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To all our respected critics, reviewers, and wisenheimer: be prepared to listen to this album in tranquility. If you do not do so you will most likely rate this release one out of five stars. And this is something which it certainly does not deserve. This album needs time and patience to be fully understood. And if you do so you will be enlightened by the true beauty of this selection.

Not only for Don McCaslin's project Warmth the time has come for representation and appreciation. All the songs on this disc are well worth to be discovered. No matter if you skip to Jorge Darden's jazzy-soulful "Alone Again" or to Seeds of Fulfillment's stunning "Solemn Solitude". Each and every song is a masterpiece in its own right. Funky soul music fans will be pleased to get a chance to listen to Cookie Thomas and Bold Breed, two cuts which are hard to find in its original format. Rarity is one thing, quality is another. The songs to be found here are both rare and good. Better yet, until now, all of these tracks had not yet been compiled.

After Movements and Feeling Nice, two already well-established compilation series on Tramp, Praise Poems could be the start of a new successful one. It was solely the title track which lead us to release this album. Don't ask if there will be a Volume 2. We don't know yet. What we do know is that if we ever come across a similar tour de force as Don McCaslin's compostion, then there will certainly be one.

THE company focused on realeasing original obscure dance classic and everything's that sounds fine to their ears !What a special one we have here on Skylax Classic! Damien Zala, the man who put out the superb album 'Lonely Happiness' on Rowtag Records in late 2012, who gets heavy support from the great Theo Parrish, dishes up six special tracks for our next release. Before diving in, it is well worth noting that a selection of Damien's album tracks had remixes by the likes of house icons such as DJ Jus-Ed, Rick Wade and Boo Williams! If those names register even the slightest blip on your radar, which they should, then this record might be the treasure you've been searching for. Damien's sampling technique has a certain air of grandeur to it. 'Shake Vibration' makes this apparent right from the start with intricate layers of vocals, guitar licks and keys. 'All My Respect' and 'Come Around' both follow suit whilst 'Dizzie' picks up the B side with a bit more energy and frenzy compared to what has come before it. The record rounds out with two tracks taking things a bit deeper. 'Stay Where You Are' drives forward with filtered pad chords that accompany jazzy sax and vocal cuts while conversely, 'Z To The Jz' brings in a moodier vibe with its jazz samples and smoky drums.
Do not miss the chance to get such a gem of a record from Damien Zala!, C L A S S I C ! A must to have in every djs collection. Essential Item No Digital .

8th vinyl from Gilesku series delivers another talent on display. A very intelligent work from one of the most promising slovenian producers you should pay attention to in the future - Vid Vai.
A three track EP opens with an intelligent minimalistic track 'Somewhere out there' - this catchy bassline, wicked and smart game of beats will definitely open your mind and take you on a ride. 'Eleos' is uncompromising dancefloor bomb with strong acid line, accompanied with warm synth theme which will take you back in time. To conclude this amazing EP, here is 'Hidden Projections' track, another 'acidish' gem that proves how talented Vid Vai is.

There is something singularly unique and peculiar in the degree to which seemingly unsettling themes and extreme taboos have been explored, most notably in the medium of film, in the land of Nippon. Free from the constraints of reality, notions of grotesque brutality, torture, fetishism, and sadomasochism, to name a few, have oftentimes served as driving motifs in the examination of the true nature of violence latent in the most repressed reaches of the human mind. Concurrently, in the realm of electronic music, many Japanese producers have often been able to cultivate and harness a daring yet distinctly refined and inimitable form of organized sonic chaos, one almost instantly recognizable to the occidental ear. The music of Tomohiko Sagae, and in particular his latest contribution to Furanum's catalogue, The Spurt of Blood, is perhaps a quintessential example of the confluence of the former themes and latter medium.
At the outset of the record, the beholder is faced with the 'Vacant Eyes' of a staggering monstrosity, a subdued and subjugated automata in the midst of a bleak dystopia, nearly lifeless but for the grudgingly conceded advance of its death march. As a battery of gratuitous aural violence led by a dominant synth is rapidly unleashed in the subsequent composition, a growing malaise transforms into fractured bone and psyche alike, with no distinction made anymore between the tearing of metal, flesh, or the fabric of the mind. Culminating in 'Severe Pain', with limits of endurance breached and descent into madness the only seeming form of respite, relentlessly rolling drums and hauntingly sublime howls provide the context for the dawning realization of pain as a virtue in and of itself, when a demented pleasure and the exhilarative liberation that lies therein begins to emerge. In the final act, reinterpreted by Furanum stalwarts Uncto, roles are tellingly reversed as the vacant eyes of the victim become that of the oppressor. With cold-blooded precision, the original is reengineered into a force of merciless domination, its elements machined and recalibrated for pure power.Words: PSD

Pere Ubu's 18th album over a 40 year career has seen them break rules, confuse and continue to divide music critics globally. It was conceived in the midst of a gruelling tour schedule that accompanied the release of Lady from Shanghai.

Dutch artist, having dropped 2 Midnight Shift & Mord Records as Charlton, suits up w/ an ethereal jacking track, a bubbling, burbling acid track, some Dutch techno, & crowns it w/ dark, wide spaces in the mind.

Reminiscent of a time where we were releasing 4-tracks sampler every month (remember the Secret Gems From The Vault) It is naturally that we thought about a various artists sampler in order to introduce the new wild bunch,

Julian M, is french and is taking over right now, releasing here his first track on Briquerouge, But the man is no beginner, having released on Catwash, Homecoming, Denote, to name but a few and of course recently on our own RZ Muzik, His music is deep, acid, techy and ready to please any crowd, Ange Siddhar is working for Laboratory Records and works with legendary artists such as Ron Carroll, Paul Johnson or Chris Count and now teams up with Illan Nicciani on several House project, They have a strong vinyl lovers community following their releases and just joined the label with 'The Show'

Jepe was one half of John Waynes who already release on Brique Rouge and is now one of the most respected producer from Portugal, Actually living in Berlin, he has released on Get Physical, Blossom Kollektiv or MuleMuziq, Jepe's tracks have a very high level of quality, True House Music,

And last but not least, our good friend from Switzerland, mr Salvatore Freda, With the machine-driven futurism of Detroit in his step, and the bounce of Chicago in his shadow, Salvatore Freda is a pure vinyl DJ from Lausanne, Switzerland. With a production career that began in 1997, Freda has built up an impressive discography over the years. His music has touched some of techno and house's most respected labels including Trapez, Music Man Records, Liebe Detail, Freerange, Area Remote, Push Communications, Dessous, Nightvision, and Cadenza.

Early Support:

Dubfire / Nacho Marco / Matthias Vogt / Tyree Cooper / Ame / Clive Henry / Renato Cohen / llorca / Blacksoul & many more

In the beginning of the 80's reggae music became increasingly in tune with what was happening in Kingston's dancehalls....probably more so than at any time since the sound system operators had started to make their own shuffle and boogie in the late 50's..
The international audience and the critics were too busy looking for a new Bob Marley to appreciate what was happening downtown and failed to acknowledge that this was a return to the real,raw roots of the music...brash,confidient,young record producers who were totally in tune with the youth audience stepped forward and seized the moment...
Oswald'Ossie'Thomas began his apprenticeship in the music business at the age of fourteen and served his time as a record salesman for Bunny 'Striker 'Lee and Winston 'Niney the Observer' Holness before moving on to Miss Sonia Pottingers Tip Top Records...
'I ended up working in three record stores on Orange Street from 1976 to 1981...Yeah man,Me deh 'pon me bicycle till I buy my motorcycle..Them days records were coming out left right and centre..everyday'
Ossie Thomas...
It was during his time with Miss Pottinger that Ossie began to produce records for himself and in 1979 Ossie and Phillip Morgan began The Black Solidarity label based deep in the Kingston ghetto on Delamere Avenue.
And the man who had made his name in the business selling other people's records now became one of the most important and influential record producers of the era..

Maybe this is a mirage, an illusion Maybe we are on another planet, or maybe we are in the spaceship going to another planet Maybe we are all insane Possibilities, an infinite number of possibilities. 'We are in the darkness; nameless things with no memory-no knowledge of what went before, no understanding of what is now, no knowledge of what will be.' - this can easily describe what Absys Limited sublabel is offering us soon with Kontext studio album, 'Dispersal'. Kontext is an alias of Stanislav Sevostyanikhin from St. Petersburg, Russia - well acclaimed DJ and producer also known in drum&bass world as Dissident, who was responsible for the one side of our own first 12" vinyl with his track 'Scarecrow' and for numerous releases for such labels as Hospital Records, Subtle Audio, Counter Intelligence, Alphacut and many more.

'Dispersal', first LP since 2009's 'Dissociate' is Kontext at his finest. Ten track album that cannot be classified in genres, full of drifting through space orbits and dimensions, through newest technologies and our own human nature, through some glitched sonic fields and abyss of consciousness. Production level is high as always on Absys, tracks are kept in various tempos, with many layers and glitches to keep you moving places and enriched with quotes from film classics as 'Twighlight Zone' or 'Pi'.

Coming out with unique artwork by Krik, 'Dispersal' will be available on CD Digi Pack and 10" vinyl sampler.

Adonis' comically named "Endless Pokers" project is no joke, in fact, this is some serious Chicago ACID House!

Originally released in 1987 and featuring Adonis' trademark staccato drum machine rhythms, creeping acid lines and cowbells "The Poke" is a classic (Watch out for those vocal stabs too!).

All 3 mixes featured on this 12" bring something new to the table, twisting and turning that acid line into a frenzied buzz. This is pure old school business, Chicago style! Raw, simple box jams of the highest order! A definite essential, a record like this in the right hands can produce some devastating effects and still sounds incredibly fresh today.

Re-mastered, re-pressed and brought to you in conjunction with DJ International Records.

The structure and the essence of this release, focuses on a current argument in which more and more people in this society are found to be the early protagonists, often without even realizing it.
The artist wants to tell and convey through his work, a point of view towards this theme.
As can be deduced from the title of the EP, the project is to express and represent a war of colors, which fight the monotony of everyday, always flat and dark.
The first track, "Daily March", wants to criticize this monotony through a full-bodied sound that recalls a real daily march, which many people are facing every day. All accompanied by a setting of hypnotic sounds that capturing the attention of the listener, carrying in a vicious circle in which one perceives the focus of the concept that the artist wants to communicate.
The second track, "Appearance Of Freedom" is the soundtrack for those who are trapped in slavery everyday life, believing to be free or at least trying to able to escape from the monotony, but then realizing that it is only an appearance. The sound of this second soundtrack fully embraces with the first, almost as if it were a single story that is going to evolve, arguing the rebellion that the artist wants to express in this state of being of the person in the present life.
To accompany the two original works of Kalos, there are two remixes by great artists, the first made by the Irish duo Lakker, which are able to communicate their idea of daily march through their strong version, being able to also expose them a very clear message.
The second remix is made by the Begian artist Yves De Mey, for the track "Apperance Of Freedom" where he captures in full the message of the track and re-edited, bringing attention to the full-bodied bass carefully distorted, creating a trip hypnotic evolving.

Saxophonist Sean Khan is a multi-instrumentalist distinguished for his ability to fuse traditional jazz with contemporary styles. His involvement in the West London broken beat scene as band leader of the cult soul/ jazz outfit SK Radicals and as a collaborator with the likes of the Bugz in the Attic collective, have seen his unique breed of jazz put to full effect in London's clubs, at nights like the legendary bruk orientated 'CoOp'.

In anticipation of Sean Khan's second album on Far Out Recordings: 'Muriel', this four track 12' release features remixes from 4hero and Nicola Conte with father of British Neo-Soul, Omar on vocal duties. 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down' is uplifting and sophisticated dance-floor jazz. Dego and Marc Mac (4hero), two pioneers of broken beat, jungle and UK dance music as a whole, re-work the single from 'Muriel' into a delicately crafted downtempo number, which tames the original somewhat with club focused intentions, yet retains all of its fluidity and groove. Along with the eminence of rhythmic elements, Omar's instantly recognizable, thick and soulful vocals are sparsely and subtly layered to create beguiling, unconventional harmonies. Elevating the track to its peak, Sean Khan's exquisite alto sax solo demonstrates both his technical prowess and keen understanding of jazz's history, whilst working to carve out its future. The B side hosts Nicola Conte's remix of 'Things to Say'. Renowned for his input and influence in the lineage of acid jazz and fusion, as a producer, Dj and musician, Nicola Conte provides a deeper, darker take on Sean Khan's unique blend of jazz. A bouncy 4/4 house beat skips along beneath contemplative, whirring Rhodes, while the ghostly soulful vocals of Diana Martinez and samples of Sean Khan's expressive sax playing see the track taken to more introspective yet still clearly club focused territory. The final track is the intro to 'Sister Soul', previewing more material from Muriel, Sean Khan's forthcoming studio album on Far Out Recordings.

Zeitgeber and L.B Dub Corp split the second in Stroboscopic Artefacts' series of fifth anniversary records. Zeitgeber is the collaborative project of SA label boss Lucy and Dutch techno royalty Speedy J. Their joint alias birthed an exceptional long-player last year and has since been presented as a b2b act at festivals and clubs around the world. 'Totemism' is their first officially released output since that album, and is every bit as compelling. 'Totemism' opens with distant, reverberating bells and a thin film of hiss and crackle. But, one minute in, heavy and incessant drums cut through the ambience, hitting you straight in the chest. The surrounding atmosphere evolves and filters in-and-out of the mix until, halfway through, the track takes an unexpected turn with an elastic bassline and acid squelches. Then, the drums hit you again. This is an 11 minute masterclass in widescreen, narrative techno from two of the scene's most experienced and inventive producers. Luke Slater, a man of many aliases, slips into L.B Dub Corp mode for the B-side of this record. This particular moniker of Slater's generally trades in raw, culturally-inspired house music, though has also appeared on Stroboscopic's Stellate series with two deep and beatless dubs. For his contribution to SA's 5 Year anniversary, Slater re-visits a classic club cut of his own, delivering 'Take It Down Again (In Dub)'. 'Take It Down Again' is a brilliantly-realised exercise in tension, dub delay and mixing board creativity, all made to shine by a dose of oddball musicality and sampling. This version of 2010's 'Take It Down' is more restrained and tonally varied, equipped to instil a brooding and tribal darkness on the floor.

The iconic and seminal Amebix album remastered and with sensational brand new design
CD features bonus unreleased live CD
Album has been out of print for some time and has been a constant seller even 30 years after its recording oAmebix reformed briefly in 2009 and recorded the highly acclaimed comeback album sonic mass to global praise
New liner notes by The Baron oUnseen photos

Boston based production duo and room-mates John Barera & Will Martin continue their journey into sculptural, storytelling House music, with their debut album on Dolly - ' Graceless'. The pair's work has found a wider audience since the success of 'Reality', which found its way into the hands of Berlin's Steffi, and acted as a central gear and in her 2013 Panorama 05 Mix. John Barera has been a firm disciple of the House and Techno world for the past 10 years, and after launching Supply Records in 2011 has brought an elegant, resoundingly universal mixture of underground club tracks to the fore. A fresh and fruitful partnership with close friend Will Martin grew out of the pair's rapidly growing studio, and the latest results can be found here over the 8 cool, classy and refined contemporary House tracks.

With his new album "What's Fruit", Schlammpeitziger touches the dancefloor more than ever before in his 22-year long career. Yet his dancefloor is a playful one. The Cologne based composer's sounds electrify with their multi-layered melodic structures. He weaves countless details in perfection, to a high density of musical activity, always focusing on the slow, driving beats which hold everything together. Each of the eight tracks represents shades of the unique humour we love about Schlammpeitziger: The tricky question about what's those things we call fruit, or his mantric German lyrics on "Schneid ein Stück aus der Zeit" are charming messages which never fail to be heard in the guise of those lovely synth hooks. This new Schlammpeitziger disco has its source in a situation which does not quite promise relaxed creativity: In the past year Schlammpeitziger's studio in Cologne has been surrounded by construction works. Locked up in his private space between massive hums, squealing saws and pulsating jackhammers, he delivers this indeed relaxed album with eight tracks. It comes across with the freshness of a debut work. Contrary to his previous records which had been mostly made with analogue synths, this album has been produced with iPad synths at 90% of the time, before taking the mixes to Stefan Mohr's (ex- member of the band "Workshop") mixing console.

Absys Records is proud to present the labels 7th dnb vinyl outing ! For this release, we have stellar music by our long time Italian comrade, Arp XP backed with a collaborative effort courtesy of Belgian duo Glyph and Canadian veteran, Gremlinz. This release is diverse, showcasing very different aspects within the Drum & Bass spectrum while maintaining the quality and craftsmanship associated with Absys.

The A side Seems Like by Arp XP, is a classic, laid back, liquid track flavoured with a touch of Jazz. It is a nod to old school and reminds us of the lightheartedness of summer with its congenial and atmospheric tune progression!

The flip sees newcomers Glyph (who are creating quite a buzz in the scene) team up with acclaimed veteran, Gremlinz, resulting in a beast of a track! Much like the flip, Evolution is touched by an element of Jazz, kicking off with a vibe that will conjure up a sense of being in a dark lit Jazz Cafe. Following a memorable sample referencing the apple in the Garden of Eden, the tune does what the name suggests and evolves into a trippy stomper that will pummel any system, making this one of the highlights of this years Absys releases!

Out soon in all good stores with a digital bonus in the form of Mesmerize by Glyph!

*Restless Marshaits hailing from Geneva are based around the core of Jil and Stuff. They released a sizeable amount of new roots classics throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Recently becoming active again, they are best remembered for the sessions they recorded at Kingston, Jamaica in the mid/late 90s with legendary musicians such as Vin Gordon, Deadly Headly and Dizzy Moore. The original releases have been since long deleted, but some are now unearthed thanks to Partial Records.
* This uplifting blazing horns instrumental `King of Kings' is another bonafide classic which was originally released in 1999.
* This is an alternative cut to the one previously released, plus the dub cut `King of Version' has never been heard before until now.

The Viennese duo, otherwise known as Tosca, confound expectations on their new album, 'Outta Here'. The sonic collages and smooth downbeat jams with which they made their name are replaced with a soul/jazz/blues confection that's closer to a band like Brand New Heavies than anything else. 'It's called 'Outta Here' for a reason,' explains Rupert Huber. 'The title stands for change, a change to the concept we've had so far. It refers to a change in energy and dynamic. We've been know for an almost ambient sounds. The new songs are much more beatoriented and direct. Basically, it's just a lot more energetic.' it certainly is that. See tracks such as 'Crazy Love' for evidence. Built on a muscular bassline, it sees Rob Gallagher (ex-Galliano) doing his slinky, soulful thing, while keyboards and muted sound effects flare in the background. The rare groove revival starts here. 'Swimswimswim' reworks the same elements, with the addition of Cath Coffey (Stereo MCs) into a irresistible pulse of feel good vibes. Meanwhile, the title track, 'Outta Here', sounds like a lost gem from the early '90s acid jazz era. 'It was a natural evolution,' says Richard Dorfmeister. 'In the past, we were very focussed internally because we were in a studio on our own, working slowly making sonic collages. This time, because we were working more with singers the process was naturally quicker and the results more instant and upbeat. In that sense the title 'Outta Here' literally means that we got out of our studio.'
Do Tosca think the new sound will wrong foot their fans 'It's not completely different. It's still our style and mood, it's just more direct,' says Richard Dorfmeister. 'People always have a picture of you and it can take a long time to change that. You stand for something and that's how they see you. I think people see us in that laid-back and chilled kind of way. Over the last 20 years we've been described as lounge, chill out, downbeat. We always ignored it because we felt it was more about the music. We've always seen ourselves more in terms of being an alternative to commercial music. That's still what we're doing, just in a different, more direct kind of way.'

This double-header from Glen Goldsmith takes one of the best UK soul tracks of 2014 ('Don't Delay') and couples it with a brand new song 'London Skies'.

'London Skies' is mixed by Soul Talk, the team who reign supreme in the soul world right now with their work for Paul Johnson, and Lisa Stansfield among many more.

Glen Goldsmith comes to Expansion following a career that began in the late 1980s with RCA Records ('I Won't Cry' was a UK Top 40 hit, 'Dreaming' reached even higher in the UK Top 20)

'London Skies' was made for Glen's own Soul On Soul label and acquired by Expansion for both a single and a position on the forthcoming compilation 'Soul Togetherness 2014'.

Slo -mo house at it's best deep shape, including the rare, sought after Maurice Fulton remix for Alice Smith 'Love Endeavour'. Compiled by Rainer Trüby.

We live in hectic, turbulent times. It seems season- and reasonable to slow things bit down. In fact: slow house down to what we calling now: SLOUSE. Implying down to earth club music, with a tapping foot under 116 beats per minute.
House music and its many sliding genres have ruled the clubs and charts, well, a special focus on the slo-mo house is well-deserved.
Rainer Trueby become a guarantee for vanguard soulful dance music and club tunes with such special vibe, which he had formidable approved not only as a DJ but also with sucessful compilations like - Glücklich', - Maiden Voyage' on Compost, DJ Kicks (K7) or compilations for Nuphonic, King Street, Talkin' Loud and other labels.
Rainer Trueby, an artist who spreads love like in the good old days, selected some of the best tunes on the planet, some rare, sought after like the rare Maurice Fulton Remix for Alison Smith - Love Endeavor', in demand tunes like S3A - Deep Mood Act2' or Ron Deacon's - Untitled', amazing discoveries like the Moonstarr tune, or a Laid Back remix, few underrated tracks, well all tracks are worth the grab and get played again & again. It's a full palette of slo-mo house flavors and moods as Rainer Trueby takes us on a magical trip into his imagination of Slouse.

The result is a future classic compilation with melodic and groovy masterpieces, made for your home-, garden-, car- , club listening pleasure. It works for the happy hour as well as the after hour.

Hope you love it as much as we do !

Nemesis E.P. is the latest 12" release by Painbringer. Featuring 4 oldschool 909 hardcore techno tracks with pure energetic gabber riffs, acid and breakbeats. No pop style, this is straight-in-your-face underground music!

"True", one of Painbringers most populair track, has been reconstructed and remastered especially for this release. 'This is real hardcore!' as stated by the dominating vocal in this powerhouse track.
Taken from an earlier Mokum Records release is "The Invader", an uptempo junglist flavoured hardcore track put on this record as a special bonus. "Lost In Space" is an experimental fusion between psy-trance and hardcore, which takes you on a trip into the dark space and back again. Last but not least; Grimlock has remixed "True" as a modern artcore styled track, 180BPM galore!

Enjoy this hardcore release!

Alphabets Heaven delivers his fourth release Everything Stays The Same, following last year's critically acclaimed EP Siamese Burn. This is his first vinyl pressing on Black Market Records (celebrating 30 years) and King Deluxe and he's gone big. The music continues a refinement of his sound... which is in large part formula-less although there is something rich, spacious and minimal to it that ties his work together... his North American tour though last summer has seemingly made Jonny a bit bolder, a bit more extroverted with his compositions. Possibly because of the endless praise he receives after observers of his drum machine mastery pick their jaws up off the floor. Joining him on ''Pride and Joy'' is fellow British genius Deft and Angelika Arendt for Artwork.

Raw District is Belgian duo Vernon Bara and Massimo DaCosta, Under the Vernon&DaCosta moniker, they have released music on labels such as OM Records, AMA Rec, Robsoul, Aroma, OFF, Icon, Doubledown and many more of the world's finest underground house labels.

They have remixed artists such as Brett Johnson, Fred Everything, Style of Eye, Miguel Migs and JT Donaldson and have garnered a reputation as important international producers and DJs with respect paid by great DJs like Luciano, Ricardo Villalobos, Jamie Jones, Mark Farina and DJ Sneak.

Vernon Bara also makes music as Ultrasone alongside Igor Vicente, which is a more techno orientated project that can count releases on Hot Creation and Supplement Facts to its name.

Ladybird is well known for being the singer of Soldiers Of Twilight and vocalist on one of the most famous Llorca's song My Precious Thing among the tons of project she been working for, One of the best, if not the best, soulful singer in Paris,
And now they can add to their resume that there are the very first new release on the briquerouge reboot, Orchestrated by David Duriez himself, the label is back for a new series of releases and reworks from the back catalogue with brand new top names added to the roster.

On this release you can enjoy top remix works by the likes of Nacho Marco (Ovum / Loudeast / Saw) and the head honcho David Duriez (2020Vision / Ovum / Classic) both on the acid side but in a very different way, A very complete package for the deep house heads as well as proper house djs.
DJ SUPPORT:

Detroit Swindle
Richy Ahmed
Jamie Anderson
Kiko Navarro
Chilli Davis
Inland Knights
Spencer Broughton
Orde Meikle Slam
Jozif
Bryan Zents
Flash Brothers
DJ T
Dubfire
nathan detroit
Hernan Cattaneo
Snooba
Tristan da Cunha basics, redux , 2020
Julian M
Florian Meindl
Sleazy Mcqueen
Dan Ghenacia
Chris Fortier
Jussu Pekka
Peter Gelderblom
Phonogenic
The Henchmen
Nuno Dos Santos
Tiger Stripes
Agoria
Timo Garcia
Ekkohaus

Created in an industrial workplace in Leyton, where Canary Wharf punctures the skyline, Circle Traps craft music made in the image of the modern city. The group consists of Jack Wyllie, Duncan Bellamy and Will Ward and was formed in East London in 2010 and quickly scored their first release on fellow East Londoner Subeena's Opit Records in early 2011. Their eponymous debut EP earned serious critical praise from the likes of The Wire, Quietus and Fact Magazine. Their attention to ambient textures is reminiscent of Actress and Daniel Lopatin, but their unique, multi-layered, crystalline vision is consistently offset by dance floor impulses that nod to Detroit through the likes of Model 500 and Derrick May. The Machine City EP is a lush amalgamation of textural, distorted melody and bassier dance floor leanings.

Bunny 'Striker' Lee's standing in the Jamaican recording business has remained unassailable for over four decades.Known by many aliases including 'Gorgon'.
The legend of the Gorgon originated in Greek mythology some three thousand years ago and has become a common image in art, literature and in Jamaica...Music.
The name actually derives from the ancient Greek word gorgos which means 'dreadful' ,appropriate when one considers that the avalanche of Gorgon inspired records came as a direct result of the influence of the Rastafarian movement on the Jamaican musical mainstream and the dread locked hair of the Rasta brethren was likened to that of the Gorgon sisters.
''About her shoulders she flung the tasselled aegis, fraught with terror...and therein is the head of the dread monster, the gorgon, dread,awful....'' Homer

Hot on the heels of his last outing for the Delsin house series comes this, another essential new offering from German producer Erdbeerschnitzel. The experienced producer has many skills in his arsenal and this new EP proves that once again. The title track The Ample Waters is a joyous and lively concoction that fuses curious melodies with busy little piano stabs and more trilling, sunny melodies. It's busy house for bustling dancefloors and next up, Never Tilt slows things down with jumbled, woody percussion falling over lazy drums and stretched, yawning synth smears. Colourful and effervescent, it's a track that makes you want to shake your limbs. With Level Hopes is again characterised by melodic colour, with pixelated patterns stretched over a funky, gooey bassline and clacking percussion. There's a beautifully DIY feel to the loosely assembled track that gives it a life all of its own before closer Yet Unfulfilled pairs slo-mo beats with neo-soul vocal snippets, lazy and stoned summer chords. It's the most emotive of the lot, but all four tracks are truly feel good jams that have come just in time for some serious summer action.

Meridian Brothers are back with a new studio album, the bizarre and wonderful 'Salvadora Robot'. Heading deeper into the tropical rhythms of Latin America and the Caribbean each song on the album focuses on a different style and playfully twists it into Meridian Brothers's surreal landscape. Released on Soundway Records on 16th June the album was recorded at Eblis Álvarez's appropriately named Isaac Newton Studios in Bogota, Colombia.

Originally formed in 1998 it was the previous album 'Deseperanza' that brought Álvarez's Meridian Brothers to the attention of the wider world. Released worldwide in 2012, the album's unique aesthetic and freaked-out blend of Latin rhythms and psychedelic grooves won him new fans the world over. DJ and tastemaker Gilles Peterson selected 'Guaracha U.F.O (No Estamos Solos...)' as his favourite track of 2012.

'Deseperanza' focussed heavily on salsa rhythms but on his new release Álvarez based each track in a different Latin American style. For example 'Somos los Residentes' finds it inspiration in Dominican Republic merengue while 'Baile ultimo....' is a slow and sad reggaeton. The lyrics talk of a man who has been sent to the electric chair because he was dancing too much reggaeton, a style that isn't accepted as 'good taste' within Colombia.

The release of 'Deseperanza' brought them to Europe for the first time, making appearances across Europe and at some of the prestigious festival including Roskilde and Transmusicales. The band will be returning to Europe this summer.

In the wake of Blocks & Escher's recent outings on Metalheadz, Critical, and Zomby's Cult Music, Narratives present the first solo
excursions on the label from one of its founders, Blocks. Varied, emotive and beautiful, the Séance EP is innately Narratives Music in sound and yet unlike anything the label has delivered previously. The Séance EP fleets between ethereal vocals, forlorn strings and analogue bursts of glassy synths, while drum machines dance with live kits that would be fitting of 90s Mowax records. Bass lines loom heavy throughout, simple and driving rhythms that bed the delicate keys and story telling harmonics above. As immersive as it is succinct, Blocks has created an extended player awash with feeling and juxtaposition; again displaying why Narratives Music has been lauded across electronic music from the likes of Goldie and
Com Truise to Zomby and Rob da Bank. Forming the veritable gem of the collection, is the vocal laden 'Haven', a collaborative piece between Blocks and the hugely talented Jennifer Hall. Live instrumentation of bowed strings and bass provide canvas for the heart wrenching tones of Hall. Doc Scott describes the track as 'Deep, deep blues'. More akin to a personal reflection of the artist than the frenetic speed of a club, more Twin Peaks meets Portishead than dance floor energy; this is music at a Drum & Bass tempo by a producer that doesn't want to be caught in a debate on style or subgenre. In essence it seems to emphasise a recent quote by Blocks, 'Drum and Bass is anything you can get away with'. Label support from Goldie, Kuedo, Doc Scott, Rockwell, Benji B, Paul Woolford, Zomby, Friction, ASC, Jubei, Teebee, Pedestrian,
Rob Da Bank, Midland, Kasra.

For it's eighth release Apartment delivers it's first long player, by mysterious producer, VernoN (Dixon Avenue Basement Jams / Night Gallery). Little is known of this artist - what we do know is that his formative years were spent in Belgium, immersing himself in the emerging New Beat and EBM sounds emanating from the country's dance clubs. For his release on Apartment he has created 6 tracks that reflect these early influences, whilst also taking in other techno, house and electro influences. Pounding drums, rasping hi-hats, rave stabs, twisting acid lines and grinding synths all come together under the unique tutelage of this most skilled of producers, all the while watched by the experts...

Around7 follows up his two laidback funk/jazz albums for Robsoul Jazz with his first ever venture into House music. His Double Crossing EP released through the main Robsoul Recordings imprint on 4th April 2014.The Parisian, who previously delivered the Back To Basics and Soul On Wire LPs to critical acclaim, continues his production style of sampling complemented by live, organic sounds. Producer influences such as J Dilla and DJ Premier continue to be in evidence, alongside the jazz of Miles Davis, Bill Evans and the legendary Blue Note Records, all given a 4/4 twist.The result is four stripped back tracks with a low slung, smoky atmosphere, packed pull of acoustic sounds and live instrumentation. Those who remember Joss Moog's early outings on Robsoul will also find parallels hereAround7's music career began as a bassist and trumpet player in a jazz/funk band. After learning to play keyboard and discovering the Akai MPC sampler and software such as Cubase, he merged all of his skills together to create his own tracks based around live instrumentation and samples.

Repress

Rarely you come across a record which embodies Dubstep so well that rallies the entire scene behind it. From the brosteppers to the deep heads this record has been getting love from all corners of the earth. We're talking about "Under Control" the latest outing from Germany's next top wobble aka Bukez Finezt. Its eerie intro sets the tone perfectly to interlude this hypnotic stomper. Once the sonic warfare is unleashed it'll transport you to a word of desolation, where aliens run rampant and technology has absorbed everything around them.
"You Don't Belong Here" & "Pace Yourself" are on a equal tip. 2 bigtime subloaded heavyweights that'll remind you that Dubstep is still very much alive and reminds us why we fell in love with this minimalistic bass heavy genre to begin with.

Here's what some DJ's had to say about Under Control:
"VERY NATTY!" - N-Type (Wheel & Deal)
"This one destroyed Contact last night" - J:Kenzo (Tempa)
"Three words.... Gun, Finger, Riddim." - Kaiju (Deep Medi)
"DUDE TUNE" - Megalodon (Never Say Die)
"System tune. Don't even bother playing this at home!" - TMSV (Artikal)
"Biggest tune of the year" - Tunnidge (Chestplate)
"One of the heaviest, most refreshing records of the year" - Compa (Deep Medi)
"Pfft more like OUT OF CONTROL" - Beezy (HENCH

On the back of an exciting debut album in 2012 that saw him perform live at Sonar festival and later with his band at Vienna's Volkstheatre, before disseminating music on Permanent Vacation, Suol and Connaisseur Recordings, enigmatic Basque Country producer El_Txef_A returns with his sophomore longplayer 'We Walked Home Together'.
El_Txef_A (pronounced 'Elchefa') has crafted a work that just like its journey-conjuring title, charts a shifting palette of sounds and moods, exemplifying its creator Aitor Etxebarria's breadth of skill.
Produced entirely in Aitor's homeland of the mountainous Basque Country, the album showcases the talents of not just its creator who producers, sings and plays piano on the record, but also some of the Spanish region's most outstanding musicians.
Local artist Biskonti is one contributor, whose vocals coat a brooding bed of rough-cut drums on the ice-cold slice of electronica 'I'm Going to Paint You', while Hannot lends his pipes to the moving 'You Left Us In This Physical World' that sweep over a delicately crafted brew of guitars and keys. Both Basque vocalists featured on El_Txef_A's debut 'Slow Dancing in a Burning Room'. Sublime title track 'We Walked Home Together' turns into a family affair, with Aitor's brother Hibai playing the grand piano.
A graduate at 2013's Red Bull Music Academy in Madrid, El_Txef_A has an impressive array of sonic strings to his bow and the Detroit techno inspired 'Claim of Planet Earth' deliciously rubs shoulders with the album's single, the alternative slice of pop 'The Love We Lost' featuring DFA's Woofly.
Elsewhere, Aitor paints a dream-like soundscape with the sublime shoegaze-inspired trip '0730' that seamlessly bleeds into 'Every Day Is Blue Monday', with its atmosphere-heavy swirl of subtle acid lines, floating synths and evocative vocals delivered by Suol records contributor Meggy.
An artist whose music is inextricably connected with his homeland, the album concludes with the stirring 'Mugarrirantz' sung in the native tongue of Euskera by country folk band Napora Iria. It's proof that El_Txef_A is equally adept at doffing his cap to tradition as moving a dancefloor with his inspired brand of electronica.

After his wonderful eclectic Fences Album in 2013, John Roberts is back with a brandnew Clubsingle on Dial Records.
Here again the sound design benefits from the acoustical researches and experiments John Roberts works on since years. With the A-side's Ausio he creates an enchanting floorsmasher- highly recommended by the angelic crowd of our favorite clubs Panorama Bar and Robert Johnson.
On the B- Side you will find the classic John Roberts Sound: two soulful groovers, unique and timeless.

After two strong releases on Electronical Reeds, the Brussels-based artist Exon Bacon inaugurates Play Label Records with his latest EP, Watching Dogs. Play Label Records is the extension of the collective Play Label that has become a key player in the music scene of Brussels with more than hundreds of events to its credit. This first release sets up the artistic direction of this label that seeks to develope a real dancefloor approach and a strong party spirit.

The release is opened by the original mix that could be summarize with the expression 'powerful bassline, persistent heady voice and burning dancefloor'. The Parisian duo Villanova embarks us into a spin with a darker atmosphere, a deep foreground voice and a strong and repetitive gimmick. This remix reminds us why this Parisian duo knows such rapid ascent on the worldwide electronic scene. The Berlin-based and San Francisco born artist Yooj takes the opposite course to two first tracks with a deeper approach and a lighter atmosphere to offer a sunny and tasty deep house track that will delight all the dancefloor. Lastly, DC Salas, another Belgian talent, filters the voice, redefines the percussion and opens the horizon to take the direction of Tech House track.

This Exon Bacon's EP acts as the foundation stone of a future label to keep an eye on and to follow with a great attention.

PRAYMOND is a French Artist and long time record collector. After years of travelling and playing across Europe and America, he decided to release his first EP. This record is not just an elegant DJ tool but it's also a really smart take on how to bring a discrete touch of acoustic in a music usually dominated by analogue and digital sounds. 3 tracks on this EP. Huguette uses a lot of acoustic elements to deliver an epic dancefloor track Chamalowe slows the tempo in order to make the pattern heavier Timeless Memory is a tribute to Dub Techno with an acoustic take, touch of Platon records

Informa Records 7th instalment 'Depth Surroundings EP' exhibits four original works from Deepbass (Informa Records, Dynamic Reflection) & nAX_Acid (Aconito Records, Phorma) Both artists have provided stripped back hypnotic productions immersed in deep tones and intense evolving atmospheres.
INFORMA007 stays true to the label's distinctive sound while it delves even deeper into
the depths of the abyss.

Matt O'Brien first came to our attention in 2005 with his Off-key Industries releases "Hidden High" and "Serotone", which would later get a license on Rekids. His first contribution for Curle was back in 2007 when he remixed Efdemin's "Acid Bells". In 2010 he made up the flipside to Dozzy & Van Hoesen's track on Curle 024.
After "Starting Over" in 2011, we're proud to welcome Matt back on Curle for his second full EP. Don't forget your scuba glasses, it's deep!

Phil Weeks teams up with Soldiers Of Twilight vocalist Ladybird on his new track Natural High, a deep and soulful house track laden with warm chords and Weeks' trademark MPC beats. Released on vinyl and digital formats through Robsoul Recordings on 14th February, the single comes with three alternate versions - the Unplugged version removes the beats and bass providing a tool on which Ladybird's vocals shine, the Baby Dub takes things into heads down territory, and the Higher Mix reintroduced the vocal.View the video of Phil Weeks and Ladybird performing Natural High in the studio:http://youtu.be/x1YulPP-EqM

Songwriter and vocalist Ladybird is best known for her work as part of Soldiers of Twilight, who released numbers records via 2020 Vision and Serial Records. Her own self-titled album can be found on Peng, while other collaborations, most notably alongside Llorca, DJ Rork and DJ Le Roi, have appeared on F Communications, Distance and Foliage.Since 2000 Phil Weeks has released his unique brand of house music on some of the world's leading underground labels including 2020 Vision, Music For Freaks, Brique Rouge, Magnetic, Detour, Adult Only and his own Robsoul, which is responsible for the majority of his original output. Robsoul has released his three critically acclaimed albums - Love Affair, Raw Instrumental and Yeah, I Like That. 2013 has been one of Phil's busiest years so far, with the release of the three-volumed Crate Diggin compilation, original music for Supplement Facts and Robsoul, and remixes for Saved, Cajual, Snatch!, Homecoming and Bass Culture. 2014 looks set to be even bigger!