s ravers. lead track boy girl action has skipping, garage-influenced beats with rolling bass and swirling atmospherics, whilst a breakbeat, vocals and a stabby intro give trine on the flip a more ravey feel. closing out the ep, i see you is the dubbiest cut here, with another heavy bassline, cut-up vocals,and subtly swung percussion. eli and oscar have loved testing these tracks out on the road and can vouch for their impact on a peak-time dancefloor!

malin genie s warm, funk fuelled sound returns to blow some balmy vibes into your frostbitten souls, and he s sounding especially expressive on this effervescent new 12-. -snake scale- features all kinds of liquid funk notes pouring around the crisp house beat, channeling soulful tones without resorting to basic sampling. -bloom- is a more linear cut with a steady tech house pulse, but it s shot through with mysterious ambience that deepens the emotional impact of the track. -altrica- completes the ep with a smoked out trip into reduced, back room house subtleties for the blissed out crew to get psychedelic to

discos ato&#769,,,nicos proudly presents the label’s second release: age of aggression by bs-1. this new record was produced by dutch veteran roland van oorschot aka bs–1 growing up, he listened to bands like slayer, fear factory and anthrax, which formed his musical education and continues to impact his productions.

8 tracks with full of hiphop / usa import

the original, the inspirational, the bombastic, the never bettered, the one. don t make me wait is all of the above and so much more. classic to the core. huge earth shattering record right here. ok, so the scoop, for the uninitiated is this - the peech boys were larry levan s group, we re talking early 80 s nyc here, 1982 to be precise, around the height of the paradise garage as larry was making the transition from superstar dj to producer. he brought a sparse, dubbed out, narcotic late night feel to the overall sound of this record. this was a short-lived project, but the influence is still felt today, the peech boys dna is inside the veins of modern dance music, as is larry s. there is no underestimating what an impact this record had. 7+ minutes of electronic bliss, trailblazing stuff, and don t get us started on the dub. do yourself a favour, buy this classic if you don t own it already, you ll keep coming back to it time and time again. guaranteed. this essential 12inch is repressed here in it s original 1979 glory, an essential classic that has stood the test of time for the last 30+ years & is now available again, remastered & repressed for 2017 in conjunction with west end records, nyc.

len faki is ready to share another batch of his personal secret weapons, this time giving away three floor-focused edits, starring a pair of russian producers philipp gorbachev and nocow. first up are two takes from gorbachevs recent lp, a throwback into the rave scenes heyday. featuring anthemic synths and even front-row vocals by polina. the catchy album opener gets rigged with a solid fundament and peak time-friendly bpm, while similarly sumptuous cut lazer waltzes through fakis tested and well-proven percussive layers. boasting massive low-end impact on the flip, the hardspace mix of nocows k$$$$ hits a special spot, mixing heavy bass, idm-grade level of detail and ghetto-ish vox into a unique and heady power-blend. as with all releases of lf rmx, the proceeds of this record will be forwarded to the berlin organization straßenkinder e.v. to be used in actions against child poverty.

northsouth hit their second release with a crisp selection of minimalist dancefloor gems from two rising talents. christian jay has been previously spotted on idle hands, and he delivers another example of his knack for sleek and skippy garage reductions with enclave and faculties, matching icy textures with punchy bass honed for maximum dancefloor impact. bilal meanwhile takes an electro approach on command station before twitching things up masterfully on ejecta while maintaining the steely finish that binds this split 12inch together.

silent season tap up antenes for a rare 12inch, building on the sizable impact her last and only release on l.i.e.s. had back in 2015. here we get three trips into dark, evocative techno territory as you would expect to find on silent season, leading in with the doom-laden march of dream uncreates the land. take me to the birds (for a) ditches the drums and heads straight into the most delicate and stirring of ambient pieces, while metra train chicago 1000x- makes use of field recordings and processed static to make for an even more immersive listening experience. this is a daring release that eschews the need for functionality to take the listener somewhere else entirely.

new years deal - the legendary lidell townsell on the legendary trax label - what s not to like? get the hole might sound like a fairly dubious title for an ep, but it works within the realms of chicago house! released in the golden year of 88, this ep contains nothing but vintage midwest acid grooves! you could argue that the xxx rated message behind lead cut get the hole is an early precursor of what would come out of the chi via dance mania and other associated labels and artists in latter years. rumour has it the track had an impact on the super underground b-more club scene too unsurprisingly! if you like your house music rough, ready & raw then this is for you! warehouse sounds, box jams, it s all here! remastered in conjunction with trax records, fully legit, now is the time to revisit a cornerstone of classic chicago house music, often imitated, never bettered!

so, after a little break we’re back with a new release. this time we’re joined by the multi-talented production powerhouse that is swarm intelligence (aka simon hayes). landing heavy with four bruising techno cuts that each find their own unique way of taking your head off, ear017 is a bumpy journey through darker club flavours. ‘flatlands’ opens things up, reminiscent of the type of marching, granite-heavy brum techno of old – this is minimal in construction but maximum in its impact. move forward to ‘ground up’ where demonic, dissonant keys take the lead above a rattling midrange that sounds like a corrugated roof ready to fly off. opting for cleaner, elastic drum patterns on ‘tingla’, hayes swaps tense for dense, with a loud take on steppy techno, that’ll please fans of some of blawan’s earlier work. ‘skitz’ starts out an a more dub tip with a wailing, paranoia inducing hook and snaking rhythms, eventually joined by more hard-hitting broken kicks, leading us comfortably into oblivion.

it is time to discuss fundamentals. for his second appearance on laut & luise constantijn lange shows his interpretation of human mannerisms that contrast so much while being closely entangled. able to deliver both pain and satisfaction alike, its apparent simplicty may deliver the purest bliss while the complexity of its impact can at times feel devestating: power & love. for the first part of this pair onosizo stands by to passionately proclaim and address the true nature and dangers of power. in contrast the second part of this ep is a musical dedication to all the light hearted and emphatic moments, a chance to brighten up and an invitation to feel untroubled, if only for a few minutes. just like a mapleseed rhino would do.

arvid wretman once again dresses up as everyones favourite rave crooner your planet is next, delivering a stripped down, club-optimized follow-up to last years studio barnhus debut. focusing on minimal elements with maximal impact, the laid back ep ranges from rainy-day acid blues to bill hicks channeling breakbeat choons, all perfected for modern soundsystems by inhouse mixmaster pedrodollar and presented in a gorgeous full colour sleeve designed ypin himself.

nice price deal !!! gaetano parisio strikes back with the fourth release on his own label adagio muzik. refrain is an ambitious project from the will to bring new sounds into the old school beat and groove, it follows that an original work is born from sure impact to the dancefloors.

nice price deal !!! hotflush presents the full label debut of uk funky figurehead roska, following his appearance on the recent back and 4th compilation and seminal remix of untolds >just for you< in 2009. this release brings together two cuts that emphasize a healthy evolution of the roska style that has made such an impact on bass music in the last couple of years. retaining the customary hard-hitting percussion and raw syncopated rhythms, a slightly futuristic twinge moves us into more unfamiliar territory, with the energetic synth arpeggiation of >error code< backed by the spacier, dubbed-out >abrupt<.

the first track sees villem step up to remix false alarm by total science, quadrant & iris. flexing his technical prowess with this chest-shattering offering, villem teases sonorous atmospherics around sharp percussive hits, building to a medley of full impact subsonic weight and aggressive drum patterns that cut right through the mix. for his debut appearance on the label, critical impact teams up with vocal powerhouse jakes to deliver geeks and geez. critical impact combines deep, rumbling subs and resonant mid tones which go hand-in-hand with jakes raw vocal energy and no-nonsense lyricism, making this a sure-fire dancefloor heavy hitter for the masses. for the third track, total science drop what i need , a beautifully crafted composition filled with tranquil pads and articulate rolling drums serving as a solid backbone. reversed atmospherics and glistening pianos swell in and out of the track with a deep, warm sub to bring it all together. finally, arcatype s cascade is an immersive roller bursting with ethereal tones and snappy percussions, taking you on a journey of rolled out sub lines and mid-range stabs washed with subtle reverb and delay. classified v3 delivers an across-the-board, cutting-edge offering of their signature d&b blend. combining the raw energy of false alarm and geeks and geez alongside the deep overtones of what i need and cascade classified v3 is solid proof that c.i.a are always at the top of their game, rolling strong since 1996 with no sign of turning back.

following a run of local transmissions from a sagittariun, crump, rob smith and atki2, idle hands turns its attention to berlin and the straight-up, no-nonsense techno thrust of johanna knutsson and hans berg. both respected artists and djs in their own right, the pair have been turning out 12inches together for the free spirit society, klasse and crime city disco over the past few years, but most importantly they ve been steering the excellent ufo station recordings as a vessel for their punchy, primal techno tracks. the sound on this ep taps into the pure form of stern, dark dancefloor tackle favoured at idle hands – no extraneous filler, plenty of space in the mix, but equally built with warmth and personality rather than monochrome functionality. if you need further proof, just look to the fact the ep is named after a swedish soap opera from the 90s. the bleeps and bass tones that pulse through -taggen- are so finely crafted they need not skip and dance around the arrangement. the melodic interplay on -klimax- is subtle but ultimately uplifting and optimistic where so much techno concerns itself with oppressive gloom. -bimbo- finds the pair embracing a more psychedelic approach, but even here the modulating effects processes are kept within certain boundaries so as to not dilute the impact on the floor. after all, this is music to dance to, to be felt over a large system (where possible). moving from leftfield bass excursions to minimalist 2-step, uk techno and now onto this much more continental sound, themälarviken ep continues to widen the range of idle hands musical tastes without losing sight of the complete picture.

phase fatale creates techno from disparate subcultures of dead industrial with a post-punk spirit, bringing back an immediacy and aggressive energy sorely missing in the contemporary electronic landscape.
with “redeemer,” the debut full length from phase fatale, conceived by dj and producer hayden payne in new york by way of berlin, deepens his exploration of the tension—both sonic and conceptual—begun on his eps released over the last three years on the jealous god and unterton labels. in intent and impact, phase fatale bears allegiance to the surreal influence of juan mendez aka silent servant, with whom payne has worked closely in collaboration.

funkadelic have created an enduring legacy, and the power of their impact is visceral in detroit. their records not only played with genre, but possessed a diabolical sense of humour that led to music domination by the late 70s with parliament, funkadelic, parlet, bootsy’s rubber band and the brides of funkenstein all releasing albums the same year for two years in a row. the music itself is beyond stereotype, but equally huge is that they were a black band not allowing themselves to be limited by anyone else’s notions of who they could be, having a massive impact on the next generation of detroit music, detroit techno. but more than just techno, it is a freedom of thinking that extends beyond boxes, so we included all sorts of today s generation of detroit musicians and producers to show the wide range of music that was funkadelic and how these ideas are still contemporary, they endure and inspire.

some songs comes along that you seem to know the moment you hear it, even though its for the first time. in the case of spark the universe it had exactly that impact. a mixture of late-60s psychedelic homage, early 80s new wave, white boy soul, plus a good dose of dub, all wrapped around a killer hook and super tight production and a hit was surely made.

soundway records presents the debut solo album from the ever-energetic diron animal, lead singer of the band throes + the shine.
born and raised in the ghettos of cazenga in the angolan capital of luanda, the portugal-based artist is known for his incredible stage presence and unique fashion sense. influenced by traditional african music, diron brings modern electronic production and multilingual vocals to his album, which explores the realities of growing up in harsh conditions. the impact of such a life on himself and his local community is thematically apparent: pessimism, greed, and ambition feature - and yet the overarching message is that of opportunity, hope and channelling one’s struggles into creativity.
spell-binding rhythms, bass hooks and original lyrics abound, spanning portuguese, kimbundu and english.

tidy line-up including randomer, gilbr, voiski and tolouse low trax. tip! in terms of experimental, techno, very few come close to the impact that this uk producer has had on the scene. with a sound that is rarely classifiable, randomer’s dekmantel contribution is a staggered, minimally-twisted, dark, kind-of-two step, awesome thing. versatile records’ gilb’r has found himself an integral part of the dutch scene since moving to amsterdam, and brings forth his organic, percussive grooves that have helped define his music, and label to date. salon des amateurs’ tolouse low trax provides a seasoned session of amniotic, grizzled, hypnotic post-everything music, that is eerily discomforting and wonderfully pleasurable at the same time. and on the ep’s fourth track, parisian techno wizard, voiski adds layered organic, futuristic loops that work to stale the progress of time, and space.

leroy burgess - one of the pioneers of boogie, a legendary figure in the nyc disco scene and all-out originator is well known by dance music aficionados across the globe for his output. his logg project from the early 80’s especially has acquired a cult status amongst diggers, released on salsoul in 1981 and boasting mixes from larry levan the lp became an instant club classic that still commands the dancefloor in 2017. salsoul is a label that isn’t afraid to bridge the gap between their hugely groundbreaking catalogue and contemporary dance music. they understand the impact and influence their music has had on dj culture and embrace it wholly. step up uk underground producer marquis hawkes who originally approached salsoul with this set of killer reworkings that had long been private versions that featured in his sets. having dropped ep’s for labels such as dixon avenue basement jams, aus music, houndstooth and many more his name is firmly planted in the minds of record fiends across the nation. adopting a classic us style of production, using analog gear, dope loops and chops and finessing it all with his own grittiness, hawkes seemed a good fit to remix 2 stellar joints from logg s catalogue. something else and i know you will both get cut up, re-edited and laced with rock solid drum programming by hawkes on this sublime 12’’. lovingly tweaked with just the right amount of rawness for the dance this one won t leave your bag anytime soon! pure peak-time sounds here, another example of salsoul embracing the sounds of now and breathing freshness into their untouchable catalogue. essential.