dreamboy from gothenburg begifts world with completely enchanting ep four tracks ranging from look-ma-no-kick-drum club heaters to spirit-world ambience and some real swedish reggae. starting off with his studio barnhus debut, ishi vu is set to blow up 2017 with a string of releases on select world-renowned labels.

2017 re:issue ,keys of life continues with its series of releases paying tribute to the sound of acid house, which was spawned in the 1980s chicago when such as inventors as phuture and dj pierre discovered the squelching and mind-expanding sounds of roland s tb-303 bass synthesizer, the invention which eventually had serious repercussions in dance music culture all over the world. tin man a.k.a. johannes auvinen is of finnish descent, having lived all his life in los angeles

some things are heavy and some are not. why is it like this? style for instance seems to have no weight as long its timely and modern. gravity might change, but style endures. it s not how low you go, but where and when you show up. temporarily the peripheric mainstream may attract more likes then the contemporary self-contempt. gravity can be a bigger enemy then yourself. don t let gravity get you down! mix mups new 12 is fighting for a world where gravity is for everyone, regardless of rpm, bpm or bitrate. in this times mix mup and mikrodisko are standing as proud allies together. we shape magic carpets out of black gold! m12 vinyl slices will beat the terrestrial gravity! hover the spoon. over the moon.

o celebrate the 25th anniversary of ugkãs first album, get on down goes the extra mile, presenting it for the first time ever on vinyl. and 2-lp clear vinyl at that, giving the strutting, funky grooves the chance to really stretch out on your system. back in 1992, southern hip-hop was still proving to the world that it could sustain a fan base that was chiefly raised on rap from new york and la. the geto boys and 2 live crew had made strong cases by the earliest 90s, and pimp c and bun b were ready to make their own. most of the trunk-bumping bass comes from drum programs and basic sampling on these tunes in later years they would build their sound into something even fuller and deeper. self-produced with additional work from houston locals bernie bismark and shetoro henderson, the tracks here are minimal, slow and menacing, which matched their lyrical approach quite nicely. you can hear the beginnings of the groups true greatness in these early lyrical workouts ¹ several taken from the regional cassette-only ep the southern way that got them signed to jive with tales of street hustles, relationships and self-reliance in a world stacked against them. they may have been done early-on, but that doesnt mean they arent crucial to ugks legacy cases in point being the three singles: something good, a charismatic update to bill withers use me up, and pocket full of stones (the latter featured on the menace ii society soundtrack). beyond the singles, deeper cuts like iãm so bad, feels like iãm the one whos doin dope and cramping my style made it clear to the world that this crew had the attitude and charisma to make even bigger waves in the years to come.

originally released in 1996, now back ion audiophile 180 gram vinyl - newly remastered from original analog tapes. housed in a gatefold sleeve

d’marc cantu’s second release on drone is an introspective, emotive piece of electro. with it’s deep pads, ‘omega red’ provides the soundtrack to a trek through the snowy wastes, never letting up and calling through the night. dreaming of a world beyond our own on a journey without end, waking to find fragments of that world still holding on.

you re alone and you close your eyes. don’t imagine figures of light, make the darkness conscious. it becomes deeper, not eyelids anymore, and then something is around you, but you can’t open your eyes, you’re deep inside them. merge into oneness, not bright above not dark below. something with has no echo. waves and motion, not space and time. if a tree falls in a forest where no one is listening, does it make a sound? there are no signs in the snow. why this dream of something cold? the world is blue at its edges, the colour of that which can never be possessed. blue flames, deep ice, twilight. how do you observe yourself without knowing that you’re looking? the other side of your face. why don’t you let the gap be a gap? i was afraid there was too much space. when you stop focusing the image appears. everything seen at once. turn yourself into a point to get behind the surface. a messenger between two worlds. the hidden meaning behind alchemy: to be born again. you’re not born into this world but out of it. travel by heat, words are too slow. sound knows how to get around edges, wiser than light.

iona fortune is a composer and producer from glasgow and presents the “tao of i” album as her debut release. inspired by eastern philosophy and slated to be the first in an 8 album series exploring all the symbols of the i ching, her music is influenced by oriental sounds and features a palette of instruments that includes the guzheng, gamelan and synthi aks. the overall effect is a singular and beguiling sound that loosely fits in with the fourth world concept imagined by jon hassell, and indeed iona fortune has also contributed a track to optimo music’s new fourth world compilation “miracle steps”. the initial vinyl edition will come on a white vinyl pressing with inside sleeve and original artwork by iona fortune.

Östra discos proudly present tumble down taken from the album ah coming too originally released in 1987. this one comes with three new versions to put fire on the dancefloors around the world!

coming off of ep releases on dynamic reflection and 100% pure, uun returns to his label ego death for it’s third release, and it’s first on vinyl. the title track references carl sagan’s classic work of skepticism demon haunted world. it features a percussive attack that builds into a swirling tornado of distorted synths and hihats. the scarlet martyr takes a different approach that is heavy on pads and atmospheric elements all over a bed of field recordings. the b side starts with nx1’s remix of the title track. this interpretation chops up the synth and percussive elements into a broken beat onslaught that builds into the track being deconstructed piece by piece. the final track dominions continues in the broken beat direction with a more straightforward dancefloor approach

alek stark is responsible for some of the finest boutique vinyl releases available. his 808 boxes, dmx drum machine replica and plexi-glass sleeves for fundamental records are legendary in the electro fraternity. starks attention to detail in everything he does is particularly apparent in his music - his tracks are all first class analogue electro. he pulls no punches on this e.p. with heavy 808 percussion alongside a myriad of modular noise and synth workouts. cold, robotic and reminiscent of early psyche / bfc with deep chorused pads creating an off-world dystopian theme that runs throughout this release

sparzanza is at it again. this time it’s their 4th album from 2009, in voodoo veritas that will be pressed on vinyl. just because they love vinyl and realized that some of you do too.

the patron saints of altered states known as john frum welcome in the golden age of musical enlightenment with a stirring in the noos. nearly 6 years in the making, john frum’s unorthodox debut maneuvers through 40 minutes of darkly psychedelic and meticulously crafted death metal, acting as a medium for malefic musings, the backdrop of a bad trip. john frum borrows its name from a relatively isolated group of natives in the south pacific islands, known as a cargo cult, whose encounter with the outside world led to an awakening of new beliefs and lifestyles. the mysterious john frum is the manifestation of four musical minds coalescing in a collective consciousness developed from time spent playing with the dillinger escape plan, the faceless, john zorn, cleric and many more elite projects. a stirring in the noos is a dismal distillation of oneric transmission and a totem to modern primitivism in heavy music.
the vinyl lp includes a download code.

seit mehr als 15 jahren wieder auf vinyl erhältlich: der soundtrack der dust brothers zum us-erfolgsthriller -fight club- von 1999 in der regie von david fincher mit brad pitt und edward norton in den hauptrollen. der soundtrack der dust brothers klingt wie ein instrumentales trip-hop-album und gilt als einer der besten filmsoundtracks der 1990er jahre. die europäische lp-version erscheint auf schwarzem 180g doppelvinyl in einer eingeschweißten deluxe-kartonage mit aufreißfaden und bedruckter innentasche.

this self titled creation from sets us in a mystical island of utopia. these eternal paradise grooves sends our imagination to levels of sophistication and next world fantasy. lucid drums, unknown atmospheric melody, jupiter dream pads, star light twinkles, exotic worldly strings, silky bass lines, vibratious reverb. the masterpiece we have all been waiting for.

rebus records’ proprietor, dj / producer haldo presents rebus crew ep # 1 gathering 4 tracks from some of rebus records’ shining italian producers and giving them new gain, a proper home on one fantastic deep/house music release. the project try to mix together tracks that interpretate the deep house world in multiple ways…

cin cin, the label from fort romeau and ali tillett is back with the labels 7th record and what a corker it is! gacha bakradze follows a pair of releases on r&s/apollo with two cuts of glorious deeptechnohouse perfect for modern dance floors the world over. on the flip knightlife blesses us with a couple of perfectly executed retrofutureravediscohouse weapons for those who long for the good old days.

!! 2018 repress !! flying high after their successful watergate 22 compilation, catz n dogz return to deliver eight exclusive tracks from their mix via two eps showcasing their expert ability to navigate a multitude of different styles. ep 1 commences with catz n dogz original fire burning when we are, a tune that sees them flying solo to create a stunning journey that lands somewhere sonically between carl craig and henrik schwarz where infectious drums reinforce an ensemble of dramatic harmonies tangling with euphoric melodies. afterglow follows suit with an attitude infused vocal from shaun j. wright laid over a trek into a world where old school vibes meet a new school plan of attack resulting in an absolute floor filler perfect for any time. rounding out the ep are remixes from two of the best: prosumer and sebo k. prosumer steps up first to rework fire burning when we ar’ and creates a massive tune with the signature prosumer touch, evident in the timelessness and maturity of the reimagining. sebo k in turn hands over a jackin remake of afterglow by staying true to the original by keeping everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.

loco dices desolat label welcomes uk artist waff for its next ep, a meaty four tracker by the name of hanzz sup. in recent times, waff has really established himself as one of the beacons of main room house and techno around the world. from standout sets at key ibiza clubs to gigs at fabric, london via big underground hits on labels like drumcode, cocoon and hot creations, he is a real man of the moment. the title track opens the ep in fine style with hulking great big kicks reverberating down low as wonky tones and scattered percussion add more heat. barreling along and taking no prisoners, it is a hugely physical drum track with spoken word mutterings piling on the pressure. making just as big an impression but in less direct ways, the shuffling and bubbling karimba is a skittish, busy affair with tribal drums and vocal chants all layered up into something that is sure to become anthemic in ibiza this summer. on the flip side hypnotised works on getting into your brain with tight, scurrying drum and percussive patterns that never let up. its a dense, busy arrangement that makes for a high octane ride. last of all inception takes on more of a house feel, with well swung, low slung drums bringing the groove as hammering hits and frosty synth lines keep busy up top. this is house and techno that makes a big impact from one of the most on point producers out there right now.

innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. this is the debut of fabrizio lapiana with a selection that will write history, fabrizio crafted his own way of expressing techno, precise, chirurgic, on point. this release shows to the world how music can be very strong, without exaggerations.

this ep brings forth two very particular sides of me that represent two contrasting emotions in my world of electronic music.

brand new 2017 recut finally available on vinyl for the first time. 2xlp+mp3 in full original coverart. the legendary movie soundstrack based out of kingston, jamaica in april 2008, telling the story of the original vocalists and musicians involved. the sixteenth release on the moll-selekta label shares its title with a wonderful film, a heartwarming homage to the golden age of rocksteady. it documents the recordings being made for this very album at the tuff gong studios, kingston, jamaica in april 2008, telling the story of the original vocalists and musicians involved. excerpts from an all star reunion concert staged in kingston and older archive material complete the picture. never before in the history of jamaica, which already occupies a unique place on the world map of song, its sound embraced by western popular music, has such an illustrious collection of singers and players been assembled. the album showcases 15 rocksteady classics in sparkling, deeply inspired new versions, recorded in the studio which also played host to album sessions of a certain bob marley. under the musical direction of ernest ranglin, a guitarist of considerable renown not only on the reggae circuit, but also on the jazz scene, mixed by legendary engineer errol brown in duke reids employ at the treasure isle studio in the sixties - and freshly arranged by lynn taitt

hellfire funk from the spirit world. the city weeps for it will never again know a man as righteous as eduardo unz.

echovolt s lost and found 10th release is finally out! a beautiful mosaic of six tracks produced by new and old friends hailing from six different parts of the world. . from the no-reason unreleased terekke s -sun salutation- remix, the new greek producer but old friend of us under the (for the time being) name -old man talkin -, the first hip hop jam ever released on the label by west coast s -tlim shug- to the mysterious one-off alias of sydney s -indreamz-. however, this compilation could never be more complete without our new loves that are australia s hugo gerani (aka john tanner) and shea from overseas both of them to be seen in future solo releases!

slinger francisco, better known as the mighty sparrow, has a career that spans over 40 years and counting. he has entertained audiences across the globe and earned his rightful place as king of the calypso world by defeating every other competitor/pretender to his throne. i ve got you under my skin is a song written by cole porter in 1936. this song was performed by so many american singers, such as frank sinatra, shirley bassey, ella fitzgerald, dinah washington, the ravens, frankie valli and the four seasons. recorded at trinidad hilton hotel, sparrows version became a classic for calypso music lovers all over the world.

personliga artiklar (personal items) is pure electrical energy from the bottom of rage to clean sanded adventurous sound hypnosis. slim vics music mixes sound worlds with clear impact in sound art and darkest ambient, likewise small flirts with underground-based techno and idm. the album is a selection of previously unreleased material mixed with music that only existed on single or remixed versions earlier, personal articles. one of sweden s most prominent artists in the spray painting, rolfcarlwerner, has created all the artwork for the album. the cover to the original painting was painted directly inspired by the album s sound world and was shown at the exhibition outside in 4.0 at the gallery erik axl sund in stockholm winter in 2016.

originally released in 1997 during the heyday of the alternative uk electro scene, finley quaye’s debut “maverick a strike” struck a chord with many. fusing dub, reggae, pop, triphop and indie, his amalgam of styles resonated throughout the music world like no other record at the time.
limited 20th anniversary edition of 1.000 numbered copies on flaming orange and yellow-swirled 180 gram vinyl.

original cultures returns with a special package made in bologna featuring local globetrotting duo c’mon tigre and printing house squadro alongside famed italian animator gianluigi toccafondo and producers dj khalab and populous. it’s a whole world of fun in one carefully crafted, limited 12” package.
the elephant rmx ep features a brand new c’mon tigre track and two remixes of tracks from the duo’s self-tited debut by dj khalab and populous.

ponds ungezügelte kreativität hat die band bereits in der vergangenheit die weiten des psychedelic-rocks ergründen lassen. mit dem neuen album -the weather- haben sie nun eine scharfe und fokussierte platte geschaffen, eine atemberaubende absichtserklärung, die über marathon artists (courtney barnett, jagwar ma) erscheinen wird. -the weather- bündelt einige der poppigsten momente des quartetts aus perth, welches mit der gewohnten neigung zum abstrakten und zur experimentierfreude auftritt. mit dem köstlichen duft der romantischen erwartung und der synthie-raffinesse nimmt sich der song des patentierten space-rocks der band an und suggeriert ein gefühl, als wäre er aus einer trevor horn blaupause entsprungen. wie der vorgänger wurde auch -the weather- von kevin parker (tame impala) in dessen studio in perth produziert. doch während -man, it feels like space again- einen rohen blick auf die garage-infizierte psyche ponds warf, ist -the weather- eine ehrgeizige, technicolore odyssee in der entwicklung der band.
die vinyl-lp erscheint inklusive downloadcode.

italian based trio agents of time launch today their brand new electronic-music record label obscura. the first release day one is showcasing the agents style and personal touch with 4 new original tracks. era is the first track of a new era for agents of time (as the title might suggest): strong analog sound, lead by the classic aot hypnotic sequencing. dungeon is a further step in a dark and obscure world: strong bassline, powerful drums and magnetic synths to mark the uniqueness of this track. rebellion is where the agents have pushed their own limits, for the most aggressive track of this release: a perfect combination between techno and psychedelic atmosphere lower world looks forward: jazzy and acid composition, the perfect closing for the ep.

a leading figure of the contemporary electronic world, jamie odell aka jimpster sets his sights firmly back on the album format with this beautifully crafted long-player silent stars. a self-confessed creature of the night, the freerange records and delusions of grandeur boss taps into his nocturnal and escapist impulses to deliver a superbly executed modern-day fusion album

following on from their exceptional jojoman release in 2015, the romanian trio premiesku strike gold again on ralph lawsons highly respected 20/20 vision imprint.&#8232,,,the 20/20 vision label has been pumping out quality music for over two decades, and is one of the uk s defining independent dance labels. the focus over the years has always been on quality and that approach is one that has paid off with this ep being no exception. &#8232,,,&#8232,,,the new floor shaking ep ‘in sfera’ is a tight package of dance floor groovers that will be sure to kick any night into 5th gear. every track has its own unique flavour that compliment each other flawlessly, with fuse boss enzo siragusa concluding the collection with a remix of the title track. a champion of all things deep, minimal, and stripped back, enzo has evolved his unique sound that is showcased in the final number.&#8232,,,&#8232,,,the trio pride themselves on pushing the boundaries of electronic live music performance, both technically and sonically and have already tasted success on influential labels such as apollonia, all inn records, vakant, pressure traxx and djebali to name a few. &#8232,,,&#8232,,,they take their custom made analogue hardware all over the globe, including world renowned festivals like lovelands, sunwaves and modernity as well as top clubs including amnesia ibiza, rex paris and stereo montreal. most recently the guys were back spinning at the legendary fabric london, you can check out their preparations and technical set up ahead of the show here.&#8232,,,&#8232,,,it was clear that after premiesku took number 21 in resident advisors top 40 live acts that 2016 really increased their impact in the underground scene and now they have firmly established themselves as one of the world’s most sought after groups, with the latest ep once again seeing them utilise their expertly crafted and infectiously percussive productions.

lee van dowski makes his debut on the mighty crosstown rebels with three delectably dark soundscapes in the tale of ordinary madness ep. the talented producer delivered a stunning ep for crosstown sub-label rebellion back in 2015 and this follow up exceeds all expectations. the title track is based on a text from charles bukowski’s my madness. opening with brooding intensity it evolves with haunting synths and subtle acid laced over a pitched down male vocal. on the flip the great escape and rapidplatz follow suit advancing with dark, hypnotic layers. french born, zurich based lee van dowski has toured the world many times over, as party of luciano’s vagabundos troupe and as an individual artist. his impressive discography covers labels including wagon repair, cocoon, suara, soma, rekids, bpitch control, ilian tape, and mobilee. this year shows no signs of slowing down with a release for nicole moudaber’s mood followed by this heavy-weight release for crosstown rebels.

bushcraft the knowledge of survival in the wilderness. a young man leaves the safe harbour of his home town, only to find himself lost and lacking the soul. he was always able to trust his ears, but are they really true to him. or is he merely not listening. distant echoes of bass and the melancholia that was always present seem far away. with bushcraft ep jor-el finds himself in touch with the elements. the elements of the hard hitting futuristic music that once took his heart and formed his life. rumbling bass lines controlled by lazer sharp hi-hats driving forward. eerie sounds coming in and drifting out again. always driving forward. the influence of his early years in drum & bass is there. still this is pure techno music from an artist discovering new things in the universe within himself. true rotary recordings is run by joel alter and ena cosovic out of copenhagen. stemming from a mutual appreciation of the combination of raw techno and seductive sounds, the label is a natural development of their musical and personal partnership. true rotary recordings represent their musical vision and the vibe that they love. keeping it raw and genuine.

brill reggae album

blay ambolley, and his sekondi highlife band (the creator of highlife/afro/ jazz dance music) the legendary gyedu blay ambolley from ghana, west africa and his sekondi band has 29 music albums to his credit. the most recent album “the african soul “was released in 2015 and still remains a hit for highlife/afro/jazz dance music fans around the world.

there arent many artists that can lay claim to having put out records on labels as divergent as rough trade and john talabot’s hivern discs. perhaps this is because few artists express such genuine diversity in their musical tastes and creative explorations as david kitt. since the turn of the decade as new jackson he has mined a seam of driving, ghostly house to run parallel with his solo strand of ambient folk electronica. his debut release in 2011 the night mail on pogo channeled early record collection heroes aphex twin and orbital through to drexciya and projekt pm but had one foot firmly in the 21st century beaming in like some futuristic cyberballad. on the flip side hussle free had that mix of house and boogie sensibilities with dark and dusty synths and vocoder that would become a signature. this was followed by acclaimed releases on hivern, permanent vacation, major problems, apartment and most recently cin cin. his debut album set for release on all city in may was recorded in kitt’s bedroom studio overlooking dublin bay, its nocturnal hues very much a product of the nightshift often working on headphones with the rest of his housemates fast asleep. it takes full advantage of the scope of the lp format, ebbing and flowing between deep house club ready gems and more restrained and meditative beatless moments for the morning after. the recording process yielded many eureka moments with kitt finally nailing sounds that had hitherto proved elusive. a key moment was getting a bank loan to buy an sp 1200 sampler

kht 008 is coming from no less than the man who is called * the prince of techno* by his peers. and that is for a reason: blake was part of the first wave of detroit techno artists and dis and contributed to the techno movement from the mid 80s. tracks like “when a dream becomes u” or “our love” are milestones of electronic music, his style, which he calls “poetry and rhythm” is distinctive. for killekill house trax he delivers the acid life ep which comes along with two strong, acid driven tracks, the a-side darker and more chicago-oriented with its rhythmical focus and the punchy kick, the b-side more detroit-ish with its uplifting chords. timeless!

!! back in stock !! the legendary prescription records defined the 1990s deep house sound. now captured in this monumental 6x12 inch lp anthology boxset! holds numerous classics that have been out of press for years + previously unreleased tracks, huge tip! prescription: word, sound and power presents the groundbreaking chicago based house labels anthology, holding milestone songs + four previously unreleased tracks.

amoon andrews is one of those cult producers from the mid 90s that could have easily remained under the radar were it not for passionate, tuned in labels like knoe tracking down their wares and finding out what didnt get released the first time around. the sir lord comixx material packs all the hallmarks of great 90s deep house, and so it goes on this next round of dat-sourced goodness.new world is a swirling gem that would sound right at home on guidance, while danceteria gets a twitchy spring in its step that should set the party alight.dance on the ceiling is equally feisty in its make-up, working some choice midi sax tones into the melee before physical oceans sets off into adventurous electro territory

one of the most recognizable names in the jump-up scene for the past decade, original sin has paved a legendary career through his various aliases (including being one half of g-dub alongside sub zero) with legendary tracks such as: mad world, dr. feels good, 8 figure bass, pimp don’t limp, beyond thunderdome, beast city, champagne cocktails and his 2009 album grow your wings.
now making his debut release on futurebound’s viper recordings, the renowned original sin is back and he’s returning more powerful than ever.

sixth att series vinyl,this time on vinyl only as it has been doing these last 2 years with the series vo. takaaki itoh presents -overdue notification- that will be remixed by david att,pfirter and ischion which completes an outstanding ep. takaaki show us his personal vision of mental techno what define him how one of the most popular producers in the world. david att appears remixing -plaster-,the exclusive digital track,and pfirter and ischion remixing -pointer- pfirter did a stomping & tool remix,a killer dancefloor.david att did an atmospherical remix with his hard drums that defines him.and ischion back´s to att with a mental break remix that complete the release. different remixes for different moments make a brilliant release.

quantize recordings is elated about this record store day version of without your love. last year, john morales and dj spen (spencer morales) presented an incredible composition that not only rose to the top of the charts, but got for heavy dance floor rotation around the world. randy roberts soulful and energetic song about finding his true love is exceptional and his vocal delivery is unparalleled!

from the age of 13, jullian gomes secretly gambled every cent of his school lunch money on buying deep-house records, no doubt with the unknown knowledge that someday, these records would change his life forever. only a few people know this but jullian used to sneak, yes! sneak into local clubs in and around pretoria / tshwane from a very early age. at this time nothing could stop this young man being in the moment to enjoy the music that has now, amazingly, become his full time career. maybe his parents will be ok with the knowledge of his secret nightlife now knowing how incredibly skilled and loved their son has become throughout the world of dance music.

this is cómeme bringing more hot rhythms to the dancefloors of 2017 and beyond – this time starring charlotte bendiks from tromso, norway with her smashing and generous ep: hidden tracks – the first comeme ep produced north of the polar circle! charlie is a spaced out chica doing dark humour techno hotness - scared and attracted by encounters with ghosts and ghouls, lost souls, insomnia and aurora borealis frenzy – these mystical experiences drive her to do her own take on physical dancefloor pleasure and pain, spinning records or playing live alongside jon-eirik boska, who also features on this 12inch. lets dive into a parallel world of gothic ukuleles, isolated villages and their myths, juvenile silliness and arctic deepness.

as fans since 2014, we’re very excited to be releasing the debut vinyl from danish multi-disciplinary artist øjerum. titled ‘when birds fly, the eyes of heaven can rest’, the lp features two extended tracks of aetherial, haunting and otherworldly beauty. the cover art is a hand-cut collage, part of an ever growing body of incredible work from this talented dane. the artwork expresses the audio perfectly. a floating, drifting haze of light, subtly shifting, organic. this is a world to lose yourself in. the lp is housed in a reverse board sleeve. pressed on clear vinyl, cut at the carvery. limited to 300 copies

* nan kolé, producer, dj and head of influential label on-the-rise, gqom oh!, returns to black acre for his debut proper with ‘bayefal’, after first collaborating with nervous horizon’s wallwork on his ‘facts / fyah’ 12” at the back end of 2016. * originally from rome, although now a resident of london, nan kolé has been a major player in the expansion of durban’s gqom sound after discovering it in early 2015. through his label, gqom oh!, he honed in on a network of south african producers operating out of durban, unlocking the keys to a world of music largely untapped by audiences outside of southern and western africa. * ‘bayefal’, he explains, was made while still living in rome and was inspired by a group he formed called pepesoup, which consisted of an italo-liberian singer, karima 2g, and senegalese percussionist and singer, moustapha mbengue. “for me, he (mbengue) was a mentor and taught me a lot spiritually but also mentally”, kolé explains, “and without his hard work i wouldn’t be here for sure. this track is dedicated to him, as he s a muslim bayefal.” a joyous, steadfast drum workout made in the carnival spirit, ‘bayefal’ also serves as an ode to his love for both west african rhythms and more specifically, the gqom sound. * on the flip, ‘malumz’ — backed up with two dark, brooding remixes by durban’s citizen boy and crew, formation boyz — is another track rooted in personal experience. “malumz is a tribute to my gqom oh! family”, kolé explains. “they call me malumz, which in zulu means ‘uncle’. the first time citizen boy called me ‘malumz’, it was overwhelming — i felt a change in my relationship with all the guys, because they started to treat me more as a family member, which meant a lot.” * the original mix, a stark, pulsing drum-track dotted with playful whistles and bleepy sampling again celebrates kolé’s fascination with the gqom sound, while first citizen boy and then formation boyz flip ‘malumz’ with harsher, grittier tones and crunching, industrial textures.

down by the lake is happy to present saile, a young musician who was born and raised in berlin. what instantly caught us was the timelessness of every single element within the sound of saile. though being at young age his hardware-only tracks are sweating of love for the golden era of us house music. map.ache (kann/ giegling) takes in the end to another hypnotic level, his version is a proper workout, to be heard on the trippy dancefloors across the world soon! drawings & typography by stefan marx.

the band scarletts fall is a duo formed in 2014 by ruth childs (british-american performance artist and singer based in geneva) and stephane vecchione (swiss performance artist and musician based in lausanne). they define themselves as dirty-girlie-kitchen-pop mixing catchy melodies and repetitive looping with fragile vocals and provocative texts. out of their playfully ironic and poetic universe you can ear shades of can, broadcast and young marble giants.