pascaal is the solo namesake of peter wiley. his second 12”, stils, is the first dance floor orientated outing for ways inner pass. stils is a stirring picture book of vivid locations - some physical, some formed by the unfettered hand of memory. the cuts are loose, throbbing with the mechanical simplicity of drum machines and synthesizers. five left-leaning frames to float the moving body or ground the moving mind. comes packed in a gorgeous hand screened card sleeve.

siren sind darshan jesrani (metro area, startree) und dennis kane (disques sinthomme, ghost town). ihre erste recording sessions fingen im winter 2013 an, aber die anfänge ihrer zusammenarbeit reichen zurück zu ihren gemeinsamen residencies im berühmten new yorker hot-spot apt und anderen parties, die sie organisierten. nach dem mitreißendem und euphorischen a/way mit mr. reed, im herbst 15 veröffentlicht, klingt ihre dritte maxi paradise sowohl eindringlich, als auch recht kolossal und treibend. paradise kommt mit einem zugleich fesselnden, düsteren und mechanischen late-night techno dub von gavin russom (black meteoric star, dfa), und als digital bonus bekommt die maxi eine hagere, futuristische, drum machine-geleitete 5-uhr-morgens-in-new york-mäßige reinterpretation von siren.

grammar of movement makes his long-awaited debut via lobster theremin’s main label. a shining light through a hazy prism that refracts a spectrum of techno from it’s tinted facets. a sound that shifts between sampled swamps of spoken-word lathered over crushed synths and carpet-covered drum excursions. a raw and cathartic output born out of a period of personal noise and pain.

mood 24 brings you the first in a limited vinyl only series in the form of mood series. each track has its own story to tell from artists silat beksi, gorbani, herck, leparente. *secret circle* from silat beksi has a very minimal feel, simplistic drums, repetitive groove combined with spacey atmospheric pads and synths. gorbanis track *the jaw* is more drum and percussion oriented with subtle fx shots and and groovy sub bass. hercks *gura sada* is very atmospheric, lots of organic noises. but its that main synth that gets you moving which the entire track is built around. *flashback* from leparente is deep and groovy, pieced together with a wicked bassline and main synth/pad that you can feel in your soul. ears open, this is just the beginning.....

mister ho and heap are ambassadors of the river danube. this is their first offering for the esp institute. on side a, collision resistance throws us into the bowels of an underground sex lair with an adrenaline-laden heartbeat for a kick drum, a rough dose of fisting illustrated by the combination of bassline with low-tom and an unrelenting snare that whips us raw into submission. somewhere in between the waves of punishment we can start to audibly pick up tortured moans of endurance and pleasure, but maybe its time we pull our minds from the gutter, wipe the sweat from our brow and flip the record for a reward. with side b’s veils of the beloved, mister ho & heap deliver us via speedboat to the white isle, coasting along to bouncy staccato bass notes and machine bleeps as a euphoric chord progression puts us in an 808 state of mind. the percussion arrangement and phasing string flourishes are introduced through a filter, opening slowly as if coming up for air from a beautiful blue abyss. these two songs are neither too salty nor too sweat

dj support : shonky, steve lawler, politics of dancing, danny serrano, darius syrossian, julien sandre, timmy p
imperative is a groovy house track with delayed vocal stabs & a sampled female vocal running though with added with 808 clicks, chords & a snapping snare. the system2 remix of imperative is just as cool with a rolling breaky drum loop giving it a 90s house feel, again the vocal leads the track with the groovy bass & chords built around it. first up on the b side once again is a cool groove with sampled vocals & electronic bleeps echoing through the mix. last but not least the juliche hernandez remix of once again has a more 90s feel to it. fast paced with great percussive hits & a chunky bassline to lead, all in all great release aimed firmly at the dancefloor.

leibniz takes no prisoners for his return to shtum. his new ep sees the leipziger by choice in best form. harsh but fair. -grind- is a masterpiece in the matter of building up tension with only few but proper elements. amen to that drumming and when the strings come in the dance floor is probably already burning. -foolish- is no less effective with its ultimate kick drum action and the way the pads are manipulated. romantic leibniz. on the flipside you get the vibrant -this is- in two versions. the -brecht mix- screams rave in capital letters with the bleepy synths and hard snare drum while the -scuff mix- trawls through dark and unearthy techno territories. no-nonsense music.

next in line to work with underground imprint getme! is uk artist nicky otter, with gme012: i can t really explain (it), a two track release out on 14th march across vinyl and digital platforms. across the ep, nicky ventures between parameters of ambient electronica and big, bad club tracks. nickys outsider sound find its perfect home on london s getme! label, both artist and label undefinable by genre, shape or sound. a-side i can t really explain (it) is a straight call for the dance floor for those after sounds on a more house and garage tip. originally trained as a drummer, nickys percussive talent shines across this bassy number, complete with creeping melody and layered vocal samples for a track nodding to club edits from a nostalgic time gone by. moving into murkier territories, b-side sketch original slow is journey through the darker strains of electronica, hazy techno feels and euphoric ambient vibes. dreamy melodies and carefully mapped out drum patterns meet here, giving sketch original slow an other-worldly feel.

forecast label announces new vinyl ep -holysheep- by cheaper shepherd to be released in march 2016. samples, drum machines and old school keyboards: a straight ­to ­the point! cheaper shepherd is a duo of producers born in the 15th borough of paris. drived by their love of synthetizers and other analogic machines, they ve been working in electronic music for years. in addition to their own projects, they have produced several hip­hop, house and techno projects: timä, androma (savoir faire), la direction, dudmode, peterbär... their first ep origin came out on helpme records early 2013, followed by three other eps, released on their own label baldwin records among others. they joined the booking roster of forecast label in 2012, and released on vinyl their first ep for the label. this projects appears as the fulfillment of a collaboration that has allowed them to go on tour in france (paris, bordeaux, lyon and st malo) but also in china. in 2015, they also went to the us to record with cans. the project was originally an ep of five songs, but the chemistry was such that it has turned into a 17 tracks album that will be released in 2016, between old school hip hop, house music and trap... limited to 200 copies !

when we started heist a few years back, our idea was to give a stage to talent in a same way as we have had a helping hand by the labels that have supported us from the beginning. therefore, i’s our pleasure to share this release with you by newcomers ouer, a berlin based duo with only a handful of tracks out so far on their self released debut last year. their approach to producing is very much jam based, and with a compact collection of synths, drum machines and a fair level of distortion, they succeed in creating their own sound with hints of classic electronic music from chicago and detroit. theres a nice mix of energy on the whole ep, the ascent being the most driving track of the package. fans of classics mcde tracks will love show off with its dreamy dx7 style chords and cracking acid lines. move over feels like a jam session that was way too much fun with some lovely solo work on the synths, whereas mess around goes down in similar free-ride style on the synths and again, has some lovely sampling going on. an impressive ep were just all too happy to have on our label. sincerely yours, lars & maarten

high mobility weapons unit continues its exploration, entering an unknown solar system and landing on a desolate mining planet. the counter rockets ep is the second release on the imprint, drawing influences from heavier, lo-fi territories, whilst still maintaining hmwu s characteristic space techno sound. the a-side starts off with the title track, counter rockets , which is a dj tool that combines functional bleeps with machine processed percussion. a2 serves up abandoned interstellar tomb , a fusion of atmospheric deep space bass and jacking drum patterns. on the b-side, deep sea deposit kicks things off with a poly-woven synth line that contorts and shifts throughout the track. finally, excavation site rolls along with its muted melodies and haunting fx, all built above a floor of sub-bass.

the first release from sign bit zero features two powerful edits from mick wills. giving new life to the track, ‘center’ by ale mania, a san diego based band, the cuts here contain wholly new structures with a greater focus on the oppressive yet powerful vocal parts and the uplifting string section. by extending the (acoustic) drum track and giving it the groove and strength we have come to associate with his edits, mick has created for us a unique take on the new wave / dark wave genres – ideal for any dj who wants to showcase this sound in a club-focussed context. ‘center’ originally appeared on the ep, ‘a, who sings that beat?’ on volar records and was written by andrew montoya, who has kindly granted us the permission to present this record to you all.

never one to sit still, core delsin artist conforce is back with a brand new ep on his most regular label. north to south part 1 is the first ep in a two-party story featuring four fresh cuts, it is another deep exploration of musical subtlety and rich sonic design that comes tied to some of the dutchman s more propulsive drum work. artwork by graphic surgery.

fresh ’footworking’ leftfield drum & bass related cuts & heavy, boomy ambient-drones.

fresh from his recent outing as hesperius draco, alessandro parisi is casting off for his debut on charlois. the italian is setting out his stall with a five tracker. honeyed bars are cut by sharp percussion as the brooding -meduna waves- opens. space soaked synthlines coil around a pulsing drum for the slow burning -cosmica 1999.- the flip sees a wave edge enter. cascading chords and a bolstered beats form the pain streaked beauty of -fear and money never had.- -exhibition of love- is brimming with meaty snares biting into thick strings combined in a power filled piece. parisi illustrates his enviable talent throughout, a talent that comes to the fore with the arpeggiated intensity of -virtualand.-

a quick split between h.j. and a.n. one freaky-deaky drum tool that operates on it own wave in space and time on the a, and the other side, a snappy, hazy ode(s) to the rhodes.

the boys are gliding back onto the scene with scissor and threads first release of 2016, waiting ground. the handsome twosome of frankie skates and tony b. real deliver us four prime cuts aimed squarely at the dance floor. the vinyl-exclusive, ebreo, sees the duo flex their afro-rhythmic muscle, placing silky smooth bass over a bed of soft swirling percussion highlighted by a pitched down steel drum. next, an edit first heard on frank & tonys acclaimed resident advisor podcast comes to light. deftly cutting the hushed ambient tones of donato whartons absentia into perfect portions, frank & tony loop brittle bits over a chunky kick and shuffling hi-hat to hypnotic effect. the ep’s title track evokes the sun-kissed euphoria of early hour raves with its lush atmospherics and playfully subdued piano line buoyed by a thick kick and airy pads. finally pavane takes the previous tracks laid back attitude and flips it, adding a thick in-your-face kick and propulsive pads for a foot-stomping, hands in the affair dj weapon.

with two releases already under his belt on clone, gary gritness aka slikk tim lands on hypercolour with the sugar cane chronicles vol. 1. gritness may be a relatively new name on the block, but his session work for artists like kenny bobien, louie vega and grant nelson has marked up this multi-instrumentalist as a clear talent. hailing from france, gritness had been spotted by underground resitances mad mike banks as one to watch, and on his hypercolour release, displays a deft hand of producing futuristic funk sounds. a spot on blend of raw drum programming and blissfull jazz funk riffs, preachin some tight game sets the eps tone just right with its infectious melodies and cruising groove. darker 1980s soundtrack vibes are explored on stayin strong hand with its thick analogue atmosphere, whilst the laid back and freestyle vibes of working girls demands to be played in the cadillac with the top down! ep closer, fly shit, continues with the tranquil melodies and g-funk factor.

qnete steps up for the fifth instalment in the drowned catalogue with three epic, thumping space age club jams. grinding distorted synths, clattering 909 drum work and whining pads all come out to play here forming some almighty floor ready experiments.

brasilian producer lypovsky debuts with his double tracker on resopal very proper. his nightmare in kongostr. vinyl features two remarkable tracks that capture his many versatile talents from driving house tools to reduced on the point techno. both tracks are full with brooding vibrant pads and spikey synths linger over spacious drum patterns, while live drum fills, and claps bouncing off the bass pulses as wandering keys usher in. played by villalobos.

there is significantly more than a scintilla of exuberance on cosmin trg’s first 2016 venture on his own fizic imprint. number four in the series further explores the dense textures present on last year siiiep, but largely dispenses with the ennui in favour of a different discourse. oblic offers a brisk groove that ebbs and flows among graphite-thin layers of percussion and sonic debris. the recurring dust sample amplifies the vigorous rhythmic attributes of the track, rendering it withprime dance floor capabilities. serpenti takes distant sparkles of mutant chimes, wraps them around the relentless pulse of thudding kick drum and soaks everything in static. granules and grit are extracted from circuitry with a focus on razor sharp sound system efficiency. produced by cosmin trg, transformed by matt colton at alchemy mastering, with original artwork from cosmin himself.

tempo records is proud to release three brand new tracks by soul intent. these tracks highlite the current state of modern jungle (& drum and bass). give me a dub on the full a side is all about heavy amen drums and phat basslines, one for the late night hours (or early mornings).

the mysterious but widely acclaimed r-zone series roll on to a 15th ep now with a new four track release that is as essential as ever. opener hired gun is a tough and raw concoction with coarse, snappy snares, rough drum pings and lots of abrasive texture all making for a physical listening experience. midwinter is a deeper and more emotive jam with warm pads dampening down icy hi hats and busy synth work. it is fresh and original and sounds like little else, then captive gets all deep and space-y with smeared pads and slick metallic hits tied together with a molten acid line. lastly, exile is five blissful and beautiful minutes of atmospheric, intergalactic electronic sounds that really take you to another place

solarism is the result of a common fascination for landscapes and a passion for contemplation. after two decades of an unbreakable friendship, we have finaly imaginated this protean entity to express what contemplation has offered us and how it connects us to the world, describing those experiences through music compositions, dj performances and welcoming other artists to release their art.after our first release with arno e. mathieu -existance project-, we are really proud to welcome one of our musical friend on solarism, the non-stop track maker from home invasion label, franck roger !on a1 franck brings a real fusion of cosmics and classic deep house vibes, remembering his first love with electronic music but definitely oriented to his nowaday modern vision of sounds. the melodic groove of the calimbas percussions drives you till the heart of the track and his swinging drum, to never let you go and brings you up in a neverending hypnotic mind dance. on b1, arno e. mathieu version push the hypnotic vibe of -tiger in the hood- using the original arpegiator theme, and brings the track to a deep techno level for a textured and anthemic experience. ponctuated by a strings hit appearence and supported by a non stop heavy bass-line, the track progression brings us till a melodic synth conclusion true to arno fusionned style... welcome back in solarism

early support from raresh, akufen, and jan krueger, next up on sol asylum is non other than julie marghilano with her innerspace ep. taking the listener to another dimension of sound, she brings her range of musical knowledge to create a solid package with a stunning remix from fred p. starting things off on a analog journey with “innerspace” we move through an interstellar universe with detailed grooves full of percussive splatters and echoing synths that moves us into a dream like state of mind. conjuring the jazz planet in berlin with“katzbachjazz”you are immediately transported to a galaxy of sound with galloping percussion and a classic techno layout. using more 909 techno drum elements she creates a whirlwind of sound with a delicate touch. taking things a little bit deeper with “cosmic karma” she presents a heavily detailed drum structure full of violin experimentation that creates a dark atmosphere but still bringing an uplifting and joyous vibe. finishing off the package is something unique from fred p who julie asked to remix for her due to her enormous respect for him. the emotionally charged remix of“cosmic karma” shows a different side of fred p while still keeping his signature sound in tact. the remix takes us through an ever-evolving voyage through time and space.

the next installment on aus music sees the return of a relatively new addition to the roster rob glassett aka fold. throughout previous 12inches on manmakemusic and electric minds and on his outstanding netflix & chill debut for aus last year - fold has laced together dusty house grooves built with a classic approach to sampling funk, disco and soul records. next up - his lennys jam ep starts up with a dub techno groove built with delayed and panned stabs and sharp, pacy drums. rosie lea lays out a rich and sunny groove as a playful sample filters into focus over deftly treated drum kit samples and a buoyant bass line. tracksuits and tennis shoes then follows up with a no-nonsene party jam a short funk link is set over a booming kick that closes up a nicely varied package.

repress
fresh, genre bending interpretations from barac (romania) and dbridge (uk). these two inspiring producers provide their modern touch to the contemporary dancefloor continuum: dbridge offers an up-to-date hybrid that straddles the line between techno and breakbeat, while baracs extended mix is a deep and hypnotic journey through space. dbridge represents a milestone when it comes to uk dance music. being part of the legendary drum and bass group bad company in the late 90s, running his extensive label exit records, and regularly releasing on boddikas nonplus, metalheadz, as well as r&s, he has gained an enviable reputation as a specialist with a modern take on techno and breakbeat variations.

part two of fhloston paradigm (aka king britt) beautiful cosmosis ep series starts with the haunting broken techno of nimoy, bass line and subtle piano gently modulating over scissoring drum machines and dubbed out claps, the switches in rhythm and the layers of chugging drums catching you off beat. the track builds into a heart-tugging melody, the drums breaking up under it s force. return is a pure analogue brain massage of a track, a deep space exploration of undulating arpeggios and shimmering emotive notes. the hour finishes the record, slow building waves of melody and chords, shimmer and swell, the repetition and addition of a mournful bass line consolidate the emotional energy of the track.

the btrax records label is back after few years off, and we are sure that new ep will not disappointed you. we are very proud to put out 2 stunning tracks made by one of the label founder : ben men from paris - france.french electronic music scene activist since the early 1990s, ben men is a multifaceted artist, both dj, records dealer, producer and party promoter. since 2001, ben men s btrax parties are hosted at legendary rex club. co-founder of the label -btrax records” with releases of the legendary 7 scan from detroit, vince watson, electric rescue, scan x, julian jeweil, mr c... he was co-founder and manager of record stores statik and basement trax records from 1996 to 2002.just a quick description of the tracks, “the journey” is… as you can imagine, a musical journey track clearly dedicated to the label influences. landscapes of twisting textures, brooding melodics which embarks upon a stunningly trippy journey of it s own.“morning glory” a straight-up slice detroit-infused melodic techno, adds a tough drum line and sweeping touches, as his signature style shines through

decisions is proud to announce its second release: empty gallery ep by waterhouse, a melbourne based producer, dj and vocalist. the ep spans 3 years of waterhouse productions (2013-2015), charting a sonic emergence suffused with spatial, textural and emotional complexity. the ep opens with ‘breathless’, a heady rush of ambience, shimmering cymbals and field recorded textures. ‘a little sheep’ follows, progressively immersing the listener in accumulating layers of vocal melodies. on ‘3415’ rapturous choral textures encircle delayed claps and a reverb-drenched kick drum to form the most urgently rhythmic cut on the record. side a ends with title track ‘empty gallery’, in which an intricate constellation of strings, pads, rumbling sub frequencies and brusquely dry percussion meet lyrics confronting life after loss.

after two eps on l.i.e.s. voiski heads east making his debut on the cccp sub-label. we are treated to classic voiski material here- all the elements he excelled at on his previous efforts all present-massive drum programming, huge basslines and epic builds carry the songs along. 100 percent guaranteed club approved and essential for any voiski fan.

its one year since we started this adventure and we want to celebrate pressing our first vinyl. for this special event we have onboard one of our best friends and someone we respect massively, no other than oscar mulero. he his providing two futuristic reworks of uncuts track beneath, floor orientated but mental at the same time, with flanged synth sequences and scientific drum programming making two techno tools that will crush sound systems worldwide. aside from the remixes, an own rework of beneath is made by the hd substance & leandro gamez duo as well as a brand new original track called f9, arpegio madness, concrete beats and solid structures as we should expect from this two veterans. four solid cuts of no joke modern techno made by those who know for those who know.

globetrotting dj and producer luca venezia, better known as curses, indulges in his nocturnal and romantic side, revealing a penchant for dark basslines. jetzt oder nie opens proceedings with a straightforward bass and infectious arpeggio line. sebastian voigt s reinterpretation keeps the focus in the deep techno territory, introducing a steady paced and anxious facet. stepping into an industrial influenced soundscape, power of darkness revolves around the hypnotic vocal hook, gradually transcending the listener into a late-night dancefloor trance. infinity maker plays on the mesmerising repetition of the initial coarse drum pads, resulting in a straight-up techno tool. the synth lead stays in the deep end, progressing to a beautifully dubby and atmospheric finale.

known for his contributions for lumberjacks in hell, seven limited or black key records, giovanni is a talented musician/dj from south italy, producing music for over a decade now. for his faces records debut, gio is going deep, straight back to his latin/jazz roots with la dame et le conga and what u feel like. while paying tribute to the old ny/garage sound on tell you what i do cherry on the top, detroit legend rick wade offers a new take on the title track, crafting a magnificent deep mix of la dame et le conga recommended to every deep house fans and children of the drum

jackie brown enters 2016 with new 12 inch from el nino andres - a four track ep called “she understood duke ellington”. as with his previous releases, croatian producer offers his take on house music thats influenced by jazz, soul and funk. drum machines, samplers and antons improvisations on his piano and rhodes make for an ep of warm, melodic and groovy house music. everything is rounded up with amazing artwork from maximilian moser.

benedikt frey crafts a musical aesthetic that (much like the esp institute) might only be seen in its true form from a birds-eye view—a whole greater than the sum of its parts. his playful indifference to genre specifics and pre-prescribed instrumentation or production techniques makes for a loose and refreshing collection of work, and this debut for the esp institute, the lobbyist, serves up an incongruous three tracks so bewildering and narcotic we’re already impatiently fiending for more. on side a, the title track is no less than a medieval assault. led by a stomping war drum and a blasting bass synth that might literally have caught the studio on fire, an erratic array of clanking percussion, hi-hats and cymbals push us into a sinister corner where his whispering chant grants us the smallest bit of humanity before continuing with the beating. on side b, cupids delight (ft tcb) and gravel both explore variations on beauty—the former in a blur of ghost-like vocals smeared in harmony across a low-slung machine drums, and the latter evoking a tropical affair gone psychedelic, complete with drawn-out disorienting marimba and ritual clave/tom arrangements. welcome home brother benedikt, what took you so long?

nice price deal !!! based on the worldwide success of max richters groundbreaking eight-hour work sleep, his personal lullaby for a breathless world - and the one-hour extraction from sleep, a series of remixes produced by a selection of well-known musicians and young artists.
the legendary scottish post-rock band mogwai, known for its special feel when remix of works by other artists, transforms max richter dreamy path 5 in a darkly throbbing track, marked by snare drum and complemented by haunting guitar soundscapes and cool, arpeggiated synthesizer, in remix electronic artist clark (warp records) is from max richter path 5 a sequence of three different, highly insistent musical scenes that send the listener on a heady trip - in clarks words by danny elfman on popol vuh to slint, merged in a planet of music.
the 180 gram vinyl ep includes a download code.

kings and queens marks the return of john brown s body with their finest album yet. featuring 12 songs by lead singer elliot martin and the usual amazing drum and bass anchor from tommy benedetti and nate edgar, along with intense horn work from the jbb horns, kings and queens is a deep record sure to please jbb fans new and old. the vinyl lp includes a download code.

caldera‘s *journey* reveals something unexpected through its driving beat, as shuffling rhythms scuttle around the uncompromisingly tough kick drum, only to be interrupted by organic sample constructions. *valuable* doesn‘t hide behind the opener: pitched-down vocal samples develop through foggy walls of delay. underneath it all, a churning beat grows, captivating the listener. it drifts slowly, always a little behind and stretching endlessly.

the 3rd ep from dirreta run by dj wada known as a legend in japanese techno scene. wada create his very own grooves with some groovy bass and freestyle jazz drum samples

brotherhood sagats and ludovic, together with steve murphy & dj octopus, are another duo coming from the venetian school of the now berlin based analogue cops. their sound reflects the typical approach where drum machines, synthesizers and samplers are recorded directly on tape without being digitalised. handmoon ep encloses five fine raw cuts, four pressed onto vinyl and a bonus track which is available though hardmoon london bandcamp only.

ivy lab and alix perez have been astounding electronic music audiences for years throughout drum & bass and further afield with their own 20/20 and shades projects respectively. now in 2016 the two forces combine for a collaborative release like no other, drawing their own distinct styles to create the beautifully diverse, *arkestra* ep. the double 12 inch vinyl includes a download code.

radiating from the online world through a limited batch of puristic, meddling drum-programmed experiments, this three-track debut is a pure tour de force in experimental, jazz-infused, worm-hole techno and house. the undulating 808 underpins the overtly spectral sound-design canvas deployed across the ep, from the scatter-delayed percussive proto-congas on *-* to the piano melancholia employed on *--* and the erratic time-stretched mood-shift that pivots around the centre of the 11 minute jam *---*.

** released on vinyl only **!!
in the space of two short years shlømo has quickly established himself alongside the likes of marcelus, bambounou, francois x and the antinote records crew as a key figure in paris’ current techno generation. having established his own taapion records label in 2013 and built a roster around a core of local producers including roman poncet, pvnv and antigone, in addition to enlisting stephen brown, conforce and sterac as remixers for the label’s releases so far. for its fifth release, bright sounds - run by fellow parisian kennedy smith - revisits last year’s rechaïm ep (bsrx003), with a trio of remixers offering their own takes on shlømo’s established deep and expansive sound. first up is the aforementioned 50 weapons artist bambounou, who offers a dynamic groove-based version of the title track that bounces along an elastic kick drum with cut-up fragments of the original’s atmospheric pads providing further impetus. label owner kennedy smith takes on theory is the worst by bringing its dub textures to the for while filling the track’s empty spaces with intricate drum patterns. finally, italian techno pioneer donato dozzy turns grounded queen into a classic dozzy slow-burning techno trip, with his trademark layered sound complimenting the track’s subtle rhythmic backbone.

keeping up the urgent pace set by the strength in numbers collection, thema now turns to a modern master of the jakbeat, d’marc cantu. hailing from ann arbor on the fringes of detroit, cantu has worked for more than a decade developing a sound that carries the torch from the box jam originators of techno and house music. his first appearances were alongside the mighty tadd mullinix (better known as james t. cotton) with their 2 am/fm project, before bringing traxx into the fold for the x2 venture. as a solo artist cantu has shored up on labels as highly regarded as crème organization, m>o>s, nation and desire, bringing a rich, full-bodied sound laden with powerful synth hooks, crafty drum programming and a live, jammed-out delivery that overflows with imagination. given his adventurous tendencies and punchy midwestern finish, cantu is a perfect fit on thema and the six tracks that make up this record show a great deal of the diversity the man is capable of, from dancefloor burners to atmospheric introspections.

repress - afrobeat makers vol. 3 >> nu guinea comes back with a joint venture between comet records and early sounds recordings. by re-working the original magic drum patterns from the afrobeat master tony allen, they created a compilation of tracks which is charged by a voluminous electronic jazz-funk imprint.

following up from that brilliant tom dicicco from last year, the notorious gcz is back on his own label. this time he switches the arpeggiators to body and it s all go for a while. two more tool type versions on the flip, for the djs. big tip from one of our favs!

the 4th in tee mangos tribute project, inspired by the much referenced theo parrish quote: love of the music should be the driving force of any producer, performer or dj. everything else stems from that core, that love. with that love, sampling can become a tribute an expansion on ideas long forgotten, reconstruction, collage. time is up is the first track here. arpeggios shimmer and crisp simple drums hiss and fizz along, until introduction of the classic detroitian vocal and one shot filtered rhodes sample. a deftly simple combination of classic ingredients. think 90s inner city meets a dj sprinkles era motor city drum ensemble.

giacomo & michelangelo then rolls out acid tree - a burning acid groove rife with more extended breakdowns and tight drum shuffles that make a fine addition to the record and cap off another certified coup for play it say it