apollo proudly presents the return of sw, joined by partner svn for a sublime 6 track ep. sws lush sound design and hypnotic arrangements of 2017s the album had hearts and minds swooning following its license from sued to apollo. its balmy glory won over pitchfork (deeply expressive debut album 8/10), rolling stone (best electronic albums 2017) and xlr8r (best releases 2017) amongst many others. one year later, sw and svn have gone into the studio, together to make some original music specifically for apollo. the results are the 6 tracks on this ep, they share in a typically taciturn statement. taking inspiration from the iconic house and techno of the mid / late 90s - sw and svn combine dreamy melodies and mesmeric grooves with unfussy, focussed minimalism, their beguiling, modern take on classic sounds and rhythms remains thrillingly unique and elusive. while sw and svn are more comfortable out of the limelight, this 6 track ep for apollo once again proves that they are rightly worthy of the hype that swirls around them.

ltd to 300, three warm analogue techno cuts and a rolling ambient outro. the works are unreleased from 1999 – 2000 by underground producers activ-analog. all tracks were recorded live in one take - hardware used includes mpc 3000, roland sh-101, roland sh-09, roland juno-106, korg poly-800 and a crumar performer analog string synthesizer.

eshu, the production collective and record label from nijmegen are back with their next offering. their 12th release is a various artists release that features blm, joburg and steven siwalette alongside label members ivano tetelepta and jocelyn abell. it comes on the heels of teteleptas absorbing dub techno album, senang, and is another high class offering. nijmegen based siwalette is first, previously contributed to the label as part of sys. his stragglers is a sparse but atmospheric track with industrial drones and slowly turning drums taking you through a desolate factory late at night. his second offering is alien encounter which is just as it sounds - a spooky, unsettling bit of cinematic sound design with menacing bass and icy pads all growing in loudness until they eventually consume your mind. lastly on the a-side, uk producer and fear of flying label boss blm lays down a skeletal groove thats embellished with beautiful, yawning synths. scattered little details and fx making this a cavernous piece that encourages your mind to wander and get lost. on the flip, jocelyn abell and ivano tetelepta cook up a heavyweight, mid tempo bit of dub techno with sharp hits and rolling kicks lulling you into a trance. last of all, the emerging j?burg picks up the pace with a perfectly chiselled bit of rock solid dub with looping drums and icy hi hats sinking you deep into its midst. this is an excellent ep that packs in a range of fascinating sounds for both the home and the club.

one of the most anticipated albums of 2018 according to rolling stone, complex and hiphopdx is here! don’t miss your chance to get the soon to be classic album prhyme 2 from prhyme (royce da 5’9” and dj premier). this is hip hop at its finest! comes as double vinyl in gatefold sleeve with download code included.

uncage founder marco faraone makes his second appearance on rekids with a massive vocal cut entitled ‘on my way’, featuring a remix from 50weapons and hyperdub’s addison groove. the italian techno producer had an active year touring in 2017, dropping only one release on tenax recordings. however, 2018 is already proving to be one of his busiest on the production front, with releases appearing on rekids special projects, on edge society and his own label uncage, not to mention forthcoming appearances on gigolo and avotre. he now returns to rekids with his biggest sounding record yet. with its infectious vocal, rolling kicks and off-beat hats, it is undeniable that ‘on my way’ is destined to become one of this year’s most recognisable club tracks. on the flip, bristolian producer and swamp 81 affiliate addison groove has produced an intricate remix featuring a cacophony of percussion as a stuttering low-end joins chilling synths. finally, faraone concludes the package with a ‘dub acid rework’, losing the vocals whilst incorporating heady 303 licks.

marseille-based producer grant returns to his self-released white label series with an ever more expansive ep of deep, rolling house. with a firm grasp for 80’s chicago and detroit house tased with 90’s deep house tropes, grant004 finds him on deepest ever form, with swirling luscious pads, snippet vocals and thudding percussion sinking us further down into the depths.

!! repress !! points new year, new concept: maceo plex locks down 2018 with a fabriclive mix and his new mutant series that sets out to explore the more mutated side of his signature cosmic techno further than ever before. similar to his conjure series in 2015, the new releases will reside across labels run by peers maceo respects and is inspired by, with some also featuring on his much loved ellum imprint. correspondant are proud to release the debut ep, mutant 1. three tracks deep, each version tells the same story from a different perspective, mutant disco tells it from the bassline’s point of view as a latent funk thumps with wry mischief, mutant dx shows things from melodic side with its rolling bulbous bass lead while mutant moog closes the ep by surging us even deeper into the stars with a crisp sinewy arpeggio that sucks us in and, like all card carrying mutants, refuses to let us go. time to mutate.

farron gets back on shaw cuts with his fourth record, invincible shaolin a tale of double-dealing, rivalry, royalty and bad blood. manchu general pus evil quest to eradicate the shaolin tradition unfolds, cunningly pitting north and south shaolins against each other. spring break ya neck opens the clash with its rhythmic shifts and whirling synth pads. the northern masters prevail. after pus henchmen secretly kill the southern shaolin, the general blames the masters from the north, unleashing chaos. cosmicaph restores order, its pounding drums and floating melodies giving new strength to the southern shaolin. revenge must be taken. to prepare for conquer, the southern master sends three of his disciples to three masters to learn their secret weapons. sir hatch sets the pace with rolling punches, dirty synths and sharp percussion as the three disciples transform into lethal fighting machines. just before the final encounter between the shaolin, leibniz lands on the scene with his fresh interpretation of spring break ya neck, revealing to both schools that they have been deceived. joining forces, north and south battle the general and his men, led by leibnizs funky drum patterns and turbulent synth action. and the shaolin spirit lives on

for this release we present patrick chardronnet s masterfully crafted cover version of jean-michel jarre s unforgettable classic oxygene part ii that dares dive into the beautifully ethereal moments we find ourselves in when lost in sound. it s techno that spans genres and defies age and era. with lush dreamy sonics, warm rolling drums and a plot that unfolds into an impassioned story, patrick chardronnet turned a timeless piece of music into an instant techno classic. and to commemorate this one we are releasing it as a special coloured vinyl with exclusive artwork making it a must have for every dj and music lover.

up next on hot creations is the hugely influential leftroom records boss, matt tolfrey. well known for bringing fire to the dancefloor as well as to his productions, this punchy two-parter is no exception. on title track americas, tolfrey delivers a peak-time slice of rolling electronic goodness with pounding pads that bounce around the percussion, with a drum and vocal loop that lure you in. regain the past is laden with throbbing bass and subtle vocal stabs that gently caress your ear before thrusting you headfirst into the break. matt tolfrey has come a long way since his musical journey began. spotted by craig richards and invited to play at his fabric night, this culminated in the honour of recording fabric 81. since then tolfrey has become a mainstay in the scene. playing countless clubs and festivals across the globe, he also holds down residencies at stealth in nottingham, bar americas in guadalajara and r33 in barcelona. productions can also been seen on esteemed labels such as cuttin headz, phonica, crosstown rebels, rekids and his own impressive imprint, leftroom.

back in 90s san francisco scott, gavin and robbie hardkiss helped pioneer the american underground scene with their club nights, warehouse parties and groundbreaking record label. they forged a new direction for dance music with a string of vinyl releases by hawke, god within, little wing and rabbit in the moon, culminating in the seminal compilation delusions of grandeur released in 1995. delusions of grandeur made the billboard dance charts, went to no.1 on the rolling stone alternative album chart and launched the international dj/production careers of the hardkiss brothers. in 2018 to celebrate the 20th anniversary, the album was remastered and re-released with this new vinyl.

javonntte detroit native producer is delivering here 4 tracks of house music for attias brothers label. the a side contains 2 versions of a killer soulful vocal track searching with his typical voice and repeating technique to get to a certain soul mantra in your head and certainly your legs! on the flipside you have 2 rough and funky instrumental house nuggets . 2 tunes to make people dance. 2 rolling house numbers in the tradition of dirty detroit underground dance tracks. i hope you ll enjoy as much as we do, its aimed to the dancefloor. stay tuned we will also soon release a collaboration between alex attias and javonntte

facta delivers two lithe new cuts for the latest livity sound 12?, featuring fresh artwork from tess redburn. the wisdom teeth label boss and bristol resident deploys his deep rolling style, inviting dancers in to their groove with supple rhythms and rounded bass. established in 2011, livity sound is a frontrunning label in uk electronic music. since its inception, peverelists imprint has dedicated itself to releasing innovative music, eschewing existing forms and forging its own stylistic path

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

indianizer was born in 2013, springing from the minds of psychonauts drawing inspiration from animal collective s wild frenzies and django django s tropical rhythms. following two self-produced eps (-pandas-, 2013 and -jungle beatnik-, 2014), their first full-length -neon hawaii- (edison box/pbp, 2015) was released in 2015. thanks to this debut album, chosen as one of the top 50 records of the year by noisey, the band toured italy and europe. -zenith- is the second full-length produced by the band together with edison box, musica altra and bordello a parigi which will be out on the 27th of march 2018: -a psychedelic texture, ancestral, made possible by vortical bass lines and cosmic patterns. an extraterrestrial cumbia in essence- (rolling stone).

following the success of last years kunta kinte 2017 riddim, brooklyn-based label and collective dub-stuy add a new installment to their popular dancehall inspired series with a fresh riddim from in-house producer dj madd, featuring international vocalists from jamaica, spain and bermuda. jitta riddim is a brand new production from dj madd, a sturdy yet spacious riddim carried forward by a lilting melody and guitar stabs that are anchored by slapping snares, dub flourishes and a rolling bassline. this is a weighty but energetic riddim with the dancefloor in mind. bringing the riddim to life are a trio of vocalists representing the roots and global expansion of dancehall and sound system music. spains sr. wilson delivers an anthem in the making with zapatillas, a song dedicated to all the sneaker heads worldwide who like to sport fresh kicks when they hit the dancefloor. singing in his native spanish and english, sr. wilson shares tales of daily shoe addiction around a catchy refrain that name checks the best known brands. his blend of reggaeton-flavoured autotune and kicks geek outs is sure to resound loudly around clubs worldwide. backing him is jamaican veteran deejay cutty ranks, a man whos been lending his distinct flow to productions for over 30 years. on double trouble cutty speaks to the daily realities of life on the streets and the ills keeping people down, warning of the trouble that awaits those in charge. wrapping up the release is bermudas troy berkley who aims his vocal rifle straight to the orange-skinned resident of the white house, spitting rapid fire lyrics about the deteriorating state of things in 2018 america. lace up your sneakers and get ready to move and chant with dub-stuy’s new riddim.

since his appearance on soccer96s jupiter masterdrive edits ep (alongside danny krivit and glenn astro flips, also on wotnot ) in 2015, and subsequent eps on wotnot, monologues and sgol, danvers has swiftly become a name to pay attention to. as a regular appearance on co-ops selectors assemble, both live and on their recent comp vol. 2, he s established himself as a new and original voice on the broken beat scene. his recent the future is broken mix series highlights his ear for unconventional dance music, something that makes him extremely at home on the wildly creative wotnot (thanks dj mag). the opening two tracks are strongly in the broken beat vein. mason opens with dreamy, rhodes jazz over a bruk beat with rolling snare fills, lulling us into a false sense of security before switching to an offbeat but irresistible squelchy synth groove. similarly, in aye ata the pulsing chord that slowly grows out of the beat suddenly turns the track around with a rhythmic twist, showing the playful broken beat in a whole new light. there s a house touch throughout the ep, none more so than in 1997, where a bouncing kick, soulful claps and a booming sub provide a steadier basis for laid back rhodes chords and dreamy spoken word samples. as a big influence on danvers music, frits wentink is welcomed onto remix duty with open arms. the wolf music regular brings an otherworldly vibe to his take on 1997 , with enchanting but almost disorienting chord swells and spiralling vocal fx punctuated with crisp snare rolls. the ever-busy danvers recently launched 38 east , a studio space and music community, with warren xlnce . warren s remix of 1997 was a surprise gift to his business partner and collaborator, and is a deeper house cut, joe armon jones (brownswood) rhodes jam over the track bringing a distinct peckham flavour. dj support from ig culture, andwot (touching bass), neue grafik & evm128 (co-op) t williams

its taken almost 3 years to get the man like medlar back on delusions following his 2015 release with dan shake but finally its come together. that release, along with his regular output for wolf, riverette and for discos only has helped cement medlars reputation as one of the leading uk underground house producers and led to official remixes and approved edits for legendary labels tk disco and west end no less! the medlar seal of quality has led to support from such influential heavyweight selectors as dj harvey, gilles peterson and dj koze. kicking things off we see medlar in straight up dance floor mode on title track nrg, coming through with a drum-heavy workout that utilises a gnarly bassline, echoing synth stabs and rasping hats to excellent effect. flip over for his own dub version which strips things back further placing all the emphasis on the bassline and going heavy on the space echo for a tripped out, dubby warehouse vibe tailor made for the freaky hours. closing the ep we have the aptly named tripped which drops the bpm’s for a low-slung mood-setter to warm up the floors with. a simple groove lays the foundation for a rolling bassline while chiming synths weave in and out of the spacious mix.

after the soft landing of banoffee pies records latest sub label venture otaku, the imprint continues following the theme of subtle compositions with the second edition, this time from swedish born vilhelm with mermaid porn. a five tracker starting with an aquatic feeling on the title track mermaid porn with bubbling effects rolling into the a2. entitled kirchner with more with positive and patient melodies. standing to attention in the spaceships cafeteria, the a side comes to a close with always in costume. the b side opens with saturday bossa - drums inspired by the brazilian music wave of bossa jazz with a slight twist. the b2. track, skopje blends off beat percussions with a cutting snare and a more electronic 4/4 direction. the general expression being, music for home. with love from banoffee pies. x

american producer dustin zahn readies the next release on rekids special projects this april with four vigorous cuts entitled take the throne. dustin zahn has been flying the techno flag for two decades, releasing on labels like rekids when not helming the berlin-based enemy records, a label which has released music from artists like fellow us techno stalwart ambivalent, arts boss emmanuel, and innervisions producer yotam avni. zahn is also respected for train wrecks, his weekly podcast series inviting members of the house and techno community to discuss a wide variety of music and industry related topics and stories. the release opens with the thumping kicks and sci-fi melodies of take the throne before rolling into the dubby tones, infectious claps and rattling white noise of decorum. the atmospheric nameless midnight then follows, packed with echoing synths, tantalising effects and a twisted vocal sample that weaves throughout, arriving at the final track subtle flex where escalating synths meet syncopated percussion.

gab rhome is back on all day i dream with, believe it or not, his very first solo release. we first encountered our bowtie wearing friend via his collaboration with maher daniel way back in the label s catalogue. he dropped by again last summer as one of the tracks on our annual summer sampler release with venus. it rocked the beatport deep house chart for months. continuing in that vein we find two wonky fun summery house tunes with rolling grooves, tinkling pianos, glassy sounds and memorable melodies which is fun to say by the way go on, say it. say it out loud right now on your plane journey, in the coffee shop, hotel room or in bed with your cat words and music to make you smile

fresh for 2018 the ever pioneering octave one are bringing us some brand new music for the new year. using their much loved random noise generation alias the upcoming release entitled n2 the enfinate , contains a new single as well as a remake of rock my soul in the form of the reborn vocal remix . the first random noise generation release was falling in dub in 1991 and sounding just as fresh 27 years later,‘n2 the enfinate’ is due for release this march. for this single a retro energy has been explored in the title track the enfinate , running parallel to a more contemporary groove and rolling, marauding baseline. the second track on the package, rock my soul (reborn vocal remix) starts with a strong intent and a weighty bassline paving the way for precise and bright chord stabs. the single is taken from the new album endustry, a full body of work encompassing 7 full length cuts, set for release in spring. after touring and making music for decades the spirit and essential energy of the craft is what keeps them eternally inspired to keep creating and touring the globe. once it takes hold of you you cant stop even if you wanted to. say the brothers.

nyc label homage continues a hot streak with their third project from uk producer jvxta (pronounced jux-tuh). after an excellent debut on his label hardmatter, jvxta gifts homage with four ny-inspired deep house cuts. brawn is an immediate tone setter. the banging stand-out made waves overseas prior to it s online premier thanks to cinthie, who pressed it to dub plate and played it as the opening track at her boiler room set in berlin. the remaining tracks offer a look into jvxtas unique tastes, and listeners will find themselves lost in quick-fire deep jazz, dreamy 80s tinged house, and a rolling tribal cut that we wished never ended. serious selectors take note, homage is not messing around, and this is a project that you ll reach for again and again.

pleasure zone proudly presents the second release by silat beksi! gravity ep 2 is another outstanding production by the young ukrainian producer. more to come - stay tuned!

valby004 welcomes two new artists into the vr family!
the a side is 11 minutes of rolling house hypnosis delivered by mryn from france. a versatile track that suits both, the dance floor and the hazy view from a plane window.
the b is jeigo’s “pearl leaf”. an end-of-set emotional garage tune. tear-jerking pads, soaring and swelling synths, with a vocal line characterising heartbreak.

guber releases his first ep on paris based label beat x changers at the intersection of ambiant and mental uk bass music. the whole project is held by alternation of slope / release of sub-frequency and obsessional loop that dye each tracks. anisotropic expression is a first work that could be seen here as an draft representation of the behavior of surrounding matter. non musical influences therefore are brought here by the the study of properties of materials expressed in a musical statement. raw obsessional patterns, evolving and rolling out over the headroom could be seen as the emulation of many deformation models. shaping of stereo and arrangement have been handled with the help of the sound engineer & producer x_1 leading to home or club-listening experience as well. guber is been into music by listening & playing some music of the 70 s and trash-metal that drove him straight to uk bass music. since there he is only focusing on spontaneous creation showing faithfull perception of thoughts, leading to a higher level of singularity.

2nd installment comes from labelowners charlotte t. and einzelkind aka harlo. rolling out two original cuts with audio werner on remix duty. tambourine , motherfxxxer, tambourine !

thick breakbeats, rolling drums and groovy acid lines combined with a ghostly background theme make this ep into straight-up clubready material. after his last release on the imprint, de sluwe vos is back with another 4-tracker made for the dancefloor.

in-demand producer flashmob delivers a masterful two-piece assault on his hot creations debut, entitled the lone brazilian. the ep opens with the title track, fronting a funk-laden bassline and percussive, driving drums. tribalistic male and female chants break the track up, adding depth to the unfolding journey. next up, lower level supplies a deeper trip. a tight, assertive drum track counterparts a short, wandering bassline to form a settled, rolling feel. italian artist flashmob, real name alessandro magani, is a renowned producer and remixer, label owner and touring dj. since 2011 hes released on the worlds biggest labels, such as get physical, defected, kompakt, snatch! to name a few, and now delivers his bespoke sound for hot creations.

following lo sheas industrial iterations ep, duskys 17 steps welcomes the mysterious polymod to the label family with a three track ep of club tools that draw on classic acid house and techno influences. hooked with a vintage 88 piano loop and tightly sprung bassline, opener no other has been ever present in dusky’s sets since the autumn - already inspiring multiple posts in a certain well-known facebook id group, as well as causing one eager id hunter to tweet dusky with home played piano videos of the main loop. for all its catchiness, though, it maintains an understated approach that plays on dynamics and contrast - a driving club tool. taking a darker route but maintaining the intensity, tx goes for the jugular with a looping surge of acid and rolling electro rhythms. completing the trio is the spacious pg1000 that joins the dots between 90s ambient, proto-house and detroit machine music at its most dreamy.

black acre favourites return with a new ep featuring a special remix from the one and only daniele baldelli! the original pioneer of the cosmic scene delivers a tripping dance floor remix alongside the a live 12 min version on this special limited twelve inch. taken from the second clap! clap! album, ode to the pleiades is delivered here in a way you’ve never heard before. think khidja or that amazing insanlar record on honest jon’s from a while back. rolling, tribal percussion, turkish saz, thumping modern kick drums and loads of whistle blowing. simply screams party time to us.

jonah sharp & dj spun pair up as the loose control band to drop a punk-inspired single on rekids with remixes from label founder radio slave and shut boss ryan james ford. having released a large body of work as spacetime continuum (astralwerks) or alongside david moufang as reagenz (workshop), not to mention significant collaborations with the likes of terence mckenna, haruomi hosono and bill laswell, jonah sharp is unquestionably a highly respected producer. his seminal label reflective played an important role in the experimental ambient and techno scene during the ‘90s, whilst as a remixer he’s worked with music by nine inch nails, meat beat manifesto and matthew herbert. meanwhile, jason drummond has long been a commanding force within new yorks electronic music scene, such as running his prestigious warm up music series or his all night rong parties with regulars like dj harvey. hes also been djing and producing as dj spun for two decades, appearing on golf channel recordings as well as his own illustrious imprint rong music, which used to release music collaboratively with dfa. i dont understand sees a raw and uncompromising side to both artists as they layer a cacophony of murky bass, twisted melodies and mind-bending bleeps whilst drummonds turbulent vocals bellow throughout the mix. staying faithful to the original, radio slaves remix incorporates a heady rhythm with its rolling beat as screeching effects join a moody bassline. moving into techno territory, ryan james fords akihabara remix features rattling percussion and crystalline synths whilst his hope remix is built on an intricate drum sequence as soaring pads and echoing keys contrast with the originals piercing vocal.

hot on the heels of their recent eps on roam, correspondant and futureboogie, zombies in miami maintain the disco heat with their debut on mike simonettis 2mr. three tracks and one remix deep, the entire release is a full trip to the senses. take it off leads by example: strident, uplifting and dynamically arranged so a whole new level of feels is unleashed when you least expect it, theres a real timeless energy and focus coded deep into every element. new odisea takes more of a cosmic approach with its slinking bassline and soaring, yearning chords that weave and wave above it. buckle up even the slightest variations and percussive additions are so well placed, they create an almighty rush every single time. finally ‘where is the voice of that man on acid’ attempts to ask the question we’ve all been asking for years. fittingly psychedelic, layered and circuitous, its springy riff persistently tickling under waves of evocative atmospheres and it comes complete with a sublime, sub-loaded rolling technoid trip-fest from honey soundsystems jackie house. the duo describe the ep as the result of hours of jamming, trying to imagine and recreate the loudest, most energetic and sweaty dancefloor tracks that we could play in mexico, europe and all over the world no matter the borders. we’d describe that as mission accomplished.

a year on from luigi tozzi and label head dino sabatinis collaborative manticora ep, outis return with a striking, singular solo work from tozzi. ecate ep sees the roman producer bringing three distinct slices of techno, each with its own set of subtleties and the crystal, adept sound design that defines tozzi’s work. spanning the a-side is ecate. this title track is rolling and hypnotic, with muscular, percussive bass. throughout the track, angelic chords come and go, washing the listener in euphoria. alongside, we hear a disorienting melody, grounded by the lightly swung four to the floor kick that gives this track an infectious groove. the flip opens with leto, which immediately defines itself as a club track with an unbroken but evolving set of percussion and a weighty kick. its around this kick that other elements build. we hear long, ringing, resonant string sounds, and a bell like melody morph and unfold as other percussive components come and go. the track falls away into atmospheric eeriness, which perfectly sets the stage for the eps finale. esperedes swung, panning drums give it a disorienting feeling of otherworldliness from the get go. this is before youre greeted by an alien, slightly dubbed out melody and a hanting backing drone that feels like a reference (perhaps in opposition) to the angelic chords of the eps first track. its on this closing track that tozzis delicate, expert sound design best shines through, and really has to be heard to be understood.

new yorks marcos cabral steps up for his first full release on dimensions recordings, with the nature walk ep. following on from his epic prochainement masterpiece on dimensions 002, the ep provides a glimpse into the mind of a well-established and hugely respected artist. nature walk is a broad ep that demonstrates just why marcos records have been finding their way into a multitude of djs bags for the last fifteen years. from his work with jacques renault as runaway, and his coveted hamilton dance records output to his more recent deeper and darker leanings for leading labels such as clone, l.i.e.s. and mule musiq, marcos has quietly and studiously worked at developing an impressive catalogue which most folks who have brushed with house and techno will have heard, whether they know it or not. the ep provides a snapshot of some of the tastes and styles that marcos has experimented with over the years, the rolling, energetic and optimistic sounding, not quite house, not quite techno of wishful gives way to the brooding, dub techno of title track, nature walk. cape cod sees marcos in classic, house mode with a cut that could easily have dropped on nycs nu groove records, whereas rice a roni is a no nonsense nugget of twisted, grinding, acid. the ep rounds off with lets see how the light goes through it, a spacey hypnotic workout for the late hours and a fitting end to a stand out ep from the self proclaimed, hardest working man!

having recently signed to brownswood recordings, announced via new track ‘i’ll be on your mind’, skinny pelembe’s first single proper for the london imprint, ‘spit / swallow’ spans pastoral pop, psychedelic textures and hip-hop-tipped, chopped and spliced guitar, interlacings samples with rolling drum breaks and echoed falsettos. b-side ‘toy shooter’ follows in similar fashion, bridging psych-rock exaltation with beat-head, synth-jamming production.

black & white marbled vinyl. 5 excellent tracks from replika, evan michael, hannes heisster, jeff fader and quadrakey. lovely 5. house music with a deep passion.

louie vega joins forces with the martinez brothers and revered salsa singer hector lavoe this february for shut the door. the martinez brothers have rapidly become two of the most in demand djs and producer across the globe and here we see them make a welcome return to their cuttin headz imprint for one of their most accomplished projects to date. collaborating with the infamous house aficionado and one half of masters at work, louie vega whilst the vocal additions come courtesy of puerto ricos hector lavoe, one of the most revered salsa singers in the history of the genre. the tmblv main mix of shut the door opens, offering a refined house feel fuelled by smooth chord swells and organic percussion as hector lavoe’s vocal contributions ebb and flow through the rolling groove. a tmblv main instrumental follows, stripping away the vocal contributions to the heady groove alone. the martinez brothers up-tempo energy fuelled production then shines through on the tmblv beats mix offering their dynamic and intricate drum arrangement style whilst the processing the latin vocals from hector lavoe showcases louie vegas finessed additions to the composition. lastly a tmblv beats instrumental closes, again tipping the focus solely over to the swinging drums and snaking subs

originally released on anthony shakirs frictional recordings in 97, fbks knobs & switches is set to drop on rekids newly launched re-issue label r-time records. since his debut fbk has had a prolific career spanning a number of decades, releasing on rekids, barba records, and the now defunct diametric. this release follows on from the sir lord comixx re-issue, giving classic tracks the acknowledgement they didnt initially get first time round. the release starts with the robust kicks and stuttering hats of rollin on 6/4 as murky notes make their way into the mix, making way for the sci-fi inspired synths and infectious claps of reservations & misgivings. packed with fast paced drums, feedback employs a sultry bassline and euphoric harmonies until skipping percussion and echoing effects conclude the package in the tet offensive.

dapayk solo, berlin based producer and veteran of the minimal techno scene, announces the release of his 10th studio album the calling. this latest project will be the producers first solo album since 2015. the 8-track double 12inch lp will be available via dapayk solos label mos ferry productions and comes with a free download voucher. the first track on this lp the calling shares its name with the album and starts off with a pang of energetic, chopped beats before exploding into a brassy melody, continuously gaining momentum. blackout immediately announces itself as a next generation detroit house anthem. the rolling synths, hi hats, and vocals make this one of the most outstanding tracks on the album.aurora stays true to its name with a buildup composed of throbbing ethereal synths that give the track an otherworldly vibe. flood transports listeners to the dancefloor with its pulsating bassline combined with komplements quaint vocals. the second part of the album begins with after all, one of the most enticing tracks on the album. it combines the groovy rhythm of four to the floor percussion with tantalizing vocals by vars before low tinnitus reverts to dapayks signature minimalist sound. the transition into wanderer continues the momentum built up by the previous tracks. the closing walk with me is a deep-house jam that features a rhythmic shaker layered under mental bends powerful vocals. dapayk solo, alias niklas worgt, isnt afraid to try new things.

the ‘matière obscure ep’ is the first in a two-part series, whereby each composition was made using only recordings from one specific material (metal, glass and wood). the process involved taking everyday objects and making them resonate in every way possible, such as striking them with mallets or using a violin bow, and building up a sample library. ‘weld (metal_01)’ kicks off the release with its syncopated percussion and gritty groove before moving into the cavernous ‘molten (glass_01)’ that’s composed of rolling drums and sinister atmospherics. ‘carve (wood_01)’ is a lot bouncier by comparison, with its fidgeting bassline and murky tones until the menacing ‘cast (glass_02)’ concludes the package with machine inspired effects and a cacophony of stabs.

scalameriya returns to perc trax after the success of 2016’s kepslok. since then he has continued to break new ground both as a solo artist and via his ongoing collaboration with italian producer vsk, playing across europe and releasing on a number of key labels whilst growing his own genesa imprint. now for his first release of 2018 he takes a giant leap forward both musically and technically with the three track statement of intent that is his hellzone megapunk ep. each track demonstrates new techniques and approaches not heard in his music before, from the 4/4 versus broken beat cage fight of the title track to crucible s rolling polyrhythms and the otherworldly processed vocals of the closing track. as the first perc trax release of the year this ep sets out everything the label seeks to achieve, a combination of sonic innovation that manages to keep attention fully focussed on the dance floor at all times.

3 hard, loopy. rolling techno-ish club movers taken from helix s greatest hits vol 3. a-side -the lyot remix comes with a show-stopping triplets rhythm and guitar riff over 7+ minutes of jack track. b-sides go grime-tech and funky club respectively, all unmistakably helix.

amsterdam based label anagram readies label co-founder sinfol s first solo release in three years entitled pull back . the release, which features four passionate tracks, sees the light of day in the beginning of april. since the launch of anagram three years ago the label has put out a steady flow of releases from artists such as anetha, octual, stefan vincent, elad magdasi and haze. however, the imprint has also acted as the main platform for sinfol s own productions. blurring the line between various subgenres, the dutch artist is an eclectic one and meanders between acid, house, techno and more. the chords and arpeggios set the mood in life off measure where robotic elements rise to meet them, carving the way for result with its oscillating tones, clap fueled percussion and three-o-three licks. pull back is packed with a thunderous energy that s intertwined with sinfol s soulful vocals and ethereal synths, before swaying into deep house territory with exhale . the track s rolling bass, broken drums and twinkling melodies round off the latest instalment on the rising amsterdam label off in a graceful manner.

framework recordings continues to establish itself as a key new label, with a fourth great ep, this time with swiss artist o’hana delivering the beats.
this house music lover - real name adrien o’hana - hails from lausanne in switzerland and is a well-established dj in his home country playing regularly at clubs like folklor next to djs such as san proper. he’s also released on grand cru paris and has an accessible, heartfelt house sound perfectly exemplified here.
he opens his account here with the lovely ‘i tried’, a tieless bit of classically informed house music. it has rolling kicks and choppy percussion all run through with warm, streaming chords and a joyful feeling. ‘just 4 her (vox)’ is another lovely jam, with boom bap kick clap combos, dusty hi hats and feel good pianos fleshing out the beats with real soul.
on the flip, ‘dream on’ is another mid-tempo gem with roughhewn drums laying down a heavy groove as soulful male vocal samples and big strings burst through and bring the whole thing to life. it’s house music for cosy, happy dance floors and the final track is a dub version of ‘just 4 her’ with no vocals and more emphasis on the breezy grooves and summery flutes. this is authentic house music that brims with charm.

a proper various from howl italian artists, 4 different tracks to move the dance floor in 4 different mood. a1 from howl ensemble i’ts a warm heavy, late night house groovers with an incredible happy bassline that will spread love and smile to the dancers. a2 from nudge deep broken beats with a rolling bassline and crazy atmospheric voice that will stay in your mind forever. b1 from 616 very classy track driving mid 1990s. with fresh oldschool – not – oldschool, fresh and mind blowing in the same time. b2 from enrico mantini that found this rare pearl in a old tape on his studio, stunning bombs back in the early 90s, very elegant vibe consistently deep, refined and just a little bit trippy for a perfect after party

aroop roy has been making waves with his unique sounds for the past few years, with a wealth of successful releases and a busy gig schedule at the helm of some of the best clubs around the world. by fusing elements of jazz, afro, latin, funk and soul with the deeper end of house and disco, aroop has forged his own style with eps on revered labels including g.a.m.m, basic fingers, freestyle and lazy days. for his delusions of grandeur debut he pulled out all the stops, delivering three original tracks which further show his diversity as an artist and ability to produce left of centre, quality underground music without losing sight of the dancefloor. things kick off with save our love, a track that’s absolutely brimming with energy thanks to punchy wurlitzer chops, tension-building philly strings, and a rock-solid disco groove. next up we have what i love which sees aroop take an altogether more freaky approach flipping an uptempo rolling break, distorted synth line, cross-rhythm stabs and rasping vocal cuts into an edgy dance floor workout. closing this brilliant ep is the low-slung bump of walk that walk featuring original vocals from oakland, ca based blacktroniks who delivers his flow on top of a bass-heavy slice of deep electro boogie.

one year into his music production career, whb is the startling debut release from brooklyn’s kellen303. a unique hybrid, the tracks are inspired by goth rock/industrial, footwork and vogue music. it’s perhaps a happy but unlikely accident that they also fit into keysound recording’s dark, rolling uk sound. across five tracks, four cut to vinyl, kellen303 maps out his unique but bleak vision.

the dncn remix of san eco’s debut single finds him taking the track’s understated beauty and sending it drifting into cataclysmic chaos. the rolling bassline is swapped out for insectile swirling, the infrequent laid-back percussion for an upfront, energetic backline. it’s the ideal counterfoil to the original, minimising it’s heartfelt swooning melodies and morphing them into a crackling high-energy stomp. comes on a limited edition 7&#8243,,, vinyl with the original tune. don’t wait on it!