new years deal - dresden s lockertmatik starts his engines for the first time on shtum and delivers a string of tracks that seem to come from a not so far away dystopian future. here are four tracks that are unpretentious but elaborate, effective but not overambitious. -break the chains- sets the bars in terms of dark techno bliss for both basements and bigger dancefloors. on -message from the underdog- lockertmatik shows off his knack for acidic perfection while -jaku- gets the jazz treatment. finally, -313 - 0351- is all about building tension without losing one bit of impact on the dancefloor. the artwork comes courtesy of carl-johannes schulze.

kicking off the first of two tracks by sondrio night train is smooth and subtle, this melodic low slung groover is made for those warm summer days. the deep tones give the low end just enough attitude to get those boots knocking. give it like is punchy and upbeat, sondrio gives you a dance floor weapon that ll have the punters up in arms. his signature low end notes drive this record with vocal stabs that will fit in any set. first up on b side ant larock drops another groovy house number better think with a mesmerising vocal laid on top of nothing but luscious chords. summer needs records like this, it s what memories are made of. ant also delivers pleasure that feels like a good dj tool perfect to break up those disco vocals with choppy chords, swinging drums and a cheeky vocal to match. house music at its finest.

domesica’s collaboration with dutch label tope tape, originally founded in the mid-80s by menko konings and recently reborn, allowed them to reissue the mythical s.m nurse album-cassette. and now – here is their first vinyl release: boyz in parx “passion”, a selection of lovely never-released tracks by this mysterious amsterdam act, active from 1983 to 1993, with the line-up of peter van garderen, founder of the legendary nine circles, and robby horsfall (†2013), also known from no honey from these e.g.

aberdeen based source material break their way onto the scene with a heavy hitting 12 inch debut from label head nonentity. three raw electro cuts made specifically for club use. vinyl only, limited to 300 copies. mastered at reel mastering, london.

amish boy aka sküge (not to be confused with skudge) is hugues croibien, a thirty seven year old belgian who has experimented with electronic music since his teens. with a diet of seal phüric, the prodigy, autechre and unit moebius stoking his primordial fire, croibien began to align with the rage that exists in the breakcore genre. already an addict of reggae and dub at this time, croibien decided to create some cut-up raggacore with his brand new ableton live 3 software. meanwhile with friends, croibien created break n brol, a non-lucrative association which tried to promote alternative electronic music in liège where he lived. they premiered some bassline stars kanji kinetic and -squire of gothos- on the belgian scene, alongside other alternative electronic composers and musicians like subjex, ebola, mustard gunn and herrmutt lobby. the fellowship decided to create a free net label to release compilations with the bnb party artists. the rough style techno resurgence over the last few years has precipitated a metamorphosis, sküge became amish boy more glitchy than techno, more offbeat than acid and more ambivalent than industrial. although heavily invested for two decades now, laika test project on power vacuum will be croibiens first vinyl release, with a follow-up already in the pipeline.

hailing from wellington, aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud, scent is a newcomer to the scene but long time gc of modern hypnosis. his first sighting featured a track ‘devils dread’ on indigo movement’s 5-year digital compilation december 2017. heaving at 140 beats per minute, ‘trax’ creates a certain energy similar to early jungle riddims. chopped percussion, giant synth stabs, weighty driving kicks with underlining sub bass and the odd flute build the track to a halt before commencing it’s minimal technoesq break down. ‘just a dream’ a rooted scentimental dub which takes you deep into a place amongst your rem sleep with sparse whaling strings and swinging percs. scent debut solo release. one to watch.

following mervs ep, taped artifact now presents a new outing by the label co-founder kevin arnemann. with three original cuts, showcasing the labels characteristic dub-influenced techno sound, the ep is complemented with two remixes by jonas kopp. arnemanns ‘trash polka ep kicks off with saturated 808-grooves, driven by steady dub-chords and hard hitting claps. next, the original track sees a special dub influenced treatment by jonas kopp. the in spain residing argentinian delivers a stripped down, yet high energized techno version. as a digital exclusive, kopp prepares a second interpretation, following the tradition of a classic rooted dub sound. on the flipside, ‘revertigo sees arnemann utilise a rumbling break beat, topped with icy rides, blissful dub chords and cinematic pads, taking you on an energetic trip. ‘ideology is bringing the ep to a closing. with heavily processed chords and hard hitting drums, kevin arnemann creates a suspense that leave you wanting for more.

rekids regular markus suckut drops his third album entitled heaven is a state of mind this september. when not helming his own imprints, sckt and pattern research, the dusseldorf artist has been releasing on rekids since 2015 and is now a core member of the labels family. earlier this year saw the arrival of new life ep, a mesmerising release exemplary of the producer’s knack for making imaginative house and techno complete with a compelling groove. no stranger to the long player format having released two albums previously, markus suckut returns to radio slaves label with a quality nine-track album. from the word go suckuts album demonstrates his versatility as a musician, initiating with a beatless intro named escape, before breeze comes into play with its skipping percussion and loopy atmospherics. crunchy snares and crystalline synths make up suns out whilst future is not always bright drives forward with its sultry low-end, ethereal pads and sci-fi bleeps, leading into take a break and its medley of elaborate drums, living up to its name. above the clouds is comprised of intricate notes and soothing chords whilst the machinelike orchid features electro inspired melodies, contrasting to the albums title track, heaven is a state of mind, with its bumpy bass and warping textures. wonderland (version) is a ghostly acid cut which suitably closes the album

an all-time rave classic gets the gerd janson re-loving as he works his magic on the 1992 anthem dont go. 26 years on from it s first release, gerd takes the tempo down a notch laying out that all too familiar drum break, instantly recognisable piano line and julie mcdermott s timeless vocals. his subtle touches and added weight, behind a pounding kick, are sure to set any dancefloor alight. about as euphoric as they get - if this doesn t do the business then god help us all. on the b side, belfast s ejeca flips don t go into a heavy-hitting, rave tinged, techno bomb. his inventive sampling turns the synth stabs and vocals on their heads, making them almost indistinguishable, but no less impactful, from the original. it s over four and a half minutes till the iconic chord progression is heard in it s initial form, before ejeca throws it back into a rapid fire, industrial thumper. lastly, gerd serves up a vip dub mix echoing claps and synth lines into the stratosphere, whilst leaving the vocals at bay, save a short cry of don t go from julie towards the end of the track, allowing those anthemic elements to do the talking. a modern touch on an all-time classic from gerd with a complete reinterpretation from ejeca, this is a heavyweight release and one thats already being played by the biggest and the best out there.

jamie jones joins forces with new york’s david berrie for an electrifying two track release on hot creations. doctor zouk is the result of a friendship spanning many years, and is set to be unleashed this autumn. title track doctor zouk is a bumpy, chuggy roller with a prominent percussive break and heady tribal undertone. future society uses thumping drum pads over a growling bassline with unmistakable high hats weaved together over futuristic synths. jamie jones is one of the industry’s most in demand and recognised djs. he heads up one of ibiza’s most treasured parties, paradise at dc10, and now takes it to all corners of the globe. his revered hot creations imprint has put out more than one hundred releases as well as playing a major part in launching the careers of patrick topping, richy ahmed and detlef. spending his formative years in new york, sneaking into the city’s diverse and flamboyant nightclubs and heavily influenced by a broad spectrum of genres, it wasn’t long before david berrie took to the turntables. he released on jones’ hottrax label last year and has had a number of releases on nervous and monique sp é ciale. he commands regular slots at bpm festival as well as at the paradise nights.

te records presents on this beautiful 12” picture disc collection six tracks of electro-pop music, yet all songs sound different from the other. smea, who has produced the music, has invited six vocalists from gothenburg (including himself) to put lyrics on top of each track. the result is synth, dark wave, techno, break beat, electro boogie sounding coolness!

mrr: michael raymond russell / a connoisseur/collector of vintage drums/analog equipment and engineer/producer inspired by 1960’s/70’s underground music. mrr has been producing heavy drum break production inspired by psychedelic rock to heavy funk to electronic library records for more than 20 years. started from a sampler collecting vinyl to now creating a library record label drumetrics with production recorded on vintage equipment from vacuum tube equalizers/valve compressors/tape machines/tape echoes etc. paying back homage to sampled music for producers to utilize.

reform, the tuscan techno duo, make a return to etruria beat to follow up the success of 2017s ‘checkmate ep, remixed by amelie lens and their recent ep on second state with a huge new offering - unconventional spaces. reform present three fresh originals, backed by a massive rework from etruria boss luca agnelli. unconventional spaces is a melodic and timeless work, perfect for a magic sunrise closing set. luca delivers a heavier rework, creating a special atmosphere with powerful chords that drift back and forth. just this is characterised by a raw triple stab, a vocal laid down by the guys themselves and an emotional and mysterious break. closing the ep is span, which is composed of bouncing tom samples, straight hats and a moogy bass that develops throughout the arrangement, a perfect peaktime number and strong finalé.

ow finally on vinyl: artbat are bringing their first full ep release to diynamic music. the three-tracker -planeta- starts off with the title track -planeta-, a rapid-fire techno odyssey that might as well be taken from a relentless pursuit in a futuristic action movie. this is followed by the gloomy bassline of -prometheus-. heavy on percussive elements, the track is divided in half by a cascading synth-break only to return with more layers of percussions, strings and the hypnotic bassline. closing off the ep is -sand in your shoes- featuring london based artist dino lenny, who has previously worked with madonna or wu-tang clan and produced remixes for underworld, missy elliot or timbaland. the collab track is a dreamy deep-house tune and a perfectly emotive way to finish the record.

spice 1 is an undisputed west coast legend, who first hit the scene after the n.w.a. and closer to home too $hort explosion of the late 80s. as history showed, he continued that bloodline with finesse and authority. his nasal flow is menacing and strong, and fans have been consistently captivated by his hood tales since his self-titled debut in 1992. if you want thematic range with your mcs, spice isn’t that dude he is all about crime tales and the perils of ghetto life. and he attacks that storytelling sweet spot with each new cut. spice 1 boasted four singles by the time it was all said and done, and breezed to gold status on the strength of cuts like the catchy east bay gangster, the heartfelt tales and truths of welcome to the ghetto, and the thick, grooving in my neighborhood. he even produced the alcohol-themed 187 proof, another of the albums singles, and the hands-down cleverest vocal outing on the lp. sonically, the backdrops on spice 1 range from plunky, keyboard-bassline funk to deeper, fuzzy 70s samples and he sounds strong on top of both. break yourself is fueled with an electro-funk drive, 1-800 spice brings reggae flavor, and peace to my nine gets chunkier, with a well-placed p-funk one nation under a groove sample. presented here on official retail vinyl for the first time since its initial release 26 years ago, spice 1s debut holds the test of time and carries the california gangsta flag with pride. some colors just don’t fade.

for the next weaponry release, homemade weapons teams up with special guests to present the four track ‘subcept’ ep.
the collection begins with ‘subcept (rip)’ - a display of weapons’ signature use of rumbling bass, intricate drum programming, and haunting strings. ‘primary’ showcases a reunion with red army and the result of their take on chaotic precision.&#8232, the ep continues with ‘riddle’ - a heavy old school break excursion featuring belgian super duo, the untouchables, followed by the breakbeat war drum assault ‘paroxysm’ conspired with recent label addition, torana.
this is the limited grey vinyl version.

for the next weaponry release, homemade weapons teams up with special guests to present the four track ‘subcept’ ep.
the collection begins with ‘subcept (rip)’ - a display of weapons’ signature use of rumbling bass, intricate drum programming, and haunting strings. ‘primary’ showcases a reunion with red army and the result of their take on chaotic precision.&#8232, the ep continues with ‘riddle’ - a heavy old school break excursion featuring belgian super duo, the untouchables, followed by the breakbeat war drum assault ‘paroxysm’ conspired with recent label addition, torana.
this is the black vinyl version.

symbol makes his debut on slowdance records. the person which is hidden behind the same-name record label provides trippy break-beat tracks for us

the 2001 album from michael jackson on double picture vinyl.

...comes with an inlay
umeko ando (1932-2004) was a folk singer from japan. she was a representative of the ainu culture on the hokkaido island in the north of japan. “ihunke” is her first album which was recorded with the ainu musician and dub producer oki kano in 2000. it was released on cd in japan only and is finally available on vinyl (2lp + linernotes, dl included). “ihunke” is following last year’s single “iuta upopo” pingipung 58, incl. m.rux remix which had been received with overwhelming enthusiasm and was quickly sold out. the 16 ainu songs on “ihunke” are delicate, natural gems. they are built on oki kano’s tonkori patterns (a 5-string harp), over which umeko ando develops her repetitive, mantric vocals, often in a call-response manner. oki kano is one of very few professional tonkori players who performs worldwide with his oki dub ainu band. the songs possess a mystical energy – when crows call accurately with ando’s brittle voice in the first song, it seems like natural powers join in with her music. her voice sounds like animals of the sky and the forest. oki kano: “it was a lot of fun to record with umeko ando. many ainu hesitate to break from tradition - if umeko hadn’t been so flexible to work with the younger generation and recording technology, this album would never have happened. our sessions were intense, and we were proud and happy about making such beautiful music.” upcoming in autumn: remixes of “ihunke” by tolouse lowtrax, m.rux, dj ground, el buho mark peters, gama, andi otto, and dreems. historical background: only recently (in 2008) have the ainu officially been acknowledged as indigenous people who are culturally independent from japan. this record is an example of how their music has been passed on through generations in the underground ainu communities while it was oppressed by the japanese hegemony. it deserves a huge audience. follow kompakt

after years of preparation, listening to and playing records that would ultimately influence his own productions, modex delivers his first solo ep. a four tracker full of inspiration ranging from old school breaks to trance and ultimately house and techno. created for the dance floor yet still full of melodies and emotion, the ep intends to reach various communities.

brazilian boogie merchants barefoot beats treat us to two very distinctive but equally refreshing flavours on yet another highly collectable 10 inch record. first up they welcome nyc dj & music collector jacques renault on board to exchange the loft for the beach bar as he drops a heavy slice of funk inspired boogie bliss that s perfect for the beach party. on the flip, selvagem s trepanado transforms the party sound by dipping into a more synth driven and edgy 80s influenced brazilian warehouse party vibe that builds to a break so tropical you can actually feel the sunrise coming. tudo bem! vamos!

for russian electronic music, mikhail chekalin is not only a major character, who has affected the scene’s establishment and development, but also a kind of symbolic figure. his music has been praised by many in the west - from journalists and critics of all kinds to frank zappa and karlheinz stockhausen, while in moscow chekalin’s name was excluded from the official cultural agenda for a long time: he was accused of propaganda of foreign pro-western aesthetics and up until the end of the 80’s wasn’t allowed to release his works or travel abroad. this, however, didn’t interfere with him recording dozens of innovative electronic compositions and contributing greatly to the development of unofficial soviet art in general - for example, providing sound design for the famous exhibitions of twenty moscow artists on malaya gruzinskaya or arranging the first audiovisual performances on a specially constructed light organ.
however, just like all great artists, mikhail himself prefers to focus not on personal achievements, but on creativity. i don’t have a biography - only a discography - this quote of the author may become an entry point of sorts into the compilation presented. this archival collection of works recorded within the period from 1978 to 1987 are chekalin’s multigenre experiments ranging from spatial music (in essence, ambient’s precursor) to more contemporary synthesizer and post-symphonic compositions.

incl. insane in the brain ! the classic 2nd album from cypress hill, originally released in 1993

hardware jams aimed at the mind. listen to completion to break down your walls. love slow - hate fast. limited pressing on clear vinyl.

four exclusive disco remixes from the edit king joey negro as part of his remixed with love series. this ep. see s the master reworking classics from lonnie liston smith, gwen mccrae and wardell piper. the special release also contains a new version of the gwen mccrae special dub to the one on the record store day release.

remastered reissue of the 1987 eurythmics album on 180 gram heavyweight vinyl

apollo is proud to welcome paul frick to the fold. frick is a berlin-born music composer primarily known as one part of the group brandt brauer frick. stunningly despite a 20+ year history of making music “second yard botanicals” is his debut album. with bbf keeping frick inspired and busy since 2009, other ideas had piled up until a temporary break allowed him to fully dive into them - “while it took so long until i made my first album, it took about two months once i started.”

the second instalment of the secret rave series with more break beat loaded tracks ready to spice up every party in good old rave fashion.

due rent is a collaborative double album by solo artists lojii & swarvy. written & recorded in the summer of 2016 in l.a. by the two philadelphian transplants, lojii says this tape is a score to being a broke nxgga in amerikkka (emphasis on the kkk) – full of dreams and hustlin to make em happen, but dealing with the everyday pressures of making ends meet. a.k.a trying to pay rent. the 22 tracks, many of which barely break the two-minute mark, make for a vast voyage through remarkable contemporary hip-hop. the grooves and beats that skip and flutter are smooth and mellow, with nods to the old-school but entirely void of nostalgia. this is a sophisticated, thoughtful, and inventive modern hip-hop record that understands anger doesnt have to be loud. daniel dylan wray, bandcamp (best 100 albums of 2017)

!! 2018 repress !! after a seven years release break, mambotur take you on a quality journey of airiness. except for the stunning result, there is nothing magical about it, because berlin-based venezuelan argenis brito and chilean pier bucci take nonchalance seriously.

clandestine boogie are back, enlisting omsk s sunner soul to provide the goods for their third release. the title track voyager 84 sets the scene perfectly drawing you in with dreamy swelling synths, fizzing hats, and chunky hits alongside choice lo-fi vocal snippets & cosmic top lines - smooth as you like! kim and buran then steer things on a funkier flex with their take on voyager 84 . staccato guitars laid over the top of a heavy bassline, succulent pads and spacey keys provide an intergalactic disco journey with you strapped in the front seat. on the flip side sunner soul team up with fellow russian producer, scruscru. spring mood picks up the tempo working bouncing arps and wobbly synths behind a thumping rhythm - a killer slice of disco tinged house as we move into those sunshine months. closing out the e.p. it s peak time, boogie laden, blissful goodness in the form of joy . funk-fueled guitar licks, an instantly catchy melody and the perfect amount of effects to enhance those build ups and break downs lay the foundations for a sure fire summer hit!

under frustration is a 3 volumes compilation project by tunisian collective arabstazy, establishing a picture of the contemporary electronic music scene in the arab world. this musical journey stands for the diversity of this scene, and deconstructs the occidental perceptions that sees the arab world as a culturally united and homogeneous entity. it is a manifesto for the burgeoning wave of post-revolution futurism. arabstazy chose to give all the benefits and profits of this project to the lebanese ngo basmeh & zeitooneh, and most specifically to their yearly art event - seen - which highlights unseen artists and break stereotypes about refugees.

nyc based label and radio show ethereal beatbox returns with 4 fresh cuts home cooked right here in the big city by two of its natives.
side a introduces the mysterious bowery hotline - a born and bred new yorker, crate digger, and crafty producer. starting things off right with tough and slappy b’more style rhythms and an ode to saucy diva vocals, “you tha one” is sure to shake any floor into submission. track 2 brings an irresistible boom-chicka mover “fanfare track”, perfectly blending rave, house, and that sweet snap of our favorite drum break of all time.
on the flip pastel voids label don metropol (c.perez) delivers a distinctly brooklyn sound with two house, techno and hip hop infused instant classics. “we accept ebt” is a guaranteed hype constructor nodding to euphoric moments of rave and chugging rhythms of inner city life. on a more contemplative tip, perez delivers “half court”, closing the ep with a kinetic reflection of his native sunset park and its vibrant streets.

lords of acid returns with pretty in kink. the new album features all the best of lords of acid, the raw techno-carnality of the debut lust, to the experiments & electro-thrash later albums like voodoo-u & farstucker. on pretty in kink, stunning new singer marieke bresseleers, the legendary lords mastermind praga khan & longtime collaborator erhan kurkun create an electro-industrial-techno classic!

chicago house pioneer dj sneak and russian export tripmastaz have proven themselves to be a formidable pairing since their first ep landed on sneak’s imprint, i’m a house gangster, in 2014. in july, they add to their joint discography with a three-tracker dispatch on cassy’s burgeoning label, kwench records. the label’s sixth release, cassy takes a step back and gives this collaborative duo yet another outlet to showcase their dancefloor fodder, which follows releases on kaluki music, mr. nice guy, reptile dysfunction, ovum recordings and, of course, i’m a house gangster. extraterrestrial intelligence reminds fans of not just their deftness in producing tough house cuts, but also their prowess at manipulating the roland tb-303 to deal a solid smacking of acid. ‘ufo’ reaches out to roughen up the humanoids of this planet with the 303’s distinctive squelch and those clattering drum machine rhythms – a track that’s guaranteed to get you twisted. gruff vocals on ‘click thang’ break through as a tough bassline ensures your participation on the floor, and ‘last daze of dizko’ maintains momentum with a thumping bassline that any peak-time burner should possess.

after establishing himself with rough but emotive house as rimbaudian and jungle as birds of sweden, he unveiled his dj seinfeld alias to the world, first with underground hit single u, then with his time spent away from u album on lobster fury in november 2017. it was a post break-up love letter to the dance floor with heart-on-sleeve emotions colouring the dusty and analogue house grooves. acclaim came in from far and wide, with everyone from rolling stone to pitchfork fawning over its heart swelling nostalgia and melancholic immediacy. jakobsson approached his dj-kicks with the intention of representing all the things that made him fall in love with dance music more than a decade ago, as well as showing some of the progression that has occurred in that time and reflecting the simultaneous fear of leaving something safe behind as well as the excitement of venturing into unknown territories, musically and emotionally.

say hello to fourth antrakt weapon by supertalanted tagir. he is also known as part of slowdance family. it’s enough. as always limited, vinyl only, no repress!

ground is an osaka native, but his soul is truly that of a nomad, traversing the planet, befriending the kindred spirits found in humans, animals and plants. he is exceptionally receptive to the beauty in all that surrounds him—the incidental music of a busy city street, the orchestrated chaos of a scrambling radio, the syncopated grace of a migrating flock of birds, the simplicity of an isolated hand clap—and as his map continuously unfolds, he accumulates a vast catalogue of visceral tools to complex musically recount his experiences. sunizm is a cross section of the artist’s process—an array of complex microcosms overlapping to comprise a thematic whole—gathering field recordings, found instrumentation, jagged electronics, and synthesized chanting, to be woven into a dense narrative that appears both obsessively constructed and divinely improvised. with each consecutive track, the artist gradually constructs hypnotic patterns that 1-up the mind as it struggles to break free from a seduction of loops, steadily intensifying until reaching an apex of sound collage so cerebral that the listener might consider a post-album shower. but alas, the fourth quarter releases a bit of pressure, our gobs still lay smacked but there is a warm confidence as the psychedelic trial delivers us home to nod out. dear humans, animals and plants, ground and the esp institute present, sunizm.

for our first anniversary as a label, we have prepared a compilation of tracks by our closest associates, collaborators and some randomly found favourites, who might also make future appearances on our imprint.

support from dj s – hype, goldie, randall, calyx & teebee, marky and many others. *** symmetry is excited to present the first debut e.p. from vocalist and producer kyo. writing and creating the songs in her studio, kyo then developed the ideas of the e.p. further by teaming up with some of her favourite producers, break, total science, mikal and onemind. “who decides” is reminiscent of past break and kyo colab s such as “gave too much”, a soulful, punchy, uplifting and techy roller, weaved around a backdrop of floaty vocals and elevating pads. “murder tonight” with it s jungle backbone was the perfect choice for collaboration with total science. rare groove flavours and weighty bass, melded with cutting vocals and steppy old skool breaks, murder tonight has all the elements of a modern day jungle classic. “where i stand” brings jazzy liquid vibes to the e.p. leading mikal down a recently untrodden path of musical dnb was a fruitful excursion. this journey into a bittersweet and rhythmic production has created a deep and brooding song. “play to lose” is one for the headzy listener, with it s long atmospheric intro, abruptly cutting into a heavy and deep groove. morphed and echoed vocals combined with unsettling stabs, cinematic effects and trademark onemind engineering techniques, takes you on a voyage from beginning to end. released on a full artwork 12” vinyl.

some crate-digging compilations are often the result of someone hand-picking their choice favourites from another country’s musical history, perhaps unaware or uninvolved with its cultural lineage in the process. on this release - a treasure trove of synth jams, pop, samba boogie, balearic and electro from 1980 & ‘90s brazil - the tracks are picked by millos kaiser, one half of the brazilian duo selvagem, who are at the helm of throwing some of the country’s best dance parties. it’s a rare compilation that offers brazilian music actually picked by a brazilian.
this collection of sixteen tracks doesn’t comprise tracks scoured from deeply in-demand records, the rare sort that sell for eye-watering sums and that collectors spend years tracking down. they are the sort you’d find for a few quid should you come across but, as kaiser says, “the problem is finding them. they aren’t rare because everyone wants a copy but because no one wants them, not even the dealers.”

french genius producer ark (perlon, karat, circus company) delivers a fantastic house music ep with noises and vocals especially made with love for silver networ. l enfant terrible a encore frappe !

there are west coast classics, and then there is music to driveby, the third lp from the group that birthed mc eiht: compton’s most wanted. although the group started in the late ‘80s with multiple mcs (including tha chill and boom bam), by 1992 eiht as pulling the group’s vocal weight – supported by dj mike t on turntables and production – and even producing and co-producing tracks. music to driveby might lack beats-per-minute variety, but to fans that’s not a bad thing. across the board, this is mid-tempo, super deep, funky hip-hop, made for cars creeping along boulevards across the west and south, and it’s about as good as it gets for such purposes. just about filler-free, the album struts intensely and with purpose, as eiht throws tales of cali street life at fans for an hour straight, almost without a break. this solo marathon is given a respite only once, with scarface’s guest spot on “n 2 deep,” an excellent hood roller supported by a soulful guitar lick sampled from lyn collins’ “do your thing.” elsewhere, eiht rolls alone and intensely, on cuts like the classic mash single “hood took me under”, the album’s second single and tim dog attack “who’s fu**ing who?”, the hometown big-up “compton 4 life”, and hustle tales like “jack mode” and “i gots to get over.” after this album, eiht released more classics under his own name, and with similar fan worship. it was the continuation of a legendary career and music to driveby still ranks high on anyone’s “west coast legends” playlist.

brothers harvey and ryan mckay return to drumcode with their dynamic alias project. we were introduced to alias last year when the mckay brothers dropped the impact-heavy visions ep mid-way through 2017. the duo followed with a lauded contribution for drumcode live and the buzz from fans was palpable. the follow up sees the pair in powerhouse form. the title track nrg is an attitude-packed tour de force compromised of aggressive snares, warped vocals and a tension-filled break, it has been smashed by adam beyer for the last six months. orange sunshine pulls no punches as it dishes out apocalyptic acid paired with the siblings startling drum work. the event rounds out the ep and is an exhilarating affair propelled by uplifting synth lines and a buzzing energetic bassline.

lou courtney recorded one of the all time great 70’s soul albums in 1974 with the jerry ragavoy co-produced ‘i’m in need of love’. the 10 great songs are expertly arranged by leon pendarvis backed with superb instrumentation and topped with wonderful expressive soulful vocal performances from lou courtney. the album includes the modern soul gems ‘what do you want me to do’, ‘i don’t want nobody else’, ‘i’m in need of love’ and ‘the common broken heart’. the philly inspired up tempo cuts ‘i will if you will’ and ‘somebody new is lovin on you’ plus there are some great ballads. essential for any 70’s soul fans.

tom dicicco is best known for his stern techno output, so its intriguing to seem him donning a new alias, veyg, and exploring a new sound palette. as with the last veyg 12inch, the tone here is somewhere around the slower tempo, discoid acid end of the spectrum, and hes made the sound his own. my sweet soul is a dusty affair with squashed drums and looped up bongos rubbing up against trippy globules of lysergic monosynth action. when they fall- is a downcast electro track for rainy sundays, while these feelings waits for the clouds to break and dances on the damp lawn with no shoes on. west of the sun is the most adventurous offering on the 12inch, escaping the 4/4 thud and twirling in an off-grid stylee with ample dub fx tugging the melodic parts around in a mellifluous haze of experimentation.

atangana records’s back with its second release, once again a long-awaited reissue, once again digging into the caribbean music with a classic track from les maxel’s (from guadeloupe), “le retour de toto”. as usual, the remastered tune comes with a remix and a b2 “just” coming with the remixer’s add parts. originally out in 1976, “le retour de toto” on disques debs international is a brilliant dancefloor killer, magnifying the cross-world between zouk and latino music, biguine and calypso. you can hear from the prominent hi-hat all the energy of the dance moves you could improvise on that kind of joint. with a lot of break, wonderful horns and backing vocals, “le retour de toto” will enjoy all the summer dancefloor and airwaves for some time