techno and acid excursions by the chicago icon dj skull on the new elorf imprint. incl special remixes by dj shufflemaster, gari romalis, lello di franco & angelo perna.

so you thought u-trax was all about fancy, state-of-the-art, absolutely undanceable, hard-to-understand, semi-intelligent techno? well, you’re absolutely right, but this u-trax-release is just not! produced by german heinrich tillack, these tick trax volume 1 are just the good old way of making techno. raw & uncomplicated, in the tradition of the chicago underground.

marcellus pittman s is back with his second ep of 2018 on his own unirhythm records. the jewel here is pittman s 2007 acidic masterpiece -there s somebody out there- getting the edit treatment from chicago s jamie 326, who whips the original into a hypnotic bender. -something like (a dream)- is an upbeat key-driven vocal house cut in pittman s flowing style with bits of vocals floating over the mix. -breathe beat- is a low key bouncer stripped down to the raw elements with floating synths hovering over a minimal shuffling beat

late night techno, deep house, ambient soundscapes, introspective electro and sci-fi soundtracks with strong influence from the music of detroit and chicago. obscure australian imprint offworld records reactivates after a 21-year hiatus to issue the still tomorrow ep by producer tim jackiw as a label follow-up to the rare science of sound vol 1 touted as one of the best deep techno 12inch singles of the 1990s, reissued in 2016 on the recondite label and now highly sought after by collectors worldwide. a series of archival dat and tape recordings produced in tim’s adelaide-based home studio during the same mid-90’s period as science of sound and the recent memory feedback release on slow life berlin, this 6-track extended play 12inch covers a broad spectrum of electronic sounds including late night techno, deep house, ambient soundscapes, introspective electro and sci-fi soundtracks with strong infl uence from the music of detroit and chicago.

jump trax is another essential piece of early chicago house music crafted by the legendary duane thamm jr back in 1984. fusing together a myriad of influences including early 80s euro pop, italo disco and hi nrg, thamm jr was responsible for helping create and influence the burgeoning house sound that would emanate from the city all throughout the second half of the 1980s. not only were these sounds new and fresh, they were experimental too, jump trax sees the bpm s gradually shift throughout the duration of the tracks seamlessly giving the more adventurous djs out there more ammunition and room to experiment with styles and bpms. a truly visionary approach to production and all recorded and mixed within chicago s city limits by thamm jr at his reel to reel studio located in villa park, illinois. jump trax continues to be as influential today as it was back in 84, with many top dj s still citing the record as a go to, powerful indeed. chicagos still music are proud to present this fully legit, remastered and repressed piece of chicago house history. a truly pivotal record now made available again for 2018. essential sound for those who love the real deal snoozing not advised, og copies of this monster are hard to come by!

for ptx 022.1 we are more than happy to welcome chicago legend dj sneak. -3 d print- is an explicit feminist anthem that will go down in dance music history as a modern take on chicago house with a punk rock attitude. villalobos and einzelkind on remix duty.

exzellente best-of-compilation von roy ayers uno melodic-label, das in den frühen 1980er jahren seine hochphase erlebte. sämtliche tracks sind von roy ayers produziert und komplett neu remastered. während sylvia striplin, eighties ladies und ethel beatty die soul/disco/2step/boogie-seite des labels repräsentieren, stehen bobbi humphrey, justo almario und roy selbst für den jazz/funk/fusion-sound. der sampler endet mit einem der besten momente des labels und den spoken words von rick holmes.

acht jahre müssen gefeiert werden: kompilation zu ehren des “best chicago dance music label not based in chicago”.

excellent phunky chicago house ... four biggies

craftily executed, classy blend of jacking chicago & classic detroit schooled techno

craftily executed, classy blend of jacking chicago & classic detroit schooled techno, ltd cover version - only 1 per customer

following hivers excellent ep, let recordings again welcomes american dj and producer jon hester to their imprint. currently based in berlin but with previous spells in chicago and minneapolis, he returns to the label for a second ep following 2017s communication ep, and other outings on the likes of rekids and dystopian. his adventurous drum programming and high speed techno style kicks things off with radiance, a manically melodic track that takes you on an energetic trip. impermanence is a deeper, more cinematic piece that features rueful pads but still a driving drum line, then stratospheric has huge, hammering kick drums and squelchy synth sounds as well as dancing keys that bring warmth, groove, and soul. last of all, this high class excursion is completed with horizon, delivering barreling drum patterns and edgy pads that trap you in suspense as it races on. all four tracks deliver a high impact techno sound that very much looks to the future.

by now, chicago s home of the ghetto house movement, dance mania, should need no introduction!

*** check b2: !!! *** bath-come-london party purveyors, origins, take to channelling some of their creativity into the creation of their own origins label. at the helm for the debut release is bristolian up-and-comer tommosini. having heard move d unleash the beauty of another dimension at freerotation last year, origins knew they had to find out who the mastermind behind this deep house gem was and the rest, they say, is history. another dimension transports you through the galaxies via a combination of dreamy pads, crisp percussion, full-bodied bass and those sensual deep tinged vocals. future classic in the making. the a2 i dont stop carries on the u.s flavoured deep house with a vocal house track that wouldn t be out of place coming from the shores of chicago masterfully intertwining a bumping bassline, soft organs and those introspective, luscious vocals. flip it over and you re treated to two interpretations of another dimension. first up fellow bristol bass badboy, hodge, serves up a signature remix, chopping the vocals and layering them behind a pounding kick and machine gun percussion to give that bass heavy flavour hes become so well known for. deadbeat steps up to close out the ep with a heavyweight techno rework of the original, complete with hypnotic bleeps, phased hats, and intermittent sub bass goodness, all tied together with a driving kick to give a real industrial feel to the remix.

hiwax presents samann -sensation - the remixes-. the 2012 hit (taken from chiwax003) in the rebound with fresh mixes by samann himself, chicago legend virgo four, uttu - boss dj haus and christian lisco! very strong package with four great interpretations.

2018 repress! full official re issue of paul johnsons sex crazed / track happy ep on dance mania. all areas of chicago house covered in pjs unique style.. includes the classic give me ecstasy. full 2016 re master.

italian producer piero pirupa’s musical cv is nothing short of impressive. so it’s no surprise that his next production has found a home on damian lazarus’ crosstown rebels, enlisting the vocal talents of new york’s mr.v. influenced by the sounds of 80s and 90s chicago, pirupa worked tirelessly on this ep to reach a version he was happy with. after seeing the reaction from dancefloors around the world, he decided to send it to carl cox and damian lazarus. we must be (the piano track) breathes new life into today’s dance music with a message from a bygone era. it harks back to the golden age of house music with its lush piano topline and positive message sung by mr.v. happiness simply emanates from this production. with lyrics such as “we must be all in this together, we must live to respect one another” and “this is the plan to make us unified” it takes clubbing back to a time when everyone came together on the dancefloor regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

the very best of kuschelrock volume 6 - 10 on double vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve.

moscow head-honcho archie hamilton teams up with cousin benson herbert for another collaborative ep on the imprint, bosteled via a club ready reshape from s.a.m. having already garnered support from some of the biggest names in minimal house, including raresh and barac, for previous productions, the ‘swerve’ ep is benson’s second, family-affair release on moscow. a promising up and coming talent, benson’s already played some of europe’s most prestigious dancefloors including sub club, fabric and paris’ rex club. as moscow enters its tenth year of releasing the most forward thinking and respected names in house and techno, label boss archie hamilton continues to release across europe’s most highly revered labels, whilst playing the world’s most exciting clubs and festivals including robert johnson, miami music week’s get lost chicago’s spy bar, croatia’s sonus and estonia’s moonland to name a few. ‘swerve’ sets a powerful pace with a rumbling bassline, offset against gorgeously melodic and minimal textures, it’s a roller that will undoubtedly be thriving across dancefloors this summer. informer, is a complex myriad of winding and hypnotic micro-melodies, which serves as a unique and effervescent follow up to the ep’s first track. denmark’s hotly-tipped dj/producer s.a.m is on remix duties for ‘informer’, delivering a jacking slice of dub infused four-four that deftly utilises the haunting riff of the original.

standards & practices is proud to present the inaugural release on its new sister imprint, double standards, from nyc-based producer jake reif (device control). his third release working under this alias, reif manages to amalgamate his dance music obsessions (ebm, bleep techno, chicago house) in a totally unique way that feels fresh and idiosyncratic, avoiding simple genre exercises or nostalgia for the sake of it. pressing on green vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve.

another year on the hitd calendar, another stunning new solo release with brian case plays paradise artificial. this third album somehow manages to compile and condense the best bits of its predecessors, and the magnificent viridian, glacial universe developed by case since the beginning of his solo ventures is brought to the forefront. the chicago artist centres his elusive, dehumanised compositions around two simple, minimal elements. using just vocals and synths, he has created a simultaneously modern and post-apocalyptic soundtrack, where music exists as the final traces of the footsteps of humanity. pressing on translucent yellow vinyl.

uvb-76 music’s latest offering ushers in new blood to the camp in the form of stave. the chicago resident’s ‘atk’ ep sees the tempo submerge to lower depths and the pressure intensify amidst the harsh dynamics and sonic battery that the label is now synonymous for. a four track rhythmic cavort that plays the urge to dance and the allure of subversive nature.

short attention, a new mexican record label, appears for the first time in the vinyl world, with a solid release in charge of chicagodeep co-owner of perpetual rhythms a respected record label from chicago illinois, putting mexico in the radar of underground music.

berlin based electronic mainstay marquis hawkes has announced details of his second lp the marquis of hawkes. the album will be the producers second lp for us, following his critically acclaimed debut social housing for the label, which was released in 2016. entitled the marquis of hawkes, the new album adheres to a specific sound palette whilst still displaying eclecticism across its eight tracks. opening with the beat-less droning ambience of beton theme, the album takes in a variety of themes from across the house music spectrum, from the deep and dubby meditation of instrument of thought to the body jerking rhythms and retro bass stabs of tough love, the introspective mood of the matrix, to the soulful new jersey styled house grooves with a contemporary twist of sunset building through the optimistic joyousness of ‘hope in our hearts before closing with lidells heartfelt and passionate emotional overload on we should be free. first emerging in 2012, after being sought out by glasgow label dixon avenue basement jams, and having previously been heavily involved with the free festival sound-system culture, the london born artists iconic sound has taken shape with the influence of music from cities like chicago, detroit and new york alongside the uks underground house scene. with both depth and clarity of vision, marquis hawkes second album for houndstooth expertly hones a shining hybrid of classic slamming house and grittily soulful optimism, making for a career-defining piece of work.

jeremiah jae (aka black daffi) is an experimental hip-hop artist born and raised on the south side of chicago. he is a visual artist, producer, emcee and founding member of black jungle squad, a music collective consisting of close friends and family. early works by jae dating back to 2007, display his unique style and approach to crafting his own version of “hip-hop”. the genre is one of many foundations the artist uses to communicate his range of styles as shown on previous self-released albums, compilations and collaborations (holy smoke, oliver the 2nd, l’orange, cohenbeats, pbdy), as well as praiseworthy offerings on brainfeeder and warp records. with his newest solo album daffi, jae expands on his production and speaks in the persona of his alter ego to express a darker side.

andrea fiorito returns with a 4 tracks of solid old school chicago flavoured house. of course andrea always keeping on track with his signature off kilter arrangements leading his listeners down a different path of groove discovery with every play.

and now for something completely different … cgi is extremely excited to present the proof of concept ep from shanghai-via- chicago’s osheyack. these are productions with a weight and freshness that we at cgi have not previously encountered. while on a small us tour in june 2016, osheyack played a set in atlanta and thoroughly blew everyone in the room away with a mastery of rhythm, sound, and arrangement that is uncanny. we approached osheyack after the gig for demos and what we received was as dense and inspiring as the live set. words don’t do this sound justice but it’s perhaps most fun to close your eyes and imagine a demonic cirque-du-soleil-esque techno marching band stomping through the graveyard of your dreams and resurrecting all of the wasted souls to stomp on their graves in a frenzied trance...

time flies as the saying goes and indeed it has as quintessentials celebrates its 10 year anniversary. for a decade this mighty label has been getting some true love and support from all quarters. listening to the back catalogue now, most of the tunes still sound fresh and keep the label s famous deep, raw and real- motto alive. quintessentials has always been a platform for new talents as well as established artists, and with he likes of anton zap, vakula, baaz, the zohar, mcde, nicolas, ugly drums, toby tobias, borrowed identity, mat chiavaroli, 4004, soul of hex, s3a, los goddard, felipe gordon, javonntte……to name but a few, it s an enviable back catalogue. this -ten years quintessentials- compilation offers a wide range of styles: detroit inspired techno and house, a ruff chicago stomper, some proper deep house, a discoish tool, and crafty beats and basslines all over! we hope you enjoy this compilation as much as we do. we are ready for the next decade! are you?

longevity is promised to no one. we literally live to die, and even great masters perish without saying what they needed to say while they’re among the breathing. most of us leave this earth too full, and the grim reality is artistic careers are usually short-lived. chicago footwork godfather rp boo has fought long and hard to evacuate his mind of all he can throughout his long career, spanning over 30 years since cutting his teeth djing for the legendary house-o-matics.

the mbo theme represents one of the first hits on the early days of chicago house movement. now came back with the plus of the unreleased italian version (on the side b instead of the unnecessary radio cut). this project is being managed by mario boncaldo the same man behind some other great italo-disco projects like tullio de piscopo - stop bajon and plastic mode - baja imperial today is enriched with this unreleased edit produced by mario himself back in the days and availabel only on the studio tape this cut is more heavy and club oriented because there are no vocals so there is more space for synth and bassline parts, a must play for every set!

echodroides is a collaboration between chicago natives frank de la mora & miguel martin. their sound can be described as a trip through space with analog synthesizers and drum machines. they came together in 2011 first working on remixes then shortly after decided to work on original material. their music has been featured in tv shows, movies, promotional videos from peugeot, fashion labels and the ubisoft video game, watch dogs. for this special and limited release they re-created a track from 80s us studio project, experimental products, - paying tribute to -glowing in the dark- original and an instrumental. (words from the artists) experimental products has always been a massive influence on us from the very 1st time we heard them back in the 80s. glowing in the dark, in particular changed everything for us. mark wilde and michael gross were way ahead of their time. we wanted to pay tribute to them by re-creating this song from scratch.

chicago’s noble square recordings jetsets to europe for an incredible compilation. the a side is anaxander’s boogie-centric “street slang” & the snuff crew’s unique breaks vibe “pleasant journey-. isoul8 aka volcov & ric miranda on the roland heavy-groove “p boogie” on the flip. stickered

limited and numbered reissue on virgin 180 gram double vinyl. housed in a gatefold sleeve with cd-copy included.

the fifth instalment of mike dunn’s ‘we r tuesday nights’ series finds the phreaky one digging deeper into the vaults to give you three more killer disco tracks, edited to perfection by the chicago master.

for the first in a series of reinterpretations of material from linkwood s superb expressions album, firecracker recordings has turned to chicago deep house veterans ghosts of the sky (aka perpetual rhythms chicagodeep and taelue), and fast-rising machine abusers nummer. the latter dive into an aquatic techno tip, turning the becalmed and melancholic love lost into a techno-tempo stroll through vintage carl craig chords, sweaty machine percussion, and yearning melodies. theres a warmer and heavier, if surprisingly stripped back, feel to ghosts of the sky s version of object, with spluttering electronics and sumptuous chords stretching out over a rich synth bassline and hissing, cymbal-heavy groove.

border-breaking album by international collective featured shawn lee - london based american producer/composer/musician - and the soul surfers - heaviest russian soul/psych funk band. the result is boundless soul and psychedelic funk music from the future. deep in raw grit and musical exploration. this album crosses both: genre, age and world politics. it proves that music is truly the international language and it’s not where you’re from, but where you’re at.

south london label and party series troy town is proud to present the first release in 3 years from warren brown aka wbeeza, insanely talented south london producer and 1st generation pioneer of what has become affectionately known in dance music as the peckham sound . djs, producers and musicians such as henry wu, bradley zero and chaos in the cbd have added to the wealth of a deeply musical community but it was the likes of brown and another se15 local, el-prevost, who first put the area on the dance music map. although he s resistant to using the word house too often about his music, the swing nods to detroit and chicago while the links to friends and collaborators, delano smith, mike agent x clark and scott grooves are clear. progressing through a musical heritage that has seen him produce across grime, hip-hop, drum n bass and techno but it s his signature low slung, heavy-on-groove and atmosphere productions that have garnered the respect of peers and critics whilst his popular and energetic live sets have seen him tour extensively around the world for the past 8 years. this 3-track ep covers a variety of moods and situations. opening with the od, a heady march to peak time on the dancefloor which has featured heavily in live sets over the last 2 years. the bassline bubbles tantalisingly as it edges through a kinetic, digital riff that sticks with you long after the lights go up. grove park is so low slung that the snare sounds like it might fall out of sync at any moment while the lead synth leads you on a drunk walk home, at times holding it s line before stumbling over a pitch bend and veering to find its balance. bizzle boogie is equal parts gritty, midwest-influenced bounce track and shimmering eyes closed rave moments.

timothy j fairplay with the first release on nyc label body works. 4 tracks of electro madness with influences ranging from new wave, italo, gigolo/ebm, chicago (acid house & early industrial) & 1890s haunted brothel vibes.

as well as all the jazz and funk, best italy are also dab hands at digging out italo disco gems that pretty much qualify as proto house jams for their heavy spinning by the seminal chicago djs like ron hardy. this essential transmission from amnesie is a fine case in point, a one hit wonder originally released in 1983 appropriately enough on proto records. now turas makes a welcome return, sounding resplendent in both vocal and instrumental versions, but the real treat for the dedicated diggers is the previously unreleased dub version mixed by legendary dj tony carrasco. thats the jam that will have eclectic spinners getting in a lather.

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.

offical re issue 2018 ultra-rare proto-house vibes from chicago courtesy of still music. this one s long been coveted by followers of the jacking beat, the apostles of wbmx. produced by mike macharello & duane thamm jr this is a truly unique record and one that is very hard to obtain. if you dig the earliest grooves from the windy city, or you have a passing interest in italo or freestyle then this is for you! a fully legit 12- reissue, taken from still music s recent, comprehensive overview of the let s dance label this is unmissable.

new mathematics & steve poindexter presents chicago native aboriginal househead scientifictodd. feel some type of way features classic house with a side of grind and tight pump grooves with a relief records & early sound signature vibe. strong release

seven piece boogie band from chicago with their debut on star creature featuring peak floor filler lets not start a fight on the a side plus a nice cover of e lives do me like that on the flip. uptempo party funk just in time for the summer.

the chicago edit kings are back with 4 ultra deep disco cuts chopped for your listening pleasure...strong stuff enjoy! limited release...

amsterdam based luuk van dijk is welcomed into the hot creations fold this july with his heavy-hitting parallax e.p. chicago production wizard dj skull is also on board to rework the b-side. title track parallax is set to cause a serious stir at festivals and clubs alike this summer. the smattering of high-hats elevate the track as the space-like beeps and blips add another facet. on the flip, dimension applies an ominous vocal stab as the bass rumbles — perfect for low ceiling basement raves. on the remix, dj skull adds a touch of chicago class via some softer vocals, dubby chords and a pounding bass. at the tender age of 22, luuk van dijk has been signed to acclaimed labels such as viva music, roush, food music, sanity and lost records. championed by stalwarts such as steve lawler and eats everything, he has taken his sound to some of the world’s most prestigious events. ron maney aka dj skull became known for being one of the first djs to play the new sound coming out of chicago, honing his craft at the infamous music box and power plant. releasing records since the early 90s, he later launched his own labels hypnotic tones and wax candy records. recent releases have appeared on chiwax, domina trxxx and mentha records.

the 1990 s was an incredible decade for techno - especially if you bought the releases being pressed and then shipped globally on a weekly basis out of birmingham in the uk.

simple elements -9.2%- originally came out on ideal trax in 1997 and over the years has become a holy grail among underground dj s and record collectors.
nicky b, the artist behind the simple elements moniker and resident dj from long running techno mecca, the house of god, has decided to re:release the original double pack on his new label, prisoner of sound records.

this double pack is a collection of the first tracks nicky ever wrote and is an insightful glimpse into the mind of an artist drawing upon a pool of influences, taking in jazz, funk, soul, electro, chicago house and detroit techno - you can listen to the influences at work throughout the six tracks, transporting your senses off world, into the deep realms and forgotten worlds of a vintage future.

90 s electro-punk project based in chicago after janis sils emigrated from riga, latvia. self built instruments to create an trash and solid industrial sound. influenced by label wax trax! & bands like laibach, nine inch nails, front 242 ... the world of u.s.o.c.a. reflects a strong talk to military minds. something straight with no breathe. a uniting calling for masses

salsoul records have always stayed one step ahead of the game. since the labels inception in the early 1970 s the imprint s focus has been firmly fixed on presenting the most cutting edge dance music sounds and in the process the label has been instrumental in creating legends and shaping the landscape of contemporary club culture throughout the original disco era and beyond. it comes as no surprise that many of todays labels and artists cite salsoul as a fundamental influence on them and their output. the labels music has been endlessly rediscovered, sampled, re-edited and appreciated over and over again, your favourite dj s and selectors undoubtedly reach for tracks from the catalogue each time they play. this is why salsoul continue to collaborate with the best labels and artists out there today.

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.