hello to johannesburg. thor rixon is a versatile musician from south africa who seamlessly blends different styles, genres, collaborations and tempos to a unique fingerprint of his work. always driving and uplifitng with bold atmospheres and little details, each track a story stuck in your head. either eerie or euphoric, always like the shadow of a memory, indistinguishable from the rest. baie dankie, thor

marko nastic s third edition of easy tiger brings together some of the finest artists of the genre. each true to their own style, v.i.c.a.r.i., marc & nils and sakro take their interpretations of marko’s bold, housey, morning inspired tune. v.i.c.a.r.i. keeps it low, tuned to afterparties mood, while sakro and marc & nils orientate their remixes more to club, prime time grooves, encircling the ep to four completely different tunes, set for different moods and individual preferences.

2017 saw the arrival of pin up club here at the bordello with a superb three tracker, friends of the vortex. now the dutch partnership are back. this time a quartet of tracks has been selected to produce the forever machine. the bold bars of friends of the vortex, the romantic rushes and soundtrack silhouettes are all present with new elements being introduced to further develop a truly unique style. breathy vocals and melancholy are countered by warm synthlines in the brooding -valis- before the lonesome -is there anybody out there?- blooms into a daringly bright work of disco dimensions. opening the flip is the title piece. smouldering, -the forever machine- burns with quivering chords that rise ever skyward on a column of tight rhythms as lyrics spiral ever upward. -a deepness in the sky- is a perfect illustration of pin up club s ability to transform burgeoning sombre sounds into tempered elation, rumbling strings and fragile percussion intermingling for a heady finale. welcome back to bordello a parigi guys, welcome back to pin up club.

sapiens label boss, agoria, invites cannes highly regarded limelight resident nicolas masseyeff to the floor with a deep, dark and enignimatic two track ep ‘muse. opening with ep title track, ‘muse blends bold, ominous synth lines and stripped back percussion for a driven, bodzin-esque cut of the highest order. on the flip, is the subtle groove filled ‘moment of truth, neatly textured with layers of intricate percussion and brooding synth toplines.

ltd to 300 , gen ludd are glasgow-based rich mcmaster (golden teacher, modern institute) and tom marshallsay, both of whom are a big part of the extended rubadub family. their music perfectly embodies the rubadub ethos of music for heads and feet. after months of negotiations with our minister of finance hillington west snr, tafknagl (that artists formerly known as general ludd) return with four precise cuts of pure rhythm and motion. these tracks are a message to the ramona-toting, gymnasium-powered international dance deejay. please be bold enough to play them... you’ll make the world a better place. we’ll give you free wavs too

yoruba records welcomes back label favourite mike steva with a well-balanced and forward thinking ep that both engages and pushes boundaries. opening up with ‘love symphonik’, this stutter-stepped jam practically drips with mpc flavour. up next, ‘the message’, a bold proclamation with more straight forward percussion. with added balkan flavour this one is as deep as they come. this is followed with ‘sila’ where steva’s chops are on full display. this engaging and well-constructed groove conjures of feelings of celebration, one that’s easy to imagine taking place in the streets of macedonia. we close with ‘zensko oro’, a deep and moody percussive-led jam. this one speaks of movement, slowly building on itself and reaching a natural climax that enhances and delights the senses of the astute listener. sit back, relax and enjoy this soon-to-be essential piece of the yoruba records canon.

soul clap definitely knew what they were doing when they snapped up certifiable diva legend nona hendryx to sing on one of the cuts from their self-titled 2016 album. now ray mang has got his mitts on the parts to -shine (this is it)- and turned out three versions for his own mangled label - the classic combination of extended vocal, instrumental and radio edit versions. whichever cut suits you best, the vibe is the same, a bold and bright summer party track splashed with horns, keys and plenty more besides, although the smart money is on hendryx s legendary vocal, which soars as though no time has passed since her days working with material in 80s nyc.

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

the second release on kons officially licensed kontemporary imprint is here this time he takes on one of disco s anthems to devastating effect, deftly reworking sylvester s evergreen over & over. a true dance-floor bomb, over & over is just one of those records, originally written by the legendary team of ashford & simpson its inevitable that this jam oozes class. kon has lovingly freaked the original master tapes into 2 brand new, fresh versions that will undoubtedly find their way into any self-respecting disco freaks dj set. on side a we have his found a friend remix, a beautifully reimagined and restructured version that leaves lots of space and let s those wonderful strings really soar, finally crescendoing in total disco glory! it s no wonder that the mighty dj harvey has been closing his sets with this one. pure class. on side b we are treated to an amazingly bold dub mix, in keeping with the traditions of the classic labels, west end, prelude, fantasy and co, its sparse, melodic and contains just enough juice to keep the people dancing and asking for more! this is an essential official release, 2 future classic mixes from one of the world s best remixers further sonically enhanced by boston native caserta on the mix. licensed courtesy of the concorde music group.

helo. slow down. mind the gap. careful. little steps. everything is fragile. small pieces. tiny elements. some do fit. making parts. add. add. add. layer. build. ninze & okaxy with their first appearance on laut & luise, having constructions in their lightest form. no heavy machinery, no rattling noises. fine and fragile, modest but bold, like silk flying through the air. completed by a percussive interpretation from old friend and companion chris schwarzwalder on the b side aswell as sweet cheeks canson on the digital side. good to have you here, good to have you back.

kim ann foxmans firehouse imprint storms into 2018 with an extra special re-release of the 1994 rave classic scott richmond and john selway aka psychedlic research lab, keep on climbin.the package features both original mixes alongside two outstanding remixes from deetron and kim ann foxman. mix 1 and mix 2 sound as glorious now as they did when they were released. mix 1, a bold, breakbeat construct, chopped vocal and emerging acid lines. mix 2 places four to the floor. it’s deeper with added percussion, soft chord stabs and an almighty breakdown to the drop. deetron makes his debut on firehouse with a tough, grinding version, underpinned by his signature, gnarling bassline sound. kim ann foxman incorporates acid lines to her revision. it builds intensely from start to finish, using angela johnsons iconic vocal loop to perfection.

nyra continues to shine on his own canoe label, making the most of the creative freedom to show every side of his musicality. -take my hand- deserves to be huge, displaying a devilish instinct for a simple disco loop, a powerful vocal and a whiff of fist shaking new york house pressure that will leave its mark long after the club kicks out. -life is trippy- switches stance entirely with a snappy boogie-indebted jam for lighter moments. -on & on- meanwhile summons a rowdy detroit techno backbone that, paired with the bold disco licks, calls to mind the kind of fare dj bone can so expertly drop. -falling for love- maintains the fusion of rough and smooth with equally brilliant, party-starting results.

we are delighted to welcome egyptology to the hands in the dark family. the parisian duo, made up of stéphane laporte (domotic) and olivier lamm have been active since the late 90s in the french post-electronica/avant-pop scene. sur les autres mondes is inspired by a publication by french astronomer lucien rudaux (1937, larousse) in which he imagined the landscapes of other planets in our solar system through scientific descriptions. partly composed for a performance at the prestigious louvre museum in paris, the album is the band’s first full length output since 2012, and we can assure you that it has been worth the wait. their sharp ear for detail and the epic worlds evoked through the album make for an auditory voyage which is as graphic as the words inked by rudaux. the duo is bringing the 70s kosmiche genre back to life in a very fresh, bold way, offering a strong shot of pure analogue sound and a fantastic, melodic approach to synth-based ambient music.

the pendletons return with their latest ep, funk forever, a jazz flavored boogie affair with soul inspired song-writing that evokes old school vibes while still staying fresh and current. horn lines, yamaha dx7 keys and snapping hip hop inspired drum programming topped by sweet singing with heartfelt themes, the group carves out a bold new sound on these 5 solid tracks. featuring elive, potatohead people and ishtar. the pendletons are a long-standing boogie-funk and modern soul project of e da boss (of myron and e on stone s throw) and trailer limon. the group emerged with their very first release in 2010, a 7inch inch of coming down/waiting on you on the slept on record label, which set the tone for the group to emerge it instantly became a cult classic receiving constant play at nights like sweater funk and funkmosphere, and fetching for serious sums among collectors. most recently, in 2016, they released the ep gotta get out. the title track caught the ear of renowned dj gilles peterson, who liked it enough to release it on his brownswood bubbler compilation. in 2018 the group is hitting the ground running with a brand new ep out this spring, and a full-length album to follow later later in the year on the renowned bastard jazz label. now armed with a horn section, a vast array of accomplished jazz and funk contributors, and a knack for quality song-writing, the pendletons sound has shaped into something fresh and unique, setting it apart from the legions of imitators.

paradise palms presents a brand new 7inch from rising producer tom blip, who heads up the globetrotting record label blip discs and has found his own productions in hot demand, showing up in sets from the likes of four tet, gerd jansen & pearson sound. rez / crazy arps is a bold 7inch of crunchy drum machine-driven boogie, tracked hot to tape and peppered with toms wormy sh101 riffs. rez / crazy arps is available on 7inch

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

following the intense sonic exploration of his work with christopher jarman as dot product, adam winchester steps out on his own with a bold new body of work, his first under his own name, that further expands on his ideas about non-conformist sound generation.

decks tipp!!
ichisan s 2017 aperitiv was so good that we ve decided to return for a second helping from his sumptuous album. four choice cuts have been selected and reworked with a specific instrument focus. the harpsicord version of -hotel- keeps the intoxicating melody of the original but allows beats to relax as notes shine with an incandescent brilliance. drums put their feet up for the rhodes version of -modri tunel.- deep stings and lounging lines mingle in this work of smoke swirling seduction. -kozmetika (trumpet version)- dances to a different tune. rich bass is again central but this time brash and bold brass intertwine with funk filled bars. the last waltz arrives with the piano version of -terminal e.- alluring notes ascend, rising and falling against heartwrenching guitar strings for a finale to end this ballroom inspired beauty.

yeelen is a brand new project forged in the heart of a forgotten past. joe drive, of lux rec fame, and maurizio martinucci aka tez aka pragma have joined forces to sculpt, in their own words, -sonic constructions that transcend the canons of electronic music.- a bold statement, but then again this is a pretty bold ep. -techno tribalism and ritualistic soundscapes- are the bedrock from which this partnership cultivate their sound. figures and forms of a bygone time are conjured through intoxicating drum patterns, lost lands of dense jungle and windswept hills summoned through loops and samples to ensnare and entrance. polytheism explored through the prism of a polyphonic synth, mysticism born from machine drums, -ethnosonology of the future.-

next up on yoruba is this split release. glasgow’s vince watson invites us to a new dimension with his contribution. another rendezvous says it all atmospheric and carried by simple chords that float over the four to the floor pulse. think movement and formation. depending on your relationship with the universe, one might be able to feel the colours of this track, greens and blues. pensive with just enough edge to secure a commitment from the seasoned djs ear, this one is steady with a sexy incline that holds you through to the other side. come ride. its bold to build a song around a steel drum and a west african shekere, but that’s where it starts with dakota’s ‘make it better’. a gorgeous soulful house track featuring the vocals of dakota and osunlade’s vocals layered and arranged behind and throughout. the groove is a rich and well-constructed song with carefully considered lyrics that speak of longing, praise and caution. listeners hear the echoes of latin accents that call us into to reflection and flight. surrender your hands in the air for this dancer friendly love gem that stretches beyond cliche lyrics. yoruba records delivers another high-quality soundscape that measures across time and space

memories is a bold collection of uninhibited songs inspired by ady’s personal experiences. drawing on touchstones of british adolescence, the album covers a broad range of themes - from love and relationships through to mental health issues. all the tracks on memories are written by ady, and co-produced by ady alongside the likes of ivor novello winning cassel the beat maker (akala, plan b), richard archer, eric appapolay (neneh cherry, craig david, lionel ritchie) and grades (bastille, dua lipa, khalid). highlights include forthcoming single ‘need somebody to love’ which sees ady intertwine sprawling jazz with adolescent infatuation over a teardrop drumbeat and sparse choral samples.

bold blocks and fine lines – distant echoes and jon hester feature on dystopian’s first split ep blending archaic heaviness with sophisticated subtlety.

genesa records continues to push newcomers in 2018. this time we have a split ep by the dutch duo phobia and the italian producer blacksun. both projects have released on the label’s digital only series in the past and have proven themselves with bold and effective productions. for this ep, they conjured astonishing tracks that make a must-have release for vinyl djs!

open s 5th release invites japan s sasaki hiroaki from yotsume music. sasaki s smooth blend of thoughful tech house has been presented in 2 original pieces as key ingredients for any after hours gathering expressing tripped out broken piano excursions with subtle driving drums. frazer campbell pulls his version back from the after party to the daytime with a version that raises the heartrate with bold 101 synth leads and chicago influenced percusion. finest hours pablo tarno joins the release with his signature sound of garage meets early techno providing a classy envelope of silk like power for the peak time floor.

chicago damn is the latest esteemed producer to shore up at marcel vogel s intimate friends label, following the hypoleon ep with some forthright, sample heavy funk house concoctions that nod to his other work on wolf music and the like. -bunny hoppin- is a rowdy but soulful belter with a peppy tempo and an addictive line in looped up samples, while -flush- takes things slower and dustier without getting too lost in the undergrowth. -the truth- lays its samples out in bold, bright brushstrokes with a pattering, psyched out undercurrent for deeper, sunkissed moments, and then -tipsy- finishes the ep off in a playful tryst of re-pitched piano trills and scuffed beats.

bold and raw sounds for adventurous dancefloors

inspired by a fluid mix of global club sounds including uk funky, kuduro, techno and rap, nervous horzion co-head tsvi is to kick off 2018 with the release of new ep, ‘rambo’. comprised of six tracks, including collaborations with dj jm and fellow nervous horizon boss, wallwork, as well as a bonus remix from luru, ‘rambo’ details how tsvi’s sound continues to evolve, taking on bold new shapes in the process.

obrani records are proud to present strangeman - an ep from the young and talented producer plantae, who has conquered the minimal hearts of techno and house heads alike. the intensity and broadness of plantae’s musical pallet, reflected in every crease of the release, will appeal to diggers from all scapes of the globe. from grassroots break-beat to snappy hats and bold percussion, occasionally visited by passing high notes, like comets in a coma of ever-changing motive. if forced to reduce his sound to words, musical abstractionism would hit as close to home as the 808 bass drum. undoubtedly, strangeman made it’s way to the obrani records collection.

the enigmatic tennessee-raised, turin-based yves tumor presents a poignant new album, recorded between miami, leipzig, los angeles and berlin over the past three years.
evolved from a diverse and prolific creative history under an expansive plethora of covert aliases via various forward-thinking labels, ‘yves tumor’ emerges as his most personal and matured incarnation to date.
with involvement across various artistic outlets expanding to fashion such as a visceral live performance for la’s hood by air earlier this year, the global artist has built a distinctly bold personal aesthetic both musically and visually as a performer.

if youre familiar with public release’s sibling, face, a series of parties, you’ll already know that jee day, né dennis mcnany, has been in the bay area label’s orbit for some time as half of the dfa act museum of love, he joined the inner circle years ago. here, with amot herga laxy, he makes his bold debut on public release itself. the single begins with “crocodile tears,” an abstract, impressionistic tapestry of african rhythms, meditative synth washes, vangelis-esque horns and pads. it recedes and jee day plunges deeper into the jungle with communication masterbation, a propulsive number built around a psychedelic, droney bass that’s wrapped with gritty, distorted effects and layers of topline keyboard licks stacked high. a raw club track cut from transcendentalist cloth thatll lift you off the dance floor. the b-side is a dub of communication masterbation, with an emphasis being placed on pulling out, unraveling, extending the rhythmic elements and emphasizing the electronic veil the piece is shrouded in. a trancey, menacing sprawl that could be an extended sonic youth live jam if they swapped their stringed instruments for roland and korg gear and dusted the whole thing in an unknown psychoactive slime.

after a strong start with an ep from dwayne jensen, pittsburgh-based label is / was returns with an absolute firecracker from chase smith. nous nous au danser is the kind of jam that will guarantee everyone in the room starts freaking, so infectious is the bright and bold acid strain smith offers up. orange geena is equally stunning, all warm bass and dazzling synths. work it over takes things in a punchier direction, leaving a little more space in the mix for the rhythm section to help things get really nasty. tour de trepan takes on some new beat qualities as it unfurls a noirish beat-driven fantasy to finish off an utterly flawless ep.

with every album project comes a proper remix pack. marco bailey has invited some of his most respected colleagues in modern day techno to come up with an interpretation of two of temper’s toughest cuts.
“planet mad” is being reworked by marcel fengler and andre kronert. fengler’s rework is an adventurous take on the original and has a strong emphasis on rhythm. without loosing with the original idea, fengler builds the rhythm section into a wash of bold drums and rich percussion. andre kronert’s take on “planet mad” pushes the track s idea into a different direction. kronert yet again proves to be a craftsman when it comes to textures and builds. while the recognizable bass sound of the original keeps thumping, atypical bits of fx are added to build on an unusual but very soothing atmosphere.
for the b side, “naga” is being reshaped by croatian master of electronics petar dundov and rotterdam based fast riser, koen hoets. petar dundov comes up with an esoteric take on “naga”. whilst respecting the form of the original, dundov goes one notch deeper with his wide array dub elements and feral hat sounds. koen hoets delivers a more demure take on “naga”. whilst the rhythm section might not be suitable for all club situations, this is adventurous techno at its best. noteworthy fx and soul touching strings that float throughout.
materia009 - temper reworks part one ep will be available from all specialized retailers starting january 26.

seth troxler’s always dynamite play it say it label kicks off 2018 with a thrilling three track ep from heartthrob. jesse siminski aka heartthrob has long been an essential voice in the global techno conversation. from early eps and lps on the influential minus label via a trio of releases on his own isnisnt, he has explored every facet of house and techno in great detail. always conjuring up bold melodies and slick arrangements, this is his first solo outing in a few years and marks a very welcome return.

reless return to follow up on there first official release which was entitled cycle, out on world talk records that included a bold yet hazy remix from avant techno engineer shlomo.this time their foot firmly in the the mud, is a solid 4 tracks ep entitled, circuitry merging classic techno components which they say focuses on creating analogically modified melodic organisms. the eponymous title track circuitry brings the listener into a field of near moving stabs synths, pulsing through out the persistent motor rhythm. the follow up seed germinates a melodious and deep sequence to sense growth of emotions into the listeners body. reless stand by their motto of always repeating the essential, which can be heard strikingly through out limitation bringing us toward an end of an endlessly metallic grain storage silo. to conclude, the hotly tipped swedish producer kuf (head of arsenik records) pulls apart the harshly stark limitation exploring a rework focusing on the frustrations and jittering nervous pathways of the listener speaking directly to the frontal lobe his job to reside purely at the edge of our mental limitations.

ever throughout a long-standing chameleonic career in nightlife colleen martin has been one to challenge expectations and confidently confront boundaries. having established herself now firmly within the techno scene as lady starlight, she continues to do so on her ep for figure, presenting a statement of bold and pounding beats. ‘which one of us is me? showcases a completely intuitive approach to making music, with every track coming together as a direct stream of creativity, channeled straight into the solely analogue hardware. it imbues each composition with a strong sense of immediacy, a quality that only further intensifies the raw energy transmitted. this pure form of expression translates into a record brimming with artistic authenticity - enveloping, moving and deeply impacting.

• special deal
• 2xgatefold lp from les graciés
• silkscreened artwork by al white & house of traps
les graciés is a collaboration in the truest sense between paris-based sound artist gaël segalen and deepblak co-founder afrikan sciences. segalen’s experiments in electroacoustic sound met the wider world this year via a debut lp for erratum, an arresting work that showcases her ability to merge hypnotic murk ala angus maclise with the hard concréte of parmegiani & reibel. segalen’s ihearu imprint / organisation is a platform for her various doings, including psychogeographical audio works and multi-media collaborations, as well as servicing as a reference point for other contemporary female artists working across various mediums. eric douglas porter aka african sciences has been deconstructing and re-building forms of contemporary black music since the mid-2000’s, through releases on deepblak (the label he co-runs with aybee) and pan. his musical universe is one of warping cadences and celestial melody, referencing the bold work of percussionists like milford graves & art jenkins, the dissonant chords of motor city techno and stripped back essence of early chicago house matched with broken hard bop sentiments: all tied together with an aesthetic that sits somewhere between sun ra’s omniverse, jean giraud mœbius and dogon cosmology. together as le graciés, segalen and porter make a wholly unclassifiable strain of music that, while containing recognisable elements of each individual s work, also creates a third entity in the process, which can be heard to stunning effect on their forthcoming debut lp ‘low doses’ for firecracker recordings.

p.o.s steps even further into genre-blurring territory with chill, dummy, his first official release with doomtree records since the release of his debut album ipecac neat. the album reflects on the past three years since a near-fatal kidney transplant sidelined him from making music and deals with the the difficulties of trying to maintain peace of mind and navigate through a confusing world, which is becoming increasingly more alienating. p.o.s’ production fingerprints are all over this one as he maneuvers through a wide range of sprawling beats contributed by himself, usual suspects lazerbeak and ryan olson, and newcomers cory grindberg and makr. several friends touch down along the way to offer up biting commentary and varying points of view (allan kingdom, astronautalis, kathleen hanna, justin vernon, open mike eagle, busdriver, and lady midnight, to name a few), but the album never suffers from an oversaturation of scattered voices, instead using everyone’s individual ethos and strengths to build a unifying call to arms. the result is p.o.s’ most bold, honest, and daring work to date, so chill, dummy.
blue marbled double vinyl in gatefold sleeve with fold-out poster.

b.k.r is the techno project of simon baker, presenting four dancefloor fillers on duskys 17 steps. the ep starts with bubble & squeak, a collaboration with jamie jones which is a groovy number flecked with gentle synths. fly is a techno track, where dark and broody tones push through a continuum of crashing percussions. dis is punchy, energetic and bold, and das rounds off the release, with b.k.r skillfully playing with layers of percussion and a serene melody.

&#8232,,,,r&s welcome techno icon benjamin damage to the fold with his new montreal ep. one of most acclaimed young techno artists in recent times, benjamin damage is a perfect addition to the r&s roster.
as the first artist modeselektor signed to their hugely influential 50 weapons imprint, damage deployed his trademark heavy artillery beats over bold, blistering riffs and haunting, emotive melodies to devastating effect.
with the closing of 50 weapons, r&s offers a new home. his unique ability to deliver dancefloor destroying mayhem, dark atmospheres and richly textured melodies perfectly encompasses the music that has made the label timeless.

fallow presents his debut ep on the freshly established chow down label 6 typically epic and emotive tracks from the semi-infamous manchester-based dj & producer. on side a fallow serves up 3 gigantic grime instrumentals with all the bravado, theatrics and outrageous samples the genre has to offer. the tracks are as cinematic as they are energetic, weaving pulse sounds, choirs and dreamy sino samples into breakneck dance-floor gear to great effect. on the flip fallow adopts his dj chalice moniker to explore his softer side. still bursting with colour and melody, the tracks are as indebted to sunny dancehall records as they are a raw uk sound. peppering carefree mallets and flutes with angelic chipmunk vocals, chalice still captures the producers unique ear for bold melodies and vivid sounds.

aus121 deadboys auogeides 77 aus welcome allen wooton aka deaboy for his debut release in ‘auogeides 77 wootons bold, rugged club music has really reached its zenith in recent years following key releases on local action and numbers, ‘auogeides 77 is no different. rough analogue drums, broody melodies and a smidgen of that uk flavour hes well known for all feature just in time for post festival heads down basement club season

while they may have landed a fair while ago, it’s great to see emotional response revisit timothy j fairplay s crucial early eps with an absolutely on point remix package. scientific dreamz of u brings his distinctive signal chain to -stories of prison-, using grinding synths and some snaking broken beats to create an early 90s trance mood to die for. alessandro parisi keeps things on a distinctly new wave tip for -aim for the yellow sector-, and perseus traxx brings a bold set of machine beats and technicolour synths to -saco bay-. antenna finishes the ep off by creating a winsome, wavey version of -night ferry- for sensitive souls to do the robot to.

berlin based producer synthek is a renowned name within contemporary techno. besides succesfully running his label natch records, he has been also a resident at the infamous tresor.
for the seventeenth installment in the string of attic music releases, synthek (luca landolfi) comes up with a staggering ep that contains a lot of adventurous drum patterns, bold arrangements and swells of daring fx.
on the a side we find “loser”, which is a brave cut of spherical yet moody techno that uses a buldging percussion line and otherwordly fx to create an ominous vibe. “uneven mind” is an exotic cut with tough drum sounds that uses a hypnotic synth swell that cuts throughout to create an alarming atmosphere. french producer and concrete resident antigone comes up with an uplifting (eight minutes long) remix for “uneven mind” on the b side which is beautifully orchastrated throughout. “faithless” is a percussive cut with intense fx blips.

swat s third release & detroit is in the house ! there are times in which you can clearly mark a producer s evolution. when they stop inching towards growth and make a bold statement of change in capability and vision. such is the case with this ep from detroit-based disco guru, pontchartrain. after a few years of steadily pushing out some significant pieces of work that have increasingly straddled the line between originals and edits, and nearly a decade of studio experience, his long overdue official house music debutante has arrived. featuring detroit local soul artist, coko buttafli laying down some blistering vocals with a clearly positive house music message, on top of live percussion and keys, and bold analog drum rhythms, pontch has created a solid diva-house gem. the sneaky festival-ready banger, loose , performed, mixed, and overdubbed live, provides some fantastic contrast and versatility to the release. a mr. g-esque remix by dj phenom just alexander and the musical journey of topher horn s evolving and deep version on the flipside make this a well rounded record that will undoubtedly stay in your bag for a good long while, and will find its way back in for years to come.

best of ... woowwww

iron curtis back catalogue is a formidable beast within the realms of deep and tech house, touching on labels like morris audio, jackoff, sudden drop and mule electronique. he s intermittently popped up on hudd traxx as well, and he returns with a fulsome new ep that hints at a forthcoming second part.lights- is a bold, chiseled peak timer with some emphatic string stabs coursing through it, while captured takes a slinkier route without dulling the impact of the curtis studio approach. 22 days is a funkier concern that lets the low end synths do the brunt of the work, and then my humming machines rounds the ep off with a warm and bubbling deep house roller for a cosier part of the night.

listing somewhere between the cognitive and the corporeal comes the third release from gratone.-the periphery of a building-, a live remix work featuring long-time collaborators audun kleive on percussion and jan bang on live sampling sees the young norwegian label expound on the territories between extended jazz and the dance floor through a four track lp. veterans audun kleive and jan bang tap into something innate that moves perpendicular to the techno ethos perpetuated by the label s previous releases. -the periphery of a building-, is a work that brings the past into the present and draws a red thread between genres. it juxtaposes disparate ideas between the dance floor and jazz, and ensnares itself in the tangled web of tradition and progress in a bold indefnable musical dialect. upholding the ethos of gratone by negating expectation -periphery of a building- also calls in a new era for the young, but fertile label. -periphery of a building- is kleive and bang reconsidering live punkt remixes* of etenesh wassie & mathieu sourisseau, atomtm and clarinet factory & floex. in their selection of source material for the gratone lp, they eradicate, and then reconstruct tradition. *the punkt live remix concept puts third-party musicians, producers and composers in a real-time remix situation during a punkt festival live show. fiona talkington: stian balducci s gratone (grey tone) label inhabits an exquisite genre-defying world.the latest release features two of norway s legendary, pioneering musicians, live sampling guru and co-director of the globally acclaimed punkt festival jan bang, and audun kleive, a musician whose work over the decades has repositioned the language of drumming. together they forge an exquisite, adventurous path, as delicate as chamber music, as powerful as rock, and engage with samples with respect, a spirit of adventure and a creative vision which is simply inspiring. limited 180gram vinyl in hand stamped recycled cardboard jackets with silkscreen print.

after the long awaited and acclaimed return of the notorious manie sans de&#769,lire on june records, one-half of the group, trenton chase, returns on the label with a bold solo lp marking his departure from the sound of his previous releases on the imprint. for his first album attempt, trenton embarks on the search for everything and manages to encapsulate the whole essence of the june records ethos within 43 minutes of music. although initially not planned as an album, deadlock was conceived organically as it only took a few months for its completion during the artist’s most abundant 2017 studio spring sessions. this body of work transcends formulaic attempts to showcase a very refreshing and uncompromising take on synth music. chase followed a crude approach to songwriting, rehearsing and improvising live until the best take would eventually become the final track. artwork by florent mazzocchetti.

label boss, deepak sharma deliver a three-track gem on his solo debut for his imprint, hidden recordings. within annapurna lies his varied interpretations of techno vividly on display, all unique in their own ways but with a consistent, underlying gritty tone the label is famed for. he protects his house, and makes a bold statement as a soloist. from dj to curator of hidden recordings, deepak sharma has been entrenched in techno for over a decade. as the selector for hidden recordings, he began to expand the reach of his soundscape in order to appreciate all music, particularly techno. through these experiences, he had a moment where he started hearing sounds differently, and since then has been on a journey to make that sound. he s authentic to the mood and what feels right, combining raw, hypnotic rhythms that lay a foundation for an industrial monochrome minimalism with flashes of bright color while others fall deeper within the moody, darker abyss.