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.

spencer parker readies the third and final remix package of different shapes and sizes this april featuring remixes from radio slave, italojohnson and nic fanciulli. concluding the series featuring dj deep, fett burger, rising sun, tijana t, setaoc mass and akirahawks, ep03 includes three artists that have long been close to spencer parker. radio slave has released parker s music via rekids for over a decade, whilst nic fanciulli s saved has hosted multiple records, like parker s debut album. spencer s relationship with italojohnson also stretches years including the trio s first remix (a spencer parker release on tsuba) and appearances at work them records showcases. radio slave s remix of information deviation is an ominous techno cut complete with eerie atmospherics, fuzzy melodies and rattling hats whilst a robotic vocal operates on top. italojohnson then remodel size:yes to generate a moody house number featuring cosmic synths and twisted effects, leading into nic fanciulli s rumbling rendition of riff shapes .

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!”

mike dunn digs deeper into the vaults to deliver the fourth instalment of his * we r tuesday nights* edits, like the previous 12 inches, four killer disco tracks edited to perfection by the chicago legend....ltd 2018 repress

arkityp, the imprint solely dedicated to archie hamilton and rossko s collaborations, returns in 2018 with its sophomore release - 3 for a tenner ep, landing in all good record stores march 19. born out of marathon sessions in hamilton s london based studios, the duo would road-test the outcomes of these endeavours, letting the dancefloors adjudicate the ep s final tracklist, one that elaborates further on the theme of aktp001 - growing up clubbing in the uk s capital. delving deep into the cross-pollinations between minimal, dub techno and tech house, this three tracker celebrates the attitude and energy within england s club culture, a culture that has profoundly impacted the perspective of both label bosses and their production style.

amsterdam based label anagram readies label co-founder sinfol s first solo release in three years entitled pull back . the release, which features four passionate tracks, sees the light of day in the beginning of april. since the launch of anagram three years ago the label has put out a steady flow of releases from artists such as anetha, octual, stefan vincent, elad magdasi and haze. however, the imprint has also acted as the main platform for sinfol s own productions. blurring the line between various subgenres, the dutch artist is an eclectic one and meanders between acid, house, techno and more. the chords and arpeggios set the mood in life off measure where robotic elements rise to meet them, carving the way for result with its oscillating tones, clap fueled percussion and three-o-three licks. pull back is packed with a thunderous energy that s intertwined with sinfol s soulful vocals and ethereal synths, before swaying into deep house territory with exhale . the track s rolling bass, broken drums and twinkling melodies round off the latest instalment on the rising amsterdam label off in a graceful manner.

crackazat returns to local talk with a second single from his album rainbow fantasia. this time two of the stand out tracks sundial and holding you close get the remix treatment by groove assassin and waajeed ! first up is nick moss aka groove assassin, his take on sundial is a rousing rhythm of soulful house that comes bumping in. he kept the essence of the original track but also added some lovely keys, it sure hits that sweet spot and you re hooked for the full seven and a half minutes. on the flip former slum village and platinum pied piper beat maker and producer-extraordinaire waajeed turns holding you close into something imaginative with its layered percussion, jammed keys and vocal arrangement. its every bit as clever as you d expect from a producer that always approaches music with a fresh perspective. to complete the package is also the original of holding you close.

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.

german producer markus suckut returns with a mesmerising techno release entitled ‘new life ep’, a precursor to his forthcoming album on rekids. first appearing on rekids in 2015, markus suckut has since become a vital member of the rekids family when not running his own labels sckt and pattern research. pounding drums and atmospheric effects initiate ‘new life’ before a groove laden bassline and scintillating synths ebbs into the mix. ‘mistakes are for everyone’ then generates an oscillating aesthetic whilst syncopated kicks join echoing nuances, leading into the rattling sounds of ‘shimmer’ with its ghostly chords and tantalising melodies. with suckut having released two albums already the du&#776,sseldorf artist is no stranger to the long player format making his forthcoming album on rekids all the more exciting.

returning with his signature sound, cuartero is releasing his moon crash ep on the revered hot creations. two high-paced, underground rollers to energise and hypnotise, completed by a masterful groove-heavy remix from dj sneak & tripmastaz. moon crash combines a sturdy, looping low-end and rhythmic, mid frequency percussion. a playful mix of synth and vocal chops, stabs and blips, transform into an invigorating ride. the legendary dj sneak and fellow house gangster, tripmastaz, combine forces on their sp1200 fire mix, turning the original moon crush on it’s head with affected vocals, a rejuvenated bassline and a jackin’ house beat. cuartero hails from malaga, spain, and has been releasing music since 2009 on labels like desolat, moon harbour and saved. in 2015 he was named best newcomer dj at the dj awards and in 2017 he won best tech house artist and artist of the year at the vicious music awards.

keeping up a high rate and high quality of release, dan mela and dodi palese s what ever not label serves up a second ep of 2018, this time from the esteemed simone gatto with a special remix from voiski. italian gatto is now based in lecce, south italy, where he co-runs his out-er label, which since 2010 has become synonymous with house and techno that challenges the norm. his own productions find new life in the underground, roaming between labels like night vision, raw waxes and his own pregnant void. most recently he served up a two-part album, heaven inside your frequencies , which combined dark ambient, techno and abstract sound with his professional work as a researcher and came with a book that offered a theoretical and practical analysis of the use of sounds and frequencies. this new ep is another arresting affair that lays out gatto s unique and varied vision for club music across three very different tracks. it opens with no regrets , which pairs blissful ambient synths that lift you up into the skies with busy, bristling hi hats and gnarly bass. thumping drums drive the whole thing along, and the interplay between coarseness and serenity is truly original. frenchman, dekmantel and sheik n beik records man vioski then brings all his scintillating techno skills to the table for a remix. it journeys deep into a cosmic night sky, with sheet metal percussion peeling off the groove as an uplifting synth brings a subtle sense of euphoria to the mix.

melbourne native mosam howieson debuts on butter sessions with two original techno cuts. on the opening track napalm (romance) an advanced pulse pushes against intricate bleeps and soundscapes until we are rewarded with an emotional vacation drenched in euphoric pads before being locked back into the grind of the beat. next up on brain scatter , howieson goes in for a heavy drum workout bolstered by unique sound design and expertly crafted dynamics. on the flip, label heads sleep d step in and expand on the minimalism of brain scatter with a hypnotic bassline and industrial leaning sfx . wrapping up the ep we have one of japan s leading producers wata igarashi, debuting on butter sessions with his signature take on deep electronics...peak time acid infused techno glory at its finest!

nebraska fires up his own friends & relations label once again to take a trip into the strain of lilting, summery deep house that has previously fitted in so well on rush hour, mister saturday night and more. this time around nebraska is getting the remix treatment from an all star cast, leading in with the woozy, soul-soaked shuffle of session victim s treatment of -pintxos.- mr beatnick keeps things suitably deep when tackling -rat boogie,- all laid back disco patter and filtered funk, before marcel vogel goes one step further on -keep what ya got- and rolls out slow and juicy funk of the raunchiest kind.

a lot of inigo vontier s early material was confined to the digital realm, but now the mexican dj and producer is starting to get recognition on wax for his heady brew of old methods and a taste for the freakier end of the party spectrum. this 12- for mexican label calypso leads in with the strangely unsettling but strident -wirikuta,- before the snappy surge of tightly wound tech variation -marakame- comes leaping into ear shot. -maxa- marks out its own unique space with a heavy broken beat excursion, leaving it to dreems to ruminate on -wirikuta- for a closing remix.

nagano native yoshiki tsuchiya aka mirugas roots are deeply embedded in jazz music. his studies included jazz and funk drumming as well as the catalog of the legendary strata-east label. miruga presents four emotionally deep cuts which fit perfectly on moods & grooves. each track in the spirit garden ep tells a unique story as seen through the eyes of yoshiki. into the zone is a plea for people of all countries to come together based on recent world events, in heaven above is a prayer for those lost in japanese natural disasters such as the one at the fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant. the pain, sorrow, and absence of love is felt in without words, while scenery in my mind is an insight of mirugas dream or philosophy: dont stop or look back, keep moving, and make things happen. if you appreciate the original spirit of what was once known as deep house, then you are sure to find pleasure in this offering from miruga.

rudy returns to faze action records with an all-new collection of atmospheric and evocative tropical sounds. last august saw the release of the by nature ep that encapsulated the steamy and exotic textures of the balearic sound. this time, midnight safari takes up where on the beaches of formentera, where the last ep left us. this time setting sail on a midnight safari with marimba s and chugging rhythms underpinning sophisticated piano melodies. following this we drop anchor and appreciate the evening breeze of in the air with its haunting cello, endless drifting arpeggio s and tropical percussion with a hint of north africa. reach backless points the way squarely to the dance floor with chunky drums and synth bass, synth hooks galore and that piano solo that launches into starry evening skies. it s back down to earth with the settled quiet bass guitar harmonics of windchimes before heading into the more soulful and synth melodic territory of solar plex.

the latest release on francis harris scissor & thread label out of brooklyn is another exercise in deep and meditative atmospheres. the label, comprised of a tight knit collective of multi-faceted composers, vocalists and instrumentalists, always strives to develop new projects based on a shared aesthetic, and this five track ep is both boundary pushing and fully synchronized with the labels approach. with melquiades blue caves melbourne based composer and sound designer alexander albrecht presents his solo debut ep following on from the tidal river album he released as part of the albrecht la’brooy duo. the title track blue caves is a skittering, weightless exploration of space, seemingly built around lush field recordings and fragments of melody developing out of the ether. avlemonas flows from a similar source, but crystallizes around an off kilter rhythm and occasional subby bass, balanced against swooping pads and piano motifs. morning breeze seems to revel in the evocative nature of its title, with hand played percussion backing more wistful, emotive piano sketches and wandering bass notes, before the track settles into a hypnotic groove. label head francis harris provides another take on the track for his re-form version, a more dancefloor aimed excursion that draws deeply from the classic deep house of the new york and detroit masters. ending the relases is patio, which drifts back towards the ambient territories of the opening tracks, with exquisite, understated instrumentation and a melancholic yet elated vibe.

discos capablanca return with a record from the mysterious detroit-based sharif laffrey (we know little more than his place of birth, and that he likes to ride his bike and warm weather) who brings the heat on the turn it up 12 inch. recorded in detroit in the late 80s and released on a cassette tape compilation in 1988, the original *turn it up* is a long forgotten gem from the period that electro was beginning to morph and mutate into nascent forms of techno. excavated by hugo capablancas label, the track is presented in an edited version that stays true to the original and complemented by an acid dub not dub version that implements plenty of deranged 303 action.

new crk on la chinerie s comicsans imprint !! more breakbeat & jungle from those two lyon s babies. we also step into a more serious design thanks to our girl cm-dp, she s the best. anyway, enough words, let the music and the awesome cover speak for themselves, and follow comic sans records, cause we are just getting started !! zahef 69 la trik !

after the instant sold-out of their first 12-, light touches records is back with three new hot tunes: -get up!- is a midtempo intense stomp with extended acidic guitar solo, a well tested secret weapon to make your dancefloor sweat. on b side -let s do it- delivers an uptempo disco number with uplifting vocals and arrangements. closing the b side, -around- is a moody soulful tune that morphs into a relentless hypnotic groove in the second part. for the most demanding djs out there. all tracks have been carefully edited without overdubs, in order to bring the spirit of classic disco manipulators to today s dancefloors! light touches records is devoted to shed a new light to hot rarities, unknown grooves as well as forgotten classics.

keepsakes, charlton and myler join 138 in cvlt as the third installment to their txtrl imprint. aukland based producer keepsakes opens up the record with bricks of joy a soothing yet crunchy tune with an undisputed bounce while dutch producer charlton heads into quick hypnosis with reggie smoker on the b side irish mad man myler delivers a relentless jungle belter opulence 138 closes the record with i just called to c if u care

exos label x/oz continues to grow as a distinct voice in the world of minimal techno, this time around inviting russian producer nikita zabelin to explore his sound with a sizable ep of finely crafted techno and thought-provoking ambience. -confusion- is a consummate slice of hypnotic techno crackling with heavily processed energy, while -pluton- drifts into rich beatless territory. there s more experimental fare afoot with the fractured tumbles of -curtains-, but -trans siberian express- is on hand to lock things back into a sturdy rhythmic framework. exos also takes the time to remix -brooklyn train- into a noirish dub techno workout.

brazilian born producer and self-confessed studio freak terr will be making her debut with have you ever on permanent vacation. she found recognition with her creative, quirky electronica productions, said to be heavily influenced by her use of analog gear, her sound is a combination of techno, house and disco with futuristic textures and elements. throwback disco meets techno, alongside a scintillating synth in have your ever, not forgetting the mesmerising robotic female vocal hook. a thunderous kick drum bass line combo takes the dub version into a more late-night dance edit of the original. hauntingly cinematic with its hook line, memoir hints on some intergalactic synthetic inspiration, which builds into a nearly disco-esque breakdown. this track lends well to roll into twenty thousand leagues metallic and bubbling with its multi-layered textures. its delicate and finely tuned.

ltd 100 copies - taking it back to the old school and manufactured in the space of 5 week, this handmade nugget of black crack beat the previous release and all it s issues. dr spaventi once again provides the expert mastering to some artisanal yorkshire electronics from northern powerhouse. the full range of frequencies have been lovingly captured and set for eternity into nice and solid, hand pressed plastic before being bound in gorgeously minimal white paper -inners-. adding individual nuance to each and every record, is a stylised image of the visionary york philanthropist, joseph rowntree. details of which tracks are which are lovingly incorporated into this image using a black ink to stand against mr rowntree s brilliance. the hand screened label, uses the latest in dual pizza/kitchen table printing technology™ with a tried and tested lounge floor drying system to ensure any moisture is gone before the vinyl is shipped, so that transport weight can be kept to a minimum and savings passed on to you.

after an almost instant sell out last time around, london label tone dropout return for vol. 5 of their series of 12-s. an acid washed ep drawing from the ranks of their ever growing family, each of the four tracks celebrates the timeless appeal of the silver boxed 303 after the rain by label regulars the he-men opens with the soothing patter of raindrops, a hypnotic acid line rising from the deluge to morph into a moody house ride drenched in its own outbursts of spectral sound. dawl is also back on home turf with asylum , following a repress of his sought after solo ep for pareidolia recordings. less about seeking refuge than losing your mind it motors along with steely intent, darkly funky bleeps, throbbing acid and industrial percussion embracing the twin legacies of sheffield and detroit. italian dj and producer robbenspierre launched tone dropout s digital offshoot with a full ep last year and makes his vinyl debut for the label with quarta vanitas . bubbling breakbeat house, a trancey euphoric lead and swirling ethereal vocals take you deep into the thick smoke and laser light of the 4am dance floor. in the wake of an appearance on tone dropout vol.4, corporeal face returns with another rave induced vision. trapped on one, the rushing warehouse breakbeats and bass of permo erupt into waves of acid, fractured vocals and serotonin-depleted synths adding a dark edge to the ecstasy.

innervisions continues their collection of hidden gems which drop into their sets every now and then, dipping them into colors of great variety. this double ep marks the 10th edition of the secret weapons series.

lossless’ first offering in 2018 comes courtesy of co-founder mathias schober. with his -continuing ep mathias definitely continues what he has started with his recent -certanities ep- on optimo trax. the ep is a true reflection of mathias’ constant approach to push the boundaries and merge his influences to draw a coherent painting. in this case the drawing is consisting of three truly unique tracks.

the second release in no bad days’ sister imprint no bad edits comes from montréal upstart unknown mobile, who first caught our ear with a lovely debut on asl singles club. here, he looks to the 1980s for inspiration, channeling that decade’s confidence and colour with three shimmering reworks. the a-side’s “dream state” matches its namesake, evoking a busy fourth world market scene, with pipes, bells and flutes chiming away in happy harmony.
on the flip, “programmer” is a slab of excitable and effects-slathered fusion funk, as if a computer has sprung to life and begun to dance. the 12” wraps with “valerian slip”, where unknown mobile folds the strands of silk from a free-form windham hill deep cut into a new shape, every bit as smooth as the original but with a nagging groove to underpin it.

we here at french press lounge are very pleased to share our latest release by florida-born, california based producer and professor neoprene with a debut 12” titled “possibility spaces”.
propelled by pure state aesthetics, spatial theoretics and a fondness of ferns, neoprene (amongst several other musical monikers and permutations) has been crafting and perfecting outer-world electronics since 2011 through their highly slept-upon digital and cassette label ashtar communications. “possibility spaces” is their debut 12”, a collection of cherry picked tracks created in chicago during their barista residency of 2015 - heavy points of dark matter gliding across a delicate, semi-permeable surface of unidentified experience. where others simply trawl the tropes of a rave culture gone by, neoprene bends into the best assets of house, hardcore and breaks and pulls up through a dense fog of floral new age ambience, creating a one-of-a-kind approach to expository techno.

something happening somewhere returns with a new collection of stories unified under the brand new nowhere compilation series. shards of tales long forgotten are told and retold by a group of fellow travellers, exploring sounds in many shapes and forms. sailing towards an unknown destination, revealed here are the hymns luring you into the abyss… the nowhere 01 vinyl sampler is a carefully curated selection of freshly crafted propellants pressed on wax for the very first time. quince gives us a saturated electronic work-out, combining gritty drum sounds with bass guitar and odd timed synth zaps. kurt baggaley’s detect was a digital exclusive from his remembering infinity ep, now finally available on black gold! it features a similar electro groove but uses artificial intelligence to add vocoder sounds and digitally aliased robot tears. fader from borneo takes a more frontal approach providing a catchy bass riff with warm pads and synthesised strings to guide you in a comfortable trance.

ghana s dj katapila is back with more minimalist dance music productions, this time inspired in part by his travels overseas. following the success of the re-release of his trotro recording a couple years ago, katapila has been playing in europe and the uk, bringing his style of breakneck-paced, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink west african club music into a very different conte, giving katapila (real name ishmael abbey) inspiration in the kind of music he has heard in places like london. so he made some new music, here we go!

for brainstem casino s take off, strictly hardware voyager *sour* generated «quantum process», an ep that comprises four, rather spartan yet not the current i-put-three-sounds-so-it s-minimal, haunting and deepseated downtempo tracks. the first segment of the (limited to 300 copies) 12-, 140gr. polyvinyl chloride chunk, which extends to 9:22 minutes commences with muffled and fathomless pads. then a three steps acidish build up subtely incises through like a reptilian sword coming out of an another dimension. the next track is in a similar vein, however, uplifted presence of cowbells and tight repetitive drums sways towards a house/funk guidance. side b s a staggering 12:19 minutes crepuscular descent into crying structures referencing to 90 s sci-fi universes. additionally coming along with the digital download, is a downreaching, abysmal ambient track called «cleavage». yes, either in your confortable conapt or in a decaying, technological dystopian, space-cargo style gig, this will drive your audience to definitive brain melting!

babe roots are a relatively young duo from turin, italy, making a unique brand of atmospheric, techno-infused dubwise. on our radar since their splendid debut 7 inch on rohs! records in early 2016, we are very pleased to invite them into the zamzam fold with two mesmerizing and contrasting tunes. * be still* is a deeply meditative yet driving dub techno trek in classic fashion, featuring rastaman kojo neatness intoning on righteous living, working the land, guarding the tongue, and avoiding babylonian schemes and traps laid by the wicked. maternal bass and shimmering reverbs envelop a heartbeat rhythm of kick, shaker and distant snares for a timeless vibe that shows mastery of the idiom while updating it for contemporary sound systems. * rawness* is an extraordinarily deep 140 journey that opens with rich pads and swirling atmospherics, creating a psychoactive ambience that builds into a steady kick. the full riddim hits and plunges us even deeper with restrained, syncopated drums and percussion. churning bass powers us through the dense, hallucinatory fog as tendrils of electricity probe and zap, and serrated snares cut through the tape haze and studio clouds in the last third. carving out a gorgeous edge between deep dubstep and dub techno, * rawness* hits all the marks and will find a home in a huge range of sets.

for the first time iron curtis enters the ring over the full ep length for uncanny valley. there hasn t been much of a discussion whether or not this is something for uncanny valley when iron curtis approached the four label heads with this new pile of dance floor material. these tunes are too good. iron curtis must have been particularly inspired by the muse while producing these four outstanding house tracks. you ll feel a comprehensive knowledge about dance music s history when listening. no doubt, the franconian who is now based in berlin has spent a good time of analysing house music s techniques. -sweet romancer- is the best example for his studio eloquence. modulated synths, a classic bass line and a whole batch of drum ideas are combined into a wonderful track. the interplay between subtlety and vitality characterizes -nixdorf danse-. plus, you won t forget those strings. on -triroom- he proves that he has a knack for melodies as well. finally, -take me home- should provide a lot of emotional moments on the dance floor with its dramatic piano and crescendo-like synth line.

16 classic tracks that include guest appearances by david byrne, perry farrell and the flaming lips. a kaleidoscopic swirl of psychedelia, dub, indian, rock, brazilian, easy-listening and other worldly influences.

coldgeists music on unknown bodies is an intimate reinterpretation of coldwave, techno and dark ambient codes, uttered with strength, guts, and an underlying romantic soul. inspired by nocturnal runs of bosozoku bikers clans, who stem from this japanese subculture of the late seventies , coldgeist has created a series of soundscapes and songs that evoke speeding through foggy nights and fluorescent lights. haunting repetitions and stiffness of the rhythms as a metaphor of mechanical gestures, of bodies turned into units of consumption, stranded from the life and passion they crave. the frustration of a youth that only finds relief in extreme experiences, danger, and the sexual tension of speed and crashes. with analog and digital instruments, field recordings but also his own voice and songs, coldgeist has bred a truly unique record.

trinidadian producer and long respected deep house soldier damien lee ah yen aka trinidadian deep returns on the legendary shelter label for an ep of sun drenched, soulful sounds entitled tribute songs . this ep marks the start of a new run of releases for the newly regenerated ny house label that has long been at the forefront of the deeper end of house and garage for over 2 decades. trinidadian deep s latest effort see 2 brand new cuts - dear owen & snake hips cover a wonderfully emotive and rhythmically driven pair of cuts that can work on the dancefloor at any time of the day or night! on dear owen gorgeous melodic pads envelope around recordings of children playing far off in the distance, weaving guitars and live percussions drive us into a dreamlike state, a truly sublime and blissed slice of music indeed. snake hips sees things move in a more stripped back, techy direction that still maintains the td trademark deepness, a blend of detroit leaning synth notes and live cowbells combine to create a joyful mood that will undoubtedly take the dancers off into a new cosmos, heads down and hands up to the sky. a truly original 12- here and one that sees the shelter label heading off into a new and exciting direction for the future, essential house music.

next up on yoruba is this split release. glasgow’s vince watson invites us to a new dimension with his contribution. another rendezvous says it all atmospheric and carried by simple chords that float over the four to the floor pulse. think movement and formation. depending on your relationship with the universe, one might be able to feel the colours of this track, greens and blues. pensive with just enough edge to secure a commitment from the seasoned djs ear, this one is steady with a sexy incline that holds you through to the other side. come ride. its bold to build a song around a steel drum and a west african shekere, but that’s where it starts with dakota’s ‘make it better’. a gorgeous soulful house track featuring the vocals of dakota and osunlade’s vocals layered and arranged behind and throughout. the groove is a rich and well-constructed song with carefully considered lyrics that speak of longing, praise and caution. listeners hear the echoes of latin accents that call us into to reflection and flight. surrender your hands in the air for this dancer friendly love gem that stretches beyond cliche lyrics. yoruba records delivers another high-quality soundscape that measures across time and space

aroop roy has been making waves with his unique sounds for the past few years, with a wealth of successful releases and a busy gig schedule at the helm of some of the best clubs around the world. by fusing elements of jazz, afro, latin, funk and soul with the deeper end of house and disco, aroop has forged his own style with eps on revered labels including g.a.m.m, basic fingers, freestyle and lazy days. for his delusions of grandeur debut he pulled out all the stops, delivering three original tracks which further show his diversity as an artist and ability to produce left of centre, quality underground music without losing sight of the dancefloor. things kick off with save our love, a track that’s absolutely brimming with energy thanks to punchy wurlitzer chops, tension-building philly strings, and a rock-solid disco groove. next up we have what i love which sees aroop take an altogether more freaky approach flipping an uptempo rolling break, distorted synth line, cross-rhythm stabs and rasping vocal cuts into an edgy dance floor workout. closing this brilliant ep is the low-slung bump of walk that walk featuring original vocals from oakland, ca based blacktroniks who delivers his flow on top of a bass-heavy slice of deep electro boogie.

kinfolk returns after a long hiatus with an outstanding release from the mighty mind fair donning their newly invented sundown drive hats. sunset over santorini is a sonic brew of percussion, guitars, jazz-funk keys and heavenly vox that s all kept together with a driving shuffle that brings to mind the more experimental leftfield disco sounds of 70 s nyc and beyond. on the flip dan nad tyler delivers a wacked-out remix monster that takes it deep into a norwegian via homerton disco-dub-not disco-dub vortex of truly epic proportions that will twist your body, mind & soul as it ventures in and out of the groove laden original.

giorgio gordano and giorgio dolce originally produced kkk back in 1983, and the track was taken into the hearts of the blossoming balearic scene hovering around dj alfredo at amnesia. its as gentle and sweet natured as italo disco can be, and of course it makes perfect sense that best records would dig it out of the archives and give it the shiny new reissue it deserves. the club mix of kkk is a feast of simple, charming programmed melodies and crisp drum machine rhythms with the innocence of the early 80s in its heart. the dub mix and bonus beats on the flip are handy for the technical djs out there, but the club mix is where it s at for the lovers.

one year into his music production career, whb is the startling debut release from brooklyn’s kellen303. a unique hybrid, the tracks are inspired by goth rock/industrial, footwork and vogue music. it’s perhaps a happy but unlikely accident that they also fit into keysound recording’s dark, rolling uk sound. across five tracks, four cut to vinyl, kellen303 maps out his unique but bleak vision.

another alias returns with the second installment of white of my eyes. wome002 continues along the path laid out by 001, but takes it a step further into varied moods from the sledgehammer-esque -heave- to the melancholy -creep on the couch. while keeping with his off-kilter rhythms and erratic synth work.

drumcode favourite bart skils kickstarts the new year with his sixth ep for the label since his debut on drumcode in 2012, bart skils has been one of the label s most regular contributors, with the dutchmans brand of functional, hook-driven techno a go-to weapon for adam beyer from his stellar shadowprint ep in 2014, to last year s classy remix of mobys go. one of the netherlands hardest working ambassadors for techno, he is the organiser of the beloved voltt love summer festival that s has been a favourite of beyers for many years. his latest work for drumcode, bells of the revolution continues his impeccable reputation for quality with everything he does, with four cuts all with their own distinct storyline. the title track is characterised by dark driving grooves and bubbling acid line that slowly evolves into a lush melodic riff. ocean drive nose-dives into deeper techno territory, while maintaining a sense of exquisite tension throughout. vocalized follows, a stomping acid techno cut that slides into the deep courtesy of skilfully programmed vox and elegant licks of melody. the ep concludes with retrodade, a track thats been one of the biggest in beyers sets in 2017 and features the famous vocal from rozallas everybodys free. the sample was used with kind permission from the iconic 90s singer

initially described as superlative 25th century electronic exotica by cowboy rhythmbox themselves, the fourth ep from phantasys in-house trouble and hitmakers received support from top jocks including dixon, jackmaster and marcel dettmann. now, i’s dynamic lead track is rejigged, expanded upon and shot through with analogue energy by two equally inventive producer pairings. fellow outsiders on the inside of the house of house, israels finest red axes take the first turn, coaxing the cosmos out of the original and allowing the bewildering vocal samples to lead the way through waves of more than pleasurable cosmic tension. soon, with the timing just right, feet to pedals and strobe to hand, the pair unleash a series of distorted guitar licks that blow dust off the stacks, even throwing in a sharp blast of their trademark surrealist vocals for extra freaky fx. on the flip, marvin and guy zone out and hone in on the originals ebm-indebted elements to contribute a trippy, wave-riding electro rework that oscillates irresistibly. teasing listeners with a playful, almost naive synth line, the mood shimmers instead with uncompromising acid, as the pair ultimately push the modulars into strange and hypnotic territories to get lost in.

italian duo hiver present the spiritual machines ep, their debut on obscura. inverted scale brandishes a hypnotic synth lead that swirls into a formidable energy. the title track is a meditative ambient cut immersed in deep waters, whilst glass effect? exposes a similar form with radiant sonic properties. on the b side, orbe turns the title track into a low slung basement workout, whilst crossing avenues rework of rj45 channels psytrance and rave sentiments.

following up his now sold out redef debut (1996 beat tape, vol 1), veteran producer dj spinna returns with another wave of hard hitting instrumentals. entitled, unpicked treats volume 1, the “jigmasta” spinna has prepared the first of an ongoing series of beats that all have a similar story. making tracks for well over 2 decades, this latest project features a small collection of beats that were created with the intention of backing mc’s and vocalists, but were never officially used. rather than archiving the material, dj spinna realized his fan base would appreciate these compositions in instrumental form. after all, he is the same producer who has garnered respect from the likes of j dilla, pete rock, jazzy jeff and yes, the one & only stevie wonder himself. without giving too much of his process away, spinna challenged himself using the latest cutting edge software in tandem with some of his favorite gear from over the years. the end result is a glimpse into the spontaneous execution of top notch creativity. listeners will have an unobstructed view into the ears and mind of the artist. employing several different approaches, unpicked treats volume 1 maintains a consistent vibe throughout it’s 12 songs. whether, you love beat tapes, instrumental music or are entertained by the art of sampling, this record is a commodity. plans for volume 2 are already in progress, but in the meantime, be sure to get acquainted with unpicked treats volume 1 and the genius of dj spinna.

the dncn remix of san eco’s debut single finds him taking the track’s understated beauty and sending it drifting into cataclysmic chaos. the rolling bassline is swapped out for insectile swirling, the infrequent laid-back percussion for an upfront, energetic backline. it’s the ideal counterfoil to the original, minimising it’s heartfelt swooning melodies and morphing them into a crackling high-energy stomp. comes on a limited edition 7&#8243,,, vinyl with the original tune. don’t wait on it!