through the years intacto records became a household name. the label was founded in amsterdam in 2004 under the collaborative genius of shinedoe and 2000 and one. it was launched as a platform for the by then strongly emerging amsterdam scene supporting a pack of local artists shaping a fresh distinctive sound which took over the electronic scene by storm. intactos defining sound included many styles and its catalogue is a melting pot of influences of which house and techno are the key elements. after running intacto records successfully for 14 years, shinedoe and 2000 and one have joined forces on their very first collaborative release. a ten year old unreleased 2000 and one track world of acid have been played out by shinedoe for years and received ecstatic feedback from the clubbing crowds. convincing him to release this timeless tune to scorch the dancefloors worldwide, shinedoe was inspired to do a remix. in return 2000 and one remixed her track acidploitation which she recently produced. acidploitation ep is the culmination of two dutch legends, defining their brilliant take on music once again

for the next installation of the wolfskuil records series, the dutch producer cadans aka jeroen snik returns to darko essers imprint and presents three dancefloor monsters.for the next installation of the wolfskuil records series, the dutch producer cadans aka jeroen snik returns to darko essers imprint and presents three dancefloor monsters. the ep opens with slit, kicking off with shaky rhythms and pounding drum patterns while entrancing vocals play in the background. on the flip side, dof serves up big room techno with a perfect tunneling frenetic groove and the eps final track plinky is yet again a heavyweight tool, with clever percussion, deep vocals and funky hi-hats.

incl dl code, dam swindle present ‘high life, their second studio album due on the 28th may on the duos own heist recordings. the heart of the album was recorded over a three week period at their amsterdam studio in march 2017, and the release will coincide with the fifth anniversary of the label. since forming in 2011, the dutch duo have carved a unique place for themselves in the scene. their sound - which merges references from multiple decades into one smooth aesthetic - quickly rose to popularity for its careful blend of soul and rhythm, taking cues from their passion for obscure records, with influences ranging from house and funk to afrobeat and soul. dynamic live shows and dj sets afford them a packed touring schedule across the globe, whilst their label heist recordings is credited with consistently breaking new artists. the album explores the intersection of live and electronic music, with much of the improvised material left largely untouched to maintain its organic sensibilities. dam swindle describe the album as an electronic album with a live approach, combining our love for house, ambient and jazzy harmonics, making it a record interesting for the club, as well as a pleasant album to put on at home.

recorded in an ageing holiday park during off-season, center parcs is the debut lp by dutch artists betonkust & palmbomen ii a conceptual, musical-tristesse full of lo-fi harmony, and fanciful, psychedelic-coloured modulations, with an undercurrent of saturated, outsider-house beats, all recorded to tape. with a shared passion for experimental music, and gnarled dutch electro, the duo have crafted an lp of esoteric-electronic-pop, reflective of the time the two spent holed-up in isolation, in the out-of-time center parcs setting

dutch pioneer mg (aka gert van veen) is responsible for a series of huge house classics to ever emerge from the netherlands: a-men s pay the piper, quazar s seven stars, house of venus dish & tell. the list is long. under his lesser known moniker zodiac trax, gert produced some of his moodiest material. released in 1992 in two parts, these beautifully crafted tracks remained fairly unknown up to this day. for this re-issue frame of mind selected the deepest tunes from the obscure series. a previously unreleased track called planet x is included!

ltd to 300 copies , the new episode on the ddq series, now under the brokntoys mantle, presents 2 different angles of mutant electronics . on the a side, dutch producer identified patient showcases his discombulated style, slow-motion burners stained in acid. on the flip, nurse owner scarlit port makes his first appearance on vinyl with the deranged marg , before going all in with touch u without touchin ur skin.

mannequin, emotional rescue and blowpipe come together to release the music of dutch post-punk, industrial outsiders nexda, by releasing a collection of music drawn from all their single and ep vinyl releases, to offer a compelling album.

in a nutshell: mellow floating braindance, electro, quirky and wonky techno beyond standard schemes. a1 we start with sane - the hangover. this tune is made for quirkier techno sets. it is a funky wonky techno tune mocking around with a whistling lead synth on top of a tripped out beat. a2 next one is chordata - silent singer. electrobeats mark the rhythm for this progressive adventure into space. electro in the good old detroit or dutch fashion. a3 jochen heym is also featured twice on it. after his ep -sononaut- this time he brings a mellow braindance electro tune: floating soul b1 in addition b1 contains a remix of the cling clang ambient tune of the stonedwave005 => chip tronic transforms the ambient piece into a hectical electro tune. b2 b2 is the final tune. chip tronic - frequency modulated metallic wide hypnotic screaming leads are being carved into the listeners brain while being distrted and modulated by any means available. the number 18 implies => dark techno rhythms for wonky minds who love it more distorted.

three original tracks by french tyrant moteka who continues the exploration of his beloved dark techno territories. the first two tracks more hard hitting, where on the flip, title track zvezda is more spaced out and comes with a crispy electro rework by none other than dutch versatile heavyweight tripeo.

cryovac recordings enters a new sensible era of home grown production focusing on strong statements of personal style. cryovac stresses a minimal approach to basic production with a simple soul to shape a tale of sound. the broke lighter e.p. is a versatile mix of characters that come together and combine their visions into one vista. this shared space of consciousness is translated to vinyl for your inspection. cryovac recordings continues to shine light on every corner of the detroit underground to expose a depth of talent that is overlooked. the 19th edition of the cryovac series is a moody stab at the heart of techno. it starts off with disc detroit s upliftingly melancholy 4/4 groover that transforms synth and turns percussion with a steady patience. dutch mike executes a smooth assault lead by a 303 harmony, backed by a heavy baseline and flanked by tricky programming that shifts cymbal formations. vontell c. and his son vontell f. sneak a dark vibe into the mix with a manic and excitable minimal ballad detuning and nodding out while detailing the burning of pretty things. andy garcia applies a minimalized motown sound via strumming guitar, vintage vocals, and easy beat that rises and falls creating a serene phonic envirorment. every track on the broke lighter is an opportunity to go in a new directio

taken from the forthcoming dekmantel lp center parcs by esoteric dutch production duo betonkust & palmbomen ii, comes the leo/ mirjam’. the track is a rendition of upbeat-melancholic, future- retroism, and a slice of saturated house music. the flip features a special, unyielding, acid-tempo rework by legowelt. likely to vanish soon.. tip!

detroit producers omar s & brian kage team up to bring you thru the madness ep. thru the madness has all the elements of a classic dance music collaboration. the tune showcases omar s raw and funky analog bass playing and drum programming combined with brian kage signature warm melodic synth lines and chord structures. the clever use of a catchy 90’s vocal sample helps solidify and unify the composition. thru the madness (honk & nik mix) takes a deeper approach by adding a deep detroit-style dx pad, nile rodger-esque funk guitars parts, and vintage drum breaks that will keep the party moving into the late night hours. like dutch & dillon from predator, some times you gotta get thru the madness!

bergen is the next, and natural step in the expanding career of dutch producer tom trago. the acclaimed producer behind voyage direct will release his fourth lp, with the label and crew he s built a close relationship with over the past ten years - dekmantel. with a new studio and approach to music, bergen is trago sounding at his very finest, returning to his roots with a focussed, and dedicated production ethos.

reissue of the sought after birth act of the afro and jazz-parisian scene that fascinated so many musicians and music fans throughout the 70s and 80s. comes in a heavyweight tip-on sleeve. considered as one of the most important afro-parisian jazz records of the seventies, soul of africa sees texas tenor sax giant hal singer team up with french pianist jel gilson, and his afrocentric, big jazz band. originally released in 1974 on legendary french imprint french le chant du monde, and re-issued in 2008 on dutch imprint kindred spirits, super-sonic jazz records provides yet another opportunity to get ahold of this driving, testament to spiritual, ethno-jazz.

french label bright sounds welcomes prolific dutch artist boris bunnik for a new ep under his most celebrated alias, conforce. the regular delsin artist saves this project for his more dance floor driven work and that is the case across all four of the atmospheric tracks here.

up next on wolfskuil records and as the title suggests we find some of shlomos finest cuts on the dutch imprint reworked by oscar mulero, johannes heil and tripeo. spanish techno master oscar mulero takes over the a-side, keeps the heat of the original and adds extra tension to offer a stand out rendition of obsession, while in vanished breath he goes deep and delivers fine electronica and a sophisticated, experimental remix where broken beats and haunting synths seamlessly blend to create ghostly atmospheres. on the flip side johannes heil transforms the beatless, synth-heavy beauty m.u.m. into an euphoric, driving techno track, right before tripeo proves ones again his strong command on the dancefloor with a solid, twisted version of avadon part 1

founded in 2015 by dubstep forefather sleeper, crucial recordings has continued to develop and strengthen its undeniable grip on the dubstep world with each release, never failing to act as an unyielding beacon within the scene for unearthing fresh, standard-setting talent. leaping from strength to strength, this highly prolific imprint constantly delivers multifaceted and boundary shattering bass music through ingenious and unprecedented ways. the latest addition to the label’s ever-expanding vision for multifaceted bass music comes from rotterdam-based hebbe, who has truly emerged from the shadows recently through releases on subway recordings, artikal music, duploc and version collective. regarded as the most promising up-and-comer in the dutch dubstep scene, hebbe sports an obscure, sound driven flow that aims to inject diversity and progress into today’s musical output. keeping within a similar spirit, hebbe’s crucial016 boasts two far reaching tracks, “mad hatter” and “galata” that convey trailblazing bassweight through two very different formats. while “mad hatter” cuts through to the core with simplicity and impact, “galata” equally enchants with smokey darkness and trenchlike depth, building upon crucial recordings’ irreplaceable position within the dubstep circuit.

amsterdam based label anagram readies label co-founder sinfol s first solo release in three years entitled pull back . the release, which features four passionate tracks, sees the light of day in the beginning of april. since the launch of anagram three years ago the label has put out a steady flow of releases from artists such as anetha, octual, stefan vincent, elad magdasi and haze. however, the imprint has also acted as the main platform for sinfol s own productions. blurring the line between various subgenres, the dutch artist is an eclectic one and meanders between acid, house, techno and more. the chords and arpeggios set the mood in life off measure where robotic elements rise to meet them, carving the way for result with its oscillating tones, clap fueled percussion and three-o-three licks. pull back is packed with a thunderous energy that s intertwined with sinfol s soulful vocals and ethereal synths, before swaying into deep house territory with exhale . the track s rolling bass, broken drums and twinkling melodies round off the latest instalment on the rising amsterdam label off in a graceful manner.

biosphere is the main recording name of geir jenssen, a norwegian musician who has released a notable catalogue of ambient electronic music. he is well known for his works on ambient techno and arctic themed pieces, his use of music loops, and peculiar samples from sci-fi sources. his 1997 album substrata was voted by the users of the hyperreal website in 2001 as the best all-time classic ambient album. the hilvarenbeek recordings are based on field recordings from the dutch farm biologische boerderij t schop in hilvarenbeek. the work was commissioned by incubate festival in tilburg.

keepsakes, charlton and myler join 138 in cvlt as the third installment to their txtrl imprint. aukland based producer keepsakes opens up the record with bricks of joy a soothing yet crunchy tune with an undisputed bounce while dutch producer charlton heads into quick hypnosis with reggie smoker on the b side irish mad man myler delivers a relentless jungle belter opulence 138 closes the record with i just called to c if u care

obscure dutch private pressing from 1977. laid-back instrumental psychedelic / progressive sounds with jazz-funk-groove and abstract / experimental / latin-indigenous touches. stoned homemade atmosphere with treated / distorted electric & acoustic guitars, flute, electric piano, primitive drum machines / homemade electronics. much in the vein of the experimental-underground scene of france & germany during the early 70s but actually recorded and released in holland.

as part of the ten-year anniversary dekmantel presents the final record in a ten-part-ep series. split into two parts due to its immensity, the final instalment is a re-issue of tony allens asiko (in a silent mix) originally released in 1999 and remixes by motor city drum ensemble and ricardo villalobos. the first part features a grandiose 29-minute ricardo villalobos version of the afrobeat masters cut. a true collaboration of giants.having been a regular at the festival for several years now, villalobos delivers a remix, one of his longest to date, that only he can produce. allowing the percussion to breathe into a monumental rhythm, villalobos warps the vocals, restructuring the bass and drums into a rolling dub-fusion of techno that is characteristic of his remixes to date, yet still breathtaking in its execution. afrobeat-minimalism, with dub-infused fire, and near psychedelic ambience that perfectly synchs the worlds of tony allen, and ricardo villalobos, two legends who’ve helped re-shape the face of music. highlighting the diversity of sounds that have come to represent the dutch label and festival series, the eps to date have encompassed a range of artists and genres, featuring label favourites, as well as whole bunch of debuting artists. the ep series kicked off in march 2018, and over the course of a year featured the likes of gigi masin, lena willikens, burnt friedman, donato dozzy, the egyptian lover, palms trax, and more.

weaving the old with the new.
exploring the known and the unknown.
time is just irrelevant,
it’s the journey that matters
stories are forever...
mystery repeats!

genii’s debut ep on feines tier. we are more than happy to present four tracks by the man from amsterdam who’s also responsible for countless dutch party and festival happenings as well as the productions for electronic live band dialoque. artwork by daniel hageman.

this is the third ep by dutch post-techno project monocorpse... his style is evident by now: minimal and dark... a sort of doom techno for the freaked-out dance floor... but this new ep also feels like a soundtrack... rather moody and haunting music which would fit perfect in thrillers and psychological dramas... despite all of this there are some real dance floor tracks on this ep... stuff monocorpse never delivered before in this way...

ltd to 150 copies , for some years a rather obscure tape release is finding it s way to my cassette deck time and time again... it is the only release by dutch duo bebe fang... and a personal favourite here at et hq ... in the process to release new music by one of the two members i proposed to also put this tape release on vinyl... and here we are... bebe fang serves you a trip... a dream that also could be perceived as an occult ritual: primitive rhythms, subtle sounds and melodies and singing which goes from whispering to chanting... a weird mix of lo-fi, folklore and psychedelic music... something which nico could have performed...

r&s welcome dutch dance icon maarten van der vleuten back into the fold. outrage is a compilation of maarten van der vleutens integrity project tracks, originally released on r&s sub-label outrage recordings in 1992, now remastered by matt colton maarten van der vleuten is one of the most influential figures in the dutch scene, and also a man of many aliases - between 1987 to 2007 he racked up releases with over two dozen projects producing detroit techno, electro, house, experimental and ambient tracks and remixes.

(tripeo remix) the first installment of balans records in 2018 brings the talented female parisian, dj and producer, hemka, to the dutch label.opening the ep, 707 collision rushes in with subtly shifting groove repetition, suspenseful melodies and echoes of detroit. the atmospheric nocturnal rounds keeps the fast-paced rhythm with added sci-fi flavor - peak time techno at its best! the first installment of balans records in 2018 brings the talented female parisian, dj and producer, hemka, to the dutch label. opening the ep, ’707 collision’ rushes in with subtly shifting groove repetition, suspenseful melodies and echoes of detroit. the atmospheric ’nocturnal rounds’ keeps the fast-paced rhythm with added sci-fi flavor - peak time techno at its best! on the flip side balans records boss, tripeo, offers his own interpretation to the title track and following in that groove he works his magic to ecstatic, infectious effect in a playful, funky mood. ’707 collision (tripeo beatless tool)’ on the other hand is swapping the pressure for something much lighter, a sublime journey to the deepside.

new addition to shir khan s disco series: welcome t.u.r.f. t.u.r.f. are two dutch friends, dj s and producers joined by their love of old records from a wide range of genres. last year they released their debut ep on apparel music, which got support from artists like roy davis jr, soul of hex, frits wentink, black loops and many others. after such an amazing start, they are very excited to take their music into new directions with this new ep for black jukebox, consisting of three diverse tracks that will bring the feel good vibes back to the club.

for 19 years fokuz recordings has been an unbending pillar for quality, soulful drum and bass. it has provided an outlet for some of the scenes most prominent names a home for their music and continues to foster the growth of the next generation of producers. from the elite class of calibre, ai, zero t, and lenzman, to the new school sounds of satl, kasper, macca, and bert h, the soul derivatives lp blends names and generations together creating a magnificent musical showcase. if good music is timeless, then the soul derivatives lp confirms that there is no end in sight for this illustrious dutch label. the soul derivatives lp - fokuz092 - is available in vinyl, cd and digital in march 2018.

genesa records continues to push newcomers in 2018. this time we have a split ep by the dutch duo phobia and the italian producer blacksun. both projects have released on the label’s digital only series in the past and have proven themselves with bold and effective productions. for this ep, they conjured astonishing tracks that make a must-have release for vinyl djs!

repress! ingmar pauli with his masculine take on the hague disco. phat bass lines, vocoders, big strings and synth themes with its roots in italo disco and electro. great tracks and probably the best mr pauli release so far! the second release on the clone west coast series... the series that will feature some of the big players of the dutch west coast electro disco scene. mr pauli rocks!

the new dutch imprint central electronics presents orlando voorn aka the stalker on the first release. orlando shows once again his talent to deliver great music in all genres. this time its an superb electro 4 racker!

originally released as part of eskimo recordings acclaimed compilation the red collection, dutch duo shmlsss train ride to the middle east has proven to be a perennial favourite with openminded djs attracted to its heady psychedelic brew of twisted disco and middle eastern sounds. now to kickstart 2018 eskimo are releasing the track on vinyl for the first time, complete with a brand new remix from marvin & guy.

the first full artist ep of 2018 is one by a new artist for heist, but a familiar name for any modern day house aficionado: adryiano. after taking 2016 off, he came back guns blazing in 2017, releasing 5 solo eps in 1 year on labels like shall not fade and baka gaijin. his me and you and her ep for heist showcases his contemporary view on classic house and acid, and is an experiment into how much distortion a track can actually handle when youve got a killer sample hook. me and you and her is about as classic as a house track can be and moves in similar fashion as his post-2013 hit ‘on my side. its got a sweet and repetitive vocal loop, some semi-grainy but definitely groovy percussion and a deceptively simple piano hook. add some filtering and youve got a lovely warm house song that can go on forever. the a2 move it, move it moves straight into old-school chicago territory, with a raw af acid bassline. chicago bred jamie 3:26, now residing in its dutch counterpart rotterdam, gives the track a nice old school twist. hes going full 707 on the percussion and has casually added an amazing synth hook to give the remix a true vibe of its own. the ep closes off with fashion country girl: adryianos dystopian view of a world where dolly parton gets mangled through an overdrive, then gets distorted, crushed, mangled, deleted, re-added in 8 bit and then crushed some more. the result is an uptempo roller with more than enough grit, and just enough tongue-in-cheek to make everyone smile a little bit more. yours sincerely, maarten & lars.

up next from the rhythm büro label is an ep from cyspe, who might be better known as robin koek or for being one half of the almighty dutch techno duo artefakt. rb003 marks a special occasion for the label in releasing a full ep from a single artist. “after this world” seems to proceed forward fittingly on the same path once paved by cyspe’s debut record “amnesia”, released on koek’s own label, insula, in 2014.

to celebrate the 10th anniversary of dekmantel’s goings on in the world of events, festivals, and great music, the team behind the label have been releasing a record a month featuring some of their favourite artists, as part of a ten-year anniversary series collection. featuring acts close to the label’s collective, debuts, and legacy talents the crew have always wanted to sign, the series has seen the likes of gigi masin, call super, fatima yamaha, and more. this penultimate ep, sees dekmantel debut releases by lena willikens, space dimension controller, and dutch lo-fi star betonkust and palmbomen, in addition to a special cut by bufima

for her third outing on the german label jahmoni, marcelle is as inventive and unpredictable as ever. the four tracks on the wittily titled psalm tree ep go from wild techno to abstract dub, and all bear that undefinable marcelle touch of freedom and imagination, which sets the dj/producer so apart from almost all of her younger peers. the ever-travelling dutch lady, who was one of the highlights of this year s nyege nyege music festival in uganda, toys with musical styles and expectations, both live and in the studio she has always deejayed more or less like a musician. this was amongst others recognised by faust founder member hans-joachim irmler, who between 2008 and 2014 released 4 marcelle albums on his klangbad label.

for 19 years fokuz recordings has been an unbending pillar for quality, soulful drum and bass. it has provided an outlet for some of the scenes most prominent names a home for their music and continues to foster the growth of the next generation of producers. from the elite class of calibre, ai, zero t, and lenzman, to the new school sounds of satl, kasper, macca, and bert h, the soul derivatives lp blends names and generations together creating a magnificent musical showcase. if good music is timeless, then the soul derivatives lp confirms that there is no end in sight for this illustrious dutch label. the soul derivatives lp - fokuz092 - is available in vinyl, cd and digital in march 2018.

produced by developer and upcoming dutch techno artist dj surgeles who has recently released on label up in the sky by legendary jeff mills. the mercurian particle is a well balanced techno ep pushing that quality sound of techno modularz continues to present release after release. its dark, hypnotic driving and deep all all the same time. this is a real banger tip!

two dutch institutions in delsin and 2000 and one team up for a reissue of the 1994 ep belongings. it was an early release on 2000 and one s influential 100% pure label and found him in full on space-techno.

acid paulis album bld dropped earlier this year and was a superb reminder of martin gretschmanns unique place within the electronic music. breathing musicality and adventurousness into everything that he does, the album covered a number of moods and emotions, from dystopian carnivalesque vibes to moments of high intensity, through to deep melancholia and synth laden ambience. following on from the a remix package, b brings another huge selection of producers into the fray to reinterpret the originals. first up, hamburg hero stimming works over ‘amadou - flipping the original, into a techy bomb. a thick kick underpins a shuffling, off kilter rhythm and beautifully treated melodics. stimmings feel for gently pushing the dancefloor into new places shines through. ‘rené is reworked by roman flügel, the ongaku/klang/playhouse boss whose influence on the european electronic music scene has been immense. always willing to experiment, ‘rené is the perfect canvas - arpeggiated blips and beeps echo primitive electronic explorations by the likes of francis bebey, and a huge subby kick drum take this track into space. alex boman sets to work on ‘jeanne, locking into his signature groovy, tribal approach to working the dancefloor. the swedish producer adds dubby elements, an irresistible percussion track and disruptive, random sounds to the thick, heady mix. dutch wunderkind satori tackles ‘jorge - twisting the original into a psychedelic groover that finds room for backwards vocals, marimba-like melodies, fat basslines and shuffling breakbeats.

villa Åbo in the alternative solo project of swedish musician and producer jan svensson, who has been making electronic music for the better part of 30 years as the artist behind such aliases as frak, studio ss and alvars orkestra. svensson also runs legendary swedish dance and experimental music label börft, the product of a mutual appreciation for severed heads and terse tapes. as villa Åbo he released two records in 1997 on börft and remained inactive for 17 years until the dutch label bio rhythm coaxed him into revisiting the project and released a double 12&#8243,, in 2014. jan has since followed with a steady stream of 12” singles for kontra-musik, noise in my head and radio lundberg.
“magnetic moves” is villa Åbo’s debut album, originally released in an limited edition of 65 hand-numbered cassettes by funeral fog in 2016.
clocking in at over 46 minutes, this first-ever vinyl edition spreads the 8 ragged techno tracks across four sides for maximum loudness. some songs are aggressively potent, with cyclical synth riffs and razor-sharp acid lines riding a heavy, funk-fuelled techno groove. others tracks are more fluid, vintage underground resistance or derrick may with killer drum machine workouts that come in handy as dj tools. all songs have been remastered by george horn at fantasy studios in berkeley. the record is housed in a custom made jacket designed by eloise leigh, featuring a photograph of jan’s mother’s house, the meaning behind “villa Åbo”. each copy includes a double-sided postcard with notes.

pater noster presents their fifth release, aposynthesis by overloper, a side project of ekman.
the a-side brims with tension both contemplative and active. ‘hope you’re close’ is a deep burner, with heavy, pounding bass and an entrancing hook ascending to space. this then escalates into the urgency of ‘aposynthesis (need more sisa)’, in which a driving, rolling rhythm is juxtaposed with an old school, dutch-style rave synth.
the b-side encircles around acid. on one hand, it is coyly playful with ‘carpe noctem’ turning cavernous in innsyter’s dark interpolation of the other.

discos ato&#769,,,nicos proudly presents the label’s second release: age of aggression by bs-1. this new record was produced by dutch veteran roland van oorschot aka bs–1 growing up, he listened to bands like slayer, fear factory and anthrax, which formed his musical education and continues to impact his productions.

alpi are an italian production duo that arrive on voight following excellent releases for arnaud le texier s children of tomorrow and the legendary dutch imprint planet rhythm. having shared the dj booth with artists such as markus suckut and kobosil, they are one to keep a close eye on.

row goes back to a collecting of field recordings that hirsch took for oerol, an annual theatre festival taking place on the west frisian island of terschelling / nl. the recording was taken aboard the arad, a lifeboat of the dutch rowing team roeiteam ter- schelling recreatie during a training exercise on 25 april 2011. the course stretched from the harbour of west-terschelling out into the wadden sea and back again. the focus is on the coxswain’s commands which resemble a funk singer’s ones and which make the team become one body working their way through the waters.

primus motor sees ekman return to many of the sounds that gained him a reputation as an artist on labels like bunker and berceuse heroique. although harsh bucking acid lines, pockmarked notes, brutal beats and eerie echo are all present, a new tone has been added to the caustic palette. a psychological nuance, an undercurrent of the inchoate has been investigated and exploited to chilling effect. crippling psychoses. debilitating neuroses. physical pain. suffering stalks this first full vinyl album. sinister sounds encircle the eight offerings, hovering like vultures over inhospitable plains of ashen grey, jagged peaks and dark sweeping swamps. hope is all but drawn away in this bleached audio landscape, drained by sheer synthlines and reduced renderings. amidst the sorrow and strain there are pin pricks of joy, albeit bleak and pallid ones. an album that unnerves as it engages, a collection of icy radiance and industrial indifference from a dutch master.

lion and the mean ecstasy of “you’ve got a woman”, the b-side to their sole release comprise a rare burst of psychedelic western soul from two names best known for dutch progressive rock and new wave. drummer peter de leeuwe, departing from the symphonic leanings of dutch prog-fixtures ekseption, penned it in 1975, layering syncopated explosions of hand-claps, vibraslap and slick drumwork with neutron-star density, with super-producer hans van hemert nearly bursting glenn robles vocals through the fore. the shoes subtle edit provides exactly that, gently teasing the organ- and requintohinted contours of the track to better suit the treasure within. chicago-based septet whitney have brought some attention to youve got a woman with a recent cover, and the faith with which they recreate much of the original instrumentation proves the extent of lions accomplishment.

experienced dutch producer tom ruijg rightly won praise for his first 12inch as tracey, skyfall, which surfaced on voyage direct in early 2017. combining elements seemingly inspired by vintage detroit futurism, ‘90s ambient techno and his own love of colourful synthesizer melodies, the ep saw tracey set out his stall in impressive fashion.