fragrant harbour has invited general ludd s richard mcmaster (golden teacher) and tom marshallsay (dam mantle) to end the year long hiatus since the last fghb release. the first track what brings dark, african rhythms alongside meticulously structured techno elements, coming together to create an intense and maddening energy. later last night continues forward with interspersed percussion layered on top of inventive sub-frequencies bringing a constant pulse to the track. the fastest track of the record, making strange ends with more madness a hollow mid-low range drives unrelenting throughout, visited unexpectedly by frenzied percussive highs.

the first compilation in a series that explores the sound and vision of the label...

this record low print?????? mega obscure disco label europe. nice digger rare disco style recommended from land of finnitus, edit norway king oslo (europe) and moscow troublemaker with polonia obscure hombre. mad high end orchestra sounds!

harmonies is the new long player from underground super-producer lord echo. the new album solidifies his already distinctive mutations of reggae and rock steady with disco, african soul, techno and spiritual jazz. in other words, the lord has returned from the wilderness with a bounty for his followers. eat of the bread of life and enjoy access to his crazy world of sound.

legendary detroit dj, producer and godfather of * beatdown* delano smith has been in the mix for over 30 years, his skills are untestable, his sets are all classics, and he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon! this ep from 2005 on chicago s still music packs a punch - low down, deep, rolling techno-house hybrids that tick all the boxes! still sounding fresh today. including a stellar dub mix and jimpster reimagining all 3 cuts will find their way into your record bag no problem! essential repress action!

strangelove recordings makes its bold arrival with its inaugural release from the well-seasoned beatmaker worthy, with the aptly titled a little weird ep . a little weird stretches across the a-side with its bouncy drum and sub figure, spread thick over a searing lead line, percussive bleeps and worthy s all-yearning vocals that crescendo with a playful momentum. on the flip, bang baby keeps up the pressure with its warm and weighty bassline and fractured drum programming calling once more for worthy s vocal tones, bouncing atop the bumping rhythm track that stylistically treads the line between house, bass and tech. having of recent re-established his own anabatic records, toured relentlessly and released on labels such as exploited, insomniac and defected, worthy s much anticipated debut with us sets the standard high for what is to come, whilst wholly encapsulating the label s experimental sound dj support: danny howard, gorgon city, eton messy, amin edge, jakwob, illyus & barrientos, dateless, charlie tee, coco cole, linier, gotsome, kideko, low steppa, monki, mike wooler, oliver heldens, dismantle, 6ftshort, ciszak, ardalan, walker & royce, friend within + more!

rekids introduces a new vinyl only series titled rekids special projects. a more techno orientated division of the label that will feature appearances from the likes of john hester, markus suckut, and dj deep amongst others. first up is ohio-based producer fbk, real name kevin m. kennedy, who has a career spanning three decades and after a seminal release on frictional recordings back in the 90 s recent releases have seen him appear on labels such as marcel dettmann records, barba records and diametric. intricate drums and jagged synths initiate you are not fixed whilst a looped sample recurs throughout the mix. ‘dynamonium’ then enters deeper territories as echoing stabs join a low slung meandering groove before set it free ups the energy with rumbling kicks, distorted vocal murmurs and tantalizing melodies. the final escape then closes the release with a syncopated drum arrangement, mesmerising chords and ethereal atmospherics

pale blue is the new alias for mike simonetti, one of nycs most infamous underground producers, paired with the vocals of elizabeth wight. the duos seductive double sided ep comes home / have you walked through this night is remixed by breakthrough spanish producer pional on man power’s me me me label. have you passed through is raw and daring, its female vocal reminiscent of innovative early electro, this is a intoxicating late night anthem of leftfield electronica. its lyrics are taken from the film the thin red line, a movie about mans destruction of nature, his world and himself. come home is equally alluring with a dreamier narrative, and pionals remix is stripped back and effortless. for these two songs, the inspiration is coming out of the darkness that is inside all of us. it sounds heavy and overbearing, but dance music is the ideal music for escape. it fits perfectly into the pale blue agenda. this music was made for a small, dark crowded dance floors, with low ceilings and high hopes. humanity is bombarded with suffering and pain at every turn its almost like we thrive on it. but we deserve better. these two songs represent part of that struggle- moving towards the light. take your frustrations out on the dance floor. throw it all away for the night. the b-side is about coming out of darkness, coming home. finding euphoria in love and security in one another. feeling lost in the best way. pale blue

tokyo s tresvibes soundsystem (satoshi otsuki, dj pi-ge, kikiorix) releases 3rd release from their vis rev set label. this time they feature noha who previous released from low to high, nabuco and second step records. noha shows his versatile talent in 3 tracks.

incredible repress of rick wilhites 2004 ep on chicagos still music imprint. pure detroit beatdown house music, featuring some stellar remix and production work from the legendary delano smith too! city bar reopen live dancing is the opening track, a down-low, funk drenched late night mover that s full of soul with killer vocals from the amazingly monikered billy beemer aka bill beaver. this one s a cult track, underground house music for dancers! 2 mixes of magic water also appear on this essential 12inch, a collabo between rick and delano which is all that needs to be said really! as you can imagine this one is deep a subdued groove that slowly blooms and unfolds until you re totally locked in and it s too late! all in all, a timely reissue of a mid 2000s classic 12inch overflowing with rick wilhites unique style and flow, one of detroit’s most unsung heroes.

the only time you wear a tuxedo is when its time to party. so says legendary west coast player snoop dogg on the opening track of tuxedo ii. the blessing of the doggfather is of special importance to mayer hawthorne and jake one, whose second album as a duo finds them at the forefront of a new wave of gangster boogie one that owes as much to g-funk as p-funk. this is the territory of pre- and post-hydraulic low riders: a mélange of cali boom-bap, analog synth bass and elegant disco that resonates truth and authenticity in an era where so many are faking the funk

brian abelson aka see other is one of the brightest talents in this field to emerge from new york in some time. he’s been honing and refining his style of brooding, purring, oscillating house rollers for some time. the final brew is humble mixture of low-slung smallville-esque house warmth, fred p level deepness and playful, tinkering wooden melodies that recall some of the finest work from the drumpoet community collective.
across this debut ep is a masterful grasp of the deep house template, with an array of hook-based elements that turn respectable raw bangers into transcendental experiences both at home and in the dance.
waitin is the modern classic, fallin is the party hammer, pushin is the soul & the feeling & the vibe, peter’s lament is the loving tender cuddle in a west coast hammock, change is the moody, sleep-deprived closer.

we are pleased to welcome for leftback s 12th release a split ep from newcomer to the label cntrl and regular matt star. with a steady string of releases for the last 3 years predominately on the low slung pleasure zone label. cntrl provides 2 stripped back bass heavy tracks that fit perfectly with the (b) side from matt star providing a more abstract dub infused take on minimal techno. vinyl only

bondage-music head honchos pornbugs prep the labels next release for early april comprising three original tracks and a remix from mihai popoviciu. since 2006, german duo pornbugs have been pushing their minimal yet ambitious dance floor orientated house music through clubs across the globe, with their label bondage-music acting as a catalyst for forward thinking music. bondage-music also works as an outlet for other talented producers including romania’s mihai popoviciu and inmotion music signee markus homm to further develop their sound. fresh from a string of early 2017 digital releases from frink and sous sol, april sees bondage-music’s first vinyl offering of the year, kick started with the subtle and melodic cut “when you are gone“, which takes a deep groove and laces it with a plethora of soft synths and atmospherics. mihai popoviciu then reworks “when you are gone“ into a different entity, rewiring a headier groove into the track with raw-defined hats, building further tension with tight synth stabs and ethereal pads. vinyl only track “innocent“ then takes tribal tinged percussion to new depths, fuelling it with booming kicks and flourishing chords, further intensified by swirling vocals. a pure dub aesthetic then shines through “maritza“, as saturated drums and a rumbling low end provide the skeleton for swelling synths to meander alongside spiritual vocals, closing out the package.

touching down for the inaugural release on the newly formed label, north of 7 sounds, is the mighty rumbleton - a true heavyweight with over 2 decades immersed in sound system culture, running the stand firm hi-fi label and releasing music on scientific wax, rupture ldn, outsider, and samurai music to name but a few. a true master of his sound, we are extremely proud to have rumbleton set the bar for future north of 7 excursions. “a new day” takes you on a journey filled with haunting pads, razor-sharp drum kit clashes, and infinite amounts of low-end. bottomless swathes of atmospherics respire in and out of the mix, culminating in a breathtaking breakdown - crafted with utmost devotion to the godfather of soul himself. a truly honourable homage to jungle’s roots in sample culture and breakbeat science. “conscience” on the flipside is weightiness refracted in minimalism. rumbleton fully submerges your mental space in a cavernous, dubwise fog, while militant, scorched-earth drums power the tune forward. a warm, subterranean bassline churns endlessly beneath, all the elements occasionally exhaling and collapsing under their own weight, only to regenerate once again…

love notes (from brooklyn) serves up another winner, this time with the sonic stylings of the illustious (and also brooklyn based) octo octa, whose not unimpressive discography already includes releases on such heavyweight labels such as running back, argot, and deepblak. from the opening, echoed chords and unique percussive qualities of eyes low, through the spaced out funk of touch formation, to the early morning vibes of i feel, this ep delivers on all levels. this is the 9th release on this fine american imprint and they show no signs of slowing down their sonic agenda.

awake is a soundtrack for roaming around vast city landscapes between late night and early morning. a lone wolf observes the scenery and watches over people, their heads low, on the path home to sleep. inspired by 1980s movies, drone and video game soundtracks, rob orme aka submerse returns with an update to his signature sound.

180 gramm vinyl (vinyl only).
the connection machine are jeroen brandjes and natasja hagemeier.
after releases on carl craig’s planet e, down low music, u-trax or tabernacle
the first re-issue of tracks from 1993 and 1995.
timeless music.
mastercut by dubplates and mastering.

iuly.b returns to visionquest this march with the surreal experience ep accompanied by a remix from bass cultures djulz. romanias iuly.b is rapidly becoming a household name in the realms of stripped-back, immersive house music of late, a regular feature on hectors vatos locos imprint and at the labels events, as well as releasing material on bouq, claque musique and of course visionquest where he returns to here following his observatory ep in november of 2016. this time round iuly.b launches the surreal experience with a murky, dub-tinged composition entitled sci fry, laid out over eight minutes with snaking synth whirrs, sweeping dub echoes and tumbling sub bass tones before bass culture head-honcho djulz reworks the original into a more robust, groove-drive interpretation via swinging rhythms, stuttering sample chops and a thunderous low end drive. moonberry opens the flip side on a more reduced tip with bumpy organic percussion, rounded sub swells and an amalgamation of sonar blip melodies to create a dynamic and hypnotic workout, time traveller then closes the release via expansive atmospherics, subtly evolving acidic synth licks and loose shuffling drums

folamour is a new name in the roots for bloom family but by all accounts he fits right in. the opening track nights over you rocks an original and an edit from the label boss himself jamie trench. it focuses on emotive chords, mesmerising key lines and as always on rfb a great groove and low end. the vocal sample cuts the break and takes the limelight of the track. the a2 last morning screams sunshine again focussing on a strong vocal sample -when the morning comes- which you cant help but picture sunsets to. folamour s last offering is $0$ which reminds us of the likes of 90s disco cut samples with great strings and keys throughout. a strong offering from a new head on the rfb scene.

cuplet makes a stomping return with its second release, set to become quintessential for the revived techno sound, leaving andrei ciubucs imagination running wild on this 2-tracker. both record sides, overwhelming in the low frequencies area, are painting a dark industrial canvas for andreis devilish signature groove, syncopated for strei2 yet harmonized within the bassline for cel putin.
smoky techno, cuplet style, coming soon on a dancefloor near you!

in this day and age vinyl releases are getting rare in drum & bass but still we at demand cherish them. requisites our brand new 6 part 33 rpm series is an ode to the vinyl culture. every release symbolizes one particular requisite that you’d evidently need to rock the so called black gold. here served by, what else could it be, a butler we start of with the headphones...
musically that includes the ever magnificent phil tangent who contributes misgivings, a roller that effortlessly switches from euphoria to dark tones. the legend big bud in collaboration with austria’s finest roygreen, protone & dual on gospodi. a smooth liquid outing that we just fell in love. the ever surprising eastcolors with naked skin that brings in low slung tempo with the vocal wonder tiiu and last but not least demand’s own nurtured talent phase who rounds of the first part with abundance. as the name suggests it is absolutely rich in form of vibes!
the statement that is pressed on the vinyl label couldn’t be more clear... listen to it and we’re sure you’ll fall in love.

the next cosmos release comes from salomon dunkan, a mysterious and unknown producer who serves up two tantalising tracks... . android (adamantium mix) is a slow and percolating house track with a rugged acid line and sharp percussive knives cutting up the rubbery kick drums below. swirling pads add a cosmic atmosphere and there whole hits slowly but surely builds to a raging and intense peak of bristling hits and gurgling synths. it s controlled chaos and then tacchi a spillo treads a more direct path. again the high hats are bright and sharp, the mood is very sci-fi and the bass lines rumbled down low. like a deep space odyssey this one travels far and wide and grows ever more physical and jacking as it goes on.

the ichinen project was born from the strong music connection between roberto bosco and kiny - both producer, performers and founders of last drop records imprint - and from the need to share their personal music concept. finally, this year they returns on their label with the first official track under new ichinen monicker. the title-track, a morning without glory, is indeed a unique melting pot of the different music approaches and visions. the track is determination at its purest form: a relentless 4/4 beat impulse, constantly striving and spaced out by industrial and metallic sounds that convey its deep and atmospheric imaginary. truly abstract and experimental techno that goes beyond its ordinary stylistic logics. on the b-side one may find a morning without glory reviseted at this time in two evocative interpretation by the most renowed artist in the nowadays techno scene. the first one is by dasha rush with a summer light remix, with a more serene and organic version of the original track. the last one is by etapp kyle who prefers to highlights low frequencies

walter jones has been composing music since 1977 and released his first record in 2003. he has released on various labels such as dfa, westbound, supersoul, cisco/stevier, hakt, permanent vacation, under the shade. with -instant gratification,- his second outing on whiskey pickle, the louisiana based producer offers four, cosmically tinged dance tracks that sparkle effortless class and unique flair. presented for the label s sophomore vinyl release, we are treated with bouncy, house-bumpers (-razzmatazz- and -the grinder-), low tempo chuggers (-harmonic urgency-) and even ambient works (-making love-).

this is the fourth ep the paris legends dan ghenacia and chris carrier have made together over the last year, and it’s just as fresh as their previous efforts with plenty of bounce, depth and funk. first up on the a-side is ‘the blue grass’, a deeply sensual cut with a potent low end. therein lies the groove, which is utterly captivating – made to get you writhing with glee, this one is aimed straight at the hips. alongside that sleazy bassline we have jazzy notes, swinging percussion and otherworldly bleeps and chirps. all of which makes it a great intro to this sterling ep. on the flip side, we have ‘blue stick’, another ridiculously groovy riddim with warped voices floating above a set of crispy beats and a raw undercurrent of emotion. minimal in composition, and the effect is deadly. lastly, to close out the three-tracker, it’s ‘kind of blues’ (can you spot the theme here?!). when it starts off, this one is a stomper with a moody expression. the beats are hefty, the bass morose and the analogue effects strangely cosmic. more twisted vocals are filtered in the background, giving this one its weird hook. the vocal reveals itself in the breakdown midway through before the track bounds on to its finale. dan ghenacia and chris carrier deliver three firebombs, perfect dance floor material with tight grooves and killer production. would you expect anything less?! go get em…

lady blacktronika : she needs no introduction to the usual skylax heads, after last year’s killer ‘it’s a blacktronika world’ ep, the queen of beatdown returns to the skylax fold with a packed eleven track lp for us. it has got her signature slo-mo grooves, as well as a couple of housier cuts on the back-end of the record. naturally, a lot of these tracks are perfect for the club on their own, whether it’s an early set or a late one, but the lp really stands up on a full run through for home listening too. on the topside of the record, there’s the chugging vibe of “who doctor”, with its whirling synth and sizzling hats perfect for that low light, early mood. then you have the likes of “how i miss my x”, and titular track “a lonely space program”, that both raise the tempo into housier territory. all bases covered, really. this record is a slice of beatdown history, one you’d be a fool to sleep on!

!! 2017 repress !! dodgy white label number 1 from your favourite grumpy old shit sticks is a couple of low rent, don’t do much ass shakers from the vaults.
give me the was made in 2007 & let’s dj’s get on with what they love doing ….. mixing the hell out repetitive records.
our man though may, or may not, be heavily sliced out of something else & rearranged into dancer paradise from the shards left over.

this record definitely takes a bit more of a layered approach - natan h offers us yet another unique, immersive, and charismatic release for acid camp records. acid camp records is rolling through again, this time with an artist known for his atmospheric and cosmic-oriented tracks, natan h. conveying inspiration for this record, just a little nod to extrasensory experiences and perception, is undoubtedly fitting for acrs second release. the opening track, atmosphere, breaks away from 4/4 timing with o-kilter drums that traverse into a heavier beat, pushing the track forward just to bring it right back at the end. followed up with a remix from techno serialist, conforce. through his use of a low pass filter, polyrhythms, and fervor conforce delivers a track nothing short of the prototype for driving techno. remote view pt. i turns out an ambient break and taking the listener to a space of the ethereal and planetary. the ep closes with remote view pt. ii, which incorperates layers of hi-hats, delayed strings, and synths that alternate throughout the arrangement in syncopation.

written & produced by roboknob. mixed by stefan goldmann. mastered by rashad becker. info: weve said it before: technos vanguard can be found in the east right now. sofias quirky techno underground is densifying. evolving around the diviat slon parties (residents: stefak & stefan goldmann), the beton nights, the indoors offspins of artmospheric festival and unannounced appearances of kink under his cyrillic guise, raw and rave-infused techno is increasingly defining the citys sound of the small hours. roboknob are part of this movement, and this is their debut ep. a live hardware duo, yasen and stanislav drop rugged, noisy machine jams around the bulgarian capital and have been regulars at artmospheric. the ep’s tracks have been distilled from their live repertoire and mixed by stefan goldmann into sharply defined form with added bite.dexydi is greek for acid - the corrosive liquid, not the music. accordingly, its heavy-handed single-note bass attack will cut through anything.spellbind is more bouncy with frantic upward movements, distorted percussive fallout and a seasick bass foundation. liulka handles two layers of time rubbing off of each other: quirky and pushing high in the sky, against the bass drum mechanics down low. a suitable acoustic symbol for sofias state of techno.

after leibniz focused on distorted grime and jungle influenced techno on his last records, he is now diving into deeper fields with his first ep for hundert. over the time leibniz has obsessively collected youtube videos that serve him as an audio sample library. be it a review of a lawnmower or people singing to their pets, every track features bits and pieces of sound taken from these videos. by editing and cutting the original material the sounds get implemented into a new musical context.pushing digital algorithms of music software to its limits and over the edge.house and references to contemporary hip hop beats form the skeleton for four hazy out-of-the-ordinary cuts.

the second ep of collision is the work of combined forces from niereich and hackler & kuch. expect very low banging basslines and groovy tops. solid tracks for winter club nights.

rekids return with an ethereal release from burgeoning producer patrick conway featuring hessle audio’s pangaea on remix duties. -records inspired by transcendental mediation, uk rave, sheffield bleep/warp records, carl craig circa early 90 s, silent servant, shabba ranks and joss sticks smoking out the studio…- – patrick conway syncopated percussion introduces ‘sandy lane’ whilst ebbing pads and metallic nuances add to an overall shadowy aesthetic. ‘orbit’ then sees intricate breaks, ghostly synths and murky melodies join piercing vocal cries before pangaea delivers a cacophonous remix combining crunchy drums with effervescent notes and a throbbing low-end.

limited repress! a low-light funk excursion into deep territories and house-influenced dancefloor rollers. roustam is back on all inn s main label with his incredibly charismatic three tracker ep — the shape of deep to come. the moscow-born and now berlin-based dj and producer comes back with his second shot after a successful release on nilla and a proper mission statement for his original sound. summertime madness.

dubfire and miss kittin have scored another big hit in the form of their second collaboration ride, the follow-up to the much-loved anthem exit. now, many destroyed dancefloors later and they’re unleashing a big pack of remixes to sit alongside their two original versions. solomun may best known for big melodies and hooks, but his remix boldly displays his affinity for heads down techno. a beast of a track, it centers around ticking percussion and pulsating synth delays with a throbbing low end. minimal in approach, maximal in aesthetic, it’s a no-nonsense groove. matthew dear dons his audion guise to remind us how instrumental he was in formulating that oddball techno sound a decade ago, making good use of the vocals in the heady breakdowns and matching them with unsettlingly wavering synth sirens and an almost tribal bass stomp. it’s full of atmospheric touches and pulls off a big room feel without resorting to cliches. depeche mode, erasure and yazoo legend vince clarke is a personal hero of dubfire’s, making his appearance on this package all the more of a special, rare treat. his chunky house groove is decked out with rolling congas, electro arpeggios and a yearning, bluesy guitar lick. french star djedjotronic has himself remixed depeche mode, and his version rounds off the package with throbbing low end, harrowing synths, techy percussion and brooding reese bass swells. with four very different mixes to choose from, this is an immense package that is set to cause havoc on dancefloors worldwide for some time to come.

the next 12 inch from departures records comes from croatian producer and low income squad label boss szch. after his well received releases on lll and his own imprint, he joins departures with an ep that boasts his trademark raw and distorted sound.

repress 2017 , allez! as the curtains come down on another crazy summer of love, apollonia drop their latest release courtesy of io mulen - the ukranian rude boy who appeared on the label at the beginning of the year with ‘unknown to the unknown’. he’s back with a hefty six-track package which is sure to please his fans, and win him a whole new army of supporters. we get straight to business with the first track, ‘rdm37’, one of those trusty apollonia bouncing bombs. skittish beats work off a sublime groove, while io keeps the background full of interesting sounds, boings, cheeps and all manner of whimsical effects, introducing more and more as the track progresses. by the midpoint you’re so gripped by the track that your whole body is moving uncontrollably, super glued to the rhythm. next up, it’s ‘xdt54’ coming through with a deep, persuasive bassline that jigs around in the low end luring you into its web. simple, polished percussive elements keep things moving at a pace while subtle keys and barely-there vocals add further layers to this catchy little number. the third track in on this lengthy ep is ‘mpc13’, a walk on the sensual side. vocal snippets are interspersed among sultry pads, skipping four to the floor beats and a sleazy b-line to create a delectable slice of dance floor naughtiness. this one flirts with you as it writhes around, taking you ever deeper…four tracks in we have ‘zgb41’, another alluring cut that has all the hallmarks of a deep house classic. those shimmering pads, a bassline that feels like it was born in nineties chicago, diamond-cut beats and a general feeling of what we would call ‘true house music’. there’s soul, there’s funk and there’s realness, what more can you ask for?ypt58’ keeps us locked in to that hypnotic groove with an insistent b-line holding things down - together with the infectious rhythm cultivated by the drum arrangement, it’s a killer combo. put those together with the smooth atmospherics plus synth lines staggering in and out of the background and you’ve got yourself a roller. last but definitely not least is ‘zxy22’, a wistful slice of technoid funk which has a delicate melody at its foundation. as it develops we get sucked in to layer upon layer of beauty, from the analogue low end to the electric guitar riff – each layer complementing the other and creating a symphony of sounds that acts as a perfect way to close out the ep and will no doubt end plenty of dj sets, when it’s released. so monsieur io (mulen) returns to apollonia with an instant classic, make sure you snap it up right away. magnifique!

as we roll into a brand new year bass culture keeps the pressure high with a funk-filled new three-track ep from one of germany’s finest, sebo k. the berliner has been entrenched in his city’s vibrant scene since the nineties, when he was playing breakbeat and jungle. in fact, there’s a nod towards his early days on the ‘brock wild’ ep, along with some sultry funk. head of his own label, scenario, and curator of parties under the same name, sebo k has also produced music for a long list of some of the world’s most influential underground labels and now he steps up to bass culture with this sleek collection. the title track is a steady roller with hefty bass rumbling deep below sturdy beats. the groove is funky and low slung, swirling pads mesmerise you as soulful female vocals raise your vibration. the track is punctuated by an iconic sample of uk reggae star top cat, which was used in several early jungle tracks in the mid-nineties and now again on sebo’s killer track.flip the record over for side b, which kicks off with ‘aftershock’, another sweet groove with jazzy hues, more punchy percussion and a warm, simmering undercurrent. as the track evolves, techy notes are added to its potent mix and we get a wonderful mix of traditional sounds and more futuristic effects. last but not least is ‘foliage patterns’, a sensual cut straight out of the us school of deep house. this is one that will be spun by all the deep house masters no doubt, with all the elements you need to inject some bounce into the dance floor yet still touch its soul. as we said, sebo k is one of germany’s finest, a versatile producer and dj who demonstrates exactly why he remains one of the nation’s most consistent and respected artists. make sure you add the ‘brock wild’ ep to your collection, it’s a must!

uk deep house legend nail returns to monologues records for a full release after his sublime decisions featured on the dialogue vol. 2 various artists 12- at the end of last year. ever consistent, he delivers two deliciously deep gems. voodoo is a low-down chugger, chunky beats doing battle with disco and soul samples in hypnotic effect. on wid it also oozes soul in its vocal sample and twinkling keys, a garage tinge to its groove. g. markus steps up for the remix of voodoo , keeping things rolling and injecting a big groove of a bassline into the proceedings.

following releases on hot creations and electronique, sean branton drops the sublime ‘night mode ep’, the first release on new vinyl-only house imprint virtue records.
the title track is an exquisite slice of melodic, emotionally-charged house music: a cut that will undoubtedly work on the dancefloor while its impact will remain with you for hours afterwards. ‘flights’ similarly works on multiple levels, with the powerful low-end throb providing a hefty backbone from which intricate rhythms and melodies are let loose. wrapping up the ep is ‘lead’, in which a wandering bassline and syncopated, bubbling synths give way to shimmering pads and ethereal sighs: a truly stunning climax to an ep that fittingly sets out both label and producer stalls for what promises to be a breakthrough year ahead.

after mathematics, bio rhythm and la beauté du négatif, american artist deviere is back on parisian label unlearn. lobster theremin artist and unlearn affiliate royer is on remix duty. water drums (a1), a deep and spacey cut reminds a joey-anderson-esque imagery for a moody and introspective club experience. strong yet subtle in the low end, this one is for the big sound systems. royer’s demi-monde remix comes up as a more housy interpretation, mixing dubby inspirations with lo-fi aesthetics. reminiscent of kyle hall’s early works on moods and grooves, rising (b1) is an upfront dancefloor track suited for peak time euphoria. speak into existence (b2) is probably the most accessible track of the ep, oscillating between acid-yet-warm feelings and solemn preacher-preachin’ vibes.

timely outing from two grand masters of exploratory electronics. kassel jaeger is the moniker of french musician françois bonnet who works at the grm and has released a number of books including the highly regarded the order of sounds, a sonorous archipelago published by urbanomic in 2016. jim o rourke is known to most through his explorations of the song and shapes, the high and low, the east and south. wakes on cerulean is a joint adventure where process folds upon process and the operation of procedure remains unknown. amongst a mysterious cloud of excited high frequencies tiny whistling howls. frog leaps in technique lay out a thrilling and uplifting journey that runs from the soothing to ecstatic and back to the buoyant again. wakes on cerulean is a staggering feast of the joys found in electronic process. a malleable bubble of hovering excitement, melody and joyous refrain.

btaim resumes its line of raw techno templates with a pair of stripped-back but funked-up floor killers. promising berlin-upstart tecture draws inspiration both from his hometown as well as detroit, delivering two highly effective yet emotive club weapons. their bold basement vibe may seem grim on the surface, but they glimmer with hope underneath. it is this very interplay between murk and melancholy that embodies the record with dynamic textures and a narrative. in similar fashion trevino pairs imposing low end rumble and bright arps, reworking the title track into his own dnb-reminiscent signature style. with the addition of btaim006 to their catalogue, both artist and label have placed themselves on this year‘s watch lists for sure.

matuss returns to her absence seizure imprint february 2017 with ‘seizure no.6, comprising four original compositions from the new york based artist. since launching the absence seizure imprint in 2015 alongside producer friend abe duque, new yorks matuss has carved out an impressive back-catalogue with this new release marking its sixth and previous material garnering the attention of acts like derek plaslaiko, beaner, dj deep, twr72 and norman methner. once again julia matuss, better known as simply matuss, is at the controls to deliver four original compositions, the first of which la folie sees her deliver a haunting slice of tension building techno via throbbing bass, organic percussion hits and subtly evolving distorted rhythms. muirr follows and takes a more reserved strip back approach with swirling bass tones and sparse drums gradually building towards a frenzied fusion of psychedelic synth swells, vocal stabs and acidic hits. opening the flip side of the record is i hate valentines day, a murky five-minute number employing mind-bending low end drones, dynamic off-kilter percussion and sweeping atmospherics before acid slay closes, and as the name would suggest lays focus on tripped-out acid licks alongside chugging bass and minimalistic drums.

this is land of dance, we’ve reached the tenth release and we want to celebrate it with an album, fifteen tracks and artists divided into four vinyls (two double pack) including music by: seldom seen aka santiago salazar, jared wilson, ricardo miranda, nightjars aka analogue cops, healing force project, boston 168, drvg cvltvre, xxxv gold finger, jann, passenger and dave hargadon (slowburn) plus some new names such as: andrea vietti, seven sins and müskije lycheeni. the tracklist has been thought as a dj set that evolves from ambient to jazz to house to techno. this is land of dance!

a year after his last outing on the label, metamethod is back with a second ep for nightime drama. the man born simon haynes is a veteran of the scene who has worked under many different aliases and is now back at the techno frontline, creating the same sort of powerful grooves that made him so essential back in the 90s. ‘exoshift’ opens things up with a lurching, low sung beat that rocks back and forth as frazzled synths and rusty frequencies skate about up top. it’s body music that really makes a mark while ‘autofac’ then slips into more of a forward moving groove with prickly percussion and woodpecker hits all driving along a bleak techno landscape. last of all, ‘superlifter’ marries bulky, broken sounding drums with celestial pads that glow white amongst the murk and greyness of the rest for he track. it is atmospheric, grainy techno for serious heads only.

hot on the heels of system of survivals latest album and exclusively on vinyl comes the d-votion ep to get physical music. the influential house duo present cuts from the album, d-votion and no time to waste,d-votion is laid out first a deep and groovy dancefloor track with low end grit and a funky swing it its step. a collaboration with salvatore stallone the track is very moving and nearly impossible to resist. no time to waste plays a hypnotically rhythmic synth over a steamy stage of sweaty percussion. next we turn to the brand new vinyl-exclusive acid house number phantom power for a heavy dose of midnight action. with a very technoid feel, the acids presence suspensefully builds a tension throughout while the bassline chugs the track further. next surfbit joins to present searching for a wave, another track featured on the album. this one shines more sun with warm synths, soft vocals and gentle melodies. the collaboration ends the ep on a warm note, a special sound for a special dancefloor moment.

following the success of dam001 - no comment - dennis ayler returns to his own imprint with another ep packed full of goodness. from smokey lo-fi house to abstract atmospheres, and everything in-between, this is a release not to be missed. suitable for the club or play it low when your auntie’s home.

koett & wellbeck are back with their second release for pro-tez records. “untitled 9” is a proper skilled brilliant low-slung house composition. with remixes from anton kubikov and xdb, two veterans lay down a lush house groove that s just begging to be played on the dance floor. xdb’s version with sweetly offset dub chords takes us into a club mist of fizzing electronics for a full submerged dub house experience. it is a vinyl only, heavyweight 180 grams pressing, limited to 300 copies.