ghent bassed saxophonist mattias de craene (mdc) has caused a stir in the past few years as frontman of jazz rock sensation nordmann. after their second place at humo s rock rally in 2014, nordmann became one of the most exciting bands in the new golden class of belgian jazz groups. 2018 sees mattias fronting his own project mdciii. flanked by two special drummers - simon segers (de beren gieren / black flower / absynthe minded) and lennert jacobs (the germans / hong kong dong), he takes you on a slightly intoxicating musical trip balancing between psychedelic rock, tribal rhythms and energetic free jazz. the band will release their debut album in october 2018. in the meantime they drop a self-titled ep as a teaser. with two tracks of both over 8 minutes, the listener can acquaint the unique musical melting pot of mdciii. for one of the tracks singer sylvie kreusch (warhaus) was recruited and she makes an almost hypnotic contribution.

after a long hiatus, lux rec is ready with its next release. veil of light and sleep forever, both from zürich, share the two sides of lxrc32. music for broken, estranged, regretful times. shipwrecked and completely obliterated. this is the first part of a series of three, called unsung and defeated, which focuses on local musicians delving in the darkest possible corners of electronic music.

tinfoil is the project of defekt and sunil sharpe. initially forged as a studio collaboration in 2014 (and later as a live show), the pair have since racked up an impressive catalogue of 12&#8243,,,s on their own self-titled label. tinfoil’s sound is unique in today’s scene, reflecting the versatility of both artists, plus a combined know-how of techno and electro. their music comes primarily from live studio jams, enforced by a desire to get quickly to the point in what they do. this is no surprise given the fast, technical way in which they each perform solo. for their debut album, tinfoil provide a varied but cohesive collection of tracks. following the intro’s epic synth blasts, they open with a bang through “caravan life” – a sinister, bassline-driven destroyer that builds and builds over a blend of claps, filter zaps and crying feedback. “beads” continues in a heads-down vein, this time with a more musical ebm type bass and knocking rimshots that mark the first appearance of sunil’s role-playing, haunting lead vocals

vent forges new alliances, as dee grinski and tolga baklacioglu joins forces to explore musical synergies on a collaborative lp release of drone alchemy, eternal rhythms and harrowing vocalisations, which explores the lightless mazes of subconscious voids, teasing at barely understood taboos. tolga s past explorations of unrelenting industrial sounds are further refined, and enforced with dees vocal talent that covers a wide range of expression - from commanding and authoritative to harrowing howls of disembodied despair. they invite us to come with on a journey towards the lightless fringes of cognisance.

eomac is back in 2018 with a brand new album. after an intentionally quiet release schedule in 2017 to focus on developing a new label and presenting a monthly show on radar radio, he returns to the album format with the 11-track reconnect. it is his third studio album proper and the first on his burgeoning eotrax imprint. continuing where bedouin trax and temple of the jaguar left off, reconnect moves even further from the contemporary dancefloor and club environment and deep into uncharted territory. drawing influence from traditional irish music, haitian voodoo drumming, the raw old-school jungle of source direct and the abstract rhythms of autechre, eomac has crafted a dense, multi-layered and polyrhythmic exploration of percussion, texture and movement.

from the boom of the international neo-lounge revival italy has become the point of attraction of an almost maniacal interest. there is a lot of research work from different italian labels behind it. thanks to them even the latest generations have the chance to meet the made in italy sound of the soundtracks and library music and even more notoriety has been given to the genial arrangers, composers and musicians who have characterised the italian lounge scene of 60’s/70’s, such as ennio morricone and piero piccioni. a precious recovery of the past to revitalise the present, which builds up new ideas of the future. “metti una bossa a cena”, whose title is completely inspired by the famous soundtrack of ennio morricone, goes on into this research field, discovering very rare tracks of this italian bossa panorama. we believe the result is perfect. gerardo frisina, track compiler of this project, has brought to light some rare tracks and perfectly matched them to create an unique and elegant thread.

the return of silver network with a new artwork and a 4super house music tracks from french lisboa-based andrade (bon vivant, bass culture, karat) featuring a super remix from mexican sakro (bon vivant, visonquest) strictly for the house headz!

smbd aka simbad is back with his third seasonal ep on gamm. after a long and dark winter smbd thought we all could need some uplifting and soulful spring music...church style! these three gospel boogie/disco jams have been his personal dj weapons over recent years but now they re given a sweet edit twist for your dancing pleasure. it doesn t really get more uplifting than this!

1st press full colour sleeve edition limited to initial print! you remember that kung fu kid movie, where he had to wash the motorcycles for years and then…whatever, constant dripping wears away the stone. dublin-manchester-nycs finest krystal klear (cold tonic, all city, tooth pick) has been honing his skills as a dress man for years and also made a name for himself as an expert in all things (electronic) boogie. the division is his dapper debut ep for running back. custom-made club studies shifting between sound factories, hot haciendas, heavenly lagoons and chrome-plated dance floors: fast, slow, hard and soft. a love letter to dance music written with pink ink. oh, and there is neutron dance on it as well…yes, the euphoric fun one. once again: dance!

ltd 1 per customer !! french disco auteur dimitri from paris le edits imprint is proud to present a very special and limited record store day release for 2018. le edits burst onto the music scene in 2017 with the highest quality re-workings of stone-cold disco classics and rarities for the discerning record buyer, striving to present the best possible product in a world of cheap bootlegs. this particular release has been in the works for the last 18 months and has been conceived with all copyright owners’ blessings. using only the finest materials available, sourced from multiple countries across the globe, as well as top shelf engineering and mastering - this product cost 4 times as much to produce than your average disco edit 12’’ because le edits believe in quality first and foremost. strictly limited to 300 copies, hand numbered and signed by dimitri from paris - no re-issue guaranteed. utilising the highest end tip-on heavy duty gatefold sleeve, and inner protective sleeves, pressed onto 100% virgin vinyl and housed in a handsome protective plastic cover and exclusive printed tote bag. these new mixes have been commissioned for rsd 2018 and will not be available digitally. a truly collectible and desirable item indeed.

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.

needs (not-for-profit) is a nonprofit record label & collective lovingly curated by bobby pleasure. we believe in people. the concept of the label is to use music as a medium to spread love, unity and the idea of giving back. promoting harmony and togetherness rather than isolation and estrangement, each release and accompanying event will act as a support stream to various issues within society such as mental health, homelessness and equality. for the third release we have tracks from lord of the isles, mehmet aslan, petwo evans, bartellow & nick gynn. five artists from different countries of the world who all have the needs factor, and have very kindly donated their music to the dancefloor. all profits from this release will be donated to help refugees charity. everybody has needs

sound warrior records founded by jenifa mayanja & dakini 9 aims to balance the playing field for female producers and exclusively release their music. sw006 warrior formulation is rooted in soul-stirring house with its heart arching towards the future. lady fingers returns with an engrossing slice of dub house. the north carolina artist/dj was recently a featured dj at moog fest. jenifa mayanja bumako records, shows up with a broken ambient house break. on the flip side sound warrior teams with well known berlin underground heroines mint berlin the female only booking agency. representing mint berlin is co-founder ena lind who has been pushing boundaries in the electronic music scene in berlin for over a decade. lady blacktronika comes with a soul house soaker. she has made quite a splash with her labels sound black and sound keymstry in the process earning the title first lady of beatdown.

berlins own steffen linck, a multi-instrumentalist known as monolink, announces his debut album amniotic, due april 20th via embassy of music subsidy embassy one. it is the experiential nature of monolink’s music that defies the muddy definition of modern live electronic music. armed with a singular blend of berlin underground culture with the pop-leaning sensibility of american electronica, steffen transports listeners into his own realm of sonic exploration. the music is pillared by emotive guitar tones, analog synth stabs and, for the first time, his own vocals acting as a singular point of departure for this budding talent. amniotic stands as monolinks first complete body of work, following his 2017 ep burning sun via sol selectas, and the end, a collaborative record with acid pauli in 2015.

2023 repress - pablos eye is the science of studio pressure, when engineer becomes artist. appropriating left and right as well as front and back, pablos eye uses the mixing desk to examine and exhaust the possibilities of moments. pablos eye is a record of that examination and exhaustion, but it is also a record of its own inner space. by means of depth placement, psychoacoustics and spatial fug, pablo’s eye is experienced in the deeper reaches of the body, bypassing the conscious part of the mind entirely. . pablos eye is the turning of recorded music inside out to show its seams. it interrogates a song, stripping down the body of the song to reveal its bones. pablo’s eye is in the interstices of music, it plugs the gaps, fills the holes. pablo’s eye seeks out the concealed mechanisms, it is a songs hidden agenda. for this compilation, it was decided to present the softer air-beatings of pablos eye. more than anything, pablos eye is a temporary atmosphere, like a taste or a dream.

acid pauli and nico stojans ouïe label acts as home for left-of-centre music from disparate sources - somehow connected by a thread of hedonism with a melancholic edge. welcoming kerela dust to the imprint, this four tracker showcases the different dance floor shades the label always reaches. kerala dust are a london based trio that owe as much to tom waits as they do to four tet or dj koze, but somehow tread a fascinating line between genres and moods. mixing jazz, indie and the sharper end of the club sound, francescas frames is the perfect introduction to their vibe. ‘maria is augmented with a thick, mid tempo kick and sparse, effective percussion. the clever vocals provide the topping - showcasing the bands pop writing prowess. the track will appear as a single release on 6th aprila accompanied by a music video. acid pauli and nico stojans remix picks up the pace a little, while dubbing out the elements into deep, late night dance exploration. ‘nyla brings a new vibe, deep, pulsing synths and a bubbling baseline accompany the crisp, compressed rhythm track before eds iconic croon arrives to take the track to a new level.

kris baha is fast becoming one of the most essential operators in the deviant disco underbelly of berlin s scene, despite having landed in the city relatively recently. baha s credentials with labels like power station and parties in melbourne are all that you need to know, and now this release on the ever mighty cocktail d amore seals the deal. baha has never sounded more confident, pinging deviant synths around nasty drum bite and channeling the gods of industrial darkness to make some rugged body music for the darker kind of dancefloor. the experimental, non-party tracks are just as wild, dealing in all manner of uncompromising noise to further bahas journey to the upper realms of sonic mud slingers

following his work with swedish label comorbid records, stockholm native bård ericson aka boerd has signed with anjunadeep to release his latest mini-album, ‘static’. an accomplished musician, bård’s boerd project aims to reflect his own personal emotions and atmosphere. with a deft and delicate approach to composition, his music draws you in whilst shutting out the outside world. cutting his teeth from age 15 in the world of chiptune (composing via the means of 16-bit videogame consoles), bård quickly developed a taste for creating abstract music. and after a handful of eps and live shows across europe, he transitioned focus towards music that he felt better expressed his own place in the world. enter ‘boerd’. with influences ranging from burial, bibio and even aphex twin, the 26-year-old has developed a style that pushes the boundaries of atmospheric electronica with stunning attention to detail. building his sound from samples he records himself, ericson conjures a euphoric mix of subtle soundscapes that simultaneously breathe and play in awe.

connan mockasins new album *caramel* - excpect nothing but yet another prome example of shocking great weird ness, a total standout in todays pop!
the vinyl lp includes downloadcode and a 12x12 inch full-color insert.

raum musik 104 is a various artists compilation that features exclusive tracks from all the labels key artists. federico molinari, john dimas, franco cinelli, lee burton and phil evans have released on our label before, but we also have three new artists on board this time. jorge savoretti has released the last single on our label before the compilation plus the two newcomers enrico mantini from italy and andy kolwes from cologne. altogether it forms a nice package to celebrate 20 years of raum musik that shows as well the different sides of our label and we hope that you enjoy the tracks as much as we do.

unique soul jazz records’ record store day seven-inch box set which brings together a stunning five-single/ ten track selection of mind-blowingly groovy selection of african, latin, jazz and funk music from the congo. absolutely killer and essential tracks (mostly unknown) from the masters of the vibrant congo scene in the 1960s – featuring the groups franco & ok jazz, rock-a-mambo, african jazz, african fiesta and more. roots african meets dizzy gillespie, james brown, ray barretto & more. the bomb! this unique box-set edition is only available as a one-off pressing especially for record store day 2018.

this limited edition record store day release offers a much desired vinyl issue of a special collaboration between betty wright & the roots. only on cd since it’s initial release in 2011, “betty wright: the movie” is considered among betty’s best albums after having not had a new release in nearly ten years. there is so much good music here expansion have spread over a double lp at a time demand for such quality releases on vinyl is at a highpoint. the lead single was “grapes on the vine” featuring lil wayne, other guests on the album including snoop dogg and joss stone. betty has co-written most of the songs, her voice still at its finest after a 50 year career while triple grammy award winners the roots add a magic touch to this incredible project. there will only be 1000 pressings of the album.

first ever vinyl release of this iconic critically acclaimed soul album from 2014 for rsd 2018. this record is one of the most significant and award winning soul albums of the 21st century. the album is presented as a double vinyl in a gatefold sleeve, limited to 750 copies. the album draws on the spirit of donny hathaway and marvin gaye along with influences from stevie wonder and many of the soul and jazz greats, but jarrod has created his own identity. the twelve self-penned songs have meaningful lyrics and a spirituality which is uncommon in contemporary music, making it a future classic. it has been one of the bestselling independent soul albums in the last decade. jarrod lawson has performed many times in the uk supporting the album at many venues including ronnie scott’s, jazz café and at shepherds bush empire as part of the london jazz festival, building up a large fan base. jarrod also recorded a session for gilles peterson’s bbc6 which increased his profile.

2018 is going to see the bond between khidja & malka tuti strengthen, with the romanian duo bringing forward their eclectic, cross-genre approach to electronic music in the shape of 2 full releases as well as several remixes tba. -plot- & -am i really here- are two dance-floor bangers, not hiding behind fashions and hype, the duo is pushing forward on both tracks, each with its own idea and story to tell. this one continues malka tuti’s 12” dance series perfectly, with both tracks being pressed on 45rpm and getting each its own side.

the „sweet memories ep” is the first release of a three-ep-series coming up in 2018. christophe salin is taking us on his musical journey and paves the way for cooperation with future artists on his very own imprint „salin records” that he runs with his wife daria salin as a platform for electronic music and art. „sweet memories” is just setting up the right mood for this ep that will unlock some forgotten moments and will take you back to that feelings. „paradise” is an homage to the early 2000s and their happy go lucky attitude while „covered with pain” takes you on a modern ambient trip. the flip side is a statement, „house music is like a call, it is a religion to them…” as well as „love is unfair” are coming deep from the heart.

bosconi records has long been renowned as arguably italy s foremost exporter of house and techno music. 10 years in, they celebrate one decade in the game courtesy of bosconi stallions volume 2features some of the label s most prominent names.

for clandestino s fifth offering berlin s italiano in residence jose manuel drops his unique strain of exotic club music once again exploring deep, ritualistic and tribal influences to great dramatic effect. human behaviour is a woozy nine minute opus. rich in atmospherics, chanting and ethnic flutes. clandestino s remix refines the track for the dance-floor, retaining the atmosphere and injecting a driving 303 line and jamming afro keys. upping the tempo on bangalore a great ethnic guitar hook drives along the groove while disorienting chants and tribal percussion flutter underneath. mushrooms project turn out an essential blissful sundown version by extending out the pads and adding gentle warm keys dj support: tim sweeney, tensnake, chris coco, phil mison, severino horse meat disco, bawrut, forriner, in flagranti, sean johnston, phil cooper, tronik youth, marvin & guy, jdh (fixed / good room nyc), andy (soft rocks), justin strauss, chris (soft rocks), danielle moore/crazy p, ooft!, ian blevins, alvaro cabana / rotten city, peaking lights, eddie c, reza athar

.elliot.project. & open label boss frazer campbell marks his 40th birthday with a special double-vinyl release. in the course of the past two years, campbell s intriguing .elliot.project. label has already gained huge momentum in the electronic scene. following his recent collaboration on steve o sullivan s mosaic records, the label reaches it s sixth release with a double vinyl pack from campbell himself. he continues to paint beautiful musical illustrations, spanning global influences from detroit, icelandic electronica through to the initial aesthetic of uk dubstep. alongside campbell s originals, dred records label head john osborn, known for his peak time slick techno, provides a remix for raising snakes , illustrating both common ground and an alternative direction.

an exclusive sju gorilla oven studio find from gu aka glenn underground & swaylo. swaylos silky soulful vocals and meaningful spoken word sonically intertwine with gus spacey music and powerful beats. this future classic has been in the works for over 13 years. purchase on sight!

under one of his most notable guises, larry heard is pleased to present a new album for 2018. cerebral hemispheres is his first full length album as mr. fingers in almost 25 years. famous as one of the most important heads in the dance music around the world, larry has enjoyed a successful career as a producer, remixer, collaborator, vocalist and dj spanning 35 years. due for release on his own imprint alleviated records, cerebral hemispheres features 14 new pieces of music that allows the listener to fully immerse themselves and dig deep into larry s musical world.

this is the london based producer s long-awaited ep after releasing on past infinite machine & jbf compilations. lucky for us he has been honing his jagged and emotive take on bass & techno music and created a debut that is a pleasant diversion from structural norms. bristolian heavyweight hodge swoops in for the finale, reworking »lucid« into a dark and ominous techno-stomper.

london band tomaga are back with their fourth release under the hands in the dark banner: memory in vivo exposure. the 12inch ep consists of four original tracks and yet another new musical evolution for the duo. whilst they still use complex layering and harmonic polyrhythms in developing their original approach, this time the sonic tales they have shared are much more cinematic and dreamlike. these visions are locked up into emotionally charged loops to convey the sensation of a dream in which half remembered things become new zones of feeling.

the two versatile record labels banlieue and peur bleue are joining forces for a very special occasion: psyop, the outstanding debut album by watching airplanes, a production duo breaking through in 2018. psyop opens up an alternate reality where dance music is freed from the yoke of genre-based distinctions and is no longer tied to any dancefloor norms. by exploring different moods with smooth sailing and rough patches, psyop is an intense journey in the murky world of psychological mass conspiracy. this lp could very well be the soundtrack for an cutting-edge orwellian sci-fi movie or an imagined futuristic venue where music and dance of a new kind are performed. forward-thinking dance music from the future seems like the most accurate description for this album devoid of any tropes or nostalgia.

we are delighted to welcome egyptology to the hands in the dark family. the parisian duo, made up of stéphane laporte (domotic) and olivier lamm have been active since the late 90s in the french post-electronica/avant-pop scene. sur les autres mondes is inspired by a publication by french astronomer lucien rudaux (1937, larousse) in which he imagined the landscapes of other planets in our solar system through scientific descriptions. partly composed for a performance at the prestigious louvre museum in paris, the album is the band’s first full length output since 2012, and we can assure you that it has been worth the wait. their sharp ear for detail and the epic worlds evoked through the album make for an auditory voyage which is as graphic as the words inked by rudaux. the duo is bringing the 70s kosmiche genre back to life in a very fresh, bold way, offering a strong shot of pure analogue sound and a fantastic, melodic approach to synth-based ambient music.

get on down proudly presents another top-notch vinyl reissue, from their long-running series of collaborations with james brown’s famed 70s funk label people records. as the 1970s wore on, the classic funk sounds that had defined james brown’s backing band, the j.b.’s, gave way to the rise of disco music. fred wesley and his collective of musicians couldn’t resist the chance to make their mark, releasing “hustle with speed” in 1975, with charles bobbit and don love producing, and the godfather himself, james brown co-writing and providing arrangements. “hustle with speed” didn’t cross over like the band had hoped it would, but it was nonetheless remarkable album, featuring the j.b.’s signature funky style married with disco to exciting effect. all the while there’s still plenty to be had for the funk die-hard, from the brass blow-out jam “here we come, here we go, here we are”, to the trombone-heavy “all aboard the funky soul train”, to the powerhouse opening salvo that is “(it’s not the express) it’s the jbs monaurail”. songs from “hustle with speed” would take on lives of their own decades after the album’s release, through sampled appearances in tracks by jay-z, nas, eric b. & rakim, ultramagnetic mcs, epmd, and many more.

san francisco in the late 1960. the hotbed of psychedelic and rock culture. the dead, joplin, jefferson airplane and a host of others all gaining mainstream acceptance for their acid tinged work. but the city and the surrounding bay area had so much more going for them. a liberal political outlook and a large african american and latino population, meant that musical and cultural reference points were wider and more easily assimilated there than (almost) anywhere else in the united states. two of the biggest groups to emerge from this scene were santana and sly and the family stone, with their melting pots of sound that took in jazz, soul, rock and latin influence. for a while they were two of the biggest acts in the united states and scores of local bands tried to follow in their footsteps. they were hard acts to follow and very few got to the stage of making a 45, never mind a whole lp. one of the best to do just that were leon’s creation, whose debut lp “this is the beginning” acid jazz are reissuing here. a native of san francisco leon patillo led the group, whose multi racial line-up echoed that of his heroes on the local scene. self contained and gigging locally they made their debut album at the tiny studio 10 who also custom pressed the album in extremely limited numbers the music is a perfect blend of acid soul, mixed with hippie sentiments that will get you dancing on the uptempo numbers such as the title track, ‘back roads’ – with its glorious harmonies and the soaring ‘power’. more thoughtful numbers such as ‘until you were gone’ or ‘love’ will touch your soul. so impressed was carlos santana that he eventually asked leon to join his band.

the nu-rons, were a family group consisting of two sets of brothers and cousins, the four young men in question being brothers daryl howard and raymond gibson (daryl’s mother registered him under his father’s surname of howard and raymond under her maiden name of gibson) together with otho bateman and charles bateman. they were all born and raised in salem, new jersey and from the age of ten and eleven began singing with a fifth member and gibson brother rudolph in a group called the gospel 5. they eventually decided to crossover to secular music and as a group known for their energetic dance routines they came up with the new performing name of ‘the nu-rons’ (taken from the word ‘neuron’ which is a cell that transmits nerve impulses). however rudolph was soon to leave the group due to physical illness. also daryl howard and charles bateman had also been part of a working group known as the devotions prior to becoming the nu-ron’s.

massiande has become one of the most captivating talents south america has produced for authentic house music.

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)

in october 2017 honey dijon was commissioned to take part in the smirnoff were open campaign, aiming to promote inclusive night time culture and celebrate nightlifes ability to transcend gender boundaries and prejudice. as well as appearing in the were open tv commercial, honey was asked to record her take on the initiative’s ethos for creating positive change, making dance music culture a more open-minded and socially inclusive space. what resulted was a rework of ‘queen of disco’ sylvester’s ‘stars’ featuring vocals by singer-songwriter sam sparro, who she collaborated with previously on her album the best of both worlds. now being released on limited edition blue vinyl via classic music company, with breathtaking artwork from assume vivid astro focus who also supplied cover artwork for the album, the entire proceeds from the release will be donated to lgbt foundation. created with parts recorded especially for the were open advert,stars (disco version), produced with the help of classic head luke solomon and studio partner lance desardi, pops sylvester’s spangled party-starter directly into 2018. previously made available as a free download to coincide with the launch of the campaign, the cosmic energy dub, underlining honey’s acidic but sweet production, is followed by two mixes by one of her favourite producers of the moment and fellow chicagoan, cratebug. his nova remix references the classic disco elements of the original, while the supernova remix - exclusive to vinyl - goes fully intergalactic with a glorious squelching extended mix. paying lip service to the legacy of a truly gender-redefining figure whose music is nothing but inclusive and empowering, honey dijon and classic prove the power of music to inspire positive change in the dance music communities with this stars release.

following lo sheas industrial iterations ep, duskys 17 steps welcomes the mysterious polymod to the label family with a three track ep of club tools that draw on classic acid house and techno influences. hooked with a vintage 88 piano loop and tightly sprung bassline, opener no other has been ever present in dusky’s sets since the autumn - already inspiring multiple posts in a certain well-known facebook id group, as well as causing one eager id hunter to tweet dusky with home played piano videos of the main loop. for all its catchiness, though, it maintains an understated approach that plays on dynamics and contrast - a driving club tool. taking a darker route but maintaining the intensity, tx goes for the jugular with a looping surge of acid and rolling electro rhythms. completing the trio is the spacious pg1000 that joins the dots between 90s ambient, proto-house and detroit machine music at its most dreamy.

“yuxtaposición” is a recently unearthed treasure recorded by a tight italian trio in miami during the early seventies. until now, this music has only been heard in office backgrounds, tv commercials and movie soundtracks. but the perseverance of an admirer brought about its first-ever release on the italian schema label. imagine hearing a 1972-era cal tjader quartet without cal tjader and you get an idea of what to expect. it’s slightly latin, lightly funky and truly enjoyable. “yuxtaposición” offers enough to interest a jazz listener. but the sounds heard in these 35 minutes are really better appreciated as mood music. lead man, cabildo, composer of all ten tunes here, has a knack for writing jazzy little hooks that launch his tasty, well-crafted keyboard solos. often alternating fender rhodes and piano within the same song, his playing maintains a hypnotic command that recalls bob james’ cti style. electric bassist bobby fares and percussionist max ronnie make subtle, supportive contributions that serve only to enhance cabildo’s sound. there’s a funny thing about yuxtaposición too. it’s kind of like developing an addiction. you may not pay much attention to it at first. but before you know it, you’re hooked. you need to hear it to be satisfied. a very nice surprise.

multinotes is a record label created by lehar, musumeci and olderic and it is open to anyone ready to expose their very own musical point of view. this is not a -family-, this is a private club for modern, open minded people ready to challange themselves and the rules of unknown. multinotes first release it comes from the italian close friend and long time producer enzo elia which delivered an intense three tracker ep written together with his mate gianluca tavaroli (imgl).

clash lion is a mix of three personalities shall ocin, terr and daniel watts. three artists with different musical backgrounds merging forces to create a truly eclectic and open-minded label. after the success of their first release from maetrik firmly putting this label in the spotlight, it was followed by releases from shall ocin and daniel watts. anna who started 2018 with the acclaimed‘hidden beauties ep on kompakt now comes back with a 3 track ep for clash lion. her debut on the label kicks off with suzi in transe, a roaring synth work drives this track into the deep and dark realms of techno, but with an acid element thrown in for good measure. ethereal yet brooding, impression is a track that grows and grows. its classical piano stab perfectly blends into the mix, keeping its dancefloor ready pace right to the end. 80s flare, break beat focused rhythms and an explosive synth riff. into the void is the most futuristic offbeat techno piece we have heard from anna, and makes for a standout new release with three varied and texturally interesting tracks.

jonah sharp & dj spun pair up as the loose control band to drop a punk-inspired single on rekids with remixes from label founder radio slave and shut boss ryan james ford. having released a large body of work as spacetime continuum (astralwerks) or alongside david moufang as reagenz (workshop), not to mention significant collaborations with the likes of terence mckenna, haruomi hosono and bill laswell, jonah sharp is unquestionably a highly respected producer. his seminal label reflective played an important role in the experimental ambient and techno scene during the ‘90s, whilst as a remixer he’s worked with music by nine inch nails, meat beat manifesto and matthew herbert. meanwhile, jason drummond has long been a commanding force within new yorks electronic music scene, such as running his prestigious warm up music series or his all night rong parties with regulars like dj harvey. hes also been djing and producing as dj spun for two decades, appearing on golf channel recordings as well as his own illustrious imprint rong music, which used to release music collaboratively with dfa. i dont understand sees a raw and uncompromising side to both artists as they layer a cacophony of murky bass, twisted melodies and mind-bending bleeps whilst drummonds turbulent vocals bellow throughout the mix. staying faithful to the original, radio slaves remix incorporates a heady rhythm with its rolling beat as screeching effects join a moody bassline. moving into techno territory, ryan james fords akihabara remix features rattling percussion and crystalline synths whilst his hope remix is built on an intricate drum sequence as soaring pads and echoing keys contrast with the originals piercing vocal.

r&s newcomer karim sahraoui delivers an ep of deep, emotive techno that draws on the rich legacy of detroit while staying relevant for the modern era. sahraoui is a globetrotting seeker of musical truth spending time in malaysia, italy and spain as well as his native france, he recorded in the early 2000s to some acclaim as djinxx, releasing prolifically for delsin, cocoon, f-com bedrock, and ovum amongst others. in 2009 he took a couple of years out from the industry, travelling to malaysia to find himself. in 2011 a chance meeting reconnected sahraoui with derrick may, who he originally met in the late 90s. may was reactivating transmat and persuaded karim to let him release his music, but on the condition it be under his own name. the resulting pair of eternal life eps in 2014 and 2016 marked his rich return to form glorious melodic, contemplative techno in the classic motor city mode. his plenitude ep for r&s builds on similar positive themes - from the percolating arpeggios and mystic melodies of spy of the desert, to the anthemic jazzy techo paen of born again or the aching symphonic build of before the 2nd coming its clear that after decades in the business sahraouis talent is only growing rather than diminishing. i wanted to give it more spirituality, musicality and roots with the choice of the sounds. going back in the past and transcribe everything with visionary fusions, sahraoui explains.

after kicking off the year with releases by wheelman and general ludd, were very pleased to announce that naum gabo completes our recent trilogy of releases from glasgow based artists. alongside ivan smagghe, its no secret that optimo have been a huge influence around these parts and having released ivans smagghe & cross project on belters last year, its a huge honour to work with naum gabo - the production partnership of jonnie wilkes (jg wikes of optimo) and james savage (mastering engineer for optimo music). fittingly enough, naum gabo played live at the first ever optimo related parties we attended at the sub club back in 2005 and jonnies influential and supportive presence has been felt over the years as we started to become more involved in the glasgow scene and as the label developed. so it didnt require much thought to do this release before we had even heard these new naum gabo tracks they are absolute slammers of the highest order! really big release, bringing to our minds the likes of errorsmith. belters is a new club-focussed label brought to you by huntleys + palmers.

2018 repress with black sleeve!
sven väth returns with two of his greatest classics. just in time for the 20th anniversary of the cocoon idea the club-culture pioneer presents two milestones of his first two solo albums accident in paradise (1992) and the harlequin, the robot and the ballet dancer (1994). kink is in charge for remix 1 and we all know how much the bulgarian fancys classic styled house and techno music which makes him the perfect person for the job.

vinyl only release! 2018 repress
galluzzi and schneider: two masters of their craft and two specialists for merging minimal techno with dark house vibes. this particular sound that is high on demand when the club crowd get lost in the middle of night. lost in music. lost in the hot air that makes their bodies sweat. lost in these disco lights that makes us all dazed & confused. this very special sound, based on hypnotic and minimal beats with every bass sound hitting your body and soul.