12 track album he wrote in prison - check these gritty lo-bit productions!

the third outing for modern manners emerges on the back of two very strong 12inches that introduced this anonymous outfit to the world. timeless vibe continues where the last release left off, building up a wonderfully cosmic bed of processed melody under which casual hand played percussion and warm bass notes can linger. azzahar too keeps things pleasantly soporific with its gentle pace and lilting guitar refrains, and then middle east manners rounds this excellent trio of eps out with a beautifully realised swirl of sounds that find focus once a kick drum starts pulsing and the percussion starts building. quite who modern manners are is a mystery at this stage, but across these three 12inches they ve certainly made their presence felt in the softest, most laid back of ways.

deep dreamy and melancholic techno tracks by tserg, 25-year-old producer from, singapore. written over a period of 4 months, forgotten times is about the dreams we once had and forgot, the present moments that we forget to cherish and the ideals we used to believe and fight for but no longer do so. the intro is a hopeful track for the time when we started to dream. by the time we reach the outro, these memories have become fragmented and we struggle to even remember them. thankfully, time travel has always been possible in our minds when we think about the past or future. this transmat like production by tserg brings us from the future to the past in forgotten times but the listener is free to travel in whichever direction they want. limited to 150 copies.

red laser ceo il bosco selects four manctalo nukes that rock the label s manchester party on a regular basis. the manchester dj and producer carefully edits these rare or ignored tracks with the help of the another well-known local who only wishes to be known as the bat. play that song is like the smiths decided to have a go at boogie and creates an amazing mix of indie electro funk that shouldn t work but does. a little happiness has had the big italo collectors around europe searching frantically for the original of this lost gem since the track was aired on red laser s soundcloud. who will find it first? pac manc is an amazing dreamy slice of electro boogie ripe for the dancefloor and finishing the ep in style is the heavy drum led afro funk of shotgun rules again, with a synth bassline so big you could see it from mars. this one will live in dj bags for some time. limited to 150. hand stamped in textured grey card sleeves.

tracy island announces episode 2 of the 10 piece concept series with the unlimited. this time the musical transmission comes from beach wizards, the secondary alias of the well renowned collective seahawks, offering their interpretation of island mentality. the release opens with the ever growing mood of the diamond sea - 18 minutes of building disco strings and stabs, rolling bongos and percussion, and intermittent ambience with an a side offering a true listening experience. dont you wanna get off. get out the city they called. the b side starts and ends with the lulling sound of midnight waves in a downbeat balearic boogie of rain chimes and head nodding subs. between these tides interjects lucky dips on the b2, with melodies from an aquatic saxophone from below the surface.

as huntleys + palmers events has drawn to a close, 2018 will see a big focus in releasing some brilliant new music and introducing some amazing new artists. first up is wheelman straight out of glasgow and fresh off the back of his debut for our studio barnhus buddies. to our shame, it took a kornel kovacs trip to rubadub to bring to our attention a real talent who was under our now the whole time! hed even been to a bunch of our parties and wed never made the connection. righting this wrong, we promptly hit him up for music to include on a clyde built compilation and they were so good, we designated the bulk of these tracks to this release 5 absolute belters!

taking the labels emotional sound into a deeper realm we welcome zone + to all day i dream. four tracks for more far out moments. these tracks might not rock your dance floor but they might just rock your soul. cuddle up with your lover and enjoy... bien. beautiful and gentle house music that loves you right back. baia. this is a gentle track with a subtle emotional vibe feeling like you are far away from land floating on an ocean with no land in sight. all you want to do is drift, lay back and watch the clouds roll by. sia - a subtle piano and male vocal transport you to a blissful place floating above the delicate landscape of beats. apocalypto - there s a mysterious feeling this track creates. a haunting vocal exists somewhere in the background and hypnotizes the listener.

untitled presents 4 fresh tracks by mikio kaminakamura.these tracks are continual sound from previous his release as untitled 09. this is very fresh sound and enjoy super lights!

joran van pol is back on minus with edge, a fantastic four track ep that is his first on the label since 2013. in the years since, the amsterdam based artist has set up his own fade label and has continued to evolve his cinematic techno sound. previously, van pol has also released on labels like rejected, sci+tec and ideal audio, and has the support of all the big techno players who often reach for his tunes in their sets. as a dj he is just as in demand, with headline slots everywhere from space ibiza to time warp all behind him. having recently set up a new studio, he is still coming on strong with fresh inspiration and ever more essential grooves. ‘illos opens things with seven spooky minutes of icy techno. rolling rubbery drums pump away below, and the details up top make for an evocative soundscape with distant industrial sounds, groaning bass and razor sharp hi hats all filling your mind with imagery. next comes title track ‘edge, another brilliant sonic landscape with tense chords repeating over ticking percussion. its a track that builds tension throughout, and keeps you looking over your shoulder into the eerie blackness. the perfectly high pressure ‘return is one that locks you in and never lets up, with warped synths snaking above traintrack like drums and hits. a dark, rumbling bassline and the sounds of pistons releasing air all add to the intensity of this brainmelting bit of futuristic techno. last but not least, ‘frostbite is then the most spacious and spooky offering of the lot. it has freaky alien sound designs scattered around the track with supple kicks driving the whole thing forwards. its an absorbing cut that hurries along and takes you for a thrilling ride. these are four more inventive techno tracks from one of the contemporary scenes brightest stars.

finally here we are with the fourth release on last drop records, signed by the london-based stavrogin. collectors takes a more subdued approach from his debut on australian label 3bs, focusing on ampdriven ambient textures and digital experimentation. sixty acres is a juddering mass of static textures and penetrative low end, forcing itself to a crumbled close. title track collectors is something like the afterglow. weary and destitute, the track stumbles through heatwave soaked atmospheres, fragmented voices stuttering like a malfunctioning android. are these actual miles? is perhaps the most direct, with its tremors of noise punctuated by a rhythmic pulse. this is a feature italian duo ichinen have capitalised on in their closing remix, reducing the track to a warbling, dead-eyed drum workout.

we are extremely happy to welcome malouane to our roster for this third release. the atmosphere of malouane is unique: raw, melodic and full of details with charm. -long way for the homies- will recall artists like mcde or rick wade, quite in the same vein: jazzy, soul and house. the second, -keep yo mama clean- very catchy too: drums, beautiful basses and small samples interact with each other. these elements work perfectly, because malouane has a real sense of musical arrangement, a real mastery of sampling. -this is supposed to be an outro- is the last track of the original tracks: it is a little slower than the others but a great wealth: a real charm and a true personality emerges from this piece. the multitude of details and, again, the mastery of the sample make it a piece as much club as listening. cody currie has proposed his own vision. the young english producer made a great remix by putting his style and clement’s together. finally, times are ruff also offers their reinterpretation of keep yo mama clean: softer and quite faithful to the atmosphere of this ep, with a small taste of chaos in the cbd, the dutch have done a remarkable job.

optimo music don’t generally do limited edition releases but when the golden filter did these extra mixes of “end of times”, the a1 track off their recent ep we thought they were too good to remain in the digital domain so have pressed up a small run of 12” singles aimed specifically at djs. the original single version is a future synth classic. these new dub versions take it to the dancefloor and have been tried and tested around the world over the last few months. they are considerably extended, dubbed out and add extra dynamics & ecstatic synth power with hints of the original vocal. there is a slo mo version at 103 bpm and a faster version at 118bpm which means the track should work any time from warm up to peak set. there is also a drone-apella version included too.

after living in africa, south america, then london, ohes first made a name in paris by playing analog lives with the dynamiterie crew, first as they resident artist and then as the new artistic director of their new label. it is while playing live in the french city of pau that he met behzad & amarou. they shared the same views on the perception of music, thus created a particular affinity. after this event, they chose to collaborate under the boa moniker (behzad ¹ ohes- amarou), and invited him to release his new ep on bear records. in this first ep, ohes moves between a slightly dystopic robotic house, sharp discoid grooves and melancholic exoticism. this new adventure present a rich diversity in these four personal tracks, influenced by his numerous travels.

physical therapy for exotic dance with this first volume of shamanic workout material made between 2014 and 2017. these are deliriously entrancing and exquisitely produced tracks, expertly engineered to keep the floor moving

conceived along the space of a few years and part of a big collection of unfinished experiments stored on cassette tapes, this eight tracks selection well represents fred ventura s late 80s and early 90s infatuation with chicago house, detroit techno, early warp records and even a secret passion for ebm. using a basic set up made of roland juno 106, roland jx-8p, oberheim dx, roland tr909 and an akai sampler, these tracks were never officially mixed and meant to be released until today. minimal and hypnotic, dry and direct, both sides of the record show an instinctive approach to rhythms and basslines, typical of those days where computer didn t have a predominant role in the creative process.

limited edition of 1000 copies. 5x12 inch vinyl box set containing the first 4 albums by trisomie 21 in a gold foil stamped black lined heavy board box with a die cut enamel pin and sticker.
dark entries will reissue the first four full-lengths from seminal french coldwave group, trisomie 21. originally released by stechak/pias between 1983-1987, these releases will see their first vinyl appearance in over 30 years in a deluxe edition limited boxed set. remastered by george horn at fantasy studios.

the killers’ 2013 album back on double vinyl. incl mr. brightside

new project and new label from the creators of the fantastic 808 box, fundamental records. there are many details that make this project something really unique. these records will become classics if they are not already!. the music of every record is very special, also the artwork and the technic use to print each sleeve, but the concept behind this project something you need to understand, as you can read in the website everything is based in two factors: first, to provide the artist with complete anonymity in order to create in absolute freedom. second, to offer the listener the work of the artist without any external distortions. the use of words to describe or define music is a senseless task. most of the time the intention of descriptive text is not to shed light on the work of the artist, but rather to serve as a promotional tool to drive sales and increase recognition. this often has the unfortunate result of limiting the creator and his work. music is all we need, any other additives are completely dispensable.

alonzo is an electro guy. raised in miami and now living in brooklyn, he has been brewing tracks for years. these electro/futuristic miami bass tracks are finally getting the release they deserve. recommended for fans of dopplereffekt, pretty tony, and the west coast sound of holland.

nice price deal !!! single life. the a side is urgent, angry and slamming. djs with kahunas will be playing these. just let doesnt feel right ride. it murders 2nd try is straight up industrial bananas, cant wait to see what happens when this is played out. the b side is full of sadness, longing and regret. single life is the artists favourite cut of the ep and i think you should know that. still waters is probably what it feels like to feel like shit and dive into a deep reservoir in the middle of the night somewhere remote where you could just drown and die without anybody around to help you.

warehouse find ! mjazz presents rawtrachs is a 17-minute ride of beats, bass, noise and rawness. there is an obvious influence of jungle break beats and a f**k off attitude to formulaic music. the music represents freedom from the formula, freedom from restrictions, and most of all the freedom to connect with the universe via intuitive experiments with sounds. this release is limited to 30 cassettes – the cassettes are blue in a yellow case with a handcrafted cover – each of these covers are different (no two covers are the same). the cassette cases are then packaged up in an extra case which is hand sprayed with the mjazz seal of approval – super limited handcrafted packaging! this music is unapologetic and unadulterated – no watered down for the masses business!

donna steaks are the world s greatest tracks - and i mean that in every sense of the word. these tracks are, by far, the best sounding, most flavorful rave you ve ever had - truly in a league of their own. treat yourself to the very, very best life has to offer. one beat and you ll know exactly what i m talking about. believe me: i understand rave. it s my favorite sound. and donna steaks are the best.

the 1st document in a 2 part project from d marc cantu. exemplary productions from the early years. nation are greatly honored and excited to release and present these timeless gems of jakbeat on a 1-time very limited pressing. tip!

10 years after blu and exile released their magnum opus below the heavens, the california duo have reunited to release 14 tracks from the original 2007 sessions. in the beginning: before the heavens contains previously heard songs and unreleased gems – the best of the best chosen from over 40 songs in the vault. their third collaboration follows 2012s give me my flowers while i can still smell them, and is slated for an october release. in the beginning: before the heavens is made of up songs that are raw and untouched, keeping the authenticity of blu and exile’s creativity at the time. the album has guest appearances from familiar names like dr. oop, donel smokes, aloe blacc, and blame one. while soul provider, another day, and party of two appeared on blus lifted ep, the majority of these songs showcase blu rapping at his peak, maintaining his underground attitude as he dishes on reaching star status (constellations), getting radio play (on the radio), or opposing views in a problem-ridden world (youre gonna die someday). exile, meanwhile, builds a golden hip-hop era feel with head-nodding samples and dj scratches.

featuring dj spank spank & lothario lee (phuture), fast eddie and houz mon, acid house legends from chicago. this title is 4th ep of bigfire, electronic music band in tokyo / japan, including one of posthumous works of earl smith jr. a.k.a dj spank spank died this past september. moreover, this is his last works with lothario lee who has supported earl as phuture for a long time. but his familiar acid house style is well in the disc. and minimal remix suggests that challenging spirit of these phuture’s members still has not been lost. this title has more two chicago house remixes. one side is the creator of hiphouse music, -king- fast eddie. his remix is contemporary and universal house music every one demand. the other side is houz mon known as aclose friend of earl. this underground style with his awesome vintage roland sounds should be called ghetto acid, one of tidemark of house music. last but not least, original track is ingenious future electronic rock opera. we can say this as the originality of bigfire. -general of the universe iv- compares favorably with previous work.

it has become a tradition for the maghreban to make records commemorating the passing of cats he knew and loved. one of these tracks is for martha.one of the tracks someone said sounded like too many pots and pans. the other one he made using elka x705 organ sounds. it s a shame that these tracks together make for such a tepid, middling, unremarkable record. not his best work by any stretch. perhaps there is different music around the corner.

south side underground now delivers 3 brand new tracks for the moustache part 2 ep. if there was a time to dance to music, then this time is now - so put your party hats on to get into it with these new tempting chicago house dancefloor killers!

j slusher speaks through partial magic. these four cyborgian utterances contained herein shall pursue you along the corridors of your mindframe. their technoid alloys shall whisper the acid machine language to the ghost in your core. mixes well with infernal, dystopian noise of the j train.

topping off 2017, scrub a dub has signed two hot new producers with some fresh soundsystem weapons. unity sessions sound system resident somah delivers a spacious dub with whiplashing synths, while jsm comes with a gritty percussion lead piece entitled “king of kings”, rough and tough. these tracks are already gaining support from vivek, coki, bukez finest, mungo’s hi fi and many more. with only 500 copies pressed, here’s one 12- not to sleep on.

after building up a unique state of the art sound since ages- including records on labels such as bine, source, modern love, uzuri, warp and many others- move d and benjamin brunn come along with a single on smallville to tease their forthcoming album >songs from the beehive<. the honey ep takes a short trip into the world of two ultraspecial producers. benjamin brunn and move d cut these three pieces from their ultradeep live jams and the result is magical. the deeply kicking >honey< is already proved by smallvilles lawrence: >how crazy can the panorama bar get!<. his flatmate efdemin prefers the >melons<: >thats the deep shit for life!!<. and golden pudel chief ralf köster is amazed about his new ambient number one >after the rain<. in the end move d and benjamin brunn put together what belongs together looking forward to their big album in 2008

dj swagger drops haus dubs and tracks one, two, and three, each is a beautiful, roller of a tune with deep, dubby bass, brimming breaks, and lush top lines. the phrase deep house gets thrown around a lot these days but this ep backs it up. limited 500 pressings.

ok. this is an anthem. you know “dance” already, right? huge pal joey jam from way back in 1990? the one that flips carl bean’s “i was born this way” into the stratosphere? yeah, that’s it! except this is that track reimagined by 2 killer producers, flipped and edited into the cosmos by the new jersey legend kerri chandler and the west coast’s onionz, probably the only producers who could touch such a stone cold classic and actually bring something to the table! originally out in 2002 these 2 edits / mixes are total weapons, you need this 12” in your bag. everything is touched, tweaked and blended in just the right way and full respect is given to the mixes. this isn’t no fly by night re-edit thing, this is heavyweights bringing us some heat and their interpretation of a track that was obviously a huge deal for them on a personal level. do not snooze on this, masterfully repressed, with the full consent of everyone involved and remastered on a solid 12” for you all.

integral 042 sees the return of the invincible dawn wall. picking up from where they left off with the amazing twin falls ep, we are now championing their latest and greatest problems ep. a continuation of the mistical journey through their enigmatic world via 4 new heavy weight anthems, these new dw beats are already on hot rotation with support from the likes of andy c and friction awarding it his friction fire tune of the week on radio 1.

the reverend eddie bones is the esteemed american composer, pianist and instrument builder cooper-moore’s collaboration with the songwriter and artist ed pettersen. these two fresh interpretations of gospel songs are both featured in the new norwegian tv thriller pilot “the green jersey” which is directed by Øystein karlsen, the cult director of dag, lilliehammer, and was recently broadcast twice in norway.
no.2 in the valve mastered sevens series.
collectable, unique, supreme quality - this ever expanding series of carefully curated 7-s takes in cult heroes, underground gems, future stars - a true treasure trove of delights to explore in gearbox’s homage to the humble 45. expect direct-to-disc cuts, groundbreaking recording techniques, one-off collaborations.... all connected in one significant way: the purity, warmth and luxuriousness of an all-valve signal chain.
these valve mastered recordings feature gearbox’s vintage decca valve mixer in association with their haeco scully lathe with westrex ra1700 series amps, westrex 3diia cutting head, and telefunken u73b tube limiter.

tom wrankmore previously recorded under eliphino and now launches new project automne. automne has a two diametrically opposed themes within it, natural balance and transition and machine like, automated. music will explore the interplay between these two areas.

what attracts us to chilean-born artist ricardo tobar is the notion of intersection, and although fusion is nothing new, as a concept it will always pull our heartstrings. applying influence is amateur, we see this over and over again as we endure trend-driven appropriation of cultures the world over, but the epiphany when an artist finds true synergy between heritage and influence is a pivotal moment that the inspired will seek, even though it may take the length of one’s career to behold. as pretentious as that may sound, it is precisely the hybrid born from that place of intersection that excites us at the esp institute, the a plus b that equals 3. we hear this in ricardos music the latin american instinct in his drums and percussion, sometimes tightly aligned with body movements and other times hauntingly mis-aligned and chaotic, intersects with his rock influence of ethereal (micro) melodies that slowly layer and layer until were climbing a glorious (macro) wall of sound but most importantly we hear where these different parts of his life come together to further create one unique voice. on both sides of his esp institute debut liturgia, tobar couples one pulsing dance-driven track with another atmospheric and immersive track, requiring we educate ourselves in the polarity of this language he’s building, one that will expand to tell a broader story later this year with his debut album. we welcome ricardo tobar, another forward-thinking artist, to the esp institute, and are proud to support any direction his compass points from here, as we believe hell never follow but will always lead.

five hundred and seventy-three moons ago (give or take), thunder tillman and his personal shaman emerged from the esp institute with an epic debut ep of baked psychedelics entitled jaguar mirror. we now bare witness to the duo’s glorious follow-up as they initiate us into the night school of universal wisdom. these two cosmic jokers possess a vibrant and fearless sense of exploration that knows no boundaries, as if their dreams translate directly into song and their bodies exist merely to channel music they’ve tapped into from another world, one where influences are uncharted and any instrument imaginable is available at their fingertips. as with jaguar mirror, their grasp of all things analogue begins with guitar laying the slightly imperfect foundation for four harmonious narratives, a journey that begins with a fast paced gallop across vast landscapes in search of the incan god of thunder, catequil, and gently concludes with us lying horizontally to absorb sporadic beams of healing light. the discourse throughout night school of universal wisdom is as charming as it is exquisite, orienting the listener with a bouquet of warm tones whilst layering plies of musical dialogue so subtle they require repeated study. thunder tillman manage to weave the past into future without diverting to pastiche, successfully merging their characterized production with melodic mastery and a sense of humor, a creative achievement that accredits them as two of our most esteemed scholars.

one year ago, sodai burst onto the electronic soundscape with fearless river / ghost from label boss gardens of god. renowned for delivering the highest quality with meticulously selected artists, the label has carved out a fresh sound and distinct style. to celebrate the first milestone, gardens of god solidifies the integrity of the label with the profound maple ep . “these three tracks represent what i’ve been playing and enjoying since river / ghost was released last year. no compromises, just for people to get lost in.” - gardens of god subtle distorted keys pan the atmosphere in lead track maple for an enticing start to the ep, before a dominating bass soon carries the track through layers of melodic synths. the sinister tones of whistler are next and set to cause a serious stir on the dancefloor. last up, bek is a solid techno roller with a thundering bass, enhanced by an incredible richness in the haunting synths that echo throughout. vilnius based gardens of god has established himself as a key player in the world of house and techno. the classically trained artist has enjoyed a groundbreaking few years with weighty features on bbc radio 1, plus vital releases on maceo plex’s ellum and his own imprint sodai.

london based experimental publisher split music has rapidly gained a unique reputation for its expertise in placing music in audiovisual projects, from hollywood movie trailers like blade runner 2049, the dark tower & mother to brand films for globally recognised designers adidas, dior & puma. this reputation was affirmed this year upon winning the prestigious golden trailer award in l.a. (for the use of these hidden hands music in the brutal raw worldwide trailer). now, from their headquarters at londons live music epicentre village underground, they have launched their latest project: the research label. this new label will showcase the artists they represent by challenging them to push the boundaries of their production process to new levels.

da saa - the haunting sound of yemenite israeli funk 1974-1982. fortuna records deliver a stellar compilation of real-life magic created by immigrants from yemen, in tel aviv, from the mid seventies to the early eighties. ranging from extremely rare to previously unreleased, these tracks are a result of a unique scene which blended funk, soul, jazz & disco with traditional yemenite rhythms & sounds. it cannot get more obscure than this! fortuna heads: look out for an unreleased tsvia abarbanel from 1969!!! glorious gatefold lp with a 14 page booklet telling the fascinating story of this movement, for the very first time!

edit & dub unearth more unreleased gems! these are unbelievable takes of tee’s classic remixes with the music breaking down like never before, apparently direct from master tapes! lovers of joey negro & dimitri from paris should be very much into these. limited one-sider, dont sleep!

***
our grief falls flat and hollow
upon the billion-blooded sea.
these mad dogs of glory
moving this little bit of light toward us.
it was a shameful waste of
madhouse time.
***

sharon jones & the dap-kings’ final studio album, soul of a woman is a lush, orchestral masterpiece. a true testament to the life and career of daptone’s fearless leader and one of the world’s greatest performers.
the limited coloured vinyl release includes a download code.

groove patrol aka the 95 north crew dropped these 2 sides of heavyweight nyc garage pressure in 1993. one listen and it’s obvious the influence records like this had on uk producers and scenes. swinging, funked out and tough, all at the same time, need your love is here across 3 mixes. the original mix itself sounding the most uk-centric for sure. if soulful, underground us house is your bag you’ll be needing this reissue for sure! absolutely oozing class, classic material. dancin’ to the music is the b-side, 2 mixes feature, again and it’s that 95 north sound - drenched in soul, yet street at the same time. both versions are hard enough for the heads, but musical enough for the dancers who are deep in the speaker stack. brilliant stuff for house lovers old and new. this one’s a tasty 2017 reissue and remaster, featuring all cuts, unedited, as per the original release way back when. essential stuff here. do not sleep. a worthy addition to any dj’s bag.

hot creations revive chicago’s ghetto house scene with pioneer dj funk and german producer rydim who deliver the pumping “ghetto booty”. a fitting addition to the release, miami’s jesse perez is on hand with solid remix.
the title track is a real throwback to the era of ghetto house with it’s straight up, stripped beats. rydim explains “this project is a dream for me! dj funk has always been my greatest hero in all things chicago. doing “ghetto booty” with charles was such a fantastic opportunity to bring all these energetic, uptempo chicago vibes to today’s dancefloors. it’s a bouncing, killer of a track! the other “easy as that” is more of a dj tool. it’s the result of my latest drum computer, swinging like only these little machines can.”
rydim has been stirring up dance floors and releasing records under a variety of pseudonyms since 2002. since his rydim alias began in 2013, he has delivered releases for an enviable roster of labels including hot creations, tsuba and pets recordings and his tours have included the electronic scene’s most prestigious clubs.
mr. nice guy records label owner jesse perez has released on labels like hot creations, i’m a house gangster, bpitch control and eats everything’s edible. his music always has a tongue in cheek charm and this latest remix is no exception, as he brings a heavy dose of funk and swing into the mix.

a pair of naughty as you like sample heavy tribal house music rumblers. rapture inducing grooves for the more discerning floor. these gents have had some big label releases, but the names have been changed to protect the innocent. get involved. vinyl only slab. hand stamped 45rpm loud cut for club play.

ltd 2017 repress , rest in peace andreas. your music will live on forever. andreas gehm, before his untimely death, announced on his board he wasn t coming back on stage but he had releases in the pipeline of important labels. two of these tracks were meant to involve. tribute to the master of german acid.

man power returned to his northern home for one last waltz. this is their joint offering for the esp institute. on side a, man power welcomes us with tistish, stepping slightly out of his comfort zone and employing a boxy breakbeat to create a dose movement. this contrasts his signature fatty bassline and together they establish a ground on which to stack layers of atonal square and sawtooth waves. about halfway through he introduces a massively seductive string lead and for the remainder of the ride this palette of sounds coalesce in dark orchestral beauty. on side b, man power’s cohorts last waltz deliver nee shitteru, a true stomper of a track complete with in-your-face toms and off-time percussion patterns, an intense driving acid line, and aggressive shamanic chanting. throw in some crash cymbals, sci-fi sound effects and a smattering of gamelan and it amounts to an overwhelmingly chaotic and psychedelic trip. these two songs will have you speaking in tongues.

pierre bastien is a french legend that has collaborated with artists such as robert wyatt, jac berrocal and jaki liebezeit, to name just a few. he is also very well known for his compositions based on home-made mechanical instruments, designed and constructed by bastien himself. pure diy. using these instruments he would create a heady experimental mix incorporating poetry and some far-out music, all in all very intriguing and original indeed. needless to say when the notion of pierre bastien and versatile records potentially making a project together arose, it was a total honour! throw into the mix esteemed electro-acoustic composer eddie ladoire and now we ve really got something interesting. eddie and pierre met when they appeared on the same concert bill together and they decided to collaborate further with versatile being the platform for the fruits of this particular project. the original version of phantom dance is a beautiful piece where bastien plays a trumpet into some water blended with electronic drums and mellow organs lines, creating an otherworldly, subterranean jazz vibe for the freaks. suzanne kraft, the la native / amsterdam based producer turns the original into some mechanical broken funk vibes while rotterdam s oceanic delivers 2 fresh, reimagined versions. one for for the club with a strong afro beat feel while the other one is a slower affair for the after hours. both mixes bringing something new to the table. a truly original and interesting release from some very talented people, for those with open ears and open minds!