lefto (belgium) and free the robots (california) found themselves on tour together a year and a half ago and had the wise idea to do a record together with the beats they were making from inspiration collected along the way. fast forward to the present, and that idea has grown into karavan - an album of international exotic melodies and heavy rhythms - that reflects the sound gather through their years of consistent nomadic touring.

new years deal - a1 - luc marianni - six synthetic suites (anno stamm remix) berlin producer anstam’s remix of six synthetic suites is quite a trip. the producer has crafted a dubbed-out version, almost sub aquatic in its sound design, structured around a murky but driving techno beat on which he layers marianni’s sounds. exotic instruments, unusual timbres, daring melodies and even slapped bass: the contrast between these sounds and stamm’s grayscale groove is powerful. a2 vril - synthetic suite giegling artist vril uses samples from marianni’s six synthetic suites released in 1986 to produce this lovely slab of dub techno. carefully crafted, this track is all about soft edges, with a kind of blurry and hazy vibe that permeates it. a sense of motion is conveyed by the sparse but efficient rhythmic section, with chords and melodic elements giving the impression of floating. with much more contrast and complexity than it might seem at first listen, this is beyond your usual dub techno cut. b1 luc marianni - six synthetic suites (margaret dygas remix) also based in berlin, margaret dygas’ own remix of six synthetic suites is a deconstructed affair, built around a half step groove, ready to be used creatively in dj sets. somewhere between an ambient excursion and a more rhythmic jam, the producer uses a sparse palette of hallucinogenic, dizzying sounds with a dash of eerie darkness that gives this version a melancholic, unsettling nature. words by edouard isar.

baltra embarks on the fourth expedition into the exotic lands of palm trees and blue skies with his ambient pad heavy ‘rendezvous ep’. expedition four features three jams packed full of moody vocals, crunchy drum sequences and face melting acid basslines, accompanied by a mesmerising remix from dj seinfeld.

as owner and curator of the exotic dance records label , j. albert has released a steady handful of projects on his brooklyn based imprint , as well as showcasing new music from deejay xanax and person of interest . add to that, recent releases on the 1080p label and black opal, and j. albert is fast making a mark on the scene for his raw and undiluted deep fusion of house, techno and jazzy vibes. his debut ep for hypercolour opens up with dont hide it a bumpin and jazzy flavoured house cut, resplendent with rolling snare drums and warm stabs, a sampled double bass riff and choppy vocal refrains xtra sauce is another stellar house track, fans of the ron trent/prescription chicago sound will instantly find an affection here with the rolling drums and soft keys, all pushed along at an energetic pace, whilst vista finds j. albert in more playful mode, carving out a 10 minute jackin underground house vibe that cuts raw and hypnotising.

alessandro adriani weaves a nightmarish scenario as the mannequin man returns to pinkman s broken dreams with four hardened works. beats are shaven into rigid points as ebm echoes are speared with contemporary contempt. throughout the quartet are moments of exotic abstraction, psychological stresses and visceral disorders. music for sleepless nights and addled minds.

this self titled creation from sets us in a mystical island of utopia. these eternal paradise grooves sends our imagination to levels of sophistication and next world fantasy. lucid drums, unknown atmospheric melody, jupiter dream pads, star light twinkles, exotic worldly strings, silky bass lines, vibratious reverb. the masterpiece we have all been waiting for.

danish born/stockholm based house producer, anders and serves up his debut release - love on 12inch vinyl. this marks the first physical output for brown fat, a fresh new label out of stockholm. a rich patchwork of influences have made up his exotic sound, along with the artists experience in living and studying in london for 7 years, where he developed a raw style that fuses complex jazz, african drumming and blissed out ambient grooves together into something refreshingly original - it’s no wonder why he is considered to be one to watch in 2017.

following some new gems on the great waxtefacts imprint, strip steve delivers a beautifully crafted cosmic ep as the second release on berlin based label man band. with sounds ranging from ambient to raw, galactic workouts, this 5 tracker is a must have for listening just as much as dancing. ‘deep within the distant galaxy, a spaceship cruised under the glow of exotic stars. it’s metallic frame glimmered beneath the shimmering light as it surged forwards through time and space. it was embarking upon a spectacularly perilous odyssey, a journey into the abyss. its passengers sat eagerly watching their planet vanish out of sight through bubble windows. they made jokes amongst one another, cracking a smile as appropriate, but they were scared. - words by the ransom note, inspired by the track odyssey. vital sales points: played by alex from tokyo at rex club, paris and cocktail d amore, berlin. track odyssey premiered by the ransom note

rudolf c embarks on the third expedition into the exotic lands of palm trees and blue skies with his mesmerising and pensive ‘goin good’ ep on lost palms. expedition three features four jams packed full of utopian soundscapes and drum machine filled sequences. free your mind and your body will follow.

roots underground records was born out of pure love for pure house in 2012. their third instalment on wax, “riccardo vs ricardo // italia to chicago” is a split 12” with each side exploring the more exotic frontiers of that wholesome house sound.

chances are if you have a body, a pair of ears and access to some kind of listening device, you’ve at least tapped a foot to ‘shine’ from soul clap and nona hendryx. pure authenticity and vocal integrity is provided in bucket loads by nona (ex-labelle member and purveyor of funk for more than 40 years), while the production maintains soul clap’s sublime freshness. increasing your marimba intake by 200% with two additional versions, hot toddy gives exotic plushness with a diversified rhythm section and melodic bottom lines that lightly entwine, shimmering in the light of nonas voice. scott grooves brings the funk, with an upfront bassline and extra jb-style horns on his horns dub, while the deepah dub takes a housier approach while still keeping the horn stabs. scott finishes off with an echopella of nonas vocals recorded from the international space station. this remix package is everything you would want, and then some.

with additional successes under such labels as taub, latence releases once again on play label records for his fresh superheated ep. collaborating ideas from his teen years in belgium through the 90’s, with more progressive inspirations, latence has materialized a unique style, which is a celebration of timeless dance music and it’s continued influences on forward-thinking artists. kicking things off with his title-track, pablo flaunts a subtle build of off beat chords injected around playful and erratic acid house influences. a busy and varied concoction of sounds topped with provocative whispers. deeper amplitude is the second of this four track ep, and as the name suggests, we are provided with ample bass, accompanied by snippets of melodic discord and a boisterous snare, fearless and rhythmic. metastable lays a minimalist percussive foundation, sporting a retro 70s synth that steals focus with its quirky pitch shifts, a classic example of latence’s immense talent for blending influences across eras. latence closes with acido basic, an eccentric finale to this eclectic ep. using exotic vocal sampling centered around chemical compounds, he simplifies his percussive layers to a clean texture, which form the bedrock for his experimentations.

for its 6th release on ed banger records busy p asked his longtime friend from los angeles mayer hawthorne to write a love song. while the world is going crazy, the only answer is love. the song was recorded between threesome studio in paris and mayer’s own in l.a. to complete this ep, we’ve asked uk’s finest producers. the mysterious kda who’s topping uk’s charts, delivers an infectious remix with mental drums and funky twist. hot chip’s main man joe goddard has been one of my favorite producer ever. it was about time to have him on board! reckonwrong dropped the hottest ep of 2015 on young turks sublabel whities. his remix is pure magic. exotic beats with techno flavours. last but not least, we went experimental on this one! this is the first flow machines remix. the goal of flow machines is to research and develop artificial intelligence systems able to generate music autonomously or in collaboration with human artists.

trudge embarks on the second expedition into the exotic lands of palm trees and blue skies with his ambient and dreamy ‘when the rain’ ep on lost palms. expedition two features four jams packed full of breakdowns, breathtaking soundscapes and lo-fi esque drum sequences.

spring is in the air and matteo pepe, aka uabos, is taking away that winter chill with four tracks of house warmth and machine funk. acid bars float on crisp claps for the uplifting -mystic force-. the italian keeps the floor stoked with the sample strewn grooves of -copacabana- before the synths take over with the lush chords of -city woods-.-karmic souls- closes, meandering notes bend and shimmer on clean percussion for an exotic climax to an ep of ambitious analogue delights.

exotic house jams soaked into a romantic tropical feel filtered through a vision of sunset on the sea.

following a storming barrage of kicks and whistles on -i m alright mate- via south-westerly label timedance, lauded sonic explorer bruce settles on hemlock and kindly offers a trio of exotic and rare tracks.

forging an idiosyncratic musical language, told through exotic rhythms and adventurous wordless vocal explorations, deal is fays boldest work yet, moving further away from the pop signifiers of previous exploits. with an articulate minimalism, deal flexes and shapes these elements to their maximum potential through vast spacial movements that evolve down unexpected paths. compositional directions diverge through variations on a theme. the album s complex choral arrangements and daring structural ideas demonstrate a deft understanding of music foundation while departing into abstract possibilities outside of these standards. a conversational interplay between drum and voice is at the center, highlighting the human element. a loose, primal urgency guides these compelling and playful electronic compositions that favor intuitive sense perceptions over self-expression. the voice acts as a beacon throughout the record, leading the rhythms and arrangements towards their next move. deal is music for movement, an active listening experience that feels narrative or visual, building tension and anticipation of where the piece will lead, and what will happen next. the album uses sparseness to it s strength, with each note and drum hit sounding more potent and unexpected. here you ll find soul, exhilaration, guts, humor, freedom, play, humans animalistic nature. with a willingness to embrace the potential for new music, deal is a brave and different record that will reward listeners.

exotic tracks from the fruit loving dutch producer.

while the rest of the world basks in the body glo of a dreamy label debut from australia s bronze savage, moonboots & boardman are straight back to business, uniting a diverse cast of mancunian talent for a four track collaboration with clothing brand good measure. after romancing our ears with the emotional pop of delicious crime back on nado 1001, half silk returns to balearic base camp with the exotic exploits of tsukimi , a coastal cooler for hot summer nights. borrowing a bustling bossa from the libraries of japan, the mystery man canters through infectious organ licks, eleki guitars and subdued synths, darting between surf and city pop with a trail of tape delay in his wake.

berlins true romance is back on the disco train for their fifteenth release. label boss tensnake is at the wheel this time and cooked up two irresistible a sides. first in line is the sci-fi infused machines, a catchy slow analog burner with deep synthetic bass lines, etheric melodies and floating french vocals. the perfect soundtrack to blissfully cruise the foggy, neon-drenched nights of a dystopian future. on the aa side, the vinyl only black as flies slings us back under the blazing sun. starting with sultry vocals and a stripped down disco-not-disco vibe, the track morphs into a unique blend of italo-zouk madness. heavily road tested by the man himself, this one is a certified exotic weapon. limited pressing - dont sleep!

marc antona has been always in the pursuit of new expressions within music as he has continually demonstrated with his work. following the jazz-infused adventures of the rattle snaps ep, he finally returns to his own turf to lay down another crucial exploration of beat science. hanging gardens is a masterclass in immersive programming, fusing the natural feel of live drums with crisp electronic tones that hover in a spacious mix. its the perfect angle at which to appreciate the subtlety of sound design that goes into every inch of marc antonas productions, teasing elements in and out of the mix so gracefully, its hard to tell where the joints are. the haunting touches of chords and lingering pad are deployed with poise, the intricate percussion progressively rising and falling throughout to create a truly immersive sonic journey. where the a side deals with angular rhythms and a shape-shifting atmosphere, unrestricted takes the sound palette of organic and electronic elements and feeds them into a rolling, technominded focus. the tribal thrum of the beat fills out an in-the room-ambience while the psychoactive synth flurries speak out the pulse of the machines. its a combination that makes unrestricted as intimate as it is exotic. in combining these disparate feelings within his tracks, antona once again brings a human feel to the technology, pushing the music into exciting new realms in the process.

axpin debuts with its ep „gilgamesh“, including three deep house tracks and a first floor remix of mastermind christian burkhardt (cocoon, oslo, cbsessions). it smoothly combines multifarious arrangements and arousing melodies with a forward pushing club sound. suitable for the dance floor as well as the afterparty at home, this ep transports the listener to a faraway world of subtle grooves, pushing drums and mesmerizing sound design. „gilgamesh“ is a track based on the story about the journey of an ancient emperor, searching for enlightenment in the highlands of mesopotamia. so it comes as no surprise that a driving beat breaks through the laid back percussions and hypnotizing atmospheres. wandering through this track side by side with mysterious pads and exotic sounds, a lost but defying melody accompanies the listener on his steps. „catiba“ is a track with a multilayered arrangement, that doesn’t necessarily reveal its complexity on the first look. different rhythmic moods provide the structure for two melodic lines, competing at first but working perfectly together after a thrilling break, melting your soul. they’re supported by a pervading deep bass groove that will make your body vibrate.&#8232,,christian burkhardt summarizes both tracks’ features and unifies them in an impulsive club remix that floats every second and climaxes in a thrilling break. dry but playful, perfectly fitting for the dance floor without losing the warmth and lightness of the original. „kryon“ is the ep’s third and most expressive track. starting with lost parts of a melody, rather an echo in the vast distance, the track continuously increases its tension, extending the rhythms until the arrangement blasts out a stunning break that, contrary to all expectations, is a calm and compassionate moment with a transient theme. the clear production provides a place in the mix to each sound, a deep moog bass rumbles in the basement while the stimulating percussion coats

sonderr embark on the first expedition into the exotic lands of palm trees and blue skies with their moody, synth heavy goin home ep. four dusty jams packed full of ambient textures, gritty drum sequences and scorching acid basslines.

with previous releases on labels such as chronocircle and tom trago’s voyage direct, magnesii delivers a playful blend of house, electro and tropicana for raw tools. the title track, fata oasa is a melodic, lo-fi delight, full of exotic flavours, whilst building ultrabot shifts to a different spectrum of sounds, with chunky basslines and heart-warming pads. on the flip side, euphoric 660, is a haunting house jam with low-pitched vocal samples and sharp percussions. the b-side gets a special 909-led muscle boost by antenna, known for his dark, but emotional sound, which has been embraced by labels such as pinkman, clone and beats in space.

villalegre recordings is back with his second release after an acclaimed debut ep, which is already found in some “real deejays’ - vinyl cases, namely dj garth, stevie kotey, timm sure, richard sen and massimiliano pagliara.discómanos ep consists of 4 edits of unknown gems, masterly revisited by collectors and artists as big as mike burns, rayko , the great sagittarius and christian beetz aka frwctrl.

a real treat for any fans of tangerine dream, innovative communication or mike oldfield, paladin brings us the contemporary sound of visionary uk synth-prog music via berlin-based label per musica ad astra on his album unknown zones . epic tracks dominate the record in true 1970s tradition, containing suites of music that elevate, transcend and transport the listener in his mind s eye to faraway exotic realms of musical dreamscapes hitherto unimagined. comes with free space insert and copies are limited!

uk trip hop legend howie b teaming up with the jersey deep house don jus ed? you better believe it! according to howie b himself, who proudly declared on his facebook page -the theme is cinema. the mood is deep.- cinetrax vol. 1 is the first part of three 12-s which will be presented for the project. the slow grinding electro pop of -salty dance- is something that you could have imagined ryan gosling cruising the streets of dtla after midnight in drive, while -the breach- does have cinematic aspects about it, in a way, but sounds more like an early robert hood track on -8, we really liked this bleepy and cyclical excursion in minimalism. on the flip -the essence of new- fuels some exotic daydream fantasies with its chilled and atmospheric beats while -phat harp ban- is a darkly aquatic smack electro number, that brings to mind that epic underwater bank heist in scene in sexy beast.

nice price deal !!! more of magnetic soul’s expert disco dub treatment ! hand stamped white label - very limited support from: dave jarvis, bill brewster, ash beedle, fingerman, ltj experience & more… dab hand’s 3rd vinyl release from magnetic soul brings together another carefully selected batch of rich and exotic soul and disco cuts lovingly restructured and adapted for discerning dj and club plays yet showing the deep love for the authentic roots and history of current underground dance trends.
‘come into my life’ sets us off on a typical ms vibe with tight groove, drifting hypnotic keys backed up with sexy dreamy soul vocals. ‘save my people’ slows it down slightly with a deeper building vocal harmony and sax-riff vibe. ‘stratisfied’ takes a tripped out jazz-funk direction to new levels with beefed up bass and glistening spatial sounds. ‘disco train’ finishes up with a fantastic, hypnotic aor disco chugger... all aboard for whistle blast - toot toot!

the mall grab helmed steel city dance discs imprint returns with two exotic cuts from new york based producer x-coast. the party fuelled ‘ghetto baby’ and ‘natural dub’ are both soaked in 90’s house flavours, providing welcome relief from the rapidly approaching winter months.

having worked with the likes of don cherry and laurie anderson, there s little doubting the credentials of ramuntcho matta. emotional rescue have tapped him up for some truly outernational jams that sport african percussion, skronky jazz tones and an engaging minimalism that s hard to resist. the fretless bass and exotic animal cries of -ecoute- are especially appealing, while the squelchy sound design in -o clapo- may well do funny things to all who hear it. it s a startlingly original record that serves as a perfect introduction to a lesser known figure in leftfield music with a great heritage behind him.

canadian minimal standard-bearer pheek is the fifth artist to sign up for the untold stories protagonist series, and he s packing some of the crispest grooves he s laid down in some time. -lonely wolf- is everything a minimal house track should be, with a crackling, shuffling beat and layers of subtle orchestration building into a soul-stirring groover. -father- however takes a more abstract route into off-kilter percussion and exotic found sounds specifically arranged to tickle the mind. that leaves it to -the logical question to come is yet to be defined- to dominate the b-side in a 16-minute trip that moves through all manner of moods and moments.

shipwrec are opening a new style chapter with coco bryce. dub, jungle, skwee and breakbeat come together to form the signature sound of the myor label boss. from laid back caribbean rhythms to sweat dripping bedlam, coco bryce comes with melting pot bubbling over with influences and styles. mesak and fff have been drafted in on remix duties, each adding their own flavour to this heady brew. a 12- brimming with exotic spices and sounds from an artist who dares with his musical ingredients.

discodromos ever-essential cocktail d amore label launches into action once more with the ear candy of komodo in tow. magic hour manages to work classic piano house tropes into a suitably cosmic headspace that s loaded with reverb and all things trippy, but its relatively grounded compared to the exotic meditation that the backwoods manage to conjure up on their oriental dub of the track. lizard dance channels early trance vibes to great effect in a celebration of early 90s rave mysticism and then sand dunes offers up a bubbling, friendly twist on acid house. using familiar tropes but still maintaining originality, from start to finish this is a classically rooted record with something to say.

hotflush are proud to welcome an exciting new talent to the roster. her name is or:la and she arrives at her debut 12inch already boasting a formidable reputation as a dj and promoter in the uk - her long-standing meine nacht party is merseysides finest and her appearances on whp line-ups are turning heads. the 12inch in question is uk lonely - a four track ep that flaunts enviable range and seems to contradict the producers youthful years. in it she covers a broad spectrum of past and contemporary influences spanning garage, afrobeat, breaks and dubstep. the a-side is punchy yet elegant: vocal cut-ups drift through off-beat percussions in title track uk lonely, while riddims and melodies weave in and out of each other on an exotic limbosoup. the b-side is more contemplative:x & o recalls the wistful vocals and layers them over aughties breakbeats before jaipur rounds off this opening salvo in delicate and playful fashion, hinting at things to come

yet more italians on optimo trax! jose manuel delivers 4 unique exotic, fourth world, tribal slabs of ritual music. a1, the great beast in outer space is actually an andrew liles track that jose has completely reworked and sprinkled his magick on. mr. liles is one of my favourite producers in the world, both for his solo work and for his input into my all time heroes nurse with wound. for those who know his work, having something by him that will work on a dancefloor may bring a smile to your face. thankfully i know him a bit and he was more than happy to grant permission for this to be released. a2, folklore is fourth world exotica reimagined for late night dance rites. aa1, ritual, is exactly what the title says it is. aa2, sisi leaves the dance floor completely and even though optimo trax is 100% aimed at djs, was simply too lovely to leave off.

the first installment of cacao, cwhirring loops. don t mess gets a treatment from italo-german pair black loops. amping up the groove and adding distorted eerie vocals, the remix keeps the initial disco appeal with an added dose of deep tech grit, destined for late night dancentral american rooted label with a knack for refreshing house & techno flavours, showcases five tracks that ooze exotic dopeness. the duo k.e.e.n.e. strut their noted production skills, kicking off with the disco house hybrid don t mess. with a permeating vocal hook and scintillating synths, a relentless groove shapes the deeply immersive arrangement. who stole the soul offers up an exhilarating tech house exploration, pairing spacious percussion with undulating synths. resulting in a playful and versatile melody with a wandering vocal, the cut comes as is as well as purely instrumental. and.id jumps on the remix, increasing the deepness factor and instilling an almost underwater-like ambiance through whizzing synths and e floor antics.

elleorde was born 3 years ago at camp cosmic, an anything-goes music festival in the swedish forest that s recently been relocated to the german countryside. elleorde s debut record shares the same themes as the fest with a combination of time travel, cosmos, space exploration, sunsets on exotic planets, and universal love. not to mention, these are forest jams, mind you. the uk one-man project draws influences from war, dexter wansel, tantra, cerrone, ennio morricone, supermax, you get the idea. step in to the battlestar gallactica, open wide and eat the future.

antinote squeeze out the mind lotion: eight sun-drenched excursions, tip!! mind lotion crafts a very modern guide to sun-drenched soundscapes in the form of altitude attitudes, a musical travel-log, consisting of eight pieces, written over two years, which are recollections of experiences, moments in time from trips – either real or romanticized – to exotic destinations.

is it heavy industrial machinery or the loud noise of a tropical jungle? do we hear a swarm of exotic insects over our heads or the sound of permanent construction overshadowed by sky-scraping cranes? this is los muchachos, the latest release of sano, from medellin, colombia. a strangely swinging 12inch with 2 heavy stomping downtempo tracks for those who know and those who want to learn - plus a mesmerizing interview – remix produced by toulouse, salon des amateurs resident and member of kreidler. los muchachos is a house music short story – both tropical and industrial – about adolescence in medellin, about kids selling their cd-rs at undocumented raves, about drawing flyers and stealing 16.09.2016 kisses, testing substances and kicking stones, about bedroom production, about dance and more dreams and adventures of los muchachos - the kids

gerry franke, member of the max graef band and also 50% responsible, that max graef lives, presents his first solo lp after the mini lp release -franke & son- on oye / box aus holz.

lucifer & lust is a 10-inch mini album by dmitry distant, showcasing the diversity of his talent. the 6 tracks by the russian-born artist who currently resides in latvia reflect the atmosphere of the baltic and the mystic sides of electronic music. showing where his devotion lies, dmitry experiments on the verge of techno, wave and industrial. on this mini album, he grasps our attention with minimalistic trance-like rhythms covered in fluctuating painful melodies, using wonderful analogue sounds and exotic instruments such as the electric violin

this up and coming producer is already a legend amongst the crew of techno freaks in brooklyn. with previous releases on local imprint lovers rock, and releases slated for proibito and exotic dance under the the aliases dj python and dj xanax, dj wey aka brian pinyero has contributed a massive 12” to bank records. the a side “song for masahiro” is dedicated to masahiro ueda, a dj and friend who graced the bk scene by way of japan. it’s a bass heavy tune with melodic pads floating in the forefront amongst the occasional cheering sample. it s perfect for either opening or closing a set midsummer. in contrast, the b side opens with “flow on.” with its distorted kicks, relentless claps and hypnotic bells one could imagine hearing it on a nightmarish carnival ride...fit that into a set. the record ends on an electro tip with spaced out pads, backwards samples and classic electro style drum patterns. distinct in sound and diverse in approach, don t sleep on the homie dj wey.

malphino is a mysterious band from an imaginative tropical island of the same name that plays cumbia and a heady mix of exotic sounds. their music serves as a cinematic score to the backdrop of this mystical isle and its ethos.

four new loose and beautiful metropolitan house grooves from prolific nyc producer j albert aka jio albert whose mantra (as always) is to keep it simple, and of course, keep it strictly j! in addition to the grime beats he’s been releasing on soundcloud under the dj osom alias, jio has also explored other genres with a recent black opal release and a 12inch on his own exotic dance records imprint. strictly j, though is his scruffy take classic house on zones more into the hot music-soho vibes. characterized by busy percussion, off-kilter downtown beats, stops and starts, scattered breaks, and weirdly breezy melodies, these tracks are roomy def down for the summer. interestingly enough, i was subletting jios room last summer in ridgewood, queens and was sitting next to him as he made some of these tracks while i worked my tech support job. he was listening to a lot of buddy rich, bill evans, and jeremy steig at the time.

the dawn of multi cultis astrological epic assault kicks off with exotic neo-hippie modulations from von party, red axes, and the australians - dreems, ccolo, nick murray & kris baha.

over the course of four albums, manchester based trumpeter, composer, arranger and band-leader matthew halsall has carved out a niche for himself on the uk music scene as one of it s brightest talents. his languid, soulful music has won friends from jamie cullum and gilles peterson to jazz fm and mojo as well as an ever-growing international following. his label gondwana records is home to gogo penguin and his own albums have found halsall exploring the modal jazz of john and alice coltrane, paying tribute to the hard bop of the late ’50s and early ’60s or most recently on fletcher moss park drawing on eastern influences in his most personal statement yet. his latest album when the world was one is something of a companion piece to fletcher moss park (much of the music was written at the same time) but draws more explicitly on halsall’s love of spiritual jazz and eastern music as well as his own studies in meditation and travels in japan. beautifully recorded at hasall’s favourite studio, 80 hertz in manchester, and engineered by brendan williams and george atkins it features the recording debut of halsall’s large ensemble, the gondwana orchestra, which utilises the exotic flavours of harp, koto and bansuri flute and eastern scales to create a global palate for halsall’s life-affirming sounds.

i was deep in texas when a call came through... -hey man it s cherry ! ...we got some sick new shit for you, gonna blow your mind- i waited nervously for the package. it arrived two weeks later. i slipped the hot black acetate from its wrapper and placed it on the turntable... wired guitars wail like banshees on heat, primal beats erupt drenched in dark juice from roots of trees slick with crunk. flutes and bells hang like exotic flowers that reek of jungle sex and all night long the pulse goes on and on and on as usual cherry was right...this most surely is one sick motherfucker of a record. don t get me wrong there s warped beauty here aplenty but you gotta take it easy. don t ingest it all at once...make sure you re in comfortable surroundings, trust me i know...six months later and i m still feeling the burn. damn you cherry garcia.

exotic pungent basement rebellion