smashin 4 track techno v/a ep

following the release of dba s tenth anniversary digital compilations in 2020, the label presents a vinyl edition sporting the four most in demand tracks. kerrie opens proceedings with a barnstormer in her trademark dark machine funk style. bristol s lurka follows with clean which has been receiving plays from ben ufo and other leading djs. on the flip mr. g slips down a gear for a deep house workout which is guaranteed to get floors moving, and the room below completes the package with futurist batucada bomb bassika .

new ep by ikonika

incl claude young rmx

italo house at his best by ricky montanari and flavio vecchi.

techno / acid bomb that blows your mind away!

don’t be afraid presents the long awaited debut album from rroxymore.

fresh 4 track ep from karen gwyer

sonic electro styled 3 track ep by tyler dancer

neville watson is back on dont be afraid with his 2nd longplayer.

brassfoot makes his dba debut following a number of appearances at the dba presents parties. since breaking through with his apron ep on funkinevens world-leading label in 2015, brassfoot has turned heads with releases on uttu, paul du lac s bio rhythm, and his own seminal nca recordings. on the indentured servitude ep brassfoot showcases his own unique stepping house and techno flavour across six tracks, with time to meditate and reflect between the party-starting peak timers also included. blinds down, crouched over my desk, i switch on my machines. whatever the final result is, i wouldn t even bother unless i was having fun first. sometimes theres just one tiny portion of magic after a long recording session, but its always about the enjoyment first. its dark inside and it influences the mood of the music. it s also dark outside and it s obvious where that leaves its mark. (brassfoot, 2018)

following a standout appearance on dvs1’s mistress label with his “just pain” track, the man from minneapolis, doubt, returns to don’t be afraid for the first time since 2014’s “poor dog” ep. in the interim he has continued to record on disposable commodities under the doubt moniker, whilst also exploring experimental and ambient sound under the name time heals nothing.
for his most inclusive outing to date, doubt mines the outer limits of minimal house music whilst still maintaining the vibe of alienation and melancholy that characterises his work. the mood of “april” is euphoric and carefree but dig deeper and the fragile beauty also suggests an impending and ominous apocalypse. “what is happening” and “samusex” counterbalance the a-side’s brief suggestion of joy with a mood closer to doubt’s previous work. the title track meanwhile recalls the work of labels like ifach and trelik with a swinging, stripped down dub sound.

once more envisioned and engineered in his native city of detroit, the record finds mgun in more auspicious and domestic circumstances. now firmly a father and a homeowner, axiom allows gonzales to flex his party muscle, while further pushing the elastic boundaries of his notoriously unpredictable and brilliantly raw production style. across twelve tracks, listeners are offered an unpredictable trip into the restlessly experimental snatches of studio time gonzales was afforded away from his then day job at the legendary people s records store. it s there that gonzales absorbed endless releases and rediscoveries passing through the stock, trading the occasional tip with some of detroit s best known producers.

roxymore returns with the latest instalment in her thoughts of an introvert series. the first part, which hit stores in 2017, was born out of introspection and a yearning for solitude. tracks like prodrome, which refers to symptoms indicating the early onset of an illness, seemed to reflect a global weariness, a head-nodding, late night search for comfort and respite. on part 2 though, a new energy is evident in the tracks. this is not what you think shrugs and fizzes with resilience, it feels like a maniacal, primal release from frustration and anguish. run feet finds an even more optimistic, upbeat bounce, not far from the stomping house euphoria of her first outing for dba, organ smith, but with the newfound confidence of an artist who is pushing both technology and style to the outer limits. mythical technology meanwhile, is a dancefloor-ready paean to technos own futurist manifesto.

birminghams jayson wynters makes his second outing for dont be afraid in under a year with four earth-shaking rollers from his digbeth laboratory. across four tracks wynters neatly surveys the state of the underground house and techno union in the uk and beyond, taking in the stepping, broken rhythms of beta (version), the dancefloor annihilation of one hundred n forty, and the frantic, midwest rollage of into the void, before concluding on an optimistic note with the kansei method. also look out for wynters café artum project which launches in birmingham soon, bringing a much needed hub for vinyl to the city thanks to last year s successful fundraiser.

hamburg’s achim maerz arrives on dba with an expansive twelve track package. split across a 12” ep and a cassette, “experiments” is a collection of live, improvised house jams recorded in the summer of 2015 in the artist’s home studio. the title refers to the fast and rough recording of the material, with the aim of catching a mood before process and self-awareness take over. fans of maerz’ previous releases on the essential wake up! label amongst others will immediately recognise his trademark, ethereal house sound.

karen gwyer s indomitable rembo lp receives remixes from four producers at the cutting edge of house and techno, via app, ron morelli, e. myers and m/r. artwork by karen gwyer.

tr one return with 4 very different tracks recorded in one take at their studio in the irish southeast. a month has passed uses a dubbed out aesthetic merging influences from uk bass and detroit using shimmering melodic progression. the boutique of never ending dreams works towards a synth laden dreamlike peak. the printer duly merges playful chicago drums with an organic chord structure to create a head nodding funk. finishing the ep is road to the sea , a pensive sway of dubby sonics masked in a fog of reverb. tr one are an established name in the irish electronic music community and are known for their energetic and engaging performances as djs. they have received critical acclaim for the raw soulful productions from their studio in hometown carlow, ireland. they have gained respect for their ability to deftly move between the lines of genres with a strong sense of adventure and connection with detroit/chicago/dublin machine soul. from this they have released music on lunar disko, apartment and fine art recordings, with the strains of the us midwest never far from sonic influence. they have worked in a range of styles from old movie soundtrack disco with new jackson to punishing techno sharing wax space with the phantom planet outlaws.

the new ep by rroxymore signals another audacious step forward for one of the most daring artists in the electronic music diaspora. thoughts of an introvert part 1 is born out of introspection, out of the necessity to disconnect from the frenzy of crowds and to create a soundtrack to an inner landscape which exists beyond the reach of government and dogma. in the words of the artist, -it is a sonic diary of sorts, cataloguing the events of a world which has not yet been invented, in the form of three mesmerizing dance tracks free of nostalgia and the expectations of style.- the spatial afro futurist funk of prodrome finds rroxymore balancing darkness and optimism as only she can. the title track, thoughts of an introvert is instantly familiar and carries a soothing utopian spirit, so needed today. mycetozoa, the closing track is bouncing, drum driven and mad, a celebration of rroxymore s complex musical mind, offset by irresistibly banging toms and rolling rimshot patterns. it is a track which is at once melancholic, happy, vulnerable, and full of hope. everything seems possible on the dancefloor this music was written for

fresh from collaborating with anthony ‘shake’ shakir on their remix of funkadelic for the ‘reworked by detroiters’ lp, tyler dancer makes his full solo debut for don’t be afraid. the ‘resisting in the darkness’ ep sees the arrival of a major new talent from america’s midwest and the first outing for a unique new voice in techno.

following the release of the homemade waves ep in 2015, the room below returns to don t be afraid with his second ep for the label. the title healing scaphoids reflects on the period of time he spent constructing the tracks, during which he suffered two separate broken wrists whilst cycling around london. one right, one left. both time, the scaphoid bone! unfortunately, only one of the wrists healed properly and the ep retains a slightly broken feel, steering away from four-to-the-floor territory, and with london as a clear sonic influence. 2017 has been a productive year for henry keen aka the room below. as soundspecies, alongside brother olly, he released a collaborative album with afro-cuban percussion group ache meyi, performing live at the barbican in may to follow the previous year s appearance at the manana cuba festival in santiago de cuba.. henry also has a solo ep forthcoming on rising new york label maddjazz, due for release in mid september.

hamburgs achim maerz arrives on dba . the title refers to the fast and rough recording of the material, with the aim of catching a mood before process and self-awareness take over. fans of maerz previous releases on the essential wake up! label amongst others will immediately recognise his trademark, ethereal house sound.

fxhe affiliate jason fine makes his full dba debut with the moonscapes ep after remixing typesun for the dba dubs series

karen gwyer returns to cement her reputation as one of the most individual and daring voices in dance music with rembo , her first full lp for don t be afraid, following a debut on the label in late 2016 with the prophase anaphase metaphase telophase ep. reflecting the sheer energy of gwyer s improvised, undulating and unpredictable live shows, rembo captures gwyer in her element as a techno producer not afraid to smudge both the physical and emotional edges of what we may have come to expect in the club. live performance is where gwyer s ideas come into gradual but vivid fruition, with tracks often evolving over -five or six shows- before reaching the studio. here, gwyer endeavours to capture the same transcendent energy that has seen her enrapture audiences at international events such as mutek and unsound, and in support of contemporaries such as laurel halo, kassem mosse and factory floor. throughout rembo , dozens of shows and endless stolen studio hours have informed 38 minutes of uncompromising body music. rembo is a record that calls firmly to the night, an album to transport both artist and listener to dark, sweaty rooms, to shared escapism and unexpected moments of electronic transcendence. from the first note forward, on record and in the club, karen gwyer is an artist in total control, no matter where she ends up taking us

after debuting on mr. gs phoenix g imprint in 2016 with the unfamiliar territory ep, jayson wynters makes an appearance on dba for this, his second release, backed by a kowton remix. jayson wynters is a dj that is able to combine many genres in one set and make it work. wynters was first known as a garage mc in birmingham, before rising to prominence in the city s underground radio and club scene, where he showcased an impressive knowledge of rare groove and house music. as he got older his taste for music began to mature, his collection began to grow, and he soon began to dj. using music as an outlet for expression, whether in the form of djing or having fun on some drum machines and synths, is one of the most defining features to wynters. he continues to fuel his passion by keeping an eye on the future rather than the past and striving to remain different.

semtek returns to do t be afraid label for the first time in five years with four tracks strictly for the djs.

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.

the mysterious cornhusker unearths two obscure dj-only specials. the a side marries 70s soul (familiar to westwood listeners back in the day) with philly street-corner vocals that keener cinephiles may be able to place. the b side adds a beat to a soulful sunshine-imbued anthem that will ring a bell with fans of j-dilla productions, making it a must for outdoor gatherings. 7 inch large hole with hand stamp sleeve. this is the dj promo on this limited vinyl only release so grab it before its gone forever. upfront support: session victim razor n tape luke solomon nebraska

rroxymore’s music is an intriguing, one-off blend of contrasting textures - organic and synthetic, icy and warm - a fresh step in dance music. real name hermione frank, the french musician and producer has a long history making music in various ways, with various people, before settling in berlin and concentrating on the solo project that refines it all.
as rroxymore, she released her epic 10-minute debut “wheel of fortune” in the summer of 2012 - half of split a 12” with planningtorock on the latter’s own human level label. human level also provided the outlet for rroxymore’s first ep, precarious/precious, the following year. the four tracks combined nervous grooves, bewitching cosmic synths, twisted snippets of acoustic instruments and other intriguing sounds. live, rroxymore creates rhythms and sounds with energetic rawness merging with a stirring psychedelia, taking you into a new world.

dyad carry the flame for the dancefloor-centric sound of warehouses and big rooms worldwide. in their first outing for dba they offer two options for the discerning techno selector, one uplifting and rip-roaring, the other dark and brooding. dyad is a collaborative music project and label by ben gibson and fundamental interaction, launched in 2014. their first trilogy of eps showcased a muscular and melodic sound, with tracks like from another place, enclosed and zou receiving strong support from a host of highly regarded djs.

karen gwyer joins dba for an exercise in futurist dancefloor electronics after a recent outing on alien jams alongside beatrice dillon and last year s barnstorming nous release. the us-born londoner brings the sound of her stomping, analogue live performances closer to the psychedelic, thickly melodic tone of her studio compositions across three tracks, with prophase metaphase anaphase telophase an obvious choice for djs.

damon bell arrives on dba with a debut three-track ep that delves deep into the musical influences that shape his sound. best known for his output on fellow oaklander aybees deepblak recordings - where he holds the title chief connoisseur- bell has won ardent admirers both with his string of eps and with last year s debut lp blues for the libyan , in addition to releases on r&s sub-label meda fury. the trio of tracks that make up the ankh boogie ep find bell returning to the dynamic african rhythms of his most floor-friendly work, with live instrumentation layered over an electronic pulse. having had his start as a teenager obsessing over afro-cuban jazz and jazz fusion, his long-standing devotion to learning and adapting the music s polyrhythmic sensibilities in his own music, coupled with the voyages of sound deepblak is known for, result in a unique collage of sounds that at various moments can recall the likes of joe claussell, dj qu and ron trent. where the title track plays with sun-kissed melodies and percussive elements, the b1, aural afrek, goes into darker techno territory, while b2 cut time for change is an organ-led house workout.

dba present another vinyl-only various artists excursion, once again mixing new arrivals to the label like london’s karen gwyer, raven cru and italys dukwa, with established label favourite lily.

detroit native mgun aka manuel gonzales returns from a two year break from releasing to unveil his debut lp for don t be afraid. marking the uk-based labels first artist album (dbalp001), gentium follows a string of highly acclaimed releases on labels also including the trilogy tapes, wild oats, third ear, bakk, berceuse heroique and fit.

repress from valuable 12 inch - originally out on il discotto productions in 1983

traces of malmokon contributes four loud, forceful party nails to dba’s rave ready special editions series. hearing is believing.

in an endless ocean of electronic music, dj bone has always managed to stand out. 100% of the music he creates is the result of translating his experiences of growing up in detroit (both good and bad), into songs, songs that stand the test of time, excite the spirit and evoke emotion when played or heard. and now, bone has decided to unleash/unveil an alter ego…differ-ent. a sworn enemy of stagnation, differ-ent pushes past the boundaries of acceptance and into the realm of anticipation with differ-ent sounds, structures, visuals and moods. dj bone is detroit… dj bone is techno… dj bone is differ-ent.

neville watson makes his dba debut proper after appearing on special editions in 2013 with four rave-ready belters. coming fresh from releases for asok’s scenery label and craig richards’ the nothing special, watson continues to explore the house sound of the uk, replete with bleeps, acid yells and basslines.

ben cohen is a french dj based in paris. he started to play music at the end of the 90’s and produces undefined house/techno with esoteric references invoking the hazy contours of the ever mystical inner zones. he has released two eps on the french label badance and recently voyage to rahoz on bliq. his first appearance on dba was on the various artists excursion dab019.5.

re-release of ian pooleys classic wildpitch infected house bomb, dont you be afraid. originally released on force inc. us in 1995. comes with a new dj friendly edit by ian himself.

mr. beatnick returns to dba after a two year hiatus following his synthetes trilogy series, with a new direction and a 4 track ep which represents his most floor-focussed work to date. opening cut stutter is an immaculately crafted deep techno bomb which features the trademark sound familiar to fans of the london producers work, whilst title track formed in the stance and flip-side obsidian morning explore an eyes-down, moody, broken sound which will no doubt ring a bell for devotees of the seminal co-op nights

london-based artist the room below follows 2014’s dba debut (as part of the 015.5 v/a release) with a mixture of classic and experimental house sounds. born in bristol, raised in dorset and residing in the capital, henry keen aka the room below has been djing and collecting vinyl for over 20 years. as soundspecies alongside his brother he was championed by gilles peterson’s worldwide show and london institution cdr. the alias ‘the room below” was coined to coincide with henry’s analogue re-working of close friend paul white’s ‘rapping with’ lp. since then he has maintained this alias for his house and techno composition. they pay homage to the legendary chicago and detroit artists that inspired him back in the 80’s and 90’s.

following the release of dba015.5 in 2014 (which included mgun’s anthemic risque cut) dba present another vinyl-only various artists excursion, once again mixing up new arrivals to the label like detroit’s radio brovold, new yorker max mcferren and paris’ ben cohen, with established label favourites like halvtrak of tampere, finland.

herva, of delsin, kontra, mos and all city fame, offers another set of forward-thinking dancefloor bombs. across four tracks this young italian demonstrates his unique interpretation of the past and the future again and again. herva is the artist name of herve atsè corti. he was born in 1991, and has been surrounded by music from the beginning thanks to his family. he made a reputation for himself early on at high school as a talented drummer, but, intrigued by electronic music he decided to start making his own beats with a laptop. a few years later bosconi records released his early productions, both as herva both and as life’s track (a side project with dukwa). he is also part of tru west, a collective he founded with mass prod, rufus and raffaele amenta.

lily first appeared on spargel trax, contributing to two of the four releases in the series. since then the artist has appeared on idle hands with the excellent trumpets at dawn and on no corner with the critically acclaimed modern malaise tape.

dbas series of special edition dj tools reaches the fifth instalment courtesy of jack murphy, a dj and musician currently residing in san francisco. in 2013 he released his first two records on frozen border sublabel reference. he enjoys paintings, philosophy, and techno.