back in 2013, futureboogie released the fade ep by outboxx, a record that received critical acclaim from the who’s who of music press, helping to propel outboxx on the upward trajectory they’ve managed to maintain since those early releases. unsurprisingly, futureboogie are delighted to get the pair back for more.

outboxx return to brstl two years on from their first release on the label, tougher and more dance floor focused. although primarily known for deeper house sounds for labels such as futureboogie, they have never been afraid to experiment as exemplified on their debut lp for idle hands. here they turn their attention to deep techno, with two stripped back cuts that retain the warmth of their other productions. sequential circles drills down on a singular, angular riff whilst neatly deployed percusiion hits at just the right moments. moon loop whirls round on a deep spacey groove in keeping with its title. another strong release from the bristol focused brstl label.

over a handful of singles and an album on bristol labels like immerse, idle hands and brstl, it is now time for jacob martin and matt lambert aka outboxx to make their debut on local talk. sticking close to what they do best, this ep is filled with house music infused with electronic soul.

after the recent success of their expansive debut full length on idle hands and while they bask in the glory of their recently well received resident advisor podcast, jacob hodge and matt lambert push on with a new ep on bristols futureboogie. to date outboxx have fomented their own ebullient house style that is imbued with a keen sense of uplifting melody, plenty of analogue dust and some heavyweight bass, largely on bristol based labels, and this new ep sees them continue in that fine form.

it has been exciting to watch outboxx take shape over the past two years, chasing their vision for a more meaningful kind of deep house music via jakes intense attention to detail, matts way with the keys and naomis arresting voice. it has been a steady progression, reaching out to select labels but keeping things largely close to home on idle hands, immerse and brstl, while their tracks have developed in ever more confident strides.

sampler 12 inch from the forthcoming outboxx lp, due early 2013. two tracks of dance floor friendly house.

rounding off what has been a busy year for idle hands comes a 12 inch from west country residents outboxx. this duo, comprised of jacob martin (aka hodge) and matthew lambert have steadily built a reputation for themselves with releases on well rounded and immerse. moving away from the dominant trends in bass music the pair have been forging a sound more akin to early nineties deep house - yet retaining a palette of 2011 sounds. here they present two tracks - >aporia< is a lesson in wistful house, all pianos and a sneeky bass drop half way through the tune. >cromwell< is a straight ahead house roller, but with enough sub to keep the bass enthusiasts happy. support so far from ramadanman and sven weiseman.

outboxx hail from bristol and like much of the great citys output their music has plenty of laidback style and vibe. jacob hodge builds the sharp beats, adds bass depth and controls the technology, matt lambert adds the authentic keys - rhodes and synth licks with beautifully judged hints of jazz, soul and vintage funk.

the first immerse release of 2011 sees the label taking on a fresh approach while retaining the same atmospherics that have made it an essential fixture in the bristol music canon. outboxx are made up of jacob martin and matt lambert, and their sound is rooted in groovy, analogue house music. with an emphasis on jamming, theres a loose, live feel to these tracks that has an instant appeal but drags you deeper with each listen. >kate libby< kicks off on a swung beat and warm pads, before dropping down to p-funk bass and sparse synth flourishes. >berties groove< places jazzy rhodes playing at the front of the mix with a classic drum machine workout ticking away in the background. this is soulful, authentic house music with not a clinical midi pattern in earshot. despite coming from a different angle, the outboxx tracks slip neatly into the immerse legacy thus far, pointing the way for a year filled with more of the spacious, haunting club music the label has become renowned for.

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

the original of i am with you by tomson, eddie leader & chez damier was huge in 2014, played by the likes of laurent garnier, heidi, gerd, dominic cappello & raresh. hudd traxx bring in iron curtis, outboxx, ekkohaus & sakro for the remixes, nuff said!

originally released on rebirth in 2010 boing pop and kisses from new york with love by tevo howard gets a re-release due to big demand!

vol two

2013 is the year of milestones for the ever understated and under the radar boe recordings the label for those that know. this year the imprint turns a grand 5 years old and celebrates a 20th release in the form of boe xx, a limited 12inch coming on commemorative marbled vinyl only.

the first of two remix discs of ivanos excellent lp. up first are bristol residents outboxx who bring a slick electro vibe to 113. chilled and melodic with a classic sounding b-line, this is one of the best remixes to feature on the label to date. flip for two remixes by roger gerressen, a member of the eshu collective along with mr tetelepta. his 117 remix is a slick house affair again with the b-line very much in the fore. his take on 119 is a much deeper affair, dubbed in its outlook with the melancholic piano stabs of the original a main feature.