alan abrahams aka portable aka bodycode is an artist very much defined by his past and his journey from south africa to paris via berlin and lisbon has seen him develop into a critically acclaimed producer, singer and video artist working with some of the biggest players in house and techno. part of his constant drive to evolve and challenge himself, this autumn abrahams launches new project ranger, teaming up with london label waella s choice for the debut release. the five tracks on portable presents ranger are a delicate mélange of jazz , soul and electronic and one of abraham s most explicit nods to his south african roots. on the a-side, the ep makes a steady start with bazokonwaba accompanied by a lullaby from south african a capella group korus, hailing from the small township of mbekweni in the western cape. they also feature heavily on the ep s most exuberant moment in nomaliso - already a favourite in esa s recent boiler room - and the more languid b-side opener indaba with a choir of cowbells all harmonizing in unison. reset and vessel provide a self-reflective conclusion to the ep, holding their own as instrumentals with cameroonian bass player stan on bass and parisian saxophonist chisneg lending a hand on the latter. early support from tama sumo, lakuti, gilles peterson, rinse fm, esa, stamp the wax, dimensions recordings

originally released in 1986, nowa aleksandria caught brilliantly the cold, sultry atmosphere of the dark times of last years of communism in poland. influenced by british post punk heroes like joy division and killing joke the album represents nowdays one of the most important records in the history of polish rock.

known by genre aficionados as one of the greatest singers and most riveting stage presences in soul music, jackie shane has remained largely unknown outside toronto, where her career briefly flowered in the 1960s. beyond her unmistakable gift of the gab, shane is a pioneer of transgender rights, born in a male body but unabashedly living her entire life as a woman at a time when to do so seemed unthinkable. any other way is the first artist-approved collection of ms. shanes work, ollecting all six of her 45s and every highlight from the legendary 1967 live sessions at the sapphire tavern, including three mind blowing, previously- unreleased tracks. rob bowman’s 20.000 word essay is jackies first communication with the public in nearly half a century, telling for the first time ever jackie shanes story in her own words. this deluxe two album set is copiously illustrated with never-before seen pictures from a career and a life unlike any other.

following the success of our recent reissues of classic tracks from the vaults team-jalapeno decided to start 2018 strong with another 7inch release of two certified bangers from our very own breaks legends skeewiff. our dear label co-founders and creative minds whose four skeewiff albums set the agenda for the jalapeno funk machine that you know and love alex rizzo and elliot ireland have never been found wanting. these guys are the godfathers of the lounge and breaks scenes, they put the fun into funk, and if rumours are to be believed they could mix before they could walk! from the very first opening horns salvo on mexican flyer you know this track means business. a driving bassline and in-your-face drums provide the backdrop for all sorts of sonic madness with dj cuts, horn solos and breaks galore. it s a bona-fide fiesta that fits neatly in your 45s bag. with this little number in the arsenal the only worry that the djs will have is the stampede to the dancefloor. over on the flipside delta dawn sees the guys get a little help from a famously little lady with one of the most recognisable voices in country music. but make no mistake this is no barn dance… breaks, bass and a healthy dose of hammond wizardry inject the funk into proceedings to complete this 7inch club weapon of mass destruction. it s a double act that s up there with the best of them and a must have for fans of jalapeno and high quality party music

all recorded live in one or two takes most, using a roland mc 505, roland aira tr8, some fx pedals, recorded in cassette on a tascam 424. wich is the same set up i use to play live today. i cant remember now , but maybe 2 was recorded directly in the computer, live,in 1 channel.

double vinyl release, including download code and 12x12 inch foto book.
for the past two years, nils frahm has been building a brand new studio in berlin to make his 7th studio album titled all melody, which will be released on january 26th, 2018 via erased tapes, before nils embarks on his first world tour since 2015.
since the day nils first encountered the impressive studio of a family friend, he had envisioned to create one of his own at such a large scale. fast forward to the present day and nils is now the proud host of saal 3, part of the historical 1950s east german funkhaus building beside the river spree. it is here where he has spent most of his time deconstructing and reconstructing the entire space from the cabling and electricity to the woodwork, before moving on to the finer elements, building a pipe organ and creating a mixing desk all from scratch with the help of his friends. this is somewhere music can be nurtured and not neglected, and where he can somewhat fulfil his pursuit of presenting music to the world as close to his imagination as possible.

after the success of his recent comeback ep entitled exiles ep, the icelandic artist cold shows us that he is here to stay and ready to make his mark in the international techno scene. dub safari offers us intricate soundscapes and otherwordly chords which are impeccably assembled into five minimal techno masterpieces. a side starts with a dreamy voyage where ethereal pads seamingly blend with punctuating kick and a acid bassline. second cut gives us a darker experience. a pulsating groove where chords and percussions offer an interesting sonic playfulness. b-side offers three minimalistic techno tracks ready for both the dancefloor as well as for dancefloor within your mind. thule records is considered by many to be a pioneers in the field of dub-influenced techno music and was a starting point for many of iceland s most renowned electronic musicians

reissue! ae recordings is the infamous sublabel of thule records, which was responsible for some of the finest techno releases from iceland in the early 2000s. this collaboration between two titans of the icelandic electronic music scene, thor & yagya, was one of the pedestals of the thule musik dynasty. originally released in 1998, it still stands the test of time even ages gracefully like a good red wine, where the the harsh tannins of its youth gradually give way to a softer mouthfeel. ooger deliveres finely crafted techno with glacial atmosphere a blend thule records has long time ago perfected. the phuture isn t what it used to be the phuture is cow. ae recordings/thule records is considered by many to be a pioneers in the field of dub-influenced techno music and was a starting point for many of iceland s most renowned electronic musicians.

version galore is a newly found label, deeply rooted in the music culture. we bring you the selected reworks / versions from the top producers in the game, showing lots of respect and care for the original, but elevating it s spirit and taking it somewhere else. it s all about the dialogue of cultures and the idealistic desire to pass the music legacy on! no half-measures, played-out tunes, lazy cuts, or boring 808-kick boosting biz! k2 is an alias of someone who you should be very familiar with by now, especially if interested in quality house music. no clues? he the music legend from baltimore, one of the most versatile and technically-gifted djs on the scene, a master of cdjs, who singlehandedly restored public s interest in gospel music with his ultimate dance bomb work it out. still hesitant? ok we ll help you its the one and only karizma!

as ever, the next project on opilec music is one with a rich back story this time paying homage to a very specific disco scene of the early 80s: it finds label boss i-robots turning out one of his brilliant reconstructions, namely of a classic and cult track by one hit wonders ahzz. this track was first released on land of hits, a label run by peter brown (who also wrote -material girl- for madonna) and michael campbell and has now been officially licensed for this reissue by opilec music. the track, new york s movin was huge on the new york disco scene and was played by the likes of david mancuso at the loft, larry levan at the paradise garage and by nicky siano at studio 54, but continued to be a big hit with modern new york tastemakers kenny dope, dj spinna, danny krivit and his body & soul party crew well into the 90s, as well as with stars like motor city drum ensemble and bulljun. i-robots is a notorious producer and record collector with a vast understanding of the history of house and disco and his version combines an original vocal and instrumental version into something really magical. new york s movin (i-robots reconstruction take i) is a jangling, organic and lose limbed disco number with a funky drum line, soul in its bones and plenty of lovably rough percussion, clicks and drums. a retro and impassioned vocal line adds flair to the track at the midpoint just before that groove kicks once more. this version is featured on the new i-robots - reconstructions 2007-2017 10th year anniversary release. new york s movin (i-robots reconstruction take ii) is then just as emotive and outgoing but after the break has more of a focus on funk. this is a huge party starting track filled with feel good vibes and once again proves opilec music work on only the most special projects.

surely no other orchestra can claim the dancefloor kudos of these guys - the salsoul orchestra. theyve literally played on, shaped, crafted and executed numerous classics since their inception in 1975. as salsoul records in-house band they were quite literally, instrumental, in the personality and sound of one of dance musics most famous and respected labels.

pink’s debut album “can’t take me home” from 2000 back on 180 gram double vinyl with download code included.

cut super loud to wax, for those needing touchstone points of reference, we d liken elements to the work of everyone from jean-claude risset, jam city, lorenzo senni, optical and gesloten cirkel. yet, the deeper in you go, the more that contraposition reveals itself to be one of the most original and devastating 12inchs you are gonna come across this decade or next.

hot creations is home to some of the industrys most valuable players. next year, darius syrossian will make a welcome return to the label with his heavy hitting two-parter, moxy, following on from 2013s whos the douche? ep. kicking off proceedings is moxy. six minutes of pure, raw, industrial bass littered with a smattering of high-hats and a break down that will leave you begging for more. the flip side serves up more peak-time goodness with hi, its me. a driving, throbbing bassline thumps over wobbling synths with a female vocal stating that she does not do vip clubs or bottle service bullshit! darius syrossian has made quite the mark on the industry. he began releasing music in 2009 and his proceeding career has seen him release a slew of dancefloor hits on labels such as viva music, 20/20 vision and get physical music, as well as collaborations with steve lawler, josh butler and sidney charles. hes also held down residencies at some of the world’s most influential clubs and has become an essential part of the ibizan summer seasons.

pain & pleasure ep is the 8th release on roberts own brooklyn based label night moves records. presenting her most recent collaboration with the first lady of beatdown, lady blacktronika. already played by lady blacktronika, james duncan releases on sound kemystry, a friend in need, boutade music.

this one is for people who like the real disco tools. for dudes who love the style of dj harvey, prins thomas or todd terje. for djs that want the girls to dance. toy tonics lead honcho black loops teamed up with italo-spanish dj innocent soul in his berlin studio. do we have to introduce black loops? not really: he started his career on toy tonics three years ago. meanwhile did 5 eps on the label - including his main club hit sex (that was one of the 50 most sold house tracks on beatport in 2016). innocent soul is a young italian living in barcelona where he is a quite established kid in the nightlife scene. vittorio rinaldi his name. he is resident dj at space music garden project and resident for the modular project at city hall. like black loops he is not really innocent. at least if it comes to music. he is a huge lover and collector of disco, afro, black, raw and house music vinyl. you can hear the influences in this ep for sure. rollin. this ep is a bomb.

12 rhythms as the name already suggests, is a collection series on alma negra records. each issue is dedicated to a specific rhythm based on its groove stemming from its cultural origins. in a world surrounded by a plethora of grooves and rhythms, we have selected those which influenced us or just simply liked the most. the first issue and first release on alma negra records is dedicated to the unmistakable rhythms of brazil. growing up surrounded by the rich sounds from traditional to totally experimental, brazilian music has heavily influenced our own sound and direction.

it has now been 6 years that we have launched rora to share our passion and vision of music. we are really happy to celebrate our 15th release, and what a better artist than mp to sign it! year after year, mihai popescu has established his unique style, and he is to us one of the most talented romanian producer. five years after rora002, soulsity s label boss is back with a massive ep and a very special artwork of his own. we hope you will like it as much as we do! rora

the immense popular debut album by the corrs is available on vinyl for the first time ever!
forgiven, not forgotten is the debut album by the corrs. the album was primarily produced by david foster, with additional production by jim corr. it became internationally popular, but nowhere more so than their homeland, where the lp’s four-times-platinum status made it one of the most popular debuts by an irish group.
pressing on 180 gram audiophile vinyl.

hike: cristal clear lakes, impressive mountains, soothing forests and berlin techno music. the tazekka national park in morocco features forests of cork oak and holm oak, caves, canyons, rural landscapes, cascades and a mountain jbel tazekka which is some 1.980 meters high. its a joy to hike through, yet it flies under the radar of most visitors to morocco. sometimes, if youre really lucky, you can find a beautiful aragonite near a spring in one of the beautiful caves, that belong to the national park.

der in aus chicago stammende rapper & produzent saba hat schon eine reihe von mixtapes veröffentlicht und arbeitete mit chance the rapper zusammen. zuletzt sang er die hook auf seinem song angels. bucket list projet ist sein viel beachtetes album aus dem herbst 2016 mit gastauftritten von twiste, noname, jean deaux, matthew santos und anderen. nun erscheint es als streng limitierte vinylauflage als farbige 180g pressung.

blurt are perhaps the act who have played live at optimo more than any other. active for close to 40 years they are one of the uk’s all time great acts, phenomenal live and on record and supremely underrated. blurt mainman ted milton is a living legend. now in his 70s but more vibrant on stage than most artists 50 years his junior, he is a man of many talents, artist, poet, musician, performer…. in 1984 he released a solo 12”, “love is like a viol&#275,nce”, a no doubt accidental dancefloor gem completely out of kilter with any other music of the era that now makes total sense in 2017. dubbed-out stabs, programmed rhythm, trademark sax squeals and a more subdued than normal vocal that is strangely reminiscent of vincent price. thee definition of a cult classic and much in demand, side a of this 12” presents the a and b side (the equally outre “it’s only recently that stalins have begun to roost”) of this mighty 12” on one side of vinyl.

optical s whats the difference finally sees the light of day on wax. one of his most revered tracks, some 20+ years on it still sounds like the future. masterful! and if that wasn t enough, the matrix remix of medicine is thrown in for good measure on the flip.

* 2017 year marks ten years of integral records and looking back upon the label’s incredible back catalogue, what a decade it has been for drum & bass music that we hold so close. * initially set up as a passion project and a platform for showcasing future talent, the label has been consistently releasing cutting edge drum and bass since 2007. the ethos of the label has always been about quality control and finding those special vibes that no question capture heart and soul. honing their unique musical language, selections are carefully handpicked by head honchos artificial intelligence and more recently in collaboration with label manager emma g that fit with the forward thinking, original spirit we know as integral. * now 40-odd releases deep and renowned for breaking some of the most exciting artists on the roster today, the label also boasts signature classics from some of the scenes most prolific residents. names include the likes of lenzman, lomax (one half of loadstar), alix perez, calibre, system, zero t, technicolour & komatic (technimatic), lsb, steo, dawn wall, mohican sun, phil tangent, satl and just recently, a.i. themselves. * celebrating the seminal journey thus far, a double album will mark this very special occasion. part one will showcase a selection of the finest from over the years in a chronological journey of the label’s sound (for digitial release.) a second curation will simultaneously launch across all formats of entirely new and most exclusive material to date, from residents a.i., lenzman, mohican sun, satl, phil:osophy, scar, zero t, drs and more.

2018 repress ,how much do you really know about nina kraviz? shes a russian techno dj, an accomplished producer, one of dance musics breakthrough names of the last five years. true enough, but theres so much more to her story than that. shes one of electronic musics most interesting characters, someone who has stuck to her musical guns since day one, someone who has wide-ranging roots that run deep in the past, yet shes also the embodiment of the future. her signature sound is a raw blend of house and techno with a very acidic feel. if that feels very now, kraviz has a lot to do with it, which is why she was asked to mix the latest instalment of !k7s landmark dj kicks series.

killekill house trax is going strong – this time with a 4-tracker by the incredible andreas gehm. he sent us the music shortly before his death and said we could pick any of his artist names and his only condition was that the music was released on vinyl. only after his death we realized that he had obviously already taken a decision then… so we are releasing this record now as an homage to one of the most creative and funniest persons in the electronic universe of the last decade. the ep includes all his typical styles and ranges from hard jacking acid house over weirdo electro house to old school chicago- leaning piano house. a timeless record for all situations. may you rest in peace, andreas, and thanks for still rocking our floors, even when you are long gone!

(320 pages, hard cover) the dj heroes of edm have millions of fans all over the world. but all those heroes are, in turn, fans of one man: rutger geerling aka rudgr.the legendary photographer releases a 320-page, 2.5 kilogram coffee table book capturing his most memorable shots.

for house heads of a certain persuasion, dj duke is a name that resonates for all the right reasons. the u.s. veteran has been responsible for some of the 90’s most seminal moments, chiefly through tracks such as 12 minutes to do it (under his pleasure dome alias), party time and the prosumer-endorsed deep house classic, heard. he returns here courtesy of emerging imprint solo werks, who host his latest ep, green pastures. a momentous house-led workout, it compounds duke’s reputation as a producer of considerable panache while also acting as an auspicious start to life for the dublin based label. the title track is a grainy, old-school cut that bears all the hallmarks of a dusty analogue-jam and harks back to the days of vintage chicago with the sort of zest you’d expect from a man of duke’s credentials. the other original, skyscapes, is packed to the brim with industrial motifs and is characterised by the sort of effortlessly catchy baseline with which duke has made his name. mysterious and ethereal, it takes the listener on an uncompromising and throughly captivating house journey from the off. on the flip side, we have two stunning remixes, the first of which arrives from new jersey don, ruben candelario aka nicuri. a long-time favourite of nyc-based producers a la joey anderson, nicuri turns green pastures into a dreamy, acid-led space, adding layers of suspense and a glittering vocal intto the mix as he goes. last but not least are dublin-based producers slowburn, who serve up a stunning version of skyscapes. a carefully construed voyage into the deep, it caps off a fine ep with some aplomb.

mother of mars is the latest evolution of vito & druzzi, two new yorkers who have provided the 21st century with some of its most innovative dance music. the duo first came to fame as the rhythmic backbone of the rapture, nyc pioneers who found global fame with their angular post-punk and howling disco. since then vito & druzzi have had a prolific career as remixers and producers, producing leftfield disco killers for a range of labels including warp and throne of blood. seed 2 sky their first release as mother of mars sees the duo fuse live krautrock drums with pulsating synth loops, creating two epics of space and rhythm that owe a debt to 70s kosmische pioneers like tangerine dream.

the third outing for modern manners emerges on the back of two very strong 12inches that introduced this anonymous outfit to the world. timeless vibe continues where the last release left off, building up a wonderfully cosmic bed of processed melody under which casual hand played percussion and warm bass notes can linger. azzahar too keeps things pleasantly soporific with its gentle pace and lilting guitar refrains, and then middle east manners rounds this excellent trio of eps out with a beautifully realised swirl of sounds that find focus once a kick drum starts pulsing and the percussion starts building. quite who modern manners are is a mystery at this stage, but across these three 12inches they ve certainly made their presence felt in the softest, most laid back of ways.

first ever vinyl remastered reissue of this sought-after synth-pop /cosmic disco / funk / boogie album from 1983! lots of vocoder, analogue synths & keyboards, heavy drum machines, spacey vocals, bossa / brazilian touches, cosmic effects. the rah band was the brainchild of legendary english producer & arranger richard hewson. they debuted in 1977 with the cosmic glam hit the crunch, on which richard, an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, played all the instruments himself. in 1983, he released going up the second rah band album, where he also played most of the instruments himself, helped by several drummers, a brass section and the sweet vocals of his wife liz hewson. including massive club classics like messages from the stars, perfumed garden and more.

we have encountered ice dog during one sunny belgrade afternoon while he was chasing what he was calling fish (actually slavic seniors transformed into dolphins and dolphin is not a fish). he might or might not told us the fore-coming story: a man complains of being hungry. all the time. dogs it seems are never hungry. so the man decides to become a dog. to be a dog one must walk on all fours. the hero decides to wear shoes on his hands only to discover that there is no hand left to tie the laces on the fourth shoe. what does a shoe-shod dog tie laces with? its mouth. organ by organ the man becomes a dog. one lace at a time his record transformed us into a new type of misunderstood creatures. most of the tracks are surprisingly fast and playable yet broken while others are groovy however noisy. i am pretty sure you havent heard anything like it before. but what do i know i’m a fish.
ice dog is an alias of 33.10.3402.
cover by martyna bolanowska / kaja kukul, a mastered by tim xavier at manmade mastering.

absolutely stellar proto-disco jam from 1975 on the minute shield label, nassau countys hokis pokis may not be the most well known of funk / soul outfits but that doesnt mean they groove any less than any of the big guns!

sterns edits returns after the sell-out success of its debut edition with another two catalogue reworks from ben gomori. this time he turns his attention to burkina faso s much-loved taxi-driver-turned-singer, amadou balaké. balaké ( porcupine in mandinka) is burkina faso s proudest musical export, and in 2013 he recorded his final album before passing away: in conclusion. the record saw him revisit some of his most popular tracks from his remarkable 50-year career, backed by an eight-piece burkinabé band who took the country s traditional sounds and brought them into a contemporary light. gomori retains the essence of the original recordings which were mostly captured in one take and marries them to vigorous afro-house stylings. bar konon mousso (musicien c est pas quelqu un) in which balaké tells of a bar lady being unimpressed by his profession, gets a gentle push towards the modern dancefloor, its wonderful sax lines resplendent. massa kamba is taken for a drive down the more traditional route, with commanding drums bolstering the original grooves and a marvelous triple harmony brass section at its core. balakes freewheeling style suits the hypnotic feel of the edits to a tee. sterns edits is an official collaboration between african music stalwarts sterns music and london s ben gomori.

one of the most diligent underground djs from the ranks of detroits finest, whose bodacious style has bubbled up from the underground to become highly in demand by the house scenes tastemakers, detroits filthiest stays true to name with his debut for defected. since he was sampled by disclosure on bang that, detroits filthiests genre-hopping abilities have really resonated. the pounding 4/4 beat is infectious and the sass-laden vocal hook is hard to forget after being blasted out relentlessly throughout the year. defected draft in the skills of belgian nu disco king aeroplane for this special 12inch vinyl package, delivering as always with a melodic electro-influenced banger, shining a whole new light on amina ya heards vocal attitude. the 12inch comes equipped with instrumental versions of the original and aeroplanes remix, plus the accapella, making this the most complete dj-friendly package available.

following the release of synkro aka joe mcbride collection of his formative early works earlier this year, apollo recordings is proud to present a brand new ep that draws on the rich heritage of library music. despite having come up during the dubstep era mcbrides music has always resisted easy classification - hand in hand sees him shift his musical focus in a yet more cinematic direction. mcbride explains: the record was inspired and influenced by my love of electronic 80s uk library records like the chappell av series, bruton, soundstage & de wolfe music library. theres a lot of synth work that carries on from my album using my trusted juno-6 / sh101 / jx8p combo with the addition of drum samples via an old akai s2800 i purchased recently. most sounds ive made from scratch on hardware based on sounds used in the library records i mentioned above along with a few cheeky samples.- synkro s signature expansive atmospherics are still very much present, but now they have been burnished by soaring synth pads and pulsing drum tracks that call to mind the haunted melancholy of john carpenter or contemporary such as legowelt or andy stott. rhythmically hand in hand sees mcbride moving somewhat away from his usual off kilter programming inspired by 2-step and garage, embracing the steady pulse of 4:4 which turns out to be an effortless fit.

2017 has seen many a debutant on toolroom and this could be the most exciting one yet as we welcome format:b to the toolroom family! the german tech house duo have been ruling dance floors for over 10 years now and most recently had their biggest success story when dance giants ministry of sound snapped up their chunky release that went on to hit the overall top 40 in the uk charts. this ep see s 2 slabs of pure tech house hedonism with the scoop leading the way. quirky, catchy synth hooks, powerful drums, a driving bass line and bundles of energy ensure that this track causes absolute carnage on the dance floor every time it s dropped! the flip continues where this leaves off with a raucous tech house groove and some great little vocal hooks and again, as we have come to expect with every format:b production, the energy levels are through the roof.

after exploring georgian soundscapes, the intergalactic research institute for sound is honored to reissue stanislav tolkachevs blue mood. first released on aftertaste recordings in 2008, this masterpiece is in the institutes opinion one of the most impressive work of the ukrainian artist. for the occasion, stanislav created the artwork for the record in order to complement or maybe represent an idea behind the release. the institute plans to ask artists to deliver also a visual on top of their sound communication on the label. limited copies of blue mood will include a photography of tolkachev’s artwork. absolute limit, which finds itself on the b side, is a brand new track by tolkachev. as usual he delves deeper into abstract and distorted techno, delivering a truly mental cut.

the industrial project of oliver ho and tommy gillard at its most subversive and evocative, with two preoccupations threaded throughout: middle-eastern percussion, most vivid in the chimes of casting and the driving doumbek rhythms of burning and the sands and the structural iteration of chaos, underlying a collage of wild left-turns, scornful of repetitive hooks and other musical routines. early birds bag a 7inch by hos desert burials, evoking classic punk/funk hybrids like cabaret voltaire.

takeshi fukushima aka takecha, gwm is one of the most important artist in 90s japanese house music scene. this release compiles his unreleased recordings between 1993 and 1996. all the tracks are newly mastered from the original dat tapes. gwm is most known as the label where soichi terada had releases.

takeshi fukushima aka takecha, gwm is one of the most important artist in 90s japanese house music scene. this release compiles tracks from -deep loop- released in 1995 and -jazz sauce- released in 1996 from gwm. gwm is most known as the label where soichi terada had releases.

agorias second outing on sapiens presents some of his most uncompromising work to date. boomerang manifests live percussion and analog pulse waves, rising through shepard tone drama and succinct, minimalist form. three additional solo performances accompany the title track - a clin doeil to the minimalist french synth pioneers of yesteryear. an exercise in humanity.

in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the original arcade release, ship to shore phonoco. is proud to present the vinyl edition of hisayoshi ogura’s score to taito’s darius. one of the most heralded soundtracks in the expansive zuntata canon, darius sounds as fresh and innovative as it did when its sounds filled arcades back in 1987. ogura’s score combines pulsing rhythms with an experimental, avant-garde bent, giving darius high octane action a unique counterpoint. housed in a gatefold jacket and featuring liner notes by both ogura and gamesradar.com writer anthony agnello, darius is available on coloured vinyl.

joran van pol is back on minus with edge, a fantastic four track ep that is his first on the label since 2013. in the years since, the amsterdam based artist has set up his own fade label and has continued to evolve his cinematic techno sound. previously, van pol has also released on labels like rejected, sci+tec and ideal audio, and has the support of all the big techno players who often reach for his tunes in their sets. as a dj he is just as in demand, with headline slots everywhere from space ibiza to time warp all behind him. having recently set up a new studio, he is still coming on strong with fresh inspiration and ever more essential grooves. ‘illos opens things with seven spooky minutes of icy techno. rolling rubbery drums pump away below, and the details up top make for an evocative soundscape with distant industrial sounds, groaning bass and razor sharp hi hats all filling your mind with imagery. next comes title track ‘edge, another brilliant sonic landscape with tense chords repeating over ticking percussion. its a track that builds tension throughout, and keeps you looking over your shoulder into the eerie blackness. the perfectly high pressure ‘return is one that locks you in and never lets up, with warped synths snaking above traintrack like drums and hits. a dark, rumbling bassline and the sounds of pistons releasing air all add to the intensity of this brainmelting bit of futuristic techno. last but not least, ‘frostbite is then the most spacious and spooky offering of the lot. it has freaky alien sound designs scattered around the track with supple kicks driving the whole thing forwards. its an absorbing cut that hurries along and takes you for a thrilling ride. these are four more inventive techno tracks from one of the contemporary scenes brightest stars.

key selling points the chorus: that moment where everyone connects and participates in unity. a moment anyone whos shared a dancefloor can recognise whether its a festival arena, subterranean dark room or an illegal rave in a field, warehouse or any abandoned canvas between… like the ones colognes julian stetter has come from. inspired by subversive communities, all pulling together for a greater cause, his background in underground parties can be felt in everything hes done so far: his work with the ancient future now label, his vast imaginative techno constructions and now his work with jennifer cardinis long-standing community correspondant with the widescreen odyssey that is ‘chorus six slices of evocative narrative-rich electronic soul inspired by his on-going international experiences on the road, loaded with poignant introspection, thunderous rumbles and playful theatrics, the ep is bookended by two versions of ‘chorus, a vision of scorching hope and lift that can seize a full floors attention in seconds and full live up to the tracks title, message and meaning. by far julians most significant solo ep to date, this is a moment for us all to connect and participate. join in if you know the chorus

finally here we are with the fourth release on last drop records, signed by the london-based stavrogin. collectors takes a more subdued approach from his debut on australian label 3bs, focusing on ampdriven ambient textures and digital experimentation. sixty acres is a juddering mass of static textures and penetrative low end, forcing itself to a crumbled close. title track collectors is something like the afterglow. weary and destitute, the track stumbles through heatwave soaked atmospheres, fragmented voices stuttering like a malfunctioning android. are these actual miles? is perhaps the most direct, with its tremors of noise punctuated by a rhythmic pulse. this is a feature italian duo ichinen have capitalised on in their closing remix, reducing the track to a warbling, dead-eyed drum workout.

kalakuta soul records joins forces with waf80music to proudly present kai niggemanns solo debut, an all original album of outrageous poetically abstract music created live and without overdubs on a buchla 200e electric music box, one of the rarest and most sought after electronic music instruments. working on the platform since 2013, kai niggemann has become one of germanys leading artists who perform live with a buchla 200e. his style is an electro-acoustic storytelling, a clubby dreamscape and a poetically-abstract kraut-infused energetic mix of new elektronische musik with contemporary club culture. nerds love the technology and clubbers love the throbbing drive of the basslines. its all improvised and recorded live in berlin — yet it sounds meticulously crafted in a dark basement studio throughout the entire last winters.

taylor freels has built quite a strong catalog over the years. his work under his urulu moniker, is widely regarded as top quality deep house and the banshee ep continues in this fashion. the title track has a dreamlike atmosphere to it. the banshee is a work that will strike a chord with lovers of the ocean-influenced sounds and hazy atmospheres. a strong presence of strings and dubby sounds, create a certain laidback mood that is perfect for sun drenched days in the park. chicagoan producer garrett david builds on the hazy atmospheres of the original, while adding some melodic elements to his remix of the banshee where he cleverly shifts between scales and different moods.
quadrant beat is a warm track that is built around warm chords and fashionable drum sounds. again, urulu makes sure to weave some outgoing dub elements into this b-side opening track. romance track is most likely one of the berlin based producer’s most melodic works to date. beautifully executed piano hits flow together seemingly easy over a sturdy rhythm that serves as the track’s backbone. the banshee ep is a work of lush deep house and an excellent addition to both urulu’s repertoire and the saft label catalog.

adam beyers drumcode is growing from strength to strength, year after year, with a non-stop release schedule showcasing both the labels new and most established artists with cutting edge techno beats. after 20 years since its inception, drumcode continues to push the boundaries, firmly grounding their position as the worlds no.1 techno label. drumcodes youngest rising star, layton giordani, exploded on to the scene after his debut album >where it begins< back in february, after scoring some of the biggest festivals in europe this summer, he now returns with an exciting collab titled live again. ny born and bred, danny tenaglia has always been a true inspiration for layton since his teenage years, so when the opportunity to collaborate with the fellow ny legend was on the cards, it was a dream come true. danny and layton join forces for the lead track live again . its deep and dark with a slowly building pad wrapping around a modulating synthetic hook. the dark and effected vocal echo takes the track into a hypnotic vibe. ‘take it back delivers a pumping drive the moment it fires up. snapping percussive force and an infectious rhythmic groove will unhinge dance floors nationwide, whilst secrets of vibration has a rattling, yet blistering low end presence to it. the new yorkers unite on this energetic and exciting collab