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

dark, dread-infused and ready to test even the toughest of sound systems, here compa delivers three twisted, distorted and deadly electronic experiments. removing all but the most crucial elements, compa combines crushing sub-bass with skeletal percussion and chilling atmospheres to show yet again through his signature sound how less is always more. compa has received dj support from the likes of mala, toddla t, chase & status, mary-anne hobbs, youngsta, mistajam, david rodigan, shades (alix perez and eprom) hatcha, om unit and plastician among others.

nyc native eric maltz has been a professional producer and pianist for more than 20 years. after landing on the techno scene in 2017 with the double vinyl “ns-17” ep on levon vincent’s novel sound, eric maltz releases his first single on his own label flower myth. opening on the title track , a bruising slice of machine techno, the live touch of the new-york producer stands out throughout “pathway”. on “ah-shu-de-ohu”, paranoid chimes swirl out of focus while chopped up vocals command attention. free floating chords glide through a meditative soundscape on closer “line through”. flower myth will release 4 more singles from eric maltz throughout 2018, one of them a collaboration with cristina valentina, the powerful voice from “we have power” (ns17). having recently signed with uzuri booking and artist management, eric will soon be bringing his singular live techno to his home-base city of berlin and other major cities across europe and the world.

waggons marks the third motip white release on dorfjungs. after the two previous eps »lywer bent« and »the white ep« this one feels drunken yet still more defined. motip white delivers four thrilling tracks composed of colourful and warm techno, house and electronic hybrids. his ep contains bass driven dance songs as well as cautious and charming anthems. while every song has got its special elements with the typical motip white sound, they all work equally well on the dance floor and at home. the smooth and calm fourth track ends the vinyl but is actually caught up by the euphoric digital bonus »simia«, which brings the ep to a surprising though satisfying (digital) end.

2018 white vinyl repress incoming!
genosha basic artists, ghost in the machine make their perc trax debut! full picture sleeve perc trax returns to the dance floor after the political firestorm that was perc s bitter music with the debut release on the label from the netherland s ghost in the machine. the perc and therefore perc trax name stems from the word percussion and these three drum-focused tracks sum up the label s name perfectly. rarely appearing away from their own genosha basic imprint this ep hits as hard as anything on perc trax in recent years and along with recent releases from ansome and scalameriya ushers in a new wave of artists and a distinct new chapter in the perc trax story. the holy grill commands the whole of the a-side and charges forward until a reese led breakdown gives you a moment to pause for breath. the b-side contains two percussive workouts that have enough movement and development to them to elevate them above simple drum tools. as b2 track pskdt s locked groove loops endlessly (a first for perc trax), it is clear this ep is a hard-hitting statement of intent from a duo you should be hearing a lot more on perc trax in the near future.

italian techno producer distant echoes presents the first ep of the new year -rough waves-, a four-track pack out on the berlin-based, southern-italy born out-er label.
distant echoes has been building a name in the last few years since he debuted on the dystopian label in 2014 and toured all around the world, yet, he s been producing and playing electronic/house/techno music since almost two decades. as out-er co-founder, he previously released music before the beginning of his bond with dystopian. in the last years, while distant echoes has mostly focused on releasing on dystopian, out-er has indeed expanded its range of collaborations worldwide, by putting out music from juan atkins, orlando voorn, terrence dixon and more.
distant echoes now readies the first installment on his own label with his newest moniker, showcasing his typical sound: deep, intense grooves and gloomy soundscapes crafted with exceptional productional accuracy.

e ruscha v, who has previously released on the label under the secret circuit moniker, comes back with his first full-length under his given name. ruscha describes who are you as spanning states “from calm to ecstatic but mostly in-between these.” this description points toward the liminal atmospherics of the music, which dispose of the many hallmark genre traces that informed secret circuit’s galactic journeying. for who are you, ruscha was content to wander more intimate environments, in search of an uncharted music rippling with humble discovery. the vinyl release includesd a download code.

irst release for the imago series of the label black chrysalis archives. all tracks by matter, exept the track b1, written~~and produced by matter and r²p.~~matter is fabrizio matrone aka heidseck. after releasing several records produced by labels such as the ukrainian~~kvitnu, le petit machiniste (germany) and soviet media kontrol (us), matter joins the black chrysalis archives (italy)~~family, with this 4 track work, named dangerous vision, for the bca imago series.~~the record winds through a scratchy and dirty taste of capturing electronic music. r²p (retina.it, ruhig and prg/m)~~precious collaboration fuses to the work. the track b1 (the preserving machine) in fact is part of a ten hand take at sy6~~studio. impregnated by a more minimalistic and essential approach to think about techno, this track gives to b side a~~particular deep clubbing techno flavour of european tradition.

enter the squirrel zone ! more sellotaped together dancefloor weapons constructed by those bright eyed & bushy tailed secret squirrels for all your dance floor manoeuvres think hi-fi, top end extensions that will really rock the place and you will be getting kinda close. on the a side, a top notch disco stomper of a cut is unleashed, while over on the flip things take a more sleazy italo direction. essential unclassics for your dj record box.

andrew scott, aka nyak, scott has remained a consistent representative of the music scene and we re delighted to have him on board for the first release of 2018 on local talk, bound ep. we re treated to four tracks, the opening track bound is a cut up, soulful disco house slammer. next up we got dancing, a perfect example of andrew s skill when it coms to slowing down the tempo but still letting the track have enough character to keep you dancing. on the flip we got see more which takes you straight to a dark and gritty club with it s stuttering chords, tight drums and pulsing bass. last but not least we got sandwiches which features long time collaborator ian blevins. a stunning low deep groove for any theo parrish or marcellus pittman fans out there.

music from memory’s sister label second circle returns with their first release of 2018, this time with a 4 tracker ep from french producer and antinote via melody as truth affiliate d.k. aka dang khoa chau. titled mystery dub, this new record features two percussive house cuts on the a side with two more evocative compositions on the flip. recorded in his studio in the 11th district of paris, the release showcases a wide yet characteristic palette of sounds and textures the parisian artist has been sharpening over the years: atmospheric/hypnotic strings, warm pads, dreamy landscapes and spacial rhythms.

internationally acclaimed dj, producer and label boss guy gerber has unveiled his dynamic new ep what to do. a producer known for his eclectic and melodic sounds, guys ep embodies a varied range of sonic arrangements that the israeli dj has become synonymous with, starting with the opener what to do. a deep, and cosmic production clad with cymbal-claps and a wide range of isolated percussive instruments, the title track features groove-fuelled vocals, offering a stark contrast to night of the gold diggers, guys punchy-house track which utilises high-pitched drum rolls and claps. with ep finale hummingbird blues focusing on percussive bass elements, instrumental chords sweep through a track underpinned by a gruff and distorted vocal. as a performer, guy gerber is consistently rated one of the best touring acts in dance music, earning a top 10 live performer nod three years in a row for resident advisor. launching in 2014, guys rumors imprint served as a home to guys colossal collaboration with dixon, no distance, as well as his crossover album with puff daddy, 11:11, which proved one of 2014s most startling and impressive lps. since then, the label has released music from the likes of seth troxler, dj tennis, chaim and more, and guy’s own standout releases secret encounters ep in 2016 and here comes the rain last year.

dimensions recordings fifth release sees the label step into the world of the long player with istanbul native, kerem akdag s self-titled debut album. kerem has already been winning fans of the ilk of gilles peterson through his previous output of dusty house and tripped out beats in the last few years, and of course via his getdownsoclose offering on dimensions debut release. his debut album however, sees kerem deliver a mature piece of work, bright and timeless, equally effective in the club as it is at home and brimming with ideas, hooks and must have songs. across eight tracks kerem demonstrates a breadth of skills that most artists would work a lifetime to achieve. from the stepping beats of when i think of you to his subtle vocal layers on isolated and from the woozy beach vibes of sultan to the squelching, rasping synths of unite it s clear that there s very little that s outside of kerem s arsenal. the album rounds out fittingly with drums please, which perfectly displays kerem s jazz tendencies, a slow grooving track whose crescendo of stabs and drums create a song that s more powerful than its parts. kerem akdag s debut album clearly sets out the stall for a man who has a lot to say and has the capability to say it loud!listen up! pressed on clear vinyl with a metallic sticker insert.

debut single breakthrough introduced the insanely catchy but deeply soulful blend of synths and groove, but here on the album that is explored to the fullest with longer breakdowns and more expansive, experimental solos. pocket 5 displays the, possibly unexpected, influences of broken beat and almost combative rhythm playing - particularly in the complex guitar and keys breakdown where koor and o keefe layer conflicting time signatures and battle to ride it out to the heavy drum return.

the 1995 album from annie lennox back on vinyl.

new 2 tracker from cray76 (joakim s evil techno twilight twin). more heat from - nyc based label, crowdspacer.

beginning in the early 90s, emmanuel top became france s first techno superstar, even if his popularity was greater in countries like germany and england than his own. he released a multitude of 12inches on the attack label la pipe a eau, krankenhaus, ecsta-deal, stress, turkish bazar, and many more many of which are compiled on the triple-disc release collection from 1995. top s next step took him to nova mute alongside heavyweights like plastikman. in addition to his solo work, top also collaborated with bruno sanchioni and bruno quartier in the mid to late 90s as the trance act b.b.e. (seven days and one week) and also as age of love (the original age of love).

beware, discomatin is back. in 2018, the parisian crew of diggers and dj’s originally known for their edits goes official with fully licensed and remastered reissues. for this new adventure, they chose an incredible in-demand french boogie ep from diva, an eighties funk band from bordeaux. diva only released one ep with la nuit, a sentimental, almost poetic boogie banger with great synth, guitar and vocal parts. the track could honestly have been a radio hit in the eighties with some real promotion. today, it’s still time to make it right and it is already an anthem in the french underground disco scene. originally on the b side of the 1985 original release on cactus, la nuit is here available with its two different versions (12inch and 7inch mix) and comes also with prise au piege, a more synth-pop influenced funk track which gave its name to the original release. the band was formed by gabrielle andriampanana, alex louisor and olivier renoir. before diva, these last two already played together in the local new-wave band bolton which was one of the first of the area to use synthetisers. even if they had a small recognition at the time, the original release stood quite underground. thanks to discomatin, its now available to the real connoisseurs and still with the fantastic illustrations of french artist camille de cussac on the back cover.

brand new year, brand new imprint. coop presents is an all-new record label, founded by ig culture and alex phountzi, set to focus on the depth and wealth of talent that exists within the london bruk movement and beyond, a project which they consider to be a continuation in the same spirit of the legendary coop movement. last summer, the coop presents crew released an ep via first word records entitled selectors assemble . this was the first collective offering from a foundation comprised of uk dance music pioneers and nowadays bruk soldiers, navigating in & around the world of broken beat and beyond over the last two decades to the present day. reinvigorated by recent boiler room sessions, the crew proceeded with more parties, more radio shows, and gained access to an unlimited pool of all-new sounds. the squad were primed and ready to move forwards from the famed days of the plastic people dances, and further explore the evolution of their sound.

when daniel kyo was producing galaxy in his studio he stood up and felt it. following several months of what he calls a -musical reset-, he knew he d hit something special. after releasing music for a decade, core might be the boldest step in his career. a new identity in which all his influences finally come together into an absolutely fresh perspective. melodies are still the main driving force of the five cuts in galaxy , but the approach is more raw and heartfelt, injecting the kind of vivacity that determines if a track it s simply a product of it s time or if it becomes timeless. borrowing elements from the cosmic side of techno, the darkest corners of trance and the glacial atmospheres of synthwave, all of the tracks in this ep ooze the kind of immediacy and transcendence you can only find in the best 90 s dance music. driven by is interest in astronomy, daniel says he tried to achieve an -outer space feeling-, we can only add that embracing the void was never so gratifying. the 12- comes housed in a sleeve designed by barcelona-based artist alicia carrera.

the grand, sweeping sonic explorations of “pretoria”, from john matthias and jay auborn’s 2017 album “race to zero”, are given new life on this four-track remix ep.
moon gangs (better known as william young, keyboardist in bristol-based electronic outfit beak>) takes the reins first, delivering a thunderous take on the original’s faster-paced second half. typically of the artist, the track builds and builds in intensity, climaxing with an apocalypse of emotional, layered synths.
bristol’s cuts strips back the elements for a much darker reworking. a single, repeating piano note echoes into wide, open space alongside the original’s antique violins before clattering percussion and synths enter the mix for the most foreboding turn of the release.
closing the ep, former mogwai member john cummings also bases his reinterpretation around the original’s piano. but where cuts leans on moody darkness, cummings take is more upbeat, courtesy of a driving four to the floor kick and fidgety, high-pitched piano.

a new year means new musical horizons here at the bordello. curses formed his sound in the distortion and sweat of back alley dive bar bars amidst the crash of guitars and the audible gulp of beer. hints of disco and wave balance this rougher edge, smoothing down those creased lines for a style that adheres to no boundaries. -pedal to the metal and don t look back- is a perfect introduction to curses multifaceted sound. beats orbit burbling bass and brash strings in a work of dreamy hypnotics. -knife in teeth- comes from a similarly shadowy lair. dark bars are further inked by industrial percussion in a track born on the factory floor to strict ebm parents. terr takes on -pedal to the metal and don t look back- and does the original proud. bass rumbles to the tune of a guttering engine before lighter notes take hold. murky currents are cleared by bright synth blasts in this uplifting remake. the bird of paradise closes the ep with his psychedelic take on -knife in teeth.- drums take on a more sinister tone as tribal rhythms give rise to jungle imagery and the immediate threat of what might lurk behind those supposedly innocent sounds.

insolate, formally known as miss sunshine, is a true techno veteran with 20 years in the scene under her belt. with releases on dj deeps deeply rooted label and her very own out of place brand, insolate now moves on to proletarijat with a significant release in more than one way. proletarijat 005 is wholly dedicated to her grandfather who was a yugoslav partisan during wwii.

fuzzed out and psychedelic covers of rare and classic tracks performed by san francisco’s monophonics. monophonics are back with a six-song ep that fuses the complimentary and explosive soul, rock and funk influences, proving themselves to be the rightful inheritors of the bay area’s impressive psychedelic soul sound. mirrors is comprised entirely of cover tunes, except that i doubt you’ve ever heard of half the deeply funky and soulful originals that inspired these soulful, tastefully produced, and timeless monophonics treatments. “we wanted to do a couple songs that were more familiar to people and then shine some light on groups we’re big into,” lead singer, keyboardist and co-producer kelly finnigan explains. it takes a lot of guts to cover your favorite songs, your van jams, that song you play as a shot of inspiration to break-up a marathon studio session. “not only are these great songs, but these are artists that we listen to and are influenced by.”

the first full artist ep of 2018 is one by a new artist for heist, but a familiar name for any modern day house aficionado: adryiano. after taking 2016 off, he came back guns blazing in 2017, releasing 5 solo eps in 1 year on labels like shall not fade and baka gaijin. his me and you and her ep for heist showcases his contemporary view on classic house and acid, and is an experiment into how much distortion a track can actually handle when youve got a killer sample hook. me and you and her is about as classic as a house track can be and moves in similar fashion as his post-2013 hit ‘on my side. its got a sweet and repetitive vocal loop, some semi-grainy but definitely groovy percussion and a deceptively simple piano hook. add some filtering and youve got a lovely warm house song that can go on forever. the a2 move it, move it moves straight into old-school chicago territory, with a raw af acid bassline. chicago bred jamie 3:26, now residing in its dutch counterpart rotterdam, gives the track a nice old school twist. hes going full 707 on the percussion and has casually added an amazing synth hook to give the remix a true vibe of its own. the ep closes off with fashion country girl: adryianos dystopian view of a world where dolly parton gets mangled through an overdrive, then gets distorted, crushed, mangled, deleted, re-added in 8 bit and then crushed some more. the result is an uptempo roller with more than enough grit, and just enough tongue-in-cheek to make everyone smile a little bit more. yours sincerely, maarten & lars.

the second album from pet shop boys, originally released in 1987, now back as remastered reissue on 180 gram vinyl.

placed under the media spotlights in 2011 thanks to their joyful and loony indie pop, concrete knives went on to sign with the legendary uk imprint bella union (beach house, fleet foxes, lift to experience, etc.). their first album be your own king was successfully released the following year, selling more than 7000 copies in france alone and sending the group of friends on the road to play more than 150 live dates all over europe. quiet for the past six years and after recording with danish producer andreas pallisgaard (trentemøller, goat, pinkunoizu), the band is set to return with a much awaited second effort on the french label vietnam (h-burns, chevalrex pharaon de winter).

3 monster tracks mit viel gefühl und gespür fürs gute... we want more!

last summer during an evening spent with my friend dj topha, we came upon the everlasting subject of old versus new. i m finding so much great music right now, and not just digging back in time but exploring our own timeline geographically too, he said, the level of production these days is rising fast. you have to check out these snippets from a new label based in casablanca. not long after, in an interesting twist of fate, driss bennis and i began to exchange music: i shared his soundcloud for the first casa voyager release, and he sent me a promo copy which i played out a lot. it seemed only logical to ask him for music for basic moves. later that summer we met in paris for a convivial back to back at dawidu s shop, te iubesc records and sapology. it was as simple as that, and in a few weeks basic moves 04 was ready. night train and overseas blew me away by their quality - the tracks are retro-esque yet fresh, and stem from a loose approach to electro. their arrangements are very smart, not everything is revealed the first time round. the more you listen, the more you understand that the power of the tracks lies in the details. together with ailsa s artwork, stefan s cut and chris mixes the release fell so smoothly into place. i have come to realise how important it is for the scene to release recently produced music as well as treasures from the past. you can t build a community by only playing old records. it s about a combination, about finding gems that glide together. old and new. and for that, i think both these dj booth tracks really fit the bill.

it was 2016 when we last saw the venezuelan duo, better known as fur coat, drop their debut ‘interstellar ep on watergate records and now they finally return with their follow up, the ‘immersion ep. immersion kicks off with an agile kick drum setting the stage for rapid fire percussion and an overwhelmingly satisfying ascending organ line that could be the trademark of any sci-fi film score. add a few shudders of glimmering atmospherics and its a trek into the cosmic realm of techno where space and time cease to exist. flipping sides the duo dive deeper into the infinite expanse with inner circle where lush textures canvas a mesmerizing groove and hypnotic spirals of gratifying repetitive sonics resulting in a fiercely energetic yet undeniably euphoric expedition under the club lights. embracing the tools and mechanics that have made their sound unique and successful for so long, fur coat seems to have delivered their most mature and polished ep to date with their ‘immersion ep where stunning spacial details and a precise attention to detail have embodied the age old saying, less is more. fur coat is back. immerse yourself.

with a brimming catalogue of music that operates in the more adventurous quarters of the techno music genre, a sagittariun preps his first release of 2018, with a remix disc of one the holy grail of tracks from one of the most endearing electronic acts of the 1990s. the sabres of paradise, aka andrew weatherall, gary burns and jagz kooner, released a clutch of acclaimed albums, singles and remixes between the years 1992 and 1995, when the trio disbanded. three albums for warp, remixes of the future sound of london, leftfield & lydon, bjork, new order and the dust brothers (aka chemical brothers), and not forgetting the now legendary smokebelch ii single, which must have soundtracked hundreds of thousands of sunsets and chillout after hours over the years, have left a huge treasure trove of a catalogue as part of their legacy. one production though has gone down in sabres folklore, since its release was limited to inclusion on one multi artist compilation cd album only, and it is this track, lick wid nit wit, that a sagittariun has unearthed, licensed and re-moulded, 25 years after it was produced, for release on his elastic dreams label.

orgone is back with more heavy funk from the west coast. a dark mood and deep groove set the tone for a funkadelic-like sort of vibe. both tracks featuring adryon de leon. previous releases by orgone have landed them on the billboard hot singles charts during their release week. for listeners of funkadelic, sly & the family stone, sharon jones & the dap-kings. heavy west coast funk

direct from havana, cuba daptone records is proud to present the debut single by orquesta akokan. featuring some of havanas most formidable musicians playing with a groove, a tumbao, that hasn t been heard for decades, orquesta akokán is a classic mambo-inspired force of nature. mambo rapidito, a lively up-tempo one-chord vamp in the vein of prado or more, boasts an undeniable energy ripe for a freshly polished dancefloor! on the flip, un tabaco para elegua, describes a tambor (an afro-cuban religious ceremony) over a slow, bubbling groove a perfect compliment to sipping distilled sugar cane. the two massive sides offered up were recorded at the pre-revolutionary 1940s era areito studios in centro havana where the spirit of aragón, tata güines and elena burke still reverberate through the walls.

adding yet another montreal artist to the lazy days roster. this time, we welcome bowly aka ojpb. a respected name in the montreal dj scene, hes also known for his releases on parage music and more recently on tensnake s great true romance label.

leigh darlow and matthew bandy have got plenty of experience in the world of deep house, both individually and as saison. building on a solid run of releases for papa records, the project makes its vinyl debut on guesthouse with some undeniably catchy jams for the peak of the night. -please don t go- is a cool slice of party fodder that hinges on a classic soul vocal hit, while -do you- gets a little more choppy in the mix with yet more recognisable licks that should get the masses sweating and swaying without needing to resort to a hectic tempo. -the moody blues- lets the keys do the talking, while yet another of the hefty grooves saison craft so well rolls out underneath.

copenhagen s tartelet is returning to their roots with a dancefloor-focused ep, pizza trance, from dirk 81—a.k.a label head emil m. nyholm. having previously dropped a slew of tracks as muff deep and ctepeo 57 (with max graef), the dj and producer is blessing the universe with three cuts of dancefloor heaven under a new moniker lifted from his days tagging concrete walls in the 90s. influences draw everywhere from disco, to african hi-life, dub, underworld, a few old trance records, and timeless house music.

recorded over a year in berlin and copenhagen, the record kicks off with -m.f.c-, a disco-afro-house hybrid oozing with roland jupiter 6 keys and some funky drums processed on old equipment from the former ussr. the b-side spreads things deep and delicious with -pizza trance (main mix),- a euphoric serving of sounds that substitutes pepperonis and pineapples for glittering sequencers and a bangin bass drum.

the ep s closer tastes like a bit of both, mixing up some more acid sounds into the recipe for a retro-sounding house track. it s another tasty delight from the label that will fulfil any and all late-night cravings, especially if you fiend for neapolitan pizza.. leave room for seconds.

ess o ess (aka chris stoker and jamie blanco) return to not an animal to further indulge in the organic house territories previously mined for the previous releases. the duo have an uncanny nack for deftly balancing the rockier end of disco with the authenticity of early house, and never more so than on -secret place. the original bounces and struts in a pleasingly groove laden hypnotic fashion, while the dub version turns down the guitars and turns up the synthesisers for a more heads-down dance floor excursion. on remix detail kuniyuki takahashi makes his 1st appearance on the label. on the vinyl you ll find an interpretation which can be best be described as pitched-down balearic-techno, which clicks, clacks and folds upon itself, drowning in waves of reverbed drama-drums at a deceptively low tempo. kuniyuki also provides a second remix as a digital exclusive, mildly pulling back on the pomp of the vinyl version, but replacing it with a spacious pathos, complete with backwards guitars that reminiscent of an electronic within without you era beatles. angaphora make their naar debut with their own wildly stirring remix of the lead track, which evokes the golden era of 80s melodic pop music to bewildering success, laden with digitised emotion, singing ebow guitar, and not a kick drum in site.

vol. 8 with more stunning jungle

the shadows is the new album from leeds-based six-piece tomorrow we sail. building on their debut release for those who caught the sun in flight (gizeh, 2014) over the course of three years, this new work combines perfectly the soaring atmospherics, gorgeously intertwined vocal harmonies and dramatic shifts in tone and dynamics that have come to characterise tomorrow we sail’s sound. yet, there is a new sense of urgency here. very much an album of its time, the shadows draws upon the same sense of connection to both past and present that defined its precursor but features storytelling that’s even more defiant and deeply personal.

like its predecessor, the record features seven songs but from the chiming guitars of opening track side by side it is clear that the stately pace of for those who caught the sun in flight has made way for a far more dynamic and driving energy, perhaps best captured in the righteous anger of the ghost of john maynard keynes. tomorrow we sail still invoke a keen sense of measured grace in their songwriting - from the sweeping, elegiac title track, through to the sparse, restrained, yet haunting beauty of winifred and to sleep. urgent, yet assured, the shadows demands your attention.

after a more than well-received first release, black carpet returns with 4 fresh industrial tinged techno behemoths. the amsterdam centred producer shrouds has been given the honours to do so, with zhark veteran huren on remix duty.

the cosmic perspective lands on eternal friction records for the labels second output. dark quadrant takes you once more on a journey into space. further exploring the boundaries of the techno landscape. drifting down ever deeper into the incomprehensible vastness of the universe.

we re not sure who s behind the mysterious ac-exp project, but the shadowy figure returns with more of that strange, submerged house music he s been tickling discerning djs with over the past few years. after taking last year off, 1a is a fine place to start things up again with a strutting jack track carrying acidic synth pulses that flirt with measured delay processing. its a jam that sounds steamy and sinister all at once. 1b maintains this restrained but seductive vibe with the slightly trancey throb of the lead synths pivoting around the snappy drums to great effect.

the third 12-inch record by native response is here. nr003: ornithogallum ep by human space machine. this time the record’s significantly more focused towards the dance floor, blending functional techno grooves with cosmic synths and arpeggios. human space machine is part of the native response crew, and makes his debut release on the imprint. on remix duty this time is the almighty eduardo de la calle.

as mosaic reaches release number 40, steve o sullivan dives into another studio collaboration with his new label mate and expert hand, mike schommer - bringing in the talents of rod modell on remix duties. etching two slices of dub heavy grooves that cover either side of the techno and house spectrum, their first effort emphasises the former on title track -submerged- (b1). it doesn t pull any punches - precision moulded bass takes centre stage around evolving synths and classic delay action. their 2nd -depth charge dub- (b2) leans more towards the latter as the duo focus on the combination of a rolling sub, laidback percussion and subtle stabs that cycle gently around. the cherry on top comes in the form of rod modell s -deepchord s negative-space exploration version- as he takes a 9 min trip to the hinterland of his sonic imagination, elegantly finding new layers and spatial effects. call it what you will, dubbed out house with a splash of techno or dubbed out techno with a splash of house - this is heavyweight material.

the french duo klash point , who have already enjoyed djs support from the likes of minimal techno scene, hot on the heels of their module records debut with their -persistence e.p.-, is back with four tracks of roughened groove , this new -mono phase e.p.- is likely to attract even more attention. side a ,-mono phase- is just the true definition of a deep techno mood! and -stockholm- rocks around an hypnotic rolling groove that as it perpetually twists and turns. side b ,-kologne- push up you higher with its straight atmospheric synth ... and with textures and tones nodding to both berlin and detroit, once again there s a strong sense of timelessness and versatility to play -dolby-.

parisian producer brice groulier has built a reputation as one of the new guard of techno artists to watch closely with consistently high quality sub aquatic, rhythm shifting techno for labels like semantica, midgar, planet rhythm, and modularz. while looking for music that integrated with our grey area releases, we found ourselves blending more von grall tunes than any other artist, so a horo release was requested. what originally began as a 4 track ep bloomed into an 8 track debut album that sees von grall expand his style beyond the muscular but hazy rhythmic mist he has become known for. the title track infinitum opens the lp like a contemplative bubble. hyper density and inside are pensive, evocative jogs, while emerald city and disturbance ramp up the energy and will be the most favoured floor tunes from infinitum. antonym allegory combines the von grall rhythmic bounce with an emotive pad that will echo in your mind long after listening. motel closes the lp with a quirky, almost joyful flow. infinitum wanders confidently into new ground for von grall and cements him as a versatile and singular voice in techno.

melbournes short black label has been relatively sporadic with its releases up until now, having started back in 2013 with matt kennedys together at 2am ep and dropping the third release on the label back in 2016, rustal s privilege. hopefully this excellent new transmission from newcomer tristan kino will be the start of more productivity from the crew. the ep starts off in fine style with the nervy, reduced acid twitch of yggdrassil, while at the other end of the record niddhog presents a tougher, darker throwdown crafted for seedy techno dancefloors. johannes volk has been snapped up for remix duties, and does a sterling service with the metallic clang of his version of niddhog.

the second series of jacks tracks va vol 2 presents 4 distinctively different tracks from both established and upcoming talent. first up on the a side is alex arnout from dogmatik records with hypersomnia, which is a tough rolling number with haunting subtle keys laid over the top. then a2, the talented tuccillo from unblock with his track another day brings a deep skippy house vibe with some cool vocal snippets over the top driven by its baseline. on the b side are more tech house flavours and fabric resident legend terry francis presents jua which is a timeless house number previously unreleased , now signed and ready for an official vinyl release. last but not least, young new talent kilian vega with ardour, a groovy infectious rolling underground house vibe. in short, an ep with 4 strong individual tracks from sincere and dedicated music makers.

always a reliable destination for cult talents operating on exciting frontiers of techno, meandyou this time shine a light on j.s. zeiter, who adopts the analog 1 alias for some dense, meticulously crafted trips into the strange psychedelic underbelly of dub techno. sm4l features pastoral chord swells straining behind a babbling brook of high frequency sound design, while mistral takes a classical approach to ambient composition, all yearning arpeggios and lingering keys. interlude is a brief twirl around blown out drums and textural impulses, and then skiv loop (rework) sets a more positive tone for the end of the ep, pushing classic dub techno sounds into a hazy, summery space away from the usual icy tundra the genre normally inhabits.