after a strong run in the early 00 s, 3am recordings came back into action in 2016 with a various artists release that featured a range of artists closely tied to the label s foundations. now label boss al bradley is stretching his wings with -night owl-, a refined production that demonstrates his experience in the field of tech house. goshawk comes on board for a remix that takes the deep sweeping original and makes it into an effervescent summer time groover, while label regular michael scott nudges -night owl- into stripped down late night territory. the third remix from fourfourfour heads into oddball territory for those who like their house music off kilter and playful.

lessismore record label, founded in 2003 by the dutch dj and producer alexis tyrel together with mbc, has been home for mostly his own releases under all his monikers and various artist compilations. “return to planet alpha” continues in this tradition, being a second long-player of alexis tyrel after his debut “newtradition” from 2011.
“return to planet alpha” is a collection of elegant techno tracks which instead of following the now so popular dark and destructive path focuses on daily moods and airy atmosphere, which is closer to open air and lounge than to sweaty pits of contemporary rave. but that doesn’t mean that the twelve tracks are just indistinctive background music. for one thing, tyrel is a master of slick and tight beat foundations of kick drums and bass, often smoothed out with cool synth pads, onto which he layers all kinds of rhythmical chains, subtle melodic ideas and sounds ranging from vintage synths and industrial bits to organic textures and even field recordings.

channeling a love affair with classic 90 s hip hop, an affinity for otherworldly themes and an ear for raw funk, barclay crenshaw uses his given birth name to bare his soul and deliver a slowed-down, emotive collectiob of collaborations and instrumentals. this self-titled debut album is a left-field deperature from his better known allias, claude von stroke, but the quality is undeniably the same. the themes of alien abductions and exploring of time and space are discovered and brough to life over ten tracks that sound like a mixture of gold rope chains and new age enlightenment. modern organic beats mixed with gorgeous melodic movements and underlying grittiness create an experience that is eclectic, expressive, and expansive. coded art furthers the sense of mystery and the unkown. harking back to the past while gazing into the future.

denis morin presents working k an experimental skip across the turrets of techno. driving beats form base to a high humidity discussion between heavy ambience, exploratory field recordings and the weirded out whirring of man and machines. working k is meandering, evolving and ever changing. new chapters fold on top of new chapters, fuse into each other and make new pages within themselves.

flumo s first vinyl offering for 2017 sees chocky returning with three original signature tracks along with a remix from true craftsman orlando voorn. higher synth, the first cut on the record rolls out the instantly recognizable chocky sound to full effect. looped chords set the rhythm in motion & the vocal sample provides just enough variety within the track to mix things up and keep you moving. orlando voorn s take on higher synth enhances the weight and heaviness of the original, the wooden bass kick and crisp synth layers provide a refreshing satisfying take on things. the flip side contains two tracks, first of which is seek deep, a track that similarly maintains chocky s signature vibe whilst also paying homage to deeper, classic house tracks with a spoken word vocal.. this track was first made available on flumo s unreleased highlights volume 4 compilation, and it now sees an anticipated vinyl release. closing off the package is chocky s brush away, a track delving into the hypnotic sphere, where field-recorded vocals and trumpet lines create a late night groove aimed straight at the dancefloor. chocky returns to the label and he delivers.

dutch producer nathan surreal debuts on biologic records with ?star dust? featuring remixes from adesse versions and neville watson. exploring abstract, ?surreal? and melodic electronic sounds, the dutchman is a perfect addition to the biologic roster. appearing on a host of underground labels since 2014, nathan is set to make a breakthrough with ?star dust’ balancing on the edge of reality and pushing further into the abstract and surreal worlds ?star dust? unfolds through waving synths and dubby bass lines ??? is a darker track, the bassline punchier and driving acid-tinged synths create a dance-floor ready record. next up ?human music? has a more minimal introduction, building in intensity as the synths come through until finally the melody drops, maintaining the dreamy top line that nathan is so adept at maintaining. neville watson provides the first remix on the ep, he adds reverb to the vocal, amplifying its effect on the track. star dust is intensified, perfect for late night, or early morning, dance floors. addesse version?s remix of ?star dust? is a twisted acid remake, a left-field and off kilter beat is slowed down to a psychedelic swirl, pulsating throughout the track.

known for their take on the gentler side of house music, jazz pianists, electronic enthusiasts and label founders of the analogue attic imprint, albrecht labrooy have joined night tides family with their latest sojourn emissary ep. the release began with a concept from the artists, who asked for field recordings taken by night tides eluize from around her adopted home in berlin. sounds from parks, gardens, trains and stations that make up the local, everyday sonic landscape made their way across the atlantic to arrive in albrecht labrooys studio, where they were used as inspiration for the three outings on this record. the melbourne duo’s live approach to programming and arrangement can be heard as the tracks ebb and flow effortlessly. in tempelhof sub swells and a throbbing kick accompany delicate leads and lightly touched drums. the more uptempo hinterhof pulses and sways with lively percussion, crystalline bells, euphoric strings and softly spoken melodies that float in and out of view. u-bahn/s-bahn begins with glistening top lines and panoramic chords over a growling bass and a steady groove. as the journey rolls on from the underground into open-air window-gazing territory, the piece takes an ambient, beatless turn. contemplative synth lines and arpeggios play while the station announcements drift somewhere in the distance. photograph by christophe mauberqué.

acid pauli is a name synonymous with certain aesthetic towards electronic music culture - both a part of the unhooked generation of that grew up experiencing his revelatory sets at places like bar 25 and fusion, and yet deeply rooted in musicality and adventurousness. bld, the second full album from martin gretschmann, (aka acid pauli), builds on his already impressive back catalogue which spans back to 2005, and includes a debut album released on nicolas jaar’s clown and sunset. over the course of the eight tracks here, gretschmann explores some of the many facets that have made him one of the most trusted artists in his field. released on his own (and nico stojan’s) label ouïe - the album is the perfect expression of the imprint’s commitment to diverse, exciting sounds, freed of the conventions of traditional club music. the album covers a number of moods and emotions, from dystopian carnivalesque vibes to moments of high intensity, through to deep melancholia and synth laden ambience. gretschmann’s well documented love of the sampler shines throughout - tracks are textured and colored with different hues from his extensive sound palette, whether it’s a part of his more psychedelic moments, or concentrated on his innate knowledge of dancefloor dynamics. as such bld sits together as a complete piece of music - to be relished just as much by blissed out home listeners as the left-field dancers.

antimatter’s third release is a new project by f-on & bule, dedicated to slow drone techno with field recordings and other 4x4 experiments.

the second vinyl only release from this impeccable label presents textures of true deep house with vapour rise and the mysterious beings beyond comprehension, a spoken word dedication to the light from a leading authority in the sound healing field, a call for us to find the higher purpose, particularly relevant in these changing times and finally chant of antara (meaning within in sanskrit) a blissful ambient piece created by layers of throat singing and ethereal effects. vapour rises is beautiful, melancholy, meditative, deep house following on from the classics like fingers inc who created the genre so many moons ago. the celestial vocoder vocal version notes our searching for meaning, looking into little light boxes (our phones, computer screens and tvs)

dominique lawalree (b. 1954) is a composer born and based in brussels. first meeting is lawalree s first archival release to date. culled from four different albums originally self-published on his private label editions walrus, circa 1978-1982, this compilation highlights the composer s unique sense of ambient and minimal composition. originally considered for release on brian eno s obscure records, lawalree s music is now no longer hidden. in this collection the listener finds the sounds of piano, synthesizers, percussion, wurlitzer, organ, and voice, all performed by lawalree. using these tools dominique creates miniature themes that gallop across the speakers in slow motion, stretching our normal sense of dynamics and color, effortlessly widening the stereo plane. on musique satieerique dominique pays homage to the influence of satie with simple repeated piano figures and a lush field of organs and flutes. and on other selections, like -le maison des 5 elements,- he takes a more wistful, ambient approach, layering keyboard lines, and invoking found/tape sounds to create a hypnogogic world of his own. childlike in its playfulness and surreal to the bone, the music spins like a carrousel placed inside the rothko chapel. lawalree s sense of timbre, tone, and overarching composition is like an impression of a home movie whose charm lies in its knowledge of intimacy, shared by few? an incantation of innocence. a quiet, understated music that is both touching and elegant gavin bryars

apparel music return with the introduction of a brand new sub label - apparel tronic. the intention for this new division of sound is to shift focus towards uk-rooted beats, nu-jazz, downtempo and jungle - a collection of styles the label like to term bliss-beat. this treasured and futile basis of influence gives rise to giuseppe dalessandro a.k.a kisk and ludovico schilling schillings new project which they inaugurate with the hella lp from schilling himself: a collection ukindebted dance tracks that meld influences from jungle, breaks and hip hop. originally born in milan - schilling relies on a process he likes to describe as contamination of sound which entails the layering of field recordings and the sounds of his home environment with those of synths, real instruments and samples. this approach brands a clear stamp on his productions and enables him to create a truly singular strand of dance music and its this that glues together the 9 disparate tracks of hella. moving from the cascading breaks of the lps introduction anarcoide to the woozy and textural black lighter - the album begins to build a spectral mood as it progresses. tracks such as flesh is weak and madting draw influence from the golden-era of bristols trip-hop while tracks such as snooker club and viejos delve into more caliginous, idm territory. the result is a rich and varied collection that demonstrates apparel musics unwavering ability to continue to keep listeners guessing.

the fourth participant in the gost instrument series is ivan erofeev hailing from siberia’s omsk. ivan was producing and releasing music as aleph for the last five years and this is the first ever record issued under his birth name. the author’s distinctive, monotonus yet liquid sound emerges in these two tracks - deep “h island” and polyrhythmic “sahiba”. framed with field recordings made by the man himself, this two-tracker is a hypnotic and atmospheric journey into ivan’s very own creative universe.

the second ep of collision is the work of combined forces from niereich and hackler & kuch. expect very low banging basslines and groovy tops. solid tracks for winter club nights.

new label funky fungi preps its debut release for this march, featuring two original tracks from label boss georg stuby and his production trio the gravy underground. hailing from zurich switzerland, georg stuby is a longstanding house and techno dj, producer and teacher. his new creation, funky fungi is a vinyl based record label working as an outlet for georg and his friends to release their music. aside from the solo release, this ep also features the gravy underground, a collaborative project with georg’s friends christopher lawrenz & jonas, who already remixed one of georg’s tracks on his last formresonance ep. the opening track ‘metro bass’ has a dusty analog feel and delves into the depths with shuffling percussion and reverberated effects which spiral out of control, all saturated in white noise giving off the spatial aesthetic associated with an echo chamber. next up, the gravy underground production trio create a mystical journey in ‘keep it gravy’, as minimal kicks chug alongside off kilter hats and twisted vocal snippets that are delicately layered with field recordings.

fresh from perth s most prolific percussion den, we re proud to introduce gcr006: the keenly-awaited debut lp from local rhythm magician phil stroud. presented in an absorbing listening arc and captured with crystal clarity, this self-titled slow burner is an artful and meditative journey, filled out with straight up danceable joy. in just over an hour, stroud leads a pilgrimage through intricate landscapes of percussive beauty. there s the restrained, hypnotic approach of ritual and tribe in amongst organic house workouts with rich orchestrations. nimble vocal motifs and shimmering flutes ride the hefty grooves of the birds, scintillating and outside as field recordings surprise and delight. fix a glass of punch in time for the smooth, melodic neo-exotica of flow. and as the physical plane fades away, lose yourself in the shimmering ambience of middle east, a mellow final act recalling the more mystic moods of alice coltrane.

ltd 2017 repress , utopia records is the anticipated new label project by alexander bradley in collaboration with soho record store phonica, set to unearth a diverse range of music, from official re-releases and remastering of obscurities to contemporary and cutting edge club and home listening music.touching on jazz, techno, house, ambient, disco and boogie through to left-field cosmic, balearic soul and rock. the first release comes in the form of an essential ambient japanese house track by legendary producers manabu nagayama and soichi terada. this highly sought after version of low tension originally released on the la ronde ep on bpm records japan in 1991, has been remastered for single release for the first time.

the reveries begin with a simple electrical hum – a starting signal for the appearance of a vibrant array of sound, shifting before us in seemingly random motion. before we know it, all those pulsating melodies, razor-cut hifi-house beats and drunken robot jazz ensembles start forming into patterns, secretly & perfectly designed by one art alfie. a long time operator in stockholm’s small but insistent underground music scene, oscar wedrén broke through internationally in 2012 with the karlovak project, founded with on-off studio and dj partner rudolf nordström, a.k.a. mr. tophat. the duo’s inexplicably fresh takes on classic dance music tropes is as much a result of a brilliantly odd pairing of personalities as of a defined concept and a precise method in searching for the perfect house groove. while writing reveries of, released early spring 2017 through studio barnhus, art alfie freed himself of all conceptual footholds, delving instead deep into his archives of old and new memories and feels, working with improptu field recordings and emotionally-guided sampling processes. he came back with an intricate and personal debut album and he didn’t lose his groove on the way.

always keep moving, never stand still a motto that dapayk & padberg have been following consistently for more than ten years in every respect. for nearly three decades sought-after musician, producer and machine enthusiast niklas worgt has researched diverse club sound effects with countless projects, while singer eva padberg is an internationally renowned high fashion model. since 2003 they have been traveling and performing together as dapayk & padberg. they are passionate sound nomads who capture acoustic impressions of their exciting journey. each album is a sound logbook, which captures memories in the form of beats, tunes and skits. on sink this ship, released a few months ago, the berlin-based duo provided a first glimpse of what you can expect from dapayk & padberg in 2017, with their new album harbour. a harbour, where both stop off for the moment, because their next trip is already planned: after the release of harbour, dapayk & padberg tour europe and row.

we continue the orb’s sin in space remix ep series with a third volume focussing on the duo’s latest full-length, the highly acclaimed cow / chill out, world! (kompakt 354 cd 134). the spontaneous, organic vibe and sample artistry of the album is reflected in three distinct reworks from highly respected kompakt mainstays the field, dave dk and jÖrg burger - all of them informed with surprising twists and displaying a clear lineage to the source material. the field’s remix of 9 elms over river eno takes the original s percussive part and unfolds it to a swirling, tropical epic that alludes as much to the orb s multifaceted sound collages as it does to the hypnotic, looping flow of the field s own output. meanwhile, dave dk turns in a club-friendly revamp of 4am exhale with the fittingly titled accellerator mix, indulging in exquisitely lyrical glitches and the magic of the straight bassdrum. jÖrg burger takes a shot at the beatless 5th dimensions with the excellent dschungeloper mix - its loose pop jam feeling and flirty shuffle rhythm recall burger’s lush lounge core efforts under his triola monicker.

the great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald has gone down in history as a timeless classic and is still enjoyed by readers and forced on students the world over. fitzgerald s greatest literary masterpiece was hidden not amongst his writings, but his record collection. having spent his entire life mastering writing, he was finally able to convey his indescribable experiences with long island sound by painstakingly carving the entire sonic experience into vinyl with a sharpened quill. having been now restored and reproduced, kyoku records are inordinately thrilled to present to you this miraculous work as kyoku003 - long island sound - last place you look ep.

dutch live-act and dj duo artefakt release their atmospheric debut album on renowned techno imprint delsin. known separately as robin koek and nick lapien, the pair first appeared on field records before follow up releases on prologue, delsin and konstrukt. kinship portrays a compelling narrative in a body of work that will undoubtedly keep listeners engaged from start to finish.

hotflush welcome lara wehbie aka blursome to the ranks with her debut ep “rendition of you”. raised in north carolina and currently residing in brooklyn, wehbie has come a long way since beginning to work on music in 2011 as a way of channeling her diagnosed depression and anxiety. she describes her work as a transitional darkness, something she says defined her sound even before she could manage the software she uses to make it. in her own words, “rendition of you ep signifies major transitions in my life over the past year and how my environment truly played a role in handling situations. it s a testament to how much happier i am now than i used to be. i still struggle but i m truly thankful for the influences i have around me that have made me a better individual and artist.” along the way she has attended the red bull music academy bass camp in 2015, and after an appearance on scuba s 2016 fabric mix, she debuts on the label with an experimental six track ep. side a of -rendition of you- introduces listeners to her experimental use of vocals and heavy percussive influences from the left field genre. side b dives straight into dance floor material with pounding kicks and and interjecting vocals, but then slowly winds down into a more melancholic ending with piercing synths rattling through to the last drop.

hand crafted from field recordings, junk percussion and charity shop keyboards, top002 sees scissorwork on wax for the first time. with an uncompromising diy approach to building tracks and attention to detail, he has distinguished himself from the crowd and gained real momentum since tracks started to appear online in early 2016.

editions mego is proud to present the latest opus from legendary british composer, actor, sound designer and all round fine human simon fisher turner. giraffe is a new major work which blurs the lines between sound design and song, machine severity and narrative sentimentality. subtitled living in sounds and music giraffe take the listener through a vast journey where an abstract clacking of unknown origin rubs up against a melancholic electronic sequence. life sounds were captured with a portable hard disc recorder and i-phone and appear alongside contemporar sound design. emma smith provides the narrative on slight smile whilst electronic machines grind amongst background industrial klang in mud larks .save as revolves around a beautiful simple piano motif which soon folds into an unnerving field recording and drone combination.

oakland-based dj/producer (100% silk / as you like it) teams up with fellow bay area fixtures cm-4 & jason kendig (honey soundsystem) for an ep of banging melodic tracks straddling the line between house & techno + a touch of acid.

an epoch is defined as an extended period of time typically characterized by a distinctive development or by a memorable series of events, and scott hansen, leader of the band tycho, has named their new album epoch with that in mind. the last installment in a trilogy, epoch is the culmination of more than a decade’s work that has seen the band evolving and maturing through two sublime releases dive (2011) and awake (2014), and developing from featuring hansen as a delicate solo performer into the iconic frontman of a powerful multi-layered live band performing on the world’s largest stages.
the vinyl release includes a download code.

made of concrete founders andreas pionty & fumee grise celebrate the label’s second anniversary with a special release, that aligns their soundscape to palpable, material coordinates in a near- synesthetic output. joining forces as rebar, a moniker nodding to the label’s name itself, their debut ep consists of two original tracks and two remixes centered around geo-relevant, field recorded elements.

transitional state join the pacific command roster with a bumper five-track ep of lucid, woozy techno that segues between blown-out 909 romps and deep, percussive 808 workouts. one for the m25 field ravers back in ’93.

in the summer of 2016 hove went to france for two weeks to start writing and recording his new ep portes du soleil. together with his girlfriend they spent two weeks at le pascalet, a house in the woods of the cevennes, right outside the small village of st. etienne vallee franc&#807,,,aise. equipped with a sampler, a drum-machine,some synths, effect pedals and a mic for feld- recordings, he built the foundation of the 4 songs that would later become the ep portes du soleil. all the songs started out as live-jams. the goal was to create different moods and patterns inspired by the surroundings of the forest, long walks, playing petanque and plenty of pastis. the tracks were later fnalized back home at hoves studio in zurich. musically portes du soleil feels like the natural follow up to his debut ep journey to arendal. hoves tracks are wavering between sozzled grooves and warm, woozy atmospheres. field- recordings from their daily routine in and around the house were either used to enrich the ambiance, or as in calme infni, they were transformed into a whole song. even though portes du soleil was written during the summer, the record is not bound to any season it is simply an excerpt of hoves life in 2016.

informa records comes with its 9th release “unconscious perception ep” this time a collaboration from deepbass (informa, soma) & ness (the gods planet, eartoground). the release contains two original tracks from the duo and an awesome remix from artefakt (delsin, field)

originally released on the netlabel black queen. the croatian artist robert pain shows with this four-track ep a dark and beautiful journey full of percussions and pads, creating mystical atmospheres and allowing us to enter into a field of ritual sounds.

amazing spaced out techno tunes by the mysterious ruhbarb. not new to the game but a new alias. outstanding coverprint, shrinked and dj friendly 140g pressing. mastering and cut by cgb at dubplates and mastering.

for his latest release, dirt crew and quintessentials favorite ponty mython has linked up with washington, dc-based imprint better listen for a five track package of globally inspired groovers. the house for sale ep maintains the sample-based production aesthetic of better listen s debut record, and draws heavily from rare african funk and disco sources. the vilnius-based producer s trademark eclecticism is injected throughout the record, with the a-side leaning more towards wonky, left-field house cuts and the flip hosting more disco-like arrangements. dj support sleazy beats recordings mike w. (kolour ltd) thatmanmonkz aaron dae (razor-n-tape) admin rabo & snob the last trip to gandahar sol power all-stars napoleon folamour secret reels peter croce (rock steady disco)

mcdonalds long-standing relationship with firecracker boss lindsay todd – dating back a decade to their joint residency in edinburgh has seen lord of the isles records appear on both unthank and shevchenko, whilst he also contributed to the scotch and field recording shenanigans of last years mac-talla nan creag album. now, mcdonald will now graduate to the main firecracker label for a full lord of the isles debut due in december under the name parabolas of neon. taking shape as a six-track 12inch, the record features glacial techno and downtempo, cinematic melancholia, a fitting tribute to peaks conquered, whisky-drenched travelogues, warehouse parties, long drives and fried afters.

following his debut solo release altar ego ep on la mission in early 2016, j choirboy returns with more bombastic breakbeats and raucous rave chords for your earholes. another sharp shot of nostalgia to the heart to have you waking up spluttering in the glory days of 92. simpler times when the internet was still in black-and-white and you and seven of your mates would pile into gazs vauxhall corsa and drive to a field somewhere off the m25 for a propa wicked rave which you found out about from a party hotline on a crumpled flyer with some tenuous reference to science in the title.

the original track is an industrial and distortion experimental project of the owner label federico amoroso which contain a really metallic and dark sound. positive centre his remix it s a dark walk into industrial noise and distortion audio bites, with ambiental moment and powerfull distroy counter. the first track of b side it s remixed by italian producer plukkk which heavy dominating with relentless attitude and distortion driving kick - drum, with big impact for the dancefloor. the last remix is an collaboration with the japanese producer yuuki sakai which has an original idea to add a lyrical singer in the middle of distortion broken techno beat. the new label started well: arriving the big names of the genre and industrial noise skarn division label founder federico amoroso, a new label that will touch many different genres and musical nuances: techno, industrial, noise, drone, ambient and experimental, a melting pot of sounds joined together by a passion for harsh corners and futuristic electronics. artists who remix the first disc of the founder federico amoroso are positive centre (who played several times in places like berghain and tresor), plukkk and yuuki sakai: every producer knows that long in the field of industrial techno and noise music (just look, to name one, the presence of the same positive centre to the latest editions of the berlin atonal festival, or even yuuki sakai: remixed by oscar mulero .. and so on!)

the vinyl only label comes from ant plate (of rhythm plate notoriety), and following some turns from ant himself as yse saint laur ant the label branches out to welcome brand new entity (or quite possibly alias) bubbadog to the playing field. the quality of the music eschews any notions of who did what, as the tumbling latin tones of -alma- meet with the laid-back, handclap-heavy bliss of -threshold-. -boodoo- on the flip deals in a more peppy kind of offbeat house, and then -talkin talkin - and -harry- drop down into a classic bit of funk breaks business.

mannheim duo ho do ri s lost in betty s ford is an exercise in restraint with the ep delving into the deeper realms of house music. elotrans kick things off with its shuffling percussion lending the track more of a jacking vibe. high level boost ups the energy whilst still retaining a distinctly left field vibe whilst k for the models delves into murkier realms in a superbly wonky way. back problems rounds things off with a sub-aquatic ride reminiscent of baby ford at his most coherent.

2016 repress
2011 is set to be a huge year for yousef, and arguably his strongest yet in the production field. after spending much of 2010 recording remixes and productions for other leading labels yousef has come back super-strong on his own seminal circus recordings proven here if needed by his latest vinyl production. it is centered on a very simple premise. taking 2 pieces of music and recreating them with yousefs indiscernibly brilliant club night in mind. a resolutely dance floor-focused ep, that combine to create a unique aural tapestry representative of the circus and yousefs own musical evolution. each is an intricate and heartfelt paean of love to circus and the huge impact it has had on both clubland and yousefs career for the last almost nine years, with the clubs birthday approaching this september. yousef says that, >the ep is a special project for me and one that is indicative of the way im progressing. getting to re-shape these tracks from some of my most respected peers has been a great opportunity to craft them with that special circus sound<

lighthearted and aqua-marine house grooves from canadian producer jayda g with a fun 12 inch comprised of two originals and two reworkings of the track + girl music + from montreal duo cafe lanai. created during the spring/summertime of 2016, sixth spirit is infused with a sense of warmth and carefreeness based on current experiences, looped back into nostalgias of her first field season as a young scientist in ontario. the canadian forests breathe through these songs. the movement and groove emulate the sense of curiosity and learning that she experienced during that earlier time. “that field season was an adventure i’ll never forget.”

after spending the past three years cutting acclaimed records for such esteemed imprints as innervisions, hotflush, and acid test, recondite has rejoined the ghostly international fold with an ep that builds on the robust field recordings and pale, moonlit melodies of the berlin producer’s breakthrough lp “hinterland”.

thule records camp is hitting it hard these days. this time its a collaboration between two pioneers within the icelandic techno scene. on the a-side, we have static, a hypnotic groove with indistinguishable voices and shimmering dub chords, and Útkall, minimalistic dub techno mantra. on the flipside we have the heavily-rhythmic sedna, where the drums and bass compliment each other in such a way that it might cause involuntary muscle movements, and at last timelaps, a delicate minimalistic voyage. ohm is best known for his releases on force inc with exos. octal industries, a veteran who has already gained a respectable reputation within the idm community under his ruxpin pseudonym, returns to his origins with this collaboration. thule records is considered by many to be a pioneer in the field of dub-influenced techno music and was a starting point for many of iceland‘s most renowned electronic musicians.

the europe-centered techno scene might be thinking: where is techno in a city as vast, dynamic and electric as new york? it’s alive and well, and keeps growing through aptly-named new york trax. founded in 2016 and based in brooklyn, new york trax is an outlet for new york music, by new york artists, in new york city. new york trax 02 was written by boris brenecki (ontal, impulse controls), who has recently relocated to new york, starting a new chapter in his life and artistic career. this record is the very first material he produced in new york, heavily inspired by the city and its people. ‘the oven’, with its continuous filthy groove intensified by metallic percussions, is a serious candidate for an instant classic and a deadly weapon when used on a dancefloor. the grittiness of “the oven” was depicted through images of the less beaten paths of new york in a well-received official video published recently by the label. dark yet insanely dynamic “transit system”, based on field recordings of the new york city subway, opens with a bang the b side of the record, followed by “strictly hardcore”, a sonic manifesto of brutality. get it while it’s hot!

black merlin has gone on to release on a number of labels from around the globe including world unknown, crimes of the future, ln-cc, new jersey, common thread, island of the gods and sorn. more recently black merlin has debuted his first solo album on indonesian label island of the gods which came about when george was asked to travel over to indonesia to record traditional gamelan music and put together an album of his time over there from the field recordings hed gathered which is now complete. black merlin makes his debut on omnidisc records, with a two tracker of hard hitting distortion. (single run of 300 units)

140 gram white vinyl lp limited to 100 copies
building a formidable reputation as an artist with a diverse set of approaches in the field of electronic music, ukranian producer cape cod delivers his debut album on kiev house in a fine display of musicianship. from the opening track -among the stars- (which features constantine on vocal) it s clear that this will be more than a straight up collection of dancefloor tracks. there are indeed some upbeat house tracks to be enjoyed, not least on the razor sharp garage bumper -we don t have to-, but there s also equal space given over to more introspective jams such as -put u down-.

sascha borchardt aka monoloc is a dystopic atmospheres fanatic that has dedicated his life to the dance floor from an early age. the frankfurt-born artist’s raw yet sleek take on techno and ambient has evolved to characterise his own musical style in his productions. monoloc’s sound is a mixture between techno, dub and ambient, nurturing a tone that is driving, groovy and low-slung, but with greater emotional range. he acquires most of his inspiration from old movies and likes to work mostly with field recordings in his productions. ‘the untold way’ on dystopian is his second album, following his first in 2012, and shows a notably matured development in the artist’s style.

apollo introduce sieren, aka matthias frick. a software engineer at ableton by day, sierens love for uk influenced bass music and field recording and experimental soundscaping has resulted in this masterly ep of atmospheric street-rave soul. this is his first release since his debut lp transients of light, released earlier this year on christian lofflers ki records. fittingly, fellow apollo cohort synkro was instrumental in the curation of the static polymorphism ep hand picking the tracks, as well as road testing them to memorable effect on berghains hallowed system no less.neglection opens the release, with billowing widescreen pads, a ghostly 2-step drum figure and pulsing subs,rebase ratchets up the intensity, with sinister bass drones punctuated by strafing perc and hissing ambiance while relicts angelic yet melancholic atmosphere pulls the listener in with heart-aching synth washes and whispered female vocals. closer how to pairs mechanistic slo-mo funk with caustic 808 kicks, muttered vox and juddering bass stabs. this is richly textured and intricately programmed post-bass music that is sure to satisfy fans of burial, dbridge, akkord with its soulful sincerity and warmth.

after a few years spent in quiet reflection during his introduction to the wonders of fatherhood, in relationen emerges as both a refined and mature comeback, as well as a distinct new beginning for the long-time berlin producer. the pensive character, delicate emotional undertones, and careful lines drawn with precise tension across restrained arrangements may sound familiar to fans of his earlier work, but there is now a greater sense of calm, an openness that rewards listeners both on and off the dance-floor. as contemplative as it may be, in relationen still rocks, particularly on the title track, where a frontal psychedelic guitar line gently weeps across a haunting, hypnotic field of rhythm. the krautrock influence runs deep, not in a superficial way but in the depths of the music: atop the rolling, pastoral grooves, the vibe of a bright german mind reorganizing itself to a new framework, re-aligning to a fresh phase of life, finding deeper communion with the world through the discovered balance of inner peace