borai returns to them with a four-track ep consisting of two 140 bpm jungle workouts, a moody breakbeat dubstep track and a haunting acid-techno warehouse stomper. ruffneck club music for 2018.

the 4th edition in the acclaimed sterns edits series sees curator ben gomori open up the sterns music catalogue to other keen re-editors with brownswood / worldwide genius smbd (aka simbad) the first to step up to the plate. nigeria s segun adewale is sometimes referred to as the crown prince of jùjú music, but in the 1980s he developed a sound all of his own, which he called yo-pop. a mixture of jùjú, funk, reggae, afrobeat and jazz, its vibrant melange can be heard on his 1986 record ojo je , where both these originals are taken from. smbd delivers too superb flips of the title track a gritty funk-fuelled disco version with live bass, and a deliciously deep dub-house version. gomori, meanwhile, takes the haunting atewo-lara ka tepa mo se for an extended hypnotic, tribal trip. the stunning artwork comes from kofi ankobra, the son of radical white south africans who grew up in ghana and studied art at oshogbo, nigeria the place adewale himself was born. sterns edits is an official collaboration between african music stalwarts sterns music and londons ben gomori.

tabernacle aren t as known for their reissue work, but here they ve made an exception to shine a light on a truly astounding hidden gem lost in the dry ice haze of the early 90s. phuture classical appendix a originally came out on cassette in 1992 on drome tapes in the netherlands, showcasing a low key selection of artists exploring the limits of deep, dark techno and house. now spread across three 12inch releases, these treasured curios now get the widespread release they deserve, leading in with the haunting self-titled track from paradize disowned before the gritty techno throb of gee lee by dj zero one. considered in their execution and immensely evocative of the underbelly of early rave culture, these releases are ones that discerning old-skool heads will not want to miss.

it’s always exciting to introduce new names to the spring theory roster and pedro vian, its latest addition, makes no exception to the rule. it’s also the 10th release on spring theory, so more reasons to rejoice! the barcelona-based producer came to (my) attention with his releases dancing hindus and titled beautiful things you left us for memories on his own label modern obscure music. this ep picks up some of the themes from those records and further explores of his style of elegiac synth lines and primitive drum machines. the sound of dancing alone with your eyes closed, late at night. haunting house for the heartbroken.

within “mora tuga”, rumtum creates an experience of deep textured beats using himself as the sample source. using haunting chants, woodwinds, percussion, guitars and synthesizers he layers sounds that conjure a sort of fog that lingers somewhere off in the distance. welcome to the rainforest on another planet, where beautifully emotive instrumental compositions head-knod as easy as they thought provoke. much like his print making and illustration work, rumtum s music can be revisited again and again to find new moments of interest and inspiration.

with new track warschauerstrasse , claudio ricci has created an expansive seven minute workout of twisted synths and deep house drums. the first remix comes from long time techno heavyweight timo maas and the prolific and inventive basti grub. their singular remix speeds up the original and layers in fluttering toms and percussive sounds as well as broad, groaning synths and the distant sound of a bustling city at rush hour. sudam label boss and ibiza based artist kintar flips the track into something spacious and haunting. eerie keys and sweeping synths keep you on edge as the rubbery techno groove rolls on into the night. bulgarian based metodi hristov loves to experiment and has a distinctive techno style that gains support from the likes of richie hawtin, carl cox and adam beyer. in his hands the track becomes a peak time tech banger.

in 2017, benedikt frey released his breathtaking debut album with the esp institute, artificial, and now as we finally come up for air, we’re more than proud to offer an eclectic collection of remixes that’s nothing short of essential. side a leads with h for hysteria remixed by a beloved hero, nicolas chaix a.k.a. i:cube, one of the most prolific and respected electronic artists paris has to offer. his touch is considered and elegant, imbuing the track with a tasteful 303+808 backbone to support an array of patiently floating melodies and angelic vocal samples. following this, tolouse low trax of du&#776,,,,,sseldorf’s infamous salon des amateurs remixes the same track, stripping instrumentation down to a skeletal palette of bass guitar and stabbing percussive punctuations, chopped up inna minimalist stylee that has become his beat-making signature. side b leads with a remix by another du&#776,,,,,sseldorfer, dj normal 4, whose re-imagination of private crimes takes us for an even more menacing ride, half-timing the tempo and skillfully rolling out a barrage of jungle snares from rave days of yore. closing the release is the most aggressive remix of them all, a bonafide techno beatdown of the same track by dalo, the co-producing artist to whose haunting vocals lace the original version. her dark vision opens with sparse industrial drums that blossom into a driving assault of raw machinery, definitely not for the faint-of-heart. an all-around solid release here, fun for all the family... more than just the tip!

next up on donato dozzy and neels spazio disponibile label is close friend and italian producer marco shuttle. the eerie label-boss is a regular on the label having put out his systema album here last year, as well as his flauto synthetico ep in 2016. his always meticulously crafted sound is rooted in dark, cavernous techno. he finds plenty of new ground in each new release, though, with some tracks being haunting ambient works and others more propulsive rhythms. this new ep features just that across four typically inventive and absorbing tracks that are as much for your head as they are for your heel.

brilliant new duo from south london gilles peterson bbc radio 6 music. south london electronic duo vtr release their alluring debut ep soul to skin on brixtons dream diary records. the five track ep veers from the melodic to the abstract as sensual lyricism occupies a distinct space amidst spectral sound design, striking a balance between haunting depth and inviting warmth. soul to skin was co-produced by recent r&s records signee afriqua, whose slap ep and chronic cool 12inch out on dream diary brought considerable attention to the label. the final offering on the ep is a soul to skin remix by inxec (crosstown rebels, get physical, cocoon and leftroom and culprit) clash music were quick to premiere soul to skin describing vtrs sound as an entrancing mixture reminincent of those early james blake eps, or even the hushed intensity of portishead.

death in vegas return with the single ‘honey’, its second collaboration with sasha grey. ‘honey’ is a slow, seductive serenade, with an organic, psychedelic tone: dreamy and dripping with intensity.

the b side features ‘witchdance dub’, richard fearless’ long-held remix of ‘witchdance’ off trans-love energies, featuring the haunting vocals of katie stelmanis from austra. fearless cut three dubplates of ‘witchdance dub’ after he mixed this track. dj harvey has one, prosumer the other, and fearless kept the 3rd: delicate acetates that have been played out sparingly but with electric effect. this track is effortless, minimal dance music imbued with fearless’ unique production sound- it’s not one to miss.
180g vinyl

northsouth records invite emergent talents chris geschwinder and henry hyde to whip up some dazzling peak time house fare, with each artist presenting themselves across two tracks. geschwinder is up first with the charging modern axis of evil, matching the haunting purr of the lead synths with an insistent kick and clap combo that can t be argued with. hes no slouch on in 2 either, getting into a subtly lopsided and seriously swinging spot that its hard to wriggle out of. henry hyde too seems to have a focused vision for what they create, fusing the pops and wobbles of minimal and matching it with the overall bulbous nature of the music on northsouth.

sagmen third release featured greg pidcock and andre salmon who combine to deliver ‘you got it’ ep with four dark house cuts plus two digital only mixes. uk producer greg pidcock’s nomadic tendencies have fostered a strong connection with his music which has seen releases on esteemed labels like hot creations, get physical, culprit, saved, not to mention founding his montreal-based imprint flora. meanwhile, andre salmon’s extensive knowledge of music production has earnt him releases on the likes of repopulate mars, leftroom, hottrax, suara, before founding sagmen alongside aert prog. ‘you got it’ delivers a heavyweight kick and sharp percussive rhythms that lay the foundation for haunting arpeggios and an intoxicating vocal hook before ‘loco’ provides grooved drum patterns, a powerful bass melody and an array of intriguing synthesiser transitions, with epic vocals effects . “tfss’ offers up warped vocal samples and mesmerising motifs on top of a pulsating low-end whilst “esto es montanita’ hits hard with crunching drum sounds, enticing filter sweeps and hypnotic samples. two digital only ‘black mixes’ conclude the package, with the first reinterpretation of ‘loco’ setting an ominous tone until the alternative version of ‘tfss’ follows with a rumbling bass, crisp percussion and dubbed out vocal licks.

leonardo returns with another 4 track ep on his etheric imprint. the voyage ep shows a diverse selection of tracks ranging from peak time to downtempo. the offering delivers energy through solid punchy drums and simple but intense percussion with the main synth bringing a head turning edge. symmetry has a late night feeling to it fusing primitive and hardcore elements over a broken beat structure to create a unique elevating gem. spooky deep tech track the afterlife is dubby work out with haunting vocal samples and trippy synth hooks while droplets completes the ep off in a downtempo vibe incorporating the same edgy raw feeling of many of his previous productions.

the next modern hypnosis sees the first official vinyl release from another channel. the young german producer jonas schachners (another channel) has been at the fore front of the new wave of ‘dub techno’ that has been lurking in the underground over the last few years. his dubbed out analog sound has left some accrediting his productions as ‘picking up where rhythm & sound left off’. his debut 12” gives us two very unique tracks. the a side ‘lord 35’ is an energetic synth driven tune which sitting at 135bpm, in a two-step style is made for the dance. the b side ‘corruption’ sees an international connection with the original composition created in germany by another channel, then the overdubbing of vocals supplied by ethiopian vocalist enushu taye (the black jesus experience) in her native amharic, recorded and mixed by mystik in his melbourne studio. the warm analog stabs and punchy bassline accompanied with enushu taye’s haunting vocals makes for a beautiful piece of music.

dop is welcomed back on circus company with a three track heater of an ep with a night in sausalito, and there is no way of taming this one. this time, the trio get slapped on wax with a 12inch that is pitted straight for the dancefloor. deetron comes through with some classy dub work on the remix. kicking things off with their headline track, a night in sausalito, the trio combine their signature and intricate synth work with a mixture of lo-fi hums and percussive flares until jaw fills the mix and takes the track away. rolling on a2 with ischia, the trio drop a straight up meaty drum pattern with a haunting range of vocal licks and delicate synth grooves. on the flipside, deetron strips back the vocals and lays a solid housey dub that purs, intensifies and releases in all the right places.

digital releases his second lp within 2 years called -total control-. &#8232,,,,its not a massive collab fest like his 2016 lp ‘synthesis’ although, there’s a few on there with artists nomine, john b, villem and digital’s phantom audio partner, spirit. a strong jungle vibe runs right through this lp. the opening track, ‘motherland’ has crisp breaks, a bassline to die for and a haunting unforgettable vocal. other highlights are seba’s lush remix of digital & response’s, ‘silver lining’. ‘on the rockz’ sounds like a solid piece of 1998 drum and bass, ‘total control’ is superb and certainly one for the hardcore ravers, ‘dreamer’ takes you on a journey you’ve never been before. this is the first of 4 records, pressed on red vinyl.

digital releases his second lp within 2 years called -total control-. &#8232,,,its not a massive collab fest like his 2016 lp ‘synthesis’ although, there’s a few on there with artists nomine, john b, villem and digital’s phantom audio partner, spirit. a strong jungle vibe runs right through this lp. the opening track, ‘motherland’ has crisp breaks, a bassline to die for and a haunting unforgettable vocal. other highlights are seba’s lush remix of digital & response’s, ‘silver lining’. ‘on the rockz’ sounds like a solid piece of 1998 drum and bass, ‘total control’ is superb and certainly one for the hardcore ravers, ‘dreamer’ takes you on a journey you’ve never been before. this is the second of 4 records, pressed on yellow vinyl.

nat wendell launches the depth of my soul label with a confident slab of deepness that should draw plenty of heat on the peaks and troughs of the house music landscape. -the way- is a crisply produced pumper, revolving around a seductive little lead line and the haunting titular vocal hook - there s a whiff of tech in the make up of the track, but the groove is all house. -theoretics- follows down a similar path, keeping things moody and mechanical without disposing of the funk, and then it s down to -release your soul- to bring a little light into proceedings with some mellow keys and dubby flourishes.

sterns edits returns after their well received and recently repressed amadou balake excursions, this time with ben gomori turning his hand to guinea for a third instalment in the series of re-works from the sterns music catalogue of african gems. balla et ses balladins were one of guinea s national orchestras formed as a result of the newly elected president, sekou toures authenticite policy of the early 1960s, which sought to promote guinea s cultural identity following independence from france in 1958. gomori takes the scalpel to two cuts recorded during their years on the state-run syliphone label, making good use of bandleader balla s lively trumpet playing. the gently haunting nyo is taken on a stomping slo-mo chug with a head-nodding bassline and stuttering fx creating a shimmering effect on the tropical guitars, while the rousing horns of wilikabo are laid over with rasping synth bass for a punchy juxtaposition. sterns edits is an official collaboration between african music stalwarts sterns music and london s ben gomori.

this time around, greta cottage workshop indulges in a favourite pastime. dubbed out 10” vinyl. flashback of time: a haunting dub techno peregrination . . . giving you that grind it out happening, with your nearest grubby basement/dub rig interface. big inside the ride. utopia & visions: more of a ‘sunday morning, yet i’m not in bed’ experience - replete with laughing children, alien windstorms and dmt pixies chattering in your third earhole. waste a whole day with two copies and a crusty old mixer. specifically niche music for specifically niche people. keep smiling. rdma has been with gcw for time – yet this is a first time outing on record. worth the wait.

spatial cues is a series of split singles sounding out main(void)s and kon jansons shared musical space. operating out of berlin and london, the two artists join forces to showcase their mutual vision of techno music. cues004 accelerates the series to 133 bpm and ramps up intensity with thumping kick drums and uncompromising arrangements that revolve around ceaseless chord stabs. with its hypnotizing chord pattern drifting in and out of arced echoes and subtle shifts in timbre, cues004 as haunting atmosphere radiates a surreal sense of weightless pressure, paradoxically soothing and violent at the same time. based on a divergent theme that contrasts upfront chord stabs and ruthless 909 cymbals with easeful pads and finespun textures, cues004 b builds up to a transition that disrupts the deeper elements with a stripped-down pattern, fully carving out the track’s inherent grittiness.

its been 4 years since the last music compilation on mindtrip. mutable minds brings together a mixture of five exceptional and talented artists whose sound matches perfectly with the mindtrip philosophy. head honcho, pfirter, and swedish pär grindvik contribute the first track of the release with their diversified collaboration embodied in a hypnotic and extraordinary tune whilst diego amura takes the lead with a track that is characterized by driving rhythm and haunting sequences. savas pascalidis debuts on the label with a trippy-sci-fi interpretation and the release closes with one of the latest guests on mindtrip podcast, fanon flowers, who takes us into a dark, mental and conceptual techno journey. the final outcome is mesmerizing and all four tracks can be seen on different aspects of an all night long set. this is mindtrip!

two new tracks launching the new irvine welsh book dead mans trousers the final installment in the trainspotting series. the a1 is a hypnotic acid work-out with a trademark sound produced straight out of paranoid londons studio complete with renton s musings over the top. on the flip you re sucked into a dark tunnel of renton s mind, rocked by a chance encounter with begbie. haunting pads intensify the monologue before a pulsating heartbeat of a kick comes through underneath. hand numbered 12inch with hand stamped effect artwork.

they loop in your head forever: pulshar are back with two haunting dub tracks and dub techno remixes by federsen and mathimidori, the alter ego of mathias kaden.

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

the ninth release on the dsr-c series comes from rhine. a new name with his roots in atmospheric techno steps up for his first solo ep.the ninth release on the dsr-c series comes from rhine. a new name with his roots in atmospheric techno steps up for his first solo ep. de storm opens the account with a loose collage of textured drums and scuffed-up synths. it makes for a bubbly groove that journeys far off into the night while de bron is more rooted underground, with cavernous echo chambers run through by supple bass synths and icy hi hat trails. spooky and haunting, its a track to send shivers down your spine. last of all, het meer is a watery affair, with aqueous drips and drops, radiant pads and then more tightly coiled drums brushing up against one another to make for something atmospheric but also nicely driven. all three tracks are characterised by a rather tender and reflective mood that makes them all the more unique.

cassette version of the loch ness videogame soundtrack originally released in 2012 on the legowelt website. made with the mighty haunting sid chip on the commodore 64 computer - remastered and comes with new artwork and extra unreleased tracks!

up next on wolfskuil records and as the title suggests we find some of shlomos finest cuts on the dutch imprint reworked by oscar mulero, johannes heil and tripeo. spanish techno master oscar mulero takes over the a-side, keeps the heat of the original and adds extra tension to offer a stand out rendition of obsession, while in vanished breath he goes deep and delivers fine electronica and a sophisticated, experimental remix where broken beats and haunting synths seamlessly blend to create ghostly atmospheres. on the flip side johannes heil transforms the beatless, synth-heavy beauty m.u.m. into an euphoric, driving techno track, right before tripeo proves ones again his strong command on the dancefloor with a solid, twisted version of avadon part 1

pinkman records presents five years of tears: a string of releases dedicated to celebrate the 5th birth year of the label. the first volume features contributions by 3 of the labels usual suspects, as well as newcomer randstad. ernestas sadaus powerful, raw and menacing cut starts sets the scene for alessandro parisi to delve deep into his synthesizer toolkit. what comes out is a highly emotional production, infused with sirens and melodies that may cause tearful mourning on the dancefloors. on the b side identified patient provides yet another one of his notoriously slow and filthy underground creepers, while randstad delivers another burst of energy that celebrates raw percussion, gloomy pads and haunting vocal samples.

lore’s debut on kokeshi comes in the form of a 3-track ep featured on 180g heavyweight vinyl, with hand stamped kokeshi logo. lore’s influences range from early dubstep, grime and garage, including artists like el-b, burial, sp:mc, blawan, skream, wiley and mount kimbie. the ‘down the well’ ep features tracks in the 120–135 bpm range, with dark chunky beats, heavy bass and haunting vocal samples. be sure to check out his production tutorials on youtube.

lp,180g , ltd ! alex is a dark, haunting and brooding synthwave record that sets the night on fire, taking you from darkness all the way to the shining lights of broadway. with hints of cyberpunk, outrun and other 80s inspired retrowave influences, alex has developed a true signature sound that is funky, groovy and totally rocking. x takes you on a futuristic, electronic music trip thats filled with nostalgia and suspense

nice price deal !!! another bomb on uncage! this ep is heavily influenced by that berlin techno modular sound, kicking off with >terraforming< and its percussive swing coupled with synthetic percussive riffs twisting in and out the mix. >monastero< is a slow builder of a track, a haunting synth line accompanies firing hi-hats. head down late-night moments are to be had with >exoplanet< with a low key acid line slicing through the background, leading us into >solar shade<. the lead track has a low-end rumbling sub, deep and powerful with an eerie vibe.

for years nathan church has been cutting up floors in his native bilbao. recently the basque man s attention has turned from the dj booth to the studio. under his wldv (we love dolce vita) this iberian electronic inspiration has cast long shadows and brightened rooms with his blend of horror score intensity and disco exuberance. wldv arrives at the bordello with a four tracker of serious intent. sepulchral and sinister synthlines characterise a dying feast, nowhere more than in the haunting samples and clean drums of -a bucket of blood-. cold chords gleam with icy menace while crisp claps punctuate the entrancing funk of -danza macabra-. ecclesia toys with set parameters, exploring what lurks in the twilight between terror and titillation. this flirtation with the divine and the profane is plain to hear in the uneasy elegance and uplifting elation of -far, far away-, a work of steady kicks, unsettling extracts and soaring strings. this -feast- ends on a delectable note. keys dance and spiral in the intoxicating -laying down on cosmic dust-, an enthralling end to and enthralling ep.

rudy returns to faze action records with an all-new collection of atmospheric and evocative tropical sounds. last august saw the release of the by nature ep that encapsulated the steamy and exotic textures of the balearic sound. this time, midnight safari takes up where on the beaches of formentera, where the last ep left us. this time setting sail on a midnight safari with marimba s and chugging rhythms underpinning sophisticated piano melodies. following this we drop anchor and appreciate the evening breeze of in the air with its haunting cello, endless drifting arpeggio s and tropical percussion with a hint of north africa. reach backless points the way squarely to the dance floor with chunky drums and synth bass, synth hooks galore and that piano solo that launches into starry evening skies. it s back down to earth with the settled quiet bass guitar harmonics of windchimes before heading into the more soulful and synth melodic territory of solar plex.

for brainstem casino s take off, strictly hardware voyager *sour* generated «quantum process», an ep that comprises four, rather spartan yet not the current i-put-three-sounds-so-it s-minimal, haunting and deepseated downtempo tracks. the first segment of the (limited to 300 copies) 12-, 140gr. polyvinyl chloride chunk, which extends to 9:22 minutes commences with muffled and fathomless pads. then a three steps acidish build up subtely incises through like a reptilian sword coming out of an another dimension. the next track is in a similar vein, however, uplifted presence of cowbells and tight repetitive drums sways towards a house/funk guidance. side b s a staggering 12:19 minutes crepuscular descent into crying structures referencing to 90 s sci-fi universes. additionally coming along with the digital download, is a downreaching, abysmal ambient track called «cleavage». yes, either in your confortable conapt or in a decaying, technological dystopian, space-cargo style gig, this will drive your audience to definitive brain melting!

coldgeists music on unknown bodies is an intimate reinterpretation of coldwave, techno and dark ambient codes, uttered with strength, guts, and an underlying romantic soul. inspired by nocturnal runs of bosozoku bikers clans, who stem from this japanese subculture of the late seventies , coldgeist has created a series of soundscapes and songs that evoke speeding through foggy nights and fluorescent lights. haunting repetitions and stiffness of the rhythms as a metaphor of mechanical gestures, of bodies turned into units of consumption, stranded from the life and passion they crave. the frustration of a youth that only finds relief in extreme experiences, danger, and the sexual tension of speed and crashes. with analog and digital instruments, field recordings but also his own voice and songs, coldgeist has bred a truly unique record.

moss co. kicks off 2018 with the indivisual ep from the supremely talented mariano mateljan. mariano and label boss, archie hamilton have been talking about an ep on moss co. for a number or years, and it is a tribute to both of their perfectionism that it finally lands in all good stores april 6th. made in his home studio in split, the record came together from several analogue jam sessions. aimed squarely at the small hours, the deeply trippy and haunting tracks take influence from the micro house of the 90 labels like cabinet and perlon and producers like schatrax and matthew johnson. the record is a fine example of marianos ever-maturing sound timeless minimalistic house music that will cast a spell over dance floors the world over.

nick anthony simoncino is synonymous with the revival of italian house music over the past five years or so, and so it feels right for him to be delivering this album to vibraphone. of course, simoncino has more than enough skills (and hardware) to make something truly special, and that s apparent from the opening strains of -mystic adventures- onwards. there s a sense of urgency and mystery woven into tracks like -righteous rule-, where haunting leads wobble over sizzling drum machines, and the overall mood is redolent of 80s soundtracks mixed with the uneasy side of chicago house music. maintaining a punchy finish throughout and constantly reaching for the spooky side of machine soul, simoncino has more than delivered for the legendary italian label.

this is the third ep by dutch post-techno project monocorpse... his style is evident by now: minimal and dark... a sort of doom techno for the freaked-out dance floor... but this new ep also feels like a soundtrack... rather moody and haunting music which would fit perfect in thrillers and psychological dramas... despite all of this there are some real dance floor tracks on this ep... stuff monocorpse never delivered before in this way...

for the second release on their black series, ravage invited electronic music veterans al matthews and patrick walker to team up under their forward strategy group moniker. the last release of these legends was quite a few years ago, but the wait was worth it. their east port rangers ep kicks-off with nine and one, a hypnotic, heavy-loaded stomper containing some uplifting, loopy vocals. following is the most minimalistic track of the ep, lisp your way, yet it still has a lot of substantial punch and lash to it. the b-side starts off with heavy broken beats, combined with a classic rave sound, taking the listener back to the blistering sound of the nineties. finally, the ep oozes down with the track in abeyance, a haunting, down-tempo track with a melody to send shivers down your spine, which could be deemed a real creeper.

for the 23rd release on pinkman, rotterdam based mitchell goor delivers a 4 tracker of slow, raw and warped techno. the contrast between unpolished percussive instruments and ethereal melodies reoccurs throughout the release and gets polished and refined by haunting vocal samples and pungent acid bass lines. this gives the record an ability to take audiences on rollercoaster rides through tension and anger as well as hope and promise, powered by permanent, adrenaline stimulating, raw energy.

try love was originally recorded by norma jenkins and pitched to motown who passed on the track (this version only survives on acetate). master of the girl group herb bernstein picked up the track and recorded the version you hear on this 45 which for whatever reason failed to make a dent until it was picked up first by the belgian popcorn scene and later the northern scene, demand far outstripped supply and this rare 45 became very expensive. a haunting, odd and beautiful record to this day the members of the sparkles remain a mystery.

a solid two sider for your soul box from the old town vaults, say it with feeling is a great mid tempo soul track which i have used as a warm up track for many years and had remained popular on the soul circuit as well. for me the real magic happens on the flip. conscience is a haunting mid tempo off-kilter number, memorable in the extreme, challenging to work it into a set, a charming, fascinating record, no wonder it was a huge popcorn spin in belgium.

fifth album from recondite, 1 per customer
- releases on absurd/acid test, dystopian, innervisions, ghostly international, plangent, hotflush, life and death

recondite has announced his fifth album, daemmerlicht , on his own plangent records. translated as -fading light,- the new album finds the bavarian musician exploring novel territory, combining his love of instrumental hip hop and downbeat with ambient and classical music. the result is recondite s most focused, meditative work yet. from the haunting soundscapes of -lichtung,- to the cinematic beauty of closing track -immer da,- the album demonstrates a new level of sophistication to lorenz brunner s venerated catalogue of work. making conscious use of atmosphere and space, the album ultimately harkens to brunner s unique upbringing in lower bavaria.

the shadows is the new album from leeds-based six-piece tomorrow we sail. building on their debut release for those who caught the sun in flight (gizeh, 2014) over the course of three years, this new work combines perfectly the soaring atmospherics, gorgeously intertwined vocal harmonies and dramatic shifts in tone and dynamics that have come to characterise tomorrow we sail’s sound. yet, there is a new sense of urgency here. very much an album of its time, the shadows draws upon the same sense of connection to both past and present that defined its precursor but features storytelling that’s even more defiant and deeply personal.

like its predecessor, the record features seven songs but from the chiming guitars of opening track side by side it is clear that the stately pace of for those who caught the sun in flight has made way for a far more dynamic and driving energy, perhaps best captured in the righteous anger of the ghost of john maynard keynes. tomorrow we sail still invoke a keen sense of measured grace in their songwriting - from the sweeping, elegiac title track, through to the sparse, restrained, yet haunting beauty of winifred and to sleep. urgent, yet assured, the shadows demands your attention.

the second series of jacks tracks va vol 2 presents 4 distinctively different tracks from both established and upcoming talent. first up on the a side is alex arnout from dogmatik records with hypersomnia, which is a tough rolling number with haunting subtle keys laid over the top. then a2, the talented tuccillo from unblock with his track another day brings a deep skippy house vibe with some cool vocal snippets over the top driven by its baseline. on the b side are more tech house flavours and fabric resident legend terry francis presents jua which is a timeless house number previously unreleased , now signed and ready for an official vinyl release. last but not least, young new talent kilian vega with ardour, a groovy infectious rolling underground house vibe. in short, an ep with 4 strong individual tracks from sincere and dedicated music makers.

mesh-key is pleased to announce the release of a lavish, limited edition run of this heretofore unheard collaboration, finally seeing the light of day 15 years after its recording. acoustic instrumentation and synthesizers meet mukai’s haunting voice for four sparse, minimalistic compositions unlike anything in either artists’ previous output. . mesh-key is pleased to announce the release of a lavish, limited edition run of this heretofore unheard collaboration, finally seeing the light of day 15 years after its recording. acoustic instrumentation and synthesizers meet mukai’s haunting voice for four sparse, minimalistic compositions unlike anything in either artists’ previous output.

phantasm is a new vinyl label and collaboration between amsterdam s sinchi collective and the much-admired night noise outlet, based in geneva. it kicks off with a strong ep from the soviet union aka richard baldwin, including classy remixes from sinchi themselves and in flagranti. baldwin has a signature style that is cinematic and synth heavy and has been formed over the last decade plus. a fine dj, experienced promoter and self-confessed addict of vintage analogue synthesizers and drum machines, richard pulls his influences from early electronica, 80s film-scores, and shades of techno right up to the present day. this track was first written on a cold evening in december 2010 using a roland tr707 and jx8p synth. after collaborating with his songwriting partner the track was given a haunting vocal and released as the disappearance of becky sharp , while the original remained on baldwin s soundcloud and got id requests from all over the world. 7 years later it comes back to life in the form of its original instrumental, with a 2017 rework, plus remixes by sinchi and in flagranti.

returning with another debut release, second circles eighth record to date comes this time from young viennese musician giuseppe leonardi. performed on an array of synthesizers and experimenting with spoken word and vocals from various local singers giuseppes tbc ep take us on a dance through the catacombs and out through the jungle floor with ritualistic rhythm and haunting song. whilst at other moments giuseppes horizontal ambient pieces leave us gazing out on the shores of a distant half-remembered planet.