trias#002 is the successor of the debut ep by tom sue on trias records, available as a limited vinyl edition with risograph prints. the melodic main track >black oak< was produced by tom sue for the sinister short film >schwarz< by felix kruis. it features strong lead vocals by n!klas and chants by the movie actors. the dark atmosphere of the short film is picked up by the melancholic low key techno tracks >amberay< and >ceres<. the ep finishes with the banging remix of >black oak< by der schmeisser, der tietz and der foerkerich, ready to hit the clubs.

the saqqara ep is a multilayered, sonic canvas from the mind of chris barratt, as he launches his new alias, baratt, for life and death. fine brushstrokes move from all areas of his musical hideout, spreading over five, varied, aural sculptures, each one warping and weaving on its own cosmic trajectory. pooling from key aspects of his eagles & butterflies project, barratt induces new musical shades, hinting at moments of disco and funk, through a lens of psychedelia. the title track is a late-night floor-filler - a bold yet uniquely personal necropolis built from riveting delays and arpeggiators. time bending sees dj tennis join in, stepping up with his trademark, rough around the edges production aesthetic, en route to unknown destinations. barratt hones-in on a confident, stripped-down style on khaos - rhythm versus melody just in time for festival season. 1983 soundtracks a ride to utopia on a rocket-fueled vespa, leading to collider, the land of un-quantised madness, where the most treasured of synthesisers live amongst their drum machine counterparts. flowing yet incredibly interconnected, saqqara is best interpreted as a mini artist album - the first of many barratt offerings.

the sixth release from the london-based sugarhouse imprint sees tekboys (label heads maurice jnr, jamie paul and seb miguel) bring forth a 4-tracker built for the floor. it’s already seen support from the likes of alex nut, bradley zero and bicep, amongst others, and looks primed to set alight basements and beach stages alike this summer. originating in 2015 with the much loved ‘magic mountain ep’ this low key, diy label has quietly been releasing hit after hit. alongside their much-coveted white label imprint ‘bouncin’, the guys from sugarhouse have picked up an impressive fanbase including bradley zero, alex nut, four tet, patrice scott, prosumer, kai alce and hunee to name just a few.

mihai popescu kicks off a new label, steppin motion records, with two of his own brilliant tracks. the romanian artist has been a key part of the scene since 2012, releasing on labels like soulsity, rora and bass culture. he has a slick electronic sound that is here for all to here on these two new cuts.

steppin motion is a record label based in paris and managed by swoop. it aims to promote music as an art, as something beautiful that gets your body and soul in motion. this first ep is in two parts, showcasing both sides of the label: the first part is the most dance oriented, whereas the second part will be more soul / beauty oriented. the amazing artwork comes from vesod, who is an italian street-artist painter from turin.

selfsuficient is first and is ten minutes of slippery house music with lovely chords and melodies all making for a warm and infectious groove. it is colourful, loose and rhythmic stuff that oozes a futuristic sense of soul. neasteptat is deeper, with rubbery drums and woodpecker like sounds all weaving round each other to cast a spell on those who hear it.

these are two terrific tracks that connoisseurs of minimal house are going to lap up.

known for releases on labels like overall music, innercircle and frole records, back to basics regular barnsley begins 2018 by returning to his vessel records imprint with big move ep . consisting of two low-slung originals, the release also includes remixes from bass culture founder d julz and cabinet records bosses cabdrivers. a compelling groove lays the foundation of time whilst quivering synths operate throughout, leading into d julz s remix that twists the original into a moody roller with tightly executed 808s at its core. forgiveness starts with clanking percussion as melodies add to the heightening atmosphere, while the cabdrivers remix takes the key elements of the original and plays with the harmonies to make them coarser.

hugo manuel is better known by his musical alias chad valley. a product of oxford’s prolific creative community, chad valley has amassed a catalogue that spans four studio releases, numerous collaborations and dozens of remixes. his 2010 debut — a self-titled exploration in swirling synths and sunburnt melodies — laid the groundwork for 2011’s equatorial ultravox, which gave his downtempo productions a decidedly more pop-leaning twist. it was with equatorial ultravox, and his 2013 album young hunger, that chad valley’s profile sprung forward, strengthened by a string of key touring slots supporting the likes of erasure, chvrches, active child and passion pit, and by his collaborations with el perro del mar, glasser, totally enormous extinct dinosaurs and twin shadow. after releasing 2015 s sparkling entirely new blue and continued touring extensively, as he now prepares to release his third full-length album in 2018. imaginary music includes the previously released singles “up again” and “la in august,” both of which bolster one of the strongest batches of material chad valley has yet delivered. the vinyl release includes a download code.

secretive frenchman ersatz olfolks follows fine appearances on conforce’s transcendent records and georgian imprint bassiani with an ep of clinical techno aberrations for low-key bristol label tutamen.

as a logical next step after big crown’s excellent (and sunny-approved) mr. brown eyed soul compilation from september, the label has started digging into the vaults of sunny’s key-loc records label to unearth some legit soul classics – which are hard to find even in san antonio, and clean originals will cost you a pretty penny if you ever luck into one. the album has been remastered and includes original album art.
the band is tight, the sound is honest, the vocals are dusky and deep, and the album is an undeniable soul and texas music classic, ready to be discovered by a whole new generation of music fans. dive in and be ready for a permasmile, thanks to that patented sunny sound.

vienna-based producer sam irl popped up on our radar a couple of years ago following stellar releases on jazz & milk, but honestly we should have been paying far closer attention as this guy has been making the best crunchy, mpc-driven jazz-infused house music dating right back to 2006. ep’s for s3a’s sampling as an art and collaborative projects with patrick pulsinger and dusty have won him fans including gilles peterson (leading to a release on brownswood), mr scruff and session victim amongst many others. his live sets have also seen him perform at the hallowed grounds of panorama bar and sonar festival. for his debut ep here on freerange sam has delivered four tracks which perfectly showcase his production skills and knowledge of what makes a dance floor tick, kicking off with title track rain technique. quirky keys and a playful groove help build a warm and charming vibe, light and bouncy yet deep and driving enough to get your dance on to. trust follows with loping, lopsided percussion forming the basis of the groove, sparse rhodes pads punctuating the beat and adding just the right musical element to the mix without cluttering the beats or compromising the sense of space. flipping over we have all thats left which sees sam utilising his trusted tr606 for some lovely snappy snares and sizzling hihats. chiming arpeggios join the repeating chord riff creating another simple yet uplifting and playful mood which cant fail to get under your skin. closing the ep we have a wonky, shuffling house track which once again shows sam proving less is more, sampling his key elements into the mpc and jamming out the arrangement in a live and improvised way which brings a fresh, somewhat naive appeal to the production.

wave stu might just be the platonic ideal of icy, emotionally fraught synth-pop. on his debut release for origin peoples, stockholm-based musician michel isorinne puts paragons of this style like orchestral manoeuvres in e dark in his slipstream. laced with spoken-word passages from films and television shows, wave stu weaves a loose tale about the nature of time, physics, and mortality that can be summarized by the key phrase, uttered by a woman scientist somewhere throughout the album, magic is in the molecules.

after a handful of singles that instantly became favourites for djs including bicep, scuba and laurent garnier, london-duo athlete whippet deliver their 12” debut. “hands only” is a balmy, nonchalant yet carefully crafted house gem incorporating striking live performance.
the record was welcomed with open arms by key tastemakers such as xlr8r (“shimmering and seductive”), resident advisor and complex (“heaven sent for djs”). taking on board fellow producers max graef and seb wildblood, “hands only” is a refreshing and effortless 5-tracker following their recent release on exploited records.

the next yoshitoshi classic is here and it s a heavy one - dino lenny s -i feel stereo.- anyone on the scene in 2001, when this monster tune was originally released, remembers its pulsing rhythms and ear-catching vocal hook. seventeen years later, -i feel stereo- is back with three remixes from some of the finest artists around. steve lawler (working here as lawler) has crafted a badass, bassline-driven house track that pummels with all the energy of the original. steve continues his reign as as key innovator in dance music, modernizing this classic with unquestionable finesse. the red axes boys deliver their silky smooth brand of minimal house with a variety of distorted arpeggio riffs, futuristic chimes, and other left-field sounds that make their remix truly unique. it s another ace production from the israeli duo. last but certainly not least, up-and-comer frankyeffe, who delivered the goods on his collaborative splitting minds ep with loco & jam last fall, serves up some impeccably produced techno for big, loud rooms. the italian phenom s mix is absolute savagery. of course, it wouldn t be a yoshi classic pack without a remastered original mix.

three years on from 01, this tenth cassette release & the seventh volume of the oddities compilation series brings another four newcomers to low-key bristol outfit, tutamen. joel john, moní moní & half nelson follow stellar appearances across the technosphere to bless us with their wares, and define jocular presents an intriguing debut appearance.

after numerous live performances around europe and the release of his a music for sound systems full length in 2017, infrasonics label boss spatial rejoins never ready with two productions originally aired during his 2016 mutek live set and lovingly mutated into nvr003. low frequency perturbations fusing spatials sound system culture references and trademark distortion, netz rooms broken techno in the key of grime defines our labels intent to release forward bass explorations. hut 6 follows with a ten minute warp drive across the known universe in search of a unifying field theory of techno. the b-side sees j. tijns first foray on never ready with a bruk & bass out genetic resequencing of netz room, while munstac returns with a sub heavy 4/4 interpretation of the title track. never ready records third release in our establishing tetralogy continues with cover artwork from nerog, 180g coloured vinyl and a limited pressing of 300 units.

chris weeks has been building up the kingbastard catalogue for a long time now, generally taking a self-reliant approach in the underground electronica scene where cd-r releases reign supreme. hes been a key figure on ambidextrous since the label launched back in 2008, and now he s committed to wax with a range of crunched up leftfield sonics for the machine-loving crowd. anxiety is a melodic cut with a house-minded structure, but theres a lot of production acrobatics and compositional swerves taking place within this framework. scatterbrain is more overtly out there, tapping up the kind of heavily processed sounds that producers like paradroid have championed in the past. data loss strike a heavy blow somewhere between dubstep and electro, and data ctrl ups the tempo for a rabble-rousing exercise in mind-bending machine music

original copies of this beautiful chain reaction 7 inch have been changing hands for £500, so this is a true digger s delight. exceptional soul from the late 70s which hundreds before have attempted to license to no avail. lack of trust was a key issue in these pursuits, after say yeah was used in a b grade hollywood movie without permission, alongside record collectors cleaning producer harold sargent out of his original 45s before upping them on ebay for $1000 apiece. cue the good people at rain & shine, a non-profit organisation based out of new zealand, who have worked with chain reaction directly to license this incredible record properly - returning all net profits to the artists involved. it really doesnt get much better than this - spiritual stuff! comes complete with picture sleeve, pressed on black vinyl with a large dinked centre hole.

12inch marbled yellow vinyl in heavy clear sleeve, hand stamped labels, vinyl only, limited edition of 300

raum musik 104 is a various artists compilation that features exclusive tracks from all the labels key artists. federico molinari, john dimas, franco cinelli, lee burton and phil evans have released on our label before, but we also have three new artists on board this time. jorge savoretti has released the last single on our label before the compilation plus the two newcomers enrico mantini from italy and andy kolwes from cologne. altogether it forms a nice package to celebrate 20 years of raum musik that shows as well the different sides of our label and we hope that you enjoy the tracks as much as we do.

the past few years have seen berlins frag maddin release material on waze & odysseys w&o street tracks, rough recordings and egg londons what came first as well as offering up a remix on roog & dennis quins ep for madhouse where her returns to here for a full ep featuring remixes from fellow berlin based acts black loops and kevin over. taking the lead on the package is the zauberflo&#776,te with its skippy hi-hats, hooky organ licks, hypnotic rhodes melodies and vocal cuts all further fuelled by a snaking sub-bass groove to create a slice of authentic house for one of the leading labels of the genre. black loops turns in a remix of the zauberflo&#776,te next, stripping things back to a deeper, more refined feel with spiraling, filtered elements of the original wandering around swinging 909 drums to create a groove-drive counterpart to the original. focus opens the latter half of the package, the second original from frag maddin which employs chugging square wave bass tones and dynamically evolving drums alongside tension building strings and choppy stabs before keving over closes the package with his gritty take on focus, featuring crunchy drums, dusty chords and cleverly arranged string and key samples.

Žagar mark the end of a chapter and real milestone in their history by asking a selection of key artists to remix tracks from their vital back catalogue. the “anniversary remix edition” features numerous heavyweight mixes ready to take on the clubs. artists such as stil vor talent mainstay kellerkind, dan caster and the german tech house tital nico pusch rub shoulders with the legendary and influential plastic city house artist terry lee brown jr, uk disco crew clandestino and underground hero vakula from dekmantel to make this an essential remix album with real depth and variety. the limited edition double 12” is supported by telekom electronic beats.

2018 repress >>> delsins considered re-issue and re-release arm follows up on eps from claro intelecto and son.sine with a trip back to an early uk techno heyday. the man behind the two tracks getting attention is in sync aka lee purkis, generally regarded as someone who played a key role in the development of house and techno in england not just because of his dj sets - purkis would travel to the us to buy records no one else had - but so too for his productions

magnetik north is live drum electronics. drum performances are fed through processors, samplers and sequencers to produce layers of rhythmic patterns that interact with each other. other instruments are melted into different textures so that only the harmonic content remains. this is a new project from ian tregoning, engineer and producer for artists as diverse as yello and fela kuti. now working with jaki liebezeit, the legendary drummer from can, to add his endless evolving rhythms. jaki s in a world of his own as he balances technical brilliance with subtle restraint. recording started in the summer 2006 in an old jazz studio in the south of ko&#776,,,,ln. jaki arrived with a minimal drum kit including customised cymbals, a snare and a huge gretsch floor-tom from the can days. all of jaki s performances are complete takes with no drop-ins, loops or edits. the backing tracks for evolver were recorded without using key changes. each song features one key which is held continuously while other instruments and effects are blended with the key. drums (also tuned to the same key) were added last which is another unusual technique. as jaki says they re often overlooked as tuned instruments in their own right . the finished results are a minimal blend of industrial and classical. like listening to a raga in an earthquake.

repress alert! matlock s finest rhythm plate resurface brandishing a new label in pressed for time, and what better way to inaugurate it than revisiting one of their key tracks. released back in 2002 on the mantis label run by atjazz, lean part 2 was a wonderfully sleazy slab of deepness notable for the lascivious vocal hook that hung slinkily over the production throughout. it still sounds superb some 13 years on and is backed with an unreleased version that was done in the same period, along with deliciously freaky new leaner mix from the pair.

this is music that comes from playing records. dj fiskars have done it for 15 years, subconsciously gathering an assortment of ideas, vibes and moments on the job. it’s only now as he’s starting his career as a recording artist those ideas start to materialize in an accessible form on wax. it’s fair to suggest that the record has a day side and a night side. “filippa” is a somewhat balearic piece: on the shelf it lands somewhere between your omar s records and a mario kart disc. on the flip, “key largo’s” mellow yet banging house grooves drop especially well at the after hours party. the release also marks the dawn of fiskars’ new vinyl-first imprint leave the man in peace with his kit – be on the lookout for more releases in 2018.

reaching its 15th release, amphia sees the return of cezar lazar’s double ep, intuitively called “archetypes”. known for his innovative approach both behind the decks and productions, cezar’s creative alter-ego enacts a variable puzzle with hard-edged sonic pieces laid out over five tracks, each with their own distinct acoustic palette. side a holds “equtime”. this side-long track envelops a stripped-down melody with perforated rhythmical pads, fleshed out with disconnected threads of vocals. side b is dedicated entirely to “badgervox”. displaying a weighty bass section alongside the shuffled percussion work, its intricate melody is integrated smoothly creating a unique soundscape. “thicken court” holds the first half of side c. sharp in its composition, it holds an assorted percussion ensemble and a collection of fizzy waveforms. they complement a thunder-like bass protagonist that holds the center stage. we continue with “boe dark”, where textures and sharp tones grow in layers upon layers creating tension. the apex is reached when modular timbres are hindered by sparse piano patterns, completing this electro-acoustic scenery. on the flipside, “wedmar” holds the key to our puzzle with its accurate four-to-the-floor feat. with a series of programmed overlapping organ vibes, the sound feels both piercing and intense, creating a sort of sensory impairment. “archetypes” displays cezar lazar s gentle subtleties and fluency in different dialects of idm.
(text by: bianca iulia)

nice price deal !!! another bomb on uncage! this ep is heavily influenced by that berlin techno modular sound, kicking off with >terraforming< and its percussive swing coupled with synthetic percussive riffs twisting in and out the mix. >monastero< is a slow builder of a track, a haunting synth line accompanies firing hi-hats. head down late-night moments are to be had with >exoplanet< with a low key acid line slicing through the background, leading us into >solar shade<. the lead track has a low-end rumbling sub, deep and powerful with an eerie vibe.

opulence founder s jonny cruz & cali lanauze are back together for the labels third release and their first joint ep since 2012. this four track ep sees the pair give us each their own personal take on the groovy, dark and trippy sound that is opulence. on the a side we see cali lanauzes come around three. simplicity is the key here, all the elements combining beautifully for a deadly hypnotic and trippy head nodder. visionquests head boss ryan crosson steps in on remix duties delivering two killer versions of the original. the first being the galactic mix (vinyl only) and the second his more simple step mix.

roza terenzi is the latest convert to the kalahari oyster cult, the australian producer debuts with four tracks showcasing her unique sound. influences come from far and wide, shifting between electro, house, techno and even early rave anthems. the space bleeps of -gigi- are soon interrupted by shouldering kick drums. samples stagger and stumble before key stabs cut through beats in this hazy piece of early morning elation. -mwah- maintains those euphoric moods. snapping snares slice through shimmering synthwork and soaring strings to keep the night grooving. darker tones enter with -rare high-, but these shades are soon brightened by arcing notes. acid lines squeak and squirm in this balancing act of disparate colours and chords. distant lands and exotic encounters are conjured for -soft-, perfumed percussion and meandering melodies mingle and merge for head swimming close of aromatic audio.

since his emergence in 2010, madben s melodic, detroit-inspired techno evolved, with various releases on caduceus, astropolis records, off recordings, inflyte and bedrock. nowadays, the paris-based artist remains a key figure in france s new generation of techno producers, with an upcoming debut lp on astropolis records. swinging from atmospheric sounds to techno, madben produces an alchemy of rave anthems, hardware material and groovy, emotional music. with support from france s favourite laurent garnier, manu le malin and rebekah warrior, fréquence(s) unveils his skillfull, mature universe.

scalameriya returns to perc trax after the success of 2016’s kepslok. since then he has continued to break new ground both as a solo artist and via his ongoing collaboration with italian producer vsk, playing across europe and releasing on a number of key labels whilst growing his own genesa imprint. now for his first release of 2018 he takes a giant leap forward both musically and technically with the three track statement of intent that is his hellzone megapunk ep. each track demonstrates new techniques and approaches not heard in his music before, from the 4/4 versus broken beat cage fight of the title track to crucible s rolling polyrhythms and the otherworldly processed vocals of the closing track. as the first perc trax release of the year this ep sets out everything the label seeks to achieve, a combination of sonic innovation that manages to keep attention fully focussed on the dance floor at all times.

a glorious live disco workout harking back to the spirit of new yorks heyday when love and inclusivity ruled the dancefloor. featuring additional remix by rahaan. you need this in your life! you know that feeling when you hear a killer melody and it just sticks in your head and makes you wanna dance? call it disco, call it what you want, this song is packed with soul, emotion and a righteous hook, boasting a stunning vocal performance from us singer angela gooden and comes armed with heavy percussion, funky bass, and some serious rhodes. as part of a three track vinyl package on madrid label lovemonk, new york/madrid dj, producer and vinyl vendor oli stewart, better known as casbah 73, goes back-to-boogie-basics on the lead track, along with a b side re-fix by chicago s don of the disco edit, dj rahaan, and a full-on percussion jam instrumental cut. love saves the day is a joyous tribute to open-minded and inclusive clubs past and present with a sly nod to the seminal new york institutions like the loft and the paradise garage. but this record isn t some banal exercise in faithful reproduction, rather a exhuberant slice of soul-disco that reignites the spirit of these underground nightclubs, lofts and warehouses. casbah 73 has handpicked key musicians from around the globe and threaded all these together for a smack-you-on-the-lips belter, reverberating with positivity love really is the message. rahaan s on-the-spot offer to remix love saves the day came about after a chance meeting with casbah 73 in madrid. a couple of days were spent checking out records and drinking wine oli is one of europe s leading disco, soul and jazz vinyl dealers when he played rahaan an early demo. the rest, as they say, is history

torino label we play the music we love has already made a strong start with some immersive turns by trevor deep jr and rills, and now they provide a platform for italian duo luminer. -indaco- is a charged up dub techno excursion with crisp percussion to propel the classic chord shimmer that course through the centre of the track. -canadian- takes a deeper direction with a crafty tapestry of synth flares and a more understated rhythm section. hiver s reconstruction of -indaco- opts for a crooked electro foundation, nimble acid line and a shapeless swell of pad tones as the key ingredients, and then icelandic techno champ thor whips up a sharp-strutting dub techno variation of -canadian- that sits comfortably with the luminer tracks.

framework recordings continues to establish itself as a key new label, with a fourth great ep, this time with swiss artist o’hana delivering the beats.
this house music lover - real name adrien o’hana - hails from lausanne in switzerland and is a well-established dj in his home country playing regularly at clubs like folklor next to djs such as san proper. he’s also released on grand cru paris and has an accessible, heartfelt house sound perfectly exemplified here.
he opens his account here with the lovely ‘i tried’, a tieless bit of classically informed house music. it has rolling kicks and choppy percussion all run through with warm, streaming chords and a joyful feeling. ‘just 4 her (vox)’ is another lovely jam, with boom bap kick clap combos, dusty hi hats and feel good pianos fleshing out the beats with real soul.
on the flip, ‘dream on’ is another mid-tempo gem with roughhewn drums laying down a heavy groove as soulful male vocal samples and big strings burst through and bring the whole thing to life. it’s house music for cosy, happy dance floors and the final track is a dub version of ‘just 4 her’ with no vocals and more emphasis on the breezy grooves and summery flutes. this is authentic house music that brims with charm.

a fully legit 2018 repress of a jazz-funk & boogie classic! nard is bernard wright s bonafide funk masterclass, boasting some truly amazing and heavily sampled cuts including - spinning (used by skee-lo on i wish ) haboglabotribin (used by snoop dogg on g s & hustlers ) as well as some heavy-duty boogie workouts like just chilling out , the master rocker and many more. a truly solid record and one that features boundless flashes of genius writing and playing from bernard and his killer outfit including luminaries such as dave grusin, marcus miller, weldon irvine, patti austin, luther vandross and many more! this one s a keeper and will have you locked in from start to finish, a total groove-fest. originally released on the mighty arista sub-label grp label in 1981 nard has it all, the beats, the wigged out oberheim solos and most importantly - the funk! remastered and repressed with the full involvement of arista / sony bmg by above board distribution for all you boogie freaks. a truly essential album!

cultures of soul records has teamedup with local boston disco queen saucy lady to put together a 12inch, released in conjunction with their tokyo nights female j-pop boogie funk compilation. this 12inch features a cover of the sublime song town, originally recorded by minako yoshida. the b-side is a cover of honey b, originally written and recorded by toshinobu kubota. both tracks are recreated and produced by saucy lady and yuki u-key kanesaka.

a newcomer on the label’s lineups, mary delivers a distinctive balancing act between bleepy ambient listening and free thinking, heart-rending, dancefloor material. river is an invitation extended to listeners to lose themselves in sound with light tones, graceful harmonics, and smart rhythms. running through idm inflexions, ambient sound baths and low-key house hypnotics, it’s music that seems to have fallen out of time. river is an invitation extended to listeners to lose themselves in sound with light tones, graceful harmonics, and smart rhythms. running through idm inflexions, ambient sound baths and low-key house hypnotics, its music that seems to have fallen out of time.

polytechnic youth enter the fray once again, continuing an already productive year (these new 45s are 4/5/6th releases in 2018 already!) with a trio of quite brilliant yet totally different 45s.
alpár aka hungarian bálint zalkai, is the co-founder of farbwechsel, the budapest based record label, and his own recordings of electronic compositions (often built upon random looping sequencers in a minimalist style) are key to the label’s release output thus far. his goal as he sees it is to “catch a random pattern, loop it and build up a piece with that randomly pulsing theme. just let to flow the voltages and sound waves and try not to disturb them or change their basic behaviours”.
the two tracks here were recorded with this approach very much in mind. the atmosphere of “mejiro” is “not unlike a bird observation. attempting to find the right spot, getting closer and closer to the bird, which almost controls you and your movements as you attempt to near it”. whereas “wakayama” is a more direct piece, and maybe the most melodic song alpár ever recorded. while “mejiro” is a woozy, cautious piece, “wakayama is like a tropical fruit or the ume, (the japanese apricot), colourful and full of flavour yet -with thanks to- the slowly humming theme in the background, an element of sourness grips you at the back of your tongue as it ends!
a beautiful pair of tracks released as a double a side 45 early march 2018. pressing of 250 numbered copies.

we welcome tim fairplay with his track key to paradox with a remix from iron blu. pressed on a one-sided, hand stamped and numbered standard weight black vinyl release. accompanied by a printed info sheet insert.

it is undeniable that bjarki and his bbbbbb imprint are at the forefront of iceland’s dance music scene, playing a vital role in asserting the country as a hub for genre bending electronic music. although the label has proved to be a solid platform for bjarkis own experimental material, bbbbbb continues to host some of icelands best talents (notably last year’s lauded release from volruptus who followed up with another killer outing on &#1090,,&#1088,,&#1080,,&#1087,,). for bbbbbb’s 10th release bjarki continues to substantiate his a&r abilities, introducing the world to lord pusswhip. having enjoyed a meteoric rise as a key player in icelands hip-hop scene, the young producers sound has continued to evolve since befriending bjarki and the bbbbbb crew, and the hand of glory ep now sees him at arguably his most adventurous and experimental yet. murky atmospherics introduce xmas jam creep before a cacophony of percussion ups the energy, setting the tone for a dynamic release. crazy shit mane follows with its crunchy drums, scintillating synths and sultry bass until hop out the car blends hip-hop vocals with mesmerising chord sequences reminiscent of richard d.james early work. an undulating bassline then works alongside a chorus of angelic voices in ‘the hand of glory, making way for the syncopated and dreamlike shroomm0(u)rning. moving into ambient territories, green house living layers pads and samples together to generate an otherworldly aesthetic until choppa hard combines ominous drones with a steady beat to conclude the release.

on the a side bftt and lack follow on from their debut release on the fifth cong burn tape. bftt crafts a peak time sub heavy techno weapon which beautifully collapses in on itself before its final ascent. lack layers polyrhthmic splashes of shackleton-esque percussion over dubbed out bass growls. flip it over and you ve got chekov following up his ace debut on shanti celeste s peach discs with electro 808 patterns and swells of low end weight. howes lowers the tempo with a low key bubbler that further explores the textures laid out on cong burn s first 12inch.

we got to know dan only, an exciting emerging artist from the toronto underground, when he collaborated with jesse futerman on our recent deep love 2017? compilation. his debut record, released on adam marshalls new kanada imprint, introduced his deep instinct for electronic music and unique, boundless approach to deep house. an avid collector of old school gear you can hear the analogue warmth throughout this intricately detailed yet heavy hitting four-tracker. its clear opens. a solid house jam, its thumping drums and resonating melodies follow a steady bass groove ready to heat up the dance floor. be major…believe leads in more gently before warbling key lines and synth details layer over gritty percussion pushing the mood closer and closer to bursting. this one conjures images of summer nights and distant coast lines. on the b, simmering vocals and tropical rhythms dance amongst straight forward house energies on dont you understand. rich with subtleties, its somehow smooth while seriously impactful. finally we have truffles. a very modern twist on disco vs house its an original italo infused gem with an edit feel, that maintains the vibe of an 80s era hedonistic night throughout. perfect as a peak time mood elevator or blissful, hands-in-the-air closing record. were convinced dan onlys future is bright and are overwhelmed by the quality and musicality of this, his first solo ep on dirt crew recordings.

the human connection is the key to personal and career success. 3kz is the perfect example of how two great minds can connect and relate to the world with sounds that have no description. the beauty of it comes once you put down the needle and immerse yourself to listen deeply to the brilliant music that this project represents.

sonic groove records presents the advent of a new strain of contemporary techno for 2018 and advancing electronic music culture further into the future with this release. this is a document of the convergence and alliance of two distinct artistic visions, that of veteran and pioneer thomas p heckmann under his drax moniker and current dedicated activist blush response. the results of this cutting edge collaboration are pure dance floor revelations of the infectious and mind expanding kind. four cryptic transmissions initiating a sequence of combined sonic dna output. this is an interpretation of techno rooted in radical experimentation and upgraded to the next level with compelling innovation. side a initiates the drama with mysterious analog machine signals of both purist and experimental dark techno that are composed of elements crafted at the molecular level. side b continues with intensity delivering more of the combined audio expression of the artists. the intense coded communication weaves through in waves of perfectly balanced synthesis that is reinforced with heavy percussion and complex intertwined and engaging rhythms. a new key to other dimensions in sound. essential

having carved out a reputation for some of the finest cosmic house productions on labels like omena, dirt crew and quintessentials, the lithuanian based producer delivers three new cuts on this release, which comes ably backed by a remix from italian producer fabrizio mammarella. on the title track, alex pletnev (ponty mython), goes for breezy synths and wandering melodies over a chugging mechanical beat and an fm style bassline, whilst fabrizio mammarella (bear funk/les disques de la mort) toughens things up slightly on his remix, plunging into a darker sound aesthetic for a great reinterpretation of the original. on “time spiral” an unhurried groove is laced with layer upon layer of meditative synths and percussive rolls for a fat dose of eighties soundtrack vibes, whilst ep closer, “appreciate it while it s not too late”, settles down to a head-nodding pace with funky bass and key melodies and live drum samples for a real earworm of a track.

dj-kicks start 2018 in fine style with another vital entry into their long running series. the latest comes from swiss dj and producer deetron, and features an exclusive solo track as well as exclusive collaborations with steve spacek, jinadu and jamie lidell. as one of the other most famous musical exports from his swiss homeland, he has pretty much done it all from fabric and balance mix cds to running his own label, from essential albums like twisted and music over matter on music man records to club focussed 12”s on will saul’s aus music and french label circus company. after 20 years in the game, he is still in demand at key clubs around the world, and is sufficiently respected as to be able to call on big names like seth troxler, cooly g and ben westbeech for collaborations.

four tracks of ny-flavoured boogie and house goodness - quality is the key word from copenhagen based music for dreams and here is another home run. willie graff splits his year between dj residencies in new york and ibiza. in this new outing with studio partner darren eboli, the influence is, as the title suggests, clearly ny-based. over only four tracks, the pair manage to craft a stunningly comprehensive exploration of the essential elements of dance music. opening track -love flight- staggers into a lush string-driven groove that recalls the glory of metro area meets wally badarou vibes. minimal yet playful, it lounges somewhere in the depths of the house tradition, calling on familiar sounds while throwing in odd details along the way (harmonicas?). it takes both skill, devotion and a sense of humor to pull this track off, making for a strong opening. -moon tan- lingers on a metallic hook that drags you into a plethora of percussion followed by a rubbery soft baseline. dubby key work would suggest this was a new wave band jamming at compass point, while the icy chill of the xylophone transports you into 80s italo territory. -second sun- pulls out the bag of boogie tricks, relying on a firm but humble baseline and smattering drum machine claps. nile rodgers-style guitar licks guide us onwards into a well-orchestrated jam that builds up and breaks down with perfect timing while dreamy chords reach for the sky. -first light- keeps the groove tight while dipping over towards more balearic temperatures. steeped in a watery atmosphere and gentle organic percussion, it focuses in on a trance-inducing arpeggio that lulls you in to the swaying badarou-style synth swirls that intercept it.

born in poland and now operating out of the ever-effervescent london, the adoptive city where she’s learnt the ropes of music production and djing, anii – real name ania iwinska – has lived many lives in one. yet if one thing’s remained a constant over the years, no matter the harshness of the obstacles life threw at her, it’s indeed a deep and inextinguishable love for music, be it behind the mixing desk at wired studios or in her own shoreditch workroom, the key place where she’s kept honing her skills with unfazed diligence, up to the point of making it her actual second home. a&#324,,,,,,,,ii lands her debut transmission on kompakt and surely not the last. named after the polish word for ‘roots’, ‘korzenie’ finds ania threading her way in between subtle deep-house and techno folds, delving into the essential strength of her past and present to carve out an hypnotic maelstrom of traditional polish music strings, tribal percussions and elegiac melodies. coupling eerie ostinatos with stealthy bass moves, it’s an ode to the magnitude of memory and power of resilience that reels out, blurring the line between late night club environment and further spacious, moony soundscapes.

two of dance musics hottest producers coalesce on the latest hot creations release. frank storm and matteo spedicati bring us gimme tha honey, a throbbing three-track ep that gifts us with a rework from robsoul label boss phil weeks. frank storm reveals -this is our first collaboration which was born a year ago in our studio in barcelona. we share the same passion for our own definition of the ghetto sound, blending fresh and techy vibes.” with this inspiration they weave an almost menacing vocal into the pulsating bassline of lead track gimme tha honey. the phil weeks remix brings a slither of light with a shower of synths and warm, bubbling bass. the ep closes with the long wait shaking the record into heavier terrain, as the industrial keys are underpinned by a flurry of tough drums. frank storm has been a key player on the white isle having played at some of the island’s biggest clubs, space, sankey’s, pacha, ministry of sound and zoo project, as well holding down a residency at the night unusual suspects. matteo spedicati began releasing music in 2006 and has received support from ricardo villalobos and richie hawtin. since then he’s gone on to work with such high profile names as joseph capriati and mendo, as well as releasing records on an abundance of top labels.

for our second ep, we are shifting from manila, philippines, to our other home city, bangkok, the thai kingdom’s capital. hailing from here is dott, one of three founders of more rice, a truly home grown bangkok electronic producer, dj and the talent behind mah noi ep. dott already has a number of releases under his belt and is now a regular on the asian circuit, playing gigs around the region. at 26 years old this is quite impres- sive and we are very proud to be releasing his first pressed record under more rice.
mah noi ep embodies dott’s sound, which is deep, driven and moody, whilst keeping an organic twist throughout and clearly inspired by his home country, the key to setting the release apart and making it tasty for more rice. the careful and precise placement of vintage thai samples gives it that extra flavour and mystery that can engulf the listeners and dancers, whilst the remix by eric volta truly transports you to another dimension.