numa crew and killa s army join forces on this banger that will represent the first release of the brand new label numa recordings. the first release of numa recordings is all about a mediterranean and jamaican alliance, an explosive blend of grime and reggae vibes.&#8232, killa s army is a crew from london formed by killa p, irah and long range, one of the most powerful trios in the contemporary uk grime scene, their own original style is distinguished by a -heavy- jamaican dancehall & reggae influence. the italian collective numa crew has developed their unique sound over the years, ranging from dubstep to jungle, through a limitless exploration of the different styles in the wide spectrum of genres in the uk underground scene. in the production of -we nuh tek talk- lies the essence of this musical journey. the main theme of the tune is the legendary motive of courtney melody s ‘ninja mi ninja chorus, adapted to a modern day grime beat. backing the title track is the we nuh tek riddim version by numa crew, the beat and the bassline are simple and heavy at the same time. it will be fire in the dance

inits music has the rare quality of transforming bleakness into a soothing experience. in the duos new ep, wildcard, this mechanism is more intense than ever. and that might be because of the particular circumstances that surrounded its inception. two years ago, nadia dalo and benedikt frey decided to move from darmstadt to berlin. adjusting to a rough area of a big city when coming from a quiet town necessarily brings a change of perspective. for nadia and benedikt, that meant experiencing the city life as outsiders while trying to figure out what they wanted from it.wildcard is the sonic result of this process, and proof that changes always bring growth. recorded in their new home studio during winter, the six tracks on the ep are as haunting as their previous lp for hivern, but with a rawer approach and enhanced power. take cover and solver, an approximation to the kind of moody psych-techno they display in their live-shows and two of the most dance floor oriented tracks init have recorded to date. but its the title track which best expresses the mindset of this work. with its skeletal rattle and undulating synths, wildcard feels as desolate as a berlin street in a winter night, but possesses the kind of focus that turns uncertainty into hope. in a similar way, cuts such as copycat or half baked perfectly capture the sort of estrangement -daunting yet hopeful- that comes when moving into a new place, with its slow tempos mirroring the cautious pace of a foreigner and the intoxicated atmospheres calmly distilling the essence of a new environment. nadia and benedikt describe this new habitat as small kids on big bikes, eating dry instant noodles, playing with whats to find on the streets, static aircraft traffic closely over our heads and constant running engines. listening to the music that arose from it, its obvious that, once again, they&# 39,ve been able to overturn apparently hostile elements into a place were youd want to stay forever

ruben montesco s new ep comes loaded with the purest, full-effect nineties sounds.
this throbbing 12inch is the artist s tribute, as well as a complete review, of some of the musical icons of this golden decade in electronic music.
ebm, new wave, techno and electro are the main styles blended in the four tracks included in this release.
a further listening reveals a clearly dancefloor-oriented ep that caches the essence of these styles and subtly brings them back to the present with elegance and savoir-faire.

for its seventh release gasp records is coming back to russia. after his glorious debut on jungle gym records, marco lazovic is back to business with four pieces of intelligent jungle and emotional breakbeat cuts. aerowalk ep reflects all the defenseless essence of marco, revealing his most unpredictable side.

here you have the third installment of our pole group 50 milestone release, closing the trilogy in both vinyl and digital formats. all tracks have been made in common, each of the label foundational members have work sound parts that in a second process have been assigned randomly to others to work with them, in a creation loop that becomes somehow the true essence of the label. you ll never know who is making what, it s just oscar mulero, exium and reeko in essence and mixed up.

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!

rhythm of paradise returns on mothership cosmic rhythm after two years with a brilliant and lushy italo house masterpiece. to not be missed!

columbus, ohio may not be spoken of in the same glowing terms as detroit when it comes to 90s techno from the mid-west. however, the columbus-based 21/22 corp label was responsible for some of future primitive s favourite techno from this era. we ve tracked down the multi-genre president and production manager behind 21/22 corp, charles noel, for our next release. formed of two exclusive productions, this archetype 12- is the essence of techno at its most individual.

for russian electronic music, mikhail chekalin is not only a major character, who has affected the scene’s establishment and development, but also a kind of symbolic figure. his music has been praised by many in the west - from journalists and critics of all kinds to frank zappa and karlheinz stockhausen, while in moscow chekalin’s name was excluded from the official cultural agenda for a long time: he was accused of propaganda of foreign pro-western aesthetics and up until the end of the 80’s wasn’t allowed to release his works or travel abroad. this, however, didn’t interfere with him recording dozens of innovative electronic compositions and contributing greatly to the development of unofficial soviet art in general - for example, providing sound design for the famous exhibitions of twenty moscow artists on malaya gruzinskaya or arranging the first audiovisual performances on a specially constructed light organ.
however, just like all great artists, mikhail himself prefers to focus not on personal achievements, but on creativity. i don’t have a biography - only a discography - this quote of the author may become an entry point of sorts into the compilation presented. this archival collection of works recorded within the period from 1978 to 1987 are chekalin’s multigenre experiments ranging from spatial music (in essence, ambient’s precursor) to more contemporary synthesizer and post-symphonic compositions.

aussteiger is a berlin based german dj / producer. he runs the dub disco label in berlin and dj’s around the world. zusammenkunft is his debut album released on copenhagen’s music for dreams. once upon a time a golden boy came back from the shadows. rumors were told that he once left the big city in a time where the music scene and clubs were dominated by cold music and average beats. he left behind civilisation, living withdrawn in the woody mountains of a covert place. from there on people talked about him as aussteiger. connected to the nature and deeply rooted in the harmonic essence, aussteiger became a part of the great whole. in a full moon illuminated clear night while experimenting with various unique herbs he accidentally found a recipe to create warm and ravishing music. he firmly believes that music is his infinite source to gather strength and positive energy after years of strengthening himself and shaping vibrant sounds aussteiger decided to share his delightful music with the world. he returned from his retreat in order to enchant the music lovers all over the world with his feel good approach and supernatural sounds. coming back to the city, he also co-founded the awesome dub disco label with his buddy serj nosé.

uwalmassa is a sonic exploration project initiated by divisi62 – a sound and visual arts label based in jakarta, indonesia that examines the indonesian identity issue within a global context. the thought process behind their debut album bumi uthiri is to provide an alternative study on javanese gamelan composition and to experiment with its known and unknown structures. it is a deconstructed interpretation of a musical tradition that aims to stretch boundaries, but nevertheless, adhere to its core essence.

oozing, oozing soul, oozing feel, oozing the essence of rhythm and the body. this is what elbee bad is about. a native new yorker who has long since transplanted himself in berlin, elbee bad aka the prince of dance is back on thema recordings with a masterclass mini album that will resonate for years to come. crossing dimensions- is more than just a record, it is a philosophy on turntablism and what it means to be engaged in this culture. sitting comfortably on the shelf next to artists like mr. g, moodymann, and dj sprinkles, elbee recalls this genuine house feeling while adding a spice that could only be summoned out of his creative nuance. from the anthemic knowledge of request monster to the bass blistering sonnets of crossing dimensions, elbee showcases the sound of an artist who is deeply in touch with himself, the crowd, and the history of this music. no filler, no bullshit, just truth, love, and house.

with the masters at work name under contract elsewhere at the peak of their career, kenny dope and louie vega had little choice but to work under other names for their strictly rhythm projects. hardrive became popular, largely thanks to the iconic ‘deep inside’ whose vocal hook (from, barbara tucker’s ‘beautiful people’) and bass line helped made the track become one of house music‘s most memorable hits. “sometimes a record just manages to capture and distill the true essence of what this is all about and deep inside is one such record, it bears all the hallmarks of golden era masters at work, all the signposts of what was happening in nyc s clubs in the early to mid 90 s were there within it s grooves. you know a record is good when it s still being, quite literally, hammered nearly 25 years later”. it’s no surprise even kanye west would sample this classic to make another chart topping track! this one s a straight up essential for any self-respecting house music aficionado. availble for the first time as a 7”. original mix on the a, dub on the flip. you know what to do!

this one has been a long time coming. great 12”s never get shelved at lddlm, time is not the essence. benedikt frey has been part of the extended family since his remix of car’s idle eyes and we crossed paths a few times at robert johnson in frankfurt. init, his project with his other half nadia d’alò, has seen releases on neighbours such as hivern or correspondant, our door was naturally open to their pretty personal brand of “off-kilter techno” as ra says. stereometric is almost a definition of init’s acid mind. failing their own tricks, heavy atmosphere and unusual restraint. nuts is almost an instrumental extension of the title track, when your head finally hit that window pane. wheels slows the rush down, wandering on an imaginary khyber pass. this is only deception though, mindwork being a real exercise in post-goa trance. hope you enjoy the trip. see you after the summer.

the second part of the seltron 400 trilogy on most, trans i bas, sees the group re-embark on their singular journey in search of the essence of the rave. since the first ep in the series – zabawa trwa – came out last year, they have augmented their back-to-back dj sets with a full-on live show, which again fed back into their recording process. the record’s title cut, trans i bas (also available in an earth-shaking drum version) is as uplifting as it is spontaneous, complete with trance-infused pads and heavy, tripping bass. jest nadzieja brings a little swing and a mental breakdown, while oo is all crunched riffs and one-finger-string-solo glory. nuff said.

next up on francis harris exceptional imprint scissor & thread comes a collaboration with american producer, dj aakmael. aakmael has built a reputation for some of the deepest, rawest house music sounds coming out of the states, releasing well-received tracks on the likes of freerange records, release sustain, kolour dogmatik and ndatl. returning to scissor & thread, aakmael and label boss harris cook up an intoxicating vibe across this 5 track ep. each shares a track and work together on the fifth, while also remixing each others solo cuts. first up aakmaels deep muzik- a quintessential nod to its self-proclaimed mission statement. skittering drums, a shuffling groove, deep keys, and chords make up this essential opener. franks (aka francis harris) all that light mix shows another side, finding pockets of space and developing the fizzing percussion to produce an equally affecting piece of dancefloor bliss. sharing production duties from the outset on mercy of means, the guys slip into an easy mid-tempo groove with plenty of depth - the rhythm rolls along and offers the perfect basis for some sublime melodic touches. franks part song also hones in on the subtle deep grooves. bumping, slightly filtered and saturated drums provide the main body, with beautiful washes and keys finding their way through, aakmaels remix beefs up the groove somewhat, making the snares snap harder and kick hit a little stronger, but the essence of the tracks melodic atmosphere remains perfectly in place.

while the righteousness of blackness is at the heart of the rastafarian faith, this collection illustrates how black pride remained a central theme, if not the defining essence, at the very core of all the music created at studio one records.
black man’s pride is the striking new studio one collection of deep heavyweight reggae featuring horace andy, alton ellis, the gladiators, sugar minott, the heptones, freddie mcgregor, cedric brooks & more.
this new album is released as a heavyweight gatefold double-lp edition with download code included.

whether or not techno music is destructive and to what degree is fair concern to have, but there s no denying that it can call upon our primal instinct of surrendering to rhythms together with everyone around the proverbial camp fire. sure, the camps of today are the clubs, and the fires are strobes, but that doesn t change the essence of rituals that we continue practicing. the release stays close to 130 bpm and offers efficient tools for the dancefloor: airy, for one, represents a syncopated narrative of wonder and magical realism, whereas in the hands of gotshell it becomes less contemplative, shifting to a more direct perspective. backed by cascading kicks xi takes a dive into atonal realm, and kujin —the most brutal number of ep—offers a densely packed treble range running above the hammering 3/3 kicks. with hydra, it s a trip laden with wondrous soundscapes, shamanic percussion and sensations of unexplored grounds emanating from the bassline, after which the closer trioptic provides a rebellious theme fitting for times of unrest and resistance.

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

londons frequencies unknown present their maiden transmission intazonez, a collection of fractured and futurist melodic machine experimentation with a human soul. label operators intareality give a 4 tracker that channels myriad influences while retaining a rare air of mystery and the essence of hazy studio encounters and programming sessions late into the night. woven through the threads of each track is a reverence for london, sheffield, detroit and berlin, a lifetime of passionate study, pirate radio and raves, these cuts are the soundtrack to your night-time journeys circa 2028. music to zone to through unfamiliar corners intazonez is a 4 part quest constructed deep into the early hours.

after previously releasing starship commander woooo woooos mastership lp, left ear records have continued excavating the archives of the artist more formally known as omer coleman jr. the result is two handpicked mid 80’s instrumentals salvaged from the original master tapes, as well as an extended vocal edit on the flip for good measure. after laying his alter ego to rest omer made a handful of electronic releases on his own kansas based remo label. of these releases left ear has selected their two favourite instrumentals: lovin babe sure is fun and so good. lovin babe sure is fun was originally released in 85 and was created to celebrate a time in america where the economy was good, people were happy and love was in the air, the essence of which omer captured using his roland 808 and 303 in what may best be described as acid-boogie. so good on the other hand is a sensual downtempo cut shaped with heavy-bass, telephone samples and guitar solos that conjures images of late night rendezvous and compromising scenarios.

dutch label field records is back with another special album project, this time from japanese producer ena aka yu asaeda. bridge is an introspective soundtrack for a documentary also called bridge - out this spring - which is about the dejima bridge, a reconstructed symbol of the dutch-japanese trading history in nagasaki, japan. the album finds the producer stepping outside of his usual remit of dark ambient and experimental music, and instead comprises ten shorter tracks that touch on abstract and rhythmic sounds that define the essence of japanese culture. although he has worked with the director before, this is ena s first original sound track and finds him freely inspired by the movie and heading in exciting and unknown directions. hugely atmospheric throughout, there is hypnotic repetition of sounds, strange audio design and a mixture of melancholic moods with more dreamy synths. sometimes gloopy rhythms gently ripple beneath soothing harmonies and at others times a micro-rhythm appears through the constantly shifting and evolving found sound loops. it s a compelling and unusual album that seamlessly mixes human emotions with a mechanical sense of industry.

nu york groove sessions drops a hot collection of 10 rare boogie funk, disco and classics taking it back to essence of the sound of new york. there’s a definitive cross section of flavors giving you a look into the late 70’s and early 80’s ny club scene. repressed and back in stock!

benny blanco debuts with a five-tracks staraya ep onto his valkea music. every detail has been taken care, from mixing to the master from vinyl press to artwork. following a short description about staraya ep stry 1 by ricky l red is not dead mix intense and majestic, the track of rare and profound beauty. stry 2 original mix its a tribute to benny blancos origins and to the electronic/progressive sound of the mid nineties that had great influence on him and became his trademark from the very beginning. stry 3 by giammaria coccoluto & luca vera as soul sonic remix an ethnic rhythm full of grooves thanks to the addition of percussive elements and a masterly used organ, which wont keep you still. stry 4 the thc revenge remix an atmosphere that captures and hypnotizes, where it extrapolates and magnificently enhances the most melodic part. stry 5 erly tepshi dark vision mix an esoteric and astral journey in the furthest and most remote corners of your mind. this original project to the artwork that will in essence, satisfy your eyes and especially the ears.

>your mind makes it real.< ahwlee. extensive global sticker promo campaign special bonus tracks release full-life april 2018 (digital only) life2 quotes : once you press play you want to listen to it from front to back. danny veekens (the find mag) life2 embodies the essence of the ancestors. the marriage of his kicks, snares and hi hats with those lush soul chops reminds me of the first time i fell in love with hip hop.

this ridiculously soulful summer-house ep is the first installment by peter on big bait since 2015. we baked the essence of 3 years of studio work on 12&#8243, vinyl. amongst two brilliant solo tracks, peter brought in two coops with some exclitingly interesting producers: -arpeggio funk- is the first co-production by the columbian shooting star felipe gordon with big bait label boss peter clamat. the guys met up on soundcloud and immediately started working out some tunes together. -she hates getting photos- and -tanzflächengebet- are solo productions by mr. clamat. outstanding, colorful, perfect work as usual. last but not least track no. four is the uplifting, 90 s flavored remix of an unpublished clamat-gem by ugly drums and chesney. the two guys are old-stagers of the german house culture and well known for their releases on kalakutta soul, ava, quintessentials etc.

2018 repress ... well. where do we start with deep inside ? originally released in the golden nyc house era of 1993, this 5 tracker literally smashed everything in sight. and still does now! the epitome of an evergreen, all-time classic release. masters at work louie vega and kenny dope were on a major roll in this era, producing, remixing, dj-ing and everything in-between, these guys put in ridiculous work. they are joined on this ep by a roll-call of names and collaborators, erick morillo engineering the title track? check. maurice joshua on co-production duties? you got it. vocals by ms. barbara tucker? they re there. killer, rock hard drums? stacks of soul? masterfully chopped up disco samples? all present. serious stuff. sometimes a record just manages to capture and distill the true essence of what this is all about and deep inside is one such record, it bears all the hallmarks of golden era maw, all the signposts of what was happening in nyc s clubs in the early to mid 90 s were there within it s grooves. you know a record is good when it s still being, quite literally, hammered nearly 25 years later! now, remastered, and reissued with the full involvement of strictly rhythm this seminal piece of nyc house history is made available again with all original, full sleeve artwork intact as per the 1993 original. this one s a straight up essential for any self-respecting dance aficionado. you know what to do!

making his debut on the label, spanish producer kuo climax is welcomed to the hot creations fold. a solid two track release that has already been heating up dancefloors across the globe, the talented artist showcases his distinct style and proves why he is hotly tipped for 2018. the ep opens up with whyte, a pulsating track with a warped bassline and oozing synths. two and a half minutes deep it disperses into a breakbeat-esque breakdown that dives back into the familiar 4/4 beat. title track nacrem is a smooth roller with an underpinning bass and intergalactic vocal stabs. the ep highlights the spanish producer’s ability to bring balance to his output, providing music perfectly attuned for the floor. born in malaga and now residing in barcelona, kuo climax has released on respected labels such as knee deep in sound, solid grooves and viva music. 2018 will see the producer launch his own vinyl-only imprint, lfofl, that aims to recognise the progress in technology without losing the essence of true dance music.

50 is a nice number of releases to be celebrated in style, that’s why we have cooked up a very special menu for this milestone. as the spirit of the pole group team we have combined everyone’s character on this record. all tracks have been made in common, each of the label foundational members have worked on their own sound parts that in a second process have been assigned randomly to others to work on them, in a creation loop that somehow represented the true essence of the label. you’ll never now who is making what, it’s just oscar mulero, exium and reeko in essence and mixed up. you’ll find no ambient interludes, no anthems, no big breakdowns, every piece in this creation has been designed for the finest dancefloors, rough textures mixed with solid beats and continuous synth lines, techno in its essence made by those who never left the boat in ruff times, pioneers making the soundtrack of the future.

detroit love are proud to present the inaugural release on their newly founded eponymous imprint – a collaborative venture from planet e and !k7 which aims to capture the essence of carl craig’s superb event series of the same name. detroit love mixed by stacey pullen is a sixteen track journey that exemplifies the diversity of the city, as well as the essence of the parties, championing both lesser known artists and familiar faces into a 74 minute mix.

the strike team ep is the second in the trilogy of releases introducing the world to the sound of the stripper. the title track is a rare hybrid of modern day production and timeless influences transformed through the prism of 1990’s hardcore, jungle, and broken beat. you and your favorite dj like to close your sets with classic jungle tracks? well, the stripper is here with a monster for the middle of your set, pacing at a cool 128 bpm. following it is the hidden gem of the record, culture vulture: an impossible to pinpoint breakbeat laced melodic odyssey. similar to “consciousness proliferation” (back 2 93 mix) from sleeve-01, culture vulture takes you on a journey inspired by the irresistible grit and beauty of the early 1990’s sound from the city of coventry and producers like skanna and essence of aura. flipping the record to side 2, the stripper gives you an absolute burner of a techno track intended for the heaviest and sweatiest of social settings. the atmospheric pads are pointing to the producer’s undeniable rave influences and love for illegal parties around the world. the final track of the record is the stripper tying back the european influences with his unquestionable debt to the american midwest: melodic, deep, and irresistible. this is a physical release of a four track ep. it contains music tracks intended for social settings. suitable for dj sets of varying styles in the range of 125 - 135 bpm. the material presented here is also available digitally. all tracks produced, mixed, and stripped by stripper™ using digital synthesizers and sequencers.

klangkeller records, recognized for modular sound experiments, catchy beats and percussive rhythms, has done it again with audiokerns third release a personal way ep. the ep delves into experimental, abstract and electronica grounds. audiokerns sounds are stimulated by the external world and their atmosphere, with a drop of the basic essence of electronic dance music. these 8 tracks are certainly a confirmation of it. uncanny valleys live drum is fresh and magnetic alongside dissimilar jingles and swishes which positively balance. wired system is abstract, with a dark added vocal at the end which brands it as a powerful track. differently, under the same sun is entirely melodic, with beautiful dreamy waves that genuinely make you touch the sun. it continues with the night of glory. its duskier moodier vibrations and a few words add an exciting and dark temper that still fits purely within the ep. element of trance and hypnotic place are all about bringing the listener into another dimension. it alienates and hypnotizes you from reality through the quantity of small alterations and sub kicks within the sound. to conclude, dont forget the animals is mysteriously percussive, its like different animal roars assorted together, its gorgeously confusing.

orlando voorn is back on tarvisium electronique with secret society, a mysterious, obscure and psychedelic ep exuding the essence of detroit techno. side a of the vinyl features the title track in which voorn melts the analogic rhythm with a spectral melodic pattern. side b features two tracks, playing for keeps, a techno bolt of lightning bound straight for the dancefloor and rush, a track characterized by a mechanical, analogic and highly experimental sound. to conclude the ep the label manager, steve lorenz, has composed a remix of secret society with an avant-garde fusion of minimal, acid and detroit techno.

with the introduction of eol soulfrito, upright love has become a sureshot jam, played by many worldwide. now comes soulfrito burnin, with inspirations from groups like war & atlanta is burnin this record is a true dancers record. it embodies the essence of a union dance, whether you play soulfrito chase or soulfrito burnin you are sure to get them sliding and twirling on the floor.

the 30d records machinery does not stop. a new stylistic adventure has been concretized in the new label’s series “eyes have it”, which will be conducted by the well-known sonar and 30d’s resident dj, angel molina, as a&r. the lucio fulci’s movies iconic scary-eyes synthesizes the series essence perfectly. “eyes have it” builds the fundamentals for the boundless experimentation, lightlessness, cold and mechanical dynamics. the ep “shelter” is the very first result of this new proposal, an incontestable work signed by isolated lines. the swiss artist has a solid background in underground music throughout various projects, in and outside of electronics. that means a wider creative resources that can be easily noticeable, for instance, in the music harmonies. avant-garde, solid sound and savoir-faire, that is what defines the isolated lines production. “shelter” ep stylistic codes are crystal clear, brazen obstinacy of the rhythm base which sets the basis for epic distorted textures, that may become deeply emotional, like in the cases of “onshore” and “landfall”. steadfast rhythmic cycles on slamming sound mantras. furthermore, the ep includes an industrially nervous revision of “onshore” constructed by 30drop. isolated lines’ “shelter” ep is an utterly flawless starting point for this strongly promising new 30d series. so henceforth, keep always an eye on “eyes have it”!

for the past two years, flee has been working on its first issue entitled benga music – a signature genre from kenya. conceived as an attempt to document a kenyan timeless music genre – benga – this issue is also a visual and audial tribute to the heritage of east african music. approaching this musical genre with a new and innovative perspective, the first release of flee features a vinyl compilation and a printed journal. faithful to the local essence of the genre while transcending unproductive nostalgia, the two objects ensure that the vibrant traditional roots of the benga movement interact with a contemporary approach. to make this initiative possible, we joined forces with celebrated kenyan journalists, ondiso madete and emmanuel mwendwa, and collaborated with renowned international specialists such as douglas paterson. this great team work translated into a well-documented manuscript, with exciting articles, exclusive authentic photos of the era and creative present-day illustrations celebrating the genre. accompanying the journal, the record tells a surprising story, starting with the pioneers of benga (daniel owino misiani, george ramogi and the migori superstars) and concluding with the modern respectful re-interpretations of nik weston, jaakko eino kalevi, and africaine 808, blowing the dust of the original scores.

note: import release - limited repress - comes with digital download code and a 16 pages silkscreen printed journal with articles in english and french.

dj, producer and rex club resident molly presents the third ep for her rdv music imprint, drawing on talent from across her native france, featuring fellow parisian aleqs notal (clek clek boom, sistrum) and 1977, as featured on syncrophone s for those who know imprint. while each side and artist offer their own distinctive flavour, percussive, classy late-night house music is the main course ideal for late nights under dim red lights.aleqs notal pays tribute to the timeless appeal of spinning analogue wax throughout opening track, sweet rotation a simple hymn to the essence of house music, bubbling gently on bright keys and woozy basslines. hands on follows, offering a more nocturnal angle on this enduring aesthetic, reducing the energy but enhancing the atmosphere even further, both on-record and across any packed dancefloor.the more southern sensibility of 1977 brings drumwork to the fore, weaving an exotic, patient tapestry of bubbling, alluring synths and analogue feedback across two confident, percussive jams. while vodoom indulges in tension and intrigue, ep closer jdlf is pure, unwinding pleasure, across which each of 1977s influences and instruments are offered freedom to breathe and evolve.with this installment of emminently classy and supremely confident house, rdv music continues to prove itself as one of the most worthy musical institutions on the contemporary parisian scene.

indianizer was born in 2013, springing from the minds of psychonauts drawing inspiration from animal collective s wild frenzies and django django s tropical rhythms. following two self-produced eps (-pandas-, 2013 and -jungle beatnik-, 2014), their first full-length -neon hawaii- (edison box/pbp, 2015) was released in 2015. thanks to this debut album, chosen as one of the top 50 records of the year by noisey, the band toured italy and europe. -zenith- is the second full-length produced by the band together with edison box, musica altra and bordello a parigi which will be out on the 27th of march 2018: -a psychedelic texture, ancestral, made possible by vortical bass lines and cosmic patterns. an extraterrestrial cumbia in essence- (rolling stone).

kingswood drive and accidental return were an early teaser of this new set. displaying their signature analogue sounds and arpeggios, alongside broken beats and soul, you wouldn t be alone in hearing the influences of dam funk, herbie hancock or bugz in the attic coming through on these two. elsewhere more jittery, playful rhythms underpin croydon rooftop café culture. as well as in the calming and ethereal prints on the heath, a subtle tribute to mutual hero prince, who passed away on the unusually prolific day this and two other, currently unreleased, tracks were written and recorded. throughout the ep the duo nod at their london home from the -heath- to kingswood drive and more obviously croydon itself. the sound of south london is threaded throughout this record with pride. even down to the mechanical sunset sound of ep finale thorns, capturing some of the essence of the studio view over london from their high point on the hill in thornton heath. the first ep from albert s favourites co-founders and synth-production duo modified man focused on throwing out heavy editing, recording music with as few processes as possible and grabbing performances as single takes. blending warped cassette recordings that touched upon early jazz-funk/brit-funk influences with the energy of broken beat and experimental electronica, won them support from patrick forge, osunlade, thris tian, yam who? and titeknots to name a few. since that release they premiered new track thorns live on boiler room, going on to deliver a full, three-hour live performance and dj set for the infamous global community. they also provided remixes for dele sosimi, amp fiddler, makadem & behr and hector plimmer, meanwhile, busily preparing a series of four, six-track vinyl eps which will be released over the next 18 months.

kalbata has turned his hand to many styles over the years, not least the excellent soundsystem explorations of congo beat the drum, but on this second release for his label brush & broom, he s decided to fling himself into the fiery pit of acid while paying tribute to 90s motocross bikes. honda is dripping with 303, punctuated by a twitchy set of drums, while yamaha takes a diversion into moodier territory, letting hazy chords set the tone for an energised but defiantly heads down acid workout. suzuki is a bit spicier, capturing the essence of up-for-it early trax records but edging it into more hypnotic, looped up territory. toyota finishes the ep off with an atonal bleep out with an electro undercarriage

with many writers a theme develops in their works that, over time, reveals color and definition previously unseen, not just a new perspective, but a new understanding. “lofeye” is a concept album and personal testament that philadelphia rapper lojii (fka uhlife) has been piecing together over the last three years, giving only hints with 2015’s no ebola, 2016’s dutti, and 2017’s acclaimed collaborative album due rent with producer swarvy on portland-based imprint fresh selects. in lojii’s own words, “lofeye is about working with limited resources and making the highest quality life out of what the f**k you got. it’s when you’re ‘lo-fi’ by circumstance (not just for aesthetic) but your aim is always higher. in essence, this is an lp about being rooted in the dirt you come from but reaching for the sky above you.”

we are going deep below the sea level for this release on pulse drift. down there, musical treasures of rare quality can be encountered and brought to you through this excellent 5-track ep! greek artist kon001 delivers an aquatic storm of underwater electro and techno in best detroit tradition. yet he puts his very own ingredients to the essence, mixing up submerged soul and marine funk, sci-fi concepts and greek mythology. catch a deep breath and follow on this musical dive!

crackazat returns to local talk with a second single from his album rainbow fantasia. this time two of the stand out tracks sundial and holding you close get the remix treatment by groove assassin and waajeed ! first up is nick moss aka groove assassin, his take on sundial is a rousing rhythm of soulful house that comes bumping in. he kept the essence of the original track but also added some lovely keys, it sure hits that sweet spot and you re hooked for the full seven and a half minutes. on the flip former slum village and platinum pied piper beat maker and producer-extraordinaire waajeed turns holding you close into something imaginative with its layered percussion, jammed keys and vocal arrangement. its every bit as clever as you d expect from a producer that always approaches music with a fresh perspective. to complete the package is also the original of holding you close.

australia’s what so not is pleased to announce his long awaited debut album not all the beautiful things, featuring frequent collaborator skrillex, legendary rock legends toto, as well as san holo, slumberjack to name only a few. over three years in the making, not all the beautiful things is about transformation and metamorphosis, a culmination of everything the australian-born artist has been working towards as he’s built his reputation as one of the most innovative producers in the game, garnering over 455 million combined streams in the process. more than an album, it’s a fully realized artistic statement in which what so not is in full control of every aspect, from the stage design and visuals to the music videos and merchandise. “i didn’t want to put anything out that doesn’t cohesively match the essence of the songs,” explains the man behind it all.

seven years ago, unbalance created his own label as a base for his musical ideas, a platform to play around with the conception of what -techno- is and would be alongside his own creative progression. come to present day and the label is now at its ninth release, reaching a point where the line of accumulated experiences must be drawn in the sand — and the experiences of previous projects and releases lead to venerable conclusion. enter ten, an album of internalized strife that was created during a period of big changes in the artist s life. between enduring personal experiences, his creative output veering between his straightforward club eccentricities and subdural sensibilities, unbalance cultivates a symbiotic link between sounds played and sounds portrayed — whilst paying tribute to the essence of groove, vibration and the hypnotic unknown that exists to balance the scales. this album will be the final point in the label s journey into the depths of multifaceted techno music.

repress 2018 ... here comes the sun and with the sun comes love! he outdoor season is on the run and smallville records present another adventure into sweetest house music. >twentyfour ways< presents four beautiful sunset tracks by the benjamin brunn, christopher rau and smallpeople and special guests c-beams aka break sl & sandrow mitzschke from dresden. enjoy the essence of deephouse combined on one 12inch and get your soundsystem ready for the next barbecue

a gust of leftfield electronics, stark electro and deep-techno blows in from the industrial docklands of helsinki. liberate yourself from confirmative, nondescript sounds with the steely attitude of the hietalahti liberation front. e&#769,,,bor combines the essence of raw machinery, abandoned materials and brooding liquid in a mind-expansive debut for the label.

for the second release of their own imprint -rapid eye movement-, memorial home heads the way and signs an opus chock-full of profoundly personal character, high sensitivity and forceful refinement. the ep features three original tracks and two remixes composed by kas:st and awb. properly titled -somewhere-, it is driven by an aesthetic quest for the essence of musical creation, when it becomes a channel of connection with the deepest self or intimate soul.

estetika 001 introduces the first release of the new imprint of jason patrick and pat king. the label s objective is to release a signature style of timeless techno. berlin-based artist mekas (originally from buenos aires) delivers the first 3 track record, nodata. a1 starts off the release with lebreton featuring qik. thick kick and bass anchor a beautifully warm hypnotic synth riff that filters meticulously throughout the track working hand in hand with a subtle atmospheric pad and spacious reverb touches to create a uniquely huge engulfing sound. b1 is the second track titled marshfield, a heavy tune for peak time. its kick, toms, and bassline form a rugged groove for its dark synth, which along with the mysterious pad capture the essence of the track while ride cymbals glisten and automate throughout. b2 is the third and final track, nothing, which continues the dark and mysterious vibe of the release. an acidy mid-range synth part works along with an ominous pad and well programmed hi-hats, claps, and rides with just the right reverb treatment to provide space and depth to the track.