philipp läufer (the prolific leader of the acclaimed bleib modern project) & theo zeitner signs this precious and absolutely surprising debut mini album of their new side project ivy s void. between joy division and bauhaus sound the 6 tracks included are a wild orgasm of pure shoegaze and wavy post punk with glorious raw synth touches. this deluxe special edition includes a 30×15 poster the oraculo says this is surely a future super classic.

this is pasomusic boss marc miroir s second single release of his second album identity kit. intakt is highly gripping and shows marc s affinity to 90 s techno tracks with filtered hi-hats and kicking bells. unison wax and beste modus artist diego krause gives his very own enthralling interpretation of intakt. comfort zone is a signature track of marc with the vocals of opera singer adam schilling. the playfully daunting vocals are set up with long delays, arranged to a warm and driving track with chords and dub sounds. kia & handmade produced the unbelievably strong techno remix. handmade is resident dj at tresor and also at marc s popular berlin party members and this is his very first release! kia released her productions on la peña and playhouse!

following a soulful ep that enjoyed recognition from many big names in the industry, algorhythmic is moving forward to its second release which already hits the dancefloor with groovy, yet powerful tracks. the va brings together artists from all around the world who don t cease to amaze with their fresh beats and out of this world sounds. already having the support of raresh, petre inspirescu and barac, just to name a few, the record promises to deliever an exquisite groove, so get ready to lose yourself to it!

fabio fabor is a mysterious composer and musician who wrote mostly operas, symphonies and chamber music, but also experimental and electronic library music, the latter being the case of this release: short tracks aiming to accompany radio and tv shows, orchestral pop a la bacharach, space age pop, hints of bossa and beat from the previous decade. originally published by the legendary seri e usignolo, a sub-label of fonit, this hard-to-find title is finally available again thanks to schema records

fabio fabor is a mysterious composer and musician who wrote mostly operas, symphonies and chamber music, but also experimental and electronic library music, the latter being the case of this release: short tracks aiming to accompany radio and tv shows, orchestral pop à la bacharach, space age pop, hints of bossa and beat from the previous decade. originally published by the legendary seri e usignolo, a sub-label of fonit, this hard-to-find title is finally available again thanks to schema records.

fonits b 85, part of the legendary serie usignolo, which bears the signatures of the mysterious coscia (perhaps a moniker of accordionist gianni?) and formini, is another cult library music release: an orchestral pop record whose tracks are curiously recommended to accompany viewings of vast parks, footage of agriculture, ads, moving crowds and congested traffic jams, american working-class districts with hilarious titles such as dayda, schizzo, palmas, murlak (which casts an incredible fuzz guitar), bronx and ciresa facaud. in two words: a must!

kelton prima returns for his 2nd ep on mathematics, bringing us 4 tracks of futuristic electro-flavored boogie. dallas en brie, houston sur morin and tucson la chapelle are guaranteed to get feet gliding on the floor, while saint austin is pure quiet storm smoothness

ondon-based duo jamka return with inter alia, the latest evidence of their patient, intimate relationship with their analogue machines. from the start there’s a sense of event – we encounter clear, interlaced electronic textures, powerful analogue drones and well-placed beats. the tracks aren’t soundscapes so much as fertile electronic soundfields. patemp continuously expands in an incredibly subtle but powerful way and shows that jamka’s technical skills don’t preclude an emotional touch. on the tight and minimal anazmo, the coiled energy bears traces of minimal techno and radical electronica, but it’s beyond either of these. while the album passes quickly, it’s full of detail and the thoughtfulness and craft that have gone into it are evident. dwa offers the chance to appreciate the flow and the sheen of its analogue textures – the modernist romance of the power line hum and its promise of technological-cultural progress. jamka are known for their dynamic live performances and this energy is almost tangible on derazor. the stately igora is a strong, bold close to the album, offering surprises right till the end. the sharp, metallic details ripple through the mix and an anthemic sequence shines through. inter alia makes clear that jamka are worthy inheritors of slovakia’s proud late modernist traditions of radical architecture and electronic music. this is a work of craft that demands respect and repeated listening.

welcome to fifth hardgroove bomb on kickmasomaass records. this time we bringing you a various artists compilation filled with four great and powerfull tracks from all over the world. we start with almir ljusa who is living in bosnia and herzegovina and is a great hardgroove producer. his track -sturmgewehr 59- is one of his best. powerfull beats, monster percussions, full loaded with extreme power for all clubs and partys. the second artists is a big icon on hardgroove music scene and every hardgroove fan must to know him. his name is david moleon from granada, spain. his track -4 legs- is little slower as we are accustomed from his older production but its full loaded with -david moleon style-. bomb beats, bomb percussions and definitely one great track for every dj to play. next artists on our compilation is fuma funaky from slovenia. in his track -destormus- we can find elements of tech-house and deep house dressed into one great techno track with nice driving bassline and great percussions. definitely one great track from him. the last and fourth artist on our compilation is norman andretti aka quarill from hungary. his track -funkalike- sounds like you were on ibiza. great tribal percussions, funky bassline, and -funkalike-. all what you need is summer, swimming pool, 2x2000w and this vinyl record to have little ibiza home. difinitely one great vinyl record worth all the money you pay for it. enjoy!

society 3.0 recordings set out to put together a collection of songs in the form of an excellent 12- maxi single / digital download release, featuring 6 tracks from a host of talented artists. marc de vole & ray simon dominate the first half of the record, with their incredible dense sound and awe-inspiring deep house philosophy. mr. de vole has been into electronica since the late 90s, and his seasoned experience clearly shows through his track. this is an artist who strives to create focused and punchy tracks, yet retain a very special intuition that add that sought-after -human touch- to his works. russian artist -tuneon- dominates track n.3, -blumarine-. the song flirts with 90s disco and house influences, adding some color and texture to the setlist, without straying too far from the mood previously set by marc de vole and ray simon. the second half of the release features the work of sergio parrado and ernesto paredano, who set out to collaborate on 3 tracks for this release. these tunes showcase a more modern and european approach to the sound. on -mamey- and -krill-, the pair showcase an interesting approach to percussiveness, creating intricate and dense rhythmic pattern that truly drive the songs. closing number -tempranillo- embodies the spirit of classic deep house and tech, serving as a perfect closing number for such an exciting and diverse release.

for the fourth edition of slow motion’s soundtrack serie we welcome heinrich dressel, better known as one part of minimal rome. space shaft is three tracks of dreamy, sleazy space-funk delivered with a light touch across expansive musical horizons. backed up with a brace of marcoantonio spaventi versions – both ‘disco’ and ‘chill’ space shaft is a record for movie fans and dancers alike.

in den letzten zwei jahren hat der renommierte us-rapper atmosphere sieben songs unabhängig voneinander digital veröffentlicht. »frida kahlo vs ezra pound« fasst diese track nun erstmalig auf cd und vinyl zusammen.
die limitierte 7”-box enthält sieben vinyl singles, die zusätzlich noch die instrumental tracks bieten. die songs wurden von atmosphere produziert und enthalten gastfeatures von u.a. aesop rock, grieves, prof, blueprint, dem atlas und eric mayson.

ndatl continues against this backdrop of club tracks with a smooth offering featuring new vocalist rico and seasoned trumpeter kafelé bandelé. produced by label head kai alcé and remixes by larry heard.
here you will find the original ndatl mix, larry’s reinterpretation and two other worldly mixes under his guise mr. fingers which takes this song into another realm that only fingers can reach. so sit back, listen, then dance.

irish producer leonid is welcomed on board of the itdr spaceship for their second installment. after putting out impressive releases on sistrum and dolly (to name a few), paul smith comes up with a stellar 4 tracks ep cut for clubs dancefloors. landing deep in planet x analogic territories, you will find leonid distinctive acid grooves fused in heavy basslines with amazing percussion work for a mystic journey across nibiru s galaxy.

rhythm&soul s just groove it label has been excelling in its first year of operations, serving as a vehicle for the paris-based producer to air his own productions while drawing good friends into the fold. following on from chris carrier s appearance on the previous 12-, this time around ben rau has been invited to join in, and the resulting two tracks are testament to the strength of the collaboration. -the long tomorrow- is funky as hell, keeping the swing levels high and using a crafty set of minimal sounds to create movement. -we can do it like that- takes a deeper route, using dubby production methods to create an immersive treat for the dancefloor.

it s been a quiet year for kai alce, but finally the atlanta house hero returns with a new pair of tracks that will surely satisfy any fans of his instinctive, expressive take on club-ready deep house. this latest drop comes on sounds of the city, which has also supported the likes of walt j and brian harden. -just wanna- is a sure and steady workout peppered with woozy chords and a nagging vocal lick, but -movin thru- is surely the record s stand-out moment. with just the right balance between the edgy chords and the rounded bassline, it s a simple cocktail that plays to alce s strengths perfectly.

inspired by his love of &#8203,,,,brazilian beats, transatlantic hip hop and classic house music, dj/producer mele&#769,,,, debuts on edible with a single that perfectly encapsulates this young artists sound and energy. having built up an impressive production cv by remixing for the likes of tiga and disclosure, as well as releasing original tracks like the 2015 tribal house anthem, ambience, the boy from the wirral lets rip on eats everythings label with 2 killer club tracks. frenzied tribal rhythms are in full effect on scouse afrika, a track thats already picked up heat and featured in jackmasters recent radio 1 essential mix. functional and rolling beats come alive with chopped vocal refrains dipped in delay the rumbling low end supplying an irresistible groove thatll no doubt whip up some dance mania in the local discotheque. more high-octane sounds are packed into sleepless the percussive elements providing the hooks alongside choppy vocals and booming sub-bass, its perky arrangement never letting the energy drop for a minute. meles energetic and unique percussive sound has gained him prolific support and recognition from some of the biggest names across the scene, patrick topping, skream, jamie jones, annie mac and pete tong, and this single is sure to win over a whole new legion of fans. meles &#8203,,,,scouse afrika sleepless &#8203,,,,is available from 9t&#8203,,,,h&#8203,,,, december on edible.

4th installment on linear movement by marco cassanelli. blue magic is the perfect balance between atmospherical dubby tracks and more powerful deep techno. the release comes with a full screen printed sleeve.

cw/a are producers thomas feriero and francesco leali, known for their releases and remixes on parachute, r&s, decca and vakant, their work as avatism, clockwork, opus 3000 and house ov leaves, crushing live shows around the globe and running parachute alongside dj tennis since 2013. with ringleader the duo return with their first original productions since their debut full length, last years critically acclaimed words unspoken, acts undone. inspired by global trends towards orwellian mass surveillance and cyber espionage, ringleader aims to be an audible interpretation of big data, ubiquitous connections and the acceptance of corporate and government spying. grim and mechanical by nature, the six tracks — named after leaked codenames of government tools used to watch on citizens — work as a soundtrack to the destruction of privacy: a cold reflection on this aspect of society and its implications.
the vinyl ep includes a downloadcode.

vinyl only. no digital promotion. mr ks & friends is back with a taymor zadeh ep. already massively played by dyed soundorom, djebali and friends. 2 original tracks + 1 remix from leftroom boss matt tolfrey + a great dj tool!

masterworks music master series returns with 2 superb tracks from the silver rider. pressed on a limited 10 inch in the usual m series sleeve

rumore is a nomad, an artist who belongs to many places but inherently returns to his native venice through his sound. with each release, his tracks become progressively more energetic and subtle. del mare plunges us into his world, a dream submerged in the water flowing through the vast number of canals in the italian city.

steve spacek returns to eglo records after making his label debut with the summer smash follow me. the lewisham born singer/producer continues to innovate, utilizing the latest technologly (he made these two tracks on an ipad) to push his unique london style from his new home in sydney nsw. if u wan 2 find me is a celestial slice of vocal footwork/soul, with spacek offering his own zero gravity take on the chicago sound. bside time is running out completely switches up the tempo, this stripped back techno bubbler feels like the soundtrack to a late night cruise around the red planet. signature spacek swing and acid bounce througout. steve spacek remains one of the most unique and versatile artists from the uk, born out of londons soundsystem culture his fearless and forwarding thinking approach to music and technology has made him impossible to pigeon hole. consistently on the cutting edge of new evolutions in sound and style.

fall of 2016 sees midnight magic ready to enchant us once more with the much-anticipated birth of their 2nd studio album, the wondrously eclectic free from your spell. going back to their roots in los angeles, morgan wiley, and tiffany roth, alongside the rest of the boogie nonet, have prepared a refined feast of genre-bending songs. the ever so diverse moods of free from your spell make it a seductive journey. with each song mixed seamlessly into the next, the record coalesces into one long disco odyssey, reminiscing giorgio moroder and donna summer s concept albums four seasons of love and a love trilogy. moods, genres, and styles intertwine like an aural kaleidoscope, the album electrifying with its striking harmony. whilst exuberantly borrowing from past decades, free from your spell more than holds its own as a self-assured, innovative body of work. midnight magics free from your spell is an offer one can t refuse. an attractive deal in the form of disco escapism, traveling through its various shades, emotions, and incarnations, a comprehensive revival of the genre for modern ears. it s studio 54, it s moroder,amanda lear, gino soccio, and grace jones. its a whole palette of 1980 s r n b and cosmic funk. despite all the music references of past eras free from your spell is very much a current album, a mature demonstration of genuine skills in songwriting, a multi-instrumental banquet of sounds, a coherent collection of ambitious dance tracks and a beautiful celebration of eclecticism. add to this some of tiffany roth s most memorable vocals to date and you arrive at one of the year s most exciting releases. there is a strong reason for both midnight and magic in the name of the band after all.

c powers was raised in atlanta, georgia, usa. he lives in savannah, georgia. he is resident dj for performance art drag collective house of gunt. he has also been resident dj at clubnights cape fear in savannah, hunger in atlanta and no pain in pop in london. he works in a library and is cat dad to peppers, bucchi, and baby d. his releases include the oysters ep for proper trax in 2015 and the up neck ep for cgi records in 2014. he produced the single crow for the group 18+ (from their album trust) as well as songs on their album collect. fitness check shows c powers s experience as a dj as well as his growth as a producer. from the drum programs to the arrangements, it s obvious that the ep was written and produced by someone who can work a dancefloor. on wysh, which he says is an exit reaction to morose and morbid- techno, subliminal speech and warped vocal stabs transition from centered to alert. on fresco he dices and scatters a song over loops of itself, a technique he calls -a grey area between sampling and editing,i break it up into bits, resequence that shit then stuff that shit back into the track.js may get even more service from the wysh key beats and fresco beatapella versions, which give jacking rhythm tracks and sub-bass extra room to do their thing. the heavily dubbed ask less kick beats, lighter on drums but with a booming bassline, may prove useful as a set-opener or closer. the ep has been mastered for club play by helmut erler at dubplates & mastering, berlin.

after some killer releases on jelous god and blackest ever black, parisian producer tomas more aka december debuts on mannequin records with a 4 tracks ep for the death of the machines serie. slow industrial techno mixed with raw ebm-ish flavours.

for our fourth release we carefully selected tracks by two talented newcomers from romania. you already know melodie from rora10, joined on this one by another promising artist from bucharests techno scene - teluric. this is not your average split ep, but rather more of a collaboration between these two guys. the a side features two tracks under their individual guises, while the b-side showcases their collaborative effort, glueped, the fruit of years of friendship and working together. >glues from the toolbox< is a complete package and its meant to guide you through different moods and states of mind. 180g vinyl only. blue white marbled.

limited repress due to high demand on requests. on its second release, the fresh label eating records, native of brussels, embarks us on its most unlikely underground journey yet .the new project includes two beautiful tracks from the deep flows of house music, from the unfamous talented producer from kiev, io (mulen). there s no point in trying to place io or his music in some larger social picture. no need to talk about his intensive production. his successful releases can be found on imprints such as rejected (joris voorn), propaganda (nastia), elarum and his own mulen records which he started in 2012 and that released his stunning debut album within 2013. on flutes/creeps ep, he thrives on fantastic impossibilities including flutes and deep melodic basses. it is obvious that mister io had a wonderful time making the two tracks. flutes comes up as victorious and gallant. it is an energizing shock full of curious noises, mesmerizing musical surprises, a real dancefloor track. creeps is discreet and dark, and remains beautifully deep. this track finds io wrenching as much sweetness out of it as he possibly can, in return giving us our first indication that he is in a generous spirit. when this ep comes to an end, it feels like getting back from a good vacation: the last thing you want to do is re-enter the real world.

dj support comes from ben ufo, jon k and hodge. semtek returns with his first work since 2012, when he contributed 12inches to world unknown, awkward movements and in plain sight. in the meantime the cambridge-born, bristol-based producer and dj has been hard at work running his label don t be afraid, bringing through talent including mr beatnick and mgun. bad teeth consists of nothing more complicated than two complementary tracks for the dancefloor, inspired by bleep n bass, jungle and two-step. the title track rolls moody synths, metallic stabs and offbeat drums into a rugged uk house joint. jon of worcester twists similar elements around a broken groove, cutting between drum machine and breakbeats. both tracks feature rolling basslines tuned for maximum soundsystem pressure.

forty six knobs machine by unbroken dub is the first release from nikita zabelins label, resonance moscow. based in the russian capital, the label focuses on electronic music from towns and regions nationwide. unbroken dub is the stage-name of denis safiullin, well known to domestic audiences as a member of the hot wax team. that project comes from the industrial city of tyumen, sometimes called the hydrocarbon heart of russia. winter temperatures in the area can fall below 45c. denis is a long-standing aficionado of analog synths and continues to experiment with all manner of samples. those two trajectories produce a high level of originality, especially when he enlists the support of leading club figures from around the world. denis release for resonance moscow is excellent proof of this bold experimentation. all three tracks on forty six knobs machine use the rokton, an antique soviet drum synth.

a real treat for any fans of tangerine dream, innovative communication or mike oldfield, paladin brings us the contemporary sound of visionary uk synth-prog music via berlin-based label per musica ad astra on his album unknown zones . epic tracks dominate the record in true 1970s tradition, containing suites of music that elevate, transcend and transport the listener in his mind s eye to faraway exotic realms of musical dreamscapes hitherto unimagined. comes with free space insert and copies are limited!

repress 2016 , firecracker recordings drop the long awaited ep4! as usual, the packaging is of highest quality - a must for the collectors of the series. linkwood & house of traps take the a side with barely eagle. its a huge, slow moving disco hybrid thats already been played to death by trevor jackson, trusme and the unabombers! linkwood drops a killer edit on the b side and fudge fingas explore unknown space territory with his ra inspired situation diminished. three killer tracks on ltd 10inch vinyl press! do not sleep on this!

varg marks the start of his expansive nordic flora series with four tracks of downcast euphoria, fitted with enough bump to make you mistake the smoke machine for a riot control agent.

a new release from twig, seekers sublabel ! comes straight from frankfurt, 3 beautiful tracks, one great artist phil evans

fjaak teasern ihr lang erwartetes, selbstbetiteltes debütalbum mit einer gleichermaßen abwechslungsreichen wie in sich geschlossenen single an. die zwei tracks wolves und pray for berlin- deuten bereits an, was von der monkeytown-lp des berliner trios zu erwarten ist: hartes, kompromissloses dancefloor-futter auf der einen, düstere beat-magie auf der anderen.

atmospheric and ambient dub master yagya serves up stars and dust, his seventh full length album and second on delsin. it finds the icelandic artist perfectly pair melody and minimalism to create ten more tender tracks that will sooth both body and mind with a range of very real emotions. electronic but organic, it is another complete work that encourages you to lay back and get lost in sumptuous sound.

new years deal - another genre bending release on the healing company. modern sounding wave vibes and a great break beat loaded track on the flip that wont do harm to any good dancefloor!. -an ancient puzzle of mystification and nostalgia, waiting for the listener to unravel the mystery, but never offering enough clues to do so. while an ever-growing mass of synth layers and bulbous basslines flow across these two tracks, it never comes off as too clean, instead relying on the occasional detune or bitcrush to remind you it s being made by humans, not a machine.-

bedrock 18 compiled by john digweed consists of 2 discs showcasing 21 exclusive tracks from some of bedrock s favourite artists and some exciting new names on the label s roster, d-nox and frank beckers unfurl their distinctive sound steeped in detailed rhythms and mesmerizing harmonies, whilst marc romboy unleashes his deeply twisted remix of emerson, digweed & muirs huge fanfare. the firing percussive funk of cj jeff, guy js mind-bending 2026. all stick to the script that electronic music should have no boundaries and creativity and feelings are the only things that matter.

spring theory alumni sage caswell returns to the san francisco-based label to deliver his debut album hoop earring. it s an enigmatic record that comes from the producer s own movement through personal transformation. it follows 2015’s sleep quarters , caswell s introspective label debut, and offers 10 tracks spread out across two 12-s. hoop earring is heavily informed by surrealist visions and archetypal images from caswell’s past that have crystallized within the context of this longplay album. hoop earring successfully paints images with broad brushstrokes and allegorical song titles that allows one to fill in fine details of a landscape built within the framework ten songs. “ray of light 95’” alludes to a moment in time that smartly places you alongside an adolescent caswell while songs like “here we guard upon the soul” land locks squarely in the middle with a poignant, nail-on-the-head statement. -zora scales (step 1)- provides a focal reference to the fantasy world that this album might be the soundtrack to.

third instalment of the unknown entity series, this ep delivers four tracks of science fiction and horror soundtrack inspired techno. the a side is dominated by two floor ready cuts, lurching thumper feart and a devastatingly broken remix by serbian producer scalameriya. side b trips into leftfield territory with sleep deprived creeper peripheral visions. the serbian connection continues with lag delivering an offkilter franticly driving reworking of the original.
support from orde meikle // rivet // mike darkfloor // norman nodge // scalameriya // lag // martyn hare // surit (nx1) james ruskin // sev dah // takaaki itoh // par grindvik // kwartz // markus sukut laurent garnier // roman rubique // hd substance // nihad tule // xhei // patrick seich ryuji takeuchi // sandrien // p.e.a.r.l. // joton // twr72 // ctrls // truss // dave tarrida patrick dsp // patrick walker // ingen // clouds // substance (dj pete) // perc // zenker brothers // forward strategy group // bleaching agent // rod

in this age of pre-set play lists and total sharing of music, you more or less get served what you expect to hear. your musical preferences are predictable and you - with little or no effort - get access to music that suits your self-image perfectly and places you in a safe zone.
but what if these babysitting services went on vacation and you’re suddenly left alone in the post-industrial outback? where do you start looking? at first listen you might feel that the songs on loving hell by vox low, released on hoga nord rekords, might not suit your needs in such a cold, harsh existence. but that’s where you’re wrong. vox low’s sound might first appear frightening and cold to you but the tracks on this ep most of all carries with them depth, energy and persistence: the perfect soundtrack to reboot your system to and to get you going straight forward without looking back. this is music for the aftermath of a cathartic experience, music that generates a propulsion that makes you wanna walk on that road forever, music to help you rediscover what punk, rock and electronica really should be about - gut feeling.

the cacao crew pay their respects to their favourite classic tunes. while we re constantly flooded by daily rapid-fire releases, there are some timeless gems that always ignite the dancefloors. the following tracks come from influential artists that have left their mark on the cacao team s sound world, blending perfectly into their sets.

Über den zeitraum von fünf jahren hat rob orme fünf verschiedene eps und ein album auf dem berliner project: mooncircle veröffentlicht. durch die nach wie vor hohe nachfrage und die tatsache, dass alle titel ausverkauft sind, veröffentlicht das label nun eine werkschau des künstlers mit seinen besten und beliebtesten tracks sowie vier neuen und bisher noch unveröffentlichten songs. das album erscheint als farbiges doppel-vinyl mit downloadcode.

recorded 9 tracks, sustaining the variable and rhythm of inorganic electronic sound in search for the elemental parts in techno music. the album jacket artwork is designed by the designers republic.

last release of the year for the berlin based collective slow life. a great pack of dancefloor killers by the british duo 100 hz, and the usual suspect saverio celestri. the veteran couple formed by lee renacre and james chapman showcase their classic sound with two unreleased tracks from the vaults, and the talented italian dj/producer adds two of his latest productions, where displays his matured understanding of playful but emotional techno.

dj steef continues to distill his groove by signing the 14th release of the label and delivering a new ep, « antipodes» available on vinyl in a limited edition. two nu-disco tracks called, “levaned“, “new player (old rules mix)” and two house tracks called “kimbo combo”, “fréquence”

the first release on man powers me me me saw fact mag travel to mexico to get inside the head of the geordieman in mexico. next up for the label is a comeback record from last waltz, the trio with which man power first ever released, featuring three new, original tracks, and a remix from the first ever recorded collaboration of tel aviv’s red axes (im a cliche) & naduve (disco halal).

an in-depth look at the 1970s catalogue of the uruguayan label macondo and the roots of subtropical music: bomba, cumbia, guaracha, merengue, porro, plena featuring 21 tracks by essential names such as sonora borinquen, conjunto casino, combo camagüey, sonora cienfuegos, grupo maracaibo, grupo antillano. set up in the port area of montevideo, macondo discos was founded by the chilean entrepreneur luis onel and named after the town from garcía márquez’s fictional universe. in its early days the label produced a catalogue comprising folk, tango, murga and rock. 1975 onwards, after the release of the lps tropical caliente by cienfuegos and exclusivo! by borinquen, marks the golden age of tropical music in our country according to carlos goberna, founder of sonora borinquen. macondo became a veritable tropical music factory in uruguay, amassing together with guacamayo (a sublabel dedicated to new artists) nearly 200 records in its ten years of existence.

last year saw casablanca-based cosmo records launch its most ambitious project todate, celebrating five years of cross-cultural collaboration. the three vinyl releasesfeatured producers such as san proper, radiq, pier bucci and dandy jack working with moroccan musicians to create a true fusion between modern electronics and ancient traditions. the purpose of cosmo has always been to find a natural meeting place between thesedistinct musical forms, bringing out the best strengths of each practice through real time spent together in the studio, where each artist can truly understand the other in a shared quest for sonic harmony. as such, this latest release marks a step forward in exploring this idea through a new series entitled cosmo jam. as the title suggests, the focus here is on live improvisation. in late 2014 parisian producers masomenos and vadim svoboda travelled to morocco and set up their equipment at the coda casablanca music center. they were joined by m’hamed el menjra playing bass, abdessamad boussahfa on violin and sanhaji on darbuka, and the ensuing jam sessions between these musicians now make their way on to vinyl. no editing or post-production took place – the music you hear on the record was created entirely in the moment. each track highlights the magic of a different instrument – on “be” menjra’s double bass comes twisting through effects processing and subtle distortion, meeting with a low-slung broken beat groove from the visiting french producers. sanhaji’s thrilling percussive flair on the darbuka flirts perfectly with the crisp programming of drums and bass on the uptempo “kaled” and the more laid-back “petit”. boussahfa’s violin makes for some of the most arresting moments on the release, meeting with intricate minimalist rhythms on “mon” and shining in the heart-rending ambience of “frere”. presented across two 12”s, this collection of six tracks tells a most honest account of how gifted artists from entirely different disciplines can find a common ground and create something truly unique. without any studio trickery to hide behind, this is the concept of cosmo records laid bare, and the results prove it is a concept worth exploring further.