new yorks avision makes his debut on ben sims hardgroove imprint with culture, an ep comprising four memorable and kinetic techno cuts and including an edit from sims himself. having previously cropped up on mark brooms beard man imprint, avision (real name anthony cardinale) has a knack for turning in gritty grooves that draw on earthy, discoid constructs and thats exactly what we have here with culture. from the eponymous opener throughout, staccato stabs characterise and propel the tracks in different ways whether via rolling, almost-there disco loops, gleefully abrasive call and response rhythms or, in the case of sims edit of jux, nifty vocal sample interplay. true to hardgroove form, culture is a release crafted for the dancefloor and delivers with exacting precision.

you may remember the closing of space, ibiza with carl cox when he played a bootleg of total confusion. barry obzee hobbs (rising high a&r) spent a lot of time trying to locate the remixer and finally did a few months ago. we have now signed the remix which will be released on vinyl in may and on digital in july. the story goes like this: carl cox has been playing the version at most of his shows including tomorrow land, kappa future fest and timewarp ( see video clip below) but this is where the story becomes more interesting. the remixer, rod malmok from rotterdam aka benny rodriguez, who is a very established dj producer playing for loco dice in ibiza etc and releasing on ben klock s imprint klockwork, chris liebings imprint clr, adam beyers imprint drumcode and many more was inspired to remix the track through a conversation with dubfire, rod gave him a rough copy the following day. he played it to carl cox at space, ibiza and cox begged him for a copy - see video below if you ve been around the scene for a while you will know that rising high records was one of the first labels to shape techno, hardcore and breakbeat in the uk and was huge!

washington dc’s rush plus drop four superb techno cuts entitled ‘the sweat ep’ on p.leone and caiazzo’s e-missions imprint this june. having dropped three quality releases on their own eponymous label, rush plus continue to turn heads with their imaginative productions, gaining support from the upper echelons of techno with names like rodhad, ben klock, dj spider, ben sims, slam, answer code request, dj deep and many more getting behind them. following up a release on ambivalent’s valence records, they now join p.leone and caiazzo’s rapidly rising e-missions imprint. ‘megabust’ initiates the package with twisted sci-fi synths and syncopated drums whilst rattling metallic elements operate throughout. intricate hits of percussion are soon followed by rumbling bass in ‘rebirth’ as the track gradually becomes more and more twisted using filtered effects and soaring pads, making way for the shuffling ‘sweat’ with its menacing stabs and echoing voices. finally, the package concludes with ‘slow release’ - a high-octane and ominous roller.

following the success of recent novamute releases by charlotte de witte and anna, nicolas has delivered a stellar techno ep. will appeal to fans of ricardo villalobos, len faki, ben sims, jay lumen, charlotte de witte, anna, chris liebing limited edition 12inch vinyl part 1 of a 2 ep series. bougaïeff returns to novamute with permutation djinn inspired by greg egans sci-fi novel permutation city. a follow up ep will be released later this year. following the success of recent novamute releases by charlotte de witte and anna, nicolas has delivered a stellar techno ep. bougaieffs interpretation on permutation djinn attempts to translate the stages of egans novel into music while respecting the constraints of making club friendly tracks. the opener woke up as a copy is an expansive track with blade runneresque metallic reverberations. panic time tryout is a peak time cut, fostering the futurist atmosphere with an unsettling melody. little djinn is the most frenetic of the tracks whilst no escape takes it back to peak time with resounding drums and drills.

after a ten year long career releasing music with many different labels icicle has taken the logical next step and started his own imprint, entitled entropy music. the name derived from his second album ‘entropy’ still aims to inspire the concept that music behaves as all things do in nature and degrades, falls apart and becomes more chaotic with time. in an effort to confront this, entropy music strives to bring controlled, rolling, technically detailed music, without ever overstepping that line when the process becomes inhuman and cold. on this second release on entropy music icicle teams up with kindred spirit and cousin proxima to deliver a four track collaborative ep. the opening track which also welcomes ben verse to the label, is rolling tech funk pur sang. the weighty and detailed yet simple breathing groove make it a track true to the entropy ethos and ben complements this with his trademark lyrics reminiscent of renegade hardware shows past. on the a2. icicle brings a near wooden stepper with a viscous turbulent low-end, a firm wink to the past, with dust me off. icicle’s track is expertly offset by proxima’s solo offering retrace a peak into futurism boasting an evolved playful groove which takes on board equal measures of jump up and 90’s tech. the ep is rounded up by the title track deep dreaming, where icicle and proxima collaborate once more to bring a slight curve-ball. pianos ring in an eerie musical intro to a dark but sultry track where the energy is second to the atmosphere.

support from: ben ufo (hessle), oli_n (phonica), ander b (robsoul), eltron john (uncanny valley), simon caldwell (fbi radio), herzel (hivern disc), nori (posivision), sascha funke, nathan g, dmitry (neo violence) acid influenced many of us. in fact, for a huge proportion of us, acid kicked off this sweaty, painful, yet incredibly fulfilling journey. the 2 originals by dircsen utilize the 303 in different ways - the opener ‘beyond collapsing silence’ sounds like an instant acid house classic with its energetic drums & dreamy atmosphere, whilst ‘depth scan’ slows it down, focusing more on hypnosis. rounding off the 3-track ep is an idiosyncratic remix of ‘depth scan’ by l.i.e.s. legend, florian kupfer. a dubbed out original gets well and truly saturated.

for those that knoe delves deeper into the archives once more to repackage a bundle of hard to find cuts on vinyl that have been staple supplies in ben s record bag over the years. the early to mid 2000s was a period of minimal techno overload, finding quality house music then was a challenge compared to today. rather than follow the herd, some european producers took influence from the original minimal pioneers and fused those approaches with house music themes in order to push a unique sound of the era. they turned minimal on its head and gave took it in a different direction. canson from switzerland released a handful of records between 2002 and 2005 that were a prime example of this aesthetic. stripped back beats with syncopated melodies - perfect cuts for those early sets or hazy morning sessions. the three tracks featured on this compilation were originally released on two solo eps for canson: itsudemo and holiday plug in, both of which have claimed squatter s rights in my record bag for almost 15 years. i don t think i ve played one early slot or house set without one of them. this record is quite a personal one for me as it s a representation of my deeper sound as a dj. now the original records are a little hard to find so im so glad to share my choice picks of cansons material on a my label.

rubik records releases rrt025, rrt024 & rrt021 all bundled up for one special price!

cordial recordings in partnership with pilier records are proud to announce the return of philadelphia’s legendary mr garfield fleming with a 7&#8243,,,, single and mini album of new productions. all female vocals are performed by fellow pilier recording artist mz. nina. the 7&#8243,,,, version of “ain’t nothing too good for my woman” comes with a great acoustic guitar version of hustling” by new york based producer ben pirani.

g. markus—recently revealed as london s ben gomori of monologues records and sterns edits—returns with the fourth volume of his vinyl-only edits series. eternal on the a-side is feel-good brazilian disco summer anthem, while partee on the flip is slinky little soulful jam. look out for more from him this year on gator boots and something happening somewhere... support: black loops, jacques renault, auntie flo, till von sein, danny tenaglia, roger sanchez, souldynamic, de gama, dom servini, horse meat disco, vhyce, sacha robotti, terry farley

the young dutch dj & producer lewski debuts on darko essers wolfskuil limited series with folkloric human ep presenting four fine electro/techno cuts. the title track opens the ep with a blend of old school electro and distinctly modern techno, featuring rhythmic bouncy beats and a playful built up perfect for the floor, followed by phase mistress, a vintage sounding beauty with captivating bass sequences and plenty of analog flavor. erebus kicks off the b-side with its twisted drive, cyborg samples and sinister attitude that justifies its name been derived from the mythological god of darkness. the atmospheric, detroit flavored decommissioned androids rounds the ep off with tight basslines and relentless analog madness. lewskis debut ep on patron records last year gained support by the likes of ben ufo, dj stingray and umwelt. lewski is part of a select cut of young artists who are absorbing electros legacy, carrying it into the future and with his release on wolfskuil limited we can be sure that the future looks very promising.

death to techno is a new, futuristic ep of >the white screen<, ever before into a world of ruff beats, dark electronics and analog effects. musical producer dori sadovnik, the sound genius from red axes, produced this ep at garzen studios, diving together with the whites into a new world of unknown pleasures and sins. a mind and body bender between techno rhythms and broken rock n roll tapes, between the dancefloor and a campfire, between darkness and light - the new recordings are asking big questions about past and future, vintage and electro, about the screen and about the white. death to techno, the main track that opens the record, is also treated in a wildly remix version of the red axes pair. the cover of the album hellenic plasticine party was created by multidisciplinary artist oren fisher, who has been accompanying the band since its inception. produced by: dori sadovnik musicians: stav ben shahar, drums noa ayali, chello liat raz, vocals nimrod goldfarb, contra bas shay landa organs

derek carr has flown back onto the radar after reissues on ben boe s for those that knoe imprint and a string of newly released music through 2017 and early 2018. in true craigie knowes spirit, derek has been drawn off of the beaten path to supply a wider variety of sounds than you would usually expect to hear from the irish producer. acid, techno and detroit electro tinged sounds throughout. tip!

tis is soul!! on atlantic & stax. this unique album brings you 12 smash hits from the home of soul.

we are happy to introduce a new release and a new project from ben vedren and chez damier, a new collaboration that has been in the making for some time now. side aa1 presents a unique sound in its vibe, kind of a minimal track. the french discussion/vocal in the background adds another dimension. you don t need to speak the language to understand what s going on, but you must wonder at some point: do i understand french or is it the music that made me understand them? an -organ- sound intervenes towards the end bringing power and light to the hall. it s eleven minutes of pure music! while -aa- is composed of two different remixes of a different track, -berlin nights in paris- it can probably be called the house anthem. it starts strong with some acid sound and is filled with a lot of wonderful elements. like a gourmet meal, you wonder if the track shouldn t have been at least three times longer to satisfy the gluttony of the listen. the techno remixes of the track. it s a perfect example of detroit meets house. techno track can, with no doubt, feed and drive the dance floor. no need for more than five words to describe it – it s a serious techno track.

following his recent release on the see double va, rising talent josh baker finds a home once again on luca cazal and brigante’s imprint with his explore ep. original fuse london resident rich nxt is also onboard to deliver an elevating remix. first supported by romanian master barac, title track explore is a surefire weapon for the dancefloor. jaxn’s breathy vocals effortlessly complement the peak-time bass and glistening hi-hats. on the b-side, rich nxt adds a funkier bassline and light keys for his rework of the title track. the ep closes with black lines, a more formidable number with baker employing darker elements into his production. the talented producer explains “ after receiving some exceptional vocals from jaxn, ‘explore’ wrote itself. i wanted to create a real peak-time song, one suited for all spaces and i’m happy to see it get consistently road-tested at dc10. ‘black lines’ is a moodier acid track that i feel compliments ‘explore’ massively.” since the tender age of 16, josh baker s passion and enthusiasm for house music has grown from strength to strength. the young manchester producer also curates his own successful night, you&me, which has since gone on to take place in leeds, newcastle and ibiza. his musical output has garnered support from big names such as apollonia, richy ahmed, ben rau and rich nxt

to celebrate the 10th vinyl release on lossless music, soul intent delivers 4 cuts on dark and moody drum and bass as only he can. the title track “the tide” sees soul intent collaborate with label regular and dark vibe master paragon. “cypher” hails the first production outing from ben repertoire (from the repertoire label) who happens to also be lossless graphic designer and fellow lover of co-op pickle pork pies. also on the b-side is a solo effort from soul intent called “lose yourself” which demonstrates yet more of his love of that classic headz sound, turning heads whenever it’s played. pressing on solid blue, black, and clear mixed vinyl.

garage shelter aka signal st is a french producer who did mainly tracks for skylax under the name garage shelter that has been praised by ben ufo, move d or mad rey (d.ko). he signed also some eps on midi – deux & house puff (dj steaw). he s also behing the bleu blanc house project (with hardrock striker label s head honcho). we ve been following him for years now, the result is obvious : another storming disco house classic. bangers! skylax records 4 ever

limited edition 4-track 12” of intrigue 15 - the anniversary collection.

“ferns and stuff” is wild & free’s debut single on discotexas. it’s part of the much anticipated debut album from this la based duo. titled “shapes on shapes” the album sees drew kramer and george cochrane deliver on the promise of their early releases with 11 tracks of languorous poolside disco, tropical pop and balearic house. this first advance single stands as a perfect example of the exotic album s vibe.
both multi-instrumentalists, singers and producers in their own right, the pair came together in 2015 and have spent the past 2 years crafting a series of acclaimed eps and remixes (for the likes of joe goddard (hot chip), panama, gigamesh, rac and ben browning of cut/copy) that saw them tipped by the likes of spin, xlr8r, indie shuffle and many more and take their live show on the road playing alongside the likes of brooklyn’s body language.

norm de plume has been quietly making a name for himself the last eight years with remixes for tornado wallace and ben la desh and ep’s for kolour ltd and his own vinyl only imprint plumage winning him a solid following along the way. his passion for all things disco and deep, dubby, underground house inspired by his musical hero ron hardy feeds through into his production style as well as his recently formed peaches & prunes party which boasts an audiophile sound system and vinyl-only sets from the djs. so when the opportunity arose to do a full ep with norm we jumped at it. here we present you with the castlecrag ep, a nod to the londoners new adoptive home of sydney, australia, and whilst his sound may be more akin to the recent musical movements of melbourne, the laid-back sun-kissed melting pot of the harbour city certainly shine through in the two originals and folamour remix on offer here.

welcome to the sound of love international 001 complied by gatto fritto. love international is a festival held in tisno, croatia now moving into its third season. held to a soundtrack of the very best of underground dance music and running 24 hours a day - from noon to night and back through again - full circle. this series, masterminded with london’s balearic culture website, test pressing, is curated by some of our favourite artists and djs. a place for them to choose 12 records close to their heart, and with ties to the festival, that they love and want to share with the world. so to the first compiler - gatto fritto a.k.a ben williams. the double vinyl release includes a download code.

we re very happy to welcome the mighty historical repeater, for their first full ep. historical repeater is the collaborative project of ctrls and solid blake, and here they unload four tracks of supreme sonic quality. channeling the spirit of classic techno with high-level sound design, alongside tricky, raw electro that doesn t compromise, historical repeater arrive with a carefully distilled sound that stands out from the crowd. from the trance-inducing title track -scientific calculator- to the insistent, pulsing groove of closing cut -say nothing-, this record is especially characterized by its weird vox hooks and deft rhythms – underpinned by a swirling sea of dynamic, digital synthesis. in short, it s a belter! early support from ben ufo, perc, happa, randomer, anastasia kristensen, rebekah and more.

four tracks of taut, relentless techno grooves rooted in the late 90’s tradition of energetic and ravey & jacking tracks to rock the dancefloor. no surprise there are passionate and skilled dj s behind this project... ben sims & truncate have formed to create assailants. their new studio and b2b dj project’s first output comes on the new imprint, obscurity is infinite. early support from robert hood, ben klock, luke slater and mark broom. all killer!

played by ben klock! emotional, physical, blunt, modular and exciting. joton on odd even! joton is synonymous with dark techno, iron, futuristic and sensitive, all mixed with the precision and speed of a surgeon. outstanding conceptcover, shrinked and high quality pressing. cut and mastering by cgb at dubplates and mastering. artwork by markus suckut and cover picture by salar kheradpejouh. manufactured by matter of fact.

a jazz tribute to bob dylan.

berlin-based american producer p.leone returns to spencer parker s work them records with arguably his biggest offering to date, featuring two standout cuts entitled the el dorado ep . upon being discovered by spencer parker, p.leone dropped his first two releases on work them records in 2016. since then he has continued to rise, launching e-missions alongside caiazzo last year before kickstarting 2018 with a four-track techno release on rekids. he now returns to parker s renowned imprint with arguably his biggest offering to date. with its looping vocals and robust drums, el dorado (bump yo ass off mix) is a monster of a track designed to throw dancefloors into absolute revelry. on the flip, dancing to get you back features crystalline synths, purring bass and a medley of breakbeat percussion. dj support: ben sims i like them amen cut, thx! laurent garnier - good house/brea

in 2013 casey tucker was thrust into the limelight after 15 years in the shadows. never truly getting the recognition for is detroit influenced and post rave sound in the 90s, for those that knoe reissued some of caseys classic material and unearthed some gems on dat in 2013. fast forward to the current day and a recent treasure trove was uncovered and some fresh dats untouched since the late 90s were discovered! ben promptly bought a dat player on ebay and shipped it to casey s home for the un-dusting to commence. fttk has worked with casey to present another round of authentic material for this final installment (maybe) of his classic productions

the new album from ben drew aka plan b as double vinyl in gatefold sleeve.

double vinyl in gatefold sleeve with 24 page lp-size booklet and download code for high quality wav / mp3 files.
a great compilation can open the gate to another world. who knew that some of the most exciting afro-funk records of all time were actually made in the small west african country of benin? once analog africa released the first african scream contest in 2008, the proof was there for all to hear, gut-busting yelps, lethally welldrilled horn sections and irresistibly insistent rhythms added up to a record that took you into its own space with the same electrifying sureness as any favourite blues or soul or funk or punk sampler you might care to mention.
ten years on, intrepid crate-digger samy ben redjeb unveils a new treasuretrove of vodoun-inspired afrobeat heavy funk crossover greatness. right from the laceratingly raw guitar fanfare which kicks off les sympathics’ pile-driving opener, it’s clear that african scream contest ii is going to be every bit as joyous a voyage of discovery as its predecessor. and just as you’re trying to get off the canvas after this one-punch knock out, an irresistible afro-ska romp with a more than subliminal echo of the batman theme puts you right back there. ignace de souza and the melody aces’ “asaw fofor- would’ve been a killer instrumental but once you’ve factored in the improbably-rich-to-the-point-of-being-nat-king-cole-influenced lead vocal, it’s a total revelation.

2lp + download code to the full mix of balance 030 mixed by max cooper. this double vinyl. package contains a handpicked selection of cooper’s favourite tracks from the balance 030 compilation.

coming hot on the heels of their last va, the brilliant clouded house imprint returns here with a hearty four tracker that speaks volumes for their penchant for glorious house tropes. featuring the talents of poth0les, pelati riviera, ben gomori and label boss lukas lyrestam, ‘dear house, with love!’ is an energetic slice of brilliance that expertly pays homage to the label’s genre of choice.

since its launch in 2013, bright sounds has established itself as a label bridging the gap between the dancefloor and more experimental sounds, releasing eps by the likes of shlomo, tilliander, burnt friedman or more recently conforce. on its eleventh release, the label welcomes ben thomas aka bnjmn with “final network” ep, the uk producer based in berlin and releasing on tresor, delsin, counterchange or more recently on his newly founded imprint: tiercel. the ep opens up with “reticuli”, an ambient techno journey into a forest of otherworldly sounds. “neurocity” comes next with its rattling sounds met by disorienting and spooky melodies. on the b-side “cloaked” starts off with bare kick and congos before waves of drones add textures producing an eerie atmosphere. the title track closes this ep, slowly building to create an ecstatic floating mood, leaving you longing for more as it gently fades away.

limited rsd 2018 release on red smoke coloured vinyl.

after a big contribution to our tenth release compilation back in 2014 (via his track “4×4&#8243,), defekt makes a long overdue full ep debut on earwiggle with his most overloaded 12” to date. while recently conspiring to make the first tinfoil album, he applies some similar grit here, while still retaining enough classic defekt components. displaying the full repertoire of his sound over 5 tracks – from tougher techno to acid to melodic electro to ebm – every one here is a killer in its own right. do not miss! early support from ben ufo, dave clarke, the hacker, boddika, boys noize, uvb, perc and more.

diving bell recording co. is excited to announce “silent science”, the debut solo release from b•r•a•u•n. ben braun has spent the last decade as one half of the synth-pop duo mackintosh braun, releasing three albums with the band. with “silent science”, b•r•a•u•n continues down the path he paved with mackintosh braun and brings his music even further from the eighties influences that first sparked his inspiration. the concept began for braun as an awareness of the personal freedoms that he had sacrificed to live in the comforts of new technology. a longing for a more simple life pushes and pulls this album from past to present. from undeniable dance hooks, to sleepwalking chill-out, we meander our way from disco naps to lucid slumbers.

following on from otis002 jon & hugh - another view, one half of the production duo and otis label boss hugh b steps out on his own for otis003. floating on a trippy biscuit is a 4 track excursion through deep textures, roaming drum machines, sliced breaks and dub echoes. with a nod to early jungle duos (rip), a psychedelic love letter to uk broken beat, a remix from otis family member sean thomas that pays respect to the uk deep scene of the late 90s and a deep, valium-laced house groove designed for post-rave reflection. otis003 is a dreamy meditation amidst the occasional chaos of the rave, a blissful trip through the styles of dance music this label holds dear. early support from: ben fester, simon caldwell, adi toohey and a load of other selectors that are keeping it deep in twenty seventeen

following the massive buzz a round the labels last release (voted the record of 2017 by some 400+ international djs and tastemakers on bill brewster s dj history podcast/poll (2017 furtive 50), hobbes music kicks off 2018 with a heavy slice of warehouse techno backed with deeper electro flavours, a second double-a-side 12inch outing by the anonymous dali. you may remember dali (nb all caps in the spelling) released a debut 12inch around this time last year. support came from ben ufo, laurent garnier, domenic cappello (sub club), john heckle, chris duckenfield, the revenge, tom findlay (groove armada), sean johnston and xdb (among others) and a repress happened swiftly, with laurent garnier and avalon emersonalso supporting most recently (on wwfm and at berghain, respectively). dali has a passion for analogue synths, abstract, hypnotic dance music and all things psychedelic. don t bother looking her up on the net, social media etc. dali is eschewing all that, to let the music do the talking for now

cute swedish pop from 1984. a gothenburg secret. passed from music for dreams kenneth bager to cantomas phil mison to rogue cat sounds dean and ben. pop that rocks a cool, faux-reggae lilt with bluesman licks and harmonica hooks. cute like other sought after rogue cat favourites. terry crawford s gunfighter. or romie singh sdancing to forget. martin caine s snowbird city. its lyrics asupercalifragilisticexpialidocious-like nursery rhyme front, framing bad girl playground reminiscences.

four italo disco cuts produced by the powerhouse of svengile aka luigi venegoni. original copies of stratosferic band on it s 40th anniversary are changing hands for £125 and no wonder why. splashdown encapsulates perfectly the weird and wonderful imagination of italo productions sci-fi synthwork that ventures beyond this dimension. the ben norman track on the b1 has a more straight up disco feel to it but those vocals maintain an ethereal italo aura. completing this special 4 tracker is the obscure t.c. radiation that talk box guitar solo will melt any minds it s put in front of!

oblique returns with a highly personal project: 3 tracks from (or with) friends who all helped create/inspire/influence the sound of the label.
ivano tetelepta, roger gerressen and ben buitendijk already had loads of jam sessions when suddenly “dilated pupils” happened. it launched a project that consists of spontaneous studio jams in various formats (involving a dozen of befriended artists on multiple ep’s, remixes and even an label). six years later the original track, after which the project was named, will finally see the light of day!
bas amro’s “languor” shows that he, besides having an ear for reimagining classics, can also do his own ,)
cyspe’s “reminisce” more than deserves the full b-side to close the ep off. a stunning 14 minute trip through the depths of what this incredibly talented producer has to offer!

damian lazarus magical live project the ancient moons returns today with their new single five moons. the band led by lazarus, is comprised of ben chetwood on drums, rob gentry on keyboards, and new vocalist j appiah. on five moons they are also joined by the australian punk sensation chela for a dubbed out, soulful excursion into the darker recesses of the dancefloor. the ancient moons first debuted in 2014 with lovers eyes, and followed that with the acclaimed album message from the other side, dubbed a a journey into technos dreamiest recesses by the fader and a psychedelic masterpiece by vice. since then the ancient moons have travelled the world with their highly immersive live show, supported roisin murphy on tour and played at glastonbury festival and melt! amongst others. last year the band resurfaced, after locking themselves away to record in the italian countryside, with i found you, which nabbed a bbc essential new tune and stunning remixes from black coffee and patrice baumel. today five moons offers another glimpse into this summers forthcoming album.

central to the israeli club scene, deepa & biri have long been defying expectations even within a community they helped construct. serving as resident djs, activists and bookers for tel avivs legendary barzilay club, the pair helped build a transcendent club scene. hugely influential artists such as robert hood, derrick may, rødhad, ben klock and moritz von oswald passed through the club, enjoying legendary crowds and what they could surely sense was a genuine air of anarchy, rebellion and unadulterated rave pleasure. as the duo held down dozens of parties with dozens of djs, there was no ‘eureka moment for their emerging sound, just a steady stream of brilliant, inspiring electronic music, much of which left an indelible imprint on the pair. now based in berlin, for deepa & biri, things are much the same, even if the landscape and the city is different. always rooted in the fertile ground between machines and emotion, on their second full-length lp, ‘dominance, the duo demonstrate their unique grasp of the sensitive, unfolding relationship between man and machine. steadfast in their insistence never to remain in one lane in terms of their sound, ‘dominance flawlessly segues between forcefulness and weightlessness. from beginning to end, this is not a record afraid to show its teeth with an uncompromising, instantly recognisable techno palette that kicks the foundations of any sound system with menace, anger and determination, particularly on tracks such as the dense ‘voltage and pulsing throughout the more industrial flourishes of ‘ecole de nancy and ‘seeking solace.

gnawa is a uniquely moroccan sound with roots in islam and links to a healing ritual called lila (arabic for night). from this heritage comes innov gnawa, the only new york-based gnawa group made from moroccan natives, led by the mâalem (master) hassan ben jaafer. in 2016, pique-nique recordings presented their debut ep together and, since then, the band have also featured on bambro koyo ganda from bonobo s latest album. aicha is their much anticipated follow-up. alongside the joyous call and response between the maalem and the group that s common in gnawa, there are also hints of electronic programming interspersed between the traditional live instrumentation no doubt an influence of nicolas jaar collaborator dave harrington who produced the ep.

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.

the inimitable cc:disco! has partnered with hyped underground label soothsayer to curate the first in a collaborative series of compilations entitled first light. soothsayer presents first light: volume 1 compiled by cc:disco! is due for release in february 2018 digitally and on vinyl. australias reigning champion of tasteful electronic music, cc:disco! has procured exclusive tracks from emerging and undiscovered artists across genres such as boogie, balearic, funk, disco and house with each sound piquing her interest, culminating in a finished product that would undeniably slot into a cc:disco! set. her mission statement? less chin stroking, more dancing. it captures what cc:disco! is all about: the dancefloor. the very first taste of first light comes in the form of a salty and sweet track called really want that by jace xl. premiered via resident advisor, cc:disco! explains: i remember the first time i heard jace sing in a bar, at first i thought a dj was playing then i looked up see jace singing his guts out. he blew me away! jaces voice is amazing and to me, a huge part of whats going on in australian music, so its with open arms we welcome him to first light. staub comes back on wax for a third episode. following the no name policy from the parties which started 5 years ago in it is time again for unknown artist to shine. this new ep sees the shy producer appearing on 4 tracks of pristine techno. a1 is an atmospheric trip while a2 is more brutal, on the b side it is going weirder and darker. we think unknown artist tries to craft interesting techno cuts and that he loves variety. that it is the idea behind staub since its beginnings, it does not matter whether you are a newcomer or lady gaga, what matters is the quality of the music. this is what was again aimed with this third record.

idle hands first release of 2018 comes from dan habarnam, a producer who made his name with releases skirting round the edges of dnb on exit and cylon. in the last few years he has turned his hand to techno with two 12inches on hs own selectie label that found favour with ben ufo amongst others. here are on idle049 we present two tracks of his latest work, hard hitting broken techno with maximum dancefloor potential.

a timeless collection of 19 soulful ballads that define the genre.