new years deal - two years after the milestone somewhere compilations, something happening somewhere is commemorating the times that have passed, returning with a new chapter in the series. selecting unique pieces of artists known and less known, the somewhere series continue their sound based confessional. telling unheard stories, exposing unseen surfaces and unheard sounds.
somewhere iii is set to be released as two vinyl samplers, with a selection of the tracks featured in the full digital compilations, which will feature four extra digital only tracks. a host of familiar sohaso figures make an appearance, but there is also room for new faces like aril brikha, kaap, ripperton in his stunning collab with love over entropy, equus, tracey and mulder. every artist on this somewhere iii compilation is expressing their unique experience through sound waves, telling stories and uncovering a piece of themselves. there are things radiating in the violet fog, waiting to be discovered. journeys that are worth making, but will not necessarily provide any more answers. something is happening somewhere, once again. love over entropy teaming up with ripperton, could we wish for more? it felt like a dream team combo before we even heard the resulting beauty of saints de glace. inspired by those last nightly frosts of spring days in may, it sounds exactly like those contrasting temperatures and feelings. down tempo organic grooves and a drifting melody that ebbs in and out of consciousness provide disparity with the glimmering pads that lure in the night air waiting to catch you off guard.

the first release on youth - a new label from andrew lyster, comes from portland based artist yard. hailing from the dark woods of the west coast of the united states, yard brings together a collection of tracks from the archives alongside some new material. canopy and white fog were originally released on the album deciduous flood plains, and have been reworked for this release. marshall acid is pressed to vinyl for the first time having previously only been available digitally via event horizon. yard’s gritty sound evokes a spectrum of gnarled city life to organic atmospheres. the release comprises of field recordings, micro-cassette mangles, bass kicks, a live jam between x0xb0x and a modded tr-606 and water drops percolating through the mixes to get that urban hum and grit running up against the forest.

2017 repress on black vinyl incoming!
techno stars collide as truncate and slam come together for the latest gynoid release “drum trax”. side a sees truncate return on the label with 2 original pieces in model 2 and the title track, “drum trax”. both dipped in that truncate signature floor driven minimalist funk and backed with tough percussion for drive. these are surefire dj faves waiting to happen. the flip side sees slam remix “model 2”, not once but twice. the slam remix charts darker and brooding territory, taking you deep into the rabbit hole. then the tenebris dub remix still maintains that mood, but shifts through the energy gears to develop into a dance floor bomb.

the next release on man power’s me me me features two emotive leftfield house cuts from dsc, the newly minted production alias of desert sound colony, aka liam wachs, the man behind the newly launched holding hands record label. wake up, is a sweetly melodic track of pulsing house, with coming round providing a pumping and muscular leftfield techno counterpoint. on remix duties man power invites north east upstart elliot adamson to remix wake up, before his full length ep coming up next on the label. hotly tipped by everyone from jackmaster to jamie jones, elliot is a superstar in the making, and relishes the opportunity to flex his more esoteric muscles with a slice of deconstructed electro that hints at the startling musical breadth, which the young producer is only beginning to reveal. coming round is remixed by none other the legendary rex the dog, who is not only an artist who man power has huge admiration for, but also someone he is pleased to call a good friend. the trust between the two artists shines through, as “rex” provides possibly one of the most unfettered dancefloor tracks of his career.

florian kupfer, after a string of prestigious releases on ron morelli’s l.i.e.s. and russian torrent versions imprints, willie burns w.t. records, rush hour and ninja tune’s technicolour sub-label (lest not forget that white label sade bootleg), returns with a three track ep on private persons.
this 12 inch tells us the story of the beginning of florian’s career - his travels, dreams and of course love. title track “post present”, recorded for the first time five years ago get’s its first cut into wax. eerie, other-worldly voices reach over a kicking, distinctively kupfer-esque rhythm track. “i can’t love life without u” is a dub drive through retro-futuristic heartbreak and “&#1051,,,&#1102,,,&#1073,,,&#1086,,,&#1074,,,&#1100,,,” an ambient tip into the subconscious.

six face-melting tracks that range from woozy dark soundscapes to experimental acid and eerie drum sequences on the first release of brand new label x/oz. a label as an extension of the artist exos in his role as both a producer and curator. the six track ep includes tracks from some of his closest collaborators through the years, among others a song by his father, octal, who has been collaborating in music with exos since late 90s. octal industries ,aka ruxpin, a lifetime collaborator, family friend and an original member of thule records also contribute to the release. last but not least, the mystikal soschla, a russian upcoming artist who made some waves already and will be a part of some upcoming releases on x/oz. the unique, rugged environment of iceland is a fundamental element and platform for exos in his creation and selection and sets the atmosphere for the sound of his new x/oz imprint. limited supplies!

minimalist fourth world abstractions for daydreams and other explorations.
“banana was a new experience for us. the sound of musicians i feel very connected to playing freely around composed pieces under my direction exploring themes and theories of naturalism and modalism through repetition. for those in search of a bath, a rinse, a departure, or an expansion. hopefully exotic, hopefully pleasant.”
the vinyl release includes a download code.

2017 repress! lumiereslanuit (alias lln) is a london-based french label dedicated to creating minimal-techno music and well-crafted products for djs, music producers and casual listeners. at lumiereslanuit we think there are a multitude of approaches to express yourself through electronic music and infinite ways to translate them emotionally, visually, and physically. we strongly believe in the interdependence of arts and that the combination of music and design can lead to new frontiers. >a music label is more than a piece of vinyl, it is an endless exploration that can come from anywhere, anyone,< said edouard and achille.

emerging from what sounds like the unknown depths of outer space, new artist icore drops a debut ep on osiris music uk lled with ve exercises in hypnotic, polyrhythmic tension. the a-side’s two tracks ’sigil’ and ‘status field’ feel like two parts of a whole, each establishing a minimal, kick-heavy march in 6/8 that would perfectly ll the cavernous hull of an abandoned mining vessel, lurching through empty parts of the galaxy to the sound of ominous drones and malfunctioning, high-end bleeps. the b-side is more cinematic in its scope, with opener ‘substance from shadow’ summoning a distinctly b-movie vibe in its melody, before both ‘claimed by night’ and ‘axiom’ retreat into darker, more ambient territory, the former thick in sub- bass kicks, the latter ramping up the dread with unnerving repetition.

driftmusic, version: h / gry / 002 - further explorations of the deepest roots of avrokosm, where occult still means hidden. three cuts of electronic will, from the primordial ooze with a desire to simply be. out of the gate, crown of light, come on, come on, this is now. twisted 808s, melodic tripmuzik seduction, like the flares of 1000 suns. swim through space with us.

never to be pigeonholed, boxed if you will, schroedinger s box has once again come out of hiding (or is that once again became real?) with a new artist of indefinable qualities. steering her way through a busy marketplace of sounds and styles, angela chambers selects from an array of influences. indie. wave. electro. punk. all are present in this six tracker of ambitious proportions. tear jerking give way to emotional bangers, psy-dipped house fades into smoke shrouded experimentation as the listener is lead through a 12- of exotic surprises and out-there ideas.

up from down under, following crucial releases on his own body language imprint, lj shifts gears and steers his intricate sound-world — torn between house and ambient, with larry heard s alien lp coursing through — into deeper, more techno-infused waters. watch out for the centre of time, evoking over its twenty minutes both the arctic vapour of vletrmx21-vintage autechre and the expansiveness of vangelis in full flight. next-level stuff from berceuse heroique.

former half of the defunct pitch & hold duo under the banner of which he operated from 2006 to 2011, simon halsberghe steps up on brussels’ very own vlek with his debut solo ep as simon hold. first heard on vlek s 2016 mix for resident advisor as they were appointed label of the month by the high­ranking platform last autumn, maqam bruxelloise reflects the wide­angle beauty and compelling diversity of the belgian capital and its throbbing heart, a city at the confluence of cultures and languages. across a finely­layered interplay of synthetic modulations and intricate polyrhythms, hold lays out a riveting kaleidoscope of pattern­welded textures and prismatic synth motifs played and arranged accordingly to a contemporary interpretation of the traditional arabic maqam system of improvisation the track draws its title from. an ode to brussels all­embracing effervescence. translating as -soft drone- or -pleasant noise-, the gritty dhajij doux then welcomes you into a more disquieting, bipolar audio scenario that evokes the reality of living -in a sometimes difficult and hostile city-. a curiously matching negative of the opener, in this that it taps into the same generous and plural matrix universe as main source of inspiration, but eventually opens on a more nuanced outcome, here hold clearly shows a further abrasive facet of his work: harsh and vibrant, the track may be replete with a lead­heavy amalgam of sizzling bass and jagged drumwork thrown into the furnace, light and hope still manage threading their way through dark clouds and turbulence, slowly but surely turning this rough­hewn stone into a truly haunting gem.

never underestimate a quiet guy. soft spoken and well-mannered alexander pletnev moved 3 years ago from the russian city of st. petersburg to the lithuanian capital of vilnius. that has been more than enough time for him to make the city his own. a co-founder of a hip barber’s shop that also hosts an improvised vinyl second hand corner, not to mention a cozy little bar where he can be found serving a quirky selection of beers, alex soon embraced influences filtered through the local nightlife institution ‘opium club’. his production powerhouse pletnev explores darker territories and far-out music lands untouched by his bright and melodic creative alter ego - ponty mython. the st. bones ep follows his well received and strongly selling offerings on meda fury and bahnsteig23. the ep’s two tracks, of contrasting mood and tempo, are accompanied by two top drawer remixes from the japanese tailor of sound and taste ryota opp and on-the-rise fellow st. petersburg producer and selector, inga mauer.

nice price deal !!! plucked from huge classic rave tracks. these old rave samples are mixed up with proper rough-edged kicks and drumloops, turning them into deadly tools. anyone infected with the techno / tech-house virus and some knowledge of what happened back in the days, will be flying through the roof when one of these monsters is dropped

in quick succession to arcs-03, which boasted remixes by the mover, shifted and peder mannerfelt, cassegrain keep up the pressure with a new ep of originals arcs-04. returning to their tunnelling hypnotic trademark sound over three focused, club-ready trips, the arcing seas heads channel varied and irrepressible moods into each track. built on solid dancefloor founda-tions and rich in colourful, non-conventional sound design, they scan through tribal ritualism with a side shahmaran, moving to the pumping urgency of caracal and the rolling post-acid workout of vulpine arcs-04 is a straight-up dj-friendly 12inch, something that’s conveyed in the record’s more minimalist artwork.

next up on the docket for acid camp records is a record created by duo john tejada and justin maxwell. the pair came together to make acr iii with two things in mind: creating sounds that put a smile on their face while possessing as much character as possible. the opening track, -i ve got acid (on my brain)- is a mind-bending wavetable freakout, the likes of which tejada and maxwell have been striving to do for years. using a vintage ems vocoder to create an original vocal sample, this track is bright, playful, & vivacious. -the name rolls in- is layered in an acid playground of sounds. a rhythmic track with a potent 303 bass line, prominent percussion, and that infamous vocoder back at it to create a distinctly groovy track. -field notes-, is a composition of celestial arrangements that is completely beatless. carried through by tiers of sounds, filters, and noisier elements, this track lulls the listener into an alluring sonic dreamscape.

following the meeting between masomenos, vadim svoboda and m hamed el menjira, abdessamad boussahfa and sanhaji, cosmo records is once more exploring the crossover between western electronic music producers and traditional african instrumentalists. this time around the casablanca-based label is welcoming a new artist to the fold. cesar merveille has been active in the european house and techno scene for many years, releasing on labels such as cadenza and visionquest while always pursuing his own unique creative agenda inside and outside the conjines of club music. cesar s recent adventures have found him launching roche madame, a label for his most personal and expressive work. in the spirit of this exciting new phase in his career, this release for cosmo jinds him working with the captivating tones of senegalese vocalist malik diop across a range of tracks that capture the crosscultural spirit of cosmo. -kosmos- is a thoroughly delicate production, using intricate threads of percussion that fall in intriguing, fractured patterns behind the layers of malik s voice. the melodic content follows this hypnotic format, drifting in and out of earshot in a playful key that speaks to west african traditions even as it transmits through contemporary synthesis.

brian kage returns on michigander with the, best kept secret ep. kage once again provides three deeply emotional dance tracks filled with his signature warmth that immediately draw connections between personal memories and michigan’s natural splendor. best kept secret starts the record off with tones of hypnotic bells that cascade down from within minor chords that hypnotize the listener until they are met with swelling strings to tie the infectious grooves to intelligent vintage percussion. lush vocals continue building into an atmosphere of nostalgia and eventually gives way to that moment of intimacy that can only be felt outdoors while exploring with a person they love. lost on old free-soil road features a detuned analog synth-line that winds up and down over a bed of spooky night-time forest field-recordings which are encompassed by a jackin’ 909 beat . suddenly, juno stabs straight from the 80’s pierce through sending the syncopated grooves back the direction they came from taking dancers along for the joyful ride. cruise control on us-31 rounds out the record with an infectious blend of pitched wooden toms, warm mid-range bass, deep 303 lines, and a smoky pad straight from a vintage rhodes. all these elements help keep the composition positive & relaxing, while expertly conjuring the feeling of sun on your face. this tune is the perfect tool for any dj interested in luring day-partiers to a space where they can’t resist bobbing their heads and enjoying their summer outside. related items

the third release on raw sounds district sees the label welcoming newcomer, voyd, into the fold with his “thoughts ep”. this one is a real journey through the producers mind. hip hop beats meld with strong house tracks, looped pads, powerful bass patterns and intricate, blown out rhythms. powerful stuff... thoughts...

italian artist paul santangelo has been having fun messing with the sometimes po-faced traditions of the house music scene through a raft of home made productions on soundcloud, but now with his venetian causeway label hes able to prove the clout to be found in his music. on this 10inch the arch title generic house traxx actually does a disservice to the quality of the music contained within santangelo does a fine job of whipping up monosynth bass and ethereal pads astride an uptempo beat that, while familiar, has an atmosphere with considerable depth to it. please him on the b side goes further out on a mellow electro tip, plaintive leads and aqueous chords flirting with 808-style beats.

hugo gerani’s esplore ep launches on cosi cosi - a freewheeling meander through a super casual house sound. it is true ‘club music’ built between social interactions and environments, with all the spice and intrigue of chance encounters and missed connections.
on the a, ‘she’s lying (roe st on the fone mix)’ channels the boisterous yet untroubled late night activity that goes into its namesake. it’s a perfectly broiled and basted club tune - a real, suburban classic. elsewhere there are organic and effusive beats, blinking with sensorial curiosities and vocal suggestions as well as elements of stark, scandinavian techno.

keita sano is part of japan s new wave of music producers. the okayama resident has been weaving his way through house, techno and electronica releases displaying an affinity to old school processes and vintage gear. with releases clocked up on mister saturday night, 1080p, lower parts, row, strictly groove recordings, enother blessing, holic trax and spring theory he has shown his eclectic tastes and zany approach to music. for sano making music is like keeping a diary, this year will see many more releases and his new live show.

leipzig’s r.a.n.d. muzik are perhaps better known for pressing records than releasing them, but to demonstrate their new picture disc press they ve curated a limited edition compilation lp for reflective home listening (and viewing). featuring lowtec, consulate and leipzig locals panthera krause and leibniz to name just a few, over its 8 tracks the collection moves from melody-driven idm to dark, atmospheric ambience, through to reflective electronica. skilfully pressed on two sides of 12” plastic with artwork by marijn degenaar this is surely a must-have for every sensible record collector.

for its fourth release under its main series, quanta records welcomes panorama island, zwei kreise’s new album, mixing ambient, idm and sonic experimentations. with panorama island, zwei kreise delivers one of his most accomplished work so far, inspired by memory and more precisely its flaws: hidden corners, lost knowledge or elliptic recollections.
melancholic ambient tracks and deconstructed breaks come one after the other and set the mood of the person who dives in. melodies play a very important role in these introspections: meticulously planned, sharp or languishing, they guide the listener through his wandering. in this record, zwei kreise shows his obsession for detail and micro-variations under a new light, more ethereal and contemplative, renewing our perceptions with every listening.

spiros kaloumenos has been one of the key artists of planet rhythm at an earlier stage. this time he’s back with a completely recrafted style that perfectly fits the label’s current state of mind. adventurous techno with thumping beats and at times a little acidic touch. the greek artist comes up with a killer four track ep that goes from the sturdy beats of introvert shadow, through the acid tainted 101 reasons to the rave inspired anthem called de forme. we’re happy to welcome spiros back to planet rhythm.

dez williams returns to mechatronica with “forlorn figures in godforsaken places”, dropping a stormy dose of diverse electro and machine funk for the berlin based label.
speedy, relentless electro cuts “xen” and “carkrash” vikdim make up the a side, driven by haunting samples, rumbling basslines and eyes-down energy. hypnotic roller, “on the verge”, opens the flip with dazzling keys and forceful drum programming, before “tromb” rounds off the ep in murky fashion through a robotic, hazed electro chant.

a soundtrack for the contemporary -vinti- (defeated) with its dark and at the same time sparkling flavor of the 80s sounds between cold wave, synth pop and imaginary electronic atmospheres. this record with its horror-framed and distopic scenario (-slot machine-) reveals a content of social criticism healed through the warm and evocative indulgence of -che male c e-.

the countdown has begun! polish mastermind kuba sojka digs into his wide repertoire of influences to bring us this latest release on cosmic club. each of the 4 tracks is distinctly unique, standing out from one another through kuba s varied uses of synths and percussion. -countdown- is reminiscent of those early detroit movements in techno and electronica, instantly reminding me of the likes of dopplereffekt, which is certainly no bad thing. the vibe of -getaway- is exactly as the name would suggest, pumping arpeggiated synths accompanied by piercing snares that evoke images of a neon-drenched, italo-fueled 80 s action film. try and not feel energised to this, we dare you. on the flip, -ego- scratches the itch for something deep, filtered sounds galore with a bit of that garagey swing. rounding off, -everything will be ok- drops the tempo and commences the much-needed cleansing after the pure energy that has come on the track before, this is my new 5am watch-the-sun-rise tune. kuba knows and delivers with this essential record! as usual : vinyl only.

dub-stuy links bukkha with uk grime stalwart killa p for a dark, sound killing anthem. dub-stuy expands on their vision for 21st century sound system music with a new 12inch that brings together resident producer bukkha and one of grimes most recognisable voices, killa p . the result is a deadly cut that takes no prisoners and is backed by an equally heavy instrumental. death chat is arguably one of dub-stuys most ambitious collaborations to date. bukkha crafts a dub meets grime riddim that builds from filtered keys into a ten-ton heavy monster. killa p, who has collaborated with the bug and is fresh from a turn on sir spyros topper top, delivers cutting lyrics in his instantly recognizable patois-inflected style, with each bar building tension toward a sonic climax. backing up this dancefloor sureshot is ‘ethiopian dub’, an instrumental that samples its vocal and melodic hook from an obscure dubplate and whirls both around a steady beat and bass line solid enough to punch through walls. with this latest 12inch for dub-stuy, bukkha shows his versatility and delivers an anthem that no sound can test.

‘race to zero’ is the new album by musician and composer john matthias and producer, musician and composer jay auborn.
the album’s starting point was a series of acoustic improvisations recorded in a variety oflocations, from a 700 year old chapel in the devon countryside to a basement studio in reykjavík, iceland. in an attempt to create a fractured sense of space reflective of the digital condition, the duo found themselves working within a place that could only exist in the digital landscape.
by crushing the recordings through a hundred different virtual rooms of reverb and other chaotic digital processes, they collided, soared and splintered into sweeping new rhythms, melodies and drones.
the outcome is a unique landscape that blurs the line between the virtual and physical worlds.
the vinyl release includes a download code.

wink returns to the ovum motherland after a year of big hitters on intec, boysnoize and r&s. and he’s packing some serious substance. the clue is in the title, the message is in the hypnotic signature vocal loop, the attitude is in the spiked-out sinewy tendrils of acid, sharped in the way only josh knows how: ‘resist’ is the sound a man who, like all of us, is confounded and frustrated with the current political and media climate. tension, fear and adrenalin ripple throughout as we dynamically ride the tangible, visceral highs and lows in a quintessential classic wink way. remix-wise truncate forges through the blurred truths, manipulation and divisiveness with two clear dancefloor tactics: a thundering, roughly-hewn late night techno roll-out and a deeper, leaner approach for slightly earlier hours with a rising siren that acts as a call to arms for like minds to unify. truncate isn’t alone with the multiple versions: in echoes of some of his most influential tracks ‘superfreak’ and ‘don’t laugh’, josh has also provided two stripped-back acapella-style tracks to ensure the critical message is entwined beyond the track itself. and that message is clear: exist to resist. you know what to do. - josh wink is on a roll following last recent big tracks on boys noize, cocoon, soma, and of course ovum. - dj support from chris liebing, scuba, len faki, slam, jamie jones, john digweed, and more. radio support from eats everything (radio 1), b traits (radio 1), coco cole (capital 1xtra).

transit records 005, -without end hours“, comes loaded with phat, but definitely distinct dancefloor bangers that take the title of the ep quite literally. they cover a full night (and day) out in the club, and range from dark, technoish house („when your groove is mine-), over uplifting re-interpretations of classic house anthems (-without end hours-), and dystopian tech-house (negativ dekadent remix), through to sizzling after hour house (zuckermann remix). ryoma sasaki’s originals show his love for classic electronic music blueprints and how he is able to turn them creatively into something compellingly fresh and contemporary. it feels like listening (and dancing) to something you know, but not from the past, more so from the now. and while they wonderfully work in that now of the night, negativ dekadent turns this familiar feeling into an uneasiness with the future, only to make you forget about it in the abyss of his beats and overwhelming synth patterns just before the morning breaks. finally, zuckermann fully beams you into the slightly distorted new world you might find yourself in anyway at 11 am on a beautiful sunny morning on one of those (berlin) dancefloors.

the second release from mic comes from ladies as pimps - laps for short - is an anarchic glasgow duo formed by lady two collars of golden teacher and sue zuki from organs of love. their duets take centre stage on who me?: the vocal performances range from the stretched, soulful projections of ode to daughter to the lawless, clipped, sweet &, sour, spat-not- spoken word of edges. spirited percussion scatters in all directions and bass is smothered in tape delay, as the four tracks beat through dub, rnb, house, and way beyond, circling around acts like madame x, the bug, stuart argabright, francois k, mashing absurdity with dread. recorded at green door studios in glasgow (where the two met) and layered with the analogue production techniques learned on the first youth unemployment programme there, the energy and charisma of these recordings promise a pretty unique live show when they support princess nokia later this year. supported by ben ufo, dj moxie, pariah, optimo, nts, vinyl

following the astounding success of their first release with chaos in the cbd, yam recordings return with the first installment of their you and music compilation series. this 5-track release features leonidas, msss, sofatalk, tom esselle and z lovecraft. compiled by shop owners theo & tom and born of relationships forged at yam records on rye lane, it represents both local and international talent that they ve had the pleasure of crossing paths with over the past 3 years. tom esselle s le&#770,,let kicks things off with a traditional guadeloupean folk song re-worked for the club. driven by tropical percussion and a hefty bass line, the call-and-response vocal elevates the track. msss follows with this is a modern drugs party. this track chugs along, interlaced with african and far eastern influences, while tuned percussion adds a hypnotic element. modern drugs party indeed. on the flip, italian maestro sofatalk offers up truth theme, an afro broken-beat masterpiece prime for the summer. polyrhythmic percussion, twisted horn samples and vibe solos carry the release from the nightclub to the beach. leonidas takes things back to the floor on shesha dub). this analogue hardware session delivers crisp hats, acid bass lines and synth stabs aplenty. the syncopated rhythms drive the track through five-and-a-half minutes of pure groove. finally, z lovecraft closes the compilation with oceanic a live jam recorded in one take. this track invokes memories of video games, beach life and sun-kissed afternoons, transporting the listener to an audio oasis via a digital ocean.

lefto (belgium) and free the robots (california) found themselves on tour together a year and a half ago and had the wise idea to do a record together with the beats they were making from inspiration collected along the way. fast forward to the present, and that idea has grown into karavan - an album of international exotic melodies and heavy rhythms - that reflects the sound gather through their years of consistent nomadic touring.

vinyl only. straight limited. no repress! sound spectrum is a project aimed at recording slices of human experience through sounds. it started among friends partying together in london, tokyo, new york and berlin. this is a journey of feelings which exists in a place with no time and space.

it s not clear who is behind the instinct label, but with this first release the mysterious producer displays an impressive grasp of dark garage and minimal house. the shuffling funk of -the way- is an instant hit, marrying the razor sharp beats with melancholic synths and a killer bass wobble. -pressure- deals in more abstract tones, but there s no let up in the nagging insistence of those crisp hi hats. -cocktail- meanwhile takes a more uptempo approach with its bongo-embellished beat and subtle melodic fragments woven through the mix, and then -instinct- knocks the ball out of the park with an utterly deadly 2-step workout for those who love ghost records and all that ace, moody pre-dubstep busines

this is a collection of works from british musician gp hall, recorded between 1994 and 1999. for over four decades, guitar in hand hall encountered many styles, jazz, blues, flamenco, rock, folk, and classical improvisation. all contributed to the creation of his unique style. emerging from the british blues boom of the 1960’s, he then followed a long and winding path through various scenes and cultures. in spain, he was influenced by flamenco master manitas del plata before touring europe with liverpool band casey jones & the governors. he was commissioned three times (twice by the arts council of great britain) for original music and was immersed in the avant-garde scene of the 1970’s as an improviser, a pioneer of electric flamenco and a composer of large-scale ensemble pieces. during the 1980’s hall turned his focus to soundtrack music before reinventing himself as the solo performer he is today. with this strong foundation he branched into a tactile expression of his craft, discovering a new style which he called industrial sound sculptures. these sonic compositions are performed on electric and acoustic guitars as well as the six-string bass and are played with various techniques and implements including slides, battery fans, the psaltery bow, razors, toys, velcro and crocodile clips which are fed through sound processors to create a rich sonic environment.

we’re glad to welcome back aun to cyclic law for their latest opus! aun’s music as always suggested forays into other dimensions, be it to imaginary worlds, industrial wastelands, through space and time, or via mind altered states. from the ominous dystopian artwork, of a city being drained of its energy by some mysterious black hole, to the first notes of the title track “fiat lux” we are once again transported on aun’s otherworldly travelling path. ever since the space industrial and power electronics of aun’s previous cyclic law cult release “black pyramid”, the world has become even more sinister, but in contrast, “fiat lux” exudes even more of aun’s melancholic hopefulness. the disintegrating chords and densely textured waves, anchored by a left field industrial pulse, invoke occult drug enhanced, future psychedelia. created in part in their montreal studio, these tracks were extensively performed live, prior to recording, and refined while on tour breaks in montpellier, barcelona and tokyo. the energy of these cities is definitely at work in these recordings, which also features a french connection of experimental heavy hitters: witxes, frédéric d. oberland and philippe petit have helped round out dumais and leblanc’ arsenal. fiat lux: let there be light, from light will come darkness.

simba is a sweet soul from the uk, wefound him through his release on shadeleaf music and super happy about this 12inch and his remix for marcel vogel on mate 11. a truly gifted man!

editions mego is pleased to welcome danish loke rahbek (damien dubrovnik,croatian amorand posh isolation) to the fold. known for countless creative and commercial endeavours loke presents his first solo full length under his own name. as with all of loke s output city of woman harnesses the radical with the aesthetic in a manner of extreme pleasure for all who encounter. harnessing his thorough knowledge and experience in extreme electronics, melodic encounters and sultry showmanship loke ties together disparate threads of various underground movements to create a singular and deeply personal journey through industrial temptation, noise refraction and melodic seduction. this is 21st century pop music. one which dismantles previous held borders of sound to present a wide palate of sound, song, abstraction and intense emotion.

for its 6th release, bjarki and johnny chrome silver’s bbbbbb records welcome new signing eod (aka stian gjevik) to their unholy alliance with his swurlk ep . the norwegian born, strictly analog producer takes the label off-roading with four outstanding productions channeling ambient, electro and hard bloody techno. having released on imprints including rephlex and weme records, it was actually on soundcloud that bjarki discovered eod’s music. after getting in touch, the scale of his work emerged as gigabytes of unheard music dating back to 2002 were exchanged, all of which was made without the use of a pc an approach which speaks for itself through his instinctive, playful melodies. swurlk ep boasts an impeccable sense of arrangement, more like that of a composer, and even more impressive considering the absence of any computer. the title track opens with a velvety smooth synth melody building with bass textures.‘evenhark uses a broken beat framework to carry floating harmonies. swarm uses layer upon layer of stuttered percussion to build into a relentless techno cut. elcaset_testgroove pairs catchy, interacting melodies with pensive harmonies. swurlk ep is a must listen for fans of melodic electro and an exciting move from a label that continues to challenge all our fucking expectations

following up on their recently released pertiwi ep, featuring two original tracks and a 10 minute soundbath rework of this very record by gonjasufi, gamelan voices (aka nid & sancy) present their first album, aptly titled i.the result is a visceral blend of raw gamelan instruments, atmosperic synths, bass guitar and washes of asian metallophones.although the nine tracks on this album are meditative in nature, you d be wrong to assume this package is little more than new age synths noodling away. i is ambient with a raw component. it touches a nerve and it s as much inspired by the work of jon hassell as it is by coil. i will be released through gong ear and available on digital,cd and vinyl.

berlin-based mancunian setaoc mass returns to his own sk_eleven imprint with now the fourth outing. confirming the label s emergant position as the home of purist, highly-distilled club weapons, see through marries a muscle-bound groove to arching synth strings and sci-fi encentricities for a hypnotic juxtaposition, followed closely by passive - another roller to completely loose yourself in. flipping over, the producer explores a dystopian wasteland populated by cavernous reverb-drenched claps and a nagging, mutant synth chord, whilst disrepair flaunts coates budding trademark electro strut, with bellowing kicks, crisp snares and futuristic undertones all in check.

mood 24 returns with the mood series various artists. for this installment we have 4 special tracks each one to suit different styles and tastes. first up we have nima gorji with his contraction track. a groovy minimal track, repetitive but at same time brings you along through a little journey on the dance floor. dragutesku gives us a deep and dark track with special little sounds here and there to bring suspense and anticipation to this wicked track. negru has a more solid house style. 808 drums, sick sub bass and a jazz melodies. petar cvetkovic gives us some more tech house orientated sounds, simplistic drums, groovy rolling percs and a sick vox to wrap things up nicely.

local action and nts radio’s finn launches his new label, 2 b real, with a 12- of fast-paced, no-nonsense club tracks. finn first appeared in 2014 with ‘keep calling’ - an instant classic and one of the year’s best-received releases, played relentlessly by kode9, dj q, murlo, eclair fifi, scratcha dva and more. since then he’s developed a cult following as a dj, with a palette of regional us club styles, classic house and techno, grime & freestyle electro beyond his years - broadcast through his monthly nts show and his regular b2b podcasts, where he goes track for track with a dj he admires (such as uniiqu3, teki latex and conor thomas). 2 be real is finn’s new home for dance tracks high in thrills and low on bullshit. on 2br001, he draws on classic ghettotech for the melodic keys and urgent 909s of ‘late at night’ (with a more uk-indebted darkside mix on the flip), and teams up with resident swing ting mc fox for ‘lightwork’, a vocal cut inspired by detroit’s own legacy of hip house and ‘chant’ records.

a skyscraper extending its fingertips upwards, outstretched and pointing towards an unmarked ceiling that extends even more itself, spinning and slicing its way through the horizontal and the layers that are see through and infinite and stacked one on top of the other. currently getting plays by afx and more