matt edwards launches stranger in the night with his first solo material since 2017. the rekids offshoot will release regular music by four artists, namely radio slave, king britt, anthony rother and fred p, who will each drop three eps over the next year. “with rekids being 100% focused on releasing music for dance floors i felt the need to create a new platform to explore a wider musical vision and invite some of my all-time electronic musical heroes to be a part of the series,” says matt edwards. both numbers near the 12-minute mark but each track portrays a different aesthetic. opening with precision drums and crystalline notes, ‘ground control’ makes a nod towards the hi-tech soul sound of detroit and drives forward using a sultry bassline, erratic chords and the occasional icy stab as an array of contrasting sounds operate in unison. on the flip, a syncopated rhythm lays the foundation for ‘last communication’ whilst a tantalising melody joins poignant synths, constructing a profound and hypnotising journey.

love makes the world go around. “two”, the second album by the soul session, is full of love. ralph kiefer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and producer from south germany embarks on a stylistically diverse journey into soul, jazz, funk and world music. being a highly respected session musician in the jazz as well as the crossover scene, kiefer made a serious impact in 2011 with “one”, the first soul session album. “one” was built on a solid backbeat of soul, hip hop and funk, while “two” now takes a step further into a spiritual and eclectic dimension. “quantraversa” featuring the voice of las vegas based neo-soul queen georgia anne muldrow is the mind- blowing opener of this album, a truly deep and intense rhythmic statement. quantraversa is a word which you will not find in any dictionary, but that is not the point, says ralph kiefer. “this album is a journey to the inner self. the recording process was like meditation. i often started with a loop, or an idea for a melody. it evolved from there and i simply let it happen. when i involved the lyricists and vocalists, my drafts sometimes took a completely different paths and ended in something unexpected and beautifully new.” the double vinyl is housed in a gatefold sleeve with download code included.

from conrad schnitzler in the 1960s to the pioneers of detroit techno in the 1980s, experimental sonic artists were often inspired by the metallic noises of industrial factories. schnitzler wanted to recreate the sounds he heard in his apprenticeship as a locksmith with musical instruments, and the sons and daughters of the midwestern automobile-industry generation programmed the motown soul into japanese electronic music equipment. with his new piece the metal beat ep, credit 00 wants to get in line with this tradition of transforming factory sounds into music. each of the three tracks reflects on the role of the human being in an industrial environment. the never-ending movement of the machine becomes the rhythm, while the melody embodies our forlorn voices in the vastness of the factory site. the blues played by machines--modern work songs for a post-industrial society!

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

end to end, back to back solid gold soul & funk bombs are what s contained on this slab of wax! that s right, gwen s 1979 lp has lashings of dope drums, wriggly bass synths, brass and of course, that voice! absolutely stellar tracks on here - all this love that i m giving - famously sampled by cassius on their infamous smash feeling for you is actually the album opener! the whole album unfolds from this point and we re treated to the classy, string laden i can only think of you next. all in all this album has always been one of those rare lp s that has soul fans frothing at the mouth, traditionally a very tough one to track down and always commanding high prices on the collectors market. released on tk disco s cat offshoot label and produced by the equally legendary betty wright (!) this is one sure shot that you ll need on your shelf and on your turntable if you re into this kind of flavour!

after releasing their debut full length album on kompakt last year, hunter/game return to just this with another immersive offering. on the dead soul ep the duo continue to refine their expressive yet subtly arranged sound. the title track unfolds slowly, sculpting the melody, texture and suspense. joey andersons take on dead soul is airy and atmospheric without losing it’s pulsing flow. isolation covers a broad spectrum and is filled with contrasts in which an intense bass interacts with a delicate and breathy melody. balance is key to hunter/game’s music and this ep is no exception

‘streetlight soul’ is the inaugural release on new imprint gnosis. this four track ep is the fifth myriadd record, following 12-s for crème organization, pinkman and signals. the past decade has seen releases from the artist under a variety of pseudonyms including acid phreex (djax-up-beats), mantra (bunker, abstract acid, solar one music) and monofonix (iwari, cataclyst). across the ep, myriadd remoulds the template of vintage chicago house, acid and deep house into his vision of modern house music. opening with midnight obsession , working a dark hypnotic bassline into an endless groove of crisp jacking drums and soul stirring melody, all primed for maximum effect at 4am when lost in the smoke and strobes. visions of love is driven by a juno bassline, a classic palette of tumbling, infectiously funky drums, warm, enveloping synth atmospherics and elevated by lush, celestial string work which comes off like some fantasy mr fingers + virgo psychedelic jam. the ep’s titular track goes deeper into the night with 909 claps, off-kilter snare hits, melancholy synth and ethereal melodies that ascend and dissolve into neon clouds. closer back to nature is a trip into blissed out, tropical house sounding like a lost balearic classic re-tweaked for the 21st century..

carbon chic, a native of minneapolis, delivers a high-impact redux on a soulful kick for the a-side. while for the b-side, a deep and cozy after-hours excursion effortlessly begins. two tracks at home both on the dancefloor and in your space. beyond the speaker invites carbon chic for the label s sophomore release after legowelt and willie burns shared the successful label debut, angels against dust. with a broken man, beyond the speaker expands its horizons by committing new talent to wax, furthering the label s vinyl expedition. carefully mastered by alek stark, a broken man in redux form does not compromise, upping the tension between burrowing bass, satisfying beat and vocal machinations. on the flipside, deep affection offers a more comforting assortment of synthetic melody and late night warmth while maintaining a firm dancefloor footing with gently rolling hihats topping everything off.

a diverse and damaging three track ep from bone, exploring and exhibiting detroit techno musically, figuratively and spiritually. a1. here to stay (won t fade away) a nod to detroit as an ever-present - a marker by which others are measured, bone s first track on the detroit ep, here to stay (won t fade away) makes a statement above and beyond just being a fine example the music it refers to. the sumptuous melody that opens the track is accompanied by a substantial yet soft, almost warm, kick, a combination that somehow provides an atmosphere and depth way beyond merely the of the sum of its parts. more rolling percussion and drums are crisply ushered in before the here to stay (won t fade away) vocal begins looping over the composition. linear, straight up loops, grooves and rhythm give a consistent sense of railroad-esque motion atop of an ever-present vein of lush synth and melody. a track that is certainly here to stay. a2. detroit is ... soul with more of an emotional focus than symbolic this time, it s clear this one is from bone s heart. detroit is ... soul, ducks and weaves in the grey area between house and techno, the initial percussion that is brushed over the kick giving more of a house swing than a techno groove. the on/off, cut-and-dry synth chords contrast with the looser fluidity in here to stay (won t fade away), and gives a real sense of intent and desire. the real focal point however is the profound vocal that comes swirling over the top, -detroit is what i love, detroit is what i need, detroit is where i m from, detroit s the air i breathe?- no explanation necessary. b. detroit is ... hard bone rounds off part 1 of his detroit ep with aplomb. where the previous two tracks have drawn on the emotional and symbolic significance of detroit as a place and as an ideal, detroit is ... hard, cuts straight to the chase. utilizing the same vocal sample as detroit is ... soul, bone feeds things through the grinder and comes out with a late night dancefloor destroyer that blends millsian fury and red planet mystique with the archetypal subject detroit aesthetic. chaotic arpeggiated melody, indignant claps and breakneck drums and percussion are the chosen company for bone s words on this flipside to detroit is ... soul. detroit is ... hard, undoubtedly to become a mainstay for sweaty after-hours affairs the world over

soniculture presents the second and last volume of the >polis< remixes from billy dalessandros latest album, and what a way to end this project in style with four great floor fillers for the most demanding audiences. the ep kicks off with mobilees exercise one, who take >only your touch< through a ride of arpeggiated basslines and dark grooves only to melt later into the melody that is the heart of track, drifting into uplifting moments. an amazing result from this dynamic duo from berlin. americas own jason emsley, known for his releases on platzhirsch, takes a darker path down the techno lane and creates a mind blowing version of >in the red<, with his own processed vocals which end up being the core his message. from siteholder chicago, billys mate, brian ffar, creates a happy and playful version of >alphasex< fooling around with synths in ingenious ways. an amazing track filled with groove and originality that will bring only happiness to the listener. sonicultures label owner expander keeps the hypnotic feeling of >acidburn< but drives it over a stronger bassline towards a point where fine-tuned melodies take over and fill the soul with several sorts of feelings making it ideal for the mind and the soul...

the 2nd release of canadian producer basic soul unit on mule electronic. bsu have released from such an excellent label like a versatile, philpot, ostgut ton. title track of >night heat< on a side is a melodic and playful detroitish house track. on the b side, we invited our favorite underground house producer >fred p aka black jazz consortium< to the remixer. he almost cutted off the melody and made more dj tool version. it fits perfectly for dark club. if you like the sound of >underground quality< release or that kind of house music,you will definetly need to check!

supported by: richie hawtin, dubfire, gabriel ananda, alexi delano, livio & roby ...
plaupez >l ame d un singe< is the 1st release from alma soul music. this ep has a mixture of music styles wich include deep, tech & minimal house. plaupez original mix is certainly a good example of the genre variety, its house base blends into a tech atmosphere with a futurist melody. jon gurd s version is ideal for a late night mainfloor, with powerful basses and energic percussions. vasco inspirian offers his particular sound wich has a very noticing detroit influence and licuadora system s remix minimalizes the track with his frenetic minimal- house version. all four tracks are composed by very talented artists and the result is ready to rock any dance floor!

the mighty soundmen on wax unleash 3 of their latest & greatest projects showcasing new talent to the label as well as some familiar names & faces. the wipe the needle boys kick things off with their collab with vocalist eddie stockley pure soulful smoothness with live guitars and classy drums. fresh from their outing on louie vegas vega imprint, djn project make their sow debut with æbeautiful people. instant hooky melody and as ever with the label a vocal to just die for, makes for the perfect combination. finally, defected artist dolls combers provides the killer remix on tyron dixons æbring it back bursting with hooky, catchy piano riffs, big vocals, and a steady moody bass. a major ep from an institutional label.

a stunning 3 track ep. >enter the night< provides a very funky vibe. with minimal feel, typified in cuts (yeah, shake a leg!), this records kicks off with a house rhythm before a bristling bass really starts driving the piece along. a smoke filled voice soon comes in, throwing the listener off talking about nights and exits or no exits while the track >no exits< on b2 is a fine and dark mixture of crisp beats and glitchy percussion to create a forceful groove as spluttery synth stabs keep up the incessant pressure. cuts of mazi s vocal twist things just that bit more evil as the house edged mood continues its push further into new depths of mayhem. the driving melody in >sarabbath< on b1 is quite a head-turner and should create a stir in the clubs, using the more minimal and melody side of this great 12inch

repress in standard label cover - anyone who followed the development of house music made in the usa in the last decade will certainly have met the art of fred peterkin aka fred p aka black jazz consortium. his musical set phrase isn t following new trends. fred is often simply melting shuffling percussions with elementary melodies. but he does it in a sense that the heavy used and abused phrase -deepness- finally gets a fresh truthfully new meaning. this new project is directed by miho in collaboration with robert drewek, the owner of respected label rawax. it is a special edition ”rawax - aira ep vinyl series-. concept and mission will always be, to connect and invite great musicians who produce and create -essence of the real music”, not following the trend but let the music speak itself with groove, melody, vibe, energy and soul.... roland has made evolution in dance music all over the world in 80 s, music needed those machines, and machines needed those creators of music. aira are not rehashing of the legendary original tr or tb, but respecting those great machines from the past, aira continues to evolve toward into the future simultaneously, newly developed, new generations tools to keep the music alive and to bring more possibilities for the future.we seeks out this exciting movement of dance music history, as the music lover who has actual experience the flow of this evolution, and connections between musicians and machines to make their musical pieces on this project to inspire listeners and to challenge the genres they represent by each series.

new land präsentiert mit stolz das erste box-set mit mehreren lps von dorothy ashby - einer der am meisten übersehenen künstlerinnen der jazzgeschichte. die 6 lps, die in diesem aufwendigen box-set enthalten sind, geben einen längst überfälligen rückblick auf ihre frühen werke: the jazz harpist , hip harp mit frank wess, in a minor groove mit frank wess, soft winds: the swinging harp of dorothy ashby , dorothy ashby und the fantastic harp of dorothy ashby wurden mit der vollen unterstützung des nachlasses von dorothy ashby offiziell lizenziert.

postdynamic starts its new series with a nice 4 tracker of cliche morph with his new project. the first track is -black opinion-. the rhythm, melody and atmosphere of this track reveal the most mystical and mysterious sides of your subconscious. the next step into the world of the unconscious is -paranoid effect-. this track enables us to see clearly what may previously have been hidden and gives freedom to your most secret desires. leave all unnecessary beyond the borders of your inner world. loose yourself in the most hidden corners of your soul with -introvert-. and finally, it s time to cool off with -frozen frequency-. a cool emptiness covers your mind and helps you to reborn.

postdynamic starts its new series with a nice 4 tracker of cliche morph with his new project. the first track is -black opinion-. the rhythm, melody and atmosphere of this track reveal the most mystical and mysterious sides of your subconscious. the next step into the world of the unconscious is -paranoid effect-. this track enables us to see clearly what may previously have been hidden and gives freedom to your most secret desires. leave all unnecessary beyond the borders of your inner world. loose yourself in the most hidden corners of your soul with -introvert-. and finally, it s time to cool off with -frozen frequency-. a cool emptiness covers your mind and helps you to reborn.

contemporary house merged with space-age jazz & broken beat from copenhagen newcomer nejrup on debut release manda backed by a uniquely off-kilter remix from london soul stalwart k15 (eglo / wild oats) manda is a selection of intricate compositions for the dancefloor with a jazz centered approach to combining dance grooves with modular soundscapes & live instrumentation. for nejrup, a self-learned synthhacker, pianist and producer from copenhagen, his debut manda is a result of years of experimentation and never-ending practice and noodling on his fender rhodes & homebuilt synth collection. delivering a compositional complexity influenced by radiohead and floating points, while letting his tunes simmer with airy synths and improvised live instrumentation combined with a love for depthful harmonies. k15 backs the release with a soothing, heavily syncopated remix, as only he could do it. the londoner, whose soulful touch and ear for melody has earned him high status in the jazz encompassing house- and broken beat circuit, through kyle hall’s ‘wild oats’ and alexander nut’s ‘eglo records’ and as center of the culross close outfit.

over the years moton has become synonymous with releasing great quality edits from a range of amazing producers. their 43rd release is no different offering up two glorious edits ready made for the dancefloor. cuffari (make the world larger than me) on the a side is four and a half minutes of luscious, soulful, string laden goodness, entrancing you with those dreamy vocals. trust us, she s right when she says the melody echoes in my mind this one will be stuck in your head for days! flip it over and marcel vogel, under his em vee alias channels the happy-go-lucky nyc discotheque days through dancing (jumbo). with an all too infectious guitar and bass riff, coupled with cosmic synth pops and perfectly layered vocal chants its sure fire, peak time disco gold.

the very first release of 2018 from eureka!, is the well known parisian sampling master s3a (sampling as an art) with his perfect definition between underground quality emotional house music and dancefloor efficiency. he released from lazare house records, hold youth, concrete music, local talk, phonogramme and faces and with his background culture based on a solid knowledge of house music, soul, funk made him one of the most promising house artist of the french scene. mountain charr contains 3 tracks in completely different styles. doop doop is definitely a sound of s3a, with characteristic vocal cut up by adding powerful horn section and melodic piano loop. emotional m1 is classic yet warm and cosy low deep groove track that is playable regardless of a time or place, from lounge to dancefloor. to complete the package we have denials , a more down tempo offering, but its melody is fascinating and yes, sexy. this ep definitely brings you his predominant sense of sampling.

double vinyl in gatefold sleeve with 24 page lp-size booklet and download code for high quality wav / mp3 files.
a great compilation can open the gate to another world. who knew that some of the most exciting afro-funk records of all time were actually made in the small west african country of benin? once analog africa released the first african scream contest in 2008, the proof was there for all to hear, gut-busting yelps, lethally welldrilled horn sections and irresistibly insistent rhythms added up to a record that took you into its own space with the same electrifying sureness as any favourite blues or soul or funk or punk sampler you might care to mention.
ten years on, intrepid crate-digger samy ben redjeb unveils a new treasuretrove of vodoun-inspired afrobeat heavy funk crossover greatness. right from the laceratingly raw guitar fanfare which kicks off les sympathics’ pile-driving opener, it’s clear that african scream contest ii is going to be every bit as joyous a voyage of discovery as its predecessor. and just as you’re trying to get off the canvas after this one-punch knock out, an irresistible afro-ska romp with a more than subliminal echo of the batman theme puts you right back there. ignace de souza and the melody aces’ “asaw fofor- would’ve been a killer instrumental but once you’ve factored in the improbably-rich-to-the-point-of-being-nat-king-cole-influenced lead vocal, it’s a total revelation.

berlin based jens dohle is a man of many talents. an accomplished composer and arranger for theatre productions across europe, classically trained multi instrumentalist, explosive live drummer for ye:solar, munk, hot coins, sado opera. longtime collaborator with danilo plessow aka mcde and noema from african shakedown fame. remixer for jazzanova and 4 hero. there s not enough room here to list his amazing work. 2018 ushers forth a new identity to his already enviable c.v with his first ep as james dole (a jokingly anglicised version of his birth name). the 3 tracks here all showcase his ability to create a strong mood and use great splashes of melody and rhythm but without ever losing the groove. written during a period of introspection in deepest, darkest berlin, each one tells a different story. ex is a moody monster of a track. it builds and builds into a pounding nightime symphony with a kind of epic-ness which hints at many years spent mining the highs and lows of music, love and life. big room yet with a gut wrenching soul beneath the slightly flamboyant majesty. made in east berlin and well road tested in the cities debauched nightclubs. fantasia shows off mr doles jazz and broken beat background with rolling, funky drums sashaying with hip hoppy live jazz keys. then those signature euphoric yet melancholic synths appear halfway through the track to create an emotionally halcyon mood. wibes. the ep closes with grande. super melodic yet cinematic with amazing synth work and a sophisticated arrangement showcasing james s well trained musicianship and artistry. an opus of melody and longing built for italian arthouse films about unrequited love. dj support from - midland, honey soundsystem, sandrino, jimpster, ame, dvs1, shadow child, joe goddard, red rack em, futureboogie, soft rocks, domenic cappello, downtown party network, danny russell

following a red letter release in the form of joe armon-jones & maxwell owin s idiom, yam recordings return with the second installment of their you and music compilation series, this time compiled by yam fam hollick & z lovecraft. kicking things off on the a side is native cruise, a new artist hollick has been working extensively with on no bad days, bringing that signature ‘floaty yet punchy’ sound. it’s a kwaito-esque club jam with pan flutes and percussive loops bringing that energy to the start of the record. will listers sunset over st. petets spire is up next with a hypnotising yet intricate production from the hugely promising talent. will is a dude very much affiliated with yam and, of course, our pals over at balamii radio so it only seemed natural to have him on the record. that melody is a proper ear-worm too! the b side, curated by z lovecraft, is a slightly tougher affair with three tracks representing his taste in soulful sounds and expands on his a&r work for rhythm section international. first up is rouge me&#769,,chaniques prisma ltd a 7-minute psychedelic drum odyssey showcasing the multi instrumentalists many talents and influences, with guitar overdubs and flute ambience taking the dance floor far and beyond. on b2, upcoming break beat talent, lt, takes the helm with gale force. hailing from the peak district, lt makes work of deep vocal pads, 606 touches and a killer bass line. finishing off the compilation is wholemeal musics boy wonder, dear earth, who conjures a charming hip-hop ditty with his delicate assemblage style.

were super excited to present the latest artist to join the dirt crew stable, french producer sekou babe. he ticked all the right boxes for us with this beautiful debut ep foresight prevents blindness which explores his fresh and vibey outlook on house with sideways glances to smokey jazz, breaks and garage. the a-side lines up three varied tunes. perspectives of the youth and soukoun step in quickly with lively breakbeat rhythms. the first boasting warm soul vocals and steady bass groove, the second a melancholic yet uplifting back and forth between vintage piano and warbling rhodes. treize zero zero trois is a deep and dreamy house jam. cinematic elements infused with punchy percussion and 80s sonic touches add up to good times all round. on the b, our good friend nachtbraker does what he does best, flipping treize zero zero trois bringing the deep, dubby amsterdam vibrations. his version is lush, textural and slightly fruity, with surging synths, tropical percussion and a stomping kick. sekou babe rounds things off with the extravagant crown collection, showing us yet another colour in his musical spectrum. its trip hop meets detroit where warped strings introduce shuffling drums before the track begins to build layering subtle arpeggios, smooth pads, crash hits and a buoyant melody. sekou babe would like to add that all tracks were written and produced by b.b. at 7e republique studio and says thanks to peter, ghizlene, mohammed and florian, you beautiful souls.

the third release for la freund recordings comes from amsterdam resident beraber. consisting of four strong and diverse tracks and a jazzy, piano-heavy remix by chicago house legend vincent floyd, sun ritual works just as well in the club as it does at home. after working on hiphop and downtempo electronica under different aliases, this ep sees baris akardere venturing into up-tempo territories, marking the debut of his beraber moniker. all tracks were written and produced during the last two years, combining digital instruments like the korg m1 and yamaha dx7 with analog gear like the roland juno-6 and korg ms-10. kicking things off on the a-side is title track sun ritual, a positive and warm tune with lush chords and arpeggiated synths. after a surprising outro, it gets the remix treatment by deep house pioneer vincent floyd, who adds multiple layers to it and delivers a stunning, dreamy eight-minute take on the original. the flipside opens with ugly, a soulful club workout with a deep bassline, rolling drums with crisp hi-hats and a hypnotic melody. next up is introspect, a serious electro-tinged cut with heavy juno chords building up tension as the track evolves. rounding it up nicely, forest rain treats us to an intimate broken-beat affair laced with rhodes chords and field recordings from bali.

we are proud to present sare s fourth album softmachine. it is a ten track synthesizer epic which takes us through multiple musical flavors of electronica, italo, dancefloor, disco and smooth soul pop. all threads are neatly bound up and unified by the common principles of smooth electronics, solid melody and slick song-writing. the album opens with the intro track and scene setter, dreamachine. it is a dystopian synth algorithm which is one part aural mindscape, one part electronic opus and one part sci-fi soundtrack. a perfect scene setter. everybody freak out bursts open the flood gates with a tide of funky swing, brash disco swagger and catchy lead lines. softmachine shows sare s finely honed song writing prowess with its lazy grooves, 80s sparkling synths and meandering robotized main vocal line. next the dancefloor calls with a peak-time disco vocal groover like you wanna do. it features a vocal from vaarka delivering a fine performance. multi-layered guitars, perky bass guitar and a pulsing groove power this track along. here comes that sound carries on the dancefloor vocal vein with its 4-4 beats, driving bass and sweet strings sitting perfectly alongside a multi vocalled chorused vocal from barbara grabar, kristina strasek and vanja dizdarevic. on the flipside things open with riot, sawtoothy synth waves and darting keyboard lines lead the way in this sci-fi sound track with a core of antagonism at its core. science of the beat follows with its stabby synth bass, rolling stabs and vocodered main lines. music and lies layers in sweet synth pads, melancholy meanderings and just a touch of forlorn sadness into its melodies. to round things off no chance to dance digs deep into the chic vibes with its percussive chop-guitar, on-the-beat bass guitar and swinging hand-clap disco beats. the album closes with the painfully optimistic perpetual rise, a metropolis meets vangelis like analog synthesizer masterclass

zen in space makes a prominent debut for moonshoe records with yellow jazz ep . the record captivates the feeling of a jam session when the vibe is on point. soaked in instrumentation, the record feels spacious. strong percussive grooves guide the listener through a range of moods that each compliment each other effectively. throughout the ep a combination of spoken word and soulful vocal hooks give a add a tasteful human element.
fourth&bak features a spoken-word that whispers atop of juicy guitar licks and a wobbly sub-bass line, but it s an aching, soulful vocal melody that ties the jam together.
sahara groove is a moody chord progression layed out over a driving 4x4 groove complimented by a dancing, airy flute solo.
to top off the record is a remix from sydney native, setwun - an imaginative and effective reinterpretation that adds a perfect glaise to an already commendable release.

with spring well and truly in the air and party season in step, mosaic records boss steve o sullivan launches mosaic s 38th release - joining forces with fellow londoner frazer campbell for a new studio collaboration. not content with letting the dust settle from his recent work alongside ricardo villalobos, o sullivan has stayed a little closer to his london home to work with frazer campbell for this latest tag team effort. a dextrous hand in the mix and producer in his own right, campbell has a passion for all things that sit on the deeper end of the house, techno and electronica spectrum. in his own words, thought emoting music is central to his mission having launched open recordings and elliot project records last year: a worthy sparring partner indeed. since the start of the year, the pair had their heads down focusing on finding a happy medium between deeply swung grooves and the airy influences of detroit - shaking out an interesting trio of tracks for their label debut. far from treading the obvious path, the main event a1 hypnotonic revels in a lighter touch as metronomic beat programming cycles endlessly to a held set of notes. off-kilter bass pulses, warped out vocals and effect splashes all intersect to keep the energy input constant as they capture one of those less frenzied moments where the very notion of time seems to hold still. make no mistake, this is a slow burn vibe. head to the flipside b1 soultonic to plunge yourself straight into hip twitching mode when the lights go down. a deep chord, syncopated hats and deftly tweaked synths echo as a full dose of shuffle inflicts its move. simple yet so effective, this track will not let you down. winding things back up a touch, the tougher edge of alleyway funk pushes the feeling on thanks to a thumping kick and a deft nod towards uk garage. met with a soft glisten of a rhodes piano and tweakish melody, the pair round things off in a boyant mood - fans of soul capsule and schatrax will no doubt agree. repeat play of this ep is recommended as its all the more rewarding for it.

ahead of a full-length album coming on glitterbox recordings, the king of disco re-edits dr packer presents four of his versions of soulful dancefloor favourites old and new, giving a flavour of what’s to come from the lp. different strokes kicks off with a re-rub of the mk-produced latrece i want to thank you, itself a house cover of alicia myers soul classic from 1981. dr packer pulls back on the tempo, making way for keyboards that echo the vocal melody and enhanced percussion. next, he remixes still in love by shuya okino, a contemporary nu-disco classic with gorgeous string instrumentation and a tight guitar riff. in true dr packer style, his version has plenty of extra funk, fleshing out the bassline to suit a dynamic disco set. a remix of atfcs bad habit is next, again given the effortlessly laidback, groove-laden dr packer treatment. finally its soul rebels ill be good, a vocal house classic from the mid-noughties, reinterpreted masterfully for todays glitterbox dancefloor

limited 2017 repress !! with the much anticipated debut album of afefe iku, yoruba records presented the first official banger of 2008 with mirror dance. with its ridiculous driving beat, and one of the most memorable melody lines we ve heard on the dance floor, mirror dance is another one of those dance floor monstrosities that afefe iku seems to naturally pull out of his magic hat. on the b side, osunlade takes it deep with his yoruba soul mix featuring spoken word king oveous maximus. with deeper rhythms and a stripped groove, this one takes you back to the basement house parties allowing you to go into trance and zone out to the words of ove. brace yourselves, yet again

dusky present the latest 17 steps release with the cold heart ep, a four track package that cements their ability to craft a unique range of house and techno soundscapes. having spent last year releasing their outer lp, as well as delivering their second acclaimed essential mix and touring a new live show, the cold heart ep sees the prolific duo return to their roots in textured house and techno with four powerful dj tools. with a nod to vintage new york house through a carefully sourced vocal sample, lead track cold heart is a blissed out, atmospheric house epic that blends crisp percussion, soulful hooks, washing pads and a hypnotic lead organ melody. a favourite from the duos recent dj sets, psychic life coach shuffles with dubby grooves, skippy drums and ethereal vocal cut-ups, before bowed offers a high energy dose of cosmic disco and ravey techno flavours, rounding things off, closing track balfour betty is built around warm, swirling synth textures that meet at the intersection of detroit techno and vintage progressive trance.

hailing from derry, ireland, culture glitch has been established as a platform to showcase local talent in the field of electronica, and by the sounds of this compilation the town is a hotbed of exciting, original producers pushing introspective sounds. there are delicate ambient tones with vocals from soul plateau, crafty breakstep constructions from shocko, off-kilter beats from hylo and much more besides. what binds the release together is a strong sense of melody and emotion, bringing all manner of tempos and rhythms together in one strong statement of what the derry underground is all about.

jacques bon motions through the day’s early energy dawning light. true to the record’s title, bon composed the four tracks for his debut ep on beats in space records in the morning sun, reflecting and refracting the colors of daybreak from his compositions. burning spheres aside, bon draws inspiration from his past in paris, where he slung records at daphonics and started the label, smallville with pantha du prince, and his current life in hamburg, where he frequently helms the legendary decks at golden pudel. both cities and their scenes offer crucial cues for bon’s productions across dawning light and past releases for smallville and mule musiq. beginning with licks from his juno 106, filtered through the glide of a tb303 and foundational fits of his roland drum arsenal, bon embraces simplicity in setup to allow for maximum melody. opening track “island” assembles the palette of dawning light, infusing the ep with a warm glow. “we are” twinkles like the first blinks of awakening, dusting away night’s sleep with golden beams trickled onto tangled bed sheets. “aurora” evokes the first rush of the refreshed energy, shaking off yesterday and centering the mind, body, and soul to power through the hours. the record’s title track bounces with youthful optimism, a fitting end for the four-tracker’s mission of morning praise. each 12&#8243,,, on beats in space records features original artwork in considerate and serial form. andrew kuo’s prismatic painting holds dawning light in good polychromatic company, the geometric colors soft-coded entry point for bon’s music.

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!

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

the story begins at the heideglühen club in berlin where the true romance crew saw ojpb play. in the midst of his set he dropped a mysterious track that completely lit the crowd up, it was e-lane 2 troy. in this offering, true romance introduces montreal based ojpb (also known as bowly, dÐd, mtsp). through this alias, french-born olivier borzeix delivers raw and adventurous rhythms sourcing his inspirations in rare funk disco nuggets and the golden age of house music, blending it into what he likes to call : hypnotic soul. e-lane 2 troy is an uplifting cosmic mind bender. with its brilliant disco loops and infectious trance inducing melody, this is one that will fill and fire up dancefloors all over.

after showcasing the debut releases from the high on wye quintet (magic mountain high, soulphiction and steevio) and monoak, the freerotation label returns with a various artists 12” featuring four more artists intrinsically linked by the annual festival. anthony child, aka surgeon, has been a regular fixture since first appearing at freerotation in 2011. his recent exploration of modular synthesis and use of the buchla music easel has found a home in the ambient yurt at the festival, and equally has manifested in album projects such as 2015’s electronic recordings from maui jungle vol 1. “unconscious fearless determination” follows on from this more experimental, less dancefloor-focused side to child’s work, while still pulsing with the techno fundamentals that quickly defined him back in the mid ‘90s. duckett hails from north wales, and has been a key part of the freerotation fabric since the beginning of the event. after some releases on mindtours, mindyourhead and sthlmaudio back in the mid-‘00s, his music has started to reach a new audience through releases on untilmyheartstops and a clutch of lauded live performances. “breaks my heart when i remember that day” captures the alien synthesis and emotional heft that singles duckett out as such a remarkable artist. steevio is the co-founder of freerotation and mindtours records, responsible for a huge swathe of techno releases reaching back to the ‘90s. as well as his releases on mindtours, he has recently appeared on untilmyheartstops and in collaboration with pev on schmorgabsord, and is set to appear on russ gabriel’s new label rivers of groove. with its expressive swells of off-kilter melody and snaking drum lines, “pendulum” continues the thread of exploration steevio has been following on his journey into experimental modular techno. tom ellis has been prolifically issuing forth material in a soul-enriched space in between house, techno and funk for more than ten years. from running the acclaimed trimsound label to releasing albums and singles on telegraph, archipel, hartchef discos and more recently ethereal sound to name but a few, tom’s recorded work and immersive live performances continue to reach out to new moods and timbres. “as a take” finds tom at his most reflective, layering on dubby effects and organic instrumentation in a truly meditative end to the ep.

as we move into the summer months, yoruba records is pleased to present this tasteful rendition of celebration of oggun from the much acclaimed sunlightsquare. based on a traditional yoruba chant performed by havanas abbilona, sunlightsquare takes the original and gives it a modern deep house touch. a soulful tribute to the protector in the orisha system, sunlightsquare provides a rhodes-driven melody that accompanied by powerful chants will have you grooving any time of day or night. a2 finds us with the stripped down yoruba soul beats version from osunlade himself. a unique percussive number that keeps the soul of the original – the bata drums command you to move your body in celebration. as we flip the record over we kick off with the yoruba soul mix. using the backbone of the beats mix, this nearly seven minute ballad is an absolute must-have in your bag. a smooth, subtle bass keeps you grooving as it makes way for the vocal – elevating you in the spirit of dance. lastly, we close with a stunning mix by none other than trinidadiandeep. this future yoruba classic is as deep as it comes. guaranteed to keep the floor moving, this must-listen tracks pads help round out an ep were extremely excited to bring you.

tominori hosoya is the project of japanese track-maker tomi chair and for the past years he s been on a steadfast journey in the land of soulful house. his most recent offering on mixxrecords entitled life goes on ep includes four tracks, three originals and one brothers vibe remix. starting off with over the sadness, the first piece is a laid back groove with a solid bass backbone animated by classic house hi-hats. strategy meeting gets peppered with wobbly synths, giving the cut a seemly acid vibe against a steady percussive background. with 32-33 (one decision), tominori delves into his tribal side, keeping the focus on exotic drum patterns. the dreamy synth melody provides a contrasting yet fitting backline. for his remix of strategy meeting, brothers vibe goes full force and turns the track into a peak time floor killer, with a hypnotic percussive line, a solid project for certain!

nado16 saw stratus take us all the way from the gower peninsula to the adriatic, and now swedish newcomer gryningen beckons us into a sepia dream for aficionado s third 10- special. the latest example of moonboots & boardman s fine ear for talent, the mysterious gryningen appears out of the shadowy stockholmsnatt without a word or a website, on hand to lead us right through the looking glass. the opiated drones of tvu kvarter frun vintergatan set the tone from the off, shifting and shimmering while languid synths lazily embrace you amid the gentle roll of the groovesome rhythm section. as the opener drifts out into the crashing waves, jag flyter omkring i en ask rises from the baltic sea with a lilting sway and understated melody. cosmic sequences sparkle like water in the moonlight and the subtle textures of acoustic guitar and chimes send us deeper into slumber. the organ-led slia dagar i rymdlaboratoriet tumbles down through the ocean murk into a subaquatic terrain of dubby reverb and psychedelic echo, illuminated occasionally by the refracted shimmer of chiming keys. from that moment of nocturnal shade we soar into the light on the swooning, swaying beauty of frun andra hand till strnnderna i nice . born out of the hazy childhood memory of matinee performances and fine white sand, this exotica inspired beauty warms the soul with its cinematic sense of wonder, all told through orchestral intricacy and steady guitar. this is a dream you ll want to have again and again. officially aficionado.

following on from his releases on kolour recordings and profound, berlin resident ant orange’s latest 12“ on karaoke kalk is an innovative record packed full of diverse and lively tracks. the five tunes on the single take in an extremely wide range of styles, fusing elements of tribal drumming, funky soul, nu jazz and deep house. omi gets the ball rolling with groovy off beats and a wonky kalimba melody to get your feet tapping. yesterday is a funky dance-floor track while tunes like are you alon and the look are filled with romance and vibes under the careful guise of eclectic electronica. the track hands together brings the 12” to a close drawing inspiration from the same marlene shaw vocal sample that st germain used to such great effect on their hit rose rouge. ant orange brings a new twist to this iconic soul-jazz voice embedding it in a contemporary down-tempo groove. although originally from leeds uk, ant orange has such an mixed range of influences and styles present in his music that the result in a truly global sound. ant orange relocated to berlin some time ago where he now plays out at any opportunity, and with this new single he is again giving something back to his fellow vinyl junkies.

*la ronde* is one of the seminal japanese house releases, originally released in 1991 on king street offshoot bpm records it has long been a highly sought after slab of wax among deep house & dance music aficionados around the world. confined to one single disc on its original release this luxurious 2015 re-issue lets all the music contained within breathe the way it was naturally intended across 2 re-mastered 12 inches, making it utterly indispensable for all you djs & fanatics out there clamoring for all these classic tracks from far eastern heavyweights like toshihiko mori, soichi terada and many many more (nycs legendary pal joey even makes a guest appearance!). this is gorgeous, ambient, deep house at its finest, full of melody, soul & vibe, totally essential & finally available in this format for the very first time. fully re-mastered, re-pressed and re-released in full conjunction with king street sounds / bpm records, nyc / japan.

first up sees the new methodology track in full on dance floor assault mode - serious break-fuelled techno with rolling drums, off beat funk elements and big stabbing chords moving in and out of fx laden atmospheres at a fairly furious pace. the b side introduces yet another incredibly talented producer from the iridite stable - mike singleton is a regular dj at glasgow s internationally famous monox club as well as being one of the chief tech-heads and all round music know-it-alls at rubadub records. his track here will appeal to anyone who likes to be genuinely shaken up by a track - it s got the lot - cutting edge production techniques, heartfelt melody, intricate and complicated programming, bassline turning and twisting almost inside out, fantastic fx, but most of all >the funk<! methodology round things up with another mutant house/techno hybrid track - all shuffly percussion, filtered samples and a mournful, string laden climax, layered with weird bleep-ing riffs and super-sub bass

long waited 4th ep from japanese deep house force pan records is here. unlike precious releases, this is volume 1 of its various artist sampler series. all 3 of them are scheduled to be released in 2012. first track to open the series is >flash back< by sai. this japanese producer has been favored and debuted from morris audio in 2010. the track has dreamy and floating feel to start off with, later it gets more grove going with subtle vocal goes behind. stays musical yet feels minimal, a2 also kept the vibe from a1 and makes you stay in the dreamland. it is by only the non-japanese artist on this wax, dennis uprock aka resoe from denmark. he is the owner of baum records and one half of the duo >pattern repeat< and this rather timeless track exactly demonstrated his years of experience in producing. >future progress<, is true and honest to its name. dj pi-ge is one of the owner of the label along side of ryo murakami and sisi. he provides a track with punchy synth and revered black man’s vocal. notably slow teasing build up from the beginning till the end, this is an interesting addition to the ep. attention grabbing. last of all, >rising moon< is by tokyo based artist naoki shinohara, previously released from xdbs metrolux music. this track can be described by strong hart beat like hi hats and soul filling melody. its a perfect closer to this quality deep house ep from the land of rising sun.

>call me< is a welcome dose of precisely what we all need right now: a brilliant ray of sunny electro disco to warm up our winter dancefloors. dj nibc, the berlin-based, gothenburg-born dj, producer and trunkfunk records label owner has joined forces with fellow swedish house cat patrick l for a collaborative effort that offers a fresh, playful and breezy take on deep disco grooves. the dj nibc mix rides a languid summer afternoon tempo, accompanied by shimmering light beams and sweet synth chords, rising to a peak of uplifting strings and soulful vocals that weave around the tracks core retro melody. the patrick l mix gives the full polyphonic treatment, shifting the filtered strings to the intro, intensifying the bass, and using subtle punchy cut-ups in contrast with patricks crystal-clear vocal treatment. fellow swede tiger stripes completes the trio of countrymen, with a tiger stripes remix that moulds the track into an urgent dancefloor cut, emphasising an irresistible bass melody, a thudding kick drum, and classic house stabs of synths and voice. londons newest simmering hot creations signee funnels even more sunshine into his rework, as the crea albas lost soul remix splays out the the tracks high hats and fills all available spaces with arcs of retro synths and cosmic reverb.

slowburn are two guys from dublin who recently made there debut via uzuri in the form of a various artists 12 inch. here they return for a full four track ep release of there own on elektrosouls. four raw deep house cuts that ooze melody and soul. >magnolia< kicks things off with deep square bass and shuffled snares that give way to detuned pads while teasing synths bubble away below. >letter live & liberty< the second track, an 808 rythim joined buy a haunting lead that builds into deep melodic pads. on the flip comes >bladerunning< based around deep pads and more 808 beats with cool synth stabs this track is for dark rooms. the record wraps things up with >medicusa< a very soulful track full of quirky melodies that build and build over nicely crafted drum patterns.

tokyos kez yms follow up to his maiden yore ep, city soul, opts for a more pronounced party vibe, as evidenced by the plenitude of voices that repeatedly pop up during butterflys four deep house tracks. the material sounds of japanese producer kazuki yamaguchi puts a clubby spirit to this ep. propelled by a beautifully warm and soulful bass pulse, inner city funk grooves mightily for five blissful minutes, its rhythm bolstered by the crisp snap of the snare, the funky wah wah of an electric guitar, and the occasional interjection of a synthesizer melody. bridge to bridge quickly charts its own percolating course with the addition of a stepping disco house pulse and a male voices sleepy, off handed musings. bringing the lights down for a romantic make-out session, the sexy low tide chills the pace slightly so that spent dancers can catch their breath and replenish themselves before the next go-round. of the four tracks, the title cut grooves most powerfully in merging a rambunctious broken beat drum attack with an equally driving bass line and manic electric guitar soloing. play these jams loud.

cool elegancy and machines meet live elements, soul and warm loops. subtle deep piecees of house music! hard to believe what jena has to offer: after splashy shooting stars like the wighnomys and their freude am tanzen family, a new act from this small metropolis for artists is coming up on vinyl now. while the team around klinke auf cinch is releasing its upbeat on playtracks the debut track shows the variety and creativity being in the deeply touching musicians heads. invited to the vocal corner was among others the soul voice of ian simmonds, who has already scratched his monument into black gold on musik krause. klinke auf cinch perform in stereopanorama with tenderly sent melody pearls and create marble paths with groove fragments. a live playing trumpeter, the voices of ian simmonds and paula as well as the gifted rhythm and harmony section around clemens kynast and lutz hartmann are the counterconcept to brute force. jack to cinch makes live electronica a valuable and touching concert event, the musicians virtuosity meets the cool elegance of the machines. loop means soul, beat means heart beat.