broken district is a new label launched by the creative minds of jus jam, momla and antwan. the project is born with the idea of exploring alternative music styles that blend the influences of the label s creators, including jazz, house-music, hip-hop, funk, soul, and experimental music. in order to give a global overview of the label s territory, broken district is kicked-off with a series of va eps. momla inaugurates the label s first release with an instrumental funk ballad. he is using soul samples, synths and an electronic piano to create a smooth vibe, led by a catchy bassline. up next, hip-hop producers yepes & plae casi are stepping out of their favourite field to incorporate house-music rhythmic elements over an old-school r&b flavour. berlin-based producer marian tone is closing the first side with a laidback, jazzy hip-hop instrumental. the other side opens with the copenhagen-based talent jeppe wolmer. -normal position- is a modern take on disco & boogie, with a rhythmic bassline and reverbing rhodes, ending with acid infused synths. concluding this first release, label s co-founder jus jam gives us another glimpse of his musical talent through a dreamy journey that blends house-music, hip-hop and jazz together. welcome to the broken district.

the uk based label will offer up several releases throughout 2018 and yama music 001 perfectly sets the tone of what’s to follow. taking the lead here is ‘margaret made me do it’ which lays down woozy synth tones and modulating glitches alongside a snaking sub bass groove, shuffled minimalistic percussion and an amalgamation of contemplative spoken word vocal cuts to create a tripped-out opening to the record. ‘ddderlooon party’ follows and retains a similar aesthetic with swinging drums and ethereal atmospherics at its core whilst hypnotic, billowing synths ebb and flow dynamically across the composition, again creating something raw yet refined. then lastly to round out the package ‘moon boots’ tips the focus over to a more straight percussive groove and stirs in vacillating low-end pulses, murky, evolving stabs and mind-bending electronic blips.

limited edition of 300 on transparent pink 180 gram vinyl, 100 copies numbered for rsd. karen willems returns under the moniker inwolves with perhaps her most ambitious record to this date. color in the zoo is a playful album, masterfully composed, wrapped in dreamy sound waves and repetitive rhythm patterns, but the tone became somewhat lighter. it literally bridges the gap between north and south as nils gröndahl and barkin engin, among others are guests on the record. expect a colorful sound palette, with outlandish sounds, that all cohesively click together in an utterly engaging aural trip around the world.

while attempting and failing to apprehend the shadowy figure known as max abysmal during a frenzied chase through the underground amsterdam arts establishment het skatecafe, we recovered a boxed reel of quarter-inch tape. intelligent assets have confirmed that this contains musical recordings of the type used to pass on coded messages to the safe trip organisation. the first recording we have titled donna, dont stop. we include it with this message so you can perform your own anaylsis. note the use of a rising and falling electronic motif capable of inducing a trance-like state in those untrained in listening to electronic music this potent and emotive. sutekhs mirage, the second coded composition, is bolder and warmer in tone, making use of dazzlingly colourful melodic patterns and passages of percussion that reference polyrhythms. do not be fooled by the surface beauty of this recording: it is capable of inducing hallucinations and irregular heartbeats, and therefore could be very dangerous in the wrong hands.

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

2020 repress >>> back in march 2003 claro intelecto announced his arrival in the electronic world with his peace of mind ep on ai records. now, a decade later, delsin, the label on which he released his latest lp, is re-releasing it in all its glory.

marc biancos first ep on moonrise hill material is going to surprise more than one person. after a quick appearance on the 6th release of the french imprint, marc bianco is now unveiling a totally different side of his project. purely jazzy & j dilla influenced, the tone of this record is given with organic flights on 3 chords basis. it will surely please bedroom listeners as well as club dancers.

the pendletons return with their latest ep, funk forever, a jazz flavored boogie affair with soul inspired song-writing that evokes old school vibes while still staying fresh and current. horn lines, yamaha dx7 keys and snapping hip hop inspired drum programming topped by sweet singing with heartfelt themes, the group carves out a bold new sound on these 5 solid tracks. featuring elive, potatohead people and ishtar. the pendletons are a long-standing boogie-funk and modern soul project of e da boss (of myron and e on stone s throw) and trailer limon. the group emerged with their very first release in 2010, a 7inch inch of coming down/waiting on you on the slept on record label, which set the tone for the group to emerge it instantly became a cult classic receiving constant play at nights like sweater funk and funkmosphere, and fetching for serious sums among collectors. most recently, in 2016, they released the ep gotta get out. the title track caught the ear of renowned dj gilles peterson, who liked it enough to release it on his brownswood bubbler compilation. in 2018 the group is hitting the ground running with a brand new ep out this spring, and a full-length album to follow later later in the year on the renowned bastard jazz label. now armed with a horn section, a vast array of accomplished jazz and funk contributors, and a knack for quality song-writing, the pendletons sound has shaped into something fresh and unique, setting it apart from the legions of imitators.

kalbata has turned his hand to many styles over the years, not least the excellent soundsystem explorations of congo beat the drum, but on this second release for his label brush & broom, he s decided to fling himself into the fiery pit of acid while paying tribute to 90s motocross bikes. honda is dripping with 303, punctuated by a twitchy set of drums, while yamaha takes a diversion into moodier territory, letting hazy chords set the tone for an energised but defiantly heads down acid workout. suzuki is a bit spicier, capturing the essence of up-for-it early trax records but edging it into more hypnotic, looped up territory. toyota finishes the ep off with an atonal bleep out with an electro undercarriage

junction - a six track ep produced entirely by samrai & platt - features vocalists from jamaica, ireland & the uk and rounds off an excellent 12 months for the label & crew whove toured across north america, mexico and europe in 2017. the set kicks off with st favourite alexx a-game (originally voiced at his studio in kingston in 2016) urging listeners to free up their mind and souls and let the good times take control. it sets the tone for upcoming jamaican talent blvk h3ro to step up on the soulful party number cant wait (recorded at equiknoxx’s studios in vineyard town in 2016), which has been a staple in swing ting sets over the last 18 months. slowing the pace is addiction, a link up with irish artist and frequent murlo collaborator gemma dunleavy who lays down an impressive vocal over the skittering drums, muted guitar and glistening keys. the listen is interrupted momentarily for an interlude from gavsborg whose moving voicemail is accompanied by a poignant piano line from jp aka without understanding. one for the clubs turn it up features equiknoxxs shanique marie riding a stripped funky-esque riddim with ease. fittingly the set closes with contagious which finds two of manchester’s finest vocalists fox & tyler daley searching for an escape from the reality of our turbulent times over a refined yet sparkling production. the 12inch vinyl will be limited to 200 copies

hypnotizing nostalgia that dictates the dance floor. with previous releases on rythm section, echovolt and les yeux orange, earth trax & newborn jr. are unapologetically consistent in building a legacy. the maze ep is the fourth collective delivery of the duo, sent off into the world by dopeness galore. while hypnotizing synths dictate the dance floor, it is hard to resist the balearic arrangements of new wave nostalgia. the record elevates through soothingly repetitive ambient dreamscapes, while minimalist entrancement pulls us right back into underground territory. the ep represents a side a. meant for club settings and a more ambient side b. once the vocals on a2 set the tone, we bear witness to what seems to be the true ethos of the maze ep: where theres a will, theres a way

aikens recent contribution to psyks non series gets remixed by talented uk producers blawan, volte-face and james ruskin. blawans remix of genetics sets the tone with energetic rhythms and trippy sound textures, volte-face delivers a progressive and hypnotic version of hybrid and james ruskin ends the release with his own intense yet funky interpretation of dominance.

doubtingthomas returns to organic for his 3rd vinyl release !!! he has been part of the family since day one and never disappoints with that signature sound that is so proper to him ¡! kicking off with “puffed dandy” a stellar stripped back minimalist cut that should make some proper damage on the dance floor . on the flit side, “diapason” is slightly deeper and jazzier, but yet with that distinctive and infectious groove signed dt. “passing tone” is closing the ep nicely. classy atmospheric textures and depth , a real treat for the after hours !

2018 repress - the follow up to one/three. tip! james t cotton / tadd mullinx teams up with a wide range of mc s (wildchild, mf doom, kadence, vast aire, ag, beans, invincible. ta raach, big tone, phat kat..) and producers (waajeed, jay dee) to support his hi-tech productions. the result in this killer album with a wide variety of productions, from deep headnoddin cuts to crazy offbeat work and deep kraftwerk inspired instrumentals. where hiphop meets techno.

helena hauff s mighty return to disorder is back with a various artists 12inch packing phasers set to slay. lft is as evil as it gets on flare, dropping the kind of sleazy, bunker-ready, acid inflected electro that darkroom dreams are made of. marc ash has an edgier tone, maximising the distortion but also capitalising on uneasy space in the mix on grimy workout beirut calling. morah sends things in an airy direction on cold water, building up layers of noise but maintaing a strange air of optimism. hauff herself lands the b2 slot with a curious belter that channels the spirit of 90s midi game soundtracks amidst searing arepggios and a bloated kick.

mysterious berlin imprint mask preps its second release with four more untitled tracks this march. continuing the theme of the first release, noah has been produced and recorded live in one take using a selection of analogue gear, including an emu sp 1200, mutual instruments ambika, nord rack 2x, octatrack, vermona action filter 4. a soothing synth line sets the tone of the a1 before implementing sporadic drums and squelchy notes, making way for the melodic chords and a wall of sub bass in the mesmerising a2. murky atmospherics and a medley of percussive hits generate a dusty aesthetic in the b1 until the organic beat and distorted robotic sounds of the b2 provide an otherworldly conclusion to the enigmatic release.

since launching their ksmisk project in 2015 the pair have returned to some of these labels whilst also dropping two releases on renowned bergen-based techno label ploink, of which 2017 s magma ep is the precursor to their inaugural album mikrometeorittene . opening the package is the ominous and beatless lonsdaleite , setting the tone for an otherworldly aesthetic throughout. off-kilter kicks then rain down in silicate as sinister drones ebb in and out of the mix before meandering back into a ghostly ambient cut named vesta . crunchy percussion and tantalising atmospherics then make up blitz , moving into the twisted and syncopated marinate until the raw sounding spherules exhibits a compelling groove combined with echoing effects. the dusky wustite sees the album retreat from 4/4 once again, returning for the effervescent westergas before concluding on a melancholic outro entitled chondrites .

it is undeniable that bjarki and his bbbbbb imprint are at the forefront of iceland’s dance music scene, playing a vital role in asserting the country as a hub for genre bending electronic music. although the label has proved to be a solid platform for bjarkis own experimental material, bbbbbb continues to host some of icelands best talents (notably last year’s lauded release from volruptus who followed up with another killer outing on &#1090,,&#1088,,&#1080,,&#1087,,). for bbbbbb’s 10th release bjarki continues to substantiate his a&r abilities, introducing the world to lord pusswhip. having enjoyed a meteoric rise as a key player in icelands hip-hop scene, the young producers sound has continued to evolve since befriending bjarki and the bbbbbb crew, and the hand of glory ep now sees him at arguably his most adventurous and experimental yet. murky atmospherics introduce xmas jam creep before a cacophony of percussion ups the energy, setting the tone for a dynamic release. crazy shit mane follows with its crunchy drums, scintillating synths and sultry bass until hop out the car blends hip-hop vocals with mesmerising chord sequences reminiscent of richard d.james early work. an undulating bassline then works alongside a chorus of angelic voices in ‘the hand of glory, making way for the syncopated and dreamlike shroomm0(u)rning. moving into ambient territories, green house living layers pads and samples together to generate an otherworldly aesthetic until choppa hard combines ominous drones with a steady beat to conclude the release.

stunning new album from chicago’s finest electronic futurist hieroglyphic being, aka jamal moss, newly released on soul jazz records. this is his third album for the label, following on from the acid documents (2015), and african with mainframes (w/ noleian reusse) k.m.t. (2016). limited edition of 1000 copies on double 12 inch vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve with download code included.

chained to a ladder: theres no way up. theres no way down. youre hung on a rung and theres there no place to escape as dino lenny delves into your innermost psyche with this heavy slice of pedigree italian electronica. a darkroom dubs debut from the original craftsman, chained to a ladder is ominous in its mood and tone, dramatic in its new romantic vocal style and uncompromised with its devilish analogue aesthetic.

violet and bleid met last year in lisbon, at the radio quântica studios. in the very same day, they impromptu started working together on a track: a cover of underground sound of lisbon’s so get up to celebrate international womens day. together, alongside a crew of young lisbon djs and activists, they also run the queer techno party mina, one of the most vital things going on in the city’s nightlife - the picture in the artwork was taken in the backstage of one of those infamous, dark-room-equipped parties.
bleid remixed naive001’s togetherness by violet, and that dope rework made it to rroxymore’s bag (as heard at berghain) and was played on bbc radio 6, rinse fm and +++. the pair became friends, started bouncing ideas about production techniques, rap skills and the importance (or lack thereof) of the classics in dance music. making more music together happened naturally.
naive002 feels like a continuation of naive’s first release in some ways: the jungle-inspired chopped breaks, sonic synth work and oneiric pads are still there but gain a heavier, perhaps more somber tone at times, exploding into depth or ecstasy at others.

matuss continue to deliver deep and soulful techno via her vinyl only imprint absence seizure, which she helms alongside abe duque. opening with whistler, matuss delivers heavyweight bass tones, dubbed out drums and obscure synthesiser transitions before zoya the destroyer provides eerie atmospheres, crisp percussion and subtle mid-range motifs which sit on top of a melodic low-end. on the flip side we have stranger things, which sets an ominous tone with murky ambiences and ethereal pads underpinned by a powerful kick, rumbling sub-bass and percolating rhythms to close the release.

a new year means new musical horizons here at the bordello. curses formed his sound in the distortion and sweat of back alley dive bar bars amidst the crash of guitars and the audible gulp of beer. hints of disco and wave balance this rougher edge, smoothing down those creased lines for a style that adheres to no boundaries. -pedal to the metal and don t look back- is a perfect introduction to curses multifaceted sound. beats orbit burbling bass and brash strings in a work of dreamy hypnotics. -knife in teeth- comes from a similarly shadowy lair. dark bars are further inked by industrial percussion in a track born on the factory floor to strict ebm parents. terr takes on -pedal to the metal and don t look back- and does the original proud. bass rumbles to the tune of a guttering engine before lighter notes take hold. murky currents are cleared by bright synth blasts in this uplifting remake. the bird of paradise closes the ep with his psychedelic take on -knife in teeth.- drums take on a more sinister tone as tribal rhythms give rise to jungle imagery and the immediate threat of what might lurk behind those supposedly innocent sounds.

orgone is back with more heavy funk from the west coast. a dark mood and deep groove set the tone for a funkadelic-like sort of vibe. both tracks featuring adryon de leon. previous releases by orgone have landed them on the billboard hot singles charts during their release week. for listeners of funkadelic, sly & the family stone, sharon jones & the dap-kings. heavy west coast funk

the shadows is the new album from leeds-based six-piece tomorrow we sail. building on their debut release for those who caught the sun in flight (gizeh, 2014) over the course of three years, this new work combines perfectly the soaring atmospherics, gorgeously intertwined vocal harmonies and dramatic shifts in tone and dynamics that have come to characterise tomorrow we sail’s sound. yet, there is a new sense of urgency here. very much an album of its time, the shadows draws upon the same sense of connection to both past and present that defined its precursor but features storytelling that’s even more defiant and deeply personal.

like its predecessor, the record features seven songs but from the chiming guitars of opening track side by side it is clear that the stately pace of for those who caught the sun in flight has made way for a far more dynamic and driving energy, perhaps best captured in the righteous anger of the ghost of john maynard keynes. tomorrow we sail still invoke a keen sense of measured grace in their songwriting - from the sweeping, elegiac title track, through to the sparse, restrained, yet haunting beauty of winifred and to sleep. urgent, yet assured, the shadows demands your attention.

always a reliable destination for cult talents operating on exciting frontiers of techno, meandyou this time shine a light on j.s. zeiter, who adopts the analog 1 alias for some dense, meticulously crafted trips into the strange psychedelic underbelly of dub techno. sm4l features pastoral chord swells straining behind a babbling brook of high frequency sound design, while mistral takes a classical approach to ambient composition, all yearning arpeggios and lingering keys. interlude is a brief twirl around blown out drums and textural impulses, and then skiv loop (rework) sets a more positive tone for the end of the ep, pushing classic dub techno sounds into a hazy, summery space away from the usual icy tundra the genre normally inhabits.

courtesy of balance recordings presents their 10th release to date. a compilation of 9 pieces of timeless house music that will rock the underground parties and twisted after hours alike. showcasing the talent of artist hailing from chicago, montreal, london and geneva and france, this triple pack is bound to become yet another classic on the balance catalogue. dont snooze baby!!

correspondant welcome berlin duo hinode having established themselves with a string of well received cuts on their own science fiction imprint, they were spotted by chance by label boss jennifer cardini on a recent record-shopping jaunt. with a raw, no-rules sense of machine funk running through everything they create, theyre the perfect match for correspondant and make their label debut with four numerical delights…i lights the analog fire with raw sleaze and off-beat mischief. unkempt and wily, it sets the tone for the entire ep: ii writhes snake-like with its slinky kicks and purring textures, iii slurs with bass groans and shakes with paranoid, alien melodies while iv closes with much more of a tunnelling, sense-blurring experience. total machine harmony, unbounded synthetic creativity, made to mix and wholly outer-planetary… hinode and correspondant are a match made in the stars.

lp theres been an air of hypnagogic mystery surrounding acid tests sublabel avenue 66 from the start. joey andersons oblique, prince-inspired incantation above the cherry moon set the tone for a label thats sound that has found beauty in the furthest recesses of the dance floor, in the murkiest decay of kick drums and rave stabs. fitting then, that the first album on the imprint comes from trux, an artist who has chosen to reveal nearly nothing about themselves. following a cult classic mini-lp for office recordings, orbiter bears out the anonymous producer as a master of liminal, conceptual dance music. orbiters ten tracks have a vaporous, shape-shifting quality, threatening to topple over into full-on kick drum bliss or vanish into ambience. opener, with it, moves from heady ambient rush to skeletal piano, while blinko and roys garage spell out a hazy memoriam for the uk continuum. forlorn pianos ring out amongst the field recordings, excitable toms and jungle bass all softened in the enveloping gauze. orbiter positions trux as an unknown auteur who puts evocative world of tone and echo into dizzying motion, content to watch from the wings. track list with it orbiter blinko roys garage third glow in my world my row odd u agoma

german producer silent-one presents an ambient four track release on his own label intimate silence this february. part of the from another mind crew longside obscure shape & shdw and javier ba&#776,,hr, silent-one (real name benedikt merkl) launched intimate silence as a platform for ambient music in 2016. since then the label has hosted artists like ressort imprint regular g&#322,,o&#769,,s, taapion records co-founder pvnv and arsenik records’ dold, however this release sees the label founder make his very own debut. fuzzy atmospherics and chilling chord sequences set the tone for the ominous ‘human border’ before ghostly synths and twinkling melodies work together to form ‘decide your fate’. on the flip, mesmerising arpeggios meander within an echoing setting in ‘sign of anxiety’ until the murky ‘lost souls’ pairs dusky elements with a spoken word sample to create a sci-fi aesthetic to conclude the release.

to kick-start 2018, happy skull serve up a rare ep from italy s d arcangelo brothers. the sibling duo have been active since the early 1990s, when they played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of roman techno alongside contemporaries lory d, leo anibaldi and their automatic sound unlimited production partner, max durante. in the two decades that have passed since, fabrizio and marco have consistently delivered off-kilter, futurist electronic masterpieces for the likes of nature, analogical force and, most famously, rephlex. the four tracks contained on this happy skull outing are not re-discovered archive cuts, but rather fresh slabs of mind-altering musical intoxication. the alternating bliss and acid-fired psychedelia of -saba tree-and the creeping late night paranoia of -pull seven- set the tone. the effervescent fun continues on the flip, where saucer-eyed chords and idm electronics combine on the rush-inducing -13th cider-. to finish things off fabrizio and marco treat us to -korty-, a mesmerizing, deep space slow jam full of backwards electronics and rumbling flashes of sub-bass.

from the redwood forests of big sur and the industrial warehouses of downtown los angeles comes pfeiffer, a label dedicated to quality and a diverse musical output. pfeiffer follows in the footsteps of labels such as svek and kompakt, known for releasing a wide range of techno and house with a common thread of unique and unpredictable energy. looking to bring this type of eclectic curation into the modern era, pfeiffer draws inspiration from the raw simplicity and effortless magnetism of its namesake location on the central coast of california. february 9th marks the release of pfeiffers first musical offering. a-side big tent sets the tone with raw, minimal percussion and acid tinged melodies. b-side twist brings a healthy dose of chicago and detroit influence to a track that feels colder than house, but warmer than techno. the first of many releases to come, pfe001 marks the tip of the iceberg for pfeiffer, a label which will continue to reveal itself over time.

ant orange’s third 12&#8243, for karaoke kalk forms something resembling a trilogy for the label. “right there” is built on a familiar rhodes-n-bass aesthetic, combining the lo-fi jazz of 2017’s “arkupe” with the soulful vocal motifs of 2015’s “s/t”, while introducing more electronic ingredients and taking an increasingly exploratory approach to rhythm and composition. the opening title track clocks in at over 8 minutes, growing slowly from soft tickled keys to a full-bodied groove circled by airy synths and fragmented rnb vocals. “drunk in the trunk” then shifts down a gear, looping another vocal cut over a lazy, stripped-back wahwah vibe. side a closes with experimental jazz skit “let that sink in”, its jerky tempo and flashes of light reminiscent of a late-night subway ride. the b-side takes a more contemplative tone, with the meditative arpeggios and sparse drums of “comfort zone” leading into the dusky west coast stroll of “muscle beach”, before “rudis goes offline” picks up the tempo for a last shimmering dance. the closing track “a frozen lake” sounds just like it sounds – chilled by name and by nature.

a modular synthesiser and an urge to find interesting tones, textures and timbres... ekke s second lp klangfarbenmodular is due to bevreleased by detroit underground . it is electronic music with compositions that deal with abstract textures, glitchy beats, nostalgic synth melodies, and sound design. like the title of the album suggests, one of the main interests for ekke has been finding different interesting tone-colours, textures and timbres. second very important inspiration for ekke while composing this material was his instrument – modular synthesiser. he has been studying free improvisation and composition on that instrument for years and the instrument has become like a good friend and music teacher for him. the album was composed and recorded during 2015-2017. most of the material has been recorded as studio jam sessions. all the pieces have then gone through many reincarnations. although most of the material comes from machines, there is a track where all the sounds are field recordings registered in tallinn, estonia, which is a current home for ekke .

vinyl only - limited copies pressing second release of the flash forward unreleased series, still emanuele luzzi & man-d.a. flash forward is proud to release another beautiful gem from the italian producer emanuele luzzi, who shined in -stolen moments- and -a tone colour of onirico- as onirico and oneiric. for the first time after 26 years, flash forward is been issuing the alternate take version of a 1991 umm gem by onirico, -tribal echo-, a hypnotic-tribal-surreal tone recorded live into the dat tape, a new terrific version of one of onirico most exciting tracks. listening to it, you could enter some kind of trip through the darkness, a very emotional journey in which imagine the sunset rhythm fighting with flashing shadows, the neverending battle between good and evil. let s start the voyage! as in the first issue, the other side is produced by man-d.a. , -not a dream- was also conceived many years ago but only today is released after being revised, modified and remastered! past and furure classic !

vinyl only - limited copies pressing second release of the flash forward unreleased series, still emanuele luzzi & man-d.a. flash forward is proud to release another beautiful gem from the italian producer emanuele luzzi, who shined in -stolen moments- and -a tone colour of onirico- as onirico and oneiric. for the first time after 26 years, flash forward is been issuing the alternate take version of a 1991 umm gem by onirico, -tribal echo-, a hypnotic-tribal-surreal tone recorded live into the dat tape, a new terrific version of one of onirico most exciting tracks. listening to it, you could enter some kind of trip through the darkness, a very emotional journey in which imagine the sunset rhythm fighting with flashing shadows, the neverending battle between good and evil. let s start the voyage! as in the first issue, the other side is produced by man-d.a. , -not a dream- was also conceived many years ago but only today is released after being revised, modified and remastered! past and furure classic !

the olympos series continues its exploration of godly themes and adventurous techno with a third instalment, this time calling on demetra, the goddess of the harvest and agriculture. there s a consistently deep tone to all four of the tracks on offer here, employing swooping pads and undulating bleep lines to conjure up a warm, early 90s feel that would sound right at home on an early b12 single. -pump it- is especially deep, using the barest of ingredients to take you on a dreamy, machine-powered trip.

for this release metrist delves into a set of carefully constructed and deeply rhythmic but ear-grabbingly idiosyncratic, mixed fidelity dancefloor-geared oddities. the first three tracks are united, in a fashion, by the artist’s skill at programming a series of drum tracks that set a definite tone for the productions. within a quite partisan field of often microscopic generic variety, largely pinned down to the tempo and timbre of electronic drums, here metrist has pursued a tricky-to-define path. the bounce of new jack swing is twisted amongst stripped back polyrhythms, equal parts groove and glitch seasoned by some futuristic acid filters that create a constantly shifting aura of space and textural nuance around the individual drum hits. quite often arrhythmic interjections punctuate these ‘grooves’, be it the sawing bursts of noise and snarled, incoherent vocals on ‘an soaep’, the non-language and playful, bubbling bass surrounding the half time feel of ‘on golden seize’ that builds to something approximating an industrial take on uk funky or the brash sub-wobbles that intrude ‘pantomimer tongue’s juddering knife-scraping-on-a-balloon stutters. ‘caaacel the horze’ closes the record in a less weighty style, with crunchy arpeggios running on a synth that sounds like it’s picking up interference from a radio channel, as snatches of moaned vocals allude to a deeply ambiguous yet chilling narrative behind the music. thudding kicks intrude on the skittish melody but in a non-rhythmic way reminiscent of someone trying desperately to snatch your attention by banging on the adjacent wall. gauzy melodic textures in the background provide a calming counterpoint to the uneasy qualities of the composition

uk producers sween and dawl deviate from their usual homebase of their own tone dropout label to deliver a solid 4 track ep on berlin based klasse wrecks. classic electro influences mix with breakbeat flavours to produce a fantastic and energetic collection of tracks. part sci-fi terror, part alien-invasion...all good!

nicholas returns to church with a six track mini lp. correspondant welcome berlin duo hinode having established themselves with a string of well received cuts on their own science fiction imprint, they were spotted by chance by label boss jennifer cardini on a recent record-shopping jaunt. with a raw, no-rules sense of machine funk running through everything they create, they’re the perfect match for correspondant and make their label debut with four numerical delights. i lights the analog fire with raw sleaze and off-beat mischief. unkempt and wily, it sets the tone for the entire ep: ii writhes snake-like with its slinky kicks and purring textures, iii slurs with bass groans and shakes with paranoid, alien melodies while iv closes with much more of a tunnelling, sense-blurring experience. total machine harmony, unbounded synthetic creativity, made to mix and wholly outer-planetary. hinode and correspondant are a match made in the stars.

primus motor sees ekman return to many of the sounds that gained him a reputation as an artist on labels like bunker and berceuse heroique. although harsh bucking acid lines, pockmarked notes, brutal beats and eerie echo are all present, a new tone has been added to the caustic palette. a psychological nuance, an undercurrent of the inchoate has been investigated and exploited to chilling effect. crippling psychoses. debilitating neuroses. physical pain. suffering stalks this first full vinyl album. sinister sounds encircle the eight offerings, hovering like vultures over inhospitable plains of ashen grey, jagged peaks and dark sweeping swamps. hope is all but drawn away in this bleached audio landscape, drained by sheer synthlines and reduced renderings. amidst the sorrow and strain there are pin pricks of joy, albeit bleak and pallid ones. an album that unnerves as it engages, a collection of icy radiance and industrial indifference from a dutch master.

after popping up on a various artists release last year, ugly frankie makes good on his connection to the vinyl only label with a full fat ep of chunked up, funked out house business for sunny climes. there s a dusty, rolling tone to the tracks on offer here - the crafty edits, nimble sample treatment and inventive layering creates a vibe you can lose yourself in all day. these aren t just straight up dancefloor rollers either cow boogie bumps and slides with a low slung swagger that will have you popping at a slower tempo but they re all prime for the get down. for some dusty, soul-laced cuts produced with flair, look no further.

agorias second outing on sapiens presents some of his most uncompromising work to date. boomerang manifests live percussion and analog pulse waves, rising through shepard tone drama and succinct, minimalist form. three additional solo performances accompany the title track - a clin doeil to the minimalist french synth pioneers of yesteryear. an exercise in humanity.

drumcode returns with its 6th installment of the internationally celebrated a-sides series. renowned for fostering a shared space between industry tastemakers and rising talent alike, the careful curation that goes into each volume is a fine example of why beyer s brand continues to go from strength to strength. techno titan adam beyer has grown drumcode into a force to be reckoned with, the label has become synonymous with forward-thinking, functional techno and even after 20 years, drumcode continues to find new boundaries to push, and ways to solidify its legacy as the world s number one techno label. 2017 is no exception, with beyer s imprint hosting it s first stage at tomorrowland, not to mention the expansion of the critically acclaimed junction 2 where the drumcode stage is the centrepiece and adam plays the key role of festival director. the drumcode phenomenon continues to grow each week, chiefly fuelled by drumcode radio, adam s radio show thats broadcast in 57 countries via 86 stations and to a global audience of 16 million techno fans per week. the a-sides series acts as a perfect vignette of drumcode s cutting-edge sound, functional yet inspired techno, all tracks tried and tested by beyer himself. vol. 6 continues this tradition with a collection of 16 multi-faceted cuts from a mixture of both emerging artists and experienced label friends. the heart-throbbing bass in amelie lens electrifying piece in silence sets the tone for the dark and dance-floor-ready energy that vol.6 carries the whole way through. other standouts include mars bill s rough n ready mohave. pulsating and precise, mohave has highlighted many of beyer s sets recently as has wehbba s monster track fake , which fans have been anticipating the release of all year. label-favourites dense & pika also feature on a-sides vol. 6 with their hard-hitting just a beat and a huge track from beyer himself who has joined forces with enrico sangiuliano to bring us their undeniably infectious preset heaven. with many more notable selections from the likes of julian jewell, timmo, tiger stripes and pig&dan, a-sides vol. 6 is another impressive addition to the label s prolific release roster and a testament to why drumcode remains at the forefront of the electronic world.

the latest compilation by cultures of soul gathers together little known boogie, electrofunk and j-pop released in japan between 1981 and 1988. strong compilatin!

drumcode returns with its 6th installment of the internationally celebrated a-sides series. renowned for fostering a shared space between industry tastemakers and rising talent alike, the careful curation that goes into each volume is a fine example of why beyer s brand continues to go from strength to strength. techno titan adam beyer has grown drumcode into a force to be reckoned with, the label has become synonymous with forward-thinking, functional techno and even after 20 years, drumcode continues to find new boundaries to push, and ways to solidify its legacy as the worlds number one techno label. 2017 is no exception, with beyers imprint hosting it s first stage at tomorrowland, not to mention the expansion of the critically acclaimed junction 2 where the drumcode stage is the centrepiece and adam plays the key role of festival director. the drumcode phenomenon continues to grow each week, chiefly fuelled by drumcode radio, adam s radio show that s broadcast in 57 countries via 86 stations and to a global audience of 16 million techno fans per week. the a-sides series acts as a perfect vignette of drumcode s cutting-edge sound, functional yet inspired techno, all tracks tried and tested by beyer himself. vol. 6 continues this tradition with a collection of 16 multi-faceted cuts from a mixture of both emerging artists and experienced label friends. the heart-throbbing bass in amelie lens electrifying piece in silence sets the tone for the dark and dance-floor-ready energy that vol.6 carries the whole way through. other standouts include mars bill s rough n ready mohave. pulsating and precise, mohave has highlighted many of beyer s sets recently as has wehbba s monster track fake, which fans have been anticipating the release of all year. label-favourites dense & pika also feature on a-sides vol. 6 with their hard-hitting just a beat and a huge track from beyer himself who has joined forces with enrico sangiuliano to bring us their undeniably infectious preset heaven . with many more notable selections from the likes of julian jewell, timmo, tiger stripes and pig&dan, a-sides vol. 6 is another impressive addition to the label s prolific release roster and a testament to why drumcode remains at the forefront of the electronic world.

das mixtape -baller nation-, des mit dem a$ap mob assozierierten hypemans, von a$ap ferg erscheint nun als limitiertes weißes 180g vinyl.

the man behind church records and half the force propelling coastal haze, seb wildblood, jumps over to let s play house for a laid back, suave four tracker that ll smooth out that transition we re all going through as summer fades and the embers of autumn begin to burn brighter. necessary happiness, the first track, a improvisatory, noodly deep house ambler, sets the pace and tone. from there, the british producer ups the tempo a bit and explores the darker contours of red light-lit basement caves and after- hours haunts with the ep s title track. the flip is briefer: necessary happiness (mad sax mix) is an embellished and brighter reprise of the a1, and“pass the pen is a loose instrumental that has the bones of a break beat interlude built atop a jazzy hip-hop beat. is that a dewy sea mist on the horizon at dawn or a heavy cloud of smoke machine fog veiling a strobe in the middle of the night?