best effort records jumps out of the box with their inaugural release ’number one’ - a selection of tracks that celebrate friends making music together. cold emotion are danny wild and rory stenning. the duo explore improvised club music using various keyboards and modular synthesisers. “toast” is a track taken from an extensive live recording session from 2015. accidental cv messages create unexpected cyclic baseline patterns while keyboard melodies float freely above jacking modular beats. the result is an imperfect, inspired club jam ready for any occasion. -cantao- pitches things down from the hypnotic frenzy of -toast- to offer a unique hybrid between computerized dub, subaquatic g-funk and triphop ambiance. canadian content! -manipulate me- is a collaboration between ivy barkakati and phran. the stark, alienated quality of ivy s spoken vocals & dark subject matter sounds even more claustrophobic and sinister backed up by the duo s frigid machine-funk, which is more in the spirit austere & icy 80s coldwave than modern house music. metric systems are a duo from somewhere in australia. the fathoms-deep -adaptation dub”, recored in 2009, is reminiscent of australia s after-hour dub technicians sheriff lindo or andy rantzen. look out for a full lp later in the year

limited to 250 copies, next up in tartelet’s limited-edition series is renaissance man n.o.t.e. with “night frames” – a compilation of barrel-aged sounds for the warm nights ahead. n.o.t.e. is a new project by an already established artist who might be of swiss or italian origin, depending on who’s asking. a seasoned sailor of musical waters, he enjoys jazz piano, fine wine and silk linens. though none of that matters. the first release under his new name could be described as a mini concept album where different routes are explored, bringing n.o.t.e.’s musical diversity and capabilities to light. starting with “falsa laudis,” n.o.t.e. takes the listener back to the 80s with clear references to italian boogie and jazz-funk of that era. the track is warm, fat and sparkly, and best enjoyed with a cocktail in hand. following this is the title track “night frames” – a bruk-jazz escapade not shy of elaborate rhodes solos and filthy funk. the b-side opener moves further south: “obaleyako” is fueled by tropical energy, mixing african percussions with soft piano chords. it’s weird, mysterious and red hot! last but not least, n.o.t.e takes on the finest deep house sound with “en route,” where endless layered melodies and percussion form the farewell. this is an ultra limited-edition release of 250 copies (strictly no repress!), written and produced by n.o.t.e. and mixed at panalama studios in copenhagen on the neve 5088 shelford console for good measure. enjoy!

* after the feature -silent singer- on stonedwave007, the unique scottish producer chordata shows a huge range of variety on this debut ep, telling skillfully a story consisting of six chapters. what to expect: electro from scotland based on ancient myths as indicated by the cover artwork with a double raven and celtish knotwork. the ghosts are in the machine and they are spawn by classic 808 drumbeats which form the rhythm for the actors which tell their story in the shape of playful melodies, rave signals, robot vocals and acid lines.

in 2017, benedikt frey released his breathtaking debut album with the esp institute, artificial, and now as we finally come up for air, we’re more than proud to offer an eclectic collection of remixes that’s nothing short of essential. side a leads with h for hysteria remixed by a beloved hero, nicolas chaix a.k.a. i:cube, one of the most prolific and respected electronic artists paris has to offer. his touch is considered and elegant, imbuing the track with a tasteful 303+808 backbone to support an array of patiently floating melodies and angelic vocal samples. following this, tolouse low trax of du&#776,,,,,sseldorf’s infamous salon des amateurs remixes the same track, stripping instrumentation down to a skeletal palette of bass guitar and stabbing percussive punctuations, chopped up inna minimalist stylee that has become his beat-making signature. side b leads with a remix by another du&#776,,,,,sseldorfer, dj normal 4, whose re-imagination of private crimes takes us for an even more menacing ride, half-timing the tempo and skillfully rolling out a barrage of jungle snares from rave days of yore. closing the release is the most aggressive remix of them all, a bonafide techno beatdown of the same track by dalo, the co-producing artist to whose haunting vocals lace the original version. her dark vision opens with sparse industrial drums that blossom into a driving assault of raw machinery, definitely not for the faint-of-heart. an all-around solid release here, fun for all the family... more than just the tip!

next up on peach discs is the debut 12inch from newcomer videopath. the a-side piles up the melodies over some box-banging drums, while the b-side goes full-on 90s with pumping organ riffs and wailing diva vocals. 2 jacking tracks for the clubs!

taking on a true trance classic and a personal favorite of his, len faki takes us back to the golden era of big melodies and early raves, sharing two very distinct interpretations of firedance by odyssee of noises, the prolific production outfit helmed by ralf hildenbeutel. originally released in 1994 on legendary label eye q, this track marked a special period for faki, when he was fully immersing himself into the scene, and accompanied him through his most formative times as a dancer and a becoming dj.brimming with the iconic elation of those nights, side a keeps with the emotive theme of the original‘s sunrise version, tweeking only slightly to cater for the needs of these days‘ dancers. re-shaping the classic to match modern productions for it to be mixed with current bangers, faki packs the tune‘s anthemic appeal into a propulsive ride down memory lane…

kdj style house belters that have been getting major support from motor city drum ensemble, bradley zero and glenn astro to name a few.
organic in both sound and nature, ‘konkahs’ is a product of the producer’s extensive musical exploration up to this point and a creation of fineness. with just snippets of garvey’s delicious voice lacing the track, focus remaing on the slick instrumental layers of a dreamy bassline, ambient, jazzy keyboard melodies and vivid percussion. each one as divine as the next and all carried by a chilled 111 bpm tempo. cb describes the ‘be-side’ as the ‘bubble and squeak’ of the ep, using up any ‘left overs’ from the single. with 12 minutes of gorgeous simplicity and woozygrooves, it seems the ‘be-side’ is as integral to the identity of the ep as the a-side

frits wentink s bobby donny label welcomes reykjavík producer felix leifur for more lush house explorations across four new cuts. the producer last released on this label in 2017 and his new one finds him again exploring deep and organic grooves, rough drums and jazzy pads. the tarleton appreciation club has real, live sounding drums making for a spaced out house cut coloured with dreamy pads and muffled vocal samples that have an aching beauty. parts is a brilliantly jazzy jam with bright chord vamps, wooden hits and clipped vocals making for a track somewhere between the styles of moodymann and max graef. robbi is another atmospheric track with pads and intimate melodies lingering in the air above choppy drum work that makes you want to wiggle. closing things down is juledreng, another perfectly roughed up bit of house with saturated chords and tons of reverb drawing you into its cosy little world.

synkro aka joe mcbride teams up with veteran arovane aka uwe zahn for a sublime collaborative ep on apollo. refractive (index) sees the duo exploring their shared love of broken beats and dreamy soundscapes. the pair are also connected through their affection for yamahas venerable handheld sequencer, the qy700 (also a favourite of dutch lo-fi house master legowelt) arovane a long time stalwart of the acclaimed city centre offices imprint explains: everything started with a detail in an interview with joe that grabbed my attention. i spotted a qy700 sequencer from yamaha on one photo. i used this piece of gear for decades to sequence all of my hardware and to produce my music. its part of my trademark sound of rhythm programming. one of the factors that makes the qy700 beloved is its ability to change parameters in realtime to shuffle, shift, expand or compress the timing of each pattern independently. its touch can be felt throughout the oscillating rhythmic figures that wend through the gauzy pads and drifting melodies. we share the same wavelength when it come to breakbeats, musical taste and melodies, arovane continues this ep is the beginning of something special!

korablove delivers his second full length album on elusive, and its quite a special one again! directed towards more dreamy, piano-infused, classic cross-genre sound, it grabs you with its cinematic, moody, and truly beautiful melodies and soundscapes, revealing more mature side of this multi-faceted artist

a wild electro / trash techno ep with full of heart and emotional feelings. its wild when it comes to the rhythm section, classic electro but also real punshing 4/4 beat. emotional when it comes to the melodies - so so sweet!!

dutch live-act and dj duo artefakt return to delsin records with an intricately produced three track release entitled falling into the light. artefakt began releasing music together in 2012 and now boast a discography spanning field records, konstrukt and deep sound channel, not to mention regular appearances on delsin where their debut album entitled kinship dropped in 2017. returning to delsin, the pairs next outing once again demonstrates their ever-evolving sound and is an exciting precursor for the launch of their own label later this year. rolling drums open the release in the blue hour as murky synths join hazy atmospherics, making way for weltformel with its racing syncopated percussion and ethereal pads that ebb and flow throughout the mix. finally, falling into the light combines springy kicks with crystalline melodies, metallic elements and rattling effects to conclude a mesmerising release.

casey tucker is on a roll at the moment, and his infectious brand of uplifting, full-fat machine soul seems to have struck a chord in many places (not least via his reissues on for those that knoe). after appearing on love notes back in 2015, tuckers back on the label with another salvo of colourful, charming and utterly magnificent house jams shot through with the inventive programming of techno. alternative faction is many things a bubbly acid track, a swooning deep house cut and a sassy broken beat affair and yet feels utterly smooth in its execution. that time of year has plenty of motor city soul feeding into its composition, not least in the gorgeous synth strings, and new mission gets busy in the swing with all kinds of bouncing melodies and rhythms.

an astronomical conjunction has cropped up. arpanet is back after a long interstellar hibernation and 30drop comes up with its particular vision of the abstract elektro for the very first time. “phases ep” takes the primal warp’s heritage blending hypnotic melodies with rhythmically complex patterns. arpanet, which keeps the exquisiteness of its previous works for rephlex, among other labels, gazes into the black profoundness of its own and unique universe. 30drop’s two cuts, ostensibly touched by the aphex twin spirit, are a spellbinding exercise of style. “phases ep” is experimental, atmospheric, rhythmic and, above all, flawless. this enthralling ep is presented in electric blue vinyl. a special shape for a very special alliance.

since the debut in 2011, the swedish music project pro424 has combined complex modular synth based sounds with strong melodies resembling the synth genre. at the same always with a firm stance in techno and underground culture and always with desire to perform the music live. the previous immune released in 2014, became one of lamours most sold albums ever and was compared to historic references such as tangerine dream and underworld, but also richie hawtin. the new album is a thematic prequel to immune and is set in a light and hopeful soundscape which for some reason collapses. behind pro424 is stockholm based artist and producer maximilian karlander, who aside from music is a bioengineer.

tikita welcomes neel for a first release in collaboration with label mainstays natural/electronic.system. the four tracks here cover deep, rolling, dubby tribal techno. the opener is sparse and dark, gracida is more urgent and alien with watery droplets and wet melodies, then sinistra is mind melting and loopy techno that takes you into the cosmos. last of all, percussiva has supple jeff mills style synths warping round each other as heavy drums pound below. it is brilliantly consuming techno from some of the best in the game.

after breaking out of our holding facility in early 2017, we tracked the humanoid alien lifeform known as darling to a deep bunker in amsterdam. while we were unable to gain entry tio the inner chamber, an operative successfully placed an eavesdropping device close by. while monitoring the lifeform s movements, we were able to record eight musical compositions of varying lengths that it had created using a range of analogue and digital electronic instruments. we have called this collection tulipa moves. you will notice that the tracks utilise a variety of rhythmic patterns, explore unearthly but attractiuve sounds and are capable of stirring strong emotions in human listeners. we direct your attention towards the lilting, softly spun melancholia of composition 03 (codename so did we) the fluid, beat-free bliss of composition 05 (codename the m song), and the up-tempo positivity of composition 07 (codename kiss the glass), whose chiming, intertwined melodies and snappy rhythmic energy reminded us of so-called intelligent dance music. we were astonished by the quality and intricacy of these alien creations and those we have not described in detail. it strengthens our belief that darling is a lifeform with higher intelligence and otherworldly musical ability

joe powers is from edinburgh, far outside the network of the grime capital of london. his caffeinated productions as proc fiskal are faster than usual, with many clocking in at 160bpm. ‘the highland mob’, his 2017 debut ep, opened up his music to open-eared footwork and drum’n’bass fans as well as the grime crowd. after following that up with a jungle-inflected ep on cosmic bridge, ‘insula’ switches the feel and intention towards a personal, and melodic music with one foot in grime, infused with often comic, often wistful recorded moments from his environment. he says ‘i wanted to be aware of where the music is coming from, referencing things i’m presently experiencing, like making grime, my radar radio show, phone addiction, alcohol, my surroundings, girls, depression, positivity, being unemployed, being employed and hating it, my friends etc. trying to be true to myself instead of relying on other peoples’ nostalgia, and focusing on now.’ the record is a huge leap in vision, with delicate, pointillist melodies and intricate edits reminiscent of grime producers such as terror danjah. it also resonates with japanese video game music like that recently explored on the ‘diggin in the carts’ compilation. ‘i think i probably make tunes to get out emotions i don’t express in day-to-day life. i used clips of my friends talking, drunk folk, and general scottish life to preserve and represent what my experience is like right now, like a time capsule. social media notification sounds are designed to release serotonin, which is what i’d like my music to do, to make me, and other people happy, and in using these manipulative noises in a positive way, i like to think i’m taking back the power of the manipulation.’ proc fiskal is adventurous and thoughtful as a producer, and at the young age of 21, his debut album is very advanced in its ideas and execution

insula records returns to the shelves with a brand new ep by 3kz, a unique collaboration between the gifted italian producers z.i.p.p.o. & kaelan. the record lifts off with outta here , a journey into other heights with glissandi melodies rising over arpeggiating sequences to a solid driving techno track that is functional, spot-on material for the floors. this side is complemented with urban jungle , a clear-cut heady track with upfront drum programming that leads to a driving atmosphere. the b-side is something special and is fully covered with the 15-minute spanning title track d50 tears . this beautiful washed out ambient arrangement, full of emotion and soul, channels the mind to other places. a cinematic masterwork that shows the sophistication of 3kz in full depth

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.

emile facey (plant43) has been at the forefront of electronic for more than twelve years. during that time the british producer has released on a host of seminal labels, expanding his style and sound in new directions. although plant43 is typically classified as a purveyor of electro, behind those driving rhythms and steely percussion a tenderness has always been present, an emotion expressed in lilting melodies and complex harmonies. it is these melodies and harmonies that come into focus on plant43s debut ambient album. on from deep streams is a rich and textured tapestry of synth work, a soundtrack that organically unfurls from nightime woodland walks and city stargazing to mindful solitude. the eight tracks offer the listener a calming journey into stillness, an excursion through gentle audio currents and a moment to pause and take in an inspiring vista of sound. recorded over the space of 3 months, this album gives the quiet, the subtle and the sometimes underappreciated centre stage whilst casting light on yet another side of emile faceys ever-evolving musi

fold edition , emotional rescue returns to the the work of remix specialists extraordinaire, razormaid, with a special collection of their remixes of cold wave / dark wave synth band, psyche. featuring unreleased, re-edited and remastered versions of some of the bands most club-based tracks on one ep for the first time. formed in 1982 in edmonton, canada by darrin and stephen huss out of love of the new electronic sounds emanating out of europe, psyche soon forged their own path. influenced by the industrial and post-punk sounds of bands like killing joke and alien sex fiend, as well as the synth pop melodies of groups like soft cell and yazoo, the brothers help precipitate the start of darker electronic goth sound.

limited edition of 1000 copies on green & yellow marbled vinyl (death money) with download code included.
vive la void is the new solo project of sanae yamada, co-founder and keyboard player of moon duo. yamada wrote and recorded the self-titled debut album over roughly a two-year period, during windows of downtime in moon duo’s substantial touring and recording schedule. the dense, shape-shifting atmospheres of the seven songs grew out of late-night basement experiments in the layering of synthesizer tracks, a process that also led to meditations on the changeable nature of memory and perception. the result is an undulating blend of ethereal swirl, low end thrumming, and electric crackle, buoyed by yamada’s understated but captivating vocal melodies and her striking lyrics.

the american pop duo ‘made in france’ has been making waves on the parisian stage with their retro style evocative of the great girl groups of the 60 s (the shirelles, the ronnettes, the shangri-las). this album follows the release of music video clips for the singles -beau brown- and -burn-. musicians and songwriters bathed in the pop music of the 50 s - 70 s from their native usa, johannah cantwell and laura woody take us through the ups and downs of their lives in paris with joyful melodies and self-deprecating humor. the album has undercurrents of surf rock and motown, with riffs from organ, harpsichord, sitar and timpani supporting their texts, which are decidedly of their time. produced and arranged by franck hedin and nathalie loriot (the shuffles, lafayette, howlin’jaws…), recorded by fred carrayol at mercredi 9 studio in paris, the album was both mixed by fred and etienne colin.

scissor and thread is proud to present leland the debut album by francis harris. this long anticipated lp is a requiem to the artists father, released to coincide with the second anniversary of his passing. the album, harris most expansive work to date, features danish vocalist gry on three tracks including lostfound, the first single and video which was remixed by mathew herbert and debuted on pitchfork. also featured throughout are emil abramyan, whose poignant performance on cello evokes comparison to arthur russell, and greg paulus (no regular play/matthew dear band), whose improvisational free jazz inspired trumpet accents converse thoughtfully with harris own tonal melodies performed on piano and guitar. determined to produce electronic music with warmth and true dynamic range, harris recorded and mixed leland at jsm studios on an analog ssl and then enlisted legendary engineer joe lambert to master the project. leland has been featured on pitchfork, magnet, ghetto blaster, aol spinner, urb, mixmag, yourstru.ly, and the village voice, amongst many others. leland will be available in a limited edition triple lp set with free mp3 download!

electronic music label sheik n beik announces its new release snbv013, an ep called daisy cutter by jem. this ep is the third release in their series aimed at celebrating the diversity and history of new york and its boroughs. as sheik n beik s hometown and source of constant inspiration, the label focuses on spotlighting and paying homage to the five boroughs of new york including manhattan, queens, brooklyn, staten island and the bronx. each borough s flag is given a modern and colorful twist via the cover art and design of each outer jacket. the first release in the series, manhattan, featured local nyc hero and co-founder of voodoo down records n conduit, and the second, kathisma resident mr. dello s vaadhoo ep. the new ep from jem, dedicated to the bronx, opens up with title track daisy cutter, which directly sets the tone of the release with a straightforward, dynamic techno, elevated by an eerie, dark atmosphere. it goes on with neb, a downtempo second track with a lighter tone that progressively gets back to the initial mysterious mood and capriciously brightens it with warmer back-and-forth sounds. next on the 12- is semiotic, a third track structured by a clever balance of deconstructed rhythms and sparse acid and synth melodies in the continuity of the lighter, warmer mood previously built up. the ep ends with temple, with a more aggressive accent animated by several lighter melodic layers and a stifled background bass.

rebirth return for the second in their ltd series. argy opens up the e.p. with an atmospheric arp laden stomper enriched by the magical vocals of blue jay. acid pauli then take on remixing modular projects leaving, coupling glitchy vocal loops and pulsating synths together with a hypnotic groove to create a trippy minimal roller. closing out the e.p. tiger & woods add their trademark touch to lele sacchis dreaming wont do, focusing the track around the exuberant piano melodies whilst manipulating the vocal sample into a percussive snare element to give a distinctive feel to the remix. killer work as always from the rebirth crew.

after bursting onto the scene in late 2017, hyperloop makes his drumcode debut with green velvet in toe. followers of truesoul will be clued up on the quality one can expect from hyperloop. last october he marked the label s 100th with in the loop , a superb three-tracker that signalled his arrival on the scene and highlighted a stunning year for the label. as 2018 picks up pace, hyperloop returns with a tougher follow up for drumcode. his mentalizm ep is a classy example of his versatility, a trio of original works, accompanied by two dj tools. beginning on a menacing tip, in your mind (reflections) is a low-end brew of industrial stabs, eerie melodies and subterranean vocals. ‘s-sound is his collaboration with chicago legend green velvet and is a percussive masterstroke of loops and drum riffs which drive the eight-minute track with all the puffing ferocity of a steam train. spring on the battlefield is the perfect contrasting accompaniment, as a warm rush of strings covers a bed of intricate analogue effects and stomping kicks.

there’s a certain quality to the music dubiosity and pjotr g put out. their palette is wide and open and incorporates acidic basslines, orchestrated pads and emotive melodies. the trailer park prophet ep is a worthy addition to their ever growing discography. this 4-track vinyl release combines different sides of the dutch duo whilst maintaining a certain degree of dancefloor quality.

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.

for their first artist ep, super tuff revs up four tracks of high-octane house music from marcel lune. fresh off of an impressive lp for local talk, the uk up-and-comer again proves a knack for effective and subtle productions. the a side sets the mood with -moon sequence, a lush tune that builds to a cinematic climax. he settles into his groove with you can do it! a four-to-the-floor piano jam sprinkled with wonky synthesizers. on the b-side, lune finds himself unhinged on the open road with unknownz offering up a live drum groove drenched in bright synth stabs and triumphant string melodies. finishing the b-side, sun is all shuffled claps and peppy synthesizers that evoke the warm feeling of a sunrise after a long night out.

bell towers is finally back with a new record for public possession. ikea hack origi-nally produced for the runway, was too good not to explore further. once again perfectly showcasing bt s abillity to transform emotions into melodies, bridging gaps between various musical influences the revisited and extendend ver-sions presented here, will leave you with two choices: chillout & dance mix. in ad-dition the material was handed over to baba stiltz, who delivered his very own more minimalistic, extremly hypnotic take on the ikea hack.

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!

yagyas rigning album from 2009 is the icelandic producer s most acclaimed dub, techno and minimal masterpiece. due to popular demand, delsin are now re-issuing it across three slabs of vinyl. previously only available as a double pack with eight tracks, the new re-mastered version features all 10 of the tracks from the original cd. gumundsson has been making music for years both solo and as part of the thule musik collective. he is an album specialist who has worked as yagya since 2002 and has put out six albums since then. they come on labels like force inc and sending orbs where rigning was first released and manage to be both absorbing and detailed yet suitable for relaxing background listening. his last two albums, sleepygirls (2014) and stars & dust (2016) appeared on delsin records. rigning is essentially one long track split into movements. it depicts a city sleeping as gentle rain falls and dubbed out grooves zone you out. yagyas style is always patient and slow burning, his grooves are long and drawn out and his pads reach up into the heavens. this whole album in coated in a warm fuzz and is a real comfort on dark, long, cold nights. as insular and melancholic as it is, there is also plenty of beauty in the melodies and delicate keys. from dark and gloomy to more optimistic and meditative, there is a sophistication throughout this always cinematic album that continues to make it stand out nearly a decade after it was first released.

(incl. dl card) agents of time are proud to present ordinary cosmic dance, the new ep on their own obscura imprint. over three tracks the bari based trio brandish hypnotic, looping melodies in techno structures with subtle trance references.

apollo proudly presents the return of sw, joined by partner svn for a sublime 6 track ep. sws lush sound design and hypnotic arrangements of 2017s the album had hearts and minds swooning following its license from sued to apollo. its balmy glory won over pitchfork (deeply expressive debut album 8/10), rolling stone (best electronic albums 2017) and xlr8r (best releases 2017) amongst many others. one year later, sw and svn have gone into the studio, together to make some original music specifically for apollo. the results are the 6 tracks on this ep, they share in a typically taciturn statement. taking inspiration from the iconic house and techno of the mid / late 90s - sw and svn combine dreamy melodies and mesmeric grooves with unfussy, focussed minimalism, their beguiling, modern take on classic sounds and rhythms remains thrillingly unique and elusive. while sw and svn are more comfortable out of the limelight, this 6 track ep for apollo once again proves that they are rightly worthy of the hype that swirls around them.

lost lp from 1977, rebuilt from original tapes, by the creator of black devil disco club the french electronic music pioneer behind black devil disco club, released three seminal library albums in the seventies: suspense (1975), cosmos 2043 (1977) and the strange world of bernard fevre (1977). a fourth album called orbit ceremony, produced just a few months after remained in his home studio and never saw the light, sentenced to almost 40 years in the devil’s vault. by chance, while working on the re-issues, bernard fevre recently found the original lost tapes of orbit ceremony, including the multi-tracks which he remastered himself. spacy moogs, weird clavinet, and cosmic analog drum machines: it’s all here. the quirky, cosmic library music found on this long-deleted 70&#8242,,,,s science-fiction-themed album is full of burbling synths and off-kilter melodies. there’s only one man on this planet able to produce such a crazy sound. as soon as you press play you know you’ve embarked on a special and unique ‘back to the future’ trip. don’t worry, fasten your seat belt and relax. captain fevre is taking care of everything.

thoma bulwer returns with jandaze , his latest ep via parasol culture featuring long-time partner in crime anna wall. it follows parasol 001 their first joint vinyl release, that sold out on the shelves gaining support from the likes of mood ii swing and cab drivers plus on the airwaves via nts. their jandaze ep has already been doing the rounds on the dj circuit in hackney wick and beyond. ‘patience’ was the result of a late night jam session with sync boxes, groove benders and the classic tr-909. after much fine-tuning, it’s been tried and tested by cinthie on her recent australia tour and is set to be a staple club cut for this summer. although ‘insouciant’ means a casual lack of concert, a lot of work went into making this one. it’s the most laid-back of the bunch, with smallville-esque juno 106 melodies perfect for the afterparty or warm up session. this goes out to the post-nyd loft party crew in the wick where it was played for the first time. try pronouncing this one at 7am in the morning… ‘fridge speed’ is a minimal house cut influenced by thoma’s garage roots. think rudely placed analogue synth stab melodies, ‘tuff’ skippy drums and big subs ideal for early hours and “it’s a london thing” house sets. ‘egress’ was made with long jam takes from thoma’s modular system. deep, dubby beats, evolving synths and textures make up this track thats been road-tested on the world famous fabric room 1 sound system by voigtmann in his extended set before ricardo villalobos. current support comes from maya jane coles, archie hamilton franck, roger, cinthie, voigtmann, john dimas.

the mythical liquid pegasus returns - this time on clandestine boogie, firmly setting out his stall as one of the best around when it comes to modern synth boogie. ‘makin it hot opens up proceedings, synth stabs and squelchy basslines a plenty, married with layers of intricate melodies and a vocoder transported straight from the 80 s. matt hughes takes on remix duties converting that squelchy bass synth into a more straight up funk bass guitar, adding shuffling high hats and weaving in a little jazz flute for added effect. on the flip side it s prime low rider cruising courtesy of sparkle combining a full-bodied bass, cosmic pads and woozy synth flurries to create a soundtrack perfect for late night coasting. to close out the e.p. dave allison adds his own sparkle to the track, upping the tempo, adding a range of hazy arps and sweeping synthesis alongside a perfectly executed bass breakdown, taking sparkle from midnight cruiser to boogie bomb.

the frankonia ep is the result of the collaboration between nils weimann and martin glowacz, which started many years ago. side a serves two different, powerful tracks. frankonia comes with warm atmospheres and spaces. driven by the interaction of bass and synth lines, wrapped in some subtile delayed textures. lower has a rollin bass structure, combined with smashing vocals and surrounded by resonating marbles. side b belongs paul agripa’s interpretation of frankonia. he’s also known as a part of ragrip and comoji. the remix takes you on a 13 minutes trip, carried by a harmonic baseline, extended spaces and melodies. play it loud! early support by cezar, sedee, vlad arapasu.

constantin xenakis work possesses exactly what i really love about intelligent electronic music. its stylishly repetitive, coded, mechanical but, at the same time, very organic and playful. this is how argyris theofilis, also known as zodiac free arts club, explains his fascination with european artist constantin xenakis. born in cairo, xenakis work often includes written script, in particular symbols andcodes of everyday life, traffic signs, alchemy, the zodiac, mathematical and chemical symbols, egyptian hieroglyphics as well as letters from the greek, phoenician, hebrew and arabic alphabets.a balance between human and inhuman that makes his art somehow mystical. after becoming fixated by xenakis, the greek music producer searched and eventually met him for the first time in 2012. after several meetings in paris and athens, they both decided to present structures + codes, a concept album conceived as an homage to the painters vision. each one of the eight songs in the album corresponds to a painting by xenakis, translating its intricate shapes and patterns into spirit-lifting compositions filled with elliptic arpeggios, repetitive drum machines and esoteric melodies in proper kosmische manner. but this is not a mere exercise in style. as xenakis paintings, its music that transcends its own codes to become an esoteric experience. this record should be heard comfortably.

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.-

rickard jäverling, born and raised in borlange, sweden, and now living and working in stockholm is a wayward and productive musician. besides releasing material under his own name, jäverling is/has been part of constellations such as dodens dal, liljor and jäverling von euler. album 3, released on hoga nord rekords is his third solo album. album 3 breathes psychedelia, dub, swedish folk, progg and continental vintage electronic music. the songs on this album are in a way like a compilation of short stories rather than chapters in a novel. the common factor in this album is jäverlings exquisitely worked out melodies and the warm, round production but the songs can, due to the rich storytelling qualities of each one of them, almost be regarded as small albums of their own! the music made by richard jäverling is an embrace, a relative with a house by the swedish west coast or a day off, midweek in april. this album is inviting and calming but also as solid and mighty as a dalecarlian beech tree.

mad dancer ep is freda’s second offering through sydney imprint moonshoe records - the record maintains the raw crunchy nature of his debut whilst he progresses into more dissonant atmospheres. wobbling jazz loops guide the a side through 2 up-tempo yet calming house tracks. the title track mad dancer is kept alive by crunchy, swinging hi-hats and bouncy synth melodies. smoking causes is a slow burning take on disco. on the flip (breakfast) is the curveball of the 3 tracks. a darker mood is established before a syncopated break drives the ep home, exemplified by a sliding dissonant synth melody.

mihai popescu kicks off a new label, steppin motion records, with two of his own brilliant tracks. the romanian artist has been a key part of the scene since 2012, releasing on labels like soulsity, rora and bass culture. he has a slick electronic sound that is here for all to here on these two new cuts.

steppin motion is a record label based in paris and managed by swoop. it aims to promote music as an art, as something beautiful that gets your body and soul in motion. this first ep is in two parts, showcasing both sides of the label: the first part is the most dance oriented, whereas the second part will be more soul / beauty oriented. the amazing artwork comes from vesod, who is an italian street-artist painter from turin.

selfsuficient is first and is ten minutes of slippery house music with lovely chords and melodies all making for a warm and infectious groove. it is colourful, loose and rhythmic stuff that oozes a futuristic sense of soul. neasteptat is deeper, with rubbery drums and woodpecker like sounds all weaving round each other to cast a spell on those who hear it.

these are two terrific tracks that connoisseurs of minimal house are going to lap up.

taking inspiration from music, nature and the elements that surround them, jukka hänninen and mika hanka aka shuffless have quickly garnered the attention of many within house and techno since making their production debut in 2016. written at the vislampi studio, located in ruutana city, finland, using a combination of hardware gear from the likes of roland, korg and arturia, here we see the duo reveal their latest work with four diverse and expansive cuts set for release this spring as they return to syncrophone s in-house imprint. opening up the ep, hänninen and hanka fluently introduce chi , a complex and evolving cut that effortlessly fuses deep, rich chords, and delicate, skipping hi-hats, before easing into the flowing groove of lahti with its jazz-tinged melodies and heady tones guiding the production into lighter territories. on the flip, nime Ñvailla introduces a matrix of hazy textures amongst crunchy percussion licks and dubbed out atmospherics as the duo return to deeper, darker realms, before title cut puollaskel punctuates the package in classy fashion, laying down gritty analog percussion, resounding kicks and subtly programmed nuances to conclude an excellently worked ep.

known for releases on labels like overall music, innercircle and frole records, back to basics regular barnsley begins 2018 by returning to his vessel records imprint with big move ep . consisting of two low-slung originals, the release also includes remixes from bass culture founder d julz and cabinet records bosses cabdrivers. a compelling groove lays the foundation of time whilst quivering synths operate throughout, leading into d julz s remix that twists the original into a moody roller with tightly executed 808s at its core. forgiveness starts with clanking percussion as melodies add to the heightening atmosphere, while the cabdrivers remix takes the key elements of the original and plays with the harmonies to make them coarser.

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

since its launch in 2013, bright sounds has established itself as a label bridging the gap between the dancefloor and more experimental sounds, releasing eps by the likes of shlomo, tilliander, burnt friedman or more recently conforce. on its eleventh release, the label welcomes ben thomas aka bnjmn with “final network” ep, the uk producer based in berlin and releasing on tresor, delsin, counterchange or more recently on his newly founded imprint: tiercel. the ep opens up with “reticuli”, an ambient techno journey into a forest of otherworldly sounds. “neurocity” comes next with its rattling sounds met by disorienting and spooky melodies. on the b-side “cloaked” starts off with bare kick and congos before waves of drones add textures producing an eerie atmosphere. the title track closes this ep, slowly building to create an ecstatic floating mood, leaving you longing for more as it gently fades away.