amsterdam label taped artifact has lined up an ep from merv aka brian oldenborg and jan christiansen. after the re-melted reissue on styrax in 2015, this is the pairs third new ep in three years since coming back after first making music back in the mid nineties. their warm dub and techno style is still very much fresh and arresting. blueprint opens the ep with eight enthralling minutes of percolating drums and shuffling hi hats. frosty yet warm, it’s a cavernous affair with a hypnotic riffs sucking you in over and over. shine is more upright techno, but the rock solid kicks are still draped with rippling, static coated chords that ripple out in all directions. rotundum closes things out with synth waves gently breaking over hunched drums that build the pressure. it’s tense and engaging while remaining thoroughly atmospheric.

the unblock label hits its seventh release with a split ep featuring rising talents tato and tijn. the sound on the 12inch fits right in with the previous transmissions from tuccillo, tomoki tamura and more besides, taking a quirky approach to stripped down house and techno dynamics to create intriguing party fodder for inquisitive dancers. tatos estic does a wondrous job of twisting up tribal percussion with a snaking minimal groove, while lusyourmaind brings a cheeky housey shuffle to the proceedings while keeping things a little mysterious in the same breath. tijns stranger things is a light and airy minimal house jam that contrasts neatly with the hook running through the centre of piano tool.

2018 repress / vinyl only!! with its debut release, in any case is trying to give you the best and dustiest takes on house, hip-hop and disco, packed on one and only piece of wax. we are very proud to showcase five amazing tracks from five different artists from around the world on this first record. mr. pc from detroit (us) kicks things off with a stunning disco edit, “boogie with me” delivering a mastered groove throughout the whole title, perfect for all the dancefloors. then comes “another lonely man” by martin hayes from leipzig (de). we’re left with a heavy bottomed-end track featuring lush strings and nice vocals. on the flip, we’ve then got pascal viscardi from geneva (ch) and his “fuorigrotta” that comes from deep, deep down with its heavy kicks cutting through amazing synths and disco loops, packed together with that 90’s sp1200 sampler flavour. then, malouane from france (fr) continues the trip with “i did this at work”, another bass-heavy groove melting down below some perfectly arranged samples. finally, we’ve got g2s & ibn sabaa from france (fr) with their “dumb ruler”, a short and wonky hip hop instrumental, blending the fender rhodes sound we all love with dripping hats and screwed breakdowns. there is something for every taste here, so jump on it while it’s hot !

after a strong start with an ep from dwayne jensen, pittsburgh-based label is / was returns with an absolute firecracker from chase smith. nous nous au danser is the kind of jam that will guarantee everyone in the room starts freaking, so infectious is the bright and bold acid strain smith offers up. orange geena is equally stunning, all warm bass and dazzling synths. work it over takes things in a punchier direction, leaving a little more space in the mix for the rhythm section to help things get really nasty. tour de trepan takes on some new beat qualities as it unfurls a noirish beat-driven fantasy to finish off an utterly flawless ep.

hvl has landed on many different labels in recent years, but rough house rosie will always be something of a spiritual home for the adventurous deep electro and techno craftsman. across the hidden valley ep he displays a fluid, instinctive approach to composition enslaver rolls out like a live jam but the detail and control embedded in the track is astounding. distom spook is charged with nervous acidic energy, while lemon stealer takes things in a more experimental direction with all manner of snaking synth voices wriggling around a crisp electro beat. crow hill finishes the ep off with a slow, rolling breakbeat groove and hazy pads for a quintessential b2 wind-down session.

bryan hervieu s d3 elements makes a welcome return to the music fold after a longish break, and who better to pick up the reins than trinidadian deep. northern li kicks things off, and from the first note and beat, you just know that trini has brought the spiritual and percussive deepness that he is known for. this track is 6 minutes of bliss, with swirling pads and beautiful melodies running throughout. over to the b side and it s thunder claps and the spoken word of liza zayas that starts off in the beginning. liza s voice sits perfectly alongside the caribbean textures, and the driving drums that trinidadian deep is known for. bryan s labels have long been a go to for lovers of quality and sophistication and this new one is no different.

what was old is new again. the old adage is so tired that nobody takes its proper measure: all people hear is the word old, when the important one is new. making new things out of old things is an act of alchemy. the proof is in this fifth album no rest for the wicked of perpignan which is blown right open here and there by a few very contemporary guests.

knlb first appeared with the initialize 12inch on vibraphone in july of this year, and it s not taken them long to return with another slab of on-point, upfront house music loaded with flair and imagination. up again is a heavy, chugging and bumping jam that should inspire all manner of screwed up faces of appreciation on the floor, and then fog machine smell simmers things down to a more measured house groove. half life brings a few more dubby elements into the mix, and then the club mix of sin sends the record spinning off in a wonderfully dusty reverie of detuned pianos and late-hitting drums.

the third outing for modern manners emerges on the back of two very strong 12inches that introduced this anonymous outfit to the world. timeless vibe continues where the last release left off, building up a wonderfully cosmic bed of processed melody under which casual hand played percussion and warm bass notes can linger. azzahar too keeps things pleasantly soporific with its gentle pace and lilting guitar refrains, and then middle east manners rounds this excellent trio of eps out with a beautifully realised swirl of sounds that find focus once a kick drum starts pulsing and the percussion starts building. quite who modern manners are is a mystery at this stage, but across these three 12inches they ve certainly made their presence felt in the softest, most laid back of ways.

for the 4th, neo violence have kept things closer to home, concentrating on fresh european talent for the fourth instalment in the nvs series.
on the a side, two londoners deejay astral & jeals, both well known for previous output on labels such as lobster theremin and shall not fade, combine with moscow’s rising dx2ov. the b side is occupied by a good frenchman from bordeaux, jus jam, who made his first public steps on 124 recordings and his own khasia hills.
this sampler is all about good house vibes. essential wax for any bag, taking you from the warm up to the late night through, deep cuts, peak time bangers and crowd pleasers. this sampler got you sorted!

months after their debut release, bosconi soundsystem is back with another killer package. the italian production trio, consisting of rufus, mass prod and bosconi boss fabio della torre, perk up here with unrequested states of bliss, a 2 x 12- offering that s packed from start to finish with spectacular dancefloor-ready cuts. the title reflects the contents of the album: psychedelic and minimal techno and electro music on a deep and dark tip that speaks to both the mind and the soul. the action kicks off with -serotonin-, a driving tech house jam that s full of driving, spacey atmospheric overtones. -eclipsed- is a more introspective cut, while on the flip you ll find the anthemic swing of the utterly outrageous -scaccomatto- and the psychotic electro of -minor thinking-. the c side opens with the cavernous bass riffs and the ghostly voices of -gravel fire-, followed by the funky grooves and twisted synth lines of -no flowers-. an unusual breakbeat track, it marks an interesting turn of direction of a release filled with intriguing motifs from the off. -blackout- opens amongst a claustrophionic vibe, before things come down a peg or two on the dreamy, celestial strands of -mandibola-

ombra international can save you with the fury and lust. bordeaux cold-wave band, bagarre perdue kick things off with cowboy and the psychedelic spaniard, sutja gutierrez closes with a tripped out vocal track. the b-side goes more for the dance floor with french-londonite, mondowski and a post-punk slow wave song ties it all together from st. petersburg russias, seven knives.

death & leisure is excited to welcome back jerome tcherneyan and barkosina hanusova as the incredible years of denial for a special split 12- with maenad veyl , the brand new project from italian producer thomas feriero. years of denial deliver a heavy synth wave techno classic with -we operate on each other- , and the pounding hypnotic - numeric affairs- maenad veyl starts things off on his side with the broken percussion of -paint the ossuary- , after that we get the slow dragging darkness of -tell me secrets- and lastly -who you could not- with its drilling synths and noise.

joran van pol is back on minus with edge, a fantastic four track ep that is his first on the label since 2013. in the years since, the amsterdam based artist has set up his own fade label and has continued to evolve his cinematic techno sound. previously, van pol has also released on labels like rejected, sci+tec and ideal audio, and has the support of all the big techno players who often reach for his tunes in their sets. as a dj he is just as in demand, with headline slots everywhere from space ibiza to time warp all behind him. having recently set up a new studio, he is still coming on strong with fresh inspiration and ever more essential grooves. ‘illos opens things with seven spooky minutes of icy techno. rolling rubbery drums pump away below, and the details up top make for an evocative soundscape with distant industrial sounds, groaning bass and razor sharp hi hats all filling your mind with imagery. next comes title track ‘edge, another brilliant sonic landscape with tense chords repeating over ticking percussion. its a track that builds tension throughout, and keeps you looking over your shoulder into the eerie blackness. the perfectly high pressure ‘return is one that locks you in and never lets up, with warped synths snaking above traintrack like drums and hits. a dark, rumbling bassline and the sounds of pistons releasing air all add to the intensity of this brainmelting bit of futuristic techno. last but not least, ‘frostbite is then the most spacious and spooky offering of the lot. it has freaky alien sound designs scattered around the track with supple kicks driving the whole thing forwards. its an absorbing cut that hurries along and takes you for a thrilling ride. these are four more inventive techno tracks from one of the contemporary scenes brightest stars.

solar phenomena welcomes singular rhythm master stl for a new ep that offers four fantastic tracks of dubby house. it is the label’s fourth release and finds the something label boss in a typically inventive mood.
first track spy vs spy opens things with shuffling drum loops and eerie synth details that hypnotises over seven minutes. atomsmasha has wooden hits and rough shakers peppering a soft, imperfect groove as awkward chords bring an unhinged edge to the mix. on the flip, summer breeze & brotherhood has loose keys doing an off kilter dance over stl’s trademark low-key drums where freebird zones you out with long held chords and detuned keys as cloudy, dusty kicks bring a barely-there groove deep down low. you know what to get from stl by now, but at the same time you can never get enough.

blocaus series is back and explores this time the deep side of things guided by the fearless awb lighting the way. the parisian based producer awb is well know to be the owner of taapion records with shlomo and pvnv and also released music on soma records and raw imprint. awb’s sound oscillates between deep / atmospheric techno, with film scoring influence which are reflected in this ep. he delivers 4 fantastic cuts including an outstanding remix by peter van hoesen all on the edge of an amazing melancholic and deep techno style.

here is an artist who keeps giving us things to talk about,jay green releases confusion ep on lecurve records.

dj psychiatre is the france-based doctor who is willing to listen to all of your problems and give you the prescription for all you need.
delirium ep is a blister pack of five prozak pills, filled with melted house bass, dreamy ambient toppings and experimental icing. strictly by doctors orders only!

the killers’ 2013 album back on double vinyl. incl mr. brightside

nice price deal !!! second single from the time and space machine. the time and space machine was conceived in 2008 as a sound that solidifies richard norris decades of collecting, releasing and writing about psychedelic music. the you are the one ep opens up with lead title track, which is a slow jam cosmic bliss out. mushroom family adds a touch of 70s sheen and evokes a trip in a field of joy with the sun shining down. more cowbell takes things in a more dancefloor, groove driven direction, which leaves the listener wondering which trip richard will be taking on for the rest of the album

a tripped-out batch of hard jamming tracks from ex-mutante rita lee – recorded with assistance from all the members of the group at the time, but in a mode that’s quite different overall! lee is clearly the star of the show here – singing all lyrics with a much fiercer vocal approach than on her earlier solo album – pushing things hard to keep up with the jamming keyboards of arnaldo baptista and guitar of sergio dias – both of whom are working with the energy that would show up in the mutantes styles in the years after lee departed. one of the most compelling aspects of the record is the structure of the tunes – less conventionally rockish overall than the direction os mutantes were moving towards – and still with that strong dramatic flair that lee always provided when in the group. titles include -vamos tratar da saude-, -amor branco e preto-, -superficie do planeta-, -teimoisia-, -tapupukitipa-, -beija me amor-, and -frique como-.

180 gram brazilian polysom re-issue of the polydor original.
quite possibly the last truly sublime album ever recorded by os mutantes – a set that’s a bit more rock-oriented then their first few, but still pretty revolutionary overall! the group have expanded to a quintet at this point, but haven’t yet falling into the guitar-heavy groove of later years – and rogerio duprat is working with the group on arrangements, although mutantes member arnaldo baptista is handling production chores himself. odd styles still slide into the mix as the tunes roll on – creating that great sense of surprise that makes their best work so great, and keeping things fresh even when a bit more straight ahead! titles include a reprise of -baby-, one of the group’s early classics – plus -portugal de navio-, -virginia-, -tecnicolor-, -el justicero-, -lady, lady-, -sarava-, -it’s very nice pra xuxu-, and -top top-.

special salz pack contains salz reworks part 5 & 7! incl >i play vinyl< sticker

10 years after blu and exile released their magnum opus below the heavens, the california duo have reunited to release 14 tracks from the original 2007 sessions. in the beginning: before the heavens contains previously heard songs and unreleased gems – the best of the best chosen from over 40 songs in the vault. their third collaboration follows 2012s give me my flowers while i can still smell them, and is slated for an october release. in the beginning: before the heavens is made of up songs that are raw and untouched, keeping the authenticity of blu and exile’s creativity at the time. the album has guest appearances from familiar names like dr. oop, donel smokes, aloe blacc, and blame one. while soul provider, another day, and party of two appeared on blus lifted ep, the majority of these songs showcase blu rapping at his peak, maintaining his underground attitude as he dishes on reaching star status (constellations), getting radio play (on the radio), or opposing views in a problem-ridden world (youre gonna die someday). exile, meanwhile, builds a golden hip-hop era feel with head-nodding samples and dj scratches.

it all started in march 2016 when attek and guy johnson met each other at their school in utrecht (nl). they immediately started working together on some house projects, it was the beginning of a great friendship. when mentor and friend dj caspa sended over some oldskool vinyl which he recorded from his magical collection, things really took off. with deep characteristic pads, uplifting drums, soft chords and warm smootchy vocals, attek and guy johnson went all out with this warm ep. strctr is proud to introduce another beautiful piece of art, mastered once again by the house legend dj steaw.

without artwork - standard cover / long time friend of the label myler finally makes his south london analogue material debut with ‘lord of the asbo’. the ep starts with driving kicks, hypnotic wandering synths and the noisy dissonant stabs of ‘mandem’ before taking a more melancholy turn. ‘shutter windows’ slows things down with eerie echoes, dusty thudding kick drums and subtle synths before ‘whiskey & white women’ finishes the last of the originals with a drum track full of trippy percussion and masterful groove. bad boy keepsakes is back on the label after slam003 and finishes the ep with his take on ‘shutter windows’.

an 8-piece outfit formed ten years ago by members of grammy award-winning latin revival orchestra grupo fantasma, brownout has evolved into a musical force all its own. this 45 features two cuts from their latest release, over the covers, on limited edition transparent red vinyl.

next up on sneaker social club is a fresh 12inch from robin clarke a.k.a dream cycle. after a chance meeting at gottwood in 2016 a bond was established between clarke and label owner jamie russell over a shared love of 2 bad mice and moving shadow and now, channeling elements of that influence, clarke presents his dream cycle part.1 ep. unfolding over 4 steppy tracks and an ambient closer, clarke melds sharp snares, summery motifs, dense atmospheres and thick subs whilst keeping things suffused with a distinctly uk quality that marries his work perfectly with the sneaker catalogue. dj support: ryan elliott, dj die, the black madonna, octo octa, bwana, altered natives, noodles (groove chronicles), liem (lehult), deejay astral, la4a, 2 bad mice, fred p, matt karmil, flori, marco zenker, j.rocc (lol at comment!), ajukaja, gnork, william djoko, till von sein, fold, asok, gene farris, dj bwin, seven davis jr, trp, dj octopus, dj normal 4, gerd, dean man s chest, poté, doc scott, violet, james welsh (kamera), konx-om-pax, etch, raresh, hrdvsion, michael serafini (gramaphone), soundbwoy killah, dj guy, mak & pasteman, shenoda, urulu, mark archer & james zabiela, zinc, lehult, jackie house, mosca, noodles (groove chronicles) & dj die

bcee & villem’s vanguard project returns for it’s fifth instalment in the series.
u mk me feel has been getting a hammering from dj’s from etherwood to friction and encompasses that classic ravey feel that the vanguard project do so well.
think about rolls out effortlessly with classic rolling vibes that just ooze class.
flipping the script, the vanguard project showcase just how versatile they can be with ‘fused’. probably the heaviest track they have unleashed to date, this is a bass heavy peak time beast of a track.
rounding things off, spearhead resident mc tempza steps up on vocal duties for recharge.
support from friction, high contrast, ltj bukem, fabio, london elektricity, rockwell, etherwood, technimatic and a whole load more...

five hundred and seventy-three moons ago (give or take), thunder tillman and his personal shaman emerged from the esp institute with an epic debut ep of baked psychedelics entitled jaguar mirror. we now bare witness to the duo’s glorious follow-up as they initiate us into the night school of universal wisdom. these two cosmic jokers possess a vibrant and fearless sense of exploration that knows no boundaries, as if their dreams translate directly into song and their bodies exist merely to channel music they’ve tapped into from another world, one where influences are uncharted and any instrument imaginable is available at their fingertips. as with jaguar mirror, their grasp of all things analogue begins with guitar laying the slightly imperfect foundation for four harmonious narratives, a journey that begins with a fast paced gallop across vast landscapes in search of the incan god of thunder, catequil, and gently concludes with us lying horizontally to absorb sporadic beams of healing light. the discourse throughout night school of universal wisdom is as charming as it is exquisite, orienting the listener with a bouquet of warm tones whilst layering plies of musical dialogue so subtle they require repeated study. thunder tillman manage to weave the past into future without diverting to pastiche, successfully merging their characterized production with melodic mastery and a sense of humor, a creative achievement that accredits them as two of our most esteemed scholars.

northsouth hit their second release with a crisp selection of minimalist dancefloor gems from two rising talents. christian jay has been previously spotted on idle hands, and he delivers another example of his knack for sleek and skippy garage reductions with enclave and faculties, matching icy textures with punchy bass honed for maximum dancefloor impact. bilal meanwhile takes an electro approach on command station before twitching things up masterfully on ejecta while maintaining the steely finish that binds this split 12inch together.

jaunt records is celebrating 10 years of active service in fine style with this series of various artist 12inches. the air installment features four beat scientists presenting diverse musings on deep diving techno, kicking off with the hypnotic, cyclical meandering rivers by kaelan. jc meanwhile spices things up with the breakbeat roughness of the jaunt track before basic soul unit lays the smack down with the bruising broken techno of escape velocity. blackhall & bookless finish the ep off with the big room dub-out of spirit, a churning beast of a techno track that still maintains the meditative qualities of the other tracks.

after chris carrier’s amazing >addicting game< ep mouche returns with another strong ep. the second release of the label brings a varied ep full of bouncy, driving deep techno freshly cooked by finnish native tm shuffle. while document4 on a1 is a driving deep excursion into snowy landscapes of middle finland, the powerful chord-driven weapon drumman dub on a2 brings a lot of groove to all the dancefloors out there. the b-side takes a more relaxed stance: alone in dub (b1) - created with longtime-friend lauri leino – combines icy soundscapes with a deep dub bass. that mixture heats up things slowly and steadily. ruutana by night (b2) rounds up the package with moody, chilling beats and echoes floating around.

brilliant 70s material by antonio carlos jobim – one of his key sets from the middle part of the decade that had the composer really deepening his approach to both singing and songwriting – moving past some of the more instrumental modes that he was using at the start of the decade! there’s a richness to the songs that goes way past simple bossa styles – and the lyrical brilliance shows that jobim hardly ever needed a poet or co-writer to help him hit the heights – as he really wins us over with his words as much as his music. claus ogerman produced, and gives things the right balance between fullness and space in the charts – which allows both a great focus on antonio’s vocal style – expressive, but very down to earth – and a few nice solos on fender rhodes too! titles include -saudade do brasil-, -correnteza-, -boto-, -ligia-, -valse-, -arquitetura de morar-, and -o homem-.

>i wanted to capture all the weird and wonderful things that i imagine would be trapped inside the head of an old texan with his back against the wall in a coffee shop in new york city.<mutado pintado last october from mixhell, joe goddard (hot chip) and mutado pintado (paranoid london), brazil, london and the usa came a great mix of unexpected sounds. dropping via delayed records, the crocodile boots ep offered a cacophony of musical elements and spoken word thats myriad intricacies made it one of the most sonically intriguing releases of 2016. the title track crocodile boots, a funny, funky poem about daily life, politics and miscommunications, has received a special remix and accompanying visual from close friends and confidants, soulwax.

hot creations revive chicago’s ghetto house scene with pioneer dj funk and german producer rydim who deliver the pumping “ghetto booty”. a fitting addition to the release, miami’s jesse perez is on hand with solid remix.
the title track is a real throwback to the era of ghetto house with it’s straight up, stripped beats. rydim explains “this project is a dream for me! dj funk has always been my greatest hero in all things chicago. doing “ghetto booty” with charles was such a fantastic opportunity to bring all these energetic, uptempo chicago vibes to today’s dancefloors. it’s a bouncing, killer of a track! the other “easy as that” is more of a dj tool. it’s the result of my latest drum computer, swinging like only these little machines can.”
rydim has been stirring up dance floors and releasing records under a variety of pseudonyms since 2002. since his rydim alias began in 2013, he has delivered releases for an enviable roster of labels including hot creations, tsuba and pets recordings and his tours have included the electronic scene’s most prestigious clubs.
mr. nice guy records label owner jesse perez has released on labels like hot creations, i’m a house gangster, bpitch control and eats everything’s edible. his music always has a tongue in cheek charm and this latest remix is no exception, as he brings a heavy dose of funk and swing into the mix.

having already earned his balearic stripes some time ago, as one of the resident djs at we love. at space in ibiza, ian blevins has since relocated to berlin, and has been immersing himself in the esoteric vibes of the city. on the strength of his latest ep on futureboogie, this is clearly a good thing, as the round trip ep is laden with the deep magical vibes that have also shaped his recent releases on labels like banoffe pies, not an animal records, blind jacks journey and esp institute. on round trip, an abundance of driving, arpeggiated synthesizers weave around sparse yet sturdy drumbeats, as thick pads rise and fall in dramatic fashion. panthera krause (permanent vacation/riotvan/lobster theremin) is on board for the remix of round trip, re-shaping the original into a merry, space organ led, tribal dance, with a splash of garage house vibes that soon become immersed in its own synth heaven, its a cracking remix from the leipzig based producer. on rolands rat, blevins keeps things tight with soaring strings, organ stabs a strolling bassline for a quality jam, whilst can you count my dream? is a dense, and cinematic slab of transcendental dance, an almost claustrophobic atmosphere only intensifies the drama and delivers the heat that seals this superb ep from blevins.

fabe has become an integral part of the infuse label, with his square town story ep and ho do ri collaboration picking up various plaudits. as i skipped the gym ep kicks off with shaped like kayla , continuing the producers preference for a mind melting bass line flecks of acid and tripped out vocal snippets add a wigged out feel. who is the drummer jacks things up with swung percussion whilst navigate takes a broken beat direction. vinyl only!

lithuania s greyscale returns this december with ohrwert’s “fidelis / blavus”, backed with remixes from xdb and grad_u.
greyscale was launched in 2012 by lithuanian producer and dj grad_u, and photographer rima prusakova, set up as a platform for material from grad_u and close friends whilst prusakova’s black and white analogue photography provides the visual identity of the label.
the original mix of “blavus” opens the ep, perfectly setting the tone with murky, ethereal atmospherics, billowing dub echoes, modulating percussion and thunderous drums before dubtechno stalwart xdb strips things back a little with soft touches of the originals airy drones tucked away in the depths whilst choppy stabs and dynamically unfolding analogue rhythms wander throughout.
the second original from ohrwert opens the flip-side, upping the energy levels slightly with hooky stab-sequences, filtered delays and hypnotic melodies running alongside a sturdy percussive foundation. lastly to round out the release grad_u reworks “blavus” into a more groove-driven workout, employing shuffled hats, looped dub chords and bumpy sub-bass hits throughout.
mastered at the legendary dubplates & mastering in berlin.

translucent cyan blue 180 gram double vinyl in gatefold sleeve with download code included.

the debut album from fast-rising moscow based producer harry light will celebrate robot ranch s 10th release and anniversary, with the range of atmospheric out of space audio structures and analogue deep house/techno flavors there s a lot of things to discover inside. -coaster- delivers stripped back deep techno grooves while trainspotting explores the functional delights of minimalistic sound. -chapter i draw the dub techno dancing realms and nights before finishing the first vinyl with deep atmospheric vibes. unpacking second vinyl you ll find dilemma more dark but very functional dancefloor heater with deeper roller friday night affair on the same side. the lp headliner northern lights brings in with the raw techno palette heavily influenced by its garage sub bass. acid-house dancefloor tool and secret weapon right moment unleash the vinyl number two. happily, there is much to find and listen on the third vinyl. uk rain delivers dusty, sample-heavy deep house groover with touch of garage hooks, while strong iv holds the melody and dubby chords in more classical way filling the mood with beauty and immersed in thought. amayak drives you fastly into jacking-house dancefloor groover which will leave you there without hope for salvation. the last but not least headswing gets you into the hypnotic voodoo thrill or maybe as an act: you discover yourself in center of pbar dancefloor diving into the depth.

keeping things on a strictly low key tip comes the second release from instinct, serving up nothing but razor-sharp uk garage for those who love the deeper side of el b et al. together kicks proceedings off with a nagging 4x4 bump and some beautifully mellow melodies, while motion heads into slightly moodier territory without losing that crafty beat programming nous. voodoo is a more bugged out jam with some heavy processing and a preference for atmospheric touches throughout. realise keeps the quality up once more, rounding the ep off with yet more future-minded goodness that should get all switched on selectors reaching for these instinct 12inches again and again.

so, after a little break we’re back with a new release. this time we’re joined by the multi-talented production powerhouse that is swarm intelligence (aka simon hayes). landing heavy with four bruising techno cuts that each find their own unique way of taking your head off, ear017 is a bumpy journey through darker club flavours. ‘flatlands’ opens things up, reminiscent of the type of marching, granite-heavy brum techno of old – this is minimal in construction but maximum in its impact. move forward to ‘ground up’ where demonic, dissonant keys take the lead above a rattling midrange that sounds like a corrugated roof ready to fly off. opting for cleaner, elastic drum patterns on ‘tingla’, hayes swaps tense for dense, with a loud take on steppy techno, that’ll please fans of some of blawan’s earlier work. ‘skitz’ starts out an a more dub tip with a wailing, paranoia inducing hook and snaking rhythms, eventually joined by more hard-hitting broken kicks, leading us comfortably into oblivion.

the third release for la freund recordings comes from amsterdam resident beraber. consisting of four strong and diverse tracks and a jazzy, piano-heavy remix by chicago house legend vincent floyd, sun ritual works just as well in the club as it does at home. after working on hiphop and downtempo electronica under different aliases, this ep sees baris akardere venturing into up-tempo territories, marking the debut of his beraber moniker. all tracks were written and produced during the last two years, combining digital instruments like the korg m1 and yamaha dx7 with analog gear like the roland juno-6 and korg ms-10. kicking things off on the a-side is title track sun ritual, a positive and warm tune with lush chords and arpeggiated synths. after a surprising outro, it gets the remix treatment by deep house pioneer vincent floyd, who adds multiple layers to it and delivers a stunning, dreamy eight-minute take on the original. the flipside opens with ugly, a soulful club workout with a deep bassline, rolling drums with crisp hi-hats and a hypnotic melody. next up is introspect, a serious electro-tinged cut with heavy juno chords building up tension as the track evolves. rounding it up nicely, forest rain treats us to an intimate broken-beat affair laced with rhodes chords and field recordings from bali.

the uks best kept secret chocky returns to dessous recordings after the success of his first outing, the well received self knowledge ep. here we see the talented dj / producer drop four tracks via the playtime ep - yet more sublime house music for steve bugs imprint. ‘double dip is a chunky, stripped down vibe, reduced the vitals that will slay dancefloors - firing percussion over a shuffling groove and a cut-up vocal reminiscent of pepe bradock. ‘organism is a deep affair - spacy pads provide the counterbalance to the tough drum track, softening the edges but keeping the vibe high. ‘soul alive taps into chockys clear appreciation for the 90s, with a strong vocal, atmospheric strings and a loose yet crispy beat. ‘playtime (dub) brings the whole ep home with yet another stormer - beginning as a driving basement jam but then introducing an unexpected piano riff that flips the script and takes things in a welcome jazzy direction.

180 gram brazilian polysom re-issue of the polydor original.
an essential collection of rare material from this legendary brazilian group – and a set that shows the importance they had in the tropicalia movement beyond their own famous albums! the package brings together key collaborations between os mutanes and other key figures in music at the time – including some from rare singles, or other albums that maybe haven’t shown up on your radar if you’ve only been tracking the group by records issued under their own name. as a whole, the set’s a much-needed addition to their too-small catalog from these essential years – and titles include work with caetano veloso on -saudosismo-, -marcianita-, -a voz do morto-, and -baby- – plus -lady madonna- and -cinderella rockafella- done with clelia simone and kier – both live and 7” single versions of -ando meio desligado-, work with gilberto gil on -domingo no parque-, work with rogerio duprat on -cancao para ingles ver chiquita bacana- and -the rain the park & other things- – and the track -mande um abraco pra velha-, from a rare brazilian 60s compilation.

although rico puestel has been producing since 2005, he still seems to be something of an insider tip. since caravel though, his august release on cocoon recordings, things have taken a dramatic turn with puestel currently enjoying man of the moment status, especially when it comes to progressive techno and peak time action on the dance floor.

after the recent collaborative library of babel ep alongside retina.it and prg/m as r2&#960,,, , ruhig is back on midgar with the 4tracker sleeping oracle ep, first instalment of a release trilogy. expect nice things!