one of the core members of the apollonia family is the mastermind behind the label’s latest release. shonky steps up with his first solo ep since ‘plombiére’ which dropped in july 2016. full of funky flavours and that distinct ‘shonky style’, the new ep consists of four brand new tracks produced exclusively for apollonia. each track emanates its own unique vibe, while reppin’ shonk’s irresistible groove. on side a we have ‘tyrolien’, a jaunty number with bright tones and a tight, rolling groove. shonky injects it with a series of unusual fx and what sounds like an wizened old creature, speaking about ‘the foulest stench in the air’. it’s a superb combination and sets the ep off to a great start.next up is ‘beat street’ which has a heavier set of beats, which stomp down as a marauding b-line gets to work. tiny fizzes and cheeps in the background add depth, sounding like robotic birds at play in the wild. the track is minimal in its make up, but deep and engrossing, classic shonky material.flip the vinyl over and we have ‘torro rosso’, a bold, stomping workout with fresh percussion and a jovial analogue riff. as the bubbly low end percolates way down below, the beats pump the track along and an extra layer of analogue funk enters the fray midway through. the final track is titled ‘serpent a&#768,,, sonnette’ and swithes the vibe. it’s loose, meandering and twisted, with a hypnotic bassline and super sharp percussion. this one is going to get the dance floor locked into a groove, as it progresses a sweet, chirpy melody brightens the mood. feel the glow!once again shonky demonstrates his ability to produce groovy dance floor cuts that have their own unique fingerprint, danceable, unusual and utterly captivating. grab the new ep now!

pisetzky s full debut album on just this includes adventures into contemporary techno music, fines ambient works, and unique broken pieces. an intense mixture of incredible warmth, weird fluffiness, mystic trumpets and high uplifts, the album is interspersed with short ambient and fragmentated interludes, each just a few minutes long: ‘state of consciousness’ and ‘tears of a rough machine’ are serene and reflective tracks that give the listener time to breathe and bringing him/her back to more dancefloor focused tracks of the lp like viridis, bakwas and wand. the result is a magic story, a history in eleven chapters that the listener is guided through, like the landscapes of a mystic journey, with a twist on the melodies and hidden effects behind every deep bass sound.

almost 10 years have passed since onra arrived with the charmingly eccentric chinoiseries lp. 32 hip-hop beats formed the sample-based project - dusty chinese vinyl hissing and crackling throughout – resulting in an intriguing and spontaneous mix of the producers interest in exploring a newly-discovered style of music with his love for classic hip-hop production.
using the style of analogue mpc production combined with the somewhat restrictive record sampling of strictly chinese music records, he has been able to be creative over three volumes, an amount of 100 instrumentals, despite the challenge of finding more obviously standout samples in chinese music.
the chinoiseries projects are the type of albums that invites the listener to play it from beginning to end, in order to really enjoy the trip and appreciate the variety of rhythms and textures spread over those 32 short instrumentals. in that way, “pt.3” is no different to its predecessors, but the originality of the samples, the curious harmonies and the odd-drum patterns still makes the album sounds as fresh as the first one.
onra finishes this epic trilogy with class as a result of extended record digging across the far east and the producer s own development over the preceding 10 years.
as a producer who has released records inspired by 80’s funk, 90’s hip-hop and r’n’b, electronic and even a spiritual jazz project, “pt. 3” brings this stylised set to a close.

another solid selection of cuts, overlooked gems and classics from the deepest recesses of the kms vaults. the legendary label should require no intro, but for the uninitiated it s one of the og detroit imprints, operating since the late 80s well into the future under the watchful eyes of kevin master reese saunderson. the idea behind the kms -origins- series is to shine a light on the lesser known cuts in the kms vaults as well as the classics that have given the label its legendary status during its lifetime.

london’s breaker breaker continue to build steam behind releases from rgl and the rapidly ascending ross from friends with a fresh 12” courtesy of bristol based half nelson. utilising a meld of hardware, old tape recorders and original instrumentation - the bristol based producer readies the inaugural release on this newly formed alias and in doing so presents the aptly titled ‘first step’.
slotting in neatly with the breaker breaker catalogue, the first step ep smothers burly drums with woozy sampling that work together to build a trippy, floor-ready sound.

michael mayer. credited by many as one of the leading tastemakers in dance music, his dj sets have influenced a generation (or two) of musicians and fans out there today. an artist that has never allowed time or age to slow him down – michael mayer remains tirelessly motivated behind the dj decks, in the studio or behind his desk at kompakt, the company he co-owns and is up next on k7’s long running dj-kicks series.
double 12 inch vinyl in gatefold sleeve with download code included.

after recently inaugurating the label with shedbug s well-received afterglow ep, flux records are back with their second release. following suit, flux002 includes three original tracks from burgeoning french talent laroze, supplied with a sweet remix from detroit s one and only andres. with its fair share of dance floor heaters the loin des yeux ep exudes an effortless 90s revival feel to it, drawing upon classic us house and acid as the basis for its form and style.
3000 copies limited press on 180g, 12 vinyl (no digital), with artwork from laura zhang.
france s dance scene is currently replete with a plethora of fresh and charismatic artists, labels, and promoters, and has all the signs of a movement that s really beginning to take off. hailing from bordeaux, laroze s making his own mark not just as one of the figures behind the country s authority electronic music publication seeksicksound, but also as a dj and producer in his own right.

“the future is there…looking back at us. trying to make sense of the fiction we will have become” - william gibson
future déjà vu is a berlin based techno label. behind such paradoxical definition of time lies an elementary objective: the promotion of a functional sound, able to be immediately usable on a techno-floor. the immediacy of the sound becomes in turn paradox itself and its planes turns into power.

2lp + dl code
in this space between chaos and conformity disorderly moments welcome new phases into existence, leading to the awakening of an elevated version of the self. between highs and lows, transitions of life remain, the concept behind synthek’s first solo full length sound narrative on his natch records imprint.

mihkel kleis, man behind the ratkiller moniker, listens to music on the verge of human capacity. and from what he hears, he compiles top 500 end of year lists to his friends. big tip - incredible talent from talinn... do not sleep on this taped nightmare.. cult! comes with insert. limited pressing.

o2 returns to argot just behind the release of her 3rd album. pointed at dancefloors while simultaneously speaking to her songwriting capabilities, w/the a being smooth & spacey, & the b at first pensive, before flowering into a floor filler.

limited 300 copies marbled vinyl only release! edo pietrogrande is the eclectic producer, architect, dj and sound engineer hiding behind p41. low tide is a techno record which looks back to the past while foreseeing the future. created while traveling through cornwall, it holds progressive sounds with feet firm into the ground. the remix is signed by rome s most known and appreciated dj: donato dozzy. hypnotic techno and 909, his trademarks.

almost 10 years have passed since onra arrived with the charmingly eccentric chinoiseries lp. 32 hip-hop beats formed the sample-based project dusty chinese vinyl hissing and crackling throughout resulting in an intriguing and spontaneous mix of the producers interest in exploring a newly-discovered style of music with his love for classic hip-hop production. using the style of analogue mpc production combined with the somewhat restrictive record sampling of strictly chinese music records, he has been able to be creative over three volumes, an amount of 100 instrumentals, despite the challenge of finding more obviously standout samples in chinese music. the chinoiseries projects are the type of albums that invites the listener to play it from beginning to end, in order to really enjoy the trip and appreciate the variety of rhythms and textures spread over those 32 short instrumentals. in that way, pt.3 is no different to its predecessors, but the originality of the samples, the curious harmonies and the odd-drum patterns still makes the album sounds as fresh as the first one. onra finishes this epic trilogy with class as a result of extended record digging across the far east and the producer s own development over the preceding 10 years.

madcap and jaybee team up to create the musical masterpiece called “settle down”. the song starts out rather jazzy, with it’s smooth rhodes keys and heavy cymbal riding drum lines. when the song hits the breakdown, the whole tone of the tune changes. the punchy sub bassline is unleashed and becomes one of the driving forces of the track. echoing reggae style vocals are beautifully weaved into the background of the track, transforming the vibe into a reggae/dub style d&b classic. the amen drums also help to create an intoxicating energy that make this one a sure thing for dance floor mayhem. instant classic!
“hear comes” takes over where “settle down” left off. the song begins with big amen drums, backed with a reggae style skanking guitar chop. during the breakdown, a thoughtful roots reggae vocal sample is introduced that helps lift the track into a true dubwise gem. when the drop hits, the baseline kicks in and begins to wobble and throb behind all the deep atmospherics. the track has a beautiful breakdown, which takes the listener to a more melodic place. after a moment of serenity, the song breaks back into the chaotic old school flavor, which madcap does so well. this one’s a beauty!!

three soul trader releases bundled up for one special price!

brian tennessee claflin, aka prix, was a radical and fiery figure who worked on the intersecting fringes of berlins art and nightlife scenes since he moved there in 2006 up until his tragic death in 2014 at the age of 33. he ran the notorious sunday soirée pork at ficken3000, and left behind a small but very powerful body of art, developing a cult following of friends, family, and fans in a brief but intense period of frenetic activity. between 2009 and 2013, brian and his friend, the american cum berlin musician and producer snax, produced music and sound collages. all these productions met somewhere at the intersection of dance, voodoo, bitchiness and punk and several were used for brians performance pieces. the brian tennessee claflin foundation and snaxs random records are very proud to finally release two tracks from these sessions, as well as remixes, digital and as vinyl ep, in a limited edition of 500 hand-numbered copies.

onboard having come up with an annual-ish drop of 12inches since 2010, even brenden aka chmmr set aside the spring of 2016 to challenge himself to a new format: a full-length album. a true nostalgic, he uses compass point-era and early italo sounds for inspiration and attempts to simulate these styles. this makes for a melodic, chuggy and graphic album that belongs a little more in the living room than on the dance floor. with 10 tracks of dusty rhythms and the honest, naive and spacious themes that is brendens signature, its a record designed to signal that todays technological future may not be as different as yesterdays. features a nice-looking cover painting drawn by the late harold cohens aaron program - automation at its finest. hidden behind his chmmr moniker is even brenden, whose summery debut found its way into the world via norwegian psych-disco label luna flicks in 2010. the record became somewhat of a soughtafter item and after making pit stops at relish, dødpop and untz untz records, he landed on prins thomas full pupp in 2014 and have stayed put ever since, all the while enjoying a steady habit of record jocking and the occasional keyboard duty in telephones now-defunct live band. even resides in oslo makes odd waves without vowels.

nice price deal !!! marco petralia has been bringing his spirit to the people for over ten years now and has been standing behind the decks in some of the best and well known clubs & events worldwide. marco is also one of the residents of the popular german radio show & club events bigcitybeats. already tipped by the big jocks to be a summer smash record. once in a life time is ready to set the dance floors alight again this summer with some great remixes from the miss moneypennys camp.

der belgische elektronik-pionier dirk ivens beschert uns das lange erwartete, neue album seines kult-projekts, dive. underneath ist ein neues meisterwerk minimalistisch-dunkler electro-tonkunst. das limitierte grüne vinyl erscheint inklusive cd.

brainwaltzera debuts on film. the anonymous producer, whose work has has already received online approval from legendary british idm auteur aphex twin, offers up an extended ep for the berlin based imprint. in 2015 a soundcloud profile under the name user18081971 - now identified as belonging to richard d. james, commented on curious brainwaltzera upload quilat spring 1 outtake. the move prompted speculation as to who exactly is behind the music. exquisitely produced and executed in such fine fashion so as to decry pure imitation - there’s plenty to theorise here. regardless of their true creator - which will undoubtedly remain a secret for the time being, the compositions on film006 are of similarly high calibre. varied in approach and marrying both electronic & acoustic elements with ease, the six tracks that comprise the record range from yearning ambient segues and dreamy down tempo grooves to otherworldly krautrock and more direct, dance floor fare - but remain bound tight as a cohesive and functional body of work by a glorious, arcane musicality. whether weaving soft electronic tones in and amongst snappy breaks or detuned drum-machine strikes, the artist’s ear for acoustic harmony is perhaps the pervading theme across the six tracks that make up the aecoba ep, marking it out as an excellent addition to the film labels growing catalogue

limited edition 180 gram vinyl in gatefold sleeve, includes download code and 60x30cm poster.
in early 1978, vincent ahehehinnou left the orchestre poly-rythmo de cotonou without explanation. he had been one of their principal vocalist since 1968 and had helped transform them from a hard-charging nightclubband into a musical powerhouse and africa-wide sensation. by the end of 1977, after an explosive performance at the pan-african arts and culture festival (festac77) in lagos, the band had reached the very pinnacle of their success.
for nearly forty years, the reasons behind vincent’s sudden departure have remained a mystery. until now. in an interview included with analog africa’s new reissue of best woman – vincent’s first post-poly-rythmo album, which has been out-of-print for close to four decades and nearly impossible to find outside west africa – the great singer finally breaks his silence. he didn’t leave … he was pushed.

nick hook is nyc’s waviest resident: an in-demand collaborator, producer extraordinaire, and all around provider of vibes who’s lent his touch to projects from run the jewels, young thug, and countless others, all while building a creative community around his studio, thespacepit, in greenpoint. now the redheaded kingpin steps forward with his relationships lp on fool’s gold, a 16 track album of collaborations that are unconventional, unexpected and all-the-way live (literally: each song was recorded in-person with nick behind the boards, a refreshing move in the email verse era).
featuring a festival-worthy lineup of new school rap upstarts (21 savage, novelist, ilovemakonnen) and fellow beat radicals (prefuse 73, hudson mohawke, the late dj rashad), relationships isn’t just the world’s greatest party guestlist, but a chronicle of nick’s year long, after-midnight vision quest—the sound of a producer breaking through the chrysalis, killing the ego, and raising the bar. put your phone down and dive in.
white double vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

nyc s legendary west end record label has contributed a fair few classics to the disco cannon and continues to influence dance music today with it s forward looking releases. when you touch me is no exception, recorded and released in the golden year of 1979 and featuring the breathy, sensual vocals of a young tanaa gardner who had previously worked as a backing vocalist for numerous other projects until the label released her (other) stone cold solo classic work that body the same year on 12-. both cuts featured on her self titled debut lp and boasted the combined production and studio talents of kenton nix, bob blank and of course - larry levan. now, that s a serious line-up to have behind the boards (& in the clubs!) and of course when you touch me was a classic with it s slow, elongated intro that calls to mind a sleazier version of donna summer s love hangover before launching into a full-on disco assault that you won t forget in a hurry! yes, the record surprises you, tanaa leads us into a false sense of a slow jam and then - boom - we re off! backed with the incredible instrumental version the 12- is repressed here in it s original 1979 glory, an essential classic that has stood the test of time for the last 30+ years & is now available again, remastered & repressed for 2017 in conjunction with west end records, nyc.

much may have changed over a two-decade period, but drumcode s commitment to releasing the scene s most cutting-edge and refined techno remains resolute. 2016 saw releases from heavy hitters such as adam beyer, alan fitzpatrick, dense & pika, sam paganini, joseph capriati and waff, as well as a much coveted moby remix package. the label pushes forwards again in 2017, bringing fail-safe, club-ready music to the techno community. after appearing on a-sides volume 4 at the start of 2016, ilario alicante now makes his full debut on the label. he has quickly established himself as a key player amongst a new crop of techno artists and truly is one of the brightest stars in the game. his skills behind the decks have seen him tour the globe with cocoon, as well as appear at the likes of elrow, lovefest and we are fstvl. opening with times , the ep gets off to a flying start as the track rages straight into top gear, rolling through 6 minutes of pure power. this is a peak time tool that is set to be heard across dance floors worldwide this year. ‘awakened you may have heard from adam beyer s sets of late, a firm favourite which gets his much sought after seal of approval. rampant syths and mesmerizing vocal hooks all make it one hell of a journey. sense is a more industrial affair, chunky basslines take your hand through the track as it charges on. it s that classic deep ilario alicante sound we all know and love. the ep finishes off on apogeo , with its hypnotic siren tones and acute percussion. one thing is for sure, ilario alicante is in a league of his own.

the much lauded no.19 music serves up another excellent all canadian affair for its next ep:behind it is producer & label co-owner nitin, with remixes from live specialist the mole and labelboss jonny white aka art department who serves up his own hypnotic take on things.no.19 music has been going back to its roots recently, bringing to the fore a steady stream ofincredible underground music from torontos sons & daughters. 2016 closed out with thestandout single, full circle from art department in collaboration with ad/d, seeing supportacross the board for the return of jonny whites much loved moniker. however it is the longstanding partnership of white & nitin that is the true central pillar of the no.19 story, and its thelatter that offers up here what is almost certainly his most impressive work to date

the scorpions 2001 acoustic release for the first time available on vinyl! acoustica was not cut in ther studio but filmed and recorded live behind the walls of a portugese monastery, pure and without any electronic amplification, surrounded by the group’s fans.

joining the unknown precept forces are c.g.i. records label head matthew wei- ner teaming up with christopher daresta as pyramid club. being known for their t.w.i.n.s. and anticipation solo activities, cyclic obsession comes as the debut re- lease of the four-handed formation taking its name from the eponymous venue which helped define the counterculture and queer sound of lower manhattan in the late 70 s.

part two of a new salsoul re-edits series launches with four classic edits for rsd from seminal edit king danny krivit. with over 45 years behind the turntables, if anyone knows what little extra touch a record needs to work on the dancefloor…its danny! taking his editing skills to four classics from the salsoul vaults , danny delivers once again. available on vinyl for the very first time.

first collaborative ep from the ownlife chronicles. the point between the mind behind semantica records, or what is the same. svreca. joining forces with the label owner. leiras. another four tracker shaping the cyclical, repetitive and deep sound characteristic from the series.

artik becomes the second artist involved in the coumsc serie. distorted crushed beats, rawness and some driving soundscapes behind this five track ep inspired on the asimov’s trilogy “foundation”. hand stamped and hand numbered black vinyl limited edition of 100 copies, lacquer mastering plus exclusive digital download.

samuel rohrer, the multi-faceted, forward-thinking percussio- nist and producer behind the arjunamusic label, the ambiq trio and a wealth of other musical projects, has set out on his own with a new full-length solo album range of regularity as a double ep set with a deceptive title if ever there was one: the sonic experience of this record is, in fact, a highly irregular one (and a highly welcome one at that). constructed almost entirely upon electronically-treated recordings of acoustic in- strumentation, with a bare minimum of synthesizer voicing, ror vibrates with a compelling organicism as if old-growth black forest trees had conspired together to make an album of ultra-modern improvisational music. indeed, the record feels limned with contributions from some other intelligence, despite being a clear extension of the fluid, percussion-driven musical technique that rohrer has exhibited in previous years.

after a prolific career releasing on platforms such as audio assault, token, perctrax, stroboscopic artefacts and the huehelix imprint go hiyama is back with an astounding piece of work that dictates its own path. ‘i am goodbye’ graces us with wondrous sound-design and drum patterns that are just as menacing as they are intricate. based on the concept of denial this full-length takes a steep dive into what here at parachute we cherish the most - individuality. steering away from what are his canonic approaches to producing he chooses to leave behind sequencers and synths to further explore the nature of instruments such as piano and vibraphone as well as an array of field recordings. the end result is remarkable proof of the concept behind this album, interpreting denial in an unusually positive course of action allowing him to explore areas of sound he had previously never visited. a definite highlight here at parachute and an exemplary release to kick off our 2017 schedule. the year couldn’t have started any better! ‚i am goodbye’ is designed by atilla fidan and released on lp

the newly formed hungarian pæonï music is making waves with its first outing. grema, the man behind the label and its debut release, is a well known character in budapest s underground techno and house scene. all three cuts on delays ep are for the dance floor, specifically designed to make people move. darker, dubby prophet-8 chords are reinforced by dynamic drum-sets and samples, which finely balance between the modern and traditional side of house music.

180gr pressing , vinyl only release
hidden behind the ritmico alias comes an unexpected studio collaboration from emi & suciu, premiering their first release at contur records. on side a we are welcomed by sticlic ritm, a 14 minutes kick led journey that proposes an elusive string of nostalgic pads, burried deep into the track’s dna. for side b, naiv ritm uses the sharp percussions to sneak its fluid groove, cleverly covert into the bassline, directly into our electronic souls. in line with previous contur releases, the ritmico signed ep meets our highest expectations.

following on from his release on beneath s mistry imprint, webstarr inaugurates his de grey label with a three-track collection of bass-flecked techno. opener we can t have nice things evokes punch drunk and the bristol sound as skittering beats deliver a two-step-like rhythm, propelled along by a synth melody that teases a potent breakdown. meanwhile warsaw bumps along with a brooding bassline that gives way to multi-layered percussion direct from an eastern bloc steel mill. closing track exit changes gear to play to the floor as a piercing kick and clap drum pattern combines with the subtlest of sub-bass and sharp synths that probe behind your eyes to lift the track effortlessly in a 2016 nod to detroit.

discographies in dance music don’t come much more impressive than that belonging to paul woolford, the man behind seminal releases for the likes of planet e, xl recordings and running back. special request is the project that sees him continuing to defy expectation with a new ep on the fabric-run label houndstooth. stairfoot lane bunker encapsulates this approach with 5 bold new excursions into the outer limits followed by a remix from minor science (known for his previous releases on whities and the trilogy tapes) the eagle-eyed will notice 5 of these tracks appear on fabriclive 91. this ep is issued as an addendum. redrum is the fierce opener. rampantly-edited electro beats, a sampled speak-n-spell vocal, and a pure sci-fi breakdown sets the scene for the rest. stairfoot lane bunker and replicant are jungle tracks taken to dizzying extremes - the former building from widescreen atmospherics, thunder spells and lightning before descending into a frenzy of breakbeats and long heavy bass notes. replicant ratchets the pressure up further with hyper-edits across it s breakbeat introduction and throughout, punctuated by furnace-rattling subs. telepathic dog and five lane ends are highly evocative ambient pieces, pushing into the uncanny realms of metaphysical music. to end the release minor science comes through with his remix of stairfoot lane bunker, effortlessly blending in his own work with the disjointed sr breakbeats, flashing only snippets of the serrated bars, chopping them up and creating a new track in the process.

the europe-centered techno scene might be thinking: where is techno in a city as vast, dynamic and electric as new york? it s alive and well, and keeps growing through aptly-named new york trax. founded in 2016 and based in brooklyn, new york trax is an outlet for new york music, by new york artists, in new york city. the artist behind the fourth new york trax release needs no introduction. steve stoll is one of the pioneers and founding fathers of new york techno. producing pure, minimalist analogue-minded techno (even though his career began as a drummer with the industrial label wax trax), steve stoll has recorded for his own label proper nyc, trax records, djax, nova mute and many more, including his recent appearances on nina kraviz s imprint trip. this record on new york trax is the essence of steve stoll s style: minimal, driving, with a subtle groove that sinks in the rich texture of sound. it connects the dots between the past, present, and the future of the new york sound.

mark rae is the man behind one of the key uk music movements of the last 25 years. as a founder of the shop fat city records and the label grand central, mark worked with some of the worlds biggest artists going on to earn several platinumm discs with his work as one half of the highly respected production duo rae & christian. this project is a worlds first autobiography and album, the release is packaged as a gatefold 10 inch which opens out to the book held within. the 40 000 word book covers the author mark rae s journey through the music industry. it follows the creation and dissolution of fat city and grand central records, rae & christian and yesking. the underground club scenes of manchester, gang wars, success, failure, working with bobby womack, jay z and the pharcyde. the project has been supported by whosampled, dj magazine, vice and the tate modern. the artwork is exceptional featuring an historical montage throughout the inner gatefold sleeve. the music features guest vocals from tony d who was a big influence in the original grand central records sound, soul king pete simpson, multi instrumentalist shawn lee and kate rogers.

we are at a point where progress is so rapid it outstrips humans ability to comprehend it. “singularity is near”, hidden behind this name we find the tracks alpha and omega, together they represent the theory of eternal return, and many human beliefs. both tracks were inspired by the last live performances by the transhumans.

(sean johnston & oyvind morken rmxs) theres a new kid in town! well, the kid behind it aint all that new, but the label is, so we will stick to our claim. after having been super quiet on the output front for a good few years now, oslo dj andoccasional full pupp producer marius circus is back with boom and a boing and a tschak, having decided to launch his own label.

when tresor founder dimitri hegemann stumbled into a former bank vault in east berlin on march 13th 1991, he had little idea that the space he had unlocked would fast become one of berlin s most influential and enduring techno clubs. “we didn’t know what would happen 10 months later,” he says. “we signed a lease for a year. which eventually got renewed for another three months, and another three months…”
as tresor celebrates its 25th anniversary with this work of artists from the us, germany, china, france, austria, italy and the uk, it is worth dwelling on how the cultural conditions that birthed detroit techno – economic neglect and broken industry – were mirrored by the disused bunkers and impromptu parties of post-unification east berlin, where techno found new, vigorous expression.
the triple vinyl release includes a download code.

this release journeys to mid-80s argentina and the highly sought after 2nd solo album of carlos cutaia. inspired by the new electronic sounds emanating from europe, this multi instrumentalist offers more than a pastiche, embedding his own melancholy in a unique and classic nueva wave-album. classically trained, carlos cutaia started as a composer for dance and theatre, before spending much of the 1970s as a member of a number heavy rock, prog rock and rock-fusion bands of some note, before finally going solo with the city of distant tones album in 1983. however, by the time of his 2nd solo album in 1985, as his country finally left behind a long period of military control and enjoyed greater freedoms, carlos was fully immersed in the new electronic pop sounds imported with hungry ears from europe. teaming up with fellow composer, keyboardist and producer, daniel melero and alejandro oucinde, the futurism of kraftwerk and gary numan s tubeway army was embraced, but also adapted to fit their native land, just as it was understand a new modernity. starting with the swagger of visiones incomunicadas, the template is set. sharp drum machines, semi-nonchalant, half spoken vocals set the scene, while chopped guitar and smart synth lines fit the over riding feeling of an intelligent nonchalance. things however, do go beyond the straightjacket of euro-pop as heard on the anthemic programacion and avant twist of the first of two piano-ambient pieces aproximacion dos and its companion piece uno found on the b side). eric satie and minimalism are clearly not far away. however, it is side b opener sensacion melancolica that captures the sound to perfection. a balearic masterpiece, capturing in it s title the over-riding atmospheric of a unexplained sadness, a loss. operativo and the poem humanos de america bring things to an end of a feeling melancolica.

d edges cultured off shoot olga is back with a new ep, radiolarian, from german-bulgarian stefan goldmann. again it is a perfectly well sculpted ep with deep and sleek lines that get right into your head. the man behind it is the co-owner of the excellent macro label and for more than fifteen years has released intricate house and techno sounds. he is a deep thinker and master of hi-fidelity sound design and intricate grooves, so is perfect for this label. radiolarian is first and is seven sublime minutes of tunnelling techno rippled with neon melodies and firefly like pads that burrow into your brain. it is a high tempo and high impact track but a subtle one that works its magic slowly. building to a number of peaks, it then pulls back and the whole thing starts again. on the flip, streams is freaky and unhinged, with weird synth sounds making for a trippy atmospheres as minimal beats roll below. perfectly detailed so as to work on both head as well as heel, it rounds out another fine ep.

the forthcoming release on spanish house imprint saft is a deep and grooving true house vinyl which will definitely provide you with some inner glow. the man behind this piece of fine wax is called washerman. this 3-track release is designed for clubs and outdoor jams where people dont necessarily need a scorching energy span to enjoy the music. with beautiful rhode sounds and touching vocal cuts this record should be in anyones record collection. raw but beautiful!

fresh off of a pair of well-received eps on his recently-launched manhigh imprint, berlins highly respected techno auteur henning baer makes his first appearance on nonplus with 4 excellently crafted, saturated machine techno tracks on the idea of instinct. following on feelings suggested in the title, the ep opens with a pair of more contemplative pieces: the title track’s spare arrangement puts mechanical rhythmic drive behind its exploration of dusky electronic atmospheres, while the feeling of dna is both brighter and slightly pacier, its hypnosis deriving from the pads and synthesizer sequences that circle the drums. ccc ii takes a darker approach to a similar idea, this time with the suggestion of polyrhythms in the distant and heavily-treated percussive elements circling in the background behind uneasy ambience. it builds to the closer spiritual quest, where overlaid rhythms in 3 and 4 are not easily reducible and create the tension at the track’s centre driving it to its conclusion.

theres a certain ancient mystery to the melodies and feeling of purple hills. gentle, secret, ethereal moods that float invisibly in the spaces its played in. echoes of a familiar dream reverberate behind closed eyes that always remain slightly out of your grasp. chriss vogt’s trip takes you away to that place. a place though that only he knew existed.. until now. yokoo continues to create his own unique vibe. he expressed his love for the track when all day i dream visited morocco. with its groovier approach, it slowly creeps into the consciousness. a crisp drum groove and just a hint at the original’s dominant melodies create a understated new version slightly left of centre. chriss teams up with patrick jeremic for pour eternel. its always summer somewhere and it s dreamy essence charms the listener here. classy house music to take us through winter in the northern hemisphere.

ltd to 500 copies with artwork
while unveiling the * mutant tournament* quartet last year, label boss nachtbraker was quietly hunting for new music behind the scenes. being the fine huntsman he is, he came out of the woods with sonic bits and bobs so delectable he had no choice but to spread them out over two brand new quartets. thats right, eight records in total, to be released over the course of the next 18 months. were delighted to introduce you to scott franka, whos at the helm of the first missive. this creative head from amsterdam has been making music since the tender age of 11, but it wasnt until he adopted his scott franka moniker that he really found his groove.

a year after his first release on the label, german deepsmith sven weisemann is back on delsin with a sophomore effort entitled separate paths. down for his moody outings on labels like mojuba and telrae, this new four track affair continues to mark out the man behind it as a master of atmosphere. grooves floating in mid air and subtle melodies drift by like half remembered thoughts. head music that also makes your body move. it may only be four tracks long, but this ep truly takes you on a journey somewhere far away from this world.

new years deal - winds swirl on a cold night. rain pelts thin window panes. alone sits a figure. eyes are full, his heart hollowed. riccardi schola is the man behind these images. his debut 12inch, on my mind, is a foursome of bitter break-ups and lonesome evenings. piano keys conjure up tears, mascara streaking down cheeks as wine bottles roll empty on heavily carpeted floors. vocals speak of pain, love sick melodies supported by slender snares. new wave echoes weaved with italo emotion for an ep of synthesizer solitude.