hot on the heels of his eczo e.p. on like minded cultivated electronics, maelstrom returns to cpu with another essential electro cut. acid fans be sure to check out ussidd for some raw bass line action.

“breathe the machine” is the first installment of dojostudio and presents a musical world rich in harmonics, low frequency and melodic impact, yet with enough space in between to allow that perfect breathing room essential for powerful dance cuts. “breathe the machine” portrays a world that initially feels robotic, yet instills an organic fluidity known only to come from humanoid beings, breathing life into a system littered with code and coldness. billy dalessandro presents 3 original cuts, plus a rendition of the title track by mike shannon.

having had a busy 2018 spring/summer season performing at clubs and festivals all across the world, the drum & bass duo spectrasoul return with brand new music to continue the ish chat music saga, picking up from where their critically acclaimed album how we live left off. the silence ep features four hugely in demand tracks that have been making waves during these past months, from the brooding sparseness of untitled horn to the soul searching of faithful, this is yet another essential spectrasoul selection.

as i m always evolving, every now and again i need to make a point about my latest sound. curveballs has been especially written to showcase the full range of my current sound and features a carefully selected collection of tracks designed for a club environment. riva starr dance musics prolific italian-born london-based sharpshooter riva starr set to release fourth artist album curveballs via adam beyer s revered truesoul records. riva starr has been shaking up the world of dance music with his eclectic and unpredictable palette of sounds and styles for over a decade. over the years, he has racked up numerous accolades and achievements including releasing 3 acclaimed albums (if life gives you lemons, make lemonade in 2010, hand in hand in 2013 and definition of sound in 2016), having a myriad of single/ep releases on some of dance music s most established labels (snatch! records, hot creations, relief, crosstown rebels, dirtybird) and amassing an impressive remix resume of artists including audion, groove armada, dennis ferrer, usher, estelle, london grammar, fatboy slim, reboot and david morales. with all of this success and experience under his belt, the time has come for the talented italian to deliver his much awaited fourth long-player, curveballs comprising of 12 stellar tracks inspired by current club sounds and old school music elements, driven by starr s endeavor to produce music that stands the test of time. the lp s striking opener, always gets things underway and sets the tone with its powerful house groove, warm chord stabs and divine soulful vocal courtesy of legendary house diva jocelyn brown. elsewhere, there s the funk-driven disco-tinged piknik, the uplifting needin u esque disco loco, the dark and commanding the hole (release your soul) and the pounding peak-time synth-laden roller give me love. other highlights include, the infectious breakbeat workout britcoin, the techy electro-tinged fresh and the experimental synth-driven techno gem analhog. the album concludes with 3 fine cuts in the form of the bass heavy tr-909 laden ride, the funk-fueled house groover mantra (early in the morning) and an exclusive deep-house-esque dub version of give me love to round off yet another essential long-player from one of dance music s much-loved artists

after an essential hiatus, 12 inches deep returns with a brand new project. introducing hot dime recordings, house and garage based on a different set of metrics, uk garage. the brainchild of 12id label founder, urbanite, and none other than uk garage legend, karl tuff enuff- brown, of tuff jam fame, hot dime recordings launches an all new, us based uk garage platform, with 2tuf4u vol. 1, a massive compilation hand selected from karls prolific vault of works and collaborations. turn to the a side for a joint effort between karl brown, and fellow ledge, jeremy sylvester, as -tuff asylu with an original, and individual hot mixes. flip to the opposite side for another pair of special hot mixes, this time of the anthill mobs when i think of you, followed by a swinging donk mix from the unmistakable, dem2, to round out the volume. one not to be missed.

denis sulta has announced new offshoot to his sulta selects imprint, silver service. the debut release comes from cromby an irish born, berlin based producer on the up. following a thumping set at belfasts beloved ava festival, his new ep will be released on 21st september and features three peak-time club weapons, inspired by the sounds of classic chicago house. the lead futurola is a hard-hitting, jacking house track that packs a fierce bassline and emotive punch, whilst b1, barneymania is a chicago-tinged acid roller that layers melodic chords, the ep ends with the dark and sci-fi-tinged electro of fandango. the new label follows on from denis sulta’s selects imprint home to three volumes of his own essential 12inch series

rod malmoks (aka rod) debut-album title track receives proper reworks from stanislav tolkachev & the advent. 1 for the mind & 1 for the body, this is essential stuf!

currently fizzing up summer crowds on his european tour, the argentinian renaissance man is testing his wares, as he prepares to unveil his third artist album at the turn of 2019. set for release on the martinez brothers perennial cuttin headz imprint, it will herald a fresh jacking chapter for the artist who famously refuses to sit still. an instant statement of intent, ‘so dope’, the first taster from the forthcoming long-player, lives up to its name with a thumping nyc swing, loose twanging slap-bass pops, trippy vox overlays, springy rhythmic elements and all essential conga rolls. with its concrete-thick groove, ‘so dope’ commands an equally robust remixer rollcall. which is exactly what the martinez brothers have recruited... the bossmen themselves get elbow deep with a warped and twisted bassline that snakes around the stately jacking beat, gradually becoming more warped and wonderful as the track progresses. djebali follows with a precision contrast as the vocal shots wrap themselves tightly around a timeless 909 beat and subtle tracks of venomous acid while heartthrob flips it into an all-out rolling techno experience. dope ain’t the word.

the poverty is violence stable are firmly established now as an essential conductor for rabid, rowdy and downright rasping mechanics from subterranean operators of all shapes and sizes. anonymous but reportedly veteran dutch producer xxx previously appeared on the label in 2016 with the wild noorder scannen 12-, and now returns with a bludgeoning new release. there s a consistent metal grind to the percussion on westzaan doelen, while the synth tones in between tend towards the jagged and abrasive, there s space and poise in the arrangement to lift this out of knuckleheaded noise. -don t go after her- reverberates with clamouring intensity while the beefy chassis of -just the two of you- shimmers under an acidic glaze - this is full-tilt deviant music executed with finesse to match the grime.

we welcome back lenson with his first solo-ep for the third release on the revenge techniques imprint. being with the label since the very first paling trax output, lenson counts among the best in the young, cutting edge techno producers from rotterdam. highly essential club traxx!

livity sound continues to be one of the most innovative labels of its era with another essential release, this time in the form of a debut long player from forest drive west. this extended 2 x 12” and digital release, apparitions lands in october 2018 and is a fascinating further development of the producer s intricate fusions of techno, dub and jungle. * the acclaimed uk artist has released two eps on the label before now, as well as on its sister label dnuos ytivil and the likes of hidden hawaii, appian sound, and london drum & bass outlet rupture. little is known about the london based producer but in just a couple of years he has established his own unique blend of complex rhythms and tactile sound design, distilling a rich history of uk musical influences into fresh new forms. * this record continues in that tradition with a mix of sparse rhythm tracks that contrast heavy weight drum programming with rich and deft sound design. from menacing and mysterious, to cinematic and hypnotic, it makes for a compelling and immersive experience. apparitions is a landmark release for one of the uk s most exciting new producers.

the strictly rhythm imprint is legendary and is instantly recognisable by connoisseurs worldwide. it s a label that has contributed time and time again to dance music culture across it s almost 30 year lifespan. countless classics passed through the nyc offices of mark finkelstein and gladys pizarro and this brand new strictly classics series looks to celebrate this cornerstone dance label and it s immense catalogue by going back to the archives and presenting some double-header action for diehard fans and newcomers alike. that s right, the proper mixes, reissued from source and remastered to the highest spec, each track spread across one side of a 12- for optimal sonic playback. number 3 in the series kicks off on a proper old-school tip with cls mammoth can you feel it from 1991, a collaboration between todd terry and benji candelerio cls made a huge and lasting impression with this euphoric and anthemic slab of dancefloor madness. instantly recognisable from it s ravey riff and funky drum programming, file this one under rave classic ! over on the flip side we have south street player s smoothed out (who) keeps changing your mind? , a rolling and deep jam from roland clark and george morel that came out in 1993. this one s some lights down, honest to god soulful house music, skipping garage drums and that organ driven groove offer the perfect vehicle for clark s gorgeous vox to soar over. yet another set of absolutely essential sr cuts from the archive! remastered with love by optimum mastering, bristol from original master sources. made in conjunction with strictly rhythm 2018.

belgiums most praised dubstep label duploc has been consistently releasing two-track singles since 2015. the imprint curated by platform duploc.com now announces the launch of a new 12inch vinyl release series. catalogued as duplocv001, the first ep features no one less than label resident hebbe. the dutch up-and-comer was introduced to duploc in the beginning of 2018 with duploc020, as he was signed to crucial recordings and artikal music uk short after. now he returns to the label for the first volume of the new dupplates series. watch out is one of hebbe’s most anticipated tracks as a chest-oppressive weighty sub bass rolls through a distorted landscape of cinematic samples and sinister melodies which are constantly progressing. of course resident enigma dubz has to be involved in this first instalment as he delivers an incredibly stunning remix, hitting you with pure bassweight and powerful synths. on the flip side, compatriot melle and the like-minded mr.k enthusiastically accompany hebbe to unleash both the bouncing wayside as well as the murky lemon twist, two highly overdue cuts. the dupplates vol. 1 is an essential in your record collection and marks a first much promising episode for the next to come on duplocs prestigious series.

jump trax is another essential piece of early chicago house music crafted by the legendary duane thamm jr back in 1984. fusing together a myriad of influences including early 80s euro pop, italo disco and hi nrg, thamm jr was responsible for helping create and influence the burgeoning house sound that would emanate from the city all throughout the second half of the 1980s. not only were these sounds new and fresh, they were experimental too, jump trax sees the bpm s gradually shift throughout the duration of the tracks seamlessly giving the more adventurous djs out there more ammunition and room to experiment with styles and bpms. a truly visionary approach to production and all recorded and mixed within chicago s city limits by thamm jr at his reel to reel studio located in villa park, illinois. jump trax continues to be as influential today as it was back in 84, with many top dj s still citing the record as a go to, powerful indeed. chicagos still music are proud to present this fully legit, remastered and repressed piece of chicago house history. a truly pivotal record now made available again for 2018. essential sound for those who love the real deal snoozing not advised, og copies of this monster are hard to come by!

after relocating from california at 7 years old, nasser grew up in a musical environment in new jersey. surrounded by gifted artists from an early age, nasser was fed a diet of authentic 70 s soul, 80 s pop and 90 s hip hop and r&b, which all influenced the spirit of his music and his trademark big production. at only 24 years old nasser displays real musical maturity and a subterranean fearlessness in his productions. mentored by house music master dennis ferrer, nasser has released three ep s and on the indispensible objektivity label, as well as remixing dennis iconic son of raw in 2017. his gramercy ep on suara revealed nasser s more techier side, exposing his wider abilities. his most recent release on objektivity, the just like that ep , dropped in summer 2017, in tune with his first ibiza season. (as a part of dennis ferrer s misfits society crew, a residency he continues in 2018…) here nasser debuts on circus recordings with his first full, self penned, and part sung, vocal single, combined with a intergalactic techno b side that is absolutely not to be skipped over. say something was instantly snapped up by yousef after an early demo was sent to the label owner earlier this year. big, nasty & pin sharp drums carry the original vocal throughout the track, as a playful narrative parties & dances throughout. vocal hook after vocal hook interchange as the slamming 909 drums persist. as yousef said, there is simply nothing else quite like it right now, and as pete tong said it s the best vocal record he has heard in many years, confirmed an essential new tune on the spot… this years bigger than prince..?

s. crosbie s dark arts has become an essential label for many of the key players looking to work more underground dancefloors, and continues to evolve with da09. things lift off with the slowly building bassline throb of cellular before the twisted electro depth of holophane glides into view. transmission 09 is a masterclass in atmospheric, glitchy dancefloor electronics. finally, the techno of anterior is a flawless exercise in lithe, funk-filled minimalism. dark arts: simply killer machine music designed to move both mind and feet. check.

this is a rare gem of a record from fantastic soul band the soul kids stemming from the democratic republic of congo, including covers of james brown & the mighty flames hit singles -lickin stick- (1968), -papa s got a brand new bag- (1965), wilson pickett’s -hey jude- and a french vocal version of otis redding’s soul hit -respect -. this amazing young band, which released only four 7inch singles and one album, is a great example of the influence of soul music and french pop bridging to the new afro soul scene that the musicians of kinshasa were involved in during the time of post-independence. ngoma was one of the first record labels intent on providing local artists recordings from both sides of the congo river to the people of the drc and west africa. created in 1948 by a greek man by the name of nicolas jeronimidis, the ngoma label was active through 1968, pressed in france until 1971, with a tremendous catalogue, including this historical and essential soul masterpiece!

with sincere excitement co&#769,,,meme is now delivering katerinas very first ep to planet earth: just when you thought it was over. katerina from helsinki - finland via sofia - bulgaria is a passionate music lover, a skillful dj, an imaginative music maker and an emotional and hyper sensitive artist. she produces music that is essential and timeless, tracks that feel necessary in your life once they have entered it. katerina has already contributed to the ever growing, always radical and forward thinking catalogue of the co&#769,,,meme music collective, with tracks on the compilations solidarity forever vol. 1 and 3. she also hosts a show on radio co&#769,,,meme called radio emotsiya, in which she generously shares her broad musical knowledge and her very particular musical obsessions, for instance her steady – and in our opinion very understandable - veneration of dj quik. and yes, her music breathes the emotionality of hip hop, the sensitivity of well placed, swinging beats, and that steady survival mode, that essential melancholy in dance music: where melodies tell about love and longing, and rhythms help you to keep going on.just when you thought it was over, here we go again, its another day on planet emotsiya, from where katerina sends us reports about her adventures, always sided by her already legendary white cat nopo

the first in a series of all-time classic hip-hop anthems from the nervous vaults, pressed onto high quality dinked 45s. remastered from the original source material and featuring the unedited dirty version on the a-side, and the full instrumental on the b-side, these 45s are for the heads who know what time it really is! black moon s who got the props needs no introduction, its place in hip-hop history is fully solidified. the combination of vintage beatminerz sp1200 beats paired with the legendary mcs buckshot and the 5 ft. accelerator s streetwise nyc raps is a heady mixture indeed. often speaking of street life in new york in the 1990 s, black moon gained cult status via their 1993 debut lp enta da stage , one of the most celebrated hip-hop debut albums of all time. the beatminerz production changed the game, their deep knowledge and understanding of samples, records and digging in the crates gave their sound a real style and edge. who got da props is the perfect example of this, one of those timeless rap records that appeals to the hardcore and can ignite the party. truly essential. every home should have one (or 2!). fully legit, licensed and reissued by above board distribution in conjunction with nervous records, nyc. 2018.

craig christon and bonar bradberry team up as before christ for this essential slice of brooding party fuel, leading in with the trippy, otherworldly tones of barry s k. from the grinding pulse of the analogue bassline to the mystical keys, it s the consummate astral traveler for djs exploring the outer realms of the dancefloor. mushroom project gently rub more spaced out elements into the original, injecting a little light and letting the hits linger for longer in the ample space of their killer version. tuesday club finds before christ turning to a more sharp-edged rhythmic palette without losing the hypnotic qualities of their sound, before mushroom project return to lay down a rubbery 303 bassline that fits right in amongst the raw drum hits and dense fx processing.

solar phenomena continues a high quality and high rate of releases after eps from the likes of stl and fluxion with a new one from mystica tribe - the musical alias of tokyo-based producer, taka noda. here he draws on everything from dub, soul, bass music, rhythm and blues and will always freak you out with his unusual sounds.
this excellently absorbing ep starts with “love is all right”, a fusion of asian percussion and reggae drums that is high tempo and funky. the bright steelpan sounds offset the razor sharp percussion and make for a sunny dub that will get any crowd going. the same fusion vibes continues but in more blissed out and slow motion fashion on “lawn track”, the beautiful cosmic psyche-out that is “ash” and supple space journey that is “voyage” with its intoxicating melodies and loose, tumbling percussion. this is unusual but essential music from an exclusive talent.

finnish dj and producer otto yliperttula, aka yotto, is a dance music star in the making. championed by some of the genre’s most respected trailblazers and building an army of adoring fans, yotto is primed to join the big leagues with the release of his highly anticipated debut album ‘hyperfall’. yotto’s unique sound blends dark, brooding atmospheres with light, uplifting melodies – deftly hitting the sweet spot between melancholy and euphoria. otto draws inspiration from his childhood favourites the chemical brothers and röyksopp, along with more contemporary influences ranging from eric prydz and m83 to jon hopkins and xxx. having debuted on anjunadeep in early 2015 he quickly caught the ear of bbc radio 1’s pete tong and annie mac, picking up no fewer than 5 ‘essential new tunes’ and 3 ‘hottest records in the world’, along with dj support from the likes of solomun, jamie jones, patrice baumel, adriatique and joris voorn, who signed yotto to his renowned green label. the 13-track debut lp hyperfall is the culmination of three years in the ascendency, and sees yotto continue to carve his own exciting path.

a musical partnership forged at the beginning of the millennium, ajit steyns and kate mcgill have developed a well defined and unmistakable sound as the untouchables. tribal rhythms drenched in dub, with characteristic nods to the breaks and rave stabs era of late 90’s dnb, their music has been an integral component of the darker half-time sound that has become more prevalent within dnb over the past 5 years. tempering the menace of their atmospherics with distinctive low-slung bass lines has made their music essential to dj’s championing this sound.
grey marbled double vinyl release.

a musical partnership forged at the beginning of the millennium, ajit steyns and kate mcgill have developed a well defined and unmistakable sound as the untouchables. tribal rhythms drenched in dub, with characteristic nods to the breaks and rave stabs era of late 90’s dnb, their music has been an integral component of the darker half-time sound that has become more prevalent within dnb over the past 5 years. tempering the menace of their atmospherics with distinctive low-slung bass lines has made their music essential to dj’s championing this sound.
black double vinyl release.

infuse027 marks label head enzo siragusa’s debut solo ep on the imprint. for the occasion, he finally releases ‘little angel’, a track close to his heart which was debuted on his bbc radio 1 essential mix at the end of 2016. embellished with swinging drums, and gentle soaring pads, it s a feel-good masterstroke of deep house. on the flip is romania’s cristi cons on remix duty, who keeps things deep but adds a subtle attitude that builds throughout, all while paying homage to the original.

italian finest cosmic disco from the genius of no other than dodias, superb drummer, former member of gli idoli the very first band of lucio dalla, and cowriters of few of his early songs. essential!

official re-release of the nelson family s gospel lp from 1986. essential for any serious collectors of gospel. quality from end-to-end, including the cuts thank you lord (firm favorite of floating points and skymark), filled with his spirit and everlasting love.

salsoul records present a crate digging anthology of the more electronic, early 80s leaning side of their catalogue an essential collection of early 80 s post disco electronic grooves from the salsoul vaults. primarily a salsa label on it s inception, salsoul delved into numerous styles throughout its existence but this killer selection focuses on the period of time where music entered the 1980 s and studio technology changed. a plethora of funked out, dubbed out electronic funk across 2 discs is what salsoul boogie offers - choice cuts from the likes of skyy, aurra, leroy burgess, civil attack and many more! featured are the full 12inch dance mixes for unlimited dance-floor pleasure. mixes by larry levan, shep pettibone and francois k feature. one cannot underestimate the importance of these tracks on contemporary dance music, but the funk is the most important thing here, important tracks yes but also amazing records to dance to that capture a time in nyc when clubs were place to be, sanctuaries of escapism, hedonism and expression. essential listening right here boogies gonna get ya! curated with the full input and backing of salsoul records and carefully selected to reflect the truly timeless nature of the music contained within. for listening, for dancing, for turning on a party! remastered by optimum mastering. artwork & design by million dollar disco.

harlems legendary disco label queen constance has long been a cult favourite among fans of underground dance music for decades. one of many labels operating under the equally legendary p&p family of imprints land of hits was operated by one peter brown, a truly colossal figure in nycs music scene, its catalogue still fascinates music lovers to this day. covering a wide range of styles including gospel, early rap and disco the label s output continually finds it way into the playlists of respected dj s and selectors across the globe. mistafide s colossal old-school rap behemoth equidity funk has long been a record that makes the serious collectors salivate and is now here in full 12inch form repress, too legit to quit. not much is known about the crew behind mistafide , their government names are listed online but this is the only record they put out using this name. suffice to say, this has no impact on the fury and style with which the mc s deliver their raps, backed with the studio nous of impresario peter brown. across 12 minutes equdity funk is a slamming disco-rap monster, interpolating elements of the evergreen b-boy jam theme from swat it sounds like everyone just got into the studio and went for it. in the style of the times this is the real hip-hop flavour, a live band, some mc s and some death defying bars being dropped, proper old school. a truly rare recording, equidity funk has been one of those records fans of the disco-rap era have been fiending for for decades - often commanding prices over the $1000 mark you can now grab this slice of essential nyc street funk.

strut continue their essential work with the godfather of ethio jazz, mulatu astatke, with the first official reissues of his early classics afro latin soul volumes 1 and 2 from 1966, recorded as the ethiopian quintet. arriving after astatkes life-changing years studying at berklee college in boston, the albums were the first experiments in his pioneering sound, fusing ethiopian cultural music with afro latin and jazz forms

seth troxlers club focussed label, play it say it, welcomes a master of stripped back and dubbed out tech grooves in the form of seb zito, while fuse boss enzo siragusa steps up to remix. a core part of the world-renowned fuse party crew, zitos distilled productions are perfectly functional, boasting the sorts of subtle charms that make them truly irresistible to legions of dancers. his warm sound has landed on the fuse and infuse labels as well as rawax and kaoz theory. he runs his own seven dials label and is as revered for his resident sets in london and ibiza as he is his studio sounds. the excellent on it opens things up with tightly coiled drums, adorned with bumping kicks that immediately get you moving. a soul infused vocal brings plenty of cool to the track whilst dreamy pads add warmth and depth. a dub is also included in the package for those darker, late night sets. both versions are sure to become club mainstays. remixing is enzo siragusa, the man behind the internationally renowned fuse brand and a driving force in the contemporary house and techno scene. he djs around the world, hosts parties across europe and is known for digging deep. his version is more zoned out thanks to the swirling pads, with the orignals vocal coming at you in a dreamlike fashion, as the knotted bass hammers home the groove. this is an essential release that is sure to go on to big things this summer.

he sings! he dances! the fabulous new album! says the original sticker on dmx krews nu romantix lp and nothing changed 20 years later for ed upton aka ed dmx. permanent vacation marks the anniversary of this influential album with a special re-release. the album is available for the first time on a loud and sharp 45rpm double 12inch (including the instrumental of come to me as bonus track). carefully remastered by lopazz for maximum pleasure. the music is now as relevant as it was 20 years ago, when the king of electro power ballades sings about the essential things in life and takes you to the place called love, that is more needed than ever before.

(2lp, 180gr vinyl) the vinyl lp has been discontinued and second-hand copies of the original pressing are changing hands on ebay and discogs for upwards of £100! this vinyl only simple things re-issue will mirror the original release, cut over 4 sides and using the original artwork but now pressed on heavyweight 180g vinyl. simple things is a timelessly classic album and the essential soundtrack to any laidback summer chilling.

z records on going label sampler series continues with vol.11 of their attack the dancefloor 12inch vinyl releases. this latest volume sees the jn remixes of harvey mason groovin you and earth, wind & fire guitarist al mckay s heed the message alongside the piano heavy risky biznizz by doug willis and an exclusive jn remix of together (right now) by lakeshore commission, all on vinyl for the first time. another essential atdf 12inch.

ce ce rogers spine tingling, seminal hit someday gets a much-welcomed official remastered, reissue 31 years after it first took the scene by storm. produced by chicagos master, marshall jefferson, every element is unmistakable from the dynamic bass and sweeping flutes that set the scene for that instantly recognisable piano riff, to the raw soulful beauty of rogers vocals. someday is a record that truly captures the euphoric, loving nature of the early house music scene epitomising a timeless spirit and hope for future harmony within society. often cited as one of the greatest dance records of all time, it s influence is clear to be seen from the sheer number of covers and records that have since sampled it. an indisputable masterpiece, complete with dub mix and accainstrumental versions, this is an essential 12inch for any record collector out there house head or not.

super smooth release on nny records full of lush and sensual tracks. on the a side we can listen to nicson (flumo recordings) who delivers an excellent straight to heaven in a deep-house 90s mood, full of energy and class, after him f. vinuesa (solid tapes) approaches lo-fi and acid paths with highlands, a tune that is is capable of transporting you to another dimension. on the b side mateis e. aqir (jungle gym records) presents natural sense, a track that also takes you to a different dimension, this time more oriented to open spaces, in a balearic and new age mood fused with a leftfield touch which is a delight, and to close the compilation we have the great work of i see you in the plants, the new aka by pablo diskko for productions in an ambient techno-dub wave that absorbs you and catches you. a superb and an essential work.

this month we have what is the start of a string of previously unreleased bangers from the soul, funk and disco legend bobby boyd, we have been working on this for a long time and really proud to be working alongside bobby representing him. first up we have love goddess, a floaty driving disco soul number thats bound to get some spins by the northern boys as well as deep disco heads, i know its been doing this business when i play it, on the flip and classic horn driven funky soul in bobbys classic style and solid songwriting, essential. if your not a rare soul or disco collector bobby s name might not be a name your familiar with but as one of the founder members of lafayette afro rock band you will have experienced his music and influence which is far reaching.

you’d think that following “melodies of love” would be an impossible task. not so, if you happen to be genius brit-funk pioneers john rocca and andy stennett. on their more understated - yet, pound for pound, stronger - second record, pink rhythm stretched out to create a 4 track ep of richly melodic, exquisite beauty. in the process, they trumped their most well-known release.
cruising on a funk-fuelled journey from the swaggering title track, via the blue-eyed soul of “trust me”, to the stabbing staccato synth heat of “more and more” and back again (“india” dub) this ep has essential seared onto its substantial grooves.

jickow releases his lead and debut single -pig tails- on the well known resopal label. the belgium based producer has been at the heart of the minimal techno movement and is also a revered producer and performer who creates amazing sounds. the original is a funky athmospheric track with wriggling synths executed in jickows darker, more stripped back and abstract edges of the dancefloor. add into the package are two outstanding remixes by matt sassari and timid boy. all in all an essential release for 2018.

under cover for many years, this affie yusuf two tracker finally sees the light of day on the acclaimed mindyourhead imprint. comes on a generally deep green, mixed colour marbled 12’’ vinyl. affie yusuf paved the way uk acid house scene and so much more, releasing techno and acid throughout his career. mindyourhead records recognises that sometimes you need to look a little bit into the past to move ahead and has re-launched the label with this vinyl only release. ‘parrot soup’ is a fine example of just how a track title can have absolutely no relevance to the music whatsoever. this is a lovingly constructed example of how to convey images with sound, this music renders images brimming with joy and loss, icy cold chills and the warmth of the first rays of sun on a spring morning. tight, punchy drums with crisp 808 snares and driving toms lovingly complimented with dream-like pad sequences, soul searching strings and lush bassline form a quality crossover track that will appeal to lovers of many styles of techno and house. ‘something special’ is on a different tip, more driving and direct in style with the ‘everybody…’/ ‘something special’ vocal samples put to great use (need to be heard in context!) and that essential marching ‘affie acid’ bassline. the lead follows a similar pattern to the acid but pulls your head in a slightly different direction leaving the listener suitably twisted!! this proper ‘party acid’ has just the right level of balls to destroy a dancefloor without scaring off the faint of heart. lovely work affie!!

‘fug’ and ‘brothers on the slide’ are two classic, essential cymande tracks. taken from their ‘second time round’ and ‘promised heights’ lp’s, respectively. mastered from original tapes to create the best possible reproduction, cut loud on 7” vinyl. official mr bongo reissue, in a picture sleeve.

canadian import original prelude stock garage classic and all-time prelude records favourite from france joli. top shelf mixes from the maestro francois kevorkian! that essential sound. features a blazing spanish language version too. super heavy unidisc repress.

estonian archival label frotees 6th release suvi ei jaa by heidy tamme is available again as 7inch single with new b-side for the balearic heads. while suvi ei jaa is a cover version of roberta flacks song what a woman really means, it was given new estonian lyrics which eloquently describe the summer season and its brevity (title translates as summer doesnt stay). its sung by popular estonian singer heidy tamme, recorded in 1982, and arranged by tiit paulus, one of the best estonian jazz guitarists. after original release of 7 in 2015, frotee has discovered another version of the title track. tiit paulus had played guitar over instrumental version of suvi ei jaa and this version is now essential for our balearic summers.

a longtime staple of the infamous hague scene, dj overdose returns to l.i.e.s. with what may be his heaviest release to date. razor sharp top notch production is the name of the game on this four tracker which sees overdose move from relentless broken beat electro on the a-side to the more wave influenced cuts on the b-side s, dark spectre echo and strompel. overdose proves once again he is and always has been one of the major forces in the electro world since the early-90s consistently refining his sound and pushing it to new territories. essential!

as well as all the jazz and funk, best italy are also dab hands at digging out italo disco gems that pretty much qualify as proto house jams for their heavy spinning by the seminal chicago djs like ron hardy. this essential transmission from amnesie is a fine case in point, a one hit wonder originally released in 1983 appropriately enough on proto records. now turas makes a welcome return, sounding resplendent in both vocal and instrumental versions, but the real treat for the dedicated diggers is the previously unreleased dub version mixed by legendary dj tony carrasco. thats the jam that will have eclectic spinners getting in a lather.

detroit s inner city, one of the most influential dance acts of all time celebrated their 30th anniversary starting with a memorial day live show on the main stage of detroit’s movement festival this year. formed in 1987 by record producer, composer and international dj kevin saunderson and vocalist paris grey, inner city are best known for their early crossover hits “big fun” and “good life”. further successes saw the group topping the us billboard dance chart five times and securing nine top 40 hits on the uk singles chart.this 30th anniversary will mark a new chapter for inner city, one which sees kevin saunderson now joined by his son and creative protégé dantiez as a full-time member. new material and a live show will soon follow, featuring a variety of musical collaborators and vocalists. movement festival will set the stage for inner city’s new era, with a show formation featuring grammy winner and original inner city bandleader dennis white and kevin saunderson’s long-time collaborator tommy onyx alongside local talent and vocal sensation, steffanie christi’an. in kevin’s own words: “a true family and new sound for a new generation”. with over three decades in the game under inner city’s wing, with a renewed commitment to live performances featuring a strong family core, and two generations of saunderson men in the studio – inner city are poised to enjoy the good life as much today as they did in 1987 and this is entirely evident on the group s latest offering heavy . boasting a stellar edit from detroit techno luminary and inner city collaborator carl craig, heavy is a fresh taste of what s to come from this legendary outfit. essential detroit techno.

what can be said about this absolute classic that hasn t already been said? a true, blue gay anthem and much loved and sampled dance record, it really doesn t get any bigger to be honest. how about a super high quality 2018 reissue with all of the big mixes in one place? sounds good, right? featured here on this brand new pressing are shep pettibone s better days and club mixes, tom moulton s version and larry levan s live edit mix. need we say more? bag yourself an essential piece of disco and dance music history, remastered and reissued for today

contemporary disco remix guru moplen steps up to the salsoul archive and turns in 2 absolutely stellar reworks of some solid evergreens. always remixing and reworking with the utmost respect and understanding moplen takes these classics into a new direction, working from the stems and retaining the funk, soul and grooves of the og s. the disco mix market is a busy one these days with lots of people taking a shot at the classics in their bedrooms, but not these, these are legit, heavyweight mixes created by someone who knows! candido s jingo sounds completely fresh, beginning with a totally unheard first few bars, rearranged piano motifs and dubby sounds bristle up against the percussion, all with an even heavier focus on the cuban, latin roots of candido camero s sound, amazing! you ve heard this one before, but not like this. on the flip is first choice s all-out anthem let no man put asunder - again a truly original reimagining of a stone-cold classic, using the percussions and infamous vocal vamps to devastating effect, absolutely essential versions here. moplen has truly done the business. this limited reissue has been made in conjunction with above board distribution and salsoul records, 100% sanctioned and lovingly re-presented for your dancing pleasure. this one is hot. sleep at your peril!

essential repress of stunning 1977 disco-soul rarity, written, produced and arranged by the incredible team of norman connors, reggie lucas and james mtume. vitamin e, a a short-lived group that yielded only 2 singles and one long player during their time certainly knew who to work with in the studio. kiss away is an absolute belter, raw and raunchy funk riffing gives way to some ultra smooth, grown-up stepping soul awash with some stellar string arrangements. this one is definitely for the dancers, it simply glides along with the utmost class and sophistication, an incredibly uplifting and funky cut that features here in it s 1977 special disco version guise as per the original buddah records release. on the flip is a cool cover of neil sedaka s 1974 hit laughter in the rain - a sweet version, no doubt, but the real winner is the stellar a-side. reissued, remastered and re-presented for 2018 by above board distribution - 100% legit and licensed.