• the return of the welsh wizard, dez williams !
• earwiggle is the techno label from sunil sharpe
• our next release sees the welcome return of dez williams. since his first ep on the label in 2013, a lot has happened for the welsh wizard. releases for shipwrec, bedouin, new flesh and bass agenda have followed, while his reputation as a killer live act has continued to grow. opening with lumphammer, dez harks back to a time when big, brooding basslines were king. add in whistling keys, tribal percussion and a few well-timed breakdowns, and you have what is surely one of his biggest tracks to date. order to fight takes a more aggressive route - a vocal-fused slab of raw acid, it leads nicely onto the flip, where kabin feeva s wild roaring synths are tuned specifically for the headstrong. work like crazy meanwhile, sees dez return to his roots with a bass heavy cut of crunched electro, doused in a dark filtered vox.

from 90 s to now, electronic music at his largest point. some dark sounds between techno, acid, electro and noise. apocalyptic music of future, from england to new-york,with a track from 90 s producer, jason szostek.

why making a techno record in 2016? in the vast stream of new releases and the everlasting quest of new musical boundaries, blint002 tries to focus on the essentials of pattern-based clubmusic. both tracks started as late night studio jams, using only a drummaschine, a synth and some pedals. while 92 avenue ended up being a straightfoward technotrack, including a massive breakdown for everybody still awake and dancing, you have i dont have is incorporating some boomy hiphop aesthetic without loosing its connection to the dancefloor. both tracks are linked by their unresting synthlines, straying around, trapped in a noisey room full of smoke and distortion. bouncing back to the inital question, the answer with this record seems pretty clear: techno is still nothing but pure dark fun.

with new wake up! ep further apart lerosa s mark of fluent, elemental and strong work offers increasingly deeper sulphuric and acid sounds. down reaching, complex grooves and rhythms give direction into solid moving tracks - where i want to dance. currently located in the emerald isle of ireland, you wonder if context gives form to lerosa s sound, a permanently sodden landscape offering the backdrop. weighty tracks such as terza persona seat layers of digital, organic beats, peals and stabs that contain the same sort of dark nourishment that staring at a black bog in connemara* might evoke. despite its wide, dark tones, lerosa s tracks always contain a dimension of upbeat empathic elements which make it so attractive, the kinda pelvic push and pull where you wish you had the foot work to pelt out some shapes. *connemara is a district in the west of ireland, the boundaries of which are not well defined

with noblesse oblige you find yourself among the aristocracy of the mind and body… it is a gathering of artists with a different heartbeat and mindset… fitting the gooiland elektro spirit as they operate far away from contemporary music standards… not being interested nor moved by trends and hypes… instead they share the mission to produce uncompromising sounds for the real freaks with music both for the dancefloor and the headphone… in this case this means sweaty ebm, dark techno and industrial acid… but that are just some name tags… it is all about the experience…
limited to 250 copies.

finally vol.3 is ready - we continue with bringing house heros to the label - this time we asked nate tinsley aka the nathaniel x project if he wants to join the label, and we were lucky that he say yes. this is real house music, funky deep beats, spoken words, and heavy melodies. high quality all the way. one the remix we brings desos back to the label, his luvless remix had big success, and this remix already has had very good feedback - we can t wait for this vinyl to drop.

wedish born christian smith is sitting firmly at the top of the electronic dance music industry. his outstanding productions over the years have set the bench mark high, releasing on a collection of the industry s most respected labels such as drumcode, cocoon, bedrock, minus and his very own tronic. 2016 has been a busy year so far for christian, his tronic label party series has been holding events worldwide, including the bpm festival and sonar off week, and an ever growing catalogue of releases not forgetting his most recent ep force majeure released in july on drumcode which immediately entered beatports techno top 10, straight in at no.8. this september, christian will release his third solo album titled input-output on his own tronic imprint. consisting of 11 original tracks, each one embodies christians message of creating real techno, with powerful percussions and melodic basslines throughout. input/output is an outstanding production offering some of the best driving techno you can expect from an artist like christian, with his trademark style incorporated in every track. it takes you on a journey, through a variation of sounds and textures, which still manage to cater to everyone s musical palate. synthesizers work their way throughout, alongside dark atmospheric harmonies and haunting vocals or that pounding kick drum in some of the heavier tracks. it never disappoints!

verträumte soundlandschaften, atmosphärische beats, aber auch direkte, cluborientierte sounds für den moment, wo die euphorie einer party alle trägt: der 23jährige dänische produzent sekuoia kreiiert hypnotisierende elektronische musik, die stets warm und organisch ist und veröffentlicht im herbst diesen jahres endlich seinen ersten lanspieler -flac-. seine heimatstadt kopenhagen spielt für sekuoia alias patrick bech-madsen dabei eine durchaus wichtige rolle: vor allem die starke house- und technoszene inspiriert ihn immer wieder. aber nicht nur diese. für kollaborationen hat sich sekuoia mit der experimentellen sängerin kill j und marc roland des poporchesters kentaur vor allem um dänische acts bemüht, die den pop in seiner musik hervorkitzeln. so wird aus -lamp in the dark- ein sinnlicher, vom r&b inspirierter song, während -brace- sich mit roland am gesang zum richtigen ohrwurm entwickelt. und wenn man von patrick hört, dass zu den musikalischen vorbildern four tet und caribou zählen, kann man bei diesem song durchaus auch noch bonobo ergänzen. aber auch die andere seite des spektrums wird von sekuoia noch weiter erforscht - die cluborientiertere.

given the underground acclaim heaped on marie davidson s previous albums - ultra-stylish affairs that blend elements of minimal wave, dark italo-disco, off-kilter electro and moody ambient - it s little surprise to see her popping up on minimal wave offshoot cititrax. the album s nine tracks are largely sharp, rough and fuzzy, with sparse-but-dense drum machines rhythms underpinning bouncy, delay-laden synth lines, thrusting electronics and davidson s sleazy, spoken word vocals. it s an attractive combination that guarantees thrills throughout, from the almost claustrophobic throb of -denial-, to the mutant electrofunk bounce of -good vibes-.

ltd edition! michele pinna presents a new lp under a fresh moniker and alter ego, time traveler, representing a direct confrontation of the artist s own fear of time as an unrelenting force. the lp, titled ‘i m made of stars / journal’, takes inspiration from conversations between pinna and his father on the topics of galaxies, space and of course, time. these converstions were the starting point for the abstract, futuristic and dark work presented on the new lp. the release also draws on pinna s artistic interests outside of music, presenting a work not just of sound, but one with a coherent visual aesthetic spanning the physical releases of the lp. this visual aesthetic has taken shape through multiple collaborations with the photograpers, stylists and designers nicolas mazzei, danila tkachenko, khourianbeer and cinzia ara

the newest entry in the srr catalogue comes from founder of monolith records and resident of liber null berlin, sirio grimaldi. the release delivers a collection of tracks deeply inspired by human genetics and nanotechnology where in a post-industrial techno conundrum heavy distortion and deep sub frequencies merge together to bring to life a dark, heavy yet delicate avante-garde modern techno intepretation. ken karter and mynude support the release by sharing their interpretations of the two main tracks with hypnotic unorthodox techno rollers.

towards a fearless future…
roberto auser is known for his wide range of sounds and releases on viewlexx and his own ausland label. next to that he is part of kaval (vrystaete). even though his releases until now go from italo disco inspired electro to exotica and dark jazz influenced electronics his production is always rather smooth. for enfant terrible he shows his raw and dirty side. “faceless future” is an old school minimal elektro record done with analogue synths with a real industrial and post-punk attitude. this record pays tribute to (early) cabaret voltaire, (early) front 242 and (later-day) le syndicat electronique. simply minimal electronics as it should sound… rough and unpolished…
limited to 250 copies.

black atlass is quite literally the only artist on earth to soundtrack louis vuitton and yves saint laurent ads while featuring on action bronson songs. this diverse appeal is a testament to the captivating voice of alex fleming, the young singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist and who created black atlass as a vehicle for his unique vocals, heart on-sleeve lyrics and experimental production techniques. following the well-received paris single and young bloods ep (the latter a personal favorite of visionary director woodkid, who created mind-bending visuals for single jewels featuring fleming and supermodel anja rubik) and the three singles released over the past year, haunted paradise, tonight, and island love, black atlass is finally ready to drop his full-length debut.

vinyl exclusive tracks on their third release of 2016, frank & tony streak back onto the scene with one of their most refined efforts yet, ‘harmonia. toms and effervescent drum patterning gets things started nicely on ep opener, seranade. swirling pads, alongside a driving two-note bass, lay the groundwork before siren-like synths call out as an incorporeal voice beckons, bring me all of your dreams, you dreamers. hardrian takes the tempo down, but ramps up the filth, conjuring dark, basement rave vibes with its propelling bass line and cavernous pads. shuffling hi-hats and billowing synths flitter in and out of focus making this one of the duos most hypnotic and psychedelic affairs to date.

limited first pressing of 750 numbered copies on red ketchup & yellow mustard coloured 180 gram vinyl.
sausage party is a brand new animated movie about one sausage’s quest to discover the truth about his existence, a misplaced sausage and his savory friends embark on an existential adventure through the aisles of a massive supermarket in this raunchy animated comedy from seth rogen and evan goldberg.
includes tracks by wham! meat loaf, spandau ballet, eric carmen, jr jr, three dog night & isley brothers.
the score is produced and written by multiple award winner alan menken (pocahontas, beauty and the beast) and christopher lennertz (alvin and the chipmunks).

pampa is ecstatic to welcome berlins mike denhert for his label debut. known for an uncompromising, heads-down approach to moving dance floors, whether as a producer, a dj, or in his live incarnation, mike has provided 2 original tracks that are as distinct as they are relentless, possessed of a cerebral quality that belies their tough and stripped back aesthetic. how close to be is a stuttering march of half heard and half imagined discourse, broken by bright synthesis which disappears before it can fully form, with the disorientating sonics held in check only by the rigidity of rhythm running throughout the tracks length. its both surprising and linear. dark and uplifting. me too is also a creature of opposing ideologies. warped moving jazz plays with static motorik patterns, automation curls around repetition, and textures change position throughout. bright keys warp, and swing ebbs in and flows out, all to an eventually breathless but ultimately compelling sum of these parts

experimental synth quartet survive’s sophomore full-length and relapse debut is a dark, sweeping exercise in analog synth mastery. the pulsating, 9-song instrumental release showcases immense diversity between tracks - rr7349’s compositions range from grim tom-tom thunder to space-age epics, pairing tense plodding grooves with meditative ambience and driving, rhythmic beats. inspired by idm and horror scores alike, rr7349 is simultaneously ominous and hopeful, tense and relaxed, percussive and melodic. additionally, two of the group’s members recently scored the soundtrack for the hit new sci-fi / horror show stranger things on netflix. rr7349 is a unique addition to the relapse discography, and unquestionably survive’s best work to date.
the vinyl release includes a download code.

the fourth episode of d.a.n.c.e. (detector for advanced neutron capture experiments), the various artists series of attic music, presents only italian artists. on a side unc shows us his vision of techno with an obsessive sound track. distorted drums and dark pads for the second track by assalti industriali (luciano lamanna and cosimo damiano). on b side pvs writes a real journey with a ten minutes track where 4/4 and broken beat meet pads and melody.

after amazing releases on moan, serkal, zoo lab and his own innoncent music, aney f. lands on cellaa music with a smashing ep titled new system”.

berlin-based dj and techno producer savas pascalidis has been steadily making his mark in underground electronic music circles since his first releases in the mid-90s. born in south germany and later moved to berlin, the well-traveled dj has been among the restless and classically minded members of the dance music community over the last decades. he developed skills that led him into producing records and made a name for himself with a series of dark, loopy and groove driven dancefloor orientated techno music. pure and simple. his releases earned him a reputation for being something of a dance music purist.

dark ambient/synth lp for belgiums first long animated picture! teenage horror cult from flanders. full cartoon art, comes with download code. tip! this is the maiden vinyl voyage for ghent s maverick internet broadcasting crew, stroom. watch out

deep breath records strikes again with it’s third release. this time the music comes from the austrian duo brunau. the ep also comes with two big remixes from lucio (get physical, material, the factoria, stereo production, time has changed, serkal, deeperfect) and anton djaneiro (witty tunes, kinetika records, king street sounds, jekos music). this ep is a mix of techno with deep and dark which makes it all vey complete.
the ep has got the support from: steve lawler, joseph capriati, paco osuna, marco carola, richie hawtin, sammy w & alex e, massimo cassini, tripio x, reelow, diwex, danielle nicole among others.

the second release on tb arthurs (312) label finds the mysterious artist revealing a collaborative project with magda as blotter trax. the pair first encountered each other at the famous motor city record store record time, when detroit artist bmg introduced his then co-workers magda and derek plaslaiko to arthur, who was visiting the shop from chicago. sometime after that meeting, magda and arthur went into the studio and jammed together for a week, the session was recorded live on analog 1/4 tape and then three tracks were selected for release. 1a is six and a half minutes of modulated synth sounds that are psyched out and sci-fi, spooky and truly atmospheric. full of cerebral cinematism, acid lines and ghoulish textures all add up to a truly standout track. 2a then marries dark wave pops and clicks, unsettling alien lifeforms and menacing, slo motion industrial drums into a physical and imposing groover riddled with paranoid sirens and drones. last of all, 2b snakes and slithers its way through undulating drums, cosmic freakiness and gloopy synth sounds that are all seductive and subversive in equal measure. this, then, is a truly fascinating pairing.

after a year from his debut ep on rlgn the artist that hides behind the srndr acronym has again something to say. “forward from past lives” is his last exploration into the conscious, memories and mind. dark, visceral and uncompromising as usual the track takes the pulsating elements already present in his frst work to a next level, stimulating a sort of hypnosis in the audience. juho kusti take over the b-side this time with a stunning personal reinterpretation of the title track that rewards the patient listener.
comes with handstamped a4 insert.

nice price deal !!! michele pinna presents a new lp under a fresh moniker and alter ego, time traveler, representing a direct confrontation of the artist s own fear of time as an unrelenting force. the lp, titled ‘i m made of stars / journal’, takes inspiration from conversations between pinna and his father on the topics of galaxies, space and of course, time. these converstions were the starting point for the abstract, futuristic and dark work presented on the new lp. the release also draws on pinna s artistic interests outside of music, presenting a work not just of sound, but one with a coherent visual aesthetic spanning the physical releases of the lp. this visual aesthetic has taken shape through multiple collaborations with the photograpers, stylists and designers nicolas mazzei, danila tkachenko, khourianbeer and cinzia ara

the debut full ep from the diamond sublimating duo might catch you off guard. a record that is earthy and dark yet somewhat ethereal, this 002 for the new label comes in steaming. recorded by the hungarian duo on csepel island of budapest, -the heat is on- grinds and swirls through expertly crafted blends of house, techno and breakbeat to deliver a body of work that will suit dancefloors at the same time as solo introspection. remixes from london’s altered natives and budapest native mate tollner slot in perfectly, each providing their respective take on the homegrown soundscaping that is diamond sublimating. the heat is on!

eyetone returns with 005 which deviates away from the exploratory vibes probed in the previous release which was well received and instead shifts right back with intent for the dance floor. an ep which is very much a greek affair, featuring two deep, dubby cuts from la based greek producer maheras and a special extended techno piece by newcomer to the scene artemis soy. maheras sound spits a hybrid of sounds that range from dark techno, groovy disco and soulful house. expanding his personal style by working under new aliases with talented vocalists and collaborating in projects such as cazion and plastic love, maheras continues to explore the vast sphere of electronic music without any limits.

excellent deep, dark and dubby tracks!

curiosity music is very proud to release its very first ep produced by one of the best techno/minimal artists in the world, the globe-trotter alexi delano, with the collaboration of the much talented marcus henriksson aka nobody home, member of the legendary duo minilogue. and last but not least, the contribution of nima khak, one of the worthiest representatives of the new swedish scene. devotees of analogic and jam sessions, our three experienced artists give us a mature and intense ep. stay tuned, get into the loop!s * lodestar bang (original mix)* is a tense and hypnotic anthem dedicated to insanity and astonishment amateurs. * exodus (original mix)* is a harmonically destructured and tribal track for disorientated maniacs. * exodus (nobody homes way out remix)* is a tense, uncanny and worrisome remix with unsettling dark incantations. * exodus (nima khak remix)* is an authentic techno remix illustrated with primitive apparitions, definitely designed for dancefloors. * exodus (nima khaks vibe mix)* is a rhythmic and space mix, ideally suited for escape devotees. this track is exclusively available on the vinyl release.

inspired by many of the industry’s pioneers, such as, ricardo villalobos, masomenos, marc antona, rhadoo, seuil, cabanne, petre inspirescu and danny tenaglia, to name but a few, counrad has been strongly influenced by deep and meaningful techno, since he began his plight in the industry. music has always been at the forefront, for this italian dj/producer , and the inwave and counrad series labels boss relishes the challenge of crafting techno that reveals itself gradually to the more discerning listener, fusing a multitude of grooves from contrasting musical styles, with a combination of sexy rhythms, subtle textures and emotive melodies. in this first release for metroline limited, counrad showcases the full spectrum of his versatile production skills. the title track underwater is a full on 15 minutes epic chunky minimal monster that just keeps on building. this amazing piece of work takes the listener on a journey that starts with hypnotic minimalism and finishes with some intricate trippy techno. on the flipside you can find the dark and percussive peak time tech-house grooves of particle collsisions and some uber-cool modern machine funk minimalism in the shape of the closing track synapse.

complexx music is back in 2016 with an amazing and huge release concerning to a very special anniversary.

ukrainian techno artist yan cook is swiftly turning into one of planet rhythm’s usual suspects. the follow up to this years xx lp comes in the form of a 12” package called “loophole ep” 4 deep and dark techno cuts that represent the yan cook sound to the fullest. expect swells, cleverly placed arps that are all part of his rhythm driven signature sound.

flug005 various release from ssergiu, julian, sumau and iquar vale, techno notes for dancefloor and single listening.

one of the most intense tunes by sven sossong’s album „atropa is lifted for this remix-ep - „world . the original is warm and spheric breaks-techno piece of art, but now we are coming up with 4 strong remixes. frankfurt-based frank savio adds a solid groove and restages the main theme into a powerful peaktime remix. the welderz from paris give the next contribution. they released on labels like flash rec., analytic trail rec. and sleaze, and here they are in the game with a dark and driven interpretation. two further remixes are done by the close environment of sossong: kenny b and daniel cuminale. both catching up the epic mood and define the track newly by bringing in the personal notes. it rocks!

blue marbled vinyl with handmade stamps and free sticker, inspired by jules verne’s “20.000 leagues under the sea” ... deap-sea monsters and fear of the dark side! vinyl only - no digital release or promo!

ltd ed to 200 copies, 4 tracks of dark and deep atmospheric deep techno from underground artist called * sum of things*.... first release of mb-labworks. each cover is numbered by perforation.

produced by paris-based group dasein, pays sans visage is an audiovisual work which takes us at the heart of a nuclear disaster. its ambient/drone oriented soundtrack gets a reinterpretation by four producers bringing their own personal set of influences : deikean s stripped-down techno, cyberlife s deconstructed style, yan kaylen s dreamlike exploration, and nulpar s ambiguous intricate rhythms. a post-apocalyptic sounding ep filled with dark visions and dubbed-out intentions.

italian producer dj octopus steps up for the sixth release on vinyl only imprint shall not fade, with his mechanical, percussion heavy ‘the internet’ ep. marco zanin aka dj octopus first came onto the scene in 2013 with a string of releases on respected imprints such as&#894,, hot haus, chiwax, hardmoon & love notes. since then his sound has evolved and progressed massively, now resulting in a distinctive brand of warm soulful, analogue heavy house music. the four track ep, features club friendly cuts best suited for a dark dancefloor.

we are very happy to announce the debut release of red axes on endless flight. maybe they are our most favorite artist at the moment. a side bubble cat is killer tropical house and b side ha jaka is crazy dark trippy stuff,if you like the production of barnt,you will love it

munich based pair jorkes are something of an enigma, having appeared on the scene recently with a fully formed sound and a desire to let their music do the speaking for them. musically the duo seem to be operating with few boundaries, looking to express their emotional states through their music with scant consideration for styles or genres. this latest release sees jorkes team up with fellow munich resident and vocalist karol schmejchel to deliver a slice of evocative, slo-mo nu-disco. the release kicks of with the original mix of thank you, marrying chugging drums and warm bass with stirring pads and the emotionally charged vocals of schmejchel. its a perfect track for dark backrooms and home lounging alike. the remix comes from manchester trio menage a trois who deliver a sonical beautiful reworking built around heartwrenching keys and heavily reverbed guitar parts. simple understated drums carrying the record along as their vocal treatment soars towards the heavens, this is sublime stuff. the vinyl release will also feature an exclusive instrumental of the menage a trois mix for those who like things a little more stripped back. in keeping with jorkes creative outlook, and following on from their previous release, there will be an exclusive music video of thank you forthcoming which is likely to set pulses racing once again! thanks for purchasing a real copy!

nach 20 veröffentlichungen von stammkünstlern unseres labels, freuen wir uns enorm auf unser nächstes release von keinem geringeren als roman lindau, der sich mit seinen herausragenden platten für fachwerk längst einen soliden namen im techno underground gemacht hat. mit “strange brew” beweist roman lindau nun einmal mehr seine unumstrittene stärke, klassische elemente des house mit warehouse-inspiriertem techno einwandfrei zu verschmelzen. diese platte ist zweifelsohne ein tadelloses beispiel seiner musikalischen bandbreite sowie seines talentes als produzent.

vrac aka andrei ciubuc & vlad radu are back on subtil. the release features two tracks, titled repattern and default 44.
both tracks characterized by a mesh of hypnotic drums, clicks as well as dark synth-lines, skillfully arranged into an ambivalent atmosphere.
it s good to have the two romanians back on subtil.

channeling the energy echoing off dancefloors along his path, reinier zonneveld has been on a steady slope rolling out dance igniting productions while touring an intricate live set. megacity servant, the artist’s third studio effort, stands as a coherent 16-piece techno outfit tinged with experimental tones while playfully deconstructing classic acid and disco fragments. coming from a classical music background, reiniers style of production ranges from cavernous powertracks to more concise trips subdued with melancholic piano-stemmed soundscapes, rounding up to a signature sound that is evident as it is enveloping. techno mainstay vocalist cari golden makes a notable appearance on things we might have said. having previously teamed up with sonorous names like pan pot, fur coat & coyu, goldens stellar vocals and skillful lyrics shine paired with zonneveld’s production prowess. the production-vox chemistry is instant, as the track mesmerizes from the get go. seizing attention for the full length of the track, the entire arrangement seduces the listener, making for a clamorous earworm. eht unveils a heavy-hitting resolution, as the artist layers on hefty polarizing synths. the cut boasts a powerful arrangement that is unsettling and playful at the same time, diving into dark techno realms. megacity servant makes use of the classic roland sh-101s ability to emit a nearly tridimensional sound ray, unfolding newer details with each listen. the relentless melody, padded with grave synth arrays, establishes a melancholic mood, gradually depicting the auditive struggle of its title-named character.

spirits is an ode to classic house music as smooth as silk, the beautiful vocal echoes its way through this deep cut and into your collection. alexander o neal edit of the classic fake is a perfect example of a soul classic getting a fresh makeover which works and will blow up any and every dancefloor. distorted vision inspired from dark comers of underground warehouse parties, hard hitting drums and a soaring synth and bassllne that builds and hits like a classic 4/4 techno/early 90 s track.

mysterious brooklyn label and production crew getting in the game with some techno and ebm bangers. all are re-workings of recognizable or obscure classics. “looping blood” the clubbiest of the ep builds around a controlled bleeding loop and blossoms into a spiraling unstoppable groove accented by crashing reverbs and jackin drums. “alaaarmed” is a pounding re-edit of tommi stumpff, early german minimal punk not unlike nitzer ebb. “take two” is a great remix of front 242’s epic industrial classic “take one” dubbing out the lyrics for an instrumental approach. “open bar” puts the scissors to skinny puppy’s early 80s classic “last call” looks like the aptly named effective weapns label certainly providing some hot jams for this fall. fans of dark entires, minimal wave take notice

debut release for ra journalist dan petry using the moniker ged. the dry river ep is an accomplished first outing that fans of drexciya, dave clarke and objekt should investigate. ged s sound is rooted in detroit electro, early rave, 90s warp sensibilities and the gorgeous electronica palettes of manchester s skam label, most notable on early boards of canada and bola s work. that is to say kicking drums, dark brooding undercurrents and delicious soundscapes. definitely worth checking.

uvb is back with four fierce funk driven big techno tunes on his own body theory label. ranging from big bombastic festival sounds (disobey your kids) to minimalized 90s stylo loop techno (breach your trust) and the fierce closing track (yours thruthly) that sounds a bit like dark comedy on steroids. strong release!