a total of four killer dancefloor curveballs from kampala, uganda, performed and composed by the traditional mataali drum and vocal troupe mubashira mataali group (pron: moo-ba-shee-ra). esoteric and unusual although fantastically joyous to listen and dance to, the unbelievably tight multitude of percussionists provide the perfect backdrop for musician-come-filmstar sulaiman sulait to deliver his entrancing vocal performance with a strong islamic message at the heart.

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review with its latest reissue, majiks back into your heart - melodies international dug deep into the back catalogue of hi records, the legendary soul label from memphis founded in the 1950s. originally signed as a recording artist, willie mitchell took the reins of the label and guided it through its most successful period in the 1970s, notably producing a string of studio recordings for al green, syl johnson and o.v. right among other eminent soul musicians of the time.

the second of alma negras 12 rhythms series is dedicated to the maloya sound from la réunion, a tiny island where a melting pot of cultures is reflected strongly in its music. maloyas roots go back to the time of slavery, its quick tempo and raw energy making it not only a popular dance music but also a powerful protest through movement. on their maloya ep, the basel collective pay tribute to the hypnotic rhythms that were feared both by the catholic church and the french government for the musical forms subversive part in the rebellion against colonialism.

va&#776,,,stkransen records’ first release - bike thieves’ “laura ep” - is out on 12” on april 6th, 2018. based in stockholm, va&#776,,,stkransen records is an offshoot of ga&#778,,,rden, an underground open-air party held in an industrial zone of the city since 2014. featuring djs like cinthie, baba stiltz, maya lourenc&#807,,,o and mount liberation unlimited, ga&#778,,,rden is attended by a devoted following of dance music heads looking to sweat to classic disco and house.
“laura ep” introduces ga&#778,,,rden residents bike thieves - two long-time stockholm comrades with a penchant for gritty house. the a-side features the duo’s banger “laura”, along with a funky disco remix by mount liberation unlimited’s tender t. on the flipside, hk presents a deep tech-house interpretation of “laura”, the record closing with bike thieves’ after hours cut “jailhouse”.

tartelet records is 10. to celebrate a decade in the cut, they re out a home run of new material from label mainstays & fresh signings in 2018. to kick things off, the label is enormously proud to set free endless light –– a new record from oakland newcomer space ghost.
coming on like a brainchild to dam funk & mutant beat dance, ghost s sound falls off the shelf between a number of distinct reference points: lone s early tropical synaesthetics, the modern funk of funkosphere, the intimate tapes out of ppu. in a sea of soundcloud copycats, he s a revelation.
endless light is a record with an open hand: an instantly appealing sound from a new producer with a highly-tuned ear. born of his collection of antique synths & drum machines, the space ghost experience channels a deep heritage of 1980s funk minimalism & analogue boogie. velvet pads, hood-rat sleaze & heaped spoonfuls of soul.

somewhere between dub and space lies the work of unknown wonders, like the one created by normal stage. a1 starts like part of a typhoon taking everything in it’s path. the pounding sub will crunch the dancefloor vibeing towards the core of the nervous system. the tunnel is open: b1 will open a star gate through precise push and pull movements. there is light at the end, but the trip is long. it’s a time travel where senses are altered. b2 takes us back to the ground where it all started. heavy basslines and lush pads are chanting in celestial ambiance. the drum of earth is the heart of the dance, a ritual for all things normal.

our new muna musik 007 sounds like if all 4 artists were sitting on a table checking together sounds and how they can create a journey together. never before we had soundwise one direction of grooves with deep and surprising synths and spinning voices around the dancefloor like on this new various artist. cinthies hurt me, hector coutos ciroco, christian burkhardts hola & luca donzellis not ordinary are made for dancefloor lovers with a smile in their faces and enough energy to dance the whole night.

uneven paths: deviant pop from europe, 1980-1991 is the second multiple artist compilation on music from memory and is compiled by record connoisseur raphael top-secret and label man jamie tiller. the compilation brings together twenty one tracks from across the continent, exploring the more unusual and unexpected sides of pop music produced during that period.

since his emergence in 2010, madben s melodic, detroit-inspired techno evolved, with various releases on caduceus, astropolis records, off recordings, inflyte and bedrock. nowadays, the paris-based artist remains a key figure in france s new generation of techno producers, with an upcoming debut lp on astropolis records. swinging from atmospheric sounds to techno, madben produces an alchemy of rave anthems, hardware material and groovy, emotional music. with support from france s favourite laurent garnier, manu le malin and rebekah warrior, fréquence(s) unveils his skillfull, mature universe.

scalameriya returns to perc trax after the success of 2016’s kepslok. since then he has continued to break new ground both as a solo artist and via his ongoing collaboration with italian producer vsk, playing across europe and releasing on a number of key labels whilst growing his own genesa imprint. now for his first release of 2018 he takes a giant leap forward both musically and technically with the three track statement of intent that is his hellzone megapunk ep. each track demonstrates new techniques and approaches not heard in his music before, from the 4/4 versus broken beat cage fight of the title track to crucible s rolling polyrhythms and the otherworldly processed vocals of the closing track. as the first perc trax release of the year this ep sets out everything the label seeks to achieve, a combination of sonic innovation that manages to keep attention fully focussed on the dance floor at all times.

las private selection imprint returns, this time to shed light for the first time on a producer from argentina who goes under the guise of crash id. all 6 tracks on ps003 are primed for the dance floor touching on a kind of ritualistic, electro industrial body music that feels right at home with the labels current catalogue and event series.

taking advantage of his first japan tour, ortella is back with a strong ep rich in styles. believe is mixing memories and fantasies, each track gives a deeper journey with a panel of emotions and feelings, keeping the french man own solid base with dance-floor oriented drums and enhancing them with some cosmic trippy loops, a very special romantic mood and a drop of acid : the perfect formula for evasion. dancing is great, tripping is better!

currently generating some serious heat and momentum amongst dance music aficionados, man power rocks up with a single for futureboogie that further cements the reputation of this rising british producer/dj. the two original tracks are also backed with a remix from ruf dug. alongside his own very excellent me me me label, man power has been delivering diversely epic releases for labels like esp institute, optimo trax, and correspondant. in its original form, barranquilla trifle features rave-lite stabs and deliciously sweeping pads over woody percussion and an omnipresent studry bassline. a dash of acid darkness only energizes the mood, for what must surely be one of the best ‘sunrise moments’ tracks of the year! ruf dug takes barranquilla further on its trajectory towards summertime vibes the sounds of the ocean sea gently breeze over the soca beat, as the ruf kutz main man adds splashes of percussive hits, huge m1 pads, and melodious keys to the party. more 303 business coats kaon from its opening bars, as man power delivers his second original track on the release. an urgent breakbeat and wandering mega-bass soon evolve into thunderous beats and heady synth arpeggios, an almost post-punk funk atmosphere creeps into the bustling yet succinct ambience.

for years nathan church has been cutting up floors in his native bilbao. recently the basque man s attention has turned from the dj booth to the studio. under his wldv (we love dolce vita) this iberian electronic inspiration has cast long shadows and brightened rooms with his blend of horror score intensity and disco exuberance. wldv arrives at the bordello with a four tracker of serious intent. sepulchral and sinister synthlines characterise a dying feast, nowhere more than in the haunting samples and clean drums of -a bucket of blood-. cold chords gleam with icy menace while crisp claps punctuate the entrancing funk of -danza macabra-. ecclesia toys with set parameters, exploring what lurks in the twilight between terror and titillation. this flirtation with the divine and the profane is plain to hear in the uneasy elegance and uplifting elation of -far, far away-, a work of steady kicks, unsettling extracts and soaring strings. this -feast- ends on a delectable note. keys dance and spiral in the intoxicating -laying down on cosmic dust-, an enthralling end to and enthralling ep.

baptiste letertre is ringard and comes from rennes, britanny s biggest city with a strong electronic music culture. ringard has a label called dance around 88 because he was born in 1988. ringard released 8 vinyl records. -lacrima rossa- is his first 12- outside his own label so it s a great pleasure for us to have him on board. ringard music is deep but raw, woolly, melancholic yet emotional. think soulful techno, steamroom slo-mo, warehouse heat and euphoric minimal. morphine electronics at its best with amazing strings and killer frequencies like lobster theremin meeting boards of canada in a fantasy balearic island. in french, ringard means tacky or outdated. it has never sound so cool being ringard!

rudy returns to faze action records with an all-new collection of atmospheric and evocative tropical sounds. last august saw the release of the by nature ep that encapsulated the steamy and exotic textures of the balearic sound. this time, midnight safari takes up where on the beaches of formentera, where the last ep left us. this time setting sail on a midnight safari with marimba s and chugging rhythms underpinning sophisticated piano melodies. following this we drop anchor and appreciate the evening breeze of in the air with its haunting cello, endless drifting arpeggio s and tropical percussion with a hint of north africa. reach backless points the way squarely to the dance floor with chunky drums and synth bass, synth hooks galore and that piano solo that launches into starry evening skies. it s back down to earth with the settled quiet bass guitar harmonics of windchimes before heading into the more soulful and synth melodic territory of solar plex.

alicia myers is in peak form on a new release from most excellent unlimited and ace beat, right here right now (hallelujah anyway). originally issued by ace beat in 2015, this collaboration between the new jersey house label whose early 90s releases are still considered gospel house masterpieces and meu marks the first time the track will see vinyl release. making its debut are danny krivit s edit of the original derrick ricky nelson mix and an exciting remix from ricky, the song s composer, and danny, who championed the song from its first appearance and has featured it ever since in his sets. the connection between alicia myers and danny krivit goes back much farther than most people know. in fact, her breakout 1981 single i want to thank you,among the most beloved dance music classics of all time, was initially broken by danny when he played the promo at the paradise garage, catching larry levan s ear. when influential radio dj frankie crocker subsequently heard it featured in levan s sets, he immediately programmed it on wbls, new york s premier black fm station, and the song s legacy was assured. much like i want to thank you, right here right now perfectly blends an inspiring, gospel lyric with an impassioned, soulful vocal performance and club-ready instrumental backing featuring a muscular piano hook. the uplifting sentiment has already proven its power to elevate and unite dance floors in the communal expressions of joy that are central to the most soulful dance experiences and the time is right to spread the feeling! this exclusive release will be showcased on twelve-inch vinyl with a precise replication of the classic 90s ace beat label.

in this oversharing era, uncommon is for an artist to choose to remain in total anonymity. even for the easytiiger teamwork, the real persona behind the model nice act is still a complete mistery – actually not a problem when the sound speaks for itself. the debut ep -nice to meet you- arrives with four raw dance burner gems, including a futuristic arp killer remix from the lemon-fanta guy, pépe, for the song -cravo amargo-. besides the rough-shaped aspect of the sound, this ep reveals a very sharp and sophisticated production, with complex element layer works that could perfectly fit as the soundtrack for a blade runner microcosm built inside of a night club. -nice to meet you- invites you to this journey through a particular soothing world, surrounded by a complex & confessional mood without saying... well, a single word.

turkish duo hiccup, which produces a kind of electronic dance music with an experimental approach entitles the 9th release of avosync >radiance<, a techno ep containing 4 driving tracks including a remix by kaiser.

brazilian born producer and self-confessed studio freak terr will be making her debut with have you ever on permanent vacation. she found recognition with her creative, quirky electronica productions, said to be heavily influenced by her use of analog gear, her sound is a combination of techno, house and disco with futuristic textures and elements. throwback disco meets techno, alongside a scintillating synth in have your ever, not forgetting the mesmerising robotic female vocal hook. a thunderous kick drum bass line combo takes the dub version into a more late-night dance edit of the original. hauntingly cinematic with its hook line, memoir hints on some intergalactic synthetic inspiration, which builds into a nearly disco-esque breakdown. this track lends well to roll into twenty thousand leagues metallic and bubbling with its multi-layered textures. its delicate and finely tuned.

a double album of dirty, raw, bone-grinding techno from post apocalyptic survival times by franziska lantz released on global warming records, london 2017 loaded with heavy distortion, fat textures, harsh beats, relentless rhythms, moody synths and erratic melodies, this sound is bursting with rawness and urgency. harness your speakers and dance!

black plastic magic from secret circuit, roza terenzi, tmo, furious frank, dj haus and phran, brought to you by pelvis. the second edition in a series, this incarnation brings together rhythm trax and freaked out jams to juice your blends. pelvis are a multifaceted leisure system celebrating dance, music, film and spatial design through their parties, clothing, record label and other projects. coital embellishers, tailors of state, gland enhancers, dance party linux a black economy enterprise, forever slippery and uncatchable.

milos arrives with his fifth release on his receptive visions label. two techno cuts with plenty of energy and emotion, aimed directly for the dance floor. contact high with it’s swirling sounds, moving in and out of this rather tasty techno groove. priming on the other side has solid drums with rave style stabs, that adds a different feel to this vinyl only release.

celebrating 3 years of fa>le records with this special va which includes some of our favourite artists, house music legend of h-foundation fame halo varga kicks things off with his track “drift away” featuring cess, martyn tijn hodgson and lee daines follow up on the a side with a sinister grooving minimal house track “lmmdi”. on the flip egal 3 aka vid provides some analogue house action sure to get any dance floor moving and to finish off one of the young producers of the moment alessio viggiano with his track “vacant space”, which has been having huge support from janeret all year. limited pressing of 300 copies, vinyl only.

the comeback of the growing bins favourite private german jazz funk gem. spring is in the air and groove is in the heart for hamburgs most loveable record label. following the freak beat festival of wolf and wandts instrumentalmusik comes a release thats been in the pipeline since the organic imprint first took root the first reissue of the beautiful senora. beguiling and brilliant, this private press princess makes you want to dance, dream and do cartwheels, then breaks your heart when you realise youll never meet her a rare beauty indeed. so its time to let basso play cupid and introduce you to the love of your life

framework recordings continues to establish itself as a key new label, with a fourth great ep, this time with swiss artist o’hana delivering the beats.
this house music lover - real name adrien o’hana - hails from lausanne in switzerland and is a well-established dj in his home country playing regularly at clubs like folklor next to djs such as san proper. he’s also released on grand cru paris and has an accessible, heartfelt house sound perfectly exemplified here.
he opens his account here with the lovely ‘i tried’, a tieless bit of classically informed house music. it has rolling kicks and choppy percussion all run through with warm, streaming chords and a joyful feeling. ‘just 4 her (vox)’ is another lovely jam, with boom bap kick clap combos, dusty hi hats and feel good pianos fleshing out the beats with real soul.
on the flip, ‘dream on’ is another mid-tempo gem with roughhewn drums laying down a heavy groove as soulful male vocal samples and big strings burst through and bring the whole thing to life. it’s house music for cosy, happy dance floors and the final track is a dub version of ‘just 4 her’ with no vocals and more emphasis on the breezy grooves and summery flutes. this is authentic house music that brims with charm.

a proper various from howl italian artists, 4 different tracks to move the dance floor in 4 different mood. a1 from howl ensemble i’ts a warm heavy, late night house groovers with an incredible happy bassline that will spread love and smile to the dancers. a2 from nudge deep broken beats with a rolling bassline and crazy atmospheric voice that will stay in your mind forever. b1 from 616 very classy track driving mid 1990s. with fresh oldschool – not – oldschool, fresh and mind blowing in the same time. b2 from enrico mantini that found this rare pearl in a old tape on his studio, stunning bombs back in the early 90s, very elegant vibe consistently deep, refined and just a little bit trippy for a perfect after party

the second release in no bad days’ sister imprint no bad edits comes from montréal upstart unknown mobile, who first caught our ear with a lovely debut on asl singles club. here, he looks to the 1980s for inspiration, channeling that decade’s confidence and colour with three shimmering reworks. the a-side’s “dream state” matches its namesake, evoking a busy fourth world market scene, with pipes, bells and flutes chiming away in happy harmony.
on the flip, “programmer” is a slab of excitable and effects-slathered fusion funk, as if a computer has sprung to life and begun to dance. the 12” wraps with “valerian slip”, where unknown mobile folds the strands of silk from a free-form windham hill deep cut into a new shape, every bit as smooth as the original but with a nagging groove to underpin it.

ghana s dj katapila is back with more minimalist dance music productions, this time inspired in part by his travels overseas. following the success of the re-release of his trotro recording a couple years ago, katapila has been playing in europe and the uk, bringing his style of breakneck-paced, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink west african club music into a very different conte, giving katapila (real name ishmael abbey) inspiration in the kind of music he has heard in places like london. so he made some new music, here we go!

the latest work of keita sano s mad love records is a 12 inch split by up-and-coming musicians: daisuke kondo and keita sano. they hail from okayama!, the alternative dance music label mad love records, and continue to release good quality music one release after another. the fourth release features daisuke kondo who is part of a new generation of producers from the same town as keita sano.

for the first time iron curtis enters the ring over the full ep length for uncanny valley. there hasn t been much of a discussion whether or not this is something for uncanny valley when iron curtis approached the four label heads with this new pile of dance floor material. these tunes are too good. iron curtis must have been particularly inspired by the muse while producing these four outstanding house tracks. you ll feel a comprehensive knowledge about dance music s history when listening. no doubt, the franconian who is now based in berlin has spent a good time of analysing house music s techniques. -sweet romancer- is the best example for his studio eloquence. modulated synths, a classic bass line and a whole batch of drum ideas are combined into a wonderful track. the interplay between subtlety and vitality characterizes -nixdorf danse-. plus, you won t forget those strings. on -triroom- he proves that he has a knack for melodies as well. finally, -take me home- should provide a lot of emotional moments on the dance floor with its dramatic piano and crescendo-like synth line.

sha d underground trax comes forward with his first private pressed release, hailing from birmingham with a passion for basslines and vocals, the scalpel ep aims to deliver just that with a mix of electro, freestyle & boogie cut up, chopped and reworked focusing on the drums and raw basslines while bringing the silky vocals to the fore and removing all the cheese, for those of you who buy records looking for the dub versions or step pettibone remixes this is the perfect record for you, built by the dance floor for the dance floor, late night low slung sleaze business.

a special treat for all acid house lovers - three dixon avenue basement jams bundled up for the price of one! contains releases dabj-1203, dabj-1221 & dabj-1225.

a certain ratio aus manchester repräsentieren nachgerade beispielhaft die Ästhetik und kultur der postpunk-explosion der späten siebziger mute schickt sich nun an, den katalog der band in einer mindestens länger währenden veröffentlichungsoffensive erneut verfügbar zu machen die reissues sind teil der bereits laufenden zusammenarbeit zwischen der band und mute, die ihren anfang mit the graveyard and the ballroom, to each und force im letzten jahr genommen hatte. limitierte pressung auf transluzentem doppel-vinyl (45rpm), downloadcode inklusive.

celldod is swedish producer anders karlsson. anders has been active in the music scene for some time working on different musical projects, always with a strong diy ethic his celldod project has released several cassettes under his own label brutal disciplin and has also released records on suction records, kess kill and femur records. in 2017 anders released an album under the name vargd?d on opal tapes together with swedish techno artist varg. anders hardware driven sound has evolved over time now personifying finely sharpened ebm and techno crossover of the highest calibre. with a nod to the greats but with a forward thinking direction, we have four new cuts to destroy the darkest dance floors. relentless, bass-heavy and blown-out bangers. fans of daf and maybe 242 meets silent servant will be blown away. mastered by martin bowes at the cage, uk.

ivvy is a seattle techno and electronics producer. following two cassette releases (motor and jungle gym records), we are proud to release their new 12- ep on transfusions. ivvy has been burning tracks on the tour circuit as of late. here we have four cuts of relentless and dark-tinged techno for your listening pressure. finely sharpened dj weapons for the uncompromising selector. these tracks are akin to other stompers in the genre on such ne labels as mord, our circula sound, and token. -ivvy... harnesses the mantric power of swift, pummeling beats and beautifully abrasive timbres for maximal dance- oor freak-outs.- dave segal

aroop roy has been making waves with his unique sounds for the past few years, with a wealth of successful releases and a busy gig schedule at the helm of some of the best clubs around the world. by fusing elements of jazz, afro, latin, funk and soul with the deeper end of house and disco, aroop has forged his own style with eps on revered labels including g.a.m.m, basic fingers, freestyle and lazy days. for his delusions of grandeur debut he pulled out all the stops, delivering three original tracks which further show his diversity as an artist and ability to produce left of centre, quality underground music without losing sight of the dancefloor. things kick off with save our love, a track that’s absolutely brimming with energy thanks to punchy wurlitzer chops, tension-building philly strings, and a rock-solid disco groove. next up we have what i love which sees aroop take an altogether more freaky approach flipping an uptempo rolling break, distorted synth line, cross-rhythm stabs and rasping vocal cuts into an edgy dance floor workout. closing this brilliant ep is the low-slung bump of walk that walk featuring original vocals from oakland, ca based blacktroniks who delivers his flow on top of a bass-heavy slice of deep electro boogie.

2018 repress, standard lp jacket rather than the old school stoughton jacket as on the first edition, no dl card cultures of soul record brings to you an anthology of the music of evans pyramid. this album features all of the officially released singles plus four previously unreleased tracks. 1000 ltd pressing. delux gatefold stoughton paste-on jacket and download card to 4 previously unreleased bonus cuts. huge tip! andre evans was the mastermind behind evans pyramid, a seasoned performer and session player in boston throughout the 70s. full of unique disco and boogie stylings, this release includes all of the rare singles such as never gonna leave you, dip drop, no i wont and i want your body, as well as a recently discovered 45 that features two top-notch disco tracks - dance a thon and rubber band. the album also includes four unissued tracks taken from the original demo tapes. thanks to praise and adulation from gilles peterson, dj kon, the noble brothers and joey negro, as well as other respected djs and collectors around the world, evans pyramid is the undisputed king of boston boogie.

moss co. kicks off 2018 with the indivisual ep from the supremely talented mariano mateljan. mariano and label boss, archie hamilton have been talking about an ep on moss co. for a number or years, and it is a tribute to both of their perfectionism that it finally lands in all good stores april 6th. made in his home studio in split, the record came together from several analogue jam sessions. aimed squarely at the small hours, the deeply trippy and haunting tracks take influence from the micro house of the 90 labels like cabinet and perlon and producers like schatrax and matthew johnson. the record is a fine example of marianos ever-maturing sound timeless minimalistic house music that will cast a spell over dance floors the world over.

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

nu york groove sessions drops another hot lp of rare boogie, disco dub & holy grail cuts! followers of larry levans paradise garage, crate diggin fanatics & trainspotters alike should jump for joy when they hear this

amin ravelle is a new name on the scene. he conquer our hearts with some solid tracks. a1 is a tribal mantra, a perfect balance of power and suspended grooves. a2 goes deeper and stronger. in the b side francesco assenza gives the boost to the release with a powerful remix for hot dance floors. vinyl only

weve been big fans of general ludd from the start and are delighted to finally release something from them. these three tracks were made specifically to be played live during their panorama bar debut and it s pretty easy to imagine them rocking the joint! superb dark and trippy groovers destined to go straight in the bag of craig richards and ricardo.

people you may know is the alias of phran and ylia when they work together. both share a love of experimentation in dance music and improvisation in the creative process. they use drum machines, synthesisers and all kinds of pedals to arrive at the intersection of humour, psychedelia and the most hedonistic dance.

laconic phrases are all about less words and more sense. we use the same principles in our stripped down grooves which are released on fresh imprint - laconica. its all about minimalistic dance-floor tools which were tested in different clubs around the world, from kyiv s closer to concrete in paris.
for a debut ep, label founder alex pervukhin presents 3 different grooves. on the a-side you can find hommie groove, which is an excellent example of a broken-beat house music with good-old airy juno pads. on b side there are two 4/4 tools: bb, which could be heard in varhat’s mix for concrete which was so hyped last year. aa is a peak-time killer with analogue chords and jackin bassline. strong minimalistic grooves - exactly what laconica is all about.

after a year’s hiatus optimo music disco plates returns with the first of several planned releases.
first up is long time friend phil kieran with an ep made specifically with optimo in mind. it has been tried and tested over recent months and more than ticks all our boxes. we feel confident it will tick yours too.
phil says “the ep was recorded in my house and made up of mostly live percussion performed live by thomas tettey annang. originally from ghana, he moved to belfast some years ago. it just so happens his wife is a close friend of my sisters and that was the first introduction. thomas now runs -releasing rhythms” here in belfast teaching drum classes.
we used a wide selection of traditional african drums that all have their own name, each one has a style and a sound. the rhythms used in this record would stem back to south american rhythms but using african drums. this was a sound and rhythm that influenced early post punk records in new york and still has an influence on dance music today.”

mindblowing afro soul music from ivory coast served up by an obscure artist who only recorded four albums in between 1979 and the beginning of the 80’s. he created an original funky fusion with bété langage. a selection of four amazing tracks recorded in abidjan on two different records label called war records and as records. the music here is a mixture of funk with heavy basslines, traditional percussions, funky guitar riffs, nice horns section and lyrics in beté. the song «demonde» is inspired by harmonies of the famous «dance to the drummer beat» by herman kelly. those two rare records were found by afrobrazilero aka djamel hammadi and never appeared on the vinyl market. it’s almost impossible to have infos about this singer and composer neither the musicians involved in the recording sessions. most of the trace of the recording session were lost by the labels we licensed the tracks with. unique, pressed on a deluxe vinyl, remastered by the carvery, this very funky album is a must have for all the afro funk lovers!

mar & sol first release is aleluia lp from the cabo verde singer pedrinho. at the time, late 70 s, this lp was one of the biggest successes from cabo verde music. singer pedrinho moved to lisbon when he was 18 years old, and recorded this album, the first one of his career. aleluia was produced in the same street where mar & sol is based nowadays, in rua de s.bento, lisbon, portugal. this street was also where pedrinho come to live when he arrived in portugal, like the majority of the musicians and emigrants from the old african portuguese colonies move at that time, to try a new luck. a big community grew here and these artists got the opportunity to record their own traditional music by the hands of local labels. now is the time for mar & sol to give a new life to all this music, this is the first of many reissues that are coming to start the series of the label.