slow glass is not only the debut release by le frère it is also a very personal diary of the last two years of his life. all four tracks are based on recordings, samples and ideas he collected while travelling the world. with the concept of slow glass in mind le frere tried to catch moments of his life without stripping them of their dynamic and evanescence. the ep starts with lots of positive energy and light but already reveals glimpses of the shadows that slowly emerge throughout the following tracks. nice is a lightly humming version of an (almost) innocent summer morning. it s a collage of field-recordings, synth-pads and manipulated guitar sounds. candid is a light and open dialog between a simple guitar theme and a playful synth-arpeggio. v1b1n creates the dense atmosphere of a rainy caribbean afternoon dominated by field recordings and everyday noises. nttt8-sets a counter point to the previous three tracks as the energy of le frere s travels cumulates in nttt8, making it a more dance-floor oriented piece carried by a dark and heavy bass-line and almost rave-sirens.

repress - for their first multi-artist compilation, music from memory take us on a trip to the heart of the amazon rainforest. outro tempo: electronic and contemporary music from brazil, 1978-1992 is a double lp that explores the outer reaches of brazilian music, where indigenous rhythms mix with synthesizers and where mpb mingles with drum computers. as brazil faced the last years of its military dictatorship and transition to democracy, a generation of forward-thinking musicians developed an alternative vision of brazilian music and culture. they embraced traditionally shunned electronic production methods and infused their music with elements of ambient, jazz-fusion, and minimalism. at the same time they referenced the musical forms and spirituality of indigenous tribes from the amazon. the music they produced was a complex and mesmerising tapestry that vividly evoked brazilian landscapes and simultaneously reached out to the world beyond its borders.

idle hands first release of 2018 comes from dan habarnam, a producer who made his name with releases skirting round the edges of dnb on exit and cylon. in the last few years he has turned his hand to techno with two 12inches on hs own selectie label that found favour with ben ufo amongst others. here are on idle049 we present two tracks of his latest work, hard hitting broken techno with maximum dancefloor potential.

5 years since midnight shift’s first release in 2012, the label assembles a collective of artists, most of them are in advance of their full eps releasing later. representing the sounds of the label is this manual of secret moves, up in the sleeves. the mystic motley crew also comprises the alternate sides of familiar faces — amato (the hacker), terry lamborgini (marco bernardi), innyster (seixlack), hodge in a new formation with gramrcy, and an electro moniker from an undisclosed artist: thermocline. from abstract acrobatics to the abrasive and the ultimate gob smack to the floor — the midnight manual.

birminghams jayson wynters makes his second outing for dont be afraid in under a year with four earth-shaking rollers from his digbeth laboratory. across four tracks wynters neatly surveys the state of the underground house and techno union in the uk and beyond, taking in the stepping, broken rhythms of beta (version), the dancefloor annihilation of one hundred n forty, and the frantic, midwest rollage of into the void, before concluding on an optimistic note with the kansei method. also look out for wynters café artum project which launches in birmingham soon, bringing a much needed hub for vinyl to the city thanks to last year s successful fundraiser.

violet and bleid met last year in lisbon, at the radio quântica studios. in the very same day, they impromptu started working together on a track: a cover of underground sound of lisbon’s so get up to celebrate international womens day. together, alongside a crew of young lisbon djs and activists, they also run the queer techno party mina, one of the most vital things going on in the city’s nightlife - the picture in the artwork was taken in the backstage of one of those infamous, dark-room-equipped parties.
bleid remixed naive001’s togetherness by violet, and that dope rework made it to rroxymore’s bag (as heard at berghain) and was played on bbc radio 6, rinse fm and +++. the pair became friends, started bouncing ideas about production techniques, rap skills and the importance (or lack thereof) of the classics in dance music. making more music together happened naturally.
naive002 feels like a continuation of naive’s first release in some ways: the jungle-inspired chopped breaks, sonic synth work and oneiric pads are still there but gain a heavier, perhaps more somber tone at times, exploding into depth or ecstasy at others.

so low is an occasional night in glasgow run by iona fortune, jd twitch, katie shambles and becky marshall. so low is strictly for creatures of the night and plays music that could perhaps be described by the words dark waves / cold waves / minimal synthesis / maximal industrial / lo-nrg / forgotten flemish goth bands, teutonic apocalyptic beats +++ it is now also a label, administered by optimo music. the third release on so low is a 5-track ep from ian hicks, formerly one half of soft metals. ian also appeared on our “now & then” compilation ep. here he commands his own release and sets the synths to stun with 5 tracks of analogue waves ranging from the xtc bliss out of “character collapse” and “depths of psyche” to the shockwave klang of “chemical environments” and “specter”, perhaps leaving the very best to last with the ultimate hypno, sex slug groove of “continuous”. subliminal vocals. wrecked drum boxes. synths spiralling. full colour picture sleeve designed by so low collective member and acclaimed glasgow artist katie shannon.

condor gruppe is back with a new record, interplanetary travels. the title hinting at sun ra is no coincidence. pushing their musical boundaries even further, condor gruppe recorded 8 new songs that give you the creepy feel of a horror scene, the heroism of the best film scores and the hypnotizing grooves of jungle tribes. diverse, yet exciting and challenging enough to give you a mesmerizing trip through the bands own dusty record shelves.

following the surprise release of his slow fade ep last month, daniel avery presents a collection of remixes from surgeon, actress and inga mauer. the remix ep will be released digitally and on 12inch vinyl on march 9th. widely regarded as one of uk electronic musics leading lights and arguably the finest techno dj in the world (fact), with a career spanning over 20 years, surgeon lends his clinical touch to radius, adding an erratic, propulsive beat to avery’s warm synth layers for one of his best remixes yet. werkdiscs head actress meanwhile delivers a pared back and introspective rework of slow fade, shrouding the synth refrain in hypnotic, distorted production, in his first remix following the release of his critically acclaimed 2017 album azd. bunker records inga mauer completes the package, offering a claustrophobic mix pierced with metallic shards that confirms what resident advisor said of the uncompromising russian-born amsterdam-based dj and producer last year: mauer is destined for big things.

jezgro004 follows up our previous release by submechanical – armoury ep. profligate, death qualia, shadows aka and and huren selected their favourite tracks from the jezgro003 and made remixes, each one of them in own specific style. a1 is profligate s rhythmic noise remix of the pressure, high-pitched with mechanical tones. a2 is also a remix of pressure arranged by death qualia a real glitchy, distorted experimental techno track that simply ramps through. on the side b, shadows made a remix of armoury – hunting and seductive power experimental/industrial track. and the last track is huren s chaotic and massive rhythmic noise remix of the track after wave, purposely made raw and unpleasantly satisfying.

omerta inc will be bringing bodega bamz to vinyl for the first time ever, with a high quality pressing of this classic tape. limited edition pressing onto 180gm double transparent tan vinyl, each copy will come individually hand numbered and housed in a high quality matte sleeve with full original artwork. the pressing will feature all 15 tracks from the tapes original release, plus two bonus tracks navy and the don francisco remix featuring french montana.

a timeless collection of 19 soulful ballads that define the genre.

bondage music continues its home (remixes) package this march with part four, the last part comprising remixes from guido schneider & daniel dreier, kike mayor, toygun and muui. vinyl only - 180gr pressing

limited edition of 300 copies on 180 gram vinyl with download code included.
creta is a new trio of artists coming from very different backgrounds: roberto zanisi is a finger picking guitar player and a virtuoso on strings of all kinds, including “exotic” instruments like the turkish cümbüs, the greek bouzouki or the albanian cifteli. since 2003 he has been active in many contexts: he worked with giovanni venosta producing sound tracks for silvio soldini’s movies, took part as soloist musician in steward copeland s tour “la notte della taranta (night of tarantula)”, played with the american musician amy denio and performed with sainkho namtchylak. luciano lamanna’s main characteristics are experimentation, analog synths, vinyl and a big love for techno. in 2015, the resident dj at ex dogana, roma and member of the italian artist collective lswhr launched the modular synthesizer project balance (with davide ricci), and in 2017 he released the album “divus” with zu member luca t. mai, to name a few of lamanna’s many releases on labels like earache, boring machines, scuderia et.al. and, last but not least, there is massimo pupillo, highly acclaimed bass maniac with zu, laniakea and in countless other constellations (a.o. peter and caspar brÖtzmann, fm einheit, chris corsano). as creta, they create outlandish sonic pieces that blend sci-fi ambient atmospheres with dark bass pulses and bucolic-mediterranean string instruments – an unique and yet coherent mix of elements that adds consequently to the oeuvres of the three artists!

to find lawkyz, follow the beat. it is here, in this vital part, this lighthouse which guides the route of the other instruments, which it prints in depth the low notes of his four strings. riveted on the drums. linking with it a rhythmic pact, ensuring the propulsion of the groove on stage with erik truffaz or guts, on records with uht °, anna kova, or versus, his hip hop project with full live band. when he puts his fetish instrument, when he lets cool his amp, then wakes up his evil twin: the waxidermist. one year after his last ep, the waxidermist comes back to tell his story.

‘oonops drops’ is the eponymous name of dj oonops’ monthly broadcast on brooklyn radio (nyc). it’s your not average radio show without talk and comments for which he invites renowned guests with their exclusive mixes from around the globe to create timeless and thematic episodes. in the last sixty shows he got visited by artists like morcheeba, guts, nickodemus, the herbaliser, nostalgia 77, boca 45, blundetto, chinese man and many more.

optimo trax reaches no. 33, the final number in the series (although reserving the right to return at some point). the last release is a 3 track ep from montreal’s solitary dancer that ends the label’s run with a distinctly non 4/4 feel. we asked solitary dancer to say a few words about this ep to which they responded with

- -recordings inspired by archetypes existing within a hypothetical matriarchal society and how that may pertain to our present day reality.”

new addition to shir khan s disco series: welcome t.u.r.f. t.u.r.f. are two dutch friends, dj s and producers joined by their love of old records from a wide range of genres. last year they released their debut ep on apparel music, which got support from artists like roy davis jr, soul of hex, frits wentink, black loops and many others. after such an amazing start, they are very excited to take their music into new directions with this new ep for black jukebox, consisting of three diverse tracks that will bring the feel good vibes back to the club.

those wizards of digging psychemagik doing the business once again. hot on the heels of last year s monstrous gotta hold on me / wildman they re letting folks know that they were still out there searching in the darkest recesses of the last 40+ years of popular and unpopular music, and boy oh boy are they good at it! the trip lives up to it s name. the track kicks off with some ultra beefed up psychedelic shenanigans, swirling, cacophonous sounds whirl and sweep and gradually drag us into the holographic tunnel, gradually giving way to some heavyweight drums and percussions and unfurling into a muscular psych-discoid beast. this one will send the kids crazy and will undoubtedly cause some damage in the club, both sonically and mentally. but what is the original? we hear you say... answers on a postcard please. sisters of the moon on the flip-side is a very different animal - all laid back, laconic steel-guitars and thundering slo-mo drums and percussion. the dark side of a rural witchcraft dream exposed here, almost menacing... and then? those vocals spring out of the mix amidst the throbbing sexually charged atmosphere and drag us back into the realm of near reality with sultry moans and groans. this one s woozy alright, but in the best possible way. so wrong, it s right and possibly the natural soundtrack to too many of those strange shots that that guy in the weird hat gave us earlier when we entered that country pub. what guy? i hear you ask.... ultimate freak-disco and deepest druid funk for the discerning and psychedelically inclined record consumer.

the levels of deep that trinidadian deep can reach with his sound are almost unfathomable, and he s at it once again for deepartsounds. as if he needed any help getting down low, sarignia bonfa lends her steamy vocals to i need you- and the trademark trini sound gets into a whole new realm of sensuality. fusion pulls things out of the boudoir and into the sunlight, bringing some of that infectious, uplifting soul to the table that he made his name on. future funk places some synths at the front of the mix and sharpens the edges of the drumming, giving the brain one last blast before allstarr motomusic steps up for a remix of i need you that goes down very smooth indeed.

having previously appeared alongside tommi vicari jr on a 12inch last year, opto mystics strike out on their own with this 12inch for italian powerhouse vibraphone. new horizon very much represents the new school approach with the long serving italian house label, keeping that deep, melodic quality but embracing new rhythms, tones and approaches. new horizon almost has an akufen quality to it, while bucky triangle could easily transmit from the motor city house scene. m.i.y.e. is a swirling blur of gorgeous synths, and -suddent- finishes the ep off on a surprisingly experimental tip.

last spring, the lulúxpo launched their own record label - paradise children records - with a first ep called “dirty house” co-produced with the label argent sale backed with a remix from bauchamp. “piscine palace” is therefore the second release, a tribute to the underground paris of the 80s. it’s 3am in the morning in front of the club la piscine. démarre, prends l’avenue des champs- elysées… heading to le palace… putain, c’est beau paris la nuit. percussions and throbbing tempo, effervescence, freedom, the world belongs to us… the remixes are performed by tristesse contemporaine and headman: the pace is accelerating...

born in poland and now operating out of the ever-effervescent london, the adoptive city where she’s learnt the ropes of music production and djing, anii – real name ania iwinska – has lived many lives in one. yet if one thing’s remained a constant over the years, no matter the harshness of the obstacles life threw at her, it’s indeed a deep and inextinguishable love for music, be it behind the mixing desk at wired studios or in her own shoreditch workroom, the key place where she’s kept honing her skills with unfazed diligence, up to the point of making it her actual second home. a&#324,,,,,,,,ii lands her debut transmission on kompakt and surely not the last. named after the polish word for ‘roots’, ‘korzenie’ finds ania threading her way in between subtle deep-house and techno folds, delving into the essential strength of her past and present to carve out an hypnotic maelstrom of traditional polish music strings, tribal percussions and elegiac melodies. coupling eerie ostinatos with stealthy bass moves, it’s an ode to the magnitude of memory and power of resilience that reels out, blurring the line between late night club environment and further spacious, moony soundscapes.

cocktail d amore showed the breadth of their tastes when they reissued ukranian composer iury lechs 1990 album musica para el fin de los cantos last year. now the label has commissioned a raft of remixes from some label regulars, with wonderful and diverse results. powder drops her signature snaking rhythmic trysts over barreras, while -cuando rocio dispara sus flechas benefits from an abstract, ambient reworking from suzanne kraft. hatchback takes to posmeridiano with a delicate touch, all lingering 80s synth motifs in a beatless reverie, and zavoloka lays the cinematic intensity on heavy with the icy strains of ukraina.

moby has released a new single and video for “like a motherless child,” from his forthcoming album everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt. featuring la-based soulstress raquel rodriguez, “like a motherless child” is a re-work of the well-known spiritual, with its origins in the slavery of the american south. the track describes the void left when one feels separated from a parent, higher power or similar guiding force. over the years this powerful song has been reinterpreted by the likes of odetta, lena horne, mahalia jackson and van morrison. the album is a glowing tapestry exploring spirituality, individuality and the brokenness of humanity and finds him returning to his orchestral, soul, trip-hop and gospel roots.

italian techno producer distant echoes presents the first ep of the new year -rough waves-, a four-track pack out on the berlin-based, southern-italy born out-er label.
distant echoes has been building a name in the last few years since he debuted on the dystopian label in 2014 and toured all around the world, yet, he s been producing and playing electronic/house/techno music since almost two decades. as out-er co-founder, he previously released music before the beginning of his bond with dystopian. in the last years, while distant echoes has mostly focused on releasing on dystopian, out-er has indeed expanded its range of collaborations worldwide, by putting out music from juan atkins, orlando voorn, terrence dixon and more.
distant echoes now readies the first installment on his own label with his newest moniker, showcasing his typical sound: deep, intense grooves and gloomy soundscapes crafted with exceptional productional accuracy.

andrew scott, aka nyak, scott has remained a consistent representative of the music scene and we re delighted to have him on board for the first release of 2018 on local talk, bound ep. we re treated to four tracks, the opening track bound is a cut up, soulful disco house slammer. next up we got dancing, a perfect example of andrew s skill when it coms to slowing down the tempo but still letting the track have enough character to keep you dancing. on the flip we got see more which takes you straight to a dark and gritty club with it s stuttering chords, tight drums and pulsing bass. last but not least we got sandwiches which features long time collaborator ian blevins. a stunning low deep groove for any theo parrish or marcellus pittman fans out there.

tokyo horoki (tokyo wanderings) is a collection of tracks from pleasure cruisers last two years living in ota-ku, tokyo. the first part features tracks recorded with shinichiro yokota featuring vocals from ayako higa, chara and wakana hrt. part two features collaborations with okayama upstart keita sano.

internationally acclaimed dj, producer and label boss guy gerber has unveiled his dynamic new ep what to do. a producer known for his eclectic and melodic sounds, guys ep embodies a varied range of sonic arrangements that the israeli dj has become synonymous with, starting with the opener what to do. a deep, and cosmic production clad with cymbal-claps and a wide range of isolated percussive instruments, the title track features groove-fuelled vocals, offering a stark contrast to night of the gold diggers, guys punchy-house track which utilises high-pitched drum rolls and claps. with ep finale hummingbird blues focusing on percussive bass elements, instrumental chords sweep through a track underpinned by a gruff and distorted vocal. as a performer, guy gerber is consistently rated one of the best touring acts in dance music, earning a top 10 live performer nod three years in a row for resident advisor. launching in 2014, guys rumors imprint served as a home to guys colossal collaboration with dixon, no distance, as well as his crossover album with puff daddy, 11:11, which proved one of 2014s most startling and impressive lps. since then, the label has released music from the likes of seth troxler, dj tennis, chaim and more, and guy’s own standout releases secret encounters ep in 2016 and here comes the rain last year.

late last year, we modestly celebrated the sixth anniversary of lph records by releasing a 10-inch that reconnected us with our very first ep by bringing back two of the artists who contributed to it, runaway and soft rocks. now, as a sort of companion to that, we have lph___vi , a 7-inch that gives shine to a couple other names that have been spotted on lph party flyers of old and back catalog credits, jacques renault and daniel t. both these are fun, flavorful little disco nugs united by funky bass guitar fretwork and plenty of sassy woodblock, though jacques leans towards the goofy and daffy, whereas daniels brings some synth-pop seriousness into the frame. as befits the format, both hover around four minutes in length.

dimensions recordings fifth release sees the label step into the world of the long player with istanbul native, kerem akdag s self-titled debut album. kerem has already been winning fans of the ilk of gilles peterson through his previous output of dusty house and tripped out beats in the last few years, and of course via his getdownsoclose offering on dimensions debut release. his debut album however, sees kerem deliver a mature piece of work, bright and timeless, equally effective in the club as it is at home and brimming with ideas, hooks and must have songs. across eight tracks kerem demonstrates a breadth of skills that most artists would work a lifetime to achieve. from the stepping beats of when i think of you to his subtle vocal layers on isolated and from the woozy beach vibes of sultan to the squelching, rasping synths of unite it s clear that there s very little that s outside of kerem s arsenal. the album rounds out fittingly with drums please, which perfectly displays kerem s jazz tendencies, a slow grooving track whose crescendo of stabs and drums create a song that s more powerful than its parts. kerem akdag s debut album clearly sets out the stall for a man who has a lot to say and has the capability to say it loud!listen up! pressed on clear vinyl with a metallic sticker insert.

sis, the alias of burak sar, returns once again to crosstown rebels. following on from releases such 2012s round pen, 2015s sombra india and last years the blindside, the german-born producer heavily influenced by his turkish roots- presents us with this tribal triple-threat. sis explains that it was sending his first ever demo tape to crosstown rebels in 2004 that initiated his relationship with the label and tells us to expect some rolling dance floor breakers. karmir nur gets the ep underway. sensual strings abound with a heady, tribal chant that lulls you into a state of hypnosis. tima rolls along, building slowly as the layers pull you in deeper still towards those familiar strings. dandini brings back the tribal chanting. the vocals are backed by mesmeric drums, perfect for an intoxicating, dance floor procession. burak sar has released a number of records on renowned imprints such as get physical music, mobilee and cocoon recordings as well as running his own successful label, cocolino records.

weekend loving from jennifer lara is a perfect blend of boogie funk, roots reggae and lovers rock. produced by black solidarity records in 1985, this album is a masterpiece from the studio one princess. recorded at tuff gong and music mountain studios in jamaica, the rhythm tracks are played by some of the best musicians from the island in the sun: lincoln style scott (drum), errol flabba holt (bass), robbye lyn (piano & synthetiser), dean frazer & ronald nambo robinson (horns). this reissue was carefully remastered from black solidarity master tape, now presented as a double lp 45 rpm dj friendly edition. the original limonious artwork was reloaded and a bonus track was added to complete the set: ’in my time’, an obscure slow synth groove, full of hope and melancholy. jennifer lara was first taken to studio one in 1969 by keyboardist richard ace, who was a session musician. she never left the studio one family and became resident harmonist. she added backing vocals to the songs of some of the camp’s biggest names, including delroy wilson, freddie mcgregor, dennis brown and sugar minott. in 1974, jennifer lara recorded her debut album with coxsone dodd at studio one in brentford road. the results of the sessions appeared on studio one presents jennifer lara, which was an instant success. jennifer lara was one of clement coxsone dodds protégés. one year after coxsone passed, she died at the kingston public hospital. she is survived by two children, daughter ika and son cheka. jennifer lara was a very likeable person, got on with everyone. she was involved in many benefit concerts to help to poor and the needy in jamaica. may your soul rest in peace, we love you jennifer.

frits wentinks label bobby donny welcomes back young us producer tlim shug for a second ep after his last effort back in 2016. his house sound has developed nicely but remains resolutely deep and atmospheric. it s the sound of a slow train on a warm summer s day, passing through the countryside and encourage you to daydream. warm, fuzzy pads drift by as muted rhodes keys bring a jazz touch. occasional clever vocal sounds ensure a certain intimacy and romanticism to the deep house grooves. its a lo-fi and imperfect beatdown record with well-sampled drums adding a touch of soul.

beware, discomatin is back. in 2018, the parisian crew of diggers and dj’s originally known for their edits goes official with fully licensed and remastered reissues. for this new adventure, they chose an incredible in-demand french boogie ep from diva, an eighties funk band from bordeaux. diva only released one ep with la nuit, a sentimental, almost poetic boogie banger with great synth, guitar and vocal parts. the track could honestly have been a radio hit in the eighties with some real promotion. today, it’s still time to make it right and it is already an anthem in the french underground disco scene. originally on the b side of the 1985 original release on cactus, la nuit is here available with its two different versions (12inch and 7inch mix) and comes also with prise au piege, a more synth-pop influenced funk track which gave its name to the original release. the band was formed by gabrielle andriampanana, alex louisor and olivier renoir. before diva, these last two already played together in the local new-wave band bolton which was one of the first of the area to use synthetisers. even if they had a small recognition at the time, the original release stood quite underground. thanks to discomatin, its now available to the real connoisseurs and still with the fantastic illustrations of french artist camille de cussac on the back cover.

brand new year, brand new imprint. coop presents is an all-new record label, founded by ig culture and alex phountzi, set to focus on the depth and wealth of talent that exists within the london bruk movement and beyond, a project which they consider to be a continuation in the same spirit of the legendary coop movement. last summer, the coop presents crew released an ep via first word records entitled selectors assemble . this was the first collective offering from a foundation comprised of uk dance music pioneers and nowadays bruk soldiers, navigating in & around the world of broken beat and beyond over the last two decades to the present day. reinvigorated by recent boiler room sessions, the crew proceeded with more parties, more radio shows, and gained access to an unlimited pool of all-new sounds. the squad were primed and ready to move forwards from the famed days of the plastic people dances, and further explore the evolution of their sound.

sid le rock, dave pad and anatoly ylotana are back to ylotana music with their new remixes for sex of insects.

we keep the curle-p subdivision for rare licenses of forgotten pearls from the past, with a new remix on the flip. the last one we did was thomas brinkmanns isch including the soulphiction remix, one of the essential records of 2009, also according to pitchfork. this time we picked walt js reborn, originally on detroit label dow in 1997 and featured by mr. juan atkins on his legendary mastermix.

2018 repress!
satoris latest album in between worlds gets its second round of remix treatments. first mix is coming from satoris good friend and former release partner el mundo who turned compulaire into a hypnotical tech house version. second is just emma and the duo made a perfect dancefloor suitable mix of ink & orange sky, likewise britta arnold did this to compulaire and spiced it with a acidish bassline. norwegian duo of norway have chosen tuti and mixed it with groovy and relaxed beats perfect for the morning after hours. for the way home alexander christians remix of ehsan is the best companion. last but not least we have joney who turned pink & orange sky into a powerful crossover mix omewhere between broken beats and electronica.

strut presents the new album from the modern day leader of afrobeat, seun kuti. the youngest son of afrobeat legend fela kuti is as incensed by injustice as his father ever was and, with his mighty new album black times including a feature from carlos santana, he honours the revolutionaries who have gone before and rallies the torch-bearers to come.

funken wavetropi busted onto the scene last year with his debut release on his then brand new imprint, perfect straight. the first record was a cute little 7” entitled pizza dealer which ended up garnering quite a bit of success with plays from tastemakers across the globe. since then, the aguascalientes, me&#769,xico-based producer has put out a single on a va for whyte numbers (recently played by move d in his boiler room berlin 6th anniversary session) and a digital download as well via his own label.

label boss nachtbraker is finally making his solo debut on quartet series after a successful ep last year on heist recordings. widely known for exploring different sounds and angles with his productions, this record is the most club-orientated to date. intricate ghetto house with a slight french touch to straight up 4x4 with a pinch of jacking flavour would be an accurate description of this release. the use of 90s hip hop samples within this auditory concoction successfully highlights nachtbrakers excellent ear for detail and penchant for exciting, eclectic and downright weird changeovers. the main hitter taking over the full a side is the title track small towel people. an uplifting bass line accompanied by heated 909 percussion and a hypnotic thriving arp to seal the deal. on the flipside, youll find kippendijen on the b1. a heavyweight in the house category, some glimpses of early days jacking house and a little french touch on the filter. throw in a breakdown even houdini wouldnt be able to handle and youll find yourself putting this track on repeat. then when the needle hits the b2 groove, zomaar kicks off with an energetic mpc style breakbeat before morphing into a deep jam of lush chords and a thrusting 4x4 beat. the track closes after switching back to the first part of the record and ends in a sublimely deep and dubby breakbeat.

it’s been almost three years since ressort imprint label head ekserd released his first and last solo ep to date. now - in late 2017 – the young, drum-loving artist finally comes back with a new set of tracks and even a whole new label. drive 99 will have its full focus on the tempo, the drive and the looks of the late 90s and early 00s, just the way ekserd loves to play things on the clubs soundsystems.

last summer during an evening spent with my friend dj topha, we came upon the everlasting subject of old versus new. i m finding so much great music right now, and not just digging back in time but exploring our own timeline geographically too, he said, the level of production these days is rising fast. you have to check out these snippets from a new label based in casablanca. not long after, in an interesting twist of fate, driss bennis and i began to exchange music: i shared his soundcloud for the first casa voyager release, and he sent me a promo copy which i played out a lot. it seemed only logical to ask him for music for basic moves. later that summer we met in paris for a convivial back to back at dawidu s shop, te iubesc records and sapology. it was as simple as that, and in a few weeks basic moves 04 was ready. night train and overseas blew me away by their quality - the tracks are retro-esque yet fresh, and stem from a loose approach to electro. their arrangements are very smart, not everything is revealed the first time round. the more you listen, the more you understand that the power of the tracks lies in the details. together with ailsa s artwork, stefan s cut and chris mixes the release fell so smoothly into place. i have come to realise how important it is for the scene to release recently produced music as well as treasures from the past. you can t build a community by only playing old records. it s about a combination, about finding gems that glide together. old and new. and for that, i think both these dj booth tracks really fit the bill.

this initial release on the new futurepast label marks davy’s first output as a producer, crystallizing his endeavours in the studio and bearing witness to his long-standing experiments in electronic music. built between london and berlin over the last four years, the long now lays down the blueprints for following ventures on the label: using old and new gear to create unique, obscure soundscapes both outside of memory and away from nostalgic projections of lost futures. in a timeless and precise collaboration, davy has brought together two historical figures for this release: 1990s r&s records associate david morley mixed the tracks, while simon davey of the exchange lent his renownedmastering skills to the project. temporality, time travel and perception are key concepts for davy, and not only in the ep’s title. the four stripped-down tracks move forwards, sidewards and backwards in a bid to get us lost – not in space but in what time might sound like should we be swimming through it. mysterious and ageless synths mesh with the beats of an unnamed drum machine under davy’s control. we move through a non-linear story told by three distinct forward-thinking techno titles: no memories planned, circular weeks and causal loop. finally, the titular ambient track pans out cinematically over the images left in our heads: an invitation to begin it all again in the long now...

it was 2016 when we last saw the venezuelan duo, better known as fur coat, drop their debut ‘interstellar ep on watergate records and now they finally return with their follow up, the ‘immersion ep. immersion kicks off with an agile kick drum setting the stage for rapid fire percussion and an overwhelmingly satisfying ascending organ line that could be the trademark of any sci-fi film score. add a few shudders of glimmering atmospherics and its a trek into the cosmic realm of techno where space and time cease to exist. flipping sides the duo dive deeper into the infinite expanse with inner circle where lush textures canvas a mesmerizing groove and hypnotic spirals of gratifying repetitive sonics resulting in a fiercely energetic yet undeniably euphoric expedition under the club lights. embracing the tools and mechanics that have made their sound unique and successful for so long, fur coat seems to have delivered their most mature and polished ep to date with their ‘immersion ep where stunning spacial details and a precise attention to detail have embodied the age old saying, less is more. fur coat is back. immerse yourself.

bxl002 is the second release of the artist-run brussels based label bxl. this second release by simon halsberghe features the dark discoïd black tape mass on the a-side. while the title refers to the tape delay echo s used in the production, it s the groove pushed forward by the pulsing bass line and the clap that give it that distinct dark disco vibe. on the b-side machine wailing sounds like an incessant siren. the rest of the elements in the track all push and pull around this hypnotic siren, giving it context and power. the last track, grey over white takes the hypnosis deeper with a deep fizzy bass line, resonant drone and crisp hihats. at the end of the track additional percussive elements puncture the drone to give way to a polyrhythmic work out.

producer victor “ticklah” axelrod is back with another supple reggae delight. after the success of the inversions last collaboration with bob & gene, axelrod once again takes a seat in the producer’s chair, this time with a tune a little deeper in the catalogue. originally tweezed from the beautiful mo do tape boondoggle, back in ‘05 - ‘06, this single has been a long-time favorite of the daptone family.