seth troxler & the martinez brothers’ tuskegee music welcomes chicago legend k- alexi shelby for a new ep that features some essential solo cuts as well as two great collaborations with tony lovlesss. k-alexi is a genuine chicago great. he’s been at the core of the scene since the eighties and releasing his raw grooves on dj international, trax and transmat, as well as his own k klassik label. he has recently remixed for seth troxler’s other label, say it play it, but is now back serving up the sort of engaging originals that have made him such an enduring star.

like scsi-9 as such always was a neverthing but still existed, so pheotron minds a future synth which lives just in our head. it is from there that we take, line by line, those melodies which join to a track. midnight red is a result you get when opening a bottle of red sharply at midnight. you must be in front of your gear then. at least, it worked for us that way.

fernando sanz has been steadfastly dedicated to the craft of beats and breaks since he was a young sprout of 14 years in the sun baked southern spanish port city of algeciras. under the imprint orbe records, sanz has cultivated his own thriving techno community as artist and label head. since 2014 orbe records has been lashing the block rocking techno of sanz’s comrades eduardo de la calle and steve stoll, but mostly of sanz’s own prolific moniker, orbe. as dj and producer orbe keeps the mood surreal and dreamy while deploying understated drum machine patterns to hammer the platonic solids that keep his beloved community in tact. his forthcoming 3-track “hohenheim” ep for the barcelona label, lone romantic, keeps the orbe buzz rolling. “hohenheim” kicks the record into motion with the resounding thuds of a multilayered big-room kick while bright synths and sharp edged sci-fi machinery climb the walls in obscure and narcotic patterns. “shimano’s tribute” is a study in the fundaments of techno that lull the listener with an extended 4x4 intro into a state of high mental absorption, just in time to drop the centre piece of the track, an eloquently ovular stutter sliced percussion sample. “edelweiss” sets the record on a outward course for somewhere between the hypnotic dance floor bliss of a pre-dawn sunday morning and the impending angst beholden to glimpsing the dystopian sprawl of civilisation when flying out monday morning.

derek s music instantly takes the listener on a midnight drive, cruising the grand river avenue through detroit. derek carr s ability to create soulful melodies that effortlessly wrap themselves around bouncy basslines and elegant beats is not only classy – it s classical. derek carr is not from the detroit though.. he s an irishman through and through, born and bred in westmeath, about 3400 miles from the state of michigan. yet he absolutely nails it! after two decades of crafting his own sound with analogue synths and samplers with the music culture of motor city as an inspiration, derek carr doesn t sound like anyone else. all the archetypical detroit sounds are there – from the robotic bleeps in binary systems to the moody strings of metro city – but derek carr uses them to create a primarily club oriented vibe, uplifting and positive.

the artwork for this album is made by abdul haqq, the legendary visual artist responsible for a great number of classic covers for artists and labels such as juan atkins, derrick may, transmat, drexciya, carl craig, planet e and underground resistance...

berlin based electronic mainstay marquis hawkes has announced details of his second lp ‘the marquis of hawkes’, due out 24th august 2018 on fabric’s in-house label houndstooth (home to call super, aïsha devi, special request and more). ahead of this, hawkes will also release a new single featuring acclaimed uk soul singer jamie lidell. the single, entitled ‘we should be free’, features, alongside the low slung but melancholic original version, three reinterpretations of the song, remixed by hawkes himself. both this, and the essential previous single, “don’t u”, which featured the vocal talents of ursula rucker, will appear on the forthcoming album.

....and we d sleep out under the stars, didn t even need a blanket... victor valiant is a musical pairing of two friends who ve been meaning to go in the studio for many moons, but life has always got in the way. keith tenniswood and suade bergemann give you seven tracks of sublime funk and sonic experiments coming straight from suade s mega studio deep in the northeast of england. recorded last year over two 3 day sessions, it’s the next release on keith s asking for trouble label aft003. cut and mastered between the two producers they have executed every level of production for this double pack vinyl release. asking for trouble is keith tenniswood (radioactive man’s) recently birthed label and home to the emissions from his studio and treasured time spent with producer friends. suade bergemann is a newcastle-based producer, mastering engineer and founder of techno label adapted vinyl. he collaborates with steve legget and is a resident at free rotation.

a chance encounter at university during the acid house summer of ’88 and subsequent bonding over baby ford’s “oochy koochy” established a life-long friendship between leicester lads, jimi o’callaghan and al green. inspired by the sounds of detroit, early ny house like murk and masters at work and the emerging uk sounds of lfo, orbital and aphex twin, the pair began djing and making music as the wild geese. their first ep, “the wild geese ep”, was released in 1994 on their own giddy goose recordings imprint. the guys pressed 500 copies and, with jimi’s connections made interning with pete tong’s ffrr, sold copies direct to london shops. the record sported packaging designed to look like an american 12” and an accompanying press release attributed the ep to a fictitious dj duo hailing from wisconsin. rave reviews followed and a distribution deal was struck with vital uk, who produced and sold another 500 copies worldwide. another ep followed a year later. sadly, plans for a third ep on the label never materialized, but the pair remain close to this day. 24 years later we are honored to reintroduce this genre-defying, uniquely forward-thinking ep to today’s dance floors.

following on from angophora s beautiful long player, ken oath is back with another full length lp from low flung. friends of the label will note that this is his third release for ken oath, and it s a fittingly mature and expansive statement for a debut lp. perhaps mature is the wrong word here, as all his brilliant ideas are backed up by a sense of whimsy that betrays his playful side. the music strikes a balance between styles and spaces that could perfectly soundtrack moments at home, in the club, and in the liminal spaces between. danny s efforts at writing dance music still contain the idiosyncratic approaches of his ambient works: the deadly deep subs and endless echo spirals on -rising damp- sounds like someone trying to piece together a drum & bass track after an off-hand conversation about the genre. he s transmuted the propulsive energy of jungle into something no less dynamic, full of stops and starts and sonic pressure but flush with space. -tarp climber- is at heart a rollicking digi-dub. the more ambient moments of the lp are equally captivating - the glassy tones of -frozen coat- sound like a space-age ensemble soundtracking a floating lounge on a suite of glass instruments, while -ocean grove- blends field recordings and dreamy synthesizer melodies to create an uncanny sense of place that unroots you from wherever you re listening. there s a heavy emphasis on danny s collaborators as well - the cold emotion duo is reprised on the spacey ‘hills hoist’. closer -bacchus marsh- is a collaboration with prophets, a cross-state ensemble that defy any easy categorisation. the music here flirts with jazz and minimalism but with a dubwise production aesthetic to produce something that recalls khan jamal s visionary -drum dance to the motherland- in spirit and practice, but this whole album sounds as otherworldly and one-of-a-kind as the aforementioned lp.

dext recordings has reached it’s landmark 10th release, and we now enter our next phase with this very special 2 track ep from a vital part of our label: bodyjack. aside from his collaboration with special request at the end of last year, this is chris’s first new music under his bodyjack alias since the summer of 2016 (his “cobra effect ep” for us). his time away has helped him refocus, and its clearly paid off “nataraja” (hindu for “lord of the dance”) is one of those tracks we can’t actually describe, but it’sbodyjack on rare form. his signature quirky percussion & synthwork is stripped down more than on his previous work, but this is one works in so many situations, we can’t wait to hear what you think. on the flip, “tandava” (the name given to the dance of nataraja!), is a peak-time detroit bass style workout with booming drops and razor sharp edits aimed right at the floor.

pyramid transmissions is back with the first solo release on the label from pt creator adj. street life ep is four tracks of bass driven future electro music from one of the longest standing members of the scene. street life part 1 is pure unadultered future bboy music with punching kick drums, dirty acid and characteristic glitches added to the mix for that unmistakable adj sound aimed at making you dance while getting in your head simultaneously and adj always looks to the future but with nods to his past of 808 electro music.

it sounded all right through two walls, so what s the problem? the final words of two walls, the fast and very catchy leading track of dj marcelle s new record, sum up an aesthetic almost lost in today s musical climate, where often a pleasing attitude and overproduced music sadly rule, even in so-called alternative circles. the quote comes from the late mark e. smith (1957 - 2018), legendary frontman of the fall, and is taken from some of the conversations marcelle had with smith over the years. smith is referring to a recording process but for marcelle his words stand for something bigger.

fat beats records is proud to present bakers dozen, an exclusive series that shines a light on the best minds of instrumental hip-hop, ambient, and electronic music. each installment gives one artist carte blanche to capture their signature sound. every volume’s limited vinyl pressing features one artist and twelve tracks, and comes equipped with a 5x7inch postcard insert that features a photo of the artists workspace along with the equipment used in their music-making process. visually cohesive and packaged with the utmost attention to detail, baker’s dozen is a series that speaks up for artists whose craft renders voices superfluous, whose instrumentals alone suffice to make a statement. volume nine highlights the guelph, ontario producer elaquent, who breaks down his creative process below: “since the beginning, my philosophy has always been that perfection is boring, so despite all the changes that have occurred with my equipment and system, that main philosophy remains the same. in the beginning it was all about flipping samples with fl studio and just my computer keyboard, and over the years, i added the mpd and masterkey in order to be able to jam out drums live and play keys, which speeds up the workflow. i like the effects on the 404, and theres a lot of dope ways to integrate my ipad into it, but at the end of the day, it starts with a melody or sample, and i kinda just let the vibe take over.

due rent is a collaborative double album by solo artists lojii & swarvy. written & recorded in the summer of 2016 in l.a. by the two philadelphian transplants, lojii says this tape is a score to being a broke nxgga in amerikkka (emphasis on the kkk) – full of dreams and hustlin to make em happen, but dealing with the everyday pressures of making ends meet. a.k.a trying to pay rent. the 22 tracks, many of which barely break the two-minute mark, make for a vast voyage through remarkable contemporary hip-hop. the grooves and beats that skip and flutter are smooth and mellow, with nods to the old-school but entirely void of nostalgia. this is a sophisticated, thoughtful, and inventive modern hip-hop record that understands anger doesnt have to be loud. daniel dylan wray, bandcamp (best 100 albums of 2017)

from playing acid house at the legendary haçienda to residencies at a number of the world’s super clubs and a grammy nomination, sasha s career trajectory is pretty much unparalleled. his contribution to electronic music in the 90s is synonymous with the rise of progressive house. as a producer, his vast discography includes a number of studio albums, remixes for madonna and the chemical brothers and soundtracks for computer games, whilst a long list of acclaimed mixes are heralded by many as some of the greatest of all time. as well as his work as a highly visible public figure, he has an extensive history of mentoring other artists behind the scenes, running his own management agency and a studio in new york whilst introducing a wealth of acclaimed artists via his last night on earth imprint. here, across 4 plates of vinyl, all but 4 of the 20 tracks on sasha s fabric 99 mix are available in their full-length glory. featuring his own exclusive track smoke monk (fabric mix), his moog-apella edit of george fitzgerald s echo forgets, and his fabric1999 remix of baile - amae feat. felicia douglass.

monotone is back on wax! after almost 10 years since we have seen a monotone vinyl release, the return is strong. monotone boss larry mccormick comes with a 6 track mini album with straight up pure electro goodness. the follow up to his album on shipwrec entitled intelectro, larry mccormick aka exzakt offers us a more puristic electro sound that he is known for. kicked off by show the way we get that vintage exzakt sound with crisp 909/808 layed kicks, one step ahead goes the more melodic route but still keeps the beat moving. move because i said so is a fun and funky classic electro sound. creator. vibes are massive on this riding melodic jam. eyes on me is a journey, an atmospere with trancy keys and subsonic pads. magic city is a bit of a departure from the normal sound yet still retains the low end.

limited edition of 2000 copies on transparent blue 180 gram vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve. the electronic music duo groove armada released their fourth album “lovebox” in 2002. the album includes some of their best tracks, ramping through genres from rock ’n’ roll to the psychedelica and ska. it also features collaborations with artists like neneh cherry and richie havens, who ads some soulful voices to the whole. opener “purple haze” introduces us to a giant guitar riff and highlight “madder” takes the groove out of the clash’s “magnificent seven”, before moving on to the raps by m.a.d. they’re incorporating a lot of samples in the fine structured melodies of soul/funk/rock and hip-hop. after playing at club nights for years andy cato and tom findlay joined forces and created their debut album northern star and breakthrough hit “at the river”. it was the start of a collaboration that brought them hits like “my friend” and “superstylin’”.

rephlex producer eod drops a mind-bending fifteen track debut album on bjarki’s bbbbbb this june. born in trondheim, norway, stian gjevik is a rarity amongst electronic music producers. possibly the most interesting musician representing the braindance and idm sounds of today, eod’s productions have landed on labels like we&#769,,,,me&#768,,,, records, sleepers, cpu, 030303 and aphex twin’s highly respected rephlex. dropping on bbbbbb last year, his ‘swurlk ep’ sold out within a month and received support from aphex twin, bicep, bjarki, nina kraviz and many more. “it s the album i ve wanted to do since i started making music - feels like a dream come true. inspired by what got me into electronic music in the first place, jungle and early ‘00s warp/rephlex -drill & bass--type stuff, but shifted through my own eod-style lens. oh yeah and loads of lovecraft references because i love those.” - eod a must-listen for fans of sublime synth-driven cuts, otherworldly beatless affairs and frenetic, machine- driven jams, eod’s ‘named’ is a refreshing and highly anticipated debut long player from a true master of his craft.

lph060-pack-a play / pause a1. let me jacq 0:15 1:30 volume a1. let me jacq a2. one more time a3. movin kinda funky a4. don t wanna stop a5. war funk feels b1. java harem b2. never say never b3. just wanna play b4. make me feel good b5. bk slice artist jacques renault title bk club beats, breaks & versions label let s play house catalogue lph060 format lp dealer price £5.50 release date 20/07/2018 territory worldwide genre deep housedisco zip download audio samples & images description three years ago, a long-overdue and much-anticipated debut album from let s play house co-head jacques renault finally hit shelves, and now, the follow-up effort, the sophomore swing, arrives. if zentrum was a sprawling and aspirant full-length, bk club beats, breaks & versions is an exacting and focused rejoinder, a powerful, punchy, and succinct exposition of renault s skills and fortes. it s a deep-dive into the movements that sucked him into club music and a celebration of the inspirations that fueled his ascendance to dj and producer in his own right. what we give you here is an album of originals that have been conceived, orchestrated, and stitched together to function as a classic renault peak-hour set—classic house sounds sandwiched between hip-hop breaks and disco licks, all glued into place with his trademark full-bodied, colorful, swinging drums. the a-side has a daytime glimmer and glisten to it, a sunniness that imparts it with a distinct top-down-crisscross-through-the-city flavor. the flip is just as pumped and uptempo, but it has a rounder bottom and feels murkier, steamier, and, by extension, more late-night.

harlem s legendary disco label queen constance has long been a cult favourite among fans of underground dance music for decades. one of many labels operating under the equally legendary p&p family of imprints queen constance was operated by one peter brown, a truly colossal figure in nyc s music scene, it s catalogue still fascinates music lovers to this day. covering a wide range of styles including gospel, early rap and disco the label s output continually finds it way into the playlists of respected dj s and selectors across the globe. licky & the dream lovers massive afro-disco groove african rock is the next in a fully licensed series of queen constance rarities to be repressed. licky seems to be yet another studio group put together by peter brown in order to explore different sounds and styles. this raucous piece of uptempo, blazing disco really does the business in the dance, a truly immense club record, which is not surprising considering brown is at the helm. ridiculous funk on this one. across 2 sides we are treated to 2 slightly different versions of the cut, both equally as good, you could literally put the needle on the record, let it spin and watch it do damage. this one is an essential, a truly sought after record that commands extremely high prices on the used market when it shows up, but rarity aside, it is an absolute bomb and deserves to be in any self-respecting disco jocks bag of tricks. this is a 100% legit reissue, made in conjunction with above board distribution and the demon music group, lovingly remastered with love by optimum mastering, bristol uk.

serena butler returns to the fore with an ep for stroboscopic artefacts. -we want neither clean hands nor beautiful souls- is a four track recording of butler s personal juncture with the queerverse and his engagement in queer politics, an elaboration on the alternate freedoms and minimal politics of alienation introduced with her 2016 release on eerie.

after “star alliance”’s initial release as a limited six tape-box set, it was apparent that there was a need for a reissue, which now comes in the form of this remastered double lp set with a selection of the best work and even a few new tracks added. the story is the same but the narrative has been sharpened.

framework recordings is back with a very special, limited run vinyl ep that features five fantastic artists in oliv, o’hana, blurred, fred and ground16, and deep house doesn’t come much finer. first up is the low key oliv, part of the heady party collective bedford crew. his ‘submarine cruise’ is an effortlessly atmospheric dub house track. sandy shakers, balmy pads and an astral lead synth line all ooze underground class. o’hana is another emerging producer with an already well formed sound. his gorgeous ‘lune’ is another prime bit of deep house with analogue kicks and hits, subtle vocal samples and cavernous pads that melt into the horizon.
blurred are a young italian pair from labels like lapsus, safe music and hotfingers and keep up the cultured dub house vibe with more deeply enveloping grooves and dusty hits. the chords here are smeared in the background and sure to find favour with the more intimate dance floors out there. then it’s to impressive new swiss artist fred for ‘mw.’ it’s deep and house-y again, but this time it drives forward on huge kicks, with acid lines and icy hi hats bringing the energy while yawning synths soften the edges. closing out a tasteful package are swiss pair ground16 with ‘3rd street.’ cosmic in nature and with wide open pads, this house groove is another analogue beauty with warmth, smart vocal snippets and dreamscape pads. these are timeless deep house cuts that are deceptively simple and superbly executed.

following fine scalpel-focused outings from ltj and les inferno, many of many aliases stefano de gama returns to samosa with a trio of subtly tooled-up disco edits. a-side -son of slave- sees him join together bits of soulful disco-era classics -slide- and -son of slide- to form a tasty new whole. while heavily compressed and noticeably chunkier than either of the original tracks, de gama s version is loose enough to please those who think edits should merely be dj-friendly re-arrangements. turn to the flipside for the lolloping, low-slung afro-funk goodness of -1972- and the throbbing peak-time disco celebration of filter-sporting closer -star buk-. this too boasts booming drums and bass, but also enough musical looseness to avoid the usual disco-house pitfalls.

emergent russian producer legit trip is the next up on jack s house, serving up four slices of sleek, crisply produced tech house to work across a variety of scenarios. -answer- keeps things simple and effective, letting the bassline take the weight of the track and keeping the beat locked on course for maximum dancefloor efficiency. -organic- has a lighter, more rolling feel to it that nods to the outdoor, day time terrace crew, while -what- has a deeper bump that yearns for dimly lit basement vibes. -you got me- has an easy going house flavour to it that should slot nicely into the warm-up, but don t be fooled - there s plenty of weight in that low end to do the damage at any time of night.

this record comes with a version for every time and mood of a club night: jo pariotas cut of the original mix is the ideal warm up tune. flowing on a synthline that calls mike huckabys waldorf to mind, it is sweet and driving at the same time. the original mix by loveits own nico brun might be called „casual affair, but comes rolling on a phat wonky rhode that brings the groove! between the crunchy drums, a relaxed vocal snipped and warm synth unfold like the first rays of sunlight. the jk & lds reduction is punchy, minimal and dubby - with its pull and release kind of melody and the stuttered vocal sample it works perfect as a peak time dj tool. finally, the a.s.s. amnesia returns mix is something else entirely… you just have to experience it in its full 8 min breakbeat aphex twin-like glory. - morri313

with the masters at work name under contract elsewhere at the peak of their career, kenny dope and louie vega had little choice but to work under other names for their strictly rhythm projects. hardrive became popular, largely thanks to the iconic ‘deep inside’ whose vocal hook (from, barbara tucker’s ‘beautiful people’) and bass line helped made the track become one of house music‘s most memorable hits. “sometimes a record just manages to capture and distill the true essence of what this is all about and deep inside is one such record, it bears all the hallmarks of golden era masters at work, all the signposts of what was happening in nyc s clubs in the early to mid 90 s were there within it s grooves. you know a record is good when it s still being, quite literally, hammered nearly 25 years later”. it’s no surprise even kanye west would sample this classic to make another chart topping track! this one s a straight up essential for any self-respecting house music aficionado. availble for the first time as a 7”. original mix on the a, dub on the flip. you know what to do!

the whiskey pickle crew turn their attention to a new partnership from steve cobby and laurie welton, the former being known for decades of djing, label management and producing alongside the likes of stephen mallinder for throne of blood. here the emphasis, as expected with whiskey pickle, is on disco with a slight leaning to the left. -absolute- is a bubbling jam laden with illustrious threads of melody, cosmic in nature but still rooted thanks to a rock solid rhythm section. -limoncello- is a more introspective affair that works with minor chords and a more intricate set of drums, but don t be fooled the groove is very much still intact. new york duo whatever/whatever bring a tougher dynamic to -absolute,- dialing in some beefy beats and amping up the synth touches for a surefire house heater. played by

hailing from the mists of the early 90s uk techno scene, ramjac corporation s -cameroon massif!- epitomises everything great about the anything goes spirit of the scene prior to firm genre boundaries being established. emotional rescue have done the right thing and brought the vintage curio back to light, and what a return it is. while it shows its age, it sounds in fine fettle, all rolling breaks, trancey zaps and mysterious vocal hooks that positively draw you into a transcendental rave headspace. both the -massive- and -massing- mixes are essential, but then you also get the added bonus of a live version from a reunion gig back in 2009.

you know when the dj drops something so special you’re mentally forced to ask for the track and the reply you get is ”its my own unreleased track”. that’s how i (art alfie) stumbled upon all three of these. about ten years ago i witnessed van rivers & the subliminal kid (peder mannerfelt) turn berghain upside-down with the dark techno epos ”mars attacks”. around the same time i had the luck to see nils westerlund boogle minds with the broken beat psychedelics of ”suspiria” at a stockholm open air. last but not least, a couple of years ago i heard ”thicker than blood” for the first time, like the sirens in greek mythology, it lured people on to the dance floor at stockholms classic summer hot spot f12. i’ve been playing these tracks ever since and im beyond happy i get to share them with the world at this point. //art alfie

maksim dark returns to his spiritual home of senso sounds - oliver huntemanns much touted imprint for his tougher, technoid leanings. maksim, born in serov, russia, has created an indelible impression over the course of his young career, and ‘movement is clearly the next step on his road to very great things. ‘attack disco is true to form - a lean, mean and tough to the bone piece of techno with a driving, powerful edge. growling, snarling synths sound like shards of metal ripping through the groove producing an intense vibe. ‘coordinate is a notch more reserved, but builds a killer, hypnotic groove through stripped back elements, before maksims off-kilter sound design provides the trippy topping. the title track ‘movement fits its name - the track bursts with energy and atmosphere, propelled by a thick, tactile rhythm and pitched down, demonic vocal by the man himself.

desroi debuts on avian. shifted s avian label returns to fore with a heady, five track offering from german producer, desroi. in keeping with the label s finely tuned aesthetic concerns, the music draws from a reduced palette – keeping the colours muted & the tone driven and direct, focusing instead on drawing out pleasing textures & subtle rhythmic anomalies via intricate use of delay and reverb, to arrive at a sweet spot between dance-floor potency & the more cerebral posits of the techno genre. tethered at the base by cavernous low end, heady drum machine programming drives the work – often married with a single warping synth motif shifting about the sonic periphery, modulated carefully across the course of the recording s run time to create both moments of heads down introspection & outright hysteria. like much of the best work on the label, the music has a diy quality that belies its complexity, but at the same time lends to its undoubted effectiveness. desroi s ability to harness the full force of such a limited collection of elements is testament to the producer s skill as an artist within the genre, creating a powerful sense of cohesion on his avian debut.

in the studio prototype 909 was a group that rarely agreed on a clear idea of exactly what they were trying to accomplish. the entire project was an experiment, and every time they hit record there was nothing better for them to do than to just try stuff. whenever it came time to put together an album they would go through what they had recently done and nd the tracks that seemed to fit together well, or that at least sounded like they were made by the same group. that left on the cutting room foor some really amazing worst that somehow just didnt fit their goals at the time. at schmer, we remember. p-909 leftovers have schmer written all over them. these four tracks were all recorded live in the studio in between their three studio albums 93-97. brenecki ( half of ontal ) provided his remix inspired by one of them. hyperdrive and -datafash- were recorded shortly after acid technology was released in 93. they come from the -lets make acid technology vol 2 approach-. that would have made a really cool record had they done it but they decided on making transistor rhythm instead. anoisenyc aka the tracs that dietrich hates is what you get when you let jason go nuts on a doepfer maq-16 ( they never made that mistake again ). bobo is possibly the most prototypical p-909 tracks ever: it took three guys making their own tracks simultaneously almost ignoring what the others were doing but somehow mixing them into a flow to make this one, but it all comes together nicely in the end. its amazing that they never released it before. you ve enjoyed the wait, now enjoy your new prototype 909 while it still is new!

cong burn continues to exercise one of the most promising instincts for future-minded music on this, their third release. it s surprising they haven t done more previously, considering the maturity of their curation, but either way the quality remains at an all time high here, leading in with some light and liquefied 4/4 sonics from chekov before pirouetting into one of duckett s illustrious abstractions around the techno blueprint. label regular lack is back on side b with the stern and punchy -track 3,- and then haddon finishes the record off with -anabiosis,- a densely textured, slow creeping trip of a track.

it’s been a while since we put out the last keinemusik solo ep. but here we are. after -you are safe-, the longplay joint venture of all the keinemusik fellas and a whole lot of people remixing that very material, here’s a new two-tracker showcasing what’s going on these days in adam port’s sphere of interest.

the very first release of 2018 from eureka!, is the well known parisian sampling master s3a (sampling as an art) with his perfect definition between underground quality emotional house music and dancefloor efficiency. he released from lazare house records, hold youth, concrete music, local talk, phonogramme and faces and with his background culture based on a solid knowledge of house music, soul, funk made him one of the most promising house artist of the french scene. mountain charr contains 3 tracks in completely different styles. doop doop is definitely a sound of s3a, with characteristic vocal cut up by adding powerful horn section and melodic piano loop. emotional m1 is classic yet warm and cosy low deep groove track that is playable regardless of a time or place, from lounge to dancefloor. to complete the package we have denials , a more down tempo offering, but its melody is fascinating and yes, sexy. this ep definitely brings you his predominant sense of sampling.

botanic records presents let love kill: a new ep by experimental malaysian drummer reza othman, otherwise known as rao. fully-formed but deliberately unpolished, the release presents itself as a meditation of found sounds, ambient samples and ultimately enthralling diy sonic landscapes.

opening track in the b kicks off proceedings in no uncertain fashion. it s 100% wall shaker material, the type of techno music best paired with strobe lights and towering speaker stacks. it mesmerises with its low-slung undulating bassline and detroit rhythms before giving way to some riotous old school essex stabs and sharp claps. no messing, this is a certified 3 am red light burner! track 2 chocolate biscuit accelerates proceedings! beginning with unfussy drums and a robotic, bleep-heavy melody driving it off into a wonderfully off-kilter direction. its arpreggio d rhythms may be brutish and wrestle a growling sense of menace out of the track, but the overall feel, however, suggests considerable care and attention has been paid to make it sound this way. there s clearly an uncommon musicality at play here to make something this complex feel so simple. the bpm drops next on jenny s hall but from the offset, there s enough funk and thrust in the motorised synth line to get bodies gently grooving without the beauty getting lost in the slower loop. this is blissed out, psychotropic techno - the kind of track where it feels like you re floating and falling at the same time, but all the while making sure you still remain fit for purpose on the dancefloor. ian blevins takes on remix duties this time and the berlin-based dj/producer offers up a sleek peak-time banger that fizzes, bubbles and percolates. he gives the rhythm on jenny s hall less space to swing and ties it to a tight motorik beat turning it into a slice of shiny, modern techno but with extra shoulder-checking force. its vibe drawing from a sense of outsider-party fun with a wry smile, and a knowing wink running throughout before bringing the package to a suitably left of field crescendo.

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

we’ve always loved their records, but this time around there’s something maybe even more incredible - this instant classic vibe that rings out right from the very first note, as the voices of the singers trade back and forth, and blend - and the instrumentation follows suit with this subtle weaving of acoustic and electric elements. remastered reissue on 180 gram vinyl.

in the era of the brand, kutiman is an anomaly. a musician who’s a video artist who’s a producer who’s an animator who’s also the unwilling star of one of israel’s most successful recent documentaries, his every record contrasts with whatever it was that came before. but that’s fundamental to his appeal: no one, not even him, really knows what to expect next. unsurprisingly, therefore, ‘don’t hold onto the clouds’ is no different, which means it’s like nothing he’s ever done. most artists would acknowledge this by working under pseudonyms, but kutiman is – yes, you’ve guessed it – different again. “if i changed my name every time i wanted to do something new,” he laughs, “i think i’d have too many names!”

repress , s.o.n.s is back with the last instalment of the -t.o.k.y.o- series. this time it is a double 12- called shin-okubo one night stand. this record is made to be played using a turntable at home, at your friend s birthday party or at your uncle s wedding. club use is possible too but no refund will be granted if you clear the floor. disclaimer: this record is not made to practice karaoke. this record is not made to replace the wheel of your bicycle, and using this record for this purpose can be harmful. no refund will be granted if the record or his owner is damaged this way

gothika shade has been a long time fan and supporter of kniteforce records since the very earliest days. not only is he a man of fantastic taste (obviously) but he is also very much the producer of proper old skool. with a sound that touches on early jungle, 95 style hardcore both dark and light, his sonic mixtures are truly something to be reckoned with. this ep lays down his mandate with effortless style, showing a range but never leaving the key touchstone of proper, break beat hardcore. kniteforce style.

when it comes to deep and soulful inspired house grooves with a touch of sweat and grit we like so much, few comes close to soulphiction. this four track ep got that and more. ear-grabbing opening track bizzness starts things off in classic soulphiction mode with its deliciously bass-heavy funk stomp. cart people is a fine slice of deep house going deeper and deeper as the groove develops. the first track on the flip, slow glow , brings warm vibes and great melodies together in a clever way. finally sweet dreams is another fine example of house music that is deep, full of soul and comfortingly loose, mr fingers style but done the soulphiction way.

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

chicago house pioneer dj sneak and russian export tripmastaz have proven themselves to be a formidable pairing since their first ep landed on sneak’s imprint, i’m a house gangster, in 2014. in july, they add to their joint discography with a three-tracker dispatch on cassy’s burgeoning label, kwench records. the label’s sixth release, cassy takes a step back and gives this collaborative duo yet another outlet to showcase their dancefloor fodder, which follows releases on kaluki music, mr. nice guy, reptile dysfunction, ovum recordings and, of course, i’m a house gangster. extraterrestrial intelligence reminds fans of not just their deftness in producing tough house cuts, but also their prowess at manipulating the roland tb-303 to deal a solid smacking of acid. ‘ufo’ reaches out to roughen up the humanoids of this planet with the 303’s distinctive squelch and those clattering drum machine rhythms – a track that’s guaranteed to get you twisted. gruff vocals on ‘click thang’ break through as a tough bassline ensures your participation on the floor, and ‘last daze of dizko’ maintains momentum with a thumping bassline that any peak-time burner should possess.

here it is ! the long-awaited new lp from former dubtribe soundsystem shaman sunshine jones far from basking in bay area bliss, sunshine has been busy redefining his organic approach to music making and sound synthesis into a rich and textured fresh take on the house blueprint - best realised in his elaborate & ever-evolving live shows. assembling these improvised pieces into a cohesive whole, that might well just be the best vinyl based representation off a full night out you re likely to hear this year. from the emotive opener to last year s anthemic fall in love, not in line closer, home represents the fluid but refined garden of sound that s grown from dubtribe s rich 90 s foundation. the artwork on this splendidly presented gatefold lp is a photograph of sunshine performing live at the garden party in san francisco by the holy mountain, the collage is done by sunshine and the design is by fernando_graphicos. accompanied by detailed track notes, with all equipment used to make the record alongside sonic schematic. man and machine aligned for total transcendence ! single gatefold lp

“choose life” is both the album apostille chose to make and had to make. he dialled down the clown, built up a new-found confidence in his voice and melody in general and began to feel more at home in the refuge of pop music (with a capital p). as kasparis explains “choose life began as a chronicle of a bad time. many of the songs were written as some sort of catharsis, an escape from a tumultuous couple of years. the album title was intended as ironic at first but as the writing process went on the album began to feel more playful, i was finding revelatory threads in it i hadn t intended. choose life became an imperative.” all the truest pop music speaks to us of escape and through this new album apostille allows its transformative power to fully manifest. it’s an album full of life and energy, as disobedient as it is heroic in its pursuit of liberation.
pressing on translucent red vinyl, comes with download code included.

the label’s latest offering comes from hamilton himself, who teams up with panick panick! label owner noha, offering a collaborative ep that is a fitting snapshot into the work of both individuals. the nohamilton ep gets underway with ‘lip service’, a rough-and-ready track with firm emphasis on a grinding, hypnotic loop that easily surpasses your average dj tool. highly finessed and progressing steadily, it’s the perfect example of how to do less with more. looking towards more sun-kissed planes, the duo deliver the ep s a2 track, a more heads- down cut that’s loaded with good-time grooves from the get go. sure to work a charm whenever it’s unleashed, ‘bored of life’ serves up an intriguing insight into both producers’ boundless studio output. romanian duo sit culminate matters with their ‘lip service’ rework. consisting of cristi cons and vlad caia, the pair have been excelling consistently, with both their resident advisor mix and latest release on the iconic sushitech label proving a potent reminder of this. taking the listener down the rabbit hole once more, they inject archie hamilton & noha s original with an eerie sheen, also adding an off-kilter baseline that’s hard not to get lost in. a suitably groove-led but unconventional interpretation, it closes off the ep with the sort of distinction we’ve come to expect from moscow.

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