gerry read steps up for the sophomore release on finns 2 b real label, mass media - four booty-indebted house tracks, as freaky as they are straight-forward. the a side lurches into action with a huge buzzy bassline on mass media, followed by eerie pads, pops and whistles on big boobs. the b side provides some breathing room with dreama that girl’s spacey chops and sauntering bassline, before pinky reaches a bouncy filter-house climax to close the ep.

eshu, the production collective and record label from nijmegen are back with their next offering. their 12th release is a various artists release that features blm, joburg and steven siwalette alongside label members ivano tetelepta and jocelyn abell. it comes on the heels of teteleptas absorbing dub techno album, senang, and is another high class offering. nijmegen based siwalette is first, previously contributed to the label as part of sys. his stragglers is a sparse but atmospheric track with industrial drones and slowly turning drums taking you through a desolate factory late at night. his second offering is alien encounter which is just as it sounds - a spooky, unsettling bit of cinematic sound design with menacing bass and icy pads all growing in loudness until they eventually consume your mind. lastly on the a-side, uk producer and fear of flying label boss blm lays down a skeletal groove thats embellished with beautiful, yawning synths. scattered little details and fx making this a cavernous piece that encourages your mind to wander and get lost. on the flip, jocelyn abell and ivano tetelepta cook up a heavyweight, mid tempo bit of dub techno with sharp hits and rolling kicks lulling you into a trance. last of all, the emerging j?burg picks up the pace with a perfectly chiselled bit of rock solid dub with looping drums and icy hi hats sinking you deep into its midst. this is an excellent ep that packs in a range of fascinating sounds for both the home and the club.

the next release on brazil s ever-promising disco steamer gop tun comes from renato cohen. cohen has been an infrequent mainstay of brazilian dance music for a long time now, most recently appearing on kling klong, tronic and 100% pure. his releases may not come around every day, but he makes them count when they do. -dynadisco- is a spaced out slow burner with a looped up groove and simmering pads building towards a powerful, funk-fuelled bass drop. -party jam- takes a lighter approach, keeping the samples sprightly and even sprinkling a little acid magic into the tune. it gives whatever/whatever plenty to be working on their remix, which spreads across the b side in a fit of electro-disco finery.

it s been a little while since we last heard from donnell knox, but he s back in action finally on his regular haunt sonic mind with some of that evergreen us techno tackle that he s forged a long and winding career out of. -no time- is steeped in the smoky pads of the motor city, with a rugged rhythm section and errant bleeps thrown in to seal the deal. -rat race- takes things in a more housey direction, but there s still a certain mysticism that reaches beyond the average club banger. -sick mind- continues the theme, but ties more knots in the programming to make for another essential slice of techno, and then -repetition- finishes the job with a razor sharp slice of sky-scraping hardware science.

marseille-based producer grant returns to his self-released white label series with an ever more expansive ep of deep, rolling house. with a firm grasp for 80’s chicago and detroit house tased with 90’s deep house tropes, grant004 finds him on deepest ever form, with swirling luscious pads, snippet vocals and thudding percussion sinking us further down into the depths.

farron gets back on shaw cuts with his fourth record, invincible shaolin a tale of double-dealing, rivalry, royalty and bad blood. manchu general pus evil quest to eradicate the shaolin tradition unfolds, cunningly pitting north and south shaolins against each other. spring break ya neck opens the clash with its rhythmic shifts and whirling synth pads. the northern masters prevail. after pus henchmen secretly kill the southern shaolin, the general blames the masters from the north, unleashing chaos. cosmicaph restores order, its pounding drums and floating melodies giving new strength to the southern shaolin. revenge must be taken. to prepare for conquer, the southern master sends three of his disciples to three masters to learn their secret weapons. sir hatch sets the pace with rolling punches, dirty synths and sharp percussion as the three disciples transform into lethal fighting machines. just before the final encounter between the shaolin, leibniz lands on the scene with his fresh interpretation of spring break ya neck, revealing to both schools that they have been deceived. joining forces, north and south battle the general and his men, led by leibnizs funky drum patterns and turbulent synth action. and the shaolin spirit lives on

perc & truss’ statement of rave intent “leather & lace” returns when you least expected it, this time in the form of three new remixes from an all-star cast of producers. leading the charge are perc trax’s breakout starts of last year ghost in the machine who build upon their trademark kick drum volley with reese basslines, swearing pads and a stretched out arrangement that showcases all that they are capable of. flip it over and tectonic main man pinch takes a different approach with his uniquely bristolian take on techno, featuring everything from primitive computer bleeps to the kind of broken rhythms he and his label are known for. closing things off is the wildcard of the set as mumdance and logos step away from their weightless sound to serve up a tough, acid driven take that nods it’s head to the classic sounds of bonzai and eye-q.

the strike team ep is the second in the trilogy of releases introducing the world to the sound of the stripper. the title track is a rare hybrid of modern day production and timeless influences transformed through the prism of 1990’s hardcore, jungle, and broken beat. you and your favorite dj like to close your sets with classic jungle tracks? well, the stripper is here with a monster for the middle of your set, pacing at a cool 128 bpm. following it is the hidden gem of the record, culture vulture: an impossible to pinpoint breakbeat laced melodic odyssey. similar to “consciousness proliferation” (back 2 93 mix) from sleeve-01, culture vulture takes you on a journey inspired by the irresistible grit and beauty of the early 1990’s sound from the city of coventry and producers like skanna and essence of aura. flipping the record to side 2, the stripper gives you an absolute burner of a techno track intended for the heaviest and sweatiest of social settings. the atmospheric pads are pointing to the producer’s undeniable rave influences and love for illegal parties around the world. the final track of the record is the stripper tying back the european influences with his unquestionable debt to the american midwest: melodic, deep, and irresistible. this is a physical release of a four track ep. it contains music tracks intended for social settings. suitable for dj sets of varying styles in the range of 125 - 135 bpm. the material presented here is also available digitally. all tracks produced, mixed, and stripped by stripper™ using digital synthesizers and sequencers.

foxy red recordings is proud to announce their first vinyl release consisting of four deep & funky house tunes by titlez! if you re up for the warmth, depth, and feel of the classic house sounds of chicago – look no further! titlez s new ep delivers the goods while going for a diverse, organic, and eclectic production approach. you can expect punchy drums combined with live(ly) percussion samples, jazzy piano chords, and spacey pads, among other studio trickery.

vienna-based producer sam irl popped up on our radar a couple of years ago following stellar releases on jazz & milk, but honestly we should have been paying far closer attention as this guy has been making the best crunchy, mpc-driven jazz-infused house music dating right back to 2006. ep’s for s3a’s sampling as an art and collaborative projects with patrick pulsinger and dusty have won him fans including gilles peterson (leading to a release on brownswood), mr scruff and session victim amongst many others. his live sets have also seen him perform at the hallowed grounds of panorama bar and sonar festival. for his debut ep here on freerange sam has delivered four tracks which perfectly showcase his production skills and knowledge of what makes a dance floor tick, kicking off with title track rain technique. quirky keys and a playful groove help build a warm and charming vibe, light and bouncy yet deep and driving enough to get your dance on to. trust follows with loping, lopsided percussion forming the basis of the groove, sparse rhodes pads punctuating the beat and adding just the right musical element to the mix without cluttering the beats or compromising the sense of space. flipping over we have all thats left which sees sam utilising his trusted tr606 for some lovely snappy snares and sizzling hihats. chiming arpeggios join the repeating chord riff creating another simple yet uplifting and playful mood which cant fail to get under your skin. closing the ep we have a wonky, shuffling house track which once again shows sam proving less is more, sampling his key elements into the mpc and jamming out the arrangement in a live and improvised way which brings a fresh, somewhat naive appeal to the production.

second release from delusion, presenting a various artists dancefloor orientated four tracker including tracks by michal jablonski, philip firek and delusion residents stefan tews and smbr. uncompromising techno tools filled with pushing sub basses versus playful acid and epic pads.

up next on hot creations is the hugely influential leftroom records boss, matt tolfrey. well known for bringing fire to the dancefloor as well as to his productions, this punchy two-parter is no exception. on title track americas, tolfrey delivers a peak-time slice of rolling electronic goodness with pounding pads that bounce around the percussion, with a drum and vocal loop that lure you in. regain the past is laden with throbbing bass and subtle vocal stabs that gently caress your ear before thrusting you headfirst into the break. matt tolfrey has come a long way since his musical journey began. spotted by craig richards and invited to play at his fabric night, this culminated in the honour of recording fabric 81. since then tolfrey has become a mainstay in the scene. playing countless clubs and festivals across the globe, he also holds down residencies at stealth in nottingham, bar americas in guadalajara and r33 in barcelona. productions can also been seen on esteemed labels such as cuttin headz, phonica, crosstown rebels, rekids and his own impressive imprint, leftroom.

helrad limited is a scottish-based electronic dance label and has been created by helrad for releasing underground techno tracks. the pivotal aim is to provide and focus the efforts on selecting top quality pieces of production. the first release is produced by the label owner helrad and containing one track and 2 loop based dj tools with dope and atmospheric analog synth sequences. also, three stunning and fantastic remixes produced by some of the best producers in the underground scene. legendary techno veteran and techno maestro steve stoll , who recently produced on nina kravitz ’s golden trip records, delivered a storming and powerful dark, proper techno remix with a tremendous and massive effect on the dance floor arena. stanislav tolkachev ,techno pioneer from ukraine who has recorded on top-notch labels, such as semantica and mord records, handed over an experimental and psychedelic minimalistic dj friendly remix with magnificent modular analog synth sequences which can easily flirt with the crowd’s mind. hans bouffmyhre , sleaze records owner and established artist within the worldwide techno scene deliveres a top class remix with his unmistakable bass drum, in addition to an organic arrangement and epic ethereal pads and chords.

georgian producer hamatsuki appeared on gasp last year with the uncertain loops cassette release, but makes his vinyl debut on this damn fine 12- for the recently minted sensu label. -remember- is a rich, undulating swirl of deep house laden with melancholic pads, while -rett- sports a sunnier tone for its own arsenal of soft, rounded synth tones. dj sports comes on board for a remix of -rett- that plays with said synths and creates springy, computer jazz melodic threads out of them. -inexplainable inner sadness- completes the set with another trip into warm, chicago-indebted house tones for the introspective dancer.

dj deep and roman poncet first launched their collaborative project sergie rezza back in 2015 on desire records, and now the project makes a welcome return with another dose of utterly stellar deep house concoctions that go beyond the average while maintaining a sense of classicism about them. -envole- is a sumptuous blend of snaking rhythm, spacious pads and cosy keys, all draped in exotic garms that make this a transcendental house cut to treasure. there are also more adventurous trips into percussive territory on the focused and deadly -le reveil,- crafty jazz diversions to be soaked up on -max- and poised ambient pieces -eclipse- and -procession- to seal the deal.

transmitting treacherous local energy into his new creative undertakings, bogdan now joins the not an animal force keeping the flame well and truly ignited. a parovoznikov fires across all cylinders with a vigorous italo-arp bass motor, driving it further down the cosmic highway, engine doused in fully-lubricated synth-pad oil. justin van der volgen s remix swiftly rips the wing mirror clean off with a zealous two-to-the-floor-hitting blowout. on the b, listopad cruises top down with a more balearic approach. a dreamy square bass glissades alongside percussive hats and succulent pads that shuffle within the horizon, whilst computer bleeps chomp and add an intensifying clarity. kito jempere s remix closes the release with his first contribution to the label. it lifts up the original and drives towards sundown into moonlight. warping bass tones squelch against fetching stabs and brash breaks keeping this track fully pulsating.

austrian imprint luv shack records is opening up yet another chapter in 2018 by welcoming irish house and techno aficionado and misfit resident andrew johnston aka moodtrax and his own-brand of super warm and brooding sound to their stable. the perfect illusion ep opens up with never can get away, a steamy & dreamy cut that sucks you right in to its lair of thick pads and trancy sequences, which are contrasted by a carefully programmed synth bassline and a stomping house beat. the title track immediately evokes early chicago warehouse jam feelings, with bass sequence, detuned chords and classic drum patterns all oozing of old analogue roland machines. the meticulously arranged percussions section and a set of eerie strings and pads make this one definitely stand out from the crowd. running number starts as a no-nonsense house track, carried by a beefy unisono bassline and a 16th note heavy drum pattern, yet it transcends into 80s territory with the help of a deeply emotional chord progression that might just make you forget you re in a club. berlin duo longhair give running number the luvremix treatment, really digging deep into that chord progression and building a melody and synth-bell infused italo-house track around it that should make this years festival crowd weep and rejoice alike.

grego after all’s underthesea is back with an ep by the polish artist eltron, who has been a big supporter of the label’s vision since the beginning, headlining its inaugural party and contributing to its podcast series. ‘le volte’ is his first release for the label, including three original cuts and a remix by the canadian producer basic soul unit. eltron is probably best known for his quirky, playful, driving house sound with roots in disco, as illustrated in his productions here. the narrative of ‘le volte’ starts with ‘la prima’, full of anticipation and discovery as we set out to explore a new oceanic territory. once the clock strikes two, we find ourselves in a sub-aquatic discotheque with ‘un’altra’, dancing to the rhythm of classic chords revisited with a contemporary touch. meanwhile, ‘l’ultima’ represents a voyeuristic peek into the world of seductive mermen. finally, when basic soul unit gets his hands on ‘la prima’, he transforms the track with complex drum patterns and whirlwind pads with a sense of empowerment to conquer the mood of any dancefloor.

second ep from raär on his own label, with his recognisable sound signature he continue to show us his vision. from the delicate and lush pads of the side a to the gloomy and noisy synths of the side b.

spanish techno artist aiken is back on his own timeline label with another ep that offers up four more of his evocative takes on the genre. it comes after previous outings on non series and semantica and is his label’s first release since 2016. “basic principles” is up first and mesmerises with a pulsing lead synth line that forever changes shape. pummelling drums power along below and add up to a disorientating and hypnotic overall effect. “theory” is deeper and more rubbery, with manic synths and pads all racing along and pilling on the pressure while “midline” is right out fo the jeff mills playbook with its molten sci-fi synths journeying through outer space. clean, crips drums are upright and taught and get you on your toes, then “restriction” closes things out in superb minimalist fashion. this ep covers plenty of ground, and all of it is utterly compelling.

after recent outings from the likes of felix leifur and tlim shug, frits wentink is back on his own bobby donny label. his previous releases have been solo affairs but this time he is in collaboration with tristan hallis aka dj boring. the origins of london based dj & producer lie in australia, where he was raised and cultured amongst some of the most interesting musical phenomena of the 21st century a1 is an inventive tune with bristling drums and break beats run through with warped vocals, razor sharp hi hats and mellow padts deep but dynamic and will get you on your toes. b1 then chops up more trippy vocal samples and curious synth sounds with elastic, pinging kick drums and makes for something woozy yet groovy and full of intrigue. last but not least, b2 channels classic deep house vibes with balmy pads, garage style percussion and more slick drum work that really brings something fresh. this is a trio of cuts that bring the best out of each producer and results in truly original music.

deep, soulful and techy treats by maestro eric ericksson. eric has been releasing his music since the early nineties on labels like fragile and planet e. in resent times eric’s music can also be found on papa records, local talk and freerange, to name a few. an elegant four tracker that starts out with the uncompromising and crude track ”greed”, followed by ”acquiescence” with its sharp and classy shuffles, lush strings and big sounding pads. the flip side starts of with ”totality”. complete, raw sounding with morphing dubby stabs, combined with rough grooves and punching beats. the ep ends off with the pulsating, dreamy and sensitive track ”closure”. nothing is left by chance when eric shows his vision and approach for modern electronic music.

seb zito has been one of the main movers for fuse london since the labels inception and his good to me ep continues the producer/djs accent. take no one kicks things off, its 90s tech-house influence being worn on it s sleeve with it s no nonsense b-line driven groove. so good to me delves somewhat deeper, pads and synth work offering up warmth for a blissful 4am ride. hit ends things with an altogether quirkier affair.

spatial cues is a series of split singles sounding out main(void)s and kon jansons shared musical space. operating out of berlin and london, the two artists join forces to showcase their mutual vision of techno music. cues004 accelerates the series to 133 bpm and ramps up intensity with thumping kick drums and uncompromising arrangements that revolve around ceaseless chord stabs. with its hypnotizing chord pattern drifting in and out of arced echoes and subtle shifts in timbre, cues004 as haunting atmosphere radiates a surreal sense of weightless pressure, paradoxically soothing and violent at the same time. based on a divergent theme that contrasts upfront chord stabs and ruthless 909 cymbals with easeful pads and finespun textures, cues004 b builds up to a transition that disrupts the deeper elements with a stripped-down pattern, fully carving out the track’s inherent grittiness.

serge devant returns to one of his favoured labels with his white groove ep, delivering a pair of deep, textured tracks thatll vitalise any rigid dancefloor. archie hamilton makes his crosstown rebels debut and supplies a punchy, tripped-out revision of lead track, white groove. white groove is an absorbing mix of rumbling sub bass, soft, textured percussion, and ethereal pads. loose percussion and a tough kick carve out the initial vibe on connect to server. a hypnotising, low-riding synth is the final layer and helps generate even more groove into this peak time roller. archie hamilton switches up white groove, revising the bassline into a buzzing, forward pushing rhythm but retains the mystical feel of the original, bolstering the whirring pads and using intricate percussive sounds and fx. serge devant hails from brooklyn, new york and released his seminal track fearing love in 2015 on emerald city. since then he’s been championed by damian lazarus, a firm favourite on both crosstown rebels and rebellion, whilst also receiving plaudits for his releases on knee deep in sound and circus recordings. moscow records, moss.co and arkityp owner archie hamilton is one of the uks most promising talents, consistently releasing high quality house and techno on the likes of get physical, fuse london, 2020 vision, fear of flying among others.

back to the future and northern velkommens to bro morken. eps for prins blud thomas full pupp show early production chops, but its his residency as part of oslos jaeger crew where the range of styles is truly showcased. appearances on trushmix series and his recent road trippin cassette for l.i.e.s last year show depth(charge) dj on a roll, but its setting up the moonlighting label where vibes came alive via some electro bass tribal sub bass wonder. jungle dialects! all and more over these 5 cuts afro-bump-shuffle-rat-tat-hats-acid-stab-meets-storyville-dark-tom-toms-pads-relentless-hypnotic-down-down-electro-italo-endings-and-bass!

tenderness is four cuts of emotional dance music from super tuff label head, m. vaughan. with galloping shakers underpinned by a weighty sub-bass, the a1 cut moon river is a blue-eyed peak time anthem. turn around! is an a2 track with heavy duty low end and a tender pitch shifted vocalia wonky patchwork of melodies that sums to something reminiscent of early herbert. for the b-side, tenderness at 117 bpm is a soft, opening tune that serves up a breaky drums, liquid pads, and a well-placed harp solo. -when it all happens. is a dj aakmael inspired groover that leaves the ep with a driving kick, chunky moog bass, and a vocal sample wailing out from the pains of heartbreak. dont cry! get intimate with a brand new copy of m. vaughans tenderness from super tuff.

rising greek producer g.u.s steps up on equivalence with some pumped up vintage techno sounds that take more than a few cues from the uk.shelf cloud strikes a fine balance between tough and dreamy, using a twitchy set of drums moving at a decent pace and flooding them with atmospheric pads and a slice of vocal that forms a central hook to the track. halo goes even deeper into british territory with its chopped up breakbeat funk calling to mind the dexterous sample magic of stasis, and then haze phenomenon heads into deep tech house territory riding a pumped up shuffle beat and swooping pads.

discobar re-launches in search of other galaxies with its second outing from toulouse-based duo zendid. they take us on three voyages through the electro-infused house grooves they made their name with, while still finding time to bring in mayaan nidaam for a remix. space has us seeing stars right from the start, with an alien menagerie conversing over a strict-form beat. the bassline on virgin virgin is big enough to give you butterflies, tempered by stellar synths and wordless vocal clips. berlin 6 takes the bass for a lighter walk and finally, mayaan nidam remixes space into a nebulous and reflective place, pads breaking through the thick atmosphere mid-track for a moment of zero gravity meditation.

sb editz returns! jad & the open up proceedings with a dubbed out balearic boogie bomb, with tender games taking the a2 intertwining infectious guitar licks and synth lines into a supercharged groover. on the b side swales incorporates a funked out bass and plucked riffs over the top of some sizzling percussion. finally label founders slothboogie close out the ep laying a tasty 303 line & weighty kick over floaty pads and a choice vocal snippet. 4 cuts, 4 artists, 4 winners!

fireplays (also spelled -fireplais- on second single) was the moniker chosen in 1981 by italian producer franco pagliaccia foran instant-band project composed by him and a few other musicians. -allein- b/w -hormone- was released in mid-1982, and as can be clearly heard, both tracks clearly show the mutation disco as a genre, started having at the very beginning of the 80s in europe: ablend of electro disco, along with new-wavish elements and some classic era-blueprint sonic elements: synth driven melodies, filtered vocodered choruses, pads, swirling cosmic sounds, cowbells, all topped by a powerful male voice that will give genuineconnoisseurs an exact zeitgeist, along with assured goosebumps.

two new tracks launching the new irvine welsh book dead mans trousers the final installment in the trainspotting series. the a1 is a hypnotic acid work-out with a trademark sound produced straight out of paranoid londons studio complete with renton s musings over the top. on the flip you re sucked into a dark tunnel of renton s mind, rocked by a chance encounter with begbie. haunting pads intensify the monologue before a pulsating heartbeat of a kick comes through underneath. hand numbered 12inch with hand stamped effect artwork.

still steamin from his turner street sound collaboration, midnight tenderness serves up a dreamy first solo offering with a fire-cracker of a four-tracker for sydneys ken oath records. the opener refresco is a bleary eyed house number with gently propulsive 707 cowbells and shaker rhythms over smooth pads & an infectiously jazzy bassline. the four to the floor mould is quickly broken as the ep progresses - terme is a midtempo electro track that retains all of the dreaminess of refresco while punching in some swish drum programming. flipping the record over, bevanda is a sweaty miasma of sub-bass, fm flutes and birdlike synth leads that could soundtrack an imaginary club located in the middle of queenslands tropical rainforests. the eps closer, hydra, pushes the tempo way down and introduces some smooth guitar licks, courtesy of riffin rory as well as some lithe flute play. the end result is a sleazy new jack swing jam that works as well for warm-up as it does for cooling down. if youre tired of buying boring club 12inches, look no further! this one will be as comfortable coming through your home stereo as it will be in the club

the ninth release on the dsr-c series comes from rhine. a new name with his roots in atmospheric techno steps up for his first solo ep.the ninth release on the dsr-c series comes from rhine. a new name with his roots in atmospheric techno steps up for his first solo ep. de storm opens the account with a loose collage of textured drums and scuffed-up synths. it makes for a bubbly groove that journeys far off into the night while de bron is more rooted underground, with cavernous echo chambers run through by supple bass synths and icy hi hat trails. spooky and haunting, its a track to send shivers down your spine. last of all, het meer is a watery affair, with aqueous drips and drops, radiant pads and then more tightly coiled drums brushing up against one another to make for something atmospheric but also nicely driven. all three tracks are characterised by a rather tender and reflective mood that makes them all the more unique.

valby004 welcomes two new artists into the vr family!
the a side is 11 minutes of rolling house hypnosis delivered by mryn from france. a versatile track that suits both, the dance floor and the hazy view from a plane window.
the b is jeigo’s “pearl leaf”. an end-of-set emotional garage tune. tear-jerking pads, soaring and swelling synths, with a vocal line characterising heartbreak.

for clandestino s fifth offering berlin s italiano in residence jose manuel drops his unique strain of exotic club music once again exploring deep, ritualistic and tribal influences to great dramatic effect. human behaviour is a woozy nine minute opus. rich in atmospherics, chanting and ethnic flutes. clandestino s remix refines the track for the dance-floor, retaining the atmosphere and injecting a driving 303 line and jamming afro keys. upping the tempo on bangalore a great ethnic guitar hook drives along the groove while disorienting chants and tribal percussion flutter underneath. mushrooms project turn out an essential blissful sundown version by extending out the pads and adding gentle warm keys dj support: tim sweeney, tensnake, chris coco, phil mison, severino horse meat disco, bawrut, forriner, in flagranti, sean johnston, phil cooper, tronik youth, marvin & guy, jdh (fixed / good room nyc), andy (soft rocks), justin strauss, chris (soft rocks), danielle moore/crazy p, ooft!, ian blevins, alvaro cabana / rotten city, peaking lights, eddie c, reza athar

bedrock returns with a stunningly designed and expertly produced 12 inch from eagles & butterflies vs john digweed & nick muir. crazy diamond opens up proceedings, coupling pulsating bleeps and percussive synths alongside a hard hitting kick. soon you re swept up in swarm of strings that elevate this track to new heights big room at it s best. flip it over and divenire sucks you into a web of arps and pads woven behind a pounding kick and disorientating panned snare samples, that ll entice you in until you re completely lost in those hypnotic rhythms

having established partisan with a bedrock of essential talent, anthea steps out with her debut ep. “smile” kicks off the ep with infectious techno, a healthy dose of acid, and funk induced drum programming. “everything is aok” plots a deeper, trippier course with intricate layers of synth and drum patterns to create a truly hypnotic mind and body workout. whilst “nrg for daze” presents the softer side of partisan, bringing gentle pads into the mix without losing the all-important acid undercurrent that makes for such powerful dance floor material. her “state of mind” ep is the perfect statement on where anthea is at on her artistic trajectory, as a producer, dj and label head.

jonah sharp & dj spun pair up as the loose control band to drop a punk-inspired single on rekids with remixes from label founder radio slave and shut boss ryan james ford. having released a large body of work as spacetime continuum (astralwerks) or alongside david moufang as reagenz (workshop), not to mention significant collaborations with the likes of terence mckenna, haruomi hosono and bill laswell, jonah sharp is unquestionably a highly respected producer. his seminal label reflective played an important role in the experimental ambient and techno scene during the ‘90s, whilst as a remixer he’s worked with music by nine inch nails, meat beat manifesto and matthew herbert. meanwhile, jason drummond has long been a commanding force within new yorks electronic music scene, such as running his prestigious warm up music series or his all night rong parties with regulars like dj harvey. hes also been djing and producing as dj spun for two decades, appearing on golf channel recordings as well as his own illustrious imprint rong music, which used to release music collaboratively with dfa. i dont understand sees a raw and uncompromising side to both artists as they layer a cacophony of murky bass, twisted melodies and mind-bending bleeps whilst drummonds turbulent vocals bellow throughout the mix. staying faithful to the original, radio slaves remix incorporates a heady rhythm with its rolling beat as screeching effects join a moody bassline. moving into techno territory, ryan james fords akihabara remix features rattling percussion and crystalline synths whilst his hope remix is built on an intricate drum sequence as soaring pads and echoing keys contrast with the originals piercing vocal.

argentinian veteran jorge savoretti has been djing for more than 20 years, and his first release for esperanza records traces back to 2005. in this time laps he has produced 2 albums, 20 eps and a great number of remixes, on labels such as raum musik, visionquest and ilian tape. his debut on cadenza is a crisp breeze of graceful music for dancing. side a starts point-blank with bou gei bouncing shuffle, driving bass line, lively cymbals, sparkling band-passed chords, summing-up jorge s true dedication to nightclubs and nightlife. with no reprieve, ruth suspicious pads lurk behind a funky swinging rhythm spruced up by a continuous surfacing of snare rolls and giggly stabs. on the b side, sensu dub explores without hesitation darker textures and resonances, leaving no concessions to leave the dancefloor. finally u-fonk #04.01 dives into sweating hotblooded late-time hours, with am hypnotising deep-toned coil, soaked of greasy riffs and gloomy fumes.

following on from the odd pair of sox that was oddsox vol. 1, we have been busy curating our next journey and we have recruited some fine talent to guide us on this ride. we go across the globe, straddle the stratosphere before going on an interstellar adventure. leading the way is switzerlands m44k. gaining a proper reputation online for his sublime edits and lo-fi cuts (last years e-beamz with dj seinfield for example), we have caught m44k on a serious deep exploration with infectious bassline and dreamy pads. we couldnt think of a better way to lift off oddsox vol. 2 than marsone. parisian, larry houl, follows up with algerian flag on the moon. another elbow moving bassline that youll be humming nonstop, and some sumptuous, glorious pads. working closely with flabaire in secret value orchestra and a release on london imprint feelings ldn, larry is absolutely one to look out for! flipping over to the b, let your mind and soul wander with mesta. with a delightful release on blind jacks journey and his own label dropping serious heat from harrison bdp, aleksandir delivers a divine blend of dream house and rough, rugged, rumbling bass. bringing us back down to earth is a man from portland, who is on some serious form. coming to our attention with his release on 100% silk, akasha systems deep and dark astral jam ends the cosmic trip with a bang. support and love from: dabj, dom capello, eclair fifi, peach, trp, red rackem, mark archer, marco bernardi, grant, fabrice lig, derek carr, piff records and more.

reaching its 15th release, amphia sees the return of cezar lazar’s double ep, intuitively called “archetypes”. known for his innovative approach both behind the decks and productions, cezar’s creative alter-ego enacts a variable puzzle with hard-edged sonic pieces laid out over five tracks, each with their own distinct acoustic palette. side a holds “equtime”. this side-long track envelops a stripped-down melody with perforated rhythmical pads, fleshed out with disconnected threads of vocals. side b is dedicated entirely to “badgervox”. displaying a weighty bass section alongside the shuffled percussion work, its intricate melody is integrated smoothly creating a unique soundscape. “thicken court” holds the first half of side c. sharp in its composition, it holds an assorted percussion ensemble and a collection of fizzy waveforms. they complement a thunder-like bass protagonist that holds the center stage. we continue with “boe dark”, where textures and sharp tones grow in layers upon layers creating tension. the apex is reached when modular timbres are hindered by sparse piano patterns, completing this electro-acoustic scenery. on the flipside, “wedmar” holds the key to our puzzle with its accurate four-to-the-floor feat. with a series of programmed overlapping organ vibes, the sound feels both piercing and intense, creating a sort of sensory impairment. “archetypes” displays cezar lazar s gentle subtleties and fluency in different dialects of idm.
(text by: bianca iulia)

pinkman records presents five years of tears: a string of releases dedicated to celebrate the 5th birth year of the label. the first volume features contributions by 3 of the labels usual suspects, as well as newcomer randstad. ernestas sadaus powerful, raw and menacing cut starts sets the scene for alessandro parisi to delve deep into his synthesizer toolkit. what comes out is a highly emotional production, infused with sirens and melodies that may cause tearful mourning on the dancefloors. on the b side identified patient provides yet another one of his notoriously slow and filthy underground creepers, while randstad delivers another burst of energy that celebrates raw percussion, gloomy pads and haunting vocal samples.

tartelet records is 10. to celebrate a decade in the cut, they re out a home run of new material from label mainstays & fresh signings in 2018. to kick things off, the label is enormously proud to set free endless light –– a new record from oakland newcomer space ghost.
coming on like a brainchild to dam funk & mutant beat dance, ghost s sound falls off the shelf between a number of distinct reference points: lone s early tropical synaesthetics, the modern funk of funkosphere, the intimate tapes out of ppu. in a sea of soundcloud copycats, he s a revelation.
endless light is a record with an open hand: an instantly appealing sound from a new producer with a highly-tuned ear. born of his collection of antique synths & drum machines, the space ghost experience channels a deep heritage of 1980s funk minimalism & analogue boogie. velvet pads, hood-rat sleaze & heaped spoonfuls of soul.

somewhere between dub and space lies the work of unknown wonders, like the one created by normal stage. a1 starts like part of a typhoon taking everything in it’s path. the pounding sub will crunch the dancefloor vibeing towards the core of the nervous system. the tunnel is open: b1 will open a star gate through precise push and pull movements. there is light at the end, but the trip is long. it’s a time travel where senses are altered. b2 takes us back to the ground where it all started. heavy basslines and lush pads are chanting in celestial ambiance. the drum of earth is the heart of the dance, a ritual for all things normal.

very limited repress. long awaited amazing longplayer by jay bliss! after a few years of releasing quite a bunch of eps on various labels, jay bliss has pulled down the throttle for a while. this doesnt mean that he took time off from the studio, on the contrary, he perfected his signature sounds. spending time to bake his own imprints aswell, its only natural that his first lp will see the light of day on stomping grounds. lush and organic pads, playful textures and attention to details are the building blocks of this introspective work, divided into 6 pieces. in perfect tune with the acoustic aesthetics, max binski creates a clean, yet beatiful peace of artwork. vinyl only.

the berlin based gel abril kicks off his new closed circuits label in a full form presenting a strong record by talented polish artist oskar szafraniec, a crafted producer, known by his latest 12” on rawax with ricardo villalobos, eps on murge recordings, cyclo or collaborations with pier bucci. for the debut release on closed circuits, oskar has collaborated with the swedish very addictive duo and has delivered his best work to date, a music piece called “borderline”, filled with lush vocals and hypnotic pads that kicks the label with a proper bang.
on the a side - the label boss himself, gel abril, turning “borderline” into a burner, with his very own distinctive groove and effected vocals, surely to be one of the main tracks for 2018! on the flip side, already mentioned original mix of “borderline” and another collaboration by oskar, this time with legendary chilean master pier bucci, bringing minimalistic experimental goodness, perfect for those special after hour moments we all love. gel abril said: “listening to borderline for the first time it just blew my mind and gave me that goosebumps feeling you rarely get with most of music out there these days, i felt very inspired remixing such an magnificent vocal, it is one for the books!”

a zonked-out, spectacularly fun, and dynamic ep from the australian producer whose previous efforts have appeared on lobster theremin s distant hawaii and seb wildbloods all my thoughts. lively, punchy drums throughout, splashes of tropicalia here and there, smatterings of dubby strangeness sprinkled across, and wash upon wash of pads everywhere. a jolly good time to be played in big and small rooms alike.

currently generating some serious heat and momentum amongst dance music aficionados, man power rocks up with a single for futureboogie that further cements the reputation of this rising british producer/dj. the two original tracks are also backed with a remix from ruf dug. alongside his own very excellent me me me label, man power has been delivering diversely epic releases for labels like esp institute, optimo trax, and correspondant. in its original form, barranquilla trifle features rave-lite stabs and deliciously sweeping pads over woody percussion and an omnipresent studry bassline. a dash of acid darkness only energizes the mood, for what must surely be one of the best ‘sunrise moments’ tracks of the year! ruf dug takes barranquilla further on its trajectory towards summertime vibes the sounds of the ocean sea gently breeze over the soca beat, as the ruf kutz main man adds splashes of percussive hits, huge m1 pads, and melodious keys to the party. more 303 business coats kaon from its opening bars, as man power delivers his second original track on the release. an urgent breakbeat and wandering mega-bass soon evolve into thunderous beats and heady synth arpeggios, an almost post-punk funk atmosphere creeps into the bustling yet succinct ambience.