for the first time iron curtis enters the ring over the full ep length for uncanny valley. there hasn t been much of a discussion whether or not this is something for uncanny valley when iron curtis approached the four label heads with this new pile of dance floor material. these tunes are too good. iron curtis must have been particularly inspired by the muse while producing these four outstanding house tracks. you ll feel a comprehensive knowledge about dance music s history when listening. no doubt, the franconian who is now based in berlin has spent a good time of analysing house music s techniques. -sweet romancer- is the best example for his studio eloquence. modulated synths, a classic bass line and a whole batch of drum ideas are combined into a wonderful track. the interplay between subtlety and vitality characterizes -nixdorf danse-. plus, you won t forget those strings. on -triroom- he proves that he has a knack for melodies as well. finally, -take me home- should provide a lot of emotional moments on the dance floor with its dramatic piano and crescendo-like synth line.

celldod is swedish producer anders karlsson. anders has been active in the music scene for some time working on different musical projects, always with a strong diy ethic his celldod project has released several cassettes under his own label brutal disciplin and has also released records on suction records, kess kill and femur records. in 2017 anders released an album under the name vargd?d on opal tapes together with swedish techno artist varg. anders hardware driven sound has evolved over time now personifying finely sharpened ebm and techno crossover of the highest calibre. with a nod to the greats but with a forward thinking direction, we have four new cuts to destroy the darkest dance floors. relentless, bass-heavy and blown-out bangers. fans of daf and maybe 242 meets silent servant will be blown away. mastered by martin bowes at the cage, uk.

detroit duo ataxia offer up their kodak moment ep via visionquest this march, accompanied by an edit from label co-founders shaun reeves and ryan crosson. eric ricker and ted krisko aka ataxia have been at the forefront of the contemporary house and techno scene for some time, racking up releases on some of the leading labels across the globe such as leftroom, nervous, culprit and play it say it, making the duo one of detroits finest exports in recent years. here we see them making their debut on visionquest, the label of fellow detroit natives ryan crosson, shaun reeves and lee curtiss. vhs leads the package with murky synth swells, resonant synth sweeps and fluttering square wave bass tones at its core as shuffled drums carry the ever-evolving hypnotic groove along. the original mix of kodak moment follows, shifting the focus over to snaking bass lines, mind-bending, modulating synth whirrs and dynamic, choppy percussion throughout. reeves & crossons edit of kodak moment then rounds out the release, stripping things back to ethereal atmospherics and shuffled drums whilst subtly stirring in the original’s hooky bass groove as the interpretation unfolds.

across the ocean to canadian cousins. after persians unifying call to love, mysticisms rolls to 002. vertico inc comes leftfield and correct. ritual. objects. preen. click. pop. shuffle. bass. zebra skips, blunted grunts, xdancer enhances, water margin twists. sound system. music. non. stop. if you seek beyond the ordinary moral, the discovery will be in you. find the mystery.

aroop roy has been making waves with his unique sounds for the past few years, with a wealth of successful releases and a busy gig schedule at the helm of some of the best clubs around the world. by fusing elements of jazz, afro, latin, funk and soul with the deeper end of house and disco, aroop has forged his own style with eps on revered labels including g.a.m.m, basic fingers, freestyle and lazy days. for his delusions of grandeur debut he pulled out all the stops, delivering three original tracks which further show his diversity as an artist and ability to produce left of centre, quality underground music without losing sight of the dancefloor. things kick off with save our love, a track that’s absolutely brimming with energy thanks to punchy wurlitzer chops, tension-building philly strings, and a rock-solid disco groove. next up we have what i love which sees aroop take an altogether more freaky approach flipping an uptempo rolling break, distorted synth line, cross-rhythm stabs and rasping vocal cuts into an edgy dance floor workout. closing this brilliant ep is the low-slung bump of walk that walk featuring original vocals from oakland, ca based blacktroniks who delivers his flow on top of a bass-heavy slice of deep electro boogie.

remastered von den originalen tapes, downloadcode inklusive. -future days- aus dem jahre 1973 ist das fünfte studioalbum der band und zugleich das letzte album mit dem japanischen sänger damo suzuki. auf dem album herrschte eine für can bis dahin ungewohnte lyrische atmosphäre, insbesondere bei den stücken -future days- und -bel air-.
credit:
irmin schmidt - keyboards /
jaki liebezeit - drums /
holger czukay - bass /
michael karoli - guitars, violin /
damo suzuki - vocals

the maghreban aka ayman rostom is one of the most unique and respected beat makers working in house and techno today. his dusky grooves, heavy bass pressure and clanking drum breaks sound like they were dredged from the bottom of the river nile, imbued with a maverick personality that shares kinship with the likes of detroits andres and waajed, making him a perfect fit on r&ss storied roster of pioneering outsiders.

earthhead ep is a unique compilation of eminent producers from st-petersburg (russia): dissident aka kontext, cyberworm, diagram aka abstract elements, and melotronics. with this release wow signal records presents a modern view on bass/electronic music, from future garage and dub techno to techstep and leftfield drum & bass. these genres are united by uniform deep sound of the planet s breath in our heads. we even release it on vinyl, intent on spreading the music that make us vibe with other bass lovers the world over.

as part of the ten-year anniversary dekmantel presents the final record in a ten-part-ep series. split into two parts due to its immensity, the final instalment is a re-issue of tony allens asiko (in a silent mix) originally released in 1999 and remixes by motor city drum ensemble and ricardo villalobos. the first part features a grandiose 29-minute ricardo villalobos version of the afrobeat masters cut. a true collaboration of giants.having been a regular at the festival for several years now, villalobos delivers a remix, one of his longest to date, that only he can produce. allowing the percussion to breathe into a monumental rhythm, villalobos warps the vocals, restructuring the bass and drums into a rolling dub-fusion of techno that is characteristic of his remixes to date, yet still breathtaking in its execution. afrobeat-minimalism, with dub-infused fire, and near psychedelic ambience that perfectly synchs the worlds of tony allen, and ricardo villalobos, two legends who’ve helped re-shape the face of music. highlighting the diversity of sounds that have come to represent the dutch label and festival series, the eps to date have encompassed a range of artists and genres, featuring label favourites, as well as whole bunch of debuting artists. the ep series kicked off in march 2018, and over the course of a year featured the likes of gigi masin, lena willikens, burnt friedman, donato dozzy, the egyptian lover, palms trax, and more.

official mr bongo reissue. replica original cover artwork. recorded in 1978, this is a latter-period gem from the larger than life legend, combining the glitz and glamour of disco’s heyday with maia’s raw funk and soul roots. for “disco club”, maia left his usual band and went into the legendary estudios level with an ensemble of rio’s finest including paulinha braga on drums, jamil joanes on bass, robson jorge on clarinet, hyldon de souza on guitar, sidinho on percussion, trombonists edmundo maciel and darcy seixas, and juarez assis on tenor sax. arranger and keyboardist lincoln olivetti was a crucial presence during these sessions – he added the all-important string flourish and brassy joy to the uptempo tracks, leaving maia enough room to express himself.

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.

the third release on mdrnty rec comes from a longtime favorite and friend of the house: mr. guillaume & the coutu dumonts mostly known for his productions on musique risquée, circus company, oslo or for his many other projects and aliases! our fellow canadian has crafted this ep specially for us and we are happy to welcome him on the label. on remix duties we have argentinian ernesto ferreyra (partner in crime with guillaume in the project chic miniature)! this release is a deep excursion into the groove of house and the hypnotic beauty of techno. it is designed for those late hours when everyone is dancing eyes closed, digging a little deeper into the moment! modern sublime is a long burner cinematic piece of music with its guitars, epic vocals, drum fills and acid bass lines. this track has it all and skillfully drives the tension high as the story unfolds! landing on the b side showcases a very different but equally hypnotic face of this talented and longtime celebrated producer, with its arpeggiated melodies and lush pads guillaume guides us to safe ground with this beautiful and precisely calibrated track full of emotions! last but not least, ernestos remix reconfigures the rhythmical structures of landing and masterfully transforms it into a peak time house gem, guaranteed to move any living soul in the dance floor.

after the first vinyl release (analog dub sessions) dub communication is back on 7”. this time frenk is using his korg ms20 to lay down an analog militant dub bass foundation. creating subs, stabs and catchy melody lines. a live played melodica, dipped in spring verbs, adding a human touch to the mix. futhermore we got atmospheric chords and heavy drums rhythms, as we know, frenk likes to produce. for the b side, there’s a heavy remix from belgium dub producer digid. his signature bass growl takes over, filtering and phasing through the audio spectrum. he adds more weight to the drums and new melodies on top. from the half time to the steppers rhythm as frenk took it the other way around.

the tireless and titanic dance figure that is dj t. is next up on seth troxler’s essential play it say it label. dj t. has done it all in his long and storied career, from setting up one of the most influential labels in get physical to founding groove magazine via opening the monza club and, of course, serving up always inventive eps and lps on the best labels of the day. his sound has evolved through many house, disco and tech styles and has kept him an in-demand dj for more than 25 years. these new missives are yet more proof that few know how to work the floor as well as dj t. the perfectly menacing keep it close kicks things off with a dark, snaking bassline underpinning freaky synth stabs. the pressure builds throughout and will have the crowd locked in before it pulls back and builds again with a masterful grasp of mood. hitting much harder is the excellent the day it all started, a more physical house track with solid kicks is designed for maximum impact in the club. tumbling bass and gurgling synth riffs flesh this one out and ensure it is a real piece of dynamite. last of all is the retro-tinged 1988, with its tightly programmed drums, slick claps and spraying acid line. its a wild track to get the freaks out of the shadows and on to the ‘floor. this is a fresh ep that offers three very different but equally effective club tracks that are sure to blow up in the coming months

2018 repress incoming! double 12 inch plus download code for the full album.
since bursting onto the drum & bass scene back in 2008, the uber-talented young russian upstart alexey egorchenkov has become one of the hottest properties in electronic bass music. better known as enei, his brand of forward thinking musical muscle has featured heavily ever since in the sets of kasra. friction, andy c and many more, and in 2011 kasra snapped him up to become criticals first ever exclusive signing. a name on the tip of most tongues, eneis debut album has been the talk of the d&b town and is now finally ready to unveil as we head towards the close of 2012. >machines< is set to catapult enei to new heights, a long player of devastating proportions full of incredible bass-wayed angst, vocal masterpieces and production that’s second to none. get ready for the sound of the >machines<, the most anticipated drum & bass album of 2012 and you are about to find out why.

the crispies sind tino romana (gesang), rob wolfe (gitarre), parsa sarraf (bass) und peter ferdinand (schlagzeug). die band wurde nach schulabschluss 2014 in wolfes keller gegründet, teils aus perspektivlosigkeit, teils aus spaß. so speist sich auch ihr selbstverständnis aus der spannung zwischen langeweile und exzess, zwischen selbstironie und der ernsthaftigkeit von rock n roll klischees in lederjacken und zerrissenen jeans. fragt man die band selbst, so vergleichen sie ihre musik gerne mit analoger fotografie: spontane momentaufnahmen, manchmal schoen, manchmal etwas kaputt. ihr debütalbum death row kids erschien im oktober 2016 auf seayou records. ihr zweites album fake leather erscheint ebenfalls auf seayou records.

2017 saw the first two stunning instalments of lone aka matt cutlers ambivert tools series - breezy atmospheric house, stacked with floor ready trax, inspired by his red hot magic wire imprint. it also saw him present an inspired instalment for the venerable dj kicks series. (mixmag number 2 compilation 2017) now freshening up for 2018, volume 3 finds lone in vintage form - temples reconciles his love of heavy breakbeats with the nagging euphoric melodies, tracer thin synth lines and angular bass for which he is so beloved. hyper seconds once again displays cutlers ability to channel the grooves of classic us house with a banging rhythm track and glistening gated arpeggios contrast perfectly for a rugged peak time bliss out. with this latest instalment of ambivert tools its fair to say that cutler has proved himself one of the most consistent delivers of quality dancefloor tackle that perfectly balances the need for radiant melody harmony with tough grooves and psychedelic experimentation.

xen & yovav return to malka tuti in 2018 with full thrust and eyes to the future. after being responsible for the first 2 releases on the label, this time the enigmatic singer and the influential producer collaborate and deliver 2 original songs. hayom etmol is a 100% good vibe diy post-punkish poppy song with a flowing synthetic bass line, balearic guitar riffs and dreamy vocals. the b-side, shavit, is a vocal led song, with a repetitive guitar bassline and, trip guitar riffs and a minimalistic drum machine. low fi in its production shavit feels as if it has been dug out of an abandoned 80s record store in the outskirts of glasgow or amsterdam, with a strong cold wave feel to it. this 7” will be the first in a series of more diy approach to electronic music, song writing and production. some exciting names on the bill so hold on to your chairs... hayom etmol’s artwork design was made as always by morey talmor, with a printed inner sleeve designed by the israeli artist kobi swissa and a special silkscreened outer pvc sleeve.

2018 repress in original artwork! the debut album of these two young lads with baseball hats not only honours and delves into a sound that already peaked some fifteen years ago, it also hones and elevates it, without ever falling into the reynoldsmania trap (please see retromania for further reference) or being old gold retold. and this is all oh-so-clear from the very start: the fine flutes of >when its there< go straight to your heart and they do so without any self-mockery or hipster smiles as much as the gasping 303-sounds, chirping birds and healing dx-like bass sounds a few tracks later do. >salty days< - an allusion not to grim times, but to a certain members adoration for the crystalline mineral - is blessed with a coherence that isnt samey, with tradition that isnt leaden and a feeling that is pure.

we wanted to start this new year the best way we can and decided to welcome the italian stallion christian lisco to our roster! acid cuts ep is a raw tour de force and fans of analog gear, distorted drums with acid bass-lines and soulful vocal samples will surely get their moneys worth! remix support by the mysterious high density system offering a totally new atmosphere of -66- keeping that same raw feeling.

fantasy life was a one-off italo disco studio project that consisted of various producers, songwriters, and vocalists from turin, italy. the line-up included lorenzo avico, maurizio camoletto and sergio bergamin. they recorded their only single ?over and over? at minirec studio in 1985 with mixing engineer gigi guerrieri. it was released that same year by thick record a sublabel of il discotto productions and became one of the most coveted italo disco 12?s. ?over and over? is a parable that describes the story of a girl growing up, comparing her life to the changes of the moon. signature linn drum and simmons drums create the driving rhythm track that hauntingly sways back and forth. the vocal version has a nearly two minute extended instrumental break in the middle of the song heightening the dramatic pace. on the b-side is a dub version with extended instrumental breaks, bass lines and occasional vocals. both songs are remastered for vinyl by george horn at fantasy studios in berkeley. the vinyl is housed in the original jacket featuring a painting by andrea franzoso and includes a double sided postcard with lyrics and notes.

special release alert - vinyl only / limited edition!
super dope debut from this new producer straight from ireland. we welcome jared aka btu who joins the family business. jared delivers a pulsating and emotive track, a stellar house journey into the mind. he is accompanied by the one and only, pépe. he delivers colorful track that picks influences from miami bass and electro, super silky and strong as always.

art alfie inaugurates his velvet pony imprint with a four track ep. the new label will function as a platform for the artist and his friends, shining light on a catalogue of music from the stockholm scene. having built a strong reputation alongside mr. tophat with a string of revered releases on the duos karlovak imprint, velvet pony signals the opening of a new door for art alfie. the project arrives after a highly acclaimed album on studio barnhaus, as well as his first solo ep on karlovak last year on which the underground hit flaunting was featured. velvet pony trax 1 sees art alfie brandishing his immaculate production technique over 4 distinct grooves. soft spoken takes us to the twilight zone with low slung bass riffs and jazzy chords, whilst ‘since ive seen you offers a dubbed out dose of twisted disco for the after-hours. on the b side, hideouts pairs hypnotic percussion with an undeniable funk, and front, a co-production with mans glaeser - raises the heat for an energetic finish.

re-release: released in 1993, the technology ep appeared on the start of a re-establishment of electro music and a beginning for the direct beat label. that would be a constant reminder of where to see aux88 material come to light. -technology- carried the aux88 brand onto radio, mainstream club and dance parties...become a sought after 12- by a band that proclaimed its sound as electro/techno . the techno bass mix is the original track, (now for the first time available) rhythm mix is a different animal on its own... within the track you can hear the growth of what would become the sound of emerging aliases in years to come and the use of distinct voices/vocals. with both versions from the original studio recordings in 1993, listeners will be treated to a major bonus point in the birth of the aux quadrant of projects to come. designed for a well-deserved space on the global dance floor.

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.

on the a side bftt and lack follow on from their debut release on the fifth cong burn tape. bftt crafts a peak time sub heavy techno weapon which beautifully collapses in on itself before its final ascent. lack layers polyrhthmic splashes of shackleton-esque percussion over dubbed out bass growls. flip it over and you ve got chekov following up his ace debut on shanti celeste s peach discs with electro 808 patterns and swells of low end weight. howes lowers the tempo with a low key bubbler that further explores the textures laid out on cong burn s first 12inch.

guttural, pained screams from beyond converge with mangled corrosive rhythms on the sophomore ep from dint for horo. ‘hooker’ convenes an impromptu post punk band out of undead skeletal pulses and spits a frustrated barb to anyone in earshot. ’shovel’ slams nails in relentlessly with an excruciating vocal refrain grinding over the band of zombies undulating bass riff, decaying as it loops. ’skewer’ drags the undead to the dance-floor with a primitive rhythm that rises and ducks, wringing out the intensity with macabre vocal commands reaching through a wall of distortion.

guttural, pained screams from beyond converge with mangled corrosive rhythms on the sophomore ep from dint for horo. ‘hooker’ convenes an impromptu post punk band out of undead skeletal pulses and spits a frustrated barb to anyone in earshot. ’shovel’ slams nails in relentlessly with an excruciating vocal refrain grinding over the band of zombies undulating bass riff, decaying as it loops. ’skewer’ drags the undead to the dance-floor with a primitive rhythm that rises and ducks, wringing out the intensity with macabre vocal commands reaching through a wall of distortion. on remix duties, ontal turn shovel into a peak time industrial techno weapon, while anfs grinds skewer into a jagged amen experiment, and codex empire fuses shovel and skewer into an anthemic sludge. oake wraps up the experience by taking hooker into another realm, convening another band of tortured souls stuck in purgatory, wrecking the rhythms with adrenaline-fuelled pitch black energy.

we got to know dan only, an exciting emerging artist from the toronto underground, when he collaborated with jesse futerman on our recent deep love 2017? compilation. his debut record, released on adam marshalls new kanada imprint, introduced his deep instinct for electronic music and unique, boundless approach to deep house. an avid collector of old school gear you can hear the analogue warmth throughout this intricately detailed yet heavy hitting four-tracker. its clear opens. a solid house jam, its thumping drums and resonating melodies follow a steady bass groove ready to heat up the dance floor. be major…believe leads in more gently before warbling key lines and synth details layer over gritty percussion pushing the mood closer and closer to bursting. this one conjures images of summer nights and distant coast lines. on the b, simmering vocals and tropical rhythms dance amongst straight forward house energies on dont you understand. rich with subtleties, its somehow smooth while seriously impactful. finally we have truffles. a very modern twist on disco vs house its an original italo infused gem with an edit feel, that maintains the vibe of an 80s era hedonistic night throughout. perfect as a peak time mood elevator or blissful, hands-in-the-air closing record. were convinced dan onlys future is bright and are overwhelmed by the quality and musicality of this, his first solo ep on dirt crew recordings.

the highly-anticipated debut album from blocks & escher is here. since first appearing on metalheadz in 2014 the duo has been hidden away mastering their craft and honing their skills, culminating in a long player entitled something blue. now ready to be unleashed, something blue is an album that ventures into various corners of drum & bass and jungle, never failing to surprise or evoke emotion. its a culmination of blocks & eschers dedication to the music, with the finished article coming in at nothing short of exceptional. we couldnt be happier to release something blue this march.

outstanding upfront drum & bass & developed industrial techno derived steppers - highly recommended!

after their stunning debut on art, electro purveyors london modular alliance return as they keep up their unstoppable momentum on the contemporary electronic scene. with a slew of high profile live shows behind and in front of them - lma go from strength to strength as evidenced by this 5 track ep spanning deep, emotive ambience all the way to heavy wobble electro bass. unmissable!!

autoreply begins its 10th year with a 12inch from one of the scenes favourite ambassadors, dana ruh. equally happy co-running brouqade and her own cave recordings, dropping lps for underground quality or stepping up to ostgut ton & cocoon, hers is a story of emotive, reduced floor-theory. the -round 2 reel ep delivers three such movements kicking-off with an undeviatingly playable a-side displaying her prowess for swinging, stripped-back house complete with discreet sound design and compulsory bass. the b-side concentrates on the deeper, dubbier aspect of her sound displaying unparalleled levels of warmth and texture. written & produced at polynomstudio, berlin, recorded to tape for your listening pleasure!

having last graced etruria beat with his excellent peruana ep, backed by remixes from twr72 and label boss luca agnelli and after a great ep on pfirters label mindtrip record, home grown talent diego amura returns to etruria with his phalaina ep, featuring two new originals backed by a brace of heavyweight remixes. the title track with its violent kick and rough bass receives not one, but two remixes from uk techno pioneer ben sims. two different interpretations in his spacey and jackin remixes that both deliver intense grooves, spacey synths and thumping beats. diegos euphausia with its strong 909 groove and hypnotic flavour is reworked by figure, clergy artist and sk_eleven boss setaoc mass, who delivers a stripped, but imposing offering that will ignite any dancefloor.

slow glass is not only the debut release by le frère it is also a very personal diary of the last two years of his life. all four tracks are based on recordings, samples and ideas he collected while travelling the world. with the concept of slow glass in mind le frere tried to catch moments of his life without stripping them of their dynamic and evanescence. the ep starts with lots of positive energy and light but already reveals glimpses of the shadows that slowly emerge throughout the following tracks. nice is a lightly humming version of an (almost) innocent summer morning. it s a collage of field-recordings, synth-pads and manipulated guitar sounds. candid is a light and open dialog between a simple guitar theme and a playful synth-arpeggio. v1b1n creates the dense atmosphere of a rainy caribbean afternoon dominated by field recordings and everyday noises. nttt8-sets a counter point to the previous three tracks as the energy of le frere s travels cumulates in nttt8, making it a more dance-floor oriented piece carried by a dark and heavy bass-line and almost rave-sirens.

a song dedicated to his wife and their marriage. the song contains so much captured emotions. from shimmering synths and old school orchestra hits to a solid walking bass line that solidifies the love for the dance floor. on the dub mix, santiago stripped the track down for a big sound system leaving a heavy bass line and strings throughout the track. esteban adame presents guaguanco. i wrote this track while playing with g2g and mike banks was always pushing us to electrify your roots. though my family is not cuban, cuban music has been a huge part of my musical development as a musician. the track uses traditional cuban rumba rhythms (guaguanco) to trigger synths and percussion samples alike to create a dense polyrhythmic cushion for the track to sit on.

new music by hailu mergia, featuring tony buck (drums) and mike majkowski (upright bass). the culmination of mergias remarkable worldwide tours over the past few years, these new recordings celebrate an evolving, youthful soul. lala belu completes a realistic portrait of hailu mergia

after a track, a tape and an ep released on acid waxa, opal tapes and dream ticket, respectively, binary digit logically sees his first lp, 38000 summer hits, released on stochastic releases.
this new album comprises 6 tracks of edm: emotional dance music. they were made and recorded during the hot summers of 2016 and 2017. everything you need then is freshness and coolness and this is exactly what they are giving. they combine the overall positivity of the summer and the melancholy caused by the insistence of the heat, of the light, of the endless nights. they were played directly from the machine to a 1/4’’ tape, which explains their very natural and direct development. 303-like bass, gnarly hi-hats, heavy kicks and digital licks are still to be expected here.

berghain resident somewhen debuts on ostgut ton with four-track ep afl. growing up the son of polish immigrants in berlin neukölln in the 90s, somewhen cut his teeth as a producer within the city’s burgeoning rap and r&b scenes, making beats for local mcs and gravitating toward bass-heavy arrangements. at the time, pre-gentrified neukölln was known as an affordable working class district with high dropout and unemployment rates – paths somewhen avoided by immersing himself in sound engineering, working construction and, in his spare time, honing his gritty productions.

la based independent experimental techno label halocyan, returns with an outstanding ep from toby leeming aka the third man (ai records, sunday best, tabernacle records, chaval records) koffi is a hypnotic driving techno track. red boxing a low swung deep bass techno / house groove. closing the ep repeater is a deep melodic detroit techno jam. a strong ep from the young london based artist which proves he has a bright future ahead of him. 180g cyan blue 12inch vinyl with laser-etched tracklist in double sleeves and a deluxe pvc wallet with flap. the outer sleeve is embossed with die cut over-sized centres, 2 spot uv stickers and a cyan metallic foil stamp.

the second outing from yaleesa hall in this two-piece ep series on will & ink. the 13th release on the label packs a visceral punch across four fresh tracks that are perfect for dance floor deployment. first track daisy wright kicks off with minimal but impactful drum rhythms that eventually get cut up with tumbling sirens, hammering hits and blasts of dirty noise. it s hugely physical stuff, while follow up barbara adams is more stripped back and mysterious. icy hi hats tick, howling synths sound bring a sadness and the depth of stern field as sounds play out above, below and all around you is truly standout. harriet brown then sinks into a deeper electro groove with spangled bass, before a vip mix then slows things down to a dread fuelled dub wise swagger that eventually breaks out into oscillating, stuttering rave madness. it makes for one hell of a thrilling ride and kicks off a promising year for both yaleesa hall and the will & ink label.

for the 23rd release on pinkman, rotterdam based mitchell goor delivers a 4 tracker of slow, raw and warped techno. the contrast between unpolished percussive instruments and ethereal melodies reoccurs throughout the release and gets polished and refined by haunting vocal samples and pungent acid bass lines. this gives the record an ability to take audiences on rollercoaster rides through tension and anger as well as hope and promise, powered by permanent, adrenaline stimulating, raw energy.

matuss continue to deliver deep and soulful techno via her vinyl only imprint absence seizure, which she helms alongside abe duque. opening with whistler, matuss delivers heavyweight bass tones, dubbed out drums and obscure synthesiser transitions before zoya the destroyer provides eerie atmospheres, crisp percussion and subtle mid-range motifs which sit on top of a melodic low-end. on the flip side we have stranger things, which sets an ominous tone with murky ambiences and ethereal pads underpinned by a powerful kick, rumbling sub-bass and percolating rhythms to close the release.

e-missions next release comes from australias tred, featuring four cosmic bangers entitled intrinsic field ep with a breakbeat remix from safer at night co-founder lawrence lee. based in berlin, tred aka ed treleavens debut release on e-missions follows label founders p.leone and caiazzo. intrinsic field ep captures his love of hardware instruments and propels the listener into a world of ratcheting drums, celestial pads and acid bass lines. fuelled by a fascination with science fiction and a penchant for straight-up electro, tred brings a refreshing take on the genre and a unique approach to retro futurism.

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.

following the release of his first twelve inches in 2016, andy fox is back with another exciting maxi-ep. a rich and diverse palette of 7 tracks occupies the record, touching on italo disco, some sparks of bass driven synthwave and the late 80s house sound. ritmo! is full of melodies, injecting beats and energy that create an addictive drive and momentum. the record is featuring an impressive list of artists as vocal collaboration as well, leading to an expressive journey that evolves throughout its infectious grooves and powerful 4/4s. it’s the dynamic and propulsive power sparked by the 80s sounds that makes ritmo! an album you would want in your collection, or on your decks while playing at the club.

nach seinem beitrag für die cargaa-12--serie erscheint nun die erste warp-ep des angolaners dj nigga fox, der gekonnt die brücke zwischen der bass- und bleep-alchemie früher warp-clubklassiker und dem post-genre-künstlerstamm von heute schlägt. das ergebnis ist eine sich stetig wandelnde form von dancefloor-psychedelia, die dennoch die synapsen zum funkeln bringt. ein absolutes hörerlebnis und weiterer meilenstein des modernen sounds der brodelnden lissaboner musikzene. die vinyl-ep erscheint inklusive downloadcode.

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.

fresh from his lets roll ep on radio slaves rekids, hopeworks curator lo shea further cements his status as a true innovator of the uk underground with the iterations ep on duskys 17 steps. leading the charge, iterations is 8 dark twisted minutes of tripped-out melodic techno that will sweat the walls of warehouses from london to tokyo drawing a lineage from the omen, atomic jam and the orbit through to berghain, de school and hopeworks itself. on the remix, stockholm’s peder mannerfelt takes it down an industrial rabbit hole of terror-core synths, rave sirens and sonic paranoia. across rest of ep, lo shea flexes his sonic diversity with ornithurae offering an intruiging mix of bruising bass, twitchy layer loaded percussion and sinister soundscapes - somewhere between d&b don dillinja circa 96, early claude von stroke, radioactive man and fellow sheffield legend oris jay. dark, soulful and ravey, higher closes things off with a uniquely uk hybrid that traces lines through militant tresor-heyday techno, vintage strictly rhythm diva house and hardcore vibes.