pal joey (aka joseph longo) came up in the heady days of new york street culture, amidst b-boying, boom boxes and an unusually entrepreneurial spirit of beat-making. beginning with crude “pause tapes”, he was soon making tracks with drum machines and sampled vocals, all painstakingly assembled with razors and reel-to-reel. working at vinylmania, where larry levan might be found shopping for records in his pajamas, helped joey’s entrance into the city’s nascent house music scene, and he was soon working with everyone from krs-one to sade to the orb, whose “little fluffy clouds” he tweaked for stateside tastes.
true to his city’s inclusive spirit, pal joey consistently blurs the lines between disco, house and hip-hop, dropping scraps of old soul and recent rap alike over his skipping drum patterns and head-nodding keyboard lines. joey’s records (under his principal moniker and also aliases like earth people and soho) have appeared on jive, epic, talkin loud, wave and coco machete. he also has run three labels of his own - loop d’ loop, cabaret and footstompin records.
limited pressing, be quick!

it was like a bird of rarest-spun heaven metal or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now – anthony burgess, a clockwork orange after their lps “ike yard” (also known as “a fact a second” factory america, 1982) and nord (phisteria and desire, 2010) ike yard delivers their last album “rejoy” on noiztank, 2018 as the culmination of their recent years reinvented sound. as the perpetual flag bearers of the cutting-edge post-punk spirit, the nyc- based band shows muscle in a lp fully loaded with abrasive synth pads, scrap metal percussions, and whispered vocals. following the previous criteria of “sacred machine” 2017, it is worth to remark the inclusion of external vocals in the pieces “sister m” and “beyondersay”, which feature yuki osaki and maya. the nine tracks move through different atmospheres, tensions and moods that would perfectly represent a new contemporary soundtrack of the s. kubrick film “a clockwork orange”, a major influence and source of inspiration for the group this time around.

‘you can’ stares directly into the haze and the strobes of the transformative night-out documented throughout gabe gurnsey’s debut lp, ‘physical’. undoubtedly one of the record’s most outright hedonistic moments, ‘you can’ finds gabe cheekily intoning an invitation to dance, get high, or both, assisted by a deeply trippy sonic atmosphere and a seductive, twilight bassline.
in the spirit of classic extended edits, the ‘extended dub’ version unpicks and expands on each of these elements, retaining the solid groove of the original while transforming it into a heady dancefloor tool. a staple of electro for the past two decades, the hacker meanwhile continues his recent hot streak with his remix of ‘you can’. firmly executed with his usual cyber-militancy, his simple but effective reimagining is littered with elasticated synth stabs, urgent oscillations and an audible desire to transform gurnsey himself into a man-machine.

k.a.c.z.m.a.r.e.k”, from the title to the sounds, is intended to be a more personal project for paul ritch – indelibly closer to the confluences of sounds that he hears embodying the spirit of kaczmarek. he drives the mind’s eye deep into the inner-ear with the album’s spacious opening tracks, only to leave your head bobbing with the extraterrestrial rhythms that emerge as the main body of the album. moody and foreboding, loaded with the scattered, staccato and broken beats, more ovular than linear in composition and ranging from vaporous-ambience to hyperventilating grooves, the nine tracks on this album defy categorisation. the “k.a.c.z.m.a.r.e.k” album will give the listener a deep well to return to. the vinyl release will be a fittingly rare issue – only 100 numbered copies are going out, while digital releases will run parallel. keeping with the dark and cryptic theme of the first releases russian artist, sasha sime, is back for his third kczmrk cover design

ltd repress! club style is the pseudonym used by 2 all-time chicago legends, a truly all-star line up on this record, that s right, the pairing of paul johnson and robert armani. say no more really. crazy wild is a 4 tracker of infectious, grooved out, jacking and tough house jams, both producers fingerprints are all over this one. narcotic, driving drum machines, phased out loops, armour piercing claps and basement trembling basslines are all over this ep, originally released in 1994. this one s a bit of a cult release from dm, collectors and freaks rating it highly. as usual it s a tough one to try and track down, changing hands for some hard earned cash too. this is the first time crazy wild has ever been reissued in full, just as it was originally released in 1994, complete with original dance mania label artwork. 100% legit, reissued in conjunction with dance mania records, chicago il and parris mitchell. don t sleep.

a rainy night in the autumn, bottenvikens silverkyrka recorded with the cantor olof petrus in umea city church. improvisation and inspiration resulted in stadskyrkan ep which features four organ-and-techno-driven acid tracks with themes on collectivity, techno spirit and world-wide movement. stadskyrkan ep is the third chapter of the three-o-trinity, the revivalist acid series released by the duo, succeeding det stora uppvaknandet and arken. bottenvikens silverkyrka is a northern sweden congregation that preaches through their machine music: acid techno infused with the message of eternity in the tradition of the swedish revival movement.

after reissuing stanislav tolkachevs masterpiece blue mood, the intergalactic research institute for sound comes back with two fresh pieces from georgian artists zesknel and irakli. following a strong start with de sounds from georgia, this new record explores a more abstract electronic music. zesknel, who is a resident of the renowned bassiani club, collaborates here with irakli on two dreamy and airy soundscapes which aspire to depict and recreate the atmosphere of the georgian capital. to do so, they asked for the help of rezo glonti who proceeded to make field-recordings in tbilisi. this work served as a base in order to create something unique and true to the city. the project is part of a sound installation which aims to blend architecture with sound. the idea of the two artists was to conceive a space where they could translate the spirit of tbilisi. inside that space will be found works exhibited by other georgian artists. and this is all part of the exhibition >lara protects me. eine georgische erzählung< at the museum angewante kunst frankfurt

lp + download. as prodigies of the new wave of belgian jazz, mdciii effortlessly marry the virtuosity and free spirit of jazz to influences from the other end of the musical spectrum: from tribal rhythms and roots to far out electronics.

our brand new series systematic soundscapes is for fans of club music made with highgrade and original synth sounds and without many times used vocal or sound sound samples. all tracks come along with fresh and unheard vibes. for the first volume which was compiled by marc romboy, sascha braemer celebrates his label debut with the moving butterflies, followed by high energy rhythms by spirit catcher from belgium who have already produced many tracks on the label. roy rosenfeld contributes distorted reality, which is in the best tradition of his music released on kx and systematic, straight, powerful and touching. and also thyladomid has his debut with devils dance, musical stuff as we know it from the label.

after relocating from california at 7 years old, nasser grew up in a musical environment in new jersey. surrounded by gifted artists from an early age, nasser was fed a diet of authentic 70 s soul, 80 s pop and 90 s hip hop and r&b, which all influenced the spirit of his music and his trademark big production. at only 24 years old nasser displays real musical maturity and a subterranean fearlessness in his productions. mentored by house music master dennis ferrer, nasser has released three ep s and on the indispensible objektivity label, as well as remixing dennis iconic son of raw in 2017. his gramercy ep on suara revealed nasser s more techier side, exposing his wider abilities. his most recent release on objektivity, the just like that ep , dropped in summer 2017, in tune with his first ibiza season. (as a part of dennis ferrer s misfits society crew, a residency he continues in 2018…) here nasser debuts on circus recordings with his first full, self penned, and part sung, vocal single, combined with a intergalactic techno b side that is absolutely not to be skipped over. say something was instantly snapped up by yousef after an early demo was sent to the label owner earlier this year. big, nasty & pin sharp drums carry the original vocal throughout the track, as a playful narrative parties & dances throughout. vocal hook after vocal hook interchange as the slamming 909 drums persist. as yousef said, there is simply nothing else quite like it right now, and as pete tong said it s the best vocal record he has heard in many years, confirmed an essential new tune on the spot… this years bigger than prince..?

voigtmann’s debut album ‘sublunary’ is assembled from a wealth of elements and directions glued together by claus’ own way of sculpting and arranging sounds. in the spirit of a true album he spans an arc of tension from earie ambient via house to techno and breaks under his unique blanket of deepness. ‘the result is what happens when gentle craziness, selfishness, and honesty meet with unrestricted freedom of producing’

the music contained in this album invokes the vibes and spirit that were so crucial to much of the music recorded during the 1960s & 70s in jamaica. if you talk to the musicians and singers of this era, they will tell you that the driving force behind the songs they created was the sheer love of music. this is one of the reasons these recordings are so powerful and move listeners to this day. music like this can only be made by those who were schooled in the studios and yards around kingston and is not something that can be easily reproduced outside jamaica. the kingston all stars represent some of the most legendary musicians to ever grace the little island & it is thanks to their passion and dedication that we have a lifetime of music to enjoy.

the music contained in this album invokes the vibes and spirit that were so crucial to much of the music recorded during the 1960s & 70s in jamaica. if you talk to the musicians and singers of this era, they will tell you that the driving force behind the songs they created was the sheer love of music. this is one of the reasons these recordings are so powerful and move listeners to this day. music like this can only be made by those who were schooled in the studios and yards around kingston and is not something that can be easily reproduced outside jamaica. the kingston all stars represent some of the most legendary musicians to ever grace the little island & it is thanks to their passion and dedication that we have a lifetime of music to enjoy

a year after his debut outing on the label, max essa makes a welcome return to hell yeah with the han zon roc ep, which is another of his impossibly laidback offerings. essa is of course the long time uk talent who has become a part of the balearic mafia thanks to releases on labels like aficionado, music for dreams, and his own jansen jardin. this is the second coming together of artist and label and is another timeless excursion far out to sea. opener han zon roc (midori coup) is an epic 12inch minute adventure that slowly awakens your spirit with new age guitar plucks and heavenly ambience before organic drums slowly being to drift into earshot. they grow ever larger as synths start to spray about the mix, hand drums pitter patter and big chords bring the soul-shine. its like the soundtrack to an afternoon boat party all condensed into one brilliant cut. how you showed me everything then gets super chill with lazy drum tumbles, bendy guitar lines and scattered hits. withering cosmic chords colour the airwaves and its a track that will slow your heartbeat to nothing. last of all, rain birds alfalfa jam is a analogue drum work out with early 90s hip hop influences and diving basslines. it s light and airy, nimble and playful and of course filled with the sort of tropical rays that make all of essa works so brilliantly escapist.

direkt im anschluss der nutzung von ›you can’t always get what you want‹ im staffelfinale der emmy-prämierten tv show big little lies, erscheint ›chill in saint tropez‹, ituanas debütalbum, zum ersten mal als cd sowie auf vinyl. das album liefert kollaborationen mit são vicente und dem tango tripping project und enthält lounge versionen von klassikern wie bob marleys waiting in vain, the doors light my fire und astrud gilberto & stan getz garota de ipanema. als bonustrack enthält das album zudem den special big little lies edit von ›you can’t always get what you want‹, so wie er in der hbo erfolgs-show eingebunden ist. dies ist eine weitere großartige ergänzung für ihre lounge music sammlung.

st. petersburg resident kuzma palkin is a busy guy, having recorded music in the past as audiocad, cylindro, plattformer and many more. under his own name hes contributed to russia s respected gost zvuk label, and now he signs up to the excellent ukranian outpost wicked bass to drop some hypnotic and delightfully dusky club tracks to inject a little spice into a minimal scenario. the release kicks off with windy bass, which shares a little rugged spirit with stls sonic style and love of loose swing, before diving down into the misty waters of fordism 0205. exalted flow has a more detailed arrangement that pushes extra detail, sequence wobbles and fx tweaks onto the drums to make for a dynamic rhythm workout. krisis ekktro completes the set with a blown out electro throwdown that will be gold dust to any self-respecting machine funk deviant.

boogie box launched in style last year with a release from the mighty stl, and now they re revisiting that strong first step with a clutch of smartly selected remixes from some deep cover operators. juniper drops two dubs of -haze & kraze- that press squashed synth pressure, found sounds and splattering fx into tight but funky grooves with a distinctly nocturnal feel. fold s dub of -hide & seek- spaces things out beautifully, taking a crooked, steppers approach that works wonderfully with the source material. jonas friedlich s own dub of -hide & seek- takes a dustier path through the undergrowth, completing a package of truly non-conformist techno that chimes with stl s own outsider spirit.

rough and ready machine tracks from brazilian producer/december collaborator innsyter (la club resource). cyn002 picks up where coletivo vandalismo left off, channeling that same wild, diy bedroom studio spirit across nine individual recordings. opening with sprawling synth motifs fighting against a steady rhythm track, desintegrado sounds like an industrial dub punk trying to channel early cluster or moebius and strangely succeeding. the rest of the lp treats us to vaguely drexciyan, subaquatic electro (bries) and twisted lo-fi minimalism with bonus eerie monologue samples (superficial love). the one recurring theme on magnetic healing is innsyter s clear love for mournful, post-punk inspired melodies. it comes across loud and clear on almost every track yet never sounds tired. things eventually draw to a close with the hopelessly romantic new wave instrumental forest shaman - a short ballad for all those weary-eyed party-goers who stuck around til the sun came up!

the debut vinyl only release on the newly established kod (keep on dancing) records embodies the spirit of multiple day long sessions held at the revered can chou chou house in ibiza, where anything goes from disco to techno (in this case the former prevails) so long as its played tastefully and at the right time. no title and no artist name appears on on this single, just the music speaking for itself.

almost a decade after debuting the event series, audiotheque releases its first ep, including three tracks by various local artists. the first one, mikes jam, comes by berns new power duo frank spirit. it is a puristic, full analogue house jam, finalized on mike huckabys personal request. rbma graduate cclinic joins for a2. talk silver is a groovy house track which stands out for its prominent baseline and the inclusion of balearic and nordic elements. long-time audiotheque resident dj robel rounds out the record. fasiga is straight and clear, yet impulsive and fun.

raised on the best of popular and underground dance music of the 70s and 80s, partner has created an outlet to pay homage to the finest hooks and loops from around the world, seamlessly repurposing them for the dancefloor. first up, a-side track patu launches headfirst into an off-kilter bollywood infused dancefloor curveball punchy drums, melodic vocals and vintage instrumentation, save your weirdest shapes for this one. on the flip, my people gives an injection of latin heat triumphant, horns and an unrelenting rhythms section throw this into full carnival spirit. just in time for the summer. since relocating to london from brighton, things have been taking shape for partner music. last year saw a debut festival slot at dimensions festival, plus a handful of great support from the likes ofmount kimbie, dan shake and san proper. with some exciting releases lined up throughout 2018, its looking like a promising year for the budding producer. with this release high praise continue to build their status as a label to keep an eye on, with their party series and clothing line steadily growing in popularity.

matt edwards and multifaceted artist patrick mason team up as srvd with debut release entitled elevate dropping on rekids this august. whether as radio slave or his various other monikers, matt edwards is one of electronic musics most consistent and innovative artists. ever since his early reinterpretations of kylie minogue and new order, edwards has continually commanded respect as a producer and in-demand remixer, whilst as a label owner his rekids imprint is undoubtedly one of house and techno’s most influential platforms. meanwhile, patrick mason continues to conquer the fashion world, a devout club kid and gifted creative turning heads as an outstanding art director, illustrator and model, whose extensive artistic talents include a unique and compelling voice destined for dancefloors. srvds story begins when the pair met in panorama bar, which soon led to edwards and mason hanging out at the studio and later evolved into improvised performances in berlins club scene and beyond. elevate perfectly captures the raw spirit and vibe of their live show, with whispering vocals ushering in precision kicks and piercing stabs until masons mesmerising voice comes fully into play. an homage to the new york vogue scene and a huge hit at panorama bar - where the pair have set the house on fire with three unannounced shows so far this year nasty is a syncopated, bass-driven monster of a cut complete with infectious claps and metallic effects.

end of summer is nearby again and luise is reminiscing this year s precious moments. with a touch of melancholy and weightless beauty zazou & an on bast are setting the right theme for the upcoming autumn days. while knowing and following each other s musical progression for years, this celebration of polish-german friendship came off with unexpected ease and utterly pleasing results. in the spirit of collaboration this release is supported by basel s charming arutani on the vinyl side and luises own niju aswell as plattenfreund gottlieb scheppert on the digital outlet. completion it is by any means.

superb, heartwarming and spirit lifting gospel disco modern soul 45 first released in 1978 on philadelphia united records. calvin carr & company are enriched with sensitivity and alive with the spirit. the kind of gospel that sweeps all over you and runs through your veins. there is always a sense of inadequacy when attempting to describe just how good something is. words like exciting, inspiring and original come to mind but as always you will have to decide for yourself

ce ce rogers spine tingling, seminal hit someday gets a much-welcomed official remastered, reissue 31 years after it first took the scene by storm. produced by chicagos master, marshall jefferson, every element is unmistakable from the dynamic bass and sweeping flutes that set the scene for that instantly recognisable piano riff, to the raw soulful beauty of rogers vocals. someday is a record that truly captures the euphoric, loving nature of the early house music scene epitomising a timeless spirit and hope for future harmony within society. often cited as one of the greatest dance records of all time, it s influence is clear to be seen from the sheer number of covers and records that have since sampled it. an indisputable masterpiece, complete with dub mix and accainstrumental versions, this is an essential 12inch for any record collector out there house head or not.

after a ten year long career releasing music with many different labels icicle has taken the logical next step and started his own imprint, entitled entropy music. the name derived from his second album ‘entropy’ still aims to inspire the concept that music behaves as all things do in nature and degrades, falls apart and becomes more chaotic with time. in an effort to confront this, entropy music strives to bring controlled, rolling, technically detailed music, without ever overstepping that line when the process becomes inhuman and cold. on this second release on entropy music icicle teams up with kindred spirit and cousin proxima to deliver a four track collaborative ep. the opening track which also welcomes ben verse to the label, is rolling tech funk pur sang. the weighty and detailed yet simple breathing groove make it a track true to the entropy ethos and ben complements this with his trademark lyrics reminiscent of renegade hardware shows past. on the a2. icicle brings a near wooden stepper with a viscous turbulent low-end, a firm wink to the past, with dust me off. icicle’s track is expertly offset by proxima’s solo offering retrace a peak into futurism boasting an evolved playful groove which takes on board equal measures of jump up and 90’s tech. the ep is rounded up by the title track deep dreaming, where icicle and proxima collaborate once more to bring a slight curve-ball. pianos ring in an eerie musical intro to a dark but sultry track where the energy is second to the atmosphere.

tk disco the miami disco and boogie label, dominated throughout the 1970s and 1980s with back to back classics revered by dancers and disc jocks alike. it s no wonder the labels catalogue still gets played today and still makes people dance, inspiring new fans and the old school alike to hunt down the ubiquitous yellow labelled 12 inch singles with fervour. it s in this spirit that tk present some of the finest contemporary reworkings from their legendary catalogue, classics reimagined with todays dancefloor in mind, nipped and tucked in just the right way by some of the finest names to flirt with the discotheque. across 2 lovingly mastered and selected slabs of wax we have versions from dimitri from paris, norman jay, todd terje, late nite tuff guy, kon and danny krivit a truly allstar cast right there all showing their love for this sunshine state disco powerhouse. resplendent in original tk disco label art and with the classic palm tree sleeve this 100% legit and official selection of re-edits is now available for your disco dancin pleasure. dig in, and enjoy!

summer mode on. balearic 4, compiled by breese, is the soundtrack for summer, brim-full of beach-ready tunes that truly reflect ibizas chilled musical spirit. featuring two album exclusives: on-u sounds cosmic fla-menco dub of los twangueros and a breese remix of robot 84 that brings spanish guitars firmly to the fore. digital exclusives too, quinn lukes different aspirations offers i-know-this familiarity, emerson kitamura covers 70s classic rock your baby in lullaby style, while max manettis changuinola winks back towards the happy mondays circa 1989. other highlights include gallos faron - currently proving the sunset bomb with ibiza djs j-walks modern remake of mazes twilight fuga rontos rework of kay zees barny as a modern-day down-tempo beauty, plus joe morris skies reprise, which carries the mood dreamily off into the night. a dozen true pearlers, each one confident and ready to take their place amongst any quality collection.

following on from angophora s beautiful long player, ken oath is back with another full length lp from low flung. friends of the label will note that this is his third release for ken oath, and it s a fittingly mature and expansive statement for a debut lp. perhaps mature is the wrong word here, as all his brilliant ideas are backed up by a sense of whimsy that betrays his playful side. the music strikes a balance between styles and spaces that could perfectly soundtrack moments at home, in the club, and in the liminal spaces between. danny s efforts at writing dance music still contain the idiosyncratic approaches of his ambient works: the deadly deep subs and endless echo spirals on -rising damp- sounds like someone trying to piece together a drum & bass track after an off-hand conversation about the genre. he s transmuted the propulsive energy of jungle into something no less dynamic, full of stops and starts and sonic pressure but flush with space. -tarp climber- is at heart a rollicking digi-dub. the more ambient moments of the lp are equally captivating - the glassy tones of -frozen coat- sound like a space-age ensemble soundtracking a floating lounge on a suite of glass instruments, while -ocean grove- blends field recordings and dreamy synthesizer melodies to create an uncanny sense of place that unroots you from wherever you re listening. there s a heavy emphasis on danny s collaborators as well - the cold emotion duo is reprised on the spacey ‘hills hoist’. closer -bacchus marsh- is a collaboration with prophets, a cross-state ensemble that defy any easy categorisation. the music here flirts with jazz and minimalism but with a dubwise production aesthetic to produce something that recalls khan jamal s visionary -drum dance to the motherland- in spirit and practice, but this whole album sounds as otherworldly and one-of-a-kind as the aforementioned lp.

hailing from the mists of the early 90s uk techno scene, ramjac corporation s -cameroon massif!- epitomises everything great about the anything goes spirit of the scene prior to firm genre boundaries being established. emotional rescue have done the right thing and brought the vintage curio back to light, and what a return it is. while it shows its age, it sounds in fine fettle, all rolling breaks, trancey zaps and mysterious vocal hooks that positively draw you into a transcendental rave headspace. both the -massive- and -massing- mixes are essential, but then you also get the added bonus of a live version from a reunion gig back in 2009.

minor planet music s fourth release by sukaz. where thought and concept are intertwined with light and sound where cosmic shudders become music. where categories are obsolete and there is only impression.

seth troxler continues to showcase the work of chicago great k’alexi shelby: after an ep on his other label tuskegee music and a remix for sean miller on this imprint, shelby now steps up to play it say it with a trio of excellent club cuts. k’alexi shelby is one of the windy city’s most venerated heroes. he’s put out six albums and almost 60 eps since the late eighties, all of which have helped evolve and establish the chicago house sound around the world. next to remixing acts like the pet shop boys and derrick may, he runs his own k klassik and 321 labels and remains as vital as ever. the perfectly titled ‘groove with us’ opens up with a cut and paste style, funky disco loops and plenty of filters all bringing the loose house funk. it’s a playful and timeless tune that is designed to blow up the ‘floor and most certainly will thanks to its unbridled energy. the dynamic and driving ‘so chicago’ then slips into a slick house groove, with great percussion, more big string samples lighting up the track and a knotted bassline that keeps you on your toes. suspenseful and explosive, it’s filled with authentic party vibes and a real sense of fun that will ignite any set. last but not least is the excellent ‘black sunday’, which takes uplifting preacher vocals from a church sermon and backs it with gospel singing, an old school baseline and raw energy that will get hands in the air. it’s a definitive piece of authentic house music with real heart and soul. this is an expressive ep of house tracks that embody the instinctive and emotive spirit of the genre to perfection.

best effort records jumps out of the box with their inaugural release ’number one’ - a selection of tracks that celebrate friends making music together. cold emotion are danny wild and rory stenning. the duo explore improvised club music using various keyboards and modular synthesisers. “toast” is a track taken from an extensive live recording session from 2015. accidental cv messages create unexpected cyclic baseline patterns while keyboard melodies float freely above jacking modular beats. the result is an imperfect, inspired club jam ready for any occasion. -cantao- pitches things down from the hypnotic frenzy of -toast- to offer a unique hybrid between computerized dub, subaquatic g-funk and triphop ambiance. canadian content! -manipulate me- is a collaboration between ivy barkakati and phran. the stark, alienated quality of ivy s spoken vocals & dark subject matter sounds even more claustrophobic and sinister backed up by the duo s frigid machine-funk, which is more in the spirit austere & icy 80s coldwave than modern house music. metric systems are a duo from somewhere in australia. the fathoms-deep -adaptation dub”, recored in 2009, is reminiscent of australia s after-hour dub technicians sheriff lindo or andy rantzen. look out for a full lp later in the year

after a hiatus in 2017, city fly records return with a superb ep from label co-owner & serious sample digger, the last trip to gandahar. with previous sell out releases on better listen, kolour ltd and his sublime disco infused nugget r136a1 also on city fly. gandy’s releases have gained support from the likes of giorgio moroder, larry heard and bbc radio 6music. the ep brings an abundance of dancefloor dynamite which includes a collaboration with the ever talented erik rico, who has previously worked alongside artists as diverse as ron trent, dj spinna, q-tip and hip hop monarch tupac shakur. man of the moment byron the aquarius also steps up with a beautifully deep remix of higher! in a full ‘body & soul’ style.

derek carr has flown back onto the radar after reissues on ben boe s for those that knoe imprint and a string of newly released music through 2017 and early 2018. in true craigie knowes spirit, derek has been drawn off of the beaten path to supply a wider variety of sounds than you would usually expect to hear from the irish producer. acid, techno and detroit electro tinged sounds throughout. tip!

during the recent years, terence fixmer kept on being prolific by producing and releasing his music output on well esteemed quality labels such as ostgut ton, novamute, jealous god and recently on aufnahme+wiedergabe. following a constant workflow, fixmer decided it is now time to restart his label planete rouge which he launched back in 1998 already but has always been irregular in terms of releases. the label will relaunch after a 4-year hiatus with his new 12-. terence fixmer s oppression ep is a great resume of his unique sound design signature, delivering a collection of four energetic tracks that speaks to the soul. on top of it, as an homage to one of his all time favourite tracks of the normal / warm leatherette from 1978, fixmer decided to rewrite this 40 year old tune from daniel miller as a a personal pleasure and fun. by using as well the mini korg 700 s terence fixmer recreated nearly the original sound, keeping a track that is loyal to his own sound as well as its original spirit.

* 2017 year marks ten years of integral records and looking back upon the label’s incredible back catalogue, what a decade it has been for drum & bass music that we hold so close. * initially set up as a passion project and a platform for showcasing future talent, the label has been consistently releasing cutting edge drum and bass since 2007. the ethos of the label has always been about quality control and finding those special vibes that no question capture heart and soul. honing their unique musical language, selections are carefully handpicked by head honchos artificial intelligence and more recently in collaboration with label manager emma g that fit with the forward thinking, original spirit we know as integral.

instincts just a feeling is the pure embodiment of an early 90s detroit techno record. originally released in 1992 on instincts decisive record , not many copies managed to get outside of the city of detroit. within the melodic strings, 808s, and loosely swung samples - you can feel the spirit of these early days and of this young producer finding his sound. meticulously remastered by josh bonati from the master tapes for this 2018 issue.

an astronomical conjunction has cropped up. arpanet is back after a long interstellar hibernation and 30drop comes up with its particular vision of the abstract elektro for the very first time. “phases ep” takes the primal warp’s heritage blending hypnotic melodies with rhythmically complex patterns. arpanet, which keeps the exquisiteness of its previous works for rephlex, among other labels, gazes into the black profoundness of its own and unique universe. 30drop’s two cuts, ostensibly touched by the aphex twin spirit, are a spellbinding exercise of style. “phases ep” is experimental, atmospheric, rhythmic and, above all, flawless. this enthralling ep is presented in electric blue vinyl. a special shape for a very special alliance.

surface records has never pulled any punches as one of the uks toughest, strangest techno labels, and the 65d mavericks have embodied the same spirit with their charged, lyrically provocative approach. after a lengthy hiatus label and artist are back in action, and sounding as fierce as ever. false prophets is not for the faint hearted an avalanche of thunderous drums and expletive-laden diatribes. cosmic drift is marginally more meditative, but still positively unhinged in its execution. you lost your mind flails around a muddy, punky swamp of deviant sonic behaviour, and immovable (dub) throws one last curveball into the long grass, stripping out the bark without losing the bite of this proudly individual group of techno marauders.

after a brief time away from releasing music in 2017 to refresh his ears, essential house artist argy is back with a bang in 2018, as this debut ep on play it say it proves. greek dj and producer argy has been a prolific talent over the last decade plus, releasing a variety of sounds under a number of different aliases. his given name has always been reserved for house and techno, which is classically informed but always infused with the sound of the future. it’s come on key labels like bedrock, bpitch, ibadan, and most recently the martinez brothers’ cuttin’ headz imprint, and has spawned four fantastic full lengths. those releases, along with his storytelling dj sets, have made the these days label boss a much loved and ever-present part of the global underground scene. the excellent title track the way of kings opens up the ep with seven standout minutes of surging house. slick, powerful kicks drive it along as expertly crafted synths bring real drama and tension up top. it’s a tasteful bit of hi-tech soul for the peak of the night and is as essential as the title suggests. switching up the mood is the vibrant los animales, which has a busier, afro tinged groove and tribal percussive energy. lithe synths dart about to add dynamism and movement as vocal chants get you on your toes and the whole thing is sure to make a huge impact in the club. last of all, move like a panther featuring the new yorker in berlin, elbee bad, shows another side to argy. it’s a perfectly raw house cut with plenty of jacking chicago spirit. the drums hit hard, the synths are trippy and the snares force you to move. add in a dark bassline and spoken word mantras and you have a real piece of explosive club dynamite. these are three typically inventive and well-executed tracks from argy that are stuffed with original ideas.

monterreys new kid on the block, colossio, ep on calypso is an inmerssion into this artist s world of influences. from kraut-rock to mexican folklore passing trough electronics, colossio takes us on a journey inside his head and mind. moto sets the stage with misterious guitars and trancey synths while fe it s more of a robotic percussion trip. ansia its a more dance-floor oriented track while still mantaining the experimental spirit of the whole ep. on remix duties, newcastle s latest global export, man power, channels the stooges and the new york dolls for a sleazy glam rock version of the title track

second release on new la based pleasure of love label, barcelonas pau roca on editorial duties. soulful disco grooves and rare south african funk are subtly retooled, teased out, and extended to perfection for dj use. born out of a dingy basement club in hollywood, pleasure of love has grown from anything goes disco house party to adventurous re-edit label. reworks reflect the spirit of the party and limited pressing of 300 matches the capacity of the venue that holds it each week.

within lok recordings’ sixth release, we introduce lokin to you. we’re coming up with something to break boundaries and strengthen the spirit of artistic freedom. -the fall- by the belgian-born berlin-based singer, songwriter and producer cook strummer - aka maxime donnet - is an evocative ode to lost love and forgotten spirituality. channeling the post-punk synth sound of his home country’s cold wave movement of the late 70s and early 80s, donnet has absorbed the sounds of his adopted home in germany, taking that all-pervasive electronic music that is all around him and morphing it into something new. the result is -the fall-. recorded in a cell located in the basement of an old stasi prison (studio k61 in berlin), it’s an album with one eye on the dancefloor, but one that works just as well when the party is over. it’s an album that blends the organic with the synthetic, mixing guitars and synths with post-dubstep flourishes and drum machines. it’s an album about something. the name of the album has been chosen in reference to first single fallen, the idea of falling in life and waking up again. it’s also about the fact that it’s not the fall that kills you. a fall can be graceful. a fall can improve a life perspective and create new paths. it can and does make you strong. the main metaphor in there is one of reincarnation. indeed, it’s the story of a soul negotiating with god to not reincarnate on earth again, but being forced to do it anyways. experience something different!

we re very happy to welcome the mighty historical repeater, for their first full ep. historical repeater is the collaborative project of ctrls and solid blake, and here they unload four tracks of supreme sonic quality. channeling the spirit of classic techno with high-level sound design, alongside tricky, raw electro that doesn t compromise, historical repeater arrive with a carefully distilled sound that stands out from the crowd. from the trance-inducing title track -scientific calculator- to the insistent, pulsing groove of closing cut -say nothing-, this record is especially characterized by its weird vox hooks and deft rhythms – underpinned by a swirling sea of dynamic, digital synthesis. in short, it s a belter! early support from ben ufo, perc, happa, randomer, anastasia kristensen, rebekah and more.

arcane electronic duo violence, from quebec, canada, show their dark side on the four track 10-inch le flux de la nature. their underground spirit of new wave, french vocals, opaque and sometimes disturbing electronics reflect the complex rhythm of nature and intense human relationships. the spectacular cover art by manuel bisson complements the music perfectly.