dlr needs little introduction, his name has become synonymous with underground drum & bass and from the beginning hes stayed true to his roots – hes never watered down his sound for a more commercial appeal. this stance has seen dlr rise to notoriety, even after his very first output. and following his releases on metalheadz, dispatch, utopia, shogun audio and breaks prolific symmetry imprint, hes embarked on a journey which will now see him set up his own imprint sofa sound, continuing the ethos which has made him so revered.

four perfectly matched tracks from the labels family of producers, based in russia (guydee, black lenin, mutenoise) and uk (darran p), which create a whole story together. you can use tracks from the bright side as twilight feelers for your warmup sessions, or turn on to the dark side to go deeper with your dancefloor. this release is all about the time which is flowing through the night with your mind and your dreams. you are going to love it. a1. guydee chronic hey label creator guydee opens with his unpredictable sample work and a deep concentrated groove, which feels like a massage in your head. a2. black lenin summer storm a hip-hop swingin 4/4 house beat from the russian dj & bass-player anton lymarev is a sample based cut showing off his solid mpc skills, using the fly from the legendary maynard ferguson. b1. darran p regrets the one and only darran pownall (city fly, uk) presents his gentle touch & crystal clear bass with beautiful sound mixing. high quality vibes for all kinds of dancefloors. b2. mutenoise mystical path alex bannikov aka mutenoise brings us the natural dancefloor killer for his debut on the minor notes. this track makes bodies swing every time its played.

kin-ben label that is one of japanese techno label in ehime, western japan releases brand new 12 vinyl by ann who is a dj / producer in saijo, ehime. a side is a deep techno tune with his gradually amplifying tension and the gentle bass-line’s reiteration sympathizing with metallic sounds like as sharpening a katana. and b side is the remix by hironori takahashi, who is still a worldwide dj / producer in japan and has released from many awesome label as informa records and arts.

sasu ripatti links with the legendary max loderbauer (nsi., sun electric, mvo trio) as heisenberg for two knotty, complex riddim trips on his -studio diary- imprint. adopting the mantle of the eponymous fictional meth chef*, the duo conduct fevered but controlled experiments in frayed, often frantic grooves eaten up with dissonant, freeform electronics. a-side is a 125bpm techno tunnel groove with offset bass hits embedded in a swarm of combustible modular chain reactions that dissolve to a gurgling breakdown and reassemble in freakier form. b-side is a full-pelt stepper operating at 90/180bpm like one of the early, hi-tempo... more

mental groove music and musique pour la danse are ecstatic (and there couldn’t be any better way to express our feelings here) to announce the first volume of mental groove classics, music played at the early warehouse raves and illegal fields parties of the same name. a compilation of rare, forgotten or sought after gems, topped with extra loops and intros for the working djs, and each side of the record ends in style with original pirate radio cuts which showcase the music in its original context, extended liner notes and interviews of the featured artists by dj, producer and radio host jerome hill of don’t / super rhythm trax / kool fm london fame. all tracks are remastered from the original sources by former dubplates & mastering engineer frederic stader (aka dj maxximus / warp records) and cut by daniel krieger at the legendary schallplatten schneid technik studios

drumcode returns with its 6th installment of the internationally celebrated a-sides series. renowned for fostering a shared space between industry tastemakers and rising talent alike, the careful curation that goes into each volume is a fine example of why beyer s brand continues to go from strength to strength. techno titan adam beyer has grown drumcode into a force to be reckoned with, the label has become synonymous with forward-thinking, functional techno and even after 20 years, drumcode continues to find new boundaries to push, and ways to solidify its legacy as the worlds number one techno label. 2017 is no exception, with beyers imprint hosting it s first stage at tomorrowland, not to mention the expansion of the critically acclaimed junction 2 where the drumcode stage is the centrepiece and adam plays the key role of festival director. the drumcode phenomenon continues to grow each week, chiefly fuelled by drumcode radio, adam s radio show that s broadcast in 57 countries via 86 stations and to a global audience of 16 million techno fans per week. the a-sides series acts as a perfect vignette of drumcode s cutting-edge sound, functional yet inspired techno, all tracks tried and tested by beyer himself. vol. 6 continues this tradition with a collection of 16 multi-faceted cuts from a mixture of both emerging artists and experienced label friends. the heart-throbbing bass in amelie lens electrifying piece in silence sets the tone for the dark and dance-floor-ready energy that vol.6 carries the whole way through. other standouts include mars bill s rough n ready mohave. pulsating and precise, mohave has highlighted many of beyer s sets recently as has wehbba s monster track fake, which fans have been anticipating the release of all year. label-favourites dense & pika also feature on a-sides vol. 6 with their hard-hitting just a beat and a huge track from beyer himself who has joined forces with enrico sangiuliano to bring us their undeniably infectious preset heaven . with many more notable selections from the likes of julian jewell, timmo, tiger stripes and pig&dan, a-sides vol. 6 is another impressive addition to the label s prolific release roster and a testament to why drumcode remains at the forefront of the electronic world.

scientists. white lab coats. the whirr of computers. sc-164 was a sonic experiment. greg schappert, an electronic musician known as donor, was the willing subject. its purpose? to melt man and computer in audio form, machine music created by an artificial being. but soon it became too powerful, self aware. the creators tried to pull the plug. they were too late. now this assailant floats from machine to machine, communicating its message through serrated snares and bruising bass. sc-164 was cast aside by its makers. now the project has one objective, to corrupt circuitboards and speakers with an infectious strain of corrosive electro.

steppas records presents alpha steppa’s ‘3rd kingdom’ in dub! currently championed by a range of soundsystems and djs from across the bass music spectrum, from roots veterans channel one soundsystem and the legendary jah shaka soundsystem to uk steppers pioneers iration steppas and dubstep household names such as v.i.v.e.k, caspa & rusko.

2017 was a serious year for von d, with releases on a number of great labels including our long-format imprint khaliphonic, plus amar, moonshine, lion charge and more. for zamzam, von d has delivered “over” -- a brooding, burning 140 anthem providing serious heat as we head into the dark winter months. “over” features a powerful half-time reggae riddim built from von d’s signature warm, enveloping bass and restrained but powerful drums. tambourine and guiro add flavor while the snares slap, and meekman’s kete drum rocks throughout, adding a swing and live feeling missing from many contemporary in-the-box sound system tunes. melodica and synth skank in unison, underpinning a dizzying spread of analog signals & sonics...

phonica is proud to present the song for mr. lewis , a new record from austin ato! austin ato may be an unfamiliar name to most right now but you will have undoubtedly heard his music before. the man behind the mask colin bailey - has a decade of music production experience under his belt using aliases such as drums of death, frankie dreams and the slumberjack. following on from his recent 12inch on futureboogie, phonica white unveils the fantastic song for mr.lewis ep. when it comes to producing electronic music, colin proves to be a dab hand at a variety of styles. his work as austin ato updates the classic house sound utilising live instruments drums, percussion and keys alongside electronic elements. at the core of song for mr lewis is a moving speech from civil rights activist representative john lewis on gun control in the united states, a message that sadly remains just as important to this day. on the flip, the dub versions strips everything back to the drums, a raw counterpoint to the deeper original, perfect as a dj tool but a powerful bare-bones track in itself. finally, the blissful morning closes the ep in style, with colin laying keys over the top of a dubbed out drum machine and bass loop that could just keep going and going. oh yeah! artwork as always is supplied by the talented pedro carvalho de almeida.

fresh drum & bass / jungle bizz

ulterior motive are finally ready to release their long awaited collaboration with drs, ‘hey judas’. instantly recognisable and yelled for in seconds, this track has been doing serious damage wherever it’s been dropped in the last few months. drs lays down a sweet 16, and twinned with um’s razor sharp beats and bass, it’s a deadly combination. the aa side showcases a true master class in modular madness, as the guys team up with technical bristolian wizard dlr. growling itself all the way to the front, this sizeable slab of bass and percussion brings the funk and the vibe to the floor, bringing that 98 sound firmly up to date. we’re only at 002 in the guidance catalogue and the bar has been resolutely raised. watch out, there’s so much more to come.

dj swagger drops haus dubs and tracks one, two, and three, each is a beautiful, roller of a tune with deep, dubby bass, brimming breaks, and lush top lines. the phrase deep house gets thrown around a lot these days but this ep backs it up. limited 500 pressings.

a creative partnership between tom laroye and yam who?, qwestlife is a trans-continental boogie trip between the two producers’ respective homelands of paris and london. fulfilling the glitterbox philosophy by crafting great songs the old school way with analogue and weird electronic gadgetry, qwestlife’s ‘give me a minute’ appeared first on glitterbox’s disco revenge compilation and now graces vinyl for disco connoisseurs everywhere. featuring the vocals of a frequent yam who? collaborator, soul diva jacqui george, ‘give me a minute’ is an instant party anthem. disco-fuelled synths and strings plus live sax, trumpet, guitars and bass give a glorious saturated dancefloor vibe rolled into one by sticky hooks and a timeless catchy chorus. accompanied by the dubbed out version, plus an accapella and bonus beats, this sweet vinyl release provides all the good stuff that qwestlife have to offer.

bcee & villem’s vanguard project returns for it’s fifth instalment in the series.
u mk me feel has been getting a hammering from dj’s from etherwood to friction and encompasses that classic ravey feel that the vanguard project do so well.
think about rolls out effortlessly with classic rolling vibes that just ooze class.
flipping the script, the vanguard project showcase just how versatile they can be with ‘fused’. probably the heaviest track they have unleashed to date, this is a bass heavy peak time beast of a track.
rounding things off, spearhead resident mc tempza steps up on vocal duties for recharge.
support from friction, high contrast, ltj bukem, fabio, london elektricity, rockwell, etherwood, technimatic and a whole load more...

* friske joins the dust audio revolution in the form of the destruction ep . the assassin comes with 3 tracks of pure undiluted drum & bass cuts. fresh of the back of his critically acclaimed metalheadz ep he doesn’t slow down with the clinical drums and unrelenting bass… seek this out now, if not it will defiantly search you out, lock on to its target and cause destruction. * the ep’s title track “destruction” rolls from start to finish with clever intricate bass play that sneaks, weaves and hisses like a cobra snake. the almighty drop hits you and the vocal snippet “destruction” aptly describes what this killer is going to do on many a dancefloor, this rib cage rattler is designed to sit in any dj’s selection who wants to boost intensity and create a certain mood. * on the flip friske drops “artikal” into the equation. this vibing half stepping chunk of goodness has all the classic friske trademarks, atmospheric intro, little vocal’s that have been twisted into different territories. the bass and mid ranges juxtaposition for space but work in tandem for the common good.

one of the worlds most revered drum & bass outfits spectrasoul return with their third studio album how we live, self-released on their burgeoning ish chat music imprint. turning back to their roots for a more hardened, underground sound, how we live pushes through the full spectrum of d&b showcasing once more that trademark spectrasoul sheen and musicality that has won them legions of fans across the globe over the past 10 years.

* walton drops his third instalment on tectonic in fine style, calling upon japanese influences to create a truly unique sonic across both tracks in the release. asian instrumentation meets directly head to head with the cutting edge sounds of a uk grime-techno axis to great effect. * ‘praying mantis’ captures all the charm of a fine japanese watercolour painting by means of some spectacular midi-harp programming. hi-hats and detailed percussion set a shuffling pace, building the mood up before a beautiful harp section unfolds and takes over, expertly programmed by walton to sound as if a master harpist had stepped into the room! as drums and bass join the party we have all the makings of a low-slung grimey masterpiece, both soothing and energising in a perfect zen balance. * flip then for ‘koto riddim’ which again brings japanese influences to the forefront of the track. walton programs classic sounding japanese percussion sounds along with grunting vocal cuts and a charming flutebased melody. as the track drops, it switches into a more familiar, grime-based palette of sounds, deftly arranged for most dangerous impac

northsouth hit their second release with a crisp selection of minimalist dancefloor gems from two rising talents. christian jay has been previously spotted on idle hands, and he delivers another example of his knack for sleek and skippy garage reductions with enclave and faculties, matching icy textures with punchy bass honed for maximum dancefloor impact. bilal meanwhile takes an electro approach on command station before twitching things up masterfully on ejecta while maintaining the steely finish that binds this split 12inch together.

one year ago, sodai burst onto the electronic soundscape with fearless river / ghost from label boss gardens of god. renowned for delivering the highest quality with meticulously selected artists, the label has carved out a fresh sound and distinct style. to celebrate the first milestone, gardens of god solidifies the integrity of the label with the profound maple ep . “these three tracks represent what i’ve been playing and enjoying since river / ghost was released last year. no compromises, just for people to get lost in.” - gardens of god subtle distorted keys pan the atmosphere in lead track maple for an enticing start to the ep, before a dominating bass soon carries the track through layers of melodic synths. the sinister tones of whistler are next and set to cause a serious stir on the dancefloor. last up, bek is a solid techno roller with a thundering bass, enhanced by an incredible richness in the haunting synths that echo throughout. vilnius based gardens of god has established himself as a key player in the world of house and techno. the classically trained artist has enjoyed a groundbreaking few years with weighty features on bbc radio 1, plus vital releases on maceo plex’s ellum and his own imprint sodai.

jaunt records 10 year celebrations are spanning a series of 12inches that feature a broad spectrum of artists searching for the ultimate deep techno fix. the four contenders that occupy this sea release all have their own agenda, but they sit together perfectly. hiver weaves illustrious pads in between nimble electro drums and bubbling acid bass, while artefakt creates eerie, fractured acid meanderings to send a shiver down your spine. hinode does some deft break choppage to create a dreamy trip for the up all night crew, and then region rolls the record out on an emotive tip while keeping the rhythm section pumped up for the floor.

nereid appears out of the techno mists on the newly minted warped core label shrouded in mystery, with subtle monochrome head twisters to match. umea leads the charge on the a side with an ethereal trip into dubby soundscapes filled out with plentiful reverb and pattering rhythms to snake straight into your cerebellum. operator has an instructive bass throb carrying it along, although it imparts a similar steely aesthetic to the opening track. neptune is no slouch either, using nagging mid-range percussion and eerie bleeps to spell out stern, functional techno of the deepest kind.

cold recordings is very proud to include berlin based producer phon.o as part of it’s growing roster by means of this immaculate ep. across the 3 tracks, phon.o demonstrates his ability to combine uk- bass influences with techno sensibilities, ultimately crafting cutting edge music for the dancefloor.
‘clu5t3r’ opens the ep with a swinging 132bpm rhythm that sits somewhere in between classic uk-funky and a cracking shed/heads high techno anthem. the repeating riff that circles and cycles, sweeps through the frequency spectrum, energising and purposeful. versatile and effective, this is a track to come back to time and time again.
flip the plate and there’s another couple of gems. ‘v3r5u5’ continues on from where ‘clu5t3r’ left off, progressing the mood into a more ethereal space, building layers of pads and texture as the track developes, rising and ramping up, before pulling back and dropping into a rolling rhythm. closing up the ep is ‘h4ndcuff3d’, which takes the mood into a more dramatic backdrop. chilling pads swell up from the ground like mist in a graveyard, while the broken rhythm sets pace, creating a moody ambiance for those moments when you want to take a dancefloor into mystical, other-worldly territories. dramatic and energising!

danny berman aka red rack em is back with 2 more burners on his much loved bergerac label. after slaying everyone last year with wonky bassline disco banger and this years hotly tipped self portrait lp he s got his sights set firmly on the dancefloor once more. 2017 has been a vintage year for the berlin based dj producer with radio 1 mixes, serious air miles, remixes for tensnake, tinie tempah, shows for rinse and after a hectic summer, it s time to focus on his own productions and get back to what he does best. making slamming house cuts designed for maximum floor damage. place for me (version) is a cut up, pumping, soulful disco house slammer. originally released in 2009, it s been updated and remastered and is another great example of red rack ems ability to chop up vocal samples and make something fresh from them. guaranteed club wrecker, which served as a pre-cursor to wbdb and thus needs to be out there once more. exhalt is a super deep, spiritual house number with vibes galore. deep pads and crisp beats combine with deep bass in an ecstacy tinged, euphoric disco number. one for the heads…

nothing like an edit is from an obscure acid jazz track that made its rounds in the underground disco scene in chicago. played by veterans like sadar, lee collins & ron trent at clubs like slicks & the b-side café. don t cha wanna get down is a rare groove monster chopped from a funk 45 and kicks off with tights drums, bass licks and crazy synths coupled with some sick brass stabs and a touch of vocals that keeps it all in check and make you wanna get down, get down. played by: rahaan, theo parrish, ron trent, marcellus pittman, jamie 3:26, kai alce , zernell & soul clap.

anthone and katsunori sawa team up again under their bokeh alias delivering a 12&#8243,, single on the weevil neighbourhood. on a side -lancashire-, bokeh explore the realms of drum & bass tempo challenging the how-low-can-you-go with extremely deep subs while -fast fiver- on the b side doubles up on your regular 4/4 while on a heavy dub chord s leash. the release comes on black vinyl. the center label artwork is done by lee noble (no kings records/ bathetic).

after chris carrier’s amazing >addicting game< ep mouche returns with another strong ep. the second release of the label brings a varied ep full of bouncy, driving deep techno freshly cooked by finnish native tm shuffle. while document4 on a1 is a driving deep excursion into snowy landscapes of middle finland, the powerful chord-driven weapon drumman dub on a2 brings a lot of groove to all the dancefloors out there. the b-side takes a more relaxed stance: alone in dub (b1) - created with longtime-friend lauri leino – combines icy soundscapes with a deep dub bass. that mixture heats up things slowly and steadily. ruutana by night (b2) rounds up the package with moody, chilling beats and echoes floating around.

as one of fuse s original residents, rich nxt played a major part in the brand s evolution, helping take it from that sunday morning afters to being one of the most respected event brands and labels on the planet ever since the age of 10, rich nxt has been involved in creating his own music. thanks to his early training as both a drummer and keyboardist, nxt has an inherent musicianship fully apparent in his sound and style of production. taking influence from the london rave scene of the early 90s spanning drum n bass and jungle and later the minimal and tech-house scenes of europe, nxt s output found a platform on the now world-class fuse london label (launched in 2011). a core artist for the label, with five solo eps and a collaboration alongside seb zito, rich nxt has been integral to fuse s trademark sound with his debut ep bristle and quixotic ep two of the labels defining moments. nxt and zito s chemistry in the studio is clear with a further two collaborations on fuse sister label infuse. alongside his own productions, nxt s remix catalogue includes seb zito s never with enzo siragusa and his original breakthrough remix of jon maker s seeker , which was championed by tini and many other leading djs in the minimal house scene. by the end of 2016, a residency at amnesia ibiza with hyte x fuse alongside dates at off week in barcelona and several stand out events on fuse s 8th birthday tour including an epic after hours set at berlin s hoppetosse proved nxt is on top of his game. nxt also launched his own imprint nxt records that year, another platform for his own consistently quality output. several releases down the line, nxt s distinctive style layered with intricate percussion, obscure synths and ethereal pads combined with punchy snares and atmospheric vocals is marking out the producer and label as a prime source for djs and vinyl lovers. 2017 sees the launch of a second vinyl only imprint what nxt, a home for musical discoveries that end up buried deep in his own record bag. featuring both emerging talent and established artists from the uk and beyond, what nxt? all roads lead to the rave.

argentinian producer cemento delivers four uncompromising techno cuts on norwegian label ploink this december. now based in norway, the south american dj has spent well over a decade honing his craft both on the dance floor, organising his own club nights and in the studio, producing records for the likes of antarctic, primitive state and diligentia. after the release of his first full length album on faarikaal records earlier this year, cemento now delivers an ep on bergen-based imprint ploink. fjordens vei provides noisy ambiences underpinned by a pulsating low-end and a series of arpeggiated synthesisers which evolve with the tracks sharp percussion before trolls reise grips us with enticing chord progressions, gloomy atmospheres and crisp drum fills floating above a powerful and grooved bass line. forekomsten hits hard with a heavyweight kick, rolling hi-hats and thick dissonant drones whilst haunting motifs develop with dubbed out effects. remixed by enigmatic producer twinspeaker, the speaker extended mix of trolls reise demonstrates an intricate structure of intertwining melodies with acidic overtones to close out the release.

brazilian master teddy mike presents his new album -on point-. 8 tracks 100% pure old school 80 s funk. fast-pace bass lines, sensuous melodies and sexy drum machines will delight all the funk freak heads around.

local talk broadens the palette further with new music by melbourne producer prequel. the a side plays host to freedom, a jazzy, undulating, mixed-up house sound that epitomises the spirit of prequel in one track. it s loose and swinging beat infused with hip-shaking bass, heavily percussive piano riffs and crunchy claps only quieten to make way for an unidentified vocal, who politely thanks you for listening and hopes you have a great time while you are here. it sits perfectly in peak-time territory as it does on a late night afterhours tip. on the flip is the ever evolving lefty . a track that starts off playful & dreamy and features some truly lovely keyboard work. after settling into the groove it takes a sudden and sharp left turn and enters a harder acid focused workout. percussive elements weave definitively in and out of the bass line as detroit influenced vocal cries echo throughout the background. this is the type of track you ll be sure to hear blasting out of speaker stacks on all open-minded dance floors around the globe. another accomplished and celebratory affair from prequel, it comes highly recommended.

bordello a parigi has just returned from a fruitful expedition to russia to secure a four tracker from st petersburg synthesizer playboy kito jempere. super sax sounds is a rich and varied expression from an artist who has explored a spread of sounds during his career. the a-side is the product of one diverse machine, the yamaha qy-70. -bueller s dance- gets the show on the road with latin showband flare. the opener brims with cruising notes, crisp claps and smooth bass, a track guaranteed to put a smile on any face. moods change with the tear stained chords of -space commercial-, a superbly subtle work of joy and heartbreak. a colder wind permeates the flip as a cinematic and sinister element enters. toms and snares support the descending bars of -atmosphere-, a track where tropical dreams cloud into despair. those dreams are purged by -tomohawk-, a dark prowler who stalks with a maniacal glint and menacing intent. an audio feast care of kito jempere.

a bitter-sweet, feel good song for late summer, shes so untouchable is the new track from tel-avis garden city movement, backed with remixes by psychemagik, seven davis jr, moscoman and a 12inch edit by the band themselves. the garden city movement trio of joe, roi and johnny produce a blend of sounds drawn from their diverse cultural worlds, ranging from sweet hypnotic beats to bass heavy tracks to horizontally aligned vibes. when we were asked to tag the new song we placed it under emotional balerica, is this even a thing? it is now. as a band who tours around the world all the time it s quite hard to find time to sit in the studio and work like we used to. we try to keep it up through our journey around the world, so if its lakes in estonia, markets from india or a cabin in the middle of nowhere - we re there sampling and recording the vibe. we can make you feel again. - garden city movement since surfacing at the close of 2013 with their breakout track move on, garden city movement have released their entertainment and bengali cinema eps, the modern west 12inch in collaboration with the vinyl factory, climbed the hype machine popular chart with multiple singles, opened for bonobo, caribou, alt-j and played live all over the world. the band s music video for single move on received a nomination for best music video at the la film festival and won best video of the year at the mtv israel music awards. they are currently recording their debut album, set for release in 2017.

hola, amigos! our next 12- comes from mexico, delivered to you by the one and only rodrigo alvarez aka rainforest, known already for his output released through monochrome recordings, omni music, cadence recordings, skutta records, or 45seven. so once you’re familiar with the said list of his affiliations, you might imagine what to expect. the most appropriate term for a common denominator to describe the content of this ep would be, let’s say, jungle refurbished. feel more than welcome to explore rainforest’s world of beautifully-crafted complex drum patterns, low-frequency bass lines, and rich palettes of background samplework. we’re positive that your early-morning cup of coffee can be well substituted with the powerful, fierce-percussioned squad nights. the pensive, deep-end blu diesel euphoria will help you digest your daily concerns, and the exotic, desert-inspired sound tribe will give you a strong energy boost. given a bowl of so varied ingredients, you can be sure that you get a really wholesome treat, especially if you’re after something more organic. in terms of sound, that is.

moscow based multi-talent impish presents the hush lp, his latest album project that will be released through all quality physical electronic music outlets around the world october 20. working through labels such as program, c.i.a. and his own fast rising occulti music imprint impish is quickly establishing a name for himself in the global drum & bass scene. in a world that consumes more and more music in a superficial way impish manages to take a halt on the hush lp with timeless songwriting, arrangement and production inspired by live music and drum work. from effortlessly rolling tracks such as can’t feel and shadows towards more introspective vibes on changing colours and the lp’s title track a common thread runs clearly throughout the album: the aim for perfection, true craftsmanship and a drive to combine to high-quality beats and breaks with musical elements. to aid the budding artist in spreading his ethos uk based female vocalist kate wild and irish drum & bass producer zero t feature on the album for vocal appearances and remix work.

man of war is a significant sonic progression for the band. opening track gaia sets the tone for the release perfectly. heavy, brooding bass and glitchy, synth stabs create an imposing sonic backdrop for tom’s menacing vocal to hang on. lead and title track man of war is driven by its propulsive beats and more washes of bass and eerie electronic touches. fall crocus finds the band in contemplative mood. a heavy, regretful air hangs over the track and brings to mind the work of international superstar and mercury prize winner james blake, who the band has toured with, as well as mount kimbie and ghostpoet previously. final original cut cosmos pink is perhaps the album’s most touching effort. cloud boat have always been a band capable of inducing sincere emotion and this release is no different, taking the listener on a powerful, cathartic journey through life’s big issues. remix wise, the release features offerings from phaeleh and la – 4a. each act brings its own distinguishable flavour to man of war. phaeleh’s version features his trademark, cinematic, take on house electronics and is a typically atmospheric effort, while la – 4a takes cloud boat in a modern techno direction.

the dynamic duo of second storey and appleblim return to r&s for another slice of their off kilter dance floor alchemy second storey & appleblim bring their detroit machine rhythms and sleek electronic grooves back to r&s for the ‘gimme 6’ ep. since their initial forays in 2015 on the label in the form of a trio of eps and a compilation that introduced the world to their unique strain of cyborg funk, the duo have gone on to refine their sound to ever new creative heights. this new ep is the fruit of that hard work - opener, and title track ‘gimme 6’ sees their production grandiosity hit new highs - swooping pads soon give way to slurping twisted bass and mechanistic hi hats before a collapsing breakdown freakout twists the trad techno blueprint into exciting new shapes. ‘levying rooks’ injects a sense of frenetic levity - serrated bass and scudding percussion, while ‘aperture‘ is drenched in swooning pads and fizzing, flanged out hats underpinned by relentless mutant kicks. too often modern electronic club music is all too content to sit heavily within genre boundaries, and ‘rules - ss&a’s gleeful disregard for categorisation and innate sense of melody, harmony and rhythm make their offerings the perfect antidote to the jaded veteran techno fans as well as the gleeful new jacks

a super rare disco / modern banger to end the year. star quake came out ofcolumbus,georgiaand that s about as far as they got. don t you know i love you is a relatively recent spin with o.g copies easily going for over $1000 and with good reason. a disco floater over some brilliant bass, i also edited the b side to remove the fade in so it can now be dropped easily in a club. happy new year.

known for housing a famous beastie boys sample, the reissue of the 1975 funk and fusion classic funk factory brings peerless polish and american players together for a groovy, eccentric journey. it was an album cut from this lp that captured a particular corner of the music-geek imagination for more than 40 years: “rien ne va plus,” from the self-titled 1975 album, had its reckoning with the canon when the dust brothers sampled major chunks of it for beastie boys’ “car thief.” “rien ne va plus” is a banger, all post-head hunters springy synth-bass. as for the rest of the album, funk factory can stray pretty far into the cheerier excesses of prog-jazz. it emphasizes the alluring strangeness of its more experimental moments, like the hallucinogenic haunted-house tour of “lilliput” or the banshee james brown vocal riffs on “horsing around.” “rien ne va plus” remains the top highlight. this album is proof that a core of musicians schooled in jazz but culturally steeped in the folk and classical traditions of eastern europe could, at least once, put out something that fit well with the crossover sound of the times while being unafraid to dive into freeform weirdness.
pressing on 180 gram audiophile vinyl.

its not always about super rares, we got to cover those lp tracks as well. how this never made it onto a 45 ill never know. michael henderson s brilliant let love enter has always been an underground classic and is about to get a fire lit under it once again, simply the finest brazilian influenced soul jazz fusion. michael s bass playing, vocals and production are all over modern american black music, having played for miles davis. norman connors, marvin gaye, stevie wonder to name just a few, his influence is huge right through the industry as well being a million selling artist himself. you can still here his bass sampled in many a hip-hop track to this day.

following a series of standout releases on stateside imprint, astral plane, e.m.m.a returns to coyote records for the first time proper with new 12-, mindmaze / pumpkin emoji . having first provided a remix on spokes inaugural ep ( green eyes ) for the label back in 2015, e.m.m.a has since kick-started her angel food radio show on nts alongside aimee cliff, and also established producer girls — a nationwide workshop initiative aimed at helping aspiring women get into music production. on mindmaze , described by e.m.m.a. herself as medieval funky and originally made as a special for mumdance on rinse fm, she pokes fun at the club, going in sample-heavy and re-fixing anthemic windows 95-era melodies over a stampeding, heavyset 4x4 beat. -this tune is a homage to the encarta 95 cd rom-, she explains. on the flip meanwhile, pumpkin emoji references the glossy, crystalline textures and lo-slung 808 bass of early e.m.m.a. gems like 2014 s light years , a potent reminder of why she remains one of the uk s most innovative and quietly rebellious club producers. tracklist: 1. mindmaze, 2. pumpkin emoji.

fabe has become an integral part of the infuse label, with his square town story ep and ho do ri collaboration picking up various plaudits. as i skipped the gym ep kicks off with shaped like kayla , continuing the producers preference for a mind melting bass line flecks of acid and tripped out vocal snippets add a wigged out feel. who is the drummer jacks things up with swung percussion whilst navigate takes a broken beat direction. vinyl only!

-addis abeba- equals side a - a collocation of groaning machines, bittersweet strings and seducing bass synths, defined with the aid of befriended producer kator. side b equals -lord stanley s cup- - a cloudy hike into that weird place where ebm and elect

this october will see canada’s mathew jonson join forces with visionquest co-founder ryan crosson for a two track ep in the shape of ‘robots of dawn’.
canada’s mathew jonson has quite the impressive career under his belt having co-founded the revered wagon repair label and heading up itiswhatitis recordings as well as performing under his own name and various guises such as cobblestone jazz, the modern deep left quarted, and his new project units & measurements alongside hreno and the mole. here we see the synth aficionado joining forces with visionquest’s very own ryan crosson, who’s carved out an equally impressive career to date and will soon drop his second long player alongside cesar merveille focused on intricately musicality and an intriguing approach to electronic music via the visionquest imprint.
as you’d expect from such a pairing this collaboration packs a bunch, opening with ‘tempelhof’ named after the now defunct airport in berlin and laid out over thirteen minutes of gradually unfolding and retracting acid swells, resonant synth whirrs, mind bending arpeggios and dynamic, baroquely evolving rhythms.
title track ‘robots of dawn’, featuring added help from cesar merveille and new upstart artist isis, captures an old school electro feel via an 808 drum workout, vocoded vocal murmurs and funk-infused wandering bass lines whilst modulating synths spiral through the depths of the composition.

clash lion is a mix of three personalities shall ocin, terr and daniel watts. three artists with different musical backgrounds merging forces to create a truly eclectic and open minded label. after the standout success of their debut release from maetrik in september, the labels second helping comes from label co-owner, shall ocin, known for his heavy use of modular synths, analog rhythmboxes and custom-made effects his bounty hunter ep is definitely unique. cicada layers atmospheric modulations, slow pulsating synth work on top of a booming bass drum. dark synth tones resonate to create real exploration of sound. raw, and somewhat ethereal in its composition ‘bounty hunter’ layers frequency patterns in a fresh formation, leading into a heady path of sound texture before its thunderous release with a booming synth riff. the labels mission to achieve eclectic, no boundaries electronic music has been displayed throughout this release from shall, with the final track yummy jam creating an experimental electronica vibe, showing his passion for innovation.

with its heavy drum machines, funky bass line, female vocals and analogue synths, messages from the stars is an electro-pop / cosmic / boogie-synth club classic. remixed, sampled and played a million times by worldwide djs, heres the repress from the original 12inch from 1983!

clinically excellent by salik from going good records brixton with a superiourly consistent, bass heavy, strict & steady (dub) stepper molding deep, dark & atmospheric strings pending between dub step and the sounds of d&b. backed by dj sotofett s off-kilter & de-syncronized excursion surging through acidic & 3d sonic landscapes.

3rd part of lns & dj sotofett s 12- trilogy. (extended mix) riding 12 min with corresponding tr-808 & 909 rhythms, layered progressive strings & patterned blips. (techno mix) with bouncy bass line, heavier drums and amplified strings, the 12- rounds of with thematic beatless (fuge mix).

lithuania s greyscale returns this december with ohrwert’s “fidelis / blavus”, backed with remixes from xdb and grad_u.
greyscale was launched in 2012 by lithuanian producer and dj grad_u, and photographer rima prusakova, set up as a platform for material from grad_u and close friends whilst prusakova’s black and white analogue photography provides the visual identity of the label.
the original mix of “blavus” opens the ep, perfectly setting the tone with murky, ethereal atmospherics, billowing dub echoes, modulating percussion and thunderous drums before dubtechno stalwart xdb strips things back a little with soft touches of the originals airy drones tucked away in the depths whilst choppy stabs and dynamically unfolding analogue rhythms wander throughout.
the second original from ohrwert opens the flip-side, upping the energy levels slightly with hooky stab-sequences, filtered delays and hypnotic melodies running alongside a sturdy percussive foundation. lastly to round out the release grad_u reworks “blavus” into a more groove-driven workout, employing shuffled hats, looped dub chords and bumpy sub-bass hits throughout.
mastered at the legendary dubplates & mastering in berlin.