around, a sexy, synthesizer-tinted groove featuring vocalist hayze dominated dancefloors across the world for close to two years, making noir a household name across clubland. and its still as popular as ever – the solomon vox remix of around has amassed more than 12 million views on youtube. as well as around, noir includes further club hits around feat. hayze, my fault feat. hrrsn and current single black feat. caitlin, evidencing noirs desire to work with a variety of vocalists to create something far 7 weightier than simply a collection of club tracks.

vinyl only! killax is back again! this time with a strong various artists on vinyl only. straight from detroit usa, mr. gari romalis made a dancefloor killa track called move me. roller party made by the italian talent giovanni damico will take you back at the golden age with its funky mood. on the b side the killax bosses are back with 2 strong house tracks: pulse made by noego is a mix of heavy raw drums and hypnotic samples, meanwhile, disco disko made by kid mark will make you dance with its cool vocal samples and old school flavor.

the turn of the new year means amam is about to reach its fifth anniversary - now with over sixty releases of some of the classiest house and techno produced in italy and around the world. were trying out some new things, and that includes starting 2015 with a shout-out to the old school: a vinyl-only split ep featuring two gems from our roster, dakpa and 000.

originally released in 1997, this early production from the legendary dutchman gerd has recently enjoyed a revival, the rare wax finding its way back into the sets of raresh, ryan elliott and bass culture label boss d julz, amongst a few happy others. after seeing on a number of occasions the magic effect ‘mass majestic’ could have on the crowd, the catchy hook appealing to all ears, d’julz knew what the next release had to be. with scarce second-hand copies hotly in demand, this secret weapon is about to see a new lease of life via bass culture. reissued in a remastered and slowed down version, ‘mass majestic’ is one of those tracks which stays on your mind long after the party is over ... the haunting keys, the intensity of the synths and the climax of clashing symbols, all driven along by the raw chugging bass-line makes this a peak-time winner. the flip side features ‘to reach’, another track from the original ep. a big room monster of rolling bass and syncopated keys, its old skool charm and brash energy grabs you to full-on, trippy effect. considered a prolific, timeless and highly eclectic producer, ‘mass majestic’ ep indulges in gerd’s blatant ballsy techno side, remaining an extremely effect dj tool 17 years on.

following his successful remixes on suol (for fritz kalkbrenners void, january 2015) and culprit la (for aidan lavelle & robbie akbals stars, november 2014), objektivity is proud to welcome andre hommens second ep, >battery park< as its next release. already getting massive support from dennis ferrer, who debuted battery park in his recent sets

this is a tape! all good stories need a context. named after the multitalented artist who used to operate at the bauhaus in dessau, »marianne brandt« is the omnidirectional long length debut of alex ketzer, the respected designer behind noorden’s artworks as well as a talented musician on the rise. ketzer recorded in a room at the dessau structure for a few days, meticulously crafting a piece that sounds like a conversation between history and future, audio and visual, bridging the gap over a century of creation in one of the epicentres of the highest form of artistic production in europe. and now inviting electronic music to its table.

the album evokes the deadening american landscapes of school shootings, military suicides & societal dissolution. written and recorded in a crappy apartment in north hollywood while surrounded by poverty, drug abuse and suicide. a dynamic lp that covers a lot of ground in its 45 minutes: ethereal voices, techno rhythms, blasts of electronics. released in an edition of 200 on 180 gram vinyl with unique silk screened sleeves and stamps, color print insert and download code.

kalakuta soul records come with a series of releases and new gems that surely will keep this year quite busy. after al kents killer joint that went by the title love & care, its cuttlefish & asparagus who once again deliver a strong three tracker made to work the hell out of every imaginable sound system. mainly known for their unforgettable work on black suns self-titled epic track, atlantis cuttlefish & asparagus deliver an a side that coulnt work any hip harder.

when it comes to electronic music and techno music there are few cities that have conserved and upheld the foundational roots laid down by its pioneers more so than berlin. one of the center-most characters in this movement is the inimitable der dritte raum. aydszieyalaidnem is the latest offering from kruegers der dritte raum project.

yoruba records is proud to add glasgows vince watson to the family with his first release on the label. the techno heavyweight who has seen releases on planet e and poker flat, as well as his own bio imprint has departed from his previous work in this wonderfully crafted ep, which opens with the brilliantly ambient tune: a moment with lonnie. the more club friendly eminesence begins with a punchy, rolling bass line and then opens up with a hypnotic sweeping piano melody. the mid-track radiant breakdown is sure to capture the listener’s attention before coming full circle into a head-bob-inducing bass line driven groove. from there, the journey continues with the tribal-esque calypso, a melodic groove sure to get the floor moving. with its subtle keys and well-positioned claps this tune a friend of dance floors and home stereo systems alike. the release closes with under the skin, a well thought out afterhours track sure to bring any night to a smooth conclusion.

a couple of years into honing their skills in the studio and behind the booths, the very dynamic duo known as andhim returns to get physical to present us with ‘spayce, the latest specimen of their self-christened super house genre. raised on a steady diet of hip hop and jazz, the cologne-native pair have proven to many far and wide that they are entertainers at heart and envelope-pushers by nature. taking turntables where they seldom go to turn them into instruments, as well as the heavy use of samples and real-world inspiration to set their own creations apart, its fair to say that ‘spayce is just another example of the duos eclectic, eccentric inclinations. two tracks long and spanning from dance floor epic to quirky by way of some particular glitch, piano work and musical hiccups, ‘spayce ep is a very sweet addition to an already original discography.

nice price deal !!! marking the first output of cymasonic s offshot vinyl-only label and collabaration with subwax distribution, the balder ep is a two-hundred copy, hand stamped entry into the world of cymawax. there s no better way to start than with four quality tracks of hot and crunchy norwegian techno with soul by trulz & robin, under their new moniker for otherworldly machine sounds: ksmisk. the duo from oslo have been a force in norway s electronic music scene for over two decades, but their current project is set to bend and exceed all expectations. the title track makes full use of spacial effects to create the kind of landscape deserving of the cavernous exchange of industrial rooms or the breathing walls of smaller sweatboxes. its energetic arpeggiation carries the driving, raw bass line home. less linear and more neurotic, -jonson- squelches its way into existence. next, -water- is as fluid as the name suggests, using deep, delayed dub chords to sustain listeners during its eight minute life. finally, the release ends on -tehjerk- which is full of electricity, heavily charged with distortion and powerful drums before opening up into a euphoric waterfall of melodies. it s fitting that this chronicle should end up pressed onto wax, a monument to the physical launch of cymawax and trulz & robin presenting ksmisk.

farbwechsels first vinyl release has arrived, and its a real international effort. the renowned hungarian label s record features five artists from four countries on four tracks

fokuz recordings makes its advance on the international drum & bass scene. already a quality, consistent label for the last couple of years 2015 is already looking promising with the opium dream ep by need for mirrors and hlz! both tracks are drenched with that distinctive nfm sound. its a hommage to the early tech step vibes from back in the days sometimes even comparable to grooveriders mysteries of funk album. the digital release will have two extra tracks for those that cant get enough, just like us here at fokuz hq. essential!

the first installment in a double issue of brand new cleric productions drops with figure 64. the young british producer has released a handful of 12s over the last few years, issuing forth a bold, club targeted sound with a keen ear for clarity and full-spectrum sonics. now we are treated to a wide ranging and impressive new wave of work, over 8 tracks on 2x12s, from cleric on figure. taking us head first into the action, >avoid the subject< presents a crazy dystopia of arpeggiated synth bleeps, dancing and filtering around a heavy trademark cleric drum barrage. at once recognisable, part-insane and part-paranoid funk, its a strong statement to start the ep.

jon hopkins begann seine musikalische laufbahn 1999 im zarten alter von 21 jahren. er arbeitete mit brian eno und david holmes zusammen, war an der produktion dreier coldplay-alben beteiligt und erhielt für sein album *immunity* 2013 eine mercury prize-nominierung. seine late night tales session klingt wie ein requiem für einen traumort, irgendwo zwischen himmel, hölle und dem überfluteten themse-delta. technobeats und verzerrungen mögen vorkommen, doch der blick des zuhörers wandert gefangen und verträumt über die weiten eines offenen ozeans bei nacht. wir begegnen den komponisten nils frahm und ben lukas boysen, den warp-acts bibio und darkstar, jonsi & alex von sigur ros, den grace jones-samplern holy other, sowie künstler wie four tet, alela diane, school of seven bells, health und david holmes. garniert wird diese außergewöhnliche zusammenstellung mit einem exklusiven jon hopkins pianocover des yeasayer-songs *i remember*, sowie mit einer spoken-word-erzählung des produzentenkollegen rick holland.
die doppel-lp erscheint als limitierte 180g pressung mit 18 von 20 ausgespielten tracks, audiophil auf halber geschwindigkeit gemastered, inklusive bonus-download-code mit allen tracks (einmal komplett ausgespielt, einmal als mixset) in wav/mp3-formaten, im gatefold mit antistatischen innentaschen plus kunstdruck in 12 inch größe.

los angeles meets chicago on this infectious, energetic 12. 6 tracks from a mysterious producer going by the name of druguse inspired by juke and footwork sounds. mini lp. a more drugged out cali sun drenched hazier version of the chicago sound, but theres barely time to catch your breath for that bong hit as this 12 baits along with the same frenetic pace and energy of its the mid west inspirations. all anchored by vocal hooks, theres a strong hip hop feel to this quirky and original 12inch.

2015 black repress !!
this will follow closely to the huge vernon - >how to travel the universe....<. its gonna be another big one!

canadas invisible city returns with more surprises from musics deleted history. side a features jeancys u turn me on, an 808 driven haitian-canadian dubbed out disco boogie anthem thats sure to drive crowds manic. side b features two spoken word cult future classics by the mysterious hawaiin mystic astarius. ancient times part 1 and 2 are both hypnotic affirming mantras, soaked in reverb and twisted in pitch. its sure to melt brains into a dervish twirl. limited pressing.

with a firm nod to the community, revered techno aficionado, roberto reveals the launch of his new record label, fossil archive and its first release *prolecanites gurleyi*. roberto has already built quite the discography with previous releases on fachwerk, affin, artform and be as one, as well as establishing himself as a dj with gigs at the likes of fabric, berghain and tresor and recently took time out from his busy schedule to talk to marcus barnes for the independents blog.

a1: -deep roads- the idea of perfection has never been so close. with its persistent succession of drums and embracing bassline the first track of the ep kicks in with analog pure sounds. a2: -got me- it is recorded with maria bergson on vocal. 100% pure sexy club banger. b1: -what u want- alex calls den on board to create something extraordinary. the result is a creature that will take your body and shake it all night long. drums and bass recorded live, analog. b2: -got me- (rick wade remix) nothing better than an exotic and tribal version of got me by the master of house mr. rick wade.

milton wrights perfect deep soul classic *keep it up* has always been a top shelf record, everything about it is almost flawless! whether it is miltons silky vocal delivery, the incessant guitar driven back beat or the total space funk vibe of his omnipresent arp-2600 synthesizer this record has it all. originally released on tk discos more soul and funk orientated alston label which was home to many legendary artists and records, this 1975 sunshine classic never fails to make people move. a classic rare groove indeed. *the silence that you keep* takes up side-b, a jazzy, flute driven love song that again features milton s perfect voice and some fantastic arrangement. a real gem of a record, with the original 45 changing hands for over £100 a time in used condition. this is the first time *keep it up* has been re-issued in its original 45 rpm format with the original alston label artwork. it has been re-mastered, re-pressed and made available again with the permission of tk disco / alston records, miami florida, usa.

hotflush unveils its second release of 2015 in the form of a collaborative single between label mainstay locked groove and ascendant italian duo mind against. with both acts coming off the back of triumphant finishes to 2014 the success of locked groove s huge enigma ep and mind against s surge into #33 position in resident advisor s 2014 dj poll - elysium / pulsar marks the first time the producers have collaborated. the end result combines locked grooves punchy, dancefloor-ready aesthestic and the emotionally resonant melodics that mind against have made their signature since breaking through with life and death in 2013

plan b recordings continues its underground sounds compilation series. the a side represents label bosses dj spider and dakini9. dj spider is his usual twisted self on *hive mind* and dakini9s house- techno hybrid *lost* reveals a few layers of meaning for the careful listener. the b side welcomes berlins franklin de costa with a deep moody burner named *retreat* and fifth wall records co-boss divvorce turns in a stomper with *e./b.* to close out the compilation.

vinyl only! for the 3rd release on taverna tracks, hanfry martinez delivers 3 timeless house cuts. us legend brothers vibe on remix duties, adds some new jersey flava to misterio. taste it while its hot!

imagined as a sharp contrast and complement to funn citys trashy vintage vibes, darshan jesranis new cylinder moniker sets out to explore the more streamlined, forward-facing side of startrees vision, while sacrificing none of the warmth or funk of its classic influences. disco engine is a futuristic joyride which draws upon late 80s and early 90s techno vibes as much as it does disco and r&b to produce a groove which is warmly insistent, buoyant, sexy and a little menacing.

philou louzolo is a natural born artist, a raw talent. zolo grooves are 4 afro funk masterpieces, its a record produced to sound effortlessly musical, sure to do wonders on dancefloors worldwide.

this february nightdrivers deliver three first-rate cuts on holic trax for the quando party dove vai ? ep. following on from burnski s the hours ep which saw love from names like mr g, catz n dogz, dam swindle and eats everything, holic trax returns this february with nightdrivers quando party dove vai ? . since delivering their debut release on bosconi records back in 2013 the berlin-based duo nightdrivers have been going from strength to strength stacking up further releases on claap, their own nightdrivers label and now holic trax. to get things underway the light pads of resta pure dove sei give the opening track a floaty quality while the weighty percussion and subtle rhythms build proceedings into a steady and infectious groove. nightdrivers appear to go up a gear as the ep progresses with the rippling drums and dynamic arrangements of la ronde suite (but not for me) while fast cars maintains the lively vibe of its predecessor and frenetically bubbles along over busy modulations, wacky intonations and infectious licks to dish up a suitably punchy close to this bouncy ep.

after the sampler gave dissonants vinyl lovers a taste of the new re-up album, this double-disc release showcases the rest of the tracks that make up this immersive, captivating body of work. its a creative triumph for label and artist alike, following on from four years of mutual admiration since re-up first appeared on the label.

since its conception three years ago, the hamburg based label hafendisko has been patiently building its reputation with a diverse and varied artist roster. alongside releases from emerging talent such as deo & z-man and brynjolfor, it forms parent label hfn musics outlet for club oriented music whether with full releases or remixes for artists such as kasper bjørke and faded ranger and just recently welcomed renowned remixers such as michael mayer, charles webster and luke solomon, to name a few.

kangaroo skull is the solo project of rohan rebeiro - drummer of renowned australian trio my disco. heavily percussive and rhythmically complex, kangaroo skull meticulously pieces together soundscapes within max msp, with an end result that conceals in its raw simplicity the intensity of the process. with multiple tours outside australia already behind him, australian dancefloors have been keenly awaiting a first release. palace of nothing is his much-anticipated debut - four tracks that convey a sophistication far beyond what could be expected from such a new producer.

marvin dan iii & leethe black belt guy are marvin & guy. having released underground gems on lets get lost, on the prowl and their own m&g edits imprint, the pair brings their patented breed of loopy bliss to the young adults label to kick start 2015. the dance abilities ep finds the duo further honing their original production chops and explores subtle nuance to epic proportions. dance ability is a 10-minute ascending journey through space and time that phase shifts and drifts with zero gravity guitars for the full a-side. on the flip, dancity soundtracks a snake charmers sideshow with hypnotic croons draped over swirling layers of pads and a mesmerising horn. dancenergy rounds out the wax with a punchy piledriver that sets its sights on the floor with rugged chug and tingling synths

30drop deepens in the mystique of sacred geometry with its second release, vortex resonance ep. based on the theoretical and intentional, but not formal, techno foundational precepts, a deliberately contemporary stylistic overdevelopment is build. this time, we find four cuts that highlight the rhythm in view if the space dance floor. beating pulses are interwoven with cosmic atmospheres to travel beyond our planetary borders.

a busy year ahead for techno label signal code records. last year seen vinyls from label head costelloe along with duplex, mark du mosh, defekt and simoncino. the labels sound has grown into an indescribable mix of future retro techno. taking a classic sound and putting a modern twist on it. its a busy start to 2015 with two hot 12inchs already planned for the first two months. the first is a 4 tracker from label head costelloe featuring two remixes from glasgow power house and clone and creme organisation regular marco bernardi. classic techno and electro given a modern twist. quickly following the release will see a 12 inch from l.i.e.s man simoncino with sex tag manias dj sotofett providing a dubbed out mix. it is a busy start for 2015.

2015 repress, support by: brothers vibe, dj koze, eric cloutier, laurent garnier, shinedoe, sevensol, tini and many more ... within a year christopher rau has managed established himself as one of the most promising german deep-house producer with striking releases on labels such as smallville, giegling or his own imprint dérive. as a direct follow up to his album on smallville now comes his debut ep on aim with three well selected tracks that show an intriguing understanding of deepness. >stockings< with its funk riffs and filtered vocals brings is a wonderfully uplifting tune, with an enticing oldskoolish vibe that brings back some precious memories. >anita niesz< (a collaboration with jacques bon) is not only a rare manifestation of musical talent in electronic dance music today, but also a intimate atmospheric tune that will work the finest dance floors and bedrooms

archetypal detroit electro techno taken to the next level by mr bernardi on burek sub label barba. barba shows its nasty side after the first and very nice and sweet ld nero release. bernardi delivers a double album worth of ideas, spread among 2 releases

with releases and on sci+tec, tronic, trapez, rawthentic etc. frenchman matt sassari already walks on a great path with his style. so amir and butch were even prouder to get the chance to release these three bombs from the man from marseille. stripped down techno at its best.

excellent deep house dbl header <br riding on the back of a surge of interest in de la club, the debut lp from hold youth, comes a smartly picked repress of house don nail. while the duo is known for their eclectic vision of dance music, the first repress on the label ive been there ep is in fact an exemplary example of straight-up, no-fuss house. enjoying a modest comeback of late both as a producer and dj, nail originally released full of beestone promise ep on diy discs in 97. the stronger two of the four tracks will be repressed one on each side, * our love* and * i ve been there*, distinctive for its melodic vocal and recent inclusion in the apollonia fabric 70 compilation. while we have become accustomed to hold youth’s diversification of sounds with the current lp, i ve been there reminds us that a pigeon-holable classic can be highly refreshing

quadriga recordings celebrates its 1st anniversary and invites berlin based djane ela h. and hamburg villanova club resident christopher lawrenz (own, body parts) to deliver two massive remixes for alpamayo by retrosynco, releasing them not only digital but this time also on limited vinyl format. don t miss it!

planet rhythm follows up on its centennial release with the 101st effort on the long running imprint. for this 12inch the label has acquired quite a prruk all star line up. with milan-based emmanuel kicking off the a-side with an analog stomper, this is already a release to add to your collection. dutch techno stalwarts abstract division add an acid chugger to the a side. the b side excists out of a piece of drum machine terror by vsk and a fruitful collaboration between serbia based scalemeriya and re:axis.

rora is proud to introduce u-­more for its 9th release which – following the labels beliefs – unveils uniqueness of up and coming producers musical skills. electric and eclectic. sounds that go beyond the mumbling loops. machines noises that establish junction with human brain. sour bounces and perturbing scratches, we penetrate within a spooky hunting and leave with an enigmatic quest in mind. disturbing and tensed ear, catching sounds. u-more seizes us in his acetic world, of extremely well orchestrated, nonetheless sharp soundscapes. a three tracks ep that will keep rotating in your most hidden neurons, without even noticing. unlimited thrills guaranteed.

hypnotic grooves! low to high ltd. continues with its well known toolbox series the fourth volume comes up with tracks from kensuke yasuhara, kaitaro, w.o.h and pablo marco. all tracks exploring different atmospheres going from minimal deep house to techno music.

at long last, its finally here. after two years of waiting, new yorks anthony naples is ready to finally reveal his debut full-length lp, body pill, set for release on four tets text records.

highlife welcomes the return of alma negra! anyone who bothers paying attention to these press releases will note that we have recently been comparing tracks to other artists we admire, or go down the celebrity endorsement route. this time round well do neither. instead we will say, maloya is the first record we’ve listened to 3 times in a row upon receiving it. it has provoked id requests every time weve played it and our dear friend susie crome claims its one of the best records shes ever heard. that’s no mean feat, susie is well versed on the party front. see for yourself.

position 12 inch is a story telling record inspired by the childhood of romain azzaro, aka rouge mécanique. one introduction and two dance pieces extracted from the crude reality he had to experience at an early age. the evolving sound of this ep throws its listeners into the dark and violent places that belong to his past. the childish melody of the intro suddenly opens on an intense break beat and ends with vimory, a brutal and profound track.

its deep88 & melchior sultana finally back at it with the album that brings together some brand new house tunes and all the release from there project so far,playing without moving is more then just tracks but its an album made to remind you in this point in time that house music is something special, a perfect interpratation of what deep88 & melchior sultana are about and that is retro grooves and musical vibes making this piece of work a classic.

a club in the parthenon basement where you cant see in front of you, you lose yourself as the antipodean heat beat surrounds you. this is the latest imagination of melbourne-based band leader nicolaas oogjes. marrying into a greek family (his wife contributes spoken word on two tracks), oogjes became fixated with hellenic culture and its impact on humanity, prompting his rotating cult of collective consciousness musicians no zu to spiral deeper into their celebration of global rhythm and percussion. their even weirder, sparser and more synth driven sound is the result of creative exchanges with home loan records ceo michael ozone, who helped them realise the strange and complete world of medusa music.

on a debut release for bliq, seixlack unleashes his unique fusion of intoxicating gear-crunched cuts. vasumitra is built around static drum-kicks and a pulsating bassline countered by atmospheric and murky synth progressions its repetitive and body-thumping structure rolls deep. nublando o ar rips it from the get-go, with a hyper-funked groove that manages to sustain its rugged pace and entrancing impact all the way. in the title track feitico, seixlack succeeds in artfully juxtaposing banging riddims with jazzed-out, infectious chords leading nicely to the fourth cut, re-crafted by the mighty miltiades, with a deep-rooted and slow-burner of a meditation.

stranger days are here and the italian maestro has returned with two new soundtracks for the dance­floor apocalypse. the world is soon to end, lory d will be its last man standing. early warnings from ben ufo, joy orbison, kema and tale of us.