the mythical liquid pegasus returns - this time on clandestine boogie, firmly setting out his stall as one of the best around when it comes to modern synth boogie. ‘makin it hot opens up proceedings, synth stabs and squelchy basslines a plenty, married with layers of intricate melodies and a vocoder transported straight from the 80 s. matt hughes takes on remix duties converting that squelchy bass synth into a more straight up funk bass guitar, adding shuffling high hats and weaving in a little jazz flute for added effect. on the flip side it s prime low rider cruising courtesy of sparkle combining a full-bodied bass, cosmic pads and woozy synth flurries to create a soundtrack perfect for late night coasting. to close out the e.p. dave allison adds his own sparkle to the track, upping the tempo, adding a range of hazy arps and sweeping synthesis alongside a perfectly executed bass breakdown, taking sparkle from midnight cruiser to boogie bomb.

for their 5th release the london label born of the clubnight of the same name make a b-line straight for the dancefloor. the title track of desert sound colony s latest ep is equal parts anthemic vocals, stabbing guitar lines and a motorik backbone which combining for a hefty slice of post-punk inspired dancefloor churn. two b-sides take the themes found in lose my rhythm and head down the rabbit hole to drown you with a flurry of breaks led rhythms on suffocation and put you to rest with the pitch black basslines of the blacksmith. on the remix front local hero scott fraser delivers an acid drenched expansion of the title track.

a native of the caribbean coast of colombia, abelardo carbono achieved legendary status in his country’s storied ranks of musical icons by combining the homegrown sounds of cumbia with the chiming guitars of west african soukous, enormously popular with the local tropical sound systems, and drenching the whole thing in his off-kilter, surreal and slightly psychedelic sensibility.
with the exception of a well-received compilation of songs from his 1980s heyday, carbono has been rarely heard from outside the sweaty dancehalls he still commands in his hometown of barranquilla. now, names you can trust has welcomed the reclusive guitarist and singer back to the vinyl format with a simmering afro-carib beast of a cut, recorded with the assistance of will -quantic- holland on rhythm guitar and mario galeano frente cumbiero, ondatropica on keys and in conjunction with lucas silva of palenque records & polen records. it’s a true cross-generational and international collaboration that is uniquely possible via colombia. the first release of this expansive & power packed studio session is a cover of vallenato pioneer guillermo buitrago’s la piña madura. this updated take veers heavily towards africa on a rock solid foundation of bass and drums, with abelardo’s trademark guitar and quirky vocals leading the way.

joanne formans cave vaults of the moon created in 1987 for an exhibit of sculptures in taos, new mexico is a mesmerizing score for voice, ensoniq mirage, juno 106, flute, guitar and effects. the playful extra-terrestrial recording wafted through the exhibit every day for its duration and then lay dormant for nearly 30 years. unearthed now, cave vaults of the moon sounds prescient and timeless, as if pep llopis and iasos scored a wicker man remake set on mars. restored, remastered and cut using dmm.

tony clarke did his first recording in new york in 1971 at hugh hendricks recording studio called -righteous man- of which he played both bass and lead guitar. tony clarke decided to write the song “going home” to reference the roots of his music. in those days and even now good reggae music that was being recorded in the united states was not receiving the approbation from home because, in jamaica they felt that the best reggae music could only come from and be created in jamaica to substantiate the true feeling of the genre. so he decided to go back to jamaica and record “going home” at harry j studio with sylvan morris as engineer. he also recorded the cover version to “hey little girl” originally done by dee clark. for this 12 vinyl edition, the artwork was done with a vintage photo of tony clarke in front of his house at waterhouse and extended liner notes on the back cover.

2017 saw cesar merveille & ryan crosson deliver their second long player in the shape of cerulean, drawing on their modern classical, jazz, ambient and abstract influences to create yet another unique listen featuring collaborations with a classical pianist, trumpet, guitar and double bass players. here we see those original parts eschewed into something entirely fresh from friends and close associates of the duo. leading on the release is cadenza boss lucianos sous le sol interpretation of arp, which twists and turns through the hypnotic chimes and emotive piano chords of the original whilst stirring in luciens signature modulating and intricately evolving rhythmic style. following is a collaborative rework from new yorks phil moffa and seth troxler which employs ethereal synth drones and stuttering vocal cuts alongside a bumpy percussive drive and pulsating subs. perlons bruno pronsato steps up next to remix even tides, delivering his typically raw and emotive style via glitched out, mind-bending percussion, elongated bass drones and cleverly reshaped cuts of the originals cinematic elements. l.as clovis then closes the package with his remix of nordic bummers, employing shuffled hats, lumpy subs and crunchy claps at its core whilst horn swells and aiy atmospherics ebb and flow throughout.

osaka based producer 7fo. having previously released a cassette on rvng international, and a 7inch single on bokeh versions in 2017, this is the japanese producers debut full length vinyl release. the tracks, recorded between 2012 and 2017, have been tweaked, remastered and recorded to vinyl for the first time. the mysterious figure recorded the tracks at home, processing guitar sounds, using a sampler, synthesizer and junk equipment. following in the footsteps of the ambient giants of his native lands, 7fo’s music continues this illustrious heritage whilst offering something fresh, modern and beautifully rendered. he describes his own sound as gorgeous sustained tones and dreamlike oscillations that drift through the inorganic/electronic world reverberating through our subconscious creating sonic fables in our minds. the 12inch comes with artwork designed by label head & visual artist jack hardwicke. to accompany the release greek filmmaker george kountouras, who also collaborated on the artwork, has directed a gorgeous video for the title track moment

wolkenbett ep is brought to you by claude steiner and yannick sardi. together they form elektro baboushka, a music project born as a result of the duo s close friendship and joint discovery of electronic music. inspired by bands like yello, kraftwerk, and depeche mode, elektro baboushka developed their own style: a blend of ambient and downbeat spiced with jazz grooves and minimal. musically trained in guitar and piano, claude plays the guitar and builds loops while yannick accompanies him with vocals and keyboard. wolkenbett ep features two massive originals and an intricately deep remix by sleep is commercial s andrea ferlin.

born in cameroon, vicky began banging the drums at the age of 9. by 13 he had moved onto bass and within a couple of years he was playing every night from 10pm to 5am in the castel douala cabaret. at the age of 19 vicky moved to paris to study banking and commerce and cram in even more music. he took classes at Épinay-sur-seine conservatoire music school and it was here that he met bandmates of his dikalo project. word spreads and he soon becomes one of the most sought after bass players in the afro arena. his session work features on many scenes stars, manu dibango, eko tala am, kemayo, sammy massamba, toto guillaume and many more. a chance meeting with the gibson brothers also see him play on two of their hit albums. in the 80s vicky moved to the us for spell and excels as a session bassist and touring musician. we pick up the story in 1981. with his stature as a musician and bass player riding high he takes a detour to nigeria to record with the afrodisia label in lagos. the thank u mamma album is the result. it is repressed for the first time, here in 2018 on the revitalised afrodisia label. musical proceedings open up with the heartfelt ode to his mother thank u mamma, smooth pop meets afrobeat boogie. marina driv slows things down with its smoldering jazz. side two opens with its not serious a catchy vocal number underpinned with funky guitars and striding basslines. stormy rain is lazy guitar jazz swansong. we close off the album with the ever so funky you. slick funk grooves powered along with a dose of slap bass. as a side note vicky actually plays left handed but with a upside down right handed bass. this upside-down precursor making his effortless slap playing even more impressive. vicky went on to record a two other albums and still tours and plays as an ever-in-demand session musician.

since the release of their critically acclaimed debut album in 2013 on names you can trust, la mecánica popular has quietly been contemplating the evolution of the group s sound, philosophy, and overall approach to making music. band leader efraín rozas experimental nature has continually pushed the boundaries of his own definition of not only latin american music, but its broader relationship with music s global culture and history. the sound of -psychedelic salsa- that lmp helped capture in their debut was destined for further outside-the-box interpretations, and with the formation of a new quintet lineup over the last few years, lmp began to incorporate a more free, improvised and instrumental-focused performance of rozas increasingly radical compositions. the band subsequently took this liberated approach directly into the studio, recording roza cruz live, in its entirety. it was a cathartic experience, a necessary methodology for the new album s concept that embraced the intimate performance of its players and did away with standard techniques of isolation and overdubs. the evolution of the band s sound on roza cruz brings forth a blend of styles rarely heard together, a touch reminiscent of electric-era miles davis or eddie palmieri at his most experimental, as the driving force of timbales and congas provide a bed for a wave of lush, analog amplification that mirrors the dueling leads of fuzz guitar and electric piano. but as far out as those instruments take the listener, the raw rhythm the clave always keeps it tethered to the earth and the dance, a cerebral yet visceral gift for the mind and feet.

born in rio in 1940, helio won a guitar from his father at age 12.after working in sugar mills or as a sales clerk in record stores, he started performing at rio nightclubs (like plaza) and são paulo. in 1975 he signed to rca victor on which he released his first lp, -matheus segundo matheus- with arrangements by oberdan -black river- magalhães, zé rodrix and chiquinho de moraes with participation of azymuth as a support band withg a total of 128 musicians involved int he recording. unfortuanly this much deserved reissue didn t make it to press before helio passed last year, but we are most humble and proud to do it justice. one of my favourite brazilian lp s just to listen to.

fuzati (klub des loosers) producer and die-hard crate digger has teamed up with modulor to launch le très jazz club. label exclusively dedicated to vinyl reissue and jazz. for his third and fouth releases, le très jazz continues his journey through japanese jazz! with this reissue of “orang-utan” by legendary bassist and cello player isao suzuki, le tres jazz club offers a remarkable and highly sought-after free jazz album. the eponymous track is a sublime mix of free jazz and jazz fusion, leaded by sax player kenji mori and kazumi watanabe on guitar. essential!

45th anniversary vinyl reissue of sandy’s third solo lp (1973) hasn’t been pressed since 1986. considered by many to be her best solo release, it features musicians from her fairport days, including richard thompson on guitar, contains the track solo, one of very finest compositions and probably her best known after who knows where the time goes? fans would welcome the return of this album to the racks. mastered from the original tapes, pressed on clear 180 gram vinyl.

lp , with a unique, hand-scored obi strip and a4 insert ...a composition of treatments for adapted piano harp and electric guitar.

the next offering on crosstown rebels comes from italian trio pastaboys, who gift us with a rhythmic and hypnotic three-parter. they invite the inimitable rebolledo to take on remix duties to complete this package. the ep is a trance-inducing affair. the trio lure us in with opener kolo kolo. its funky rhythm sets a precedent as its trance-inducing power builds layer upon layer into an intoxicating and hypnotic groove. abbassa is up next. heavy on the bass, with a sensuality that is palpable. the african vocal adds a tribal touch before the track tumbles into a crescendo of urgent synths. rebolledos version of abbassa is a more cosmic affair, staying true to his psychedelic inclinations and with an added a bass guitar groove. pastaboys have been releasing music since the dawn of the new millenium. they’ve showcased their tasteful and highly refined productions on imprints such as 83 west and defected. releases such as born again, body resonance, limit, hozho, deep musique prove that their music is timeless and that dance music is still a matter of groove and soul.

lumberjacks in hell welcomes deep house vet andy compton and shamrock for a trip into plush disco, laid back funk and more besides. bunny chow was reportedly recorded in south africa, and features the vocal talents of asli on a number of the tracks. you can certainly hear the afro influence creeping into the simmering groove of the title track, while aslis vocals shine through the clearest on the downtempo tones of everything is gravy. nifanyeje is another warm trip through afro disco replete with noodling guitar lines and a crisp drum machine beat, while roga mziki ends the record on a high note with a final blast of that infectious, sunkissed sound the pair have clearly mastered on their musical adventure

emotional rescue begins the first in a series of reissues looking at the music of guitarist carl weingarten and his multiphase records label, starting at his highly sought after collaborate album with walter whitney, dreaming in colors. with an early interest in photography and super 8 film leading to a degree in cinema production, weingarten s other, self-taught, love was the slide guitar. taking its blues roots and merging them with his visual arts background created a unique painting in sound style of playing.

* there is a way* opens with a soiree of shuffling percussion, which drives it forward throughout. the tune holds its nerve and refuses to cash in, constantly bubbling and building as layer upon layer unfolds almost to breaking point. an exhilarating statement of intent. never looking back. side a comes to a close with * tricks*. it confidently boasts a heavy hitting kick drum, set to shake speakers and alter heartbeats. a relentlessly positive guitar sample and buoyant bassline set the mood of a lively cut, which builds to a pay-off that brims with shimmering brass and crisp hats. a sunshine filled stormer, sure to get even the most cynical city worker moving. drums, drums, drums. as * mistakes* begins we’re swept away by salary boy’s effortless command of groove, before a booming bassline snatches back at our attention. “everyone makes mistakes” is the refrain from the vocal sample. i’d usually agree but our hard hustling, hi-hat wielding hero hasn’t put a foot wrong so far. an evocative piano loop anchors ‘cry’, a tune made to define the early hours. equally adept at touching the heart, as it is at moving the feet. endings are important, and this is as strong as they come.

acupressurist and electronic composer sam mcclellan s music of the five elements is a work of perfectly tuned healing music. originally released in 1982. tip! . a deeply felt distillation minimalism (in the tony conrad / la monte young school), american primitive guitar (fahey & basho) and even psychedelia. the album is a continuous sound voyage for voice, synthesizer, guitar, bowed bass, piano, effects and ciao (chinese flute) all played by mcclellan himself. although divided into sections, the journey is best undertaken as a whole, without distraction

the finnish tropical troupe maajo is back with a two-track ep. in contrast to the afro-balearic sound of their 2016 debut tropic of tulli, the new defo / mansaba ep is a step in a deeper and sometimes darker direction. defo kicks off the ep with a driving 5/4 rhythm. reminiscent of mark ernestus’ ndagga sounds, it is a tribal tune with maajo’s signature ethereal disco elements. trevor deep jr.’s version straightens out the original’s unconventional time signature and focuses on a four-to-four beat and plenty of berliner dub. the remix is a solid dancefloor tool, traversing the original like a train making its way through a dark rainforest. the b-side is entirely covered by mansaba, a 14-minute long journey into inwards. this studio jam, recorded largely live, is a wild mixture of polyrhythmic sequences, krautrock guitar licks, equatorial forest percussion and violin synths. the trip starts slow and soothing, sneakily picks up pace and keeps grow and growing, eventually exploding into a full-on tribal dance.

cryovac recordings enters a new sensible era of home grown production focusing on strong statements of personal style. cryovac stresses a minimal approach to basic production with a simple soul to shape a tale of sound. the broke lighter e.p. is a versatile mix of characters that come together and combine their visions into one vista. this shared space of consciousness is translated to vinyl for your inspection. cryovac recordings continues to shine light on every corner of the detroit underground to expose a depth of talent that is overlooked. the 19th edition of the cryovac series is a moody stab at the heart of techno. it starts off with disc detroit s upliftingly melancholy 4/4 groover that transforms synth and turns percussion with a steady patience. dutch mike executes a smooth assault lead by a 303 harmony, backed by a heavy baseline and flanked by tricky programming that shifts cymbal formations. vontell c. and his son vontell f. sneak a dark vibe into the mix with a manic and excitable minimal ballad detuning and nodding out while detailing the burning of pretty things. andy garcia applies a minimalized motown sound via strumming guitar, vintage vocals, and easy beat that rises and falls creating a serene phonic envirorment. every track on the broke lighter is an opportunity to go in a new directio

following the success of last years kunta kinte 2017 riddim, brooklyn-based label and collective dub-stuy add a new installment to their popular dancehall inspired series with a fresh riddim from in-house producer dj madd, featuring international vocalists from jamaica, spain and bermuda. jitta riddim is a brand new production from dj madd, a sturdy yet spacious riddim carried forward by a lilting melody and guitar stabs that are anchored by slapping snares, dub flourishes and a rolling bassline. this is a weighty but energetic riddim with the dancefloor in mind. bringing the riddim to life are a trio of vocalists representing the roots and global expansion of dancehall and sound system music. spains sr. wilson delivers an anthem in the making with zapatillas, a song dedicated to all the sneaker heads worldwide who like to sport fresh kicks when they hit the dancefloor. singing in his native spanish and english, sr. wilson shares tales of daily shoe addiction around a catchy refrain that name checks the best known brands. his blend of reggaeton-flavoured autotune and kicks geek outs is sure to resound loudly around clubs worldwide. backing him is jamaican veteran deejay cutty ranks, a man whos been lending his distinct flow to productions for over 30 years. on double trouble cutty speaks to the daily realities of life on the streets and the ills keeping people down, warning of the trouble that awaits those in charge. wrapping up the release is bermudas troy berkley who aims his vocal rifle straight to the orange-skinned resident of the white house, spitting rapid fire lyrics about the deteriorating state of things in 2018 america. lace up your sneakers and get ready to move and chant with dub-stuy’s new riddim.

after the original comes the remix. or in this case three. i:cube, chinaski and aera help you refresh your memory and re-draw drawn from memory from benjamin fröhlichs second part of the rude movements series. its one single track, but every remixer has taken his very own approach and came up with a new interpretation. the iconic french producer and permanent vacation long time favourite, i:cube, transformed the original into a soul warming and heart melting late night bomb that lets the sun appear even in the darkest places. chinaski out of frankfurt, well known from his releases on live at robert johnson and uncanny valley, fuses italo disco with a john carpenter-style soundtrack aesthetic and an infectious bassline completed by a full on guitar solo in the break. aera, fresh from releasing his album on permanent vacation, is slowing down the tempo, rearranging the layers of the original and adding a bubbly and underwater atmosphere that let the dub stabs shine. three different versions that may represent different memories of one long night.

a virtuoso, known for boundary-pushing production (often fusing traditional hip-hop drum programming with sampling and live music) and thoughtful lyrics, black milk is respected across the industry for his unique sound, consistency and innovation. returning to the scene amidst a turbulent political climate, the detroit-born rapper/producer announces fever, his upcoming studio album. black milk s sixth solo rap album, and his first since 2014 s if there s a hell below, fever combines pointed and topical lyrics and brilliant musicianship, including percussion from all-star musicians chris “daddy” dave (d angelo, adele, justin bieber) and daru jones (jack white), bass by long-time collaborator malik hunter and keys and guitar from newcomers ian fink and sasha kashperko, respectively. black milk evolves his production style of fusing electronic, soul, rock and other soundscapes with electronic programming and live music, a method he began experimenting with on his 2010 release album of the year. a cohesive 12-track project, listening to fever evokes the feeling of scrolling through an endless news feed, finding black milk reporting and commenting on the world s problems with empathy, clarity, and wit. additional vocals from dwele, aaron -ab- abernathy, and sudie (a producer / vocalist signed to black milk’s computer ugly label) serve to juxtapose black’s heavy lyrical content with airy vibes. pressing on red & black coloured vinyl, comes with poster and sticker included.

180 gramm doppel-vinyl im klappcover.

“courtrai moderne: definite definitivos” is the very first full vinyl release of kortrijk’s own punk heroes: an anthology of their best songs. it was sheer enthousiasm when punk-craze hit kortrijk in the late seventies. frank holvoet didn’t really know how to handle a guitar but that didn’t really matter: he gathered drummer rik masselis (see also the p.i.g.z.), peter coppens and local wild boy lucien callewaert: definitivos were portuguese cigarettes and also the name of the band.

45 year anniversary of william devaughn s smooth soul classic remastered and reissued on exclusive white vinyl. diamond in the back / sunroof top / digging the scene with the gangster lean does it get any smoother than that? stick this record on and get lost in that effortless bassline, sensual guitar licks, coupled with devaughn s silky vocals and you ll be right there kicking back in the cadillac. oft sampled by the likes of nwa and de la soul and covered multiple times, most notably on massive attacks debut album. on the b side you re treated to blood is thicker than water, devaughn s first single giving a taste of the masterfully stylish soul he was to carry throughout his career.

this is the first time this ground-breaking release has been available on 12inch for four decades. that instantly recognizable bassline, the cosmic guitar and then that vocal / flute combo expansions is one of those glorious jazz funk records that really does expand your mind.

sb editz returns! jad & the open up proceedings with a dubbed out balearic boogie bomb, with tender games taking the a2 intertwining infectious guitar licks and synth lines into a supercharged groover. on the b side swales incorporates a funked out bass and plucked riffs over the top of some sizzling percussion. finally label founders slothboogie close out the ep laying a tasty 303 line & weighty kick over floaty pads and a choice vocal snippet. 4 cuts, 4 artists, 4 winners!

really swing goes wider with a new 12- series, head honcho quiroga delivers three track dedicated to magician and eminence of misdirection dariel fitzkee and italian master composer alessandro alessandroni.

cup and balls the title track is an elegant disco cut blending latin bass, guitar and percussion, creating an emotional texture in its rhythm and serenity that became an astonishing future jazz tune with a leading bassline.

on the flip side ciao fischio an homage to maestro alessandroni drowning lush rhodes melodies over funky breaks and intricate bassline, while citta di mare is voyage through eighties atmosphere that became a soulful and sensous tune full of heavenly piano licks and warmth synth leads.

four italo disco cuts produced by the powerhouse of svengile aka luigi venegoni. original copies of stratosferic band on it s 40th anniversary are changing hands for £125 and no wonder why. splashdown encapsulates perfectly the weird and wonderful imagination of italo productions sci-fi synthwork that ventures beyond this dimension. the ben norman track on the b1 has a more straight up disco feel to it but those vocals maintain an ethereal italo aura. completing this special 4 tracker is the obscure t.c. radiation that talk box guitar solo will melt any minds it s put in front of!

still steamin from his turner street sound collaboration, midnight tenderness serves up a dreamy first solo offering with a fire-cracker of a four-tracker for sydneys ken oath records. the opener refresco is a bleary eyed house number with gently propulsive 707 cowbells and shaker rhythms over smooth pads & an infectiously jazzy bassline. the four to the floor mould is quickly broken as the ep progresses - terme is a midtempo electro track that retains all of the dreaminess of refresco while punching in some swish drum programming. flipping the record over, bevanda is a sweaty miasma of sub-bass, fm flutes and birdlike synth leads that could soundtrack an imaginary club located in the middle of queenslands tropical rainforests. the eps closer, hydra, pushes the tempo way down and introduces some smooth guitar licks, courtesy of riffin rory as well as some lithe flute play. the end result is a sleazy new jack swing jam that works as well for warm-up as it does for cooling down. if youre tired of buying boring club 12inches, look no further! this one will be as comfortable coming through your home stereo as it will be in the club

the soundtrack as heard in the 2-part documentary, featuring 18 definitive hits, powerful performances and rare alternate versions. comes as double vinyl in gatefold with download code included.

berlins own steffen linck, a multi-instrumentalist known as monolink, announces his debut album amniotic, due april 20th via embassy of music subsidy embassy one. it is the experiential nature of monolink’s music that defies the muddy definition of modern live electronic music. armed with a singular blend of berlin underground culture with the pop-leaning sensibility of american electronica, steffen transports listeners into his own realm of sonic exploration. the music is pillared by emotive guitar tones, analog synth stabs and, for the first time, his own vocals acting as a singular point of departure for this budding talent. amniotic stands as monolinks first complete body of work, following his 2017 ep burning sun via sol selectas, and the end, a collaborative record with acid pauli in 2015.

‘pat thomas introduces marijata’ is a seminal ghanian album that fuses highlife, reggae, folk, funk and soul, from legendary vocalist pat thomas. originally released in 1976 on gapophone records. ‘marijata’ was a group made up of three members – kofi ‘electric’ addison on drums, bob fischlan on organ and nat osmanu on guitar, hailing from ghana. pat thomas career began in 1969 with the ‘broadway dance band’, leaving a year later to join the ‘uhuru dance band’. he then played with ebo taylor’s ‘blue monks’ and finally formed the ‘sweet beans’ in 1973 where he really made his name. the group released ‘false lover’ in 1974, split and then reformed as marijata, releasing ‘marijata’ (also available on mr bongo) and this album, ‘pat thomas introduces marijata’. thomas career spans more than 50 years and he still tours regularly across the world. replica original artwork, official mr bongo reissue. licensed from gapophone records courtesy of george prah.

here appear is an invocation, a salutation, and a celebration — of past and perfect lives, forgotten and remembered, exchanged and borrowed. eve essex’s solo debut is a multi-instrumental fea(s)t combining synthesizer, drum machine, alto saxophone, piccolo, electric organ/harpsichord, harmonica, slide whistle, bells, guitar pedals, and voice— composed, arranged, and performed by essex herself. what began as an improv set at berlin’s harlekin bar, developed over the past two years into a complete body of work evoking multiple time periods, genres, characters, and sonic landscapes.

washington based better listen records drop their first va ep. housing four disco influenced dancefloor workouts bringing a slice of sunshine to our shores. folamour kicks things off with an uptempo disco stomper, complete with driving bass, infectious string hooks and energetic piano stabs. the a2 sees ethyene slows things down combining choice vocal snippets, shuffling rhythms and sleezy synthwork to create a sunset groove ready made for the summer. on the flip ari bald draws on all the elements from a classic disco anthem, with brass stabs, slap bass and an uplifting guitar riff driving things forward, before dorsi plantar closes things out with a blissful boogie simmerdown perfect for any sunrise set.

theus mago comes from mexico city, his light is a harness of levitation escalating beyond the galactic thin air. stars collid-ing, feeding off the dust of unknown ashes risen from the earth and sand in resolve. doog offers eerie and optimistic vocals to the disconcerting yet comfortably soothing waves of theus magos ella and smokey red lights. the french duo il est villaine journey ella to the obscure and swung out dimensions, while arthur johnson brings his guitar and synth-laden attitude from the shadows to the brightest dance floor on his mix. dreams can be so weird sometimes.

for clandestino s fifth offering berlin s italiano in residence jose manuel drops his unique strain of exotic club music once again exploring deep, ritualistic and tribal influences to great dramatic effect. human behaviour is a woozy nine minute opus. rich in atmospherics, chanting and ethnic flutes. clandestino s remix refines the track for the dance-floor, retaining the atmosphere and injecting a driving 303 line and jamming afro keys. upping the tempo on bangalore a great ethnic guitar hook drives along the groove while disorienting chants and tribal percussion flutter underneath. mushrooms project turn out an essential blissful sundown version by extending out the pads and adding gentle warm keys dj support: tim sweeney, tensnake, chris coco, phil mison, severino horse meat disco, bawrut, forriner, in flagranti, sean johnston, phil cooper, tronik youth, marvin & guy, jdh (fixed / good room nyc), andy (soft rocks), justin strauss, chris (soft rocks), danielle moore/crazy p, ooft!, ian blevins, alvaro cabana / rotten city, peaking lights, eddie c, reza athar

on “5 star motel”, that younger gitkin (henceforth referred to simply as gitkin) has sought to expand the philosophy he encountered on that tape. the guitar is common thread, the raft to navigate a sun-dappled stream of ideas. it’s an embrace of cultures where folkloric stringed instruments still rule, or where they ve led to a more recent embrace of the electric guitar. he traces the loose, meandering paths which join them together.

organic analogue broadens its remit on this killer boogie inflected diversion from italian producer croza. where the label has been often associated with deeper techno and electro, it sounds right at home exploring the moog bass licks and snappy drum programming that pours like a fine wine out of every track. night heat is the perfect lead track, all steamy synth throb and funky guitar licks, while feel turns up the pressure with a proto house burner that would have set the paradise garage alight. also look out for a rare appearance from ad bourke, who cruises on to the record to deliver a blissed out version of night heat for the smokiest of sundown situations.

junction - a six track ep produced entirely by samrai & platt - features vocalists from jamaica, ireland & the uk and rounds off an excellent 12 months for the label & crew whove toured across north america, mexico and europe in 2017. the set kicks off with st favourite alexx a-game (originally voiced at his studio in kingston in 2016) urging listeners to free up their mind and souls and let the good times take control. it sets the tone for upcoming jamaican talent blvk h3ro to step up on the soulful party number cant wait (recorded at equiknoxx’s studios in vineyard town in 2016), which has been a staple in swing ting sets over the last 18 months. slowing the pace is addiction, a link up with irish artist and frequent murlo collaborator gemma dunleavy who lays down an impressive vocal over the skittering drums, muted guitar and glistening keys. the listen is interrupted momentarily for an interlude from gavsborg whose moving voicemail is accompanied by a poignant piano line from jp aka without understanding. one for the clubs turn it up features equiknoxxs shanique marie riding a stripped funky-esque riddim with ease. fittingly the set closes with contagious which finds two of manchester’s finest vocalists fox & tyler daley searching for an escape from the reality of our turbulent times over a refined yet sparkling production. the 12inch vinyl will be limited to 200 copies

never afraid to get their hands dirty, the frigio faithful have gone crate diving for their latest haul of treasure. the material for ecdisis vol.1? lost tracks from the past, patted down, spruced up and given a couple of shots of whiskey by juanpablo, dunkeltier and, a new member of the family, vinilette. from barcelona, vinilette is a dj and producer who isn t afraid to pull a musical punch or two and she is in fighting form with her two offerings.

first up, the 1986 ebm stomper -god save the king- by son of sam is revamped and reconstructed into a psychedelic rollercoaster of crashing cymbals, spiralling samples and bruising bars. the clock is being turned further back, this time belgium s new wave punk outfit arbeid adelt! are the source material with their 1987 track -help (me ik stik)- muscling up on a diet of raging rhythms and splintering guitar strings. the head honcho, juanpablo, meets up with an old member of the family dunkeltier (aka dj sneaker) to finish our journey. the pair travelling back to 1983 to catalonia and the prog-jazz musings of pegasus. -perseguido por el rayo- is tuned up and transformed into an electronic bomb. addictive grooves and hooks are polished with beats getting a shot in the arm for a hauntingly sinister piece of disco deviance.

to those familiar with the output of cologne-based imprint firm from back in the early ‘00s, the name of geiger, alias nass, shall undoubtedly ring a bell. herald of an hedonistic melange of funk-soaked electro pop and guitar-riddled synth music, sitting somewhere close to acts like ween and junior boys, alexander geiger is about to break a eight-year hiatus with the drop of his debut album under the newly-founded moniker of fahrland. a release that both encompasses a healthy dose of the discoid tropes from the firm era but also aspires to split with a segment of it, geared towards exploring further undisclosed fringes of his shape-shifting sound universe, ‘mixtape vol.1’ is the fruit of a decisive move from the sleepless berlin to the peaceful countryside landscapes of fahrland – a lushly forested area near potsdam which you’ll have understood played an essential role in geiger’s longed-for return. the vinyl lp includes a download code.

to those familiar with the output of cologne-based imprint firm from back in the early ‘00s, the name of geiger, alias nass, shall undoubtedly ring a bell. herald of an hedonistic melange of funk-soaked electro pop and guitar-riddled synth music, sitting somewhere close to acts like ween and junior boys, alexander geiger is about to break a eight-year hiatus with the drop of his debut album under the newly-founded moniker of fahrland. a release that both encompasses a healthy dose of the discoid tropes from the firm era but also aspires to split with a segment of it, geared towards exploring further undisclosed fringes of his shape-shifting sound universe, ‘mixtape vol.1’ is the fruit of a decisive move from the sleepless berlin to the peaceful countryside landscapes of fahrland – a lushly forested area near potsdam which you’ll have understood played an essential role in geiger’s longed-for return. this limited edition bundle includes the vinyl lp plus mc and download code.

having recently signed to brownswood recordings, announced via new track ‘i’ll be on your mind’, skinny pelembe’s first single proper for the london imprint, ‘spit / swallow’ spans pastoral pop, psychedelic textures and hip-hop-tipped, chopped and spliced guitar, interlacings samples with rolling drum breaks and echoed falsettos. b-side ‘toy shooter’ follows in similar fashion, bridging psych-rock exaltation with beat-head, synth-jamming production.

decks tipp!!
ichisan s 2017 aperitiv was so good that we ve decided to return for a second helping from his sumptuous album. four choice cuts have been selected and reworked with a specific instrument focus. the harpsicord version of -hotel- keeps the intoxicating melody of the original but allows beats to relax as notes shine with an incandescent brilliance. drums put their feet up for the rhodes version of -modri tunel.- deep stings and lounging lines mingle in this work of smoke swirling seduction. -kozmetika (trumpet version)- dances to a different tune. rich bass is again central but this time brash and bold brass intertwine with funk filled bars. the last waltz arrives with the piano version of -terminal e.- alluring notes ascend, rising and falling against heartwrenching guitar strings for a finale to end this ballroom inspired beauty.

black truffle is pleased to make oren ambarchi’s grapes from the estate available once more on vinyl. originally released on cd on touch in 2004 and reissued on southern lord as a limited double lp in 2006 during ambarchi’s tenure as a member of sunn o))), grapes from the estate was a landmark release for ambarchi, seeing him expand his sonic palette beyond the clipped, bass-heavy electric guitar tones he was known for at that point. incorporating subtle layers of strings, keyboards, percussion over a bedrock of his signature guitar tones, in retrospect this album can be seen as the beginning of a broadening and evolution in ambarchi’s work that would lead to his acclaimed, densely layered epics for editions mego, quixotism (2014) and hubris (2016).

3 hard, loopy. rolling techno-ish club movers taken from helix s greatest hits vol 3. a-side -the lyot remix comes with a show-stopping triplets rhythm and guitar riff over 7+ minutes of jack track. b-sides go grime-tech and funky club respectively, all unmistakably helix.