loco dice has unveiled his darkly eclectic album ‘love letters, a 15-track embodiment of his diverse production range. featuring the latest single ‘were alive, the most highly anticipated record of his recent sets. dices third studio album after ‘7 dunham place and ‘underground sound suicide sees him reflecting on his musical influences and connections to dusseldorf and beyond. the album is packed with the producers typically forceful tones, which blur the lines between house and techno. utillising the bristling sounds and smooth drum beats, dices love letters album serves as an aural embodiment of the tones which make his sound so unique. throughout ‘love letters, dice uses his own vocals more frequently than on previous albums, which makes the production both trippier and more personal, representing past and present.

the second release on werk is signed by j. manuel. the young producer has been polishing his sound ever since he first started experimenting with electronic music gear as a child. his commitment to following his own instincts rather than conforming to what was being played around him resulted in a very different aesthetic to the one commonly associated with berlin techno. drive fiction ep stands proof of that. all 3 tracks push boundaries in their own style, that being perhaps the strongest link between them. the title track -drive fiction- presents old-school leads over broken beats and electro inspired pads while the a2 -falling in sine circulation- is arguably the most dance floor oriented track, with a pounding 4×4 kick drum and an alarming 3/4 sine wave slaying the high frequencies. closing the ep is b-side -softer-, a melodic track with long, undulating pads that is nonetheless driven by a powerful rave-inspired beat. with its second release, werk comes to confirm the path it seeks to travel through both parties and releases: that of the sounds less rigid. gritty, wild and presenting a wide range of rhythmic patterns, drive fiction ep is a defying record. challenge accepted?

kdj style house belters that have been getting major support from motor city drum ensemble, bradley zero and glenn astro to name a few.
organic in both sound and nature, ‘konkahs’ is a product of the producer’s extensive musical exploration up to this point and a creation of fineness. with just snippets of garvey’s delicious voice lacing the track, focus remaing on the slick instrumental layers of a dreamy bassline, ambient, jazzy keyboard melodies and vivid percussion. each one as divine as the next and all carried by a chilled 111 bpm tempo. cb describes the ‘be-side’ as the ‘bubble and squeak’ of the ep, using up any ‘left overs’ from the single. with 12 minutes of gorgeous simplicity and woozygrooves, it seems the ‘be-side’ is as integral to the identity of the ep as the a-side

streetman records kicks it off with three low-flyin’ edits. momma’s callin’ may wanna make you jack it back to your house, but thirtythree n third will keep you hanging at the curb. don’t forget about no more fuck ups, cause between the slap of a funky guitar and the snap of a snare drum, you can easily miss your step. three stone cold edits from the street!

quarion is back on drumpoet with an enchanting new ep that leaves nothing to be desired. cobblestone takes the dancer on a deep sensual journey, builds up continuously and subtly into a truly emotive peak. sunday night pt. 2 tops it by captivating with rhythmic chords, which remind of the early 90ies. jamaican morse is a driven drum track, spiced with dubby sounds and a higly addictive beat. once again, quarion proves his outstanding quality.

violet-the color of royalty and majesty, of dreamy and calming consciousness…here translated to a spirited collection of absolute music drivetrain (detroit, usa) – “breathe” derrick thompson engineers another captivating late night soul-bender. a commanding filtered bass groove, dominates melodic chord progressions with accentuating dynamic percussion and spicy vocal support mattimoe-perrine (toledo, usa) – “llucid” nathan mattimoe and todd perrine return with a composition of charismatic rhythm intelligence. as the journey builds, the elements become more intense, evolving to a vocal crescendo of synthesized deepness trecci (paris, france) – “sagami” soiree proudly welcomes trecci and his tribal inspired floor filler. drum manipulation integrates with vocal energy to ultimately dissolve in a hypnotic, quintessential string refrain funtom (zagreb, croatia) – “french connection” another newcomer to soiree, funtom musically animates the essence of high-tech sensuality. an alluring female voice subconsciously unveils a bed of infactuating pads, stabs and inflections

a much welcomed reissue of the 1978 idris muhammad gem boogie to the top. released a year after, arguably, idris most well-known anthem, could heaven ever be like this the similarities in style and composition are clear. expertly produced, rich instrumentation, expansive drum fills, gospel tinged full-bodied vocals, all the while epic and life affirming in it s nature - what more could you want? young pulse steps up on the b-side, to add his own subtle touches and tweaks to the original. looping the guitar and echoing out the vocals whilst working in more of the synth lines. the addition of a crisp clap and extra percussion add an element more vibrancy into this mix, keeping the original feel intact whilst revitalising it for 2018.

frits wentink s bobby donny label welcomes reykjavík producer felix leifur for more lush house explorations across four new cuts. the producer last released on this label in 2017 and his new one finds him again exploring deep and organic grooves, rough drums and jazzy pads. the tarleton appreciation club has real, live sounding drums making for a spaced out house cut coloured with dreamy pads and muffled vocal samples that have an aching beauty. parts is a brilliantly jazzy jam with bright chord vamps, wooden hits and clipped vocals making for a track somewhere between the styles of moodymann and max graef. robbi is another atmospheric track with pads and intimate melodies lingering in the air above choppy drum work that makes you want to wiggle. closing things down is juledreng, another perfectly roughed up bit of house with saturated chords and tons of reverb drawing you into its cosy little world.

* 2017 year marks ten years of integral records and looking back upon the label’s incredible back catalogue, what a decade it has been for drum & bass music that we hold so close. * initially set up as a passion project and a platform for showcasing future talent, the label has been consistently releasing cutting edge drum and bass since 2007. the ethos of the label has always been about quality control and finding those special vibes that no question capture heart and soul. honing their unique musical language, selections are carefully handpicked by head honchos artificial intelligence and more recently in collaboration with label manager emma g that fit with the forward thinking, original spirit we know as integral.

new zealand based ebm auteur body beat ritual makes his debut on bergerac with an incendiary ep of full throttle intense dark wave bangers. growing up in north west england immersed in hardcore punk and rave culture led to musical experiments and body beat ritual is his unique splicing of both aesthetics. using a combination of hardware, audio samples and midi sequencing, body beat ritual reclaims the moment when underground musicians in manchester, chicago and ghent put down their guitars and picked up drum machines and sequencers bringing the intensity, rawness and aggression of the band environment to the dancefloor. mortal sin is a certified smasher. absolute dancefloor decimation whenever its played out. no more description necessary. no mercy evokes the lost boys vibe with an equally high octane raw workout. trent reznor meets jeff mills at a daf gig on a flatliner. the ep closes with body politics which lowers the tempo to a chuggier zone, with an ode to female empowerment which keeps up that body beat pressure and intensity.

those with an internet connection may be familiar with paolo di nicolantonio through his incredible youtube channel, synthmania. his channel is hub showcasing his endless arsenal of synths and drum machines from his home studio in italy. unlike his italo-heavy channel, this record consists of two original tracks, one old-school deep house number and an additional beatless juno-60 jam to boot. craigie knowes also welcome their first remixer to the label, the impeccable uk deep techno producer, john shima.

laura jones returns for another ep outing on her label. despite weighing in with an incendiary first release that found mandar s sam remixing infuse s karousel and a follow up from jones that included one of the sadly departed trevino s final remixes, the label took a backseat to the birth of her daugter in 2017. a year on however and the pace has picked up with an ep from renowned modular wizzard kamran sadeghi at the start of the year and this latest ep from the label boss. the two originals are a snapshot of her evolving style. pathway places skippy beats and sub heavy kicks under a soaring chord sequence, abstract vocal samples and ethereal pad riff. tough crowd takes a moodier approach with a menacing sub bass and drum arrangement, bubbling filters building to a hook that unfolds halfway through to create a moment of formidable intensity. lee renacre s recent revival of his 100 hz alias courtesy of well received outings on slow life and bosconi among others, has found the producer on career-best form and he turns in a sublime remix that makes deft use of delicate top lines and bubbling oscillators to create a powerfully heady atmosphere.

limited translucent blue coloured and black & white splattered vinyl.
a veteran producer from manchester formerly releasing music as deeperheightz, dylan blythin - now known as artilect, has developed a formidable style that combines classic drum and bass genre elements with propulsive, distinctive production touches. dylan made his artilect debut for samurai music with ‘ashen’ on our decade compilation. he now follows through with blurring the line, his first full release with the label. this ep serves as an audio cv for his current sonic repertoire. every track combines impeccable form with function and has seen these tunes featured in the sets of loxy, homemade weapons, clarity, presha, shiken hanzo, and the rupture radio sets with mantra and double o.

artefacts of rotation is asc at his experimental best. once again, the theme is one of deep space exploration, showing a natural progression from return of the emissary, and sitting somewhere between that and the recent album, astral projection. hypnotic drum programming, spiralling atmospheric elements, layers of sublime pads, plus the usual healthy dose of bass - it’s all here in abundance, ready for the listener to don their space suit and dive in head first.

we present you the third release in our very successful collaboration series with roar groove and the revenge. straight after his new brilliant album when the thrill comes that was release in may this year graeme clark is back on dirt crew with four new gems. the opening, funky and twisting, times get tough is a deep rolling down tempo disco/ house stomper that builds into this ecstatic groove we got to love so much from his previous outings. pure good times and hands in the air action promised on this one! subconcious is that darker and meaner side of house track with a slammin chicago beat he delivers this old school jackin feel. big bass lines and soulful vocal samples tied together by on the fly drum patterns. the b-side of this new ep opens with an hypnotic jam that builds and builds till those sweet synths start soaring in. all carried by this ultra phat bass line, we can only imagine how this one will sound on a massive sound system! searchlight is def a highlight of this release. can we go even deeper and darker? oh yes! with come down we get a proper come down to close this ep. deep sub basses with floating tops and again that classic jack house beat. certainly a late night track made for those sweaty and long dj sets. summer is here and the revenge has the perfect soundtrack for hot and steamy nights, inside or on the open field!

after three major releases by tell, nachtbraker and s3a, its time for debuting italian artist verner to close our beloved trophy quartet. this milanese key virtuoso is ready to blow your mind with this eccentric yet humble ep, taking you on an emotional journey. long stretched pads, playful chord progressions, organic percussion all produced with analogue 70s and 80s vintage synthesizers and drum computers in verners studio reminding us a bit of harvey sutherland and nu guineas style. were talking groove, funk, jazz but also house and soundtrack style compositions which together form a very complete record carefully a&rd by nachtbraker. drop the needle on the a side and youll start off with linizio, a majestic piece of synthwork. hurdling through different emotions and vibes, this could easily be the intro of one of your favourite 80s tv series. upset takes you on a happy groovy tour whilst crash of the web era and the motion pictures take us on a trippy and ambient voyage that is hard to wake up from. when flipping the record to the b side, verner is stepping back into the groove and funk with tecladista, arguably the dance floor hit of this debut ep. starting of with again a majestic synth intro area drops into a festive funk and jazz bomb with some intricate synth work treating us with some lovely solos. closing this versatile ep is late night job, a deep, deep tune with a thriving baseline and mesmerizing synths. we suggest to dont sleep on this one and have a listen to this piece of art by the very talented verner.

in 1982, a group of friends deep into post-punk, jazz and dub got together in mad professors studio and lay down their youthful interpretation of a nyc disco cut. their unique take included trombone, vibraphone, piano, and an ital dose of tape delay. they called the song trouble and released two versions (vocal and dub) on their friend tony mcdermott s !drum! label with artwork inspired by russian constructivism. tip! . the group, comprised of justin langlands, chrysta jones, john schofield, tom dixon, and dave killen, decided to call themselves a-team, having no idea that mr.t and co. would make them almost totally ungoogle-able 30 years later. the result of their adolescent studio idealism sounds akin to otherdisco misfits like arthur russell, maximum joy, talking drums and wouldn t sound out of place on legendary nyc label 99 records. remastered with an extended club dub formaximum dance-floor action.

second circle is proud to announce it’s tenth release to date with a new ep from l.a. producer benedek. earlyman dance was recorded at benedek s studio in koreatown, los angeles and fuses mechanistic rhythms and synth work as well as live percussion and trumpet played by friends chris parise and anthony calonico. . with five vibed out compositions of coyote jazz, dance floor fusion and canyon bangers earlyman dance is an ode to the urban and natural landscapes of la, late night noir and early morning sunrises, accented with benedek s signature chord progressions, bouncing bass lines, meticulous drum programming and dubbed out trumpet.

new year, new release for burnin music. after 2 strong eps in 2017 (ponty mython bm001 and leonidas +kay suzuki bm002) burnin music first release of 2018 features the first ep of an up-and-coming british artist called michael iwatsu also featuring a remix by german producer, soulphiction. fracture (original mix) is a 10 mins long journey. a beautiful odyssey between beats and harmony, between intuitive dance floor and subtle emotions. the main piano brings a perfect balance to the stomping house kick & drum. and as the journey continues, the trip develops leading to more sonic ventures. exciting, touching, pure, fracture (original mix) is a very balanced track. on the flip side, house music master soulphiction accomplishes the task to bring the track into a dark basement. his remix is a condensed version of everything that makes the original track an emotional one and also add a detroit twist: it becomes a raw, moody and very intuitive sonic object. a tool for the dancefloor.

the saver flex ep offers up no less than four seriously catchy house jams. blue shoe kicks off the proceedings with some funked up percussion, which immediately shows that kolja s background as a drummer has taught him a thing or two about groove. a looping organ lick, some little shouts in the background, big stabs and a massive kick drum push the track forward. cleverly arranged breakdowns allow for a couple of breathers to keep the party action going throughout. moving on to lax wax , we ease up a little with a lighter beat on top of which filtered piano chords, a live bass and just a touch of guitar set the perfect mood for an organ solo that simply oozes summer vibes. buggel runter rutschen keeps the mood nice and sunny while adding more punch with snappy kicks and snares – a hugely danceable foundation for these guys to show us what is so great about 70s and 80s disco and funk that these styles are amongst their biggest influences. you had better ask a german what kagghaufen means, we don t want to put you off your dinner. we hope it will be just as tasty as this track is with its pounding, straight beat, which is counterpointed by bouncy congas, funky vocal cuts, beautiful pads and healthy dose of squelchy acid for good measure. all of this is effortlessly combined to round off the ep in style.

to celebrate the 10th vinyl release on lossless music, soul intent delivers 4 cuts on dark and moody drum and bass as only he can. the title track “the tide” sees soul intent collaborate with label regular and dark vibe master paragon. “cypher” hails the first production outing from ben repertoire (from the repertoire label) who happens to also be lossless graphic designer and fellow lover of co-op pickle pork pies. also on the b-side is a solo effort from soul intent called “lose yourself” which demonstrates yet more of his love of that classic headz sound, turning heads whenever it’s played. pressing on solid blue, black, and clear mixed vinyl.

autodidact is back with an ep by qindek, who offers up three delicate techno tracks with beautiful modular sounds and intricate drum patterns. on the b-side we find the legendary icelandic (dub)techno producer thor (thule records) with a deep but dancefloor-friendly remix.

the shortest connection between the past and the future leads through the music of boston 168. drawing inspiration from both classic and contemporary approaches to the acid techno sound, early nineties rave culture and the throbbing pulse of the now, sergio pace and vincenzo ferramosca have carved out a niche for themselves which over the past four years has become a musical microcosm of its own. having released a slew of records on such labels as involve, attic, odd even and dustin zahn s enemy, the italian duo now presents its most cohesive musical statement thus far on ellen allien s bpitch. on the three tracks of »drops in heaven«, boston 168 seamlessly mold together lysergic acid lines with elements of nineties ambient techno and a rhythmic groundwork that is as thrilling as it is intricate. »cosmic tribe« translates its idea of universal togetherness into a nerve-wrecking groove punctuated by complex percussion work and a subtly building acid line, while »drops in heaven« uses a booming kick drum as base for an emotionally driven exploration of sonic textures. the psychedelic »straight to light« nods to nineties pioneers like emmanuel top, showcasing ferramosca and pace s talent for creating musical depth by ingeniously bringing together a few select elements to greater effect. these are tracks that relentlessly head towards the unknown final frontier of what techno can sound like in 2018, while not in the least neglecting the rich tradition that they draw from.

philippe cohen solal (of gotan project) celebrates the 50th anniversary of summer of love, covering one of its anthems “aquarius / let the sunshine in” of hair the musical which premiered on stage in october 1967. a complex but soothing modern reggae moombathon riddim carried by the ethereal harmonies of legendary jamaican reggae singer horace andy (massive attack, skylarking, ain’t no sunshine...) with a delivering coda sung by an empowering choir.
¡ya basta! records asked two legends of the underground scene, somewhat connected to the spirituality of the song, to remix this take. first with an afro house / deep-house take of the master of the genre @boddhi-satva, and jack of all trades, mashup virtuoso @jstar-1 (remixer of major lazer / dj vadim...) for a retro catchy drum n bass/uk bass remix. finally lazy flow and face-t deliver a dancehall filler of a remix.

after fifteen years, paul blackford’s 1991 ep is finally back in town! with tracks remastered and lacquers cut by the famous mb studio, this is a treat for the ears. dancefloors & sound systems are going to dig the tunes heavy. between the sounds of detroit techno, ghetto tech, rave chronicle, dark 90’s video game drum n bass, this ep builds a unique bridge between the detroit and uk vibes. plus -the bunker- a superb previously unreleased deep track, makes this reissue by deep & roll a must have.

never released before on lp, here comes the complete original soundtracks of french cult film composer françois de roubaix for director yves boisset. two movies that embody the two sides of francois de roubaix’s approach to recording. for le saut de l’ange (1971), the self-taught composer wrote an orchestration for some fifty musicians playing strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion with two distinct solo instruments alternating the main theme: indian sitar on the one hand and accordion on the other. r.a.s (1973) was recorded on a 8-track tape recorder, in françois de roubaix’s home studio rue de courcelle, where most of his 70’s scores were recorded. the result is a mix of military-march rhythms, rolls on the snare-drum with sounds of synthi aks syntheziser: de roubaix invented a modern sound for this contemporary-history tragedy.

robot 84 returns with another set of killer balearic inspired reworkings. these drums opens up the e.p. layering drum loops and bongo fills with dubbed out keys, brooding pads and afro vocals. the a2, all the more cosmic yet club ready in its nature, marries a powerful bassline and captivating kick pattern with some space echo synthwork, before those epic toms and vocal chants ring out. on the flip side, long hot is exactly that a smoldering, soulful, slow jam rework to ride off into the sunset to.

get down edits return with a 3 track ep of latin inspired edits just in time for the summer. festival (just beginning) kicks things off with an exotic disco edit complete with killer horns, sultry stings and that maraca flavoured feeling tied together with an uplifting vocal hook. the a2 two man sound combines an instantly catchy bass and infectious guitar lick combo with summery brazilian lyrics and jazzy rhodes perfect for the imminent festival circuit. festival drums rounds off the e.p. striping back all the melodic elements from the original to offer up a fusion of maracas, cowbells, congas and guiros to unleash a south american styled drum tool perfect to add a little zest to any mix.

brothers harvey and ryan mckay return to drumcode with their dynamic alias project. we were introduced to alias last year when the mckay brothers dropped the impact-heavy visions ep mid-way through 2017. the duo followed with a lauded contribution for drumcode live and the buzz from fans was palpable. the follow up sees the pair in powerhouse form. the title track nrg is an attitude-packed tour de force compromised of aggressive snares, warped vocals and a tension-filled break, it has been smashed by adam beyer for the last six months. orange sunshine pulls no punches as it dishes out apocalyptic acid paired with the siblings startling drum work. the event rounds out the ep and is an exhilarating affair propelled by uplifting synth lines and a buzzing energetic bassline.

next up on creme organizaiton is lake haze. the hague based portuguese artist is a regular on this label having put out four eps in the last two years. hes also linked with unknown to the unknown and shall not fade so is an esteemed talent with a blistering sound that fuses futuristic techno and electro into storytelling dancefloor dynamite. space reservoirs kicks off this ep with slow but heavy drum work, acid twitches and spooky cosmic echoes. the observer picks up the pace with quick and slick kicks from the streets of detroit overlaid with ripping electro basslines and deep space atmospherics. unexplored oceanic territory is expansive electro with busted drums and echoing pads that add real scale before more acid finishes things off with real rawness. prototype is dark and heavy, with another searing baseline and crisp metallic hits, then into the unknown is a blissed out electro roller with dreamy pads and twinkling keys melt ing into the cosmos. it closes out another essential ep from this timeless producer.

for his inaugural ep under new guise ‘yem gel, nts manchester resident and visual artist alecs pierce comes through with a four-track cacophony of sounds for dave maclean (django django) run label kick + clap. from previous experimental outings as obsidian pond, gristed petunia and, handi dogh he returns with this new project based solely on electronic compositions, giving the multi-instrumentalist artist a chance to further explore his electronic leanings. operating with a clear mission statement, yem gel moniker seeks to live up to its names reference to malleable ‘fictional future plastics by offering a set of genre-spanning compositions, drawing from multiple influences from ambient, drum ‘n bass or grime and leaving us wondering where he might take us next.

spanish label night shift welcome belgian duo chasse to drop some seriously classy dancefloor jams for those who really know how to move. pilot is an effervescent cut that places musicality at the front of the mix, all nimble keys and live drum funk of the highest order. dig him is an uplifting disco workout that loops it up in all the right places, and oh franck pumps the rhythm section a little more to head towards the house heads. in your stride is an unabashed reworking of boogie nights that takes on a dreamy quality as it chops the original into a fresh configuration.

for the next r.a.n.d. muzik comp leipzig’s qnete, interviews and stanley schmidt team up with melbourne local rudolf c.
breakbeat music from house through to emotional drum and bass..

ste roberts steps up with the second instalment on his self-titled label, once again burrowing into the more mysterious corners of the house and techno spectrum to deliver distinctive dancefloor gold for those who like their beats a little different. circle is a nocturnal affair that matches dark techno atmospherics with a rigorous housey bump, and the results are stellar. ac is equally tough, although in this instance the main ingredient is a rattling conga sample that has a raw, live and in the room quality that contrasts the unrelenting kick drum perfectly.

evod music is glad to welcome binny and dj surgeles on its limited catalogue. the english dancefloor killer and the dutch sci-fi master fused perfectly together on this split ep. organic by binny is a perfect tool, thanks to its mesmerizing acid sequence, masterfully fused with powerful drum patterns and hypnotic drone raids. missing link is another killer tool, perfect for a dance floor full of people. its old school sound and the various changes make this track a must have. the b side is managed by dj surgeles, with three outstanding sci-fi tracks. science fiction contains a randomic, spaced out sequence blended with heavy drums and various drum patterns variations. commander pete is the most millsesque track: in this piece there is a real space ambience, thanks to a its far pads, the electronic ringings and bleep sounds incursions that create a constant suspense, broken by the interruption from an astronaut radio message. the ep is closed by message to earth, an ambient outro that fits perfectly with all the other tracks.

tadd mullinix, who s best known for the hip-hop he makes as dabrye and the acid-tinged house and techno under jtc, has added yet another alias to his repertoire, and it might be his most inventive project to date. x-altera and its debut album, the eponymous x-altera, were born from a fit of rediscovery. all at once, the ann arbor-based producer reconnected with the jungle he produced in the late 90s as half of soundmurderer & sk-1, revisited the forgotten b-sides of his drum & bass record collection, and fell back in love with the deep, melodic techno of detroit and london.
the double vinyl release includes a download code.

the essential will & ink label continues to keep up the pressure with a new ep from museum aka anton pieete and jeroen liebregts. the pair have released on vital labels like marcel dettmann records and indigo area and make some of the most robust and powerful techno around. their three new tracks here come with a remix from resident label artist yalessa hall. opener silo is an urgent groove with warped and rumbling synth lines and frazzled textures. it s sparse and industrial as it barrels along while the list is much more wild. the drums flail around, the hits are off grid and the energy is restless and rugged. lastly from them, 1500 has punchy drum programming and watery sound effects, sci-fi motifs and a sense of turbulence that will make a real impact in the club. the raw yalessa hall remix flips the list into a freaky house track with smeared synths and big hits making for something incendiary and unhinged.

three years after presenting an original idea of arranging his own music live by using a standard dj setup and a drum machine, strahil velchev alias kink is ready to premiere the very first ep-outing of his new project entitled kirilik. created with obscure studio equipment and backed by an array of sonics out of his extensive line-up of machinery, kirilik successfully transfers to the record that unique level of levity and immediacy that his live act has already become renowned for. loopy and thus infinite in nature, sometimes seemingly spiraling themselves out of control even, these tracks are as versatile as they are just fun to play around with! fittingly enough, infinity is not a number comes complete with an added bonus of four additional endless loops, edged into the final grooves of each side

just in time for the summer sun, heynow001 features four exclusive liquid drum and bass bootlegs that will keep you and the whole dancefloor well hydrated. we’ve listened to your suggestions, and the vinyl release is backed with a first time press of two tracks that have been highly sought after as well. you can sit down, the wait is over. hey now is here!

the gates of charon, an original soundtrack, is the long-awaited result of two years of work by a multitude of outstanding producers from the bass music and drum n bass scenes. this deep, dark and weighty release comes at you with 26 tracks of professional soundscape production to tell a story of the fusion of the mystic and scientific to manipulate dark energy and explore the multiverse. this unique project will take listeners on an interplanetary journey of the highest order through sound and emotion. this is a limited edition release in a double gatefold full-art cover with 2x12” two-color 180g vinyl (limited to first 300 copies), with download codes (including bonus instrumental versions).

within lok recordings’ sixth release, we introduce lokin to you. we’re coming up with something to break boundaries and strengthen the spirit of artistic freedom. -the fall- by the belgian-born berlin-based singer, songwriter and producer cook strummer - aka maxime donnet - is an evocative ode to lost love and forgotten spirituality. channeling the post-punk synth sound of his home country’s cold wave movement of the late 70s and early 80s, donnet has absorbed the sounds of his adopted home in germany, taking that all-pervasive electronic music that is all around him and morphing it into something new. the result is -the fall-. recorded in a cell located in the basement of an old stasi prison (studio k61 in berlin), it’s an album with one eye on the dancefloor, but one that works just as well when the party is over. it’s an album that blends the organic with the synthetic, mixing guitars and synths with post-dubstep flourishes and drum machines. it’s an album about something. the name of the album has been chosen in reference to first single fallen, the idea of falling in life and waking up again. it’s also about the fact that it’s not the fall that kills you. a fall can be graceful. a fall can improve a life perspective and create new paths. it can and does make you strong. the main metaphor in there is one of reincarnation. indeed, it’s the story of a soul negotiating with god to not reincarnate on earth again, but being forced to do it anyways. experience something different!

vinyl only // genre: jungle / drum and bass

joe powers is from edinburgh, far outside the network of the grime capital of london. his caffeinated productions as proc fiskal are faster than usual, with many clocking in at 160bpm. ‘the highland mob’, his 2017 debut ep, opened up his music to open-eared footwork and drum’n’bass fans as well as the grime crowd. after following that up with a jungle-inflected ep on cosmic bridge, ‘insula’ switches the feel and intention towards a personal, and melodic music with one foot in grime, infused with often comic, often wistful recorded moments from his environment. he says ‘i wanted to be aware of where the music is coming from, referencing things i’m presently experiencing, like making grime, my radar radio show, phone addiction, alcohol, my surroundings, girls, depression, positivity, being unemployed, being employed and hating it, my friends etc. trying to be true to myself instead of relying on other peoples’ nostalgia, and focusing on now.’ the record is a huge leap in vision, with delicate, pointillist melodies and intricate edits reminiscent of grime producers such as terror danjah. it also resonates with japanese video game music like that recently explored on the ‘diggin in the carts’ compilation. ‘i think i probably make tunes to get out emotions i don’t express in day-to-day life. i used clips of my friends talking, drunk folk, and general scottish life to preserve and represent what my experience is like right now, like a time capsule. social media notification sounds are designed to release serotonin, which is what i’d like my music to do, to make me, and other people happy, and in using these manipulative noises in a positive way, i like to think i’m taking back the power of the manipulation.’ proc fiskal is adventurous and thoughtful as a producer, and at the young age of 21, his debut album is very advanced in its ideas and execution

insula records returns to the shelves with a brand new ep by 3kz, a unique collaboration between the gifted italian producers z.i.p.p.o. & kaelan. the record lifts off with outta here , a journey into other heights with glissandi melodies rising over arpeggiating sequences to a solid driving techno track that is functional, spot-on material for the floors. this side is complemented with urban jungle , a clear-cut heady track with upfront drum programming that leads to a driving atmosphere. the b-side is something special and is fully covered with the 15-minute spanning title track d50 tears . this beautiful washed out ambient arrangement, full of emotion and soul, channels the mind to other places. a cinematic masterwork that shows the sophistication of 3kz in full depth

british dj/producer bearface has been on a bit of a roll of later. aside from releases on his own beartone label, the london-based label owner has also found time to deliver outstanding cuts to the likes of exploited ghetto, which housed his last release, the wonderful moon . this time around, he comes correct on his own beartone label with a record that s notable for its quirky demeanour and undoubted eclecticism. opening up the release is the sounds of mumbai nights . although it gets us underway in fairly innocuous fashion, it quickly finds its feet thanks to a brilliant, whaling indian-inspired vocal that weaves in and out throughout. a whimsical track of that sort that s sure to be a hit with more daring djs, it s an auspicious start to a release that s never lacking in personality. as is his forte, bearface then goes much deeper in search of kicks on data storm , taking us taking us down the rabbit hole to a place that s full of enticing oddities throughout. after this, the frankly bonkers sound of the electro-leaning title track sista take centre stage. a thoroughly intense peak-time workout, it s full of attitude and an indication of the producer s more gnarly and abrasive approach. all things considered, it s sure to get the night moving in an altogether different direction wherever it s unleashed. closing out the ep is the drum heavy sounds of march . a broody track that s tailor made for the night s more relentless moments, it s a a fitting way with which to sign off an eclectic and dizzying release. the latest chapter in the beartone story is a captivating listen throughout.

the hotly tipped uk artist makes his debut for drumcode s vinyl only off-shoot. focused on showcasing cutting-edge underground techno, adam beyer s always got an eye on the future when curating drumcode ltd. with impressive releases on tigas twin turbo and dense & pikas kneaded pains imprint, 24-year-old billy turner piqued his interest with his accomplished productions that belied his tender age. taking inspiration from the likes of marcel dettmann, truncate and planetary assault systems, turner s four-track debut dont talk to me about style was birthed in his home studio throughout 2017. the industrious brit delivers a powerful peak-time ep of nocturnal techno that moves between different moods. the title track pops with a thick grinding bassline and trippy synth effects, before escape envelopes you into a subterranean world. diodes follows, a fantastic slice of electrifying techno that bucks like a rodeo bull. the ep concludes with the blazing tunnel, that makes its mark with deft drum arrangements and a piercing call-to-arms siren.

on a mission is exactly that, a mission of love, a mission of peace . the positive vocals hark back to those of early 90s house tracks, which created unity through music and clubbing. the rhythmic beat of the drum is determined, as percussive layers build and the vocals bleed into the synths. francois k provides two variations of the track. his remix features more prominent drumbeats driven by a growling bassline. on his rockers dub version, francois goes all out and dubs us into the stratosphere. up next is the michael mayer remix, with a more electronic take on the original with driving synths and a whirring, throbbing bass-line.

cleveland is forever in search of the brown note. this is his second offering for the esp institute. side a’s tusk is a beautiful paradox—rhythm programs that churn like the inner workings of a grandfather clock, unmistakably mechanical, yet fashioned through muted analogue instrumentation that paints a deceptively organic picture. the crystallized jangle of fm synth voices toy with the softened drum patterns and vibrant animal-like chord gestures over nearly seven minutes of splendor. on side b, aku digs further into mysticism, manifesting digital jungle themes, cleverly abstracted through erratic bleeps, distant tribal drums, atonal flutters and synthetic bird calls. the cinematic quality of clevelands production shines through both tracks, but its aku that sweeps us from reality to embark on a moonlit expedition in search long lost treasures, proving cleveland a virtuoso skilled in building complex narratives with sound. these two songs will modulate your frequencies.