over the course of the last decade, black pepper label boss jose manuel has proved to be one of electronic music s finest contemporary alchemists, conjuring percussive, intoxicating and otherworldly musical treats for such labels as tusk wax, kinfolk, kill the dj, optimo trax and music for dreams. the genius of manuel s productions lies in the italian s ability to conjure cracking cosmic compositions out of a diverse range of global rhythms, instruments and influences. rarely has this been more evident than on his debut release for nunorthernsoul, a four-track serving of dancefloor mysticism that puts mind-altering rhythms and saucer-eyed instrumentation front and centre. track, for example, the light and dreamy wrapped sumptuous balearic synthesizer chords and melodies around gentle hand percussion and drifting zambian vocals on the sublime journey in lusaka followed by the feverish, trance-inducing african rhythms, delay-laden chants, psychedelic acid lines and jangling jew s harp motifs of intense opener journey in lusanda , a ritualistic afro-cosmic onslaught ripe for peak-time plays. if the ep opener is all about being flat on your back and staring skywards, the follow up is all about druggy, heads down sweatiness! manuel s deep love of indian music is explored on journey in mumbai , where exotic sitar lines, fluttering clarinets and echoing, densely layered female vocals rise above a thick, tabla-fired groove. it s naturally hugely evocative and atmospheric - a fine dose of emotion-rich spirituality capable of inducing hallucinations in the straightest of listeners. to complete the ep, our hero travels even further east for journey in osaka , a fittingly percussive exploration of japanese music s past and present that also includes audible nods towards the poly-rhythmic drums of west africa. it s a superb combination of traditional instrumentation, 21st century electronics, heavyweight rhythms and mood-enhancing melodic flourishes. like the rest of the journeys in...ep, it s both hugely alluring and impeccably produced

nyc based label and radio show ethereal beatbox returns with 4 fresh cuts home cooked right here in the big city by two of its natives.
side a introduces the mysterious bowery hotline - a born and bred new yorker, crate digger, and crafty producer. starting things off right with tough and slappy b’more style rhythms and an ode to saucy diva vocals, “you tha one” is sure to shake any floor into submission. track 2 brings an irresistible boom-chicka mover “fanfare track”, perfectly blending rave, house, and that sweet snap of our favorite drum break of all time.
on the flip pastel voids label don metropol (c.perez) delivers a distinctly brooklyn sound with two house, techno and hip hop infused instant classics. “we accept ebt” is a guaranteed hype constructor nodding to euphoric moments of rave and chugging rhythms of inner city life. on a more contemplative tip, perez delivers “half court”, closing the ep with a kinetic reflection of his native sunset park and its vibrant streets.

shadows lengthen, the nights heat up, and flexi throws down the new piada vibes. like any italian dish the ingredients are simple and effective (let s say piadina romagnola)!

1-069-page-me is pager record s new sublabel. this album is the outcome of hanging out at the crib in bockenheim all the time as roommates and friends living that freizeit lifestyle. walt ever aka phil evans and tiago walter.

there is something to be majestic about stalwarts of a certain flock coming together to be creative. the harder side of drum & bass didn’t have its own power formation until today. it’s as of this day that czech producer forbidden society, formed an alliance with two of his most respected peers to create 3rdknd. donny, katharsys and fs all have a strong lean to rhythmic textures, tough drum cuts and experimental fx works. just in time for the european festival season, the thunderous first effort has arrived, and it’s going to turn some heads.

third roots united ep called “kisko kisko” comes from one of the finest electro producers from finland, mesak (tatu metsatahti), who is also known from his legendary projects like mr velcro fastener and harmonia skweee label.
this 4-tracker features another finnish underground hero mono junk (vocals on b2 track) and includes a real ghetto-remix by grand master dj overdose straight outta the hague.
all of these tracks were produced in 2018 especially for roots united in a true hardware style.

sensual and primitive, chante afrique ep is perfectly encloses the most acid house digressions and its deepest roots. a work that well combines past, present and future. all the genius of the legendary paul johnson in three original mixes and the -wild circus mix- of chante afrique track by lello di franco aka l.d.f., an introspective and sophisticated remake. a must have!

infusing tropical vibes and electronic grooves to reflect the vivid ever evolving latin american soundscape is the fresh musical excursion “electropical” as synthesised by london based producers, juan laya and jorge montiel. “electropical” - one word, one sound that distils a melting pot of authentic latin anthems, jazzy grooves, disco infused songs and balearic sounds all processed in hd for an immersive experience which explores the colourful influences of the caribbean, vast amazonian dimensions and beyond. its heart-warming journey is a highly seductive experience that further enhances the mood with repeated play.

arcola presents mwr157 contains six lost slices of leftfield electro including the mythical and mysterious hotline a track that was originally scheduled for release on mo’wax back around about the year 2000 but only ever reached test pressing for reasons no one can quite remember, alongside five other tracks that take in dancehall, hip-hop and 2-step garage, all recorded during the same session...

you’ll fall in love with slum village all over again with these collectible 45 issues of the j dilla produced cut “fall in love” first issued on the group’s fantastic volume ii.

you’ll fall in love with slum village all over again with these collectible 45 issues of the j dilla produced cut “fall in love” first issued on the group’s fantastic volume ii.

for our next excursion, we’re off to the library. in search of library records that is - you know the type, the crazy rare records used for soundtracks and such and such. we have a sick selection of synthed-up beats and pieces chopped together by one earl jeffers, making the most out of his international library digging card* (*not a real thing).
for those that don’t know, cardiff’s earl jeffers is one half of darkhouse family, regular family at our sister label, first word, on which they released their debut album “the offering” late last year. earl is a prolific producer in his own right, also releasing over the years under the aliases chesus and metabeats on labels like mcde, fat city and local talk, collaborating with artists like byron the aquarius, action bronson and kamaal williams / henry wu, turning his hand ably to house, hip hop, jungle, jazz and more. all this in addition to running his own label, mélange records.
a dedicated digger and record collector first and foremost, earl has provided us with a quadruple set of heavyweight stuttery sci-fi boom bap. in earl’s words: “this record was mostly inspired by my penchant for the more electronic / synthesized jams, mostly replayed from the original compositions then thrust in to 2028 and beyond….”

this collaboration between skatebård, philipp lauer & dj sotofett dives deep into flux borders of italo, new beat and the melodic sides of industrial. a-side is contoured by a synthetic bassline riff on trigged drums & percussions for a full club version. b-side’s two tracks are both differently bass driven, one with live piano solo and the other with airy whistles. all tracks cleverly composed with a richness of melody, rhythm & engaging arrangements.

with a number of high profile releases already behind him for labels including the legendary xl recordings and dusky’s 17 steps imprint, hugo massien has carved a sound for himself that sees him bring together elements from house, techno, dubstep and hardcore, all combining force to produce this killer 4-track ep, running at the techno-friendly tempos of around 128bpm.
dj support from: shed, loefah, pinch & many more.

some of the coolest work we’ve ever heard from moraes moreira – a really unique hybrid of styles that includes samba soul, jazzy funk, and other brazilian modes from the 70s – all wrapped up into a beautifully fresh and personal approach! the 70s all wrapped up into a beautifully fresh and personal approach!

lords of acid returns with pretty in kink. the new album features all the best of lords of acid, the raw techno-carnality of the debut lust, to the experiments & electro-thrash later albums like voodoo-u & farstucker. on pretty in kink, stunning new singer marieke bresseleers, the legendary lords mastermind praga khan & longtime collaborator erhan kurkun create an electro-industrial-techno classic!

it is with a huge amount of pride and happiness that i get to welcome legendary producer and all round good egg liquid to the label. if liquid needs an introduction, i have to wonder what you are doing here? seriously though, he has brought an absolutely amazing ep of four brilliant tracks to the label. the truth is classic liquid piano anthem style, like a modern version of “sweet harmony”. kex and phormocide lean into old skool from various eras, and dope sick rounds the ep off with a futuristic retro amen workout, easily one of my favorite tunes since kniteforce restarted as a vinyl label. this ep is the bizniz basically. do not miss!

seth troxler continues to showcase the work of chicago great k’alexi shelby: after an ep on his other label tuskegee music and a remix for sean miller on this imprint, shelby now steps up to play it say it with a trio of excellent club cuts. k’alexi shelby is one of the windy city’s most venerated heroes. he’s put out six albums and almost 60 eps since the late eighties, all of which have helped evolve and establish the chicago house sound around the world. next to remixing acts like the pet shop boys and derrick may, he runs his own k klassik and 321 labels and remains as vital as ever. the perfectly titled ‘groove with us’ opens up with a cut and paste style, funky disco loops and plenty of filters all bringing the loose house funk. it’s a playful and timeless tune that is designed to blow up the ‘floor and most certainly will thanks to its unbridled energy. the dynamic and driving ‘so chicago’ then slips into a slick house groove, with great percussion, more big string samples lighting up the track and a knotted bassline that keeps you on your toes. suspenseful and explosive, it’s filled with authentic party vibes and a real sense of fun that will ignite any set. last but not least is the excellent ‘black sunday’, which takes uplifting preacher vocals from a church sermon and backs it with gospel singing, an old school baseline and raw energy that will get hands in the air. it’s a definitive piece of authentic house music with real heart and soul. this is an expressive ep of house tracks that embody the instinctive and emotive spirit of the genre to perfection.

stratton released two of last years stand out 12s on natural sciences & of paradise. here he debuts on dance trax with 4 jackin house slammers.. ready to light up dancefloors all summer long!

the next release on leading french label zone is a very special one indeed from long time friend of the label and pioneering electro figure kittin, the artist formerly known as miss kittin. her standout original comes with an equally impressive remix from truncate. a long time stalwart of the electroclash scene who has put out many seminal singles, kittin has famously collaborated with the hacker and felix da housecat and mixed up new wave and techno in arresting new ways for decades. her albums have always been hailed as hugely accomplished and the prolific and innovative frenchwoman has worked with numerous top labels. now back once more in 2018 with her first solo single in some time, she is in fine form. her offering here, ‘eacid’, is a timeless piece of deep techno with brain melting bass and twinkling yet menacing keys. her own vocals are twisted and chopped up into wordless forms that add layers of intrigue and the whole thing is brilliantly broody. a breakdown at the mid point allows you to catch your breath as her voice refracts round the airwaves, then the icy hi hats and rumbling drums and bass land again with subtly uplifting, light emitting chords rising in the background. all in all, this is one of kittin’s most special and evocative tracks of recent times. remixing is truncate, the deep techno artist who runs a label of the same name and has released his killer wares on 50weapons. his version is more wild and flailing, with the keys becoming more manic, the drums darting about all over the place and the voice becoming more paranoid and trippy.

r&s welcome back highly-revered techno artist benjamin damage with his new double headed single ‘malfunction / binary . ‘montreal’ from his debut r&s ep proved to be one of the label s biggest techno releases of the last few years - the pummelling drums, intense atmosphere and beatuiful melodies are synonymous with the music that has made the label timeless. road tested in benjamin’s heavy artillery live shows across the globe, malfunction / binary pick up where the last ep left off - pistoning rhythms, breakneck beats and monolithic bass, but this time the mood is more reflective and optimistic - skying cloud-like pads offer a dreamy counterpoint. made between london and berlin, following recent live shows at berghain and oval space, benjamin’s wanderlust and restless studio dynamic sees him continually breaking down his gear to travel, “being on tour with all my gear i find it quite easy to work in new places,” he explains. “i like the energy of different cities and it s good to keep moving.” this new ep is announced ahead of a huge, all hardware live show at sonar by night in barcelona. with ‘malfunction/binary’ sure to do the business and an album in progress for r&s scheduled for 2019 it’s going to be an exciting year ahead!

classic early 80 s wackies album

the songs, the words, the melodies in this album, they all matter to me because they represent the real time outworking of my own trauma, pain and discovery of joy and peace. but there is a life inside this record equally important to all of the above, which is also trying to be communicated. it’s almost like how listening to a song in a foreign language doesn’t hinder you from absorbing what the song is communicating. in listening closely as i expose myself to myself, that is where the art is. maybe every time we have the courage to unabashedly be true in ourselves, the courage to do the same is received by someone else.
i ask that you pray for me, so that i can continue to live on the surface, not only in private while making art, but also in public while living life visibly. also that as i continue on this journey with myself, that i can communicate who this old yet new person i have found is. a little better each time, with more clarity each time. - vicktor taiwò

the third album by blundetto, the man behind french radio station radio nova. for this fourth album, he’s back to the roots of his music : the reggae. . an album focus on jamaicans music, roots or digital, with legendary singers as ken boothe, cornell campbell, little harry and some close friends as biga ranx or jahadan blakkamoore. produced by blackjoy. why this title? slow dance? that’s a musical movment in the north of brazil. all the reggae soundsystem are slowering the tempo of the songs and the crowd is dancing in couple. closely. blundetto is one of the most played of this new musical movement.

mysticisms eyes summer luv dancin’ as new-not-new deep dean emerges from the antipodean well to offer sunrise anthems for the me generation. a man of mystery, but too tight to be a total new-jack-wack. releases on a who’s who confirm the tight-tight-tight production matches the swing brimming of technique, confidence and factor one, fun. undiluted vibe alives, we ride ocean groove, with the original setting us afloat, teasing the monkey, bassline for open skies and warm hearts. you feel good? the drums club, the hats fly high and that’s all you need...

usa s warren harris aka hanna joins the flumo crew with a 5 track signature ep. known for his own jazz influenced melodies and hard punching broken house rhythms, as well as, collaborations with other prolific artists such as theo parrish and involvement in rotating assembly and key of soul projects. for this e.p. hanna continues exploring the depth of his imagination, challenging his creative output by melding together these trademark sounds alongside ones yet to be discovered by the listener. hanna s well known broken house rhythm is preeminent, with dreamy and melodic keys enhancing the spiritualistic aspect whilst maintaining a catchy groove. all tracks explore the layering of sounds and find ways of keeping such exploration fresh and different from one track to another. 12 inch black vinyl in a plastic sleeve with a printed insert.

the canadian duo of gremlinz & jesta present their debut ep for metalheadz, a 4-tracker full of energy, emotion, progression and creativity. all corners are covered with the ethereal atmospherics provided by ‘nessus, the weighty and assertive sounds of ‘departed, the delicate and graceful nature of ‘the drift (which also features rumbleton), and the title track closing the ep administering a dose of funk to the release.

strut present the first ever compilation series to access the archives of one of the greatest of all french caribbean labels, disques debs out of guadeloupe.

prfy 002 features four acid centered tracks by purify records co-founder and longterm goethebunker resident cramp. the first solo ep of the german dj and producer features four crafty club cuts suitable for a versatile range of settings. acid, techno, house, dub - it‘s all in there. don‘t sleep on this one!

metempsychosis vinyl 002 invites you to the sonic soundscapes of flaminia along with remixes by headless horseman and ancestral voices. an epic trip inspired by the sanskrit story of agni, the god of fire, originally narrated in ancient india. dark percussive sounds walk the listener through the fire’s curse to be the devourer of everything in this world, destroyer of everything it touches. ethereal drones and atavistic strings reveal the turning point of this adventure when the curse is reversed in such a way that agni - the fire - becomes the purifier of all the things it touches. this story, brought to life by sound, teaches that reality and matter itself are actually shaped by perception and can change according to interpretation. fire can be feared as a destroyer or admired as a purifier. fire, just like death, is a crucial element of life on earth. a different perception of the world can change your world. so abandon yourself and embrace the fire.

the first in a series of compilations by jura soundsystem is a blend of dub, ambient, downtempo, boogie and proto house with a focus on music never before released on vinyl, sought after out of print titles and some special versions edited specifically for the album. . the intention with this project was to delve deeper into the reissue pond and unearth some lesser known tracks and artists. highlights include smackos (aka legowelt) ambient epic ‘we can watch alf in the hotel room’, never before released on vinyl, the dub / psych hybrid of minus group’s ‘black shadow’, kash’s sought after ‘percussion sundance’ and special edits of ken dang and tabou combo. the end of the album includes some soothing ambient tools.

the second part of the seltron 400 trilogy on most, trans i bas, sees the group re-embark on their singular journey in search of the essence of the rave. since the first ep in the series – zabawa trwa – came out last year, they have augmented their back-to-back dj sets with a full-on live show, which again fed back into their recording process. the record’s title cut, trans i bas (also available in an earth-shaking drum version) is as uplifting as it is spontaneous, complete with trance-infused pads and heavy, tripping bass. jest nadzieja brings a little swing and a mental breakdown, while oo is all crunched riffs and one-finger-string-solo glory. nuff said.

after establishing himself with rough but emotive house as rimbaudian and jungle as birds of sweden, he unveiled his dj seinfeld alias to the world, first with underground hit single u, then with his time spent away from u album on lobster fury in november 2017. it was a post break-up love letter to the dance floor with heart-on-sleeve emotions colouring the dusty and analogue house grooves. acclaim came in from far and wide, with everyone from rolling stone to pitchfork fawning over its heart swelling nostalgia and melancholic immediacy. jakobsson approached his dj-kicks with the intention of representing all the things that made him fall in love with dance music more than a decade ago, as well as showing some of the progression that has occurred in that time and reflecting the simultaneous fear of leaving something safe behind as well as the excitement of venturing into unknown territories, musically and emotionally.

next up on francis harris exceptional imprint scissor & thread comes a collaboration with american producer, dj aakmael. aakmael has built a reputation for some of the deepest, rawest house music sounds coming out of the states, releasing well-received tracks on the likes of freerange records, release sustain, kolour dogmatik and ndatl. returning to scissor & thread, aakmael and label boss harris cook up an intoxicating vibe across this 5 track ep. each shares a track and work together on the fifth, while also remixing each others solo cuts. first up aakmaels deep muzik- a quintessential nod to its self-proclaimed mission statement. skittering drums, a shuffling groove, deep keys, and chords make up this essential opener. franks (aka francis harris) all that light mix shows another side, finding pockets of space and developing the fizzing percussion to produce an equally affecting piece of dancefloor bliss. sharing production duties from the outset on mercy of means, the guys slip into an easy mid-tempo groove with plenty of depth - the rhythm rolls along and offers the perfect basis for some sublime melodic touches. franks part song also hones in on the subtle deep grooves. bumping, slightly filtered and saturated drums provide the main body, with beautiful washes and keys finding their way through, aakmaels remix beefs up the groove somewhat, making the snares snap harder and kick hit a little stronger, but the essence of the tracks melodic atmosphere remains perfectly in place.

celebrating 15 years of one of dance music s most recognisable and truly international independent labels. avoiding a retrospective reflection of the label s classic tracks, achievements and catalogue, toolroom are proud to present an album of all new exclusive material written by some of house music s freshest talent alongside established genre favourites. this limited edition vinyl handpicks four of the highlight tracks from label boss mark knight, format:b, dj pp, danny howard and weiss, offering a seamless journey through the genres toolroom have become world famous for, house, tech house & techno.

drum & bass’s number one italian stallion maztek on prspct with a huge 2 track vinyl! when it comes to badass quality drum & bass maztek is for sure italy’s flag ship artist who puts that spaghetti western pizza munching ex roman empire on the map. two banging tracks delivering his hardest most brutal work to date. this records has no b side. all killer no filler and aa all the way! all hail maztek!

time flies, doesn’t it? it sure does when you suddenly wake up to celebrate your 10th vinyl release as a small label, which is the case with us. but as we’re all about quality over quantity, our latest 12” offering comes with a superb collage of fresh music by the one and only radicall. having made his mark as one of the most consistent producers, known for his trademark combination of strong, dynamic drum programming and soft and booming basslines, radicall keeps on delivering top-quality music with each next release. and this 12” single is no exception to the said rule. the playful, happy-go-lucky “touch” is a bit of a nod to the old-school/rave/early jungle/footwork/you-name-it style given its complex drum pattern and an array of acid-style synthetic samples and tinges of vocal here and there, but sticking to modern-day standards nonetheless. the flipside comes with “build me up” remixed by bungle, who surely knows how to make good things just as good as they are, but yet a bit different. and here we have the brazilian powerhouse reshaping radicall’s work to make it a bit lighter and upbeat, but still retaining some elements of rawness mixed perfectly with traces of nostalgia. an excellent job, breathing a new life into the original piece - a darker-shaded straight-to-the-point roller, which you can get as a digital bonus added to the release. so here it is - the tenth vinyl item in our catalogue, featuring names you simply can’t go wrong with. what better way to celebrate the occasion?

it is not the honor that you take with you, but the heritage you leave behind. we don’t have every day a rework of a classic techno milestone on a label that tries to push the boundaries of the future, but this time is the time. thomas schumacher represents one of those artists that was there since the very beginning, and he is the proof of how an artist can evolve in many ways during the years, but always been devoted to techno, and the meaning of it. “when i rock” was played all over the world for decades but now gets a brand new rework by label boss emmanuel, and the creator itself thomas schumacher. the record has a b/w sleeve cover design by caitlin schumacher on 12”.

coming back for another round after his first ep for figure last summer, shlomi aber continues to explore different avenues of his multi-faceted sound, tying it all up in a nicely rounded package. setting the pace is driving opening track whistler, the producer showcasing his ability to craft something big but undoubtedly refined. he then lets old school drums cruise along gentle sways of washed out ambience, giving the deep heads something to really get into… back with more techno on the b-side, this time in true figure-style: lean, sharp, and utterly effective penetrate the system is sure to leave its mark and comes complete with an extended, separate intro, making for quite an experience. staying atmospheric to the end, aber chooses to step out in half-time, taking cues from dubstep as hollowed kicks carve out an endless tunnel that leads only ever deeper down the rabbit hole.

a1: the exceptional producer stenny has been a munich resident for a few years to be as close as possible to his musical home port of ilian tape. here he once again proves what a perfectly mixed supergroovy breakbeat board is.
a2: janis and fabian from the live duo aka trap10 do not hide their musical ideals. in “people zoo” it’s classic but classy, &#8203,,&#8203,,according to old detroit style and chicago tradition.
b1: jonas friedlich’s eps on molten moods and four triangles are a good example of what techno’s style is all about: tape delay is his weapon of choice, often with vocals and rarely straight beats. with “jazzersizzzze” he ties in masterfully to it.
b2: p-t2 has become an integral part of the red sun (club rote sonne) in just a few years, indulging her fondness for the harder pace of club music. accordingly, their rfr post is an acid board, as it is written in the book.

keeping up the pace rolling nicely into our third release of 2018 we welcome onto etg yet more italian techno precision, this time from francesco profeti and pietro franchini aka hertz collision. responsible for a myriad of very stand out tracks such as “lost” and “all going” they have been remixed by the likes of kwartz and appeared on labels such as frozen border and dynamic reflection.
it’s been a pleasure putting the release together with the guys, receiving tracks and agreeing on artwork. as with every etg this release shows the full spectrum of their talent and their own individual take on techno. as ever it’s double a side. also special mention to programma 101 who features on track aa3.

a great collection of classic roots recordings from the mid-70’s for the singer who came close in challenging bob marley & dennis brown for reggae’s crown. all re-mastered recordings available as 23-track 2lp-set in a gatefold sleeve, with in-depth sleeve notes by noel hawkes. the release is supported by several summer festival appearances.

flight 770 is an ep about global moods and inspirations, made around a trip to georgia, where thee j johanz played at a festival with his friends from goa.

after a couple of sparking, floor-oriented releases by uk luminary henry wu and head honcho pablo valentino, mcde recordings continues its explorations of dance music spectrum with a brand new offering, right on time for the summer. . now batting is nomadic beatsmith hugo lx, who develops a new chapter in his multi-faceted discography with this 5 track opus, ranging from classic house to disco flavored jams, detouring through the ambiant and jazz fields, always with a certain eastern vibe to it. with great help from his regular contributors on bass, keys and horns, he delivers a soundscape that aims to be vibrant, powerful, yet sensual and most of all, prove to be timeless

one must rise above the earth - to the top of the atmosphere and beyond - for only thus will one fully understand the world in which one lives.

a1: david goldberg revealed his exceptional talent releasing an extraordinaire debut ep on svs records. “m4l-uv” is a euphoric breakbeat track that won’t fail to make you dance.
a2: kit curse made his mark within the dnb scene during the last years having released on labels like cyclone, onset audio or shadowforces. “weird solace master” is a broken ritual that reveals the producers experimental side.
b1: “zezbo version” by skee mask is a superb dnb trip leading you through an industrial shadow world. the producer upholds his reputation as an exceptional artist all along the way.
b2: top shotta runs the uk bass orientated label ruffhouse. “m-performance riddim” somehow sounds like a race and a fight both at the same time.
b3: the style of bean is a postmodern blend of ambient, idm and dubstep. “tears” showcases this eclecticism within just three minutes.

after the release on french label basse resolution and after a couple of years since his last ep on bosconi, having released with the -under the line- track one of the highlights of our latest 10 years compilation and as bss together with his mates fabio della torre and mass prod, rufus is back on bosconi with a new four tracker record which goes on a new direction compared to the past music he did. -ritual chants- was mainly recorded in the abandoned industrial area of milan called bovisa and probably for this reason the release sounds all around a bit sci fi, cinematic and especially gothic. all begins with the raw techno jam of -fast rituals- where structured mellow and dreamy synth lines combine with the dusty, aggressive and driving rhythmical transportation of its drum section. fast rituals is one of those electronic pieces which tells you a story from the beginning till the end, so please pay attention to it. -sapere sparare- looks calmer but actually has the more mental and psychotic feeling of the whole record, driven by an intoxicating and fat bass line, rough jazzy beats and a lot of twisted out fm synths goodness whose times are punctuated twice by the warning female vocal theme of the track. -last shot #5- instead is a jacked out, hypnotic and darker broken house track dense of pumping low ends and subtle but glorious synth riffs properly made for the late hours and totally in the vein of a baby ford - minimal man production.-tenebre- closes up the ep with its horror movie atmosphere, drilling drones here and there, big bouncy bass lines, reverberated snares, drama strings and a dominant sinister melody which slightly reminds of some old dbx track.

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!

ground is an osaka native, but his soul is truly that of a nomad, traversing the planet, befriending the kindred spirits found in humans, animals and plants. he is exceptionally receptive to the beauty in all that surrounds him—the incidental music of a busy city street, the orchestrated chaos of a scrambling radio, the syncopated grace of a migrating flock of birds, the simplicity of an isolated hand clap—and as his map continuously unfolds, he accumulates a vast catalogue of visceral tools to complex musically recount his experiences. sunizm is a cross section of the artist’s process—an array of complex microcosms overlapping to comprise a thematic whole—gathering field recordings, found instrumentation, jagged electronics, and synthesized chanting, to be woven into a dense narrative that appears both obsessively constructed and divinely improvised. with each consecutive track, the artist gradually constructs hypnotic patterns that 1-up the mind as it struggles to break free from a seduction of loops, steadily intensifying until reaching an apex of sound collage so cerebral that the listener might consider a post-album shower. but alas, the fourth quarter releases a bit of pressure, our gobs still lay smacked but there is a warm confidence as the psychedelic trial delivers us home to nod out. dear humans, animals and plants, ground and the esp institute present, sunizm.