the night is what makes a big city come to life. right after sundown, the hectic buzzing of downtown makes way for adventure playgrounds, bathed in neon light, revealing their countless chances and opportunities. its when youll find the subway spitting out its purpose seeking passengers by the minute. a coming and going of restless people passing through. all it takes is a few hours, before the sunrise makes it all disappear. mental bend captures the magic of that very moment in their dreamy soundtracks. if you close your eyes, you can see blurry pictures passing in slow motion, accompanied by their atmospheric songs. grainy black and white snapshots, fragments of memories lighting up somewhere in the farthest corner of the cortex. one step is the berlin-based indietronica duos visually vivid debut album, released on enfant fenou. mental bend are all about letting go. sissip (voc/synth/bass) and hendrik havekost (beats/production) know how to trust their instincts, crafting their hypnotic signature sound, somewhere in between electronica, ambient and dream pop. before founding the band in 2013, the two were already shaping their skills in all kinds of different formations and styles of music. as soon as they got together, they had a viral mini hit with their song take my hand, praised on various tastemaker blogs and generating over 100.000 likes on soundcloud in no time. the bands first long play record one step is all about important experiences and decisions, small as well as big steps, all a part of making progress, which in the end can even be life changing. it was a step, that recently got mental bend their record deal on mos ferrys sub label enfant fenou.

musik genießen - klang beurteilen! mit den hörtest-empfehlungen der stereo-redaktion. direct metal mastering, pressung auf audiophilem 180 gramm virgin vinyl.

8 tracks with full of techno... darker side

played by ricardo villalobos - its time for the next release on long-running paris label bass culture and owner d julz has invited a crack team of talented individuals to deliver the magic to this latest instalment in the label s release schedule. this extra special remix package features contributions from the legendary dj skull, along with sebo k, henrik bergqvist and romanian mp. the bossman s own 2015 ep houdini is the subject of this exquisite bunch of reworks, giving the whole release a fresh lick of paint from a group of artists handpicked by d julz to get to work on his productions. the title track houdini is first in line, with the mighty dj skull on remix duty. the chi-town legend has been a favourite of d julz since the early nineties when he was releasing on labels such as djax-up-beats. the funk-imbued workout he creates from the original production is superb and a testament to someone who has been involved in music for three decades and still going strong. keeping dj skulls remix company on the a-side is sebo k with his take on serendipity. following on from his outstanding ep brock wild, sebo returns to bass culture with another taught dance floor cut, full of swing and groove, pushed along with a strong, insistent energy. on the flipside the deep sultry flavours continue to bubble up. two more dynamic artists bring their unique touch to bass culture and the first is the romanian wonderkid mp (mihai popescu), who has previously released on the sub-label bass culture limited. his reinterpretation of serendipity is deep, nuanced and quirky with a simmering atmosphere throughout.last but certainly not least is the swedish maestro henrik bergqvist. waiting 4 visa gets a kick in its step, with mysterious cosmic fx layered over a mesmerising bassline and a collection of bleeps and chirps that really bring the remix to life. and there it is, four superb new mixes of three great tracks... enjoy!

reeepressss - new sub label from natural sciences...
kickin off our new off-shot dolphin traxx , d. futers takes the rains with a pounding two tracker of aqueous goo, molecular body deposits and corrosive laser stains, pressed up loud + harddd. cyber-hounds might recognise the first track i care - a pitched up vocal garage house jam bootlegged on your bros samsung razorblade and running piano keys hoisted in the back of the multi-changer. on the flip, never givin up is for the jungle heads, bringing back the oscillating machine gun funk of the warehouse, crashing between broken beat euphorics and shimmering pads.

ben buitendijk, kaap, daniel jacques, and 543ff feature on Æxs fifth vinyl release. a sub label from amsterdam based label indigo aera. 200 copies limited edition red ink hand stamped white label disc

motion sequence s sub-label presents his second release

like a message in a bottle, carried round by the ocean streams for decades, henrik rylander’s album “fran en obestamd plats i rummet” has floated around in the space of swedish underground music. hoga nord pulls the cork and unfolds the message that is a piece of music that was ahead of its time, sounding now 20 years after its first release in the late nineties. this album is a well-kept secret even for the most initiated music lovers in sweden! the music, influenced by flying saucer attack and other reverb/distortion drenched acts from the early nineties, harmonia and some of kraftwerks earlier works and minimalism, still sounds fresh!
rylander, a member of legendary acts such as union carbide productions and the skull defekts, has been pushing the envelope for electronic music, varying between ambient and noise. rylander’s solo works could be described as sophisticated music and “fran en obestamd plats i rummet” combines the sophisticated sides with his band oriented works that holds another kind of tension.
this record is the first release on the sub label hoga nord arkiv on which releases from the past, that hasn’t got as much attention they deserve gets re-released in an appropriate context.

mental groove music and musique pour la danse are ecstatic (and there couldn’t be any better way to express our feelings here) to announce the first volume of mental groove classics, music played at the early warehouse raves and illegal fields parties of the same name. a compilation of rare, forgotten or sought after gems, topped with extra loops and intros for the working djs, and each side of the record ends in style with original pirate radio cuts which showcase the music in its original context, extended liner notes and interviews of the featured artists by dj, producer and radio host jerome hill of don’t / super rhythm trax / kool fm london fame. all tracks are remastered from the original sources by former dubplates & mastering engineer frederic stader (aka dj maxximus / warp records) and cut by daniel krieger at the legendary schallplatten schneid technik studios

russian producer nocow debuts on rekids with five murky tracks this december. based in st. petersburg, nocow is undoubtedly one of russian electronic musics most remarkable protagonists having released on clone, figure, fauxpas musik, gost zvuk and styrax. recognised for maintaining consistency whilst traversing various sub-genres, nocow is as comfortable producing intricate idm and robust techno as he is calm ambient and melancholic electronica. in soul connection a spoken word vocal mutters over metallic percussion and ominous stabs whilst a dense pad washes over everything. an undulating synth and ethereal effects make up disappear before moving onto syncopated drums and shadowy atmospherics in samaya dolgaya noch. next up, stop is comprised of mesmerising melodies, sturdy kicks and a looped vox until nocow concludes the package with a short 2-step cut titled aesthetic mind.

banoffee pies records land their 5th edition to their original series with bp005, another interesting curation hosting the likes of liem and eddie ness of the lehult imprint, along with unknown gem and latest label affiliate to bpr, acs - presenting an intriguing journey into the midst of space pulling from a tropical roller coaster a side into analog acid jams on the b. again, always, and forever, let the music do the talking. for the lovers and the dancers. banoffee x

this 2xlp album, europa, is dedicated to and inspired by events in 2015 & 2016, which saw the spectre of global crisis come knocking at europes doorstep. during this time, more than a million migrants and refugees fled their homes in the middle east, northern africa, sub-saharan africa and other conflict ravaged areas in search of a better life. for many, hopes of a future for themselves and their families lay in continental europe.

mm audio has decided to launch a series of various artists periodically. the first of the series includes four different artists with four original tracks. different sounds sought in the scene of young talents who have expressed their sound for this ep.

lithuania s greyscale returns this december with ohrwert’s “fidelis / blavus”, backed with remixes from xdb and grad_u.
greyscale was launched in 2012 by lithuanian producer and dj grad_u, and photographer rima prusakova, set up as a platform for material from grad_u and close friends whilst prusakova’s black and white analogue photography provides the visual identity of the label.
the original mix of “blavus” opens the ep, perfectly setting the tone with murky, ethereal atmospherics, billowing dub echoes, modulating percussion and thunderous drums before dubtechno stalwart xdb strips things back a little with soft touches of the originals airy drones tucked away in the depths whilst choppy stabs and dynamically unfolding analogue rhythms wander throughout.
the second original from ohrwert opens the flip-side, upping the energy levels slightly with hooky stab-sequences, filtered delays and hypnotic melodies running alongside a sturdy percussive foundation. lastly to round out the release grad_u reworks “blavus” into a more groove-driven workout, employing shuffled hats, looped dub chords and bumpy sub-bass hits throughout.
mastered at the legendary dubplates & mastering in berlin.

following the hypnotic ‘what’s in your head’ ep in 2016, archie hamilton returns to moscow records with his first solo ep on the imprint since the release last year. since finishing 2016 with a place in ra s top 100 djs poll, he’s been touring the world, had a summer residency at amnesia and released another massive ep on fuse. an integral part of the stellar ascent of the brand, and founder at tastemaker label initiatives moscow records, moss co. and arkityp, he is an artist very much in control of his rise. the record opens with confusion, an out and out anthem which has been tearing up dance floors across the globe all summer. a trademark bassline drives the track forward as stabs build, tight percussion cuts through and a repeating vocal enters. then when the track drops it shifts the mood completely, causing any dance floor to bump uncontrollably. dos equis is something different altogether. minimalistic percussion and a tight sub lay the foundations for a funky bass guitar line. warming pads meet rhodes keys and out of nowhere a beautifully subtle vocal line appears. as the track breaks down, a mind bending synth line takes the listener out of their state of reflection. the title track on the flip is a classic piece of groovy hamilton weaponry. a positive mood that bounces along to a whispering voice in the background. the track develops as lush chords permeate the groove, soaking the dance floor in the last of the summer sun to create a euphoric crescendo.

the debut album from fast-rising moscow based producer harry light will celebrate robot ranch s 10th release and anniversary, with the range of atmospheric out of space audio structures and analogue deep house/techno flavors there s a lot of things to discover inside. -coaster- delivers stripped back deep techno grooves while trainspotting explores the functional delights of minimalistic sound. -chapter i draw the dub techno dancing realms and nights before finishing the first vinyl with deep atmospheric vibes. unpacking second vinyl you ll find dilemma more dark but very functional dancefloor heater with deeper roller friday night affair on the same side. the lp headliner northern lights brings in with the raw techno palette heavily influenced by its garage sub bass. acid-house dancefloor tool and secret weapon right moment unleash the vinyl number two. happily, there is much to find and listen on the third vinyl. uk rain delivers dusty, sample-heavy deep house groover with touch of garage hooks, while strong iv holds the melody and dubby chords in more classical way filling the mood with beauty and immersed in thought. amayak drives you fastly into jacking-house dancefloor groover which will leave you there without hope for salvation. the last but not least headswing gets you into the hypnotic voodoo thrill or maybe as an act: you discover yourself in center of pbar dancefloor diving into the depth.

introducing a new label, with a direction, we proudly present dispatch blueprints, returning for the second release with kid drama and the one and only skeptical.
bringing the deeper sound to the forefront, it made natural sense to welcome back label stalwart skeptical, whose sub centered sound has remained an inspiration since his dispatch debut in 2010 and subsequent output on labels like exit, r&s and soul:r.
when combined with the eclecticism of kid drama, it makes for a stunning fusion, developing the blueprints foundation and delving further into the lower frequencies.
setting the path for our new imprint in the best way, with some of our very favourite artists, we are proud to showcase both skeptical & kid drama on dispatch blueprints.

tact recordings launch their new vinyl only sub-label tactics , with the first ep coming courtesy of yard one, who deliver three excellently programmed cuts in the shape of tactics vol. 2.

after solemnly closing out the spc-series in 2016, jeroen search hands in his second ep of the year for figure. carrying his signature style, these tunes embody the live-recording feel he is known for, perfectly executed and arranged in clean-cut layers. both tracks on the a-side feature big and beefy beats, their generous sub-range creating ample space for the juxtaposing elements to effectively slice through, whether it be the penetrating bleeps of deduced or the piercing rides on interval. things get bumpy on the flip when the rugged but undeniable groove of steady pulse firmly stands its ground against repeated onslaughts of flailing percussion. the jolty rhythms and tinkling loops of endless circles may seem like it being the odd one out, but unexpectedly merge into an intricate mesh of sounds, making for a most memorable closer to this jam-packed ep.

cpu and dance musics polymath neil landstrumm share a love for classic bleep techno, hence landstrumm has brought to the table four superb reminders of the criminally short lived genre. with spine tingling melodies reminiscent of 808 state s best work, and sub-bass worthy of lfo s bass-bin shaking reputation. a death, a mexican and a mormon perfectly encapsulates not only landstrumms influences but also his deep seated love for bleep. a labour of love which the sheffield based imprint has been only all too happy to encourage and hopes will keep the genre alive for generations to come.

this is the ninth ep on firescope records, the new sub-label of the legendary b12 records. although b12 output has been the solo work of steven since 2015-2017, this time he steps outside of the b12 name and releases under his own name. one of the founders of uk techno, he has released on labels such as warp records uk, b12 records, soma records, delsin records, firescope records, art , buzz and de:tuned.

the nassau sessions were recorded in nassau bahamas in march of 2013 using zero analog equipment. this debut 7inch features four sedated, rum-fueled dubs by double pelican man. the sounds chosen are familiar to the dub reggae lexicon. deep sub bass, guitar chords, synth bleeps and clacking percussion. all drenched in echo and reverb, each ingredient added with careful consideration to the mix. the rhythms tumble and sway confidently. grooves are proudly extended, while the occasional overdub effect gives each track a paradoxically haunting undertone

welcome little brother, or mezin, to the start of your new adventure with “ramane intre noi ep”. constantly experimenting and evolving, the next logical step for alin was creating an outlet to let loose some of his music, new, old, or in between. with early support from petre inspirescu, rhadoo, cezar or sammy dee, this little brother’s journey is just beginning.

with the 10th release milestone on the horizon for dext recordings, a new ltd 10inch vinyl sub-label kicks off with 2 heavyweights at the helm. special request (aka paul woolford) and bodyjack are 2 artists who completely embody the label s ethos, and they each provide something very special for the first instalment of the series. say no more!

the sub label of sukhumvit records supports & connects talents from all around the globe. sharing same frequencies is all what it is about.

copenhagens echocord colour returns this mid november with brendom moellers magic city ep, featuring four originals from the new york based artist. brendon moeller has long been a purveyor of authentic dub-infused techno since stepping onto the scene via his 2006 sweetspot / humpback ep via echocord and has since gone on to release on reputable imprints such as third ear, kimochi sound, delsin’s ann aimee, mule musiq and of course his very own steadfast. here though moeller makes a welcome return to where it all began with some fresh material for echocords colour sub- label. caravan takes the lead on the release and in typical brendon moeller fashion were treated to densely layered dub chords, throbbing subs and expansive atmospherics whilst robust drums drive the composition along. magic city’ follows and ups the energy levels even further with pounding industrial drums layered underneath billowing dub stabs and eerie drones. ‘magic city in dub’ follows and as the name suggests offers up a reduced take on the composition, dropping the tempo and shining light on the billowing echoes of the original whilst stirring in some off-kilter rhythsm and additional processing for good measure. lastly,departure closes the package, with haunting synth drones, bumpy rhythms and murky vocals wandering throughout the seven-minute composition

yet more blissful listening comes your way courtesy of the impeccably talented deepchord. as we prepare for the release auratones, the detroit native’s 5th lp for soma, rod delivers the calming northern shores ep.
epic aural formations are always at the forefront of deepchord productions, every minute detail is constructed perfectly as each track gives off subtle nuances that nod to each aspect of modell s sound designer skills. the crystalline sonic formations in cirriforms blend together effortlessly allowing you to drift beyond while the ethereal pads of sky maps guide you through each unending swathe of reverb, each track bonded by subtle rhythms. crystal horizons sees modell delve even deeper, working more with percussive elements as his quintessential synth work seems to sit just beyond perspective, gliding in gently to remind you of an ever reaching presence. sand and shore has deepchord near strip the track of any clear rhythmic structure, with only faint sub bass allowing his uniquely processed field recordings and tranquil yet fluctuating synths to enhance the flow of the track.
a producer like no other, deepchord creates new sonic realms with each release.

masaki messaged blueberry records soundcloud and signed an ep within a week. i guess sending demos is still a thing. the concept of the ep is to demonstrate all the colors in masaki s rainbow. a truly gifted studio engineer, there are many styles in which he moves across the mixing board. ark and blessing are pure sound design ticklers. as if he decided to make an updated blue-ray instructional soundtrack. soaring melodies and sub bass anchors the listener is literally pinned done by the pressure and beaten with an ugly beauty unique to masakis style. dolci and ilah both radiate on the dance floor like lost dark rollers from an updated mid 90 s estelia and fraewnuil demonstrate the beautiful thoughtfulness masaki also possesses. like a hidden runout groove, masaki leaves the listener pensive and wrapped in a warm embrace.

the seventh ep on frits wentinks bobby donny label brings together some known and unknown producers. the original production is by low end activist, someone who has spent the last 15 years in berlin, bristol and brighton, no doubt picking up parts of the musical styles of those cities as he goes. it features london grime mc trim, an original member of roll deep and an artist signed to james blake s 1-800 label. the remixes comes from frits himself as well as cassius select, who has recently released on uttu and herbert s accidental. park end is a naughty tune with garage tinged drums slipping and sliding beneath menacing rhymes from trim. paranoid synth sounds and an oscillating low end speak of late night urban mischief and its the sort of characterful tune to stand out in any set. cassius select reconfigures the tune as a much more dark and experimental number with a heavy bottom end and huge sub bass that totally envelops you. frits then goes for a more mellow and melodic version, with lazy drums and wilting chords as rainy keys fall from above. it glows like street lights at night and closes out an ep with real attitude

klamauk&#8203, is&#8203, back&#8203, and&#8203, ready&#8203, to&#8203, drop&#8203, their&#8203, second&#8203, release&#8203, of&#8203, 2017&#8203, with&#8203, their&#8203, very&#8203, own&#8203, tilman.&#8203, the&#8203, german&#8203, artist brings&#8203, us&#8203, his&#8203, second&#8203, release&#8203, on&#8203, klamauk&#8203, and&#8203, has&#8203, already&#8203, turned&#8203, heads&#8203, with&#8203, a&#8203, string&#8203, of&#8203, quality&#8203, records&#8203, on&#8203, fine. tenderpark&#8203, or&#8203, quality&#8203, vibe&#8203, records&#8203, and&#8203, this&#8203, current&#8203, release&#8203, is&#8203, up&#8203, to&#8203, his&#8203, usual&#8203, high&#8203, standards&#8203, channelling&#8203, deep. sample&#8203, driven&#8203, house&#8203, vibes. the&#8203, 4&#8203, track&#8203, ep&#8203, kicks&#8203, of&#8203, with&#8203, * work&#8203, it*.&#8203, a&#8203, sample&#8203, driven&#8203, house&#8203, track&#8203, which&#8203, surely&#8203, will&#8203, be&#8203, a&#8203, hit&#8203, on&#8203, the&#8203, dancefloor. * sophisticated&#8203,.*&#8203, uses&#8203, a&#8203, lighter&#8203, touch&#8203, with&#8203, a&#8203, nice&#8203, percussion&#8203, rhythm.&#8203, a&#8203, funky&#8203, bassline&#8203, and&#8203, an&#8203, overall&#8203, happy&#8203, feeling. over&#8203, on&#8203, the&#8203, b&#8203, side&#8203, we&#8203, have&#8203, * &#8203,moments&#8203,*.&#8203, a&#8203, warm&#8203, and&#8203, open&#8203, groover&#8203, with&#8203, a&#8203, nice&#8203, piano&#8203, melody.&#8203, in&#8203, *if&#8203, i&#8203, could&#8203, see you&#8203, sometimes* &#8203,. tilman&#8203, takes&#8203, us&#8203, into&#8203, deeper&#8203, fields&#8203, with&#8203, lovely&#8203, chords&#8203, and&#8203, a&#8203, groovy&#8203, sub&#8203, bass

new york’s dj spider returns to rekids with four murky vinyl-only cuts this november. a highly respected label owner, dj spider is well known for helming esteemed imprints like plan b, sub level sounds and btu music. as a producer he has made appearances on the likes of the trilogy tapes, bleed, killekill and vanguard sound!, whilst last year saw him make his debut on rekids. returning to the imprint, the american artist follows dj deep, jon hester and fbk for the fourth outing in the rekids special projects vinyl series. opening with ‘mobius strip revisited’, a squelching bass line and rolling percussive loops underpin ethereal pads and airy atmospheres before an extended keyboard solo plays over inspired chord progressions and a grooved low-end to give ‘antikythera mechanism part 2’ an improvised feel. on the flip we have ‘sub-atomic vibrations’, providing a series of irresistible lead synth melodies and crunchy drum compositions followed by ‘struggles with phantoms’, an unrelenting rhythm section lays the foundation for an evolving mid-range giving the release a stylish close

the first track sees villem step up to remix false alarm by total science, quadrant & iris. flexing his technical prowess with this chest-shattering offering, villem teases sonorous atmospherics around sharp percussive hits, building to a medley of full impact subsonic weight and aggressive drum patterns that cut right through the mix. for his debut appearance on the label, critical impact teams up with vocal powerhouse jakes to deliver geeks and geez. critical impact combines deep, rumbling subs and resonant mid tones which go hand-in-hand with jakes raw vocal energy and no-nonsense lyricism, making this a sure-fire dancefloor heavy hitter for the masses. for the third track, total science drop what i need , a beautifully crafted composition filled with tranquil pads and articulate rolling drums serving as a solid backbone. reversed atmospherics and glistening pianos swell in and out of the track with a deep, warm sub to bring it all together. finally, arcatype s cascade is an immersive roller bursting with ethereal tones and snappy percussions, taking you on a journey of rolled out sub lines and mid-range stabs washed with subtle reverb and delay. classified v3 delivers an across-the-board, cutting-edge offering of their signature d&b blend. combining the raw energy of false alarm and geeks and geez alongside the deep overtones of what i need and cascade classified v3 is solid proof that c.i.a are always at the top of their game, rolling strong since 1996 with no sign of turning back.

alongside long-term dj partner harri, domenic cappello has been a sub club resident since 1994. he has released many records under many guises yet this is his first ep under his own name. 2017 also marks 30 years of sub club and it feels fitting for such two landmarks to dovetail as they have. the intruder ep is 3 brilliant tracks that come from a lifetime spent in music.

shimza, real name ashley raphala, is one of south africas brightest young talents. ascendent, his 4 tracks debut e.p. on cadenza reveals solid production skills and an innate instinct for peak-time bangers. the opening track, congo congo is a dark ride over abysmal tom-tom drums, lively percussions and a gloomy bass lead, ignited dramatically by an ensemble of wide synthetic stabs and chords. in its dub- mix, the drums and the percussion become lighter without diminishing its dynamic tension. the overall weight of the leads and the stabs is reduced, leaving more space to its intense piano and string chords and swinging sub bass. shimza - secret melodies starts with an obscure bass line, but the intense twist of fractioned rolls and arpeggios bring an ascending piano progression that quickly blooms into an uplifting symphony. selector is a deeper cut that keeps the gaze on the dancefloor: the incessant hand clapping and a cloud of low frequencies bumps unexpectedly drag its hypnotic harmonies into a breath-taking drop.

phat drum & bass dbl header

the second instalment of the mr bongo record club compilation series a selection of favourites, recent discoveries and sought after obscurities. files under funk/soul - but a wide variety of styles ios present here

astral dust is a 4 song excursion bridging the styles of derek michael and marshall applewhite. this project stems from a live recording of a set performed by michael in 2002. after being tucked away for almost 15 years, the recording was found and sent to applewhite who dissected the performance into fragments and breathed a new life into them. while some portions of this release are distinctly sludgy, the majority is a perfect amalgamation of both michaels and applewhites hard-edge, melodic borderline idm styles. the digital release will feature 2 digital only sub cuts from the sessions.

in flagranti is back with a new concept called hotfoot presenting energetic dj sets all done with 7 vinyl singles from there vast collection spanning from the 1960s till now. hotfoot is also their new 7 only sub label which will feature classic style songs on a side and dub mixes on b side. their first release will again feature new york performing artist ayakamay and released in fall 2017

best of album des electro-pop-trios pollyn aus los angeles, das, inspiriert von portishead, gorillaz und talking heads, im laufe der zeit von matthew herbert, dj harvey und moodyman geremixt wurde, aber auch selber bands wie gorillaz, liquid liquid, buffalo daughter und death from above remixte. coloriertes triple-vinyl (lp1 rosa, lp2 weiss, lp3 blau) inklusive der brandneuen single -findaway feat. alexis taylor (hot chip).

natasha kitty katt returns with a new, two-tracker 12inch for masterworks music. the multi-talented mistress of disco has been wreaking havoc on dance floors all over the place with her infectious sets at liverpool disco festival, the southport weekender and this year s suncebeat in tisno, croatia. not to mention having recently solidified her own imprint, ghetto disco records, she s also been flexing her talents in the studio with recent releases on hot digits, tribe uk and now, masterworks music. the disco vibrations ep comes with two sides of pure dancefloor heat with 24 hour sesh up to bat first. co-produced by krane, this high tempo burner features a relentless, pumping bass groove and loads of those quintessential disco-strings. jubilant vocal chops chant, screech and howl for the party to continue all night and day while filtered piano riffs keep the disco fires burning bright. flipping over we get after the dance, which offers a similar approach to it s a-side counterpart. taking on a deeper, sub bassline, things get even groovier once layers of sampled vibes and cosmic synths chirp and swoop all throughout the tracks six minute run time.

banoffee pies records continue their musical exploration with their latest sub label output otaku. as the title suggests, otaku provides the banoffee crew the opportunity to focus on another area of expression. “music for home” will be the focus and tagline for this imprint which will showcase a range of expertly composed live drum elements while travelling through the spectrum of leftfield electronic music.
the first instalment comes from a new and blossoming artist marenn sukie, first featured on the parent labels limited series. this time he drops a six track delight spanning the moods of trip hop, beats, and chill out in a bonobo esque fashion, intermittent head nodding included. with love banoffee xx

elysium erschien 2012 und offenbarte eine weiterentwicklung im sound und in der musikalischen entwicklung der pet shop boys. der kompositionsprozess begann, als die pet shop boys mit take that auf tour waren, einige tracks entstanden sogar schon im jahr 2008.
das album wurde gemeinsam von den pet shop boys und andrew dawson produziert, der als soundingenieur viel an kanye wests album »808s & heartbreaks« mitgearbeitet hatte – ein album von dem neil tennant damals »leicht besessen« war. die düstere atmosphäre in den texten von elysium spiegelt sich im sound des albums wider.
neil tennant: »es ist einerseits sehr ›deep‹ im sound – es hat eine menge sub-bass – aber es ist auch tiefgehend, was die inhaltlichen themen betrifft und die art, wie sie formuliert werden. aber ich finde, es ist das schönste album der pet shop boys.«

say what you wanna say, but you have to give strahil velchev this: the manÆs a powerhouse. recording and playing live under the kink alias, he went on to become one of finest purveyorÆs of funk in techno and house. what it is, by definition, ainÆt exactly clear. and that is the beauty of it. kinkÆs music is unifying in the best possible way. channeling the spirit and feeling of a time where it didnÆt really matter who the faces behind the music were, kink plays with the elements of genres and sub-genres as if the future of it all is still wide-open. at the same time it could be accused of retro-fetishism, as much as the pope himself is infallible. the pure need to recreate moments, feelings and experience - rather than carbon copies of existing designs - was what started kinkÆs production work. hailing from bulgaria, it was nearly impossible to get your hands on all the records and music that fed into a system of raves, clubs and record shops that seemed far away from sofia, and financially it might as well have meant another galaxy. wanting to dj without having access to the tracks that spun the carousel meant that you had to create them yourselves. so, here we go with a private bootlegger gone public mastermind and one of the loudest voices in house, techno and beyond. from kinkÆs early productions with neville watson to his smash-hit for ovum, a cerebral album for macro, tons of remixes & tracks and his mind-bending live act, playground seems to take all that into a blender. simultaneously a sound-summary, the harvest of a field of ideas, and the exhibition of an artist in his prime, it also works as a sort of kink dictionary: avant-garde soundscapes stand next to boisterous bangers, classic club tracks and peak time emotions

the elusive stl returns with a 3-track ep on his newfound home of dark matters. ‘nonzero sonics is the sixth label release to date, and their first to emerge this year. stephan laubner has enjoyed an accomplished career with releases on labels including perlon, smallville and echospace. despite a scarcity of interviews and public appearances, his reputation as a devoted audiophile and hardware enthusiast has afforded him a loyal following in underground music circles. this release marks the beginning of a new chapter with amiralis dark matters imprint. ‘nonzero sonics explores dark and twisted sentiments in avant-garde structures, consistently executed with impeccable detail. ‘no more words meditates on elements of dub and techno in an extended form, whilst ‘smooth selector establishes a stripped back groove replete with sub frequencies and cavernous echoes. closing track ‘out of the one places peculiar harmonies in a tranquil framework, exemplifying the diversity of a producer with true dedication to his craft

echocords colour sub-label continues this november with sephs teleport ep, featuring three originals from the argentinian producer. buenos aires born producer sebastian gelante aka seph has been kicking up a storm in the techno world since the turn of the millennium releasing material on labels such as dumb unit, harry klein, items & things, his own aula magna imprint and now he joins the echocord roster on sub-label echocord colour following recent releases from luke hess and stephen brown. across the teleport ep seph delivers his signature smooth, dubbed out and intricate style and&#8232,,,,the title-track takes the lead with billowing pads, bumpy off kilter rhythms and choppy stab sequences galore before delta strips back the vibe to raw drums and murky synth textures while ethereal pads ebb and flow through the composition. motion rounds out the package on the flip side, taking a straighter approach rhythmically this time round to allow the snaking dub stabs, rumbling low-end tones and evolving hats to take the lead throughout.

“control” is the first release on jeff derringer’s new label, oktave records. the smartbar resident takes his chicago techno event to the next level with this new label offering. jeff supplies the sounds for this first record, which continues his impressive run of releases on esteemed labels such as soma, electric deluxe and perc trax. this time out, jeff delivers immediate dance floor action with the a-side, “control”, a driving, intense affair with jeff’s trademark heavy kick and mutating sub bass. on the flip, jeff introduces an ambient re-working of his 2010 track “tarantula”, as well as the blissed-out, dub laden affair “touch disease”. the record and the label represent a new depth of commitment to the oktave mission and sound, with upcoming releases to feature respected producers like iori, giorgio gigli and more. stay tuned for further developments from oktave records.

zen in space makes a prominent debut for moonshoe records with yellow jazz ep . the record captivates the feeling of a jam session when the vibe is on point. soaked in instrumentation, the record feels spacious. strong percussive grooves guide the listener through a range of moods that each compliment each other effectively. throughout the ep a combination of spoken word and soulful vocal hooks give a add a tasteful human element.
fourth&bak features a spoken-word that whispers atop of juicy guitar licks and a wobbly sub-bass line, but it s an aching, soulful vocal melody that ties the jam together.
sahara groove is a moody chord progression layed out over a driving 4x4 groove complimented by a dancing, airy flute solo.
to top off the record is a remix from sydney native, setwun - an imaginative and effective reinterpretation that adds a perfect glaise to an already commendable release.

find your own records launches with ceri’s ‘life holstee e.p.’ and includes a fred p reshape. a strong debut for this new label, a record that fuses the darker and deeper sounds of detroit, berlin and london.
fred p aka black jazz consortium delivers a timeless remix, his reshape of the title track tantalises the drum grooves, adds his trademark atmospheric ethereal synths and reworks the bass in such a way that is unexpected yet astounding.
the b side ‘we do’ is the deeper of the three tracks, fusing mysterious vocal stabs with minimal funky drums and deep rolling bass.
whilst the music is at times deep and dark, the message of the ep is positive, the title track drawing it’s inspiration from the holstee manifesto, a manifesto that producer ceri aspires to live by. this message is echoed by the lyrical content of the vocal snippets used in ‘life holstee’. this is juxtaposed with haunting eerie moog synths, alongside variating funky analog drum rhythms and sub-bass.
with early support for the label coming in from the likes of mr. g, d’julz, paranoid london and more besides, find your own records is off to a flying start, we can t wait to see what else they have in store for the future.

delsin records inertia series is back with a powerful four tracker from yan cook. the producer from ukraine has also released delsin s main label and associated ann aimee, as well as planet rhythm and cooked. he makes straight up techno that arrests your attention and does just that again here. toucan is first and is a spangled, underwater techno track with gurgling lines wrapping round shuffling percussion and insistent drums. it s one to get into your head, while puffin is more physical, with more warped synths and paddy drums woven together into a fluid, rippling groove that never lets up. the drums on dialogue are deep and land with real resonance while dubby chords rattling out to the horizon. last of all flamingo is the most manic of the lot, with hi speed synths and booming drums all coming together to make for powerful, sub shaking and room filling techno madness.