rough house rosie starts its year by introducing area, a project that has seen action on adventurous underground labels like idle hands, sequencias, ethereal sound, and umhs. the moody four track ep opens with sinuous acid house and a rubbery bassline techno stomper, then gets raw and abstract on the b side. visceral and varied electronic music for the soul.

broken arrows are sudeep menon & bill ambrose, both long time affiliates of magic waves radio and cyber dance records. here they don 4 new tracks for the vivod imprint making up their second ep. a slight departure in style from their first outing on giallo disco a couple of years ago, these tracks still have that unique mechanic box jam sound they are becoming known for. female predator kicks things off in a techno fashion. charging drums lead the way with a cool throbbing bassline. fear eats the soul is more of an instrumental 80s wave track with its laid back pads and structure looping away with ease. title track edge of darkness is the stand out track on this ep and won t fail to hypnotize. meandering pads in a cosmische style with rock solid drums , simply awesome. basic structures finishes the ep off and this is more towards their jamming style from their previous ep, more aggressive, blistering hats, slamming kicks et. great ep again from broken arrows !

sharif laffrey can charm the snake out of any basket. this is his first offering for the esp institute. side as tangier is a long drawn-out exercise, an endurance test of the highest order. over the span of some thirteen minutes, elements bob and weave intermittently and layers overlap haphazardly the type of exciting dynamic that s born out of restrictio as if putting down a live jam without enough hands to work the console, yet sharif perseveres. as touch and go as this arrangement may be, there is something that undoubtedly glues it all in place the combination of his massive rolling 16th-note bassline and his tough-as-nails drumkit is so good that, upon first listen, we spat out our tea and insisted on its release. on side b, everything is nice carries on with loose arrangement, dirty production and layers of inexplicable spoken word samples (a sharif calling card by now) but this time we re lead to a melancholy place, the blue comedown to side as antagonistic trial. with his esp institute debut, sharif leaves you mentally unhinged, as if youve smoked something interesting and arrived bewildered in some saharan labyrinth. these two songs will guide you through the medina to score the black meat.

consistently vibrating at a frequency beyond the conventional realms of house and techno, untilmyheartstops returns with a particularly captivating transmission from furtive jazz-peddling beatsmith tom ellis. this release serves as an opportunity for the freerotation regular to move into a techno-inflected space without losing his handle on delicate, evocative pathways through the minimal milieu. the subtle throb of -solastalgia- sounds especially at home on umhs, hinging around snaking machine rhythms and a buttery bassline that could easily go on for days without growing tiresome. watch out for the unavoidable consequence of you though a feisty party heater that finds ellis dipping his toe into the sample / edit snakepit and pulling out a python

ok eg appears from out of nowhere in a haze of the mellowest ambient techno and downtempo delights for your mind to melt into. -creek- is a smooth but strident route in, the tidal lilt of the pads dissected by a finely paced beat loop that should find a comfortable home amongst deepest house heads. -colours- does away with the drums and uses a plaintive sprinkling of keys and delays to create an evocative backdrop for fragile females vocals. -reef i & ii- is the clubbier cut, rolling out over the b side with a looming monosynth bassline and some dub techno inflections making it a smart choice for warm up scenarios especially.

after a brief time away from releasing music in 2017 to refresh his ears, essential house artist argy is back with a bang in 2018, as this debut ep on play it say it proves. greek dj and producer argy has been a prolific talent over the last decade plus, releasing a variety of sounds under a number of different aliases. his given name has always been reserved for house and techno, which is classically informed but always infused with the sound of the future. it’s come on key labels like bedrock, bpitch, ibadan, and most recently the martinez brothers’ cuttin’ headz imprint, and has spawned four fantastic full lengths. those releases, along with his storytelling dj sets, have made the these days label boss a much loved and ever-present part of the global underground scene. the excellent title track the way of kings opens up the ep with seven standout minutes of surging house. slick, powerful kicks drive it along as expertly crafted synths bring real drama and tension up top. it’s a tasteful bit of hi-tech soul for the peak of the night and is as essential as the title suggests. switching up the mood is the vibrant los animales, which has a busier, afro tinged groove and tribal percussive energy. lithe synths dart about to add dynamism and movement as vocal chants get you on your toes and the whole thing is sure to make a huge impact in the club. last of all, move like a panther featuring the new yorker in berlin, elbee bad, shows another side to argy. it’s a perfectly raw house cut with plenty of jacking chicago spirit. the drums hit hard, the synths are trippy and the snares force you to move. add in a dark bassline and spoken word mantras and you have a real piece of explosive club dynamite. these are three typically inventive and well-executed tracks from argy that are stuffed with original ideas.

a classic slice of philadelphia funk from peoples choice, officially remastered and reissued for 2018. here we go again is a definitive, feel-good disco stomper combining a full frontal bassline, infectious keys and staccato guitar licks that effortlessly build and build throughout the track. cries of here we go again ring out at it s peak epitomising the feeling that this groove could last forever. keeping up that perpetual good time groove the b side houses the mighty jam, jam, jam (all night long). a track doused in the funk, from the rugged vocals to the addictive hooks, it ll worm it s way into your head for weeks.

sweat it out up the perspiration levels to 10 with this modern day rework of kwanzaa posse s 1993 tribal infused musika , by the much in form yolanda be cool. a driving beat and dynamic bassline are interspersed with the posse s euphoric chants firmly placing this a dancefloor destroyer. the first of three remixes comes from babert. turning musika into a miami vice style synth laden boogie number, complete with uplifting piano stabs and a full bodied bass. flip it over and things get a little more sinister. both ideal for the basement club setting as much as they d work in the big room clubs. gotsome revolve their remix around the chopped up tribal chants of kwanzaa posse - enhancing the expansive build ups and breakdowns to new heights. to close it out, dateless strips things back with a huge pulsating bass / kick combo whilst dubbing out the chants to be dropped in at choice moments before those heavyweight drops.

ahead of the release of honey dijons upcoming remix album xtra, maurice fulton, ashley beedle, derrick carter and horse meat disco step up to remix records from honeys debut full-length work‘the best of both worlds. on the a-side is honey dijon featuring joi cardwell state of confusion, maurice fulton giving it a new jersey-esque lilt and allowing jois voice to resonate. next up ashley beedle ups the tempo and the energy on his mix of burn, honeys collaboration with tim k featuring jason walker. derrick carter cranks the pressure on catch the beat, crunching out the bassline for an extended industrial backdrop to cakes da killas rap vocals. in stark contrast, the final b-side is a horse meat disco mix of honey and tim ks cover of aquarian dream, look ahead featuring the voice of sam sparro. with all the warmth of a sunny afternoon in the city, the london collective funk the cover all the way up, adding horn blasts for more of a house strut. giving a glimpse of whats to come from the full-length xtra, this is the ultimate vinyl fix from honey and friends to tide you over.

front left records founder elad magdasi is next to appear on sinfols anagram label with four stirring cuts entitled liquid dreams this june. originally hailing from tel aviv, magdasi moved to berlin in 2013 where he has immersed himself in the scene whilst honing his craft in the studio. primarily a platform for his own productions, he launched front left records in 2015 and later debuted on anagrams phasing faces va in 2017 alongside anetha, d?vide and sinfol. he now returns to the label with a four track release of his own. liquid dreams opens the release with a mesmerizing spoken word sample, twinkling melodies and layered atmospherics whilst sporadic hats rattle throughout. thudding kicks, escalating synths and quivering bass then combine together in water damage before moving into the mesmerizing silver lights, which conjures up an otherworldly aesthetic courtesy of arpeggiated notes and crashing cymbals. lastly, never let go exhibits a cacophony of elements such as crystalline chords and a meandering bassline that generate a heightening suspense from start to finish.

one of dortmund s finest exports, mr. fries, returns to wolf music bringing his signature sample heavy house touch back to the label. six tracks of mpc saturated cuts take the stage for wolfep045 with the hazy rhodes, rhythmic stabs and sax flutters of nocturnal opening up the e.p. sun takes things on a percussive workout before work leads you down a road of dusty detroit loops, akin to the productions of the motor city greats. on the flip you get a smokey jazz, sun-drenched roller in getright , moving into junkfoodnmusic which encapsulates that comatosed feeling its titled after down to a t - dropping the pace down into a laid back jam. closing out the ep thesimplethings driving bassline, fizzing percussion & sensual samples offer up a late night groover to round off another stellar outing from mr. fries.

the hotly tipped uk artist makes his debut for drumcode s vinyl only off-shoot. focused on showcasing cutting-edge underground techno, adam beyer s always got an eye on the future when curating drumcode ltd. with impressive releases on tigas twin turbo and dense & pikas kneaded pains imprint, 24-year-old billy turner piqued his interest with his accomplished productions that belied his tender age. taking inspiration from the likes of marcel dettmann, truncate and planetary assault systems, turner s four-track debut dont talk to me about style was birthed in his home studio throughout 2017. the industrious brit delivers a powerful peak-time ep of nocturnal techno that moves between different moods. the title track pops with a thick grinding bassline and trippy synth effects, before escape envelopes you into a subterranean world. diodes follows, a fantastic slice of electrifying techno that bucks like a rodeo bull. the ep concludes with the blazing tunnel, that makes its mark with deft drum arrangements and a piercing call-to-arms siren.

dawit follows up his recent future times dawit & dolo single with a stunner of an ep on his own label. stretched out soul, dizzy hand drums, and silky vocals abound on corona. gravity flexes, new life bops, sufferation dub glides on a deep bassline, and dawit shows off his cords in lunas medley. certified fresh.

yuri shulgin is a multi-instrumentalist music producer from tajikistan. his discography includes a small number of releases from the greek label modernista and the french escapade recordings. animal planet is his contribution on cocktail d amore music. this ep is a live-recorded masterpiece that will lift dance floors into heavenly heights. a1 takes the record title. it s an acid based, genre-blurring piece of music, enveloping and disorienting at the same time. infinite strings melt together to a constant build up, reminiscent of steve reich - double sextet/2x5. boogie space feels like the continuation of the previous track, evoking a cloud of glitter in absence of gravity. walking starts off the b side. its funk future jazz-influenced groove is supported by an organic, as bouncy as timeless bassline. while the stripped down dubby body goes to deep realms, the outro recordtake closes this surreal ep.

beautiful strangers marks the return of theo kottis with this sampler of his debut lp. it reveals a new chapter in his artistic journey in which he resets his creative output, free of compromise, conveying his devotion to the dancefloor, and revealing a new concept that everyone can ascribe to. reasons kicks off the record with a slice of disco tinged house music overlaying infectious guitar and string loops, with slick piano flurries to make for a sure-fire summer winner. the a2 houses the get down a more heavy hitting workout packaged for the dancefloor, with a percussive bassline over the top of a choice breakbeat, tied together by a thumping kick. flip it over and you unearth the lovechild creation of a 303 coupled with a brazilian classic in the form of acid disco. a driving kick / hat combo, squelchy acid and pitched down brazilian vocals offer up a raw but energetic stomper. finally, u need to keep it simple takes you on a more emotive and powerful acid trip. the sweeping synths building throughout the track coupled with soaring strings, alongside an alluring acid line proper!

on a mission is exactly that, a mission of love, a mission of peace . the positive vocals hark back to those of early 90s house tracks, which created unity through music and clubbing. the rhythmic beat of the drum is determined, as percussive layers build and the vocals bleed into the synths. francois k provides two variations of the track. his remix features more prominent drumbeats driven by a growling bassline. on his rockers dub version, francois goes all out and dubs us into the stratosphere. up next is the michael mayer remix, with a more electronic take on the original with driving synths and a whirring, throbbing bass-line.

ltd 7- release with classic chicago house music >>>>
there’s a reason why so many of house music’s early releases have endured over the decades. the best of them have a quality that defies logic. early house records like heard s own -washing machine,- or the -no way back- by adonis, still have the power to stun listeners and drive clubs wild. they sound alien and beautiful, simultaneously ingrained within us and so unlike everything that followed. and few sound as beautiful, or as alien, as -can you feel it.- by 1986, heard—who was born and bred in chicago and been playing in bands as a drummer—had already proved to the world that he was a master of poignant, enthralling house. the previous year’s elegant “mystery of love,” originally released on alleviated records, had featured an insistent ascending bassline repeating under a plaintive, swooning analog synth, with a gentle, conga-led rhythm setting the pace. it was soon rerecorded in a slightly more fleshed-out style, this time featuring frequent collaborator robert owens on vocals—”there’s a moment in our lives when we all must try the mystery of love”—and rereleased on d.j. international.

lion has recently embarked on a solo venture, embracing his love of classic house, techno and spaced out cosmic disco.in its original form, ectsasy combines pacey disco looped beats, seductive vocals, dramatic sweeping pads and arpeggiated synths for a perfect cosmic pop experience.roman flu¨gel delivers a remix of epic proportions, stretching and dubbing out the original over the course of eight tantalising and telepathically charged minutes. a future barbarellas classic in the making for sure!otherworldy atmospherics are at play in i can t forget you , as lion packs in a driving bassline and roaming synths into this techno infused burner! the darker vibes and dubwise sirens are intoxicating and perfectly demonstrates lion s production chops and a producer to look out for!

with pure nordic love, thorgerdur & a:g break out with their first ep together, setting the mood for their concept blossy with a blossy ep. radiant opens up the ride with an electric and uplifting atmosphere, before allure takes over with some tambourine-driven darker techno. on the flipside, the title track introduces a fairly epic theme on top of seductive rhythms with a strong bassline. coming full circle, tingling touches upon the more minimal side, providing trippy elements on top of low-swung 909 grooves, created with a good after in mind.

uk talent josh butler has made a rapid ascension since he burst onto the scene in 2013, winning coveted awards from beatport and dj mag. he now brings his production prowess to hot creations, delivering a club ready two-parter for his debut ep on the label. title track anonymous is made for low ceiling, sweaty basements with its deep, growling bass and select vocal cuts. doesn’t work swiftly follows suit, delivering another dose of rolling, after-hours goodness. a mainstay in the industry, having released on labels such as cuttin headz, relief and desolat, andrea oliva steps up for the remix of anonymous with an acidic bassline and lively breakdown that diffuses into a carnival of synths. since emerging on the scene back in 2013 with his debut got a feeling on mta records, josh butler has firmly established himself as a musical force to be reckoned with. releases followed on coveted labels such as kaoz theory, rejected and cajual. in 2016, butler also launched his own highly regarded imprint, origins

brame & hamo are back with the third release on their eponymous imprint. trants and club orange effortlessly upheld the berlin based duos reputation for dancefloor ready hits, with the latter selling out in one day. picking up where the others left off, limewire ep is a nod to their early influences channelling house, techno, trance and breakbeat. over three tracks, brame & hamo brandish the party starting spirit they are rapidly becoming known for. broken beats feature heavily alongside subtle acid licks, uplifting harmonies and sweltering synth lines. parade rain is a peak time house roller with pulsing bass, meditative pads and airy pipes that polish it off to make a fine rendition to early 90’s house. sports complex the darkest of the ep, builds an intense energy with a heavy hitting 808, shuttering reflections, a driving 303 line topped off with a trance-inducing melody that makes this into a big room bomb. the title track is a breakbeat workout honing a classy piano riff complimented with emotional synths, strings and more acid lines, a fruit for clarity. finally tuff city kids aka gerd janson & lauer round it up with a club ready interpretation of their title track, adding more drum layers, a jittering bassline and a simple but effective melody to finish it off. limewire ep finds the duo exploring a range of influences, expertly referencing various styles whilst still weighing in the sound that is now unmistakably theirs.

giovanni damico keeps amazing things coming and takes it with this release on the mighty label kalakuta soul records to the next level. joining forces with the mighty gabriele spagnuolo and francesco di domenico on guitars and saxophone, the italian boogie doctor brings to life three filthy stompers inspired by amazing artists from the african continent who have shaped what we now call (dance) music. to felas people is one of three stompers delivered for this joint teaming up with mr. villy odili - lead singer of the amazing nigerian band villy and the extreme volumes - whos precise lyrics and drifty voice joins forces with a charging afrobeat rhythm hailing from giovanni damicos bad ass laboratory. afro stomp and baba on the other side come with the most furious drums and bassline one could ever imagine accompanied by a celestial instrumentation that hits the mind, the soul and the hips.

ditongo is telling tales through samples and loops in these two tracks. divided into two chapters each (spot the ghost-marker on the vinyl), he digs deep into samba for the first time with “berimbau”, giving the leading role to a hypnotic organ, while the second track “you know nothing” goes back to funk, dominated by a fat bassline.

ahead of a full-length album coming on glitterbox recordings, the king of disco re-edits dr packer presents the second instalment of this 12inch series. different strokes part 2 features four dr packer versions of soulful house favourites, giving a flavour of whats to come from the lp. kicking off with a bonafide classic, dr packers take on soulsearchers cant get enough! maintains all its most iconic elements, the euphoric vocals and timeless groove given a fresh-sounding elasticity. next up is dr packers remix of the shapeshifters evergreen lolas theme recut appearing for the first time on vinyl. an exclusive to this vinyl release, a remix of johnny corporates sunday shoutin picks up the pace with a funking bassline to suit any dynamic disco set. rounding off this foursome of impeccable remixes is cleptomaniacs featuring bryan chambers all i do, a vocal house classic from the early noughties, reinterpreted masterfully for todays glitterbox dancefloor which was originally featured on the labels a disco hï compilation. dr packer has done it again, breathing new life into your most beloved dance records so you can fall in love with them all over again.

limited to 300 copies with sticker and picture - here we have silk cutlery, the debut ep from jive talk on white label only imprint, not for you records. it’s upfront, chunky and totally tight disco to make you, well, jive! first up is love jones, a bouncy bassline and delicious pitched up vocal illustrate the producers shrewd ear for uncomplicated grooves and is clearly primed for the dancefloor. percussie sanway builds gloriously into an out and out stream roller of a track with its glitzy tinges and irresistible bass drive. wrapping up the record we have some low slung crunk, guided by a vocal tease from wycleff throughout. on repeat! this tantalising inception from the london boys is surely a pledge to everything that is right about the genre. grab it while it’s hot!

this may sees climbers & teddy wong collaborate on a moody single entitled it s all about house ep , featuring remixes from haze-m, ekai & baum, recalde and andre vii. over the last couple of years, mexico s climbers has been releasing on get physical, bunny tiger, and turbo, not to mention touring the globe playing shows in europe, north america and south america. meanwhile, fellow compatriot and rngds music founder teddy wong has been making his mark with releases on desert hearts and monotonik. joining them on remix duties is tunisian artist and haze music boss haze-m, a collaboration between viva s ekai and elrow s baum, lost beach club resident recalde and platino founder andre vii. it s all about house opens with rattling drums before a booming bassline and tantalizing synths join a murky male vocal, leading into the rhythmic haze-m remix with its menacing synth that evolves into floating melodies. next up, ekai & baum s remix is an all-out acid roller, leading into deeper territories with recalde s percussive and twisted remix until andre vii s syncopated version chops up the lyrics until they re almost unrecognizable.

the next modern hypnosis sees the first official vinyl release from another channel. the young german producer jonas schachners (another channel) has been at the fore front of the new wave of ‘dub techno’ that has been lurking in the underground over the last few years. his dubbed out analog sound has left some accrediting his productions as ‘picking up where rhythm & sound left off’. his debut 12” gives us two very unique tracks. the a side ‘lord 35’ is an energetic synth driven tune which sitting at 135bpm, in a two-step style is made for the dance. the b side ‘corruption’ sees an international connection with the original composition created in germany by another channel, then the overdubbing of vocals supplied by ethiopian vocalist enushu taye (the black jesus experience) in her native amharic, recorded and mixed by mystik in his melbourne studio. the warm analog stabs and punchy bassline accompanied with enushu taye’s haunting vocals makes for a beautiful piece of music.

fina records welcome jad & the for a new ep that shows off the australian-born, berlin-based producer’s majestically melodic house sound. a special dub from 6th borough project makes this another essential release. before now jad & the has served up tracks of the year (‘strings that never win’ - mixmag 2017), fronted four piece live act mitzi—who played alongside the likes of nile rodgers—and also produced as jad & the ladyboy, all the while picking up fans like moxie and bradley zero. sonar kollektiv and toy tonics have put out his charming sounds before and this new one is another joyous offering. the feel good ‘2 getha (4 eva mix)’ kicks things of with old school drum breaks and loved-up vocals. big smeared pads, a new age melody and classic bassline line finish it off and carry you away to summery house heaven. ‘twist club’ then drops into lush deep house with a long legged bassline tumbling beneath organic drums. it’s a dreamy and romantic cut before ‘disco hold down’ has live sounding jazz drums, choppy vocals and rough edges that take you to the heart of a vibe-fulled basement party. delusions of grandeur’s 6th borough project serve up a dub that’s more stripped back and built on a big rubber bassline. jacking drums and a more rapturous vocal make it a truly steamy jam.

radio slave’s colossal ‘the revenge’ track now gets expert remix treatment from klasse wrecks label head luca lozano. luca has also released on the likes of optimo, sex tags ufo and unknown to the unknown and brings a raw, acid tinged sound to his beats. as a performer lozano’s versatile dj sets span between raw house, cosmic disco and dynamic breakbeat selections, which is why he’s become a regular at key clubs across europe and tasteful festivals like houghton. his ‘how bow dis’ remix’ is solid and features wild old school flavours in its huge drum breaks, a monstrous bassline and dark filtered vocals. it bangs for seven superbly heavy minutes with plenty of twists and turns along the way, and will transform any club or warehouse into a writhing, sweaty mass in seconds. on the flip, his ‘how bow dah’’ version is based around elastic drums and rumbling bass while a loose synth line darts about up top. some distant synths bring a sense of serenity to the madness and so despite the physical impact of this one, it also has real emotion to it.

repress black vinyl! 5 year anniversary of william devaughn s smooth soul classic remastered and reissued for 2018. diamond in the back / sunroof top / digging the scene with the gangster lean. does it get any smoother than that? stick this record on and get lost in that effortless bassline, sensual guitar licks, coupled with devaughn s silky vocals and you ll be right there kicking back in the cadillac. oft sampled by the likes of nwa and de la soul and covered multiple times, most notably on massive attacks debut album. on the b side you re treated to blood is thicker than water, devaughn s first single giving a taste of the masterfully stylish soul he was to carry throughout his career. repress on black vinyl 140g

b from e (frej garcia levin) represents a new generation of talented young artists making waves in copenhagen. of mexican-danish descent, and born and raised in the notorious tower blocks of the south-western suburbs of copenhagen, the 27-year old is on the up-and-up. in high demand as the founder of boom bap rap group natkat, producer of pop outfit ny sensei (new sensei) and head of tape-only label buddahood, the multi-talent seems to have a hand in everything at the moment. his 2017 debut porno tr-xxx (c.u.p) saw some of the hottest names in the game spinning b from e at last year s dekmantel festival, resulting in offers from several well-known record labels.

his new record on tartelet records comes as four cuts exploring different paths of the garage house sound. the opener dark energy is fueled by filthy breaks and a nostalgic theme that would not be out of place in an early atari computer game. the people (dream mix) is a trippy tour through subtle layered melodies, carried by a stripped-back groove.

on the b-side you will find positive sister (2605 tool) : a chunky cut with a serious bassline. saving the best for last, you will see , rounds off the record in style. a feel-good tune that is sure to get plenty of spins this summer. hot tip!

roy davis, jr. s undaground therapy muzik label relaunches after almost 20 years with al zanders guidance ep. al zanders approach to his first ep of 2018 is as precise as it is whimsical. featuring 4 tracks showing zanders sheer versatile when it comes to making music. opened by piano-percussion track martha s revenge which is made so clearly for dance floors, followed by television, a chance for a closed- eyes boogie be it on a dance floor in the middle of a set, or on the sofa at home. on the b-side, likes for cash s comedic title is met in contrast with a piercing synth top-line and stripped back drums, with just enough of a bassline to sit in-between the drums and synths. closing the ep is guidance, a reflective and a chance for the ep to close as well as it would close a dance floor when the lights come on at the end of the night.

gothenburg based tora vinter brings a sonic journey of two genre defying tracks to bror06, coming from releases on her own my sonic mountain imprint and remix work for fever ray (rabid records). arriving from an impression inspired by female characters of one thousand and one nights, tora starts the ep with the emotive morgiana, presenting minimalist layers of classy percussion over an eight minute bassline workout together with veraluz’s impassioned vocals. following up the a-side is the lush and evocative sheherazade, bringing the listener from atmospheric soundscapes through suggestive drum patterns - featuring a spaced out, stepping remix by dj lily.

making his debut on the label, spanish producer kuo climax is welcomed to the hot creations fold. a solid two track release that has already been heating up dancefloors across the globe, the talented artist showcases his distinct style and proves why he is hotly tipped for 2018. the ep opens up with whyte, a pulsating track with a warped bassline and oozing synths. two and a half minutes deep it disperses into a breakbeat-esque breakdown that dives back into the familiar 4/4 beat. title track nacrem is a smooth roller with an underpinning bass and intergalactic vocal stabs. the ep highlights the spanish producer’s ability to bring balance to his output, providing music perfectly attuned for the floor. born in malaga and now residing in barcelona, kuo climax has released on respected labels such as knee deep in sound, solid grooves and viva music. 2018 will see the producer launch his own vinyl-only imprint, lfofl, that aims to recognise the progress in technology without losing the essence of true dance music.

villalobos and argenis brito getting trippy... to coincide with their 8th year, toitoi gear up for their biggest release yet with ricardo villalobos & argenis brito teaming up under ‘pol & pox’. ‘el malekon’ kicks things off in typically trippy fashion with loose percussive groove and a subdued bassline line whilst disembodied vocals swirl in and out of the mix. ‘rikileaks’ conjures up more aquatic joy, this time with a more pronounced male vocal being the centre point to another beautifully meandering 11 minute ride.

it s time for a fresh new release from the apollonia stable, and this time around we unveil four groovy gems from shonky and tolga fidan working together for the first time, giving us a winning combination and one which is sure to satisfy fans of both artists. the first track dynamo sets the tone for the ep, the bassline has a deadly groove, while playful effects dance around at the top end creating an immersive atmosphere. intergalactic vibes. after that comes bastille , which features a similarly jaunty rhythm with a variety of bleeps, chirps and twangs layered on top on each other to give the track its depth and character, while a menacing b-line does its dirty work in the low end.on the flip we get micro-ondes , a mysterious into the undiscovered lands of planet funk. you feel as though you ve been transported to another world, where warped creatures lurk, calling out for your attention. as for the bass, its rhythm is utterly contagious. finally americana completes the collection, maintaining the unusual use of sound prevalent throughout the ep it utilises a myriad distorted instruments. support in the low end comes via a tough, punchy bass riff.

real name takeshi fukushima, takecha has been a key figure within japan’s electronic music scene for decades and belongs to the same pioneering crew as soichi terada and shinichiro yokota. now in his mid- fifties, ‘deep soundscapes’ is an album encompassing fukushima’s sound with every track written by the producer between 1990 and 2013. intricate percussion and crystalline chords set the tone in ‘deep drive’ before a funky bassline joins serene synths in ‘midnight things’. appearing in soichi terada’s mix for resident advisor (under its promo title ‘deep loop c’), ‘gradual atmosphere’ is comprised of a galloping beat and saccharine chimes, ‘factory 141’ sees takecha demonstrate a murkier aesthetic, whilst ‘rhodes detox’ is a definitive example of takecha’s flair for expertly balancing elements within his productions. an homage to shufflepuck cafe&#769,,, an old mac plus video game takecha would play on a black and white 9- inch monitor back in the day, ‘shufflepuck’ blends ghostly melodies with clicks, whirrs and pops. ‘calm imagination’ is a poignant affair from start to finish with its hypnotising atmosphere, contrasting to the more up-tempo ‘warm rondo’ with its soulful keys and purring low-end. tying it all together, ‘genuine innocence’ is a cut that takecha made two versions of, one with a solo from a pianist and another with more emphasis on the beat, the latter of which appears on this album.-

italian club staple and producer kaiser turns to moc for his debris ep, showcasing three agile techno slices and a remix from exploration records chief johannes volk. “parachute” opens up the release in a spellbinding, energy-heavy manner, with its whirlwind groove and lead taking no prisoners. next up is “debris”, showing off an equally energetic prowess channeling zig zagging synths and a more melodic, yet still heavy strung bassline. “esplosione di colori”, translated as ‘color explosion’ aptly translates into sound what is usually only possible for a paint canvas. a lighthearted, arpegio-ridden track in original, johannes volk works his magic, turning it into a versatile piece of raw, dubby techno.

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.

julian sanza and andre espeut, are two very familiar names in the scene. julian, who hails from argentinian/cuban roots and andre with his french/caribbean heritage, come together to merge electronic dance, modern funk, soul and boogie, creating their own unique melting pot of goodness! there s something distinctly anthemic about perfect system . low slung, synthed up funk, with a house tinge driven by those sweet soulful vocal harmonies - sure to get stuck in your head for days. opolopo opens up the e.p. adding his trademark disco remix magic touch to the original - upping the tempo, laying a shuffling beat behind, pumping up the bassline and getting spiritual on the keys. on the flip the situation remix channels the inner improv funk, keeping the vocals to choice snippets before the sare havlicek dub rounds the e.p. off reworking the bass synth to the point where it exudes the sleaze. this is the first in a series of collaborations between these two… keep those eyes peeled!

fragrant harbour once again dig out a cult gem from the seemingly endless vaults of 90s dance music, picking up on a rare and precious gem from a seminal laurent garnier mix and giving it the remaster and reissue it deserves. the artists responsible, broccoli brothers vs righteous men, hailed from germany and were trying to emulate mike dunn. -catch it (calm manoeuvre)- is a spaced out deep house track with all the gritty impact of a classic jam, while -catch it (jam)- gets decidedly rowdy with its hefty kick, jacked up swing and wonky bassline. on the b side -ruhrschnellweg (last exit stahlhausen mix)- brings a little detroit flavour into the mix with spectacular, uplifting results.

!! repress !! points new year, new concept: maceo plex locks down 2018 with a fabriclive mix and his new mutant series that sets out to explore the more mutated side of his signature cosmic techno further than ever before. similar to his conjure series in 2015, the new releases will reside across labels run by peers maceo respects and is inspired by, with some also featuring on his much loved ellum imprint. correspondant are proud to release the debut ep, mutant 1. three tracks deep, each version tells the same story from a different perspective, mutant disco tells it from the bassline’s point of view as a latent funk thumps with wry mischief, mutant dx shows things from melodic side with its rolling bulbous bass lead while mutant moog closes the ep by surging us even deeper into the stars with a crisp sinewy arpeggio that sucks us in and, like all card carrying mutants, refuses to let us go. time to mutate.

ludovic llorca is back under the art of tones guise with his fourth single, where the one is. the title track with its bustling bassline, shuffling beats and clever fills accompanied with jazzy chords is a masterclass in the art of tones house sound. next up is double wheelin an instant pleaser for anyone enjoying a soulful and effortlessly groovy fusion of bluesy vocals mixed with classic us deep house, in other words impossible to dislike. last but not least ludovic give his spin, a reprise de fonk , on the title track to finish the ep in fine style.

digital releases his second lp within 2 years called -total control-. &#8232,,,,its not a massive collab fest like his 2016 lp ‘synthesis’ although, there’s a few on there with artists nomine, john b, villem and digital’s phantom audio partner, spirit. a strong jungle vibe runs right through this lp. the opening track, ‘motherland’ has crisp breaks, a bassline to die for and a haunting unforgettable vocal. other highlights are seba’s lush remix of digital & response’s, ‘silver lining’. ‘on the rockz’ sounds like a solid piece of 1998 drum and bass, ‘total control’ is superb and certainly one for the hardcore ravers, ‘dreamer’ takes you on a journey you’ve never been before. this is the first of 4 records, pressed on red vinyl.

digital releases his second lp within 2 years called -total control-. &#8232,,,its not a massive collab fest like his 2016 lp ‘synthesis’ although, there’s a few on there with artists nomine, john b, villem and digital’s phantom audio partner, spirit. a strong jungle vibe runs right through this lp. the opening track, ‘motherland’ has crisp breaks, a bassline to die for and a haunting unforgettable vocal. other highlights are seba’s lush remix of digital & response’s, ‘silver lining’. ‘on the rockz’ sounds like a solid piece of 1998 drum and bass, ‘total control’ is superb and certainly one for the hardcore ravers, ‘dreamer’ takes you on a journey you’ve never been before. this is the second of 4 records, pressed on yellow vinyl.

kim ann foxmans firehouse imprint storms into 2018 with an extra special re-release of the 1994 rave classic scott richmond and john selway aka psychedlic research lab, keep on climbin.the package features both original mixes alongside two outstanding remixes from deetron and kim ann foxman. mix 1 and mix 2 sound as glorious now as they did when they were released. mix 1, a bold, breakbeat construct, chopped vocal and emerging acid lines. mix 2 places four to the floor. it’s deeper with added percussion, soft chord stabs and an almighty breakdown to the drop. deetron makes his debut on firehouse with a tough, grinding version, underpinned by his signature, gnarling bassline sound. kim ann foxman incorporates acid lines to her revision. it builds intensely from start to finish, using angela johnsons iconic vocal loop to perfection.

its a pleasure to get behind your friends from around world, in fact that’s the motive behind the breadth of the esp institute catalogue, but its truly a special feeling to represent your friends and your neighborhood at the same time. producers sonns (alexandre mouracade) and the mysterious venice beach native tavish graham are both long time friends of the esp institute family, we break bread, we take care of each other, and we cherish our collaborations more than anything, but we’re also neighbors. that said, esp is proud to announce a homegrown endeavor, the debut of sonns & tavish. the two have long been stewards of the los angeles underground, but after loads of early morning banter and the camaraderie that comes with this smoke’n’strobe life, they’ve now committed their singular vision to print—two epic cuts that make us proud. side a’s title track trycksaker is a thumper, a mid-tempo big-drum-laden beast that chugs the whole way through carrying an array of eerie bleeps and fleeting sighs. side b’s roguish days pulls together influences from various corners of the pair’s dj repertoire, gelling a wicked breakbeat with a wormy acid bassline and even more exotic sighs, something that might possibly grow into a signature of sorts. this release is ready just in time for the spring/summer exploits, and we couldn’t be more proud to finally enjoy hearing these heavy-hitters in the club. tip!

hailing from the dark and mysterious world of bunker records, shemale makes a welcome return after many years of silence with this fantastic release on tabernacle. -star chamber summoning- sets a powerful tone - this is ambient music that demands attention through its sheer force of presence. -way to hyperborea- actually taps up some kind of beat structure, but it still behaves like a wayward backroom track with its undulating bassline and gravelly, brutally submerged beat. -shores of the western sea- is all analogue soundtrack bombast of the finest b-movie kind, and -wisdom of the stars- strikes a more nightmarish note in its use of discordant synth drones.

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.