la rioja in spain may not be thought of as a hotbed of avant garde techno and electronica, but psychoskunk has been quietly issuing an uncompromising salvo of proudly underground releases since as far back as 2004. error etica, an alias from label boss victor martinez, is at the controls for this tenth vinyl release on the label, and he s sounding as proudly left of centre as ever. diatonic scale locks into an insistent groove, but the real magic of the track lies in the grubby notes punching their way around the drums, capped off with artful distortion that gives a wonderful bite to the production. tetratonic scale keeps things fuzzy but blows the rhythms wide open for a more poised, patient kind of techno incantation. r2pis remix of the track meanwhile clamps it back in order with a stern beat and a slow-release minimalism guiding the evolution of the track.

as well as manning his own label duro, theus mago can be found slinging out heat on turbo, kill the dj and more recently ombra. the mexican producer returns to home turf for his latest transmission, serving up one original track with two killer remixes. -inertials- is a rowdy beast in its original form, tapping up a breakbeat roll, dirty wave synth stabs and plenty more sonic debris for a cut that spans a whole lot of styles and makes them gel together seamlessly. inigo vontier takes the original and makes it into a bone-rattling drum track to batter the crowd into submission very late on in the dance. jamie paton takes a different approach on the b-side, weaving a little tenderness into the mix with some elegant synth lines that offset the raw bite of the drums beautifully.

solar phenomena continues a high quality and high rate of releases after eps from the likes of stl and fluxion with a new one from mystica tribe - the musical alias of tokyo-based producer, taka noda. here he draws on everything from dub, soul, bass music, rhythm and blues and will always freak you out with his unusual sounds.
this excellently absorbing ep starts with “love is all right”, a fusion of asian percussion and reggae drums that is high tempo and funky. the bright steelpan sounds offset the razor sharp percussion and make for a sunny dub that will get any crowd going. the same fusion vibes continues but in more blissed out and slow motion fashion on “lawn track”, the beautiful cosmic psyche-out that is “ash” and supple space journey that is “voyage” with its intoxicating melodies and loose, tumbling percussion. this is unusual but essential music from an exclusive talent.

st. petersburg resident kuzma palkin is a busy guy, having recorded music in the past as audiocad, cylindro, plattformer and many more. under his own name hes contributed to russia s respected gost zvuk label, and now he signs up to the excellent ukranian outpost wicked bass to drop some hypnotic and delightfully dusky club tracks to inject a little spice into a minimal scenario. the release kicks off with windy bass, which shares a little rugged spirit with stls sonic style and love of loose swing, before diving down into the misty waters of fordism 0205. exalted flow has a more detailed arrangement that pushes extra detail, sequence wobbles and fx tweaks onto the drums to make for a dynamic rhythm workout. krisis ekktro completes the set with a blown out electro throwdown that will be gold dust to any self-respecting machine funk deviant.

debut double lp album from blakk harbor the greek berlin based artist and sound designer behind native instruments, angelos liaros. soaring drones, dark ambiences and expertly crafted sound design. “madares” title derives from the actual dune mountains of crete. this moonlike landscape a sacred land of ancient ceremonies and the main inspiration for the album concept, cover and artwork. percussive samples and drones are created from traditional custom cretan instruments (lute, skin drums, lyra, tsabouna) & world instruments (tibetan bowls, gongs, dungchen horns) granulized to death drones through modular synths and hardware samplers. a black hole soundtrack that sucks you in tearing the fabric of space and time. enter a ritualistic occult trip to the unknown. limited to 250 copies on double vinyl with download code included, no separate digital release.

ultimate block party breaks volume 6 continues the tradition that began in the bronx in the 1970’s, where “break djs” would take that one part of the record that dancers would go absolutely crazy for. that part where all the music breaks down to nothing but the essence: drums and percussion. these are all truly timeless beats that sound as fresh today as they did when the founding fathers like kool herc, bam, flash and hollywood were catching them for the frst time in community centers throughout the city. we’ve edited and extended these breaks for maximum effect on the dancefloor - so you don’t have to. enjoy!

it was 2010 when massimiliano pagliara and discodromo got together and started working on costellazione k78. it s finally time to reveal this piece of italo-cosmic beauty landing on cocktail d amore music. the spaceship starts off and a vocoder announces the destination. in the middle of the track there is an interference. is that a hole? oh right they are out of it! going higher, higher, higher through space-time. b side is taken by a dub version where drums play the main role. everything is condensing together, it feels like connection is lost, but the bass line comes in and takes control. destination reached, time to celebrate. thank you guys for the efxapella, we ll all do good use of it. greetings from planet earth!

autre fell asleep in a gondola and awoke in the krankenhaus. this is his first offering for the esp institute. side as everybody in the past is sharp techno aimed for the alleys of your mind gritty, driving, and melodic combinations of blown-out drums and classic electro riffs that relentlessly sprint for a good 4 minutes before a squelching arpeggio and angelic solo kick in tugging the heartstrings and lighting a beacon for those noble morning dancers lost at the front left speaker, channeling from the deep. on side b, frigo completely dismantles any expectations you might have after listening to its predecessor. an undoubtedly seductive samba rhythm comprised of distant snares, rim shots and cowbells holds together an aggressively active bassline, a steel drum harmony and synth solo that crawl all over like a funky worm. this track is truly something special, a gift for the prodigious selector when dropped in the deserved context, it has the potential to unlock unprecedented levels of euphoria. these two songs are as fluid as a paintbrush yet precise as a scalpel.

terrific early 80s album, full of personality and charm, with timely freshness and hybridity (w/ download code)

deep, rootical lovers b/w thirteen minutes of blissed-out disco reggae (w/ download code)
deep, rootical lovers, darkly seething with one-step-at-a-time hurt and steely, vengeful self-esteem. hypnotic, stripped and desolate, with implacable drums and bass, dubwise from the start, the production is classic, unmistakable wackies, featuring fabian cooke’s scattered, abrupt organ stabs and minimal guitar-work, ras menelik’s masterful nyabinghi drumming, and harmonic commiseration by sugar minott and the love joys (with a strangled sob at intervals). over six minutes, the extended mix is different to the love power lp, and the additional dub, released here for the first time, is unmissable for its extra rawness and dubbed-out emptiness. plus thirteen minutes of blissed-out disco reggae on the flip: two contrasting dubs of the giorgio moroder/irene cara/flashdance cut from love power, both previously unreleased and a bit sick.

infuse027 marks label head enzo siragusa’s debut solo ep on the imprint. for the occasion, he finally releases ‘little angel’, a track close to his heart which was debuted on his bbc radio 1 essential mix at the end of 2016. embellished with swinging drums, and gentle soaring pads, it s a feel-good masterstroke of deep house. on the flip is romania’s cristi cons on remix duty, who keeps things deep but adds a subtle attitude that builds throughout, all while paying homage to the original.

after marcin krupa’s jazz laden pumpers on sour edits vol 2, sour edits is back with a four-tracker featuring the first vinyl release from emerging talent braga circuit alongside label boss xxxy. the a1 is the collaboration between the two artists “take you there”. slamming drums, melancholic vocals and soaring soul samples to bring a tear to the eye and a pump to the fist a2 “one i got” is a straight up romantic soul swinger from the boy wonder on his own, craftily chopped samples sit alongside swinging drums to get any good dancefloor moving b1 “i won’t, i never” sees xxxy mixing baltimore breaks with romantic vocals and soaring strings for another tears on the dancefloor moment. b2 “what you do to me” closes out the record with a slap bass fest that builds and builds.......

italian legend francesco farfa debuts on memento with “synchronicity 13”, with remix honours and duties left to m.r.e.u.x. and the analogue cops. farfa s long-lasting original track is a dancefloor skyrocket designed with skilful craftmanship. the humonguos drums and the driving bass line stockpile the explosive potential of a synthetic flock of sound, eventually becoming unwordly bloops pierced by evocative strings. the analogue cops rework the evocative potential of the original with a raw jacking grab in their “dance of the condor remix”, anchoring a biting kick drum and an highly corrosive acid bass. finally, m.r.e.u.x delivers his “green trip mix”, a very effective minimalistic reinterpretation, built on pounding rhythms and hypnotic sequences.

brendon moeller offers up his set in motion ep on echocord sub-label echo echo this september, comprising three originals from the dub techno veteran. south africa, new york based producer and dj brendon moeller aka beat pharmacy/echologist has long been respected as one of the pioneering figures in ethereal, dubbed-out techno with regular appearances at global hot spots like fabric, berghain and cielo as well as releases on labels like third ear, kimochi, neovinyl and echocord. here though we see moeller joining the roster of the latter’s sublabel echo echo, marking its fourth release. title-track set in motion leads with brendons signature murky synth textures at its core whilst lumpy low-end tones, shuffled hats and spiraling dub echoes fluidly undulate amongst one another throughout. eastern beach follows, and as the name would suggest, nods towards brighter sounds with airy pads, soft bell chime synths and pulsating subs driving the composition alongside swinging, heavily reverberated percussion. economy then closes the package, stripping things back to gritty dub stabs, dusty 4/4 drums and billowing noise sweeps.

label head honchos rhode & brown finally debut on their own imprint, slam city jams, after putting out music on fellow labels toy tonics and public possession. produced over the past two years, the wave 100 ep might be the most versatile record by the munich-based fellas so far. on the title track we have an euphoric hint of 80s synth nostalgia, slapped bass and banging woodsticks (did someone say safri duo?!). sparkle on a2 feels like the joy of a fresh breeze on hot summer days whilst living la vida loca in the clouds - b/w phat bass, sweet flutes & strings. on the flip there is love lane, a classic house track with a funked up bassline, shuffling snares and the most erotic vocal in human history. moon bells on b2 is the soundtrack to that road trip you did back in 86 with a juno 106 arpeggiator bassline, percussive drums and airy synths all around. over europe on b3 rounds off this special 5-tracker with beautiful ambient spheres straight from outta space.

david vunk is on the roll as a dj but also he lives the true spirt studio life in his atomic bunker downtown rotterdam city. his newest work is a 12 inch on his own imprint sublabel moustache techno series called omega strap ep. the a1 track shadow police is a pumping tr-808 distorted beat with oldskool 90-ies acid and with a dark obscure men voice in it, underground feel. a2 pillensmoel is a pumping electro techno track with acidfunk, crashing snare drums and a dutch porn female voice live recording. b1 track is titled come to the house a funky acid track with paranoid girl shout, some classic house samples and flanged hi hats. the last track is called no winners no losers techno with a rolling bassline, a machine kickdrum topped with deep synths. picture sleeve design by meinhard, mastered by rude 66, cutted by uncle lex. dont play this if you are under 18.

from the heart of macedonia comes herzel with his first ep for uncanny valley. the four tracks point him out as an expert for creating tracks on the blurred line between rave and darkness. if you are listening on a proper sound system, it is almost impossible not to be moved by the mighty drones of forms that almost feel like tectonic shifts. glide runs in similar veines and brings power to the dance floor with rolling bass synths and sublime pads. a little more straightforward is glowworms with sharp drums and an acidic synth theme only to finally merge into an elegiac climax. finally, two hits hard with slapping synths and a dubby bass line, a gripping yet somehow nasty track.

iceland’s volruptus returns to bjarkis bbbbbb with five esoteric cuts titled alien agenda. releasing on bbbbbb at the end of last year, volruptus has emerged swiftly on the european party scene, with the icelandic artist popping up on line-ups all over the continent. following releases by norways eod and fellow icelandic talent, lord pusswhip, alien agenda is bbbbbbs third record of the year continuing bjarkis progressive tastes for innovative electronic scandinavian artists. first up, svi,nasti,a 3000 deploys a synthetic, fast-pitched techno revolver fused with space- induced, twisted modulations. a scratch tool titled itchy and scratchy show follows before launching into su,rmatur a celestial 303 synth line layered over scattered electro drums, together providing a magical transcendental experience. alien agenda is suitably an eccentric, idm tinged number – with shades of acid and powerful bass shrills becoming the focus here. last up, misanthropgy (dark stoff) provides an energetic rolling percussive loop, intensifying naturally through cryptic, high-pitched melodies.

next up on duskys renowned 17 steps label is the return of long term pal kiwi. having supported the lads on 9 of the 17 steps tour dates and having also provided the 15th release in the label catalogue - the fellow londoner now readies his oooh ep which comes backed up with a remix from feel my bicep affiliate hammer. kiwis sound is one defined by positive, kinetic feeling joining the dots between detroit techno, soul and balearic. with previous releases on futureboogie, life and death and moscomans lauded disco halal imprint, hes garnered several accolades including reaching number #85 in mixmag s top 100 tunes of 2017 and sitting at #1 in the genre chart for a total of 9 weeks with his orca ep back in 2016. now continuing on his ascent, kiwi lays out a pair of rapturous, gooey house jams that lands right on time for the festival season. on oooh vocal lines swirl over a largely beatless backing track. a rich, balmy feeling unfolds behind synth chimes and layered delays which work together to form an irresistible summer dj tool. andromeda then follows up and blends 80’s soundtrack-tinged stabs with crispy drums and thick sub bass before being accompanied by a pulsating synth line that carries the track to a delectable crescendo. hammer then closes things up with a somewhat hallucinogenic take on oooh with lfos, analogue sweeps and blobs of acid bleeding together to cap off an altogether warm and woozy trip.

raised on the best of popular and underground dance music of the 70s and 80s, partner has created an outlet to pay homage to the finest hooks and loops from around the world, seamlessly repurposing them for the dancefloor. first up, a-side track patu launches headfirst into an off-kilter bollywood infused dancefloor curveball punchy drums, melodic vocals and vintage instrumentation, save your weirdest shapes for this one. on the flip, my people gives an injection of latin heat triumphant, horns and an unrelenting rhythms section throw this into full carnival spirit. just in time for the summer. since relocating to london from brighton, things have been taking shape for partner music. last year saw a debut festival slot at dimensions festival, plus a handful of great support from the likes ofmount kimbie, dan shake and san proper. with some exciting releases lined up throughout 2018, its looking like a promising year for the budding producer. with this release high praise continue to build their status as a label to keep an eye on, with their party series and clothing line steadily growing in popularity.

seth troxlers club focussed label, play it say it, welcomes a master of stripped back and dubbed out tech grooves in the form of seb zito, while fuse boss enzo siragusa steps up to remix. a core part of the world-renowned fuse party crew, zitos distilled productions are perfectly functional, boasting the sorts of subtle charms that make them truly irresistible to legions of dancers. his warm sound has landed on the fuse and infuse labels as well as rawax and kaoz theory. he runs his own seven dials label and is as revered for his resident sets in london and ibiza as he is his studio sounds. the excellent on it opens things up with tightly coiled drums, adorned with bumping kicks that immediately get you moving. a soul infused vocal brings plenty of cool to the track whilst dreamy pads add warmth and depth. a dub is also included in the package for those darker, late night sets. both versions are sure to become club mainstays. remixing is enzo siragusa, the man behind the internationally renowned fuse brand and a driving force in the contemporary house and techno scene. he djs around the world, hosts parties across europe and is known for digging deep. his version is more zoned out thanks to the swirling pads, with the orignals vocal coming at you in a dreamlike fashion, as the knotted bass hammers home the groove. this is an essential release that is sure to go on to big things this summer.

following on from 2017s experimentally-focused ep, nucleus axon finds phantasy regular ghost culture return with an urgent, pristine slice of club euphoria, backed by a standout remix from legowelt. the original version of axon powers ahead with a supremely physical bassline and a ghostly atmosphere that s slathered with atmospheric choral touches, contrasted by punching, powerful drums. each perfectly tuned element weaves a seriously impressive spell of charismatic, contemporary electro. axons original form is then driven underground and transformed into something truly psychedelic at the hands of legendary producer and synth legend, legowelt. coaxing out one of his distinctive acid lines, the hague resident unravels a heady, hazy atmosphere of creeping euphoria amid a spectral, twilight groove.

washington dc’s rush plus drop four superb techno cuts entitled ‘the sweat ep’ on p.leone and caiazzo’s e-missions imprint this june. having dropped three quality releases on their own eponymous label, rush plus continue to turn heads with their imaginative productions, gaining support from the upper echelons of techno with names like rodhad, ben klock, dj spider, ben sims, slam, answer code request, dj deep and many more getting behind them. following up a release on ambivalent’s valence records, they now join p.leone and caiazzo’s rapidly rising e-missions imprint. ‘megabust’ initiates the package with twisted sci-fi synths and syncopated drums whilst rattling metallic elements operate throughout. intricate hits of percussion are soon followed by rumbling bass in ‘rebirth’ as the track gradually becomes more and more twisted using filtered effects and soaring pads, making way for the shuffling ‘sweat’ with its menacing stabs and echoing voices. finally, the package concludes with ‘slow release’ - a high-octane and ominous roller.

albrecht la brooy s analogue attic imprint welcomes citizen maze onto its roster with the four-track serenity in the woods ep. australian duo albrecht la brooy have been steadily carving out a name for themselves over the past few years with their jazz-inflected take on deep house via the likes of apollo/r&s, night tide and of course their own analogue attic imprint which has become a home for their own output as well as fellow australian artists like sleep d, rings around saturn and more. here though we see the label offer up the inaugural ep from melbourne s adam mccoy aka citizen maze. leading on the package is the ten-minute natural playgroun , embracing the labels signature field recording background aesthetic whilst stirring in organic drum grooves, fluttering pads and jazzy sax licks throughout. glade hollow follows with bumpy, off-kilter drums and ethereal chords at its core whilst horn lines and twinkling synth melodies wander across its eight-minute duration. moonlight sanctuary opens the flip-side, edging into darker territories with murky dubbed out synth flourishes, robust drums and tension building strings before title-track serenity in the woods rounds out the package, laying focus on a snaking sub bass groove, metallic percussive shuffles and expansive atmospherics.

the second edition of the rose records limited 10- series comes courtesy of junktion, whose releases on the likes of outplay and slow town didn t only sell out at breakneck speed but also established him as one of holland s biggest talents in discerning deephouse/disco circles. junktion does what he does best on this delightful little platter. the lolloping running for whatever on the a is as infectious as they come, with loads of clever samples arranged over classy rolling drums and a deep, rubbery bassline. flip over for pale blue dot, a slightly tougher, trippier uptempo workout with spaced out pads, big drums, crisp hats and massive synth stabs that should whip up a real frenzy in a packed club. killer pair of tunes from a producer that s very much on top of his game.

the masterful trio of timo mass, basti grub and eric volta showcase their combined musical muscle on the latest release forthcoming on supreme berlin imprint, mobilee. with an impressive remix package featuring rodriguez jr. and tiefschwarz. over two years in the making, ‚we were riding high‘ is a lucid after-hours track with an uplifting and catchy vocal hook that unfolds and develops fluidly. the alternative edit utilises dark synths and drums, retaining the positivity that make this track perfect for the last summer month. this record is the result of eric volta making the demo at an after-party at his studio. he then showed this to timo mass who in turn showed it to basti grub who loved the track so much, they were inspired to develop it. two time grammy nominated timo maas has an extensive musical background, spanning over thirty years. he’s worked with some of the world’s biggest stars including madonna, depeche mode and fatboy slim. basti grub heads up his own label, höhenregler, and is known for his exotic, african-influenced productions. he’s released on some premium labels including cocoon, get physical, desolate and cr2. born in london but very well traveled, eric volta shot into the spotlight with love your illusion and since releases on dirtybird, visionquest, four:twenty recordings among others.

for its third release interstate records welcomes dold. throughout releases on polegroup, mindtrip or his very own imprint arsenik, the swedish producer has shaped a distinctive sound - raw, minimalistic yet warm and energetic. for ins003 he delivers two tracks. while the title track, “version”, demonstrates dold’s darker side, “rise and fall” bears a more hopeful tone. although the vibes are different, both tracks are driven by the same raw 909 - infused drums that have made dold one of the hottest swedish talents in the first place. as in previous releases, the two originals are accompanied by two remixes on the b-side. the first one comes from virgo and soma records protege slv. while focusing on the synth of the title track, smacking percussions and dark tribal sounds add a more punchy and energetic vibe to the original. klockworks affiliate newa, however, laid eyes on the pads and strings. through carrying “version” into slightly more playful and spheric worlds the georgian delivers an ideal closing to this records.

mood hut is very pleased to present a new record by ian wyatt, performing under the name local artist. hes one of the co-founders of mood hut, and you may remember him from his music on the proibito and rhythm section record labels. you may also have checked out his releases under the moniker slow riffs, including the gong bath 12inch from 2015. this wonderful record can be played at any time of the day or night and is also a great thing to play in the home or in the club. drums, bass, keyboards, as well as other sounds and outboard effects (including delay) are all present. the artwork was done by logan sturrock and local artist.

california’s the sentiments are back with another dose of sweet soul for all lovers of the low and slow. following the acclaim of their last 45, the group has arrived with another philly infused lovers lament. “what’s so good about saying goodbye” enters like a classic soul record with a signature drums fill leading into heavy hits accompanied by violins, fuzz guitar, vibes, and lush horns arrangements. and to answer the sentiments’ question, what’s so good about saying goodbye is knowing that after you do you can go to your local shop and grab this sweet seven inch. the song and arrangement, like the last, embodies so many elements that make up that sweet soulful sound that keeps reminding people why its better to smile now and cry later. produced and recorded entirely at the incomparable transistor sound studio, you’re gonna need doubles for sure. one for you....and one for your baby.

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

autarkic makes up part of an unspoken alliance from telaviv, which is currently altering the state of contemporary house and techno music. heavy dreamer, the artists first, four track outing on life and death, showcases much of what this bold movement is about, all while pushing it forward into progress. ever present tones of kraut and punk rock flow throughout the ep, beginning with some things to keep, a pumping, warehouse floor filler. autarkic steps up to the mic, often re-amping and distorting his vocal delivery, placing it alongside finely programmed keyboard riffs, tough drums and further psychedelia. realistic guru, the trippiest of the lot, is tailor made for an early morning dj tennis afterparty excursion. slowing down the pace on powerhouse, autarkic hints at moments of bauhaus and tones on tails doom and dance pop, while offering up a digital only, stripped down, bonus version. the title track stands as a testament to this new wave of artists, coming from the shores of israels mediterranean coastline. bass, drums and guitar are recorded through bespoke boxes and presented through the lens of modernist club culture.

polaroid were an italian post-punk/new wave band, formed in turin in 1981. the original lineup of the band consisted of marcello zavatto (voice, guitar), massimo vagnarelli (bass, drum-machine), evandro fornasier (guitar), claudio vagnarelli (synthersizer) and marco farano (drums). polaroid made their debut with the cassette 6-track ep

following the success of recent novamute releases by charlotte de witte and anna, nicolas has delivered a stellar techno ep. will appeal to fans of ricardo villalobos, len faki, ben sims, jay lumen, charlotte de witte, anna, chris liebing limited edition 12inch vinyl part 1 of a 2 ep series. bougaïeff returns to novamute with permutation djinn inspired by greg egans sci-fi novel permutation city. a follow up ep will be released later this year. following the success of recent novamute releases by charlotte de witte and anna, nicolas has delivered a stellar techno ep. bougaieffs interpretation on permutation djinn attempts to translate the stages of egans novel into music while respecting the constraints of making club friendly tracks. the opener woke up as a copy is an expansive track with blade runneresque metallic reverberations. panic time tryout is a peak time cut, fostering the futurist atmosphere with an unsettling melody. little djinn is the most frenetic of the tracks whilst no escape takes it back to peak time with resounding drums and drills.

the buzz around the first wilson phoenix release was huge - good luck finding a copy of that one! the mysterious techno entity returns for round two and delivers the goods once more with some razor sharp club cuts that smartly straddle vibes without losing their way. -expansion- is a fist-pumping, 90s-indebted techno workout with an urgent stomp at its heart - the pointed motor city stabs and raw 909 drums are a gift for anyone wanting to whip the crowd up. -space being- is a wilder affair with bright and bold synth leads splattered over a sizzling electro beat. -field control- mans the b side with a robotic throwdown that should tickle electro, wave, new beat and house heads as much as techno fiends.

a collection of singles from the 60s soul music duo eddie & ernie aka edgar campbell & ernie johnson.

under cover for many years, this affie yusuf two tracker finally sees the light of day on the acclaimed mindyourhead imprint. comes on a generally deep green, mixed colour marbled 12’’ vinyl. affie yusuf paved the way uk acid house scene and so much more, releasing techno and acid throughout his career. mindyourhead records recognises that sometimes you need to look a little bit into the past to move ahead and has re-launched the label with this vinyl only release. ‘parrot soup’ is a fine example of just how a track title can have absolutely no relevance to the music whatsoever. this is a lovingly constructed example of how to convey images with sound, this music renders images brimming with joy and loss, icy cold chills and the warmth of the first rays of sun on a spring morning. tight, punchy drums with crisp 808 snares and driving toms lovingly complimented with dream-like pad sequences, soul searching strings and lush bassline form a quality crossover track that will appeal to lovers of many styles of techno and house. ‘something special’ is on a different tip, more driving and direct in style with the ‘everybody…’/ ‘something special’ vocal samples put to great use (need to be heard in context!) and that essential marching ‘affie acid’ bassline. the lead follows a similar pattern to the acid but pulls your head in a slightly different direction leaving the listener suitably twisted!! this proper ‘party acid’ has just the right level of balls to destroy a dancefloor without scaring off the faint of heart. lovely work affie!!

after being one of the many standouts on the we are opilec…! vol. iii compilation back in 2016, i-robots glamouflage is now getting a full vinyl release with artwork by tomozo kevorkian, who was designer for nyc s body & soul, and remixes by a standout team of producers from japan to switzerland to south africa and the usa. opening up the ep is a fantastic new take ii version from label boss i-robots, who added exclusive chinese vocal samples recorded on the streets of huang jiang city many years ago. the track is inspired by ennio morricone and supermax and is a loose and infectious groove with brilliant drums and percussion and an elastic bassline that really gets you moving. it s a subtle update to the original—also included here as a bonus cut—which itself is a steamy and tropical sounding groove. swiss electronic pioneer schaltkreis wassermann then features on a version of the original that reaches for the cosmos with its rugged bass riffs, tumbling toms and busy, ever evolving groove. it has a big breakdown with exotic synths wandering through the night and oodles of effects and big guitar licks. the first of the remixes comes from kuniyuki takahashi who has been a big supporter of i-robots since 2000. he is a sound designer from japan who had a compilation of his works put out by music from memory back in february. his version is laden with cosmic synths and chants, grunting and organic drums and is sure to be massive this summer thanks to its open air vibes. detroit s underrated but vital gary martin is the boss of the teknotika label and his version featuring colten decker playing an unusual sax line shows another side to the motor city. it s a curious and mysterious tune that makes for an unsettling atmosphere that keeps you locked throughout as it snakes along.

off-kilter broken beats from a collection of up & coming artists from around europe and beyond. a1. twelon - quad twelon heralds the start of the ep with a builder track perfect for openings and breakdowns mid set. industrial creeps and hisses, spliced with intricate percussion. a2. nollern - sitar pro nollern s eff_el & dan beaven burst forth to bring an upfront, yet minimalistic, glitch-rife drum track - perfect for the players wanting to layer an element of sparse, brutal breaks into the mix. b1. tlk - in your shadow tlk brings us a beautiful, emotion filled arp track. one of my goals when making a track, is to only use one sound: to make one synth sing. - linkwood. this is the inspiration that tlk used for in your shadow. b2. xantrax - xtk a trippy, jazzy combination of atmospheric synthesis, acoustic drums and a heavy bass-weight underlay, giving the ep a raw, yet balanced finish.

echocord’s echo echo sub-label continues with its third releases this august, courtesy of german producer and credo founder alex bau with his ‘zenstory’ ep. germany’s alex bau has been a prominent name on the underground dj circuit on his home turf, and further afield, for three decaces as well as racking up an impressive back catalogue as a recording artists for labels like cocoon, clr, sleaze and of course his very own credo label which has been a platform predominantly for his own material whilst welcoming the likes of kyle geiger, takkyu ishino and electric rescue onto the imprint also. here though we see bau joining the roster of echocord’s fledgling sub-label echo echo with a new four-track ep and taking the lead on the package is ‘clouds’ with pulsating low-end tones, hissing analogue noise and dusty drums samples all flowing in unison with ethereal chords and sweeping pads. ‘contour’ follows, tipping the focus over to bubbling delayed stab hits, fluttering sub bass and evolving white noise bursts throughout. the ‘prelude’ of ‘zenstory’ opens the flip side and as the name would suggest it’s a cinematic build up to the title-track featuring tension-building, expansive atmospherics ahead of the original mix which features a thumping muted kick, stuttering atmospheric echoes and spoken word vocal tucked into the depths of the record.

support from: ben ufo (hessle), oli_n (phonica), ander b (robsoul), eltron john (uncanny valley), simon caldwell (fbi radio), herzel (hivern disc), nori (posivision), sascha funke, nathan g, dmitry (neo violence) acid influenced many of us. in fact, for a huge proportion of us, acid kicked off this sweaty, painful, yet incredibly fulfilling journey. the 2 originals by dircsen utilize the 303 in different ways - the opener ‘beyond collapsing silence’ sounds like an instant acid house classic with its energetic drums & dreamy atmosphere, whilst ‘depth scan’ slows it down, focusing more on hypnosis. rounding off the 3-track ep is an idiosyncratic remix of ‘depth scan’ by l.i.e.s. legend, florian kupfer. a dubbed out original gets well and truly saturated.

one half of the kwc 92 (who has previously delivered two top notch lps for l.i.e.s.), swedish producer max stenerudh aka maxxx bass steps forward with a 9 track solo effort titled gone fishing. right off the bat we hear stenerudh immersing himself in a world of chilled out and narrative fm electronic explorations that call to mind places past. the untitled tracks leave it to the listerner to create a story on their own, as voice pads, hand drums and dare we say pan flutes push and pull their way through the album creating dreamlike textures and otherwordly escapes. ideal music to fall into a late afternoon summer siesta to. lp comes come with full color 22cmx28cm color poster and download card

texas native demarkus lewis is up next on the great d3 elements label. this time, demarkus brings his signature diverse house style on this release, which features tracks from his mental notes album that only came out digitally in 2011. luckily for lovers of vinyl, d3 is putting out three of the gems from that release. first is the upfront house of without pause that is full of demarkus bumping drums, masterful combination of spacey, detroit style electronics and swirling chords that will get anyone onto the dancefloor. lady in pink also features some wonderful spacey chords, but is a more downtempo, broken beat type of affair, resplendent with computer bleeps. over onto the b side, demarkus takes us into a more spiritual and deep territory, with behind closed doors (afro main mix). the afro rhythms coupled with eman s spoken words turn this into a track that do wonders with a heaving, sweaty dance floor in the early hours. another winner for the d3 elements label.

mdcl remixes vol.1 is a compilation of remixes by musical maverick mark de clive-lowe. bridging worlds of music from dj-led dancefloors to underground jazz clubs, mdcl is one of the most broadranging artists youll find anywhere. over his prolific career hes collaborated with the likes of kenny dope, dj spinna, joe clausell and restless soul, remixed the likes of omar, shirley horn and jody watley, and regularly takes his mind-ending live show far and wide all over the planet. with this new collection of soulful, dancefloor gems, mdcl presents his dj-friendly reworks of future classics. the selection kicks off with german trumpet master nils wülker featuring none other than jill scott vocalling the nia andrews and mocky-penned worth the wait where nils trumpet dances around jill scott, delivering with goosebumps as only she can. los angeles based moulton music collaborator vocalist nina lares gets remixed with a nod to classic late 90s house music, and songbird trio king get their song supernatural remixed with the originals lush instrumentation underpinned with a bubbling signature mdcl bassline and drums. side b launches with la multi-instrumentalist dexter storys as is reimagined as an ethereal late night dancefloor moment inspired by mdcls trips to south africa. euro-caribbean-american singer amana melomes lock & key has mdcl unleash his synths and piano keys for a full 88-keys workout, and the side closes with broken beat flavors of mdcl remixing longtime new zealand collaborator cherie mathieson with the bassline and drums pressure of games we play sounding like an undiscovered p-funk-meets-bugz in the attic anthem straight from the clubs of west london.

bjarki returns to &#1090,,,,&#1088,,,,&#1080,,,,&#1087,,,, with another ep brandishing five restructured doses of idm from another galaxy. using marching kick drums as a basis, oli gumm takes references from techno, gabber and trance and morphs them into something far less easy to categorise. ‘oli gumm 2-2’ switches frantically between glistening synth cascades and bouncing kicks. ‘fork2-2’ is a subdued excursion through ominous, trance-inducing strings and skeletal percussion. opening the b side, ‘7 filakaramellur lion bar’ spirals through warped vocals and acoustic contortions, followed by ‘hatann satann’, a high speed voyage through a demonic parallel universe. closing off the ep, ‘sleikjó’ uses rolling drums to circle around a pit of sparse sonic oddities.

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

an ardent heart is a focused techno mini album that brings forward stefan goldmann’s most dancefloor-centered material in a decade. the tracks push and pull relentlessly. despite their linear appeal, there is an intricately balanced interplay between the heavy-handed kicks, the bouncy bass accents and the sizzling, yet clear-cut details whipped up by the rallying drums. the peculiar, seemingly “vocalised” mode of synthesis is maybe the most unifying sonic characteristic of the six tracks and one coda. formant shaping, vowel filters and airstream perturbations let a wide range of sounding elements speak in the tongues of a cybernetic babylon. layered polymetric patterns perforate the aural plane with alien scripts. clearly structured, yet opaque messages that seem to have traveled for aeons emanate from the red-hot circuitry. they spill into a network of delays, channeled down into labyrinthine corridors, enveloped in electrostatic noise. most tracks build on chance patterns evoked with hardware sequencers and freeform modulation sources. the resulting synthetic systems are as cohesive as they exhibit vast internal variation and range. thus balancing simplicity and complexity right in the middle, the results are just as immediately gripping as they can feed sustained attention. a wide palette of distortion and overtones mark the contours of individual elements that seem to have near-physical qualities – as if there were metallic strings, thick membranes, a resonating sphere, all struck by electric mallets, caused to vibrate by mechanical bows and sung by silicone lips.

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

reissue of balearic gem spanglish movement from little known band hot pepper! originally released as a private pressing in 1978 and featuring famous drummer jesus munoz tilico, a giant musician who appeared on countless recordings and accompanied famous figures like paul mauriat and carl tjader among many others. four superb long tracks including the cosmic underground club classic ritual song. hot pepper was a studio project created by mexican drummer / producer /arranger jesus munoz tilico who in the late 70s decided to record an album in a disco-funk vein, helped by some of his friends who were top session musicians. “spanglish movement” was the result, written and produced by “tilico”, released in 1978 as a tiny private edition housed in a fabulous afro cover. being tilico an enormous drummer, you can expect here lots of heavy drums, congas and percussion, surrounded by crazy space synths, male-female vocals, latin horns, afro touches and occasional fuzz guitar.