we have the pleasure to present one of the most awaited album this year!ladies and gentelmen - switch technique - altered. after more than a decade with handfuls of releases and hundreds of hours spent on perfecting his standout sound there has come a time for his fascination of hardcore to take him to a whole new level of music production. switch technique has created a new unique and completely fresh production standard defined by combination hardcore and drumandbass. simultaneously, hes pushing his ideas of regular drumandbass which he loves to interpret and translate into hard oriented techstep and darkstep.

the album is just a few seconds under an hour long, consists of seventeen tracks and covers every style from wonky reggae through pop-funk, street spitting, straight up hip hop, sung ballads and epic death-disco. it deepens much of what mr manuva has already achieved over a glorious decade of innovation, but also throws in enough new ideas and adventures to last most creative artists a lifetime. we think it is his very best work since run come save me. we re wondering (whisper it) whether it might be his best album ever.

the xxlerator concept has become the longest running hardstyle club night of europe. it is one of the most successful nights hosted by club matrixx, where many well-known hardstyle djs have taken their place behind the decks. this particular club has been at the top of the dutch club scene ever since the doors were swung open 10 years ago. it has understandably been voted as the number one club of the netherlands three times. club matrixx stands for quality and they will no doubt prove it to you once more with an incredible compilation cd. behind the scenes, club matrixx teamed up with one of the biggest hardstyle artists in the world today: ran-d. this man has a large amount of memorable sets at parties like defqon.1, decibel, intents festival, emporium and xxlerator. in addition, his discography displays a high rate of quality and quantity with regards to his productions. ran-d pulled out all the stops to put together this cd. the result is a brutal mix with a perfect combination of raw and euphoric tracks. pure hardstyle will project from your speakers with the sounds of italian hardstyle legend the rebelz, a records and gunz for hire colleague adaro and of course the hottest tunes from noisecontrollers. he also added tracks from other great producers such as: alpha, psyko punkz, coone and crypsis. this album puts every hardstyle lover in the party mood and is a must have for any collection.

the cocoon label presents the cocoon morphs tokyo cd, previously released exclusively in japan. presenting exclusive work by artists of the highest cocoon-caliber, cocoon morphs tokyo also celebrates the aesthetic partnership between world-renowned german photographer and artist andreas gursky and cocoon-head sven vaeth. gursky has published a cycle of large-sized pictures with -cocoon- as the central theme: the -cocoon- pictures reference current club culture, with gursky using the big techno events cocoon stages as inspiration. the architectural frame of his work refers to the design of the cocoonclub in frankfurt. the spatial concept was developed by v„th, together with the design agency 3deluxe. in gurskys cover art, you can see the idealized approach to the original cocoon club in all its fervent glory. here, excellent electronic music meets the work of the most important contemporary german artist worldwide - again, cocoon explores new frontiers and combines art forms of the 21st century. artists include: gerber & kalbata, tiefschwarz, pig & dan, vaeth vs. rother, schneider & galluzzi, ricardo villalobos, david k, and patrick zigon.

silent dust is the project of uk duo dan blishen (originally from manchester) and andy hobbs (hailing from kent), who produced drum & bass together for years under the respective monikers zyon base and hobzee. their self-titled debut,silent dust,brings their signature d&b sound into a different light, drawing from a wide range of influences - ambient, drum & bass, garage, dub, breakbeat and soundtracks. the result is a collection of deep, bass-laden productions that sound like absolutely nothing else, filled with lush arrangements, an array of found sounds (footsteps, vinyl crackle, sellotape stretching), cinematic vocal samples and glitchy, idiosyncratic drum programming. the album travels through a wide range of emotions and sounds - from the sublime intensity of the giant (equipped with floating operatic samples and tight drum programming) and the dark atmospheric grace of marlowe, to the weighted basslines of the club-suited zero nine zero and the sheer beauty of winter song lined with strings and a reggae-tinted vocal. though its driven by experimentation, this is a d&b record at heart: even the ambient tracks were written at 160-170 bpm. their debut album was originally signed to soul:r, but was pulled at the last minute: the duo bravely opted to start their own label, none60, to release their tour de force.silent dust is a downtempo, atmospheric album that will become an instant favourite for open minds, and for those who seek something new. one of the most unique records to come out of d&b this decade.

jazz cinema 2, a touching remembrance of poignant love, takes you swimming through the joy of music and serenity and entering into a time of majestic legends. the performers in this album includes jamie cullum, one the most popular jazz singers in the world, stacey kent, a grammy award nominee, peggy lee, who has a great reputation in both singing and film career, nat king cole, one of the most legendary jazz singers, louis armstrong, the swing star, billie holiday, and ella fitzgerald, two of the most honorable jazz queens. their renditions of songs are from inception, the english patient, un homme et une femme, cars, oceans 11, casablanca and the curious case of benjamin button, those romantic melodies which is to remind you of the classic stories and write you an most unforgettable and delicate note in life.

this duo of finnish architects launched their career in 2008 with spraycan on switchs dubsided. they soon found eager champions in the tastemakers at kitsune, sound pellegrino, and the blogtelligensia over at fluokids. by 2010, they were legitimate players, having remixed whomade- who, delphic, crystal fighters, brodinski, crookers, health, and, most recently, azari & iii. a more refined, structural sound emerged on the babbadabba ep on made to play. and the larger scope of their commitment to intelligent design comes to fruition on their upcoming album on turbo, erecting a post-tropical hermitage of dancing manÕs thoughtfunk. the music is highly detailoriented, referencing everything from bass music to curry house, with eyes and ears trained on millennia of art and concept, with a special emphasis on the millennia when music actually existed.

ralph myerz is with no doubt one of the most active music personas of the norwegian music scene. it was the year of 1997 when ralph asked for people to play percussion with him during a party in bergen, norway. the jack herren band showed up through a combination of mutual contacts and high-school friendship. supposedly a one-time-event, they had so much fun playing together that they decided to form a band, and ralph myerz & the jack herren band was formed. the band released a 7inch and a 12inch on the telle records that were followed by great reviews from magazines and dj around europe, including dimitri from paris who included the track nikita on one of his playboy mansion compilations.

darren cunninghams eagerly awaited new album is an adventurous, ultramodern, thoroughly british affair. determinedly off the map and resistant to pigeonholing, cunningham is an enigmatic and playful figure, citing francis bacon and monet as inspirations alongside theo parrish, anthony shake shakir, daft punk, binary codes and numeral systems, and the avengers. the south londoners acclaimed debut lived up to its name: a series of dreamlike sketches and ideas. for splazsh the fog has lifted, the sounds are less submerged than before, but still sticky and close a signature combination of exuberance and introversion, luminescence and puzzlement. actress has quickly and justly become one of the most respected names in the uks new dance music underground.

after what seems like a thousand years of blood, sweat, tears, and a lot more blood, your zombified disc disciples at finders kreepers unveil one of their most essential collections yet. this musical mausoleum of malformed freak funk and dreadful discothque pop has been resurrected from the maligned cinematic subculture of bombays bloodthirsty horror film industry and witnesses the cognoscenti of the bollywood pop scene at their most creative, destructive and experimentally effective. tip!

one of the most referenced producers of the last year and one of the most influential producers on the scene: mk aka marc kinchen presents a sublime collection of his work, much of which has been previously unavailable digitally, on this latest volume in the house masters series. during the halcyon period of house music in the early 90s, marc kinchen became one of the genres most respected producers and in-demand remixers. starting out at an incredibly young age in detroit as a protŽgŽ of techno god kevin saunderson before later moving to new york, he fast became a prolific figure in the dance music community. here twenty of his most influential of recordings are collected and made available completely unedited, unmixed and dj friendly for the very first time. this package includes 9 tracks that have never been made available digitally.

2011 release, the follow up to 2010s successful first volume of bangs & works. the carefully curated compilation showcases chicago footwork, one of the most forward-looking, innovative new styles of electronic music on the planet. footwork is beginning to spread outside of chicago, influencing productions around the world. bangs & works vol. 2 brings the focus back onto chicagos own producers, showing where the real innovation still lies. while its predecessor sticks mainly to the more hallucinatory and left-field elements, this one has a wider remit, ranging from mad techno-style tracks to those that sound like musique concrete gone footwork.

ugly duckling is back with their fifth full length album moving at breakneck speed. after more than a decade in the music business, young einstein, andy cooper and dizzy dustin are well accustomed to the recording process and for their latest lp the boys dug deep into their bag of tricks to create what they feel is their most dynamic and complete release to date. moving at breakneck speed is an exciting and musically exotic, adventure story that has our desperate heroes circling the globe to outrun an evil gang of super criminals determined to put an end to ud once and for all. the record is made up of 14 power packed tracks that showcase ugly duckling s classic production sound and the flavorful, humorously soulful vocal styles of dizzy and andy.

jailbreak at the zoo! totebagz is the collaboration between two of melbournes most daring minds, jerky perky aka misha hallenbach (perks and mini, bamboo musik) and the most excellent surfer/dj biscuit (moonrocks). when theyre not cycling the unknown regions, foraging the bush for >special< funghi or surfing the 50-year storm, theyre oozing tweaked cardboard box techno. on this limited edition disc, the totebagz pile blankets of synth upon deep-fried circuitry upon drum machines that have a mind of their own. to say they take you for a ride would be an understatement. this is what it sounds like when gremlins shack up inside your mixer.

nikki beach mixed by atfc is the second in a series of album collaborations between the worlds leading independent house music label and one of the most exclusive and surprising clubs on the planet. compiled from breathtakingly up-front material, atfc pulls in brand new cuts and remixes from ben westbeech, noir, osunlade, green velvet and ame as well as dropping two of his own tracks yet to see the light of day.

otdxi is the newest installment in the classic r&s compilation series. previous installments have been responsible for rounding up the labels roster at the time and presenting their finest tracks to a wider audience, and have gone onto become classics in their own rights. with r&s again re-positioned as one of the most forward thinking electronic labels and with an enviable roster of cutting edge young talent it makes perfect sense to relaunch the series. disc one contains highlights from the last 18 months and includes contributions from blawan, lone and untold whose classic r&s influences are worn on their sleeves. tracks from james blake, pariah and the chain take cues from a distinctly uk sound, which the label has been keenly following from its new london base, and in cmyk have the biggest single from 2010.

tiga and zombie nation have joined forces to create the most potent dance record of the year. apocalyptic tension. panic-fueled fundowns. 2012 is approaching. the heat is now - partys over earth! having both rocked remarkably long and prolific careers, the members of zzt possess uncanny staying power in an industry where hype ends faster than it begins. zombie nations production credentials are impeccable, and his reputation as a live performer has made him a permanent fixture on europes main stages.

anders trentemoller has become one of the most respected names in cutting edge electronic music in the last few years. his rise to notoriety was sparked by his early, techy releases for poker flat and audiomatique and has since gone on to stellar highs with his own personal take on the genre, spanning, pop, rock, indie and classical. his debut album >the last resort< was released in 2006 to much international acclaim, and the producer also began to become an in-demand remixer in the house and techno world. as the decade wore on his sound continued to progress, opening up his studio to more live instrumentation, and a looser, rock-meets electronic vibe with his stunning >into the great wide yonder< lp. now this special double cd and double vinyl release celebrates some of the producer s favourite remixes he completed for other artists, and also some of his personal picks where other musicians have reworked his music.

dub trio is back with their fourth and most powerful album to date Ð iv Ð an overwhelming blend of sounds, styles and ideas that come out swinging, and hit harder than ever. can metal coexist with dubs bass heavy riddims? dub trios newest album proves that not only can such incongruities coexist, but that in the right hands they flourish! with iv the band succeeds dramatically at emphasizing the theories, emotions, sounds, and concepts of their current musical exploration. iv finds the members playing multiple instruments, tweaking, turning & torturing knobs, cutting and chopping the audio itself, and shaping the compositions to create their own unique interpretation of dub as an art form.

hot on the heels of the wildly enigmatic debut from wu lyf, bristol-based guitar band zun zun egui continue the british avant-garde scenes fascination with indecipherable lyrics on their first offering, katang. with tracks performed in english, french, japanese, and creole alongside several mutterings which appear to be from an entirely made-up language, its impossible for anyone, bar the most accomplished of multi-linguists, to understand what their self-described -free-range rock music- is about.

katalyst is sydney-based producer ashley anderson, one of australias most prolific producers. over the past two decades katalyst has risen to the top of the australian hip hop and electronica scenes, receiving multiple aria and j award nominations along the way. his reputation as one of australias best producers has seen him collaborate with the likes of geoff barrow of portishead, aloe blacc, dead prez, guilty simpson, phat kat, j-live, finale, frank n dank, diverse, ugly duckling and steve spacek (who together form space invadas). the latest product of his audiophiliac obsession, deep impressions? deconstructs and distils soul, hip hop, funk, jazz, reggae and electro influences into what is perhaps most accurately described as -the katalyst sound-. it is a reflection of the large variety tunes that influence katalysts own musical direction. the album also includes collaborations with the likes of los angeles hip-hop artist bootie brown (of the pharcyde), sydneys own kweeng (killaqueenz), underground legend mr clean, upcoming north carolina mc coin locker kid, stephanie mckay (usa), steve spacek (uk), hau (koolism), and jane doe (formally jade macrae).

boom bip was one of the canniest underground beat producers around before he hooked up with gruff rhys of super furry animals to create the fascinating neon neon project, which took as its focus automaker john delorean and what his car (and charisma) meant to the 80s. bbs return to the solo realm finally came on 2011s zig zaj, which has more in common with neon neon than with his early solo joints. (features for cate le bon and franz ferdinands alex kapranos, among others, certainly fit in.) as always, its impeccably produced - hollon has only gained in proficiency and maturity as a producer. but compared to seed to sun or blue eyed in the red room, whose fascination with sound was positively contagious, zig zaj sounds like an overly safe record, the type that most producers would avoid if they wanted to keep innovating. heavily influenced by rock and 80s new wave, similar to neon neons stainless style, its impressions are largely textural, and as talented a producer as boom bip has become, zig zaj sounds more like a rehash than the entirely new recipe that music fans are undoubtedly looking for.

2011 release. their first new album in more than three years, hysterical marks a major milestone in the continuing evolution of clap your hands say yeah. born out of an intensely collaborative process in which songs were constructed, dismantled, and then rebuilt anew, the album finds the band their most confident and creative, expertly expanding upon its already distinctive sound. from the chrome-plated licks of maniac and the title track to the sheets of eddying synths and emotive motorik pulsebeats of into your alien arms and ketamine and ecstasy, the band delivers up sonically provocative pop music that is simultaneously jubilant, mesmeric, and altogether infectious. hysterical reveals clap your hands say yeah to be a wholly developed band in full command of their unique artistic gifts. this long play version pressed on 180 gram vinyl also includes a download card.

ex-harry pussy guitarist bill orcutt s 2009 side a new way to pay old debts was an instant classic for those attuned to his brand of stomach-scrapingly raw, hoary blues improvisation. few could have expected the album to be subsequently issued on cd by editions mego, but the more you thought about it the more it made sense - though all-acoustic, orcutt s music is every bit as extreme, violent and threshold-testing as that of, say, florian hecker, russell haswell or mika vainio. as if to prove it wasn t a token gesture towards eclecticism, mego boss peter rehberg has signed a brand new album from orcutt, and what an album it is. for the most part it s in that visceral, coruscating style that he s best known for, all finger-bleeding fretboard assaults that manage to sound at once virtuoso and completely out-of-control, reaching a psychotic climax on the visible bosom: but there are some more reflective passages too, hell, the title track might even be the most chilled thing he s ever recorded. the album was cut at d+m in berlin, which really teases every last drop of blood, sweat and tears out of the recording, which took place at orcutt s home studio in san francisco in spring of 2011. brutal, bludgeoning but incurably romantic, how the thing sings demands your steadfast attention. mind-blowing.

being a product of the age it was written, slow clubs 2009 debut, yeah so, dealt with the all too familiar space between adolescence and the oncoming storm of adulthood. a boy-girl duo who played a flower-adorned chair live, they were the polar opposite of what was coming out of post-arctic monkeys sheffield. slow club were fun, cute, whimsical and all manner of other words just shy of twee - and they hate being called twee. paradise, however, is where the duo grows up. two years on, it stumbles out of a trivial, self-indulgent teenage malaise (where sexual adventure was priority for most) and carries itself with a sense of perspective that only adulthood can give - a darker, more thoughtful view of the world. for instance, on the poignant you, earth or ash, a song about rebecca taylor s granddad, her melancholic vocals (beautiful, as always) evoke an awareness of mortality for those around her: singing -and i know, soon you ll go,- her voice seemingly breaks under the weight of premature grief. whereas even love-wise (an inspiration every band draws from) slow club s lyrical output is glossed with a more mature and detached sense of sauce, with taylor crooning on where i m waking: -i can see you looking at me / you got the brains i ve got the body-.

with the white isle summer coming to an end hed kandis saxophonist and vocalist laura fowles a.k.a the lovely laura and producer extraordinaire tyrrell come together to bring you their debut artist album straight from the sunsets of ibiza, hed kandi: balearica unplugged. they go back to basics, bringing the hed kandi fans a taste of their balearic musical roots. they disconnected the decks, ditched the electronic beats and unplugged the sound system stripping things back creating a medley of deliciously unplugged covers of their favourite dance songs. tyrrell picked up the six string, laid down some sensual acoustic guitar riffs and atmospheric chords, whilst laura added a splash of soft, husky, phenomenal vocals and sexy sax melodies. this all combined with additional production by the legendary steve miller a.ka. afterlife, brings you a wide, laid back collection all reworked with hed kandis own balearic acoustic treatment... always keeping a sunny disposition in mind. this one cd includes their favourite renditions of songs made famous by the likes of groove armada, calvin harris, deadmau5 & kaskade, friendly fires, empire of the sun and martin solvieg to name but a few. this essential eclectic collage of music is destined for ibizas renowned sunset strip for years to come, where legendary balearic hang out hotspots such as cafŽ del mar, savannahs or blue marlin celebrate the setting of the most talked about sunset, and balearica unplugged offers the perfect musical companion.

2011 debut from penguin prison aka chris glover. this effort is quite simply the most smoothed-out, hook-heavy, unabashed lovers disco around. from the miraculous slices of shiny, infectious contemporary pop of multi-millionaire and -golden train-, to the single -fair warning-, shimmering with spectral synths and breathless, honey vocals, to the mellow and mysterious album closer -someone got everything-, penguin prisons debut effort rolls you through a sleek, melodic world where all you need to worry about is whether youve got your sunglasses on and the right moves to keep up.

the story of skint & demoralised is too long and complex to go into here, but suffice to say it was quite a surprise to see a new release from skint & demoralised, let alone the bonus inclusion of the long shelved debut. made up of poet matt abbott and producer mini dog, skint & demoraliseds songs revolve around teenage pursuits like getting high, getting the girl and getting pissed as well tackling social issues like unemployment and alcoholism.

soundway records are proud to present the afro-jazz soundtrack to ola baloguns legendary movie from 1978. the film was written and directed by balogun (recognised as one of nigerias most renowned directors) but shot and cast in brazil. the soundtrack was composed by one of nigerias most successful and original musicians remi kabaka (who has played with steve winwood and ginger baker amongst others). the record was originally issued in both nigeria and brazil, but recorded in lagos, using four of the nigerian music scenes most innovative players: remi kabaka himself, alongside biddy wright, saxophonist dele okonkwo and mono mono frontman joni haastrup. the result is a truly unique and experimental afro-jazz recording that has been out of print for many years, until now.

august darnells swaggering alter ego kid creole dons his famed fedora and gets back in stride with his first high profile studio album in over 10 years: i wake up screaming. darnell first came to prominence during the mid-70s in new york, forming dr. buzzards original savannah band with his brother stony browder before producing a slew of eccentric projects for ze records including cristina, don armandos seventh avenue rumba band and gichy dan, as well as sporting his trademark zoot suit and fedora for the first time for the debut recordings by kid creole & the coconuts. signing on to chris blackwells island records and seymour steins sire imprint, darnell would become one of the 80s most unique and recognisable figures, scoring a brace of unforgettable chart hits mixing heavyweight tropical grooves with plenty of lyrical bite: -stool pigeon-, -annie, im not your daddy-, -im a wonderful thing baby- and more. with cover artwork echoing his love of 1940s film noir, this album explores the vibrant mind of darnell with a variety of themes and styles. recorded at darnells own studio in sweden and mixed by brennan green (chinatown recordings), i wake up screaming is an essential return from one of the truly unique characters in the world of music.

tunisia has never been a referent place in the electronic music world. it was better known for its beaches and sunny weather, hardly for its political regime but the events of 2011 brought quite some changes about that. these changes have been nurturing in the underground of the country until exploding to the face of the world, with fantastic momentums of rebellion, courage and union. shinigami sans album is a signal that emanates from the underground of tunisia: a hybrid of dubstep, techno and noise, very dark, but most importantly, very true. this is neither the sound of london or berlin, and if a couple of ingredients from here and there are recognizable in -toys-, it is most definitely the electronic sound of tunisia we bring to you here. from the dusty, 8-bit dubstep of -lofi- and -toys- to the dark techno rollers -post trauma- and -migra-, you will go by tribal beats, eerie atmospheres and heavily distorted sound textures. shinigami san draws a panorama that shows both impressive skills and style. -toys- is not only about excellent and true music, but also about original product design and diy manufacturing. this 450 digipack limited edition was hand-printed and crafted using silk screen printing, rulers and cutters. the graphic design is based on drawings from sabrina ben hadj ali, and each cd comes with 3 original prints on the theme of the album. today, we are up to put tunisia under the radar of electronic beat diggers, today, we bring you the first album of tunisian-born shinigami san: nothing cheesy here, just a raw, brutally honest vibe.

wretch 32, real name jermaine scott, is one of the uks most loved mcs - from the underground up. from his early years in londons flourishing grime scene back in the early 00s, the tottenham-raised lyricist has always stood out from the crowd. his conscious and reflective bars, along with an extremely relaxed flow, made him a firm favourite on the uk hip hop circuit. much like tinie tempah, wretch 32 has proved that british mcs can reach the mainstream without selling their soul to pop. the first fruits of this crossover success were tasted in january 2011, when his single traktor broke into the domestic top five following an appearance on the bbc sound ofÉ list. and his second official single, unorthodox, fared even better, peaking at number two in april. so its clear that much has changed since his debut lp of 2008, wretchrospective - but has public recognition come at the expense of what marked wretch 32 out as such a talent in the first place? not at all - on the opening title-track, the rapper lets the listener know that its the same old wretch at work. over a drum-heavy hip hop beat he sets up the rest of the album well, advising everyone to fasten their seatbelts as he prepares to take them on a ride that they wont forget in a hurry. never be me finds wretch delving into his past, opening up about making certain decisions in life that got him to where he is today. featuring rnb newcomer angel on the hook, the track has an inspirational feel to it - all over another impressive, but this time more grime-influenced, beat. a true standout is anniversary, with alex mills on singing duties - its a love song, minus any cheese. then the album lurches into the electro-infused sanes the new mad - a glimpse into wretchs party lifestyle, with ladies and alcohol at the forefront of his attentions. and closer dont go just might be one of the tracks of the year.

berlin-based djs and composers ricardo villalobos and max loderbauer - two of the best-known names in contemporary electronica - share their admiration for music on ecm in a unique double-album of specially-created >sound-structures<. their project >re: ecm< will bring the labels music to a new listenership. it is certain to be one of the most talked-about albums of the season. using original ecm recordings as a starting point, villalobos and loderbauer create new music that bridges several worlds, including ecms world of space-conscious improvisation and composition and the worlds of ambient electronics and minimal techno. source materials on >re: ecmÓ include recordings of christian wallumr¿d, alexander knaifel, louis sclavis, john abercrombie, bennie maupin, arvo pŠrt, wolfert brederode, paul giger and more - looped, sampled, remixed and reworked in evocative new treatments. pleased with the duos creative response to his productions manfred eicher gave them carte blanche to carry on experimenting with the ecm titles of their choice. eicher subsequently supervised the mastering of >re: ecm< in munich, completing a unique sonic experience.

sunrise is the largest outdoor festival in poland and this year the cds are mixed by the two variables in trance / progressive namely by judge jules and marcel woods. judge jules has been a pioneer in the global dance scene and still hosts one of the most listened to dance programs on bbc radio1. expect beautiful melodies interspersed with great progressive tracks and you have a real jules mix cd 2 is attributable to the netherlands pride, marcel woods, who also made this years anthem, called ??sunrise. be ready for mix of house, trance, tech house and progressive as marcel woods serves it you all. this sunrise 2011 compilation is a perfect and complete overview of what to expect at the this festival and in fact at all contemporary festivals. get into the mood for festivals and join the sunrise trip 2011.

sing (if you want it) is the sixth release from the british soul icon, omar. this eagerly awaited re-issue definitely puts omar back in the spotlight and will become an essential album for any music collection. omar is often referred to as the founding father of nu-classic soul and has been acclaimed by artists such as erykah badu and mobo award winner kele le roc. omar can also count stevie wonder as a fan, who most famously said, -when i grow up, i wanna be omar-. on this album, omar collaborates with stevie wonder and a host of great artists including estelle, common, zed bias, and many more. the album also comes with two brand new bonus tracks, including the single -dancing- and -its so-.

digitally remastered edition of this 1975 album. gil scott heron is justifiably recognized as one of the most unique black music artists of all time. his music transgresses all musical barriers in the same way that stevie wonder, bob marley and marvin gaye did. first minute of a new day was the first album that gil and collaborator brian jackson recorded with the fantastic midnight band, and is a revelation throughout. the album reflects all the aspects of gil and brians music, a mixture of soul, jazz and other influences sometimes powerful, mellow at others, but always compelling. but it is the lyrics and messages of the songs that really made gil scott heron stand out from his contemporaries, always telling a story and informing us of situations that needed attention.

daydreaming is the debut album release from paris based artist von d on boka records. a fusion chef of bassweight, von d has deftly sliced into unpredictable genres, concocting strange and beautiful new forms.the album sees von d collaborating with the internationally renowned foreign beggars, phephe, david boomah (vocalist for shy fx murderation), riya & mr lager, while his previous work has also been remixed by a host of respected dubstep djs including skream and tes la rok. born into the cultural melting pot of the paris suburbs, von d found his souls conduit in a beaten up old drum kit. whilst the riddims of king tubby alongside the foetal jungle of photek and serge gainsborg were initial inspirations, after forging a successful path as a sound engineer von d honed his sound sculpting skills to a razor sharp edge. von ds productions have been picked up by skream, arguably one of dubsteps most successful artists, who snapped up a release for his label disfigured dubs. dj chef released von ds >show me< on his sub freq imprint, which quickly became one of the most talked about releases of 2009 Ð so much so that three time dmc world champion dj craze has been supporting the track in recent mixes. not one to be complacent, von dÕs kept up the pressure with releases on black acre, tempa, soul jazz and argon Ð enough to attract the attention of bbc radio 1s gilles peterson who has included a track for his hotly anticipated brownswood bubblers compilation album. von d has created a global buzz with his numerous explosive live performances featuring unreleased and exciting material from himself as well as other established producers. having had a host of successful tours in the united states, europe and china, von d has now set his sights on touring new zealand and australia

gil scott-heron is one of the most influential and important singer/songwriters to have come out of america in the second half of the last century. much can be said about why this gil s lyrics are so original and powerful but ,it is important not to overlook his utterly singular voice which is so distinctive and rough and tender. it is a voice of experience. a new record from gil scott-heron, forty years after his first solo album, is a cause for major celebration and something that the world needs now more than ever.

since his first two personal album releases on kilk records, serafim tsotsonis has been developing into a talented musician. with the release of his brand new album. beautiful people, the greek artist takes a step further, presenting even more facets of his diverse talent with a work of exceptional polyphonic delights.in the albums opening track red, green, blue, a unique postmodern lullaby, the serene atmosphere of a childs room, is pierced with the sounds of an urban environment. an imposing performance by zach soars together with a chorus comprised by mikael delta, kid moxie, kiki, antoneta kotsi, fay depasta and serafim himself. at the same time, dimitri vassilakis, one of the foremost recognized greek wind musicians, adds further brushstrokes of sensitivity with his saxophone. with relaxed beats, unequivocal references to 80s melancholic electronica and the vocals of kiki and kid moxie, my own sea invites the listener to dive into the waters of his own dream world. in a way, it constitutes a continuation of serafims past creations, as heard in his earlier works, a fact that is sure to satisfy the most loyal of the artists fans. the dubstep references in the intro of so good, are intertwined with the modern electronic sound of berlin and the saxophone of dimitri vassilakis comes in at the end, marking a shift that leads to an exploration of new sound structures, in which european metronomy meets neo-jazz. the most radio-friendly track of the album comes with far away, a mutated balearic rhythm interpreted unpredictably by the rock-tinged voice of norwegian sverre olav r¿dseth. catch the cloud is where the album really takes off. a deep tech anthem for clubbers around the world, one can imagine it featured on the soundtracks of films such as berlin calling, had it been released sooner

closely related to underground resistance, scan 7 is a mysterious detroit underground collective gathering seven artists. the group is most famous for its ninja like appearances, often dressed in black with black masks and hats, the use code names to protect there true identification, they believe its not who you see, but what you hear that is the most crucial element in techno! associated with such labels as underground resistance, soma & f communications, scan 7 via their own imprint have brought together a double cd of detroit influenced techno.

expect the unexpected, they say, and it should come as a surprise to many as we warmly welcome to the kompakt family one of americas most celebrated producers in dance music, john tejada! born in austria, he relocated to his current home of los angeles at the age of 8 and, following a brief career in hip-hop, found his home in electronic music. if you are even the slightest fan of the genre, you will be hard-pressed not to have heard his music over his decade+-long career. >parabolas< is a true highlight in john tejadas deep catalogue. bold words indeed for a producer who is known for unexpected variation and tremendous musical imagination

moguai returns firing on all cylinders, in what is set to be the most ground breaking and innovative release of the year. fresh from a us tour and the release of several high profile singles, moguai & mau5trap are turning the world of the mix compilation on its head Ð and hand the power directly back to you with an innovation thatÕs set to rock the electronic music world to its very core!! disc 1 features the mixed cd, whilst disc 2 features exclusive availability of german house sensation moguaiÕs ableton software files, fresh from his 75 minute live dj mix recently performed at ÔbetaÕ released on mau5trap. the disc includes the full mix, all tracks (exclusive single tracks and special edits performed during his live set) and loops and parts, mastered exactly as used during his performance. these prize assets are available for people to create their own remixes using the elements of moguaiÕs original performance using ableton live, or import the music into the audio software of their choice. for all budding producers, remixers and technology geeks, this debut compilation takes the tools and places them firmly in your hands

listening to the bleak, cold piano and string sounds, we soaked in pain and sorrow brought by unforgettable love. trumpet and guitar casually played, performers praise the happiness of love.. jazz ballads invites you to appreciate the most delicate sound of love, presented by stacey kent, grammy award nominee, maureen mcgovern, winner of academy award for best original song, and clare teal, bbc jazz vocalist of the year in 2006. the album includes thirty everlasting and classic songs, which has been around for more than half a century: when i fall in love, the theme song of sleepless in seattle, and i love her, beatles s classic work reaching top 2 in 1964, i can t stop loving you, will you still love me tomorrow, the monologue by carole king, embraceable you, written by george gershwin, which was separately rendered by billie holiday and ella fitzgerald, james taylor s don t let me be lonely tonight, when you wish upon a star, best original song for oscar from pinocchio, bonnie raito s i can t make you love me, and dream a little dream, advertising song for ferrero rocher. with deep, touching, and elegant jazz melodies, jazz ballads will take you to savor the lingering taste of love and romance.

tom thiels self titled debut album out now!!! wide melody lines, soft, complex beats or direct, simple beats: the tracks speak a timeless language and thus represent the most modern side of electronic music. a musical director and his audio cinema, way beyond hollywood or worse - new german cinema.

whats the point of a concept album when no one hears the concept in it? maybe that it sets a boundary, forcing mr artist to go even deeper into the fewer possibilities left. creativity by limitation and all thatÉ well spare you further theorizing. >fever<, the third longplayer by dutch low end scientist 2562, then, is his disco album: a thorough reinterpretation of underground disco music from the mid seventies to the early eighties, with his own birthyear 1979 as the gravitational point. all based on one simple rule: every single sound, from the smallest background shiver to the most obese sub bass, originates from a disco record Ð no additional synthesizers, drumcomputers or other samplesources involved. disco-edits, italo homages or filtered loops then? hardly. this is genuinely new and retro-free music that respectfully flips its sources so hard even the biggest paradise garage connaisseurs wont recognize what just hit them. or in the words of musical allies martyn and pinch, who independently drew the same conclusion: >sorry, but i dont hear that whole disco story in there. this simply sounds like you.< completely failed as a concept album, then Ð and all the better for it.

the debut album from one of brazils most exciting young solo artists. a beautiful bossa inflected record that showcases vilars classic songwriting fourish and modern spark. a special talent.

in february 2010, gil scott-heron released >i m new here<, his first album in thirteen years. produced by xl recordings head richard russell during various studio sessions in new york, the album was enthusiastically received by fans andcritics alike. meanwhile, the last eighteen months have been meteoric for jamie xx. his band the xxs debut album (which jamie produced) received huge acclaim, picking up 2010s prestigious mercury music prize, while jamie garnered respectfor his remixes (in particular florence & the machines >you ve got the love<) and solo productions (forthcoming single >far nearer< on numbers).
so what happens when one of the most exciting young producers around reworks one of the most acclaimed albums from a true legend? the result is gil scott-heron and jamie xxs >we re new here< which sees jamie xx remixing thirteen tracks from the original >i m new here< album sessions.

welcome to the latest edition of hed kandis ever popular location-led release world series.next on the roster is one of the most glamorous, stylish and fashionable capitals of the world. featuring the best upfront house from kandis worldwide dancefloors, hed kandi will be taking you on a journey to the worlds most iconic and cosmopolitan fashion houses, clubbing hubs, home of the party elite and of course the birthplace of kandi hq in world series: londonhed kandi in-house fashionista, resident maddox dj and latest addition to the hed kandi roster, marie claire, is responsible for the mixes over two cds,defining the sound of our london events. this release also brings you a bonus third cd featuring the soundtrack to the major fashion houses this year.