calendar crowd was the duo of alan heaton and terence tiernan who met in their hometown of widnes, cheshire as schoolboys and played together in various bands in the ‘70s. in the ‘80s they formed a 6-piece band called room for humans and recorded one single“telephone telephone / girlfriend”. when the band split and alan and terence continued as calendar crowd in a more experimental direction. their influences were wide reaching: kraftwerk, neu, cabaret voltaire, eno, pil, and joy division.

sexy deep house various artists ep on bon vivant... tipp. apoena, miguel puente, brandub and cape on board.

correspondant welcome berlin duo hinode having established themselves with a string of well received cuts on their own science fiction imprint, they were spotted by chance by label boss jennifer cardini on a recent record-shopping jaunt. with a raw, no-rules sense of machine funk running through everything they create, theyre the perfect match for correspondant and make their label debut with four numerical delights…i lights the analog fire with raw sleaze and off-beat mischief. unkempt and wily, it sets the tone for the entire ep: ii writhes snake-like with its slinky kicks and purring textures, iii slurs with bass groans and shakes with paranoid, alien melodies while iv closes with much more of a tunnelling, sense-blurring experience. total machine harmony, unbounded synthetic creativity, made to mix and wholly outer-planetary… hinode and correspondant are a match made in the stars.

with his album in between re:deep presents not only an impressive specimen of his musical spectrum. the artist also merges deep house elements and experimental folk as well as extremely minimized indie pop into a whole new sound concept. re:deep intensively bends the boundaries of the genres, delves deep into the soundscapes of different epochs and styles. thereby warmly crackling field recordings blend into analogue basslines and sequencers as well as melancholic guitar drones meet sensitive vocals. the always smoothly appearing and cocooning sound is the subtle recurring theme of the whole album, which develops a close intimacy and captivates by its analogue warmth, which you can t escape of. tender strings float on vibrant drums and wafting surfaces. the album features the japanese artist cokiyu, her voice in combination with the arrangement form a symbiotic relationship and evolve wearing lights into a journey through slowly drifting electronica landscapes. the field recordings, which were made - inter alia - in iceland s rough countryside, are particularly noticeable between the lines and infuse the soul of the album as well as the love to detail in general. a total of nine tracks are featured on the album, which convince not only by their sound density and close interconnectedness, but also by the shift in emotions. music, that is enjoyable at your home as well as on the dancefloor and - after all -just touches your body and soul.

re-issue of the much sought after hotbath edit series from crazy p. hot bath is back with more hot and steamy gems. four edits that take you on a musical journey from funk/foul/disco to even a little touch of pop! this is going to make it to many various dj s boxes and dance floors! last chance to ever get this record, no more will ever be pressed once this stock has gone.

intraverso is a journey in that momentary inbetween land that many of us experience sometimes. it explores the turmoil of feelings of when one gets stuck in the middle, floating in between ambition and complete stillness.
fabrizio lapiana is a well-known name on the contemporary italian techno scene. he has been involved in music since the 90’s when he started dj ing in his hometown rome. to date he has over two handfuls of releases on labels such as figure jams, arts and m_rec ltd - as well as his own imprint, the well renowned attic music, founded in 2008.
intraverso is fabrizio’s debut album, set for release on his label. the record is a very personal journey, according to the artist himself. you here find him examining different territory than where he usually heads within his productions. the album, which consists of nine songs in total, was composed between april 2016 and february 2017 in his studio in rome. written in a state of -introspect-, we here see an artist in motion. changing. evolving. the perfect moment to explore something new and unveil a different side of yourself to the world.

m-twelve is a new collaboration between tortured and electrix label owner, billy nasty and nick dunton of surface records, 65d mavericks fame and more recently, poverty is violence label. taking their name, m-twelve, from the iconic fred perry t-shirt, the pair decided to combine forces based on a love of techno and electro, their strong friendship and many late night conversations in the back rooms of various nightclubs. they started recording together last year and the ‘apocalypse in paradise ep’ is the first signs of their monthly meetings at what’s been dubbed, “dunton abbey studios”. the ep features their two original cuts of beautifully crafted emotional electro, the warm and glittering ‘all the things’ and ‘time spent’ with it’s deep narrative and tough machine groove. in addition, remixes of ‘time spent’ come from sync 24 (scand / cultivated electronics) who delivers an energetically fuelled reworking and electro veterans, transparent sound with a stripped and stomping acidic version. billy and nick have also just started work on remixes for tracks by london modular alliance and mr velcro fastener, so expect to hear more of their m-twelve work over the coming months.

tel aviv based two man project tv.out has been making a name for themselves these last years putting on impressive live sets, djing around the world, and running their paralaxx imprint releasing various strains of rugged, well informed electronic music. . on their debut for l.i.e.s. we get a smoking three tracker spanning styles that would not seem out of the place being played on the west coast of den hague in the late-90s. think early legowelt meets coca disco meeting heavier techno sounds as a starting point. club gear for the gearheads.

hobor is part of many groups and formations himself, such as songs for pneumonia or cointel allstars and the event-series fiktion+masse. his solo project is mainly known for extended dj-sets on various ambient-floors in leipzig and his live-sets - which could be described as cautious investigations into micro-sounds - are mainly based on his work with modular synthesizers. his debut-album on ph17 is a minimalistic, conceptual work that focuses on sound as much as on the way electronic music usually plays. all tracks consist of almost independent layers of sound that behave like improvising musicians. they seem to play together but by focusing on one of them you soon realise they’re actually stoically sticking to there own rhythm and repetition and as the tracks play on these layers of sound start to form ever different constellations. no wonder hobor says he took inspiration from improvising bands like the necks. his album is as fascinating and hypnotizing as one of their live-jams. “constellations is released on 50 limited tapes.

deeply concerned with the here and now versus sister label was/is electro archaeology, is/was delivers the goods once again with this various artists 12- zeroed in on the pittsburgh scene. you can feel the steel city tension reverberating in naeem s edgy beatdown -forward facing-, while hits only takes things in a slightly cleaner, modernist direction that aligns with some of the uk soundsystem interpretations of electro that have emerged in recent years. shawn rudiman takes control for the b side with two jams that tip their cap to the veteran producer s long and accomplished career, but they sound as fresh as anything else on the record too. -derelict- is a gnarly, bloated banger of a track, and -asimolar- takes the route towards cybotron, kraftwerk and the truly foundational version of electro in all its lysergic glory.

the echelon is conceived in total secrecy. embedded deep in the contemporary landscape, its sole purpose is to function as an anonymous observer, translating its findings into music and movement. after the recent echelon dub-inspired release on 3rd wave black edition now it is time for the next installment: echelon 002

h-productions proudly presents >full spectrum< by cari lekebusch. this is the 10th and final release of the full color spectrum serie. a collection of unique, colored vinyl 12inches. both tracks are maintaining a stripped down policy, solid sound pictures and simple arrangements - with no unnecessary events. giving the dj more freedom to manouvre. all tracks in the full spectrum series have been generated with analog equipment, and are all inspired by the various h-productions releases that came out around 1993-1998.

falling ethics starts a new various artists series: falling ethics eleven, with an open approach ranging from ambient experimental to proper techno adventures. first two volumes features music from steve bicknell, reeko, p.e.a.r.l., shxcxchcxsh, ex continent and first new 65d mavericks track released in five years.

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

created for the electronic musician, the new udg producer bag is specially designed to carry a 17ich mac powerbook, m-audio ozone or oxygen 8 keyboard, m-box, firewire interface, microphone, headphone, ipod and accessories. fits: pioneer toraiz sp-16, denon mc6000 mk2, ni maschine jam, reloop beatpad 2, novation 25sl mk2, hercules djconsole rmx2, djcontrol jogvision and various pedalboards

just like his secrets ep of last year, this latest instalment in detbois catalogue, entitled ‘ice cold, merges elements of drum and bass, jungle, bass music, techno and more in exquisite fashion, quite simply like nobody else has done before. the 3 track ep consists of pure breakbeat pleasure, with ‘blood drops leading the charge, a classy piece that elegantly rolls and seamlessly interchanges through various phases. its without doubt some of detbois most distinguished work yet, and were delighted that its opening the metalheadz account for 2018.

portuguese artist ka§par gives parisian label escapade its third release. the four tracks span across a wide range of electronic sounds, telling a story that calls on many emotions. ‘wail of a loon opens the record with an experimental atmosphere. after this laid back introduction, ka§par goes into a much stronger style: ‘riggeds energy and catchy, twirling melody make it a total banger. on the b side, the mood gets much warmer and groovy. ‘vital is the perfect tune to warm up a dancefloor, thanks to a swinging rhythm, mesmerizing vocal samples and funky synth lines. ‘alma douro rounds up the record with strong jazzy vibes. beautiful chords and piano solos never dissapoint!

chances are if you are reading this, you are probably already familiar with dinosaur ls go bang and danced countless times to loose joints its all over my face. a prolific musician, arthur russell produced an abundant amount of recordings over the course of his career. although a classically trained cellist, he released a number of successful underground dance hits under various monikers and collaborations. as a solo artist however, his inability to complete projects resulted in a limited amount of official releases, world of echo (1986) being his only full-length solo effort to see release in his lifetime

first ever various artists release on metroline limited - hamid released mentalo disco on metroline in 2010 and dhaze subatomic pussy in 2015

special hors série ep made by the young talented producer oldtoy. ambiant/downtempo/electronic release for music lovers. all instruments & voices made by oldtoy.

dedicated to giving newcomers an honest platform to showcase their talents, this run of compilations is to be comprised of crystalline electronic music, spanning out across various forms. the inaugural offering sees villanova and time team up to reshape la chicas oasis with brushstrokes of subtle melancholy, teho fuse contemporary deep house with ukg and yeuz pair of idiosyncratic compositions, for the modern dance floor. label founder, agoria, ventures south of one hundred and ten beats per minute on his remix of embers, cloaking stefan smiths original in humility and innocence. a few words from the artists … about their tracks oasis: the original track brings us a very unique vibe, the work of the analog textures implement perfectly the unique voice of la chica …as soon as i listen to it i was hooked to make a remix that would keep the same feeling .. but adding the energy and dynamic to make it floor friendly. embers: other than music, stefans only other passion in life is reading samuel beckett. whilst reading his radio play embers he got a call from nicolas becker asking him to contribute some work to a project. he set about composing this track with becketts words reverberating around his head. this track somehow made it into the hands of becketts friend/collaborator agoria and here we are.

berlin based producer zigan aldi has always been open for different cultural influences in his music. an openess that might go back to his own background since zigan had been brought up in the eastern part of turkey, before he moved to germany when he was 14. apart from working in various jobs it was always the music that kept him going and let him experience his true passion. after releasing music on bedouin’s label truecolors or 3000 grad it was about time his diverse music finds another home on underyourskin records. therefore zigan delivers four exclusive tracks that depict his approach to electronic music with a mostly downtempo vibe. ‘luton’, ‘seems to be’ and ‘olin’ follow the path of the label’s as well as zigan’s philosophy: a slightly oriental influence that meets darker multi-layered synth chords to create significant atmospheres that can work at any time at the club. ‘miracle’ featuring sandeck is just what the track title suggest: a musical miracle. as the track slowly enfolds its groove to the audience, it is the guitar riffs and the vocals that sum up magic of this track at this very intimate moment.

after five various releases, vakum returns with their first full ep including their first ever remix. silom ep is a diverse story signed by disrupted project, an artist they had the chance to present on their very firstvakum back in 2014. now hes back with full ep which is rounded with a remix from toronto s finest - basic soul unit. the tracks are ranging from detroit influenced electro and chordy big room techno to breakbeat rave like drums and melodies.

possession records proudly present the new album by soft riot, entitled -the outsider in the mirrors-. soft riot is the stylised musical alter-ego of jjd, canadian by birth and an ex-resident of london and sheffield, now based in glasgow (so not unfamiliar with sites of post-industrial decay!). with over twenty years of playing in various post-punk and synth-punk bands, he has been crafting the sound of soft riot since the early turn of the decade, releasing a slew of albums across a multitude of labels and touring obsessively around europe and beyond. with -the outsider in the mirrors-, his sixth full-length, he has found a new home for his sound on possession records, a fledgling glasgow imprint founded by jjd, claudia nova (aka hausfrau) and andy brown (ubre blanca). their aim is to bring together their pool of musical talents and provide a more permanent home for their future creative endeavours, whether it be music, video or otherwise and to experiment with what it is to be a -label- in the ever evolving 21st century. future projects and releases will see them getting a select group of their peers and friends involved in possession s focused vision, locally or from further afield.

with the sublime sounds of um001 still resonating through the drum & bass world, the bristol based utopia collective build on their impressive debut with an equally stunning second single. another long-time supporter of the utopian cause, survival (exit records/audio tactics/dnaudio) steps up with the hypnotic and enchanting traveller whilst the sect give mako and mutes incendiary >connexion< their unique treatment. dj support: ltj bukem, doc scott, dj marky, fierce, makoto, bailey, loxy, total science, spectrasoul, dj lee, flight, instra:mental, survival, invaderz, squire, insiders and many more

in the woods there is a bird, his song stops you and makes you blush. (à) and finally, whenever you are hungry and thirsty, theres someone who chases you away (arthur rimbaud) in the woods there is a birdà is both an ongoing sound and publication project by olaf nicolai, published as a contribution to documenta 14 and the documenta 14 radio program. it is based on archival sound material extracted from radio reports, employing radio as a source (rather than a medium of transmission): background sounds of demonstrations, riots, rallies, originally recorded for radio stations all over the world, are used as source material for this soundtrack composed of these various ambiences. the real sounds are defined by a lack of reference that is usually added by the auditive or written indices that surround and date them. the affiliated artist book in the woods there is a birdà reflects not only the process of detaching, mixing, referencing and re-referencing in a visual essay. it also offers for this new composition an index and frames the recorded sounds by presenting a list of the places and dates the events. the artist book in the woods there is a birdàis published by koenig books.

a voice in the ether. a calm, clement drone. a gentle, pulsing throb. like the ghost of a forgotten future as imagined by the distant past, certain creatures sophomore lp nasadiya sukta is a study in timelessness - crystalline, heartfelt ambient music designed to push light through shadow. nasadiya sukta is the debut release on mysteries of the deep, a record label dedicated to total sensory immersion. mysteries (as its known colloquially and affectionately) launched in 2011 after a particularly fruitful late-night mixing session, first as a cult podcast series dedicated to narcotic music of all kinds, subsequently expanding into a series of seasonal events. now, with the release of nasadiya sukta, mysteries of the deep becomes a full-fledged outlet for music to play in the dark. certain creatures is the alias of brooklyn-based artist oliver chapoy, and nasadiya sukta was crafted especially for mysteries of the deep. its genesis came when grant aaron, mysteries proprietor, tapped chapoy to perform at mysteries halloween event in 2015. his performance was the nights axis point, bridging earlier subdued sounds with late-night upbeat moods. two years later, reworked and reconfigured, this performance is reborn as nasadiya sukta. although divided into six tracks, nasadiya coheres into a single extra-terrestrial mass, its beautiful understated elegance encouraging repeat listens. simultaneously harking back to ambient classics from the 90s (you know who they are) while cementing chapoy as a visionary artist with his own unique voice, nasadiya sukta is one for the space travellers indeed.

for the first various artists of the french house label. popcorn records is really proud to present popcorn diary vol 1. and what an honnor to have 4 amazing artists on board 2 parisian legends with point g and d’julz, the great uk legend aubey and the only one amir alexander from chicago.

reissue of killer album from 1980 - the albums first reissue on vinyl, it will include a download code booklet with various documents, as well as previously-unreleased recordings.

fist & shout is the debut release from glasgow band leatherette - currently now known as total leatherette - and the first to be released on domestic exile. recorded at the now infamous green door studios, the album is a raw, visceral interpretation of instrumental post-punk, no wave, drone and industrial, complete with a fully immersive and foreboding gothic atmosphere.

dj punkadelix a.k.a. mayu kondo who based in tokyo, will starts a new project of music production called mayudepth. this ep titled -sneakpeek- featuring the voice by fashion model rie miyamoto and includes remix version by akiko kiyama who is an artist play on a global stage.the cover work shot by a female photographer masami sano and artwork by mayu kondo herself, this album artwork expresses her unique way of seeing things as a collaboration package with female artists working in various fields.the label is “shiki kyokai” which owner by dj shuffle master,who is an innovator of japanese techno sound, which continues to release from overseas top labels such as tresor and bpitch control.

after his well acclaimed soundtrack lp on hivern discs, brussels based producer lawrence le doux is returning to homebase vlek for his next offering. and what a project it has become: le doux, heads first, dived deep into the belgian national history of electronic music, and came up with a sampler covering the various fields the belgians have explored over the last 30 years. from digi dub over simple drum computer house to one­man industrial cassettes: host has it all.

monday off is a vinyl only record label from brooklyn, new york, founded by mary yuzovskaya. its ethos is to showcase artists that explore techno s hypnotic side, specifically where trippy and dark productions go deep yet dynamic. its second release is -various artists vol. 1- and is comprised of a trance-inducing deep dive from soramimi, cory james s thundering psychedelic techno, skittering and hypnotic propulsion from arthur kimskii and a mesmerising sonic journey care of chanski.

prolific producer mathis mootz is very well known within the drum/bass and hardcore techno arenas as being one of the innovative pioneers to merge both genres with an unique approach. his contribution to the electronic music community is not limited to his explorations within only the drum and bass and hardcore genres, mathis also has various experimental projects, most noteworthy being his m2 ( squaremeter ) project with releases on mille pleateux, ant-zen and hands productions. the sound of m2 is defined as a combination of micro sound and industrial soundscapes. the panacea is no stranger to the world of techno as some may suspect, his command of the position chrome record label came from his close relationship with force inc. music works which was one of the earliest german record labels to fuel the underground techno/rave scenes in the early 90’s. since position chrome came under his guidance in 1997 it has become one of the most important labels in electronic music due to it’s integrity and an impressive release of quality music for it’s genre. more recently, he has been investigating the techno landscape with david frisch together known as new frames, their latest release on hands productions is essential for those interested in contemporary electronic music of the dark techno/industrial kind. “ above the absolute “ is a 12’’ of mercenary techno produced with expert skill. the opening track “ above the absolute 96 “ is pure sound wave balance with all the components for what is sure to light any dance floor on fire. “ most basic resolution “ is a dark, mood shifting, hard acid techno reminder of what it means to create music for warehouses, pure old school for the hardcore. “ overdrive ee “ continues in a more contemporary direction and demonstrates a mastery of percussive elements in tune with the kind of atmosphere that brings people together in the dark. the final track “ walter “ goes back into the future with a track aimed at the headstrong, an exceptional closing chapter that hits dead centre on the search of the perfect beat. an overall completely impressive work from an artist who has set no limitations for himself.

the enigmatic tennessee-raised, turin-based yves tumor presents a poignant new album, recorded between miami, leipzig, los angeles and berlin over the past three years.
evolved from a diverse and prolific creative history under an expansive plethora of covert aliases via various forward-thinking labels, ‘yves tumor’ emerges as his most personal and matured incarnation to date.
with involvement across various artistic outlets expanding to fashion such as a visceral live performance for la’s hood by air earlier this year, the global artist has built a distinctly bold personal aesthetic both musically and visually as a performer.

jackie moores 1979 disco bomb this time baby is one of the biggest tracks of the genre. a total classic that found fame on the dancefloors via djs like david mancuso, larry levan and ron hardy it is the epitome of a roof-raiser. produced by philly legend bobby eli (mfsb, salsoul orchestra, stylistics, barbara mason) and mixed by underground disco legend john luongo this is an essential 12. originally performed by the o-jays jackies version ramps the energy right up to the max and cranks the heat up to 100. everything is here, killer driving drums and percussion, that bassline that drops, the cowbells, horns, strings and of course...... jackie! this is a straight repress of the 79 pressing on columbia and features the sweet b-side lets go somewhere and make love, another breezy philly number courtesy of mr. eli yet again. all round quality. this classic has been legally reissued by above board distribution in conjunction with the legal rights holders - sony music entertainment. this high quality repress features original columbia pink label disco 12 artwork and has been remastered from sonys original sources by optimum mastering, bristol uk.

nicholas returns to church with a six track mini lp. correspondant welcome berlin duo hinode having established themselves with a string of well received cuts on their own science fiction imprint, they were spotted by chance by label boss jennifer cardini on a recent record-shopping jaunt. with a raw, no-rules sense of machine funk running through everything they create, they’re the perfect match for correspondant and make their label debut with four numerical delights. i lights the analog fire with raw sleaze and off-beat mischief. unkempt and wily, it sets the tone for the entire ep: ii writhes snake-like with its slinky kicks and purring textures, iii slurs with bass groans and shakes with paranoid, alien melodies while iv closes with much more of a tunnelling, sense-blurring experience. total machine harmony, unbounded synthetic creativity, made to mix and wholly outer-planetary. hinode and correspondant are a match made in the stars.

the mighty dungeon meat s marauders into the finest club cuts continues with their first offering of 2017 and their first various artist e.p on the label. a collection of dance floor dynamite set to detonate as soon as the needle hits the groove. here we see the boys recruiting some new beat bandits with ron obvious and per hammar and also reviving one of the og dungeon masters blunt instruments. each one bringing the the heat with their prime cuts of meat, making this one hefty slab of wax that is a sure fire winner for those dark strobe lit rave chambers. as with all dungeon meat release these are tried and tested for maximum ass-assination.

the echelon is conceived in total secrecy. embedded deep in the contemporary landscape, its sole purpose is to function as an anonymous observer, translating its findings into music and movement. part three is based on diversity in communication.

classic / re-issue ... original released 1970 in nyc

karmon is presenting the second edition of diynamic musics picture:series, an eclectic mix of mystic deep house cuts. diynamic musics picture:series is a document in time, showcasing an artist s current creative output in order to allow the listener to visualise and understand the artist at a certain moment. it is not an album format, but far more than merely an ep. picture: is various dancefloor-oriented facettes of one producer, shaping the imagery that ultimately results in the listeners mind.

limitiert auf 1000 eh! box set beinhaltet: cd, 2lp, plakat und exklusive 7inch & 12inch mit unveröffentlichtem material!

during the mid-nineties, david kempston secured himself a considerable following while recording releases for the seminal uk labels clear and evolution/universal language. he went on to produce music under various guises including the solid house sounds of cartel productions and his darker electro alias clatterbox. now its 2011 and time seems right to put out a collection of tracks that we have been sitting on for quite a while. 2 very strong and razor sharp electro tracks of the highest order + the main track desolate void, an experimental drone that comes in various different takes through out the ep for a healthy dose of unpleasant frustrated funk atmosphere. this is the first ff release in a new quality series of limited hand numbered and hand stamped colored vinyl 12 inches. highly limited, so act quick!

crossing borders of different genres & cultural spheres, yor kultura delivers a superb ep on the magic movement. once again the three rotterdam based producers and djs danny, raymon and kris impress with their very own cozmik blend of tribal music, house and downbeat. on the lotus ep, yor kultura reveals a more melodic side of their musical realm. gritty synth lines, strong percussion work and rolling basses invoke the spirits of places not yet discovered. mysterious vocal samples sing the blues on this journey through various psychedelic worlds. the sultan of hamam swing mehmet aslan, crafts a sublime version of willow on b2, giving a turkish twist by adding extra guitars and percussion. 33 & 45rpm playback is tested and highly recommended.

siegmar fricke describes his music as -dynamic dancable collage-pop with a 90s technoid tendency-. the music on this release is made by yamaha sampling- keyboards, yamaha multieffects, synthesizers and 60s magnetic tape recorder, recorded on a four-track tascam tape-machine. from 1987 – 1993 he produced twenty four cassette releases, some on his former label bestattungsinstitut and some on other tape-labels all around the globe. this vinyl is a fine selection of various tapes from 1988 – 1993 slightly edited for club use and remastered by berlin s masterchef kitaro from schnittstelle. heavy underground dancematerial for the first time on vinyl!!! comes with a strong extended dancefloor remix by manfredas.

the night is what makes a big city come to life. right after sundown, the hectic buzzing of downtown makes way for adventure playgrounds, bathed in neon light, revealing their countless chances and opportunities. its when youll find the subway spitting out its purpose seeking passengers by the minute. a coming and going of restless people passing through. all it takes is a few hours, before the sunrise makes it all disappear. mental bend captures the magic of that very moment in their dreamy soundtracks. if you close your eyes, you can see blurry pictures passing in slow motion, accompanied by their atmospheric songs. grainy black and white snapshots, fragments of memories lighting up somewhere in the farthest corner of the cortex. one step is the berlin-based indietronica duos visually vivid debut album, released on enfant fenou. mental bend are all about letting go. sissip (voc/synth/bass) and hendrik havekost (beats/production) know how to trust their instincts, crafting their hypnotic signature sound, somewhere in between electronica, ambient and dream pop. before founding the band in 2013, the two were already shaping their skills in all kinds of different formations and styles of music. as soon as they got together, they had a viral mini hit with their song take my hand, praised on various tastemaker blogs and generating over 100.000 likes on soundcloud in no time. the bands first long play record one step is all about important experiences and decisions, small as well as big steps, all a part of making progress, which in the end can even be life changing. it was a step, that recently got mental bend their record deal on mos ferrys sub label enfant fenou.

blurt are perhaps the act who have played live at optimo more than any other. active for close to 40 years they are one of the uk’s all time great acts, phenomenal live and on record and supremely underrated. blurt mainman ted milton is a living legend. now in his 70s but more vibrant on stage than most artists 50 years his junior, he is a man of many talents, artist, poet, musician, performer…. in 1984 he released a solo 12”, “love is like a viol&#275,nce”, a no doubt accidental dancefloor gem completely out of kilter with any other music of the era that now makes total sense in 2017. dubbed-out stabs, programmed rhythm, trademark sax squeals and a more subdued than normal vocal that is strangely reminiscent of vincent price. thee definition of a cult classic and much in demand, side a of this 12” presents the a and b side (the equally outre “it’s only recently that stalins have begun to roost”) of this mighty 12” on one side of vinyl.

after popping up on a various artists release last year, ugly frankie makes good on his connection to the vinyl only label with a full fat ep of chunked up, funked out house business for sunny climes. there s a dusty, rolling tone to the tracks on offer here - the crafty edits, nimble sample treatment and inventive layering creates a vibe you can lose yourself in all day. these aren t just straight up dancefloor rollers either cow boogie bumps and slides with a low slung swagger that will have you popping at a slower tempo but they re all prime for the get down. for some dusty, soul-laced cuts produced with flair, look no further.

wilted woman returns to one of her homes at primitive languages with a follow up to the coveted cassette release “fluid”. on “watching the psycho”, she offers three tracks of condensed rhythmic gestures that tightly encapsulate various aspects of her wide-cast palate.
with recent 12” releases on she rocks and alien jams, this 7” release carves out a smaller aural territory for the listener to meditate upon. another wonderful chapter in the singular makers repertoire.
tracklist:
a1: sorry
a2: böse mango
b1: onwon