2011 debut from the brooklyn-based band. rapprocher sees front person elizabeth harper pushing the songs into new directions. harper remains the force that binds the songs into a cohesive statement, her winking coo darting about in the deep drums and lofty arpeggios, and her passion backed mostly with electronics summons thoughts of yazs alison moyet. in concurrence with the title (-rapprocher- is french for -bring closer-), the candid, sincere lyrics meld with the atmosphere, enveloping the listener into class actresss world of 21st century romanticism.

kanda bongo man is a giant of african music and the artist credited with introducing john peel to african music. his fans number vampire weekend (cape cod kwassa kwassa), paul simon and john peel. all the tracks were recorded for joe boyds hannibal records between 1984-91, an era we can look back on today as the high watermark of parisian soukous, and showcase a band at the height of their powers. behind his soaring voice kanda employed diblo dibala and rigo star, two lead guitarists who are widely considered as the best soukous guitarists who ever lived. diblo was recruited from the band led by the legendary franco whilst rigos scorching licks graced albums by paul simon and it was their twinning that gave kandas music a wonderfully joyous, ringing quality. they both feature extensively on the -king of kwassa kwassa-.

a few days ago james blake premiered a new track, a collaboration with bon iver called >fall creek boys choir<, and now its been announced that the track will be included in an upcoming ep from blake called enough thunder.
we now also know that the ep is due out october 10 on atlas and will feature blakes cover of joni mitchells >a case of you<, as well as four other new tracks from the electronic singer-songwriter wunderkind.

raise the curtain once more on a very special orchestral performance. how could highgrade records better celebrate its 100th release than with twelve tracks from the highgrade disharmonic orchestra? the creative combo featuring both label bosses tom clark and todd bodine, alongside philip bader, daniel dreier and dale, began over a year ago with the intention of celebrating the tenth birthday of the berlin label. and the resulting gift: a musical experiment. the five artists have bundled their creativity together into a symphony unparalleled in the techno scene. every performance is like a jam session: all five laptops are interconnected, so each of the artists has the opportunity to react to the others and modify each track as desired. thus, new arrangements are created and constantly re-interpreted. drum machines and synthesizers are also in play, to further stretch the improvisational possibilities. no wonder then, that the 100th release follows in this creative vein. the highgrade disharmonic orchestra, with multilayer, kiddnaps us away into vastly different musical worlds: from deep influences and custom recorded vocals to an array of technoid sounds and effects. then back to groovy, swinging beats reminiscent of a balmy summer evening on the beach. therefore the record is something of a rollercoaster ride, where we never know what might be waiting behind the next curve. typically highgrade

the album title, as you might know, means >through hardships to the stars<, and that is precisely wareikas motto. you could say, that the trio from hamburg is the hardest working bunch in the music business.

with over 10 years worth of experience and a number of releases on labels such as emi, p-vine, and freestyle, uk funk & soul titans the baker brothers land at record kicks with their seventh, and latest musical opus -time to testify-. in the new album the baker brothers pick things up where top singles -once i had a friend- and -patience- left off. the result is -time to testify-, a brand new album that sees the baker brothers hitting their stride as they mix elements of modern soul, jazz, funk and everything in between.

good price for good music! these words are in the deepest part of douglass greed and the approach to his debut album. he allows his heart to lead, the better to look where it goes. therein he s distributing straight dope, however, in the sense of emotional impact Ð dance floor dictation it is not. greed crafts music that serves up euphoria for your mind on the terrace, mas- sage table, train or car trip and so on. a timeless effect stretches along the borders... an enduring touch, and to remain in the mind for seasons to come is his concern with this album. this is more weeping or laughing in the mirror rather than admiring the physical. douglas discusses not the luxurious but rather simplicity, in order to serve a sophisticated author-future-popfor the club under the bedspread. his fondness for other forms of musical self-realization shimmers on all of his releases up to now. on his own album, he expresses this passion to the fullest. the inclination for sensible beauty in the dark plays as the greed signature, a central role. featuring musician friends such as mooryc (poznan /polen), pascal bideau (a frenchman in london), kemo (a ger- man-hawaiian in new york), ian simmonds (uk) and delhia (jena), greed casts twelve expressive pulse beats of pure greed cosmos

the new compilation features just some of the talent that the label champions and offers up a decisive musical statement whether you are going to the upcoming tour or not

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

leng records follows up last years out of town album with a selection of remixes and re-works of tracks taken from cantomas second long player ! out of town fused a wide variety of sounds and styles resulting in a beautiful, otherworldly album that moved effortlessly between blissful flamenco, shimmering, slo-mo nu disco, dubbed-out tango and haunting, ethereal soundscapes. the remixers were hand picked by cantoma aka phil mison due to their unique approach to music and their complementary production styles and the result is an album bursting with downtempo and dancefloor led remixes.

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

walls alessio natalizia and sam willis dont deal in perfect wholes. the kompakt duo return swiftly on the back of 2010 s critically lauded self titled debut, an album that picked up mojos coveted electronic album of the year, featured in nmes end-of-year lists, not to mention winning fans such as of jamie xx, caribou, james holden and impressing us trio battles so much that they have invited the pair on tour around the us this coming october. yet it isnt these admittedly impressive accolades that make the announcement of second lp >coracle< such an anticipated one, what makes walls so alluring is the fully immersive experience of their mellifluous electronica Ð reaching out far and wide to pull influences sonic, emotional and theoretical together into patterns of blissful phantasmagoria. taking their debut as the prototype, willis and natalizia have taken those initial early-sunrise evocations and pushed them to even more grandiose expanse

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

sander van doorns new artist album 2011. if theres one thing we can say about the evolution of the worldwide dance scene this year, is that its genres are being mashed up like never before. on his new artist album eleve11, sander van doorn once again does what he does best, mixing up styles, genres and artist-cooperations. along side his smash hits koko and love is darkness, eleve11 is packed with artist-cooperations such as believe with singer/songwriter tom helsen, eagles with adrian lux and sanders latest purle haze installment timezone. an emotional dancefloor-killer that brings shivers down your spine each time you hear us singer fredericks voice. more uplifting is sanders collab with fellow-dutchman laidback luke. whos wearing the cap is an idea born when their resemblance on a photo was so anstonishing that the songtitle was placed underneath it, making fans wonder if they might be brothers. those who have heard nadia ali on iios classic rapture have probably wondered when her voice was due for a svd treatment. well, that time has finally come and the result is called: rolling the dice together with sidney samson all in all, eleve11, with its neatly corresponding 11 tracks all recorded in 2011, shows the world exactly what sander van doorn has evolved into.. a worldwide dancemusic phenomena.

in keb darges own words: i ve done many a compilation in my day, mostly based around the tunes i played at my long running deep funk nights in madame jo jos. that night is no longer on the go, possibly due to a growing lack of interest on my part, (sorry). in the last few years the lost & found: nights at the club have been my real passion, and indeed little ediths and andy smiths passion too. what a marvelous era this is for good music. we may still have pure stuff like dub step: pulling in large numbers of sheep, but an equal number of youngsters are being attracted to retro, or at least retro sounding music. people tell me it is because the youth are fed up with computerized music, or men with drug problems angrily shouting at them over a dull repetitive beat, but i know lots of teenagers who have bypassed this muck all together. must be the internet that is helping kill off the demand for empty music. you no longer need to go to a retro club night, or indeed search out rare records to be exposed to good music, the internet is full of the stuff. my fifteen year old daughter is a marc bolan fan who while researching the poor fellows influences discovered chuck berry, sun records, etc, etc. i dont really know or understand why so many are at last getting into the good stuff, but they are, and it is wonderful for the likes of me.

2011 collection featuring cuts from shuggie otis, sly & the family stone and aretha franklin.. the old grey whistle test has now been synonymous with quality music for 40 years. although possibly best know as a show for rock music, the show maintained an amazing variety when it came to choosing its artists, it really only had two criteria, 1, that the artists had released an album and 2 that they produced great music. this collection mostly features artists that appeared on the show but also include artists who for whatever reason didnt or couldnt appear on the show.

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

rounding out the 12-part madlib medicine show series, madlib flips the format with raw medicine: madlib remixes - part mixtape, part beat tape, featuring a host of un-suspecting collaborators that run the gamut from thugs, street poets, star emcees and underdogs. we ain t naming names. the show runs 60 minute with 30+ tracks.

tripper, the fifth fruit bats full-length, was recorded at wacs studio in los angeles with thom monahan. for the first week of recording, fruit bats leader eric d. johnson brought in a full band to capture some of the live excitement of 2009s the ruminant band. however, having recently worked alone on soundtracks for an extended period, johnson knew that he wanted tripper to be more of a solitary pursuit than his previous album. the resulting album, a bittersweet meditation on hitting the road, leaving the familiar behind and reinventing yourself, is a reinvention itself.

mighty clouds is a brand new project that finds thomas re-teaming with betty marie barnes, a talented singer who provided vocals for slgtms every night and fill up the room.the result is a collaboration of the sort that can only occur when two musicians connect on a level that goes beyond the songs they are performing. throughout mighty clouds self-titled debut, thomas and barness musical camaraderie generates a gentle electricity that exudes intimacy and beckons the listener to move in for a closer listen.

qwazaar & batsauce follow up their masterful style be the king ep (2011, fifth element/galapagos4) with a 14-track juggernaut entitled bat meets blaine. the record is an absolute rarity a series of inspired sessions from a world-class mc & producer team at the height of their respective powers. batsauce provides ambidextrous backdrops that are as multilayered as they are strident, while qwazaar simply astonishes, baring his soul while performing near-impossible lyrical feats. its a record all true heads should cop and that all lab scientists can envy.

hexenhouse: the next generation, 15 brandhei§e tracks im mix!

as the dust begins to settle on the white isle and people become reacquainted with their normal way of life, ministry of sound comes to the rescue with the ultimate ibiza flu remedy. this is the essential round up of all the tracks that have been heating up the biggest party island in the world this summer. the huge tracklist features hit after hit from the biggest acts in music right now, calvin harris, example, dj fresh, chris brown, adele, wretch 32, nero, aloe blacc all feature alongside big room bangers from the biggest djÕs in the white isle, avicii, laidback luke, afrojack, above & beyond...

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

500 limited edition cd that comes with 32 page comic novel. and illustrated by ulrich troyer. songs for william is the first in a trilogy of experimental dub projects from ulrich troyer and deep medi musik. ulrich troyer was born in innsbruck and raised in tyrol austria, he studied architechure and music at university and now resides in vienna where he lives and works as a freelance artist and musician. ulrich has been producing music and experimenting with electronics for over 10 years on various projects that include soundtracks for movies, dance productions, exhibitions and sound installations. since 2005 ulrich has also been performing live as a member of the vegetable orchestra. songs for william sees ulrich explore his love for dub music and the experimentations of pioneers such as king tubby, sound dimension and rhythm and sound alongside the influences of mulatu, tony allen and the psychedelic sounds of selda. to accompany this release is the first part chapter of a comic novel featuring the main character william (a guitar effect pedal!) and his journey! all analogue synthesizers, effects, stompboxes, samplers, guitars, percussion and melodica played, programmed, recorded and dubbed by ulrich troyer at the 4bit studio vienna.

slamming cd with 20 hardstyle pounder

was i the wave? is the ophomore offering from montreal musician and producer miracle fortress (graham van pelt). miracle fortress gained international recognition in 2007 for his debut album five roses, a unique collection of psychedelic shoegazey-pop that garnered high praise from numerous outlets. it was also short listed for canadas polaris prize that year, alongside arcade fires neon bible and feists the reminder. while it bears little stylistic resemblance to his debut, was i the wave? is in some ways a similar offering, insofar as it takes us on a trip deep into van pelts unique musical mind. theres not much of an argument for calling this record indie-rock-its essentially an electronic offering--but existing fans wont find it too difficult to hear van pelts signature hooks swimming among the big synths, and deep beats. like five roses, it was created in isolation from top-to-bottom, with van pelt serving as composer, arranger, performer, producer, and engineer. taken as a product of his occasionally hermitic temperament, many of tracks here express themes of alienation, anonymity, or the desire for the assurances of intimacy.

after spending 6 months of last year holed up writing in his london studio, charlie joined forces with acclaimed producer danton supple (coldplay, doves) to begin recording his debut solo album. the result is an accomplished 12 track record that oozes with vintage warmth and whose luscious melodies and occasional imperfections lend it a vibrant character and earnest charm. lead single -down down down- was rapturously received by charlies fans including fearne cotton who made it record of the week on radio 1.

it might sound like an empty phrase, but when oliver koletzki founded stil vor talent in 2005, he certainly didnt anticipate where his label would be today. now - six years and over sixty releases later - stil vor talent can look back at many magnificent moments in the labels history. originally started to give other musicians the chance to showcase their music, stil vor talent has preserved this very down-to-earth attitude until today and has helped foster the careers of producers such as channel x, niko schwind, juli holz or david august to name just a few. while there have never been any musical or stylistic limitations, an open philosophy dominated by quality and individualism prevails at olivers label, from delicately designed record sleeves to their own fashion line and to music that varies from house to pop to jacking dancefloor cuts. now it is time to congratulate everyone involved and the fans of stil vor talent with a special birthday present: a six-year anniversary compilation that celebrates past, present and future of the label on two cds

this new reference on dilek records is something very particular and out of the ordinary. it was achieved after a long period of work in the studio, which lasted three years and was done with a lot of heart and passion. its the 10th vinyl release of this surprising swiss/argentinean label who is now presenting an extremely multicultural project. this release will be available on vinyl as well as in digital format including bonus tracks and later on also in cd, with even more unedited material! listen to these tracks and have the opportunity to discover something totally different with some of jorge drexlers uncut material. this new album was supported by amazing artists as well as magazines and radios stations that you can check bellow.

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

the international rudeboy is back! since leaving home at the age of 15 to become a sound engineer, wayne -lotek- bennett has been on a quest to hone his interpretation of the sounds that he grew up with ? a journey that has taken him to all corners of the globe. from festivals in czech republic to clubs in japan and all points in between lotek has forged his own path as a ska revivalist, culminating in his debut album on first word, international rudeboy.

for over a decade mark grusane & mike cole have been a vast music resource for djs, producers, collectors, rare music compilers, and specialty stores around the world. they started individually, each with their love of music. they traded and sold music with those -in the know- for years. in 2004 mark & mike focused their energies into founding mr. peabody records. the business plan and mission was to become a world class resource for all genres of obscure music. until now, their focus has been growing the shop. but the soul of mr. peabody records does not reside in the bricks and mortar the store, or even in the bins of records themselves. the real genius lies in mark & mikes unique ear for music.

drawing from a rich sonic palette, man without country splice glacial guitar ripples with an eerie synth pulse to create music both complex and all embracing. their debut ep kicks off with king complex, taken from forthcoming album foe and indicative of mwcs ability to morph their source material into anthems when you least expect it, the tracks tinkling keyboard led intro exploding into a euphoric dancefloor chorus. the melody belies a darker sentiment behind the lyrics on king complex -you are a true parasite / and youre the bane of my life- ryan concedes that -they are personal and bitter-. this contrast between melody and lyric is a common theme across their debut long player. the six track ep features a further 3 tracks from foe Ð inflammable heart, ebb & flow and iceberg plus the sei a remix of king complex. xi is exclusive to this ep.

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

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

after two re-releases of conrad schnitzler classics, (zug & ballet statique) now m=minimal releases a completely new work from the pioneer of electronic music. conrad schnitzler is a sound explorer. for many years, he has been on expeditions, journeys through his collection of electronic synthesizers almost every day. sounds he liked has been conserved on tape and stored in his sound library. the result is a huge library of audio files, he calls them >solen<. >borngrŠber & struever< have got the chance to examine that library and started to con-struct new pieces out of the hidden gems. these are not remixes but new compositions. none of the sound combinations were thought or heard before. the 8 tracks form an album independent of any trend and therefore it becomes a real acoustic environment for everyone. the album was produced at studio.wannsee. to give the album more authenticity, the complete audio processing was done using analog equipment. they not only used many classics among the finest synthesizers and outboard equipment, but also custom built tube gear. the icing on the cake are the tubes used from the 60s, which bought christian borngrŠber on a trip through the atacama desert in a small radio repair business in the city of calama. thanks to the desert climate even the packaging of the tubes looked as new

the excitement that percolates inside us when days start to get longer, the weather gets warmer, knowing summers just around the corner, has always had an instant gratification effect. hailing from the beautiful island of mallorca is dj / producer kiko navarro, a mainstay in the dance world on the party island of ibiza, had a residency at the world-famous club pacha, has done numerous productions for nite grooves / king street. he now comes back on board remixing, re-working, and re-editing some of the best well known, brand new tunes in the catalog, giving this comp a beautiful balaeric flow.

fragments is the sound of a band discovering its true identity: peeling back layers of bouncy math-pop beats and angular guitar hooks, leaving at its core a body of work that swirls with deep intensity and primal emotion. musically, fragments scrapes and slides like tectonic plates between the glistening melodies of foals and the raw drive of the joy formidable, whilst frontman matt holliday emits powerful and heartfelt declarations that leave you feeling like youre sat in a self-help group with the nationals matt berninger taking register.

dj diamond is 24 year old karlis griffin from the west side of chicago. he has been producing music since the age of 13 and djing since 20, heading the -flight muzik- clique of footwork producers. you might recall his two tracks from our -bangs & works vol.1- footwork compilation of last year. in addition hes also released several mix cds in chicago, but this, his first international album showcases his unique style of footwork music. dj diamond is a unique producer with his own distinct style and an unusual ear for unexpected sonic and rhythmic combinations within the footwork template. often he thoroughly edits samples into tiny trance-inducing, techno-like stabs. combining this with a penchant for neon synths and loose, broken drums (that are often more effect-laden and freeform than those of of his peers) and you have a sound which has an intriguing, deeper, dreamlike feel. the breadth and quality of his production is clear when you listen to this album. take opener -rep yo clique-s woozy drawling synths and tribal tom patterns next to -speakerz n tonguez- with it-s snapping snares, minimal, repetitive voice samples and martial, detailed drum work. then a track like -torture rack- which is like grime in outer space: a minimal bassline and some samples from a computer game, while a bass kick stumbles at half time, swarms of percussive detail giving it drama. its a brilliant exercise in wonky tension. the extraordinary -decoded- comes across like a kind of amalgam of trance and prog rock bombast at 160bpm while -wreckageÕs- high pitch saw noise is like a strange metallic bird-call, over light cymbals, gabba-like kicks and metallic claps. -digimons- harmonic microedits could even be an snd track transported to chicago. finally the albums closer -i choose you- rolls out over a heavily edited and processed soul sample, its drums rolling off at odd angles to almost seasick effect.

nick karamalakis from greece is the man behind the project -infinity-,also well known from the duo progenitor. over the years nick had some releases at namful labels like iono music, blue tunes, mikrokosmos,y.s.e., spintwist, aphonix e.t.c and on all tracks he received overwhelming reactions. infinitys productions incorporate a strong rhythmic and musical feel whilst remaining deep and stompy - a combination which gets any progressive floor moving! his debut album -control group- features nine previously unreleased progressive trance tracks with thumping kicks, groovy rythms and deeply pushing baselines,produced with a crispy fat morning sound that takes the listener on a journey of great emotions. be ready for another iono top release, coming from greece, one of the international hot spots of progressive trance, presented by an highly ambititious artist.

2087 is inspired by the science fiction film -cyborg: 2087- (1966) by the writer arthur c. pierce, directed by franklin adreon. plot modification and soundtrack by jeff mills. it is the year 2087. the world had become a place where thoughts were not only monitored and restricted, but also, muted or reconstructed to favor the current rulers of earth and its inhabitants. the once exceptional human was merely reduced to a byproduct in the multi-dimensional industry of planetary hypostatisification. a boundless depository of cosmic energy controlled by an unknown force that had become too powerful to even reveal itself. a small and resourceful group of young scientists, engineers and devoted supporters create and send back through time a cyborg. a low technological invention consisting of human fibers and machine. out of desperation and precise planning, he is sent back to the year 1966 to prevent earths leading mathematician from thinking about the numeric breakthrough that would eventually lead to the mass thought control and human manipulation of the future. the cyborg (garth) soon discovers he is not alone in his mission, giving grave suspicion to possible traitors or spy within the young group of his creators. garth succeeds in finding and assassinating his target, but as the result, he alters the future and becomes the only remaining symbol of a time that never existed. a man out of time.

little nobody Ð in fact australian expat andrez bergen, whos been based in tokyo these past 10 years Ð then decided to ask justin robertson (lionrock) to remix. while counting on robertsons experience rebooting bjšrk, happy mondays, fatboy slim, luke slater and felix da housecat, andrez is also a long-time fan and suspected the mix-master would have an absolute field day here Ð which he apparently did, giving the ingredients a good hearty shake and delivering a concoction that stunned everybody.

travis stewart is a producer whos always been admired by the electronic cognosenti, both as a solo producer in his project machinedrum and also as one half of sepalcure on hotflush recordings. after a break from producing he started to resurface in a major way last year with the -many faces e.p.- on glasgows luckyme label. however, for -room(s)-, his latest album on planet mu, he s well ahead of the curve, approaching the album in a way he s never worked before.the tracks on room(s) were started on the spur of the moment, often whilst traveling and finished in the studio, with the notion in mind that great moments of inspiration are fleeting so its best to grab on to that moment when it happens and squeeze it for all its worth. travis says of this process, -i feel like the energy of a song is lost the longer you spend working on it. this experiment in becoming less attached to my work essentially lead to a lot of songs that are connected sonically and aesthetically.-

yuri mendez jr. has an amazing gift for composing good songs. he arranges them and records them brilliantly, and then groups them together on an album in an unpredictable yet cohesive way (his last album had 22 tracks. this one only has 8). uri mŽndez jr. is a true artisan in the best sense of the word. this is pajaro sunrises third album, and although the essentials havenÕt changed (good songs, great songs), the rest has certainly evolved. yuris voice sounds more and more emphatic, and with an extensive register full of nuances, he sings a story in every song. in doing this, he covers a stunning vocal range that dazzles from the first listen. yuri has been playing together with the same fantastic band for some time now. with them, he has rehearsed the tracks (many of which they were already playing in concerts), and then gone into the studio where almost everything was recorded with everyone playing live. the benefits of having a group that has already travelled together, as well as shared stages and life experiences are evident. and, if this disc breathes anything, its travel, highways, and familiar stories stolen from faraway places that also feel nearby. its a grandiose yet intimate album that thrills and grows with each listen.

derrick morgans recording career spans over five decades, starting with smiths in the late 1950s with mainly r&b style output. in the ska era of the early 1960s he moved on to work with producers: duke reid, prince buster, leslie kong, c.s. dodd (studio one) and later in the 1960s and into the 1970s, with the ubiquitous bunny lee. during this time, many of his own productions were also released, this compilation features ska productions from the 1960-1966 period. the lp has been re-compiled, re-mastered and has new art-work. it features the best tracks from now deleted 12 inch lp rrtlp 06 and concentrates on obscure and hard to find sides.

you can forgive a band who set out to create something even just a little bit different and get it horrendously wrong, but its tough to have sympathy for a band who shy away from the challenge altogether. such was the case with autokratz on their first album, animal, which, apart from a passable opening track, consisted of a series of bland electronic pastiches Ð dance music that conversely made the listener want to sit and wait it out. that didnt stop the hype building around the duo, though, thanks in no small part to the fact that the album was released through in-vogue french label kitsunŽ music. the confusing positivity surrounding the lp suggesting, perhaps, that style overcomes substance once a record company has received the hipster seal of approval.this time around, however, kitsune has stepped aside, with autokratz releasing the follow-up on their own label, bad life. but has the sense of responsibility that surely comes with this step made them re-evaluate their direction? has it inspired them to inject a much-needed shot of creativity into their work? not a hope. if anything, autokratz descend even further into mediocrity on self help for beginners. once again, their best tunes are loaded towards the front of the album, starting with the lead single, -opposite of love. its far from outstanding, helped in no small part by the terribly contrived lyrics, but does possess a catchy synth melody Ð enough to earn it a place on club playlists, at least. its a similar story with -becoming the wraith, which has peter hook on hand to deliver an overtly new order-esque bassline. beyond that, however, the quality dips dramatically. tracks like -the seventh seal and -r.i.s.e. are typical of the selection on offer, underwhelmingly vapid, derivative tunes which show up a disappointing, but not totally unexpected, scarcity of guile on the part of their creators.where autokratz do excel is as producers Ð a quality evident not only in their own work, but also in their remixes for other artists. unfortunately, this only serves to exacerbate their deficiencies on the other side of the control room desk. ultimately it may mean that, having failed to address the shortcomings of their debut, autokratz will be fated to be filed under -also rans in the annals of music history. thats assuming, of course, that someone out there will actually remember them at all.

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

heidis-run jackathon parties have been hitting cities internationally since late 2009, now with residencies in london, berlin, paris, miami, manchester and amsterdam Ð jackd house is truly taking a fair slice of the scene. the compilation isnt an add on, a supplement to the nights: its deep grounded sound and thoughtfully crafted line-up backs up the global club-motion that is emerging within heidis control.mix favourites step up as the deep and bassy foundings of deetrons the juggler, funk-told incoming bitch by soul clap and move-strong whiff it yawl from jamie jones. although the first mix this year to really engage in houses history, its freedom status Ð it escapes cliche, avoiding big cheez for serious deep, electronics: heidi keeps the listing real. the especially-recorded vocal drops of house-legend derrick carter also make the record what it is, his infamous chicago-born vox gives residence to what heidis trying to do: resurrect the old school.dancefloor destruction is on pause, the club is still a playground, still moving hard theres just more room to play now, as steve bugs last track titles: jacks back.