bong-ras new album monolith is a new step in pure hybrid electronics. seamlessly mixing all styles with ease. be it metal, drum and bass, hip hop and dubstep. a musical characteristic he has gained international praise for. monolith is divided up into two segments: alpha and omega. alpha are four hiphop-esque colossals featuring the american rapper sole, who has proven himself over the years with his crew and label anticon. omega is the dancefloor orientated part of the album where bong-ra continues with his trademark metalbreaks style which made him remix the likes of bolt thrower and even screamo legends therapy? since 1996 bong-ra has released 5 full length albums, and has released on labels such as djax. planet mu, ad noiseam, kid 606s tigerbeat 6, jason forrests cock rock disco to name a few. the biggest success came with the 2003 album bikini bandits, kill! kill! kill! managing a full rotation with the videoclip 666mph on mtv. bbcs radio 1 dj, john peel, was also a big fan, inviting bong-ra to do a famous john peel session in 2001, and was asked to be part of the peel tribute cd kats karavan containing peels 125 favourite session artists. this cd contained the likes of bob marley, boomtown rats, the jam, pj harvey and bong-ra amongst others. in the last decade bong-ra has played all the big festivals: glastonbury, lowlands, fusion, dour, eurosonic, etc and has toured europe, the us and japan. bong-ra is further known for being one of the pioneers of the breakcore genre. together with artists like venetian snares, shitmat and jason forrest they developed this unique and energetic crossbreed in the early 2000s. with monolith bong-ra continues to pave the way into heavy electronics, always re-inventing and evolving himself with every album. he recently won the dutch 3voor12 award (the largest dutch music platform) for best musician, for his bong-ra and the kilimanjaro darkjazz ensemble projects.

pretty ugly ist das debźtalbum von leon smart aka dva, in dem er die facetten elektronischer musik nachspźrt und dabei gekommt mit den stilen wie uk funk, dubstep, aquacrunk und beats jogliert.

please allow us the pleasure of introducing axel willner s loops of your heart. hailing from sweden, the man behind this record alone needs no introduction, as he is already well known in the electronic music scene for his project the field. loops of your heart reflects axel¼s experience in germany, where during his lengthy stays, his mantra-like arpeggiators contributed to the first manifestation of the sound of cologne tape, a group that formed while he was staying there. you can also hear this on the much sought after debut render, which came out on magazine last year. only a foreshadow for what was to about to come, willner has been living in berlin and letting his creativity go crazy. with an arsenal of special synthesizers and guitars he has put together and never ending nights . after touring worldwide with the field for the last 10 years, and never ending nights is like coming home again. you can hear german children speaking outside his studio in berlin (on the track neukšlln ) and it is not only the track titles which tell of things that have come to an end and or are about to happen. the old german musical tradition of letting yourself go (holger czukay, you, anima, cluster, you name it) is in the air, and willner breathes it. his highly personal approach to music and composition leads to nothing less then a matchless album that embodies beginning anew

the roaring sound of jungle has been tearing up the clubs and airwaves for years and with the recent rise of drum n bass storming back into the charts ministry of sound has decided to take you back to the roots of where it all began. jungle classics features over 40 huge tracks from the pioneers of the scene including godfathers shy fx, roni size, zinc, hype and adam f in addition to todays headline artists pendulum, chase & status, dj fresh amongst many others. take yourself back with anthems including m-beats incredible, uk apachi & shy fÕs original nutt...

ministry of sound present the ultimate guide to the biggest festival anthems rocking summer festivals, including examples single -ctwykm- and -louder- by dj fresh. mainstage acts such as dizzee rascal, pendulum, prodigy and calvin harris are present on the opening cd, with an eclectic mix of bass bombs from the likes of vato gonzalez, toddla t, james blake, sub focus and more on cd two. the third disc is an epic collection of big room bangers including alex gaudino & kelly rowland s smash hit -what a feeling-, david guetta, deadmau5, afrojack, laidback luke and other a list djs.

ibiza rocks 2011 liefert uns auf zwei cds die indie und dance hits des jahres inklusive songs von adele, jamie t, simian mobile disco, darwin deez und und und! zusammengestellt und gemixt von den ibiza rocks resident djs nicola bear und doorly gibt es 35 tracks und remixversionen von miles kane, example, toddla t & shola ama, beardyman, africa hitech u.v.a.!

blanco y negro has grown and consolidated itself into one of spains most important independent record companies.

mad decent is proud to announce our very own -mad decent volume 1- compilation, featuring 18 tracks hand selected by our leader diplo from his favorite overlooked remixes of past releases plus a variety of new music from our next crop of artists. the compilation presents a selection of mad decent artist who ve helped shape the labels unique personality since inception. featuring huge new remixes of classics such as bosco delreys -wild one- (reset! remix) and malucas -el tigeraso- (sticky k remix) to unreleased gems like boy 8-bit -house on the hill- and dillon francis -beautician 2.0-, to in your face bangers like ruskos -everyday- (netsky remix). mad decent vol. 1 is as much a showcase of the labels biggest names and tracks as it is an illustration of its incessant efforts to bring new genres and cultures to light. the label has come a long way from the underground philly scene where it all started, collecting a diversified group of artists along the way. from blaqstarr, to rusko, to savage skulls and po po, the sound and influences come from all over the world, and somehow work together to form a unified front of weirdos that make music outside the lines.

das mźnchner elektronik-, clubmusik- und pop-label permanent vacation kann erneut auf ein produktives und erfolgreiches jahr zurźckblicken - mit zahlreichen club-hits zwischen electro-disco, house und artverwandtem. die beiden macher des labels, benjamin fršhlich und tom bioly, haben ein glźckliches hŠndchen beim signing von acts und tracks, das stellt die aktuelle werkschau selected label works 3 eindrucksvoll unter beweis. mit tracks von black van, parallel dance orchestra, tevo howard, todd terje, wolfram oder azari & iii und remixen von tensnake, axel boman oder legowelt.

excellent mix cd! 20 years tresor !! mike huckaby with a stunning mix work.

2011 sophomore release from the east london quintet formerly known as dark captain light captain. the band released their debut full-length miracle kicker in 2008 to critical praise across the board. the album spawned a surprise hit stateside with -jealous enemies- and catapulted dark captain all around europe and the uk, where they gleefully shared stages with the likes of sophia, 65daysofstatic, tunng and laetita sadier (stereolab). late last year, the band disembarked the relentless carousel of budget flights, punctual soundchecks and questionable service station snack food to record their follow-up. dead legs & alibis is the shimmering, restless result of these endeavors.

2011 release, the follow up to 2010s successful first volume of bangs & works. the carefully curated compilation showcases chicago footwork, one of the most forward-looking, innovative new styles of electronic music on the planet. footwork is beginning to spread outside of chicago, influencing productions around the world. bangs & works vol. 2 brings the focus back onto chicagos own producers, showing where the real innovation still lies. while its predecessor sticks mainly to the more hallucinatory and left-field elements, this one has a wider remit, ranging from mad techno-style tracks to those that sound like musique concrete gone footwork.

andreas reihse is well known since 1994 in his role as musician with kreidler. sometimes he releases club music, for example using his alias april or with detlef weinrich (kreidler, tolouse lowtrax) as binford on labels like italic, onitor or smoothrooms. he also composed soundtracks for artist movies and installations (rosemarie trockel, maximilian zentz zlomowitz, thea djordjadze, andreas gursky, frances scholz/mark von schlegell, among others). romantic comedy is music for dark clubs, for places without much light and oxygen Ð its driving, percussive dance music. a comedy in six acts: from l.a. to dźsseldorf and back. music and lyrics? - pop goes my heart! - of course its a romantic comedy, a bittersweet romance full of memories and a bit of sorrow. >der lange weg nach dźsseldorf< the title reminds of mittagspauses der lange weg nach derendorf, derendorf, the district of dźsseldorf where andreas reihse and stefan betke / pole in the late 80ies shared a rehearsal room. langeweg also was the adress of the studio of klaus dinger in zeeland. the titles of the other pieces refer to dubious characters that show that the trip on the west coast makes stops in manchester, milano, brussels and london without forgetting charlottenburg and williamsburg. places that hold up against oblivion and reinvent themselves. your club needs you. the cover was designed by artist thea djordjadze

ugly duckling is back with their fifth full length album moving at breakneck speed. after more than a decade in the music business, young einstein, andy cooper and dizzy dustin are well accustomed to the recording process and for their latest lp the boys dug deep into their bag of tricks to create what they feel is their most dynamic and complete release to date. moving at breakneck speed is an exciting and musically exotic, adventure story that has our desperate heroes circling the globe to outrun an evil gang of super criminals determined to put an end to ud once and for all. the record is made up of 14 power packed tracks that showcase ugly duckling s classic production sound and the flavorful, humorously soulful vocal styles of dizzy and andy.

biophilia is an interdisciplinary exploration of the universe and its physical forces - particularly those where music, nature, and technology meet - inspired by these relationships between musical structures and natural phenomena, from the atomic to the cosmic. the independent on sunday calls it -brilliantly original and ambitious.

biophilia is an interdisciplinary exploration of the universe and its physical forces - particularly those where music, nature, and technology meet - inspired by these relationships between musical structures and natural phenomena, from the atomic to the cosmic. the independent on sunday calls it -brilliantly original and ambitious.

tiga and zombie nation have joined forces to create the most potent dance record of the year. apocalyptic tension. panic-fueled fundowns. 2012 is approaching. the heat is now - partys over earth! having both rocked remarkably long and prolific careers, the members of zzt possess uncanny staying power in an industry where hype ends faster than it begins. zombie nations production credentials are impeccable, and his reputation as a live performer has made him a permanent fixture on europes main stages.

anders trentemoller has become one of the most respected names in cutting edge electronic music in the last few years. his rise to notoriety was sparked by his early, techy releases for poker flat and audiomatique and has since gone on to stellar highs with his own personal take on the genre, spanning, pop, rock, indie and classical. his debut album >the last resort< was released in 2006 to much international acclaim, and the producer also began to become an in-demand remixer in the house and techno world. as the decade wore on his sound continued to progress, opening up his studio to more live instrumentation, and a looser, rock-meets electronic vibe with his stunning >into the great wide yonder< lp. now this special double cd and double vinyl release celebrates some of the producer s favourite remixes he completed for other artists, and also some of his personal picks where other musicians have reworked his music.

mindtrick records proudly presents the new album by hollands favourite hardcore artist charly linch. after two previous releases on the label he is now ready to drop his full length. on filthy pleasures charly linch combines the fierce sound of uk-hardcore with the harder elements of drum n bass and gives it his truly unique spin. he doesnt shy away from using old-school rave samples and ridiculously filtered gabba-kicks, without it becoming comical or cliched. on this album he found the perfect balance between creating an album that is banging on the dance floor, yet intriguing enough to be listened to in the comfort of your own home. this releases offers a wide range of genres for those seeking out where harder music is going, ..it could do with some more cowbell!

paul rose, aka scuba, the mastermind behind the incredibly well curated hotflush label, has been enlisted to create his own dj-kicks mix. featuring a healthy helping of exclusives from his camp including new music from addison groove & boddika, the mix treads the line between the uk bass music scene in which scuba came up, and the techno sounds dominant in his current home of berlin, creating a new sound in the process.

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

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

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

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

with the white isle summer coming to an end hed kandis saxophonist and vocalist laura fowles a.k.a the lovely laura and producer extraordinaire tyrrell come together to bring you their debut artist album straight from the sunsets of ibiza, hed kandi: balearica unplugged. they go back to basics, bringing the hed kandi fans a taste of their balearic musical roots. they disconnected the decks, ditched the electronic beats and unplugged the sound system stripping things back creating a medley of deliciously unplugged covers of their favourite dance songs. tyrrell picked up the six string, laid down some sensual acoustic guitar riffs and atmospheric chords, whilst laura added a splash of soft, husky, phenomenal vocals and sexy sax melodies. this all combined with additional production by the legendary steve miller a.ka. afterlife, brings you a wide, laid back collection all reworked with hed kandis own balearic acoustic treatment... always keeping a sunny disposition in mind. this one cd includes their favourite renditions of songs made famous by the likes of groove armada, calvin harris, deadmau5 & kaskade, friendly fires, empire of the sun and martin solvieg to name but a few. this essential eclectic collage of music is destined for ibizas renowned sunset strip for years to come, where legendary balearic hang out hotspots such as cafŽ del mar, savannahs or blue marlin celebrate the setting of the most talked about sunset, and balearica unplugged offers the perfect musical companion.

2011 debut from penguin prison aka chris glover. this effort is quite simply the most smoothed-out, hook-heavy, unabashed lovers disco around. from the miraculous slices of shiny, infectious contemporary pop of multi-millionaire and -golden train-, to the single -fair warning-, shimmering with spectral synths and breathless, honey vocals, to the mellow and mysterious album closer -someone got everything-, penguin prisons debut effort rolls you through a sleek, melodic world where all you need to worry about is whether youve got your sunglasses on and the right moves to keep up.

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

wieder einmal taucht die englische plattenschmiede soul jazz records tief ab in die archive von studio one records, dem wohl beruehmtesten reggae-label. -studio one dub 2- vereint einige der schoensten dub-versionen von songs wie marcia griffiths -feel like jumping-, sound dimensions -real rock- und -declaration of rights- von den abyssinians. in den spaeten 1960er-jahren begann studio-one-labelbetreiber sir clement coxsone dodd die b-seiten seiner singles mit einer instrumentalversion fuer djs zu versehen, damit diese ueber die original-rhythms toasten konnten. versehen mit echo, hall und verstaerktem bass wurden diese dubs bald genauso beliebt wie ihre originale. bald darauf begann dodd mit seinem soundmixer sylvan morris eigene dub-alben mit innovativen dubs und mischtechniken zu veroeffentlichen. auf -studio one dub 2- finden sich jetzt stuecke dieser alben sowie einige klassische versionen der urspruenglichen singles.

on his 2011 album field songs, iowa troubadour william elliott whitmore documents a vanishing american landscape with all the heartfelt soul and quiet fury one could hope for. -heartland firebrand blows fuse, fights for truth- heralded spin magazine when describing whitmore, who utilizes a powerful singing voice beyond his years and a stark dramatic sound rooted in bluegrass, blues and folk protest music. these songs vividly evoke a life of struggle, humble resilience and family bond inspired by life on his familys farm along the mississippi river. whitmore has made a name for himself both within the punk movement, where his populism and sincerity resonate with alienated urban kids, and the roots community, where writers like andy downing in the chicago tribune have placed him within the -new pastoralism- of bon iver and the fleet foxes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

gil scott-heron is one of the most influential and important singer/songwriters to have come out of america in the second half of the last century. much can be said about why this gil s lyrics are so original and powerful but ,it is important not to overlook his utterly singular voice which is so distinctive and rough and tender. it is a voice of experience. a new record from gil scott-heron, forty years after his first solo album, is a cause for major celebration and something that the world needs now more than ever.

since his first two personal album releases on kilk records, serafim tsotsonis has been developing into a talented musician. with the release of his brand new album. beautiful people, the greek artist takes a step further, presenting even more facets of his diverse talent with a work of exceptional polyphonic delights.in the albums opening track red, green, blue, a unique postmodern lullaby, the serene atmosphere of a childs room, is pierced with the sounds of an urban environment. an imposing performance by zach soars together with a chorus comprised by mikael delta, kid moxie, kiki, antoneta kotsi, fay depasta and serafim himself. at the same time, dimitri vassilakis, one of the foremost recognized greek wind musicians, adds further brushstrokes of sensitivity with his saxophone. with relaxed beats, unequivocal references to 80s melancholic electronica and the vocals of kiki and kid moxie, my own sea invites the listener to dive into the waters of his own dream world. in a way, it constitutes a continuation of serafims past creations, as heard in his earlier works, a fact that is sure to satisfy the most loyal of the artists fans. the dubstep references in the intro of so good, are intertwined with the modern electronic sound of berlin and the saxophone of dimitri vassilakis comes in at the end, marking a shift that leads to an exploration of new sound structures, in which european metronomy meets neo-jazz. the most radio-friendly track of the album comes with far away, a mutated balearic rhythm interpreted unpredictably by the rock-tinged voice of norwegian sverre olav r¿dseth. catch the cloud is where the album really takes off. a deep tech anthem for clubbers around the world, one can imagine it featured on the soundtracks of films such as berlin calling, had it been released sooner

ministry of sound continue explore the softer side of music by releasing the latest edition in the chilled series. afterhours is an alternative take on previous albums combining a mixture of genres & introducing new artists to create a brand new laidback listening experience.its on a chillout dance tip, showcasing fresh new talent in the form of jamie xx (including his hugely hyped remix of adele) plus brand new exclusives from skream & yasmin (both radio 1 playlisted). cd2 features the best of the bands including radiohead, hurts, beach house & mgmt to name but a few.

leicht und luftig, filmisch und doch intim kommt das vierte arctic monkeys-album >suck it and see< daher. aufgenommen hat es die band in den sound city studios in los angeles mit ihrem langjŠhrigen produzenten und mitstreiter james ford. das album verbreitet ein sommerliches pop-feeling und den typischen feelgood-sound kalifornischer wintersonne und vitamin d au§erhalb der saison, was daran liegen mag, dass der grš§te teil der stźcke im januar an der westkźste der usa aufgenommen wurde. passend zu seiner pop-ausrichtung ist >suck it and see< sorgfŠltiger arrangiert als sein vorgŠnger >humbug< und steckt voller songs, die die irrungen und wirrungen von sex und liebe mit elementarer bildersprache, scharfsinnigen texten und gro§artigen pop-kultur-metaphern ausloten. das album steckt voller bezźge zu Šlteren rock n roll-klassikern (you look like youve been for breakfast at the heartbreak hotel), diversen softdrinks (dandelion & burdock, postmix-limonade) und freizeitbeschŠftigungen des 21. jahrhunderts (laserquest

mystery, magic and luck perfectly define this new opus. lucky number ? indeed, 13 can bring luck and happiness! 13 is believed to bring bad luck in the west and good luck in asia. this is why, 13 is written in chinese... out of superstition! the sounds are imbued with this mysterious and magic atmosphere. escape blends with mystery, adding a mystic and thrilling feel and giving intensity throughout the tracks george v records has gone back to basics with this new release that will please all buddha-bar lovers. mystic quest , the first cd, is an invitation to escape and travel with tracks from jojo effect, mystic diversion, ganga or florzinho. secret bliss , the second cd, is more mysterious and up-tempo. it takes us to an electronic music world where trendy bass sounds combine with traditional instruments offering a moving and eloquent symphony. we can mention dr kucho, volkan uca, mhd or parov stelar for instance. a compilation that will live up to the reputation of the buddha-bar music collection.

finally dessous key-artist vincenzo is back in the spotlight with his third full length album. some 9 years after âwelcome to zanarkandÕ, his last long-player, the berlin based producer has been making magic in the studio, crafting what is sure to be his greatest work yet.âwherever i lay my headÕ is a glorious journey through 14 tracks of rich, spiritual and stunningly crafted electronic sounds. vincenzoÕs cristal clear production and years of writing experience have culminated in this heroic new work.

best of summer tunes!