femur rec makes its debut as a recording label with a 12 by the scandinavian trio, frak. there is not much we can add about these three brilliant swedish artists, as their decade-long careers begin in the mid-eighties and is full of references in well-known labels as börft records, lux records or dark entries.

high-energy, rowdy, raucous, longhair mississippi glam rock. that’s the sound of easy, the week’s long-awaited followup to their breakthrough album, dear bo jackson. recorded at ardent studios in memphis, easy finds the weeks doubling down on a mix of groove, grit, and guitars. it’s swaggering and sharply-focused, shining new light on a band of brothers who, although still in their mid-20s, have already logged a decade’s worth of sweaty gigs together. easy consolidates the band’s strengths, it’s driving and direct, captured in punchy sound by producer paul ebersold. “we called it easy because every time i make music with these guys, it’s easy,” says cain, who has spent more than a third of his life as a member of the weeks. “but the other side of it is, there’s nothing easy about being in a band... we have the easiest job on the planet. but it works for us.”

informationstechno was released on cassette in 2014 via zeon light and it was nominated for best swedish dance album of the year at manifestgalan 2015. during 2015 the band received attention from swedish radio p2 and p3 and performed a series of gigs at home in stockholm. the second album informellt was released on lamour 2015 and a remix album called reformellt released early 2016. motormännen make information techno infused with an air of swedish nostalgia through a filter of retro-futuristic skepticism. the music is packed with minimal acid loops and samples with excerpts from swedish politicians, documentaries and christer glenning, reflecting on times when the cold war and the traditional welfare state were dissolving. inhibitions were relaxed and new, foreign influences crept into the body of society and the old information monopolies. motormännen s tracks are visually enhanced by messages from pictures and videos from the 1970s and 80s.

incredible repress of rick wilhites 2004 ep on chicagos still music imprint. pure detroit beatdown house music, featuring some stellar remix and production work from the legendary delano smith too! city bar reopen live dancing is the opening track, a down-low, funk drenched late night mover that s full of soul with killer vocals from the amazingly monikered billy beemer aka bill beaver. this one s a cult track, underground house music for dancers! 2 mixes of magic water also appear on this essential 12inch, a collabo between rick and delano which is all that needs to be said really! as you can imagine this one is deep a subdued groove that slowly blooms and unfolds until you re totally locked in and it s too late! all in all, a timely reissue of a mid 2000s classic 12inch overflowing with rick wilhites unique style and flow, one of detroit’s most unsung heroes.

the anticipation between osunlade releases are experiences in themselves. the high priest of house, his sound legitimizes the unseen spirit world that informs the pulse in every song he crafts. dedication ep functions like a sound library, a place where you can find indigenous rhythms from around the world, making osunlades musical signature both ancient and futuristic. jazz and global citizenship come through in his latest work, a decade based in greece and a lifetime submerged in the participation, creation and production of music. with dedication ep, osunlade boldly presents a mid-tempo meditative musical essay with reflections in the form of everyday conversations and everyday life. these selections meet global feelings of political anxiety with rhythm patterns that bring you closer to the gift of transcendence.

deep purple’s 19th studio album sees the light of day. it is being released by the german based label earmusic. the band’s last studio effort dates back to 2005’s ‘rapture of the deep’ so this is a long time coming.
this will make album number four to feature steve morse on guitar and the third with keyboardist don airey. as previously reported, concrete information on the album title is, shall we say, up in the air. “there’s a big question mark over the name at the moment. and possibly an exclamation mark as well.” vocalist ian gillan told classic rock magazine.

lessismore record label, founded in 2003 by the dutch dj and producer alexis tyrel together with mbc, has been home for mostly his own releases under all his monikers and various artist compilations. “return to planet alpha” continues in this tradition, being a second long-player of alexis tyrel after his debut “newtradition” from 2011.
“return to planet alpha” is a collection of elegant techno tracks which instead of following the now so popular dark and destructive path focuses on daily moods and airy atmosphere, which is closer to open air and lounge than to sweaty pits of contemporary rave. but that doesn’t mean that the twelve tracks are just indistinctive background music. for one thing, tyrel is a master of slick and tight beat foundations of kick drums and bass, often smoothed out with cool synth pads, onto which he layers all kinds of rhythmical chains, subtle melodic ideas and sounds ranging from vintage synths and industrial bits to organic textures and even field recordings.

into the light brings out a splendid assemblage of 17 tracks of mostly previously unheard material by athens based composer akis daoutis (akis) most of them recorded in his hometown and in usa where he was studying in the mid-eighties.

ron trent returns on the music and power imprint with the first lift off on the air (african indigenous rhythms) series to be released on map. both of the tracks the dawn and power movement are cinematically and carefully crafted to blend ethereal melody into strong percussive rhythm.

this ep is the product of a wide-spanning collective with high personal standards of artistic expression. with spirited vitality lukas endhardt fills the air with the warmth of hot summer days, and fresh air of dark, beating nights. he shows undeniable skills for stimulating progression, which spirits you away into atmospheric sounds and grounded beats. the remixes on this ep set different moods and emotions in to play, and manage still to form a certain unity throughout the tracks.

the sheffield powerhouse that is denham audio have had an extremely busy few years crafting superb techno and ‘130 jungle’ rollers. their productions have been turning a lot of heads, landing releases on circular jaw, tessier-ashpool, grndwrk, tumble audio, heretic and addison groove’s new groove imprint in the short space of time since they debuted songs online in mid-2015. they show no sign of their workrate slowing this year with the boys presenting their “leighton buzzin’” ep on artifice this month.

an mini lp of works by denis mpunga and paul k. combining elements of traditional african music with experimental electronics, the belgian/congolese duo released only a handful of tracks, scattered across a few rare lp and cassette compilations that were put out in the mid eighties by obscure european labels . this release also includes a few previously unreleased songs that were found on the original master tapes. 180gram pressing. big tip!

the wait is over! common edit back in action, and to apologise for the absence, they re offering up a couple of beauties for your dancefloor and party needs. first up is common edit og, dane, with a blast to the canadian past in dance to forget a lovely little cruiser that takes you right down cosmic lane with captain space echo in the drivers seat. on the -b-edroom side, khotin and dane chop up an eastern floater with dubbed-out pianos, sure to keep your hands in the air and head in the clouds. kick back and enjoy the ride folks!

the cocoon recordings very own inhouse compilation series dots and pearls is back once again and takes us on a tour to the expected sounds of the upcoming spring season. frankfurt based christian burkhardt starts the selection of four exclusive and previously unreleased tracks. his -karambolage- breathes spring air and creates an early summer feeling par excellence. this tune will even turn gray and rainy april weather into bright sunlight. on spot with playful and positive harmonies and a very subtle 80 s synthie-pop flavour. this one here definitely makes us want more! next in line is argy, one of our most long standing cocoon recordings artists. his -how late it was, how late- has an undeniable 80s retro charm, too however it follows a completely different direction than burkhardts -karambolage-. this one refers strongly to an early 80s acid sound and reminds us of great productions such as -on and on- by jesse saunders. we cannot tell how far argy s reminiscences goes back but for the ones who know: -how late it was, how late- will bring you back to the great times of labels like rams horn and their rational youth s -dancing on the berlin- wall. brave and surprising at the same time and above all: -übercool-! with -baroon- by markus fix follows another acid track - however, this one has a far more epic flavour full of warm analogue strings and based on a hypnotic arrangement. fix -baroon- is defintely less retro than argys and burkhardts contributions - a deep tech house gem made for the first sunrises of the upcoming allnighter open airs. with -euphrasia- jim jules accelerates slightly but goes also deeper at the same time. his production follows the cinematic mood of markus fix but paints a darker picture. this one takes us on an intensive musical journey. deep, slightly gloomy and extremely hypnotic, -euphrasia- is almost captivating and bewitching and a perfect conclusion for this highly diversified fourtracker.

untamed love is an ufo in peter hunnigale’s career, recorded at omega studio (london) and originally released on the cosmic label in 1986. some people have no words to describe it. you can call it brit boogie, rare funk, sick jam, musical bomb, or god jam, whatever it’s typical mid 80 s tune with a rythmic backgound sound that is captivating and memorable, thanks to heavyweight synth and awesome vocal. the original 12’’ vinyl record is still very hard to find and expensive nowadays. if you are about to discover this song, make sure you are sit down when you listen to it because this song will blow you down « hey girl i like the way you smile ».

the always wonderful begin returns after a very balearic absence ! and what a return ! let s talk eases us in with some trademark begin style mid-tempo mellowness, as undulating melodic elements are carried straight to the beach on gently lolloping beats aight adds a little more anticipation, with a syncopated backbone and some mesmerising carl craig style synth cycles... on the b, the cut the paste is a burly, new beat inspired chugger, which manages to sound exactly like an early morning, strobe-lit boccaccio moment, while simultaneously basking in the midday sun

known for their take on the gentler side of house music, jazz pianists, electronic enthusiasts and label founders of the analogue attic imprint, albrecht labrooy have joined night tides family with their latest sojourn emissary ep. the release began with a concept from the artists, who asked for field recordings taken by night tides eluize from around her adopted home in berlin. sounds from parks, gardens, trains and stations that make up the local, everyday sonic landscape made their way across the atlantic to arrive in albrecht labrooys studio, where they were used as inspiration for the three outings on this record. the melbourne duo’s live approach to programming and arrangement can be heard as the tracks ebb and flow effortlessly. in tempelhof sub swells and a throbbing kick accompany delicate leads and lightly touched drums. the more uptempo hinterhof pulses and sways with lively percussion, crystalline bells, euphoric strings and softly spoken melodies that float in and out of view. u-bahn/s-bahn begins with glistening top lines and panoramic chords over a growling bass and a steady groove. as the journey rolls on from the underground into open-air window-gazing territory, the piece takes an ambient, beatless turn. contemplative synth lines and arpeggios play while the station announcements drift somewhere in the distance. photograph by christophe mauberqué.

danilo braca (danyb) arrived in brooklyn from his native rome in 2011 playing around town, running sound at the output events & slowly allowing these edits - informed by many years working the floors across europe - to evolve on and off the dancefloors of new york city busted vol. 1 kicks off with something very special - a lovingly reworked, top secret, late 70 s jam favoured recently by none other than dj demi-god harvey anyone who s heard him play in the last couple of years will be familiar with the original version of this truly magical 13 minute slo-mo disco jam - it s a genuine holy grail moment ! having established that quality is of the upmost importance, busted continues with a beautiful duo of amended cuts on the flip. the uptempo, playful play me hard works the groove, hard ! while have a cake is a gloriously sleazy mid-tempo workout one hell of a 12- ladies & gentlemen !

simbad is by no means a newcomer, and has built his rep-utation with over a decades worth of releases. besides his close affiliation with brownswood recordings / worldwide fm, he’s had production credits on releases by mala, daymé arocena and robert owens, and remixed the likes of black jazz consortium, quantic and roy ayers to name but a few. for this release, simbad once again proves his bold and versatile productions skills. continuing where his previous solo releases left off, he returns to his roots to further his journey exploring house music in all its richness and diversity under his new moniker smbd. with references of classic techno, house, and broken beat, the end result is fresh and inspiring. ‘message 045’ is just that, a comment on today’s world tinted with the sound of an uncertain, technological future and held together with innocent melodies, bubbling synths, rolling basslines and driving percussion. shimmering pads and punching drums carry both ‘ping pong love’ and ‘backstreet’, ready for the dance floor. title track ‘message 045’ takes a beatless, contemplative approach, dreamy, euphoric instrumenta-tion aided with dialogue that captures the essence of the release. newcomer world air offers his charmingly unconventional approach to ‘ping pong love’, a mesmerizing and inventive piece that takes the listener on a trip to a brave new sonic world. watch this space for world air’s debut release soon..

braindance records, giving the morning calm a second chance. having only appeared for a few live sets mainly dedicating himself to production, go dam, is a silent actor for the change in seoul s music scene. with a diverse spectrum of influences and genuine love for alternative electronic music, we are given a unique identity portrayed through his sound. the “alternate dimensions e.p”, first output of the label, opens the doors to another dimension comprising of electro infused melodies. reminiscent of the mid-late 90’s uk intelligent techno-electro sounds it also combines heavy detroit influences with a peculiar sonority that will invoke you into the story within the alternative soundscape.

imagine being dropped into a spiralling warehouse of acid and sub-base pressure with only four tracks to lead you into the light. the he-men compress three hours into a key change driver, stabbing and bubbling as you reach the surface gulping for air, bathing in the strings, dripping in acid-wash. before you know it you’ve been whisked away to the halcyon days of yore, creeping around castle corridors. leeds native djpc then kidnaps your soul for a spin in acid mundae (24 master) bombarding you with high hats, rolling baseline and old school pads and synths that take you to the dark underbelly of house music and beyond the black rainbow. the shadow of dawl’s electro powered hand then commands you with telepath, breaks and bleeps morse code that compel you to dance. the menacing sample, “i know what you’re thinking,” crawls around your skull until it finally shakes you loose from his imperious grip. dawl isn’t finished yet. his apache spirit breaks loose in freestylin’, a controlled dash of a tune that scratches all over your body, hauling you to his hip hop roots before dumping you, used and abused back on the dance floor waiting for an uber to teleport you to the darkest after party you can find

a regular contributor to figure spc, it was jeroen search who both started the series and also put an end to its story. with this creative chapter neatly closed, he is now bringing his ever-impressive work back to the main label. across the ep the dutch artist doesn’t stick to one style, instead he lets his infamous machines roam about freely. they take us for a smooth ride along swaying dub chords and gentle ripples until bellowing eches slowly rise above a hypnotic groove.?on the b-side search then pulls out all the stops and barges right in with fidgety claps and whirling bleeps, leaving the track itself gasping for air. this is the renowned ferocity of his live act - carved into wax! ensuing the sonic assault, a simple synth figure emerges stoically over an almost housy bounce as nostalgic rave strings bring the ep to an epic ending. firmly rooted in the past while always looking forward, jeroen search clearly is still on the top of his game. he simply keeps coming up with timeless techno - time and time again.

arriving at their 20th release in typically eclectic fashion, nado turn from a laidback luke to a tasmanian devil, summoning synth mystic bronze savage to bring his unique electronics to their unstoppable imprint. hailing from hobart’s piers rather than pavements, the australian producer trades in a sun-bleached house sound alive with ocean spray and salty air, perfect for playing at that magic hour when the sun dips into the sea.

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.

acker 52 sounds like an indiana jones themed pinball machine. the listener is the ball that shoots through the rhythmically clicking labyrinth of the apparatus. the rich bass lines act as the electromechanically controlled levers, the flippers that accelerate it and keep it going. the percussion is the spring-loaded mechanism that re-directs it to ever new levels. this exciting pinball game as accompanied by ethereal singing and mirage-like violin play that waft through the hot air of the desert. with a variety of remixes this release makes a perfect match for many different moments of a party.

super rare (pretty much unknown) mid tempo vocal modern soul / disco floater with a great sweet soul flip. i have been looking for this one for a long while, its got that outsider soul lo-fi vibe that i love. remember and always check the flip, the ballad goes double time near the end and is one for the more sophisticated dance-floors

if you’re setting out on an epic voyage to the electronic disco universe, it pays to recruit an experienced pilot. when it comes to intergalactic musical fusion, few are quite as experienced as cosmic disco pioneer and noted dancefloor explorer daniele baldelli. produced alongside friend and regular studio partner dario piana, zero gravity cannily updates baldelli’s early ‘80s cosmic disco blueprint for the 21st century. we think that the ep contains some of his strongest music to date, with each of the three cuts offering subtle nods to the italian maestro’s original cosmic club ethos. a-side “infinity machine” expertly combines many of baldelli’s greatest musical inspirations into one mind-bending late night workout. underpinned by a druggy, arpeggio style bassline, the track rises and falls through waves of funk-rock guitars, crunchy clavinet lines and intertwined synthesizer solos. throw in jammed-out electric pianos, and you have a near perfect fusion of cosmic disco and blazed funk-rock. the producer’s long-held love of african rhythms surfaces on “if you drive”, where bold acid bass, ricocheting percussion hits and weightless chords combine beautifully with starry melody lines and vintage analogue synthesizer motifs. it’s afro-cosmic for the nu-disco generation. a fine ep is completed by “air lock”, in which baldelli and piana pepper a rubbery, electrofunk-influenced groove with cascading synthesizer melodies, swirling pads and a swathe of fuzzy, eyes-closed guitar solos. it’s bold and assertive, but also as otherworldly and stratospheric as you’d expect from a pioneer at the peak of his powers.

house music with love turn once again to swedish duo swim for a record soaked in a particularly soothing bath of balearic goodness. original track -be there- is certainly laced with an air of scandinavian cool, not least thanks to erika rosen s dreamy vocals, but there s a solid boogie undercarriage carrying the music along. halllo halo step up with a remix that makes a playful, intricate broken beat refrain out of the backing track while maintaining the vocals. ghost immanuel meanwhile whips up a spacious dub that stays close to the original, albeit in instrumental form.

darren allen joins the family at discobar for a 2-part release, the first containing four abstract grooves disrupted by distinctive sound interventions both synthesised and real. a clock ticking on ‘initiation’ joins rapping snares in giving intent to the track’s floating melodic figures and vocalisations. ‘manitou’ overlays steppy breaks with the rumble and roar of the eponymous heavy-duty vehicle, an invasion of the outside world sure to bewilder some dancefloors.things turn darker with distorted highs and groggy mid-range drift in ’obyvatel’, before the quiet industry of ’molecular’ – its assorted bubbles and rattles both musical and humorous – brings us back to the light.

monument builders is the new album from loscil, the ambient/electronic project of prolific composer scott morgan. it was primarily created on sample-based instruments in morgan ’,s century-old vancouver home. like that aged space, this music is also rough-hewn, with rickety samples of boiling kettles and resonant moving air. recordings from a vintage micro-cassette recorder contribute distortion, rattles and textures that serve as both percussion and abstract aural color.

for the past four decades, a growing cult of soul music collectors have sought two obscure lps and a handful of extremely rare 45s released on the vanity record label lad productions, inc. between the late seventies and the mid eighties by the mysterious south side chicago singer/song writer larry dixon. larry s raw songs capture the transition from r&b to boogie-down as disco was rapidly becoming extinct. they also perfectly illustrate larrys ability to overcome his environment and discrimination, transcended by his determination to write and produce music. with the support of his faithful musicians, larry s success was only hindered by lack of airplay and promotion, but his talent shines through. this is the story of larry dixon, his label lad productions, inc., and his friends and family throughout four decades of music in chicags toughest neighborhoods. jerome derradji is proud to reactivate past due records the boogie funk division of still music to release this fantastic archive what many consider to be the holy grail of chicago funk, boogie and soul.

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.

spring is in the air and matteo pepe, aka uabos, is taking away that winter chill with four tracks of house warmth and machine funk. acid bars float on crisp claps for the uplifting -mystic force-. the italian keeps the floor stoked with the sample strewn grooves of -copacabana- before the synths take over with the lush chords of -city woods-.-karmic souls- closes, meandering notes bend and shimmer on clean percussion for an exotic climax to an ep of ambitious analogue delights.

cin cin is back with their first release of 2017, complete with a snazzy new makeover. musically the quality continues with dublins new jackson following up excellent releases on hivern discs and permanent vacation with 2 new deep cuts, one of which may be somehow vaguely familiar…. on the flip new kid on the bloc elliott lion serves us two peaky discoacidtrax poised for some hands in the air moments.

12 inch hand stamped label
following on from casino times debut album familiar circles, wolf music enlist al zanders & moomin to remix their favourite cuts from the album. al zanders delivers a classy deep house version of carlotta while moomin throws a curveball with a drum n bass remix reminiscent of a classic ltj bukem track from the mid 90 s.

the brainchild of the so-called fairy godmother of house” abigail adams, during the mid-80s and early 90s movin records defined the new jersey sound. a regular at the iconic roxy roller disco in new york, adams skate-shop-turned-record-store was instrumental in supplying club resident tony humphries with the hottest records that everybody wanted to dance to. danny krivit, larry levan and timmy regisford were also adams friends and regulars at the store.

nice price deal !!! dis music – das >draußen ists schoener< imprint spiegelt den sound der drei bühnen der open air reihe wider. waldbühne, lichtung und rummelgarage stehen für kompromisslosen facettenreichtum mit einer spannweite von techno über house bis hin zu experimenteller, alternativer elektronischer musik.

limited hand-numbered release.
sublunar is the new label founded by sciahri and dagdrom. the label sound focuses on deep and hypnotic textural techno and will represent the owners specific taste for both club effective techno as well as more experimental excursions.
their first output is a three 12” ep’s trilogy called “devotion” by one of the two owners sciahri, the florence based dj and producer who has just released his second ep on ilian tape. each release is each release is limited and numbered. as sciahri somehow tries to create worlds and environments, the first chapter of this trilogy “devotion - part 1” represents the start of the journey, entering a dimension that is abstract yet solid and physical, full of vividly distinguishable details. the air is dense but there’s room to breathe and to let one’s body and mind engage with the narrative that develops over the course of the three tracks.

1994 - chicago producer rick lenoir has already released a slew of legendary records under many well known aliases and his house jam label has been in business since 87. the sanctuary project is the nom de plume utilised by rick for this particular killer disco infected 4 track ep from that period. the keen eared among you will no doubt recognise some of the sample sources used throughout these tracks, lenoir flips jazzy loops, chopped up vocals and lays it all out over some kicking drum programming, this is that style of sample based house that has the hardened dance heads and hip-hoppers unified, gritty, raw and brimming over with soul! the cuts featured on this ep will sit nicely with most contemporary sounds and shows how on the money rick was in the mid 90 s! the record has long been out of print and has been forever popular with the diggers out there, commanding a healthy price when available in the second hand stores and online. this reissue has been realised with the full involvement of rick lenoir / house jam records, chicago and is 100% legit! don t snooze, this one deserves a spot in any self respecting house heads record bag or dj set, classic material made available again for 2017 - running it’!

it’s a diverse and distinctive listen loaded with the kind of grubby sonics and curveball composition choices that we so love here in the cassette realm.

after seven years legowelt s smackos alias returns with a vampire goes west ....an all out amateur spacejazz spiritual ambient eruption on smudgey cassettetape. in library grey jewel case, comes with multifunctional self adhesive dome refrigerator magnet

as we roll into a brand new year bass culture keeps the pressure high with a funk-filled new three-track ep from one of germany’s finest, sebo k. the berliner has been entrenched in his city’s vibrant scene since the nineties, when he was playing breakbeat and jungle. in fact, there’s a nod towards his early days on the ‘brock wild’ ep, along with some sultry funk. head of his own label, scenario, and curator of parties under the same name, sebo k has also produced music for a long list of some of the world’s most influential underground labels and now he steps up to bass culture with this sleek collection. the title track is a steady roller with hefty bass rumbling deep below sturdy beats. the groove is funky and low slung, swirling pads mesmerise you as soulful female vocals raise your vibration. the track is punctuated by an iconic sample of uk reggae star top cat, which was used in several early jungle tracks in the mid-nineties and now again on sebo’s killer track.flip the record over for side b, which kicks off with ‘aftershock’, another sweet groove with jazzy hues, more punchy percussion and a warm, simmering undercurrent. as the track evolves, techy notes are added to its potent mix and we get a wonderful mix of traditional sounds and more futuristic effects. last but not least is ‘foliage patterns’, a sensual cut straight out of the us school of deep house. this is one that will be spun by all the deep house masters no doubt, with all the elements you need to inject some bounce into the dance floor yet still touch its soul. as we said, sebo k is one of germany’s finest, a versatile producer and dj who demonstrates exactly why he remains one of the nation’s most consistent and respected artists. make sure you add the ‘brock wild’ ep to your collection, it’s a must!

sonthaya kalasin was the male lead singer in in the molam section of legendary producer/ impresario surin paksiris beloved musical troupe thidso lam phloen. these recordings, the very best of kalasins work with paksiri, cover the period from the mid-70s to the early 80s and showcase kalasin s mastery of the traditional male molam lower vocal range.

produced and recorded in 1965 during a time when chicago soul was one of the most influential sounds in r&b.the dontells entered the studio and cut two tracks that put that sound on full display. the session was led by producer calvin carter, world famous arranger johnny pate-along with the cities top musicians. these tracks were never released and have only been heard by a few people until now. the a side “move on down the line” grabs you from the first second the needle drops. a mid tempo love song with a trademark arrangement from pate and a vocal melody and approach in the style of chicago’s king of soul, curtis mayfield. “there goes a fool” is the b side and is a reminder why the dontells were one of the best groups out of the windy city. another brilliant production with a top notch arrangement. horns, strings, a swinging backbeat and that signature chicago vocal sound lead by the sweet harmonies of nate, leroy, manuel & ralph. this is no doubt a 60’s soul classic in 2017!

french producer keumel makes a poised vinyl debut on the inner balance imprint, with three originals of fine skipping house and a remix by imprints head domenico rosa. “laïka” is an afternoon space-walk in the vein of vintage derek carr, its synths, hats and mid-track acid line surfing light and breezy over a scudding, bumping bassline. rosa’s remix strikes a more contemplative note by placing a soft breakbeat under the acid line and airborne pads. “no chill” is a fast-tempo stripped-down house jam that kicks to the sound of the label’s father figure chez damier and his contemporaries. “space birds” rounds out the ep by building a slowburn groove out of which a lightly-warped acid line slinks part-way through.

sun, skyy, earth wind & fire..., brooklyn-based igbo (indigo green brown orange) reflect an elemental foundation of classic 70s and 80s funk and soul through a prism of hip arrangements and decidedly modern production befitting the diverse set of talented stage performers and composers they are. a sun-drenched celebration of life and musical positivity, their sonic palette evokes the same brilliant and playful colors as their name, the two songs presented here (on 45 for the first time) bursting with irresistible charm. it s a breath of uplifting fresh air in today s hyper-serious club landscape.

stepping up for its landmark tenth release is label honcho juan sanchez, who drops four slices of heavy techno funk. over the course of nine releases, format records have established itself as a very credible source for quality techno. its tenth release again perfectly captures that frisky format sound.
first up is serpent, a mid-tempo and bass-laden belter that’s followed by the darker, minimal-tinged qualia. a different place merges detroit-esque elements with tones of european techno, after which things close with no-beatsall-fx stubborn synth.
the tenth format release is a perfect snapshot of the label’s signature sound, while paving the way for many more good things to come.

tommy mccook to be leader of the skatalites in the early 1960s, he went on to become the chief exponent of rock steady as leader of the supersonics house band at treasure isle. mccook remained a key session player throughout the reggae era, and during the roots reggae heyday of the mid-1970s, his expressive melodies found particularly strong outlet, especially on the music he created for grassroots producer bunny ‘striker’ lee as a member of the aggrovators, the studio outfit lee hand-picked from the cream of jamaica’s musical crop. when enhanced by the adventurous mixing experiments of king tubby, the engineer that turned dub into an art form, instrumental aggrovators music became positively ethereal, yielding an exceptional listening experience. on king tubby meets the aggrovators at dub station, tommy mccook blows mean sax and flute over dubs of outstanding tracks by johnny clarke, cornell campbell, linval thompson, delroy wilson, and others greats. first issued on third world in 1976, this vinyl reissue comes complete with four thematic bonus tracks, and the whole disc makes for essential listening. reissued on lp and cd with bonus tracks!