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.

word of advice to funk lovers, there is not a minute to lose. get on board of the big hustle’s spaceship. before we take off, let s do a little history. the band was founded in 2014 by bass player and composer sébastien levanneur and its aim is to bring together 70 s old school funk with the hippest actual sound laced with influences spanning from steely dan and headhunters, to snarky puppy and soulive. with mighty horn players, a rock and funky rhythm section, the big hustle s music has a very large variety of soundscapes. the first destination takes us to the washington, d.c. area with “turn up”. the groove is clearly go-go music flavored with the trademark sound of cowbells and of course it reminds us of zapp by the use of the talk box on lead vocals, performed here by saad el garrab. and don t miss out shaun martin (snarky puppy, erykah badu, kirk franklin amongst others) as a very special guest performing the talk box solo! second stop is “a curse, a blessing”. it’s an instrumental very much in the freddie hubbard vein during his cti years. the last leg of the a side ends with an instrumental interlude titled “flying donut”. double tribute to jay dee and flying lotus, the music is a simple hip hop loop based on samples. the b side takes us back into the past with two brilliant covers, involving rod temperton the late great british songwriter who scored some of michael jackson s biggest hits. now the idea for this b side is to do the opposite approach from the a side. taking 70 s and 80 s original music and make them travel into time to 2018. we first land with a heatwave song named “the star of a story” from their 1976 central heating album. track 2 is a herbie hancock song named “gettin to the good part” from his 1982 lite me up lp. this time traveler ep journey ends with an interlude. called “gimme dat”, the song deals with the need of new music, new sound. again, this blend of deep rooted funk laced with a contemporary edge is to be consumed without moderation. and do not forget that e.p. also stands for extended pleasure.

mad dancer ep is freda’s second offering through sydney imprint moonshoe records - the record maintains the raw crunchy nature of his debut whilst he progresses into more dissonant atmospheres. wobbling jazz loops guide the a side through 2 up-tempo yet calming house tracks. the title track mad dancer is kept alive by crunchy, swinging hi-hats and bouncy synth melodies. smoking causes is a slow burning take on disco. on the flip (breakfast) is the curveball of the 3 tracks. a darker mood is established before a syncopated break drives the ep home, exemplified by a sliding dissonant synth melody.

stallone the reducer is back. stallone takes you on a one way trip that will make your head rattle, clattle and clank. indecipherable robot voices guide you, while the busted up drums and industrial strength synths push you back and forth. this one is for the brave. lock in.

for the third volume of compilations curated by confirmed crate diggers, spacetalk invites you to take a trip to the magical mediterranean resort of club meduse in the company of beachfreaks records co-founder charles bals.
a creative director, designer and curator by trade, bals spends the majority of his spare time searching for superb, unknown, small-run music releases made between the 1970s and 1990s. while some of these are made available for other enthusiasts to buy via beachfreaks’ mail-order service, many more make it into the racks of bals’ private collection. with club meduse, bals is sharing rare, hard-to-find and just plain brilliant gems from his personal stash for the very first time.
for club meduse, bals was inspired by countless magic childhood summers spent playing amongst the rocks, beaches and warm seas of the cote d’azur. the compilation, then, is a soundtrack to the greatest soft-focus, sunlit teenage summer holiday you’ve never had, with a gaggle of forgotten musicians and overlooked artists for company.

the second release on kons officially licensed kontemporary imprint is here this time he takes on one of disco s anthems to devastating effect, deftly reworking sylvester s evergreen over & over. a true dance-floor bomb, over & over is just one of those records, originally written by the legendary team of ashford & simpson its inevitable that this jam oozes class. kon has lovingly freaked the original master tapes into 2 brand new, fresh versions that will undoubtedly find their way into any self-respecting disco freaks dj set. on side a we have his found a friend remix, a beautifully reimagined and restructured version that leaves lots of space and let s those wonderful strings really soar, finally crescendoing in total disco glory! it s no wonder that the mighty dj harvey has been closing his sets with this one. pure class. on side b we are treated to an amazingly bold dub mix, in keeping with the traditions of the classic labels, west end, prelude, fantasy and co, its sparse, melodic and contains just enough juice to keep the people dancing and asking for more! this is an essential official release, 2 future classic mixes from one of the world s best remixers further sonically enhanced by boston native caserta on the mix. licensed courtesy of the concorde music group.

‘lillygood party!’ is the brand new bbe compilation from highly respected swiss dj alex attias. taking its name from a party he runs in his native lausanne, lillygood has gradually evolved into a radio show and even a label, now on its 4th release. refecting the music he plays at the clubnight, ‘lillygood party!’ is packed with funk, disco, deep house and boogie bullets from across the globe. “the idea is to present not only rare or difcult tracks to fnd, simply good grooves for people to play out, or listen to at home.”
from rare japanese disco gems, through spiritual jazz, to genre defying sounds from broken-beat cohorts kaidi tatham and dego, ‘lillygood party!’ takes a unique trip inside the musical mind of one of dance music’s true nonconformists.
alex attias got his start in back in ’88 playing funk, house, jazz, and disco, as well as producing under various monikers such as mustang, freedom soundz or beatless. moving to london in ’97 he started his ‘visions’ label and found himself at the epicentre of the emerging west london ‘broken beat’ scene which grew around his studio at goya. releases on people, planet e, ubiquity, neroli, archive and compost followed, as well as remixes for incognito, 4hero, ennio morricone, sun ra, art blakey, roni size and laurent garnier among others.

after the first two 12inches from label founder deep88 himself, ascii records turns to a whole host of different characters to remix those tracks with some stunning and varied results. luis cl is up first, taking a decidedly mellow approach to harmony that tips into a heavy lidded early 90s deep house mood perfectly, while rnr take the robert owens-featuring believe in you and make it into a stirring, tense but ultimately emotional acid-laced floor track. rhythm 2 soul do a gentle job on la beija, mhcrew take a larry heard-esque approach on rotation and jimini lets the space in the mix tell its own story.

after launching last year with who, get your copy returns to the fray with a little help from italian powerhouse steve murphy. the producer gets plenty of action on labels like hot haus, chiwax, lobster theremin and more besides, so you know you re going to get a solid dose of tuff house business delivered with that gutsy roman attitude. -everything u know- channels an abundance of 90s vibes, from the nagging chord stab to the understated speech sample, while -infiltrator- takes a tribal direction without losing the old-skool flavour. both cuts are perfectly shaped for the dance, whether you want to hit a peak time note or take the crowd deep into the groove

pushing movies is a collaborative project from jeffrey sire and dimitri soemotional that celebrates the vintage tones of italo disco, synth pop and all things slick and 80s. -thinking about you- does indeed sound like it could have been made 30 years ago - from the slap bass to the reverse drum fills, plastic fm synth lines and overall aspirational tone, it s the consummate extended 12- mix track. lauer takes the original and smacks it up sharp with some tougher drums and a greater sense of urgency, and then fort romeau takes a subtle approach that keeps much of the original spirit of the track intact while honing the edges for maximum club play and using some cosmic synth flourishes to devastating effect.

the producer crew around footjob completes catalogue number 12 with the first ever label-sampler, highlighting their love for a variety of styles. le rubrique starts the journey with an afro disco banger, followed by a funky piano piece from phonk d and the jazz formation triorität for all the old school lovers out there. the flipside continues with an extraordinary dancefloor filler by lukas lehmann and the labels own supergroup pallaspeople. on the last track sascha ciminiera takes us into the deepness of meditative house music with a sexy sax line. you better cop that!

the next release on brazil s ever-promising disco steamer gop tun comes from renato cohen. cohen has been an infrequent mainstay of brazilian dance music for a long time now, most recently appearing on kling klong, tronic and 100% pure. his releases may not come around every day, but he makes them count when they do. -dynadisco- is a spaced out slow burner with a looped up groove and simmering pads building towards a powerful, funk-fuelled bass drop. -party jam- takes a lighter approach, keeping the samples sprightly and even sprinkling a little acid magic into the tune. it gives whatever/whatever plenty to be working on their remix, which spreads across the b side in a fit of electro-disco finery.

known for releases on labels like overall music, innercircle and frole records, back to basics regular barnsley begins 2018 by returning to his vessel records imprint with big move ep . consisting of two low-slung originals, the release also includes remixes from bass culture founder d julz and cabinet records bosses cabdrivers. a compelling groove lays the foundation of time whilst quivering synths operate throughout, leading into d julz s remix that twists the original into a moody roller with tightly executed 808s at its core. forgiveness starts with clanking percussion as melodies add to the heightening atmosphere, while the cabdrivers remix takes the key elements of the original and plays with the harmonies to make them coarser.

it s the fourth go round for monsieur blue, who steps back up to the plate with another three surefire jams from the slinkier side of the minimal house spectrum. -track 1- is an exquisite trip through blue-hued keys and shuffling drums, striking a fine balance between the lounge and the dancefloor. -track 2- takes a moodier approach, eking out mysterious chords and injecting a little juice into the low end to suit a more rugged situation, and then -track 3- jettisons the ballast and pings off into a dubbed out sphere of house music perfectly crafted for the times you want to get lost at sea.

it s been a little while since we last heard from donnell knox, but he s back in action finally on his regular haunt sonic mind with some of that evergreen us techno tackle that he s forged a long and winding career out of. -no time- is steeped in the smoky pads of the motor city, with a rugged rhythm section and errant bleeps thrown in to seal the deal. -rat race- takes things in a more housey direction, but there s still a certain mysticism that reaches beyond the average club banger. -sick mind- continues the theme, but ties more knots in the programming to make for another essential slice of techno, and then -repetition- finishes the job with a razor sharp slice of sky-scraping hardware science.

drum union is a new series documenting the different shades of leftfield house. london based tony nwachukwu (aka attica blues aka wah-chu-ku) provides a deep broken dub techno monster. manuel fischer presents a beat-driven disco-influenced track to make any dance-floor burn and mitsubishi galaxy, who are also known as jack pattern take us into a wavy trip to another dimension. look like rounds it up and is merging afro-cuban rhythms with modern electronica soundshapes. a journey wider and deeper than most of the average 4/4 business!

perc & truss’ statement of rave intent “leather & lace” returns when you least expected it, this time in the form of three new remixes from an all-star cast of producers. leading the charge are perc trax’s breakout starts of last year ghost in the machine who build upon their trademark kick drum volley with reese basslines, swearing pads and a stretched out arrangement that showcases all that they are capable of. flip it over and tectonic main man pinch takes a different approach with his uniquely bristolian take on techno, featuring everything from primitive computer bleeps to the kind of broken rhythms he and his label are known for. closing things off is the wildcard of the set as mumdance and logos step away from their weightless sound to serve up a tough, acid driven take that nods it’s head to the classic sounds of bonzai and eye-q.

farron gets back on shaw cuts with his fourth record, invincible shaolin a tale of double-dealing, rivalry, royalty and bad blood. manchu general pus evil quest to eradicate the shaolin tradition unfolds, cunningly pitting north and south shaolins against each other. spring break ya neck opens the clash with its rhythmic shifts and whirling synth pads. the northern masters prevail. after pus henchmen secretly kill the southern shaolin, the general blames the masters from the north, unleashing chaos. cosmicaph restores order, its pounding drums and floating melodies giving new strength to the southern shaolin. revenge must be taken. to prepare for conquer, the southern master sends three of his disciples to three masters to learn their secret weapons. sir hatch sets the pace with rolling punches, dirty synths and sharp percussion as the three disciples transform into lethal fighting machines. just before the final encounter between the shaolin, leibniz lands on the scene with his fresh interpretation of spring break ya neck, revealing to both schools that they have been deceived. joining forces, north and south battle the general and his men, led by leibnizs funky drum patterns and turbulent synth action. and the shaolin spirit lives on

milan based collective just this are proud to present the ‘absolute infinity ep’, a joint release from netherlands-based producers sinfol and octual. featured in this package are two remixes from gerd janson prescribing a heavy dose of acid. title track is a stripped back groove with a looping synth lead that wanders through ricocheting drums. for his first remix gerd muffles the framework of the original, making room for a floating melody and warm lead, whilst the ‘acid only’ version takes the components of the original and throws them into a bath full of acid. closing off the ep is ‘wire’, a moody dancefloor cut for the after-hours.

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.

smx are max o brien and sam purcell (blank mind). sleep is an intoxicating live jam recorded in october 2015 during a period of emotional upheaval, exploring themes of discordance and euphoria. on thief, koehler says: take what you need and take it anyway you can. if you get it, you deserve it, because it means you earned it. but just remember one thing: whatever you take can be taken from you too, so think long, act fast and do so with honour and pride or all will become chaos. designed by alex mccullough. mastered by beau thomas.

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.

the strike team ep is the second in the trilogy of releases introducing the world to the sound of the stripper. the title track is a rare hybrid of modern day production and timeless influences transformed through the prism of 1990’s hardcore, jungle, and broken beat. you and your favorite dj like to close your sets with classic jungle tracks? well, the stripper is here with a monster for the middle of your set, pacing at a cool 128 bpm. following it is the hidden gem of the record, culture vulture: an impossible to pinpoint breakbeat laced melodic odyssey. similar to “consciousness proliferation” (back 2 93 mix) from sleeve-01, culture vulture takes you on a journey inspired by the irresistible grit and beauty of the early 1990’s sound from the city of coventry and producers like skanna and essence of aura. flipping the record to side 2, the stripper gives you an absolute burner of a techno track intended for the heaviest and sweatiest of social settings. the atmospheric pads are pointing to the producer’s undeniable rave influences and love for illegal parties around the world. the final track of the record is the stripper tying back the european influences with his unquestionable debt to the american midwest: melodic, deep, and irresistible. this is a physical release of a four track ep. it contains music tracks intended for social settings. suitable for dj sets of varying styles in the range of 125 - 135 bpm. the material presented here is also available digitally. all tracks produced, mixed, and stripped by stripper™ using digital synthesizers and sequencers.

yesterdays tomorrows is moomins 3rd album and the first of his to be released on wolf music recordings. the album see s moomin showcasing the natural, organic sound he is known for, applying his production technique to house, as well as venturing into beatdown territory with 90s new york hip hop, and his uniquely moomin take on liquid drum & bass.

the next instalment in the my rules catalog sees label owner justin van der volgen take on japanese house legend yukihiro fukutomi aka foog s techy club jam flying . originally available as a digital-only release, it s twisted into two exclusive new versions. on the a-side edit, justin travels down the less walked path of splicing and shortens the track, which along with his subtle drum additions tastefully amplify and sharpen the feeling of tension and release. the b-side dub is a heavy bass and drum mix complete with flanged hissing hi-hats, alien claps and cavernous echoes.

a repress of our & co. ep, which was originally released in 2015. features both a rub-n-tug remix and a force of nature remix of the title track best of friends. on side a is a remix from the once new york based dj duo rub-n-tug. a2 is from the japanese dj duo force of nature. both are fitting to remix the title best of friends since we feel they are close to us. on the b side, we have the sought after original best of friends track and wine cooler bianca chandon presents & co. & co. started out as a small group of friends who surfed and skateboarded together. as they hung out in venice and shared their interests and ideas about music, sounds started to take shape. what started off with no intentions of being anything serious began to develop, inspiring music composer alberto bof, music advisor paul t. and music coordinator alex olson to think about avenues of release. inspired by a seigen ono record put out for comme des garcons in 1988 olson got the idea to release the trio s project under his brand bianca chandon. this limited 12 has embodied the spirit of the creators and the motivation of the brand to become bianca s first record release.

drake white’s debut album spark shot to 1 on the itunes top country albums chart upon release. drakes emotional ballad makin me look good again won him the 2017 british country music association award for international song of the year. with strong support from bbc radio 2, chris country (leading uk country radio station) and critics across the board as well as an avid fanbase, drake’s return with his second album and a new tour is highly anticipated. this exclusive vinyl with blue and transparent marbling on the disc will be made available exclusively in the uk for record store day.

get in the car, we re goin to the cirque du freque, starring normal ones, deepchord, and lost lake. a journey from the murky depths to the boogie caves, from your pals at make mistakes. on the a side, deepchord crafts a driving, shifting, wall of noise. melodic stabs and resonant fuzz coat a pulsing beat and bass. hypnotic and divine, deepchord s take on the original is a potent, psychedelic tool for the late night warehouse dance floor. the original shines bright, a playful groove with an undercurrent of menace. with that sweet, sweet growling bass, and tip-a-tap percs, skittering all about, cirque du freque brings the dirty heat. cirque du freque carries an old school vibe, with modern sensibilities, a memorable jam for sweaty frantic, nights. every time the label features lost lake, he delivers an original, compelling dance floor jam, while retaining a warm, familial vibe. you ll know it when you hear it, as lost lake s pure electro funk works its way through your soul. one of those tracks you drop down into to relieve some pressure in the room, a deep sigh of release in preparation for the next round. as always, make mistakes brings high quality and varied content to the table. cirque du freque is another versatile, high quality record, that any dj can stick in their crate knowing it ll find a way to fill a special moment in any nigh

local talk are honoured to welcome trevor lawrence jr. with a cv that reads the who s who in the music scene today, lawrence s performance and recording credits include herbie hancock, stevie wonder and quincy jones to name a few. tiptoe is taken from trevor s debut solo record, relationships , released in 2017. on this 7- - the very first on local talk - we re re-releasing the original together with a remix by dj spinna. on the a side the brooklyn legend applies his magic touch to tiptoe , combining warm and soulful vibes with a house touch. a must-have for not only for the soulful house heads but also anyone that loves quality in music.

tokyo tag-team kei and nagi sugano, aka dazzle drums, have been responsible for secret weapons in the bags of some of the finest djs since their debut in 2005. in addition to supporting danny krivit each time he plays in tokyo, the duo periodically floats him exclusive edits to test out during his expansive sets. two of these in particular have become regular features on m. k s dance floors, and it is these prime choices that have been selected for the latest release on most excellent unlimited. -brothers gonna work it out- takes the cinematic soul classic and toughens it up with a propulsive drum track and immaculate editing to extend and energize the already powerful tune. -get down boy- is a relentlessly driving disco cut whose dramatic synth-and-string heavy instrumentation provides a plush bed for seductive female vocals before giving way to a tremendous bass break that is certain to leave dancers in a sweat. reverently mastered and spread over a wide-grooved 12-inch single, it s another meu sure-shot.

digital releases his second lp within 2 years called -total control-. &#8232,,,,its not a massive collab fest like his 2016 lp ‘synthesis’ although, there’s a few on there with artists nomine, john b, villem and digital’s phantom audio partner, spirit. a strong jungle vibe runs right through this lp. the opening track, ‘motherland’ has crisp breaks, a bassline to die for and a haunting unforgettable vocal. other highlights are seba’s lush remix of digital & response’s, ‘silver lining’. ‘on the rockz’ sounds like a solid piece of 1998 drum and bass, ‘total control’ is superb and certainly one for the hardcore ravers, ‘dreamer’ takes you on a journey you’ve never been before. this is the first of 4 records, pressed on red vinyl.

digital releases his second lp within 2 years called -total control-. &#8232,,,its not a massive collab fest like his 2016 lp ‘synthesis’ although, there’s a few on there with artists nomine, john b, villem and digital’s phantom audio partner, spirit. a strong jungle vibe runs right through this lp. the opening track, ‘motherland’ has crisp breaks, a bassline to die for and a haunting unforgettable vocal. other highlights are seba’s lush remix of digital & response’s, ‘silver lining’. ‘on the rockz’ sounds like a solid piece of 1998 drum and bass, ‘total control’ is superb and certainly one for the hardcore ravers, ‘dreamer’ takes you on a journey you’ve never been before. this is the second of 4 records, pressed on yellow vinyl.

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.

its a pleasure to get behind your friends from around world, in fact that’s the motive behind the breadth of the esp institute catalogue, but its truly a special feeling to represent your friends and your neighborhood at the same time. producers sonns (alexandre mouracade) and the mysterious venice beach native tavish graham are both long time friends of the esp institute family, we break bread, we take care of each other, and we cherish our collaborations more than anything, but we’re also neighbors. that said, esp is proud to announce a homegrown endeavor, the debut of sonns & tavish. the two have long been stewards of the los angeles underground, but after loads of early morning banter and the camaraderie that comes with this smoke’n’strobe life, they’ve now committed their singular vision to print—two epic cuts that make us proud. side a’s title track trycksaker is a thumper, a mid-tempo big-drum-laden beast that chugs the whole way through carrying an array of eerie bleeps and fleeting sighs. side b’s roguish days pulls together influences from various corners of the pair’s dj repertoire, gelling a wicked breakbeat with a wormy acid bassline and even more exotic sighs, something that might possibly grow into a signature of sorts. this release is ready just in time for the spring/summer exploits, and we couldn’t be more proud to finally enjoy hearing these heavy-hitters in the club. tip!

one of sonic groove s longest standing label artists, realmz returns with an infectious well rounded four cut extended ep entitled “mindfold”. straight out of pittsburgh the steel city capital of the usa realmz has been involved in electronic music since the last decade of the 20th century. growing up on a steadfast diet of industrial/ebm/idm/detroit techno and drum & bass, realmz has taken inspiration from these many underground forms of electronic music. in his signature style, the sci-fi sound design on “mindfold” weaves it s way in an out of bleak futuristic overtones set across a multitude of uniquely written broken beat and 4/4 drum rhythms. this heavily thought provocative & extremely well produced, contemporary industrial techno ep is a must for any aficionado of the genre.

matt edwards newly launched reissue label, r-time records, prepares its third release, the second instalment of sir lord comixx retroactive. r-time records shines a light on classic tracks that didnt always get the recognition they deserve, with the labels first two releases coming from sir lord comixx and fbk. real name amoon andrews, sir lord commix’s discography has been in high demand for many years, evident by soaring market prices. the a-side of retroactive (part two) features two tracks from a rare untitled release on hard up, whilst the b-side is made up of chicago jazz from the funk box ep on eukahouse (under his a.moon moniker in 98) and motionvibe from azid jazz ep on cynic in 05. cosmic synths join wonky arps in ur my omen before moving into the more up-tempo fog horn with its robust drums, off-beat bleeps and filtered effects. chicago jazz takes things into deeper territories with crystalline rhodes and jazz-influenced samples until motionvibe concludes the package with its syncopated structure comprised of twisted sounds, murky atmospherics and effervescent nuances.

ltd 2018 repress -- animals dancing follow up their debut release with a fleshy three-track ep from dude energy, the latest project from las diego herrera (aka suzanne kraft). his renowned sundrenched, west coast warmth is all but thrown out the window in this testosterone filled nocturnal emission. come take a ride with dude energy on this throbbing tour de force.

the dundee label has produced their first vinyl release which contains hypnotic-electro tracks on both sides. side-a comes from the french-duo, crossmods who have supplied three guaranteed dance floor- fillers with a snappy electronic feel throughout. on the flip-side, edmundy and j wax have taken care of supplying two equally intricate melodic electro tracks to put the dundee electro-scene on the ma

2018 has a lot in store for london spiritual jazz outfit emanative, with a full double lp and several remixes forthcoming, as well as some full live band appearances and dj gigs. “planet b” is the band’s first release of the year and it takes them in a slightly different direction, on a completely different vibration entirely, with an epic nine minute, almost post punk, afrobeat, disco and jazz inspired piece aimed at the leftfield dancefloor.

ltd 2018 repress !!! melbourne party enthusiasts animals dancing launch their self titled label with the sophomore release from krautback duo coober pedy university band (tornado wallace & william paxton aka tom moore of otologic). kookaburra, once described as *a bit too mental for me*, continues in the vein of their moon plain release, but this time takes it a step further. perhaps too far.

solid void ep is setaoc mass sixth release on sk_eleven following from the reframe ep which came in december. the british producer plays to his strengths and delivers four tracks - rich in depth, texture and hypnotism. “light” falls opens the ep with its gentle ambience combined alongside welcoming, warm synth-lines. a2 and b1 “true lies” and “eurythmic” both take the tougher route, brandishing two cuts of tough techno sam is known for, always ready for the peak-time. the ep is wrapped together with a signature electro excursion “jenagan sivakuma” - rife with euphoria and groove.

proper mixed bag this one soothing, grinding, banging, and disturbing! new york city by way of miami, alex suarez delivers his debut lp the eight track autogolpe for l.i.e.s. autogolpe, is a term for military coup initiated by a dictator to take control of an existing government and suarez uses this loose idea to create the sonic equivialent of the pain, strife, oppression, isolation, and joyous freedom associated with said act. musically he expands on his prior releases for bank and primitive languages as heavy industrialized sonic beatings sit next to somber passages, oil drum slow beat tribal clangers provide a back drop for screams shooting out of the dark. musically it paints a distorted picture of world in decline, an exile from another land and arrivial to anothers in chaos or the clinging hope of something better on the other side.

two tracks taken from rush hour surinam funk force compilation. indo-surinamese singer, cynthias jhoom le (1980) is wonderfully skewed synth disco gem! the track was previously only featured on the cd version of the comp. another fav, astarias jamasa roro (1979), a driving carribean style disco bomb, appears on the flip.

ltd 2018 repress -- the first of 2 samplers taken from the tales from beyond the tone arm cd selected by frankie himself. this first sampler focuses on classics. pressed on blue vinyl!

sterns edits returns after their well received and recently repressed amadou balake excursions, this time with ben gomori turning his hand to guinea for a third instalment in the series of re-works from the sterns music catalogue of african gems. balla et ses balladins were one of guinea s national orchestras formed as a result of the newly elected president, sekou toures authenticite policy of the early 1960s, which sought to promote guinea s cultural identity following independence from france in 1958. gomori takes the scalpel to two cuts recorded during their years on the state-run syliphone label, making good use of bandleader balla s lively trumpet playing. the gently haunting nyo is taken on a stomping slo-mo chug with a head-nodding bassline and stuttering fx creating a shimmering effect on the tropical guitars, while the rousing horns of wilikabo are laid over with rasping synth bass for a punchy juxtaposition. sterns edits is an official collaboration between african music stalwarts sterns music and london s ben gomori.

on this joint ep with reggie dokes, gari explores the world of deepness without hesitation. he takes us on an intergalactic mind trip, while keeping it true to the dancefloor. on the a side is reggie dokes, who gives us deep house, then without shame moves us into that detroit style of techno, cultivated by the motor city. mr. dokes likes to walk in both worlds of house and techno, and not confine himself to one particular genre. this ep is the perfect marriage of two creative producers, who bring excitement and inspiration to the dancefloor.

its been a year and a half since we last saw la fleur grace watergate records with a proper ep, having been featured on remix duties for sashas trigonometry and her contribution femton to the celebrated 15 years compilation. so her brand new outbreaker ep arrives just in time to curb any impatience you might have waiting for her signature blend of house and techno aesthetics fused with modern production techniques that sets her apart from her peers. la fleur kicks things off with a wild heaving bass line and crisp, distinctive organic claps on ‘devils sigh setting the tone for the hypnotic groove that soon turns into a high energy burner of explosive bursts and an incredibly unique lead guaranteeing an absolute hit. it only gets better when one of the hottest acts on the scene, tuff city kids, lend their talents for a remix and turn devils sigh into an analog heavy, future-retro banger thats as different as it is the same as the original, creating a perfect alternative to the already killer original. wrapping things up, la fleur takes it a little slower and deeper with outbreaker by utilizing lush organic percussion and washed out guitars to build a tune that will be the anthem for early mornings, open airs and beach sessions alike. we couldnt be happier to have the first lady of watergate back at the controls and we think you will agree.

spanish techno artist aiken is back on his own timeline label with another ep that offers up four more of his evocative takes on the genre. it comes after previous outings on non series and semantica and is his label’s first release since 2016. “basic principles” is up first and mesmerises with a pulsing lead synth line that forever changes shape. pummelling drums power along below and add up to a disorientating and hypnotic overall effect. “theory” is deeper and more rubbery, with manic synths and pads all racing along and pilling on the pressure while “midline” is right out fo the jeff mills playbook with its molten sci-fi synths journeying through outer space. clean, crips drums are upright and taught and get you on your toes, then “restriction” closes things out in superb minimalist fashion. this ep covers plenty of ground, and all of it is utterly compelling.

gab jr. is back on automatic writing! first cut ep features 4 original tracks showcasing the diversity of its influences, from garage house to minimal techno and all in between. the name of the ep isn t randomly chosen, as all tracks have been recorded in one take. 4 groovy fragments of imagination, automatically written on wax.