july sees radio slave’s rekids invite britain’s renowned swayzak to the roster with a cold war themed release entitled ‘odessa calling’ ep. a name associated with quality, swayzak’s ability to retain their signature sound whilst producing across various sub-genres has cemented them a solid reputation since their humble beginnings in the 90s. their impressive back catalogue includes six studio albums and appearances on labels like k7, m_nus, curle, ellum and swayzak’s own label 240 volts, which was relaunched in 2017. originally a duo comprised of david brown and james taylor, brown has been helming the project solo since 2012. he now joins respected berlin-based imprint rekids with two inspired productions. ‘odessa calling’ is a mysterious track with hypnotic synths, mesmerising pads and enigmatic vocals that combine together to create a celestial aesthetic. on the flipside, ‘numbers station’ continues with the otherworldly feel employing shimmering percussion that wanders alongside a brooding bassline for a well refined finish to the package.

desroi debuts on avian. shifted s avian label returns to fore with a heady, five track offering from german producer, desroi. in keeping with the label s finely tuned aesthetic concerns, the music draws from a reduced palette – keeping the colours muted & the tone driven and direct, focusing instead on drawing out pleasing textures & subtle rhythmic anomalies via intricate use of delay and reverb, to arrive at a sweet spot between dance-floor potency & the more cerebral posits of the techno genre. tethered at the base by cavernous low end, heady drum machine programming drives the work – often married with a single warping synth motif shifting about the sonic periphery, modulated carefully across the course of the recording s run time to create both moments of heads down introspection & outright hysteria. like much of the best work on the label, the music has a diy quality that belies its complexity, but at the same time lends to its undoubted effectiveness. desroi s ability to harness the full force of such a limited collection of elements is testament to the producer s skill as an artist within the genre, creating a powerful sense of cohesion on his avian debut.

more leftfield techno sounds from one of the scenes more unassuming producers, a sagittariun delivers a new single stamped with his trademark sound aesthetic. the ‘fahrenheit 451 ep brings together three new productions in lieu of a new album coming later in the year. the golden apple brings together brain scrambling drums, a heavy hoover bassline, and a typically sagi style wormhole riff, whilst blue lotus throws tropical shapes around the broken beats that flourish into a rapid 4/4 stomper, with scattering hats and equatorial ambience giving a unique vibe. a sagittariun strays into disco territory on liebe tanzen, flitting between modern intergalactic synth riffs & basslines, and sampled disco drums. hand stamped 12 vinyl, limited to 150 copies - global pr and marketing campaign from hype filter re-moulded, 25 years after it was produced, for release on his elastic dreams label.

songs about the unity of sudan, peace between muslims and christians and the fate of war orphans, backed by grooves equally taking influence from arabic sounds, american funk as well as neighboring ethiopia. kamal keila was among the first artist we met in sudan during our two trips to khartoum and omdurman last year. he is one of the key figures of the sudanese jazz scene that was a vital part of the musical culture in sudan from the mid 1960s until the islamist revolution in the late 1980s. when we meet kamal he luckily presented us with two mold covered studio reels. each tape included five tracks. one with english lyrics and another with arabic ones. musically you can hear the influence of neighboring ethiopia much more than on other sudanese recordings of the time, as well as references to fela and american funk and soul. his lyrics, at least when he sings in english which gave him more freedom from censorship, are very political. a brave statement in the political climate of sudan of the last decades, preaching for the unity of sudan, peace between muslims and christians and singing the blues about the fate of war orphans called shmasha. a note inside one of the boxes specified the track titles, durations and the fact that the sessions were recorded on the 12th of august 1992. both sessions stand as a hearable testament how kamal keila stuck to a sound aesthetic from decades ago, while incorporating current events into his lyrics. kamal keilas album is the first in a series of releases covering the sudanese jazz scene on habibi funk. be on the lookout for albums by the scorpions and sharhabeel coming soon.

the second release on werk is signed by j. manuel. the young producer has been polishing his sound ever since he first started experimenting with electronic music gear as a child. his commitment to following his own instincts rather than conforming to what was being played around him resulted in a very different aesthetic to the one commonly associated with berlin techno. drive fiction ep stands proof of that. all 3 tracks push boundaries in their own style, that being perhaps the strongest link between them. the title track -drive fiction- presents old-school leads over broken beats and electro inspired pads while the a2 -falling in sine circulation- is arguably the most dance floor oriented track, with a pounding 4×4 kick drum and an alarming 3/4 sine wave slaying the high frequencies. closing the ep is b-side -softer-, a melodic track with long, undulating pads that is nonetheless driven by a powerful rave-inspired beat. with its second release, werk comes to confirm the path it seeks to travel through both parties and releases: that of the sounds less rigid. gritty, wild and presenting a wide range of rhythmic patterns, drive fiction ep is a defying record. challenge accepted?

* to celebrate the second anniversary of khemia records we are pleased to welcome back in aeternam vale, the legendary french artist who inaugurated the imprint on a split ep with bronze teeth in march 2016. * this is the first single-artist ep produced by the label, initiating a new series that will run parallel to the v/a editions. * the tracks ‘dave’ and ‘circles’ form an elliptical conundrum composed of various references including kubrick’s alchemical allegory 2001 a space odyssey, (sampled in french) with it’s existential narrative of a schizophrenic artificial intelligence lurking in the shadows. the deus ex machina wondering if mankind is still useful to machines, or perhaps even dangerous to them? the infamous seveso chemical disaster at the pharmaceutical laboratory icmesa caused by human error, the glowing blood-red sphere of hal 9000, the all-seeing eye of the sentient super-computer and the circular composition of the toxic compound 2.3,7.8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (tcdd), released into the atmosphere at seveso. with this cryptic feedback loop, laurent prot is suggesting that the new technologies we are developing now, for use in our near future could result in catastrophe when human control is lost to the self-learning of ai. the homicidal consequences of a machine take-over find visual form in the bleak, dystopian aesthetic of evelyn bencicova’s cover artwork.

in 2015, something magical happened. we met a couple of talented young swedes named artur bra&#776,ndstro&#776,m and egil kahlbom who excelled at composing and producing these lighthearted, breezy disco-hued house tracks (or house- hued disco tracks, perhaps) that both fit the aesthetic and character of lph and brought something new into the fold. the result of that first encounter was marathons, a full-length album, their debut to the world, and now, two years later, we re back for the much-anticipated follow-up. rehearsal is a little briefer than its predecessor—it s five tracks—and has a markedly different tone, one that s less about dusty, sun-bleached samples and more about tightly-engineered and delicately-crafted songs. if the first effort was marked by its carefree naivete&#769,, the sophomore effort is, well, something a bit more advanced or, perhaps, rehearsed. what hasn t changed, though, is these guys ability to home in on grooves and coax something trasncednetally hooky, memorable out of them. the five tracks contained here are low-key in attitude but powerful and punchy in approach. they re uniquely juicy, nourishing numbers for mellow hours and fearlessly fun ditties for party hours. lots of love went into the lot of them, and we hope all s you feel when you let them wash over you is that. love

the tenth release on miles sagnia s aer, marking the tenth year since the labels inception. this time round, a more hypnotic dancefloor sound encapsulates the artists mindset. with previous releases on applied rhythmic technology (art), aesthetic audio, ornate music, common dreams, amongst others.together we glide into the pacier textures, where moments of intensity meet serenity.

stroboscopic artefacts is releasing its latest addition to the forward leaning edge of electronic music with the totem series. unfurling as a chain of transparent 10 vinyl, each of the totem releases will have a subtly divergent take on the aesthetic space defined by techno and club culture.

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.

spoon’s first minimal aesthetic two tracker with different moods. only vinyl.
“kindness” (a-side) takes you directly to an afrobeat-trip of 9 minutes driven by some interesting drums, definitely a peak time track that will deliver the afro-american vibe into the crowd. “looo” (b-side) is the early morning tune / stripped-back track with a pitched voice and rising production.

fresh on francis harris kingdoms imprint comes rasmus junckers ‘ophold - six tracks of sublime atmospheres and textures. the danish musician, sound composer and dj fits perfectly with the labels aesthetic, joining the dots between ambient, leftfield electronica and modern classical. juncker has a background in studying jazz drumming and has been playing improvised music within the jazz domain for many years. he also started to dj at the age of 14 and was introduced to the world of electronic music production at the same time. when rasmus started to think about his debut album he spent several months trying to find his own way to combine his favourite musical influences, improvisation, electronics and classical music. almost a year later, juncker says, i went to a sensory deprivation floating tank in copenhagen while researching for another performance and while i was lying there, floating in the water, deprived from most of my senses, i got the idea to do something drastic in my musical process. philosophers like immanuel kant describe this deprived state as a mental cesura, which became some sort of guideline for the album.

fresh off the new album we welcome the arrival of a limited l.b dub corp single. opening proceedings, see the light unveils a soulful and vocal driven side to the l.b.dub corp sound, whilst we are going home switches up the aesthetic and movesinto duskier, percussion driven territories. last up, slater punctuates the ep with the intricate, snaking sonics of calling the spirit, harnessing slick, skipping hats and a hypnotic, ever-evolving lead line.june welcomes the arrival of a limited l.b dub corp single. opening proceedings, see the light unveils a soulful and vocal driven side to the l.b.dub corp sound, whilst we are going home switches up the aesthetic and moves into duskier, percussion driven territories. last up, slater punctuates the ep with the intricate, snaking sonics of calling the spirit, harnessing slick, skipping hats and a hypnotic, ever-evolving lead line.

it also gave us a beguiling lp that keeps on giving, exciting and inspiring over a year later. proof can be found in these three superlative remixes. subversive berlin duo otto take the lead with a warm, arabic twist on the album opener bonnie says by lifting the groove with a little organ-squeezing spring while maintain its faraway haze and mystique. accurately hyped romanian-also-in-berlin borusiade follows with an overwhelming floor-ready update on have i told you. already a familiar face with the label, she weaves a chasm-like new-wave narrative that sucks you deep into the mix and galvanises the pundit attention shes getting right now. finally mannequin records founder alessandro adriani joins the party with a tunnelling twist on the somnambulant aesthetic of valium. flipping the dreams for a much darker 3am reality, it will leave your dancefloor pining for more. dont worry, theres plenty more to come. dischi autunno are only just warming up.

across the ‘hidden paradise’ lp demuja showcases his powerful and emotive production style with dusty, jazz-tinged cuts like ‘still do’, ‘hang on’, ‘you smile feat. ainy’, ‘hear that bassplayer’ and ‘my jazzy wung’ employing the producer’s signature style via soft rhodes, hooky horn samples, organic bass grooves and soaring vocal samples. ‘still do’ and ‘keep doing’ also explore a more dropped- tempo disco aesthetic on the project with funk-infused bass, infectious guitar licks and shuffled, loose drums.

unità psicofisica isn’t just an ordinary label, it is the coming together of passionate and inspired artists. with the aim of gathering young and rising artists, the label unites various forms of art, from producers and photographers to illustrators and video makers. the purpose is to create a platform where artists can express true emotion and creativity by concocting an artistic “unity”, mainly focused on generating a new form of art by combining music and all sorts of art.
the first act of the label - assioma - was created by the founder and owner manent, the release contains two of his original tracks and two remixed versions. the first remix was composed by the spanish refracted, the other from the italian mod21.
four tracks that fall into the genre of techno, each perfectly represents the main elements of the label: hypnosis, minimalism and aesthetic of sound.

incl dl code, dam swindle present ‘high life, their second studio album due on the 28th may on the duos own heist recordings. the heart of the album was recorded over a three week period at their amsterdam studio in march 2017, and the release will coincide with the fifth anniversary of the label. since forming in 2011, the dutch duo have carved a unique place for themselves in the scene. their sound - which merges references from multiple decades into one smooth aesthetic - quickly rose to popularity for its careful blend of soul and rhythm, taking cues from their passion for obscure records, with influences ranging from house and funk to afrobeat and soul. dynamic live shows and dj sets afford them a packed touring schedule across the globe, whilst their label heist recordings is credited with consistently breaking new artists. the album explores the intersection of live and electronic music, with much of the improvised material left largely untouched to maintain its organic sensibilities. dam swindle describe the album as an electronic album with a live approach, combining our love for house, ambient and jazzy harmonics, making it a record interesting for the club, as well as a pleasant album to put on at home.

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.-

the saqqara ep is a multilayered, sonic canvas from the mind of chris barratt, as he launches his new alias, baratt, for life and death. fine brushstrokes move from all areas of his musical hideout, spreading over five, varied, aural sculptures, each one warping and weaving on its own cosmic trajectory. pooling from key aspects of his eagles & butterflies project, barratt induces new musical shades, hinting at moments of disco and funk, through a lens of psychedelia. the title track is a late-night floor-filler - a bold yet uniquely personal necropolis built from riveting delays and arpeggiators. time bending sees dj tennis join in, stepping up with his trademark, rough around the edges production aesthetic, en route to unknown destinations. barratt hones-in on a confident, stripped-down style on khaos - rhythm versus melody just in time for festival season. 1983 soundtracks a ride to utopia on a rocket-fueled vespa, leading to collider, the land of un-quantised madness, where the most treasured of synthesisers live amongst their drum machine counterparts. flowing yet incredibly interconnected, saqqara is best interpreted as a mini artist album - the first of many barratt offerings.

coletivo vandalismo kick-start a new 12inch series for the contort yourself label. hailing from the city of porto the duo also dj under the name gam and released their debut lp on lake haze s eye for an eye label. their music has an immediacy that seems to stem from a background in live performance as opposed to polished studio sessions - an improvisational punk aesthetic that manages to carry this ep so strongly. wild, crashing fx and unrecognisable vocal distortions layer atop wonky 90bpm drum machine grooves and the pair even show off what may be their turntablism skills on zombie zombie. theres a nod to early concrete on the closing track black suns demise with whirring, mechanical noise motifs suddenly jolting us into punishing gabber-at-33-minus-8 territory. the diy spirit is alive and well here and the feeling that things could fall apart at any minute just adds to the tension.

dj, producer and rex club resident molly presents the third ep for her rdv music imprint, drawing on talent from across her native france, featuring fellow parisian aleqs notal (clek clek boom, sistrum) and 1977, as featured on syncrophone s for those who know imprint. while each side and artist offer their own distinctive flavour, percussive, classy late-night house music is the main course ideal for late nights under dim red lights.aleqs notal pays tribute to the timeless appeal of spinning analogue wax throughout opening track, sweet rotation a simple hymn to the essence of house music, bubbling gently on bright keys and woozy basslines. hands on follows, offering a more nocturnal angle on this enduring aesthetic, reducing the energy but enhancing the atmosphere even further, both on-record and across any packed dancefloor.the more southern sensibility of 1977 brings drumwork to the fore, weaving an exotic, patient tapestry of bubbling, alluring synths and analogue feedback across two confident, percussive jams. while vodoom indulges in tension and intrigue, ep closer jdlf is pure, unwinding pleasure, across which each of 1977s influences and instruments are offered freedom to breathe and evolve.with this installment of emminently classy and supremely confident house, rdv music continues to prove itself as one of the most worthy musical institutions on the contemporary parisian scene.

vinyl-only ep with tracks taken from debut album, discovery in the atomic garden - previously releasing as community corporation on argot and crisis urbana recordings. like changing the channel, changes in one’s life can suddenly bring about a new perspective. after moving from detroit to seattle, producer taylor hawkins suddenly found himself on flora fm. previously recording as community corporation, this fresh beginning in emerald city brought new sounds into hawkins’ repertoire. where he was once surrounded by cheap boogie and disco records in detroit, seattle’s used bins were full of uk imports, early 90s ambient techno records and the idm that followed. these new influences injected judicious breakbeats and top notch electro sensibilities into his already adventurous midwest techno aesthetic. it’s as if his music has come alive, each song a new sound world abuzz with fluttering synths, nimble percussion, and soaring melodies. recorded as single live takes using an mpc to control his drum machines and synthesizers, the flora fm music flowed quickly from hawkins and needed only gentle edits. the eight tracks on his digital debut album, discovery in the atomic garden, document his experience finding his way in seattle and in life, all through the lens of a fantastic and somehow futuristic musical viewpoint. the vinyl-only ep atomic garden includes four of the album’s most danceable tracks, all wrapped in gorgeous artwork by patrick savile

mikkel metal returns to copenhagen’s echocord this may with his new mini lp ‘just enough light’, comprising six originals from the danish artist. copenhagen based producer and dj mikkel metal has been a beacon of light in the danish electronic music scene and further afield for nearly two decades now, with the dub techno imprint from his hometown, echocord, being the predominant home for his output, whilst also releasing material on cologne’s kompakt, tartelet, semantica and avant roots, a telling sign of the quality embodied in his work. here though we see mikkel deliver a mini album concept in the shape of ‘just enough light’ and opener ‘awake’ perfectly sets the tone with emotive, dynamically unfolding atmospherics, tension building bass drones and spiraling dub chords subtly easing us into the project. ‘bregnan’ then stirs in some classing dub-techno tropes with billowing stab sequences, lumpy subs and off beat high hats carrying the hypnotic groove for six and a half minutes. ‘jech’ then strips things back to an almost beatless amalgamation of murky chords and modulating synth whirrs. opening the flip side of the release is ‘include’ which embraces a brighter feel via ethereal pad swells, jazztinged synth melodies and bumpy 909 rhythms before ‘konkin’ edges back into the eerie, brooding aesthetic with bubbling echoes, broken drums and menacing bass swells at its core. ‘restore’ then closes the package on a stripped-back vibe, laying focus on an ever- eveolving singular dub chord to ebb and flow around thunderous subs, kicks and bright hats.

after the original comes the remix. or in this case three. i:cube, chinaski and aera help you refresh your memory and re-draw drawn from memory from benjamin fröhlichs second part of the rude movements series. its one single track, but every remixer has taken his very own approach and came up with a new interpretation. the iconic french producer and permanent vacation long time favourite, i:cube, transformed the original into a soul warming and heart melting late night bomb that lets the sun appear even in the darkest places. chinaski out of frankfurt, well known from his releases on live at robert johnson and uncanny valley, fuses italo disco with a john carpenter-style soundtrack aesthetic and an infectious bassline completed by a full on guitar solo in the break. aera, fresh from releasing his album on permanent vacation, is slowing down the tempo, rearranging the layers of the original and adding a bubbly and underwater atmosphere that let the dub stabs shine. three different versions that may represent different memories of one long night.

desolats loco dice joins the roster of martinez brothers cuttin headz label this april with slammer, backed with a remix from detroit techno veteran dj t-1000. du&#776,,sseldorfs loco dice has long been one of the most respected figures in contemporary electronic music with releases over the years on leading labels like cocoon, cadenza, ovum and of course his own desolat as well as a heavy touring schedule taking him across the globe year in year out. here though we see dice offering up his new single courtesy of cuttin’ headz, a platform the martinez brothers and associates to deliver high octane, dance floor focused house and techno. the original mix of title track slammer leads with spiralling brass like bass tones, flute licks, shuffled shakers and resonant synth hooks running alongside a bumpy bass line and an amalgamation of heady, processed vocal lines. following is detroits dj t-1000 stepping up on remix duties, stripping back the aesthetic of the original to lay focus on robust rhythms and various vocal refrains from the original whilst chugging bass and tension building atmospherics gradually unfold throughout.

driving techno and eerie trips with an uncanny aesthetic.

losoul returns to action with his first long player in almost ten years, and delivers a stunning collection of compositions for the hypercolour released island time. otherwise known as peter kremeier, the german producer has mesmerized us for many years with his organic and emotive house music, largely released on the influential playhouse label, but of late has seen him release singles for karat and tardis records, as well as his very own another picture label. fans of losoul wont be disappointed, as a diverse yet utterly familiar sound aesthetic pours out over the albums seven tracks in his own inimitable style. the jazzy broken beats of gold tooth shine with their micro-sample chops, whilst mean time is a dense and dubby slow stomp, teasing the drums with space echo and injecting sparse bass work where it matters. inventive, spongy house grooves are delivered on boppin lower and square down smoother whilst the album closer, lava in you is a master class in ambient sonics and shimmering keys over a lo-fi swinging groove. its been over 20 years since losouls signature single open door, and the german producer continues to pour out honest and rewarding music.

the uk based label will offer up several releases throughout 2018 and yama music 001 perfectly sets the tone of what’s to follow. taking the lead here is ‘margaret made me do it’ which lays down woozy synth tones and modulating glitches alongside a snaking sub bass groove, shuffled minimalistic percussion and an amalgamation of contemplative spoken word vocal cuts to create a tripped-out opening to the record. ‘ddderlooon party’ follows and retains a similar aesthetic with swinging drums and ethereal atmospherics at its core whilst hypnotic, billowing synths ebb and flow dynamically across the composition, again creating something raw yet refined. then lastly to round out the package ‘moon boots’ tips the focus over to a more straight percussive groove and stirs in vacillating low-end pulses, murky, evolving stabs and mind-bending electronic blips.

joris biesmans tve imprint returns for its third installment, this time featuring it’s eponymous founder front, center and recording under his own name. led by a forward-thinking electro remix from the ever-versatile man power, its another firm display of synth-led versatility, brimming with confidence and charisma. angry baby is an irresistible pressure-pot of stomping house, as playful as it’s name and as demanding as its imaginary infant protagonist, with a truly hypnotic, elastic breakdown proving irresistible in a club context man powers aforementioned remix is less loopy, more analog, with his well-tooled production technique pushing the records texture into altogether more cosmic and overwhelming territory, led by wailing synthesis. back to biesmans for b2, and a more acidic, almost unnerving vision unfolds throughout connecting the dots which does just that, linking futurist, michigan influences with a more floor-focused, european aesthetic.

.elliot.project. & open label boss frazer campbell marks his 40th birthday with a special double-vinyl release. in the course of the past two years, campbell s intriguing .elliot.project. label has already gained huge momentum in the electronic scene. following his recent collaboration on steve o sullivan s mosaic records, the label reaches it s sixth release with a double vinyl pack from campbell himself. he continues to paint beautiful musical illustrations, spanning global influences from detroit, icelandic electronica through to the initial aesthetic of uk dubstep. alongside campbell s originals, dred records label head john osborn, known for his peak time slick techno, provides a remix for raising snakes , illustrating both common ground and an alternative direction.

4 shorelights is a collaborative ambient techno project feat. rod modell (deepchord, echospace, waveform transmission, transformations), and walter wasacz and christopher mcnamara of the detroit-based audio visual collective nospectacle. ancient lights expands the vision and the range of the shorelights aesthetic, heading into deeper territories of inner and outer space. its ambient for body and spirit, sound designed to make the human heart dance. limited copies…

with many writers a theme develops in their works that, over time, reveals color and definition previously unseen, not just a new perspective, but a new understanding. “lofeye” is a concept album and personal testament that philadelphia rapper lojii (fka uhlife) has been piecing together over the last three years, giving only hints with 2015’s no ebola, 2016’s dutti, and 2017’s acclaimed collaborative album due rent with producer swarvy on portland-based imprint fresh selects. in lojii’s own words, “lofeye is about working with limited resources and making the highest quality life out of what the f**k you got. it’s when you’re ‘lo-fi’ by circumstance (not just for aesthetic) but your aim is always higher. in essence, this is an lp about being rooted in the dirt you come from but reaching for the sky above you.”

mouse on mars’ andi toma and jan st. werner return with their most inventive album to date, dimensional people. the new album finds the berlin-based duo reunited with thrill jockey, a powerful aesthetic partnership marked by such seminal albums as radical connector (2004), idiology (2001), and niun niggung (2000). after a series of notorious dance floor releases, dimensional people reveals them working deep within their own vernacular, digging into fertile terrain of their inexhaustible vault of digital and acoustic experimentation, and charismatically making elemental components new again. this album makes clear how their craft is of discovery, of finding new contexts for places, sounds, memories, sensations, ambiences, technologies, relationships, and of course, people. limited colored vinyl, download code included.

gizelle smith’s second full length lp “ruthless day” is the sound of a dynamic artist expanding her horizons from the classic aesthetic of her debut to explore a new brand of progressive modern funk. it’s an exciting record that still retains all of the energy and intrigue of her earlier works but builds out her musical palette to incorporate more psychedelic and jazzy progressions, bold arrangements and adventurous instrumentation. expansive and exhilarating, the record ranges from delicate honey dripped soul through psychedelic funk freakouts, complete with strutting beats and emotive lyrics. gizelle’s energy and personality are undeniable and both shine through in every track on the record.

chus + ceballos join new york label nervous records with an infectious single titled more i want u featuring remixes from house luminaries dj pierre and dj vibe. for many years now both nervous and chus + ceballos have been flying the flag for new yorks house music scene. however, aside from collaborating on their back on tracks mix cds nearly a decade ago, the two have never teamed up for a release. having pioneered the iberican sound, the spanish dj/producer duo have indisputably earned themselves legend status as they continue topping the charts whilst headlining the globes elite venues, not to mention the perpetual success of chus’ renowned label stereo productions. a long-time platform for illustrious producers, nervous records is now set to release the pairs forthcoming single with remixes from none other than acid house pioneer dj pierre and tribal house stalwart dj vibe. featuring chus + ceballos signature groove-laden percussion, more i want u is rhythmic with high-octane sounds and a catchy vocal element that comes courtesy of dirty love by sunshine jones on king street records. in his remix dj pierre uses murky synths to generate an ominous and twisted aesthetic before dj vibe drops thunderous kicks and trippy arpeggiated melodies to conclude the package

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.

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.

lobster mainstay and german purveyor of the deep raw, trp aka david willenberger, returns to lobster theremin for a full-on outing of crunchy, melodic, acid-tinged house, techno & electro. with recent ep’s for mörk and shall not fade, the young producer comes full circle with a cement-mixed, drum-heavy sound that melds an even weightier production aesthetic to a spectral of tonal distortion usages.

the bug goes head to head with burial for two bass-bin heaters that is flame 1, cementing the first release on his freshly formed label pressure. following on from the bug’s recent sidewinding 12 inches for ninja tune and a colossal album recorded with earth, fog / shrine is possibly kevin martin’s most soundsystem decimating collaboration yet, joining forces with the most elusive figure within the uk underground and hyperdub mainstay, burial. ‘fog’ rolls along at half-speed steppers tempo, submerged deep within the roots n future aesthetic of the bug’s signature beats, yet perfectly balanced by burial’s hollowed out and haunted night vision. ‘shrine’ delves deeper inwards with the beats slowed to a crawl, the bassline hanging heavy in an atmosphere thick with smoke. the vinyl comes in thick grey card discobag with download code included.

emanton (dann abala) is an argentinian producer, electronic musician and thereminist. after studying with synth maestro ernesto romeo, dann began producing under emanton and also has an experimental alias as turvia. here we have what emanton perfectly describes as hard esoteric/mystical/ mega darkness sound. four dark and pounding tracks with leanings toward industrial in uences and maintaining a consistently propulsive sound-design techno vibe. carefully crafted with a diverse spread of analog gear/synths and modular instruments. absolutely perfect example of the transfusions aesthetic.

mysterious berlin imprint mask preps its second release with four more untitled tracks this march. continuing the theme of the first release, noah has been produced and recorded live in one take using a selection of analogue gear, including an emu sp 1200, mutual instruments ambika, nord rack 2x, octatrack, vermona action filter 4. a soothing synth line sets the tone of the a1 before implementing sporadic drums and squelchy notes, making way for the melodic chords and a wall of sub bass in the mesmerising a2. murky atmospherics and a medley of percussive hits generate a dusty aesthetic in the b1 until the organic beat and distorted robotic sounds of the b2 provide an otherworldly conclusion to the enigmatic release.

since launching their ksmisk project in 2015 the pair have returned to some of these labels whilst also dropping two releases on renowned bergen-based techno label ploink, of which 2017 s magma ep is the precursor to their inaugural album mikrometeorittene . opening the package is the ominous and beatless lonsdaleite , setting the tone for an otherworldly aesthetic throughout. off-kilter kicks then rain down in silicate as sinister drones ebb in and out of the mix before meandering back into a ghostly ambient cut named vesta . crunchy percussion and tantalising atmospherics then make up blitz , moving into the twisted and syncopated marinate until the raw sounding spherules exhibits a compelling groove combined with echoing effects. the dusky wustite sees the album retreat from 4/4 once again, returning for the effervescent westergas before concluding on a melancholic outro entitled chondrites .

it is undeniable that bjarki and his bbbbbb imprint are at the forefront of iceland’s dance music scene, playing a vital role in asserting the country as a hub for genre bending electronic music. although the label has proved to be a solid platform for bjarkis own experimental material, bbbbbb continues to host some of icelands best talents (notably last year’s lauded release from volruptus who followed up with another killer outing on &#1090,,&#1088,,&#1080,,&#1087,,). for bbbbbb’s 10th release bjarki continues to substantiate his a&r abilities, introducing the world to lord pusswhip. having enjoyed a meteoric rise as a key player in icelands hip-hop scene, the young producers sound has continued to evolve since befriending bjarki and the bbbbbb crew, and the hand of glory ep now sees him at arguably his most adventurous and experimental yet. murky atmospherics introduce xmas jam creep before a cacophony of percussion ups the energy, setting the tone for a dynamic release. crazy shit mane follows with its crunchy drums, scintillating synths and sultry bass until hop out the car blends hip-hop vocals with mesmerising chord sequences reminiscent of richard d.james early work. an undulating bassline then works alongside a chorus of angelic voices in ‘the hand of glory, making way for the syncopated and dreamlike shroomm0(u)rning. moving into ambient territories, green house living layers pads and samples together to generate an otherworldly aesthetic until choppa hard combines ominous drones with a steady beat to conclude the release.

chained to a ladder: theres no way up. theres no way down. youre hung on a rung and theres there no place to escape as dino lenny delves into your innermost psyche with this heavy slice of pedigree italian electronica. a darkroom dubs debut from the original craftsman, chained to a ladder is ominous in its mood and tone, dramatic in its new romantic vocal style and uncompromised with its devilish analogue aesthetic.

having carved out a reputation for some of the finest cosmic house productions on labels like omena, dirt crew and quintessentials, the lithuanian based producer delivers three new cuts on this release, which comes ably backed by a remix from italian producer fabrizio mammarella. on the title track, alex pletnev (ponty mython), goes for breezy synths and wandering melodies over a chugging mechanical beat and an fm style bassline, whilst fabrizio mammarella (bear funk/les disques de la mort) toughens things up slightly on his remix, plunging into a darker sound aesthetic for a great reinterpretation of the original. on “time spiral” an unhurried groove is laced with layer upon layer of meditative synths and percussive rolls for a fat dose of eighties soundtrack vibes, whilst ep closer, “appreciate it while it s not too late”, settles down to a head-nodding pace with funky bass and key melodies and live drum samples for a real earworm of a track.

lagaffe tales co-founder jónbjörn drops four tracks on icelands falk records beat driven sub-label, falk disks. since 2008 falk (fuck art lets kill) has become a creative hub for icelandic and international artists involved in experimental and electronic music, spanning noise rock through to power electronics, underground hip-hop to diy techno and electro. 2017 saw falk continue with releases from icelandic hip-hop producer lord pusswhip, techno/electro producer thizone and canadian industrial techno musician /&#991,,,/huren/&#991,,,/. berlin based icelandic producer jónbjörn, known for curating reykjavík record label lagaffe tales – one of the main pillars in the icelandic house scene – now joins falks’ club focused sub-imprint with a robust four tracker. moving away from the deep house sound hes renowned for towards a darker and leaner night time aesthetic, amsiak inaugurates the release with an infectious electro groove as gurgling pings and acidic clangs and drones are liberally dropped throughout the track. aspekte is a spacious track with blown-out bass sounds that morph and glide across a tempered, slow burning planar rhythm. on the flip, jonbjörn goes for a harder techno sound influenced by his relocation to berlin. sunnudagskaffi is a bendy, 4/4 roller that contains hidden grooves below the basslines and the acid pings that wouldnt be out of place on a livity sound release. meanwhile, holy b is pure warehouse creeper techno, complete with machinic tones and the atmospherics of sweat and grime on dungeon brick walls.

after 20 years in the lab conny frischauf releases her debut ep for international major label. effekt und emotio“ is on point when it comes to songwriting, sound aesthetic and craftsmanship. made with a deep understanding of soundscapes and pop culture, the musical language of conny frischauf breathes a magical and melancholic vibe that transfers itself into the subconscious of the listener without any comment. full of unexpected moves and elegant references which disappear right before getting aware. music for advanced dreamers. discrete, unique, peerless and therefore a perfect match for the iml collection.

intergraded is a new label started by midland to focus on releasing music by new artists, whether unknown, emerging or established but working under a new name. the first release sees body in the thames, peach, jay and webstarr help inaugurate the label. the idea for the label came about after being sent unreleased music and ideas by a number of artists over the last year. as i plan to focus graded on my own midland solo work for the foreseeable future, and with regraded occupying a different aesthetic plane altogether, the logical step was to start a new label that could help introduce this music to a wider audience. harry agius aka midland

answer code request’s 2014 debut lp code was an exciting moment for electronic music in berlin – one that offered a break from the eternal hall and monolithic 4/4 kicks that ruled the city’s club landscape. as a hybrid gesture, the album’s spirit recalled an especially fruitful era in the german capital from the mid-90s to early 2000s, when dub and pad- driven detroit techno cross-pollinated with berlin’s industrial aesthetic to create one of the city’s most exciting musical chapters.