having first linked up with london-based coyote records in early 2015, grade 10’s forever returns to the label proper for his first full ep project, hymn which explores the myriad sounds, layers and textures that have come to define his music.
the delicate, slow-burning cinema of widescreen opener gweilo, the shadowy eeriness of hymn and the crunchy, industrial club heat of swamped each point to different reference points, but all feel interlinked by forever’s grip on atmosphere and tone.
coyote label mate, chemist - also one third of planet mu trio, silk road assassins - also turns in a booming edit of hymn, complete with re-booted, icy melodies that fire off like shards of glass, and rude, 808 patterns that nod to his work with sra.

!! 2018 repress !! flying high after their successful watergate 22 compilation, catz n dogz return to deliver eight exclusive tracks from their mix via two eps showcasing their expert ability to navigate a multitude of different styles. ep 1 commences with catz n dogz original fire burning when we are, a tune that sees them flying solo to create a stunning journey that lands somewhere sonically between carl craig and henrik schwarz where infectious drums reinforce an ensemble of dramatic harmonies tangling with euphoric melodies. afterglow follows suit with an attitude infused vocal from shaun j. wright laid over a trek into a world where old school vibes meet a new school plan of attack resulting in an absolute floor filler perfect for any time. rounding out the ep are remixes from two of the best: prosumer and sebo k. prosumer steps up first to rework fire burning when we ar’ and creates a massive tune with the signature prosumer touch, evident in the timelessness and maturity of the reimagining. sebo k in turn hands over a jackin remake of afterglow by staying true to the original by keeping everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.

schlachthofbronx conclude their haul & pull up series with another strong statement of an ep. in their trademark hybrid style, the munich bass boys showcase their versatility from writing hypnotic and sensual electronic melodies all the way to the ruffest club weapons. keeping close to their roots, all of these tunes have been extensively tested on big soundsystems to make sure they make a lasting impression.

back in stock since a long time ... for years, jeff mcilwain has been recording music as lusine that expertly straddles the electronic/pop divide, with a certain distance, mcilwain cracks open his productions to reveal the beauty lurking within. a certain distance sees mcilwain employing human vocals and pop structures, hooks and melodies in the service ofsomething warmer and more welcoming than the lusine of old. mapping human emotions via technology may be an insurmountable task, but a certain distance brings mcilwain closer than most to achieving the impossible.

next up on xvi records, we welcome back south london based producer munro for his second release. having recently participated in the brownswood future bubblers project, he brings his signature heavily percussive flavour to these two perfectly crafted tracks. first track miss your love is a shuffling, soulful, groove laden voyage - its sliding synths and wandering bass line provide a solid backdrop foe its iconic vocal ideal for those late night dance floor moments. on the flip,‘environments ten embarks on a deeper, more atmospheric journey. its scattered, layered drums patterns join together in a thick wall of rhythm, setting the scene for uplifting joyous melodies to slowly elevate above, reverberating around the outer realms of expansive production.

usas jon hester serves up four heady techno cuts for the second installment in rekids newly launched techno orientated series special projects. based in berlin, hesters discography may be humble but it is one of pure quality. the american techno producer has released on rodhads dystopian, appeared on a release alongside the likes of dj richard, hinode and arthur kimskii (point break) on l.a.g., and now joins the rekids special projects series featuring fbk, markus suckut and dj deep. heaving distorted kicks and echoing stabs lay the blueprint to inertia whilst intricate hats make way for metallic melodies. speeding things up, on the move is a more driving cut in comparison with its trippy atmospherics and crunchy percussion, whereas the surging short circuit demonstrates syncopated percussion and ominous synths for a rhythmic dancefloor workout. finally, neurons sees various cosmic elements ebb in and out of the mix for a mesmerising conclusion.

the white house is announcing the ban of i/y008, the first official ban concerning an alternate techno record in the history of the united states. i am honored to see my husband protecting our children and serving my country, and i look forward to banning more music on behalf of the american people over the coming years, the first lady said. from climate change to aliens to personal investments and to music, we are keeping our promises in methodically overturning regulations and sounds adopted by reptilians.” the impeachment of alternate artists is expected to gain massive support from the country scene for up to two years, 542 people would be directly related to the issue. • i/y008 consists of 4 tracks by the i/y duo, and reportedly destroyed the ears and minds of our white house press secretary and president. as a candidate, mr. president said i am going to bring back the music and melodies that have been stripped away from you, the people. this starts now.

gera taraman is a ukrainian producer and designer who elegantly combines ultramodern sound design with burning grooves. raised in a family of music teachers, he chose another musical path with the help of the autechre, eno and ricardo villalobos records which determined the direction of his tech house and techno experiments. his absolutely beautiful analog recordings have a jazzy touch, excellent development of ideas, never ending melodies and chord progressions etc. >claws sharp< and >purpur< were produced in the ukrainian part of the carpathian mountains - at the very heart of nature results in an unconventionalmusicality that we miss in dance music these days. as for remixes, we have chosen the brilliant bruno pronsato and fumiya tanaka to skillfully remix gera s production. as a result, this synergy brings you four diverse, intelligent, philharmonic and minimalistic tracks.

rough distorted rhythms and hazy melodies. a combination of raw machine jams and jagged textures of frazzled pads. fuzzy aesthetics built by field recordings, samples and personal memories. in his debut on sonic moiré, nnls musically refers to the streets of his home in italy.

mano le tough is set to release his second 12inch on maeve, the label he cofounded with baikal and the drifter in 2012. the label was born from the idea to release hypnotic dancefloor dedicated music, and this release certainly stays true to that. big words from the small mouth arrives on the a side of maeve 11 with quite the clatter. searing synth jams scatter over a brooding kick/sub bass combo. the sharp crisp percussion drives the track forward all the time, while various bleets, squeals and swells develop throughout giving the track a raw rave vibe. arganol on the flip is a trippy affair. touching 9 mins long, this track feels like mano le tough right from the outset, patient in its approach whilst slowly telling the listener its story. the narrative unravels through woozy melodies and melancholic cameos culminating in a burst of movement and energy perfect for the wee hours of a dancefloor.

garrett david & colin johnson present a new chicago-based imprint focused on simplicity. the two find solace in hazy rhythms and meditative melodies. limited 500 screen-printed jackets.

after the release of its 5 year anniversary ep with ricardo villalobos & umho, drumma records starts off 2017 with its sixteenth release - resolutions by faster. the romanian artist brings us three outstanding dance floor tracks. >got to give< is an excellent club piece with a funky minimal ostinato, perfect for energetic and deep sets. the tracks long duration keeps us constantly floating and finally reaches a zenith half-way through. without a doubt, this composition will allow long, purposeful mixes and calm any crowds jitters. on the b-side, >got to take< is a track with a relaxed tempo where beautiful bells and percussive instruments ring out while we feel ethereal and mysterious melodies forming as landscapes in the background of a painting. a perfect b-side to listen to at home or to bring down a club in a sunrise set. 180g and vinyl only!

the 8th release of polybius trax will be an ep of myriadd, name which craig stainton (mantra / bunker den haag / solar one music) distils acid house that evokes us to the golden age of the genre. analogue drums, droning acid bass and 303-bating riffs. delivers the hard-hitting jack-attack that is -a new day” the utterly chicago- fuelled. melancholy synth and ethereal melodies that ascend and dissolve into neon clouds. infectiously funky drums, warm, enveloping synth atmospherics and elevated by lush, bass acid lines that make the body sweat on the dance floor

following a joint live performance in 2016, butter sessions present the latest collaborative effort from albrecht la brooy (analogue attic) & sleep d (butter sessions). this ep sees al & sd blend their respective styles in a stimulating way. from 50 begins the ep with steady 909 grooves and a subtle oscillating acid bass that builds into another dimension. hotham breaks the pace with atmospheric space leads looking down on a mountain of kick drums. banksia is the most psychedelic of the four, planting seeds of heavily resonating synths atop of floating drum rhythms and warm melodies. lastly, sleeping patterns takes it down a few notches into a daydream of flute-like synths and distant nostalgic vocals.

the band scarletts fall is a duo formed in 2014 by ruth childs (british-american performance artist and singer based in geneva) and stephane vecchione (swiss performance artist and musician based in lausanne). they define themselves as dirty-girlie-kitchen-pop mixing catchy melodies and repetitive looping with fragile vocals and provocative texts. out of their playfully ironic and poetic universe you can ear shades of can, broadcast and young marble giants.

sheffield newcomer atdhe impressed with his soulful remix of kamal imani s cosmic being on recent monologues records release dialogue vol. 2 . can i borrow a feeling is a classy, stripped-back slab of piano-driven deep house, earl st. groove is atmospheric and chugging with more warm melody abounding, and niche dreams rounds off with a hazy low-slung roller. label boss ben gomori injects earl st groove with a galloping tribal rhythm on his remix, honing in on some of those tasty melodies.

the fifth modern cathedrals release by altstadt echo seeks to exhume genuine, complex, and often contradictory human emotion from dead samples and broken beat structures. throughout the 1905 ep, the artist crafts melodies that embody a tension between nostalgia and frustration, supported by carefully textured and relatively functional percussion. the remix of dry despair by abdulla rashim (ar) strips the original of its lofty chords, instead pursuing a focused and bone-dry experimental techno approach. in contrast, the remix by stave combines elements of the original’s drifting atmosphere with violent industrial percussion.

vitalik continue their vinyl gold series with another gold standard release. for the forthcoming vitnyl003 clive henry drops a fifteen minute long opus on a single sided limited edition vinyl. my fifteen minutes of fame is contrastingly raw in it s production and sublime in composition. it s gentle meandering melodies float over a warm bed of muted pads and analogue bass. recorded as a live jam and stripped down to its constituent parts its melodies take centre stage, enthralling the listener into what can be best described as an acid house lullaby and what has already been penned as an instant balearic classic. my fifteen minutes of fame was engineered by rui da silva and is the former peace division front man s first solo release since his illustrious studio partnership with justin drake, he joins artists such as jimmy edgar, the mole, franklin de costa and anonym on the vinyl only vitalik offshoot.

anthony naples announces his return to his own proibito label with new ep us mix - his first release on the imprint since 2015s smacks. us mix consists of 4 dancefloor tracks with warm punchy melodies and vibrant grooves.

bicep continue to welcome new artists into the fold as they expand their feel my bicep imprint with a 12inch from fresh signees tim sweeney and lauer operating under t&p. number 10 in their release catalogue comes as a single titled hail falls which includes remixes from dark sky and fellow irishman hammer. &#8232,,&#8232,,having introduced their collaboration through a self released record on sweeneys own beats in space back in 2016 - t&p continue to develop this fruitful relationship and roll out more disco-tinged acid in a manner that suits them perfectly to a release on feel my bicep. &#8232,,monkeytown and black acre affiliates dark sky then expand on their illustrious catalogue not only with their forthcoming lp for monkeytown but with a remix here that sees the original’s rich melodies spread over intricate, skipping rhythms. then hammer weighs in with his own bold, punchy take. galvanised drums and a sharpened melodies lift the original into more tense territory as another strong addition to the imprint is capped off

these 3 atmospheric tracks are circulating for a while trough the live set of woo york. with the best combination of epic soundscapes and melancholic melodies, it shows another wide range of dystopic music.

“cuidado madame”, arto lindsay’s first full-length album of new material since 2004’s salt. the album is titled after an infamous 1970 julio bressane film about oppressed housemaids revolting against and brutally murdering their mistresses. the literal translation is “careful, madame.”
the album is produced by lindsay. it features melvin gibbs, paul wilson, kassa overall, patrick higgins, ryu takahashi and thiago nassif.
candomblé (spiritual rhythms revolving around possession and trance) served as the foundation for the record. the process began with recordings of atabaques in brazil. lindsay wrote melodies and lyrics over the rhythms in the studio in brooklyn.
the album is an exploration of the cultural nexus of afro-brazilian spirituality and western modernity.

abstaxion and kasper bjørke return for their second collaboration on dc salas and abstraxions biologic records imprint. matin + nuit is a 3-track ep out in april. biologic records aim to explore the relationship between organic and analogue, natural and urban. this idea of polarity is addressed here through the themes of morning and night. matin is a ten-minute journey through a glistening landscape. celestial arpeggios and subtle dissonances are grounded by a hypnotic bassline and restrained percussion. ivre (drunk) takes an emotive turn. disorienting acid bass winds its way through mournful harmonies and overcast melodies, held together by a spirited rhythmic pattern. ‘nuit’, naturally, progresses into darker territory. there are familiar elements of disco, but they’ve been mangled to create something far more twisted. drums take the lead, punctuated by assertive bass stabs and ominous chords that howl through cavernous acoustics. matin + nuit explores seemingly familiar themes without the use of cliché, employing a diverse range of sound manipulation techniques to paint vivid imagery.

animae limited is proud to present the third release with the label boss fabrizio sala and his -horizonts-, an absolute trip between classical melodies and atmospheres from the space , and -sunrise-, with an endless groove.

subonation of perjury is the latest in the series of heart wreching techno releases from dubiosity for planet rhythm. like always, this release is heavily concentrated on touching synths and growing melodies that might leave the listener in a euphoric gaze. it’s dubiosity’s signature to combine dark and intense techno rhythms with layers of melodic goodness. throughout the whole ep this style is present. elysian fields is the darkest cut of them all but also here a vivid choir comes through to mellow things down. pjotr g and dubiosity join forces for a remix of remy kruyer’s ho chi minh on the b2.

dj koze introduces sophia kennedy - stunning debut album by 26 years old wonderwoman sophia kennedy
elegant, melancholic, sometimes menacing, with smoldering piano melodies, desolately whistling organs, and a jaunty jaw s harp loop, kissed by the golden californian sun, or shrouded in gloomy, dreary fog: sophia kennedy is currently the most versatile composer in german pop music – not to mention the greatest singer. her debut album -sophia kennedy- reveals her as a dramatic romanti-cist and distanced diseuse, as a deft lyricist and master of melody. in her eleven songs, she travels from doo-wop to dubstep, from classic crooning to breathless r n b, from frank sinatra to beyoncé. her talent for songwriting is deeply rooted in history, yet it seeks nothing but the present: both historically versed and timelessly beautiful at the same time. all tracks have been produced by sophia kennedy and mense reents (who is known as being a member of die vögel, egoexpress, die goldenen zitronen).

coverti world can really be no other than danny wolfers aka legowelt of course. his first tape for new york haunted is a stone cold classic with heavy machinery, acidic lines and his typical haunting melodies. there is a melancholic, almost saw type feel on these tracks, which might be his best work to date. 8 cuts on a 40 minute tape by the master of wavvy techno!

after releasing a string of quality eps for the likes of charlois, doppellschall and permanent vacation, amsterdam based artist dollkraut (pascal pinkert) confirmed in 2014 with his debut album schimanskis black lullabies on brandt brauer fricks imprint the gym. the dutch producers back with his sophomore lp due february 24th 2017 on dischi autunno new label founded by jennifer cardini and noura labbani. holy ghost people sees dollkraut delve deeper into his recognizable lo-fi and organic sound, inspired by old movie soundtracks, creating gritty atmospheres mixed with the purest of melodies. album opens with instant hit bonnie said, where pascals vocals magically merge with the darkest of bass lines. valium continues the journey, increasing the tempo but confirming the feeling of being in a lost sci-fi movie soundtrack. on oblivian, the rhythm slows down again, allowing us to dive even more in this twisted yet candid universe.

c.vogt s and patrick jeremics minds work in loopy circles. endless grooves that take you off in to the wild blue. vilá is by far the strongest of the bunch. capturing that moment where the sun peaks over the horizon in some far off land. reminiscent of the days when trance wasn t a dirty word. vice takes you up in to a place where people s faces beam with positive emotion. trippy melodies roll the track ever forward while snapshot samples of the cops radio communications drift in and out of the tight groove. ekstasis is a head nodding, eyes closed journey towards your inner self. listen to the guru and do what he says. get weird people!

feat a remix from fxhe/mahogani music artist kai alce.
french producer and dj john jastszebski has been involved in the french and global underground house and techno scene for over a decade now, releasing on imprints such as d’julz’ bass culture, phil weeks’ robsoul, syncrophone recordings and of course phonogramme where he returns to here. the original mix of lead track ‘season’ takes the lead via infectious stab sequences, snaking subs and raw organic percussion before kai alce’s ‘restructure’ of ‘season’ follows and tips the focus over to airy chords, jazz-tinged lead melodies and a bumpy rhythmic swing. illusion’ follows and sees jastszebski focus on a more stripped-back aesthetic with rolling drums, dusty string samples and warm rhodes driving the composition. ‘gracelend’ then closes the package with smooth, unfolding pad melodies, crunch drum sounds and a murky, hypnotic feel.

certain music welcomes kresy. he is back to his roots as the name of his ep: return to basement. analog-hearted tracks that merge vintage sounds and modern production. 4 energetic house tracks, dancefloor-oriented. synthesizers, melodies and stripped-back rhythm.

the incredible doublepack with exclusive unreleased tracks by marcellus pittman rich white delano smith mike huckaby keith worthy malik olston and others all the artists are essential creators and perpetuators of the musical heritage of the motor city

rekids introduces a new vinyl only series titled rekids special projects. a more techno orientated division of the label that will feature appearances from the likes of john hester, markus suckut, and dj deep amongst others. first up is ohio-based producer fbk, real name kevin m. kennedy, who has a career spanning three decades and after a seminal release on frictional recordings back in the 90 s recent releases have seen him appear on labels such as marcel dettmann records, barba records and diametric. intricate drums and jagged synths initiate you are not fixed whilst a looped sample recurs throughout the mix. ‘dynamonium’ then enters deeper territories as echoing stabs join a low slung meandering groove before set it free ups the energy with rumbling kicks, distorted vocal murmurs and tantalizing melodies. the final escape then closes the release with a syncopated drum arrangement, mesmerising chords and ethereal atmospherics

swiss duo me & her join the hottrax roster with a robust release featuring british duo dense & pika and detroit’s dj bone on remix duties. with recent appearances on deeperfect, natura viva and clarisse records, the rising duo has quickly cemented a reputation as ones to watch since making their production debut back in 2014. joining them on the release is dense & pika, who have been taking the world by storm whilst releasing on leading labels such as adam beyer’s drumcode, scuba’s hotflush, not to mention renowned uk imprint hypercolour. meanwhile, dj bone needs little introduction having paved the way for quality techno for over two decades including running his renowned subject detroit imprint. sturdy kicks and intricate effects drive ‘wild rage’ forward before introducing metallic snares and animated melodies. on the other hand, ‘thunderstruck’ is a dusky production composed of heady stabs and echoing elements that together generate a compelling groove. dense & pika’s shuffling remix of ‘wild rage’ shines a spotlight on a tantalizing synth as eerie nuances operate throughout, before dj bone concludes the package with a trippy and percussive reinterpretation of his own.

ltd coloured edition
from his early releases as lusine onward, jeff mcilwain’s electronic explorations make up one of the more diverse discographies of the past decade and a half. effortlessly blurring the lines between techno, electro-pop and experimental composition, the texas-raised/seattle-based producer’s arrangements are meticulously constructed, but also filled with emotion and soul. with an introspective turn that’s hinted at in the record title, lusine’s fourth album for ghostly sees mcilwain diffusing the pop-leanings of 2013’s the waiting room with opaque, brush-stroked melodies washing over these new buoyant productions.
the double vinyl release includes a download code.

mirror would turn out to be pearce’s final offering as fsa for 15 years, but at the time of its release in 2000 it felt like the start of something exciting and new – it was seen in some quarters as one of the first great records of the millennium. sonically, it was pearce’s most accessible and melodic album. “his sombre, acoustic folk still recalls the gentle melancholy of nick drake,” said the pitchfork review, “but for the first time, the melodies and lyrics can be clearly deciphered.”
repress on heavyweight 180 gram vinyl with download code included.

mind fair s rogue cat sounds imprint returns with a burning ep full of goodness! first off is hotly tipped location 141 with 2 jams full of weight & energising rhythms to set the dancefloor a light. on the flip rogue chiefs mind fair bring the heat down a notch with a balearic soundtrack filled with lush piano & string arrangements and mesmerising melodies. they finish off with a cut that sounds like some unreleased manuel gottsching production this is special - don t sleep on this baby! dj support lovefingers, mark e, bill brewster, eric duncan, cooper saver, sean johnston, chris massey, adventures in paradise, hunee, hugo capablanca and more.

umm have returned in fighting form after a 10 year hiatus. this influential imprint, also known as underground music movement are the ambassadors to organic italian house.

please welcome t.m.a with their debut ep “apparillo” on heulsuse. t.m.a are two talented producers with a strong feeling for deep house with a funky touch. their ep consist out of two tracks. the title track “apparillo” has a catchy, powerful synth line and a solid groove. “wendal”, the second track, is full of beautiful melodies with a lovely arrangement and atmosphere. heulsusenpower!
cassette includes a free downloadcode – redeem via bandcamp.

after the first secret weapons release 10 years ago the series is about to continue with 12 more magnificent tracks coming on 3 lps.

im klanggarten is the very first release on frank wiedemanns newly established bigamo label by the musician, video artist, author and dj rainer buchmüller aka fred und luna. it began as an homage to german electronic music of the 70s and 80s known as kraut. however, rainer gives his style its own name: elektrokraut or krautelektro, in which he blends kraut elements, such as repetitive rhythms, with beautiful melodies and modern electronic sounds. this lp comes as a double vinyl in a gatefold cover!

tracy island, surrounded by natures greatest and ever rising force of the ocean, is a place emanating peace and joy. the label is a concept representing the isolation and appeal of island life, contrasted with thought provoking and mesmerising melodies to draw us away from main land mentality, offering feelings of tranquility and wonder. in these controversial times the necessity to escape or break away grows as we feel increasingly submerged by the world’s realities, now more than ever we should strive to protect both the environment and the purpose of this planet. tracy island will follow a 10 episode framework taking inspiration from thunderbirds, all of which aptly named after the original series. the first episode welcomes mori ra of osaka, with four old edits from way back when on “trapped in the sky”. “ located in the south pacific, the heavily camouflaged island s ulterior function is to serve as the secret base of the international rescue organisation. music for hope. with love from tracy island. “

beautiful piano melodies, ballads drawing their inspiration from jazz, classical music and cinematic imagery, hummed choruses, a mood at the crossroad of nostalgia and reverie, instruments with uncanny timbre and charm, chiseled percussions, added to a subtle electronic production, this is the recipe for tout va bien, the second solo album by french composer ezechiel pailhes.

loft records returns after a fruitful year to kick-start 2017 with three infectious cuts from rising irish talent hammer. the belfast-born producer is well known for his lauded releases on feel my bicep (in collaboration with the label founders) as well as optimo music but production isn t his only facet. hammer has shared dj booths with the likes of hunee, sasha, midland, craig richards and nd_baumecker, whether at his residency at sub club or at his many gigs throughout europe. with loft recordings reflecting on a prosperous 2016, including a class two track release from isaac tichauer, followed by a chart topping remix package featuring hackman, dorsia, lancelot and bicep, hammer s innovative contribution to the imprint looks to follow suit. soaring pads and intricate drums form the overall aesthetic of canna but as the track progresses serene melodies and subtle snare rolls come together to form a harmonious eruption of synths. manaka then shifts to syncopated percussion and spectral nuances before man ray delivers distorted atmospherics and twisted chord sequences to conclude the package.

brian abelson aka see other is one of the brightest talents in this field to emerge from new york in some time. he’s been honing and refining his style of brooding, purring, oscillating house rollers for some time. the final brew is humble mixture of low-slung smallville-esque house warmth, fred p level deepness and playful, tinkering wooden melodies that recall some of the finest work from the drumpoet community collective.
across this debut ep is a masterful grasp of the deep house template, with an array of hook-based elements that turn respectable raw bangers into transcendental experiences both at home and in the dance.
waitin is the modern classic, fallin is the party hammer, pushin is the soul & the feeling & the vibe, peter’s lament is the loving tender cuddle in a west coast hammock, change is the moody, sleep-deprived closer.

r&s welcomes back space dimension controllers jack hamill for a ep of his trademark future-funk, his first for the label since 2013. the exostack ep marks a welcome return from hamill to the kind of astro-boogie that made him a unifying favourite in any discerning dj’s record box. the title track is a masterclass of wide-eyed astral disco - cycling euphoric arpeggios underpinned by dubbed out bass riffs and swooning pads. unfurling over a sizeable 8 minutes, hamill justifies every second with a beguiling arrangement that takes the listener on a groove excursion of epic proportions. on the flip, red hot swede kornél kovács delivers a tuff rerub that jacks up the drums, and cools out the chords, twisting the original into a classic house roller. sdc original biopan finds hamill in more contemplative mood - pulsing drums, a subdued bass figure and woozy synth melodies combine to haunting effect.

arbouretum has been called “the best of the millennial classic rock bands, a guitarfuzzed powerhouse.” the band, founded by guitarist and vocalist dave heumann, effortlessly weaves its melodies and guitar solos with often hypnotic rhythms of bassist corey allender and drummer brian carey around the deliberate keyboard of matthew pierce to lift the vocals. the results are a full sounds delivered with a striking sense of intimacy. throughout their time together, the baltimore-based band have been praised for their ability to weave elaborate vocal lines, and guitar solos that often unravel into extended improvisation, but never with as much fnesse as on song of the rose. in less practiced hands, these ideas could easily fall into contrivance, but on song of the rose, arbouretum use these elements to perfect their craft of storytelling in song, both lyrically and sonically.
limited pressing on peachy orange vinyl with download code included.

the new york-based (u)nity is made up of michael valeanu, axel tosca laugart, chris smith, max cudworth and amaury acosta. they formed the band in 2006 as a project to explore afro-cuban jazz, funk, soul and contemporary electronica. they say they ve been influenced by everyone from chucho valdes to art blakey to led zeppelin to kendrick lamar, and you can definitely hear all of that in this jawdropping work. guarapachanga is special in that it was the first song written by the band back in their days as music students at the new school. it s derived from the style known as guarapachangeo the most advanced form of cuban rumba, heavily improvisational and based on very complex rhythms and melodies. on this recording, (u)nity is graced with a guest performance by grammy award winner pedrito martinez, a master rumbero, one of the greatest conga players ever, an innovator who has left a permanent mark on cuban music. martinez is also a priest in the yoruba religion and a historian of cuban culture. over its eight and a half minutes, guarapachanga twists and turns and journeys through a mind bending array of different tempos and modes, from latin jazz to hip hop, ultimately ending with a trippy ambient soundscape. the whole thing is overlaid with free spirited melody, soul and the afro-cuban essence that is the bands lifeblood. the white-hot live playing gives it the feel of the best early-morning jam session, yet it packs a sonic punch that will make it sound incredible on a good sound system in the hands of adventurous djs in the world-beat or spiritual-house vein. if you didnt know guarapachanga was a contemporary work you might mistake it for a loft classic, yet it s also as fresh and exciting as anything you ll hear this year.

8bit labelhead gorge releases his first ep in 2017 on his and nick curly s own imprint. . hypnotic timeless basslines paired with catchy melodies and chords are his well known trademark and the ep has 2 of these treats. you ll always find a slot to play those out loud!