tyrees is an up and coming, london born and bred producer and dj with a heavy focus on breaks, bass and pads. his sound pays homage to and is an evolution of the elements that were so crucial in the uk dance music scene throughout the 90s and onwards. his love for hardcore, jungle and drum n bass of the early to mid ‘90s is principally important to the formation of his style. producers like tyrees are taking full advantage of the current wave of innovative and experimental styles of electronic dance music. with great respect and adoration, tyrees is combining percussive elements, rhythms, structures, samples and tempos from many genres and eras, creating familiar but fresh, unique and exciting sounds. aside from electronic dance music, tyrees is deeply interested in a broad spectrum of musical styles, notably the many sub-genres of jazz, soul and funk from the ‘60s and ‘70s, hip hop culture which was so heavily inspired by this music, and anything else from rock and orchestral pieces to world music and obscure osts. this obsession with music is apparent in the overall sound of his productions. “tidy” is a smooth and subtle journey through beautiful sample based pads, chopped breaks, synth lines and vocal samples. it is a gradually rising force, evolving with delicate bass and synth tones and a mysterious vocal narrative. it effortlessly transitions into a melodic latter half, concluding with a climactic, explosive drum

emotional response reach out to another fine selection of sonic voyagers to take brain machines excellent peaks lp to task, leading in with the warm discoid undulations of rollmottle who refigures to the stars as a gentle, groovy warm-up joint. die wilde jagd takes on mercury ripples and fashion a bombastic breaks jam out of it, and merrick adams pushes alpha moon into a curious but ultimately cosmic space somewhere beyond the titular lunar body. cass takes the prize with the bittersweet synth tones that course through the two-part remix of nexus vox.

the fifth instalment of the hoxton records story turns to alan castro, who has already had a busy year appearing on the likes of for club, stamp and soundterasse. the vibe is stripped down and unhinged on this record, with lead track el avion de la mentira unfurling in a strange tapestry of samples, found sounds and off kilter synth rubs strapped to a crafty set of drums. modebaku delivers a more streamlined version of the track that keeps things freaky, but much more linear than the wayward original. sequela on the flip is no slouch in the adventurous department either, with swathes of modulating tones and wild sonic matter flinging around a funky shuffle, which ted amber then dutifully bolsters with a rubbery b-line on his more functional but still daring version

the italian duo boot & tax got already one lp and four eps under their wings who all deliver house and techno that stands out. so far their records been published by glasgowÆs finest optimo music and meant records from paris. now the two give their debut for endless flight and release three tunes that listen to the name ôdimensionö. they all got funk, they all love mesmerising melodies. you can feel the power of disco coming in with heavy seducing strings. you can get lost in echoed drums, trippy sounds and some oriental tones. and you also can march to cosmic techno that loves krautrock without embracing it. a multi-coloured ep that spreads deepness in an uncommon sense. if moves the heart and soul profound, while staying edgy and catchy.

in a new transatlantic partnership, uk label secret reels and washington, dc imprint better listen records have teamed up for a run of collaborative records. the joint brand, secret listen, combines the labels in sound as well as in name. imagine the lush, pensive and moody deep house tones of secret reels joining with the sample-heavy disco soul leanings of blr. secret listen vol. 1 takes two artists each from both rosters for the first amalgamation. the -secret side- hosting english producers harry wolfman and chocky, while the listen side invites sune and vitamin d of high hat appreciation society and the newly founded honey butter records to the affair. it s a v/a release with a variety of offerings and flavours. wolfmans floozy sits first in the record as a bright and whimsical flute-led morsel, while chockys inner disco is a cerebral, loopy cut. on the flip, sune provides some exquisite rhodes action in his groovy midtempo effort, glidin, and his swedish compatriot closes out the affair with the bittersweet lately.

perfectionist comprehensive techno compilation - warmly recommended!

hyenah, has, over the last few years helped forge strong ties between the deep house mecca of johannesburg and the cutting edge electronic scene in europe. with a handful of influential and pivotal releases and remixes on a few key labels (objektivity, drumpoet, poker flat, toytonics) hyenah has established himself as a major talent to follow. with his residency and label night rise at berlin institution watergate going from strength to strength, a busy touring schedule taking in ibiza, angola, asia and the u.s, we’re very pleased hyenah still found time to get into the studio so we can present you with the next instalment, the usuthu ep. lead track usuthu featuring the vocals of b’utiza opens the release in fine style with crisp, percussive beats laying the foundation for the precision synths and trademark hyenah afro vibes. those who loved the wish, tale of the dirt and the idea will love this worthy follow up! next up is a second original entitled phases featuring the hypnotic tones of nonku, a much deeper affair but with no less energy and atmosphere. just a more heads down groove for the warm ups and wind downs, nonku’s wonderful vocal elements adding the perfect soulful touch. flipping over we have a wonderful remix from the inimitable mr raoul k. the ivory coast native now residing in berlin has continually wowed us here at freerange with his boabab and mule musiq releases. with his collaborative release alongside manoo just about to drop on innervisions (including a killer dixon edit!), we’re excited to bring you an epic mr raoul k remix of title track usuthu. setting the mood with lush strings and a beautifully paced, beatless intro, raoul k slowly introduces the beats and keyboard parts, layering up the elements and building the energy in the process, resulting in a very special, dynamic version that will connect on a deep level with all who experience it on the dance floor.

jamie paton has been a regular fixture on emotional especial since the label first came to light, conjuring up a seductive blend of leftfield dance music with a broad range of influences. this time around he s turning out some of his remixes, leading in with the sweaty, dense throb of sexy merlins see you in the dark. guy schlaloms habibi by way of contrast becomes a lighter confection peppered with bubbly synth lines and an almost poppy persuasion. blancmanges feel me has a more cosmic lilt in its voluminous tones, and overdrive by gatos negros drifts out on an off-kilter kind of boogie for all manner of deviant dancers to get head-nodding to.

having helped launch the sugarhouse label with his paradise forum brethren, jamie paul gets a chance to show off his talents on his debut 12inch, adding to the labels already impressive catalogue with another swathe of classy house jams with a modern twist. double g definitely sports the chops for the peak of the night, but it s also shot through with a welcome weirdness and a fuzzy warmth that should find favour with a wide range of djs. even so is a more laid back, bumping affair that matches the smooth finish of the a-side, but says something different altogether. label mate maurice jnr meanwhile serves up a remix of even so that nudges the delicate tones in a techier direction

dubtraxx is new on the scene, as is their label rhythm n vibe, but don t let that lull you into a false sense of security this is seriously heavyweight gear. soundbwoy request is especially dangerous, working plenty of dub, reggae and jungle motifs into a rugged garage structure and sounding utterly ruff in the process. towards 99 is no slouch either, albeit on a slightly housier tip than the raucous a-side. the 2000 tribute mix of next millenium meanwhile sneaks out a few of the eerie tones you d expect to hear around the time that dubstep first started to emerge.

fresh from an appearance on balearic blah blah, andi hanley sidles over to fellow mancunian ruf dugs ruf kutz label with some beautiful, sunkissed tones in mind to keep you gliding on the good vibes no matter how grim it may be outside. raffles is a gently pattering piece that seems to hark from the terry riley school of repetition, albeit played through blocky synth tones and delicate refrains. ba nou is a more flamboyant 80s-flavoured cut with some excellent tom fills, slick guitar licks and powerful brass stabs. syn-syn is a melancholic, borderline noirish synth ballad, and kinshasa heads for the dancefloor with its pronounced beat and canned funk sound.

three years in, blackhall & bookless jaunt label is becoming a serious force for forward thinking, fractured techno exploration. on this split ep with chad, the duo take the a-side and present two different versions of links. the battle rework is a tense and dramatic tumble through dub techno soundscapes, while the bleak remix pares the elements down to a more focused, minimalist thrum. chad presents a wholly different vibe on the flip, using rich, warm synthesiser tones to draw you in to afters, and then scenery regular asok takes up remix duties on the track with an immersive version that borders on breakbeat.

fully tapped into the true us tradition of soulful house music, riccardo masi has been delivering the goods for the past couple of years to labels like uzuri and his own wrong notes records. on this new single the good vibes just keep on flowing, kicking off with erik rico s on-point vocal draped over reaching. rico also forms the centre point of -no one else, another masterclass in pattering drums and honey-coated keys. tortellini jazz shores up on the b-side, drafting in paolo campani to lay down some sultry sax tones over the mellow chords and playful rhodes trills

newcastle born, melbourne-based producer cooper bowman steps out as roman nails with his first 12” for beat concern. following tapes on where to now? (uk), night people (us) + rhythm works (au), roman nails has maintained a steady flow of experimental techno over the last few years. utilising a minimal, cv-triggered hardware set-up and from a perspective rooted in improvisation, rn is a unique beast. the tongue-in-cheek titled, all hardware no tools, is his most concise and well-considered release to date, offering noirish synth tones, slinking basslines and captivating interplay between a 707 and 727. 300 copies.

antipodal movements reflects the connection between two australian producers straight out of melbourne, and paris, the hometown of ville nouvelle. yardley and river yarra display eight summer joints on this lush split-tape. international feelings and a beautiful artwork from aliyah a. hussain to complete the recipe.

super tuff makes an impressive debut straight out of brooklyn with m. vaughan at the helm, and it looks like high grade deep house is on the menu judging by the quality spread across this first 12inch. jesse bru is up first with the steady cruising futaki, featuring a great speech by tom waits about crooked trees. dj aakmael gets into a bouncier concoction on offering, and then it s down to label boss vaughan to push an agenda of tough nyc flavoured grooves splashed with dusty soul and jazz tones in an utterly infectious style. moony me then finishes off the ep with an acid track that features swooning strings and some deft drum play.

hot on the heels of their role on correspondant compilation five, mexican maestros zombies in miami return to jennifer cardini’s label once again this summer with two supreme space-aged head jams. following recent disco excursions on hippie dance and bordello a parigi, the duo retreat to the shadier, heavyweight side of their signature with ‘take control’ and ‘last gun’. ‘take control’ is a glacial creeper laced with frosty electroid synths and a smouldering hypnotic beat while ‘last gun’ firms our focus on the looming lower tones, creating an ominous fog for the sunlight arpeggios to climb through evocatively. complete with on-point remixes from the lipsky brothers’ simple symmetry and benedikt frey & nadia d’alo’s init project, this will have you taking control for a long time to come.

the imprint of the french man lazare hoche returns with some super hot cuts
little is known about medicis, other than he last appeared back in 2015 on lazare hoche alongside voltery. on this, his second 12-, he strikes out on his own for the parisian deep house stable with some of that refined, head-tweaking groove fodder that has broadly defined the label since it started. -vilaroel- features shimmering tones that call to mind point g at his dubbiest, while -dissfreq- takes a sweeter route into dreamy pads and lightly shuffling drums. -carrier- is a darker, techier affair with plenty of hypnotic elements spinning in the mix, and then mdecisi old friend voltery lands a hand on the downtempo delights of -guda-.

freshly dressed after a double helping of made to measure goodness, aficionado size up another summer time smash for the sandal-wearing masses. keen to capture the coastal cool of the wirral peninsula, the label crack out the crystals and summon strange-wave sorceress brenda ray for another hit of her interplanetary excellence. wandering from new age haze to celestial rays on this tripped out trio, our genre blending genius takes the fourth world into the fifth dimension of psychedelic sound. our spiritual journey begins with the chakra cleansing solartude , an out-of-body beauty which bathes us in swirling flute, dreamy chimes and shimmering tape delay before sending us off towards the orient. eastern tones and hushed vocals ride a glistening sequence as this flawless fusion of exotica and dub suggests a medicated martin denny stumbling out of chinatown and into a humid mangrove. next stop on the voyage of self discovery is space dustin , a lunar lullaby for lucid dreamers which sees brenda spin fairlight mallets, celestial keys and whispered vocals into an immersive ode to the outer rim. floating free of space and time, perhaps you too can glimpse the excellent birds. over on the flipside and the temperature begins to rise. skip, hop to bop sees brenda dabbling with dub techno, setting basic channel synths and stirring strings to a skittering rhythm. dislocated and disoriented we descend into a strange subterranean world of rothschild parties, lynchian noir and muffled techno. surrounded by swirling voices, shuffling percussion grabs hold of you and all that remains is to sway.

first ep of the label lowlife cartel. dissociative tones, texture of the sound and atmosphere sought here, more than melody. no boundary in genre but same sonic ethos. the two sides of the ep includes two tracks ambient/downtempo fitting with patient listening. three other, lofi tracks, and more efficient to play into clubs. face a starts with -nerve splicing- by telekommunist, also known as wpx7, face covered and steps muffled through a deadening blizzard of tape saturation and white noisey envelops that find a balance between deepening the sense of immersion and a retained groove. -kairu- by a. latif, affiliated to the experimental and elusive russian label john s kingdom. an arsenal of textures are employed, surrounded all the time by different kind of breeths carving out a growingly satisfying contrast between the shivery charm of its melodic line and the roughness of its elements. a rough diamond. face b, -kfs-, by vslds (present on the next cousin carl release, after kinway and voyd) is a delusional and abstract piece of lofi hip hop. setting skittish drums and heavily altered rapper vox sample, smothered against a grey-ish canvas of blurry, washed-out pads. this feels both playful and unhealthy. -gotta go fast-, by paul santangelo (venetian causeway), is marked with the very personal style of this artist who does his way across the ever effervescent lofi techno scene. the round, drag-shed bass, fits with an introspective melody and atmosphere. -every man has a woman who loves him-, by loophie (raw russians), surprises the listener at the end of the disc with a lofi house track sampled from john lennon, very effective in club. the czech lofi house videomaker moskalus edited a video of it on his youtube channel. 5 artists to follow.

london s sugarhouse crew have already made some waves with their first two releases, and now the gang are back with round three of their soul-drenched deep house adventures. this time it s maurice jnr and seb miguel teaming up for three crucial jams, each with something different to say. -deebo s quest- is rich with aqueous pad tones and a slick set of drums that shuffle just the way you want it, while -science of life- takes a distinctly detroit-influenced approach that wouldn t sound out of place on mahogani music. that leaves it to -lovin u- to round the ep out with a warm, upbeat roller for those who like their house loaded with passion.

blind box heads julien sandre and konstress know a thing or two about deep, undulating house grooves, and their continued exploration of immersive cuts for hidden corners of the dance yields further delights on this sixth instalment in the blind box series. the first side of this 12- finds the two label bosses twisting out immaculate jams shot through with playful sound design. -would- locks into a subtle swing and revels in lopsided synth stabs, while -hedone- plunges into a stunning intricate techno landscape peppered with glitchy tones. on the flip, julian alexander follows suit with the crisp, funky -baku man- and the more experimental tones of -casserole-.

progressive electronic duo, formed in 2016 by seasoned beatsmith tsuruda (darker than wax, team supreme, division) and experimental artist huxley anne (dome of doom/alphapup), paint incorporates all aspects of both member’s creativity. the duo was inspired as the two were coming up in the la beat scene, often adding visual elements to their live performances while writing genre-defying songs in the studio. their style draws largely on abstract hip-hop, jazz, bass, and grime influences, but unites these elements into seamlessly painted soundscapes that stand out in the modern sea of electronic music. their powerful rhythms, colored nuances, and expressive lead synth tones ignite in the paint live show, where you can often find the duo mashing custom visuals together while spinning tracks back to bac

brazilian label gop tun hits its fourth release with the sublime tones of tyv, building on the adventurous twist on disco and house music that has typified the label to date. lead track -miau!- is a show stopper that rides on a sumptuous arpeggio and lashings of latin percussion, infected with a sunny disposition but also reaching into a more mysterious corner of the dancefloor. lauer steps up to remix the original into a more overtly cheery version loaded with his trademark warm basslines and pads, but then tyv takes control once more for simmering b-side jam -da terra-. pitched at a more reflective time in the party, this brooding jam celebrates brazilian music culture in a wonderfully modern context.

from brussels comes cleveland, born in luxembourg from an italian family, andrea mancini, a 28 years old music producer has been behind releases on john talabot’s hivern discs, oskar offermann’s white, munich’s permanent vacation (and others). cleveland is able to enthral and captivate his audience, putting influences from various genres into one smooth hypnotic, adventurous and personal journey. built around warm tones of analog synths, esoteric atmospheres and percussive drums, cleveland s productions have an overall dreamy feel without losing its dance floor focus. he arranges every sound and movement to work in fluid harmony, gently lifting dance floors off the ground before they realise they re floating. he will release two new eps in summer 2017.

brothers black kick off their self-titled label with brbl001, a four-track original techno ep. following prior releases on their own joint imprint, bade records, and family labels safer at night and voxnox records, brbl is a new home where the pair will curate their own sound and productions. the pair kick off the a-side with creep oder was? , a stripped down vocal banger that teams hard-edged percussion with an acidic lead. the a2, axe to grind , combines dub chords with raw rolling percussion to create a deep hypnotic atmosphere. on the flip side, the b1 only human is a tense, driving tool with industrial tones that s perfect for the peak time hours. the b2, imagination barrier , is a frantic 140bpm techno exploration that combines the duo s signature vocals with heavily 90s influenced percussion.

ocean parkway, the new sublabel from brooklyn s names you can trust, continues into the deep with a future dance sureshot! prince of queens aka felipe quiroz normally lends his talented musicianship on keys and bass to the live ensembles of combo chimbita and maku soundsystem, but behind the closed doors of his bunker studio a new sector of blissfully solo, machine-made electronic rhythms are steadily bubbling to the surface. call it techno as imagined by a tropicalista, as the vintage analog tones of classic house are twisted by a kaleidoscope of influences both caribbean and chicagoan. from the wavy beachside vibes of the ep s opening number, to the deep, evolving arrangements of the scene over and the end scene, on to the jazz-chord-fueled robotic timbale rhythms of thank you friends, and finally forward to the future-tropical polyrhythmic sequencing of winter islander, it s an impressive range of style and skills on display from this talented and up and coming producer

-in my house- is a -bucket list- song nickodemus always dreamed of covering into an actual house version. after a weekend of old-school partying in the clubs & hanging with baby bam from the jungle brothers in brooklyn, they called over carol c & lisa sha

vincent inc s manuscript records continues to bolster its identity as a vinyl label after years in the digital domain with this crucial single from label founder vincent inc. -wilder- is a seductive opening track that bubbles along on a bed of honey coated melodic tones that should sit easy on the ears of any day time dancer, while -cold winds- takes a more somber approach with bluesy keys and heartfelt vocals. -dreams of d&l- ups the energy levels with a strict drum set and spiritual melodic swells, and then -sax night- edges towards more experimental territory for the mind to happily trip out on. ... support by jimpster..

originally released in 1999, the cultish reputation of the mysterious blindboy s sole offering to the world has attained it a high second hand value, and so archeo recordings have done the right thing and actioned a reissue. ruckus in lo fi is steeped in balearic guitar tones, downbeat hip hop cuts and forays into sumptuous jazz funk. there s also a remix from joe morris, who fashions a brooding, epic remix of -i dream- loaded with simmering tension without losing the funky warmth of the original. with all kinds of mellow pouring out of this one, any stone cold chillers out there won t want to sleep on this one.

ian blevins has been busy making a name for himself on esp institute and futureboogie, but now he comes to not an animal with a slightly different approach that still speaks to the skills the upstart producer has in his sonic arsenal. -the birds- is a focused, steady-tracking cut for the deeper end of the night, but there s some serious weight in those drums and the heavily processed vocal snippets pack plenty of malaise. man power then step up with a -tropical bastard- remix of the original, cracking the curtains to allow a little light into the mix but stopping short of over-cooking the mood. -locate yourself- on the flip finds blevins in tracky techno mode, and it turns out it s a style he can nail just as easily as the more organic tones he s known for.

it s been a while since we last heard from juniper, the manchester-based duo who showed much promise with early outings on underground quality and the like. having previously popped up on a various artists 12-, they return to the ever-essential meandyou with a strong statement of intent, packing five tracks into an ep that presents their subversive style immaculately. -indigo children- is a head-turning cut that fuses uptempo motor city style electro and techno with industrial tones, while -life source negative- switches stance for a beautiful, craftily constructed drift into woozy deep house. every track is noteworthy on this release, balancing immediacy and warmth against experimental textures in a way that sits very comfortably on meandyou.

hyperdub+ warp records artists babyfather and gaika rework two 18+ tracks from their second album collect. hyperdubs dean blunt, a category-rejecting artist and an art-pop provocateur tackles drama under his babyfather guise, looping a low slung swagger beat under the vocals of dj escrow and samia mirza. warp records multi-disciplined south london artist gaika rips apart glow into a discordant sub-low bassline drone, pitching samias vocal as slow as can go, harsh high pitch tones and field recordings. one of the strongest things we’ve heard from the divisive producer.

manchester star oli furness will soon be leaving his mark on hot creations sister label emerald city with the irresistibly groovy wanna lie down, featuring chicagos own parris mitchell on the remix. olis output is characterized by dynamic range and rhythmic groove, and wanna lie down is no exception. raw, chugging beats, distinct vocals and subtle percussions create an undeniable swing that make you move. oli’s ability to veer between genres with ease and style is reflected in the depth of his releases on labels like hot creations, nervous, morris audio, skylax and his own labels music is love and mil. upcoming projects are planned on the infamous clone records, whilst receiving support from artists such as ricardo villalobos and laurent garnier through to modern artists like patrick topping and dj haus. parris mitchell helped to define the infamous dance mania imprint in chicago, releasing exclusively on the label from 1994-1997. learning his trade through heroes like ron hardy, he also recorded as victor romeo and rhythm ii rhythm. having released on the berlin based deep moves, this next remix on emerald city takes on delectable tribal tones with prominent hi-hats and bright musical keys.

sfsb recordings welcome mr hot mood to the stable for our second release, following his previous releases on tugboat edits, editorial, masterworks, deep sense an whiskey pickle records. side a s lets get it and lost soul head toward the deeper side of mexico s finest, with -let s get it- looping itself into an underground frenzy before releasing the crowd into a classic 1970s chant and them throwing them over to a killer organ hook, a must for 4am. -lost soul- takes you even deeper in to the realms of 70 s soul, bringing it into the 21 century with its beefed up lick - i wanna hold on, and let my love grow strong-, reminiscent of the original mark e working that helped start the movement. side b ôthe g groove- proves to be another early set summer anthem, completely heads down whenever it gets played, while -keep on dancing- does exactly what it says on the tin. the hardest track of the ep is left till last, with its -keep on dancing- call to arms for the dance floor reinforced by a destructible sax loop, it should be called martini, anytime anyplace anywhere. these tracks definitely reflect the sounds of south beach, produced with love by hotmood, curated by south beach recycling. dj support: session victim, sleazy beats, art of tones, dave allison, 80s child, disco tech, black loops,78 edits, homero espinoza, martin hayes, dj moar, coeo, osmose

new york collective sheik ‘n’ beik continue to expand an impressively developing catalogue adding to releases from xamiga, keita saino and jeffrey scott with a fresh 12” from voodoo down records owner and fellow brooklynite n conduit. having utilised voodoo down as a platform for his own brand of rich, emotive house music n conduit now dims the lights a tad in offering up 3 neatly reduced techno tracks that meld dystopian drones with disquieting melodies and tough, swung drums. ‘echo must die’ kicks things off with looming pads and glistening synth tones. a bold, punchy kick drives a purposeful march forwards whilst mangled computer fx pepper the high-end.

after their highly regarded debut on attic music called “laq 02” back in may 2016 boston 168 are back with a 4-track spanning release named “khidi raver”.
again, the italian duo delivers a well balanced release that cleverly touches different sides of modern day techno music. from the slow paced chug “khidi raver” to the emotive tones of “blu bridge”, the a-side already showcases the duo’s versatile pallette.
on the b-side we find an acidic growler named “j the master” which is heavy arms material for the festival season. label owner fabrizio lapiana offers a haunting remix of “khidi raver” to close down the record.

baltra has been plying his trade for a few years now, dealing in a distinctly retro brand of house music that could easily pass for a forgotten chicago cut were it not for subtle touches of advanced production tucked away in the mix. on this single for tape throb, the warbling synth tones of up 2 you sound like a perfect fit for the label, while twist of fate smooths things out a more melancholic mood atop a classic jack beat. feds watching strains under a cloud of grit that adds to the backwards glancing vibe of the record, while dis aura opts for a marginally more modern approach spelt out by the plush polysynth tones that pulse throughout.

the third release on the emergent dreamtime label finds bobby bricks and miskotom sharing precious wax space with their own takes on laid back balearic house. bricks is up first, laying down a laid back house chugger propelled by fluttering synth lines that have spent time soaking up plenty of vitamin d. amazon blue does away with the drums for much of the tune, letting the new age synth tones do all the work before a mellow set of percussion comes loping in. miskotom has a more nocturnal feel at work on star master, but it s no less plush in its execution, while ad lucem ramps up fretless bass licks and plastic flute tones for another blissful excursion onto the astral plane.

new york meets brighton as both label and artist step out on wax for the first time. this is a new, exciting realm for homage, but they surely know they re onto a winner with the feel good disco edit tones of tech support. there are classics embedded into these fine jams, with -feel it- coming on particularly summery in its laid back disco funk stylings. -inside out- is slightly more looped up, but no less uplifting, while -clarity- heads into a more woozy, filtered groove that feels inspired by the likes of theo parrish s ugly edits. by way of contrast -sugar- is a much more electronic affair that kicks with purpose while simultaneously reaching for the stars.

following the excellent single-sided heater from sharif laffrey, discos capablanca is back in action once again with odopt, previously only spotted on excellent swedish label born free. the record opens up with the ominous, dramatic tones of -belgrade-, all searing synth swells and bloated drums working towards some cinematic apocalypse scenario. on the b-side, -croque trans croque- has a cooler head but instead aims to unsettle with its off-key metal chimes atop a steady-ticking disco rhythm, and then -rex ingram- finishes the ep off with yet more surreal beatdowns that will send the party in a very interesting direction indeed.

fresh from charming the pants off us with the verdant echoes from the southern place 12-, italian producer piero paolinelli is back as sofa talk with a new single striding out on the ever fantastic tusk wax. this 12- comes steeped in different shades of party music, from the bouncy organ chords and motor city leads of -disquiet- through to the slickly diced up boogie tones of -elastic-. as well as paolinelli s mighty fine originals, the remixes come from some big hitters. ad bourke gets on board to turn -disquiet- into a energised, bubbling house burner while posthuman brings some of his trademark tough acid touches to elastic-.

the last few years have seen nathan melja really hit his stride, landing on such esteemed labels as mister saturday night, black opal and technicolour with an addictively weird update of the classic boxjam format. now he steps up to inaugurate dream real with three slices of upfront deviant business for all the sleazy dancers out there. there s no arguing with the rubbery bass tones and perfectly processed vocals on the original mix of -jerky teardrop-, but there s also the more wave-minded delights of the -blue mix- version of the track to suit more reflective situations. by way of contrast, -places we belong to- smooths out the mood on the b-side with a low riding slice of boogie that sports just a whiff of indie thrown in for good measure.

emlock founder untold is back on the label with his first vinyl ep since ‘doff’ on sub-label hblk back in 2015. this release follows appearances on last year’s #savefabric compilation, and more recently on ‘magic city iii’ compiled by mixpak boss jubilee. hek029 follows a rewarding period of a&r for hemlock that has so far delivered eps from bruce and parris, with several more scheduled to drop throughout 2017. ep’s two winding tracks are a natural progression from the fiercely textural drum work of untold’s previous singles and album ‘black light spiral.’ here the material is given more space to breathe and released from the grid creating a lighter more footloose feel. ‘tear up the club’ carries the weight of dmz era half-step using a loose web of elasticated breaks and builds to reveal a striking melodic line. on ‘watton res’ exotic tones are further compressed and expanded in sequence, encasing drum machine, keyboards and guitar work within a delicate shell.

after nearly a 17 month layoff the corner returns with 2 killer releases cor-16 brings you new artists to the label, dar embarks out of chicago which is dan jugel one half of juzer and ken zawacki one half of circling vultures bring a taste of chicago techno with relentless jacking beats firing off at a fast pace with a lot of movement ever changing and modulating tones these tracks are built to move asses. pressed onto 180 grams vinyl and a limited run.

miami deep and tech house label sports is hitting its third release with the sultry tones of greek producer salt, who offers up two original tracks of lean and mean tracks to get pumping to. quantum xl features punchy bass, dubby fx and seductive chords that burrow right into the heart of the night, while imago loop takes a sharp turn into dreamy broken beat crafted with light, airy drums and woozy pads for the most blissful of listening experiences. on the remix front, sylphe offer up a re-dub of quantum xl that fattens the bass up further and works more percussive angles into the mix, while martinez deftly swaps imago loop-s breaks out for a slinky micro house beat.

st173 is the first various artists effort on kastil’s stale imprint. the 3rd installment of 2017 showcases the most active artists from the stale stable (kastil & irazu).
kastil opens up the record with the noteworthy tones of “carucci” while madrid based irazu offers a wild adventure that’s constructed around his usual paranoidsynth work and frantic fx with “introversion”.
basel native ben kaczor is offering a piece of acidic techno on “sick acido” and desroi explores the dystopian side of electronic music with his “disprocess”.

london’s ghost writerz are back with a banger! following a slew of releases on tru thoughts and a recent mixtape -welcome to ghost town- heating up the streets, jimmy screech and sleepy time ghost return with a big splash on nice up! records. based around a familiar reggae riddim, the track tells the tale of jimmy’s foundation in soundsystem culture, starting in the 80s and name-checking legends such as shabba ranks, yellowman, smiley culture along the way. as the riddim flips we shift forward a generation, 90s dancehall and rap dominate, giving props to hip hop royalty such as busta rhymes and 2pac, then finally firing off a huge jungle climax, dripping in enough amen breaks to set the dancefloor alight whilst giving a little history of the musical heritage behind ghost writerz.

not an animal records was formed in 2015 out of the ashes of the london-based party bad passion, and has thus far welcomed the likes of man power, ess o ess and eric duncan to release on the label. now they turn to james hadfield, a relatively new producer previously spotted on to rack & ruin and me me me. on this four-tracker he deals in brooding synthwave tones mixed with classic jack track rhythms. literate is just the kind of taut, sinister club creeper we can t get enough of, while buried answers takes a skippier but no less moody approach. on the remix front, jamie blanco takes the prize, turning buried answers- into a bombastic slice of driving synth pop.