catz n dogz continue to roll out their pets sub label step recordings and follow up a slew of soulheavy dance records from baltra, reno wurzbacher and the analog roland orchestra with a solo ep from fellow polish producer universo. with previous appearances on transatlantyk, the auspicious newcomer slots neatly into the step catalogue in presenting his ‘underworld’ ep: a package of softly glowing lo-fi that fans of baltras recent sophia ep on step will relish. underworld then unfolds at a steady, hypnotic pace as moody, interlocking chords and paired up with a gentle spoken vocal that work together to create a poignant, eyes-down mood. icy strings and a trippy spoken are introduced before kora buta follows up with some warm, swooning sample work. sleeper is next up as distant, meandering thumb pianos and rainy textures colour the tracks fuzzy drums while a glassy, legowelt-esque pad glides overhead.frequenza kicks things off a soft, sizzling pad sent ducking under a rock-hard kick drum.

otis junior & dr. dundiff release the follow up album to their critically acclaimed “dubplates from jakarta #5” release. the vinyl lp includes a download code.

the fourth participant in the gost instrument series is ivan erofeev hailing from siberia’s omsk. ivan was producing and releasing music as aleph for the last five years and this is the first ever record issued under his birth name. the author’s distinctive, monotonus yet liquid sound emerges in these two tracks - deep “h island” and polyrhythmic “sahiba”. framed with field recordings made by the man himself, this two-tracker is a hypnotic and atmospheric journey into ivan’s very own creative universe.

joining our label for the 4th release are dan andrei and kozo, under their collaboration named ak41, a fructuous project that offers three highly complex tracks.
on the a side you can find “icebreaker” solely, an eccentric sound with a steady bassline, percussive kicks, tripping shakers and a thoughtful, mysterious melody that touches all the frequencies of your body. turning to the b side we find “swingenious”, a groovier interpretation produced by a combination of spacey feelings and sophisticated instruments that will move every bone on the dancefloor. closing the ep is “in memoriam”, a melancholic version that is not short of an aggressive bassline, ambiguous vocals and deep introspects, all aligned to disconnect you from the reality of routine.

caravan’s coarsica ep is a gorgeous six-tracker of wandering drum machines and shiny synths, washed with the burnt umbers and viridescent hues of the australian outback. computer-funk with a green thumb. as the track-listing suggests, coarsica is a tribute to subtle and compelling beauty of australia’s native flora, as if costa georgiadis and dâm-funk got away from the big smoke for a weekend and spent the whole time by the river cooking this bad boy up. like the rugged and stoic banksia, or the regal flindersia, each track on the coarsica ep provides a dappled shade under which the weary dancer can rest in these hot summer months.
support from: tako (music from memory/redlight records), touch sensitive, ben fester

the fourth installation of acronym’s own dimensional exploration series comes after more than 2 years of silence. underwater exploration for all the senses.

this is the first release by jesse kanda under the name doon kanda.

in the beginning of 2017, nightmare factory records will put out their first vinyl release. for this special occasion, the label s owner electrorites put together a unique va record called interweavings vol.1 comprised of smashing techno tunes which will shatter the dance floor into pieces. arween s hurry indeed doesn t take its time and rushes forward like blood through one s tempels when trying to make it in time - or when raving fast and hard, which is exactly what the track encourages you to do. the synth doesn t have time to unfold in a melody and stays on one spot, driven by a harsh beat which doesn t go under 137 bpm. the sour sweat doesn t drop any slower when state of mind by electrorites hits the speakers. incisive synth erupts through the dense wall of iron and steel which crushes and shatters under the surge of the drum kick. the hungarian techno warlock gabeen returns to nightmare factory with disappearance , a guaranteed dancefloor banger for those who prefer to feel the beat deeply in their viscera. the enigmatic duo vertical spectrum rounds up the release with andromeda collision course . this tune is weirdly soothing thanks to the sweeping, high-pitch rustling sounds and swirling trickles, but is still turbid by the sediment of neurotic, angry beat

in 2016, domestica introduced the debut promo cassette (and second ep) by màquina total, the moniker under which barcelona-born virgili jubero has been working since 2011. heres estatua, the first lp by maquina total, this time in vinyl format in a limited run of 350 copies, complete with insert and download code.

review ornate music continues in its mission to reach out to the freshest talent in the house and techno scene by shining a light on emergent german talent faune, following last years stellar releases by ka one & st-sene and homepark. thus far, jakob panthels production as faune has been spotted on the soundscape versions label, while under his own name he has produced two albums released digitally on crystalline days. most recently, he delivered the four-track isvatten ep to tuesday slump, which operates out of his native munich. as well as his rising release schedule, he has been appearing frequently on the circuit in munich and berlin, performing alongside the likes of a made up sound, stefan jòs and skudge. on this ep panthel delivers three tracks of deep, hardware-powered techno with a keen dancefloor instinct, fitting right in to the ethos of ornate and marking another step forward for faune.

dzar, a new experimental techno project from marseille, aiming to explore advanced interactions and capabilities between modern analog hardware and digital tools. after a decay releasing house music under the alias of damien zala, dzar is dedicated to a more minimalist approach of electronic music. inspired by graphic design, architecture, and numeric arts.

the guys at pole jam vinyl have spent most of the last year involved in an undying quest to seek out new, exciting music. they would neither be stopped by the russian tundras nor the deserts of australia in their search. funnily enough, it was actually down-under they discovered sydney based duo falqo with their brilliantly chilled and melodic number across the sea . then, it really was across the sea they went, all the way to the ukraine, picking up sasha anastasov s laidback, groovy smasher sea for two . next up was a much shorter trip to moscow to collect gayana, a band very much on the rise whose since the night has been perfectly reinterpreted by pole jam s very own st. petersburg based all-stars klar&pf. pioneerball is the solo project of tesla boy s lead guitarist who makes his second appearance on pole jam vinyl. this time pioneerball contributes the stunning opening track deltaplane , a track influenced by obscure russian cinematic soundtracks. it s combined perfectly with a compelling disco groove, jazzy melodies and organic strings that will make your heart melt.

1994 - chicago producer rick lenoir has already released a slew of legendary records under many well known aliases and his house jam label has been in business since 87. the sanctuary project is the nom de plume utilised by rick for this particular killer disco infected 4 track ep from that period. the keen eared among you will no doubt recognise some of the sample sources used throughout these tracks, lenoir flips jazzy loops, chopped up vocals and lays it all out over some kicking drum programming, this is that style of sample based house that has the hardened dance heads and hip-hoppers unified, gritty, raw and brimming over with soul! the cuts featured on this ep will sit nicely with most contemporary sounds and shows how on the money rick was in the mid 90 s! the record has long been out of print and has been forever popular with the diggers out there, commanding a healthy price when available in the second hand stores and online. this reissue has been realised with the full involvement of rick lenoir / house jam records, chicago and is 100% legit! don t snooze, this one deserves a spot in any self respecting house heads record bag or dj set, classic material made available again for 2017 - running it’!

centre source records continue to fly the flag for local artists with their fourth ep - this time from berlin-based jad & the.
love tool presents a dreamy opening to the ep, with its effervescent piano riff and lush layers of filters and reverberations, which swell and deflate throughout. bouyant yet gentle, convertible on the m1 is a sunny, textured groove with digital flutes and claps, softly ascending through to a blissful breakdown. on the flip side, underachieving koala juxtaposes eerie vocal samples with melancholy piano chords, making for a poignant cut on the record. untzz twelve inch mainstay arthur miles takes the track in a more club-worthy direction on the remix, giving it a healthy dose of drive and glistening keys, all while staying true to the emotive mood of the original.

helmed by back to basics resident james barnsley, it s safe to say vessel records know exactly what they re doing with their initial five releases including names such as daze maxim, burnski, dj honesty, laura jones and diego krause. the label s excellent discography continues in their sixth release with dan curtin under his purveyors of fine funk moniker - highly regarded for early releases on peacefrog, nepenta, and more recently bass culture. politics of dancing, known separately as s.m.a.l.l & paco, are the parisian duo behind their fastrising eponymous label, whereas british talent rhymos has quickly garnered a reputation for his compelling productions on the likes of overall music, whistleblower records and murmur. joined by barnsley himself, this four-track release demonstrates each artist in fine form. purveyors of fine funk s depth of bass is a raw sounding cut with ethereal atmospherics and moody chord sequences. james barnsley is next with his deep and trippy number titled she not fast before politics of dancing merge intricate percussion with rumbling bass in their mesmerising queens road. tying things together, rhymos gets rhythmic with jazz hand featuring acid licks and echoing effects.

hell’s first single in well over a year, ‘i want u’ throbs and thrusts with in-the-moment physical tension. unhurried and extensive in its 11+ minute arrangement, it’s every bit as deep and as long as you’d want such a session to be with its rush-riddled breakdown that dips deep under the skin with lavish emotional chord changes and peaked atmospherics. a celebration of gay culture, an homage to purist analog-driven proto techno, a statement for what’s shaping up to be yet another exceptional album from the hugely influential international deejay gigolos founder, ‘i want u’ comes complete with two startling remixes: the legend that is the hacker accentuates the grit and crunchy ebm charm of the original with an all-out exercise in sonic horsepower while hell’s selector kindred spirit and all-round robot-rustling icon martin matiske provides a whirlwind trip back to another foundation era for electronic music with b-boy-busting electro boogie spectacular. trust us, you’re going to want all three. and thankfully you’ll get all three right here. let us know what you think!

inspired by a french 19th century etching, nicolas chaix (a.k.a i:cube under his moniker icola) made these 4 diabolical percussion driven tracks during the hot summer of 2016. ultra heavy and trippy music for the body and the mind.

as we roll into a brand new year bass culture keeps the pressure high with a funk-filled new three-track ep from one of germany’s finest, sebo k. the berliner has been entrenched in his city’s vibrant scene since the nineties, when he was playing breakbeat and jungle. in fact, there’s a nod towards his early days on the ‘brock wild’ ep, along with some sultry funk. head of his own label, scenario, and curator of parties under the same name, sebo k has also produced music for a long list of some of the world’s most influential underground labels and now he steps up to bass culture with this sleek collection. the title track is a steady roller with hefty bass rumbling deep below sturdy beats. the groove is funky and low slung, swirling pads mesmerise you as soulful female vocals raise your vibration. the track is punctuated by an iconic sample of uk reggae star top cat, which was used in several early jungle tracks in the mid-nineties and now again on sebo’s killer track.flip the record over for side b, which kicks off with ‘aftershock’, another sweet groove with jazzy hues, more punchy percussion and a warm, simmering undercurrent. as the track evolves, techy notes are added to its potent mix and we get a wonderful mix of traditional sounds and more futuristic effects. last but not least is ‘foliage patterns’, a sensual cut straight out of the us school of deep house. this is one that will be spun by all the deep house masters no doubt, with all the elements you need to inject some bounce into the dance floor yet still touch its soul. as we said, sebo k is one of germany’s finest, a versatile producer and dj who demonstrates exactly why he remains one of the nation’s most consistent and respected artists. make sure you add the ‘brock wild’ ep to your collection, it’s a must!

esteemed composer piero umiliani released scores of music in his lifetime from the famous to the obscure, but his forays into jazz continue to be a delight for diggers the world over. here galaxy present storia e prehistoria, recorded under his alias rovi and originally released in 1972. its a stirring collection of music that touches on soundtrack themes throughout, capturing the sound of the era impeccably while sporting umilianis inimitable touch in the same breath. the album is full of sumptuous orchestrations of brass, keys, harp and more besides, each piece loaded with romance and cool as could only come from italy.

die berliner melodic-electro erfolgsgruppe solar fake legt mit another manic episode ihren vierten longplayer vor, der auch als deluxe-doppel-cd (inkl. bonus mini-album) und als limitierte fan-box erhältlich ist.

it is a big temptation - whilst striving to place oneself on the map - to favour and repeat established structures and norms in order to gain fortune, fame and power. to cripple a work of art under pressure of commercial success and to trade the uniqueness of a creative spark for an egoistic idea means using a calculating mind to overrule art and emotions. but this pulse of an artist is not his mind but his heart with which he exposes his energy and vibration through frequencies. for this reason there is only one way which retains the creation in its innocent spontaneous form in order to stay true to its inspirational core. the path of resistance! (johannes heil)

we continue the orb’s sin in space remix ep series with a third volume focussing on the duo’s latest full-length, the highly acclaimed cow / chill out, world! (kompakt 354 cd 134). the spontaneous, organic vibe and sample artistry of the album is reflected in three distinct reworks from highly respected kompakt mainstays the field, dave dk and jÖrg burger - all of them informed with surprising twists and displaying a clear lineage to the source material. the field’s remix of 9 elms over river eno takes the original s percussive part and unfolds it to a swirling, tropical epic that alludes as much to the orb s multifaceted sound collages as it does to the hypnotic, looping flow of the field s own output. meanwhile, dave dk turns in a club-friendly revamp of 4am exhale with the fittingly titled accellerator mix, indulging in exquisitely lyrical glitches and the magic of the straight bassdrum. jÖrg burger takes a shot at the beatless 5th dimensions with the excellent dschungeloper mix - its loose pop jam feeling and flirty shuffle rhythm recall burger’s lush lounge core efforts under his triola monicker.

amongst those on the amsterdam club scene, tom ruijg is highly regarded as a dj and producer. with a production history that stretches back to the turn of the decade, and includes releases under his given name on bangbang!, karat, hot waves and soweso, he’s no newcomer, either. skyfall is his first 12inch for voyage direct, following a fine contribution to the first mission compilation – alongside friend and sometime studio partner efde – back in 2015. more pertinently, the ep marks the first time hes used the tracey moniker for a release

vinyl only - 180gr pressing
catren hits the shelves with its second release, a 3-tracker slow cooked by emi nescu.
we jump on this house & techno bandwagon with maimultmodelat, a 12 minute piece stripped down to its hihat backbone, with the focus points centered here & there on the wobbly bassline and the sharp cut kicks. as for the side b, a more textured journey awaits us: soustra, encapsulating its warmth deep into the fading melodic strips and the fast paced walkabout, a breaks sequence that could easily hyopnotize the crowd with its electro reminiscences hidden under the percussions layer.
catren 002 exposes us to 3 apparently different tracks yet with one strong thing in common: emi nescu’s groove led energy

nyc disco legend danny krivit returns to the editing block on behalf of seminal miami disco powerhouse tk disco. with 45 years in the dj game under his belt and having played endless gigs all over the world during that time its safe to say mr.k knows exactly what hes doing when it comes to the re-edit thing! with unprecedented access to tk s vaults danny has been turning in some stellar reworkings as of late and the cuts included on this latest instalment keep the quality sky high!

french producer keumel makes a poised vinyl debut on the inner balance imprint, with three originals of fine skipping house and a remix by imprints head domenico rosa. “laïka” is an afternoon space-walk in the vein of vintage derek carr, its synths, hats and mid-track acid line surfing light and breezy over a scudding, bumping bassline. rosa’s remix strikes a more contemplative note by placing a soft breakbeat under the acid line and airborne pads. “no chill” is a fast-tempo stripped-down house jam that kicks to the sound of the label’s father figure chez damier and his contemporaries. “space birds” rounds out the ep by building a slowburn groove out of which a lightly-warped acid line slinks part-way through.

das komplex, aka marcin £ukaszewicz aka. what is this guys name? whoever he is, he is fucking slow. but word on the street is, he is super happy, to be slow, and to make records, and build ships, or whatever it is that he does, when hes not answering our emails. rumour has it, that henry is the man who built the ostbahnhof - with his own bare hands. before that he was making music. for twenty carefree, happy-go-lucky years. recently, he started releasing some of it, much to his surprise, on nice, family-themed labels such as young adults and father & son. this is his first offering for love on the rocks. its sublime, its soft, and it wants you to fall in love, at night, back in the days, under the electric light of your favourite dancefloor, with two major jams on the a-side, and a consciousness-altering, life-changing, dance floor destroying, 13-minute disco trip on the other. music to microdose to.

there’s not a lot to tell about the project glow in the dark by a certain harry miller. only perhaps we can state that with these eight tracks at hand harry miller accomplished probably the most enchanting album of the still quite young year. just when we wanted to dismiss the short-dated genre of chillwave wistfully, “future bliss” comes along with a bewitching sound hailing from an optimistic but cranky future. already the opening track “step one” with its vocal samples and its spoken word intro is futuristic soul full of affirmation of life pillowed on a synth bedding smoothed to the max up to its edges. but also the following seven tracks spread infectious positive vibes all around. the magic of glow in the dark’s tracks is energized mostly by miller’s delicate way of treating his various samples, a wary manner one usually only shows when picking up a guitar. and unlike sample based music feeding from hiphop his tracks are completely free from any sort of nostalgia, because all of his songs are designed for the future through and through. “future bliss” is one hell of a joy ride, from the first note to the last tone. the neon funk of “1987”, the broken beat of “7 billion = 1”, the synth pop of “the last dance” and in general, all of the eight tracks could be little, but great hymns on their own. but only in its entirety they sparkle this fathomless ingeniousness hidden in glow in the dark. in the end it seems to be wiser that one has as little background information as possible to be able to lose oneself fully in this “future bliss”.

rico puestel is in charge for our cocoon recordings 144th release. rico is an producer animal who released more than 100 tracks & remixes since 2005 under various project names such as dinamoe, central scrutinizer and of course under his main moniker rico puestel. the enormous amount of productions shaped ricos knowledge and taste and his new cocoon release neyst and enokid seems to be the logical result of his long journey through the techno-universe. puestels style is very unique and merges elements of dark and hypnotic mainfloor techno as well as orchestral sounds and even industrial elements. neyst is the perfect hypnotic and dark techno circle that keeps on progressing and building up into sheer madness. no fast food, no leightweight, this is heavy techno business! enokid comes with a little more of a chicago house vibe however it is again still deep in puestels very own style. we especially fancy the crazy break in the middle with the spaced out room effect part and the melody coming in after the break. as stompy and musclepacked this track is, it still seems to be very musical and deep at the same time - what a trip! this one demands a good and proper sound system, well what other cocoon release doesnt?

second release comes from berlin based b.e.f., soaking you into a deep journey of the now. a repetetive meditation - forward pushing and hypnotising. b.e.f. has been a steady part of parallel berlin since a few years, so it s a logical next step to release his debut solo ep on our label. he has been releasing under different monikers, which have been subjected to quite a lot of variations. he meanwhile found a coherent foundation of a rough, hypnotic and gritty sound. coming along with the process of discovering the most genuine way of expression, he focused on analogue gear. “waveforms are not only a mathematical law, waveforms are everywhere, in all sections of everyday life, in light and in sound. parallel is one of the many parallel universes out there, living and believing in variety, whilst pointing onto respect for various life forms. we do what we love”.

dub is the keyword, techno is the way. the very first autarchy release represents a rapidly and constantly changing momentum. there is a black and white atmosphere that surrounds the whole vinyl four-tracker. the skilled italian duo alpi make their mark on the a side, together with the wrong assessment darker reinterpretation, shaped around solid textural processing and raw rhytmatics. it s mainly a techno release, yet xdb delivers his own breakbeatish and more reflective vision of the b side, produced by label artists complementary opposites. the label is at the moment under the radar, working through a connection operating into events, music production and label management in between italy and germany.

locklead is one of utrechts best kept secrets with his signature mpc beats and a deep stompin flavor. he s been catching serious attention lately with his releases on slapfunk, hot haus, unknown to the unknown and soulfood. the a side madniz combines this years utrecht sound with locklead s signature raw warmth. dancing sub-bass and radiating percussion! roa tek is a bomb, ready to explode under your command. combining shuffling grooves, alien noises and an earthquake sub. handle with care.

the elusive dj groov slides from under a long lost 93 slipmatt to present a very special weekend long jaunt into heavy acid & breaks territory.
from the swaying euphoria of “back to”, to the 10 pills breakneck acid blaster “human?”, the synth-drone paranoid alien abduction jaunt of “jam from space haus”, and lastly the skitzy, noise-peppered tinker-toy acid of “skizzacid 78”.
full lazy acid sofa vibes over the long easter weekend. way too much haze and way too many alien movies. comes on an extra hot 12” complete with sticker.

with 4 releases under their belt and more to follow, it clearly shows the alliance between hunter/game and the icelandic band kura, can do no wrong. their band, landside, is now primed to get an accompanying remix ep following up from signs of change and desert lake. drawing their inspiration from a cumulation of music that inspires them, they call up a diverse selection of artists to the task, which present an astonishingly coherent vision. from the stormy modulated chords of robert hood and trickling pads crafted by etapp kyle, to the dystopian narratives expressed by bambounou and edanticonf, the re-visionings provide additional star-power to what is already a fine, shimmering series.

speed boat is eden burns, one half of dunedin house duo sandboards, who brightened up 2016 with heavyweight releases on feel my bicep and cold tonic. splitting off for the first release under his solo moniker, speed boat applies the base coat to new label the nail shop with a gliding four track ep for the imprint’s debut release, that makes the foot-tapping accompaniment to an afternoon waiting for your nails to dry.
the vibe is in the name, as ‘speed tools’ packs a mighty punch, featuring skittering percussion, steady-movin’ bass and infectiously sensual pads that effortless take the forefront. just don’t be surprised if it swoops you straight from the salon onto the dancefloor.

vinyl only .. space is most definitely the place as far as the latest vinyl adventure from us here at future reactions is concerned. with galactic references aplenty, futuristic soundscapes and more than a hint of interstellar travel on the analog core ep, the only thing missing is an astronaut suit. manning the controls of this otherworldly craft is josé rico, a key figure in themadrid underground scene through his associations with the downbeat and freebeat labels, who blasts off with the raw emotional electronica of orion. that man rico also features alongside the much-vaunted leonid (dolly/sistrum/statik entertainment) under their joint studio guise of cygnuss. having made their debut on freebeat earlier this year with the well-received long player night drive, the duo are on a mission here to warm-up the dance-floor with their house-not-house rocket journey to outertape. hailing from buenos aires but with a sensibility rooted in chicago and detroit, diego perrisson caught the attention of the more discerning ears as co-owner of the short-lived but not-forgotten label monochromatic. turning heads once again with his new venture, fundamental sounds, perrisson captains a smooth touchdown with the cultured deepness of restless ride.

jackie is a biographical film from chilean director pablo larraín. starring natalie portman (black swan) in the title role, the movie follows jacqueline kennedy from the days when she was first lady of the white house to the aftermath of the assassination of john f. kennedy. critically lauded since its debut at the venice film festival where it won the best screenplay award, jackie also received the platform prize at the toronto international film festival and is a heavy favorite going into awards season.
the score to jackie was composed by experimental british musician mica levi, best known for her ethereal score to 2013’s sleeper hit under the skin. mournful and eerie with a touch of the surreal, levi has delivered an unmistakable musical tapestry every bit as iconic as jackie o herself.
jackie is getting the vinyl treatment. the mastered-for-vinyl score is pressed on 180 gram black vinyl and housed in a heavy stock euro sleeve featuring black-and-white artwork of jackie. a download card containing a digital version of the album is also included.

3 years ago, superpitcher made this mesmerizing remix of joakim s cover of neil young s on the beach. the buzz was instant, with djs from dixon to tim sweeney, dj tennis to mike simonetti asking us for the files of this extended deep techno cut. 3 years later we re finally releasing it as a joint crowdspacer / hippie dance release with an additional 20min long (!!) incredible ambient mix.

banlieue records starts the year 2017 with the release of blasphema eternal, the imprints sixth record, which will in fact be the only va release of the year as the label will focus on artist eps. it features five very different cuts that somehow fit perfectly together under banlieues common thread: a timeless feel, tracks that are full of detail but often understated, a breath of fresh air ready to lift up bodies and minds on the dance floor and anywhere else. first comes a club-ready dubbed out track by duo nummer, then a rather ambient tune reminiscent of idms finest moments by michigans own dmarc cantu. on the flipside, a machine funk track of an electro persuasion by label boss benoit b, followed by uptempo dance floor abstraction by mir and some lo-fi jackbeat deepness courtesy of wulffius featuring lyrics in french by jack tezam. limited to 300 vinyl copies.

new album from canadian singer & producer the weeknd, featuring appearances by daft punk, lana del rey, kendrick lamar and future. translucent red double vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve.

they are dangerous is the second song released by senator gary. the riddim was build by the late great keyboard player winston wright (1944-1993) and the vocal was recorded at creative sound studio. the tune was produced by neville reid who died a few years ago. senator gary is also called imara, abbasani and now he is voicing under the name of i-maa-raa. so the quest to find him was not so easy, thanks to marshall neeko for the help.

2017 repress, second release for twice and native under the “flying machines” moniker. from proto-house and obscure italo-disco to balearic soul and latin grooves, this 5-track limited edition ep is a digger’s delight.

ricky l and marcoradi have been friends for as long as they can remember. they first met on the dancefloor of one of italy’s most iconic clubs, red zone in perugia, where ricky has been a resident dj for the best part of 25 years. now, they’ve joined forces in the studio for the first time, uniting under the hear & now alias for claremont 56. those with a keen knowledge of italian dance music will know their impressive track records. both have a history of producing fine deep house records and remixes for the likes of ibadan, uomo, reincarnation, top tracks, restricted tracks and vega records. with hear & now, they’ve decided to step back from the dancefloor, instead producing hazy, emotion-rich music for after-hours listening, and mornings spent blinking into the sunshine.

vinyl only release, limited to 500 copies.
genres: electronic / old school acid / rave
this release sees mark archer raiding the altern8 vaults to find previously unreleased material he produced in 1992 under his dj nex moniker, and pairing it with a new track he’s written specially for the release.

a year after his last outing on the label, metamethod is back with a second ep for nightime drama. the man born simon haynes is a veteran of the scene who has worked under many different aliases and is now back at the techno frontline, creating the same sort of powerful grooves that made him so essential back in the 90s. ‘exoshift’ opens things up with a lurching, low sung beat that rocks back and forth as frazzled synths and rusty frequencies skate about up top. it’s body music that really makes a mark while ‘autofac’ then slips into more of a forward moving groove with prickly percussion and woodpecker hits all driving along a bleak techno landscape. last of all, ‘superlifter’ marries bulky, broken sounding drums with celestial pads that glow white amongst the murk and greyness of the rest for he track. it is atmospheric, grainy techno for serious heads only.

madame e. is a musical setting of georges bataille’s “madame edwarda”, a short novel that interlaces themes of eroticism, religiosity and death, and was written under the pseudonym pierre angelique in 1941, during the occupation of paris. composer mirco magnani wrote eleven electronic pieces and presented them to actor/singer ernesto tomasini. they turned them into songs by adding vocal melodies and together they produced a libretto based on bataille’s french text. the result of their dynamic interpretation is a hypnotically spellbinding performance where the audience is transported through worlds – ancient and new – and where tomasini’s haunting falsetto conveys the tormented emotions in bataille’s work and becomes the instrument that articulates the writer’s famously obscure themes.
the double vinyl release includes a download code.

rhythm plate released one of the best releases on hudd traxx in 2007, half of rp returns under the guise of goshawk for hudd 055. matt brings astral t back with him for the a1 track and my heart certainly gives inside me a run for it s money. warm chords, lush vocals and slick beats are all laid down to perfection to kick off the ep in fine style.a2 follows the deep tones set on a1 with the wonderful high in the evergreens. the b side kicks off in a more upbeat style with yes in this way which would fit nicely in a derrick carter peak time set. goshawk finishes off with a cheeky garage number that is reminiscent of grant nelson s early work on nice n ripe which can only be a good thing.

picking up where they left off three years ago, modern heads, the much-respected collaboration between gianluca meloni and dino sabatini, are back with a dynamic and intriguing four track ep. the duo go straight in here with the club-ready athena. throughout this track, tight percussive elements wind in and around one another, creating an ever-changing rhythm that you can only just hold onto. under this, tense synths pulse away, producing an opaque and insular atmosphere. next up, eumaeus lightens the mood somewhat, providing clarity with a distinct opening drum pattern. this mood doesnt last long though, as indiscernible, haunting vocals begin to echo in the distance, gradually moving closer and further in the mix as sharp pads swoosh either side. side b of the record opens with the deepest and longest track of the ep, eurycleia. simple yet unrelenting drums frame this hypnotic sci-fi episode, through which otherworldly screeches and rumbles reverberate over the twinkling sounds of machines. eurycleias atmosphere continues straight into the final track, laertes theme. this beatless piece takes eurycleias exploratory mood and extrapolates it over five and a half minutes, resulting in what feels like the perfect soundtrack to a glacial expedition in alien territory. as an ep this is a complete and coherent package, a perfect extension to modern heads previous work. the sound palette is familiar, yet refined, developed upon and taken further. the old beggar is undeniably worth the wait for anyone with a taste for the extraterrestrial.

voodoo down returns to the compilation series that started it all: possible side effects vol.1, released in late 2012, was the first release on the brooklyn-based label and marked the inception of a concept ep series that would come to define the labels sound. featuring an a1 cut by german journeyman producer stl and rounded out by the label founders’ eclectic techno styles, pse vol. i was the perfect vehicle for the producers still working to carve out their own individual aesthetic. now with a dozen releases under their belt, the founders l estasi dell oro, nconduit and 12 x 12 have returned to their roots and this time recruited the prolific berlin-based producer deadbeat for volume three of the series. like the first two volumes, its a slightly chaotic mix of beefy dance floor tools and heady experimentation. the separate personalities shine through more than ever on this release. vdr always striving to keep things interesting.