session victims new label adventure pen & paper sets its sails with the boys first original track since their 2017 album listen to your heart. puzzle builds an intense groove from an array of mechanical and organic percussion and chunky 12 bit chordstabs over a haunted pad and noise backdrop. closing the a side, vril takes the tune far out into deserted wasteland, steering his drumloops over chilly soundscapes towards a lynchesque string horizon. with not one but two versions, iron curtis claims the flip all for himself and, well, excels, excels twice. b1 hits with everything a breakbeat can hit you with and it brings that exact kind of bassline along. euphoric retro arps flush everything into enigmatic breakdowns to bring it back out and further. mr curtis finally brings the record into classy house territory with his passagen mix, embedding the original in between a heavily bouncing rhythm and an irresistible string section. vital sales points: - new label by the infamous session victim - smashing remixes by vril (dystopian, giegling) and iron curtis (hudd traxx, frank music) extensive global promo + tour - vinyl only

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.

to find lawkyz, follow the beat. it is here, in this vital part, this lighthouse which guides the route of the other instruments, which it prints in depth the low notes of his four strings. riveted on the drums. linking with it a rhythmic pact, ensuring the propulsion of the groove on stage with erik truffaz or guts, on records with uht °, anna kova, or versus, his hip hop project with full live band. when he puts his fetish instrument, when he lets cool his amp, then wakes up his evil twin: the waxidermist. one year after his last ep, the waxidermist comes back to tell his story.

dj-kicks start 2018 in fine style with another vital entry into their long running series. the latest comes from swiss dj and producer deetron, and features an exclusive solo track as well as exclusive collaborations with steve spacek, jinadu and jamie lidell. as one of the other most famous musical exports from his swiss homeland, he has pretty much done it all from fabric and balance mix cds to running his own label, from essential albums like twisted and music over matter on music man records to club focussed 12�s on will saul�s aus music and french label circus company. after 20 years in the game, he is still in demand at key clubs around the world, and is sufficiently respected as to be able to call on big names like seth troxler, cooly g and ben westbeech for collaborations.

portuguese artist ka§par gives parisian label escapade its third release. the four tracks span across a wide range of electronic sounds, telling a story that calls on many emotions. �wail of a loon opens the record with an experimental atmosphere. after this laid back introduction, ka§par goes into a much stronger style: �riggeds energy and catchy, twirling melody make it a total banger. on the b side, the mood gets much warmer and groovy. �vital is the perfect tune to warm up a dancefloor, thanks to a swinging rhythm, mesmerizing vocal samples and funky synth lines. �alma douro rounds up the record with strong jazzy vibes. beautiful chords and piano solos never dissapoint!

last years on the corner underground smash release, the 12inch ep santuris embaire umeme, introduced uganda�s mugwisa international xylophone group (m.i.x.g) to the world. the recordings center on the embaire, a giant xylophone native to ugandan folk music, which is dug into a pit for a natural, earthy bass resonance as gargantuous as the instrument itself. the instrument performs a key role in village life, with ceremonial playing sessions lasting for hours on end. these recordings may be esoteric in nature but they add important context to the santuri�s embaire umeme 12inch and are a vital documentation of the iganga village�s culture, as well as that of uganda. jones has artfully chopped the epic session into a series of short evocative chapters to create a pioneering masterpiece. remix duties are led by griot house innovators, the diabolcal liberties, who have raved-up some sun ra frequencies for the cosmic junglist crew. last but never least, victoria topping has created beautiful artwork using the session photography taken by jones during the recordings

as one of the first dutch musicians to establish a vital connection between detroit and amsterdam, orlando voorn has long been recognized as one of the netherland�s most original and inventive producers in the world of electronic dance music. voorn began djing at the tender age of 12 and went on to win the dutch dmc dj championships in 1986 with his own characteristic blend of hiphop and electro. towards the end of the eighties he acquired his first sequencer, packed away his turntables and turned his hand to producing.

one year ago, sodai burst onto the electronic soundscape with fearless river / ghost from label boss gardens of god. renowned for delivering the highest quality with meticulously selected artists, the label has carved out a fresh sound and distinct style. to celebrate the first milestone, gardens of god solidifies the integrity of the label with the profound maple ep . �these three tracks represent what i�ve been playing and enjoying since river / ghost was released last year. no compromises, just for people to get lost in.� - gardens of god subtle distorted keys pan the atmosphere in lead track maple for an enticing start to the ep, before a dominating bass soon carries the track through layers of melodic synths. the sinister tones of whistler are next and set to cause a serious stir on the dancefloor. last up, bek is a solid techno roller with a thundering bass, enhanced by an incredible richness in the haunting synths that echo throughout. vilnius based gardens of god has established himself as a key player in the world of house and techno. the classically trained artist has enjoyed a groundbreaking few years with weighty features on bbc radio 1, plus vital releases on maceo plex�s ellum and his own imprint sodai.

you may know aretha franklins scintillating one step ahead from its vital role in the oscar-winning movie moonlight. you may also know it as providing the beautifully melancholic backdrop for mos defs 1999 hit ms fat booty. the inaugural be with 7inch is a special one indeed, containing the first ever officially licensed reissue of arethas all-time deep soul classic. one step ahead was not included on any of her columbia studio albums, and remains one of her rarest releases. on the flip, i cant wait until i see my babys face is a thrilling, goosebump-inducing killer and an unfairly slept-on rendition of this eternal track. the single comes housed in a custom printed full-colour company sleeve and is limited to just 1000 copies

a long-term legend of the detroit scene, rick wade is presenting three deep and organic house cuts on moody records, written with the soul and finesse that has gained him the reputation as one of the most influential deep house producers. liem & eddie ness infuse their hamburg-house sound with the remix to insensitive, while san proper treats us with a suprise remix which is digitally available through the link etched to the record. vital sales points: - limited to 300, heavy vinyl - remixes by liem/eddie ness and san proper

unreleased archival tracks from the on-u vaults! serving the same purpose as the recent return of the crocodile set did for african head charge, this lp illuminates the early development of one of the flagship acts on the label, allowing some truly magnificent versions to be heard for the first time. mostly stripped-back raw takes, they highlight the rock solid rhythm foundation laid down by such incredible players as style scott and charlie eskimo fox, as well as three vital soul-in-the-echo-chamber interjections from the late, great bim sherman. essential early-80s dub damage.

last year�s on the corner underground smash release, the 12� ep santuri�s embaire umeme, introduced uganda�s mugwisa international xylophone group (m.i.x.g) to the world. the recordings center on the embaire, a giant xylophone native to ugandan folk music, which is dug into a pit for a natural, earthy bass resonance as gargantuous as the instrument itself. the instrument performs a key role in village life, with ceremonial playing sessions lasting for hours on end. these recordings may be esoteric in nature but they add important context to the santuri�s embaire umeme 12� and are a vital documentation of the iganga village�s culture, as well as that of uganda. jones has artfully chopped the epic session into a series of short evocative chapters to create a pioneering masterpiece. remix duties are led by griot house innovators, the diabolcal liberties, who have raved-up some sun ra frequencies for the cosmic junglist crew. last but never least, victoria topping has created beautiful artwork using the session photography taken by jones during the recordings

home recorded above a lawyers office and next door to a brothel, the retrospective is lead by the earth shattering digi stepper rock steady. originally intended for an abandoned dub album, rock steady and fantasy dub were saved from the cutting room floor by australian cd-only compilations on creative vibes and vital collective clan analogue, while green river was never released. now demanding wider appreciation, the dubs finally find union with green man�s new york hip hop/dancehall style, lifted from his second solo album the blue hour vol. 3: deep blue. humbly excelling in all electronic forms, rantzen helped guide techno-rave duo itch-e & scratch-e through the 90s with paul mac. winning the inaugural best dance release category at the 1995 aria awards, mac thanked all of sydneys ecstasy dealers, without whom this award would not be possible, while rantzen stayed at home. the two would also operate incognito as boo boo & mace and screensaver, often collaborating on looney dubs with sheriff lindo - the master of seismic shocks down under. rantzens earliest work stretches back to pelican daughters, an ensemble who proliferated industrial-leaning ambient and tape loop experiments

litüus returns to avian.
sparse and reflective, the chicago native�s work occupies a curious space on the periphery of the techno genre. by stripping back the music to all but its most vital elements - most notably the sequence, but at the same time maintaining a sense of urgency in its articulation, litüus crafts exquisite, ghostly shadows of busier, more fleshed out material. neither intro nor outro, but rather suspended in some middling point of formation - what remains is a remarkably pure examination of minimalist, experimental synthesis.

naoki e-jima s disc shop zero record store in tokyo holds a special place in our hearts. since before idle hands was even established, when rooted records was king, the cosy, liberally stocked shop has served as a sympathetic outpost for bristol s rich culture of soundsystem music. over the years, naoki has championed all the best music to come from our fair city, from smith & mighty through to pinch and pev and on to the output from our own humble label. it s been a vital connection to help our music reach the right heads on the other side of the world, in turn providing a platform for our most treasured artists to gig and further the cause of the music we love. as a thank you for all the support naoki has shown bristol music over the years, idle hands has put together a special tribute 10inch of tracks that chime with his particular musical tastes, shining a light on some complementary gems that might have otherwise never seen the light of day. its also a chance to fill in the missing idle013 catalogue number � fortunately, the number 13 does not represent bad luck in japanese culture. on the a-side, the mighty (pun intended) rob smith takes to a track from outboxx s debut album, originally intended for a remix 12inch that never came to be. in his learned hands, lost soul becomes a shimmering stepper marked out by beautiful cascading arpeggios and of course plenty of fulsome bass, with arresting fragments of vocal drifting in and out of the mix for good measure. rob s status as a true legend of bristol music needs no explanation, but his presence here is furthermore because naoki is such a fan of his music. on the b-side, atki2 makes a welcome return to the label after bringing a classic ray of sunshine to idle hands on the second single we ever put out. as well as being a big release for us, it was apparently huge at disc shop zero, so it feels right to bring the effervescent hes royal to this 10inch release. with a sunny disposition at heart, these two tracks make sense sharing a 10inch, but it s even more fitting that they sit side by side as we doff our caps to a true hero of the global underground. thanks, naoki.

parallels is the fourth full album released under jason chung�s distinctive moniker, nosaj thing. masterfully dimensional, parallels represents the acclaimed los angeles-based electronic producer/composer/performer�s most diverse, vital work yet. as such, chung sees parallels represents a kind of redemptive rebirth. the album�s compellingly elusive, uncategorizable sonics developed out of what he terms a personal & musical �identity crisis.� according to chung, working with a group of collaborators on parallels that combined both longtime friends and new creative partners added �new energy which pushed me not to limit myself. everything felt fresh and alive.� chung is known specifically for his innovative, unexpected musical pairings: kid cudi hit up on nosaj thing via his myspace page in 2006, resulting in chung producing cudi�s autobiographical classic �the man on the moon.� kendrick lamar flowed over nosaj�s ethereal boom bap to create the youtube gem �cloud 10�, chance the rapper, meanwhile, freaked a nosaj beat for his 2013 breakout masterpiece �paranoia� and appeared on nosaj thing�s previous lp, 2015�s fated. chung and blonde redhead vocalist kazu makino are also longtime creative partners on each other�s work, her voice appears on parallels as an otherworldly spirit animating the icily �80s-synthetic �how we do.�

transmitting crucial beats from burlington, the vermont-based producers es-k and loupo have crafted a smooth, introspective long-player for the cold busted label titled symbiosis. holland-born es-k (essential knowledge) is known for his monthly spontaneous grooves series (where a collection of tracks are created in one sitting) and his vital 2016 album passages. fellow vt rhythm- wrangler loupo is also on the rise, with a recent album on the melody soul label named good company. this new collaborative release, symbiosis, is a brilliant meeting-of-the-minds, blending the styles of these two talents over the course of ten tracks. the result is deep and meaningful as well as groovy and headz approved, showcasing the duos penchant for envelope pushing in terms of atmosphere, melody, and rhythm.

apollo proudly presents a full release of the stunning debut album released by sw. sw s lush sound design and hypnotic arrangements nestles snugly alongside the classic 90�s apollo releases of biosphere and robert leiner in all their balmy glory. originally issued on vinyl only via sw�s own sued imprint, this apollo re-release represents something of a coup in that it�s the first of the label�s music to ever be presented digitally. as a label, sued has formed a reputation for releasing some of the most vital and sought after contemporary dance-floor vinyl, from both sw and svn, as well as collaborations and comradeship with other analogue obsessed auteurs such as dynamo dreesen (who teams up with svn as dresvn), dj sotofett, dj fett burger, pg sounds and club no-no, aka snorre magnar solberg.

hot on the heels of mays ambivert tools volume one lone aka matt cutler delivers the second instalment of breezy atmospheric house, stacked with floor ready trax, inspired by his red hot magic wire imprint. first up is the tropical percussion and telescoping arpeggios of a minds eye melody, displaying cutlers talent for a nagging melody it comes on like tangerine dream remixed by 808 state pulsating drums, hymnal chords and gooey sub bass. looking glass calls to mind a mood ii swing dub - truncated stabs and jacking rhythms overlaid with shimmering resampled piano chords that give way to a slashing fm riff that contrasts sweetly. in the b2 slot cutler unfurls a hushed, 6 minute balearic reprise of the a minds eye melody, heartstopping emulator ii chords and harp glissandi wash over a wistful flute figure pedal to sweetly memorable effect. ambivert tools finds cutler a true master, at the top of his game - taking all he�s learned over his many years of beat exploration and condensing it down into rugged house stacked full of nagging melody / harmony that feels fresh and vital to 21st dance floors.

andi and david first met in a forest beside a psychedelic castle in the wild west of scotland and soon bonded over a love of wrong speeders, balearic gems hidden in plain sight and the odder side of the dancefloor before djing together just moments after andi was unraveled from a burning tarpaulin. a firm friendship and fun partnership was born. hailing from mancunia but for sometime an export to the usa, andi, for many years was one of the great things about new york city. a charming, low-key individual, a great, great dj and a graceful presence in the land of the overhyped and ego driven. andi held down the musical supervision of rock star games and was responsible for a lot of great music getting out to the gaming masses. he was a vital member of body and soul for the best part of 15 years, delivering infamous warm up sets for danny krivit, joaquin joe claussell and françois k, pedigree vibes... david, a music lover since birth, a record collector for more than quarter of a century and a reputation for being the first on the floor at any party. db s transition from dancer to dj didn t take too long and his selections of rare disco, oddball gems and panglobal pandemonium have seen him play back rooms, basements, festivals and freakouts throughout the land, whether running his own parties in glasgow or playing further afield alongside the likes of young marco, jayda g and moodymann.

when talking about the current status of house and techno in brazil, the names davis and zopelar will inevitably pop up. the two fgureheads of sao paulo s vital electronic music scene are both responsible for the in their feelings label, as well as being known as residents of the odd collective, a very popular off- location event series. this summer, they will play several gigs in europe, including some highlights in germany like the melt! festival, panoramabar and robert johnson. it s defnitely the perfect timing now, to drop their debut ep on connaisseur and we are certain that this release will cause some major waves. three tunes for three different occasions. enjoy the diversity! try catching davis & zopelar at one of their europe gigs. more info can be found on their facebook profles.

strangelove music isdelighted to present its first project, two songs from lena d�Água, one of portugal�s great musical acts of the early 1980�s. combining a siren presence and soaringvocalsalong side songwriter luis fonseca and backing band atlântida, they released a series of records that wove through the avante-pop sensibilities of the time.collected here are two of their more leftfield moments, �jardim zoológico� is a beguiling mix of new wave, post punk and dub into a short sharp pop format, impossible to properly categorize, the dynamic composition sounding as fresh now as it did 35years ago. on the flipside, the calmer �tao� takes fonseca�s keyboards towards more eastern territory, conjuring up a dreamy synthesized new age vibe. lena�s beautiful fado hued notes hang poignantly across bothsongs. beautifully re-mastered by reissue specialist peter beckmann vital sales points: - debuted on tim sweeney�s beats in space radio show & tastemakers stamp the wax and dream chimney, test pressing distributed among the balearic mafia, moonboots/ phil mison, hunee etc -support from key tastemaker retailers including redlight records, growing bin, organic japan, piccadilly etc

seth troxler�s agenda setting play it say it label is back with more summer heat, this time from detroit based duo ataxia. hailing from detroit, this pair has recently played the famous movement festival in their home city for the fifth time, work with top labels like nervous records and culprit la and have already impressed with a fine ep on leftroom this year. their sound is designed to get the party started, and after already releasing on this label in 2016 they are now back with three more essential tracks. up first, the terrific �time original� is a fluid and wriggling tech cut with busy synth lines scurrying about over driving drums. it�s dark and freaky with poised chord stabs and the whole thing cannot fail to get floors moving. then comes �supertouch�, which is a superbly slick acid number. weird bleeps and clipped vocals add an unhinged edge to the urgent rubbery drums and the whole thing is a mind melting number that will take any set to the next level. last of all is the vital �villains�, seven inventive minutes of gurgling bass, alien sound design and wonky synth lines that all warp around each other and melt your mind as they do so. colourful and full of character thanks to a rapped vocal line, this one is a real party anthem in the making. across all three cuts here this talented duo really show off their wide range of studio skills in some style.

binaural arts - the soul, creativity, or love put into something. the label was founded in romania in 2014, by plusculaar, born in the city bucharest. for the last ten years plusculaar has been a vital part of the romanian underground scene, producing unique sounds, focusing on the healing frequency of music, transmitted through feelings. the label today is now joint owned by himself and kirsty sharpe, both sharing a pasion for vinyl recods, they took the label to the next step, vinyl only. the first release is a various artists compilation of talent from around the world that we saw fitted the sound of pure underground.

having established himself as a vital figure in the brussels music scene, biologic records co-founder dc salas presents his debut album the unspoken. the 10-track lp features collaborations with fellow belgian electropop duo joy wellboy and mirror minds. after a string of dancefloor oriented eps, he draws inspiration from his live act and diverts away from the club to explore the more melodic aspects of his sound.

3 underground warehouse belters!

sequel is about rebirth. its the culmination of everything i have loved, lost, learned and experienced in the last 10 years as a musician, he says. this cycle is the only constant factor in my music and my career, and by learning to accept it, ive come to terms with the music i make. this album is a reflection of who i am right now at this moment. it�s me, no compromise. embracing a fresh approach that combines the use of numerous pieces of analogue gear and recording his own samples in the field, the album represents the new sound of sql in its purest form. vital sales points: bloody great album with beautiful artwork. the one and only ro sakhardande of jukebox rocking the pr with many articles about the album confirmed.

3xlp album move d, jonah sharp, juju & jordash build the new supergroup the mulholland free clinic. their self-titled debut lp release is the recording of their second ever improvised, allhardware live set which emphasizes the ongoing paradigm shift in live electronic music.

sergio sp has created a diverse selection of tracks to offer up as the debut release on canadian imprint, slivers. since his relocation to the ever growing center of toronto, sergio has been focused on building a sound that connects his previous habits and passions with newly acquired skills and findings from his new home city. loosely named and curated through findings in and around his new studio space, this ep marks the beginning of a new chapter in his production career. vital sales points: this 12inch is packed with a mood for every situation, reaching from hard hitting dance floor tracks to late night vibe compliments and many zones in between. sergio is currently working on a split ep with one of edmontons finest up and comers fraser. the release is set for physical production on a heavy weight deep groove 12inch forthcoming on heart to heart records.

the black mask - snts debuts on horo in the wake of his experimental leaning losing sight lp. ep opener origin of light dazzles with its shimmering waves of corrosive ambience, while ancestral reflection and figures in the mist are more familiar, vital snts dance-floor rituals, built with the inherent snts intoxication. resurgence notches up the intensity to close the ep with a grinding heave.

following some new gems on the great waxtefacts imprint, strip steve delivers a beautifully crafted cosmic ep as the second release on berlin based label man band. with sounds ranging from ambient to raw, galactic workouts, this 5 tracker is a must have for listening just as much as dancing. �deep within the distant galaxy, a spaceship cruised under the glow of exotic stars. it�s metallic frame glimmered beneath the shimmering light as it surged forwards through time and space. it was embarking upon a spectacularly perilous odyssey, a journey into the abyss. its passengers sat eagerly watching their planet vanish out of sight through bubble windows. they made jokes amongst one another, cracking a smile as appropriate, but they were scared. - words by the ransom note, inspired by the track odyssey. vital sales points: played by alex from tokyo at rex club, paris and cocktail d amore, berlin. track odyssey premiered by the ransom note

new one on a colourful storm from soon-to-be-known artist tackle. insane breaks and bass programming over humorous sample placement. but theres nothing funny about its take-no-prisoners approach. one of the heaviest releases weve heard in a long time. fans of a colourful storm will recognise grondman from moopie�s mix on dommune late last year. vital sales points: fourth release on australian label a colourful storm first release since benzedrine, which was number 20 of resident advisors 2016 top tracks premiered on dommune in tokyo last october. richie hawtin�s favourite artist. (probably).

following lone aka matt cutlers stunning sixth album levitates hallucinogenic joyride through breakbeats, he returns to r&s with ambivert tools the first in a series of eps for the floor returning to hypnotic 4/4 excursions. inspired in no small part by the rich seam of house that he�s been excavating with his fine magicwire imprint, a refreshed cutler delivers an ep stacked with sure-fire bullets, crafted for his intoxicating dj sets. first up is crush mood - crunching drums, lush resampled chords and dulcet female vox combine into a heady, peak-time rush. chroma comes off like a lost 90s anthem, with its shimmering vibes, airy chords and bumpy rhythm track. b-side closer from a past life could well be the strongest track on the ep - hazy emulator ii chords, spiral arpeggios, gooey bass and woozy african percussion that finds lone digging deeper into some of his more esoteric house music influences. ambivert tools finds cutler a true master, at the top of his game - taking all hes learned over his many years of beat exploration and condensing it down into rugged house stacked full of nagging melody / harmony that elegantly pays tribute to bygone years whilst simultaneously feeling fresh and vital to 21st century dance floors.

it�s hard to imagine being at the cutting edge of electronic dance music for over three decades, and never resorting to cliché or tired gimmicks in order to create unique and forward thinking music, but matthew herbert is still channelling original and thought provoking ideas into his projects all these years later. via his accidental record label, he has always excelled at left of centre productions, and through a variety of genre aliases (including doctor rockit, wishmountain and the matthew herbert big band), his imagination has always run wild, resulting in an infectious catalogue of music over the years. �brand new love-, featuring the vocals of rising star, zilla, finds herbert creating a dense and dramatic bass heavy cut. a steppers beat, utilizing herbert�s trademark sampling techniques, it�s a killer cut with sweeping cinematic qualities that sounds head and shoulders ahead of the rest. special request, the jungle heavy arm of paul woolford�s many recording talents, is enlisted to put his breakbeat spin on the original, and turns in an absolutely lethal version, choppy breaks, spinbacks and booming subs come with intent, whilst a sumptuous string arrangement accompanies zilla�s vocal for a truly uplifting spirit. �the peacock-, with its loose beats and opaque stabs, rolls along with its industrial undertones and ravey motif, discordant at times but a truly hypnotizing but in the finest of side b1 traditions. bringing up the rear, �cheekbone� is frenetic and charging micro tribal rave (a new genre classification right there), a glorious medley of percussion, earworm synths and guillotined vocal samples, showing just why matthew herbert is as vital an artist now as he has ever been.

after turning heads with their first three releases, tape archive�s fourth release is its boldest yet: a thrilling five-track traversal across genre boundaries that finds the label occupying a sound all of its own and further identifying it as one of berlin�s most vital new imprints

a year after his extremely versatile debut ep for figure, viers comes out with another batch of tunes that again set him apart from his peers both in production value and creativeness. touching on the tropes of classic detroit techno, saxton presents a beautifully delicate opening track, rife with life from within the machines while still steadily thumping ahead. it�s the mix of this vital momentum together with a certain restraint, allowing each element to breath. so much that even the slightest adjuments cause maximum effectmetro, as felt on suitably titled stomper nothing changed where everything hits in exactly the right place. same goes for the incessant dialogue of tones on zehn, which sigha expands into a pensive piece, layering soothing washes of synths. not only an exceptional ep in its own right, figure 85 further cements viers as a skilled craftsman with seemingly endless imagination.

a tribute to andreas gehm (1972 - 2016), german producer, king of acid and inspiration to many including the artists in this compilation. all proceeds will go towards funding andreas gehm s post-mortem affairs, managed by his best friend, joe kurta. long live the king. vital sales points: tribute album to acid king, andreas gehm, who took his own life in 2016. andreas released one of his last few eps with midnight shift. all artists in this compilation have been influenced by and are deeply saddened by his passing. all proceeds will go towards funding andreas gehms post-mortem affairs, managed by his best friend joe kurta

dele sosimis album you no fit touch am was released in 2015 to much universal acclaim. a perfect document of the lessons the keyboard master and vocalist learned in fela kuti s ranks during the 70s and 80s, but brought firmly up-to-date and with contemporary social comment as vital to the afrobeat genre as any rhythm or instrument. in 2016, to take that forward thinking even further, wah wah 45s commissioned four huge remixes from a quartet of the uk s most interesting new production names. that was just part one of the story though this year the label can reveal the final four remixes to be taken from this hugely popular and influential project.

too many possibilities can also mean a tyranny of the what if.... in this light, celebrating less becomes vital. and thats exactly what swedish producer and studio barnhus affiliate simon haydo does in redux. all of the sounds in the albums nine tracks come from just one synth: the korg ms20. as simon puts it, the idea was to maximize the use of less, basically. less gear, less effects, less input from other people , less everything.using only between 2 and 6 channels for every track, the result is a stripped but surprisingly rich sound, that delineates spatial techno vignettes coated with the unmistakable charac- ter of the ms20 filters. even more interestingly, this restraint is not only applied gear-wise, but also from an emotional point of view. instead of involving my own feelings, i let the voice of the ms20 take care of it, says simon. all this makes redux an expression of techno in its purest form. after all, its a kind of music that has always gravitated around simplicity, austerity and, of course, the believe that the machines have their own soul.

a sagittariun continues to release primarily on his own elastic dreams label, and the magick box ep features four tracks that come nearly 12 months on from the uncompromising techno of the contortion/concrete walls single and the second full length album odyssey, elasticity. taking in pacey techno cuts curviture and kobalt, cruising electro vibes on floating on salt water� and wigged out industrial funk on bleepanomix, once again the archer delivers a varied collection of new tracks on the ep. vital sales points: previous singles on secretsundaze, hypercolour and elastic dreams were very well received - a sagittariuns second album, elasticity, was released in april 2016 to glowing reviews and polled in the mojo magazine top 5 electronic albums of the year

dj bone is differ-ent. but then again, he always has been. a pioneer dj and producer hailing from detroit, whose technical skills are perhaps only equalled by the upper echelons of the city s most advanced techno trailblazers, he s nonetheless forged a path only of his own. eschewing commercial expectations, scene pressures and anything other than his own exquisite taste, bone has earned a vital, dedicated audience while remaining comfortably and individually underground.

klyne first caught everybodys attention with their critically acclaimed debut paralyzed ep for aesop, as well as their maiden remix, a rework of disclosures omen feat. sam smith. water flow is their follow up to the acclaimed dont stop, their because music debut released earlier this year, its stunning video was directed by acclaimed choreographer and film maker holly blakey (florence and the machine, jungle, coldplay, young fathers) and is nominated for a uk music video award. the duo supported years & years and label mate christine and the queens on tour this year, and performed their first uk headline show for the sold out dummy presents because music event at the ace hotel, london in the summer. more shows will be announced shortly. vital sales points: mellow electronic pop thats like a long-lost cousin of jai paul- the fader infectious and effortless groove-laden soulful masterstrokes - vice / noisey minimalist vibes, captivating vocals impeccable melodies - pigeons & planes gorgeous electro-pop - spin more fire from the young dutch duo� the boys are off to a strong start - i-d

with a constant slew of quality releases jorden hodgetts has not only become in demand internationally, but keeps holding a vital spot on the figure roster. his unyielding tracks as cleric proudly wear their manchester heritage on the sleeve, and this bold ep makes no exception. exploring various angles of the city�s musical lineage, cleric creates a sound scape that seems industrial and yet futuristic. as broken and straight rhythms repeatedly alternate over the course of this record, the mixes implicate both force and elegance, thanks to clever pacing and immaculate sound design. whether it be narrow, bleeping stompers, epic wide-screen breakdowns or intricately assembled percussion - across this fresh and dynamic ep cleric further sharpens his profile, not only revealing his roots but even more importantly his individual vision.

with their dj guy release creeping onto all the right radars, organic analogue continue their mission to represent the most vital movements within the world of fuzzy machine funk. this time they ve turned their attention to mnlth, also known as rephlex recording artist dave monolith (also responsible for the excellent photodementia series). laser 80 is packed full of soul stirring electro styles, from the haunting lilt of -q express- to the upbeat piano rave splashes on -ziberterai-. this is truly advanced stuff for anyone who loves a bit of braindance.

four titles in four rounds, turn to clear, turn to dark, with thuds, rich without being fat, punchy, liquid, deep and breathless, which could have been played 20 years ago in bristol or the tresor at 8 in the morning. upon first listen, the conductive vital pulsation of the ep evokes the heart of a japanese sword from its conception until its final battle. fable of contents: a1- who are you -the forge. bathed birth by vapours, paced by the blower and the hammer. a2- where are you -the apnoea. setbacks, dissonances, power revealed in the midst of chaos. b1- when are you -hunt. anxiety and chase down the drains. b2- which are you -the assault. tribal. drums, the sword is in the hand of an army in the starting blocks. meditation, calm, total attack. it is a painting on frequencies that gives us this new volume of the japanese craftsman yaporigami, scour your ears before to see it.

nice price deal !!! ryota o.p.p aka ryota arai delivers his debut album pale lux for meda fury. ryota is based in tokyo at the nexus of the japanese house / future disco scene, alongside cohorts such as cos/mes, inoue shirabe, and kza he blends eastern mysticism, jazz spirituality, and cosmic disco with classic 4:4 rhythms. a highly respected dj, promoter and producer the opaque discoid-stomp of his future life ep marked him out as an original oddity but a vital new voice in the now global electronic music community, but with pale lux hes enlarged the scope of his musical canvas to incorporate new fresh textures and atmospheres. as meda fury head honcho nick williams explains: future life was built from some quite dark, abstract demos, some of which ended up being a bit overproduced for his self made debut cd only album. the pale lux lp is a ryotas fully realised eclectic vision, with a mood that is more optimistic and playful - much more reflective of his personality.pale lux indeed has a real narrative flow - dance floor tracks such as the chunky balearic vibes of wood, and banging future techno of bird flying over the rainbow nestle alongside home listening ambience witness the backroom/chill-out vibes of origin, the cute hip hop bounce of soft touch or the delicate trinket box chimes of outro drops. oscillating between light and shade, slow and fast, the influence of japan s history and native instrumentation runs right through the record, his fascination with balearic, disco, deep-house, hip hop, ambient and blunted beats parcelled into a glorious, sweetly considered listening experience.

giammarco orsini kicked off heko records last year with the first volume of experiential learning, and now hes back for round two following a brief spot on elephant moon earlier in the year. solar system is vital to the planet dominates the a side in a swinging, punchy style of techno that calls to mind the likes of stephen brown. life goes on on the flip however comes on with a housier demeanour, keeping the detroit synth tones plush and the mood mellow. trees dance breaks away into a stripped back electro style that sits as a neat foil to the grooving 4/4 elsewhere on the ep.

from the land of deplorable synths comes daniel savio�s nigredo 12inch - a first on his house of wisdom home. we just like to say listen to axel boman. this is a brilliant ep by one of my music heroes. impossible to pick a favorite song when all three are deep and emotional, powerful and sensitive at the same time. this wont leave my bag for a long time. vital sales points: 1st 12inch on house of wisdom by co-founder daniel savio - releases on permanent vacation, romb, high feelings, service - support from john talabot, axel boman, kornél kovacs, mika snickars - 30000 interactive viewing sessions on nigredo vr-video

cosi002 further documents an emerging, ex-germanic theory of perth dance music, typified by tracks built on techno�s stern compositional logic, but poly-functional and cross-disciplinary, wearing the stripes given to them by this most nonpareil of electronic music ecosystems.
the ep has both dance floor heft and mood-focused flexes. �the hunt� is a solarised, laser-sharpened and hi-hat driven garage/big room hybrid. 8-minute �m is for audio� is a workhorse techno slow burner with all the red-eyed melancholy of greats like �acid eiffel� and �deep burnt�, acid burnt and stinging at the mid-range. conversely, �rube� abounds with percussive warmth and ear-dancing patterns, as does �freshness and convenience�, a bastard union of dusty breaks and a hard funk bassline. the ep ends with ambient cyber walkabout �freetown�, peripatetic, matte-toned and pulsing with vital signs.