norwegian producer wasserfall makes his way to chicago/los angeles based hesperian sound after several releases for greta cottage workshop, offering a highly organic affair. the ep opens with stiv heks which evokes a lush natural landscape, both dreamlike and quirky. the remix from young chicago newcomer, daniel chavez, strips down the original for a simplified yet feverish dancefloor edit. the b side returns to wasserfall s signature laid-back jazzy deep house sound with twilight andgravlaks, which flex the producers knack for working in samples into his grooves. a consistent warm psychedelia flavors these four functional tracks with looseness and reverie.

after a brief time away from releasing music in 2017 to refresh his ears, essential house artist argy is back with a bang in 2018, as this debut ep on play it say it proves. greek dj and producer argy has been a prolific talent over the last decade plus, releasing a variety of sounds under a number of different aliases. his given name has always been reserved for house and techno, which is classically informed but always infused with the sound of the future. it’s come on key labels like bedrock, bpitch, ibadan, and most recently the martinez brothers’ cuttin’ headz imprint, and has spawned four fantastic full lengths. those releases, along with his storytelling dj sets, have made the these days label boss a much loved and ever-present part of the global underground scene. the excellent title track the way of kings opens up the ep with seven standout minutes of surging house. slick, powerful kicks drive it along as expertly crafted synths bring real drama and tension up top. it’s a tasteful bit of hi-tech soul for the peak of the night and is as essential as the title suggests. switching up the mood is the vibrant los animales, which has a busier, afro tinged groove and tribal percussive energy. lithe synths dart about to add dynamism and movement as vocal chants get you on your toes and the whole thing is sure to make a huge impact in the club. last of all, move like a panther featuring the new yorker in berlin, elbee bad, shows another side to argy. it’s a perfectly raw house cut with plenty of jacking chicago spirit. the drums hit hard, the synths are trippy and the snares force you to move. add in a dark bassline and spoken word mantras and you have a real piece of explosive club dynamite. these are three typically inventive and well-executed tracks from argy that are stuffed with original ideas.

as dancefloor-friendly as it is mystical, bienaventuranza is as chancha as it gets- with elements from cumbia to dancehall to andean folk to global house, crystal clear production, and collaborations that are evidently natural and genuine, the record holds true to the sound that canale has played such a huge part in creating. from a new generation of producers to more listeners in unassuming parts of the globe, pedro has been humbled to see the sound develop- and proves with this album that he s grown swiftly alongside it.

this is a masterpiece. beautiful, golden-era soul written by leon sylvers iii, produced by jerry butler and keg johnson. . the sylvers were a family from los angeles who were very successful during the 70’s and into the early 80’s, with chart hits – deep into pop-disco territory by then! – including ‘boogie fever’, ‘hot line’ and ‘high school dance’. this is the groups second album, from 1973, and is one of their strongest. opening with the awesome mid-tempo ‘we can make it if we try’ the record moves through funk, boogie and deep soul moods, finishing on a hazy, acapella version of the beatles ‘yesterday’.

special edition clear pressing – limited hand numbered 500.
los angeles producer sweatson klank builds his productions as if they were films, developing a story from start to finish. stylistically, fine lines his debut full length for friends of friends, picks up where his 2017 then i was me’ ep left off, melding forward thinking hip hop and electronics as a back drop for a soulful and sultry journey through a tumultuous love affair, loss of self, and the dark empty spaces in our minds. the songs on fine lines sit in a space occupied by hip hop, future r&b and house, yet the record cleverly transcends any single genre. while much of the production is hard hitting, the album manages to walk a tightrope between heartache and swagger. a meticulous fine line that weaves itself like a thread throughout. sweatson klank enlists a number of features on the album including newcomers ana calvo, sarah saldivia, and annie bass as well as past collaborator, montreal producer ango.

memories — places, vacancies, allusions — are fundamental characters in mary lattimore’s evocative craft. inside her music, wordless narratives, indefinite travelogues, and braided events skew into something enchantingly new. the los angeles-based harpist recorded her breakout 2016 album, at the dam, during stops along a road trip across america, letting the serene landscapes of joshua tree and marfa, texas color her compositions. in 2017, she presented collected pieces, a tape compiling sounds from her past life in philadelphia: odes to the east coast, burning motels, and beach town convenience stores. in 2018, from a restorative station — a redwood barn, nestled in the hills above san francisco s golden gate bridge — emanates hundreds of days, her second full-length lp with ghostly international. the record sojourns between silences and speech, between microcosmic daily scenes and macrocosmic universal understandings, between being alien in promising new places and feeling torn from old native havens. it’s an expansive new chapter in lattimore’s story, and an expression of mystified gratitude. a study in how ordinary components helix together to create an extraordinary world.

los angeles daniel t. joins the rnt fam with a stellar ep of homegrown and international flavor. known for his crisp production work as half of cosmic kids and more recent solo outings on chit chat and let s play house, on this 12- dan also shows his talent for selecting and editing. from the corner-store funk of hit the streets, percussive tropical sway of all day, to the frenetic bounce of trinidad trouble and beatdown soulful vibes of penguin vacation, this record covers continents in just 4-tracks!

esteban adame cut his teeth djing at the ditch parties and house parties of east la in the 90s. he then moved to detroit to apprentice with mad mike banks, performing as part of los hermanos and galaxy to galaxy. more than twenty years on, he still lives and breathes music. this is his debut record for mister saturday night records, raw and joyful.

“i’ve been writing music and playing shows since i was 12 but had never actually released anything prior to bruises, despite the fact that all 4 songs on the ep were all written in the space of 6 months, in a way the story of the ep has been 9 years in the making. the title bloom for me captures perfectly the 6 month chapter in my life between having the idea for bruises whilst writing in the shed at the end of my parents garden back in scotland to seemingly barely a moment later waking up finding myself half way across the world in the chaos of los angeles working on fade with a producer i’ve looked up to for as long as i can remember. the making of beginnings, the start of new chapters and also the emergence from everything that has gone before.” this is bloom - lewis first ever physical release of the critically acclaimed bloom ep. clear vinyl & rose-scented inner sleeve. lewis has decided to release a physical version due to popular fan demand and to support independent record shops.

a brand new release by the prolific dj/producer from los angeles. this time it s his personal label developer archive which was introduced back in 2010 focused on vinyl only releases. this next release da09 its alot more of what he has grown so known for strictly focusing on highly effective dark gems that work in the clubs or the warehouses. this extended release gives you more of what he has to come in the future. huge release! tip!

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!

esbe is an multi-genre music producer from los angeles, california. he is known for his atmospheric instrumental production which incorporates sound elements from extensive use of jazz and soul samples. his latest release, bloomsday, is a collection of 19 essential instrumentals.

mestizo beat is a los angeles-based band blending the styles of afro-beat, afro-cuban, funk, and r&b. their debut release for colemine is a fiery cover of mongo santamaria’s “featherbed lane” and is sure to set dance floors on fire!

a chance encounter in barcelona, spain brought us together to make this record happen. it’s a precious little marvel of love from kou keri kou and electric cowbell. based in barcelona, spain, the group began with the aim of making music to dance to, taking inspiration from all over the world with no fear: the music from cuba, perú, jamaica, congo and nigeria is as important for kou keri kou as the music played in europe or in the united states. los zafiros, gary numan, los destellos, radio futura, sunny ade and kiko veneno share place in their imagination and help them create open-minded pop that always looks to the future. their lyrics are sometimes open, sometimes a bit more cryptic, sometimes political and sometimes biting, but always try to communicate with the listeners while trying to make them dance. they’ve been playing together for two years, creating songs that didn’t exist before, urging the people to dance and singing about their issues, which may also be yours.

from the redwood forests of big sur and the industrial warehouses of downtown los angeles comes pfeiffer, a label dedicated to quality and a diverse musical output. pfeiffer follows in the footsteps of labels such as svek and kompakt, known for releasing a wide range of techno and house with a common thread of unique and unpredictable energy. looking to bring this type of eclectic curation into the modern era, pfeiffer draws inspiration from the raw simplicity and effortless magnetism of its namesake location on the central coast of california.

in late 2017, thomas gandey and danny mclewin - known from the popular disco-influenced electronic music collective psychemagik - emerged from their studio in bordeaux, france, claiming to have produced an extended musical arrangement, both entitled, and containing the sounds of, the shakuhachi. furthermore, they insisted, for the purposes of this production, and a further album of related arrangements to be released subsequently in conjunction with the successful german record label kompakt, they should be referred to henceforth as ghost vision. shortly thereafter, the audio recordings described by gandey and mclewin came into the possession of noted los angeles degenerate, dj and nymphomaniac citation needed dirty dave, who was quick to relay the hallucinatory qualities of the duo’s productions to fellow dj and trusted hallucinogenic expert paramida, of esteemed german musical imprint love on the rocks. paramida, recognising the innate quality of the sounds presented to her, decided that such recordings warranted immediate release through her audio distribution channel, and not without remixes. quite without thinking of the origins of the instrument which had given the recording its particular sonic distinguishment, and of course, its title, she enlisted the help of two musicians named alex - one from tokyo, and one from kyoto. both alex from tokyo - teaming up with his colleagues isao kumano & kenichi takagi as tokyo black star, known for their prior releases on popular german label innervisions - and his counterpart, alex from kyoto, better known as al kassian, rising tamagotchi on paramidas love on the rocks imprint, and his own label, planet sundae - turned in striking reinterpretations of gandey and mclewin’s composition.

good things come in threes and that’s the case for shapes of rhythm: new year, new artist and a new release! announcing d. lynnwood’s connect ep. four tracks of dancefloor-friendly music blurring the lines between house, disco and the 80s boogie sound.
additional dj support from: danny krivit, glenn astro, mad mats, kon, glove love, dom servini, scrimshire, matthew schreyer (kcrw los angeles)

los angeles native based out of paris, onyvaa is one of europes newest techno imports. dj, producer and owner of her parisian based underground label passeport records. passeport is an outlet for her to release original productions with full creative musical freedom, gathering inspiration from around the globe. onyvaas sound consists of strong driving techno with dub influences along with an abundance of analog touches.

this is the 2nd various artists compilation from the esoteric black lodge collective out of los angeles, showcasing a variety of sounds one is likely to hear at their monthly gatherings. this comp contains a mixture of acidic jacking warehouse bangers from veteran producers tx connect and jasen loveland alongside a more acid chicago house inspired jakbeat track from black lodge co-founder kosmik and an ebm/electro dance cut from the belligerents.

das zweite album von haze als 180 gramm doppelvinyl im klappcover, downloadcode inklusive.

ras g and moresounds explore the outer reaches of sound system culture for dub-stuy’s new collaborative series of eps. brooklyn-based label dub-stuy kicks off 2018 with the inaugural release of a new ep series dedicated to unearthing and celebrating the outer reaches of sound system culture. taking its cue from the classic dub releases where two producers would face off with their own versions, dub-stuy’s meets series brings together artists who have a clear dub influence but do not operate solely within the sphere of the dub and reggae world. the first such meeting is between los angeles beat supremo ras g (brainfeeder, stones throw) and paris junglistic dub scientist moresounds (cosmic bridge, astrophonica).

solaronemusic & the exaltics presents their new sub label for techno and ebm music called -rattleznake-. first release comes from the young talented artist -effet rose- from sweden. three brutal forward thinking industrial techno tracks. the release comes on white vinyl and printed pvc cover!!!

a staple of the los angeles house and techno scene, alexandre mouracade’s much developed cv speaks volumes as for the consistency and impact of the man’s contribution to the city of angels’ nightlife for the past two decades. founder of the seminal making shapes party as well as a knowledgeable techno and disco head, this versatile all-rounder eventually established as a full-fledged producer in the past years, releasing solo under his real name and the alias of sonns, and alongside fellow partner in crime travis kirschbaum as split secs on their own machine limited outlet.

strange valleys, the 2018 full-length from starving daughters, is a progression as well as a shift in sound from the la band s already-stellar previous releases. make no doubt about it that the sound of progressive rock and psychedelia still play a big role here but there s certainly a greater influence from library music on the new lp. the starving daughters vinyl impressions blog, led by chris tillotson of the band, shared the music of chris s collection of which many were library lp s. these records seemed to have seeped into the mind, body, and souls of the whole band on this strange valleys lp. everything from the instrumentation, the attention to melody, to the track-length shows the large appreciation they have for library music. that being said, this moog-heavy, psychedelic-prog-funk, california-themed record is certainly unique and adventurous. winding through the exotic roads of strange valleys is certainly a trip well worth taking over and over again.

strangled memories fade me away blanc stares to what was lost

kidaf ist ein new yorker hip-hop-künstler und mitglied des loaf-kollektivs. er versteht sich als mehr als nur ein typischer rapper, kidaf sieht sich auch als musiker, dessen instrument seiner stimme ist, obwohl er kein sänger ist. er sagt: -die stimme ist das ursprüngliche instrument und der beste weg für mich, zu kommunizieren-. kidaf begann bereits in jungen jahren mit dem schreiben von reimen und liedern, der stark von den größen der -goldenen Ära- des hip-hop beeinflusst ist. er räumt aber ein, dass er -auf ein bisschen von allem- hört. nachdem er 2013 sein erstes projekt / mixtape -adolessons- veröffentlicht hatte, spielte er auf berühmten bühnen wie dem apollo theater in new york city und dem el rey theatre in los angeles und hat auch einen stetigen output von veröffentlichungen, solo und als teil des kollektivs -loaf muzik-, aufrechterhalten, wobei seine fangemeinde mit seinem katalog wächst. sein debüt-album -in the air- ist ein meisterwerk, wenn es um texte, deepness und flow geht, wie brancheninsider sagen, die die musik schon vorher gesehen haben.- grabba- die erste single, hat in der mtv-zentrale aufmerksamkeit erregt, dieser track ist jetzt für die frühjahrs-trl-kampagne verfügbar. das album enthält auch loaf muzik kollege mitglied -shine sinatra- und brooklyn rapper chelsea reject sowie mit blu einen der besten underground hip hop mcs der stunde. das ganze album wurde von shuko produziert (talib kweli, b-real, evidence, cl .smooth, the clipse) und erscheint auf seinem for the love of it- label.

back in print by popular demand, strut bring back the debut compilation by sofrito aka djs hugo mendez and frankie francis
- limited reissue of debut sofrito compilation lp from 2011
- mighty shadow ‘dat soca boat’ subsequently used on malibu tv ad in 2012
- includes exclusive edits of tracks by victor uwaifo and safohene djeni
- cover and package artwork by lewis heriz
for fans of:
fela kuti, orlando julius, quantic, mighty sparrow, lord kitchener, nyboma, franco, nemours jean-baptiste, analog africa, soundway, fania records, invisible city, gilles peterson

well respected galaxy 2 galaxy member esteban adame appears on dolly with 3 strong, true and soulful detroit house groovers supported by a los hermanos remix in full effect, strong package for all underground resistance lovers!!!

12 disco-rumba-flamenco-boogie bombs, a time machine to the spanish boites and discotheques of the late 70s . the disco music, philadelphia sound and salsoul fever were also present in the rumba-pop and flamenco-funk scene of spain in the late ‘70s / early ‘80s. producers, sound engineers and studio musicians collaborated closely with flamenco / rumba singers and bands. among others, the production / studio work that genius josep llobell did for the belter label in barcelona is highlighted

from the archives of the legendary belter and discophon labels, ps has selected 14 dance-friendly tracks taken from overlooked lps and 45s. gipsy–funk sound, full of screaming flamenco vocals, funk drums, electric guitars, wah–wah, organ, electric bass, exotic percussions, soulish horns, latin and even oriental touches

neues soloalbum von johnny jewel, kopf der chromatics und glass candy, sowie betreiber des new yorker kultindies italians do it better. nach intensiven kollaborationen mit filmemachern wie david lynch (-win peaks new season), nicolas winding refn (drive) und ryan gosling (lost river), veröffentlicht jewel nun mit digital rain ein album voller sinnlich-warmer, analoger electronica. aufgenommen in joshua tree, abgemischt in los angeles und geschnitten vom legendären mastering-engineer bernie grundman in hollywood.

mt. si ist ein gemeinschaftsprojekt von drei freunden sarah chernoff von superhumanoids, jesse kivel von kisses und michael david von classixx. die drei aus los angeles begannen ihre zusammenarbeit während der aufnahmesessions für classixxs debüt hanging gardens. michael bat sarah und jesse, vocals für das album beizutragen, und es wurde schnell klar im studio, dass sie eine chemie als kollaborative gruppe hatten. das trio kehrt diesen winter mit ihrem jüngsten release zurück. der titeltrack zeichnet einen klaren bogen vom vorgänger limits mit seiner glückselige melodie, während die b-seite den sinnlichen tiefen groove annie liefert. elektronischer pop von seiner besten seite! das vinyl erscheint inklusive downloadcode.

swiss artist and veteran producer ripperton contacted the esp institute out of the blue mid-2017 to share a gorgeous mix of self-produced material, a collection of pieces made without any agenda outside of representing the self, not geared toward the dancefloor or a specific environment but simply a bi-product of introspective exploration. we were floored, the mix was on constant repeat in our world for weeks, then was subsequently pulled apart into separate titles to form this beautiful double lp, ripperton’s debut with the label. the title sight seeing speaks of someone stepping outside their current reality to look in the mirror, as if to ground themselves and keep sight of who they are in a world of extreme highs and lows. inspired greatly by expansive landscapes and views from airplane windows (imagine your commute flying over the alps every weekend), ripperton describes this collection as postcards to himself, messages from his subconscious recorded on tape (both conceptually and literally), melancholy soundtracks to the mondays that follow weekend journeys. while musical genres tend to cycle through bandwagon moments, the esp institute strives to operate independently of these, and while sight seeing is undoubtably an ambient album, we’re simply proud to revel in the chance moment where an esteemed artist such as ripperton spreads his wings in a beautifully unexpected mode of expression.

from the redwood forests of big sur and the industrial warehouses of downtown los angeles comes pfeiffer, a label dedicated to quality and a diverse musical output. pfeiffer follows in the footsteps of labels such as svek and kompakt, known for releasing a wide range of techno and house with a common thread of unique and unpredictable energy. looking to bring this type of eclectic curation into the modern era, pfeiffer draws inspiration from the raw simplicity and effortless magnetism of its namesake location on the central coast of california. february 9th marks the release of pfeiffers first musical offering. a-side big tent sets the tone with raw, minimal percussion and acid tinged melodies. b-side twist brings a healthy dose of chicago and detroit influence to a track that feels colder than house, but warmer than techno. the first of many releases to come, pfe001 marks the tip of the iceberg for pfeiffer, a label which will continue to reveal itself over time.

jonra & e:machinery are an electronic music performance and recording duo comprised of long time los angeles based designforms research label boss jonra babiracki and electronic music artist eric cowden aka e:machinery.

reissue of eblen s fourth album, wonderful experimental music here. tip! mexican guitarist and ambient artist eblen macari s música para planetarios (music for planetariums) was originally composed for weekly performances in the luis enrique erro planetarium in mexico city to accompany a voyage through the galaxy. the album, released in 1987 was based around macari s solo performances using ensoniq esq-1, a korg poly 800, two guitars and pre-hispanic ocarinas. the expanded arrangements recorded for the album include a full stable of pre-hispanic percussion and beautiful baroque harpsichord played by macari s wife. this expansive interplanetary soliloquy is undoubtedly macaris masterpiece. remastered from the original master tapes

a compilation dedicated to the early 80s spanish synth wave and post punk scene! first to be published outside spain, this anthology explores the electronic music side of the independent music produced in the days in the iberian peninsula: synthetic pop music with industrial sounds including futurist art rock, dance-floor productions and low-fi experiments on cassettes. classics or true hidden treasures, this selection of nineteen songs is symbolic of the musical dawn that spain experienced during the decade marked by the return of democracy and by the creative freedom initiated by punk music.

rooted series reaches 007 release with jack wickham (infuse / eastenderz), swoy (djebali / politics of dancing), lost. act & michel a (sukhumvit / salty nuts) and bolumar (la peña / rooted) as always vinyl only!

multi-platinum artist awolnation announced the release of their third studio album, here come the runts, on february 2, 2018. bruno spent 2016 crafting the album in his home studio nestled in the coastal mountain range separating the pacific ocean and the suburbs of los angeles where he grew up. the secluded location is reflected throughout the album. “the record definitely has a feel to it that seems parallel to the vibe of this mountain and the land,” bruno notes. “it’s like a non-gmo record. there’s no fake shit on there, none of the vocals are tuned. it’s all real playing.”

the enigmatic tennessee-raised, turin-based yves tumor presents a poignant new album, recorded between miami, leipzig, los angeles and berlin over the past three years.
evolved from a diverse and prolific creative history under an expansive plethora of covert aliases via various forward-thinking labels, ‘yves tumor’ emerges as his most personal and matured incarnation to date.
with involvement across various artistic outlets expanding to fashion such as a visceral live performance for la’s hood by air earlier this year, the global artist has built a distinctly bold personal aesthetic both musically and visually as a performer.

most welcome to a world of handdrums and synthezisers. spacious present is the second release by mount analogue on sunken rock. a four track ep both suited for the livingroom and the evening at the club, wrapped up in a screenprinted cover for your delight.

goodnight vienna is the fourth studio album by ringo starr. it was recorded in the summer of 1974 in los angeles, and released later that year. goodnight vienna followed the commercially successful predecessor ringo, and starr used many of the same players, including billy preston, klaus voormann, robbie robertson, harry nilsson, and producer richard perry. the title is a liverpool slang phrase meaning -it s all over-.

x-coast embarks on the eighth expedition into the exotic lands of palm trees and blue skies with the ‘yucatan channel’ ep.
expedition eight features three jams packed full of emotional breakdowns, rave samples and thrashing synth patterns accompanied by a&#8203,, remix from previous release&#8203,, artist dj boring.

wiederveröffentlichung des 2004er album von rammstein - remastered, 180 gramm doppel-vinyl, klappcover.

die ursympathische, trinkfeste und gern auch mal alberne doppel-lp des tam tam tanzlokals (aka kammerspiele bar) in münchen. eine platte, die gut zuhören kann und dich versteht. eine platte, die für jeden spaß zu haben ist. die mit dir bis zum nächsten morgen in den dreckigsten clubs der stadt tanzt. und die mit dir genauso gern raus an den see fährt und kirschen isst. zwei platten mit tracks und songs von den djs und bands, die das tam tam tanzlokal in seinem ersten jahr zu einem unverwechselbar offenen, verrückten, partyhungrigen, allesistmöglichen, duweißtniewaspassierten ort gemacht haben.

ultra-rare gems extracted from 45s and 78s records released in the 1950s and early 1960s by obscure record labels! a collection of fast, hot and intense latin songs played by cuban, puerto rican, venezuelan, mexican and north american wild dance orchestras. recorded in the 1950s / 1960s and originally released on vinyl and 78rpm shellac records. savage bongos, volcanic trumpets, atomic rumbas, mambo inferno and wild conga for a successful party of exotic ecstasy!

following a double dose of newfound los angeles talent, apron records founder, steven julien (aka funkineven) returns home with the debut release from london-based enigma, molinaro. apron 35 is classic apron records material five slabs of soul-drenched techno anchored by groove and grit from a new name with plenty of experience. molinaro who has honed his production and djing craft for over a decade is one of the capital s best technicians behind the decks. a skill most recently recognised by nts radio, who rewarded him with a regular monthly slot on the airwaves. the first of which shot straight into the nts picks for the week. opener gio cements the tone from the off, drifting in with warm, enveloping pads, quickly joined by beefy drums and percussion in a five-minute sprawl out. jtl is arguably the standout a boogie-influenced roller aimed at prime time dancefloor. ty and -molow showcase the deeper, moodier face of molinaros sound palette before the beatless sofar rounds things out, paying homage to ryuichi sakamotos synth brilliance.

legendary los hermanos member santiago salazar’s album ‘aspirations for young xol’ is given a vinyl release courtesy of rekids. a heartfelt dedication to his son isaias, ‘aspirations for young xol’ takes us through the life of a pillar in the electronic music community - santiago salazar. from his formative years spent in california to his connection with detroit and the passing of a childhood friend, the long-player’s tracks signpost the musician’s significant experiences, both positive and negative. this meaningful body of work was released digitally on pastel voids and now rekids release the album on wax. ‘saturated fear’ sets a deep tone for the lp, flanging melodies and echoing claps float through the composition before the album’s title track ‘aspirations for young xol’ offers haunting arpeggios with occasional acidic overtones which are cleverly offset by beautifully designed lead synth transitions. ‘bloodlines’ follows a similar musical vein with delayed bass riffs that are suspended above shimmering hihats and a weighted kick. santiago provides three beatless pieces throughout, which digress into more emotional territory whilst offering brief respite from his heavier drum work. ‘xol’s pain’ combines orchestral strings and swelling synthesisers which build tension with a subtly complex, evolving motif. both ‘dark matter’ and ‘ode to stinson’ use arresting atmospheres, warped arpeggios and ethereal pads which lull the listener into a retrospective mood. an intensity builds in the later tracks, a gritty but powerful low end provides a solid foundation in ‘orange blossom thump”, eventually making way for a hectic and elastic lead synth before ‘pachuco dub’ displays drones that build a dissonant pressure in which the complex tom rhythms and rolling hi hats can grow. ‘sarah rivera’ hypnotises with its delectable chord progressions and complimentary melodies which seem to float above a rigid drum composition to close the album with style