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As collaborative projects often do, 33 has in time found a more fixed form, a kind of structure that turned it from a loose collection of collaborators gravitating around founders Bill John Bultheel and Alexander Iezzi into something resembling more of a traditional band. Not that there is anything conventional in their creative process tho, nor in the music itself… Nontheless Tripolar - their second album and first for Haunter - seems to take them closer to song territory than ever before.

The (progressive) graduation of multi-instrumentalist Cem Dukkha and vocalist/clarinet player Ivan Cheng from collaborators to full-time members has brought 33 to a more refined awareness of their possibilities as a creative unit, although their compositional process has retained a high level of spontaneity and musical madness. Tripolar was in fact assembled by editing hours of improvisation that Bultheel, Iezzi and Dukkah recorded with no specific endgame in mind. The sessions saw them exchange a variety of acoustic, electronic and electric musical instruments: percussions, guitars, strings, piano, hurdy gurdy, synthesizers and even CDJs as a tool of live sampling manipulation.

By molding the pieces into what they are now, the band managed to concoct some beautiful vignettes of contradictory mental and emotional states, as sonically playful as a renaissance fair happening within a broken timestream. Cheng’s lyrical and vocal contributions helped them coalesce even further into proper songs, adding a melodic presence that’s at once seductive and uncanny. But vocal duties are often ceded to guests, namely Danish pop-neoclassicist Astrid Sonne, Kenyan metal guru Lord Spikeheart, Irish goth raconteur Olan Monk and Japanese body-poet Golin.The amount of different sounds arranged into each of the tracks produces a unique sense of awe and bewilderment, a testament to the incredible talent and craft the musicians have employed into putting together such a broad range of influences and approaches into a coherent and extremely effective musical journey.

An equally erratic thematic thread seems to run through all the tracks, one ultimately preoccupied with mental health and its ramifications. Without turning the project into a concept album, 33 and their collaborators have sprinkled it with references to personality disorders and mental conditions that are all too relevant to the contemporary age, reflecting on the lineage of human inner life. A wide display of lyrical and musical tools is employed to explore these themes, ranging from Sonne’s expressionist depiction of ADHD in the opener, to Cheng’s queer-themed reinvention of an Irish murder ballad in closing track ‘Babymusicc’. Tracing lateral trajectories for introspection, Tripolar is not only highly captivating, but it ultimately sounds esoteric in the best possible way: progressively revealing layer after layer of incredible aural magic, its true meaning living in the form and in its manic scope of energies.

Thomas Peter debuts on Hallow Ground with »changing bodies,« an album inspired by the resonance and reaction of objects with and to sound. The Swiss composer and sound artist has worked with sounds generated with various materials, field recordings, and an array of analogue and digital synthesizers to create five ever-shifting pieces full of twists and turns in which even silence plays a significant role. Peter composed and recorded the album over the course of four years in an inherently physical process, led by both his intuition and his perception—what you hear on »changing bodies« is an artist intently listening to the material world around him.

Peter laid the foundation for »changing bodies« by making field recordings wherever he went, whether in closed rooms, cities, or rural environments, while also recording organic-sounding material with different synthesizers as well as working with objects made of wood, stone, or metal. »I viewed all these sounds as a kind of language that I was trying to understand,« he says. »I paid close attention to differences between sounds in motion, rhythmic patterns, and dense textures.« He further describes this as an inherently corporeal endeavour, quite literally becoming all ears and internalising the different sounds.

This process of concretion led to one of abstraction when Peter translated the source material and its psycho-physical reverberations into new musical structures. He applied repetition, densification, and recombination to unlock their true potential. Across its five tracks, the album sets literally unheard-of sounds into motion, creating intricate dynamics without ever overwhelming its listeners. »changing bodies« was born out of listening intently and physically.
It is recommended to listen to it in the exact same way.

We present an EP from two house masters Artem Stan & Matpri on Analog Concept records.

This record was born like in the classic 90s from jam sessions in the studio, when musicians caught the groove and connected their deep universes, showing true love for house music. Everything is combined here - the sound of drum machines 909 and not only, atmospheric acid impulses of 303, classic pads that paint these paintings bright and filled with deep meaning, as well as much more. Amazing two sides and four compositions, each with its own story.

The Midnight Seduction track opens the telling of these stories on side A. From the first seconds, immersing in the atmosphere of synthesizer temptation, the analog bass line combined with the default drum section and elements of bright metal claps quickly gain the necessary energy and immerse in the images of a closed nightclub with long corridors and hidden dance floors. The light plume of the classic M1 organ and the accentuating Acid lead maintain balance. Secret nocturnal seduction, light ecstasy and an atmosphere of love.

French Kiss - everything is great here, as soon as you listen to the harmony of accordion-like synthesizers and deeply addictive pads, you are instantly transported to the image of Parisian streets. Elements of bells, a rhythm section filled with unpredictable percussion, acid inclusions and an unexpected immersion into a broken beat in the middle of the composition, a real deep French kiss.

Matpri is known for its sophisticated approach to music and is rightfully the guru of micro and minimal house. Having created the maximum sound quality of the rhythm section and the deep bass that was addictive from the first seconds, mixing old-school vibe, while not losing touch with his minimalistic sound image, he filled the House Template track with the smallest details and percussion, which is confidently based on the B-side.

Four certainly high-quality compositions were created in the studio of Artem Stan in the mountains of Krasnaya Polyana and one of the tracks on the B-side - "Nasha Polyana" - is dedicated to this location, it conveys a certain playful atmosphere of a mountain village with a vibe of complete freedom and daily carefree. A complete release with decent house music.

Fausto returns to the Carpet family, this time with three tweaked out jams perfect for the Circuits series. Spread across the A-side, the 9-minute ‘Moonland’ evokes its title with driving acid and cosmic Detroit atmospherics. On the B, ‘Nacho’ is a classic mood builder, tempering its own acid lead with expansive bass and a rolling groove. The EP closes with the stepping ‘Nirvana’, perfect for closed-eyes reverie at the afters.

Somewhere long ago in a vinyl galaxy near you We Play House Recordings released an E.P. called ‘This Is Still Belgium Vol 1’. The release was called like that because the music on it could only have been made by Belgians. Vol 2 never happened…until now. Label boss Red D has always been inspired by the rich Belgian club music of the 90’s and inevitably those influences have sneaked into his own productions, but never as clear as on the three tracks you are reading about now.

And so the original WPH series has been revived with WPH 024.5, aptly called ‘This Is Still Belgium Vol 2’. The music is situated somewhere between house, progressive house and early trance music, basically club music with soul & melody at its core.

On the A-side we find Red D teaming up with his friend Mona Lee, a soul sister who has been making waves in recent years in soulful house circles and who comes up with the vocal prowess to match Red D’s emotional trip of a track and heartfelt lyrics. Can you handle the break?

The B-side opens up with ‘Tides’, a deep hypnotic builder for late night eyes-closed dance floors and closes with ‘Papillon’, a track that came to life long ago in the minds of Telepaticos (Marcos Salon & Sandro Valcke). When Red D heard a demo version of this one the melody got stuck in his head and never really left him. Many moons later he rediscovered the parts of this one on a hard drive and got to work on his interpretation that features on this E.P. Safe to say the track holds a special place in Red D’s heart and we’re sure you’ll feel it as well!

In 2025, Off The Grid celebrated 10 years of existence, throwing several events throughout the world.

It's now time to put a seal on these celebrations with a curation of music, gathering old and new faces orbiting the OTG galaxy, divided into two compilations.

For Part 1, deeper and deeper we go, focusing on delicate aesthetics and dubby grooves, trippy sounds and dreamy atmospheres. A soundtrack for early mornings and initial stages of the night.

Off The Grid was born around this sound and this is a tribute to it.

Part 2 will be announced in Spring.

Stay tuned!

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Mastering & Lacquer Cut by Marco Pellegrino at Analogcut Mastering Studio Berlin
Graphic Design by Guillaume De Ubeda
Pressed at Mother Tongue in Verona

"I got to know visual artist, musician, and producer Guido Erfen and sound engineer, acoustic artist, and percussionist Michael Springer as part of a group of five by the name of SHM1. The members of the group organised concerts at Rhenania, a disused grain silo, where I performed with The Absurd in 1988 and 1989. The band was also featured on one of Erfen's tape releases. Erfen and Springer met when they were still at the same secondary school and soon became close friends and musical allies. With the other members of SHM they built an independent network for creating and distributing music beyond the mainstream in Cologne. Rent at Rhenania was incredibly low, allowing a recording studio to be established there.

The first traces of the Ukrainian Underground arrived at Erfen's door via a cassette tape with three bands from Kharkiv and Kyiv, the package including a long essay which detailed the rock scene in the two cities by Sergey Myasoyedow. In 1986, Myasoyedow, together with Sasha Panchenko, had founded the “Novaya Scena“ rock club in Kharkiv, presenting bands inspired by punk, the avant-garde, dadaism, and even medieval melodies. If Erfen hadn't been part of the independent mail-art scene, he wouldn't have had the chance to discover this unorthodox music. It was the summer of 1990, shortly before the Soviet Union collapsed and Ukraine became an independent state the following year.

In 1991, singer and keyboard player Soloveyka from Kharkiv arrived in Cologne and gave Erfen half a dozen cassettes with underground bands from Ukraine and a handful with bands from the Soviet Union. Intrigued by the original music of many of the acts, he visited Ukraine twice, made friends there, compiled a tape with his favourite tracks and finally succeeded in convincing Hamburg label boss Alfred Hilsberg to present underground music from Ukraine on the CD “Novaya Scena“ via his label What's So Funny About (the original home of Einstürzende Neubauten).
The album compiled 20 tracks recorded between 1986 and 1992 by 14 bands out of Kharkiv and Kyiv– music beyond the usual Perestroika records, often with jarring dissonances over grooves that fans of Captain Beefheart or The Fall would certainly enjoy.

On the other hand, there are tracks featuring flute and trumpet that seem inspired by folk, classical music, and punk. Ghostly chamber prog miniatures by Cukor Belaya Smert (lit. Sugar White Death) from Kyiv featuring, among others, the classically trained pianist and singer Svitlana Nianio (née Ochrimenko) and guitarist, visual artist, and spokesman Yewgeny "Yenia" Taran. Nianio sang in her native Ukrainian, as did two more of the bands. Today, this seems more relevant than ever, more culturally and historically significant from a Ukrainian point of view than it was even in 1993. Young Ukrainians were amazed at that time that rock music sung in their native tongue could work!

It is in the aftermath of the “Novaya Scena“ album that the music on this LP was created. About a year after the release of the CD in August 1993, Nianio and Taran came to Cologne to work on music for the dance production "Transilvania Smile" by the dance theatre ensemble Pentamonia2.
The seeds for the Traces of Ukrainian Underground in Cologne were sown. Starting in 1994, a series of informal recording sessions took place at Michael Springer’s Phanton Studio and at SHM studio in Rhenania. Together, these sessions formed the basis of the four different incarnations of the Ukraine-Cologne connection heard on STROOMS’s compilation.

“II” is the second album by Californian post-punk heroes Alone in My Room. Continuing their exploration of isolation and urban tension, the band sharpens their stark, stripped-down sound, blending cold-wave severity with lo-fi intimacy. Pulsed basslines, detached vocals, and raw, close-mic’d production create an atmosphere that feels oppressive yet deeply personal. Following their 2020 debut Alone in My Room—a claustrophobic, late-night statement—the band pushes further into darker, more confrontational territory, solidifying their place in modern underground post-punk. Presented in ONE-OFF truly limited edition of 300 copies lacquered pressed on 180 gr. high quality solid WHITE vinyl. All tracks have been specially remastered and mastered for vinyl by Daniel Hallhuber at Young and Cold Studios (Germany).

After a long hiatus broken by their inclusion in Om Unit's final epic Acid Dub Versions set, Alter Echo & E3 step out once more with the four-track “No Peace EP.”

With past releases on storied labels including ZamZam Sounds, Moonshine, Scrub A Dub, Lion Charge, LavaLava, and Khaliphonic, the duo opted to forego labels for this one, instead dropping the first release on their own AEE3 imprint.

The main mix of the title tune is a pounding dystopian slow-stepper collab with old friend & sparring partner Ishan Sound, dusted off and rebuilt after years on dubplate. Shot-through with stinging percussion, swirling with leaden atmospherics and dread truths, this one’s an absolutely uncompromising piece of supremely heavy steppers.

RSD’s remix opts for crystal clarity, extra layers of percussion, an emotional mid-range melody, and of course the huge bassweight Rob Smith is known & loved the world over for.

Om Unit’s “Kaliuyga Verse” recenters the tune on deeply spiritual indigenous wisdom spoken by Floyd “Red Crow” Westerman. This long-form rework fleshes out the instrumentation with classic UK dub percussion and FX, plus flute and much more, transmuting the original’s darkness into something magisterial and hopeful while maintaining absolute heaviness.

AEE3’s "Southeast Rock" closes the EP with a slower tempo meditation powered by a melodic bassline, chopped drums, dub tech stabs and righteous horns, an introspective ganja tune that will stay with you long after the runout groove.

It’s been 12 years since Karizma’s last album, and in that time the world has changed beyond recognition.
What has remained constant is Karizma’s commitment to constantly pushing the boundaries of his sound and defying categorization, effortlessly moving from down-tempo soul, hip-hop, house and electronic dance, and connecting it all with his emotive production and his ear for moving a dance- floor.
“Can’t Call !t” is a double album that sees Karizma craft 17 tracks to take his music in ever new directions. As always, he pours his heart into every cut, always with a message and purpose of intent.
Like all of us, Karizma’s wondering what comes next, which way things will go. Can you call it?

The latest tape from Captured Visions offers up smoky, low-key deepness that is perfectly suited to the imperfections of the format. Arcade, aka Nathan Stephenson, opens up this compact but potent collection with 'Grace 01', a dreamy house sound for calm and reflection with a gentle smattering of toms and smeared chords soothing the soul. 'Grace 02' moves more but remains well below the surface, with liquid pads and cuddly kicks. '03' spins out into electro drum patterns with bleeping digital synths and crunchier hits, and '04' closes with ghostly chords that drift in and out of focus over a cavernous and dubby low end from late 90s Berlin.

In a sharp-angled, fiercely inventive reflection on the nature of club culture and digital fatigue, Simo Cell and Abdullah Miniawy reunite to deliver their new album, Dying is the internet, to Dekmantel's UFO series.

French producer Simo Cell has blazed a singular path from his dubstep-influenced origins to become a leading light in contemporary leftfield club music, twisting up adventurous rhythms and flamboyant production in pursuit of a perpetual freshness for the floor. Egyptian singer, poet, producer and composer Abdullah Miniawy has become equally omnipresent in the past 10 years, straddling the arts world and leading with his piercing Arabic lyricism while maintaining an eternally curious spirit that leads into open-ended, experimental music from the abstract to the propulsive.

Following up on their 2020 EP for BFDM, Kill Me Or Negotiate, Miniawy describes their sharply focused new album as "a playful prophecy about the triggers of a new global revolution." Cell considers the title, Dying is the internet, to be a mantra about "how the internet lost its soul," becoming "less about sharing ideas and more about surviving in a digital business ecosystem." Deliberately at odds with the reel-ready two-minute attention span of the average social media surfer (i.e. everyone), the pair set out to make an album that takes its time to reveal nuanced ideas and expressions. Rather than one-note despair for the modern malaise, Cell and Miniawy offer a philosophical reminder that this present moment in the human experience is a temporary phase, no matter how overwhelming it feels.

Dying is the internet finds Miniawy experimenting with auto-tune across the record, while Cell has developed his voice design chops and compositional instincts, moving closer to fully realised song structures without losing the fundamental 'clubbiness' of each track. The result is a cohesive, wildly original kind of heavyweight dance music that slings out hooks left right and centre, from Miniawy's laconic trumpet looming through low-slung 'Reels in 360' and 'Travelling In BCC' to the persistent handclaps that bring 'Living Emojis' to life. Miniawy's poetry explores the power of insistent, repeated phrases in a break from his more typically structured form.

Kenyan powerhouse Lord Spikeheart adds extra snarl to stripped-back, slow-burn opener 'I See The Stadium', but otherwise Dying is the internet is purely the work of Miniawy and Cell casting their considerable chops out into unexplored territory. The results are electric, bound together by a consistent economy of sound that burrows into a shroud of bass-heavy minimalism barely masking Cell's incredibly detailed studio flex. Even the beatless flourish of the Miniawy-produced 'Tear Chime' comes loaded with physicality — a sensory rush at the mid-section of the album bookended by some of the most idiosyncratic club music in recent memory.

Both Simo Cell and Abdullah Miniawy have already proved themselves as fearless innovators across different fields. The strength of their partnership lies in their ability to make space for each other while letting their distinctive sonic identities ring loud and true. Dying is the internet has immediacy and physicality to translate over a soundsystem, but its intricacies are purpose-built for repeat visits and contemplation, unveiling hidden dimensions the deeper you dive into it.

Next year, Earthtones Recordings (which was renamed to Seasons Recordings after ten releases) marks the significant milestone of 30 years in the game. Ahead of that, they have been digging in the vaults for some choice reissues and this hugely in demand one from Natural Rhythm gets the nod. It has been remastered and is a joyous house outing with 'Original Jive' layering up cascading jazz keys with soulful pads and moving drums. 'Earthtones 001' is the beatless sound of a humid jungle, then 'Eclectic Dub' reworks the original with a more stripped-down and focused, groove-driven sound. 'Dub Drums' closes a vital reissue.

2026 Repress

Portuguese techno mainstay Dextro drops cultured EP 'Covil Dos Abutres' for his label debut on Mutual Rytm.

Dextro has been immersed in electronic music and DJing since the early 90s. In the decades since, he has become synonymous with a sound deeply rooted in simplicity and authenticity. Fuelled by a passion for his craft, his production process is guided by intuition and spans a diverse range of styles, from tunnelling grooves to more potent techno with deep and hypnotic layers. He has held several key residencies and released on top labels like CLR and Missile Records, and he adds to those with a first outing on SHDW's Mutual Rytm with 'Covil Dos Abutres'.

The five-track 12" and eight-track digital EP has a sleek, stripped-back style, with wide-spanning corners of the techno realm explored. 'Covil Dos Abutres' is a deep space transmission with journeying, frictionless beats and deft sci-fi motifs that recall classic touches synonymous with the genre's pioneers. 'Correct Incorrect' keeps the pressure on with more rubbery, dubbed-out groves beautifully decorated with delicate melodies. 'Vida E Morte' is another sublime and hypotonic minimal techno sound with funk in the kicks and a freaky late-night spirit. 'Element One' again combines perfectly reduced drum groves with atmospheric pads and curious samples that keep you intrigued, and 'Beautiful Day' closes out with sonar-like synth pulses over the most skeletal but captivating rhythms. Digital cuts 'Time Line', 'Savana Urbana', and 'Diferencas' further explore the intersection of minimalism with cosmic synth designs that take you off into distant astral worlds.

NUTRIA Sounds proudly welcomes Leo Kal to the family with his debut EP, The Roots EP (NUTRIA 004). Across five tracks, Leo Kal delivers a deeply musical statement—grounded, expressive, and rich with intention—perfectly aligning with what NUTRIA Sounds continues to cultivate: organic sound, essential rhythm, and soulful movement.

The Roots EP showcases Leo Kal’s true musicianship, blending groove, harmony, and texture into a body of work that feels both timeless and forward-thinking. Each track is driven by feel and craft, emphasizing connection over excess and allowing the music to breathe naturally on the dancefloor and beyond.
Celba opens the EP with an uplifting, bouncy groove—light on its feet yet firmly rooted, setting a joyful and inviting tone.

Station Verlaine soars effortlessly, carried by smooth, flowing keys that glide across a warm, rhythmic foundation. Roots, the EP’s title track, shines with warm piano lines and earthy percussion, embodying the spirit and intention behind the project.

Round 50 delivers the EP’s most club-friendly moment, channeling a spacey, late-’90s feel with a modern, refined touch.

Second Eyes closes the EP on a downtempo, junglesque note, wrapping the listener in texture and atmosphere while leaving them wanting more.

With this release, NUTRIA Sounds continues its mission to highlight nutrient sounds for the soul and the feet—music that is honest, rooted, and deeply connected. Leo Kal’s debut stands as a confident and inspired entry into the catalog, reinforcing the label’s commitment to artistry, balance, and musical integrity.

BOSLTD013 brings Luminér in a tight, floor-minded 12" that leans into the warm end of micro house and minimal without losing its bite. Analogue Forma is all about motion and detail: elastic grooves, crisp drum work, and that slightly dusty, hardware-fed sheen that sits perfectly between deep and functional.
Across four cuts, the record shifts from rolling, hypnotic pressure to sharper, twisted angles, keeping the swing present and the space alive. The B-side closes with “Forma (Gogan Remix)”, flipping the original into a more driving, late-night tool while staying true to the release’s analogue character. Vinyl only, built for DJs, and made to live in the mix.

The fifteenth release from electro label Gladio Operations once again brings us a multi-artist format, featuring new faces and a distinctly Spanish flavour.

This EP opens with the return of producer Cycloplex, with his characteristic minimalist sound.
This track, titled ‘EP01-A’, once again showcases his powerful and aggressive bass lines.
From Gerona comes one of the new and talented artists on the Spanish electro scene. David Pasajero makes his debut on Gladio Operations with ‘Dislektro’, a fluid journey of melodies and warm textures infused with acidic touches.

On the B-side we find Barcelona producer Dark Vektor, who needs no introduction, as he is one of the Spanish icons of electro sound. This artist also makes his debut on the label with ‘Te Voy A Dar Ahhhhh’, a dizzying track with suspenseful melodies and a powerful bass line that will keep you on the dance floor no matter what.

The Spanish duo Slit Observers is another of the label’s new faces and treats us to this vibrant track titled ‘Green Machine’, where we encounter dark passages with a perfect dose of acid and embellished with subtle vocoders.

The EP closes with a collaboration between German producers Intergalactic Noize Commander and Elektrotechnik, the latter an artist who has released music previously. ‘Informationen’ is a rough track, created in the most hidden German bunkers, featuring arpeggios and robust bass lines that dominate throughout the whole track, accompanied by gloomy vocals.

Hey ! Uzi specialist start the record with his Tribe du sud killa !
Dismatik, phase neuralizer pure jus teknoidal.
John start the B side with an original ragga bomba, fire !
Trizia Close, a very good mental sound from another time, the file is closed
TRIBE DU SUD !
Poster & sticker

Groovy, functional and elegantly reduced Micro House. AFRV008 brings Dubfound for a tight, late-night or early mroning leaning 12" on Aforisme. Freak Love EP moves with that signature micro-house precision: crisp drums, warm low-end pressure and hypnotic groove shifts that keep the floor locked without ever overdoing it. On the A-side, “Freak Love” sets the tone with elastic rhythms and a stripped-back, forward-driving pulse. Flip to “Hold Me Up” for a deeper, more rolling mood, minimal elements arranged with maximum impact. Maher Daniel closes it out with his remix, adding extra swing and a refined, spacious touch that feels made for long blends and after-hours moments.

For the first time in more than a decade, Paul St. Hilaire (AKA Tikiman) presents a solo album – 100% Tiki.

Over his 30-plus year career, St. Hilaire has become one of dance music’s quietly legendary figures. Born and raised in Dominica, he moved to Berlin in 1994 and has lent both his voice and his musicianship to some of the most iconic electronic music from the German capital – and beyond. Renowned for his collaborations with Moritz von Oswald and Mark Ernestus (AKA Rhythm & Sound), he has also appeared on records with Deadbeat, Rhauder, Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers and Stereotyp (G-Stone Recordings), amongst others.

However, few know the extent of St. Hilaire’s compositional and technical mastery. From his home studio in Kreuzberg, which includes an extensive collection of vintage hardware, self-built instruments and notebooks scribbled with endless lyrics, he has created a vast archive of material spanning ambient dub, avant-jazz, lush techno and lovers rock.

Tikiman Vol. 1 is a heady, downtempo tour de force of patois metaphors on education, displacement and personal vs. global histories, as is evident on slippy album opener “Bedroom in My Bag”: Mister, mister / Where are you going? / I’m heading for a faraway land / What are you having in the bag in your hand? / Help us to understand / He said, I’ve got my bedroom in my bag.

Overall, the album’s lyrics reflect on life between Berlin and Dominica, specifically St. Hilaire’s hometown of Grand Bay, where he has worked with various musicians famous for the island’s different genres of carnival music. St. Hilaire himself always favoured the island’s more “discrete” music, developing a sonic synergy between two different geographical strains of groove and minimalism, and combining them with foundational Caribbean mixing techniques, which provide the basis for his songwriting and distinct
baritone.

Tikiman Vol.1 offers a rare insight into St. Hilaire’s complex artistry, from the eyes-down grooves of “Little Way” and the guitar-heavy digi dancehall experiment “Keep Safe,” to the subtle hypnosis of “Ten to One” and the softly crashing synth waves of closer “Three And A Half”, evoking not only beaches but also coasts and borders. It’s a fitting expression of both the breadth of St. Hilaire’s work, as well as his history as one of the few black, Berlin-based artists who, despite remaining largely overlooked, has influenced the city’s electronic music culture since its beginnings.


Credits
Written & Produced by Paul St. Hilaire
Mastered by Stefan Betke
Artwork by Grant Gibson

Kynant Records was founded in 2015 by Richard Akingbehin, a British-Nigerian radio programmer (Refuge Worldwide), music writer and DJ. Originally specialising in deep techno and featuring artists such as Cio D’Or, Terrence Dixon and Donato Dozzy, Kynant has since launched a sub-label Kynant EX which focuses on ambient, dub and experimental electronics.

After a moment of calm, De Lichting returns with the fourth instalment in its double LP album series, Vier.



Never losing touch with its roots in emotional dance music, Vier is a tribute to the electronic soul, something increasingly overlooked on today’s dancefloors. queniv’s Frequency Match opens the album as a gentle invitation, built on minimal drum work and long, stretched pads. RDS’s Aerial Reflections continues in the same vein, leaning into a more serious mood with old school flavoured rhythms.

The first heavier club moment comes from Human Space Machine with Test Rec. A more tense, primetime leaning, proggy groove unfolds, washed in nostalgic strings and trippy elements for both body and mind. Nathan Kofi follows with Kinesis, a proper Detroit infused techno track that pushes the experimental edge further, darker and more driving.

On the second record, the mood shifts into deeper melancholy with Eversines’ Lift The Veil, featuring classic deep house textures of Rhodes chords and FM basses. Nearing the end of the album, Proxyan’s Another delivers pure credits rolling, emotion drenched analogue funk electro, a track the rest of the group had to beg Robbert to include. We are glad we did.

As a kind of bonus track, RDS and Eversines close Vier with a tech house rework of their earlier track Missing. Released on vinyl for the first time, it was previously available only in digital form via Kalahari Oyster Cult.

No Drama, the label founded by Roy Rosenfeld, continues its vinyl and digital series with a new release from Eli Nissan, an artist whose work consistently rewards close listening.



The musical material unfolds over 15 minutes and 4 seconds, offering a concise yet layered statement.



While Hedonism opens with driving percussion and a flexible groove, layering textures and effects into a high-energy, immersive cut built for peak-time moments, Shout closes the release with a deeper, more introspective direction, blending vocal samples with a laid-back, psychedelic flow balancing repetition and variation to create a sense of elevation and continuity.



Concise, versatile, and DJ-ready, the fifth edition of the No Drama catalog continues the path with clarity and purpose.

2026 Repress

Sicily's SLV is able to merge technical mastery with emotional resonance. His potent techno sounds have come via the likes of SHWD's Mutual Rytm and Slam's Soma, and unite timeless yet forward-thinking sonics.
On 'Fleeting Dreams', he continues to refine his signature sound while channelling introspection and intensity into a collection of meticulously crafted cuts that balance precision and feeling, energy and space. Each track reveals a different side of his sonic identity: hypnotic rhythms intertwine with evolving soundscapes, while layers of distortion and melody merge into a dreamlike tension between the mechanical and the organic.

'Fading Moments' kicks off with a sleek blend of driving, supple kicks and warm synth ripples, while a euphoric vocal cry is buried deep to amp up the emotion. 'Scenario' then brings icy hi-hats and sinewy synths bring a futuristic feel to the unrelenting, high-pressure drums down low. 'Daruma' has a darker energy with menacing textures and paranoid FX bringing the rolling drums to life, while 'Bass Grit' has a hunched up rhythm, with groaning pads and fizzing static electricity that charge up the party. To close, 'Shimmer' sinks down into a muscular and deep rhythm that's marbled with restless synths and ever-rising tension.

In addition, digital bonus cuts 'Trust' and '1990' offer different perspectives with slamming drums, seductive vocals and feisty synth loops making for two more bold, immersive techno weapons.

Rising star Storm Mollison lands her debut on Heist with an ep blending House & R 'n B and we're completely hooked.

The future is looking bright for Storm Mollison - Heist's newest. Marked as artist to look out for by Shazam on their fast forward 2026 list, Storm's got a bright and busy year ahead, after an already big 2025. Last year alone, she featured on Kiki's hit 'Getting ready for the party', featured on a Mixmag London event and a Raw Cuts X Heist ADE party, had her first cover feature on Spotify, multiple radio 1 appearances, released several singles, a full EP on Noir Fever and a Luuk van Dijk remix.

If that's not enough to get you excited, we suggest you just listen to her 'Act like that' EP on Heist. In Storm's own words: "it's the most exciting music I've made so far" and we couldn't agree more. Her EP is a perfect blend of her love for house music and soulful R 'n B with its 4 tracks smothered in deep chords, smooth vocals and crunchy textures.

EP opener 'Doing Sumthin'' has been a staple in Dam Swindle's sets ever since receiving Storm's first demo and has never failed to make the crowd bounce from left to right with its quirky and equally cool vocal courtesy of Aaron Pfeiffer. Sometimes, you just need someone to tell you which way to move and before you know it, the whole club is doing it. The beat is chunky, and the sax lick is a nice wink to the old school house that has influences Storm's sound so much.

Act Like That - the EP's title track -, is a modern R' n B song that could have easily been on Rochelle Jordan's latest album. The lyrics are perfectly delivered by Storm herself and celebrate women who stand up to unreliable men. It could well be the badass soundtrack of womanhood for 2026 delivered in a silky-smooth package that'll live rent-free in your head for the foreseeable future.

On the flipside is "Gotta Go', an undercover dancefloor burner with lush keys and a lean-back groove. The track relies on crisp textures and little frizzles all throughout the track, with a big breakdown for ultimate release.

Ep closer 'Workin' takes us back into R 'n B territory, this time in a very danceable form. Storm's soft vocals lie on top of a steady beat with deep chords and a bassline so sexy It'll make you get down no matter where you're hearing this.

It's hard to speak about a breakthrough for an artist that has already seen such a rise in the scene, but if we're talking about her music, this will be the record that people come back to after years and say, "remember when she releases ALT!?"

As always, enjoy the music and play it loud!

Yours, Maarten & Lars

Mathias Kaden announces the ‘Three Decades’ LP on Rekids, releasing 3rd April 2026, with single ‘Fyutr’ featuring Zoë Xenia and a remix from the legendary Dennis Ferrer available now. His third full-length, following 2009’s ‘Studio 10’ on Vakant and 2015’s ‘Energetic’ on Freunden Am Tanzen, ‘Three Decades’ spans nine tracks and celebrates Kaden’s 30-year career as one of Germany’s most enduring House and Techno figures.

The ‘Three Decades' album opens with a title intro, in which Mathias Kaden expresses gratitude to those closest to him before moving into his signature deep, emotive House sound. Tracks like ‘Keep Balance’ set the tone with sub-heavy bass and crisp, driving drums, occasionally punctuated by vocal snippets, while ‘I Got You’ features Cassy for a high-energy, soulful dancefloor moment. Reminiscent of Kaden’s work as Mathimidori, the dubbiness of ‘Getting Closer’ sets the stage for ‘Inner Signal’, which leans into wiggy electro territory, before the second record shifts gears with ‘Next Wave’ and ‘Shelter’, returning to pacey, piano-fuelled rave energy.

‘Viral’ follows with tough drums and excellent stab work, before the album closes on ‘Fyutr’, Kaden’s collaboration with Zoë Xenia, already supported by Honey Dijon, DJ Deep, Laurent Garnier, and more. Active since the mid-90s, Mathias Kaden quickly became one of the artists at the forefront of Germany’s flourishing rave scene. He began releasing music in the early 2000s, first collaborating with Marek Hemmann on a series of EPs for Freude Am Tanzen, before establishing himself as a solo artist with more than two dozen EPs on labels including Desolat, Watergate Records, Pets Recordings, Diynamic, Ovum, and Cocoon. Since first appearing on Rekids in 2019 with the ‘Control Your Mind’ EP, Kaden has released multiple projects on the label and remains a regular contributor to its catalogue.

Alongside his own productions, he has remixed artists such as DJ Koze, KiNK, Monika Kruse, Trentemøller, and Sven Väth, while under his Mathimidori alias, he has explored more spacious territory with releases on Mule Musiq, Ornaments, and Freund der Familie, including an additional album, ‘Akebono’, on Echocord.

Ashley Tindall, AKA Skeptical, returns in peak form with Blimp EP — the fourth release on his Rubi Records imprint — delivering four meticulously crafted cuts of uncompromising drum & bass.

Opening with the title track, Blimp sets the tone with a deep, steppy wobbler that nods subtly to the title track from his second Rubi Records release, Capsize EP. All the signature Skeptical hallmarks are here: hypnotic, pared-back metronomic drums and shimmy-inducing, undulating subs that demand movement. Yet this time there's a noticeable shift — warm, underlying melodic pads bring an unexpected emotional depth. It's not dreamy, but it is more introspective than we're used to, showing another layer to his sonic palette.

So Good flips the script entirely. A dark, cinematic growler, it leans into ghosted vocal fragments and a futuristic film-noir aesthetic. Tense, claustrophobic rhythms and sinister textures create an unsettling atmosphere — tailor-made for those lights-out, pressure-heavy dancefloor moments.

Third comes the undeniable monster of the EP, Technology. Trademark "stink-face" Skeppiness is in full effect from the first bar. Disjointed sci-fi stabs and eerie pads collide with clinical, almost militaristic drum programming, all anchored by a devastatingly weighty bassline. Movement isn't optional — this is pure Skeptical, uncompromising and lethal.

Closing the EP is Bad Generation, a sound system–influenced weapon that finds Skeptical operating at his dubwise best. Fusing minimal D&B with heavyweight, roots-inspired rhythms is no easy task, but here it's executed with effortless authority. It's equally suited to shelling down a rave or getting lost in a deep, eyes-closed session.

Four tracks. Four distinct moods. 100% Skeptical.
Blimp EP confirms once again that his sound continues to evolve — sharper, deeper, and more refined with every release.

Support: Ben UFO, Joy Orbison, Gilles Peterson, dBridge, Break, DLR, Doc Scott, Mefjus, Kasra, Kings of the Rollers, Alix Perez, Jubei, Dub Phizix, Flight, Tasha, Loxy, Lens.

Cinthie’s Collective Cuts sub-label of her 803 Crystal Grooves label welcomes the UK’s Black Eyes onto its roster this March with his ‘Hydrocity Reflex’ EP, comprised of four original soul drenched House Jams.
Cinthie’s 803 Crystal Grooves Collective Cuts welcomes Black Eyes with a fresh four-track EP that distils the Manchester-born, Berlin-based artist’s signature aesthetic into its purest form. Fusing deep, trippy and soulful house with a raw, Detroit-leaning sensibility, Black Eyes channels the influence of House music’s roots into rolling rhythms and fluid textures alongside shaped by his enduring love of water. Now firmly embedded in Berlin’s underground while carrying the grit of his northern roots, he delivers a release that feels both immersive and driving a natural fit for 803 Crystal Grooves’ dance floor focused sonic vision.
Opening the EP is ‘Can You Dig That Depth’, an emotive slice of House driven by saturated keys, soulful vocal lines, heavily swung drums and a buoyant bassline. ‘Pressure Malfunction’ follows, stripping things back to organic percussion, sweeping filtered funk loops and intricately processed spoken-word chants. The B-side begins with ‘Loyalty To Tha Deep’, living up to its name as it embraces classic Deep House sensibilities through choppy, airy chord progressions, hypnotic breathy vocals, fluttering melodies and slow-slung, crunchy drums. ‘Funky Oxygen’ then brings the release to a close, channelling the spirit of Motor City House with a refined blend of cut-up samples, shuffled percussion, jazzy keys and a snaking bass groove.

A concentrated four track showcase extending the warm glow of last summer’s album “Cruise Control” into the spring of 2026. Satin Jackets lines up a heavyweight cast and delivers an EP that moves effortlessly between sunlit elegance and late night force.
A1) Satin Jackets & Kimchii – “Bring On Up Our Love” (Flashbaxx Remix)
Flashbaxx transforms the Satin Jackets and Kimchii track into a driving disco house floor weapon with bright chords and classic dancefloor swagger. Guaranteed to get everyone grooving.
A2) Satin Jackets & Erobique & Thunder – “You Get Me So High”
A radiant meeting of Satin Jackets, Erobique and Thunder that sails between disco, Westcoast soul and soft focus glamour. Built around the 2025 vocal, the trio turn it into a warm and irresistibly smooth homage to timeless Yacht Rock.
B1) Satin Jackets & Nazzereene – “Know Me” (Johannes Albert Remix)
The Berlin producer dives deep into Chicago house aesthetics and delivers a crisp, rolling late night tool that lights up any club at peak time.
B2) Satin Jackets feat. Seint Monet – “Control” (Ceci Remix)
Ceci closes the EP with a dreamy, slow burning rework that wraps Seint Monet’s vocal in hazy pads and gentle after hours warmth.
Extra Mile EP is the kind of twelve inch you do not pass on. A tight, potent combination of artists who elevate each other with ease.

Little is known about Em Vee, the elusive German editor and producer whose dusty vinyl crates have unearthed some of the most coveted disco and boogie reworks of the last decade. Born somewhere between the fading echoes of Berlin’s underground clubs and the hidden record shops of Hamburg, Em Vee’s story is as much about myth as it is about music.

From the funk fuelled hands in the air love bomb of Where Is The Love to the arms embracing body jam of Body to Body. On the flip the heavy disco balearic boogie monster, All Night Long takes it up a few gears before the rounding the EP off with the dramatic closer, Pleasure Island. Em Vee delivers an outstanding EP that covers all bases, that will no doubt appeal to late night disenfranchised Disco fiends.

Giom's Supremus Records has been dropping digital heat for more than a decade and now, in collaboration with us, they are making their vinyl debut with the Giom Classics series featuring tried and tested gems that have been fully remastered. 'The Message' is first up and back in 2015 when it originally dropped quickly became a favourite of the don Bill Brewster. It's patient, low-slung and slow burning with an irresistibly hypnotic effect. 'People' then gets more party with chopped vocals and disco samples all bristling with energy and big drums carrying it onwards and upwards. 'Last Dance' closes out with more warm, soul-infused and patient house depths with musical chords and another well-chosen and expertly deployed vocal that adds just the right amount of fire to amp up the energy.

Burnski is back with another fine bit of A&R on his Constant Sound label, this time with Anil Anas stepping up. He is a producer who has made his mark on the likes of PIV and here kicks off with 'Had Enuff', which brings soulful jungle breakbeats to a house framework complete with police sirens, ragga vocals and 90s organs. It's a fresh blend with a big heart and 'Chrystal Glaze' then brings punchy drum funk and spaced out pads. 'House Fever' ups the energy with more textured drums and trippy synth sequences that help with dance floor take off and 'Trigger Path' closes with pure spaced-house drive. A tasty and tasteful EP packed with utility.

DOODSESKADER clearly haven’t had enough of redefining boundaries – they’ve only just gotten started. Tim De Gieter and Sigfried Burroughs return on April 3rd, 2026 with their third full-length album, The Change Is Me, a rollercoaster that can only be described as the unstable lovechild between witch house, hip-hop, industrial dream pop, and stadium rock that can’t decide if it wants to watch the world burn or shout from the rooftops that we need to save it. Their combination of grungy 90s melodies with distorted synths, sludgy bass, hard tuned vocals, rapping, singing, and explosions of undiluted rage at the current state of the world leave you wondering just exactly what it was you smoked last night, and if it was too much or not enough. The Change Is Me is an album that grabs you by the arm and asks if you’re ready to go on a grand adventure, then pulls you into its chaos before you can say “yes” or “no.”

Tim and Sigfried aren’t just breaking the boundaries between genres; they’re breaking out of their own Year cycle, a path they had laid out for themselves at the band’s inception in 2020. Up until now, the duo had set out to document their “journey to getting better” through writing one album each year: Year Zero (2020), Year One (2022), and most recently Year Two (2024). After spending eight months throughout 2024 and 2025 writing, recording, producing and mixing Year Three, the band scrapped the finished record entirely. Playing shows while simultaneously navigating the process of mixing Year Three created a sort of disconnect – the people that they were when they wrote that record and the people that playing shows made them become were no longer one and the same. “We’re people with faults and strengths, and we realized we needed to accept it. That’s equal parts bleak and liberating. If you’re so focused on self-improvement, you can’t even applaud yourself for how far you’ve come,” the band explains. “This project is meant to be a document of us and of the human condition, not a self-improvement handbook designed to keep us all stuck on what may or may not have happened to us or because of us in the past.”

DOODSESKADER chose instead to embark anew on a week-long creative journey in Tim’s own Much Luv Studio with one goal in mind: to make an album that captures who they are right now. Finally writing everything together in the same room for the first time in years, the process of bringing "The Change Is Me" to life was captured by Diana Lungu in their latest documentary, "Now I Know You See Me", out December 2nd, 2025.

"The Change Is Me" marks the beginning of DOODSESKADER’s shift into a more positive era, both musically and conceptually. Over the course of the 40-minute record we hear the two friends unite in a fight against a world that grows more and more disappointing, a concept made crystal clear in tracks like “Celebrity Culture Simp Farm,” “It Keeps On Stinging,” and of course the album’s epic closer “Suffering In Technicolor.” While their previous albums saw them trying to outrun their pasts and arrive at a better version of themselves, here the search for some external or internal revelation that will “make them better” is no more. It’s been replaced by the realization that change isn’t something we force: it’s gradual, and more importantly, it’s something that’s already there – we just need to reach out and accept it.

The band’s live appearances over the last several years have been instrumental in shaping their ideology. On stage is where the duo find connection; not only with the audience, but also with each other. Their sold-out release shows at Ancienne Belgique (2022) and VierNulVier (2024) have proven that they are one of Belgium’s must-see acts. Abroad, their energy has translated into a month-long EU/UK tour with French band Alcest in 2024, as well as appearances at festivals such as Roadburn Festival (NL), Eurosonic (NL), Hellfest (FR), Mystic Fest (PL), Jera On Air (NL), ArcTanGent (UK), Fluff Fest (CZ) and more.

"The Change Is Me" is out April 3rd, 2026 on DOODSESKADER’s own label, 45 Records.

‘Distracted’ is Thundercat’s fifth studio album, featuring contributions from an incredible cast of friends including A$AP Rocky, WILLOW, Tame Impala, Lil Yachty, Channel Tres, and a long awaited collaboration with the dearly departed Mac Miller. The record was primarily created in close collaboration with a new creative partner – the super-producer Greg Kurstin – plus Flying Lotus, Kenny Beats (Kenneth Blume) and The Lemon Twigs. In the six years since his GRAMMY-winning album ‘It Is What It Is’, Thundercat’s star has risen: playing stadiums worldwide with Red Hot Chilli Peppers with Flea naming Thundercat “the best bass player on the planet”; performing live with A$AP Rocky, Steve Lacy, Tame Impala, Gorillaz, Silk Sonic, Erykah Badu, Spinal Tap, Yo Gabba Gabba; collaborating with Haim, Smino, Kaytranada, Kamasi Washington and Justice. He also branched out into acting with a role in Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett. His warm, playful presence is never too far away, and life’s all the more enlivened by it.

Jnbo ist der Künstlername von Henry Jenkins, einem Komponisten, Produzenten/Toningenieur und Bassisten aus Melbourne/Naarm. Jenkins ist den meisten als Produzent/Toningenieur hinter Surprise Chef, Karate Boogaloo und der für den Grammy nominierten Frollen Music Library bekannt. Als hauseigener Toningenieur für Aufnahmen und Abmischungen bei College In-House-Aufnahme- und Mix-Ingenieur bei Knowledge Records hat Jenkins die klangliche Grundlage für die instrumentale Cinematic-Soul-Bewegung von Melbourne/Naarm geschaffen. Auf ,& Friends" setzt Jenkins seine Fähigkeiten für seine eigenen brillanten Kompositionen ein. Das Album umfasst 12 introspektive Instrumentalstücke - tiefe, cineastische Odysseen, die von Romantik und Aufrichtigkeit durchdrungen sind und jenen unverkennbaren ,Freak Funk Bump" haben. Jenkins erklärt die Konzeption von ,& Friends": ,Ich wollte ein Album schreiben, auf dessen Aufnahme ich mich mit meinen Freunden freuen würde. Die Musik, die ich schrieb, hatte eine Funk-Sensibilität in Bass und Schlagzeug, kontrastiert durch einen eher cineastischen Ansatz in Bezug auf Harmonie und Melodie, mit Gitarren, die sich dazwischen schlängeln und gleiten. Ich habe versucht, diesen Kontrast zum Charakter des Albums zu machen. Ich fand, dass jeder Song die gleiche Instrumentierung und die gleichen Musiker haben sollte. Das wurde zu einer angenehmen kreativen Herausforderung: Wie viel Variation konnte ich im Laufe des Albums aus denselben acht Instrumenten herausholen? Ich wollte innerhalb dieser engen Grenzen so viel Vielfalt wie möglich finden." Jenkins hat diese Prinzipien bei den Aufnahmen zu ,& Friends" angewendet und langjährige Musikpartner wie Hudson Whitlock, Darvid Thor und Callum Riley (Karate Boogaloo), Lachlan Stuckey und Jethro Curtin (Surprise Chef), Lewis Coleman und Lena Douglas (The Cactus Channel) zusammen, um unkonventionelle Arrangements für drei Gitarren, Klavier, Streichersynthesizer, Hammondorgel, Schlagzeug und Bass zu verwirklichen, wobei Jenkins selbst den Bass und die Produktion übernahm. Das Ergebnis ist ein auffallend einzigartiges Album: Mal gibt's malerische Stimmungen, mal funkige Rhythmen, die zum Mitwippen einladen, wobei die drei Gitarren und drei Keyboards genau im Stereofeld angeordnet sind. Das Album zeigt die Einflüsse des Filmkomponisten Bernard Herrmann, des Lounge-Pioniers Les Baxter und Lamont Dozier von Motown, zusammen mit den exzentrischen Eigenheiten von JNBO. Für Fans von Surprise Chef, El Michels Affair, Menahan Street Band, Les Baxter, Bernard Herrmann.

‘Distracted’ is Thundercat’s fifth studio album, featuring contributions from an incredible cast of friends including A$AP Rocky, WILLOW, Tame Impala, Lil Yachty, Channel Tres, and a long awaited collaboration with the dearly departed Mac Miller. The record was primarily created in close collaboration with a new creative partner – the super-producer Greg Kurstin – plus Flying Lotus, Kenny Beats (Kenneth Blume) and The Lemon Twigs. In the six years since his GRAMMY-winning album ‘It Is What It Is’, Thundercat’s star has risen: playing stadiums worldwide with Red Hot Chilli Peppers with Flea naming Thundercat “the best bass player on the planet”; performing live with A$AP Rocky, Steve Lacy, Tame Impala, Gorillaz, Silk Sonic, Erykah Badu, Spinal Tap, Yo Gabba Gabba; collaborating with Haim, Smino, Kaytranada, Kamasi Washington and Justice. He also branched out into acting with a role in Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett. His warm, playful presence is never too far away, and life’s all the more enlivened by it.

Bleaching Agent and Miles J Paralysis are two artists who operate steadily in their own lane. They collide on this release to deliver two contrasting originals, each handed to the other to be reimagined.

Both based alongside us in West Yorkshire, we are thrilled to present this shared vision in the form of the first Dream Space 12”.

Bleaching Agent’s Hollis captures the spirit of the bleeps & bass forged in the industrial north of years gone by, elevated with lush harmonies and slick vocal work. One that’s fit for late-night floors and hazy summer evenings alike.

Miles J Paralysis takes Hollis into a different space, chopping the melody into an infectious and hypnotic flow. All melded together with his signature dub-tinged, grooving percussive work.

On side two, Miles drags us into deep territory with Inhibited Orgy. Further exploring the otherworldly sound of his Paralysis moniker, that many of you will now be familiar with after a breakout year.

Bleaching Agent closes off the record with his own take, stoking the energy levels to create a stomping, anthemic chugger that is sure to ignite any dance floor.

Limited to 150 copies.

Punctuality presents its ninth release, Night Time, a potent four-tracker from Irish born, Berlin based producer New Members. Positioned on the spriitzzier end of the label’s canon, the record is a refined exercise in restraint, channeling classic, deep leaning house through a starry eyed, nocturnal lens.

The arrangements are unrushed and uncrowded, with each track built from a small selection of elements deployed for maximum impact. Evoking the deep cuts of early Balance and Global Underground mixes, the EP deftly weaves golden era progressive influences with neoteric production aesthetics. The result is polished, punctual tech house for late nights that stretch seamlessly into the morning light.

Title track Night Time carries a closing track sensibility: cute, catchy vocals glide over bubbling synths, blossoming pad washes, and jazzy chord stabs, recalling the finest Canadian Riviera house releases of the late 2010s: Total eyes closed on the dancefloor energy. Whisper In the Dark comes in trackier and toolier, with a rolling bassline resplendent with attitude and key changes, while trance and euro referencing stabs add a subtle touch of euphoria to the late night feel of the track.

Wishing Well maintains the afterhours feel with subtle atmospherics, gentle pads, and dubbed out acid wiggles, while chopped vocals and a pulsing low end push the groove forward. Hovering between genres, the result is a sleek, highly playable track for savvy selectors. The EP rounds off with Jealousy, a moodier affair with a dub techno feel that maintains the restraint New Members demonstrates throughout the release. Echoed whispers, delayed stabs, and a barely audible sub meld with delicate pad work and beguiling FX to striking effect. The piece as a whole is a luscious meditation on the hours after dark before light arrives.

As the EP suggests, this is once again not to be slept on. More A grade material from Punctuality HQ.

Glasgow, Scotland duo Thomas + James deliver their silky-smooth dub laced sounds for Federsen’s Alt Dub with the four-track ‘Realtime’ EP.

Thomas + James are a Glasgow-based DJ and production duo whose sound reflects a deep immersion in electronic music. Raised in the city’s west end and shaped by early exposure to techno pioneers like Luke Slater, Slam and Jeff Mills alongside the atmospheric legacy of ’90s drum & bass, their productions lean into a dub infused, forward-looking aesthetic.

Drawing equally from house traditions via influences such as St Germainand Laurent Garnier, the pair blur the lines between dub techno, deep house, acid and minimal.

Their new EP onFedersen’s Alt Dub captures that hybrid vision with a maturity that belies their years, being born in 2006,marking them out as a quietly compelling new voice from Glasgow’s next generation.

Leading the release is the original title-track ‘Realtime’, setting the tone with a sturdy yet pared-back rhythm section, oscillating synth flutters, bouncy sub-bass and hazy textures that subtly shift across the arrangement.

Label boss Federsen steps in next with his interpretation, reducing the track to its deepest foundations and recasting it as a delicately drifting soundscape of evolving spatial echoes, weighty low-end pressure and restrained, muted drums.

On the flip, Thomas + James return with ‘Armonia’, an ethereal, dub-leaning deep house cut propelled by billowing pads, delayed vocal chants, fluid dub chords and a heavily swung, minimalist groove.

The EP closes with ‘X-Intense’, further highlighting the duo’s groove-driven signature sound as reverberant, airy stabs weave through breathy vocals and shuffled percussion to bring the release to a hypnotic conclusion.

As with the band’s 2023 release of the same name, Refreshing Part 2 is a decisive and fierce collection of percussive techno that nonetheless travels its path with a heightened level of funkiness.
The Italian duo describe the concept behind this collection as being “not about resetting, but about balancing. Refreshing means reconnecting with the present and with the future…focusing on one’s own way in order to prevent the flow from becoming automatic, uncontrolled, and
without orientation. It is more a direction than a path.”
The four tracks on the 12” are hypnotic dives into a full spectrum of club music: the rhythms and sound design guiding the subconscious into visions of past, present and future intermingled, a reminder that all moments co-exist simultaneously.
Side A passes from the stripped-down intensity of The Way through to Elisir (Elixir), which manages to pull off a trick of feeling light and floaty while maintaining the power of its predecessor. The flip side opens with the forceful drive of Activate before making way to the
percussive elasticity of Family Tree, a track which closes out the EP by recalling, in both name and sound, how that which came before deeply affects the now, though often in ways only subliminally perceived.
Digital-only track Fixed in Flux continues this concept, and the overall themes of Refreshing Part 2, with further evocations of intent and movement; remaining present in change, without resisting it, yet without dissolving into it.