nice price deal !!! some things have a special meaning, although not everyone is given to know it, then life becomes a circle, where nothing happens by chance. dark and solid techno: >belief system< is the brand new and big floor ready ep by the italian duo asymptote, mind and soul of suburban avenue label, with a superb remix by the spanish techno legend oscar mulero. a1 >belief system< is a deep and spaced out, 1990s inspired techno journey. a2 is a potent, classy and widely reverberating revisitation of >belief system< track, perfectly executed by the master oscar mulero. b1 >theory of knowledge< and b2 >divided lines< are hard stomping, driving and tripped out tunes >at the beginning we didnt know the path, but our mission was so clear. and its still so<

second release from bell telephunk, who went on to be kinsman dazz and then the dazz band.

the layered effect by us rapper/producer andy cooper offers a punchy reminder of the creative fun to be had in digging for breaks, stringing up loops and layering up stratas of sound. brimming full of delightful inflexions from the world of jazz, easy listening, film soundtracks and hollywood voices, its a perfectly stitched sound patchwork that pays loving hommage to the classic, funky days of early rap. a touching testimony to the joys of hip-hop then and now.

philipp boss is a new cat to the scene but he is most definitely here to stay. we re really happy to present his first long player titled -boss-. expect nothing less then a future classic in house music history.

to make it to album number three, a group has to make a compelling debut and then avoid the sophomore slump. if you reach that third record, you are supposed to be a professional, a stone-faced musical grown-up. but don’t tell that to de lux. after their 2014 debut voyager and 2015 follow-up generation, the la duo is gearing for its best and brightest lp, more disco songs about love. the difference between this album and all the rest? let s ask the band: we like to say voyage was our baby, generation was our baby all grown up and more disco songs about love thinks growing up sucks and just wants to party smart.

skyrager presents the first in a series of dance floor edits designed for optimum peak set destruction! beat girl/wonderful is already generating heat on worldwide dance-floors in the skilled hands of crack selectors including hunee, lovefingers, mark e and more.beat girl is our a-side, a heavy, throbbing ebm monster. like something discovered on a long lost belgian white label with it s sharp french femme-fatale monologue and nagging acid bass-line. trust us, this one sounds ultra-heavy on the system! things get a little sexual about halfway through and then those guitars kick in, yes, guitars, scuzzed out, fuzzed out chords run rampant over this beast and you re gonna love it. this is that sleaze, put your phone away, pick up the amyl and jack. wonderful is just that, a ridiculously rare south african (!) cover of italo overlords klein & mbo s cut of the same name. there shouldn t be much more to say here, but you should know that it s a stellar combo of hypnotic drum machine rhythms, mind melting synth bass-lines and super dreamy spoken word vocals. its almost as if she s speaking directly to you as you lose yourself in the smoke and lazers, let go, you know you want to.

sonikku comes riding back into the lobster tropical gardens with a flurry of sparkling, arpeggiator-driven ambient jams featuring three extended reworks from nts regular mobbs.
sonikku’s originals apply a drier and skit-length pop approach to synth-based home listening. building a borderline-saccharine melodic base to each track then upping the sheen and the tropical & twinkling production. shots of balearic appear in earth temple, christmas jingles echo from the depths of diamond dust, while sky garden channels a more direct emotional palette of warm synthesizer heartbreak.
mobbs’ approach is to allow each track to breathe around it’s core strengths over a longer time frame, whilst enhancing and encouraging each element to make it’s space and time to enter the track. the shifts and swaying structures turn shorter synth ideas into fully blown journeys that become almost hypnotic by the end. a soft, dream-like ride into bliss.

pater noster presents their fifth release, aposynthesis by overloper, a side project of ekman.
the a-side brims with tension both contemplative and active. ‘hope you’re close’ is a deep burner, with heavy, pounding bass and an entrancing hook ascending to space. this then escalates into the urgency of ‘aposynthesis (need more sisa)’, in which a driving, rolling rhythm is juxtaposed with an old school, dutch-style rave synth.
the b-side encircles around acid. on one hand, it is coyly playful with ‘carpe noctem’ turning cavernous in innsyter’s dark interpolation of the other.

julien sandre and mennie return under their jarau guise this january with the saturn system ep, set for release via visionquests special edition sub-label. julien sandre and mennie return under their jarau guise this january with the saturn system ep, set for release via visionquest’s special edition sub-label. france’s julian sandre and italy’s mennie have both individually carved out quite the career over the past decade with the former racking up releases on blindbox, franck roger’s home invasion and e wax amongst others, and the latter holding a residency at tenax club in italy and collaborating togheter on releases for poker flat and housewax of late, 2017 also saw their collaborative debut as jarau which came courtesy of the revered pleasure zone imprint. now returning for their second ep under this new guise the pair join the roster of visionquest special edition with saturn system and taking the lead is le voyage a snaking journey through billowing synth swells, jangling percussive chimes and organic drums before dubhe strips the vibe back to modulating resonant synths, shuffled stripped-back rhythms and lumpy sub bass tones. adrienne opens the flip side with the focus on a swinging drum groove as airy atmospherics ebb and flow throughout. hypnotize then rounds out the package and as the name would suggest relies on subtle nuances to draw you deeper and deeper into the intricately programmed percussion and smoothly blooming synth flourishes.

yoshinori hayashi debuted his musical career with the end of the edge ep on going good records (uk) in 2015. he then dropped two other killer 12inches the following year (asylum on lovers rock & the forgetting curve on jinn records, the latter included a great remix by dj sotofett) born & based in tokyo, yoshinori hayashi debuts on disco halal (moscomans already cult imprint) with an out of this world 4 tracker, blending his unique take on house with psychedelic & jazz influences. disco halal counts in its catalogue amazing releases by red axes, autarkic, simple symmetry, chaim and many more. deluxe packaging includes white vinyl & printed innersleeve.

ali renaults cestrian alias is responsible for some proper gutter-dwelling electro business that has come to light on bunker records, mnx recordings and more besides. theres no let up with this new slab, presented to the underworld by vivod and unknown to the unknown as a joint release. napoli keeps the pressure wound up to a breakneck pace while -secret language places the emphasis on devilish synth tones. purge attempts something akin to a more melodic, mellow mood splattered with acidic bleeps, and then krapton fictor whips out some truly crafty android boogie loaded with short circuits aplenty. umberto swoops in at the last minute to remix napoli into a relentless, storming techno brute with brains to match the brawn.

2018 repress / vinyl only!! with its debut release, in any case is trying to give you the best and dustiest takes on house, hip-hop and disco, packed on one and only piece of wax. we are very proud to showcase five amazing tracks from five different artists from around the world on this first record. mr. pc from detroit (us) kicks things off with a stunning disco edit, “boogie with me” delivering a mastered groove throughout the whole title, perfect for all the dancefloors. then comes “another lonely man” by martin hayes from leipzig (de). we’re left with a heavy bottomed-end track featuring lush strings and nice vocals. on the flip, we’ve then got pascal viscardi from geneva (ch) and his “fuorigrotta” that comes from deep, deep down with its heavy kicks cutting through amazing synths and disco loops, packed together with that 90’s sp1200 sampler flavour. then, malouane from france (fr) continues the trip with “i did this at work”, another bass-heavy groove melting down below some perfectly arranged samples. finally, we’ve got g2s & ibn sabaa from france (fr) with their “dumb ruler”, a short and wonky hip hop instrumental, blending the fender rhodes sound we all love with dripping hats and screwed breakdowns. there is something for every taste here, so jump on it while it’s hot !

bliq continues its quest to mine the deepest shades of techno with this release from iakovos, who had previously appeared on the label as lowjac and in the formidable duo deemonlover. this is sharply focused mind music layered with subtle detail and rich textures perfectly honed for hazy hours at the far reaches of the party. -singers- melds hypnotic pads with gossamer-light threads of breakbeat and warm synth pulses, while -evil flower- pushes a tougher rhythmic agenda without losing the ethereal atmosphere. -adidas people- rides on a surging kick drum pattern, but leaves ample room for a distant drone, and then -hackney tower- heads into edgier territory with all manner of obtuse angles and unnerving sound effects pivoting around the insistent drum core of the track.

as ever, the next project on opilec music is one with a rich back story this time paying homage to a very specific disco scene of the early 80s: it finds label boss i-robots turning out one of his brilliant reconstructions, namely of a classic and cult track by one hit wonders ahzz. this track was first released on land of hits, a label run by peter brown (who also wrote -material girl- for madonna) and michael campbell and has now been officially licensed for this reissue by opilec music. the track, new york s movin was huge on the new york disco scene and was played by the likes of david mancuso at the loft, larry levan at the paradise garage and by nicky siano at studio 54, but continued to be a big hit with modern new york tastemakers kenny dope, dj spinna, danny krivit and his body & soul party crew well into the 90s, as well as with stars like motor city drum ensemble and bulljun. i-robots is a notorious producer and record collector with a vast understanding of the history of house and disco and his version combines an original vocal and instrumental version into something really magical. new york s movin (i-robots reconstruction take i) is a jangling, organic and lose limbed disco number with a funky drum line, soul in its bones and plenty of lovably rough percussion, clicks and drums. a retro and impassioned vocal line adds flair to the track at the midpoint just before that groove kicks once more. this version is featured on the new i-robots - reconstructions 2007-2017 10th year anniversary release. new york s movin (i-robots reconstruction take ii) is then just as emotive and outgoing but after the break has more of a focus on funk. this is a huge party starting track filled with feel good vibes and once again proves opilec music work on only the most special projects.

knlb first appeared with the initialize 12inch on vibraphone in july of this year, and it s not taken them long to return with another slab of on-point, upfront house music loaded with flair and imagination. up again is a heavy, chugging and bumping jam that should inspire all manner of screwed up faces of appreciation on the floor, and then fog machine smell simmers things down to a more measured house groove. half life brings a few more dubby elements into the mix, and then the club mix of sin sends the record spinning off in a wonderfully dusty reverie of detuned pianos and late-hitting drums.

killekill house trax is going strong – this time with a 4-tracker by the incredible andreas gehm. he sent us the music shortly before his death and said we could pick any of his artist names and his only condition was that the music was released on vinyl. only after his death we realized that he had obviously already taken a decision then… so we are releasing this record now as an homage to one of the most creative and funniest persons in the electronic universe of the last decade. the ep includes all his typical styles and ranges from hard jacking acid house over weirdo electro house to old school chicago- leaning piano house. a timeless record for all situations. may you rest in peace, andreas, and thanks for still rocking our floors, even when you are long gone!

mother of mars is the latest evolution of vito & druzzi, two new yorkers who have provided the 21st century with some of its most innovative dance music. the duo first came to fame as the rhythmic backbone of the rapture, nyc pioneers who found global fame with their angular post-punk and howling disco. since then vito & druzzi have had a prolific career as remixers and producers, producing leftfield disco killers for a range of labels including warp and throne of blood. seed 2 sky their first release as mother of mars sees the duo fuse live krautrock drums with pulsating synth loops, creating two epics of space and rhythm that owe a debt to 70s kosmische pioneers like tangerine dream.

the third outing for modern manners emerges on the back of two very strong 12inches that introduced this anonymous outfit to the world. timeless vibe continues where the last release left off, building up a wonderfully cosmic bed of processed melody under which casual hand played percussion and warm bass notes can linger. azzahar too keeps things pleasantly soporific with its gentle pace and lilting guitar refrains, and then middle east manners rounds this excellent trio of eps out with a beautifully realised swirl of sounds that find focus once a kick drum starts pulsing and the percussion starts building. quite who modern manners are is a mystery at this stage, but across these three 12inches they ve certainly made their presence felt in the softest, most laid back of ways.

my rules storms into 2018 with the raw machine music project happy family from eric duncan and justin van der volgen. a side downtown wedgeee kicks off with twisted acid lines and drunken arpeggios which build and build until completely going off the rails, then finishing with ethereal pads and metallic percussion. b side bad monks ups the tempo and goes even further into woozy psychedelic territory with thick dizzying drones and a smeared pounding analogue rhythm.

pinkman welcomes maenad veyl to its roster of artists for his debut release in the form of the labels second tape. make them remember sets the gloomy mood with clattering percussion and ghostly synth lines. the messy drum patterns of taiko death rhythm are breaking up the cold mist. the a-side of the cassette is completed by the melodic slow burning energy of d.m.m.r.m . on the other side state ov apprehension and sotto gli occhi tutti further darken the character, to then pave way for in ruins to finish the damage with it s ethereal, yet soul ripping guitar riffs. *** digital download code included ***

joran van pol is back on minus with edge, a fantastic four track ep that is his first on the label since 2013. in the years since, the amsterdam based artist has set up his own fade label and has continued to evolve his cinematic techno sound. previously, van pol has also released on labels like rejected, sci+tec and ideal audio, and has the support of all the big techno players who often reach for his tunes in their sets. as a dj he is just as in demand, with headline slots everywhere from space ibiza to time warp all behind him. having recently set up a new studio, he is still coming on strong with fresh inspiration and ever more essential grooves. ‘illos opens things with seven spooky minutes of icy techno. rolling rubbery drums pump away below, and the details up top make for an evocative soundscape with distant industrial sounds, groaning bass and razor sharp hi hats all filling your mind with imagery. next comes title track ‘edge, another brilliant sonic landscape with tense chords repeating over ticking percussion. its a track that builds tension throughout, and keeps you looking over your shoulder into the eerie blackness. the perfectly high pressure ‘return is one that locks you in and never lets up, with warped synths snaking above traintrack like drums and hits. a dark, rumbling bassline and the sounds of pistons releasing air all add to the intensity of this brainmelting bit of futuristic techno. last but not least, ‘frostbite is then the most spacious and spooky offering of the lot. it has freaky alien sound designs scattered around the track with supple kicks driving the whole thing forwards. its an absorbing cut that hurries along and takes you for a thrilling ride. these are four more inventive techno tracks from one of the contemporary scenes brightest stars.

uk producer laurence guy delivers his debut for mule musiq: three house not house grooves en-larged with a deep musicality. so far the boy from london got one album and six eps on such labels like church, rose or cin cin under his wings. all his three tunes for mule feature a piano that spreads deeply haunting melodies. combined with house rhythms and a warm oscillating atmosphere, he managed to arrange an ep that reminds equally on the musical art of producers like andres or portable. deep house beyond the clichés, charged with bewitching melodies and a heartiness that has the power to stay for good.

originally a heavy metal drummer, bård aasen lødemel aka skatebård, got into techno and rave during the 90s. hailing from a small town called Ørsta on the norwegian west coast, lødemel moved to bergen where he quickly became part of the student town s growing club scene. after handing over a homemade demo to tellé records label boss mikal telle, lødemel got signed to tellé offshoot label tellektro in 2001. his first release under the name of skatebård, a 12- mini album called -skateboarding was a crime (in 1989)- was released in 2002, and skatebård s reputation as an excellent techno/electro producer started to spread beyond norway s borders. since then skatebård has gone on to release on labels such as sex tags mania, radius records, supersoul recordings, keys of life finland, luna flicks, totally as well as his own digitalo enterprises. -skateboarding was a crime (in 1989)- was pressed in a very limited edition and sold out quickly. since then it has been a desired object for record collectors and techno and electro aficionados around the globe. now the time has come to make the mini album available again, something this true masterpiece really deserves.

after living in africa, south america, then london, ohes first made a name in paris by playing analog lives with the dynamiterie crew, first as they resident artist and then as the new artistic director of their new label. it is while playing live in the french city of pau that he met behzad & amarou. they shared the same views on the perception of music, thus created a particular affinity. after this event, they chose to collaborate under the boa moniker (behzad ¹ ohes- amarou), and invited him to release his new ep on bear records. in this first ep, ohes moves between a slightly dystopic robotic house, sharp discoid grooves and melancholic exoticism. this new adventure present a rich diversity in these four personal tracks, influenced by his numerous travels.

titled your hit making papa, the two-track 12-inch will be the detroit artist s second solo release of 2017, following january s hit it bubba. (since then he s also put out collaborative records with nite jewel and young seth, aka seth troxler.) the new ep lands on december 15th.

hugh ‘redman’ james is one of the greatest jamaican music producers of the late 1980s. raised in a musical household in the west kingston slum of hannah town, with his mother a sound system selector, redman gained his initial schooling in the music business from none other than king tubby, the legendary sound system owner and dub mixer that was responsible for voicing and mixing some of the greatest reggae of all time. after being immersed in sound system culture during his youth in the 1960s and 70s, redman began sitting in on sessions at king tubby’s studio, but migrated to hartford, connecticut in 1978 in search of steady employment. returning to jamaica a few years later, he established a popular sound system in kingston and began producing music with king tubby’s assistance in 1985, working with the roots radics during a time of great uncertainty in jamaican music, as the new dancehall style came to prominence, early work featured gregory isaacs, sugar minott and frankie paul, as well as rising stars such as little john and horace martin. then, following the computerisation of dancehall, redman began producing some of the most popular music of the day, crafting durable and complex rhythms with a broad team of players that included steely and clevie, augmented by members of the browne bunch and other players. redman helped establish a number of total unknowns in this era, including carl meeks, dave bailey and wayne palmer, and became a serious contender for king jammy’s crown. but the producer was ultimately frustrated by the dramatic changes to sweep jamaican music in the early 1990s, and subsequently retreated from the music industry redman international dancehall 1985-1989 compiles the best work from his glory days, with half of the twelve vocal tracks coming complete with corresponding dub versions.

the superb forbidden planet is a shiny early electro cut with a great funk bass line, a real instrumental groove and fantastic melodies that shimmer like a hot sun. it s filled with joy and sounds as fresh today as ever, the way it ducks and dives and offers real warmth. the francisco remix keeps the funk vibe but changes the groove to be a more chicago house style cut. as such it has a rasping bassline, big drums and coarse percussion that make you want to jack. the masterful ali renault—a go-to disco and synth specialist who runs cyber dance records, human shield record company and most recently his own vivod imprint—then turns out a hypnotic version that is more driven and direct for the dance floor, with robotic bass and epic reflective synth lines. it s a cinematic track with great analogue textures that goes back to the future. the last original is the excellent stay with me , a cosmic love song with breezy trumpets and dreamy disco vibes as well as soulful vocals. italo melodies and infectious percussion finish it off and make it an instant crowd pleaser.

180 gram brazilian polysom re-issue of the polydor original.
quite possibly the last truly sublime album ever recorded by os mutantes – a set that’s a bit more rock-oriented then their first few, but still pretty revolutionary overall! the group have expanded to a quintet at this point, but haven’t yet falling into the guitar-heavy groove of later years – and rogerio duprat is working with the group on arrangements, although mutantes member arnaldo baptista is handling production chores himself. odd styles still slide into the mix as the tunes roll on – creating that great sense of surprise that makes their best work so great, and keeping things fresh even when a bit more straight ahead! titles include a reprise of -baby-, one of the group’s early classics – plus -portugal de navio-, -virginia-, -tecnicolor-, -el justicero-, -lady, lady-, -sarava-, -it’s very nice pra xuxu-, and -top top-.

warehouse find ! mjazz presents rawtrachs is a 17-minute ride of beats, bass, noise and rawness. there is an obvious influence of jungle break beats and a f**k off attitude to formulaic music. the music represents freedom from the formula, freedom from restrictions, and most of all the freedom to connect with the universe via intuitive experiments with sounds. this release is limited to 30 cassettes – the cassettes are blue in a yellow case with a handcrafted cover – each of these covers are different (no two covers are the same). the cassette cases are then packaged up in an extra case which is hand sprayed with the mjazz seal of approval – super limited handcrafted packaging! this music is unapologetic and unadulterated – no watered down for the masses business!

limited edition reissue of mando diao’s 2007 album on green coloured vinyl.

south side underground now delivers 3 brand new tracks for the moustache part 2 ep. if there was a time to dance to music, then this time is now - so put your party hats on to get into it with these new tempting chicago house dancefloor killers!

anagram label follow up their phasing faces releases with remixes from efdemin, lapien, ryan james ford and terrence dixon under his population one moniker this december. released earlier this year, phasing faces was a two-part series featuring anetha, elad magdasi, mathame and maukook, not to mention label founders sinfol and octual. anagram have now tapped up four reputable names for a heavyweight remix package, dial regular efdemin, fast rising mdr and answer code request act ryan james ford, dutch producer lapien aka one half of delsins artefakt, as well as renowned detroit artist terrence dixon appearing as population one. ostgut tons efdemin opens the package with his immersive remix of sinfol trembling, incorporating pulsating drones, echoing effects and ethereal synths. anethas acid train then gets reimagined by shut founder ryan james ford - the canadian combines thudding kicks with mesmerising atmospherics as metallic percussion skips throughout. adding further depth to the release, rekids and mistress recordings artist lapien remixes elad magdasi two floors to generate a smooth aesthetic complete with serene nuances and soulful vocal coos before rush hour and metroplexs population one ties everything together with a deep house reinterpretation of octual dark sky.

shlomo takes a step away from his own taapion records to return to delsin for his second full ep for the label. the parisian producer serves up two of his modern techno jams, a lush ambient piece plus a slamming rework by tommy four seven. up first is in absentia: tome 2, a follow up track to his last ep on the label. it is another cold techno cut with turbulent drums down low and icy, slithering hi hats up top all backed by synths that light up the track from behind with a heavenly glow. tbilisian cure is a more abrasive affair with blistered synth lines and scurrying electronics running through the fast and brutal drums. lali then flips the script and offers an ambient excursion with watery synths forming celestial puddles in the sky. it s a zoned out soundtrack that s the perfect comedown. finishing off the ep, 47 label boss tommy four seven flips this one into a weightless techno groove that rocks back and forth on the drums as sweeping chords leave you feeling suspended in mid air. plenty of ground is covered in this one, and all with equally compelling results.

* walton drops his third instalment on tectonic in fine style, calling upon japanese influences to create a truly unique sonic across both tracks in the release. asian instrumentation meets directly head to head with the cutting edge sounds of a uk grime-techno axis to great effect. * ‘praying mantis’ captures all the charm of a fine japanese watercolour painting by means of some spectacular midi-harp programming. hi-hats and detailed percussion set a shuffling pace, building the mood up before a beautiful harp section unfolds and takes over, expertly programmed by walton to sound as if a master harpist had stepped into the room! as drums and bass join the party we have all the makings of a low-slung grimey masterpiece, both soothing and energising in a perfect zen balance. * flip then for ‘koto riddim’ which again brings japanese influences to the forefront of the track. walton programs classic sounding japanese percussion sounds along with grunting vocal cuts and a charming flutebased melody. as the track drops, it switches into a more familiar, grime-based palette of sounds, deftly arranged for most dangerous impac

the jaunt records 10 years series shores up with the land installment featuring another four adventurous souls that have the spirit of deepest techno in their bones. stojche lets lush motor city synths lead the way on the energetic the exchange before awol gets into an intricate broken beat groove on the stunning 54.973379, 1.614705. luke hess brings some unabashed acid gurgles to the front of the mix on tdy and then deep a & biri plot a course for dubby waters with the growling tones of pilgrim.

jaunt records 10 year celebrations are spanning a series of 12inches that feature a broad spectrum of artists searching for the ultimate deep techno fix. the four contenders that occupy this sea release all have their own agenda, but they sit together perfectly. hiver weaves illustrious pads in between nimble electro drums and bubbling acid bass, while artefakt creates eerie, fractured acid meanderings to send a shiver down your spine. hinode does some deft break choppage to create a dreamy trip for the up all night crew, and then region rolls the record out on an emotive tip while keeping the rhythm section pumped up for the floor.

every cell is telling me, run ...but what would i be to you then? – zanias lyrics best remixes happen when the initiative comes from the very own remixer, instead of by commission. this denotes admiration and respect to the original artist, as well as a necessity to provide your own vision to an already consolidated work. berghain s resident kobosil delivers strong dancefloor instances blending his unique understanding of the berliner techno with zanias s vocals. agency is the new solo project of half of operant band august skipper. his debut track offers a mature evolution that guides the listener from a percussive beginning till a high pressured synthed end. in case one track is not enough to be remixed, dax j s raved version increases the bpms in a mixture of -follow the body- and -in eternal return-. the closing track is signed by unhuman and brings the original ebm atmosphere back to the record.

malca is an artist from casablanca in morocco. he has played pitchfork festival in paris recently & his video for casablanca jungle got 75.000 clicks in a little more then a week.

new years deal - the legendary lidell townsell on the legendary trax label - what s not to like? get the hole might sound like a fairly dubious title for an ep, but it works within the realms of chicago house! released in the golden year of 88, this ep contains nothing but vintage midwest acid grooves! you could argue that the xxx rated message behind lead cut get the hole is an early precursor of what would come out of the chi via dance mania and other associated labels and artists in latter years. rumour has it the track had an impact on the super underground b-more club scene too unsurprisingly! if you like your house music rough, ready & raw then this is for you! warehouse sounds, box jams, it s all here! remastered in conjunction with trax records, fully legit, now is the time to revisit a cornerstone of classic chicago house music, often imitated, never bettered!

the new year marks a time of change, fresh starts and new beginnings and 2017 will see the launch of a brand new vinyl series from 20/20 vision. up first on the series we welcome portuguese native marco rodriguez, aka photonz. he first caught our ear with his early output on cult london imprint dissident, and then went on to release with tastemaker labels crème organization & hot haus. negative cities pt.1 is filled with the deep, rich & fat analog sounds that photonz has become renowned for. whether it’s intergalactic acid bangers like astral acid, the skipping hi-hats and wonky shuffle of death drive, or the driving main room techno of somewhere i read, theres enough ammunition here to satisfy any house and techno connoisseur. negative cities pt.1 is out 13th february on 20/20 vision. limited to 300 copies.

the third single from new york based stray current records is a slice of classic piano house. producer d. briggs is joined here by vocalist danhy clermont, who brings a warm, soulful mood to the track. for the a-side remix, briggs breaks the track down and gives it a minimal, electro-pop feel. then on the b-side, globe trotting dj and lets play house label boss, jacques renault delivers an amped up version that will bring the heat to the dance floor.

more classic, ghetto chi-town business from the dm vaults here - 2-bit project s (aka larry thompson of lnr fame!) bump that pussy ep is another hot, collectible entry into the dm catalogue. this special, enhanced 2017 repress version features all the og cuts (except 1 short skit) and boasts 2, yes 2!, exclusive extended edits from uk man of mystery and all round house digger extraordinaire jonny rock. if you know jr s steez then you know he knows exactly what is up with the underground. he s neatly extended the 2-bit originals (which were originally very short tracks!) and teased the funk outta the right crevices for all us lucky folks. if you like that raw, rugged, chicago, minimal fonk that dance mania are known for, you ll love this one. a killer, solid and in-demand ep. one for the headz. massive record, pure power all the way through and an essential weapon for the record bag! fully, legit reissue done with the permission and assistance of dance mania records and mr. parris mitchell, chicago usa.

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 uks best kept secret chocky returns to dessous recordings after the success of his first outing, the well received self knowledge ep. here we see the talented dj / producer drop four tracks via the playtime ep - yet more sublime house music for steve bugs imprint. ‘double dip is a chunky, stripped down vibe, reduced the vitals that will slay dancefloors - firing percussion over a shuffling groove and a cut-up vocal reminiscent of pepe bradock. ‘organism is a deep affair - spacy pads provide the counterbalance to the tough drum track, softening the edges but keeping the vibe high. ‘soul alive taps into chockys clear appreciation for the 90s, with a strong vocal, atmospheric strings and a loose yet crispy beat. ‘playtime (dub) brings the whole ep home with yet another stormer - beginning as a driving basement jam but then introducing an unexpected piano riff that flips the script and takes things in a welcome jazzy direction.

the pieces were created as structured improvisations using a monophonic synth (primarily) along with a yamaha dx7 (borrowed from a friend) and possibly a guitar. recording was made on an older otari mx5050 1/2 8 track. mixing was done on a tascam m-50 console and a revox a77 1/4 machine. i recall the project happened in two bursts: i did half of it in september 85, then i finished up and edited the album together in december 85. i dont really recall making copies for anyone. i think i played it for a dozen people and that was it. just forgot about it. i remember jeff ament from pearl jam (green river back then) came by while i had it playing on my home stereo. he asked what it was and said he liked it. surprised me a little. with regard to overall aesthetic: i like the sound of machinery, but i enjoy the fragility of human error and human instinct. i like to put things into motion then climb aboard and drive. i can’t play an instrument (in the classical sense) for the life of me, so i’ve always just played things that are mostly choice rather than a convolution of style and technique. i guess you call that the brian eno school of rock.

who is der opium queen? a royalty in the locality, but unknown to the masses, makes a wave to everyone for the first time with his 12” “in the clouds”. here you can find hot and humid tracks coming straight from the tschungle, then chopped and transported straight to the turntable.

four tracks of stunning french disco in a wide range of styles: from 80 s afrobeat to underground canadian cosmic groove, here is another bullet from the parisian gang!
a1/ guehi jean pantalon s craqué guéhi jean is a key figure of ivorian music and many of his records mixing funk, jazz and afrobeat are sought after nowadays. having left africa in order to make it in france, he recorded this digital afrobeat hit in paris, then went back to his native country where he died in 2012. despite his talent, guéhi jean didn t get the recognition he deserved.
a2/ michel conte & cie s magoshan a disco anthem composed for quebec cultists wearing flares, or the main theme from an obscure series? anyway it is time to acclaim magoshan s pulsing come back on the dancefloor!
b1/ jean-michel gascuel s dominus this french composer who collaborated with pierre schaeffer was also a great lyricist working for the likes of vivian vee or suzy andrews, and a fashion designer. with its latin touch, this track is a little ufo standing out of the rest of his french productions, so let us be blessed by dominus domine dominarum.
b2/michel robidoux les planètes this track by composer michel robidoux featured on a kidisk with a book called -visitons les planètes avec goldorak- and was released in canada in 1980. this incredible space jam was chosen as a macaroon for this new ep – our tribute to an amazing composer who wrote more than 325 songs and even collaborated with leonard cohen.

for us (rubadub that is), hank jackson has been behind some of the most inventive techno to have left nyc in recent years, releasing music on his compadre anthony naples label, proibito and mister saturday night. if you re after a twisted nyc take on classic chain reaction and monolake, then this is strongly tipped.

needs is a new label that bills itself as a not-for profit concern, which may apply to many record labels, but this one in particular calls upon a strong cast of deep house producers to impart the kind of smallville-friendly sounds that discerning heads should snap up in a heartbeat. hubie davisons i know is a melancholic affair with heart nagging strings, while johannes albert injects a little spice into proceedings with a choice breakbeat and some excellent bird song on vigilia. dj swaggers 21st century slow jam is a peppy little shuffler with warm acidic bass and a kick ass swing in the beat, and then bobby pleasure finishes the record off with the wistful but tech-edged cloudspotting.