a matter of concepts is a very personal selection of songs by recent, active underground bands and artists that we love at dwr. coming from the uk, us, the netherlands, canada, france, russia, australia and ranging from post-punk to coldwave to synth-pop to indie. fast paced and dancey or romantic and moody, there’s something for every soul here. we regard all of these songs as ‘modern instant classics’ and we bet that you’ll love them, too!! a matter of concepts is presented in a limited, hand numbered edition of 205 black vinyl copies housed in a matt sleeve with printed inner sleeve (credits / band pics) and including a download code. all songs have been mastered (or re-mastered) specifically for this vinyl release and its accompanying download.

politics of dancing continue to expand their horizons with another round of collaborative wares on their p.o.d cross sublabel. once again they ve invited big hitters who slip perfectly into the minimal house mindset the parisian label has been locked in since 2013, leading with cab drivers on the a side. the deep-diving german mainstays gel with the pod crew in a tightly clipped but utterly funked up roller, sitting in contrast to the more open, tripped out synth flourishes sebo k brings to the table on side b. with each track distinctive but also compatible, there s every chance you ll be compelled to play both out at the late night / early morning shuffled-up jamboree.

there are tracks that only deploy their full meaning when pumping through the speakers of a dark club. to give shelter to the latter, hivern kick starts a new series of vinyl-only splits dedicated to club-ready cuts by artists in our orbit. to launch the series, we count with both a well-known hivern stalwart and a new addition to the label. side a is dedicated to cel avall , a track that has been hidden in marc pinol s vaults for way too many years. with it s slow pace and direct but hypnotic feel, it sounds as if one of the pioneers of the first wave of chicago house had spent a night dancing to danielle baldelli at the cosmic club. in the b-side, aurora 2 , by norwegian producer charlotte bendiks, also has something of the rawness and minimalism of the first chicago sound. a perpetually fresh energy that, combined with her nonchalant vocal phrasings, provides the track with her distinctive blend of darkness, sensuality and cheekiness. the visual concept of the series has been developed by london based design studio dr.me

the second volume of the bld remixed series is here. once again, original tracks previously released have been revisited by artists that support the label since the beginning. in such good shape nowadays, oliver deutschmann delivers an outstanding remix of acid on mars pushing the limits of warehouse techno & jackin house faded with warm & hypnotic detroit chords and space-pads. as the name indicates, minneapolis legend freddy fresh delivers an ethereal mix of before deep full of nostalgic dreamy synths reminding us of his 1995 return to phantazia vibes. last one is coming from prolific asok bringing a raw and banging rework of be apart based on 808 electro beats & breaks combined with a crunchy bassline.

limited repress
after a furious release by atlantis’ best kept secret cuttlefish & asparagus entitled hang on in there, kalakuta soul records meticulously puts a new twelve together you’d want to throw your hands upon immediately. always referring to sadar bahar as one of the most influential cats to their work, the crew behind the label hasn’t stopped crying ever since they received the tracks. and although we’ve pinched them a couple of times, they still can’t seem to believe this really is coming true. can you? now it surely isn’t the first time the world’s coolest cat has released a couple of his rare edits. but you surely are still dancing and sweating to his unforgettable chicken wing edits series and have been wondering, what this guy’s been doing. well, soul in the hole’s true soul and dj’s dj sadar bahar has been travelling around the world giving everybody a serious lesson in soul music that he calls disco beatdown. some brothers would also name sadar’s ceremonies “exorcism-, which pretty much leads us back to the tracks released on this fantastic sounding 12&#8243,,,, disco single.

the mantra from day one has been striking a balance between the nightlife sound system and the living room listening experience. time capsule celebrates ten years of this ethos in a gorgeous 10x7 inch boxset.

apollonia music unveils its latest release, which comes straight out of dan ghenacia s lab. the fresh new ep is amusingly titled the egg after his son, who was born just a few months ago, and sees dan bringing together three productions with different styles and flavours, each with an egg-related track name. it s been a while since monsieur ghenacia appeared on apollonia s label, but this ep is definitely worth the wait... on side a it s o&#776,,,, la coque (boiled egg), aptly-titled with its aquatic low end percolating and bubbling away. quirky effects keep things interesting throughout, adding depth and movement... then we get a killer riff which lifts the vibes higher. once that disappears a mysterious set of chimes arises from the deep adding a mystical feel to the track before it continues on with its bubbly groove. flip the record over and side b kicks off with mykonos huevos , which boasts hard-hitting percussion and a sublime b-line designed to get those hips moving with a sensual rhythm. the insistent, dramatic atmosphere is relentless and this is one of those cuts that will captivate the dance floor when it s dropped. lastly, we have sunny side up which rounds off the ep nicely, bringing that sunday after hours vibe you ll find at dan s party godeep. this one has a heady vibe with a hypnotic main riff and secondary piano riff that complements it perfectly. the beats are crisp, the low end warm and soothing which, combined with progressively trippy atmospherics, envelopes you and transports you to a better place, way beyond the stars. ... and there it is, a thoroughly eggscelent ep from dan ghenacia, courtesy of apollonia music

since efficient space excavated andy rantzens mind-bending will i dream? the rest of the world has become better acquainted with the darker & dubbier side of one of australias rave superstars. were excited to present a selection of tracks from andys incredibly diverse oeuvre, 6 songs that sit somewhere between 80s digital reggae, 90s rave and the horizon of our accelerating future. lifting the veil speeds up snappy drum programming and a thundering bassline to breakneck speeds, pitting them against sombre chords and strings, perfectly capturing the reflective headspace of a night drive through babylon. cosmic vibrations harks back to the development of fully computerised rhythms emanating from jammy and tubbys waterhouse studios, by way of erskineville. in the same vein, bedtime for boo boo sees andy joined on the boards by sydney dub technician sheriff lindo, creating a dynamic digi-dub number that is sure to come alive on any soundsystem worth its weight - a heady showcase for two of australia’s finest reggae talents. flip the disc to find move it, the most concentrated dose of the jungle vibes that permeate the ep. rantzen channels the headrush sonics, breakneck drums and euphoria of d n bs heydey, nailing the red-eyed early am atmosphere of a sydney warehouse ca. 95 - and its just as likely to cap off the night of many a secret inner west location to come. magic lantern marries a dreamy synthesizer melody with a wicked, subby bassline. if there was a dancehall scene in ferngully, this wouldve been the soundtrack, with enough low end to really rattle the treetops. on closer dub generator, a slightly-creepy mechanized voice urges you to “leave your worries at the door come and join your friends upon the floor - an introduction to the dancefloor or an induction into some sinister cult? whatever the message, the dub chords and massive bassline lull you into the headspace where these words take hold. all songs recorded at masking tapes, liquid blue and 1/66 enmore rd, 1997-2000.

tommy rawson releases are sporadic but always high quality. as a former member of the souled duo who ran the excellent fresh minute label hes been around the more tropical end of uk house and broken beat for many years and this, his first full release for bergerac ushers forth a new level in his sound. this whole record is a masterclass in post bruk, forward thinking, shining, bright uk dance music. unmatched in emotion and vibes. deep blue is quite simply the sound of the summer. sun drenched, euphoric and soaring. broken but not broken, 4/4 but not quite housey. jazzy, soulful yeah. it was the highlight of red rack ems olive grove closing set at love international last year when it provided the most halcyon of moments. live trumpet from vicky flint and a whole bag of vibes from tommy rawson. this is a classic. trust. past tense is a super tropical african tinged house stomper which shows tommys love of sunshine vibes once more with acres of space, insistent chants, dubby pianos and a tinge of jungle roller bass. the final track into the future takes us into almost blade runner-esque orchestral emotion but with a kind of balearic feel tucked in there too. beautiful, lilting, emotional memories. you can feel so much love in this track. such a special record. buy it. love it. treasure it.

following the u.s. army’s liberation of munich in may 1945, the world’s first amerikahaus was inaugurated there with a library, a magazine reading room, a children’s library, a record and lm department, and lecture and seminar rooms, together with a concert hall and exhibition space. up to 80.000 people a month utilized the offerings of amerikahaus during its early years. beginning in 1953, the united states information agency (usia), an institution founded as an instrument of the cold war, began to finance amerikahaus. in addition to representing the u.s., its principal task in west germany was to democratize and denazify the postwar population. after the beginning of the cold war, many of these re-educative measures also served as propaganda in a programmatic linking of democratic and economic principles meant to strengthen transatlantic relations against the communist bloc. in 1997, the u.s. government concluded its work at amerikahaus in munich and shipped almost all its items back to the states. however, 1.630 long-playing vinyl records from the library were left behind in cardboard boxes in the basement. when michaela melián looked through this forgotten collection, one of the first things she came across was don gillis’ 1940 tone poem »portrait of a frontier town«, whose second movement is entitled »where the west begins«. don gillis, a composer and radio producer, used the musical styles and genres of that decade to create an explicitly american program music. michaela melián’s »music from a frontier town« is fueled by the diverse sonic material of this extensive record collection once considered as an instrument of cultural education. this record has been produced in addition to melián’s twenty-four hour performative music installation »music from a frontier town« in the garage of what is now the bavarian center for transatlantic relations at karolinenplatz, munich (4-5 may 2018).

the safe trip organisation has been broadcasting their musical version of a traditional numbers station on the frequency 5079. human intelligence suggests the agent behind four regular, ear-pleasing transmissions is the safe trip associate artis. using a specially modified one-time pad, we were able to decipher these undercover operatives. the ethereal, dreamy, arpeggio-driven throb of panthera pardus, with its poignant tone and undulating lead lines, was clearly meant as a warning.. the same could be said of -cetacea-, where melancholic synthesizer sounds and meandering electronics gently wind their way around hybrid electronic/acoustic percussion. panic set in once we deciphered giganthopithecus, a composition littered with frequent increases in percussive intensity and a mind-altering melodic refrain. our hunch that artis was ordering immediate action by agents was confirmed by delphinae, whose colourful melodic fluidity, futurist new age construction and layered wooden drum hits deeply affected our researchers. we ordered our own agents to raid the station, but artis had long since scuttled off into the hazy morning sunshine.

since the release of their critically acclaimed debut album in 2013 on names you can trust, la mecánica popular has quietly been contemplating the evolution of the group s sound, philosophy, and overall approach to making music. band leader efraín rozas experimental nature has continually pushed the boundaries of his own definition of not only latin american music, but its broader relationship with music s global culture and history. the sound of -psychedelic salsa- that lmp helped capture in their debut was destined for further outside-the-box interpretations, and with the formation of a new quintet lineup over the last few years, lmp began to incorporate a more free, improvised and instrumental-focused performance of rozas increasingly radical compositions. the band subsequently took this liberated approach directly into the studio, recording roza cruz live, in its entirety. it was a cathartic experience, a necessary methodology for the new album s concept that embraced the intimate performance of its players and did away with standard techniques of isolation and overdubs. the evolution of the band s sound on roza cruz brings forth a blend of styles rarely heard together, a touch reminiscent of electric-era miles davis or eddie palmieri at his most experimental, as the driving force of timbales and congas provide a bed for a wave of lush, analog amplification that mirrors the dueling leads of fuzz guitar and electric piano. but as far out as those instruments take the listener, the raw rhythm the clave always keeps it tethered to the earth and the dance, a cerebral yet visceral gift for the mind and feet.

mikkel metal returns to copenhagen’s echocord this may with his new mini lp ‘just enough light’, comprising six originals from the danish artist. copenhagen based producer and dj mikkel metal has been a beacon of light in the danish electronic music scene and further afield for nearly two decades now, with the dub techno imprint from his hometown, echocord, being the predominant home for his output, whilst also releasing material on cologne’s kompakt, tartelet, semantica and avant roots, a telling sign of the quality embodied in his work. here though we see mikkel deliver a mini album concept in the shape of ‘just enough light’ and opener ‘awake’ perfectly sets the tone with emotive, dynamically unfolding atmospherics, tension building bass drones and spiraling dub chords subtly easing us into the project. ‘bregnan’ then stirs in some classing dub-techno tropes with billowing stab sequences, lumpy subs and off beat high hats carrying the hypnotic groove for six and a half minutes. ‘jech’ then strips things back to an almost beatless amalgamation of murky chords and modulating synth whirrs. opening the flip side of the release is ‘include’ which embraces a brighter feel via ethereal pad swells, jazztinged synth melodies and bumpy 909 rhythms before ‘konkin’ edges back into the eerie, brooding aesthetic with bubbling echoes, broken drums and menacing bass swells at its core. ‘restore’ then closes the package on a stripped-back vibe, laying focus on an ever- eveolving singular dub chord to ebb and flow around thunderous subs, kicks and bright hats.

next cocoon floor bomb! cocoon recordings is back with a bang after the winter break, cranking up the pressure once again. what s more, we re seriously pleased that we ve managed to land johannes volk for the new season. johannes has been making us smile with his productions for more than 12 years and considering his 2006 debut appeared on jeff mills axis label, it s easy to guess which direction his cocoon release is going. there are no dreamy minimal sounds or deep house trips this time round, instead you ll find headstrong techno pumping out of the speakers. tears & walls drives forward relentlessly with its meaty kick and metallic open hi-hats setting the pace. energetic and demanding throughout, johannes volk certainly takes no prisoners! -a little story about time and space- follows in its footsteps although the mood here is notably more detroit, taking us back to productions on cult labels like red planet, metroplex or the axis records sound. volk layers the track with more prominent harmonies and hypnotic arpeggios, giving it a subtle yet highly effective trance touch. the warm analog strings in the middle section underline this emotional impact and make a little story about time and space a guaranteed sunrise song for the upcoming spring and summer season, heartwarming and dance floor friendly in equal measures!

edmondson first came to my attention with his lobster theramin distributed release, flamingo tripper, on his own label lissoms. or so i thought. turns out he was actually a guy who used to serve me in one of my favourite pubs in newcastle. back in those days he was a dub step / drum and bass kid, and as per the trend with all of those guys, hes now showing the house heads how its done, with a much keener feel for sound design, groove and a better ear for a sample than 90% of us lazy people who cut our teeth on a 4/4 beat. edmondson (or sean as i did know him and how i know him once again) is really one of the most exciting producers out there right now for me, and i couldnt be happier that weve reconnected and hes kindly allowed me me me to present some of his amazing music. we have love is an instant classic, and psg is a work of pure emotive art. to remix we have love, ive enlisted dauwd (fresh from his amazing album on technicolour). sean suggested him, and i jumped on the suggestion as he was one of the first people i met when i moved to berlin 4 years ago, and ive been trying to figure out a way of working with him since. he takes a we have love down a kind of more delicate and steppy route. its very pretty, but also really makes you want to dance. to remix psg i asked asok. again, i thought i first met asok about 7 or 8 years ago, when he came and played for a party i used to throw in newcastle. after becoming good friends over the years, we got chatting and it turned out that we were both in magaluf in 1998, and may have actually been involved in the same street brawl. thats not something either of us are proud of, but its definitely food for thought. i’m biased, but i think his remix is my favourite thing he’s ever done, and i love everything he’s touched musically to date, so thats probably an even bigger endorsement than it first seems. his version is big.

shrunken heads” is something we were just kicking around at the time the label was starting to take shape, we felt it to be a good narrative of our influences and visions of how we see acrylic taking shape in the future. kid drama has kindly put together a killer remix for us to celebrate the labels beginning. he has been a massive inspiration for us all musically over the years and we are very humbled to have him on board with the first output. thanks hugely damon for taking time out of your schedule to do that. “motion design” came together fairly quickly, it was made with intent to homage the sound of the old guard we admire to o er our own contribution to that sound. all vinyl are strictly limited edition, and limited to 300 pieces per run. there will never be a repressing of any series. once each release is gone, they are gone forever. mastered and cut by beau at teneightseven. artwork and design by dave knapton at multiplex

lp theres been an air of hypnagogic mystery surrounding acid tests sublabel avenue 66 from the start. joey andersons oblique, prince-inspired incantation above the cherry moon set the tone for a label thats sound that has found beauty in the furthest recesses of the dance floor, in the murkiest decay of kick drums and rave stabs. fitting then, that the first album on the imprint comes from trux, an artist who has chosen to reveal nearly nothing about themselves. following a cult classic mini-lp for office recordings, orbiter bears out the anonymous producer as a master of liminal, conceptual dance music. orbiters ten tracks have a vaporous, shape-shifting quality, threatening to topple over into full-on kick drum bliss or vanish into ambience. opener, with it, moves from heady ambient rush to skeletal piano, while blinko and roys garage spell out a hazy memoriam for the uk continuum. forlorn pianos ring out amongst the field recordings, excitable toms and jungle bass all softened in the enveloping gauze. orbiter positions trux as an unknown auteur who puts evocative world of tone and echo into dizzying motion, content to watch from the wings. track list with it orbiter blinko roys garage third glow in my world my row odd u agoma

more strictly rhythm gold right here. an all-time, hands down, unstoppable classic record from way back - 1995 to be precise. if you don t know this record it s possible you ve been in a coma, living in a cave with no electricity or have literally just arrived here on planet earth. either way, once you hear higher state of consciousness you certainly won t forget it. produced by philly s legendary josh wink and released by the forward thinking a&r team at strictly. at the time there was very little to nothing that even came close to this release. the tweekin acid funk mix being the highlight and the version that caught everyone s ears and captured minds worldwide across radio-waves with endless rewinds on mtv and in the clubs. foreseeing the impending breaks boom that came around in the mid to late 90 s higher state... was one of those rare moments where a record truly transcends genre boundaries and found it s way into dj s boxes and bags on every scene. a mighty, evergreen slab of wigged out, acidic, breakbeat chaos. essential. this one s a tasty 2017 reissue and remaster, featuring all 3 mixes, unedited, as per the original release way back when. do not sleep.

we have been waiting for pele to crop up on a release from the footy mad rothmans and what a time to play that hand card. teaming up once more with his aussie team mate dawn again and a first apperance from leeds legends clandestino. the first track from the ep cobblejam is nothing short of first class, a worthy italo, chuggy, powerhouse that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. the b-side finds us with the slightly strangely named woman for a day theres nothing strange about the track itself though. a deep and dark track that slowly drives forward into the abyss. finishing off the record is an excellent remix from the lads over at clandestino. their dessert trance vibe brings the record together as sweetly as pele brought together that 1970 world cup winning team.

there is a long-standing love affair between dj harvey and pikes, ibiza. as well as coming back for his third consecutive ‘mercury rising’ residency, the legendary ‘djs’ dj has been appointed ‘cultural attaché’ for pikes, meaning his magic touch and feel-good presence will create even more special moments at pikes this summer, including the launch of new label, pikes records.
in 2015 dj harvey made his hugely anticipated return to ibiza and made pikes his home for his mercury rising debut, a concept inspired by the beauty of the real ibiza, the incredible history of pikes and a genuine love for music. the love, the dancing, the music and the balearic spirit perfectly and poetically encapsulated by dj harvey has seen mercury rising widely recognised as the most special night to embrace the island in over a decade.
the next step in the harvey and pikes story sees him launch pikes records – the first record label founded by pikes owners and ibiza rocks co-founders andy mckay and dawn hindle. on the label, harvey explains: i see so many avenues to work together to release music, everything from live recordings from ibiza rocks and pikes, mix tapes, original productions, showcasing new artists, theres all sorts of avenues to open up. with the finer details still under wraps, its safe to say fans can look forward to the first release being harveys very own mercury rising compilation. but what can we expect from the third instalment of mercury rising? putting it quite simply, just a serious good time really says harvey.

before coming back in september for a new year of new releases, lddlm gives you their current mood and state of affairs in the form of a sampler 12inch grieve not, but try again. luke abbot s mix of easters champagne has been in our drawers since the very early days of the label but still shines as new. no dust gathered. easters synth pop is turned into a slow, yet nor chugging, futuristic r n b number. this is our conception of sunrise music. tom of england grasps the metallic fury of mutado pintado s classic lazy boy and chops it in a grinder. decomposition / re-composition with of high industrial standard. a scene from a future, a from-a-lost-tape edit by our underbuy manfredas has been one of our biggest club tracks for the last year. check his recent boiler room ending to know how warped yet strangely hit-like it is. finally, cowboy rhythmbox decided of their own accord to do a club edit of golden bugs physical disco. we liked it, we release it. simple and effective. jugular attack

a fistful of wax is an extension for some very special projects of our beloved deep house skylax records sub – label wax classic. a fistful of wax is back with its fourth volume! this offshoot originally began as an avenue for showing off some of the overflowing great talent we have floating about the wax classic sub-label, but with the growing reception of our previous three releases, it has developed itself into its own uniquely successful imprint. in a time when a lot of the hot records of the moment are made by highly distinguished producers with years of success under their belts, it is easy to forget how much good house music can come out of the underground by relatively fresh names. with afx4, we are only scratching the surface once again, yet we have 5 special tracks from a group of producers who, if not already, will stay on your radar for the foreseeable future.the a side features tracks from erman & abtomat (of série limitée records fame) and kid mark (head honcho of killax recordings). we start off deep with the aptly named how deep can you go , easily the most soothing of the bunch. fantasy 95 takes it up a notch for those who wish to, with classic 90s chords and accompanying bass and horns. over on the flip side, we hear won t get to heaven by californian newcomer, an expresso. being a self confessed new jersey style house addict, this hits in all the right places for those familiar with the sounds of nj legend george lockett jr, aka jerzzey boy. shin continues things with phara , a percussive stormer with one of the hardest hitting leads you will hear for a good while. this one is a sure fire hit! last, but by no means least is rosenhaft s voyager . fans of early uk garage, perk up your ears because this could have easily been a tune you would have heard on your favourite pirate radio station back in 97. if you are still on the fence about the record at this point, you are in the wrong place. this record has it all for lovers of the 90s house sound! whether you are of the deeper persuasion or the more garagey persuasion, the us or the uk side of things, there is something here for almost everyone on a fistful of wax 4.

there was a time when to die was something slightly different from what it is today. back in the last days of the middle age, some hidden monk was concerned about how to die properly, according to the catholic standarts of that era, so he wrote a book that was a cornerstone in that period. this has been the leitmotiv and inspiration in the concept that drives this album, the ars moriendi book from 1415, a book that gave some clues about how to die properly, avoiding lack of faith, despair, impatience, avarice or spiritual pride, all those actually track titles in this compendium.

with a wall-to-wall 21st century freshness, light years past any concept of vogue, or any linear genre lines, norwegian quartet rohey deliver music that bristles with energy and honesty, that grooves with the best funk, that has deep soul roots while keeping an eye on the broad expanse of a golden future. lead vocalist rohey taalah brings all the emotional complexity you would expect of a classic jazz or soul singer (and can withstand comparison with any with ease). ivan blomqvist s keys play a dual role of laying down old school sonics, while bringing a retrofuturistic hyper-urban tone (akin to british idm), while kristian b. jacobsen (bass) and henrik lødøen (drums) create a jazz-soul-funk hybrid rhythm section that ducks and weaves with supreme artfulness.
rohey have toured extensively throughout scandinavia, taking in just about every major jazz festival along the way. with the release of “a million things” on jazzland recordings in early 2017, their path can be expected to take them ever further: music this good can t be kept secret for long. “a million things” performs a balancing act that most pop artists have forgotten in these days of studio micro-editing: how to write and play a song with full and sincere conviction, while enjoying an artful expressiveness without making things unnecessarily difficult for the audience. this has been borne out by their nomination for best single at the scandinavian soul awards in 2015.

the duo dubdiggerz, hailing from the depths of slovenia, have been stirring up soundsystem culture a fair bit the past few years. even though the two-headed moniker has been taking part in this movement since its inception in 2011, both mark and daniel have already given life to some of the heaviest dubplates. these have been in steady rotation since their very first productions were finished and cut to lacquers. their tailored focus on the meditative properties of basslines, to-the-point percussion and perfectly executed dub effects make every ‘dubdiggerz’ cut a special occasion. without surprise, this has already led to support from some of the most established names in dubstep, including joe nice, distance, v.i.v.e.k, j:kenzo and sleeper. mark and daniel have a promising release schedule in 2017, releasing their first music on vinyl thanks to the trust of america’s dubstep ambassador joe nice and his acclaimed gourmetbeats imprint – something both producers are very grateful for. their involvement in the deepend! movement, ‘a like- minded group of individuals conspiring to advance their soundsystem culture concepts’, will result in their consecutive vinyl release – and more be unveiled later this year. bazzwarz is the producers’ bi-monthly radio shows, which is broadcasted via the dj’s live-streaming community chew.tv. this and their respected deepend! sessions have given them the opportunity to invite international producers to the show and play exclusive material from around the globe, soon streaming their 100th broadcast - with the first broadcast aired in 2011. therefore make sure to keep an eye on dubdiggerz, a promising moniker that has a lot in store for you and the rest of the world.

ten years ago, we are your friends reached our ears and pushed justice to the front of the scene, a young french duo signed by pedro winter on the label he had just created: ed banger records. the record that followed, +, was an album of condensed jerky electro, of disco reminiscences and heavy metal energy, with unstoppable tunes like ‘.a.n.c.e, stress and phantom, and its videos, allowed justice to follow the 90s french touch and its filtered disco loop. since the release of their debut album in 2007, justice has been tirelessly touring the world by bus, road festival to festival and concerts all over throughout the planet. since their first tour, the band developed a powerful stage design that they polished and magnified throughout the years and the gigs. the wall of vintage marshall amps front of the stage, an imposing cross, impressive light shows, and the sound of justice totally revisited for the live shows.

in a time of peace and prosperity on phantom planet, three unwanted heroes arrive home to seek justice where there is none to be sought. shunned by modern society, forsh gets a job at the electricity board, red defender snoozes through work at the local news and booze, and bin man finally finds his dream job. as a postman. with no evil to lay waste to, they put their dinner money together to create the worlds greatest record label, boss tracks. using broken dustpans and dance ejay 98, they create what will go down in history as the most seminal and brilliant piece of musical forgery known to merseyside. 4 tracks packed full of pure dance floor steroids for your love-pump, this is interstellar muscle music at its finest, let it reach out grab you by the tenderloins! thank you phantom planet outlaws. once again the world has been changed forever, for the better.

if anything, stojche’s take on detroit inspired techno rarely requires your permission for engagement. the fifth installment of his own label, tangible assets, is no different. this singular producer always manages to conjure up otherworldly atmospheres that resonate from head to feet. with that said, we could spend the next three paragraphs throwing around adjectives and splashing colorful words all over this press release regarding his sound, the aesthetic within each track in this release, and we could even volunteer a side helping of words that somehow make sense of this young producers studio ability. one thing however is for certain. tang005’s true charm lies in its ability to capture an honesty and sincerity that’s as captivating as it is transcendent. there’s a clinical yet organic approach that stojche adopts time and time again in formulating his tangible asset releases, and if anything, tang005 should provide further evidence of his depth, maturity and innate ability to create enchantment. this record is wrapped in captivating moments born from flourishing stabs, twilight synths, rolling charges of calculated manic rhythms and subatomic motions living within a range of intricately programmed beats. add to that a host of cinematic sweeps that develop into harmonic clouds of melancholy and you’re one step closer to the true romance etched within the grooves of this record. once again, stojche has created an ep that catalyses imagination. a series of intense voyages with thoughtfully considered moments and movements that have been executed by a man well in tune with his craft.

seth troxlers play it say it label looks to sean miller for its next essential bit of dance floor dynamite. this 11th firing release on the label features two killer cuts from the canadian producer. miller has been turning out taste making tracks on a consistent basis for a decade now. releasing on mobilee, area remote and ovum he is no stranger to the best labels out there and this latest missive is another offering that will keep djs and dancers happy all summer long and beyond. the momentous a side ‘tiger spirit it’ is ten tantalising minutes of deep and seductive house music. clever drum fills, poised synth stabs and vocal coos all add oil to the groove as playful kicks punch out an infectious pattern below. this is proving to be one of key tracks in seth’s tracks this summer: ‘it’s driving the crowds wild’. ‘together’ is less physical but certainly more emotional offering. playing out perfectly effortlessly, it has swirling pads and trilling chords adding some sensuous summer sunshine to the vibe fuelled house drums below. troxler has once again unearthed a brilliant release from a talented producer right at the top of his game.

keita sano is part of japans new wave of music producers and hes been on our map since a very long while. with releases on lets play house, mister saturday night, 1080p, lower parts, row, strictly groove recordings, enother blessing, holic trax and spring theory keito hes not only not unknown to us but has shown his eclectic taste and zany approach to music at home and aboard. and his first 4 track ep offering for yours truly does proved that once more so . the okayama resident has been weaving his way through house, techno and electronica releases displaying an affinity to old school processes and vintage gear which you can hear in every bit of his classy unmistakable sound. raw, rugged & slightly alarming but dry and focused to a massive funk attitude, is this the actual big room underground- however, be it the top or water dripping cellar floor this is modern analogue techno at its most stringent and hey theres a full album it coming later this year. all available on full pupps techno not techno-offshoot rett i fletta!

all good things take time, aussteiger said once. and indeed, it took a serious amount of time to get everything set for what soon will be known as dub disco s first release! we’ve been digging deep inside his tune collection. not only to make sure that the first three-tracker is a belter, but that it also showcases exactly the kind of musical approach we wanted as our personal imprint: to hell with a boring and homogeneous release that only represents one genre! we were looking for something that stands for itself, something that tells a story, something that is representative for what the artist stands for in a musical sense. and after a tedious quest, we carefully curated something we think is dope! kicking off the number one is a track disclosing the joint forces of berlin-based collective of musicians los wawis and aussteiger s capabilities as a remixer. here appears a psychedelic version of the track, which is carried by gentle guitars, a dubby bassline as well as the funky-trippy synthesizers that usher a tropical vibe onto the dancefloors. the starter on the flip is entitled “heimat” and comes around as a melancholic interpretation of aussteiger’s time in exile, a period that enabled him to craft his very own style. there is not much to say about this bomb that the ear doesn t catch instantly: this one is an honest earworm, with it s irresistibly arranged horns and a pervasive and driving bassline. to finish everything off, we went for a nasty banger, that carefully blends different aspects of the raving side of dance music. the electrifying broken beat and it’s haunting bassline are blended with an intense influence of acid.

keeping with the rough release rate of an album every couple of years, prime numbers label boss trus me is back with his fourth full length, planet 4. featuring nine cuts of intergalactic techno and once again marking a considerable sonic evolution for this acclaimed uk artist. never one to do the same trick twice, david james wolstencroft uses his latest album as a vehicle for his own interest in deep space, physics and dark matter. it is those subjects that have occupied his mind in recent years, and those subjects that inform this brilliantly otherworldly album. where previous lps have variously been funk and soul heavy, or openly analogue and physical, this one is a more subtle and supple techno affair that is as cerebral as it is seductive. starting with a monologue that suggests that man has already landed on mars, 1979 is a cut that immediately places you somewhere in orbit. spooky synths and sci-fi sounds are eerie and atmospheric and very much set a perfect tone. from there, there is slow, elastic and unsettling mood music on the unexplained , deep and insular techno on dark flow and trippy dan bell style minimalism on ring round heart . the second half of the lp touches on chunky dub, manic and melodic grooves. this is a coherent statement that holds together conceptually and musically. as well as providing plenty of dynamite for the more discerning dance floor, planet 4 is also a delightfully detailed affair that will work just as well on headphones late at night.

following the success of left-handed, daniel steinberg’s third full length album, the german producer and label owner has invited a stellar cast of electronic music visionaries to reimagine the lp’s nine original cuts. the much anticipated release, scheduled for march 18 on steinberg’s own arms & legs imprint will feature a wealth of talent including paul johnson, nick holder, 808 state & crazy p. making a mockery of the concept of ‘highlights’, this is a remix album of brimming with exceptional studio craft that glides across a slew of dance floor genres. from the the jacking techno madness of paul johnson’s ‘bones’ to the rock solid funk of crazy ps peace to the silky soulfulness of nick holders no one can change me and the raw avant-electronica of 808 states crucial, its safe to say that there is no filler on this impressively versatile collection. on bringing together some of the most respected names in electronic music steinberg states: its a huge honour, each of the 9 artists have been a big influence on my work over the years. i couldnt be happier with the result.

moscow label grow continues in fine creative form, seemingly not sticking to a motive or trend but rather concentrating on the strength of character within the music it releases. for the labels eighth release the artist is berlin based the marx trukker, who over the last 10 years has been developing his very distinct sound and recent output on labels like pluie/noir, the untold stories, and most recently noorden, have all been especially impressive. now on grow comes the 4 track vinyl * heavens crackling*, from the title one is expecting something awesome, and the album does not disappoint, right from the off, the first track: * a time well spent*, begins with celestial tones ringing out and the performance develops with great synth work, enlightened and very enlivening, spring is in step and something is beginning. the record continues at such a level throughout, overflowing with rich tones, warmth, and raw sounding percussion. in the second track, * all the boating still a tide to go*, deep warm bass and strings reverberate, as if amidst a hot harbours summer, then the ethereal synths return as magical breezes of cooling wind on a june day. on the bside comes the title track * heavens crackling*, the tone has cooled, there is an autumnal vibe, extended tones of an eerie but reassuring nature provide the ground, from under which a molten bass flows playfully. the final track, * i do anything but its so cold*, as the title would suggest, again time has passed, gone are the warm relaxed echoes of the the opening tracks, winter has come, and a strong percussive energy becomes the driving force of an especially deep and more introverted last track. in heavens crackling there is an uncanny understanding of time passing and representation of being, its present in the patience and performance within every track, and the effect of the album, which seems, like the seasons, to naturally come full circle, is for the listener indeed to experience a time well spent. top marks for the marx trukker!

it was the light. that was it. she was trying to remember what brought her to this desolate, godforsaken place. the way the moon and the stars made the shadows dance, it was magic. she slipped into a trance just thinking about it, forgetting at once the decay and the damned all around her. the shadows had fallen still long ago. then the darkness poured in. it had filled her. swallowed her whole. how long had it been now? she couldnt remember. the paper of her hands, the dust in her mouth, she barely noticed. far from any road there was a massive building with a lot of concrete rooms. inside it, a labyrinth path to bid farewell.

200 copies only! joss and d.lamar have long been more than capable production brothers, often hooking up with one another to concoct delectable house-inspired gems. for their latest workout on joss artreform label, the ukrainian duo lock horns once more for an ep that is positively draped in shimmering overtones – and another one that suggests there is plenty of talent to be found when you go out east.
support from sasha, betoko, animal trainer, butane, camea, chris fortier, digitaria, him_self_her, horatio, joyce muniz, leon, luna city express, marc poppcke, mihai popoviciu and others.

without struggle there is no progress. a lesson over four movements. raíz returns on droid with a follow up from keep secrets and degrees of motion eps. originally conceptualized some years ago during live pas, the struggle has been revamped and reshaped into four tracks all evolving from the title. as the ep unfolds, various degrees of emotion and musicality are displayed building up to the intense close on trilliance.

robosonic has been a pivotal part of off recordings roster, their releases being highly expected every time and usually meaning instant dancefloor melting magic. with a hip hop and techno background and adding many frequent flyer miles with worldwide gig schedule, the pair shows no sign of stopping. this time is no exception, cord and sacha get back in their creative roll of sample wizardry to provide two mouth watering jams. they once again prove their love for organic sounds and reivindicate the use of the turntable as an instrument, adding that old-school vibe to their trademark beats. macho madness is quite a trip, sweet rhodes over a bouncy bassline, great sample work adding guitars and an insane speech. as always, breakdowns are intense and its impossible not to dance to the groove!for the second track, robosonic joins another off family team, mat.joe and together they go deep into their hip hop influences again working the samples as only they could, a little disco flavor, a driving bass...all the ingredients are there for another instant classic and a respectful shout out to detroit producer legend j dilla, who left the game too early. r.i.p!

diamond version craft music that is somehow simultaneously futuristic and archaic. on the surface, its static effervescence and mechanistic precision evoke the march of technology and the sinister detachment of late capitalist society. but it affects listeners on a more instinctive level, interfacing directly with the nervous system and rendering the polyphonic chatter of the bodys impulses crisp and cold. there is something oddly permanent about they rhythms they unearth, as though theyare simply tapping into a deeper pulse that has always been present within their circuitry. diamond version is a collaborative project between two of the most groundbreaking, experimental and forward thinking operators in modern music, olaf bender and carsten nicolai. as joint heads of the berlin-based label raster-noton and with solo projects alva noto (nicolai) and byetone (bender), for over a decade they have been releasing work that spectacularly blurs the lines between the visceral and the conceptual, bridging the gap between gallery and dancefloor. diamond version release the latest instalment in their series of eps leading up to an album in summer 2013.

weve got the two titans teaming up once again on eternity, and there is no letting up as the cyclic sensibilities and swirling pads engulf the unsuspecting listener, letting the crackling rhythm section lead the way to the intense breakdown, reminding us exactly of who we are listening to. subtle details add to the grandiosity of the whole affair, and yet another lesson in anthem-construction has been delivered by the two masters.

it is a cold dark winter – snow is lying everywhere. simon12345 and the lazer twins are heading up north into a little wooden house in the northern parts of denmark. they will live there for the next weeks and build up a temporary studio in this secluded cottage. simon has got a handful of sketches with him. musical states of mind and conceptual games he developed over the last years. basically the idea is to develop something truly unique and powerful – although none of them knows how that will sound exactly or what will happen in particular during this time. it is not even clear who plays which instrument, who will do what…nothing is set. the only thing clear is that they have things to say, things that have been burning in them for so long now. tell me. how can (mostly) instrumental music suggest a way of life? how can you criticize without pointing at something particular? how can music transport you into place of quietness and self reflection?

200 ever made. hand made unique covers wrapped, in cellophane envelopes. pressure lost: a sci-fi novel in eight chapters about loss of pressure. in a part of the world where there are no rules, deep in the jungle where nothing that lives is safe, a mysterious artifact has been uncovered. nothing like it has ever been on earth before. it comes from the future, the thing that wont die, in the nightmare that wont end. your future is in his hands. once you go in, you dont come out... nature won is the collaborative project of rasmus mobius and morten bang larsen. rasmus mobius has previously released two albums, as half of melk in 2005, and his solo effort >medicine walk< from 2006, both on statler & waldorf. on this new full-length, morten and rasmus has crafted a new sound, like a tv tuned into a dead channel and the rainbow reflection of a laserdisc.

played and supported by laurent garnier, angel molina, kirk degiorgio, samuel l session, alan fitzpatrick, freddy k,dustin zahn, obtane, truncate and more. thinking outside the crowd, trying to obtain their own sound, their identity, sometimes through random ideas ,good ideas were born. iac2 is one of these. its the homogeneous union between the dub chords of emanuele and riccardos progressions. a meticulous attention to detail.. a desire to escape from prejudice and conformity are perceived through the atmospheres and the chord sequence that evades throughout the track.to wrap it all theres a stunning remix by future beat alliance (tresor)with continuous modulations on the main theme.this is a real trip into warm sounds of analog gear, evading through infinite progressions. the other remix has been edited by the painter of the moon : quantec (echocord), emotional and atmospheric dub techno as he always knows to do.its distortions and unusual sounds make us understand his concept of evasion.

versa and rowl are names that have been kicking about for some time now and those who have had there ear to the ground know that these boys are about to blow! all 3 tracks are just stunning. >lunar< is a rhodes journey into 2 step heaven with a serious low end. then >zoidiac< takes it to a 170bpm, but still keeps a soulful vibe that is a delight on the ears. last up, but by no means least is >warewolf< that is currently being championed by mary ann hobbs. other support includes phaeleh, skream, chefal, synkro, indigo and too many more to mention! smokin sessions deliver once again

astounding new material beamed via shemales atomic allotment,concealed in an outermost shadowy recess of darkest hyperborea. the musical paintbrush creates a harsh, barren landscape for hell transformation screens as deeply brooding electro and dramatic synthesisers propel each musical journey in its own unique style.there is an indescribable and mystifying tension which builds within the work of shemale, the opening cut, dead city photographs being a prime example. the soundbite here simply cannot pay justice to this tack as a whole,as the intro (which incidentally cannot be heard in the sample) is quite simply outstanding,with deadly,steely synths preparing the listener for an unmistakable and impending doom, which is ultimately realized in the dense, desolate sense of desperation interpreted in the final ambient-drones of tomb. converted followers of the atmospherically articulate shemale will need no further persuasion,as this will undoubtedly be a compulsive steal, but for those with an appetite for the darker side of twenty-first century electro, then there has never been a better moment to plunge into the shadows of atomic allotment. special limited edition pack includes matte postcard insert.

after some time spent entertaining from distant lands, the circus company brings it all back home with a release purposefully written to pay tribute to the breeding ground for their unique strain of house music, paris. seuil stands proud as one of her most cherished creations, a man ever evolving as an artist from the structure and function of minimalist dancefloor music through to the esoteric expression and ambience of jazz, channelling that same swinging spirit that has characterised much of the work on circus company. the release of his -chamaeleonidae- album proved to the world that there was a strange musical spirit in seuil that manifested itself in live drums and languid keys, character traits you could associate with his fellow parisians dop. the collaborations between them have been many in recent years, and once again they come together to both complement and test each others styles in a surprising vision of what pop music could sound like if crafted with soul and imagination. the beats stay tight and steady throughout the three tracks that make up -fluctuat nec mergitur-, driving a foggy brew of strings, synths and drones into a commanding groove. meanwhile the composition gently rises and falls on waves of melody, as particular harmonies swell in to carry you away to a very blue kind of euphoria. such drama and passion captures the essence of both seuil and his beloved city in one heady brew of dancefloor excellence.

the londinium ep is the latest release on uzuri recordings and welcomes chicago skyway back to the fold. not that hes been away too long, having produced a full 12 release and contributed to the from chicago turin amsterdam & dublin with love ep just last year. we also welcome hakim murphy to the label – with his credentials it was only a matter of time before our paths crossed!as the title suggests, this release was inspired, conceptually at least, by our nations capital, and its apparent that sean has spent quite enough time here to get the gist of the place, with the b-side tracks entitled traffic and noise, respectively. im sure he loves it here, really.musically, he keeps it closer to his windy city heart – very clearly reflecting his roots, in fact. as a dj and club promoter in mid 90s chicago, sean frequently shared the decks with some of the citys biggest talents at that time – cajmere, gene farris and spencer kinsey (gemini) among them, and one could say that theres an audible relief flavour to a-side, london streets, with its stripped-back, hypnotic stomp. its fitting that hakim murphy remixes the track, coming from similar roots within chicagos scene, and his own reworking retains the drawn-out essence of the original but brings a whole new hips-and-shoulders groove to the track.

strut records, in association with fania, are proud to announce the 40th anniversary edition of the landmark feature film that captured new yorks legendary early 70s latin music scene at its zenith,our latin thing (nuestra cosa).filmed around a live all-star concert by the fania all-stars at one of promoter ralph mercados fantastically popular thursday night jams at the cheetah, the film transports the viewer right back to a heady night on august 26, 1971. at the time, there had been little documentation of the burgeoning salsa scene in new york, despite its massive popularity. video was still crude and film was expensive to shoot. however, fania founder jerry masucci had a vision of taking new york latin music from the barrio to the world, and put the money up to make the movie.

strictly limited vinyl with no re-press, silkscreened artwork by house of traps, clear vinyl, housed in japanese poly jackets, vakula has been releasing some quality tracks over the last few months but once again he delivers his finest work to the firecracker/unthank stable. a strong contrast to the debut unthank ep from bakey ustl, this 3 tracker contains influences as diverse as aphex twin, claro intellecto or even dbx. heralding the release of several vakula eps on both labels over the next 3 months, this clear vinyl 10 inch is strictly limited. the sleeves will, as ever, have silk-screened artwork wrapped in a japanese poly jacket. act fast folks as there will be no re-press!