d!fu records is back!
jam+spoon (original) is one of the first tracks that kiani composed, so ... the early sound.
jam + spoon (original) : a house piano track and a break driving mad
das videotheca (original) : deep techno spirit, 808 drums and vintage synths
jam + spoon (laurent caligaris remix) : nu disco spirit by one of the label difu’s boss
das videotheca (manoo remix) : a dope deep techno remix by manoo.

special one dug out by tokyo s chee shimizu on his own 17853. oxygen tanks at the ready - this is a deep dive. immerse yourself in the synths, sisters! tip!

a surprising collaboration between mannella and the uk technos bearer - blawan- that clearly establish a deep techno-space, where the quirky sounds are free to be developed and created. right from the very first second of the dark breeze, which spreads a fluid, echoing and fickle synth, we can hear those fuzzy noises that mannella loves to use. a perfect combo is given by the presence of intense drums, thorough pads and harped synths: a total head-trip that flows in the whole ep. then, with i know you are a cheerful air gain the upper hand, leading it to be theperfect dance floor track. even if is just the second release, its pretty explicit the aim that the label has come to play in music today.

the prolific producer shows he still has plenty of tricks up his sleeve across all four cuts and stitches in acid, jack and chicago styles with his own sense of charm. the kings comes hard and fast out of the blocks with big hits, wild synths and raved-up vibes that will have you punching the air. knowledge is another banger with powerful kicks and globular bassline run through with more ravey sirens, but this time is a little more haunted. crossing paths is all about a simple but effective bassline that bounces along and takes you with it in ways similar to an omar s joint, then wait is the most stripped back and mysterious of the lot with cosmic melodies panning about in a spacious and airy deep house groove. utterly timeless from start to finish, this is another massively effective offering from innershades.

released on damian lazarus highly acclaimed crosstown rebels imprint valor tells a deeply personal narrative for chilean born and berlin based producer/dj dinky, her sixth album acts as a pinnacle to her steadfast and illustrious career and brought on a momentous change to her personal journey. esteemed for her work on labels such as cocoon, ostgut ton traum, wagon repair, horizontal and visionquest, and dj residency at berlins infamous panorama bar for over a decade, dinky aka alejandra iglesias is a trained classical guitarist, singer and keyboard player. her voice is an anchor to valor, its crisp definition loaded with intensity. tracks such as the driving single casa called out by us giants npr for its gorgeously layered vocals and the fragile layers of guitar and synths on cuts like milk make bold unions between sublime house and techno electronics and dinkys live instrumentation

for the second bad barbie records vinyl release of 2016 we are more than exited to bring you the magnificent work from the bla bla music owner daniel sanchez with his impromptu ep. here we have four amazing pieces where each one tells a different history. the first one pearled into droplets saw the light after a great live jam and the result is combination of several layers of base elements with subtle minimalistic articulations. these, in combination of the bass and synths lines do create a truly amazing micro house piece. the second one vague, is an atmospheric dub were a single synth chord raises in slowly, followed by a very subtle kick and bass line to set a bit of rhythm to the whole thing, creating a superb dreamy vibe while the chords do their thing with delicate reverbs and delays in the backend. a great musical piece indeed. for the third track we have yi, again another amazing micro house jewel born from a live jam, but this one is even more energetic than the first one and it also includes, besides a rocking bass line, analog synth chords that lifts up the mood during specific moments, which also do their part articulating themselves perfectly with some occasional twisted vocals that helps create an amazing party vibe from beginning to end. and if this wasn t enough we also have bedroom stories vocal tool that daniel included with his delivery, which can help spice up a dj set with ease.

the eagerly awaited full length album from microlith aka rhys celeste lands on cpu. following his critically acclaimed debut e.p. hello 307, the maltese artist returns and makes his vintage synths dance to his signature - soulful, laidback braindance. each track is brimming with warm analogue melodies, sounds reminiscent of early detroit / chicago techno and rhys s expressive musicality. all four tracks on the vinyl e.p. are taken from the l.p. dance with me

zeit ist ein fließendes konzept in der welt von phoria. das trio im kern des englischen quintetts - trewin howard (gesang & produktion), jeb hardwick (gitarre & visuals) und ed sanderson (keyboard & vocals) - kennt sich bereits seit über zwanzig jahren, seit der grundschule, wo sie klassische gitarre, cello und violine lernten. nach jahren der musikalischen selbstfindung und des gemeinsamen Älterwerdens, wuchs daraus das selbstkreierte schalllabor namens -phoria-, dem sich tim douglas (bass & synths) und seryn burden (schlagzeug) anschlossen. etliche singles, gesammelt auf zwei eps, hat die band bisher veröffentlicht und zeigte dabei bereits ihr vorliebe für filmmusik und orchestralen post-rock sowie ausladende, auch visuell eindrucksvolle klanglandschaften. textlich befasst sich die band vor allem mit den tiefen der menschlichen psyche und ihrer auswirkung auf unser handeln. “volition” ist das debütalbum der band und erscheint jetzt bei humming records.

our fresh outing for kid caprice ep sees another new face join the dirt crew/ spiel family. our latest artist discovery is bal 5000 out of budapest, hungary. coming from a diverse genre background, his sound ranges from disco to techno, tastefully touched with indie and balearic. the title track, for kid caprice heralds a soulful bass line, easy house stabs, light hearted keys, gently swung percussion and sparkling disco licks, this ones a soundtrack for traversing the cosmos or blissfully swaying on a dance floor. dub version steps the energy up a notch. with its growling lead and steady lathered groove this one is wide and warm. on the b-side, farewell my lovely is melancholic yet uplifting, eerie synths sing over positive key hits and its lithe melodic lines playfully interact with the rolling bass giving this one a live synth-pop feel. wake up! its monday! is bouncing and joyous with a chunky bass at its core. a queasy lead wraps around the central ideas while rising arpeggios elevate the mood. finally, as digital only track, cop is a pumping italo influenced house jam brightened with classic disco elements. boasting a self assured bass and gritty rumbling analogue synths, this one is right at home under the lights.

aimes brings everything good to this release from sun-kissed synths to chimes lapping around your dancing feet, this sort of post-disco can be found on “pleasure cruise-. on the flip, “acid dreaming” is an electro- futurist vision of the journey beyond consciousness to realms unknown. out on the tugboat edit spin-off star creature.

reissue of one of amsterdam’s most respected producers steve rachmad aka sterac s essential 1996 detroit style techno classic. remastered and housed in full color artwork. tip! originally released on stalwart dutch techno label, 100% pure (then entitled primus / osirion), this one has been getting plays by a fresh new wave of deep digging djs over the past years. this timely re-issue was needed. the a side osirion, is built on a classic drum loop layered with rachmad style arppegiators and euphoric strings. the b side features a more abstract 909 detroit infused loop, full of heavy synths and percussion. both tracks have stood the test of time and sound fresh as ever.

crimes of the future rounds off the year in fine style with an absolutely essential ep from twins. 3 moody us house cuts straught out of atlanta and a sublime deep remix from label boss scott fraser. opening up with cause of dissociation, a slice of banging chicago house that would not have been out of place in the hands of mike dunn at the warehouse. rattling drums amd percussion a cut up vocal and a killer bassline make for dancefloor devastation. next up -you take too- takes things a little deeper, maintining the groove with chicago inspired percussion and filtered drums and stabbing synths grooving the track along. over on side b scott fraser takes -you take too- on to 5am on a dark smoke filled dancefloor, with a deep bassline and soaring strings. adding additional percussion, keys and swirling echoes... could be the sound of a lost nu groove classic. finally things close out with -a way from now- with more chicago inspired goodness with a funky bassline, pumping percussion and eerie ethereal keys rounding the ep off in fine style.

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.

hans berg and johanna knutsson return to the ufo station with their fourth release, a powerful trippy trip, through warped time and space. and guess who was waiting for them at the station? well,none other than fellow space traveller dungeon acid, who delivers a remix that just might knock your space pants off. the title track alien power is obviously inspired by the quantum fusion core phase shift warp power engine that drives the ufo station, a steady beat to keep you on the right side of the force, whereas the dungeon acid remix is a musical interpretation of the great warp speed interdimensional flux mishap of the year 2216. the track dubby is so named because it inherently describes the core feeling of the track! alien choirs and synched synths meet long delay lines in this dreamy piece.

without coverartwork - emmanuelle returns to deewee with an italo influenced 12 inch produced by david and stephen dewaele of 2manydjs / soulwax and recorded at deewee studio, gent. luomo daffari sees emmanuelle swich between her native italian tongue and english advising you to not hide behind that suit and tie. if tom tom club hung with aphex twin in the hills of naples in 1980 they may have arrived here. italove is pure dancefloor magic. syncopated rolling synths with emmanuelle as chanteuse again cutting between italian and english to the sound of disco and harps. its a beautiful thing. she loves you. sleeve design by ill studio, paris.

ew york s p. leone is next up on spencer parker s work them records bringing a trio of hard-hitting cosmic cuts. born and raised in south brooklyn, p. leone cut his teeth djing during a short stint in tokyo as well as his home of new york before dedicating himself to the studio. he now arrives on parker s work them records, beginning his debut three-track release in mesmerising fashion with atria delivering spectral atmospherics and tantalising melodies. sequences of attraction then introduces thunderous kicks and soaring synths until miradouro wraps things up with dusky pads, echoing aesthetics and spellbinding arpeggio

sänger, produzent und allround talent seven davis jr setzt seine intergalaktische reise dort fort, wo er mit seinem debüt-album -universes- begann und veröffentlicht mit -dancing on the sun- eine neue 4-track ep auf ninja tune. -church- ist eine symbiose aus rave-synths, donnernden drums und gospel gesang - geradewegs an den dancefloor adressiert. der titeltrack und sein dazugehöriger remix-partner -see the light- sind perfekte beispiele für seven davis jrs eklektischen house, der mal rough und mal herzlich klingt. um die ep abzurunden, verlangsamt -spliffs- das tempo zu einem fetten, benebelten hip hop-flow. aufgenommen in l.a., kollaborierte seven mit seinen freunden silver tiger und atari josh an drums und bass, um den funk der tracks auf ein neues level zu heben.
das vinyl erscheint inklusive downloadcode.

from rubber duck marching brass bands to mutant swinging pans, expect classy miniatures and raw bruitist soundscapes, hawaian interlude or proto-funky chase featuring cracked up ocarinas, obsessive rattles, vintage drum machines and a consistent amount of analog synths, all revealing a unique and playfull sense of accuracy in their use. exclusive and previously unreleased material, digitalised from original master tapes, wrapped in deluxe package with full booklet designed, photos and detailed liner notes (english & french). artwork & layout by jean-philippe bretin a weme rds and biceps rds co-release.

alex aq constructed “don’t break” and “shake it” as a reflection of the sounds heard at the club. pounding drums, rhythmic, scattered synths, white noise, and choice vocal snips that send you into a trance are the core characteristics of both tracks created by the cubanmeister.
on the flip, myles serge of knotweed records and his own label (ms) remixes “don’t break it”, taking it in a trippy direction, with 808 drums and dreamy stabs that sound fresher than ever.
last but not least, lpz’s own techno duo p. lopez & octavio take “shake it” and turn it into a techno monster consisting of heavy stabs and an undeniable groove.

tominori hosoya is the project of japanese track-maker tomi chair and for the past years he s been on a steadfast journey in the land of soulful house. his most recent offering on mixxrecords entitled life goes on ep includes four tracks, three originals and one brothers vibe remix. starting off with over the sadness, the first piece is a laid back groove with a solid bass backbone animated by classic house hi-hats. strategy meeting gets peppered with wobbly synths, giving the cut a seemly acid vibe against a steady percussive background. with 32-33 (one decision), tominori delves into his tribal side, keeping the focus on exotic drum patterns. the dreamy synth melody provides a contrasting yet fitting backline. for his remix of strategy meeting, brothers vibe goes full force and turns the track into a peak time floor killer, with a hypnotic percussive line, a solid project for certain!

kevin arnemann and daan kemps taped artifact label clocks up its fourth release with a three track offering from outlaw rec boss and key part of the italian serendipity club, namely matthew oh. matthew has previously released on his own label and others like side off, and eloquently marries dub, techno and house into smooth and sensuous sonic landscapes. the opening track psycho hub is an atmospheric and spacious roller with dubbed out drums and pads, coupled with incendiary hi hats urging you along. shroud is seven minutes of slick and spaced out deep techno with liquid synths and clacking hits all racing along and making for a frictionless groove that sucks you right in. finally, get in the fridge slows the tempo down and becomes an even more widescreen and roomy roller with suspensory pads, smeared synths and aqueous sonic details that make you feel like you are floating in sound.

after his exciting album elasticity on his own imprint elastic dreams, a sagittariun delivers the equally fascinating three track oxidize ep for german label couldnt care more. while heights is a stripped-down basic-channelish techno ride, rough, edgy and with a hint of hypnotic melodies, the title track heads in a quite different direction: still its raw expressionistic techno, but the flow is ever-changing, mesmerizingly shifting and twisting between hissing beats and enlightened synths. for the remix of oxidize golden pudel club resident and odd-house virtuoso rvds fires up the acid machine and does it detroit style, warm and cold, uplifting and melancholic.

kicking off this four track ep is one of yuri s most dynamic productions to date. wildly oscillating synths and snapping handclap-led house beats drive east west connection , while what starts out as an acid synth shifts through a cycle of changes before evolving into a detroit-style riff. both nervous arp and morning at home take the same palette of sounds into much deeper territory, touching base with electro funk and straight up jazz-fusion, highlighting yuri s versatile musicality and distinctive production style. modular is an older track of yuris - a non-stop ride through wonky, synthesized fusion with hypnotic keys and rolling drums.

the „continuum 1991-1998“ white label series brings back the euphoria of the early days and remind us what techno sounded like before dogmatic blueprints, taking us into claustrophobic basements where boundaries were broken up in blinding flashes of strobe light.
future9192 offer the hysteria of rave culture in it’s rawest form, taking us from violently distorted 303s and uplifting pads in „plutronick“, industrial soundscapes and pulsating synths in „house of snax“, to „rhythm of slime“’s raging ebm-chords and stomping kicks, only to close with the epic „murder someone“, a hypnotic, bell-driven monster utilizing a droning „amen“-break as percussion.

serious time is joane skylers forth novel following orz and the skyler&kinlaw lp on reckno and ssssssssss on boomkat editions. serious time births you into a tangerine tinted-sci fi like inauguration of gently pulsating, rising and falling synths, you find yourself stumbling out of bed after a night on the alcoholic blue milk, opening your space blinds to multiple suns rising over some big pyramid building strewn in lights and a couple of flying cars knocking about the sky which is foggy probably. load up all your favourite cubase (circa 1998) plug ins and run through them at a progressive velocity, tapping the ^ key repeatedly, until you reach enlightenment.

the deewees say: we met bolis in 2006 via myspace, and then later in real life when we toured asia. to escape the unbearable boredom of his native macao, bolis had decided to try his hand at making electronic music - inspired by a jean-michel jarre concert - and we have stayed in touch all these years. this record is the result of bolis visit to deewee in gent where he was enchanted by the world of analogue synths. we should also mention that bolis had a previous life as south east asias number 2 rubiks cube champion in 2003. think logic system and telex. sleeve design by ill studio.

diggin disco deep present their superbly put together record store day release for 2016. 12 tracks from 12 worldwide producers spread over 3 x 180g 12 inches all exclusive to this vinyl package. a gathering of perfectly arranged creative works, in various shades of house and nu-disco vibes. slamming kits, elegant synths, fat basslines and beautiful vocals - all dressed with various disco elements - and a classic vinyl-mastering, all result in a solid and hearty lp! 500 copies, picture sleeve, 3 x 180 gram vinyl, bonus sticker and record store day flava. you ll never forgive yourself if you let this one pass you by!

the second ep on unequal has two fearless tracks from cloak. a1 is a peaktime oriented banger with evolving staccato hats and rough machine sounds all over. a2 goes one step further and disturbes with noisy droning synths and a sick low bassline. flip side by anselm tells a raw story in downtempo with crooked melodies and dense hi-hat rhythms.

on the a side scm provides the perfect blend of analog synths, heavy kick drums and a badass bass line ranging from fuzzy voices to contagious latin samples. on the flip the berlin based label delivers a very rare recordings of his guest chicago’s jordan fields. these experiments were recorded directly to tape and lost till now!

in our brand new 12” vinyl release axel karakasis has produced the mouth-watering hashtag ep, for all those vinyl and techno lovers out there to enjoy a wild time on the dancefloor.
on the main side, the title track opens up in a bass-heavy, thumping tempo mode that evolves into a magnificent mixture of insane synth samples. the result is so refreshing and upbeat that you cannot get enough of it! happy monday completes the sequence on the side: the track provides an ultra-rhythmic counterpart with layers of textured presets and a voice sample that strikes out!
on the remain side, spillover is a rolling monster, with a highly contagious, utter rhythmic grooviness that is simply irresistible. ample percussion and hats accommodate retro synths and reverberating keys that cut through the track to give way to a solid techno workout that is exquisite.

mr scruff & ge-ology remixes
manchester s very own mr scruff and nyc crate digger ge-ology remix moscow s lay-far! now that s what we call a truly international release. it s kind of a dream release for us at local talk as both scruff and ge-ology have been on our we wanna get them on local talk plastic list for quite some time. starting off we find scruff going for a slight disco(ish) rub where analogue synths bumps around with a dark but musical basement feel...but still jazzy! on the flip our man ge-ology who is riding high on the hype from his release on theo parrish s sound signature label goes on a deep and spaced out electronic house venture that is so edgy it hurts. its that good good shit basically...enjoy!

tensnake makes a welcome return on wax with his first release of 2016 desire via his own imprint. on the a side, tensnake brings us a slow and low 112bpm dancefloor burner. written during a travel to a very warm and sandy place, desire is a dreamy groove with hazy vocals, airy guitar and exotic synths that will stick to you like glue. the flipside, fantasma, is a trippy acid disco number infused with oriental influences. flirting with balearic and psychedelia, this record sees tensnake going off the beaten path and sets the tone for what should be a great year in music for him and his label true romance.

after his successful remix of orions gravity johannes volk returns to polytone with his debut ep. two excellent techno tracks are in place and a spaced out ambient piece called it could happen describes the mysterious view from a spacecraft cockpit into the wideness of the universe. on the a-side volk blows the whistle of the ep s title -asteroid riding- with funky chords accompanied by a wide deep bassline, short samples, classic percussions and a cropped stomping kick-drum, that let you ride through the orbit. on the b-side -earthbound- pounds with a broad hollow kick, arpeggiated synths, alerting sounds and a harmonically settled type of string-line that eases the elements diversity like the blue planets gravity. within the tracks that have been built to transport the feel of time and space, johannes volk again pushes himself on the cutting edge of electronic music.

this promising israeli talent delivers two slow burning tracks oozing with eastern influence and informed by the modern sounds of dance. part of the 84% creativity crew, naduve presents his second release with cocktail d amore in the form of a two track ep which revels in it s dark and seductive energy. -no good news- builds over it s 7-minute run layering mystic vocal synths and coupling them with splashing hats and tight shakers to give just enough beat driven energy to keep a crowd to attention. the flying guitars and staccato synths of a trip in tel aviv slither over half beat percussive structures to give this track a sinister feel ideal for late, late, late nights. wunderkind man power drops a tab on a trip, giving it a fresh take perfect for psychedelically inclined moments.

this special release revisits classic brothers vibe tunes, edits and a never before released on vinyl track. kicking off proceedings is the 1989 gem i ain t gonna wait. an early brothers vibe piece and massive underground anthem! brothers vibe distinctive gritty style of groovy house takes us on a hypnotic journey into uncharted territory. melody and percussion interchange amongst a framework of zippy synths and sinuous kicks. released under the moniker silent rodgerz, the second track infractions saw the light of day back in 2008 solely in digital format on a mixxrecords compilation. low slung with an acid influence, the cut reveals a distinctly natural groove lead by the classic bassline. the final track is the definition of a house classic! featuring echoing words of the great maya angelou, words to a nation exudes a timeless quality, unveiling a masterpiece which stays firmly in your head

with the telepathy ep, new talent dalvik debuts on vinyl with four high-quality, classic underground house tracks. -real- starts off as a deep, prescription underground inspired track, yet with plenty of fresh new ideas and a voice sampling to be recognized. -after glow- is a slower hypnotic synth journey perfect for the early morning dj set or to chill to the day after. the b-side starts off with a peak hour house slammer, serving as a nice complement to the deeper a side. the final track is a more leftfield, experimental journey, with vocal snippets and trippy synths. the under the radar label romb records delivers another dj favorite!

bart skils fifth drumcode offering comes in the shape of black vans. a high energy, full force, three track ep of powerful techno, he showcases his skills to produce three tight and solid tracks. layering the ep with samples, synths and hard hitting drums, the three tracks create an emotive journey that proves bart skils is still on top of his game.

the enigmatic hyenah steps into the spotlight once again for its third freerange release, following hot on the heels of their objektivity debut which is still causing major waves worldwide. with a distinctive sound which melds afro-influenced rhythms with european deep and minimal house sensibilities, hyenah has won many fans from across the dance spectrum and can be tracked down to a certain well known club in berlin which hosts its regular party known as rise. the idea unleashes a powerful blast of percussion-heavy beats which form the perfect foundation for sas lazarusman to lay down his distinctive spoken-word vocal. the track builds steadily, the intensity increasing throughout as extra stabs and layers of strings soar above the pulsing synths and throbbing sub bass.

&me has established himself as one of the most exciting artists in the scene and returns to saved with his unique offering called shadows. the german artist demonstrates just why he is in such demand, with the record possessing an organic element with has become a signature part of his output. the vocals from dwayzo lawrence combined with the piano and arping synths create a masterpiece which will be rocking dance floors for months to come.

cool, stripped house music with new york manners, for b-boys and girls. popping drum-patterns and spare synths, with lustwerk’s own fly, beat-bop vocalese. killer gear, for dancing or not.

on the back of an acclaimed lp on his own umhs label, freerotation resident leif takes his woozy grooves and lush atmospherics for a trackier spin on galdoors. macro beat s-broken latin groove propels the a1 through layers of bubbling dub synths and twinkling atmospherics. moment beat shares the first track s club focus, but this time chimes unfurl over a low-slung groove that leaves things perfectly poised for a change in direction. on the b, tumbler-picks up the pace once more with highs and arpeggios that pulse and slide around each other restlessly, before untitled wraps up with a beatless and beautiful flourish.

mike ash returns to super rhythm trax after providing the very first release and gives us 4 authentic and acidic warehouse smashers. mike ash may be familiar from early releases on moving shadow and rising high records under a variety of pseudonyms in the early 90s but in the last 10 years has become synonymous with releasing mind blowing and true electro under his own name. when he turns his hand to acid house, the results mirror the high quality and his no nonsense approach shines through having lived and breathed the music and culture back when it was exploding in the late 80s and early 90s. in his own words i tried to keep with the original 1988/1989 vibe. i didnt use any synths / sounds / samples that weren t available past 1990. its all juno / sh-101 / 303 / jupiter / 808 / 909 / 707 / 606 and samples from the beats breaks & scratches vol 1&2inch the tracks exude a raw and strangled soul and are a bold and comfortingly honest take on the warehouse and pirate radio sound of the uk.

northern stories told through emotional synths and raw electronics by prolific d.a.r.f.d.h.s. on their first album of the year.

ostgut ton reissues acht of zehn with original tracks by din (aka efdemin and marcel fengler), fiedel and tobias. 2015 marked ostgut tons ten-year anniversary, celebrated with an extensive 30 track compilation release, titled ostgut ton | zehn, spread out over ten 12inch vinyl records housed inside a limited box set. this sampler sold out in no time, which is why ostgut ton is re-issuing these ten 12inches individually in 2016. bubbling synths, a stoic bassdrum, some live hi-hat percussion and synth pads full of bliss – what started as marcel fengler’s and efdemins inaugural collaboration as din for 2013s masse ballet sees its continuation in form of mono on a1. on a2 fiedel contrasts the opening tracks cool sounds with an upbeat contribution: probe-806 gently brushes funk, electro, acid and even boogie territory atop the general muscular rhythm. analogue synth aficionados are being served by tobias.: like a drug is a minimalist techno track with maximalist dancefloor effect through its use of haunting, distanced vocal fragments, discomforting alarm tones and crackling background textures. as with every good drug, you dont necessarily want more of it, but rather a longer duration of effect (in this tracks case: 8:36 minutes).

rekids latest signing peggy gou serves up two subterranean slices of quality with l.i.e.s. producer terekke providing a remix. the south korean artist, who was raised in the uk and now resides in berlin, kick started 2016 for rekids with her art of war release. she now returns to radio slaves imprint with a sequel. jen high boasts a heady bassline whilst quivering synths make way for serene key melodies. ‘when round, they go then deploys robust kicks as ebbing pads join acid licks, before germanys terekke provides a floating rendition comprised of soaring atmospherics and jazzy aesthetics.

globally admired dj and producer riva starr is back on hot creations and fired up to send dancefloors wayward with dippin side. this time he calls on techno don joseph capriati to remix plus teams up with rising producers haiku 575. title track dippin side is an ultimate club banger, while capriatis remix skillfully strips back into a deep end roller. owls and toucans brings the collaboration with haiku 575, playing with trippy synths over heavy percussions.

gari romalis and lello di franco - dreamin for the uninitiated, our man gary romalis is the unsung master of detroit’s house and techno scene. having djed across the motor city’s top venues for the last three decades, gary is somewhat of a seminal figure for many of detroit’s djs currently at the forefront. following a slew of high quality releases on various labels over the past few years, gary now unleashes that special flavour on us for skylax 142! he is not alone though. with him, he brings all round italian partymaker, and top selector in his own right, lello di franco. let me tell you, this duo’s collaboration is something to behold. throughout all 3 tracks on the record, gary and lello maintain the essence of what the detroit underground is all about, stripped back tracks with soul that never feel like they go ‘big’ for the sake of it. while dreamin (wanda mix) may be packing a big kick and power clap combo, it’s the elegantly filtered, jazzy sample that will leave you wishing that the track lasted forever. the vibe takes a dip right into the deep in detroit underground (beat dat mix). spacious pad synths alongside a mesmeric vocal carry us through. taking a step back up, afrobeat rounds off the ep, made with a solid toolkit of afro-centric samples.

with summer just round the corner, hell yeah come up with some essential—and fully, officially licensed—new cuts from balearic gabba sound system edit master enzo elia. he touches up some historic italo house with his usual masterful touch and will have you yearning for boat party season before the tracks have even finished playing. if you loved the italian s take on soft house company what you need, you should go crazy for this new offering. up first is italo-piano-house classic morenas s hazme sonar, which is eight minutes of diva vocal athletics, big synths and pumping retro drums that will make you punch the air. fun and fulsome, it is a sure fire classic house winner this summer. jazzy doll s ladybird is next and in enzo s hands becomes a rubbery, ducking and diving house cut with big hand claps, bubbling bass and loose limbed percussion that is ripe for raves on the sea.

grammar of movement makes his long-awaited debut via lobster theremin’s main label. a shining light through a hazy prism that refracts a spectrum of techno from it’s tinted facets. a sound that shifts between sampled swamps of spoken-word lathered over crushed synths and carpet-covered drum excursions. a raw and cathartic output born out of a period of personal noise and pain.